bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modification of ATP hydrolysis by Strong Coupling with O−H Stretching Vibration
Authors: Gao Feng , Guo Jun , Si Qiankang , Wang Liping , Zhang Feng , Yang Fan
Published: February 2023

Polaritonic chemistry has become an important research field, since vibrational strong coupling (VSC) between molecular transitions and photonic structures was discovered to alter the energy landscape of molecules, through the creation of hybrid states in an optical cavity resonant to a molecular absorption band. ATP hydrolysis is an essential reaction in all known forms of life and have fundamental roles in energy conservation, active transport and pH homeostasis. Herein, using a Fabry‐Pérot (FP) cavity filled with the ATP hydrolysis solution, we measured the ATP hydrolysis efficiency in both strong and weak coupling modes and investigated the VSC effect on the catalytic activity of ATPase at the stretching vibration band of water. We observed an approximately 10‐fold increase of the apparent hydrolysis rate when coupling with the water stretching vibration. This work demonstrates the potential of employing VSC to precisely interfere water‐based biochemical reactions.
Tobacco: Raising the age, enforcement, and COVID‐19
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: February 2023

The National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD) last week released an updated fact sheet for provisions of the Synar Amendment, including revisions made as a result of COVID‐19. The Synar Amendment, named for the late former Congressman Mike Synar (D‐Okla.), requires states to prohibit the sale or distribution of tobacco products to minors. The update, by NASADAD's Lacy Adams, noted the following events.
Preparation and Characterization of the Composite Nd:YAG/Nd:YAG Crystals
Authors: Chen Zhao , Liu Wenpeng , Sun Yu , Gao Jinyun , Dou Renqin , Luo Jianqiao , Sun Guihua , Ma Rongguo , Han Song , Zhang Qingli
Published: February 2023

Composite crystals can not only improve the heat management of high‐average‐power laser considerably to obtain the high‐optical‐quality laser, but also be used to prepare larger size crystals. The composite Nd:YAG/Nd:YAG crystals with the size of 50 mm × 15 mm × 24 mm are prepared by thermal bonding technique using alumina balls as the pressure transfer medium. Thermal bonding experiments are carried out under different heat treatment processes and sintering atmosphere, and the quality of the composite crystals is characterized by transmittance, extinction ratio, bonding strength, and laser properties. The results show that alumina ball as pressure transfer medium and vacuum sintering atmosphere can effectively improve the uniformity of pressure on the bonded crystals, which is beneficial to overcome the pressure inhomogeneity, reduce the bubble or hole, cracks and other defects in the bond interface, and the bonded crystal optical quality is improved considerably. The laser performance of the composite crystals pumped by laser diode is compared with single crystal and they have the same laser slope efficiency, which indicates that the thermal bond technique with alumina balls used as pressure transfer medium and vacuum sintering is a successful method to obtain high‐quality composite laser crystals.
Decahedra and Icosahedra Everywhere: The Anomalous Crystallization of Au and Other Metals at the Nanoscale
Authors: Rogers Blake , Lehr Alexander , Velázquez‐Salazar J. Jesús , Whetten Robert , Mendoza‐Cruz Ruben , Bazan‐Diaz Lourdes , Bahena‐Uribe Daniel , José Yacaman Miguel
Published: February 2023

Throughout history, objects with fivefold symmetry have been a popular topic of interest for artists, philosophers, and scientists. This may be because fivefold symmetry is very conspicuous in nature. In the case of crystals, fivefold rotational symmetry is mathematically forbidden, and macroscopic crystals exhibiting fivefold symmetry have never been shown to exist. Nevertheless, in the nanoworld, nanoparticles are often found with decahedral and icosahedral shapes that have an overall pseudo‐fivefold symmetry. These structures are observed at many length scales, from 1 nm up to 1 µm. In this review, several reasons for the stability of fivefold nanoparticles are discussed. These include the formation of twin boundaries, surface reconstruction faceting, and other factors.
Hacking techniques improve health and nutritional status of nestling White‐tailed Eagles
Authors: Ferrer Miguel , Evans Rhian , Hedley Joanna , Hollamby Simon , Meredith Anna , Morandini Virginia , Selly Owen , Smith Claire , Whitfield D. Philip
Published: February 2023

Birds of prey frequently feature in reintroductions and the hacking technique is typically used. Hacking involves removing large nestlings from donor populations, transferring them to captivity, feeding them ad libitum. Potentially, via the hacking method, the stress of captivity and disruption of parental feeding may be detrimental. Alternatively, the provision of ad libitum food may be advantageous. Although hacking has underpinned reintroduction project successes there has been no research on how the method may affect the health and nutritional status of translocated birds during captivity. We compared blood chemistry data from 55 young White‐tailed Eagles, translocated from Norway as part of the species' reintroduction to Scotland, from sampling soon after arriving in captivity and again (≈42 days later) before their release. Numerous significant differences between the first and second samples were found, but no significant interactions showed that the sexes responded similarly to captivity. According to hematological and biochemical metrics, individuals showed several changes during captivity, including in red blood cell parameters, plasma proteins, and white cellular parameters related to the immune system, that indicated improved health status. Captivity with ad libitum food was associated with decreased urea and uric acid values: high values can indicate nutritional stress. Urea values became more normally distributed before release, indicating that ad libitum food had reduced nutritional differences between early nestlings in the season and later ones. Despite plentiful food, both sexes lost body mass before release, suggesting an inherent physiological mechanism to improve flight performance in fledglings. We conclude that hacking improved the health and nutritional status of released eagles which is likely to enable birds to cope with greater costs of exploratory behavior which they may require in reintroduction projects. In this context, we note the absence of survival differences between hacked and wild raptors in previous research.
Utility of ToxTracker in animal alternative testing strategy for fragrance materials
Authors: Thakkar Yax , Moustakas Holger , Moelijker Nynke , Hendriks Giel , Brandsma Inger , Pfuhler Stefan , Api Anne Marie
Published: February 2023

To determine the utility of the ToxTracker assay in animal alternative testing strategies, the genotoxic potential of four fragrance materials (2‐octen‐4‐one, lauric aldehyde, veratraldehyde, and p‐methoxy cinnamaldehyde) were tested in the ToxTracker assay. These materials have been previously evaluated in an in vitro as well as in vivo micronucleus assay, conducted as per OECD guidelines. In addition to these studies, reconstructed human skin micronucleus studies were conducted on all four materials. All four materials were positive in an in vitro micronucleus assay but were negative in both in vivo and 3D skin micronucleus assays. The ToxTracker assay, in combination with in silico methods to predict metabolism was used to identify mechanisms for the misleading positive outcomes observed in the in vitro micronucleus assays. The results show that the ToxTracker assay, in conjunction with in silico predictions, can provide the information needed to aid in the identification of an appropriate animal alternative follow‐up assay, for substances with positive results in the standard in vitro test battery. Thus, the ToxTracker assay is a valuable tool to identify the genotoxic potential of fragrance materials and can aid with replacing animal‐based follow‐up testing with appropriate animal alternative assay(s).
Recent Achievements on the Liquid Electrolytes for Fast‐Charging Lithium Metal Batteries
Authors: Li Fang , Li Guoxing
Published: February 2023

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) with fast‐charging capabilities can ease mileage anxiety, which is essential for the popularization of electric vehicles. However, the uncontrollable growth of Li dendrites and the repeated formation of electrode electrolyte interfaces lead to safety risks and low coulombic efficiency, which hinder the practical application of LMBs. Liquid electrolytes play an extremely important role in solving these problems. This review focuses on the recent achievements of liquid electrolytes for fast‐charging LMBs. The main factors limiting the fast transportation of Li ions are first introduced. The recent progress in electrolyte regulation for fast‐charging LMBs, including Li salts, electrolyte additives, and novel organic solvents, is summarized. Finally, a general conclusion and perspectives are proposed.
Advantages of the aerodynamic performance of micro‐Tesla turbines
Authors: Qi Wenjiao , Deng Qinghua , Yuan Shuxia , Chen Bing
Published: February 2023

Tesla turbines, featuring bladeless turbomachinery and energy transformation using the viscosity of the working medium, have wide application prospects in renewable energy utilization as micropower equipment and portable power units and show better aerodynamic performance with a smaller turbine size. In this paper, a miniaturization method of Tesla turbines, including the stator and rotor, was proposed based on its sensitivity analysis results and flow similitude law. A typical Tesla turbine with a disc outer diameter of 100 mm was miniaturized to 50, 20, and 10 mm, respectively. In addition, the miniaturized Tesla turbines, including both the simplified single‐channel turbine model and the multichannel turbine model used in practical applications, were simulated numerically. The results show that the miniaturization method that maintains the two high‐impact dimensionless parameters at their optimal values is simple, reasonable, and effective. The isentropic efficiency of the single‐channel Tesla turbine decreases slightly with its scaling down. However, for the multichannel Tesla turbine in practical applications, the isentropic efficiency increases significantly with a decrease in turbine size, due to a decrease in the impact of the outermost disc channel on the flow fields of the inner disc channels (called the casing wall effect). This is embodied by the phenomenon that part of the working medium in the inner disc channels flows into the outermost disc channel through the nozzle‐rotor chamber, and the proportion of this part of the working medium decreases significantly with a decrease in turbine size. In conclusion, the Tesla turbine with a smaller turbine size exhibits better aerodynamic performance and has great potential in the field of microturbomachinery.
Dynamic user clustering with hybrid beamforming in millimeter wave non‐orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) and power allocation using teaching learning based optimization (TLBO)
Authors: Sumathi S. , Ramesh T. K. , Ding Zhiguo
Published: February 2023

Non‐orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) is a most promising candidate in future wireless networks to improve user fairness and spectral / energy efficiency in multiuser scenarios. In this work, we investigate a clustered multi‐user millimeter wave (mmWave) downlink NOMA system with a hybrid beamforming architecture. In most existing research with dynamic user clustering, the number of users in each cluster varies from one to any number. A single user in a cluster corresponds to orthogonal multiple access (OMA) case, which is not beneficial. At the same time, clusters with more than one user employ the NOMA technique. However, the main limitation of NOMA with a large number of users is the successive interference cancellation (SIC) decoding complexity which increases with the number of users. Moreover, this also causes a delay in decoding the data at the users. This problem is addressed in our proposed algorithm, where each cluster has a minimum of two users to a maximum of a fixed number of users. Together with the dynamic clustering, a hybrid beamforming vector is also designed. Then, a single‐step power allocation algorithm using teaching‐learning based optimization (TLBO) to maximize sum spectral efficiency is proposed, which is less complex than the existing suboptimal methods.
Learning‐based multi‐constraint resilient controller placement and assignment insoftware‐defined networksusing covering graph
Authors: Gholamrezaei Reza , Mirjalily Ghasem , Emadi Sima
Published: February 2023

The controller placement problem is one of the most important issues in designing software‐defined networks (SDNs). In this context, one of the major challenges is the problem of multi‐constraint resilient controller placement and assignment (MCRCPA). In this article, considering the main criteria for solving the problem of MCRCPA, we propose a learning‐based approach named Lb‐MCRCPA, which includes a wide range of constraints including resiliency, switch‐to‐controller delay, switch‐to‐controller reliability, inter‐controller delay, and controller capacity in both main and backup modes. In the proposed method, we use an innovative structure called constraint covering graph (CCG) to calculate the reliability and to apply the set of constraints. The CCG is converted into a distributed learning model called irregular cellular learning automata (ICLA). The rules embedded in ICLA, together with the proposed assignment algorithm, can accurately determine the location of controllers. The performance evaluation of the proposed method for about 2600 different cases on more than 20 standard topologies of different sizes, not only proves its superiority over other methods but also proves its near‐optimality compared to the optimal solution.
Evaluation amidst crisis: Voices of Ukrainian DRG evaluators
Authors: Rybiy Olena , Kovats Roland
Published: February 2023

This chapter focuses on the lived experiences of Ukrainian evaluators currently working amidst political, economic, and social crises. Eight Ukrainian evaluators and evaluation users – drawing from various DRG and DRG‐related programs – were interviewed by Zoom or responded in written form to chapter authors to provide insights to a series of questions regarding how they operate today, and how their priorities and perspectives regarding evaluation have or have not changed. Their responses were summarized by the two main authors. The chapter also provides a background of a DRG program that had to pivot during COVID‐19 and again after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Combining arterial blood contrast with BOLD increases fMRI intracortical contrast
Authors: Priovoulos Nikos , de Oliveira Icaro Agenor Ferreira , Poser Benedikt A. , Norris David G. , van der Zwaag Wietske
Published: February 2023

BOLD fMRI is widely applied in human neuroscience but is limited in its spatial specificity due to a cortical‐depth‐dependent venous bias. This reduces its localization specificity with respect to neuronal responses, a disadvantage for neuroscientific research. Here, we modified a submillimeter BOLD protocol to selectively reduce venous and tissue signal and increase cerebral blood volume weighting through a pulsed saturation scheme (dubbed Arterial Blood Contrast) at 7 T. Adding Arterial Blood Contrast on top of the existing BOLD contrast modulated the intracortical contrast. Isolating the Arterial Blood Contrast showed a response free of pial‐surface bias. The results suggest that Arterial Blood Contrast can modulate the typical fMRI spatial specificity, with important applications in in‐vivo neuroscience.
Morphological and molecular markers of mouse areaCA2along the proximodistal and dorsoventral hippocampal axes
Authors: Radzicki Daniel , Chong Sarah , Dudek Serena M.
Published: February 2023

Hippocampal area CA2 is a molecularly and functionally distinct region of the hippocampus that has classically been defined as the area with large pyramidal neurons lacking input from the dentate gyrus and the thorny excrescences (TEs) characteristic of CA3 neurons. A modern definition of CA2, however, makes use of the expression of several molecular markers that distinguish it from neighboring CA3 and CA1. Using immunohistochemistry, we sought to characterize the staining patterns of commonly used CA2 markers along the dorsal–ventral hippocampal axis and determine how these markers align along the proximodistal axis. We used a region of CA2 that stained for both Regulator of G‐protein Signaling 14 (RGS14) and Purkinje Cell Protein 4 (PCP4; “double‐labeled zone” [DLZ]) as a reference. Here, we report that certain commonly used CA2 molecular markers may be better suited for drawing distinct boundaries between CA2/3 and CA2/1. For example, RGS14+ and STEP+ neurons showed minimal to no extension into area CA1 while areas stained with VGluT2 andWisteria Floribundaagglutinin were consistently smaller than the DLZ/CA2 borders by ~100 μ on the CA1 or CA3 sides respectively. In addition, these patterns are dependent on position along the dorsal–ventral hippocampal axis such that PCP4 labeling often extended beyond the distal border of the DLZ into CA1. Finally, we found that, consistent with previous findings, mossy fibers innervate a subset of RGS14 positive neurons (~65%–70%) and that mossy fiber bouton number and relative size in CA2 are less than that of boutons in CA3. Unexpectedly, we did find evidence of some complex spines on apical dendrites in CA2, though much fewer in number than in CA3. Our results indicate that certain molecular markers may be better suited than others when defining the proximal and distal borders of area CA2 and that the presence or absence of complex spines alone may not be suitable as a distinguishing feature differentiating CA3 from CA2 neurons.
Various topological phases and their abnormal effects of topological acoustic metamaterials
Authors: Chen Yan‐Feng , Chen Ze‐Guo , Ge Hao , He Cheng , Li Xin , Lu Ming‐Hui , Sun Xiao‐Chen , Yu Si‐Yuan , Zhang Xiujuan
Published: February 2023

The last 20 years have witnessed growing impacts of the topological concept on the branches of physics, including materials, electronics, photonics, and acoustics. Topology describes objects with some global invariant property under continuous deformation, which in mathematics could date back to the 17th century and mature in the 20th century. In physics, it successfully underpinned the physics of the Quantum Hall effect in 1984. To date, topology has been extensively applied to describe topological phases in acoustic metamaterials. As artificial structures, acoustic metamaterials could be well theoretically analyzed, on‐demand designed, and easily fabricated by modern techniques, such as three‐dimensional printing. Some new theoretical topological models were first discovered in acoustic metamaterials analogous to electronic counterparts, associated with novel effects for acoustics closer to applications. In this review, we focused on the concept of topology and its realization in airborne acoustic crystals, solid elastic phononic crystals, and surface acoustic wave systems. We also introduced emerging concepts of non‐Hermitian, higher‐order, and Floquet topological insulators in acoustics. It has been shown that the topology theory has such a powerful generality that among the disciplines from electron to photon and phonon, from electronic to photonics and acoustics, from acoustic topological theory to acoustic devices, could interact and be analogous to fertilize fantastic new ideas and prototype devices, which might find applications in acoustic engineering and noise‐vibration control engineering in the near future.
Magnetic skyrmions: Basic properties and potential applications
Authors: Li Sheng , Wang Xuewen , Rasing Theo
Published: February 2023

Magnetic skyrmions are particle‐like topological magnetic textures that are potential information carriers in future spintronics. An enormous body of research confirms their existence in a broad range of magnetic materials since their first discovery in 2009. To date, magnetic skyrmions can not only be found in asymmetric systems but also in centrosymmetric ones. Notably, engineered magnetic multilayers are promising structures for skyrmion‐based spintronics because they can stabilize small‐sized skyrmions at room temperature and facilitate their electric manipulation. In this overview, we introduce the topological nature, their special properties, and nucleation methods of skyrmions, and show their potential for applications. Perspectives on skyrmionic devices and developments toward other, more three‐dimensional particle‐like magnetic nanostructures, are discussed at the end.
Cardiovascular morbidity following conventional therapy versus allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation after childhood, adolescent, and young adult leukemia in Finland
Authors: Kero Andreina E. , Taskinen Mervi , Volin Liisa , Löyttyniemi Eliisa , Itälä‐Remes Maija , Lähteenmäki Päivi M.
Published: February 2023

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT) represents a therapeutic choice for high‐risk and relapsed leukemia at a young age. In this retrospective population‐based study, we evaluated cardiovascular complications after aHSCT (N = 272) vs conventional therapy (N = 1098) among patients diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic or acute myeloid leukemia below 35 years between 1985 and 2004. Additionally, siblings from a prior comparison group served as population controls (N = 39 217). Childhood leukemia and aHSCT was associated with a 16‐fold HR for developing arterial hypertension (HR 16.8, 95%CI 1.5‐185.5) compared with conventional therapy. A 2‐fold HR for any cardiovascular complication was observed after AYA leukemia and aHSCT vs conventional treatment (HR 2.7, 95% CI 1.4‐5.1). After AYA leukemia and aHSCT, the HR of cardiac arrhythmia was significantly elevated vs conventional therapy (HR 14.4, 95% CI 1.5‐125.2). Moreover, after aHSCT in childhood, elevated hazard ratios (HRs) were found for cardiomyopathy/ cardiac insufficiency (HR 105.0, 95% CI 10.0‐1100.0), cardiac arrhythmia, and arterial hypertension (HR 20.1, 95%CI 2.5‐159.7 and HR 20.0, 95%CI 4.1‐97.4) compared with healthy controls. After adolescent and young adult (AYA) leukemia and aHSCT, markedly increased HRs were observed for cardiac arrhythmia (HR 29.2, 95%CI 6.6‐129.2), brain vascular thrombosis/ atherosclerosis and cardiomyopathy/cardiac insufficiency (HR 23.4, 95%CI 7.1‐77.4 and HR 19.2, 95%CI 1.5‐245.2) compared with healthy controls. As the cumulative incidence for cardiovascular complications rose during the follow‐up of childhood and AYA leukemia patients, long‐term cardiovascular surveillance is warranted to optimize the quality of life after childhood and AYA leukemia following both conventional treatment and aHSCT.
Establishment of predictive models for acute complicated appendicitis during pregnancy—A retrospective case–control study
Authors: Li Ping , Zhang Zhuo , Weng Shanshan , Nie Hu
Published: February 2023

Objective

To develop a scoring system based on clinical and imaging features to distinguish complicated appendicitis (CA) from uncomplicated appendicitis (UCA) during pregnancy.

Method

This was a retrospective case–control study. Patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis during pregnancy were included, and they were divided into a CA group and a UCA group based on the intraoperative findings and the biopsy results. Multivariate logistic regression and machine learning were employed to establish a predictive model.

Results

A total of 342 patients were included in this study. Among them, 141 (41.23%) patients were diagnosed with CA. The predictive model contained six indices, including symptom duration time more than 24 h, fever, heart rate at least 98 beats/minute, monocyte count at least 0.72 × 109/L, lymphocyte count at least 1 × 109/L and direct bilirubin at least 4.75 μmol/L. The total score was 31 points, and a score of more than 15.5 points predicted the development of CA during pregnancy with area under the curve (AUC) of 0.80 (95% confidence interval 0.75–0.84) and specificity of 0.84. A decision flow chart for distinguishing CA from UCA during pregnancy was developed by Decision Tree with an AUC of 0.78.

Conclusion

The models combining clinical findings and laboratory tests, developed by two methods, can distinguish CA from UCA in pregnancy in a convenient and visualized way.

Trial Registration

The research has been registered in Chinese Clinical Trial Registry on January 7, 2022 with registration ID ChiCTR2200055339.
The use of the double uterine segment tourniquet in obstetric hysterectomy for bleeding control in patients with placenta accreta spectrum
Authors: Reyther Roberto Arturo Castillo , Kway Venance Basil , Huerta Manuel Mendoza , Labastida Salvador De La Maza , Cruz Ellian Yeritza Trujillo
Published: February 2023

Objectives

To evaluate surgical outcomes of using a double uterine segment tourniquet in obstetric hysterectomy for bleeding control in patients with placenta accreta spectrum.

Methods

Retrospective case–control study conducted at the Central Hospital of San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Patients with the diagnosis of placenta accreta spectrum who underwent obstetric hysterectomy were included. Two groups were formed: in the first, a double uterine segment tourniquet was used; and in the second, the hysterectomy was performed without a tourniquet. Primary surgical outcomes were compared.

Results

Forty patients in each group were included. The use of a double uterine segment tourniquet had lower total blood loss compared with the non‐tourniquet group (1054.00 ± 467.02 vs. 1528.75 ± 347.12 mL, P = 0.0171) and a lower drop in hemoglobin (1.74 ± 1.10 vs. 2.60 ± 1.25 mg/dL, P = 0.0486). Ten patients (23.80%) in the double tourniquet group required blood transfusion, compared with 26 (65.00%) in the non‐tourniquet group (P = 0.0003). Surgical time did not show a statistical difference between groups.

Conclusion

The use of a uterine segment tourniquet in obstetric hysterectomy may improve surgical outcomes in patients with placenta accreta spectrum with no difference in surgical time and urinary tract lesions.
Institutional capability, cooperation level and irrigation water order: Empirical analysis based on survey data from the Yellow River area
Authors: Wang Bo , Wan Jingjing , Zhu Yuchun , Chen Yahui
Published: February 2023

Village rules and customs, reciprocal trust and favour and mobilization ability are the main factors affecting governance ability in rural public affairs. Based on microsurvey data from 979 irrigating farmers from the Yellow River area in China, the effects of three types of village institutional capacity factors (knowledge resources, relational resources and mobilization capacity) on the irrigation behaviour and the irrigation water order of village farmland were analysed. The results indicate that these factors would reduce villagers' water‐stealing behaviour and water‐use disputes during the irrigation process, strengthen water‐use satisfaction of the villagers and ultimately improve the order of farmland‐irrigation water in the whole village. The level of cooperation within irrigation organizations has a moderating effect on this process, and higher levels of cooperation lead to a greater positive impact of these institutional capacity factors on villagers' water‐use behaviour.
On the chromatic number of some generalized Kneser graphs
Authors: D'haeseleer Jozefien , Metsch Klaus , Werner Daniel
Published: February 2023

We determine the chromatic number of the Kneser graph of flags of vectorial type of a rank 7 vector space over the finite field for large and describe the colorings that attain the bound. This result relies heavily, not only on the independence number, but also on the structure of alllargeindependent sets. Furthermore, our proof is more general in the following sense: it provides the chromatic number of the Kneser graphs of flags of vectorial type of a rank vector space over for large as long as thelargeindependent sets of the graphs are only the ones that are known.
Poorly drained depressions can be hotspots of nutrient leaching from agricultural soils
Authors: Hall Steven J. , Tenesaca Carlos G. , Lawrence Nathaniel C. , Green David I. S. , Helmers Matthew J. , Crumpton William G. , Heaton Emily A. , VanLoocke Andy
Published: February 2023

Much of the US Corn Belt has been drained with subsurface tile to improve crop production, yet poorly drained depressions often still flood intermittently, suppressing crop growth. Impacts of depressions on field‐scale nutrient leaching are unclear. Poor drainage might promote denitrification and physicochemical retention of phosphorus (P), but ample availability of water and nutrients might exacerbate nutrient leaching from cropped depressions. We monitored nitrate, ammonium, and reactive P leaching across multiple depression‐to‐upland transects in north‐central Iowa, using resin lysimeters buried and retrieved on an annual basis. Crops included conventional corn/soybean (Zea mays/Glycine max) rotations measured at fields with and without a winter rye (Secale cereale) cover crop, as well as juvenile miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus), a perennial grass. Leaching of nitrogen (N) and P was greater in depressions than in uplands for most transects and years. The median difference in nutrient leaching between paired depressions and uplands was 56 kg N ha−1 year−1 for nitrate (p = 0.0008), 0.6 kg N ha−1 year−1 for ammonium (p = 0.03), and 2.4 kg P ha−1 year−1 for reactive P (p = 0.006). Transects managed with a cover crop or miscanthus tended to have a smaller median difference in nitrate (but not ammonium or P) leaching between depressions and uplands. Cropped depressions may be disproportionate sources of N and P to downstream waters despite their generally poor drainage characteristics, and targeted management with cover crops or perennials might partially mitigate these impacts for N, but not necessarily for P.
Potential Antihuman Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 Target Therapy Beneficiaries: The Role of MRI‐Based Radiomics in Distinguishing Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2‐Low Status of Breast Cancer
Authors: Bian Xiaoqian , Du Siyao , Yue Zhibin , Gao Si , Zhao Ruimeng , Huang Guoliang , Guo Liangcun , Peng Can , Zhang Lina
Published: February 2023

Background

Multiparametric MRI radiomics could distinguish human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)‐positive from HER2‐negative breast cancers. However, its value for further distinguishing HER2‐low from HER2‐negative breast cancers has not been investigated.

Purpose

To investigate whether multiparametric MRI‐based radiomics can distinguish HER2‐positive from HER2‐negative breast cancers (task 1) and HER2‐low from HER2‐negative breast cancers (task 2).

Study Type

Retrospective.

Population

Task 1: 310 operable breast cancer patients from center 1 (97 HER2‐positive and 213 HER2‐negative); task 2: 213 HER2‐negative patients (108 HER2‐low and 105 HER2‐zero); 59 patients from center 2 (16 HER2‐positive, 27 HER2‐low and 16 HER2‐zero) for external validation.

Field Strength/Sequence

A 3.0 T/T1‐weighted contrast‐enhanced imaging (T1CE), diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI)‐derived apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC).

Assessment

Patients in center 1 were assigned to a training and internal validation cohort at a 2:1 ratio. Intratumoral and peritumoral features were extracted from T1CE and ADC. After dimensionality reduction, the radiomics signatures (RS) of two tasks were developed using features from T1CE (RS‐T1CE), ADC (RS‐ADC) alone and T1CE + ADC combination (RS‐Com).

Statistical Tests

Mann–Whitney U tests, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA).

Results

For task 1, RS‐ADC yielded higher area under the ROC curve (AUC) in the training, internal, and external validation of 0.767/0.725/0.746 than RS‐T1CE (AUC = 0.733/0.674/0.641). For task 2, RS‐T1CE yielded higher AUC of 0.765/0.755/0.678 than RS‐ADC (AUC = 0.706/0.608/0.630). For both of task 1 and task 2, RS‐Com achieved the best performance with AUC of 0.793/0.778/0.760 and 0.820/0.776/0.711, respectively, and obtained higher clinical benefit in DCA compared with RS‐T1CE and RS‐ADC. The calibration curves of all RS demonstrated a good fitness.

Data Conclusion

Multiparametric MRI radiomics could noninvasively and robustly distinguish HER2‐positive from HER2‐negative breast cancers and further distinguish HER2‐low from HER2‐negative breast cancers.

Evidence Level

3.

Technical Efficacy

Stage 2.
Disentangling the common genetic architecture and causality of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus with COVID‐19 outcomes: Genome‐wide cross trait analysis and bidirectional Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Yao Minhao , Huang Xin , Guo Yunshan , Zhao Jie V. , Liu Zhonghua
Published: February 2023

Coronavirus Disease (COVID‐19) may cause a dysregulation of the immune system and has complex relationships with multiple autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, little is known about their common genetic architecture. Using the latest data from COVID‐19 host genetics consortium and consortia on RA and SLE, we conducted a genome‐wide cross‐trait analysis to examine the shared genetic etiology between COVID‐19 and RA/SLE and evaluated their causal associations using bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR). The cross‐trait meta‐analysis identified 23, 28, and 10 shared genetic loci for severe COVID‐19, COVID‐19 hospitalization, and SARS‐CoV‐2 infection with RA, and 14, 17, and 7 shared loci with SLE, respectively. Co‐localization analysis identified five causal variants in TYK2, IKZF3, PSORS1C1, and COG6 for COVID‐19 with RA, and four in CRHR1, FUT2, and NXPE3 for COVID‐19 with SLE, involved in immune function, angiogenesis and coagulation. Bidirectional MR analysis suggested RA is associated with a higher risk of COVID‐19 hospitalization, and COVID‐19 is not related to RA or SLE. Our novel findings improved the understanding of the genetic etiology shared by COVID‐19, RA and SLE, and suggested an increased risk of COVID‐19 hospitalization in people with higher genetic liability to RA.
Spatiotemporal variations of 100 m wind in Mongolia and implications for wind energy resources
Authors: Hong Seong‐Ho , Lkhamjav Jambajamts , Jin Han‐Gyul , Baik Jong‐Jin
Published: February 2023

Mongolia is a high‐altitude inland country, which experiences strong near‐surface winds that could be valuable resources for wind power generation. In this study, we examine the spatiotemporal variations of 100 m wind and assess wind energy potential in Mongolia using the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts Reanalysis version 5 (ERA5) data during 1979–2020. Mongolia exhibits two peaks in the monthly variation of 100 m wind, the higher peak in April and the lower peak in November. The eastern and southern (ES) region of the country is characterized by relatively high wind speed, night‐time diurnal maximum of wind speed and relatively small amplitudes of monthly and diurnal variations of wind speed. This region is classified to have good potential for wind energy development with a long mean episode length. On the other hand, the western and northern (WN) region is characterized by relatively low wind speed, afternoon diurnal maximum of wind speed and relatively large amplitudes of monthly and diurnal variations of wind speed. This region is classified to have less wind energy potential. Four hotspots which have the greatest wind energy potential are found near the eastern border of Mongolia, south of the Gobi‐Altai Mountains, near the southern border of Mongolia and in the southern region. Two principal modes of spatiotemporal variations of 100 m wind speed are obtained using the cyclostationary empirical orthogonal function (CSEOF) analysis method. The first CSEOF mode shows a spatial contrast between western and eastern Mongolia and is positively amplified in winter and negatively amplified in summer, which is associated with the seasonal change of the East Asian monsoon. The second mode is amplified in spring and autumn and shows mountain–basin contrasts that are reversed diurnally, which may be associated with the mountain–plains solenoid circulations and resultant vertical mixing of momentum.
Long‐term change of summer mean and extreme precipitations in Korea and East Asia
Authors: Do Hyeon‐Seok , Kim Joowan , Cha Eun‐Jeong , Chang Eun‐Chul , Son Seok‐Woo , Lee Gyuwon
Published: February 2023

The change of the precipitation characteristics over South Korea is investigated using long‐term (60 years) hourly precipitation records from surface stations focusing on extended summer (June–September) and rainy season (Changma). The precipitation characteristics including extreme events (>30 mm·h−1 or >100 mm·day−1) are also compared for the past (1961–1990) and recent (1991–2020) climatology. The amount of summer precipitation shows a notable increase over South Korea (2.6 mm·day−1·century−1) during the last 60 years (1961–2020) although it is smaller than recent 48‐year trend measured in North Korea (9.7 mm·day−1·century−1). Precipitation amounts are significantly increased than past climatology particularly in 70–100 and 200 mm·day−1 intensity ranges. The frequency of extreme precipitation also exhibits an increasing trend (1.0 frequency·century−1) during the last 60 years over South Korea. The frequency of extreme precipitation has been doubled in the recent climatology compared to the past climatology. Daily precipitations in top 1 percentile present clear increasing trends during the extended summer and Changma season in South Korea. Further investigation using gridded precipitation reveals that the similar mean and extreme precipitation increases are observed over the wider regions in East Asia, including central China and southern Japan. This result implies that the long‐term precipitation change over South Korea is related to a large‐scale circulation change in the East Asian summer monsoon.
Self‐assembled trehalose amphiphiles as molecular gels: A unique formulation to wax‐free cosmetics
Authors: Tsupko Polina , Sagiri Sai Sateesh , Samateh Malick , Satapathy Sitakanta , John George
Published: February 2023

Trehalose has been used as an emollient and antioxidant in cosmetics. We aimed to explore trehalose amphiphiles as oil structuring agents for the preparation of gel‐based lip balms as part of wax‐free cosmetics. This article describes the synthesis of trehalose fatty acyl amphiphiles and their corresponding oleogel‐based lip balms. Trehalose dialkanoates were synthesized by esterifying the two primary hydroxyls of trehalose with fatty acids (C4‐C12) using a facile, regioselective lipase catalysis. The gelation potential of as‐synthesized amphiphiles was evaluated in organic solvents and vegetable oils. Stable oleogels were subjected to X‐ray diffraction (XRD), thermal (DSC), and rheological studies and further used for the preparation of lip balms. Trehalose dioctanoate (Tr8), trehalose didecanoate (Tr10) were found to be super gelators as their minimum gelation concentration is ≤0.2 wt%. XRD studies revealed their hexagonal columnar molecular packing while forming the fibrillar networks. Rheometry proved that the fatty acyl chain length of amphiphiles can influence the strength and flow properties of oleogels. Further rheometry (at 25, 37, and 50 °C) and DSC studies have validated that Tr8‐ and Tr10‐based oleogels are stable for commercial applications. Tr8‐ and Tr10‐based olive oil oleogels were used for the preparation of lip balms. The preliminary results suggested that the cumulative effect of trehalose's emolliency and vegetable oil gelling nature can be achieved with trehalose amphiphiles, specifically, Tr8 and Tr10. This study has also demonstrated that Tr8‐ and Tr10‐based lip balms can be used as an alternative to beeswax and plant wax lip balms, indicating their huge potential to succeed as a new paradigm to formulate wax‐free cosmetics.
Modeling of Radiative Emission from Shallow Color Centers in Single Crystalline Diamond
Authors: Zahedian Maryam , Liu Jietian , Vidrio Ricardo , Kolkowitz Shimon , Choy Jennifer T.
Published: February 2023

Optically active defects in diamond are widely used as bright single‐photon sources for quantum sensing, computing, and communication. For many applications, it is useful to place the emitter close to the diamond surface, where the radiative properties of the emitter are strongly modified by its dielectric environment. It is well‐known that the radiative power from an electric dipole decreases as the emitter approaches an interface with a lower‐index dielectric, leading to an increase in the radiative lifetime. For emitters in crystalline solids, modeling of this effect needs to take into account the crystal orientation and direction of the surface cut, which can greatly impact the emission characteristics. In this paper, a framework for analyzing the emission rates of shallow (<100 nm) defects is provided, in which optical transitions are derived from electric dipoles in a plane perpendicular to their spin axis. The calculations for the depth‐dependent radiative lifetime for color centers in (100)‐, (110)‐, and (111)‐cut diamond are presented, which can be extended to other vacancy defects in diamond.
Pseudodominance in Friedreich Ataxia—Impact of High Prevalence of Carriers and Intrafamilial Clinical Variation
Authors: Malaquias Maria João , Oliveira Jorge , Santos Manuela , Brandão Ana Filipa , Sardoeira Ana , Sequeiros Jorge , Barros José , Damásio Joana
Published: February 2023

Background

Friedreich ataxia (FA) is the most common form of autosomal recessive (AR) ataxia. It is a rare disease, but carriers are frequent (1/100). Pseudodominance in FA has seldomly been reported; it may pose additional challenges for diagnosis.

Cases

A family with two consecutive generations affected by FA is described. The proband and two younger siblings had typical FA, characterized by infantile‐onset ataxia, hyporeflexia, Babinski sign, cardiomyopathy, and loss of ambulation in the second decade of life. Another female sibling had delayed‐onset (>25 years old), with mild cerebellar and sensitive ataxia since her mid‐30s. Their father presented very late‐onset FA (>40 years old), with sensitive axonal neuropathy. All five patients had biallelic (GAA)n expansion in FXN. The first three had larger expansions (>800 repeats), while the latter two had one shorter expanded allele (~90 repeats).

Literature Review

Pseudodominant inheritance has been described in 13 neurological disorders. Seven are movement disorders, of which three were associated with high frequency of carriers (FA, Wilson's disease and PRKN‐related parkinsonism).

Conclusions

Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of pseudodominance when facing an apparent autosomal dominant pedigree, particularly in disorders with high frequency of carriers and variable expression. Otherwise, genetic diagnoses may be delayed.
Evaluating the length, diameter, and stenosis of deep circumflex iliac artery and neighboring arteries based on digital subtraction angiography
Authors: Schulte Raimund , Loberg Christina , Ghassemi Alireza
Published: February 2023

Background

The vascularized iliac bone crest flap offers excellent usable bone in terms of volume and quality. Its nourishing vessel, the deep circumflex iliac artery (DCIA), although relatively short, is reliable vessel. Digital subtraction angiography presents still the gold standard for diagnostic purpose. However, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) angiography is used for preoperative planning with low morbidity. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the gainable information using digital subtraction angiography (DSA) as compared to other imaging modalities.

Materials and Methods

We evaluated information gainable from standard DSA of 130 consecutive patients (average age was 69.5 years [range 18–90 years]) concerning topography, dimension, and condition of the vessel wall. We looked for differences considering gender and side.

Results

DCIA could not be followed in the periphery constantly in all cases due to the small, illustrated field. Arteriosclerotic changes showed to be very low in DCIA as compared to the neighboring vessels. Diabetes mellitus and smoking had a significant impact on vessel condition. DCIA branched off into its main two branches early after 40 mm (11%), after 40–60 mm (30%), or late after 60 mm (59%). DCIA showed to be least affected by different risk factors that reported to affect the vessel condition.

Conclusions

We present additional detailed topographic anatomy of DCIA and its variation that can be used intraoperative guide to harvest the flap and teaching purpose. Standard DSA delivers valuable preoperative data regarding stenosis in addition to the topographic anatomy of the flap pedicle. However, imaging of the distal parts of the DCIA, nourishing the skin paddle is limited by the detector field used. For a full imaging of both DCIAs from the origin to the perforators, the intraarterial injection of contrast medium, as applied in DSA, could be combined with different imaging modalities like CT‐angiography.
Discovery of natural‐derived Mpro inhibitors as therapeutic candidates for COVID‐19: Structure‐based pharmacophore screening combined with QSAR analysis
Authors: Khanfar Mohammad A. , Salaas Nada , Abumostafa Reem
Published: February 2023

The main protease (Mpro) is an essential enzyme for the life cycle of SARS‐CoV‐2 and a validated target for treatment of COVID‐19 infection. Structure‐based pharmacophore modeling combined with QSAR calculations were employed to identify new chemical scaffolds of Mpro inhibitors from natural products repository. Hundreds of pharmacophore models were manually built from their corresponding X‐ray crystallographic structures. A pharmacophore model that was validated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and selected using the statistically optimum QSAR equation was implemented as a 3D‐search tool to mine AnalytiCon Discovery database of natural products. Captured hits that showed the highest predicted inhibitory activities were bioassayed. Three active Mpro inhibitors (pseurotin A, lactupicrin, and alpinetin) were successfully identified with IC50 values in low micromolar range.
A low complexity loop‐delay estimation algorithm based on sliding window for power amplifier characterization
Authors: Yao Tingting , Peng Jun , Lv Yingchun , Yang Yahui , You Fei , He Songbai
Published: February 2023

It is well known that accurate estimation of the loop delay between the input and output feedback signals is the key to behavioral modeling and digital predistortion of power amplifier. Nevertheless, most of the traditional loop‐delay compensation algorithms have the disadvantage of high computational complexity. For the purpose of solving this problem, a loop‐delay estimation algorithm based on sliding window has been proposed in this paper, where the first derivative characteristic of the signal is employed to evaluate the correlation between the input and output feedback signals. The simulation and experiment are carried out with different bandwidth signals in this paper. The results show that the proposed algorithm and the traditional cross‐correlation‐based method could align the input and output feedback signals successfully. But in terms of resource consumption, the proposed algorithm could reduce the multiplier nearly by 100% and the adder by approximately 93.2%.