bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diverse contribution of amniogenic somatopleural cells to cardiovascular development: With special reference to thyroid vasculature
Authors: Haneda Yuka , Miyagawa‐Tomita Sachiko , Uchijima Yasunobu , Iwase Akiyasu , Asai Rieko , Kohro Takahide , Wada Youichiro , Kurihara Hiroki
Published: August 2022

Background

The somatopleure serves as the primordium of the amnion, an extraembryonic membrane surrounding the embryo. Recently, we have reported that amniogenic somatopleural cells (ASCs) not only form the amnion but also migrate into the embryo and differentiate into cardiomyocytes and vascular endothelial cells. However, detailed differentiation processes and final distributions of these intra‐embryonic ASCs (hereafter referred to as iASCs) remain largely unknown.

Results

By quail‐chick chimera analysis, we here show that iASCs differentiate into various cell types including cardiomyocytes, smooth muscle cells, cardiac interstitial cells, and vascular endothelial cells. In the pharyngeal region, they distribute selectively into the thyroid gland and differentiate into vascular endothelial cells to form intra‐thyroid vasculature. Explant culture experiments indicated sequential requirement of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling for endothelial differentiation of iASCs. Single‐cell transcriptome analysis further revealed heterogeneity and the presence of hemangioblast‐like cell population within ASCs, with a switch from FGF to VEGF receptor gene expression.

Conclusion

The present study demonstrates novel roles of ASCss especially in heart and thyroid development. It will provide a novel clue for understanding the cardiovascular development of amniotes from embryological and evolutionary perspectives.
Gold‐dendrimer Nanocomposite Based Electrochemical Sensor for Dopamine
Authors: Sipuka Dimpo S. , Arotiba Omotayo A. , Sebokolodi Tsholofelo I. , Tsekeli Tebogo R. , Nkosi Duduzile
Published: August 2022

An electrochemical sensor for dopamine was developed by electrodepositing poly(propylene imine) (PPI) dendrimer and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) onto a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Electrochemical characterisation of the sensor was carried out by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in ferri/ferrocyanide electrolyte. The nanocomposite electrode (GCE‐PPI‐AuNPs) showed improved electroactive surface area and electrochemical response over bare GCE. The sensor recorded a detection limit of 0.16 μM over a concentration range of 0.1 μM to 125 μM. The sensor was applied for dopamine detection in human serum samples and in the presence of interfering substances such as ascorbic acid and epinephrine.
Photocatalytic degradation of p‐nitrophenol in wastewater by heterogeneous cobalt supported ZnO nanoparticles: Modeling and optimization using response surface methodology
Authors: Akhtar Adnan , Akram Kalsoom , Aslam Zaheer , Ihsanullah Ihsanullah , Baig Nadeem , Bello Mustapha Mohammed
Published: August 2022

In this work, we investigated the photocatalytic degradation of p‐nitrophenol using a cobalt (Co)‐doped ZnO photocatalyst. The Co‐doped ZnO photocatalyst was first prepared through a simple wet impregnation method and subsequently characterized using various qualitative and quantitative techniques. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed for experimental design and optimization of photocatalytic process. The effects including initial concentration of 4‐ Nitrophenol [4‐NP]in, catalyst dosage, pH and irradiation time were investigated, and RSM suggested a second‐degree polynomial model for abatement of p‐nitrophenol from aqueous phase. Under optimized conditions (pH = 5; Irradiation time = 180 min; catalyst dosage = 30 mg; [4‐NP]in = 30 mg/L), up to 82% degradation was achieved, signifying the efficacy of the prepared photocatalyst. Moreover, the real case study was employed by incorporating Co‐doped ZnO nanocomposite for treatment of real paper wastewater and results showed a considerable photocatalytic activity of Co–ZnO nanocomposites on paper wastewater.
Free Versus Bound Concentration: Passive Dosing from Polymer Meshes Elucidates Drivers of Toxicity in Aquatic Tests with Benthic Invertebrates
Authors: Fischer Fabian C. , Hiki Kyoshiro , Endo Satoshi
Published: August 2022

Aquatic toxicity tests with benthic organisms are used to predict the toxicity of hydrophobic organic chemicals (HOCs) in sediments, assuming that the freely dissolved concentration (Cfree) is a good surrogate of bioavailability in the exposure system. However, Cfree of HOCs is difficult to control in water-only setups. Moreover, the role of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the occurrence of toxicity needs clarification because DOC concentrations in sediment porewater can be substantially higher than in typical test water. We introduced biocompatible polyethylene meshes with high sorptive capacities and fast release kinetics as a novel passive dosing phase, which maintained Cfree and Cwater (i.e., free + DOC-bound) in Hyalella azteca water-only tests. Adding the supernatant fraction of peat to test water as a DOC source increased Cwater to an extent comparable to sediment porewater and significantly increased and decreased the observed toxicity of permethrin and benzo[a]pyrene, respectively, to H. azteca. This result indicates that DOC can both benefit and harm test species likely due to the increased health after ingestion of DOC and to the uptake of DOC-bound HOCs, respectively. Passive dosing in combination with the addition of sediment DOC surrogates may better reflect exposure and habitat conditions in sediment porewater than conventional aquatic tests. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1747–1756. © 2022 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
Impacts of three‐dimensional array over channel estimation for cell‐free massive MIMO considering spatially correlated channels
Authors: Amadid Jamal , Khabba Asma , El Ouadi Zakaria , Zeroual Abdelouhab
Published: August 2022

Recently, a promising technology known as the cell‐free (CF) massive multiple‐input multiple‐output (M‐MIMO) network has emerged as an alternative wireless communication network that offers numerous advantages to wireless communication systems. During this work, we address the uplink (UL) pilot‐based channel estimation (CE) and spectral efficiency (SE) for a CF M‐MIMO network considering spatially correlated channels. The CE and SE are computed respectively, using the Bayesian minimum mean square error (MMSE) estimator and MMSE combining vector. Moreover, we investigate the SE metric and CE procedure for correlated and uncorrelated channels, where in the correlated case, we employ the Gaussian local multi‐scattering (GLMS) model to describe the spatial correlation (SC). Furthermore, since the array geometry influence the SC, we deal with a CF M‐MIMO network wherein each access point (AP) is outfitted either with a uniform linear array (ULA), a uniform circular array (UCA), or a uniform cylindrical array (UCLA). Inspired by the GLMS for the ULA arrangement, we propose the GLMS model for a CF M‐MIMO network where each AP is equipped with a UCA arrangement. In other words, we propose and compute the expression of the channel co‐variance matrix (CM) that describes the SC in a CF M‐MIMO network where each AP is equipped with the UCA arrangement. Additionally, using the Kronecker product of the CM generated through the UCA arrangement and the CM generated through the ULA arrangement, we propose the GLMS model for a CF M‐MIMO network generated through the UCLA arrangement. Our theoretical expressions are validated and reinforced using numerical results, where we evaluate the system performance using the normalized mean square error metric and bits of information per second per hertz (i.e., ).
Brain‐wide versus genome‐wide vulnerability biomarkers for severe mental illnesses
Authors: Kochunov Peter , Ma Yizhou , Hatch Kathryn S. , Gao Si , Jahanshad Neda , Thompson Paul M. , Adhikari Bhim M. , Bruce Heather , Van der vaart Andrew , Goldwaser Eric L. , Sotiras Aris , Kvarta Mark D. , Ma Tianzhou , Chen Shuo , Nichols Thomas E. , Hong L. Elliot
Published: August 2022

Severe mental illnesses (SMI), including major depressive (MDD), bipolar (BD), and schizophrenia spectrum (SSD) disorders have multifactorial risk factors and capturing their complex etiopathophysiology in an individual remains challenging. Regional vulnerability index (RVI) was used to measure individual's brain‐wide similarity to the expected SMI patterns derived from meta‐analytical studies. It is analogous to polygenic risk scores (PRS) that measure individual's similarity to genome‐wide patterns in SMI. We hypothesized that RVI is an intermediary phenotype between genome and symptoms and is sensitive to both genetic and environmental risks for SMI. UK Biobank sample of N = 17,053/19,265 M/F (age = 64.8 ± 7.4 years) and an independent sample of SSD patients and controls (N = 115/111 M/F, age = 35.2 ± 13.4) were used to test this hypothesis. UKBB participants with MDD had significantly higher RVI‐MDD (Cohen's d = 0.20, p = 1 × 10−23) and PRS‐MDD (d = 0.17, p = 1 × 10−15) than nonpsychiatric controls. UKBB participants with BD and SSD showed significant elevation in the respective RVIs (d = 0.65 and 0.60; p = 3 × 10−5 and .009, respectively) and PRS (d = 0.57 and 1.34; p = .002 and .002, respectively). Elevated RVI‐SSD were replicated in an independent sample (d = 0.53, p = 5 × 10−5). RVI‐MDD and RVI‐SSD but not RVI‐BD were associated with childhood adversity (p < .01). In nonpsychiatric controls, elevation in RVI and PRS were associated with lower cognitive performance (p < 10−5) in six out of seven domains and showed specificity with disorder‐associated deficits. In summary, the RVI is a novel brain index for SMI and shows similar or better specificity for SMI than PRS, and together they may complement each other in the efforts to characterize the genomic to brain level risks for SMI.
Grafting of Group‐10 Organometallic Complexes on Silicas: Differences and Similarities, Surprises and Rationale
Authors: Gioffrè Domenico , Rochlitz Lukas , Payard Pierre‐Adrien , Yakimov Alexander , Copéret Christophe
Published: August 2022

Surface organometallic chemistry (SOMC) represents a unique synthetic platform for the preparation of model heterogeneous catalysts resembling those broadly applied in industry. SOMC techniques usually rely on the grafting of tailored molecular precursors onto the surface OH groups of oxide supports. The development of such precursors and the understanding of their reactivity with the supports are therefore crucial for the development of well‐defined surface species. While a large number of organometallic precursors of early transition metals are known, only few examples of group‐10 metal complexes are reported, in spite of the great interest for heterogeneous catalysts based on the Pt‐group elements. Herein, we report the reactivity of a family of group‐10 (Ni, Pd and Pt) alkyl complexes, towards partially dehydroxylated SiO2 yielding well‐defined supported species. We studied the effect of the metal, ligand, and support on the grafting mechanism of such precursors through a combined experimental and computational approach. Ultimately, we showed that at least two grafting pathways are possible for these compounds, namely the protonolysis of the M‐alkyl bond by surface OH groups and the opening of strained siloxane bridges: the proportion of the two depending on the nature of the metal and its ancillary ligand.
Positive association of serum FUT8 activity with renal tubulointerstitial injury in IgA nephropathy patients
Authors: Yang Ning , Li Long‐kai , He Hui , Guo Xia‐nan , Yuan Xue‐feng , Li Zhi‐tong , Wang Wei‐dong , Qin Biao‐jie , Du Xiang‐ning , Zhang Xu , Chen Shu‐ni , Lin Hong‐li
Published: August 2022

Background

α‐1,6 Fucosyltransferase (FUT8) appears to play an essential role in the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis. However, it remained unknown whether FUT8 also contributed to renal fibrosis in immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). In the present study, we explored the association of serum FUT8 activity with renal tubulointerstitial injury in IgAN patients.

Methods

Serum FUT8 activity was measured in 135 IgAN patients and 68 healthy controls from January 2016 to December 2018. The relationships of serum FUT8 activity with clinical and pathological features were analyzed.

Results

Relative to healthy controls, IgAN patients had significantly higher serum FUT8 activity and upregulation of renal FUT8 protein (p < .05). Among IgAN patients, there was a positive correlation of serum FUT8 activity with renal FUT8 protein expression (p < .05). Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that serum FUT8 activity was significantly associated with serum creatinine and eGFR (p < .05). Based on a cut‐off value determined from ROC curve analysis, we divided IgAN patients into a low serum FUT8 activity group (≤12.2 pmol/h/mL, n = 40) and a high serum FUT8 activity group (>12.2 pmol/h/ml, n = 95). The high serum FUT8 activity group had a higher Oxford T score, increased inflammatory cell infiltration, more severe fibrosis and poor renal function (p < .05).

Conclusion

Serum FUT8 activity was positive association with renal tubulointerstitial injury in IgAN patients.
Combining fiber optical tweezers and Raman spectroscopy for rapid identification of melanoma
Authors: Qiu Xun , He Tao , Wu Xingda , Wang Peng , Wang Xin , Fu Qiuyue , Fang Xianglin , Li Shaoxin , Li Ying
Published: August 2022

Cutaneous melanoma is a skin tumor with a high degree of malignancy and fatality rate, the incidence of which has increased in recent years. Therefore, a rapid and sensitive diagnostic technique of melanoma cells is urgently needed. In this paper, we present a new approach using fiber optical tweezers to manipulate melanoma cells to measure their Raman spectra. Then, combined with Principal Component Analysis and Support Vector Machines (PCA‐SVM) classification model, to achieve the classification of common mutant, wild‐type and drug‐resistant melanoma cells. A total of 150 Raman spectra of 30 cells were collected from mutant, wild‐type and drug‐resistant melanoma cell lines, and the classification accuracy was 92%, 94%, 97.5%, respectively. These results suggest that the study of tumor cells based on fiber optical tweezers and Raman spectroscopy is a promising method for early and rapid identification and diagnosis of tumor cells.
Primary non‐parasitic splenic cyst: US‐ and fluoroscopy‐guided percutaneous management by alcohol sclerosis on six patients
Authors: Giurazza Francesco , Marra Paolo , Mosconi Cristina , Corvino Fabio , Corvino Antonio , Niola Raffaella
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This manuscript aims to report on a retrospective analysis of six patients treated with combined US‐ and fluoroscopic‐guided percutaneous alcohol sclerosis for primary non‐parasitic splenic cysts.

Methods

In this retrospective analysis, three females and three males affected by primary non‐parasitic splenic cysts were included. All except one were symptomatic. Preoperative cyst diameter was in mean 113 mm (range: 67–210 mm). Ethanol 96% was adopted as sclerosant agent; the amount of ethanol injected corresponded to the 20%–30% of the cystic volume. US follow‐up was planned at 2/4 weeks; MR follow‐up was conducted almost at 6 months after the last treatment session.

Technical success was considered as cyst disappearance or reduction of the maximum diameter <50 mm; clinical success, in those symptomatic cases, was considered as symptoms resolution or marked improvement.

Results

Eleven procedures had been performed: one in three patients, three in two patients and two in one patient. Technical success was 83.3%; clinical success was 80%. Only one patient, with a preoperative cystic diameter of 210 mm and despite three treatment sessions, had an increase in the cystic size and did not report symptoms improvement.

Conclusions

In this sample, US‐guided percutaneous alcohol sclerosis was a safe and effective spleen preserving option to treat primary non‐parasitic splenic cysts.
Growth trends of the adult hospitalist workforce between 2012 and 2019
Authors: Lapps Joshua , Flansbaum Bradley , Leykum Luci K. , Bischoff Heidi , Howell Eric
Published: August 2022

Background

Accurately identifying the number of practicing hospitalists across the United States continues to be a challenge. Characterizing the workforce is important in the context of healthcare reforms and public reporting.

Objective

We sought to estimate the number of adult hospitalists practicing in the United States over an 8‐year period, to examine patterns in growth, and begin to explore billing patterns.

Design, Settings, and Participants

Retrospective study using national Medicare Part B claims datasets. We applied a commonly used 90% threshold of billing hospital visit‐associated Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System codes to identify adult hospitalists in publicly available Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment data for 2012–2019. We then analyzed billing patterns for those identified hospitalists.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Identify trends in the number of identified adult hospitalists, including those self‐identified. Compare hospitalists' billing to that of non‐hospitalist Internal Medicine and Family Medicine physicians.

Results

We saw more than a 50% growth rate of practicing adult hospitalists between 2012 and 2019. In 2019, we identified 44,037 adult hospitalists.

Conclusions

The number of adult hospitalists continued to grow at a consistent rate, such that hospitalists are in the top five largest physician specialties in the United States. In the absence of more formal identification and consistent use by hospitalists, a threshold continues to be a meaningful tool to characterize the workforce.
Stability and transmissibility of SARS‐CoV‐2 in the environment
Authors: Geng Yansheng , Wang Youchun
Published: August 2022

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), the virus causing the ongoing global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic, is believed to be transmitted primarily through respiratory droplets and aerosols. However, reports are increasing regarding the contamination of environmental surfaces, shared objects, and cold‐chain foods with SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA and the possibility of environmental fomite transmission of the virus raises much concern and debate. This study summarizes the current knowledge regarding potential mechanisms of environmental transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2, including the prevalence of surface contamination in various settings, the viability and stability of the virus on surfaces or fomites, as well as environmental factors affecting virus viability and survival such as temperature and relative humidity. Instances of fomite transmission, including cold‐chain food transmission, and the importance of fomite transmission in epidemics, are discussed. The knowledge gaps regarding fomite transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 are also briefly analyzed.
Genetic predisposition to blood cell indices in relation to severe COVID‐19
Authors: Yao Yao , Song Hongfei , Zhang Fanshuang , Liu Jibin , Wang Dong , Feng Quansheng , Rao Shuquan , Jiang Cen
Published: August 2022

Despite considerable variation in disease manifestations observed among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the risk factors predicting disease severity remain elusive. Recent studies suggest that peripheral blood cells play a pivotal role in COVID‐19 pathogenesis. Here, we applied two‐sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to evaluate the potential causal contributions of blood cell indices variation to COVID‐19 severity, using single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as instrumental variables for 17 indices from the UK Biobank and INTERVAL genome‐wide association studies (N = 173 480). Data on the associations between the SNPs and very severe respiratory confirmed COVID‐19 were obtained from the COVID‐19 host genetics initiative (N = 8779/1 001 875). We observed significant negative association between hematocrit (HCT; odds ratio, OR = 0.775, 95% confidence interval, CI = 0.635–0.915, p = 3.48E−04) or red blood cell count (OR = 0.830, 95% CI = 0.728–0.932, p = 2.19E−03) and very severe respiratory confirmed COVID‐19, as well as nominal negative association of hemoglobin concentration (OR = 0.808, 95% CI = 0.673–0.943, p = 3.95E−03) with very severe respiratory confirmed COVID‐19 (no effect survived multiple correction). In conclusion, the MR study supports a protective effect of high HCT and red blood cell count from very severe respiratory confirmed COVID‐19, suggesting potential strategies to ameliorate/treat clinical conditions in very severe respiratory confirmed COVID‐19.
Causal effect of COVID‐19 on Alzheimer's disease: A Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Baranova Ancha , Cao Hongbao , Zhang Fuquan
Published: August 2022

It was reported that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection may cause brain size reduction and cognitive decline. Whether COVID‐19 may contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is not known. We conducted genetic correlation and Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to assess genetic relationships and potential causal associations between AD and three COVID‐19 outcomes (SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, COVID‐19 hospitalization, and critical COVID‐19) by utilizing genome‐wide association study datasets on these traits. A map of COVID‐19‐driven molecular pathways was constructed to investigate potential mechanisms underlying the COVID‐19 and AD connection. Genetic correlation analyses indicated that AD had a significant positive genetic correlation with hospitalized COVID‐19 (rg = 0.271). The MR analysis from the inverse‐variance‐weighted model showed that genetic liabilities to hospitalized COVID‐19 (odds ratio: 1.02, 95% confidence interval: 1.01–1.03) and critical COVID‐19 (1.01, 1.00–1.02) were associated with an increased risk for AD. However, no causal effect of genetic liability to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection on AD was detected (1.03, 0.97–1.09). A total of 60 functionally interconnected genes were reported to mediate the COVID‐19‐AD connection, which showed functional enrichment in immunity‐related pathways and tissue enrichment in the lung and brain. Our study suggests that severe COVID‐19 may contribute to the development of AD, while suffering a mild case of COVID‐19 may not increase the risk for AD. The influence of COVID‐19 on AD may be mediated by immunity‐related pathways acting predominantly in the lung and brain.
Influence of teleconnection patterns on global moisture transport during peak precipitation month
Authors: Vázquez Marta , Nieto Raquel , Liberato Margarida L. R. , Gimeno Luis
Published: August 2022

Teleconnection patterns are an important feature influencing the variability of moisture transport. This study explores the influence of the Arctic, Antarctic, Pacific‐North American, and El Niño–Southern Oscillations on moisture transport from major oceanic and continental moisture sources during the peak precipitation month. The positive phase of the Pacific‐North American teleconnection pattern increases the influence of Pacific Ocean moisture on western North America, while the negative phase increases the influence of Atlantic Ocean moisture over eastern North America, with differences between phases higher than 1.5 mm·day−1 over most of the area when the sources are the preferred. The positive phase of the Arctic Oscillation increases the importance of the Mediterranean as a source of moisture for western Europe while the negative phase increases the importance of the North Atlantic as a source with contribution increased in more than 2 mm·day−1 over Europe. The positive phase of the Antarctic Oscillation favours the contribution from the western Indian basin over eastern Africa, while in the negative phase the contribution from the southern Pacific is increased over northwestern Africa. For El Niño–Southern Oscillation, the main influence occurs over South America during El Niño events, increasing the moisture contributions from the South Pacific Ocean over southern South America and from South Atlantic over southeastern Brazil. El Niño events also increase the moisture transport from the North Atlantic over western Europe and from the North Pacific over North America. In contrast, La Niña events increase moisture contributions from the Pacific over Central America and northern South America, being the latter the area when higher differences between phases are observed.
Temperature‐dependent structural variations of water and supercooled water and spectral analysis of Raman spectra of water in the OH‐stretching band region and low‐frequency region studied by two‐dimensional correlation Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Asano Hiroto , Ueno Nami , Ozaki Yukihiro , Sato Harumi
Published: August 2022

Raman spectra of water and supercooled water were measured in the temperature range of −6 to 18°C with every 2°C step. The obtained spectra were analyzed for the 3750–2850 and 400–100 cm−1 regions by two‐dimensional correlation (2D‐COS) Raman spectroscopy. As previously reported, there are three bands at around 3620, 3420, and 3200 cm−1 in the OH‐stretching region. These bands were assigned to the OH‐stretching modes of dangling (Dang) bonds of water, destructured, and structured water species, respectively. A pair of clear peaks appear in asynchronous 2D‐COS maps in the 3750–2850 cm−1 region of Raman spectra of water developed using the spectra measured in the temperature ranges of −6 to 2°C, 0 to 8°C, and 8 to 18°C, and they are similar to each other, suggesting nonlinear (convex) temperature‐dependent increase and decrease of the two kinds of water species. A power spectrum calculated along the diagonal line in the synchronous spectrum in the −6 to 18°C range has a peak at 3171 cm−1 with a broad shoulder at around 3400 cm−1. These peaks at 3171 and 3400 cm−1 may be assigned to the collective mode and its local mode of structured water, respectively. In the 400–100 cm−1 region, there is a broad feature centered at 185 cm−1 assigned to the intermolecular stretching mode of water molecule. Close inspection of the low‐frequency region by the baseline corrected spectra and the second derivative spectra shows that the broad feature consists of a major band at around 185 cm−1 and a weak shoulder at around 150 cm−1. We have assigned these two peaks at 185 and 150 cm−1 to the structured and destructured water, respectively, based on the results of 2D‐COS and the comparison with the results of multivariate curve resolution‐alternative least squares reported by Hamaguchi et al. A hetero 2D correlation synchronous map between the 3750–3000 and 400–100 cm−1 regions reveals that there is a cross peak between the structured water band at around 3200 cm−1 and the 185 cm−1 band, confirming that the 185 cm−1 band comes from the structured water.
An investigation on the mechanisms of ant nest corrosion of copper tube in formic acid environment
Authors: Li Haihong , Liu Xiao , Li Deshan , Wang Zhongqi , Zhang Xintao , Wang Songwei
Published: August 2022

Copper tubes used in air‐conditioners and refrigerators often fail due to ant nest corrosion (ANC) in formic acid environment. In this paper, corrosion behavior and corrosion mechanisms of copper tubes in formic acid (HCOOH) were analyzed by vapor corrosion tests, optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectrometry (EDS). The effects of the surface condition on ANC of copper tube were also investigated. Results showed that ANC of copper tube was a spontaneous process. The surface integrity of copper tube surface oxide layer is not the decisive factor of ANC. ANC originated from the dissolution of the surface oxide layer in HCOOH, which exposed fresh copper matrix. ANC is a special electrochemical corrosion, where the copper matrix acts as an anode and the undissolved surface oxide layer acts as a cathode due to the potential difference. The accumulation of corrosion products consisting of Cu(HCOO)2 and Cu2O can produce a wedge effect and generate many microcracks until to penetrate the copper tube wall. These findings would provide a deep understanding of the corrosion behavior of copper and copper alloys.
Exact solutions and finite time stability for higher fractional‐order differential equations with pure delay
Authors: Liu Li , Dong Qixiang , Li Gang
Published: August 2022

We obtain the exact solutions to the higher fractional‐order nonhomogeneous delayed differential equations with Caputo‐type fractional derivative by using a set of newly defined generalized delayed Mittag‐Leffler matrix functions. The Laplace transform and inductive construction are taken up as the major solving approaches. Thereafter, we consider some special cases and prove that the new exact solutions are suitable for the delayed differential equations with arbitrary order
. Additionally, we propose some criteria on the finite time stability of the higher fractional‐order delay differential equations. Finally, an illustrative example is presented to test the correctness of the theoretical results.
Some Hermite‐Hadamard's type local fractional integral inequalities for generalized γ‐preinvex function with applications
Authors: Al‐Sa'di Sa'ud , Bibi Maria , Muddassar Muhammad
Published: August 2022

In this article, we define and investigate the concept of generalized
‐preinvex function on the Yang's fractal set
. Based on the auxiliary definitions and involving local fractional integrals, we established several generalizations of Hermite‐Hadamard type inequalities under certain conditions. Additionally, we discuss some examples to test our outcomes and some applications in the form of bounds for generalized
moment of a continuous random variable.
Age‐at‐death estimation in archaeological samples: Differences in population means resulting from different aging methods can be predicted from the mean ages of method‐specific reference samples
Authors: Navitainuck Denise U. , Vach Werner , Pichler Sandra L. , Alt Kurt W.
Published: August 2022

Age mimicry is a well‐known phenomenon in the application of osteological age‐estimation methods. Age mimicry refers to the fact that predicting age‐at‐death from a specific trait (age indicator) based on the relation observed in a specific reference sample implies that age estimates to some degree reflect the age structure of the reference sample. In particular, the estimated population mean in a target population in which an age‐estimation method is applied is shifted towards the mean in the method‐specific reference sample. Consequently, differences in population means between different age‐estimation methods in the same target population may be due to differences in mean age of the reference samples used to develop the age‐estimation methods. We aim at quantifying the expected magnitude for such differences. Fifteen different traditional age‐estimation methods were applied to a sample of 675 adult individuals from the early medieval cemetery of Mannheim‐Seckenheim. The relation of the observed estimated population age means and the mean age in the reference samples was analyzed by linear regression. We find that up to 80% of the variation in the estimated population age means can be explained by the variation of the mean age in the reference samples. Furthermore, differences in the magnitude of 3 to 4 years in the mean age between two reference samples can imply a 1‐year difference in estimated target population age means. Because large differences in mean age between reference samples used to develop different age‐estimation methods are common, some care is needed in interpreting differences between individual age estimates or population mean age estimates in cases where different age‐estimation techniques are used.
Wild foods from forests: Quantities collected across Zambia
Authors: Steel E. Ashley , Bwembelo Lubomba , Mulani Akatama , Siamutondo Alice Likando Masheke , Banda Penias , Gumbo Davison , Moombe Kaala , Ickowitz Amy
Published: August 2022

Forests provide an immense range of benefits to people, many of which are not prioritized by forest policy because they are difficult to quantify. Wild foods from forests enhance the quality of diets for those who consume them and provide income for those who sell or trade them. The quantity of wild food collected is challenging to measure because of non‐standard units, seasonal differences in collection patterns and large numbers of species.

To provide initial estimates of collection volume in Zambia and pilot new methods, we surveyed 209 households across 14 villages randomly selected within 5 study areas covering all four agro‐ecological areas between 6 August and 27 October, 2019. For each study area, we conducted a focus group to identify the most commonly collected species within each of nine food product types (mushrooms, insects, green leafy vegetables, tubers, fruits, nuts, wild meat, wild fish, and aquatic plants).

All but one surveyed household collected some wild foods; on average, each household collected five types of food product, most commonly mushrooms, fruits and green leafy vegetables. Volume collected varied markedly by household, product type and study area. Rural households in Zambia are estimated to collect over 380 million litres, 380,000 m3, of wild foods annually. We estimate that 88% of these wild foods are collected directly from forests. Accounting for uncertainties, we estimate the volume of wild foods collected from forests to be at least 238,000 m3 per year, 125% of the volume of sawnwood produced, or about 12 million large (20 L) collecting buckets.

Volume collected was not strongly correlated with metrics of wealth, indicating ubiquitous consumption of wild foods; however, the most food insecure collected particularly high volumes of wild food. Pilot market surveys found local value chains for wild foods, indicating a potential for economic contribution. Our results underscore the value of data that can be disaggregated locally and indicate that national estimates of quantities of wild food collected from forests would be highly useful for designing forest policy and management strategies.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Optimal maintenance period and maintenance sequence planning under imperfect maintenance
Authors: Zhang Xiaoqiang , Jiang Hao , Zheng Bo , Li Zhoushuo , Gao Huiying
Published: August 2022

Maintenance is essential for today's equipment or systems and maintenance costs account for a significant portion of the overall expenditure of devices. Maintenance period optimization and maintenance sequence planning are primary aspects of maintainability. To this end, this paper proposes an approach for maintenance period optimization and maintenance sequence planning, with the consideration of imperfect maintenance. A model of the total maintenance cost per unit time is set up, and the optimal time period for preventive maintenance is calculated. In addition, a new index is created to evaluate the maintenance efficiency of optimal maintenance sequences in different scenarios. The performance of the proposed method is validated by a maintenance sequence optimization and maintenance sequence planning of baggage handling systems. The results indicate that the proposed method is efficient and contributes to maintenance cost savings.
DL 101: Basic introduction to deep learning with its application in biomedical related fields
Authors: Zhan Tianyu
Published: August 2022

Deep learning is a subfield of machine learning used to learn representations of data by successive layers. Remarkable achievements and breakthroughs have been made in image classification, speech recognition, et cetera, but the full capability of deep learning is still under exploration. As statistical researchers and practitioners, we are especially interested in leveraging and advancing deep learning techniques to address important and impactive problems in biomedical and other related fields. In this article, we provide a basic introduction to Feedforward Neural Networks (FNN) along with some intuitive explanations behind its strong functional representation. Guidance is provided on how to choose quite a few hyperparameters in neural networks for a specific problem. We further discuss several more advanced frameworks in deep learning. Some successful applications of deep learning in biomedical fields are also demonstrated. With this beginner's guide, we hope that interested readers can include deep learning in their toolbox to tackle future real‐world questions and challenges.
Design of a Self‐Powered System by Wind‐Driven Triboelectric Nanogenerator Based on 0.94(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3–0.06Ba(Zr0.25Ti0.75)O3/Polyvinylidene Fluoride (BNT–BZT/PVDF) Composites
Authors: Zhao Kun , Meng Jingke , Zhong Ming , Li Suixin , Niu Yunxia , Liu Hongjie , Gu Bing‐Ni , Liu Ming‐Jin , Zhang Ding , Kong Lingbin , Chueh Yu‐Lun
Published: August 2022

The portable power bank as an energy storage device has received tremendous attention while the limited capacity and periodical charging are critical issues. Here, a self‐charging power system (SCPS) consisting of a 0.94(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3–0.06Ba(Zr0.25Ti0.75)O3/polyvinylidenefluoride (BNT–BZT/PVDF) composite film‐based triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is designed as a wind energy harvester and an all‐solid‐state lithium‐ion battery (ASSLIB) as the energy storage device. The optimized TENG can provide an output voltage of ≈400 V, a current of ≈45 µA, and a maximum power of ≈10.65 mW, respectively. The ASSLIB assembled by LiNiCoMnO2 as the cathode, NiCo2S4 as the anode, and Li7La3Zr2O12 as the solid electrolyte can maintain a discharge capacity of 51.3 µAh after 200 cycles with a Coulombic efficiency of 98.5%. Particularly, an ASSLIB can be easily charged up to 3.8 V in 58 min using the wind‐driven TENG, which can continuously drive 12 parallel‐connected white light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) or a pH meter. This work demonstrates the development of low‐cost, high‐performance and high‐safety SCPSs and their large‐scale practical application in self‐powered microelectronic devices.
Regenerative and anti‐inflammatory effect of a novel bentonite complex on burn wounds
Authors: Lee Ju Young , Suh Han Na , Choi Kwan Young , Song Chang Woo , Hwang Jeong Ho
Published: August 2022

Background

Bentonite, a montmorillonite clay, has been used as a classical remedy strategy for a long time. Recently, bentonite has been used as a raw material in cosmetic products because of its antibacterial and antioxidant properties. However, the therapeutic effect of bentonite on burn injuries has not yet been identified.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to explore the therapeutic effect of a novel bentonite complex, which was developed for medical use, on burn wounds and the anti‐inflammatory function of bentonite clay in the complex in vitro.

Methods

A novel bentonite complex and bentonite clay were prepared for each in vivo and in vitro assay (C&L Biotech, Seoul, Korea). Burn wounds were induced on the dorsal skin of two Yucatan minipigs, and effects of tissue regeneration and anti‐inflammation were assessed by histological and gene expression analysis.

Results

The bentonite complex improved skin regeneration in burn wounds by inducing collagen synthesis, cell proliferation and angiogenesis in vivo. Furthermore, expression of inflammatory cytokines was significantly inhibited by treatment of the bentonite complex. In vitro study for identification of anti‐inflammatory effect showed that bentonite clay significantly regulated COX‐2 signalling in both HacaT keratinocytes and 3D4/2 macrophage cell lines.

Conclusions

This study identified the therapeutic effect of a novel bentonite complex in burn wounds by inducing skin regeneration and bentonite‐mediated anti‐inflammatory responses.
A flavor-inspired radiative neutrino mass model
Authors: Julio J. , Saad Shaikh , Thapa Anil
Published: August 2022

Abstract

One of the most important discoveries in particle physics is the observation of nonzero neutrino masses, which dictates that the Standard Model (SM) is incomplete. Moreover, several pieces of evidence of lepton flavor universality violation (LFUV), gathered in the last few years, hint toward physics beyond the SM. TeV-scale scalar leptoquarks are the leading candidates for explaining these flavor anomalies in semileptonic charged and neutral current B-decays, the muon, and the electron magnetic dipole moments that can also participate in neutrino mass generation. In this work, we hypothesize that neutrino masses and LFUV have a common new physics origin and propose a new two-loop neutrino mass model that has the potential to resolve some of these flavor anomalies via leptoquarks and offers rich phenomenology. After deriving the neutrino mass formula for this newly-proposed model, we perform a detailed numerical analysis focusing on neutrino and charged lepton flavor violation phenomenology, where the latter provides stringent constraints on the Yukawa couplings and leptoquark masses. Finally, present and future bounds on the model’s parameter space are scrutinized with exemplified benchmark scenarios.
The four loop QCD rapidity anomalous dimension
Authors: Moult Ian , Zhu Hua Xing , Zhu Yu Jiao
Published: August 2022

Abstract

The rapidity anomalous dimension controls the scaling of transverse momentum dependent observables in the Sudakov region. In a conformal theory it is equivalent to the soft anomalous dimension, but in QCD this relation is broken by anomalous terms proportional to the β-function. In this paper we first give a simple proof of this relation using two different representations of the energy-energy correlator observable. We then calculate the anomalous terms to three loops by computing the three-loop fully differential soft function to 𝒪(ϵ). Combined with recent perturbative data from the study of on-shell form factors and splitting functions, this allows us to derive the four loop rapidity anomalous dimension in QCD.
The Hasse diagram of the moduli space of instantons
Authors: Bourget Antoine , Grimminger Julius F. , Hanany Amihay , Zhong Zhenghao
Published: August 2022

Abstract

Hasse diagrams (or phase diagrams) for moduli spaces of supersymmetric field theories have been intensively studied in recent years, and many tools to compute them have been developed. The moduli space of instantons, despite being well studied, has proven difficult to deal with. In this note we explore the Hasse diagram of this moduli space from several perspectives — using the partial Higgs mechanism, using brane systems and using quiver subtraction — having to refine previously developed techniques. In particular we introduce the new concept of decorated quiver, which allows to deal with a large class of unitary quivers, including those with adjoint matter.
Uses of complex metrics in cosmology
Authors: Jonas Caroline , Lehners Jean-Luc , Quintin Jerome
Published: August 2022

Abstract

Complex metrics are a double-edged sword: they allow one to replace singular spacetimes, such as those containing a big bang, with regular metrics, yet they can also describe unphysical solutions in which quantum transitions may be more probable than ordinary classical evolution. In the cosmological context, we investigate a criterion proposed by Witten (based on works of Kontsevich & Segal and of Louko & Sorkin) to decide whether a complex metric is allowable or not. Because of the freedom to deform complex metrics using Cauchy’s theorem, deciding whether a metric is allowable in general requires solving a complicated optimisation problem. We describe a method that allows one to quickly determine the allowability of minisuperspace metrics. This enables us to study the off-shell structure of minisuperspace path integrals, which we investigate for various boundary conditions. Classical transitions always reside on the boundary of the domain of allowable metrics, and care must be taken in defining appropriate integration contours for the corresponding gravitational path integral. Perhaps more surprisingly, we find that proposed quantum (‘tunnelling’) transitions from a contracting to an expanding universe violate the allowability criterion and may thus be unphysical. No-boundary solutions, by contrast, are found to be allowable, and moreover we demonstrate that with an initial momentum condition an integration contour over allowable metrics may be explicitly described in arbitrary spacetime dimensions.
Dynamical Cobordism and the beginning of time: supercritical strings and tachyon condensation
Authors: Angius Roberta , Delgado Matilda , Uranga Angel M.
Published: August 2022

Abstract

We describe timelike linear dilaton backgrounds of supercritical string theories as time-dependent Dynamical Cobordisms in string theory, with their spacelike singularity as a boundary defining the beginning of time. We propose and provide compelling evidence that its microscopic interpretation corresponds to a region of (a strong coupling version of) closed tachyon condensation. We argue that this beginning of time is closely related to (and shares the same scaling behaviour as) the bubbles of nothing obtained in a weakly coupled background with lightlike tachyon condensation. As an intermediate result, we also provide the description of the latter as lightlike Dynamical Cobordism.
Environmental selection of the cosmological constant and electroweak scales
Authors: Moretti Matteo , Pedro Francisco G.
Published: August 2022

Abstract

We investigate whether selfish/Goldilocks Higgs models can be extended to accomodate vacua with both the right Higgs mass and cosmological constant. Through the introduction of multiple four-form fields coupled with the Higgs scalar boson we find that both the cosmological constant and the electroweak hierarchy problems can be addressed simultaneously, without inserting the relevant physical scales by hand and avoiding fine tuning. The resulting bounds on the brane charges, the only dimensionful free parameter of the theory, depend on the strength of the four-form scalar coupling and can be of the same order of magnitude as those necessary for a solution to the cosmological constant problem alone via the Bousso-Polchinski mechanism.
On Narrow Operators from $$L_p$$ into Operator Ideals
Authors: Huang Jinghao , Pliev Marat , Sukochev Fedor
Published: August 2022

It is well known that every $$l_2$$

l
2

-strictly singular operator from $$L_p$$

L
p

, $$1<p<\infty $$

1
<
p
<
∞

to any Banach space X with an unconditional basis is narrow. In this article, we extend this result to the setting of Banach spaces without an unconditional basis. We show that if $$1 \le p,r <\infty $$

1
≤
p
,
r
<
∞

, then every $$\ell _2$$

ℓ
2

-strictly singular operator T from $$L_p $$

L
p

into the Schatten–von Neumann r-class $$C_r$$

C
r

is narrow. This is a noncommutative complement to results in Mykhaylyuk et al. (in Israel J Math 203:81–108, 2014).
The automorphism group of $$NU(3,q^2)$$
Authors: Romaniello Federico , Smaldore Valentino
Published: August 2022

Let $$H(n, q^2)$$

H
(
n
,

q
2

)

be a non-degenerate Hermitian variety of $$PG(n,q^2)$$

P
G
(
n
,

q
2

)

, $$n \ge 2$$

n
≥
2

. Let $$NU(n+1,q^2)$$

N
U
(
n
+
1
,

q
2

)

be the graph whose vertices are the points of $$PG(n,q^2) \setminus H(n,q^2)$$

P
G

(
n
,

q
2

)

\
H

(
n
,

q
2

)

and two vertices u,  v are adjacent if the line joining u and v is tangent to $$H(n, q^2 )$$

H
(
n
,

q
2

)

. Then $$NU(n + 1, q^2)$$

N
U
(
n
+
1
,

q
2

)

is a strongly regular graph. In this paper we show that the automorphism group of the graph $$NU(3,q^2)$$

N
U
(
3
,

q
2

)

is isomorphic either to $$P\Gamma U(3,q)$$

P
Γ
U
(
3
,
q
)

, the automorphism group of the projective unitary group PGU(3, q), or to $$S_{3} \wr S_4$$

S
3

≀

S
4

, according as $$q \ne 2$$

q
≠
2

, or $$q=2$$

q
=
2

.