bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Agroecological and South American leaf blight escape zones for rubber cultivation in Colombia
Authors: Correa‑Pinilla Diana Elisa , Gutiérrez‑Vanegas Albert Julesmar , Gil‑Restrepo Juan Pablo , Martínez‐Atencia Judith , Córdoba‑Gaona Oscar de Jesús
Published: April 2022

In agriculture, agroclimatic zoning procedures through geographic information systems provide producers, technical assistants, decision‐makers, and investors with land‐use planning and decision‐making tools. This study aims at identifying and delimiting areas suitable for the cultivation of rubber [Hevea brasiliensis Willd. ex A. Juss.) Müll. Arg.] in Colombia, using the species requirements at a scale of 1:100,000, as well as identifying escape zones for the South American leaf blight (SALB) disease (caused by the fungus Pseudocercospora ulei). The study was carried out following the agroecological zoning methodology for the definition of land use proposed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Spatial analysis tools were used to raster data with ArcGIS Desktop 10.7, incorporating and evaluating climatic and soil variables. The obtained results showed that there are 5,480,543 ha suitable for cultivating natural rubber in Colombia. However, these areas present favorable climatic conditions for the development of the SALB.
Maximizing spring wheat productivity in the eastern Canadian Prairies II. Grain nitrogen, grain protein, and nitrogen use
Authors: Mangin Amy , Brûlé‐Babel Anita , Flaten Don , Wiersma Jochum , Lawley Yvonne
Published: April 2022

The marketability of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) across the Canadian prairies is largely dependent on grain protein content. New high‐yielding cultivars require a large investment in fertilizer N to achieve milling quality standards. When high rates of N fertilizer are applied, N use efficiencies tend to decrease, lowering returns on investment. The objectives of this study were to identify patterns of N use for spring wheat cultivars and how they are influenced by agronomic management practices. Field trials were conducted in 2018 and 2019 in Manitoba, Canada, to evaluate N uptake timing, N remobilization from vegetative tissue and the resulting grain N yield and protein content. Three spring wheat cultivars were evaluated using five N fertilizer treatments with and without an application of a plant growth regulator (PGR). When high N rates were applied, average N use efficiency, for grain N production, was 60%. On average 21–36% of N uptake occurred after anthesis and this portion was highly dependent on late‐season precipitation. Targeting increases in early season N accumulation and grain‐fill remobilization, to produce optimal grain N levels, may be used to managing risk associated with unknown precipitation during the growing season. Cultivars tested produced similar grain N levels through fundamentally different N use patterns, indicating that there may be opportunity for breeding programs to target N use patterns that best fit environmental conditions of the Canadian prairies to maximize grain N production.
Investigation of phosphoric acid and water transport in the high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells using a multiphase model
Authors: Sun Mu , Huang Jicai , Xia Zhangxun , Wang Suli , Sun Gongquan
Published: April 2022

A three‐dimensional, nonisothermal, and multiphase model of high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells is built to investigate water and phosphoric acid transportation, in which a spherical agglomerate model considering catalyst layer structure and liquid saturation is applied to determine the electrochemical kinetics in the cathode catalyst layer. Experimental polarization curve, water proportion in the anode outlet gas, and phosphoric acid distribution are selected for validation. It is found that the simulated results can represent the experimental data with reasonable accuracy. Based on the model, the effects of current density and stoichiometry on the variable distributions are analyzed. The results show that water in anode is mainly from cathode by concentration diffusion of liquid water, and the proportion of anode outlet water to the total produced water decreases slightly with the increase of current density. A higher current density leads to a greater electromigration of phosphoric acid from cathode to anode and a higher liquid phase fraction in anode, while a lower phosphoric acid concentration in the fuel cells.
Modified COSMO‐UNIFAC model for ionic liquid–CO2 systems and molecular dynamic simulation
Authors: Zhu Ruisong , Gui Chengmin , Li Guoxuan , Lei Zhigang
Published: April 2022

A new predictive molecular thermodynamic model (i.e., modified COSMO‐SAC‐UNIFAC) was first proposed and extended to predict the solubility of CO2 in pure and mixed ionic liquids (ILs) at the temperatures down to 263.2 K. It is interesting to discover that with equimolar amounts, the solubility of CO2 in such 1:1 IL pairs, that is, [A1][B1] + [A2][B2] and [A1][B2] + [A2][B1], was consistent at the same temperature and pressure in the case of exchanging their respective cations and anions. The molecular dynamic (MD) simulation for CO2 + mixed ILs was performed to deeply analyze and explain this intriguing phenomenon. Not only the CO2 gas drying experiment with the ILs ([C2mim][OAc], [C2mim][dca], and [C2mim][OAc] + [C2mim][dca]) as absorbents but also the corresponding process simulation and optimization were made to stress the effectiveness and applicability of the new thermodynamic model. Thus, this work ranges from molecular level to systematic scale.
Toxicity of procymidone to Bombyx mori based on physiological and transcriptomic analysis
Authors: He Zhen , Fang Yang , Li De‐Chen , Chen Deng‐Song , Wu Fan
Published: April 2022

Procymidone is widely used in vegetables and fruits because of its broad‐spectrum and high efficiency. However, it is unclear whether procymidone can affect silkworm (Bombyx mori) growth and cocoon production. This study investigated the effects of procymidone on the growth and cocoon production of silkworms. We analyzed the growth, and cocoon quality of fifth instar larvae fed on mulberry leaves saturated with different concentrations (2.5, 5, and 10 mg/ml) of procymidone and the control. Results showed that procymidone supplementation decreased the larval growth and cocoon quality compared to the control group, suggesting that procymidone had toxicity to silkworms. Additionally, after transcriptomic analysis, we identified 396 significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the presence of procymidone. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) illustrated that these DEGs were closely related to metabolism. Taken together, these results confirmed that procymidone could cause toxicity by affecting metabolism in silkworm larvae. We believed that these results could provide important materials for the effect of procymidone on silkworms and gave us some clues for pesticides used in the mulberry garden.
Nutritional qualities and antioxidant activity of Pleurotus floridanus grown on composted peach sawdust substrate with different composting time
Authors: Guo Yu‐Xin , Yang Ya‐Ru , Qin Yong , Guan Ti‐Kun , Yang Qi‐Zhi , Wang Yue‐Xing , Tang Shi , Zhang Guo‐Qing , Chen Qing‐Jun
Published: April 2022

Recently, composting cultivation method is widely used in oyster mushroom production. In this study, we focused on the effects of composting processes on nutritional qualities and antioxidant activity of Pleurotus floridanus mushroom fruiting bodies. Three treatments of different composting time (2, 4, and 5 days) were performed with an atmospheric sterilization treatment as the control. The results showed that the pH value, total carbon content, and total nitrogen content of substrate were critical parameters which would significantly affect mushroom qualities and bioactivities. Fruiting bodies of the control demonstrated significantly higher crude protein content, total amino acid content, and essential amino acid content than that of composting treatments. Moreover, fruiting bodies of treatment D4 and D5 manifested significantly higher crude polysaccharide contents. Crude polysaccharide of treatment D4 represented the highest scavenging ability toward both radical 3‐ethylbenzthiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid (ABTS·+) and Hydroxyl radical (OH·). It suggests that composting processes is suitable for oyster mushroom cultivation based on nutritional and antioxidant qualities of fruiting bodies.
RETRACTED: Increased nurses’ anxiety disorder during the COVID‐19 outbreak
Authors: Rad Meysam , Rad Mehdi , Hefazi Torghabeh Leila , Fatemi Nasrin , Maleki Mohammad Mehdi , Seifi Zahra
Published: April 2022

Background

The rapid outbreak of COVID‐19 at the beginning of 2020 in the world has put severe physical and psychological pressure on the medical staff of hospitals involved in the care of patients with COVID‐19 to the point of risk of PTSD. There was. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the prevalence of COVID‐19 and nurses' anxiety disorder.

Methods

This review study was conducted by library method.

Results

As is well known and mentioned everywhere in cyberspace, nurses have lost their mental health and become very anxious during the COVID‐19. Serious spread of traumatic psychiatric symptoms in the current situation can lead to damage to the health system.

Conclusions

The need to care for nurses to relieve fatigue for several months and inject hope and motivation into this group should be understood, But due to the economic situation of the country, unfortunately, the fulfillment of the promises has been delayed, which we hope will be fulfilled soon; Although the delay will certainly not prevent nurses from properly caring for patients, but resolving nurses ‘livelihood problems should also be a priority on the authorities’ agenda.
Suicide prevention in Bangladesh: The role of family
Authors: Arafat S M Yasir , Saleem Tamkeen , Edwards Todd M. , Ali Syeda Ayat‐e‐Zainab , Khan Murad M.
Published: April 2022

Background

Suicide is a public health problem that gets little attention in Bangladesh especially in prevention aspects. Recent studies revealed that a significant portion of risk factors is closely related to family events. However, potential prevention strategies considering the family structure and involving family dynamics of Bangladesh have not been discussed.

Objectives

We aim to highlight areas of family vulnerability and resilience when the threat of suicide is present, as well as the potential roles of family in suicide prevention in Bangladesh.

Methods

We conducted a thorough narrative and focused literature search and synthesized evidence based on available articles discussing suicidality and family dynamics in Bangladesh.

Results

Risk factors for suicide prevailing in the family have been organized, and several strategies for coping with family risk factors, including marital discord and family conflict have been proposed for testing empirically.

Conclusions

The family has an important role to play in suicide prevention in Bangladesh. However, potential prevention strategies and their effectiveness have been untapped in the country. Studies are warranted to test the effectiveness of the proposed strategies.
The effect of first‐person perspective action observation training on upper extremity function and activity of daily living of chronic stroke patients
Authors: Yu Ji‐Ae , Park JuHyung
Published: April 2022

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of First‐Person Perspective Action Observation training and Third‐Person Perspective Action Observation training on upper extremity function and activities of daily living of patients with stroke‐induced hemiplegia.

This was a single‐blind randomized study of 20 stroke patients (more than 6 months after the incident stroke) with upper extremity disabilities. The subjects who satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomly divided into two groups: First‐Person Perspective Action Observation training group and Third‐Person Perspective Action Observation training group. The measurements were performed using Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) and Korean Modified Barthel Index (K‐MBI) and Motor Activity Log (MAL).

The results of this study showed statistically significant differences (p < .05) in the upper extremity function and activity of daily living after the intervention in all two groups. Upon comparison of the amount of change between the experimental group and the control group, there was significant difference in upper extremity function and activity of daily living (p < .05).

Action Observation training was found to have an effect on the upper extremity function and activity of daily living on chronic stroke patients. First‐Person Perspective Action Observation training was more effective in improving upper limb function and activity of daily living than the Third‐Person Perspective Action Observation training.
The twofold transition: Framing digital innovations and incumbents' value propositions for sustainability
Authors: Bähr Karolina , Fliaster Alexander
Published: April 2022

Although digital technology offers many sustainable business model opportunities, they are not always exploited. We argue that the framing of technology is still rarely considered a cognitive antecedent of business models for sustainability, despite that it offers insightful explanations, connecting technology's sustainability potential to its business model implementations. We conduct a qualitative multicase study of virtual power plants, adopted by seven incumbent companies in the German energy sector, and explore how they frame innovative digital technology, as well as how it affects their value propositions and the energy transition. Our research reveals several value proposition differences between two company groups. The first generates a single‐focused technological frame, concentrating on economic value. The second constructs a twofold digital and sustainable technological frame, resulting in additional socioenvironmental value components. Overall, companies that create a twofold frame operate as renewable energy enablers or system supporters and contribute to the energy transition.
Green consumption is both feminine and masculine—Just ask the androgynous consumer
Authors: Phillips Diane M. , Englis Basil G.
Published: April 2022

This study of 4077 consumers examines the impact of gender and gender identity on environmental attitudes and behaviors. We find that, compared to gender, gender identity is consistently a better predictor of the extent to which consumers form pro‐environment attitudes and perform pro‐environment behaviors. Androgynous individuals—those who have both feminine and masculine traits—were of particular interest in this study. Androgynous consumers are the most likely of all gender identity groups to exhibit strong pro‐environment attitudes, subscribe to a more multi‐dimensional set of attitudes, and enact pro‐environment behaviors. Further, we identify two unique dimensions of environmental attitudes—Humans Rule and Do not Fool with Nature—that function as mediators of the influence of androgyny on pro‐environment behaviors.
New separation function for the stationary screening process
Authors: Teipel Ulrich
Published: April 2022

In the present study, a new separation function T(x,α’,β) for the steady‐state screening process is presented. This new grade efficiency T(x,α’,β) presented here is a function of particle size x, separation sharpness α’, and the newly introduced separation efficiency β. With this new efficiency function, the screening classification process can be described exactly. Especially in the fine and coarse material ranges, a very good correlation of the calculated function with the measured values can be observed. A comparison of the grade efficiency function with separation sharpness α’, separation efficiency β, and only with the measure for separation efficiency has shown that the new grade efficiency T(x,α’,β) allows a significant improvement in the characterization of the stationary screen classification process. When compared with other models, the new model of the grade efficiency T(x,α’,β) shows a significantly higher correlation with the measured values and is therefore very well suited to describe a grade efficiency for the stationary screening process.
Construction of the Hexacyclic Core of Dispirocochlearoids A—C via a Diels−Alder Reaction
Authors: Fu Qiang , Wang Yonghui , Nan Fajun
Published: April 2022

Comprehensive Summary

The natural products of dispirocochlearoids are complex Ganoderma meroterpenoids featuring a 6/6/5/6/6/6 ring system and are selective COX‐2 inhibitors. Herein, we describe our progress regarding the total synthesis of dispirocochlearoids A—C, in which a hexacyclic skeleton was constructed firstly. The key steps of this work involve an intermolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition reaction, a ring cleavage approach via TiCl4, and the installation of a profoundly sterically hindering lactone.
Dual polarized designs of square microstrip antenna for GSM and LTE applications
Authors: Ambekar Aarti G. , Deshmukh Amit A.
Published: April 2022

To obtain the polarization agility in wireless applications, the dual polarized wideband or multi‐band antennas are required. In this paper, modified designs of square microstrip antenna by employing overlap offset parasitic patches are proposed for the dual polarized wideband and multi‐band response. Due to the optimum spacing in between the fundamental TM1045 and TM01135 modes along with TM11 mode, on a total substrate thickness of 0.075λg, the proposed design yields bandwidth of more than 550 MHz (>50%), exhibiting the dual polarized characteristics. A similar design is presented on a thinner suspended substrate. Here, on the substrate thickness of 0.035λg, it yields impedance matching at higher order TM20 mode, which along with TM1045, TM01135, and TM11 modes exhibits triple band response. An impedance bandwidth of 3.4%, 17%, and 4.7% is realized in the three bands with a broadside gain of more than 6 dBi. The proposed design satisfies the requirements of GSM 810/GSM900/LTE applications. In each design, simulated results have been experimentally verified that show close agreement.
Can grazing by elk and bison stimulate herbaceous plant productivity in semiarid ecosystems?
Authors: Schoenecker Kathryn A. , Zeigenfuss Linda C. , Augustine David J.
Published: April 2022

Plant communities in rangeland ecosystems vary widely in the degree to which they can compensate for losses to herbivores. Ecosystem‐level factors have been proposed to affect this compensatory capacity, including timing and intensity of grazing, and availability of soil moisture and nutrients. Arid ecosystems are particularly challenging to predict because of their high degree of temporal variability in moisture inputs. We used a replicated herbivore exclusion experiment to evaluate herbaceous plant responses to grazing by large ungulates to test current theory and identify constraints on plant compensation in a dryland ecosystem. We measured nitrogen (N) yield and herbaceous production in three plant communities: meadows, willow‐associated herbaceous communities, and riparian communities. We implemented grazing exclusion treatments from 2005 to 2008 in areas with elk and bison and areas with only elk. Grazing by large ungulates increased herbaceous production and N yield in herbaceous riparian communities. In willow communities, herbaceous plants displayed equal compensation in response to grazing in total aboveground production and N yield. Our results support the idea that plant compensation in this semiarid system is contingent on soil moisture availability, wherein the most productive sites (that received substantial moisture inputs from subsurface flow) exhibited overcompensation. Although the herbaceous riparian communities we studied are isolated patches of productive grassland in an otherwise shrub‐dominated and minimally productive semiarid landscape, grazing by a combination of bison and elk removed only 44%–53% of aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) during the growing season, and 25%–38% of production over winter. Consumption by ungulates was a positive linear function of herbaceous production, similar to reported patterns from other temperate and tropical grazing ecosystems. The slope of this relationship was affected by the analytical method used to calculate ANPP and consumption rates, but, regardless of the method, was lower or similar to reported slopes for other intensively grazed systems (Yellowstone, Serengeti, Laikipia) that have sustained high ungulate densities for decades to centuries. Given that the vegetation communities exhibited equal or overcompensation in terms of total herbaceous ANPP in both years, elk and bison population levels during our study period did not appear to occur at densities leading to degradation of herbaceous communities.
Nutritional and environmental factors influence small mammal seed selection in a northern temperate forest
Authors: Moore Nicholas B. , Stephens Ryan B. , Rowe Rebecca J.
Published: April 2022

Rodents can influence the succession and assembly of plant communities by preying on and dispersing seeds. Using a seed tray experiment with three common seeds, American beech (Fagus grandifolia), red maple (Acer rubrum), and eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), we assessed factors that influence seed selection and foraging time of three rodents: deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), white‐footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus), and southern red‐backed voles (Myodes gapperi). All three rodents preferred beech seeds, likely due to its large size and high lipid content. However, when beech availability was low, secondary seed selection differed by rodent species with P. maniculatus equally selecting hemlock and red maple, P. leucopus preferring hemlock, and M. gapperi preferring red maple. Red maple seeds contained high levels of phenolic compounds, which hinder digestion, and the elongated cecum of M. gapperi may allow for better processing of these compounds relative to Peromyscus. Beech seeds were nearly always removed from trays intact, suggesting rodents could be important dispersers compared to the small‐seeded species, which were generally processed on trays. The influence of environmental factors on seed selection was only notable when beech seed availability was low. Beech seed availability was also the primary factor influencing foraging time on trays, with individuals increasing foraging time as beech availability decreased. Consistent with predator avoidance behaviors, denser shrub cover increased foraging time for P. maniculatus, whereas moon luminosity decreased foraging for all three species. Our findings underscore that seed quality drives seed selection but that preferences are context dependent, varying with seed availability and digestive capacity.
Poly(Ionic Liquid) as an Anion Exchange Membrane for a 3.3 V Copper–Lithium Battery
Authors: Xue Kaiming , Zhao Yu , Lee Pui‐Kit , Yu Denis Y. W.
Published: April 2022

Metal–metal battery bears great potential for next‐generation large‐scale energy storage system because of its simple manufacture process and low production cost. However, the cross‐over of metal cations from the cathode to the anode causes a loss in capacity and influences battery stability. Herein, a coating of poly (ionic liquid) (PIL) with poly(diallyldimethylammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide) (PDADMA+TFSI−) on a commercial polypropylene (PP) separator serves as an anion exchange membrane for a 3.3 V copper–lithium battery. The PIL has a positively charged polymer backbone that can block the migration of copper ions, thus improving Coulombic efficiency, long‐term cycling stability and inhibiting self‐discharge of the battery. It can also facilitate the conduction of anions through the membrane and reduce polarization, especially for fast charging/discharging. Bruce‐Vincent method gives the transport number in the electrolyte to be 0.25 and 0.04 for PP separator without and with PIL coating, respectively. This suggests that the PIL layer reduces the contribution of the internal current due to cation transport. The use of PIL as a coating layer for commercial PP separator is a cost‐effective way to improve overall electrochemical performance of copper–lithium batteries. Compared to PP and polyacrylic acid(PAA)/PP separators, the PIL/PP membrane raises the Coulombic efficiency to 99% and decreases the average discharge voltage drop to about 0.09 V when the current density is increased from 0.1 to 1 mA cm−2.
Intercropping with Solanum species decreases cadmium uptake and increases phosphorus and potassium uptakes in Amygdalus persica
Authors: Li Yan , Liu Qin , Liu Yuan , Lin Lijin , Wang Xun , Wang Jin
Published: April 2022

Intercropping with hyperaccumulators can decrease the cadmium (Cd) uptake in non‐hyperaccumulators, but there are few studies on fruit trees. To decrease the Cd uptake in fruit trees, three Cd‐hyperaccumulator Solanum species (Solanum nigrum var. humile, Solanum americanum, and Solanum photeinocarpum) were intercropped with Amygdalus persica seedlings, and the effects of intercropping with Solanum species on the Cd and nutrient uptakes in A. persica were studied. Intercropping with S. nigrum var. humile increased the biomass of A. persica, while intercropping with S. americanum and S. photeinocarpum decreased that. Intercropping with A. persica increased the biomass of three Solanum species. Intercropping promoted the phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) uptakes in both A. persica and Solanum species. For Cd uptake, intercropping reduced the Cd uptake in A. persica and enhanced the Cd uptake and extraction in Solanum species. Correlation analysis showed that the Cd and K had antagonistic effect in aboveground of A. persica. Therefore, A. persica intercropped with Solanum species can reduce the Cd uptake in A. persica and improve the phytoremediation abilities of Solanum species, which is suitable for the Cd‐contaminated peach orchard.
Associations between emotion regulation and remission following cognitive behavioural therapy for adults with bulimia nervosa
Authors: Trainor Claire , Michael Megan L. , Lampe Elizabeth W. , Presseller Emily K. , Juarascio Adrienne , Manasse Stephanie M.
Published: April 2022

Objective

Emotion regulation (ER) deficits are associated with illness severity in individuals with bulimia nervosa. We examined whether baseline ER abilities are associated with remission following enhanced cognitive behavioural therapy for eating disorders (CBT‐E).

Method

Participants (N = 50, 85.0% female) receiving CBT‐E completed a measure (yielding a global score and six subscale scores) of ER pre‐treatment. Remission was assessed by the Eating Disorder Examination at post‐treatment and follow‐up. Analyses tested associations between baseline ER and behavioural, cognitive, or full remission at post‐treatment and three‐month follow‐up.

Results

Lower global ER abilities, measured by the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, were associated with lower likelihood of behavioural and full, but not cognitive, remission at post‐treatment. Specifically, individuals low in emotional clarity and impulse control were less likely to be behaviourally remitted. Those low in emotional acceptance, awareness, clarity, or strategies to manage emotion were less likely to be fully remitted. Global ER scores were not associated with any remission type at follow‐up.

Discussion

Baseline ER deficits were associated with lower likelihood of behavioural or full remission at post‐treatment. However, ER was less associated with remission at follow‐up, indicating that ER is most important during treatment. Findings highlight a need for targeted treatments aimed at improving ER.
Forward modelling of the completeness and preservation of palaeoclimate signals recorded by ice‐marginal moraines
Authors: Rowan Ann V. , Egholm David L. , Clark Chris D.
Published: April 2022

Glaciers fluctuate in response to climate change and record these changes by building sedimentary landforms, including moraines. Therefore, glacial landscapes are a potentially valuable archive of terrestrial palaeoclimate change. Typically, a cooling climate causes glaciers to expand and a warming climate causes glaciers to shrink. However, the glacier response time and the influence of mountainous topography on glacier dynamics complicates this behaviour, such that moraines are not always a straightforward indicator of glacier change in response to climate change. We used a glacial landscape evolution model to simulate the response of a hypothetical mountain glacier to simple changes in climate and the resulting formation and preservation of moraines. These results show that the rate of climate change relative to the glacier response time determines the geometry, number, and position of moraines. Glaciers can build distinct moraines in the absence of climate change. The distance from the maximum ice extent may not represent the chronological order of moraine formation. Moraines can be preserved after being overrun and eroded by subsequent glaciations, but moraine sequences may also contain gaps that are unidentifiable in the field.
In‐situ measurement of grain size characteristics within the aeolian saltation layer on a coastal beach
Authors: Cohn Nicholas , Dickhudt Patrick , Marshall John
Published: April 2022

Sediment grain size has a first‐order control on aeolian transport rates due to threshold effects. However, there remain limited in‐situ approaches to measuring properties of sediment size within the saltation layer in field environments. Here, a demonstration of in‐line holography for generating quasi‐3D images of saltating particles near the bed during an aeolian transport event is presented. A vertical fining of sediment grain size in the 50 mm above the bed is found for time‐averaged results. At shorter timescales this fining trend is not unconditionally true as the instantaneous positions of individual saltating particles is dependent on their trajectories. Whereas both the number of particles and sediment concentrations increase with rising wind speeds, the measurements suggest that median grain size coarsened with time despite reducing wind speeds—likely due to winnowing of fine sands from the surface bed layer. Trends found using the holographic sensor are confirmed with traditional measurement techniques, with deviations between these various measurement approaches analyzed and discussed. The data here collectively demonstrate the ability of off‐the‐shelf in‐line holographic technology to provide new insights into detailed particle‐scale aeolian sediment transport dynamics.
Treatment outcomes and prognosis of patients with primary and acquired BRAF‐mutated non‐small cell lung cancer: A multicenter retrospective study
Authors: Wang Wenxian , Gu Xiaodong , Si Jinfei , Pu Xingxiang , Wang Liping , Chen Huafei , Xu Chunwei , Zhang Xiaoyan , Yuan Hongling , Lou Guangyuan , Shao Lan , Zhang Gu , Song Zhengbo
Published: April 2022

The incidence of primary and acquired BRAF mutations is low in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with limited demographic and treatment outcome data available for this patient population. We evaluated lung cancer samples with programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD‐L1) information extracted from 12 051 cases (cohort A) of lung cancer from OncoPanscan™‐based sequencing of tissue (Genetron Health) and conducted retrospective multicenter data analysis using the database of Zhejiang Cancer Hospital and four other centers (cohort B, including 73 primary BRAF mutation and 14 acquired BRAF mutation cases) to compare treatment outcomes of patient groups with primary and acquired BRAF mutations. In cohort A, after propensity score analysis, 165 samples of NSCLC with BRAF mutations were screened along with 165 paired non‐BRAF mutation samples. We observed no significant differences in the proportion of samples with ≥1% PD‐L1 between BRAF and non‐BRAF mutant groups. The median progression‐free survival (mPFS) period in 13 patients with primary BRAF mutations receiving BRAF tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BRAF‐TKIs) was 7.0 months. The group with primary BRAF mutations receiving immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) combination chemotherapy had better PFS than those administered ICI monotherapy (14.77 months vs. 5.0 months, p = 0.025) and similar results were obtained for OS (unreached vs. 20.3 months, p = 0.013). For acquired BRAF mutations, mPFS of BRAF‐TKI, ICI‐based, and chemotherapy‐based regimens were 3.8, 1.5, and 1.9 months, respectively. Therefore, for patients with the primary BRAF V600E mutation, targeted therapy or immunochemotherapy could serve as effective treatment choices, while for those with acquired BRAF V600E, targeted drug therapy may remain the preferred solution in China.
Evaluation and analysis of methane adsorption capacity in deep‐buried coal seams
Authors: Zheng Yuannan , Jiang Bingyou , Ren Bo , Lin Hanyi , Tao Wenhan , Wang Shijv
Published: April 2022

In this work, the high‐pressure methane adsorption/desorption tests were conducted in four coal samples (from low‐rank bituminous coal to anthracite) under different temperature and pressure conditions to reveal the mechanism of desorption hysteresis effect in the deep‐buried coal seams. The experimental and fitting results show that the presence of free methane molecules in the adsorption phase results in an obvious difference between the measured methane adsorption amount with the actual adsorption capacity. The Langmuir, Langmuir–Freundlich (L–F) and Dubinin–Astakhov (D–A) models have their own advantages and disadvantages in fitting the experimental adsorption/desorption data. As residual adsorption capacity C fitted by the D–A model would be negative at high temperatures and lose the meaning of the constant, the Langmuir model is more suitable to describe methane desorption process. The residual adsorption capacity fitted by Langmuir model tended to decrease as the temperature increased until it is almost completely desorbed at 373 K. Meanwhile, because the adsorption sites with lower energy are gradually occupied by methane molecules in the high‐pressure stage, intermolecular forces increased and methane molecules are more easily desorbed. Therefore, the desorption hysteresis coefficient trends to increase exponentially with the decrease of pressure and temperature, which indicated that the original gas content of the coal seams may decrease with the increase of the burial depth, but the risk of coal and gas outburst accidents may increase. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The functional dissociation of posterior parietal regions during multimodal memory formation
Authors: Jablonowski Julia , Rose Michael
Published: April 2022

The incidental acquisition of multimodal associations is a key memory function for everyday life. While the posterior parietal cortex has been frequently shown to be involved for these memory functions, ventral and dorsal regions revealed differences in their functional recruitment and the precise difference in multimodal memory processing with respect to the associative process has not been differentiated. Using an incidental multimodal learning task, we isolated the associative process during multimodal learning and recollection. The result of the present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study demonstrated that during both learning and recollection a clear functional differentiation between ventral and dorsal posterior parietal regions was found and can be related directly to the associative process. The recruitment of a ventral region, the angular gyrus, was specific for learning and recollection of multimodal associations. In contrast, a dorsal region, the superior parietal lobule, could be attributed to memory guided attentional processing. Independent of the memory stage, we assumed a general role for the angular gyrus in the generation of associative representations and updating of fixed association, episodic memory.
Racial and rural–urban disparities in cardiovascular risk factors among patients with head and neck cancer in a clinical cohort
Authors: Mukherjee Amrita , Wiener Howard W. , Griffin Russell L. , Lenneman Carrie , Chatterjee Arka , Nabell Lisle M. , Lewis Cora E. , Shrestha Sadeep
Published: April 2022

Background

Evidence on distribution of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is limited. We assessed disparities in prevalence and incidence of CVD risk factors in patients with HNSCC.

Methods

Electronic health records (EHR) data on 2262 patients with HNSCC diagnosed between 2012 and 2018 at a NCI‐designated cancer center were included. Prevalence of CVD risk factors at baseline and incidence at 1‐year post HNSCC diagnosis were assessed using logistic and robust Poisson regression, respectively.

Results

At baseline, 31.72% white patients with HNSCC had dyslipidemia, compared to 24.29% blacks (p < 0.008); diabetes was more prevalent in blacks (p < 0.027). Odds of ≥1 prevalent CVD clinical risk factor at baseline was lower in blacks (OR, 95%CI: 0.71, 0.54–0.93) and in rural patients (OR, 95%CI: 0.70, 0.58–0.85). At 1 year, risk of incident diabetes was higher in rural patients (RR, 95%CI: 1.63, 1.21–2.19).

Conclusions

Demographic disparities were observed in distribution of CVD risk factors in patients with HNSCC.
Beyond fill and spill: Hydrological connectivity in a sub‐arctic bog‐fen‐tributary complex in the Hudson Bay Lowlands, Canada
Authors: Balliston Nicole , Price Jonathan S.
Published: April 2022

Patterned bog and fen peatlands, which dominate the landscape in the Hudson Bay Lowlands (HBL), act as important water storage and conveyance features in this region. In spite of their hydrological importance, there are currently no studies that define and characterize the thresholds of bog‐fen‐tributary hydrological connectivity in the HBL or their relation to seasonal and annual changes in water fluxes. To this end, hydrological (i.e., streamflow and groundwater levels) and meteorological (i.e., precipitation, snow depth, evapotranspiration, and temperature) data were collected at a 4.8 km2bog‐fen‐tributary complex between 2007 and 2018. Connectivity thresholds were best characterized into three states (disconnected, connected, and high activity) that incorporated 41%, 47%, and 12% of the study period and 4%, 18%, and 78% of runoff, respectively. Runoff generally peaked in the spring due to snowmelt, while connectivity was highest in the peatlands in the fall months when precipitation exceeded evapotranspiration due to cooling temperatures. Warmer than average spring temperatures accelerated snowmelt rate faster than frost table thaw rate in the fen; this reduced the amount of meltwater that entered storage, increased drainage from bog to fen, and decreased overall connectivity in the unfrozen season. Cooler than average spring temperatures delayed bog connection and ground thaw; the late frost melt provided a source of water to the bogs after melt into the late spring and early summer. This study provides a basis for the modelling of peatland hydrological connectivity in the region in the drier conditions anticipated with climatic warming and regional resource extraction.
Effectiveness of enhanced recovery after surgery protocol in open gynecologic oncology surgery: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Chiewhatpong Phasawee , Charoenkwan Kittipat , Smithiseth Kannika , Lapisatepun Warangkana , Lapisatepun Panuwat , Phimphilai Mattabhorn , Muangmool Tanarat , Cheewakriangkrai Chalong , Suprasert Prapaporn , Srisomboon Jatupol
Published: April 2022

Objective

To examine the effectiveness of applying the recommended enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol compared with our usual care in women with gynecologic malignancy undergoing elective laparotomy.

Methods

From June 2020 to May 2021, 93 women with gynecologic cancers (cervix, endometrium, and ovary) undergoing elective laparotomy at our institution were randomly assigned into an intervention group (ERAS protocol, 46 women) or control group (usual care, 47 women). For the intervention group, each woman was brought through the pre‐specified ERAS protocol starting from preoperative counseling to postoperative management. For the control group, participants underwent routine standard care. The primary outcomes were length of hospital stay and postoperative pain.

Results

The intervention group demonstrated shorter hospital stay by 20 h (47.48 h vs 67.17 h, P = 0.02) with lower postoperative pain score at postoperative day 0 (1.58 vs 4.00, P < 0.01) and day 1 (1.00 vs 2.67, P < 0.01) while having decreased opioid consumption (P < 0.01). The intervention group also had faster recovery of gastrointestinal function. Overall, good compliance to most of the ERAS pathway domains was obtained.

Conclusion

The ERAS protocol demonstrates benefits on shortening hospital stay, reducing pain, and bowel function recovery without increasing complications in our population.

Clinical Trial Registration

The present study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04201626) on December 3, 2019. Initial participant enrollment began on June 1, 2020. Access through URL of the registration site: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04201626?cond=ERAS&cntry=TH&draw=2&rank=3.
Comparison of two stitches versus one stitch for emergency cervical cerclage to prevent preterm birth in singleton pregnancies
Authors: Xu Zhi‐Min , Zhang Jun , Hong Xiao‐Lan , Liu Jing , Yang Zhen‐Zhen , Pan Mian
Published: April 2022

Objective

To compare the efficacy of two stitches versus one stitch in women with emergency cervical cerclage.

Methods

A retrospective case–control study of 26 women with singleton pregnancies who underwent emergency cervical cerclage before 26 weeks. A comparison was made between patients with two stitches versus one stitch at the time of cervical cerclage placement. The primary outcome was gestational age (GA) at delivery and preterm birth (PTB) before 37, 34, 32, 28, and 24 weeks.

Results

Average GA at delivery in the two‐stitches group was significantly greater than in the one‐stitch group (32.71 ± 5.54 weeks vs 27.99 ± 4.70 weeks, P = 0.028). There were significant decreases in the incidence of spontaneous PTB at <34 weeks and less than 32 weeks in the two‐stitches group (P = 0.034; P = 0.013, respectively). The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions rate and length of stay in the NICU in the two‐stitches group were significantly reduced (P = 0.035 and P = 0.018, respectively). However, there was no significant difference in neonatal mortality between the two groups.

Conclusion

Compared with emergency cervical cerclage placement with one stitch, the procedure with two stitches can prolong the pregnancy and improve the neonatal prognosis more effectively.
Comparison of health‐related quality of life of women undergoing robotic surgery, laparoscopic surgery or laparotomy for gynecologic conditions: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Kurt Gonul , Guvenc Gulten , Dede Murat , Yenen Mufit Cemal , Akyuz Aygul
Published: April 2022

Objective

To assess and compare the health‐related quality of life of women undergoing robotic gynecologic surgery, laparoscopic gynecologic surgery or laparotomy for benign and cancerous conditions.

Methods

Cross‐sectional study design was used. The present study was carried out with 240 women, who underwent gynecologic surgery (robotic 48, laparoscopic 96, and laparotomy 96) in a tertiary care hospital. Instruments included a participant description questionnaire and Medical Outcomes Study Short Form‐36. The data were collected 4 weeks after surgery, at the first postoperative visit of women to the clinic. Pearson χ2 test, one‐way analysis of variance, and regression analysis were used to assess the data.

Results

Over half of the women in each group had surgery because of gynecologic cancer. All the subscale scores of Medical Outcomes Study Short Form‐36 were significantly higher in the robotic group than the other surgical groups (P < 0.05). Women in the robotic group had better quality of life in terms of both the physical component and the mental component after surgery.

Conclusions

Knowledge of health‐related quality of life in the recovery period after surgery is important for healthcare providers to provide adequate preventive measures, information, and follow up.
Holographic optogenetic stimulation with calcium imaging as an all optical tool for cardiac electrophysiology
Authors: Junge Sebastian , Schmieder Felix , Sasse Philipp , Czarske Jürgen , Torres‐Mapa Maria Leilani , Heisterkamp Alexander
Published: April 2022

All optical approaches to control and read out the electrical activity in a cardiac syncytium can improve our understanding of cardiac electrophysiology. Here, we demonstrate optogenetic stimulation of cardiomyocytes with high spatial precision using light foci generated with a ferroelectric spatial light modulator. Computer generated holograms binarized by bidirectional error diffusion create multiple foci with more even intensity distribution compared with thresholding approach. We evoke the electrical activity of cardiac HL1 cells expressing the channelrhodopsin‐2 variant, ChR2(H134R) using single and multiple light foci and at the same time visualize the action potential using a calcium sensitive indicator called Cal‐630. We show that localized regions in the cardiac monolayer can be stimulated enabling us to initiate signal propagation from a precise location. Furthermore, we demonstrate that probing the cardiac cells with multiple light foci enhances the excitability of the cardiac network. This approach opens new applications in manipulating and visualizing the electrical activity in a cardiac syncytium.
Construction of a BMP‐2 gene delivery system for polyetheretherketone bone implant material and its effect on bone formation in vitro
Authors: Qin Shuang , Lu Zhengkuan , Gan Kang , Qiao Chunyan , Li Baosheng , Chen Tianjie , Gao Yunbo , Jiang Lingling , Liu Hong
Published: April 2022

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) has been widely investigated for improving its biological inert to enable it to achieve stronger osteogenic capability and to be a promising material in implant fields. The most important mechanism that makes a successful implantation is osteointegration. Surface modification is an appropriate method to maintain the excellent mechanical properties of PEEK and simultaneously endow PEEK certain biological characters. In this work, we attempted to shape the nano‐topography of PEEK surface by nitrogen low‐temperature plasma and polydopamine coating on the surface as a secondary reaction platform to bond the aminated poly (lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres encapsulating the BMP‐2 gene for enhancing the biological activity. Scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and water contact angle (CA) measurements were applied to characterize the surface of modified or untreated PEEK. Surface characterization showed that the modification was successfully performed on PEEK including a rougher and more hydrophilic surface with nanotopographic features. The influence on cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation was evaluated by culturing of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on different modified PEEK substrates in vitro. The biological results indicated that the low‐temperature plasma treatment and PDA‐coating on PEEK significantly promoted cell adhesion and proliferation. And the osteogenic differentiation was effectively improved by BMP‐2 gene releasing from PLGA‐NH2 microspheres. The results showed that this novel biological surface modification endowed PEEK with outstanding bioactivity and osteogenic ability, providing a theoretical basis for application in the field of implantation.