bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Co‐occurrences of soil nitrogen cycling and human‐disease genes following spent mushroom substrate and nitrification inhibitor applications: A strategy for decreasing health risk
Authors: Zou Dongsheng , Wang Jiuxiang , Wang Weijin , Ye Xiaoxin , Yang Chenming , He Fuqing , Zhang Manyun
Published: April 2022

Spent mushroom substrates can be utilized as organic fertilizer in agricultural production but may pose a health risk. Nitrification inhibitors dicyandiamide and 3,4‐dimethylpyrazole phosphate have been used to enhance fertilizer nitrogen utilization efficiency. However, the changes of soil abiotic properties, microbial activities, nitrogen cycling and human‐disease genes, and their comprehensive relationships after the spent mushroom substrate and nitrification inhibitor applications were still unknown. In this study, the spent mushroom substrate and nitrification inhibitor were applied into the agricultural soils at the rates of 2.5% (w/w) and 1.0% of nitrogen content in the spent mushroom substrate, respectively, and then lettuce was planted. Compared with the control, spent mushroom substrate application significantly increased the lettuce biomass, soil enzyme activities and chitinase, protease, nitric‐oxide reductase, nitrogenase, and urease gene abundances. However, the antibiotic resistance and human‐disease gene abundances were also significantly enhanced following the spent mushroom substrate application. Relative to spent mushroom substrate alone, the dicyandiamide application significantly decreased the soil pH and human‐disease gene abundances, although extra dicyandiamide and 3,4‐dimethylpyrazole phosphate enhanced 61.4% and 45.0% of dry biomass of aboveground lettuce. The human‐disease gene abundances were positively correlated with soil pH but were negatively correlated with the Acidobacteria and Streptomyces ratios in soils. Spent mushroom substrate application could generate double‐edged sword effects, and the health risk should be considered in the spent mushroom substrate applications. Extra dicyandiamide application could further promote crop growth while decrease the human‐disease risk from the spent mushroom substrate.
Laser Ablated Janus Hydrogel Composite Membrane for Draining Excessive Blood and Biofluid around Wounds
Authors: Zhang Juan , Liu Bingrui , Liu Xiaoling , Wang DaWei , Dong Bin , Zhang Yiyuan , Xu Bing , Chen Chao , Shen Zuojun
Published: April 2022

In order to avoid bacterial infection and mechanical damage to minor skin wounds, a bandage is usually put on the surface of the wound. The existing textile bandage can quickly absorb biofluids on the wound surface, but these absorbed biofluids remain in the interface between the wound and the bandage, which may not avoid the infection caused by these biofluids. Herein, a hydrophobic/hydrophilic Janus hydrogel composite membrane (JHCM) with a commercial band‐aid to achieve efficient cleaning of the biofluids on the wound surface is combined. By using the UV curing and femtosecond laser perforation method to fabricate the JHCM, the unidirectional biofluid transport performance of this JHCM is investigated. The JHCM can pump this biofluid to the hydrophilic layer through the hydrophilic inner wall of conical micropores and hydrogel layer driven. Also, this JHCM can weaken undesired wet adhesion and heat loss due to the removal of liquid while maintaining excellent antibacterial properties. Compared to the commercial band‐aid, there is significantly better in vivo wound healing effects for the JHCM@ band‐aid. This study is valuable for designing and fabricating next‐generation bandages with high performance for clinical applications.
Pathway‐Specific Remodeling of Thalamostriatal Synapses in a Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Tanimura Asami , Shen Weixing , Wokosin David , Surmeier D. James
Published: April 2022

Background

The network pathophysiology underlying the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) is poorly understood. In models of late‐stage PD, there is significant cell‐specific remodeling of corticostriatal, axospinous glutamatergic synapses on principal spiny projection neurons (SPNs). Neurons in the centrolateral nucleus (CLN) of the thalamus that relay cerebellar activity to the striatum also make axospinous synapses on SPNs, but the extent to which they are affected in PD has not been definitively characterized.

Objective

To fill this gap, transgenic mice in which CLN neurons express Cre recombinase were used in conjunction with optogenetic and circuit mapping approaches to determine changes in the CLN projection to SPNs in a unilateral 6‐hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA) model of late‐stage PD.

Methods

Adeno‐associated virus vectors carrying Cre‐dependent opsin expression constructs were stereotaxically injected into the CLN of Grp‐KH288 mice in which CLN, but not parafascicular nucleus neurons, expressed Cre recombinase. The properties of this projection to identify direct pathway spiny projection neurons (dSPNs) and indirect pathway spiny projection neurons (iSPNs) were then studied in ex vivo brain slices of the dorsolateral striatum from control and 6‐OHDA lesioned mice using anatomic, optogenetic, and electrophysiological approaches.

Results

Optogenetically evoked excitatory synaptic currents in both iSPNs and dSPNs were reduced in lesioned mice; however, the reduction was significantly greater in dSPNs. In iSPNs, the reduction in evoked responses was attributable to synaptic pruning, because synaptic channelrhodopsin assisted circuit mapping (sCRACm) revealed fewer synapses per cell after lesioning. In contrast, sCRACm mapping of CLN inputs to dSPNs failed to detect any change in synapse abundance in lesioned mice. However, the ratio of currents through α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionic acid receptors to those through N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptors was significantly reduced in dSPNs. Moreover, the distribution of currents evoked by optical stimulation of individual synapses shifted toward smaller amplitudes by lesioning, suggesting that they had undergone long‐term depression.

Conclusions

Taken together, our results demonstrate that the CLN projection to the striatum undergoes a pathway‐specific remodeling that could contribute to the circuit imbalance thought to drive the hypokinetic features of PD. © 2022 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Functional outcome after transfer of brachialis on anterior interosseous and supinator on posterior interosseous nerves: A preliminary report
Authors: Sacco Carlo , Olivi Silvia , Visani Jacopo , Donati Roberto , Veronesi Vanni , Mencarani Camilla , Capone Crescenzo , Bizzocchi Gianluca , Kiekens Carlotte , De Bonis Pasquale , Scerrati Alba , Staffa Guido
Published: April 2022

Objective

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) resulting in tetraplegia is a leading cause of morbidity among young adults worldwide and its management remains challenging. Restoring hand function in these patients must be considered a top priority with great impact on their quality of life (QOL); although nerve and tendon transfer have been extensively described, type of procedure to be chosen is not standardized and few studies have determined the functional outcome of those procedure and their impact on QOL is still poorly assessed. We report a preliminary retrospective study regarding feasibility and functional outcomes of nerve transfer procedures including bilateral brachialis nerve on anterior interosseous nerve (AIN) and supinator branch on posterior interosseous nerve (PIN) for hand reanimation following SCI focusing on the impact of these procedures on QOL.

Methods

We performed a retrospective study involving patient sustained SCI and underwent nerve transfer of brachialis branch from musculocutaneous nerve on AIN and supinator branch from the trunk of the radial nerve on the PIN. We included 11 patients (14 limbs) with traumatic SCI resulting in C4 level tetraplegia in five patients, C5 in four and C6 and C7 in one case each, with a median age of 31.5 years underwent surgery at a median of 10 months after injury; including both transfers in 10 cases and AIN reanimation only in one. Functional assessment including medical research council (MCR) grade, graded redefined assessment of strength sensation and prehension (GRASSP) and spinal cord independence measure (SCIM) were performed at least 12 months follow up.

Results

Thirteen PIN innervated muscles achieved an MRC score ≥3/5 whereas AIN supplied muscles in 5 out of 15. GRASSP qualitative measure improved from a baseline value of 1 to 2, while quantitative measure passed from 1 to 3 after 12 months; the difference was statistically significant (p = .005 and p = .008, respectively). SCIM self‐care sub‐score also statistically significant improved from 3 to 4 at 12 months (p = .016). No complication or donor morbidity occurred.

Conclusions

Functional performance has been significantly improved by nerve transfer procedures 1 year after surgery. Nerve transfers may represent a valuable option for the restoration of the hand function in patients with tetraplegia with minor or no morbidity.
A wavelet‐based novel approximation to investigate the sensitivities of various path‐independent binary options
Authors: Deswal Komal , Kumar Devendra
Published: April 2022

We present a novel idea of a wavelet‐based approximation technique using a multi‐resolution analysis to investigate the sensitivities of various path‐independent binary options under the Black–Scholes environment. The final value problem is transformed into a dimensionless initial value problem; also, to avoid the large truncation error, the infinite domain is truncated into a finite domain. A noteworthy observation is that the proposed Haar wavelet scheme is effective and easy to implement to analyze the different physical and numerical aspects of the options' Greeks. It explicitly provides the numerical approximation of all the derivatives of the solution function. Also, the non‐smooth payoff functions are approximated well with the Haar wavelet approximation technique of estimating the spiked functions, so there is no need to deal with the discontinuity separately. We prove the consistency and stability of the proposed method and show that the proposed method is the first‐ and second‐order accurate in the temporal and spatial directions, respectively. A variety of test examples conclusively demonstrates the computational proficiency and the theoretical results of the proposed scheme. Different attributes of the Greeks of distinct binary options are analyzed graphically. The motivational work of the study of various Greeks of different binary options significantly impacts the hedging strategies used by different financial institutes.
Cobalt‐doped Cu6Sn5 lithium‐ion battery anodes with enhanced electrochemical properties
Authors: Tan Xin F. , Tao Shiwei , Ran Lingbing , Knibbe Ruth , Nogita Kazuhiro
Published: April 2022

Sn‐based lithium‐ion battery anodes show improved capacities over commercial carbon‐based anodes. Furthermore, their higher lithiation potentials reduce the risks of Li dendrite formation. A simple Cu6Sn5 fabrication method has been previously demonstrated, but the resultant anode shows a poor reversible capacity of 470 mAh g–1. This study investigates the effects of Co in modifying the microstructure, crystal structure and electrochemical properties of Cu6Sn5 to improve the electrochemical performances of the electrode. Significant enhancement in the electrochemical properties were obtained in the Co‐doped Cu6Sn5 electrodes, where a cycling capacity as high as 830 mAh g–1 was observed during the early cycles, and a 35% increase in capacity over the pristine electrode is retained over 50 cycles. In addition, the pristine electrode does not function at a current of 0.64 mA cm–2 and above, while the Co‐doped electrode can retain a capacity of 410 mAh g–1 at a current of 1.28 mA cm–2 (2.4C). Detailed characterization of the electrodes revealed that the improved electrochemical performances are due to the refined microstructure and a higher reaction voltage during the second stage of the lithiation reaction which promotes a deeper lithiation.
SAturation‐recovery and Variable‐flip‐Angle–based three‐dimensional free‐breathing cardiovascular magnetic resonance T1 mapping at 3 T
Authors: Guo Rui , Si Dongyue , Chen Zhensen , Dai Erpeng , Chen Shuo , Herzka Daniel A. , Luo Jianwen , Ding Haiyan
Published: April 2022

The purpose of the current study was to develop and validate a three‐dimensional (3D) free‐breathing cardiac T1‐mapping sequence using SAturation‐recovery and Variable‐flip‐Angle (SAVA). SAVA sequentially acquires multiple electrocardiogram‐triggered volumes using a multishot spoiled gradient‐echo sequence. The first volume samples the equilibrium signal of the longitudinal magnetization, where a flip angle of 2° is used to reduce the time for the magnetization to return to equilibrium. The succeeding three volumes are saturation prepared with variable delays, and are acquired using a 15° flip angle to maintain the signal‐to‐noise ratio. A diaphragmatic navigator is used to compensate the respiratory motion. T1 is calculated using a saturation‐recovery model that accounts for the flip angle. We validated SAVA by simulations, phantom, and human subject experiments at 3 T. SAVA was compared with modified Look‐Locker inversion recovery (MOLLI) and saturation‐recovery single‐shot acquisition (SASHA) in vivo. In phantoms, T1 by SAVA had good agreement with the reference (R2 = 0.99). In vivo 3D T1 mapping by SAVA could achieve an imaging resolution of 1.25 × 1.25 × 8 mm3. Both global and septal T1 values by SAVA (1347 ± 37 and 1332 ± 42 ms) were in between those by SASHA (1612 ± 63 and 1618 ± 51 ms) and MOLLI (1143 ± 59 and 1188 ± 65 ms). According to the standard deviation (SD) and coefficient of variation (CV), T1 precision measured by SAVA (SD: 99 ± 14 and 60 ± 8 ms; CV: 7.4% ± 0.9% and 4.5% ± 0.6%) was comparable with MOLLI (SD: 99 ± 25 and 46 ± 12 ms; CV: 8.8% ± 2.5% and 3.9% ± 1.1%) and superior to SASHA (SD: 222 ± 89 and 132 ± 33 ms; CV: 13.8% ± 5.5% and 8.1% ± 2.0%). It was concluded that the proposed free‐breathing SAVA sequence enables more efficient 3D whole‐heart T1 estimation with good accuracy and precision.
Implementation of balancing domain decomposition method for parallel finite element analysis involving inactive elements
Authors: Yusa Yasunori , Kobayashi Hiroaki , Murakami Yuma , Okada Hiroshi
Published: April 2022

The present study developed a numerical method to implement domain decomposition (DD) solvers with the diagonal‐scaling preconditioner, the balancing domain decomposition (BDD) preconditioner and the BDD with diagonal scaling (BDD‐DIAG) preconditioner, for inactive elements. The inactive element, which is a finite element having zero stiffness, is used in several fields such as multi‐pass welding analysis, additive manufacturing analysis, damage analysis, and topology optimization. For this sort of analysis, we adopted the one‐time decomposition approach, in which the DD process is performed once at the beginning of the analysis. Based on this approach, we formulated the matrix–vector multiplication, the preconditioning and the vector operations in the algorithm of the conjugate gradient method, along with the inactive elements and floating degrees of freedom caused by the inactive elements. Consideration of the inactive elements is enabled by the slight modifications of matrices and vectors in the algorithm. Numerical examples confirmed the scalability of the BDD and BDD‐DIAG preconditioners with the present implementation method. Moreover, the capability of the present method for damage analysis, topology computation, and thermal elastic–plastic analysis of metal additive manufacturing problems was demonstrated.
High strength and anti‐freezing piezoresistive pressure sensor based on a composite gel
Authors: Tie Jianfei , Mao Zhiping , Zhang Linping , Zhong Yi , Sui Xiaofeng , Xu Hong
Published: April 2022

Piezoresistive sensors constructed by functionalized elastic gel have received broad research by virtue of the visible advantages, such as low‐cost, stability of signal collection, and excellent compress strain. Herein, a new method about improved in situ polymerization of pyrrole monomer coated on polyurethane (PU) sponge was developed, which endowed the sponge with high and homogeneous conductivity. Then, a conductive polypyrrole@polyurethane‐polyacrylamide (PPy@PU‐PAM) composite gel was constructed by filling the PPy@PU sponges with PAM gel. The composite gel showed favorable compression performance attributed to the excellent elasticity of the PAM gel and porosity of the elastic PU sponge. The obtained elastomer exhibited excellent compressibility (869 kPa). Moreover, the addition of glycerin endowed the elastomer with excellent frost resistance and compression resilience at −20°C, which could greatly broaden the application in extreme environments. The piezoresistive sensor established by the composite elastomer can withstand and sense high pressure both at 25 and −20°C. Therefore, the pressure sensor shows potential applications in various fields, such as, health‐care monitoring system, motion signal collection, and robotic control.
68Ga‐DOTATATE PET and functional imaging in pediatric pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma
Authors: Krokhmal Aleksandra A. , Kwatra Neha , Drubach Laura , Weldon Christopher B. , Janeway Katherine A. , DuBois Steven G. , Kamihara Junne , Voss Stephan D.
Published: April 2022

Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL) are rare neuroendocrine tumors in childhood. Up to 40% of PPGL are currently thought to be associated with a hereditary predisposition. Nuclear medicine imaging modalities such as fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F‐FDG PET), 68Ga‐DOTATATE PET, and 123I‐metaiodobenzylguanidine (123I‐MIBG) scintigraphy play an essential role in the staging, response assessment, and determination of suitability for targeted radiotherapy in patients with PPGL. Each of these functional imaging modalities targets a different cellular characteristic and as such can be complementary to anatomic imaging and to each other. With the recent US Food and Drug Administration approval and increasing use of 68Ga‐DOTATATE for imaging in children, the purpose of this article is to use a case‐based approach to highlight both the advantages and limitations of DOTATATE imaging as it is compared to current radiologic imaging techniques in the staging and response assessment of pediatric PPGL, as well as other neuroendocrine malignancies.
Low numbers of COVID‐19 in Swedish pediatric oncology patients during the first pandemic year despite an open society
Authors: Sundberg Emil , Georgantzi Kleopatra , Langenskiöld Cecilia , Król Ladislav , Nilsson Frans , Vogt Hartmut , Palle Josefine , Ek Torben , Nilsson Anna
Published: April 2022

Background

Sweden adopted a different strategy than many other countries to combat the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) pandemic and kept most schools open. Initial reports from China suggested that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) was milder in children compared to adults, but there was a lack of data from immunocompromised children. Therefore, we investigated the rate of verified SARS‐CoV‐2 infections in our Swedish pediatric oncology patients.

Procedure

This was a multicenter retrospective study. A questionnaire including patient data as well as SARS‐CoV‐2 data was sent to the six Swedish childhood cancer centers in May 2021.

Results

During the first pandemic year, 49 patients were identified as SARS‐CoV‐2 positive, and 22 (45%) children were hospitalized with COVID‐19. Two children needed intensive care, but no COVID‐19‐related deaths were reported. Most patients (n = 36, 73%) were on active chemotherapy treatment and 23 children (49%) attended school or daycare at least part‐time. Half of the SARS‐CoV‐2‐positive patients experienced a delay in cancer treatment.

Conclusions

Despite the rapid spread of SARS‐CoV‐2 in Sweden, without a strict lockdown of the society, the number of nationally reported pediatric oncology patients with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐verified infection was low, and the majority of children had mild disease. Our data show that treatment interruptions occurred frequently and this should clearly be avoided for the coming years.
Biocomposites based on poly(lactic acid) matrix and reinforced with natural fiber fabrics: The effect of fiber type and compatibilizer content
Authors: Tham Mun Wai , M. R. Nurul Fazita , H.P.S. Abdul Khalil , Jaafar Mariatti , Rashedi Ahmad , M. K. Mohamad Haafiz
Published: April 2022

Polylactic acid (PLA) was reinforced with either bamboo or jute fabric to produce 30 wt% composites. However, hydrophobic PLA and hydrophilic natural fiber are incompatible. Hence, maleic anhydride grafted PLA (PLA‐g‐MA) used as compatibilizer. In this study, effect of grafting reactants content, maleic anhydride (MA) and dicumyl peroxide (DCP) on MA grafting degree of PLA‐g‐MA were optimized using Taguchi experimental design. Synthesized PLA‐g‐MA exhibiting highest MA grafting degree used as compatibilizer at 3 wt%, 5 wt%, and 10 wt% for 30 wt% composites. These compatibilized 30 wt% composites were investigated for their water absorption, thermal stability, thermal, mechanical, and dynamic mechanical properties. PLA‐g‐MA addition at 3 wt% onto 30 wt% bamboo/PLA or at 5 wt% onto 30 wt% jute/PLA enhanced their interfacial adhesion, increasing theirTg,Tm,Xc, tensile, flexural, impact and storage modulus but reduced their water absorption,Tccand damping factor. Further PLA‐g‐MA addition above 3 wt% onto 30 wt% bamboo/PLA or above 5 wt% onto 30 wt% jute/PLA adversely affected their water absorption, thermal, mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties. This was attributed to excess uncoupled PLA‐g‐MA acting as plasticizer. Adverse effects also observed for their thermal stability when PLA‐g‐MA was added onto 30 wt% bamboo/PLA or 30 wt% jute/PLA. This was attributed to higher grafting reactant content, MA and less thermally stable PLA‐g‐MA.
Outcome of monochorionic triamniotic triplet pregnancies: Expectant management versus fetal reduction
Authors: Meng Xinlu , Wang Ying , Yuan Pengbo , Wang Xueju , Yin Shaohua , Shi Huifeng , Gong Xiaoli , Zhao Yangyu , Wei Yuan
Published: April 2022

Objective

To compare the outcomes of monochorionic triamniotic (MCTA) triplets managed expectantly with those reduced to twins.

Method

This was a retrospective cohort study comparing expectant management (EM) with fetal reduction (FR) to twins in 43 consecutive MCTA triplets with 3 live fetuses at 11–14 weeks between 2012 and 2021.

Results

Nineteen patients managed expectantly and 24 triplets reduced to twins were included. The rate of pregnancy with at least one survivor was 84.2% in the EM group and 66.7% in the FR group (P = 0.190). Compared to the EM cases, triplets reduced to twins had a higher median gestational age at delivery (36.0 vs. 33.3 weeks; P < 0.001), a higher mean birth weight (2244.3 ± 488.6 g vs. 1751.1 ± 383.2 g; P < 0.001) and a lower risk of preterm birth before 34 weeks (11.8% vs. 64.7%; P = 0.001). There were no significant differences in the risk of miscarriage, pregnancy complications and composite adverse neonatal outcomes.

Conclusion

In MCTA triplets, FR to twins could reduce the risk of preterm birth, whereas EM seems to be a reasonable choice when the priority is at least one survivor. However, due to the small sample size of this study, these findings must be interpreted with great caution.
Effectiveness of Youth Mental Health First Aid training for parents at school
Authors: Marsico Kristen F. , Wang Cixin , Liu Jia Li
Published: April 2022

Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) teaches adults to recognize signs and symptoms of youth mental illness and intervene using a five‐step action plan. While studies have examined the effects of the YMHFA on school staff, limited attention has been given to parent trainees in the school setting. The present study examined the outcomes following YMHFA for parents at school using a prepost and 2‐month follow‐up design. Researchers collaborated with schools to offer six free trainings at no cost to parents. A total of 107 parents participated in the research by completing the pre‐ and postsurveys. In addition, 64 of them also completed the 2‐month follow‐up survey after completing the YMHFA training. Analysis of covariances results indicated that following the YMHFA training, parents' mental health literacy, help‐seeking intentions, attitudes toward help‐seeking, behavioral intentions to use the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) action plan, and confidence in MHFA skills increased significantly. Stigma decreased significantly. All significant changes were maintained at the 2‐month follow‐up. Participants also provided feedback and suggestions. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes related to beneficial aspects of YMHFA and ways to improve the training for parents at school. Implications for engaging parents in school to support youth mental health are discussed.
Quality of life at school: Between vulnerability and robustness of students
Authors: Oger Marie , Martin‐Krumm Charles , Fenouillet Fabien , Müller Anita , Le Roux Fleur , Tarquinio Cyril , Broc Guillaume
Published: April 2022

The quality of life of students at school is an increasingly topical issue in relation both to public health issues, made more acute by the pandemic and successive confinements, and to the technical nature of future jobs which means training has become an economic issue. There are therefore two issues, one linked to health and the other to school performance. A cross‐sectional design was adopted. Questionnaires were administered to 470 volunteer student's seventh grade US to the first year of the Senior Technician Curriculum aged from 12 to 23 years (139 girls and 331 boys, mage = 15.7 years). Latent profiles analysis and the Games–Howell post hoc test were used. Analyses carried out with MPlus reveal three possible profiles. They also show that these profiles have a strong predictive power on motivation and perceived health.
Crosslinking Super Yellow to produce super OLEDs: Crosslinking with azides enables improved performance
Authors: Hengge Michael , Hänsch Paul , Ehjeij Daniel , Benneckendorf Frank S. , Freudenberg Jan , Bunz Uwe H. F. , Müllen Klaus , List‐Kratochvil Emil J. W. , Hermerschmidt Felix
Published: April 2022

An increasing number of organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) is nowadays based on the use of polymers as the emissive material. For this material class in particular, solution‐processing of the OLEDs has gained traction in both research and industry. However, in order to access multilayer material systems, orthogonal solvents must be used to prevent dissolution of previously prepared layers. The use of crosslinkers can facilitate this production method by reducing the number of orthogonal solvents needed since insoluble networks are generated. In this work, a novel bisazide crosslinker is employed to insolubilize Super Yellow, a polyphenylene‐vinylene emitter. This allows the use of an additional poly[bis(4‐phenyl)(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)amine electron blocking layer (EBL) from the same solvent. Devices including the blocking layer show improved efficacies compared to reference devices without the additional EBL, while also maintaining the emission spectrum. Using the upscalable technique of doctor blading, OLEDs were fabricated which showed a particularly noticeable effect of the blocking layer with a nearly twofold increase in luminance and a 56% increase in current efficacy.
Modulation of human transthyretin stability by the mutations at histidine 88 studied by free energy simulation
Authors: Lee Kyung‐Hoon , Kuczera Krzysztof
Published: April 2022

Human transthyretin (TTR) is a homotetrameric plasma protein associated with a high percentage of β‐sheet, which forms amyloid fibrils and accumulates in tissues or extracellular matrix to cause amyloid diseases. Free energy simulations based on all‐atom molecular dynamics simulations were carried out to analyze the effects of the His88 → Arg, Phe, and Tyr mutations on the stability of human TTR. The calculated free energy change differences (ΔΔG) caused by the His → Arg, Phe, and Tyr mutations at position 88 are 6.48 ± 0.45, −9.99 ± 0.54, and 2.66 ± 0.33 kcal/mol, respectively. These calculated free energy change differences between wild type and the mutants are in excellent agreement with prior experimental values. Our simulation results show that the wild type of the TTR is more stable than H88R and H88Y mutants, whereas it is less stable than the H88F mutant. The free energy component analysis shows that the primary contribution to the free energy change difference (ΔΔG) for the His → Arg mutation arises from electrostatic interaction; the ΔΔG for the His → Phe mutation is from van der Waals and electrostatic interactions and that for the His → Tyr mutation from covalent interaction. The simulation results show that the free energy calculation with thermodynamic integration is beneficial for understanding the detailed microscopic mechanism of protein stability. The implications of the results for understanding stabilizing and destabilizing effect of the mutation and the contribution to protein stability are discussed.
Dynamic muscle paralytic effects of a novel botulinum toxin A free of neurotoxin‐associated proteins
Authors: Liu Wu‐chao , Su Jun‐hui , Feng Ya , Xiang Xue‐rui , Pan Li‐zhen , Liu Ying , Ma Lin , Nie Zhi‐yu , Zhang Xue‐ping , Jin Ling‐jing
Published: April 2022

Structurally, botulinum toxin type A (BTX‐A) is composed of neurotoxin and nontoxic complexing proteins (CPs), and the neurotoxin has the function of blocking acetylcholine release from the neuromuscular junction and therefore paralyzing muscles. Nowadays, a novel botulinum toxin A free of CPs (chinbotulinumtoxin A, A/Chin) is produced, and the present study comprehensively evaluated the dynamic paralytic effect of A/Chin on the gastrocnemius muscle of rats. Different doses (0.01, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 U) of A/Chin and other BTX‐As with and without CPs were administered to the gastrocnemius muscles of rats and muscle strength was measured and compared at different postinjection timepoints (from day 0 to 84). With the dose increased, time‐to‐peak paralytic effect of other BTX‐As varied from day 3 to day 14, while A/Chin groups showed rapid and steady time to peak on day 3. At the lowest dose of 0.01 U, A/Chin showed significantly better peak paralytic effect than the others on day 3. When the dose increased to 0.5 U and more, A/Chin group also showed significant paralytic effect when the paralytic effect of other BTX‐As was worn off. Moreover, the paralytic effect of A/Chin was confirmed as muscle atrophy while hematoxylin–eosin staining was performed. In conclusion, compared with other BTX‐As, A/Chin showed rapid and steady time‐to‐peak paralytic effect and long‐term paralytic efficacy at the same dose level. And it might lay a solid foundation for further wide application of A/Chin in both clinical and cosmetic areas.
Detailed chemical analysis of a fully formulated oil using dielectric barrier discharge ionisation–mass spectrometry
Authors: Basham Vincent , Hancock Tom , McKendrick John , Tessarolo Nathalia , Wicking Chrissie
Published: April 2022

Rationale

Fully formulated oils (FFOs) are integral to automotive lubrication; however, detailed compositional analysis is challenging due to high levels of chemical complexity. In particular, existing mass spectrometric approaches often target particular FFO components, leading to poor analytical coverage of the overall formulation, with increased overheads and analytical timescales.

Methods

Herein we report the application of a commercially available SICRIT SC‐20 dielectric barrier discharge ionisation (DBDI) source and Thermo Fisher Scientific LTQ Orbitrap XL to the analysis of an FFO. Nitrogen was used as a discharge gas for the DBDI source, and was modified using a range of commonplace solvents to tailor the experimental conditions for the analysis of various components.

Results

The reported method allowed analysis of a range of FFO components of interest, encompassing a wide range of chemistries, in under 1 min. By modifying the discharge gas used for ionisation, experiments could be optimised for the analysis of particular FFO components across positive and negative ion modes. In particular, use of water vapour as a discharge gas modifier with positive ion mode mass spectrometry permitted concomitant analysis of antioxidants and base oil hydrocarbons. Furthermore, case studies of selected linear alkanes and alkenes profile the differences in the range of ions formed across these saturated and unsaturated aliphatic compounds, giving insight into the fate of base oil hydrocarbons in FFO analyses.

Conclusions

A rapid method for analysis of FFO compositions has been developed and provides coverage of a range of components of interest. The results indicate that the method presented may be of utility in analysis of other FFOs or similarly challenging complex mixtures.
Does the level of financial development affect renewable energy? Evidence from developed countries with system generalized method of moments (System‐GMM) and cross‐sectionally augmented autoregressive distributed lag (CS‐ARDL)
Authors: Saygın Oğuz , İskenderoğlu Ömer
Published: April 2022

The relationship between financial development and energy consumption is the most frequently research subject in economy and finance. The main objective of conducting this paper is to answer does financial development have an impact on renewable energy in developed countries? Many papers performed in energy literature, the findings were pointing to the existence of this kind of relationship. In order to examine the relationship between financial development and renewable energy consumption, a total of 23 developed countries, benefited from annual frequency data between 1990 and 2015. In addition to the widely used system generalized method of moments estimation method, models are also estimated with modern estimators using the cross‐sectionally augmented autoregressive distributed lag. As a result of the analysis performed indicates that there is a strong relationship between financial development and renewable energy consumption in developed countries when financial development is measured using banking variables. Otherwise, the estimated coefficients on stock market variables are negative and none of them found statistically significant in all models. These findings are consistent for both estimators.
Effect of methane on magnetron sputtering graphite target deposited films and tribological properties of a‐C:H:Ti/a‐C:H friction pairs
Authors: Wen Xinyu , Lai Zhenguo , Zhang Bin , Wang Xin , Wang Yuan Yuan , Gao Kaixiong , Tao Caihong
Published: April 2022

In this study, we prepared a‐C:H films with different nanostructures at different methane flow rates. The effect of the methane flow rate on the tribological properties of 440 steel/a‐C:H friction pairs and a‐C:H:Ti/a‐C:H friction pairs in an atmospheric environment was studied by a reciprocating friction machine. The results show that there is no relationship between the tribological properties of 440 steel/a‐C:H friction pair and methane flow rate. The tribological performance of the a‐C:H:Ti/a‐C:H friction pair was greatly improved. In particular, in the friction pair of a‐C:H:Ti/a‐C:H with a methane flow rate of 20 sccm, superlubricity is shown, and the wear rate is only 4.04 × 10−9 mm3/Nm. After tribological experiments, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, and other characterization methods were used to study the relationship between the nanostructure and tribological properties of a‐C:H:Ti films and a‐C:H prepared with different methane flow rates. This study is great significance to the application of a‐C:H:Ti/a‐C:H friction pair in mechanical parts under atmospheric environment.
A conceptual framework for gender and climate mainstreaming to mitigate water inaccessibility in ruralsub‐SaharanAfrica
Authors: Apatinga Gervin A. , Schuster‐Wallace Corinne J. , Dickson‐Anderson Sarah E.
Published: April 2022

Evidence underscores that water inaccessibility in rural sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) disproportionately affects women due to patriarchal gender norms and practices. In the context of Sustainable Development Goals 5 (Gender Equality) and 6 (Water and Sanitation), globally driven efforts and initiatives are set against a backdrop of empowering women, improving rural water accessibility, and reducing water‐related risks. Furthermore, climate change is altering spatiotemporal patterns of water availability and quality. A thematic analysis of the literature was conducted through Scopus and Web of Science to identify drivers and consequences of as well as coping strategies for water (in)accessibility in rural SSA. A conceptual framework was developed to better understand and assess research gaps and points of intervention for gender and climate mainstreaming in mitigation strategies that reduce the impacts of water inaccessibility in rural SSA. Findings show that complex intersecting factors underlie water inaccessibility—and responses—among rural women in SSA. The complex socio‐ecological interlinkages among climate change, water, and gender are discussed and a case is made for more integrative research (including dimensions of vulnerability, impacts, and effective grassroots strategies and co‐benefits) to inform policy, planning, and practice.

This article is categorized under:

Engineering Water > Water, Health, and Sanitation

Science of Water > Water and Environmental Change

Human Water > Rights to Water
Screening Tool for Anti-money Laundering Supervision
Authors: Koprivec Filip , Kržmanc Gregor , Škrjanc Maja , Kenda Klemen , Novak Erik
Published: April 2022

Efficient screening of transactions provides an empowering tool for anti-money laundering procedures and actions. Automatic classification and detection of anomalous behaviours and transaction structures enable faster and more effective action on the side of the supervisory authority. This chapter introduces research achievements and tools developed to streamline transaction monitoring and ease domain experts with automatic and semi-automatic filtering of risky transaction typologies. Presented tools are integrated as part of PAMLS (Platform for Anti-Money Laundering Supervision) to streamline and automate the discovery of risky behaviours in bank transaction data enriched with relevant company information. Enriched transactional data is pseudo-anonymized with respect to the legal and regulatory framework. Screening tool as a part of PAMLS platform automatically detects and marks specific predefined scenarios using newly developed state-of-the-art AI method tailored specifically to time-evolving transaction graphs in transaction data. Easy-to-use tools, early warning system and subsequent parameterized queries with additional white-listed scenarios provide domain experts with additional data to easily explore suggested dangerous transaction groups and make more informed decisions and further action, be it at a level of a specific financial institution or a cluster of them.
Overview of Applicable Regulations in Digital Finance and Supporting Technologies
Authors: Assentian Ilesh Dattani , Ituarte Aranda Nuria
Published: April 2022

Financial regulation has changed significantly in the 10 years since the global financial crisis. Tougher, more detailed and more complex standards now apply to all aspects of regulation. In more recent times that regulation has been increasingly influenced by the widespread deployment of fintech introducing new services and applications whilst transforming how consumers interact with the more traditional existing banking services. This chapter introduces the context and focus of this most recent regulatory and supervisory authorities and highlights some of the key regulatory initiatives, existing and ongoing, designed to manage the key risks posed by the disruptive nature of the rapid digital transformation occurring in the sector. Technologies designed to sup-port aspects of these regulations are highlighted as part of practical guidance to support innovators in the sector and for those in the sector considering developing or deploying the increasing plethora of new applications utilizing emerging technologies like AI or distributed ledger technologies.
Architectural Patterns for Data Pipelines in Digital Finance and Insurance Applications
Authors: Burgos Diego , Kranas Pavlos , Jimenez-Peris Ricardo , Mahíllo Juan
Published: April 2022

This chapter presents a holistic solution to the issue of data pipelining that ingest data as fast as needed, works with current and historic data, handles efficiently aggregates, and can handle them at any scale. This holistic solution minimizes the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of the storage systems needed to develop a data pipeline and minimizes the execution time of the data pipeline. In this direction, the chapter presents a range of architectural patterns for data pipelining and illustrates how the presented solution boosts their simplification and optimization.
Efficient and Accelerated KYC Using Blockchain Technologies
Authors: Kapsoulis Nikolaos , Litke Antonis , Soldatos John
Published: April 2022

Despite the rapid digital transformation of banks and financial institutions, state-of-the-art Know Your Customer (KYC) processes still require customers to provide multiple artifacts to the different banks they collaborate with. In an era where data sharing is facilitated from a technological and a regulatory point of view, there is huge potential for improving the efficiency of KYC processes. However, this requires a trustful environment for exchanging data across the various stakeholders, including customers, banks, and other financial organizations. This chapter illustrates how blockchain technology can be used to foster such a trusted environment. It also presents the implementation of a decentralized KYC solution over the Hyperledger Fabric permissioned blockchain infrastructure.
Python’s lunches in Jackiw-Teitelboim gravity with matter
Authors: Bak Dongsu , Kim Chanju , Yi Sang-Heon , Yoon Junggi
Published: April 2022

Abstract

We study Python’s lunch geometries in the two-dimensional Jackiw-Teitelboim model coupled to a massless scalar field in the semiclassical limit. We show that all extrema including the minimal quantum extremal surface, bulges and appetizers lie inside the horizon. We obtain fully back-reacted general bulk solutions with a massless scalar field, which can be understood as deformations of black holes. The temperatures of the left/right black holes become in general different from each other. Moreover, in the presence of both state and source deformations at the same time, the asymptotic black hole spacetime is further excited from that of the vacuum solution. We provide information-theoretic interpretation of deformed geometries including Python’s lunches, minimal quantum extremal surface and appetizers according to the entanglement wedge reconstruction hypothesis. By considering the restricted circuit complexity associated with Python’s lunch geometries and the operator complexity of the Petz map reconstructing a code space operation, we show that the observational probability of Python’s lunch degrees of freedom from the boundary is exponentially suppressed. Thus, any bulk causality violation effects related with Python’s lunch degrees are suppressed nonperturbatively.
Lymphopenia in patients affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection is caused by margination of lymphocytes in large bowel: an [18F]FDG PET/CT study
Authors: Signore Alberto , Lauri Chiara , Colandrea Marzia , Di Girolamo Marco , Chiodo Erika , Grana Chiara Maria , Campagna Giuseppe , Aceti Antonio
Published: April 2022

Background

To investigate the cause of lymphopenia in patients with newly diagnosed COVID-19, we measured [18F]FDG uptake in several tissues, including the ileum, right colon, and caecum at diagnosis and after recovery and correlated these measurements with haematological parameters.

Methods

We studied, by [18F]FDG PET/CT, 18 newly diagnosed patients with COVID-19. Regions of interest were drawn over major organs and in the terminal ileum, caecum, and right colon, where the bowel wall was evaluable. Five patients were re-examined after recovery, and three of them also performed a white blood cell scan with 99mTc-HMPAO-WBC on both occasions. Complete blood count was performed on both occasions, and peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets were measured at diagnosis. Data were analysed by a statistician.

Results

Patients had moderate severity COVID-19 syndrome. Basal [18F]FDG PET/CT showed focal lung uptake corresponding to hyperdense areas at CT. We also found high spleen, ileal, caecal, and colonic activity as compared to 18 control subjects. At recovery, hypermetabolic tissues tended to normalize, but activity in the caecum remained higher than in controls. Regression analyses showed an inverse correlation between CD4 + lymphocytes and [18F]FDG uptake in the caecum and colon and a direct correlation between CD8 + lymphocytes and [18F]FDG uptake in lungs and bone marrow. WBC scans showed the presence of leukocytes in the caecum and colon that disappeared at recovery.

Conclusions

These findings indicate that lymphopenia in COVID-19 patients is associated with large bowel inflammation supporting the hypothesis that CD4 + lymphocytes migrate to peripheral lymphoid tissues in the bowel.
Ultrasound high-definition microvasculature imaging with novel quantitative biomarkers improves breast cancer detection accuracy
Authors: Ternifi Redouane , Wang Yinong , Gu Juanjuan , Polley Eric C. , Carter Jodi M. , Pruthi Sandhya , Boughey Judy C. , Fazzio Robert T. , Fatemi Mostafa , Alizad Azra
Published: April 2022

Objectives

To overcome the limitations of power Doppler in imaging angiogenesis, we sought to develop and investigate new quantitative biomarkers of a contrast-free ultrasound microvasculature imaging technique for differentiation of benign from malignant pathologies of breast lesion.

Methods

In this prospective study, a new high-definition microvasculature imaging (HDMI) was tested on 521 patients with 527 ultrasound-identified suspicious breast masses indicated for biopsy. Four new morphological features of tumor microvessels, microvessel fractal dimension (mvFD), Murray’s deviation (MD), bifurcation angle (BA), and spatial vascularity pattern (SVP) as well as initial biomarkers were extracted and analyzed, and the results correlated with pathology. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to study the performance of different prediction models, initial biomarkers, new biomarkers, and combined new and initial biomarkers in differentiating benign from malignant lesions.

Results

The new HDMI biomarkers, mvFD, BA, MD, and SVP, were statistically significantly different in malignant and benign lesions, regardless of tumor size. Sensitivity and specificity of the new biomarkers in lesions > 20 mm were 95.6% and 100%, respectively. Combining the new and initial biomarkers together showed an AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of 97% (95% CI: 95–98%), 93.8%, and 89.2%, respectively, for all lesions regardless of mass size. The classification was further improved by adding the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) score to the prediction model, showing an AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of 97% (95% CI: 95–98%), 93.8%, and 89.2%, respectively.

Conclusion

The addition of new quantitative HDMI biomarkers significantly improved the accuracy in breast lesion characterization when used as a complementary imaging tool to the conventional ultrasound.

Key Points

• Novel quantitative biomarkers extracted from tumor microvessel images increase the sensitivity and specificity in discriminating malignant from benign breast masses.

• New HDMI biomarkers Murray’s deviation, bifurcation angles, microvessel fractal dimension, and spatial vascularity pattern outperformed the initial biomarkers.

• The addition of BI-RADS scores based on US descriptors to the multivariable analysis using all biomarkers remarkably increased the sensitivity, specificity, and AUC in all size groups.