bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Construction of Supramolecular Polymers and Covalent Polymers via the Same Monomers
Authors: Liu Hui , Hu Rui , Hu Ziqing , Ji Xiaofan
Published: April 2024

Nature owns the ability to construct structurally different polymers from the same monomers. While polymers can be classified as covalent polymers (CPs) and supramolecular polymers (SPs), it is still difficult to synthesize CPs and SPs using same monomers like nature do. Herein, M1 with two diazo salts on both the ends was designed. Additionally, hydroquinone was chosen to be M2 for the existence of two hydroxyl groups. When mixing at room temperature, M1 and M2 self‐assembled to SPs via N…H hydrogen bonds. In another way, upon the exposure to ultraviolet irradiation when blending M1 with M2, CPs were fabricated in the presence of covalent bonds. The excellent thermal stability of CPs was determined by TGA and DSC, while the great corrosion resistance of covalent polymers was detected by acid or alkali immersion. In this way, constructing two kinds of polymers using the same monomers was successfully achieved. This shows tremendous potential in fields of polymer science, supramolecular chemistry, which would boom the development of polymers.
Strategies for Using Quaternary Ammonium Salts as Alternative Reagents in Alkylations
Authors: Templ Johanna , Schnürch Michael
Published: April 2024

Alkylation reactions are pivotal in organic chemistry, with wide‐ranging utilization across various fields of applied synthetic chemistry. However, conventional reagents employed in alkylations often pose substantial health and exposure risks. Quaternary ammonium salts (QAS) present a promising alternative for these transformations offering significantly reduced hazards as they are non‐cancerogenic, non‐mutagenic, non‐flammable, and non‐corrosive. Despite their potential, their use in direct organic transformations remains relatively unexplored. This review outlines strategies for utilizing QAS as alternative reagents in alkylation reactions, providing researchers with safer approaches to chemical synthesis.
Indole C5‐Selective Bromination of Indolo[2,3‐a]quinolizidine Alkaloids via In Situ‐Generated Indoline Intermediate
Authors: Yoshimura Go , Sakamoto Jukiya , Kitajima Mariko , Ishikawa Hayato
Published: April 2024

There are many indole alkaloids that contain diverse functional groups attached to the benzene ring on the indole core. Promising biological activities of these alkaloids have been reported. Herein, we report the indole C5‐selective bromination of indolo[2,3‐a]quinolizidine alkaloids by adding nearly equimolar amounts of Br3 ⋅ PyH and HCl in MeOH. The resulting reaction plausibly proceeds through an indoline intermediate by the nucleophilic addition of MeOH to the C3‐brominated indolenine intermediate. Data support the intermediacy of a C3‐, C5‐dibrominated indolenine intermediate as a brominating agent. These conditions demonstrate excellent selectivity for indole C5 bromination of natural products and their derivatives. Thus, these simple, mild, and metal‐free conditions allow for selective, late‐stage bromination followed by further chemical modifications. The utility of the brominated product prepared from naturally occurring yohimbine was demonstrated through various derivatizations, including a bioinspired heterodimerization reaction.
Mammutprojekt Manufacturing‐X
Authors: Finkler Michael
Published: April 2024

Der EU‐Data Act ist die Basis, Initiativen wie Manufacturing‐ oder Factory‐X die Säulen zur weiteren digitalen Transformation von Wirtschaft und Industrie. Auch wenn der Weg in eine neue europäische Datenökonomie damit vorgezeichnet ist, stellt sich die Frage, wie wir diesen erfolgreich bestreiten können. Auf welche Akteure kommt es jetzt besonders an, um föderative Datenräume für eine digitale Wertschöpfung, mehr Resilienz und Nachhaltigkeit baldmöglichst für Unternehmen und Organisationen Realität werden zu lassen?
Transparent und aktuell ‐ ganz automatisch!
Authors: Peters Arne
Published: April 2024

Vom Engineering zum Betrieb kann ein digitaler Zwilling einer Anlage die Prozesse vereinfachen, beschleunigen und damit Kosten sparen. Das datenzentrierte Engineering erlaubt ein durchgängiges änderungsmanagement, das allen Gewerken die notwendigen Informationen zeitgerecht zur Verfügung stellt. Was ich im Anlagenbetrieb die Arbeit erleichtert. Eine Engineering‐Software mit offener Struktur, die Schnittstellen zu wichtigen Formaten, Standards und “Sprachen” bereithält ‐ wie beispielsweise zu dem freien, herstellerneutralen Austauschformat Automation ML, liefert dafür die Basis.
Das HMI der Zukunft ‐ wireless und sicher
Authors: Lackner Simon
Published: April 2024

Mit dem Aufkommen des Smartphones hat sich die Kommunikation radikal geändert. Die Bedienung mittels Touchscreen sowie die Verwendung von leistungsstarken Prozessoren ermöglicht eine Vielzahl an neuen Anwendungsmöglichkeiten. Modulare und ergonomische HMIs müssen im industriellen Umfeld zahlreichen Anforderungen entsprechen und vor allem sicher sein.
Virtual reality for pain management in hospitalized patients with cancer: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Groninger Hunter , Violanti Diana , Mete Mihriye
Published: April 2024

Background

Hospitalized patients with cancer often experience acute and/or chronic pain. Although virtual reality (VR) has been extensively studied across a wide range of clinical settings, no studies have yet evaluated potential impact on pain management in this patient population.

Methods

Prospective randomized controlled trial at an urban academic hospital comparing VR against an active control to mitigate moderate‐severe cancer disease and treatment‐related pain.

Results

A total of 128 adult hospitalized patients with cancer (any tumor type) were randomized to 10 minutes of immersive VR distraction therapy or 10 minutes of two‐dimensional guided imagery distraction therapy delivered by handheld tablet. Participants in the two arms were similar in age, sex, race, presence of metastatic disease, concurrent pain specialist consultation, and baseline opioid use. Although both groups experienced improved self‐reported pain scores (primary outcome), those randomized to VR experienced significantly greater reduction in pain immediately after intervention compared with active control (p = .03). This difference was sustained for 24 hours as well (p = .004). Within‐group analysis showed significant improvement in VR arm of pain bothersomeness (p = .05) and general distress (p = .03) as well.

Conclusion

Among hospitalized adult patients with moderate‐severe pain related to cancer and cancer therapies, VR provided more nonpharmacologic pain relief than active control and this benefit sustained long after conclusion of the intervention.

Plain Language Summary

Virtual reality (VR), a developing technology that immerses the user in new environments, has been shown to improve pain in different patient populations.

To test the role of VR in improving pain in hospitalized patients with cancer who report moderate‐severe pain, we compared the impact of a 10‐minute immersive VR intervention to that of a 10‐minute two‐dimensional guided imagery experience to improve self‐reported pain scores.

We found that, although both interventions improved pain, VR did so significantly more. Moreover, participants assigned to VR had sustained improvement in pain 24 hours later.
A proxy for brain‐to‐endocranial cavity index in non‐neornithean dinosaurs and other extinct archosaurs
Authors: Knoll Fabien , Ishikawa Asato , Kawabe Soichiro
Published: April 2024

Although the brain fills nearly the entire cranial cavity in birds, it can occupy a small portion of it in crocodilians. The lack of data regarding the volumetric correspondence between the brain and the cranial cavity hampers thorough assessments of the degree of encephalization in non‐neornithean dinosaurs and other extinct archosaurs and, consequently, informed inferences regarding their cognitive capacities. Existing data suggest that, across extant archosaurs, the degree of endocranial doming and the volume of intracranial nonneural components are inversely related. We build upon this information to develop an equation relating these two anatomical features in non‐neornithean dinosaurs and other extinct archosaurs. We rely on measurements of the endocast doming and brain‐to‐endocranial cavity (BEC) index in extant relatives of non‐neornithean dinosaurs, namely, the crurotarsans Caiman crocodilus, Crocodylus niloticus, and Crocodylus porosus; the paleognaths Struthio camelus and Apteryx mantelli; and the fowl Macrocephalon maleo, Gallus gallus, Meleagris gallopavo, Phasianus colchicus, and Anas platyrhynchos. Applying the equation to representative endocasts from major clades of dinosaurs, we found that BEC varies from about 0.6 in ceratopsians and thyreophorans to around 0.7 in ornithopods, pachycephalosaurians, sauropods, and theropods. We, therefore, warn against the use of a catch‐all value, like 0.5, and instead encourage refinement in the adoption of BEC across archosaurs.
Index‐aware learning of circuits
Authors: Cortes Garcia Idoia , Förster Peter , Jansen Lennart , Schilders Wil , Schöps Sebastian
Published: April 2024

Electrical circuits are present in a variety of technologies, making their design an important part of computer aided engineering. The growing number of parameters that affect the final design leads to a need for new approaches to quantify their impact. Machine learning may play a key role in this regard; however, current approaches often make suboptimal use of existing knowledge about the system at hand. In terms of circuits, their description via modified nodal analysis is well‐understood. This particular formulation leads to systems of differential‐algebraic equations (DAEs), which bring with them a number of peculiarities, for example, hidden constraints that the solution needs to fulfill. We use the recently introduced dissection index that can decouple a given system of DAEs into ordinary differential equations, only depending on differential variables, and purely algebraic equations, that describe the relations between differential and algebraic variables. The idea is to then only learn the differential variables and reconstruct the algebraic ones using the relations from the decoupling. This approach guarantees that the algebraic constraints are fulfilled up to the accuracy of the nonlinear system solver, and it may also reduce the learning effort as only the differential variables need to be learned.
Plasma drug screening using paper spray mass spectrometry with integrated solid phase extraction
Authors: Zimmerman‐Federle Hannah , Ren Greta , Dowling Sarah , Warren Cassandra , Rusyniak Daniel , Avera Robert , Manicke Nicholas E.
Published: April 2024

Drug overdoses have risen dramatically in recent years. We developed a simple nontargeted method using a disposable paper spray cartridge with an integrated solid phase extraction column. This method was used to screen for ~160 fentanyl analogs, synthetic cannabinoids, other synthetic drugs, and traditional drugs of abuse in over 300 authentic overdose samples collected at emergency departments in Indianapolis. A solid phase extraction step was implemented on the paper spray cartridge to enable subnanograms per milliliter synthetic drugs screening in plasma. Analysis was performed on a quadrupole orbitrap mass spectrometer using the sequential window acquisition of all theoretical fragment ion spectra approach in which tandem mass spectrometry was performed using 7 m/z isolation windows in the quadrupole. Calibration curves with isotopically labeled internal standards were constructed for 35 of the most frequently encountered synthetic and traditional illicit drugs by US toxicology labs. Additional qualitative‐only drugs in a suspect screening list were also included. Limits of detection in plasma for synthetic cannabinoids ranged from 0.1 to 0.5 and 0.1 to 0.3 ng/mL for fentanyl and its analogs and between 1 and 5 ng/mL for most other drugs. Relative matrix effects were evaluated by determining the variation of the calibration slope in 10 different lots of biofluid and found to be between 3% and 20%. The method was validated on authentic overdose samples collected from two emergency departments in Indianapolis, Indiana, from suspected or known overdoses. Commonly detected synthetic drugs included fentanyl related substances, designer benzodiazepines such as flubromazolam, and the synthetic cannabinoid 5F‐PB‐22.
Novel Imidazole‐based Hydrazonoyl Cyanides and Amidrazones Containing N(N,O)‐Heterocycles: Selective Synthesis, Reaction Mechanisms and Preliminary Anticancer Evaluation
Authors: Fernandes Soraia P. S. , Gonçalves Jorge M. , Silva Bruna F. , Pereira Eva Q. , Coutinho Paulo J. G. , Pereira‐Wilson Cristina , Dias Alice M.
Published: April 2024

Two series of novel hybrid heterocyclic compounds that combine the imidazole ring with bioactive piperidine, morpholine or piperazine heterosystems, through a hydrazone unit, were easily obtained by two competitive pathways. Starting from 5‐amino‐4‐cyanoformimidoyl imidazoles and 1‐aminopiperidine, 4‐aminomorpholine or 1‐amino‐4‐methylpiperazine under mild acidic media led to the selective synthesis of 5‐aminoimidazole 4‐carboxamidrazones, whereas the corresponding 4‐hydrazonoyl cyanide derivatives were obtained under stronger acidic conditions. These highly functionalized imidazoles provide convenient synthetic precursors to a vast array of heterocycles with potential pharmaceutical applications. The reaction mechanisms were elucidated on the basis of experimental assays and in silico calculations. The compounds were screened against colorectal cancer HCT116‐p53 wt cell line, and significant IC50 values of 3.69 μM and 4.83 μM were obtained.
Asymmetric Construction of Bis‐Spirocyclic Pyrazolones Bearing Vicinal Quaternary Carbon Centers
Authors: Yang Mengjie , Xue Aiqi , Wei Xingfu , Huang Yue , Qu Jingping , Wang Baomin
Published: April 2024

A catalytic asymmetric (3+2) cyclization of pyrazolone‐based MBH adducts with alkylidenyl isoxazolones was presented by using DMAP‐derived chiral catalyst, affording bis‐spirocyclic pyrazolones bearing vicinal all‐carbon quaternary stereocenters within an imbedded cyclopentene ring scaffold in good yields with excellent stereoselectivities under mild conditions.
Construction of 3‐Substituted Phthalides via Lewis Acid‐Catalyzed Intramolecular Ring Opening of Aziridines with Esters
Authors: Xing Siyang , Zhang Panpan , Tian Zhen , Yang Jingmeng , Pang Yuhao , Liao Yuanfen , Liu Yang , Wang Kui , Zhu Bolin
Published: April 2024

A new strategy for the synthesis of 3‐substituted phthalides has been developed via a Lewis acid‐catalyzed intramolecular ring opening of aziridines with esters. Broad substrate scope, good yields and mild conditions made the cyclization reaction very suitable for the rapid construction of libraries of 3‐substituted phthalide compounds.
Ionic liquid and ZnO/carbon quantum dots derived from cat hair as an electrochemical sensor for ciprofloxacin in food samples: Experimental and cell‐imaging studies
Authors: Leticia Almada‐Leyva M. , Tecuapa‐Flores Eduardo D. , Garcia Rojas Liliana Margarita , Thangarasu Pandiyan
Published: April 2024

Ciprofloxacin (CIP) has been widely used to treat bacterial infections, generating biofluid residues and it endangers health via the food chain; thus, the determination of CIP is essential in food samples. In this work, CPE/ZnO/CQD was prepared from ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and carbon quantum dots (CQD) derived from cat hair and modified the graphite carbon paste electrode (CPE); the above electrode sample was further modified by incorporating ionic liquid (IL) to give CPE/ZnO/CQD@IL. The above materials were employed as electrochemical sensors for the recognition of CIP in milk and eggs after the characterization by different analytical techniques (XRD, FT‐IR, SEM, TEM, and EDS). The results show that the presence of nanoparticles in the CPE has improved the electrocatalytic properties, giving a greater heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (k0=6.51×10−4 cm/s) for CPE/ZnO/CQD as compared to unmodified CPE (3.94×10−4 cm/s), and for CPE/ZnO/CQD/IL, with modification of sample by IL, the rate constant has been further increased to k0=8.34×10−4 cm/s. Thereafter, CPE/ZnO/CQD and CPE/ZnO/CQD@IL were employed for the detection of CIP in food samples such as milk and eggs, observing a maximum oxidation current for CIP at pH 3.0; the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.24, and 0.30 μM for CPE/ZnO/CQD, and CPE/ZnO/CQD@IL, respectively, and those values are much lower than those reported due to the synergistic effect generated by the combination of ZnO/CQD and IL. Furthermore, cell images were developed using ZnO/CQD and ZnO/CQD@IL in real samples like Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells in the presence of CIP.
Comparing thermoplastic electrode materials: Toward enhanced sensing of O2 and H2O2 in flow devices
Authors: Clark Kaylee M. , Cherwin Amanda E. , Boes Jason , Russo Matthew J. , Henry Charles S.
Published: April 2024

Carbon composite electrodes often suffer from poor electrocatalytic activity and require complex, expensive, or time‐consuming modifications to effectively detect certain analytes such as O2 and H2O2. Thermoplastic electrodes (TPEs) are a new class of composite electrodes, fabricated by mixing commercial graphite with a thermopolymer, that exhibit superior electrochemical properties to typical carbon composite electrodes. This work investigates the properties of TPEs using two thermopolymer binders – polycaprolactone (PCL) and polystyrene (PS) – with sanded and heat‐pressed surface treatments. XPS and SEM analysis suggested that sanded TPEs have a higher density of graphitic edge planes and improved electrochemistry as a result. Electrochemical detection of O2 and H2O2 was demonstrated on sanded PS TPEs. Additionally, this work introduces the first use of a 3D‐printed TPE template as part of a 3D‐printed sensor module that is reversibly sealed with magnets as a proof‐of‐concept flow‐based sensor for detecting H2O2.
Numerical investigation on smoke control with new‐style horizontal smoke baffle in an immersed road tunnel
Authors: Zhang Shaogang , Diao Dongyi , Shi Long , Cheng Xudong , Liu Jiahao , Liu Jianghong , Wang Jinhui , Cong Beihua
Published: April 2024

To investigate the improvement induced by horizontal smoke baffles during lateral smoke exhaust, an immersed road tunnel with various horizontal smoke baffles positioned below the lateral exhaust vent was studied numerically. Together with the velocity field characteristics, the temperature distribution was investigated near the lateral smoke exhaust vent, followed by the analysis of lateral smoke exhaust efficiency under different horizontal smoke baffles. Results showed that after installing the horizontal smoke baffle, there was a significant decrease in the extracted cold air, while the high‐temperature smoke in the exhaust vent increases, indicating the plug‐holing is effectively suppressed. It is known that the efficiency of smoke exhaust increases when the length exceedance ratio of the horizontal smoke baffle is smaller than 100%, while it changes slightly when the baffle length continues to increase. When the width ratio of horizontal baffle is smaller than 40%, the efficiency of smoke exhaust increases with the baffle width and then changes slightly with a wider smoke baffle. With a larger aspect ratio, the wider and shorter lateral exhaust vent is beneficial for improving the lateral smoke exhaust. Under the current conditions, the case shows the optimal smoke exhaust performance with a horizontal baffle length exceedance ratio of 100%, a baffle width ratio of 40%, and exhaust vent aspect ratio of 3:1. Finally, an empirical model is developed to describe the improvement of smoke exhaust efficiency caused by horizontal smoke baffle. These outcomes are helpful to the design of lateral smoke extraction system in road tunnels.
Introducing Copi as a Positive Path Toward Combatting Invasive Carps in North America
Authors: Garvey James E , Irons Kevin S , Behnfeldt Gina , Kwasek Karolina A
Published: April 2024

A group of loosely related, large-bodied fishes collectively called carps have had a complex relationship with North Americans. Despite lessons learned about invasive Common Carp Cyprinus carpio in the early 1900s, Bighead Carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis, Black Carp Mylopharyngodon piceus, Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella, and Silver Carp H. molitrix were introduced to the United States more than 50 years ago and are expanding throughout the Mississippi River basin. Increased economic value in the North American seafood market could aid management. Complete eradication through harvest is unlikely, but controlling densities and containing dispersal may be possible. Improving perceptions of nutrition, palatability, and safety of wild-caught carps should increase consumer demand. A branding and marketing effort launched in June 2022 renamed the foodstuff produced from the four species as the trademarked brand Copi. The “Choose Copi: Eat Well. Do Good.” campaign allows consumers to know that these fishes are an environmentally sound and responsible alternative to other seafood choices. The Copi brand has gained interest nationwide, with food processors and distributors engaged, although the contribution of Copi to harvest removal from rivers and resulting population dynamics is yet to be quantified. Developing a regional fishing industry for Copi, while also aiding fisheries and aquaculture for native species, remains an economic and logistical challenge within the vast river network.
Improving dietary citric acid production by the wild‐type Aspergillus niger ASP26 strain isolated from date by‐product
Authors: Bellaouchi Reda , Hasnaoui Ismail , Idrissi Yahyaoui Meryem , Bentouhami Noureddine , Hasnaoui Amina , Taibi Mohamed , Elbouzidi Amine , Salamatullah Ahmad Mohammad , Nafidi Hiba‐Allah , Dauelbait Musaab , Bourhia Mohammed , Abouloifa Houssam , Rokni Yahya , Ghabbour Nabil , Saalaoui Ennouamane , Asehraou Abdeslam
Published: April 2024

This research investigates citric acid (CA) synthesis using the indigenous strain Aspergillus niger ASP26, which was isolated from date by‐products. The study initially involved isolating fungi capable of CA production and identifying the most potent strain based on its characteristic enzymatic activity. A. niger ASP26 was acknowledged in a previous study for its remarkable ability to produce extracellular enzymes, such as cellulase and amylase, which enable it to degrade organic materials effectively. After the identification phase, these isolates were screened for CA production using a modified Czapek‐Dox medium. The research identified significant factors affecting CA production in submerged fermentation, including pH, carbon source, inoculum size, and fermentation time. Optimal conditions were determined for A. niger ASP26, resulting in a maximum CA yield of 16.89 g/L. These conditions included a 2.5% spore suspension at 2 × 107 spores/mL, an initial glucose concentration of 125 g/L, and incubation at 30°C for 144 h. Notably, A. niger ASP26 demonstrated the ability to produce CA under stress conditions as well. Citric acid is essential for various biological processes, such as cellular respiration, and is naturally present in citrus fruits. It also serves as a preservative and flavor enhancer in processed foods and beverages. The ability of A. niger ASP26 to produce CA from agricultural residues positions it as a viable candidate for sustainable CA production, harnessing the value from organic waste materials.
Disparate Regulatory Pathways for Animating Net‐Zero Legislation
Authors: Makholm Jeff D. , Busey Andrew , Christian Soren
Published: April 2024

State legislatures have been very active in recent years in the pursuit of net‐zero action. This column discusses the essential institutional frameworks within which U.S. regulators and their utilities have long existed. That framework—legal, legislative, accounting, and administrative—defines the relationship between U.S. regulatory commissions and their jurisdictional utilities. That “institutional ecosystem” has been highly successful: prices in the U.S. for both retail electricity and natural gas public service is a fraction of those in our peer industrialized nations.
The Biden Administration's LNG Pause: Impacts and Long‐Term Implications
Authors: Smead Richard G.
Published: April 2024

The Biden Administration's widely publicized January “pausing” of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) review of liquefied natural gas (LNG) export permits sent a rolling wave of concern throughout the natural gas industry, as well as a small bubble of delight among environmental organizations and domestic industrial organizations who have long been opposed to LNG exports. What is the significance of the pause, both in the immediate term and more broadly? Do a few months of delay significantly matter, or, more importantly, does the pause suggest an anti‐LNG attitude in moving forward to address greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions?
Oligodendrocyte‐selective deletion of the eIF2α kinase Perk/Eif2ak3 limits functional recovery after spinal cord injury
Authors: Saraswat Ohri Sujata , Forston Michael D. , Myers Scott A. , Brown Brandon L. , Andres Kariena R. , Howard Russell M. , Gao Yonglin , Liu Yu , Cavener Douglas R. , Hetman Michal , Whittemore Scott R.
Published: April 2024

After spinal cord injury (SCI), re‐establishing cellular homeostasis is critical to optimize functional recovery. Central to that response is PERK signaling, which ultimately initiates a pro‐apoptotic response if cellular homeostasis cannot be restored. Oligodendrocyte (OL) loss and white matter damage drive functional consequences and determine recovery potential after thoracic contusive SCI. We examined acute (<48 h post‐SCI) and chronic (6 weeks post‐SCI) effects of conditionally deleting Perk from OLs prior to SCI. While Perk transcript is expressed in many types of cells in the adult spinal cord, its levels are disproportionately high in OL lineage cells. Deletion of OL‐Perk prior to SCI resulted in: (1) enhanced acute phosphorylation of eIF2α, a major PERK substrate and the critical mediator of the integrated stress response (ISR), (2) enhanced acute expression of the downstream ISR genes Atf4, Ddit3/Chop, and Tnfrsf10b/Dr5, (3) reduced acute OL lineage‐specific Olig2 mRNA, but not neuronal or astrocytic mRNAs, (4) chronically decreased OL content in the spared white matter at the injury epicenter, (5) impaired hindlimb locomotor recovery, and (6) reduced chronic epicenter white matter sparing. Cultured primary OL precursor cells with reduced PERK expression and activated ER stress response showed: (1) unaffected phosphorylation of eIF2α, (2) enhanced ISR gene induction, and (3) increased cytotoxicity. Therefore, OL‐Perk deficiency exacerbates ISR signaling and potentiates white matter damage after SCI. The latter effect is likely mediated by increased loss of Perk−/− OLs.
Free temporalis muscle fascia graft in dural reconstruction following surgical resection of intermediate and malignant skull base tumors: A 10‐year experience from a single center
Authors: Jurlina Martin , Mamic Matija , Pupic‐Bakrac Jure , Matoc Lovro , Jednacak Hrvoje , Luksic Ivica , Zizic Marica
Published: April 2024

Background

Data from patients with post‐ablative dural defects reconstructed using a free temporalis muscle fascia graft (FTFG) after resection of anterior or central skull base tumors were retrospectively analyzed.

Methods

The primary predictor and outcome variables were the reconstructive methods for dural repair and postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage rate, respectively.

Results

Eighty patients were included, and 94 postoperative dural reconstructions were performed using FTFG. The postoperative CSF leakage rate was 3.19%. The postoperative CSF leakage rates did not significantly differ between open and endonasal endoscopic surgeries (1.92% vs. 4.88%; p > 0.05). In cases completed using the endonasal endoscopic approach, the postoperative CSF leakage rate was significantly associated with the intraoperative CSF leak flow (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Post‐ablative dural defect reconstruction using FTFG resulted in low postoperative CSF leakage and complication rates comparable to those of free fascia lata graft from available literature.
Breastfeeding duration is associated with favorable body composition and lower glycoprotein acetyls in later life
Authors: McNestry Catherine , Crowley Rachel K. , O'Reilly Sharleen L. , Kasemiire Alice , Callanan Sophie , Delahunt Anna , Twomey Patrick J. , McAuliffe Fionnuala M.
Published: April 2024

Objective

The aim of the present study was to investigate associations between lifetime breastfeeding behaviors and cardiovascular risk in later reproductive years.

Method

This was a prospective 10‐year longitudinal cohort study of 168 parous women. Health, lifestyle and infant feeding questionnaires, blood samples, anthropometry and body composition were collected. Cardiovascular risk was estimated using QRISK®3 and hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis performed.

Results

Mean age was 42.4 years (SD 3.8; range 31–50) and 98.7% (n = 156/158) were premenopausal. Ever breastfeeding rates were 72.6% (n = 122/168) and 37.5% (n = 63/168) lifetime ≥12 months breastfeeding duration. Median durations were 5.5 weeks for exclusive breastfeeding (IQR 35.8; range 0–190) and 30.5 weeks for any breastfeeding (IQR 84.0; range 0–488). Breastfeeding duration was not associated with QRISK®3 scores in adjusted models. Lower glycoprotein acetyls were associated with ever breastfeeding (P = 0.03), and lifetime breastfeeding ≥12 months (P = 0.001). Lifetime breastfeeding ≥12 months and longer exclusive breastfeeding were associated with lower fat mass index (P = 0.03, P = 0.01), tissue percentage fat (P = 0.02, P = 0.009) and visceral adipose tissue volume (P = 0.04, P = 0.025) after correcting for confounders including body mass index.

Conclusion

Longer breastfeeding is associated with favorable body composition and lower glycoprotein acetyls, a novel inflammatory biomarker associated with cardiometabolic risk. Breastfeeding is a low‐cost, health promoting behavior for women and infants. Pregnant women, especially those at higher risk of cardiovascular disease, should be counseled about the potential benefits of exclusive and longer breastfeeding duration.
Testing the modifiability of episodic future thinking and episodic memory among suicidal and nonsuicidal adolescents
Authors: Goger Pauline , Nam Rachel J. , Lowry Nathan , Bell Kerri‐Anne , Parvez Neha , Pollak Olivia H. , Robinaugh Donald J. , Schacter Daniel L. , Cha Christine B.
Published: April 2024

Background

Despite increased attention on treatment and prevention for suicidal adolescents, we know little about potential intervention targets. Episodic future thinking—the ability to imagine detailed, personal, and future‐oriented events—is a modifiable cognitive process that has been linked with suicidal ideation (SI) in adolescents. However, until now its modifiability has only been tested in adults.

Method

Adolescents (N = 176, ages 15–19; 71% SI) completed performance‐based measures of episodic future thinking (i.e., Experimental Recombination Paradigm) and memory immediately before and after an Episodic Specificity Induction (ESI).

Results

Adolescents produced a greater number of future episodic details after (vs. before) the ESI but showed no change in non‐episodic details (e.g., semantic information). Patterns of change in episodic future thinking were not moderated by SI history. Adolescents overall did not demonstrate change in past episodic detail counts after the ESI. However, there were select moderating effects of SI history on this effect.

Conclusion

Results show that episodic future thinking can change immediately following an episodic specificity induction among adolescents, regardless of whether they have previously experienced SI. This demonstration of within‐person change constitutes a foundational first step in examining malleability of episodic future thinking in adolescents and offers preliminary evidence of a cognitive mechanism that may be leveraged in service of reducing adolescents' SI.
Reaction path identification and validation from molecular dynamics simulations of hydrocarbon pyrolysis
Authors: Schmalz Felix , Kopp Wassja A. , Goudeli Eirini , Leonhard Kai
Published: April 2024

Creation of complex chemical mechanisms for hydrocarbon pyrolysis and combustion is challenging due to the large number of species and reactions involved. Reactive molecular dynamics (RMD) enables the simulation of thousands of reactions and the discovery of previously unknown components of the reaction network. However, due to the inherent imprecision of reactive force fields, it is necessary to verify RMD‐obtained reaction paths using more accurate methods such as Density Functional Theory (DFT). We demonstrate a method for identification and confirmation of reaction pathways from RMD that supplement an established mechanism, using the example of benzene formation from n‐heptane and iso‐octane pyrolysis. We establish a validation workflow to extract reaction geometries from RMD and optimize transition states using the Nudged‐Elastic‐Band method on semi‐empirical and quantum mechanical levels of theory. Our findings demonstrate that the widely recognized ReaxFF parameterization, CHO2016, can identify known pathways from a established soot formation mechanism while also indicating new ones. We also show that CHO2016 underestimates hydrogen migration barriers by up to as compared to DFT and can lower activation barriers significantly for spin‐forbidden reactions. This highlights the necessity for validation or potentially even reparametrization of CHO2016.
On some properties of generalized squeezing functions and Fridman invariants
Authors: Yang Shichao , Zhang Shuo
Published: April 2024

The purpose of this paper is twofold. The first aim is to study the comparison of generalized squeezing functions and Fridaman invariants of some special domains. Then, the second aim is to give estimates for these two invariants and discuss their boundary behavior near inessential boundary points.
A case of polyglucosan body myopathy caused by an RBCK1 gene variant and literature review
Authors: Sun Qiqing , Xie Zhenhua , Song Lifang , Fu Dapeng
Published: April 2024

Objective

To analyze the clinical and genetic characteristics of a patient with Polyglucosan body myopathy 1 (PGBM1) caused by a novel compound heterozygous variant in the RBCK1 gene.

Methods

The clinical data of the patient were collected, next‐generation sequencing technology was used to determine the exome sequence of the patient, and the suspected pathogenic locus was verified by Sanger sequencing.

Results

Through whole‐exome sequencing, we found that there were c.919G>T; p. (Glu307*) and c.723_730dup; p. (Glu244fs) variants of the RBCK1 gene in the patient, inherited from his parents, constituting a compound heterozygous variation. According to the guidelines of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), the two variants were rated as pathogenic, but there were no comparable cases. Previous literature reported 24 patients with RBCK1 gene variants, involving a total of 20 myocardial and 18 skeletal muscle cases.

Conclusions

The patient was twice diagnosed with cardiac insufficiency, neglecting the usual manifestations of muscle weakness, resulting in misdiagnosis. Later, novel variants in the RBCK1 gene were discovered through whole‐exome sequencing, and symptomatic treatment was given after diagnosis. The importance of whole‐exome sequencing technology in disease diagnosis and genetic counseling was emphasized.
APA poll: Americans' thoughts shift about social media harms
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: April 2024

Americans in 2024 are somewhat split on the mental health benefits of social media according to the American Psychiatric Association's (APA's) new Healthy Minds Monthly poll, which was fielded by Morning Consult on behalf of the APA. The public annual opinion poll was released on April 2.
Proposition 1 narrowly passes; California advocates look ahead warily
Authors: Enos Gary
Published: April 2024

In a vote much closer than anticipated, Californians last month approved a ballot measure calling for billions in spending on mental health treatment beds and housing units and the inclusion of substance use treatment in spending through the Mental Health Services Act. Advocates in the mental health community now will closely watch whether the measure's passage results in an actual infusion of new funds or simply a reapportionment of existing money.
AAPM WGPE report 394: Simulated error training for the physics plan and chart review
Authors: Johnson Perry B. , Schubert Leah , Kim Grace Gwe‐Ya , Faught Jacqueline , Buckey Courtney , Conroy Leigh , Luk Samuel M. H. , Schofield Deborah , Parker Stephanie
Published: April 2024

Background

Simulated error training is a method to practice error detection in situations where the occurrence of error is low. Such is the case for the physics plan and chart review where a physicist may check several plans before encountering a significant problem. By simulating potentially hazardous errors, physicists can become familiar with how they manifest and learn from mistakes made during a simulated plan review.

Purpose

The purpose of this project was to develop a series of training datasets that allows medical physicists and trainees to practice plan and chart reviews in a way that is familiar and accessible, and to provide exposure to the various failure modes (FMs) encountered in clinical scenarios.

Methods

A series of training datasets have been developed that include a variety of embedded errors based on the risk‐assessment performed by American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Task Group 275 for the physics plan and chart review. The training datasets comprise documentation, screen shots, and digital content derived from common treatment planning and radiation oncology information systems and are available via the Cloud‐based platform ProKnow.

Results

Overall, 20 datasets have been created incorporating various software systems (Mosaiq, ARIA, Eclipse, RayStation, Pinnacle) and delivery techniques. A total of 110 errors representing 50 different FMs were embedded with the 20 datasets. The project was piloted at the 2021 AAPM Annual Meeting in a workshop where participants had the opportunity to review cases and answer survey questions related to errors they detected and their perception of the project's efficacy. In general, attendees detected higher‐priority FMs at a higher rate, though no correlation was found between detection rate and the detectability of the FMs. Familiarity with a given system appeared to play a role in detecting errors, specifically when related to missing information at different locations within a given software system. Overall, 96% of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that the ProKnow portal and training datasets were effective as a training tool, and 75% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they planned to use the tool at their local institution.

Conclusions

The datasets and digital platform provide a standardized and accessible tool for training, performance assessment, and continuing education regarding the physics plan and chart review. Work is ongoing to expand the project to include more modalities, radiation oncology treatment planning and information systems, and FMs based on emerging techniques such as auto‐contouring and auto‐planning.
Competing‐risks model for predicting the prognosis of patients with regressive melanoma based on the SEER database
Authors: Huang Chaodi , Huang Liying , Huang Jianguo , Zheng Xinkai , Jiang Congjun , Tom Kong Ching , Wu U. Tim , Huang WenHsien Ethan , Gao Yunfei , Situ Fangmin , Yu Hai , Deng Liehua , Lyu Jun
Published: April 2024

Background

The relationship between the regression and prognosis of melanoma has been debated for years. When competing‐risk events are present, using traditional survival analysis methods may induce bias in the identified prognostic factors that affect patients with regressive melanoma.

Methods

Data on patients diagnosed with regressive melanoma were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database during 2000–2019. Cumulative incidence function and Gray's test were used for the univariate analysis, and the Cox proportional‐hazards model and the Fine–Gray model were used for the multivariate analysis.

Results

A total of 1442 eligible patients were diagnosed with regressive melanoma, including 529 patients who died: 109 from regressive melanoma and 420 from other causes. The multivariate analysis using the Fine–Gray model revealed that SEER stage, surgery status, and marital status were important factors that affected the prognosis of regressive melanoma. Due to the existence of competing‐risk events, the Cox model may have induced biases in estimating the effect values, and the competing‐risks model was more advantageous in the analysis of multiple‐endpoint clinical survival data.

Conclusion

The findings of this study may help clinicians to better understand regressive melanoma and provide reference data for clinical decisions.
Thermodynamically consistent numerical modeling of immiscible two‐phase flow in poro‐viscoelastic media
Authors: Kou Jisheng , Salama Amgad , Chen Huangxin , Sun Shuyu
Published: April 2024

Numerical modeling of immiscible two‐phase flow in deformable porous media has become increasingly significant due to its applications in oil reservoir engineering, geotechnical engineering and many others. The coupling between two‐phase flow and geomechanics gives rise to a major challenge to the development of physically consistent mathematical models and effective numerical methods. In this article, based on the concept of free energies and guided by the second law of thermodynamics, we derive a thermodynamically consistent mathematical model for immiscible two‐phase flow in poro‐viscoelastic media. The model uses the fluid and solid free energies to characterize the fluid capillarity and solid skeleton elasticity, so that it rigorously follows an energy dissipation law. The thermodynamically consistent formulation of the pore fluid pressure is naturally derived for the solid mechanical equilibrium equation. Additionally, the model ensures the mass conservation law for both fluids and solids. For numerical approximation of the model, we propose an energy stable and mass conservative numerical method. The method herein inherits the energy dissipation law through appropriate energy approaches and subtle treatments for the coupling between two phase saturations, the effective pore pressure and porosity. Using the locally conservative cell‐centered finite difference methods on staggered grids with the upwind strategies for saturations and porosity, we construct the fully discrete scheme, which has the ability to conserve the masses of both fluids and solids as well as preserve the energy dissipation law at the fully discrete level. In particular, the proposed method is an unbiased algorithm, that is, treating the wetting phase, the non‐wetting phase and the solid phase in the same way. Numerical results are also given to validate and verify the features of the proposed model and numerical method.
On sparse regression, Lp‐regularization, and automated model discovery
Authors: McCulloch Jeremy A. , St. Pierre Skyler R. , Linka Kevin , Kuhl Ellen
Published: April 2024

Sparse regression and feature extraction are the cornerstones of knowledge discovery from massive data. Their goal is to discover interpretable and predictive models that provide simple relationships among scientific variables. While the statistical tools for model discovery are well established in the context of linear regression, their generalization to nonlinear regression in material modeling is highly problem‐specific and insufficiently understood. Here we explore the potential of neural networks for automatic model discovery and induce sparsity by a hybrid approach that combines two strategies: regularization and physical constraints. We integrate the concept of Lp regularization for subset selection with constitutive neural networks that leverage our domain knowledge in kinematics and thermodynamics. We train our networks with both, synthetic and real data, and perform several thousand discovery runs to infer common guidelines and trends: L2 regularization or ridge regression is unsuitable for model discovery; L1 regularization or lasso promotes sparsity, but induces strong bias that may aggressively change the results; only L0 regularization allows us to transparently fine‐tune the trade‐off between interpretability and predictability, simplicity and accuracy, and bias and variance. With these insights, we demonstrate that Lp regularized constitutive neural networks can simultaneously discover both, interpretable models and physically meaningful parameters. We anticipate that our findings will generalize to alternative discovery techniques such as sparse and symbolic regression, and to other domains such as biology, chemistry, or medicine. Our ability to automatically discover material models from data could have tremendous applications in generative material design and open new opportunities to manipulate matter, alter properties of existing materials, and discover new materials with user‐defined properties.
Factor structure and psychometric properties of the Jordanian version of the depression anxiety stress scale (DASS‐21)
Authors: Al‐Dassean Khaled A. , Murad Odeh S.
Published: April 2024

Aim

Early diagnosis of health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and stress, which have been recognized as global health issues, is essential for providing psychological support to people who experience negative emotions. Therefore, it is important to identify a reliable method for diagnosing depression, anxiety, and stress. To this end, this study investigated the factor structure and evaluated the psychometric properties of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale‐21 (DASS‐21) in Jordan.

Methods

A university sample of 336 Jordanians completed the Arabic version of the DASS‐21 and several psychopathology measures. Cross‐sectional study and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were applied to achieve the study's aims.

Results

CFA favored the bifactor model compared to the other four models. In contrast, the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the Beck Depression Inventory‐II (BDI‐II) strongly correlated with the DASS‐21, indicating that the DASS‐21 has adequate convergent and divergent validity. Subsequently, the scale's discriminant validity was tested using the heterotrait–monotrait (HTMT) correlation ratio, which was found to be relatively insufficient. While DASS‐21 showed strong reliability, Cronbach's α and McDonald's omega values ranged between 0.83 and 0.93.

Conclusion

The bifactor model best fits the Jordanian sample data. The DASS‐21 has optimum psychometric properties; therefore, it can be used to assess the general distress experienced by the Jordanian community during research investigations and in non‐clinical settings.