bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of planting Melia azedarach L. on soil properties and microbial community in saline‐alkali soil
Authors: Li Na , Shao Tianyun , Zhou Yujie , Cao Yuchen , Hu Huiying , Sun Qingkai , Long Xiaohua , Yue Yang , Gao Xiumei , Rengel Zed
Published: March 2021

Saline‐alkali soils are widely distributed in China, affecting plant growth and sustainable development of ecosystems. Few studies have been done on the improvement of saline‐alkali soils by planting Melia azedarach in phytoremediation. This study characterized the effects of planting M. azedarach on chemical properties and microbial communities in saline‐alkali soils [bare (CK), bulk (BS), and rhizosphere soil (RS)]. Compared with the bare soil, planting M. azedarach lowered salt content and concentrations of extractable Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, and Cl−, but significantly increased organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, available phosphorus, soil urease activity, and alkaline phosphatase activity in the rhizosphere soil. High‐throughput sequencing results indicated that M. azedarach increased the Chao1 index and Shannon index of soil microbial communities. The three dominant bacterial phyla were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes, and the three dominant fungal phyla were Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Glomeromycota. Redundancy analysis indicated that total phosphorus concentration and alkaline phosphatase activity significantly influenced bacterial diversity, whereas soil Ca2+ and Mg2+ concentrations were closely related to the fungal community diversity. In conclusion, planting Melia azedarach improved soil properties, increased the diversity and richness of soil microbial communities, and thus ameliorated the saline‐alkali soil.
Unsteady free convective magnetohydrodynamics flow of a Casson fluid through a channel with double diffusion and ramp temperature and concentration
Authors: Ramzan Muhammad , Nazar Mudassar , Un Nisa Zaib , Ahmad Mushtaq , Ali Shah Nehad
Published: March 2021

The generalized magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) free convection flow of a Casson fluid through a channel immersed in a porous media with mass and heat transfer is considered. With heat generation, the contribution of concentration gradient is taken into account for heat flux (Dufour effect), and chemical reaction of order first for species balance is also considered. Initially, governing equations of flow model are reduced to nondimensional equations and then solved analytically. The transformed solutions for concentration, temperature, and velocity are written in summation form to invert by Laplace transform easily. The closed form solution of field variables has been plotted graphically due to different parametric variations to analyze the behavior of concentration, temperature, and flow fields against the physical parameters. Furthermore, comparisons among fractionalized and ordinary concentration, temperature, and velocity fields are made to see the effect of parameter α. It is concluded that concentration, temperature, and velocity obtained with fractional derivative are smaller than that obtained by ordinary derivative. Therefore, fractional derivative is the best choice to obtain controlled concentration, temperature, and velocity.
A novel flexible hexagon wideband CPW‐fed monopole antenna for UWB applications
Authors: Du Cheng‐Zhu , Li Kai‐Jia , Zhong Shun‐Shi
Published: March 2021

This article proposed a novel compact coplanar waveguide (CPW) fed flexible wideband antenna. The antenna is composed of hexagonal radiation patch, rectangular slots and trapezoid ground. The antenna works in 5.2–41 GHz (154.98% fractional bandwidth) range with a return loss of −10 dB. Based on thin liquid crystal polymer (LCP), the antenna has an overall size of 23.6 mm × 15.4 mm × 0.1 mm. The presented antenna is planned and optimized through High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS). The simulated and measured results exhibit good characteristics in terms of reflection coefficients, peak gain, and radiation patterns. The designed antenna can be used in ultra‐wideband (UWB) systems and C‐band (4–8 GHz), WLAN (5.2–5.8 GHz), X‐band (8–12 GHz), Ku‐band (12–18 GHz), K‐band (18–27 GHz), Ka‐band (27–40 GHz), and millimeter wave (MMW).
Calibration of T2 oximetry MRI for subjects with sickle cell disease
Authors: Bush Adam , Vu Chau , Choi Soyoung , Borzage Matthew , Miao Xin , Li Wenbo , Qin Qin , Nederveen Aart J. , Coates Thomas D. , Wood John C.
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Cerebral T2 oximetry is a non‐invasive imaging method to measure blood T2 and cerebral venous oxygenation. Measured T2 values are converted to oximetry estimates using carefully validated and potentially disease‐specific calibrations. In sickle cell disease, red blood cells have abnormal cell shape and membrane properties that alter T2 oximetry calibration relationships in clinically meaningful ways. Previous in vitro works by two independent groups established potentially competing calibration models.

Methods

This study analyzed pooled datasets from these two studies to establish a unified and more robust sickle‐specific calibration to serve as a reference standard in the field.

Results

Even though the combined calibration did not demonstrate statistical superiority compared to previous models, the calibration was unbiased compared to blood‐gas co‐oximetry and yielded limits of agreement of (−10.1%, 11.6%) in non‐transfused subjects with sickle cell disease. In transfused patients, this study proposed a simple correction method based on individual hemoglobin S percentage that demonstrated reduced bias in saturation measurement compared to previous uncorrected sickle calibrations.

Conclusion

The combined calibration is based on a larger range of hematocrit, providing greater confidence in the hematocrit‐dependent model parameters, and yielded unbiased estimates to blood‐gas co‐oximetry measurements from both sites. Additionally, this work also demonstrated the need to correct for transfusion in T2 oximetry measurements for hyper‐transfused sickle cell disease patients and proposes a correction method based on patient‐specific hemoglobin S concentration.
‘Lost time’. Patients with early inflammatory/rheumatoid arthritis and their experiences of delays in Primary Care
Authors: Chilton Frances , Bradley Eleanor , Mitchell Theresa
Published: March 2021

Background

Early referral forms a crucial part in early inflammatory/rheumatoid arthritis (EI/RA) recovery. Delayed decisions to refer can lead to severe incapacity and emotional distress for individuals and family and feelings of lost time. How patients with EI/RA experience early referral decisions in Primary Care is an under explored area and warrants further investigation.

Aim

To explore how patients newly diagnosed with EI/RA experienced their early contacts with Primary Care as they negotiated their journey through the referral process into secondary care.

Design and setting

Qualitative face‐to‐face interviews with newly diagnosed EI/RA patients.

Methods

In‐depth semi‐structured interviews were conducted to explore patients’ experiences of referral from first symptoms to General Practitioner referral. All participants were interviewed within 2 weeks of being diagnosed in Secondary Care. Data analysis was conducted using interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Findings

All participants in this study described having experienced struggles with their navigation through Primary Care towards diagnosis and specialist EI/RA services. This struggle comprised five key elements: ‘family persuasion’, ‘lack of continuity in care’, ‘pushing for referral’, ’strained relations’ and ‘lost time’.

Conclusion

The delays experienced by patients when attempting to reach an early referral decision in Primary Care cause frustration for those presenting with EI/RA, partly because they do not feel heard. There is a significant impact on patients and their families when referral to specialist care is delayed.
Virtualizing soil science field trips
Authors: Schulze Darrell G. , Rahmani Shams R. , Minai Joshua O. , Johnston Cliff T. , Fulk‐Bringman Sherry S. , Scott John R. , Kong Ningning Nicole , Li Yue Shirley , Mashtare Michael L.
Published: March 2021

In response to the coronavirus pandemic in the fall of 2020, we created hybrid–virtual or fully virtual field trips to replace in‐person field trips in two courses. For an introductory soil science course with 178 students enrolled, we used a narrative format supported by 360° ground‐level and drone photos, newspaper articles, videos, websites, and landscape diagrams. After reading the narratives, the students took a quiz and then visited the sites (public parks near campus) on their own. For the advanced pedology course with seven students enrolled, a virtual trip replaced an all‐day field trip that travels a 100‐mile route from West Lafayette to Michigan City, IN. The virtual trip was created within the Soil Explorer platform and consists of >50 points of interest (POIs) overlayed on detailed soil maps. Each POI includes relevant information about the soils, agriculture, geology, geomorphology, or history at that point. At two POIs students examined four or five soils along two transects by filling in worksheets using the official series descriptions. Learning was facilitated by a study guide. Effectiveness was assessed by anonymous surveys. Students found the hybrid–virtual or fully virtual field trips informative, interesting, enjoyable, and appropriate given the pandemic. For the introductory class, 42% preferred a virtual field trip format, 39% preferred an in‐person format, and 19% were neutral. In the advanced class there was with a clear preference for in‐person field trips.
Adjuvant therapy of histopathological risk factors of retinoblastoma in Europe: A survey by the European Retinoblastoma Group (EURbG)
Authors: Dittner‐Moormann Sabine , Reschke Madlen , Abbink Floor C. H. , Aerts Isabelle , Atalay Hatice Tuba , Fedorovna Bobrova Nadezhda , Biewald Eva , Brecht Ines B. , Caspi Shani , Cassoux Nathalie , Castela Guilherme , Diarra Yelena , Duncan Catriona , Ebinger Martin , Garcia Aldana David , Hadjistilianou Doris , Kepák Tomáš , Klett Artur , Kiratli Hayyam , Maka Erika , Opocher Enrico , Pawinska‐Wasikowska Katarzyna , Rascon Jelena , Russo Ida , Rutynowska‐Pronicka Olga , Sábado Álvarez Constantino , Pacheco Sonsoles San Roman , Svojgr Karel , Timmermann Beate , Vishnevskia‐Dai Vicktoria , Eggert Angelika , Ritter‐Sovinz Petra , Bechrakis Nikolaos E. , Jenkinson Helen , Moll Annette , Munier Francis L. , Popovic Maja Beck , Chantada Guillermo , Doz François , Ketteler Petra
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Advanced intraocular retinoblastoma can be cured by enucleation, but spread of retinoblastoma cells beyond the natural limits of the eye is related to a high mortality. Adjuvant therapy after enucleation has been shown to prevent metastasis in children with risk factors for extraocular retinoblastoma. However, histological criteria and adjuvant treatment regimens vary and there is no unifying consensus on the optimal choice of treatment.

Method

Data on guidelines for adjuvant treatment in European retinoblastoma referral centres were collected in an online survey among all members of the European Retinoblastoma Group (EURbG) network. Extended information was gathered via personal email communication.

Results

Data were collected from 26 centres in 17 countries. Guidelines for adjuvant treatment were in place at 92.3% of retinoblastoma centres. There was a consensus on indication for and intensity of adjuvant treatment among more than 80% of all centres. The majority of centres use no adjuvant treatment for isolated focal choroidal invasion or prelaminar optic nerve invasion. Patients with massive choroidal invasion or postlaminar optic nerve invasion receive adjuvant chemotherapy, while microscopic invasion of the resection margin of the optic nerve or extension through the sclera are treated with combined chemo‐ and radiotherapy.

Conclusion

Indications and adjuvant treatment regimens in European retinoblastoma referral centres are similar but not uniform. Further biomarkers in addition to histopathological risk factors could improve treatment stratification. The high consensus in European centres is an excellent foundation for a common European study with prospective validation of new biomarkers.
Effects of carbon fiber type and resin ratio on thermal and mechanical lifetime of polyetherimide composites
Authors: Tatlıdilli Anıl , Çetin Altındal Damla , Gümüşderelioğlu Menemşe
Published: March 2021

The aim of this study is to develop and characterize carbon fiber (CF)‐reinforced polyetherimide (PEI) composite materials that can be used in aerospace and defense industries. Four different composite materials with 60/40 and 40/60 resin/fiber weight ratios were prepared by hand lay‐up using unidirectional (UD) CFs and TWILL CFs. It was determined that, the thermal stability of composite materials is independent of CFs. PEI resin and composite materials soften above 200°C and decompose above 500°C. Also, PEI resin did not lose mass in 10 years under isothermal conditions at 25°C, and it is estimated that it loses 3 × 10−8% of its mass after 10 years at 100°C. Mechanical analysis showed that, tensile strength and Young's modulus of UD CF‐reinforced composite materials were ~ 3 times higher than that of the TWILL CF‐reinforced ones. The mechanical service lifetime studies under 10 MPa load at 100°C showed that, only 30–50% of mechanical properties of composite materials are lost in 10 years. Although, the thermal and mechanical aging studies were carried out under more challenging conditions, these composite structures showed strong mechanical and thermal behaviors. In conclusion, all composites, especially PEI‐UD60, are promising to use in ammunition body, wings, and fins where excellent tensile strength, high stiffness, lightness, thermal stability, and renewability are desired requirements.
The origins of aneuploidy research consortium
Authors: Benn Peter , Cuckle Howard , Pergament Eugene
Published: March 2021

The presence of high levels of aneuploidy in oocytes and early embryos and their fate is of considerable scientific and clinical importance. The Origins of Aneuploidy Research Consortium (OARC) was established to promote interdisciplinary communication and collaborative research into this topic. Under the umbrella of OARC, a series of papers has now been published in this Special Issue of Prenatal Diagnosis. Recent studies have transformed the view that aneuploidy is usually attributable to meiotic non‐disjunction. The molecular basis for the association between meiotic error and maternal age is becoming understood. The clinical significance of mitotic instability in the earliest cells divisions of the embryo is also becoming clearer. An error in the segregation of one or more whole chromosomes from a parent does not invariably result in a non‐viable pregnancy or an abnormal outcome. Epidemiologic data allows an assessment of in utero viability, the effect of maternal age, and secondary factors that may affect aneuploidy prevalence. We advocate careful use of nomenclature and revision of educational materials to more accurately explain the complex and often nuanced mechanisms. OARC plans to hold additional workshops, promote additional publications and offer educational resources.
Synthesis of polymers containing vicinal tricarbonyl moiety and construction of reversible crosslinking–decrosslinking polymer system
Authors: Endo Takeshi , Yonekawa Morio , Sudo Atsushi
Published: March 2021

Vicinal tricarbonyl compounds, in which three carbonyl groups are consecutively connected, are intriguing reactive molecules with a highly electrophilic nature. The center carbonyl group activated by two adjacent electron‐withdrawing carbonyl groups reacts efficiently with weak nucleophiles such as water, alcohols, thiols and aromatic amines to afford the corresponding adducts. In addition, because the reactions of the center carbonyl group with nucleophiles are intrinsically in equilibrium, the adducts undergo dissociation into the corresponding tricarbonyl compounds and nucleophiles under the appropriate conditions. Based on the reversible nature of vicinal tricarbonyl compounds with nucleophiles, a reversible crosslinking–decrosslinking system can be constructed where appropriately designed polymers and crosslinkers bearing vicinal tricarbonyl compounds are effectively used. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry
A model of perinatal stress and childhood wheezing: ELSPAC‐CZ cohort
Authors: Stepanikova Irena , Thon Vojtech , Mikes Ondrej , Klanova Jana
Published: March 2021

Background

Prenatal origins of wheezing are not fully understood. This study develops a model of mechanisms linking perinatal stress exposure to wheeze phenotypes in children.

Methods

Data were obtained from 1880 mother‐child dyads participating in ELSPAC‐CZ birth cohort. Wheeze phenotypes assessed between birth and age 7 years included “never wheeze,” “early‐onset transient (EOT) wheeze,” “early‐onset persistent (EOP) wheeze,” and “late‐onset (LO) wheeze.” Prenatal and postnatal stress exposures were assessed in mid‐pregnancy and 6 months after delivery, respectively, using an inventory of 42 life events.

Results

In adjusted models, children in the highest tercile (high) versus lowest tercile (low) for prenatal life events had a 38% higher risk of EOT wheeze (relative risk ratio [RRR] = 1.38; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01–1.88; p = .041) and 50% higher risk of LO wheeze (RRR = 1.50; 95% CI = 1.00–2.25; p = .047). High versus low exposure to postnatal life events predicted a 60% increase in relative risk of EOT wheeze (RRR = 1.60; 95% CI = 1.17–2.19; p = .003) and medium versus low exposure was related to an 85% increase in relative risk of EOP wheeze (RRR = 1.85; 95% CI = 1.16–2.95; p = .010). Lower respiratory tract infections and postpartum depression partially mediated between postnatal life events and any wheeze (indirect effects 1.06, 95% CI = 1.02–1.09, p = .003 and odds ratio [OR] = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.02–1.15, p = .012, respectively), while postnatal events mediate for prenatal events (indirect effect OR = 1.11; 95% CI = 1.03–1.18; p = .005).

Conclusions

Exposures to prenatal and postnatal life events are risk factors for the development of wheezing. Prenatal stress contributes to wheeze directly and also through postnatal life events, respiratory infections, and maternal depression.
Janus Nanosheets with Face‐Selective Molecular Recognition Properties from DNA–Peptide Conjugates
Authors: Albert Shine K. , Lee Sunghee , Durai Prasannavenkatesh , Hu Xiaole , Jeong Byeongmoon , Park Keunwan , Park So‐Jung
Published: March 2021

Chemical and functional anisotropy in Janus materials offer intriguing possibilities for constructing complex nanostructures and regulating chemical and biological reactions. Here, the authors report the fabrication of Janus nanosheets from molecular building blocks composed of two information‐carrying biopolymers, DNA and peptides. Experimental and structural modeling studies reveal that DNA–peptide diblock conjugates assemble into Janus nanosheets with distinct DNA and peptide faces. The surprising level of structural control is attributed to the exclusive parallel β‐sheet formation of phenylalanine‐rich peptides. This approach is extended to triblock DNA1–peptide–DNA2 conjugates, which assemble into nanosheets presenting two different DNA on opposite faces. The Janus nanosheets with independently addressable faces are utilized to organize an enzyme pair for concerted enzymatic reactions, where enhanced catalytic activities are observed. These results demonstrate that the predictable and designable peptide interaction is a promising tool for creating Janus nanostructures with regio‐selective and sequence‐specific molecular recognition properties.
Rational Surface and Interfacial Engineering of IrO2/TiO2 Nanosheet Arrays toward High‐Performance Chlorine Evolution Electrocatalysis and Practical Environmental Remediation
Authors: Wang Yunting , Xue Yudong , Zhang Chunhui
Published: March 2021

The chlorine evolution reaction (CER) is a critical and commercially valuable electrochemical reaction in industrial‐scale utilization, including the Chlor‐alkali industry, seawater electrolysis, and saline wastewater treatment. Aiming at boosting CER electrocatalysis, hybrid IrO2/TiO2 nanosheet arrays (NSAs) with rational surface and interfacial tuning strategies are proposed in this study. The IrO2/TiO2 NSAs exhibit superb CER electrocatalytic activity with a low overpotential (44 mV) at 10 mA cm−2, low Tafel slope of 40 mV dec−1, high CER selectivity (95.8%), and long‐term durability, outperforming most of the existing counterparts. The boosting mechanism is proposed that the aerophobic/hydrophilic surface engineering and interfacial electronic structure tuning of IrO2/TiO2 are beneficial for the Cl− mass‐transfer, Cl2 release, and Volmer–Heyvrosky kinetics during the CER. Practical saline wastewater treatment by using the IrO2/TiO2 NSAs electrode is further conducted, demonstrating it has a higher p‐nitrophenol degradation ratio (95.10% in 60 min) than that of other electrodes. The rational surface and interfacial engineering of IrO2/TiO2 NSAs can open up a new way to design highly efficient electrocatalysts for industrial application and environmental remediation.
Formation Pathways of Porous Alloy Nanoparticles through Selective Chemical and Electrochemical Etching
Authors: Jiang Yingying , Wang Lu , Meunier Michel , Mirsaidov Utkur
Published: March 2021

Porous alloy nanomaterials are important for applications in catalysis, sensing, and actuation. Chemical and electrochemical etching are two methods to form porous nanostructures by dealloying bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs). However, it is not clear how the NPs evolve during these etching processes. Insight into the morphological and compositional transformations of the NPs during the etching is critical to understanding the nanoscale details of the dealloying process. Here, using in situ liquid phase transmission electron microscopy, the structural evolution of individual AuAg alloy NPs is tracked during both chemical and electrochemical etching of their Ag component. The observations show that the electrochemical etching produces NPs with more uniform pore sizes than the chemical etching and enables tuning the NPs porosity by modulating the electrochemical potential. The results show that at the initial stages of both etching methods, Au‐rich passivation layer forms on the surface of the NPs, which is critical in preserving the NP's porous shell as pores form underneath this layer during the etching. These findings describing the selective etching and dealloying of AuAg NPs provide a critical insight needed to control the morphology and composition of porous multimetallic NPs, and paves the way for synthesizing nanomaterials with tailored chemical and physical properties for various applications.
Dimethyl Itaconate‐Loaded Nanofibers Rewrite Macrophage Polarization, Reduce Inflammation, and Enhance Repair of Myocardic Infarction
Authors: Nakkala Jayachandra Reddy , Yao Yuejun , Zhai Zihe , Duan Yiyuan , Zhang Deteng , Mao Zhengwei , Lu Linrong , Gao Changyou
Published: March 2021

Cellular metabolism plays a major role in the regulation of inflammation. The inflammatory macrophages undergo a wide‐range of metabolic rewriting due to the production of significant amount of itaconate metabolite from cis‐aconitate in the tricarboxylic acid cycle. This itaconate molecule has been recently described as a promising immunoregulator. However, its function and mode of action on macrophages and tissue repair and regeneration are yet unclear. Herein, the itaconate‐derivative dimethyl itaconate (DMI) suppresses the IL‐23/IL‐17 inflammatory axis‐associated genes and promotes antioxidant nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 target genes. The poly‐ε‐caprolactone (PCL)/DMI nanofibers implanted in mice initially maintain inflammation by suppressing anti‐inflammatory activity and particular inflammation, while at later stage promotes anti‐inflammatory activity for an appropriate tissue repair. Furthermore, the PCL/DMI nanofiber patches show an excellent myocardial protection by reducing infarct area and improving ventricular function via time‐dependent regulation of myocardium‐associated genes. This study unveils potential DMI macrophage modulatory functions in tissue microenvironment and macrophages rewriting for proper tissue repair.
Critical Role of Functional Groups Containing N, S, and O on Graphene Surface for Stable and Fast Charging Li‐S Batteries
Authors: Sun Jinhua , Hwang Jang‐Yeon , Jankowski Piotr , Xiao Linhong , Sanchez Jaime S. , Xia Zhenyuan , Lee Suyeong , Talyzin Alexandr V. , Matic Aleksandar , Palermo Vincenzo , Sun Yang‐Kook , Agostini Marco
Published: March 2021

Lithium‐sulfur (Li‐S) batteries are considered one of the most promising energy storage technologies, possibly replacing the state‐of‐the‐art lithium‐ion (Li‐ion) batteries owing to their high energy density, low cost, and eco‐compatibility. However, the migration of high‐order lithium polysulfides (LiPs) to the lithium surface and the sluggish electrochemical kinetics pose challenges to their commercialization. The interactions between the cathode and LiPs can be enhanced by the doping of the carbon host with heteroatoms, however with relatively low doping content (<10%) in the bulk of the carbon, which can hardly interact with LiPs at the host surface. In this study, the grafting of versatile functional groups with designable properties (e.g., catalytic effects) directly on the surface of the carbon host is proposed to enhance interactions with LiPs. As model systems, benzene groups containing N/O and S/O atoms are vertically grafted and uniformly distributed on the surface of expanded reduced graphene oxide, fostering a stable interface between the cathode and LiPs. The combination of experiments and density functional theory calculations demonstrate improvements in chemical interactions between graphene and LiPs, with an enhancement in the electrochemical kinetics, power, and energy densities.
Single‐Nanoparticle Coulometry Method with High Sensitivity and High Throughput to Study the Electrochemical Activity and Oscillation of Single Nanocatalysts
Authors: Lin Mohan , Zhou Yingke , Bu Lingzheng , Bai Chuang , Tariq Muhammad , Wang Huihui , Han Jinli , Huang Xiaoqing , Zhou Xiaochun
Published: March 2021

To explore nanocatalysts with high electro‐catalytic performance and less loading of precious metals, efforts have been made to develop electrochemical methods with high spatial resolution at the single nanoparticle level. Herein, a highly sensitive single‐nanoparticle coulometry method is successfully developed to study the electrochemical activity and oscillation of single PtTe nanocatalysts. Based on microbattery reactions involving the formic acid electro‐oxidation and the deposition of Ag on the single PtTe nanocatalyst surface, this method enables the transition from the undetectable sub‐fA electric signal of the formic acid electro‐oxidation into strong localized surface plasmon resonance scattering signal of Ag detected by dark‐field microscopy. The lowest limiting current for a single nanocatalyst is found to be as low as 25.8 aA. Different trends of activity versus the formic acid concentration and types of activity of the single nanocatalyst have been discovered. Unveiled frequency‐amplitude graph shows that the two electrochemical oscillation modes of low frequency with high amplitude and vice versa coexist in a single PtTe nanocatalyst, indicating the abundantly smooth surfaces and defects of nanocatalysts. This conducted study will open up the new avenue for further behavioral and mechanistic investigation of more types of nanocatalysts in the electrochemistry community.
Sub‐chronic exposure to ammonia inhibits the growth of juvenile Wuchang bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) mainly by downregulation of growth hormone/insulin‐like growth factor axis
Authors: Guo Honghui , Lin Wang , Yang Liping , Qiu Yuming , Kuang Yu , Yang Hui , Zhang Ce , Li Li , Li Dapeng , Tang Rong , Zhang Xi
Published: March 2021

In this study, healthy Wuchang bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) juveniles were exposed to 0, 5, 10, 20 and 30 mg/L total ammonia nitrogen for 30 days to elucidate toxic effects and mechanisms of ammonia on growth performance involved with the regulation of growth hormone/insulin‐like growth factor (GH/IGF) and hypothalamic–pituitary‐thyroid (HPT) axes. Our results showed that the increasing total ammonia nitrogen concentrations caused dose‐depend decreases in the weight gain and specific growth rate but increases in the food conversion ratio and mortality in juvenile bream, indicating growth inhibitory effects induced by ammonia. Concurrently, GH, IGF‐1 at protein and mRNA levels were significantly decreased in ammonia exposure groups (p < .05), while serum thyroid stimulating hormone, free thyroxine, free triiodothyronine levels were significantly reduced only in fish exposed to higher concentrations of 20 and 30 mg/L ammonia (p < .05), suggesting that ammonia exposure could perturb both GH/IGF‐axis and HPT‐axis functions. Furthermore, transcriptional levels of extracellular regulated protein kinases 2 (erk2), phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (pi3k), protein kinase B (akt), target of rapamycin (tom) and ribosomal protein S6 kinase‐polypeptide 1(s6k1) in the dorsal muscle were significantly down‐regulated in the fish exposed to ammonia (p < .05). This fact indicated that MAPK/ERK pathway and PI3K/AKT pathway should be responsible for the growth inhibition. Combining the results of spearman correlation coefficient, it should be noted that the GH/IGF axis played a more important role in regulating the growth than the HPT axis in Wuchang bream under persistent ammonia stress.
SINgapore GERiatric intervention study to reduce physical frailty and cognitive decline (SINGER)–pilot: A feasibility study
Authors: Chew Kimberly Ann , Xu Xin , Siongco Paula , Villaraza Steven , Phua April Ka Sin , Wong Zi Xuen , Chung Chooi Yu , Tang Ning , Chew Effie , Henry Christiani Jeyakumar , Koo Edward , Chen Christopher
Published: March 2021

Introduction

The SINGER pilot randomized controlled trial aims to examine the feasibility and acceptability of the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study (FINGER) multi‐domain lifestyle interventions compared to Singaporean adaptations.

Methods

Seventy elderly participants were recruited and randomized into FINGER (n = 36) or SINGER (n = 34) interventions; involving physical exercise, cognitive training, diet, and vascular risk factors management, for 6 months.

Results

Both intervention groups were equally feasible and acceptable with participants completing at least 80% of the interventions. Body strength improved in both groups (Pupper body = .04, Plower body = .06, Pcore = .05). More participants in the SINGER group attained good blood pressure control at month‐6 compared to FINGER (41% vs 19%; P = .06).

Discussion

This study is the first to compare the feasibility of multi‐domain interventions adapted to local culture with the FINGER interventions. The findings will be utilized for a larger study to provide evidence for the efficacy of multi‐domain lifestyle interventions in preventing cognitive decline.
The politics and governance of research into solar geoengineering
Authors: McLaren Duncan , Corry Olaf
Published: March 2021

Research into solar geoengineering, far from being societally neutral, is already highly intertwined with its emerging politics. This review outlines ways in which research conditions or constructs solar geoengineering in diverse ways, including the forms of possible material technologies of solar geoengineering; the criteria and targets for their assessment; the scenarios in which they might be deployed; the publics which may support or oppose them; their political implications for other climate responses, and the international relations, governance mechanisms, and configurations of power that are presumed in order to regulate them. The review also examines proposals for governance of research, including suggested frameworks, principles, procedures, and institutions. It critically assesses these proposals, revealing their limitations given the context of the conditioning effects of current research. The review particularly highlights problems of the reproduction of Northern norms, instrumental approaches to public engagement, a weak embrace of precaution, and a persistent—but questionable—separation of research from deployment. It details complexities inherent in effective research governance which contribute to making the pursuit of solar geoengineering risky, controversial, and ethically contentious. In conclusion, it suggests a case for an explicit, reflexive research governance regime developed with international participation. It suggests that such a regime should encompass modeling and social science, as well as field experimentation, and must address not only technical and environmental, but also the emergent social and political, implications of research.

This article is categorized under:

Social Status of Climate Change Knowledge > Knowledge and Practice

Policy and Governance > Multilevel and Transnational Climate Change Governance
Advancing Energy Justice as a Climate and Public Health Solution
Authors: McMonagle Rachel , Castellanos Ivana , Sutaria Patel Surili
Published: March 2021

Energy justice is a climate and health issue. Energy systems contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and negative health outcomes from energy extraction to consumption. Just as climate change disproportionately affects certain populations, energy also is a health equity issue. The U.S. energy sector faces a critical challenge of energy access and affordability that limits communities’ ability to achieve good health. As alternative energies become cost‐competitive, there is a need to monitor, evaluate, and support a transition to a healthier energy system. By pursuing energy justice as a priority, public health professionals can play a role in challenging health inequities, as well as mitigating the adverse health effects of climate change. Through a roundtable convening, public health leaders developed pathways for public health professionals to promote a just energy future. Considering public health upfront in energy system decision making may result in multidisciplinary thinking and solutions to improve health outcomes.
Can Health Insurance Protect Against Catastrophic Health Expenditures in Iran? A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Soofi Moslem , Arab‐Zozani Morteza , Kazemi‐Karyani Ali , Karamimatin Behzad , Najafi Farid , Ameri Hosein
Published: March 2021

The results of previous Iranian studies on the protective effect of health insurance on catastrophic health expenditures (CHE) are inconsistent. Therefore, the aim of this meta‐analysis was to summarize all existent evidence. We searched international and Iranian scientific databases for relevant literature. Using a Mantel–Haenszel random‐effects model, the pooled odds ratios (OR) were calculated. Subgroup meta‐analyses were performed considering the type of insurance and study population. The pooled OR for the protective effect of health insurance risk on facing CHE was 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.68–1.28). The protective effect of the two types of insurance was statistically insignificant. Health insurance does not effectively provide financial protection against CHE in Iran. Expanding the prepayment mechanism and integrating health insurance funds can be good strategies in protecting people from CHE. More attention should be paid to the design of health insurance benefit package to cover chronic diseases.
Non‐stationary bending of a finite electromagnetoelastic rod
Authors: Pham Thong D. , Tarlakovskii Dmitry V. , Paimushin Vitaliy N.
Published: March 2021

The related problem of non‐stationary bending of a finite electromagnetoelastic rod is considered. It is assumed that the material of the rod is a homogeneous isotropic conductor. The problem statement takes into account the initial electromagnetic field, the Lorentz force, Maxwell's equations and the generalized Ohm's law. The unknown functions are assumed to be bounded, and the initial conditions are assumed to be zero. It has noted that it is difficult to construct a solution analytically for a general model. Therefore, a transition is made to simplified equations corresponding to the Bernoulli‐Euler rod and the electromagnetic field is considered quasi‐stationary. For a rod with hinged ends, trigonometric series expansions and the Laplace transform in time are used. The solution of the problem is constructed in integral form with kernels in the form of influence functions. Images of kernels are found in the space of transformations and Fourier in the spatial coordinate. Their original functions are found explicitly. The present study presents examples of calculations for a concentrated load.
High-resolution AP-SMALDI MSI as a tool for drug imaging in Schistosoma mansoni
Authors: Mokosch Annika S. , Gerbig Stefanie , Grevelding Christoph G. , Haeberlein Simone , Spengler Bernhard
Published: March 2021

Schistosoma mansoni is a parasitic flatworm causing schistosomiasis, an infectious disease affecting several hundred million people worldwide. Schistosomes live dioeciously, and upon pairing with the male, the female starts massive egg production, which causes pathology. Praziquantel (PZQ) is the only drug used, but it has an inherent risk of resistance development. Therefore, alternatives are needed. In the context of drug repurposing, the cancer drug imatinib was tested, showing high efficacy against S. mansoni in vitro. Besides the gonads, imatinib mainly affected the integrity of the intestine in males and females. In this study, we investigated the potential uptake and distribution of imatinib in adult schistosomes including its distribution kinetics. To this end, we applied for the first time atmospheric-pressure scanning microprobe matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (AP-SMALDI MSI) for drug imaging in paired S. mansoni. Our results indicate that imatinib was present in the esophagus and intestine of the male as early as 20 min after in vitro exposure, suggesting an oral uptake route. After one hour, the drug was also found inside the paired female. The detection of the main metabolite, N-desmethyl imatinib, indicated metabolization of the drug. Additionally, a marker signal for the female ovary was successfully applied to facilitate further conclusions regarding organ tropism of imatinib. Our results demonstrate that AP-SMALDI MSI is a useful method to study the uptake, tissue distribution, and metabolization of imatinib in S. mansoni. The results suggest using AP-SMALDI MSI also for investigating other antiparasitic compounds and their metabolites in schistosomes and other parasites.

Graphical abstract
Quasi–invariant Hermite Polynomials and Lassalle–Nekrasov Correspondence
Authors: Feigin Misha V. , Hallnäs Martin A. , Veselov Alexander P.
Published: March 2021

Lassalle and Nekrasov discovered in the 1990s a surprising correspondence between the rational Calogero–Moser system with a harmonic term and its trigonometric version. We present a conceptual explanation of this correspondence using the rational Cherednik algebra and establish its quasi-invariant extension. More specifically, we consider configurations$${\mathcal {A}}$$Aof real hyperplanes with multiplicities admitting the rational Baker–Akhiezer function and use this to introduce a new class of non-symmetric polynomials, which we call$${\mathcal {A}}$$A-Hermite polynomials. These polynomials form a linear basis in the space of$${\mathcal {A}}$$A-quasi-invariants, which is an eigenbasis for the corresponding generalised rational Calogero–Moser operator with harmonic term. In the case of the Coxeter configuration of type$$A_N$$ANthis leads to a quasi-invariant version of the Lassalle–Nekrasov correspondence and its higher order analogues.
General rules for clinical and pathological studies on oral cancer (2nd edition): a synopsis
Authors:   Scientific Committee on General Rules for Clinical and Pathological Studies of Oral Cancer, Japanese Society of Oral Oncology, Ota Yoshihide , Noguchi Tadahide , Ariji Eiichiro , Fushimi Chihiro , Fuwa Nobukazu , Harada Hiroyuki , Hayashi Takafumi , Hayashi Ryuichi , Honma Yoshitaka , Miura Masahiko , Mori Taisuke , Nagatsuka Hitoshi , Okura Masaya , Ueda Michihiro , Uzawa Narikazu , Yagihara Kazuhiro , Yagishita Hisao , Yamashiro Masashi , Yanamoto Souichi , Kirita Tadaaki
Published: March 2021

For doctors and other medical staff treating oral cancer, it is necessary to standardize the basic concepts and rules for oral cancer to achieve progress in its treatment, research, and diagnosis. Oral cancer is an integral part of head and neck cancer and is treated in accordance with the general rules for head and neck cancer. However, detailed rules based on the specific characteristics of oral cancer are essential. The objective of this article was to contribute to the development of the diagnosis, treatment, and research of oral cancer, based on the correct and useful medical information of clinical, surgical, pathological, and imaging findings accumulated from individual patients at various institutions. Our general rules were revised as the UICC was revised for the 8th edition and were published as the Japanese second edition in 2019. In this paper, the English edition of the “Rules” section is primarily presented.
Correction to: Functional analysis of suspected splicing variants in CLCN5 gene in Dent disease 1
Authors: Inoue Tomohiko , Nagano China , Matsuo Masafumi , Yamamura Tomohiko , Sakakibara Nana , Horinouchi Tomoko , Shibagaki Yugo , Ichikawa Daisuke , Aoto Yuya , Ishiko Shinya , Ishimori Shingo , Rossanti Rini , Iijima Kazumoto , Nozu Kandai
Published: March 2021

A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10157-021-02041-8
Trade in Carbon and Carbon Tariffs
Authors: Böhringer Christoph , Schneider Jan , Asane-Otoo Emmanuel
Published: March 2021

Carbon-based import tariffs are proposed as a policy measure to reduce carbon leakage and increase the global cost-effectiveness of unilateral CO2emission pricing. We investigate the case for carbon tariffs. For our assessment, we combine multi-region input–output and computable general equilibrium analyses based on data from the World Input–Output Database for the period 2000–2014. The multi-region input–output analysis confirms that carbon embodied in trade has increased during this period, but trade flows from Non-OECD to OECD countries became less important in relative terms since the 2007–2008 financial crisis. The computable general equilibrium analysis suggests that carbon tariffs’ efficacy in combating leakage increases in periods when trade in carbon increases. However, its potential to improve the global-cost effectiveness of unilateral emission pricing remains modest. On the other hand, we find that the potential of carbon tariffs to shift the economic burden of CO2emission reduction from abating developed regions to non-abating developing regions increases sharply between 2000 and 2007, but declines after the financial crisis.
Did Cyclic Metaphosphates Have a Role in the Origin of Life?
Authors: Glonek Thomas
Published: March 2021

How life began still eludes science life, the initial progenote in the context presented herein, being a chemical aggregate of primordial inorganic and organic molecules capable of self-replication and evolution into ever increasingly complex forms and functions.

Presented is a hypothesis that a mineral scaffold generated by geological processes and containing polymerized phosphate units was present in primordial seas that provided the initiating factor responsible for the sequestration and organization of primordial life’s constituents. Unlike previous hypotheses proposing phosphates as the essential initiating factor, the key phosphate described here is not a polynucleotide or just any condensed phosphate but a large (in the range of at least 1 kilo-phosphate subunits), water soluble, cyclic metaphosphate, which is a closed loop chain of polymerized inorganic phosphate residues containing only phosphate middle groups. The chain forms an intrinsic 4-phosphate helix analogous to its structure in Na Kurrol’s salt, and as with DNA, very large metaphosphates may fold into hairpin structures. Using a Holliday-junction-like scrambling mechanism, also analogous to DNA, rings may be manipulated (increased, decreased, exchanged) easily with little to no need for additional energy, the reaction being essentially an isomerization.

A literature review is presented describing findings that support the above hypothesis. Reviewed is condensed phosphate inorganic chemistry including its geological origins, biological occurrence, enzymes and their genetics through eukaryotes, polyphosphate functions, circular polynucleotides and the role of the Holliday junction, previous biogenesis hypotheses, and an Eoarchean Era timeline.
A Parametrizable High-Level Synthesis Library for Accelerating Neural Networks on FPGAs
Authors: Kalms Lester , Rad Pedram Amini , Ali Muhammad , Iskander Arsany , Göhringer Diana
Published: March 2021

In recent years, Convolutional Neural Network CNN have been incorporated in a large number of applications, including multimedia retrieval and image classification. However, CNN based algorithms are computationally and resource intensive and therefore difficult to be used in embedded systems. FPGA based accelerators are becoming more and more popular in research and industry due to their flexibility and energy efficiency. However, the available resources and the size of the on-chip memory can limit the performance of the FPGA accelerator for CNN. This work proposes an High-Level Synthesis HLS library for CNN algorithms. It contains seven different streaming-capable CNN (plus two conversion) functions for creating large neural networks with deep pipelines. The different functions have many parameter settings (e.g. for resolution, feature maps, data types, kernel size, parallelilization, accuracy, etc.), which also enable compile-time optimizations. Our functions are integrated into the HiFlipVX library, which is an open source HLS FPGA library for image processing and object detection. This offers the possibility to implement different types of computer vision applications with one library. Due to the various configuration and parallelization possibilities of the library functions, it is possible to implement a high-performance, scalable and resource-efficient system, as our evaluation of the MobileNets algorithm shows.
On the Quantification of Model Uncertainty: A Bayesian Perspective
Authors: Kaplan David
Published: March 2021

Issues of model selection have dominated the theoretical and applied statistical literature for decades. Model selection methods such as ridge regression, the lasso, and the elastic net have replaced ad hoc methods such as stepwise regression as a means of model selection. In the end, however, these methods lead to a single final model that is often taken to be the model considered ahead of time, thus ignoring the uncertainty inherent in the search for a final model. One method that has enjoyed a long history of theoretical developments and substantive applications, and that accounts directly for uncertainty in model selection, is Bayesian model averaging (BMA). BMA addresses the problem of model selection by not selecting a final model, but rather by averaging over a space of possible models that could have generated the data. The purpose of this paper is to provide a detailed and up-to-date review of BMA with a focus on its foundations in Bayesian decision theory and Bayesian predictive modeling. We consider the selection of parameter and model priors as well as methods for evaluating predictions based on BMA. We also consider important assumptions regarding BMA and extensions of model averaging methods to address these assumptions, particularly the method of Bayesian stacking. Simple empirical examples are provided and directions for future research relevant to psychometrics are discussed.