bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and safety of a novel anti‐reflux metal stent during neoadjuvant chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer: A prospective multicenter exploratory study
Authors: Hinokuchi Makoto , Hashimoto Shinichi , Kojima Issei , Nakamura Yoshitaka , Fujita Toshihiro , Iwashita Yuji , Arima Shiho , Tanoue Shiroh , Ohtsuka Takao , Ido Akio
Published: September 2022

Background/Purpose

The benefits of anti‐reflux metal stents, used for treating biliary obstruction in patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for pancreatic cancer, are yet unknown. Herein, the safety and efficacy of the novel duckbill‐type anti‐reflux metal stent (D‐ARMS) were prospectively evaluated for biliary drainage. Additionally, the incidence of recurrent biliary obstruction (RBO) after placement of D‐ARMS vs conventional covered self‐expandable metal stents (CCSEMSs) was retrospectively compared.

Methods

Patients who received D‐ARMS (n = 33) for treatment of distal biliary obstruction before NAC between September 2019 and January 2021 and those that received CCSEMSs (n = 38) between January 2013 and August 2019 were included in the historical control group. Technical and clinical successes, rate of RBO, and cumulative incidence of RBO were compared between the two groups.

Results

The technical success rate was 100% for both the D‐ARMS and CCSEMS groups, and the clinical success rate were not significantly different (93.9% and 89.5%, respectively; P = .68). In the multivariate analysis, D‐ARMS was identified as the independent factor for cumulative incidence of RBO (P = .03). The cumulative incidence of RBO was significantly lower in the D‐ARMS group than that in the CCSEMS group (P = .04).

Conclusions

D‐ARMS is safe and effective for patients receiving NAC.
Towards values‐based healthcare for inherited metabolic disorders: An overview of current practices for persons with liver glycogen storage disease and fatty acid oxidation disorders
Authors: Venema Annieke , Peeks Fabian , Rossi Alessandro , Jager Emmalie A. , Derks Terry G. J.
Published: September 2022

Value‐based healthcare (VBHC) intends to achieve better outcomes for patients, to improve quality of patient care, with reduced costs. Four dimensions define a model of intimately related value‐pillars: personal value, allocative value, technical value, and societal value. VBHC is mostly applied in common diseases, and there are fundamental challenges in applying VBHC strategies to low volume, high complex healthcare situations, such as rare diseases, including inherited metabolic disorders. This article summarizes current practices at various academical domains (i.e., research, healthcare, education, and training) that (aim to) increase values at various value‐pillars for persons with liver glycogen storage diseases or fatty acid oxidation disorders and their families. Future perspectives may include facilitating virtual networks to function as integrated practice units, improving measurement of outcomes, and creating information technology platforms to overcome the ethical, legal, societal, and technical challenges of data sharing for healthcare and research purposes.
Spatial and temporal characteristics of near‐surface air temperature across local climate zones in a tropical city
Authors: Roth Matthias , Sanchez Beatriz , Li Reuben , Velasco Erik
Published: September 2022

The present study examines the temporal and spatial variability of near‐surface air temperature and the canopy layer urban heat island (UHI) in Singapore. Observations collected at 20 locations across the island city‐state and during 6 years make this one of the most extensive studies carried out in a tropical city. Local climate zones (LCZs), defined as urban built and rural land cover types which produce a unique air temperature response, are used to standardize intersite comparison. The results show that the choice of the rural reference can affect the night‐time UHI magnitude by up to 2°C under “ideal” (dry, clear, calm) conditions. The most frequently observed median UHI magnitude increases from 2.8 during all‐weather to 3.7°C during “ideal” conditions, respectively. A seasonality is present with lowest (highest) mean all‐weather values of ~2.0°C (~3.3°C), observed during the wet (dry) December–January (April–October) period. Mean night‐time UHI intensity across seven built‐type LCZs ranges between 1.8 and 3.5°C (2.5 and 4.3°C) for all‐weather (“ideal”) conditions. Corresponding daily values are 1.1–2.3°C (1.5–2.7°C). The lowest (highest) night‐time magnitudes are associated with open low‐rise LCZ 6 (compact high‐rise LCZ 1) built type. In the middle of the day LCZ 1 can experience a cool island effect. The average UHI values presented here give an indication of the extra warmth experienced in the built‐up spaces of Singapore relative to one possible rural reference land cover type (scattered trees LCZ B). Highest daytime heat exposure is observed in LCZs 3 and 8 which are characterized by low building heights, high impervious surface fraction and lack of vegetation. The present results can be used to support the development and evaluation of urban climate models, develop urban planning policies and improve local weather forecasts and the delivery of integrated urban services.
Fusobacterium nucleatum aggravates ulcerative colitis through promoting gut microbiota dysbiosis and dysmetabolism
Authors: Lin Shulan , Zhang Xiaoyue , Zhu Xuanzhi , Jiao Junwei , Wu Yafei , Li Yan , Zhao Lei
Published: September 2022

Background

The correlation between periodontitis and ulcerative colitis (UC) has drawn widespread attention recently. Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) as a periodontal pathogen also has reservoirs in gut and may play a role in intestinal diseases. However, its role in the pathogenesis of UC is unclear.

Methods

Mice were orally given dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) solution and F. nucleatum to construct experimental models. The survival rate, weight, and disease activity index (DAI) of mice were monitored. Alveolar bone loss, abundance of F. nucleatum in colon, colon length, histopathological assessment, and inflammatory cytokines were detected. Apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) were evaluated by TUNEL assay and pro‐apoptotic gene Bax. The epithelial barrier function was assessed by tight junction proteins. By 16S rRNA gene sequencing and LC‐MS‐based methods, the composition of the intestinal microbiota and metabolites in mice were analyzed.

Results

F. nucleatum facilitated alveolar bone loss and colonized only in infected colon tissue. Mice fed with DSS showed destruction of gut structure, increased expressions of interleukin one‐beta (IL‐1β) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α), decreased expression of IL‐10, higher apoptosis of IECs, microbiota dysbiosis and bile acid dysmetabolism compared to healthy ones. F. nucleatum further aggravated intestinal inflammation and epithelial barrier damage. Probiotics such as Bifidobacterium and Faecalibacterium decreased, opportunistic pathogens Escherichia‐Shigella increased and the differential microorganisms highly associated with inflammatory parameters and metabolites. Meanwhile, level of uric acid involving in the purine metabolism significantly elevated compared to UC mice.

Conclusions

F. nucleatum promotes gut inflammation, epithelial barrier dysfunction, microbiota dysbiosis and dysmetabolism to aggravate UC.
Diagnostic value and prognostic significance of MRI findings in sudden sensorineural hearing loss
Authors: Todic Jelena , Guinand Nils , Lenoir Vincent , Senn Pascal , Becker Minerva
Published: September 2022

Purpose

We evaluated the clinical significance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and their prognostic value for initial hearing loss and recovery in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL).

Materials and Methods

This retrospective study included consecutive adult patients with unilateral SSNHL, contrast‐enhanced MRI and audiometric testing evaluated in our institution between 2005 and 2017. MRI reports, patient data, treatment, and audiometric tests were reviewed, with the relationship between MRI findings and hearing loss/recovery analyzed.

Results

Overall, 266 patients were included. Additional symptoms comprised tinnitus (114/266; 43%), vertigo (45/266; 17%), ear pain (26/266; 10%), and ear pressure (6/266; 2%). At least one cardiovascular risk factor (hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, cardiopathy, and active smoking) existed in 167/266 (63%) patients. Corticosteroid treatment was followed by 198/266 (74%) patients while contraindications/refusal/compliance precluded treatment in 68/266(26%). Complete, partial or slight hearing recovery occurred in 167/266 (63%) patients. Three MRI patient groups were identified: a group with normal MRI examinations or incidentalomas (128/266; 48%), a group with peripheral auditory system (PAS) lesions (95/266; 36%), and a group with central nervous system (CNS) lesions (43/266; 16%). PAS lesions included lesions from the cochlea to the brain stem (e.g., schwannoma, meningioma, labyrinthitis, intracochlear hemorrhage, vestibulocochlear neuritis), whereas CNS lesions corresponded in 42/43(98%) of cases to leukoaraiosis and other vascular lesions (e.g., stroke, hemorrhage, aneurysm, venous sinus thrombosis, and cavernoma). Belonging to one of the three MRI groups did not influence the degree of initial hearing loss, affected frequencies or treatment, p > .05. Gender and cardiovascular risk factors did neither affect initial hearing loss nor recovery. However, age > 70 years negatively affected initial hearing loss in all frequencies, as well as recovery in all frequencies except 1000 Hz. Also, poor recovery of initial high‐frequency hearing loss (>1000 Hz) was significantly associated with CNS lesions.

Conclusion

Age > 70 years and CNS lesions depicted by MRI independently predicted poor auditory recovery, albeit in different frequencies.

Lay Summary

In patients with sudden hearing loss, older age (above 70 years) predicts poorer hearing recovery than in younger patients in most hearing frequencies. In addition, abnormalities of brain tissue revealed by MRI predict poorer hearing recovery at high frequencies.

Level of Evidence

Level III.
Climate warming restructures seasonal dynamics of grassland soil microbial communities
Authors: Guo Xue , Yuan Mengting , Lei Jiesi , Shi Zhou , Zhou Xishu , Li Jiabao , Deng Ye , Yang Yunfeng , Wu Liyou , Luo Yiqi , Tiedje James M. , Zhou Jizhong
Published: September 2022

Soil microbial community's responses to climate warming alter the global carbon cycle. In temperate ecosystems, soil microbial communities function along seasonal cycles. However, little is known about how the responses of soil microbial communities to warming vary when the season changes. In this study, we investigated the seasonal dynamics of soil bacterial community under experimental warming in a temperate tall‐grass prairie ecosystem. Our results showed that warming significantly (p = 0.001) shifted community structure, such that the differences of microbial communities between warming and control plots increased nonlinearly (R2 = 0.578, p = 0.021) from spring to winter. Also, warming significantly (p < 0.050) increased microbial network complexity and robustness, especially during the colder seasons, despite large variations in network size and complexity in different seasons. In addition, the relative importance of stochastic processes in shaping the microbial community decreased by warming in fall and winter but not in spring and summer. Our study indicates that climate warming restructures the seasonal dynamics of soil microbial community in a temperate ecosystem. Such seasonality of microbial responses to warming may enlarge over time and could have significant impacts on the terrestrial carbon cycle.
Mid‐infrared dissolved CO2 measurement system using the ultra‐compact multipass cell
Authors: Chen Hongda , Chen Chen , Dong Weihao , Li Yongyang , Zhang Mengru
Published: September 2022

To measure natural gas hydrate, a mid‐infrared dissolved CO2 measurement system is designed using the tunable diode laser spectroscopy with ultra‐compact multipass cell. The QCL laser of 4319 nm has a scanning range from 2315.05 to 2315.40 cm−1, which contains 12CO2 and 13CO2 for isotope measurement and wide range of concentration detection. The optimized 3f + 1f wavelength modulation method reduces the limit of detection to 7.1 ppbv. An ultra‐compact multi‐pass cell with effective optical path length of 6.3 m and small volume of 15 ml is designed to achieve the system response time of 40 s. The dissolved CO2 sensing system has been used in deep sea natural gas hydrate detection.
A fast and efficient method for permittivity measurement of thin‐film material
Authors: Qiu Tiancheng , Han Kangkang , Wei Gao , Lei Siyuan
Published: September 2022

A fast and efficient method is proposed in this letter to characterize the dielectric permittivity of thin‐film materials. The measuring system is based on a TE103 rectangular split‐cavity resonator operating at around 10 GHz, which has the advantage of providing nondestructive measurements while maintaining a high level of accuracy. The thin‐film materials under test can be directly inserted in the split without being processed in a specific shape. Different dielectric materials are tested using this method. And the theoretical derivations and experimental measurements have been performed to confirm the validity and effectiveness of this approach.
Are effort‐based decision‐making tasks worth the effort?—A study on the associations between effort‐based decision‐making tasks and self‐report measures
Authors: Renz Katharina E. , Schlier Björn , Lincoln Tania M.
Published: September 2022

Objectives

Amotivation is a common symptom in various mental disorders, including psychotic or depressive disorders. Effort‐based decision‐making (EBDM)‐tasks quantifying amotivation at a behavioral level have been on the rise. Task performance has been shown to differentiate patient groups from healthy controls. However, findings on indicators of construct validity, such as the correlations between different tasks and between tasks and self‐reported/observer‐rated amotivation in clinical and healthy samples have been inconclusive.

Methods

In a representative community sample (N = 90), we tested the construct validity of the Deck Choice Task, the Expenditure for Rewards Task and the Balloon Task. We calculated correlations between the EBDM‐tasks and between the EBDM‐tasks and self‐reported amotivation, apathy, anticipatory pleasure, and BIS/BAS.

Results

Correlations between tasks were low to moderate (0.198 ≤ r ≤ 0.358), with the Balloon Task showing the largest correlations with the other tasks, but no significant correlations between any EBDM‐task and the self‐report measures.

Conclusion

Although different EBDM‐tasks are conceptualized to measure the same construct, a large part of what each task measures could not be accounted for by the other tasks. Moreover, the tasks did not appear to substantially capture what was measured in established self‐report instruments for amotivation in our sample, which could be interpreted as questioning the construct validity of EBDM‐tasks.
Homogenization of discrete diffusion models by asymptotic expansion
Authors: Eliáš Jan , Yin Hao , Cusatis Gianluca
Published: September 2022

Diffusion behaviors of heterogeneous materials are of paramount importance in many engineering problems. Numerical models that take into account the internal structure of such materials are robust but computationally very expensive. This burden can be partially decreased by using discrete models, however even then the practical application is limited to relatively small material volumes. This paper formulates a homogenization scheme for discrete diffusion models. Asymptotic expansion homogenization is applied to distinguish between (i) the continuous macroscale description approximated by the standard finite element method and (ii) the fully resolved discrete mesoscale description in a local representative volume element (RVE) of material. Both transient and steady‐state variants with nonlinear constitutive relations are discussed. In all the cases, the resulting discrete RVE problem becomes a simple linear steady‐state problem that can be easily pre‐computed. The scale separation provides a significant reduction of computational time allowing the solution of practical problems with a negligible error introduced mainly by the finite element discretization at the macroscale.
Hydraulic fracturing analysis in fluid‐saturated porous medium
Authors: Chen Lin , Fathi Farshid , de Borst Rene
Published: September 2022

This paper addresses fluid‐driven crack propagation in a porous medium. Cohesive interface elements are employed to model the behaviour of the crack. To simulate hydraulic fracturing, a fluid pressure degree of freedom is introduced inside the crack, separate from the fluid degrees of freedom in the bulk. Powell‐Sabin B‐splines, which are based on triangles, are employed to describe the geometry of the domain and to interpolate the field variables: displacements and interstitial fluid pressure. Due to their ‐continuity, the stress and pressure gradient are smooth throughout the whole domain, enabling a direct assessment of the fracture criterion at the crack tip and ensuring local mass conservation. Due to the use of triangles, crack insertion and remeshing are straightforward and can be done directly in the physical domain. During remeshing a mapping of the state vector (displacement and interstitial fluid pressure) is required. For this, a new methodology is exploited based on a least‐square fit with the energy balance and mass conservation as constraints. The accuracy to model free crack propagation is demonstrated by two numerical examples, including crack propagation in a plate with two notches.
Membrane‐type 1 matrix metalloproteinase as predictor of survival and candidate therapeutic target in Ewing sarcoma
Authors: Brookes Marcus J. , Roundhill Elizabeth A. , Jeys Lee , Parry Michael , Burchill Susan A. , Rankin Kenneth S.
Published: September 2022

Background

Ewing sarcoma (ES) is the second most common primary bone malignancy, with an urgent need for new treatments. ES is associated with high rates of progression and relapse, driven by drug‐resistant cells capable of migration, self‐renewal and single‐cell tumorigenesis, termed cancer stem‐like cells (CSCs). Membrane‐type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1‐MMP) is a membrane‐bound proteolytic enzyme, which, via direct and indirect mechanisms, digests four of the main types of collagen. This can be hijacked in malignancy for invasion and metastasis, with high expression predicting decreased survival in multiple cancers. In this study, we have examined the hypothesis that MT1‐MMP is expressed by ES cells and explored the relationship between expression and outcomes.

Procedure

MT1‐MMP expression in ES established cell lines, primary patient‐derived cultures and daughter ES‐CSCs was characterised by RNA sequencing, Western blotting, immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect MT1‐MMP in tumour biopsies, and the relationship between expression, event‐free and overall survival examined.

Results

MT1‐MMP was detected at both RNA and protein levels in five of six established cell lines, all primary cultures (n = 25) and all daughter ES‐CSCs (n = 7). Immunohistochemistry of treatment‐naïve biopsy tissue demonstrated that high MT1‐MMP expression predicted decreased event‐free and overall survival (p = .017 and .036, respectively; n = 47); this was not significant in multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

MT1‐MMP is expressed by ES cells, including ES‐CSCs, making it a candidate therapeutic target. The level of MT1‐MMP expression at diagnosis may be considered as a prognostic biomarker if validated by retrospective analysis of a larger cohort of clinical trial samples.
Recent progress of elastomer–silica nanocomposites toward green tires: simulation and experiment
Authors: Li Xiu , Liu Jun , Zheng Zi‐Jian
Published: September 2022

The concern regarding increasing oil consumption that originates from the high rolling resistance of automobiles has led to the development of green tires. The key enabling technique for preparing green tires involves the utilization of elastomer–silica nanocomposites. Elastomer–silica nanocomposites usually show low rolling resistance because of the intrinsic lubrication characteristics of siloxane and the excellent elastomer‐modified silica interfacial interaction, making them ideal raw materials for a green tire. It is supposed that the comprehensive properties of rolling resistance can be further improved via continually optimizing the microstructures of elastomer–silica nanocomposites. Regulating silica dispersion, understanding the interface between elastomer and silica and building the quantitative correlation between the microstructure and the static/dynamic macro‐mechanical properties are crucial in designing high‐performance elastomer–silica nanocomposites. This review aims to summarize the recent progress of elastomer–silica nanocomposites from the point of view of silica dispersion, the elastomer–silica interface and the microstructure–mechanical connection, combining simulation and actual experimental findings. A short conclusion and an outlook on the current limitations and possible future research directions for constructing high‐performance elastomer–silica nanocomposites for low‐energy green tires are also presented. © 2022 Society of Industrial Chemistry.
Investigation of structural and optical properties of ternary polyaniline–polypyrrole–nickel oxide (PANI‐PPy‐NiO) nanocomposite for optoelectronic devices
Authors: Elumalai Priyanka , Charles Julie
Published: September 2022

A new ternary nanocomposite comprising nickel oxide (NiO) embedded into a binary polymeric network of polyaniline (PANI) and polypyrrole (PPy), i.e. PANI‐PPy‐NiO, is synthesized using an in situ chemical oxidative method. The infrared spectrum of PANI‐PPy‐NiO exhibits most of the characteristic peaks of unary nanoparticles with slight shift in the frequencies. The shift is due to the synergistic interaction of binary PANI‐PPy with the inorganic NiO nanoparticles. X‐ray diffraction pattern reveals the semicrystalline structure of the PANI‐PPy‐NiO nanocomposite with an average crystallite size of 22 nm. From Williamson–Hall plot, the micro‐strain value of as‐prepared PANI‐PPy‐NiO is found to be −0.16727. Surface morphology of PANI‐PPy‐NiO shows fine grains of NiO‐encapsulated PANI‐PPy that tend to coalesce and form an agglomeration assembly. The elements detected from energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis indicate the purity of synthesis of the ternary material. Further, the optical constants obtained from UV–visible spectra (absorption coefficient, extinction coefficient, refractive index, optical conductivity and real and imaginary dielectric constants) are found to be higher for PANI‐PPy‐NiO than for the unary PANI, PPy and NiO nanoparticles. Tauc plot and Urbach energy studies indicate the low bandgap energy of PANI‐PPy‐NiO (2.67 eV) compared to unary nanoparticles. Further, the emission intensity peak (492 nm) observed in the photoluminescence spectrum of PANI‐PPy‐NiO corresponds to the blue region of the visible spectrum. Thus, the optical studies clearly indicate the high suitability of the synthesized PANI‐PPy‐NiO in visible‐light‐based device applications. © 2022 Society of Industrial Chemistry.
Recent advances in demystifying O‐glycosylation in health and disease
Authors: Li Jiajia , Guo Bo , Zhang Wenqi , Yue Shuang , Huang Shan , Gao Song , Ma Junfeng , Cipollo John F. , Yang Shuang
Published: September 2022

O‐Glycosylation is one of the most common protein post‐translational modifications (PTM) and plays an essential role in the pathophysiology of diseases. However, the complexity of O‐glycosylation and the lack of specific enzymes for the processing of O‐glycans and their O‐glycopeptides make O‐glycosylation analysis challenging. Recently, research on O‐glycosylation has received attention owing to technological innovation and emerging O‐glycoproteases. Several serine/threonine endoproteases have been found to specifically cleave O‐glycosylated serine or threonine, allowing for the systematic analysis of O‐glycoproteins. In this review, we first assessed the field of protein O‐glycosylation over the past decade and used bibliometric analysis to identify keywords and emerging trends. We then summarized recent advances in O‐glycosylation, covering several aspects: O‐glycan release, site‐specific elucidation of intact O‐glycopeptides, identification of O‐glycosites, characterization of different O‐glycoproteases, mass spectrometry (MS) fragmentation methods for site‐specific O‐glycosylation assignment, and O‐glycosylation data analysis. Finally, the role of O‐glycosylation in health and disease was discussed.
Governing social eating (chibo) influencers: Policies, approach and politics of influencer governance in China
Authors: Xu Jian , Qu Lina , Zhang Ge
Published: September 2022

Using the governance of social eating (chibo) influencers as a case study, this article demonstrates the policies, practices, discourses, and politics of China's state‐centric model of influencer governance. We argue that influencers in China are in a relatively precarious position due to various regulations and restrictions imposed upon them by the state, platforms, and industry associations. They are frequently targeted in China's internet governance campaigns “for a more sanitary internet” and coerced to participate in social governance “for the creation of a better socialist society.” They are therefore vulnerable within China's state‐controlled digital economy, caught between risks and opportunities this governance affords. Their position in this governance regime has consequently enabled their creativity, flexibility, and resilience to “play on the edge” of recurring platform crackdowns and capricious government policies to survive in the ever‐changing influencer industry. The coevolution of regulatory policies and focuses, and the shifting performativity of influencers, also makes China's influencer culture fast evolving and the governance itself more complex than elsewhere.
Effects of continuous aerobic training associated with resistance training on maximal and submaximal exercise tolerance, fatigue, and quality of life of patients post‐COVID‐19
Authors: Araújo Bruna T. S. , Barros Ana Eugênia V. R. , Nunes Daiara T. X. , Remígio de Aguiar Maria Inês , Mastroianni Viviane W. , de Souza Juliana A. F. , Fernades Juliana , Campos Shirley Lima , Brandão Daniella Cunha , Dornelas de Andrade Armele
Published: September 2022

Background and Purpose

Dyspnea, fatigue, and reduced exercise tolerance are common in post‐COVID‐19 patients. In these patients, rehabilitation can improve functional capacity, reduce deconditioning after a prolonged stay in the intensive care unit, and facilitate the return to work. Thus, the present study verified the effects of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation consisting of continuous aerobic and resistance training of moderate‐intensity on pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength, maximum and submaximal tolerance to exercise, fatigue, and quality of life in post‐COVID‐19 patients.

Methods

Quasi‐experimental study with a protocol of 12 sessions of an outpatient intervention. Adults over 18 years of age (N = 26) with a diagnosis of COVID‐19 and hospital discharge at least 15 days before the first evaluation were included. Participants performed moderate‐intensity continuous aerobic and resistance training twice a week. Maximal and submaximal exercise tolerance, lung function, respiratory muscle strength, fatigue and quality of life were evaluated before and after the intervention protocol.

Results

Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation improved maximal exercise tolerance, with 18.62% increase in peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) and 29.05% in time to reach VO2peak. VE/VCO2slope reduced 5.21% after intervention. We also observed increased submaximal exercise tolerance (increase of 70.57 m in the 6‐min walk test, p = 0.001), improved quality of life, and reduced perceived fatigue after intervention.

Discussion

Patients recovered from COVID‐19 can develop persistent dysfunctions in almost all organ systems and present different signs and symptoms. The complexity and variability of the damage caused by this disease can make it difficult to target rehabilitation programs, making it necessary to establish specific protocols. In this work, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation improved lung function, respiratory muscle strength, maximal and submaximal exercise tolerance, fatigue and quality of life. Continuous aerobic and resistance training of moderate intensity proved to be effective in the recovery of post‐COVID‐19 patients.
Cyclic cystine knot and its strong implication on the structure and dynamics of cyclotides
Authors: Venkatesan Jayapriya , Roy Durba
Published: September 2022

The archetypal Viola odorata cyclotide cycloviolacin‐O1 and its seven analogs, created by partial or total reduction of the three native S–S linkages belonging to the “cyclic cystine knot” (CCK) motif are studied for their structural and dynamical diversities using molecular dynamics simulations. The results indicate interesting interplay between the constraints imposed by the S–S bonds on the dynamical modes and the corresponding structure of the model peptide. Principal component analysis brings out the variation in the extent of dynamical freedom along the peptide backbone for each model. The motions are characterized by low amplitude diffusive modes in the peptides retaining most of the native S–S linkages in contrast to the large amplitude discrete jumps where at least two or all of the three S–S linkages are reduced. Simulation results further indicate that the disulfide bond between Cys1–18 is formed at a much faster pace compared with its two other peers Cys5–20 and Cys10–25 as found in the native peptide. This gives insight as to why the S–S linkages appear in the native peptide in a particular combination. Model therapeutics and drug delivery engines can potentially utilize this information to customize the engineered S–S bonds and gauge its impact on the dynamic flexibility of a model macrocyclic peptide.
Volatile‐mediated tritrophic defense and priming in neighboring maize against Ostrinia furnacalis and Mythimna separata
Authors: Foba Caroline Ngichop , Shi Jin‐Hua , An Qing‐Qing , Liu Le , Hu Xin‐Jun , Hegab Mahmoud Ali Morse Soliman , Liu Hao , Zhao Pei‐Min , Wang Man‐Qun
Published: September 2022

Background

Plants respond to attackers by triggering phytohormones signaling associated metabolites, including herbivore‐induced plant volatiles (HIPVs). HIPVs can indirectly act against herbivory by recruitment of natural enemies and priming of neighboring plants. Ostrinia furnacalis and Mythimna separata are important insect herbivores of maize plants that have a devastating influence on yield. However, little is known about how maize temporally reconfigures its defense systems against these herbivores and variation of neighboring plant resistance.

Results

This study investigated the effects of HIPVs on the behavior of the dominant predatory beetle Harmonia axyridis and priming in neighboring maize defense against O. furnacalis and M. separata over time. The results showed that maize damaged by either O. furnacalis or M. separata enhanced the release of volatiles including terpenes, aldehydes, alkanes and an ester, which elicited an increased attractive response to H. axyridis after 3 and 12 h, respectively. O. furnacalis damage resulted in accumulations of leaf jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid in maize after 6 and 3 h, respectively, while M. separata damage only raised the JA level after 3 h. Furthermore, HIPVs were able to prime neighboring plants through the accumulation of JA after 24 h. Both larvae showed a significant decrease in weight accumulation after 48 h of feeding on the third leaves of the primed plant.

Conclusion

Taken together, the findings provide a dynamic overview of how attacked maize reconfigures its volatiles and phytohormones to defend against herbivores, as well as priming of neighboring plants against oncoming attacks. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
Majority and Minority Carrier Traps in Manganese as‐Implanted and Postimplantation‐Annealed 4H‐SiC
Authors: Alfieri Giovanni , Wirths Stephan , Buca Dan , Nipoti Roberta
Published: September 2022

Ion implantation of amphoteric impurities, like vanadium (V) or manganese (Mn), can be employed for the formation of resistive layers in 4H‐SiC. Such layers can then be used for device isolation, in order to reduce the parasitic capacitance. While V implantation can form thermally stable resistive layers, not much is known on Mn implantation. Herein, Mn ion‐implanted samples are electrically characterized by means of capacitance–voltage, deep‐level transient spectroscopy, and current–voltage measurements. Two ion implantation schedules are carried out: single‐energy and multiple‐energy ions so to have Gaussian and box‐shaped Mn and related ion damage profiles, respectively—the former with a maximum concentration in the low 1016 cm−3 and the latter with a Mn plateau of 1017 cm−3. It is found that several majority carrier traps, in the 0.4–1.7 eV range below the conduction band edge, and two minority carrier traps arise after implantation and after postimplantation annealing in the 1000–1800 °C temperature range. The detected traps, as well as previous reports in the literature, show that most of them can be associated with the intrinsic defects. Box‐profile implanted layers show resistivity values in the ≈106 Ω cm after heat treatments of, at least, 1600 °C.
Robust monitoring of multivariate processes with short‐ranged serial data correlation
Authors: Xie Xiulin , Qiu Peihua
Published: September 2022

Control charts are commonly used in practice for detecting distributional shifts of sequential processes. Traditional statistical process control (SPC) charts are based on the assumptions that process observations are independent and identically distributed and follow a parametric distribution when the process is in‐control (IC). In practice, these assumptions are rarely valid, and it has been well demonstrated that these traditional control charts are unreliable to use when their model assumptions are invalid. To overcome this limitation, nonparametric SPC has become an active research area, and some nonparametric control charts have been developed. But, most existing nonparametric control charts are based on data ordering and/or data categorization of the original process observations, which would result in information loss in the observed data and consequently reduce the effectiveness of the related control charts. In this paper, we suggest a new multivariate online monitoring scheme, in which process observations are first sequentially decorrelated, the decorrelated data of each quality variable are then transformed using their estimated IC distribution so that the IC distribution of the transformed data would be roughly N(0, 1), and finally the conventional multivariate exponentially weighted moving average (MEWMA) chart is applied to the transformed data of all quality variables for online process monitoring. This chart is self‐starting in the sense that estimates of all related IC quantities are updated recursively over time. It can well accommodate stationary short‐range serial data correlation, and its design is relatively simple since its control limit can be determined in advance by a Monte Carlo simulation. Because information loss due to data ordering and/or data categorization is avoided in this approach, numerical studies show that it is reliable to use and effective for process monitoring in various cases considered.
Do changes in the business environment and sustainable development really matter for enhancing enterprise development?
Authors: Brychko Maryna , Bilan Yuriy , Lyeonov Serhiy , Streimikiene Dalia
Published: September 2022

The accomplishment of sustainable development goals has become a global initiative to encourage renewable energy, reduce wasteful energy consumption and increase investment in energy efficiency projects. The number of publications devoted to sustainable development, environmental protection and green investments is growing exponentially. Firstly, this study is committed to provide a comprehensive overview of research literature on enterprise development in decades‐long, focusing on the sustainable development and business environment field. Secondly, it seeks to elaborate the most comprehensive structural model examining the multilateral and facilitative role of internal and external business environment changes in the relationship between sustainable development and enterprise development. A bibliometric analysis via VOSviewer was applied to detect and visualize the research trends and display the research status of enterprise development under the changes in the business environment and sustainable development. A confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were performed to develop, implement and verify a conceptual structural model examining the multilateral and facilitative role of internal and external business environment changes in the relationship between sustainable development and enterprise development. Mapping bibliographic data based on co‐citation, co‐occurrence, bibliographic coupling, and network and content analysis showed that generally, researchers had made significant efforts to investigate different links that arise between enterprises development, sustainable development, and business environment separately in different combinations. Structural equation modeling showed that the argument that sustainable development directly causes enterprise development is disputable since sustainable development focuses on changes in the internal and external business environment that eventually influence enterprise development, which in turn leads to a further new shift in the external environment.
Stratified proportional win‐fractions regression analysis
Authors: Wang Tuo , Mao Lu
Published: September 2022

The recently proposed proportional win‐fractions (PW) model extends the two‐sample win ratio analysis of prioritized composite endpoints to regression. Its proportionality assumption ensures that the covariate‐specific win ratios are invariant to the follow‐up time. However, this assumption is strong and may not be satisfied by every covariate in the model. We develop a stratified PW model that adjusts for certain prognostic factors without setting them as covariates, thus bypassing the proportionality requirement. We formulate the stratified model based on pairwise comparisons within each stratum, with a common win ratio across strata modeled as a multiplicative function of the covariates. Correspondingly, we construct an estimating function for the regression coefficients in the form of an incomplete ‐statistic consisting of within‐stratum pairs. Two types of asymptotic variance estimators are developed depending on the number of strata relative to the sample size. This in particular allows valid inference even when the strata are extremely small, such as with matched pairs. Simulation studies in realistic settings show that the stratified model outperforms the unstratified version in robustness and efficiency. Finally, real data from a major cardiovascular trial are analyzed to illustrate the potential benefits of stratification. The proposed methods are implemented in the R package WR, publicly available on the Comprehensive R Archive Network (CRAN).
Method for Detecting Sources Cited with Browsing to Prevent Reference Omissions
Authors: Ishizawa Chikako , Makabe Hiroyuki , Ito Yudai , Kageyama Yoichi
Published: September 2022

This study demonstrates the gaze position on a PC monitor while typing with and without browsing any sources. Six subjects (touch‐typing and non‐touch‐typing) entered text with and without browsing a web page, and we analyzed the percentage of gaze on each window of the software running on the monitor. The proposed method comprises three steps: detecting the entry operation of a word processor or text editor, determining the browsing in inactive windows, and outputting the referenced source title. Experiments show that the proposed method can accurately determine whether any source is browsed during the entry operation. © 2022 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
An integrative cellular metabolomic study reveals downregulated tricarboxylic acid cycle and potential biomarkers induced by tetrabromobisphenol A in human lung A549 cells
Authors: He Hailang , Pan Tingyu , Shi Xiaojian , Yang Shuang , Jasbi Paniz , Jin Yan , Cui Julia Yue , Gu Haiwei
Published: September 2022

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is extensively utilized as a brominated flame retardant in numerous chemical products. As an environmental contaminant, the potential human toxicity of TBBPA has been attracting increasing attention. Nonetheless, the exact underlying mechanisms of toxicological effects caused by TBBPA remain uncertain. In this study, we investigated the potential mechanisms of TBBPA toxicity in vitro in the A549 cell line, one of the widely used type II pulmonary epithelial cell models in toxicology research. Cell viability was determined after treatment with varying concentrations of TBBPA. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) metabolomics and metabolic flux approaches were utilized to evaluate metabolite and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle oxidative flux changes. Our findings demonstrated that TBBPA significantly reduced the viability of cells and attenuated mitochondrial respiration in A549 cells. Additionally, LC–MS data showed significant reductions in TCA cycle metabolites including citrate, malate, fumarate, and alpha‐ketoglutarate in 50 μM TBBPA‐treated A549 cells. Metabolic flux analysis indicated reduced oxidative capacity in mitochondrial metabolism following TBBPA exposure. Moreover, diverse metabolic pathways, particularly alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism and the TCA cycle, were found to be dysregulated. In total, 12 metabolites were significantly changed (p < .05) in response to 50 μM TBBPA exposure. Our results provide potential biomarkers of TBBPA toxicity in A549 cells and help elucidate the molecular mechanisms of pulmonary toxicity induced by TBBPA exposure.
Instability of the electroweak vacuum in Starobinsky inflation
Authors: Li Qiang , Moroi Takeo , Nakayama Kazunori , Yin Wen
Published: September 2022

Abstract

We study the stability of the electroweak vacuum during and after the Starobinky inflation, assuming the existence of the non-minimal Higgs coupling to the Ricci scalar. In the Starobinsky inflation, there exists R2 term (with R being the Ricci scalar), which modifies the evolution equation of the Higgs field. We consider the case that the non-minimal coupling is sizable so that the quantum fluctuation of the Higgs field is suppressed and that the Higgs amplitude is settled near the origin during the inflation. In such a case, the Higgs amplitude may be amplified in the preheating epoch after inflation because of the parametric resonance due to the non-minimal coupling. We perform a detailed analysis of the evolution of the Higgs field in the preheating epoch by a numerical lattice simulation and derive an upper bound on the non-minimal coupling constant ξ in order to realize the electroweak vacuum in the present universe. We find that the upper bound on ξ in the Starobinsky inflation model is more stringent than that in conventional inflation models without the R2 term.
Solutions to nonlocal evolution equations governed by non-autonomous forms and demicontinuous nonlinearities
Authors: Colao Vittorio , Muglia Luigi
Published: September 2022

We deal with the existence of solutions having $$L^2$$

L
2

-regularity for a class of non-autonomous evolution equations. Associated with the equation, a general non-local condition is studied. The technique we used combines a finite dimensional reduction together with the Leray–Schauder continuation principle. This approach permits to consider a wide class of nonlinear terms by allowing demicontinuity assumptions on the nonlinearity.
The evolution of complex multicellularity in animals
Authors: Nejad Kourki Arsham
Published: September 2022

The transition to multicellularity is perhaps the best-studied of the “major evolutionary transitions”. It has occurred independently multiple times within the eukaryotes alone, and multicellular organisms comprise virtually the entirety of Earth’s macrobiota. However, the theoretical framework used to study the major evolutionary transitions does not neatly accommodate the evolution of complex multicellularity as a process distinct from the evolution of multicellularity more generally. Here, I attempt to fill this explanatory gap. I will first give an overview of research on the major evolutionary transitions, focusing on multicellularity, and demonstrate that the theoretical framework so far utilised does not provide us with sufficient conceptual tools to explain crucial phenomena that call for explanation, such as the evolution of organs and organ systems. I will then discuss our current understanding of early metazoan evolution as paradigmatically exemplifying the evolution of complex organisation in a multicellular system, specifically regarding three core processes enabling it, namelymodularisation,subfunctionalisation, andintegration, allowing the provision of a general account of the evolution of complex from simple multicellularity that is potentially applicable to other such cases such as the evolution of land plants. This paves the way for a revised account of major evolutionary transitions which incorporates the evolution of complex organismal traits following the evolution of minimal autonomous reproducers while marking a shift of emphasis from reproducers to organisms.
Purely linear response of the quantum Hall current to space-adiabatic perturbations
Authors: Marcelli Giovanna , Monaco Domenico
Published: September 2022

Using recently developed tools from space-adiabatic perturbation theory, in particular the construction of a non-equilibrium almost-stationary state, we give a new proof that the Kubo formula for the Hall conductivity remains valid beyond the linear response regime. In particular, we prove that, in quantum Hall systems and Chern insulators, the transverse response current is quantized up to any order in the strength of the inducing electric field. The latter is introduced as a perturbation to a periodic, spectrally gapped equilibrium Hamiltonian by means of a linear potential; existing proofs of the exactness of Kubo formula rely instead on a time-dependent magnetic potential. The result applies to both continuum and discrete crystalline systems modelling the quantum (anomalous) Hall effect.