bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using Design Activism to Empower and Value a Community Group
Authors: Andrew Inge
Published: January 2022

I have been working as a Masters student with a group of people that don’t generally have a voice in everyday discourse – perpetrators of domestic violence. Stopping Violence Dunedin (SVD) is run by experienced facilitators who instead of placing blame on their clients, work to empower them with a sense of community and positive self-worth. These men are taught to appreciate and build on their own sense of worth and my Masters project focused on creating a value object to enhance their journey of change towards a non-violent life. The value creation process involved using communication design as a tool to develop a social enquiry, working to understand this community and the challenges they face. By looking at their entire system of interactions and experiences, I was able to develop a series of milestones for the men which led to the development of a key prototype. The first ‘shift’ key could be gifted to the men in the group who show a shift in their thinking and are able to engage in the process of change. The second ‘manhole cover’ key to the men who develop leaderships skills and can men-tor newer group members. The outcome of the object created a value proposition working to celebrate the milestones that these men reach. This sense of value and appreciation could also extend to the possibility of an alternative future for the men – a future without violence.
Occupational Therapy and Product Design Students Learning Together
Authors: Niimi Machiko , Butler Mary
Published: January 2022

This paper is a case study of a particular project (the Vision 20/20 project), which was developed by students on an interdisciplinary project. The goal of the project was to develop a child-to-child vision screening toolkit to integrate eye health into the school curriculum and make vision testing more accessible for children. An interdisciplinary research team was formed to support the students, and then continued to work together to ensure the ongoing sustainability of the project. The team used an action research approach and consisted of researchers and practitioners from three institutions: Otago Polytechnic, the University of Otago, and Tahuna Intermediate School (10-13 year olds). It was made of occupational therapists, optometrists, product designers, teachers and learners (at multiple levels). This case study exemplifies how problem-based learning can provide a context for students to do real work that makes a difference in the world. This goal of the Vision 20/20 project connects closely with the commitment underpinning the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which is to leave no one behind. The SDG for health (Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing) links with the World Health Organisation Global Action Plan on Universal Eye Health. There is considerable scope for this project to continue to develop in ways that will feed our long-term goal of ensuring that no child is left behind because of poor vision. Similarly this project illustrates how faculty members from different disciplines can work together to develop a learning environment that enriches student’s learning opportunities.
Els «escriptors mediàtics» en la societat hipermoderna i hipermediatitzada: la necessitat d’establir un indicador d’exposició en els mitjans de comunicació
Authors: Duró Toni
Published: January 2022

El terme binomi «escriptor mediàtic» té nombrosa hemerografia, però poca bibliografia acadèmica. A més, el concepte literary celebrity ha conviscut tradicionalment com a objecte d’estudi amb els literary studies, que es fixen en el text, i amb els celebrity studies, que posen l’accent en la persona que hi ha al darrere: en l’autor. Com que és un concepte complex que abraça diferents àmbits, creiem que l’estudi dels escriptors mediàtics s’ha de tractar des d’una perspectiva més àmplia. Si partim de la teoria bourdieuana, fem referència sobretot a l’anàlisi de la interrelació entre els camps cultural, econòmic i mediàtic des de la sociologia, els estudis culturals i les ciències de la comunicació. Aquesta és una hibridació de camps que arriba al paroxisme en els treballs dels sociòlegs Gilles Lipovetsky i Jean Serroy, per a qui la societat contemporània hipermoderna es correspon amb el que anomenen capitalisme artístic, un concepte de naturalesa «transestètica» que implica barrejar l’art amb la indústria, el comerç, la diversió, l’oci, la moda i la comunicació. El resultat, gràcies a les TIC i a l’acceleració que fan possible, és una societat hipermediàtica i hipermediatitzada en la qual el paper de la comunicació és preponderant i on potencialment tothom pot ser artista i productor de notícies. En aquest context, en què la digitalització posa mitjans a l’abast de qualsevol per autopromocionar-se constantment, també qualsevol escriptor ha de ser mediàtic per tal d’existir, i si tot escriptor disposa de diferents canals per promocionar-se, llavors ja no tindria sentit referir-se als «escriptors mediàtics» com si es tractés d’un fenomen aïllat i fàcilment recognoscible. Cal establir un indicador que mesuri la presència dels autors en els mitjans de comunicació tenint en compte la panòplia d’eines actuals; només així es podrà determinar la quantitat de metacapital mediàtic que atresoren tot tipus d’escriptors.
Laminar microcircuitry of visual cortex producing attention-associated electric fields
Authors: Westerberg Jacob A , Schall Michelle S , Maier Alexander , Woodman Geoffrey F , Schall Jeffrey D
Published: January 2022

Cognitive operations are widely studied by measuring electric fields through EEG and ECoG. However, despite their widespread use, the neural circuitry giving rise to these signals remains unknown because the functional architecture of cortical columns producing attention-associated electric fields has not been explored. Here, we detail the laminar cortical circuitry underlying an attention-associated electric field measured over posterior regions of the brain in humans and monkeys. First, we identified visual cortical area V4 as one plausible contributor to this attention-associated electric field through inverse modeling of cranial EEG in macaque monkeys performing a visual attention task. Next, we performed laminar neurophysiological recordings on the prelunate gyrus and identified the electric-field-producing dipoles as synaptic activity in distinct cortical layers of area V4. Specifically, activation in the extragranular layers of cortex resulted in the generation of the attention-associated dipole. Feature selectivity of a given cortical column determined the overall contribution to this electric field. Columns selective for the attended feature contributed more to the electric field than columns selective for a different feature. Last, the laminar profile of synaptic activity generated by V4 was sufficient to produce an attention-associated signal measurable outside of the column. These findings suggest that the top-down recipient cortical layers produce an attention-associated electric field that can be measured extracortically with the relative contribution of each column depending upon the underlying functional architecture.
Clp protease and antisense RNA jointly regulate the global regulator CarD to mediate mycobacterial starvation response
Authors: Li Xinfeng , Chen Fang , Liu Xiaoyu , Xiao Jinfeng , Andongma Binda T , Tang Qing , Cao Xiaojian , Chou Shan-Ho , Galperin Michael Y , He Jin
Published: January 2022

Under starvation conditions, bacteria tend to slow down their translation rate by reducing rRNA synthesis, but the way they accomplish that may vary in different bacteria. In Mycobacterium species, transcription of rRNA is activated by the RNA polymerase (RNAP) accessory transcription factor CarD, which interacts directly with RNAP to stabilize the RNAP-promoter open complex formed on rRNA genes. The functions of CarD have been extensively studied, but the mechanisms that control its expression remain obscure. Here, we report that the level of CarD was tightly regulated when mycobacterial cells switched from nutrient-rich to nutrient-deprived conditions. At the translational level, an antisense RNA of carD (AscarD) was induced in a SigF-dependent manner to bind with carD mRNA and inhibit CarD translation, while at the post-translational level, the residual intracellular CarD was quickly degraded by the Clp protease. AscarD thus worked synergistically with Clp protease to decrease the CarD level to help mycobacterial cells cope with the nutritional stress. Altogether, our work elucidates the regulation mode of CarD and delineates a new mechanism for the mycobacterial starvation response, which is important for the adaptation and persistence of mycobacterial pathogens in the host environment.
Social-Health Operators as Mediators in E-Health System
Authors: Genova Angela , Tousijn Willem
Published: January 2022

The E-health scenario within health systems has been modifying the relationship between curing and caring, and affecting the professional health landscape. This study has investigated changes in the e-health professional sector by focusing on the lowest healthcare occupation in Italy, that of social-health operators. The relationship between social-health operators and older adults has been analysed through a micro-sociological approach. The hypothesis leading the research have been the following: 1) the lowest occupation would assume a key role in dealing with the process of guaranteeing digital literacy in the e-health system, becoming digital mediators within the e-health system; 2) social-health operators would play a new role in their relationship with patients. Findings have confirmed both hypotheses, suggesting further development in the e-health professional sector and outlining a possible path for social-health operators towards an upgrading process as pre-professionals, fully legitimised by their hybrid status as both social and health care professionals.
miR-148a-3p inhibits the proliferation and migration of bladder cancer via regulating the expression of ROCK-1
Authors: Xu Chao , Zhou Guanwen , Sun Zhuang , Zhang Zhaocun , Zhao Haifeng , Jiang Xianzhou
Published: January 2022

Purpose

To investigate the mechanism of miR-148a-3p regulating the proliferation and migration of bladder tumor cells.

Materials and Methods

We conducted a preliminary study to detect the relative expression of miR-148a-3p in bladder cancer and para-cancerous tissue samples. Three bladder tumor cell lines, T24, 5,637 and UM-UC-3, were selected. The expression levels of miR-148a-3p were artificially regulated with miR-148a-3p mimics and the miR-148a-3p inhibitor. The relative expression levels of miR-148a-3p in the samples of each cell line were determined. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to detect cell proliferation, while the effect of the miR-148a-3p mimics and inhibitor on tumor cell migration was detected by wound healing assay. Flow cytometry assay was carried out to explore the effect of miR-148a-3p on cell apoptosis. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed in order to verify miR-148a-3p’s target gene. The expressions of ROCK-1 and Bcl-2 were analyzed by western blot.

Results

The relative expression of miR-148a-3p in tumor and adjacent tissues was assessed with qRT-PCR (P < 0.05) and found to be significantly lower in the tumor tissues than the adjacent tissues. The data obtained from the CCK-8 and wound healing assay showed that intracellular transfection of miR-148a-3p mimics could inhibit cell proliferation and migration, while the miR-148a-3p inhibitor promoted them. Overexpression of miR-148a-3p promoted cell apoptosis in the T24 and 5,637 cell lines. The dual-luciferase reporter assay verified that ROCK-1 is a direct target of miR-148a-3p. Western blot showed that miR-148a-3p overexpression downregulated the expression of ROCK-1 and Bcl-2, while miR-148a-3p knockdown upregulated the expression of ROCK-1 and Bcl-2.

Conclusions

We confirmed that miR-148a-3p was significantly decreased in bladder cancer cells. miR-148a-3p overexpression inhibited bladder cancer cell proliferation and migration, whereas miR-148a-3p knockdown promoted bladder cancer cell proliferation and migration. Moreover, we found that ROCK-1 was a downstream target of miR-148a-3p. We also found that miR-148a-3p induced cell apoptosis by regulating the expression of Bcl-2. However, the deeper mechanism of this regulatory relationship needs further study.
The performance of body mass component indices in detecting risk of musculoskeletal injuries in physically active young men and women
Authors: Domaradzki Jarosław , Koźlenia Dawid
Published: January 2022

Background

Body composition indices can be related to musculoskeletal injuries (MI), particularly in physically active groups. However, little is known about the accuracy of these diagnoses as potential predictors of musculoskeletal injuries. Therefore, this study aims to indicate the cut-off points of relative body mass (BMI), fat mass index (FMI), skeletal muscle mass (SMI), and muscle to fat ratio (MFR) and establish its reliability in injury prediction for physically active men and women.

Methods

The sample included 119 physically active individuals aged 23.72 ± 1.12 (66 men body height 1.79 ± 0.07 (m); body weight 80.51 ± 9.85 (kg) and 53 women body height 1.67 ± 0.08 (m); body weight 62 ± 10.72 (kg)), students at university of physical education in Poland. The participants’ physical activity was measured with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). The relevance of body mass index (BMI), fat mass index (FMI), skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), and muscle to fat ratio (MFR) in detecting injury risk was examined. Musculoskeletal injuries during 1 year before examination were registered using a self-reporting questionnaire. The areas under the curve (AUC) and Youden Index in the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) were calculated.

Results

The cut-off points used to classify the indices among men were BMI = 24.38; FMI = 3.74; SMI = 16.40; MFR = 3.70; and for women BMI = 20.90; FMI = 4.17; SMI = 8.96; MFR = 1.67. Results suggested the greatest reliability in the prediction of musculoskeletal injuries among men had BMI (AUC = 0.623; Youden = 0.30) and SMI (AUC = 0.608; Youden = 0.23) whereas among women, MFR (AUC = 0.628; Youden = 0.29) and FMI (AUC = 0.614; Youden = 0.32).

Conclusion

BMI and SMI are the most appropriate indices to predict the risk of musculoskeletal injury in physically active men, whereas in women, MFR and FMI are more reliable. These results indicate that the indices with more muscle mass meaning are better in predicting injury among men. In contrast, indices with a higher contribution of fat are better for women. It indicates sex differentiation of injury risk conditions. Men should focus on developing muscle mass, whereas women should reduce body fat to decrease injury risk. However, widespread use seemed to be limited to the specific examined group. Therefore, cut-off points should be used with caution, and calculated values should be verified and confirmed in subsequent studies.
Comparison of the bleaching susceptibility of coral species by using minimal samples of live corals
Authors: Wang Jih-Terng , Chu Chi-Wei , Soong Keryea
Published: January 2022

In massive bleaching events (losing symbiotic algae from corals), more sensitive corals are bleached earlier than other corals. To perform a comparison of bleaching susceptibility within and across coral species, a simple quantitative method is required. Accordingly, we present a laboratory-based method for comparing the bleaching susceptibility of various coral species by using a standardized image analysis protocol. Coral fragments were sampled from the colonies of five species selected from Kenting, southern Taiwan, and maintained in the same aquarium tank with circulating seawater; 2 seawater temperature regimes were used (i.e., fast-heating program (FHP), with a heating rate of 1 °C per day; and slow-heating program (SHP), with a heating rate of 1 °C per 3 days). Each coral fragment was photographed periodically, and the colored images were subsequently converted to grayscale images and then digitally analyzed to determine the standardized grayscale values (G0) by comparing with that of standard color strip. The G0 of a sample at each time of photographing during bleaching was divided by the difference of G0 between the acclimating and the same but completely bleached fragment to derive the relative grayscale (RG%) at a particular stage of bleaching; this is done for each coral fragment of a colony. The smaller the RG% of a coral fragment the closer it is approaching completely bleached condition. The level of decrease in RG% within a time series of images in each heating regime was used to establish a bleaching time index (BTI). The lower the BTI, the sooner to reach a defined bleaching level (e.g., 30%), this indicates the coral is more sensitive to thermal bleaching. In the experiment, we compared the bleaching susceptibility of the five species. Based on the proposed BTI, the five species were ranked in terms of bleaching susceptibility, and the rankings were identical between the two temperature regimes; three species in Pocilloporidae had lower BTI, whereas the hydrocoral Millepora species had the highest BTI. Within each heating regime, the BTI of different species were ranked and used to indicate susceptibility. In the FHP, the three Pocilloporidae species could be divided into two groups in terms of bleaching susceptibility. FHP not only displayed a higher differentiating capability on coal bleaching susceptibility than SHP, but also had a faster completion time, thus reducing the likelihood of unforeseen complications during the tank experiments. Our color-based method is easier and less effort-intensive than methods involving the assessment of zooxanthellae densities. Moreover, it requires much fewer replicates and all samples in one large tank (e.g., 300 L) for the studies considering multiple species comparisons. This method opens opportunities for studying the effects of species types, acclimatization (e.g., seasons), and environmental factors other than temperature on coral bleaching.
Potential impacts from simulated vessel noise and sonar on commercially important invertebrates
Authors: Hudson David M. , Krumholz Jason S. , Pochtar Darby L. , Dickenson Natasha C. , Dossot Georges , Phillips Gillian , Baker Edward P. , Moll Tara E.
Published: January 2022

Human usage of coastal water bodies continues to increase and many invertebrates face a broad suite of anthropogenic stressors (e.g., warming, pollution, acidification, fishing pressure). Underwater sound is a stressor that continues to increase in coastal areas, but the potential impact on invertebrates is not well understood. In addition to masking natural sound cues which may be important for behavioral interactions, there is a small but increasing body of scientific literature indicating sublethal physiological stress may occur in invertebrates exposed to high levels of underwater sound, particularly low frequency sounds such as vessel traffic, construction noise, and some types of sonar. Juvenile and sub-adult blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) and American lobsters (Homarus americanus) were exposed to simulated low-frequency vessel noise (a signal was low-pass filtered below 1 kHz to ensure low-frequency content only) and mid-frequency sonar (a 1-s 1.67 kHz continuous wave pulse followed by a 2.5 to 4.0 kHz 1-s linear frequency modulated chirp) and behavioral response (the animal’s activity level) was quantified during and after exposure using EthoVision XT™ from overhead video recordings. Source noise was quantified by particle acceleration and pressure. Physiological response to the insults (stress and recovery) were also quantified by measuring changes in hemolymph heat shock protein (HSP27) and glucose over 7 days post-exposure. In general, physiological indicators returned to baseline levels within approximately 48 h, and no observable difference in mortality between treatment and control animals was detected. However, there was a consistent amplified hemolymph glucose signal present 7 days after exposure for those animals exposed to mid-frequency sound and there were changes to C. sapidus competitive behavior within 24 h of exposure to sound. These results stress the importance of considering the impacts of underwater sound among the suite of stressors facing marine and estuarine invertebrates, and in the discussion of management actions such as protected areas, impact assessments, and marine spatial planning efforts.
Health indicators of periodic examinations for federal civil servants / Indicadores de saúde dos exames periódicos para servidores públicos federais
Authors: Da Costa Fernandes Ana Paula da Fonseca , Gaspar Amanda Gonçalves , Da Silva Alexandre Sousa , Passos Joanir Pereira
Published: January 2022

Objetivo: traçar o perfil de saúde dos servidores públicos de instituição de ensino localizada no Rio de Janeiro, a partir dos resultados dos exames periódicos de saúde. Método: utilizou-se abordagem quantitativa e transversal, com dados coletados em uma instituição pública federal de ensino. Resultados: verificou-se o risco para desenvolvimento de doenças crônicas não transmissíveis, dado o histórico familiar aliado ao estilo de vida dos participantes. A atividade física referida não pôde ser associada à diminuição de risco de doenças cardiovasculares e, por isso, pode não estar sendo efetiva sua contribuição para a saúde de seus praticantes. Quanto à exposição ocupacional, foram identificadas alterações nos exames de audiometria, videolaringoestroboscopia e Gama GT dos servidores docentes. Conclusão: torna-se fundamental consolidar as ações voltadas para os servidores públicos, enquanto ferramenta para embasar ações de promoção e proteção da saúde dos trabalhadores e para o fortalecimento de políticas públicas voltadas para o tema.
Nurses’ feeling facing patient in an intensive care unit / Sentimentos de enfermeiros frente ao paciente em unidade de terapia intensiva
Authors: Soares Wilma Tatiane Sousa Martins , Nunes Jacqueline Targino , Medeiros Soraya Maria de , Davim Rejane Marie Barbosa , Silva Kezia Katiane Medeiros da , Fernandes Maria Neyrian de Fátima
Published: January 2022

Objetivo: identificar os sentimentos dos enfermeiros frente ao paciente sem possibilidades de cura, suas maiores dificuldades e discutir aspectos relevantes ao preparo dos enfermeiros no processo morte/morrer em Unidades de Terapia Intensiva. Método: pesquisa descritiva, qualitativa em três hospitais públicos e privados no interior do Maranhão com 33 enfermeiros atuantes em Unidades de Terapia Intensiva. Dados coletados entre agosto e setembro de 2015 com entrevista semiestruturada e analisados por meio da análise temática. Resultados: organizados em três categorias temáticas principais: Sentimentos que envolvem enfermeiros frente ao óbito do paciente; A morte na rotina de trabalho que influencia na vida pessoal dos enfermeiros e Preparo do enfermeiro da graduação para lidar com o processo de morte. Conclusão: o enfrentamento da morte é um desafio para os enfermeiros visto que nem todas as instituições de ensino oferecem abordagem aprofundada relacionada ao processo de morte/morrer.
Drug‐refractory myasthenia gravis: Clinical characteristics, treatments, and outcome
Authors: Cortés‐Vicente Elena , Álvarez‐Velasco Rodrigo , Pla‐Junca Francesc , Rojas‐Garcia Ricard , Paradas Carmen , Sevilla Teresa , Casasnovas Carlos , Gómez‐Caravaca María Teresa , Pardo Julio , Ramos‐Fransi Alba , Pelayo‐Negro Ana Lara , Gutiérrez‐Gutiérrez Gerardo , Turon‐Sans Janina , López de Munain Adolfo , Guerrero‐Sola Antonio , Jericó Ivonne , Martín María Asunción , Mendoza María Dolores , Morís Germán , Vélez‐Gómez Beatriz , Garcia‐Sobrino Tania , Pascual‐Goñi Elba , Reyes‐Leiva David , Illa Isabel , Gallardo Eduard
Published: January 2022

Objective

To describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes in patients with refractory myasthenia gravis (MG) and to determine the effectiveness and side effects of the drugs used for their treatment.

Methods

This observational retrospective cross‐sectional multicenter study was based on data from the Spanish MG Registry (NMD‐ES). Patients were considered refractory when their MG Foundation of America post‐interventional status (MGFA‐PIS) was unchanged or worse after corticosteroids and two or more other immunosuppressive agents. Clinical and immunologic characteristics of drug‐refractory patients, efficiency and toxicity of drugs used, and outcome (MGFA‐PIS) at end of follow‐up were studied.

Results

We included 990 patients from 15 hospitals. Eighty‐four patients (68 of 842 anti‐acetylcholine receptor [AChR], 5 of 26 anti‐muscle‐specific tyrosine kinase [MusK], 10 of 120 seronegative, and 1 of 2 double‐seropositive patients) were drug refractory. Drug‐refractory patients were more frequently women (p < 0.0001), younger at onset (p < 0.0001), and anti‐MuSK positive (p = 0.037). Moreover, they more frequently presented a generalized form of the disease, bulbar symptoms, and life‐threatening events (p < 0.0001; p = 0.018; and p = 0.002, respectively) than non‐drug‐refractory patients. Mean follow‐up was 9.8 years (SD 4.5). Twenty‐four (50%) refractory patients had side effects to one or more of the drugs. At the end of follow‐up, 42.9% of drug‐refractory patients (42.6% of anti‐AChR, 100% of anti‐MuSK, and 10% of seronegative patients) and 79.8% of non‐drug‐refractory patients (p < 0.0001) achieved remission or had minimal manifestations. Eighty percent of drug‐refractory‐seronegative patients did not respond to any drug tested.

Interpretation

In this study, 8.5% of MG patients were drug‐refractory. New more specific drugs are needed to treat drug‐refractory MG patients.
Observer‐based guaranteed cost control for IT‐2 stochastic fuzzy coupled neural networks with Markov switching topology
Authors: Arumugam Karthick , Rathinasamy Sakthivel , Liu Yurong
Published: January 2022

This study focuses on the guaranteed cost control problem for interval type‐2 stochastic fuzzy coupled neural networks (NNs) elicited by the observer framework with Markov switching topology, external disturbances, and quantization effect. In particular, the guaranteed cost controller is developed with an upper bound of the guaranteed cost function and also ensures stability of the addressed networks. Also, the integration of lower and upper membership functions are incorporated to relax the stability condition of the networks. Notably, the randomness phenomena are incorporated by the agency of stochastic variables that satisfies the Bernoulli distribution characteristics. Specifically, the state feedback controller considered with quantization effect is designed through undirected communication graph subject to Markov switching topology. In consequence with Lyapunov–Krasovskii‐functional and algebraic graph theory, sufficient conditions are established to assure the stochastic stabilization of the NNs with some specified cost value. Explicitly, the optimal upper bound of the guaranteed cost function and the controller gain fluctuations of the state and the observer are effectuated through the developed conditions. Finally, the reduced conservatism and efficiency of the proposed analytical design are demonstrated through a numerical example.
Conductive Materials with Elaborate Micro/Nanostructures for Bioelectronics
Authors: Guo Jiahui , Wang Yu , Zhang Hui , Zhao Yuanjin
Published: January 2022

Bioelectronics, an emerging field with the mutual penetration of biological systems and electronic sciences, allows the quantitative analysis of complicated biosignals together with the dynamic regulation of fateful biological functions. In this area, the development of conductive materials with elaborate micro/nanostructures has been of great significance to the improvement of high‐performance bioelectronic devices. Thus, here, a comprehensive and up‐to‐date summary of relevant research studies on the fabrication and properties of conductive materials with micro/nanostructures and their promising applications and future opportunities in bioelectronic applications is presented. In addition, a critical analysis of the current opportunities and challenges regarding the future developments of conductive materials with elaborate micro/nanostructures for bioelectronic applications is also presented.
A Metabolic Reprogramming Amino Acid Polymer as an Immunosurveillance Activator and Leukemia Targeting Drug Carrier for T‐Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Li Changzheng , You Xinru , Xu Xi , Wu Binghuo , Liu Yuye , Tong Tong , Chen Jie , Li Yishan , Dai Chunlei , Ye Zhitao , Tian Xiaobin , Wei Yan , Hao Zechen , Jiang Linjia , Wu Jun , Zhao Meng
Published: January 2022

Compromised immunosurveillance leads to chemotherapy resistance and disease relapse of hematological malignancies. Amino acid metabolism regulates immune responses and cancer; however, a druggable amino acid metabolite to enhance antitumor immunosurveillance and improve leukemia targeting‐therapy efficacy remains unexplored. Here, an L‐phenylalanine polymer, Metabolic Reprogramming Immunosurveillance Activation Nanomedicine (MRIAN), is invented to effectively target bone marrow (BM) and activate the immune surveillance in T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T‐ALL) by inhibiting myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in T‐ALL murine model. Stable‐isotope tracer and in vivo drug distribution experiments show that T‐ALL cells and MDSCs have enhanced cellular uptake of L‐phenylalanine and MRIANs than normal hematopoietic cells and progenitors. Therefore, MRIAN assembled Doxorubicin (MRIAN‐Dox) specifically targets T‐ALL cells and MDSCs but spare normal hematopoietic cells and hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells with enhanced leukemic elimination efficiency. Consequently, MRIAN‐Dox has reduced cardiotoxicity and myeloablation side effects in treating T‐ALL mice. Mechanistically, MRIAN degrades into L‐phenylalanine, which inhibits PKM2 activity and reduces ROS levels in MDSCs to disturb their immunosuppressive function and increase their differentiation toward normal myeloid cells. Overall, a novel amino acid metabolite nanomedicine is invented to treat T‐ALL through the combination of leukemic cell targeting and immunosurveillance stimulation.
Boost photothermal theranostics via self‐assembly‐induced crystallization (SAIC)
Authors: Mu Xueluer , Wu Fapu , Tang Ying , Wang Rui , Li Yajie , Li Kaixuan , Li Chunfeng , Lu Yingxi , Zhou Xianfeng , Li Zhibo
Published: January 2022

Owing to the intrinsic advantages of spatiotemporal selectivity, photothermal theranostics have become the advancing edge of precision medicine for cancer. Developing photothermal transduction agents (PTAs) with near‐infrared (NIR) absorption, high photothermal conversion efficiency, robust photothermal stability, and good accumulation in tumors, is particularly valuable. Herein, we report a new concept, self‐assembly‐induced crystallization (SAIC), which can serve as a mechanism that dramatically boosts photothermal behaviors of PTA in NIR region. As a proof of concept, three heptamethine cyanine molecules with internal degrees of freedom (geometry and intramolecular interaction) are designed to fine‐tune their crystallinity. Notably, Cy7‐TCF‐EMBI molecules with rigid and planar skeletons self‐assemble into a crystalline state to maximize their packing density and improve the charge transfer, both of which contribute to nonradiative decay for energy dissipation as heat. The high packing density also renders an ideal scaffold for controlling intermolecular interactions to exhibit better photothermal stability, and endows an anisotropic three‐dimensional architecture for passive tumor targeting. This “SAIC” strategy may offer a conceptually novel, practically simple but effective approach to unveil the structure–property relationship that could provide some general rules in rational design of PTAs, and paves the way for a next generation of supramolecular medicine for photothermal theranostics.
Electrified methane steam reforming on a washcoated SiSiC foam for low‐carbon hydrogen production
Authors: Zheng Lei , Ambrosetti Matteo , Marangoni Daniele , Beretta Alessandra , Groppi Gianpiero , Tronconi Enrico
Published: January 2022

In view of largely available renewable electricity as a green future resource, here we report the electrification of a Rh/Al2O3 washcoated SiSiC foam for methane steam reforming (MSR). We show that, thanks to the suitable bulk resistivity of the SiSiC foam, its direct Joule heating up to relevant temperatures is feasible; the interconnected geometry greatly reduces heat and mass transfer limitations, which results in a highly active and energy efficient system for low‐carbon H2 production. The foam‐based electrified MSR (eMSR) system showed almost full methane conversion above 700°C and methane conversions approaching equilibrium were obtained in a range of conditions. Energy efficiency as high as 61% and specific power consumption as low as 2.0 kWh/ were measured at 650°C, at gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 150,000 cm3/h/gcat. When driven by renewable electricity, the proposed reactor configuration promises a high potential to address the decarbonization challenge in the near‐term future.
COVID‐19 vaccines and risks of hematological abnormalities: Nested case–control and self‐controlled case series study
Authors: Sing Chor‐Wing , Tang Casey Tze Lam , Chui Celine Sze Ling , Fan Min , Lai Francisco Tsz Tsun , Li Xue , Wan Eric Yuk Fai , Wong Carlos King Ho , Chan Esther Wai Yin , Hung Ivan Fan Ngai , Leung Anskar Yu‐Hung , Cheung Ching‐Lung , Wong Ian Chi Kei
Published: January 2022

Several studies reported hematological abnormalities after vaccination against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). We evaluated the association between COVID‐19 vaccines (CoronaVac and BNT162b2) and hematological abnormalities. We conducted nested case–control and self‐controlled case series analyses using the data from the Hong Kong Hospital Authority and the Department of Health, HKSAR. Outcomes of interest were thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, and neutropenia. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs), incidence rate ratios (IRRs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using conditional logistic regression. In total, 1 643 419 people received COVID‐19 vaccination (738 609 CoronaVac; 904 810 BNT162b2). We identified 457 and 422 cases after CoronaVac and BNT162b2 vaccination, respectively. For CoronaVac, the incidence of thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, and neutropenia was 2.51, 1.08, and 0.15 per 10 000 doses. For BNT162b2, the corresponding incidence was 1.39, 1.17, and 0.26 per 10 000 doses. The incidence per 10 000 COVID‐19 cases were 1254, 2341, and 884, respectively. We only observed an increased risk of leukopenia following the second dose of BNT162b2 (aOR 1.58, 95% CI 1.24–2.02; day 0–14, IRR 2.21; 95% CI 1.59–3.08). There was no increased risk of any hematological abnormalities after CoronaVac vaccination. We observed an increased risk of leukopenia shortly after the second dose of BNT162b2. However, the incidence was much lower than the incidence following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infections. There was no association between CoronaVac and hematological abnormalities. The benefits of vaccination against COVID‐19 still outweigh the risk of hematological abnormalities.
Friedel‐Crafts‐Type Reaction of (Het)Arenes with Aldehydes/Ketones under Acid‐Free Conditions using Neutral Ionic Liquid: A Convenient Routes to bis(Indolyl)methanes and Beyond
Authors: Kumar Santosh , Rastogi Sumit K. , Singh Akansha , Bharati Ahirwar Mini , Deshmukh Milind M. , Sinha Arun K. , Kumar Ravindra
Published: January 2022

Acid‐free approach has been demonstrated for Friedel‐Crafts‐type reaction of (het)arenes with carbonyls using neutral ionic liquid (NIL). Methodology is enabled to afford a densely functionalized bis(indolyl)methanes in good to excellent yields. This conditions is also compatible to the synthesis of 3,3‐di(indol‐3‐yl)indolin‐2‐ones, bis(4‐hydroxycoumarines) and triarylmethanes (total 40 examples; up to 98% yields). Gram‐scale reactions and recycling study were carried out to demonstrate the practicality of present methodology. DFT studies illustrate the catalytic cycle involving simultaneous activation of C=O and indole C−H bond by NIL followed by C−C bond formation.
Polyethylene porous microsphere coated coaxial fiber composite membrane for high safety lithium‐ion battery
Authors: Wang Xu , Cui Weiwei , Lin Zeyu , Piao Jingxian , Qu Xinyu , Deng Wei , Gong Guifen
Published: January 2022

A polyetherimide/polyvinylidene fluoride (PEI/PVDF) coaxial fiber membrane coated with polyethylene (PE) porous microspheres with thermal shutdown function was prepared. The PE porous microspheres created by the suspension dispersion method are composed of a large number of pleated petal structures, which contain abundant pore structures and have a melting point of 108°C. Ionic conductivity test, scanning electron microscope test, open circuit voltage test, and cycle performance test show that the composite membrane with PE microspheres layer can effectively close the pore structure at 110°C and stop the battery reaction. The thermal stability test shows that the composite membrane does not shrink at 210°C, the thermal shutdown temperature window is as high as 100°C, and the PE coating can significantly improve the high temperature thermal dimensional stability of the membrane. Thanks to the porous microstructure of PE microspheres and the good electrolyte affinity of the PVDF skin layer, the PE composite membrane has good electrolyte wetting and uptake capabilities. The battery assembled by the PE composite membrane has a capacity retention rate of 88.6% after 100 cycles at 0.5 C and has excellent C‐rate capability.
Structural, microstructural, and ferroelectric studies of polyvinylidene fluoride‐hexafluoropropylene (PVDF‐HFP) thin films in Ag/Cu/PVDF‐HFP/Cu capacitor structures
Authors: Roy Jyotirmoy , Chikkonda Raghavendar , Kishor Gara , Thankamani Sathyanathan Akhil Raman , Raju K. C. James , Gangineni Ramesh Babu
Published: January 2022

In this article, the structural, microstructural, and ferroelectric characteristics of polyvinylidene fluoride‐hexafluoropropylene (PVDF‐HFP) thin films in Ag/Cu/PVDF‐HFP/Cu capacitor structures have been investigated. The bottom interfaces glass or Cu/glass influence upon the PVDF‐HFP thin‐film crystal structure and microstructure have been evaluated using grazing incidence X‐ray diffractometer and atomic force microscopy. Quasi‐static current–voltage loops, the polarization versus electric field loops measured at varied applied frequencies (100 mHz–1 Hz) and electric field amplitudes (2.5–27.5 MV/m) are utilized to comprehend the ferroelectric characteristics of PVDF‐HFP thin films. Furthermore, the observed linear dependency between coercive field and frequency is linked to the homogenous domain growth model proposed by Kolmogorov‐Avrami‐Ishibashi.
Nickel Phosphide Coated with Ultrathin Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Shell as a Highly Durable and Active Catalyst towards Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Xiao Yao , Hou Shuai , Jin Zhao , Liu Changpeng , Ge Junjie , Xing Wei
Published: January 2022

Developing non‐precious metal catalysts towards hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is of both high scientific and technical importance for the widespread application of water electrolysis. Herein, Ni2P nanoparticles coated with a ultrathin N‐doped carbon shell were prepared as a highly efficient HER catalyst. Ni2P@CN exhibits both enhanced catalytic activity and durability in comparison with the carbon‐supported Ni2P counterpart, and represents 100% faradaic yield for HER in an acidic medium. The improved charge transfer of N‐doped graphitic carbon shells contributes to the increase in activity. Meanwhile, the carbon shells suppress the aggregation and exfoliation of Ni2P nanoparticles. As a result, the synergistic role of the N‐doped carbon layer confers the Ni2P cores with boosted activity and stability.
Generalized H2 control of discrete‐time semi‐Markov jump systems
Authors: Xin Bo , Zhao Dianli
Published: January 2022

This paper mainly studies the generalized H2 control of discrete‐time semi‐Markov jump systems with bounded sojourn‐time. By constructing the mode‐dependent Lyapunov function related to the elapsed‐time and the semi‐Markov process, we obtain sufficient conditions to ensure the σ‐error mean square stable and generalized H2 performance of the semi‐Markov jump system. Moreover, by introducing slack variables, the generalized H2 performance index is reduced and the feasible region is expanded. Finally, through numerical calculations, we confirm the effectiveness of the design methods.
Fuzzy approach‐based optimal robust control for permanent magnet synchronous motor with experimental validation
Authors: Zhu Yinfei , Zhao Han , Cao Zhenwei , Sun Hao , Zhen Shengchao
Published: January 2022

This paper presents an optimal robust control for a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) with uncertainties and external disturbances which can be described by fuzzy approach. The fuzzy approach based on fuzzy set theory is distinguish from probability theory or fuzzy logic theory. Firstly, a dynamical model of the PMSM with uncertainties is established using a fuzzy approach. Then, a robust controller with an optimizable parameter is designed for PMSM to handle the uncertainties. The stability of the proposed control is proven using the Lyapunov theory. Furthermore, the controller gain is optimized by minimizing performance index, which contains the control performance and cost. Finally, the numerical simulations and experimental results are presented to validate the effectiveness of the proposed control with an optimal parameter.
Almost sure stability of stochastic neutral Cohen–Grossberg neural networks with Lévy noise and time‐varying delays
Authors: Yu Peilin , Deng Feiqi
Published: January 2022

The almost sure stability for the stochastic neutral Cohen–Grossberg neural networks (SNCGNNs) with Lévy noise, time‐varying delays, and Markovian switching would be deliberated in this article. By means of the nonnegative semimartingale convergence theorem (NSCT), the neutral Itô formula, M‐matrix method, and selecting appropriate Lyapunov function, several almost sure stability criterions for the SNCGNNs could be derived. Moreover, according to the M‐matrix theory, the upper bounds of the coefficients at any mode are given. Finally, two examples and numerical simulations verify the correctness of theoretical analysis for the stability criterions proposed in the article.
Potential field‐based path planning for emergency collision avoidance with a clothoid curve in waypoint tracking
Authors: Lin Pengfei , Yang Jin Ho , Quan Ying Shuai , Chung Chung Choo
Published: January 2022

A novel potential field‐based model curve fitting method (PF‐MCF) is presented in this paper to handle emergency collision avoidance in waypoint tracking (following waypoints from a leading vehicle). It is reported that the PF has high performance on real‐time obstacle avoidance in robotic path planning. However, some inherent limitations exist in the PF, such as no passage between closely spaced obstacles and oscillations in the presence of obstacles, which is rarely discussed in the research field of PF‐based autonomous vehicles (AVs), especially in waypoint tracking. To solve these problems, we propose the PF‐MCF method to transform the clothoid curve into a quadratic programming form and solve the optimization under reasonable constraints to consider the different waypoints from the PF and the leading vehicle. The proposed PF‐MCF method is validated via MATLAB/Simulink and CarSim to avoid multiple obstacle vehicles in waypoint tracking compared with the two latest methods (PF‐based model predictive controller and PF‐based curve fitting method). The simulation results confirm the efficiency of finding a passage in closely spaced obstacle vehicles and eliminating oscillations (under 0.5 [deg] in tire steering angle) in the presence of obstacles compared to other latest methods.
Computation of subjective value does not always elicit alternative‐based information searching in intertemporal choice
Authors: Zhang Yang‐Yang , Zhou Lei , Li Shu , Liang Zhu‐Yuan
Published: January 2022

The “subjective value” computation assumption holds that intertemporal choice is performed by computing subjective value by eliciting information searching within alternatives. Although widely accepted, this assumption has not been well tested. In the current eye tracking study, we developed a new paradigm using forward inference to examine this hypothesis. Participants were instructed to finish two types of intertemporal choice tasks. The free task resembled a standard task, in which participants were free to follow their own preference. The instructed task, on the other hand, provided a baseline whereby participants were given explicit instructions to calculate the subjective value of options according to a classic discounting model. The results of behavioral, fixation and scanpath demonstrated that participants performed the instructed task in a manner that was consistent with a discounting computation process. However, by comparing performances across the two tasks, we found that participants made more attribute‐based saccades when they made instructed choices, compared to when they made free choices. These findings provide no support for the “subjective value” assumption in intertemporal choice. That is, that the computation of subjective value is associated with alternative‐based information searching, further demonstrating the effectiveness of the forward inference paradigm in testing intertemporal choices models. This study also highlights the need for careful reexamination of the assumed relationship between eye movement patterns and corresponding underlying cognitive processes in intertemporal choice.
Acid–base reaction of a super‐photoacid with a cooperative amide hydrogen‐bonded chain
Authors: Choi Ye‐Jin , Kim Heesu , Kwon Oh‐Hoon
Published: January 2022

The excited‐state proton transfer (ESPT) of the strong photoacid, N‐methyl‐7‐hydroxyquinolium (NM7HQ+), was studied in the presence of N‐methylbenzamide (NMB) as a base in the aprotic polar solvent, acetonitrile. According to the Benesi–Hildebrand relation, it was revealed that the hydrogen (H)‐bonded complex of NM7HQ+ and NMB exists in the ground state in a 1:1 stoichiometry with the association constant of 22.2 ± 1.7 M−1. The fluorescence quenching of the 1:1 complex was observed to follow the Stern–Volmer relation with the molecularity of one for NMB indicating that the ESPT of NM7HQ+ occurs with the H‐bonded chain of two NMB molecules. Our study highlights the cooperative nature of H‐bonding in the chemical reactivity of amide in acid–base reactions as has already been reported for alcohol.
Circular business model: Breaking down barriers towards sustainable development
Authors: Galvão Graziela Darla Araujo , Evans Steve , Ferrer Paulo Sergio Scoleze , de Carvalho Marly Monteiro
Published: January 2022

Barriers to circular economy implementation are adversities that organizations, in general, cannot overcome. Other adversities are relative, that is, true within a particular context of some organizations. In this sense, they would be—in fact—obstacles, which can emerge as a competitive differential for those organizations that have or develop internal capacity to overcome them. The article aims to explore how barriers integrate solutions to face barriers or obstacles in the company and whether this brings a competitive advantage. In order to achieve the aim, 40 interviews were carried out in companies that already have implemented a circular economy in manufacturing strategy. The results suggest that absolute barriers emerge as an extreme theoretical reference of minor occurrence in practice (outliers). However, obstacles are ordinary and frequent events, which can be converted into a competitive advantage as appropriate operations strategies are incorporated into the circular business model to achieve sustainable development.