bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Thickness of the Porous Layer on Thin Film Condensation in Forced Convection in a Canal Whose Walls are Covered with a Porous Material: Determination of Lengths of Entry
Authors: Ndiaye Pape Tamsir , Ndiaye Momath , Ndiaye Goumbo , Thiam Omar Ngor , Sow Mamadou Lamine , Mbow Cheikh
Published: March 2023

We have examined film condensation in a channel whose walls are covered with porous media numerically. The transfers in the porous medium and the liquid film are respectively described by the Darcy-Brinkman-Forchheimer model and the equations of the hydrodynamic and thermal boundary layers and are solved by the decentered implicit finite difference method and the iterative Gauss-Seidel method.

After validating, the influence of the thickness of the porous layer on the longitudinal velocity and the temperature profiles in both media (pure liquid and porous medium), the thickness of the liquid film, the local Nusselt number and the lengths of entry have been studied.

We note that an increase in the thickness of the porous layer increases the friction and decreases the contact of the fluid with the cold plate and allows a decrease in the longitudinal velocity and an increase in the temperatures in the porous medium and the pure liquid, a decrease liquid film thickness (disadvantaged condensation) and increases the local Nusselt number and also an increase in the length of entry. The increase in length of entry is quasi-linear. The sensitivity of condensation to a change in thickness of the porous layer is constant.
Between Host Model for Cervical Cancer Incorporating Diagnosis
Authors: Mutwiwa Jacinta M.
Published: March 2023

In this paper a mathematical model describing a between host cervical cancer infection incorporating diagnosis was formulated and analysed. The qualitative analysis of model showed that the infection dynamics can best be described by the threshold value R0B , in which for the value of R0B < 1 the infection free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable. This implies that we do not expect the disease outbreak for life. Thus, the disease will die out of the population. The endemic states are shown to exist provided that the reproduction number is greater than unity R0B > 1 . By use of Routh-Hurwitz criterion and suitable Lyapunov functions, the endemic states are shown to be locally and globally asymptotically stable respectively. This implies that disease transmission levels can be kept quite low or manageable with minimal deaths at the peak times of the re-occurrences. The numerical results show that the disease related mortality is eradicated if diagnosis is done at an early stage hence late diagnosis increases the risk of cervical cancer infection among the infected individuals.
Monitoring of the Physicochemical and Microbiological Quality of Water Produced and Distributed by La Congolaise Des Eaux (LCDE) in Brazzaville
Authors: Mvouezolo Raison Félicien Louzayadio , Tchoumou Martin , Moussoki Promesse Nsona , Engambe Christ Bardoul , Bouaka Fulbert
Published: March 2023

Water is an essential element for all living beings and therefore deserves special attention to maintain its quality. The objective of this work is to monitor the physicochemical and microbiological parameters of the water produced and distributed by La Congolaise Des Eaux (LCDE) of Brazzaville in order to evaluate the risk on the health of consumers. Ninety (90) and eighty-five (85) samples were taken respectively in the southern and northern areas of the city of Brazzaville. These different samples were analyzed using physicochemical and microbiological methods.
The results obtained show that these waters have high temperature values, ranging from 27.88 and 28.10°C in the South and North zones compared to the WHO guideline value (25°C) and have a moderately acidic pH (6 ,20-7.00) in both areas.
The turbidity of the water is more pronounced in the southern zone (6.83 NTU) and is reflected in the absence of residual chlorine in the maximum number of sampling points with low mineralization. From a microbiological point of view, these waters show contamination with total germs, total coliforms and fecal coliforms. This contamination is more pronounced in the southern zone than in the northern zone. Thus, the factorial analysis shows contamination by total germs and indicator germs of fecal contamination (total coliforms and fecal coliforms) and reflects the lack of residual chlorine at the consumer's tap.
In view of the results obtained, this study shows that the ageing of the installations and the dilapidated state of the pipes of the LCDE have a negative impact on the quality of the water distributed, which constitutes a high health risk for the consumers.
Effect of Co-inoculations with Growth-Promoting Bacteria on Soybean Crop
Authors: Nascimento Amanda M. , Monteiro Ana C. A. , Benedet Lucas
Published: March 2023

Aim: To evaluate the effect of co-inoculation with Pseudomonas fluorescens and P. fluorescens + Azospirillum brasilense on seedling emergence speed, development and soybean yield.

Study Design: Randomized complete block design with five treatments and eight replications.

Place and Duration of Study: Ibiporã, Paraná State, Brazil, during the 2020/21 season.

Methodology: The treatments consisted of untreated control (Cont); mineral fertilizer (Min); mineral fertilizer + (P. fluorescens + A. brasiliense) (Min – Psf + Azb); mineral fertilizer + P. fluorescens at two doses (Min – Psf 100 and Min – Psf 200). The effect in the soybean was assessed by determining the effect on the seedling emergence speed, crop development and crop yield. Data were subject to ANOVA at P = 0.10 Treatments means were separated using the Duncan test at a 0.10 level of significance.

Results: The inoculant treatments had non-significant effect on the emergence speed index and crop stand. However, the co-inoculation with P. fluorescens at two doses resulted in the best plant vigor. In addition, the treatments with co-inoculation increased shoots and root biomass, with Min – Psf 100 inducing more nodules. Finally, Min – Psf + Azb and Min – Psf 200 had very significant results for soybean yield.

Conclusion: This study revealed that the co-inoculation treatments tested led to great soybean response, especially for P. fluorescens at a doubled dose, which demonstrated a significant increase in soybean development and yield in relation to the control.
Site‐specific estimation of spatiotemporal crop evapotranspiration through field‐level sensing data
Authors: El‐Naggar Ahmed G. , Hedley Carolyn B.
Published: March 2023

This study integrated field‐level sensor data into the FAO‐56 Penman–Monteith algorithm to provide a site‐specific estimate of crop evapotranspiration. This was carried out at two contrasting sites for pea and bean (Manawatū) and barley (Hawke's Bay) crops managed within two irrigation management zones, at each site, under variable‐rate irrigation systems in New Zealand. Daily crop evapotranspiration estimates were calculated using data from a weather station situated at the field site combined with in‐field crop sensing data (spectral reflectance, canopy temperature, and canopy height). In addition, calibrated soil moisture data were used with a soil water balance model to compare estimations of daily crop evapotranspiration with those estimated using the crop sensing method. The results indicated that variable crop responses to different irrigation strategies and soil types provided a good opportunity to quantify different levels of spectral reflectance, canopy temperature, and consequently the estimation of crop water use. The statistical comparisons revealed that the modified FAO‐56 Penman–Monteith using crop sensor data compared well with the more conventional soil water balance approach using soil moisture data (R2 = 0.70, 0.83, 0.91 for barley, pea, and bean, respectively). Overall, the results from this study indicated that crop sensing approaches combined with the FAO‐56 Penman–Monteith model have potential to provide a more easily determined site‐specific field estimation of crop evapotranspiration than other methods, and it can take into consideration the spatiotemporal variability of crop growth in a field.
Parahydrogen‐Induced Polarization of a Labeled, Cancer‐Targeting DNA Aptamer
Authors: Brenske Kai‐Oliver , Emondts Meike , Hörnig Sven T. , Panitz Sinan , Pieper Maria I. , Ligori Aron , Schacht Alexander , Henkel Johanna , Klankermayer Jürgen , Herrmann Andreas
Published: March 2023

Enhancing NMR signals of biomacromolecules by hyperpolarization offers exciting opportunities for diagnostic applications. However, their hyperpolarization via parahydrogen remains challenging as specific catalytic interactions are required, which are difficult to tune due to the large size of the biomolecule and its insolubility in organic solvents. Herein, we show the unprecedented hyperpolarization of the cancer‐targeting DNA aptamer AS1411. By screening different molecular motifs for an unsaturated label in nucleosides and in DNA oligomers, we were able to identify structural prerequisites for the hyperpolarization of AS1411. Finally, adjusting the polarity of AS1411 by complexing the DNA backbone with amino polyethylene glycol chains allowed the hydrogenation of the label with parahydrogen while the DNA structure remains stable to maintain its biological function. Our results are expected to advance hyperpolarized molecular imaging technology for disease detection in the future.
Discrete reference tracking control to swing up an electric wheelchair
Authors: Gray Michael , Guerra Thierry Marie , Delprat Sébastien , Mohammad S.
Published: March 2023

Mobility using wheelchair is a crucial feature for disabled people. Between a manual wheelchair and an electric wheelchair, there is a very interesting and promising solution consisting of an electrical kit that converts a manual wheelchair to an electric wheelchair. Autonomad‐Mobility is a company selling such kits, where the wheels are equipped with a brushless motor. It presents new possibilities for mobility, especially for crossing obstacles and running on different types of soil. Several methods have been tested, from linear to nonlinear ones including the linear parameter‐varying control framework. Nevertheless, the most dangerous and critical issue is to be able to produce a so‐called safe and robust swing‐up: the transition from standard mode (four wheels on the ground) to gyroscopic mode (the wheelchair balancing on the rear push‐wheels). The gyroscopic mode is a unique feature improving mobility by providing a way to overcome obstacles that would normally be unsurpassable due to the caster wheels. Whereas some results exist, the solution must be compatible with any wheelchair and any disabled person whatever is her/his height and weight. Robustness of this unstable feature is therefore the key point of the work knowing that “exact” modeling is unrealistic. With the model in descriptor form and using the quasi‐linear parameter‐varying framework new stabilization conditions formulated as linear matrix inequality constraints are developed for attaining the goal. Simulations and real‐time experiments demonstrate the interest of this approach.
Boundary Mittag–Leffler stabilization of a class of time fractional‐order nonlinear reaction–diffusion systems
Authors: Zhao Ailiang , Li Junmin , Lei Yanfang , Zhou Huacheng
Published: March 2023

Boundary control design of a class of time fractional‐order nonlinear reaction–diffusion systems (FNRDSs) is considered in three cases: domain‐averaged measurement, collocated boundary point measurement, and anti‐collocated boundary point measurement. For domain‐averaged measurement and collocated boundary point measurement, boundary controllers are designed directly based on the measurements, respectively. For the anti‐collocated boundary point measurement, to overcome the difficulty that the measurement cannot be used for the controller design directly, an observer is constructed firstly, and then, an observer‐based boundary controller is designed. Sufficient conditions for Mittag–Leffler (M‐L) stability of the closed‐loop system are all provided in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). Numerical simulation results are provided to illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed methods.
Synthesis, structure elucidation, and chemiluminescent activity of new 9‐substituted 10‐(ω‐(succinimidyloxycarbonyl)alkyl)acridinium esters
Authors: Smith Keith , Mu Xiaojing , Li Zhaoqiang , Holland Andy M. , Woodhead J. Stuart , El‐Hiti Gamal A.
Published: March 2023

Several new acridinium esters 2–9 having their central acridinium ring bearing a 9‐(2,5‐dimethylphenoxycarbonyl), 9‐(2,6‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenoxycarbonyl) or 9‐(2,6‐dinitrophenoxycarbonyl) group, and a 10‐methyl, 10‐(3‐(succinimidyloxycarbonyl)propyl), 10‐(5‐(succinimidyloxycarbonyl)pentyl), or 10‐(10‐(succinimidyloxycarbonyl)decyl) group, have been synthesized and their chemiluminescent properties have been tested. The 2,5‐dimethylphenyl acridinium esters emit light slowly (glow) when treated with alkaline hydrogen peroxide, while the 2,6‐dinitrophenyl and 2,6‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl esters emit light rapidly (flash). The substituent at the 10 position affects the hydrolytic stabilities of the compounds.
Psychotherapy training via a task‐based assessment of the multicultural orientation framework: A pilot study
Authors: Stewart Shaakira Haywood , Drinane Joanna M. , Owen Jesse , Dumas Denis
Published: March 2023

This pilot study involved the development and initial testing of an applied Multicultural Orientation Performance Task (MCO‐PT) and coding system. The MCO‐PT was comprised of seven brief video simulations of cultural exchanges. Seventy‐four graduate students recorded responses and then completed measures of desirable responding and multicultural competence. Research assistants coded the videos on three dimensions: cultural humility, cultural opportunities and cultural comfort (ICCs 0.61–0.97). Exploratory factor analysis yielded three factors that corresponded with the MCO constructs (alphas 0.77–0.97). Cultural opportunities were positively correlated with multicultural competence, and none of the subscales were associated with social desirability.
Functional Quality, Antioxidant Capacity and Essential Oil Percentage in Different Mint Species Affected by Salinity Stress
Authors: Hosseini Seyyed Jaber , Tahmasebi‐Sarvestani Zeinolabedin , Mokhtassi‐Bidgoli Ali , Keshavarz Hamed , Kazemi Shahryar , Khalvandi Masoumeh , Pirdashti Hematollah , Hamidreza Hashemi‐Petroudi Seyyed , Nicola Silvana
Published: March 2023

Saline stress is responsible for significant reductions in the growth of plants, and it globally leads to limitations in the performance of crops, especially in drought‐affected areas. However, a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the resistance of plants to environmental stress can lead to a better plant breeding and selection of cultivars. Mint is one of the most important medicinal plants, and it has important properties for industry, and for the medicinal and pharmacy fields. The effects of salinity on the biochemical and enzymatic properties of 18 ecotypes of mint from six different species, that is, Mentha piperita, Mentha mozafariani, Mentha rotundifolia, Mentha spicata, Mentha pulegium and Mentha longifolia, have been examined in this study. The experimental results showed that salinity increased with increasing in stress integrity influenced the enzymatic properties, proline content, electrolyte leakage, and the hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde, and essential oil contents. Cluster analysis and principal component analysis were conducted, and they grouped the studied species on the basis of their biochemical characteristics. According to the obtained biplot results, M. piperita and M. rotundifolia showed better stress tolerance than the other varieties, and M. longifolia was identified as being salt sensitive. Generally, the results showed that H2O2 and malondialdehyde had a positive connection with each other and showed a reverse relationship with all the enzymatic and non‐enzymatic antioxidants. Finally, it was found that the M. spicata, M. rotundifolia and M. piperita ecotypes could be used for future breeding projects to improve the salinity tolerance of other ecotypes.
Replication Protein A Enhances Kinetics of Uracil DNA Glycosylase on ssDNA and Across DNA Junctions: Explored with a DNA Repair Complex Produced with SpyCatcher/SpyTag Ligation
Authors: Greenwood Sharon N. , Kulkarni Rashmi S. , Mikhail Michel , Weiser Brian P.
Published: March 2023

DNA repair proteins participate in extensive protein−protein interactions that promote the formation of DNA repair complexes. To understand how complex formation affects protein function during base excision repair, we used SpyCatcher/SpyTag ligation to produce a covalent complex between human uracil DNA glycosylase (UNG2) and replication protein A (RPA). Our covalent “RPA−Spy−UNG2” complex could identify and excise uracil bases in duplex areas next to ssDNA−dsDNA junctions slightly faster than the wild‐type proteins, but this was highly dependent on DNA structure, as the turnover of the RPA−Spy−UNG2 complex slowed at DNA junctions where RPA tightly engaged long ssDNA sections. Conversely, the enzymes preferred uracil sites in ssDNA where RPA strongly enhanced uracil excision by UNG2 regardless of ssDNA length. Finally, RPA was found to promote UNG2 excision of two uracil sites positioned across a ssDNA−dsDNA junction, and dissociation of UNG2 from RPA enhanced this process. Our approach of ligating together RPA and UNG2 to reveal how complex formation affects enzyme function could be applied to examine other assemblies of DNA repair proteins.
An examination of associations between sexual assault and health problems, depression or suicidal ideation in a large nationally representative cohort of male and female 20–30‐year‐olds
Authors: Turgumbayev Marlen , Shopabayev Batir , Dzhansarayeva Rima , Izbassova Assel , Beaver Kevin
Published: March 2023

Background

A long line of research has examined whether being the victim of sexual assault is associated with negative and maladaptive outcomes, but has mainly focused on women and girls.

Aims

To replicate and extend prior research by examining whether various measures of sexual assault are related to physical ill‐health, depression and/or suicidal ideation, regardless of sex or age of victim. Our research questions were (1) is sexual assault related to health problems, depression and suicidal ideation and (2) do these associations differ between men and women?

Method

We analyse data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), a longitudinal study of a US nationally representative sample of nearly 21,000 young people recruited for the first wave of interviews when most of the participants were between ages 12 and 18 years. We used Wave 4 data, collected for participants who were in their 20s and 30s, on experience of both physical sexual assault and non‐physical sexual assault and mental state, allowing for some characteristics measured in Wave 1. Allowing for missing data, sample sizes were between 6868 and 10,489 for the women and 6024 and 10,263 for the men.

Results

Statistically significant associations were revealed between the physical and non‐physical measures of sexual assault and the health problems scale, the depression scale and the measure of suicidal ideation. These associations remained statistically significant even after controlling for key covariates measured at Wave 1, including exposure to delinquent peers, poverty and demographic characteristics.

Conclusions

Sexual assault at some time and of whatever kind, although more commonly reported by women than men, is similarly associated with serious physical and mental health problems during their 20s and 30s. More sequencing detail is required for better prevention of harms.
Dental loss, stress fractures, and musculoskeletal pain in a 48‐year‐old woman
Authors: Hoang Lindsay T. , Hatfield Jennifer S. , Nguyen Quan , Shakir Mohamed K. M. , Hoang Thanh D.
Published: March 2023

We report a 48‐year‐old female patient with various stress fractures of extremities, musculoskeletal pain, and tooth loss. Hypophosphatasia was diagnosed based on clinical and laboratory findings and ALPL genetic results. This case highlights the importance of early diagnosis of hypophosphatasia in adults and appropriate treatment to prevent further complications.
Delusional Infestation: A case of Ekbom syndrome in an elderly woman with a long history of HIV
Authors: Mandari Sadiki , Aslan Suluma , Deodatus Shani , Nyundo Azan
Published: March 2023

A 70‐year‐old female presented with a long history of HIV and 5 years of disturbing delusions of infestation that impaired her daily functioning. The delusions resolved with haloperidol but were followed by depressive symptoms. The case presents the complexity of managing neuropsychiatric manifestations of HIV/AIDS with comorbidities in old age.
Yellow urticaria revealing overlap syndrome of autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary cholangitis
Authors: Toujani Sana , El Ouni Amira , Mestiri Souhir , Toujani Emna , Belhassen Asma , Meddeb Zeineb , Bouslama Kamel
Published: March 2023

Yellow urticaria is a variant of urticaria that is rarely reported in the literature. It usually occurs in the setting of a chronic liver disease and reflects the accumulation of bilirubin in the skin tissues. We report a case of yellow urticaria that occurred in a 33‐year‐old female patient suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus and overlap syndrome of autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary cholangitis revealed by a migratory pruritic yellowish urticarial eruption on the trunk and limbs. Yellow urticaria may be an important clue to previously unknown liver or biliary disease as it generally occurs in the setting of hyperbilirubinemia.
Decatungstate‐Photocatalyzed Functionalization of α‐Imino Esters for the Preparation of Unnatural α‐Amino Acid Derivatives
Authors: Jorea Alexandra , Raviola Carlotta , Giustiniano Mariateresa , Ravelli Davide
Published: March 2023

A library of unnatural α‐amino acid derivatives has been prepared via the hydrofunctionalization of the C=N bond in a set of compounds belonging to the family of α‐imino esters. The devised methodology capitalizes on the use of tetrabutylammonium decatungstate as the photocatalyst to generate C‐centered radicals from aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes, cyclic and acyclic oxygenated compounds and even cycloalkanes, via a hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) step. The best performance was observed when α‐hydrazono esters were employed in the role of radical traps, which delivered the corresponding (protected) α‐hydrazino acids as products. The versatility of the protocol was further demonstrated by the possibility to functionalize the herbicide safener isoxadifen‐ethyl.
Chiral and Structural Polymorphism of Fibril Architectures of Homologous Lysozymes
Authors: Hachlica Natalia , Rawski Michal , Górecki Marcin , Wajda Aleksandra , Kaczor Agnieszka
Published: March 2023

Amyloid fibrils are fascinating and complex structures with the multilayered chiral organization. Using the multimodal methodology, including VCD, ECD, cryo‐EM, and TEM, we characterized in detail different levels of organization (secondary structure/protofilament/mesoscopic structure) of amyloid fibrils prepared from proteins highly homologous in the structure (hen egg white and human lysozymes). Our results demonstrate that small changes in the native protein structure or preparation conditions translate into significant differences in the handedness and architecture of the formed fibrils at various levels of their complexity. In particular, fibrils of hen egg white and human lysozymes obtained in vitro at the same preparation conditions, possess different secondary structure, protofilament twist and ultrastructure. Yet, formed fibrils adopted a relatively similar mesoscopic structure, as observed in high‐resolution 3D cryo‐EM, scarcely used up to now for fibrils obtained in vitro in denaturing condition. Our results add to other puzzling experiments implicating the indeterministic nature of fibril formation.
CO‐Preserving Photoinduced Transfer of Cymantrenyl Moiety: a Tandem Experimental and Computational Investigation
Authors: Chaliy Vasiliy A. , Kelbysheva Elena S. , Ezernitskaya Mariam G. , Strelkova Tatyana V. , Bochenkova Anastasia V. , Medvedev Michael G. , Telegina Lyudmila N.
Published: March 2023

Cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (cymantrene) is known to undergo photochemical reactions by releasing one of its CO ligands. Here we present the first example of a photorearrangement of a cymantrenylmethyl fragment, where it retains all its three CO ligands. A tandem experimental and DFT (density functional theory)‐based computational investigation allows us to explain this unexpected behavior: the rearrangement, indeed, begins with the release of one CO ligand, but cage effect of the solvent captures this CO molecule, allowing it to rapidly reattach once the rearrangement takes place.
Chiral Atropisomeric‐NHC Catechodithiolate Ruthenium Complexes for Z‐Selective Asymmetric Ring‐Opening Cross Metathesis of Exo‐Norbornenes
Authors: Morvan Jennifer , Bouëtard Dylan , Kong Lingyu , Chou Yajie , Vives Thomas , Albalat Muriel , Roisnel Thierry , Crévisy Christophe , Nava Paola , Humbel Stéphane , Vanthuyne Nicolas , Clavier Hervé , Mauduit Marc
Published: March 2023

A set of 16 chiral ruthenium complexes containing atropisomerically stable N‐Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) ligands was synthesized from prochiral NHC precursors. After a rapid screening in asymmetric ring‐opening‐cross metathesis (AROCM), the most effective chiral atropBIAN‐NHC Ru‐catalyst (up to 97 : 3 er) was then converted to a Z‐selective catechodithiolate complex. The latter proved to be highly efficient in Z‐selective AROCM of exo‐norbornenes affording valuable trans‐cyclopentanes with excellent Z‐selectivity (>98 %) and high enantioselectivity (up to 96.5 : 3.5 er).
Learning to generalize aerial person re‐identification using the meta‐transfer method
Authors: Xu Lili , Peng Houfu , Lu Xing , Xia Daoxun
Published: March 2023

Person re‐identification (Re‐ID) aims to retrieve a person of interest across multiple nonoverlapping cameras. In recent years, to enable person Re‐ID technology to play out its application value in real‐world scenarios, visual surveillance through unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platforms has received intense attention, and aerial person datasets have been constructed. However, the pedestrian images captured by ground cameras and those captured by UAVs exhibit great differences. Person Re‐ID methods based on ground person images have difficulty performing Re‐ID on aerial person images. In this paper, we first use a meta‐transfer method to learn to generalize the aerial person Re‐ID task. Specifically, combining the ideas of meta‐learning and transfer learning, a meta‐learning strategy is introduced to study a feature extractor, and a transfer learning strategy is introduced to utilize and further improve the acquired meta‐knowledge. To prevent the catastrophic forgetting and overfitting problems caused by large‐scale model parameters, we freeze the lower‐layer neurons with powerful generalization and fine‐tune the higher‐layer neurons with strong specialization to transfer and represent the feature extractor. In addition, during the model training process, it is observed that the presence of difficult categories in the given dataset significantly affects the convergence speed and recognition accuracy of the utilized meta‐learning method, and the loss function based on the general Euclidean distance measure tends to mislead the model to optimize in a suboptimal direction. Therefore, we introduce a curriculum sampling based learning strategy that is harmonized with our meta‐transfer learning framework and a new metric formulation of sample similarity based on the Mahalanobis distance to improve the model. In the experimental part, when our method is adopted, a Rank‐1 accuracy of 63.63% and a mean average precision (mAP) of 38.02% are achieved on an aerial Re‐ID dataset, demonstrating its potential for completing person Re‐ID with aerial images. The results obtained on two commonly used ground pedestrian datasets show the generalization of the proposed method. Ablation studies also validate that each component contributes to improving the performance of the model.
Theoretical and Experimental Determination of Thermomechanical Properties of Epoxy‐SiO2 Nanocomposites
Authors: Adnan Mohammed Mostafa , Kroyan Arpenik , Srivastava Chaman , Grammatikos Sotirios , Glaum Julia , Glomm Ese Marit‐Helen , Schnell Sondre Kvalvåg , Einarsrud Mari‐Ann
Published: March 2023

Improvements in the thermomechanical properties of epoxy upon inclusion of well‐dispersed SiO2 nanoparticles have been demonstrated both experimentally and through molecular dynamics simulations. The SiO2 was represented by two different dispersion models: dispersed individual molecules and as spherical nanoparticles. The calculated thermodynamic and thermomechanical properties were consistent with experimental results. Radial distribution functions highlight the interactions of different parts of the polymer chains with the SiO2 between 3 and 5 nm into the epoxy, depending on the particle size. The findings from both models were verified against experimental results, such as the glass transition temperature and tensile elastic mechanical properties, and proved suitable for predicting thermomechanical and physicochemical properties of epoxy‐SiO2 nanocomposites.
FunFun: ITS‐based functional annotator of fungal communities
Authors: Krivonos Danil V. , Konanov Dmitry N. , Ilina Elena N.
Published: March 2023

The study of individual fungi and their communities is of great interest to modern biology because they might be both producers of useful compounds, such as antibiotics and organic acids, and pathogens of various diseases. And certain features associated with the functional capabilities of fungi are determined by differences in gene content. Information about gene content is most often taken from the results of functional annotation of the whole genome. However, in practice, whole genome sequencing of fungi is rarely performed. At the same time, usually sequence amplicons of the ITS region to identify fungal taxonomy. But in the case of amplicon sequencing there is no way to perform a functional annotation. Here, we present FunFun, the instrument that allows to evaluate the gene content of an individual fungus or mycobiome from ITS sequencing data. FunFun algorithm based on a modified K‐nearest neighbors algorithm. As input, the program can use ITS1, ITS2, or a full‐size ITS cluster (ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2). FunFun was realized as a pip‐installed command line instrument and validated using a shuffle‐split approach. The developed instrument can be very useful in the fungal community comparing and estimating functional capabilities of fungi under study. Also, the program can predict with high accuracy the most variable functions.
Spore traits mediate disturbance effects on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community composition and mutualisms
Authors: Hopkins Jacob R. , Bennett Alison E.
Published: March 2023

Trait‐based approaches in ecology are powerful tools for understanding how organisms interact with their environment. These approaches show particular promise in disturbance and community ecology contexts for understanding how disturbances like prescribed fire and bison grazing influence interactions between mutualists like arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and their plant hosts. In this work we examined how disturbance effects on AM fungal spore community composition and mutualisms were mediated by selection for specific functional spore traits at both the species and community level. We tested these questions by analyzing AM fungal spore communities and traits from a frequently burned and grazed (bison) tallgrass prairie system and using these spores to inoculate a plant growth response experiment. Selection for darker, pigmented AM fungal spores, changes in the abundance and volume of individual AM fungal taxa, and altered sporulation, were indicators of fire and grazing effects on AM fungal community composition. Disturbance associated changes in AM fungal community composition were then correlated with altered growth responses of Schizachyrium scoparium grass. Our work shows that utilization of trait‐based approaches in ecology can clarify the mechanisms that underly belowground responses to disturbance, and provide a useful framework for understanding interactions between organisms and their environment.
Patterns of frequency and density dependence are highly variable in diverse annual flowering plant communities
Authors: James Aubrie R. M. , Mayfield Margaret M. , Dwyer John M.
Published: March 2023

Applications of ecological theory to natural communities often assume that competitive, negative density‐dependent processes are the only type of interaction important for diversity maintenance. Recent advances suggest that positive interactions within trophic levels (e.g., plant–plant) may also affect plant coexistence. Though positive plant–plant interactions theoretically might result in positive or nonmonotonic frequency or density dependence (FD/DD), less is known about how commonly these patterns occur or which ecological processes might result in such patterns in natural plant communities. In this study we tested for signals of variable frequency and density dependence in annual flowering plant communities in Western Australia and searched for evidence that interactions among plants during flowering might induce positive or nonmonotonic FD/DD in flowering plants. Using four common annual wildflower species, we ask if plant fecundity exhibited positive or nonmonotonic FD/DD and if pollinator‐mediated plant–plant interactions during flowering change patterns of FD/DD relative to pollinator‐independent plant interactions. Three species exhibited nonmonotonic (hump‐shaped) density dependence, and only one species experienced strictly negative density dependence. Each species exhibited a different pattern of frequency dependence (positive, negative, weakly nonmonotonic, and no detectable frequency dependence). Pollinator‐mediated plant–plant interactions during flowering induced both nonmonotonic density dependence and negative frequency dependence in one species. Importantly, the extent of variation in FD/DD observed in our study brings into question the dominance of negative density and frequency dependence in theory, suggesting instead that demographic responses of plants to their communities fall along a continuum of possible density‐ and frequency‐dependent patterns.
Monitoring the birds and the bees: Environmental DNA metabarcoding of flowers detects plant–animal interactions
Authors: Newton Joshua P. , Bateman Philip W. , Heydenrych Matthew J. , Kestel Joshua H. , Dixon Kingsley W. , Prendergast Kit S. , White Nicole E. , Nevill Paul
Published: March 2023

Animal pollinators are vital for the reproduction of ~90% of flowering plants. However, many of these pollinating species are experiencing declines globally, making effective pollinator monitoring methods more important than ever before. Pollinators can leave DNA on the flowers they visit, and metabarcoding of these environmental DNA (eDNA) traces provides an opportunity to detect the presence of flower visitors. Our study, collecting flowers from seven plant species with diverse floral morphologies, for eDNA metabarcoding analysis, illustrated the value of this novel survey tool. eDNA metabarcoding using three assays, including one developed in this study to target common bush birds, recorded more animal species visiting flowers than visual surveys conducted concurrently, including birds, bees, and other species. We also recorded the presence of a flower visit from a western pygmy possum; to our knowledge this is the first eDNA metabarcoding study to simultaneously identify the interaction of insect, mammal, and bird species with flowers. The highest diversity of taxa was detected on large inflorescence flower types found on Banksia arborea and Grevillea georgeana. The study demonstrates that the ease of sample collection and the robustness of the metabarcoding methodology has profound implications for future management of biodiversity, allowing us to monitor both plants and their attendant cohort of potential pollinators. This opens avenues for rapid and efficient comparison of biodiversity and ecosystem health between different sites and may provide insights into surrogate pollinators in the event of pollinator declines.
Acute myocarditis with transient myocardial thickening in two oncologic patients treated with anti‐GD2 immunotherapy
Authors: Aurensanz‐Clemente Esther , Pérez Casares Álex , Muñoz Juan Pablo , García‐Canadilla Patricia , Zuccarino Flavio , Sanchez‐de‐Toledo Joan
Published: March 2023

Immunotherapy has considerably improved clinical outcomes in different types of cancers but has also been associated with the development of myocarditis, especially with that mediated by immune checkpoint inhibitors. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first cases of myocarditis after anti‐GD2 immunotherapy reported to date. We present two cases of paediatric patients who, after anti‐GD2 infusion, presented severe myocarditis with myocardial hypertrophy detected on echocardiography and confirmed with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. An increase in myocardial T1 and extracellular volume of up to 30% was observed with heterogeneous intramyocardial late enhancement. Myocarditis after anti‐GD2 immunotherapy may be more common than appreciated, occurs early after starting treatment, has a malignant course, and responds to higher steroid doses.
Measures of infant self‐regulation during the first year of life: A systematic review
Authors: Pinto Tiago Miguel , Figueiredo Bárbara
Published: March 2023

This study aimed to systematically review the measures used to assess infant self‐regulation during the first 12 months of life. This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analysis statement protocol. From 235 selected papers, 79 provided information on behavioural and physiological measures to assess infant self‐regulation during the first 12 months of life. Thirty‐six behavioural (30 observational and 6 parent‐report) and five physiological different measures were identified. Studies with a longitudinal design, comprising larger samples, and aiming to assess infant self‐regulation later in infancy, mostly used behavioural measures than physiological measures. Studies comprising lower samples and aiming to assess infant self‐regulation earlier in infancy, mostly used observational than parent‐reported measures. Studies targeting younger infants used physiological measures and studies targeting older infants used behavioural measures, with observational measures used with younger infants and parental‐reported measures used with older infants during the first year of life. When measuring self‐regulation is important to consider infant's age, to fit the measurement procedures with the self‐regulation development level.
Violence in the health care workplace and ERM solutions
Authors: Naglee Colleen
Published: March 2023

Many health care workers are subject to violence at work on a frequent basis. This article will define different types of violence in the workplace and outline the current scope of the issue. There are a myriad of laws and regulations that apply including OSHA, Joint Commission, state and potentially new federal legislation. Violence in the health care workplace is an exceedingly complex issue that is well suited to enterprise risk management (ERM) solutions. A sample framework for an ERM solution will be explored. Health care organizations should strongly consider use of ERM to address workplace violence based on their unique risks.
Feasibility and acceptability of a virtual clinical pharmacy service for elective orthopaedic inpatients in an Australian metropolitan hospital
Authors: Chambers Brett , Allan Julaine , Webster Emma , Packer Anna , Nott Shannon
Published: March 2023

Background

Virtual healthcare services are usually provided from urban centres to outpatient clinics or underserved rural areas. This study utilises virtual pharmacy as an innovative model to provide services to a metropolitan hospital from a rural area.

Aim

This study assesses the feasibility, and patient and staff acceptability of a Virtual Clinical Pharmacy Service (VCPS) in a tertiary metropolitan hospital ward with limited on‐site clinical pharmacy services.

Method

Pharmacists from a rural health district provided telepharmacy services for nine weeks. Data on service provision and detection of medication‐related issues were captured in the electronic health record. Service acceptability was assessed through a staff focus group and patient acceptability by a patient‐reported experience measures (PREM) survey. Ethical approval was granted by the Greater Western Human Research Ethics Committee (Reference no: 2021/ETH00097).

Results

The VCPS demonstrated high utilisation, with 535 clinical and medication reviews provided for 225 patients. Virtual medication reviews identified 151 medication‐related issues or recommendations. PREM surveys (n = 22) were supportive of the VCPS model. Staff valued the service and reported ease of access to specialist medication advice and confidence that patient medications were correct. Staff raised patient confidentiality in open wards and lack of experience using virtual healthcare as barriers to the implementation.

Conclusion

Feasibility was demonstrated by high service utilisation, detection of medication‐related issues, and measures of acceptability from patients and staff. The VCPS offers a solution to enhance sustainability and service agility by delivery of clinical services when face‐to‐face is not practicable or available. Further research is required to demonstrate efficacy and to confirm patient acceptability.
Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Sickle Cell Disease: Demographic and Polysomnographic Features
Authors: Abijay Claire A. , Kemper W. Craig , Pham An , Johnson Romaine F. , Mitchell Ron B.
Published: March 2023

Objective

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is prevalent in children with sickle cell disease (SCD). We compared the demographic, clinical, and polysomnographic characteristics of children with and without SCD.

Methods

This retrospective chart review included children with SCD (n = 89) and without SCD (n = 192) ages 1–18 years referred for polysomnography (PSG) for OSA.

Results

Children with SCD were predominantly African American when compared to the non‐SCD group (95% vs. 28%, p < 0.001). The non‐SCD group had a higher BMI z‐score (1.3 vs. 0.1, p < 0.001) and a higher percentage of patients classified as obese (52% vs. 13%, p < 0.001). In children with SCD, 43% had severe OSA and 5.6% had no OSA. In the non‐SCD group, 67% had severe OSA and 4.7% had no OSA. The SCD compared to the non‐SCD group had a lower mean apnea‐hypopnea index (AHI) (13.6 vs. 22.4, p = 0.006) but a higher percent sleep time below 90% oxygen saturation (10.5% vs. 3.5%, p < 0.001). Predicted probability for severe OSA in children with SCD decreased with increasing age (OR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.70–0.93).

Conclusion

Children with SCD referred for PSG are at risk for severe OSA. Compared with the non‐SCD group, most children were African American with lower rates of obesity and lower AHIs but longer periods of nocturnal hypoxemia. Likelihood for severe OSA decreased with increasing age for the SCD group.

Level of Evidence

3, retrospective comparative study Laryngoscope, 133:1766–1772, 2023
Microbiome and Th cytokines association in chronic rhinosinusitis with or without nasal polyp
Authors: Zhu ZhongShou , Lan Jiao , Wei Rifu , Xu Yangbin , Hong Yiyun , Bao Weijing , He Guanwen
Published: March 2023

Objective

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), a common disease in otorhinolaryngology, seriously affects the life quality of patients. The existing therapy has certain limitations, and it is very urgent to deeply explore the pathogenesis and classification of CRS. Microbiome and inflammation are considered the causes of CRS, but the precise roles and the associations between these two factors in the pathogenesis of CRS remain controversial.

Methods

Secretions were collected from the middle nasal canal, maxillary sinus and ethmoid sinus in CRS patients, then subjected to 16 S rRNA gene sequencing to profile microbiota community. Operational Taxonomic Units clustering and species annotation were adopted to obtain species diversity, prevalence rate and average relative abundance. Comparisons were performed at the level of microbial species and genus between CRS and control using NMDS, Anosim and MetaStat analysis. Th1 cytokines and Th2 cytokines were detected by ELISA. Spearman analysis were adopted to probe into the correlation between Th cytokines and microbial species in CRS.

Results

Thirty‐seven patients were enrolled, among them 22 with CRS and 15 were controls. The most abundant genera were Corynebacterium and Staphylococcus no matter in CRS patients or control. Corynebacterium propinquum was significant decreased in CRS patients no matter with nasal polyp or not. The abundances of Prevotella birria and Carnobacterium maltaromaticum were significantly different between CRSsNP and CRSwNP group. The levels of cytokines IL‐2, TNF‐α, IFN‐ɣ, IL‐4, IL‐6, IL‐10 were all increased in CRS patients. The cytokines levels were associated with specific microbial species in nasal tissue.

Conclusion

The changes of species richness and complexity in nasal microbiome were obvious in CRS patients with nasal polyps or not. The different cytokines levels and microbiome between CRS patients without nasal polyps and patients with nasal polyps suggest heterogeneity in pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis. Distinct microbiota and different cytokines were strongly linked in CRS.

Level of Evidence

NA.
Inverse problems for a Boussinesq system for incompressible viscoelastic fluids
Authors: Antontsev S. N. , Khompysh Kh.
Published: March 2023

In this paper, we study two inverse problems for the nonlinear Boussinesq system for incompressible viscoelastic nonisothermal Kelvin–Voigt fluids. The studying inverse problems consist of determining an intensities of density of external forces and heat source under given integral overdetermination conditions. Two types of boundary conditions for the velocity
are considered: sticking and sliding conditions on boundary. In both cases of these boundary conditions, the local and global in time existence and uniqueness of weak and strong solutions are established under suitable assumptions on the data. The large time behavior of weak solutions is also studied.