bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predicting cognitive stage transition using p‐tau181, Centiloid, and other measures
Authors: Kwon Hyuk Sung , Kim Ji Young , Koh Seong‐Ho , Choi Seong Hye , Lee Eun‐Hye , Jeong Jee Hyang , Jang Jae‐Won , Park Kyung Won , Kim Eun‐Joo , Hong Jin Yong , Yoon Soo Jin , Yoon Bora , Park Hyun‐Hee , Han Myung Hoon
Published: March 2023

BACKGROUND

A combination of plasma phospho‐tau (p‐tau), amyloid beta (Aβ)‐positron emission tomography (PET), brain magnetic resonance imaging, cognitive function tests, and other biomarkers might predict future cognitive decline. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of combining these biomarkers in predicting future cognitive stage transitions within 3 years.

METHODS

Among the participants in the Korean Brain Aging Study for the Early Diagnosis and Prediction of Alzheimer's Disease (KBASE‐V) study, 49 mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 113 cognitively unimpaired (CU) participants with Aβ‐PET and brain imaging data were analyzed.

RESULTS

Older age, increased plasma p‐tau181, Aβ‐PET positivity, and decreased semantic fluency were independently associated with cognitive stage transitions. Combining age, p‐tau181, the Centiloid scale, semantic fluency, and hippocampal volume produced high predictive value in predicting future cognitive stage transition (area under the curve = 0.879).

CONCLUSIONS

Plasma p‐tau181 and Centiloid scale alone or in combination with other biomarkers, might predict future cognitive stage transition in non‐dementia patients.

Highlights

Plasma p‐tau181 and Centiloid scale might predict future cognitive stage transition.

Combining them or adding other biomarkers increased the predictive value.

Factors that independently associated with cognitive stage transition were demonstrated.
Dimensional Reduction of Metal–Organic Frameworks for Enhanced Cryopreservation of Red Blood Cells
Authors: Lei Qi , Sun Yaqian , Huang Junda , Liu Wei , Zhan Xiaolong , Yin Wenxiang , Guo Sishi , Sinelshchikova Anna , Brinker C. Jeffrey , He Zhiyuan , Guo Jimin , Wuttke Stefan , Zhu Wei
Published: March 2023

To increase the red blood cell (RBC) cryopreservation efficiency by metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), a dimensional reduction approach has been proposed. Namely, 3D MOF nanoparticles are progressively reduced to 2D ultra‐thin metal–organic layers (MOLs). We found that 2D MOLs are beneficial for enhanced interactions of the interfacial hydrogen‐bonded water network and increased utilization of inner ordered structures, due to the higher surface‐to‐volume ratio. Specifically, a series of hafnium (Hf)‐based 2D MOLs with different thicknesses (monolayer to stacked multilayers) and densities of hydrogen bonding sites have been synthesized. Both ice recrystallization inhibition activity (IRI) and RBCs cryopreservation assay confirm the pronounced better IRI activity and excellent cell recovery efficiency (up to ≈63 % at a very low concentration of 0.7 mg mL−1) of thin‐layered Hf‐MOLs compared to their 3D counterparts, thereby verifying the dimensional reduction strategy to improved cryoprotectant behaviors.
Do The Twist: Efficient Heavy‐Atom‐Free Visible Light Polymerization Facilitated by Spin‐Orbit Charge Transfer Inter‐system Crossing
Authors: Uddin Ain , Allen Seth R. , Rylski Adrian K. , O'Dea Connor J. , Ly Jack T. , Grusenmeyer Tod A. , Roberts Sean T. , Page Zachariah A.
Published: March 2023

The use of visible light to drive polymerizations with spatiotemporal control offers a mild alternative to contemporary UV‐light‐based production of soft materials. In this spectral region, photoredox catalysis represents the most efficient polymerization method, yet it relies on the use of heavy‐atoms, such as precious metals or toxic halogens. Herein, spin‐orbit charge transfer intersystem crossing from boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) dyads bearing twisted aromatic groups is shown to enable efficient visible light polymerizations in the absence of heavy‐atoms. A ≈5–15× increase in polymerization rate and improved photostability was achieved for twisted BODIPYs relative to controls. Furthermore, monomer polarity had a distinct effect on polymerization rate, which was attributed to charge transfer stabilization based on ultrafast transient absorption and phosphorescence spectroscopies. Finally, rapid and high‐resolution 3D printing with a green LED was demonstrated using the present photosystem.
High‐Density Optophysiology Platform for Recording Intracellular and Extracellular Signals across the Brain of Free‐Moving Animals
Authors: Zhang Sihan , Liu Zhichao , Zhang Zhonghui , Wang Weikang , Tian Yang
Published: March 2023

Developing a novel tool capable of real‐time monitoring and simultaneously quantifying of both intra/extracellular chemical signals across the large‐scale brain is the key bottleneck for understanding the interactions between the molecules inside and outside neurons. Here we built up a high‐density intra/extracellular optophysiology platform, together with developing two probes for specific recognition of L‐cysteine (Cys) and dopamine (DA), for simultaneously quantifying of both intracellular Cys and extracellular DA with high selectivity and accuracy across the brain of freely moving animals, as well as recording electrical signals. Using this powerful tool, it was found that intracellular Cys regulated extracellular DA through inducing the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase in the depressed mice brain. We also established the functional networks of Cys and DA across 32 brain regions in freely moving animals. More importantly, it was discovered that depression reduced the correlations between adjacent brain regions, which was recovered by the treatment of N‐acetyl‐l‐cysteine.
Electron Redistribution Enables Redox‐Resistible Li6PS5Cl towards High‐Performance All‐Solid‐State Lithium Batteries
Authors: Liu Chong , Chen Butian , Zhang Tianran , Zhang Jicheng , Wang Ruoyu , Zheng Jian , Mao Qianjiang , Liu Xiangfeng
Published: March 2023

Sulfide electrolytes with high ionic conductivity hold great promise for all‐solid‐state lithium batteries. However, the parasitic redox reactions between sulfide electrolyte and Li metal result in interfacial instability and rapid decline of the battery performance. Herein, a redox‐resistible Li6PS5Cl (LPSC) electrolyte is created by regulating the electron distribution in LPSC with Mg and F incorporation. The introduction of Mg triggers the electron agglomeration around S atom, inhibiting the electron acceptance from Li, and F generates the self‐limiting interface, which hinders the redox reactions between LPSC and Li metal. This redox‐resistible Li6PS5Cl‐MgF2 electrolyte therefore presents a high critical current density (2.3 times that of pristine electrolyte). The LiCoO2/Li6PS5Cl‐MgF2/Li cell shows an outstanding cycling stability (93.3 %@100 cycles at 0.2 C). This study highlights the electronic structure modulation to address redox issues on sulfide‐based lithium batteries.
Observer‐based leader‐following consensus of one‐sided Lipschitz multi‐agent systems over input saturation and directed graphs
Authors: Razaq Muhammad Ahsan , Rehan Muhammad , Hussain Muntazir , Ahmed Shakeel , Hong Keum‐Shik
Published: March 2023

This paper investigates a local observer‐based leader‐following consensus control of one‐sided Lipschitz (OSL) multi‐agent systems (MASs) under input saturation. The proposed consensus control scheme has been formulated by using the OSL property, input saturation, directed graphs, estimated states, and quadratic inner‐boundedness condition by attaining the regional stability. It is assumed that the graph always includes a (directed) spanning tree with respect to the leader root to develop matrix inequalities for investigating parameters of the proposed observer and consensus protocols. Further, a new observer‐based consensus tracking method for MASs with saturation, concerning independent topologies for communicating outputs and estimates over the network, is explored to deal with a more perplexing and realistic situation. In contrast to the traditional methods, the proposed consensus approach considers output feedback and deals with the input saturation for a generalized class of nonlinear systems. The efficiency of the obtained results is illustrated via application to a group of five moving agents in the Cartesian coordinates.
XMM2ATHENA, the H2020 project to improve XMM‐Newton analysis software and prepare for Athena
Authors: Webb Natalie A. , Carrera Francisco J. , Schwope Axel , Motch Christian , Ballet Jean , Watson Mike , Page Mat , Freyberg Michael , Georgantopoulos Ioannis , Coriat Mickael , Barret Didier , Massida Zoe , Gupta Maitrayee , Tranin Hugo , Quintin Erwan , Teresa Ceballos M. , Mateos Silvia , Corral Amalia , Dominguez Rosa , Stiele Holger , Traulsen Iris , Pires Adriana , Nebot Ada , Michel Laurent , Xavier Pineau François , Kuuttila Jere , Maggi Pierre , Chakroborty Sudip , Birchall Keir , Kuin Paul , Akylas Athanassios , Ruiz Angel , Pouliasis Ektoras , Georgakakis Antonis
Published: March 2023

XMM‐Newton, a European Space Agency observatory, has been observing the X‐ray, ultra‐violet, and optical sky for 23 years. During this time, astronomy has evolved from mainly studying single sources to populations and from a single wavelength, to multi‐wavelength/messenger data. We are also moving into an era of time domain astronomy. New software and methods are required to accompany evolving astronomy and prepare for the next‐generation X‐ray observatory, Athena. Here we present XMM2ATHENA, a program funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program. XMM2ATHENA builds on foundations laid by the XMM‐Newton Survey Science Centre (XMM‐SSC), including key members of this consortium and the Athena Science ground segment, along with members of the X‐ray community. The project is developing and testing new methods and software to allow the community to follow the X‐ray transient sky in quasi‐real time, identify multi‐wavelength/messenger counterparts of XMM‐Newton sources and determine their nature using machine learning. We detail here the first milestone delivery of the project, a new online, sensitivity estimator. We also outline other products, including the forthcoming innovative stacking procedure and detection algorithms, to detect the faintest sources. These tools will then be adapted for Athena and the newly detected/identified sources will enhance preparation for observing the Athena X‐ray sky.
Tidal disruption events and quasi‐periodic eruptions
Authors: Webb Natalie A. , Barret Didier , Godet Olivier , Gupta Maitrayee , Lin Dacheng , Quintin Erwan , Tranin Hugo
Published: March 2023

Tidal disruption events (TDEs) occur when a star passes close to a massive black hole so that the tidal forces of the black hole exceed the binding energy of a star and cause it to be ripped apart. Part of the matter will fall onto the black hole, causing a strong increase in luminosity. Such events are often seen in the optical or the x‐ray (or both) or even at other wavelengths such as in the radio, where the diversity of observed emission is still poorly understood. The XMM‐Newton catalog of approximately a million x‐ray detections covering 1283 degrees of sky contains a number of these events. Here I will show the diverse nature of a number of TDEs discovered in the catalog and discuss their relationship with quasi‐periodic eruptions.
Controlled Release of a Dual Zinc‐Sensing and Gene Regulating Small Molecule from DNA Micelles
Authors: Sawant Shraddha S. , Gudipati Saketh , Veczko Samantha R. , Rouge Jessica L.
Published: March 2023

Intracellular zinc ions are essential for various biological cell processes and are often dysregulated in many diseases de‐pending on their location, protein binding affinity, and concentration in the cell. Due to their prevalence in diseases, it is important to not only effectively sense but chelate the often excess amount of zinc in a cell to alleviate further disease progression. N, N, N′, N′‐tetrakis (2‐pyridinylmethyl)‐1,2‐ethanediamine (TPEN) is a selective zinc chelator but its water‐insoluble nature and general cytotoxicity limit its therapeutic potential. To address these challenges, TPEN loaded nucleic acid nanocapsules (TL‐NANs) were synthesized, and its dual ability to sense and suppress zinc levels intracellularly were evaluated. Additionally, TL‐NANs were incubated in lung cells and shown to down regulate Eotaxin, a protein up‐regulated during asthma, at significantly reduced concentrations of TPEN showcasing the therapeutic potential of this drug for asthma.
Developing and implementing a sustainable, integrated weed management program for herbicide‐resistant Poa annua in turfgrass
Authors: McCurdy James D. , Bowling Rebecca G. , de Castro Edicarlos B. , Patton Aaron J. , Kowalewski Alec R. , Mattox Clint M. , Brosnan James T. , Ervin David E. , Askew Shawn D. , Goncalves Clebson G. , Elmore Matthew T. , McElroy J. Scott , McNally Brandon C. , Pritchard Benjamin D. , Kaminski John E. , Bagavathiannan Muthukumar V.
Published: March 2023

The ability of Poa annua L. to adapt to most turfgrass environments extends to its ability to develop resistance to commonly used herbicides. Herbicide resistant P. annua is of almost epidemic proportions. The loss of once viable chemical‐based treatments pushes practitioners towards more expensive, and often less effective, control strategies. This management guide focuses on integrated weed management (IWM) practices for P. annua control and herbicide resistance—what it is and how to overcome it. Also discussed are resistance mechanisms and documentation of common occurrences of field‐level resistance within much of the United States. Finally, a summary of some of the social and economic constraints that practitioners face in the implementation of IWM strategies for P. annua is discussed.
One‐pot Synthesis of 2‐Aminoindole through SET Oxidative Cyclization: Concise Synthesis of Tryptanthrin and Phaitanthrin E
Authors: Srivastava Akriti , Palanivel Lakshmanan , Baskaran Sundarababu
Published: March 2023

An efficient domino approach for the synthesis of biologically important 2‐aminoindole derivatives has been developed using CuBr2‐mediated SET oxidative cyclization as a key step. This one‐pot multicomponent strategy utilizes readily available ethyl propiolate, tosyl azide, and substituted aryl amines as starting materials. The generality and scope of this mild method are demonstrated with a wide variety of substrates to furnish functionalized 2‐aminoindoles in good yields. The synthetic power of this strategy is further exemplified in the concise synthesis of biologically important alkaloids, Phaitanthrin E and Tryptanthrin.
PROTOCOL: Fear avoidance model psychological factors as predictors for persistent post‐concussion clinical outcomes: An integrative review
Authors: Buzzanca‐Fried Katherine , Morgan‐Daniel Jane , Snyder Aliyah , Bauer Russell , Lahey Sarah , Addeo Russell , Houck Zachary , Perez Christopher , Beneciuk Jason
Published: March 2023

Background

Persisting symptoms after concussion (PSaC) include physical, cognitive, and psychological symptoms which contribute to rehabilitation challenges. Previous research has not thoroughly investigated the association between PSaC and pain‐related psychological factors. Therefore, there is an opportunity to use current pain models, such as the Fear Avoidance Model (FAM), as a framework to explore these relationships. The goals of this integrative review are to (1) identify and describe range of evidence that explores relationships between psychological factors and clinical outcomes in patients with PSaC, and (2) develop a comprehensive understanding of FAM‐specific psychological factors that have been identified as potential predictors of clinical outcomes in patients with PSaC.

Methods

This review will be based on principles and stages of an integrative review which will allow for inclusion of diverse methodologies: (1) problem formulation, (2) literature search, (3) data evaluation, (4) data analysis, and (5) presentation. Methods for reporting this review will be informed by the 2020 PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews.

Discussion

The findings from this integrative review will inform healthcare professionals working in post‐concussion rehabilitation settings regarding relationships between FAM psychological factors and PSaC—an area that until recently has not been thoroughly explored. Additionally, this review will inform the development of other reviews and clinical studies to further investigate relationships between FAM psychological factors and PSaC.

Integrative Review Registration

OSF DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/CNGPW.
Effect of acupuncture versus usual care on sleep quality in cancer survivors with chronic pain: Secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Yang Mingxiao , Baser Raymond E. , Liou Kevin T. , Li Susan Q. , Piulson Lauren , Panageas Katherine S. , Mao Jun J.
Published: March 2023

Background

Chronic pain negatively affects sleep; it is unclear whether pain relief from acupuncture contributes to sleep quality improvements in cancer survivors. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of acupuncture versus usual care on sleep quality among cancer survivors with comorbid sleep disturbance and chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Methods

Sleep outcome data from the Personalized Electroacupuncture Versus Auricular Acupuncture Comparative Effectiveness (PEACE) randomized clinical trial were analyzed. Electroacupuncture or auricular acupuncture was compared with usual care for sleep quality improvement over 10 weeks of treatment among cancer survivors with clinically significant sleep disturbance and chronic musculoskeletal pain at baseline. Sleep quality was measured with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) global score.

Results

Among 268 participants (mean [standard deviation (SD)] age, 61.4 [12.6] years; 191 women [71.3%]; mean [SD] baseline PSQI global score, 10.3 [3.3] points), electroacupuncture and auricular acupuncture resulted in greater reductions in the PSQI global score from baseline to 10 weeks in comparison with usual care: 1.42 points (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.45–2.38; p = .004) and 1.59 points (95% CI, 0.62–2.55; p = .001), respectively. The improvement in sleep quality for the acupuncture groups was sustained for 24 weeks from randomization. Furthermore, a greater proportion of patients in the electroacupuncture and auricular acupuncture groups had clinically meaningful improvement in sleep quality compared to the usual care group (41.0% and 42.9% vs. 21.4%; p = .044).

Conclusions

Among cancer survivors with comorbid sleep disturbance and chronic pain, electroacupuncture and auricular acupuncture produced a clinically relevant and persistent improvement in sleep quality. These findings suggest that acupuncture may be an evidence‐based nonpharmacologic intervention to improve sleep health for cancer survivors with pain.

Plain Language Summary

This study analyzed the sleep quality data from a published randomized clinical trial that evaluated the effect of electroacupuncture or auricular acupuncture versus usual care on pain relief among people who survived cancer.

This analysis included a prespecified subgroup of 268 participants with co‐occurring sleep disturbance and chronic musculoskeletal pain at baseline and found that patients who used acupuncture for pain relief demonstrated greater improvements in sleep quality compared with patients who received usual care.

Sleep quality improvement by acupuncture was sustained after the treatment ended.
Nanoarchitectures to Deliver Nucleic Acid Drugs to Disease Sites
Authors: Komiyama Makoto , Sumaoka Jun
Published: March 2023

Therapeutic nucleic acid drugs (antisense DNA, siRNA, DNAzyme, and others) have been widely employed to regulate the expression of a disease‐causing gene. For the correction of a gene, the CRISPR/Cas9 system is available. Advantageously, they can be straightforwardly designed in terms of the Watson‐Crick rule. In order to deliver these nucleic acid drugs to a target place in our body (organs and cells) at desired timing, various nanoarchitectures have been elegantly designed. Their primary roles are protection of drugs from degradation, increase of cell‐membrane permeability, and spatiotemporal control of delivery. Encapsulated nucleic acid drugs are released by decomposing the nanostructures with either external stimuli or intracellular signals. Furthermore, therapeutic efficiency is enhanced by simultaneously delivering multiple types of nucleic acid drugs for their cooperation. Composites of nanoarchitectures and therapeutic nucleic acid drugs are highly promising for future applications.
Quantum Chemical Study of the Pressure‐dependent Phosphorescence of [Cr(ddpd)2]3+in the Solid State
Authors: Förster Christoph , Osthues Helena , Schwab Dominik , Doltsinis Nikos L. , Heinze Katja
Published: March 2023

The chromium(III) complex [Cr(ddpd)2][BF4]3shows two spin‐flip emission bands in the near‐infrared spectral region. These bands shift bathochromically by −14.1 and −7.7 cm−1 kbar−1under hydrostatic pressure (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.2018,57, 11069). The present study elucidates the structural changes of the chromium(III) cations under pressure using density functional theory with periodic boundary conditions and the resulting effects on the excited state energies using high‐level CASSCF‐NEVPT2 calculations. The differences of the bands in pressure sensitivity are traced back to a different orbital occupation of the intraconfigurational excited states.
A novel membrane‐inspired multiverse optimizer algorithm for quality of service‐aware cloud web service composition with service level agreements
Authors: Maroosi Ali , Muniyandi Ravie Chandren
Published: March 2023

Cloud computing is an emerging technology in computing that provides different services over the Internet. It needs composite services to perform a complex task. Optimal selection of services that provides both functionality and nonfunctionality requirements is an NP‐hard problem. This study uses nondeterministic parallel and distributed structures of membrane systems for the recently improved multiverse optimization algorithm to improve the quality of solutions. In the previous membrane‐inspired algorithm, the population was divided into subpopulations that evolve different dynamic membranes. This study not only uses a conventional membrane‐inspired approach to introduce a conventional membrane‐inspired multiverse optimizer (CMIMVO) for the first time but also proposes an algorithm that divides the variables (dimension) into subgroups for different membranes called proposed membrane‐inspired multiverse optimizer (PMIMVO). Thus, in PMIMVO, each membrane works on a subgroup to gain global information, which considers the best values obtained by other membranes for other variables. The PMIMVO shows promising results on benchmark function problems. Furthermore, simulation results show that the PMIMVO approach could achieve up to 38% improvement in integrated quality of service (QoS) with attributes including response time, price, availability, and reliability in comparison with the previous approaches, including genetics algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO), gravitational search algorithm (GSA), moth–flame optimization (MFO) improved multiverse optimizer (MVO), and CMIMVO.
An eight‐element sequentially rotated crescent‐slot‐coupled dielectric resonator antenna array for WIFI applications
Authors: Qasaymeh Yazeed
Published: March 2023

In this communication, the author presents an eight‐element sequentially rotated (SR) circularly polarized (CP) dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) for operation in the IEEE 802.11a standard. A novel resonating element composed of a crescent slot (CS) used to excite a rectangular dielectric resonator (RDR) is proposed that has two orthogonal modes
and
as required for CP radiation. An SR series–parallel geometry is used to prototype the array feed network to allocate the array elements to symmetrical positions. The phase progression of each element was 45° along the array, and the signal magnitude was distributed evenly based on the binomial theory to enhance the antenna performance. The prototyped SR array had a size of
mm3 and was measured and characterized in order to authenticate the design. The resonance bandwidth (S11 ˂ −10 dB) was found to be 14.28% with a 3 dB axial ratio (AR) of 17.7% for right‐hand CP. The gain varied from 15.71 to 16.26 dBi within the operating band. The size, gain, and impedance bandwidth of the proposed array make it a potential candidate for devices operating in the IEEE 802.11a band.
Effect of mortality in cost‐effectiveness modeling of disease‐modifying treatment for Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Aye Sandar , Jönsson Linus , Gustavsson Anders , Tate Ashley , Ptacek Sara Garcia , Eriksdotter Maria
Published: March 2023

INTRODUCTION

We examined (1) the magnitude of mortality attributed to Alzheimer's disease (AD), and (2) the effect of mortality in cost‐effectiveness modeling of hypothetical disease‐modifying treatment (DMT) in AD.

METHOD

Data were derived from Swedish Dementia Registry (N = 39,308). Mortality was analyzed with survival analysis and multinomial logistic regression. A Markov microsimulation model was used to model the cost effectiveness of DMT using routine care as a comparator. Three scenarios were simulated: (1) indirect effect, (2) no effect on overall mortality, (3) indirect effect on AD‐related mortality.

RESULTS

Overall mortality increased with cognitive decline, age, male sex, number of medications used, and lower body mass index. Nearly all cause‐specific mortality was associated with cognitive decline. DMT increased survival by 0.35 years in scenario 1 and 0.14 years in scenario 3. DMT with no mortality effect is the least cost effective.

DISCUSSION

The results provide key mortality estimates and demonstrate influences on the cost effectiveness of DMT.

Highlights

We describe cause‐specific mortality in relation to disease severity in Alzheimer's disease (AD).

We model different assumptions of disease‐modifying treatment (DMT) on AD survival.

DMT was the least cost effective when assuming no effect on AD survival.

Cost effectiveness is mainly influenced by the relative cost of staying in each disease state.
Detection of anabolic androgenic steroids in serum samples
Authors: Makvandi Bahare , Pohanka Anton , Bergström Mats , Börjesson Annica , Lehtihet Mikael , Ekström Lena , Zheng Yufang
Published: March 2023

When testing for anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) outside sports communities, for example, in healthcare and forensic medicine, urine is the matrix of choice. However, there are drawbacks with urinary sampling, and serum might be useful as a complementary matrix. The aim was to develop an LC–MS/MS method for serum measuring AAS frequently used outside of sport, including testosterone (T), steroid esters, and eight other synthetic AAS. The sample pretreatment included sample precipitation and evaporation. Limit of quantification for the AAS was 0.05–0.5 ng/mL, and linearity was 0.05–20 ng/mL for most of the substances. Generally, the within‐ and between‐day CV results, matrix effect, and process efficiency were <15%. The AAS were stable for at least 6 months at −20°C. Serum samples were obtained from previous studies. A novel finding from an administration study was that T enanthate was present in serum even after 5 years of storage at −20°C. Serum samples from self‐reporting AAS individuals, where T esters were detected, were positive for testosterone using the urinary testosterone/epitestosterone criterion >10. Of those identified as positive in traditional urinary doping tests (n = 15), AAS in serum were found in 80% of the subjects. Our results show that serum may be a valid complementary matrix to urine samples for AAS testing.
Seasonality and growth in tropical freshwater ectotherm vertebrates: Results from 1‐year experimentation in the African gray bichir, giraffe catfish, and the West African mud turtle
Authors: Gardin Axelle , Otero Olga , Réveillac Elodie , Lafitte Alexandra , Valentin Xavier , Lapalus Florian , Bouchon Didier , Garcia Géraldine
Published: March 2023

Growth in ectotherm vertebrates is strongly rhythmed by seasonal variation in environmental parameters. To track the seasonal variation in ancient times in a continental and tropical context, we aim to develop a method based on the use of the growth rate of fossil ectotherm vertebrates (actinopterygians and chelonians) influenced by seasonal environmental fluctuations they experienced in their lifetime. However, the impact of environmental parameters on growth, positive or negative, and its intensity, depends on the taxa considered, and data are scarce for tropical species. For 1 year, an experiment was conducted to better understand the effect of seasonal variation in environmental parameters (food abundance, temperature, and photoperiod) on the somatic growth rate of three species of tropical freshwater ectotherm vertebrates: the fishes Polypterus senegalus and Auchenoglanis occidentalis and the turtle Pelusios castaneus. Mimicking seasonal shifts expected to be experienced by the animals in the wild, the experiment highlighted the preponderant effect of food abundance on the growth rate of those three species. Water temperature variation had a significant effect on the growth rate of Po. senegalus and Pe. castaneus. Moreover, the photoperiod demonstrated no significant effect on the growth of the three species. The duration of application of starvation or cool water conditions, ranging from 1 to 3 months, did not affect the growth rate of the animals. However, Pelusios castaneus showed a temporary sensitivity to the return of ad libitum feeding or of warm water, after a period of starvation or cool water, by a period of compensatory growth. Finally, this experiment revealed, in the three species, fluctuations in the growth rate under controlled and constant conditions. This variation, similar to the variation in precipitation and temperature observed in their native environment, could be linked to a strong effect of an internal rhythm controlling somatic growth rate.
Serial assessment of biomarkers and heart failure outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation
Authors: Oyama Kazuma , Giugliano Robert P. , Ruff Christian T. , Berg David D. , Jarolim Petr , Tang Minao , Park Jeong‐Gun , Lanz Hans J. , Antman Elliott M. , Braunwald Eugene , Morrow David A.
Published: March 2023

Aims

Cardiac functional and structural remodelling in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) contributes to development of heart failure (HF) as their major cardiovascular comorbidity. Circulating biomarkers may reflect these cardiac alterations.

Methods and results

ENGAGE AF‐TIMI 48 was a randomized trial of edoxaban versus warfarin in 21 105 patients with AF. We performed a nested biomarker study, analysing high‐sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT, n = 8705), N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP, n = 8765), and growth differentiation factor‐15 (GDF‐15, n = 8705) at baseline and 12 months. Of the biomarker cohort, 5207 had a history of HF, among whom 3996 had known ejection fraction (EF): 926 with reduced EF (HFrEF; ≤40%), 1043 with mildly reduced EF (HFmrEF; 40–49%), and 2027 with preserved EF (HFpEF; ≥50%). Elevated baseline hsTnT, NT‐proBNP, and GDF‐15 were associated with higher risk of hospitalization for HF (HHF) or HF death overall and in subpopulations defined by HF history and EF (p < 0.001 for each). These associations of outcome with each biomarker were consistent regardless of a history of HF or EF (p‐interaction >0.05 for each). Patients who had an increase in or had persistently elevated values in any of the three biomarkers over 12 months were at higher risk for HHF or HF death in the overall population (p < 0.001 for each biomarker and category).

Conclusion

Serial measurement of hsTnT, NT‐proBNP, and GDF‐15 revealed that higher baseline values, and increasing or persistently elevated values over 1 year are associated with higher risk of HF outcomes in patients with AF regardless of HF history or HF phenotype based on EF.

Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov unique identifier NCT00781391.
Perceived environmental turbulence and corporate strategy: The case of the UK recession
Authors: Tapinos Efstathios , Leask Graham , Brown Mike
Published: March 2023

The impact of the external environment on strategy is a long debate in the “traditional” strategic management theory. In contrast, future studies have a clearer view, having established that the environment is perceived and has a direct impact on how the future is anticipated. The same field has grown significantly, in the last two decades, with regard to how companies should foresight the future, looking into their external environment. However, we observe that there is a lack of retrospective research on how companies have embraced extreme environmental events, surprises, and wildcards which led to crisis with regard to their perception of the external environment and the strategies developed for the future. This study fills this gap with a multimethodological approach, combining survey and archival data, to examine the relationship between the perceived environmental turbulence and corporate strategy in some of the largest UK‐listed companies. We use the recession of the UK economy in 2008 as the key phenomenon to compare the relationship between perceptions of the environment and corporate strategy before the economic recession (2007) and after (2009). With our analysis, we provide evidence of how the environment influences corporate strategy and we show how a wildcard, like the recession, changed the perception of environmental turbulence, which resulted in greater adoption of the risk averse, retrenchment strategies.
Forecasting nonperforming loans using machine learning
Authors: Abdullah Mohammad , Chowdhury Mohammad Ashraful Ferdous , Uddin Ajim , Moudud‐Ul‐Huq Syed
Published: March 2023

Nonperforming loans play a critical role in financial institutions' overall performance and can be controlled by forecasting the probable nonperforming loans. This paper employs a series of machine learning techniques to forecast bank nonperforming loans on emerging countries' financial institutions. Using quarterly cross‐sectional data of 322 banks from 15 emerging countries, this study finds that advanced machine learning‐based models outperform simple linear techniques in forecasting bank nonperforming loans. Among all 14 linear and nonlinear models, the random forest model outperforms other models. It achieves a 76.10% accuracy in forecasting nonperforming loans. The result is robust in different performance metrics. The variable importance analysis reveals that bank diversification is the most critical determinant for future nonperforming loans of a bank. Additionally, this study revealed that macroeconomic factors are less prominent in predicting nonperforming loans compared with bank‐specific factors.
Estimation of alfalfa fall dormancy using spaced plant and sward trials across multiple environments
Authors: Newell Scott A. , Undersander Daniel J. , Viands Donald , Hansen Julie , Orloff Steve , Putnam Daniel H. , Brummer E. Charles
Published: March 2023

Background

Alfalfa is a globally important forage crop. Cultivars are characterized by fall dormancy (FD). FD affects biomass yield and winter survival and is used to identify appropriate growing regions of cultivars. It has historically been assessed by measuring the natural height of regrowth in autumn of spaced plants in the field. Because commercial alfalfa is normally grown as a solid planted sward, FD could be different if plants were grown under real production conditions. The objective of this experiment was to assess whether FD ratings obtained from swards were similar to those obtained on spaced plants.

Methods

We evaluated 20 alfalfa cultivars in field trials established in 2015 at five locations in the United States. We harvested the trials in early autumn and measured regrowth plant height approximately 3 weeks later in 2015 and 2016.

Results

Autumn plant height responded as expected for the established check cultivars in all locations. Fall dormancy ratings for cultivars under both management systems were highly correlated.

Conclusions

Estimating FD from spaced plant height measurements in autumn is very robust, and using height data from sward plots gives equivalent results to that measured in spaced plant nurseries. This finding has many practical advantages.
Functional and structural brain network development in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Authors: Soman Shania Mereen , Vijayakumar Nandita , Thomson Phoebe , Ball Gareth , Hyde Christian , Silk Timothy J.
Published: March 2023

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent childhood neurodevelopmental disorder. Given the profound brain changes that occur during childhood and adolescence, it is important to examine longitudinal changes of both functional and structural brain connectivity across development in ADHD. This study aimed to examine the development of functional and structural connectivity in children with ADHD compared to controls using graph metrics. One hundred and seventy five individuals (91 children with ADHD and 84 non‐ADHD controls) participated in a longitudinal neuroimaging study with up to three waves. Graph metrics were derived from 370 resting state fMRI (197 Control, 173 ADHD) and 297 diffusion weighted imaging data (152 Control, 145 ADHD) acquired between the ages of 9 and 14. For functional connectivity, children with ADHD (compared to typically developing children) showed lower degree, local efficiency and betweenness centrality predominantly in parietal, temporal and visual cortices and higher degree, local efficiency and betweenness centrality in frontal, parietal, and temporal cortices. For structural connectivity, children with ADHD had lower local efficiency in parietal and temporal cortices and, higher degree and betweenness centrality in frontal, parietal and temporal cortices. Further, differential developmental trajectories of functional and structural connectivity for graph measures were observed in higher‐order cognitive and sensory regions. Our findings show that topology of functional and structural connectomes matures differently between typically developing controls and children with ADHD during childhood and adolescence. Specifically, functional and structural neural circuits associated with sensory and various higher order cognitive functions are altered in children with ADHD.
Influence of wetlands on nutrients in headwaters of agricultural catchments
Authors: Van Stempvoort Dale R. , MacKay D. Ross , Collins Pamela , Brown Susan J. , Koehler Geoff
Published: March 2023

We investigated the influence of land cover on nutrient concentrations (295 samples) in headwater streams over a 2‐year period in 10 agriculture‐dominated subcatchments (163–8373 ha) in southern Ontario Canada. In this region, monitoring and research on nutrient dynamics in headwater wetlands is sparse. Our results indicated a significant positive correlation (Pearson coefficient ρ = 0.320) between soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) in the headwater streams and the percentage of wetlands in these agriculture‐dominated catchments. This result suggests that headwater wetlands, and other wet riparian zones, are key sources of SRP in the headwater streams. Nitrate concentrations were positively correlated with % agricultural land cover (ρ = 0.316), consistent with previous studies, while SRP concentrations were negatively correlated with % agricultural land cover (ρ = −0.325). There was a significant positive correlation between SRP concentrations and discharge in some of the streams. Seasonal SRP trends appear to be closely related to temperature‐dependent seasonal changes in redox conditions, including levels of dissolved O2. Surficial geology had some influence on nitrate concentrations in the streams, which tended to be higher in catchments dominated by glacial till (till terrain), compared to catchments with extensive areas of outwash sand, in addition to till terrain.
A trapping capacity constraint model for sediment transport in vegetative filter strips (VFS) on sloping surfaces
Authors: Wu Songbai , Chui Ting Fong May , Li Chen , Luo Mingjie , Pan Chengzhong
Published: March 2023

Most current modelling practices for sediment trapping in vegetative filter strips (VFS) assumed a constant sediment trapping efficiency of VFS, while, in practice, it was found to decrease greatly with the increasing trapped sediment amount in VFS (decreasing sediment trapping capacity of VFS). To account for this impact, a widely used VFS sediment transport module was modified to consider the changing sediment trapping capacity of VFS, which was expressed by a power‐law relationship with the inflow discharge, sediment concentration, slope gradient, and antecedent deposition amount. An integrated model that coupled a slope infiltration‐runoff module and the modified sediment transport module was then developed to simulate hydrology and suspended sediment transport in VFS on sloping surface. The model is calibrated and validated by 18 VFS experiments with different inflow, sediment, and slope conditions from Luo et al. (Science of the Total Environment, 725, 138361, 2020). Good agreements between observed and simulated runoff and sediment transport processes were found for nearly all cases. Due to the impact of changing sediment trapping capacity of VFS, the trapped sediment amount and the sediment transport rate of outflow varies greatly in space and time. With the increase of inflow discharge, sediment concentration, and slope gradient, the overall sediment trapping efficiency of VFS tends to decrease greatly and then remains almost unchanged. The comparison between proposed model and original physically based model shows that neglecting the impacts of changing sediment trapping capacity of VFS would lead to a constant and overly large sediment trapping efficiency of VFS, especially on steep slopes. Moreover, comparing with the empirical expression, the model with well‐founded theory can provide higher fidelity and more detailed results. Thus, the modelling framework is expected to provide a more effective approach for VFS assessment and maintenance in local or watershed scale.
Energy‐efficient resource allocation and passive beamforming design for multiuser IRS‐aided OFDM SWIPT
Authors: Liu Xin , Guo Yuting
Published: March 2023

This letter studies an OFDM based intelligent reflecting surface (IRS)‐aided multiuser simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) system. With subcarrier allocation, users use the assigned subcarriers for information decoding (ID), and use signals received on subcarriers allocated to other users for energy harvesting (EH). An optimization problem is formulated to maximize the system energy efficiency by jointly optimizing subcarrier and power allocation and IRS reflection coefficients matrix. It can be solved by an alternating optimization algorithm. Simulation results reveal that energy efficiency can be enhanced in our proposed scheme compared with the benchmark schemes.
Rapid Cortical Bone Loss at the Distal Radius Is Associated With Higher Risk of Fracture in Older Men – The STRAMBO Study
Authors: Gunsing Elina , Wagner Philippe P. , Whittier Danielle E. , Boyd Steven K. , Chapurlat Roland , Szulc Pawel
Published: March 2023

Rapid loss of areal bone mineral density (aBMD) is associated with higher fracture risk after adjustment for confounders including initial aBMD. However, the link between bone microarchitecture decline and fracture is not clear. We studied the association between bone microarchitecture deterioration assessed prospectively over 4 years and the subsequent fracture risk in older men. Bone microarchitecture at the distal radius and tibia was assessed by high-resolution peripheral QCT (HR-pQCT; XtremeCT, Scanco Medical) (baseline, 4 years) in 732 men aged 60–87 years. During the 8-year follow-up, 109 men had fragility fractures. Areal BMD was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. After adjustment for age, weight, prior falls and fractures, distal radius aBMD (baseline, slope), and baseline distal radius total volumetric BMD (Tt.BMD), a faster decrease in distal radius Tt.BMD was associated with higher fracture risk (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.54/SD, 95% confidence interval: 1.20–1.95, p < .005). Rapid cortical bone loss was associated with higher fracture risk (cortical thickness: HR = 1.48; 1.15–1.90, p < .01; cortical BMD: HR = 1.38; 1.11–1.72, p < .01). The rate of trabecular bone loss at the distal radius and the rate of bone microarchitecture decline at the distal tibia were not associated with fracture risk. After adjustment for aBMD and distal radius HR-pQCT measures assessed after 4 years, changes in Tt.BMD were associated with higher fracture risk (e.g., Tt.BMD: HR = 1.37; 1.11–1.69, p < .005). Compared with the reference model (age, weight, prior fractures and falls, baseline and slope of aBMD, baseline HR-pQCT value), further addition of the slope of the HR-pQCT measure did not improve the fracture prediction. Thus, rapid cortical bone loss at the distal radius is associated with higher fracture risk in the multivariable models including baseline values of the HR-pQCT measure. However, repeated HR-pQCT measurements did not improve the assessment of the fracture risk in older men (compared with the reference model defined earlier). © 2023 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Characterization of the role of Kunitz‐type protease inhibitor domain in dimerization of amyloid precursor protein
Authors: Byun Jinyoung , Vellampatti Srivithya , Chatterjee Prathit , Hwang Sun Ha , Kim Byoung Choul , Lee Juyong
Published: March 2023

A major difference between amyloid precursor protein (APP) isoforms (APP695 and APP751) is the existence of a Kunitz type protease inhibitor (KPI) domain which has a significant impact on the homo‐ and hetero‐dimerization of APP isoforms. However, the exact molecular mechanisms of dimer formation remain elusive. To characterize the role of the KPI domain in APP dimerization, we performed a single molecule pull down (SiMPull) assay where homo‐dimerization between tethered APP molecules and soluble APP molecules was highly preferred regardless of the type of APP isoforms, while hetero‐dimerization between tethered APP751 molecules and soluble APP695 molecules was limited. We further investigated the domain level APP‐APP interactions using coarse‐grained models with the Martini force field. Though the model initial ternary complexes (KPI‐E1, KPI‐KPI, KPI‐E2, E1‐E1, E2‐E2, and E1‐E2) generated using HADDOCK (HD) and AlphaFold2 (AF2), the binding free energy profiles and the binding affinities of the domain combinations were investigated via the umbrella sampling with Martini force field. Additionally, membrane‐bound microenvironments at the domain level were modeled. As a result, it was revealed that the KPI domain has a stronger attractive interaction with itself than the E1 and E2 domains, as reported elsewhere. Thus, the KPI domain of APP751 may form additional attractive interactions with E1, E2 and the KPI domain itself, whereas it is absent in APP695. In conclusion, we found that the APP751 homo‐dimer formation is predominant than the homodimerization in APP695, which is facilitated by the presence of the KPI domain.
Visible light induced eco sustainable synthesis of quinolines catalyzed by eosin Y
Authors: Jaiswal Anjali , Sharma Amit Kumar , Jaiswal Shweta , Mishra Anu , Singh Jaya , Singh Jagdamba , Siddiqui I. R.
Published: March 2023

By employing a photoredox catalyst which is an affordable organic dye, we present a simple and efficient visible light induced, eco‐friendly and metal‐free quinoline derivative synthesis. The current strategy is the first to utilize visible light to induce quinoline by tandem reactions through the formation of CN and CC bonds, resulting in high yields of products under relatively moderate reaction conditions. Inexpensive, short response time, admirable atom economy, easy work‐up and wide substrate scope are some of the primary advantages of the current approach.