bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oxygen Reduction Reaction Catalysed by Supported Nanoparticles: Advancements and Challenges
Authors: Patowary Suranjana , Chetry Rashmi , Goswami Chiranjita , Chutia Bhugendra , Bharali Pankaj
Published: December 2021

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is one of the fundamental reactions that occur on the cathode of fuel cells. The sluggish kinetics of ORR and the high cost of the conventionally used ORR electrocatalyst mandate extensive research towards the development of inexpensive, high‐performance and stable electrocatalysts. Various supported nanostructures of pristine noble metals and its alloys, transition metals/metal oxides (MOs), chalcogens/pnictogens doped metals/MOs, etc. have attracted great attention towards ORR in both acidic and alkaline electrolytes. This review primarily documents the recent advancements and challenges of supported nanomaterials with fascinating properties towards ORR. This study focuses on the use of carbon‐based materials as support. The significant factors like size, morphology, hetero‐atom doping, defects and interfaces (metal/metal, metal/oxide and metal/hydroxide) that can tailor ORR activity are portrayed elaborately. The electrochemical techniques and parameters that are adopted mainly during data collection and evaluation of ORR are also discussed.
Green Synthesis of Self‐Supported Ni−Fe Oxyhydroxide Pagoda‐Shaped Nanocone Arrays for Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Chen Qi , Wang Jiayi , Yu Kaishan , Xu Ziyi , Sheng Xiangxiang , Shen Junyu , Zhang Qijian , Liu Wanhui
Published: December 2021

Nowadays, stainless steel (SS) based electrode has gained extensive interest for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) owing to its low‐cost and high efficiency. However, the problem of hazardous Cr dissolving out from the SS during the surface treatment needs to be solved urgently. Herein, we report a kind of self‐supported Ni−Fe oxyhydroxide pagoda‐shaped nanocone array prepared through an environmentally friendly method, which can be developed as an electrocatalyst for OER with low overpotential, small Tafel slope, and good stability under alkaline condition. This route ensures good catalytic performance of the prepared electrode and eliminates the leach of Cr ion at the same time.
MOF‐Stabilized Perfluorinated Palladium Cages Catalyze the Additive‐Free Aerobic Oxidation of Aliphatic Alcohols to Acids
Authors: Greco Rossella , Tiburcio‐Fortes Estefania , Fernandez Antonio , Marini Carlo , Vidal‐Moya Alejandro , Oliver‐Meseguer Judit , Armentano Donatella , Pardo Emilio , Ferrando‐Soria Jesús , Leyva‐Pérez Antonio
Published: December 2021

Extremely high electrophilic metal complexes, composed by a metal cation and very electron poor σ‐donor ancillary ligands, are expected to be privileged catalysts for oxidation reactions in organic chemistry. However, their low lifetime prevents any use in catalysis. Here we show the synthesis of fluorinated pyridine‐Pd2+ coordinate cages within the channels of an anionic tridimensional metal‐organic framework (MOF), and their use as efficient metal catalysts for the aerobic oxidation of aliphatic alcohols to carboxylic acids without any additive. Mechanistic studies strongly support that the MOF‐stabilized coordination cage with perfluorinated ligands unleashes the full electrophilic potential of Pd2+ to dehydrogenate primary alcohols, without any base, and also to activate O2 for the radical oxidation to the aldehyde intermediate. This study opens the door to design catalytic perfluorinated complexes for challenging organic transformations, where an extremely high electrophilic metal site is required.
Species boundaries in the messy middle—A genome‐scale validation of species delimitation in a recently diverged lineage of coastal fog desert lichen fungi
Authors: Jorna Jesse , Linde Jackson B. , Searle Peter C. , Jackson Abigail C. , Nielsen Mary‐Elise , Nate Madeleine S. , Saxton Natalie A. , Grewe Felix , Herrera‐Campos María de los Angeles , Spjut Richard W. , Wu Huini , Ho Brian , Lumbsch H. Thorsten , Leavitt Steven D.
Published: December 2021

Species delimitation among closely related species is challenging because traditional phenotype‐based approaches, for example, using morphology, ecological, or chemical characteristics, may not coincide with natural groupings. With the advent of high‐throughput sequencing, it has become increasingly cost‐effective to acquire genome‐scale data which can resolve previously ambiguous species boundaries. As the availability of genome‐scale data has increased, numerous species delimitation analyses, such as BPP and SNAPP+Bayes factor delimitation (BFD*), have been developed to delimit species boundaries. However, even empirical molecular species delimitation approaches can be biased by confounding evolutionary factors, for example, hybridization/introgression and incomplete lineage sorting, and computational limitations. Here, we investigate species boundaries and the potential for micro‐endemism in a lineage of lichen‐forming fungi, Niebla Rundel & Bowler, in the family Ramalinaceae by analyzing single‐locus and genome‐scale data consisting of (a) single‐locus species delimitation analysis using ASAP, (b) maximum likelihood‐based phylogenetic tree inference, (c) genome‐scale species delimitation models, e.g., BPP and SNAPP+BFD, and (d) species validation using the genealogical divergence index (gdi). We specifically use these methods to cross‐validate results between genome‐scale and single‐locus datasets, differently sampled subsets of genomic data and to control for population‐level genetic divergence. Our species delimitation models tend to support more speciose groupings that were inconsistent with traditional taxonomy, supporting a hypothesis of micro‐endemism, which may include morphologically cryptic species. However, the models did not converge on robust, consistent species delimitations. While the results of our analysis are somewhat ambiguous in terms of species boundaries, they provide a valuable perspective on how to use these empirical species delimitation methods in a nonmodel system. This study thus highlights the challenges inherent in delimiting species, particularly in groups such as Niebla, with complex, relatively recent phylogeographic histories.
Corporate failure prediction using threshold‐based models
Authors: Veganzones David
Published: December 2021

Corporate failure prediction literature indicates that models' performance depends on more than the complexity of the prediction method. Recent advances cite the relevance of sampling approaches to model performance. Therefore, this study proposes a novel approach that implements threshold models for corporate failure prediction efforts. Threshold models estimate asymptotically conservative confidence regions, in which the samples are split by size. Then, single‐based classifiers and a combination of multiple classifiers are employed in each region to estimate the prediction accuracy. This article offers a comparison of the proposed threshold‐based corporate failure model with two benchmark models, previously used in studies in the same context. The empirical results show that the proposed threshold‐based model clearly outperforms conventional models, in particular with the combination of multiple classifiers. The superiority of the threshold‐based model stems from its ability to discern failed firms, which represent the most important class in financial terms. This study thus provides initial evidence of the utility of threshold models in corporate failure prediction efforts.
Stereotactic radiotherapy as planned boost after definitive radiotherapy for head and neck cancers: Systematic review
Authors: Kim Michael S. , Malik Nauman H. , Chen Hanbo , Poon Ian , Husain Zain , Eskander Antoine , Boldt Gabriel , Louie Alexander V. , Karam Irene
Published: December 2021

Management of locoregionally advanced head and neck cancers (HNCs) remains a challenge. Some groups have attempted to use stereotactic radiotherapy (SBRT) to deliver “boost” treatment following conventional radiotherapy to improve local control (LC) and overall survival (OS), while aiming for acceptable toxicities. Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were queried for SBRT as curative‐intent planned boost in HNC after conventional radiotherapy. Individual studies were reviewed from inception until January 2021, extracting patient, treatment, and outcome data. Nine studies met inclusion criteria, representing 454 unique patients treated with curative intent across multiple head and neck sites with conventional radiotherapy. At 3 years, median LC was 92% (90%–98%), and median OS was 80% (75%–91%). Seven treatment‐related grade 5 toxicities (1.5%) were reported. Despite acceptable LC and OS rates, there were severe treatment‐related late toxicities. As such, SBRT boost should only be used in investigational settings until more data is available.
Heavy metals exposure is associated with early liver dysfunction among rural residents aged 40–75 years in southwest China
Authors: Yang Zhirui , Li Xiaomeng , Tian Lin , Song Yang , Zhang Yu , Chen Jinyao , Zhang Lishi
Published: December 2021

Heavy metals exposure has been associated with liver dysfunction in recent reports, while the hepatoxicity of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) has been well established. However, the combined effects of multi‐metal in real‐world scenario on liver dysfunction are still unclear. This cross‐sectional study examined associations between 10 biomarkers of early liver injury and multiple heavy metals levels. The levels of heavy metals/metalloid (magnesium [Mg], calcium [Ca], iron [Fe], zinc [Zn], arsenic [As], Cd, copper [Cu], and Pb) were measured in blood and urinary sample collected from 725 participants in a Cd‐polluted area and an unpolluted area in southwest China. The early liver dysfunction biomarkers included the liver enzymes (ALT, ALP, AST, and GGT), proteins (TP, ALB, and GLO), and bilirubin (TBIL, DBIL, and IBIL). Confounder‐adjusted beta coefficients were determined using multiple linear regression model analysis for the group‐classified and gender‐classified samples. Our results showed that blood Fe, Cd, and Cu levels were found to be positively related to elevated ALT levels and blood Cu was positively associated with AST levels in the Cd‐polluted area, while the highest blood Zn quartile in the polluted area and blood Mg quartile in the unpolluted area were associated with lower ALT levels. Our finding implies that industrial pollution results in heavy metals of Cd and Pb exposure and effects of Fe, Cd, Cu, and Pb in the Cd‐polluted area may be the main contributors to increase the risk of liver dysfunction while Zn in the Cd‐polluted area and Mg in the unpolluted area may be the protective factors.
Reversal of cisplatin resistance by neferine/isoliensinine and their combinatorial regimens with cisplatin‐induced apoptosis in cisplatin‐resistant colon cancer stem cells (CSCs)
Authors: Manogaran Prasath , Somasundaram Bharath , Viswanadha Vijaya Padma
Published: December 2021

Cisplatin chemotherapy to the colorectal cancer cells (CRCs) is accompanied by dose‐limiting adverse effects along with the acquisition of drug resistance implicating low therapeutic outcomes. The present study is aimed to evaluate the chemosensitizing efficacy of neferine/isoliensinine or combinatorial regimen of neferine/isoliensinine with cisplatin against CSCs (cisplatin resistant colon stem cells). CSCs were developed using pulse exposure of cisplatin to parental HCT‐15 cells. Neferine/isoliensinine or combinatorial regimens of Neferine/isoliensinine and cisplatin exhibited a stronger cytotoxic activity against CSCs compared to control. IC50 doses were found to be 6.5 μM for neferine, 12.5 μM for isoliensinine, and 120 μM for cisplatin respectively. Furthermore, the combinatorial regimen of a low dose of cisplatin (40 μM) with 4 μM neferine/8 μM isoliensinine induced cell death in a synergistic manner as described by isobologram. Neferine/isoliensinine could confer extensive intracellular reactive oxygen species generation in CSCs. Neferine/isoliensinine or combinatorial regimens dissipated mitochondrial membrane potential and enhanced intracellular [Ca2+]i, which were measured by spectroflurimetry. Furthermore, these combinatorial regimens induced a significant increase in the sub G0 phase of cell cycle arrest and PI uptake and alleviated the expression of ERCC1 in CSCs. Combinatorial regimens or neferine/isoliensinine treatments downregulated the cell survival protein expression (PI3K/pAkt/mTOR) and activated mitochondria‐mediated apoptosis by upregulating Bax, cytochrome c, caspase‐3, and PARP cleavage expression while downregulating the BCl‐2 expression in CSCs. Our study confirms the chemosensitizing efficacy of neferine/isoliensinine or combinatorial regimens of neferine/isoliensinine with a low dose of cisplatin against CSCs.
Cholesterol absorption blocker ezetimibe prevents muscle wasting in severe dysferlin‐deficient and mdx mice
Authors: White Zoe , Theret Marine , Milad Nadia , Tung Lin Wei , Chen William Wei‐Han , Sirois Martin G. , Rossi Fabio , Bernatchez Pascal
Published: December 2021

Background

Muscular dystrophy (MD) causes muscle wasting and is often lethal in patients due to a lack of proven therapies. In contrast, mouse models of MD are notoriously mild. We have previously shown severe human‐like muscle pathology in mdx [Duchenne MD (DMD)] and dysferlin‐deficient limb‐girdle MD type 2B (LGMD2B) mice by inactivating the gene encoding for apolipoprotein E (ApoE), a lipid transporter synthesized by the liver, brain and adipocytes to regulate lipid and fat metabolism. Having recently established that human DMD is a novel type of primary genetic dyslipidaemia with elevated cholesterol, we sought to determine whether cholesterol could exacerbate the muscle wasting process observed in severe rodent MD.

Methods

Severe mdx and dysferlin knock‐out mice lacking ApoE were treated with ezetimibe (15 mg/kg/day), a clinically approved drug exhibiting few pleiotropic effects. In separate studies, dietary cholesterol was raised (from 0.2% to 2% cholesterol) in combination with experimental micro‐injury and direct cholesterol injection assays. Muscles were assessed histologically for changes in collagen and adipocyte infiltration and both transcriptomic and cellular changes by RNA‐seq and fluorescence‐activated cell sorting analysis.

Results

Treatment of severe DMD and LGMD2B mice with ezetimibe completely prevented clinical signs of ambulatory dysfunction (0% incidence vs. 33% for vehicle treatment; P < 0.05). Histological analyses revealed that ezetimibe‐reduced fibro‐fatty infiltration up to 84% and 63% in severely affected triceps (P ≤ 0.0001) and gastrocnemius (P ≤ 0.003) muscles, resulting in a respective 1.9‐fold and 2.2‐fold retention of healthy myofibre area (P ≤ 0.0001). Additionally, raising dietary cholesterol and thus concentrations of plasma low‐density lipoprotein‐associated cholesterol (by 250%; P < 0.0001) reduced overall survivability (by 100%; P < 0.001) and worsened muscle damage in the LGMD2B triceps by 767% (P < 0.03). Micro‐pin‐induced mechanical injury in LGMD2B mice fed a high cholesterol diet exacerbated muscle damage by 425% (P < 0.03) and increased macrophage recruitment (by 98%; P = 0.03) compared with those injured on a chow diet. Parallel RNA‐seq analyses revealed that injury in cholesterol‐fed mice also modulated the expression of 3671 transcripts (1953 up‐regulated), with fibrogenic, inflammatory and programmed cell death‐associated pathways among the most enriched. Mice lacking dysferlin also displayed heightened muscle necrosis (by 123%; P < 0.0001) following a direct intramuscular injection of cholesterol compared with control mice.

Conclusions

Cholesterol exacerbates rodent MD. Specific inhibition of cholesterol absorption with ezetimibe may safely attenuate human MD severity and delay death.
Influence of preceding North Atlantic Oscillation on the spring precipitation in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River valley
Authors: Han Jinping , Zhang Renhe
Published: December 2021

The relationship between the spring precipitation in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River valley and the North Atlantic Oscillation in the preceding winter is investigated based on data diagnosis. Through affecting the dynamics and thermodynamics in near‐surface atmosphere over Eurasia, the North Atlantic Oscillation in January can exert significant influence on the Eurasian snow cover to form a dipole pattern of snow anomalies. The dipole pattern of snow anomalies stimulates the Rossby wave train in the middle and high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere in the following spring. Two activity centres associated with the wave train, one in the middle latitudes of Northwest Pacific with an anomalous anticyclone circulation and another in Mongolia with an anomalous cyclone circulation, bring the water vapour from the south and converge over the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, resulting in the excessive precipitation over there. The results indicate that the North Atlantic Oscillation in January can act as a precursor signal for predicting the spring rainfall anomalies in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.
Variations in the probability distribution function of air temperature anomalies in winter and summer from 1961 to 2016 over China
Authors: Wu Guocan , Tian Yuan , Gong Fang , Du Jizeng , Shi Chunming
Published: December 2021

The rising of near‐surface air temperature is the most obvious manifestation of global warming. The analysis of the probability distribution function (PDF) of temperature can deep our understanding of the current characteristics of climate and extreme temperature changes. In this study, the daily maximum, minimum and mean temperature observations from meteorological stations are analysed to construct the temperature anomaly PDF during 1961–2016 over China. The skewness and kurtosis of the PDF are compared between the 1961–1990 and 1991–2016 periods. The non‐Gaussian tails of the PDF are also identified to qualify the deviation of the temperature probability density curve. The results show that near‐surface air temperature in China increased during the recent decades. The daily minimum temperature increased more than the daily maximum temperature did, while the temperature increase in winter was larger than that in summer. The largest increase detected was 1.29°C for the daily minimum temperature in winter, contrasting with the smallest increase of 0.51°C recorded for the daily minimum temperature in summer between the two study periods. The temperature anomaly PDF generally presented a positive skewness in winter and a slightly negative skewness in summer. Obvious non‐Gaussian tails in the temperature anomaly PDF were present in the majority of the study sites. Most areas showed a short cold tail in winter (except for southwestern China), and long cold tails were mainly observed in summer. These results can improve our understanding of the variation of extreme temperatures, and of the responses to global warming.
Micro‐Raman spectroscopy and complementary techniques for the study of iron weapons from Motya and Lilybaeum (Sicily, Italy): Corrosion patterns in lagoon‐like and calcarenitic hypogea environments
Authors: Bernabale Martina , Nigro Lorenzo , Vaccaro Carmela , Nicoli Maria , Montanari Daria , Bigini Pierpaolo , De Vito Caterina
Published: December 2021

Micro‐Raman spectroscopy (μ‐RS) has been used to characterize mineralogical phases of corroded iron materials, buried in lagoon‐like and calcarenitic hypogea environments. A set of samples from the Phoenician site of Motya (8th–6th centuries BC, Sicily) and from the Punic Necropolis of Lilybaeum (4th century BC, Sicily) were analyzed combining μ‐RS with scanning electron microscopy‐energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (SEM‐EDS) and high‐resolution field emission scanning electron microscopy (HR‐FESEM). Micro‐Raman results revealed the presence of magnetite, goethite, lepidocrocite, and hematite as the main corrosion products and soil minerals as quartz, calcite, barite, actinolite, microcline, zircon, and Ti‐oxides. SEM and HR‐FESEM allowed exploring micro‐ and sub‐micrometer structures of iron oxy‐hydroxides though sections from rim to core. The different corrosion models suggest polymorphic inter‐conversions among iron oxy‐hydroxides and dissolution‐re‐precipitation reactions. In addition, the occurrence of magnetite and metal core that survived in armors buried in the hypogea site of Lilybaeum indicates more stable environmental conditions than those of Motya.
Exploring the binding mechanism of ferulic acid and ovalbumin: insights from spectroscopy, molecular docking and dynamics simulation
Authors: Chen Lei , Zhu Miao , Hu Xing , Pan Junhui , Zhang Guowen
Published: December 2021

BACKGROUND

Ferulic acid (FA), a phenolic acid widely occurring in nature, has attracted extensive attention because of its biological activity. Ovalbumin (OVA) is a commonly used carrier protein. The mechanism of FA binding with OVA was investigated by utilizing a variety of spectral analyses, accompanied by computer simulation.

RESULTS

It was discovered that the fluorescence quenching mechanism of OVA by FA was a static mode as a result of the formation of an FA−OVA complex, which was verified by the concentration distributions and pure spectrum of the constituents decomposed from the high overlap spectrum signals using multivariate curve resolution–alternate least squares algorithm. Hydrogen bonds and Van der Waals forces drove the formation of FA–OVA complex with a binding constant of 1.69 × 104 L mol−1. The presence of FA induced the loose structure of OVA with an attenuation of α‐helix content and improved the thermal stability of OVA. Computer docking indicated that FA interacted with the amino acid residues Arg84, Asn88, Leu101 and Ser103 of OVA through hydrogen bonds. Molecular dynamics simulation proved that the combination of FA with OVA boosted the conformational stability of OVA and hydrogen bonds brought a crucial part in stabilizing the structure of the complex.

CONCLUSIONS

The study may supply the theoretical basis for the design of FA transport system using OVA as carrier protein to improve the instability and low bioavailability of FA. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
The role of necroptosis in disease and treatment
Authors: Liu Xiaoxiao , Xie Xin , Ren Yuanyuan , Shao Zhiying , Zhang Nie , Li Liantao , Ding Xin , Zhang Longzhen
Published: December 2021

Necroptosis, a distinctive type of programmed cell death different from apoptosis or necrosis, triggered by a series of death receptors such as tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1), TNFR2, and Fas. In case that apoptosis process is blocked, necroptosis pathway is initiated with the activation of three key downstream mediators which are receptor‐interacting serine/threonine protein kinase 1 (RIPK1), RIPK3, and mixed lineage kinase domain‐like protein (MLKL). The whole process eventually leads to destruction of the cell membrane integrity, swelling of organelles, and severe inflammation. Over the past decade, necroptosis has been found widely involved in life process of human beings and animals. In this review, we attempt to explore the therapeutic prospects of necroptosis regulators by describing its molecular mechanism and the role it played in pathological condition and tissue homeostasis, and to summarize the research and clinical applications of corresponding regulators including small molecule inhibitors, chemicals, Chinese herbal extracts, and biological agents in the treatment of various diseases.
A Novel SPAST Mutation Results in Spastin Accumulation and Defects in Microtubule Dynamics
Authors: Chen Rui , Du Shiyue , Yao Yanyi , Zhang Lu , Luo Junyu , Shen Yinhua , Xu Zhenping , Zeng Xiaomei , Zhang Luoying , Liu Mugen , Yin Chuang , Tang Beisha , Tan Jun , Xu Xuan , Liu Jing Yu
Published: December 2021

Background

Haploinsufficiency is widely accepted as the pathogenic mechanism of spastic paraplegia type 4 (SPG4). However, there are some cases that cannot be explained by reduced function of the spastin protein encoded by SPAST.

Objectives

To identify the causative gene of autosomal dominant hereditary spastic paraplegia in three large Chinese families and explore the pathological mechanism of a spastin variant.

Methods

Three large Chinese hereditary spastic paraplegia families with a total of 247 individuals (67 patients) were investigated, of whom 59 members were recruited to the study. Genetic testing was performed to identify the causative gene. Western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to analyze the effects of the mutant proteins in vitro.

Results

In the three hereditary spastic paraplegia families, of whom three index cases were misdiagnosed as other types of neurological diseases, a novel c.985dupA (p.Met329Asnfs*3) variant in SPAST was identified and was shown to cosegregate with the phenotype in the three families. The c.985dupA mutation produced two truncated mutants (mutant M1 and M87 isoforms) that accumulated to a higher level than their wild‐type counterparts. Furthermore, the mutant M1 isoform heavily decorated the microtubules and rendered them resistant to depolymerization. In contrast, the mutant M87 isoform was diffusely localized in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm, could not decorate microtubules, and was not able to promote microtubule disassembly.

Conclusions

SPAST mutations leading to premature stop codons do not always act through haploinsufficiency. The truncated spastin may damage the corticospinal tracts through an isoform‐specific toxic effect.
Numerical simulation of cold and hot water injection into naturally fractured porous media using the extended–FEM and an equivalent continuum model
Authors: Mortazavi S. Mohammad S. , Pirmoradi Pouriya , Khoei Amir R.
Published: December 2021

In this paper, a computational technique is presented for the isothermal and non‐isothermal water injection into naturally fractured oil reservoirs. A remarkable number of naturally fractured reservoirs contain relatively heavy oils that could not be extracted economically; hence, the thermal recovery methods are extensively used for such reservoirs. In this study, the effectiveness of hot water injection over cold (isothermal) water injection in oil production is quantified. The influence of long and short fractures and their alignments on oil recovery are discussed. To this end, a 2D model for two‐phase fluid flow and heat transfer is presented. The medium is assumed to be partially saturated with water as the wetting phase and oil as the non‐wetting phase. The governing equations consist of the energy balance equation together with the continuity equations of both fluid phases. To take the long (macro) fractures into account, the extended finite element method is employed by considering permeable fracture faces; accordingly, the mass and heat transfer between the fracture and the matrix are captured accurately. In addition, the network of short (micro) fractures is incorporated by an equivalent continuum model. Several numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the influence of injection temperature, initial reservoir temperature, and the long and short fractures on oil production. Furthermore, the simultaneous effect of the macro‐ and micro‐fractures along with the injection temperature are examined. The results show that the proposed computational model is a promising tool that can be used in the cold or hot water injection, and can be employed in the economic feasibility studies of recovery methods in the future.
amulog: A general log analysis framework for comparison and combination of diverse template generation methods*
Authors: Kobayashi Satoru , Yamashiro Yuya , Otomo Kazuki , Fukuda Kensuke
Published: December 2021

One of the ways to analyze unstructured log messages from large‐scale IT systems is to classify log messages with log templates generated by template generation methods. However, there is currently no common knowledge pertained to the comparison and practical use of log template generation methods because they are implemented on the basis of diverse environments. To this end, we design and implement amulog, a general log analysis framework for comparing and combining diverse log template generation methods. Amulog consists of three key functions: (1) parsing log messages into headers and segmented messages, (2) classifying the log messages using a scalable template‐matching method, and (3) storing the structured data in a database. This framework helps us easily utilize time‐series data corresponding to the log templates for further analysis. We evaluate amulog with a log dataset collected from a nation‐wide academic network and demonstrate that it classifies the log data in a reasonable amount of time even with over 100,000 log template candidates. The template‐matching method in amulog also reduces 75% processing time for template generation and keeps the accuracy when combined with an existing structure‐based template generation method. In order to show the effectiveness of amulog in comparing log template generation methods, we demonstrate that the appropriate template generation methods and accuracy metrics largely depend on the purpose of further analysis by comparing the accuracy of six existing log template generation methods with 10 different accuracy metrics on amulog.
Structural, morphological, optical, and dielectric properties of PVA‐PVP filled with zinc oxide aluminum‐graphene oxide composite for promising applications
Authors: Mohamed Fathia , Sharmoukh Walid , Youssef Ahmed M. , Hameed Talaat A.
Published: December 2021

Polymer nanocomposites of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) filled with various concentration of nanocomposite (Zn0.97Al0.03O: 1 wt% GO)x; x = 1, 3, 5, and 7 wt% were prepared by solution mixing and then cast into films. X‐ray combined with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) data elucidated the successful preparation of pure PVA/PVP and filled films. The identifiable diffraction lines are ascribable to the presence of filler (Zn0.97Al0.03O: 1 wt% GO) that further established by the data of EDS as well as selected area electron diffraction pattern (SAED) achieved by high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) measurement. The optical band gap (Eg) of composite shows a significant decrement from 5.2 to 4.7 eV as the nanocomposite fillers were varied from 0 to 7 wt%. In addition, the refractive index (n), optical dielectric loss (ε2), and optical conductivity (σopt) were investigated. The PVA/PVP filled with merely 1 wt% of the particle has an extremely high dielectric permittivity and conductivity.
Influence of the cure state on mechanical properties of an epoxy‐based adhesive: Experimental characterization and numerical simulation
Authors: Teixeira Paulo , Akhavan‐Safar Alireza , Carbas Ricardo J. C. , da Silva Lucas F. M.
Published: December 2021

Heat curing epoxy‐based adhesives are extensively used in primary bonded structures. The manufacturing process of joints with heat curing adhesives is commonly made with isothermal processes where a large curing time is set to guarantee the complete curing of the adhesive. The aim of the current study is to investigate the influence of the curing state on the tensile mechanical properties of a structural one‐component epoxy based adhesive. To achieve this, tensile tests on bulk adhesive dog‐bone coupons with incomplete curing were performed. The process cycle was adjusted to achieve the desired curing degree for testing. The curing process was simulated by using the Kamal kinetics model calibrated with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) tests. The results show that the curing process is very sensitive to the curing temperature, requiring a low curing temperature to control process duration. A good correlation between the estimated curing degree and the final obtained curing measured with the Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy FTIR was found. Regarding the mechanical properties, the elastic modulus and the tensile strength are reduced at lower curing degrees making the material softer and more ductile. The loss in the mechanical properties shows to be consistent with the measurements performed with dynamical mechanical analyses (DMA) by measuring the evolution of the elastic modulus with the curing degree. In this way, the numerical simulation of the curing process seems to be a valuable tool to predict the final performance of adhesive, and design the curing cycle.
5‐Alpha reductase inhibitors induce a prostate luminal to club cell transition in human benign prostatic hyperplasia
Authors: Joseph Diya B , Henry Gervaise H , Malewska Alicia , Reese Jeffrey C , Mauck Ryan J , Gahan Jeffrey C , Hutchinson Ryan C , Mohler James L , Roehrborn Claus G , Strand Douglas W
Published: December 2021

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a progressive expansion of peri‐urethral prostate tissue common in aging men. Patients with enlarged prostates are treated with 5‐alpha reductase inhibitors (5ARIs) to shrink prostate volume by blocking the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). A reduction in DHT levels can elicit atrophy and apoptosis of prostate secretory luminal cells, which results in a favorable clinical response characterized by improved lower urinary tract symptoms. However, the histologic response to 5ARI treatment is often heterogeneous across prostate acini and lower urinary tract symptoms can persist to require surgical intervention. We used two spatial profiling approaches to characterize gene expression changes across histologically normal and atrophied regions in prostates from 5ARI‐treated men. Objective transcriptomic profiling using the Visium spatial gene expression platform showed that 5ARI‐induced atrophy of prostate luminal cells correlated with reduced androgen receptor signaling and increased expression of urethral club cell genes including LTF, PIGR, OLFM4, SCGB1A1, and SCGB3A1. Prostate luminal cells within atrophied acini adapted to decreased DHT conditions by increasing NF‐κB signaling and anti‐apoptotic BCL2 expression, which may explain their survival. Using GeoMx digital spatial profiling with a probe set to assess ~18 000 RNA targets, we confirmed that atrophied acini expressing SCGB3A1 displayed higher levels of club cell markers compared with histologically normal acini with NKX3‐1 expression. In addition, club‐like cells within regions of 5ARI‐induced atrophy closely resembled true club cells from the prostatic urethra. A comparison of histologically normal regions from 5ARI‐treated men and histologically normal regions from untreated men revealed few transcriptional differences. Taken together, our results describe a heterogeneous response to 5ARI treatment where cells in atrophied acini undergo an adaptation from a prostate secretory luminal to a club cell‐like state in response to 5ARI treatment. © 2021 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Psychosocial impact of proactive rapid genetic counseling following breast cancer diagnosis
Authors: Kritzik Rachel , Usoro Edidiong , Peshkin Beth N. , Isaacs Claudine , Valdimarsdottir Heiddis B. , Willey Shawna , O’Neill Suzanne , DeMarco Tiffani , Nusbaum Rachel , Jandorf Lina , Kelleher Sarah , Schwartz Marc D.
Published: December 2021

Objective

As germline genetic referral becomes increasingly routine as part of the care of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, it is important to understand the psychosocial impact of genetic counseling at the time of diagnosis. We examined the psychosocial and quality of life (QOL) impact of providing proactive rapid genetic counseling and testing (RGCT) in the immediate aftermath of a breast cancer diagnosis.

Methods

We randomized 330 patients in a 2:1 ratio to proactive rapid genetic counseling (RGCT; N = 222) versus usual care (UC; N = 108). Participants completed a baseline telephone survey before randomization and definitive surgery and a follow‐up survey at 1‐month post‐randomization. We evaluated the impact of RGCT versus UC on breast cancer genetic knowledge, distress, QOL, and decisional conflict. Given that 43% of UC participants and 86% of RGCT participants completed genetic counseling prior to the 1‐month assessment, we also evaluated the impact of genetic counseling participation over and above group assignment.

Results

The RGCT intervention led to increased breast cancer genetic knowledge relative to UC but did not differentially impact other study outcomes. Across groups patients who participated in genetic counseling had significantly increased knowledge and improved QOL compared to those who did not participate in genetic counseling.

Conclusions

While prior research has documented the impact of genetic counseling and testing on surgical decisions, these results confirm that participation in genetic counseling at the time of diagnosis can yield improvements in knowledge and QOL in the short‐term.
Quasi‐biennial oscillation impacts on Madden–Julianoscillation‐associatedtropical–extratropical interactions and Kelvin waves
Authors: Roundy Paul E.
Published: December 2021

Several recent works have demonstrated that the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) shows more variance in tropical convection and wind during the easterly phase of stratospheric wind in the quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO). Some of these works have shown that reduced variance during the westerly QBO is associated with fewer repeating cycles of events. This article applies a modulation linear regression algorithm to assess changes in the global atmospheric circulation structure for December–February MJO signals tested when time‐smoothed 50 hPa winds are easterly or westerly at 10 m·s−1. Results show pronounced differences in the associated extratropical upper tropospheric Rossby wave response between the two QBO states, along with a comparatively lower fraction of total eastward wave energy being consistent with Kelvin waves approaching the Indian basin from the west during the westerly QBO. Instead, westerly QBO appears to favour stronger equatorward‐moving extratropical wave precursors across the Western Hemisphere and Eurasia. The results suggest the hypothesis that more dependence on extratropical waves during the westerly QBO may reduce the reliability of the MJO to form sequential trains during the westerly QBO.
Sensitivity analysis of the convective‐scale AROME model to physical and dynamical parameters
Authors: Wimmer Meryl , Raynaud Laure , Descamps Laurent , Berre Loïk , Seity Yann
Published: December 2021

A global sensitivity analysis of the convective‐scale Application of Research to Operations at Mesoscale (AROME) model is performed in order to determine the most influential parameters on the forecast of different near‐surface variables. For that purpose, the Morris method is applied to 21 parameters from six different physical and dynamical parametrization schemes, over different seasons. Results highlight a set of eight parameters with a noticeable influence on most variables, in particular 10 m wind speed and precipitation forecasts. The sensitivity of parameter uncertainties is also examined on different spatio‐temporal scales. A clear diurnal cycle of parameters influence is observed in summer, in close connection with the convective activity. In addition, the spatial distribution of parameters influence is mostly consistent with the underlying distribution of weather forecasts. A Sobol' sensitivity analysis, based on surrogate models, mostly confirms Morris conclusions and highlights some interactions between parameters.
The challenging role of researchers coping with tensions, dilemmas and paradoxes in transdisciplinary settings
Authors: Arnold Marlen Gabriele
Published: December 2021

Transdisciplinary learning is a response to address the comprehensive sustainability competencies for implementing the 17 sustainability goals of the Agenda 2030. Transdisciplinary contexts include socially distributed knowledge beyond scientific boundaries. This impacts the whole design process and specific tasks and roles of the researchers. Addressing the questions, “Which typical tensions, dilemmas and paradoxes need to be faced by researches in transdisciplinary settings?”, and “How does the role of the researchers change and goes beyond traditional research settings when operating in transdisciplinary settings surrounded by tensions, dilemmas and paradoxes?”, answers will be provided following existing analytical frameworks of transdisciplinary research design. Based on own experiences with and including observations of transdisciplinary settings at academia, transdisciplinary research and lecture settings will be analysed and compared by transdisciplinary criteria. Results show, in transdisciplinary settings, researchers or lecturers are more engaged with addressing poly‐contextuality, the consciousness of the innovation paradoxes and the side‐effects of ongoing interdependences. They take up multiple roles and have to deal with role ambiguity. Transdisciplinary lecture settings are even more demanding as they also have to meet the mentor role or maintain the students' learning progress.
An integrated dual‐process model for coping behaviour
Authors: Keech Jacob J. , Hamilton Kyra
Published: December 2021

Stress management interventions have traditionally aimed to change coping behaviour with little attention to mechanisms that drive behaviour change. We sought to test an integrated dual‐process model, accounting for reasoned and automatic processes, for predicting problem‐focussed coping behaviour. The study adopted a two‐wave prospective correlational design with a 1‐week follow‐up. University students aged 17–25 (N = 272) completed survey measures online. At Time 1, participants completed self‐report measures of attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioural control, intention, behavioural automaticity, and past problem‐focussed coping behaviour. At Time 2, participants completed follow‐up measures of behavioural automaticity and problem‐focussed coping behaviour. Structural equation modelling testing the hypothesised dual‐process model exhibited a good fit to the data, accounting for 50.0% and 45.4% of the variance in intentions and problem‐focussed coping behaviour, respectively. Attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioural control, and past behaviour directly predicted intention. Intention, past behaviour, and behavioural automaticity directly predicted problem‐focussed coping behaviour. Past behaviour also indirectly predicted problem‐focussed coping behaviour via behavioural automaticity. Results suggest that problem‐focussed coping behaviour tends to be regulated by reasoned psychological processes, and more strongly by automatic psychological processes. Future research aiming to increase problem‐focussed coping should utilise behaviour change methods known to influence these processes.
Soft Organic Thermoelectric Materials: Principles, Current State of the Art and Applications
Authors: Zhang Yinhang , Wang Wei , Zhang Fei , Dai Kun , Li Chuanbing , Fan Yuan , Chen Guangming , Zheng Qingbin
Published: December 2021

The enormous demand for waste heat utilization and burgeoning eco‐friendly wearable materials has triggered huge interest in the development of thermoelectric materials that can harvest low‐cost energy resources by converting waste heat to electricity efficiently. In particular, due to their high flexibility, nontoxicity, cost‐effectivity, and promising applicability in various fields, organic thermoelectric materials are drawing more attention compared with their toxic, expensive, heavy, and brittle inorganic counterparts. Organic thermoelectric materials are approaching the figure of merit of the inorganic ones via the construction and optimization of unique transport pathways and device geometries. This review presents the recent development of the interdependence and decoupling principles of the thermoelectric efficiency parameters as well as the new achievements of high performance organic thermoelectric materials. Moreover, this review also discusses the advances in the thermoelectric devices with emphasis on their energy‐related applications. It is believed that organic thermoelectric materials are emerging as green energy alternatives rivaling their conventional inorganic counterparts in the efficient and pure electricity harvesting from waste heat and solar thermal energy.
Enhancement of Proton Therapy Efficiency by Noble Metal Nanoparticles Is Driven by the Number and Chemical Activity of Surface Atoms
Authors: Zwiehoff Sandra , Johny Jacob , Behrends Carina , Landmann Alina , Mentzel Florian , Bäumer Christian , Kröninger Kevin , Rehbock Christoph , Timmermann Beate , Barcikowski Stephan
Published: December 2021

Proton‐based radiotherapy is a modern technique for the treatment of solid tumors with significantly reduced side effects to adjacent tissues. Biocompatible nanoparticles (NPs) with high atomic numbers are known to serve as sensitizers and to enhance treatment efficacy, which is commonly believed to be attributed to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, little systematic knowledge is available on how either physical effects due to secondary electron generation or the particle surface chemistry affect ROS production. Thereto, ligand‐free colloidal platinum (Pt) and gold (Au) NPs with well‐controlled particle size distributions and defined total surface area are proton‐irradiated. A fluorescence‐based assay is developed to monitor the formation of ROS using terephthalic acid as a cross‐effect‐free dye. The findings indicate that proton irradiation (PI)‐induced ROS formation sensitized by noble metal NPs is driven by the total available particle surface area rather than particle size or mass. Furthermore, a distinctive material effect with Pt being more active than Au is observed which clearly indicates that the chemical reactivity of the NP surface is a main contributor to ROS generation upon PI. These results pave the way towards an in‐depth understanding of the NP‐induced sensitizing effects upon PI and hence a well‐controlled enhanced therapy.