bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Botulinum toxin A injection to the external urethral sphincter for voiding dysfunction in females: A tertiary center experience
Authors: Nadeem Mehwash , Lindsay Jamie , Pakzad Mahreen , Hamid Rizwan , Ockrim Jeremy , Greenwell Tamsin
Published: August 2022

Aim

The aim of this study is to examine the functional outcomes of ona‐botulinum toxin A (BTX‐A) injection into the external urethral sphincter (EUS) for female patients with nonneurogenic nonrelaxing sphincter as the underlying cause of voiding dysfunction (VD).

METHOD

A retrospective analysis was performed for all the patients with the urodynamic findings of higher than expected maximum urethral closure pressure (MUCP) who received their first injection during the study period. All patients were evaluated with preoperative videourodynamic study and urethral pressure profilometry and received 100 U of EUS BTX‐A. Patients aged less than 18 years and those with neurogenic bladder were excluded. All patients were followed up with the free flow, postvoid residuals (PVR), and patient global impression of improvement (PGI‐I) scale at 6 weeks and then at 3 monthly intervals.

Result

We identified 35 female patients with a mean age of 37.5 ± 15 years (range 18–72 years) with a mean follow‐up of 20 months. More than 50% of patients had a history of prior surgical intervention and 28 (80%) patients were catheter dependent, a suprapubic catheterization, or clean intermittent self‐catheterization. Mean MUCP was 97.1 ± 22 cm of water. After treatment with BTX‐A, 21 (60%) patients were able to void per urethral (p = 0.02). The mean maximum flow rate (Qmax) improved from 8.8 to 11 mls/s and the mean PVR decreased from 200 to 149 mls (p < 0.05). On multivariate analysis, we identified high preoperative PVR, high preoperative actual MUCP, and previous surgical intervention (urethral dilatation, sacral neuromodulation, and pelvic surgery) as predictors of successful voiding restoration. The mean duration of response was 4.7 months, 46% of patients requested repeat injection, and 29% were established on maintenance injections. On the 5‐point PGI‐I score, 13 (37%), 12 (34%), and 10 (29%) patients reported good, some, and no improvement, respectively. Quality of life was also improved in 60% of patients. Two patients had transient stress urinary incontinence (for <6 weeks) and there were no significant long‐lasting adverse events.

Conclusion

EUS BTX‐A is a valid treatment option for VD considering therapeutic options are limited. The patient must be made aware of the need for repeat treatments.
Deposition of Gold Nanoparticles on a Self‐Supporting Carbon Foil
Authors: Hepperle Philine , Baek Woon Yong , Nettelbeck Heidi , Rabus Hans
Published: August 2022

Electron emission cross sections of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are important for assessing their radiosensitizing effects from ionizing radiation using Monte Carlo simulations. Measurements of these data require samples of sufficiently large area density, homogeneous nanoparticle distribution, and a mechanically stable sample holder to ensure a low background signal. While several methods exist for the deposition of nanoparticles, there is little information regarding the deposition of AuNPs in an aqueous solution onto a self‐supporting film. The aim of this is to find suitable preparation techniques for AuNP samples which fulfill the above requirements. AuNP samples are produced using different deposition techniques and a 50 nm‐thick carbon foil as the substrate. These samples are characterized with respect to the size and spatial distribution of AuNPs using a scanning electron microscope. The drop‐casting technique yields the best results, while those obtained with the spin‐coater technique are less reproducible regarding sample stability. The microdrop method is deemed unsuitable due to its tendency to form AuNP clusters. Measurements conducted with a synchrotron radiation source, as well as with protons and electrons, confirm the suitability of these samples for studying electron emission spectra of AuNPs for different radiation types.
FtsH degrades dihydrofolate reductase by recognizing a partially folded species
Authors: Morehouse Juhee P. , Baker Tania A. , Sauer Robert T.
Published: August 2022

AAA+ proteolytic machines play essential roles in maintaining and rebalancing the cellular proteome in response to stress, developmental cues, and environmental changes. Of the five AAA+ proteases in Escherichia coli, FtsH is unique in its attachment to the inner membrane and its function in degrading both membrane and cytosolic proteins. E. coli dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is a stable and biophysically well‐characterized protein, which a previous study found resisted FtsH degradation despite the presence of an ssrA degron. By contrast, we find that FtsH degrades DHFR fused to a long peptide linker and ssrA tag. Surprisingly, we also find that FtsH degrades DHFR with shorter linkers and ssrA tag, and without any linker or tag. Thus, FtsH must be able to recognize a sequence element or elements within DHFR. We find that FtsH degradation of DHFR is noncanonical in the sense that it does not rely upon recognition of an unstructured polypeptide at or near the N‐terminus or C‐terminus of the substrate. Results using peptide‐array experiments, mutant DHFR proteins, and fusion proteins suggest that FtsH recognizes an internal sequence in a species of DHFR that is partially unfolded. Overall, our findings provide insight into substrate recognition by FtsH and indicate that its degradation capacity is broader than previously reported.
Growth and Defects in Cast‐Mono Silicon for Solar Cells: A Review
Authors: Huang Jie , Yuan Shuai , Yu Xuegong , Yang Deren
Published: August 2022

Cast‐mono silicon (CM‐Si) is a promising substrate to fabricate cost‐effective photovoltaic (PV) wafers used for solar cells with higher efficiency compared with conventional cast multicrystalline silicon (mc‐Si) due to its high throughput and good ingot quality. However, the unavoidable appearance of defects like dislocation, subgrain boundaries, impurities, multicrystallization, and twins, seriously limits its mass‐scale applications in the PV industry. In this review, the growth characteristics of the CM‐Si method are introduced first. Then, the attention is focused on the defects in CM‐Si. Other issues related to production costs that restrict the development of CM‐Si are also addressed in detail, such as seed cost and recycled seeds, n‐type CM‐Si, and large‐size CM‐Si. Finally, a conclusion is made and the prospects are given about the CM‐Si technique.
Energy Relaxation and Cooling in Impure Bilayer Graphene at Low Temperatures
Authors: Obaidurrahman Mohd , Ashraf Syed Sikandar Zulqarnyn
Published: August 2022

Understanding the physical mechanism of heat dissipation is a matter of increasing concern from the perspective of waste heat management in nanostructure‐based devices. The impurity‐driven electron–phonon scattering is a significant channel for energy relaxation in graphene and its bilayer. The recently developed Keldysh formalism for single‐layer graphene (SLG) is extended to investigate the transport phenomena due to phonon interaction via the deformation potential in disordered bilayer graphene (BLG) at low temperatures within the impure limit, . It is observed that in the BLG system also, the temperature dependence of the relaxation rate and the cooling power are affected by the occurrence of disorder and screening, with the temperature exponent of pure BLG modified to in impure BLG. A comparison with the temperature and mean free path exponents of SLG reveals that the exponents in BLG turn out to be the same, but they both differ from the conventional 2DEG. However, the magnitude of the scattering rate and cooling power is more pronounced in BLG in a low‐temperature regime. As the magnitude of the relaxation rate and the cooling rate varies with impurity, the impurity‐assisted electron–phonon scattering has rich implications on hot carrier transport in BLG devices.
Plasticity Improvement of Mg Alloys with Alloying Atoms (Gd, Y)
Authors: Pang Hao , Mei Wan-Wan , Li Quan-An , Chen Xiao-Ya , Li Xiang-Yu , Chen Pei-Jun , Tan Jin-Feng , Liu Zhao-Zhao
Published: August 2022

Low plasticity limits the wide application of magnesium alloys. The influence of atoms (Gd, Y) on the generalized stacking fault energy (GSFE) is investigated by density functional theory (DFT), and the possibility of activating basal and nonbasal slip systems is quantified. The lattice parameters and elastic constants are also calculated via DFT. The tensile tests of Mg–2Gd, Mg–2Y, and Mg–2Gd–2Y (at%) are carried out to verify the calculated results. It is found that both Gd and Y atoms can improve plasticity, and Gd has a better effect than Y. The different degrees of influence are mainly due to the different electron types of atoms. Gd belongs to the s‐ and f‐electron type and Y belongs to the d‐electron type. The further calculation of the electron density difference indicates that Y weakens the influence of the Gd atom, and the mechanism diagram is constructed.
Sensing Sub‐Surface Strain in GaAsBi(001) Surfaces by Reflectance Anisotropy Spectroscopy
Authors: Bonanni Beatrice , Fazi Laura , Tisbi Elisa , Placidi Ernesto , Arciprete Fabrizio , Goletti Claudio
Published: August 2022

Reflectance anisotropy spectroscopy (RAS) is applied to study the reconstructed GaAsBi(001) surfaces at room temperature. Arsenic‐capped GaAsBi samples with 7% Bi concentration are grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) in nearly matched conditions on a proper buffer layer and annealed in ultra‐high vacuum (UHV). Low energy electron diffraction (LEED) shows that, following the As decapping, a 2 × 3/1 × 3 phase (Bi‐rich) is obtained after annealing the sample at 400 °C, while subsequent annealing at 450 °C yields a deterioration of the surface order. RAS spectra measured in situ allow to definitely confirm that the characteristic Bi‐dependent anisotropy measured below 2.5 eV has not a true surface origin, although being connected to the surface: it is related to the strain of the directional bonds between Bi atoms existing at the surface and below the surface. This result has a twofold significance: it recommends that previous attributions to the surface of RAS anisotropy features in III–V semiconductors should be in some cases revisited; for the future, it shows that RAS is suitable to characterize 2D‐layered materials, and to investigate the consequences of strain in the electronic properties of low‐dimensional systems.
Qubit unitary coupled cluster with generalized single and paired double excitations ansatz for variational quantum eigensolver
Authors: Xie Qing‐Xing , Zhang Wen‐gang , Xu Xu‐Sheng , Liu Sheng , Zhao Yan
Published: August 2022

Variational quantum eigensolver (VQE) with a unitary coupled cluster (UCC) ansatz has been suggested as a promising method for electronic structure calculations on future quantum computers. However, the complexity of the excitation terms for UCC with the single and double excitations (UCCSD) ansatz is up‐bounded to , where N is the number of electrons and M is the number of spin orbitals. The gate complexity of quantum circuit for the UCCSD ansatz is up‐bounded to using the Jordan–Wigner transformation. These complexities significantly limit the implementation of UCCSD on current Noisy Intermediate‐Scale Quantum (NISQ) devices. Herein, we developed a k‐QUpCCGSD ansatz which is based on the generalized paired double excitation operators and the particle preserving exchange gate. The former reduces the number of the excitation operators, the latter reduces the number of qubit gates for transforming excitation operators to quantum circuit. The gate complexity of the proposed k‐QUpCCGSD ansatz is up‐bounded to , which significantly reduce the complexity of the VQE algorithm on NISQ devices. The performance of the proposed ansatz on VQE is demonstrated by calculating ground‐state dissociation energy curves of the H6, LiH, H2O, and BeH2 molecules with the STO‐3G minimal basis set, and the accuracy is evaluated by comparing to the full configuration interaction (FCI) benchmarks. Moreover, we compare the number of quantum gates, especially the CNOT gates, and accuracies of various ansatzes. The assessments have shown that the accuracy of qubit unitary coupled cluster (QUCC) ansatzes is slightly worse than that of the UCC ones, but the circuit complexity of QUCC is much less than that of UCC. Among the tested QUCC ansatzes, k‐QUpCCGSD achieves higher accuracy with fewer quantum gates than QUCCSD, and k‐QUpCCGSD is a promising ansatz for VQE calculation on NISQ devices.
Single‐stage, three‐arm, adaptive test strategies for non‐inferiority trials with an unstable reference
Authors: Brannath Werner , Scharpenberg Martin , Schmidt Sylvia
Published: August 2022

For indications where only unstable reference treatments are available and use of placebo is ethically justified, three‐arm “gold standard” designs with an experimental, reference and placebo arm are recommended for non‐inferiority trials. In such designs, the demonstration of efficacy of the reference or experimental treatment is a requirement. They have the disadvantage that only little can be concluded from the trial if the reference fails to be efficacious. To overcome this, we investigate novel single‐stage, adaptive test strategies where non‐inferiority is tested only if the reference shows sufficient efficacy and otherwise ‐superiority of the experimental treatment over placebo is tested. With a properly chosen superiority margin, ‐superiority indirectly shows non‐inferiority. We optimize the sample size for several decision rules and find that the natural, data driven test strategy, which tests non‐inferiority if the reference's efficacy test is significant, leads to the smallest overall and placebo sample sizes. We proof that under specific constraints on the sample sizes, this procedure controls the family‐wise error rate. All optimal sample sizes are found to meet this constraint. We finally show how to account for a relevant placebo drop‐out rate in an efficient way and apply the new test strategy to a real life data set.
Versatile Applications Of Biopolymer Nanocomposites: A review
Authors: Althomali Raed H. , Alamry Khalid A. , Hussein Mahmoud A. , Tay Guan S.
Published: August 2022

Biopolymers having biodegradable and biocompatible characteristics have been gained a great interest of scientists for using various applications in the field of advanced sciences exclusively with nanotechnology of separation and purification field. Different exciting applications have been found in the versatile field including energy production, wastewater treatment, sensor development, food packaging and broadly in the biomedical sciences. Biopolymer can be applied to increase the capabilities of other bio‐active molecules in a material. Now dyes, scientists are concentrated for preparing more environment friendly nanomaterials and increasing attention for immobilizing of contaminates and adoption by using green chemistry approaches. This review has been summarized the vital applications of biopolymer and highlighted with their owned advantages and limitations of numerous field by reported studies. The possible mechanistic insights of diverse applications of biopolymers were discussed. This review has been finds the efficiencies of biopolymers in the major field of sciences and were considered as the outstanding materials due to their exciting physic‐chemical properties and other characteristics include eco‐friendly nature, low cost, nontoxic, high adsorption capacity and reusability. This review could be considered as a precious pathway for exploring more low‐cost, environmental friendly hybrid materials for versatile applications including water decontamination, sensing of targeted elements and other biomedical purposes, eventually the review will contribute to environmental remediation and purification applications of biomaterials.
A Green Approach for 1,2,3‐Triazole‐Fused Quinolinones via Metal‐Free Cascade [3+2] Cycloaddition/C‐N Coupling Reaction
Authors: Majeed Kashif , Zhou Fengtao , Liu Chaoyi , Guo Zijian , Dong Penghui , Zhang Qiuyu
Published: August 2022

A metal‐free cascade reaction of 1‐(8‐halonaphthalen‐1‐yl)prop‐2‐yn‐1‐ones with sodium azide has been developed for the construction of quinolinone fused triazole frameworks. The reaction proceeded smoothly via an intramolecular metal‐free version of the azide‐alkyne [3 + 2] cycloaddition. A variety of quinolinone fused triazole derivatives were prepared in good to excellent yields under metal‐free conditions. The practicality of this metal‐free protocol was further evaluated by gram scale synthesis of quinolinone fused triazole derivatives.
Amination of Ethylene Glycol to Ethylenediamine Catalyzed by Co‐Cu/γ‐Al2O3
Authors: An Hualiang , Li Jianpeng , Zheng Guangzong , Wang Guirong , Zhao Xinqiang , Wang Yanji
Published: August 2022

Ethylenediamine is an important organic chemical and commercially produced from non‐renewable starting material. In the present work, amination of ethylene glycol to ethylenediamine was studied using an aqueous ammonia as ammonia source. A series of supported bimetallic catalysts were prepared by impregnation method and characterized by means of H2‐TPR, H2‐TPD, XRD, XPS and N2 adsorption‐desorption. Their catalytic performance for amination of ethylene glycol was investigated and Co−Cu/γ‐Al2O3 catalyst exhibited high activity and good selectivity to ethylenediamine. There exists obvious interaction and synergistic effect between Cu and Co in Co−Cu/γ‐Al2O3 for lowering catalyst reduction temperature and improving catalytic performance separately. The selectivity of ethylenediamine and ethanolamine respectively attained 45.7 % and 23.7 % at an ethylene glycol conversion of 41.5 % under the suitable reaction conditions. On this basis, a majority of by‐products in the amination of ethylene glycol were identified by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry analysis and a reaction network was proposed.
Synthesis, Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity of Poloxamer‐Assisted Copper Nanoparticles: Investigating the Effects of Different Concentrations of Poloxamer 407
Authors: Patel Saurav S , Patel Hemil S , Kunjadiya Anju , Rao Vandana , Sharma Rakesh K
Published: August 2022

The development of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) with antimicrobial activities shows high potential for various clinical applications. We herein synthesized Poloxamer(P407)‐assisted CuNPs with improved oxidative stability using a simple process that included environment friendly Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) as a reducing agent and nontoxic P407 polymer as a stabilizing agent. To optimize the reducing agent, the effect of the molar ratio of ascorbic acid‐to‐Cu2+ salt was investigated through fluorescence measurements. The UV‐Visible spectrum presented that the inclusion of P407 improved the efficiency of CuNPs synthesis. In addition, DLS demonstrated that when the concentration of P407 was increased, the particle size of CuNPs was reduced. According to the XRD patterns, all the CuNPs are fcc‐structured and crystalline. The FE‐SEM and EDX images indicated the cubic morphology and the absence of any oxides of copper. The synthesized CuNPs have different particle sizes, showing strong antimicrobial activities against Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria as well as funguses. Our findings suggest that P407‐assisted CuNPs could be a new way to fight both human and plant pathogens.
Design of an Electrochemical Sensor for the Determination of Riboflavin using Cobalt Doped Dysprosium Oxide Nanocubes Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode
Authors: Sangavi Ravi , Keerthana Madhusuthanan , Pushpa Malini Thanikachallam
Published: August 2022

This study explains the synthesis of cobalt‐doped dysprosium oxide nanocubes (Co‐Dy2O3 NCs) and the modification of GCE (glassy carbon electrode), for the selective and sensitive detection of riboflavin (RF). The Co‐Dy2O3 NCs were synthesized by co‐precipitation method and characterized using spectroscopic and microscopic techniques like micro‐Raman Spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), X‐ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT‐IR), High‐Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), Energy‐Dispersive X‐ray Spectroscopy (EDX), and High Resolution Scanning Electron Microscopy (HRSEM). The synthesized Co‐Dy2O3 NCs were coated on the glassy carbon electrode to detect and quantify the concentration of riboflavin in aqueous and real samples. The samples were analyzed by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) techniques with three‐electrode system. The modified electrode displays two linear concentration ranges (0.5–50, 50–300 μM) with a low detection limit (LOD) of 0.094 μM and high sensitivity of 3.67 μA μM−1 cm−2. Besides, the fabricated sensor has more selectivity, great reproducibility, repeatability and good stability. Finally, the Co‐Dy2O3 NCs modified GCE based sensor was effectively applied in real sample analysis using milk and egg yolk with good recovery.
Synthesis and Application of 3‐Pyridinecarbaldehyde Immobilized on MCM‐41 for Trace Analysis and Preconcentration of Copper Ions in Different Water Samples
Authors: Jozdani Zahra Fathi , Hajiaghababaei Leila , Zarei Gholdasteh
Published: August 2022

Synthesis, characterization, and application of 3‐pyridinecarbaldehyde immobilized on MCM‐41 (Py−N‐MCM‐41) was studied. Trace analysis and pre‐concentration of copper ions in water samples was done by Py−N‐MCM‐41as an adsorbent prior to flame atomic absorption spectrometry. X‐ray diffraction of calcined MCM‐41 exhibited that is characteristic of the mesopores silica with hexagonal symmetric structure. Fourier transform infrared spectrum of the Py−N‐MCM‐41demonstrated the existence of functional groups and N2adsorption‐desorption showed Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller surface area of 770 m2 g−1and pore diameter of 2.42 nm. After 30 min stirring, Cu2+was extracted at pH 5–7. The highest adsorption capacity of the Py−N‐MCM‐41 was 135 μg mg−1. Based on the lowest quantity of acid to strip the ions from adsorbent, the technique's pre‐concentration factor was 30. The relative standard deviation (C=40 ng mL−1, n=5) was 2.9 % and detection limit was 1.6 ng mL−1. An acceptable consistency was observed between the measured amounts of Cu2+by the thermal and proposed pre‐concentration approaches in different water samples, suggesting high accuracy of the technique.
Selective CO2 Adsorption at Low Pressure in Nitrogen‐Rich Copper(II) Coordination Polymers
Authors: Martins Daniel Oliveira Tavares Alves , Freitas Rafael Sá , Da Costa Ferreira Ana Maria
Published: August 2022

Herein, a series of polymeric copper(II) complexes were obtained using four different triazoles: 3‐amino‐1,2,4‐triazole (HL1), 3,5‐diamino‐1,2,4‐triazole (HL2), 3‐amino‐1,2,4‐triazole‐5‐carboxylic acid (H2L3) and 1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐carboxylic acid (H2L4); through solvothermal conditions, under controlled pressure and high temperature, following usual procedures described in the literature. These triazoles were chosen to exploit their different coordination modes to copper(II) metal centres to obtain interesting structures and varied gas adsorption selectivity. The isolated materials were characterized by common spectroscopic techniques (IR, diffuse reflectance UV‐Vis, EPR), CHN analyses, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analyses, and SQUID magnetometry to give an insight into their structure and composition. Besides, they had their BET surface area determined by nitrogen adsorption‐desorption isotherms, to assess their porosity. At last, their capacity to adsorb carbon dioxide selectively was also evaluated, in line with those reported for similar systems in the literature. Although having small surface area, these compounds are able to adsorb CO2 selectively at very low pressure (under 600 mbar).
Preparation of an Ionic Liquid Based on Polystyrene Microspheres to Catalyze the Conversion of Furfuryl Alcohol to Ethyl Levulinate
Authors: Hu Aiyun , Wang Haijun , Ding Jian
Published: August 2022

Exhaustion of petroleum resources is seriously accelerating, hence, it is crucial to find renewable energies and change the global energy consumption structure. Biomass energy is the only carbon ‐ containing energy currently available and is irreplaceable in the preparation of fuels and chemicals. This study focuses on the transformation of furfuryl alcohol to ethyl levulinic acid ester using our prepared catalyst consisting of ionic liquid on polystyrene microspheres. The catalyst was characterized by IR, TG, XRD, BET and XPS techniques. In the presence of our catalyst, the conversion of furfuryl alcohol and ethyl levulinic acid yield was 98.54 % and 92.41 %, respectively. Repeated experiments showed that the acidic sites on the catalyst were occupied, slightly decreasing catalytic performance. However, after soaking and washing in concentrated sulfuric acid the catalytic activity was recovered, indicating immobilization on catalyst's surface and its stability during the reaction.
Highly Conductive and Mechanically Robust NiFe Alloy Aerogels: An Exceptionally Active and Durable Water Oxidation Catalyst
Authors: Liang Caiwu , Pan Weisheng , Zou Peichao , Liu Peng , Liu Kangwei , Zhao Guangyao , Fan Hong Jin , Yang Cheng
Published: August 2022

Poor stability of nanostructured electrocatalysts at rigorous industrial conditions significantly inhibits their performances in practical electrolyzers. Although many substrate‐supported nanostructured electrocatalysts present attractive performance at small currents, they cannot sustain industry‐level high current densities for long‐term operation. Herein, by chemically organizing nanoscale electrocatalysts into a macroscopic substrate‐free metallic alloy aerogel, this NiFe‐based nano‐catalyst achieves 1000‐h durability at industrial‐level current densities, with exceptionally high activities of 500 mA at the overpotential of only 281 mV. This NiFe alloy aerogel is constructed by a magnetic‐field assisted growth and assembly of ferromagnetic NiFe nanoparticles, in which nanowires are loosely crosslinked by metallic joints. This alloy aerogel shows a high electric conductivity of 500 S m−1, structural stability for more than 1.5 years in alkaline electrolyte, and almost complete recovery after compression exceeding 50% strain for 1000 cycles. The excellent mechanical stability of this metallic aerogel behaves as the key contributor to the superior electrocatalytic stability under industrially relevant conditions. This work offers a paradigm for electrode design for the practical application of nano‐catalysts in industrial alkaline water electrolysis.
Statistical consulting in the healthcare professions: A model of student‐led consulting services
Authors: Kaseda Erin T. , Graupman Emily E. , Vincent Samuel , Faith Reid , Howe Meghan M. , Dykins Madison , Beussink Courtney N. , Khan Aaminah , Grotkowski Karolina , Miller Steven A.
Published: August 2022

Statistical consulting is a common and vital activity undertaken by those with advanced statistical training but may not be widely available to health professionals and trainees without access to dedicated statistical consulting cores. Here, we present a novel model of statistical consulting used by a student chapter of the American Statistical Association housed in a graduate health professions university. This student‐led organization provides statistical consulting services for faculty, staff and students university‐wide. Information on the methods of advertising consulting services, the role of a professional statistician faculty advisor, resources available to consultants and university community members and the ways in which consulting services were adapted to address the barriers introduced by the COVID‐19 pandemic are addressed. Data from 108 consults performed over the past two and a half years with 88 different consultees are analysed and discussed. This article outlines an innovative model of student‐led statistical consultation for healthcare professionals and trainees and aims to provide a template for future student‐led organizations who similarly aim to perform university statistical consultations.
Pancreatic enzyme treatment in chronic pancreatitis: Quality of management and adherence to guidelines–A cross‐sectional observational study
Authors: Erchinger Friedemann , Tjora Erling , Nordaas Ingrid Kvåle , Dimcevski Georg , Olesen Søren Schou , Jensen Nanna , Dahl Eva Efsen , Borch Anders , Nøjgaard Camilla , Novovic Srdan , Barauskas Giedrus , Ignatavicius Povilas , Vujasinovic Miroslav , Lőhr Matthias , Laukkarinen Johanna , Parhiala Mikael , Drewes Asbjørn Mohr , Engjom Trond
Published: August 2022

Objectives

Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) is a common complication in patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP), leading to increased morbidity and mortality if not treated adequately. Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy|pancreas enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) is the cornerstone in treatment of patients with PEI. In the present study, we use data from the Scandinavian Baltic Pancreatic Club database to examine adherence of PERT according to United European Gastroenterology evidence‐based guidelines treatment of CP.

Patients and methods

Patients with definitive or probable CP according to M‐ANNHEIM diagnostic criteria were included. We collected information on exposures, exocrine function, intake of pancreatic enzymes, and markers of nutrition. Fecal elastase <200 μg/g was defined as a marker for PEI. Enzyme replacement therapy of 100,000 lipase units or more was defined as adequate treatment.

Results

We included 1006 patients from 8 centers in five countries. Sixty‐four percent of the patients were correctly treated. Twenty‐five per cent of PEI patients were not taking enzymes at all, and 20% of PEI patients were undertreated with insufficient PERT doses according to the guidelines. Fourteen percent of patients with sufficient pancreatic function were receiving enzymes despite normal exocrine pancreatic function. There were center differences. Current smoking was associated with lack of treatment and alcohol abuse was associated with under‐treatment. There were no associations between “no treatment” or “under‐treatment” for underweight or vitamin D deficiency.

Conclusion

In our CP expert centers, the adherence to guidelines for enzyme treatment is insufficient. Both patient factors and center differences have influence on treatment adherence.
Metrics as tools for bridging climate science and applications
Authors: Reed Kevin A. , Goldenson Naomi , Grotjahn Richard , Gutowski William J. , Jagannathan Kripa , Jones Andrew D. , Leung L. Ruby , McGinnis Seth A. , Pryor Sara C. , Srivastava Abhishekh K. , Ullrich Paul A. , Zarzycki Colin M.
Published: August 2022

In climate science and applications, the term “metric” is used to describe the distillation of complex, multifaceted evaluations to summarize the overall quality of a model simulation, or other data product, and/or as a means to quantify some response to climate change. Metrics provide insights into the fidelity of processes and outcomes from climate models and can assist with both differentiating models' representation of variables or processes and informing whether models are “fit for purpose.” Metrics can also provide a valuable reference point for co‐production of knowledge between climate scientists and climate impact practitioners. Although continued metric developments enable model developers to better understand the impacts of decisions made in the model design process, metrics also have implications for the characterization of uncertainty and facilitating analyses of underlying physical processes. As a result, comprehensive evaluation with multiple metrics enhances usability of climate information by both scientific and stakeholder communities. This paper presents examples of insights gained from the development and appropriate use of metrics, and provides examples of how metrics can be used to engage with stakeholders and inform decision‐making.

This article is categorized under:

Climate Models and Modeling > Knowledge Generation with Models

The Social Status of Climate Change Knowledge > Climate Science and Decision Making

Assessing Impacts of Climate Change > Evaluating Future Impacts of Climate Change
A review of air travel behavior and climate change
Authors: Gössling Stefan , Dolnicar Sara
Published: August 2022

Air transport challenges the world's net‐zero carbon ambitions. The sector has consistently grown and causes warming as a result of both CO2 and other, short‐lived emissions. Two principal solutions have been proposed to reduce the contribution of aviation to climate change: innovations of technology and the development of interventions to trigger behavioral change. Technological innovations include new propulsion technologies and the use of sustainable aviation fuels. Behavioral change includes flight avoidance, substitution with other means of transport, the choice of efficient flight options, and carbon offsetting. This article focuses on behavior; it offers an overview of factors that lead to consumers traveling by air and discusses demand distribution complexities. The importance of price for air travel decisions is assessed, and evidence of travel “wants” are contrasted with “needs,” the latter investigated in light of the COVID‐19 pandemic. The review of relevant scholarly work culminates in an action list enabling air travelers, policy makers, the aviation industry, researchers and society to meaningfully advance low‐carbon air transport trajectories.

This article is categorized under:

Perceptions, Behavior, and Communication of Climate Change > Behavior Change and Responses

The Carbon Economy and Climate Mitigation > Policies, Instruments, Lifestyles, Behavior
Mechanisms of RNA export and nuclear retention
Authors: Khan Misbah , Hou Shuai , Chen Mo , Lei Haixin
Published: August 2022

With the identification of huge amount of noncoding RNAs in recent years, the concept of RNA localization has extended from traditional mRNA export to RNA export of mRNA and ncRNA as well as nuclear retention of ncRNA. This review aims to summarize the recent findings from studies on the mechanisms of export of different RNAs and nuclear retention of some lncRNAs in higher eukaryotes, with a focus on splicing‐dependent TREX recruitment for the export of spliced mRNA and the sequence‐dependent mechanism of mRNA export in the absence of splicing. In addition, evidence to support the involvement of m6A modification in RNA export with the coordination between the methylase complex and TREX complex as well as sequence‐dependent nuclear retention of lncRNA is recapitulated. Finally, a model of sequence‐dependent RNA localization is proposed along with the many questions that remain to be answered.

This article is categorized under:

RNA Export and Localization > RNA Localization

RNA Export and Localization > Nuclear Export/Import
Metal‐Organic Framework with High Densities of Open Metal Sites for Efficient Separation of Propylene from Propane
Authors: Wang Xue , Yong Jiayi , Wang Bo , Chen Jiazhen , Zhou Yitong , Cai Youlie , Gao Junkuo
Published: August 2022

The separation of propylene/propane (C3H6/C3H8) is a critical yet challenging process owing to their similar physical properties and molecular size. So it's urgent to explore efficient porous adsorbents to take place of the energy‐intensive consumption and high cost of traditional cryogenic distillation technologies. Here, we report a mixed metal‐organic framework (M'MOF), [Fe(pyz)Pt(CN)4] (FePt‐M'MOF, pyz=pyrazine) for selective adsorptive separation of C3H6/C3H8at room temperature, which has multiple functional sites and optimized pore channels of about 4.0 Å. This MOF has an excellent separation performance with C3H6uptake of 47.4 cm3/g and a high C3H6/C3H8selectivity of 4.7 under ambient conditions. The separation performance of propylene in this material is driven by π‐π stacking and multiple intermolecular interactions between propylene molecules and the binding sites of FePt‐M'MOF. This material can be prepared at room temperature and is stable in water, providing potential applications for industrial C3H6/C3H8separation.
Five psychological principles of codesigning conservation with (not for) communities
Authors: Cranston Kayla A. , Wong Wei Ying , Knowlton Shareen , Bennett Curtis , Rivadeneira Shannen
Published: August 2022

A growing number of environmental professionals are realizing that equitable and meaningful engagement of local community members in the development of programming is essential for catalyzing the durable, long‐term action needed to conserve wildlife. Many who attempt to codesign programs with (not for) communities find that choosing the most effective strategies to accomplish this task is crucial and can oftentimes feel daunting. In this paper, a validated psychometric instrument called the Five Factors of Sustained Engagement (Five Factors) was used to analyze community engagement projects from two AZA‐accredited institutions, highlighting how the leaders of each project believe they have fostered each factor in their projects. Professionals can use the Five Factors as guideposts and evaluation criteria to increase the long‐term motivation of community members to engage in conservation efforts over time. The discussion offers strategies that psychological research has shown to increase long‐term motivation for wildlife conservation and suggest how to implement them in the codesign of conservation programming with the communities that are impacted by it the most. Together, this synthesis offers an innovative, psychology‐based approach to fostering and evaluating the success of sustainable community engagement for conservation Wildlife conservation projects are rarely su long‐term engagement from the humans who are most impacted by those projects.
Street Vending in Downtown Rabat: In Resistance to Imported Urban Models
Authors: Bouallala Wafae
Published: August 2022

In recent years street vending has become a major feature of the public space in downtown Rabat, Morocco’s capital city. Home to the Parliament and governmental institutions, downtown Rabat holds a powerful political symbolism in the collective representation of its inhabitants. Street vending is thus considered an intruder activity that must be banned from the area. However, history describes the downtown as a commercial zone where open-air markets—called Souks—were held regularly alongside brick-and-mortar shops before the advent of The French Protectorate in 1912, which transformed it into a “European zone” with a new “modern-formal” economy, pushing the local population to dwell in informal settlements and live from informal economy on the outskirts of the city. Through a historical analysis of the evolution of the downtown’s public space use induced by the French urban laws and models, and perpetuated by the Moroccan policies after independence, this chapter argues that itinerant trade belongs to the downtown as a central function and key element of its urban dynamics that has been disrupted by alien policies. This study makes an original contribution by evaluating the impact of colonial urban policies on urban informality in the Moroccan context. Results suggest that street vending, now considered as misappropriation of space by authorities, could be considered as a form of resistance to imported planning models and that efficient urban interventions depend on an in-depth understanding of rooted local urban design.
Contributions of Local Authorities to Community Adaptive Capacity to Impacts of Climate Change; A Case Study of Sea Level Rise in Pangani Division, Pangani District
Authors: Magembe-Mushi Dawah , Matingas Ramadhani
Published: August 2022

Communities around the world are facing tremendous climate change impacts, among others, sea level rise. Local authorities try to respond to the impacts of climate change by implementing localised adaptive measures to improve capacity. Impacts of climate change are worse in developing countries especially the Sub-Saharans due to inabilities to implement adaptive measures with inadequate resources; hence hindering the ability of communities to adapt to the impacts of climate change. It is the purpose of this chapter to explore the contributions of a local authority as one of the corresponding authorities responsible for enhancing a community’s adaptive capacity and its behaviour to climate change impacts. Interviews, mapping, observation and photographing, were conducted in the Pangani division in Tanzania. SPSS and QGIS software were used for analysis. It was found that sea level rise caused communities to suffer beach erosion, land inundation, saltwater intrusion, changes in fish availability, destruction of infrastructure and vegetation. The local authority implemented localised adaptive measures which improved adaptive capacity. These measures included construction and maintenance of seawall, planting and protecting mangroves and preparation of land-use plans. Also, an institutional arrangement involved different departments, committees and the community at large, with actors collaborating through the local authority in developing community adaptive capacity. This chapter recommends that the local authority should; enhance coordination among actors, make use of spatial analysis tools, mobilise resources and enhance community participation.
The spacetime geometry of fixed-area states in gravitational systems
Authors: Dong Xi , Marolf Donald , Rath Pratik , Tajdini Amirhossein , Wang Zhencheng
Published: August 2022

Abstract

The concept of fixed-area states has proven useful for recent studies of quantum gravity, especially in connection with gravitational holography. We explore the Lorentz-signature spacetime geometry intrinsic to such fixed-area states in this paper. This contrasts with previous treatments which focused instead on Euclidean-signature saddles for path integrals that prepare such states. We analyze general features of fixed-area state geometries and construct explicit examples. The spacetime metrics are real at real times and have no conical singularities. With enough symmetry the classical metrics are in fact smooth, though more generally their curvatures feature power-law divergences along null congruences launched orthogonally from the fixed-area surface. While we argue that such divergences are not problematic at the classical level, quantum fields in fixed-area states feature stronger divergences. At the quantum level we thus expect fixed-area states to be well-defined only when the fixed-area surface is appropriately smeared.
Visualizing the Domino-Like Prepore-to-Pore Transition of Streptolysin O by High-Speed AFM
Authors: Ariyama Hirotaka
Published: August 2022

Pore-forming proteins (PFPs) are produced by various organisms, including pathogenic bacteria, and form pores within the target cell membrane. Streptolysin O (SLO) is a PFP produced by Streptococcus pyogenes and forms high-order oligomers on the membrane surface. In this prepore state, multiple α-helices in domain 3 of each subunit exist as unfolded structures and transiently interact with each other. They subsequently transition into transmembrane β-hairpins (TMHs) and form pores with diameters of 20–30 nm. However, in this pore formation process, the trigger of the transition in a subunit and collaboration between subunits remains elusive. Here, I observed the dynamic pore formation process using high-speed atomic force microscopy. During the oligomer transition process, each subunit was sequentially inserted into the membrane, propagating along the oligomer in a domino-like fashion (chain reaction). This process also occurred on hybrid oligomers containing wildtype and mutant subunits, which cannot insert into the membrane because of an introduced disulfide bond. Furthermore, propagation still occurred when an excessive force was added to hybrid oligomers in the prepore state. Based on the observed chain reactions, I estimate the free energies and forces that trigger the transition in a subunit. Furthermore, I hypothesize that the collaboration between subunits is related to the structure of their TMH regions and interactions between TMH–TMH and TMH–lipid molecules.

Graphical Abstract
How do providers of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions propose and legitimize the values of their solutions for supporting diagnostic radiology workflow? A technography study in 2021
Authors: Mehrizi Mohammad H. Rezazade , Gerritsen Simon H. , de Klerk Wouter M. , Houtschild Chantal , Dinnessen Silke M. H. , Zhao Luna , van Sommeren Rik , Zerfu Abby
Published: August 2022

Objectives

How do providers of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions propose and legitimize the values of their solutions for supporting diagnostic radiology workflow?

Methods

We systematically analyze 393 AI applications developed for supporting diagnostic radiology workflow. We collected qualitative and quantitative data by analyzing around 1250 pages of documents retrieved from companies’ websites and legal documents. Five investigators read and interpreted collected data, extracted the features and functionalities of the AI applications, and finally entered them into an excel file for identifying the patterns.

Results

Over the last 2 years, we see an increase in the number of AI applications (43%) and number of companies offering them (34%), as well as their average age (45%). Companies claim various value propositions related to increasing the “efficiency” of radiology work (18%)—e.g., via reducing the time and cost of performing tasks and reducing the work pressure—and “quality” of offering medical services (31%)—e.g., via enhancing the quality of clinical decisions and enhancing the quality of patient care, or both of them (28%). To legitimize and support their value propositions, the companies use multiple strategies simultaneously, particularly by seeking legal approvals (72%), promoting their partnership with medical and academic institutions (75%), highlighting the expertise of their teams (56%), and showcasing examples of implementing their solutions in practice (53%).

Conclusions

Although providers of AI applications claim a wide range of value propositions, they often provide limited evidence to show how their solutions deliver such systematic values in clinical practice.

Key Points

• AI applications in radiology continue to grow in number and diversity.

• Companies offering AI applications claim various value propositions and use multiple ways to legitimize these propositions.

• Systematic scientific evidence showing the actual effectiveness of AI applications in clinical context is limited.