bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synergies between microsites of plant communities and steady‐stage alpine meadows on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Lin Li , Xu Xingliang , Cao Guangmin , Zhang Fawei , Li Yikang , Fan Bo , Li Qian , Huang Junjie
Published: September 2023

Background

Due to the effects of climate change and overgrazing in recent decades, alternative stable states in the alpine Kobresia meadow degradation process have coexisted in the same geographical and climatic environment, with variations occurring among microsites.

Methods

We used a space‐for‐time substitution approach to explore the synergies of microsite variation according to its numerical characteristics and the proportion of each stable state at various stages of succession in alpine Kobresia meadows on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau.

Results

(1) The highest average aboveground biomass in summer was 196.2 ± 20.3 g m−2, with significantly higher levels of biomass in ≤3.65 sheep unit ha−1 than in other levels of grazing intensity, while the parameters showed no significant differences among grazing intensity levels in >3.65 sheep unit ha−1. (2) The importance of plant functional groups, aboveground biomass, and niche breadth of Poaceae and Cyperaceae significantly decreased as the grazing intensity increased. (3) The effects of ≥0°C accumulated temperature, total precipitation, altitude, longitude, and latitude cumulatively contributed less than 20% of the variation in the distribution of functional group characteristics across microsites.

Conclusions

(1) Overgrazing decreases primary production in alpine Kobresia meadows, but ecosystem responses regulate plant community structure and botanical components so as to partially counteract grazing disturbance. (2) Overgrazing changed the proportion of microsites, which in turn led to regime shift in the plant community and subsequent synergies between the microsites of plant communities and their stable states.
Sub‐voxel quantitative susceptibility mapping for assessing whole‐brain magnetic susceptibility from ages 4 to 80
Authors: Lao Guoyan , Liu Qiangqiang , Li Zhenghao , Guan Xiaojun , Xu Xiaojun , Zhang Yuyao , Wei Hongjiang
Published: September 2023

The evolution of magnetic susceptibility of the brain is mainly determined by myelin in white matter (WM) and iron deposition in deep gray matter (DGM). However, existing imaging techniques have limited abilities to simultaneously quantify the myelination and iron deposition within a voxel throughout brain development and aging. For instance, the temporal trajectories of iron in the brain WM and myelination in DGM have not been investigated during the aging process. This study aimed to map the age‐related iron and myelin changes in the whole brain, encompassing myelin in DGM and iron deposition in WM, using a novel sub‐voxel quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) method. To achieve this, a cohort of 494 healthy adults (18–80 years old) was studied. The sub‐voxel QSM method was employed to obtain the paramagnetic and diamagnetic susceptibility based on the approximated map from acquired map. The linear relationship between and maps was established from the regression coefficients on a small cohort data acquired with both 3D gradient recalled echo data and mapping. Large cohort sub‐voxel susceptibility maps were used to create longitudinal and age‐specific atlases via group‐wise registration. To explore the differential developmental trajectories in the DGM and WM, we employed nonlinear models including exponential and Poisson functions, along with generalized additive models. The constructed atlases reveal the iron accumulation in the posterior part of the putamen and the gradual myelination process in the globus pallidus with aging. Interestingly, the developmental trajectories show that the rate of myelination differs among various DGM regions. Furthermore, the process of myelin synthesis is paralleled by an associated pattern of iron accumulation in the primary WM fiber bundles. In summary, our study offers significant insights into the distinctive developmental trajectories of iron in the brain's WM and myelination/demyelination in the DGM in vivo. These findings highlight the potential of using sub‐voxel QSM to uncover new perspectives in neuroscience and improve our understanding of whole‐brain myelination and iron deposit processes across the lifespan.
Simulating the impact of subsurface pipe drainage systems on crop water productivity at a regional scale in the upper Yellow River Basin
Authors: Xue Jing , Ren Li
Published: September 2023

Subsurface pipe drainage (SPD) could provide a suitable environment for crop production in arid and semi‐arid agricultural areas; however, less attention has been given to the design layout of SPD on the regional scale in Hetao Irrigation District (HID). In this study, the appropriate layout of the final subsurface pipe was determined using the distributed SWAP‐WOFOST (Soil–Water–Atmosphere–Plant and WOrld FOod STudies) model in HID. Subsequently, the impact of the proper SPD on crop yield and water productivity (WP) were evaluated. Finally, the crop zoning was adjusted to further enhance crop WP, and the corresponding newly added cultivated land area was preliminarily estimated based on the suggested SPD. The results indicated that after zoning in the suggested SPD, the annual average yields of spring wheat, spring corn and sunflower increased by 19%, 7% and 11%, respectively, and WP improved by 13%, 5% and 10%, respectively, compared to the traditional layout. The newly added cultivated land area was estimated to be approximately 3489 ha through the replacement of traditional end ditches with subsurface pipes in HID. Therefore, the suggested subsurface pipe designs and cropping pattern adjustment improved crop growth and led to an increase in the cultivated land area in HID.
Distributed economic forecasting system and its application in rural revitalization
Authors: Fu Yuze
Published: September 2023

Compared with the city, the rural area is large and the associated population disperses. Therefore, it needs to design a distributed scheme to collect and analysis the economic data. The federated learning can handle the economic data from different rural areas to protect primal economic data. This paper utilizes federated learning for economic forecasting which plays a very important role in rural revitalization. The proposed economic forecasting system consists of two parts: end nodes and cloud center. An end node is deployed in a village. The economic data of village is encrypted and villages only can communicate with other using encrypted data to avoid the leakage of primal data. The cloud center utilizes federated learning to jointly optimize the models in end nodes. During the processing of optimization, the transition between cloud center and end nodes is encrypted as well. The distributed economic forecasting system is evaluated on real data and achieves the expected results.
Narcissin induces developmental toxicity and cardiotoxicity in zebrafish embryos via Nrf2/HO‐1 and calcium signaling pathways
Authors: Gao Shuo , Zhou Chaoyi , Hou Linhua , Xu Kuo , Zhang Yun , Wang Xue , Li Jianheng , Liu Kechun , Xia Qing
Published: September 2023

Narcissin is a natural flavonoid from some edible and traditional medicinal plants. It has been proven to have multiple biological functions and exhibits potential therapeutic effects on hypertension, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease. However, the toxicity of narcissin is largely unknown. Here, we revealed that narcissin treatment led to reduced hatchability, increased malformation rate, shorter body length, and slowed blood flow in zebrafish. Furthermore, bradycardia, pericardial edema, increased SV‐BA distance, diminished stroke volume, ejection fraction, and ventricular short‐axis shortening rate were also found. A large accumulation of ROS, increased apoptotic cells, and histopathological changes were detected in the heart region. Moreover, the gene expression profiles and molecular docking analysis indicated that Nrf2/HO‐1 and calcium signaling pathways were involved in narcissin‐induced toxicity. In conclusion, here we provide the first evidence that demonstrates narcissin‐induced developmental toxicity and cardiotoxicity in zebrafish via Nrf2/HO‐1 and calcium signaling pathways for the first time.
Exposure to low dose of Bisphenol A (BPA) intensifies kidney oxidative stress, inflammatory factors expression and modulates Angiotensin II signaling under hypertensive milieu
Authors: Nagarajan Manigandan , Maadurshni Gobichettipalayam Balasubramaniam , Manivannan Jeganathan
Published: September 2023

Humans are constantly exposed to low concentrations of ubiquitous environmental pollutant, Bisphenol A (BPA). Due to the prevalence of hypertension (one of the major risk factors of cardiovascular disease [CVD]) in the population, it is necessary to explore the adverse effect of BPA under hypertension associated pathogenic milieu. The current study exposed the Nω‐nitro‐l‐arginine methyl ester (L‐NAME) induced hypertensive Wistar rats to low dose BPA (50 μg/kg) for 30 days period. In tissue samples immunohistochemistry, real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and enzymatic assays were conducted. Moreover, studies on primary kidney cell culture were employed to explore the impact of low dose of BPA exposure at nanomolar level (20−80 nM range) on renal cells through various fluorescence assays. The observed results illustrate that BPA exposure potentiates/aggravates hypertension induced tissue abnormalities (renal fibrosis), oxidative stress (ROS generation), elevated angiotensin‐converting enzyme activity, malfunction of the antioxidant and tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes, tissue lipid abnormalities and inflammatory factor expression (both messenger RNA and protein level of TNF‐α and IL‐6). Further, in vitro exposure of nM levels of BPA to primary kidney cells modulates oxidative stress (both superoxide and total ROS), mitochondrial physiology (reduced mitochondrial transmembrane potential—∆ψm) and lipid peroxidation in a dose dependent manner. In addition, angiotensin II induced ROS generation was aggravated further by BPA during coexposure in kidney cells. Therefore, during risk assessment, a precise investigation on BPA exposure in hypertensive (CVD vulnerable) populations is highly suggested.
Silencing long noncoding RNA LINC01133 suppresses pancreatic cancer through regulation of microRNA‐1299‐dependent IGF2BP3
Authors: Li Sumei , Jiang Fengru , Chen Feiyu , Deng Yinzhao , Huang Haiying
Published: September 2023

The deregulation of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) holds great potential in the treatment of multiple cancers, including pancreatic cancer (PC). However, the specific molecular mechanisms by which LINC01133 contributes to pancreatic cancer remain unknown. Subsequent to bioinformatics analysis, we predicted and analyzed differentially expressed lncRNAs, microRNAs, and genes in pancreatic cancer. We determined the expression patterns of LINC01133, miR‐1299, and insulin‐like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3) in pancreatic cancer cells, and validated their interactions through luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation assays. We implemented loss‐of‐function and gain‐of‐function experiments for LINC01133, miR‐1299, and IGF2BP3 to assay their potential effects on pancreatic cancer cell functions. We observed high expression of LINC01133 and IGF2BP3, but low expression of miR‐1299, in pancreatic cancer cells. Furthermore, we found that LINC01133 enhances IGF2BP3 through binding with miR‐1299. Silencing LINC01133 or IGF2BP3 and/or overexpressing miR‐1299 limited pancreatic cancer cell proliferation, invasion, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and suppressed tumorigenic abilities in mice lacking T cells (nude mice). Overall, our findings identified that silencing LINC01133 downregulates IGF2BP3 by upregulating miR‐1299 expression, ultimately leading to the prevention of pancreatic cancer.
Establishment of nucleic acid sensing pathways‐based model in predicting response to immunotherapy and targeted drug in hepatitis virus‐related hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Peng Xinhao , Shi Ying , Zhang Biqin , Xu Chuan , Lang Jinyi
Published: September 2023

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for 80% of liver cancers, while 70%–80% of HCC developed from chronic liver disease with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection as the major etiology. Immunotherapy is assuming a role as a pillar of HCC treatment, but the remarkable immune‐mediated responses are restricted in a minority of patients. Nucleic acid sensing (NAS) pathways are the central pathway of the innate immune system and antiviral immune response to viral infection, but their role in hepatitis virus‐related HCC remains undetermined. In our study, we performed a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis based on transcriptomic data of hepatitis virus related‐HCC tissues collected from multiple public data sets. Two subgroups were validated based on NAS‐related genes in virus‐related HCC patients, which were defined as NAS‐activated subgroups and NAS‐suppressed subgroups based on the expression of NAS‐related genes. On this basis, a NAS‐related risk score (NASRS) predictive model was established for risk stratification and prognosis prediction in the hepatitis virus‐related HCC (TCGA‐LIHC and ICGC cohorts). The predictive values of the NASRS in prognosis and immunotherapy were also verified in multiple data sets. A nomogram was also established to facilitate the clinical use of NASRS and demonstrate its effectiveness through different approaches. Additionally, six potential drugs binding to the core target of the NAS signature were predicted via molecular docking strategy. We subsequently evaluated the cytotoxic capabilities of potential drug in vitro and in vivo. Based on these results, we conclude that the NASRS model could serve as a power prognostic biomarker and predict responses to immunotherapy, which is meaningful in clinical decision‐making of hepatitis virus‐related HCC patients.
Effects of ultrasound‐assisted intermittent tumbling on the quality of cooked ham through modifying muscle structure and protein extraction
Authors: Zhang Ruyu , Yuan Jiayi , Zhang Wangang , Zeng Xianming
Published: September 2023

BACKGROUND

Tumbling treatment is widely used in the production of cooked ham. However, traditional intermittent tumbling (IT) treatment is time‐consuming. To enhance the tumbling efficiency, high‐intensity ultrasound was used to assist IT treatment (UIT).

RESULTS

UIT treatment reduced the tumbling time and significantly improved the water holding capacity, tenderness, sliceability and texture of cooked ham compared to IT treatment. Furthermore, more violent destruction of meat tissue was exhibited in the UIT treatment. This change facilitated extraction of more salt‐soluble protein, which in turn welded meat pieces tightly and improved the quality of the cooked ham.

CONCLUSION

UIT treatment could accelerate the tumbling process and enhance the quality of cooked ham. These results may provide guidance on effective strategies for a high‐quality meat production process. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Effects of exposure to carbon nanomaterials on soil microbial communities: A global meta‐analysis
Authors: Zuo Yutian , Zeng Wenzhi , Huang Jiesheng
Published: September 2023

Carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) are extensively employed in diverse fields and will inevitably be discharged into the soil to affect the soil microbial community. Numerous related studies have investigated the effects of exposure to CNMs on soil microbial communities, yet a consensus on their effects still needs to be discovered. This study conducted a global meta‐analysis by synthesizing 474 pairs of experiments from 20 screened publications in the literature from 2000 to 2022. The findings indicate that: exposure to CNMs significantly reduced microbial biomass carbon (MBC) by 17.02% and increased soil Shannon index by 2.63% (p < 0.05), which had no significant effect on soil microbial community composition and only reduced the proportion of Proteobacteria by 6.83%. The type of CNMs was one of the important influencing factors. The exposure to multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) significantly reduced the soil MBC (p < 0.05). It reduced the proportion of Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria in soil, which had less effect on soil microbial diversity and was more suitable as a crop growth promoter. The exposure of single‐walled carbon nanotubes exhibited a comparable impact on soil microbial biomass as MWCNTs while significantly increasing soil microbial diversity. The exposure of fullerene (C60) had no significant effect on soil microbial biomass but significantly decreased microbial diversity (p < 0.05). In addition, soil pH, CNMs exposure dose, and exposure time significantly affect the effects of CNMs (p < 0.05). This research recommends that CNMs be used in high pH soil with high electrical charge intensity while avoiding exposure doses exceeding 1000 mg/kg and limiting exposure time to 50–100 days to minimize long‐term exposure effects on the soil. MWCNTs are less toxic to microbial communities compared with the other CNMs and are more suitable as crop growth promoters. In conclusion, CNMs show great potential for promoting agricultural production.
Momentum‐Space Scattering Extremizations
Authors: Wen Chunchao , Zhang Jianfa , Qin Shiqiao , Zhu Zhihong , Liu Wei
Published: September 2023

Studies into scatterings of photonic structures have been so far overwhelmingly focused on their dependencies on the spatial and spectral morphologies of the incident waves. In contrast, evolutions of scattering properties through another parameter space of incident directions (momentum space) has not attracted sufficient attention, with the underlying general governing rules still unrevealed. Here, from the perspective of quasi‐normal modes (QNMs), the momentum‐space scattering extremizations with respect to varying incident directions of plane waves are investigated. It is revealed that for effective single‐QNM excitations, scatterings are maximized exactly along those directions where the QNM radiation reaches its maximum, with matched incident and radiation polarizations. For an arbitrary direction, when the incident polarization is tuned to be orthogonal to that of the mode radiation, the QNM cannot be excited and thus the scatterer becomes invisible with null scatterings. The principles revealed are protected by fundamental laws of reciprocity and energy conservation (optical theorem), which can be further expanded and applied for other branches of wave physics.
Deep Learning‐Enabled Pixel‐Super‐Resolved Quantitative Phase Microscopy from Single‐Shot Aliased Intensity Measurement
Authors: Zhou Jie , Jin Yanbo , Lu Linpeng , Zhou Shun , Ullah Habib , Sun Jiasong , Chen Qian , Ye Ran , Li Jiaji , Zuo Chao
Published: September 2023

A new technique of deep learning‐based pixel‐super‐resolved quantitative phase microscopy (DL‐SRQPI) is proposed, achieving rapid wide‐field high‐resolution and high‐throughput quantitative phase imaging (QPI) from single‐shot low‐resolution intensity measurement. By training a neural network with sufficiently paired low‐resolution intensity and high‐resolution phase data, the network is empowered with the capability to robustly reconstruct high‐quality phase information from a single frame of an aliased intensity image. As a graphics processing units‐accelerated computational method with minimal data requirement, DL‐SRQPI is well‐suited for live‐cell imaging and accomplishes high‐throughput long‐term dynamic phase reconstruction. The effectiveness and feasibility of DL‐SRQPI have been significantly demonstrated by comparing it with other traditional and learning‐based phase retrieval methods. The proposed method has been successfully implemented into the quantitative phase reconstruction of biological samples under bright‐field microscopes, overcoming pixel aliasing and improving the spatial‐bandwidth product significantly. The generalization ability of DL‐SRQPI is illustrated by phase reconstruction of Henrietta Lacks cells at various defocus distances and illumination patterns, and its high‐throughput anti‐aliased phase imaging performance is further experimentally validated. Given its capability of achieving pixel super‐resolved QPI from single‐shot intensity measurement over conventional bright‐field microscope hardware, the proposed approach is expected to be widely adopted in life science and biomedical workflows.
Widespread Bathyarchaeia encode a novel methyltransferase utilizing lignin‐derived aromatics
Authors: Yu Tiantian , Hu Haining , Zeng Xianhong , Wang Yinzhao , Pan Donald , Deng Longhui , Liang Lewen , Hou Jialin , Wang Fengping
Published: September 2023

Lignin degradation is a major process in the global carbon cycle across both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Bathyarchaeia, which are among the most abundant microorganisms in marine sediment, have been proposed to mediate anaerobic lignin degradation. However, the mechanism of bathyarchaeial lignin degradation remains unclear. Here, we report an enrichment culture of Bathyarchaeia, named Candidatus Baizosediminiarchaeum ligniniphilus DL1YTT001 (Ca. B. ligniniphilus), from coastal sediments that can grow with lignin as the sole organic carbon source under mesophilic anoxic conditions. Ca. B. ligniniphilus possesses and highly expresses novel methyltransferase 1 (MT1, mtgB) for transferring methoxyl groups from lignin monomers to cob(I)alamin. MtgBs have no homology with known microbial methyltransferases and are present only in bathyarchaeial lineages. Heterologous expression of the mtgB gene confirmed O‐demethylation activity. The mtgB genes were identified in metagenomic data sets from a wide range of coastal sediments, and they were highly expressed in coastal sediments from the East China Sea. These findings suggest that Bathyarchaeia, capable of O‐demethylation via their novel and specific methyltransferases, are ubiquitous in coastal sediments.
Analytical and numerical studies on dynamic of complexiton solution for complex nonlinear dispersive model
Authors: Phumichot Sivaporn , Kuntiya Waritsara , Poochinapan Kanyuta , Varnakovida Pariwate , Oonariya Chalump , Wongsaijai Ben
Published: September 2023

In this paper, we apply the basic one‐way propagator in order to introduce complex regularized long wave (RLW) equation. The complex RLW can be transformed into a system of nonlinear equations. By adopting a consequence nonlinear system, we can derive an energy conservation law of a complex regularized long wave equation. We then investigate how the Ansatz method may be applied to find a class of solitary wave solutions. Simultaneously, a numerical scheme for solving the model is implemented using a finite difference method based on the energy‐preserving Crank–Nicolson/Adams–Bashforth technique. It is worth mentioning that the obtained system is nonlinear. However, by using the present algorithm, we are able to linearize this system and solve it because of the implicit nature of the system of equations. An a priori estimate of the numerical solutions is derived to obtain a convergence and stability analysis; this yields second‐order accuracy in both time and space. Additionally, some numerical experiments verify computational efficiency. The results indicate that this method is an excellent way to preserve energy conservation, providing second‐order accuracy both in time and space with a maximum norm. In addition, we use the proposed scheme to study the effects of dispersive parameters when proceeding with an initial complex Gaussian condition.
Approximate controllability of time‐varying measure differential problem of second order with state‐dependent delay and noninstantaneous impulses
Authors: Kumar Surendra
Published: September 2023

It is comprehended that the systems without any limitation on their Zeno action are enthralled in a vast class of hybrid systems. This article is influenced by a new category of nonautonomous second‐order measure differential problems with state‐dependent delay (SDD) and noninstantaneous impulses (NIIs). Some new sufficient postulates are created that guarantee the solvability and approximate controllability. We employ the fixed point strategy and theory of Lebesgue–Stieltjes integral in the space of piecewise regulated functions. The measure of noncompactness is applied to establish the existence of a solution. Moreover, the measured differential equations generalize the ordinary impulsive differential equations. Thus, our findings are more prevalent than that encountered in the literature. At last, an example is comprised that exhibits the significance of the developed theory.
Timing of enteral nutrition and parenteral nutrition in the PICU
Authors: Fell Donna M. , Bitetto Emily A. , Skillman Heather E.
Published: September 2023

The timing of nutrition support initiation has the potential to positively impact nutrition and clinical outcomes in infants and children with critical illness. Early enteral nutrition within 24–48 h and attainment of both a 60% energy and protein goal by the end of the first week of pediatric intensive care unit admission are reported to be significantly associated with improved survival in large observational studies. The results of one randomized controlled trial demonstrated increased morbidity in infants and children with critical illness assigned to early vs delayed supplemental parenteral nutrition. Observational studies in this population also suggest increased mortality with exclusive parenteral nutrition and worse nutrition outcomes when parenteral nutrition is delayed. Subsequently, current nutrition support guidelines recommend early enteral nutrition and avoidance of early parenteral nutrition, although the available evidence used to create the guidelines was inadequate to inform bedside nutrition support practice to improve outcomes. These guidelines are limited by the included studies with small numbers and heterogeneity of patients and research design that confound study outcomes and interpretation. This article provides a narrative review of the timing of nutrition support on outcomes in infants and children with critical illness, strategies to optimize timing and adequacy of nutrition support, and literature gaps, including the timing of parenteral nutrition initiation for children with malnutrition and those with contraindications to enteral nutrition and accurate measurement of energy requirements.
Measuring growth in critically ill neonates and children
Authors: Bracken Julia M. , Pappas Lucy , Wilkins Jamie , Tracy Kelly , Al‐Rajabi Taiseer R. , Abdelhadi Ruba A.
Published: September 2023

Critical illness increases the risk of malnutrition in both infants and children. Malnutrition risk is multifactorial and includes premorbid factors as well as changes in nutrient metabolism and energy demands during critical illness. Inadequate nutrition has been linked to poor health outcomes and prolonged length of stay in the intensive care unit, demonstrating the importance of both recognizing and addressing malnutrition in this population. Assessing growth and identifying malnutrition requires methodical measurement of growth and a collaborative, multimodal approach to nutrition assessment. Among the nutrition assessment and growth evaluation tools, neonatal, preterm, pediatric, and disease‐specific growth charts remain an important component of growth assessment and should be used along with a nutrition‐focused physical examination. Routine measurement promotes the identification of potential growth delays that may require interventions. Indirect calorimetry adds an additional layer of detail for a complete picture of each infant or child's unique nutrition status and progress. Quality improvement research on a national level is urgently needed to assess the adequacy and availability of resources in neonatal and pediatric critical care units and to further the development of standard clinical outcome measures for nutrition assessment and intervention in the critically ill neonate and child.
Infant body composition: A comprehensive overview of assessment techniques, nutrition factors, and health outcomes
Authors: Jerome Maggie L. , Valcarce Vivian , Lach Laura , Itriago Elena , Salas Ariel A.
Published: September 2023

Body composition assessment is a valuable tool for clinical assessment and research that has implications for long‐term health. Unlike traditional measurements such as anthropometrics or body mass index, body composition assessments provide more accurate measures of body fatness and lean mass. Moreover, depending on the technique, they can offer insight into regional body composition, bone mineral density, and brown adipose tissue. Various methods of body composition assessment exist, including air displacement plethysmography, dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry, bioelectrical impedance, magnetic resonance imaging, D3 creatine, ultrasound, and skinfold thickness, each with its own strengths and limitations. In infants, several feeding practices and nutrition factors are associated with body composition outcomes, such as breast milk vs formula feeding, protein intake, breast milk composition, and postdischarge formulas for preterm infants. Longitudinal studies suggest that body composition in infancy predicts later body composition, obesity, and other cardiometabolic outcomes in childhood, making it a useful early marker of cardiometabolic health in both term and preterm infants. Emerging evidence also suggests that body composition during infancy predicts neurodevelopmental outcomes, particularly in preterm infants at high risk of neurodevelopmental impairment. The purpose of this narrative review is to provide clinicians and researchers with a comprehensive overview of body composition assessment techniques, summarize the links between specific nutrition practices and body composition in infancy, and describe the neurodevelopmental and cardiometabolic outcomes associated with body composition patterns in term and preterm infants.
Acoustic Noise Levels in High‐field Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scanners
Authors: Akbar Armaan F. , Sayyid Zahra N. , Roberts Dale C. , Hua Jun , Paez Adrian , Cao Di , Lauer Amanda M. , Ward Bryan K.
Published: September 2023

7‐Tesla (T) magnetic resonance imaging may allow for higher resolution images but may produce greater acoustic noise than 1.5‐ and 3‐T scanners. We sought to characterize the intensity of acoustic noise from 7‐ versus 3‐T scanners. A‐weighted sound pressure levels from 5 types of pulse sequences used for brain and inner ear imaging in 3‐ and 7‐T scanners were measured. Time‐averaged sound level and maximum sound levels generated for each sequence were compared. Time‐averaged sound levels exceeded 95 dB and reached maximums above 105 dB on the majority of 3‐ and 7‐T scans. The mean time‐averaged sound level and maximum sound level across pulse sequences were greater in 7‐ than 3‐T (105.6 vs 91.4, P = .01; 114.0 vs. 96.5 dB, P < .01). 7‐ and 3‐T magnetic resonance imaging scanners produce high levels of acoustic noise that exceed acceptable safety limits, emphasizing the need for active and passive noise protection.
Meso‐scale thermo‐magneto‐mechanical constitutive model for magneto‐active elastomers
Authors: Klausler Will , Kaliske Michael
Published: September 2023

Magneto‐active elastomers (MAE) are one of many emerging smart materials. They have applications in mechanical, civil and biomedical engineering as actuators, such as grippers, and dampers, such as tunable vibration absorbers. MAE consist of a soft polymeric matrix filled with micron‐sized magnetizable particles. Set in a magnetic field, the particles displace, stiffening the entire composite by up to three orders of magnitude.

The literature contains myriad purely magneto‐mechanical models for MAE. This contribution introduces a thermal component to enable prediction of heat generation in the composite due to oscillatory, visco‐elastic mechanical deformations. This model, formulated for three‐dimensional finite deformations, is capable of accurately modeling the behavior of incompressible materials through a Q1P0 finite element framework. Numerical simulations qualitatively show the capabilities of this model to describe the fully‐coupled thermo‐magneto‐mechanical response of MAE.
The prediction model for resistance of composite interference‐fit joint subjected to current strike
Authors: Zhu Yuchen , Cheng Hui , Bai Yunpeng , Liang Biao , Li Ximing , Deng Lichuan
Published: September 2023

Composite interference‐fit joints are widely used in aerospace due to their reliability and load‐bearing capacity. However, they are vulnerable to lightning damage. This analyzes the prediction resistance model of a composite interference‐fit joint subjected to a current strike, focusing on electrical conductivity. Analyzing various lightning strike stages, the study establishes analytical expressions for the initial resistance related to interference‐fit size and structural dimensions before the lightning strike. Additionally, the dynamic resistance change after the lightning strike is investigated, considering the influence of the current waveform. Non‐destructive tests are employed for verification and refinement. The findings reveal a correlation between the initial resistance and the interference‐fit size in pre‐strike stage, while both the interference‐fit size and the peak current influence the equivalent resistance under low lightning current conditions. Notably, an intermediate interference‐fit size provides a substantial protective gain for the composite connection. This approach eliminates the need for destructive tests and offers a dependable data reference for aircraft component assembly.
Plasma copeptin concentration is a predictor of tolvaptan efficacy in patients with hepatic ascites
Authors: Tomooka Fumimasa , Moriya Kei , Kubo Takahiro , Shibamoto Akihiko , Suzuki Jyunya , Iwai Satoshi , Takeda Soichi , Fujimoto Yuki , Enomoto Masahide , Murata Koji , Tsuji Yuki , Fujinaga Yukihisa , Kitagawa Koh , Nishimura Norihisa , Takaya Hiroaki , Kaji Kosuke , Kawaratani Hideto , Namisaki Tadashi , Akahane Takemi , Mitoro Akira , Yoshiji Hitoshi
Published: September 2023

Aims

No solid evidence‐based opinion was raised regarding predictors of the degree of ascites reduction with tolvaptan. This retrospective cohort study aimed to examine whether serum copeptin concentration is a useful predictor of this.

Methods

The study population consisted of 80 patients with liver cirrhosis treated with tolvaptan for hepatic ascites effusions at Nara Medical University Hospital from May 2014 to December 2018. Forty‐three patients who lost >1.5 kg of body weight in the first week after starting tolvaptan were classified as good responders and the remaining 37 as poor responders. Various laboratory parameters were measured immediately before the start of tolvaptan therapy to examine factors associated with predicting its efficacy.

Results

In the univariate analysis, no significant differences with respect to age (67.6 vs. 69.8 years, p > 0.05), sex, body mass index (24.8 vs. 23.7 kg/m2, p > 0.05), Child–Pugh score (9.4 vs. 9.7, p > 0.05), and Model for End‐stage Liver Disease score (11 vs. 12, p > 0.05) were found between the two groups. Conversely, aspartate transferase and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels were significantly lower in the good response group (52.9 ± 56.3 vs. 68.8 ± 50.7 U/L, p < 0.05; 26.2 ± 30.6 vs. 40.5 ± 33.5 U/L, p < 0.01), whereas serum copeptin and serum sodium concentrations were significantly higher (57.1 ± 15.0 vs. 45.8 ± 16.0 pg/mL, p < 0.01; 136.3 ± 3.4 vs. 133.8 ± 5.8 mEq/L, p < 0.05). In the multivariate analysis, serum copeptin concentration and ALT were statistically significant factors (p < 0.01, p < 0.05). Regression analysis of the association between the tolvaptan efficacy for refractory ascites and pretreatment serum copeptin concentration showed that a copeptin concentration cutoff of 45.9 pg/mL could predict treatment efficacy with a sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve of 76.7%, 59.5%, and 0.71%, respectively.

Conclusion

Serum copeptin concentration may be a predictor of tolvaptan efficacy for refractory ascites effusion in Japanese patients with liver cirrhosis.
Moving for proximity to family, care needs and the locations of family members: An analysis of matched survey and register data
Authors: Mulder Clara H. , Kooiman Niels
Published: September 2023

Proximity to family forms a quite common motivation for moving. Older adults' care needs may underlie this motivation, but little is known about the extent to which this is the case. We investigate how moving motivated by proximity to family is associated with (1) the residential locations of parents, siblings and children and (2) indicators of older adults' care needs. We employ data from five Netherlands' Housing Surveys (2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018) matched with register data. Uniquely, we use indicators of parents' formal care use in analyses for respondents aged 30–64, and own care use for respondents aged 65 and older. We find that, as hypothesised, those whose parents or children live far away are more likely to move for proximity reasons than others. However, we do not find such an association for siblings living far away. Contrary to expectations, respondents are more likely to report moving for proximity reasons if they have geographically distant parents who do not use care than if they have distant parents who do. We find no convincing evidence that older parents' own care needs induce moves motivated by proximity to family. Rather, own care needs induce moves that are motivated by health or a need for care but are mostly not directed towards family.
Mixed effects modeling of radiotherapy in combination with immune checkpoint blockade or inhibitors of theDNAdamage response pathway
Authors: Hodson David , Mistry Hitesh , Guzzetti Sofia , Davies Michael , Staniszewska Anna , Farrington Paul , Cadogan Elaine , Yates James , Aarons Leon , Ogungbenro Kayode
Published: September 2023

Dosage optimization to maximize efficacy and minimize toxicity is a potential issue when administering radiotherapy (RT) in combination with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) or inhibitors of the DNA Damage Response Pathway (DDRi) in the clinic. Preclinical models and mathematical modeling can help identify ideal dosage schedules to observe beneficial effects of a tri‐therapy. The aim of this study is to describe a mathematical model to capture the impact of RT in combination with inhibitors of the DNA Damage Response Pathway or blockade of the immune checkpoint protein – programmed death ligand 1 (PD‐L1). This model describes how RT mediated activation of antigen presenting cells can induce an increase in cytolytic T cells capable of targeting tumor cells, and how combination drugs can potentiate the immune response by inhibiting the rate of T cell exhaustion. The model was fitted using preclinical data, where MC38 tumors were treated in vivo with RT alone or in combination with anti‐PD‐L1 as well as with either olaparib or the ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) inhibitor—AZD0156. The model successfully described the observed data and goodness‐of‐fit, using visual predictive checks also confirmed a successful internal model validation for each treatment modality. The results demonstrated that the anti‐PD‐L1 effect in combination with RT was maximal in vivo and any additional benefit of DDRi at the given dosage and schedule used was undetectable. Model fit results indicated AZD0156 to be a more potent DDRi than olaparib. Simulations of alternative doses indicated that reducing efficacy of anti‐PD‐L1 by 68% would potentially provide evidence for a benefit of ATM inhibition in combination with ICB and increase the relative efficacy of tri‐therapy.
Sanitation conditions and education outcomes in Brazilian municipalities
Authors: Scriptore Moreira Juliana Souza , Azzoni Carlos Roberto , Menezes‐Filho Naercio
Published: September 2023

This article investigates the effect of sanitation on education at the municipal level in Brazilian cities. We measure the effect of the share of people living in households with access to piped water and a bathroom on educational indicators of the population aged 6–14. To take care of the well‐recognized endogeneity between sanitation and education, we estimate a panel‐data instrumental variable model. We use the municipalities that had their sanitation services privatized by other subnational instances as an instrumental variable. The results indicate that an increase of 1 percentage point in access to sanitation increases grade promotion rate by 0.334 pp., decreases age‐grade distortion rate by 0.464 pp., and decreases school dropout by 0.33 pp. We show evidence of complementarity between educational and sanitation policies, and the educational impacts of the latter can be used as leverage to convince politicians of the necessity to provide better water and sanitation conditions, especially to the poor population.
Post‐test diagnostic accuracy measures under tree ordering of disease classes
Authors: Samawi Hani , Alsharman Marwan , Keko Mario , Kersey Jing
Published: September 2023

The medical field commonly employs post‐test measures such as predictive values and likelihood ratios to assess diagnostic accuracy. Predictive values, including positive and negative values (PPV and NPV), indicate the probability that individuals have a target health condition based on test results. On the other hand, likelihood ratios, including positive and negative ratios (LR+ and LR− respectively), compare the probability of a particular test result between the diseased and non‐diseased groups. While predictive values are useful in evaluating diagnostic test accuracy in populations with varying disease prevalence, likelihood ratios provide a direct link between pre‐test and post‐test probabilities in specific patients. In this study, we introduce and analyze a new approach called generalized predictive values and likelihood ratios, using a tree ordering of disease classes. We evaluate the effectiveness of these methods through simulation studies and illustrate their use with real data on lung cancer.
In the View of Electrons Transfer and Energy Conversion: The Antimicrobial Activity and Cytotoxicity of Metal‐Based Nanomaterials and Their Applications
Authors: Ouyang Baixue , Wei Dun , Wu Bichao , Yan Lvji , Gang Haiying , Cao Yiyun , Chen Peng , Zhang Tingzheng , Wang Haiying
Published: September 2023

The global pandemic and excessive use of antibiotics have raised concerns about environmental health, and efforts are being made to develop alternative bactericidal agents for disinfection. Metal‐based nanomaterials and their derivatives have emerged as promising candidates for antibacterial agents due to their broad‐spectrum antibacterial activity, environmental friendliness, and excellent biocompatibility. However, the reported antibacterial mechanisms of these materials are complex and lack a comprehensive understanding from a coherent perspective. To address this issue, a new perspective is proposed in this review to demonstrate the toxic mechanisms and antibacterial activities of metal‐based nanomaterials in terms of energy conversion and electron transfer. First, the antimicrobial mechanisms of different metal‐based nanomaterials are discussed, and advanced research progresses are summarized. Then, the biological intelligence applications of these materials, such as biomedical implants, stimuli‐responsive electronic devices, and biological monitoring, are concluded based on trappable electrical signals from electron transfer. Finally, current improvement strategies, future challenges, and possible resolutions are outlined to provide new insights into understanding the antimicrobial behaviors of metal‐based materials and offer valuable inspiration and instructional suggestions for building future intelligent environmental health.
Interfacing Lanthanide Metal‐Organic Frameworks with ZnO Nanowires for Alternating Current Electroluminescence
Authors: Wei Xiaohe , Chun Fengjun , Liu Feihong , Zhang Xin , Zheng Weilin , Guo Yang , Xing Zhifeng , An Haiyan , Lei Dangyuan , Tang Yu , Yan Chun‐Hua , Wang Feng
Published: September 2023

Alternating current electroluminescence (ACEL) devices are attractive candidates in cost‐effective lighting, sensing, and flexible displays due to their uniform luminescence, stable performance, and outstanding deformability. However, ACEL devices have suffered from limited options for the light‐emitting layer, which presents a significant constraint in the progress of utilizing ACEL. Herein, a new class of ACEL phosphors based on lanthanide metal‐organic frameworks (Ln‐MOFs) is devised. A synthesis of lanthanide‐benzenetricarboxylate (Ln‐BTC) thin film on a brass grid substrate seeded with ZnO nanowires (NWs) as anchors is developed. The as‐synthesized Ln‐BTC thin film is employed as the emissive layer and shows visible electroluminescence driven by alternating current (2.9 V µm−1, 1 kHz) for the first time. Mechanistic investigations reveal that the Ln‐based ACEL stems from impact excitation by accelerated electrons from ZnO NWs. Fine‐tuning of the ACEL color is also demonstrated by controlling the Ln‐MOF compositions and introducing an extra ZnS emitting layer. The advances in these optical materials expand the application of ACEL devices in anti‐counterfeiting.
Thermal and mechanical performance of lightweight geopolymer concrete with pumice aggregate
Authors: Jamal Ahmed Salah , Bzeni Dillshad K. H. , Shi Jinyan
Published: September 2023

This study aims to prepare and assess the mechanical characteristics of fly ash (FA)‐based lightweight geopolymer concrete (LWGPC) utilizing pumice as a coarse aggregate. A comprehensive set of 16 LWGPC mixtures were synthesized. The first twelve mixtures produced with varying alkaline to FA ratio and varying proportions of coarse aggregates. The mixture proportion that has given the highest compressive strength (CS), was selected to create four other LWGPC mixes with water‐to‐solid ratios (w/s) ranging from 0.17 to 0.23. Fresh and mechanical properties as well as thermal conductivity (TC) of the LWGPC samples were examined. The experimental findings indicate an inverse relationship between the w/s ratio and mechanical properties of LWGPC samples. Notably, the mechanical properties attain their highest values at the lowest w/s ratio, primarily attributed to reduced porosity and higher concentration of alkali solution in the mixtures with lesser water content. The LWGPC achieved highest CS of 13 MPa, modulus of elasticity (ME) of 8.8 GPa, flexural strength (FS) of 2.2 MPa, and tensile splitting strength (TSS) of 1.64 MPa. The oven dry density (ODD) and TC values ranged from 1746 to 1815 kg/m3 and 0.119 to 0.131 W/m K, respectively. A low‐cost and eco‐friendly novel lightweight concrete composition with low TC was developed.