bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New Possibilities of Refractive Modeling of the Cornea by the Radiation of an Argon-fluorine Excimer Laser
Authors: Kornilovskiy I. M.
Published: November 2021

Purpose: To consider new possibilities of refractive modeling of the cornea by the radiation of an argon-fluorine excimer laser in ablative and subablative modes after saturation of the stroma with riboflavin.

Materials and Methods: Experimental (20 pork, 90 rabbit eyes) and clinical studies on photorefractive and phototherapeutic operations with saturation of the corneal stroma with riboflavin (610 operations) were analyzed. To activate riboflavin, secondary radiation induced by exposure to ablative and subablative energy densities was used. A quick transition to energy densities below the ablation threshold without additional calibrations was carried out using a “Microscan Visum-500” excimer laser (Optosystems, Russia). An objective assessment of the refractive keratomodelling effect and visual results was carried out according to the data of complex optometric studies.

Results: Experimental and clinical studies have shown the advantages of refractive keratomodeling by theradiation of an argon-fluorine excimer laser in ablative and subablative modes after saturation of the stroma with riboflavin. Isotonic 0.25% riboflavin solution did not affect the accuracy of refractive ablation and blocked the negative effect of induced secondary radiation on keratocytes and corneal nerves. This reduced the aseptic inflammatory response and the risk of developing an irreversible form of fibroplasia. Ablation with riboflavin initiated a damped crosslinking effect, which increased the photoprotective and strength properties of the thinned cornea. A refractive keratomodelling effect was found when energy densities were applied below the stromal ablation threshold. The magnitude of this refractive effect depended on the total radiation dose and the topography of the affected area. This approach made it possible to implement laser-induced refractive keratomodeling without ablation of the corneal stroma.

Conclusion: Refractive modeling of the cornea by the radiation of an argon-fluorine excimer laser in ablative and subablative modes after saturation of the stroma with riboflavin opens up new possibilities in laser correction of ametropia.
Possible Neolithic ard marks and field boundaries at Wellhill and Cranberry, Perth and Kinross, and an evaluation of current physical evidence for Neolithic farming in Scotland
Authors: Brophy Kenneth , Wright Dene
Published: November 2021

Although the Neolithic period is defined by farming, physical evidence for processes associated with farming are rare, with agricultural practices usually indicated by environmental and biomolecular proxies for domesticates such as pollen evidence, ceramic residues and lipids, animal bones, plant remains and stable isotope studies. This paper will, we hope, invigorate discussion on the recognition, interpretation and significance of physical traces of farming in Scotland. The starting point will be the summary of two excavations, Wellhill and Cranberry, both Perth and Kinross, in 2014 and 2016 respectively, part of the Strathearn Environs and Royal Forteviot (SERF) project. These cropmark sites revealed evidence for possible Neolithic farming in the form of possible ard marks and field ditches. There follows a synthesis of physical evidence for Neolithic farming in Scotland, drawing together evidence for ard marks, field boundaries, cultivation ridges, cultivated middens, and soils. Recommendations are made for recognising and interpreting such features on excavations, and the potential benefits of giving a higher profile to the act of farming in our narratives about Neolithic lifeways in Scotland and beyond are briefly explored.
Miss Christian MacLagan, pioneer Victorian antiquary and archaeologist
Authors: Cross Morag
Published: November 2021

Christian MacLagan (1811-1901), from Stirling, occupies the intersection of amateur antiquarian-ism and modern archaeology. Although not Scotland’s earliest female archaeologist, she pioneered the compilation and publication of prehistoric sites, using her own plans and fieldwork. This paper examines her previously undocumented social background and the roots of her maternal family, the Colvilles, and their fortune in the colonial indigo trade in Bengal. Colville links with Annfield estate, Stirling and Laws, Monifieth, are noted. A large Calcutta-derived legacy in 1859 enabled MacLagan to circumvent many conventional restrictions on women.
The Newton Stones and writing in Pictland, part 2
Authors: Kilpatrick Kelly
Published: November 2021

This article re-evaluates the two inscriptions and the mirror symbol on the Newton Stone. The ogham is unusual in that it is read from the top rather than the bottom. The alphabetic inscription is intended to be read with, or to supplement, the ogham inscription. Close analysis demonstrates that the alphabetic inscription was painted onto the stone prior to carving. The carver may have followed an exemplum for the alphabetic inscription, possibly written on a wax tablet. Examination of the alphabetic script demonstrates that it is most closely related to informal scripts of the Late Antique period. The inscription is written in the Pictish language, and the stone probably dates to the 6th or early 7th century. The placement of the inscriptions and the mirror symbol may indicate that the two inscriptions were used in place of Pictish symbols.
Antimicrobial Polypeptides Capable of Membrane Translocation for Treatment of MRSA Wound Infection In Vivo
Authors: Yang Shengcai , Wang Yanming , Tan Jason , Teo Jye Yng , Tan Ko Hui , Yang Yi Yan
Published: November 2021

Multidrug resistant infections are plaguing the healthcare sector over the past few decades with limited treatment options. To overcome this problem, the authors synthesize a series of novel guanidinium‐functionalized polypeptides. Specifically, poly(l‐lysine) (PLL) with different lengths is first synthesized by ring‐opening polymerization of Nε‐benzyloxycarbonyl‐l‐lysine‐N‐carboxyanhydride (Lys(Z)‐NCA) followed by functionalization with a guanidinium‐functional group to obtain guanidinium‐functionalized PLL (PLL‐Gua). To study the effect of hydrophobicity on antimicrobial activity, relatively more hydrophobic leucine‐NCA monomer or hydrophobic vitamin E moiety is introduced to PLL‐Gua. These polypeptides are characterized for antimicrobial activity against a panel of microbes including multidrug‐resistant bacteria, and hemolytic activity. Among all the polypeptides, PLL22‐Gua is most effective against bacteria and yeast. Particularly, excellent bactericidal activity is observed against Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA. PLL22‐Gua kills bacteria mainly by membrane translocation. In addition, PLL22‐Gua kills MRSA with low resistance frequency (<3.3 × 10−8). In an MRSA‐caused wound infection mouse model, two‐day treatment (twice daily) with 10, 20, or 40 mg per kg of PLL22‐Gua shows up to 99.5% bacterial removal. Moreover, no acute dermal toxicity is observed even at a dose of 200 mg per kg. These promising results show the excellent potential of PLL22‐Gua as an antimicrobial agent against multidrug‐resistant infection in vivo.
22q11.2 duplications: Expanding the clinical presentation
Authors: Bartik Lauren E. , Hughes Susan S. , Tracy Meghan , Feldt M. Max , Zhang Lei , Arganbright Jill , Kaye Alison
Published: November 2021

22q11.2 duplication syndrome has a frequency of ~1/700 in the intellectual disability population. Despite this frequency, there is limited information on the variable clinical presentation. Although the phenotype and incidence of congenital anomalies are well described for 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, they are not as well understood for individuals with 22q11.2 duplication syndrome. This study is a single‐center, retrospective review of patients diagnosed with 22q11.2 duplication syndrome designed to categorize the variable phenotype seen in these individuals. The data suggest that the incidence of congenital anomalies may be higher than previously reported for this syndrome. Affected individuals are at increased risk for a variety of problems including gastrointestinal complications, endocrine dysfunction, ophthalmologic abnormalities, palatal anomalies, congenital heart disease, musculoskeletal differences, and neurologic abnormalities. Individuals with 22q11.2 duplication syndrome would benefit from care coordinated by a multidisciplinary team and managed according to the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome guidelines.
Adaptation of mammals to hypoxia
Authors: Li Fang , Qiao Zhenglei , Duan Qijiao , Nevo Eviatar
Published: November 2021

Oxygen plays a pivotal role in the metabolism and activities of mammals. However, oxygen is restricted in some environments—subterranean burrow systems or habitats at high altitude or deep in the ocean—and this could exert hypoxic stresses such as oxidative damage on organisms living in these environments. In order to cope with these stresses, organisms have evolved specific strategies to adapt to hypoxia, including changes in physiology, gene expression regulation, and genetic mutations. Here, we review how mammals have adapted to the three high‐altitude plateaus of the world, the limited oxygen dissolved in deep water habitats, and underground tunnels, with the aim of better understanding the adaptation of mammals to hypoxia.
Molecular Dynamics Prediction Verified by Experimental Evaluation of the Solubility of Different Drugs in Poly(decalactone) for the Fabrication of Polymeric Nanoemulsions
Authors: Pyrhönen Jasmin , Bansal Kuldeep K. , Bhadane Rajendra , Wilén Carl-Eric , Salo-Ahen Outi M. H. , Rosenholm Jessica M.
Published: November 2021

Nanoemulsions are a rapidly growing drug delivery technology capable of increasing a drug's aqueous solubility and stability. A novel oil‐in‐water nanoemulsion using a polymer, poly(decalactone) (PDL), instead of a conventional oil was recently reported. The amount of drug loading in a polymer‐based formulation is mainly governed by the drug's solubility in the polymer. Thus, herein the power of molecular dynamics simulations (MDS) for the calculation of the Hildebrand solubility parameter to predict PDL–drug miscibility is utilized. The MDS results are subsequently verified by formulating a PDL nanoemulsion with a dispersed droplet size of less than 200 nm by using a block copolymer of PDL (mPEG‐b‐PDL) as a surfactant, with seven different hydrophobic drug molecules. The MDS results are consistent with the experimental findings in terms of increment in the aqueous solubilities of the drugs in PDL nanoemulsion, where celecoxib demonstrated the highest while methotrexate exhibited the lowest solubility increment. Consequently, the reported MDS method can be utilized to predict a drug's solubility/miscibility in PDL to estimate the level of drug loading. The MDS facilitated screening of drugs could consequently emerge as an efficient approach in designing PDL nanoemulsions stabilized by mPEG‐b‐PDL or other similar systems.
Engineering of Extracellular Matrix‐Like Biomaterials at Nano‐ and Macroscale toward Fabrication of Hierarchical Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering
Authors: Lemos Rafael , Maia F. Raquel , Reis Rui L. , Oliveira Joaquim M.
Published: November 2021

The increasing rate of musculoskeletal pathologies has compelled the development of improved and novel treatment strategies in order to address unmet clinical needs. Tissue engineering approaches comprising the use of scaffolds for bone regeneration have been showing to be a promising alternative to conventional bone repair/substitution approaches. In particular, hierarchical scaffolds as methods of structural support and osteogenic differentiation promoters are among the most used tools in bone tissue engineering (BTE). In this reasoning, hierarchical scaffolds have sparked the field, striving toward mimicking the natural bone tissue in both, its complex 3D structure and composition. A recent and promising trend has been the merging of nanotechnology and tissue engineering concepts. As such the incorporation of nanoparticles and nanocomposites into micro‐ or macroscaffold systems can result in an improvement of scaffolds’ biofunctionality at different levels. These tools are versatile in nature and can be used for multiple purposes such as drug delivery, thermal conductors, and mechanical reinforcement. Taking into consideration multidisciplinary approaches, several strategies have been pursued. The recent reports dealing with the approaches pursued in the hierarchical scaffolds production and enhancement, ranging from the nanoscale to the macroscale, are overviewed herein.
Fluorescent hydrogel of chitosan and gelatin cross‐linked with maleic acid for optical detection of heavy metals
Authors: Sethi Sapna , Medha  , Singh Gurkarandeep , Sharma Rashmi , Kaith Balbir Singh , Sharma Neeraj , Khullar Sadhika
Published: November 2021

A multi‐component, fluorescent hydrogel of chitosan and gelatin using maleic acid as a cross‐linking agent was fabricated with improved mechanical and thermal properties. The FTIR spectroscopy and SEM studies confirmed the formation of a cross‐linked and porous hydrogel. The XPS studies confirmed the presence of rich functionalities over the surface of hydrogel. The hybrid hydrogel possessed strong blue emission band centered at 438 nm when excited with an absorption band centered at 384 nm. The fluorescent hydrogel was tested for selective detection of different heavy metal ions including Cr (VI) in the aqueous solution. The strong complexation among the functional groups of hydrogel and metal ions led to the quenching of hydrogel's fluorescence. The fluorescence of hydrogel was quenched significantly in the presence of Cr (VI) ions in comparison to the other heavy metal ions. The fluorescence‐quenching efficiency displayed a linear response to the Cr (VI) concentration in the range of 1–14 nM with a lower detection limit of 0.12 nM. Embraced with good sensitivity and selectivity for Cr (VI) ions, the solid hydrogel with stable fluorescent properties holds a great potential in chemical sensing applications.
In situ monitoring of moisture uptake of flax fiber reinforced composites under humid/dry conditions
Authors: Calabrese Luigi , Fiore Vincenzo , Piperopoulos Elpida , Badagliacco Dionisio , Palamara Davide , Valenza Antonino , Proverbio Edoardo
Published: November 2021

The use of green materials such as natural fiber‐reinforced composites represents an increasingly stringent prerogative in the future planning of industrial and non‐industrial production. The optimization of these materials is the main aim of the current research, focused on the evaluation of the behavior of flax fiber reinforced composites exposed to isothermal adsorption and desorption cycles, at varying the partial pressure of water vapor (P/P0). For this purpose, the moisture uptake and the morphology changes of the composite material and their constituents were in situ monitored through a measurement protocol, by using a dynamic vapor sorption (DVS) analysis, coupled with an environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) visual investigation. A dependence of moisture uptake and diffusivity on the composite morphology was clearly detected. In particular, no significant variation in the morphology of the specimen is noticed at low water vapor partial pressure (i.e., P/P0 up to 5.4%) due to the limited absorption capacity (i.e., lower than 1%). On the other hand, fibers morphology changes at increasing the partial pressure up to 25.1%, showing a sensitive increase in volume. This phenomenon becomes much more relevant for high relative humidity values (i.e., ~90%), reaching more than 6% of absorption capacity.
Comparing internal representations of facial expression kinematics between autistic and non‐autistic adults
Authors: Keating Connor T. , Sowden Sophie , Cook Jennifer L.
Published: November 2021

Recent developments suggest that autistic individuals require dynamic angry expressions to have a higher speed in order for them to be successfully identified. Therefore, it is plausible that autistic individuals do not have a ‘deficit’ in angry expression recognition, but rather their internal representation of these expressions is characterised by very high‐speed movement. In this study, matched groups of autistic and non‐autistic adults completed a novel emotion‐based task which employed dynamic displays of happy, angry and sad point light facial (PLF) expressions. On each trial, participants moved a slider to manipulate the speed of a PLF stimulus until it moved at a speed that, in their ‘mind's eye’, was typical of happy, angry or sad expressions. Participants were shown three different types of PLFs—those showing the full‐face, only the eye region, and only the mouth region, wherein the latter two were included to test whether differences in facial information sampling underpinned any dissimilarities in speed attributions. Across both groups, participants attributed the highest speeds to angry, then happy, then sad, facial motion. Participants increased the speed of angry and happy expressions by 41% and 27% respectively and decreased the speed of sad expressions by 18%. This suggests that participants have ‘caricatured’ internal representations of emotion, wherein emotion‐related kinematic cues are over‐emphasised. There were no differences between autistic and non‐autistic individuals in the speeds attributed to full‐face and partial‐face angry, happy and sad expressions respectively. Consequently, we find no evidence that autistic adults possess atypically fast internal representations of anger.
Predictive modeling and sensitivity analysis to estimate the experimental data of inulinase fermentation by Aspergillus niger grown on sugar beet molasses‐based medium optimized using Plackett–Burman Design
Authors: Germec Mustafa , Turhan Irfan
Published: November 2021

The present work aimed to model Aspergillus niger inulinase fermentation performed in the medium using sigmoidal functions, validate the selected models using an independent set of the experimental values, and perform a sensitivity analysis of the selected models. Based on the results, the selected models were Stannard and Fitzhugh models for substrate consumption (R2 = 0.9976 and 0.9974, respectively), Huang model for inulinase production (R2 = 0.9967), Weibull model for invertase‐type production (R2 = 0.9963), and modified logistic model for invertase‐type activity/inulinase activity ratio (R2 = 0.9292) with high R2 values (>0.90). Kinetics predicted by particularly selected models mentioned above fit well with the experimental kinetic results. Besides, validation of the selected models with an independent set of the experimental data indicated that they gave satisfying results with high R2 values for consumption and production (R2 > 0.90). Sensitivity analysis of the selected models showed that the yielded R2 values (R2 ≥ 0.9775) were in good agreement with those obtained from the selected models. Consequently, A. niger inulinase fermentation was successfully modeled and the selected models were successfully validated with an independent set of the observed data. Besides, the sensitivity analysis also verified the reliability of the selected models. Those models can serve as universal equations to describe the A. niger inulinase fermentation.
Prognostic factors to predict the survival in patients with advanced gastric cancer who receive later‐line nivolumab monotherapy—The Asahikawa Gastric Cancer Cohort Study (AGCC)
Authors: Tanaka Kazuyuki , Tanabe Hiroki , Sato Hiroki , Ishikawa Chisato , Goto Mitsuru , Yanagida Naoyuki , Akabane Hiromitsu , Yokohama Shiro , Hasegawa Kimiharu , Kitano Yohei , Sugiyama Yuya , Uehara Kyoko , Kobayashi Yu , Murakami Yuki , Kunogi Takehito , Sasaki Takahiro , Takahashi Keitaro , Ando Katsuyoshi , Ueno Nobuhiro , Kashima Shin , Moriichi Kentaro , Sato Keisuke , Yuzawa Sayaka , Tanino Mishie , Taruiishi Masaki , Sumi Yasuo , Mizukami Yusuke , Fujiya Mikihiro , Okumura Toshikatsu
Published: November 2021

Background

Chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer is recommended in the guidelines; however, later‐line treatment remains controversial. Since immune checkpoint inhibitors have been used for the treatment of various malignancies, trials have been performed for gastric cancer. A phase 3 trial indicated the survival benefit of nivolumab monotherapy for gastric cancer patients treated with prior chemotherapy regimens.

Patients and methods

A regional cohort study was undertaken to determine the real‐world data of nivolumab treatment for patients with advanced or recurrent gastric cancer. The patients were enrolled for 2 years from October 2017 to October 2019 and were prospectively followed for 1 year to examine the overall survival (OS). The patient characteristics were analyzed in a multivariate analysis and a nomogram to predict the probability of survival was generated.

Results

In total, 70 patients who received nivolumab as ≥third‐line chemotherapy were included in the Asahikawa Gastric Cancer Cohort. The median OS was 7.5 (95% CI, 4.8–10.2) months and the response rate was 18.6%. Diffuse type classification, bone metastasis, high neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, and high CRP were associated with poor OS/prognosis in the multivariate analysis. A nomogram was developed based on these clinical parameters and the concordance index was 0.80 (95% CI, 0.68–0.91). The responders were aged and were frequently diagnosed with intestinal type gastric cancer, including patients with a HER2‐positive status (27.3%) or microsatellite instability‐high (27.3%) status.

Conclusions

The regional cohort study of nivolumab monotherapy for gastric cancer patients revealed prognostic factors and a nomogram was developed that could predict the probability of survival.
Perceived financial decline related to breast reconstruction following mastectomy in a diverse population‐based cohort
Authors: Berlin Nicholas L. , Abrahamse Paul , Momoh Adeyiza O. , Katz Steven J. , Jagsi Reshma , Hamilton Ann S. , Ward Kevin C. , Hawley Sarah T.
Published: November 2021

Background

Despite mandated insurance coverage for breast reconstruction following mastectomy, health care costs are increasingly passed on to women through cost‐sharing arrangements and high‐deductible health plans. In this population‐based study, the authors assessed perceived financial and employment declines related to breast reconstruction following mastectomy.

Methods

Women with early‐stage breast cancer (stages 0‐II) diagnosed between July 2013 and May 2015 who underwent mastectomy were identified through the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registries of Georgia and Los Angeles and were surveyed. Primary outcome measures included patients' appraisal of their financial and employment status after cancer treatment. Multivariable models evaluated the association between breast reconstruction and primary outcomes.

Results

Among 883 patients with breast cancer who underwent mastectomy, 44.2% did not undergo breast reconstruction, and 55.8% underwent reconstruction. Overall, 21.9% of the cohort reported being worse off financially since their diagnosis (25.8% with reconstruction vs 16.6% without reconstruction; P = .002). Women who underwent reconstruction reported higher out‐of‐pocket medical expenses (32.1% vs 15.6% with expenses greater than $5000; P < .001). Reconstruction was independently associated with a perceived decline in financial status (odds ratio, 1.92; 95% confidence interval, 1.15‐3.22; P = .013). Among women who were employed at the time of their diagnosis, there was no association between reconstruction and a perceived decline in employment status (P = .927).

Conclusions

In this diverse cohort of women who underwent mastectomy, those who elected to undergo reconstruction experienced higher out‐of‐pocket medical expenses and self‐reported financial decline. Patients, providers, and policymakers should be aware of the potential financial implications related to reconstruction despite mandatory insurance coverage.
Diversity of Microbial Metal Sulfide Biomineralization
Authors: Park Yeseul , Faivre Damien
Published: November 2021

Since the emergence of life on Earth, microorganisms have contributed to biogeochemical cycles. Sulfate‐reducing bacteria are an example of widespread microorganisms that participate in the metal and sulfur cycles by biomineralization of biogenic metal sulfides. In this work, we review the microbial biomineralization of metal sulfide particles and summarize distinctive features from exemplary cases. We highlight that metal sulfide biomineralization is highly metal‐ and organism‐specific. The properties of metal sulfide biominerals depend on the degree of cellular control and on environmental factors, such as pH, temperature, and concentration of metals. Moreover, biogenic macromolecules, including peptides and proteins, help cells control their extracellular and intracellular environments that regulate biomineralization. Accordingly, metal sulfide biominerals exhibit unique features when compared to abiotic minerals or biominerals produced by dead cell debris.
Corporate social responsibility, green financial system guidelines, and cost of debt financing: Evidence from pollution‐intensive industries in China
Authors: Li Yuanhui , Chen Rongrong , Xiang Erwei
Published: November 2021

Using a sample of publicly listed firms from 2014 to 2019 in pollution‐intensive industries in China, this study investigates the effect of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on corporate cost of debt financing and how the issuance of the “Green Financial System Guidelines” moderates the above relationship. We find that high CSR performance (including responsibility for shareholders, employees, suppliers and customers, the environment, and the community) is associated with low cost of debt in polluting companies. Moreover, the “Green Financial System Guidelines” strengthens the role of CSR in reducing corporate cost of debt. Further analyses reveal that CSR reduces cost of debt by reducing information asymmetry and business risk, and that green credit development strengthens the role of CSR in reducing corporate cost of debt. Our baseline results are robust to alternative measures and tests that address potential endogeneity concerns by employing the Heckman two‐stage and propensity score matching (PSM) methods.
Enhanced coupling of light use efficiency and water use efficiency in arid and semi‐arid environments
Authors: Gao Dexin , Wang Shuai , Wang Lixin , Li Zidong , Pan Ning , Liu Yanxu , Fu Bojie
Published: November 2021

Both light use efficiency (LUE) and water use efficiency (WUE) play essential roles in ecosystem production. The extent to which ecosystem production is affected by the coupling between LUE and WUE remains unclear. In this study, we used data from flux measurements and weather stations in the Heihe River Basin, China, along a strong climatic gradient to quantify the relationship between LUE and WUE. Variations of LUE explained up to 85% of the variations of WUE. The contribution of LUE to WUE increased with increasing water stress. Pearson's correlation coefficient between LUE and WUE increased from −0.12 to +0.63 with decreasing LUE. The coordination between LUE and WUE was essential to explaining the insensitive of WUE and GPP with increasing water stress. These results suggest that ecosystems enhance the coordination between light and water use when water stress is high. They enhance our understanding of the drought resilience of ecosystems and reduce uncertainties associated with the carbon cycle in drylands.
CRISPRi enables fast growth followed by stable aerobic pyruvate formation in Escherichia coli without auxotrophy
Authors: Ziegler Martin , Hägele Lorena , Gäbele Teresa , Takors Ralf
Published: November 2021

CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) was applied to enable the aerobic production of pyruvate in Escherichia coli MG1655 under glucose excess conditions by targeting the promoter regions of aceE or pdhR. Knockdown strains were cultivated in aerobic shaking flasks and the influence of inducer concentration and different sgRNA binding sites on the production of pyruvate was measured. Targeting the promoter regions of aceE or pdhR triggered pyruvate production during the exponential phase and reduced expression of aceE. In lab‐scale bioreactor fermentations, an aceE silenced strain successfully produced pyruvate under fully aerobic conditions during the exponential phase, but loss of productivity occurred during a subsequent nitrogen‐limited phase. Targeting the promoter region of pdhR enabled pyruvate production during the growth phase of cultivations, and a continued low‐level accumulation during the nitrogen‐limited production phase. Combinatorial targeting of the promoter regions of both aceE and pdhR in E. coli MG1655 pdCas9 psgRNA_aceE_234_pdhR_329 resulted in the stable aerobic production of pyruvate with non‐growing cells at YP/S  =  0.36 ± 0.029 gPyruvate/gGlucose in lab‐scale bioreactors throughout an extended nitrogen‐limited production phase.
Realization of user‐friendly bioanalytical tools to quantify and monitor critical components in bio‐industrial processes through conceptual design
Authors: Mandenius Carl‐Fredrik
Published: November 2021

This minireview suggests a conceptual and user‐oriented approach for the design of process monitoring systems in bioprocessing. Advancement of process analytical techniques for quantification of critical analytes can take advantage of basic conceptual process design to support reasoning, reconsidering and ranking solutions. Issues on analysis in complex bio‐industrial media, sensitivity and selectivity are highlighted from users’ perspectives. Meeting challenging analytical demands for understanding the critical interplay between the emerging bioprocesses, their biomolecular complexity and the needs for user‐friendly analytical tools are discussed. By that, a thorough design approach is suggested based on a holistic design thinking in the quest for better analytical opportunities to solve established and emerging analytical needs.
Performance Enhancement of Environmental Friendly Ge‐Based Perovskite Solar Cell with Zn3P2 and SnS2 as Charge Transport Layer Materials
Authors: Singh Nitesh Kumar , Agarwal Anshul , Kanumuri Tirupathiraju
Published: November 2021

Perovskite solar cell (PSC) may become the foundation of the photovoltaic industry in the future as it possesses unique photovoltaic properties that are not found in other solar cells. The primary impediment to the commercialization of lead‐based PSC devices is their toxicity and stability. In this scenario, the photovoltaic parameters of a nonpolluting methyl ammonium germanium halide (CH3NH3GeI3) PSC device are investigated using numerical modelling. Herein, different hole transport layer materials (HTPLMs) and electron transport layer materials (ETPLMs) are compared for the structure of germanium perovskite photovoltaic cells, and a suitable novel design FTO/SnS2/CH3NH3GeI3/Zn3P2/Au is chosen. Evaluating factors like thickness, defect density of the CH3NH3GeI3, Zn3P2, and Zn3P2 layer, interface defect density of HTPLM/perovskite and ETPLM/perovskite, and the consequence of series and shunt resistance are all evaluated, and the optimal value is calculated. The results show that perovskite photovoltaic cells based on the Germanium structure have a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 25.98%, open‐circuit voltage = 1.26 V, current density = 23.781 mA cm−2, and a fill factor of 86.70%. Furthermore, the temperature study analysis shows that the device's PCE decreases to 23.72% at 390 K.
Projected Kaczmarz successive interference cancellation detection
Authors: Bentrcia Abdelouahab
Published: November 2021

In this article, the recently developed Kaczmarz successive interference cancellation (KSIC) detector is generalized to the nonlinear case; specifically, a projected SIC detection scheme is developed using the projected Kaczmarz iterative method. This novel detector enjoys improved performance with minimal additional computational complexity. The new detector is first presented and then its convergence analysis is detailed. After that, the computational complexity analysis of this detector is conducted and compared to that of the KSIC detector. Finally, extensive numerical simulations are conducted in different scenarios. Simulation results show that the proposed projected Kaczmarz SIC detector can achieve lower BER and can support more users in the system compared to the KSIC detector.
Gas hydrate accumulation in shelf break setting: Example from the Qiongdongnan Basin in the northern slope of the South China Sea
Authors: Zhang Wei , Liang Jinqiang , Zhang Ruwei , Deng Wei , Gu Yuan , He Yulin , Gong Yuehua , Meng Miaomiao , Feng Junxi , Liang Jin
Published: November 2021

Based on interpretation and inversion of high‐resolution seismic data, a previously undocumented occurrence of pore‐filled gas hydrates that are associated with a submarine canyon system was discovered in the shelf break of the north‐east Qiongdongnan Basin (QDNB) in the northern South China Sea (SCS). Continuous bottom simulating reflections (BSRs) were recognized in the submarine striking NW‐SE ridges along the shelf break. The two‐way travel times (TWTs) of the BSRs are about 200–250 ms below the sea floor and the burial depths are mapped at ~180–225 mbsf after time‐depth conversion. The distribution of the enhanced reflections (ERs) and acoustic blanking zone overlying the BSRs indicate possible pore‐filled gas hydrate enrichment. ERs have been commonly observed immediately below the BSRs, indicating the accumulation of free gas, which exhibits distinct amplitude versus offset (AVO) anomalies. The acoustic impedance inversion results show that the gas hydrate saturation is 20–50%, and the thickness of the gas hydrate‐bearing layers is usually ~10–40 m, with a maximum thickness of up to ~90 m in local regions. Large‐scale listric faults originating from the deep sag connect the hydrocarbon source region and the shallow gas hydrate stability zone (GHSZ) and act as migration pathways for biogenic gas and potentially thermogenic gas. In addition, hydrocarbons may also be transported into the GHSZ along the sidewalls of the canyon. Canyon incision is believed to cause the increase in the burial depth of the BSRs on the flank of the ridge toward the base of the channel and thereby to trap the hydrocarbons migrating along the sidewall in permeable beds due to the decrease in permeability caused by the gas hydrate accumulation, resulting in the occurrence of ERs immediately below the BSRs. It is speculated that in the channel‐levee system, the coarse‐grained sediments should be deposited within the GHSZ, and the reservoir's physical properties are conducive to the wide distribution and enrichment of pore‐filled gas hydrates in the shelf break of the northern QDNB.
Achieving negative resection margins in oral cavity cancer with masticator space involvement—Is it feasible? International collaborative study
Authors: Horowitz Gilad , De Almeida John R. , Berania Ilyes , Goldstein David P. , Köhler Hugo Fontan , Kowalski Luiz Paulo , Matos Leandro Luongo , Brenner‐Ullman Adi , Fliss Dan M. , Muhanna Nidal , Halpern Daniel , Nard‐Carmel Narin , Ungar Omer J. , Warshavsky Anton
Published: November 2021

Background

Masticator space involvement in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) is considered an unresectable disease. Nevertheless, achieving negative resection margins is feasible in limited masticatory space involvement.

Materials and Methods

A multi‐institutional study on OCSCC patients with masticator space invasion who underwent surgical resection. Margin status was assessed according to anatomic tumor involvement of the inframandibular and supra‐mandibular notch.

Results

One‐hundred and thirty‐two patients met the inclusion criteria. Then, 67 patients (50.8%) were diagnosed with a supra‐notch tumor and 65 (49.2%) with an infra‐notch disease. Negative margins were more common in the infra‐notch group (43.3 vs. 23.1%, p = 0.014), and positive margins were more common in the supra‐notch group (41.5 vs. 23.9%, p = 0.041). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that supra‐notch tumors had an increased likelihood for involved resection margins (odds ratio = 2.46, p = 0.036).

Conclusion

OCSCC patients with masticator space involvement are prone for positive surgical margins in tumors extending above the supra‐mandibular notch.
“Those who eat from one pot”: Constructing household as a social category in a cash transfer programme in Ghana
Authors: Puorideme Dennis , Christensen Ivan Lind
Published: November 2021

Social categorisation is situated at the core of any modern attempt to govern or intervene in the social world. This paper investigates the construction of the concept of household in Ghana's official social statistics and its implications when implemented in the internationally co‐organised cash transfer programme, the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme. The study is based on various literature, conceptual analysis and interviews with key stakeholders, including the LEAP programme authorities and focal persons in a local community. The findings indicate discrepancies between the category of household and the cultural setting it is meant to represent in the Ghanaian context.
Panax notoginseng saponins attenuate intervertebral disc degeneration by reducing the end plate porosity in lumbar spinal instability mice
Authors: Hu Hao , Chen Yan , Huang Fangli , Chen Bolin , Zou Zhiyuan , Tan Bizhi , Yi Hualin , Liu Chun , Wan Yong , Ling Zemin , Zou Xuenong
Published: November 2021

Although painkillers could alleviate some of the symptoms, there are no drugs that really cope with the intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) at present, so it is urgent to find a cure that could prevent or reverse the progression of IDD. During the development of IDD, the cartilaginous end plates (EPs) become hypertrophic and porous by the increase of osteoclast activities, which hinder the penetration of nutrition. The compositional and structural degeneration of the EP may cause both nutritional as well as mechanical impairment to the nucleus pulposus (NP) so that developing drugs that target the degenerating EP may be another option in addition to targeting the NP. In the lumbar spine instability mouse model, we found increased porosity in the cartilaginous EP, accompanied by the decrease in total intervertebral disc volume. Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS), a traditional Chinese patent drug with anti‐osteoclastogenesis effect, could alleviate IDD by inhibiting aberrant osteoclast activation in the porous EP. Further in vitro experiment validated that PNS inhibit the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa‐Β ligand–induced osteoclast differentiation, while the transcriptional activation of PAX6 may be involved in the mechanism, which had been defined as an inhibitory transcription factor in osteoclastogenesis. These findings may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for IDD.
Lung Ultrasound for Pleural Line Abnormalities, Confluent B‐Lines, and Consolidation
Authors: Fischer Ernest A. , Minami Taro , Ma Irene W. Y. , Yasukawa Kosuke
Published: November 2021

Objectives

Discrete B‐lines have clear definitions, but confluent B‐lines, consolidations, and pleural line abnormalities are less well defined. We proposed definitions for these and determined their reproducibility using COVID‐19 patient images obtained with phased array probes.

Methods

Two raters collaborated to refine definitions, analyzing disagreements on 107 derivation scans from 10 patients. Refined definitions were used by those raters and an independent rater on 1260 validation scans from 105 patients. Reliability was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) or Cohen's kappa.

Results

The agreement was excellent between collaborating raters for B‐line abnormalities, ICC = 0.97 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.97–0.98) and pleural line to consolidation abnormalities, ICC = 0.90 (95% CI 0.87–0.92). The independent rater's agreement for B‐line abnormalities was excellent, ICC = 0.97 (95% CI 0.96–0.97) and for pleural line to consolidation was good, ICC = 0.88 (95% CI 0.84–0.91). Agreement just on pleural line abnormalities was weak (collaborators, κ = 0.54, 95% CI 0.48–0.60; independent, κ = 0.54, 95% CI 0.49–0.59).

Conclusion

With proposed definitions or via collaboration, overall agreement on confluent B‐lines and pleural line to consolidation abnormalities was robust. Pleural line abnormality agreement itself was persistently weak and caution should be used interpreting pleural line abnormalities with only a phased array probe.
Inorganic–Organic Interpenetrating Network Hydrogels as Tissue‐Integrating Luminescent Implants: Physicochemical Characterization and Preclinical Evaluation
Authors: Unruh Rachel M. , Bornhoeft Lindsey R. , Nichols Scott P. , Wisniewski Natalie A. , McShane Michael J.
Published: November 2021

Sensors capable of accurate, continuous monitoring of biochemistry are crucial to the realization of personalized medicine on a large scale. Great strides have been made to enhance tissue compatibility of long‐term in vivo biosensors using biomaterials strategies such as tissue‐integrating hydrogels. However, the low level of oxygen in tissue presents a challenge for implanted devices, especially when the biosensing function relies on oxygen as a measure—either as a primary analyte or as an indirect marker to transduce levels of other biomolecules. This work presents a method of fabricating inorganic–organic interpenetrating network (IPN) hydrogels to optimize the oxygen transport through injectable biosensors. Capitalizing on the synergy between the two networks, various physicochemical properties (e.g., swelling, glass transition temperature, and mechanical properties) are shown to be independently adjustable while maintaining a 250% increase in oxygen permeability relative to poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) controls. Finally, these gels, when functionalized with a Pd(II) benzoporphyrin phosphor, track tissue oxygen in real time for 76 days as subcutaneous implants in a porcine model while promoting tissue ingrowth and minimizing fibrosis around the implant. These findings support IPN networks for fine‐tuned design of implantable biomaterials in personalized medicine and other biomedical applications.
Dynamic boundary‐insensitive loss for magnetic resonance medical image segmentation
Authors: Qiu Mingyan , Zhang Chenxi , Song Zhijian
Published: November 2021

Purpose

A deep learning method has achieved great success in MR medical image segmentation. One challenge in applying deep learning segmentation models to clinical practice is their poor generalization mainly due to limited labeled training samples, inter‐site heterogeneity of different datasets, and ambiguous boundary definition, etc. The objective of this work is to develop a dynamic boundary‐insensitive (DBI) loss to address this poor generalization caused by an uncertain boundary.

Methods

The DBI loss is designed to assign higher penalties to misclassified voxels farther from the boundaries in each training iteration to reduce the sensitivity of the segmentation model to the uncertain boundary. The weighting factor of the DBI loss can be adjusted adaptively without any manual setting and adjustment. Extensive experiments were conducted to verify the performance of our DBI loss and its variant, DiceDBI, on four heterogeneous prostate MRI datasets for prostate zonal segmentation and whole prostate segmentation.

Results

Experimental results show that our DBI loss, when combined with Dice loss, outperforms all competing loss functions in dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and improves the segmentation performance across all datasets consistently, especially on unseen datasets and when segmenting small or narrow targets.

Conclusions

The proposed DiceDBI loss will be valuable for enhancement of the generalization performance of the segmentation model.
Computational simulation of 1H NMR profiles of complex biofluid analyte mixtures at differential operating frequencies: Applications to low‐field benchtop spectra
Authors: Edgar Mark , Kuhn Stefan , Page Georgina , Grootveld Martin
Published: November 2021

Estimations of accurate and reliable NMR chemical shift values, coupling patterns and constants within a reasonable timeframe remain significantly challenging, and the unavailability of reliable software strategies for the prediction of low‐field (e.g., 60 MHz) spectra from those acquired at higher operating frequencies hampers their direct comparison. Hence, this study explored the applications of accessible software options for predicting these parameters in the 1H NMR profiles of analytes as a function of magnetic field strength; this was performed for individual analytes and also for complex biofluid matrices featured in metabolomics investigations. For this purpose, results from the very first successful experimental acquisition and simulation of the 1H NMR profiles of intact human salivary supernatant samples on a 60 MHz benchtop spectrometer were evaluated. Using salivary metabolite concentrations determined at 400 MHz, it was demonstrated that simulation of the low‐field spectra of five biomolecules with the most prominent 1H resonances detectable allowed multiple component fits to be applied to experimental spectra. Hence, these salivary 1H NMR profiles could be successfully predicted throughout the 45–600 MHz operating frequency range. With the exception of propionate resonance multiplets, which revealed more complex coupling patterns at low field and required more astute computational and fitting options, valuable quantitative metabolomics data on salivary acetate, formate, methanol and glycine could be attained from low‐field spectrometres. These studies are both timely and pertinent in view of the recent advancement of low‐field benchtop NMR facilities for diagnostically significant biomarker tracking in biofluids. Experiments performed with added ammonium chloride to facilitate the release of salivary metabolites from biopolymer binding sites provided evidence that a small but nevertheless significant proportion of propionate, but not lactate, was bound to such sites, an observation of much relevance to biomolecule quantification in salivary metabolomics investigations.
Sufficient optimality conditions for the optimal control problem
Authors: Djendel Khelifa , Zhou Zhongcheng
Published: November 2021

The main purpose of this paper is to establish the sufficient optimality conditions for the optimal controls under some convexity assumptions. For the Bolza problem, under concavity of the Hamiltonian and convexity of the cost functional, the extreme control must be optimal control. However, for the Mayer problem, the cost functional can be relaxed to quasi‐convex and pseudo‐convex. Finally, some examples illustrate these theoretical results and some counter examples show that the convexity assumptions of these results cannot be further weakened in some sense.
Developing a variables modified chain sampling plan with Taguchi capability index
Authors: Wang Zih‐Huei , Wu Chien‐Wei , Lin Wei‐Ren
Published: November 2021

Acceptance sampling plan has been a practical tool in quality management, which provides both the producer and the consumer a general rule for sentencing lots. In recent years, a new strategy, chain sampling plan, considering disposition of historical lots for sentencing the current lot has been discussed. However, reviewing results of preceding lots only happens when the quality of current lot is on the undefined region, which may not be completely utilized. Therefore, in this study, we develop a variables modified‐ChSP (VMChSP) for variable inspection based on the Taguchi capability index to improve above situation. Optimization model of the proposed plan is formulated to solve plan parameters by minimizing the required sample size. Plan parameters under various allowable risks and quality levels are also provided for practical purpose. Finally, further analysis and comparisons between the proposed plan and conventional plans are provided and discussed in this research.