bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Three‐Dimensional Ultrasound Evaluation of Pelvic Floor Muscle Contraction in Women Affected by Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis: Application of a Quick Contraction Scale
Authors: Arena Alessandro , Degli Esposti Eugenia , Cocchi Laura , Orsini Benedetta , Lenzi Jacopo , Del Forno Simona , Raimondo Diego , Youssef Aly , Seracchioli Renato
Published: May 2022

Objectives

Using transperineal 3D/4D ultrasound, we evaluated the prevalence of the various categories of a 4‐point pelvic contraction scale among women affected by ovarian endometriosis (OE), deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE), and healthy controls.

Methods

This prospective study was conducted on nulliparous women scheduled for surgery to remove endometriosis, and nulliparous healthy volunteers who did not show any clinical or sonographic signs of endometriosis, who served as controls. Patients were subjected to 3D/4D transperineal ultrasound obtaining measurements of the antero‐posterior diameter (APD), both at rest and during maximal pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contraction (PFMC). The difference of APD from rest to maximal PFMC was then calculated as percent change from baseline (ΔAPD) and patients were thus categorized using the 4‐point pelvic contraction scale.

Results

One hundred sixty‐four patients were considered for the study. Mean difference in APD between relaxed state and maximal PFMC was 23.3 ± 7.9% (range 2.4–40.0) in controls, 20.5 ± 9.0% (range 0.0–37.3) in patients with OE, and 14.6 ± 10.4% (range 0.0–37.1) in patients with DIE (F‐test = 19.5, P‐value < .001). A significant negative correlation was found between the contraction scale and dyspareunia (rs = −0.17, P = .032), and it appeared to be stronger among patients with DIE (rs = −0.20, P = .076).

Conclusions

PFM function in endometriotic patients could be assessed reliably through this 4‐point scale. The rapid identification of women suffering from PFM dysfunction, along with deep dyspareunia, could enable gynecologists to offer them additional therapies, such as PFM rehabilitation.
Microchemical provenancing of prey remains in cormorant pellets reveals the use of diverse foraging grounds
Authors: Oehm Johannes , Zitek Andreas , Thalinger Bettina , Tchaikovsky Anastassiya , Irrgeher Johanna , Prohaska Thomas , Traugott Michael
Published: May 2022

Piscivorous birds in aquatic ecosystems exert predation pressure on fish populations. But the site‐specific impact on fish populations, including stocked and commercially used fish species, remains disputed. One of the key questions for the management of piscivorous birds and fish is determining the origin of prey and thus which fish populations are targeted by the birds. We addressed this question by provenancing otoliths (earstones) of fish obtained from regurgitated pellets of piscivorous birds by otolith microchemistry analysis. We retrieved otoliths from regurgitated pellets of great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) collected every 2 weeks for 2 years from breeding and roosting colonies at Chiemsee in Bavaria, Germany, and classified them according to family or species. We collected water samples from Chiemsee and potential surrounding foraging grounds. We measured the strontium (Sr) 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratio and Sr mass fraction of water and otoliths using (laser ablation) inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry. We assigned otoliths from regurgitated pellets to habitat clusters of origin by comparing the Sr isotopic and elemental composition of otoliths and waterbodies. In 36% of cormorant pellets collected at Chiemsee, prey was assigned to waterbodies distinct from Chiemsee. Furthermore, cormorants used different foraging sites during 1 day. Microchemical provenancing of prey remains can contribute to identifying foraging sites of piscivorous birds and to what extend the birds switched among foraging sites.
Connectivity networks and delineation of disconnected coastal provinces along the Indian coastline using large‐scale Lagrangian transport simulations
Authors: Bharti D. K. , Guizien Katell , Aswathi‐Das M. T. , Vinayachandran P. N. , Shanker Kartik
Published: May 2022

Ocean circulation is the engine of dispersal and population connectivity in marine ecosystems, knowledge of which is essential for conservation planning. Understanding connectivity patterns at a large scale can help define the spatial extent of metapopulations. In this study, we built connectivity networks from Lagrangian transport simulations of neutrally buoyant particles released along the Indian coastline, a significant region in the Indian Ocean. We assessed the variation in connectivity networks across release periods for the major drivers of oceanography including the two monsoonal seasons, El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) years and for the entire range of region‐specific pelagic larval durations (PLDs) for marine invertebrates. We detected well‐connected communities, mapped frequent connectivity breaks, and assessed the functional role of coastal areas within the connectivity network using node metrics. Network characteristics did not differ based on the ENSO year, but varied with season and PLD. Connectance for the Indian coastline was relatively low, ranging from 0.5% to 3.4%, and increased significantly for PLD larger than 20 d. The number of cohesive coastal communities decreased gradually from 60 (PLD < 4 d) to 30 (PLD > 20 d) with increasing PLD. Despite variation in the location of connectivity breaks with the time of particle release within a monsoonal season, four disconnected provinces were consistently identified across the entire PLD range, which partially overlapped with observed genetic and biogeographic breaks reported along the Indian coastline. Our results support the adoption of a coordinated management framework within each of the four provinces delineated in the present study.
Microstructure and atmospheric oxidation behavior of CrCuFeMnNiCox high‐entropy alloys fabricated by vacuum hot‐press sintering
Authors: Ren Bo , Zhao Rui‐feng , Jiang Ai‐yun , Yu Yuan
Published: May 2022

The CrCuFeMnNiCox high‐entropy alloys (HEAs) were prepared by vacuum hot‐press sintering. The microstructure and atmospheric oxidation behavior at 800°C were studied. The phase structure of the Co0 alloy comprised the Cr‐rich FCC1 major phase, Cu‐rich FCC2 secondary phase, and a small amount of intermetallic compound ρ phase when x = 0. The bulk alloys comprised FCC2 major and FCC1 secondary phases when x ≥ 0.5. The oxidation kinetics curves approximately followed the parabolic law. A high Co content leads to a large oxidation weight gain of the alloys. The oxidation weight gain of the Co0 alloy was the smallest at approximately 4.46 mg cm−2 after atmospheric oxidation for 50 h, while the oxidation weight gain of the Co2.0 alloy was the largest at approximately 5.94 mg cm−2. The Co0 alloys exhibited the best oxidation resistance. Therefore, Co is not beneficial to the improvement of the oxidation properties of the CrCuFeMnNiCox HEAs. The main oxidation products of the HEAs mainly comprised MO, M2O3, M3O4, and (M,Cr)3O4 type metal oxides. The main oxidation mechanism was selective oxidation.
Perry Syndrome with Intrafamilial Heterogeneity in Presentation and Survival Including Acute Respiratory Failure: Case Series
Authors: Boardman Jeremy , Mascareno Ponte Maria , Chaouch Amina , Kobylecki Christopher
Published: May 2022

Background

Perry syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant parkinsonian disorder characterized by respiratory failure. The variability in respiratory presentation in this condition is incompletely understood.

Cases

We report 2 first‐degree relatives with Perry syndrome attributed to the same mutation in the Dynactin 1 (DCTN1) gene. Their clinical presentations with respect to parkinsonism and respiratory failure were heterogeneous. The proband presented with acute respiratory failure requiring invasive ventilation on a background of parkinsonism and remains alive more than 3 years later with a good levodopa response. We contrast this with the published literature, in which acute respiratory presentations were associated with a poor outcome. The proband's brother presented with parkinsonism together with early falls and gait impairment and died following gradual hypoventilation despite noninvasive respiratory support.

Conclusions

Perry syndrome can show intrafamily heterogeneity in both movement disorder and respiratory presentations. Acute respiratory failure is often but not always associated with a poor outcome.
Classic infantile‐onset Pompe disease with histopathological neurologic findings linked to a novel GAA gene 4 bp deletion: A case study
Authors: Cerón‐Rodríguez Magdalena , Castillo‐García Daniela , Acosta‐Rodríguez‐Bueno Carlos‐Patricio , Aguirre‐Hernández Jesús , Murillo‐Eliosa Juan‐Rafael , Valencia‐Mayoral Pedro , Escobar‐Sánchez Argelia , Salgado‐Loza Juan‐Luis
Published: May 2022

Pompe disease (PD) is an autosomal recessive disorder by a deficiency of acid α‐glucosidase (GAA) with intralysosomal glycogen accumulation in multiple tissues. We present the case of a 5‐month‐old male with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hypotony, feeding difficulties, and oxygen requirement since birth. At 3 months of age, he develops heart failure, respiratory impairment, and neurological deterioration. The echocardiogram revealed concentric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with left‐diastolic dysfunction. We found increased creatine‐phosphokinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and urinary glucose tetrasaccharide levels, 50% of PAS‐positive vacuolated lymphocytes in the peripheral blood smear, and low GAA activity. Sequencing of coding exons and flanking intronic sequences revealed a novel homozygous 4 bp deletion in exon 15 of the GAA gene (c.2066_2069delAGCC/p.Glu689Glyfs*6). IOPD was diagnosed. At 5 months old, we started enzyme replacement therapy with an alpha‐alglucosidase of 20 mg/kg weekly and immunomodulation with intravenous immunoglobulin. He developed two cardiorespiratory arrests with subsequent neurologic deterioration, convulsive crisis, and respiratory failure and died at 9 months old. We found the usual PD hallmarks in the heart, striated muscle, and liver but also we found neuronal lesions characterized by cytoplasm vacuolization with PAS‐positive granules in the central nervous system and myenteric plexus. We describe a novel GAA gene pathogenic variant with a particular phenotype characterized by classic IOPD and neurologic histopathological findings. Enhancing the knowledge of lysosomal diseases is critical to improving the diagnosis and treatment of these patients.
MRI‐based prostate and dominant lesion segmentation using cascaded scoring convolutional neural network
Authors: Eidex Zachary A. , Wang Tonghe , Lei Yang , Axente Marian , Akin‐Akintayo Oladunni O. , Ojo Olayinka A. Abiodun , Akintayo Akinyemi A. , Roper Justin , Bradley Jeffery D. , Liu Tian , Schuster David M. , Yang Xiaofeng
Published: May 2022

Purpose

Dose escalation to dominant intraprostatic lesions (DILs) is a novel treatment strategy to improve the treatment outcome of prostate radiation therapy. Treatment planning requires accurate and fast delineation of the prostate and DILs. In this study, a 3D cascaded scoring convolutional neural network is proposed to automatically segment the prostate and DILs from MRI.

Methods and materials

The proposed cascaded scoring convolutional neural network performs end‐to‐end segmentation by locating a region‐of‐interest (ROI), identifying the object within the ROI, and defining the target. A scoring strategy, which is learned to judge the segmentation quality of DIL, is integrated into cascaded convolutional neural network to solve the challenge of segmenting the irregular shapes of the DIL. To evaluate the proposed method, 77 patients who underwent MRI and PET/CT were retrospectively investigated. The prostate and DIL ground truth contours were delineated by experienced radiologists. The proposed method was evaluated with fivefold cross‐validation and holdout testing.

Results

The average centroid distance, volume difference, and Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) value for prostate/DIL are 4.3 ± 7.5/3.73 ± 3.78 mm, 4.5 ± 7.9/0.41 ± 0.59 cc, and 89.6 ± 8.9/84.3 ± 11.9%, respectively. Comparable results were obtained in the holdout test. Similar or superior segmentation outcomes were seen when compared the results of the proposed method to those of competing segmentation approaches.

Conclusions

The proposed automatic segmentation method can accurately and simultaneously segment both the prostate and DILs. The intended future use for this algorithm is focal boost prostate radiation therapy.
Reducing risky interactions: Identifying barriers to the successful management of human–wildlife conflict in an urban parkland
Authors: Griffin Laura L. , Haigh Amy , Conteddu Kimberly , Andaloc Maverick , McDonnell Paul , Ciuti Simone
Published: May 2022

Managing activities that result in human–wildlife conflict is a challenging goal for modern scientists and managers. In recent years, the self‐motivated feeding of wildlife by humans has garnered popularity but with consequent risks for the health and safety of both parties. This has resulted in calls for management in areas of high contact, for example, parklands. Traditional controls are typically utilised (i.e. signage, patrols), yet their success is varied, leading to a rise in research aiming to improve them. This research has primarily focused on language and design, with little attention paid to the role that audience type (i.e. international tourists vs. locals/residents) may play in their success. Proportions in audience type present can vary both between parks and spatially within a single park, however, controls are usually applied homogeneously with no consideration for how response may vary between these groups.

Here, we performed a robust before–after study across two summers using a wild fallow deer population in a public park that are commonly fed by visitors as our model. We deployed controls, following best practice as outlined by the literature, and tested their overall effectiveness. We then identified key areas with differences in visitor type proportions and tested for variation in success between them.

We found that the numbers of visitors feeding the deer significantly decreased overall after the introduction of controls, although interactions were not eliminated entirely. We discovered that the effectiveness of these controls varied with changes in visitor type, with the most positive effects occurring in areas with more international tourists and no significant effect occurring in areas dominated by resident visitors. Notably, of the food offerings remaining, the proportion of foods that could be perceived as ‘nutritionally beneficial’ increased in both sites, marking overall changes in the behaviours of even those visitors who refused to stop feeding.

These findings highlight the importance of target audience research in human–wildlife conflict management. We recommend that authorities aiming to reduce these interactions perform systematic surveys to identify the audience type present and cater controls accordingly to maximise their success.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Hydrophobic to superhydrophobic and hydrophilic transitions of Ar plasma‐nanostructured PTFE surfaces
Authors: Pachchigar Vivek , Gaur Umesh K. , T. V. Amrutha , K. P. Sooraj , Hans Sukriti , Srivastava Sanjeev K. , Ranjan Mukesh
Published: May 2022

Production of superhydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) by Ar plasma etching is challenging as it leads to defluorination, resulting in a hydrophilic surface. The effect of radiofrequency power, treatment time, impurity, and surface temperature on Ar plasma‐treated PTFE was investigated for producing a large‐area superhydrophobic PTFE surface. To avoid impurity and substrate temperature effects, a single electrode‐based arrangement with a sacrificial PTFE disc behind the specimen was used for plasma discharge. After 5 min treatment at 100 W, the surface became superhydrophobic (water contact angle = 156°) due to the formation of isotropic nanostructures. However, 30 min of plasma treatment caused severe chemical changes resulting in a hydrophilic surface (water contact angle = 14°). A yellowish layer was formed on the surface due to crosslinking, redeposition of fluorocarbon species, and iron impurities from the plasma system confirmed by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis.
Discovering interrelated natural mutations of efflux pump KmrA from Klebsiella pneumoniae that confer increased multidrug resistance
Authors: Li Ying , Ge Xizhen
Published: May 2022

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a notorious pathogen that can cause multiorgan infections, which is difficult to treat mainly due to the widely distributed efflux pumps. Our previous research discovered the upregulation of efflux pump KmrA conferred enhanced antibiotic resistance, while the export mechanism and its natural mutations across K. pneumoniae isolates remain unclear. Herein, we analyzed the natural mutations of KmrA across 830 K. pneumoniae genomes to discover interrelated amino‐acid substitutions (simultaneously occurred substitutions) that increase drug export. We identified two variants that contain triple amino‐acid substitutions near the periplasmic side and then confirmed their roles in enhancing multidrug resistance of recombinant K. pneumoniae strains. Molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to illustrate the reason for their promoted export efficiencies. Our data indicated the triple substitutions resulted in KmrA's both stronger hydrophilic interaction with water and hydrophobic interaction with membrane. Moreover, these substitutions promoted the flexibilities of KmrA that could facilitate the conformational switch. In parallel, stronger ionic interactions (salt bridges) at cytoplasmic side also suggested the higher possibilities for the reciprocal movements. Collectively we demonstrated the potential risk of the interrelated natural mutations in efflux pump to antibiotic resistance of K. pneumoniae and provided insights into the mechanism of the enhanced drug export.
Discovery of novel rost‐4‐ene derivatives as potential plant activators for preventing phytopathogenic bacterial infection: Design, synthesis and biological studies
Authors: Wang Fang , Liu Hong‐Wu , Zhang Ling , Liu Shi‐Tao , Zhang Jun‐Rong , Zhou Xiang , Wang Pei‐Yi , Yang Song
Published: May 2022

BACKGROUND

Gradually aggravated disease caused by phytopathogenic bacteria severely restricts food security and crop yield, and few pesticides can relieve this severe situation. Thus, development and excavation of new agrochemicals with high bioactivity and novel action mechanism may be a feasible strategy to control intractable bacterial diseases. As a privileged molecular framework, steroid molecules exhibit diversiform bioactivities. Herein, a series of novel androst‐4‐ene derivatives were designed, synthesised and investigated for their antibacterial behaviour to excavate novel agrochemicals on the base of steroid molecules.

RESULTS

Bioassay results indicated that target compounds displayed high bioactivities toward three destructive phytopathogenic bacteria, including Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri (Xac) and Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa). Compound III19 displayed excellent in vitro antibacterial profiling (EC50 = 2.37 mg L−1 towards Xoo, EC50 = 2.10 mg L−1 towards Xac, EC50 = 9.50 mg L−1 towards Psa). Furthermore, compound III19 showed outstanding in vivo protective activities, with values of 81.81% and 58.75% towards kiwifruit bacterial canker and rice bacterial leaf blight, respectively. Analysis of the antibacterial mechanism disclosed that compound III19 enhanced host defence enzyme activities superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and catalase (CAT) and increased the salicylate synthase content to induce host resistance. In addition, compound III19 increased the membrane permeability, destroyed the cell membrane and killed the bacteria.

CONCLUSION

Given these profiles of target compounds, we highlight a new strategy for controlling intractable plant bacterial diseases by inducing plant resistance and targeting the bacterial cell membrane. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
Analyzing the effects of magnetic and Aharonov‐Bohm (AB) flux fields on the energy spectra and thermal properties of N2, NO, CO and H2 diatomic molecules
Authors: William Eddy S. , Okon Ituen B. , Ekerenam Okpo O. , Akpan Ita O. , Ita Benedict I. , Inyang Etido P. , Etim Iniobong P. , Umoh Inemesit F.
Published: May 2022

The influence of external magnetic and Aharonov‐Bohm (AB) flux fields on the energy spectra and thermal properties of N2, NO, CO and H2 diatomic molecules are investigated in this study. The two‐dimensional Schrödinger equation is solved with the Varshni‐screened Coulomb potential (VSCP) model using the well‐known Nikiforov‐Uvarov (NU) method. We obtained the energy eigenvalues and wavefunctions of the system and calculated the energy levels of some diatomic molecules in the m‐arbitrary state in the presence and absence of external magnetic and AB flux fields. The results show that combining the magnetic and AB flux fields eliminates degeneracy. We analyzed and plotted the partition function and other thermal properties in the presence of a magnetic field, an AB field, and a temperature‐dependent term.
High‐Aspect‐Ratio Nanoelectrodes Enable Long‐Term Recordings of Neuronal Signals with Subthreshold Resolution
Authors: Shokoohimehr Pegah , Cepkenovic Bogdana , Milos Frano , Bednár Justus , Hassani Hossein , Maybeck Vanessa , Offenhäusser Andreas
Published: May 2022

The further development of neurochips requires high‐density and high‐resolution recordings that also allow neuronal signals to be observed over a long period of time. Expanding fields of network neuroscience and neuromorphic engineering demand the multiparallel and direct estimations of synaptic weights, and the key objective is to construct a device that also records subthreshold events. Recently, 3D nanostructures with a high aspect ratio have become a particularly suitable interface between neurons and electronic devices, since the excellent mechanical coupling to the neuronal cell membrane allows very high signal‐to‐noise ratio recordings. In the light of an increasing demand for a stable, noninvasive and long‐term recording at subthreshold resolution, a combination of vertical nanostraws with nanocavities is presented. These structures provide a spontaneous tight coupling with rat cortical neurons, resulting in high amplitude sensitivity and postsynaptic resolution capability, as directly confirmed by combined patch‐clamp and microelectrode array measurements.
Generation of Complex Tunable Multispectral Signatures with Reconfigurable Protein‐Based, Plasmonic‐Photonic Crystal Hybrid Nanostructures
Authors: Wang Yu , Kim Beom Joon , Guidetti Giulia , Omenetto Fiorenzo G.
Published: May 2022

Structurally colored materials, which rely on the interaction between visible light and nanostructures, produce brilliant color displays through fine control of light interference, diffraction, scattering, or absorption. Rationally combining different color‐selective functions into a single form offers a powerful strategy to create programmable optical functions which are otherwise difficult, if not impossible to obtain. By leveraging structural protein templates, specifically silk fibroin, nanostructured materials that combine plasmonic and photonic crystal paradigms are shown here. This confluence of function enables directional, tunable, and multiple co‐located optical responses derived from the interplay between surface plasmon resonance and photonic bandgap effects. Several demonstrations are shown with programmable coloration at varying viewing sides, angle, and by solvent infiltration, opening avenues for smart displays and multi‐mode information encoding applications.
Healable, Recyclable, and Multifunctional Soft Electronics Based on Biopolymer Hydrogel and Patterned Liquid Metal
Authors: Hao Xing Peng , Zhang Chuan Wei , Zhang Xin Ning , Hou Li Xin , Hu Jian , Dickey Michael D. , Zheng Qiang , Wu Zi Liang
Published: May 2022

Recent years have witnessed the rapid development of sustainable materials. Along this line, developing biodegradable or recyclable soft electronics is challenging yet important due to their versatile applications in biomedical devices, soft robots, and wearables. Although some degradable bulk hydrogels are directly used as the soft electronics, the sensing performances are usually limited due to the absence of distributed conducting circuits. Here, sustainable hydrogel‐based soft electronics (HSE) are reported that integrate sensing elements and patterned liquid metal (LM) in the gelatin–alginate hybrid hydrogel. The biopolymer hydrogel is transparent, robust, resilient, and recyclable. The HSE is multifunctional; it can sense strain, temperature, heart rate (electrocardiogram), and pH. The strain sensing is sufficiently sensitive to detect a human pulse. In addition, the device serves as a model system for iontophoretic drug delivery by using patterned LM as the soft conductor and electrode. Noncontact detection of nearby objects is also achieved based on electrostatic‐field‐induced voltage. The LM and biopolymer hydrogel are healable, recyclable, and degradable, favoring sustainable applications and reconstruction of the device with new functions. Such HSE with multiple functions and favorable attributes should open opportunities in next‐generation electronic skins and hydrogel machines.
Precise Metabolomics Reveals a Diversity of Aging‐Associated Metabolic Features
Authors: Tian He , Ni Zhen , Lam Sin Man , Jiang Wenxi , Li Fengjuan , Du Jie , Wang Yuan , Shui Guanghou
Published: May 2022

Mass spectrometry‐based metabolomics has emerged as a powerful technique for biomedical research, although technical issues with its analytical precision and structural characterization remain. Herein, a robust non‐targeted strategy for accurate quantitation and precise profiling of metabolomes is developed and applied to investigate plasma metabolic features associated with human aging. A comprehensive set of isotope‐labeled standards (ISs) covering major metabolic pathways is incorporated to quantify polar metabolites. Matching rules to select ISs for calibration follow a primary criterion of minimal coefficients of variations (COVs). If minimal COVs between specific ISs for a particular metabolite fall within 5% window, a further selection of ISs is conducted based on structural similarities and proximity in retention time. The introduction and refined selection of appropriate ISs for quantitation reduces the COVs of 480 identified metabolites in quality control samples from 14.3% to 9.8% and facilitates identification of additional metabolite. Finally, the precise metabolomics approach reveals perturbations in a diverse array of metabolic pathways across aging that principally implicate steroid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, and purine metabolism, which allows the authors to draw correlates to the pathology of various age‐related diseases. These findings provide clues for the prevention and treatment of these age‐related diseases.
Predicting axial load capacity of CFST columns using machine learning
Authors: Faridmehr Iman , Nehdi Moncef L.
Published: May 2022

Owing to their economic and structural advantages, concrete‐filled steel tubular (CFST) columns have been implemented in diverse structural applications, especially in high‐rise buildings, suspension bridges, and subway stations. However, there is no agreement between international standards regarding the ultimate compressive strength of CFST columns subjected to concentric axial force or combination of bending moment and axial force, especially for slender sections and high‐strength materials. Considering such limitations, a comprehensive dataset on rectangular and circular (built up and hot rolled) CFST sections with different slenderness ratios was collected. The compiled experimental results were compared with corresponding values calculated by pertinent design code provisions, including AISC 360‐16 and Eurocode 4. The accuracy of design codes in predicting the axial capacity of CFST sections under concentric and eccentric loading was assessed accordingly. The distribution of the experimental‐to‐predicted data confirmed that the prediction error was dependent on the slenderness ratio of columns. However, the effects of other parameters, including the mechanical properties of materials and eccentricity level on the model error, were negligible. In the second phase of the study, a surrogate Machine‐Learning (ML) model was developed to estimate the axial capacity of circular and rectangular CFST columns under centric or eccentric loading condition. The accuracy of the proposed ML predictive model was appraised using several statistical metrics. The novel informational model attained superior accuracy and could be used to simplify generative design in future computational intelligence structural design platforms.
Insights into the crystal structure and optical property for complexes of iminodiacetic‐terpyridine
Authors: Gu Shunxin , Yang Xinda , Jiang Qin , Luo Yuhui , Wang Daqi , Shi Pengfei
Published: May 2022

IATPY, a multidentate ligand with strong coordination ability was prepared by connecting iminodiacetic acid with phenylterpyridine, and its Ir(III), Zn(II) and Tb(III) complexes were synthesized in solution or by solvothermal method. The iminodiacetic group on IATPY will be substituted by solvent molecules under weakly basic condition. Coordination reactions will take place between Zn(II) and Tb(III) with IATPY under weakly acidic condition solvothermally. With the contribution from water molecules, a variety of intermolecular hydrogen bonds are formed that make IATPY parallelly arranged in crystals, resulted in intense π‐π stacking and induced its absorption and emission spectra obtained in solution dramatically different from that in solid state. With the participation of terpyridine moiety and carboxyl groups simultaneously, coordination polymers [Zn(IATPY)]n and [Tb2(IATPY)3]n were obtained when Zn(NO3)2 and Tb(CH3COO)3 reacted with IATPY. Intense π‐π stacking effects can be observed in the crystal structures of [Zn(IATPY)]n and [Tb2(IATPY)3]n, which influence their optical properties in solid state.
Synthesis and characterization of mixed ternary transition metal ferrite nanoparticles comprising cobalt, copper and binary cobalt–copper for high-performance supercapacitor applications
Authors: Al Kiey Sherief A. , Ramadan Rania , El-Masry Mai M.
Published: May 2022

Metal ferrites have outstanding electrochemical characteristics owing to the numerous oxidation states of the metal ions, making them promising materials for addressing both sustainable energy conversion and storage and growing environmental issues. Therefore, three nanocrystallites transition metal ferrites, CoFe2O4, CuFe2O4and Co/CuFe2O4, were synthesized using citrate precursors and used as electrode materials for supercapacitor applications. Mixed transition metal ferrite nanoparticles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM) complemented with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy and thermal analysis (TGA). The findings illustrated the formation of a single-phase spinel ferrite as proved from XRD data. In addition, the particle shape and particle size obtained from TEM analysis revealed that the as-synthesised nanomaterial exhibited spherical shape with a size ranging from 30 to 50 nm. The result demonstrated that while using a three-electrode configuration, the electrochemical performance of the ferrite nanoparticles achieved a remarkable maximum specific capacitance of 893 Fg−1at a scan rate of 5 mV s−1. At a current density of 1 Ag−1, Co–Cu ferrite exhibited outstanding cycling stability for 3000 cycles with 90% capacity retention. Based on the aforementioned data, it can be considered that the remarkable electrochemical performance of the Co–Cu ferrite nanocomposites can be considered as promising materials to be used for supercapacitor electrodes.
Cure rate of infections is not an argument for spacer in two-stage revision arthroplasty of the hip
Authors: Adl Amini Dominik , Wu Chia H. , Perka Carsten , Bäcker Henrik C.
Published: May 2022

Introduction

 A devastating complication after total hip arthroplasty (THA) is chronic periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). Most frequently spacers (Sp) with or without antibiotics are implanted in a two-stage procedure even though not always indicated due to unknown pathogen, femoral and acetabular defects or muscular insufficiency.

Materials and methods

 A retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database was conducted, analyzing the treatment of 44 consecutive cases with chronic PJI undergoing two-stage revision using a Girdlestone situation (GS) in the interim period between 01/2015 and 12/2018. Diagnostics included intraoperative microbiological cultures, histological analysis, sonication of the initial implant, analysis of hip aspiration, as well as laboratory diagnostics and blood cultures. We analyzed the general and age-group-specific success rate of treatment using GS. Furthermore, we compared our data with the current literature on spacer implantation regarding common complications.

Results

In total, 21 female and 23 male patients at a mean age of 59.3 ± 9.6 years were included. Age groups were divided into young, mid-age, and elderly. In most patients, microbiology revealed Staphylococcus epidermidis in 39.1% of cases, following Staphylococcus lugdunensis and Staphylococcus aureus in 10.9% after THA explantation. For histology, Krenn and Morawietz type 2 (infectious type) was diagnosed in 40.9%, type 3 (infectious and abrade-induced type) in 25.0%. With GS, the total cure rate was 84.1% compared to 90.1% (range 61–100%) using Sp as described in the literature. Among age-groups, cure rate varied between 77.8 and 100%. Other complications, which only occurred in the mid-age and elderly group, included the necessity of transfusion in 31.1%, and in total, one periprosthetic fracture was identified (2.3%).

Conclusion

GS shows an acceptable cure rate at a minimum of 2 years when compared to the cure rate reported in the literature for Sp without major complications. For patients with increased risks for treatment failure using spacer, GS seems to be an alternative for chronic PJI when looking at the success rate of treatment.

Level of evidence

III, Retrospective trial.
Universal Slope Sets for Upward Planar Drawings
Authors: Bekos Michael A. , Di Giacomo Emilio , Didimo Walter , Liotta Giuseppe , Montecchiani Fabrizio
Published: May 2022

We study universal sets of slopes for computing upward planar drawings of planar st-graphs. We first consider a subfamily of planar st-graphs, called bitonic st-graphs. We prove that every set $$\mathcal {S}$$
S
of $$\varDelta $$
Δ
slopes containing the horizontal slope is universal for 1-bend upward planar drawings of bitonic st-graphs with maximum vertex degree $$\varDelta $$
Δ
, i.e., every such digraph admits a 1-bend upward planar drawing whose edge segments use only slopes in $$\mathcal {S}$$
S
. This result is worst-case optimal in terms of number of slopes, and, for a suitable choice of $$\mathcal {S}$$
S
, it gives rise to drawings with worst-case optimal angular resolution. We then prove that every such set $$\mathcal {S}$$
S
can be used to construct 2-bend upward planar drawings of n-vertex planar st-graphs with at most $$4n-9$$

4
n
-
9

bends in total.
Correction to: Equilibrium computation in resource allocation games
Authors: Harks Tobias , Tan-Timmermans Veerle
Published: May 2022

This note contains a correction of Theorems 1 and 2 and the subroutine $$\textsc {Restore}$$

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of the article Harks, T., Timmermans, V. Equilibrium computation in resource allocation games. Math. Program. (2021) https://doi.org/10.1007/s10107-020-01604-z, see [3]. The correction leads to slightly increased sensitivity bounds (by a factor n) but all main results of the original paper contained in the previous version remain qualitatively intact. In the following, we describe the corrected sensitivity results of Theorems 1 and 2 and prove correctness and running time of the changed subroutine $$\textsc {Restore}$$

R

E
S
T
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E

. The full and corrected version including all changed bounds can be found at [2]. We thank Alex Skopalik who communicated to us that the proof of Theorem 1 is incorrect.
Two kinds of historical explanation in Evolutionary Biology
Authors: Kranke Nina
Published: May 2022

Historical explanations in evolutionary biology are commonly characterized as narrative explanations. Examples include explanations of the evolution of particular traits and explanations of macroevolutionary transitions. In this paper I present two case studies of explanations in accounts of pathogen evolution and host-pathogen coevolution, respectively, and argue that one of them is captured well by established accounts of time-sequenced narrative explanation. The other one differs from narrative explanations in important respects, even though it shares some characteristics with them as it is also a population-level historical explanation. I thus argue that the second case represents a different kind of explanation that I call historical explanation of type phenomena. The main difference between the two kinds of explanation is the conceptualization of the explanandum phenomena as particulars or type phenomena, respectively. Narrative explanations explain particulars but also deal with generalization, regularities and type phenomena. Historical explanations of type phenomena, on the other hand, explain multiply realizable phenomena but also deal with particulars. The two kinds of explanation complement each other because they explain different aspects of evolution.
A Model of Quota Prices in a Multispecies Fishery with “Choke” Species and Discarding
Authors: Hatcher Aaron
Published: May 2022

Using a two-stage optimisation model, we simulate the determination of market-clearing quota lease prices in a multispecies fishery. Assuming fixed proportions technologies, we find that equilibrium quota prices are jointly determined. Price equilibria are sensitive to both the number of quota species and the heterogeneity of the fleet, with corner prices observed where there are a relatively large number of species. Where the fleet is very heterogeneous, quota prices fail to capture all rent as resource rent and inframarginal rents are earned by some vessels. If there is excess demand for quota (for example, as a result of the exhaustion of the quota for a “choke” species) bidding up of the quota price causes all other quota prices to fall. This can result in some vessels starting to earn inframarginal rents even though they are discarding part of the catch. We also use the model to examine the impact of a “deemed value” charge for over-quota landings.
Evolution of koinobiont parasitoid host regulation and consequences for indirect plant defence
Authors: Cuny Maximilien A. C. , Poelman Erik H.
Published: May 2022

Tritrophic interactions among plants, herbivorous insects and their parasitoids have been well studied in the past four decades. Recently, a new angle has been uncovered: koinobiont parasitoids, that allow their host to keep feeding on the plant for a certain amount of time after parasitism, indirectly alter plant responses against herbivory via the many physiological changes induced in their herbivorous hosts. By affecting plant responses, parasitoids may indirectly affect the whole community of insects interacting with plants induced by parasitized herbivores and have extended effects on plant fitness. These important findings have renewed research interests on parasitoid manipulation of their host development. Parasitoids typically arrest their host development before the last instar, resulting in a lower final weight compared to unparasitized hosts. Yet, some parasitoids prolong their host development, leading to larger herbivores that consume more plant material than unparasitized ones. Furthermore, parasitoid host regulation is plastic and one parasitoid species may arrest or promote its host growth depending on the number of eggs laid, host developmental stage and species as well as environmental conditions. The consequences of plasticity in parasitoid host regulation for plant–insect interactions have received very little attention over the last two decades, particularly concerning parasitoids that promote their host growth. In this review, we first synthesize the mechanisms used by parasitoids to regulate host growth and food consumption. Then, we identify the evolutionary and environmental factors that influence the direction of parasitoid host regulation in terms of arrestment or promotion of host growth. In addition, we discuss the implication of different host regulation types for the parasitoid’s role as agent of plant indirect defence. Finally, we argue that the recent research interests about parasitoid plant-mediated interactions would strongly benefit from revival of research on the mechanisms, ecology and evolution of host regulation in parasitoids.
T and NK Cells in IL2RG-Deficient Patient 50 Years After Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Authors: Melsen Janine E. , van Ostaijen-ten Dam Monique M. , van den Akker Erik B. , Welters Marij J. P. , Heezen Kim C. , Pico-Knijnenburg Ingrid , Kolijn P. Martijn , Bredius Robbert G. M. , van Doorn Remco , Langerak Anton W. , Schilham Marco W. , Lankester Arjan C.
Published: May 2022

The first successful European hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) was performed in 1968 as treatment in a newborn with IL2RG deficiency using an HLA-identical sibling donor. Because of declining naive T and natural killer (NK) cells, and persistent human papilloma virus (HPV)-induced warts, the patient received a peripheral stem cell boost at the age of 37 years. NK and T cells were assessed before and up to 14 years after the boost by flow cytometry. The boost induced renewed reconstitution of functional NK cells that were 14 years later enriched for CD56dimCD27+NK cells. T-cell phenotype and T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire were simultaneously analyzed by including TCR Vβ antibodies in the cytometry panel. Naive T-cell numbers with a diverse TCR Vβ repertoire were increased by the boost. Before and after the boost, clonal expansions with a homogeneous TIGIT and PD-1 phenotype were identified in the CD27−and/or CD28−memory population in the patient, but not in the donor. TRB sequencing was applied on sorted T-cell subsets from blood and on T cells from skin biopsies. Abundant circulating CD8 memory clonotypes with a chronic virus-associated CD57+KLRG1+CX3CR1+phenotype were also present in warts, but not in healthy skin of the patient, suggesting a link with HPV. In conclusion, we demonstrate in this IL2RG-deficient patient functional NK cells, a diverse and lasting naive T-cell compartment, supported by a stem cell boost, and an oligoclonal memory compartment half a century after HSCT.
Shocks in the Very Local Interstellar Medium
Authors: Mostafavi P. , Burlaga L. F. , Cairns I. H. , Fuselier S. A. , Fraternale F. , Gurnett D. A. , Kim T. K. , Kurth W. S. , Pogorelov N. V. , Provornikova E. , Richardson J. D. , Turner D. L. , Zank G. P.
Published: May 2022

Large-scale disturbances generated by the Sun’s dynamics first propagate through the heliosphere, influence the heliosphere’s outer boundaries, and then traverse and modify the very local interstellar medium (VLISM). The existence of shocks in the VLISM was initially suggested by Voyager observations of the 2-3 kHz radio emissions in the heliosphere. A couple of decades later, both Voyagers crossed the definitive edge of our heliosphere and became the first ever spacecraft to sample interstellar space. Since Voyager 1’s entrance into the VLISM, it sampled electron plasma oscillation events that indirectly measure the medium’s density, increasing as it moves further away from the heliopause. Some of the observed electron oscillation events in the VLISM were associated with the local heliospheric shock waves. The observed VLISM shocks were very different than heliospheric shocks. They were very weak and broad, and the usual dissipation via wave-particle interactions could not explain their structure. Estimates of the dissipation associated with the collisionality show that collisions can determine the VLISM shock structure. According to theory and models, the existence of a bow shock or wave in front of our heliosphere is still an open question as there are no direct observations yet. This paper reviews the outstanding observations recently made by the Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft, and our current understanding of the properties of shocks/waves in the VLISM. We present some of the most exciting open questions related to the VLISM and shock waves that should be addressed in the future.
In Situ Observations of Interstellar Pickup Ions from 1 au to the Outer Heliosphere
Authors: Zirnstein E. J. , Möbius E. , Zhang M. , Bower J. , Elliott H. A. , McComas D. J. , Pogorelov N. V. , Swaczyna P.
Published: May 2022

Interstellar pickup ions are an ubiquitous and thermodynamically important component of the solar wind plasma in the heliosphere. These PUIs are born from the ionization of the interstellar neutral gas, consisting of hydrogen, helium, and trace amounts of heavier elements, in the solar wind as the heliosphere moves through the local interstellar medium. As cold interstellar neutral atoms become ionized, they form an energetic ring beam distribution comoving with the solar wind. Subsequent scattering in pitch angle by intrinsic and self-generated turbulence and their advection with the radially expanding solar wind leads to the formation of a filled-shell PUI distribution, whose density and pressure relative to the thermal solar wind ions grows with distance from the Sun.

This paper reviews the history of in situ measurements of interstellar PUIs in the heliosphere. Starting with the first detection in the 1980s, interstellar PUIs were identified by their highly nonthermal distribution with a cutoff at twice the solar wind speed. Measurements of the PUI distribution shell cutoff and the He focusing cone, a downwind region of increased density formed by the solar gravity, have helped characterize the properties of the interstellar gas from near-Earth vantage points. The preferential heating of interstellar PUIs compared to the core solar wind has become evident in the existence of suprathermal PUI tails, the nonadiabatic cooling index of the PUI distribution, and PUIs’ mediation of interplanetary shocks. Unlike the Voyager and Pioneer spacecraft, New Horizon’s Solar Wind Around Pluto (SWAP) instrument is taking the only direct measurements of interstellar PUIs in the outer heliosphere, currently out to $\sim47~\text{au}$
∼
47

au
from the Sun or halfway to the heliospheric termination shock.