bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of senescence on muscle wasting in chronic kidney disease
Authors: Huang Ying , Wang Bin , Hassounah Faten , Price S. Russ , Klein Janet , Mohamed Tamer M.A. , Wang Yanhua , Park Jeanie , Cai Hui , Zhang Xuemei , Wang Xiaonan H.
Published: November 2022

Background

Muscle wasting is a common complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD) that is associated with higher mortality. Although the mechanisms of myofibre loss in CKD has been widely studied, the contribution of muscle precursor cell (MPC) senescence remains poorly understood. Senescent MPCs no longer proliferate and can produce proinflammatory factors or cytokines. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the senescence associated secretory phenotype (SASP) of MPCs contributes to CKD‐induced muscle atrophy and weakness.

Methods

CKD was induced in mice by 5/6th nephrectomy. Kidney function, muscle size, and function were measured, and markers of atrophy, inflammation, and senescence were evaluated using immunohistochemistry, immunoblots, or qPCR. To study the impact of senescence, a senolytics cocktail of dasatinib + quercetin (D&Q) was given orally to mice for 8 weeks. To investigate CKD‐induced senescence at the cellular level, primary MPCs were incubated with serum from CKD or control subjects. The roles of specific proteins in MPC senescence were studied using adenoviral transduction, siRNA, and plasmid transfection.

Results

In the hindlimb muscles of CKD mice, (i) the senescence biomarker SA‐β‐gal was sharply increased (~30‐fold); (ii) the DNA damage response marker γ‐H2AX was increased 1.9‐fold; and (iii) the senescence pathway markers p21 and p16INK4a were increased 1.99‐fold and 2.82‐fold, respectively (all values, P < 0.05), whereas p53 was unchanged. γ‐H2AX, p21, and p16INK4A were negatively correlated at P < 0.05 with gastrocnemius weight, suggesting a causal relationship with muscle atrophy. Administration of the senolytics cocktail to CKD mice for 8 weeks eliminated the disease‐related elevation of p21, p16INK4a, and γ‐H2AX, abolished positive SA‐β‐gal, and depressed the high levels of the SASP cytokines, TNF‐α, IL‐6, IL‐1β, and IFN (all values, P < 0.05). Skeletal muscle weight, myofibre cross‐sectional area, and grip function were improved in CKD mice receiving D&Q. Markers of protein degradation, inflammation, and MPCs dysfunction were also attenuated by D&Q treatment compared with the vehicle treatment in 5/6th nephrectomy mice (all values, P < 0.05). Uraemic serum induced senescence in cultured MPCs. Overexpression of FoxO1a in MPCs increased the number of p21+ senescent cells, and p21 siRNA prevented uraemic serum‐induced senescence (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Senescent MPCs are likely to contribute to the development of muscle wasting during CKD by producing inflammatory cytokines. Limiting senescence with senolytics ameliorated muscle wasting and improved muscle strength in vivo and restored cultured MPC functions. These results suggest potential new therapeutic targets to improve muscle health and function in CKD.
Aversive control versus stimulus control by punishment
Authors: Shahan Timothy A. , Sutton Gabrielle M. , Nist Anthony N. , Davison Michael
Published: November 2022

Estes (1944) reported that adding electric shock punishment to extinction hastened response suppression but that responding increased when shock was removed. This result contributed to a view that reinforcement and punishment are asymmetrical processes because punishment has only indirect and temporary suppressive effects. Azrin and Holz (1966) suggested the result might be interpreted instead as shock serving as a discriminative stimulus for the absence of reinforcement. Here, to further examine potential stimulus control by punishment in a similar preparation, two groups of rats initially responded for food plus punishment and a third group for food alone. Reinforcement was then removed for all groups for the remaining three phases. With P and N denoting punishment and no punishment, the four phases for the three groups were: P‐P‐N‐N, P‐N‐P‐N, and N‐P‐N‐N. We found some evidence for stimulus control by shock deliveries for group N‐P‐N‐N (as suggested by Azrin and Holz), but all other changes in responding appeared due to introduction or removal of the aversive properties of shock. Although punishment may indeed have temporary effects under many circumstances, we argue that the view that this implies asymmetrical reinforcement and punishment processes was based on the flawed assumption that reinforcement has direct strengthening effects.
Spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma in a pure palliative care setting
Authors: Yamamoto Naoki , Yamamoto Chikara , Tajitsu Takeya
Published: November 2022

We report a case of spontaneous remission of hepatocellular carcinoma in an 84‐year‐old woman who was managed in our best supportive care clinic. The tumor, once relapsed regardless of the application of conventional transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation, regressed spontaneously within 4 months. The presence of an occlusive thrombus in the portal vein feeding to the site of the tumor suggests that the reduced blood supply might have caused tumor necrosis. Furthermore, the successful eradication of hepatitis C virus maintained performance status, and good nutrition might play other roles on it.
Cognitive function and delirium following sevoflurane or propofol anesthesia for valve replacement surgery: A multicenter randomized controlled trial
Authors: Duan Guang‐You , Duan Zhen‐Xin , Chen Hong , Chen Feng , Chen Fang , Du Zhi‐Yong , Chen Li‐Yong , Lu Kai‐Zhi , Zuo Zhi‐Yi , Li Hong
Published: November 2022

Cognitive dysfunction is a common postoperative neurological complication in patients undergoing valve replacement surgery. This study aimed to compare the effects of sevoflurane versus propofol‐based total intravenous anesthesia on the incidence of cognitive dysfunction following valve replacement surgery. This multicenter, randomized, controlled double‐blinded study was conducted in three teaching hospitals in China. Patients receiving on‐pump valve replacement surgery were enrolled. Stratified block randomization was used to randomly assign patients 1:1 to receive sevoflurane (1.0–1.5 MAC) or propofol (2.0–3.0 mg/kg/h) for anesthesia maintenance. The primary outcome was the incidence of cognitive dysfunction assessed by four cognitive tests before, as well as 7–14 days after surgery. Patients were randomly assigned to receive sevoflurane anesthesia (n = 144) or propofol‐based total intravenous anesthesia (n = 145). The incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction in the sevoflurane anesthesia group (31.9%) was significantly lower than that in the total intravenous anesthesia group (43.4%; relative risk 0.61, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.38–0.97, p = 0.044). There was no difference in the incidence of delirium between patients receiving sevoflurane and total intravenous anesthesia (27.8% [35/144] vs. 25.9% [35/145], 1.10, 95% CI: 0.64 to 1.90, p = 0.736). There was a significant difference in the Katz Index on day 3 after surgery (3 [0.9) vs. 3 (1.0], 0.095, 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.43, p = 0.012). No difference was observed in other outcomes between the two groups. For patients undergoing on‐pump valve replacement surgery, sevoflurane anesthesia had a smaller effect on cognitive function and independence in daily life activities compared with propofol anesthesia.
Polysaccharides for Medical Technology: Properties and Applications
Authors: Sukhavattanakul Pongpat , Pisitsak Penwisa , Ummartyotin Sarute , Narain Ravin
Published: November 2022

Over the past decade, the use of polysaccharides has gained tremendous attention in the field of medical technology. They have been applied in various sectors such as tissue engineering, drug delivery system, face mask, and bio‐sensing. This review article provides an overview and background of polysaccharides for biomedical uses. Different types of polysaccharides, for example, cellulose and its derivatives, chitin and chitosan, hyaluronic acid, alginate, and pectin are presented. They are fabricated in various forms such as hydrogels, nanoparticles, membranes, and as porous mediums. Successful development and improvement of polysaccharide‐based materials will effectively help users to enhance their quality of personal health, decrease cost, and eventually increase the quality of life with respect to sustainability.
Mediterranean Diet, Energy Restriction, Physical Activity, and Atherogenicity of Very‐Low Density Lipoproteins: Findings from Two Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Pérez‐Vega Karla Alejandra , Castañer Olga , Sanllorente Albert , Lassale Camille , Ros Emilio , Pintó Xavier , Estruch Ramón , Salas‐Salvadó Jordi , Corella Dolores , Alonso‐Gómez Ángel M. , Serra‐Majem Lluis , Razquin Cristina , Fiol Miquel , Lapetra José , Gómez‐Gracia Enrique , Tinahones Francisco J. , Hernáez Álvaro , Fitó Montserrat
Published: November 2022

Scope

Some very‐low density lipoprotein (VLDL) properties may render them more pro‐atherogenic. We aimed to assess whether a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) or an energy‐reduced MedDiet with increased physical activity improves them.

Methods and results

In a sample of the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED) study, a 1‐year intervention with MedDiet with extra‐virgin olive oil (n = 89) or nuts (MedDiet‐Nuts; n = 79) is compared with a low‐fat diet (n = 90). In the PREDIMED‐Plus study, a 1‐year intervention with energy‐reduced MedDiet and physical activity (n = 103) is compared with an ad libitum MedDiet (n = 101). VLDL levels of apolipoprotein C‐I, C‐III, triglycerides, and cholesterol; the apolipoprotein E‐/C‐I ratio; and VLDL ex‐vivo triglyceride transfer are measured. In PREDIMED participants in both MedDiet groups combined, VLDL apolipoprotein C‐III levels are nominally reduced (−0.023 SD units, 95% CI −0.44 to −0.014, p = 0.037). VLDL triglyceride transfer is nominally increased in the MedDiet‐Nuts group (+0.39 SD units, 95% CI 0.012–0.78, p = 0.045). In PREDIMED‐Plus, no inter‐group differences are detected.

Conclusions

In older adults at high cardiovascular risk, MedDiet is associated with lower VLDL atherogenicity versus a low‐fat diet. No differences are seen after an energy‐reduced MedDiet with physical activity.
Rapid whole‐brain myelin imaging with selective inversion recovery and compressed SENSE
Authors: Wang Ping , Sisco Nicholas , Yoo Wonsuk , Borazanci Aimee , Karis John , Dortch Richard
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Quantitative magnetization transfer (QMT) using selective inversion recovery (SIR) can quantify the macromolecular‐to‐free proton pool size ratio (PSR), which has been shown to relate closely with myelin content. Currently clinical applications of SIR have been hampered by long scan times. In this work, the acceleration of SIR‐QMT using CS‐SENSE (compressed sensing SENSE) was systematically studied.

Theory and Methods

Phantoms of varied concentrations of bovine serum albumin and human scans were first conducted to evaluate the SNR, precision of SIR‐QMT parameters, and scan time. Based on these results, an optimized CS‐SENSE factor of 8 was determined and the test–retest repeatability was further investigated.

Results

A whole‐brain SIR imaging of 6 min can be achieved. Bland–Altman analyses indicated excellent agreement between the test and retest sessions with a difference in mean PSR of 0.06% (and a difference in mean R1f of −0.001 s−1). In addition, the assessment of the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) revealed high reliability in nearly all the white matter and gray matter regions. In white matter regions, the ICC was 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.88–0.96, p < 0.001) for PSR, and 0.90 (95% CI: 0.83–0.94, p < 0.001) for R1f. In gray matter, ICC was 0.84 (95% CI: 0.66–0.93, p < 0.001) in PSR, and 0.98 (95% CI: 0.95–0.99, p < 0.001) for R1f. The method also showed excellent capability to detect focal lesions in multiple sclerosis.

Conclusion

Rapid, reliable, and sensitive whole‐brain SIR imaging can be achieved using CS‐SENSE, which is expected to significantly promote widespread clinical translation.
Big Catch, Undecided Risks: Perspectives of Risk, Reward, and Trade-Offs in Alaska's Salmon Enhancement Program
Authors: Harrison Hannah L. , Gould Julie Grønsleth
Published: November 2022

Alaska's salmon enhancement program plays an important and substantial role in commercial fishing harvests situated around the Gulf of Alaska, Prince William Sound, and Southeast Alaska. In recent years, discussions about the ecological impacts of the enhancement program have emerged in the media, the Alaska Board of Fisheries, and other public discourses. These discussions have illuminated tension within Alaskan society about the role and impacts of hatcheries in fisheries and coastal communities. This study uses qualitative methods to identify key themes that underlie those tensions within Alaska Board of Fisheries public comments and private discourses. We found that issues raised in public comment formats were limited to four key themes, whereas interviews revealed those same themes as well as a broader and more nuanced cross section of themes, both critical and complimentary of the enhancement program. We discuss these themes within the context of enhancement policy and ongoing research into wild–hatchery salmon interactions, both of which pose certain constraints about how trade-offs between social, ecological, and economic valuation of the enhancement program can be made. We suggest a road map of four steps for action to help avoid potential societal conflict in the future: (1) establish a process to incorporate socio-cultural dimensions of hatcheries and stocking into enhancement program decision making; (2) better define “adverse impacts” within enhancement policy; (3) link current and future research findings to decision-making processes and policy implications; and (4) plan for the future(s) through scenario development work aimed at identifying the ecological and societal impacts of different enhancement policy changes, such as drawing down, scaling up, or otherwise altering existing stocking practices.
Acute gastrointestinal failure is associated with worse hemodynamic and perfusion parameters over 48 h after admission in patients with septic shock: Retrospective cohort study
Authors: Klanovicz Tamires M. , Franzosi Oellen S. , Nunes Diego S. L. , Loss Sergio H. , Batassini Érica , Turra Eduardo E. , Teixeira Cassiano , Vieira Silvia R. R.
Published: November 2022

Background

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between acute gastrointestinal injury (AGI) and hemodynamic and perfusion parameters in the first week of intensive care unit (ICU) admission and evaluate the association of AGI with ICU and hospital outcomes in patients with septic shock undergoing mechanical ventilation.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study applied the criteria proposed by the European Society of Intensive Medicine to classify the participants into risk/dysfunction group (AGI grade I and II) and failure group (AGI grade III and IV). Hemodynamic and perfusion parameters data previously collected in the first 48 h after ICU admission (admission, 12, 24, 48 h) were analyzed.

Results

A total of 163 were included and classified into AGI grades I (n = 79), II (n = 64), III (n = 20), and IV (none). Groups consisted of AGI risk/dysfunction (n = 143, 87.8%) and AGI failure (n = 20, 12.2%) patients. Patients with AGI failure had higher heart rate and mottling score (MS) at admission, lower mean arterial pressure, and an oliguria incidence at 12 h compared with those without AGI failure. Skin MS and abdominal primary site of infection were risk factors for AGI failure. AGI failure tended to be a risk factor for ICU mortality (risk ratio [95% CI]: 1.37 [0.99–1.89]; P = 0.053).

Conclusion

AGI was frequently observed in patients with septic shock in the first week of ICU admission. Higher heart rate and MS and lower mean arterial pressure and incidence of oliguria were identified in patients with AGI failure compared with those without. AGI failure was associated with ICU mortality.
Hourglassing‐ and locking‐free mesh distortion insensitive Petrov–Galerkin EAS element for large deformation solid mechanics
Authors: Pfefferkorn Robin , Betsch Peter
Published: November 2022

We present a novel geometrically nonlinear EAS element with several desirable features. First, a Petrov–Galerkin ansatz significantly improves the element's performance in distorted meshes without loosing the simple strain‐driven format. Second, the recently proposed mixed integration point strategy is employed to improve the element's robustness in the Newton–Raphson scheme. Finally and most importantly, we enhance the spatial displacement gradient instead of the usually modified deformation gradient. This allows to construct an element without the well‐known spurious instabilities in compression and tension as shown numerically and supported by a corresponding hypothesis. All in all, this leads to a robust, stable, locking‐free, and mesh distortion insensitive finite element successfully applied in a wide range of examples.
Performance checklist and its influence on knowledge and satisfaction of intensive care nurses: A quasi‐experimental study
Authors: Imanipour Masoomeh , Shahsavari Hooman , Hazaryan Mahsa , Mirzaeipour Farshid
Published: November 2022

Aim

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of using a performance checklist on knowledge and satisfaction of intensive care nurses.

Method

This study was a quasi‐experimental study and performed on 70 intensive care nurses in two groups. Performance checklists had to be filled by the nurses in experiment group during central venous pressure (CVP) measurement procedure. Knowledge and the nurses about standards of CVP measurement and their satisfaction were evaluated in both groups by a researcher‐made questionnaire. The data were analysed using the SPSS software.

Results

In the experiment group, the level of knowledge significantly increased after the intervention (p = .001) and the majority of nurses (85.7%) had a high level of satisfaction. Also, there was a significant difference between mean knowledge scores of the two groups after the intervention (p = .006).

Conclusion

This showed that applying performance checklists can influence nurses' knowledge and should consider a simple indirect educational method.
Assessing medical product safety during pregnancy using parameterizable tools in the sentinel distributed database
Authors: Lyons Jennifer G. , Suarez Elizabeth A. , Fazio‐Eynullayeva Elnara , Maro Judith C. , Corey Catherine , Li Jie , Toh Sengwee , Shinde Mayura U.
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The US Food and Drug Administration established the Sentinel System to monitor the safety of medical products. A component of this system includes parameterizable analytic tools to identify mother‐infant pairs and evaluate infant outcomes to enable the routine monitoring of the utilization and safety of drugs used in pregnancy. We assessed the feasibility of using the data and tools in the Sentinel System by assessing a known association between topiramate use during pregnancy and oral clefts in the infant.

Methods

We identified mother‐infant pairs using the mother‐infant linkage table from six data partners contributing to the Sentinel Distributed Database from January 1, 2000, to September 30, 2015. We compared mother‐infant pairs with first‐trimester exposure to topiramate to mother‐infant pairs that were topiramate‐unexposed or lamotrigine‐exposed and used a validated algorithm to identify oral clefts in the infant. We estimated adjusted risk ratios through propensity score stratification.

Results

There were 2007 topiramate‐exposed and 1 066 086 unexposed mother‐infant pairs in the main comparison. In the active‐comparator analysis, there were 1996 topiramate‐exposed and 2859 lamotrigine‐exposed mother‐infant pairs. After propensity score stratification, the odds ratio for oral clefts was 2.92 (95% CI: 1.43, 5.93) comparing the topiramate‐exposed to unexposed groups and 2.72 (95% CI: 0.75, 9.93) comparing the topiramate‐exposed to lamotrigine‐exposed groups.

Conclusions

We found an increased risk of oral clefts after topiramate exposure in the first trimester in the Sentinel database. These results are similar to prior published observational study results and demonstrate the ability of Sentinel's data and analytic tools to assess medical product safety in cohorts of mother‐infant pairs in a timely manner.
Preparation and evaluation of various formulation effects of the second emulsion on the shape and release profile of propranolol HCl from ethyl cellulose microparticle blends
Authors: Muhaimin Muhaimin , Chaerunisaa Anis Yohana , Bodmeier Roland
Published: November 2022

The objective of this study was to investigate and characterize incorporated propranolol HCl (Pro) within ethyl cellulose microparticle blends using the solvent evaporation method. The microparticle blends were prepared with a water‐in‐oil‐in‐water (W/O/W) solvent evaporation method and contained the same drug Propranolol HCl (Pro). The first Pro emulsion (W/O) and second Pro emulsion (W/O) were dispersed in an external aqueous phase, with a dispersion time interval (DTI) of 0 and 60 min. The morphology of the microparticle blends was characterized by SEM. The mean particle size, chord length distribution and chord count of the emulsion droplets/hardened microparticles were monitored by focused beam reflectance measurement (FBRM). The encapsulation efficiency and in vitro drug release in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) were also investigated. The resulting microparticles were spherical, of two populations. The mean particle size of the microparticle blends ranged from 104.26 μm to 127.64 μm. The encapsulation efficiency was about 76.53% to 78.81% for propranolol HCl in the microparticle blends. FBRM studies showed that the size of the microparticle blends prepared by the W/O/W (Pro) method with DTI 60 min and stirring time 4 h was larger than that of the microparticle blends with DTI 0 min. In vitro drug release studies after 28 days showed that the propranolol HCl release from microparticle blends with DTI 60 min (54.05%) was slower than from microparticle blends with DTI 0 min (73.28%). Based on these data, there is an interaction of the second primary emulsion with hard particles from the first primary emulsion, whereby the second primary emulsion blocked and coated pores on the surface of hard particles from the first primary emulsion. These blocking and coating effects of the microparticles depended on the method and the DTI. In conclusion, novel microparticle blends containing drugs of the same solubility offer high potential for controlled release drug delivery systems. © 2022 The Authors. Polymer International published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Industrial Chemistry.
Enhanced dielectric properties of freestanding, flexible, hydrophobic cellulose/poly(vinylidene fluoride) composite films
Authors: Jangra Mandeep , Thakur Abhishek , Dam Siddhartha , Hussain Shamima
Published: November 2022

Freestanding, composite films of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and cellulose were synthesized and characterized for morphological, microstructural, vibrational and dielectric properties. The thickness of the freestanding films was found to be ~38 μm. Contact angle measurements showed the hydrophobic nature of the composite films. Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the reduction in the phase content of the PVDF films with the addition of fillers. The measured dielectric constant of the composite films was found to be more than two times than that of the pristine films. An increase in the dielectric constant of the composite films was attributed to the Maxwell–Wagner–Sillars (MWS) polarization. A triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) operating in a vertical contact‐separation configuration was fabricated using these composite films. A maximum output power density of ~6 μW/cm2 was achieved from the TENG fabricated using the composite films.
A full three‐dimensional surface energy balance over a desert playa
Authors: Morrison Travis J. , Calaf Marc , Pardyjak Eric R.
Published: November 2022

For decades, closure of the surface energy balance (SEB) has remained an outstanding problem for the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) community. Despite many attempts at achieving closure following systematic approaches, universal closure remains elusive and only on rare occasions is it achieved. In this work, data from the unique spatial deployment of sensors from the Idealized Planar Array experiment for Quantifying Spatial heterogeneity (IPAQS 2019) field campaign are used to compute the three‐dimensional SEB. Results are compared with the traditional one‐dimensional SEB approach. The three‐dimensional SEB uses an integrated approach derived from the temperature tendency equation for a 400 m 400 m 2 m control volume over near‐canonical terrain, where the only complexities arise from time‐persistent surface thermal heterogeneities. Often neglected transport terms, such as advection and dispersive fluxes, are assessed and studied. Results show that, when using a three‐dimensional approach, it is possible to obtain an improved closure of the SEB during convective periods that can attain residual values of the order of accuracy of the instrumentation. Lastly, a theoretical development to account for the flux imbalance is presented that shows a promising approach for scaling the contribution of mean advective transport using onsite measurable variables.
Modified calibrated control charts for monitoring the population mean under stratified sampling
Authors: Jabeen Riffat , Akhtar Aiman , Zaka Azam
Published: November 2022

In this research paper, we discuss the use of calibration technique to propose some new estimators under stratified sampling design and its use in reliability engineering. We first proposed the estimators using the calibration technique and then modify the already existing control charts such as Shewhart, exponentially weighted moving average and hybrid exponentially weighted moving averages using these calibration estimators. We also have studied the use of the proposed control charts in detail by showing their efficiency in terms of average run length. We find out that a hybrid control chart is more effective to detect the early shifts in the mean of the process.
Strategic use of ecosystem services and co‐benefits for Sustainable Development Goals
Authors: Bitoun Rachel E. , David Gilbert , Devillers Rodolphe
Published: November 2022

Ecosystem services' (ES) assessments can inform sustainability policies but often translate poorly into practical decision‐making due to their disconnection from local challenges. Problem framing is a crucial step in improving the operationalization of ecosystem studies. First, the study analyzes the challenges and opportunities for sustainability in three European outermost regions: the Canary Islands, French Guiana, and Reunion Island. Second, it proposes strategies to make use of ES assessments as a means to address these sustainability issues. We used a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis for strategic planning, extended with a PESTEL analysis, standing for Political, Economic, Socio‐cultural, Technological, Environmental, Legal, and Regulatory. Semi‐structured interviews (n = 38) were conducted to identify PESTEL factors facilitating or impeding sustainability in the case studies. Interviews were coded into PESTEL factors before being synthesized and reported into SWOT matrices. We suggest seven ESs implementation strategies addressing these challenges from these SWOT matrices. Finally, this paper highlights the potential contributions of ES‐based strategies to achieving multiple United Nations' 2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). On average, the strategies are expected to affect the delivery of six ESs. The suggested strategies are expected to contribute to the achievement of SDGs 15 (Life on Land), 2 (Zero Hunger), 14 (Life Below Water), and 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). These results pinpoint the key factors to consider, through stakeholder consultation, when designing a practical ES study.
Tunable Reduction of Benzyl α,α‐Difluorotriflones: Synthesis of Difluoroarenes and Sodium Aryldifluoromethyl Sufinates and their Applications
Authors: Peng Peng , Yang Ren‐Yin , Xu Bo
Published: November 2022

We have developed facile methods for synthesizing difluoroarenes and sodium aryldifluoromethyl sulfinates (ArCF2SO2Na) via Pd/C‐H2 and NaBH4 reduction of readily available aryldifluoromethyltriflones in excellent yields under mild conditions. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the obtained sodium aryldifluoromethyl sulfinates are excellent aryldifluoromethyl radical precursors. We have used the sodium aryldifluoromethyl sulfinates successfully in photocatalyzed radical addition‐cyclizations and Minisci‐type reactions.
Synthesis of a Nanoparticle of Selenious Acid Acyl Diaquercetin for Skin Care Products
Authors: Yu Xiang , Liu Mengyu , Huang Zaiheng , Tao Yanzhi , Yang Hao , Gan Hongbin , Nong Guangzai
Published: November 2022

Flavonoid complexes have more biological activities than parent flavonoids, including antioxidant, anticancer, antibacterial, and many others. Selenium is an essential trace element for human body. Therefore, a quercetin‐Se complex was synthesized and analyzed in this paper, getting the results as following: (1) A light‐ yellow product was obtained with the max yield of 30.30 %. (2) The complex molecule contains two quercetin units and a selenoxyl group, called selenious acid acyl diquercetin. (3) It has a strong antioxidant activity with a maximum DPPH scavenging rate of 97.71 %. In addition, we prepared a skin cream containing 1 % quercetin selenium complex, and it has excellent antioxidant activity with a DPPH scavenging rate of 82.4 %. Therefore, the generated selenious acid acyl diquercetin is a potential antioxidant material for skin care products.
Blue Perovskite Nanocrystal Light‐Emitting Diodes: Overcoming RuddlesdenPopper Fault‐Induced Nonradiative Recombination via Post‐Halide Exchange
Authors: Lee Ah‐young , Park Jong Hyun , Kim Hongju , Jeong Hu Young , Lee Jun Hee , Song Myoung Hoon
Published: November 2022

Metal halide perovskites (MHPs) have gained traction as emitters owing to their excellent optical properties, such as facile bandgap tuning, defect tolerance, and high color purity. Nevertheless, blue‐emitting MHP light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) show only marginal progress in device efficiency compared with green and red LEDs. Herein, the origin of the drop in efficiency of blue‐emitting perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) by mixing halides and the genesis of Ruddlesden–Popper faults (RPFs) in CsPbBrXCl3‐X nanocrystals is investigated. Using scanning transmission electron microscopy and density functional theory calculations, the authors have found that RPFs induce possible nonradiative recombination pathways owing to the high chloride vacancy concentration nearby. The authors further confirm that the blue‐emitting PNCs do not show RPFs post‐halide exchange in the CsPbBr3 nanocrystals. By introducing the post‐halide exchange treatment, high‐efficiency pure blue‐emitting (464 nm) PNC‐based LEDs with an external quantum efficiency of 2.1% and excellent spectral stability with a full‐width at half‐maximum of 14 nm are obtained.
Superlattice‐Stabilized WSe2 Cathode for Rechargeable Aluminum Batteries
Authors: Cui Fangyan , Han Mingshan , Zhou Wenyuan , Lai Chen , Chen Yanhui , Su Jingwen , Wang Jinshu , Li Hongyi , Hu Yuxiang
Published: November 2022

Rechargeable aluminum batteries (RABs), with abundant aluminum reserves, low cost, and high safety, give them outstanding advantages in the postlithium batteries era. However, the high charge density (364 C mm−3) and large binding energy of three‐electron‐charge aluminum ions (Al3+) de‐intercalation usually lead to irreversible structural deterioration and decayed battery performance. Herein, to mitigate these inherent defects from Al3+, an unexplored family of superlattice‐type tungsten selenide‐sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) (S‐WSe2) cathode in RABs with a stably crystal structure, expanded interlayer, and enhanced Al‐ion diffusion kinetic process is proposed. Benefiting from the unique advantage of superlattice‐type structure, the anionic surfactant SDBS in S‐WSe2 can effectively tune the interlayer spacing of WSe2 with released crystal strain from high‐charge‐density Al3+ and achieve impressively long‐term cycle stability (110 mAh g−1 over 1500 cycles at 2.0 A g−1). Meanwhile, the optimized S‐WSe2 cathode with intrinsic negative attraction of SDBS significantly accelerates the Al3+ diffusion process with one of the best rate performances (165 mAh g−1 at 2.0 A g−1) in RABs. The findings of this study pave a new direction toward durable and high‐performance electrode materials for RABs.
A large‐scale empirical study of low‐level function use in Ethereum smart contracts and automated replacement
Authors: Xi Rui , Pattabiraman Karthik
Published: November 2022

The Ethereum blockchain stores and executes complex logic via smart contracts written in Solidity, a high‐level programming language. The Solidity language (in its early versions) provides features to exercise fine‐grained control over smart contracts, whose usage is discouraged by later‐released Solidity documentation, but nonetheless supported in later versions for backward compatibility. We define these features as low‐level functions. However, the high‐volume of transactions and the improper use of low‐level functions lead to security exploits with heavy financial loss. Consequently, the documentation suggests secure alternatives to the use of low‐level functions. In this article, we first perform an empirical study on the use of low‐level functions in Ethereum smart contracts. We study a smart contract dataset consisting of over 2,100,000 real‐world smart contracts. We find that low‐level functions are widely used and that the majority of these uses are gratuitous. We then propose GoHigh, a source‐to‐source transformation tool to eliminate low‐level function‐related vulnerabilities, by replacing low‐level functions with secure alternatives. Our experimental evaluation on the dataset shows that GoHigh successfully replaces all low‐level functions with 4.9% fewer compiler warnings. Further, no unintended side‐effects are introduced in 80% of the contracts, and the remaining 20% are not verifiable due to their external dependency. GoHigh saves more than 5% of the gas cost of the contract. Finally, GoHigh takes 7 s on average per contract.
Experimental Study on Bubble Entrainment by a Free Fall Jet in an Argon‐Filled Continuous Casting Tundish
Authors: Chang Sheng , Song Hao , Liu Zheng , Zou Zongshu , Shao Lei , Li Baokuan
Published: November 2022

Inert gas entrainment by the impact of free fall jet can avoid the bubble grow‐up on nonwetting interface between liquid steel and refractory gas nozzle, which produces bubbles as small as 0.37 mm for deep cleaning the liquid steel in an argon‐filled tundish. The time‐dependent vibration of free fall jet is described by a high‐speed camera combined with image postprocessing software. The effect of liquid flow rate and free fall length on jet vibration is investigated. The equivalent surface roughness is proposed to characterize the surface wave of free fall jet without fixed amplitude and frequency. The entrained gas flow rate shows a good correlation with the equivalent surface roughness. Gas entrainment cannot happen with a free fall jet shorter than 2 mm, as the jet vibration is insufficient to make the bubbles separate from the gas sheath. The surface fluctuation caused by the impact of free fall jet can be well isolated within a submerged shield that remains a stable slag layer outside of the shield. Besides, the strong mixing flow caused by free fall jet is beneficial to dissipate the turbulence kinetic energy of the entry flow, which improves the tundish flow field.
Calorie restriction, but not Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass surgery, increases [3H] PK11195 binding in a rat model of obesity
Authors: Hamilton John , Nguyen Cynthia , McAvoy Margaret , Roeder Nicole , Richardson Brittany , Quattrin Teresa , Hajnal Andras , Thanos Panayotis K.
Published: November 2022

Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass surgery (RYGB) remains an effective weight‐loss method used to treat obesity. While it is successful in combating obesity, there are many lingering questions related to the changes in the brain following RYGB surgery, one of them being its effects on neuroinflammation. While it is known that chronic high‐fat diet (HFD) contributes to obesity and neuroinflammation, it remains to be understood whether bariatric surgery can ameliorate diet‐induced inflammatory responses. To examine this, rats were assigned to either a normal diet (ND) or a HFD for 8 weeks. Rats fed a HFD were split into the following groups: sham surgery with ad libitum access to HFD (sham‐HF); sham surgery with calorie‐restricted HFD (sham‐FR); RYGB surgery with ad libitum access to HFD (RYGB). Following sham or RYGB surgeries, rats were maintained on their diets for 9 weeks before being euthanized. [3H] PK11195 autoradiography was then performed on fresh–frozen brain tissue in order to measure activated microglia. Sham‐FR rats showed increased [3H] PK11195 binding in the amygdala (63%), perirhinal (60%), and ectorhinal cortex (53%) compared with the ND rats. Obese rats who had the RYGB surgery did not show this increased inflammatory effect. Since the sham‐FR and RYGB rats were fed the same amount of HFD, the surgery itself seems responsible for this attenuation in [3H] PK11195 binding. We speculate that calorie restriction following obese conditions may be seen as a stressor and contribute to inflammation in the brain. Further research is needed to verify this mechanism.
Localized intestinal cryptococcosis and co‐parasitism in a juvenile dog
Authors: Jones Charles , Cridge Harry
Published: November 2022

An 8.5‐month‐old, male, entire golden retriever presented for 6‐month history of large bowel diarrhoea and vomiting. Giardiasis was previously treated. Clinical signs recurred despite empirical antibiotics, food trials, probiotics and psyllium. Physical exam revealed circumferential cobblestone‐like rectal mucosa. Rectal scrape cytology was consistent with cryptococcosis. Latex cryptococcal agglutination test was consistently negative. Thoracic radiographs were normal. Notable abdominal ultrasound findings included jejunal and suspected mesenteric cystic lymphadenopathy and multifocal areas of submucosal thickening. Abdominal lymph node aspirates revealed lymphoid hyperplasia. Faecal sedimentation and floatation revealed fewAlariaspecies eggs and manyCoccidiaoocysts, respectively. Patient was treated with fluconazole, sulfadimethoxine, Drontal Plus and subsequently developed pancytopenia secondary to sulphonamide therapy requiring hospitalization, and recovered with supportive care and discontinuation of drug. Patient's clinical signs, rectal palpation and sonographic features resolved with continued fluconazole therapy. This case demonstrates localized intestinal cryptococcosis based on cytology with negative latex cryptococcal agglutination test and pancytopenia secondary to sulphonamide therapy for co‐parasitism.
Fatherhood Involvement as a Source of Human Flourishing
Authors: Grau-Grau Marc
Published: November 2022

This chapter attempts to connect fatherhood involvement with human flourishing. We begin by presenting to the reader the reasons why fatherhood involvement matters. We then review fatherhood as a transformative event, together with the barriers that may limit the transformational aspect of fatherhood. Next, we review the concept of generativity, and a new definition of paternal generativity is also provided. Then, we present a model that connects fatherhood to human flourishing, partially explained by the role of paternal generativity and relational flourishing. Finally, the chapter ends with implications for researchers, organizations, and governments.
Flourishing with Moral Emotions Through Conversational Agents
Authors: Lee Minha , Contreras Jessica
Published: November 2022

This chapter concerns how artificial agents can be used to bolster moral emotions like compassion that are linked to well-being. While technology-based interventions for well-being are plentiful, e.g., wellness apps, two critical components for flourishing in the twenty-first century are currently overlooked: (1) promoting moral emotions, e.g., gratitude, that relies on complex emotional experiences rather than simple negative or positive affect, and (2) using conversational agents, e.g., chatbots, rather than other technological interventions, e.g., mobile apps, which reframes well-being interventions as conversations. We look into gratitude and compassion as specific moral emotions that can be fostered by talking with technology rather than clicking through technology. This extends our relations of care to include artificial agents, in which we explore flourishing along with (not despite) technology in a new light.
Health and Flourishing: An Interdisciplinary Synthesis
Authors: Lee Matthew T. , Mayor Isha
Published: November 2022

Human flourishing is a complete state of well-being, comprised of essential elements that are universally valued across cultures as ends in themselves rather than as means to ends. Understanding the ontological interconnectedness of individual and communal flourishing has important implications for health. A narrow view of health has been framed in biomedical—and frequently physical—terms as the absence of disease or impairment. But broader and more holistic understandings derived from long-standing wisdom in the humanities are increasingly being used in tandem with the allopathic approach, thereby offering a relational understanding of health that transcends a focus on physical infirmity and locates the individual in social, ecological, and spiritual contexts. This wisdom has profound implications for the organization of healthcare, including a restoration of compassion as the heart of healthcare practice, as recent iterations of lifestyle medicine and integrative medicine have demonstrated. A synthesis of interdisciplinary knowledge affirms the goal of building a wellbeing ecosystem that transcends self-centeredness and reimagines health as flourishing.
From Denouncing to Defunding: The Post-Truth Populist Challenge to Public-Service Media
Authors: Conrad Maximilian
Published: November 2022

In the context of the broader phenomenon of post-truth politics, the aim of this chapter is to discuss populist challenges to public-service media and critical journalism more broadly. The literature on post-truth politics has already established a clear link—in the form of an “elective affinity”—between populism and post-truth politics. However, more attention needs to be paid to the connection between such a post-truth populism and challenges to professional journalism, in particular as regards claims to defund public-service journalism. Attempts to discredit critical journalism as fake news have featured prominently in post-truth populism and need to be discussed as part and parcel of a (possibly deliberate) strategy to undermine the credibility and legitimacy of the institution of journalism, in particular public-service journalism. This chapter explores the link between post-truth populism and the challenge to public-service journalism by analysing efforts to denounce public-service media in the context of the COVID pandemic in Germany, where resistance to COVID-related restrictions as well as to COVID vaccinations have been closely linked to hostility to mainstream media. Although the empirical illustrations are drawn exclusively from the German case, it is plausible that similar patterns can also be beyond Germany.
Ultra-High Performance Digital Electronic Architectures for Events Management in Real Time Environments
Authors: Garzetti Fabio
Published: November 2022

The research spans several application areas, including biotechnology, medical imaging, and environmental monitoring. Precise and specialized processing techniques are often required for measurements of signal parameters with high efficiency, for example, in terms of resolution and count rate, such as time of occurrence of events. Digital solutions have thus received the most significant attention since they are the most effective at enabling flexible, application-oriented elaboration systems. The research is finalized to develop high-resolution time measurement systems in Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) devices. The goal is to optimize resolution, linearity, and processing speed at the state-of-the-art in modern, most dynamic branches of very high-efficiency time measurement. To maximize the number of events handled in real-time, the research is also concentrated on developing cutting-edge communication and data transfer methods for performing multiple measures in parallel.
Temporal Logic and Model Checking for Operator Precedence Languages: Theory and Applications
Authors: Chiari Michele
Published: November 2022

Temporal logic is an established tool for writing requirement specifications for computer systems, thanks to its balance between expressive power and efficiency of verification algorithms. Linear Temporal Logic (LTL), one of the most commonly used, allows for naturally expressingsafetyandlivenessrequirements on a linear timeline, but incurs into some limitations when utilized to express requirements of procedural programs. In fact, such programs exhibit a typically context-free behavior, which LTL formulas cannot represent. Precedence Oriented Temporal Logic (POTL), a temporal logic based on Operator Precedence Languages (OPLs), a subclass of Deterministic Context-Free Languages. With POTL, we can express requirements involving Hoare-style pre/post-conditions, stack inspection, and others, also in the presence of exception-like constructs. We prove that POTL is as expressive as First-Order Logic (FOL) on its algebraic structure, and devise and implement an explicit-state satisfiability and model-checking algorithm for it, obtaining some promising experimental results.
Post-cloud Computing: Addressing Resource Management in the Resource Continuum
Authors: Zanella Michele
Published: November 2022

The exponential growth of interconnected IoT devices, highlights the infrastructure limitations of Cloud-based computing approaches. In this context, novel solutions (i.e., Fog and Edge computing) aim to exploit a continuum resource space composed of nearby and mobile devices as a single heterogeneous and distributed system to move part of the computation closer to data sources. In this regard, the heterogeneous nature of these devices (performance, features, capabilities...) requires proper programming models and run-time management layers. This chapter proposes an overview of recent modeling premises and quantitative results in a resource management perspective through the BarMan framework, which combines a task-based programming model, a run-time resource manager, and the BeeR task distribution software to deploy use-case applications-modules across the boards of a real Fog cluster.
The Ferrara Manuscript: A Discussion of Destreza and Vulgar Fencing Traditions in Spain
Authors: Valle-Ortiz Manuel
Published: November 2022

The destreza was a characteristic fencing system present in Hispanic countries during the Golden centuries. Contemporarily, there were other fencing systems of possible European origin known as common or vulgar fencing. Even with striking differences, both systems share some technical terms and concepts. We present the Ferrara manuscript, a recently discovered item which, although written from the perspective of verdadera destreza, also covers many features of both systems. This book was written on behalf of an Austrian nobleman present at the Spanish court, probably Johan Ferdinand von Kueburg. It includes some basic destreza techniques as well as a description of a number of vulgar techniques and their counters. It also contains a nice set of illustrations, which is uncommon for destreza manuals.