bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reformulation letters in cognitive analytic therapy: The practitioner's experience
Authors: Slettevold Erlend , Fisher Paul , Leddy Adrian
Published: June 2023

Objectives

The aim of this study was to explore (1) cognitive analytic therapy (CAT) practitioners' experiences of receiving their own reformulation letter as part of their training and (2) CAT practitioners' perceptions about how receiving their own reformulation letter altered their clinical practice.

Design

Semistructured interviews were used to elicit participants' (N = 9) experiences of having received their personal CAT, with a particular focus on the reformulation letter, and their perceptions of its impact on them as clinicians and their clinical practice.

Methods

Inductive “bottom up” thematic analysis was used to analyse the interview transcripts and extract overarching themes and subthemes across all participants.

Results

Four overarching themes emerged from the data: the power of the reformulation letter; inhabiting the client's role; absorbing thinking as a CAT practitioner; and evolving the therapist's technique.

Conclusions

Cognitive analytic therapy practitioners report experiences of the reformulation letter that indicate a positive impact on their self‐awareness, learning about CAT and consciousness about how their own clients experience therapy. This was also the case when the reformulation letter did not resonate with them to the desired extent as learning from their therapist's limitations was experienced as having an impact on their learning and subsequent practice.
Numerical study of the mixing characteristics in an air swirling fluidized bed with monodisperse and multi‐sized particles
Authors: Zhang Honghong , Liu Xuedong , Zhang Dawei , Chen Cheng , Liu Hongmei , Zheng Weiwen , Lv Kaixin , Chen Hui
Published: June 2023

Powder mixers are used in many industries. In the present work, a new type of air swirling mixer was designed and optimized with eight horizontally arranged inlet pipes at the tangential inlet angle of 35°. The mixing of multi‐sized spherical particles (2.0, 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0 mm) was numerically investigated in the air swirling mixer by coupled computational fluid dynamics–discrete element method. The numerical results showed that multi‐sized particles achieved comparable mixing performance to monodisperse particles. The Lacey index for multi‐sized particles increased initially, and then reached a maximum value at 0.824. The upward velocity of the particles, , increased initially, and then decreased to zero along the bed height. The maximum value of occurred at a height of 40 mm. Particle radial velocity was larger near the wall than at the mixer tube centre area. The smallest particles aggregated in three layers. The collision number of the particles reached a maximum at bed height of 120 mm, which was consistent with the position of the maximum stress of the particles against the tube wall.
Concomitant deletion of the short arm (del(1p13.3)) and amplification or gain (1q21) of chromosome 1 by fluorescence in situ hybridization are associated with a poor clinical outcome in multiple myeloma
Authors: Mohan Meera , Gong Zimu , Ashby Timothy Cody , Al Hadidi Samer , Thanendrarajan Sharmilan , Schinke Carolina , Alapat Daisy , Shaughnessy John D. , Zhan Fenghuang , van Rhee Frits , Sawyer Jeffery R. , Tian Erming , Zangari Maurizio
Published: June 2023

Background

Chromosome 1 abnormalities in multiple myeloma (MM) are increasingly recognized as high risk‐defining features. The authors report the prognostic value of del(1p13.3) by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) at enrollment in subjects treated on total therapy clinical trials 2–6.

Methods

FISH probes were generated from specific BAC DNA clones for the AHCYL1 gene locus (1p13.3) and the CKS1B locus (1q21).

Results

A total of 1133 patients were included in this analysis. Although del(1p13.3) was detected in 220 (19.4%) patients, 1q21gain or 1q21amp were observed in 300 (26.5%) and 150 (13.2%) patients, respectively. Concomitant del(1p13.3) with 1q21 gain or amp was observed in 65 (5.7%) and 29 (2.5%) patients, respectively. There was enrichment of high‐risk features such as International Staging System (ISS) stage 3 disease and gene expression profiling (GEP)70 high risk (HR) in the group with del(1p13.3). Presence of del(1p13.3) confers inferior progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). On multivariate analysis, the presence of ISS stage 3 disease, GEP70 HR, 1q21gain, and 1q21amp were independent predictors of PFS or OS.

Conclusions

The PFS and OS of patients with combined abnormalities of del (1p13.3)/1q21gain or amp was significantly worse compared to del(1p13.3) alone and 1q21gain or 1q21 amp alone, which identifies a subset of patients with poor clinical outcomes.
Understanding the Mechanism and Extent of Transplacental Transfer of (−)‐∆9‐Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the Perfused Human Placenta to Predict In Vivo Fetal THC Exposure
Authors: Kumar Aditya R. , Sheikh Emily D. , Monson Joshua W. , Ligon Sarah E. , Talley Rebecca L. , Dornisch Elisabeth M. , Howitz Kamy J. , Damicis Jennifer R. , Ieronimakis Nicholas , Unadkat Jashvant D.
Published: June 2023

Cannabis use during pregnancy may cause fetal toxicity driven by in utero exposure to (−)‐∆9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and its psychoactive metabolite, (±)‐11‐hydroxy‐∆9‐THC (11‐OH‐THC). THC concentrations in the human term fetal plasma appear to be lower than the corresponding maternal concentrations. Therefore, we investigated whether THC and its metabolites are effluxed by placental transporters using the dual cotyledon, dual perfusion, term human placenta. The perfusates contained THC alone (5 μM) or in combination (100–250 nM) with its metabolites (100 nM or 250 nM 11‐OH‐THC, 100 nM COOH‐THC), plus a marker of P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp) efflux (1 or 10 μM saquinavir), and a passive diffusion marker (106 μM antipyrine). All perfusions were conducted with (n = 7) or without (n = 16) a P‐gp/BCRP (breast‐cancer resistance protein) inhibitor, 4 μM valspodar. The maternal‐fetal and fetal‐maternal unbound cotyledon clearance indexes (m‐f‐CLu,c,i and f‐m‐CLu,c,i) were normalized for transplacental antipyrine clearance. At 5 μM THC, the m‐f‐CLu,c,i, 5.1 ± 2.1, was significantly lower than the f‐m‐CLu,c,i, 13 ± 6.1 (P = 0.004). This difference remained in the presence of valspodar or when the lower THC concentrations were perfused. In contrast, neither metabolite, 11‐OH‐THC/COOH‐THC, had significantly different m‐f‐CLu,c,i vs. f‐m‐CLu,c,i. Therefore, THC appears to be effluxed by placental transporter(s) not inhibitable by the P‐gp/BCRP antagonist, valspodar, while 11‐OH‐THC and COOH‐THC appear to passively diffuse across the placenta. These findings plus our previously quantified human fetal liver clearance, extrapolated to in vivo, yielded a THC fetal/maternal steady‐state plasma concentration ratio of 0.28 ± 0.09, comparable to that observed in vivo, 0.26 ± 0.10.
Solar Efficiency of Azo‐Photoswitches for Energy Conversion: A Comprehensive Assessment
Authors: Sun Wenjin , Shangguan Zhichun , Zhang Xu , Dang Tongtong , Zhang Zhao‐Yang , Li Tao
Published: June 2023

Photoswitches can absorb solar photons and store them as chemical energy by photoisomerization, which is regarded as a promising strategy for photochemical solar energy storage. Although many efforts have been devoted to photoswitch discovery, the solar efficiency, a critical fundamental parameter assessing the solar energy conversion ability, has attracted little attention and remains to be studied comprehensively. Here we provide a systematic evaluation of the solar efficiency of typical azo‐switches including azobenzenes and azopyrazoles, and gain a comprehensive understanding on its decisive factors. All the efficiencies are found below 1.0 %, far from the proposed limits for molecular solar thermal energy storage systems. Azopyrazoles exhibit remarkably higher solar efficiencies (0.59–0.94 %) than azobenzenes (0.11–0.43 %), benefiting from largely improved quantum yield and photoisomerization yield. Light filters can be used to improve the isomerization yield but inevitably narrow the usable range of solar spectrum, and these two contradictory effects ultimately reduce solar efficiencies. We envision this conflict could be resolved through developing azo‐switches that afford high isomerization yields by absorbing wide‐spectrum solar energy. We hope this work could promote more efforts to improve the solar efficiency of photoswitches, which is highly relevant to the prospect for future applications.
Conditions for realization of multiple pinch‐off points in generalized fractional‐order memory elements
Authors: Oresanya Babajide Oluwatosin , Si Gangquan , Xu Xiang , Gong Jiahui , Guo Zhang
Published: June 2023

Memelements (memristor, meminductor, and memcapacitor) have gained wide interests due to their useful hysteresis and nonlinear properties. In this work, fractional‐order current‐controlled memelements are modeled using an
‐order polynomial. By decomposing the
‐order polynomial into some
sets of current‐controlled functions, we were able to theoretically analyze and establish the general conditions necessary for all memelements' voltage‐current dynamics to create up to
number of lobes and hence
pinch‐off points in their
hysteresis. The exact coordinate locations of the pinch‐off points on the
‐axis and
‐axis are calculated in all cases. The observations made in this work are novel and contributes to how all multiple‐lobed memory elements are analyzed. A general emulator circuit is then designed to verify the theoretical deductions, the emulator output agrees with the numerical results.
Bilateral localized primary parotid gland amyloidosis: A rare entity with literature review
Authors: Abdelwahed Mohammed , Kawam Alae , Gimenez Cecilia , Rosca Oana C.
Published: June 2023

Amyloidosis of the salivary glands is a rare occurrence. Due to non‐specific clinical presentation, the diagnosis can be overlooked. Here we present a case of a localized bilateral parotid glands AL kappa‐light chain amyloid deposition without systemic involvement, as well as a literature review. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) of a right parotid lesion was performed with rapid on‐site evaluation (ROSE). Slides showed characteristic amyloid staining with Congo red and typical Apple‐green birefringence under polarized light microscopy. Amyloid in the head and neck can be misinterpreted as other materials such as colloid, keratin, necrosis, hyaline degeneration especially when the condition is not suspected.
Long‐term marine protection enhances kelp forest ecosystem stability
Authors: Peleg Ohad , Blain Caitlin O. , Shears Nick T.
Published: June 2023

Trophic downgrading destabilizes ecosystems and can drive large‐scale shifts in ecosystem state. While restoring predatory interactions in marine reserves can reverse anthropogenic‐driven shifts, empirical evidence of increased ecosystem stability and persistence in the presence of predators is scant. We compared temporal variation in rocky reef ecosystem state in New Zealand's oldest marine reserve to nearby fished reefs to examine whether protection of predators led to more persistent and stable reef ecosystem states in the marine reserve. Contrasting ecosystem states were found between reserve and fished sites, and this persisted over the 22‐year study period. Fished sites were predominantly urchin barrens but occasionally fluctuated to short‐lived turfs and mixed algal forests, while reserve sites displayed unidirectional successional trajectories toward stable kelp forests (Ecklonia radiata) taking up to three decades following protection. This provides empirical evidence that long‐term protection of predators facilitates kelp forest recovery, resists shifts to denuded alternate states, and enhances kelp forest stability.
One body, two faces: How double standards influence body evaluation in women with binge‐eating disorder compared to mentally healthy women with higher weight and average weight
Authors: Quittkat Hannah L. , Voges Mona M. , Kisker Joanna , Schöne Benjamin , Düsing Rainer , Vocks Silja
Published: June 2023

Objective

Research has found evidence that women with anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) apply different standards for themselves than for others when evaluating bodies, an aspect of a disturbed body image. This study investigates whether women with binge‐eating disorder (BED) likewise show self‐deprecating double standards (DS).

Methods

Women with BED (n = 40), women with higher weight (n = 40) and women with average weight (n = 40) viewed a presentation of different builds, including their individual ideal body, which were presented once with participants' own and once with an unknown woman's face. After each presentation, participants rated their emotional response regarding arousal and valence, and evaluated the body's attractiveness, body fat and muscle mass. DS were defined as the difference in ratings of the same body with one's own and the unknown face.

Results

Women with BED showed a higher degree of negative emotions in response to a thin and a high‐weight build, rated lower levels of body attractiveness for an athletic build, and displayed more arousal for almost all builds presented with their own compared to with another face. While women with BED showed a higher burden on measures of eating pathology and body image than the other groups, DS were not more pronounced in women with BED.

Discussion

The findings contradict DS as a characteristic feature of BED, but underline “normative” DS for higher‐weight/high‐weight builds, reflecting weight stigmatization. Psychoeducation on these DS might complement cognitive‐behavioral therapy in BED in order to reduce negative emotions.

Public significance

A bias in body evaluation has been proven in women with anorexia and BN, but no research has examined this in women with BED. This study provides evidence of DS in body evaluation in women with BED, compares the extent of DS between women with BED, higher weight, and average weight, and investigates individual body ideals in women with BED and higher weight.
Parental self‐efficacy: Longitudinal impact on clinical outcomes across levels of care in adolescent anorexia nervosa
Authors: Gorrell Sasha , Downey Amanda E. , Saunders Elizabeth , Accurso Erin C. , Buckelew Sara , Kreiter Anna , Le Grange Daniel , Garber Andrea K.
Published: June 2023

Objective

Parental self‐efficacy in the domain of weight restoration for adolescents with restrictive eating disorders is central to success in family‐based interventions. We sought to characterize this parental self‐efficacy during a brief hospitalization for medical stabilization and follow‐up among patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) or atypical AN (AAN) enrolled in the StRONG clinical trial to understand the potential impact of inpatient treatment on caregiver empowerment.

Methods

Patients were enrolled upon hospital admission and refed per protocol. We examined correlates of the Parents Versus Anorexia (PVA) scale, a measure of parental self‐efficacy in the domain of weight restoration, at admission, discharge, 10‐days, 1‐month, and 3‐months post‐discharge. Multi‐level models evaluated associations among PVA scores and change in %median BMI and Eating Disorder Examination‐Questionnaire (EDE‐Q) global scores over 3‐months post‐discharge.

Results

Parents of N = 67 adolescents and young adults M(SD) age 15.79 (2.20) years and 85.00 (11.86) %median BMI participated. PVA scores did not change significantly during hospitalization (p = .053), which lasted on average 10.7 ± 4.5 days. PVA scores increased post‐discharge (p = .009), with significant increase between discharge and 1‐month post‐discharge (p = .045). PVA scores were not associated with subsequent clinical outcomes. Rather, a main effect of time significantly predicted higher %median BMI and improved EDE‐Q scores (p < .001).

Discussion

The finding that parental self‐efficacy did not deteriorate during the inpatient stay is promising given the medical necessity of hospitalization to ensure short‐term safety in some cases and the importance of parental self‐efficacy to support long‐term recovery.

Public significance

Family‐based treatment is the recommended treatment for young people with AN and AAN, serious psychiatric illnesses that may require inpatient medical stabilization. Prior evidence suggests that parental self‐efficacy in the outpatient setting is a key component of treatment success. The current study suggests that parental self‐efficacy and longer‐term treatment outcomes are not undermined by a brief inpatient hospitalization.
Climate‐driven decline in the habitat of the endemic spiny babbler (Turdoides nipalensis)
Authors: Adhikari Binaya , Subedi Suresh C. , Bhandari Shivish , Baral Kedar , Lamichhane Sandesh , Maraseni Tek
Published: June 2023

Climate change could amplify the extinction risk of endemic species, and the risk is even greater for species occupying high elevations and mountain ranges. In this study, we assessed the climatically suitable habitat of the only endemic Nepalese bird species, the spiny babbler (Turdoides nipalensis), and predicted the extent of the future (2050 and 2070) habitat of this species under two climate change scenarios (SSP2‐4.5 and SSP5‐8.5). We used georeferenced occurrence points alongside ecologically meaningful climatic and topographic variables to develop an ensemble suitable habitat model using different species distribution modeling algorithms in BIOMOD2. We identified 22,488.83 km2 (15%) of Nepal's total land area as suitable habitat for this endemic species, where the nonprotected regions incorporated the largest extent of suitable habitat (88%), with a majority of this suitable area within the central Mid‐Hill region. Under the SSP2‐4.5 scenario, 21.58% and 34.08% of the current suitable habitat range are projected to be lost by 2050 and 2070, respectively. Whereas under the SSP5‐8.5 scenario, our projections suggest that 40.45% and 52.18% of habitat will be lost by 2050 and 2070, respectively. Habitat suitability increased with a rise in warmest quarter precipitation (above 1000 mm), coldest quarter precipitation between 50 and 100 mm, and warmest quarter temperature between 20 and 30°C. Given our results, it is crucial to review the conservation policy of nonprotected areas and formulate a spiny babbler‐specific conservation action plan with a special focus on protecting their primary habitat in human‐dominated landscapes and nonprotected areas.
Fast short‐circuit protection under current imbalance condition for multi‐paralleled SiC‐MOSFETs
Authors: Suzuki Hiroshi , Funaki Tsuyoshi
Published: June 2023

This paper proposes methodology and gate drive circuit that can immediately detect short‐circuit (SC) of multiparalleled SiC‐MOSFETs even under current imbalance condition. Proposed method detects SC current using an integration circuit that can sense di/dt. The detection level of SC current can be adjusted to a desired value regardless of the number of SiC‐MOSFETs connected in parallel. The effectiveness of the proposed approach was experimentally validated for four‐paralleled SiC‐MOSFETs under extreme current imbalance in SC condition. SC was detected within 0.5 μs and all SiC‐MOSFETs were protected without destruction at most 2.2 μs after the onset of SC, for all types of SC 1, 2, and 3.
Basic study on calibration using waveform variation in space charge measurement by pulsed electroacoustic method
Authors: Li Xiaoxin , Kawashima Tomohiro , Murakami Yoshinobu , Hozumi Naohiro
Published: June 2023

The pulsed electroacoustic method determines the distribution of space charge in an insulation system by applying a pulse voltage and detecting the acoustic response. It estimates the location and magnitude of charges from time‐domain signals. For quantitative analysis, a bias voltage is applied to a specimen with no space charge, and the acoustic signal generated from the electrodes only is used as a reference waveform for calibration. However, a full‐scale, extra‐high voltage insulation system often already contains space charges in it. Therefore, a method of acquiring a reference signal under such a condition was studied. We studied methods to compare voltage variations and response signal variations. We proposed a method that measures the signal difference at different voltages. In addition, we proposed a method of correlating voltage and signal variations that may allo for more rapid signal acquisition. The feasibility was proved using an 11 mm‐thick mimic polyethylene specimen.
Liver tests, cardiovascular outcomes and effects of empagliflozin in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction: The EMPEROR‐Preserved trial
Authors: Böhm Michael , Butler Javed , Krawczyk Marcin , Mahfoud Felix , Haring Bernhard , Filippatos Gerasimos , Ferreira João Pedro , Pocock Stuart J. , Brueckmann Martina , Ofstad Anne Pernille , Schüler Elke , Wanner Christoph , Verma Subodh , Packer Milton , Anker Stefan D. ,   the EMPEROR‐Preserved Trial Committees and Investigators
Published: June 2023

Aim

The prognostic implication of elevated liver tests in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is uncertain. This analysis investigates the association of liver markers with hospitalization for heart failure (HHF) and cardiovascular death (CVD), and the treatment effect of empagliflozin across the range of liver marker levels.

Methods and results

The double‐blind, placebo‐controlled EMPEROR‐Preserved (EMPagliflozin outcomE tRial in Patients With chrOnic heaRt Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction) enrolled 5988 patients with HFpEF (ejection fraction >40%). Patients in New York Heart Association class II–IV and elevated N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide were randomized to receive empagliflozin 10 mg daily or placebo in addition to usual therapy. Patients with significant liver disease were excluded. The primary endpoint was time to first adjudicated HHF or CVD. We explored the association of liver function abnormalities with heart failure outcomes in patients on placebo, the effects of empagliflozin on liver tests and the treatment effects of empagliflozin on heart failure outcomes across categories of liver laboratory values. High alkaline phosphatase (p trend < 0.0001), low albumin (p trend < 0.0001) and high bilirubin (p = 0.02) were associated with poorer outcomes for HHF or CVD, while high aspartate aminotransferase was not, and high alanine aminotransferase was associated with better outcomes. Empagliflozin had no significant effects on liver tests compared to placebo except for albumin which was significantly increased. The treatment effect of empagliflozin on outcomes was not modified by liver tests.

Conclusion

Abnormalities of liver function tests are associated differently with heart failure outcomes. Salutary effects of empagliflozin on liver tests were not observed although albumin increased. The treatment benefits of empagliflozin were not affected by baseline values of liver parameters.
Trajectories of renal biomarkers and new‐onset heart failure in the general population: Findings from the PREVEND study
Authors: Sakaniwa Ryoto , Tromp Jasper , Streng Koen W. , Suthahar Navin , Kieneker Lyanne M. , Postmus Douwe , Iso Hiroyasu , Gansevoort Ron T. , Bakker Stephan J.L. , Hillege Hans L. , de Boer Rudolf A. , Demissei Biniyam G.
Published: June 2023

Aims

Renal dysfunction is one of the most critical risk factors for developing heart failure (HF). However, the association between repeated measures of renal function and incident HF remains unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the longitudinal trajectories of urinary albumin excretion (UAE) and serum creatinine and their association with new‐onset HF and all‐cause mortality.

Methods and results

Using group‐based trajectory analysis, we estimated trajectories of UAE and serum creatinine in 6881 participants from the Prevention of Renal and Vascular End‐stage Disease (PREVEND) study and their association with new‐onset HF and all‐cause death during the 11‐years of follow‐up. Most participants had stable low UAE or serum creatinine. Participants with persistently higher UAE or serum creatinine were older, more often men, and more often had comorbidities, such as diabetes, a previous myocardial infarction or dyslipidaemia. Participants with persistently high UAE had a higher risk of new‐onset HF or all‐cause mortality, whereas stable serum creatinine trajectories showed a linear association for new‐onset HF and no association with all‐cause mortality.

Conclusion

Our population‐based study identified different but often stable longitudinal patterns of UAE and serum creatinine. Patients with persistently worse renal function, such as higher UAE or serum creatinine, were at a higher risk of HF or mortality.
Effect of rice bran crude lecithin blended diet on rumen ecology, metabolic profile, and milk fat indices affecting human health
Authors: Tewari Dharmesh , Chaturvedi V. B. , Dutta Narayan , Chaudhary Sandeep Kr.
Published: June 2023

Two experiments are conducted to find out the effect of rice bran crude lecithin on rumen ecology, milk fat quality, metabolic indices, and leptin (LEP) gene expression. In first experiment, 12 crossbred calves are randomly divided into two groups, that is, RBCL‐0 and RBCL‐6, and they are fed wheat straw based diet with concentrate mixture containing 0% RBCL (CM1) and 6% RBCL (CM2), respectively, for 120 d for rumen fermentation study. Ruminal ammonia‐N and short chain fatty acids and rumen microbes are nonsignificantly affected in RBCL calves. In second experiment, 12 lactating cows are randomly divided into RBCL‐0 and RBCL‐6 groups and fed CM1 and CM2 concentrate along with napier grass as roughage. In milk fatty acid profile, C16:1 fatty acid is significantly lower whilecis‐C18:1 is significantly higher in the RBCL supplemented cows. The atherogenic index and thrombogenic index are 16 and 19% lower while health promoting index, polyunsaturated saturated fatty acids, and hypocholesterolaemic/hypercholesterolaemic are 16, 10, and 16, respectively, higher in RBCL‐6 cows. The mean nonesterified fatty acid and β‐hydroxy butyric acid value is lower while LEP gene expression is higher in RBCL supplemented cows than control cows. The milk income is higher in RBCL cows. Finally, it can be concluded that RBCL at 6% in concentrate mixture of dairy ration do not adversely affect the rumen ecology. Although RBCL has capacity to enhance health properties of milk fat along with profitability, still more studies are warranted.

Practical applications: Cow milk has always been an important component of the human diet in the world. The milk composition, especially fat, is directly influenced by feeding regime in dairy animals. In the milk fat, the unsaturated fatty acids (mainly polyunsaturated fatty acids) help in improving the health condition of consumers along with the keeping quality of milk. In this series, rice bran crude lecithin was used in the dairy ration and found that it altered certain metabolic parameters and gene expression, which may be beneficial for animal health without altering rumen fermentation. Although RBCL substantially modify the milk fatty acid profile and improves the fat indices which will enhance the human health by protecting them from cardiovascular diseases.
Enantiomeric analysis of drugs in water samples by using liquid–liquid microextraction and nano‐liquid chromatography
Authors: Salido‐Fortuna Sandra , Bosco Chiara Dal , Gentili Alessandra , Castro‐Puyana María , Marina María Luisa , D'Orazio Giovanni , Fanali Salvatore
Published: June 2023

The nano‐LC technique is increasingly used for both fast studies on enantiomeric analysis and test beds of novel stationary phases due to the small volumes involved and the short conditioning and analysis times. In this study, the enantioseparation of 10 drugs from different families was carried out by nano‐LC, utilizing silica with immobilized amylose tris(3‐chloro‐5‐methylphenylcarbamate) column. The effect on chiral separation caused by the addition of different salts to the mobile phase was evaluated. To simultaneously separate as many enantiomers as possible, the effect of buffer concentration in the mobile phase was studied, and, to increase the sensitivity, a liquid–liquid microextraction based on the use of isoamyl acetate as sustainable extraction solvent was applied to pre‐concentrate four chiral drugs from tap and environmental waters, achieving satisfactory recoveries (>70%).
Parvalbumin neurons in the anterior nucleus of thalamus control absence seizures
Authors: Zhang Xiaohan , Yu Xiaofeng , Tuo Miao , Zhao Zhenran , Wang Junhong , Jiang Tong , Zhang Mengwen , Wang Ying , Sun Yanping
Published: June 2023

Objective

Anterior nucleus of thalamus (ANT) has been widely accepted as a potential therapeutic target for drug‐resistant epilepsy. Although increased volume of the ANT was also reported in patients with absence epilepsy, the relationship between the ANT and absence epilepsy has been barely illustrated.

Methods

Using chemogenetics, we evaluated the effect of ANT parvalbumin (PV) neurons on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)‐induced absence seizures in mice.

Results

We found that intraperitoneal injection of PTZ (30 mg/kg) can stably induce absence‐like seizures characterized by bilaterally synchronous spike–wave discharges (SWDs). Selective activation of PV neurons in the ANT by chemogenetics could aggravate the severity of absence seizures, whereas selective inhibition of that cannot reverse this condition and even promote absence seizures as well. Moreover, chemogenetic inhibition of ANT PV neurons without administration of PTZ was also sufficient to generate SWDs. Analysis of background EEG showed that chemogenetic activation or inhibition of ANT PV neurons could both significantly increase the EEG power of delta oscillation in the frontal cortex, which might mediate the pro‐seizure effect of ANT PV neurons.

Significance

Our findings indicated that either activation or inhibition of ANT PV neurons might disturb the intrinsic delta rhythms in the cortex and worsen absence seizures, which highlighted the importance of maintaining the activity of ANT PV neurons in absence seizure.
Assessment of pebble virtual velocities by combining active RFID fixed stations with geophones
Authors: Cassel Mathieu , Navratil Oldrich , Liébault Frédéric , Recking Alain , Vázquez‐Tarrío Daniel , Bakker Maarten , Zanker Sébastien , Misset Clément , Piégay Hervé
Published: June 2023

Monitoring bedload transport in rivers is a challenging research domain teeming with technical innovations and methodological developments aimed at improving our knowledge and models of bedload processes at different spatial–temporal scales. Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology has improved sediment tracking, allowing the characterisation of transport processes of individual particles at flood‐event scales. Meanwhile, geophone sensors have enabled the long‐term continuous monitoring of seismic signals that can provide surrogate measures of bedload fluxes at local scales, during flood events and at sediment‐pulses. The combination of these two techniques could allow sediment transport processes to be linked with both flood events and sediment pulses. In this study, we used a combination of active ultra‐high frequency RFID technology and geophone monitoring stations to link the virtual velocity of tracers with seismic activity, hydraulic forcing, and the properties of the tracked particles. Single and multiple regression models show that seismic activity best explained the observed variance (81%) of the virtual velocity of particles, in comparison with discharge (58%) and stream power (63%). Furthermore, when several control variables (seismic activity and particle properties) were combined in an empirical model, the model explained 89% of the variance and allowed quantification of the portions of the variance explained by hydraulic forcing, geophonic activity and tracked particles. These results show the high potential of these combined monitoring techniques for future in‐field experiments to investigate bedload processes at different spatiotemporal scales in rivers of different morphologies.
Relationship with the land as a foundation for ecosystem stewardship
Authors: Sorice Michael G , Rajala Kiandra , Brown Bryan L , Masterson Vanessa A , Fuhlendorf Samuel D
Published: June 2023

We examined the hypothesis that adapting to ecosystem change on working landscapes can be enhanced by supporting the place‐based stewardship values of landowners. On the basis of responses to a survey of more than 500 landowners across a landscape dominated by working lands, we clustered landowners into five groups based on their sense of place meanings. Relationships with the land are differentiated by the degree to which an owner’s land makes positive contributions to well‐being and the degree to which the land supports livelihoods. Positive contributions to well‐being are related to stronger stewardship‐oriented management styles, yet a combination of well‐being and livelihood dependence is most closely related to increased sensitivity to ecosystem transformation. In a social–ecological system dominated by private lands, understanding an individual's relationship with the land is central to understanding adaptive capacity and for identifying policy options to successfully respond to ecological transformation.
Biological invasion threatens keystone species indelibly entwined with Indigenous cultures
Authors: Siegert Nathan W , McCullough Deborah G , Luther Thomas , Benedict Les , Crocker Susan , Church Kelly , Banks John
Published: June 2023

Black ash (Fraxinus nigra), the most highly preferred and vulnerable host of the invasive emerald ash borer (EAB;Agrilus planipennis) in North America, is of cultural and spiritual importance to many Tribal Nations in the US and First Nations in Canada. To date, EAB has invaded nearly 60% of the native range of black ash, with annual spread averaging approximately 50 km per year. On the basis of the predicted expansion of EAB distribution, we estimate that more than 75% of black ash basal area will be lost across 87% of the species’ North American range by 2035. Census data indicate that 98% of Indigenous people currently residing within the geographic range of black ash in the US will be within the area experiencing more than 75% basal area loss by 2035, suggesting broad and multidimensional impacts of EAB invasion for those who value black ash as a cultural keystone species. Collaborative efforts among scientists, resource managers, and Indigenous experts are needed to mitigate EAB impacts and preserve or protect black ash resources, given the species’ vulnerability to EAB and its associated cultural and ecological value.
Increasing equitable access to graduate education through competitive hiring in the life sciences
Authors: Carroll Kathleen A. , Lance Michael J. , Smithers Brian V. , Debinski Diane M.
Published: June 2023

Many professions necessitate a graduate‐level education, and research conducted by graduate students is integral in many fields, particularly those in the life science programs like ecology and environmental sciences. However, practices for recruiting and selecting graduate students are inconsistent among and within institutions. Although some institutions, departments, or faculty members hire graduate students through open and competitive graduate student hiring processes, graduates are frequently selected through inconsistent processes that limit the pool of applicants and do not maximize the potential for increasing workforce diversity. Here, we review and evaluate six approaches to graduate recruitment processes common in ecology and environmental science degree programs in the US to determine which approaches, or combinations of approaches, could increase equity in career development opportunities, promote workforce diversity, and provide clear justifications to funding bodies. We compiled our list of recruitment methods through informal interviews with recruiters, administrators, faculty, and graduate students in ecology, natural resources, and environmental sciences. We determined that three of the six approaches examined were most effective in supporting equitable graduate student hiring practices, and three were not. While life science fields were the primary focus of this review, our approach to evaluating graduate recruitment methods is widely applicable across disciplines where graduate students conduct research.

Practical Takeaways

There are six main ways graduate students are recruited in the life sciences: competitive recruitment, candidate pool, student‐driven, contact applicants, current employees, and preselected candidates.

Three of the common recruitment methods for graduate students are more competitive (e.g., publicly announced, with clear instructions, a review committee or panel).

Open and competitive graduate student hiring processes could increase equity in career development opportunities and promote workforce diversity.
Effects of flexible sacrum position at birth on maternal and neonatal outcomes: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Caglioni Martina , Cantatore Francesco , Valsecchi Luca , Miglioli Cesare , Dumont Roxane , Rinaldi Stefania , Candiani Massimo , Salvatore Stefano
Published: June 2023

Objective

To examine the differences in both maternal and neonatal outcomes between flexible and non‐flexible sacrum positions at birth.

Methods

A descriptive, cross‐sectional, retrospective study was carried out on a sample of low‐risk pregnant women. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions and multivariate linear regressions were conducted to estimate the association between our discrete or continuous variables of interest. Maternal outcomes were perineal tear, maternal blood loss, second stage length; neonatal outcomes were Apgar scores and neonatal asphyxia. Results were adjusted for maternal age, neonatal birth weight, and epidural analgesia.

Results

We considered for final analysis 2198 women. In primiparous women, women giving birth in the all‐fours position were significantly more likely to have an intact perineum (P = 0.011) and a shorter length of the second stage of labor (P = 0.022). Maternal age (P = 0.005) and neonatal weight (P = 0.013) significantly increased perineal tearing; maternal age (P = 0.004) and neonatal birth weight (P < 0.001) were significantly associated with a higher amount of blood loss. Maternal age (P = 0.002) and neonatal weight (P < 0.001) significantly increased the length of the second stage of labor. For multiparous women, the side‐lying position was significantly correlated with an intact perineum (P = 0.031); maternal age and intact perineum were statistically inversely associated. Epidural analgesia significantly increased the length of the second stage of labor in both nulliparous (P < 0.001) and pluriparous women (P < 0.001). No significant differences were found in neonatal outcomes.

Conclusion

Women with a low‐risk labor should be free to choose their birth position as flexible sacrum positions are shown to increase maternal well‐being and do not affect neonatal health.
Cerebral stroke classification based on fusion model of 3D EmbedConvNext and 3D Bi‐LSTM network
Authors: Wang Xinying , Yi Jian , Li Yang
Published: June 2023

Acute stroke can be effectively treated within 4.5 h. To help doctors judge the onset time of this disease as soon as possible, a fusion model of 3D EmbedConvNext and 3D Bi‐LSTM network was proposed. It uses DWI brain images to distinguish between cases where the stroke onset time is within 4.5 h and beyond. 3D EmbedConvNeXt replaces 2D convolution with 3D convolution based on the original ConvNeXt, and the downsample layer uses the self‐attention module. 3D features of EmbedConvNeXt were output to 3D Bi‐LSTM for learning. 3D Bi‐LSTM is mainly used to obtain the spatial relationship of multiple planes (axial, coronal, and sagittal), to effectively learn the 3D time series information in the depth, length, and width directions of the feature maps. The classification experiments on stroke data sets provided by cooperative hospitals show that our model achieves an accuracy of 0.83.
Evaluation of new pivoting linear‐move precision irrigation machine
Authors: Szabó Andrea , Tamás János , Kövesdi Ádám , Nagy Attila
Published: June 2023

Due to population growth, freshwater resources around the world are becoming increasingly scarce, and the water supply in agriculture has emerged as one of the limitations of food production. Variable‐rate irrigation (VRI), a type of precision irrigation, allows water‐efficient irrigation techniques to ensure an optimal water supply. The University of Debrecen, in collaboration with Magtár Kft., was the first in Hungary to develop a new laterally mobile irrigation machine equipped with VRI. The subject of our study was the testing of this system. According to the research, high and homogeneous irrigation uniformity was achieved in practice, with a Christiansen uniformity coefficient (CUc%) of 93 ± 2, distribution uniformity (DU%) of 88 ± 2 and coefficient of variation (CV) of 9 ± 2. Irrigation accuracy was also found to be satisfactory (mean absolute error 0.6 ± 0.1, mean bias error 0.2 ± 0.2, normalized root mean square error 8.6 ± 2), and only 1.4% ± 2% was overirrigated and 0.4% ± 0.3% underirrigated. In addition, the uniformity and accuracy of irrigation in different management zones along the pipeline were also investigated, and significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between irrigation water depths. Based on the above, a new laterally mobile irrigation machine equipped with VRI can be used to develop more uniform and accurate irrigation schedules in the future in arable fields as this is critical for water‐saving irrigation management.
A novel tunable metal‐clad planar waveguide with 0.62PMN‐0.38PT material for detection of cancer cells
Authors: Maurya Rajiv , Mishra Ankit , Yadav Chandan Singh , Upadhyay Abhishek , Sharma Gaurav , Kumar Sushil , Singh Vivek
Published: June 2023

A dynamically tunable metal clad planar waveguide having 0.62PMN‐0.38PT material is simulated and optimized for detection of cancer cells. Angular interrogation of the TE0 mode of waveguide shows that critical angle increases greater than the resonance angle with increasing of cover refractive index, which limits the detection range of waveguide. To overcome this limitation, proposed waveguide applies a potential on the PMN‐PT adlayer. Although a sensitivity of 105.42 degree/RIU was achieved at 70 Volts in testing the proposed waveguide, it was found that the optimal performance parameters were obtained at 60 Volts. At this voltage, the waveguide demonstrated detection range 1.3330–1.5030, a detection accuracy 2393.33, and a figure of merit 2243.59 RIU−1, which enabled the detection of the entire range of the targeted cancer cells. Therefore, it is recommended to apply a potential of 60 Volts to achieve the best performance from the proposed waveguide.
Investigating earnings management practices and the role of the board and committees in emerging markets: Evidence from Malaysian public companies
Authors: Nuhu Muhammad Shaheer , Ahmad Zauwiyah , Zhee Lim Ying
Published: June 2023

This study was aims to examine the significant elements of the audit and board committee in predicting earnings management (EM) for the period of 2010–2021. The study population comprised total number of 775 listed firms on Bursa Malaysia's main market. The annual audited financial statements and reports of the listed firms, firm's websites, Bloomberg and the Bursa Malaysia website were used as method of data collection. The analytical method used in the current study was descriptive statistic and GLS methods of panel regression. The findings of this study suggested that firms with effective CG mechanisms such as, audit committee size (AUDSIZ), audit committee financial expertise (AUDFEXPT), remuneration and nomination committee (R&NC), supervisory board size (SBS), mitigates accrual, and REM. However, the findings also indicated that gender composition (CGEND) were found to be ineffective in predicting EM.
The role of synoptic eddies on remote response of Eurasian atmosphere to the tropical forcing associated with 2021/2022 winter
Authors: Tan Guirong , Fei Qiming , Ren Hong‐Li , Yu Miao
Published: June 2023

In this paper, the role of eddy feedback in the formation and excitation of stream function anomaly pattern over Eurasian atmosphere (SFA) during 2021/2022 December–February (DJF) season is examined in terms of a low‐order linear model with a synoptic eddy and low frequency (SELF) feedback empirical closure onto the empirical orthogonal function decomposition bases (EOF‐bases). The results show that the SFA can be produced roughly and the SELF feedback plays important role in shaping the SFA during 2021/2022 DJF over Eurasian atmosphere. The SFA can be produced roughly owing to the internal action of the linear dynamical system. However, the importance of the external forcing on the formation of SFA depends on the role of the eddy feedback to a different degree. For the North Atlantic oscillation (NAO)‐like pattern with the wave train at high latitudes, the external forcing in the tropical Atlantic contributes greater with eddy feedback. While for the wave train at lower latitudes, the forcing will have little influence with the increase of the SELF feedback. A set of experiments with isolated forcing show that the forcing over tropical Atlantic Ocean can induce the wave train patterns alike the SFA, but the forcing to the east over South Asian to western Indian Ocean also contributes for shaping the SFA, especially the anomalous cyclone over Tibetan Plateau (TP). The combined effects of the response to both the tropical Atlantic Ocean and the eastern forcing over South Asian to western Indian Ocean contributes much to the formation of the two wave trains over Eurasia, thereby a negative stream function centre over TP, which might be the main cause for the excessive DJF rainfall over South China during 2021/2022. The diagnosis of the role of synoptic eddy on the atmospheric response to the external forcing for specific events can be helpful for understanding the causes for the formation of extreme climate events deeply.
Value of needle confocal laser microendoscopy combined with endobronchial ultrasound bronchoscopy in the diagnosis of hilar and mediastinal lymph node lesions
Authors: Zuo Cui‐Yun , Xue Ke‐Ying , Wu Xue‐Mei , Lin Lian‐Cheng , Luo Bing‐Qing , Chen Zhi‐De , Lin Yan‐Li , Tian Xiao‐Qin , Ke Ming‐Yao
Published: June 2023

Endobronchial ultrasound bronchoscopy (EBUS) and needle confocal laser endomicroscopy (nCLE) are techniques for screening benign and malignant lesions of the hilar and mediastinal lymph node (HMLN). This study investigated the diagnostic potential of EBUS, nCLE, and combined EBUS and nCLE in HMLN lesions. We recruited 107 patients with HMLN lesions who were examined by EBUS and nCLE. A pathological examination was performed, and the diagnostic potential of EBUS, nCLE, and combined EBUS‐nCLE approach was analyzed according to the results. Among the 107 cases of HMLN lesions, 43 cases were benign and 64 cases were malignant on pathological examination, 41 cases were benign and 66 cases were malignant on EBUS examination; 42 cases were benign and 65 cases were malignant on nCLE examination; 43 cases were benign and 64 cases were malignant on combined EBUS‐nCLE examination. The combination approach had 93.8% sensitivity, 90.7% specificity, and 0.922 area under the curve, which was higher than those of EBUS (84.4%, 72.1%, and 0.782, respectively) and nCLE diagnosis (90.6%, 83.7%, and 0.872, respectively). The combination approach had a higher positive predictive value (0.908), negative predictive value (0.881), and positive likelihood ratio (10.09) than that of EBUS (0.813, 0.721, and 3.03, respectively) and nCLE (0.892, 0.857, and 5.56, respectively), whereas, the negative likelihood ratio was lower than that for EBUS (0.22) and nCLE (0.11). No serious complications occurred in patients with HMLN lesions. To summarize, the diagnostic efficacy of nCLE was better than EBUS. The EBUS‐nCLE combination is a suitable approach for diagnosing HMLN lesions.