bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Digital literacy and green consumption behavior: Exploring dual psychological mechanisms
Authors: Hu Xiaojuan , Meng Hu
Published: November 2022

Green consumption has been developing into a booming trend due to alarming environmental problems. This study examines the relationship between the consumers' digital literacy and green consumption behavior and explores two different mechanisms based on social cognitive theory and self‐regulatory theory. The cognition‐based mechanism includes self‐efficacy and outcome expectation; the affect‐based mechanism includes anticipated pride and anticipated guilt. In addition, we investigate how green product availability moderates the relationships between four mediators and green consumption behavior. Across two studies, the results indicate that the consumers' digital literacy influences green consumption behavior through self‐efficacy, outcome expectation, anticipated pride, and anticipated guilt. Moreover, green product availability boosts the effects of self‐efficacy and anticipated pride on green consumption behavior. Our research has theoretical contributions to understanding the formation of green consumption behavior. It also provides practical implications for how to effectively guide and promote green consumption behavior.
Bacterially Secretable Single‐Chain Tandem Macrocyclic Peptides for High Affinity and Inhibitory Activity
Authors: Ito Kenichiro , Matsuda Yoshihiko , Mine Ayako , Miyairi Kyohei , Kikuchi Yoshimi , Konishi Atsushi
Published: November 2022

The inhibition of protein‐protein interactions (PPIs) is an effective approach for therapy. Owing to their large binding surface areas to target proteins, macrocyclic peptides are suitable molecules for PPI inhibition. In this study, we developed single‐chain tandem macrocyclic peptides (STaMPtides) that inhibits the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor 2 (VEGFR2). They were artificially designed to comprise two different VEGFR2‐binding macrocyclic peptides linked in tandem by peptide linkers and secreted by Corynebacterium glutamicum. Most potent VEGFR2‐inhibitory STaMPtides with length‐optimized linkers exhibited >1000 times stronger inhibitory activity than their parental monomeric peptides, possibly due to the avidity effect of heterodimerization. Our approach of using STaMPtides for PPI inhibition may be used to inhibit other extracellular factors, such as growth factors and cytokines.
Wheat gluten: A functional protein still challenging to replace in gluten‐free cereal‐based foods
Authors: Gasparre Nicola , Rosell Cristina M.
Published: November 2022

Background and Objectives

Wheat gluten in cereal‐based products has unique functionality derived from its viscoelastic properties. Nevertheless, many food applications require its replacement to obtain gluten‐free foods but keeping similar quality characteristics. This review analyzes the distinctive characteristics of wheat gluten, and the technological strategies implemented to mimic its behavior within the gluten‐free systems.

Findings

The viscoelastic behavior of wheat gluten is due to the interplay of glutenins and gliadins after being hydrated and subjected to mechanical stress. Disulfide bonds and noncovalent interactions are key in holding its structure and explaining its solubility and hydrophobicity. Gluten‐free flours and starches have represented the first adopted strategies for gluten replacement, but results have not been completely satisfactory. To tackle this issue, non‐wheat protein addition, physical treatments, hydrocolloids, enzymes, and emulsifiers have allowed recreation of a pseudo gluten network of the cereal‐based foods.

Conclusions

Despite technological sensorial achievements, a gap still exists when gluten‐free products are compared with their wheat‐based counterparts. A better comprehension about the combined actions of different processing aids and technologies could offer future answers.

Significance and Novelty

The review points out the main characteristics of the wheat gluten uniqueness, shedding light on its replacement strategies to guide future research.
Grain and flour characteristics of eastern U.S. soft winter wheat desirable for making soft‐bite white salted noodles
Authors: Ma Fengyun , Baik Byung‐Kee
Published: November 2022

Background And Objectives

The genetic backgrounds and growing conditions of eastern U.S. soft winter (ESW) wheat vary widely and thus produce grains of diverse quality characteristics, which encompass those required for making soft‐bite white salted noodles (WSN). However, these characteristics have yet to be identified and cataloged. The grain and flour characteristics and WSN making quality of 25 ESW wheat varieties and four commercial noodle flours (CNFs) were analyzed to identify grain and flour characteristics desirable for making WSN.

Findings

Kernel hardness, protein content, and gluten strength‐related parameters of ESW wheat were significantly associated with WSN cooking and textural properties, while damaged starch content was the major determinant of WSN adhesiveness. A total of 9 out of 25 ESW wheat flours exhibited protein characteristics, WSN color and textural properties that closely matched to those of CNFs.

Conclusions

ESW wheat varieties with kernel hardness of 16.0–45.4, damaged starch content of 1.9%–4.4%, flour protein content of 8.6%–10.2%, sodium dodecyl sulfate sedimentation volume of 30.4–41.6 ml and lactic acid solvent retention capacity of 115.6%–142.7% were identified to produce WSN of comparable quality to those of CNFs.
Determinants of survival outcomes among esophageal cancer patients at a national referral hospital in Kenya
Authors: Degu Amsalu , Karimi Peter N. , Opanga Sylvia A. , Nyamu David G.
Published: November 2022

Introduction

The overall 5‐year survival rate for esophageal cancer patients in low‐ and middle‐income countries was reported to be low, despite the availability of advanced treatments. Thus, this study aimed to assess determinants of survival outcomes among esophageal cancer patients in Kenya.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was employed among 299 adult esophageal cancer patients. The data were collected using a data abstraction tool consisting of patients’ clinical characteristics and survival outcome measuring parameters. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) statistical software (version 20.0, IBM. USA) was used to analyze the data. The Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analyses were used to determine the survival outcome and determinants of mortality, respectively.

Results

The mortality rate was 43.1%, and 11.1% of patients demonstrated distant metastases in the follow‐up period. Despite treatment, 20.1% had progressed disease, and 13.0% did not respond to treatment. Radiotherapy (AHR: 3.3, 95% CI: 1.4−7.8, p = 0.007), chemotherapy (AHR: 3.9, 95% CI: 1.2−6.1, p = 0.020), and chemoradiation (AHR: 5.6, 95%CI: 1.6−10.2, p = 0.006) were the significant determinants of survival in advanced stage (III and and IV) patients.

Conclusions

There was a high mortality rate, disease progression, and nonresponse of esophageal cancer patients. Hence, it is essential to improve the survival of patients through early detection and timely initiation of the available treatment options.
Chloride‐Free Electrolytes for High‐Voltage Magnesium Metal Batteries: Challenges, Strategies, and Perspectives
Authors: Zhao Wanyu , Liu Yuan , Zhao Xiaoli , Pan Zhenghui , Chen Jianping , Zheng Songhe , Qu Lingli , Yang Xiaowei
Published: November 2022

The demand for high‐energy‐density and safe energy storage devices has spurred increasing interest in high‐voltage rechargeable magnesium batteries (RMB). As electrolytes are the bridge connecting the cathode and anode materials, the development of high‐voltage electrolytes is the key factor in realizing high‐voltage RMBs. This concept presents an overview of three chloride‐free electrolyte systems with wide electrochemical windows, together with the degradation mechanisms and modification strategies at the anode/electrolyte interphase. Finally, future directions in stabilizing Mg anodes and realizing high‐voltage RMBs are highlighted.
Performance prediction of parallel applications using artificial neuronal network and graph representation
Authors: Chokri Soumia , Baroud Sohaib , Belhaous Safa , Youssfi Mohamed , Mestari Mohammed
Published: November 2022

Modeling and predicting the performance of HPC applications is exceedingly important for several purposes. These incorporate scheduling and managing tasks, understanding application behavior, and estimating resource requirements. Many issues impact the performance of parallel applications, including data decomposition, load balancing, and inter processors communication. Predicting the performance of parallelism accurately is a challenging task, especially since it depends on several hardware and software parameters that are difficult to identify. The graph representation is an efficient way to model a parallel application. Based on this representation, this study purports to predict the optimal number of partitions (processors) to run efficiently a parallel application on multi‐core architectures using an artificial neural network. The numerical simulation applications are modeled as a graph of tasks and their associated data. Using the characteristics of the graphs as inputs of the ANN model, we obtained satisfactory results with an accuracy of 91% for the optimal number of processors and 93% for the maximum speedup.
Energy and spectral efficiency improvement using improved shark smell‐coyote optimization for massive MIMO system
Authors: Byreddy Amarender Reddy , Logashanmugam E.
Published: November 2022

Massive multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) can considerably enhance the “spectral efficiency and energy efficiency” since it is a major technique for future wireless networks. Thus, the performance needs a huge count of base station antennas to serve a smaller number of terminals in conventional MIMO methodology. Large‐scale radio frequency (RF) chains represent the large‐scale antennas. There is a need of implementing an effective massive MIMO system for maximizing the efficient performance of the system with high “spectral efficiency and energy efficiency” owing to the high cost of RF chains, and the higher power consumption. In this paper, a massive MIMO communication system is implemented to satisfy the requirements regarding “energy efficiency and spectral efficiency.” Here, the number of base station antennas, the transmit power, and beam forming vectors are optimized to maximize “energy efficiency and spectral efficiency” when the channel capacity is known to be higher than some threshold values. The novelty of this work is a new hybrid optimization adaptive shark smell‐coyote optimization (ASS‐CO) algorithm is developed for improving energy efficiency. The optimization is done with the help of the hybrid optimization ASS‐CO Algorithm. The proposed ASS‐CO algorithm‐based massive MIMO communication system is evaluated by experimental analysis. From the result analysis, the maximum resource efficiency is observed by SS‐WOA, which is 6.6%, 50%, 6.6%, 6.6%, and 6.6% maximized than rider optimization algorithm (ROA), spotted hyena optimization (SHO), lion algorithm (LA), Shark Smell Optimization (SSO), and Coyote Optimization Algorithm (COA) by taking the count of base stations as 4. The superior performance enhancement regarding “spectral efficiency and energy efficiency” is accomplished over the traditional systems.
Fairness constraint efficiency optimization for multiresource allocation in a cluster system serving internet of things
Authors: Chen Shaomiao , Yang Ce , Huang Weihong , Liang Wei , Ke Nai , Souri Alireza , Li Kuan‐Ching
Published: November 2022

Massive, diverse, and high‐frequency Internet of Things (IoT) applications pose challenges to the operation of cluster systems that serve it. Fair and efficient multidimensional resource allocation is of great significance to the sustainable operation of these systems. However, most of the existing cluster multiresource allocation optimization researches focus too much on the fairness of resource allocation and ignore the efficiency. The unbalanced use of multidimensional system resources reduces the effective utilization of system resources, which seriously affects the service quality of IoT applications. In this paper, we define the multiresource fair and efficient sharing optimization as a fairness‐constrained efficiency optimization problem, which is from dynamics, discrete resources, and heterogeneous perspectives according to the characteristics of cluster system in practical. Moreover, we present a dynamic efficiency‐aware multiresource fair allocation algorithm, DEF, which can improve the ability of the cluster system to serve diverse IoT applications. In the algorithm, large jobs schedule to the servers that expect the least remaining resources. Simulations performed using Google cluster‐usage traces show that DEF can improve system resource utilization and guarantee the fairness of sharing among users.
Light Inducing the Geometric Conversion of NiO6 to Trigger a Faster Oxygen Evolution Reaction Pathway: The Coupled Oxygen Evolution Mechanism
Authors: Wang Hao , Lu Siyu
Published: November 2022

Developing highly active and robust oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts is still a critical challenge for water electrolyzers and metal–air batteries. Realizing the dynamic evolution of the intermediate and charge transfer during OER and developing a clear OER mechanism is crucial to design high‐performance OER catalysts. Recently in Nature, Xue and colleagues revealed a new OER mechanism, coupled oxygen evolution mechanism (COM), which involves a switchable metal and oxygen redox under light irradiation in nickel oxyhydroxide‐based materials. This newly developed mechanism requires a reversible geometric conversion between octahedron (NiO6) and square planar (NiO4) to achieve electronic states with both “metal redox” and “oxygen redox” during OER. The asymmetric structure endows NR‐NiOOH with a nonoverlapping region between the dz2 orbitals and a1g* bands, which facilitate the geometric conversion and enact the COM pathway. As a result, NR‐NiOOH exhibited better OER activity and stability than the traditional NiOOH.
ILC1: Development, maturation, and transcriptional regulation
Authors: Taggenbrock Renske L.R.E. , van Gisbergen Klaas P.J.M.
Published: November 2022

Type 1 Innate Lymphoid cells (ILC1s) are tissue‐resident cells that partake in the regulation of inflammation and homeostasis. A major feature of ILC1s is their ability to rapidly respond after infections. The effector repertoire of ILC1s includes the pro‐inflammatory cytokines IFN‐γ and TNF‐α and cytotoxic mediators such as granzymes, which enable ILC1s to establish immune responses and to directly kill target cells. Recent advances in the characterization of ILC1s have considerably furthered our understanding of ILC1 development and maintenance in tissues. In particular, it has become clear how ILC1s operate independently from conventional natural killer cells, with which they share many characteristics. In this review, we discuss recent developments with regards to the differentiation, polarization, and effector maturation of ILC1s. These processes may underlie the observed heterogeneity in ILC1 populations within and between different tissues. Next, we highlight transcriptional programs that control each of the separate steps in the differentiation of ILC1s. These transcriptional programs are shared with other tissue‐resident type‐1 lymphocytes, such as tissue‐resident memory T cells (TRM) and invariant natural killer T cells (iNKT), highlighting that ILC1s utilize networks of transcriptional regulation that are conserved between lymphocyte lineages to respond effectively to tissue‐invading pathogens.
Distinct and dynamic activation profiles of circulating dendritic cells and monocytes in mild COVID‐19 and after yellow fever vaccination
Authors: Winheim Elena , Eser Tabea , Deák Flora , Ahmed Mohamed I. M. , Baranov Olga , Rinke Linus , Eisenächer Katharina , Santos‐Peral Antonio , Karimzadeh Hadi , Pritsch Michael , Scherer Clemens , Muenchhoff Maximilian , Hellmuth Johannes C. , von Bergwelt‐Baildon Michael , Olbrich Laura , Hoelscher Michael , Wieser Andreas , Kroidl Inge , Rothenfusser Simon , Geldmacher Christof , Krug Anne B.
Published: November 2022

Dysregulation of the myeloid cell compartment is a feature of severe disease in hospitalized COVID‐19 patients. Here, we investigated the response of circulating dendritic cell (DC) and monocyte subpopulations in SARS‐CoV‐2 infected outpatients with mild disease and compared it to the response of healthy individuals to yellow fever vaccine virus YF17D as a model of a well‐coordinated response to viral infection. In SARS‐CoV‐2‐infected outpatients circulating DCs were persistently reduced for several weeks whereas after YF17D vaccination DC numbers were decreased temporarily and rapidly replenished by increased proliferation until 14 days after vaccination. The majority of COVID‐19 outpatients showed high expression of CD86 and PD‐L1 in monocytes and DCs early on, resembling the dynamic after YF17D vaccination. In a subgroup of patients, low CD86 and high PD‐L1 expression were detected in monocytes and DCs coinciding with symptoms, higher age, and lower lymphocyte counts. This phenotype was similar to that observed in severely ill COVID‐19 patients, but less pronounced. Thus, prolonged reduction and dysregulated activation of blood DCs and monocytes were seen in a subgroup of symptomatic non‐hospitalized COVID‐19 patients while a transient coordinated activation was characteristic for the majority of patients with mild COVID‐19 and the response to YF17D vaccination.
Temporal encephaloceles and coexisting epileptogenic lesions
Authors: Tsalouchidou Panagiota‐Eleni , Zoellner Johann Philipp , Kirscht Annika , Mueller Christina Julia , Nimsky Christopher , Schulze Maximilian , Hattingen Elke , Chatzis Georgios , Freiman Thomas M. , Strzelczyk Adam , Fuest Sven , Menzler Katja , Rosenow Felix , Knake Susanne
Published: November 2022

Objective

This study was performed to identify coexisting structural lesions in patients with epilepsy and known temporal encephaloceles (TEs).

Methods

Forty‐seven structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of patients with epilepsy and radiologically diagnosed TEs were retrospectively reviewed visually and using an automated postprocessing software, the Morphometric Analysis Program v2018 (MAP18), to depict additional subtle, potentially epileptogenic lesions in the 3D T1‐weighted MRI data. All imaging findings were evaluated in the context of clinical and electroencephalographical findings.

Results

The study population consisted of 47 epilepsy patients (38.3% female, n = 18). The median age at the time of the scan was 40 years (range 12–81 years). Twenty‐one out of 47 MRI scans (44.7%) showed coexisting lesions in the initial MRI evaluation; in 38.3% (n = 18) of patients, those lesions were considered probably epileptogenic. After postprocessing, probable epileptogenic lesions were identified in 53.2% (n = 25) of patients. Malformations of cortical development had initially been reported in 17.0% (n = 8) of patients with TEs, which increased to 38.3% (n = 18) after postprocessing. TEs and other epileptogenic lesions were considered equally epileptogenic in 21.3% (n = 10) of the cases in the initial MR reports and 25.5% (n = 12) of the cases after postprocessing.

Significance

Temporal encephaloceles are a potential cause of MRI‐negative temporal lobe epilepsy. According to our data, TEs can occur with other lesions, suggesting that increased awareness is also required in patients with lesional epilepsy. TEs may not always be epileptogenic; hence, their occurrence with other structural pathologies may influence the presurgical evaluation and surgical approach. Finally, TEs can be associated with malformations of cortical development, which may indicate a common developmental etiology of those lesions.
An investigation of a nonthermally insulated mixing ventilated office room for partitioning in hot and dry climate by simulation approach
Authors: Jassim Sherin Sabah , Mahdi Alaa Abbas
Published: November 2022

Due to the recent situation, especially since the beginning of the spread of COVID‐19, work in administrative or service offices under conditions of social divergence and the working environment has become conditional on the ventilation system; thus, enhancing ventilation's function to minimize the spread of infections, and impurities to larger areas or limiting its transition from one employee to another who work in the same place for long hours. A nonisothermal office room, designed with a mixing ventilation system has been simulated by using AIRPAK3.0.16 software, and RNG k– as a turbulence model, where the adoption of partitions in such rooms was studied and its effect on thermal employee's comfort and quality of fresh air, by monitoring the air diffusion performance index, prediction of the mean vote, and percentage of predicted dissatisfied. The main findings were that partitions are seen as a technique of preventing and protecting against the spread of pollutants and illnesses since they prevent contaminants from reaching the breathing zones of the office's inhabitants. It was noted that the change in the height of the partition with an increase of 10% of the room's height as a gap, gives a more acceptance value of the heat removal efficiency and ventilation rate.
How error-prone bioaccumulation experiments affect the risk assessment of hydrophobic chemicals and what could be improved
Authors: Glüge Juliane , Escher Beate I. , Scheringer Martin
Published: November 2022

Bioaccumulation is one of the three criteria for the PBT assessment of chemicals, where P stands for persistence, B for bioaccumulation, and T for toxicity, which is a cornerstone for the “Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals” (REACH) in the EU. Registrants are required by REACH to submit data on bioaccumulation if the chemical is manufactured in and/or imported to the European Economic Area at more than 100 t/year. Most of the experimental bioaccumulation studies submitted were on the bioconcentration factor (BCF) and were conducted prior to 2012, before the OECD Test Guideline 305 on Bioaccumulation in Fish was updated. An analysis of the submitted data revealed that many of the experimental data, but also the data from QSARs and other calculation methods, underestimate the actual bioaccumulation potential of hydrophobic substances considerably. One of the main reasons in the nonexperimental studies is that the BCF is related there to the total concentration of the chemical in water and not to the dissolved chemical concentration. There is therefore an urgent need to reassess the bioaccumulation potential of the hydrophobic substances registered under REACH. Based on the model calculations in the present study, between 332 and 584 substances that are registered under REACH are likely to bioaccumulate in the aquatic environment—many more than have so far been identified in the B assessment. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:792–803. © 2022 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
Clinicopathological features, prognostic significance, and associated tumor cell functions of family with sequence similarity 111 member B in pancreatic adenocarcinoma
Authors: Gong Qi , Dong QingTai , Zhong Bin , Zhang Tao , Cao Ding , Zhang Yi , Ma Dandan , Cai Xun , Li ZhongHu
Published: November 2022

Backgroud

Among digestive tract tumors, pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) has a high degree of malignancy. Therefore, it is important to search for pancreatic adenocarcinoma‐related differential genes and new oncogene therapeutic targets for early diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Aims

This study aims to investigate the expression and clinical significance of Family with sequence similarity 111 member B (FAM111B) in PAAD.

Materials & Methods

Bioinformatics was used to analyze the relationship between FAM111B expression and pancreatic adenocarcinoma and to predict its role in related pathways. Tissue microarrays were used to assess the levels of FAM111B in pancreatic cancer tissues by immunohistochemical staining, and the effects of FAM111B expression levels on apoptosis, proliferation, invasion and migration of tumor cells were observed and verified by in vitro cellular assays.

Results

FAM111B expression was higher in PAAD tissue than in matched normal tissues (p < 0.05). The expression level of FAM111B, the metastatic status of lymph nodes was an independent prognostic factor for PAAD survival (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, overexpression of FAM111B promoted PAAD cell proliferation, migration, invasion and inhibited PAAD cell apoptosis (p < 0.05). In contrast, knockdown of FAM111B triggered the opposite result (p < 0.05). In the results of GSEA, it was shown that FAM111B may be involved in PAAD progression through p53 signaling pathway, cell cycle, and other signaling pathways (p < 0.05 and FDR q‐val <0.25). FAM111B is highly expressed in PAAD tissues and is closely associated with poor prognosis of PAAD.

Conclusion

FAM111B significantly promotes the proliferation, invasion, and migration of pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells while it inhibits their apoptosis. FAM111B may be a new biomarker for PAAD. It may provide a new direction for the treatment and diagnosis of PAAD.
What kinds of work do Japanese primary care physicians who derive greater positive meaning from work engage in? A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Yamamoto Yu , Haruta Junji , Goto Ryohei , Maeno Tetsuhiro
Published: November 2022

Background

Despite the increasing need for primary care physicians (PCPs) around the world, few physicians choose it as a career. PCPs who can find meaning and enjoyment in their work can be role models for medical students and professionals, which may encourage more physicians to specialize in primary care. We aimed to compare the kinds of work that Japanese PCPs who derive greater positive meaning from work engage in versus those who derive less positive meaning from work.

Methods

This was a cross‐sectional study that used self‐administered questionnaires to ask Japanese PCPs about their basic characteristics and engagement in and enthusiasm for various types of work. The outcomes of the Japanese version of the work as meaning inventory (J‐WAMI) were also assessed. Participants were divided into high‐ and low‐scoring groups according to the median J‐WAMI score, and logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors related to the high J‐WAMI‐scoring group.

Results

A total of 268 out of 330 participants were included in the analysis. Males comprised 74.3%, and participants' average experience as a physician was 20.2 years. The median overall J‐WAMI score was 38. Factors associated with the high J‐WAMI scoring group were enthusiasm for outpatient care (OR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.02–1.06) and engagement in research (OR: 2.74, 95% CI 1.33–5.66).

Conclusions

Enthusiasm for outpatient care and engagement in research are associated with greater positive meaning of work among PCPs. Supporting these types of work may enhance PCPs' value of their work.
A dual‐targeting near‐infrared biomimetic drug delivery system for HBV treatment
Authors: Chen Liuxian , Jiang Xinyun , Liu Qiang , Tang Zhenrong , Wang Dan , Xiang Zheng , Liu Shengchun , Tang Hua
Published: November 2022

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious global public health threat. It remains elusive to achieve a functional HBV cure with currently available antivirals. Herein, a photo‐responsive delivery vehicle composed of Nd3+‐sensitized core–shell upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP), mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN), antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), and capsid‐binding inhibitor C39 was established, which was named UMAC according to the initials of its components. Subsequently, the as‐synthesized delivery vehicle was encapsulated by β‐
D‐galactopyranoside (Gal) modified red blood cell (RBC) membrane vesicles, which enabled precise targeting of the liver cells (UMAC‐M‐Gal). Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that this biomimetic system could successfully achieve controlled drug release under light conditions at 808 nm, leading to effective suppression of HBV replication in this dual‐targeted therapeutic approach. Together, these results substantiate the system has huge prospects for application to achieve functional HBV cure, and provides a promising novel strategy for drug delivery.
Drumlin formation within the Bustarfell drumlin field, northeast Iceland: integrating sedimentological and ground‐penetrating radar data
Authors: Aradóttir Nína , Benediktsson Ívar Örn , Ingólfsson Ólafur , Sturkell Erik , Brynjólfsson Skafti , Farnsworth Wesley R. , Phillips Emrys
Published: November 2022

Drumlins are important bedforms of former glaciated landscapes as they demonstrate past ice‐flow directions and elucidate processes that operated at the ice/bed interface. Recently mapped drumlins and other streamlined subglacial bedforms in northeast Iceland reveal the flow‐sets of cross‐cutting palaeo‐ice streams that were active within the Iceland Ice Sheet (IIS) during and following the Last Glacial Maximum. Here we study the Bustarfell drumlin field within the Vopnafjörður–Jökuldalsheiði flow‐set. The internal architecture of two drumlins was investigated using sedimentological analysis and ground‐penetrating radar (GPR, 50 and 100 MHz) to illuminate subglacial processes that contributed to drumlin formation, as well as the history and dynamics of the IIS. On the stoss side of one of the drumlins, two subglacial traction till units were identified, separated by a thick unit of deformed glaciofluvial sand and gravel. The core of glaciofluvial material suggests that the drumlin formed around well‐drained patches (sticky spots) in the subglacial bed that retarded the ice flow locally through increased basal drag and encouraged till deposition. Furthermore, our GPR data indicate a combination of erosional and depositional processes. We suggest that the glaciofluvial sediments were deposited as small ice‐marginal fans on the Bustarfell plateau, possibly during the Bølling–Allerød interstadial, and that the drumlins were formed around these fans during a subsequent readvance during the Younger Dryas.
Surfactant mixtures: A short review
Authors: Grady Brian P.
Published: November 2022

Every commercial formulation that contains surfactant contains a mixture of surfactants. This chapter is a short review on surfactant mixtures in water focusing on important concepts that differ from single‐component systems. The chapter assumes a basic understanding of surfactants. Topics include micelles; adsorption at the air–water, oil–water, and water–solid interfaces; and phase behavior/precipitation. Mixtures of surfactant types that are important in applications are emphasized. In addition, those molecular aspects that affect macroscopic behavior, especially macroscopic behavior that is important for applications of surfactants, are emphasized.
Ashy dermatosis with a Wagyu beef‐like dermoscopic appearance: Report of two cases
Authors: Munekata Yuki , Yanagi Teruki , Shimano Mayuna , Orita Akihiro , Shiiya Chihiro , Kitamura Shinya , Ujiie Hideyuki
Published: November 2022

There have been no reports as to the link between dermoscopic observations and disease activity in ashy dermatosis. We herein report two cases of ashy dermatosis displaying on dermoscopy the so‐called Wagyu beef‐like pattern, consisting of pigmentation on skin rete ridges and brown dots. Ashy dermatosis histologic features may change according to the clinical activity of the eruption; both of our cases were deemed to be in late stages, histopathologically characterized by dermal melanin incontinence without vacuolization of the basal cell layer. The present cases suggest that the Wagyu beef‐like appearance can be seen even in late stages of activity in ashy dermatosis.
Total saponins of Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem. alleviate myocardial ischemia‐reperfusion injury by promoting NLRP3‐inflammasome inactivation via PI3K/Akt signaling
Authors: Sun Li , Lu Wei‐Xing , Li Hui , Feng Ding‐Ya , Nie Jing‐Xiao
Published: November 2022

Total saponins of Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem. (TSAE) have been shown to play a significant role in cardiovascular protection, anti‐tumor, liver protection, anti‐oxidant stress, and anti‐inflammation. However, the specific mechanisms of TSAE in myocardial ischemia‐reperfusion injury (MIRI) remain largely elusive. Hearts from male Wistar rats were used to establish the isolated heart MIRI model. Using a multichannel physiological recorder, the whole course heart rate (HR), left ventricular development pressure (LVDP), and maximum rise/decrease rate of left ventricular pressure (±dp/dtmax) were recorded. 2,3,5‐triphenyl‐2H‐tetrazolium chloride staining observed the infarct area, while hematoxylin & eosin staining detected pathological changes in myocardial tissue. Creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, total superoxide dismutase, and malondialdehyde concentrations were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Immunohistochemistry, quantitative PCR, and western blot assay were used to assess the amounts of IL‐18 and IL‐1β, NLR family protein (NLRP3) inflammasome‐ and apoptosis‐related proteins, respectively. Treatment with TSAE or MCC950 (NLRP3‐specific inhibitor) significantly reduced the myocardial infarction area, alleviated pathological changes in myocardial tissues, enhanced LVDP and ±dp/dtmax levels, prevented myocardial oxidative damage, and inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome formation. In addition, TSAE enhanced Akt and GSK3β phosphorylation, and LY29004 co‐reperfusion markedly diminished the protective role of TSAE reperfusion on cardiac function, oxidative damage, and inflammatory responses. Collectively, TSAE treatment exhibited a protective effect on I/R‐triggered inflammatory responses, cell necrosis, and oxidative stress injury by stimulating PI3K/Akt signaling‐mediated NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition.
Knowledge management practices innon‐profitorganizations: An institutional logics approach
Authors: Mahasuar Kiran
Published: November 2022

Institutional environments are often pluralistic, and organizations must balance competing and incompatible environmental demands to achieve stability and legitimacy. Knowledge management (KM) in non‐profit organizations (NPOs) embodies this philosophy wherein the NPOs must balance the competing institutional demands and enact KM practices in a resource‐constrained environment. We evaluate this interplay of competing demands and knowledge management practices in NPOs with two polar cases using the theoretical lens of institutional logics. We find support for the hybrid nature of non‐profits and a co‐existence of multiple competing logics that drive the KM practices in NPOs and the use of innovative logics like bricolage and socialization to compensate for the resource constraints.
Mixed planting enhances soil multi‐nutrient cycling by homogenizing microbial communities across soil vertical scale
Authors: Pan Chang , Sun Chenchen , Yu Wenruinan , Guo Jiahuan , Yu Yuanchun , Li Xiaogang
Published: November 2022

Soil multi‐nutrient cycling (SMC) driven by microbial communities determines the primary productivity of forests. While functional microbes and microbial community composition are thought to contribute to SMC, the importance of different microbial communities in SMC enhancement in forest ecosystems are largely unknown. Here, we aimed to decode the underlying mechanisms of bacterial and fungal communities in the surface (0–20 cm) and subsurface soils (20–40 cm) that drive SMC in two afforestation models: pure plantation (Chinese fir) and mixed plantation (different tree varieties). Mixed planting significantly enhanced the SMC along the soil vertical spatial scale, implying that mixed planting effectively alleviated soil degradation caused by pure planting. This was attributed to the homogenization effect of mixed planting on bacterial and fungal community assemblies across the soil vertical scales. Specifically, fungal communities mainly contributed to SMC in the surface soil in mixed plantations, and bacterial communities were the primary drivers of SMC in the subsurface soil. Furthermore, multiple regression and structural equation modeling confirmed that specific key fungal taxa preferentially mediate the transformation of available phosphorus and soil organic carbon, and contribute 77.0% of SMC variation in the surface soil, while bacterial taxa mainly drive the transformation of ammonium nitrogen and soil organic carbon, and account for 60.0% of SMC variation in the subsurface soil. This study highlights the different patterns of bacterial and fungal community assembly, and their function in SMC along the soil vertical spatial scale, and advances the understanding of the roles of soil microbial communities in degraded forest soil remediation.
Dynamic, downstream‐propagating thermal vulnerability in a mountain stream network: Implications for biodiversity in the face of climate change
Authors: Leathers Kyle , Herbst David , Safeeq Mohammad , Ruhi Albert
Published: November 2022

As climate change continues to increase air temperature in high‐altitude ecosystems, it has become critical to understand the controls and scales of aquatic habitat vulnerability to warming. Here, we used a nested array of high‐frequency sensors, and advances in time‐series models, to examine spatiotemporal variation in thermal vulnerability in a model Sierra Nevada watershed. Stream thermal sensitivity to atmospheric warming fluctuated strongly over the year and peaked in spring and summer—when hot days threaten invertebrate communities most. The reach scale (~ 50 m) best captured variation in summer thermal regimes. Elevation, discharge, and conductivity were important correlates of summer water temperature across reaches, but upstream water temperature was the paramount driver—supporting that cascading warming occurs downstream in the network. Finally, we used our estimated summer thermal sensitivity and downscaled projections of summer air temperature to forecast end‐of‐the‐century stream warming, when extreme drought years like 2020–2021 become the norm. We found that 25.5% of cold‐water habitat may be lost under high‐emissions scenario representative concentration pathway (RCP) 8.5 (or 7.9% under mitigated RCP 4.5). This estimated reduction suggests that 27.2% of stream macroinvertebrate biodiversity (11.9% under the mitigated scenario) will be stressed or threatened in what was previously cold‐water habitat. Our quantitative approach is transferrable to other watersheds with spatially replicated time series and illustrates the importance of considering variation in the vulnerability of mountain streams to warming over both space and time. This approach may inform watershed conservation efforts by helping identify, and potentially mitigate, sites and time windows of peak vulnerability.
A Rapidly and Highly Self‐Healing Poly(Sulfobetaine Methacrylate) Hydrogel with Stretching Properties, Adhesive Properties, and Biocompatibility
Authors: Jiang Yi‐Jie , Jeng Jiiang‐Huei , Wu Pin‐Hsuan , Chien Hsiu‐Wen
Published: November 2022

This study focuses on the preparation of stretchable zwitterionic poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PSBMA) hydrogels. To address the weak mechanical properties of chemically crosslinked PSBMA hydrogels, a physical crosslinking method utilizing hydrophobic interactions to crosslink hydrogels to approach tough properties is developed. Here, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)‐based micelle is used as a physical crosslinker to prepare physically crosslinked PSBMA (PSBMAphy) hydrogels, and ethylene glycol dimethylacrylate (EGDMA) is used to prepare a control group of chemically crosslinked PSBMA (PSBMAchem) hydrogels. The mechanical properties of the two hydrogels are compared, and PSBMAphy hydrogels exhibit greater flexibility than the PSBMAchem hydrogels. When the PSBMAphy hydrogels are subjected to external forces, the micelles act as dynamic crosslinking sites, allowing the stress to disperse and prevent the hydrogel from breaking. In addition, the PSBMAphy hydrogels have nearly 100% self‐healing properties within 2.5 min. The PSBMAphy hydrogels exhibit usable adhesive properties to porcine skin and subcutis. MTT and hemolysis tests show that the PSBMAphy hydrogels have excellent biocompatibility and hemocompatibility. This study proposes that the multifunctional PSBMAphy hydrogels with micelles will be potential to carry drugs for use in drug delivery systems in the future.
Thermoresponsive Reversible Unimer Micelles of Amphiphilic Fluorinated Copolymers
Authors: Guazzelli Elisa , Masotti Elena , Kriechbaum Manfred , Uhlig Frank , Galli Giancarlo , Martinelli Elisa
Published: November 2022

Amphiphilic fluorinated copolymers PEGMAx‐co‐FAy and TEGMAx‐co‐FAy are prepared by activators regenerated by electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization (ARGET‐ATRP). All polymers present a reversible thermoresponsive lower critical solution temperature‐type behavior, and a cloud point temperature (Tc) in the range of 30–60 °C strictly dependent on the length of the oxyethylene side chain, the content of the hydrophobic counits, and the concentration of the solution. Combined small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) and dynamic light scattering measurements are used to study the self‐assembly behavior in water, organic solvents (tetrahydrofuran [THF] and dimethylformamide [DMF]), and a fluorinated solvent (hexafluorobenzene [HFB]). SAXS confirms the formation of compact‐globular single‐chain self‐folded unimer micelles in water below Tc, which generally presents small hydrodynamic diameters (Dh ≤ 8 nm) as a result of the folding of the hydrophobic perfluorohexylethyl acrylate counits. The copolymers are also able to form reverse unimer micelle in HFB. The copolymers are not able to self‐assemble in unimer micelles in THF or DMF solutions, in which they adopt conventional random coil conformations.
Biharmonic elliptic problems with second Hessian and gradient nonlinearities
Authors: Dwivedi Gaurav , Tyagi Jagmohan
Published: November 2022

We establish the existence of a solution to the following problem:
where , is a smooth and bounded domain and , where is the ith eigenvalue of symmetric matrix . We assume that and are parameters. Moreover, we assume that if and if . We use variational arguments and an iterative technique to prove our results.
Organocatalytic [2 + 2] Photopolymerization under Visible Light: Accessing Sustainable Polymers from Cinnamic Acids
Authors: Jiang Yu , Zhu Hui , Chen Jianxu , Liao Saihu
Published: November 2022

Herein, the successful development of a metal‐free, solution [2 + 2] photopolymerization of natural cinnamic acid‐derived bisolefinic monomers is reported, which is enabled by a strategy based on direct triplet state access via energy transfer catalysis. 2,2’‐Methoxythioxanthone has been identified as an effective organic photocatalyst for the [2 + 2] photopolymerization in solution, which can be excited by visible light and activate the biscinnamate monomers via triplet energy transfer. This method features its metal‐free conditions, visible light utilization, solution polymerization, and abundant biomass‐based feedstock, as well as processable polymer products, which is different from the rigid, insoluble products obtained from solid‐state photopolymerization. This solution polymerization method also shows a good compatibility to monomer structures; cinnamic acid‐derived bisolefinic monomers with different linkers, including diamine, natural diol, and bisphenol, can all readily undergo [2 + 2] photopolymerization, and be transformed into colorless, sustainable polymers.
Influence of public credit risk on private capital in public–private partnership models
Authors: Li Wei , Li Jie , Sun Siwei
Published: November 2022

Public credit risk is an important factor in private capital's decision to participate in public–private partnership (PPP) projects. We explore why private capital participates in such projects using dynamic game theory. We assess the framework of credit rating agencies assessment of local fiscal risk and construct a measure of fiscal commitment risk and public credit risk evaluation indicators. Using China's provincial panel data from 2013 to 2019, we found that government credit risk reduces private partner participation. Private capital participates in PPP projects for profit if the local government has established good credit awareness and contractual spirit.
Reconstructing a rotor from initial and final frames using characteristic multivectors: With applications in orthogonal transformations
Authors: Lasenby Anthony , Lasenby Joan , Matsantonis Charalampos
Published: November 2022

If an initial frame of vectors
is related to a final frame of vectors
by, in geometric algebra (GA) terms, a rotor, or in linear algebra terms, an orthogonal transformation, we often want to find this rotor given the initial and final sets of vectors. One very common example is finding a rotor or orthogonal matrix representing rotation, given knowledge of initial and transformed points.

In this paper, we discuss methods in the literature for recovering such rotors and then outline a GA method, which generalises to cases of any signature and any dimension, and which is not restricted to orthonormal sets of vectors. The proof of this technique is both concise and elegant and uses the concept of characteristic multivectors as discussed in the book by Hestenes and Sobczyk, which contains a treatment of linear algebra using geometric algebra. Expressing orthogonal transformations as rotors, enables us to create fractional transformations and we discuss this for some classic transforms. In real applications, our initial and/or final sets of vectors will be noisy. We show how to use the characteristic multivector method to find a ‘best fit’ rotor between these sets and compare our results with other methods.
Magnetically induced circulation flow in thrombosed channels
Authors: Zubarev Andrey Yu , Musikhin Anton Yu , Kuzhir Pavel , Raboisson‐Michel Maxime , Verger‐Dubois Gregory
Published: November 2022

We propose a mathematical model and method of its approximate solution for circulating flows, induced by an alternating magnetic field in a channel filled with a non‐magnetic liquid and injected a drop of a ferrofluid, soluble in this liquid. One side of the channel is closed by an impermeable wall. This model imitates a thrombosed blood vessel. The aim of this work is development of a mathematical background for a method of intensification of thrombolytics transport in the thrombosed vessels, with the help of an alternating magnetic field.
Some estimations of the Jensen difference and applications
Authors: Adil Khan Muhammad , Ullah Hidayat , Saeed Tareq
Published: November 2022

The Jensen inequality is one of the most favorable inequalities during the last few decades due to its expressive characteristics and properties. This inequality has gained a very dominant position in the several fields of science as a result of its extensive applications. In the present note, we use an interesting approach for the determination of estimates for the Jensen difference. We acquire several estimates for the Jensen difference while utilizing the convex function definition, Jensen's inequality for concave functions, power mean, and Hölder inequalities. For the real visualizations of the acquired estimates, we provide some particular examples. We get different improvements for the Hölder inequality while taking specified functions in the received estimates. Moreover, we deduce some more results from the main work in the form of improvements for the Hermite‐Hadamard inequality. Furthermore, various relations for the famous quasi‐arithmetic and power means are acquired with the help of established estimates. At the end, we present various applications of the main work in information theory. The intended applications provide some new bounds for the Csiszár and Rényi divergences, Shannon entropy, and Bhattacharyya co‐efficient.