bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cultural conflicts and wellbeing in Africa
Authors: Kouladoum Jean‐Claude , Maiport Miandinguem Dem Oyel , Ndinga Mathias Marie Adrien
Published: June 2023

Political instability and cultural conflicts in Africa have resulted in depression, loss of lives and destruction of properties, thus deteriorating the well‐being of the citizens. The objective of the study is to assess the effect of cultural conflicts on well‐being in 41 African countries from 2006 to 2017. This study adopted the Driscoll/Kraay estimator to address the concerns of cross‐sectional dependence. Cultural conflict is proxied by the ethnic tensions indicator while well‐being is captured by a subjective indicator of happiness measured as a life ladder indicator. The findings further reveal that well‐being is negatively affected by the interaction between religious conflicts and ethnic conflicts and interactions between internal conflicts and ethnic tensions. Robustness analysis is carried out by considering the factor of colonialism where the study sample is divided into two sub‐samples representing the former British and French colonies in Africa. The results reveal a negative effect of ethnic tensions on well‐being and also a negative role of religious tensions and internal conflicts on the modulating effect of ethnic tensions on well‐being in both former French and British colonies in Africa. The findings of the study recommend that policymakers should formulate policies that would improve intertribal relations, and ensure equality in public service and the management of state affairs to avoid intertribal conflicts which could help to improve the well‐being of all the citizens.
Rhodium Catalyzed Carbonylative Approaches for Heterocycles Synthesis
Authors: Yamini  , Kumar Ashish , Das Pralay
Published: June 2023

During the past few decades, carbonylative heterocyclic chemistry have acquired a significant chemical alteration for both academic as well as industrial research. Carbonylative heterocycles are commonly used in organic synthesis and fine chemicals preparation. Introduction of carbonyl group can surge the carbon number of parent molecules in the carbonylation reaction. Herein, we have summarized the main developments achieved on rhodium catalyst from last 20 years in the area of carbonylative heterocyclic synthesis.
Supramolecular self‐assembly of polymeric carbon nitride with high photocatalytic activity
Authors: Ma Bingxiang , Li Na , Shen Yunxia , Li Min , Wei Yaoyi , Zhao Yu
Published: June 2023

Melamine and cyanic acid were self‐assembled into the supramolecular precursor through hydrogen bonding, and the precursor was treated by adding different amounts of H2O2. A series of polymeric carbon nitrides by H2O2 were prepared by the high temperature calcination method, and these samples were characterized by various modern analysis methods. Taking Rhodamine B(RhB) as the pollutant, the effect of H2O2 addition on the photocatalytic performance of polymeric carbon nitride was investigated. The results show that the addition of H2O2 affected the structural composition of polymeric carbon nitride and enhanced its photocatalytic performance. The photocatalytic degradation of RhB by the polymeric carbon nitride with 30 mL H2O2 was the best, and the degradation time of RhB to 90 % by this polymeric carbon nitride was at least 10 min earlier than that of the sample without H2O2. The degradation of RhB by the polymeric carbon nitride with 30 mL H2O2 was 99.7 % within 30 min. This polymeric carbon nitride had good stability, and the degradation of RhB decreased slightly after cyclic experiment but the chemical groups remained unchanged.
Hierarchical Porous Carbon Embedded MoSe2 Effectively Improve Cycle Stability in K‐Se Battery
Authors: Yang Wenting , Jamil Sidra , Xu Maowen
Published: June 2023

It is a crucial challenge to control the dissolution and diffusion of polyselenides in the K−Se system. Herein, a polar material MoSe2 was introduced into Chitosan‐derived hierarchical porous carbon (MoSe2‐HPC) for the first time by a simple freeze‐dried carbonization method, which was used as host materials of Se. The porous carbon plays a vital role in alleviating volume expansion from Se to K2Se and affording physical restriction effect for generating potassium polyselenides (KPSs). The adsorption experiment can prove that the additive MoSe2 as active site can effectively anchor soluble KPSs by remarkable polar interaction to achieve raising electrochemistry performance. Therefore, the Se@MoSe2‐HPC cathode presents superior cycling stability with a specific capacity of 323.2 mAh g−1 after 500 cycles at 1 C and satisfactory rate performance of 261.7 mAh g−1 at 5 C, demonstrating the great potential of MoSe2 as polar adsorption component for K−Se batteries cathode materials.
Investigating Chlorination and Migration Mechanism of NaCl on C−S−H: DFT and AIMD Study**
Authors: Liu Xiaotong , Li Zongke , Zhong Wei , Liang Tianshui
Published: June 2023

The present study investigates the chlorination and migration mechanism of Tobermorite9 Å through the use of density functional theory (DFT) calculation and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD). The findings reveal a negative adsorption energy value of −2.19488 eV. The results of the charge density difference analysis reveal that the Ca atoms experience electron loss, while the Cl atom undergoes electron gain. The O atom situated at the end of the silicate chain (and silicate chain bridge) exhibits electron gain, and the Na atom experiences electron loss. The results of density of states (DOS) and partial density of states (PDOS) demonstrate that the Ca−Cl bond was created as a result of the interaction between Ca and Cl orbitals. The evident overlaps between Na‐p and O24‐p orbitals lead to the formation of Na−O bond. In AIMD simulation, the minimum energy barrier and activation energy of sodium chloride molecule are 0.09236 eV and 0.059 eV, respectively. The findings also suggest that chloride ion diffusion is facile on hydrated calcium silicate.
Discovery, discernment, and exploitation: Entrepreneurial mechanisms at the nexus of individual and opportunity
Authors: Barach Moshe A. , Rider Christopher I.
Published: June 2023

Research Summary

Extending the opportunity‐discovery perspective on Kirznerian entrepreneurship, we propose a general framework in which new businesses emerge from three distinct mechanisms situated at the individual‐opportunity nexus: discovery, discernment, and exploitation. We propose observing opportunities in market exchanges and characterizing their profitability potential based on a component that is common to all observers and one that is specific to individual observers who vary in access to market information. Analysis of an online platform for freelance labor demonstrates our contributions in theory, measurement, and inference. In this context, discovery and exploitation mechanisms shape individuals' entrepreneurial transitions from freelancer to founder. We discuss applications of our framework across settings, extensions to other types of entrepreneurship, and the viability of opportunity as an orienting construct for entrepreneurship research.

Managerial Summary

Entrepreneurial opportunities are present in all markets but there is no systematic way of observing or valuing such opportunities, much less predicting where and when they become the basis for new businesses. We propose doing this with data commonly collected and archived by online platforms. We acknowledge that new businesses are often founded if one is in the right place at the right time; if one can distinguish a great opportunity from a good (or bad) one; or if one is capable of making a market. Our framework makes each of these intuitions empirically distinct, thus offering insights on where, when, and by whom new businesses are likely to be founded.
Integration of Protein Nanocage with CpG Motifs: A Virus‐Mimicked Core‐Shell Nanostructure to Ignite Antitumor Immunity
Authors: Zhang Qiang , Dong Junchen , Wang Jiaping , Wang Jiayu , Wang Chufan , Li Yao , Chen Xiao Lei , Wang Xiumin , Shan Wenjun , Fu Guo , Ren Lei
Published: June 2023

The tumor microenvironment typically possesses immunosuppressive properties that hinder the effectiveness of antitumor immune responses, even in the context of immunotherapies. However, it is observed that pathogenic microorganisms can trigger strong immune responses during infection, offering a potential means to counteract the immunosuppressive environment of tumors. In this study, a protein nanocage called CpG@HBc nanocages (NCs) is developed, which mimics the structure of the hepatitis B virus and combines with an immunostimulatory component known as cytosine phosphoguanosine oligonucleotide (CpG). By delivering these immunostimulatory agents, CpG@HBc NCs are able to effectively reverse the suppressive tumor microenvironment, resulting in the inhibition of poorly immunogenic tumors in mice. Through high‐dimensional mass cytometry (CyTOF) analysis, remarkable alterations in immune responses is observed induced by CpG@HBc. Treatment with immunogenic CpG@HBc NCs, along with co‐injection of an OX40 agonist, sensitized colorectal cancer tumors to T cell immune responses, resulting in significant impairment of tumor growth and robust immune activation. Furthermore, CpG@HBc NCs induced long‐term antitumor immunological memory, protecting tumor‐cured mice from tumor rechallenge. Overall, these findings highlight the potential of a virus‐inspired protein nanocage to mimic anti‐viral immunity and offer a unique therapeutic approach for cancer immunotherapy.
Altering Mechanical Properties to Improve Electrode Contacts by Organic Modification of Silica‐Based Ionogel Electrolytes for Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Mercken Jonas , De Sloovere Dries , Joos Bjorn , Calvi Lavinia , Mangione Gianfabio , Pitet Louis , Derveaux Elien , Adriaensens Peter , Van Bael Marlies K. , Hardy An
Published: June 2023

Sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) are a possible candidate to create safe, sustainable, and cost‐effective batteries. Solid sodium‐ion conducting organically modified ionogel electrolytes are investigated. Silica‐based ionogels typically consist of an ionic liquid electrolyte (ILE) confined within a silica matrix and possess high thermal stability, good ionic conductivity, safety, and good electrochemical stability. However, they readily deteriorate when stress is applied, decreasing the electrolyte's and battery's overall performance. The mechanical characteristics of silica can be improved using organic moieties, creating Ormosils®. Silica‐based ionogels with phenyl‐modified silanes improve the mechanical characteristics by a reduction of their Young's modulus (from 29 to 6 MPa). This is beneficial to the charge‐transfer resistance, which decreases after implementing the electrolyte in half cells, demonstrating the improved interfacial contact. Most importantly, the phenyl groups change the interacting species at the silica interface. Cationic imidazolium species pi‐stacked to the phenyl groups of the silica matrix, pushing the anions to the bulk of the ILE, which affects the ionic conductivity and electrochemical stability, and might affect the quality of the SEI in half cells. In essence, the work at hand can be used as a directory to improve mechanical characteristics and modify and control functional properties of ionogel electrolytes.
Transferred Polymer‐Encapsulated Metal Electrodes for Electrical Transport Measurements on Ultrathin Air‐Sensitive Crystals
Authors: Zhang Zheshan , Dong Xinyue , Chen Jiabiao , Liu Zhaochao , Gao Zhansheng , Chang Xinyue , Du Yaping , Jia Chuancheng , Fu Huixia , Luo Feng , Wu Jinxiong
Published: June 2023

Owing to rapid property degradation after ambient exposure and incompatibility with conventional device fabrication process, electrical transport measurements on air‐sensitive 2D materials have always been a big issue. Here, for the first time, a facile one‐step polymer‐encapsulated electrode transfer (PEET) method applicable for fragile 2D materials is developed, which showed great advantages of damage‐free electrodes patterning and in situ polymer encapsulation preventing from H2O/O2 exposure during the whole electrical measurements process. The ultrathin SmTe2 metals grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) are chosen as the prototypical air‐sensitive 2D crystals for their poor air‐stability, which will become highly insulating when fabricated by conventional lithographic techniques. Nevertheless, the intrinsic electrical properties of CVD‐grown SmTe2 nanosheets can be readily investigated by the PEET method instead, showing ultralow contact resistance and high signal/noise ratio. The PEET method can be applicable to other fragile ultrathin magnetic materials, such as (Mn,Cr)Te, to investigate their intrinsic electrical/magnetic properties.
Flexible, Ultrathin, and Lithographic‐Free Nanocoral Metamaterial Membrane for Omnidirectional UV–vis–NIR Broadband Absorption
Authors: Sun Guotao , Chen Youxin , Sun Jia , Wang Qingkang , Wu Kaiyu
Published: June 2023

UV–vis–NIR metamaterial absorbers are key components for devices used in photothermal applications, especially those related to solar energy. Demanded by modern applications using nonplanar devices, they should be flexible, thin, mass producible, easy for integration, and demonstrate strong omnidirectional light absorption over wide spectral ranges. However, there are few ways to achieve these simultaneously. Additionally, most fabrication methods are substrate dependent, limiting integrability, or involve lithography, which can be costly and difficult. Herein, a metamaterial absorber that meets all the requirements above is demonstrated, using a simple substrate‐independent lithographic‐free process. It is composed of 3D randomized gold@SU‐8 hybrid nanocoral structures of ≈2 μm thin on a supporting membrane, which can be different materials to meet various integration needs depending on applications. Benefiting from multilevel hybridizations of plasmon resonance reinforced by strong light‐trapping effect, >90% optical energy ranging from 250 to 2500 nm is omnidirectionally absorbed. The perfect metamaterial absorber exhibits very stable photothermal conversion properties with great reproducibility and durability. The excellent performance, thinness, flexibility, and simple fabrication method grant the presented absorber great potential in modern photothermal applications, especially those requiring nonplanar thin‐film devices.
The oldest dairoidid crab (Decapoda, Brachyura, Parthenopoidea) from the Eocene of Spain
Authors: Ferratges Fernando A. , Luque Javier , Domínguez José Luis , Ossó Àlex , Aurell Marcos , Zamora Samuel
Published: June 2023

Eubrachyurans, or ‘higher’ true crabs, are the most speciose group of decapod crustaceans and have a rich fossil record extending into the Early Cretaceous. However, most extant families are first found in the fossil record in the Palaeogene, and particularly in the Eocene. Unfortunately, fossils of many early eubrachyuran groups are often fragmentary, and only a few studies have combined extinct and extant taxa in a phylogenetic context using different optimality criteria. Here, we report the dairoidid crab Phrynolambrus sagittalis sp. nov., an enigmatic eubrachyuran from the upper Eocene of Huesca (northern Spain), whose completeness and exquisite preservation permit examination of its anatomy in a phylogenetic context. Dairoidids have previously been considered among the oldest stone crabs (Eriphioidea) or elbow crabs (Parthenopoidea), two disparate and distantly related groups of true crabs living today. Mechanical preparation and computed tomography of the fossil material revealed several diagnostic features that allow a detailed comparison with families across the crab tree of life, and test hypotheses about its phylogenetic affinities. Phrynolambrus sagittalis is the first record of the genus in the Iberian Peninsula, and represents one of the oldest crown parthenopoidean crabs worldwide, expanding our knowledge of the biogeographical distribution of elbow crabs during the Palaeogene, as well as their early origins, anatomical diversity and systematic affinities. Understanding the disparity of Eocene eubrachyurans is pivotal to disentangling the systematic relationships among crown families, and interpreting the spatio‐temporal patterns leading to the evolution of modern faunas.
A systematic review of the local field potential adaptations during conditioned place preference task in preclinical studies
Authors: Fattahi Mojdeh , Modaberi Shaghayegh , Eskandari Kiarash , Haghparast Abbas
Published: June 2023

Addiction is a global concern with a high relapse rate and without effective therapeutic options. Developing new effective therapeutic strategies is impossible without discovering the disease's neurobiological basis. The present systematic review aimed to comprehensively recognize and discuss the role of local field potentials from brain areas essential in forming and storing context‐drug/food associations following the conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm as a popular animal model of reward and addiction. Qualified studies were incorporated by a broad search of four databases, including Web of Science, Medline/PubMed, Embase, and ScienceDirect, in July 2022, and they were evaluated via appropriate methodological quality assessment tools. The current study found that drug‐seeking behavior in different stages of the CPP paradigm is accompanied by alterations in neural oscillatory activity and adaptations in connectivity among various areas such as the hippocampus, nucleus accumbens, basolateral amygdala, and prelimbic area, intensely engaged in reward‐related behaviors. These findings need to be extended by more future advanced studies to finally recognize the altered oscillatory activity patterns of large groups of cells in regions involved in reward‐context associations to improve clinical strategies such as neuromodulation approaches to modify the abnormal electrical activity of these critical brain regions and their connections for treating addiction and preventing drug/food relapse in abstinent patients.

Definitions

Power is the amount of energy in a frequency band and is the squared amplitude of the oscillation.

Cross‐frequency coupling refers to a statistical relationship between activities in two different frequency bands.

Phase‐amplitude coupling is perhaps the most commonly used method of computing cross‐frequency coupling. Phase‐amplitude coupling involves testing for a relationship between the phase of one frequency band and the power of another, typically relatively higher, frequency band. Thus, within phase‐amplitude coupling, you refer to the “frequency for phase” and the “frequency for power.”

Spectral coherence has been frequently used to detect and quantify coupling between oscillatory signals of two or more brain areas. Spectral coherence estimates the linear phase‐consistency between two frequency‐decomposed signals over time windows (or trials).
Facilitators and inhibitors of Agile methods adoption: Practitioners view
Authors: Mishra Deepti , Mishra Alok , Abdalhamid Samia
Published: June 2023

This study provides empirical evidence to the body of knowledge in Agile methods adoption in small, medium, and large organizations in the global context. This research explores facilitators and inhibitors of Agile methods adoption in software development organizations. A survey was conducted among Agile professionals to gather survey data from 52 software organizations in seven countries across the world. This study found many facilitators of Agile adoption to be significant such as customers’ dominant issues, encouragement, project champion, highly competent team, use of tools, etc. Similarly a correlation analysis revealed multiple inhibitors as significant: absence of a full set of right Agile practices, absence of customer presence, absence of tracking mechanisms during Agile progress, and failure to determine the role of the client. The present study identifies that an Agile team with high expertise and competence leads to higher quality in software, customer satisfaction along with return on investment (ROI) while a small Agile team increases ease in handling changing requirements, customer satisfaction, reduced delivery time, and increased ROI. Frequent delivery accelerates better control over work, adds to software quality, customer satisfaction, and in shortening delivery time along with increase ROI. It has also been observed that providing essential features early leads to increase in software quality and customer satisfaction. This study confirms that active customer focus leads to better control over work. Further, absence of customer decreases dealing with changing requirements, and customer satisfaction while absence of progress tracking lowers customer satisfaction.
Study of the unified strength theory for seismic response of frame building on loess considering soil‐structure interaction
Authors: Xiong Zhongming , Lin Leyi , Sun Qiren , Chen Xuan
Published: June 2023

To investigate the effect of soil‐structure interaction (SSI) on the seismic response of frame buildings on collapsible loess, the secondary development of Abaqus was used to realize the embedding of the unified strength theory constitutive model. Meanwhile, a new nonlinear elastic model generated by the unified strength theory (b, the failure criterion parameter in the unified strength theory, equals 0.5) was developed. Seven‐ and nine‐story frame buildings were selected as engineering examples in this study. The outcomes indicate that the nonlinear behavior of the loess–pile has a significant effect on the dynamic interaction of both group pile foundations and the superstructure under strong earthquakes. This results in an amplification of the displacement response and a reduction in inter‐story shear force. As the foundation soil becomes softer, the K‐type distribution of both peak accelerations and inter‐story displacements along height becomes more obvious in general.
Involvement of oxidative stress‐related apoptosis in chlorpyrifos‐induced cytotoxicity and the ameliorating potential of the antioxidant vitamin E in human glioblastoma cells
Authors: Hsu Shu‐Shong , Lin Yung‐Shang , Chen Hui‐Ching , Liang Wei‐Zhe
Published: June 2023

Organophosphate pesticides (OPs), which are among the most widely used synthetic chemicals for the control of a wide variety of pests, are however associated with various adverse reactions in animals and humans. Chlorpyrifos, an OP, has been shown to cause various health complications due to ingestion, inhalation, or skin absorption. The mechanisms underlying the adverse effect of chlorpyrifos on neurotoxicity have not been elucidated. Therefore, we aimed to determine the mechanism of chlorpyrifos‐induced cytotoxicity and to examine whether the antioxidant vitamin E (VE) ameliorated these cytotoxic effects using DBTRG‐05MG, a human glioblastoma cell line. The DBTRG‐05MG cells were treated with chlorpyrifos, VE, or chlorpyrifos plus VE and compared with the untreated control cells. Chlorpyrifos induced a significant decrease in cell viability and caused morphological changes in treated cultures. Furthermore, chlorpyrifos led to the increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) accompanied by a decrease in the level of reduced glutathione. Additionally, chlorpyrifos induced apoptosis by upregulating the protein levels of Bax and cleaved caspase‐9/caspase‐3 and by downregulating the protein levels of Bcl‐2. Moreover, chlorpyrifos modulated the antioxidant response by increasing the protein levels of Nrf2, HO‐1, and NQO1. However, VE reversed the cytotoxicity and oxidative stress induced by chlorpyrifos treatment in DBTRG‐05MG cells. Overall, these findings suggest that chlorpyrifos causes cytotoxicity through oxidative stress, a process that may play an important role in the development of chlorpyrifos‐associated glioblastoma.
Prediction model for hypertension in first decade after pre‐eclampsia in initially normotensive women
Authors: Hooijschuur M. C. E. , Janssen E. B. N. J. , Mulder E. G. , Kroon A. A. , Meijers J. M. J. , Brugts J. J. , van Bussel B. C. T. , van Kuijk S. M. J. , Spaanderman M. E. A. , Ghossein‐Doha C.
Published: June 2023

Objective

To develop a prediction model for the development of hypertension in the decade following pre‐eclampsia in women who were normotensive shortly after pregnancy.

Methods

This was a longitudinal cohort study of formerly pre‐eclamptic women attending a university hospital in The Netherlands between 1996 and 2019. We developed a prediction model for incident hypertension using multivariable logistic regression analysis. The model was validated internally using bootstrapping techniques.

Results

Of 259 women, 185 (71%) were normotensive at the first cardiovascular assessment, at a median of 10 (interquartile range (IQR), 6–24) months after a pre‐eclamptic pregnancy, of whom 49 (26%) had developed hypertension by the second visit, at a median of 11 (IQR, 6–14) years postpartum. The prediction model, based on birth‐weight centile, mean arterial pressure, total cholesterol, left ventricular mass index and left ventricular ejection fraction, had good‐to‐excellent discriminative ability, with an area under the receiver‐operating‐characteristics curve (AUC) of 0.82 (95% CI, 0.75–0.89) and an optimism‐corrected AUC of 0.80. The sensitivity and specificity of our model to predict hypertension were 98% and 34%, respectively, and positive and negative predictive values were 35% and 98%, respectively.

Conclusions

Based on five variables, we developed a good‐to‐excellent predictive tool to identify incident hypertension following pre‐eclampsia in women who were normotensive shortly after pregnancy. After external validation, this model could have considerable clinical utility in tackling the cardiovascular legacy of pre‐eclampsia. © 2023 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Hydrolytic and thermal stability of urea‐formaldehyde resins based on tannin and betaine bio‐fillers
Authors: Ristić Mirjana , Samaržija‐Jovanović Suzana , Jovanović Vojislav , Kostić Marija , Erceg Tamara , Jovanović Tijana , Marković Gordana , Marinović‐Cincović Milena
Published: June 2023

In this work, betaine (trimethyl glycine) and tannin (complex biomolecules of polyphenolic nature) were used as bio‐fillers. Urea‐formaldehyde (UF) resin with a molar ratio of formaldehyde versus urea (FA/U) of 0.8 was synthesized in situ with tannin and betaine as bio‐fillers, to obtain UF resin with reduced free FA content and increased hydrolytic and thermal stability by the principles of sustainability. The samples TUF (with tannin) and BUF (with betaine) were characterized by using X‐ray diffraction analysis (XRD), non‐isothermal thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential thermal analysis (DTA), supported by data from Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The percentage of free FA in modified BUF resin is 0.1%, while the percentage of free FA in tannin‐modified resin is 0.8%. The hydrolytic stability of the modified UF resins was determined by measuring the concentration of liberated FA in the modified UF resins, after acid hydrolysis. The modified BUF resin is hydrolytically more stable because the content of released FA is 3.6% compared to the modified TUF resin, where it was 7.4%. Based on the value for T5%, the more thermally stable resin is the modified TUF resin (T5% = 123.1°C), while the value of the T5% for the BUF resin is 83.1°C. This work showed how UF bio‐composite with reduced free FA content and increased hydrolytic and thermal stability can be obtained using tannin and betaine as bio‐fillers.
Progress in reducing nutrient and sediment loads to Chesapeake Bay: Three decades of monitoring data and implications for restoring complex ecosystems
Authors: Zhang Qian , Blomquist Joel D. , Fanelli Rosemary M. , Keisman Jennifer L. D. , Moyer Douglas L. , Langland Michael J.
Published: June 2023

For over three decades, Chesapeake Bay (USA) has been the focal point of a coordinated restoration strategy implemented through a partnership of governmental and nongovernmental entities, which has been a classical model for coastal restoration worldwide. This synthesis aims to provide resource managers and estuarine scientists with a clearer perspective of the magnitude of changes in water quality within the Bay watershed, including nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sediment for the River Input Monitoring (RIM) watershed and the unmonitored below‐RIM watershed. The flow‐normalized N load from the RIM watershed has declined in the period of 1985–2017, but P and sediment loads have lacked progress. Reductions of riverine N are largely driven by reductions of point sources and atmospheric deposition. Future reductions will require significant progress in managing agricultural nonpoint sources. The below‐RIM watershed, which comprises a disproportionately high fraction of inputs to the Bay, has shown long‐term declines in major sources, including point sources (N and P), atmospheric deposition (N), manure (N and P) and fertilizer (P), based on a combination of monitoring and modeling assessments. To date, the Bay cleanup efforts have achieved some progress toward reducing nutrients from the watershed, which have resulted in improving water quality in the estuary. However, further reductions are critical to achieve the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load goals, and emerging challenges due to Conowingo Reservoir, legacy nutrients, climate change, and population growth should be considered. Continued monitoring, modeling, and assessment are critically important for informing the restoration of this complex ecosystem.

This article is categorized under:

Science of Water > Water Quality

Water and Life > Stresses and Pressures on Ecosystems

Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness
How babies use their hands to learn about objects: Exploration, reach‐to‐grasp, manipulation, and tool use
Authors: Needham Amy Work , Nelson Eliza L.
Published: June 2023

Object play is essential for infant learning, and infants spend most of their day with objects. Young infants learn about objects and their properties through multimodal exploration facilitated by caregivers. They figure out how to transport their hands to where objects are, and how to grasp objects in increasingly complex ways. Building on earlier experiences, they learn how to use their hands collaboratively to act on objects, and how to use objects to act on other objects in instrumental ways. These changes in how infants use their hands occur during the most rapid period of motor development and may have important downstream implications for other domains. Recent research findings have established the importance of effective fine motor skills for later academic skills, yet our understanding of the factors that influence the early development of hand skills is sparse at best. Latest research on reaching, grasping, object manipulation, hands collaboration, and tool use is reviewed and connections among these developments are explained from the perspective of developmental cascades.

This article is categorized under:

Psychology > Motor Skill and Performance

Psychology > Development and Aging
A systematic review of Green AI
Authors: Verdecchia Roberto , Sallou June , Cruz Luís
Published: June 2023

With the ever‐growing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI)‐based systems, the carbon footprint of AI is no longer negligible. AI researchers and practitioners are therefore urged to hold themselves accountable for the carbon emissions of the AI models they design and use. This led in recent years to the appearance of researches tackling AI environmental sustainability, a field referred to as Green AI. Despite the rapid growth of interest in the topic, a comprehensive overview of Green AI research is to date still missing. To address this gap, in this article, we present a systematic review of the Green AI literature. From the analysis of 98 primary studies, different patterns emerge. The topic experienced a considerable growth from 2020 onward. Most studies consider monitoring AI model footprint, tuning hyperparameters to improve model sustainability, or benchmarking models. A mix of position papers, observational studies, and solution papers are present. Most papers focus on the training phase, are algorithm‐agnostic or study neural networks, and use image data. Laboratory experiments are the most common research strategy. Reported Green AI energy savings go up to 115%, with savings over 50% being rather common. Industrial parties are involved in Green AI studies, albeit most target academic readers. Green AI tool provisioning is scarce. As a conclusion, the Green AI research field results to have reached a considerable level of maturity. Therefore, from this review emerges that the time is suitable to adopt other Green AI research strategies, and port the numerous promising academic results to industrial practice.

This article is categorized under:

Technologies > Machine Learning
Tunable Low‐Temperature Thermoelectric Transport Properties in Layered CuCr(S1‐xSex)2 System
Authors: Kousar H. Sajida , Srivastava Divya , Karppinen Maarit , Tewari Girish C
Published: June 2023

We have characterized the layered CuCr(S,Se)2 system for the spin‐polarized electronic band structures and low‐temperature thermoelectric transport properties. The electronic band structure calculations reveal semiconducting behavior for CuCrS2, CuCr(S0.5Se0.5)2 and CuCrSe2 with an indirect bandgap of 0.42, 0.30 and 0.10 eV, respectively. The systematically decreased bandgap with increasing Se content is in line with the experimental observations showing a semiconductor‐to‐metal transition with increasing Se‐substitution level in the CuCr(S1‐xSex)2 system because of an increase in the charge carrier density. The p‐type Seebeck coefficient shows a linear temperature dependence for the samples, like in degenerate semiconductors or metals. The remarkably large Seebeck coefficient even in metallic samples is due to a relatively large effective mass of charge carriers. As the thermal conductivity is intrinsically low owing to the layered crystal structure and is further decreased for the Se‐substituted samples because of the increased phonon scattering from point defects, the thermoelectric characteristics are promising. The highest dimensionless figure‐of‐merit values were seen for the x=0.5 sample, e. g., 0.04 at 400 K.
Merging of two level-1 trauma centers in Amsterdam: premerger demand in integrated acute trauma care
Authors: Berkeveld Eva , Zuidema Wietse P. , Azijli Kaoutar , van den Berg Marleen H. , Giannakopoulos Georgios F. , Bloemers Frank W. ,   Trauma Surgery research collaborative group, Cuijpers Veerle , Mahraoui Anissa , Moorees Jesse , Nasim Gulsum Z.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Availability of adequate and appropriate trauma care is essential. A merger of two Dutch academic level-1 trauma centers is upcoming. However, in the literature, volume effects after a merger are inconclusive. This study aimed to examine the premerger demand for level-1 trauma care on integrated acute trauma care and evaluate the expected demand on the system.

Methods

A retrospective observational study was conducted between 1-1-2018 and 1-1-2019 in two level-1 trauma centers in the Amsterdam region using data derived from the local trauma registries and electronic patient records. All trauma patients presented at both centers’ Emergency Departments (ED) were included. Patient- and injury characteristics and data concerning all prehospital and in-hospital-delivered trauma care were collected and compared. Pragmatically, the demand for trauma care in the post-merger setting was considered a sum of care demand for both centers.

Results

In total, 8277 trauma patients were presented at both EDs, 4996 (60.4%) at location A and 3281 (39.6%) at location B. Overall, 462 patients were considered severely injured patients (Injury Severity Score ≥ 16). In total, 702 emergency surgeries (< 24 h) were performed, and 442 patients were admitted to the ICU. The sum care demand of both centers resulted in a 167.4% increase in trauma patients and a 151.1% increase in severely injured patients. Moreover, on 96 occasions annually, two or more patients within the same hour would require advanced trauma resuscitation by a specialized team or emergency surgery.

Conclusion

A merger of two Dutch level-1 trauma centers would, in this scenario, result in a more than 150% increase in the post-merger setting’s demand for integrated acute trauma care.
Troubled in school: does maternal involvement matter for adolescents?
Authors: Norris Jonathan , van Hasselt Martijn
Published: June 2023

We estimate the causal effect of mother’s involvement on the amount of trouble an adolescent experiences in school based on a sample of high school students in the USA. Our measure of mother’s involvement encompasses discussing school-related matters and providing help with school projects. We use multiple measures of trouble in school to construct a composite that we link to noncognitive skills. Using an instrumental variable based on a suitably chosen peer group, our main finding is that an increase in maternal involvement leads to a significant decrease in adolescents’ trouble in school. This result is robust across a large number of sensitivity tests aimed at detecting selection effects, shocks at the peer group level, and further potential violations of the exclusion restriction. Additionally, we present evidence suggesting adolescents’ college aspirations, mental health and the perception of parental warmth as potential channels through which the mother’s involvement effect operates.
Gender‐specific distribution of knee morphology according to CPAK and functional phenotype classification: analysis of 8739 osteoarthritic knees prior to total knee arthroplasty using artificial intelligence
Authors: Huber Stephanie , Mitterer Jennyfer A. , Vallant Sascha M. , Simon Sebastian , Hanak‐Hammerl Florian , Schwarz Gilbert M. , Klasan Antonio , Hofstaetter Jochen G.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Osteoarthritis of the knee is commonly associated with malalignment of the lower limb. Recent classifications, as the Coronal Plane Alignment of the Knee (CPAK) and Functional Phenotype classification, describe the bony knee morphology in addition to the overall limb alignment. Data on distribution of these classifications is not sufficient in large populations. The aim of this study was to analyse the preoperative knee morphology with regard to the aforementioned classifications in long leg radiographs prior to total knee arthroplasty surgery using Artificial Intelligence.

Methods

The cohort comprised 8739 preoperative long leg radiographs of 7456 patients of all total knee arthroplasty surgeries between 2009 and 2021 from our institutional database. The automated measurements were performed with the validated Artificial Intelligence software LAMA (ImageBiopsy Lab, Vienna) and included standardized axes and angles [hip‐knee‐ankle angle (HKA), mechanical lateral distal femur angle (mLDFA), mechanical medial proximal tibia angle (mMPTA), mechanical axis deviation (MAD), anatomic mechanic axis deviation (AMA) and joint line convergence angle (JLCA)]. CPAK and functional phenotype classifications were performed and all measurements were analysed for gender, age, and body mass index (BMI) within these subgroups.

Results

Varus alignment was more common in men (m: 2008, 68.5%; f: 2953, 50.8%) while neutral (m: 578, 19.7%; f: 1357, 23.4%) and valgus (m: 345, 11.8%; f: 1498, 25.8%) alignment was more common in women. The most common morphotypes according to CPAK classification were CPAK Type I (2454; 28.1%), Type II (2383; 27.3%), and Type III (1830; 20.9%). An apex proximal joint line (CPAK Type VII, VIII and IX) was only found in 1.3% of all cases (n = 121). In men, CPAK Type I (1136; 38.8%) and CPAK Type II (799; 27.3%) were the most common types and women were spread more equally between CPAK Type I (1318; 22.7%), Type II (1584; 27.3%) and Type III (1494; 25.7%) (p < 0.001). The most common combination of femur and tibia types was NEUmLDFA0°,NEUmMPTA0° (m: 514, 17.5%; f: 1004, 17.3%), but men showed femoral varus more often. Patients with a higher BMI showed a significantly lower age at surgery (R2 = 0.09, p < 0.001). There were significant differences between men and women for all radiographic parameters (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Distribution in knee morphology with gender‐specific differences highlights the wide range in osteoarthritic knees, characterized by CPAK and phenotype classification and may influence future surgical planning.

Level of evidence

Level III.
Miniaturized method for the quantification of persistent organic pollutants and their metabolites in HepG2 cells: assessment of their biotransformation
Authors: De Oro-Carretero Paloma , Sanz-Landaluze Jon
Published: June 2023

Biotransformation can greatly influence the accumulation and, subsequently, toxicity of substances in living beings. Although traditionally these studies to quantify metabolization of a compound have been carried out with in vivo species, currently, in vitro test methods with very different cell lines are being developed for their evaluation. However, this is still a very limited field due to multiple variables of a very diverse nature. So, an increasing number of analytical chemists are working with cells or other similar biological samples of very small size. This makes it necessary to address the development of analytical methods that allow determining their concentration both inside the cells and in their exposure medium. The aim of this study is to develop a set of analytical methodologies for the quantification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs (phenanthrene, PHE), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers, PBDEs (2,2′,4,4′-tetrabromodiphenyl ether, BDE-47), and their major metabolites in cells and their exposure medium. Analytical methodologies, based on miniaturized ultrasound probe-assisted extraction, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry–microelectron capture detector (GC–MS-µECD), and liquid chromatography–fluorescence detector (LC-FL) determination techniques, have been optimized and then applied to a biotransformation study in HepG2 at 48 h of exposure. Significant concentrations of the major metabolites of PHE (1-OH, 2-OH, 3-OH, 4-OH-, and 9-OH-PHE) and BDE-47 (5-MeO-, 5-OH-, and 3-OH-BDE-47) were detected and quantified inside the cells and in the exposure medium. These results provide a new method for determination and improve information on the metabolization ratios for a better knowledge of the metabolic pathways and their toxicity.

Graphical abstract
Simple chain automaton random number generator for IoT devices
Authors: Dömösi Pál , Horváth Géza , Tihanyi Norbert
Published: June 2023

Random numbers are very important in many fields of computer science. Generating high-quality random numbers using only basic arithmetic operations is challenging, especially for devices with limited hardware capabilities, such as Internet of Things (IoT) devices. In this paper, we present a novel pseudorandom number generator, the simple chain automaton random number generator (SCARNG), based on compositions of abstract automata. The main advantage of the presented algorithm is its simple structure that can be implemented easily for very low computing capacity IoT systems, FPGAs or GPU hardware. The generated random numbers demonstrate promising statistical behavior and satisfy the NIST statistical suite requirements, highlighting the potential of the SCARNG for practical applications.
An automated surgical decision-making framework for partial or radical nephrectomy based on 3D-CT multi-level anatomical features in renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Yang Huancheng , Wu Kai , Liu Hanlin , Wu Peng , Yuan Yangguang , Wang Lei , Liu Yaru , Zeng Haoyang , Li Junkai , Liu Weihao , Wu Song
Published: June 2023

Objectives

To determine whether 3D-CT multi-level anatomical features can provide a more accurate prediction of surgical decision-making for partial or radical nephrectomy in renal cell carcinoma.

Methods

This is a retrospective study based on multi-center cohorts. A total of 473 participants with pathologically proved renal cell carcinoma were split into the internal training and the external testing set. The training set contains 412 cases from five open-source cohorts and two local hospitals. The external testing set includes 61 participants from another local hospital. The proposed automatic analytic framework contains the following modules: a 3D kidney and tumor segmentation model constructed by 3D-UNet, a multi-level feature extractor based on the region of interest, and a partial or radical nephrectomy prediction classifier by XGBoost. The fivefold cross-validation strategy was used to get a robust model. A quantitative model interpretation method called the Shapley Additive Explanations was conducted to explore the contribution of each feature.

Results

In the prediction of partial versus radical nephrectomy, the combination of multi-level features achieved better performance than any single-level feature. For the internal validation, the AUROC was 0.93 ± 0.1, 0.94 ± 0.1, 0.93 ± 0.1, 0.93 ± 0.1, and 0.93 ± 0.1, respectively, as determined by the fivefold cross-validation. The AUROC from the optimal model was 0.82 ± 0.1 in the external testing set. The tumor shape Maximum 3D Diameter plays the most vital role in the model decision.

Conclusions

The automated surgical decision framework for partial or radical nephrectomy based on 3D-CT multi-level anatomical features exhibits robust performance in renal cell carcinoma. The framework points the way towards guiding surgery through medical images and machine learning.

Clinical relevance statement

We proposed an automated analytic framework that can assist surgeons in partial or radical nephrectomy decision-making. The framework points the way towards guiding surgery through medical images and machine learning.

Key Points

• The 3D-CT multi-level anatomical features provide a more accurate prediction of surgical decision-making for partial or radical nephrectomy in renal cell carcinoma.

• The data from multicenter study and a strict fivefold cross-validation strategy, both internal validation set and external testing set, can be easily transferred to different tasks of new datasets.

• The quantitative decomposition of the prediction model was conducted to explore the contribution of each extracted feature.
SLE3S-water system: a linear rheological characterisation
Authors: Ferraro Rosalia , Caserta Sergio
Published: June 2023

Surfactant-water mixtures display a complex rheological behaviour, with changes in parameters such as viscosity and moduli of several orders of magnitude as a consequence of phase changes, depending on their concentration and temperature: this criticism heavily affects different industrial processes. In our work, linear rheological behaviour of aqueous mixtures of a commercial anionic surfactant, sodium lauryl ether sulphate, is investigated in a range of temperature (30–60 °C) and surfactant concentration (20–72%wt) of technological relevance. Four phases with different texture are identified by polarised light microscopy: micellar, hexagonal, cubic and lamellar, all showing a shear-thinning behaviour. Rheological parameters of cubic phase show a net jump in a relatively narrow temperature range, suggesting a temperature-induced phase change. The systematic analysis of the rheological behaviour of this widely used surfactant system, reported here for the first time, can be of fundamental support for many industrial applications.

Graphical Abstract