bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the link between administrative styles and policy output: The case of the Italian Extraordinary Commissioner for the Covid‐19 Emergency
Authors: Casula Mattia , Malandrino Anna
Published: April 2023

Administrative style is a central concept in public policy and administration research. Despite the developments in the field, less is known about the effect different administrative styles have on policy output. To contribute to filling this gap, the article offers an original framework to explore the link between administrative styles and policy output based on the consolidated distinction between functional and positional orientations as constitutive elements of administrative styles. This framework is applied to an under‐investigated case of public organization in the Italian context, that is, the administrative apparatus headed by the Extraordinary Commissioner for the Covid‐19 Emergency, to test the general hypothesis that what makes the difference in determining output performance is an administration's positional orientation, not only its functional one. Doing so, the article contributes to “second generation” administrative style research and provides a theoretical and analytical framework to be tested in future cross‐national and cross‐sectoral comparisons.
Real‐time hybrid simulation for investigating the influence of vertical ground motions on the lateral response of RC piers
Authors: Park Jamin , Park Minseok , Chae Yunbyeong , Kim Chul‐Young
Published: April 2023

The vertical component of ground motions can affect the seismic performance of reinforced concrete (RC) piers as significant as its horizontal counterpart. However, real‐time testing for RC piers subjected to both horizontal and vertical ground motions has been scarcely conducted due to the difficulty in multi‐axial control of actuators. In this study, the seismic response of a bridge RC pier was investigated by conducting real‐time hybrid simulation (RTHS), where the RC pier was physically tested in the laboratory and the bridge superstructure was numerically modeled. The test setup that can synchronously apply both horizontal and vertical ground motions was constructed by using three dynamic actuators and a flexible loading beam (FLB). The lateral response of the RC pier was investigated by varying the intensities for vertical ground motions, while the same intensity for horizontal ground motion is used. It was found that the axial force from the dead load of superstructure can significantly affect the initial stiffness, strength, and post‐yield response of the RC pier. For the selected earthquake ground motions, however, the intensity of vertical ground motion did not make a substantial difference in the lateral response, although there was a notable difference in the fracture pattern.
Towards energy‐efficient smart homes via precise nonintrusive load disaggregation based on hybrid ANN–PSO
Authors: Ramadan R. , Huang Qi , Bamisile Olusola , Zalhaf Amr S. , Mahmoud Karar , Lehtonen Matti , Darwish Mohamed M. F.
Published: April 2023

Nowadays, the load monitoring system is an important element in smart buildings to reduce energy consumption. Nonintrusive load monitoring (NILM) is utilized to determine the power consumption of each appliance in smart homes. The main problem of NILM is how to separate each appliance's power from the signal of aggregated consumption. In this regard, this paper presents a combination between particle swarm optimization (PSO) and artificial neural networks (ANNs) to identify electrical appliances for demand‐side management. ANN is applied in NILM as a load identification task, and PSO is used to train the ANN algorithm. This combination enhances the NILM technique's accuracy, which is further verified by experiments on different datasets like Reference Energy Disaggregation Dataset, UK Domestic Appliance‐Level ElectricityUK‐DALE, and Indian data for Ambient Water and electricity Sensing. The high accuracy of the proposed algorithm is verified by comparisons with state of the art methods. Compared with other approaches, the total mean absolute error has decreased from 39.3566 to 18.607. Also, the normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) method has been used to compare the measured and predicted results. The NRMSE is in the range of 1.719%–16.514%, which means perfect consistency. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed approach for home energy management. Furthermore, customer behavior has been studied, considering energy costs during day hours.
Effects of ammonium polyphosphate and casein on the properties of poly (lactic acid)
Authors: Baochai Li , Yuling Zhang , Bakar Aznizam Abu , Mohamad Zurina , Jianhui Zhang
Published: April 2023

In this paper, ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and casein (CSN) were added to poly (lactic acid) (PLA) to improve flame retardancy and maintain biodegradability. The flame retardancy, mechanical, and thermal properties of PLA/APP/CSN composites were evaluated, and the optimum ratio of APP and CSN was determined. The results showed that with the addition of 9 wt% flame retardant (APP:CSN=5:4), the limiting oxygen index (LOI) of the PLA/APP/CSN composite reached 28.3%, and passed the UL‐94 V‐0 rating at 3 mm, char residue increased at 800°C and smoke emission was also significantly reduced compared to addition of APP without the addition of CSN. Besides that, the cone calorimeter result showed that the peak heat release rate and total heat release of the PLA/APP/CSN‐5 composite were 18.2% and 13.3%, respectively, lower than those of pure PLA. The addition of flame retardants inevitably led to a reduction in tensile and flex strength values, but the impact strength was improved.
Genome‐wide analysis, metabolomics, and transcriptomics reveal the molecular basis of ZlRc overexpression in promoting phenolic compound accumulation in rice seeds
Authors: Qi Qianqian , Li Wanhong , Yu Xiuting , Zhang Bintao , Shang Lianguang , Xie Yanning , Li Yali , Ding Anming , Shi John , Dou Yuqing , Du Yongmei , Zhang Zhongfeng , Yan Ning
Published: April 2023

Chinese wild rice (Zizania latifolia) is rich in phenolic compounds, particularly flavonoids. This study identified 203 basic helix‐loop‐helix (bHLHs) in Z. latifolia and showed that ZlbHLH196 (Zla16G011250) corresponds to the ZlRc gene in Z. latifolia, with its protein product localizing to the nucleus. Notably, the pericarps of ZlRc‐overexpressing (OE) rice are brown, whereas those of wild‐type (WT) rice are nonpigmented. The total phenolic, flavonoid, and proanthocyanidin contents, antioxidant activity, as well as enzyme inhibitory effects of ZlRc‐OE rice were significantly higher than those of WT rice. Overall, 221 differential phenolic metabolites were identified between ZlRc‐OE and WT rice, among which 198 were upregulated in the former. Additionally, a total of 227 differentially expressed genes were identified between ZlRc‐OE and WT rice, with 173 upregulated. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes annotation and enrichment analysis of phenolic metabolites revealed enhanced isoflavonoid, flavone, flavonol, and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways in ZlRc‐OE rice, which, furthermore, showed a markedly upregulated expression and significantly higher activities of four key flavonoid biosynthesis–related enzymes (phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase, chalcone synthase, chalcone‐flavanone isomerase, and dihydroflavonol 4‐reductase). These findings show that ZlRc‐overexpression promotes phenolic compound accumulation in rice seeds and can be used to bioaugment rice phenolic content.
A conservative phase‐field lattice Boltzmann method for incompressible two‐phase flows
Authors: Hong Ning , Liu Xi , Wang Huili
Published: April 2023

In this work, a conservative phase‐field lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is proposed for incompressible two‐phase flows. In this method, two LB models are adopted to solve the nonlocal Allen–Cahn equation (ACE) and the Navier–Stokes equations, respectively. Unlike the previous models for the nonlocal ACE with a space‐time‐dependent Lagrange multiplier, a simple multiple‐relaxation time LB model is designed for the conservative and nonlocal ACE with a curvature‐dependent Lagrange multiplier, which can eliminate the problem of inherent coarsening process. Through the Chapman–Enskog analysis, the present LB model can correctly recover the ACE, and the macroscopic order parameter used to label different phases can be calculated explicitly. Finally, the present LBM is validated by two tests, that is, the horizontal translation of two circular interfaces and a bubble rising under gravity, and the results show that the present LBM has a superior performance in capturing the large topological changes and small features of interfaces.
In vivo imaging of the phagocytic dynamics underlying efficient clearance of adult‐born hippocampal granule cells by ramified microglia
Authors: Kamei Ryosuke , Okabe Shigeo
Published: April 2023

The phagocytosis of dead cells by microglia is essential in brain development and homeostasis. However, the mechanism underlying the efficient removal of cell corpses by ramified microglia remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the phagocytosis of dead cells by ramified microglia in the hippocampal dentate gyrus, where adult neurogenesis and homeostatic cell clearance occur. Two‐color imaging of microglia and apoptotic newborn neurons revealed two important characteristics. Firstly, frequent environmental surveillance and rapid engulfment reduced the time required for dead cell clearance. The motile microglial processes frequently contacted and enwrapped apoptotic neurons at the protrusion tips and completely digested them within 3–6 h of the initial contact. Secondly, while a single microglial process engaged in phagocytosis, the remaining processes continued environmental surveillance and initiated the removal of other dead cells. The simultaneous removal of multiple dead cells increases the clearance capacity of a single microglial cell. These two characteristics of ramified microglia contributed to their phagocytic speed and capacity, respectively. Consistently, the cell clearance rate was estimated to be 8–20 dead cells/microglia/day, supporting the efficiency of removing apoptotic newborn neurons. We concluded that ramified microglia specialize in utilizing individual motile processes to detect stochastic cell death events and execute parallel phagocytoses.
Influence of precipitation event magnitude on baseflow and coastal nitrate export for Prince Edward Island, Canada
Authors: Pavlovskii Igor , Jiang Yefang , Danielescu Serban , Kurylyk Barret L.
Published: April 2023

The export of anthropogenic nitrate to coastal waters, which depends on the interplay between many factors such as land use and meteorological forcing, is a rising concern in many regions of the world. The present study investigates the effect of precipitation event magnitude on baseflow and associated groundwater‐driven nitrate export in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Twenty‐year time‐series of precipitation, stream flow, and groundwater levels across the island were analysed to establish a three‐way relationship between precipitation, groundwater level rise, and baseflow increase along a hydrological response pathway in this island setting. The analysis was performed by extracting hydrological responses for groundwater level and baseflow for a selected subset of relatively isolated precipitation events. The results reveal a non‐linear relationship between precipitation event magnitude and baseflow change that is also observed for precipitation events associated with hurricanes and post tropical storms. A time‐series of streamflow nitrate concentrations during Hurricane Dorian's passage (September 2019) was used to evaluate the relevance of these findings for nitrate export. The data show that baseflow increases after a heavy precipitation event have limited impact on streamflow concentrations, but result in substantial and sustained increase of nitrate export (calculated by multiplying concentration by flow). These observations are consistent with a recharge‐induced water table rise leading to increased hydraulic gradients that drive discharge of shallow nitrate‐containing groundwater. Due to the similarity of the processes governing groundwater flow to the sea and to streams, the results can be used to gain insights into the impacts of precipitation event magnitude on direct groundwater discharge to coastal waters. On Prince Edward Island, this applies to at least the 13% of the island's surface area that is closer to the ocean than to any stream and likely feeds submarine groundwater discharge pathways.
Maternal mortality is preventable in Lebanon: A case series of maternal deaths to identify lessons learned using the “Three Delays” model
Authors: Rebeiz Marie‐Claire , El‐Kak Faysal , van den Akker Thomas , Hamadeh Randa , McCall Stephen J.
Published: April 2023

Objective

To identify the lessons learned from women who died during pregnancy or childbirth in Lebanon between 2018 and 2020.

Method

This is a case series and synthesis of maternal deaths between 2018 and 2020 that were reported by healthcare facilities to the Ministry of Public Health in Lebanon. The notes recorded from the maternal mortality review reports were analyzed using the “Three Delays” model to identify preventable causes and lessons learned.

Results

A total of 49 women died before, during, or after childbirth, with hemorrhage being the most frequent cause (n = 16). The possible factors that would have prevented maternal deaths included a prompt recognition of clinical severity, availability of blood for transfusion and magnesium sulfate for eclampsia, adequate transfer to tertiary care hospitals comprising specialist care, and involvement of skilled medical staff in obstetric emergencies.

Conclusion

Many maternal deaths in Lebanon are preventable. Better risk assessment, use of an obstetric warning system, access to adequately skilled human resources and medications, and improved communication and transfer mechanisms between private and tertiary care hospitals may avoid future maternal deaths.
The over‐regulation of pharmacist services: Why over‐the‐counter naloxone should spark conversation about a “standard of care” regulatory approach
Authors: Adams Alex J. , Frost Tim P.
Published: April 2023

In March 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first naloxone nasal spray to be available over‐the‐counter without a prescription. Naloxone nasal spray will become much more accessible nationwide, and a lot of current state regulations will become obsolete. Current state naloxone regulations for pharmacists are poorly calibrated to the medication's safety profile and may impede access to this critical opioid overdose reversal agent. State policymakers should reflect on the unnecessary regulations that were imposed on pharmacist prescribing of naloxone and consider moving to a “standard of care approach” to better enable pharmacists to engage in future public health initiatives.
The signaling effect of supplier's customer network instability on service price: Insights from the container shipping charter market
Authors: Kumar Pankaj , Nowinska Agnieszka , Schramm Hans‐Joachim
Published: April 2023

In a service exchange setting, the supply management literature generally assumes, with notable exceptions, the availability of complete information regarding supplier reliability. Highlighting the information asymmetry in supplier evaluation and using signaling theory, we argue that for a focal buyer, a supplier's downstream ego‐network instability, that is, other buyers' turnover in a supplier's network from one period to the next, acts as a signal of supplier unreliability, thereby reducing the price that the buyer pays to the supplier in a service exchange. Furthermore, we suggest that focal buyer–supplier relationship strength and structural equivalence weaken the negative effect of instability because the buyer has a more direct and positive experience with the supplier. Using a dataset of 3263 unique dyads formed by 260 buyers (shipoperators) and 493 suppliers (shipowners) during the 2000–2018 period in the container shipping charter market, we find support for our hypotheses, except for the contingent effect of structural equivalence. Our study contributes to signaling literature and network research by developing a supplier's downstream ego‐network instability as a salient heuristic for a focal buyer's pricing decisions. These findings equip buyer managers who may not accurately foresee supplier service quality in the charter market with a new supplier evaluation tool: a supplier's downstream ego‐network instability.
Determination of stem cell pluripotency in spent cultivation media by Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Hagedorn Jeppe , Halloin Caroline , Skibsted Erik , Poulsen Lars , Hedegaard Martin A. B.
Published: April 2023

To achieve successful cultivation of pluripotent stem cells using suspension (3D) culture methods, it is essential to maintain the pluripotent state while stimulating the proliferation of the cells. Currently, the methods available to rapidly assess the pluripotency during expansion are limited. Most rely on time‐consumingpost hoc‐analyses, which are prone to operator‐variation, to assess this critical attribute. In this study we propose the use of Raman spectroscopy coupled with chemometric analysis as a process analytical tool to classify the pluripotency by using the spent cultivation medium as samples. Using Support Vector Machines (SVM), a classification accuracy of 94% is achieved on a validation set of various media samples. This study indicates that there may be increased possibilities for monitoring and control in large‐scale expansion of stem cells by Raman spectroscopy.
Effects of Plasticizing on Mechanical and Viscous Characteristics of Poly(vinyl alcohol): A Comparative Study between Glycerol and Diethanolamine
Authors: Yao Yihang , Zhang Zhenjie , Wang Ke , Fu Qiang
Published: April 2023

Although plasticizing materials by modification with small‐molecular chemicals has been extensively utilized in the industrial community, processing poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) at high concentrations (CPVA) or with a high degree of polymerization (DP) remains challenging. Optimization the plasticizing conditions is one means of addressing this issue. In this study, two types of frequently used plasticizers, glycerol (GLY) and diethanolamine (DEA), are chosen to plasticize PVA resin with a DP of 2400. Both PVA/plasticizer films possess excellent optical transmittance and mechanical ductility, whereas the films blended with DEA exhibit higher strength than the PVA/GLY films. The viscosity variation in the temperature (Top)–CPVA space is monitored by real‐time viscous flow testing, demonstrating that DEA is more effective for reducing the viscosity of PVA, which should improve the processability, facilitating film‐forming from concentrated solutions. Furthermore, density functional theory calculations and molecular dynamics simulations illustrate that the PVA/DEA system has a lower binding energy, longer hydrogen bond length, and higher isotropic diffusion coefficient, indicating a stable hydrogen bond network and homogenous dispersion of the plasticizer, leading to good solution fluidity and mechanical performance. This study is significant for guiding the design and manufacture of optically transparent, high‐performance PVA films as polarizer precursor.
Projections in Lipschitz‐free spaces induced by group actions
Authors: Cúth Marek , Doucha Michal
Published: April 2023

We show that given a compact group G acting continuously on a metric space by bi‐Lipschitz bijections with uniformly bounded norms, the Lipschitz‐free space over the space of orbits (endowed with Hausdorff distance) is complemented in the Lipschitz‐free space over . We also investigate the more general case when G is amenable, locally compact or SIN and its action has bounded orbits. Then, we get that the space of Lipschitz functions is complemented in . Moreover, if the Lipschitz‐free space over , , is complemented in its bidual, several sufficient conditions on when is complemented in are given. Some applications are discussed. The paper contains preliminaries on projections induced by actions of amenable groups on general Banach spaces.
High Temperature Self‐Regenerative Granular Hydrogels for Fracture Treatments During Subsurface Energy Recovery
Authors: Wang Lizhu , Jiang Guancheng , Long Yifu , Sun Zhe
Published: April 2023

The uses of granular hydrogels to assemble macroscopic bulk hydrogels display numerous distinct advantages. However, prior assembly of bulk hydrogels is accomplished by interparticle linking strategy, which compromised mechanical property and thermal stability under hostile conditions. To expand their applications as engineering soft materials, self‐regenerative granular hydrogels via a seamless integrating approach to regenerate bulk hydrogels is highly desirable. Herein, covalent regenerative granular hydrogels (CRHs) are prepared at low‐temperature synthetic conditions and re‐construct bulk seamless hydrogels at high‐temperature aqueous environments. The re‐formed bulk hydrogels display rubber‐like viscoelastic behaviors over a wide range of temperatures from 90 to 150 °C, where the covalent re‐crosslinking reactions homogeneously occurr along the periphery and in the matrix of granular hydrogels, accounting for the increased structural integrity at high temperatures. The bulk hydrogel shows increased elasticity and long‐term thermal integrity at 150 °C for more than six months in the confined fractures. Moreover, regenerative granular CRH‐based bulk hydrogels significantly improve mechanical robustness under destructive pressure. Thus, high temperature water induced regenerative granular hydrogels present the paradigm to treat engineering scenarios such as large fractures for hydraulic fracturing, drilling operation, and disproportionate permeability reduction under extremely hostile conditions during subsurface energy recovery.
Advanced therapy medicinal products in China: Regulation and development
Authors: Lu Jiaqi , Xu Longchang , Wei Wei , He Wu
Published: April 2023

Advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) have shown dramatic efficacy in addressing serious diseases over the past decade. With the acceleration and deepening of China's drug regulatory reforms, the country sees a continuous introduction of policies that encourage drug innovation. The capacity and efficiency of the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE), National Medical Products Administration have significantly improved, where substantial resources have been allocated to ATMPs with major innovations and outstanding clinical values that satisfy urgent clinical needs. These changes have greatly stimulated the research and development of biological products in China, ushering in a period of explosive growth in the number of investigational new drug (IND) applications of ATMPs. Here, we described China's ATMP regulatory framework and analyzed data on IND applications for ATMPs submitted to CDE. The data show that China's ATMP industry is expanding dramatically, but lagging behind in terms of the innovative targets and the coverage of indications. However, in recent years, the diversity of product types, targets, and indications is growing. We discussed challenges and opportunities in ATMP regulation. Risk‐based regulation and cross‐discipline collaborations are encouraged to promote more ATMPs toward market authorization in China.
Lipid‐Related Genetic Variants for Personalized Dietary Interventions: A Systematic Review
Authors: Rivera‐Íñiguez Ingrid , González‐Becerra Karina , Ramos‐Lopez Omar , Peréz‐Beltrán Yolanda E. , Chagüén‐Hernández Marian S. , Martínez‐López Erika , Mendivil Edgar J.
Published: April 2023

Dyslipidemias are known risk factors for chronic diseases. Precision nutrition interventions are designed according to characteristics, such as diet, phenotype, and genotype. This systematic review aims to define a panel of genetic variants associated with lipid abnormalities that could be later used in nutrigenetic intervention studies. A systematic review is conducted following the PRISMA‐P. Studies published from January 2010 to December 2020 in English language and humans are included from PubMed and ScienceDirect databases. Articles that demonstrate a strong association between polymorphisms (single nucleotide variation) of genes involved in lipid metabolism and increased risk for dyslipidemia are included. A total of 3031 articles are screened, but only 51 articles fulfill the inclusion criteria. The genes included are FABP2, MTTP related to CM synthesis and secretion; LPL, LIPC involved in triglyceride hydrolysis; CETP, APOA1, LCAT, ABCA1, and APOA5 related to lipoprotein metabolism, and APOE, LDLR, SCARB1, APOC3 involved in lipid clearance. In this systematic review, genetic variants related to chylomicron synthesis, triglyceride hydrolysis, lipoprotein metabolism, and lipid clearance demonstrate a strong association with lipid abnormalities, which can be used to design precision nutrition interventions that may help to prevent and treat dyslipidemia effectively.
A negative group delay rectangular waveguide based on corrugated tantalum nitride slow wave structure
Authors: Liu Zheng , Zhang Jian , Lei Xue , Zhang Li , Wang Kexin , Xu Zhijian
Published: April 2023

In this letter, a rectangular waveguide with controlled negative group delay (NGD) is proposed. The equivalent circuit of the structure is proposed and analyzed. The NGD value and NGD center frequency can be adjusted continuously by the corrugation width and height. Simulation results showed that NGD values of up to −0.7 ns were achievable. The fractional bandwidth was up to 5.67%, at which point the NGD response was observed. A prototype of the proposed structure was fabricated and characterized. Results showed that the fabricated structure was capable of generating a group delay of up to −0.09 ns at 18.9–20 GHz, which was consistent with theoretical and simulated predictions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time negative group delay has been achieved in the microwave‐band in a rectangular waveguide.
Motion‐resolved fat‐fraction mapping with whole‐heart free‐running multiecho GRE and pilot tone
Authors: Mackowiak Adèle L. C. , Roy Christopher W. , Yerly Jérôme , Falcão Mariana B. L. , Bacher Mario , Speier Peter , Piccini Davide , Stuber Matthias , Bastiaansen Jessica A. M.
Published: April 2023

Purpose

To develop a free‐running 3D radial whole‐heart multiecho gradient echo (ME‐GRE) framework for cardiac‐ and respiratory‐motion‐resolved fat fraction (FF) quantification.

Methods

(NTE = 8) readouts optimized for water–fat separation and quantification were integrated within a continuous non‐electrocardiogram‐triggered free‐breathing 3D radial GRE acquisition. Motion resolution was achieved with pilot tone (PT) navigation, and the extracted cardiac and respiratory signals were compared to those obtained with self‐gating (SG). After extra‐dimensional golden‐angle radial sparse parallel‐based image reconstruction, FF, R2*, and B0 maps, as well as fat and water images were generated with a maximum‐likelihood fitting algorithm. The framework was tested in a fat–water phantom and in 10 healthy volunteers at 1.5 T using NTE = 4 and NTE = 8 echoes. The separated images and maps were compared with a standard free‐breathing electrocardiogram (ECG)‐triggered acquisition.

Results

The method was validated in vivo, and physiological motion was resolved over all collected echoes. Across volunteers, PT provided respiratory and cardiac signals in agreement (r = 0.91 and r = 0.72) with SG of the first echo, and a higher correlation to the ECG (0.1% of missed triggers for PT vs. 5.9% for SG). The framework enabled pericardial fat imaging and quantification throughout the cardiac cycle, revealing a decrease in FF at end‐systole by 11.4% ± 3.1% across volunteers (p < 0.0001). Motion‐resolved end‐diastolic 3D FF maps showed good correlation with ECG‐triggered measurements (FF bias of −1.06%). A significant difference in free‐running FF measured with NTE = 4 and NTE = 8 was found (p < 0.0001 in sub‐cutaneous fat and p < 0.01 in pericardial fat).

Conclusion

Free‐running fat fraction mapping was validated at 1.5 T, enabling ME‐GRE‐based fat quantification with NTE = 8 echoes in 6:15 min.
The use and misuse of sonographic reference values in neuromuscular disease
Authors: Goedee H. Stephan , van Alfen Nens
Published: April 2023

See article on pages 20–28 in this issue.
Validation of image interpretation for direct vision‐guided feeding tube placement
Authors: Taylor Stephen J. , Milne Danielle , Zeino Zeino , Griffiths Leonard , Clemente Rowan , Greer‐Rogers Frances , Brown Jules
Published: April 2023

Background

Unguided (blind) tube placement commonly results in lung (1.6%) and oesophageal (5%) misplacement, which can lead to pneumothorax, aspiration pneumonia, death, feeding delays, and increased cost. Use of real‐time direct vision may reduce risk. We validated the accuracy of a guide to train new operators in the use of direct vision–guided tube placement.

Methods

Using direct vision, operators matched anatomy viewed to anatomical markers in a preliminary operator guide. We examined how accurately the guide predicted tube position, specifically whether respiratory and gastrointestinal placement could be differentiated.

Results

A total of 100 patients each had one tube placement. Placement was aborted in 6% because of inability to enter or move beyond the oesophagus. In 15 of 20 placements in which the glottic opening was identified, the tube was maneuvered to avoid entry into the respiratory tract. Of 96 tubes that reached the oesophagus, 17 had entered the trachea; all were withdrawn pre‐carina. One or more specific characteristics identified each organ, differentiating the trachea‐oesophagus (P < 0.0001), oesophagus‐stomach, and stomach‐intestine in 100%. End‐of‐procedure tube position was ascertained by pH ≤4.0 (gastric) of aspirated fluid and/or x‐ray (gastric or intestinal). In patients with a trauma risk (13%), it was avoided by identification that the tube remained within the nasal, oesophageal, or gastric lumen.

Conclusion

Operators successfully matched anatomy seen by direct vision to images and descriptions of anatomy in the “operator guide.” This validated that the operator guide accurately facilitates interpretation of tube position and enabled avoidance of lung trauma and oesophageal misplacement.
Birds for Isis: The evidence from Pompeii
Authors: Corbino Chiara Assunta , Demarchi Beatrice
Published: April 2023

People have always been fascinated by birds. In the Roman period, birds (particularly chicken) were still largely employed in several rituals. Although Roman writers, such as Cicero, Livy, Pliny the Elder, and Aelian, inform us about the use of birds in a number of rituals, the archaeological evidence rarely allows us to associate the collected zooarchaeological remains with a single deity.

In 2017, a well‐preserved archaeological context located in the vicinity of the temple of Isis in Pompeii and related to a single ritual event (dated to the mid‐1st century CE), revealed a number of faunal remains as well as ceramic and archaeobotanical finds. Chicken dominates the assemblage, followed by goose, pigeon, and turtle dove. A few remains of pig and a marine bivalve, the truncate donax, were also recovered. Skeletally young chickens were largely employed in the ritual, whereas the other bird taxa are only represented by mature bones. Chicken eggshell, taxonomically identified using ancient protein analysis, was also found. Taphonomic evidence indicates that bird bones were still covered with meat when exposed to the ritual fire. The results obtained have been linked to relevant written and iconographic sources dated to the Roman period. This work confirms that bird sacrifice was an important part of the Isis rituals. Among the birds involved, goose could be considered a possible marker of that goddess. The evidence from Pompeii adds new insights into our knowledge of the animals in the Isis cult during the 1st century CE.
Cosmology from Non‐Minimal Geometry‐Matter Coupling
Authors: Gonçalves B.S. , Moraes P.H.R.S. , Mishra B.
Published: April 2023

We construct a cosmological model from the inception of the Friedmann‐Lemâitre‐Robertson‐Walker metric into the field equations of the gravity theory, with R being the Ricci scalar and being the matter lagrangian density. The formalism is developed for a particular function, namely , with σ being a constant that carries the geometry‐matter coupling. Our solutions are remarkably capable of evading the Big‐Bang singularity as well as predict the cosmic acceleration with no need for the cosmological constant, but simply as a consequence of the geometry‐matter coupling terms in the Friedmann‐like equations.
Functional differentiation of two general‐odorant binding proteins in Hyphantria cunea (Drury) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae)
Authors: Zhang Xiaoqing , Purba Endang R. , Sun Jing , Zhang Qing‐He , Dong Shuang‐Lin , Zhang Ya‐Nan , He Peng , Mang Dingze , Zhang Longwa
Published: April 2023

BACKGROUND

General odor‐binding proteins (GOBPs) play critical roles in insect olfactory recognition of sex pheromones and plant volatiles. Therefore, the identification of GOBPs in Hyphantria cunea (Drury) based on their characterization to pheromone components and plant volatiles is remain unknown.

RESULTS

In this study, two H. cunea (HcunGOBPs) genes were cloned, and their expression profiles and odorant binding characteristics were systematically analyzed. Firstly, the tissue expression study showed that both HcunGOBP1 and HcunGOBP2 were highly expressed in the antennae of both sexes, indicating their potential involvement in the perception of sex pheromones. Secondly, these two HcunGOBPs genes were expressed in Escherichia coli and ligand binding assays were used to assess the binding affinities to its sex pheromone components including two aldehydes and two epoxides, and some plant volatiles. HcunGOBP2 showed high binding affinities to two aldehyde components (Z9, Z12, Z15‐18Ald and Z9, Z12‐18Ald), and showed low binding affinities to two epoxide components (1, Z3, Z6‐9S, 10R‐epoxy‐21Hy and Z3, Z6‐9S, 10R‐epoxy‐21Hy), whereas HcunGOBP1 showed weak but significant binding to all four sex pheromone components. Furthermore, both HcunGOBPs demonstrated variable binding affinities to the plant volatiles tested. Thirdly, in silico studies of HcunGOBPs utilized homology, structure modeling, and molecular docking revealed critical hydrophobic residues might be involved in the binding of HcunGOBPs to their sex pheromone components and plant volatiles.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that these two HcunGOBPs may serve as potential targets for future studies of HcunGOBPs ligand binding, providing insight in the mechanism of olfaction in H. cunea. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Investigation of Excitons Properties in Atomically Thin CsPbBr3 Perovskite Film
Authors: Wang Pingjian , Wu Qingyu , Zhang Xiaoxiao , Sun Chengshuai , Liu Mengdi , Zeng Ruiyang , Liu Min , Wei Guangfen , Qiao Zhuhui , Lin Zhonghai
Published: April 2023

CsPbX3 inorganic perovskites have gained widespread attention due to the excellent stability and interesting properties. This article focuses on the exciton properties of CsPbBr3 with different layer numbers. The electronic and optical properties are also investigated. The distribution of excitons (electrons and holes) is closely related to the density of states near the bottom of the conduction band and the top of valence band. Based on potential analysis, it is found that the excitons are affected by the bromine atoms. With increasing thickness, the bandgap decreases and the absorption spectrum that appears obviously in the bandgap moves to lower energy, the maximum binding energy of bright excitons becomes smaller, and the corresponding Bohr radius becomes larger. These results provide a theoretical basis for the theoretical and experimental studies of CsPbBr3 and provide some guidance for the design of optoelectronic devices.
Structural Design and Simple Posttreatment of the Hole Transport Layer to Improve Performance of Hybrid Solar Cells
Authors: Wang Yang , Jiang Wenzheng , Zhao Yonggang , Lv Mingzhi , An Yue , Wang Yu , Zhang Qiang , Liu Hao , Liu Chenxi , Fan Zining , Liu Qiming , He Deyan
Published: April 2023

The performance of organic‐inorganic hybrid solar cells (HSCs) can be improved by modifying the hole transport layer (HTL). Poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) is the most active HTL material in organic‐inorganic HSCs and has been widely studied. Nevertheless, charge transfer in PEDOT:PSS is limited and inefficient due to the presence of the weak ionic conductor PSS. Moreover, the working function of the PEDOT:PSS film and the passivation of the PSS at the Si/PEDOT:PSS interface play a crucial role in carrier separation. The focus of this work is to explore a universal modification method to simultaneously achieve improved charge transport and interfacial passivation capability when using PEDOT:PSS as HTL. By combining bilayer design and simple solution posttreatment, the direct current conductivity (σdc) and work function of the HTL based on PEDOT:PSS are increased to 765 S cm−1 and 5.00 eV, respectively. The organic‐inorganic HSCs prepared using this approach achieve a photovoltaic conversion efficiency (PCE) of 12.33%, achieving a 16.54% improvement over untreated devices.
Hydrogen Evolution, Piezoelectricity, and Optical Properties of Monolayer Semimetal (α,β)–S2C2N2 and Janus (α,β)–SCN/CN
Authors: Long Yaowen , Cheng XinLu , Zhang Hong
Published: April 2023

Herein, the density functional theory is used to study the structural, mechanical, electrical, optical, and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) properties of monolayer structures and . They are claimed to be stable monolayer structures by phonon dispersion and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD). Compared to graphene (≈340 N m−1), the shows a higher Young's modulus (≈429, 414 N m−1). Moreover, the piezoelectric stress coefficient of α‐ (=2.65 pm V−1) is comparable with bulk piezoelectric α‐quartz (=2.3 pm V−1). Exciton effect at M point causes redshift and enhancement of light absorption of α‐ and . The overpotential of is only –0.072 V. Besides, the gives a small effective electron mass of about 0.2(m0). It is worth mentioning that the monolayer structures show the semimetal phases. Due to the unique semimetal phase, the absorption of has an excellent performance in the near‐infrared (NIR) region. It can be enhanced at the NIR region and extended to the middle infrared region when applying tensile stress. These results provide more choices for 2D materials in electrocatalysis, piezoelectric sensors, visible light devices, and infrared photodetectors.
The impostor phenomenon in post‐secondary students: A review of the literature
Authors: Ménard A. Dana , Chittle Laura
Published: April 2023

The impostor phenomenon (IP) is characterised by a belief that one is not actually intelligent or accomplished, despite objective evidence of success, but rather has fooled others and is therefore vulnerable to discovery as a fraud. Impostor feelings are widespread in the post‐secondary population and may be disproportionately experienced by groups already marginalised within academia (e.g., women, racialised students). The IP may be associated with significant mental health issues and changes long‐term education and career plans; as such, it is imperative that administrators take steps to address impostorism on university and college campuses. The purpose of this review was to summarise factors of the IP from existing research on the experiences and background characteristics of undergraduate, graduate and professional students (i.e., medicine, law). Findings on the subject of IP and gender as well as IP and ethnicity were inconsistent. Most studies found that IP was negatively related to self‐esteem and various dimensions of mental health. The relationship of IP to grade point average was inconsistent but several studies showed a negative association between IP and measures of academic performance. These findings suggest there is a critical need to bring awareness to and address experiences of the IP in the academic community; implications for campus mental health professionals are explored. Limitations of existing research are addressed and directions for future research are discussed.

Context and implications

Rationale for this study

To offer a summary of findings related to experiences of the IP among students in higher education.

Why the new findings matter

IP is negatively associated with multiple mental health concerns, self‐esteem, and measures of academic performance; therefore, interventions are needed to better support students in their academic pursuits.

Implications for higher education personnel (e.g., professors, administrators)

Implications for mental health professionals and students are discussed. Recommendations for intervention include raising awareness and normalising feelings of IP through workshops and orientations, and resource development with a particular focus on practical strategies to support students in coping with feelings of IP. Earlier intervention to manage IP is needed to curb associated mental health issues and deleterious changes to long‐term education and career plans.
Mayer‐Rokitansky‐Küster‐Hauser syndrome presented as recurrent urinary tract infection in childhood (case report)
Authors: Falsafi Nargess , Amirzargar Hossein , Moghtaderi Mastaneh
Published: April 2023

Background

Mayer‐Rokitansky‐Küster‐Hauser syndrome (MRKH) is characterized by the absence of the uterus and upper two‐thirds of the vagina, normal secondary sexual development, and 46XX karyotype is one of the rare types of Mullerian agenesis. There may be associated congenital anomalies in other organ systems especially those with the same embryogenesis such as the urinary tract mostly in its upper parts present in 40% of cases including renal agenesis, ectopic kidney (unilateral or bilateral), renal hypoplasia, horseshoe kidneys, and hydronephrosis. Other organ systems also may be affected such as skeletal and auditory systems. MRKH is diagnosed mostly during or after adolescence because of unexpected amenorrhea or disturbed sexual experiences.

Case report

We present a 3‐year‐old girl coming with recurrent bouts of urinary tract infections diagnosed as having MRKH syndrome established by imaging and genetic studies. Our case is very rare and interesting because it presents itself as a recurrent urinary tract infection in early childhood which is rare and unusual. In this case, early detection helped us to prevent chronic kidney disease and also planning to perform necessary minimal but very important surgical procedures before initiation of sexual activities to relieve the psychosocial aspect of the syndrome both for the child and parents.

Conclusion

Health givers should keep in mind that rare syndromes may present as a repeated quite common problem or have confusing or conceiving presentations. This point will assist us in the early detection of rare diseases at an earlier age or stage.
Robotic date fruit harvesting using machine vision and a 5‐DOF manipulator
Authors: Mohammadi Parvin , Massah Jafar , Asefpour Vakilian Keyvan
Published: April 2023

Date fruits can be found at the highest point of the palm tree, so harvesting can be a dangerous task for humans. In this study, a robotic arm is presented to harvest date fruits. A manipulator, traveling on a U‐shaped rail with four prismatic joints and one revolute joint, was designed and constructed to approach the fruits efficiently. The end‐effector of the manipulator was an electric chainsaw capable of cutting the date bunch. Two cameras were located on the manipulator in perpendicular directions to capture images, which were then transmitted to a decision‐making unit to control the speed of the manipulator links. The decision‐making unit included three fuzzy inference systems that used the location data of the fruit bunch stems and the area of tree leaves in the images to determine the speed of electromotors of the trolley, horizontal link, and vertical link. An artificial palm tree with dimensions similar to a real palm tree was constructed to evaluate the performance of the robot. The performance of the robot was evaluated in various lighting conditions. The results showed that the introduced image processing algorithm could adequately detect the stems of the date bunches with accuracy, precision, and recall of 0.88, 0.92, and 0.96, respectively, in suitable lighting, that is, when there was sufficient natural lighting. Moreover, the experimental results revealed that the accuracy of the control system in cutting the stems was 87%, with a production loss of 5%. The proposed robot makes it possible to improve the capacity of using mechanized harvesting in date palm fields.
A multi‐parameter approach to quantify riverbed clogging and vertical hyporheic connectivity
Authors: Negreiros B. , Galdos A. Aybar , Seitz L. , Noack M. , Schwindt S. , Wieprecht S. , Haun S.
Published: April 2023

Riverbed clogging is key to assessing vertical connectivity in the hyporheic zone and is often quantified using single‐parameter or qualitative approaches. However, clogging is driven by multiple, interacting physical and bio‐geochemical parameters, which do not allow for a conclusive assessment of hyporheic connectivity with single‐parameter approaches. In addition, existing qualitative assessments lack transparency and repeatability. This study introduces a Multi‐Parameter Approach to quantify Clogging and vertical hyporheic connectivity (MultiPAC), which builds on standardized measurements of physical (grain size characteristics, porosity, hydraulic conductivity) and bio‐geochemical (interstitial dissolved oxygen) parameters. We apply MultiPAC at three gravel‐bed rivers and show how the set of parameters provides a representative appreciation of physical riverbed clogging, thus quantifying vertical hyporheic connectivity. However, more parameters are required to fully characterize biological clogging. In addition, MultiPAC locates clogged layers in the hyporheic zone through multi‐parameter vertical profiles over the riverbed depth. The discussion outlines the relevance of MultiPAC to guide field surveys.
Thermostable 1T‐MoS2 Nanosheets Achieved by Spontaneous Intercalation of Cu Single Atoms at Room Temperature and Their Enhanced HER Performance
Authors: Li Mengyao , Selvarajan Premkumar , Wang Shuangyue , Wan Tao , Xi Shibo , Wang Xiaopeng , Xue Junmin , Indirathankam Sathish Clastinrusselraj , Geng Xun , Qiao Liang , Vinu Ajayan , Chu Dewei , Yi Jiabao
Published: April 2023

A simple strategy to fabricate Cu single atoms (SAs) layer‐intercalated MoS2 only by stirring Cu metals with MoS2 nanosheets solution at room temperature is reported. An ultra‐high concentration (Cu: Mo = 98 at%) of Cu SAs is achieved and the intercalated Cu atoms strongly enhance the stability of the thermodynamically unstable 1T‐phase dominant MoS2. Notably, the as‐synthesized MoS2/Cu‐SAs exhibit a surprisingly high proportion of the metallic phase (64%) even after annealing at 800 °C in 5% H2/Ar foaming gas, indicating extraordinary thermostability of the Cu intercalated 1 T‐MoS2. In addition to, the as‐prepared MoS2/SAs exhibit outstanding catalytic performance owing to the improved electrical conductivity and the highly active unsaturated Cu SAs. This strategy is confirmed as a universal method for producing SAs of other metals and other 2D nanosheets can also be used as the host for SAs intercalation other than MoS2. This study may provide an effective strategy to fabricate facile and low‐cost SAs catalysts.