bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detectability and impact of repetitive surveys on threatened West African crocodylians
Authors: Ahizi Michel N. , Kouman Christine Y. , Ouattara Allassane , Kouamé N’Dri Pascal , Dede Azani , Fairet Emilie , Shirley Matthew H.
Published: October 2021

West African crocodylians are among the most threatened and least studied crocodylian species globally. Assessing population status and establishing a basis for population monitoring is the highest priority action for this region. Monitoring of crocodiles is influenced by many factors that affect detectability, including environmental variables and individual‐ or population‐level wariness. We investigated how these factors affect detectability and counts of the critically endangeredMecistops cataphractusand the newly recognizedCrocodylus suchus. We implemented 195 repetitive surveys at 38 sites across Côte d’Ivoire between 2014 and 2019. We used an occupancy‐based approach and a count‐based GLMM analysis to determine the effect of environmental and anthropogenic variables on detection and modeled crocodile wariness over repetitive surveys. Despite their rarity and level of threat, detection probability of both species was relatively high (0.75 forM. cataphractusand 0.81 forC. suchus), but a minimum of two surveys were required to infer absence of either species with 90% confidence. We found that detection ofM. cataphractuswas significantly negatively influenced by fishing net encounter rate, while high temperature for the previous 48 h of the day of the survey increasedC. suchusdetection. Precipitation and aquatic vegetation had significant negative and positive influence, respectively, onM. cataphractuscounts and showed the opposite effect forC. suchuscounts. We also found that fishing encounter rate had a significant negative effect onC. suchuscounts. Interestingly, survey repetition did not generally affect wariness for either species, though there was some indication that at leastM. cataphractuswas more wary by the fourth replicate. These results are informative for designing future survey and monitoring protocols for these threatened crocodylians in West Africa and for other endangered crocodylians globally.
Periodic cylindrical structure of micro‐swelling silicone rubber fabricated by ArF excimer laser
Authors: Okoshi Masayuki
Published: October 2021

Cylindrical structure of micro‐swelling silicone rubber of approximately 1 μm diameter and 1.5 to 2 μm height was fabricated by the 193‐nm ArF excimer laser‐induced photodissociation of Si‐O bonds of silicone rubber. To be periodically, single layer of silica glass microspheres was aligned on aluminum‐coated silicone rubber during laser irradiation. The silicone rubber underneath each microsphere photochemically swelled, after laser‐ablating aluminum to limit a diameter of the swelling. The aluminum also adjusted a focal point to the surface of silicone rubber to form a hole approximately 0.5 µm diameter centered at each the swelled silicone rubber. A purging O2 molecules in the laser beam path by N2 gas and lowering the laser pulse repetition rate were effective for fabricating the regular cylindrical structure. The regular cylindrical structure of micro‐swelling silicone rubber showed superhydrophobicity.
Magnetic nondestructive evaluation using higher sensitive magnetic field sensor for thermally aged Inconel 600 alloy
Authors: Kikuchi Hiroaki , Takahashi Hideki , Tschuncky Ralf , Szielasko Klaus
Published: October 2021

Ni base alloy, Inconel 600, has high strength and high corrosion resistance, and is therefore widely used for steam generators tubing in power generation plant. During long‐term plant operation at higher temperature, sensitization occurs along grain boundary, which will induce stress corrosion cracking. The alloy is paramagnetic basically; however, it transforms into ferromagnetic along grain boundaries when Cr depletion occurs. Since Cr depletion is attributed to sensitization of the material, nondestructive testing for sensitization using changes in magnetic properties will be possible. Here, Inconel 600 alloy was heat treated at 600°C from 0 to 400 hours to occur sensitization. Then, the magnetic field sensor with relatively higher sensitivity scanned over the sensitized specimen. The change in the magnetic field near the surface of specimen is related to the degree of chromium carbides progressing sensitization. The obtained results suggest that scanning with magnetic field sensor is effective to assess sensitization due to heat treatment for Ni base alloy.
Four‐level compensation standards and calculation techniques for water ecological protection in the river source regions in China
Authors: Zhang Mengjie , Hu Peng , Wang Jianhua , Lall Upmanu
Published: October 2021

The water ecological environment problem in water resources management of river basins mainly lies in the incoordination between the utilization and protection of water resources among different regions. Ecological compensation, therefore, is needed in order to solve this problem. The measurement of reasonable compensation standard plays a vitally important role in the successful establishment of ecological compensation. In this study, a four‐level compensation standard called ‘minimum‐basic‐complete‐maximum’ (MBCM) is proposed, which is based on the calculation of direct cost, the equalization of essential public service for water, opportunity loss and the comprehensive benefit of water ecological environment protection in the source region. MBCM method provides a multi‐level platform for the establishment of the compensation mechanism, which enables different departments to know their respective costs and benefits clearly. The Sanjiangyuan region (SR) in China is chosen as the study area. The results show that (1) the minimum compensation standard for the SR is 300 million RMB per year; (2) the basic compensation standard is 1.7 billion RMB per year; (3) the complete compensation standard is about 3.75 billion RMB per year; (4) the maximum compensation standard creates the total economic value of 181.6 billion RMB for the downstream water output. The proposed MBCM four‐level compensation standard can also be applied to other river source regions.
A riverscape approach reveals downstream propagation of stream thermal responses to riparian thinning at multiple scales
Authors: Roon David A. , Dunham Jason B. , Torgersen Christian E.
Published: October 2021

Hydrological connectivity in river networks influences their response to environmental changes as local effects may extend downstream via flowing water. For example, localized changes in riparian forest conditions can affect stream temperatures, and these effects may propagate downstream. However, studies evaluating stream temperature responses to riparian forest management have not considered cumulative effects across entire watersheds. Improved understanding at these scales is needed because land managers are increasingly required to consider broad‐scale consequences of their actions. To address this question, we deployed a high‐density network of sensors across watersheds to examine stream temperature responses to experimental thinning of riparian forests. A riverscape approach that combined high‐resolution data throughout the study watersheds made it possible to examine local and downstream patterns of stream temperature at multiple spatial and temporal scales. We found that local responses of temperature to thinning varied widely depending on the intensity of thinning treatments. Downstream propagation of local responses extended from 100 m to over 1000 m and depended on the magnitude of the local response. We characterized these responses as a series of waveforms. In the watersheds with more intensive thinning, thermal responses occurred most often as an extended pulse where downstream increases in temperature attenuated gradually at variable distances. Although we observed no evidence of cumulative effects associated with thinning at the downstream extent of stream networks, effects emerged where thinning treatments were closely spaced (<400 m apart) and local warming did not dissipate with downstream distance. In a watershed with less intensive thinning, there was either no response or a localized pulse with no downstream propagation. Collectively, these patterns suggest that riparian forest thinning influenced downstream thermal conditions to varying extents depending on the intensity, scale, and spatial proximity of treatments. We found that a multiscale riverscape approach and conceptual framework based on contrasting waveforms provided a foundation for understanding the cumulative watershed effects of riparian thinning. The approach developed here can be adapted more broadly when evaluating downstream propagation of local changes in river networks and has direct implications for guiding restoration in riparian ecosystems.
Plant removal across an elevational gradient marginally reduces rates, substantially reduces variation in mineralization
Authors: Rewcastle Kenna E. , Henning Jeremiah A. , Read Quentin D. , Irwin Rebecca E. , Sanders Nathan J. , Classen Aimée T.
Published: October 2021

The loss of aboveground plant diversity alters belowground ecosystem function; yet, the mechanisms underpinning this relationship and the degree to which plant community structure and climate mediate the effects of plant species loss remain unclear. Here, we explored how plant species loss through experimental removal shaped belowground function in ecosystems characterized by different climatic regimes and edaphic properties. We measured plant community composition as well as potential carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) mineralization and microbial extracellular enzyme activity in soils collected from four unique plant removal experiments located along an elevational gradient in Colorado, USA. We found that, regardless of the identity of the removed species or the climate at each site, plant removal decreased the absolute variation in potential N mineralization rates and marginally reduced the magnitude of N mineralization rates. While plant species removal also marginally reduced C mineralization rates, C mineralization, unlike N mineralization, displayed sensitivity to the climatic and edaphic differences among sites, where C mineralization was greatest at the high elevation site that receives the most precipitation annually and contains the largest soil total C pool. Plant removal had little impact on soil enzyme activity. Removal effects were not contingent on the amount of biomass removed annually, and shifts in mineralization rates occurred despite only marginal shifts in plant community structure following plant species removal. Our results present a surprisingly simple and consistent pattern of belowground response to the loss of dominant plant species across an elevational gradient with different climatic and edaphic properties, suggesting a common response of belowground ecosystem function to plant species loss regardless of which plant species are lost or the broader climatic context.
Revealing cryptic interactions between large mammalian herbivores and plant‐dwelling arthropods via DNA metabarcoding
Authors: Berman Tali S. , Inbar Moshe
Published: October 2021

In the past decade, it has become clear that omnivory, feeding on more than one trophic level, is important in natural and agricultural systems. Large mammalian herbivores (LMH) frequently encounter plant‐dwelling arthropods (PDA) on their food plants. Yet, ingestion of PDA by LMH is only rarely addressed and the extent of this direct trophic interaction, especially at the PDA community level, remains unknown. Using a DNA‐metabarcoding analysis on feces of free‐ranging cattle from a replicated field experiment of heavily and moderately grazed paddocks, we reveal that feeding cattle (incidentally) ingest an entire food chain of PDA including herbivores, predators and parasites. Overall, 25 families of insects and four families of arachnids were ingested, a pattern that varied over the season, but not with grazing intensity. We identified the functional groups of PDA vulnerable to ingestion, such as sessile species and immature life stages. Most of the fecal samples (76%) contained sequences belonging to PDA, indicating that direct interactions are frequent. This study highlights the complex trophic connections between LMH and PDA. It may even be appropriate to consider LMH as omnivorous enemies of PDA.
Conspecific leaf litter induces negative feedbacks in Asteraceae seedlings
Authors: Zaret Max M. , Bauer Jonathan T. , Clay Keith , Whitaker Briana K.
Published: October 2021

The plant soil feedback (PSF) framework has been instrumental in understanding the impacts of soil microbes on plant fitness and species coexistence. PSFs develop when soil microbial communities are altered due to the identity and density of a particular plant species, which can then enhance or inhibit the local survival and growth of that plant species as well as different plant species. The recent extension of the PSF framework to aboveground microbiota, termed here as plant phyllosphere feedbacks (PPFs), can also help to determine the impact of aboveground microbes on plant fitness and species interactions. However, experimental tests of PPFs during early plant growth are nascent and the prevalence of PPFs across diverse plant species remains unknown. Additionally, it is unclear whether plant host characteristics, such as functional traits or phylogenetic distance, may help to predict the strength and direction of PPFs. To test for the prevalence of litter‐mediated PPFs, recently senesced plant litter from 10 native Asteraceae species spanning a range of life history strategies was used to inoculate seedlings of both conspecific and heterospecific species. We found that exposure to conspecific litter significantly reduced the growth of four species relative to exposure to heterospecific litter (i.e., significant negative PPFs), three species experienced marginally significant negative PPFs, and the PPF estimates for all 10 species were negative. However, neither plant functional traits, nor phylogenetic distance were predictive of litter feedbacks across plant species pairs, suggesting that other mechanisms or traits not measured may be driving conspecific negative PPFs. Our results indicate that negative, litter‐mediated PPFs are common among native Asteraceae species and that they may have substantial impacts on plant growth and plant species interactions, particularly during early plant growth.
Position sensorless starting method for IPMSMs by all‐pass filters
Authors: Fujita Kazuki , Hasegawa Masaru
Published: October 2021

This paper proposes the starting method for position sensorless controlled interior permanent magnet synchronous motors (IPMSMs) by using all‐pass filters. The starting of IPMSM position sensorless control is well known to be extremely difficult due to the lack of electromotive information. Therefore, IPMSM is often started and accelerated with the high‐frequency signal injection in general, and then, the control algorithm is switched to position sensorless control without high‐frequency injection in middle speed region. However, the acoustic noise due to high‐frequency signal injection would occur, and the switching of control methods would cause some bumps. For this reason, IPMSM is desirable to be driven from the start to the steady state without high‐frequency signal injection.

This paper realizes to start the position sensorless controlled IPMSM without high‐frequency signal injection by allpass filter with the assistance of the appropriate initial vector setting of each controller, under the assumption that the high‐frequency signal injection is used only at standstill. Finally, this paper experimentally demonstrates the feasibility and the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Longitudinal outcome evaluations of Interdisciplinary Multimodal Pain Treatment programmes for patients with chronic primary musculoskeletal pain: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Elbers Stefan , Wittink Harriët , Konings Sophie , Kaiser Ulrike , Kleijnen Jos , Pool Jan , Köke Albère , Smeets Rob
Published: October 2021

Background and objectives

Although Interdisciplinary Multimodal Pain Treatment (IMPT) programmes share a biopsychosocial approach to increase the wellbeing of patients with chronic pain, substantial variation in content and duration have been reported. In addition, it is unclear to what extent any favourable health outcomes are maintained over time. Therefore, our first aim was to identify and analyse the change over time of patient‐related outcome measures in cohorts of patients who participated in IMPT programmes. Our second aim was to acquire insight into the heterogeneity of IMPT programmes.

Databases and data treatment

The study protocol was registered in Prospero under CRD42018076093. We searched Medline, Embase, PsycInfo and Cinahl from inception to May 2020. All study selection, data extraction and risk of bias assessments were independently performed by two researchers. Study cohorts were eligible if they included adult patients with chronic primary musculoskeletal pain for at least 3 months. We assessed the change over time, by calculating pre‐post, post‐follow‐up and pre‐follow‐up contrasts for seven different patient‐reported outcome domains. To explore the variability between the IMPT programmes, we summarized the patient characteristics and treatment programmes using the intervention description and replication checklist.

Results

The majority of the 72 included patient cohorts significantly improved during treatment. Importantly, this improvement was generally maintained at follow‐up. In line with our expectations and with previous studies, we observed substantial methodological and statistical heterogeneity.

Conclusions

This study shows that participation in an IMPT programme is associated with considerable improvements in wellbeing that are generally maintained at follow‐up. The current study also found substantial heterogeneity in dose and treatment content, which suggests different viewpoints on how to optimally design an IMPT programme.

Significance

The current study provides insight into the different existing approaches regarding the dose and content of IMPT programs. This analysis contributes to an increased understanding of the various approaches by which a biopsychosocial perspective on chronic pain can be translated to treatment programs. Furthermore, despite theoretical and empirical assertions regarding the difficulty to maintain newly learned health behaviors over time, the longitudinal analysis of health outcomes did not find a relapse pattern for patients who participated in IMPT programs
Developing a two‐stage stochastic programming model in tolerance optimization using a guard band approach
Authors: Krenek Russell
Published: October 2021

An alternative way of looking at tolerance optimization is presented through a stochastic perspective by accounting for both manufacturing process uncertainty as well as uncertain market conditions. This can be accomplished by looking at a two‐stage stochastic programming model where the decision maker takes a course of action in the first stage, such as setting the product selling prices based on product quality, after which a random event occurs, leading to a recourse decision in the second stage. Production processes face uncertainties which impact product characteristics. The recourse decisions are the specification limits and upper and lower guard bands are necessary to monitor the process. This leads to the binning of a product based on its quality, uncertain market demand, and uncertain production process. The selling prices, the specification limits and the guard bands are then determined based on these uncertain conditions. The model presented is based on chance‐constrained programming, utilizing sample average approximation methods to solve the problem.
Silver Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalyst in Alkaline Medium: Aging and Protective Coating
Authors: Kitayev Anna , Zysler Melina , Hardisty Samuel , Page Miles , Tal-Gutelmacher Ervin , Zitoun David
Published: October 2021

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is a key process in anion exchange membrane fuel cells. The alkaline conditions should allow silver‐based cost‐efficient catalysts to replace platinum group metal materials. However, Ag electrochemical stability or lack of stability in alkaline medium is still to be demonstrated. Herein, Ag catalyst nanoparticles (NPs) are characterized by identical location transmission electron microscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy after electrochemical cycling, revealing the losses of activity and surface. Herein, a facile method for enhancing the chemical stability of Ag catalysts in an alkaline environment by depositing a protective polydopamine (PDA) coating is reported. It is enhanced via crosslinking with polyethyleneimine (PEI), on the surface of Ag NPs. The enhanced electrochemical stability of Ag PDA–PEI nanocatalyst via the analysis of ORR polarization curves during accelerated stress test cycling is demonstrated, with at least one order of magnitude higher durability than the standard Pt/C catalyst. Moreover, electrochemical measurements indicate that the protective PDA–PEI coating has good permeability to O2, with a positive effect on the ORR activity of Ag NPs.
Light‐responsive bilayered hydrogel for freshwater production from surface soil moisture
Authors: Zhang Mengmeng , Wang Huiying , Hou Zaiyan , Chen Qiang , Xie Zhanjun , Zhu Jintao , Xu Jiangping , Zhang Lianbin
Published: October 2021

The search and the utilization of alternative water resources to produce freshwater are highly important to the water shortage, especially in arid and desert regions. In these areas, the surface soil moisture (SSM) can be a promising water source, whereas its extraction and following release remain challenging. In this study, a light‐responsive bilayered hydrogel (LRBH) is designed to produce freshwater from SSM, which is obtained by the copolymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and acrylic acid (AA) and in‐situ surface polymerization of polypyrrole (PPy). By careful optimization of the ratio of NIPAM and AA, the water absorption capacity of LRBH is significantly improved with the water absorption of 4.4 g/g even in the sandy soil with an extremely low water content (~3 wt%). The PPy in the top layer of the LRBH can absorb solar light to heat the hydrogel at daytime so that the temperature of the hydrogel can quickly rise above the lower critical solution temperature of LRBH. As a result, the freshwater is quickly expelled from the LRBH. Under simulated solar light irradiation, 68.6% of all absorbed water within LRBH can be released within 20 min. The current study provides an effective and facile strategy for SSM capture and suitable systems for the generation of freshwater in arid or desert regions.

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A modified pulse‐decay approach to simultaneously measure permeability and porosity of tight rocks
Authors: Wang Yue , Nolte Steffen , Tian Zhiguo , Amann‐Hildenbrand Alexandra , Krooss Bernhard , Wang Moran
Published: October 2021

Permeability and porosity are the two most important parameters of rocks for the evaluation and exploitation of oil/gas reservoirs. In this study, a modified pulse‐decay method has been developed to measure both permeability and porosity simultaneously. In the present method, the gas pressure in one chamber is changed (increased or decreased) instantaneously and then maintained constant, while the pressure response changing with time in the other one is monitored. A mathematical model of this procedure has been formulated, and a general analytical solution, including the early‐time and late‐time evolutions, has been obtained. The late‐time solution is presented for postprocessing of experimental data, which leads to the simultaneous measurement of permeability and porosity values of tight rocks. Our measurements agree well with those from the classical pulse‐decay and gas expansion methods. Compared with measuring the permeability and porosity separately, the proposed method can reduce the total test time and ensure the permeability and porosity are measured under the same effective stress condition.
An interference alignment scheme based on limited feedback with differentiation in heterogeneous networks
Authors: Li Shibao , Wang Mingyu , Wang Xiaoli , Liu Jianhang , Cui Xuerong , Chen Haihua
Published: October 2021

The traditional limited feedback scheme can use imperfect channel state information to achieve interference alignment (IA) in a fully connected situation. But these solutions could no longer be used directly in heterogeneous networks where partial connectivity is considered. To solve this problem, this article proposes an IA scheme based on limited feedback with differentiation for the two‐tiered heterogeneous network. First, users who are affected by different types and numbers of interference and corresponding base stations are divided into different units according to the partial connectivity of heterogeneous networks. Then, we design interference alignment algorithm for each unit separately. Next, considering the imperfect channel state information, we derive the leakage of interference caused by the limited feedback, and give expressions for the upper bound of sum rate loss in various units. Finally, dynamic feedback bit allocation is carried out to each unit with the goal of minimizing the throughput loss in the limited feedback system. The simulation results show that the proposed IA scheme can eliminate interference well and efficiency of limited feedback can be improved through dynamic feedback bit allocation, so that system can obtain higher sum rate than other schemes.
Cu nanoparticles anchored in MIL‐101 metal‐organic frameworks for the selective hydrogenation of CO2‐derived ethylene carbonates
Authors: Lei Ting , Wei Dong , Feng Dongya , Chen Hao , Yue Hairong
Published: October 2021

The Cu‐based catalysts have been widely employed in the hydrogenation of CO2‐derived ethylene carbonate (EC) to ethylene glycol (EG) and other derivatives, but still suffered from some problems such as unsatisfactory selectivity and catalyst stability. Herein, a Cu@MIL‐101 catalyst was prepared via a two‐solvent method to anchor copper (Cu) nanoparticles into the MIL‐101 metal organic frameworks, which exhibited superior catalytic performance with ∼100% conversion, 2‐hydroxyethyl formate (2‐HEF) selectivity of 82% at 160°C, or EG selectivity of ∼92% at 180°C. The characterization results showed that the Cu0 and Cr3+ species play a key role on the dissociation of H2 and activation of C‐O and C=O bonds in the esters, and thus exhibited an excellent catalytic performance of the EC hydrogenation. In addition, the strong interaction between Cu0 species and unsaturated coordination Cr3+ species in the MIL‐101 framework resulted in the high stability. Since the product of methanol was not generated on the Cu@MIL‐101 catalyst, it is valuable to produce 2‐HEF by controlling the temperature of 160°C in the EC hydrogenation rection. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Psychological risk and protective factors associated with depression among older adults in mainland China: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Tang Tan , Jiang Jianling , Tang Xinfeng
Published: October 2021

Background

Although geriatric depression is a public health concern in mainland China, findings about its psychological risk and protective factors have been inconsistent, and its prevention programmes have been deficient. To improve interventions for geriatric depression, we designed a study to systematically estimate the effect size of those factors.

Methods

To identify psychological risk and protective factors of geriatric depression, we conducted two independent literature searches in English‐ and Chinese‐language databases, and we used a random effects model to analyse effect sizes.

Results

We identified 15 psychological risk and protective factors in 66 studies. The pooled effect sizes between the factors and geriatric depression ranged from 0.129 to 0.567. Self‐esteem displayed a large effect size with depression (r = −0.567), whereas medium‐to‐large effect sizes emerged between geriatric depression and negative perceptions of age (r = 0.452), resilience (r = −0.426), rumination (r = 0.432), neuroticism (r = 0.381), extraversion (r = −0.363), self‐efficacy (r = −0.357), sense of control (r = −0.343), and negative coping strategies (r = 0.315). The sample's mean age, the percentage of women sampled, and the research quality of the studies significantly moderated certain associations.

Limitations

Large heterogeneity, the inexplicability of causal relationships between the factors and geriatric depression, and the lack of generalisability to special groups limit our findings.

Conclusions

Self‐esteem and perceptions of age are potential targets for improving interventions for geriatric depression in mainland China, which should continue to be developed and assessed for their effectiveness.
Omalizumab effectiveness in patients with a previously failed oral immunotherapy for severe milk allergy
Authors: Badina Laura , Belluzzi Beatrice , Contorno Sarah , Bossini Benedetta , Benelli Elisa , Barbi Egidio , Berti Irene
Published: October 2021

Background

Some studies addressed the issue of omalizumab (OML) effectiveness in children starting their first oral immunotherapy (OIT) attempt but no study investigated the possible role of OML in the setting of patients with persisting milk allergy after a failed OIT attempt.

Methods

Single‐center, prospective, observational study in a selected group of patients with a persisting and severe cow milk (CM) allergy associated with moderate allergic asthma, in which a previous OIT attempt had already failed. We performed an open oral food challenge (OFC) to identify patients who tolerated less than 173 mg of cow's milk protein. At the end of the recruitment, we have found four patients with a mean age of 16.25 years (8–24) who had suspended a previous OIT attempt and still reacted to an amount of CM equal or below 173 mg. Enrolled patients, after an 8‐week course of OML along with a CM avoiding diet, underwent again an open OFC with CM to re‐evaluate their threshold. Eventually, a new OIT course was started using the same OIT protocol of the previous attempt, maintaining cotreatment with OML for the first 12 months. For each patient, we documented: the threshold of CM at OFC, level of specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) and IgG4 for milk, and quality of life (QoL).

Results

During OIT the four patients experienced no reactions or extremely mild ones (oral itching, transient mild abdominal pain). All increased their threshold of CM in OML if compared with the baseline and maintained it long after that biologic therapy had discontinued. Specific milk proteins IgG4 levels significantly increased in all.

Conclusion

In this series, OML was effective in patients with severe CM allergy who had previously failed OIT, allowing milk intake without adverse reactions and improving the QoL.
Plastic Scintillators and Radiation Detectors Based on Triphenyl Pyrazoline Derivatives
Authors: Bliznyuk Valery N. , Seliman Ayman F. , Derevyanko Nadezhda A. , Dugan Andrew , Ishchenko Alexander A. , DeVol Timothy A.
Published: October 2021

Plastic scintillators (PS) allow design of portative lightweight devices for quantification of low‐activity radiation sources. We have recently suggested a new type of organic fluorophores based on triphenyl pyrazoline (PZ) derivatives with high fluorescence quantum yield showing high radioluminescence when combined with a polyvinyltoluene (PVT) matrix. In this publication we report on radioluminescence properties of the PZ−X family with various halogen substitution (X=F, Cl, Br, I), or having vinyl functional group (vPZ, X=vinyl). PS based on such fluorophores and PVT matrix can be prepared as bulk samples, micrometer size beads or cladding on optical fibers. Application of fluorophores with vinyl functional groups enabled their enhanced interaction with the matrix due to covalent bonding between the components. We demonstrate high performance of PZ−X fluorophores and especially vPZ fluorophore in fabrication of nanocomposites for detection of various types of radiation. Scintillators have enhanced gamma ray detection capabilities with an addition of triphenyl Bi, or Gd2O3 nanoparticles. High fluorescence quantum yield and luminosity of PZ fluorophores allows dramatical reduction of their content in PS systems. Mechanisms of energy transfer and conversion during scintillation process are discussed. Special consideration is given to enhancement of α/β and neutron/gamma (n/γ) pulse shape discrimination (PSD) function of the developed scintillators.
Substrate Dependent Charge Transfer Kinetics at the Solid/Liquid Interface of Carbon‐Based Electrodes with Potential Application for Organic Na‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Werner Daniel , Alexander Thöny , Winkler Daniel , Apaydin Dogukan H. , Loerting Thomas , Portenkirchner Engelbert
Published: October 2021

Electroactive organic semiconducting pigments represent a group of very promising electrode materials for the next generation of energy conversion and storage technologies. However, most pigments suffer from high solubility in organic electrolytes and poor electrical conductivity, which have severely impeded their practical applications. Among different strategies to improve their electrochemical performance, using conductive carbon substrates to form composite electrodes is one of the most used methods to solve these problems. In this work we investigate the role of conductive carbon substrates towards their charge transfer kinetics at the solid/liquid interface with potential application for organic sodium (Na)‐ion batteries. This study reveals that the role of conductive carbon is related not only to the optimal electronic path but also to the ionic path towards the electrode active material. Perylentetracarboxylicdiimide is used as the electrode active material coated on graphite/copper and carbon paper substrates. The morphology, structure, and chemical composition of our electrodes are investigated via scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron and Raman spectroscopy. A thorough kinetic analysis is systematically implemented by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. We performed a quantitative analysis of the resistance and capacitive components of the composite electrodes using the theory of the transmission line model and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy with symmetric cells. Our results indicate that a decrease in pore resistance is key to achieve high charge transfer kinetics in electrochemical systems. This work will therefore contribute towards future, efficient electrode design with low pore resistance and high charge transfer kinetics. This may prove of great importance for the development of energy conversion and storage technologies, including heterojunction solar cells, electrocatalysts/photocatalysts for water splitting, carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction and lithium (Li)‐ and Na‐ion batteries.
Photoconductivity of Micrometer Long Organic Single Crystal Fiber Array Prepared by Evaporation‐Induced Self‐Assembled Method
Authors: Matsui Jun , Ebata Kazuki , Takeda Masaki , Hua Kim Ngan , Katagiri Hiroshi , Nakayama Ken‐ichi , Masuhara Akito , Yumusak Cigdem , Stadler Philipp , Sharber Markus Clark , White Matthew Schuette , Sariciftci Niyazi Serdar , Yoshida Tsukasa , Furis Madalina
Published: October 2021

Millimeter‐long organic fiber arrays of intramolecular charge transfer merocyanine HB194 dye were prepared by evaporation‐induced self‐assembled method. X‐ray diffraction spectroscopy indicated individual fibers are millimeter‐sized HB194 single crystals. The elimination of defects and structural disorder enabled photoluminescence microscopy studies that revealed the intramolecular charge transfer (CT), bandgap excitonic state is long‐lived and remains largely localized in the absence of π‐orbital stacking in the crystalline structure. These nanosecond lifetimes explain the observation of a photoconductivity response upon irradiation with a 633 nm laser due to dissociation of the delocalized CT exciton to free carriers. At the same time, the photo response was increased 4.5 times by coating of the HB194 fiber array with polyvinyl alcohol. This increase is attributed to the larger dielectric field around the fibers that further facilitates the band‐gap (CT) exciton dissociation.
Effect of Molecular Structure on Interfacial Electron Transfer Kinetics in the Framework of Classical Marcus Theory
Authors: Cho Inseong , Mozer Attila J.
Published: October 2021

The factors affecting electron transfer at semiconductor electrodes sensitised with molecules and in contact with redox electrolytes have been studied for decades. Here, the influence of molecular structural factors enhancing or slowing down electron transfer rates at dye‐sensitised electrode interfaces are analysed by Marcus theory. Back electron transfer between TiO2 electrons and oxidised redox mediators are slowed down by reducing electronic coupling using alkyl chains or by minimising attractive intermolecular forces. Electron transfer between surface‐bound molecules and the electron donors, while generally also slowed down by alkyl chains, can also be enhanced by alkyl‐alkyl interactions. This review highlights the a priori difficult to predict effect of changing molecular structures on electron transfer. Systematic studies employing electron transfer measurements with fast time resolutions is needed to advance knowledge in this important area.
Pre‐delivery angiogenic factors and their association with peripartum perceived stress and pain in pre‐eclampsia with severe features and normotensive pregnancies
Authors: Ngene Nnabuike Chibuoke , Moodley Jagidesa
Published: October 2021

Objective

To determine if any of maternal pre‐delivery soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase‐1 (sFlt‐1), placental growth factor (PIGF), or sFlt‐1/PIGF ratio correlate with either perceived stress scale (PSS) or verbal numeric rating scale (VNRS) pain scores.

Methods

Among 50 pregnant women with severe pre‐eclampsia and 90 normotensive pregnant women observed from 48 h or less before delivery until day 3 postpartum, correlations between the following were performed: (1) serum concentrations of each angiogenic factor (sFlt‐1, PIGF, and sFlt‐1/PIGF ratio) sampled within 48 h before childbirth and a four‐item PSS (pre‐delivery and one‐off 48–72 h postpartum score); (2) the same angiogenic factors above and VNRS ranging from 0 to 10; and (3) PSS and VNRS (both pre‐delivery and postpartum).

Results

In the normotensive group, there was a positive correlation between sFlt‐1 and postpartum PSS (ρ +0.214 and P = 0.043), and between sFlt‐1/PIGF ratio and postpartum PSS (ρ +0.213 and P = 0.044). In the normotensive and severe pre‐eclampsia groups there were non‐significant negative correlations between PIGF and postpartum PSS (P > 0.096) and non‐significant positive correlations between pre‐delivery PSS and pre‐delivery VNRS (P > 0.053). Other correlations were uninformative.

Conclusion

Maternal pre‐delivery sFlt‐1/PIGF ratio in normotensive pregnancy is a promising biomarker for identifying risk of increased postpartum PSS to enable early counselling.
Risk characteristics, government subsidies and farmers' willingness to adopt water‐saving irrigation techniques*
Authors: Hu Lun , Channa Amanullah , Liu Xiaotong , Lakhan Ghulam Rasool , Meraj Muhammad , Lu Qian , Wang Qingjin
Published: October 2021

This paper explores the mechanisms of risk preference, risk awareness and farmers' willingness to adopt water‐saving irrigation techniques in response to government subsidies. Data, collected from farmers in Gansu Province, China, were analysed using mediation and moderation effect models. The empirical evidence from this study indicates that willingness to adopt water‐saving irrigation techniques increased with an increase in government subsidies but decreased with risk awareness due to farmers' attitude of risk preferences. Secondly, the interaction between farmers' risk awareness and risk preference determines their willingness to adopt water‐saving irrigation techniques where risk awareness plays an intermediary role in both cases. Nevertheless, the cautionary role of risk awareness is more obvious, so risk‐averse farmers are significantly less willing to adopt irrigation techniques than risk preference farmers. Also, government subsidies have a significant moderating effect on farmers' risk preferences and risk awareness irrespective of their usage of farming techniques.
Hydrochemical characteristics and water quality indices‐based assessment of River Kali for agricultural irrigation in northern India*
Authors: Singh Gaurav , Patel Neelam , Jindal Tanu , Ranjan Manju Rawat , Pal Sumit , Ahirwal Jitendra , Dubey Swatantra Kumar
Published: October 2021

High‐quality water is required to produce a greater crop yield. River water is a major source of irrigation; however, in several densely populated countries, it is severely polluted due to anthropogenic activities. We aim to assess the Kali River water quality from 17 sampling stations using hydrochemical characterization in western Uttar Pradesh during the pre‐ and post‐monsoon seasons. The suitability of river water quality for agricultural irrigation was determined by water quality indices such as sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), sodium percentage (Na%), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), permeability index (PI), magnesium ratio (MR), and Kelley's index (KI). Results of the study showed that water quality in terms of pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, Cl−, SAR, and MR is moderately suitable for agricultural irrigation. However, only 64.7% (NO3−N), 88.2% (HCO3−), and 70.6% (B) samples in pre‐monsoon and 70.6% (NO3−N), 100% (HCO3−), and 64.7% (B) samples in post‐monsoon were acceptable for irrigation. In addition, 94.1%, 23.5%, and 70.6% of samples in pre‐monsoon and 82.4%, 17.6%, and 23.5% of samples in post‐monsoon analysed for Na%, RSC, PI, and KI, respectively, were found suitable for irrigation. The analysis of selected water quality parameters and water quality indices shows that Kali River water is polluted at the downstream side, and its suitability for agricultural irrigation varies with the season.
The pharmacist's professional identity: Preventing, identifying, and managing medication therapy problems as the medication specialist
Authors: Nelson Nicholas R. , Armistead Lori T. , Blanchard Carrie M. , Rhoney Denise H.
Published: October 2021

Pharmacy has long struggled to embrace a unified professional identity despite many leaders calling for such. With societal and scientific evolutions, the functions of the pharmacist have changed over time, often assuming multiple identity discourses. Pharmacy has also been seen as a very heterogeneous profession with product‐ and patient‐focused practitioners, contributing to the lack of a unifying identity. This commentary argues that to advocate for and promote our profession we must confront the brutal facts and realize the true state of pharmacy practice. The fact is that all areas of pharmacy practice, both product‐ and patient‐focused, have always shared a central theme which is and has been the pharmacist's professional identity: the prevention, identification, and management of medication therapy problems and their root causes as the medication specialist. Fully embracing this professional identity will help the profession assume a clear and unique role on the healthcare team in optimizing patient care and allow for meaningful practice‐based research, grounded in theory, which will improve the education of currently practicing and future pharmacists. A firm professional identity will also allow for a seamless continuation between pharmacist education and practice across a lifetime, strengthening the pharmacy profession as a whole.
Assessment of antimicrobial pharmacokinetics curricula across schools and colleges of pharmacy in the United States
Authors: Fong Gary , Chahine Elias B. , Justo Julie Ann , Narayanan Navaneeth , Heil Emily L. , Stover Kayla R. , Cho Jonathan C. , Jenkins Zachary N. , MacDougall Conan
Published: October 2021

Introduction

Advances in technology and understanding of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationships have prompted guideline updates and advances in precision dosing, but the role of clinical pharmacokinetics (PK) in pharmacy education remains inconsistent. Previous surveys of pharmacy school PK curricula revealed large variations in content, integration, and teaching tools but did not focus on antimicrobials or details of andragogy used.

Objective

Identify how antimicrobial PK is taught in pharmacy curricula across the United States, as well as instructor perceptions of current practices.

Methods

An online survey was distributed to 118 pharmacy programs across the United States in 2018. This 30‐minute questionnaire covered curriculum content, teaching strategies, assessment modalities, and perceptions.

Results

Completed surveys were received from 53 programs (45% response rate) via relevant course coordinators. Among 35 traditional progressive curriculum programs (TPC), antimicrobial PK was taught in basic science (33, 94%), clinical PK (15, 43%), pharmacology (8, 23%), therapeutics (28, 80%), and skills lab courses (21, 65%). Among 18 integrated block curriculum programs (IBC), it was taught in foundations/principles (17, 94%), organ systems (12, 67%), and skills lab courses (9, 50%). On average, TPC programs had more courses with antimicrobial PK than IBC programs. Vancomycin and aminoglycosides were the most common antimicrobials taught (100%), while didactic lecturing was the predominant andragogy. Multiple choice was the primary assessment modality, being frequently used in 64% of TPC and 68% of IBC courses, respectively. Among respondents, 72% believed more time was needed to teach PK and 53% believed students were adequately prepared at the start of APPEs.

Conclusion

Antimicrobial PK instruction remains highly inconsistent in U.S. pharmacy schools and colleges. IBC programs may provide less opportunity for antimicrobial PK instruction, which conflicts with the desire for more instruction time. As clinical applications of antimicrobial PK change and expand, it is crucial that pharmacy education prioritizes PK education appropriately.
Mast Cells Trigger Disturbed Bone Healing in Osteoporotic Mice
Authors: Fischer Verena , Ragipoglu Deniz , Diedrich Johanna , Steppe Lena , Dudeck Anne , Schütze Konrad , Kalbitz Miriam , Gebhard Florian , Haffner-Luntzer Melanie , Ignatius Anita
Published: October 2021

Mast cells are important tissue-resident sensor and effector immune cells but also play a major role in osteoporosis development. Mast cells are increased in numbers in the bone marrow of postmenopausal osteoporotic patients, and mast cell–deficient mice are protected from ovariectomy (OVX)-induced bone loss. In this study, we showed that mast cell–deficient Mcpt5-Cre R-DTA mice were protected from OVX-induced disturbed fracture healing, indicating a critical role for mast cells in the pathomechanisms of impaired bone repair under estrogen-deficient conditions. We revealed that mast cells trigger the fracture-induced inflammatory response by releasing inflammatory mediators, including interleukin-6, midkine (Mdk), and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10), and promote neutrophil infiltration into the fracture site in OVX mice. Furthermore, mast cells were responsible for reduced osteoblast and increased osteoclast activities in OVX mice callus, as well as increased receptor activator of NF-κB ligand serum levels in OVX mice. Additional in vitro studies with human cells showed that mast cells stimulate osteoclastogenesis by releasing the osteoclastogenic mediators Mdk and CXCL10 in an estrogen-dependent manner, which was mediated via the estrogen receptor alpha on mast cells. In conclusion, mast cells negatively affect the healing of bone fractures under estrogen-deficient conditions. Hence, targeting mast cells might provide a therapeutic strategy to improve disturbed bone repair in postmenopausal osteoporosis. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).