bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of HIF-1α-AQP4 axis ameliorates brain edema and neurological functional deficits in a rat controlled cortical injury (CCI) model
Authors: Xiong Ao , Li Junxia , Xiong Renping , Xia Yiming , Jiang Xu , Cao Fuyang , Lu Hong , Xu Jianzhong , Shan Fabo
Published: February 2022

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an important cause of death in young adults and children. Till now, the treatment of TBI in the short- and long-term complications is still a challenge. Our previous evidence implied aquaporin 4 (AQP4) and hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) might be potential targets for TBI. In this study, we explored the roles of AQP4 and HIF-1α on brain edema formation, neuronal damage and neurological functional deficits after TBI using the controlled cortical injury (CCI) model. The adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham and TBI group, the latter group was further divided into neutralized-AQP4 antibody group, 2-methoxyestradiol (2-ME2) group, and their corresponding control, IgG and isotonic saline groups, respectively. Brain edema was examined by water content. Hippocampal neuronal injury was assessed by neuron loss and neuronal skeleton related protein expressions. Spatial learning and memory deficits were evaluated by Morris water maze test and memory-related proteins were detected by western blot. Our data showed that increased AQP4 protein level was closely correlated with severity of brain edema after TBI. Compared with that in the control group, both blockage of AQP4 with neutralized-AQP4 antibody and inhibition of HIF-1α with 2-ME2 for one-time treatment within 30–60 min post TBI significantly ameliorated brain edema on the 1st day post-TBI, and markedly alleviated hippocampal neuron loss and spatial learning and memory deficits on the 21st day post-TBI. In summary, our preliminary study revealed the short-term and long-term benefits of targeting HIF-1α-AQP4 axis after TBI, which may provide new clues for the selection of potential therapeutic targets for TBI in clinical practice.
Human adipose mesenchymal stem cells modulate inflammation and angiogenesis through exosomes
Authors: Heo June Seok , Kim Sinyoung
Published: February 2022

Stem cell-derived exosomes are efficient and safe therapeutic tools for transferring endogenous biological cargo or functional biomolecules for regenerative medicine. The regulation of inflammation and angiogenesis plays a pivotal role in wound healing and tissue regeneration. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic roles of human adipose mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes, focusing on the underlying mechanisms. Exosomes inhibited LPS-induced inflammation by activating ROCK1 and PTEN expression. Moreover, microRNAs (miR-132 and miR-146a) released from exosomes upregulated the expression of pro-angiogenic genes and promoted proliferation activity and tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Exosomal effects were verified using ROCK1/PTEN inhibitors for anti-inflammation and miR-132/miR-146a inhibitors for pro-angiogenesis. Our findings suggest that exosomes exert anti-inflammatory effects by targeting the ROCK1/PTEN pathway and exhibit pro-angiogenic effects via delivery of miR-132 and miR-146a. Taken together, these results suggest that exosomes may be promising therapeutic candidates for curing diseases involved in inflammation and angiogenesis.
Preparative capillary electrophoresis (CE) fractionation of protein digests improves protein and peptide identification in bottom-up proteomics
Authors: Weaver Simon D. , Schuster-Little Naviya , Whelan Rebecca J.
Published: February 2022

Fractionating samples with preparative capillary electrophoresis before liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry enables greater coverage of a cancer biomarker and deeper sequencing of a complex proteome.
Guanidinium solvents with exceptional hydrogen bond donating abilities
Authors: Brar Navneet K. , Brown Roland T. , Shahbaz Kaveh , Hunt Patricia A. , Weber Cameron C.
Published: February 2022

Guanidinium chloride DES-like solutions exhibited strong hydrogen-bond donating properties with a range of polarity probes. Computational results found that this was caused by a cooperative effect between the cation, anion and molecular species.
Efficient electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate to nitrogen gas by a cubic Cu2O film with predominant (111) orientation
Authors: Zhao Qiangsheng , Tang Zihui , Chen Bin , Zhu Chuhong , Tang Haibin , Meng Guowen
Published: February 2022

Cubic Cu2O film with predominant (111) orientation electrodeposited on Cu foam shows high nitrate reduction efficiency and selectivity for nitrogen gas.
Photoelectron circular dichroism in angle-resolved photoemission from liquid fenchone
Authors: Pohl Marvin N. , Malerz Sebastian , Trinter Florian , Lee Chin , Kolbeck Claudia , Wilkinson Iain , Thürmer Stephan , Neumark Daniel M. , Nahon Laurent , Powis Ivan , Meijer Gerard , Winter Bernd , Hergenhahn Uwe
Published: February 2022

We present the first X-ray photoelectron circular dichroism (PECD) study from a liquid phase sample, exemplified for liquid fenchone at the C 1s edge.
Altered phase behavior of the lauric acid–stearic acid binary mixtures in electrospun PVA–PDMS mats
Authors: Perween Shama , Ranjan Amit
Published: February 2022

In this work, we study and report the phase behavior of the mixture of lauric acid (LA) and stearic acid (SA) inside polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)–polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) nanofibrous mats woven using the electrospinning technique.
Synthesis of 12β-methyl-18-nor-avicholic acid analogues as potential TGR5 agonists
Authors: Ure Elizabeth M. , Harris Lawrence D. , Cameron Scott A. , Weymouth-Wilson Alex , Furneaux Richard H. , Pitman Janet L. , Hinkley Simon. F. , Luxenburger Andreas
Published: February 2022

A series of 12β-methyl-18-nor-avicholic acid analogues was prepared and evaluated for activity at TGR5 and FXR. Compounds 46 and 53 emerged as low-micromolar TGR5 agonists, providing potential new templates for further development.
All on size-coded single bead set: a modular enrich-amplify-amplify strategy for attomolar level multi-immunoassay
Authors: Chen Desheng , Zhang Xiaobo , Zhu Liping , Liu Chenghui , Li Zhengping
Published: February 2022

A modular single bead enrich-amplify-amplify strategy is proposed for simultaneous detection of multiple proteins at the aM level.
Evolution from superatomic Au24Ag20 monomers into molecular-like Au43Ag38 dimeric nanoclusters
Authors: Xu Jiayu , Xiong Lin , Cai Xiao , Tang Shisi , Tang Ancheng , Liu Xu , Pei Yong , Zhu Yan
Published: February 2022

The work shows the evolution from monomeric Au24Au20 into dimeric Au43Ag38 nanoclusters and provides exciting opportunities for atomic manufacturing on metal nanoclusters to construct structures and functionality.
Development of antibacterial peptides with efficient antibacterial activity, low toxicity, high membrane disruptive activity and a synergistic antibacterial effect
Authors: Wang Hao , Niu Mingcong , Xue Tong , Ma Linhao , Gu Xiulian , Wei Guangcheng , Li Fengqiao , Wang Chunhua
Published: February 2022

Amphiphilic cationic antimicrobial lipopeptide LP21 self-assembles into spherical aggregates which are used as drug carriers to play synergistic antibacterial effects and the antibacterial mechanism involved is shown.
Triplet-to-singlet exciton transfer in hyperfluorescent OLED materials
Authors: de Sousa Leonardo Evaristo , dos Santos Born Larissa , de Oliveira Neto Pedro Henrique , de Silva Piotr
Published: February 2022

In addition to reverse intersystem crossing, triplet-to-singlet exciton transfers plays an important role in the triplet harvesting mechanism in hyperfluorescent organic light-emitting diodes.
Band structure modulation by methoxy-functionalization of graphene nanoribbons
Authors: Götz Alicia , Wang Xiao-Ye , Ruini Alice , Zheng Wenhao , Soltani Paniz , Graf Robert , Tries Alexander , Li Juan , Palma Carlos-Andres , Molinari Elisa , Hansen Michael Ryan , Wang Hai I. , Prezzi Deborah , Müllen Klaus , Narita Akimitsu
Published: February 2022

Graphene nanoribbons functionalized with methoxy groups were synthesized. Theoretical studies predicted reduced bandgap and effective mass of charge carriers. THz spectroscopy revealed ∼25% enhancement of the photoconductivity.
In situ SERS monitoring of intracellular H2O2 in single living cells based on label-free bifunctional Fe3O4@Ag nanoparticles
Authors: Wang Yue , Cheng Cheng , Ma Ruofei , Xu Zhangrun , Ozaki Yukihiro
Published: February 2022

Intracellular H2O2 in single living cells was visualized by SERS technology using label-free bifunctional Fe3O4@Ag nanoparticles with ultra-sensitivity.
Correction: Adsorptive removal of Hg2+ from environmental water samples using thioglycerol-intercalated magnetic layered double hydroxides
Authors: Esrafili Ali , Ghambarian Mahnaz
Published: February 2022

Correction for ‘Adsorptive removal of Hg2+ from environmental water samples using thioglycerol-intercalated magnetic layered double hydroxides’ by Ali Esrafili et al., Anal. Methods, 2020, 12, 2279–2286, DOI: 10.1039/D0AY00448K.
Enantioselective synthesis of cyclic α-aminoboronates via copper-catalyzed dearomative borylation of 4-quinolinols
Authors: Xu Ming , Ouyang Yizhao , Wang Linghua , Zhang Shuai , Li Pengfei
Published: February 2022

An enantioselective and regioselective dearomative borylation of 4-quinolinols was developed for synthesis of unprecedented heterocyclic α-amino boronates, a new class of compounds potentially relevant to drug discovery.
Increased CO2/N2 selectivity of PTMSP by surface crosslinking
Authors: Shaligram Sayali V. , Regen Steven L.
Published: February 2022

Surface crosslinking of a poly[1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propyne] (PTMSP) film via thiol-ene click reactions with dithiothreitol produces membranes having CO2/N2 selectivities in excess of 30 with CO2 permeances in excess of 300 GPU.
Heterolepticmer-[Cr(N∩N∩N)(CN)3] complexes: synthetic challenge, structural characterization and photophysical properties
Authors: Chong Julien , Besnard Céline , Cruz Carlos M. , Piguet Claude , Jiménez Juan-Ramón
Published: February 2022

The heteroleptic mer-[Cr(L)(CN)3] (L = tpy, ddpd, dqp) complexes with theirC2v-symmetrical [CrC3N3] luminescent chromophores represent the missing links between pseudo-octahedral [CrN6] and [CrC6] units found in their well-known homoleptic parents.
Changes in ligand coordination mode induce bimetallic C–C coupling pathways
Authors: Jackman Kyle M. K. , Liang Guangchao , Boyle Paul D. , Zimmerman Paul M. , Blacquiere Johanna M.
Published: February 2022

Ligand L1 with a 1-azaallyl group undergoes reversible changes in coordination mode in response to the demands of the metal, which enables bimetallic C–C reductive elimination pathways.
A microfluidic-informatics assay for quantitative physical occlusion measurement in sickle cell disease
Authors: Zhang Xingjian , Chan Trevor , Carbonella Judith , Gong Xiangyu , Ahmed Noureen , Liu Chang , Demandel Israel , Zhang Junqi , Pashankar Farzana , Mak Michael
Published: February 2022

Graphical abstract of the microfluidic-informatics analytical system.
Crystallization of polylactides examined by vibrational circular dichroism of intra- and inter-chain chiral interactions
Authors: Chao Yi-Kuan , Praveena N. M. , Yang Kai-Chieh , Gowd E. Bhoje , Ho Rong-Ming
Published: February 2022

Cold-crystallized PDLA was studied by time-resolved VCD analysis, providing molecular level insights for crystallization via intra- and inter-chain chiral interactions.
Correction: Crystalline boron monosulfide nanosheets with tunable bandgaps
Authors: Kusaka Haruki , Ishibiki Ryota , Toyoda Masayuki , Fujita Takeshi , Tokunaga Tomoharu , Yamamoto Akiyasu , Miyakawa Masashi , Matsushita Kyosuke , Miyazaki Keisuke , Li Linghui , Shinde Satish Laxman , Lima Mariana S. L. , Sakurai Takeaki , Nishibori Eiji , Masuda Takuya , Horiba Koji , Watanabe Kenji , Saito Susumu , Miyauchi Masahiro , Taniguchi Takashi , Hosono Hideo , Kondo Takahiro
Published: February 2022

Correction for ‘Crystalline boron monosulfide nanosheets with tunable bandgaps’ by Haruki Kusaka et al., J. Mater. Chem. A, 2021, 9, 24631–24640, DOI: 10.1039/D1TA03307G.
Salt and pepper noise removal method based on stationary Framelet transform with non‐convex sparsity regularization
Authors: Chen Yingpin , Huang Yuming , Wang Lingzhi , Huang Huiying , Song Jianhua , Yu Chaoqun , Xu Yanping
Published: February 2022

Salt and pepper noise occurs randomly and causes image degradation. Numerous denoising methods have been proposed to suppress this noise. However, existing methods have two main limitations. First, noise characteristics, such as noise location information and sparsity, are often described inaccurately or even ignored. Second, many existing methods separate the contaminated image into a recovered image and a noise part, leading to the recovery of an image with unsatisfactory smooth and detailed parts. In this study, the authors introduce a noise detection strategy to determine the position of the noise and employ a non‐convex sparsity regularization depicted by quasi‐norm to describe the sparsity of the noise, thereby addressing the first limitation. We adopt the morphological component analysis framework with stationary Framelet transform to decompose the processed image into the cartoon, texture, and noise parts to resolve the second limitation. Then, the proposed model is applied by using the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM). Finally, experiments are conducted to verify the proposed method and compare it with some current state‐of‐the‐art denoising methods. The experimental results show that the proposed method can remove salt and pepper noise while preserving the details of the processed image and outperforming some state‐of‐the‐art methods.
Development of a cometosheath at comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
Authors: Williamson H. N. , Nilsson H. , Stenberg Wieser G. , Moeslinger A. , Goetz C.
Published: February 2022

Context. The ionosphere of a comet is known to deflect the solar wind through mass loading, but the interaction is dependent on cometary activity. We investigate the details of this process at comet 67P using the Rosetta Ion Composition Analyzer.

Aims. This study aims to compare the interaction of the solar wind and cometary ions during two different time periods in the Rosetta mission.

Methods. We compared both the integrated ion moments (density, velocity, and momentum flux) and the velocity distribution functions for two days, four months apart. The velocity distribution functions were projected into a coordinate system dependent on the magnetic field direction and averaged over three hours.

Results. The first case shows highly scattered H+ in both ion moments and velocity distribution function. The He2+ ions are somewhat scattered, but less so, and appear more like those of H2O+ pickup ions. The second case shows characteristic evidence of mass-loading, where the solar wind species are deflected, but the velocity distribution function is not significantly changed.

Conclusions. The distributions of H+ in the first case, when compared to He2+ and H2O+ pickup ions, are indicative of a narrow cometosheath on the scale of the H+ gyroradius. Thus, He2+ and H2O+, with larger gyroradii, are largely able to pass through this cometosheath. An examination of the momentum flux tensor suggests that all species in the first case have a significant non-gyrotropic momentum flux component that is higher than that of the second mass-loaded case. Mass loading is not a sufficient explanation for the distribution functions and momentum flux tensor in the first case, and so we assume this is evidence of bow shock formation.
Characteristics of differential lunar laser ranging
Authors: Zhang Mingyue , Müller Jürgen , Biskupek Liliane , Singh Vishwa Vijay
Published: February 2022

Context. To obtain more details about the lunar interior, a station at Table Mountain Observatory of JPL will enable a new measurement of lunar laser ranging (LLR), known as differential lunar laser ranging (DLLR). It will provide a novel type of observable, namely, the lunar range difference, which is the difference of two consecutive ranges obtained via a single station swiftly switching between two or more lunar reflectors. This previously unavailable observation will have a very high level of accuracy (about 30 μm), mainly resulting from a reduction in the Earth’s atmospheric error. In addition to the intended improvements for the lunar part, it is expected to contribute to improved relativity tests, for instance, the equivalence principle (EP).

Aims. This paper focuses on the simulation and investigation of the characteristics of DLLR.

Methods. Using simulated DLLR data, we analyzed and compared the parameter sensitivity, correlation, and accuracy obtained by DLLR with those attained by LLR.

Results. The DLLR measurement maintains almost the same sensitivity to certain parameters (called group A) as that of LLR, such as the lunar orientation parameters. For other parameters (called group B), such as station coordinates, it is shown to be less sensitive. However, owing to its extraordinary measurement accuracy, it not only retains nearly the same level of accuracy of group B as LLR, but it also improves the estimation of group A significantly (with the exception of reflector coordinates, due to the DLLR measuring mode). Also, DLLR increases the correlations among the reflectors and between stations and reflectors caused by its constellation. Additionally, we compared different switching intervals with respect to sensitivity and correlation. Large switching intervals are more beneficial for group B and the decorrelation of stations and reflectors. Furthermore, DLLR enhances the accuracy of EP tests.
Modelling of elastoplastic, multi-scale and multi-contact problems: application to worm gears
Authors: Albahrani Sayed Mohamed Baqer , Alves Joël Teixeira , Duval Arnaud , Chaise Thibaut , De Vaujany Jean-Pierre , Guingand Michèle
Published: February 2022

A nonconventional application of worm gears exploits the irreversibility of these power transmission devices in order to realize fast emergency braking. This application can be used to secure lifting devices. A limiting factor in the design of these instantaneous braking systems is the residual deformations of the worm/wheel contacting teeth, due to the impact between them at each emergency stop. The prediction of these residual displacements requires solving of an elastic–plastic, multi-scale and multi-contact problem. Original numerical tools were developed in this study to solve the problem at global and local scales. The method has been validated by comparing the obtained results with 3D measurements on new and deformed worm/wheel pairs. In order to predict the issue of the worm gear after an impact, a criterion based on kinematic errors is proposed. Applying this criterion gives the maximal admissible torque for the braking system to be operational after the impact.
Circulation du virus de la dengue en Afrique de l’Ouest
Authors: Tinto Bachirou , Kania Dramane , Samdapawindé Kagone Thérèse , Dicko Amadou , Traore Isidore , de Rekeneire Nathalie , Bicaba Brice Wilfried , Hien Hervé , Van de Perre Philippe , Simonin Yannick , Salinas Sara
Published: February 2022

La dengue est l’arbovirose la plus répandue dans le monde avec environ 390 millions de cas par an, dont 96 millions présentent des manifestations cliniques, avec plus de 25 152 décès annuels répertoriés. Le diagnostic clinique de la dengue en Afrique de l’Ouest est rendu difficile par l’existence d’autres maladies présentant des tableaux cliniques similaires. Il est donc nécessaire de mettre en place des systèmes de surveillance des infections fébriles d’origine inconnue en Afrique, en renforçant les capacités diagnostiques des laboratoires nationaux.
Die Wirbelsäule – „hands on“-Anatomie der spinalen Übergänge beim Kleintier
Authors: Röhrmann Nicole , Wagner Franziska Carolin
Published: February 2022

Dieses Review fokussiert die Anatomie der spinalen Übergänge und bringt sie in Zusammenhang mit ihrer manualtherapeutischen Bedeutung. Eingehende anatomische Kenntnisse dieser stärker
beweglichen Wirbelsäulenbereiche sind grundlegend für eine korrekte Diagnostik und Therapie. Gerade durch biomechanische Veränderungen der Wirbelsäulenabschnitte zeigen sich an diesen
Übergängen oft pathologische Veränderungen, aber auch Möglichkeiten, angegliederte oder weiter entfernte Bereiche und/oder Organe manualtherapeutisch zu behandeln. Die Zusammenhänge sollen
hier zusammengefasst dargestellt werden.
Erkrankungen der Wirbelsäule des Hundes
Authors: Rosin Peter
Published: February 2022

Die Vielfalt der Erkrankungsmöglichkeiten der Wirbelsäule fordert die zeitgemäße veterinärmedizinische Diagnostik in all ihren Facetten heraus. Ganzheitliche, klinische Diagnostik mit orthopädischem sowie neurologischem Hintergrund muss fallbedingt um sinnvolle bildgebende Diagnostik ergänzt werden.

Überkommenen Lehrmeinungen entgegen, sind alle hier genannten Erkrankungen auch Schmerzerkrankungen und nicht nur etwa ein Phänomen oder ein Nebenbefund.

Sie müssen als solche verstanden und in ein adäquates Therapiekonzept eingebunden werden, unabhängig davon, ob sie einzeln oder mit weiteren Schmerzerkrankungen gemeinsam festgestellt werden.

Ein gutes Verständnis zu der jeweils vorliegenden Erkrankung schafft die Erkenntnis, ein geeignetes, nicht selten multimodales Therapieprogramm zu erarbeiten.
Ergebnisse der motorisierten Spiralenteroskopie des Dünndarms an 83 konsekutiven Patienten
Authors: Buchholz Hendrik , Mende Matthias , Hornoff Steffen , Faiss Siegbert
Published: February 2022

Einleitung Zu der motorisierten Spiralenteroskopie des Dünndarms gibt es bislang nur wenige Daten. Wir berichten über unsere frühen Erfahrungen mit dieser Methode basierend auf einer retrospektiven Fallserie. Die vorliegende Fallserie an 83 konsekutiven Patienten ist die weltweit vierte Fallserie, die über die Ergebnisse bei 68 Dünndarm-Enteroskopien und bei 15 Enteroskopien/ERCPs bei Patienten mit voroperiertem Situs berichtet.

Patienten und Methoden Die retrospektive Single-center-Studie wurde von 01/2020 bis 09/2021 an 83 konsekutiven Patienten durchgeführt. Indikationen waren entweder bekannte oder vermutete Erkrankungen des Dünndarms oder Erkrankungen der Gallenwege bzw. des Pankreasganges bei mit Roux-Y-Anastomosen voroperierten Patienten.

Ergebnisse Bei 68 Patienten mit der Indikation zur Dünndarmenteroskopie (38 m; 30 w; mittleres Alter 66,4 J) ergab sich eine diagnostische Genauigkeit von 86,8% bei einem therapeutischen Erfolg von 41,2%. Die mittlere Eindringtiefe in den Dünndarm lag bei 279 cm bei einer mittleren Untersuchungszeit von 64,3 min. Bei 13 Patienten (19,7%) konnte eine Panenteroskopie durchgeführt werden. Bei nicht abdominell voroperierten Patienten lag die Rate intendierter kompletter Enteroskopien bei 46,2%.

Bei 15 Patienten (9 m; 6 w; mittleres Alter 61,8 J) mit postoperativ veränderter Anatomie und Anlage einer Roux-Y-Anastomose lag die Rate der Erreichbarkeit der Papille bzw. einer biliodigestiven Anastomose bei 60%.

Im gesamten Kollektiv betrug die Komplikationsrate 15,7%. Major-Komplikationen wie z.B. Perforationen oder interventionspflichtige Blutungen traten nicht auf.

Diskussion Unsere Fallserie zeigt, dass mit der motorisierten Spiralenteroskopie eine hohe Panenteroskopierate des Dünndarms erreicht werden kann. Zudem sind die hierfür benötigten Untersuchungszeiten relativ kurz. Größere und vor allem vergleichende Studien müssen hier wie bei den ebenfalls gezeigten ermutigenden Daten zu ERCPs bei mit einer Roux-Y-Anastomose voroperierten Patienten abgewartet werden.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Postpartum Readmission Rates at a Single Tertiary Care Center in New York City
Authors: DeBolt Chelsea A. , Roig Jacqueline , Spiera Emily , Goldberger Cody , Kaplowitz Elianna , Toner Lorraine , Stone Joanne , Bianco Angela
Published: February 2022

Objective The aim of this study was to mitigate transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and decrease exposure to the hospital setting, Mount Sinai Hospital implemented new protocols, including early postpartum discharge. Early discharge would allow for more single-bedded rooms, limiting exposure to other patients and their support persons. During the pandemic, patients were discharged to home on postpartum day 1 or 2 after vaginal or cesarean delivery, respectively, instead of day 2 or 3, unless longer hospitalization was needed for medical indications. We aim to determine if the readmission rate was increased in the setting of earlier discharge during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Study Design Historical cohort study comparing the readmission rate in SARS-CoV-2 negative women who presented to Mount Sinai Hospital for delivery admission from March to May 2019 versus March to May 2020. The primary outcome was readmission rate within 6 weeks of discharge day. Maternal and neonatal characteristics and outcomes were compared between groups using t-tests or Wilcoxon's rank-sum test for continuous measures and chi-squared or Fisher's exact tests for categorical measures, as appropriate. Primary and secondary outcomes were assessed using linear and logistic univariable and multivariable regression.

Results Patients in the 2020 cohort (n = 1,078) were significantly less likely to have public/state insurance (p = 0.02), more likely to have pregestational diabetes (p = 0.02), gestational diabetes (p = 0.04), gestational hypertension (p < 0.01), and an operative vaginal or cesarean delivery (vs. spontaneous vaginal delivery, p = 0.01) compared with 2019 cohort patients (n = 1,910). Patients in the 2020 cohort were significantly more likely to have an earlier postpartum day of discharge and a shorter median length of stay compared with 2019 cohort patients (both p < 0.01). Despite differences in length of stay, the rate of readmission was similar between the two groups (p = 0.45).

Conclusion During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no difference in readmission rate despite shorter hospital stays.

Key Points
Ceric Ammonium Nitrate Promoted Oxidative Coupling of Terminal Alkynes and 1,3-Keto Esters: A Synthesis of Unsymmetrical 1,1,2-Triacylalkenes
Authors: Thongsornkleeb Charnsak , Ruengsangtongkul Sureeporn , Kuribara Takahito , Chaisan Nattawadee , Tummatorn Jumreang , Ruchirawat Somsak
Published: February 2022

Unsymmetrical 1,1,2-triacylalkenes were conveniently prepared by the oxidative coupling of 1,3-keto esters with terminal alkynes by employing 4.0 equivalents of inexpensive ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as the oxidant in acetonitrile as the solvent at 0 °C. The method is milder than previously reported methods and can be conducted under air, thereby demonstrating its practicality and versatility for preparing these useful building blocks. The reaction is believed to occur by a single-electron-transfer process of the 1,3-keto ester substrate initiated by CAN to generate an α-radical species that quickly adds to the terminal alkyne partner in the reaction. Subsequent oxidation of the resulting vinyl radical by air and CAN then leads to the formation of the triacylalkene product as a mixture of E- and Z-isomers. The reaction was shown to be general, with 27 illustrative examples of the formation of the desired products in up to quantitative yield and with moderate to excellent alkene geometrical selectivities.
A Sydnone-Based Route to Indazolo[2,3-a]quinoxaline Derivatives
Authors: Louis Manon , Talbot Alex , Taran Frédéric , Lamaa Diana , Sallustrau Antoine , Audisio Davide
Published: February 2022

A new synthetic route to indazolo[2,3-a]quinoxaline derivatives is described. The strategy is based on the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of arynes to quinoxaline–sydnone derivatives as a key step. The polyaromatic sydnones were prepared through a copper-promoted intramolecular cyclization of the C-4 position of sydnones on imines.
Selenium Radical-Triggered Spiro-Tricyclization of N-Aryl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)propiolamides
Authors: Pan Feng , Xie Huilin , Xie Wenlin , Liu Jin-Biao , Qiu Guanyinsheng , Wang Yu-Chao
Published: February 2022

A blue LED-promoted dearomative oxo-spirocyclization of N-aryl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)propiolamides is developed. The reaction works well to provide a series of selenium-containing benzo[b]pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]oxazine-3,9-diones with high efficiency and good tolerance for functional groups. Besides, diselenium-containing benzo[b]pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]oxazine-3,9-diones can also be efficiently synthesized in the presence of Oxone. In this process, it is believed that a selenium radical-triggered ipso-cyclization and oxo-Michael addition are involved. Further applications using the prepared products in bioactivity assay is currently underway.
The Frequency Characteristic of Silicone Domes in Receiver in the Canal Hearing Aids
Authors: Ueno Masafumi , Shinden Seiichi , Suzuki Daisuke , Suzuki Noriomi , Nishiyama Takanori , Oishi Naoki , Ogawa Kaoru
Published: February 2022

Abstract Background There are several types of silicone domes in receiver in the canal hearing aids (RICs), which have different occlusion levels. However, the frequency characteristics of each type of silicone dome are unclear. Purpose This study
aimed to determine the frequency characteristics of three types of silicone domes (open domes, double-type power domes, and tulip domes) in RICs. Research Design This is an interventional study. Study Sample In total, 11 participants with a normal sense of hearing
were prospectively enrolled. Intervention Participants were fitted with hearing aids, which were adjusted to similar settings, and only the silicone domes were changed. The acoustic gain of hearing aids was adjusted to 20 dB in the range of 250 Hz to 4 kHz
using the 2-cc coupler. Data Collection and Analysis We measured the real-ear aided gain (REAG) for each type of silicone dome. In each frequency, we statistically compared the REAG of each type of dome. Acoustic gain using the Open Fit coupler of each type of dome was also
measured. Results The REAG was obtained with no leakage with open domes only at 2 kHz, and with tulip domes and double-type power domes in the range of 1 to 2 kHz. Double-type power domes obtained significantly higher REAG than tulip domes at 250 and 500 Hz.
Under the Open Fit coupler, all types obtained higher acoustic gain than the REAG. Conclusion This study provides the analysis of the frequency characteristics of silicone domes in RICs. The highest degree of occlusion was observed in double-type power domes, followed by tulip
domes, and the lowest was observed in open domes.
Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials and Postural Control in Adults with Age-Related Hearing Loss
Authors: Doettl Steven M. , Plyler Patrick N. , McCaslin Devin L. , Conolly Larissa G. , Gomez Jesus D.
Published: February 2022

Abstract Background Age-related changes to auditory function have been attributed to, through histopathological study, specific degradation of the sensory, supporting, and afferent structures of the cochlea. Similar to age-related hearing loss (ARHL), age-related
changes to the vestibular sensory and supporting structures with specific degeneration of the saccule, utricle, otoconia, primary vestibular afferents have also been noted. Significant decreases in postural control with age are also well-documented in the literature attributed to multifactorial
changes in function. Purpose The purpose of this study is to further evaluate the association of ARHL and saccule/utricle function as measured by VEMPs and postural control measures. Study Sample Audiologic, vestibular and postural control results from 34 participants
were analyzed. The age range was from 50 to 70 years old with 16 males and 18 females. Group 1 consisted of 33 ears from participants age 50‐70 with normal hearing with average age of 60.8 years (sd 6.287 years) and an average speech-frequency PTA of 14.8 dB HL. Group 2 consisted
of 27 ears from participants age 50‐70 years with ARHL and an average age of 62.9 years (sd 4.984 years) with an average speech-frequency PTA of 39.9 dB HL. Data Collection and Analysis Independent samples t-tests were used to assess group mean differences
for dependent variables. The independent variable was group with 2 levels (normal hearing, ARHL). The dependent variables were cVEMP P1/N1 Amplitude, cVEMP P1 Latency, cVEMP N1 Latency, cVEMP P2 Latency, oVEMP N1/P1 Amplitude, oVEMP N1 Latency, and oVEMP P1 Latency. Additional analyses were
completed using Pearson correlation to evaluate the relationship of audiometric findings to the dependent variables. Results Results indicated significantly decreased cVEMP P1/N1 amplitude and oVEMP N1/P1 amplitude adults 50‐70-years of age with ARHL compared with their
normal counterparts. Significant correlations were also found for audiometric results and both cVEMP and oVEMP measures. Conclusions Overall, the results of this study describe concomitant auditory and vestibular degeneration as measured by audiometric testing and vestibular
function testing involving the saccule and to a lesser degree the utricle.
Adequacy of Antenatal Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Observational Study with Postpartum Women
Authors: Martin Margot Marie , Knobel Roxana , Nandi Vitor , Pereira Jessica Goedert , Trapani Junior Alberto , Andreucci Carla Betina
Published: February 2022

Objective The present study aimed to evaluate the antenatal care adequacy for women who gave birth at the University Hospital of Santa Catarina in Florianopolis (Brazil) during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to evaluate the association of adequacy with sociodemographic, clinical, and access characteristics.

Methods Data were collected between October and December 2020, including 254 patients who delivered in the University Hospital from Federal University of Santa Catarina and answered our questionnaires. Additional data were obtained from patients' antenatal booklets. Antenatal care was classified as adequate, intermediate, or inadequate according to the number of appointments, gestational age at the beginning of follow-up, and tests results. We carried out a descriptive statistical analysis and a bivariate/with odds ratio analysis on maternal sociodemographic, clinical and health access variables that were compared with antenatal adequacy.

Results Antenatal care was considered adequate in 35.8% of cases, intermediate in 46.8%, and inadequate in 17.4%. The following maternal variables were associated with inadequate prenatal care (intermediate or inadequate prenatal care): having black or brown skin colour, having two or more children, being of foreign nationality, not being fluent in Portuguese, and using illicit drugs during pregnancy; the clinical variables were more than 6 weeks between appointments, and not attending high-risk antenatal care; as for access, the variables were difficulties in attending or scheduling appointments, and attending virtual appointments only.

Conclusion In a sample of pregnant women from a teaching hospital in Florianópolis during the COVID-19 pandemic, antenatal care was considered adequate in 35.8%, intermediate in 46.8%, and inadequate in 17.4% of cases.
Obesity and Asthma
Authors: Dixon Anne E. , Que Loretta G.
Published: February 2022

Obesity is a major risk factor for the development of asthma, and the prevalence of obesity is higher in people with asthma than in the general population. Obese people often have severe asthma—recent studies in the United States suggest that 60% of adults with severe asthma are obese. Multiple mechanisms link obesity and asthma, which are discussed in this article, and these pathways contribute to different phenotypes of asthma among people with obesity. From a practical aspect, changes in physiology and immune markers affect diagnosis and monitoring of disease activity in people with asthma and obesity. Obesity also affects response to asthma medications and is associated with an increased risk of co-morbidities such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, depression, and obstructive sleep apnea, all of which may affect asthma control. Obese people may be at elevated risk of exacerbations related to increased risk of severe disease in response to viral infections. Interventions that target improved dietary quality, exercise, and weight loss are likely to be particularly helpful for this patient population.
Quality of Life of Pregnant Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Rodrigues Larissa , Costa Maria Laura , Specian Francisco Carlos , Sim-Sim Maria Margarida Fialho , Surita Fernanda Garanhani
Published: February 2022

Objective To assess the quality of life (QoL) of pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) treated at a high-risk prenatal outpatient clinic during the third trimester of gestation.

Methods An observational descriptive study was performed in a high-risk prenatal outpatient clinic. Women in the third trimester of pregnancy and undergoing antenatal care between July 2017 and July 2019 answered the abbreviated World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire, consisting of 26 questions divided into 4 domains (physical, psychological, social and environmental).

Results We interviewed 50 pregnant women with a mean gestational age of 30 weeks (standard deviation [SD]: 10 weeks) who were diagnosed with SLE. The average age of the participants was 30 years (SD: 14.85), and the average time since the diagnosis of SLE was of 9.06 years (SD: 6.8 years). Most participants had a partner, did not plan their pregnancy (76%), and did not use contraception prior to pregnancy (80%). The score of each domain ranges from 0 (the worst score) to 100 (the best score). The means ±  SDs of the scores of the participants on each domain were: physical – 52.21 ±  18.44); psychological – 64.17 ±  18.56); social – 66.33 ±  27.09); and environmental – 64.56 (18.53). The means ±  SDs of the general QoL, and health-related QoL items were of 70.50 ±  24.06 and 70.00 ±  30.72 respectively.

Conclusion The physical domain presented the lowest scores compared with the other three domains. Pregnant women with SLE had high overall QoL scores, and their health-related QoL scores were also relatively high.
Universal attractors in language evolution provide evidence for the kinds of efficiency pressures involved
Authors: Seržant Ilja A. , Moroz George
Published: February 2022

Efficiency is central to understanding the communicative and cognitive underpinnings of language. However, efficiency management is a complex mechanism in which different efficiency effects—such as articulatory, processing and planning ease, mental accessibility, and informativity, online and offline efficiency effects—conspire to yield the coding of linguistic signs. While we do not yet exactly understand the interactional mechanism of these different effects, we argue that universal attractors are an important component of any dynamic theory of efficiency that would be aimed at predicting efficiency effects across languages. Attractors are defined as universal states around which language evolution revolves. Methodologically, we approach efficiency from a cross-linguistic perspective on the basis of a world-wide sample of 383 languages from 53 families, balancing all six macro-areas (Eurasia, North and South America, Australia, Africa, and Oceania). We explore the grammatical domain of verbal person–number subject indexes. We claim that there is an attractor state in this domain to which languages tend to develop and tend not to leave if they happen to comply with the attractor in their earlier stages of evolution. The attractor is characterized by different lengths for each person and number combination, structured along Zipf’s predictions. Moreover, the attractor strongly prefers non-compositional, cumulative coding of person and number. On the basis of these and other properties of the attractor, we conclude that there are two domains in which efficiency pressures are most powerful: strive towards less processing and articulatory effort. The latter, however, is overridden by constant information flow. Strive towards lower lexicon complexity and memory costs are weaker efficiency pressures for this grammatical category due to its order of frequency.
Changing pore sizes shows how fuel mixing alters thermonuclear fusion
Authors: Lim Alane
Published: February 2022

Method using gas-containing plastic foams helps determine how heterogeneity affects burn rates in thermonuclear fusion.
Bipolar conduction asymmetries lead to ultra-high thermoelectric power factor
Authors: Graziosi Patrizio , Li Zhen , Neophytou Neophytos
Published: February 2022

Low bandgap thermoelectric materials suffer from bipolar effects at high temperatures, with increased electronic thermal conductivity and reduced Seebeck coefficient, leading to a reduced power factor and a low ZT figure of merit. In this work we show that the presence of strong transport asymmetries between the conduction and valence bands can allow high phonon-limited electronic conductivity at finite Seebeck coefficient values, leading to largely enhanced power factors. The power factors that can be achieved can be significantly larger compared to their maximum unipolar counterparts, allowing for doubling of the ZT figure of merit. We identify this behavior in low-bandgap cases from the half-Heusler material family. Using both advanced electronic Boltzmann transport calculations for realistic material band structures and model parabolic electronic bands, we elaborate on the parameters that determine this effect. We then develop a series of descriptors that can guide machine learning studies in identifying such classes of materials with extraordinary power factors at nearly undoped conditions. For this we test more than 3000 analytical band structures and their features, and more than 120 possible descriptors, to identify the most promising ones that contain: (i) only band structure features for easy identification from material databases and (ii) band structure and transport parameters that provide much higher correlations, but for which parameter availability can be somewhat more scarce.
Tuning chemical precompression: Theoretical design and crystal chemistry of novel hydrides in the quest for warm and light superconductivity at ambient pressures
Authors: Hilleke Katerina P. , Zurek Eva
Published: February 2022

Over the past decade, a combination of crystal structure prediction techniques and experimental synthetic work has thoroughly explored the phase diagrams of binary hydrides under pressure. The fruitfulness of this dual approach is demonstrated in the recent identification of several superconducting hydrides with Tcs approaching room temperature. We start with an overview of the computational procedures for predicting stable structures and estimating their propensity for superconductivity. A survey of phases with high Tc reveals some common structural features that appear conducive to the strong coupling of the electronic structure with atomic vibrations that leads to superconductivity. We discuss the stability and superconducting properties of phases containing two of these—molecular H2 units mixed with atomic H and hydrogenic clathrate-like cages—as well as more unique motifs. Finally, we argue that ternary hydride phases, whose exploration is still in its infancy, are a promising route to achieve simultaneous superconductivity at high temperatures and stability at low pressures. Several ternary hydrides arise from the addition of a third element to a known binary hydride structure through site mixing or onto a new site, and several more are based on altogether new structural motifs.
Protein–water coupling tunes the anharmonicity of amide I modes in the interfacial membrane-bound proteins
Authors: Tan Junjun , Ni Zijian , Ye Shuji
Published: February 2022

The diagonal anharmonicity of an amide I mode of protein backbones plays a critical role in a protein’s vibrational dynamics and energy transfer. However, this anharmonicity of long-chain peptides and proteins in H2O environment is still lacking. Here, we investigate the anharmonicity of the amide I band of proteins at the lipid membrane/H2O interface using a surface-sensitive pump–probe setup in which a femtosecond infrared pump is followed by a femtosecond broadband sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy probe. It is found that the anharmonicity of the amide I mode in ideal α-helical and β-sheet structures at hydrophobic environments is 3–4 cm−1, indicating that the amide I mode in ideal α-helical and β-sheet structures is delocalized over eight peptide bonds. The anharmonicity increases as the bandwidth of the amide I mode increases due to the exposure of peptide bonds to H2O. More H2O exposure amounts lead to a larger anharmonicity. The amide I mode of the peptides with large H2O exposure amounts is localized in one to two peptide bonds. Our finding reveals that the coupling between the amide I mode and the H2O bending mode does not facilitate the delocalization of the amide I mode along the peptide chain, highlighting the impact of H2O on energy transfer and structural dynamics of proteins.
Non-destructive aging evaluation of 500-kV field-serviced silicone rubber composite insulators with photothermal radiometry
Authors: Li Bincheng , Jiang Haitao , Zhao Binxing
Published: February 2022

In this article, a non-destructive photothermal radiometry (PTR) method is proposed to quantitatively evaluate the aging degrees of field-servicing silicone rubber composite insulators via a thermal diffusivity ratio and degradation layer thickness. A sensitivity analysis is performed to investigate the sensitivity of the PTR amplitude and phase to the thermo-physical, optical, and structural parameters of the aged silicone rubber composite insulators consisting of a degradation layer and a substrate layer. It is found that the PTR amplitude and phase are highly sensitive to the thermal diffusivity, effective infrared absorption coefficient, and thickness of the degradation layer as well as the thermal diffusivity of the substrate layer but are much less sensitive to optical absorption coefficients of the degradation and substrate layers and the effective infrared absorption coefficient of the substrate layer. Thus, parameters with high sensitivity coefficients are set as free parameters and determined by multi-parameter fitting the frequency dependences of the PTR amplitude and phase measured directly from the surfaces of the field-serviced silicone rubber composite insulators to a two-layer PTR theoretical model, while in the multi-parameter fitting, the parameters with low sensitivity coefficients are set as “known” parameters whose values are either measured separately or taken from literature. By doing so, the thermal diffusivity ratio and degradation layer thickness are accurately determined in a non-destructive way. Experimental results demonstrate that the thermal diffusivity ratio and degradation layer thickness determined by the proposed non-destructive PTR method are in good agreement with that determined by a conventional destructive PTR method, thus, proving the feasibility of the non-destructive PTR method for quantitative evaluation of aging degrees of the silicone rubber composite insulators being serviced in the high-voltage power transmission systems.