bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Balance, reframe, and overcome: The attitudes, priorities, and perceptions of exercise‐based activities in youth 12–24 months after a sport‐related ACL injury
Authors: Truong Linda K. , Mosewich Amber D. , Miciak Maxi , Pajkic Andrea , Le Christina Y. , Li Linda C. , Whittaker Jackie L.
Published: May 2021

Attitudes, priorities, and perceptions of exercise directly influence exercise behaviors. Despite the benefits of exercise‐based activities for future health, little is known about how youth who experience an ACL injury view exercise‐based activity beyond the immediate recovery period. A qualitative (interpretative description) approach with one‐to‐one semistructured interviews was used to probe the current attitudes, priorities, and perceptions of exercise‐therapy, physical activity, and sport participation with a purposive sample of youth from an ongoing inception cohort study who experienced an ACL tear or reconstruction in the past 12–24 months. Analyses followed an inductive approach guided by an analytic interpretative description process. Reflexive journaling, memoing, and a detailed audit trail promoted data trustworthiness. A patient‐partner was involved throughout. Ten youth (six women, four men), 15–19 years of age, and a median of 20‐months (16–26) from injury were interviewed. Three overarching themes were identified. ‘Balancing physical activity and future knee health’ highlighted ongoing negotiations between what were perceived to be competing priorities for return‐to‐sport and future knee health. ‘Reframing the value of exercise‐therapy and physical activity’ reflected the importance of reshaping attitudes toward exercise as positive and was linked to exercise adherence. ‘Overcoming unforeseen exercise challenges’ encompassed persisting psychological and physical challenges perceived to limit exercise‐based activities. Clinical significance: reframing exercise‐based activities in a positive light and leveraging motivation for return‐to‐sport and life‐long knee health may be important strategies for encouraging ongoing exercise therapy and physical activity following a youth ACL injury.
Extremely foldable LTPS TFT backplane using blue laser annealing for low‐cost manufacturing of rollable and foldable AMOLED display
Authors: Lee Suhui , Do Youngbin , Kim Dongjin , Jang Jin
Published: May 2021

The crystallization of a‐Si by blue laser annealing (BLA) is introduced for low‐cost, high‐resolution thin‐film transistor (TFT) backplanes for foldable and rollable AMOLED displays. A big advantage of BLA is to provide low‐temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) with protrusion‐free active channel. The BLA LTPS TFT manufactured on flexible substrate exhibits high field‐effect mobility of 169 cm2/Vs, a smaller subthreshold voltage swing less than 201 mV/dec, and excellent electrical stability and mechanical robustness.
Knowledge sharing in times of a pandemic: An intergenerational learning approach
Authors: Singh Surabhi , Thomas Nobin , Numbudiri Ranjeet
Published: May 2021

Knowledge sharing is a key challenge for modern organizations, especially in periods of uncertainty such as that of the current pandemic. This conceptual paper argues that intergenerational learning (IGL) is a useful intervention to address the challenge of knowledge sharing in the New Ways of Working. We conducted an integrated literature review based on the PRISMA methodology. Our findings reveal the limited adoption of reverse mentoring in practice, indicating the need to have a more curated intervention to promote knowledge sharing in modern organizations. We advance the discourse about reverse mentoring with the aim of overcoming its challenges and presenting a self‐driven approach to sharing the tacit knowledge inherent in an organization. The study contributes by presenting a conceptual model of IGL that promotes knowledge sharing during the COVID‐19 pandemic through the leveraging of the multi‐generational workforce's diversity. Further, the study has implications for practice that can aid effective knowledge management in the current times.
Characterization of Tunable Poly‐ε‐Lysine‐Based Hydrogels for Corneal Tissue Engineering
Authors: Lace Rebecca , Duffy Georgia L. , Gallagher Andrew G. , Doherty Kyle G. , Maklad Osama , Wellings Donald A. , Williams Rachel L.
Published: May 2021

A family of poly‐ε‐lysine hydrogels can be synthesized by crosslinking with bis‐carboxylic acids using carbodiimide chemistry. In addition to creating hydrogels using a simple cast method, a fragmented method is used to introduce increased porosity within the hydrogel structure. Both methods have created tunable characteristics ranging in their mechanical properties, transparency, and water content, which is of interest to corneal tissue engineering and can be tailored to specific cellular needs and applications. With a worldwide shortage of cornea donor tissue available for transplant and limitations including rejection and potential infection, a synthetic material that can be used as a graft, or a partial thickness corneal replacement, would be an advantageous treatment method. These hydrogels can be tuned to have similar mechanical and transparency properties to the human cornea. They also support the attachment and growth of corneal epithelial cells and the integration of corneal stromal cells.
Significantly Red‐Shifted Emissions of Nonconventional AIE Polymers Containing Zwitterionic Components
Authors: Huang Qing , Cheng Jiaqi , Tang Yuran , Wu Yongqiong , Xia Dan , Zheng Yuchen , Guo Mingming
Published: May 2021

Nonconventional luminescence polymers without any aromatic structures have attracted great interest from researchers due to their special structure and excellent biocompatibility. However, these materials mostly emit in the blue or green region, in which preparation of materials with long‐wavelength (especially near‐infrared) emission is still a great challenge. In this work, it is found that 2‐(dimethyl amino) ethyl methacrylate (DMA) and itaconic anhydride (ITA) undergo a ring‐opening reaction at room temperature, and subsequently generate zwitterionic compound (IDMA). Based on the clustering‐triggered emission (CTE) mechanism, ionic bond can effectively promote the isolated electron‐rich chromophores to form new emissive clusters with extended electron delocalization. Herein, two oligomers (P1 and P2) with different fluorescence emissions by controlling the concentration of zwitterionic monomers before polymerization are synthesized. It is worth noting that the maximum emission wavelength of P2 at high concentration is up to 712 nm, which is very rare in previous reports. In addition, the resulting oligomer (P2) shows typical aggregation‐enhanced emission (AEE), excitation‐dependent fluorescence, temperature‐sensitive emission, and solvatochromism. The cytotoxicity assay demonstrates that P2 was low toxic to Huh7 and LM3 cells, and suitable for cell imaging. This research provides the possibility for rational molecular design and the feasibility of luminescence regulation.
Age Determination of Hybrid Catfish and Channel Catfish from Commercial Catfish Farms
Authors: Creel James D. , Hanson Terrill R. , Roy Luke A. , Sammons Steven M.
Published: May 2021

Processing plants prefer live catfish ranging from 0.45 to 1.81 kg as they are readily processed and sold to established markets. Catfish routinely escape harvest, become “big fish” (>1.81 kg) in one to two production cycles, receive a reduced price, and can reduce farm profitability. This study determined age structure of Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus and hybrid catfish (male Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus × female Channel Catfish) that were “big fish” from commercial catfish ponds and estimated growth rates to determine when fish reach these sizes. In summer 2018, 153 Channel Catfish and 134 hybrid catfish were collected from commercial catfish farms in western Alabama and aged using lapilli otoliths. Hybrid catfish had faster growth than Channel Catfish and were larger at every age-class sampled during the study. Premium-sized fish were comprised solely of age-2 and age-3 fish for both species, but 72% of age-2 Channel Catfish were premium size, compared to only 40% of age-2 hybrid catfish. On average, Channel Catfish and hybrid catfish reached “big fish” size in 2.5 and 1.5 years, respectively. Thus, farmers should try to harvest most fish within these time frames or renovate ponds to mitigate these issues.
High performance gate tunable solar blind ultraviolet phototransistors based on amorphous Ga2O3 films grown by mist chemical vapor deposition
Authors: Xu Yu , Cheng Yaolin , Li Zhe , Feng Qian , Zhang Yachao , Chen Dazheng , Zhu Weidong , Zhang Jincheng , Zhang Chunfu , Hao Yue
Published: May 2021

Gallium Oxide (Ga2O3) for solar‐blind photodetectors (PDs) has drawing increasing research interest in recent years because of its natural wide bandgap. However, the traditional material growth methods are always complicated and the corresponding PD performance is also not good enough. In this work, amorphous Ga2O3 (a‐Ga2O3) thin film grown by mist chemical deposition applied as solar blind deep ultraviolet phototransistors (PTs) is investigated for the first time, to solve the problem of high cost and time‐consuming by traditional methods. Bottom‐gate a‐Ga2O3 three terminal thin film transistors (TFTs) are fabricated to boost their ultraviolet (UV) photodetection properties. Under the 254 nm UV illumination, the a‐Ga2O3 PTs demonstrates a very high responsivity of 2300 AW−1, external quantum efficiency of 1.12 × 106% and detectivity of 1.87 × 1014 Jones. Such field‐effect PTs with the ultrahigh performance address a significant step toward the feasibility and practicability of Ga2O3 PDs in the future applications.
The long‐term prognosis of hippocampal neurogenesis and behavioral changes of offspring from rats exposed to valproic acid during pregnancy
Authors: Ito Masanobu , Kinjo Tomoya , Seki Tatsunori , Horie Junko , Suzuki Toshihito
Published: May 2021

Aim

In pregnant women with epilepsy, it is essential to balance maternal safety and the potential teratogenicity of anticonvulsants. Recently, growing evidence has indicated that valproic acid (VPA) can produce postnatal congenital malformations and impair cognitive function. However, the mechanisms underlying cognitive dysfunction in long‐term prognoses remain unclear.

Methods

Pregnant Wistar rats received daily intraperitoneal injections of VPA (200 mg/kg/day) from embryonic day 12.5 until birth. On postnatal day (PD) 149, the rats received an injection of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). On PD 150, the rats were subjected to the open field (OF), elevated plus‐maze (EPM), and Y‐maze tests. After behavioral testing, perfusion fixation was performed and the brain was dissected for immunohistochemistry.

Results

A significant marked decrease was seen in the number of BrdU‐positive cells in the dentate gyrus of offspring of VPA‐treated dams compared to those of control. However, no significant differences in hyperactivity were found based on the results of the OF test among the offspring on PD 150 of 200 VPA‐treated dams. In addition, no significant differences were seen in the EPM test.

Conclusion

The behavioral abnormality observed in young offspring of VPA‐treated dams was not significantly different from that of controls in adult offspring on PD 150. However, compared with controls, the number of BrdU‐positive cells in VPA‐treated rats was halved. The findings suggest that the behavioral abnormality seems to improve as they grow, even if some structural abnormalities may remain in the central nervous system.
Perceptions of education during COVID‐19 among agronomy, soil, and environmental science students
Authors: Moorberg Colby J. , Howe Sarah , Donnelly Kevin J. , Min Doohong
Published: May 2021

The COVID‐19 pandemic required changes in college course delivery, which may influence student perceptions of their education. We examined those perceptions among Students of Agronomy, Soil, and Environmental Sciences (SASES). The goals were to determine how changes in education during the COVID‐19 pandemic (a) changed student perceptions of online education, (b) shifted student comfort with online education and communication, and (c) highlighted issues limiting student success. A link to an online survey was sent to SASES members in late 2020 resulting in 31 responses. Course format shifted from mostly face‐to‐face delivery to synchronous and asynchronous online delivery following the COVID‐19 shutdown. Students perceived decreased instructor effort and increased student effort. Nearly all students had access to devices. However, access to fast, reliable internet was a common issue. A small percentage of students were more likely to take online courses after the pandemic, yet a majority were now more comfortable taking online classes and using virtual meeting software. Student concern for COVID‐19 was low. However, most reported wearing masks in buildings and on campus. Students reported increases and decreases in hours worked, with both changes resulting in perceived positive and negative academic impacts. These results should be considered by instructors and administrators planning instruction format changes during and after the COVID‐19 pandemic.
When low and high tech solutions converge: Adapting to teaching soils during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Mashtare Michael L. , Lee Charlotte I. , Fulk‐Bringman Sherry S. , Lott Erica A.
Published: May 2021

COVID‐19 restrictions required a transition of our Soil Science and Forest Soils courses to an online format. A pre‐transition survey found that ∼10% of students enrolled in our courses lacked high‐speed internet capable of streaming videos and/or computers compatible with the applications in our Learning Management System (LMS). To ensure that students with limited internet or technology were not left behind, we adopted a low‐tech/bandwidth delivery (slides + transcript with LMS‐delivered assessments) of all lectures and recitation activities. Students could also complete either a low‐tech/bandwidth (lab slides + transcripts) or high‐tech/bandwidth lab option (delivered via video). Upon completion, students were surveyed to assess preferences and perceptions which are vital in understanding how our approach impacted student motivation, engagement with the material, and overall course satisfaction. Despite 90% of the students having access to high‐speed internet, ∼45% of the students used the low‐tech solutions either exclusively or half the time, even when high‐tech options (such as video) were available. Overall, students felt the low‐tech/bandwidth delivery of the lecture (∼87%) and recitation (∼76%) material was effective. Students (∼74%) also reported that online delivery of the lab material effectively supported their learning and was an effective replacement for the in‐lab learning experience. Students preferred in‐person to online delivery (63 vs. 17%) with 20% undecided. Noting the flexibility and organization of the course, 69% of the students felt the online delivery of our courses was more effective than their other courses despite, or perhaps because of, the lack of high‐tech delivery. Our experience demonstrates one approach to adapting an in‐person course to a virtual environment that considers inequities in broadband and technology access. Despite being perceived as effective by our students, low‐tech options were less preferred than in‐person instruction suggesting that, while effective, it was not viewed as equivalent.
Human subsistence strategy in the Ordos Plateau, Inner Mongolia, China, during the Qin and Han dynasties: Using stable isotope analysis
Authors: Hou Liangliang , Hu Chunbai , Wu Tianhui , Zhao Yanni , Deng Hui , Guo Yi
Published: May 2021

This article aims to reveal the subsistence economy of the Qin and Han empires and why they continued to advance northward to defeat the Huns (Xiongnu 匈奴) and other grassland peoples in the Ordos Plateau. We present the δ13C and δ15N results for the dietary reconstruction of animals and humans from the Fuluta cemetery in the Ordos Plateau, a nomadic farming junction area, from the late Qin dynasty (221–207 BCE) to the Western Han dynasty (202 BCE to 8 AD). Results show that the δ13C and δ15N values for humans (−8.5 ± 0.4‰, 9.2 ± 0.5‰, n = 29), pigs (−8.6 ± 1.4‰, 7.7 ± 1.1‰, n = 3) and dogs (−9.1 ± 0.3‰, 7.7 ± 0.4‰, n = 3) were generally higher than those for cattle (−15.7 ± 1.4‰, 6.5 ± 1.0‰, n = 8) and sheep (−17.8 ± 0.9‰, 6.2 ± 1.6‰, n = 11), indicating humans, pigs and dogs may have relied primarily on C4‐based food (millet), whereas cattle and sheep mainly relied on C3‐based food (wild plants). Related research shows that the diet of the population of the Fuluta cemetery was relatively homogenous and mainly based on millet agriculture and domestic animals, such as pigs, indicating that millet‐based agriculture was narrowly focused on for subsistence in the frontier region of northern China. The results of stable isotope work of the past populations in the surrounding areas of the Ordos Plateau from the period of the late Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BCE) to the Han dynasties (202 BCE to 220 AD) show trends of northward advancement and stability of the agricultural economy were constantly strengthening. Therefore, agriculturalization in the Ordos Plateau may have been the motivating force for Qin and Han imperial expansion into the frontier region.
Recurrence Outcomes Less Favorable in T1 Rectal Cancer than in T1 Colon Cancer
Authors: Chang Li-Chun , Shun Chia-Tung , Lin Been-Ren , Sanduleanu Silvia , Hsu Weng-Feng , Wu Ming-Shiang , Chiu Han-Mo
Published: May 2021

Background

With the implementation of screening programs worldwide, diagnosis of early-stage colorectal cancer steadily increased, including T1 cancer. Current T1 cancer treatment does not differ according to anatomic location. We therefore compared the disease-free survival of T1 cancer arising from the rectum versus the colon.

Methods

The hospital-based study included subjects with T1 cancer at National Taiwan University Hospital from 2005 to 2014. Clinical, colonoscopy, and histopathology were reviewed for patients with a mean follow-up time of 7.1 (0.7–12.9) years. We conducted Kaplan-Meier analysis to compare the risk of recurrence by cancer location and Cox regression analysis to identify risk factors for T1 cancer recurrence.

Results

The final cohort included a total of 343 subjects with T1 cancer (mean age, 64.9 ± 11.7 years; 56.1% male), of whom 25 underwent endoscopic resection alone. Of the subjects who underwent surgery, 50 had lymph node metastasis and 268 did not. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the risk of recurrence was higher in T1 rectal cancer than T1 colon cancer (p = .022). Rectal location and larger neoplasm size were independent risk factors for recurrence, with hazard ratios of 4.84 (95% confidence interval, 1.18–19.92), and 1.32 (95% confidence interval, 1.06–1.65), respectively. The occurrence of advanced histology did not differ between T1 rectal and colon cancers (p = .58).

Conclusion

T1 cancers arising from the rectum had less favorable recurrence outcomes than those arising from the colon. Further studies are needed to examine whether adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy can reduce the risk of recurrence in T1 rectal cancer.

Implications for Practice

Current T1 colorectal cancer treatment and surveillance do not differ according to anatomic location. Clinical, colonoscopy, and histopathology were reviewed for 343 patients with T1 cancer with a mean follow-up time of 7.1 years. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the risk of recurrence was higher in T1 rectal cancer than T1 colon cancer. Moreover, the rectal location was an independent risk factor for recurrence. T1 cancers from the rectum had less favorable recurrence outcomes than those arising from the colon. It is critical to clarify whether adjuvant therapy or more close surveillance can reduce recurrence risk in T1 rectal cancer.
Comorbid early psychosis and borderline personality disorder: Conceptualizing clinical overlap, etiology, and treatment
Authors: West Michelle L. , Guest Ryan M. , Carmel Adam
Published: May 2021

Despite substantial efforts aimed at the detection and intervention for early symptoms of mental illness, there is relatively limited research on the clinical overlap between borderline personality disorder (BPD) and early psychosis, for example, clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis, in young people. We present a narrative review of the clinical overlap between BPD and psychosis spectrum symptoms. Both conditions have unstable temporal course, and both are marked by functional impairment, increased suicide risk, and higher rates of psychiatric inpatient services. We then review evidence‐based treatments for psychosis and BPD, emphasizing treatments for early presentations of these symptoms and initial research considering treatments for the overlap. Psychotherapies with the strongest empirical support include cognitive behavioral models, with BPD showing limited response to adjunctive pharmacotherapy. We end by discussing specific recommendations for future research, including longitudinal studies to determine the predictors of the course of illness and the development of treatments to target comorbid BPD and CHR symptoms.
Sensitivity assessment andSDHC‐I86Fmutation frequency ofPhakopsora pachyrhizipopulations to benzovindiflupyr and fluxapyroxad fungicides from 2015 to 2019 inBrazil
Authors: Mello Flávia Elis de , Mathioni Sandra Marisa , Fantin Lucas Henrique , Rosa Daniel Dias , Antunes Ricardo Francisco Desjardins , Filho Norton Rodrigues Chagas , Duvaresch Dhiego Leandro , Canteri Marcelo Giovanetti
Published: May 2021

BACKGROUND

Fungicides of the succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHIs) group have been used in soybean to control Asian soybean rust (ASR) caused byPhakopsora pachyrhizi. Fungal populations with less sensitivity to SDHI fungicides have been reported since 2015.

RESULTS

In this study, fungal sensitivity to benzovindiflupyr (BZV) and fluxapyroxad (FXD) was assessed using a total of 770P. pachyrhizipopulations sampled over four soybean growing seasons. Cross‐resistance, intrinsic activity, and frequency of SDHC‐I86F mutation were also analyzed. The average effective concentration to inhibit 50% (EC50) and SDHC‐I86F frequency increased over the 2015/2016, 2016/2017, 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 soybean‐seasons. FourteenP. pachyrhizipopulations had the EC50value above 10 mg L−1for both carboxamides. No difference was found in intrinsic active to BZV and FXD fungicides for sensitiveP. pachyrhizipopulations. ForP. pachyrhiziclassified as less sensitive BZV showed the highest fungitoxicity effect. High frequency of the C‐I86F mutation was observed in samples collected in volunteer soybean plants. The maximum frequency of SDHC‐I86F mutation in the population was 50% and resulting in ASR populations with low sensitivity to SDHIs. A low correlation between bioassay and SDHC‐I86F mutation was observed possible due to the dikaryotic nature of rust fungi or other mutations in the other succinate dehydrogenase subunits.

CONCLUSION

The present work provides an overview of a large sampling size ofP. pachyrhizipopulations and their performance over the four crop seasons. The high frequency of SDHC‐I86F mutation and low sensitivity to SDHIs are widely distributed in the main soybean growing regions in Brazil and present in volunteer plants in the soybean‐free period. Further detailed studies are needed to identify novel point mutations affecting the effectiveness of SDHIs. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
Detecting placebo and drug effects on Parkinson's disease symptoms by longitudinal item‐score models
Authors: Chen Chao , Jönsson Siv , Yang Shuying , Plan Elodie L. , Karlsson Mats O.
Published: May 2021

This study tested the hypothesis that analyzing longitudinal item scores of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale could allow a smaller trial size and describe a drug's effect on symptom progression. Two historical studies of the dopaminergic drug ropinirole were analyzed: a cross‐over formulation comparison trial in 161 patients with early‐stage Parkinson's disease, and a 24‐week, parallel‐group, placebo‐controlled efficacy trial in 393 patients with advanced‐stage Parkinson's disease. We applied item response theory to estimate the patients’ symptom severity and developed a longitudinal model using the symptom severity to describe the time course of the placebo response and the drug effect on the time course. Similarly, we developed a longitudinal model using the total score. We then compared sample size needs for drug effect detection using these two different models. Total score modeling estimated median changes from baseline at 24 weeks (90% confidence interval) of −3.7 (−5.4 to −2.0) and −9.3 (−11 to −7.3) points by placebo and ropinirole. Comparable changes were estimated (with slightly higher precision) by item‐score modeling as −2.0 (−4.0 to −1.0) and −9.0 (−11 to −8.0) points. The treatment duration was insufficient to estimate the symptom progression rate; hence the drug effect on the progression could not be assessed. The trial sizes to detect a drug effect with 80% power on total score and on symptom severity were estimated (at the type I error level of 0.05) as 88 and 58, respectively. Longitudinal item response analysis could markedly reduce sample size; it also has the potential for assessing drug effects on disease progression in longer trials.
Impact of study design and statistical model in pharmacogenetic studies with gene‐treatment interaction
Authors: Couffignal Camille , Mentré France , Bertrand Julie
Published: May 2021

Gene‐treatment interactions, just like drug‐drug interactions, can have dramatic effects on a patient response and therefore influence the clinician decision at the patient’s bedside. Crossover designs, although they are known to decrease the number of subjects in drug‐interaction studies, are seldom used in pharmacogenetic studies. We propose to evaluate, via realistic clinical trial simulations, to what extent crossover designs can help quantifying the gene‐treatment interaction effect. We explored different scenarios of crossover and parallel design studies comparing two symptom‐modifying treatments in a chronic and stable disease accounting for the impact of a one gene and one gene‐treatment interaction. We varied the number of subjects, the between and within subject variabilities, the gene polymorphism frequency and the effect sizes of the treatment, gene, and gene‐treatment interaction. Each simulated dataset was analyzed using three models: (i) estimating only the treatment effect, (ii) estimating the treatment and the gene effects, and (iii) estimating the treatment, the gene, and the gene‐treatment interaction effects. We showed how ignoring the gene‐treatment interaction results in the wrong treatment effect estimates. We also highlighted how crossover studies are more powerful to detect a treatment effect in the presence of a gene‐treatment interaction and more often lead to correct treatment attribution.
All‐Electrical Magnon Transport Experiments in Magnetically Ordered Insulators
Authors: Althammer Matthias
Published: May 2021

Angular momentum transport is one of the cornerstones of spintronics. Spin angular momentum is not only transported by mobile charge carriers but also by the quantized excitations of the magnetic lattice in magnetically ordered systems. In this regard, magnetically ordered insulators (MOIs) provide a platform for magnon spin transport experiments without additional contributions from spin currents carried by mobile electrons. In combination with charge‐to‐spin current conversion processes in conductors with finite spin–orbit coupling, it is possible to realize all‐electrical magnon transport schemes in thin‐film heterostructures. Herein, an insight into such experiments and recent breakthroughs achieved is provided. Special attention is given to charge‐current‐based manipulation via an adjacent normal metal of magnon transport in MOIs in terms of spin‐transfer torque. Moreover, the influence of two magnon modes with opposite spin in antiferromagnetic insulators on all‐electrical magnon transport experiments is discussed.
Influences of oxidation ability on precision in nitrogen isotope measurements of organic reference materials using elemental analysis‐isotope ratio mass spectrometry
Authors: Wang Nan , Liu Jingyu , Zhang Yang , Xia Cuimei , Lin Deju , Che Yangli , Wu Jianzheng , Bao Rui
Published: May 2021

Rationale

The precision of the standard measurements of reference materials (RMs) is critical to normalize the raw δ15N values of samples to the international scale. Because the measurement configuration is required to moderate the properties of both RMs and samples for obtaining an ideal measurement precision, it is important to determine the appropriate measurement configurations of RMs to achieve accurate nitrogen isotope compositions of samples. Therefore, it is critical to systematically examine RMs for optimizing the configurations and further improve the measurement precision.

Methods

Gas source isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) coupled with an online elemental analyzer (EA) equipped with a single‐quartz reactor was performed to analyze the nitrogen isotope compositions. Some adjustments were made as follows: (a) as the in‐house working standard, urea was used to investigate the influences of combustion through moderating the different oxygen injections (0–20 mL) and sample delay times (10–12 s) and optimize the combustion conditions to enhance oxidation ability; (b) CO2 from the sample gas stream was removed to prevent interferences between CO2 and N2; (c) international RMs, including USGS40 (l‐glutamic), IAEA600 (caffeine), and soil standard (B2153) with a low organic content, were systematically analyzed under the optimized configurations, and the precisions of the δ15N values were further examined.

Results

Our results showed that sufficient oxygen should be injected to improve the sample combustion when analyzing δ15N in natural samples such as soil or marine sediment with low organic content. In addition, the measurement precision of δ15N was affected by the tailing of the CO2 peak from the gas chromatography column into the subsequent sample measurement if the EA is equipped with a single‐quartz reactor column. Our adjustments can produce an optimized repeatability and accuracy of the δ15N value, especially for RMs with low organic content, and the uncertainty of the measurements is improved to be better than 0.1‰ under optimized configurations.

Conclusions

The analytical conditions such as the oxygen flow rate and injection time or sample introduction time into the EA need to be adjusted depending on the combustion conditions of the RMs and samples to obtain a reliable accuracy of measurement. We recommend that when analyzing δ15N of natural samples such as soil or marine sediment samples with low organic content, more oxygen should be injected to improve the combustion of the samples. In addition, CO2 should be removed from the sample gas stream before being introduced into the isotope ratio mass spectrometer when the EA is equipped with a single‐quartz reactor.
Assisted reproductive technique outcomes in patients with endometrioma undergoing sclerotherapy vs laparoscopic cystectomy: Prospective cross‐sectional study
Authors: Alborzi Saeed , Askary Elham , Keramati Pegah , Moradi Alamdarloo Shaghayegh , Poordast Tahereh , Ashraf Mohammad Ali , Shomali Zahra , Namavar Jahromi Behieh , Zahiri Sorouri Ziba
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The authors compared assisted reproductive technique (ART) outcomes and the recurrence rate of endometrioma in the infertile patients undergoing sclerotherapy vs laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy.

Methods

In this prospective cross‐sectional study, a total of 101 infertile patients, with unilateral endometriomas, were divided into two groups. The first group (n = 57) underwent ART after 1 year of unsuccessful spontaneous pregnancy after laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy; the second group (n = 44) had ethanol sclerotherapy (EST) at the time of oocyte retrieval. The authors measured the number of oocytes, clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), live birth rate (LBR), complication, and recurrence of endometriomas as the primary and secondary outcomes.

Results

The two groups had no significant differences in baseline characteristics and ovarian stimulation markers and also total number of oocytes. 42.1% and 34.1% of the patients (n = 24 and 15) had clinical pregnancy, and 38.6% and 29.5% (n = 22 and 13) had live birth following ART cycles in the surgery group and sclerotherapy group (P = .41, 0.34). The recurrence rates were 14.0% and 34.1% in the surgery and sclerotherapy groups (P = .017, X2 = 5.67).

Conclusions

Ethanol sclerotherapy can be a good alternative to surgery concerning the treatment of endometrioma; however, the recurrence of the disease in this group is significantly higher.
A novel adaptive code block group hybrid automatic repeat request scheme for low earth orbit satellite networks
Authors: Deng Zhongliang , Liu Hao , Wang Ke , Lin Wenliang , Yu Xiaoyi , Zheng Shixuan
Published: May 2021

Low earth orbit (LEO) satellite networks provide important support to expand 5G‐and‐beyond networks to realize global coverage. Hybrid automatic repeat requests (HARQs) can greatly improve the reliability of transmission through dynamic satellite channels. Due to the large propagation delay in LEO satellite channels, the biggest challenges of HARQ in satellite networks are the delayed channel state information (CSI) and overflow of receiver memory. In this paper, we propose a novel adaptive code block group HARQ (ACBG‐HARQ) scheme that achieves lower retransmission rates with reliable data receiving. First, we build a new channel state model (CSM) to describe the relationship between the packet error rate (PER) and global channel degradation. Three states of receiver memory allocation for HARQ are designed with respect to the channel state and memory occupation: idle state, non‐full state, and full state. Then, we propose an optimal HARQ scheme for LEO satellite networks with the Markov decision process (MDP) based on the fuzzy Q‐learning (FQL) algorithm to improve the accuracy of ACBG‐HARQ state transfer, which contributes to adaptive selection of the HARQ code block group size. Simulation results show that the ACBG‐HARQ scheme can achieve a maximum spectrum efficiency gain of 10% and that the probability of receiver memory overflow is reduced by 1%∼6%.
Production, consumers' convenience, and cynical economies: The case of Uber in Buenos Aires
Authors: del Nido Juan M.
Published: May 2021

Based on twelve months of fieldwork into Uber's conflict in Buenos Aires, Argentina, this article examines convenience's role in the emergence of what I call cynical economies: a method and logic of production expressly organized on the awareness of a distance the very rhetoric of convenience exacerbates. For the city's middle class, convenience defined a democratizing, empowering arena of private relations away from the hierarchies and exclusions proper to the private sphere. As Uber's ratings translated consumers' experiences into a political economy for the trade, drivers organized the production of the ride knowing that whatever exceeded the immediate intelligibility of the experience could not matter in that political economy. In the process, cynical economies delegitimize complex and inherently social categories like risk, responsibility, and liability, as well as the social sphere that frames them, without offering an alternative order in return.
Can Atopic Eczema and Psoriasis Coexist? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Cunliffe A. , Gran S. , Ali U. , Grindlay D. , Lax S. J. , Williams H. C. , Burden-Teh E.
Published: May 2021

Importance

Previous studies report both coexistence and mutual exclusivity of atopic eczema (AE) and psoriasis, but these have not been appraised systematically. Knowledge of such disease association throws light on disease mechanisms and may influence therapeutic choices.

Objective

To summarise evidence for AE and psoriasis occurring in the same person at the same point in time. Planned primary outcome was the incidence, prevalence or risk of psoriasis or eczema.

Methods

Ovid MEDLINE and Ovid Embase were searched from inception to 1st February 2020. The search strategy was built around the key terms ‘atopic eczema’, ‘psoriasis’ and ‘co-existence’. Observational studies (cohort, case-control, cross-sectional and case-series) with a minimum of 10 consecutive patients were included. There were no restrictions on participants, geography or language. Studies were selected, data extracted and critically appraised by two independent reviewers. Data were extracted on the method of diagnosis: health professional (dermatologist, criteria, other), self-reported, not specified. Study quality was assessed using validated Joanna Brigg's Institute critical appraisal tools. A random-effects model was used to combine studies. The effect of study quality on the pooled estimate was investigated using stratification. Heterogeneity was explored by subgroup analysis.

Results

This review included 31 studies and 20 523 individuals with psoriasis and 1 405 911 with AE. Eight studies reported the prevalence of AE in those with psoriasis and values ranged from 0.17% to 20%: the pooled prevalence was 2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1, 3). Seven studies reported the prevalence of psoriasis in those with AE and values ranged from 0.3% to 12.6%; the pooled prevalence was 2% (95% CI: 1, 3). Ten studies were assessed as low risk of bias. Geographical area, method of diagnosis, setting and whether the assessment of diagnosis was blinded, partly contributed to the heterogeneity.

Conclusions

This review provides some evidence for the coexistence of AE and psoriasis. Clinicians should be aware of coexistence at diagnosis, when selecting therapies and when reviewing poor response to treatment.
Prurigo Strophulus: Epidemiological, Clinical Aspects and Environmental Factors Among Children in Yaoundé, Cameroon (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Authors: Kouotou E. A. , Nguena Feungue U. , Engolo Fandio A. , Tounouga D. N. , Ndjitoyap Ndam E. C.
Published: May 2021

Background

Prurigo Strophulus (PS) is a chronic and recurrent inflammatory disease caused by a hypersensitivity reaction to arthropod bites. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of PS and its clinical characteristic in our context.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional study during February to May 2017 in Dermatology's units of six hospitals in Yaoundé. Children with clinical signs of PS were included. A questionnaire was administered for data collection.

Results

A total of 112 children (62 boys and 50 girls) were included in the study, with a median age of 2 years; with range varied from 5 months to 16 years. The prevalence of PS was 5.4%. The most represented age group was 0–5 years (78.6%). PS lesions were most often located in exposed areas of body such as lower limbs (101/112; 90.2%), upper limbs (85/112; 75.9%) and face (19.6%). Papule-vesicle (87.5%) was the predominant type of lesions.

Conclusion

PS is a common disease in Yaoundé (Cameroon). Papule-vesicle lesions are the most frequent signs. It is usually found in exposure areas of body.
Recent progress on motion control of swimming micro/nanorobots
Authors: Yu Shimin , Cai Yang , Wu Zhiguang , He Qiang
Published: May 2021

Swimming micro/nanorobots attract considerable attention due to their considerable promises in various fields ranging from environmental remediation to biomedicine. However, the control system for optimal trajectory and precise localization is an exciting yet challenging for the existing swimming micro/nanorobots. Researchers have used different actuation systems allowing multiple degrees of freedom to actuate swimming microrobots with various motion control methods from well‐controlled physicochemical processes to achieve autonomous movement along the gradient of various chemical or physical fields. Furthermore, with the advance of intelligent technology, machine learning strategies have been considered for intelligent control of swimming microrobots. In this paper, we summarized directly manual control and autonomous tactic motion of swimming micro/nanorobots. The application of reinforcement learning in controllable motions of swimming microrobots was also elaborated.
Constraints on discrete global symmetries in quantum gravity
Authors: Ali Passant , Eichhorn Astrid , Pauly Martin , Scherer Michael M.
Published: May 2021

Abstract

The question whether global symmetries can be realized in quantum-gravity-matter-systems has far-reaching phenomenological consequences. Here, we collect evidence that within an asymptotically safe context, discrete global symmetries of the form ℤn, n > 4, cannot be realized in a near-perturbative regime. In contrast, an effective-field-theory approach to quantum gravity might feature such symmetries, providing a mechanism to generate mass hierarchies in the infrared without the need for additional fine-tuning.
Revisiting electroweak radiative corrections to b → sℓℓ in SMEFT
Authors: Endo Motoi , Mishima Satoshi , Ueda Daiki
Published: May 2021

Abstract

We revisit electroweak radiative corrections to Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT) operators which are relevant for the B-meson semileptonic decays. The one-loop matching formulae onto the low-energy effective field theory are provided without imposing any flavor symmetry. The on-shell conditions are applied especially in dealing with quark-flavor mixings. Also, the gauge independence is shown explicitly in the Rξ gauge.
Circulating PD-L1 levels change during bevacizumab-based treatment in recurrent glioma
Authors: Mair Maximilian J. , Ilhan-Mutlu Ayseguel , Pajenda Sahra , Kiesel Barbara , Wöhrer Adelheid , Widhalm Georg , Dieckmann Karin , Marosi Christine , Wagner Ludwig , Preusser Matthias , Berghoff Anna S.
Published: May 2021

Purpose

In primary brain tumors, the efficacy of immune-modulating therapies is still under investigation as inflammatory responses are restricted by tight immunoregulatory mechanisms in the central nervous system. Here, we measured soluble PD-L1 (sPD-L1) in the plasma of patients with recurrent glioblastoma (GBM) and recurrent WHO grade II–III glioma treated with bevacizumab-based salvage therapy.

Methods

Thirty patients with recurrent GBM and 10 patients with recurrent WHO grade II–III glioma were treated with bevacizumab-based salvage therapy at the Medical University of Vienna. Prior to each treatment cycle, EDTA plasma was drawn and sPD-L1 was measured applying a sandwich ELISA with a lower detection limit of 0.050 ng/ml. Leukocyte counts and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured according to institutional practice.

Results

Median number of sPD-L1 measurements was 6 per patient (range: 2–24). At baseline, no significant difference in sPD-L1 concentrations was observed between WHO grade II–III glioma and GBM. Intra-patient variability of sPD-L1 concentrations was significantly higher in WHO grade II–III glioma than in GBM (p = 0.014) and tendentially higher in IDH-mutant than in IDH-wildtype glioma (p = 0.149) In WHO grade II–III glioma, sPD-L1 levels were significantly lower after one administration of bevacizumab than at baseline (median: 0.039 ng/ml vs. 0.4855 ng/ml, p = 0.036). In contrast, no significant change could be observed in patients with GBM.

Conclusions

Changes in systemic inflammation markers including sPD-L1 are observable in patients with recurrent glioma under bevacizumab-based treatment and differ between WHO grade II–III glioma and GBM.
Porcine Acellular Dermal Matrix Increases Fat Survival Rate after Fat Grafting in Nude Mice
Authors: Zhu Meishu , Zhu Meihui , Wu Xiaoling , Xu Meiquan , Fan Kunwu , Wang Jinming , Zhang Liyong , Yin Meifang , Wu Jun , Zhu Zhixiang , Yang Guang
Published: May 2021

Background

Autologous fat grafts have been widely in use for reconstruction, contour abnormalities, and cosmetic surgeries. However, the grafted fat one-year survival rate is unpredictable and always low (20%–80%). Standardizing the existing transplantation technology is difficult due to the limiting conditions. Scaffold materials or drugs are unsuitable to employ because of legal restrictions, complex production, and undetermined hazards. Therefore, a simpler and more effective approach to improve grafted fat survival rate is using commercial products as additives. Earlier studies proved that porcine acellular dermal matrix (PADM), a biomaterial clinically used for wound repair, could work as a scaffold for lipo-implantation. This study aimed at investigating the hitherto unclear effect of PADM on transplanted fat survival.

Methods

Thirty-two 8-week-old female nude mice were divided into two groups. Control mice received a 300 μl fat injection, while the PADM group mice were injected with a 300 μl PADM-fat mixture. After a 4-week treatment, fat weight and liquefaction ratio were assessed. Histological changes were quantified via hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) staining. Macrophage infiltration and vascular regeneration were revealed using an anti-CD34 antibody. Mouse and human mRNA expression levels were gauged via RNA-sequencing. On the third day post implantation, the mRNA expression levels of inflammatory genes Mcp-1 and Tnf-α were measured by qRT-PCR.

Results

The weight of surviving grafted fat did not differ between the control and the PADM group. However, adding PADM significantly decreased fat liquefaction. H&E-stained sections showed that PADM decreased fat necrosis, increased fat tissue regeneration, and raised CD34 levels in the regenerated tissue. RNA-sequencing showed that, compared to controls, fats from PADM-added group expressed more mouse-related mRNA but less human-related mRNA. The following GO and KEGG analysis showed that added PADM increased extracellular matrix (ECM) genes expression levels. The qRT-PCR showed that adding PADM increased Mcp-1 and Tnf-α mRNA expression levels.

Conclusions

In summary, PADM addition increased fat survival rate by reducing fat liquefaction through an increased macrophage infiltration, ECM regeneration, and revascularization. Therefore, PADM addition is a workable application in autologous fat grafting.

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What is known about palliative care in adult patients with allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT)?
Authors: Simon Steffen T. , Pralong Anne , Hallek Michael , Scheid Christoph , Holtick Udo , Herling Marco
Published: May 2021

Patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) are given a real chance of cure, but at the same time are confronted with a considerable risk of mortality and of severe long-term impediments. This narrative, non-systematic literature review aims to describe the supportive and palliative care needs of allo-SCT recipients, including long-term survivors or those relapsing or dying after transplantation. It also evaluates the feasibility and effectivity of integrating palliative care early in transplant procedures. In this appraisal of available literature, the main findings relate to symptoms like fatigue and psychological distress, which appear to be very common in the whole allo-SCT trajectory and might even persist many years post-transplantation. Chronic GvHD has a major negative impact on quality of life. Overall, there is a paucity of research on further issues in the context of allo-SCT, like the distress related to the frequently unpredictable post-transplant trajectory and prognosis, as well as the end-of-life phase. First randomized controlled results support the effectiveness of early integration of specialized palliative care expertise into transplant algorithms. Barriers to this implementation are discussed.