bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does chronic exposure to moderate hypoxia affect growth, physiological and oxidative stress biomarkers in adult spotted wolffish (Anarhichas minor) and the hybrid A. minor × A. lupus?
Authors: François N. R. Le , Drouin‐Johnson C. , Larouche F. , Chabot D. , Blier P. U.
Published: December 2023

Both in their natural habitat (estuaries, marine coastal environment, ocean depths and freshwater lakes) or in captivity conditions (land‐based, open‐sea aquaculture and aquariums), exposure to hypoxia can have direct detrimental effects on fish growth, reproduction, behaviour and health. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic exposure of spotted wolffish (Anarhichas minor) (∼1.4 kg) and the interspecific hybrid (A. minor × A. lupus) (∼600 g) to moderate hypoxia levels (dissolved oxygen [DO]: 40%, 50% and 60% saturation) in comparison to a normoxia group (control 100%) over a period of 14 weeks at ∼7.5°C. The trials were conducted as a common‐garden experiment (both fish groups reared together) in quadruplicate (4 tanks per DO level = 16 tanks). Fish performance (specific growth rate, feed intake [FI]) and physiological status (condition factor [K] and hepatosomatic index, haematocrit) were monitored at different intervals. The metabolic enzyme activity of citrate synthase (CS), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and pyruvate kinase (PK) was measured as well as antioxidant enzymes glutathione reductase and catalase. Oxidative stress indices were assessed by the quantification of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and the measurement of the enzymatic activity level of aconitase. Significant reduction in growth rate occurred at DO 40%. DO was identified as a major driver of FI. Our results indicate a very strong adaptation to hypoxia as (1) exposures to DO 40% were not severe enough to affect aerobic or anaerobic metabolism capacity or to significantly induce oxidative stress and (2) metabolic organization of the muscle tissue, as expressed by LDH, CS and PK is not affected by DO levels down to 40%. However, at the lowest DO levels (40% and 50%), hybrid fish displayed significantly better growth than the spotted wolffish.
Mediation and Law, Justice and Injustice
Authors: Cloke Kenneth
Published: December 2023

So long as society is founded on injustice, the function of the laws will be to defend injustice. And the more unjust they are the more respectable they will seem.
A Big Win in a Long Case: U.K.'s High Court Overturns an Arbitration Award Valued at $11 Billion
Authors: Mgbeahuru Adaeze
Published: December 2023

A long‐running battle over a decade‐old arbitration award that, with interest, has soared to more than $11 billion against the Nigeria government appears to be nearing its end in dramatic style: The United Kingdom's High Court of Justice confirmed the reversal of the arbitration award.
The New York Convention: How Courts Interpret Jurisdiction on Awards—A U.S. Perspective
Authors: Wang Tong
Published: December 2023

There has been a significant body of U.S. federal case law where jurisdictional issues concerning the 1958 Convention on Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards have been litigated in the U.S. This article focuses on federal courts' interpretation on certain—not all—of those jurisdictional issues in connection with the Federal Arbitration Act—state law and state courts are out of the scope of this article.
Clinical parameter‐guided initial resuscitation in adult patients with septic shock: A systematic review and network meta‐analysis
Authors: Yumoto Tetsuya , Kuribara Tomoki , Yamada Kohei , Sato Takehito , Koba Shigeru , Tetsuhara Kenichi , Kashiura Masahiro , Sakuraya Masaaki
Published: December 2023

Aim

To identify the most useful tissue perfusion parameter for initial resuscitation in sepsis/septic shock adults using a network meta‐analysis.

Methods

We searched major databases until December 2022 for randomized trials comparing four tissue perfusion parameters or against usual care. The primary outcome was short‐term mortality up to 90 days. The Confidence in Network Meta‐Analysis web application was used to assess the quality of evidence.

Results

Seventeen trials were identified. Lactate‐guided therapy (risk ratios, 0.59; 95% confidence intervals [0.45–0.76]; high certainty) and capillary refill time‐guided therapy (risk ratios, 0.53; 95% confidence intervals [0.33–0.86]; high certainty) were significantly associated with lower short‐term mortality compared with usual care, whereas central venous oxygen saturation‐guided therapy (risk ratio, 1.50; 95% confidence intervals [1.16–1.94]; moderate certainty) increased the risk of short‐term mortality compared with lactate‐guided therapy.

Conclusions

Lactate or capillary refill time‐guided initial resuscitation for sepsis/septic shock patients may decrease short‐term mortality. More research is essential to personalize and optimize treatment strategies for septic shock resuscitation.
Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Burden for Bleeding Risk during Antithrombotic Therapy: Bleeding with Antithrombotic Therapy 2 Study
Authors: Tanaka Kanta , Miwa Kaori , Koga Masatoshi , Yoshimura Sohei , Kamiyama Kenji , Yagita Yoshiki , Nagakane Yoshinari , Hoshino Haruhiko , Terasaki Tadashi , Okada Yasushi , Yakushiji Yusuke , Takahashi Shinichi , Ueda Toshihiro , Hasegawa Yasuhiro , Shiozawa Masayuki , Sasaki Makoto , Kudo Kohsuke , Tanaka Jun , Nishihara Masashi , Yamaguchi Yoshitaka , Fujita Kyohei , Honda Yuko , Kawano Hiroyuki , Ide Toshihiro , Yoshimoto Takeshi , Ihara Masafumi , Hirano Teruyuki , Toyoda Kazunori ,   Bleeding with Antithrombotic Therapy 2 Investigators
Published: December 2023

Objective

This study was undertaken to determine the excess risk of antithrombotic‐related bleeding due to cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) burden.

Methods

In this observational, prospective cohort study, patients with cerebrovascular or cardiovascular diseases taking oral antithrombotic agents were enrolled from 52 hospitals across Japan between 2016 and 2019. Baseline multimodal magnetic resonance imaging acquired under prespecified conditions was assessed by a central diagnostic radiology committee to calculate total SVD score. The primary outcome was major bleeding. Secondary outcomes included bleeding at each site and ischemic events.

Results

Of the analyzed 5,250 patients (1,736 women; median age = 73 years, 9,933 patient‐years of follow‐up), antiplatelets and anticoagulants were administered at baseline in 3,948 and 1,565, respectively. Median SVD score was 2 (interquartile range = 1–3). Incidence rate of major bleeding was 0.39 (per 100 patinet‐years) in score 0, 0.56 in score 1, 0.91 in score 2, 1.35 in score 3, and 2.24 in score 4 (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] for score 4 vs 0 = 5.47, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.26–13.23), that of intracranial hemorrhage was 0.11, 0.33, 0.58, 0.99, and 1.06, respectively (aHR = 9.29, 95% CI = 1.99–43.35), and that of ischemic event was 1.82, 2.27, 3.04, 3.91, and 4.07, respectively (aHR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.08–2.86). In addition, extracranial major bleeding (aHR = 3.43, 95% CI = 1.13–10.38) and gastrointestinal bleeding (aHR = 2.54, 95% CI = 1.02–6.35) significantly increased in SVD score 4 compared to score 0.

Interpretation

Total SVD score was predictive for intracranial hemorrhage and probably for extracranial bleeding, suggesting the broader clinical relevance of cerebral SVD as a marker for safe implementation of antithrombotic therapy. ANN NEUROL 2024;95:774–787
Controllable exfoliation of hexagonal boron nitride and tailored three‐dimensional network for highly thermally conductive polymer composites
Authors: Lin Jing , Dong Jin , Chen Bing , Liang Jiayuan , Zhang Hebai , He Zhenguo , He Jiafa , Zhong Rongjian , Liang Xuyun , Hu Dechao
Published: December 2023

Thermally conductive but electrically insulating composites have become significant components for efficient thermal dissipation in electronic devices due to their miniaturization, integration, and functionalization. Over the past decade, extensive efforts have been dedicated to improving the thermal conductivity of polymer‐based composites through incorporating various thermally conductive fillers. In particular, boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS) with outstanding intrinsic thermal conductivity, electrical insulation, and chemical stability, have sparked intensive interest from researchers. However, BNNS usually suffers from severe aggregation in polymer matrices, leading to high interfacial thermal resistance. Rational construction of three‐dimensional (3D) BNNS continuous networks is crucial for efficient thermal transport and has also been established as a feasible and effective approach to achieve significant enhancement of thermal conductivity for polymer/BNNS composites. In this brief review, we summarized and introduced recent progress on the controllable exfoliation of h‐BN and tailored three‐dimensional networks for highly thermally conductive polymer composites. The fabrication strategies for 3D BNNS networks and the structure–properties relationships of polymer/BNNS composites are highlighted. Finally, the opportunities and challenges for polymer/BNNS composites based on 3D thermally conductive networks are prospected.
Functionalized liquid polyisoprene as a promising toughening agent for poly(lactic acid): Combining stiffness and toughness
Authors: Cordeiro Elisangela , Schmitz Debora Pereira , Soares Bluma Guenther
Published: December 2023

Liquid polyisoprene rubbers (LIR) containing anhydride and carboxylic groups along their chains were successfully employed as toughening agent for poly(lactic acid) (PLA) without great influence on the stiffness of the matrix. In fact, the addition of 5% of these functionalized LIR resulted in an improvement of toughness and impact resistance of more than 2000%, whereas the reduction of the yield stress stayed in the range of 12%. No significant variation of the Young modulus was observed for the modified PLA samples. The effect of the LIR on the rheological and thermal properties of PLA was also investigated. The glass transition temperature obtained from dynamic‐mechanical analysis of the PLA matrix was not affected by the addition of 10% of the liquid rubber. The scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed a significant decrease in the rubber domains for the blends containing LIR functionalized with anhydride groups. Finally, the modified PLA with anhydride‐functionalized LIR was able to produce transparent film with outstanding mechanical performance than neat PLA, making this material a good option for food packaging.
Oxygen Vacancies Riched PrOx Polycrystalline Nanorods on Graphene Nanosheets as Advanced Oxygen Catalysts for Lithium‐Oxygen Batteries
Authors: Zhan Xingyi , Zhang Yifan , Su Liwei , Zhang Lei , Tong Zijin , Wu Hao , Wang Lianbang , Wang Yuanhao , Wang Xiaoxiang
Published: December 2023

The slow reaction kinetics of Li−O is currently the most pressing technical obstacle to the development of lithium‐oxygen batteries. The Li2O2′s growth/decomposition pathways dominate the battery performance and can be optimized by exploring efficient cathode catalysts. Herein, we prepare regular, polycrystalline, oxygen vacancy (VO)‐riched PrOx uniformly anchored on few‐layered graphene (FLG) nanosheets to boost the Li−O reactions. XRD, TGA, XPS, SEM, TEM, SEAD, and electrochemical test techniques are used to study their chemical composition, microstructure, battery performance, and the effect of FLG on the formation of polycrystalline and VO. It is confirmed that FLG provides a large specific surface area and good electron transport. Moreover, it works as an anchoring substrate to transform PrOx from single crystal to polycrystalline, which is beneficial for exposing catalytic sites and VO and improving the battery performance. This unique composition and structure offer efficient active sites, accelerate electron transport, and regulate the Li2O2′s nucleation to form nanofilms or nanosheets on the catalyst. With this cathode catalyst, the battery achieved an ultralow total overpotential of 0.618 V, with a discharge capacity of 11489 mAh g−1 in the ultimate‐capacity mode and a superior cyclability of 85 cycles under the limited capacity of 500 mAh g−1.
Epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate attenuates arsenic‐induced fibrogenic changes in human kidney epithelial cells through reversal of epigenetic aberrations and antioxidant activities
Authors: Iheanacho Mary Sonia , Kandel Ramji , Roy Priti , Singh Kamaleshwar P.
Published: December 2023

Renal fibrosis is a pathogenic intermediate stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Nephrotoxicants including arsenic can cause kidney fibrosis through induction of oxidative stress and epigenetic aberrations. Epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG), a green tea polyphenol, is known to have antioxidant and epigenetic modulation properties. Whether EGCG, through its antioxidant and epigenetic modulating activities, can attenuate fibrogenesis is not known. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine whether EGCG can attenuate arsenic‐induced acute injury and long‐term exposure associated fibrogenicity in kidney epithelial cells. To address this question, two human kidney epithelial cell lines Caki‐1 and HK‐2 exposed to arsenic for both acute and long‐term durations were treated with EGCG. The protective effect of EGCG on arsenic‐induced cytotoxicity and fibrogenicity were evaluated by measuring the cell growth, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, genes expression, and epigenetic changes in histone marks. Results revealed that EGCG has a protective effect in arsenic‐induced acute cytotoxicity in these cells. EGCG scavenges the increased levels of ROS in arsenic exposed cells. Aberrant expression of fibrogenic genes in arsenic exposed cells were restored by EGCG. Abrogation of arsenic‐induced fibrogenic changes was also associated with EGCG‐mediated restoration of arsenic‐induced aberrant expression of epigenetic regulatory proteins and histone marks. Novel findings of this study suggest that EGCG, through its antioxidant and epigenetic modulation capacities, has protective effects against arsenic‐induced cytotoxicity and fibrogenic changes in kidney epithelial cells.
Metabolomic study of the estrogenic and anti‐osteoporotic potential of Erythrina bidwillii leaf
Authors: AbouZeid Enaam M. , Hussein Rehab A. , Salama Abeer A. , Youssef Fadia S. , El‐Ahmady Sherweit H. , Ammar Nagwa Mohamed , Afifi Ahmed H.
Published: December 2023

Erythrina bidwillii Lindl., Leguminosae, constitutes a valuable crop for horticulture and medicine; however, it is rarely investigated. Menopause is a crucial transitional period in women’s health. Women worldwide consider the use of phytoestrogens as a safe hormone replacement therapy to alleviate detrimental menopausal symptoms. Thus, the discovery of novel phytoestrogens is highly demanded. The present study aimed to investigate, for the first time, the metabolomic profile and the estrogenic potential of E. bidwillii Lindl. leaf. Ultra‐performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization‐tandem mass spectrometry and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry metabolite profiling revealed the prevalence of alkaloids, flavonoids, isoflavonoids and fatty acids. Additionally, five erythrinan alkaloids, cristanine A (1), 8‐oxoerythraline (2), (+)‐erythrinine (3), (+)‐erythraline (4) and 8‐oxoerythrinine (5), along with the isoflavonoid genistin (6), were isolated. Erythrina bidwillii leaf extract exhibited significant in vivo estrogenic, anti‐osteoporotic, anti‐hyperlipidemic, hepatoprotective, and nephroprotective activities, utilizing ovariectomized rat model. Moreover, ethyl acetate and hexane fractions possessed significant in vitro estrogeic potential on MCF‐7 cell lines. An in silico study of the isolated metabolites revealed that (+)‐erythrinine (3) and 8‐oxoerythrinine (5) exhibited the highest affinity for ERα and ERβ, respectively, modeling them as potential estrogenic lead metabolites. Therefore, E. bidwillii leaf could be employed as promising hormone replacement therapy for postmenopausal women after thorough clinical trials.
Adapting virus filtration to continuous processing: Effects of product and process variability on filtration performance
Authors: Kozaili Julie , Rayfield William , Gospodarek Adrian , Brower Mark , Strauss Daniel
Published: December 2023

Virus filtration (VF) is an important unit operation in the manufacture of biotherapeutics that provides robust removal of potential virus contaminants. Small virus removal can be impacted by the low operating pressures and potential depressurization events that are often associated with continuous operations where increased operational flexibility for higher loading at low flux and low pressure is required. In this study, we evaluated the impact of low flux (7 LMH) and pressure interruptions on minute virus of mice (MVM) removal. We used long‐term filtrations conducted to a target throughput of 1000 L/m2 with four different monoclonal antibodies on small‐scale hollow fiber virus filters with a hydrophilic modified polyvinylidene fluoride membrane. These conditions are certainly challenging for any VF operation and ensuring robust viral clearance under such conditions is critical to the design and implementation of continuous VF. Planova BioEX filters effectively removed MVM at 4 log or greater when run continuously for up to 6 days. Interestingly, pressure increases associated with filter fouling over the duration of long‐term filtrations were shown to be reflective of load material variability and could be remediated by implementation of an inline prefilter. Pressure interruptions had minimal impact on overall MVM logarithmic reduction value. Effective virus removal was achieved with pressure increases being largely product‐specific, which demonstrates the capability of the virus filter to remove virus independent of pressure increases that are expected to occur with increased protein load.
Effect of pH, NaCl concentration, and mAb concentration of feed solution on the filterability of Planova™ 20N and Planova™ BioEX
Authors: Hashikawa‐Muto Chie , Yokoyama Yoshiro , Hamamoto Ryo , Kobayashi Kazuya , Masuda Yumiko , Nonaka Koichi
Published: December 2023

Virus filtration is one of the most important steps in ensuring viral safety during the purification of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and other biotherapeutics derived from mammalian cell cultures. Regarding the various virus retentive filters, including Planova filters, a great deal of data has been reported on the virus retention capability and its mechanism. Along with the virus retention capability, filterability is a key performance indicator for designing a robust and high‐throughput virus filtration step. In order to obtain higher filterability, optimization of the feed solution conditions, and filter selection is essential; however, limited data are available regarding the filtration characteristics of Planova filters. Furthermore, for Planova 20N and Planova BioEX, the virus retention characteristics were reported to differ due to their respective membrane materials and layer structures. Whether these filters differ in their filtration characteristics is an interesting question, but no comparative evaluations have been reported. In this study, the filterability of the two filters was investigated and compared using 15 feed mAb solutions of a single mAb selected by design of experiments with different combinations of pH, NaCl concentration, and mAb concentration. The filterability of Planova 20N was affected not only by the feed solution viscosity, but also by the mAb aggregate content of the feed mAb solution and mAb‐membrane electrostatic interactions. In contrast, the filterability of Planova BioEX decreased under some buffer conditions. These findings and the established design spaces of these filters provide valuable insights into the process optimization of virus filtration.
Value‐based payment models and management of newly diagnosed prostate cancer
Authors: Maganty Avinash , Kaufman Samuel R. , Oerline Mary K. , Faraj Kassem S. , Caram Megan E. V. , Shahinian Vahakn B. , Hollenbeck Brent K.
Published: December 2023

Objective

To examine the effect of urologist participation in value‐based payment models on the initial management of men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer.

Methods

Medicare beneficiaries with prostate cancer diagnosed between 2017 and 2019, with 1 year of follow‐up, were assigned to their primary urologist, each of whom was then aligned to a value‐based payment model (the merit‐based incentive payment system [MIPS], accountable care organization [ACO] without financial risk, and ACO with risk). Multivariable mixed‐effects logistic regression was used to measure the association between payment model participation and treatment of prostate cancer. Additional models estimated the effects of payment model participation on use of treatment in men with very high risk (i.e., >75%) of non‐cancer mortality within 10 years of diagnosis (i.e., a group of men for whom treatment is generally not recommended) and price‐standardized prostate cancer spending in the 12 months after diagnosis.

Results

Treatment did not vary by payment model, both overall (MIPS—67% [95% CI 66%–68%], ACOs without risk—66% [95% CI 66%–68%], ACOs with risk—66% [95% CI 64%–68%]). Similarly, treatment did not vary among men with very high risk of non‐cancer mortality by payment model (MIPS—52% [95% CI 50%–55%], ACOs without risk—52% [95% CI 50%–55%], ACOs with risk—51% [95% CI 45%–56%]). Adjusted spending was similar across payment models (MIPS—$16,501 [95% CI $16,222–$16,780], ACOs without risk—$16,140 [95% CI $15,852–$16,429], ACOs with risk—$16,117 [95% CI $15,585–$16,649]).

Conclusions

How urologists participate in value‐based payment models is not associated with treatment, potential overtreatment, and prostate cancer spending in men with newly diagnosed disease.
Design, Synthesis, and Synergistic Activities of Eight‐Membered Carbon Bridged Neonicotinoid Derivatives
Authors: Tan Du , Xu Xiaoyong , Li Zhong , Xu Zhiping , Shao Xusheng
Published: December 2023

Insecticide synergists are an effective approach to increase the control efficacy and reduce active ingredient usage. In order to explore neonicotinoid‐specific synergists with novel scaffolds and higher potency, a series of eight‐membered carbon bridged neonicotinoid derivatives were designed and synthesized in accordance with our previous research. The synergistic effects of the target compounds on neonicotinoids in Aphis craccivora were evaluated, and the structure‐activity relationships were summarized. The results indicated that most of the target compounds exhibited significant synergistic effects on imidacloprid in A. craccivora at low concentrations. In particular, compound 1 at a concentration of 1 mg/L reduced the LC50 value of imidacloprid from 0.856 mg/L to 0.170 mg/L. Meanwhile, compound 1 also increased the insecticidal activity of most neonicotinoid insecticides belonging to the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) 4 A subgroup against A. craccivora. The present study might be meaningful for directing the design of neonicotinoid‐specific synergists.
Validation of the RSClin risk calculator in the National Cancer Data Base
Authors: Vannier Augustin G. L. , Dhungana Asim , Zhao Fangyuan , Chen Nan , Shubeck Sarah , Hahn Olwen M. , Nanda Rita , Jaskowiak Nora T. , Fleming Gini F. , Olopade Olufunmilayo I. , Pearson Alexander T. , Huo Dezheng , Howard Frederick M.
Published: December 2023

Background

Guidelines recommend the use of genomic assays such as OncotypeDx to aid in decisions regarding the use of chemotherapy for hormone receptor–positive, HER2‐negative (HR+/HER2−) breast cancer. The RSClin prognostic tool integrates OncotypeDx and clinicopathologic features to predict distant recurrence and chemotherapy benefit, but further validation is needed before broad clinical adoption.

Methods

This study included patients from the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) who were diagnosed with stage I–III HR+/HER2− breast cancer from 2010 to 2020 and received adjuvant endocrine therapy with or without chemotherapy. RSClin‐predicted chemotherapy benefit was stratified into low (<3% reduction in distant recurrence), intermediate (3%–5%), and high (>5%). Cox models were used to model mortality adjusted for age, comorbidity index, insurance, and race/ethnicity.

Results

A total of 285,441 patients were identified for inclusion from the NCDB, with an average age of 60 years and a median follow‐up of 58 months. Chemotherapy was associated with improved overall survival only for those predicted to have intermediate (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.60–0.79) and high benefit per RSClin (aHR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.61–0.72). Consistent benefit was seen in the subset with a low OncotypeDx score (<26) and intermediate (aHR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53–0.82) or high (aHR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.58–0.86) RSClin‐predicted benefit. No survival benefit with chemotherapy was seen in patients with a high OncotypeDx score (≥26) and low benefit per RSClin (aHR, 1.70; 95% CI, 0.41–6.99).

Conclusions

RSClin may identify high‐risk patients who benefit from treatment intensification more accurately than OncotypeDx, and further prospective study is needed.
Charles Brenton Huggins: A historical review of the Nobel laureate’s pioneering discoveries
Authors: Benadada Farouk , Saad Fred , Delouya Guila , Taussky Daniel
Published: December 2023

Androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer was pioneered by Charles Huggins, laureate of the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1966. The authors tried to understand the scientific context and how previous findings paved Huggins way to his discoveries. With the help of summary or review articles on androgen deprivation therapy, the authors identified key publications and used his Nobel Prize speech as a basis to understand his discoveries. Furthermore, they used a recording of the laboratory‐talk interview he gave about his findings to guide them to relevant publications. The authors found that the basis for Huggins’ discoveries was the isolation of testosterone in 1935, not long before Huggins’ 1941 hallmark publication. Huggins’ work follows major experiments in the 19th century in orchiectomy done as a treatment for prostate hypertrophy. Researching the etiology of idiopathic hydrocele, Huggins analyzed the composition of prostate fluid. Further research led to the discovery of the influence of castration, testosterone, and estrogen on acid phosphatase. Recently developed methods facilitated the measurement of the phosphatases. He, therefore, had a biomarker for metastatic prostate cancer to measure treatment response. Very early on, he reported clinical improvements after castration in metastatic patients. Although the effect of orchiectomy on prostate hypertrophy was already known, Huggins was the first to show that testosterone stimulated and estrogen decreased the activity of prostate cancer. Huggins also established phosphatases as a tumor marker to measure disease response.
Review of Theoretical and Computational Studies of Bulk and Single Atom Catalysts for H2S Catalytic Conversion
Authors: Liu Yubin , Li Yuqiong , Yu Qi , Roy Soumendra , Yu Xiaohu
Published: December 2023

Catalytic conversion of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) plays a vital role in environmental protection and safety production. In this review, recent theoretical advances for catalytic conversion of H2S are systemically summarized. Firstly, different mechanisms of catalytic conversion of H2S are elucidated. Secondly, theoretical studies of catalytic conversion of H2S on surfaces of metals, metal compounds, and single‐atom catalysts (SACs) are systematically reviewed. In the meantime, various strategies which have been adopted to improve the catalytic performance of catalysts in the catalytic conversion of H2S are also reviewed, mainly including facet morphology control, doped heteroatoms, metal deposition, and defective engineering. Finally, new directions of catalytic conversion of H2S are proposed and potential strategies to further promote conversion of H2S are also suggested: including SACs, double atom catalysts (DACs), single cluster catalysts (SCCs), frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs), etc. The present comprehensive review can provide an insight for the future development of new catalysts for the catalytic conversion of H2S.
Influence of Admixture on Phenotypes
Authors: Brugger Steven W. , Davis Mary F.
Published: December 2023

Individuals of European descent have historically been the focus of genetic studies and possess relatively homogenous genomes. As a result, analytical methods have been developed and optimized with such genomes in mind. African‐descent and Latino individuals generally possess genomes of greater architectural complexity due to mosaic genomic ancestry, which can extensively and intricately impact phenotypic expression. As such, genetic analyses of admixed individuals require that genetic admixture be quantified to accurately model the impact of genetic variation on phenotypic expression. In this overview, we explore how fundamental genetic concepts such as linkage disequilibrium and differential allele frequency interact with genetic admixture to uniquely influence phenotypes in admixed individuals. © 2023 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Molecular Docking and DFT Calculations of Anthracene: Insights from Quantum Chemical Methods
Authors: Vijayakumar Rajendran , Viji Arangarajan , Vanasundari Karuppaiya , Balachandran Vadivel , Arockia Dass Antony Prabhu
Published: December 2023

The molecular structure and spectroscopic data of (2E)‐1‐(Anthracen‐9‐yl)‐3‐(4‐nitrophenyl)prop‐2‐en‐1‐one are obtained from DFT (B3LYP) with 6‐31G(d,p) and 6‐31G+(d,p) basis set calculations. The geometry of the molecule is fully optimized, vibrational spectra are calculated and fundamental vibrations are assigned on the basis of potential energy distribution (PED) of the vibrational modes. Molecular parameters such as bond length and bond angle are calculated with the same level of theory. The intramolecular charge transfer is calculated by means of natural bond orbital analysis (NBO). Besides, the molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), HOMO ‐ LUMO, Fukui functions, RDG and ELF are performed. The biological effect is made on the basis of prediction of molecular docking results.
Seismic excitation model in probabilistic risk assessment of civil infrastructure
Authors: Falamarz‐Sheikhabadi Mohammad R.
Published: December 2023

Realistic risk assessment of civil infrastructure subjected to catastrophic events plays a crucial role in strategic asset management. In this process, visualization of the asset and its environment always possesses some epistemic uncertainty associated with the modeler's simplification/abstraction. The present paper aims at providing a critical perspective into the characterization of the seismic excitation model for risk assessment of civil infrastructures and identifying gaps in the present knowledge. For this purpose, the main factors that influence the development of a comprehensive framework for the simulation of seismic excitation are highlighted. The coupling effect of the spatial variability of ground motions and the substructure's footprint on the realization of the seismic excitation model is illustrated. Finally, the necessity of direct incorporation of the load analysis subtask in the probabilistic seismic risk assessment of civil infrastructures is discussed. In addition, simplified probability density functions are proposed for the simulation of the seismic excitation model.
Introducing graphene‐enhanced technologies to the regulated market to mitigate carbon emissions
Authors: Sama Aicha
Published: December 2023

Ambitious net zero carbon emissions goals have been set by various climate change agencies and government officials, including President Biden. One of the most prominent emissions goals aims to reach net zero carbon emissions globally by 2050. Unfortunately, the United States is not on track to achieving this goal and the United Nations has announced that several nations have fallen short of their carbon emissions agreements. Increases in global temperatures, deadly natural disasters, and species extinction have heightened the pressure facing scientists and policymakers to convince nations to stay on course to reach net zero emissions within the next few decades. Last year, the largest contributor to carbon dioxide emissions in the United States was “U.S. motor gasoline and diesel (distillate) fuel consumption” (U.S. Energy Information Administration, Frequently Asked Questions), making it clear that changes must be made in the energy sector to mitigate this. Recent innovations in the battery industry have shown exciting promise for the future of clean energy, though regulatory barriers must be overcome to fully establish these new technologies. One such technology is the graphene‐enhanced lithium‐ion battery which has five times the energy density of regular lithium‐ion batteries due to the high thermal conductivity of graphene. However, graphene is difficult to produce on a large scale, and many investors and stakeholders have hesitated to participate in the graphene supply chain due to the lack of regulation and health and safety information on graphene. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), along with other standardization organizations, has worked to understand nanomaterials like graphene over the past decade, but they seem to be behind in producing substantial data on the material's properties. Furthermore, current graphene manufacturers have varying ways of classifying and labeling graphene products, creating additional confusion in the marketplace. To accelerate the process of researching and regulating graphene, the EPA's adherence to predetermined deadlines for the creation of regulations for up‐and‐coming materials must be mandated, a standardized graphene labeling system should be adopted, universities and federal agencies should be incentivized to collaborate on research related to graphene production methods, and a mandatory “battery passport” system should be implemented to ensure the widespread availability of battery information. These recommendations are aimed at increasing trust and collaboration within the graphene industry and standardizing graphene materials to reduce ambiguity within the supply chain. By implementing these policy changes, the use of graphene‐enhanced lithium‐ion batteries in electric vehicles and grid energy storage systems can become more widespread, and allow for higher efficiency. As improvements are made to clean energy alternatives, the use of fossil fuels can be reduced, thus, decreasing overall carbon emissions.
Landscape evolution in orogenic plateaus: Insights from quantitative morphotectonic analysis of the Turkish–Iranian Plateau and Caucasus regions
Authors: Kaveh‐Firouz Amaneh , Burg Jean‐Pierre , Giachetta Emanuele
Published: December 2023

To investigate the recent landscape evolution of the orogenic Turkish–Iranian Plateau (TIP) and the Lesser/Greater Caucasus ranges, we perform a quantitative analysis of topography and drainage networks at a regional scale. This analysis focuses on climatic–topographic swath profiles, local relief distribution, longitudinal river profiles, normalized channel steepness index (ksn), paleo‐river profile, and chi analysis (χ). In general, we find that the evolution of topographic relief and river networks are locally controlled by Late Cenozoic volcanism, contrasts in rock strength, and neotectonic activity along regional tectonic structures. However, our results show that the influence of these factors on the landscape evolution of the Greater Caucasus is significantly different from the Lesser Caucasus and TIP. This study shows that a combination of enhanced aridity, rapid uplift of orographic barriers along the TIP margins, and exposure of resistant rock types associated with the regional volcanic activity resulted in low‐relief plateau and the Lesser Caucasus surfaces that are preserved in the upper/middle Kura–Arax and Qezel‐Owzan river catchments. High local relief in the flanks of the Greater Caucasus and west Alborz, downstream increase in channel steepness, and perturbations in the χ plots of the three main rivers indicate that the topography is in a transient state.

We reconstruct the paleo‐river profiles from the relict section of the upper Kura–Arax and Qezel‐Owzan rivers and show that the last drastic fall of the Caspian base‐level, which occurred during the Late Miocene–Early Pliocene, can explain the incision of ~500–1000 m gorges (i.e., Amardos) below major knickpoints. Furthermore, local cross‐divide differences of the χ parameter reveal that disequilibrium in the plan‐form geometry of the drainage networks, attributed to the upstream migration of the regional knickpoints towards the plateau interior and integration of plateau areas into the external fluvial system.
Study on the smoke evolution mechanism of a subway tunnel with a multi‐door carriage fire under longitudinal ventilation
Authors: Wu Zhenkun , Peng Min , Zhou Yun , Zhu Guoqing
Published: December 2023

This paper has analyzed the longitudinal ventilation on the effect of the efficiency of the smoke evolution mechanism in a metro tunnel of multi‐window carriage fires. These were simulated by Large Eddy Simulation (LES) with Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS). In the past, analyses of smoke temperature under the tunnel ceiling and smoke overflow characteristics have been conducted. However, longitudinal ventilation has a different impact on temperature than natural ventilation, especially in a subway tunnel with a multi‐door carriage fire. Consequently, several simulations were run in a subway tunnel (360‐m long, 6.0‐m wide, and 4.8‐m high). The longitudinal ventilation velocity is set by 0–10 m/s with the heat release rate of 1–10 MW. The results show that there is a linear relationship between the maximum temperature and the longitudinal ventilation velocity. An empirical model considering various longitudinal ventilation velocities was developed to predict the maximum smoke temperature underneath the subway tunnel ceiling. The effects of the longitudinal ventilation velocity, the heat release rate, and the distance of the fire source on the characteristics of longitudinal temperature distribution were analyzed. What's more, smoke overflow characteristics under different longitudinal ventilation velocities have been described. The findings and results can also provide a reference for the fire risk assessment of a metro tunnel of multi‐window carriage fires.
Inulin‐type fructans with different degrees of polymerization improve insulin resistance, metabolic parameters, and hormonal status in overweight and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomized double‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial
Authors: Ziaei Rahele , Shahshahan Zahra , Ghasemi‐Tehrani Hatav , Heidari Zahra , Nehls Marilyn S. , Ghiasvand Reza
Published: December 2023

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with reproductive disorders and adverse cardiometabolic risk factors that can negatively impact the general health of women. Inulin‐type fructans (ITFs) are proposed to beneficially affect risk factors associated with metabolic disorders. Whether ITFs can help with the management of PCOS by modifying insulin resistance (IR) and androgen levels has not yet been explored. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ITFs with different degrees of polymerization on insulin resistance, blood lipids, anthropometric measures, and hormonal status in overweight and obese women with PCOS. In a randomized double‐blind placebo‐controlled trial, seventy‐five women with PCOS aged 18–40 years old were randomly assigned to receive 10 g/day of high‐performance inulin (HPI) or oligofructose‐enriched inulin (OEI) or maltodextrin for 12 weeks. Biochemical and clinical outcomes were measured at baseline and after the intervention. Participants in the HPI and OEI groups experienced improvements in waist circumference, total testosterone, free androgen index, sex hormone‐binding globulin, and triglycerides compared to the placebo group. Also, the number of women with irregular menses or oligomenorrhoea decreased significantly in both ITF groups. Participants in the HPI group reported lower body mass, fasting insulin, and HOMA‐IR, as well as a higher quantitative insulin sensitivity check index. ITF supplementation, especially with long‐chain ITFs, when given for 12 weeks may improve metabolic outcomes, androgen status and clinical manifestations in women with PCOS.
Recentering the individual in context using the Phenomenological Variant of Ecological Systems Theory: Applications for higher education
Authors: Olson Avery B. , Ozaki Casey Carolyn , Johnston‐Guerrero Marc P.
Published: December 2023

Student development theory has been an important guide in practice; however, few theories focus on both the individual and the influence of the environment. Spencer's (1997) Phenomenological Variant of Ecological Systems Theory (PVEST) examines the individual, the environment, and the role of environmental feedback on self‐perceptions, with a specific focus on how this feedback influences student experiences and outcomes. PVEST allows for assessing the processes by which an individual can develop strategies to resist negative feedback from oppressive environments, as well as how individuals use different coping mechanisms. In this chapter, we apply PVEST to individual student‐level exemplars, as well as examples within counseling and classroom microcontexts to demonstrate the importance of environmental influence as well as phenomenological individual differences in interpretations and self‐perception. Ultimately, we demonstrate how PVEST is a theoretical mechanism to focus on both the person and their phenomenological experiences (PEs), and offer larger implications for use in higher education contexts.

Practical Takeaways

While critical for student affairs (SA) and higher education (HE) practitioners to consider the influence of the environment on college student development, experiences, and outcomes, there can still be individual, subjective phenomenological differences across individuals who might share similar identities and be in similar contexts.

We encourage practitioners to utilize PVEST—which examines the individual and the environment—with a specific focus on the role of environmental feedback on self‐perceptions, and how these self‐perceptions can impact student experiences and outcomes.

PVEST is useful for understanding an individual's risk and protective factors, their available sources of challenge and support, and the coping mechanisms they use. Ultimately, PVEST can help a SA/HE practitioner assess processes by which the student can develop strategies to resist negative feedback from oppressive environments.
How Young Adult Literature Gets Taught: A review of a pedagogical manual for teacher educators, secondary teachers, and librarians
Authors: McKee Jared , Kellogg Geoffrey
Published: December 2023

How Young Adult Literature Gets Taught: Perspectives, Ideologies, and Pedagogical Approaches for Instruction and Assessment (Bickmore et al., 2022) seeks to provide guidelines for teacher educators and secondary English teachers on how to teach young adult literature (YAL). This 15‐chapter manual includes chapters written by experts in YAL (including higher ed professionals, a high school English teacher, and a librarian), which offer resources for teaching YAL based around various theoretical frameworks and include detailed reading lists, guided discussion questions, and more.
Modeling the polychromism of oxide minerals: The case of alexandrite and cordierite
Authors: Rullan Raphaël , Colinet Pauline , Desdion Quentin , Steinmann Stephan N. , Le Bahers Tangui
Published: December 2023

In this work, we investigate the spectroscopic properties of photochromic alexandrite and cordierite by TD‐DFT. The objective is to assess the TD‐DFT for the simulation of pleochroism (change of color depending on the crystallographic direction of the observation) and the change of color as a function of the light source. For these simulations, we compared an embedding where dangling bonds are saturated by hydrogen atoms and an electrostatic embedding. The electrostatic embedding provided numerically more stable results and allowed a good reproduction of the pleochroism of cordierite, based on a Fe2+‐Fe3+ intervalence charge transfer transition. However, the pleochroism of alexandrite is not as well reproduced, suggesting that TD‐DFT has some difficulties to reproduce the anisotropy of the transition dipole moment, an aspect that is not deeply documented in the literature.
A novel biomarker of fibrofatty replacement in dystrophinopathies identified by integrating transcriptome, magnetic resonance imaging, and pathology data
Authors: Xie Zhihao , Liu Chang , Sun Chengyue , Lu Yanyu , Wu Shiyi , Liu Yilin , Wang Qi , Wan Yalan , Wang Yikang , Yu Meng , Meng Lingchao , Deng Jianwen , Zhang Wei , Wang Zhaoxia , Yang Chunxia , Yuan Yun , Xie Zhiying
Published: December 2023

Background

We aimed to analyse genome‐wide transcriptome differences between Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) patients and identify biomarkers that correlate well with muscle magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histological fibrofatty replacement in both patients, which have not been reported.

Methods

One hundred and one male patients with dystrophinopathies (55 DMD and 46 BMD) were enrolled. Muscle‐derived genome‐wide RNA‐sequencing was performed in 31 DMD patients, 29 BMD patients, and 11 normal controls. Fibrofatty replacement was scored on muscle MRI and histological levels in all patients. A unique pipeline, single‐sample gene set enrichment analysis combined with Spearman's rank correlations (ssGSEA‐Cor) was developed to identify the most correlated gene signature for fibrofatty replacement. Quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) analysis, western blot analysis, and single‐nucleus RNA‐sequencing (snRNA‐seq) were performed in the remaining patients to validate the most correlated gene signature.

Results

Comparative transcriptomic analysis revealed that 31 DMD muscles were characterized by a significant increase of inflammation/immune response and extracellular matrix remodelling compared with 29 BMD muscles (P < 0.05). The ssGSEA‐Cor pipeline revealed that the gene set of CDKN2A and CDKN2B was the most correlated gene signature for fibrofatty replacement (histological rs = 0.744, P < 0.001; MRI rs = 0.718, P < 0.001). Muscle qRT‐PCR confirmed that CDKN2A mRNA expression in both 15 DMD (median = 25.007, P < 0.001) and 12 BMD (median = 5.654, P < 0.001) patients were significantly higher than that in controls (median = 1.101), while no significant difference in CDKN2B mRNA expression was found among DMD, BMD, and control groups. In the 27 patients, muscle CDKN2A mRNA expression respectively correlated with muscle MRI (rs = 0.883, P < 0.001) and histological fibrofatty replacement (rs = 0.804, P < 0.001) and disease duration (rs = 0.645, P < 0.001) and North Star Ambulatory Assessment total scores (rs = −0.698, P < 0.001). Muscle western blot analysis confirmed that both four DMD (median = 2.958, P < 0.05) and four BMD (median = 1.959, P < 0.01) patients had a significantly higher level of CDKN2A protein expression than controls (median = 1.068). The snRNA‐seq analysis of two DMD muscles revealed that CDKN2A was mainly expressed in fibro‐adipogenic progenitors, satellite cells, and myoblasts.

Conclusions

We identify CDKN2A expression as a novel biomarker of fibrofatty replacement, which might be a new target for antifibrotic therapy in dystrophinopathies.