bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Natural Protein‐Based Biocomposites with Superior Paramagnetism and Microwave Absorbing Properties by Incorporating Nanosized Fe2O3
Authors: Tian Huafeng , Li Xuejie , Yan Jiaqi , Yu Xi , Liu Hongtao , Li Jian , Guo Gaiping
Published: January 2022

Soy protein is one kind of environment‐friendly nonbioactive plant protein with excellent properties. Paramagnetic γ‐Fe2O3 nanoparticles with a mean particle size of 7 nm are prepared by submerged circulative impinging stream reactor (SCISR). And a series of soy protein isolate (SPI)/Fe2O3 nanocomposites with excellent magnetic performance have been successfully prepared with glycerol as plasticizer and γ‐Fe2O3 as fillers. The results show that the strong hydrogen bonds are formed between polar amino acids of SPI and the fillers. The Fe2O3 nanoparticles exhibit homogeneous dispersion in the protein matrix. The resulting SPI/Fe2O3 nanocomposites exhibit good paramagnetism and good microwave absorbing properties at 2–18 GHz. In addition, the mechanical properties and thermal stability of soy protein materials are improved with the addition of Fe2O3 nanocomposites. The interactions between the fillers and matrix as well as between the fillers would influence the reinforcing effect of Fe2O3. These natural resources based on green functional materials would exhibit wide potential applications in electromagnetic interference shielding and packaging areas.
Effects of T2* on accuracy and precision of dynamic T1 measurements using the single reference variable flip angle method: a simulation study
Authors: Malmberg Michael A. , Odéen Henrik , Parker Dennis L.
Published: January 2022

Purpose

To study in simulation and in theory the accuracy and precision of dynamic T1 measurements obtained using the previously published single‐reference variable flip angle (SR‐VFA) technique, with a focus on the effects of dynamic changes in T2* on the calculation.

Methods

Monte Carlo simulations were performed over 1000 noisy iterations for the VFA method, the SR‐VFA method, and a proposed method, SR‐VFA with a T2* correction (SR‐VFA‐T2*). Dynamic T1 estimates were calculated analytically for each method, with signals modeled by the steady‐state spoiled gradient echo equation. The mean and standard deviation of these estimates were calculated and compared to truth, while varying repetition time (TR), baseline and dynamic T1, echo time (TE), baseline and dynamic T2*, flip angles, and the number of averages on baseline scans. Additionally, the variance of T1 in the SR‐VFA and SR‐VFA‐T2* methods was derived analytically based on the theory of propagation of errors. This equation was used to produce an inverse‐variance weighted linear combination to improve T1 mapping precision in the SR‐VFA‐T2* method. Flip angle sensitivity of dynamic T1 precision in the SR‐VFA and SR‐VFA‐T2* methods was also performed.

Results

Substantial bias can be produced by the SR‐VFA method when the ratio of the T2* decay of the dynamic signal versus that of the baseline signals deviates from 1, with a 0.01 deviation leading to approximately a 1% bias in cases of high SNR and TR ≫ T1. This bias can be corrected by estimating the baseline and dynamic T2* values in this ratio via multiecho measurements. The bias and precision of the SR‐VFA‐T2* method, when normalized to scan time, is found to rival and sometimes improve upon the two flip angle VFA method when an inverse variance weighted linear combination is applied across its multiecho T1 maps. The analytic variance equation presented is found to be accurate within 1% relative to the Monte Carlo simulations over a broad parameter space. Flip angle ranges that maximize SR‐VFA and SR‐VFA‐T2*T1 precision over a broad parameter space are given, and each is defined relative to TR and T1.

Conclusions

Multiecho SR‐VFA‐T2* T1 mapping is found in simulation and theory to be a promising alternative to the VFA method that maintains speed of the SR‐VFA method with accuracy and precision similar to the VFA method.
Maximal Intersections in Finite Groups
Authors: Lucchini Andrea
Published: January 2022

For a finite group G, we investigate the behavior of four invariants, $$\text {MaxDim}(G),$$

MaxDim
(
G
)
,

$$\text {MinDim}(G),$$

MinDim
(
G
)
,

$$\text {MaxInt}(G)$$

MaxInt
(
G
)

and $$\text {MinInt}(G),$$

MinInt
(
G
)
,

measuring in some way the width and the height of the lattice $${\mathcal {M}}(G)$$

M
(
G
)

consisting of the intersections of the maximal subgroups of G.
Safe, accurate, and precise sulfur isotope analyses of arsenides, sulfarsenides, and arsenic and mercury sulfides by conversion to barium sulfate before EA/IRMS
Authors: Spangenberg Jorge E. , Saintilan Nicolas J. , Palinkaš Sabina Strmić
Published: January 2022

The stable isotope ratios of sulfur (δ34S relative to Vienna Cañon Diablo Troilite) in sulfates and sulfides determined by elemental analysis and isotope ratio mass spectrometry (EA/IRMS) have been proven to be a remarkable tool for studies of the (bio)geochemical sulfur cycles in modern and ancient environments. However, the use of EA/IRMS to measure δ34S in arsenides and sulfarsenides may not be straightforward. This difficulty can lead to potential health and environmental hazards in the workplace and analytical problems such as instrument contamination, memory effects, and a non-matrix-matched standardization of δ34S measurements with suitable reference materials. To overcome these practical and analytical challenges, we developed a procedure for sulfur isotope analysis of arsenides, which can also be safely used for EA/IRMS analysis of arsenic sulfides (i.e., realgar, orpiment, arsenopyrite, and arsenian pyrite), and mercury sulfides (cinnabar). The sulfur dioxide produced from off-line EA combustion was trapped in an aqueous barium chloride solution in a leak-free system and precipitated as barium sulfate after quantitative oxidation of hydrogen sulfite by hydrogen peroxide. The derived barium sulfate was analyzed by conventional EA/IRMS, which bracketed the δ34S values of the samples with three international sulfate reference materials. The protocol (BaSO4-EA/IRMS) was validated by analyses of reference materials and laboratory standards of sulfate and sulfides and achieved accuracy and precision comparable with those of direct EA/IRMS. The δ34S values determined by BaSO4-EA/IRMS in sulfides (arsenopyrite, arsenic, and mercury sulfides) samples from different origins were comparable to those obtained by EA/IRMS, and no sulfur isotope fractionations were introduced during sample preparation. We report the first sulfur isotope data of arsenides obtained by BaSO4-EA/IRMS.

Graphical abstract
Susceptibility to the fungal plant pathogen Austropuccinia psidii is related to monoterpene production in Australian Myrtaceae species
Authors: Manea Anthony , Tabassum Samiya , Fernandez Winzer Laura , Leishman Michelle R.
Published: January 2022

In 2010, the fungal plant pathogen that causes Myrtle rust, Austropuccinia psidii, which is native to South America, was first detected in Australia and has since had significant impacts on several Australian Myrtaceae species. Despite this, our understanding of the role secondary metabolites play in plant susceptibility to A. psidii is limited. This study aimed to determine: (1) whether secondary metabolite (phenolics, terpenes) production is induced after A. psidii inoculation and if so, (2) how their production relates to A. psidii susceptibility. To test these aims, we selected seven Myrtaceae species that have a wide range of within-species variability in their susceptibility to A. psidii. We found that five of the study species significantly increased either their phenolic or sesquiterpene production post-inoculation suggesting their pre-inoculation secondary metabolite levels were not sufficient to combat A. psidii infection. The two species (Angophora costata and Corymbia citriodora) that did not increase their secondary metabolite production post-inoculation tended to have the greatest pre-inoculation production levels amongst the species. Interestingly, across all species, monoterpenes were the only secondary metabolite found to reduce plant susceptibility to A. psidii. This study contributes to our limited understanding of the role that secondary metabolites play in plant susceptibility to A. psidii. In light of these findings, future research should aim to identify biomarkers (e.g. individual chemical compounds) that confer resistance to A. psidii, so that individuals with these biomarkers can be utilised in commercial and conservation projects.
Going above and beyond for your Beliefs: the Effects of Ideological Psychological Contract Breach and Fulfillment on pro-Social Rule Breaking
Authors: Yang Y. , Brans I. , Vantilborgh T.
Published: January 2022

Ideological psychological contracts (PC) describe perceived obligations that relate to an organization’s mission, values, and principles, and they relate closely to employees’ self-concept. The ideological currency is prevalent across various professions and organizations. In this study, we argue that employees engage in corrective behavior (i.e., pro-social rule breaking; PSRB) in response to large discrepancies between obligated and delivered ideological inducements (i.e., ideological PC breach). We measure breach obligated and delivered ideological inducements separately to examine their different effects on PSRB. Based on prior theoretical models, we examine core self-evaluation (i.e., CSE) and include perceptions of ideological PC breach and fulfillment as antecedents of PSRB, as well as the role of CSE in the relationship between perceptions of ideological PC breach and fulfillment and PSRB. Our results suggest that PSRB negatively relates to both the breach and fulfillment continua, and delivered ideological inducements relates more strongly to PSRB than obligated ideological inducements. Moreover, CSE does not moderate the relationship between ideological PC breach and fulfillment and PSRB. These results further our understanding of how ideological PCs shape employees’ behavior. By examining the moderating role of CSE, we advance the PC literature by showing that ideological PC breach and fulfillment perceptions are better antecedents of PSRB than CSE.
Stuck in a box: Elementary teacher education students’ perspectives of the impact of edTPA on social studies instruction
Authors: Perrotta Katherine
Published: January 2022

The purpose of this study is to ascertain perspectives from pre-service and in-service elementary teachers on whether edTPA impacted their preparedness to teach social studies. Major findings show that while study participants found some benefits from edTPA for preparing to teach social studies, pre-service and in-service elementary teachers face significant challenges including time constraints, marginalized emphasis on teaching social studies, facilitating conversations about current events and contemporary issues, and accessing relevant professional development that can support their teaching of content-specific topics with inquiry-based pedagogies such as the National Council for the Social Studies (2013) College, Career, and Civic Life Framework. Recommendations for future studies include examining how partnerships between colleges of education, school districts, and local educational agencies can support pre-service and in-service elementary teachers’ ambitious social studies teaching by focusing on content that highlights contributions of underrepresented historical figures and events, implementing curriculum that promotes inquiry skills, and applying knowledge of the contexts in which they teach to meet the diverse needs of students.
Pflicht oder Verpflichtung?
Authors: Roßius Sabrina
Published: January 2022

Albert Camus sagte 1957: „Die Freiheit besteht in erster Linie nicht aus Privilegien, sondern aus Pflichten.“ Dieses Zitat kommt der Diskussion um die Impfpflicht und deren Bedeutung für die Gesellschaft und vor allem für das Gesundheitspersonal sehr nahe.
Entlastung der Pflege: Vision oder Wirklichkeit?
Authors: Heeser Alexandra
Published: January 2022

Der Pflegenotstand weitet sich aus, gleichzeitig sollen pflege- und hilfsbedürftige Menschen so lange wie möglich eigenständig leben können. Hier ein paar Beispiele für neue Technologien und deren Infrastruktur, die künftig Pflegekräfte entlasten könnten.
The Effects of Messaging on Expectations and Understanding of Long COVID: An Online Randomised Trial
Authors: Bhogal Jaskiran Kaur , Mills Freya , Dennis Amelia , Spoiala Cristina , Milward Joanna , Saeed Sidra , Jones Leah Ffion , Weston Dale , Carter Holly
Published: January 2022

Objectives

We examined whether providing different types of information about Long COVID would affect expectations about the illness.

Design

A 2 (Illness description: Long COVID vs ongoing COVID-19 recovery) x 2 (Illness uncertainty: uncertainty emphasised vs uncertainty not emphasised) x 2 (Efficacy of support: enhanced support vs basic support) between-subjects randomised online experimental study.

Setting

The online platform Prolific, collected in October 2021.

Participants

A representative sample of 1110 members of the public in the UK.

Interventions

Participants were presented with a scenario describing a positive COVID-19 test result and then presented with one of eight scenarios describing a Long COVID diagnosis.

Primary and Secondary Outcome Measures

Various outcome measures relating to illness expectations were captured including: symptom severity, symptom duration, quality of life, personal control, treatment control and illness coherence.

Results

We ran a series of 2 × 2 × 2 ANOVAs on the outcome variables. We found a main effect of illness description: individuals reported longer symptom duration and less illness coherence when the illness was described as Long COVID (compared to ongoing COVID-19 recovery). There was a main effect of illness uncertainty: when uncertainty was emphasised, participants reported longer expected symptom duration, less treatment control, and less illness coherence than when uncertainty was not emphasised. There was also a main effect of efficacy of support: participants reported higher personal control and higher treatment control when support was enhanced (compared to basic support). We also found an interaction between illness description and efficacy of support: when support was enhanced, participants reported less illness coherence for Long COVID (compared to ongoing COVID-19 recovery).

Conclusions

Communications around Long COVID should not emphasise symptom uncertainty and should provide people with information on how they can facilitate their recovery and where they can access additional support. The findings also suggest that use of the term ongoing COVID-19 recovery, where possible, may reduce negative expectations associated with the illness.

Strengths and Limitations of this study

This is one of the first experimental designed studies to assess the impact of different types of communication about Long COVID.

Participants were a UK representative sample, although these findings are not necessarily applicable to all population groups (i.e., ethnic minorities).

This study is one of the first applications of the IPQ-R in a hypothetical, online experiment, with high reliability.

This was an online experiment, with hypothetical scenarios and participants with no experience of COVID-19 or Long COVID, therefore outcomes may be different in a real-world context.
Prospective Motion Correction and Automatic Segmentation of Penetrating Arteries in Phase Contrast MRI at 7 T
Authors: Moore Julia , Jimenez Jordan , Lin Weili , Powers William , Zong Xiaopeng
Published: January 2022

Purpose

To develop a prospective motion correction (MC) method for phase contrast (PC) MRI of penetrating arteries (PA) in centrum semiovale at 7 T and evaluate its performance using automatic PA segmentation.

Methods

Head motion was monitored and corrected during the scan based on fat navigator images. Two convolutional neural networks (CNN) were developed to automatically segment PAs and exclude surface vessels. Real-life scans with MC and without MC (NoMC) were performed to evaluate the MC performance. Motion score was calculated from the range of translational and rotational motion parameters. MC vs NoMC pairs were divided according to their score differences into groups with similar, less, or more motions during MC. Data reacquisition was also performed to evaluate whether it can further improve PA visualization.

Results

In the group with similar motion, more PA counts (NPA) were obtained with MC in 9 (60%) cases, significantly more than the number of cases (1) with less PAs (p = 0.011; binomial test). In the group with less motion during MC, MC images had more or similar NPA in all cases, while in the group with more motion during MC, the numbers of cases with less and more NPA during MC were not significantly different (3 vs 0). Data reacquisition did not further increase NPA. CNNs had higher sensitivity (0.85) and accuracy (Dice coefficient 0.85) of detecting PAs than a threshold based method.

Conclusions

Prospective MC and CNN based segmentation improved the visualization and delineation of PAs in PC MRI at 7 T.
A monotone single index model for missing-at-random longitudinal proportion data
Authors: Acharyya Satwik , Pati Debdeep , Bandyopadhyay Dipankar , Sun Shumei
Published: January 2022

Beta distributions are commonly used to model proportion valued response variables, commonly encountered in longitudinal studies. In this article, we develop semi-parametric Beta regression models for proportion valued responses, where the aggregate covariate effect is summarized and flexibly modeled, using a interpretable monotone time-varying single index transform of a linear combination of the potential covariates. We utilize the potential of single index models, which are effective dimension reduction tools and accommodate link function misspecification in generalized linear mixed models. Our Bayesian methodology incorporates the missing-at-random feature of the proportion response, and utilize Hamiltonian Monte Carlo sampling to conduct inference. We explore finite-sample frequentist properties of our estimates, and assess the robustness via detailed simulation studies. Finally, we illustrate our methodology via application to a motivating longitudinal dataset on obesity research recording proportion body fat.
Chromatin reprogramming and transcriptional regulation orchestrate embryogenesis in hexaploid wheat
Authors: Zhao Long , Lin Xuelei , Yang Yiman , Bie Xiaomin , Zhang Hao , Chen Jinchao , Liu Xuemei , Wang Hao , Jiang Jiafu , Fu Xiangdong , Zhang Xiansheng , Xiao Jun
Published: January 2022

Embryogenesis represents the beginning of life cycle, but our understanding of the regulatory circuitry in plants is far lagged to animals. Here, we draw a transcriptome trajectory and chromatin landscape profile during embryogenesis of most cultivated crop hexaploid wheat, highlighting large-scale chromatin reconfiguration and distinct proximal and distal transcriptional regulation in defining cell fate transition. Upon fertilization, H3K27ac and H3K4me3 resetting were correlated with maternal genome silence, while de novo building of chromatin accessibility activated zygotic genome. Global depletion of H3K27me3 in pre-embryo results in a permissive chromatin environment with gain-of-chromatin accessibility, allowing subsequent hierarchical cis- and trans-regulation network mediated by key factors, such as LEC1, MYB, ZHD, LEC2, governing embryo pattern formation. By contrast, H3K27me3 restoration coordinating with chromatin compaction in developmental genes attenuated totipotency and prohibited extensive organogenesis during embryo maturation. In addition, dynamic biased expression of homeolog triads and diverse expression profiles after polyploidization were observed. This is correlated with asymmetric transposon elements insertion in accessible proximal and distal regions. Thus, our study revealed a plant-specific chromatin reprogramming process in facilitating the hierarchical transcription regulation circuits mediated “inverse hourglass model” and unveiled epigenetic regulation of evolutionary divergence among different sub-genome in shaping embryogenesis in polyploidy wheat.
Immune-responsive biodegradable scaffolds for enhancing neutrophil regeneration
Authors: Kerr Matthew D. , McBride David A. , Johnson Wade T. , Chumber Arun K. , Najibi Alexander J. , Seo Bo Ri , Stafford Alexander G. , Scadden David T. , Mooney David J. , Shah Nisarg J.
Published: January 2022

Neutrophils are essential effector cells for mediating rapid host defense and their insufficiency arising from therapy-induced side-effects, termed neutropenia, can lead to immunodeficiency-associated complications. In autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), neutropenia is a complication that limits therapeutic efficacy. Here, we report the development and in vivo evaluation of an injectable, biodegradable hyaluronic acid (HA)-based scaffold, termed HA cryogel, with myeloid responsive degradation behavior. In mouse models of immune deficiency, we show that the infiltration of functional myeloid-lineage cells, specifically neutrophils, is essential to mediate HA cryogel degradation. Post-HSCT neutropenia in recipient mice delayed degradation of HA cryogels by up to 3 weeks. We harnessed the neutrophil-responsive degradation to sustain the release of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) from HA cryogels. Sustained release of G-CSF from HA cryogels enhanced post-HSCT neutrophil recovery, comparable to pegylated G-CSF, which, in turn, accelerated cryogel degradation. HA cryogels are a potential approach for enhancing neutrophils and concurrently assessing immune recovery in neutropenic hosts.
Risk of COVID-19 Reinfection and Vaccine Breakthrough Infection, Madera County, California, 2021
Authors: Nguyen Minhphuong , Paul Eric , Mills Paul K. , Paul Simon
Published: January 2022

The probability of either testing COVID-19 positive or dying for three cohorts in Madera County, California in 2021 was compared. These cohorts included 1. those unvaccinated, 2. those vaccinated and 3. persons with a previous COVID-19 infection. The three groups were made generally comparable by matching on age, gender, postal zip code of residence, and the date of either COVID-19 infection or of vaccination.

The hazard ratio (HR) for death (from all causes) after COVID-19 infection vs. vaccination was 11.7 (95% CI 5.91-23.1, p<0.05). The HR for testing positive for COVID-19 >14 days after initial COVID-19 infection or after completing primary COVID-19 vaccination was 1.98 (95% CI 1.53-2.58 p<0.001). As the majority of positive COVID-19 tests in the post COVID-19 cohort occurred within 90 days of the initial infection, and as these early positives may not represent a new infection, we also compared rates of testing COVID-19 positive ≥ 90 days after initial infection or vaccination. After removing these early positive COVID-19 tests that occurred between days 14-90, the HR ratio for testing COVID-19 positive is now lower for the post COVID-19 cohort compared with the vaccinated cohort. The risk for having a positive COVID-19 test occurring 90 days after an initial COVID-19 infection or after vaccination was 0.54 (95% CI 0.33-0.87, p<0.05) for the post COVID-19 group vs Vaccinated group.

Thus the risk for testing COVID-19 positive was higher in the first 90 days after COVID-19 infection compared to those vaccinated. However, from 90 to 300 days after COVID-19 infection, the post COVID-19 infection cohort had a lower risk of testing COVID-19 positive than those fully vaccinated.
Improved production and expanded application of CVS-N2c-ΔG virus for retrograde tracing
Authors: Lin Kunzhang , Li Lei , Ma Wenyu , Yang Xin , Han Zengpeng , Luo Nengsong , Xu Fuqiang
Published: January 2022

Neurotropic virus tracers, particularly those with low toxicity and high efficient tracing, are powerful tools for structural and functional dissections of neural circuits. The retrograde trans-mono-synaptic technology based on rabies virus CVS-N2c strain has reduced cytotoxicity and enhanced efficiency, attains long-term gene manipulation for functional studies, but suffers from difficult preparation and low yield. To overcome these shortcomings, an improved production system was established for rapid rescue and preparation of CVS-N2c-ΔG virus, CVS-N2c-ΔG with the same titer as SAD-B19-ΔG can be prepared within a short time. Meanwhile, we found that N2cG coated CVS-N2c-ΔG allows efficient retrograde access to projection neurons, and further expand its application in VTA/SNc to DLS pathway that unaddressed by rAAV9-Retro, and the efficiency is 6 folds higher than that of rAAV9-Retro. Then the trans-synaptic efficiency of CVS-N2c-ΔG virus was evaluated. Results showed that the trans-mono-synaptic efficiency of oG-mediated CVS-N2c-ΔG was 2-3 folds higher than that of oG-mediated SAD-B19-ΔG, but there was no difference between oG-mediated and N2cG-mediated CVS-N2c-ΔG system. In addition, codon modified N2cG (optiG) did not increase the efficiency of CVS-N2c-ΔG tracing. Finally, we found that the CVS-N2c-ΔG produced by the improved method can be used for monitoring neural activity of projection neurons, and the time window can be maintained for 3 weeks, and it can also express sufficient recombinases for efficient transgene recombination. That is, the virus produced by the improved production system does not affect its own function, paving the way for its further optimization, popularization and application in structural and functional studies of neural circuits.
Non-Invasive classification of macrophage polarisation by 2P-FLIM and machine learning
Authors: Neto Nuno G.B. , O’Rourke Sinead A. , Zhang Mimi , Fitzgerald Hannah K. , Dunne Aisling , Monaghan Michael G.
Published: January 2022

1.

In this study, fluorescence lifetime imaging of NAD(P)H-based cellular autofluorescence is applied as a non-invasive modality to classify two contrasting states of human macrophages by proxy of their governing metabolic state. Macrophages were obtained from human blood-circulating monocytes, polarised using established treatments, and metabolically challenged using small molecules to validate their responding metabolic actions in extracellular acidification and oxygen consumption. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) quantified variations in NAD(P)H-derived fluorescent lifetimes in large field-of-view images of individual polarised macrophages also challenged, in real-time with small molecule perturbations of metabolism during imaging. We uncover FLIM parameters that are pronounced under the action of carbonyl cyanide-p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP) which strongly stratifies the phenotype of polarised human macrophages. This stratification and parameters emanating from a FLIM approach, served as the basis for machine learning models. Applying a random forest model, identified three strongly governing FLIM parameters, achieving a ROC AUC value of 0.944 when classifying human macrophages.
Association of serum potassium derangements with mortality among patients requiring continuous renal replacement therapy
Authors: Thongprayoon Charat , Cheungpasitporn Wisit , Radhakrishnan Yeshwanter , Zabala Genovez Jose L. , Petnak Tananchai , Shawwa Khaled , Qureshi Fawad , Mao Michael A. , Kashani Kianoush B.
Published: January 2022

Introduction

We aimed to assess the association between serum potassium and mortality in patients receiving continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT).

Methods

We studied 1279 acute kidney injury patients receiving CRRT in a tertiary referral hospital in the United States. We used logistic regression to assess the association of serum potassium before CRRT and mean serum potassium during CRRT with 90‐day mortality after CRRT initiation, using serum potassium 4.0–4.4 mmol/L as reference group.

Results

Before CRRT, there was a U‐shaped association between serum potassium and 90‐day mortality. There was a significant increase in mortality when serum potassium before CRRT was ≤3.4 and ≥4.5 mmol/L. During CRRT, progressively increased mortality was noted when mean serum potassium was ≥4.5 mmol/L. The odds ratio of 90‐day mortality was significantly higher when mean serum potassium was ≥4.5 mmol/L.

Conclusion

Hypokalemia and hyperkalemia before CRRT and hyperkalemia during CRRT predicts 90‐day mortality.
Drug‐dependent inhibition of nucleotide hydrolysis in the heterodimeric ABC multidrug transporter PatAB from Streptococcus pneumoniae
Authors: Guffick Charlotte , Hsieh Pei‐Yu , Ali Anam , Shi Wilma , Howard Julie , Chinthapalli Dinesh K. , Kong Alex C. , Salaa Ihsene , Crouch Lucy I. , Ansbro Megan R. , Isaacson Shoshanna C. , Singh Himansha , Barrera Nelson P. , Nair Asha V. , Robinson Carol V. , Deery Michael J. , van Veen Hendrik W.
Published: January 2022

The bacterial heterodimeric ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) multidrug exporter PatAB has a critical role in conferring antibiotic resistance in multidrug‐resistant infections by Streptococcus pneumoniae. As with other heterodimeric ABC exporters, PatAB contains two transmembrane domains that form a drug translocation pathway for efflux and two nucleotide‐binding domains that bind ATP, one of which is hydrolysed during transport. The structural and functional elements in heterodimeric ABC multidrug exporters that determine interactions with drugs and couple drug binding to nucleotide hydrolysis are not fully understood. Here, we used mass spectrometry techniques to determine the subunit stoichiometry in PatAB in our lactococcal expression system and investigate locations of drug binding using the fluorescent drug‐mimetic azido‐ethidium. Surprisingly, our analyses of azido‐ethidium‐labelled PatAB peptides point to ethidium binding in the PatA nucleotide‐binding domain, with the azido moiety crosslinked to residue Q521 in the H‐like loop of the degenerate nucleotide‐binding site. Investigation into this compound and residue’s role in nucleotide hydrolysis pointed to a reduction in the activity for a Q521A mutant and ethidium‐dependent inhibition in both mutant and wild type. Most transported drugs did not stimulate or inhibit nucleotide hydrolysis of PatAB in detergent solution or lipidic nanodiscs. However, further examples for ethidium‐like inhibition were found with propidium, novobiocin and coumermycin A1, which all inhibit nucleotide hydrolysis by a non‐competitive mechanism. These data cast light on potential mechanisms by which drugs can regulate nucleotide hydrolysis by PatAB, which might involve a novel drug binding site near the nucleotide‐binding domains.
The burden of influenza among Kenyan pregnant and postpartum women and their infants, 2015–2020
Authors: Otieno Nancy A. , Nyawanda Bryan O. , McMorrow Meredith , Oneko Martina , Omollo Daniel , Lidechi Shirley , Widdowson Marc‐Alain , Flannery Brendan , Chaves Sandra S. , Azziz‐Baumgartner Eduardo , Emukule Gideon O.
Published: January 2022

Background

In tropical Africa, data about influenza‐associated illness burden are needed to assess potential benefits of influenza vaccination among pregnant women. We estimated the incidence of influenza among pregnant women and their infants in Siaya County, Kenya.

Methods

We enrolled women at <31 weeks of gestation and conducted weekly follow‐up until 6‐month postpartum to identify acute respiratory illnesses (ARIs). We defined ARI among mothers as reported cough, rhinorrhoea or sore throat and among infants as maternal‐reported cough, difficulty breathing, rhinorrhoea or clinician diagnosis of respiratory illness. We collected nasal/nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs from mothers/infants with ARI and tested for influenza A and B using molecular assays. We calculated antenatal incidence of laboratory‐confirmed influenza among mothers and postnatal incidence among mothers and infants.

Results

During June 2015 to May 2020, we analysed data from 3,026 pregnant women at a median gestational age of 16 weeks (interquartile range [IQR], 13, 18) and followed 2,550 infants. Incidence of laboratory‐confirmed influenza during pregnancy (10.3 episodes per 1,000 person‐months [95% confidence interval {CI} 8.6–11.8]) was twofold higher than in the postpartum period (4.0 [95% CI 2.6–5.5];p < 0.01). Incidence was significantly higher among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐infected pregnant women (15.6 [95% CI 11.0–20.6] vs. 9.1 [95% CI 7.5–10.8];p < 0.01). Incidence among young infants was 4.4 (95% CI 3.0–5.9) and similar among HIV‐exposed and HIV‐unexposed infants.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest a substantial burden of influenza illnesses during pregnancy, with a higher burden among HIV‐infected mothers. Kenyan authorities should consider the value of vaccinating pregnant women, especially if HIV infected.
Determinants of student performance with mobile‐based assessment systems for English as a foreign language courses
Authors: Bacca‐Acosta Jorge , Fabregat Ramon , Baldiris Silvia , Kinshuk  , Guevara Juan
Published: January 2022

Background

Mobile‐based assessment has been an active area of research in the field of mobile learning. Prior research has demonstrated that mobile‐based assessment systems positively affect student performance. However, it is still unclear why and how these systems positively affect student performance.

Objectives

This study aims to identify the determinants of student performance during students' use of a mobile‐based assessment application in a formative assessment activity as part of English as a Foreign Language courses in higher education.

Methods

A structural model based on hypotheses will be validated using partial least squares‐structural equation modelling with data from the interaction of around 100 students of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) courses from the A1 and A2 levels of English that used a mobile‐based assessment system for a period of 4 weeks.

Results and Conclusions

This registered report describes the related work, hypotheses development, methodology, and proposed analysis to validate the structural model based on hypotheses. No results or conclusions have been obtained yet.
Dimensional ridge changes in conjunction with four implant timing protocols and two types of soft tissue grafts: A pilot pre‐clinical study
Authors: Lee Kwang‐Seok , Shin Seung‐Yun , Hämmerle Christoph H. F. , Jung Ui‐Won , Lim Hyun‐Chang , Thoma Daniel S.
Published: January 2022

Aim

To determine the effect of (1) implant placement timing and (2) the type of soft tissue graft in terms of ridge profile changes.

Materials and Methods

Four implant treatment modalities were applied in the mesial root areas of the third and fourth mandibular premolars of 10 mongrel dogs alongside connective‐tissue graft (CTG) and volume‐stable cross‐linked collagen matrix (VCMX): immediate, early, and delayed placement (DP), and DP following alveolar ridge preservation (ARP). All dogs were sacrificed 3 months after soft tissue augmentation. Standard Tessellation Language files from designated time points were analysed.

Results

Compared with the pre‐extraction situation, the median width of the ridge demontstrated a linear increase only in group ARP/CTG (0.07 mm at the 2‐mm level), whereas all other groups showed a reduction (between −1.87 and −0.09 mm, p > .05). Groups ARP/CTG (0.17 mm) and DP/CTG (0.05 mm) exhibited a profilometric tissue gain in a set region of interest (p > .05). The net effect of CTG and VCMX ranged from 0.14 to 0.79 mm.

Conclusions

Dimensional ridge changes varied between treatment protocols. ARP with CTG led to the smallest difference in ridge profile between the pre‐extraction and the study end time point. Both CTG and VCMX enhanced the ridge contour.
Circulating tumour cells and tumour biomarkers in functional midgut neuroendocrine tumours
Authors: Meyer Tim , Caplin Martyn , Khan Mohid S. , Toumpanakis Christos , Shetty Shishir , Ramage John K. , Houchard Aude , Higgs Kate , Shah Tahir
Published: January 2022

CALM‐NET was a phase IV exploratory study in the UK that aimed to evaluate if the presence of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) at baseline predicted symptomatic response in patients with midgut neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) treated with lanreotide autogel (LAN). Adults with functional, well/moderately differentiated (Ki‐67 <20%) midgut NETs received LAN 120 mg/28 days for 1 year. CTCs were present in blood if enumeration was >0. Primary endpoint was the clinical value of baseline CTCs to predict symptomatic response (decrease in diarrhoea or flushing of ≥50% frequency, or ≥1 severity level). Other endpoints included progression‐free survival (PFS) and correlations between plasma and urinary biomarkers (including 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid [5‐HIAA]). Fifty patients were enrolled; 40 completed the study. Baseline CTCs were present in 22 (45.8%) patients (missing baseline CTC status n = 2). Overall, 87.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 73.9; 94.5) of patients had a symptomatic response; a 5.9‐fold higher odds of symptomatic response in patients without CTC versus patients with CTC at baseline was observed, although this was not statistically significant (odds ratio: 0.17 [95% CI: 0.02; 1.65], p = .126). One‐year PFS rate was 66.4% (95% CI: 48.8; 79.2). Biomarker concentrations did not correlate to baseline CTC status. However, there was a strong correlation between plasma and urinary 5‐HIAA (Spearman correlation coefficients ≥0.87 [p < .001], all time points). In conclusion, patients without CTC at baseline may be more likely to achieve a symptomatic response following LAN treatment than patients with CTC. Plasma 5‐HIAA correlated with urinary 5‐HIAA during LAN treatment. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02075606.
Genetic interaction mapping highlights key roles of the Tol‐Pal complex
Authors: Tan Wee Boon , Chng Shu‐Sin
Published: January 2022

The conserved Tol‐Pal trans‐envelope complex is important for outer membrane (OM) stability and cell division in Gram‐negative bacteria. It is proposed to mediate OM constriction during cell division via cell wall tethering. Yet, recent studies suggest the complex has additional roles in OM lipid homeostasis and septal wall separation. How Tol‐Pal facilitates all these processes is unclear. To gain insights into its function(s), we applied transposon‐insertion sequencing, and report here a detailed network of genetic interactions with the tol‐pal locus in Escherichia coli. We found one positive and > 20 negative strong interactions based on fitness. Disrupting osmoregulated‐periplasmic glucan biosynthesis restores fitness and OM barrier function, but not proper division, in tol‐pal mutants. In contrast, deleting genes involved in OM homeostasis and cell wall remodeling causes synthetic growth defects in strains lacking Tol‐Pal, especially exacerbating OM barrier and/or division phenotypes. Notably, the ΔtolA mutant having additional defects in OM protein assembly (ΔbamB) exhibited severe division phenotypes, even when single mutants divided normally; this highlights the possibility for OM phenotypes to indirectly impact cell division. Overall, our work underscores the intricate nature of Tol‐Pal function, and reinforces its key roles in cell wall‐OM tethering, cell wall remodeling, and in particular, OM homeostasis.
Intra‐provincial fiscal decentralization, relative wealth, and healthcare efficiency: Empirical evidence from China
Authors: Sun Shuo , Andrews Rhys
Published: January 2022

Decentralizing fiscal power to locally elected governments is often regarded as beneficial for public service efficiency. However, questions remain about whether decentralizing fiscal responsibilities work well in countries lacking political decentralization. In China, fiscal decentralization has significantly strengthened the role of local governments in the provision of healthcare services, but evidence of its efficiency effects is scarce. To cast light on this issue, this study investigates the relationship between intra‐provincial fiscal decentralization and the productive efficiency of healthcare services in China. Analysis of panel data for 2006–2017 suggests that expenditure and revenue decentralization from provincial to sub‐provincial governments significantly improves healthcare efficiency. Further analysis suggests that the positive impact of healthcare expenditure decentralization on healthcare efficiency may be stronger in wealthier provinces. These findings have important theoretical and practical implications.
A puzzle about meaning and luck
Authors: Hammerton Matthew
Published: January 2022

This article raises a puzzle about luck and meaning in life. The puzzle shows that, in certain cases involving luck, standard intuitions about the meaningfulness of various lives conflict with basic theoretical assumptions about the nature of meaning. After setting out the puzzle, several options for resolving it are developed and evaluated.
iReTADS: An Intelligent Real-Time Anomaly Detection System for Cloud Communications Using Temporal Data Summarization and Neural Network
Authors: Lalotra Gotam Singh , Kumar Vinod , Bhatt Abhishek , Chen Tianhua , Mahmud Mufti
Published: January 2022

A new distributed environment at less financial expenditure on communication over the Internet is presented by cloud computing. In recent times, the increased number of users has made network traffic monitoring a difficult task. Although traffic monitoring and security problems are rising in parallel, there is a need to develop a new system for providing security and reducing network traffic. A new method, iReTADS, is proposed to reduce the network traffic using a data summarization technique and also provide network security through an effective real-time neural network. Although data summarization plays a significant role in data mining, still no real methods are present to assist the summary evaluation. Thus, it is a serious endeavor to present four metrics for data summarization with temporal features such as conciseness, information loss, interestingness, and intelligibility. In addition, a new metric time is also introduced for effective data summarization. Finally, a new neural network known as Modified Synergetic Neural Network (MSNN) on summarized datasets for detecting the real-time anomaly-behaved nodes in network and cloud is introduced. Experimental results reveal that the iReTADS can effectively monitor traffic and detect anomalies. It may further drive studies on controlling the outbreaks and controlling pandemics while studying medical datasets, which results in smart healthy cities.
Band in a Girl: devir-mulher nas timbragens do rock independente brasileiro
Authors: Conter Marcelo Bergamin , Kolmar Juliana Henriques , Luz Ingrid Cristina Pontes , Gularte Gabriel Fagundes
Published: January 2022

Este texto deriva da pesquisa O timbre como afeto no rock independente brasileiro: uma abordagem semiótica, na qual objetivamos entender como o timbre, na música, é capaz de se comunicar através de processos afetivos, sendo compreendido como forças, intensidades, sensações que podem tanto ser potencialidades quanto a ação de um corpo sobre outro. Em particular, pretendemos refletir aqui sobre como questões referentes ao feminino e o feminismo afetam e são afetadas pelos processos de singularização de timbragens no gênero em questão. Mapeamos a obra de musicistas inseridas no circuito do rock independente brasileiro contemporâneo (2015-2020), a partir da observação de shows ao vivo, registros fonográficos e entrevistas semiestruturadas que realizamos com as artistas, passando por questões econômicas, políticas, estéticas e afetivas da música. Apoiados na filosofia da diferença de Deleuze e Guattari, reconhecemos, em seus depoimentos e na sonoridade de suas composições, um devir-mulher que se expressa nas timbragens e que rompe com normatividades de gênero. Melhor do que isso, as musicistas compõem com os equipamentos musicais uma máquina desejante que se expressa afetivamente através de timbragens singulares.
Abordagem semiótica de álbuns: homogeneidade e heterogeneidade em Canções praieiras e Tropicália ou panis et circencis
Authors: Mafra Matheus Henrique
Published: January 2022

O presente artigo reflete sobre diferentes possibilidades de manifestação de sentidos a partir do objeto álbum, entendido como um todo textual cujas significações emergem da série de faixas – e não das faixas consideradas em separado. Primeiramente, discute-se a definição de parâmetros de análise pertinentes a esse objeto, que se constitui na constante tensão entre identidade do álbum e alteridade entre faixas. A administração dessa tensão pode ser verificada no exame da seleção e do sequenciamento de faixas, atos enunciativos que definem os eixos paradigmático e sintagmático do disco. Ao salientar ora as continuidades, ora as descontinuidades entre grandezas textuais, esses atos podem criar, no conjunto, efeitos de homogeneidade ou heterogeneidade, que, compatibilizando-se com determinados conteúdos manifestados pelas faixas, salienta-os e dissemina-os no todo textual. Com isso em vista, realiza-se o cotejo de dois álbuns, Canções praieiras e Tropicália ou panis et circencis, visando mostrar como as tendências à homogeneidade e à heterogeneidade podem se manifestar a partir de diferentes utilizações das mesmas possibilidades textuais. Verifica-se, por fim, como essas tendências podem ser descritas tensivamente, entendidas como manifestações de dominâncias entre operações de triagem e mistura.
Performance musical enquanto objeto de pesquisa
Authors: Lemos Caio Victor de Oliveira
Published: January 2022

Dado o caráter por demais restrito do que se entende por performance nos estudos musicais, este artigo propõe discutir as condições e os meios necessários para a integração dos elementos discursivos pertinentes para que a performance musical, com enfoque na música de concerto ocidental, possa reivindicar autonomia enquanto objeto de pesquisa. Para tanto, tomaremos os pressupostos da semiótica discursiva, incorporando discussões sobre intertextualidade e polifonia. Num primeiro momento, partiremos de um movimento de expansão, no qual se integram elementos intertextuais e contextuais à investigação. Em seguida, ao reconhecer o caráter discursivo/textual desses elementos, discutiremos sua composição sincrética. Isso nos levará à relação enunciador-enunciatário como eixo fundador em torno do qual se organizam os elementos performáticos pertinentes, criando assim um critério ao mesmo tempo constante, porém suficientemente aberto para abarcar as movências do ato performático enquanto objeto de estudo.
A polissensorialidade sinestésica como fiador da relação enunciativa: análise semiótica do fazer-sentir em "Tropicana"
Authors: Barreto Paulo Jefferson Pereira
Published: January 2022

Se se parte do princípio de que as sinestesias não implicam necessariamente um dado a priori aos textos, compreende-se que a percepção que elas simulam é uma percepção cujo ponto de partida são, de fato, operações discursivas estrategicamente textualizadas. A questão é definir quais os mecanismos ou os procedimentos acionados no texto que garantem essa compatibilização quando, na canção, letra e melodia projetam misturas de sensações. Este artigo tem como objetivo contribuir com a discussão sobre o impacto dos efeitos sinestésicos na emergência da significação, tendo como foco o estudo de uma canção. A análise, baseada na perspectiva da semiótica francesa, nos permite partir do princípio de que a compreensão dos modos como letra e melodia se entrecruzam revela o intrínseco processo por meio do qual a relação enunciador-enunciatário está no cerne da própria relação entre a dimensão temático-figurativa da letra e sua projeção tensiva na melodia. Concluímos que todo esse jogo relacional é convocado em função do fazer-sentir que a leitura do texto propõe, de modo que a canção seja apresentada como uma experiência a ser sentida, vivenciada pela mistura de sensações.