bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Edible insects: Tendency or necessity (a review)
Authors: Papastavropoulou Konstantina , Xiao Jianbo , Proestos Charalampos
Published: December 2022

Eating insects has been a widespread habit in many cultures for many years. Edible insects represent an innovative food source with many advantages that will help the problem of protein and energy shortages created by the rapid growth of the world population. Using insects as food can increase the economy and help protect the environment and the human survival. Their nutritional value is excellent, since according to many studies insects have high protein content, high concentrations of various essential amino acids, a well‐balanced fatty acid profile, with a high content of monounsaturated, polyunsaturated fatty acids and many minerals, trace elements, and vitamins. However, there are several risks in the use of edible insects, which need to be researched more extensively. Main goals are to spread knowledge and change the process of obtaining edible insects in better and safer ways. So that the edible insect food industry can develop on a solid basis, through the expansion of the composition of the insects already used and the future legalization of new species of edible insects as well as the establishment of additional legislative frameworks for the breeding, development, processing, storage, and safety of these innovative new foods.
Predictors of bleeding events in acute decompensated heart failure patients with antithrombotic therapy: AURORA study
Authors: Kawanami Shodai , Egami Yasuyuki , Sugae Hiroki , Ukita Kohei , Kawamura Akito , Nakamura Hitoshi , Matsuhiro Yutaka , Yasumoto Koji , Tsuda Masaki , Okamoto Naotaka , Matsunaga‐Lee Yasuharu , Yano Masamichi , Nishino Masami , Tanouchi Jun
Published: December 2022

Aims

Heart failure (HF) is reported to be one of the major risks of bleeding events. On the other hand, HF patients frequently receive anticoagulants or antiplatelet therapy to manage various co‐morbidities. However, predictors of bleeding events in patients with HF have rarely been reported. This study aimed to evaluate the predictors of bleeding events and relationship between bleeding events and HF re‐hospitalizations.

Methods and results

We included 1660 acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) patients from the AURORA registry between January 2015 and December 2020. A total of 1429 patients were excluded because of history of HF admission, missing echocardiographic data at discharge, lost to follow‐up, haemodialysis and no antithrombotic drugs. Finally, we evaluated 231 patients from AURORA registry. The bleeding events were defined as Type 2 to 5 bleeding according to the Bleeding Academic Research Consortium definition. We divided our patients into the bleeding group and non‐bleeding group. We compared the baseline characteristics, medications, laboratory data, and echocardiographic data between the two groups. Median age was 78 (IQR 71–82) years old and male accounted for 59%. Approximately half of the patients had an antiplatelet therapy and 70% had an anticoagulant therapy. During a median follow‐up of 651 (IQR 357–1139) days, 32 patients (13.8%) suffered from bleeding events. The major driver of the registered events was gastrointestinal bleeding (n = 21, 65.6%), and the other events were cerebral bleeding (n = 4, 12.5%), intraarticular bleeding (n = 2, 6.3%), urogenital bleeding (n = 2, 6.3%), haemorrhagic pericardial effusions (n = 1, 3.1%), subcutaneous hematomas (n = 1, 3.1%), and haemothorax (n = 1, 3.1%). There was a significantly lower haemoglobin level (P < 0.01), higher proportion of inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter ≥21 mm (P < 0.01), and higher furosemide equivalent doses per kilogram (P < 0.01) in the bleeding group than non‐bleeding group. A multivariate analysis revealed an equivalent dose of furosemide per kilogram ≥0.66 mg/kg (hazard ratios (HR) of 2.64, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.26–5.68, P = 0.01), haemoglobin ≤10.3 g/dL (HR of 2.43, 95% CI 1.14–5.03, P = 0.02), and IVC diameter ≥21 mm (HR of 2.79, 95% CI 1.16–6.29, P = 0.02) were independently associated with bleeding events. The Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that HF re‐hospitalization rates were higher in the bleeding group than non‐bleeding group (P = 0.04).

Conclusions

High doses of oral loop diuretics, IVC dilatation, and anaemia were predictors of bleeding events in patients hospitalized with ADHF patients. In addition, bleeding events were associated with HF re‐hospitalizations.
Amorphous Co‐P Film: an Efficient Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction in Alkaline Seawater
Authors: Liang Yimei , Zhang Longcheng , Liu Qin , Ouyang Ling , Luo Yongsong , Zheng Dongdong , Wang Yan , Sun Shengjun , Wang Xiangguo , Zhang Jing , Xu Chenggang , Sun Xuping
Published: December 2022

Seawater electrolysis is considered an attractive alternative to conventional freshwater electrolysis for hydrogen production due to the abundance of seawater in nature. For this reason, efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline seawater are highly desired. In this study, we report an amorphous Co−P alloy on nickel foam (Co−P/NF) that behaves as an efficient and stable HER electrocatalyst for alkaline seawater electrolysis. The Co−P/NF presents high catalytic performance for HER, requiring a low overpotential of 213 mV to drive a current density of 100 mA cm−2 and a Tafel slope of 120.2 mV dec−1 in alkaline seawater. Furthermore, it shows remarkable electrochemical and structural stability in alkaline seawater.
Cage Polyamine Molecule Hexamethylenetetramine as Additives for Improving Performance of Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Tian Jingxu , Wu Jihuai , Lin Yuhe , Geng Jialian , Shi Jialiang , Lin Wenhui , Hao Wenxuan , Ke Chaoran , Yang Jinhui , Sun Weihai , Lan Zhang
Published: December 2022

As a rising star in the photovoltaic field, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted extensive attention. However, the industrialization development of PSCs still faces the dual challenges of improving efficiency and stability. Herein, a cage polyamine molecule hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) as additive is incorporated into the tin oxide electron transport layer (ETL). The introduction of HMTA improves the electron extraction ability of SnO2 and optimizes the energy‐level alignment of function layers. The modification of HMTA also passivates the uncoordinated Pb2+ in the perovskite and reduces the oxygen vacancy defects of SnO2, which alleviate trap‐state density and carrier nonradiative recombination. As a result, the PSC based on the SnO2 ETL modified with HMTA achieves a high power conversion efficiency of 22.37% along with good stability. The research results demonstrate a typical case of using cage polyamines to improve the performance and stability of PSCs.
Experimental behavior of truss‐confined buckling‐restrained braces
Authors: Wu An‐Chien , Tsai Keh‐Chyuan , Chen Chun , Chen Lu‐An , Lin Yu‐Cheng
Published: December 2022

Buckling‐restrained braces (BRBs) can effectively improve the stiffness, strength, and energy dissipation capacity of building structures. The key feature of the proposed truss‐confined BRB (TC‐BRB) is an additional truss confining system attached outside the central steel casing. The truss system is composed of several steel open‐web truss frames, thereby providing the required restraining rigidity and reducing the central casing section size and infilled mortar. The overall self‐weight is decreased compared with a conventional BRB, especially in cases of long‐span and large force capacity BRB applications. This research program was conducted to investigate the hysteresis behavior of the TC‐BRBs in terms of truss member response, buckling resisting ability, and cumulative deformation capacity. Six one‐third‐scale TC‐BRB specimens, each 6.3 m long and with different yield capacities, truss frame shapes and sizes, were tested using cyclically increasing loads with or without an out‐of‐plane end drift. The six specimens eventually failed either from global flexural buckling of the entire restraining system or a tensile fracture of the steel core at a very large axial strain. The experimental results demonstrated that the TC‐BRBs can be designed and fabricated to have a very stable and highly repeatable hysteretic response, meeting the American Institute of Steel Construction acceptance criteria. It provides a valuable database to support the further development of design guidelines for the engineering application of the proposed TC‐BRBs.
Reinforced moment‐resisting glulam bolted connection with coupled long steel rod with screwheads for modern timber frame structures
Authors: Shu Zhan , Ning Bo , Chen Jiaxin , Li Zheng , He Minjuan , Luo Jing , Dong Hanlin
Published: December 2022

Currently, there is no “timber moment frame structural system,” as the basic glulam beam‐to‐column connections (usually represented by the bolted connections with slotted‐in steel plates) offer limited rotational stiffness such that they are usually treated as pin connections. This paper proposes an innovative type of moment‐resisting glulam beam‐to‐column connection reinforced by long steel rods with screwheads (LSRSs) and long self‐tapping screws (STSs). The motivation is to provide a stiff yet resilient beam‐to‐column connection that could possibly be used for the mid‐rise timber moment frame structural system without the need of shear walls or braces. Six specimens with different diameters of LSRSs were designed and experimentally tested to explore their rotational stiffness, moment‐resisting capacities, hysteretic moment‐rotation responses, and the associated failure modes. Results indicated that the proposed connection could provide not only a satisfying moment resistance, but also the energy dissipation and fast repairability that is related with structural seismic resilience. The design procedures and recommendations for the proposed connection were also provided based on the tested results. The presented experimental study serves as a handy reference for future designs and applications of the proposed connection in practical engineering projects.
Detection of Air Temperature and Wind Changes Synchronized with the Lamb Wave from the 2022 Tonga Volcanic Eruption
Authors: Watada Shingo , Imanishi Yuichi , Tanaka Kenji
Published: December 2022

The violent 2022 Tonga submarine volcanic eruption produced globally
propagating atmospheric disturbance. The short explosive eruption
generated a leading Lamb wave pulse that are recorded as a pressure
pulse worldwide. A weather station network in Japan recorded the
pressure pulse as well as temperature and winds during the passage of
the Lamb pressure pulse. Individual temperature and wind records
indicate little simultaneous change. However, after aligning temperature
and wind records at the timing of pressure pulse arrivals and stacking,
we obtain clear temperature and wind changes synchronized with the
pressure change. By assuming Lamb wave propagation synthesized
temperature and wind changes from the pressure record match well the
observed waveforms. Observed wind speed and pressure change of the Lamb
pulse directly yield the total energy transported by the pulse to be 4.2
x 10 J.
Emotional Intimacy and the Black Matrifocal Family in Northeast Brazil
Authors: Medeiros Melanie
Published: December 2022

In this article, I explore the affective landscape of matrifocal kinship in Brogodó to examine how the emotional intimacy that Black women shared with their women kin buffered the effects of unmet marital expectations, marital conflict, and divorce. I describe how women viewed their relationships with their families as a source of love and emotional intimacy that was more reliable and fulfilling than what they could expect from husbands who did not meet the romantic love ideal. Research that relies too heavily on functional assumptions about the relationship between matrifocality and marriage dissolution misses how the desire for emotional intimacy influences women's perspectives on and decision‐making around marriage dissolution. I argue that women's reliance on consanguineal kin as an affective alternative to romantic love and companionate marriage was a critical factor in their decisions to end their marriages. I also assert that rather than weakening extended family ties, in Brogodó the spread of notions of romantic love and companionate marriage strengthened the matrifocal family model by reinforcing women's views that consanguineal rather than affinal kin were at the center of their worlds.
Examining coping and nonsuicidal self‐injury among adolescents: A profile analysis
Authors: Giordano Amanda L. , Prosek Elizabeth A. , Schmit Erika L. , Schmit Michael K.
Published: December 2022

Using a quasi‐experimental, cross‐sectional design, we examined coping differences among American adolescents who reported a history of nonsuicidal self‐injury (NSSI; n = 90, 25.7%) and those without a history of NSSI (n = 260, 74.3%). Findings from a profile analysis indicated that a measurable difference in coping profiles may exist between those with a history of NSSI and those without a history of NSSI. Specifically, adolescents who have a history of NSSI appear to rely upon, at higher rates, maladaptive methods of coping, including acting out and rumination, in comparison to adolescents who have never engaged in NSSI, who appear to rely upon adaptive methods of coping, including distraction and self‐care, at higher rates. No meaningful difference was apparent between groups on seeking social support as a method of coping. These findings confirm the importance of assessing and enhancing effective coping strategies among adolescent clients who self‐injure and potentially utilizing coping skill enhancement strategies as a form of NSSI prevention.
Inhibition of sPLA2 enzyme activity by cell‐permeable antioxidant EUK‐8 and downregulation of p38, Akt, and p65 signals induced by sPLA2 in inflammatory mouse paw edema model
Authors: Jayachandra Krishnegowda , Gowda M. D. Milan , Rudresha Gotravalli V. , Manjuprasanna Vaddarahally N. , Urs Amog P. , Nandana Manuganahally Basavarajappa , Bharatha Madeva , Jameel Noor Mohamed , Vishwanath Bannikuppe S.
Published: December 2022

The arachidonic acid (AA) metabolic pathway, plays a vital role in the production of eicosanoids by the action of pro‐inflammatory secretory phospholipase A2 (PLA2). Release of eicosanoids is known to be involved in many inflammatory diseases. Identification of the inhibitory molecules of this AA pathway enzyme along with the regulation of intracellular signaling cascades may be a finer choice to develop as a powerful anti‐inflammatory drug. In this regard, we have screened few cell‐permeable antioxidant molecules Tempo, Mito‐TEMPO, N,N'‐Bis(salicylideneamino)ethane‐manganese(II) (EUK)‐134, and EUK‐8 against pro‐inflammatory sPLA2s. Among these, we found EUK‐8 is a potent inhibitor with its IC50 value ranges 0.7–2.0 µM for sPLA2s isolated from different sources. Furthermore, docking studies confirm the strong binding of EUK‐8 towards sPLA2. In vivo effect of EUK‐8 was studied in HSF‐sPLA2‐induced edema in mouse paw model. In addition to neutralizing the edema, EUK‐8 significantly reduces the phosphorylation level of inflammatory proteins such as p38 member of MAPK pathway, Akt, and p65 along with the suppression of pro‐inflammatory cytokine (interleukin‐6) and chemokine (CXCL1) in edematous tissue. This shows that EUK‐8 not only inhibits the sPLA2 activity, it also plays an important role in the regulation of sPLA2‐induced cell signaling cascades. Apart from the sPLA2 inhibition, we also examine the regulatory actions of EUK‐8 with other downstream enzymes of AA pathway such as 5‐LOX assay in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and COX‐2 expression in carrageenan‐λ induced paw edema. Here EUK‐8 significantly inhibits 5‐LOX enzyme activity and downregulates COX‐2 expression. These data indicate that EUK‐8 found to be a promising multitargeted inhibitory molecule toward inflammatory pathway. In conclusion, mitochondrial targeted antioxidant EUK‐8 is not only the powerful antioxidant, also a potent anti‐inflammatory molecule and may be a choice of molecule for pharmacological applications.
Discriminating and understanding molecular crystal polymorphism
Authors: Chen Bozhu , Xu Xin
Published: December 2022

Polymorph discrimination for a molecular crystal has long been a challenging task, which, nonetheless, is a major concern in the pharmaceutical industry. In this work, we have investigated polymorph discrimination on three different molecular crystals, tetrolic acid, oxalic acid, and oxalyl dihydrazide, covering both packing polymorphism and conformational polymorphism. To gain more understanding, we have performed energy decomposition analysis based on many‐body expansion, and have compared the results from the XO‐PBC method, that is, the eXtended ONIOM method (XO) with the periodic boundary condition (PBC), with those from some commonly used dispersion corrected density functional theory (DFT‐D) methods. It is shown here that, with the XYG3 doubly hybrid functional chosen as the target high level to capture the intra‐ and short‐range intermolecular interactions, and the periodic PBE as the basic low level to take long range interactions into account, the XO‐PBC(XYG3:PBE) method not only obtains the correct experimental stability orderings, but also predicts reasonable polymorph energy ranges for all three cases. Our results have demonstrated the usefulness of the present theoretical methods, in particular XO‐PBC, while highlighted the importance of a better treatment of different kinds of interactions to be beneficial to polymorph control.
Predictors of e‐waste: Considerations for community psychology prevention and intervention
Authors: Swanson Helena L. , Ferrari Joseph R.
Published: December 2022

E‐waste, the overabundance of unused technology products, is a growing issue as new technology is rapidly innovated and our society promotes the need to always have the “latest and greatest” products. Community psychology, as a field, is concerned with the global climate crisis, and subsequently must be concerned with e‐waste. This study tested predictors of individual's likelihood to recycle e‐waste with 883 US adults (459 males, 420 females, 3 other/nonbinary; 62.7% 54‐year‐old or younger) through a crowdsourcing procedure. Similar to previous recycling literature, the present study found that personal norms, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control positively predicted the likelihood for an individual to recycle; however, the present study provides further empirical evidence for these relationships and expands recycling literature by focusing on e‐waste recycling. Implications for the field of community psychology with preventive and interventive actions are detailed.
Low fluoroscopy permanent His bundle pacing using a new electroanatomic mapping system (KODEX EPD). A multicenter experience
Authors: Scarà Antonio , Golia Paolo , Grieco Domenico , Borrelli Alessio , De Ruvo Ermenegildo , Bressi Edoardo , Politano Alessandro , De Luca Lucia , Bruni Giuseppe , Fagagnini Alessandro , Panuccio Marco , Rebecchi Marco , Zecchi Paolo , Solimene Francesco , Calò Leonardo , Sciarra Luigi
Published: December 2022

Background

His bundle pacing (HBP) may be a challenging procedure, often involving a long fluoroscopic time (FT) and a long procedural time (PT). We sought to evaluate whether the use of a new nonfluroscopic mapping (NFM) system, the KODEX‐EPD, is able to reduce FT and PT when mapping is performed by the pacing catheter rather than an electrophysiological mapping catheter.

Methods and Results

We included 46 consecutive patients (77 ± 8 years; 63% male) who underwent HBP; in 22 a NFM‐guided procedure with the KODEX‐EPD system was performed (group 1), whereas in 24 a conventional fluoroscopy‐guided approach was used (group 2). Pacing indications were sick sinus syndrome in 13, atrioventricular block in 21, and cardiac resynchronization therapy in 12 cases. Both a lumen‐less fixed helix lead and a stylet‐driven extendable helix lead were used, respectively, in 24% and 76% of patients. HBP was successful in 22 patients (100%) in group 1 and 23 patients (96%) in group 2. The FT was significantly reduced in group 1 (183 ± 117 s vs 464.1 ± 352 s in group 2, p = .012). There were no significant differences between groups in PT and other procedural outcomes.

Conclusions

The KODEX‐EPD system may be safely used in HBP procedures. It is effective in reducing ionizing radiation exposure, as evidenced by the significant drop in FT, without increasing PT.
Bringing contribution–receipt (im)balance to team–member exchange research: A moderated mediation model
Authors: Liu Xin , Zhang Yucheng , Chen Wansi , Li Wen‐Dong , Ni Dan
Published: December 2022

While emerging studies pay much attention to the team–member exchange (TMX) relationship, they have produced mixed findings on TMX consequences. To clarify such inconsistencies, our research highlights the importance of distinguishing TMX contribution from TMX receipt and investigates the influence of TMX contribution–receipt (im)balance. Specifically, drawing upon conservation of resources (COR) theory and the TMX literature, we examine the impacts of TMX contribution–receipt (im)balance on emotional exhaustion and subsequently on silence. We also investigate the moderating role of authoritarian leadership in the aforementioned mediation model. Our pilot study demonstrated sufficient distinction between TMX contribution and TMX receipt scales. Two independent field studies consistently showed that compared with imbalanced situations, TMX contribution–receipt balance was associated with lower emotional exhaustion. In balanced situations, emotional exhaustion was lower when the balance was at a high rather than a low level (Study 1). Regarding imbalanced scenarios, a high contribution–low receipt condition was related to greater emotional exhaustion than a low contribution–high receipt condition (Study 2). Both studies also showed that the indirect effect of TMX contribution–receipt (im)balance on silence through emotional exhaustion was more pronounced when authoritarian leadership was high rather than low.
Soy lecithin increases the stability and lipolysis of encapsulated algal oil and probiotics complex coacervates
Authors: Zhang Weiqian , Chen Ying , Wang Weifei , Lan Dongming , Wang Yonghua
Published: December 2022

BACKGROUND

Co‐encapsulation of probiotics and omega‐3 oil using complex coacervation is an effective method for enhancing the tolerance of probiotics under adverse conditions, whereas complex coacervation of omega‐3 oil was found to have low lipid digestibility. In the present study, gelatin (GE, 30 g kg−1) and gum arabic (GA, 30 g kg−1) were used to encapsulate Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1 and algal oil by complex coacervation to produce microcapsules containing probiotics (GE‐P‐GA) and co‐microcapsules containing probiotics and algal oil (GE‐P‐O‐GA), and soy lecithin (SL) was added to probiotics‐algal oil complex coacervates [GE‐P‐O(SL)‐GA] to enhance its stability and lipolysis. Then, we evaluated the viability of different microencapsulated probiotics exposed to freeze‐drying and long‐term storage, as well as the survival rate and release performance of encapsulated probiotics and algal oil during in vitro digestion.

RESULTS

GE‐P‐O(SL)‐GA had a smaller particle size (51.20 μm), as well as higher freeze‐drying survival (90.06%) of probiotics and encapsulation efficiency of algal oil (75.74%). Moreover, GE‐P‐O(SL)‐GA showed a higher algal oil release rate (79.54%), lipolysis degree (74.63%) and docosahexaenoic acid lipolysis efficiency (64.8%) in the in vitro digestion model. The viability of microencapsulated probiotics after simulated digestion and long‐term storage at −18,4 and 25 °C was in the order: GE‐P‐O(SL)‐GA > GE‐P‐O‐GA > GE‐P‐GA.

CONCLUSION

As a result of its amphiphilic properties, SL strongly affected the physicochemical properties of probiotics and algal oil complex coacervates, resulting in higher stability and more effective lipolysis. Thus, the GE‐P‐O(SL)‐GA can more effectively deliver probiotics and docosahexaenoic acid to the intestine, which provides a reference for the preparation of high‐viability and high‐lipolysis probiotics‐algal oil microcapsules. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
Uterine Anteroposterior Diameter Measured by Transvaginal Sonography is a Predictor for Dysmenorrhea in Patients With and Without Endometriosis
Authors: Che Jiahui , Gao Yang , Sun Meiling , Zhou Shuang , Lu Pengrong , Zhao Ting
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between uterine diameters and menstrual abdominal pain intensity in patients with and without endometriosis (EM), and the independent influence of EM on the pain intensity.

Methods

Uterine diameters and the diagnosis of adenomyosis were ascertained by transvaginal ultrasonography (TVS). Menstrual abdominal pain intensity was estimated by visual analog scale (VAS). Linear regression was used to figure out the impact of uterine diameters and EM on the VAS scores. Logistic regression was used to calculate the correlation between uterine diameters and the diagnosis of adenomyosis. The cutoff values of uterine anteroposterior diameter (AD) to predict dysmenorrhea (VAS ≥ 4) and the diagnosis of adenomyosis were determined by receiver operating characteristic curves.

Results

There were 220 patients with and 233 patients without EM included. Uterine AD independently correlated with the VAS scores in patients with (B = .230, P = .000) and without (B = .203, P = .000) EM. A uterine AD of 39.5 mm predicted dysmenorrhea in both groups. The presence of EM increased the VAS scores by 1.151 points when controlling for uterine diameters. Uterine AD also independently correlated with the diagnosis of adenomyosis under TVS in patients with (OR = 1.212, 95% CI = 1.130–1.301; P = .000) and without (OR = 1.192, 95% CI = 1.123–1.263; P = .000) EM. A uterine AD of 38.5 and 39.5 mm predicted the diagnosis of adenomyosis under TVS in patients with and without EM, respectively.

Conclusions

Increased uterine AD, which is probably ascribed to adenomyosis, plays an important role in augmented menstrual abdominal pain intensity. Meanwhile, the presence of EM reinforces the pain.
On Ostrowski–Mercer inequalities for differentiable harmonically convex functions with applications
Authors: Ali Muhammad Aamir , Asjad Muhammad Imran , Budak Hüseyin , Faridi Waqas Ali
Published: December 2022

In this work, we prove Ostrowski–Mercer inequalities for differentiable harmonically convex functions. It is also shown that the newly proved inequalities can be converted into some existing inequalities. Furthermore, it is provided that how the newly discovered inequalities can be applied to special means of real numbers.
Accelerated and quantitative three‐dimensional molecular MRI using a generative adversarial network
Authors: Weigand‐Whittier Jonah , Sedykh Maria , Herz Kai , Coll‐Font Jaume , Foster Anna N. , Gerstner Elizabeth R. , Nguyen Christopher , Zaiss Moritz , Farrar Christian T. , Perlman Or
Published: December 2022

Purpose

To substantially shorten the acquisition time required for quantitative three‐dimensional (3D) chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) and semisolid magnetization transfer (MT) imaging and allow for rapid chemical exchange parameter map reconstruction.

Methods

Three‐dimensional CEST and MT magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) datasets of L‐arginine phantoms, whole‐brains, and calf muscles from healthy volunteers, cancer patients, and cardiac patients were acquired using 3T clinical scanners at three different sites, using three different scanner models and coils. A saturation transfer‐oriented generative adversarial network (GAN‐ST) supervised framework was then designed and trained to learn the mapping from a reduced input data space to the quantitative exchange parameter space, while preserving perceptual and quantitative content.

Results

The GAN‐ST 3D acquisition time was 42–52 s, 70% shorter than CEST‐MRF. The quantitative reconstruction of the entire brain took 0.8 s. An excellent agreement was observed between the ground truth and GAN‐based L‐arginine concentration and pH values (Pearson's r > 0.95, ICC > 0.88, NRMSE < 3%). GAN‐ST images from a brain‐tumor subject yielded a semi‐solid volume fraction and exchange rate NRMSE of and , respectively, and SSIM of and , respectively. The mapping of the calf‐muscle exchange parameters in a cardiac patient, yielded NRMSE < 7% and SSIM > 94% for the semi‐solid exchange parameters. In regions with large susceptibility artifacts, GAN‐ST has demonstrated improved performance and reduced noise compared to MRF.

Conclusion

GAN‐ST can substantially reduce the acquisition time for quantitative semi‐solid MT/CEST mapping, while retaining performance even when facing pathologies and scanner models that were not available during training.
Nonlinear stochastic dynamics research on a Lorenz system with white Gaussian noise based on a quasi‐potential approach
Authors: Huang Yong
Published: December 2022

Environmental noise can lead to complex stochastic dynamical behaviors in nonlinear systems. In this paper, a Lorenz system with the parameter region with two stable fixed points and a chaotic saddle subject to white Gaussian noise is investigated as an example. Noise‐induced phenomena, such as noise‐induced quasi‐cycle, three‐state intermittency, and chaos, are observed. In the intermittency process, the optimal path used to describe the transition mechanism is calculated and confirmed to pass through an unstable periodic orbit, a chaotic saddle, a saddle point, and a heteroclinic trajectory in an orderly sequence using generalized cell mapping with a digraph method constructively. The corresponding optimal fluctuation forces are delineated to uncover the effects of noise during the transition process. Then the process will switch frequently between the attractors and the chaotic saddle as noise intensity increased further, that is, noise induced chaos emerging. A threshold noise intensity is defined by stochastic sensitivity analysis when a confidence ellipsoid is tangent to the stable manifold of the periodic orbit, which agrees with the simulation results. It is finally reported that these results and methods can be generalized to analyze the stochastic dynamics of other nonlinear mechanical systems with similar structures.
Stretch‐induced wrinkling analysis of thin sheets with splines
Authors: Tian Haitao , Chen Lin , Li Bin
Published: December 2022

Numerical simulation of stretch‐induced wrinkling in thin elastic sheets is a challenging problem due to a vanishing bending stiffness and the coexistence of superabundant equilibrium solutions. In this work, we present a computational framework to capture the morphological evolution of stretch‐induced wrinkles. The application of modified Föppl‐von Kármán plate model results in a fourth‐order partial differential equation. The convergence of finite‐element solutions necessitates ‐continuous approximations. Herein, Powell‐Sabin B‐splines, which are based on triangles, are utilized for both the approximation of the field variables and the description of the geometry. To trace the wrinkling behavior in thin sheets, a path‐following technique using asymptotic numerical method is considered. The advantage of this method is an adaptive step length, which works incredibly well near the bifurcation points and allows for the computation of the post‐bifurcation diagrams with a quite small perturbation. The versatility and accuracy of the developed computational approach are assessed in three case studies, featuring wrinkling in highly stretched rectangular and annular thin sheets.
Improved Tucker decomposition algorithm for noise suppression of 3D GPR data in road detection
Authors: Yan Kun , Zhang Zhihua , Xu Xianlei
Published: December 2022

The echo data of ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) have a low signal‐to‐noise ratio. Denoising and interference suppression are important for improving the accuracy of underground target recognition and detection. In this paper, a new method of noise analysis and suppression of 3D GPR is proposed, transforming the problem of noise reduction into an optimization problem regarding a third‐order tensor. This method is improved with the following features; a bidimensional empirical mode decomposition (BEMD) algorithm is employed to decompose the 3D GPR noise. The main source of the noise is determined by computing the standard deviation of each component decomposed. For the shortcoming of the existing GPR denoising methods that reduce the dimension of 3D GPR data, the proposed approach can denoise 3D GPR data directly to avoid the loss of data caused by reducing the dimension. This preserves the desired signal and extracts noise through the Tucker decomposition of 3D GPR data. An improved high‐order orthogonal iteration algorithm is utilized to optimize the decomposition. The peak signal‐to‐noise ratio (PSNR) of the signal for each survey line is calculated to evaluate the effectiveness of noise reduction. Simulations and real data sets are provided to compare the performance of algorithms. The results show that the mean PSNR after noise suppression with our method is 8.915 dB and 16.458 dB higher than wavelet transform and singular value decomposition algorithms, respectively. This demonstrates that the proposed approach can better suppress 3D GPR noise and provides technical support for improving 3D GPR data quality and road detection accuracy.
Natural transform decomposition method for the numerical treatment of the time fractional Burgers–Huxley equation
Authors: Ravi Kanth Adivi Sri Venkata , Aruna Kirubanandam , Raghavendar Kondooru
Published: December 2022

In this article, we studied the time‐fractional Burgers–Huxley equation using the natural transform decomposition method. The fractional operator is treated in the Caputo, Caputo–Fabrizio, and Atangana–Baleanu senses. We employed the natural transform with the Adomian decomposition process on time‐fractional Burgers–Huxley equation to obtain the solution. To establish the uniqueness and convergence of the accomplished solution, the Banach's fixed point theorem is used. The obtained findings are visually shown in two‐ and three‐dimensional graphs for various fractional orders. To illustrate the efficacy of the method under discussion, numerical simulations are provided. The proposed solution captures the behavior of the reported findings for various fractional orders. A comparative study was conducted to ascertain the proposed method's correctness. The findings of this study establish that the technique investigated is both efficient and accurate for solving nonlinear fractional differential equations that arise in science and technology.
Low‐cost polysulfone/polystyrene ultrafiltration membrane with efficient azoic dyes removal and excellent antifouling performance for colored wastewater
Authors: Essate Ahlam , Achiou Brahim , Benkhaya Said , Chakraborty Sudip , Ouammou Mohamed , Alami Younssi Saad
Published: December 2022

A new low‐cost composite ultrafiltration membrane made of polysulfone (PSf) and polystyrene (PS) blend was effectively achieved on the ceramic pozzolan support using dip‐coating method. The effect of PS content (5–20 wt%) on membrane properties such as microstructure and filtration performances was investigated. The Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and differential scanning calorimetry analyses confirm that the two polymers lead to physical blend. The morphology analysis shows that PSf/PS membrane layer is homogeneous and strongly adherent on the pozzolan support. Furthermore, the developed membrane was applied for filtration of direct red (DR80) and methyl orange (MO) solutions at a pressure of 3 bar. It was proven that the PS addition significantly enhances the rejection of the membrane companying with a decrease of permeate flux to meet the trade‐off selectivity‐permeability. The optimized PSf/PS membrane containing 5 wt% of PS has a water permeability of 24 L h−1 m−2 bar−1, and could reject 91% and 76%, respectively for DR80 and MO. Beside the promising filtration results, the developed membrane is also low‐cost thanks to using pozzolan support, and it could be consequently scaled up for the treatment of colored wastewater generated from textile industries.
Is anticholinergic and sedative drug burden associated with postdischarge institutionalization in community‐dwelling older patients acutely admitted to hospital? A Norwegian registry‐based study
Authors: Havnes Kjerstin , Svendsen Kristian , Johansen Jeanette Schultz , Granas Anne Gerd , Garcia Beate Hennie , Halvorsen Kjell H.
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Investigate the association between anticholinergic (AC) and sedative (SED) drug burden before hospitalization and postdischarge institutionalization (PDI) in community‐dwelling older patients acutely admitted to hospital.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study using data from the Norwegian Patient Registry and the Norwegian Prescription Database. We studied acutely hospitalized community‐dwelling patients ≥70 years during 2013 (N = 86 509). Patients acutely admitted to geriatric wards underwent subgroup analyses (n = 1715). We calculated drug burden by the Drug Burden Index (DBI), use of AC/SED drugs, and the number of AC/SED drugs. Piecewise linearity of DBI versus PDI and a knot point (DBI = 2.45) was identified. Statistical analyses included an adjusted multivariable logistic regression model.

Results

In the total population, 45.4% were exposed to at least one AC/SED drug, compared to 52.5% in the geriatric subgroup. AC/SED drugs were significantly associated with PDI. The DBI with odds ratios (ORs) of 1.11 (95% CI 1.07–1.15) for DBI < 2.45 and 1.08 (95% CI 1.04–1.13) for DBI ≥ 2.45. The number of AC/SED drugs with OR of 1.07 (95% CI 1.05–1.09). The AC component of DBI with OR 1.23 and the number of AC drugs with OR 1.13. In the subgroup, ORs were closer to 1 for AC drugs.

Conclusions

The use of AC/SED drugs was highly prevalent in older patients before acute hospital admissions, and significantly associated with PDI. The number, or just using AC/SED drugs, gave similar associations with PDI compared to applying the DBI. Using AC drugs showed higher sensitivity, indicating that to reduce the risk of PDI, a clinical approach could be to reduce the number of AC drugs.
Live‐cell super‐resolution imaging of actin using LifeAct‐14 with a PAINT‐based approach
Authors: Bhaskar Haresh , Kleinjan Dirk‐Jan , Oi Curran , Gidden Zoe , Rosser Susan J. , Horrocks Mathew H. , Regan Lynne
Published: December 2022

We present direct‐LIVE‐PAINT, an easy‐to‐implement approach for the nanoscopic imaging of protein structures in live cells using labeled binding peptides. We demonstrate the feasibility of direct‐LIVE‐PAINT with an actin‐binding peptide fused to EGFP, the location of which can be accurately determined as it transiently binds to actin filaments. We show that direct‐LIVE‐PAINT can be used to image actin structures below the diffraction‐limit of light and have used it to observe the dynamic nature of actin in live cells. We envisage a similar approach could be applied to imaging other proteins within live mammalian cells.
Exploring the mechanisms underlying the toxicity of boric acid against the land snail, Theba pisana
Authors: Radwan Mohamed A , Gad Amira F
Published: December 2022

BACKGROUND

The land snail, Theba pisana, is one of the most important threats facing agriculture around the globe. Boric acid (BOA) is currently used as a safe alternative molluscicide to control land snails in sustainable agriculture, but the mechanisms of toxicity have not yet been investigated. The present study characterizes the lethal and sub‐lethal (0.5 and 1 mg g−1) toxic effects of BOA‐contaminated food for 14 days by examining physiological, biochemical and histopathological indicators in T. pisana to understand the mechanisms underlying its toxic action.

RESULTS

BOA was found to be lethal against T. pisana with LC50 values of 24.7 and 8.05 mg g−1 after 3 and 7 days of exposure, respectively. BOA sublethal concentrations led to a significant reduction in food consumption and growth of snails after 14 days of exposure. BOA also caused a significant increase in testosterone levels, whereas an opposite effect was observed in estradiol levels. An increase in progesterone levels in snails in the 0.5 mg g−1 BOA group and a decrease in the 1 mg g−1 BOA group were observed after all exposure times. Moreover, the lipid peroxidation level and catalase activity were elevated, whereas acetylcholinesterase activity was inhibited in the treated snails. Alteration in glutathione‐S‐transferase activity was noticed after exposure to both sublethal concentrations. In addition, BOA induced histopathological alterations in the digestive gland of T. pisana.

CONCLUSION

Our findings provide novel insights into how physiological, biochemical and histopathological alterations can be used to explore the mechanisms underlying BOA toxicity against snails. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
Formation of Micro‐Patterned Ga2O3/Se Heterojunction and its Application to Highly Sensitive Avalanche Photodiode
Authors: Adachi Yusuke , Kobayashi Taizo
Published: December 2022

Herein, the formation of square‐shaped micropatterns of a Ga2O3/Se heterojunction avalanche photodiode (APD) at an active area of 10 μm × 10 μm and its application to a visible light sensor with high sensitivity by amplification of photocurrent density for the first time are reported. The miniaturization of the Ga2O3/Se APD improves its signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) by 10 dB as compared to the expected SNR. This is possible because of the improvement in thermal radiation and reduction in resistance loss. The effects of scaling on the photovoltaic conversion characteristics of Ga2O3/Se and TiO2/Se are investigated by varying the active area from 100 μm × 100 μm to 10 μm × 10 μm using photolithography and etching. A remarkable increase in the external quantum efficiency is observed for miniaturized Ga2O3/Se heterojunction APD at widths smaller than 50 μm × 50 μm by a combination of avalanche amplification and the micro‐scaling effect at a bias voltage of 15 V.
An improved score‐type confidence interval for stratified risk differences involving rare events
Authors: Hu Yetao , Lu Kaifeng , Xie Lei , Zhu Wei
Published: December 2022

A stratified analysis of the differences in proportions has been widely employed in epidemiological research, social sciences, and drug development. It provides a useful framework for combining data across strata to produce a common effect. However, for rare events with incidence rates close to zero, popular confidence intervals for risk differences in a stratified analysis may not have appropriate coverage probabilities that approach the nominal confidence levels and the algorithms may fail to produce a valid confidence interval because of zero events in both the arms of a stratum. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of certain methods commonly employed to construct confidence intervals for stratified risk differences when the response probabilities are close to a boundary value of zero or one. Additionally, we propose an improved stratified Miettinen–Nurminen confidence interval that exhibits a superior performance over standard methods while avoiding computational difficulties involving rare events. The proposed method can also be employed when the response probabilities are close to one.
Performance‐prescribed consensus for uncertain nonlinear multi‐agent systems under directed graph
Authors: Yu Linzhen , Liu Yungang
Published: December 2022

Whether or not system performance can be prescribed by users is one core issue for almost all control problems, of course for multi‐agent control systems. But it could pose stern constraints on or exceptions to systems and control methods. How can one guarantee the prescribed performance while covering much more systems? It deserves deep study and particularly entails the integration/reformation of the related techniques. In the paper, we are concerned with the leaderless consensus with a prescribed convergence rate, aiming at ‐dimensional multi‐agent systems typically with unknown heterogeneous nonlinearities under a directed graph. In view of the essence of the problem, we resort to a powerful time‐varying high‐gain method, that is, funnel control. Specifically, to suppress unknown system nonlinearities and guarantee the prescribed performance, funnel gains are devised by utilizing the relative states and a time‐varying design function. Integrating them as well as a series of intermediate variables, a distributed consensus protocol is obtained without involving any global graph information. Remark that besides being used to construct funnel gains, the time‐varying design function is also introduced as a part of the protocol, substantially enhancing the control effect and playing a key role in forcing the relative states to ultimately converge to zero. It is shown that under the proposed protocol, the desired consensus is achieved with a prescribed convergence rate. A simulation example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the theoretical result.
High‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry for profiling diterpenoid alkaloids in Aconitum species
Authors: Jiang Zhi‐Bo , Deng Chao‐Fan , Zhou Le‐Ru , Wang Zhen‐Zhen , Wang Fang , Wu Xiu‐Li , Ma Xiao‐Li , Nan Ze‐Dong
Published: December 2022

Aconitum is known for being rich in toxic diterpenoid alkaloids, and many of them are unilateral medicinal materials constituting traditional Chinese medicine, which have important clinical uses. Previous liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry studies were mainly focused on a few common species, but lacked in‐depth and detailed research on other species in the same genus, although they have similar or even the same uses. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of the high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry data by semi‐quantitative comparisons of the accurate molecular weight and fragmentation pathway of standards was introduced to investigate the diterpenoid alkaloids in four dried root tubers of A. kusnezoffii Reichb., A. carmichaelii Radix., A. pendulum Busch., and A. brachypodum Diels. Thirty‐two diterpenoid alkaloids were identified by the molecular networking platform. Their structures were determined by tandem mass spectrometry fragmentation comparisons, and structures that connect fatty acyl groups with different modifications at the C‐8 position which in previous studies paid little attention may have better digestion and absorption behavior in drug clinic uses. This work provides a basis for further understanding the clinical efficacy of Aconitum herbs.