bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Functional trait complementarity and dominance both determine benthic secondary production in temperate seagrass beds
Authors: Wong Melisa C. , Dowd Michael
Published: November 2021

Defining relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (BEF) is key to understanding the consequences of biodiversity loss. Although species functional traits are strongly linked to ecosystem processes, their integration into BEF models has been focused mainly on terrestrial ecosystems. Application is limited because functional trait‐based BEF models typically have small‐sample sizes and highly correlated predictors, making it difficult for model selection and identifying underlying drivers. We examine the BEF relationship between secondary production and benthic invertebrate taxonomic and functional diversity for seagrass beds located across a range of environmental conditions. Specifically, we evaluate the role of complementarity (i.e., dissimilarity in species or traits) and dominance (disproportional importance of traits) in determining secondary production at 20 sites using 34 metrics of taxonomic diversity, functional diversity, and functional traits. Here, diversity metrics represent complementarity and functional traits represent dominance. We used elastic‐net regression and commonality analysis to evaluate the BEF model, because its properties (i.e., few observations and many potential, and highly correlated, predictors) precluded more standard approaches and it is well suited to this situation. Functional richness and five functional traits (crawling, surface deposit feeding [SurDF], location on sediment surface, lifespan 1–3 yr, and semi‐continuous breeding) were identified as important determinants of secondary production, explaining 74% of the variance. SurDF was the most important predictor that acted in isolation to influence secondary production, while all other predictors acted together. All six selected variables in three different combinations explained 68% of the total variance in the BEF model. These results indicate that both dominance and complementarity mechanisms were important for the BEF relationship. Our study highlights elastic‐net regression and commonality analysis as a powerful approach to model functional trait‐based BEF relationships. We further show that inclusion of the functional landscape into BEF models is highly valuable, allowing the implications of species loss for ecosystem functioning to be mechanistically understood.
Electrochemical studies of galactose oxidase
Authors: Figueiredo Carina , De Lacey Antonio L. , Pita Marcos
Published: November 2021

One of the most interesting redox biocatalysts is galactose oxidase, a redox enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of d‐galactose to 1,6‐d‐galactodialdose in a single copper redox site. Its relevance for the development of galactose electrochemical biosensors and its potential for biosynthetic reactions due to its affinity for other substrates have increased the research focused on this enzyme and its possibilities. In this work, we review the literature on galactose oxidase studies related to electrochemical devices, electron transfer examples, immobilization strategies, and their applications.
3D printing in biotechnology—An insight into miniaturized and microfluidic systems for applications from cell culture to bioanalytics
Authors: Heuer Christopher , Preuß John‐Alexander , Habib Taieb , Enders Anton , Bahnemann Janina
Published: November 2021

Since its invention in the 1980s, 3D printing has evolved into a versatile technique for the additive manufacturing of diverse objects and tools, using various materials. The relative flexibility, straightforwardness, and ability to enable rapid prototyping are tremendous advantages offered by this technique compared to conventional methods for miniaturized and microfluidic systems fabrication (such as soft lithography). The development of 3D printers exhibiting high printer resolution has enabled the fabrication of accurate miniaturized and microfluidic systems—which have, in turn, substantially reduced both device sizes and required sample volumes. Moreover, the continuing development of translucent, heat resistant, and biocompatible materials will make 3D printing more and more useful for applications in biotechnology in the coming years. Today, a wide variety of 3D‐printed objects in biotechnology—ranging from miniaturized cultivation chambers to microfluidic lab‐on‐a‐chip devices for diagnostics—are already being deployed in labs across the world. This review explains the 3D printing technologies that are currently used to fabricate such miniaturized microfluidic devices, and also seeks to offer some insight into recent developments demonstrating the use of these tools for biotechnological applications such as cell culture, separation techniques, and biosensors.
Biological Effects of Activated Carbon on Benthic Macroinvertebrates are Determined by Particle Size and Ingestibility of Activated Carbon
Authors: Rämö Robert A. , Honkanen Johanna , Nybom Inna , Gunnarsson Jonas S.
Published: November 2021

The application of activated carbon (AC) to the surface of contaminated sediments is a promising technology for sediment remediation in situ. Amendment with AC has proved to be effective in reducing bioavailability and sediment-to-water release of hydrophobic organic contaminants. However, AC may cause positive or negative biological responses in benthic organisms. The causes of these effects, which include changes in growth, reproduction, and mortality, are unclear but are thought to be related to the size of AC particles. The present study investigated biological response to AC ranging from ingestible powdered AC to noningestible granular AC in two benthic deposit feeders: the polychaete Marenzelleria spp. and the clam Limecola balthica (syn. Macoma balthica). In the polychaete, exposure to powdered AC (ingestible) reduced both dry weight and carbon assimilation, whereas exposure to granular AC (noningestible) increased both dry weight and carbon assimilation. Responses in the clam were similar but less pronounced, indicating that response levels are species-specific and may vary within a benthic community. In addition, worms exposed to the finest ingestible AC particles had reduced gut microvilli length and reduced gut lumen, indicating starvation. These results strongly suggest that biological responses to AC depend on particle ingestibility, whereby exposure to ingestible particles may cause starvation through reduced bioavailability of food coingested with AC or due to rejection of AC-treated sediment as a food source. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:3465–3477. © 2021 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
Erucic acid exposure during the first year of life—Scenarios with precise food‐based dietary guidelines
Authors: Kersting Mathilde , Kalhoff Hermann , Honermeier Bernd , Sinningen Kathrin , Lücke Thomas
Published: November 2021

Recently, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued a tolerable daily intake (TDI) for erucic acid, which is mainly found in rapeseed oil. Infants may be exposed to erucic acid from rapeseed oil indirectly through maternal consumption via breastmilk or the fat component in formula, and directly as a part of complementary feeding (CF). To check the safety of infant nutrition, scenarios for erucic acid exposure were calculated based on the daily food amounts of the German dietary guidelines. Information on erucic acid concentrations in foods was obtained from European studies for breastmilk, from EFSA samples for formula powder, and from a representative analysis of rapeseed oil samples in the German retail market. 6 scenarios were calculated for the early milk feeding phase (4 formula feeding, 2 breastfeeding) and 8 scenarios for the later CF phase (5 CF +formula feeding, 3 CF +breastfeeding). Out of the 14 scenarios, only 3 resulted in exposures that were definitively below the TDI (range 4.4.–6.0 mg/kg bodyweight; BW). Assuming either high consumption or high concentration led to high exceedances (range 7.5–26.2 mg/kg BW), especially in case of the new EU limits for formula or vegetable oils (33.6 and 43.2 mg/kg BW, respectively). In our scenarios, high erucic acid exposures occurred during a particularly sensitive developmental period. To definitively weigh the potential risks from erucic acid in infants against nutritional benefits of the dietary recommendations, reliable, timely data on erucic acid in breast milk and formula are needed, similar to those from rapeseed oil in Germany.
CHOSEN: A synthesis of hydrometeorological data from intensively monitored catchments and comparative analysis of hydrologic extremes
Authors: Zhang Liang , Moges Edom , Kirchner James W. , Coda Elizabeth , Liu Tianchi , Wymore Adam S. , Xu Zexuan , Larsen Laurel G.
Published: November 2021

Comparative hydrology has been hampered by limited availability of geographically extensive, intercompatible monitoring data on comprehensive water balance stores and fluxes. These limitations have, for example, restricted comprehensive assessment of multiple dimensions of wetting and drying related to climate change and hampered understanding of why widespread changes in precipitation extremes are uncorrelated with changes in streamflow extremes. Here, we address this knowledge gap and underlying data gap by developing a new data synthesis product and using that product to detect trends in the frequencies and magnitudes of a comprehensive set of hydroclimatic and hydrologic extremes. CHOSEN (Comprehensive Hydrologic Observatory Sensor Network) is a database of streamflow, soil moisture, and other hydroclimatic and hydrologic variables from 30 study areas across the United States. An accompanying data pipeline provides a reproducible, semi‐automated approach for assimilating data from multiple sources, performing quality assurance and control, gap‐filling and writing to a standard format. Based on the analysis of extreme events in the CHOSEN dataset, we detected hotspots, characterized by unusually large proportions of monitored variables exhibiting trends, in the Pacific Northwest, New England, Florida and Alaska. Extreme streamflow wetting and drying trends exhibited regional coherence. Drying trends in the Pacific Northwest and Southeast were often associated with trends in soil moisture and precipitation (Pacific Northwest) and evapotranspiration‐related variables (Southeast). In contrast, wetting trends in the upper Midwest and the Rocky Mountains showed few univariate associations with other hydroclimatic extremes, but their latitudes and elevations suggested the importance of changing snowmelt characteristics. On the whole, observed trends are incompatible with a ‘drying‐in‐dry, wetting‐in‐wet’ paradigm for climate‐induced hydrologic changes over land. Our analysis underscores the need for more extensive, longer‐term observational data for soil moisture, snow and evapotranspiration.
Vegetation structure controls on snow and soil moisture in restored ponderosa pine forests
Authors: O'Donnell Frances C. , Donager Jonathon , Sankey Temuulen , Masek Lopez Sharon , Springer Abraham E.
Published: November 2021

Thinning of semi‐arid forests to reduce wildfire risk is believed to improve forest health by increasing soil moisture. Increased snowpack, reduced transpiration and reduced rainfall interception are frequently cited mechanisms by which reduced canopy density may increase soil moisture. However, the relative importance of these factors has not been rigorously evaluated in field studies. We measured snow depth, snow water equivalent (SWE) and the spatial and temporal variation in soil moisture at four experimental paired treatment‐control thinning sites in high elevation ponderosa pine forest northern Arizona, USA. We compared snow and soil moisture measurements with forest structure metrics derived from aerial imagery and 3‐dimensional lidar data to determine the relationship between vegetation structure, snow and soil moisture throughout the annual hydrologic cycle. Soil moisture was consistently and significantly higher in thinned forest plots, even though the treatments were performed 8–11 years before this study. However, we did not find evidence that SWE was higher in thinned forests across a range of snow conditions. Regression tree analysis of soil moisture and vegetation structure data provided some evidence that localized differences in transpiration and interception of precipitation influence the spatial pattern of soil moisture at points in the annual hydrologic cycle when the system is becoming increasingly water limited. However, vegetation structure explained a relatively low amount of the spatial variance (R2 < 0.23) in soil moisture. Continuous measurements of soil moisture in depth profiles showed stronger attenuation of soil moisture peaks in thinned sites, suggesting differences in infiltration dynamics may explain the difference in soil moisture between treatments as opposed to overlying vegetation alone. Our results show limited support for commonly cited relationships between vegetation structure, snow and soil moisture and indicate that future research is needed to understand how reduction in tree density alters soil hydraulic properties.
Call to action: Centering blackness and disrupting systemic racism in infant mental health research and academic publishing
Authors: Iruka Iheoma U. , Lewis Marva L. , Lozada Fantasy T. , Bocknek Erika L. , Brophy‐Herb Holly E.
Published: November 2021

The Infant Mental Health Journal is committed to ending systemic racism and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in academic publishing. IMHJ unequivocally denounces all forms of racism and white supremacy, including systemic racism in academic publishing. We commit to investigating and working to terminate the ways in which systemic racism has become normalized in academic publishing, including examining our practices and processes at IMHJ. We invite you to join us in intentional, anti‐racist work through your scholarship.

As part of this effort, IMHJ has updated the author guidelines to include new information regarding how authors can express the ways in which they are engaging with intention in diverse, anti‐racist research. These guidelines are available under the author guidelines section on the IMHJ website (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10970355). As a second immediate response relative to promoting diverse, equitable, and inclusive research, IMHJ is releasing the following Call to Action, focusing on centering Blackness in infant and early childhood mental health research. This call is designed as a first step in our efforts, and IMHJ looks forward to coming initiatives aimed at disrupting systemic racism in infant and early childhood mental health research for the many scholars studying and working with diverse populations marginalized by racism and systemic inequities.
Ligand‐Independent Actions of the Vitamin D Receptor: More Questions Than Answers
Authors: Bikle Daniel D.
Published: November 2021

Our predominant understanding of the actions of vitamin D involve binding of its ligand, 1,25(OH)D, to the vitamin D receptor (VDR), which for its genomic actions binds to discrete regions of its target genes called vitamin D response elements. However, chromatin immunoprecipitation‐sequencing (ChIP‐seq) studies have observed that the VDR can bind to many sites in the genome without its ligand. The number of such sites and how much they coincide with sites that also bind the liganded VDR vary from cell to cell, with the keratinocyte from the skin having the greatest overlap and the intestinal epithelial cell having the least. What is the purpose of the unliganded VDR? In this review, I will focus on two clear examples in which the unliganded VDR plays a role. The best example is that of hair follicle cycling. Hair follicle cycling does not need 1,25(OH)2D, and Vdr lacking the ability to bind 1,25(OH)2D can restore hair follicle cycling in mice otherwise lacking Vdr. This is not true for other functions of VDR such as intestinal calcium transport. Tumor formation in the skin after UVB radiation or the application of chemical carcinogens also appears to be at least partially independent of 1,25(OH)2D in that Vdr null mice develop such tumors after these challenges, but mice lacking Cyp27b1, the enzyme producing 1,25(OH)2D, do not. Examples in other tissues emerge when studies comparing Vdr null and Cyp27b1 null mice are compared, demonstrating a more severe phenotype with respect to bone mineral homeostasis in the Cyp27b1 null mouse, suggesting a repressor function for VDR. This review will examine potential mechanisms for these ligand‐independent actions of VDR, but as the title indicates, there are more questions than answers with respect to this role of VDR. © 2021 The Author. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Equilibrium studies on reactive extraction of glycine with di(2‐ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid dissolved in n‐octanol, butyl acetate and solvent oil
Authors: She Yunting , Bai Huihua , Chang Zhixian , Li Deliang
Published: November 2021

BACKGROUND

Reactive extraction is an efficient and highly selective technique for the separation of polar organic compounds. In this work, we used three kinds of extractants, namely acidic di(2‐ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (D2EHPA), neutral tributyl phosphate (TBP) and basic trioctyltertiaryamine (7301) dissolved in three diluents with different polarity (strong‐polar n‐octanol, weak‐polar butyl acetate and non‐polar solvent oil) for optimization of a reactive extraction system. Based on the result, the reactive extraction kinetics of glycine by D2EHPA and the factors that affect the distribution ratio (D) were discussed in detail. Finally, the reactive extraction mechanism was analyzed, and an extraction model was proposed.

RESULTS

D2EHPA + n‐octanol is the best system for the reactive extraction of glycine. The apparent equilibrium constantKwas calculated to be 1.71 L mol−1and the physical extraction distribution constant (m) was 0.10. The reactive extraction equilibrium of glycine by D2EHPA can be reached in 1 h and room temperature is suitable for the extraction. D2EHPA reacted with glycine to form a 1:1 type ion‐pair complex, and the structure of the complex is less affected by aqueous pH. Chemical extraction is dominant in the extraction process. The distribution ratioDincreases with the increase of D2EHPA concentration. pH and polarity of the diluent also have an influence on extraction efficiency.

CONCLUSION

The results provide preliminary practical information and a theoretical basis for the separation of glycine, which would be beneficial for the purification of glycine and the treatment of wastewater containing glycine. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
On a generalized Erdős–Rademacher problem
Authors: Liu Xizhi , Mubayi Dhruv
Published: November 2021

The triangle covering number of a graph is the minimum number of vertices that hit all triangles. Given positive integers and an ‐vertex graph with edges and triangle covering number , we determine (for large ) sharp bounds on the minimum number of triangles in and also describe the extremal constructions. Similar results are proved for cliques of larger size and color critical graphs. This extends classical work of Rademacher, Erdős, and Lovász–Simonovits whose results apply only to . Our results also address two conjectures of Xiao and Katona. We prove one of them and give a counterexample and prove a modified version of the other conjecture.
A convenient and efficient process for the synthesis of 9‐aryl‐6,9‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐f] quinoline‐8‐carbonitrile and 1‐aryl‐1,4‐ dihydrobenzo[f]quinoline‐2‐carbonitrile derivatives
Authors: Zhang Wen‐Ting , Niu Fu‐Xiang , Yue Rui‐Xue , Zhang Yi , Ma Chen , Sun Jian , Rong Liangce
Published: November 2021

A simple and convenient one‐pot three‐component reactions for the synthesis of 9‐aryl‐6,9‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐f]quinoline‐8‐carbonitrile from the reactions of aromatic aldehydes, 1H‐indazol‐6‐amine, and 3‐cyanoacetyl indole (aroylacetonitrile) has been reported. Meanwhile, 1‐aryl‐1,4‐dihydrobenzo[f]quinoline‐2‐carbonitrile has been accomplished by the reaction of various aromatic aldehydes, 2‐naphthylamine and 3‐cyanoacetyl indole in acetonitrile under 80°C. The advantages of this approach are mild reaction conditions, easy work‐up, and high yields.
2‐substituted tricyclic oxazolo[5,4‐d]pyrimidine library: Design, synthesis, and cytotoxicity activity
Authors: Zeng Yan , Nie Lifei , Bozorov Khurshed , Ruzi Zukela , Song Buer , Zhao Jiangyu , Aisa Haji Akber
Published: November 2021

We report the design, synthetic route, and cytotoxicity of a library of 49 newly synthesized tricyclic oxazolo[5,4‐d]pyrimidines. The condensed pyrimidinones were constructed from ethyl 5‐aminooxazole‐4‐carboxylate building blocks. A tricyclic ring system was built using the naturally occurring mackinazolinone alkaloid with a focus on the molecular diversity at position C‐2 of the oxazole ring. Synthesized compounds were evaluated against a panel of human cancer cell lines including MCF‐7 (breast), HeLa (cervical), and A549 (lung) in vitro. The results revealed that substitution of halogen‐related aromatic fragments at position C‐2 of the oxazole ring may serve as promising anticancer drug candidates.
Is there a relationship between EEG and sTMS neurophysiological markers of the putative human mirror neuron system?
Authors: Bekkali Soukayna , Youssef George J. , Donaldson Peter H. , Hyde Christian , Do Michael , He Jason L. , Barhoun Pamela , Enticott Peter G.
Published: November 2021

The mirror neuron system (MNS) has been theorized to play a neurobiological role in a number of social cognitive abilities and is commonly indexed putatively in humans via interpersonal motor resonance (IMR) and mu suppression. Although both indices are thought to measure similar neuronal populations (i.e., “mirror neurons”), it has been suggested that these methods are unrelated, and therefore, incompatible. However, prior studies reporting no relationships were typically conducted in small and underpowered samples. Thus, we aimed to investigate this potential association in a large sample of neurotypical adults (N = 116; 72 females). Participants underwent transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), electromyography (EMG), and electroencephalography (EEG) during the observation of videos of actors performing grasping actions in order to index IMR and mu suppression (in beta, lower alpha, and upper alpha bandwidths). A series of linear regressions revealed no associations between IMR and each of the mu suppression bandwidths. Supplementary Bayesian analyses provided further evidence in favor of the null (B01 = 8.85–8.93), providing further support for no association between the two indices of MNS activity. Our findings suggest that these two measures may indeed be unrelated indices that perhaps assess different neurophysiological aspects of the MNS. These results have important implications for future studies examining the MNS.
Applying machine classifiers to update searches: Analysis from two case studies
Authors: Stansfield Claire , Stokes Gillian , Thomas James
Published: November 2021

Manual screening of citation records could be reduced by using machine classifiers to remove records of very low relevance. This seems particularly feasible for update searches, where a machine classifier can be trained from past screening decisions. However, feasibility is unclear for broad topics. We evaluate the performance and implementation of machine classifiers for update searches of public health research using two case studies. The first study evaluates the impact of using different sets of training data on classifier performance, comparing recall and screening reduction with a manual screening ‘gold standard’. The second study uses screening decisions from a review to train a classifier that is applied to rank the update search results. A stopping threshold was applied in the absence of a gold standard. Time spent screening titles and abstracts of different relevancy‐ranked records was measured. Results: Study one: Classifier performance varies according to the training data used; all custom‐built classifiers had a recall above 93% at the same threshold, achieving screening reductions between 41% and 74%. Study two: applying a classifier provided a solution for tackling a large volume of search results from the update search, and screening volume was reduced by 61%. A tentative estimate indicates over 25 h screening time was saved. In conclusion, custom‐built machine classifiers are feasible for reducing screening workload from update searches across a range of public health interventions, with some limitation on recall. Key considerations include selecting a training dataset, agreeing stopping thresholds and processes to ensure smooth workflows.
Endoplasmic reticulum stress promotes local immunoglobulin E production in allergic rhinitis
Authors: Liu Jin‐Xin , Zhen Zhen , Chen Ao‐Nan , Guo Cui‐Lian , Shi Ke‐Tai , Wang Heng , Xu Kai , Yao Yin , Wang Hai , Liao Bo , Liu Zheng
Published: November 2021

Background

The role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis (AR) remains elusive.

Methods

Real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), immunohistochemistry, and western blotting analyses were performed to detect the expression of ER stress and unfolded protein response markers: 78‐kDa glucose‐regulated protein (GRP78), C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6α), spliced X‐box binding protein 1 (sXBP‐1), and phosphorylated eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (p‐eIF2α), in inferior turbinate tissue samples from patients with AR and non‐AR controls. Nasal tissues from patients with AR were cultured ex vivo and treated with 4‐phenylbutyric acid (4‐PBA), an ER stress inhibitor.

Results

Compared to those in non‐AR controls, the mRNA and protein levels of GRP78, CHOP, ATF6α, sXBP‐1, and p‐eIF2α were significantly increased in nasal tissues from patients with AR. GRP78 and CHOP were mainly expressed in CD138+ plasma cells in nasal tissues from patients with AR. The frequency of IgE+CD138+ plasma cells was significantly higher in nasal tissues from patients with AR than that in non‐AR controls. IgE levels in nasal secretions and tissues were positively correlated with GRP78 and CHOP mRNA levels in the nasal tissues. After 4‐PBA treatment, the protein expression of GRP78, CHOP, ATF6α, sXBP‐1, and p‐eIF2α was significantly reduced in cultured AR‐derived nasal tissues, and IgE levels were simultaneously decreased in cultured supernatants.

Conclusions

ER stress may be involved in the regulation of local IgE production in patients with AR. Inhibition of ER stress potentially provides a therapeutic avenue in AR by reducing local IgE production.

Level of Evidence

NA
The corrosion protection performance of repair coatings for offshore wind power constructions after long‐term splash zone site exposure
Authors: Momber Andreas W. , Marquardt Tom , Buchbach Sascha , Plagemann Peter
Published: November 2021

Four organic repair coatings are applied to low‐carbon steel samples prepared with rotating wire blasting, and the samples are exposed to the splash zone in an offshore environment (Helgoland, North Sea) for 57 months. The relationships between aging procedure, coating type, and corrosion protection performance are systematically investigated with statistical methods. Design of experiments and analysis of variance are used to rank the parameter effects. Response parameters are the degree of coating delamination and pull‐off strength. Extremely significant interactions are found between aging procedure and delamination and between coating type and pull‐off strength. An extremely significant interaction between the factors aging procedure and coating type is found for the pull‐off strength only. The degree of delamination is alternatively discussed in terms of the delaminated area. Acceleration factors, calculated from results of the site exposure tests and of accelerated cyclic laboratory test, range between 5.2 and 8.6.
Gas‐phase structure of polymer ions: Tying together theoretical approaches and ion mobility spectrometry
Authors: Duez Quentin , Hoyas Sébastien , Josse Thomas , Cornil Jérôme , Gerbaux Pascal , De Winter Julien
Published: November 2021

An increasing number of studies take advantage of ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) coupled to mass spectrometry (IMS‐MS) to investigate the spatial structure of gaseous ions. Synthetic polymers occupy a unique place in the field of IMS‐MS. Indeed, due to their intrinsic dispersity, they offer a broad range of homologous ions with different lengths. To help rationalize experimental data, various theoretical approaches have been described. First, the study of trend lines is proposed to derive physicochemical and structural parameters. However, the evaluation of data fitting reflects the overall behavior of the ions without reflecting specific information on their conformation. Atomistic simulations constitute another approach that provide accurate information about the ion shape. The overall scope of this review is dedicated to the synergy between IMS‐MS and theoretical approaches, including computational chemistry, demonstrating the essential role they play to fully understand/interpret IMS‐MS data.
Proteomic studies on apoB‐containing lipoprotein in cardiovascular research: A comprehensive review
Authors: Gianazza Erica , Zoanni Beatrice , Mallia Alice , Brioschi Maura , Colombo Gualtiero I. , Banfi Cristina
Published: November 2021

The complexity of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), which remains the leading cause of death worldwide, makes the current clinical pathway for cardiovascular risk assessment unsatisfactory, as there remains a substantial unexplained residual risk. Simultaneous assessment of a large number of plasma proteins may be a promising tool to further refine risk assessment, and lipoprotein‐associated proteins have the potential to fill this gap. Technical advances now allow for high‐throughput proteomic analysis in a reproducible and cost‐effective manner. Proteomics has great potential to identify and quantify hundreds of candidate marker proteins in a sample and allows the translation from isolated lipoproteins to whole plasma, thus providing an individual multiplexed proteomic fingerprint. This narrative review describes the pathophysiological roles of atherogenic apoB‐containing lipoproteins and the recent advances in their mass spectrometry‐based proteomic characterization and quantitation for better refinement of CVD risk assessment.
Is weight stigma associated with physical activity? A systematic review
Authors: Pearl Rebecca L. , Wadden Thomas A. , Jakicic John M.
Published: November 2021

Objective

Weight stigma is associated with impaired health, attributed in part to reductions in health‐promoting behaviors. This review analyzed evidence of the association between weight stigma and physical activity (PA) in adults and youth.

Methods

Three databases were searched for terms related to weight stigma and PA. Eligible studies reported the quantitative association between at least one measure of weight stigma and one behavioral measure of PA.

Results

A total of 38 studies met eligibility criteria. Of the 29 studies of adults, 3 used objective PA measures, and 79% used an observational, cross‐sectional design. Findings of the relationship between weight stigma and PA were mixed. Everyday weight discrimination and internalizing weight stigma were associated with reduced PA in most studies. Several studies found indirect, and not direct, effects of weight stigma on PA when analyses included other individual‐level factors. In the nine studies of youth, two used objective PA measures, all were observational, and only one study was longitudinal. Most youth studies found a relationship between weight‐based teasing and reduced PA.

Conclusions

Weight teasing, everyday discrimination, and internalization were associated with reduced PA. However, associations were inconsistent and often indirect. Future studies should include objective PA measures with larger samples and longitudinal assessments.
Mechanical and two‐body wear characterization of micro‐nano ceramic particulate reinforced dental restorative composite materials
Authors: Yadav Ramkumar , Meena Anoj
Published: November 2021

The purpose of the investigation is to develop resin‐based dental restorative composite material reinforced with marble dust powder (MDP)‐silane coated nano‐hydroxyapatite (nHA) and study the effect on different characterizations. Five different compositions were prepared by mixing weight percentages (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 wt%) of silane treated nHA. The amount of MDP (20 wt%) remained constant for all five dental compositions. The fabricated dental composite samples were cured using a curing LED light for 30 s on each side. The mechanical properties result revealed that incorporating 8 wt% nHA dental composite exhibited maximum hardness, compressive, and flexural strength. An increasing trend has been observed in water sorption and water solubility while decreasing in degree of conversion and depth of cure. The specific wear rate was 27.57% decreased for varying load, 57.10% increased for varying sliding speed, and 66.89% increased for varying sliding time. Taguchi analysis represents the dental composite incorporated with 6 wt% nano‐hydroxyapatite at a normal load 70 N, sliding velocity 130 rpm, and at time 23 min exhibits minimum wear rate. ANOVA analysis indicates that the load factor shows a considerable effect on the specific wear rate.
Biomolecular characterisation of marine microalga in comparison to fishmeal and soymeal as an alternative feed ingredient
Authors: Dixit Rakhi Bajpai , Sagaram Uma Shankar , Gocher Chandra , Krishna Kumar G. Raja , Dasgupta Santanu
Published: November 2021

Introduction

Marine microalgae protein has better solubility and digestibility than other protein‐based feeds. Apart from protein, high‐value biomolecules have an immense potential to enhance the quality of feed, but knowledge about them is scarce.

Objective

Marine microalga Picochlorum sp. biomass molecular characterisation along with commonly used protein feed such as fishmeal and soymeal for potential feed ingredients.

Methodology

Liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC–MS) was used for biomolecular characterisation. The correlation of biomolecules sets was evaluated using principal component analysis (PCA) and heatmap clustering.

Results

LC–MS identified 116 biomolecules cumulatively among microalga, fishmeal, and soymeal that includes fatty acids, acylglycerols, vitamins, sterols, pigments, nucleotides, unique amino acids, amines, sugars and miscellaneous. These 116 biomolecules were screened based on their functional importance as feed ingredients. Among the different sets of biomolecules, microalga contained a more diverse set of fatty acids, pigments, sterols, and vitamins than acylglycerols, unique amino acids, nucleotides, and sugars. Fishmeal contained a more diverse set of acylglycerols, unique amino acids, nucleotides, and amines, while soymeal contained the highest number of sugars and miscellaneous biomolecules. The PCA confirmed the significance level (P > 95%) and heatmap clustering showed the diversity and relatedness of biomolecules among the microalga, fishmeal, and soymeal.

Conclusion

This study showed that the marine microalga Picochlorum sp. biomass has a rich source of biomolecules and could complement fishmeal or soymeal in feed and is also sustainable and economical as compared to fishmeal and soymeal.
Dementia in transgender population: case vignette
Authors: Beehuspoteea Nirja , Badrakalimuthu Vellingiri Raja
Published: November 2021

There is relatively limited understanding of issues relating to the transgender population in a dementia clinical service setting. Here, the authors present a case to discuss the challenges faced by the LGBT population in the context of dementia, exploring aspects such as the impact on carers and of dementia progression on gender‐related behaviour.
Barriers and facilitators to accessing cancer care for people with significant mental health difficulties: A qualitative review and narrative synthesis
Authors: Leahy Dorothy , Donnelly Alanna , Irwin Kelly , D’Alton Paul
Published: November 2021

Objectives

Inequities in cancer care contribute to higher rates of cancer mortality for individuals with significant mental health difficulties (SMHD) compared to the general population. The aim of the current systematic review was to identify, appraise and synthesise qualitative evidence of patient and clinician/system barriers and facilitators to cancer screening and treatment for individuals with SMHD.

Methods

We conducted a systematic search across three electronic databases in May 2020 and we carried out a second search across five electronic databases in January 2021. A narrative synthesis was conducted across eligible studies.

Results

We identified the same six studies from both searches, with 133 individuals with SMHD and experiences of cancer care and 102 healthcare professionals. Key barriers to cancer care were related to patients' uncontrolled psychiatric symptoms and the adverse impact of their symptoms on engaging with cancer care; clinician barrier‐attitudes included stigmatising attitudes from clinicians and other staff towards individuals with SMHD and systems barrier‐fragmentation included the fragmentation of mental health and cancer care delivery. Key patient facilitators to accessing cancer care and completing cancer treatment included being connected with mental health services and controlled psychiatric symptoms. Stronger collaboration among healthcare professionals working across different sectors in addition to the development of a patient navigator role were identified as key facilitators to enhance patient care.

Conclusions

Innovative approaches are needed to decrease mental health stigma, foster collaboration across disciplines, and facilitate the integration of timely mental health and cancer care for individuals with SMHD to address the mortality gap.
Numerical Simulation and Analysis of Muzzle Flow During a Rarefaction Wave Gun Firing
Authors: Wang Guannan , Cheng Cheng , Zhang Xiaobing , Huang Xi
Published: November 2021

Rarefaction wave gun can significantly reduce the recoil and the barrel heat without affecting projectile velocity during the launching process. This paper aims to improve the understanding of the muzzle flow characteristics during a rarefaction wave gun firing and clarify the different ballistic behaviors between the rarefaction wave gun and the traditional gun. First, the mathematical models and the numerical methods of the muzzle flow with the interior ballistic process were established. Then, the numerical simulation results were compared with the experimental data to validate the reliability and accuracy. Next, the rarefaction wave propagation behavior was described, and the interior ballistic process of the rarefaction wave gun was compared with that of the traditional gun. Then the development law of the muzzle flow field for the rarefaction wave gun coupled with the interior ballistics process was studied. Finally, the different detailed results of the muzzle flow between the traditional gun and the rarefaction wave gun were investigated. The development processes of the muzzle flow in both guns are generally similar, but the strength of the main flow parameters and the ballistic performances for the rarefaction wave gun are smaller than that for the traditional gun due to the rarefaction wave influence. This paper could provide a valuable reference for the research and design on the rarefaction wave gun.
Molecular insights into the inhibition of glutamate dehydrogenase by the dicarboxylic acid metabolites
Authors: Godsora Barsa Kanchan Jyotshna , Prakash Prem , Punekar Narayan S. , Bhaumik Prasenjit
Published: November 2021

Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) is a salient metabolic enzyme which catalyzes the NAD+‐ or NADP+‐dependent reversible conversion of α‐ketoglutarate (AKG) to l‐glutamate; and thereby connects the carbon and nitrogen metabolism cycles in all living organisms. The function of GDH is extensively regulated by both metabolites (citrate, succinate, etc.) and non‐metabolites (ATP, NADH, etc.) but sufficient molecular evidences are lacking to rationalize the inhibitory effects by the metabolites. We have expressed and purified NADP+‐dependent Aspergillus terreus GDH (AtGDH) in recombinant form. Succinate, malonate, maleate, fumarate, and tartrate independently inhibit the activity of AtGDH to different extents. The crystal structures of AtGDH complexed with the dicarboxylic acid metabolites and the coenzyme NADPH have been determined. Although AtGDH structures are not complexed with substrate; surprisingly, they acquire super closed conformation like previously reported for substrate and coenzyme bound catalytically competent Aspergillus niger GDH (AnGDH). These dicarboxylic acid metabolites partially occupy the same binding pocket as substrate; but interact with varying polar interactions and the coenzyme NADPH binds to the Domain‐II of AtGDH. The low inhibition potential of tartrate as compared to other dicarboxylic acid metabolites is due to its weaker interactions of carboxylate groups with AtGDH. Our results suggest that the length of carbon skeleton and positioning of the carboxylate groups of inhibitors between two conserved lysine residues at the GDH active site might be the determinants of their inhibitory potency. Molecular details on the dicarboxylic acid metabolites bound AtGDH active site architecture presented here would be applicable to GDHs in general.
From Quantum Rabi Model To Jaynes–Cummings Model: Symmetry‐Breaking Quantum Phase Transitions, Symmetry‐Protected Topological Transitions and Multicriticality
Authors: Ying Zu‐Jian
Published: November 2021

The ground state and excitation gap are studied for the anisotropic quantum Rabi model (QRM) which connects the fundamental QRM and the Jaynes–Cummings model (JCM). While conventionally the ground state has a second‐order quantum phase transition in the low frequency limit, turning on finite frequencies sheds a novel light on the phase diagram to illuminate a fine structure of first‐order transition series. It is found that the conventional quantum phase transition is accompanied with a hidden symmetry breaking, whereas the emerging series transitions are topological transitions without symmetry breaking. The topological structure of the wave function provides a novel universality classification in bridging the QRM and the JCM among the diversity that arises from finite frequencies. The aspect of topological transitions provides a renewed insight for the role of the counter‐rotating interaction. Moreover, it is shown that the conventionally established tricritical point is actually a pentacritical or hexacritical point and following this multicritical point emerges a series of quadruple points. Besides the emerging multicriticality and reformed universality, the result demonstrates that a single‐qubit system can even exhibit analogs of topological phase transitions which traditionally occur in condensed matter.
Design and development of remote‐control system for two‐wheel paddy transplanter
Authors: Lohan Shiv Kumar , Narang Mahesh Kumar , Singh Manjeet , Singh Derminder , Sidhu H. S. , Singh Sukhmeet , Dixit Anoop Kumar , Karkee Manoj
Published: November 2021

To reduce the human effort involved in walk‐behind paddy transplanter operation, a remote‐control system consisting of an electronic control unit (ECU) was designed and developed. A separate remote handheld wireless kit was developed to control the ECU. The deviation from a straight‐line path was measured by mounting a real‐time kinematic global satellite navigation system on the transplanter to provide a real‐time plot of the navigation path of the transplanter. The results from the field evaluation revealed that the system worked properly with an effective field capacity of 0.16 ± 0.03 ha h−1 with a field efficiency of 73.05% ± 0.35% at 1.8 km h−1 in sandy loam soil. The mean deviation from the predefined straight path was 0.227 ± 0.041 m for the remote‐controlled transplanter as compared to 0.171 ± 0.041 m for a manually operated transplanter. The net benefit of using the transplanter with the developed system was $40 per hectare and $2084 per year with a payback period of 2.7 years. The developed remote‐control system reduced the drudgery/fatigue by up to 90% and increased the operator's work efficiency. In addition, an operator sitting in a safe and comfortable environment outside the puddled field improved the field capacity of paddy transplanters by up to 10% and helped minimize the effects of labor shortage during the transplanting season.
Bayesian spatial models for voxel‐wise prostate cancer classification using multi‐parametric magnetic resonance imaging data
Authors: Jin Jin , Zhang Lin , Leng Ethan , Metzger Gregory J. , Koopmeiners Joseph S.
Published: November 2021

Multi‐parametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) has been playing an increasingly important role in the detection of prostate cancer (PCa). Various computer‐aided detection algorithms were proposed for automated PCa detection by combining information in multiple mpMRI parameters. However, there are specific features of mpMRI, including between‐voxel correlation within each prostate and heterogeneity across patients, that have not been fully explored but could potentially improve PCa detection if leveraged appropriately. This article proposes novel Bayesian approaches for voxel‐wise PCa classification that accounts for spatial correlation and between‐patient heterogeneity in the mpMRI data. Modeling the spatial correlation is challenging due to the extreme high dimensionality of the data, and we propose three scalable approaches based on Nearest Neighbor Gaussian Process (NNGP), reduced‐rank approximation, and a conditional autoregressive (CAR) model that approximates a Gaussian Process with the Matérn covariance, respectively. Our simulation study shows that properly modeling the spatial correlation and between‐patient heterogeneity can substantially improve PCa classification. Application to in vivo data illustrates that classification is improved by all three spatial modeling approaches considered, while modeling the between‐patient heterogeneity does not further improve our classifiers. Among the proposed models, the NNGP‐based model is recommended given its high classification accuracy and computational efficiency.
Healthcare worker resilience during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A qualitative study of primary care providers in India
Authors: Golechha Mahaveer , Bohra Tasneem , Patel Mehul , Khetrapal Sonalini
Published: November 2021

Since 2020, the world saw a myriad of creative health‐care policy responses to the COVID‐19 pandemic. This article studied the experience of rural primary care providers (PCPs) in India deputized for COVID‐19 care in urban areas. In‐depth interviews were conducted with PCPs (n = 19), who served at COVID‐19 facilities. Lack of epidemic management and intensive tertiary care experience, limited and inadequate training, and fear of infection emerged as the primary sources of distress, in addition to absent systemic mental health support and formalized recognition. Even so, resilience among the respondents emerged as a result of encouragement from their families, peers, and mentors through various means including social media, and from individual recognition from communities and local governments. Rural PCPs expressed an eagerness to serve at the frontlines of COVID‐19 and demonstrated indomitable spirit in the face of an acutely understaffed health system, growing uncertainty, and concerns about personal and family health. It is imperative to reconfigure health‐care education and continuing professional development, and equip all health‐care professionals with mental health support and the ability to deal with public health emergencies and build a more resilient health workforce.