bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metabolomic and Pathway Changes in Large‐Leaf, Middle‐Leaf and Small‐Leaf Cultivars of Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze var. niaowangensis
Authors: Wang Chunbo , Lyu Hui , Guo Zhiyou
Published: April 2021

As an economically important crop, tea is widely cultivated in more than 50 countries and has numerous health benefits. Metabolomics has considerable advantages in the analysis of small molecules and has been widely used in tea science. We applied a metabolomic method to evaluate the dynamic changes in metabolites and pathways in the large‐, middle‐ and small‐leaf cultivars of Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze var. niaowangensis grown in the same area from Yunwu Mountain. The results indicate that flavonoid biosynthesis, stilbenoid, diarylheptanoid and gingerol biosynthesis, citrate cycle (TCA cycle), and propanoate metabolism may play important roles in the differences among cultivars. The levels of tea polyphenols, flavonoids and amino acids may impact the sensory properties of teas of different cultivars. Our results may help to elucidate the mechanism underlying the difference in tea quality and offer references for the breeding of high‐quality tea cultivars.
Pt(IV) Anticancer Prodrugs – A Tale of Mice and Men
Authors: Gibson Dan
Published: April 2021

We would like to be able to design Pt(IV) prodrugs that can overcome resistance and minimize side effects. Unlike with the early exploration of Pt(II) anticancer agents where clear structure‐activity relationships were defined, even after more than two decades of research on Pt(IV) prodrugs, there is no roadmap that can point us to the holy grail. Despite many excellent rational endeavors, we still have not found the “right” two axial ligands to append to the Pt(IV) derivatives of platinum(II) drugs that will “make platinum great again”. So far this proved elusive, indicating that the design of Pt(IV) prodrugs is a difficult and frustrating task. Despite our better understanding of the biological processes and availability of advanced technologies, even our sophisticated rational plans often leave us disappointed and frustrated because at the end of the day, we are not able to outsmart the cancer cells or the mice, and just like Rosenberg, we might need to be rescued by serendipity.
Lithium‐Salt Controlled Electrolyte and Flower‐Like Cobalt Sulfide Cathode for High‐Performance Magnesium Lithium Dual Ion Batteries
Authors: Zhang Xu , Xu Hao , Yang Jisheng , Zhu Yuxiao , Lu Chong , Zhang Kemin , Weng Guoming , Zou Jianxin
Published: April 2021

Magnesium lithium dual ion batteries (MLIBs) possess the advantages of Mg anodes with low dendrite formation tendency, high volumetric capacity and abundant resources. The fast reaction kinetics of Li+ ions for the whole electrochemical redox processes contribute to provide high reversible capacity and long cycle life. In this study, we propose one type of MLIBs coupled with Mg anodes, flower‐like cobalt sulfide (CoS) cathodes, all‐phenyl complex (APC) and lithium chloride dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (THF) derived APC‐x LiCl/THF (x=0–0.8 mol L−1) electrolytes. By virtue of APC‐0.8 LiCl/THF electrolyte, the capacity of MLIB increases gradually to a high capacity of 507 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 and maintains a reversible capacity of 219 mAh g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 after 500 cycles. More significantly, Mg2+ and Li+ ions co‐conversion mechanism on the CoS cathodes is demonstrated for MLIBs. The systems studied here may offer insights in the design of MLIBs.
Certified corporate social responsibility? The current state of certified and decertified B Corps
Authors: Kim Yeuseung
Published: April 2021

In the age of accountability, companies are asked to communicate the social impact of their operations. Assessed by a nonprofit organization, B Lab, the B Impact Assessment (BIA) score is a rapidly growing third‐party evaluation for for‐profit companies. Using the publicly available 4061 company data provided by B Lab that spans across from 2007 to early 2020, this study provides the current state of the certified and decertified B Corps. The results show that the majority of the companies revisited the BIA every 2 years to recertify. Companies were likely to recertify especially after the third recertification, suggesting that earning the B Corp status can become routinized. The current study shows that the average attrition rate over the entire history of B Corps is 23.7% and the majority of the decertified operate with less than 10 employees. The currently certified companies had a higher overall BIA score than the decertified companies. However, other differences were not apparent.
Field‐programmable gate array‐based design for real‐time computation of ensemble empirical mode decomposition
Authors: Das Kaushik , Nath Pradhan Sambhu
Published: April 2021

Empirical mode decomposition (EMD) is considered as a suitable method when the signal to be analyzed is nonlinear or nonstationary in nature. But, EMD suffers from a problem known as mode mixing. To, reduce this problem, ensemble EMD (EEMD) was proposed. In this paper, we have presented a fast field‐programmable gate array (FPGA)‐based design for EEMD. Where calculation of output can be done in a parallel manner for different realizations. The design has a comparatively less execution time, and the execution time of the proposed EEMD design is even less than some state‐of‐the‐art EMD‐based design, although the architecture of EEMD is more complex, when compared with the EMD design. In this work, we have also performed an FPGA implementation of the EMD algorithm. The root mean square error (RMSE) and the correlation values of the intrinsic mode function (IMFs) obtained from the proposed EMD and EEMD designs are compared. The proposed FPGA‐based architecture of the EEMD algorithm is designed using Verilog‐hardware description language (HDL) and implemented on a Kintex‐7 FPGA. The EEMD architecture consists of cubic Hermite spline interpolation (CHSI) and cubic spline interpolation (CSI) for the envelope generation.
Thoughts on the evolution and ecological niche of diatoms
Authors: Behrenfeld Michael J. , Halsey Kimberly H. , Boss Emmanuel , Karp‐Boss Lee , Milligan Allen J. , Peers Graham
Published: April 2021

Diatoms are the most recent major algal lineage added to the geological record, appearing more than 200 million years ago. They are stramenopile protists resulting from a secondary endosymbiotic event that yielded the only photosynthetic protistan lineage expressing external siliceous cell wall structures called frustules. Many diatoms also have large internal vacuoles, and a common assumption in the literature is that success of the diatoms is largely attributable to these two morphological inventions: the frustule for defense and vacuole for luxury nutrient uptake. Here, we revisit the evolution of these inventions, propose sequential steps in frustule development, replace luxury nutrient uptake with predator defense and buoyancy control as the driver of vacuole expansion, and suggest that perhaps the greatest significance of the frustule for diatom evolution is the secondary consequence of enhancing sexual reproduction. In this synthesis, we emphasize a distinction between the “general” success of diatoms and the success of “bloom‐forming” species, as the physiological and morphological drivers of these successes differ. Importantly, the bloom‐forming species are responsible for the major role of diatoms in aquatic biogeochemical cycles. The bloom‐forming habit we ascribe to specific physiological attributes that, at their core, revolve around influencing the balance between diatom growth and losses to predators. We propose that these physiological adaptations are linked to size‐dependent maximum division rates in bloom‐forming diatoms, because of size scaling of predator–prey interactions. The existence of these bloom‐forming species yields an apparent allometric relationship that has previously been interpreted in terms of nutrient acquisition. Our analysis yields insights into species successions during blooms, considers the fundamental benefit of blooming (and subsequent sinking) from a reproductive standpoint, and provides some reinterpretation of diatoms success over geologic time and in the modern ocean.
Flexible Carbon Nanofibrous Membranes with Adjustable Hierarchical Porous Structure as High‐Capacity Anodes for Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Su Qi , Zeng Siyuan , Tang Mi , Zheng Zijian , Wang Zhengbang
Published: April 2021

Preparation of porous carbon nanofibrous membranes with excellent flexibilities and high Na ion storage capabilities to satisfy the demand of wearable energy storage devices remains challenging. Herein, a continuous and flexible porous carbon nanofibrous membrane is developed as anode material for sodium‐ion batteries by electrospinning a mixture of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and ultrafine zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF‐8) nanoparticles, followed by carbonization at 1200 °C. The intrinsic porous crystal structure of ZIF‐8 and their decomposition/volatilization at high temperature assist the generation of hierarchical micro‐meso pores that are homogeneously dispersed along the nanofibers, resulting in the good flexibility and excellent Na ion storage performance. Through controlling the ZIF‐8 content at 45%, the flexible anode enables a superior Na storage capacity of 418 mA h g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 with a remarkable plateau capacity of 278 mA h g−1. The superhigh plateau capacity could be credited to the large amounts of isolated closed micro‐meso pores, implying an adsorption‐filling sodium‐ion storage mechanism. These findings provide some inspiration for the design and construction of advanced porous carbon anode materials for flexible sodium‐ion batteries.
Assessing the Toxicity of Mine-Water Mixtures and the Effectiveness of Water Quality Guideline Values in Protecting Local Aquatic Species
Authors: Trenfield Melanie A. , Pease Ceiwen J. , Walker Samantha L. , Markich Scott J. , Humphrey Chris L. , van Dam Rick A. , Harford Andrew J.
Published: April 2021

Six tropical freshwater species were used to assess the toxicity of mine waters from a uranium mine adjacent to a World Heritage area in northern Australia. Key contaminants of potential concern for the mine were U, Mg, Mn, and total ammonia nitrogen (TAN). Direct toxicity assessments were carried out to assess whether the established site-specific guideline values for individual contaminants would be protective with the contaminants occurring as mixtures. Metal speciation was calculated for contaminants to determine which were the major contributors of toxicity, with 84 to 96% of Mg predicted in the free-ion form as Mg2+, and 76 to 92% of Mn predicted as Mn2+. Uranium, Al, and Cu were predicted to be strongly bound to fulvic acid. Uranium, Mg, Mn, and Cu were incorporated into concentration addition or independent action mixture toxicity models to compare the observed toxicity in each of the waters with predicted toxicity. For >90% of the data, mine-water toxicity was less than predicted by the concentration addition model. Instances where toxicity was greater than predicted were accompanied by exceedances of individual metal guideline values in all but one case (i.e., a Mg concentration within 10% of the guideline value). This indicates that existing individual water quality guideline values for U, Mg, Mn, and TAN would adequately protect ecosystems downstream of the mine. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:2334–2346. © 2021 Commonwealth of Australia. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry © 2021 SETAC

Abstract

The toxicity of contaminants in mine-water mixtures to a suite of tropical freshwater species. FA = fulvic acid.
The first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic and its impact on socioeconomic inequality in psychological distress in the UK
Authors: Davillas Apostolos , Jones Andrew M
Published: April 2021

We use data from the UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS) to compare measures of socioeconomic inequality in psychological distress, measured by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), before (Waves 9 and the Interim 2019 Wave) and during the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic (April to July 2020). Based on a caseness measure, the prevalence of psychological distress increased from 18.5% to 27.7% between the 2019 Wave and April 2020 with some reversion to earlier levels in subsequent months. Also, there was a systematic increase in total inequality in the Likert GHQ‐12 score. However, measures of relative socioeconomic inequality have not increased. A Shapley‐Shorrocks decomposition analysis shows that during the peak of the first wave of the pandemic (April 2020) other socioeconomic factors declined in their share of socioeconomic inequality, while age and gender account for a larger share. The most notable increase is evident for younger women. The contribution of working in an industry related to the COVID‐19 response played a small role at Wave 9 and the Interim 2019 Wave, but more than tripled its share in April 2020. As the first wave of COVID‐19 progressed, the contribution of demographics declined from their peak level in April and chronic health conditions, housing conditions, and neighbourhood characteristics increased their contributions to socioeconomic inequality.
The Transcriptional Coactivator, ALL1‐Fused Gene From Chromosome 9, Simultaneously Sustains Hypoxia Tolerance and Metabolic Advantages in Liver Cancer
Authors: Yu Hua , He Jun , Liu Wei , Feng Shuya , Gao Li , Xu Yingying , Zhang Yawei , Hou Xuyang , Zhou Yan , Yang Leping , Wang Xiongjun
Published: April 2021

Background and Aims

Proteins that recognize epigenetic modifications function as mediators to interpret epigenetic codes. Hypoxia response and metabolic rewiring are two major events during cancer progression. However, whether and how the epigenetic regulator integrates hypoxia response and metabolism together remain open for study.

Approach and Results

We data mined the clinical association of 33 histone lysine acetylation reader proteins with liver cancer and found that ALL1‐fused gene from chromosome 9 (AF9) is up‐regulated in cancer and correlates with tumor stage and poor prognosis. Conditional deletion of Af9 in mouse liver resulted in decreased tumor formation induced by c‐MET proto‐oncogene/β‐catenin. Loss of AF9 heavily impaired cell proliferation and completely blocked solid tumor formation. We further discovered that AF9 formed a positive feedback circuit with hypoxia‐inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF1α) and also stabilized MYC proto‐oncogene (cMyc). Mechanically, AF9 interacted with HIF1α and targeted HIF1A promoter whereas AF9 recognized cMyc acetylation at K148, protected cMyc phosphorylation at S62, and then stabilized cMyc, which, in turn, up‐regulates phosphofructokinase, platelet expression. Otherwise, knockout of Af9 in mouse hepatocytes increased the infiltration of CD8+ T cells, which is linked to the down‐regulation of lactate dehydrogenase A.

Conclusions

AF9 is up‐regulated to promote gene expression of hypoxia tolerance and glycolysis by simultaneously forming a complex with HIF1α and recognizing acetylated cMyc. Our results establish the oncogenic role of AF9 in human liver cancer, which could be a potential target for designing drugs against liver cancer.
Induction of labor using Foley catheter with weight attached versus without weight attached: A randomized control trial
Authors: Cherian Anne George , Marcus Tobey Ann , Sebastian Tunny , Rathore Swathi , Mathews Jiji Elizabeth
Published: April 2021

Objective

To assess the effectiveness in preventing cesarean section for failed induction by using Foley catheter for cervical ripening in comparison to Foley catheter with a weight attached to it.

Methods

A randomized control trial conducted between November 2018 and July 2020, which looked at induction of labor with 30‐ml Foley catheter in one arm and the Foley placed with a 500 ml weight attached to it in the other arm. Primary outcome was the cesarean section rate.

Results

We randomized 399 women. Modes of delivery were similar in both groups. Numbers undergoing cesarean section for failed induction were higher in the group that underwent induction with Foley with weight but this was not statistically significant (45.7% vs 26.5%, P = 0.1). There was a shorter time to expulsion of the Foley with weight attached (mean ± standard deviation: 2.6 ± 3.3 h vs 10.9 ± 3.2 h, P < 0.001) but this did not translate into a difference in time to active labor or time to delivery.

Conclusion

Placing a weight at the end of the Foley catheter for induction of labor does not affect the time to delivery or the rate of cesarean deliveries, although there is faster expulsion of the Foley.

Clinical trial registration no.: CTRI/2018/10/016154.
Green sonosynthesis of pyridopyrimidines using heterogeneous Pd‐containing catalysts anchored on a hybrid organic–inorganic surface of SBA‐15
Authors: Bakhtiari Atefeh , Safaei‐Ghomi Javad , Teymuri Raheleh
Published: April 2021

A novel functionalized Santa barbara amorphous (SBA)‐15 mesoporous silica has been prepared as a catalyst and characterized using X‐ray diffraction spectroscopy, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, field‐emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, temperature programmed desorption, N2 adsorption analysis, and differential thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The yield of the catalyst has been investigated by synthesizing a wide range of polyfunctionalized pyridopyrimidines. This method provides several advantages including excellent yields in short times, the reusability of the catalyst, low catalyst loading, and mild reaction conditions.
Heterogeneous additive‐free highly selective synthesis of 2,5‐bis(hydroxymethyl)furan over catalysts with ultra‐low Pt content
Authors: Vikanova Kseniia V , Chernova Marina S , Redina Elena A , Kapustin Gennady I , Tkachenko Olga P , Kustov Leonid M
Published: April 2021

Ultra‐low‐loaded supported Pt catalysts showed an extremely high activity in selective hydrogenation of bioavailable 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (5‐HMF) to the corresponding diol, i.e. 2,5‐bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (BHMF); among the synthesized catalysts with a Pt content varying in the range 0.025–0.25 wt%, the most active one appeared to be the sample 0.1% Pt/CeO2–ZrO2, which allows us to obtain BHMF with a 97% yield and 100% selectivity from 5‐HMF without the use of alkali or any other additives at a temperature of 170 °C and H2 pressure of 1 MPa, with the 5‐HMF:Pt ratio higher than 1000 mol mol–1. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Is food insecurity a barrier to dental student success?
Authors: Marshall Teresa A. , Zheng Rong , Anderson Cari L. , Handoo Nidhi , Qian Fang
Published: April 2021

Purpose

The prevalence of food insecurity among undergraduate students is higher than the national average and associated with adverse academic outcomes. Our objective was to describe the prevalence of food insecurity, food access behaviors, and associations between food security status and well‐being in a dental student population.

Methods

All dental students (N = 328) enrolled in the College of Dentistry at the University of Iowa in the fall 2019 semester were invited to participate. The survey was designed to query demographic variables, food security status (i.e., the United States Department of Agriculture's 10‐item Adult Food Security Module), and food‐ or hunger‐related well‐being (i.e., sleep, academic performance, and stress). The survey was administered using the Qualtrics survey platform. Following the initial invitation, students were sent two reminders and allowed 3 weeks for completion.

Results

The survey response rate was 24.7%. Forty‐seven percent of respondents were food insecure. Food insecure students were more likely to attend collegiate programming (e.g., lunch and learns) for the primary purpose of obtaining free food than their food secure peers (p <0.001). In addition, food insecure students were more likely to report experiencing food‐ or hunger‐related sleep (p = 0.001), study or academic performance (p <0.001), or stress difficulties than their food secure peers (p <0.001).

Conclusion

The prevalence of food insecurity in dental students was relatively high and associated with adverse food‐ and/or hunger‐related well‐being outcomes. Food insecurity might be a barrier to dental student success, compromising their immediate health and ability to learn.
Quantitative proteomic analysis of extracellular vesicle subgroups isolated by an optimized method combining polymer‐based precipitation and size exclusion chromatography
Authors: Martínez‐Greene Juan A. , Hernández‐Ortega Karina , Quiroz‐Baez Ricardo , Resendis‐Antonio Osbaldo , Pichardo‐Casas Israel , Sinclair David A. , Budnik Bogdan , Hidalgo‐Miranda Alfredo , Uribe‐Querol Eileen , Ramos‐Godínez María del Pilar , Martínez‐Martínez Eduardo
Published: April 2021

The molecular characterization of extracellular vesicles (EVs) has revealed a great heterogeneity in their composition at a cellular and tissue level. Current isolation methods fail to efficiently separate EV subtypes for proteomic and functional analysis. The aim of this study was to develop a reproducible and scalable isolation workflow to increase the yield and purity of EV preparations. Through a combination of polymer‐based precipitation and size exclusion chromatography (Pre‐SEC), we analyzed two subsets of EVs based on their CD9, CD63 and CD81 content and elution time. EVs were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and Western blot assays. To evaluate differences in protein composition between the early‐ and late‐eluting EV fractions, we performed a quantitative proteomic analysis of MDA‐MB‐468‐derived EVs. We identified 286 exclusive proteins in early‐eluting fractions and 148 proteins with a differential concentration between early‐ and late‐eluting fractions. A density gradient analysis further revealed EV heterogeneity within each analyzed subgroup. Through a systems biology approach, we found significant interactions among proteins contained in the EVs which suggest the existence of functional clusters related to specific biological processes. The workflow presented here allows the study of EV subtypes within a single cell type and contributes to standardizing the EV isolation for functional studies.
Diagnostic Performance of Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System Version 2017 Versus Version 2018 for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Comparative Studies
Authors: Kim Yeun‐Yoon , Lee Sunyoung , Shin Jaeseung , Son Won Jeong , Shin Hyejung , Lee Ji Eun , Hwang Jeong Ah , Chung Yong Eun , Choi Jin‐Young , Park Mi‐Suk
Published: April 2021

Background

The Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI‐RADS) is a comprehensive system for standardizing liver imaging in patients at risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Purpose

To systematically compare the performance of computed tomography (CT)/MRI LI‐RADS category 5 (LR‐5) for diagnosing HCC between versions 2017 and 2018.

Study Type

Systematic review and meta‐analysis.

Subjects

Six articles with 1181 lesions.

Field Strength/Sequence

1.5 T and 3.0 T.

Assessment

Data extraction was independently performed by two reviewers who identified and reviewed articles comparing the performance of LR‐5 for diagnosing HCC between CT/MRI LI‐RADS versions 2017 and 2018. Study and patient characteristics, index test characteristics, reference standards, and study outcomes were extracted from included studies. Risk of bias and concerns regarding applicability were evaluated using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies‐2 tool.

Statistical Tests

Bivariate random‐effects models were used to calculate the pooled per‐observation sensitivity and specificity of LR‐5 using both versions. The summary receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted. Meta‐regression analysis was performed to explore heterogeneity. A P‐value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant for all analyses other than heterogeneity, where the significance threshold was 0.1.

Results

The pooled per‐observation sensitivity of LR‐5 for diagnosing HCC did not show statistically significant difference between versions 2017 (60%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 49%–70%) and 2018 (67%; 95% CI, 56%–76%; P = 0.381). The pooled per‐observation specificities of LR‐5 were not significantly different between versions 2017 (92%; 95% CI, 90%–95%) and 2018 (91%; 95% CI, 88%–93%; P = 0.332). Meta‐regression analyses revealed that the most common underlying liver disease (hepatitis B or hepatitis C) was a significant factor contributing to the heterogeneity of sensitivities among studies for both versions.

Data Conclusion

In this meta‐analysis using intraindividual paired comparisons, the pooled sensitivity and pooled specificity of LR‐5 were not significantly different between 2017 and 2018 LI‐RADS versions.

Level of Evidence

3

Technical Efficacy

Stage 2
Role of equatorial central Pacific sea surface temperature in modulating rainfall over north India during Indian summer monsoon
Authors: Sahoo Monalisa , Yadav Ramesh Kumar
Published: April 2021

The summer monsoon season contributes about 80% of annual rainfall in the highly populated region of north India. The teleconnections moderating the variation of summer monsoon rainfall in this region are not satisfactorily understood. A pathway of the equatorial central Pacific sea surface temperature (PSST) influences the north India summer rainfall is revealed from the high‐resolution, more reliable, and state‐of‐the‐art 41‐year (1979–2019) observational data analysis and numerical experiment. The rise in PSST intensifies convection over the equatorial central Pacific with compensatory subsidence over the western equatorial Pacific. Consequently, a much broader and intense anomalous convergence is developed at the upper‐troposphere, which subsequently intensifies the Asian subtropical westerly jet‐stream. The Asian jet intensification strengthens the tropospheric wind shear at north India, as the low‐level monsoonal winds are easterlies over there. The strong wind shear restricts the convective activities in north India. These results are also confirmed using the CFSv2 model sensitivity experiment and a case study of the year 2010.
Detailed analysis of in‐hospital costs for adult patients with type III intestinal failure: A single‐center study with global implications
Authors: Siu Adrian H. Y. , Carey Sharon , Jones Lynn , Morton Rachael L. , Koh Cherry E.
Published: April 2021

Background

Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is the recommended treatment for patients with type III intestinal failure (IF). However, owing to IF's rarity, the economic cost of managing these patients is not well understood. These patients often develop complications resulting in readmissions, which in turn contribute to ongoing costs. This study aims to document the costs of type III IF within the hospital, from initial admission, including readmissions, and to compare incurred costs with current government reimbursement.

Methods

A retrospective study design reviewed costs and reimbursement for 25 consecutive patients commencing HPN at a quaternary hospital (October 2011 to September 2017). Hospital admissions were separated into the initial admission and readmission(s) period. Healthcare use and cost data were collected using electronic medical records. Hospital reimbursement costs were retrieved from Sydney Local Health District's Targeted Activity and Reporting Systems. Patient demographics were tabulated, and healthcare use and cost data were compared using Wilcoxon signed rank tests.

Results

The median cost of the initial hospital admission was substantially higher than the median reimbursement ($36,675; interquartile range [IQR], $23,196–$67,439 vs $19,247; IQR, $7485–$41,090; P < .001). Similar results were observed in the readmissions period, with median incurred costs of $13,898; (IQR, $11,151–$32,130) vs reimbursement of $8469 (IQR, $5625–$13,078) (P = .001).

Conclusion

Results indicate that type III IF patients have high inpatient costs, which substantially outweigh current reimbursement. Improved funding models are needed to ensure hospitals that accept the management challenge of type III IF patients are not unduly penalized.
A study of the determinants of psychologists' data sharing and open data badge adoption
Authors: Kim Youngseek
Published: April 2021

This research examines whether attitudinal, normative, and behavioural control factors affect psychologists' data sharing and open data badge adoption intentions. The results from the multivariate regression demonstrate that psychologists' (n = 338) data sharing and open data badge adoption intentions are commonly influenced by perceived community benefit, norm of data sharing, and perceived effort involved to share datasets. Additionally, psychologists' data sharing intentions are affected by additional, normative, and control factors including the norm of reciprocity, IRB requirements, and availability of data repositories. As it concerns open data badge adoption, psychologists are affected by additional attitudinal factors, including perceived academic reputation and risk. This research suggests psychologists' motivations to share data and for open data badge adoption differ, so different strategies are needed to better promote psychologists' data sharing and open data badge adoption.
Rapid Self‐Healing Supramoleular Gel Constructed from Pillar[5]arene
Authors: Zhang Qian , Li Ke‐Qing , Fan Lu‐Lu , Li Na , Li Jun , Guo Hai‐Ming
Published: April 2021

A copolymer with pillar[5]arenes as the pendant groups and a homoditopic guest bearing two triazole‐containing cyanoalkane groups are synthesized. Mixing the copolymers and the guests, a self‐healing gel comes into being. The gel self‐heals immediately and recovers completely within 90 s. It can respond to temperature and competitive molecules. It also exhibits favorable mechanical and remolding properties. Further investigations show that the strong host–guest interaction between pillar[5]arene and the guest is responsible for the excellent properties of the gel. Azobenzene motifs in guest may improve the hardness and moldability of the gel. As far as it is known, such rapid and efficient healing is unprecedented.
Multifunctional Adsorbent: Oleophobic Latex Sponge for Removing Dyes and Cu2+ from Sewage Waste
Authors: Qiu Liyan , Phule Ajit Dattatray , Wen Shibao , Zhang Xin , Chen Qi , Zhang Zhen Xiu
Published: April 2021

A latex sponge is modified by chitosan, tannic acid, and silane coupling agent KH550 to prepare an oleophobic sponge adsorbent, which can adsorb different kinds of charged dyes and Cu2+. The static adsorption capacity of the latex sponge before and after modification to methyl orange (MO) (negative charge), rhodamine B (RB) (neutral), methylene blue (MB) (positive charge), and Cu2+ under different initial concentration, pH, and reaction temperature are investigated, and simulations of adsorption kinetics and isotherms are performed. The modified latex sponge improves the overall adsorption capacity along with the initial concentration and increases reaction temperature. The adsorption capacity of the adsorbent expands; when the pH is low, it is beneficial to adsorb MO and RB, and when the pH is high, it is favorable for the adsorption of MB and Cu2+. Adsorption kinetics and isotherm data show that the isotherm dates of pure latex sponge conform to the Langmuir isotherm model, while the isotherm dates of modified latex sponge conform to the Freundich isotherm model; however both of them are more fitted with the pseudo‐second‐order adsorption model, and the chemical adsorption is the main one.
Self‐Assembly of Nonfrustrated ABCBA Linear Pentablock Terpolymers
Authors: Lo Yun‐Tse , Chang Chin‐Hung , Liu Hsuan‐Hung , Huang Ching‐I. , Shi An‐Chang
Published: April 2021

The effects of compositions, interaction parameters, and number of blocks on the self‐assembly of nonfrustrated ABCBA linear pentablock terpolymer melts are investigated and compared with the corresponding ABC linear triblock terpolymers using the self‐consistent field theory. For the case of symmetric interaction parameters (χABN = χBCN) and majority B‐blocks, both ABC triblocks and ABCBA pentablocks can form intriguing A‐ and C‐domains embedded in the B‐matrix. While these morphologies persist in the ABC systems when the segregation strength is decreased, the A blocks tend to mix with the B blocks in the ABCBA pentablocks due to the chain topology, resulting in the formation of C‐domains embedded in the AB‐mixed matrix. Different phase behavior is observed for the case of asymmetric interaction parameters (χABN < χBCN). Aside from the core–shell type structures, a number of morphologies arise due to the separation between C and AB‐mixed domains in ABCBA pentablock copolymers. The theoretical results not only capture the self‐assembling behavior of poly(isoprene‐b‐styrene‐b‐ethylene oxide‐b‐styrene‐b‐isoprene) pentablocks, but also provide concrete suggestions for designing diverse microstructures in the linear ABC‐type terpolymers.
Product market competition and cost stickiness: Evidence from China
Authors: Li Jia , Luo Zhengying
Published: April 2021

Product market competition affects management's resource allocation and cost adjustment decisions. It also affects cost stickiness. This paper looks at the impact of product market competition on cost stickiness in different economic environments. Using quasi natural experiment and the samples in Chinese capital market, this paper analyzes and tests these questions. We conclude that (1) in emerging markets, product market competition reduces cost stickiness. (2) For enterprises with differentiation strategy, the impact of product market competition on cost stickiness is not significantly weakened. (3) For enterprises with state‐owned property rights, the impact of product market competition on cost stickiness is significantly weakened. In addition, financial strength and industry competitive position also weak the impact of product market competition on cost stickiness.
Drought characteristics over Nepal Himalaya and their relationship with climatic indices
Authors: Sharma Shankar , Hamal Kalpana , Khadka Nitesh , Shrestha Dibas , Aryal Deepak , Thakuri Sudeep
Published: April 2021

Understanding drought characteristics is vital for sustainable societal and ecosystem functioning, especially in ongoing climate change. The study investigates the drought characteristics over the Nepal Himalaya using the standardized precipitation index (SPI) based on monthly precipitation data from 220 ground stations between 1980 and 2016 at seasonal and annual timescales. The results show that occurrences of drought are more frequent after the 2000s, intensifying their severity and duration. The cumulative probabilities of short‐term (SPI3) and long‐term (SPI12) drought during the period 1980–2016 were 17.1% and 23.5%, respectively. The short‐term drought over Nepal occurred with an average duration of 2.8 months and a severity of −4.3, whereas for long‐term drought the duration and severity were 8.6 months and −13.9, respectively. Meanwhile, the seasonal drought shows that the spring and autumn drought events were slightly higher than summer and winter drought. The wavelet power spectrum shows the variability signals of winter, spring and summer drought were 2–8 and 8–16 years; however, the autumn drought index only varied at 2–8 years. The NINO3.4 is the primary controlling mode of variability for summer and annual drought, whereas the dipole moment index (DMI) is used for the autumn drought at an interannual timescale. The decadal variability of summer and annual drought is linked with the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, whereas winter and spring drought are linked to the Arctic Oscillation. Furthermore, the study contributes to the understanding of the drought characteristics and its controlling factors of variability over Nepal.
Does renewable energy promote economic growth? Fresh evidence from South Asian economies
Authors: Ahmad Waheed , Majeed Muhammad Tariq
Published: April 2021

The present study investigates the effects of renewable energy, nonrenewable energy, and foreign direct investment (FDI) on output growth in the five South Asian economies. For this purpose, a panel growth model has developed over the period 1990–2018. Pedroni cointegration estimates indicate that renewable, nonrenewable energy, FDI, and gross domestic product (GDP) are cointegrated. The results from the panel fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) depict the nonrenewable energy stimulates output growth. FDI also has a positive impact on output growth. Besides, the empirical results confirm that renewable energy has a significant and positive impact on output growth in the South Asian economies. The findings suggest that South Asian economies should investment in renewable energy for sustainable economic development.
2‐Aminotrimesic Acid‐Functionalized Graphene Oxide‐Modified Screen‐Printed Electrodes for Sensitive Electrochemical Detection of Cardiac Marker Troponin I
Authors: Gupta Arushi , Kumar Sharma Sandeep , L. Sharma Amit , Deep Akash
Published: April 2021

An electrochemical impedance‐based immunosensor is reported for the sensitive detection of cardiac Troponin I (cTnI). The sensor is made up of the amine‐functionalized graphene oxide (GO)‐coated screen‐printed electrodes (SPEs). As a novel concept, GO is functionalized with aminotrimesic acid (1‐aminobenzene‐3,4,5‐tricarboxylic acid), which provides efficient water dispersion and desirable carboxyl functionality for subsequent biomodification with antibodies. Such a functionalized GO surface is useful to immobilize the anti‐cTnI antibodies efficiently and conveniently. The modification of antibodies is verified with spectroscopic and morphological investigations. Further, the application of the immunosensor electrodes toward the detection of cTnI is demonstrated through the measurements of Rct (charge transfer resistance) values in the presence of varying antigen concentration. The limit of detection (LOD) of the present method is 0.08 ng mL−1 with the range of detection as 0.1–100 ng mL−1. The specificity of the developed immunosensor is studied in the presence of ferritin, and bovine serum albumin (BSA). Thus, the herein proposed a new design of graphene‐based immunosensor is very convenient and offers highly selective and sensitive detection of cTnI.
Nickel‐Decorated Silver Nanowires for Polymer‐Based Magnetoelectric Composite
Authors: Martin Baptiste , Dantras Eric , Lonjon Antoine , Laffont Lydia , Lacabanne Colette
Published: April 2021

Polymer‐based magnetoelectric composites are processed with an intrinsic piezoelectric poly(vinylidenefluoride‐co‐trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF‐TrFE)) matrix and high‐aspect‐ratio magnetic nickel–decorated silver nanowires. These core/ shell wires are obtained by the polyol reduction of Ni2+ ions on high‐aspect‐ratio silver nanowires. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy analyses show a homogeneous and well‐crystallized nickel layer. Magnetic properties of the intrinsic particles and their composites are measured and show a strong enhancement of the coercive field compared to spherical Ni nanopowders. They also show the existence of strong magnetic anisotropy in the composites. The composites processed with a small amount of metallic particles (0.3 vol%) allow the maintaining of the P(VDF‐TrFE) crystalline phase and the ability of a macroscopic polarization. The latter is conducted under a 80 MV m−1 field, leading to a significant d33 (3.2 pC N−1). Thus, the magnetoelectric properties are analyzed and an important coupling coefficient αME equal to 1.8 V m−1 Oe−1 is measured.
Cerous Fluoride Dopant‐Free Electron‐Selective Contact for Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells
Authors: Wang Wenxian , Cai Lun , Meng Lanxiang , Zhang LinKun , Chen Nuo , Shen Hui , Liang Zongcun
Published: April 2021

Dopant‐free carrier‐selective contacts have drawn intensive attention for efficient crystalline silicon (c‐Si) photovoltaics due to the low‐temperature simple process and better carrier selectivity. By incorporating a thermally evaporated dielectric film cerium fluoride (CeF3) as the electron transport layer (ETL) between a c‐Si(n) and aluminum (Al) electrode, higher conversion efficiency of the crystalline silicon solar cell is obtained, which is 21.27% compared to 16.89% of a reference cell without CeF3. The insertion of an ultrathin CeF3 ETL helps in alleviating the strong Fermi‐level pinning at the interface, leading to better electron transport with a low contact resistivity of 10.96 mΩ cm2. The morphology and element distribution of the interface are also investigated by high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The primary results demonstrate that the utilization of kinds of lanthanide fluorides, including CeF3, offers a good choice for efficient and cost‐effective electron‐selective contacts for optical–electrical devices.
Replicability of studies following a dual‐criterion design
Authors: Rosenkranz Gerd K.
Published: April 2021

Replicability of results is regarded as the corner stone of science. Recent research seems to raise doubts about whether this requirement is generally fulfilled. Often, replicability of results is defined as repeating a statistically significant result. However, since significance may not imply scientific relevance, dual‐criterion study designs that take both aspects into account have been proposed and investigated during the last decade. Originally developed for proof‐of‐concept trials, the design could be appropriate for phase III trials as well. In fact, a dual‐criterion design has been requested for COVID‐19 vaccine applications by major health authorities. In this article, replicability of dual‐criterion designs is investigated. It turns out that the probability to replicate a significant and relevant result can become as low as 0.5. The replication probability increases if the effect estimator exceeds the minimum relevant effect in the original study by an extra amount.
Crystal Structure Induced Enhanced Afterglow Luminescence from Rare‐Earth Ion Doped Strontium Silicate Phosphors
Authors: Jaiswal Vishnu V. , Mishra Siju , Haranath D.
Published: April 2021

An orange‐red (∼610 nm) emitting Sr3SiO5:Eu2+,Zn2+,Dy3+ long afterglow phosphor was synthesized using high temperature (1100 °C–1500 °C) based solid‐state reaction method under controlled reducing atmosphere. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) study confirms the tetragonal lattice structure having space group P4/ncc. Scherrer's size plot and Williamson‐Hall methods have been applied to study the particle size distribution and inherent strain, respectively, using crystallographic data obtained from XRD patterns. Electron microscopy images showed the surface morphology with an average crystallite size of 0.412 μm. Furthermore, detailed luminescence study was performed to observe photoluminescence (PL) and afterglow characteristics. An optimal PL emission peak was registered at ∼610 nm when the phosphor was excited by visible blue (∼465 nm) light, which is due to the transitions from 4f65d1 to 4f7 energy levels of Eu2+ ions. The enhanced afterglow property of >20 minutes has been achieved for dark‐adapted human eyes, which could be utilized for designing strategic markings and signage boards that could glow in dark.
“I Trusted Her More Than I Trusted Myself”: The impact of academic advising on rural students’ sense of belonging in college
Authors: Yenney Caolfionn B.
Published: April 2021

This chapter explores the impact of academic advising on rural students’ sense of belonging in college and outlines opportunities to provide further institutional support for rural students.
Spatial inequality and social class: Suggestions for supporting rural students across social class backgrounds
Authors: Ardoin Sonja , McNamee Ty C.
Published: April 2021

This chapter offers insights about the varied social class backgrounds of rural students and how higher education professionals can recognize rural students’ different social class experiences and needs.
Text2Plot: Sentiment Analysis by Creating 2D Plot Representations of Texts
Authors: Dovdon Enkhzol , Batsuuri Suvdaa
Published: April 2021

We introduce a novel approach for generating 2D RGB color images with a plot from the micro text (tweet) to be used for the overall polarity classification process of sentiment analysis. Researchers generally use word embedding and external resource‐based embedding techniques for text preprocessing of sentiment analysis through machine learning, neural networks, and natural language processing approaches. We sought to identify alternative ways to represent tweets for text classification. According to the experimental results, using the new ‘Text2Plot’ representation method could increase F1 scores by 27.2% for Convolutional neural networks (CNNs), 10.3% for support vector machine, and 4.4% for random forest models compared to using simple vectors as features for sentiment analysis. Hence, we propose this new method as a useful text representation approach for sentiment analysis, natural language processing tasks, and image processing problems. © 2021 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Arecoline induces heart injure via Fas/Fas ligand apoptotic pathway in heart of Sprague–Dawley rat
Authors: Lin Wen‐Yuan , Tsai Bruce Chi‐Kang , Day Cecilia Hsuan , Chiu Ping‐Ling , Chen Ray‐Jade , Chen Michael Yu‐Chih , Padma V. Vijaya , Luk Hsiang‐Ning , Lee Hsiang‐Chen , Huang Chih‐Yang
Published: April 2021

Habitual chewing of areca nut increases the risk of cardiovascular disease mortality, but less report demonstrate the toxic mechanism of areca nut on heart. To investigate toxicity of areca nut on cardiomyocytes, we induced the heart injury with arecoline to evaluate the acute damage of areca nut on heart. Different concentrations of are coline (lowdosage: 5 mg/kg/day and high dosage 50 mg/kg/day) were injected into Sprague‐Dawley rat via intra‐peritoneal method for 21 days to create negative effects of arecoline on cardiomyocyte. Themyocardial architecture of the rat heart was observed. The arecoline‐induced apoptotic proteins were analysed via western blotting. The myocardialarchitecture of heart was injured with arecoline and TUNEL stain was also shown are coline‐induced cardiac apoptosis. Arecoline promoted the protein expression of both Fas dependent snd mitochondrial dependent apoptosis. In summary, arecoline induces cardiac toxicity and apoptosis by inducing both death receptor and mitochondria‐dependent apoptotic pathways on heart.
Cryosphere Applications
Authors: Hajnsek I. , Parrella G. , Marino A. , Eltoft T. , Necsoiu M. , Eriksson L. , Watanabe M.
Published: April 2021

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) provides large coverage and high resolution, and it has been proven to be sensitive to both surface and near-surface features related to accumulation, ablation, and metamorphism of snow and firn. Exploiting this sensitivity, SAR polarimetry and polarimetric interferometry found application to land ice for instance for the estimation of wave extinction (which relates to sub surface ice volume structure) and for the estimation of snow water equivalent (which relates to snow density and depth). After presenting these applications, the Chapter proceeds by reviewing applications of SAR polarimetry to sea ice for the classification of different ice types, the estimation of thickness, and the characterisation of its surface. Finally, an application to the characterisation of permafrost regions is considered. For each application, the used (model-based) decomposition and polarimetric parameters are critically described, and real data results from relevant airborne campaigns and space borne acquisitions are reported.