bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tissue‐resident CXCR4+ macrophage as a poor prognosis signature promotes pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma progression
Authors: Liao Zhenyu , Ye Longyun , Li Tianjiao , Jin Xing , Lin Xuan , Fei Qinglin , Zhang Huiru , Shi Saimeng , Yu Xianjun , Jin Kaizhou , Wu Weiding
Published: February 2023

Macrophage is an essential part of the tumor immune microenvironment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. In our study, we explored the CXCR4+ macrophages subset on its prognosis value, immune profile and distinct function in pancreatic cancer progression. Specimens from 102 postoperative pancreatic patients were analyzed by flow cytometry or immune‐fluorescence, and the prognostic value of CXCR4+ macrophages infiltration was further determined by Cox regression. In silico analysis on TCGA, ICGC database and single‐cell sequencing of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma further validated our findings. We found that high CXCR4+ macrophages infiltration was associated with poor overall survival (P < .01) and disease‐free survival (P < .05) as an independent factor. CXCR4+ macrophages exhibited an M2 protumor phenotype with high expression of CD206. The function of CXCR4+ macrophages was further analyzed in the murine orthotopic PDAC model with its tumor promotion effect and inhibition of CD8+ T cells. Mechanistic and RNA‐seq analysis showed that CXCR4+ macrophages participated in extracellular matrix remodeling procedures and especially secreted SPARC through CXCR4/PI3K/Akt pathway promoting tumor proliferation and migration. Our study reveals that CXCR4+ macrophages infiltration is an indicator of poor prognosis of PDAC and targeting these cells was potentially crucial in immunotherapy of PDAC.
Oil price uncertainty and the relation to tanker shipping
Authors: Pouliasis Panos K. , Bentsos Christos
Published: February 2023

This article investigates whether time variation in the returns' co‐movement of oil and Baltic Dirty Tanker Index can be linked to oil market uncertainty. We measure uncertainty using a battery of different proxies considering both parametric and non‐parametric methods and study its role from both statistical and economic perspectives. Using a regression framework combined with regime switching analysis, we show that oil price uncertainty and the future correlation of oil and dirty‐tanker returns are negatively associated. This negative association is more pronounced in highly volatile periods. The identified regimes are directly linked to high‐low crude oil volatility periods with implications on the level of correlation they exhibit to oil returns. Results are robust across crudes and volatility measures. Additional robustness checks corroborate that results hold for individual dirty‐tanker routes and clean‐tanker cargoes.
Investment decisions under uncertainty: Corporate venture capital as a real option
Authors: Shuwaikh Fatima , Hughes Mathew , Brinette Souad , Khemiri Sabrina
Published: February 2023

This paper aims to assess the role of corporate venture capital (CVC) as option‐creating investments and how corporate investors practice CVC options in their investment decisions. Using a sample of 4206 US firms between 1998 and 2019, our results show that sector fit and geographic fit reduce uncertainty and impact investors' decisions on CVC investments. When exogenous uncertainty is mitigated, CVC‐backed companies experience higher investment amounts than independent venture capital funds (IVC)‐backed ones. The results evidence that follow‐on investments motivate IVC‐backed companies to exit via IPOs. At the same time, a prolonged duration for the organisational learning option leads CVC‐backed companies to exit via acquisition. This study helps investors to reduce uncertainty surrounding investments and improve the usefulness of their real options. We also provide implications for how policymakers target and develop an entrepreneurial ecosystem.
TNO‐ESI – Systems Engineering Methodologies for Managing Complexity in the High‐Tech Equipment Industry: Our Roadmap
Authors: Leibbrandt Wouter , Wesselius Jacco , Beenker Frans
Published: February 2023

The high‐tech equipment industry brings complex industrial products to the market with high speed, enhanced functionality, a better cost‐performance ratio, and greater integration into customer workflows. Driven by digitalization, the complexity of these systems continues to grow steeply. To manage this complexity, continuous innovation in systems engineering methodologies is needed. TNO‐ESI targets to 1) create impactful and industrially applicable systems engineering methodologies and 2) provide innovation support to the industry to get these applied in an industrial context. The ESI research program is defined through a roadmapping process that follows two tracks: a roadmap that maps industry needs and related research and development requirements and a roadmap that describes the developments in the expertise areas necessary for addressing these industry needs. In this paper, we describe the ESI mission, our way of working and activities, and explain the roadmapping process and the roadmaps.
Guiding Systems Engineering Research for Enhanced Impact in the Development of Increasingly Complex Cyber‐Physical Systems
Authors: McDermott Tom , Verma Dinesh
Published: February 2023

In 2019, the research council of the Systems Engineering Research Center (SERC), a US Defense Department sponsored university affiliated research center (UARC), developed a set of roadmaps (SERC 2019) structuring and guiding four areas of systems engineering research: digital engineering, velocity, security, and artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomy. This paper presents the development of these roadmaps and the key underlying transformation aspects.
Integrating System Failure Diagnostics Into Model‐based System Engineering
Authors: van Gerwen Emile , Barbini Leonardo , Nägele Thomas
Published: February 2023

Ever‐increasing system complexity is challenging for development engineers and service personnel troubleshooting system failures in the field. This paper presents a systematic, scalable approach to attain a diagnostic model. Automatic transformation into computational models is used 1) at design time to improve the diagnosability of the system, and 2) during operation for guided root cause analysis by calculating the most probable failures and suggesting diagnostic procedures based on available data and observations. The approach combines nicely with model‐based systems engineering, showing the added value of using diagnostic models both during the design of a system and during operation when the system needs to be diagnosed.
NeuroRAN Rethinking Virtualization for AI‐native Radio Access Networks in 6G
Authors: Carbone Paris , Dán Gyorgy , Gross James , Göransson Bo , Petrova Marina
Published: February 2023

Network softwarization has revolutionized the architecture of cellular wireless networks. State‐of‐the‐art container based virtual radio access networks (vRAN) provide enormous flexibility and reduced life‐cycle management costs, but they also come with prohibitive energy consumption. We argue that for future AI‐native wireless networks to be flexible and energy efficient, there is a need for a new abstraction in network softwarization that caters for neural network type of workloads and allows a large degree of service composability. In this paper we present the NeuroRAN architecture, which leverages stateful function as a user facing execution model, and is complemented with virtualized resources and decentralized resource management. We show that neural network based implementations of common transceiver functional blocks fit the proposed architecture, and we discuss key research challenges related to compilation and code generation, resource management, reliability and security.
Systematic Identification and Analysis of Hazards for Automated Systems
Authors: Putze Lina , Böde Eckard
Published: February 2023

The introduction of automation into technical systems promises many benefits, including performance increase, improved resource economy, and fewer harmful accidents. In particular, in the automotive sector, automated driving is seen as one key element in Vision Zero by eliminating common accident causes such as driving under the influence, reckless behavior, or distracted drivers. However, this is contrasted by new failure modes and hazards from the latest technologies. In this article, we address the problems of finding common sources of criticality for specific application classes and identifying and quantitatively assessing new sources of harm within particular automated driving systems.
Intraoperative application of optical coherence tomography for lung tumor
Authors: Liu Hung‐Chang , Lin Miao‐Hui , Ting Ching‐Heng , Wang Yi‐Min , Sun Chia‐Wei
Published: February 2023

On‐site instant determination of benign or malignant tumors for deciding the types of resection is crucial during pulmonary surgery. We designed a portable spectral‐domain optical coherence tomography (SD‐OCT) system to do real‐time scanning intraoperatively for the distinction of fresh tumor specimens in the lung. A total of 12 ex vivo lung specimens from six patients were enrolled. Three patients were diagnosed with invasive adenocarcinoma (IA), while the others were benign. After OCT‐imaged reconstruction, we compared the qualitative morphology of OCT and histology among malignant, benign, and normal tissues. In addition, through analysis of the quantitative data, a discrete difference in optical attenuation coefficients around the junctional surface was shown by our data processing. This study demonstrated a feasible OCT‐assisted resection guide by a rapid on‐site tumor diagnosis. The results indicate that future deep learning of OCT‐captured image systems able to improve diagnostic and therapeutic efficiency is warranted.
An extracellular vesicular mutant KRAS‐associated protein complex promotes lung inflammation and tumor growth
Authors: Sriwastva Mukesh K. , Teng Yun , Mu Jingyao , Xu Fangyi , Kumar Anil , Sundaram Kumaran , Malhotra Rajiv Kumar , Xu Qingbo , Hood Joshua L. , Zhang Lifeng , Yan Jun , Merchant Michael L. , Park Juw Won , Dryden Gerald W. , Egilmez Nejat K. , Zhang Huang‐Ge
Published: February 2023

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) contain more than 100 proteins. Whether there are EVs proteins that act as an ‘organiser’ of protein networks to generate a new or different biological effect from that identified in EV‐producing cells has never been demonstrated. Here, as a proof‐of‐concept, we demonstrate that EV‐G12D‐mutant KRAS serves as a leader that forms a protein complex and promotes lung inflammation and tumour growth via the Fn1/IL‐17A/FGF21 axis. Mechanistically, in contrast to cytosol derived G12D‐mutant KRAS complex from EVs‐producing cells, EV‐G12D‐mutant KRAS interacts with a group of extracellular vesicular factors via fibronectin‐1 (Fn1), which drives the activation of the IL‐17A/FGF21 inflammation pathway in EV recipient cells. We show that: (i), depletion of EV‐Fn1 leads to a reduction of a number of inflammatory cytokines including IL‐17A; (ii) induction of IL‐17A promotes lung inflammation, which in turn leads to IL‐17A mediated induction of FGF21 in the lung; and (iii) EV‐G12D‐mutant KRAS complex mediated lung inflammation is abrogated in IL‐17 receptor KO mice. These findings establish a new concept in EV function with potential implications for novel therapeutic interventions in EV‐mediated disease processes.
SARS‐CoV‐2 NSP7 inhibits type I and III IFN production by targeting the RIG‐I/MDA5, TRIF, and STING signaling pathways
Authors: Deng Jian , Zheng Yi , Zheng Sheng‐Nan , Nan Mei‐Ling , Han Lulu , Zhang Jing , Jin Yunyun , Pan Ji‐An , Gao Chengjiang , Wang Pei‐Hui
Published: February 2023

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) is a poor inducer of innate antiviral immunity, and the underlying mechanism still needs further investigation. Here, we reported that SARS‐CoV‐2 NSP7 inhibited the production of type I and III interferons (IFNs) by targeting the RIG‐I/MDA5, Toll‐like receptor (TLR3)‐TRIF, and cGAS‐STING signaling pathways. SARS‐CoV‐2 NSP7 suppressed the expression of IFNs and IFN‐stimulated genes induced by poly (I:C) transfection and infection with Sendai virus or SARS‐CoV‐2 virus‐like particles. NSP7 impaired type I and III IFN production activated by components of the cytosolic dsRNA‐sensing pathway, including RIG‐I, MDA5, and MAVS, but not TBK1, IKKε, and IRF3‐5D, an active form of IRF3. In addition, NSP7 also suppressed TRIF‐ and STING‐induced IFN responses. Mechanistically, NSP7 associated with RIG‐I and MDA5 prevented the formation of the RIG‐I/MDA5−MAVS signalosome and interacted with TRIF and STING to inhibit TRIF‐TBK1 and STING‐TBK1 complex formation, thus reducing the subsequent IRF3 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation that are essential for IFN induction. In addition, ectopic expression of NSP7 impeded innate immune activation and facilitated virus replication. Taken together, SARS‐CoV‐2 NSP7 dampens type I and III IFN responses via disruption of the signal transduction of the RIG‐I/MDA5−MAVS, TLR3‐TRIF, and cGAS‐STING signaling pathways, thus providing novel insights into the interactions between SARS‐CoV‐2 and innate antiviral immunity.
Analysis on the physiological changes of residents before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Chen Jinlong , Cheng Xueying , Xu Yue , Shi Tingting , Zhu Chunran , Wang Xu
Published: February 2023

People's lifestyles have changed dramatically during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic, yet data on physical examinations in the Chinese population before and during the pandemic are rarely reported. The study was based on the data from the physical examination center of Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine. We collected the data of physical examinations information between January 2017 and March 2022. The data of participants before December 31, 2019 were classified as “before COVID‐19 pandemic group,” while data after December 31, 2019 were classified as “during COVID‐19 pandemic group.” We used t‐test and χ2 test to compare the differences before and during COVID‐19 pandemic. A total of 72 257 individuals participated in the physical examinations, and finally retained 65 629 individuals for analysis. During the COVID‐19 pandemic, body mass index (BMI), high‐density lipoprotein, total cholesterol levels, as well as pulmonary nodule and thyroid nodule proportion of participants were higher than those before the pandemic, and the levels of systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure of participants were lower than those before the pandemic. Ongoing assessment and surveillance are necessary to assess whether lifestyle changes caused by the COVID‐19 pandemic are likely to increase chronic disease risk in the future.
Developing prediction models when there are systematically missing predictors in individual patient data meta‐analysis
Authors: Seo Michael , Furukawa Toshi A. , Karyotaki Eirini , Efthimiou Orestis
Published: February 2023

Clinical prediction models are widely used in modern clinical practice. Such models are often developed using individual patient data (IPD) from a single study, but often there are IPD available from multiple studies. This allows using meta‐analytical methods for developing prediction models, increasing power and precision. Different studies, however, often measure different sets of predictors, which may result to systematically missing predictors, that is, when not all studies collect all predictors of interest. This situation poses challenges in model development. We hereby describe various approaches that can be used to develop prediction models for continuous outcomes in such situations. We compare four approaches: a “restrict predictors” approach, where the model is developed using only predictors measured in all studies; a multiple imputation approach that ignores study‐level clustering; a multiple imputation approach that accounts for study‐level clustering; and a new approach that develops a prediction model in each study separately using all predictors reported, and then synthesizes all predictions in a multi‐study ensemble. We explore in simulations the performance of all approaches under various scenarios. We find that imputation methods and our new method outperform the restrict predictors approach. In several scenarios, our method outperformed imputation methods, especially for few studies, when predictor effects were small, and in case of large heterogeneity. We use a real dataset of 12 trials in psychotherapies for depression to illustrate all methods in practice, and we provide code in R.
Proanthocyanins and anthocyanins in chestnut (Castanea mollissima) shell extracts: biotransformation in the simulated gastrointestinal model and interaction with gut microbiota in vitro
Authors: Xie Chenyang , Li Jie , Fang Yihe , Ma Renyi , Dang Zhixiong , Yang Fang
Published: February 2023

BACKGROUND

Chestnut (Castanea mollissima) shell is rich in flavonoids and our previous studies showed that proanthocyanins and anthocyanins were the two markedly varied flavonoids in chestnut shell extracts (CSE) during digestion. Here, the biotransformation of proanthocyanins and anthocyanins in a simulated gastrointestinal model, and the interactions between non‐absorption CSE (NACSE) and gut microbiota in vitro, were investigated by ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography combined with triple‐quadrupole mass spectrometry and 16S rRNA sequencing.

RESULTS

Chestnut shell was richer in proanthocyanins and anthocyanins, while the loss of proanthocyanins was greater after digestion. Additionally, the content of anthocyanin decreased after gastric digestion but increased after intestinal digestion and remained stable after fermentation. After fermentation, delphinidin‐3‐O‐sambubioside and pelargonidin‐3‐O‐galactoside were newly formed. Furthermore, microbiome profiling indicated that NACSE promoted the proliferation of beneficial bacteria, while inhibiting pathogenic bacteria.

CONCLUSION

All these data suggest that CSE may be a promising candidate to protect gut health. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Significant methane undersaturation during austral summer in the Ross Sea (Southern Ocean)
Authors: Ye Wangwang , Arévalo‐Martínez Damian L. , Li Yuhong , Wen Jianwen , He Hailun , Zhang Jiexia , Liu Jian , Wu Man , Zhan Liyang
Published: February 2023

Methane (CH4) is a climate‐relevant trace gas that is emitted from the open and coastal oceans in considerable amounts. However, its distribution in remote oceanic areas is largely unknown. To fill this knowledge gap, dissolved CH4 was measured at nine stations at 75°S in the Ross Sea during austral summer in January 2020. CH4 undersaturation (mean: 82 ± 20%) was found throughout the water column. In subsurface waters, the distribution of CH4 mainly resulted from mixing of water masses and in situ consumption, whereas the CH4 concentrations in the surface mixed layer were mainly driven by air–sea exchange and diapycnal diffusion between the surface and subsurface layers, as well as consumption of CH4. With a mean air–sea CH4 flux density of −0.44 ± 0.34 μmol m−2 d−1, the Ross Sea was a substantial sink for atmospheric CH4 during austral summer, which is in contrast with most oceanic regions, which are known sources.
Recent Advances in Biomaterials‐Based Therapies for Alleviation and Regeneration of Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Hu Haijun , Chen Xiping , Zhao Kefei , Zheng Weiwei , Gao Changyou
Published: February 2023

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), a major public health problem accompanied with numerous complications, usually leads to serve disability and huge financial burden. The adverse and unfavorable pathological environment triggers a series of secondary injuries, resulting in serious loss of nerve function and huge obstacle of endogenous nerve regeneration. With the advances in adaptive tissue regeneration biomaterials, regulation of detrimental microenvironment to reduce the secondary injury and to promote the neurogenesis becomes possible. The adaptive biomaterials could respond and regulate biochemical, cellular, and physiological events in the secondary injury, including excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation, to rebuild circumstances suitable for regeneration. In this review, the development of pathology after TBI is discussed, followed by the introduction of adaptive biomaterials based on various pathological characteristics. The adaptive biomaterials carried with neurotrophic factors and stem cells for TBI treatment are then summarized. Finally, the current drawbacks and future perspective of biomaterials for TBI treatment are suggested.
A higher degenerated invasive‐invaded species interaction
Authors: Díaz Palencia José Luis
Published: February 2023

Invasive‐invaded species problems are of relevance in mathematics applied to population dynamics. In this paper, the mentioned dynamics is introduced based on a fourth‐order parabolic operator, together with coupled non‐linear reaction terms. The fourth‐order operator allows us to model a heterogeneous diffusion, as introduced by the Landau–Ginzburg free energy approach. The reaction terms are given by a coupled non‐linear effect in the invasive species, to account for the action of the invaded species and limited resources, and by a non‐Lipschitz term in the invaded species, to account for possible sprouts, once the invasion occurs. The analysis starts by the proof of existence and uniqueness of solutions, making use of the semi‐group theory and a fixed point argument. Asymptotic solutions to the invasive species are explored with an exponential scaling. Afterward, the problem is analyzed with traveling wave profiles, for which a region of positive solutions is explored.
An efficient application of machine learning for designing user specific transmissive radome
Authors: Singh Jaydeep , Jain Anany S. , Narang Naina , Singh Dharmendra
Published: February 2023

Frequency selective surfaces (FSSs) are widely used for transmissive and absorptive radomes in various frequency ranges. Lack of scientific formulation makes it challenging to determine the dimensions of the FSS radomes corresponding to user specific applications. Therefore, we have proposed a novel methology using machine learning technique for determining the physical parameters of FSS by which the challenge faced due to trial and error technique may be minimised. Simulated data set has been used to train the neural network model producing 8.5 million combinations of physical parameters and their electric responses. These combinations are arranged as look‐up table and optimized physical parameters are obtained using error minimization. The methodology has been implemented on a square loop geometry and validated using high frequency structure simulator. A prototype has been fabricated and measured in free space setup. The measured results are in good agreement with the obtained simulated results.
Non‐pharmacological therapies in Fibromyalgia: New horizons for physicians, new hopes for patients
Authors: Majdoub Fatma , Ben Nessib Dorra , Ferjani Hanene Lassoued , Kaffel Dhia , Triki Wafa , Maatallah Kaouther , Hamdi Wafa
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic musculoskeletal condition characterised by reduced quality of life and severe limitations in daily living activities. Considering the wide spectrum of symptoms and the ineffectiveness of a single pharmacological approach, the latest clinical guidelines recommend non‐pharmacological therapies as both an alternative and a better‐tolerated approach. Several studies have been conducted to determine the effectiveness of non‐pharmacological therapies in the management of FM.

Aims

Through a literature review, this paper aims to describe the different complementary therapies and investigate their potential sustainability and effectiveness on FM symptoms in the short and/or long term.

Methods

We searched the PubMed and Google Scholar databases using broad search terms up to June 2022, to identify all types of study designs restricted to human subjects on non‐pharmacological therapies in FM.

Results

Recent evidence demonstrated that physical activity is the mainstay of therapeutic management, highlighting the relevance of walking as the best method of exercise in FM patients. Nevertheless, adherence to physical activity remains fraught with obstacles that could be overcome with a multimodal and multidisciplinary approach involving a wide range of passive therapies. The effectiveness of passive non‐pharmacological therapies remains however unproven in the long term. They can be therefore suggested as ‘adjunct’ or ‘bridge’ therapy to improve adherence to physical activity.

Conclusion

To conclude, FM management requires a multimodal and symptom‐based approach, guided by the predominant bothersome symptom on the one hand, and the preferences of each patient on the other hand.
Sleep variability and regularity as contributors to obesity and cardiometabolic health in adolescence
Authors: Morales‐Ghinaglia Natasha , Fernandez‐Mendoza Julio
Published: February 2023

Objective

Adolescence is a developmental stage of critical changes in sleep and its circadian timing when the contribution of abnormal sleep variability (amount) and sleep regularity (timing) to obesity and its associated adverse cardiometabolic health outcomes appears to increase. The aim of this study was to summarize findings from studies conducted in adolescents examining both sleep variability and regularity in relation to obesity and cardiometabolic health. Gaps in research and potential causal pathways that future studies should examine are highlighted.

Results

Nightly deviations in sleep duration and sleep midpoint appear to contribute to the development of obesity and associated adverse cardiometabolic outcomes in youth. Studies show that increased sleep variability and irregularity are associated with obesity, decreased physical activity, dysregulated eating and inadequate diet, metabolic dysfunction, impaired cardiac autonomic balance, and elevated blood pressure in adolescents.

Conclusions

A stable circadian timing of sleep is essential to the overall physical well‐being of youth. Emerging evidence supports that sleep variability and circadian misalignment, including sleep irregularity, contribute to adverse obesity‐related health outcomes early on in adolescence. Future studies should focus on the underlying behavioral and biological mechanisms in the causal pathway between day‐to‐day deviations in the amount and timing of sleep and obesity.
Comparison of Primary B/NKT Non‐Hodgkin Lymphomas in Nasopharynx, Nasal Cavity, and Paranasal Sinuses
Authors: Peng Jiajia , Qiu Jianqing , Cheng Danni , Rao Yufang , Mao Minzi , Qiu Ke , Li Junhong , Chen Fei , Liu Feng , Liu Jun , Mu Xiaosong , Yu Wenxin , Zhang Wei , Xu Wei , Zhao Yu , Ren Jianjun
Published: February 2023

Objective

We aimed to compare clinical and survival differences between B‐cell (B‐NHL) and NKT‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphomas (NKT‐NHL) located in the nasal cavity (NC), nasopharynx, and paranasal sinuses, which are always categorized as one sinonasal type.

Study Design

Patients diagnosed with primary B‐NHL and NKT‐NHL in the nasal cavity, nasopharynx, and paranasal sinuses from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were included (1975‐2017).

Setting

Population‐based cohort study.

Methods

We conducted univariate and multivariate Cox regressions and Kaplan‐Meier analysis to examine survival outcomes of B/NKT‐NHL in the nasal cavity, nasopharynx, and paranasal sinuses, respectively.

Results

Overall, most B‐NHL cases originated from the nasopharynx, while the majority of NKT‐NHL cases occurred in the nasal cavity. Notably, the cancer‐special survival (CSS) outcomes improved significantly in all sinonasal B‐NHL cases over time, whereas no such improvement trend was observed in each sinonasal NKT‐NHL type. Additionally, increasing age was linked with an elevated risk of death in B‐NHL, particularly in the nasal cavity (Hazard ratio [HR]: 3.37), rather than in NKT‐NHL. Compared with B‐NHL, the adverse effect of a higher stage on CSS was more evident in NKT‐NHL, particularly in its nasopharynx site (HR: 5.12). Furthermore, radiotherapy was beneficial for survival in patients with sinonasal B‐NHL and NKT‐NHL, except in the nasopharynx NKT‐NHL. However, chemotherapy has only been beneficial for CSS in patients with paranasal sinuses B‐NHL (HR: 0.42) since 2010, rather than in other types of B/NKT‐NHL.

Conclusion

Although B‐NHL and NKT‐NHL in the nasal cavity, nasopharynx and paranasal sinuses have similar anatomical locations, their clinicodemographics and prognoses are largely different and should be treated and studied as distinct diseases.
Urban secondary students' explanations for the school climate‐achievement association
Authors: Giraldo‐García Regina J. , Fogarty Laura , Sanders Steven , Voight Adam
Published: February 2023

This phenomenological qualitative study describes students' experiences and counter‐stories of school climate and how school climate matters for their academic achievement in an urban school district. The study uses a critical race perspective to help understand contextual influences on school climate. Data were collected through eight focus group interviews comprised of students conducted in middle and high schools in a large Midwest urban school district. Themes emerged within each school climate domain: teacher support, teacher expectations, safety, and peer social and emotional competence. The study results describe how students experience and understand school climate—perception of safety in schools with a mix of safe and unsafe home‐community climate—and demonstrate how students acknowledge the relationship between school climate and academic achievement. Urban secondary students are observant of the social‐emotional learning of their peers and maintain awareness of group differences as expressed in their counter‐stories. The findings advanced our understanding of school climate in urban contexts where social‐contextual‐struggles experienced by people of color affect their school experiences. The discussion includes practical implications for educators and administrators and directions for future research.
Domestic violence and mental health during COVID‐19
Authors: Keynejad Roxanne C
Published: February 2023

The United Nations described violence against women and girls during the global outbreak of COVID‐19 as a ‘shadow pandemic’; perpetrators were said to have ‘weaponised’ national measures and restrictions, exacerbating domestic abuse. However, evidence for the prevalence of domestic violence and abuse (DVA) during COVID‐19 and its impact on the mental health of victim‐survivors is limited by the extent to which it was measured by research studies and the quality of methods that could be feasibly implemented. This review reports what is currently known about global DVA prevalence during the pandemic and its impact on mental health. It summarises key guidance for clinicians assessing patients during periods of social distancing and proposes recommendations for the ‘new normal’ and future pandemics.
Investigation of simplified physiologically‐based pharmacokinetic models in rat and human
Authors: Yau Estelle , Olivares‐Morales Andrés , Ogungbenro Kayode , Aarons Leon , Gertz Michael
Published: February 2023

Whole‐body physiologically‐based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models have many applications in drug research and development. It is often necessary to inform these models with animal or clinical data, updating model parameters, and making the model more predictive for future applications. This provides an opportunity and a challenge given the large number of parameters of such models. The aim of this work was to propose new mechanistic model structures with reduced complexity allowing for parameter optimization. These models were evaluated for their ability to estimate realistic values for unbound tissue to plasma partition coefficients (Kpu) and simulate observed pharmacokinetic (PK) data. Two approaches are presented: using either established kinetic lumping methods based on tissue time constants (drug‐dependent) or a novel clustering analysis to identify tissues sharing common Kpu values or Kpu scalars based on similarities of tissue composition (drug‐independent). PBPK models derived from these approaches were assessed using PK data of diazepam in rats and humans. Although the clustering analysis produced minor differences in tissue grouping depending on the method used, two larger groups of tissues emerged. One including the kidneys, liver, spleen, gut, heart, and lungs, and another including bone, brain, muscle, and pancreas whereas adipose and skin were generally considered distinct. Overall, a subdivision into four tissue groups appeared most physiologically relevant in terms of tissue composition. Several models were found to have similar abilities to describe diazepam i.v. data as empirical models. Comparability of estimated Kpus to experimental Kpu values for diazepam was one criterion for selecting the appropriate PK model structure.
Magnetotransport Properties of Microstructured ZnO Thin Films Grown on a‐ and r‐Plane Sapphire Substrates
Authors: Barzola-Quiquia José , Zelaya María Priscila , Espíndola Omar , Marin-Ramirez Oscar , Comedi David , Esquinazi Pablo D. , Tirado Mónica
Published: February 2023

Herein, magnetotransport properties of microstructured c‐ and a‐plane ZnO thin films grown on a‐ and r‐plane sapphire substrates are investigated. The grain and grain boundary contributions to the electrical transport are verified using impedance spectroscopy. Photoluminescence measurements show maxima related to oxygen and zinc vacancies (VZn) present in both kinds of samples, which, especially VZn, can contribute to the ferromagnetic behavior. The temperature dependence of the resistance indicates the existence of two different regimes, a variable‐range hopping mechanism at temperatures T ≤ 30 K, whereas thermally activated transport dominates at higher temperatures. The magnetoresistance between 2 and 250 K is negative for all samples, indicating the existence of spin‐scattering processes. Hall‐effect measurements reveal that the samples are n‐type but have a small anomalous‐like contribution related to different types of charge carriers.
Right ventricular responses to CPAP therapy in obstructive sleep apnea: CMR analysis of the MOSAIC randomized trial
Authors: Samaranayake Chinthaka B. , Turnbull Christopher , Neubauer Stefan , Kylintireas Ilias , Stradling John , Craig Sonya , McCabe Colm
Published: February 2023

Effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on right ventricular (RV) function in patients with untreated mild‐to‐moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are unclear. In this exploratory analysis of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)‐derived indices of RV function in patients with minimally symptomatic OSA from the MOSAIC randomized control trial we found no effect of CPAP on RV CMR parameters. In those with lower RV ejection fraction and higher RV end‐diastolic volume (EDV) at baseline, CPAP treatment appeared to improve RV function with a significant reduction in both RV EDV and RV end‐systolic volume although between‐group effects were not observed. These data suggest potential merit in a larger randomized study of CPAP in patients with mild‐to‐moderate OSA and a greater breadth of RV dysfunction.
Metabolic study of selective androgen receptor modulator LY2452473 in thoroughbred horses for doping control
Authors: Karatt Tajudheen K. , Sathiq M. Anwar , Laya Saraswathy , Karakka Kal Abdul Khader , Subhahar Michael Benedict , M.P Muhammed Ajeebsanu , Philip Moses , Graiban Fatma Mohammed , Caveney Marina Rodriguez
Published: February 2023

Rationale

Since 2010, there has been an increasing number of adverse analytical findings related to selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) in competitive sports. It emphasizes the importance of comprehensive doping control analytical procedures that are capable of detecting SARM misuse.

Methods

In this study, it is described how LY2452473, a SARM, was metabolized in thoroughbred horses after a single‐dose oral administration and in vitro with equine liver microsome preparations. An investigation of the metabolism of LY2452473 in horses' urine, plasma, and hair matrices was carried out during the study. The plausible structures of the detected metabolites were postulated using high‐performance liquid chromatography‐high resolution mass spectrometry.

Results

Under the experimental conditions 15 metabolites (12 phase I and three conjugates of phase I) were detected (M1–M15). The major phase I metabolites identified were formed by hydroxylation. Side‐chain dissociated and methylated metabolites were also detected. In phase II, the glucuronic acid and sulfonic acid conjugates of hydroxy LY2452473 were detected as the major metabolites. In vitro analysis has confirmed the presence of all metabolites found in vivo except for the methylated analogs M11 and M12. A peak concentration of LY2452473 (0.5 pg/mg) in proximal hair segments was achieved 4 weeks after administration, according to hair analysis.

Conclusions

Data obtained will aid in identifying LY2452473 and related substances faster. Furthermore, the results will assist in checking for the illegal use of these substances in competitive sports.
8‐Nitronaphthofuran Fused Urea Derivatives as Potential Antimicrobial Agents: Synthesis, Characterization and Pharmacological Studies
Authors: Shruthi E. , Yallappa S. , Mallikarjuna N. M. , Venkatesh Talavara , Dhananjaya B. L. , Vaidya V. P.
Published: February 2023

Urea and its derivatives are an important class of compounds with diverse chemical and biological properties that are widely used in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and agrochemical industries. The present work focuses on the synthesis of 8‐nitronaphthofuran fused urea‐derivatives (4 a–j) and exploring their potent antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. The chemical structures of the synthesized compounds were determined by different physicochemical techniques. The antimicrobial and antioxidant activities are carried out and tested compounds showed considerable activity compared to the standard drugs. To justify the bio‐efficacy of the newly synthesized compounds; the bio‐activity results are compared with the in silico molecular docking study against the target enzyme glucosamine‐fructose‐6‐phosphate aminotransferase and demonstrated effective hydrogen bonding affinity.
Multiplexing Optical Images for Steganography by Single Metasurfaces
Authors: Cao Yue , Tang Lili , Li Jiaqi , Lee Chengkuo , Dong Zheng‐Gao
Published: February 2023

Image steganography based on intelligent devices is one of the effective routes for safely and quickly transferring secret information. However, optical image steganography has attracted far less attention than digital one due to the state‐of‐the‐art technology limitations of high‐resolution optical imaging in integrated devices. Optical metasurfaces, composed of ultrathin subwavelength meta‐atoms, are extensively considered for flat optical‐imaging nano‐components with high‐resolutions as competitive candidates for next‐generation miniaturized devices. Here, multiplex imaging metasurfaces composed of single nanorods are proposed under a detailed strategy to realize optical image steganography. The simulation and experimental results demonstrate that an optical steganographic metasurface can simultaneously transfer independent secret image information to two receivers with special keys, without raising suspicions for the general public under the cloak of a cover image. The proposed optical steganographic strategy by metasurfaces can arbitrarily distribute a continuous grayscale image together with a black‐and‐white image in separate channels, implying the distinguishing feature of high‐density information capacity for integration and miniaturization in optical meta‐devices.
High‐Performance Bifunctional Porous Iron‐Rich Phosphide/Nickel Nitride Heterostructures for Alkaline Seawater Splitting
Authors: Ma Wenqi , Li Dongyang , Liao Liling , Zhou Haiqing , Zhang Fangming , Zhou Xuan , Mo Yuxue , Yu Fang
Published: February 2023

Seawater is the most abundant natural water resource in the world, which is an inexhaustible and low‐cost feedstock for hydrogen production by alkaline water electrolysis. It is appearling to develop robust and stable electrocatalysts for alkaline seawater electrolysis. However, the development of seawater electrolysis is seriously impeded by anodic chloride corrosion and chlorine evolution reaction, and few non‐noble electrocatalysts show prominent catalytic performance and excellent durability. Here, a heterogeneous electrocatalyst constructed by in situ growing highly dispersed iron‐rich bimetallic phosphide nanoparticles on metallic Ni3N (Fe2−2xCo2xP/Ni3N), which exhibits outstanding bifunctional catalytic activities for alkaline seawater splitting, is reported. The optimal (Fe0.74Co0.26)2P/Ni3N and Fe2P/Ni3N electrocatalysts demand only 113 and 212 mV to afford 100 mA cm−2 for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER and OER) in 1 m KOH, respectively, thus substantially expediting overall water/seawater electrolysis at 100 mA cm−2 with 1.592/1.645 V. Particularly, Fe2P/Ni3N displays an unprecedented overpotential of 302 mV at 500 mA cm−2, which represents the best alkaline seawater oxygen evolution activity among the ever‐reported non‐noble electrocatalysts; and thus substantially expedites overall water/seawater splitting at 500 mA cm−2 with 1.701/1.768 V, surpassing most of the reported non‐noble lectrocatalysts. This work provides a new approach for developing high‐performance electrocatalysts for seawater splitting.
Rapidly Constructing Sodium Fluoride‐Rich Interface by Pressure and Diglyme‐Induced Defluorination Reaction for Stable Sodium Metal Anode
Authors: Zhang Wu , Yang Xiaoke , Wang Juncheng , Zheng Jiale , Yue Ke , Liu Tiefeng , Wang Yao , Nai Jianwei , Liu Yujing , Tao Xinyong
Published: February 2023

Sodium (Na) metal is able to directly use as a battery anode but have a highly reductive ability of unavoidably occurring side reactions with organic electrolytes, resulting in interfacial instability as a primary factor in performance decay. Therefore, building stable Na metal anode is of utmost significance for both identifying the electrochemical performance of laboratory half‐cells employed for quantifying samples and securing the success of room‐temperature Na metal batteries. In this work, we propose an NaF‐rich interface rapidly prepared by pressure and diglyme‐induced defluorination reaction for stable Na metal anode. Once the electrolyte is dropped into the coin‐type cells followed by a slight squeeze, the Na metal surface immediately forms a protective layer consisting of amorphous carbon and NaF, effectively inhibiting the dendrite growth and dead Na. The resultant Na metal anode exhibits a long‐term cycling lifespan over 1800 h even under the area capacity of 3.0 mAh cm−2. Furthermore, such a universal and facile method is readily applied in daily battery assembly regarding Na metal anode.
The organizational systems thinking excellence model (OSTEM)
Authors: Rabieh Masood , Pandari Abbas Rezaei , Amiri Zeinab , Esmaeili Mahdi , Naeini Shermineh Mojtabavi
Published: February 2023

Today, the challenges facing organizations are more complex. The excellence level of systems thinking (ST) in an organization indicates the organization's ability to overcome these issues. This study aims to present an excellence model for assessing the level of ST in organizations. First, according to the systematic review process of documents related to ST and assessing ST, 39 documents have been verified in terms of quality and, by using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP), the final documents were selected. Then, by three‐stage coding of selected documents, codes, concepts and categories were identified. Based on the outputs of coding stage and placing the 2020 model of EFQM, the dimensions, criteria and sub‐criteria for evaluation of ST in the organization were defined and organizational systems thinking excellence model (OSTEM) was developed. To evaluate the validity of the designed model, the content validity index (CVI) was used. The final model includes three sections: direction, execution and results.
Effect of Al2O3 and TiO2 on Viscosity, Surface Tension, and Density of Blast Furnace Slag with CaO/SiO2 = 1.13
Authors: Bartzsch Gert , Christian Rennie , Mohanty Soumya Ranjan , Shukla Ajay Kumar , Volkova Olena
Published: February 2023

The influence of Al2O3 in the range of 10–20 mass% and TiO2 in the range of 0.55–5 mass% on the flow behavior, viscosity, density, and surface tension of molten industrial blast furnace slag with CaO/SiO2 = 1.13 is investigated using a high‐temperature microscope, a rotating viscometer, and the maximum bubble pressure method. The measurement results show that Al2O3 acts as a network former in the studied CaO–SiO2–MgO–Al2O3–TiO2 slags. With an increase in the Al2O3 content from 10 to 20 mass%, the viscosity and surface tension of the slags increase and the density decreases. In contrast to Al2O3, the TiO2 acts as a surfactant and network breaker in the range of up to 15 mass%. The addition of TiO2 up to 15 mass% results in a decrease in the viscosity in the liquid‐dominated region and a decrease in the surface tension of the studied slags. Therefore, the density increases with the addition of TiO2 due to increasing molar volume. The behavior of the breakpoint temperature on all the viscosity curves is in complete agreement with the behavior of the flow point temperature and crystallization temperatures of melilite and perovskite.
Optimized Fluid Flow Control System for a Tundish Used in Frequent Steel Grade Change Operations
Authors: Guarneros Javier , Morales Rodolfo D. , Gutierrez Enif
Published: February 2023

A slab caster with a wide casting mix carries high‐frequency steel grade changes using a small, 14 ton capacity tundish and needs to decrease the intermixed steel tonnage. Testing different tundish arrangements, through a water one‐third scale model, permits a flow control design to decrease the amount of mixed steel. A computer fluid dynamics approach, based on the Realizable k–ε model, replicates the experimental results. It helps to elucidate the role of the tundish filling rate, finding that increasing it increases the dissipation rate of kinetic energy coming out from the turbulence inhibitor. At high filling rates, the degraded kinetic energy of the downstream flow drives the residues of the “old” steel, prolonging the intermixing phenomena. In its later stages, the intermixing phenomena imply diffusion and transport on small scales, and both are governed by the Schmidt number given by the ratio of the Batchelor and Kolmogorov length scales, according to . The Schmidt, Sc, numbers in steel are in the range of 28–440. These large Sc numbers mean that the diffusion process must reach the dissipative scales of turbulence, that is, beyond Kolmogorov´s scale, to achieve a complete mixing at microscale levels.