bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Birch leaf endophytes in managed and natural boreal forests
Authors: Helander Marjo , Wäli Piippa , Kuuluvainen Timo , Saikkonen Kari
Published: March 2007

Fungal endophytes of birch trees are nonsystemic and transmitted horizontally by spores. Because the endophytes reinfect the leaves every growing season, the frequency of occurrence and species composition of the fungi depend on various abiotic and biotic environmental conditions. This was a study of possible effects of silviculture and local environmental variables on endophyte frequencies. Silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) leaves were sampled from seedling stands (five transects), managed mature forest (seven transects), and old natural forest (five transects) in the boreal vegetation zone in east-central Finland. The sapling stands had the highest endophyte frequency and the managed forest the lowest total infection frequency. The old natural forest tended to have the most diverse identified fungal species community, but the difference was not statistically significant. The most frequently isolated endophytic fungi were Fusicladium betulae (Rob. & Desm.) Aderh., consisting of 70% of the isolates from the sapling stands and 31% and 21% of the isolates from the managed forest and natural forest, respectively. It is probable that the sapling stands had plenty of available spores combined with an otherwise favourable microclimate. In the natural forests Gnomonia setacea (Pers.:Fr.) Ces. & de Not. was the most frequently isolated endophyte (30%), while in the sapling stands only 4% of the isolates belonged to G. setacea. In natural forest the frequency of G. setacea infections was positively correlated with stand age, indicating that G. setacea is favouring the old forest habitats.
Empirical models of forest fire initial attack success probabilities: the effects of fuels, anthropogenic linear features, fire weather, and management
Authors: Arienti M Cecilia , Cumming Steven G , Boutin Stan
Published: March 2007

Canadian fire managers seek to contain fires below some target size (here 3 ha) by initial attack (IA). Suppression failures occur when fire size at IA exceeds this target (a response failure) or if an initially small fire cannot be contained below it (a containment failure). We examined the effects of cause, season, forest fuels, anthropogenic linear features, weather, and fire management (response time, size at IA) on the probability of these two types of suppression failures, using multiple logistic regression on 1196 fires that occurred within the boreal mixedwood forest of northeastern Alberta during 1995–2002. The frequencies of containment (7%) and response failures (10%) were similar, but the latter accounted for 85% of the area burned. Response failure probability was greater for fires caused by lightning than those caused by humans and increased with longer response times, local abundance of black spruce in summer, and pine fuel under severe fire weather. We found no effect of linear features or other fuel types. Containment failure probability was related to size at IA and fire weather conditions. Our models suggest that a reduction in area burned might be possible if additional fire-specific factors affecting response failure probability could be incorporated into operational decisions.
Twelve year response of old-growth southeastern bottomland hardwood forests to disturbance from Hurricane Hugo
Authors: Zhao Dehai , Allen Bruce , Sharitz Rebecca R
Published: March 2007

The influence of wind damage from Hurricane Hugo on bottomland forest community structure and composition over a 12 year period was evaluated using data generated from repeated measurements in permanent plots. The resistance and responsiveness of the forests to hurricane disturbance at the community level are dependent on the prehurricane species composition and structure. However, there is no evidence to support the hypothesis that forests with higher species diversity are more resistant to hurricane disturbances. The hurricane disturbance does restructure species composition and may enrich species diversity, but the evidence of diversity enrichment is not strong. The effects of the hurricane on the succession of the bottomland forests are complex at the tree population level: both promoting colonization of some shade-intolerant pioneer species and removing other established pioneers. Changes in community composition and structure suggest that hurricane disturbance can accelerate succession of the bottomland hardwood forests.
Differential subcellular localization of COX-2 in macrophages phagocytosing heat-killed Mycobacterium bovis BCG
Authors: Yamashita Makiko , Tsuji Shoutaro , Nishiyama Akihito , Myrvik Quentin N. , Henriksen Ruth Ann , Shibata Yoshimi
Published: March 2007

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)-mediated prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) biosynthesis by macrophages downregulates microbicidal activities in innate and acquired immune responses against intracellular bacteria. Previous studies in mice showed that intraperitoneal administration of heat-killed Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (HK-BCG) resulted in induction of splenic PGE2-releasing macrophages in 7–14 days. In contrast, HK-BCG induced catalytically inactive COX-2 at relatively high levels in the macrophages within 1 day. In the present study, we found that COX-2 was localized subcellularly in the nuclear envelope (NE) 7 and 14 days after HK-BCG treatment, whereas COX-2 was dissociated from the NE 1 day after treatment. At 1 day after treatment, the majority of COX-2-positive macrophages had phagocytosed HK-BCG. In contrast, no intracellular HK-BCG was detected 7 and 14 days after treatment in COX-2-positive macrophages, where COX-2 was associated with the NE. However, when macrophages phagocytosed HK-BCG in vitro, all COX-2 was associated with the NE. Thus the administration of HK-BCG induces the biphasic COX-2 expression of an NE-dissociated catalytically inactive or an NE-associated catalytically active form in splenic macrophages. The catalytically inactive COX-2-positive macrophages develop microbicidal activities effectively, since they lack PGE2 biosynthesis.
Up-regulation of c-FLIPS+R upon CD40 stimulation is associated with inhibition of CD95-induced apoptosis in primary precursor B-ALL
Authors: Troeger Anja , Schmitz Ingo , Siepermann Meinolf , Glouchkova Ludmila , Gerdemann Ulrike , Janka-Schaub Gritta E. , Schulze-Osthoff Klaus , Dilloo Dagmar
Published: March 2007

Previous studies on apoptosis defects in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have focused on chemotherapy-induced, primarily mitochondrial death pathways. Yet, immunologic surveillance mechanisms including sensitization to apoptotic signals mediated via the death receptor CD95 might contribute to leukemic control. Here, we show that primary B-cell precursor ALL cells from children escape from receptor-dependent cell death in 2 ways: Resting ALL blasts are protected from receptor-mediated apoptosis due to the absence of CD95 surface expression. However, even though CD40 ligation results in up-regulation of CD95, ALL blasts, unlike normal B cells, remain resistant to apoptosis. We show that this apoptosis resistance involves the selective up-regulation of the short isoforms of the caspase-8 inhibitor c-FLIP acting directly at the CD95 receptor level. Treatment with cycloheximide during CD40 activation prevents up-regulation of those c-FLIP isoforms and sensitizes ALL cells toward CD95-mediated apoptosis. We therefore propose that induction of the short c-FLIP isoforms inhibits the onset of CD95-induced apoptosis in primary CD40-stimulated ALL cells despite high CD95 expression.
Direct interorganellar transfer of iron from endosome to mitochondrion
Authors: Sheftel Alex D. , Zhang An-Sheng , Brown Claire , Shirihai Orian S. , Ponka Prem
Published: March 2007

Iron is a transition metal whose physicochemical properties make it the focus of vital biologic processes in virtually all living organisms. Among numerous roles, iron is essential for oxygen transport, cellular respiration, and DNA synthesis. Paradoxically, the same characteristics that biochemistry exploits make iron a potentially lethal substance. In the presence of oxygen, ferrous iron (Fe2+) will catalyze the production of toxic hydroxyl radicals from hydrogen peroxide. In addition, Fe3+ is virtually insoluble at physiologic pH. To protect tissues from deleterious effects of Fe, mammalian physiology has evolved specialized mechanisms for extracellular, intercellular, and intracellular iron handling. Here we show that developing erythroid cells, which are taking up vast amounts of Fe, deliver the metal directly from transferrin-containing endosomes to mitochondria (the site of heme biosynthesis), bypassing the oxygen-rich cytosol. Besides describing a new means of intracellular transport, our finding is important for developing therapies for patients with iron loading disorders.
Is performance on the Wechsler test of adult reading affected by traumatic brain injury?
Authors: Mathias J. L. , Bowden S. C. , Bigler E. D. , Rosenfeld J. V.
Published: March 2007

Objectives The validity of the National Adult Reading Test (NART) as a predictor of premorbid IQ when used with patients who have sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been questioned in recent years. This study examined whether performance on the Wechsler Test of Adult Reading (WTAR) is similarly affected by TBI in the first year after an injury.

Design and Method The WTAR scores of participants who had sustained a mild TBI (N=82), moderate TBI (N=73), severe TBI (N=61) or an orthopaedic injury (N=95) were compared (cross‐sectional study). A subset of 21 mild TBI, 31 moderate TBI, 26 severe TBI and 21 control group participants were additionally reassessed 6 months later to assess the impact of recovery on WTAR scores (longitudinal study).

Results The severe TBI group had significantly lower scores on the WTAR than the mild TBI, moderate TBI and control groups in the cross‐sectional study, despite being matched demographically. The findings from the longitudinal study revealed a significant group difference and a small improvement in performance over time but the interaction between group and time was not significant, suggesting that the improvements in WTAR performance over time were not restricted to more severely injured individuals whose performance was temporarily suppressed.

Conclusions These findings suggest that reading performance may be affected by severe TBI and that the WTAR may underestimate premorbid IQ when used in this context, which may cause clinicians to underestimate the cognitive deficits experienced by these patients.
An integrative complexity analysis of cognitive behaviour therapy sessions for borderline personality disorder
Authors: Davidson Kate , Livingstone Steven , McArthur Katherine , Dickson Lindsay , Gumley Andrew
Published: March 2007

Objectives. Integrative complexity (IC), a measure of cognitive style, was used to analyse discourse in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) sessions from patients with borderline personality disorder treated in the BOSCOT trial. It was predicted that patients' level of integrative complexity would be positively associated with the outcome of therapy. That is, an increase in patients' level of integrative complexity would be associated with good outcome. We also predicted that therapists would also show an increase in the level of complexity associated with their patient's increase in integrative complexity and good outcome.

Design. Ten patients who received CBT were categorized according to the outcome, good (N=5) and poor (N=5), using an algorithm that incorporated the number of suicide attempts and magnitude of change in severity of depression during therapy.

Method. For each patient and their therapist, an early and a late therapy session were transcribed and coded for integrative complexity (IC) (N=20 sessions transcribed). IC scores for patients and therapists were compared across early and late therapy sessions and for good and poor outcomes of therapy.

Results. The majority of discourse was at the lower levels of IC. Higher levels of IC at baseline were related to depression and anxiety. Good outcome was not associated with a change in the level of IC between earlier and later CBT sessions. Therapists, however, showed an increase in IC when patient's outcome was poor. In addition, an increase in patient's IC was associated with improvement in social functioning.

Conclusions. Therapists may overcompensate for patient's poor outcome by giving more complex explanations to patients. Higher complexity does not necessarily lead to better outcomes.
Effect of negative energy balance on the insulin-like growth factor system in pre-recruitment ovarian follicles of post partum dairy cows
Authors: Llewellyn S , Fitzpatrick R , Kenny D A , Murphy J J , Scaramuzzi R J , Wathes D C
Published: March 2007

Post partum negative energy balance (NEB) in dairy cattle is associated with a delayed return to ovarian cyclicity and reduced fertility. This study compared the IGF system of pre-recruitment ovarian follicles between cows in mild (n = 6) or severe (n = 6) NEB during early lactation. Ovaries were collected in the second week post partum, when circulating concentrations of IGF-I and glucose were lower (P < 0.01) in severe NEB cows. mRNA expression for IGF-II, type 1 IGF receptor (IGF-1R) and IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP)-1 to IGFBP-6 was determined by in situ hybridisation in individual follicles using radiolabelled oligonucleotide probes. Follicles were classified as very small (1–2.5 mm) or small (2.5–5 mm) and healthy or atretic. Relative mRNA concentrations were measured as optical density (OD) units using image analysis. Thecal IGF-II mRNA expression was highest in very small, healthy follicles (P < 0.05). Granulosa cell IGFBP-2 was the only component to change with EB status, with higher mRNA expression in mild compared with severe NEB cows (P < 0.05). IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3 mRNA expression were undetectable. IGF-1R, IGFBP-4 and IGFBP-5 mRNA expression were not significantly altered by follicle size or health, but IGFBP-5 tended to increase in atretic follicles. The pattern of IGFBP-6 mRNA expression in theca paralleled that of IGF-II mRNA, with higher (P < 0.05) levels in healthy, very small follicles. In conclusion, the reduced expression of IGFBP-2 mRNA in severe NEB cows may alter the bioavailability of circulating IGF-I and locally produced IGF-II to modulate the pre-recruitment stages of follicles required to maintain normal post partum ovarian cyclicity.
Effects of cryopreservation on sperm quality, nuclear DNA integrity, in vitro fertilization, and in vitro embryo development in the mouse
Authors: Yildiz Cengiz , Ottaviani Palma , Law Napoleon , Ayearst Renise , Liu Ling , McKerlie Colin
Published: March 2007

Efficient freezing, archiving, and thawing of sperm are essential techniques to support large scale research programs using mouse models of human disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of variable combinations and concentrations of cryoprotectants on sperm-assessment parameters of frozen–thawed mouse sperm in order to optimize cryopreservation protocols. Sperm was frozen using combinations of 3% skim milk + 0.2 or 0.3 M nonpermeating raffinose with either permeating glucose, fructose, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, or sodium pyruvate in CD-1, C3FeB6F1/J, B6129SF1, C57BL/6NCrIBR, 129S/SvPaslco, and DBA/2NCrIBR mice. Sperm-assessment parameters included progressive motility, plasma membrane integrity (SYBR-14 + PI), in vitro fertilization rate, and in vitro embryo development rate to blastocyst. DNA content analysis of sperm was measured by the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA). 0.3 M raffinose with 0.1 M fructose significantly improved post-thaw sperm-assessment parameters for CD-1, C3B6F1, B6129SF1 mice (P < 0.05–0.01), whereas 0.2 M raffinose with 0.1 M glycerol or 0.1 M fructose enhanced sperm assessment values for C57BL/6 and 129S mice (P < 0.01), compared to 0.3 M raffinose alone. DNA fragmentation during cryopreservation was significantly increased in all strains evaluated when compared with fresh control sperm in a strain-dependent manner (P < 0.01). Supplementation with permeating glycerol or fructose to the cryoprotectant (CPA) solution showed a significant protective effect to DNA integrity when cryopreserving sperm from C57BL/6 and 129S mice. Damage to sperm DNA significantly decreased the rate of in vitro embryo development to blastocyst in C57BL/6 mice. The type of monosaccharide sugar or polyols, CPA molarity, and combination of permeating and nonpermeating cryoprotectant are significant factors for improving progressive motility, plasma membrane integrity, DNA integrity, in vitro fertilization rate, and in vitro embryo development rate to blastocyst in cryopreserved mouse sperm.
Vezatin, a ubiquitous protein of adherens cell–cell junctions, is exclusively expressed in germ cells in mouse testis
Authors: Hyenne Vincent , Harf Juergen C , Latz Martin , Maro Bernard , Wolfrum Uwe , Simmler Marie-Christine
Published: March 2007

In the male reproductive organs of mammals, the formation of spermatozoa takes place during two successive phases: differentiation (in the testis) and maturation (in the epididymis). The first phase, spermiogenesis, relies on a unique adherens junction, the apical ectoplasmic specialization linking the epithelial Sertoli cells to immature differentiating spermatids. Vezatin is a transmembrane protein associated with adherens junctions and the actin cytoskeleton in most epithelial cells. We report here the expression profile of vezatin during spermatogenesis. Vezatin is exclusively expressed in haploid germ cells. Immunocytochemical and ultrastructural analyses showed that vezatin intimately coincides, temporally and spatially, with acrosome formation. While vezatin is a transmembrane protein associated with adherens junctions in many epithelial cells, it is not seen at the ectoplasmic specializations, neither at the basal nor at the apical sites, in the seminiferous epithelium. In particular, vezatin does not colocalize with espin and myosin VIIa, two molecular markers of the ectoplasmic specialization. In differentiating spermatids, ultrastructural data indicate that vezatin localizes in the acrosome. In epididymal sperm, vezatin localizes also to the outer acrosomal membrane. Considering its developmental and molecular characteristics, vezatin may be involved in the assembly/stability of this spermatic membrane.
Identification and characterization of ERp29 in rat spermatozoa during epididymal transit
Authors: Guo Wei , Qu Fei , Xia Li , Guo Qiangsu , Ying Xiaoqian , Ding Zhide
Published: March 2007

The mammalian epididymis is able to create sequential changes in the composition of luminal fluid throughout its length, wherein spermatozoa undergo morphological, biochemical, and physiological modifications. Subsequently, spermatozoa acquire the ability for fertilization upon reaching the epididymal cauda. In this study, protein variations in Sprague–Dawley rat spermatozoa along the caput and caudal regions of epididymis were investigated by high-resolution two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) in combination with mass spectrometry. From total protein spots on the 2DE maps, 43 spots were shown to be significantly modified as sperm traverse the epididymis, and seven unambiguous proteins were identified from them. Finally, using indirect immunofluorescence, we demonstrated that localization of one of these seven proteins, the endoplasmic reticulum protein (ERp29) precursor, which was first reported in mammalian spermatozoa, was apparently up-regulated as the sperm underwent epididymal maturation and expressed mainly on caudal sperm. Western blot analysis also revealed that ERp29 precursor, from both whole spermatozoa and membrane proteins, increased significantly as the sperm underwent epididymal maturation. Furthermore, the results from immunofluorescence-stained epididymal frozen sections demonstrated that ERp29 was localized in cytoplasm of epididymal epithelia, and the fluorescence intensity was significantly higher in the caudal epididymis than in the caput. These clues indicated that the ERp29 precursor, perhaps related to secretory protein synthesis and absorbed by spermatozoa, may play a vital role in sperm maturation during the epididymal transit, particularly, in the sperm/organelle membrane.
Engaging in paced mating, but neither exploratory, anti-anxiety, nor social behavior, increases 5α-reduced progestin concentrations in midbrain, hippocampus, striatum, and cortex
Authors: Frye Cheryl A , Paris Jason J , Rhodes Madeline E
Published: March 2007

Sequential actions of 17β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) in the hypothalamus and the P4 metabolite, 5α-pregnan-3α-ol-20-one (3α,5α-THP), in the midbrain ventral tegmental area (VTA) respectively mediate the initiation and intensity of lordosis of female rats and mayalso modulate anxietyand social behaviors, through actions in these, and/or other brain regions. Biosynthesis of E2, P4, and 3α,5α-THP can also occur in brain, independent of peripheral gland secretion, in response to environmental/behavioral stimuli. The extent to which engaging in tasks related to reproductive behaviors and/or mating increased E2 or progestin concentrations in brain was investigated. In Experiment 1, proestrous rats were randomly assigned to be tested in individual tasks, including the open field, elevated plus maze, partner preference, social interaction, or no test control, in conjunction with paced mating or no mating. Engaging in paced mating, but not other behaviors, significantly increased dihydroprogesterone (DHP) and 3α,5α-THP levels in midbrain, hippocampus, striatum, and cortex. In Experiment 2, proestrous rats were tested in the combinations of the above tasks (open field and elevated plus maze, partner preference, and social interaction) with or without paced mating. As in Experiment 1, only engaging in paced mating increased DHPand 3α,5α-THP concentrations in midbrain, hippocampus, striatum, and cortex. Thus, paced mating enhances concentrations of 5α-reduced progestins in brain areas associated with reproduction (midbrain), as well as exploration/anxiety (hippocampus and striatum) and social behavior (cortex).
Laboratory Efficacy of Florfenicol against Streptococcus iniae Infection in Sunshine Bass
Authors: Darwish Ahmed M.
Published: March 2007

An experimental feeding trial was performed to evaluate the efficacy of florfenicol (FFC) in controlling Streptococcus iniae infection in sunshine bass (female white bass Morone chrysops × male striped bass M. saxatilis). Five dosage levels of FFC in medicated feed were administered daily: 0, 5, 10, 15, and 30 mg of active ingredient/kg of fish body weight. Treatment was started within 22–24 h postchallenge by waterborne exposure to virulent S. iniae. The FFC medication was continued for 10 consecutive days, followed by a 25-d posttreatment observation. At the conclusion of the experiment, FFC treatment significantly increased the survival of S. iniae-challenged sunshine bass from 4.2% in the nonmedicated (positive control) group to 69.2% in the 5-mg/kg dosage group, 86.7% in the 10-mg/kg group, and 94.2% in the 15- and 30-mg/kg groups. Survival was significantly higher in the 15- and 30-mg/kg treatment groups than in the 5-mg/kg treatment group; differences among the 10-mg/kg and higher dosage groups were not significant. Survival curve analysis using a log-rank test indicated no significant difference between curves for the 10- and 15-mg/kg groups but a significant difference between curves for the 5- and 10-mg/kg groups. At the end of the experiment, no carriers were detected in any challenged group receiving an FFC-medicated diet, but the bacterium was recovered from the nonmedicated challenged survivors of the infection. The results of the experiment suggest that the optimum therapeutic daily dose of FFC is between 10 and 15 mg/kg body weight for 10 d.
A novel spectrum‐sequential display design with a wide color gamut and reduced color breakup
Authors: Langendijk Erno H. A.
Published: March 2007

Abstract— The advantage of RGB color‐sequential displays is that they have no color filters, but the disadvantage is that they need to run at high refresh rates (> >180 Hz) to prevent flicker and color breakup. An alternative color‐sequential display, which can operate at relatively low refresh rates (∼ 100 Hz) without disturbing color breakup or flicker, has been developed. The display has two color filters per pixel (cyan and magenta) on the LCD panel and the backlight can generate two types of spectra (blue‐green and green‐red), which results in a wide gamut four‐primary display, effectively. One part of the paper describes the color reproduction, including color‐filter design, gamut mapping, and multi‐primary conversion. The other part deals with the reduced perception of color breakup on the novel spectrum‐sequential display compared to conventional color‐sequential displays.
Application of Mechanical Shear in an Internal‐Recycle for the Enhancement of Mesophilic Anaerobic Digestion
Authors: Muller Christopher D. , Abu‐Orf Mohammad , Novak John T.
Published: March 2007

A combination of bench‐ and full‐scale studies were conducted to determine the effectiveness of high‐intensity mechanical shear in an internal recycle loop to enhance mesophilic anaerobic digestion and the implications of this process for routine operations of a digestion system. During short‐term batch digestion (56 hours), a 46% increase in biogas production was observed. However, it was found that the degree of digestion enhancement was sludge‐specific, with increases in volatile solids destruction ranging from 16.6 to 110%. A full‐scale demonstration showed increased total and volatile solids destruction of 22 and 21% for the primary digester and 17.2 and 11% for the secondary digester, respectively. The data also suggest that increased protein degradation is one of the major mechanisms associated with the observed increases in volatile solids destruction. The full‐scale demonstration also determined that shear enhanced digestion can be operated without process upset, based on volatile fatty acid profile and headspace biogas composition (methane and carbon dioxide). Dewatering properties, as measured by polymer demand, deteriorated in the primary digester, but there was improvement in the secondary digester. High‐intensity shear does not appear to enhance pathogen reduction based on total and fecal coliform bacterial enumeration.
US Supreme Court Limits on the Power of US Health Agencies
Authors: Aaron Daniel G. , Emery Avery E.
Published: March 2024

This Viewpoint describes how the overturning of Chevron deference would shift the ability to make policy decisions about public health and the environment from administrative agencies to the courts.
Outcome Measurement Instruments Used to Evaluate Dermatologic Adverse Events in Cancer Trials
Authors: Shaigany Sheila , Mastacouris Nicole , Tannenbaum Rachel , Strunk Andrew , Luan Christopher , Burshtein Joshua , Burshtein Aaron , Carvajal Richard , Garg Amit , Alloo Allireza
Published: March 2024

Importance

Assessment of type, severity, and impact of dermatologic adverse events (DAEs) necessitates well-developed and validated clinician-reported outcome measures (ClinROMs) and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) that evaluate concepts specific to mucocutaneous toxic effects and that allow appropriate interpretation and comparison of DAEs across trials.

Objective

To evaluate heterogeneity and quality of ClinROMs and PROMs used to assess DAEs from systemic cancer therapy.

Evidence Review

Two systematic reviews were conducted by searching PubMed and Embase databases from inception through March 7, 2023, and April 12, 2023. The first search included randomized clinical trials and observational studies reporting systemic cancer treatment–induced DAEs assessed by a ClinROM or PROM. The second included studies evaluating measurement properties of frequently used ClinROM and PROM instruments. The Consensus-Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments risk of bias tool was used to evaluate methodologic quality of validation assessments.

Findings

A total of 395 studies were included. The Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) was utilized in 331 studies meeting inclusion criteria (83.8%). At least 1 skin-related PROM was infrequently utilized in systemic chemotherapy clinical trials (79 studies [20.0%]). Most frequently utilized PROMs were the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI; 34 studies [8.6%]) and Skindex-16 (20 studies [5.1%]). Among studies capturing DAEs, 115 (29.1%) reported a nondescript term (ie, rash) as the only DAE. Eight studies described 44 property assessments of the CTCAE, DLQI, and Skindex. There were no studies evaluating content validity, intrarater reliability, or measurement error for the CTCAE, DLQI, or Skindex. There were no studies evaluating structural validity, internal consistency, and responsiveness of DLQI or Skindex. Interrater reliability and responsiveness were each assessed for 1 DAE-related component of the CTCAE. Construct validity for CTCAE, DLQI, and Skindex was evaluated in 29 (65.9%), 3 (6.8%), and 9 (20.5%) assessments, respectively.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this systematic review, there was a narrow spectrum of ClinROMs and PROMs with limited validity for the measurement of DAEs in the context of systemic chemotherapy interventions in clinical trials. Report of trial DAEs often had low morphologic specificity and meaning. Based on existing gaps in measurement and report of DAEs, a frequent and impactful adverse event to chemotherapy, the framework for evaluating cutaneous toxic effects in oncology trials may need collaborative reevaluation.
Racial Implicit Bias and Communication Among Physicians in a Simulated Environment
Authors: Gonzalez Cristina M. , Ark Tavinder K. , Fisher Marla R. , Marantz Paul R. , Burgess Diana J. , Milan Felise , Samuel Malika T. , Lypson Monica L. , Rodriguez Carlos J. , Kalet Adina L.
Published: March 2024

Importance

Racial implicit bias can contribute to health disparities through its negative influence on physician communication with Black patients. Interventions for physicians to address racial implicit bias in their clinical encounters are limited by a lack of high-fidelity (realistic) simulations to provide opportunities for skill development and practice.

Objective

To describe the development and initial evaluation of a high-fidelity simulation of conditions under which physicians might be influenced by implicit racial bias.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cross-sectional study, performed on an online platform from March 1 to September 30, 2022, recruited a convenience sample of physician volunteers to pilot an educational simulation.

Exposures

In the simulation exercise, physicians saw a 52-year-old male standardized patient (SP) (presenting as Black or White) seeking urgent care for epigastric pain, nausea, and vomiting. The case included cognitive stressors common to clinical environments, including clinical ambiguity, stress, time constraints, and interruptions. Physicians explained their diagnosis and treatment plan to the SP, wrote an assessment and management plan, completed surveys, and took the Race Implicit Association Test (IAT) and Race Medical Cooperativeness IAT. The SPs, blinded to the purpose of the study, assessed each physician’s communication using skills checklists and global rating scales.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Association between physicians’ IAT scores and SP race with SP ratings of communication skills.

Results

In 60 physicians (23 [38.3%] Asian, 4 [6.7%] Black, 23 [38.3%] White, and 10 [16.7%] other, including Latina/o/x, Middle Eastern, and multiracial; 31 [51.7%] female, 27 [45.0%] male, and 2 [3.3%] other), the interaction of physicians’ Race IAT score and SP race was significant for overall communication (mean [SD] β = −1.29 [0.41]), all subdomains of communication (mean [SD] β = −1.17 [0.52] to −1.43 [0.59]), and overall global ratings (mean [SD] β = −1.09 [0.39]). Black SPs rated physicians lower on communication skills for a given pro-White Race IAT score than White SPs; White SP ratings increased as physicians’ pro-White bias increased.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cross-sectional study, a high-fidelity simulation calibrated with cognitive stressors common to clinical environments elicited the expected influence of racial implicit bias on physicians’ communication skills. The outlined process and preliminary results can inform the development and evaluation of interventions that seek to address racial implicit bias in clinical encounters and improve physician communication with Black patients.
Baseline Antipsychotic Dose and Transition to Psychosis in Individuals at Clinical High Risk
Authors: Raballo Andrea , Poletti Michele , Preti Antonio
Published: March 2024

Importance

Emerging meta-analytical evidence indicates that baseline exposure to antipsychotics is associated with an increased risk of transitioning to psychosis in individuals at clinical high-risk for psychosis (CHR-P) and that such effect is not a result of pretest risk enrichment. However, to maximize its translational utility for prognostic stratification in clinical practice, testing for the potential presence of a dose-response association is crucial.

Objective

To test whether the negative prognostic effect of baseline antipsychotic exposure in individuals at CHR-P follows a dose-effect pattern, as indicated by mean chlorpromazine equivalent doses (CPZ-ED).

Data Sources

MEDLINE and Cochrane Library, performed up to August 31, 2023, searching for English-language studies on individuals at CHR-P reporting data on exposure to antipsychotics at baseline and detailed information on dosage by transition status.

Study Selection

Studies that provided information on antipsychotic exposure at baseline and included detailed dosage data categorized by transition status.

Data Extraction and Synthesis

Eligible studies were identified following PRISMA guidelines and evaluated independently by 2 reviewers with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for assessing the quality of nonrandomized studies in meta-analyses.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was transition to psychosis in individuals at CHR-P who were receiving antipsychotic treatment at baseline, measured by baseline mean CPZ-ED in individuals at CHR-P who transitioned to psychosis compared to those who did not.

Results

Eight studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Among 290 individuals at CHR-P (mean [SD] age, 19.4 [2.6] years) who were exposed to antipsychotics at baseline and remained in contact up to the completion of the study, 66 converted to psychosis and 224 did not. The mean CPZ-ED ranged 60 to 395 mg/d in those who converted and 13 to 224 mg/d in those who did not. Those who converted to psychosis had higher CPZ-ED than those who did not in both the common-effects model (Hedges g, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.12-0.70; z, 2.78; P = .005) and in the random-effects model (Hedges g, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.15-0.67; z, 3.69; P = .008; τ2, 0.0). There was no relevant heterogeneity (Cochran Q, 3.99; df, 7; P = .78; I2, 0.0%; 95% CI, 0.0-68.0). The radial plot indicated a good fit of the model.

Conclusions and Relevance

In individuals at CHR-P who were exposed to antipsychotics at baseline, those receiving higher antipsychotic doses demonstrated an increased likelihood of transitioning to psychosis. This meta-analytic evidence of putative dose-effect association confirms that baseline antipsychotic exposure and the corresponding dosage carry salient prognostic information that could improve current CHR-P criteria-based risk stratification at inception.
Wavelength‐Dispersive X‐Ray Fluorescence Analysis: Part III
Authors: Kuczumow† Andrzej
Published: March 2024

Wavelength‐dispersive X‐ray fluorescence (WD‐XRF) is a somewhat conservative technique, staying in one raw with the traditional X‐ray diffraction method. It seems even unfashionable to apply such heavy, huge, energy‐consuming, and totally costly instruments nowadays. Nevertheless, the good stability and easy quantification give that method the prevalence in large laboratories handling such fields as metallurgy, geological analyses, archaeometry, pollution, and environmental monitoring. The good spectral resolution for low‐energy X‐rays enables both the analyses of light elements up to Be and the chemical speciation. The steady progress of the WD‐XRF in the following, hardly expected fields is one of the most exciting questions: □ mapping option, which has been earlier considered unfeasible and now is executed, with especially good spectral resolution; □ nontrivial representation of results in the energy units; □ application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for pattern recognition or quantification, sometimes without the need for the registration of the searched element; □ new possibilities of the dynamical measurements of the Pauling electronegativities for the elements of I and II Group of the Periodic System.
Discovery of Stable Surfaces with Extreme Work Functions by High‐Throughput Density Functional Theory and Machine Learning
Authors: Schindler Peter , Antoniuk Evan R. , Cheon Gowoon , Zhu Yanbing , Reed Evan J.
Published: March 2024

The work function is the key surface property that determines the energy required to extract an electron from the surface of a material. This property is crucial for thermionic energy conversion, band alignment in heterostructures, and electron emission devices. This work presents a high‐throughput workflow using density functional theory (DFT) to calculate the work function and cleavage energy of 33,631 slabs (58,332 work functions) that are created from 3,716 bulk materials. The number of calculated surface properties surpasses the previously largest database by a factor of ≈27. Several surfaces with an ultra‐low (<2 eV) and ultra‐high (>7 eV) work function are identified. Specifically, the (100)‐Ba‐O surface of BaMoO3and the (001)‐F surface of Ag2F have record‐low (1.25 eV) and record‐high (9.06 eV) steady‐state work functions. Based on this database a physics‐based approach to featurize surfaces is utilized to predict the work function. The random forest model achieves a test mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.09 eV, comparable to the accuracy of DFT. This surrogate model enables rapid predictions of the work function (≈ 105faster than DFT) across a vast chemical space and facilitates the discovery of material surfaces with extreme work functions for energy conversion and electronic device applications.
High‐Areal‐Capacity and Long‐Cycle‐Life All‐Solid‐State Lithium‐Metal Battery by Mixed‐Conduction Interface Layer
Authors: Yang Ming , Wu Yujing , Yang Kaiqi , Wang Zhixuan , Ma Tenghuan , Wu Dengxu , Xu Fuqiang , Yang Li , Lu Pushun , Peng Jian , Gao Qifa , Zhu Xiang , Jiang Zhiwen , Chen Liquan , Li Hong , Wu Fan
Published: March 2024

The rapid growth of lithium dendrites has seriously hindered the development and practical application of high‐energy‐density all‐solid‐state lithium metal batteries (ASSLMBs). Herein, a soft carbon (SC)‐nano Li6.4La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12 (LLZTO) (with high ionic conductivity and diffusion coefficient) mixed ionic and electronic conducting interface layer is designed to promote the rapid migration of Li+ at the interfacial layer, induce the uniform deposition of lithium metal on nanoscale (nano) LLZTO ion‐conducting network inside the interface layer, effectively suppress the growth of lithium dendrites, and significantly improve the electrochemical performance of ASSLMBs. LiZrO2@LiCoO2(LZO@LCO)/Li6PS5Cl(LPSCl)‐nano LLZTO/Li ASSLMB achieves high current density (12.5 mA cm−2), ultra‐high areal capacity (15 mAh cm−2, corresponding to LZO@LCO mass loadings of 111.11 mg cm−2), and ultra‐long cycle life (20 000 cycles). Therefore, the introduction of SC‐nano LLZTO mixed conducting interface layer can greatly improve the interfacial stability between solid‐state electrolyte (SSE) and lithium metal anode to enable dendrite‐free ASSLMBs.
Mole‐Inspired Robot Burrowing with Forelimbs for Planetary Soil Exploration
Authors: Zhang Tao , Wei Hongyu , Zheng Hongmin , Liang Zhaofeng , Yang Haotian , Zhang Yinliang , Zhu Haifei , Guan Yisheng , Ding Xilun , Wang Kunyang , Xu Kun
Published: March 2024

The biological world serves as a vast reservoir of inspiration for human innovation, particularly in the realm of robotics designed to navigate intricate granular environments. Among these creatures adept at burrowing, the mole stands out due to its exceptional body structure and unparalleled efficiency, surpassing most engineering burrowing systems. Consequently, the mole serves as an ideal model for designing highly efficient burrowing robots. This study introduces a mole‐inspired robot burrowing with forelimbs, specifically designed for planetary soil exploration. By closely examining the distinctive body morphology of moles, a forelimb burrowing mechanism is devised through biomimetic mapping, and its kinematics is thoroughly analyzed. A robot prototype is developed and an experimental setup is constructed to evaluate its burrowing performance. A series of tests are conducted to assess the capabilities of the robot, including forelimb burrowing, robot crawling, and robot burrowing. The results demonstrate that the proposed mole‐inspired burrowing robot is capable of crawling and burrowing to a certain depth using its forelimbs. Although it exhibits some upward displacement, this issue can be mitigated by modifying the head configuration and adjusting the forelimb posture to effectively overcome the vertical stress and lift force exerted by granular soils due to intensity gradient.
Securitising Biotic Risk: Reframing Biosecurity in China
Authors: Duan Xinxin , Fritsch Oliver , McKirdy Simon J. , Zheng Dan
Published: March 2024

This article offers an in‐depth analysis of the meaning and scope of biosafety and biosecurity in China, thereby relating domestic debates to global developments, exploring notions of safety and security in public policy more broadly and embedding a key policy initiative, Chinaʼs new Biosecurity Law, into attempts by Chinaʼs leadership to develop a holistic national security strategy. The article finds that biotic threats have more recently been reframed as matters of national security, in ways that undeniably go beyond conventional understandings of biosecurity and that blur the boundaries to more accident‐focused biosafety measures. Given Chinaʼs political and economic importance this apparent trend to securitise biotic risks is likely to impact on global trade relations, international transport and passenger traffic, not the least in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Adaptive sliding mode control of robotic manipulator based on reinforcement learning
Authors: Ren Ziwu , Chen Jie , Miao Yunxi , Miao Yujie , Guo Zibo , Hu Biao , Lin Rui
Published: March 2024

Robotic manipulators usually exhibit time‐varying, nonlinear, and coupled dynamics due to the parameter perturbations, disturbances, and other uncertainties. Traditional control algorithms typically do not possess parameters' self‐adaptive learning ability, limiting the tracking performance of the robot. In order to address these issues, an adaptive sliding mode control method based on reinforcement learning (ASMRL) is proposed in this paper, where a proportional–integral sliding mode (PISM) controller is used to address the nonlinear problem in the system, and deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) agent is adopted to conduct the parameters' learning of the PISM controller using its adaptive characteristics and the autonomous learning ability. The simulation results illustrate that the proposed method can effectively achieve better tracking performance compared with two other control methods, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Harnessing Regenerated Graphite from Spent Lithium‐Ion Batteries to Enhance the Performance of Sulfur Cathode in Lithium‐Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Sheng Huiying , Graczyk‐Zajac Magdalena , Tian Honghong , Qu Fangmu , Zhang Yaohao , Dürrschnabel Michael , Weidenkaff Anke , Riedel Ralf
Published: March 2024

In this work, a facile hydrometallurgical approach combined with heat treatment has been adopted to recycle spent graphite from retired lithium‐ion battery cells. Graphite regenerated with 18 M H2SO4 leaching leads to a high specific surface area, significant porosity and small crystallite size. The regenerated graphite has been infiltrated with sulfur under solvothermal conditions at 160 °C. The sample containing 68 wt % of sulfur recovers a capacity of 224 mAh/g after 100 cycles. Furthermore, the electrode with a higher sulfur content of 84 wt %, recuperates the specific discharging capacity of 207 mAh/g after 100 cycles. After the initial fading during the first 5–10 cycles, the cathodes based on regenerated graphite demonstrate stable cycling behavior. This research not only offers an accessible and scalable method for regenerating graphite from spent LIBs but also demonstrates a new application of the regenerated graphite in LSBs, showcasing outstanding electrochemical performance.
Insights Into Electrolyte Strategies for Suppressing Side Reactions Towards Aqueous Zinc‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Gong Xuerong , Zhang Zongliang , Zhang Zonghan , Dai Jiaxin , Li Xue , Wang Baofeng
Published: March 2024

Aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs) have gained significant attention as a promising technology for grid scale energy storage due to their high safety and low cost. Nevertheless, side reactions on the zinc anodes result in a decrease in effi‐ciency decay and capacity loss, hindering the wide‐spread application of AZIBs. Recently, great efforts have been con‐ducted to tackle these challenges, such as modifying the inter‐nal structure of zinc anodes, coating protection on the surface of zinc anodes, and optimizing the electrolytes. However, there is a lack of systematic summary on the design of side reac‐tions‐suppressed zinc anodes, especially through the optimi‐zation strategies of aqueous electrolytes. Herein, this review systematically summarizes the main mechanisms and influence factors of side reactions. Subsequently, we present the main modification strategies based on electrolyte engineering for alleviating side reactions, with a particular emphasis on poly‐mer electrolytes. Lastly, we shed light on the potential research directions and perspectives of aqueous electrolytes, which may promote the development of AZIBs.