bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Composting of Cow Dung and Food Waste under Aerobic Conditions for the Improvement of Soil
Authors: Mmonwuba N.C. , Agunwamba J. C. , Chisom Udeoba , Francis Nwalioba , Victor Umechukwu
Published: December 2024

Composting organic materials like cow dung and food waste is a sustainable method to enhance soil quality by recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. This study explores the aerobic composting process, which involves the microbial breakdown of organic matter in the presence of oxygen, leading to the production of nutrient-rich compost. Cow dung and food waste, both abundant in organic carbon and essential nutrients, were composted under controlled aerobic conditions to assess their impact on soil fertility and structure. The composting process was monitored over several weeks, with parameters such as temperature, moisture content, pH, and carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio being closely observed. The results indicated that the temperature peaked during the thermophilic phase, facilitating the breakdown of organic matter and pathogen reduction. The C/N ratio decreased from an initial value of approximately 30:1 to 15:1, indicating efficient decomposition. The final compost was applied to lateritic soil, commonly found in tropical regions, to assess its impact on soil properties. The treated soil showed significant improvements in terms of enhanced nutrient content, increased organic matter, better moisture retention, and improved soil structure. This, in turn, led to better plant growth and higher yields, demonstrating the effectiveness of composting cow dung and food waste under aerobic conditions. The study concludes that aerobic composting of cow dung and food waste is a viable strategy for improving soil fertility and sustainability in agriculture practices. It not only reduces organic waste but also provides a cost-effective and environmentally friendly means of enhancing soil health.
Renewable Energy in Agriculture: Enhancing Aquaculture and Post-Harvest Technologies with Solar and AI Integration
Authors: Kumar Diwakar , Kumar Kundan , Roy Priyanka , Rabha Garima
Published: December 2024

Renewable energy, particularly solar energy, is an important component of sustainable agriculture because it provides energy-efficient and ecologically friendly alternatives to traditional techniques. AI reduced waste and produced predicted insights, improving agricultural operations. This review focuses on how solar energy and artificial intelligence are being used in aquaculture and post-harvest technologies. Aquaculture uses AI-driven systems to monitor real-time water quality and fish health, enhancing productivity by reducing mortality rates and minimizing environmental impact. AI algorithms optimize the utilization of sun dryers and cold storage units, reducing post-harvest losses by over 30% and ensuring high-quality produce by minimizing waste. The paper discusses the economic and environmental effects of various technologies, ranging from the high initial cost and existing constraints to the potential for decentralized energy networks and data-driven optimization. This analysis brings out the key trends, gaps, and future opportunities in integrating solar and artificial intelligence technologies for resilient, sustainable, and energy-efficient agriculture. The study establishes the groundwork for future developments in sustainable agriculture by highlighting the important implications for energy efficiency, climate resilience, and global food security.
Effects of Cardiovascular Rehabilitation in Children with Congenital Heart Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Navarro Flavia Cristina , Oliveira Mariana , Sampaio Luciana Maria Malosa , Colombo Fernanda Marciano Consolim
Published: December 2024

Background: Home-based physical training is a promising alternative to conventional supervised training for patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). Although the beneficial effects of exercise interventions are well established in patients with CHD, there is still a lack of knowledge about the variety and utility of existing programs.
Aims: Therefore, the aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials publications on the population of children with CHD, which analyzes outpatient and home cardiopulmonary rehabilitation in children with congenital heart disease.
Study Design:  Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Methodology: The searches were carried out in the MEDLINE and PEDro databases. The PICO search strategy was adopted: P (patient) = Child with CHD; I (intervention) = Outpatient rehabilitation and home rehabilitation; C (control) = no activity; O (result) = peak VO2.
Results: Six studies were included in the narrative analysis and all were published in English. RCTs were performed in Canada (n = 2), France (n = 2), Norway (n = 1) and Holland (n = 1). The total number of participants analyzed in all studies was 321 participants (conventional rehabilitation 81 and 63 control; home rehabilitation 98 and 79 control). Regarding gender discrimination, 150 boys and 171 girls were reported. The age range of participants was 6 to 15 years, with most studies reporting mean ages ≤15. A total of six studies involving 578 participants were included. The three studies reporting the peak VO2 at the beginning and after training, which included 144 patients (Rehabilitation 81 patients / Control 63 patients). This comparison was statistically significant 2.81 [0.89, 4.74]; Z = 2.86 (p <0.004) and I2 = 49%. The other three studies reported peak VO2 at baseline and after home rehabilitation, including 177 patients (Reab 98 patients / Control 70 patients). This comparison, however, was not statistically significant (p = 0.66).
Conclusion: The present data suggest that outpatient rehabilitation in children is more effective than home rehabilitation when oxygen consumption analyses is considered.
Assessment of Microbial Contamination and Antibiotic Resistance Profiles of Bacteria on Nigerian Currency Notes: Implications for Public Health and Antimicrobial Resistance
Authors: E.T. Olaleye , T.Y. Raheem , B.M. Olowe , F.C. Adesina , W.K Moshood
Published: December 2024

Background: Many microbes have been associated with the contamination of Naira notes, and most of these microbes have shown high resistance to antimicrobials, with different resistance profiles including multidrug-resistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant (XDR), and pandrug-resistant (PDR). Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the microbial contamination and antibiotic resistance profiles of isolated microorganisms on Nigerian currency notes, emphasizing their public health implications.
Methods: A total of 112 currency notes, spanning all eight denominations, were collected from rural (Oyan) and urban (Osogbo) regions in Osun State, Nigeria. Microbial isolation and identification were performed using standard culture techniques, while antibiotic susceptibility was assessed via the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Data were analyzed using SPSS.
Results: Microbial analysis revealed high contamination rates, with Klebsiella sp (35.7% rural, 23.2% urban) and Staphylococcus aureus (28.6% rural, 26.8% urban) being the most prevalent bacterial isolates. Aspergillus sp was the dominant fungal contaminant, particularly in rural areas. Polymer-based notes exhibited lower contamination compared to paper-based notes. Antibiotic susceptibility tests highlighted alarming multidrug resistance (MDR), with Staphylococcus aureus showing high resistance to Penicillins and Cephalosporins. Pseudomonas aeruginosa displayed extensive drug resistance (XDR) to multiple antibiotic classes, leaving limited treatment options.
Conclusion: Nigerian currency notes are significant reservoirs of microbial contamination and multidrug-resistant pathogens, posing severe public health risks. The study underscores the need for improved hygiene practices, public awareness campaigns, and a transition to polymer-based notes. Strengthened antibiotic stewardship programs and regulatory measures are essential to combat rising antimicrobial resistance and prevent pathogen dissemination through currency handling.
Effects of Boehmite on the Calcination Shrinkage and Mechanical Properties of Gypsum‐Bonded Molds
Authors: Miao Kai , Wang Zhongrui , He Ran , Jin Lei , Song Zhaowei , Yu Ruilong , Lu Zhongliang , Li Dichen
Published: August 2021

Calcination shrinkage is an essential factor in the evaluation of a gypsum‐bonded mold. Typically, if traditional fillers are used in a gypsum‐bonded mold, it is difficult to maintain sufficient strength due to the high dosages of fillers. Herein, a new filler system of gypsum, boehmite, is proposed to more efficiently compensate for shrinkage, while minimizing the impact on the strength. The effects of the fillers on the calcination shrinkages and mechanical properties of the gypsum‐bonded molds are studied. The phase transition and thermal expansion behaviors of the gypsum‐bonded molds are tested by thermal gravimetric analysis/differential scanning calorimetry (TG/DSC) and a thermal dilatometer. The microstructures of the fillers and gypsum‐bonded molds are characterized by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results show that the dosage of boehmite for near‐zero shrinkage is reduced to about 35 wt%, with the bending strength of the gypsum‐bonded mold remaining above 2 MPa throughout the whole calcination process. The mechanism of calcination expansion is revealed and ultimately attributed to the splitting of boehmite particles. This research provides a novel gypsum‐bonded mold for required high dimensional and mechanical properties, elevating the ability to form complex structures.
Latest Advances in Development of Smart Phase Change Material for Soft Actuators
Authors: Long Fei , Cheng Yuchuan , Ren Yong , Wang Jun , Li Zhixiang , Sun Aihua , Xu Gaojie
Published: August 2021

Inspired from the nature, soft actuators have been attracting the incremental attention on account of the benefits in terms of high flexibility and safety for human operators, but material selection and manufacturing process remain challenging. Compared with the conventional actuators in solid state, smart phase change materials (PCMs) are superior for the soft actuation applications because of the capability to change their shapes or properties in response to a wide range of stimulants, such as heat, light, pH, or electrical field. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of smart PCM applications on soft actuators, including metal alloys and their polymer counterparts, shape memory materials and liquid crystalline polymers. Such materials generally exhibit large deformation degrees, high complexity in movement and diverse versatility, which are compliant and well suited for soft actuators in the vast applications of soft mechatronics and robots. Since stiffness variable plays a significant role on actuator transformation, this review focuses on smart materials with an emphasis on the different forms of phase transformation among solid, liquid, and gas phase. This review enables a better understanding of phase transformation, performances, and limitations of smart PCMs, and provides insights into the potential applications for soft actuators.
The Importance of Subsurface Residual Stress in Laser Powder Bed Fusion IN718
Authors: Serrano-Munoz Itziar , Evans Alexander , Mishurova Tatiana , Sprengel Maximilian , Pirling Thilo , Kromm Arne , Bruno Giovanni
Published: August 2021

The residual stress (RS) in laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) IN718 alloy samples produced using a 67°‐rotation scan strategy is investigated via laboratory X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and neutron diffraction (ND). The location dependence of the strain‐free (d0) lattice spacing in ND is evaluated using a grid array of coupons extracted from the far‐edge of the investigated specimen. No compositional spatial variation is observed in the grid array. The calculated RS fields show considerable non‐uniformity, significant stress gradients in the region from 0.6 to 2 mm below the surface, as well as subsurface maxima that cannot be accounted for via XRD. It is concluded that failure to determine such maxima would hamper a quantitative determination of RS fields by means of the stress balance method.
Flow Field‐Induced One‐Step Electrodeposition Process to Fabricate Superhydrophobic Films for Flexible Electronics
Authors: Hu Jiacheng , Xian Yeming , Kang Zhixin
Published: August 2021

Widely used flexible electronics are vulnerable to liquid infiltration during working, and the superhydrophobic surface has an available protective effect. In this work, a flow field‐induced one‐step electrodeposition method is used to fabricate superhydrophobic films. The main components are cerium myristate (CeM) and carboxylated multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs‐COOH). The morphology of the films changes a lot due to the addition of MWCNTs‐COOH from granular structure to network structure. The faster rotation of solution makes the deposition of MWCNTs‐COOH more uniform without vertical patterned stripes and smoother surfaces. The films’ deionized water contact angles are not affected, but the sliding angles decline distinctly because of the smoother surface. Besides, two competing flow fields and electric fields will degrade the wettability of the films electrodeposited for a short time at 10 V. Electrochemical performance tests and abrasion tests are employed to examine if the superhydrophobic films can withstand abrasions, impacts, and electrochemical corrosion. The lowest electric resistivity of the films reaches 56.1 ± 4.3 mΩ mm. In the end, a light‐emitting diode bulb connected to a simple, flexible circuit prepared by a selective mask method can glow, which also proves its potential for applications in flexible electronics.
Profiling racial prejudice during COVID‐19: Who exhibits anti‐Asian sentiment in Australia and the United States?
Authors: Tan Xiao , Lee Rennie , Ruppanner Leah
Published: August 2021

Following the COVID‐19 outbreak, anti‐Asian racism increased around the world, as exhibited through greater instances of abuse and hate crimes. To better understand the scale of anti‐Asian racism and the characteristics of people who may be expressing racial prejudice, we sampled respondents in Australia and the United States over 31 August–9 September 2020 (1375 Australians and 1060 Americans aged 18 or above; source YouGov). To address potential social desirability bias, we use both direct and indirect (list experiment) questions to measure anti‐Asian sentiment and link these variables to key socioeconomic factors. We find that, instead of being universal among general populations, anti‐Asian sentiment is patterned differently across both country contexts and socioeconomic groups. In the United States, the most significant predictor of anti‐Asian bias is political affiliation. By contrast, in Australia, anti‐Asian bias is closely linked to a wide range of socioeconomic factors including political affiliation, age, gender, employment status and income.
A New Dioxazolone for the Synthesis of 1,2‐Aminoalcohols via Iridium(III)‐Catalyzed C(sp3)−H Amidation
Authors: Antien Kevin , Geraci Andrea , Parmentier Michael , Baudoin Olivier
Published: August 2021

Vicinal aminoalcohols are widespread structural motifs in bioactive molecules. We report the development of a new dioxazolone reagent containing a p‐nitrophenyldifluoromethyl group, which 1. displays a good safety profile; 2. shows a remarkably high reactivity in the oxime‐directed iridium(III)‐catalyzed amidation of unactivated C(sp3)−H bonds; 3. leads to amide products which can be hydrolyzed under mild conditions. The amidation reaction is mild, general and compatible with both primary C−H bonds of tertiary and secondary alcohols, as well as secondary C−H bonds of cyclic secondary alcohols. This method provides an easy access to free 1,2‐aminoalcohols after efficient and mild cleavage of the oxime directing group and activated amide.
School safety and violence: Enhancing organizational and clinical responses
Authors: Holinger Paul C.
Published: August 2021

School safety and violence is an important and complex topic. This study explores three major aspects of these issues, and I use two case studies as illustrations. First, in Case Study #1, I examine some of the problems in identifying and treating troubled youngsters in schools. The resistances to pursuing treatment, follow‐up, and outcome are highlighted. Second, a pilot study of intensive treatment and follow‐up of very troubled school‐age children and their parents is explored (Case Study #2). This investigation, along with other research, suggests that such children and parents can be identified and benefit from treatment, with enhanced understanding of the resistances and dynamics involved. Various diagnoses, clinical work, and long‐term follow‐up of both children and parents are discussed. Third, there is consideration given to the questions and potential solutions raised in reference to the case studies.
Nanomaterial‐assisted determination of osteosarcoma by antibody–osteopontin–aptamer sandwich ELISA
Authors: Chen Hulin , Yang Fei , Yin Guorui , Song Pengfei
Published: August 2021

Immobilization and detection of small molecules is one of the challenging tasks in any given sensing system as the dissociation equilibrium constant is higher. Generating a right immobilization system with small molecules is mandatory for developing the drug‐discovery process and disease identification. Immobilizing smaller probes on the ELISA plate is challenging because of its less adsorption on the polystyrene (PS) substrate. This research work developed an iron nanomaterial‐based linker to attach osteopontin‐specific aptamer on PS substrate. Iron oxide nanoparticle was attached on PS plate through amine modification and then antibody was attached by COOH reaction. On the osteopontin‐modified plate, osteosarcoma biomarker of osteopontin was identified by its specific antibody and aptamer sandwich with the detection limit of 1 nM. Further, biofouling experiments with other molecules, such as lysozyme, and complementary aptamer failed to show the ELISA adsorption signal, indicating the iron oxide nanoparticle‐modified PS plate specifically recognizes osteopontin. This research work effectively identifies the lesser abundance of osteopontin and helps to diagnose the osteosarcoma‐related problems.
Teaching young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to recognize and respond to coworker victimization
Authors: Peterson Andrea M. , Fisher Marisa H. , Brodhead Matthew T. , Sung Connie , Uher Alyssa
Published: August 2021

Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are at risk of experiencing social victimization and should be taught to respond to potential victimization they may encounter in a workplace. Using a multiple probe across participants design, the current study evaluated the effectiveness of behavioral skills with multiple exemplar training (BS + MET) to teach four young adults with IDD a four‐step response to coworker victimization protocol. Two participants demonstrated mastery of this response after only BS + MET, while the other two participants demonstrated mastery of the response after BS + MET and additional in situ training (IST). Three of the four participants demonstrated generalization across settings, across exemplars, and with coworkers, and they maintained the response up to two months after the completion of training. This study expands research of BS + MET and IST to teach safety skills to adults with IDD. Implications for further research are discussed.
Development of an artificial biosynthetic pathway for biosynthesis of (S)‐reticuline based on HpaBC in engineered Escherichia coli
Authors: Guo Daoyi , Kong Sijia , Sun Yue , Li Xun , Pan Hong
Published: August 2021

Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) are an important class of plant secondary metabolites with a variety of pharmacological activities. Although they are widely used, traditionally these compounds are extracted from natural sources because their structure is too complicated to achieve economically feasible chemical synthesis. Thus, microbial biosynthesis of BIAs is expected to reduce dependence on natural extracts. (S)‐Reticuline is an important precursor for BIAs biosynthesis. Therefore, it is an attractive engineering target. In this study, we reported the development of a novel (S)‐reticuline biosynthetic pathway based on 4‐hydroxyphenylacetate 3‐hydroxylase (HpaBC) in Escherichia coli. Then, we further improved the (S)‐reticuline production to 307 ± 26.8 mg/L by increasing the availability of the precursor 3, 4‐dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde. The E. coli cell factory developed in this study can be used as a potential platform for further efficient biosynthesis of BIAs derivatives.
Neonatal microglia and proteinase inhibitors‐treated adult microglia improve traumatic brain injury in rats by resolving the neuroinflammation
Authors: Zheng Ping , Bai Qingke , Feng Jiugeng , Zhao Bing , Duan Jian , Zhao Lin , Liu Ning , Ren Dabin , Zou Shufeng , Chen Wei
Published: August 2021

Microglia participate in the regulation of neuroinflammation caused by traumatic brain injury (TBI). This research aimed to explore the repair effects of intracranial injection of neonatal microglia or protease‐treated adult microglia on TBI in rat model. Lateral fluid percussion injury was used to establish rat brain injury model. E64 and serpinA3N were employed for the treatment of adult microglia. Cleaved caspase‐3 level was analyzed through immunoblotting assay. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay was employed to analyze cytokine and chemokine levels. Astrocytosis and microgliosis were shown by immunofluorescence. The cognitive function of rats was analyzed by water maze. The injection of neonatal microglia inhibited cell apoptosis, reduced astrocytosis and microgliosis, decreased the level of chemokines and cytokines in cortex and ipsilateral hippocampus, and improved cognitive function of TBI rat model. The transplantation of peptidase inhibitors‐treated adult microglia also inhibited cell apoptosis, reduced astrocytosis and microgliosis, and improved cognitive function of rats with TBI. The transplantation of either neonatal microglia or peptidase inhibitors‐treated adult microglia significantly inhibited the pathogenesis of TBI in rat model, while untreated adult microglia showed no significant effect.
Fast‐track accreditation with strong team buy‐in, policy reviews
Authors: Sutton Halley
Published: August 2021

Typically, it takes about three years for a college or a university to receive accreditation from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators. But for Stephen F. Austin University police department, the process took six months.
Consider strategies for supporting employee mental health
Authors: McCarthy Claudine
Published: August 2021

Although the pandemic has increased stress levels and mental health concerns across most lines of work, different fields experienced that impact in different ways than others. According to Jay Sandys, Ph.D., Vice President of Organizational Development at CCA in New York, department leaders can benefit from taking a closer look at the pandemic‐related stressors specific to staff members:
Leadership rebooted: It's simple, just take care of your people
Authors: Zacarese Lawrence M.
Published: August 2021

Back in 2016, I penned a column for Campus Security Report discussing leadership in law enforcement titled Leadership in Law Enforcement: Policing in times of increased scrutiny (https://bit.ly/36U0rou). In it, I spelled out some of the leadership basics that I preach equally to my students in the classroom as well as to my personnel in the field.
Survey reveals strong uptick in police retirement, resignations
Authors: Sutton Halley
Published: August 2021

Police officer retirement and resignation saw a large jump in 2020–2021, with retirement up 45% and resignations up 20% compared to the prior year, according to research conducted by the Police Executive Research Forum.
The relationship between coronary stent strut thickness and the incidences of clinical outcomes after drug‐eluting stent implantation: A systematic review and meta‐regression analysis
Authors: Saito Akira , Dai Zhehao , Ono Masafumi , Kanie Takayoshi , Takaoka Yoshimitsu , Mizuno Atsushi , Komiyama Nobuyuki , Asano Taku
Published: August 2021

Background

Drug‐eluting stents (DESs) have been developed with thinner stent struts, and more biocompatible polymers and anti‐proliferative drugs to improve the clinical performance. However, it remains unclear whether thinner struts are associated with favorable short‐ and long‐term clinical outcomes such as target lesion revascularization (TLR), periprocedural myocardial infarction (PMI), and stent thrombosis (ST).

Methods

We searched MEDLINE, Embase and other online sources for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing clinical outcomes between a DES and other stent(s), with independent clinical event adjudication. We investigated stent‐related events (TLR, PMI, and ST) in 5 years. Each outcome was analyzed with random‐effects meta‐regression model against strut thickness, then adjusted for DES generation and patient and lesion characteristics.

Results

We identified 49 RCTs enrolling 97,465 patients, of which strut thickness ranged from 60 to 140 μm. Incidences of 1‐year TLR, PMI, and early ST were reduced with thinner stent struts, when adjusted for stent generation (adjusted relative risk [RR] per 10 μm increase 1.12 [95% CI 1.04–1.21], 1.15 [95% CI 1.05–1.26], and 1.15 [95% CI 1.06–1.25], respectively). Strut thickness was not independently associated with incidences of 5‐year TLR, late and very late ST. In addition, early DESs contributed to a higher incidence of very late ST (adjusted RR 2.97 [95% CI 1.36–6.50]).

Conclusions

In this meta‐regression analysis, a thinner strut thickness was associated with reduced incidences of early stent‐related adverse events (1‐year TLR, PMI, and early ST), but not with later events (5‐year TLR, late ST, and very late ST).
Ten‐year outcomes of early generation sirolimus‐ versus paclitaxel‐eluting stents in patients with left main coronary artery disease
Authors: Park Hanbit , Kang Do‐Yoon , Kim Seon Ok , Lee Junghoon , Kim Ju Hyeon , Hyun Junho , Lee Pil Hyung , Ahn Jung‐Min , Park Seung‐Jung , Park Duk‐Woo ,   for the MAIN‐COMPARE Investigators
Published: August 2021

To compare 10‐year outcomes after implantation of sirolimus‐eluting stents (SES) versus paclitaxel‐eluting stents (PES) for left main coronary artery (LMCA) stenosis. Very long‐term outcome data of patients with LMCA disease treated with drug‐eluting stents (DES) have not been well described. In 10‐year extended follow‐up of the MAINCOMPARE registry, we evaluated 778 patients with unprotected LMCA stenosis who were treated with SES (n = 607) or PES (n = 171) between January 2000 and June 2006. The primary composite outcome (a composite of death, myocardial infarction [MI] or target‐vessel revascularization [TVR]) was compared with an inverse‐probability‐of‐treatment‐weighting (IPTW) adjustment. Clinical events have linearly accumulated over 10 years. At 10 years, there were no significant differences between SES and PES in the observed rates of the primary composite outcome (42.0% vs. 47.4%; hazard ratio [HR] 0.85; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.66–1.10), and definite stent thrombosis (ST) (1.9% vs. 1.8%; HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.28–3.64). In the IPTW‐adjusted analyses, there were no significant differences between SES and PES in the risks for the primary composite outcome (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.65–1.14) or definite ST (adjusted HR 1.05, 95% CI 0.29–3.90). In patients who underwent DES implantation, high overall adverse clinical event rates (with a linearly increasing event rate over time) were observed during extended follow‐up. At 10 years, there were no measurable differences in outcomes between patients treated with SES vs. PES for LMCA disease. The incidence of stent thrombosis was quite low and comparable between the groups.
On the Roles of Electron Transfer in Catalysis by Nanoclusters and Nanoparticles
Authors: Astruc Didier
Published: August 2021

Electron transfer plays a major role in chemical reactions and processes, and this is particularly true of catalysis by nanomaterials. The advent of metal nanoparticle (NP) catalysts, recently including atomically precise nanoclusters (NCs) as parts of nanocatalyst devices has brought increased control of the relationship between NP and NC structures and their catalytic functions. Consequently, the molecular definition of these new nanocatalysts has allowed a better understanding and management of various kinds of electron transfer involved in the catalytic processes. This Minireview brings a chemist‘s view of several major aspects of electron‐transfer functions concerning NPs and NCs in catalytic processes. Particular focus concerns the role of NPs and NCs as electron reservoirs and light‐induced antenna in catalytic processes from H2 generation to more complex reactions and sustainable energy production.
Chemoenzymatic Dynamic Kinetic Asymmetric Transformations of β‐Hydroxyketones
Authors: Hilker Simon , Posevins Daniels , Unelius C. Rikard , Bäckvall Jan‐E.
Published: August 2021

Herein we report on the development and application of chemoenzymatic Dynamic Kinetic Asymmetric Transformation (DYKAT) of α‐substituted β‐hydroxyketones (β‐HKs), using Candida antartica lipase B (CALB) as transesterification catalyst and a ruthenium complex as epimerization catalyst. An operationally simple protocol allows for an efficient preparation of highly enantiomerically enriched α‐substituted β‐oxoacetates. The products were obtained in yields up to 95 % with good diastereomeric ratios.
Workflow provenance in the lifecycle of scientific machine learning
Authors: Souza Renan , Azevedo Leonardo G. , Lourenço Vítor , Soares Elton , Thiago Raphael , Brandão Rafael , Civitarese Daniel , Vital Brazil Emilio , Moreno Marcio , Valduriez Patrick , Mattoso Marta , Cerqueira Renato , Netto Marco A. S.
Published: August 2021

Machine learning (ML) has already fundamentally changed several businesses. More recently, it has also been profoundly impacting the computational science and engineering domains, like geoscience, climate science, and health science. In these domains, users need to perform comprehensive data analyses combining scientific data and ML models to provide for critical requirements, such as reproducibility, model explainability, and experiment data understanding. However, scientific ML is multidisciplinary, heterogeneous, and affected by the physical constraints of the domain, making such analyses even more challenging. In this work, we leverage workflow provenance techniques to build a holistic view to support the lifecycle of scientific ML. We contribute with (i) characterization of the lifecycle and taxonomy for data analyses; (ii) design decisions to build this view, with a W3C PROV compliant data representation and a reference system architecture; and (iii) lessons learned after an evaluation in an Oil & Gas case using an HPC cluster with 393 nodes and 946 GPUs. The experiments show that the decisions enable queries that integrate domain semantics with ML models while keeping low overhead (<1%), high scalability, and an order of magnitude of query acceleration under certain workloads against without our representation.
FPGA‐based HPC accelerators: An evaluation on performance and energy efficiency
Authors: Nguyen Tan , MacLean Colin , Siracusa Marco , Doerfler Douglas , Wright Nicholas J. , Williams Samuel
Published: August 2021

Hardware specialization is a promising direction for the future of digital computing. Reconfigurable technologies enable hardware specialization with modest non‐recurring engineering cost, but their performance and energy efficiency compared to state‐of‐the‐art processor architectures remain an open question. In this article, we use FPGAs to evaluate the benefits of building specialized hardware for numerical kernels found in scientific applications. In order to properly evaluate performance, we not only compare Intel Arria 10 and Xilinx U280 performance against Intel Xeon, Intel Xeon Phi, and NVIDIA V100 GPUs, but we also extend the Empirical Roofline Toolkit (ERT) to FPGAs in order to assess our results in terms of the Roofline model. We show design optimization and tuning techniques for peak FPGA performance at reasonable hardware usage and power consumption. As FPGA peak performance is known to be far less than that of a GPU, we also benchmark the energy efficiency of each platform for the scientific kernels comparing against microbenchmark and technological limits. Results show that while FPGAs struggle to compete in absolute terms with GPUs on memory‐ and compute‐intensive kernels, they require far less power and can deliver nearly the same energy efficiency.
Stochastic greedy algorithms for maximizing constrained submodular + supermodular functions
Authors: Ji Sai , Xu Dachuan , Li Min , Wang Yishui , Zhang Dongmei
Published: August 2021

The problem of maximizing the sum of a constrained submodular and a supermodular function has many applications such as social networks, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. In this article, we study the monotone submodular + supermodular maximization problem under a cardinality constraint and a p‐system constraint, respectively. For each problem, we provide a stochastic algorithm and prove the approximation ratio of each algorithm theoretically. Since the algorithm of the latter problem can also solve the former problem, we do some numerical experiments of the two algorithms to compare the time as well as the quality of the two algorithms in solving the former problem.
The quality of nonfinancial voluntary disclosure: A systematic literature network analysis on sustainability reporting and integrated reporting
Authors: Minutiello Valentina , Tettamanzi Patrizia
Published: August 2021

The disclosure quality of Integrated Reporting (IR) and Sustainability Reporting (SR) is considered a relevant research topic because high‐quality disclosure is associated with a better representation of firms' performance and value creation process. However, only a few studies have addressed this topic and there is no clear knowledge as they have shown conflicting findings. In this paper, a systematic literature network analysis (SLNA) is applied to analyze the evolution of the research field on the topic of the disclosure quality of IR and SR. Findings show the actual state of the art on the quality of IR and SR disclosure and suggest new research trends. Moreover, this study applies a new methodology called SLNA to perform the analysis and it confirms its goodness as a method for dynamic analysis.
Endoscopic findings of cardiac lymphoid hyperplasia and Helicobacter pylori infection status
Authors: Adachi Kyoichi , Ishimura Norihisa , Notsu Takumi , Kishi Kanako , Mishiro Tomoko , Sota Kazunari , Nagano Nahoko , Ishihara Shunji
Published: August 2021

Objective

Lymphoid hyperplasia is endoscopically observed as multiple small whitish round nodules or spots. This retrospective study was performed to examine the prevalence of that finding in patients with Barrett's epithelium and its relationship with the status of H. pylori infection.

Methods

The study subjects were 3353 patients (males 2186, females 1167; mean age 55.2 ± 9.4 years) in whom the status of H. pylori infection had been determined. The presence of Barrett's epithelium ≥ 5 mm in length was endoscopically determined, and then endoscopic observations with blue laser imaging were used to investigate the presence of lymphoid hyperplasia in those areas.

Results

Barrett's epithelium was diagnosed in 1884 (56.2%) of the subjects, and endoscopic findings of lymphoid hyperplasia were observed in 402 (21.3%) of those with Barrett's epithelium. Lymphoid hyperplasia in Barrett's epithelium was not present in any without a current or prior H. pylori infection, while the prevalence of lymphoid hyperplasia in H. pylori‐positive and post‐eradicated subjects was 48.4% and 30.4%, respectively (p < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that female gender, younger age, and higher degree of gastric mucosal atrophy were significant factors related to lymphoid hyperplasia positivity. In addition, the duration after H. pylori eradication was negatively correlated with its prevalence.

Conclusion

Endoscopic findings of cardiac lymphoid hyperplasia were well correlated with H. pylori infection, although prevalence decreased over time following bacterial eradication.
Gastric adenocarcinoma arising from hamartomatous inverted polyp during 8‐year follow‐up
Authors: Okamura Takuma , Iwaya Yugo , Nagaya Tadanobu , Muranaka Futoshi , Ota Hiroyoshi , Umemura Takeji
Published: August 2021

Gastric hamartomatous inverted polyp (GHIP) is rare, with few reports of carcinogenesis from GHIP during long‐term follow‐up. A 51‐year‐old woman was diagnosed as having a submucosal tumor (SMT) during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) in 2008. In 2016, although the size and height of the lesion had not changed, she was referred to our hospital for further investigation of the lesion. EGD depicted a gastric SMT of 20 mm in diameter in the greater curvature of the upper gastric body, and a biopsy specimen showed a well to poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Following successful laparoscopic total gastrectomy, histopathological examination revealed an intramucosal adenocarcinoma arising in GHIP.
Laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy to manage gastric outlet obstruction associated with endoscopic submucosal dissection of large gastric epithelial neoplasms: A two‐case report
Authors: Uozumi Takeshi , Sumiyoshi Tetsuya , Tomita Yusuke , Tokuchi Kaho , Sakano Hiroya , Yoshida Masahiro , Fujii Ryoji , Minagawa Takeyoshi , Okagawa Yutaka , Morita Kohtaro , Yane Kei , Ihara Hideyuki , Hirayama Michiaki , Kondo Hitoshi
Published: August 2021

We report on two patients with stasis symptoms, including vomiting and nausea that were caused by deformity, stenosis, and decreased gastric peristalsis associated with artificial ulcers after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). In both cases, the symptoms remained unresolved despite repetitive endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD). Therefore, laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy was performed. Soon after the procedure, their food intake was improved. Laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy can be an option for the treatment of gastric outlet obstruction induced by a large field of gastric ESD that is refractory to EBD.
A case of severe acute hemorrhagic duodenitis after administration of immune checkpoint inhibitor
Authors: Saito Keita , Nagumo Hironobu , Iwasaki Miyuki , Nishiwaki Takuro , Ozono Daiki , Inoue Shin , Yoshimura Souhei , Kishita Hideyuki , Nakachi Kenichiro , Harasawa Hisato , Kawamitsu Natsuki , Yoshimura Shigenobu , Shiratori Toshiyasu , Nakaji So , Ito Hiroyuki
Published: August 2021

Case: A 66‐year‐old man started carboplatin + etoposide + atezolizumab therapy for advanced small cell lung cancer. Seventeen days after the start of treatment, the patient presented with hematemesis and underwent emergency endoscopy, which revealed multiple erosions and ulcers in the duodenum. Some ulcers showed pulsating bleeding, which was stopped by clipping and cauterization using hemostats. Biopsy of the mucosal peri‐ulcer showed lymphocyte, eosinophil, and plasma cell infiltration. The patient was suggested to have acute hemorrhagic duodenitis, which was associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), and conservative treatment with blood transfusion and antacids was continued. However, 11 days after hemostasis, bleeding from a new ulcer was observed. Hemostasis was achieved by coagulation and clipping again, but the general condition of the patient deteriorated owing to the rapid progression of the primary disease, and he died 8 weeks after the start of treatment.

Discussion: Although there have been several reports of colitis and other adverse events caused by ICIs, there have been very few reports of duodenitis. Endoscopic findings include diffuse erythema, erosions/ulcerations, and villous atrophy, and pathological findings include eosinophilic infiltration and increased levels of CD8‐positive T cells. However, there have been no reports of duodenal mucosal damage caused after administration of atezolizumab nor of severe cases of massive bleeding requiring endoscopic hemostasis and blood transfusion, as in this case.
A case of refractory tumor bleeding from an ampullary adenocarcinoma: Compression hemostasis with a self‐expandable metallic stent
Authors: Daiku Kazuma , Ikezawa Kenji , Maeda Shingo , Abe Yutaro , Kai Yugo , Takada Ryoji , Yamai Takuo , Fukutake Nobuyasu , Nakabori Tasuku , Uehara Hiroyuki , Ohkawa Kazuyoshi
Published: August 2021

Although patients with ampullary cancers frequently experience obstructive jaundice and tumor bleeding, there have been few reports on efficient management of refractory hemorrhage after conservative treatment. In this report, we describe a case of refractory bleeding from a 15‐mm ampullary adenocarcinoma. A Japanese woman in her 60s was urgently hospitalized for cholangitis, pancreatitis, and sepsis treatment. Investigation with a side‐viewing duodenoscope revealed an ulcerated ampullary adenocarcinoma. After the patient underwent anticoagulation therapy for pulmonary thromboembolism, the tumor bleeding gradually increased, resulting in severe anemia. Because the anemia did not improve with fasting or discontinuation of the anticoagulation therapy, the patient underwent repeated red blood cell transfusions. As no hemobilia was observed in the bile juice aspirated during endoscopic retrograde cholangiography, we supposed that the bleeding originated from the ulcerative cancer surface. We did not perform thermal therapy because we considered that it would worsen the bleeding. Abdominal angiography showed no pseudoaneurysms or extravasation. Ultimately, we performed transpapillary placement of a fully covered self‐expandable metallic stent (SEMS) with an anchoring double pigtail plastic stent that resulted in successful hemostasis. In this case, the mechanism of hemostasis was not presumably explained by direct compression of the bleeding point but by indirect compression. When tumor volume is small, the radial force of the SEMS may cause compression of the tumor volume, leading to shrinkage of the bleeding blood vessels. In conclusion, covered SEMS placement could be an efficient treatment for refractory ampullary cancer bleeding, even from an ulcerated cancer surface.
Successful endoscopic diagnosis of angiosarcoma of the small intestine: A case report
Authors: Tamura Koichi , Matsuda Kenji , Ito Daisaku , Sakanaka Toshihiro , Tamiya Masato , Hyo Takahiko , Kitano Masayuki , Yamaue Hiroki
Published: August 2021

A 51‐year‐old man had hematochezia, anemia, and an intraabdominal mass. Gastroscopy and colonoscopy showed no significant lesions with intraluminal bleeding, while radiological examinations showed bulky swelling of the lymph nodes around the abdominal aorta and a tumor in the left ischial bone. Small intestine endoscopy detected a dark purpuric protruding tumor of the jejunum and its biopsy specimen brought a definitive diagnosis of primary jejunal epithelioid angiosarcoma from positive staining of AE1/AE3, CD31, and erythroblast transformation specific related gene in immunohistochemical studies. The patient underwent surgical resection with adjuvant chemotherapy but died of progression of metastases 7 months after the diagnosis. Epithelioid angiosarcoma of the gastrointestinal tract is an extremely rare malignancy with poor prognosis and it is challenging to distinguish from undifferentiated carcinoma or melanoma. Immunohistochemistry is necessary for a definitive diagnosis. Sufficient biopsy specimen may aid a prompt diagnosis of this disease of the small intestine, which may present as obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.
Endoscopic application of novel, infection‐free, advanced hemostatic material: Its usefulness to upper gastrointestinal oozing
Authors: Kubo Yuto , Kobayashi Satoru , Yamamoto Keiichi , Nakagawa Yoshie , Yamashita Kotaro , Saito Takuro , Tanaka Koji , Makino Tomoki , Yamamoto Kazuyoshi , Takahashi Tsuyoshi , Kurokawa Yukinori , Yamasaki Makoto , Eguchi Hidetoshi , Doki Yuichiro , Nakajima Kiyokazu
Published: August 2021

Background

Self‐assembling peptides (TDMs) comprise synthetic amphipathic peptides that immediately react to changes in pH and/or inorganic salts to transform into a gelatinous state. The first generation of these peptides (TDM‐621) is currently used as a hemostatic agent in Europe. However, TDM‐621 exhibits slow gel‐formation and low retention capabilities on tissue surfaces. The second generation (TDM‐623) was therefore developed to encourage faster gel‐formation and better tissue‐sealing capabilities.

Aim

The aim of this study was to verify the efficacy of TDM‐623 in terms of its hemostatic effect in endoscopic surgery.

Materials and methods

Evaluation of the hemostatic effect in endoscopic surgery (animal study) was performed using eight porcine in spine position. Following systemic heparinization, we established a “bleeding model” by endoscopic grasping forceps on the anterior walls of the stomach and duodenum. In the hemostasis method, an endoscope with a distal hood was brought into contact with the bleeding point, and 1 ml TDM‐623 was applied to the wound. After TDM‐623 gelation, the endoscope was removed, and the acute hemostatic effect (after 2 min) was confirmed.

Result

In the endoscopic bleeding model, 17 of the 23 cases (74%) showed complete hemostatic effects on the anterior wall of the stomach, and 18 of the 20 cases (80%) on the anterior wall of the duodenum, respectively. None of the applied gels were displaced from the anterior walls of the stomach and duodenum.

Conclusion

The new self‐assembling peptide (TDM‐623) showed high hemostatic effects. TDM‐623 had potential usefulness for upper gastrointestinal endoscopic surgery.
Two cases of colonic tumors observed by linked color imaging and texture and color enhancement imaging with the tablet‐image comparison method
Authors: Tomita Yuri , Yoshida Naohisa , Inoue Ken , Hashimoto Hikaru , Sugino Satoshi , Hirose Ryohei , Dohi Osamu , Itoh Yoshito
Published: August 2021

An endoscope system using 5‐color light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) (EVIS X1: CV‐1500, Olympus Co., Tokyo, Japan) was released worldwide in July 2020. In addition to the improvement of narrow band imaging (NBI), this system enables texture and color enhancement imaging (TXI). TXI makes the lesion reddish and supports better visibility of colorectal lesions in comparison to white light imaging for improving lesion detection. On the other hand, another 4‐color LED endoscope system (ELUXEO: BL‐7000; Fujifilm, Tokyo, Japan) has been on the market in the West since 2017. This system enables blue light imaging (BLI) and linked color imaging (LCI). Generally, the accurate comparison between two images obtained by two different endoscope systems is difficult. To resolve this problem, we developed a method named the tablet‐image comparison (TIC) method. TIC is a simple, easy, and paperless method to get images under similar conditions of two endoscope systems for an accurate comparison. We herein report two colorectal lesions in which accurate comparisons of images between TXI and LCI and between improved NBI and BLI obtained in the EVIS X1 and ELUXEO systems were performed using the TIC method. One was IIa 30 mm (high‐grade dysplasia) and the other was IIa 25 mm (low‐grade adenoma). A detailed comparison between TXI and LCI could be performed by TIC. In these two cases, with a distant view, TXI showed greater redness than LCI. LCI showed slightly higher brightness than TXI. In magnified TXI and LCI, the irregularities observed were similar to NBI and BLI, respectively.