bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ZnTe/rGO Composite as the Fully Zinced Conversion‐Type Cathodes for Aqueous Zinc Ion Batteries**
Authors: Yi Shanjun , Si Rui , Su Yanqiao , Bao Weizhai , Guo Cong , Li Jingfa
Published: December 2022

Conversion‐type cathodes for aqueous zinc ion batteries (ZIBs) can provide flat plateau slop and stable output potential, compared to general intercalation‐type cathodes. The high volumetric capacity and stable output potential of Te make it a promising cathode for ZIBs, but sluggish kinetics and large volume change hinder its further application. To address these issues, we revisit fully zinced ZnTe and construct ZnTe/rGO composites as the new conversion‐type cathode. The electrode undergoes a solid‐to‐solid conversion reaction and shows a stable output potential with ultra‐flat discharge plateau slop of 0.09 V (Ah g−1)−1. When ZnTe is de‐zinced and transformed to Te during charge process, it has a volume shrinkage which generates empty space in graphene matrix for latter volume expansion of Te. The graphene matrix also improves conductivity and reaction kinetics of the cathode. Due to the combination of pre‐zincation of ZnTe, graphene matrix and the elimination of “shuttle effects” process, ZnTe/rGO electrode exhibits a high and stable capacity of 186 mAh g−1at 500 mA g−1after 300 cycling, with almost no decay after initial 10 cycles.
Assembled Organoruthenium(II) for Formaldehyde Decomposition and Hydrogen Production
Authors: Shen Yangbin , Xu Ying , Zhan Yulu
Published: December 2022

Formaldehyde decomposition is not only an attractive method for hydrogen production, but also a potential approach for gaseous formaldehyde removal. In this research, we prepare some assembled organoruthenium through coordination reaction between Ru(p‐Cymene)Cl2 and bridge‐linking ligands. It is a creative approach for Ru(p‐Cymene)Cl2 conversion into heterogeneous particles. The rigidity of bridge‐linking ligand enables assembled organoruthenium to have highly ordered crystalline structure, even show clear crystal lattice with spacing of 0.19 nm. XPS shows the N−Ru bond are formed between bridge‐linking ligand and Ru(p‐Cymene)Cl2. The assembled organoruthenium has high abundant active sites for formaldehyde decomposition at low temperature. The reaction rate could increase linearly with temperature and formaldehyde concentration, with a TOF of 2420 h−1 at 90 °C. It is promising for gaseous formaldehyde decomposition in wet air or nitrogen. Formaldehyde conversion is up to 95 % over Ru‐DAPM is 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylmethane at 90 °C in air. Gaseous formaldehyde decomposition is a two‐steps process under oxygen‐free condition. Firstly, formaldehyde dissolve in water, and be converted into hydrogen and formic acid through formaldehyde‐water shift reaction. Then intermediate formic acid will further decompose into hydrogen and carbon dioxide. We also find formaldehyde decomposition is a synergetic catalysis process of oxygen and water in moist air. Oxygen is conducive to formic acid desorption and decomposition on the active sites, so assembled organoruthenium exhibit slightly higher conversion for formaldehyde decomposition in moist air. This work proposes a distinctive method for gaseous formaldehyde decomposition in the air, which is entirely different from formaldehyde photocatalysis or thermocatalysis oxidation.
Honey bee introductions displace native bees and decrease pollination of a native wildflower
Authors: Page Maureen L. , Williams Neal M.
Published: December 2022

Introduced species can have cascading effects on ecological communities, but indirect effects of species introductions are rarely the focus of ecological studies. For example, managed honey bees (Apis mellifera) have been widely introduced outside their native range and are increasingly dominant floral visitors. Multiple studies have documented how honey bees impact native bee communities through floral resource competition, but few have quantified how these competitive interactions indirectly affect pollination and plant reproduction. Such indirect effects are hard to detect because honey bees are themselves pollinators and may directly impact pollination through their own floral visits. The potentially huge but poorly understood impacts that non‐native honey bees have on native plant populations combined with increased pressure from beekeepers to place hives in U.S. National Parks and Forests makes exploring impacts of honey bee introductions on native plant pollination of pressing concern. In this study, we used experimental hive additions, field observations, as well as single‐visit and multiple‐visit pollination effectiveness trials across multiple years to untangle the direct and indirect impacts of increasing honey bee abundance on the pollination of an ecologically important wildflower, Camassia quamash. We found compelling evidence that honey bee introductions indirectly decrease pollination by reducing nectar and pollen availability and competitively excluding visits from more effective native bees. In contrast, the direct impact of honey bee visits on pollination was negligible, and, if anything, negative. Honey bees were ineffective pollinators, and increasing visit quantity could not compensate for inferior visit quality. Indeed, although the effect was not statistically significant, increased honey bee visits had a marginally negative impact on seed production. Thus, honey bee introductions may erode longstanding plant‐pollinator mutualisms, with negative consequences for plant reproduction. Our study calls for a more thorough understanding of the indirect effects of species introductions and more careful coordination of hive placements.
Normal and excessive muscle sympathetic nerve activity in heart failure: implications for future trials of therapeutic autonomic modulation
Authors: Badrov Mark B. , Keir Daniel A. , Tomlinson George , Notarius Catherine F. , Millar Philip J. , Kimmerly Derek S. , Shoemaker J. Kevin , Keys Evan , Floras John S.
Published: December 2022

Aims

Patients with sympathetic excess are those most likely to benefit from novel interventions targeting the autonomic nervous system. To inform such personalized therapy, we identified determinants of augmented muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) in heart failure, versus healthy controls.

Methods and results

We compared data acquired in 177 conventionally‐treated, stable non‐diabetic patients in sinus rhythm, aged 18–79 years (149 males; 28 females; left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] 25 ± 11% [mean ± standard deviation]; range 5–60%), and, concurrently, under similar conditions, in 658 healthy, normotensive volunteers (398 males; aged 18–81 years). In heart failure, MSNA ranged between 7 and 90 bursts·min−1, proportionate to heart rate (p < 0.0001) and body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.03), but was unrelated to age, blood pressure, or drug therapy. Mean MSNA, adjusted for age, sex, BMI, and heart rate, was greater in heart failure (+14.2 bursts·min−1; 95% confidence interval [CI] 12.1–16.3; p < 0.0001), but lower in women (−5.0 bursts·min−1; 95% CI 3.4–6.6; p < 0.0001). With spline modeling, LVEF accounted for 9.8% of MSNA variance; MSNA related inversely to LVEF below an inflection point of ∼21% (p < 0.006), but not above. Burst incidence was greater in ischaemic than dilated cardiomyopathy (p = 0.01), and patients with sleep apnoea (p = 0.03). Burst frequency correlated inversely with stroke volume (p < 0.001), cardiac output (p < 0.001), and peak oxygen consumption (p = 0.002), and directly with norepinephrine (p < 0.0001) and peripheral resistance (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Burst frequency and incidence exceeded normative values in only ∼53% and ∼33% of patients. Such diversity encourages selective deployment of sympatho‐modulatory therapies. Clinical characteristics can highlight individuals who may benefit from future personalized interventions targeting pathological sympathetic activation.
Toll‐like receptors control the accumulation of neutrophils in lymph nodes that expand CD4+ T cells during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Authors: Shen Ping , Rother Madlen , Stervbo Ulrik , Lampropoulou Vicky , Calderon‐Gomez Elisabeth , Roch Toralf , Hilgenberg Ellen , Ries Steffi , Kühl Anja A. , Jouneau Luc , Boudinot Pierre , Fillatreau Simon
Published: December 2022

Toll‐like receptors (TLR) control the activation of dendritic cells that prime CD4+ T cells in draining lymph nodes, where these T cells then undergo massive clonal expansion. The mechanisms controlling this clonal T cell expansion are poorly defined. Using the CD4+ T cell‐mediated disease experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), we show here that this process is markedly suppressed when TLR9 signaling is increased, without noticeably affecting the transcriptome of primed T cells, indicating a purely quantitative effect on CD4+ T cell expansion. Addressing the underpinning mechanisms revealed that CD4+ T cell expansion was preceded and depended on the accumulation of neutrophils in lymph nodes a few days after immunization. Underlying the importance of this immune regulation pathway, blocking neutrophil accumulation in lymph nodes by treating mice with a TLR9 agonist inhibited EAE progression in mice with defects in regulatory T cells or regulatory B cells, which otherwise developed a severe chronic disease. Collectively, this study demonstrates the key role of neutrophils in the quantitative regulation of antigen‐specific CD4+ T cell expansion in lymph nodes, and the counter‐regulatory role of TLR signaling in this process.
The evolution of ageing in cooperative breeders
Authors: Kreider Jan J. , Kramer Boris H. , Komdeur Jan , Pen Ido
Published: December 2022

Cooperatively breeding animals live longer than their solitary counterparts. This has been suggested for birds, mole rats, and social insects. A common explanation for these long lifespans is that cooperative breeding evolves more readily in long-lived species because lower mortality reduces the rate of territory turnover and thus leads to a limitation of breeding territories. Here, we reverse this argument and show that—rather than being a cause for its evolution—long lifespans are an evolutionary consequence of cooperative breeding. In evolutionary individual-based simulations, we show that natural selection favors a delayed onset of senescence in cooperative breeders, relative to solitary breeders, because cooperative breeders have a delayed age of first reproduction as helpers wait in a reproductive queue to obtain breeder status. Especially long lifespans evolve in cooperative breeders in which queue positions depend on the helpers’ age rank among the helpers within the breeding territory. Furthermore, we show that lower genetic relatedness among group members leads to the evolution of longer lifespans. This is because selection against higher mortality is weaker when mortality reduces competition for breeding between relatives. Our results link the evolutionary theory of ageing with kin selection theory, demonstrating that the evolution of ageing in cooperative breeders is driven by the timing of reproduction and kin structure within breeding territories.
Fluid properties of an unsteady MHD free stream flow over a stretching sheet in presence of radiation
Authors: Taneja Shilpa , Poply Vikas , Kumar Parveen
Published: December 2022

Variable fluid properties with thermal radiation in an unsteady magnetohydrodynamics free stream incompressible flow over a stretching sheet has been considered. The thermal diffusivity and viscosity of the fluid varies linearly with temperature. The governing partial differential equations are moulded to ordinary differential equations using time‐dependent similarity variables and the stream function. RKF technique with shooting method has been implement to find the solution numerically. In the current analysis the impact of unsteadiness, magnetic field, radiative parameter, variable fluid viscosity and thermal diffusivity parameter on heat and flow behavior with the free stream parameter have been studied. Transition point observed in the velocity profiles with an change in unsteadiness parameter and the effect of magnetic field is reduced in the presence of free stram velocity. The velocity and the temperature gradient are computed on the surface and their outcomes with different parameters have been analyzed in the results shown graphically and in tabular form.
Comparison of secondary attack rate and viable virus shedding between patients with SARS‐CoV‐2 Delta and Omicron variants: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Kang Sung‐Woon , Kim Ji Yeun , Park Heedo , Lim So Yun , Kim Jeonghun , Chang Euijin , Bae Seongman , Jung Jiwon , Kim Min Jae , Chong Yong Pil , Lee Sang‐Oh , Choi Sang‐Ho , Kim Yang Soo , Park Man‐Seong , Kim Sung‐Han
Published: December 2022

There are limited data comparing the transmission rates and kinetics of viable virus shedding of the Omicron variant to those of the Delta variant. We compared these rates in hospitalized patients infected with Delta and Omicron variants. We prospectively enrolled adult patients with COVID‐19 admitted to a tertiary care hospital in South Korea between September 2021 and May 2022. Secondary attack rates were calculated by epidemiologic investigation, and daily saliva samples were collected to evaluate viral shedding kinetics. Genomic and subgenomic SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA was measured by PCR, and virus culture was performed from daily saliva samples. A total of 88 patients with COVID‐19 who agreed to daily sampling and were interviewed, were included. Of the 88 patients, 48 (59%) were infected with Delta, and 34 (41%) with Omicron; a further 5 patients gave undetectable or inconclusive RNA PCR results and 1 was suspected of being coinfected with both variants. Omicron group had a higher secondary attack rate (31% [38/124] vs. 7% [34/456], p < 0.001). Survival analysis revealed that shorter viable virus shedding period was observed in Omicron variant compared with Delta variant (median 4, IQR [1−7], vs. 8.5 days, IQR [5–12 days], p < 0.001). Multivariable analysis revealed that moderate‐to‐critical disease severity (HR: 1.96), and immunocompromised status (HR: 2.17) were independent predictors of prolonged viral shedding, whereas completion of initial vaccine series or first booster‐vaccinated status (HR: 0.49), and Omicron infection (HR: 0.44) were independently associated with shorter viable virus shedding. Patients with Omicron infections had higher transmission rates but shorter periods of transmissible virus shedding than those with Delta infections.
Soy lecithin: A beneficial substance for adjusting the ADC in aqueous solutions to the values of biological tissues
Authors: Fritz Victor , Martirosian Petros , Machann Jürgen , Thorwarth Daniela , Schick Fritz
Published: December 2022

Purpose

To test soy lecithin as a substance added to water for the construction of MRI phantoms with tissue‐like diffusion coefficients. The performance of soy lecithin was assessed for the useable range of adjustable ADC values, the degree of non‐Gaussian diffusion, simultaneous effects on relaxation times, and spectral signal properties.

Methods

Aqueous soy lecithin solutions of different concentrations (0%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 3% …, 10%) and soy lecithin–agar gels were prepared and examined on a 3 Tesla clinical scanner at 18.5° ± 0.5°C. Echoplanar sequences (b values: 0–1000/3000 s/mm2) were applied for ADC measurements. Quantitative relaxometry and MRS were performed for assessment of T1, T2, and detectable spectral components.

Results

The presence of soy lecithin significantly restricts the diffusion of water molecules and mimics the nearly Gaussian nature of diffusion observed in tissue (for b values <1000 s/mm2). ADC values ranged from 2.02 × 10−3 mm2/s to 0.48 × 10−3 mm2/s and cover the entire physiological range reported on biological tissue. Measured T1/T2 values of pure lecithin solutions varied from 2685/2013 to 668/133 ms with increasing concentration. No characteristic signals of soy lecithin were observed in the MR spectrum. The addition of agar to the soy lecithin solutions allowed T2 values to be well adjusted to typical values found in parenchymal tissue without affecting the soy lecithin–controlled ADC value.

Conclusion

Soy lecithin is a promising substance for the construction of diffusion phantoms with tissue‐like ADC values. It provides several advantages over previously proposed substances, in particular a wide range of adjustable ADC values, the lack of additional 1H‐signals, and the possibility to adjust ADC and T2 values (by adding agar) almost independently of each other.
Mitigating undersampling errors in MR fingerprinting by sequence optimization
Authors: Heesterbeek David G.J. , Koolstra Kirsten , van Osch Matthias J.P. , van Gijzen Martin B. , Vos Franciscus M. , Nagtegaal Martijn A.
Published: December 2022

Purpose

To develop a method for MR Fingerprinting (MRF) sequence optimization that takes both the applied undersampling pattern and a realistic reference map into account.

Methods

A predictive model for the undersampling error leveraging on perturbation theory was exploited to optimize the MRF flip angle sequence for improved robustness against undersampling artifacts. In this framework parameter maps from a previously acquired MRF scan were used as reference. Sequences were optimized for different sequence lengths, smoothness constraints and undersampling factors. Numerical simulations and in vivo measurements in eight healthy subjects were performed to assess the effect of the performed optimization. The optimized MRF sequences were compared to a conventionally shaped flip angle pattern and an optimized pattern based on the Cramér–Rao lower bound (CRB).

Results

Numerical simulations and in vivo results demonstrate that the undersampling errors can be suppressed by flip angle optimization. Analysis of the in vivo results show that a sequence optimized for improved robustness against undersampling with a flip angle train of length 400 yielded significantly lower median absolute errors in : and : compared to the conventional (: , : ) and CRB‐based (: , : ) sequences.

Conclusion

The proposed method is able to optimize the MRF flip angle pattern such that significant mitigation of the artifacts from strong k‐space undersampling in MRF is achieved.
Semi‐analytical solution for the two‐dimensional transport of organic contaminant through geomembrane with strip defects to the underlying soil liner
Authors: Sun De'an , Li Tianyi , Peng Mingqing , Wang Lei , Chen Zheng
Published: December 2022

Geosynthetic materials are widely adopted as part of barrier liners in landfills, while the existence of defects in geomembrane (GM) will significantly reduce the barrier efficiency and lead to unexpected pollution in the surrounding environment. In this study, a novel semi‐analytical model was proposed to investigate the two‐dimensional (2D) migration of organic contaminant through the GM with strip defects to the underlying soil liner (SL). This model has the superiority to consider the concentration condition in the defects, and describe more accurate concentration profiles in the SL. The combination of discretization method and integral transforms were applied to obtain semi‐analytical solutions, which were then verified by numerical solutions. Results show that the existence of defects can substantially accelerate the migration process of contaminant through flawed GM to the underlying SL. Specifically, the time interval between migration curves in the model with defects can be 2 or 3 orders of magnitude shorter than that without defects under the same condition.
Closed form radial return algorithm for plane stress elastic‐plastic analyses
Authors: van 't Hof Cornelis , Huetink Han J. , van Erkel André G.
Published: December 2022

Plane stress numerical simulations of elastic‐plastic deformations are commonly based on in‐plane projected equations. It is shown that in case of the isotropic Von Mises material model the numerical procedure can be simplified and faster when the full 3D yield criterion is used. Plane stress is preserved by plane stress trial stresses in the return mapping procedure.
Wind erosion in European agricultural landscapes: More than physics
Authors: Bartkowski Bartosz , Schepanski Kerstin , Bredenbeck Simon , Müller Birgit
Published: December 2022

Wind erosion from agricultural land is an underrated and understudied environmental challenge in Europe. Its societal and policy relevance will likely increase in the near future due to climate change and associated increases in the frequency, severity and patterns of atmospheric events such as droughts.

We review the research on this issue and find it to be fragmented, siloed and dominated by natural sciences, leaving important research gaps. The most important gaps that circumscribe a research agenda for the future include specific effects of future climate change on wind erosion, the relevance of wind erosion for public health and ecosystem functioning, farmers' behaviour affecting erosion risk and feedback between land management and environmental change, and appropriate policy approaches to address wind erosion risks. Social science contributions are thus required to make wind erosion research relevant for addressing the related societally most pressing questions.

We provide a social–environmental systems perspective to highlight the potential of inter‐ and transdisciplinary research into wind erosion in times of climate change and the increasingly recognized need to transform agriculture towards more sustainability and climate resilience.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
The impact of clinical trial enrollment on specialty palliative care utilization in pediatric patients with high‐grade gliomas
Authors: Roberts Holly J. , Wang Yujie , Spruit Jessica L. , Taylor Laura , Franson Andrea T.
Published: December 2022

Background

Palliative care (PC) provides numerous benefits for children with cancer. Pediatric patients with high‐grade glioma (HGG) are particularly well suited for early PC involvement given their high symptom burden and poor prognosis. However, studies continue to reveal that children with cancer, including HGG, have delayed PC involvement. We hypothesized that clinical trial enrollment may lead to a lack of or delay in PC involvement in this population.

Procedure

For each patient in our cohort of 43 pediatric patients with HGG, demographic, diagnostic, therapeutic, clinical trial enrollment, and PC information were collected. Statistical analysis was performed comparing PC characteristics between patients who did and did not enroll in a clinical trial.

Results

Seventy‐two percent of patients had at least one visit with a PC provider. Fifty‐six percent of patients enrolled in a clinical trial with HGG‐directed therapy. Seventy‐one percent of patients who enrolled in a clinical trial received specialty PC compared to 74% of non‐trial participants (p = 1.000). Patients who enrolled in clinical trials received PC earlier in their disease course measured in days before death (mean = 177 days) compared to those who did not enroll (mean = 113 days, p = .180), though not statistically significant.

Conclusions

The prevalence of clinical trial enrollment is high in patients with HGG and will likely increase as the genomic/epigenomic landscape of these tumors is better understood. As such, our data reassuringly suggest that trial participation does not interfere with the receipt of specialty PC in this population.
Validation of algorithms to select patients with multiple myeloma and patients initiating myeloma treatment in the national Veterans Affairs Healthcare System
Authors: La Jennifer , DuMontier Clark , Hassan Hamza , Abdallah Maya , Edwards Camille , Verma Karina , Ferri Grace , Dharne Mayuri , Yildirim Cenk , Corrigan June , Gaziano J. Michael , Do Nhan V. , Brophy Mary T. , Driver Jane A. , Munshi Nikhil C. , Fillmore Nathanael R.
Published: December 2022

Background

We aimed to evaluate and compare the performance of multiple myeloma (MM) selection algorithms for use in Veterans Affairs (VA) research.

Methods

Using the VA Corporate Data Warehouse (CDW), the VA Cancer Registry (VACR), and VA pharmacy data, we randomly selected 500 patients from 01/01/1999 to 06/01/2021 who had (1) either one MM diagnostic code OR were listed in the VACR as having MM AND (2) at least one MM treatment code. A team reviewed oncology notes for each veteran to annotate details regarding MM diagnosis and initial treatment within VA. We evaluated inter‐annotator agreement and compared the performance of four published algorithms (two developed and validated external to VA data and two used in VA data).

Results

A total of 859 patients were reviewed to obtain 500 patients who were annotated as having MM and initiating MM treatment in VA. Agreement was high among annotators for all variables: MM diagnosis (98.3% agreement, Kappa = 0.93); initial treatment in VA (91.8% agreement; Kappa = 0.77); and initial treatment classification (87.6% agreement; Kappa = 0.86). VA Algorithms were more specific and had higher PPVs than non‐VA algorithms for both MM diagnosis and initial treatment in VA. We developed the “VA Recommended Algorithm,” which had the highest PPV among all algorithms in identifying patients diagnosed with MM (PPV = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.95–0.99) and in identifying patients who initiated their MM treatment in VA (PPV = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.90–0.96).

Conclusion

Our VA Recommended Algorithm optimizes sensitivity and PPV for cohort selection and treatment classification.
Muscle oxygenation of the paretic and nonparetic legs during and after exercise in chronic stroke: Implications for mobility
Authors: Whyte Elizabeth , Thomas Scott , Marzolini Susan
Published: December 2022

Background

Oxygen delivery and demand are reduced in the paretic leg of individuals after stroke. However, it is unknown how muscle oxygenation, the balance between delivery and utilization of oxygen at the muscle, is altered post‐stroke during aerobic exercise and how it relates to mobility.

Objective

To monitor muscle oxygenation changes between the paretic and nonparetic legs of individuals after stroke during treadmill exercise and the 6‐minute walk test and analyze the association with mobility.

Design

Cross‐sectional study.

Setting

Cardiac rehabilitation program.

Patients

Eleven male participants were enrolled in the study. Ten men (30.8 ± 4.1 months post‐stroke; age 63.9 ± 13.9 years) with hemiparetic gait pattern finished the study.

Methods or interventions

Not applicable.

Main outcome measures

Muscle oxygenation was measured with near‐infrared spectroscopy placed on the vastus lateralis of each leg during treadmill exercise at the first ventilatory threshold and during a 6‐minute walk test.

Results

The desaturation slope during treadmill exercise was significantly steeper (p = .047) in the paretic (−0.7 ± 0.6%/s) compared to the nonparetic leg (−0.3 ± 0.2%/s). There was no other significant difference between legs. The 6‐minute walk test distance was not correlated with 6‐minute walk test muscle oxygenation in either leg (paretic: r = 0.20, p = 0.590; nonparetic: r = 0.42, p = .232).

Conclusions

At the onset of treadmill exercise, the paretic leg was unable to effectively match the oxygen demand and extraction of the nonparetic leg, suggesting the need for an immediate cardiovascular warmup prior to initiating moderate intensity exercise in this population. Because the exercise desaturation rate is thought to indicate increased anaerobic metabolism and lactate production, efforts to delay rapid desaturation could improve the sustainability of activities of daily living and exercise.
The client net state: Trajectories of state control over cyberspace
Authors: Harvey Callum J. , Moore Christopher L.
Published: December 2022

Social media corporations have become fixtures of daily life to the extent they are regularly compared to states in size and scope. These corporations and their platforms have become the dominant stakeholders of cyberspace, operating as state‐like cyber actors, or net states. Previous approaches have limited the net state to the online, framing their populations and agendas separate to the material reality of their everyday operations, overlooking the tangible overlap between sovereignty and cyberspace. In this article, we examine whether net states can be co‐opted into the apparatus of state in a manner comparable to client states. We examine the case of WeChat, the Chinese multipurpose messaging and social media app developed by Tencent in its operation as a client net state of the People's Republic of China. The interactions between these actors are mapped using a methodological framework incorporating actor‐network theory to demonstrate the existence of client net states, and how they may be deployed to expand a state's influence and cyber sovereignty beyond its physical borders.
Global psycho‐oncology in low middle‐income countries: Challenges and opportunities
Authors: Dunn Jeff , Rodin Gary
Published: December 2022

Objectives

This Special Issue of Psycho‐Oncology is focused on challenges and opportunities in the provision of psychosocial care to patients in low and middle‐income countries (LMICs). The aim is to highlight global disparities and inequity in the provision of evidence‐based, culturally‐sensitive and timely psychosocial care and to showcase the work of researchers and practitioners to address this gap. We hope that this Issue will help to advance the psychological and social dimensions of cancer care in all parts of the world.

Methods

The focus of the papers is on research and clinical innovations in LMICs that target the psychological, social and cultural dimensions of cancer and on interventions to improve or maintain the psychological well‐being, social functioning and/or quality of life of those who are affected and their families.

Results

These papers draw attention to guidelines, resource needs, clinical service evaluation, emerging research and knowledge translation within LMICs that advance knowledge and implementation in the field of psycho‐oncology.

Conclusions

Innovations and advances in psycho‐oncology are emerging from LMICs to enhance the care of patients with cancer and their families in these regions and in all parts of the world. A sustained global initiative is now needed to ensure that guidelines for such care are routinely included in global, national and local cancer control plans and that essential resources and attention are directed to implement them.
Mechanistic modeling of drug products applied to the skin: A workshop summary report
Authors: Tsakalozou Eleftheria , Alam Khondoker , Ghosh Priyanka , Spires Jessica , Polak Sebastian , Fang Lanyan , Sammeta Srinivasa , Zhao Ping , Arora Sumit , Raney Sam G.
Published: December 2022

The development of a generic drug product involves demonstrating that there is no significant difference in the rate and extent to which the active ingredient becomes available at the site of action, relative to the reference listed drug product. This remains challenging for many locally acting topical dermatological products because measuring the concentration of the active ingredient at the site of action in the skin may not be straightforward, and, in most instances, there are no established relationships between skin and plasma pharmacokinetic profiles. In recent years, the Office of Generic Drugs of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) established scientific research programs with the goal of enhancing patient access to high quality, affordable topical dermatological generics. A key strategy of these research programs was to leverage modeling and simulation methodologies that accelerate the development of these generics by facilitating alternative bioequivalence approaches for dermatological drug products. This report summarizes relevant insights and discussions from a 2021 FDA public workshop titled “Regulatory Utility of Mechanistic Modeling to Support Alternative Bioequivalence Approaches,” which illustrated how mechanistic modeling and simulation approaches can be utilized (and have been used) to inform generic drug product development and regulatory decisions during the assessment of generic drug applications submitted to the FDA.
Quantitative analysis of ToF‐SIMS data of a two organic compound mixture using an autoencoder and simple artificial neural networks
Authors: Aoyagi Satoka , Matsuda Kazuhiro
Published: December 2022

Rationale

Matrix effects cause a nonlinear relationship between ion intensities and concentrations in mass spectrometry, including time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS). Here, two artificial neural network (ANN)‐based methods, autoencoder‐based and simple ANN methods, were employed for the quantitative and qualitative analyses of a two organic compound mixture via ToF‐SIMS.

Methods

The multilayer model sample contained a mixture of Irganox 1010 and Fmoc‐pentafluoro‐L‐phenylalanine (Fmoc‐PFLPA). The sample's positive and negative ion depth profiles were collected through ToF‐SIMS. ToF‐SIMS‐derived cross‐sectional image datasets were analyzed using three unsupervised methods, namely principal component analysis (PCA), multivariate curve resolution (MCR), and use of a sparse autoencoder (SAE). The supervised simple ANN method was optimized based on the spectra and validated by predicting the test dataset ratios of Irganox 1010.

Results

The results obtained using the SAE demonstrated linear calibration curves and appropriate material distribution images. The Irganox 1010 and Fmoc‐PFLPA positive and negative ion datasets exhibited >0.97 correlation coefficients. The PCA and MCR results demonstrated lower linearity than that of SAE. Moreover, SAE weights indicated the ions important for each organic compound. The simple ANN method accurately predicted the ratios in the test dataset and indicated the important ions.

Conclusions

Both the supervised and unsupervised methods based on ANN, which were employed in regulating nonlinear relationships, were effective in the quantitative and qualitative analyses of the ToF‐SIMS data of the two organic compound mixtures. Regarding qualitative analysis, both ANN‐based methods indicated specific ions from the molecules in the sample.
Preparation of Vermiculite‐based Molecular Sieve‐Supported Ni‐Co Alloy Catalyst Assisted by Oleic Acid and Application in Dry Reforming of Methane
Authors: Su Peng , Ge Yizhao , Ma Yujie , Cheng Haifeng , Wang Zijun , Liu Minmin
Published: December 2022

In this work, microporous vermiculite‐based molecular sieves were etched into mesoporous vermiculite‐based molecular sieves by alkaline solution, and the mesoporous vermiculite‐based molecular sieves were supported by Ni or Ni‐Co alloy active components by oleic acid‐assisted method and impregnation method, respectively. And prepared catalysts were applied to the dry reforming of methane (DRM) reaction. Under the reaction conditions of T=750 °C and GHSV=30000 mL/(h gcat), the conversion rate of CO2 and CH4 of the Ni‐Co‐oa/VSiO2 bimetallic catalyst reached 84.7 % and 71.9 %, respectively. According to the analysis of the relevant characterization results, the Ni‐Co‐oa/VSiO2 catalyst has more nickel active sites and stronger interaction between metal and support due to the addition of oleic acid. Therefore, Ni‐Co‐oa/VSiO2 has better catalytic reactivity and stability.
One Pot Synthesis of Cubic Mesoporous Silica KIT‐6 Functionalized with Sulfonic Acid for Catalytic Dehydration of Fructose to 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural
Authors: Deka Juti Rani , Saikia Diganta , Tsai Hui‐Hsu Gavin , Chen Ke‐Ting , Kuan Wei‐Hsuan , Hsu Hung‐Cheng , Kao Hsien‐Ming , Yang Yung‐Chin
Published: December 2022

Well‐ordered cubic mesoporous silicas KIT‐6 functionalized with sulfonic acid moiety (−SO3H) (up to 30 mol% based on silica) are synthesized via co‐condensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS) under acidic conditions using Pluronic P123 as the structure directing agent and H2O2 as the oxidant. The materials are used as heterogeneous catalysts for the dehydration of fructose to 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), and the HMF yield as high as 88 % is achieved at 135 °C within 40 min in the presence of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as solvent. The effects of various experimental parameters, such as reaction temperature, time, solvent, and the mass ratio of fructose to catalyst, on the HMF yield are also systematically investigated. The catalyst could be easily recovered from the reaction and reused, and 83 % HMF yield could be retained after used for three cycles, which demonstrated the remarkable stability of the catalyst.
Experimental and Theoretical Study for Proton Transfer of Aggregated‐Induced Emission Active Fluorescent Schiff Bases
Authors: Bansal Richa , Kumar Gulshan , Luxami Vijay
Published: December 2022

In this paper, we studied the effect of increasing the conjugation in compound 3 on the proton transfer and aggregation‐induced emission properties. Compound 3 exhibited the dual absorption peak at 420 nm and 320 nm, which was redshifted by 50 nm compared to compound 2 (previous report). Compound 3 emits exhibited a peak at 530 nm with a Stokes’ shift of 110 nm after photoexcitation at 420 nm. In a high polarity medium, the absorption and emission spectra of compound 3 showed redshifts of 50 nm and 20 nm, respectively. Further, compound 3 displayed the aggregation‐induced emission enhancement in THF/H2O (60 % v/v). Additionally, the proton transfer process in compounds 2 and 3 was evaluated through theoretical calculations via determining the relative free energies of possible tautomeric forms. It was determined that the small energy barriers for compound 2 in the S1 state suggested the presence of the proton transfer process; however, high energy barriers and high stabilization and Boltzmann population of 3.KK tautomeric form at S0 and S1 state for compound 3 discommoded the proton transfer process. Further, the aggregated form of compound 3 (20 μM; CH3OH/HEPES buffer (4 : 1; v/v) pH=7.04) was utilized to recognize Cu2+ ions with the lowest detection limit of 1.5 nM and Stern‐Volmer binding constant of 2.8×105 M−1. A noted decrease in the hydrodynamic size of compound 3 from 400 nm to 40 nm in the presence of Cu2+ ions confirmed the disaggregation with a decrease in emission intensity. Compound 3 was also employed as a Cu2+ ions recognizer in different collected samples with good percentage recovery.
Synthesis, Characterization, Biological Activity and Molecular Modeling Studies of Novel Aminoguanidine Derivatives
Authors: Doğan Nuriye , Yavuz Sevtap Çağlar , Sahin Kader , Orhan Muge Didem , Kekeçmuhammed Hüseyin , Calis Seyma , Küp Fatma Öztürk , Avsar Timucin , Akkoc Senem , Tapera Michael , Sahin Onur , Kilic Turker , Durdagi Serdar , Saripinar Emin
Published: December 2022

In recent years, various compounds including the aminoguanidine scaffold have been reported to exhibit diverse biological activities. In the current study, 16 compounds that include guanylhydrazone (aminoguanidine) moiety (3 a–3 p) were synthesized and characterized through the spectrum data, including 1H‐NMR, 13C‐NMR, and FT‐IR. Furthermore, the proposed structure of 3 a was resolved by single‐crystal X‐ray diffractometer. The prepared compounds were then tested for their different in vitro biological activities including antitumor activities against several types of cancer cell lines (A549, MCF‐7, and U87‐MG). Results showed that among the studied compounds especially 3 i, 3 n, and 3 p showed promising antiproliferative effect and they may be considered as good candidates for further in vitro and/or in vivo animal model studies. All the 16 derivatives synthesized in this study were also screened for their antimicrobial, antioxidant activity and DNA cleavage properties. Furthermore, multidimensional molecular modeling approaches were conducted for better understanding of their biological activities in atomic level.
Co‐pyrolysis of Lotus Pollen and Ammonium Nitrate to Produce Graphene‐Like Porous Carbon with Charge and Mass Transfer Highways for High‐Performance Supercapacitor
Authors: Fu Xiaoqi , Shao Menglin , Guo Yuhan , Liu Xinyu , Li Zian
Published: December 2022

Biomass‐derived carbon‐based supercapacitors offer a promising sustainable energy storage strategy for addressing global energy and environmental challenges. Herein, we report the synthesis of a graphene‐like porous carbon by co‐pyrolysis of lotus pollen and ammonium nitrate. During the co‐pyrolysis process, ammonium nitrate could release a large amount of heat, etch the carbon skeleton, reduce the pyrolysis temperature, and create hierarchically porous carbon networks with rich N doping. The hierarchically N‐doped porous structure has an ultra‐large specific surface area (3106 m2 g−1) and an adapted interconnected porous structure, provides highways for charge and mass transfer, leading to a specific capacitance as high as 373.7 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 current density. The symmetric solid‐state supercapacitor device exhibits a specific energy density of 53.5 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 640 W kg−1.
5‐Formyluridine and Its Synthetic Applications
Authors: Kumar Sandeep , Kumar Sumit , Arora Aditi , Prasad Ashok K. , Maity Jyotirmoy
Published: December 2022

In recent decades, 5‐formyluridine has drawn attention of the researchers working in the field of nucleic acid chemistry due to its role as key intermediate for the synthesis of modified nucleosides. Numerous efficient and facile synthetic methods have been developed for the synthesis of this molecule and this nucleoside precursor has further been explored for the synthesis of modified nucleosides and nucleotides. These compounds have showed significant biological activities against tumor cell lines, bacterial and viral strains, etc. Herein, a complete account of synthesis of 5‐formyluridine, its application for the synthesis and biological activities is presented.
Deep Characterizations and Rietveld Refinement of Natural Phosphate Mining from Kef Esnoun, Algeria
Authors: Benmerabet Imen , Benrabaa Rafik , Fares Aissat , Fodil Cherif Nawal , Rubbens Pr. Annick , Roussel Pascal
Published: December 2022

The main physico‐chemical properties and the underlying influence of thermal treatment on the phase composition and structural characteristics of the natural phosphate Kef Esnoun region in Djebel Onk, Algeria, are discussed in this work. The primary goal is to increase the natural phosphate value as an alternative material in heterogeneous catalysis. The phase evolution during the heat treatment of the natural phosphate was carried out at different temperatures ranging from 600 to 1000 °C. Several complementary analytical methods were used for their characterization before and after thermal treatments. The obtained results by X‐Ray Diffraction supplemented by the Rietveld method and confirmed by molecular spectroscopy have shown that the raw natural phosphate consists primarily of a fluorapatite‐type structure (Ca5(PO4)3F). Furthermore, high‐temperature X‐ray diffraction and thermal analyses have shown that dolomite which is one of the natural phosphate constituents is fully decomposed into CaO and MgO phases after heating at 700 °C. At 900 °C, the phase composition is (Ca5 (PO4)3F; 98.23 %), (MgO; 1.1 %) and (CaO; 0.67 %) with a crystallite size value of approximately 300 nm. Cell parameters increase with calcination temperatures due to the substitution of carbonate with PO4−3 groups.
The Electrostatic‐Mediated Formation of a Coordination Complex: the Trapping and Release of an Antitumor Drug with an Anthracycline Core from {Mo72Fe30}‐Based Ensembles
Authors: Tonkushina Margarita O. , Grzhegorzhevskii Kirill V. , Ermoshin Alexander A. , Tugbaeva Anastasia S. , Kim Grigory A. , Taniya Olga S. , Gagarin Ilya D. , Ostroushko Alexander A.
Published: December 2022

This article studies the binding of the antitumor drug doxorubicin (DOX) with the nanocluster polyoxometalate (POM) {Mo72Fe30}, the latter serving as the drug carrier. The formation of a stoichiometric complex POM@(DOX)12was observed in aqueous media. Using the Stern‐Volmer technique, we found the binding constant and free Gibbs energy for this interaction. The produced complex POM@(DOX)12was examined with ultraviolet‐visible (UV‐Vis), fluorescence (steady state and life‐time), infrared (IR) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which revealed the stoichiometry of complex and a key role of {Mo3Fe3} host pores on the POM surface to DOX binding. DOX's ability to intercalate into DNA after binding with the {Mo72Fe30} was investigated using a pH typical for blood (7.4). A pH‐dependent release of DOX from POM@(DOX)12was demonstrated (rate constant is 3.3×10−4 s−1). Finally, we showed that the immobilization of doxorubicin on the POM's surface can reduce undesired side effects.
Ratiometric Detection of Al Based on the Mixing of D‐penicillamine‐Functionalized Copper Nanoclusters with Pyridoxal 5’‐phosphate
Authors: Yu Weihua , Kuang Jianhua , Hu Qingqing , Wang Zhonghua , Liao Yunwen , Cheng Zhengjun
Published: December 2022

The excess accumulation of nonessential Al3+ in the human body can cause serious health problems, thus there is significant interest in the detection of Al3+. A new ratio fluorescent probe (RF‐probe) based on the mixing of red‐emitting D‐penicillamine (DPA) stabilized copper nanoclusters (DPA‐CuNCs) with pyridoxal 5’‐phosphate (PLP) was designed for sensitive and selective determination of Al3+. The −CHO group of PLP is expected to form an imine linkage with the free −NH2 group available of the DPA on the surface of DPA‐CuNCs. The content of Al3+ could be mensurated by the as‐prepared RF‐probe with a linear response in the range of 1.33–46.67 μmol ⋅ L−1, and corresponding limit of detection (LOD) was calculated to be 0.33 μmol ⋅ L−1. Moreover, the RF‐probe was successfully extended to the assay of Al3+ in aluminum carbonate chewing tablets, baking powder, pond water and drink water with satisfactory results compared to the standard atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS).
Ionic/Electronic Dual‐Conductor Coating Layer Fabrication Enabling High‐Performance Silicon Anode
Authors: Li Liewu , Du Baorong , Yang Yizhao , Ye Shenghua , Huang Tao , Huang Shaoluan , Ren Xiangzhong , Hu Jiangtao , Zhang Qianling , Liu Jianhong
Published: December 2022

Silicon (Si) has received special attention from both scientific research and corporate development for overcoming the current energy density bottleneck. However, the severe volume change and violent interfacial reaction diminish the full benefits of Si material and hamper its direct commercial utilization. Particle pulverization and the companied ionic/electronic isolation are regarded as the intrinsic reason for performance attenuation. Hence, a strategy that can maintain both electronic and ionic conductance on Si anode during the electrochemical process is of great significant for performance improvement and future commercial promotion. Accordingly, an ionic/electronic dual‐conductor coating layer fabrication route is done by in situ building Li4SiO4 fast ion conductor coating layer and implanting electron conduction network, labeled as Si@Li4SiO4/amorphous carbon (C)/carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Notably, the Si@Li4SiO4/C/CNT electrode delivers excellent long‐term cycling stability and prominent rate capability. These results demonstrate that the in situ‐formed fast ionic conductor coating layer facilitates the rapid Li+ diffusion, and the 3D network structure constructed by CNTs and amorphous carbon (polyvinylpyrrolidone‐derived carbon) effectively reinforce the structural stability and keep the electrical connection for the electrode. This study provides an ionic/electronic dual‐conductor coating design concept for Si‐based anode materials.
Assessing antimicrobial use and practices in equids
Authors: Mills Georgina
Published: December 2022

Georgina Mills reports on new research that looked into the use of antimicrobials in horses, ponies and donkeys in the UK.
David Walker
Authors: Hardy B.D.W. , Jones R.S.
Published: December 2022

With a long‐held ambition to be a veterinary surgeon, he was a conscientious, able student who enjoyed learning. An interest in pathology led to a career in laboratory medicine and an honorary professorship.