bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
External DNA contamination and efficiency of bleach decontamination for arthropod diet analysis
Authors: Huszarik Maike , Röder Nina , Eberhardt Linda , Kennedy Susan , Krehenwinkel Henrik , Schwenk Klaus , Entling Martin H.
Published: March 2023

DNA metabarcoding is increasingly used to analyze the diet of arthropods, including spiders. However, high sensitivity to DNA contamination makes it difficult to apply to organisms obtained from mass‐sampling methods such as pitfall traps. An alternative is to hand‐sample spiders, but it is unclear how effectively this prevents external contamination, especially with new knowledge showing the wide spread of eDNA in the environment. Protocols using bleach to remove external DNA have been tested on several invertebrates, though testing with both mass‐sampling methods and spiders is lacking. Here, we used wolf spiders (Lycosidae) to assess the risk of external DNA contamination from pitfall trapping and hand sampling, and the efficacy of bleach decontamination. We first conducted a contamination experiment where we placed spiders in pitfall traps containing trapping medium and a nonprey insect species to simulate external DNA contamination. We also compared sampling methods by collecting spiders using pitfall traps and hand sampling. Spiders from the contamination experiment and sampling method comparison were either bleached or untreated, then metabarcoded using multiple primer pairs. The contamination experiment resulted in the contamination of almost all spiders from pitfall traps, which was successfully eliminated with bleaching. Interestingly, there was no difference in the number of amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) detected per spider between pitfall trapping and hand sampling but bleaching resulted in significantly fewer ASV detections for both methods. Additionally, bleaching, but not sampling method, affected the taxonomic diet composition for both hand‐sampled and pitfall‐trapped spiders, indicating similar levels of external contamination. Our results are the first to confirm that DNA metabarcoding can be used together with bleaching for spiders sampled from pitfall traps, and that hand sampling does not necessarily exclude external DNA contamination. Thus, diet studies using metabarcoding should address the risk of external contamination with field‐sampled arthropods, regardless of sampling method.
Seismic performance analysis of steel frame structures with separated three‐dimensional isolation
Authors: Shi Yundong , Wang Yuchen , Zhang Mengmeng , Ding Yang , Li Zhong‐Xian
Published: March 2023

Three‐dimensional (3D) base isolation can significantly improve the seismic performance of structures. However, significant 3D movement coupling and rocking behavior of the superstructure due to the high gravity center of the structure can be observed, which will lead to a complex design of the isolation system and the isolators. In addition, as the 3D isolators are installed beneath the structures, they need to support the heavy weight of the superstructure with low vertical stiffness. It is difficult to meet both the vertical load and stiffness design demands of the isolators using traditional isolation materials and mechanisms, especially for large‐size structures. A separated 3D isolation scheme is proposed by installing the horizontal isolation at the base of the superstructure and the vertical isolation under the floor slabs. Simulations are carried out to examine the dynamic responses including the acceleration, inter‐storey drift, and stress of structural members of a typical steel frame structure with the separated 3D isolation scheme. The isolation effect was also studied by shaking table tests of a two‐storey steel frame structure. The simulation and test results show that the proposed separated 3D isolation scheme has high performance in mitigating the structural accelerations in both horizontal and vertical directions, and the vertical load on isolators. The rocking behavior of the structure is effectively restrained for the separated 3D isolation scheme due to a low mass center configuration of the vertically isolated slabs. Although the isolation of the floor slabs from the beams in the structure with separated 3D isolation weakens the constraint of the floor slabs to the beam and column members as in a traditional frame structure, the horizontal isolation at the base of the superstructure reduces the adverse effect and the stress of structural members is similar to that in a horizontal base‐isolated structure and significantly lower than that in a base‐fixed structure. In addition, as the vertical isolation is installed under the slabs, the vertical load on the vertical isolators is small and it is easy to design the isolators.
Effect of geometrical dimensions on flame spread rate over U‐shaped polyurethane facade and theoretical analysis
Authors: Chen Yanqiu , Zhang Jiwei , Nie Yifan , Qi Jiacheng , Feng Qianhang , Chen Junmin
Published: March 2023

Polyurethane is widely used in building facades as a good energy‐saving and environment‐friendly organic material, and the U‐shaped structure is a common facade form as it could improve indoor lighting and ventilation. Through numerical simulation and theoretical analysis, this study found the flame spread rate of polyurethane foam over a U‐shaped facade was affected by the structural dimensions due to three main factors: lateral air entrainment restriction, bottom air entrainment restriction, and flame fusion between the back wall flame and side wall flame. The average flame spread rate was negative linearly correlated with the back wall width and positive exponentially correlated with the side wall length. This was due to that the side walls caused lateral air entrainment restriction, reduced the heat loss, enhanced the thermal feedback, generated an upward induced airflow close to the back wall, elongated the flame, and also caused the flame fusion between side walls and the back wall, thus accelerated the flame spread process compared to the flat structures.
Interventions to reduce times to diagnosis and treatment of head and neck cancer: A systematic review and narrative synthesis
Authors: Venchiarutti Rebecca L. , Kapoor Raveena , Clark Jonathan R. , Palme Carsten E. , Young Jane M.
Published: March 2023

Background

We systematically reviewed evidence of health system interventions to reduce diagnostic and treatment intervals for people with head and neck cancer (HNC).

Methods

Electronic databases were searched from inception to 30 April 2020 for controlled or uncontrolled comparative studies. Primary outcome was any time interval between first clinical presentation and treatment onset.

Results

Thirty‐seven studies were included. Four types of interventions were identified: single clinic‐based (N = 4), multidisciplinary clinic‐based (N = 15), hospital or service re‐design (N = 12), and health system re‐design (N = 6). There was some evidence that multidisciplinary interventions improve timeliness of diagnosis and treatment; however, evidence of long‐term effectiveness was lacking. Study quality was assessed as either low or moderate.

Conclusions

Interventions to reduce times to diagnosis and treatment of HNC are heterogeneous, with limited evidence of effectiveness. Future interventions should account for the complex and dynamic nature of health systems and adhere to best‐practice principles for early‐diagnosis research.
Impact of monoclonal antibody therapy for head and neck cancer on end‐of‐life care utilization and costs
Authors: Benjamin William J. , Yalamanchi Pratyusha , Taylor Jeremy M. G. , Lenze Nicholas , Worden Francis P. , Chinn Steven B. , Chen Michelle M.
Published: March 2023

Background

The impact of monoclonal antibody therapy (mAB) for advanced head and neck cancer on end‐of‐life health care utilization and costs has yet to be adequately studied.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study of patients aged 65 and over with a diagnosis of head and neck cancer between 2007 and 2017 within the SEER‐Medicare registry assessing the impact of mAB therapy (i.e., cetuximab, nivolumab, or pembrolizumab) on end‐of‐life health care utilization (ED visits, inpatient admissions, ICU admissions, and hospice claims) and costs.

Results

Of 12 544 patients with HNC, 270 (2.2%) utilized mAB therapy at the end‐of‐life period. On multivariable analyses adjusting for demographic and clinicopathologic characteristics, there was a significant association between mAB therapy and emergency department visits (OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.1–1.8, p = 0.01) and healthcare costs (β: $9760, 95% CI: 5062–14 458, p < 0.01).

Conclusions

mAB use is associated with higher emergency department utilization and health care costs potentially due to infusion‐related and drug toxicity expenses.
Do all patients at the initial stage of nasopharyngeal carcinoma need bone metastasis screening? A retrospective study
Authors: Feng Ye , Xu Ting , Xu Yiying , Wu Ziyi , Hong Huiling , Huang Yingying , Liao Xiyi , Fu Xiaobin , Chen Jiawei , Qiu Xiufang , Ding Jianming , Huang Chaoxiong , Li Li , Chen Chuanben , Fei Zhaodong
Published: March 2023

Background

To identify patients at low risk of synchronous bone metastasis who should not receive bone scans when initially diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods

In total, 6652 patients were enrolled in the training cohort and 1919 patients in the multicenter external validation cohort. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess independent predictors of synchronous bone metastasis for the nomogram model.

Results

After risk stratification, 46.3% (3081/6652) patients were separated into the low‐risk group with an incidence of 0.71% for synchronous bone metastasis. The odds ratio of the intermediate and high‐risk groups was 5.61 and 23.82 times that of the low‐risk group, respectively. For patients with high EBV DNA, we recommend routine screening for N2‐3 female patients, but that all male subgroups are screened.

Conclusions

Bone scans should not be routine. Patients in the low‐risk group should not be screened, which would avoid excessive radiation and economize iatrical resource.
Outcomes for patients with systemic light chain amyloidosis and Mayo stage 3B disease
Authors: Theodorakakou Foteini , Briasoulis Alexandros , Fotiou Despina , Petropoulos Ioannis , Georgiopoulos Georgios , Lama Niki , Kelekis Nikolaos , Repasos Evangelos , Migkou Magdalini , Stamatelopoulos Kimon , Dimopoulos Meletios A , Kastritis Efstathios
Published: March 2023

Patients with cardiac light chain amyloidosis and Mayo stage 3b disease define a high‐risk population with very poor prognosis. Here, we report treatment outcomes of 80 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed AL and Mayo 3b who received novel regimens. Early mortality (<1 month) rate was 12.5%. On intention‐to‐treat, overall hematologic response rate was 40%, with complete response (CR)/very good partial response (VGPR) in 25% and partial response (PR) in 15%. At 1‐ and 3‐ month landmark analysis CR or VGPR/PR rates were 25%/23.5% and 34%/25.5%, respectively. Among patients that were treated with daratumumab‐based therapies, 52.6% and 85.7% achieved at least VGPR within one 1 and 3 months, respectively. Three‐month cardiac response rate was 11.3% and 6‐month was 18.8%. At least hemVGPR at 3 months was associated with cardiac response at 6 months (p = 0.034). Median overall survival (OS) was 6.3 months. At 1‐month landmark at least hemPR was associated with better median OS (24.1 vs. 4.9 months, p = 0.017) and at 3‐month landmark, at least hemVGPR was associated with a median OS of 40.7 versus 17 months for hemPR and 7.4 months for those without hematologic response (p = 0.028). Cardiac response at 3 months was associated with longer median OS (59.7 vs. 10.9 months, p = 0.044). Factors associated with poorer survival were κ‐light chain amyloidosis (median OS 2.9 vs. 7.4 months, p = 0.028), peripheral nerve involvement (3.4 vs. 10.45 months, p = 0.024), systolic blood pressure <90 mmHg (2 vs. 8 months, p = 0.002), baseline LVEF <55% (median OS 3.4 vs. 32 months, p = 0.29) and New York Heart Association (NYHA) class (2.7 months for NYHA 3B‐4 vs. 8 months for NYHA 2–3A, p = 0.02). Twenty‐one patients (26.3%) received salvage therapy and ORR was 57.1%. Median OS for patients who received second line therapy was 24 months. In conclusion, patients with Mayo 3b disease benefit from early hematologic response but cardiac response rates remain low.
How do we improve maternal and child health outcomes in Ghana?
Authors: Adu Joseph , Owusu Mark Fordjour
Published: March 2023

Maternal and infant mortality includes a number of health challenges in Ghana, with outcomes among the worst in the subregion and the world. Our aim here was to provide insights into how Ghana has approached these challenges, with a view to making suggestions for the future. Ghana has made significant gains in reducing infant and maternal deaths in the past decade through initiatives like the Free Maternal Care Policy, the Community‐based Health Planning Services, and the National Health Insurance Policy. These policies have improved financial access to maternal and obstetric health services, facility‐based delivery, and antenatal care services in particular. However, a number of challenges still hinder access to maternal and child health outcomes. Poor infrastructure, human resource challenges, poor access to essential medicines, poor quality of care, and superstitious and cultural beliefs have been noted in the literature. We suggest that while providing the necessary human and financial resources, other initiatives including the promotion of maternal health education, supervised home delivery, and zero maternal death interventions should be encouraged to help improve maternal and child health outcomes in Ghana.
Synthesis of theories on cellular powering, coherence, homeostasis and electro‐mechanics: Murburn concept and evolutionary perspectives
Authors: Manoj Kelath Murali , Jaeken Laurent
Published: March 2023

If evolution was/is a fact, a simplified/unifying approach to explain cellular physiology is warranted. Such a perspective should agree with the thermodynamic, kinetic, structural, and operational‐probabilistic considerations; without invoking overt intelligence or determinism, and must enable a synthesis from chaos. In this regard, we first list salient theories in cellular physiology for (i) powering (generation of chemical/heat energy), (ii) coherence (interconnectivity and workability as a unit), (iii) homeostasis (metabolizing and expelling of unfamiliar/unwanted materials, maintaining concentration/volume), and (iv) cellular electrical‐mechanical activities. While doing so, we discuss the scopes and limitations of (a) the classical active‐site affinity and recognition‐based modality oflock‐key and induced‐fit enzyme‐catalytic mechanismsestablished by Fischer/Koshland, (b)membrane‐pump hypothesisacclaimed by biologists‐physicians and historically championed by the British Nobel‐laureates like Hodgkin–Huxley–Katz–Mitchell, and (c)association‐induction hypothesisadvocated by physicists–physiologists from various parts of the world, for example, Gilbert Ling (China–USA), Gerald Pollack (USA), Ludwig Edelmann (Germany), Vladimir Matveev (Russia), and so on. We applymurburn concept(from “mured burning,” capturing the thesis that one‐electron redox equilibriums involving diffusible reactive species play vital roles in maintaining life order) to amalgamate several core cellular functions and further discuss the prospects for establishing the continuum of the principles of physics in biology.
Prenatal diagnosis of fetal conotruncal defects by using 2D ultrasound and HD live flow combined with spatiotemporal image correlation
Authors: Li Tian‐gang , Su Xiao‐rong , Wu Wen‐rui , Zhang Wen‐dong , Ma Bin
Published: March 2023

Introduction

To explore the diagnostic value of spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) for different types of fetal conotruncal defects (CTDs).

Methods

The clinical data and STIC images of 174 fetuses with CTDs diagnosed via prenatal ultrasound were analyzed retrospectively.

Results

Among the 174 cases of CTDs, 58 were tetralogy of Fallot (TOF); 30, transposition of great arteries (TGA) (D‐TGA, 23 cases; cc‐TGA, 7 cases); 26, double outlet of the right ventricle (DORV); 32, persistent arterial trunk (PTA) (type A1, 15 cases; type A2, 11 cases; type A3, 5 cases; type A4, 1 case); and 28, pulmonary atresia (PA) (ventricular septal defect, 24 cases; ventricular septal integrity, 4 cases). Among the cases, 156 were complicated with complex congenital intracardiac and extracardiac malformations. The abnormal display rate of the four‐chamber view of two‐dimensional echocardiography was low. The display rate of the permanent arterial trunk was the highest (90.6%) in STIC imaging.

Conclusions

STIC imaging can be used in the diagnosis of different types of CTDs, especially in persistent arterial trunks, and thus has great value for the clinical treatment and prognosis of these defects.
Software investment and organizational change: Evidence from panel data
Authors: Han Conghui , Dong John Qi
Published: March 2023

Technological investment is a key managerial decision to make by firms. In recent years, firms increasingly invest in software systems to support big data analytics, digital transformation, and AI, which however do not always pay off. Recent research suggests that software availability may influence entry, at the industry level, by increasing labor productivity, reducing scaling costs, and/or facilitating demand forecasting. However, how these mechanisms through which firms' software investment may affect organizations by inducing various changes is unclear. Insights into these mechanisms require microdata at the firm level over years. We construct a unique panel dataset from 13,335 German firms across industry sectors in 2011–2017 to conduct a firm‐level econometric analysis. We find that, on average, firms' software investment improves demand forecasting but, interestingly, may reduce labor productivity and slow down scaling up. We further propose several organizational contexts in which software investment can be more beneficial to remedy such challenges. Labor productivity is improved only if firms reorganize labor work when making software investment, and scaling costs may be reduced if firms facilitate learning through investments in both software and human capital development. Putting together, this research contributes a new understanding of organizational changes induced by software investment and what contingency factors can make software investment more beneficial in the organizational contexts, to guide managers to make value‐increasing decisions.
Some existence results of bounded variation solutions for a 1‐biharmonic problem with vanishing potentials
Authors: Liu Rui , Li Lin , O'Regan Donal
Published: March 2023

In this work, we study a quasilinear elliptic problem in the whole space
involving the 1‐biharmonic operator with potentials that can vanish at infinity. We consider two different geometrical assumptions in the nonlinearity and use variational methods to obtain nontrivial bounded variation solutions.
Design and analysis of square shape slot cut high gain Sierpinski carpet fractal antenna for wireless applications
Authors: Raj Arun , Dhubkarya Devi Charan , Srivastava Dinesh Kumar , Mandal Durbadal
Published: March 2023

In this paper, a fractal antenna is proposed for wideband application. It has a resonance frequency of 5 GHz, and has been designed using an FR4 substrate with a width and a length of 40 mm and patch with a width, length of 35.288 mm. The proposed antenna has been made with five iterations, and the result obtained multiband behavior and agrees with the various efficient wireless applications. In the proposed antenna, there are four bands response at frequencies 1.6, 2.9,5.2, and 6 GHz, and bandwidth percentage are 4.56%, 7.89%, 12.13%, and 4.6%. It also covers application in 1.5–1.7, 2.8–3.1, 4.8–5.4, and 5.9–6.2 GHz. The gain and the directivity of the proposed antenna is measured as 15.885 dBi greater than other fractal antennas to date, and 7.422 dBi respectively. The proposed antenna has been implemented successfully using IE3D and the result has been tested successfully using a key sight vector analyzer.
Tuning the micro‐structure, laser ignition, and isovolumetric burning performance of nitrocellulose propellant via incorporation of graphene oxide
Authors: Xianrui Shi , Chuandong Luo , Lu Tian , Ke Zeng , Lingfeng Yang , Chonghua Pei
Published: March 2023

Nanoscale recombination between carbon nanomaterials (CNs) and polymers has been proposed for a variety of industrial and scientific applications. Composite energetic materials consisting of CNs with novel laser ignition property and tunable combustion performance have attracted people's attention. Here, reported is the novel manufacturing process of uniform nitrocellulose (NC)/graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposite propellant and the micro‐structure, laser ignition and isovolumetric burning features of the propellants introduced by GO. The results of microstructure tests indicated that GO (0.25–2 wt%) was stripped and dispersed homogeneously and dense nanocomposite propellants were prepared successfully through water ultrasonic dispersion, twin‐screw mixture, as well as compression molding. The crystallization of NC was forbidden by doping GO, meanwhile, the thermal stability and thermal conductivity of the composite propellants increased slightly with the addition of GO. The results of laser ignition combustion experiments showed that GO was an efficient additive to shorten the ignition delay time from more than 2000–14 ms when 2 wt% of GO was doped, however, the combustion flame intensity was also weakened due to the addition of GO. The combustion tests in a closed bomb vessel were conducted, and the results showed that GO would not affect the stable combustion of NC at high combustion pressure, moreover, the burning rate and dynamic vivacity of the composite propellants decreased with the increase of GO content.
Emergence of terpene chemical communication in insects: Evolutionary recruitment of isoprenoid metabolism
Authors: Rebholz Zarley , Shewade Leena , Kaler Kylie , Larose Hailey , Schubot Florian , Tholl Dorothea , Morozov Alexandre V. , O’Maille Paul E.
Published: March 2023

Insects have evolved a chemical communication system using terpenoids, a structurally diverse class of specialized metabolites, previously thought to be exclusively produced by plants and microbes. Gene discovery, bioinformatics, and biochemical characterization of multiple insect terpene synthases (TPSs) revealed that isopentenyl diphosphate synthases (IDS), enzymes from primary isoprenoid metabolism, are their likely evolutionary progenitors. However, the mutations underlying the emergence of the TPS function remain a mystery. To address this gap, we present the first structural and mechanistic model for the evolutionary emergence of TPS function in insects. Through identifying key mechanistic differences between IDS and TPS enzymes, we hypothesize that the loss of isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) binding motifs strongly correlates with the gain of the TPS function. Based on this premise, we have elaborated the first explicit structural definition of isopentenyl diphosphate‐binding motifs (IBMs) and used the IBM definitions to examine previously characterized insect IDSs and TPSs and to predict the functions of as yet uncharacterized insect IDSs. Consistent with our hypothesis, we observed a clear pattern of disruptive substitutions to IBMs in characterized insect TPSs. In contrast, insect IDSs maintain essential consensus residues for binding IPP. Extending our analysis, we constructed the most comprehensive phylogeny of insect IDS sequences (430 full length sequences from eight insect orders) and used IBMs to predict the function of TPSs. Based on our analysis, we infer multiple, independent TPS emergence events across the class of insects, paving the way for future gene discovery efforts.
Identification of equatorial waves using Hough function vectors
Authors: Castanheira José M. , Marques Carlos A. F.
Published: March 2023

Equatorial waves are essential features of the tropical atmosphere dynamics, and their diagnosis is relevant for both operational and climate analysis. Here, we present a method for the identification of equatorial waves using the multivariate spatial structures of the eigensolutions of the linearized shallow‐water equations over the sphere, named Hough function vectors. The method does not require any a priori space–time filtering to separate westward‐ and eastward‐moving waves, and it can be applied to instantaneous or daily circulation fields. The wave types (Kelvin, Rossby, mixed Rossby–gravity, inertio‐gravity) are unambiguously identified by the intrinsic dynamical relationship between the horizontal wind components and geopotential fields represented in the multivariate meridional structures of the Hough function vectors. Both free and convectively coupled equatorial waves can be diagnosed. Moreover, different time filterings can be applied a posteriori, depending on the purposes of the analysis. This article is written as a proof of concept, and direct comparisons are made with results of other methods recently reviewed in a work published in this journal.
Impact of Covid‐19 on environmental sustainability: A bibliometric analysis
Authors: Ofori Elvis Kwame , Zhang Jin , Nyantakyi George , Hayford Isaac Sam , Tergu Clare Teroviel
Published: March 2023

Since January 2020, the battle against COVID‐19 has been a critical priority for more than 200 nations, so as the academic community. With this regard, the scientific community produced hundreds of publications spanning various topics to remedy this worldwide epidemic. Despite this, little work has looked into its relationship to the sustainable environment debate. Nations had to implement measures such as isolation, movement restrictions, lockdown and social seclusion, just to mention a few. The consequences of these actions were felt in the economy and major societal institutions, but these reforms had indirect repercussions. This bibliometric examination provided us with reasons to be both pleased and apprehensive. It emphasizes that the overall impact on greenhouse gas emissions was reduced, but solid waste increased. Against the backdrop of the present COVID‐19 crisis, this study addressed the critical difficulties and worldwide constraints of solid waste management. Moreover, developing nations showcase less interest in research regarding the theme topic of this study. It is forecasted that economic activities shall bounce back in post pandemic era. Therefore, potential strategies have been proposed in this study in attaining long‐term environmental advantages such as (1) Fossil fuel over‐reliance reduction; (2) initiating waste management policies; (3) Policymakers and regulators must take the necessary measures to ensure that the environment's healing process is not just transitory. Therefore, findings of this study provide a framework for future research and serve as a starting point for environmental scientists to assess the consequences of COVID‐19.
Bayesian generalized linear low rank regression models for the detection of vaccine‐adverse event associations
Authors: Hauser Paloma , Tan Xianming , Chen Fang , Ibrahim Joseph G.
Published: March 2023

We propose a generalized linear low‐rank mixed model (GLLRM) for the analysis of both high‐dimensional and sparse responses and covariates where the responses may be binary, counts, or continuous. This development is motivated by the problem of identifying vaccine‐adverse event associations in post‐market drug safety databases, where an adverse event is any untoward medical occurrence or health problem that occurs during or following vaccination. The GLLRM is a generalization of a generalized linear mixed model in that it integrates a factor analysis model to describe the dependence among responses and a low‐rank matrix to approximate the high‐dimensional regression coefficient matrix. A sampling procedure combining the Gibbs sampler and Metropolis and Gamerman algorithms is employed to obtain posterior estimates of the regression coefficients and other model parameters. Testing of response‐covariate pair associations is based on the posterior distribution of the corresponding regression coefficients. Monte Carlo simulation studies are conducted to examine the finite‐sample performance of the proposed procedures on binary and count outcomes. We further illustrate the GLLRM via a real data example based on the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System.
Integrating sleep health into resilience research
Authors: Guida Jennifer L. , Alfini Alfonso , Lee Karen C. , Miller Christopher , Riscuta Gabriela , Rusch Heather L. , Wali Anil , Dixit Shilpy
Published: March 2023

Sleep is a biological necessity that is a critical determinant of mental and physical well‐being. Sleep may promote resilience by enhancing an individual's biological preparedness to resist, adapt and recover from a challenge or stressor. This report analyzes currently active National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants focussed on sleep and resilience, specifically examining the design of studies that explore sleep as a factor that promotes health maintenance, survivorship, or protective/preventive pathways. A search of NIH R01 and R21 research project grants that received funding in Fiscal Years (FY) 2016–2021 and focussed on sleep and resilience was conducted. A total of 16 active grants from six NIH institutes met the inclusion criteria. Most grants were funded in FY 2021 (68.8%), used the R01 mechanism (81.3%), were observational studies (75.0%), and measured resilience in the context of resisting a stressor/challenge (56.3%). Early adulthood and midlife were most commonly studied and over half of the grants focussed on underserved/underrepresented populations. NIH‐funded studies focussed on sleep and resilience, or the ways in which sleep can influence an individual's ability to resist, adapt, or recover from a challenging event. This analysis highlights an important gap and the need to expand research focussed on sleep as a promotor of molecular, physiological, and psychological resilience.
Direct Thermal Growth of Gold Nanopearls on 3D Interweaved Hydrophobic Fibers as Ultrasensitive Portable SERS Substrates for Clinical Applications
Authors: Lin Hsin‐Yao , Chen Wan‐Ru , Lu Li‐Chia , Chen Hsuen‐Li , Chen Yu‐Hsuan , Pan Michael , Chen Chi‐chia , Chen Chihchen , Yen Tzung‐Hai , Wan Dehui
Published: March 2023

Surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)‐based biosensors have attracted much attention for their label‐free detection, ultrahigh sensitivity, and unique molecular fingerprinting. In this study, a wafer‐scale, ultrasensitive, highly uniform, paper‐based, portable SERS detection platform featuring abundant and dense gold nanopearls with narrow gap distances, are prepared and deposited directly onto ultralow‐surface‐energy fluorosilane‐modified cellulose fibers through simple thermal evaporation by delicately manipulating the atom diffusion behavior. The as‐designed paper‐based SERS substrate exhibits an extremely high Raman enhancement factor (3.9 × 1011), detectability at sub‐femtomolar concentrations (single‐molecule level) and great signal reproductivity (relative standard deviation: 3.97%), even when operated with a portable 785‐nm Raman spectrometer. This system is used for fingerprinting identification of 12 diverse analytes, including clinical medicines (cefazolin, chloramphenicol, levetiracetam, nicotine), pesticides (thiram, paraquat, carbaryl, chlorpyrifos), environmental carcinogens (benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[g,h,i]perylene), and illegal drugs (methamphetamine, mephedrone). The lowest detection concentrations reach the sub‐ppb level, highlighted by a low of 16.2 ppq for nicotine. This system appears suitable for clinical applications in, for example, i) therapeutic drug monitoring for individualized medication adjustment and ii) ultra‐early diagnosis for pesticide intoxication. Accordingly, such scalable, portable and ultrasensitive fibrous SERS substrates open up new opportunities for practical on‐site detection in biofluid analysis, point‐of‐care diagnostics and precision medicine.
Regulating the Wettability of Hard Carbon through Open Mesochannels for Enhanced K+ Storage
Authors: Liu Weicheng , Zhang Hehe , Ye Weibin , Xiao Bensheng , Sun Zhefei , Cheng Yong , Wang Ming‐Sheng
Published: March 2023

Hard carbons are deemed as promising anode materials for high‐performance potassium‐ion battery, but their commercialization is still hindered by the insufficient K+ transfer kinetics and poor potassiophilicity. Herein, these issues are addressed by improving the wettability of hard carbon, which can be achieved by the introduction of open mesochannels. A series of such hollow mesoporous carbon capsules with different dimensions are synthesized, which exhibit markedly enhanced wettability with electrolyte compared to the microporous counterparts. Various characterizations confirm its effects on promoting the kinetics and potassiophilicity of as‐synthesized carbons, which can be additionally improved by S‐doping. As a result, the 2D mesoporous carbon anode exhibits excellent rate capability (122.2 mAh g‐1 at 4 A g‐1), high reversible capacity (396.6 mAh g‐1 at 0.1 A g‐1 after 200 cycles), and outstanding cycling stability (197.0 mAh g‐1 at 2 A g‐1 after 1400 cycles). In addition, the hollow mesoporous architecture can effectively buffer the volume expansion and thus stabilize the carbon anodes, as visualized by in situ transmission electron microscopy. This work provides new insight for enhanced K+ storage performance from the perspective of anode wettability with electrolyte, as well as a universal anode design that combines mesochannels architecture with heteroatom doping.
CuC(O) Interfaces Deliver Remarkable Selectivity and Stability for CO2 Reduction to C2+ Products at Industrial Current Density of 500 mA cm−2
Authors: Du Ruian , Wu Qiqi , Zhang Shiyi , Wang Peng , Li Zhengjian , Qiu Yongcai , Yan Keyou , Waterhouse Geoffrey I. N. , Wang Pei , Li Jia , Zhao Yun , Zhao Wei‐Wei , Wang Xue , Chen Guangxu
Published: March 2023

The electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) is an attractive technology for CO2 valorization and high‐density electrical energy storage. Achieving a high selectivity to C2+ products, especially ethylene, during CO2RR at high current densities (>500 mA cm−2) is a prized goal of current research, though remains technically very challenging. Herein, it is demonstrated that the surface and interfacial structures of Cu catalysts, and the solid–gas–liquid interfaces on gas‐diffusion electrode (GDE) in CO2 reduction flow cells can be modulated to allow efficient CO2RR to C2+ products. This approach uses the in situ electrochemical reduction of a CuO nanosheet/graphene oxide dots (CuOC(O)) hybrid. Owing to abundant CuOC interfaces in the CuOC(O) hybrid, the CuO nanosheets are topologically and selectively transformed into metallic Cu nanosheets exposing Cu(100) facets, Cu(110) facets, Cu[n(100) × (110)] step sites, and Cu+/Cu0 interfaces during the electroreduction step, the faradaic efficiencie (FE) to C2+ hydrocarbons was reached as high as 77.4% (FEethylene ≈ 60%) at 500 mA cm−2 . In situ infrared spectroscopy and DFT simulations demonstrate that abundant Cu+ species and Cu0/Cu+ interfaces in the reduced CuOC(O) catalyst improve the adsorption and surface coverage of *CO on the Cu catalyst, thus facilitating CC coupling reactions.
Smart aggregation‐induced emission polymers: Preparation, properties and bio‐applications
Authors: Zhang Guiquan , Fu Xinyao , Zhou Daming , Hu Rong , Qin Anjun , Tang Ben Zhong
Published: March 2023

Owing to the outstanding photophysical properties, organic luminescent materials featuring aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) characteristics have attracted wide attention in various fields. Numerous researches focused on low‐mass AIE luminogens, and relatively less attention has been paid on AIE polymers and the related applications, in spite of the fact that AIE polymers exhibit excellent advantages of processability, multifunctional integration and synergistic effects. In this review, we briefly summarize and discuss the superiorities of AIE polymers in preparation, properties and bio‐applications, and the considerable progress in these aspects are introduced as well. Finally, the structure‐property relationship, challenges and opportunities are also discussed. Hopefully, this review will be a trigger for smart AIE polymer research and further broaden their applications.
Making Space for Young Children's Embodied Cultural Literacies and Heritage Languages with Dual Language Books
Authors: Si‘ilata Rae K. , Jacobs Mary M. , Gaffney Janet S. , Aseta Martha , Hansell Kyla
Published: March 2023

The Pasifika Early Literacy Project supports teachers to make space for the languages and cultures of Pacific children and families in early childhood settings in Aotearoa New Zealand. Dual‐language books in five Pacific languages and English validate Pacific children's languages, literacies, and identities. We highlight teacher practices following professional learning and development workshops. Teachers are invited to challenge dominant monocultural notions of language and literacy that perpetuate educational inequities. Illustrations of early childhood teachers' innovations with Pacific children (aged 2–6 years) demonstrate how dual‐language texts can be connected to families' embodied cultural literacies. Understandings of “literacy” and “reading” were expanded to include children's expressive modalities through oral and visual texts in heritage languages and English. This work highlights the role of teachers to connect, rather than replace, the worldviews, languages, and literacies of families with the pedagogical practices of early childhood settings.
Trends in removal of pharmaceuticals in contaminated water using waste coffee and tea‐based materials with their derivatives
Authors: Madikizela Lawrence Mzukisi , Pakade Vusumzi Emmanuel
Published: March 2023

The introduction of large amounts of pharmaceuticals into the environmental waters is well‐documented in literature with their occurrence reported in all different water matrices accessible to humans and animals. At the same time, the increasing consumption of coffee and tea‐based beverages results in the generation of solid waste, which is mostly disposed‐off in the environment. To minimize environmental pollution, coffee and tea‐based materials have been proposed as suitable options to remove pharmaceuticals in environmental waters. Therefore, this article provides a critical review on the preparation and applications of coffee and tea‐based materials in removing pharmaceuticals from contaminated water. In this context, most studies in literature focused on the applications of these materials as adsorbents, while only limited work on their role in degradation of pharmaceuticals is discussed. The successful application in adsorption studies is attributed to high surface areas of adsorbents and the ability to easily modify the adsorbent surfaces by incorporating functional groups that provide additional oxygen atoms, which promote easy interactions with pharmaceuticals. Hence, the adsorption mechanisms are mostly described by hydrogen bonding, electrostatic and π–π interactions with sample pH playing a dominant role in the adsorption process. Overall, the present article focused on the developments, trends and future research direction on the preparations and applications of coffee and tea‐based materials for efficient removal of pharmaceuticals in water.

Practitioner Points

Review of tea and coffee wastes application for removal of pharmaceuticals in water

Key applications in adsorption and degradation of pharmaceuticals in water

Removal mostly explained by hydrogen bonding, electrostatic, and π–π interactions

Trends, gaps, and future research to be explored are reviewed and highlighted
Schwerstverletztenversorgung mit aktiver Blutung unter Apixaban und gerinnungsrelevanter Restaktivität
Authors: Maegele Marc , Stolz Benedikt , Trojan Stefan , Lazarevits Igor , Linde Martin , Meyer-Zillekens Jürgen , Formesyn Mathias , von der Leyen Eliza , Limper Ulrich
Published: March 2023

Direkte orale Antikoagulanzien (DOAK) werden zunehmend zur Prophylaxe thrombembolischer Ereignisse eingesetzt. Ihr Umgang, insbesondere in Notfallsituationen, gestaltet sich schwierig, da Spiegelmessungen oft nicht zeitnah zur Verfügung stehen und bis vor Kurzem keine Möglichkeit zur Antagonisierung bestand. Es wird die notfallmäßige Behandlung eines Schwerstmehrfachverletzten mit lebensbedrohlicher traumatischer Blutung unter Dauertherapie mit dem Faktor-Xa-Hemmer Apixaban, viskoelastizitätsbasierter Detektion gerinnungsrelevanter Restaktivität bei Schockraumaufnahme und gezielter Wirkungsaufhebung beschrieben.
Wide temperature range magnetoresistance enhancement of La0.67Ca0.33MnO3: NiO nanocomposites
Authors: Lau L. N. , Hon X. T. , Wong Y. J. , Lim K. P. , Kamis N. H. , Kechik M. M. Awang , Chen S. K. , Ibrahim N. B. , Shabdin M. K. , Miryala M. , Shaari A. H.
Published: March 2023

This paper reports the addition of NiO nanoparticles into the LCMO nanocomposites through a simplified methodology in the heat treatment process compared to the previous work. Structural analysis showed that LCMO and NiO co-existed in the samples without the formation of other phases and confirmed their composite structures. The grain size distribution of samples was observed to become narrower and left-skewed as the concentration of NiO nanoparticles increased. This indicates that the NiO nanoparticles were distributed near the grain boundaries or on the grain surfaces. The presence of La, Ca, Mn, O, and Ni was confirmed by EDX analysis, and no additional impurities were noticeable, which revealed that the composites here are chemically pure in the composition. Temperature dependence magnetisation measurement (100–300 K) revealed the occurrence of ferromagnetic to paramagnetic transition. The Curie temperature, TC recorded at 260 K for all samples. However, the metal–insulator transition temperature, TMI was found to decrease from 246 to 120 K as the NiO content increased. Magnetoresistance of composites was observed to enhance over a wide temperature range at 10 kOe. The findings of LCMO: NiO composites in this work can set up a new perspective and unlock its potential to be utilised in magnetic field sensor element functioning at a wide range of temperatures.
Schwer erreichbare psychisch erkrankte Menschen und deren psychotherapeutische Versorgung. Möglichkeiten der Psychotherapieausbildung im Abbau von Zugangsbarrieren zur ambulanten Psychotherapie von hard to reach Klient:innen
Authors: Eller Natalie , Berg Mathias
Published: March 2023

Der vorliegende Artikel widmet sich der mangelnden ambulanten psychotherapeutischen Versorgung von hard to reach Klient:innen. Basierend auf einer systematischen Datenbankrecherche werden zentrale strukturelle und professionsspezifische Zugangsbarrieren zur ambulanten Psychotherapie aufgezeigt. Der Fokus soll jedoch nicht auf diesen liegen, sondern vielmehr auf den Möglichkeiten des Abbaus dieser durch eine sich verändernde Psychotherapieausbildung innerhalb Deutschlands und Österreichs. Es werden sechs zentrale Handlungsmöglichkeiten vorgestellt, die bei Berücksichtigung innerhalb der Psychotherapieausbildung zur Verringerung und zum Abbau der Zugangsbarrieren beitragen können und folglich ein Entgegentreten von systematischer Ungleichheit hinsichtlich Versorgungsrealitäten bedeuten.
Estimation of the potential GDP by a new robust filter method
Authors: Gyurkovics Éva , Takács Tibor
Published: March 2023

The first purpose of this paper is to propose a theoretically new robust filter method to estimate non-observable macroeconomic indicators. The second purpose is to apply the proposed method to estimate the Hungarian potential GDP in 2000–2021. The novelty of the proposed filter method is that — unlike papers published so far — it does not require the stability of the dynamic model, only a partial stability condition must be satisfied. Moreover, such time-dependent uncertainties and nonlinearities can arise in the model that satisfy a general quadratic constraint. An important advantage of the proposed robust filter method over the traditional Kalman filter is that no stochastic assumptions is needed that may not be valid for the problem at hand. The proposed filter method has never been applied to estimate the potential GDP. To estimate the Hungarian potential GDP, the proposed method is applied using uni-, bi- and trivariate models. Estimations up to 2021 has not been published yet for the Hungarian economy. The examined period includes both the financial world crisis and the Covid-19 crisis. The results of the different models are consistent. It turned out that the economic policy was very procyclical after 2012, and the GDP gap was still positive during and also after the Covid-19 crisis.
Potential Prion Involvement in Long COVID-19 Neuropathology, Including Behavior
Authors: Stefano George B. , Büttiker Pascal , Weissenberger Simon , Anders Martin , Raboch Jiri , Ptacek Radek , Kream Richard M.
Published: March 2023

Prion’ is a term used to describe a protein infectious particle responsible for several neurodegenerative diseases in mammals, e.g., Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. The novelty is that it is protein based infectious agent not involving a nucleic acid genome as found in viruses and bacteria. Prion disorders exhibit, in part, incubation periods, neuronal loss, and induce abnormal folding of specific normal cellular proteins due to enhancing reactive oxygen species associated with mitochondria energy metabolism. These agents may also induce memory, personality and movement abnormalities as well as depression, confusion and disorientation. Interestingly, some of these behavioral changes also occur in COVID-19 and mechanistically include mitochondrial damage caused by SARS-CoV-2 and subsequenct production of reactive oxygen species. Taken together, we surmise, in part, long COVID may involve the induction of spontaneous prion emergence, especially in individuals susceptible to its origin may thus explain some of its manesfestions post-acute viral infection.
When, and why, do teams benefit from self-selection?
Authors: Fischer Mira , Rilke Rainer Michael , Yurtoglu B. Burcin
Published: March 2023

We investigate the effect of team formation and task characteristics on performance in high-stakes team tasks. In two field experiments, randomly assigned teams performed significantly better than self-selected teams in a task that allowed for an unequal work distribution. The effect was reversed if the task required the two team members to contribute more equally. Investigating mechanisms, we observe that teams become more similar in ability and report to cooperate better when team members can choose each other. We show how different levels of skill complementarity across tasks may explain our results: If team performance largely depends on the abilities of one team member, random team assignment may be preferred because it leads to a more equal distribution of skills across teams. However, if both team members’ abilities play a significant role in team production, the advantage of random assignment is reduced, and the value of team cooperation increases.