bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of Walker‐256 Tumor Growth by Combining Microbubble‐Enhanced Ultrasound and Endostar
Authors: Yu Yanlan , Qiao Wei , Feng Shuang , Yi Cuo , Liu Zheng
Published: February 2022

Objectives

This research is to investigate the anti‐tumor effects by combining anti‐vascular effect of microbubble enhanced ultrasound (MEUS) mechanical destruction and anti‐angiogenic effect of Endostar.

Methods

Rats bearing Walker‐256 tumor were randomly divided into 4 groups treated by Endostar + MEUS combination, Endostar, MEUS or Sham ultrasound (US), respectively. MEUS was induced by Sonazoid microbubble and a focused therapeutic US device. Contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) was used to assess tumor perfusion before and after treatment. Microvessel density (MVD) was evaluated with immunohistochemical staining of CD31, CD34, and VEGFA. TUNEL assay was used to determine the apoptosis rate of tumor cells.

Results

Endostar + MEUS combined group induced the most reduced blood perfusion and most retarded tumor growth compared with other 3 groups. Decreased MVD was shown in Endostar + MEUS, Endostar and MEUS group, but the lowest MVD value was presented in the combined treatment group. Significant increase was observed in the combined therapy group and MEUS group.

Conclusions

This study showed an improved anti‐vascular and anti‐angiogenic effect achieved by combining Endostar and MEUS, and may provide a new method potential for anti‐tumor therapy.
Relationship of Amniotic Fluid Sludge and Short Cervix With a High Rate of Preterm Birth in Women After Cervical Cerclage
Authors: Huang Yingmin , Liang Xiaowen , Liao Jianyi , Li Yingtao , Chen Zhiyi
Published: February 2022

Objective

We aims to determine the relationship of amniotic fluid sludge (AFS) and/or short cervical length (CL, ≤25 mm) with a high rate of preterm birth in women after cervical cerclage.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted among singleton pregnancies after cervical cerclage between January 2018 and December 2021. A total of 296 patients who underwent transvaginal ultrasound to evaluate CL and the presence of AFS within 2 weeks after cerclage were included. Pregnancy outcome after cerclage was analyzed in accordance with the presence of AFS and CL ≤25 mm.

Results

In patients with cerclage, AFS was an independent risk factor for preterm birth at <28 and <36 weeks but not for preterm birth at <32 weeks, and CL ≤25 mm was an independent risk factor for preterm birth at <28, <32, and <36 weeks. The Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that the association between the presence of AFS and short gestational age at delivery was statistically significant in women with CL ≤25 mm (log rank test, P = .000). The Cox regression analysis showed that these results remained significant after adjusting for confounding factors (P = .000). The negative linear relationships between AFS and CL (R = −0.454, P < .001) also explained the outcome.

Conclusions

AFS and short cervix have a direct effect on pregnancies after cerclage. Mid‐trimester AFS can become a supplementary ultrasound index for detecting preterm birth after cerclage in pregnant women with a short cervix.
Is obstructive sleep apnea associated with erythrocytosis? A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Rha Min‐Seok , Jeong Yeonsu , Kim Jungghi , Kim Chang‐Hoon , Yoon Joo‐Heon , Cho Hyung‐Ju
Published: February 2022

Objective

The aim of this systematic review and meta‐analysis was to investigate the association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and erythrocytosis.

Methods

The PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for articles examining hematocrit values in patients with OSA and control individuals published till September 1, 2021. The pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated, and subgroup analyses were performed.

Results

Eleven eligible studies with a total of 4608 patients with OSA were included in this meta‐analysis. Pooled outcomes revealed that hematocrit values were significantly higher in patients with OSA than in controls (SMD, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.08–0.29; p < .01). When studies were stratified by disease severity, the significant differences in hematocrit values between patients and controls were only observed in the severe OSA group (SMD, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.08–0.59; p < .01), but not in the mild and moderate OSA groups. In subgroup analyses according to sex and publication year, significant differences in hematocrit values between patients and controls remained stable in studies with only female patients (SMD, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.12–0.38; p < .01) and in studies published after 2012 (SMD, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.06–0.28, p < .01).

Conclusion

Our meta‐analysis revealed that the hematocrit value was significantly increased in patients with OSA, particularly in severe patients, compared with that in controls. However, the elevation was modest, and the hematocrit value is expected to be within the normal range in patients with OSA. These data suggest that OSA leads to slight increases in hematocrit but does not cause clinically significant erythrocytosis.
Customizing the Topological Charges of Vortex Modes by Exploiting Symmetry Principles
Authors: Yang Jie , Zheng Xuezhi , Wang Jiafu , Zhang Anxue , Cui Tie Jun , Vandenbosch Guy A. E.
Published: February 2022

Vortex modes carrying Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM) provide an ideal platform for realizing many novel physical effects and applications ranging from classical to quantum regimes. An important approach to generating the vortex modes is the electromagnetic (EM) scattering by scatterers holding high degrees of symmetries. Within this context, a clear link is established between the symmetries and the topological charges of the vortex modes. A symmetry matching condition is formulated and a design rule consisting of two simple formulas is suggested to excite a specific topological charge order. The formulas are numerically and experimentally verified by designing a microwave resonator and its feeding network to generate vortex modes with topological charges from  to . The reported approach can be applied to microwave, terahertz, and optical applications, and hence provides a holistic design principle for engineering vortex modes for a wide EM spectrum.
An experimental study of the effect of condensing water vapour on the cold corrosion wear of marine engine cylinder liners
Authors: Cordtz Rasmus F. , Kjemtrup Lars , Jensen Michael V. , Schramm Jesper
Published: February 2022

This work presents an experimental study of the cold corrosion wear phenomenon that is experienced on the cylinder liners in large two‐stroke marine diesel engines that burn heavy fuel oil containing sulfur. The wear is caused by condensing sulfuric acid‐ and water vapours (H2SO4 and H2O, respectively) that are formed during combustion. In this work, cold corrosion is studied experimentally with a modified and motored light duty engine that operates at 98 revolutions per minute, in order to match the rotational speed of a large marine engine. The engine works as a tribotester where multiple charge gas compositions with up to 10% H2O and 80 ppm H2SO4 (mole/mole) in dry air are fed to its cylinders to produce realistic marine engine H2O and H2SO4 partial pressures. A lube oil blend that is composed by a conventional two‐stroke marine engine cylinder lube oil and a base oil is used in the experiments. By extracting oil samples from the engine oil swamp during an experiment (that are analysed for iron and sulfur content using an energy dispersive X‐ray fluorescence spectrometer) the cylinder liner wear rate and sulfuric acid condensation rate are determined for the applied charge gas composition and liner surface temperature (primarily 80°C). The method shows that the different charge gas compositions yield distinct liner wear rates and the highest wear rates are experienced at elevated H2O concentrations where the influence of H2SO4 is comparably low.
Novelfull‐regionmodel of inherent orifice aerostatic bearings considering air flow in orifice and clearance
Authors: Li Wenjun , Zhang Yinjie , Wang Peng , Feng Kai , Cui Hailong , Zheng Yueqing
Published: February 2022

The performance of inherent orifice‐restricted aerostatic bearings (IORABs) is directly determined by the coupling of air flow in the orifice and clearance. This paper presents a novel full‐region model to analyse the performance of IORABs. The air flowing in the orifice is treated to be adiabatic. The air flow in the pressure depression region of the clearance, which is the key factor influencing the bearing performance, including inertial and viscous terms, is modelled. The Reynolds equation is used to simulate the air flow in the laminar flow region of the clearance. By using this model, the pressure distribution, including the pressure depression characteristics, could be accurately predicted and achieved substantial agreement with the experimental results. The predicted load capacity is accorded well with the published experimental data without relying on the discharge coefficients. The airflow characteristics in the orifice are crucial in determining the bearing performance and directly influenced by the orifice inner surface shape (OISS). Therefore, the pressure distribution and the static characteristics of the bearings with coupling different OISS are also systematically analysed by using this model. Narrowing and widening OISS influence the pressure depression region and the pressure value of the turning point to directly influence the static characteristics of the bearings. The full‐region model and the results are significantly for guiding the precisely calculating and designing the IORABs.
Electrospinning of Fatty Acid‐Based and Metal Incorporated Polymers for the Fabrication of Eco‐Friendly Fibers
Authors: Erdem Çaǧlar , Isık Tuǧba , Horzum Nesrin , Hazer Baki , Demir Mustafa M.
Published: February 2022

Accumulation of plastic wastes occupies large space in gyres of the oceans called the 7th continent. This high‐level concentration of toxic plastic wastes causes harmful consequences for marine life, therefore petroleum‐originated plastics must be replaced (or at least partially) with natural resources. The environmental trends in material preparation promote the utilization of greener methods and materials when the limited primary sources are considered. Starting from the fatty acid macroperoxide initiators, synthesis of bio‐based polymers using less commercial chemicals and stepwise green synthesis schemes could be possible in the near future. In this research, autoxidized vegetable oil initiators (castor, limonene, and soybean oil) containing metal nanoparticles (silver, platinum, and gold) are employed for free radical polymerization of vinyl monomers. The metal loaded and vegetable oil‐based polymers are processed by electrospinning and end up with the successful fabrication of continuous fibers. Ag‐loaded ricinoleic acid based polymers show notable antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli. This approach offers a remarkable minimization of the initiator consumption in the synthesis of such synthetic macromolecules as well as nanoparticle containing polymer composites while still maintaining the ease of processing. Transforming the obtained graft copolymers to electrospun nanofibers facilitates the use as support materials for antibacterial surfaces.
The Significance of Electrical Polarity in Electrospinning: A Nanoscale Approach for the Enhancement of the Polymer Fibers' Properties
Authors: Ura Daniel P. , Stachewicz Urszula
Published: February 2022

Thanks to its versatility, electrospinning is a method often used to produce polymer fibers for bioengineering, water, and energy harvesting applications. The change of a single process parameter in electrospinning provides a tremendous opportunity to modify the properties of the materials produced without any additional post‐treatment. One of these is the voltage and electrical polarity applied to the nozzle. The alternating polarity, between positive and negative, causes a change in the types of charges accumulated on the polymer jet. Consequently, the produced fibers show different molecule configurations on the surface, resulting in changes in surface chemistry while tailoring their properties to fit various application needs. This review explains polymer chain reorientation phenomena caused by electrical polarity in electrospinning. Furthermore, the electrical polarity effect on the surface and the mechanical properties of electrospun fibers, and the methods to investigate it is demonstrated. Finally, this review illustrates the significance of electrical polarity in electrospinning as a nanoscale approach to enhance fiber surface properties and their applicability.
L‐fucose, a sugary regulator of antitumor immunity and immunotherapies
Authors: Adhikari Emma , Liu Qian , Burton Chase , Mockabee‐Macias Andrea , Lester Daniel K. , Lau Eric
Published: February 2022

l‐fucose is a dietary sugar that is used by cells in a process called fucosylation to posttranslationally modify and regulate protein behavior and function. As fucosylation plays essential cellular functions in normal organ and immune developmental and homeostasis, it is perhaps not surprising that it has been found to be perturbed in a number of pathophysiological contexts, including cancer. Increasing studies over the years have highlighted key roles that altered fucosylation can play in cancer cell‐intrinsic as well as paracrine signaling and interactions. In particular, studies have demonstrated that fucosylation impact tumor:immunological interactions and significantly enhance or attenuate antitumor immunity. Importantly, fucosylation appears to be a posttranslational modification that can be therapeutically targeted, as manipulating the molecular underpinnings of fucosylation has been shown to be sufficient to impair or block tumor progression and to modulate antitumor immunity. Moreover, the fucosylation of anticancer agents, such as therapeutic antibodies, has been shown to critically impact their efficacy. In this review, we summarize the underappreciated roles that fucosylation plays in cancer and immune cells, as well as the fucosylation of therapeutic antibodies or the manipulation of fucosylation and their implications as new therapeutic modalities for cancer.
Research on the impact mechanism of green finance on the green innovation performance of China's manufacturing industry
Authors: Wang Xingyuan
Published: February 2022

This paper constructs the relationship model diagram of green finance, technology finance and supply chain finance, and the conceptual model diagram of the impact mechanism of Green Finance on green innovation performance of manufacturing industry. Using the relevant statistical data indicators of China's manufacturing industry from 2011 to 2018, the structural equation model is used for empirical test. The results show that green finance has a positive impact on the green innovation performance of manufacturing industry. Technology finance has a positive regulating impact on green finance and manufacturing green innovation performance, while supply chain finance has no significant regulating impact.
Exploring the Contribution of (Poly)phenols to the Dietary Exposome Using High Resolution Mass Spectrometry Untargeted Metabolomics
Authors: Li Yuan‐Yuan , Rushing Blake , Schroder Madison , Sumner Susan , Kay Colin D.
Published: February 2022

Scope

This study presents a workflow to construct a Dietary Exposome Library (DEL) comprised of phytochemicals and their metabolites derived from host and gut microbiome metabolism for use in peak identification/annotation of untargeted metabolomics datasets.

Methods and Results

An evidence mapping initiative established target analytes related to the consumption of phytochemical‐rich foods. Analytes were confirmed by ultra‐performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (UPLC‐MS(n)) analysis of human biospecimens from dietary intervention studies of (poly)phenol‐rich diets. One hundred and sixty six verified compounds were subsequently analyzed on an untargeted metabolomics platform to acquire chromatographic and high‐resolution mass spectral data for construction of a DEL. The DEL facilitated identification/annotation of 123 metabolites associate with exposure to (poly)phenol enriched diets, which included aromatic ketones, benzoic acids, ellagic acids, caffeoylquinic acids, catecholamines, coumarins, hippuric acid, hydroxytoluenes, phenylamines, stilbenes, urolithins, valerolactones, and xanthonoids, in untargeted metabolomics datasets acquire from human plasma and urine reference materials.

Conclusions

The DEL focusing on (poly)phenols and their metabolites of dietary exposure facilitated identification/annotation of ingested food components and their associated pathways in untargeted metabolomics datasets acquired from human biospecimens. The DEL continues to expand with the aim to provide evidence‐based data for dietary metabolites in exposome research and inform the development of dietary intervention strategies.
Enhancing5Gmulti‐bandlong haul optical fronthaul links performance by magnitude‐selective affine digital predistortion method
Authors: Hadi Muhammad Usman , Soin Navneet , Kausar Shafaq
Published: February 2022

This paper presents a novel magnitude‐selective affine (MSA) based digital predistortion (DPD) method for the performance investigation of multiband 5G new radio (NR) based analog radio over fiber link. The proposed MSA‐DPD method is derived from the canonical piecewise linear (CPWL) based model by employing MSA functions, which can result in reduction of the number of multiplication operations and the model complexity. The 5G NR standard at 20 GHz with 50 MHz bandwidth and flexible‐waveform signal at 3 GHz with 20 MHz bandwidth is used. A dual drive Mach Zehnder modulator having two distinct RF signals modulates a 1310 nm optical carrier using distributed feedback laser for 22 km of standard single mode fiber. The proposed MSA‐DPD method is compared with the CPWL and generalized memory polynomial method. The experimental results are presented in terms of adjacent channel power ratio, error vector magnitude, number of estimated coefficients and multiplications suggesting that MSA‐DPD method achieves a better performance as compared to CPWL and GMP models with much lesser complexity meeting the 3GPP Release 17 requirements.
State elimination for mixed‐integer optimal control of partial differential equations by semigroup theory
Authors: Thünen Anna , Leyffer Sven , Sager Sebastian
Published: February 2022

Mixed‐integer optimal control problems governed by partial differential equations (MIPDECOs) are powerful modeling tools but also challenging in terms of theory and computation. We propose a highly efficient state elimination approach for MIPDECOs that are governed by partial differential equations that have the structure of an abstract ordinary differential equation in function space. This allows us to avoid repeated calculations of the states for all time steps, and our approach is applied only once before starting the optimization. The presentation of theoretical results is complemented by numerical experiments.
Design of controllable degradable epoxy resin: High performance and feasible upcycling
Authors: Feng Haoyang , Jin Dandan , Wang Shuaipeng , Hu Jingyuan , Dai Jinyue , Yan Shifeng , Liu Xiaoqing
Published: February 2022

Endowing epoxy resin with high performance, controllable degradation as well as feasible upcycling is a huge challenge. Herein, we synthesized a bio‐based amine curing agent containing spiro diacetal unit using an environment‐friendly method, then the controllable degradable epoxy resin was obtained after the curing reaction between diamine (DVPM) and bisphenol A epoxy resin (DGEBA). Results showed that DVPM‐DGEBA resin performed high glass translation temperature of 136°C, glassy storage modulus of 3.93 GPa, and tensile strength of 85.9 MPa, owing to spiro diacetal unit and abundant methoxyl‐related hydrogen bonds confirmed by non‐isothermal fourier transform infrared spectra (FT‐IR) and dynamic mechanical analyses. More importantly, DVPM‐DGEBA resin could decompose into soluble linear oligomers in mild acidic solution. Systematically investigated by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance, gel permeation chromatography, and FT‐IR. Furthermore, the recycled oligomers could be reprocessed into thermosetting resins in the presence of diamines, and the upcycling resin performed high‐performance (glass translation temperature of 170°C, glassy storage modulus of 6.03 GPa and tensile strength of 86.4 MPa) and flame‐retardant (V‐0 rating). This work gives us some new ideas to achieve the upcycling of the thermoset resin.
Zhu‐Wang‐Tang constitutive model of reinforced Al/PTFE materials at medium strain rate
Authors: Chen Chuang , Li Yang , Chang Mengzhou , Guo Kai , Han Ya Fei , He Liping , Xu Mingyang , Tang Enling
Published: February 2022

Aluminum/Polytetrafluoroethylene (Al/PTFE) active materials have the dual characteristics of strength and activity. When acting on the target, it penetrates first and then deflagration, so as to enhance the damage effect on the target. Based on the traditional formula of Al/PTFE (26.5%/73.5%), the reinforced Al/PTFE active materials are prepared by cold pressing sintering and rapid cooling process. The static and dynamic compression experiments are carried out on this material. Based on the compression experiment data, the Zhu‐Wang‐Tang (ZWT) constitutive model parameters of the reinforced Al/PTFE active materials are fitted. The self‐made ZWT constitutive model subroutine is embedded into ABAQUS by the user material subroutine interface (VUMAT), and the numerical simulation is carried out in the range of medium strain rate (1400–3300 s−1). The accuracy of the parameters of the constitutive model is verified by the combination of experiment and numerical simulation. The results show that the reinforced Al/PTFE materials have better mechanical properties under dynamic loading than the traditional formula Al/PTFE. When the strain rate is 1400 s−1, the maximum stress of the reinforced Al/PTFE materials is 54 MPa, which is 1.5 times the strength of the traditional formula Al/PTFE; when the strain rate is 2800 s−1, the maximum stress of the reinforced Al/PTFE materials is 100.3 MPa, which is 1.9 times that of the traditional formula Al/PTFE. In the range of strain rate from 1400 to 2800 s−1, the time‐history curves of true stress, true strain, and strain rate obtained by numerical simulation are in good agreement with the experimental results. It is extrapolated to the loading strain rate of 3300 s−1, and the numerical simulation results are still in good agreement with the experimental results. The compressive ZWT constitutive model of reinforced Al/PTFE active materials obtained in this paper is reliable and can well describe the dynamic mechanical properties of the material at medium strain rate (1400–3300 s−1).
Proneness to psychotic‐like experiences as a basic personality trait complementing the HEXACO model—A preregistered cross‐national study
Authors: Knežević Goran , Lazarević Ljiljana B. , Bosnjak Michael , Keller Johannes
Published: February 2022

The goal of the study is to investigate the relationship between the HEXACO personality model and Disintegration—representing a broad spectrum of psychotic‐like experiences and behavioral tendencies (Perceptual Distortions, General Executive/Cognitive Impairment, Enhanced Awareness, Paranoia, Mania, Flattened Affect, Apathy/Depression, Somatoform Dysregulation, and Magical Thinking) that are reconceptualized as a personality trait. In this preregistered study, we predicted that the Disintegration factor would separate from HEXACO. The replicability of the factorial structures of HEXACO and Disintegration subcomponents is investigated across the three national samples (UK, Germany, and Serbia), matched on key socio‐demographic variables. Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (ESEM) is used to study the invariance of the hypothesized seven‐factor structure (six HEXACO plus Disintegration). Support for the metric invariance of the seven‐factor structure based on HEXACO and Disintegration subcomponents/facets across the three nations was found. The Disintegration factor lied outside the HEXACO personality space with each of its nine subcomponents. The Disintegration factor appeared to be among the most coherent and replicable of the seven across the samples and units of measurement (facets and items). A broad spectrum of psychotic‐like experiences/behavioral tendencies relevant in understanding and explaining many aspects of everyday and long‐term (mal)adaptations is not captured by the HEXACO model.
Capture of CO2 by novel diiodo‐N,N‐imidazoliumvinylidene: A theoretical quest
Authors: Soroudi Shadi , Kassaee Mohamad Zaman
Published: February 2022

Capture of CO2 by diiodo‐N,N‐imidazoliumvinylidene, with singlet and triplet minima (1s and 1t, respectively), is probed at M06‐2X/6‐311++G** level of theory. Ground state appears to be triplet 1t, which exhibits a rather large singlet–triplet energy gap (ΔEs–t = +10.30 kcal mol−1). Adsorption of CO2 over 1t releases −3.70 kcal mol−1 energy and gives the initial CO2 adduct, with no transition state (TS). Sequentially, the latter goes through a reactant‐like TS, which leads to an internal exothermic attack of the carbene carbon to the adsorbed CO2 and forms 3t with conversion energy (Econ) of −6.77 kcal mol−1. Additional calculations involve endothermic capture of CO2 by the rather unstable 1s. The immense potential of the natural bond orbital (NBO) and atom in molecule (AIM) data in elucidating a reaction mechanism is unveiled by employing the electron‐pushing technique. Results appear consistent with the proposed mechanism.
High‐Efficiency Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production by Nanorods NiMoO4 Supported NiCoP Nanosheets
Authors: Liu Ye , Xu Jing , Li Xuanhao
Published: February 2022

Based on the structural characteristics of bimetallic phosphates, the rod‐like NiCoP/NiMoO4 heterojunction composite catalyst is successfully synthesized by hydrothermal method, which realizes the rapid transfer of photogenerated carriers across the heterojunction interface, thereby improving the performance of photocatalytic decomposition of water to produce hydrogen. Through photocatalytic experiments, the hydrogen evolution rate of the NiCoP/NiMoO4 is 61.4 μmol h−1, which is 2.93 times that of pure NiMoO4. Further study on the catalyst shows that this structure could greatly improve the utilization rate of sensitizer and hole sacrifice agent in the dye sensitization system, and the rate of photon‐generated carrier separation and transfer is significantly improved to achieve a good hydrogen evolution effect.
Physical activity and its clinical correlates in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Schmidt Cristine , Monteiro Miguel , Furtado Inês , Carvalho Luísa , Gonçalves Fabienne , Reis Abílio , Santos Mário
Published: February 2022

Limited data are available on physical activity (PhA) levels in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) patients, as well as on the clinical utility of PhA measurements using questionnaires and accelerometers. We aimed to study PhA levels of CTEPH patients and their clinical correlates, and to compare PhA levels measured by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) with measures from accelerometers. This is a cross‐sectional study (n = 50). PhA levels were measured using accelerometers and questionnaires (IPAQ). Clinical parameters evaluated were walked distance on the 6‐min‐walking test (6MWT), pulmonary vascular resistance, N‐terminal brain natriuretic peptide and quality of life (HRQoL) (Cambridge Pulmonary Hypertension Outcome Review questionnaire). Time spent in sedentary behavior was lower in self‐reported measurement (279 ± 165 min/day) compared with accelerometry (446 ± 117 min/day, p < 0.000). Accelerometer‐derived data showed that CTEPH patients spent 60% of the recorded time in sedentary behaviors and 2% in moderate‐to‐vigorous PhA (MVPA). Correlation analysis showed that MVPA was significantly correlated with 6MWT (p = 0.023) and symptom domain of HRQoL (p = 0.044). Self‐reported MVPA was significantly higher than the one registered by the accelerometer (411 ± 569 vs. 131 ± 108 min/week, p = 0.027). Bland−Altman analysis indicated poor agreement between the two methods. Our results showed that CTEPH patients spend most of their days in sedentary behaviors and only a small amount of time in MVPA. Only MVPA was associated with HRQoL and CTEPH severity. In addition, we showed a poor agreement between self‐reported and accelerometer‐derived PhA in CTEPH patients, with the former overestimating the overall PhA.
Utilizing social science data from river recreationists to inform river management
Authors: Doeblin Dylan , Brunson Michael , Sharp Ryan L. , Brownlee Matthew T.J.
Published: February 2022

River recreation often contributes to ecological degradation – a primary concern for river management professionals. Using social science data to inform ecological management helps mitigate recreational impacts, particularly at sites that experience high recreation use. This paper demonstrates the utility of an approach to collect, display, and use social data based on an indicators and thresholds approach at Buffalo National River in Arkansas (BUFF). Specifically, we presented a series of digitally manipulated photographs to river recreationists at BUFF that depicted varying levels of use, or density of use, to identify social thresholds – the levels of use deemed unacceptable by river users. We coupled the photos with quantitative questionnaires and found that paddlers, anglers, and campers thought that moderate to high‐density levels were unacceptable. Pairing such data with empirical evidence of ecological degradation born from recreation use (e.g., erosion, water quality issues) provides a robust and defensible justification for a range of management actions, including altering use levels and river access. The research methods presented in this paper are transferable to a range of high‐use rivers and waterways, and thus provide a blueprint for river professionals who by design or default interface with recreation and ecological resources. In the end, combining social and ecological data can fortify management decisions and decrease associated conflicts among important groups of river recreationists.
Relating Phonological Awareness and Rapid Automatized Naming to Phonological and Orthographic Processing of Written Words: Cross‐sequential Evidence from French
Authors: Vander Stappen Caroline , Reybroeck Marie Van
Published: February 2022

Few previous studies have directly linked the contribution of phonological awareness (PA) and rapid automatized naming (RAN) to the development of phonological processing and orthographic processing in reading. These studies are predominantly cross‐sectional and focus on reading development predictors, with relatively little emphasis on spelling achievement. The present study aims to address these issues with a cross‐sequential design conducted among French‐speaking beginning readers. Participants from kindergarten (n = 66) and Grade 1 (n = 87) were assessed with PA and RAN objects considering accuracy and speed. One year later, in Grade 1 or Grade 2, they were tested in word reading and spelling. ANOVAs showed a developmental change occurring in word reading and spelling between Grade 1 and Grade 2, going from phonological processing to orthographic processing. Hierarchical multiple regressions indicated that both PA and RAN predicted word reading and spelling in Grade 1, with a stronger proportion of the variance explained by RAN. In Grade 2, only PA explained the literacy outcomes, with a greater amount of the word spelling variance explained compared to the word reading variance. Our findings showed that PA and RAN contribute distinctively to word reading and spelling acquisition, suggesting that they represent independent processes. RAN's greater importance for early literacy skills (Grade 1) suggests that it accounts for the early processes implied in phonological processing. The longer‐lasting predictive value of PA (Grades 1 and 2) provides evidence of its importance for phonological and orthographic processing, especially in spelling.
Online Research and Comprehension Performance Profiles Among Sixth‐Grade Students, Including Those with Reading Difficulties and/or Attention and Executive Function Difficulties
Authors: Kanniainen Laura , Kiili Carita , Tolvanen Asko , Utriainen Jukka , Aro Mikko , Leu Donald J. , Leppänen Paavo H. T.
Published: February 2022

This study identified online research and comprehension (ORC) performance profiles of 436 sixth‐grade students (206 girls) aged 12–13 years. We included learner groups with different learning‐related difficulties and explored how students’ reading habits were represented in various performance profiles. First, students’ ORC performance was examined with a validated web‐based assessment measuring their skills in locating, evaluating, synthesizing, and communicating information. Second, reading fluency and teacher‐rated attention and executive function (EF) difficulty scores were used to form learner groups: (1) students with reading difficulties, (2) students with attention and EF difficulties, (3) students with comorbid difficulties in reading as well as attention and EF, and (4) students without these identified difficulties. Third, students’ reading habits were assessed with a questionnaire asking how often they read different kinds of texts. Seven ORC performance profiles were identified. Most of the profiles related to the students’ ORC performance level, except the profile of the average performers with low questioning credibility scores. Students with learning‐related difficulties were more likely to belong to the lower performance profiles, and all top performers were students without identified difficulties. However, 25.7% of students with reading difficulties and 16.2% of students with attention and EF difficulties performed at average or good levels of ORC. Finally, the frequency of reading longer texts, such as books and blog posts, was more clearly associated with students’ online reading performance than reading shorter texts, such as comics and online forum posts.
Critical issues concerning the assessment sets in agreement assessment
Authors: Kao Chu‐Lan , Chen Lin‐An , Hu Chi‐An
Published: February 2022

Since Bland and Altman's pioneering work, the assessment set has been an important constituent of agreement assessment. This article explores critical issues concerning the assessment set. First, we point out the fundamental differences between assessment approaches based on point estimation and those based on hypothesis testing related to the assessment set, and further present how the related disciplines choose between the two. Second, we argue that an assessment set with minimum volume should be preferred, as in the comparison of confidence intervals. Finally, we discuss assessment sets for the assessment of multiple methods, and propose two methods for the construction of assessment sets. Numerical examples further establish the applicability of these approaches.
Preparation and Property of a Three‐Dimensional Nitrogen‐Doped Graphene‐Fe3+/P(AA‐co‐DMA) Hydrogel
Authors: Yao Ju‐ying , Lu Mang , Wu Xue‐jiao , Chen Kai
Published: February 2022

In this study, a three‐dimensional nitrogen‐doped graphene (3DNG)‐Fe3+/poly(acrylic acid‐co‐N,N‐dimethylacrylamide) (3DNG‐Fe3+/P(AA‐co‐DMA)) hydrogel with strong flexibility and excellent self‐healing property was prepared. The 3DNG‐Fe3+/P(AA‐co‐DMA) hydrogel was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT‐IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM). The specific surface area and pore size distribution of the 3DNG‐Fe3+/P(AA‐co‐DMA) hydrogel were measured by using Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller (BET) method. The experimental results demonstrate that when 6 mol% FeCl3 was added, the breaking strain of Fe3+/P(AA‐co‐DMA) hydrogel reaches 1149 %, and the tensile strength reaches 689 kPa. Furthermore, the recovery degree of Fe3+/P(AA‐co‐DMA) hydrogel was almost 100 % after 24 h. The supercapacitors based on 3DNG‐Fe3+/P(AA‐co‐DMA) hydrogel have a specific capacitance value of 231.8 F g−1 at 1 A⋅g−1, and conductivity is 0.053 S⋅cm−1. When the power density is 5 kW kg−1, the energy density of the device is 38.7 Wh kg−1.
Can firms avoid tough patent examiners through examiner‐shopping? Strategic timing of citations in USPTO patent applications
Authors: Barber Benjamin , Diestre Luis
Published: February 2022

Research summary

We claim that, because patent citations influence examiner selection, firms disclose citations strategically to influence which examiner is assigned to their application (“examiner‐shopping”). Specifically, firms are more likely to cite patents reviewed by “lenient” examiners in their original information disclosure statement (IDS) (sent before the examiner has been selected), and delay citations to patents reviewed by “tough” examiners to subsequent IDS (sent once the examiner has been selected). We propose this strategy will be implemented by those firms who benefit the most (firms that face patent thickets and are developing high strategic‐stakes technologies) but only when the costs are low (when firms face a low probability of patent litigation). We find support to our theory in a sample of 9,763 United States patent and trademark office (USPTO) patent applications during 2000 to 2006.

Managerial summary

We find that firms facing patent thickets and developing high strategic stakes technologies try to get more “lenient” examiners to increase the probability of patent approval. The cost of this strategy is that “lenient” examiners usually grant weaker patents that are more likely to be litigated and invalidated. Firms overcome this by using “examiner‐shopping” mainly in fields where litigation is relatively infrequent. This behavior has relevant implications: fields where property rights are rarely challenged tend to become “denser” and populated by weaker patents. Our study's discussion of the limitations within the United States patent and trademark office (USPTO) that seem to provide the opportunity to implement “examiner‐shopping” strategies provides a path to address this from a policy standpoint.
Compact 3D Metal Collectors Enabled by Roll‐to‐Roll Nanoimprinting for Improving Capacitive Energy Storage
Authors: Zheng Qinwen , Li Xiangming , Yang Qingzhen , Li Congming , Wu Lifeng , Wang Yingche , Sun Pengcheng , Tian Hongmiao , Wang Chunhui , Chen Xiaoliang , Shao Jinyou
Published: February 2022

Reducing the contact resistance between active materials and current collectors is of engineering importance for improving capacitive energy storage. 3D current collectors have shown extraordinary promise for reducing the contact resistance, however, there is a major obstacle of being bulky or inefficient fabrication before they become viable in practice. Here a roll‐to‐roll nanoimprinting method is demonstrated to deform flat aluminum foils into 3D current collectors with hierarchical microstructures by combining soft matter‐enhanced plastic deformation and template‐confined local surface nanocracks. The generated 3D current collectors are inserted by and interlocked with active electrode materials such as activated carbon, decreasing the contact resistance by at least one order of magnitude and quadrupling the specific capacitance at high current density of 30 A g–1 for commercial‐level mass loading of 5 mg cm–2. The 3D current collectors are so compact that they have a low volume percentage of 7.8% in the entire electrode film, resulting in energy and power density of 29.1 Wh L–1 and 12.8 kW L–1, respectively, for stack cells in organic electrolyte. Furthermore, roll‐to‐roll nanoimprinting of metal microstructures is low‐cost, high‐throughput, and can be extended to other systems that involve the microstructured metal interface, such as batteries and thermal management.
A Control‐Cooled Hot‐Forged Medium Carbon V‐Microalloyed Steel: Strengthening Breakdown in Conjunction with the Synchrotron X‐Ray Absorption Spectroscopy
Authors: Suwanpinij Piyada , Dickert Hans Henning
Published: February 2022

This article represents a few practical objectives for industrial research on a microalloyed medium carbon ferritic‐pearlitic 38MnSiVS6 steel, fabricated by hot forging followed by controlled cooling. The first is to determine the achievable yield strength (YS) in different process windows using an industrial‐scale sample. Second, it quantifies the contribution of different strengthening mechanisms, where less attention has been paid in the literature for the studied steel group. The process–microstructure–mechanical properties relationship is characterized by means of image analysis, synchrotron X‐Ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), hardness, impact, and tensile tests. XAS is the key in this study to evaluate the fraction precipitated of the microalloying element to correlate its effectiveness in strengthening. It can be concluded that vanadium precipitates between 60 and 73 at‐%, which contributes to the additional YS of 221–349 MPa within the studied process window. The smaller precipitated fraction of 7–12% at a higher cooling rate shows a strengthening fraction above 100 MPa of improvement. The refined precipitates enable a lower overall precipitation amount down to 60%, which can be a good hint in case alloying optimization is required.
Development of a variable‐magnet switched reluctance motor drive
Authors: Kucuk Fuat , Nakamura Taketsune
Published: February 2022

This paper introduces a variable magnet switched reluctance motor (VM‐SRM) drive that can be characterized with adjustable performance. It consists of a switched reluctance (SR) motor with low coercive force (LCF) magnets buried on stator yoke and a modified asymmetric half bridge (AHB) converter. Magnetization level of the LCF magnets is adjusted by injecting a current pulse to a phase winding of the VM‐SRM. The magnetization process does not need any extra coil and provides a simplicity owing to modified AHM converter. Possible magnetic saturation that limits the magnetization level is overcome by injecting current pulses to two phase windings at the same time. Thus, LCF magnets can be used with their full capacity. The presented analysis results demonstrate that proposed VM‐SRM drive provides a variable performance and might be a candidate for future variable speed applications. © 2022 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Should we expand indications for targeted fetal neurosonography?
Authors: D'Antonio F. , Di Mascio D. , Rizzo G.
Published: February 2022

Linked article: This Correspondence comments on Paules et al. Click here to view the article
Burdens ofAscarisspp. andCryptosporidiumspp. parasites in farm pigs in Ghana
Authors: Larbi John Asiedu , Addo Seth Offei , Ofosu‐Amoako George , Offong Uduakobong Christopher , Odurah Efua Maclean , Akompong Samuel Kuranchie
Published: February 2022

Background

Worldwide, intestinal parasites significantly affect the health and production of pigs.

Objective

This study assessed the prevalence ofAscarisandCryptosporidiuminfection in pigs in the Ejisu‐Juaben Municipality of Ghana.

Method

Faecal samples from two hundred (200) pigs on four different farms (labelled A, B, C, D) were processed using the Kinyoun modified Ziehl‐Neelsen method forCryptosporidiumand the Formol‐ether sedimentation method forAscarisand microscopically examined to identify parasites to the genus level.

Results

The prevalence ofAscarisandCryptosporidiumin the pigs was 76% and 77%, respectively. The weaners had the highestAscarisprevalence (96.15%) with the piglets recording the least (59.25%). On the other hand, the piglets had the highest prevalence (88.89%) forCryptosporidiumwith the boars, sows and weaners recording 75.86%, 75.42% and 73.08% respectively. The prevalence ofAscariswas high in farm D (78.57%) whileCryptosporidiumwas highest in farm C (86.11%). Generally, there was a significant difference (p = 0.044) in the mean distribution ofCryptosporidiumin the pigs.

Conclusion

The high burden ofAscarisandCryptosporidiuminfections in the pigs suggest the need to adopt and implement effective control measures.
Sensitivity of the dynamic response of a multimegawatt floating wind turbine to the choice of turbulence model
Authors: Nybø Astrid , Gunnar Nielsen Finn , Godvik Marte
Published: February 2022

In the design of offshore wind turbines, it is important to make a realistic estimate of the wind load. This is particularly important for floating wind turbines, having natural frequencies in a frequency range where the wind loads are high and large turbulent structures exist. This study shows that turbulence modelling greatly impacts the response of a 15‐MW floating wind turbine. The turbulence models recommended by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) are challenged by considering two additional models: Large Eddy Simulations (LES) and an approach using input from offshore wind measurements (TIMESR). The two standard models, the Kaimal spectrum with IEC coherence model (Kaimal) and the Mann spectral tensor model (Mann), differ in their coherence formulation. This results in higher standard deviations for the surge and pitch motions, and lower for the yaw motion, when applying Kaimal in comparison to Mann. For the specific floater of this study, more damage is obtained in the mooring lines when applying Kaimal. Applying the more realistic models, LES and TIMESR, increases the range of response further, concluding that the two standard turbulence models may lead to incorrect estimations of the response of a floating wind turbine. LES and TIMESR take atmospheric stability into account, which is proven to alter the response significantly.
Boundary Value Problems and Boundary Value Spaces
Authors: Seifert Christian , Trostorff Sascha , Waurick Marcus
Published: February 2022

This chapter is devoted to the study of inhomogeneous boundary value problems. For this, we shall reformulate the boundary value problem again into a form which fits within the general framework of evolutionary equations. In order to have an idea of the type of boundary values which make sense to study, we start off with a section that deals with the boundary values of functions in the domain of the gradient operator defined on a half-space in
$$\mathbb {R}^d$$

ℝ

d

(for d = 1 we have
$$L_2(\mathbb {R}^{d-1})=\mathbb {K}$$

L

2

(

ℝ

d
−
1

)
=
𝕂
).
Continuous Dependence on the Coefficients I
Authors: Seifert Christian , Trostorff Sascha , Waurick Marcus
Published: February 2022

The power of the functional analytic framework for evolutionary equations lies in its variety. In fact, as we have outlined in earlier chapters, it is possible to formulate many differential equations in the form
$$\displaystyle \left (\partial _{t}M(\partial _{t})+A\right )U=F. $$

∂

t

M
(

∂

t

)
+
A

U
=
F
.