bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
GBT021601 improves red blood cell health and the pathophysiology of sickle cell disease in a murine model
Authors: Dufu Kobina , Alt Carsten , Strutt Steven , Partridge James , Tang Tzechiang , Siu Vincent , Liao‐Zou Hilary , Rademacher Peter , Williams Alexander T. , Muller Cynthia R. , Geng Xin , Pochron Mira Patel , Dang Annie Nguyen , Cabrales Pedro , Li Zhe , Oksenberg Donna , Cathers Brian E.
Published: March 2023

The pathophysiologic mechanism of sickle cell disease (SCD) involves polymerization of deoxygenated haemoglobin S (HbS), leading to red blood cell (RBC) sickling, decreased RBC deformability, microvascular obstruction, haemolysis, anaemia and downstream clinical complications. Pharmacological increase in the concentration of oxygenated HbS in RBCs has been shown to be a novel approach to inhibit HbS polymerization and reduce RBC sickling and haemolysis. We report that GBT021601, a small molecule that increases HbS‐oxygen affinity, inhibits HbS polymerization and prevents RBC sickling in blood from patients with SCD. Moreover, in a murine model of SCD (SS mice), GBT021601 reduces RBC sickling, improves RBC deformability, prolongs RBC half‐life and restores haemoglobin levels to the normal range, while improving oxygen delivery and increasing tolerance to severe hypoxia. Notably, oral dosing of GBT021601 in animals results in higher levels of Hb occupancy than voxelotor and suggests the feasibility of once‐daily dosing in humans. In summary, GBT021601 improves RBC health and normalizes haemoglobin in SS mice, suggesting that it may be useful for the treatment of SCD. These data are being used as a foundation for clinical research and development of GBT021601.
PR‐DUB safeguards Polycomb repression through H2AK119ub1 restriction
Authors: Li Rui , Huang Dandan , Zhao Yingying , Yuan Ye , Sun Xiaoyu , Dai Zhongye , Huo Dawei , Liu Xiaozhi , Helin Kristian , Li Mulin Jun , Wu Xudong
Published: March 2023

Polycomb group (PcG) proteins are critical chromatin regulators for cell fate control. The mono‐ubiquitylation on histone H2AK119 (H2AK119ub1) is one of the well‐recognized mechanisms for Polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1)‐mediated transcription repression. Unexpectedly, the specific H2AK119 deubiquitylation complex composed by additional sex comb‐like proteins and BAP1 has also been genetically characterized as Polycomb repressive deubiquitnase (PR‐DUB) for unclear reasons. However, it remains a mystery whether and how PR‐DUB deficiency affects chromatin states and cell fates through impaired PcG silencing. Here through a careful epigenomic analysis, we demonstrate that a bulk of H2AK119ub1 is diffusely distributed away from promoter regions and their enrichment is positively correlated with PRC1 occupancy. Upon deletion of Asxl2 in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs), a pervasive gain of H2AK119ub1 is coincident with increased PRC1 sampling at chromatin. Accordingly, PRC1 is significantly lost from a subset of highly occupied promoters, leading to impaired silencing of associated genes before and after lineage differentiation of Asxl2‐null ESCs. Therefore, our study highlights the importance of genome‐wide H2AK119ub1 restriction by PR‐DUB in safeguarding robust PRC1 deposition and its roles in developmental regulation.
The usefulness of nuclear area in the diagnosis of high‐grade urothelial carcinoma cells in voided urine cytology
Authors: Sakumo Kazuma , Morihashi Kenta , Nakamura Akihiro , Nukaya Takuhisa , Sumitomo Makoto , Nakamura Muneo , Sofue Tadashi , Haba Reiji , Itoh Tomoo , Kamoshida Shingo , Ohsaki Hiroyuki
Published: March 2023

Objective

The Paris System for Reporting Urinary Cytology considered the nuclear‐to‐cytoplasmic (N:C) ratio as the most important cytomorphological feature for detecting high‐grade urothelial carcinoma (HGUC) cells. Few quantitative studies have been conducted on other features although quantitative studies on the N:C ratio have been reported. Therefore, this study quantitatively analysed important cytomorphological features in distinguishing benign reactive cells from HGUC cells.

Methods

We analysed 2866 cells from the urine of 52 patients. A digital image analyser was used to quantitatively measure the nuclear area, cell area, N:C ratio, and nuclear roundness for HGUC cells and benign reactive cells. Additionally, the diagnostic value of quantitative cytomorphological criteria in HGUC cells was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic curve.

Results

The area under the curve for the prediction of HGUC cells for all cells and the top five cells was in the following order: nuclear area (0.920 and 0.992, respectively), N:C ratio (0.849 and 0.977), cell area (0.781 and 0.920), and nuclear roundness (0.624 and 0.605). The best cutoff value of the N:C ratio to differentiate HGUC cells from benign reactive cells was 0.438, and using the N:C ratio of 0.702, the positive predictive value obtained was 100%.

Conclusions

Our study indicated that nuclear area is a more important cytomorphological criterion than the N:C ratio for HGUC cell detection. Moreover, extracted data of the top five cells were more valuable than the data of all cells, which can be helpful in the routine practice and future criteria definition in urine cytology.
Meta‐analysis shows forest soil CO2 effluxes are dependent on the disturbance regime and biome type
Authors: Akande Oluwabunmi J. , Ma Zilong , Huang Chenyan , He Fangliang , Chang Scott X.
Published: March 2023

Forest soil CO2 efflux (FCO2) is a crucial process in global carbon cycling; however, how FCO2 responds to disturbance regimes in different forest biomes is poorly understood. We quantified the effects of disturbance regimes on FCO2 across boreal, temperate, tropical and Mediterranean forests based on 1240 observations from 380 studies. Globally, climatic perturbations such as elevated CO2 concentration, warming and increased precipitation increase FCO2 by 13% to 25%. FCO2 is increased by forest conversion to grassland and elevated carbon input by forest management practices but reduced by decreased carbon input, fire and acid rain. Disturbance also changes soil temperature and water content, which in turn affect the direction and magnitude of disturbance influences on FCO2. FCO2 is disturbance‐ and biome‐type dependent and such effects should be incorporated into earth system models to improve the projection of the feedback between the terrestrial C cycle and climate change.
Re‐examining Hrabanus Maurus’ letter on incest and magic
Authors: Edholm Matthew B.
Published: March 2023

This article offers a reanalysis of Hrabanus’ mid‐ninth‐century text De magicis artibus. Often read and studied as a complete work, the De magicis artibus is in fact one portion of a longer text that also discusses incest and marriage practices. Furthermore, the single surviving copy of the text is deliberately attached to another work by Hrabanus, his Poenitentiale ad Otgarium. This article argues that by examining the text in its entirety, as well as its manuscript context and edition history, Hrabanus’ whole work is better understood as one of pastoral care informed by the Old Testament.
The presence and severity of epilepsy coincide with reduced γ‐aminobutyrate and cortical excitatory markers in succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency
Authors: Tokatly Latzer Itay , Bertoldi Mariarita , DiBacco Melissa L. , Arning Erland , Tsuboyama Melissa , MacMullin Paul , Sachee Daniyal , Rotenberg Alexander , Lee Henry H. C. , Aygun Deniz , Opladen Thomas , Jeltsch Kathrin , García‐Cazorla Àngels , Roullet Jean‐Baptiste , Gibson K. Michael , Pearl Phillip L.
Published: March 2023

Objective

Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency (SSADHD) is a rare inherited metabolic disorder caused by a defect of γ‐aminobutyrate (GABA) catabolism. Despite the resultant hyper‐GABAergic environment facilitated by the metabolic defect, individuals with this disorder have a paradoxically high prevalence of epilepsy. We aimed to study the characteristics of epilepsy in SSADHD and its concordance with GABA‐related metabolites and neurophysiologic markers of cortical excitation.

Methods

Subjects in an international natural history study of SSADHD underwent clinical assessments, electroencephalography, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), magnetic resonance spectroscopy for GABA/N‐acetyl aspartate quantification, and plasma GABA‐related metabolite measurements.

Results

A total of 61 subjects with SSADHD and 42 healthy controls were included in the study. Epilepsy was present in 49% of the SSADHD cohort. Over time, there was an increase in severity in 33% of the subjects with seizures. The presence of seizures was associated with increasing age (p = .001) and lower levels of GABA (p = .002), γ‐hydroxybutyrate (GHB; p = .004), and γ‐guanidinobutyrate (GBA; p = .003). Seizure severity was associated with increasing age and lower levels of GABA‐related metabolites as well as lower TMS‐derived resting motor thresholds (p = .04). The cutoff values with the highest discriminative ability to predict seizures were age > 9.2 years (p = .001), GABA < 2.57 μmol·L−1 (p = .002), GHB < 143.6 μmol·L−1 (p = .004), and GBA < .075 μmol·L−1 (p = .007). A prediction model for seizures in SSADHD was comprised of the additive effect of older age and lower plasma GABA, GHB, and GBA (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of .798, p = .008).

Significance

Epilepsy is highly prevalent in SSADHD, and its onset and severity correlate with an age‐related decline in GABA and GABA‐related metabolite levels as well as TMS markers of reduced cortical inhibition. The reduction of GABAergic activity in this otherwise hyper‐GABAergic disorder demonstrates a concordance between epileptogenesis and compensatory responses. These findings may furthermore inform the timing of molecular interventions for SSADHD.
High landscape‐scale forest cover favours cold‐adapted plant communities in agriculture–forest mosaics
Authors: Borderieux Jeremy , Gégout Jean‐Claude , Serra‐Diaz Josep M.
Published: March 2023

Aim

The ongoing climate warming is expected to reshuffle understorey plant community composition by increasing the occurrence of warm‐adapted species at the expense of cold‐adapted species. This process has been evidenced before by a warming community temperature index (CTI) over time. However, data indicate that the local tree canopy can partly explain an observed lag between understorey plant CTI and climate warming rates, though landscape‐scale forest cover effects have not yet been investigated. Here, we test the hypothesis that the amount of forest cover in the landscape lowers local CTI.

Location

Temperate forests in France.

Time period

2005–2019.

Major taxa studied

Forest vascular plants.

Methods

We compared 2,012 pairs of neighbouring French forest inventory plots with contrasting percentages of forest cover within a 1‐km radius area (landscape forest cover). We computed the difference in the CTI of the understorey communities for each pair and tested the contributions of the landscape‐scale forest cover, local canopy cover, and soil conditions to the differences in CTI.

Results

Plots located in highly forested areas (> 80% in the 1‐km area) had an average CTI 0.26 °C lower (0.81 °C SD) than plots in sparsely forested areas (< 30% in the 1‐km area). Fifty percent of this difference was explained by landscape‐scale forest cover. Bioindicated soil conditions such as pH and available nutrients, which correlated with cold‐adapted species preferences, explained the remaining 50%.

Main conclusions

Highly forested landscapes allow cold‐adapted species to survive in given macroclimatic conditions. These landscapes meet cold‐adapted species’ soil requirements and may cool the regional climate. Further microclimatic studies are needed to confirm the cooling capacity of landscape‐scale forest cover.
Examining differences in children and adolescents' exposure to food and beverage marketing in Canada by sociodemographic characteristics: Findings from the International Food Policy Study Youth Survey, 2020
Authors: Acton Rachel B. , Bagnato Mariangela , Remedios Lauren , Potvin Kent Monique , Vanderlee Lana , White Christine M. , Hammond David
Published: March 2023

Background

Many countries, including Canada, are considering regulations to restrict food and beverage marketing to children. However, little evidence is available outside of the US on how marketing exposure differs across sociodemographic subgroups.

Objective

To investigate potential associations between child and adolescent sociodemographic characteristics and exposure to food and beverage marketing in Canada.

Methods

Participants (n = 3780) aged 10–17 self‐reported exposure to food and beverage marketing across food categories, locations and marketing techniques. Logistic regression models tested relationships between sociodemographics (age, sex, ethnicity and income adequacy) and marketing exposure.

Results

Among other differences identified, 13–17 years old were more likely than 10–12 years old to report seeing unhealthy food marketing online. Girls were more likely than boys to see such marketing online and in retail settings, while boys were more likely to see it in video games. Minority ethnicities (including Indigenous youth) and respondents with lower income adequacy generally reported more exposure than White and higher income respondents, respectively.

Conclusions

This study highlights important differences in marketing exposure among youth of different sociodemographic groups in Canada, including greater exposure to marketing among those most disadvantaged and emphasizes the essential need to consider food marketing across equity groups when developing restrictions on marketing to kids.
Predictors of burnout for immigrant mental health professionals in the United States
Authors: Farrell Isabel C. , Basma Dareen , DeDiego Amanda C. , Maurya Rakesh K. , Hurt‐Avila Kara M.
Published: March 2023

Mental health professionals who identify as immigrants encounter personal and professional barriers that can impact overall wellbeing. The current study conducted a survey of 108 licensed mental health professionals who identify as immigrants practicing in the United States. The survey included demographics as well as assessments of burnout, social support, and migratory grief and loss. The results of this study highlighted that a combination of higher migratory grief and lower perceived social support significantly predicted higher levels of burnout in mental health professionals. Implications for mental health programs, supervisors, and mentors and suggestions for future research are provided.
Effect of hydrocolloid dressing combined with low molecular weight heparin and calcium on scar hyperplasia in burn patients with venous thromboembolism
Authors: Li Chengzhi , Wang Yuanyuan , Hu Fan , Gong Hui
Published: March 2023

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of hydrocolloid dressing combined with low molecular weight heparin calcium on scar hyperplasia in burn patients with venous thromboembolism. A retrospective analysis was made on 98 patients with burns complicated with venous thromboembolism in Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine from January 2020 to April 2021. According to different treatment methods, they were divided into a control group (48 cases) and a research group (50 cases), who were given low molecular weight heparin calcium combined with routine treatment and hydrocolloid dressing on the basis of the control group. The wound healing time, dressing change times and infection symptom regression time in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < .05). After the intervention, the degree of wound pain in both groups was reduced, and the degree of wound pain in the study group was significantly lower than that in the control group, with statistical significance (P < .05). Fibrinogen, activated partial thromboplastin (APPT), D‐dimer, fibrinolytic degradation products, prothrombin time and activated partial prothrombin time of the two groups were all improved. The degree of scar hyperplasia in both groups was improved, and the degree of scar hyperplasia in the study group was significantly better than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P>.05). Complications in the study group were lower than those in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < .05). The hydrocolloid dressing combined with low molecular weight heparin calcium can effectively shorten the wound healing time and infection symptom regression time of burn patients with venous thromboembolism, reduce the number of dressing changes, reduce the degree of pain, have no influence on coagulation function, reduce the degree of scar, and reduce the incidence of complications.
Detecting Group Collaboration Using Multiple Correspondence Analysis
Authors: Grochowalski Joseph H. , Hendrickson Amy
Published: March 2023

Test takers wishing to gain an unfair advantage often share answers with other test takers, either sharing all answers (a full key) or some (a partial key). Detecting key sharing during a tight testing window requires an efficient, easily interpretable, and rich form of analysis that is descriptive and inferential. We introduce a detection method based on multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) that identifies test takers with unusual response similarities. The method simultaneously detects multiple shared keys (partial or full), plots results, and is computationally efficient as it requires only matrix operations. We describe the method, evaluate its detection accuracy under various simulation conditions, and demonstrate the procedure on a real data set with known test‐taking misbehavior. The simulation results showed that the MCA method had reasonably high power under realistic conditions and maintained the nominal false‐positive level, except when the group size was very large or partial shared keys had more than 50% of the items. The real data analysis illustrated visual detection procedures and inference about the item responses possibly shared in the key, which was likely shared among 91 test takers, many of whom were confirmed by nonstatistical investigation to have engaged in test‐taking misconduct.
The balance of prescriptive and dynamic regulatory policies in nursing homes: Lessons learned from the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Berry Sarah D. , Bakaev Innokentiy , Chen Helen , Lipsitz Lewis A.
Published: March 2023

See related Brief report by Festa et al. in this issue.
How capital intensity affects technical progress: An empirical analysis for 17 advanced economies
Authors: Bellocchi Alessandro , Travaglini Giuseppe , Vitali Beatrice
Published: March 2023

In this paper we present a model of economic growth with endogenous technical progress. We test if the neoclassical growth model accepts the assumption that capital intensity affects Total Factor Productivity (TFP) in the long run. Our view takes inspiration from Kaldor's growth model of 1957 in which theTechnical Progress Function(TPF) responds to the joint behavior of capital intensity and inventiveness. We find that “movements along a production function cannot be distinguished from shifts in this function” as formalized by the TPF. The model is tested using a Structural VAR for 17 advanced economies, over the period 1980–2020. On impact, when capital intensity improves, TFP increases sharply. This response is large and persistent over time and explains about half as much as of measured TFP. It confirms that capital intensity is an omitted variable in the traditional scheme used to estimate technical progress. Notably, the standard neoclassical growth model is not consistent with this evidence. Our analysis also shows that demand shocks can have permanent effects on output and unemployment. Finally, monetary policy helps to stabilize the business cycle, but loses its effectiveness in the long run.
Verification of technical change and cost and productivity criteria: An empirical study using the World Input–Output Database
Authors: Hashimoto Takahiko
Published: March 2023

This study examines the different types of technical change, as categorized by the productivity and cost criteria proposed by previous theoretical studies using data from the World Input–Output Database. The results confirm that in some sectors, the cost criteria are satisfied, but the productivity criteria are not. These technological changes are due to the very large labor input of imported intermediates and the higher monetary wage rate of the recipient country than that of the country supplying the imported intermediates. This study is a valid objection to previous theoretical studies.
Richard Rorty's realism
Authors: Earle William James
Published: March 2023

An examination of late Rorty shows that he does not abandon belief in an external world about which we can, and indeed must, acquire knowledge. His disapproval of the correspondence theory of truth does not involve the idea that anything other than local weather, for example, could falsify remarks about local weather. It is just that once we get done looking out the window or, if we are outside, feeling the right kind of drops make contact with our skin, there is nothing else we can do, nothing better, to make ourselves more certain, more cognitively secure. One can see this in the detailed work that enables scientific progress. Science improves itself by doing more of the same. G. E. Moore's famous open question stays open only as a reminder that our fallibility never disappears and that our cognitive security is never better than pro tem. Rorty, as a faithful pragmatist and undogmatic meliorist, thinks this is perfectly O.K.
Isolated cortical venous thrombosis: A systematic review
Authors: Montalvan Victor , Duarte‐Celada Walter , Bueso Tulio , Lee Jeannie , Rivas Katherine , Neves Gabriel , Tan Yuanyuan , Ferdous Jannatul
Published: March 2023

Background

Isolated cortical venous thrombosis (ICVT) is an uncommon subtype of cerebral venous thrombosis that only affects the cortical veins on the cerebral convexities. Its clinical presentation is variable and may mimic other neurological conditions.

Objective

We performed a systematic review using PRISMA guidelines of the available literature on ICVT.

Methods

We reviewed articles in PubMed, SCOPUS, and EMBASE databases. We presented the evidence in sections in this manuscript, including epidemiology, clinical presentation, pathophysiology, radiological findings, and proposed treatment.

Results

Of a total of 199 screened studies, we included 39 studies in the final analysis. Of those, 10 were systematic reviews, 11 were case reports, and 18 were case series related to ICVT. Seizures and headaches are the most common symptoms of ICVT. Magnetic resonance venography (MRV) is the diagnostic modality of choice. The standard of care in these cases is therapeutic anticoagulation with heparin and evaluation of an underlying hypercoagulable condition. A half of the patients might require antiepileptic drugs. Osmotherapy and craniectomy are rarely used, and mechanical thrombectomy does not seem to play a role in this patient's treatment.

Conclusion

Isolated cortical venous thrombosis involves the cortical veins without involvement of the venous sinuses. Patients who usually present with focal seizures and headaches in the absence of a clear cause, the diagnosis of ICVT should be considered. MRV is the diagnostic modality of choice. Therapeutic anticoagulation is the standard of care. More research is required to clarify the role of novel anticoagulants and the duration of the therapy.
The association of gestational age at birth with trajectories of early childhood developmental delay among late preterm and early term born children: A longitudinal analysis of All Our Families pregnancy cohort
Authors: Stephenson Nikki , Metcalfe Amy , McDonald Sheila , Williamson Tyler , McMorris Carly , Tough Suzanne
Published: March 2023

Background

Like infants born very preterm (<32 weeks), late preterm (≥34 and <37 weeks) and early term (≥37 and <39 weeks) births have been associated with increased risk of developmental delay (DD); yet, the evidence remains heterogeneous across the continuum of gestational ages, hindering early identification and intervention.

Objective

To estimate the association of gestational age at birth with early childhood trajectories of DD in early childhood for infants born ≥34 and <41 weeks, and determine how various maternal, pregnancy and infant characteristics relate to these trajectory groups.

Methods

Analysis of mother–child dyad data with infants born ≥34 and <41 weeks gestational age within an observational pregnancy cohort in Alberta, Canada, from 2008 to 2011 (n = 2644). The association between gestational age and trajectories of the total number of Ages and Stages Questionnaire domains indicating risk of DD from 1 through 5 years of age were estimated using group‐based trajectory modelling along with other perinatal risk factors.

Results

Three distinct trajectory groups were identified: low‐risk, moderate‐risk (transiently at risk of DD in one domain over time) and high‐risk (consistently at risk of delay in ≥2 domains over time). Per week of decreasing gestational age, the risk ratio of membership in the high‐risk group increases by 1.77 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.43, 2.20) or 1.84 (95% CI 1.49, 2.27) relative to the moderate‐risk and low‐risk respectively. Increasing maternal age, identifying as Black, indigenous or a person of colour, elevated maternal depressive symptoms in pregnancy, and male infant sex were associated with high‐ and moderate‐risk trajectories compared to the low‐risk trajectory.

Conclusions

In combination with decreasing gestational age, poor maternal mental health and social determinants of health increase the probability of membership in trajectories with increased risk of DD, suggesting that additional monitoring of children born late preterm and early term is warranted.
Successful lactation induction in non‐pregnant gilts
Authors: Cordeiro Ágatha Decroix , Conterato Ana Júlia B. , Bianchi Ivan , Dartora Débora L. A. , Zanella Ricardo , Bondan Carlos , Marques Mariana G. , Gasperin Bernardo G. , Lucia Thomaz
Published: March 2023

A protocol to induce lactation was applied to non‐pregnant gilts. In Experiment I, five gilts with oestrus synchronized through oral supplementation of 20 mg altrenogest for 18 days received: 10 mg oestradiol cypionate (EC) on the last day of oestrous expression (D0); 10 mg EC and 300 mg long‐acting progesterone (P4) on D26; and two 0.53 mg doses of a prostaglandin F2α analogue (PGF) 12 h apart on D36. Blood was collected on D12, D19, D26 and D33. Milk secretion started in all gilts 24 h after PGF administration and lasted at least 8 days. Milk samples were collected from D37 to D45. The serum P4 concentration was lower on D12 than subsequently (p < .05), but the oestradiol concentration was unaltered (p > .05). The milk produced during the induced lactation was generally richer in protein and poorer in fat compared to the milk from the lactation of a reference sow. In Experiment II, the same protocol induced lactation in two gilts, which nursed fostered piglets for 22 days. Thus, lactation was induced in all treated gilts and the milk produced was capable to nurture fostered piglets.
Characterization of the novel HLA‐DRB1*14:252 allele in a Korean individual by next‐generation sequencing
Authors: Bae Hye Gyung , Jung Hee‐Yeon , Won Dong Il
Published: March 2023

HLA‐DRB1*14:252 differs from HLA‐DRB1*14:03:01 by one nucleotide substitution in codon 9 in exon 2.
Chromium Poisoning Mitigation Strategy in Strontium-Doped Lanthanum Manganite-Based Air Electrodes in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
Authors: Sugimoto Michelle , Zhu Zhikuan , Gopalan Srikanth , Basu Soumendra , Pal Uday B.
Published: March 2023

Chromium poisoning of the air electrode remains an obstacle to the long-term performance of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). In Sr-doped LaMnO3 (LSM) air electrodes, the poisoning process results in two types of deposits, chromium oxide (Cr2O3), and Mn, Cr spinel (MnCr2O4). The former forms electrochemically and the latter forms via a chemical reaction. By applying a small anodic reverse bias, Cr2O3 deposits can be removed because their formation is electrochemical in nature. However, MnCr2O4 deposits remain because their formation is chemical, rather than electrochemical, in nature. In situ chemical decomposition of the Mn, Cr spinel was investigated as an alternate removal method as thermodynamics supports its decomposition into constituent oxides below ∼540 °C in pure oxygen. The spinel decomposition process was characterized using thermogravimetric and X-ray diffraction analyses. The experimentally determined rate of spinel decomposition was undetectable (very slow) with isolated MnCr2O4 powders. The addition of 10 mol% gadolinia doped ceria (GDC) and silver powders significantly increased the rate of decomposition. However, the rate is limited by the diffusion of oxygen through the decomposed oxide layer. Although one strategy may be the addition of GDC and silver to the LSM air electrode to enhance spinel decomposition, the more effective mitigation strategy would be to prevent the formation of MnCr2O4 spinel in the first place through the removal of the reactants: Cr2O3 via electrochemical cleaning and mobile Mn ions in the zirconia electrolyte by incorporating a diffusion barrier layer such as GDC between the air electrode and electrolyte.
Investigation on Solar Drying Characteristics of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) in a Reflector-Attached Solar Air Heater and Thermal Energy Storage System Using Nanomaterials
Authors: Sethi Chandan Kumar , Acharya Saroj Kumar , Patnaik Pragyan Parimita
Published: March 2023

By changing its design and materials, a solar dryer can help lower consumption and drying time. The dryer was run with a reflector-attached zigzag solar air heater thermally coated with 2% mass basis carbon nanotubes, 2% CuO, and 96% black paint with a reflector. To check the microstructure and morphology analysis of the nanopowders and coated surface, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersive X-ray, and elemental mapping have also been conducted. In this paper, the feasibility of the cabinet dryer with rotating trays was investigated to dry ginger slices in case of attaching an energy storage device. The moisture content of the ginger slices was successfully reduced from 90 to 12% within the time frame of 7 h 15 min. The different drying characteristics and quality parameters were evaluated and then compared in the case of the zigzag with coated surface and reflector, with coated surface and with reflector, respectively. The results show that using a reflector, it increases the air heater's outlet temperature by 10–12%, and using a coated surface increases the temperature by another 8–10%. The average thermal and exergy efficiency of an air heater was found to be 70.2 and 4.4%, respectively. The average overall thermal efficiency of carbon nanotubes + copper oxide-paraffin wax energy storage unit was 31.19%, with 11.9% as the average overall exergy efficiency. The energy storage increases the drying time by about 3 h during off-sunshine hours.
Heat Transfer Characteristics of Particle and Air Flow Through Additively Manufactured Lattice Frame Material Based on Octet-Shape Topology
Authors: Aider Youssef , Kaur Inderjot , Mishra Ashreet , Li Like , Cho Heejin , Martinek Janna , Ma Zhiwen , Singh Prashant
Published: March 2023

Particle-to-supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) heat exchanger is a critical component in next-generation concentrating solar power (CSP) plants. The inherently low heat transfer between falling particles and sCO2 imposes a challenge toward economic justification of levelized cost of electricity produced through solar energy. Introduction of integrated porous media with the walls bounding particle flow has the potential to enhance the overall particle-to-sCO2 heat exchanger performance. This paper presents an experimental study on heat transfer characterization of additively manufactured lattice frame material based on Octet-shaped unit cell with particles and air as working fluids. The lattice structures were additively manufactured in stainless steel (SS) 316L and SS420 (with 40% bronze infiltration) via Binder jetting process, where the lattice porosities were varied between 0.75 and 0.9. The mean particle diameters were varied from 266 μm to 966 μm. The effective thermal conductivity and averaged heat transfer coefficient were determined through steady-state experiments. It was found that the presence of lattice enhances the effective thermal conductivity by 2–4 times when compared to packed bed of particles alone. Furthermore, for gravity-assisted particle flow through lattice panel, significantly high convective heat transfer coefficients ranging from 200 W/m2K to 400 W/m2K were obtained for the range of particle diameters tested. The superior thermal transport properties of Octet-shape-based lattice frame for particle flow makes it a very promising candidate for particle-to-sCO2 heat exchanger for CSP application.
Mechanical and Thermal Characterization of Phase-Change Material and High-Density Polyethylene Functional Composites for Thermal Energy Storage
Authors: Messenger Melissa A. , Troxler Casey J. , Melendez Isabel , Freeman Thomas B. , Reed Nicholas , Rodriguez Rafael M. , Boetcher Sandra K. S.
Published: March 2023

Phase-change materials (PCMs) can be used to develop thermal energy storage systems as they absorb large amount of latent heat nearly at a constant temperature when changing phase from a solid to a liquid. To prevent leakage when in a liquid state, PCM is shape stabilized in a polymer matrix of high-density polyethylene (HDPE). The present research explores the injection-molded mechanical and thermal properties of different PCM/HDPE composite ratios. The tensile strength and modulus of elasticity at room temperature and with the PCM fully melted within the composite are measured. Additionally, the hardness, latent heat of fusion, phase-change temperature, and thermal conductivity are investigated. An analysis of microstructures of the composite is used to support the findings. The PCM within the PCM/HDPE composite gives it the benefit of thermal storage but causes a decrease in mechanical properties.
Design and Performance Analysis of Wavy Nonrotating Pneumatic Soft Actuator
Authors: Lv Zhongming , Xiao Feiyun , Chen Baoliang , Dong Ruonan , Liu Zhengshi , Wang Yong
Published: March 2023

Soft robots can accomplish hand rehabilitation training to ensure better safety and compliance for hand rehabilitation. In this study, a wavy nonrotating soft actuator structure was proposed for hand rehabilitation, and an axial stiffener was added to the main structure of the actuator according to the function of the bamboo fiber. A physical model of the actuator was fabricated using a multistep casting molding method, and the performance of the designed soft actuator was tested experimentally. The results showed that the bending angle and contact force gradually increased with increasing pressure. The average maximum bending angle and contact force can reach 286 ± 14.3 deg and 1.04 ± 0.051 N, with a pressure of 72 kPa. Meanwhile, the bending torques of the soft actuator at each joint of the finger were tested, to verify that it can meet the needs of soft actuators for hand applications. Furthermore, the load lifting of the soft actuator with axial stiffeners can increase by 6 mm on average compared with a soft actuator without axial stiffeners under negative pressure. In conclusion, the pneumatic soft actuator can produce two different motion functions under the action of one cavity. In addition, a soft actuator with an axial stiffener can improve the load capacity under negative pressure. By assembling the actuators, a three-finger gripper was manufactured. The gripper could grasp and lift objects. Therefore, this work provides a new route for the development of pneumatic soft actuators and soft robots, which has efficient driving.
Enhancement of discharge and mechanical properties of ta-C films by pulse-enhanced cathodic arc deposition
Authors: Wang Benfu , Tian Xiubo , Hu Jian , Gong Chunzhi , Liu Xiangli , Li Jin
Published: March 2023

A home-made straight-duct filter cathodic vacuum arc system was used to synthesize tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C) films. The ta-C films were fabricated using both direct-current cathodic arc evaporation (DC-CAE) and pulse-enhanced cathodic arc evaporation. A series of films were prepared as a function of pulse current ranging from 500 to 1000 A compared with 80 A direct current. The introduction of pulse current could markedly increase instantaneous input power (Wiip). The pulse-enhanced Wiip led to the increase in average substrate current from 0.46 to 1.07 A. Moreover, compared with DC-CAE, the pulse current of 1000 A significantly increased the intensity ratios of C II/(C I + C II) and C II/Ar II by about 65% and 130%, respectively. All the results showed that the pulse-enhanced Wiip substantially improved the evaporation and ionization rate of graphite. However, due to thermal-induced graphitization conversion, the threshold pulse current was 800 A. Under this pulse current, the film exhibited the smallest ID/IG (0.26) as well as the highest sp3 fraction (64.3%). Correspondingly, the highest hardness (≈40 GPa) and the preferable toughness (H/E* of 0.12 and H3/E*2 of 0.52) were simultaneously achieved.
Low-temperature synthesis of crystalline vanadium oxide films using oxygen plasmas
Authors: Mohammad Adnan , Joshi Krishna D. , Rana Dhan , Ilhom Saidjafarzoda , Wells Barrett , Willis Brian , Sinkovic Boris , Okyay A. K. , Biyikli Necmi
Published: March 2023

Vanadium oxide (VOx) compounds feature various polymorphs, including V2O5 and VO2, with attractive temperature-tunable optical and electrical properties. However, to achieve the desired material property, high-temperature post-deposition annealing of as-grown VOx films is mostly needed, limiting its use for low-temperature compatible substrates and processes. Herein, we report on the low-temperature hollow-cathode plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (ALD) of crystalline vanadium oxide thin films using tetrakis(ethylmethylamido)vanadium and oxygen plasma as a precursor and coreactant, respectively. To extract the impact of the type of plasma source, VOx samples were also synthesized in an inductively coupled plasma-enhanced ALD reactor. Moreover, we have incorporated in situ Ar-plasma and ex situ thermal annealing to investigate the tunability of VOx structural properties. Our findings confirm that both plasma-ALD techniques were able to synthesize as-grown polycrystalline V2O5 films at 150 °C. Postdeposition thermal annealing converted the as-grown V2O5 films into different crystalline VOx states: V2O3, V4O9, and VO2. The last one, VO2 is particularly interesting as a phase-change material, and the metal-insulator transition around 70 °C has been confirmed using temperature-dependent x-ray diffraction and resistivity measurements.
Within-Subject Variability and the Influence of Exercise Training History on the Resting Plasma Metabolome in Men
Authors: Darragh Ian A.J. , O’Driscoll Lorraine , Egan Brendan
Published: March 2023

This study investigated within-subject variability in the circulating metabolome under controlled conditions, and whether divergent exercise training backgrounds were associated with alterations in the circulating metabolome assessed in resting samples. Thirty-seven men comprising of endurance athletes (END; body mass, 71.0 ± 6.8 kg; fat-free mass index, 16.9 ± 1.1 kg/m2), strength athletes (STR; 94.5 ± 8.8 kg; 23.0 ± 1.8 kg/m2), and recreationally active controls (CON; 77.6 ± 7.7 kg; 18.1 ± 1.0 kg/m2) provided blood samples after an overnight fast on two separate occasions controlled for time of day of sampling, recent dietary intake, time since last meal, and time since last exercise training session. A targeted profile of metabolites, performed using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry on plasma samples, identified 166 individual metabolites and metabolite features, which were analyzed with intraclass correlation coefficients, a multilevel principal component analysis, and univariate t tests adjusted for multiple comparisons. The median intraclass correlation coefficient was .49, with 46 metabolites displaying good reliability and 31 metabolites displaying excellent reliability. No difference in the abundance of any individual metabolite was identified within groups when compared between visits, but a combined total of 44 metabolites were significantly different (false discovery rate <0.05) between groups (END vs. CON, 42 metabolites; STR vs. CON, 10 metabolites; and END vs. STR, five metabolites). Under similar measurement conditions, the reliability of resting plasma metabolite concentrations varies largely at the level of individual metabolites with ∼48% of metabolites displaying good-to-excellent reliability. However, a history of exercise training was associated with alterations in the abundance of ∼28% of metabolites in the targeted profile employed in this study.
Community-specific diffusion characteristics determine resistance of biofilms to oxidative stress
Authors: Zhang Yuzhen , Cai Yumin , Chen Zhaoyuan
Published: March 2023

Biofilms are multicellular communities with a spatial structure. Different from single-cell scale diffusion in planktonic systems, the diffusion distance becomes the dimension of multicellular clusters in a biofilm. Such differences in diffusion behavior affect the tolerance and response to exogenous stress. Here, we found that at the same doses of exogenous hydrogen peroxide (H
2
O
2
), planktonic
Escherichia coli
were completely killed within two hours, whereas the biofilm resumed growth in six hours by building a catalase barrier to block H
2
O
2
penetration, despite the growth burden. Unexpectedly, when we changed the carbon source from glucose to glycerol, H
2
O
2
instantly counterintuitively boosted biofilm growth due to supplemental oxygen, which was the growth-limiting factor. We further demonstrated that the energy metabolism modes determined the growth-limiting factor, which then determined the two patterns of biofilms resistances to H
2
O
2
.
Convergent deployment of ancestral functions during the evolution of mammalian flight membranes
Authors: Feigin Charles Y. , Moreno Jorge A. , Ramos Raul , Mereby Sarah A. , Alivisatos Ares , Wang Wei , van Amerongen Renée , Camacho Jasmin , Rasweiler John J. , Behringer Richard R. , Ostrow Bruce , Plikus Maksim V. , Mallarino Ricardo
Published: March 2023

Lateral flight membranes, or patagia, have evolved repeatedly in diverse mammalian lineages. While little is known about patagium development, its recurrent evolution may suggest a shared molecular basis. By combining transcriptomics, developmental experiments, and mouse transgenics, we demonstrate that lateral
Wnt5a
expression in the marsupial sugar glider (
Petaurus breviceps
) promotes the differentiation of its patagium primordium. We further show that this function of
Wnt5a
reprises ancestral roles in skin morphogenesis predating mammalian flight and has been convergently used during patagium evolution in eutherian bats. Moreover, we find that many genes involved in limb development have been redeployed during patagium outgrowth in both the sugar glider and bat. Together, our findings reveal that deeply conserved genetic toolkits contribute to the evolutionary transition to flight in mammals.
The primary gas phase hydration shell of hydroxide
Authors: Cao Wenjin , Wen Hui , Xantheas Sotiris S. , Wang Xue-Bin
Published: March 2023

The number of water molecules in hydroxide’s primary hydration shell has been long debated to be three from the interpretation of experimental data and four from theoretical studies. Here, we provide direct evidence for the presence of a fourth water molecule in hydroxide’s primary hydration shell from a combined study based on high-resolution cryogenic experimental photoelectron spectroscopy and high-level quantum chemical computations. Well-defined spectra of OH
−
(H
2
O)

n

clusters (
n
 = 2 to 5) yield accurate electron binding energies, which are, in turn, used as key signatures of the underlying molecular conformations. Although the smaller OH
−
(H
2
O)
3
and OH
−
(H
2
O)
4
clusters adopt close-lying conformations with similar electron binding energies that are hard to distinguish, the OH
−
(H
2
O)
5
cluster clearly has a predominant conformation with a four-coordinated hydroxide binding motif, a finding that unambiguously determines the gas phase coordination number of hydroxide to be four.
Structural control of Cambrian paleotopography and patterns of transgression in western Laurentia
Authors: Myrow Paul M. , Hasson Michael , Taylor John F. , Tarhan Lidya G. , Ramirez Gerardo , Fowlkes George , Chen Jitao
Published: March 2023

The Cambrian transgression across the Great Unconformity produced one of the largest expansions of shallow marine habitats and associated diversification of marine invertebrate faunas in Earth history. However, identification of the underlying controls on the pattern of transgression of Cambrian seas has been hampered by imprecise or inaccurate age assignments for many formations. Recovery of an Ehmaniella Zone trilobite fauna from the Lodore Formation in northwestern Colorado (United States) revises the age of this unit to be significantly older, specifically middle Miaolingian (upper Wuliuan). This expands the established distribution of thick Miaolingian deposits of the northern Rocky Mountains to within 90 km of a broad region of central Colorado where Miaolingian strata are missing and Furongian successions rest directly on basement. The boundary between these two regions marks the position of an ~200 km east-west offset within the generally north-south–trending Cambrian paleoshoreline of western North America. The offset is co-located with a Precambrian continental suture zone (Cheyenne belt) at the northern Yavapai terrane margin and is directly east of an offset of similar magnitude and latitude in the early to middle Paleozoic shelf edge in Nevada. We thus posit that Precambrian deep-seated crustal-scale features controlled the Cambrian paleotopography of western Laurentia, strongly influencing the patterns of Cambrian transgression and structure of the shallow marine ecosystem established during continental submergence. These continental-scale structural elements remained a major control on marine paleogeography for >200 m.y. into the late Paleozoic.
Supplemental Material: Discovery of a giant 3.3–3.1 Ga terrane in the Rae craton, Canada: Implications for the timing and extent of ancient continental growth
Authors: Neil Benjamin J.C. , al. et
Published: March 2023

New and compiled data, along with detailed descriptions of analytical methods, samples, and results. 
Supplemental Material: Mid-Proterozoic geomagnetic field was more consistent with a dipole than a quadrupole
Authors: Gong Zheng , al. et
Published: March 2023

Descriptions of the forward model, compilations of paleomagnetic data, and figures showing additional modeling results. 
Supplemental Material: Roadblocks and speed limits: Mantle-to-surface volatile flux through the lithospheric-scale Denali fault, Alaska
Authors: Newell Dennis , al. et
Published: March 2023

Comprehensive methods, five data tables, two supporting figures, and external carbon calculations and mantle fluid flow and flux estimates. 