bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Renal function estimating equations performance during pregnancy and postpartum
Authors: Zaghloul Dina E. , Ryu Rachel , Kestenbaum Bryan , Smith Chase , Fay Emily , Hebert Mary F.
Published: April 2023

Study Objectives

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the performance of renal function estimating equations compared to measured creatinine clearance (CrCl) during pregnancy and postpartum and to evaluate which body weight (pre‐pregnancy weight (PPW), actual body weight (ABW), and ideal body weight (IBW)) provides the best performance.

Design

A retrospective study.

Setting

Collections tookplace in the University of Washington clinical research unit.

Patients

Women (n = 166) who completed ≥1 pharmacokinetic (PK) study with a 6–24 h measured CrCl during pregnancy and/or ≥3 months postpartum were included.

Intervention

CrCl was estimated utilizing estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and CrCl equations with common weight descriptors. Analyses included Bland–Altman, relative accuracies within 10% and 25%, and root mean squared error (RMSE). Overall performance was determined by summation of rank for evaluation parameters.

Measurements and Main Results

During pregnancy, correlations between measured CrCl and estimated CrCl were between 0.5–0.8; equations with slopes closest to one were Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD2; PPW and ABW) and Cockcroft‐Gault (CG) (PPW); and y‐intercept closest to zero was Preeclampsia Glomerular Filtration Rate (PGFR). The lowest bias was seen with CG (ABW), and the highest accuracy within 25% was CG (ABW). CG (PPW) had the lowest RMSE. Postpartum, the best correlation was found with MDRD2 (PPW), Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD–EPI (ABW)), and CKD–EPI 2021 (PPW). For slopes closest to one, MDRD2 (ABW) was best, whereas the equation with y‐intercept closest to zero was CKD–EPI (ABW). CG (PPW) had the highest accuracy within 25%, and 100/serum creatinine (SCr) had the lowest bias. Based on overall performance, CG (PPW) was the best followed by CG (ABW) and PGFR during pregnancy and 100/SCr followed by CG (PPW) and CG (ABW) postpartum.

Conclusion

The new CKD–EPI 2021 equation did not perform well during pregnancy. When 24‐h CrCls are not available during pregnancy, CG (PPW or ABW) performed the best overall, whereas at 3 months postpartum, 100/SCr performed the best overall.
Insights into photo‐induced excited state intramolecular proton transfer behavior for the novel 2‐([1, 1′‐biphenyl]‐4‐yl)‐3‐hydroxy‐4H‐chromen‐4‐one system: Effects of solvent polarity
Authors: Dong Hao , Li Xiaoxiao , Zhao Shulin , Zhao Jinfeng , Jin Bing
Published: April 2023

In the light of potential applications for detecting cysteine in vitro and in vivo, 2‐([1, 1′‐biphenyl]‐4‐yl)‐3‐hydroxy‐4H‐chromen‐4‐one (B‐bph‐fla‐OH) is explored about its excited state behaviors. Solvent‐polarity‐related photo‐induced hydrogen bond of B‐bph‐fla‐OH indicates nonpolar aprotic solvents largely enhance S1‐state hydrogen bonding interactions. Charge reorganization stemming from photoexcitation and polarity‐dependent energy gap between HOMO and LUMO orbitals further reveals the excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) tendency. Insights into potential energy curves along ESIPT paths in solvents with different polarities and emission spectral behaviors of proton‐transfer tautomer, we present solvent polarity could harness the excited state behaviors for B‐bph‐fla‐OH system.
Cross‐cultural translation and adaptation of the Danish version of the brief version of the 10‐item Big Five Inventory
Authors: Palsson Thorvaldur Skuli , Skou Søren Thorgaard , Pape Morten Haugaard , Hirata Rogerio Pessoto , Rafn Trine , Bellosta‐López Pablo , Christensen Steffan Wittrup McPhee
Published: April 2023

Background

Personality traits are associated with pain‐related beliefs and coping strategies, and different chronic conditions are linked through specific personality profiles. This highlights the importance of having valid and reliable measures of personality traits for use in clinical and research settings when assessing patients in chronic pain.

Purpose

To translate and cross‐culturally adapt the 10‐item Big Five Inventory (BFI‐10) into Danish.

Methods

A bilingual expert panel (N = 4) and a panel of laymen (N = 8) translated and culturally adapted the questionnaire into Danish. Face validity was evaluated in a group of persons suffering from recurring or ongoing painful conditions (N = 9). Data were collected to evaluate the internal consistency, test–retest reliability and factor structure (N = 96).

Results

Some of the participants in the lay panel considered the questionnaire too short, considering its aim of assessing personality. Acceptable internal consistency was found for two out of five subscales (0.78 for both Extraversion and Neuroticism), while the internal consistency was non‐acceptable for the remaining subscales (0.17–0.45). Test–retest reliability was acceptable for three subscales (0.80 for Neuroticism, 0.84 for Conscientiousness, and 0.85 for Extraversion). Assumptions for determining the factor structure were not met and therefore was this analysis omitted.

Discussion

Although face valid, only two out of five subscales had acceptable internal consistency and only three subscales had acceptable test–retest reliability. These findings indicate that interpreting findings regarding personality using the Danish BFI‐10 should be done with caution.
Estimating cardiopulmonary fitness with a new sampling technology in patients with rheumatoid arthritis‐associated interstitial lung disease
Authors: Deucher Rafael Alexandre de Oliveira , Reis Luis Felipe da Fonseca , Papathanasiou Jannis Vasileios , Azevedo Beatriz Luiza Pinheiro Alves , Oliveira Jéssica Gabriela Messias , da Silva Matheus Mello , de Sales Rayanne Costa , dos Santos Beatriz Pereira , Ferreira Arthur de Sá , Lopes Agnaldo José
Published: April 2023

Background and Objectives

Although peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) is one of the most important measures in clinical practice, the high cost and time consumption have led to the search for simpler devices and the development of the estimating cardiopulmonary fitness (eCPF) equation. Since the lungs are one of the sites most affected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA), this study aimed to create a predictive equation for VO2peak obtained by simple sampling technology in women with RA‐associated interstitial lung disease (RA‐ILD).

Methods

This cross‐sectional study evaluated 47 women with RA‐ILD. The participants underwent the following evaluations: computed tomography (CT); evaluation of disease activity through the Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI); measurement of physical function using the Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index (HAQ‐DI); pulmonary function testing, including spirometry, diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DlCO), nitrogen single‐breath washout (N2SBW) test, and impulse oscillometry; and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) using FitMate™.

Results

VO2peak was correlated with age (r = −0.550, p < 0.0001), rheumatoid factor (r = −0.443, p = 0.002), anti‐cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (r = −0.410, p = 0.004), CDAI (r = −0.462, p = 0.001), HAD‐DI (r = −0.486, p = 0.0005), forced vital capacity (r = 0.491, p = 0.0004), DlCO (r = 0.621, p < 0.0001), phase III slope of N2SBW (r = −0.647, p < 0.0001), resonance frequency (Fres, r = −0.717, p < 0.0001), integrated low‐frequency reactance (r = −0.535, p = 0.0001), and the inhomogeneity of respiratory system resistance between 4 and 20 Hz (r = −0.631, p < 0.0001). In the CT examination, patients with extensive ILD had significantly lower VO2peak than patients with limited ILD (p < 0.0001). In the stepwise forward regression analysis, Fres, DlCO and age explained 61% of the VO2peak variability.

Conclusions

As assessed by CPET, women with RA‐ILD show reduced cardiopulmonary fitness, which can be explained at least in part by the presence of small airway disease, deterioration of pulmonary gas exchange, and advanced age. These associations of pulmonary variables with eCPF may be clinically important and support the use of the eCPF equation to improve patient outcomes.
Not going out during the Covid‐19 pandemic? A multilevel geographical analysis of UK Google Mobility Reports, February 2020–December 2021
Authors: Shuttleworth Ian , Gould Myles
Published: April 2023

The analysis reported in this paper uses Google Mobility Reports to understand subnational trends in population spatial immobility/mobility in the United Kingdom during 2020 and 2021. Using multilevel modelling, it analyses how spatial mobility changed through time in response to the strictness of government lockdown and the annual seasonal cycle of public holidays, and between places in terms of their population composition as measured by the shares of the highly‐educationally qualified and the self‐employed. The results show that there are no consistent differences between the nations of the United Kingdom; that time spent at home increased with the severity of lockdown; that the share of highly qualified was also a good predictor of staying at home; and that there were major effects from public holidays. The analysis did not explain all the variation between places and dates; it is suggested that this is because of randomisation of the data by Google and unmodelled factors such as tiered restrictions.
Frequency Tunability of Spin‐Torque Vortex Oscillator in Permalloy Nanodisks with Modified Material Properties
Authors: Bhattacharjee Payal , Barman Saswati
Published: April 2023

The manipulation of the vortex state in magnetic nanostructures has received a lot of interest in recent decades, with potential applications in nonvolatile magnetic random‐access memory and logic networks. For wireless communication advancements, nano‐sized, and low‐phase‐noise, adjustable transmitter‐receiver networks are critical. Herein, it is shown that by using micromagnetic simulations when the saturation magnetization is reduced in a particular region of a magnetic nanodisk, the frequency tunability in such disks can be achieved. The gyrotropic mode of the vortex core is excited with spin‐polarized current and an in‐plane static magnetic field and found that an isolated magnetic vortex shows different resonance frequencies at different saturation magnetization regions. The dynamics of the mutual synchronization between two such dipolarly coupled magnetic vortices are numerically investigated, and the essential distances at which synchronization occurs are also identified. These incredibly small vortex‐based oscillator devices have linewidths of the order of 40–60 MHz, making them prospective candidates for signal‐processing applications and a strong new tool for basic research on vortex dynamics in magnetic nanostructures.
Recent insights into the hepatoprotective potential of medicinal plants and plant‐derived compounds
Authors: Thilagavathi Ramasamy , Begum S. Sameema , Varatharaj Sowfika Dharshini , Balasubramaniam Arun kumar , George Joselin Susan , Selvam Chelliah
Published: April 2023

Liver problems are a worldwide concern, and conventional medicinal therapies are ineffective. Hence, safeguarding the healthy liver is vital for good health and well‐being. Infections due to virus, immune problems, cancer, alcohol abuse, and an overdose of drugs are some of the causes of liver diseases. Antioxidants derived from medicinal plants and conventional dietary sources can protect the liver from damages caused by oxidative stress system and various chemicals. Plants and plant‐derived phytochemicals are appealing hepatoprotective agents since they have less side effects and still there is a lot of interest shown in using herbal tonics for treating liver disorders. This review therefore primarily focuses on newly discovered medicinal plants and compounds produced from plants that fall under the classifications of flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, polyphenolics, sterols, anthocyanins, and saponin glycosides, all of which have the potential to be hepatoprotective. Hosta plantaginea, Ligusticum chuanxiong, Daniella oliveri, Garcinia mangostana, Solanum melongena, Vaccinium myrtillus, Picrorhiza kurroa, and Citrus medica are some potential plants having hepatoprotective effects. We conclude that these phytochemicals and the plant extracts listed above are used in the future to treat a variety of liver diseases, additional research is still needed to develop safer and more potent phytochemical drugs.
The association between pulmonary artery enlargement and mortality in an Emergency Department population undergoing computed tomography pulmonary angiography
Authors: Scarpato Brittany M. , Locke Brian W. , Bledsoe Joseph , Knox Daniel B. , Conner Karen , Stoddard Gregory J. , Cirulis Meghan M. , Elliott Charles Gregory , Dodson Mark W.
Published: April 2023

Findings of an enlarged pulmonary artery diameter (PAd) and increased pulmonary artery to ascending aorta ratio (PA:AA) on contrast‐enhanced computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) are associated with increased mortality in particular groups of patients with cardiopulmonary disease. However, the frequency and prognostic significance of these incidental findings has not been studied in unselected patients evaluated in the Emergency Department (ED). This study aims to determine the prevalence and associated prognosis of enlarged pulmonary artery measurements in an ED cohort. We measured PA and AA diameters on 990 CTPA studies performed in the ED. An enlarged PA diameter was defined as >27 mm in females and >29 mm in males, while an increased PA:AA was defined as >0.9. Poisson regression was performed to calculate prevalence ratios for relevant comorbidities, and multivariable Cox regression was performed to calculate hazard ratios (HR) for mortality of patients with enlarged pulmonary artery measurements. An enlarged PAd was observed in 27.9% of 990 patients and was more commonly observed in older patients and in patients with obesity or heart failure. Conversely, PA:AA was increased in 34.2% of subjects, and was more common in younger patients and those with peripheral vascular disease or obesity. After controlling for age, sex, and comorbidities, both enlarged PAd (HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.00–1.68, p = 0.05) and PA:AA (HR 1.70, 95% CI 1.31–2.22 p < 0.01) were independently associated with mortality. In sum, enlarged PAd and increased PA:AA are common in patients undergoing CTPAs in the ED setting and both are independently associated with mortality.
How agricultural technologies and climatic factors affect India's crop production? A roadmap towards sustainable agriculture
Authors: Baig Imran Ali , Irfan Muhammad , Aarif Mohammad , Husain Shah , Sulaiman Mohammad
Published: April 2023

This study aims to explore the long‐term (LT) and short‐term (ST) effects of meteorological factors and technological advancement on major crop production, that is, wheat, and rice, in India from 1990 to 2020. For this purpose, the authors also used other important controlled variables, that is, agriculture employment (AE), agricultural credit (AC), and cultivated land (AUR/AUW). For the estimation of data series, the study employed robust econometric techniques, such as the ARDL, FMOLS, and CCR framework. Empirical results reveal the long‐term relationship among meteorological factors, agricultural technologies, and major crop production (wheat and rice). In the case of meteorological factors, rainfall (RF) and carbon emission (CO2) have a positive and negative impact on wheat and rice production, while the mean temperature is negatively related to rice production and positively related to wheat production. Whereas agricultural technologies, such as fertilizer usage and farm machinery, improve wheat and rice crop production. The long‐term (LT) estimated findings are confirmed by econometric techniques such as FMOLS and CCR. The government should adopt necessary measures to achieve sustainable production and develop resilient hybrid seeds of rice and wheat that are well‐suited to agro‐climatic conditions in order to mitigate environmental degradation.
Point estimation for adaptive trial designs II: Practical considerations and guidance
Authors: Robertson David S. , Choodari‐Oskooei Babak , Dimairo Munya , Flight Laura , Pallmann Philip , Jaki Thomas
Published: April 2023

In adaptive clinical trials, the conventional end‐of‐trial point estimate of a treatment effect is prone to bias, that is, a systematic tendency to deviate from its true value. As stated in recent FDA guidance on adaptive designs, it is desirable to report estimates of treatment effects that reduce or remove this bias. However, it may be unclear which of the available estimators are preferable, and their use remains rare in practice. This article is the second in a two‐part series that studies the issue of bias in point estimation for adaptive trials. Part I provided a methodological review of approaches to remove or reduce the potential bias in point estimation for adaptive designs. In part II, we discuss how bias can affect standard estimators and assess the negative impact this can have. We review current practice for reporting point estimates and illustrate the computation of different estimators using a real adaptive trial example (including code), which we use as a basis for a simulation study. We show that while on average the values of these estimators can be similar, for a particular trial realization they can give noticeably different values for the estimated treatment effect. Finally, we propose guidelines for researchers around the choice of estimators and the reporting of estimates following an adaptive design. The issue of bias should be considered throughout the whole lifecycle of an adaptive design, with the estimation strategy prespecified in the statistical analysis plan. When available, unbiased or bias‐reduced estimates are to be preferred.
On the parameter estimation of Box‐Cox transformation cure model
Authors: Pal Suvra , Roy Souvik
Published: April 2023

We propose an improved estimation method for the Box‐Cox transformation (BCT) cure rate model parameters. Specifically, we propose a generic maximum likelihood estimation algorithm through a non‐linear conjugate gradient (NCG) method with an efficient line search technique. We then apply the proposed NCG algorithm to BCT cure model. Through a detailed simulation study, we compare the model fitting results of the NCG algorithm with those obtained by the existing expectation maximization (EM) algorithm. First, we show that our proposed NCG algorithm allows simultaneous maximization of all model parameters unlike the EM algorithm when the likelihood surface is flat with respect to the BCT index parameter. Then, we show that the NCG algorithm results in smaller bias and noticeably smaller root mean square error of the estimates of the model parameters that are associated with the cure rate. This results in more accurate and precise inference on the cure rate. In addition, we show that when the sample size is large the NCG algorithm, which only needs the computation of the gradient and not the Hessian, takes less CPU time to produce the estimates. These advantages of the NCG algorithm allows us to conclude that the NCG method should be the preferred estimation method over the already existing EM algorithm in the context of BCT cure model. Finally, we apply the NCG algorithm to analyze a well‐known melanoma data and show that it results in a better fit when compared to the EM algorithm.
Microwave‐Assisted Synthesis of SrTiO3 Nanocuboids without TiCl4
Authors: Peczak Ian L. , Kennedy Robert M. , Simpson Aili M. , Delferro Massimiliano , Poeppelmeier Kenneth R.
Published: April 2023

Strontium titanate (STO) nanocuboids are a novel support for Pt nanoparticle catalysts (Pt/STO). The first of many steps in commercializing Pt/STO will be developing a scalable, environmentally sustainable, and cost‐effective STO nanocuboid synthesis. Herein, Sr–Ti–OH mixtures are synthesized from various Sr2+ and Ti4+ reagents and treated by convection‐ and microwave‐assisted heating to obtain STO nanoparticles. These experiments clarify how phase composition of the prehydrothermal Sr–Ti–OH mixture and choice of heating method affect final nanoparticle morphology. In Sr–Ti–OH mixtures synthesized with TiCl4, STO is the most stable phase and precipitates prior to heating, while titania sol–gels are the most stable phase when other Ti4+ sources are used. STO nanocrystals always form when Sr–Ti–OH mixtures are treated by convection heating, though nanocuboids are only observed if STO precipitates from the Sr–Ti–OH mixture. Microwave‐assisted hydrothermal treatment more rapidly heats the precursor solution, and thus, STO nanocuboids can form from a variety of Sr–Ti–OH mixtures regardless of mixture composition. Two microwave syntheses of STO nanocuboids are reported: one which uses TiCl4 as a Ti4+ source, and another that uses titanium(IV) bis(ammonium lactato) dihydroxide ([NH4CH3CH(O)CO2]2Ti(OH)2), a water‐stable Ti4+ complex.
Research Status of Numerical Simulation of Nonmetallic Inclusions Interfacial Removal
Authors: Li Jingshe , Sun Ye , Yang Shufeng , Liu Wei
Published: April 2023

The removal of inclusions in liquid steel has always been the focus of research, and the removal of inclusions is mainly through the process of the inclusion through the slag–steel interface. The inclusion removal process can be subdivided into inclusions in molten steel grew up rise, in steel–slag interface through separation, adsorb dissolved in molten slag 3 steps. Based on the microscopic process of three steps, this article summarizes and discusses the mathematical model, fluid mechanics model, and experimental verification method of inclusion removal process, analyzes limiting and influencing factors of inclusion removal process, and comprehensively describes the numerical simulation research progress of inclusion removal process. With the development of numerical simulation techniques and experimental equipment, some progress has been made in the study of interfacial removal of inclusions. The inclusion interface removal behavior can be analyzed semiquantitatively based on dynamic force model. The computational fluid dynamics model has advantages in studying the phenomena of the inclusion interface, and the phase‐field method is often used to simulate the removal process of the inclusion interface. The combination of water model and numerical simulation, high‐temperature laser confocal method, and other methods is of great help to explore the interface behavior of inclusions.
Microstructure and Wear Resistance in Medium and High C Steels Treated by Quenching and Partitioning
Authors: Del Molino Eider , Arribas Maribel , Pérez Iñaki , Valdavida Félix , González Javier Jesús
Published: April 2023

The quenching and partitioning (Q&P) steels have shown to be promising candidates to be applied in fields where wear resistance is required. In this study, a medium and a high C steel are heat treated by Q&P and the resulting microstructure, hardness, and wear resistance are characterized. The mechanical stability of the austenite phase under wear test conditions is investigated. It is found that the stability of austenite is very high in the high C steel and decreases in the medium C steel. Additionally, the hardness and wear behavior of the Q&P‐treated steels are compared with the results obtained for quenching and tempering (Q&T) treated samples, showing that, although the hardness of Q&P steels is quite lower, the obtained wear rates are similar. It means that in the studied Q&P steels, although the austenite transformation into martensite does not occur considerably, the presence of austenite might play a key role in the wear resistance.
Formation and Evolution Mechanism of the Inclusions of Al2O3·SiO2·CaO and Al2O3·SiO2·CaO·MgO in Seamless Steel Tube Steel
Authors: Yang Wenkui , Yang Jian , Zhang Runhao , Sun Han , Song Jingling , Zhao Yinghui , Zhou Xuan
Published: April 2023

Herein, the formation and evolution mechanism of inclusions of Al2O3·SiO2·CaO and Al2O3·SiO2·CaO·MgO in seamless steel tube steel are investigated. In the long strip defects on the longitudinal cross section of the steel tube after the rolling bar piercing, the defect is mainly formed by Al2O3·SiO2·CaO·MgO inclusions and Al2O3·SiO2·CaO·inclusions dotted with·CaS inclusions after the rolling. The typical inclusions in the different steelmaking stages are mainly composed of CaS, Al2O3·(SiO2), CaO·(SiO2), MnS·(TiN), Al2O3·SiO2·CaO·(CaS)·(MnS), Al2O3·SiO2·CaO·MgO·(MnO), Al2O3·SiO2·CaO·MgO·(CaS)·(MnS), etc. In the billet, the average sizes of Al2O3·SiO2·CaO‐based and Al2O3·SiO2·CaO·MgO‐based inclusions are much larger than those of the other types of inclusions. Part of SiO2 in the deoxidized products SiO2 can be reduced by [Al], resulting in the formation of the Al2O3·SiO2 composite inclusions. The SiO2 in Al2O3·SiO2 inclusions can continuously be reduced by the dissolved [Ca] to form the Al2O3·SiO2·CaO composite inclusions. The SiO2 in the Al2O3·SiO2·CaO inclusions can be reduced by the dissolved [Mg] to form the Al2O3·SiO2·CaO·MgO composite inclusions. Another formation process of Al2O3·SiO2·CaO·MgO inclusions is the entrapment of ladle slag in the vacuum degassing (VD) stage, due to the strong agitation of the rising Ar bubbles in the vacuum condition of the VD stage.
Bridging the gap between mathematical optimization and structural engineering: Design, experiments and numerical simulation of optimized concrete girders
Authors: Pressmair Nadine , Xia Yi , Wu Hongfei , Langelaar Matthijs , Hendriks Max A. N. , Majdouba Ahmad , Mogra Mihir , Grisaro Hezi , Amir Oded , Kromoser Benjamin
Published: April 2023

Concrete, as the most widely used construction material, is associated with a high environmental impact. Within the present study, structural optimization is the method of choice to counter this issue. The entire process, from optimization, to design, experiments and numerical simulation is outlined. Embedded in the framework of a design competition (Concrete Girder Optimization Competition 2021), a bridge between structural engineering and mathematical optimization is demonstrated. Two design concepts for optimized concrete girders, one with internal and one with external reinforcement, yet both based on strut‐and‐tie modeling, were investigated. Within the boundaries of the competition, several conclusions can be drawn: The results indicate the importance of an adequate structural interpretation of topology optimization results to obtain satisfying structural performance. The environmental evaluation outlines that the reinforcement mass has a substantial share in the total Global Warming Potential. A successful numerical re‐simulation of selected girders can serve as a modeling base for other researchers. Compared to a conventionally designed girder an increase in resource efficiency, measured by load‐carrying capacity versus environmental impact, of more than 30% was achieved.
HDAC2 exacerbates rheumatoid arthritis progression via the IL‐17‐CCL7 signaling pathway
Authors: Mao Dong , Jiang Hong , Zhang Fei , Yang Haoyu , Fang Xiaodong , Zhang Qian , Zhao Gang
Published: April 2023

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) have been reported to regulate the immune response in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The current study aimed to explore key HDACs and their molecular mechanism in RA. First, the expression of HDAC1, HDAC2, HDAC3 and HDAC8 in RA synovial tissue was determined by qRT‐PCR. The effects of HDAC2 on the proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of fibroblast‐like synoviocytes (FLS) in vitro were studied. Furthermore, collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA) rat models were established to evaluate the severity of arthritis in joints, and the levels of inflammatory factors were examined by immunohistochemistry staining, ELISA, and qRT‐PCR. Transcriptome sequencing was used to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with HDAC2 silencing in the synovial tissue of CIA rat, and downstream signaling pathways were predicted by enrichment analysis. The results showed that HDAC2 was highly expressed in the synovial tissue of RA patients and CIA rats. Overexpressed HDAC2 promoted FLS proliferation, migration, and invasion and inhibited FLS apoptosis in vitro, resulting in secretion of inflammatory factors and RA exacerbation in vivo. There were 176 DEGs, including 57 downregulated and 119 upregulated genes, after silencing HDAC2 in CIA rats. DEGs were primarily enriched in Platinum drug resistance, IL‐17 as well as the PI3K‐Akt signaling pathways. CCL7, which was implicated in the IL‐17 signaling pathway, was downregulated after HDAC2 silencing. Furthermore, CCL7 overexpression aggravated the development of RA, which was demonstrated to be effectively attenuated by HDAC2 suppression. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that HDAC2 exacerbated the progression of RA by regulating the IL‐17‐CCL7 signaling pathway, suggesting that HDAC2 may be a promising therapeutic target for RA treatment.
Leveraging Lesson Study for Disciplinary Literacy: Studying and Planning for Scientific Modeling
Authors: Chandler‐Olcott Kelly , Dotger Sharon
Published: April 2023

This paper argues that the plan and study phases of lesson study are productive in helping educators with varied expertise and experience to explore scientific practices like modeling with ties to disciplinary literacy. Points are illustrated with data from a lesson‐study cycle in science that two university‐based teacher educators, one in literacy education and one in science education, conducted with colleagues from a nearby school district. The paper describes lesson study; outlines the role of scientific practices, including modeling, in the Next Generation Science Standards; and describes the context for the work, including the unit explored by the team. Recommendations about how to leverage the plan and study phases of lesson study for disciplinary literacy are offered, along with suggestions for getting started with such work.
Cerebroplacental hemodynamics in fetuses with transposition of the great arteries and usefulness in predicting neonatal condition
Authors: Grzyb A. , Szymkiewicz‐Dangel J.
Published: April 2023

Objectives

Literature on cerebroplacental hemodynamics in fetuses with transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is scarce and provides conflicting results regarding the presence of a brain‐sparing effect. The aims of this study were to examine Doppler parameters in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and umbilical artery (UA) in a large cohort of fetuses with TGA, and to assess their possible utility in predicting the need for urgent balloon atrial septostomy (BAS) in the neonate.

Methods

This was a retrospective observational study of fetuses diagnosed with TGA between 2008 and 2022 and an age‐matched cohort of normal fetuses, conducted in a single tertiary fetal cardiology center. Medical records and echocardiographic examinations were reviewed to collect demographic, sonographic and follow‐up data. Selected Doppler parameters were compared between fetuses with TGA and normal fetuses, as well as between TGA fetuses with and those without an associated ventricular septal defect (VSD), to assess the impact of this congenital heart defect on cerebroplacental circulation. Additionally, Doppler indices in patients with a restrictive foramen ovale (FO) were analyzed to identify potential predictors of the need for urgent BAS.

Results

A total of 541 examinations of 159 fetuses with TGA performed between 19 and 40 weeks' gestation and 1300 examinations of 1215 age‐matched normal fetuses were included in the study. MCA pulsatility index (PI) and UA‐PI followed expected trends throughout pregnancy, with slightly higher values observed in TGA fetuses, albeit within the limits for the normal population. Cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) values were similar in normal and TGA fetuses. The presence of a small VSD did not have a clinically significant impact on Doppler parameters. Peak systolic velocity (PSV) in the MCA increased gradually after 35 weeks' gestation, especially in fetuses that did not develop restriction of the FO after birth. MCA‐PSV values below 1.16 multiples of the median measured at 38 weeks or later predicted the need for urgent BAS with 81.4% sensitivity and 52.4% specificity.

Conclusions

MCA‐PI, UA‐PI and CPR values in fetuses with TGA usually fall within normal limits throughout pregnancy. The presence of a small VSD does not affect the Doppler parameters significantly. MCA‐PSV increases in TGA fetuses after 35 weeks, and its value measured at the last prenatal examination (ideally after 37 weeks) may serve as an additional predictive factor for the need for urgent BAS. © 2023 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Fetal neurosonography as accurate tool for diagnosis of brain involvement in tuberous sclerosis
Authors: Malinger G. , Prabhu A. , Maroto González A. , Brusilov M. , Kidron D. , Amster R. , Birnbaum R. , Krajden Haratz K.
Published: April 2023

Objective

To demonstrate the potential utility of dedicated neurosonography for the diagnosis of fetal brain involvement in tuberous sclerosis complex.

Methods

This was a multicenter retrospective study of fetuses at high risk for tuberous sclerosis complex. Dedicated neurosonographic, fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and postnatal reports were reviewed. Data collected included reason for referral, gestational age at which cardiac rhabdomyoma was first suspected and final number of cardiac rhabdomyomas detected on dedicated imaging. We searched for tuberous sclerosis complex‐related brain involvement, defined as the presence of one or more of the following findings: white‐matter lesions; subependymal nodules; cortical/subcortical tubers; and subependymal giant‐cell astrocytoma.

Results

We included 20 patients at high risk of tuberous sclerosis complex, of whom 19 were referred for the presence of cardiac rhabdomyomas and one for a deletion in chromosome 16 involving the tuberous sclerosis complex gene locus. Cardiac rhabdomyomas were diagnosed at a mean gestational age of 27 + 2 weeks (range, 16 + 0 to 36 + 3 weeks) and the mean number of cardiac rhabdomyomas per patient was 4 (range, 1–10). Brain involvement was present in 15 fetuses, in 13 of which the disease was confirmed in one or more of the following ways: chromosomal microarray analysis (n = 1), exome sequencing (n = 7), autopsy (n = 4), clinical tuberous sclerosis complex in the newborn (n = 4) and a sibling diagnosed with clinical tuberous sclerosis complex (n = 1). In two cases, the disease could not be confirmed: one was lost to follow‐up and autopsy, following termination of pregnancy, was not performed in the other. Among the five cases without brain findings, tuberous sclerosis complex was confirmed in three by exome sequencing (n = 2) and/or autopsy findings (n = 2). The two remaining cases had normal exome sequencing; one case had five cardiac rhabdomyomas, which was a highly suggestive finding, while in the final case, the autopsy was considered normal, representing the only false‐positive case in our cohort.

Conclusions

Contrary to current literature, dedicated neurosonography appears to be effective in the diagnosis of brain involvement in fetuses at risk of tuberous sclerosis complex and should be used as the first‐line approach. Although the number of cases in which MRI was performed was small, it seems that, in the presence of ultrasound findings, the added value of MRI is low. © 2023 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
European Lessons for the Governance of Long-Term Radioactive Waste Management
Authors: van Est Rinie , Arentsen Maarten
Published: April 2023

Based on the detailed analyses in the previous ten chapters, this chapter empirically answers the book’s central question: What lessons do the European country studies teach us about the governance of long-term radioactive waste management? The chapter develops the answer in 17 lessons structured along the dimensions of the governance ecosystem framework introduced and explained in chapter 1 of the book.
Long-Term Radioactive Waste Management in the Netherlands: Seeking Guidance for Decision-Making
Authors: Dekker Romy , Lagendijk Vincent , Walstock Roos , van Est Rinie
Published: April 2023

The Netherlands pursues a ‘dual strategy’—national and international—with regard to the management of radioactive waste and spent fuel. On the national level an above-ground facility was built in the 1990s to store radioactive waste for a period of at least 100 years. By around the year 2130 a geological disposal facility is envisaged to be operational. The Netherlands also pursues an international strategy, which leaves the possibility open for collaboration with other European Union Member States to establish a shared geological disposal facility. Currently, the country’s radioactive waste policy lacks a concrete step-by-step decision-making process to implement the above dual strategy. This chapter identifies several decision-making challenges that need to be addressed, such as clarifying the principles of retrievability and reversibility, setting up criteria to reserve potential search locations for a geological disposal facility, developing a long-term, integral, participatory knowledge agenda, strengthening the knowledge landscape and developing a participatory decision-making process that enjoys public and political support.
The Sociocultural Significance of Homeownership in Brunei Darussalam
Authors: Hassan Noor Hasharina
Published: April 2023

Houses matter to Bruneians. However, there are varying values and meanings attached to a house depending on spatial and cultural differences, which influence people’s urgency to become homeowners. Governance, consumption patterns and sociocultural institutions shape how consumers value housing and influence their desire to become homeowners. This chapter suggests that Brunei Darussalam’s housing development and culture are unique compared to societies that have undergone significant financial liberalisation such as Britain and the United States. Financial liberalisation or financialisation involve governments reducing their restrictions on financial institutions and the financial markets. Based on qualitative research that involved 210 structured interviews, six in-depth interviews and secondary data, this study identifies the variables that influence the culture of homeownership in Brunei.
Older Malay Muslim Women in Brunei Darussalam: A Non-Western Conception of Aging
Authors: Jaidin Izzati
Published: April 2023

This chapter examines older Muslim women from a postcolonial perspective and details the relevance of spirituality to aging in Brunei Darussalam. Ten Malay Muslim women aged 60–76 were interviewed in conjunction with photo-elicitation to gauge their everyday experiences of aging. Participant data indicate that aging among these women is largely viewed as a gift from God but that in practice embracing this gift is not always straightforward. The discussion considers the ways in which these women’s experience of aging is mediated by societal influences, such as Malay cultural and religious values, interdependence of familial organisation through expectations of filial piety, social rapport and networks. Recounting their experiences provides a nuanced appreciation of aging among Malay Muslim women that adds further texture to our understanding of aging in non-Western contexts.
Holographic duals of the $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 1* gauge theory
Authors: Armas Jay , Batzios Giorgos , van der Schaar Jan Pieter
Published: April 2023

Abstract

We use the long-wavelength effective theory of black branes (blackfold approach) to perturbatively construct holographic duals of the vacua of the $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 1* supersymmetric gauge theory. Employing the mechanism of Polchinski and Strassler, we consider wrapped black five-brane probes with D3-brane charge moving in the perturbative supergravity back-grounds corresponding to the high- and low-temperature phases of the gauge theory. Our approach recovers the results for the brane potentials and equilibrium configurations known in the literature in the extremal limit, while away from extremality we find metastable black D3-NS5 configurations with horizon topology ℝ3 × 𝕊2 × 𝕊3 in certain regimes of parameter space, which cloak potential brane singularities. We uncover novel features of the phase diagram of the $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 1* gauge theory in different ensembles and provide further evidence for the appearance of metastable states in holographic backgrounds dual to confining gauge theories.
Nonlocal doubly nonlinear diffusion problems with nonlinear boundary conditions
Authors: Solera Marcos , Toledo Julián
Published: April 2023

We study the existence and uniqueness of mild and strong solutions of nonlocal nonlinear diffusion problems ofp-Laplacian type with nonlinear boundary conditions posed in metric random walk spaces. These spaces include, among others, weighted discrete graphs and$$\mathbb {R}^N$$RNwith a random walk induced by a nonsingular kernel. We also study the case of nonlinear dynamical boundary conditions. The generality of the nonlinearities considered allows us to cover the nonlocal counterparts of a large scope of local diffusion problems like, for example, Stefan problems, Hele–Shaw problems, diffusion in porous media problems and obstacle problems. Nonlinear semigroup theory is the basis for this study.
Enhancing the interfacial bonding strength between 3D-printed aluminium substrates and carbon fibre–reinforced polymers
Authors: Abdoli Hamed , Chan Yuk Lun , Diegel Olaf , Allen Tom , Battley Mark , Bickerton Simon
Published: April 2023

Carbon fibre–reinforced polymers (CFRP) are increasingly utilised as materials within hybrid components in combination with plastics and metals. Although hybrid components provide a combination of advantages from the constituent materials, there are some challenges for the manufacture of high-quality hybrid components, including weak interface bonding between the constituent materials. This research focuses on utilising additive manufacturing (AM) technology to control an aluminium substrate's surface features to enhance interfacial bonding with a CFRP laminate. For this purpose, different surface structures were designed and manufactured using laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) technology to understand the influence of surface geometry and roughness on the interface. A lattice structure with a unit cell size of 3 × 3 × 1.5 mm was manufactured to create a substrate surface with porosity. A second substrate surface was designed with the same lattice structure; however, the voids were filled to present an equivalent surface topology (EST), excluding porosity. This comparison provides an understanding of the influence of the porosity of the substrate surface on interfacial bonding strength. Interfacial bonding between the aluminium substrates and a CFRP laminate was assessed using short beam strength (SBS) and flatwise tensile tests. The results from the SBS testing indicated a 3D-printed substrate with random surface roughness increased the interlaminar shear strength of the hybrid component by almost 200% compared to a hybrid laminate with non-printed substrate. The results from flatwise tensile tests illustrated that the out-of-plane bonding strength can also be improved significantly (almost 100%).
Commissural misalignment independently predicts leaflet thrombosis after transcatheter aortic valve implantation
Authors: Jung Susanne , Ammon Fabian , Smolka Silvia , Moshage Maximilian , Marwan Mohamed , Achenbach Stephan
Published: April 2023

Aims

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become a minimally invasive alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement. Hypo-attenuated leaflet thickening (HALT)—a marker of subclinical leaflet thrombosis commonly detected by cardiac computed tomography (CT) after TAVI—may influence valve durability and function. The purpose of this study was to compare commissural alignment of the native and prosthetic aortic valves in cardiac CT in subjects with and without HALT and thereby identify commissural misalignment as potential predictor for leaflet thrombosis after TAVI.

Methods and results

In 170 subjects, 85 with and 85 without HALT in post-TAVI CT, commissural orientation of the prosthesis was determined comparing native and prosthetic aortic valve orientation in cardiac CT by measuring the commissural angle relative to the right coronary ostium in the aortic valve plane. For the prosthetic valve, any deviation ≤ 15° compared to the native valve was classified as “aligned”; 16–30° as “mild”, 31–45° as “moderate” and ≥ 45° as “severe” misalignment.

Among subjects with HALT, median angular deviation was higher (36°, IQR 31°) than in the control group (29°, IQR 29°, p = 0.042). “Severe” misalignment was more frequent in subjects who developed HALT (n = 31, 37%) compared to the control group (n = 17, 20%, p = 0.013). In logistic regression analysis, more severe deviation (p = 0.015, OR = 1.02 per 1° deviation) and “severe” misalignment (p = 0.018, OR = 2.2) represented independent predictors for the occurrence of HALT after TAVI.

Conclusion

Subclinical leaflet thrombosis after TAVI is associated with commissural misalignment. Potential clinical advantages of obtaining commissural alignment remain to be systematically assessed.

Graphical abstract

Association of HALT with commissural misalignment after TAVI. HALT hypo-attenuated leaflet thickening, IQR interquartile range, TAVI transfemoral aortic valve replacement
DNA methylation signatures for chromatinopathies: current challenges and future applications
Authors: Awamleh Zain , Goodman Sarah , Choufani Sanaa , Weksberg Rosanna
Published: April 2023

Pathogenic variants in genes that encode epigenetic regulators are the cause for more than 100 rare neurodevelopmental syndromes also termed “chromatinopathies”. DNA methylation signatures, syndrome-specific patterns of DNA methylation alterations, serve as both a research avenue for elucidating disease pathophysiology and a clinical diagnostic tool. The latter is well established, especially for the classification of variants of uncertain significance (VUS). In this perspective, we describe the seminal DNA methylation signature research in chromatinopathies; the complex relationships between genotype, phenotype and DNA methylation, and the future applications of DNA methylation signatures.
Genetic control of generative cell shape by DUO1 in Arabidopsis
Authors: Rauf Abdur , Khatab Hoda , Borg Michael , Twell David
Published: April 2023

Key message

The main features of generative cell morphogenesis, formation of a cytoplasmic projection and elongation of the GC body, operate through independent genetic pathways.

Male gametogenesis in developing angiosperm pollen involves distinctive changes in cell morphogenesis. Re-shaping and elongation of the generative cell (GC) are linked to the formation of a GC cytoplasmic projection connected to the vegetative cell nucleus. Although genetic control of GC morphogenesis is unknown, we suspected the involvement of the germline-specific MYB transcription factor DUO POLLEN1 (DUO1). We used light and fluorescence microscopy to examine male germline development in pollen of wild-type Arabidopsis and in four allelic duo1 mutants expressing introduced cell markers. Our analysis shows that the undivided GC in duo1 pollen forms a cytoplasmic projection, but the cell body fails to elongate. In contrast GCs of cyclin-dependent kinase function mutants, which fail to divide like duo1 mutants, achieve normal morphogenesis. We conclude that DUO1 has an essential role in the elongation of the GC, but DUO1-independent pathways control the development of the GC cytoplasmic projection. The two main features of GC morphogenesis therefore operate through independently regulated genetic pathways.