bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Azo‐hydrazone molecular switches: Synthesis and NMR conformational investigation
Authors: Kurutos Atanas , Kamounah Fadhil S. , Dobrikov Georgi M. , Pittelkow Michael , Sauer Stephan P. A. , Hansen Poul Erik
Published: April 2021

A series of five intramolecularly hydrogen‐bonded arylhydrazone (aryl = phenol, p‐nitrophenol, anisole, quinoline) derived molecular switches have been synthesized and characterized by NMR and HRMS techniques. It was found that the compounds exist as different isomers in solution. An investigation of both conformational and/or configurational changes of the azo‐hydrazone compounds was carried out by 1D 1H‐ and 13C‐ spectra, 2D NOESY, COSY, HSQC, and HMBC techniques. It was found that these stimuli‐responsive molecular switches exist mainly in the E form by intramolecularly hydrogen bonded between NH and the pyridine nitrogen at equilibrium. Deprotonation of the neutral E form yields the E′ deprotonated isomer. Prediction of 13C‐NMR chemical shifts was achieved by DFT quantum mechanical calculations. Anions have traditionally been difficult to calculate correctly, so calculations of the anion using different functionals, basis sets, and solvent effects are also included. Deuterium isotope effects on the 13C‐NMR chemical shifts were employed in the assignments and furthermore utilized as indicators of intramolecular hydrogen bonding. Studies in various organic solvents including CDCl3, CD3CN, and DMSO‐d6 were also performed aiming to monitor dynamic changes over several days. The effect of the hydrogen bonded solvents leads to Z forms.
Radial consolidation analysis of unsaturated soil with vertical drains under various cyclic loadings
Authors: Kim Pyol , Ri Myong‐Chol , Ri Kil‐Sang , Rim Myong‐Chol , Jong Song‐Guk
Published: April 2021

The pivotal aim of this research is to investigate the radial consolidation behavior of unsaturated soil by vertical drains under various cyclic loadings. Based on Fredlund and Hasan's consolidation theory for unsaturated soil, the governing equations for radial consolidation of unsaturated soil are converted into a set of conventional diffusion equations by introducing two new variables. Then, the general solutions for time‐dependent loading are derived under free‐strain condition and equal‐strain condition. Furthermore, the complete analytical solutions are proposed for different cyclic loadings such as haversine cyclic loading, trapezoidal cyclic loading, rectangular cyclic loading, and triangular cyclic loading. The proposed solutions are verified by comparing with those available in the literature as a limiting situation and the results show a quite good agreement. Finally, the effects of different parameters on the radial consolidation of unsaturated soil subjected to various cyclic loadings are graphically presented and examined.
A plane‐strain hydraulic fracture driven by a shear‐thinning Carreau fluid
Authors: Pereira Lucas , Lecampion Brice
Published: April 2021

We study the propagation of a plane‐strain hydraulic fracture driven by a shear thinning fluid following a Carreau rheology. We restrict to the impermeable medium case and quantify in details the impact on fracture growth of the shear‐thinning properties of the fluid between the low and high shear‐rates Newtonian limits. We derive several dimensionless numbers governing the evolution of the solution. The propagation notably depends on the ratio between the two limiting viscosities, the fluid shear‐thinning index, a dimensionless fracture toughness and a characteristic time‐scale capturing the instant at which the fluid inside the fracture reaches the low‐shear rate Newtonian plateau. We solve the problem numerically using Gauss‐Chebyshev methods for the spatial discretization of the coupled hydro‐mechanical problem and a fully implicit time integration scheme. The solution evolves from an early time self‐similar solution equals to the Newtonian one for the large‐shear rate viscosity to a late time self‐similar solution equals to the low‐shear rate Newtonian solution. The transition period (corresponding to the shear thinning part of the rheology) exhibits features similar to the power law rheology, albeit quantitatively different. Comparisons of hydraulic fracture growth predictions obtained with a power‐law model confirm its inadequacy for realistic fluids used in practice compared to the more physical Carreau rheology: the Newtonian plateau at high and low shear rates cannot be neglected.
A systematic review of human papillomavirus vaccination among US adolescents
Authors: Mansfield Lisa N. , Vance Ashlee , Nikpour Jacqueline A. , Gonzalez‐Guarda Rosa M.
Published: April 2021

The human papillomavirus (HPV) causes many anogenital and oral cancers affecting young adults in the United States. Vaccination during adolescence can prevent HPV‐associated cancers, but vaccine uptake among adolescents is low and influenced by factors serving as barriers and facilitators to HPV vaccination. In this systematic review, we synthesized research using the socioecological framework model to examine individual‐level, relationship‐level, community‐level, and societal‐level factors that influence HPV vaccine initiation and completion among US adolescents. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines were used to guide the methodology for this review. An electronic search was conducted in January 2020 using PubMed, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, ProQuest Central, Scopus, and American Psychological Association PsycInfo databases. The Joanna Briggs Institute tools were used to assess the quality for the 57 studies included in this review. The most consistent influences of HPV vaccination included age at vaccination, awareness, and knowledge about HPV vaccination, socioeconomic status, insurance status, race/ethnicity, and preventative care behaviors at the individual level. Provider recommendation, familial/peer support of vaccination, and parental health behaviors were influences at the relationship level. Although fewer findings elucidated community‐level and societal‐level influences, high‐poverty areas, high‐risk communities with large proportions of racial/ethnic minority groups, healthcare facilities servicing children, and combined health policies appear to serve as facilitators of HPV initiation and completion. Findings from this review can inform culturally relevant and age‐specific interventions and multi‐level policies aiming to improve HPV vaccination coverage in the United States.
CAN QUASI‐EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATIONS THAT RELY ON STATE LONGITUDINAL DATA SYSTEMS REPLICATE EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS?
Authors: Unlu Fatih , Lauen Douglas Lee , Fuller Sarah Crittenden , Berglund Tiffany , Estrera Elc
Published: April 2021

Do quasi‐experimental (QE) studies conducted with baseline covariates that are typically available in the longitudinal administrative state databases yield unbiased effect estimates? This paper conducts a within‐study comparison (WSC) study that compares experimental impacts of early college high school (ECHS) attendance with QE impacts drawn from the state and locales. We find that (1) QE models for outcomes with natural (matching) pretests replicated the randomized benchmarks quite well; (2) the replication bias is not sensitive to type of propensity score model or method; and (3) imposing locational restrictions (i.e., local matching) on the comparison students––specifically choosing them from among non‐treatment students who came from the same feeder middle schools as the treatment students––does not decrease the QE bias; on the contrary, it performed worse than the models that did not impose this restriction for most outcomes. The first two findings are generally consistent with other education WSCs while the third one is not, suggesting that in cases where selection may be driven by individual‐level factors, such as this one, local matching may yield biased treatment effect estimates by greatly reducing the pool of potential comparison units and distorting balance on unobservable confounders while prioritizing balance on observable factors.
In situ growth of the ZIF‐8 on the polymer monolith via CO2‐in‐water HIPEs stabilized using metal oxide nanoparticles and its photocatalytic activity
Authors: Niu Hong‐yan , Cao Li‐qin , Yang Xu‐le , Liu Kai‐nan , Liu Lu , Wang Ji‐de
Published: April 2021

Here, the ZnO/polyacrylamide (ZnO/PAM) macroporous composite monolith was first prepared through the radical polymerization of acrylamide in ZnO‐costabilized CO2‐in‐water Pickering high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs). An efficient and green synthesis method was used to prepare the ZnO/PAM porous precursor materials, and ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were used as a metal ion source to grow the metal organic frameworks (MOF) phase through secondary recrystallization, thereby synthesizing the target MOF/PAM porous monolith. The effects of the contents of ZnO NPs on the formation of HIPEs and properties of the target MOF/PAM composites for the photocatalytic degradation of cationic dye were studied. As the content of ZnO NPs increased to 3.75 wt%, the composite monolith had high mechanical stress (0.24 MPa) at 80% strain and recovered their shape. The as‐synthesized ZIF‐8/PAM composites were characterized using X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope (SEM), Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET), energy dispersive X‐ray spectrometer (EDS) mapping, and TG methods. SEM images showed that the hybrid materials were interconnected, and the sizes of the open macropore and interconnected pore throats were 30–125 and about 2–20 μm, respectively. In addition, the ZIF‐8/PAM material could be used as a high‐efficiency photocatalyst to remove the cationic dye at a fast rate (88.6%).
Micro glass welding with millimeter‐long filaments
Authors: Kahle Martin , Nodop Dirk , Wiemuth Paul , Rücker Jan
Published: April 2021

The welding of glass with ultrashort‐pulsed lasers (USP) is usually conducted with microscope objectives. Their short working distance limits the thickness of the work piece, the usable laser power and the feed rate of the process. To increase the possible dimensions of the welding partners and the process speed to industrial levels, we present USP welding with a galvoscanner and a common F‐theta lens. Differences between the well‐known breakdown regime and the filamentation regime are discussed and tensile measurements are shown.
Understanding extracellular vesicle and nanoparticle heterogeneity: Novel methods and considerations
Authors: Phillips William , Willms Eduard , Hill Andrew F.
Published: April 2021

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a heterogeneous population of membrane‐enclosed nanoparticles released by cells. They play a role in intercellular communication and are involved in numerous physiological and pathological processes. Cells release subpopulations of EVs with distinct composition and inherent biological function which overlap in size. Current size‐based isolation methods are, therefore, not optimal to discriminate between functional EV subpopulations. In addition, EVs overlap in size with several other biological nanoparticles, such as lipoproteins and viruses. Proteomic analysis has allowed for more detailed study of EV composition, and EV isolation approaches based on this could provide a promising alternative for purification based on size. Elucidating EV heterogeneity and the characteristics and role of EV subpopulations will advance our understanding of EV biology and the role of EVs in health and disease. Here, we discuss current knowledge of EV composition, EV heterogeneity and advances in affinity based EV isolation tools.
Systematic review and cost‐effectiveness of bosentan and sildenafil as therapeutic drugs for pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Chen Tingting , Chen Jiahe , Chen Chaoxin , Zheng Huanrui , Chen Yanhui , Liu Maobai , Zheng Bin
Published: April 2021

Background

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare disease in children, with significant mortality. Because of the limited research on pediatric PAH, first, systematic review of related drugs is conducted, and then economic evaluation of PAH drug treatment programs is conducted, which to provide a reference for the choice of more cost‐effective treatment options.

Methods

The search includes electronic databases such as Pubmed, ScienceDirect, and Embase. Through inclusion and exclusion criteria, screen high‐quality randomized controlled trials. We used TreeAge Pro 2011 software to construct the markov model, that to simulate the total medical cost and quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs), and to calculate the incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio. Sensitivity analysis of transfer probability, utility, and cost was carried out.

Results

Incorporate two studies that meet the criteria, one compared the therapeutic effects of bosentan and placebo on pediatric PAH, the other compared therapeutic effects of sildenafil and placebo on pediatric PAH, both articles were of good quality. Compared with the sildenafil group (3.38QALYs and $161,120.14), the QALY of the bosentan treatment group (3.33QALYs and $257,411.29) was reduced by 0.05, and the cost increased by $96,291.15. The estimated improvement to quality of life and reduced costs result in an estimate of economic dominance for sildenafil over bosentan. This dominant result persisted probabilistic analyses.

Conclusions

Based on this model, a more cost‐effective treatment drug for PAH in children is sildenafil.
Moschamindole induces glioma cell apoptosis by blocking Mia40‐dependent mitochondrial intermembrane space assembly and oxidative respiration
Authors: Huang Guo‐Dong , Chen Fan‐Fan , Yang Ji‐Hu , Ma Guo‐Xu , Liao Zi‐Jun , Li Wei‐Ping , Li Zong‐Yang , Chen Lei
Published: April 2021

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most frequent, lethal, and aggressive tumor of the central nervous system in adults. In this study, we found for the first time that moschamindole (MCD), a rare phenolic amide with 8/6/6/5/5 rings, is a major bioactive constituent derived from Phragmites communis Trin (Poaceae) that exhibits a potential cytotoxic effect on both TMZ‐resistant GBM cell lines and xenograft models. MCD‐induced intrinsic apoptosis signals and mitochondrial dysfunction were confirmed by cell cycle arrest, caspase‐3/7 activation, and membrane potential depolarization. Furthermore, investigations exploring the mechanism showed that MCD specifically inhibits Mia40‐mediated oxidative folding of mitochondrial intermembrane space (IMS) proteins via PCR assay and immunoblot analysis. MCD relies on its positive charge to associate with mitochondrial oxidative respiration, thus blocking energy metabolism and inducing apoptosis. Overexpression and upregulation of Mia40 were proven to reverse MCD‐induced apoptosis and were correlated with the chemoresistance of GBM in vitro and in vivo, respectively. Taken together, our study demonstrates that Mia40 is a potential target of the chemoresistance of glioblastoma and suggests that MCD might be a potential agent for the individualized treatment of chemoresistant GBM based on mitochondrial metabolic characteristics and Mia40 expression.
Apoptotic effect of compound K in hepatocellular carcinoma cells via inhibition of glycolysis and Akt/mTOR/c‐Myc signaling
Authors: Shin Nari , Lee Hyo‐Jung , Sim Deok Yong , Im Eunji , Park Ji Eon , Park Woon Yi , Cho Ah Reum , Shim Bum Sang , Kim Sung‐Hoon
Published: April 2021

Since the AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/c‐Myc signaling plays a pivotal role in the modulation of aerobic glycolysis and tumor growth, in the present study, the role of AKT/mTOR/c‐Myc signaling in the apoptotic effect of Compound K (CK), an active ginseng saponin metabolite, was explored in HepG2 and Huh7 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HCCs). Here, CK exerted significant cytotoxicity, increased sub‐G1, and attenuated the expression of pro‐Poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase (pro‐PARP) and Pro‐cysteine aspartyl‐specific protease (pro‐caspase3) in HepG2 and Huh7 cells. Consistently, CK suppressed AKT/mTOR/c‐Myc and their downstreams such as Hexokinase 2 (HK2) and pyruvate kinase isozymes M2 (PKM2) in HepG2 and Huh7 cells. Additionally, CK reduced c‐Myc stability in the presence or absence of cycloheximide in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, AKT inhibitor LY294002 blocked the expression of p‐AKT, c‐Myc, HK2, PKM2, and pro‐cas3 in HepG2 cells. Pyruvate blocked the ability of CK to inhibit p‐AKT, p‐mTOR, HK2, and pro‐Cas3 in treated HepG2 cells. Overall, these findings provide evidence that CK induces apoptosis via inhibition of glycolysis and AKT/mTOR/c‐Myc signaling in HCC cells as a potent anticancer candidate for liver cancer clinical translation.
Administration of isoliquiritigenin prevents nonalcoholic fatty liver disease through a novel IQGAP2‐CREB‐SIRT1 axis
Authors: Zhang Li , Yang Sheng‐Ye , Qi‐Li Feng‐Rong , Liu Xiao‐Xiao , Zhang Wei‐Tao , Peng Chao , Wu Ping , Li Ping , Li Pingping , Xu Xiaojun
Published: April 2021

Isoliquiritigenin (ISO) is a flavonoid extracted from the root of licorice, which serves various biological and pharmacological functions including antiinflammatory, antioxidation, liver protection, and heart protection. However, the mechanism of its action remains elusive and the direct target proteins of ISO have not been identified so far. Through cell‐based screening, we identified ISO as a potent lipid‐lowering compound. ISO treatment successfully ameliorated fatty acid‐induced cellular lipid accumulation and improved nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) by increasing PPARα‐dependent lipid oxidation and decreasing SREBPs‐dependent lipid synthesis. Both these signaling required the activation of SIRT1. Knockdown of SIRT1 resulted in the reversal of ISO beneficiary effects suggesting that the lipid‐lowering activity of ISO was regulated by SIRT1 expression. To identify the direct target of ISO, limited proteolysis combined with mass spectrometry (LiP‐SMap) strategy was applied and IQGAP2 was identified as the direct target for ISO in regulating lipid homeostasis. In the presence of ISO, both mRNA and protein levels of SIRT1 were increased; however, this effect was abolished by blocking IQGAP2 expression using siRNA. To explore how IQGAP2 regulated the expression level of SIRT1, proteome profiler human phospho‐kinase array kit was used to reveal possible phosphorylated kinases and signaling nodes that ISO affected. We found that through phosphorylation of CREB, ISO transduced signals from IQGAP2 to upregulate SIRT1 expression. Thus, we not only demonstrated the molecular basis of ISO in regulating lipid metabolism but also exhibited for the first time a novel IQGAP2‐CREB‐SIRT1 axis in treating NAFLD/NASH.
Clinical research on traditional Chinese medicine treatment for bacterial vaginosis
Authors: Zhao Haiyue , Zhao Lijie , Wu Fei , Shen Lan
Published: April 2021

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common disease among women of reproductive age, with a serious impact on their daily life and health. At present, the most common treatment for BV is to take antibiotics, which results in good short‐term treatment effects, but poor long‐term effects. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used to treat BV for over a millennium, with little risk of triggering drug resistance and adverse effects. Based on syndrome differentiation, there are three oral TCM treatment strategies for BV, including invigorating spleen, clearing dampness and heat, and nourishing kidney. The oral TCM prescriptions, such as Yi Huang decoction, Longdan Xiegan decoction, Zhibai Dihaung decoction, and so on are commonly used. Topical TCM treatment is also popular in China. According to the research results of pharmacological effects of active TCM ingredients, the most potential mechanisms of TCM for BV treatment are immune‐enhancement effects, antibacterial activity, and estrogen‐liked effects. Nonetheless, the multi‐constituent of herbs may result in possible disadvantages to BV treatment, and the pharmacological mechanisms of TCM need further study. Here, we provide an overview of TCM compounds and their preparations used for BV, based on the pathogenesis and the potential therapeutic mechanisms, therefore providing a reference for further studies.
Inflammatory markers response to crocin supplementation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Behrouz Vahideh , Sohrab Golbon , Hedayati Mehdi , Sedaghat Meghdad
Published: April 2021

Inflammation and oxidative stress is a risk factor for the development of long‐term consequences in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study was designed to investigate the effects of crocin consumption on oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in patients with T2DM. In this clinical trial with a parallel‐group design, 50 patients with T2DM were randomly assigned to either the crocin or the placebo group. The crocin group received 15 mg crocin twice daily, whereas the placebo group received corresponding placebos. At baseline and the end of week 12, serum high sensitive C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), tumor necrosis factor‐ɑ (TNF‐ɑ), nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured. Compared with placebo group, crocin reduced hs‐CRP (−1.03 vs. 1.42, p = .007), TNF‐ɑ (−0.8 vs. 0.28, p = .009), and NF‐κB (−0.39 vs. 0.01, p = .047) after 12 weeks intervention; these improvements were also significant in comparison with the baseline values. Plasma IL‐6 decreased significantly in the crocin group at the end of week 12 compared to baseline (p = .037), whereas no significant change was observed in the placebo group. Plasma concentration of MDA did not change within and between groups after intervention. This study indicates that daily administration of 30 mg crocin supplement to patients with T2DM reduces the concentrations of hs‐CRP, TNF‐ɑ, and NF‐κB which are involved in the pathogenesis of complications of T2DM.
Practical choices for space‐filling designs
Authors: Lu Lu , Anderson‐Cook Christine M. , Martin Miranda , Ahmed Towfiq
Published: April 2021

Space‐filling designs are now commonly used as a flexible model‐free strategy for providing good coverage throughout an input space of interest for a variety of computer and physical experiment design scenarios. Some of the preliminary choices about how to frame the problem and which type of design to use can have a substantial impact on the success or failure of the experiment, and yet how to make these critical choices is often under‐emphasized in the literature. In this paper, we explore several of the practical choices required by the experimenter and describe a sequence of steps to help create an ideal design that matches the goals and constraints of the experiment. These choices include the specification of the input space, the scaling of the variables, the degree of uniformity of the design points across the input space, and the space‐filling characteristics. In addition, some new tools for defining the weights to implement non‐uniform space‐filling designs are provided. The methods are demonstrated with several illustrative examples and a real‐world chemical engineering experiment for carbon capture.
The cage‐like structure enhanced magnetic moment in ScKn (n = 2–12) clusters: A first‐principles jointed particle swarm optimization investigation
Authors: Aireti Maidina , Jiang Yi , Cao Haibin , Duan Haiming , Cui Xiuhua , Jing Qun , Xue Xun
Published: April 2021

Using the first principles method combined with the CALYPSO structure prediction method, the authors have investigated the geometries of the lowest‐energy and its isomers of ScKn (n = 2–12) clusters, and the electronic configurations and magnetic moments of each clusters. With the increasing size of ScKn clusters, the transition‐metal Sc atom gradually slides from the corner (for n ≤ 8) to core of cage‐like structures (for n > 9). After detailed check out the binding energy per atom Eb, second‐order difference of energy ∆E, and fragmentation energies Ef, the authors found out that the cage‐like ScKn (n = 9–12) clusters are more stable than the small‐sized ScKn (n = 2–8) clusters, and the ScK8, ScK10, and ScK12 are more stable than their neighbors. The enhanced magnetic moments are found in ScKn (n = 9–12) clusters whose total magnetic moments are 2, 3, 4, and 5 μB, respectively. The origination of the enhanced magnetic moments is further investigated using the Mulliken population, the molecular orbitals and the chemical bonding analysis. The results show that the large magnetic moments have relation with the interaction between Sc and K atoms. The valence shell of superatom ScK12 cluster can be described as 1S21P61D52S2, which made its magnetic moments as large as 5 μB.
Fully distributed bipartite time‐varying formation control for uncertain linear multi‐agent systems under event‐triggered mechanism
Authors: Cai Yuliang , Zhang Huaguang , Zhang Juan , Xi Ruipeng , He Qiang
Published: April 2021

This paper addresses the distributed bipartite time‐varying formation control for uncertain linear multi‐agent systems under limited communication resources. First, the distributed static bipartite control protocol with sampled data is proposed to address the time‐varying formation issue. It is noteworthy that in both controller updating and triggering condition monitoring, the communication is only occurred at sampling instants, which saves communication resources and reduces communication burden effectively. Moreover, the nonlinear term in static controller is used to suppress the effect of system uncertainty. Then the fully distributed adaptive bipartite event‐triggered control protocol is put forward such that the time‐varying formation control can be achieved. Different from the existing results on formation control, the proposed adaptive controller has the following four highlights: (1) it is fully distributed since the global information of network topology and the upper bound of uncertainty are not required; (2) the communication between neighbor agents is conducted at intermittent triggering instants, not real‐time, which reduces the communication bandwidth significantly; (3) the communication between neighbors can not only be cooperative, but also be antagonistic, which is more realistic; and (4) the effect of system uncertainty can be suppressed. Furthermore, it is proven that there is no Zeno behavior in both triggering mechanisms. Finally, some numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the feasibility of the main theoretical findings.
What Matters
Authors: Au Kathryn H. , Raphael Taffy E.
Published: April 2021

We propose centering discussions of the science of reading around five values to increase the likelihood of bringing all students to high levels of literacy. These values are (1) collective responsibility, (2) equity through higher order thinking, (3) a rigorous system, (4) accountability with transparency, and (5) stability and sustainability.
Evaluation of the impact of freeze–thaw cycles on the soil pore structure of alpine meadows using X‐ray computed tomography
Authors: Zhao Yunduo , Hu Xia , Li XiaoYan , Jiang LiBin , Gao Zhou
Published: April 2021

Freeze–thaw cycle (FTC) is an extremely complex soil surface process in cold regions, and quantifying the changes in soil pore structure during successive FTCs remains challenging. This study investigated response of soil pore structure to FTCs and revealed the underlying influence on soil water infiltration through an FTC simulation experiment (0, 1, 3, 5, and 10 cycles) and computed tomography (CT) scanning of undisturbed soil cores in an alpine meadow. One FTC involved soil freezing at −10 °C for 12 h, followed by thawing at 20 °C for 12 h. The results showed that CT‐measured soil porosity presented a variation trend of increase–decrease during successive FTCs. With increasing number of FTCs, soil porosity first increased and then decreased in the 0‐to‐75‐mm soil layer, decreased after five FTCs in the 75‐to‐150‐mm soil layer, and gradually decreased in the 150‐to‐280‐mm soil layer. Pore structures of different soil layers responded differently to FTCs, which was attributed to soil texture. The connectivity of soil pores and soil water infiltration rate decreased considerably after 10 FTCs. Therefore, FTCs changed soil pore structure of the alpine meadow, which was not conducive for soil water infiltration to deep soil layers.
Nanochemistry Modulates Intracellular Decomposition Routes of S‐Nitrosothiol Modified Silica‐Based Nanoparticles
Authors: Theivendran Shevanuja , Yu Chengzhong
Published: April 2021

Cellular delivery of nitric oxide (NO) using NO donor moieties such as S‐nitrosothiol (SNO) is of great interest for various applications. However, understandings of the intracellular decomposition routes of SNO toward either NO or ammonia (NH3) production are surprisingly scarce. Herein, the first report of SNO modified mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles with tetrasulfide bonds for enhanced intracellular NO delivery, ≈10 times higher than a commercial NO donor, is presented. The tetrasulfide chemistry modulates the SNO decomposition by shifting from NH3 to NO production in glutathione rich cancer cells. This study provides a new strategy to control the NO level in biological systems.
Understanding Shape Evolution and Phase Transition in InP Nanostructures Grown by Selective Area Epitaxy
Authors: Wang Naiyin , Wong Wei Wen , Yuan Xiaoming , Li Li , Jagadish Chennupati , Tan Hark Hoe
Published: April 2021

There is a strong demand for III–V nanostructures of different geometries and in the form of interconnected networks for quantum science applications. This can be achieved by selective area epitaxy (SAE) but the understanding of crystal growth in these complicated geometries is still insufficient to engineer the desired shape. Here, the shape evolution and crystal structure of InP nanostructures grown by SAE on InP substrates of different orientations are investigated and a unified understanding to explain these observations is established. A strong correlation between growth direction and crystal phase is revealed. Wurtzite (WZ) and zinc‐blende (ZB) phases form along <111>A and <111>B directions, respectively, while crystal phase remains the same along other low‐index directions. The polarity induced crystal structure difference is explained by thermodynamic difference between the WZ and ZB phase nuclei on different planes. Growth from the openings is essentially determined by pattern confinement and minimization of the total surface energy, regardless of substrate orientations. A novel type‐II WZ/ZB nanomembrane homojunction array is obtained by tailoring growth directions through alignment of the openings along certain crystallographic orientations. The understanding in this work lays the foundation for the design and fabrication of advanced III–V semiconductor devices based on complex geometrical nanostructures.
A new Cenomanian acanthomorph fish from the El Chango quarry (Chiapas, south‐eastern Mexico) and its implications for the early diversification and evolutionary trends of acanthopterygians
Authors: Cantalice Kleyton Magno , Than‐Marchese Bruno Andrés , Villalobos‐Segura Eduardo
Published: April 2021

A new Cenomanian spiny‐rayed fish from El Chango quarry, Chiapas, south‐eastern Mexico is described and included, together with †Zoqueichthys carolinae and †Pepemkay maya, in the most recent phylogenetic analysis of acanthomorph fishes encompassing both extant and extinct taxa. The topologies recovered from the parsimony phylogenetic analysis using both multistate (or composite), and contingent (or reductive), coding are compared, along with a Bayesian estimation. All the analyses corroborate the placement of †Z. carolinae in the Lampripterygii, while both †Choichix alvaradoi gen. et sp. nov. and †P. maya are considered to be incertae sedis members of the Acanthopterygii. Although no apomorphic character states for †C. alvaradoi were found, the unique combination of features supports the description of a new genus and species for the Upper Cretaceous of Mexico. The species herein described is the earliest diverging acanthopterygian lineage. The most outstanding character found is the absence of a true pelvic fin spine, which, together with its placement in the phylogenetic analysis, suggests the independent acquisition of the pelvic fin spine in both paracanthopterygians and acanthopterygians from a segmented first soft ray. This extinct taxon therefore plays an important part in our understanding of both fish diversity through time and the early steps in the diversification of acanthopterygians.
Microstructural Evolutions under Ultrasonic Treatment in 304 and 316 Austenitic Stainless Steels: Impact of Stacking Fault Energy
Authors: Zohrevand Milad , Aghaie-Khafri Mehrdad , Forouzan Farnoosh , Vuorinen Esa
Published: April 2021

Herein, the influence of ultrasonic treatment (UST) on the microstructure of AISI‐304 and AISI‐316 stainless steels as two common commercial grades with similar properties but different levels of stacking fault energy (SFE) is compared. The softening effect of the ultrasonic wave on the predeformed structure is demonstrated by microhardness measurements, and the relaxation of tensile residual stresses is affirmed through the X‐ray diffraction (XRD) peak shifting. Electron and optical microscopy reveals a significant impact of ultrasound on the reduction of the deformation twins’ fraction. A new mechanism for detwinning under the action of ultrasonic vibration is proposed using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis. Reductions of 25% and 34% are detected in dislocation density of the 10% predeformed tensile sample after 300 W UST for the 304SS and 316SS alloys, respectively. The effect of the SFE is discussed, and it turns out that cross‐slip is the main mechanism of dislocation annihilation as a result of UST. Observation of the low‐deformation regions close to the grain boundaries indicates the occurrence of the recrystallization phenomenon during UST. Dislocation annihilation, detwinning, dislocation absorption to grain boundaries, and recrystallization are regarded as the softening and relaxation mechanisms of UST for austenitic stainless steels.
Factors influencing middle school students' interdisciplinary competence in science education
Authors: Song Ge , Wang Zuhao
Published: April 2021

Science educators are placing increasing emphasis on the development of students' interdisciplinary competence. This study examined the degree to which disciplinary, cognitive and affective factors could explain students' (N = 385) individual differences in interdisciplinary competence. Multiple linear regression indicated that students' disciplinary knowledge (DK), attitudes toward interdisciplinary approach and interdisciplinary learning opportunities were significant when added to the prediction model. Notably, the results of a semistructured interview and think‐aloud session suggested that students' engineering design knowledge was not robust in their responses. Students' feelings toward interdisciplinary learning affected how they mobilized DK to create comprehensive insight into all aspects relevant to the possible solution. Additionally, students' feelings about the interdisciplinary approach influenced their exposure to interdisciplinary issues outside school and engagement in interdisciplinary learning tasks at school, which affected their integration of scientific ideas across disciplines. The results of this study can inform both the movement toward incorporating an interdisciplinary approach into pedagogy and educators and instructors about the factors and possible mechanisms that may shape students' interdisciplinary competence.
Change in cervical length after arrested preterm labor and risk of preterm birth
Authors: Rennert K. N. , Breuking S. H. , Schuit E. , Bekker M. N. , Woiski M. , de Boer M. A. , Sueters M. , Scheepers H. C. J. , Franssen M. T. M. , Pajkrt E. , Mol B. W. J. , Kok M. , Hermans F. J. R.
Published: April 2021

Objective

To assess the association between preterm birth and cervical length after arrested preterm labor in high‐risk pregnant women.

Methods

In this post‐hoc analysis of a randomized clinical trial, transvaginal cervical length was measured in women whose contractions had ceased 48 h after admission for threatened preterm labor. At admission, women were defined as having a high risk of preterm birth based on a cervical length of < 15 mm or a cervical length of 15–30 mm with a positive fetal fibronectin test. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association of cervical length measured at least 48 h after admission and of the change in cervical length between admission and at least 48 h later, with preterm birth before 34 weeks' gestation and delivery within 7 days after admission.

Results

A total of 164 women were included in the analysis. Women whose cervical length increased between admission for threatened preterm labor and 48 h later (32%; n = 53) were found to have a lower risk of preterm birth before 34 weeks compared with women whose cervical length did not change (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 0.24 (95% CI, 0.09–0.69)). The risk in women with a decrease in cervical length between the two timepoints was not different from that in women with no change in cervical length (aOR, 1.45 (95% CI, 0.62–3.41)). Moreover, greater absolute cervical length after 48 h was associated with a lower risk of preterm birth before 34 weeks (aOR, 0.90 (95% CI, 0.84–0.96)) and delivery within 7 days after admission (aOR, 0.91 (95% CI, 0.82–1.02)). Sensitivity analysis in women randomized to receive no intervention showed comparable results.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that the risk of preterm birth before 34 weeks is lower in women whose cervical length increases between admission for threatened preterm labor and at least 48 h later when contractions had ceased compared with women in whom cervical length does not change or decreases. © 2021 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Temperature dependent crystal structure re‐determination and electronic properties of UI3
Authors: Sachs Malte , Deubner Lars , Möbs Martin , Hoelzel Markus , Conrad Matthias , Kraus Florian
Published: April 2021

In this work, we have re‐investigated the structural and physical properties of UI3 by means of temperature dependent powder neutron diffraction, heat capacity and magnetic measurements. We confirm that UI3 crystallizes in the PuBr3 structure type, space group Cmcm. We did not observe any temperature dependent structural phase transition in the temperature range from 10 to 300 K. We further report the first quantum chemical calculations of UI3 by density functional theory (DFT). The calculated structural and electronic properties demonstrate the pronounced two‐dimensional anisotropic effects present in UI3 due to its layered structure.
General theory of large D membranes consistent with second law of thermodynamics
Authors: Saha Arunabha
Published: April 2021

Abstract

We write down the most general membrane equations dual to black holes for a general class of gravity theories, up to sub-leading order in 1/D in large D limit. We derive a “minimal” entropy current which satisfies a local form of second law from these membrane equations. We find that consistency with second law requires the membrane equations to satisfy certain constraints. We find additional constraints on the membrane equations from the existence of membrane solutions dual to stationary black holes. Finally we observe a tension between second law and matching with Wald entropy for dual stationary black hole configurations, for the minimal entropy current. We propose a simple modification of the membrane entropy current so that it satisfies second law and also the stationary membrane entropy matches the Wald entropy.
Precision from the diphoton Zh channel at FCC-hh
Authors: Bishara Fady , De Curtis Stefania , Rose Luigi Delle , Englert Philipp , Grojean Christophe , Montull Marc , Panico Giuliano , Rossia Alejo N.
Published: April 2021

Abstract

The future 100 TeV FCC-hh hadron collider will give access to rare but clean final states which are out of reach of the HL-LHC. One such process is the Zh production channel in the $$ \left(v\overline{v}/{\mathrm{\ell}}^{+}{\mathrm{\ell}}^{-}\right)\gamma \gamma $$

v

v
¯

/

ℓ
+

ℓ
−

γγ
final states. We study the sensitivity of this channel to the $$ {\mathcal{O}}_{\varphi q}^{(1)},\kern0.5em {\mathcal{O}}_{\varphi q}^{(3)},\kern0.5em {\mathcal{O}}_{\varphi u} $$

O
φq

1

,

O
φq

3

,

O
φu

, and $$ {\mathcal{O}}_{\varphi d} $$

O
φd

SMEFT operators, which parametrize deviations of the W and Z couplings to quarks, or, equivalently, anomalous trilinear gauge couplings (aTGC). While our analysis shows that good sensitivity is only achievable for $$ {\mathcal{O}}_{\varphi q}^{(3)} $$

O
φq

3

, we demonstrate that binning in the Zh rapidity has the potential to improve the reach on $$ {\mathcal{O}}_{\varphi q}^{(1)} $$

O
φq

1

. Our estimated bounds are one order of magnitude better than projections at HL-LHC and is better than global fits at future lepton colliders. The sensitivity to $$ {\mathcal{O}}_{\varphi q}^{(3)} $$

O
φq

3

is competitive with other channels that could probe the same operator at FCC-hh. Therefore, combining the different diboson channels sizeably improves the bound on $$ {\mathcal{O}}_{\varphi q}^{(3)} $$

O
φq

3

, reaching a precision of |δg1z| ≲ × 10−4 on the deviations in the ZWW interactions.
Superconformal boundaries in 4 − ϵ dimensions
Authors: Gimenez-Grau Aleix , Liendo Pedro , van Vliet Philine
Published: April 2021

Abstract

Boundaries in three-dimensional $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 superconformal theories may preserve one half of the original bulk supersymmetry. There are two possibilities which are characterized by the chirality of the leftover supercharges. Depending on the choice, the remaining 2d boundary algebra exhibits $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= (0, 2) or $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= (1) supersymmetry. In this work we focus on correlation functions of chiral fields for both types of supersymmetric boundaries. We study a host of correlators using superspace techniques and calculate superconformal blocks for two- and three-point functions. For $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= (1) supersymmetry, some of our results can be analytically continued in the spacetime dimension while keeping the codimension fixed. This opens the door for a bootstrap analysis of the ϵ-expansion in supersymmetric BCFTs. Armed with our analytically-continued superblocks, we prove that in the free theory limit two-point functions of chiral (and antichiral) fields are unique. The first order correction, which already describes interactions, is universal up to two free parameters. As a check of our analysis, we study the Wess-Zumino model with a super-symmetric boundary using Feynman diagrams, and find perfect agreement between the perturbative and bootstrap results.
Jordan Canonical Forms of Riordan Arrays
Authors: Słowik Roksana
Published: April 2021

We consider the possible Jordan canonical forms of Riordan arrays. We prove that there are, in fact, only two such forms. Moreover, the transition matrix is in the Riordan group only in the case when the given Riordan array has one of some three specific forms.
Moral zombies: why algorithms are not moral agents
Authors: Véliz Carissa
Published: April 2021

In philosophy of mind, zombies are imaginary creatures that are exact physical duplicates of conscious subjects for whom there is no first-personal experience. Zombies are meant to show that physicalism—the theory that the universe is made up entirely out of physical components—is false. In this paper, I apply the zombie thought experiment to the realm of morality to assess whether moral agency is something independent from sentience. Algorithms, I argue, are a kind of functional moral zombie, such that thinking about the latter can help us better understand and regulate the former. I contend that the main reason why algorithms can be neither autonomous nor accountable is that they lack sentience. Moral zombies and algorithms are incoherent as moral agents because they lack the necessary moral understanding to be morally responsible. To understand what it means to inflict pain on someone, it is necessary to have experiential knowledge of pain. At most, for an algorithm that feels nothing, ‘values’ will be items on a list, possibly prioritised in a certain way according to a number that represents weightiness. But entities that do not feel cannot value, and beings that do not value cannot act for moral reasons.
The impact of air pollution on birthweight: evidence from grouped quantile regression
Authors: Pons Martina
Published: April 2021

Estimates of the average effect of pollution on birthweight might not provide a complete picture if more vulnerable infants are disproportionately more affected. To address this, I focus on the distributional effect of particulate matter pollution (PM$$_{2.5}$$

2.5

) on birthweight. To estimate the impact, this paper uses grouped quantile regression, a methodology developed by Chetverikov et al. (Econometrica 84(2): 809–833, 2016), which allows estimating the impact of a group-level treatment on an individual-level outcome when there are group-level unobservables. The analysis reveals nonhomogeneous effects indicating that pollution disproportionately affects infants in the lower tail of the conditional distribution, whereas average effects suggest only minimal and not economically significant impact of pollution on birthweight. The findings are also consistent across different specifications.
Quantitative CT radiomics-based models for prediction of haematoma expansion and poor functional outcome in primary intracerebral haemorrhage
Authors: Pszczolkowski Stefan , Manzano-Patrón José P. , Law Zhe K. , Krishnan Kailash , Ali Azlinawati , Bath Philip M. , Sprigg Nikola , Dineen Rob A.
Published: April 2021

Objectives

To test radiomics-based features extracted from noncontrast CT of patients with spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage for prediction of haematoma expansion and poor functional outcome and compare them with radiological signs and clinical factors.

Materials and methods

Seven hundred fifty-four radiomics-based features were extracted from 1732 scans derived from the TICH-2 multicentre clinical trial. Features were harmonised and a correlation-based feature selection was applied. Different elastic-net parameterisations were tested to assess the predictive performance of the selected radiomics-based features using grid optimisation. For comparison, the same procedure was run using radiological signs and clinical factors separately. Models trained with radiomics-based features combined with radiological signs or clinical factors were tested. Predictive performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) score.

Results

The optimal radiomics-based model showed an AUC of 0.693 for haematoma expansion and an AUC of 0.783 for poor functional outcome. Models with radiological signs alone yielded substantial reductions in sensitivity. Combining radiomics-based features and radiological signs did not provide any improvement over radiomics-based features alone. Models with clinical factors had similar performance compared to using radiomics-based features, albeit with low sensitivity for haematoma expansion. Performance of radiomics-based features was boosted by incorporating clinical factors, with time from onset to scan and age being the most important contributors for haematoma expansion and poor functional outcome prediction, respectively.

Conclusion

Radiomics-based features perform better than radiological signs and similarly to clinical factors on the prediction of haematoma expansion and poor functional outcome. Moreover, combining radiomics-based features with clinical factors improves their performance.

Key Points

• Linear models based on CT radiomics-based features perform better than radiological signs on the prediction of haematoma expansion and poor functional outcome in the context of intracerebral haemorrhage.

• Linear models based on CT radiomics-based features perform similarly to clinical factors known to be good predictors. However, combining these clinical factors with radiomics-based features increases their predictive performance.