bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Highly efficient polaritonic light-emitting diodes with angle-independent narrowband emission
Authors: Mischok Andreas , Hillebrandt Sabina , Kwon Seonil , Gather Malte C.
Published: March 2023

Angle-independent narrowband emission is required for many optoelectronic devices, ranging from high-definition displays to sensors. However, emerging materials for electroluminescent devices, such as organics and perovskites, show spectrally broad emission due to intrinsic disorder. Coupling this emission to an optical resonance reduces the linewidth, but at the cost of inheriting the severe angular dispersion of the resonator. Strongly coupling a dispersionless exciton state to a narrowband optical microcavity could overcome this issue; however, electrically pumped emission from the resulting polaritons is typically hampered by poor efficiencies. Here we present a universal concept for polariton-based emission from organic light-emitting diodes by introducing an assistant strong coupling layer, thereby avoiding quenching-induced efficiency losses. We realize red- and green-emitting, narrowband (full-width at half-maximum of less than 20 nm) and spectrally tunable polaritonic organic light-emitting diodes with up to 10% external quantum efficiency and high luminance (>20,000 cd m−2 at 5 V). By optimizing cavity detuning and coupling strength, we achieve emission with ultralow dispersion (<10 nm spectral shift at 60° tilt). These results may have wide-reaching implications for on-demand polariton emission and demonstrate the practical relevance of strong light–matter coupling for next-generation optoelectronics, particularly display technology.
Intermediate acoustic-to-semantic representations link behavioral and neural responses to natural sounds
Authors: Giordano Bruno L. , Esposito Michele , Valente Giancarlo , Formisano Elia
Published: March 2023

Recognizing sounds implicates the cerebral transformation of input waveforms into semantic representations. Although past research identified the superior temporal gyrus (STG) as a crucial cortical region, the computational fingerprint of these cerebral transformations remains poorly characterized. Here, we exploit a model comparison framework and contrasted the ability of acoustic, semantic (continuous and categorical) and sound-to-event deep neural network representation models to predict perceived sound dissimilarity and 7 T human auditory cortex functional magnetic resonance imaging responses. We confirm that spectrotemporal modulations predict early auditory cortex (Heschl’s gyrus) responses, and that auditory dimensions (for example, loudness, periodicity) predict STG responses and perceived dissimilarity. Sound-to-event deep neural networks predict Heschl’s gyrus responses similar to acoustic models but, notably, they outperform all competing models at predicting both STG responses and perceived dissimilarity. Our findings indicate that STG entails intermediate acoustic-to-semantic sound representations that neither acoustic nor semantic models can account for. These representations are compositional in nature and relevant to behavior.
Early DNase-I therapy delays secondary brain damage after traumatic brain injury in adult mice
Authors: Krämer Tobias J. , Pickart Florian , Pöttker Bruno , Gölz Christina , Neulen Axel , Pantel Tobias , Goetz Hermann , Ritter Katharina , Schäfer Michael K. E. , Thal Serge C.
Published: March 2023

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes the release of danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMP) from damaged or dead cells, which contribute to secondary brain damage after TBI. Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is a DAMP known to cause disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB), promote procoagulant processes, brain edema, and neuroinflammation. This study tested the hypothesis that administration of deoxyribonuclease-I (DNase-I) has a beneficial effect after TBI. Mice (n = 84) were subjected to controlled cortical impact (CCI) and posttraumatic intraperitoneal injections of low dose (LD) or high dose (HD) of DNase-I or vehicle solution at 30 min and 12 h after CCI. LD was most effective to reduce lesion volume (p = 0.003), brain water content (p < 0.0001) and to stabilize BBB integrity (p = 0.019) 1 day post-injury (dpi). At 6 h post injury LD-treated animals showed less cleavage of fibrin (p = 0.0014), and enhanced perfusion as assessed by micro-computer-tomography (p = 0.027). At 5 dpi the number of Iba1-positive cells (p = 0.037) were reduced, but the number of CD45-positive cells, motoric function and brain lesion volume was not different. Posttraumatic-treatment with DNase-I therefore stabilizes the BBB, reduces the formation of brain edema, immune response, and delays secondary brain damage. DNase-I might be a new approach to extend the treatment window after TBI.
Chemical characterization and formation of secondary organosiloxane aerosol (SOSiA) from OH oxidation of decamethylcyclopentasiloxane
Authors: Chen Yanfang , Park Yoojin , Kang Hyun Gu , Jeong Jiwoo , Kim Hwajin
Published: March 2023

This study investigated chemical composition of secondary organosiloxane aerosol (SOSiA) with several state of the art mass spectrometry techniques and improved understanding of atmospheric chemistry of D5-siloxane.
Visible light-induced direct alkylation of the purine C8–H bond with ethers
Authors: Lu Changtong , Histand Gary , Lin Dongen
Published: March 2023

The one-step visible light-induced direct alkylation of the C8–H bond for purine derivatives by ethers was developed. Of particular interest is that substrates include purines with various functional groups and even unprotected 9H-purines.
Photocatalytic synthesis of alkyl–alkyl sulfonesviadirect C(sp3)–H bond functionalization
Authors: Lu Wen-Hua , Yang Dan , Wang Guo-Qin , Wang Ting , Zhou Yuan-Xia , Jing Lin-Hai
Published: March 2023

A photoinduced TBADT-catalyzed one-pot, three-component strategy for the synthesis of alkyl-alkyl sulfones was reported. The developed methodology could tolerate broad functional groups and allow for the late-stage modification of complex molecules.
Performance of post phthalate Ziegler Natta catalysts with activity limiting agents for propylene gas phase polymerization
Authors: Albeladi Abdulrahman , Moman Akhlaq , McKenna Timothy F. L.
Published: March 2023

Activity limiting agents (ALA) are used to avoid thermal runaway during the gas phase polymerization of propylene.
Stable FAPbI3 hydrate structure by kinetics negotiation for solar cells
Authors: Wang Ryan Taoran , Zhang Yu , Wu Xiaoxue , Zhang Weiwei , Chi Longxing , Xu Fan
Published: March 2023

A stable ε-FAPbI3 hydrate was formed and precipitated only at the grain boundary area by controlling moisture partial pressure. Such a kinetic negotiation strategy enables stable and efficient perovskite solar cells.
Cardioprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of Caveolin 1 in experimental diabetic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Gong Wenyan , Jiao Qibin , Yuan Jinghua , Luo Hui , Liu Yingying , Zhang Yuanyuan , Chen Zhen , Xu Xiaoling , Bai Lin , Zhang Xingwei
Published: March 2023

Previous studies of the Caveolin 1 (Cav1) protein and caveolae, which are lipid raft structures found on the plasma membranes of certain cells, are associated with fat metabolism disorders, inflammation, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. However, there have been no reports linking Cav1 to diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). In the present study, we established a relationship between Cav1 and the development of DCM. We found that compared with Cav1+/+ mice, Cav1−/− diabetic mice exhibited more severe cardiac injury, increased activation of NF-κB signaling, and up-regulation of downstream genes, including hypertrophic factors and inflammatory fibrosis factors in heart tissues. Additionally, in vitro results showed that knocking down Cav1 further activated HG-induced NF-κB signaling, increased the expression of downstream target genes, and decreased the expression of inhibitor α of NF-κB (iκBα), all of which have been linked to DCM pathogenesis. In contrast, Cav1 overexpression resulted in the opposite effects. Our study suggests that Cav1 knockdown promotes cardiac injury in DCM by activating the NF-κB signaling pathway, and targeting Cav1 may lead to the development of novel treatments for DCM.
Scalable sub-cycle pulse generation by soliton self-compression in hollow capillary fibers with a decreasing pressure gradient
Authors: Galán Marina Fernández , Jarque Enrique Conejero , San Roman Julio
Published: March 2023

Advances in the generation of the shortest optical laser pulses down to the sub-cycle regime promise to break new ground in ultrafast science. In this work, we theoretically demonstrate the potential scaling capabilities of soliton self-compression in hollow capillary fibers with a decreasing pressure gradient to generate near-infrared sub-cycle pulses in very different dispersion and nonlinearity landscapes. Independently of input pulse, gas and fiber choices, we present a simple and general route to find the optimal self-compression parameters which result in high-quality pulses. The use of a decreasing pressure gradient naturally favors the self-compression process, resulting in shorter and cleaner sub-cycle pulses, and an improvement in the robustness of the setup when compared to the traditional constant pressure approach.
And I dreamed I saw the bomber jet planes riding shotgun in the sky,
turning into butterflies ...
Authors: Holzhauer Peter
Published: March 2023

1970 wurde der Song „Woodstock“ von Joni Mitchell geschrieben und von
zahlreichen Interpreten berühmt gemacht. Er wurde zur Hymne der damaligen
„Counterculture“. Die Älteren unter uns können sich
daran sicher noch erinnern. Politischer Hintergrund war der Vietnamkrieg mit seinen
unzähligen Opfern. Meist jüngere Menschen trafen sich zu
Protestaktionen in aller Welt, um für Frieden und auch für
tiefgreifende soziale und kulturelle Veränderungen zu protestieren.
Prä- und postoperative Ernährungstherapie bei
Gastrektomie
Authors: Raab Heike
Published: March 2023

Karzinome des Magens gehören weltweit zu den häufigsten
tumorbedingten Todesursachen. Patienten mit einem Magenkarzinom leiden oft an
Ernährungsproblemen und Gewichtsverlust, weshalb eine
Ernährungstherapie in allen Phasen der Erkrankung von großer
Bedeutung ist. Die chirurgische Therapie ist die einzige Möglichkeit zur
kurativen Behandlung. Bereits bei Diagnosestellung sind Patienten in einem
schlechten Ernährungszustand, der negative Auswirkungen auf das
Behandlungsergebnis haben kann, weshalb die Mangelernährung bereits
präoperativ behandelt werden und im weiteren Verlauf bei jedem
ambulanten Patientenkontakt beurteilt werden soll.

Langfristig gesehen kann der Patient alles essen, was er verträgt, sollte
sich aber an folgenden Ernährungsempfehlungen orientieren wie
beispielsweise 6–8 kleine protein- und energiereiche Mahlzeiten, auf
eine ausreichende Proteinzufuhr achten sowie Essen und Trinken trennen.

Nach der Operation ist das Risiko von Mangelerscheinungen an bestimmten Vitaminen
und Mineralstoffen wie Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, Eisen und Calcium
erhöht. Hier sollte eine entsprechende Supplementation erfolgen. Weitere
Probleme, die nach der Operation auftreten können, sind u. a.
Appetitlosigkeit, Steatorrhö und das Dumping-Syndrom. Eine begleitende
postoperative Ernährungstherapie ist ein wichtiger Baustein in der
Therapie, um den Ernährungsstatus und somit auch die
Lebensqualität der Patienten zu verbessern.
Erhöhter venöser Rücklaufdruck
Authors: Krönung Gerhard
Published: March 2023

Ein erhöhter venöser Rücklaufdruck ist meist durch eine eingeengte (verlegte) Öffnung der venösen Kanüle durch Kontakt mit Wandstrukturen der Shuntvene verursacht und kann entsprechend korrigiert werden. Weniger häufig ist ein erhöhter Venendruck durch eine nachgeschaltete Shuntvenenstenose bedingt, die bei zu hoher Rezirkulation korrigiert werden muss.
Weibliche Genitalverstümmelung und
Osteopathie
Authors: Bauer Christine
Published: March 2023

Weibliche Genitalverstümmelung ist noch immer ein weltweites Problem, das
v. a. Frauen und Mädchen in großen Teilen Afrikas, der
arabischen Welt und einigen Teilen Asiens und Südamerikas betrifft.
Derzeit sind mindestens 200 Millionen Mädchen und Frauen in mehr als 32
Ländern von FGM (Femal Genital Mutilation) betroffen, weitere 4
Millionen gelten als gefährdet 1.
Durch anhaltende Migrationsbewegungen hat das Thema auch in Europa an Bedeutung
gewonnen. Umso wichtiger ist es, zu den verschiedenen Aspekten dieser
frauenverachtenden Praxis gut informiert zu sein, um die Mädchen und
Frauen ganzheitlich fachlich qualifiziert beraten und behandeln zu
können. Osteopathie ist eine sanfte und respektvolle
Möglichkeit, viele der strukturellen Komplikationen einer
Genitalverstümmelung zu behandeln. Eine interdisziplinäre
Zusammenarbeit mit FGM-geschulten Gynäkologinnen und Traumatherapeuten
wird dringend empfohlen.
Ernährung und Bewegung – Das Konzept der
Prähabilitation vor großen Tumoroperationen
Authors: Oberhoffner Christin , Fischer Martin , Weimann Arved , Wobith Maria
Published: March 2023

zusammenfassung

Einleitung Mit dem Ziel des Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) gewinnt
bei Risikopatienten die präoperative Phase zur optimalen Konditionierung
an Bedeutung, um damit auch das Risiko von postoperativen Komplikationen zu
vermindern. Prähabilitation als multimodales Modell bestehend aus
Ernährungstherapie, Kraft- und Ausdauertraining sowie psychologischer
Unterstützung soll es ermöglichen, dass Patienten
selbstständig daran mitwirken können, bestmöglich
für eine Operation vorbereitet zu sein und sich schneller von den
eventuell auftretenden Nachwirkungen zu erholen. Ein optimierter
Ernährungszustand und eine Verbesserung der Belastbarkeit bilden dabei
die Basis, um ein individuell an den Patienten angepasstes Programm zu
erstellen.

Methoden Das circa 6-wöchige Prähabilitationsprogramm
für Patienten besteht aus Mobilitäts- und Kraftübungen,
Hausbesuchen, einer Ernährungstherapie und psychologischer
Unterstützung. Eingeschlossen werden Hochrisikopatienten vor
großen abdominalchirurgischen Tumoroperationen, die mindestens 70 Jahre
alt sind, einen ASA-Score von 3 oder 4 haben und bei denen die Indikationen
für eine neoadjuvante Therapie besteht. Ausgewertet werden
Ernährungsstatus, Tests zur funktionellen Belastbarkeit, dem kognitiven
Zustand und ein Fragebogen zur Beurteilung der Lebensqualität zu Beginn,
mehrfach während des Programms und postoperativ.

Schlussfolgerung Durch die intensive und engmaschige Betreuung sowie der
Chance, dass Patienten selber etwas aktiv beisteuern können, besteht die
Möglichkeit, die besten Voraussetzungen zu schaffen, um Einfluss auf das
Outcome der Operation zu erlangen. Eine Senkung der Komplikationsrate, eine
Verkürzung der Krankenhausverweildauer und ein schnelleres
Zurückerlangen der Mobilität stehen dabei im Vordergrund.
Kurse der Nephrologischen WBS-Ulm
Authors: Bundschu Marion
Published: March 2023

Informationen zu den Veranstaltungen finden Sie auf www.wbs-ulm.de.
Assessing plant translocation success: common metrics mask high levels of inbreeding in a recently established Banksia brownii (Proteaceae) population
Authors: Dillon Rebecca , Coates David , Standish Rachel , Monks Leonie , Waycott Michelle
Published: March 2023

Context As threatening processes continue to impact rare plant populations, the use of translocations is becoming increasingly frequent. The ultimate success of translocation, attaining long-term persistence, is determined by species’ ability to reproduce, recruit, and maintain levels of genetic diversity that permits the capacity to adapt to environmental change. Aims This study aimed to assess translocation success of Banksia brownii. Methods We compared genetic diversity, reproductive output and aspects of the mating system of a translocated population with four reference wild populations. Key results We found that the use of multiple source populations for the translocation resulted in levels of genetic diversity comparable to reference populations of high diversity. Reproductive output was highest in the translocated population and a positive relationship between plant size and number of flowers across all populations was evident. However, mating system analysis revealed a large difference in outcrossing rates between populations in different habitats despite common pollinators, with the translocated population having the highest rates of selfing. Conclusion Whilst genetic diversity and reproductive output were comparable or higher in the translocated population than in the reference populations, assessing translocation outcomes by these measures alone can potentially mask the longer-term erosion of genetic diversity through unfavourable patterns of mating. Implications We recommend using multiple metrics of reproductive, recruitment and genetic diversity to properly assess plant translocation success.
Theoretical guarantees for phylogeny inference from single-cell lineage tracing
Authors: Wang Robert , Zhang Richard , Khodaverdian Alex , Yosef Nir
Published: March 2023

Lineage-tracing technologies based on Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats and CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR-Cas9) genome editing have emerged as a powerful tool for investigating development in single-cell contexts, but exact reconstruction of the underlying clonal relationships in experiment is complicated by features of the data. These complications are functions of the experimental parameters in these systems, such as the Cas9 cutting rate, the diversity of indel outcomes, and the rate of missing data. In this paper, we develop two theoretically grounded algorithms for the reconstruction of the underlying single-cell phylogenetic tree as well as asymptotic bounds for the number of recording sites necessary for exact recapitulation of the ground truth phylogeny at high probability. In doing so, we explore the relationship between the problem difficulty and the experimental parameters, with implications for experimental design. Lastly, we provide simulations showing the empirical performance of these algorithms and showing that the trends in the asymptotic bounds hold empirically. Overall, this work provides a theoretical analysis of phylogenetic reconstruction in single-cell CRISPR-Cas9 lineage-tracing technologies.
Loop quantum gravity of a spherically symmetric scalar field coupled to gravity with a clock
Authors: Gambini Rodolfo , Pullin Jorge
Published: March 2023

The inclusion of matter fields in spherically symmetric loop quantum gravity has proved problematic at the level of implementing the constraint algebra including the Hamiltonian constraint. Here we consider the system with the introduction of a clock. Using the abelianizaton technique we introduced in previous papers in the case of gravity coupled to matter, the system can be gauge fixed and rewritten in terms of a restricted set of dynamical variables that satisfy simple Poisson bracket relations. This creates a true Hamiltonian and therefore one bypasses the issue of the constraint algebra. We show how loop quantum gravity techniques may be applied for the vacuum case and show that the Hamiltonian system reproduces previous results for the physical space of states and the observables of a Schwarzchild black hole.
The optical phonon drag effect on strong-coupling decay magnetopolaron in Gaussian alkali halogen ionic quantum wells
Authors: Sun Yong , An Ran , Zhang Wei , Han Shuang , Ma Xin-Jun , Li Pei-fang , Xiao Jing-Lin
Published: March 2023

The polaron phenomenon is commonly observed in low-dimensional semiconductor materials and is known to have unique effects on conductive material properties. Furthermore, the phonon dragging effect, which leads to the polaron energy level, is less than the electron energy level. A decay magnetic field also affects the polaron effect, which causes polaron energy level changes. We demonstrate the unique electron–phonon coupling properties of this polaron using numerical calculations. Our findings have strong implications for theories of polaron properties and provide compelling evidence for a semiconductor device that industrial manufacturers use for new low-dimensional materials.
Does carbon mitigation depend on green fiscal policy or green investment?
Authors: Hu Yufeng , Ding Youqiang , Liu Jun , Zhang Quanzhong , Pan Zijian
Published: March 2023

Does carbon mitigation depend on the force of government or the autonomy of enterprises? We should first distinguish the roles of green fiscal policy and corporate green investment to test whether they can independently guide enterprises to reduce carbon emissions. Because a clear relationship will help resolve the embarrassment caused by their different goals. Then we use theoretical and empirical methods to analyze green fiscal policies and corporate green investment mechanisms, which have nonlinear impacts on carbon mitigation in mathematics. Furthermore, we have empirically verified then in three effective paths: the promotion of green fiscal policies on green investment, the mediator of green investment in the influence of green fiscal policies on carbon mitigation and enterprise performance, and the difference in firm heterogeneity on green investment. The results show that green fiscal policies support enterprises in realizing carbon mitigation by pressure, stimulating green investment, and achieving Innovation Compensation. Carbon mitigation depends on the trigger of green fiscal policies and the catalysis of green investment. That means the green fiscal policy is an effective instrument for the government to stimulate green innovation only when they are vital in reducing carbon emissions. Finally, we can summarize the evolutionary process of carbon mitigate from mandatory green fiscal policies to independent green investment, which is helpful for green governance and the low-carbon development of enterprises.
Heat transfer phenomenon in a retarded boundary layer over a moving continuous cylinder
Authors: Mehmood Ahmer , Shah Babar Hussain
Published: March 2023

The phenomena of flow separation on a surface of finite length is analogous to boundary layer flows caused by retarded motion of continuous surfaces, which ultimately seize at some downstream position and increase drag on aerodynamic vehicles. According to the literature, a stationary surface of finite length will generate a boundary layer that is less energetic than one that is developed over a moving continuous surface. This means that a moving continuous surface is preferred to a stationary surface of finite length for the sustainability of the transport phenomena in such a retarded flow, which must eventually meet the flow separation. Therefore, the goal of this study is to conduct a heat transfer analysis in a delayed laminar boundary layer generated by a moving continuous cylinder with a constant radius. Wall temperature of uniform nature is considered in this investigation. In most of the boundary layer flows the self-similarity of the flow does not persist because of choosing the reference velocity of the desired character. Thus, the problem becomes non-similar. In general, the non-similarity of a flow may appear due to various aspects of the problem such as the retarded nature of the reference velocity, the surface temperature, the curvature of the body, etc. Surface transverse curvature imparts favorable consequences on the separating boundary layer and hence on the seizing flow character. The purpose of this investigation is to determine how TVC

k

and the wall velocity power index

m

affect temperature profiles, the local Nusselt number

N

u
x

, the thickness of the thermal layer, and the thermal diffusivity of heat in a retarded boundary layer. In addition to this, the influence of Prandtl number

P
r

and Stanton number

S
t

has also been investigated. The numerical solution is computed using an implicit finite difference scheme, commonly known as the Keller-Box scheme in MATLAB scientific computing software Investigations reveal that the TVC assists the thermal transport by enhancing the rate of heat transfer and the length of the convectively heat transferring region (starting from the leading edge to the location where the flow gets seized) by increasing the longitudinal region of flow (starting from the leading edge to the location where the flow gets seized) on the surface. The surface wall velocity power index

m
>
1

acts to decrease the temperature distribution and reduces the heat transfer rate at the surface. Further, the Prandtl number

P
r

reduces the thermal boundary layer thickness and the Stanton number

S
t

but enhances the local Nusselt number.
Investigation of high-enthalpy organic phase-change materials for heat storage and thermal management
Authors: Shockner T , Zada O , Goldenshluger S , Ziskind G
Published: March 2023

The growing interest in phase-change materials (PCM) is related to their possible role in thermal energy storage and thermal management. The choice of materials depends strongly on the required temperature range, whereas the latent heat of solid–liquid phase transition has to be as high as possible. Among other organic PCM, sugar alcohols have gained some attention due to their availability and certain advantageous properties. However, the thermal processes in these materials still require investigation. In the present work, we focused on the materials with solid–liquid phase change within 80 °C–100 °C. A comprehensive literature survey was conducted to elucidate the available sugar alcohols relevant to this range. It was found that the use of pure materials of this type is not very practical, because of their scarcity in the required range and their specific features, like difficulties with crystallization and solidification. On the other hand, based on the literature, we have discerned three eutectic mixtures of erythritol with other organic materials, namely, erythritol–xylitol, erythritol–urea and erythritol– trimethylolethane (TME). In all those cases, it is remarkable that while the components commonly have rather high melting temperatures, the eutectic mixtures had the phase transitions in the required range. Still, each of these mixtures has its own peculiar features, especially at cooling and solidification. An extensive experimental study was performed to provide detailed visualization of these major processes. The results revealed the melting temperature and latent heat of the mixtures to be: 84 °C and 190 J g−1 for erythritol–xylitol, 82 °C and 227 J g−1 for erythritol–urea. Erythritol–TME has two phase transitions at 82 °C and 97 °C, with total latent heat of 198 J g−1. Based on the present findings, the erythritol–urea mixture is the best PCM candidate for the melting range within 80 °C–100 °C.
A review of chemical looping reforming technologies for hydrogen production: recent advances and future challenges
Authors: Ramezani Rouzbeh , Felice Luca Di , Gallucci Fausto
Published: March 2023

Faced with increasingly serious energy and global warming, it is critical to put forward an alternative non-carbonaceous fuel. In this regard, hydrogen appears as the ultimate clean fuel for power and heat generation, and as an important feedstock for various chemical and petrochemical industries. The chemical looping reforming (CLR) concept, is an emerging technique for the conversion of hydrocarbon fuels into high-quality hydrogen via the circulation of oxygen carriers which allows a decrease in CO2 emissions. In this review, a comprehensive evaluation and recent progress in glycerol, ethanol and methane reforming for hydrogen production are presented. The key elements for a successful CLR process are studied and the technical challenges to achieve high-purity hydrogen along with the possible solutions are also assessed. As product quality, cost and the overall efficiency of the process can be influenced by the oxygen carrier materials used, noteworthy attention is given to the most recent development in this field. The use of Ni, Fe, Cu, Ce, Mn and Co-based material as potential oxygen carriers under different experimental conditions for hydrogen generation from different feedstock by CLR is discussed. Furthermore, the recent research conducted on the sorption-enhanced reforming process is reviewed and the performance of the various type of CO2 sorbents such as CaO, Li2ZrO3 and MgO is highlighted.
Freedom and loneliness: dementia caregiver experiences of the nursing home transition
Authors: Holton Eimile , Boyle Neasa Bernadette , Simons Rachel , Warters Austin , O’Philbin Laura , Lawlor Brian , Gibb Matthew , O’Sullivan Roger , Pertl Maria , Quaid Kevin , Forrest Ruth , McHugh Power Joanna
Published: March 2023

Background

the transition to nursing home care has previously been linked to negative outcomes for spousal caregivers of persons with dementia (PwD). However, little is known about the experience or trajectory of loneliness in spousal caregivers during this time.

Objectives

to explore experiences of loneliness in caregivers during the nursing home admission of their spouse or partner with dementia.

Methods

semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 individuals living in Ireland between Oct 2020 and June 2021, who were married to/partnered with a PwD who had, in the past 7 years, moved to full-time nursing home care. Data were collected and analysed using a deductive qualitative analytic strategy in the grounded theory tradition.

Results

data were interpreted in the context of Weiss’ typology of social and emotional loneliness and indicated that social loneliness increased for many at the point of diagnosis, decreasing somewhat after the transition, while emotional loneliness increased across the transition. Data were used to refine an existing synthesised model of loneliness, providing an updated model of the causes and contexts of loneliness.

Conclusions

the transition to nursing home care differentially affects loneliness subtypes. Results have implications for other transitions, which should be assessed in terms of various subtypes of loneliness. Our refined theoretical synthesis model of loneliness also warrants further evaluation.
Alcoholic Beverage Preference in Germany: An Age-Period-Cohort Analysis of Trends 1995–2018
Authors: Wilms Nicolas , Seitz Nicki-Nils , Schwarzkopf Larissa , Olderbak Sally , Kraus Ludwig
Published: March 2023

Aims

Germany is experiencing a decline in alcohol consumption but not for every alcoholic beverage type. Given the differential health impacts of alcoholic beverage type, it is important to understand the drivers of these trends. We investigated: (a) temporal trends in beverage preference and (b) the effects of age, period and cohort on these trends.

Methods

Data came from nine waves (1995–2018; ntotal = 75,550) of the German Epidemiological Survey of Substance Abuse, a nationally representative household survey of individuals aged 18–59 years. The quantity of beer, wine, spirits and mixed drinks drank in the last 30 days was transformed into grammes of ethanol, and the beverage type preference was estimated as the proportion of total ethanol consumption. Fractional multinomial logit regression was applied to analyse the age, period and cohort effects on temporal trends of beverage preference by sex.

Results

The preference for spirits and mixed drinks decreased with increasing age, while the preference for wine increased with no age effect on beer. There was a general decrease in the preference for beer and an increase in the preference for wine among both sexes, with an additional increase in the preference for spirits in males.

Conclusion

Trends in beverage preference were more related to individual ageing and changes in the whole population than to cohorts. With the continued reduction in alcohol consumption, the decreasing preference for beer and the growing preference for wine suggest a positive development. Trends of an increasing preference for spirits in males are of concern.
Enforcing international arbitral subpoenas in the United States
Authors: Meshel Tamar
Published: March 2023

The jurisprudence of the United States Supreme Court coupled with restrictive domestic arbitration legislation has created gaps in the enforcement of international arbitral subpoenas in the United States. These enforcement gaps restrict access to evidence by international arbitral tribunals seated in the United States and block such access entirely for foreign-seated international arbitral tribunals. These gaps also make the United States an outlier among other major international arbitration jurisdictions and conflicts with international arbitral practice. However, the recent decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Day v Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe is a first step toward filling these enforcement gaps. This article sets out the legislative framework governing the enforcement of international arbitral subpoenas in the United States, introduces the existing gaps in such enforcement, demonstrates how these gaps fly in the face of international arbitral practice and explains how the Ninth Circuit has now filled at least some of them. If followed by other federal courts, Day v Orrick may pave the way for the enforcement of subpoenas issued by international arbitral tribunals seated both within and outside the United States, and bring the United States back in line with international arbitral practice.
Efficacy of Filgotinib in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis by Line of Therapy in the Phase 2b/3 SELECTION Trial
Authors: Dotan Iris , Feagan Brian G , Taliadouros Virginia , Oortwijn Alessandra , Rudolph Christine , de Haas Angela , Santermans Eva , Hsieh Jeremy , Peyrin-Biroulet Laurent , Hibi Toshifumi
Published: March 2023

Background and Aims

The efficacy of new therapies for ulcerative colitis [UC] is usually influenced by previous biologic use. These post hoc analyses of SELECTION, a placebo-controlled phase 2b/3 trial in patients with moderately to severely active UC, evaluated the efficacy of filgotinib, an oral Janus 1 kinase preferential inhibitor, with respect to prior biologic failure.

Methods

The effect of filgotinib 200 mg (FIL200) relative to placebo was compared in biologic-naïve and biologic-failed patient groups, and in further subgroups by number of failed biologics [1 or >1], biologic mechanism of action [MoA] classes [1 or 2] and tumour necrosis factor [TNF] antagonists [1 or >1]. Odds ratios [ORs] for clinical remission at week 10 [induction] and hazard ratios [HRs] for protocol-specific disease worsening [PSDW] from week 11 to week 58 [maintenance] were calculated.

Results

At week 10, FIL200-treated patients were more likely to achieve clinical remission than placebo-treated patients in the biologic-naïve (OR [95% confidence interval, CI]: 1.98 [1.14–3.44]) and biologic-failed (3.91 [1.33–11.48]) groups. During maintenance, FIL200-treated patients had a reduced risk of PSDW in the biologic-naïve (HR [95% CI]: 0.22 [0.11–0.44]) and biologic-failed (0.22 [0.12–0.40]) groups, and in all biologic-failed subgroups (except >1 TNF antagonist failure). The data suggest that the likelihood of PSDW at week 58 increased with increasing numbers of failed biologics.

Conclusions

FIL200 induced and maintained benefits relative to placebo regardless of previous biologic use; however, the estimated therapeutic benefit was greatest in biologic-naïve patients and patients previously treated with one biologic or biologic MoA class. [ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02914522].
Sleep duration, daytime napping, and risk of peripheral artery disease: multinational cohort and Mendelian randomization studies
Authors: Yuan Shuai , Levin Michael G , Titova Olga E , Chen Jie , Sun Yuhao , Million Veteran Program Veterans Affairs , Åkesson Agneta , Li Xue , Damrauer Scott M , Larsson Susanna C
Published: March 2023

Aims

Sleep duration has been associated with cardiovascular disease, however the effect of sleep on peripheral artery disease (PAD) specifically remains unestablished. We conducted observational and Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to assess the associations of sleep duration and daytime napping with PAD risk.

Methods and results

Sleep traits were assessed for associations with incident PAD using cohort analysis among 53 416 Swedish adults. Replicated was sought in a case-control study of 28 123 PAD cases and 128 459 controls from the veterans affairs Million Veteran Program (MVP) and a cohort study of 452 028 individuals from the UK Biobank study (UKB). Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) was used for casual inference-based analyses of sleep-related traits and PAD (31 307 PAD cases 211 753 controls). Observational analyses demonstrated a U-shaped association between sleep duration and PAD risk. In Swedish adults, incident PAD risk was higher in those with short sleep [<5 h; hazard ratio (HR) 1.74; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.31–2.31] or long sleep (≥8 h; HR 1.24; 95% CI 1.08–1.43), compared to individuals with a sleep duration of 7 to <8 h/night. This finding was supported by the analyses in MVP and UKB. Observational analysis also revealed positive associations between daytime napping (HR 1.32, 95% CI 1.18–1.49) with PAD. MR analysis supported an inverse association between sleep duration [odds ratio (OR) per hour increase: 0.79, 95% CI, 0.55, 0.89] and PAD and an association between short sleep and increased PAD (OR 1.20, 95% CI, 1.04–1.38).

Conclusion

Short sleep duration was associated with an increased risk of PAD.
From individual behaviors to collective outcomes: fruiting body formation inDictyosteliumas a group-level phenotype
Authors: Kuzdzal-Fick Jennie J , Moreno Armando , Broersma Cathleen M E , Cooper Tim F , Ostrowski Elizabeth A
Published: March 2023

Collective phenotypes, which arise from the interactions among individuals, can be important for the evolution of higher levels of biological organization. However, how a group’s composition determines its collective phenotype remains poorly understood. When starved, cells of the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum cooperate to build a multicellular fruiting body, and the morphology of the fruiting body is likely advantageous to the surviving spores. We assessed how the number of strains, as well as their genetic and geographic relationships to one another, impact the group’s morphology and productivity. We find that some strains consistently enhance or detract from the productivity of their groups, regardless of the identity of the other group members. We also detect extensive pairwise and higher-order genotype interactions, which collectively have a large influence on the group phenotype. Whereas previous work in Dictyostelium has focused almost exclusively on whether spore production is equitable when strains cooperate to form multicellular fruiting bodies, our results suggest a previously unrecognized impact of chimeric co-development on the group phenotype. Our results demonstrate how interactions among members of a group influence collective phenotypes and how group phenotypes might in turn impact selection on the individual.
Sexual conflict over phenological traits: selection for protandry can lock populations into temporally mismatched reproduction
Authors: Ekrem Runa K , Kokko Hanna
Published: March 2023

In seasonal environments, competition among males can drive males to emerge before females. Females, simultaneously, should avoid emerging at times after sufficient male availability. We show that the consequent sexual conflict over timing traits can produce arms races toward ever earlier emergence, if low mate-search efficiency or sperm limitation elevate the latter risk for females. In reality, however, arms races over timing cannot proceed indefinitely as this ignores the relevant ecological context for phenology: the temporal niche of resource availability for offspring development. We model the interaction of natural and sexual selection to predict the sexual conflict load, i.e., the loss of population fitness caused by sexual conflict. We show that selection to avoid matelessness can exacerbate another problem of maladaptation: a temporal mismatch between the organism (e.g., insect) and its resource (e.g., host plant). Load frequently associates with protandry if males can mate multiply, yet lack of multiple mating does not imply zero load. A temporal mismatch can still evolve, where both sexes emerge and mate suboptimally early with respect to the seasonal resource peak, because monogamy does not guarantee that every individual finds one mate, and selection favors early individuals in mate-finding contexts.
Using genome scans to identify genes used repeatedly for adaptation
Authors: Booker Tom R , Yeaman Sam , Whitlock Michael C
Published: March 2023

Adaptation occurring in similar genes or genomic regions in distinct lineages provides evolutionary biologists with a glimpse at the fundamental opportunities for and constraints to diversification. With the widespread availability of high-throughput sequencing technologies and the development of population genetic methods to identify the genetic basis of adaptation, studies have begun to compare the evidence for adaptation at the molecular level among distinct lineages. However, methods to study repeated adaptation are often oriented toward genome-wide testing to identify a set of genes with signatures of repeated use, rather than evaluating the significance at the level of an individual gene. In this study, we propose PicMin, a novel statistical method derived from the theory of order statistics that can test for repeated molecular evolution to estimate significance at the level of an individual gene, using the results of genome scans. This method is generalizable to any number of lineages and, indeed, statistical power to detect repeated adaptation increases with the number of lineages that have signals of repeated adaptation of a given gene in multiple lineages. An implementation of the method written for R can be downloaded from https://github.com/TBooker/PicMin.
Hybrid zone or hybrid lineage: a genomic reevaluation of Sibley’s classic species conundrum inPipilotowhees
Authors: DeRaad Devon A , Applewhite Emily E , Tsai Whitney L E , Terrill Ryan S , Kingston Sarah E , Braun Michael J , McCormack John E
Published: March 2023

Hybrid zones can be studied by modeling clines of trait variation (e.g., morphology, genetics) over a linear transect. Yet, hybrid zones can also be spatially complex, can shift over time, and can even lead to the formation of hybrid lineages with the right combination of dispersal and vicariance. We reassessed Sibley’s (1950) gradient between Collared Towhee (Pipilo ocai) and Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) in Central Mexico to test whether it conformed to a typical tension-zone cline model. By comparing historical and modern data, we found that cline centers for genetic and phenotypic traits have not shifted over the course of 70 years. This equilibrium suggests that secondary contact between these species, which originally diverged over 2 million years ago, likely dates to the Pleistocene. Given the amount of mtDNA divergence, parental ends of the cline have very low autosomal nuclear differentiation (FST = 0.12). Dramatic and coincident cline shifts in mtDNA and throat color suggest the possibility of sexual selection as a factor in differential introgression, while a contrasting cline shift in green back color hints at a role for natural selection. Supporting the idea of a continuum between clinal variation and hybrid lineage formation, the towhee gradient can be analyzed as one population under isolation-by-distance, as a two-population cline, and as three lineages experiencing divergence with gene flow. In the middle of the gradient, a hybrid lineage has become partly isolated, likely due to forested habitat shrinking and fragmenting as it moved upslope after the last glacial maximum and a stark environmental transition. This towhee system offers a window into the potential outcomes of hybridization across a dynamic landscape including the creation of novel genomic and phenotypic combinations and incipient hybrid lineages.
Allometric plasticity and the evolution of environment-by-environment (E×E) interactions during a rapid range expansion of a dung beetle
Authors: Rohner Patrick T , Moczek Armin P
Published: March 2023

Plastic responses to environmental conditions may themselves depend on other environmental conditions, but how such environment-by-environment (E×E) interactions may impact evolution remains unclear. We investigate how temperature shapes the nutritional polyphenism in horn length in a beetle and test whether “allometric plasticity” (a form of E×E) predicts latitudinal differentiation during a rapid range expansion. Rearing populations under common garden conditions demonstrates that increased temperatures reduce the body size threshold separating two male morphs in all populations but also that the magnitude of temperature-dependent changes in allometry diverged across recently established populations. Furthermore, we found a latitudinal increase in the threshold in the species’ exotic range at one of the temperatures, suggesting that allometric plasticity in response to temperature may predict evolved clinal differences. Our findings demonstrate that E×E interactions can be similar in magnitude to G×E interactions and that allometric plasticity and its evolution may impact population’s responses to environmental changes.
NMR metabolomics analysis ofEscherichia colicells treated with Turkish propolis water extract reveals nucleic acid metabolism as the major target
Authors: Elgin E Sonay , Çatav Ş Serter , Babayeva Anara , Kim Hakbeom , Dibek Esra , Çöl Bekir , Chae Young Kee , Kıvrak İbrahim
Published: March 2023

Aims

Propolis is a resinous bee product containing several hundred biologically active compounds. Although the antibacterial activity of propolis has been demonstrated in many in vitro studies, less is known about its mode of action. In this study, we aimed to shed some light on the antibacterial mechanism of action of propolis against Escherichia coli BW25113 using a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) based metabolomics approach.

Methods

E. coli BW25113 cells were subjected to different sub-lethal concentrations (0, 2, 4, and 6 mg/mL) of Turkish propolis water extract (PWE). The 500-MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy was then employed to ascertain the metabolic profiles of E. coli extracts.

Results

A total of 52 metabolites were identified from the NMR spectra, belonging to 17 main classes, such as amino acids and peptides, purines, and fatty acids. Twelve out of these 52 metabolites displayed remarkable changes at all tested PWE concentrations when compared to control conditions (P < .05). Levels of 28 more metabolites were significantly altered in at least one of the three PWE treatments. The results of partial least squares discriminant analysis showed that there was a clear separation between control and propolis-treated cells and that putrescine, adenine, adenosine, guanosine, glucose, N6-acetyllysine, and acetamide had the highest effect on group differentiation. Finally, quantitative pathway analysis revealed that purine metabolism was significantly affected by PWE treatments.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that PWE inhibits the growth of E. coli BW25113 by affecting nucleic acid metabolism to a great extent. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the global metabolic response of a bacterium to propolis.