bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of factorial experimental design to optimize radiation‐synthesized and biodegradable super water absorbent based on cassava starch and acrylic acid
Authors: Gallardo Alvin Kier R. , Relleve Lorna S. , Barba Bin Jeremiah D. , Cabalar Patrick Jay E. , Luna John Andrew A. , Tranquilan‐Aranilla Charito , Madrid Jordan F. , Abad Lucille V.
Published: July 2021

Super water absorbent (SWA) for agricultural applications must be optimized to withstand diminishing consequences in real soil system. A 33 × 12 full factorial design and soil water retention experiments were explored to optimize agricultural SWA made from acrylic acid (AA) and cassava starch. Four synthesis parameters such as degree of neutralization (DN), AA concentration, cassava starch concentration, and absorbed dose affecting the gel properties of SWA were investigated in the experimental design. The results showed that AA concentration and DN has strong interaction effects toward the degree of swelling (DS), gel fraction (GF), and gel strength (GS) of SWA. The soil water retention of SWA reduces with time due to microbial degradation and multivalent cations present in the soil. The optimum formulation is 20% AA 10% Starch 30% DN 10 kGy has predicted values (176 ± 68 g/g DS, 93 ± 5% GF, and 137 ± 23 kPa GS) close to the experimental values (132 ± 0.2 g/g DS, 91 ± 0.2% GF, and 141 ± 88 kPa GS). The chosen optimized formulation is 20% AA 7.5% starch 30% DN 20 kGy with 46% biodegradability after 218 days and stable soil water retention compared to commercial SWAs.
Clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of allergic rhinitis in children with traditional Chinese medicine
Authors: Feng Lu , Lin Lili , Wang Shouchuan , Zhao Xia , Dai Qigang , Wang Lei , Yang Yan , Xu Ling , Liu Yuling , An Li , Shen Cunsi
Published: July 2021

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is one of the most common allergic diseases in children and it can lead to physical and mental health problems. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plays an important role in understanding the phenotypes and treatment of AR. However, there are currently no normative clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for the treatment of AR in children. The study aimed to develop an evidence‐based CPG for the treatment of AR in children with TCM. Systematic literature research, expert questionnaire, and clinical evaluation after three rounds of surveys were adopted to form recommendations for treating children with AR using the Delphi method. Depending on the clinical manifestations, we finally recommended two decoctions with two Chinese patent medicines for an acute attack of AR and two decoctions for a chronic period of AR. For the acute attack of AR in children, Xinyi Qingfei decoction, Wenfei Zhiliu decoction, Xinqin granules, and Xinyi Biyan pills were suggested, whereas for the chronic period of AR, Buzhong Yiqi and Jingui Shenqi decoctions were recommended. The four external treatment methods suggested for the prevention and care of AR were body acupuncture, moxibustion, auricular point pressing, and acupoint application. The recommended levels of the suggested TCM strategies ranged from Grade B to D, indicating the weakness of the recommendations. TCM has the potential to offer new insights into phenotypes and the management of AR worldwide; however, more high‐quality clinical studies are needed to improve the quality of evidence.
Are mortgage loan closing delay risks predictable? A predictive analysis using text mining on discussion threads
Authors: Goldberg David M. , Zaman Nohel , Brahma Arin , Aloiso Mariano
Published: July 2021

Loan processors and underwriters at mortgage firms seek to gather substantial supporting documentation to properly understand and model loan risks. In doing so, loan originations become prone to closing delays, risking client dissatisfaction and consequent revenue losses. We collaborate with a large national mortgage firm to examine the extent to which these delays are predictable, using internal discussion threads to prioritize interventions for loans most at risk. Substantial work experience is required to predict delays, and we find that even highly trained employees have difficulty predicting delays by reviewing discussion threads. We develop an array of methods to predict loan delays. We apply four modern out‐of‐the‐box sentiment analysis techniques, two dictionary‐based and two rule‐based, to predict delays. We contrast these approaches with domain‐specific approaches, including firm‐provided keyword searches and “smoke terms” derived using machine learning. Performance varies widely across sentiment approaches; while some sentiment approaches prioritize the top‐ranking records well, performance quickly declines thereafter. The firm‐provided keyword searches perform at the rate of random chance. We observe that the domain‐specific smoke term approaches consistently outperform other approaches and offer better prediction than loan and borrower characteristics. We conclude that text mining solutions would greatly assist mortgage firms in delay prevention.
Production of photochromic nanocomposite film via spray‐coating of rare‐earth strontium aluminate for anti‐counterfeit applications
Authors: Mokhtar Omnia M. , Attia Yasser A. , Wassel Ahmed R. , Khattab Tawfik A.
Published: July 2021

New photochromic film was developed toward the preparation of anti‐counterfeiting documents utilizing inorganic/organic nanocomposite enclosing a photoluminescent inorganic pigment and a polyacrylic binder polymer. To generate a translucent film from pigment/polyacrylic nanocomposite, the phosphorescent strontium aluminum oxide pigment should be well‐dispersed in the solution of the polyacrylic‐based binder without agglomeration. The photochromic nanocomposite was applied efficiently onto commercial cellulose paper documents utilizing the effective and economical spray‐coating technology followed with thermofixation. A homogeneous photochromic film was immobilized onto cellulose paper surface to introduce a transparent film changing to greenish‐yellow upon exposure to ultraviolet light as depicted by CIE coloration measurements. The photochromic effect was monitored at lowest pigment concentration (0.25 wt%). The spray‐coated paper documents exhibit two absorbance bands at 256 and 358 nm, and two fluorescence peaks at 433 and 511 nm. The morphologies of the spray‐coated documents were explored. The spray‐coated paper sheets showed a reversible photochromic effect without fatigue under ultraviolet irradiation. The rheology of the produced photochromic composites as well as the mechanical properties and photostability of the spray‐coated documents were studied.
New chemiluminescent method of levofloxacin and ofloxacin determination based on terbium (III)‐sensitized fluoroquinolone–KBrO3 reaction
Authors: Kaczmarek Małgorzata , Staninski Krzysztof , Stodolny Mikołaj
Published: July 2021

Fluoroquinolones can be oxidized with some agents, in this study selected fluoroquinolones (levofloxacin, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, pefloxacin and enrofloxacin) were oxidized with potassium bromate in the presence of terbium (III) ions. According to the kinetic and spectral analysis of chemiluminescence emitted by the above systems, the terbium (III) ions were the only emitter. The excitation of the lanthanide ion was a result of the process of energy transfer from the products of fluoroquinolones oxidation to Tb(III) ions. The highest intensity of chemiluminescence was obtained for levofloxacin and ofloxacin containing an alkoxy substituent at C‐8 in the quinoline ring. The chemiluminescence intensity was correlated linearly (r = 0.9994) with the concentration of ofloxacin (or levofloxacin) in the range 1 × 10−6 to 4 × 10−5 mol L−1; the detection limit was 3 × 10−7 mol L−1 for both fluoroquinolones. In the optimized conditions, the chemiluminescence of the levofloxacin (or ofloxacin)–Tb(III)–KBrO3–H2SO4 systems was used to determine these compounds in a mixture of fluoroquinolones and in pharmaceuticals.
Microfluidic chip‐based single‐cell cloning to accelerate biologic production timelines
Authors: Diep Jonathan , Le Huong , Le Kim , Zasadzinska Ewelina , Tat Jasmine , Yam Pheng , Zastrow Ryan , Gomez Natalia , Stevens Jennitte
Published: July 2021

Cell line development (CLD) represents a critical, yet time‐consuming, step in the biomanufacturing process as significant resources are devoted to the scale‐up and screening of several hundreds to thousands of single‐cell clones. Typically, transfected pools are fully recovered from selection and characterized for growth, productivity, and product quality to identify the best pools suitable for single‐cell cloning (SCC) using limiting dilution or fluorescence‐activated cell sorting (FACS). Here we report the application of the Berkeley Lights Beacon Instrument (BLI) in an early SCC process to accelerate the CLD timeline. Transfected pools were single‐cell cloned when viabilities reached greater than 85% or during selection when viabilities were less than 30%. Clones isolated from these accelerated processes exhibited comparable growth, productivity, and product quality to those derived from a standard CLD process and fit into an existing manufacturing platform. With these approaches, up to a 30% reduction in the overall CLD timeline was achieved. Furthermore, early process‐derived clones demonstrated equivalent long‐term stability compared with standard process‐derived clones over 50 population doubling levels (PDLs). Taken together, the data supported early SCC on the BLI as an attractive approach to reducing the standard CLD timeline while still identifying clones with acceptable manufacturability.
Fragility of randomized trials supporting cancer drug approvals stratified by approval pathway and review designations
Authors: Wilson Brooke E. , Desnoyers Alexandra , Nadler Michelle B. , Tibau Ariadna , Amir Eitan
Published: July 2021

Background

It has been suggested that the results from fragile trials are less likely to translate into benefit in routine clinical practice.

Methods

We searched the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) archives to identify drug approvals for solid organ malignancies between 2010 and 2019. We calculated the Fragility Index (FI) supporting each approval, using methods to account for time‐to‐event. We compared FI and trial and approval characteristics using Mann‐Whitney U and Kruskal‐Wallis test. Using logistic regression, we examined study characteristics associated with withdrawal of consent or lost to follow‐up (WCLFU) exceeding the calculated FI.

Results

The median FI among 125 included studies was 23 (range 1–322). The FI was ≤10 in 35 studies (28%), 11–20 in 21 (17%), and >20 in 69 (55%). The median FI/Nexp was 7.7% (range 0.1–51.7%). The median FI was significantly lower among approvals processed through the accelerated vs regular pathway (5.5 vs 25, p = 0.001), but there was no difference in median FI/Nexp. The WCLFU exceeded FI in 42% of studies. Overall survival endpoints were more likely to have a WCLFU exceeding FI (OR 3.16, p = 0.003). WCLFU exceeding FI was also associated with a lesser magnitude of effect (median HR 0.69 vs 0.55, p < 0.001). In a sensitivity analysis including only studies with 1:1 randomization, 51% of studies had WCLFU >FI.

Conclusion

The median FI among all trials was 23, and WCLFU exceeded FI in 42%. Comparative trials in solid tumors supporting approval through the accelerated pathway are more fragile compared to trials approved through the regular pathway, an observation likely explained by a lower sample size in the experimental arm.
Comparison on physicochemical properties of mung bean flour and isolated starch under different level of high static pressure
Authors: Liu Zhenyu , Fu Yongxia , Zhang Jing , Shen Qun
Published: July 2021

Background and objectives

Mung bean has high nutritional value for consumers, but its native form with poor physicochemical properties limited uses for food production. Mung bean flour (MBF) contains starch and nonstarch components including proteins, lipids, and fibers. Nonstarch components possibly cause the physicochemical properties of MBF to be different from those of mung bean starch (MBS). Thus, effect of high‐hydrostatic pressure (HHP) (300, 450, and 600 MPa) processing on the structural, thermal, pasting, and rheological properties of MBF and MBS was investigated.

Findings

Results showed that MBF and MBS exhibited various properties under the same HHP treatment. With increasing pressure, the Maltese cross and relative crystallinity of MBS disappeared more significantly than MBF, indicating more severe gelatinization. Furthermore, MBF was seen to have more short‐range ordered structure than MBS. The peak viscosity (PV), trough viscosity (TV), and breakdown viscosity (BV) of MBF were lower than just the MBS only. MBF contained protein, lipid, and fiber, which could compete with starch to absorb water in the food gel systems, thus hindered the swelling and gelatinization of starches. And amylose–lipid complexes were formed in HHP‐treated MBF which could enhance the gel network cross‐linking, with lower tan δ (loss modulus/storage modulus).

Conclusions

Nonstarch polymers in MBF might protect starch granules from gelatinization under HHP, obvious differences were observed in the thermal, pasting, and rheological properties between HHP‐treated MBS and MBF, and physicochemical properties were greatly related to structural properties of them.

Significance and novelty

Overall, HHP as a nonthermal processing technique has potential to modify legume flour with a range of properties into diverse food products.
New‐onset guttate psoriasis secondary to COVID‐19
Authors: Rouai Meriem , Rabhi Faten , Mansouri Nada , Jaber Kahena , Dhaoui Raouf
Published: July 2021

SARS‐CoV‐2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), is associated with flares of psoriasis in patients with well‐documented disease. Both viral infection and medications used for treatment, like hydroxychloroquine, were incriminated. Herein, we report the case of a 25‐year‐old male patient who presented a first‐onset guttate psoriasis following a COVID‐19 infection. We have not found previous descriptions of de novo guttate psoriasis post‐COVID‐19.
MXene Enables Stable Solid‐Electrolyte Interphase for Si@MXene Composite with Enhanced Cycling Stability
Authors: Zhou Hao , Cui Cong , Cheng Renfei , Yang Jinxing , Wang Xiaohui
Published: July 2021

Silicon (Si) has been gaining considerable attention in the field of Li‐ion batteries although unstable solid‐electrolyte interphase (SEI), extreme volume changes and inferior conductivity hinder its practical application. Herein, ultrasonic‐assisted electrostatic self‐assembly of fluidic colloidal coprecipitation of MXene wrapped Si nanoparticles (Si@MXene) is proposed. Utilizing the natural negatively charged MXene to capture positive‐charged Si nanoparticles, the homogeneous Ti3C2Tx MXene coating on Si nanoparticles prevents the nanoparticles from directly contacting the electrolyte and thus enables the formation of a stable SEI film on the composite particulates. Due to the elimination of unstable solid‐electrolyte interphase on the surface of Si nanoparticles, Si@MXene delivers high capacity and excellent retention stability of 94 % after 100 cycles. The strategy demonstrated here offers the rational design of MXene‐coated Si anodes with high capacity and superior cycling stability.
Construction of Coplanar Bicyclic Backbones for 1,2,4‐Triazole‐1,2,4‐Oxadiazole‐Derived Energetic Materials
Authors: Cao Wenli , Dong Wenshuai , Lu Zujia , Bi Yufan , Hu Yong , Wang Tingwei , Zhang Chao , Li Zhimin , Yu Qiyao , Zhang Jianguo
Published: July 2021

Combining different nitrogen‐rich heterocycles into a molecule can fine‐tune its energetic performance and physical properties as well as its safety for use in energetic materials. Here, 1,2,4‐oxadiazole was incorporated into 1,2,4‐triazole to construct new energetic backbones. 3‐(5‐Amino‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐yl)‐1,2,4‐oxadiazol‐5‐amine (5) was designed and synthesized. Nitramino‐functionalized N‐(5‐(5‐amino‐1,2,4‐oxadiazol‐3‐yl)‐3H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐yl)nitramide (6) and N‐(5‐(5‐(nitramino)‐1,2,4‐oxadiazol‐3‐yl)‐3H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐yl)nitramide (7) were also obtained, and two series of corresponding nitrogen‐rich salts were prepared, leading to the creation of new energetic compounds. All derivatives were fully characterized, and five of them were further confirmed by X‐ray diffraction. The theoretical calculations, energetic performance, safety, and the main decomposition gaseous products of 1,2,4‐triazole‐1,2,4‐oxadiazole‐derived energetic materials were studied. Compound 7 and its dihydroxylammonium salt (7 c) exhibited prominent detonation performance comparable to that of RDX while possessing satisfying thermal stabilities and mechanical sensitivities.
Commercial Integrated Permeate Channel Ultrafiltration Membranes: Design, Modeling and Performance
Authors: Aerts Peter E. M. , Brüss Ulrich , Richter Steffen , Rehman Usman , Audenaert Wim , van Hoof Stephan
Published: July 2021

Submerged ultrafiltration membranes for use in wastewater treatment have been practiced for several decades and is becoming the standard for water reuse applications. In this paper, the characteristics of the unique and robust Integrated Permeate Channel (IPC®) membrane are presented for membrane bioreactor (MBR) applications. The design choices made during the 10‐year development of the IPC® membrane translate in key product attributes that the end users are looking for: a high capacity of clean permeate per footprint at the lowest cost of total ownership over the lifetime of the product.
Which model? Comparing fermentation kinetic expressions for cream cheese production
Authors: Guo Shiying , Li Bing , Yu Wei , Wilson David I. , Young Brent R.
Published: July 2021

Knowing the time‐dependent concentrations of biomass, lactose, and lactic acid is crucial for the optimal production of cream cheese. This paper reviews the commonly used kinetic models for cream cheese fermentation and assesses their performance using cross‐validation, Akaike information criterion, and the coefficient of determination using laboratory data. The product inhibition model called the Boulton Model gives the best prediction. This model is a valuable instrument for cream cheese research.
pH‐Controlled Efficient Conversion of Hemicellulose to Furfural Using Choline‐Based Deep Eutectic Solvents as Catalysts
Authors: Arora Shalini , Gupta Neeraj , Singh Vasundhara
Published: July 2021

The valorization of hemicellulose isolated from lignocellulosic biomass (wheat straw, rice husk, and bagasse) to furfural was achieved by pH‐controlled acid catalysis using choline‐based Brønsted acidic (BA) and natural acidic (NA) deep eutectic solvents (DES) serving both as catalyst and solvent. The effect of pH variation on the catalytic activity of various BADES and NADES prepared in 1 : 1 molar ratio was observed, and choline chloride/p‐toluene sulfonic acid (ChCl/p‐TSA) was found to be the best with lower pH value of 1.0. The yield of furfural decreased from 85 to 51 % with increase in pH from 1.0 to 3.0. The molar ratio of hydrogen bond donor to acceptor components was varied from 1 : 1 to 1 : 9 to achieve the lowest possible pH values of the DESs and to increase the furfural yield. Further optimization of reaction conditions was also done in terms of DES loading, time of reaction, and temperature using the model DES to achieve higher furfural yield. The best results were obtained using 5 mmol DES at pH 1.0 in 1.5 h at 120 °C. ChCl/p‐TSA and ChCl/oxalic acid among BADES and ChCl/levulinic acid among NADES investigated in this work yielding 85 % furfural were found to be most efficient. The reported methodology is advantageous in terms of using bio‐based green solvents, mild reaction conditions, and efficient scale‐up of the reaction. The DESs were found to be efficiently recyclable up to five consecutive runs for the process.
Tetraethylthiophene‐2,5‐diylbismethylphosphonate: A Novel Electrolyte Additive for High‐Voltage Batteries
Authors: Lv Weixia , Li Lucheng , Chen Jun , Ou Caixia , Zhang Qian , Zhong Shengwen , Wang Hua , Wu Lijue , Fu Haikuo
Published: July 2021

In this work, a novel high‐voltage electrolyte additive, tetraethylthiophene‐2,5‐diylbismethylphosphonate (TTD), was synthesized, and the influence of TTD on the electrolyte and its electrochemical performance under different voltages were studied by changing the content of the TTD additive. The results showed that the TTD additive significantly improved the capacity, cycle stability, and rate capability of batteries when charging/discharging at high voltages. After adding 1 % TTD to the basic electrolyte, the capacity retention rate of batteries after 200 cycles at 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, and 4.5 V increased by 20.8, 18.3, 50, and 31.9 %, respectively. In addition, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results showed that TTD could effectively inhibit the decomposition of the electrolyte and participate in the formation of a uniform, thin, and stable cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) film on the electrode surface, thereby effectively inhibiting the side reaction between the electrolyte decomposition product and the CEI membrane, and finally improving the high‐voltage performance of the battery. The TTD additive may provide a cost‐effective solution for high‐performance high‐voltage electrolytes.
Hippocampal subfield imaging and fractional anisotropy show parallel changes in Alzheimer's disease tau progression using simultaneous tau‐PET/MRI at 3T
Authors: Carlson Mackenzie L. , Toueg Tyler N. , Khalighi M. Mehdi , Castillo Jessa , Shen Bin , Azevedo Emily C. , DiGiacomo Phillip , Mouchawar Nicole , Chau Gustavo , Zaharchuk Greg , James Michelle L. , Mormino Elizabeth C. , Zeineh Michael M.
Published: July 2021

Introduction

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, characterized primarily by abnormal aggregation of two proteins, tau and amyloid beta. We assessed tau pathology and white matter connectivity changes in subfields of the hippocampus simultaneously in vivo in AD.

Methods

Twenty‐four subjects were scanned using simultaneous time‐of‐flight 18F‐PI‐2620 tau positron emission tomography/3‐Tesla magnetic resonance imaging and automated segmentation.

Results

We observed extensive tau elevation in the entorhinal/perirhinal regions, intermediate tau elevation in cornu ammonis 1/subiculum, and an absence of tau elevation in the dentate gyrus, relative to controls. Diffusion tensor imaging showed parahippocampal gyral fractional anisotropy was lower in AD and mild cognitive impairment compared to controls and strongly correlated with early tau accumulation in the entorhinal and perirhinal cortices.

Discussion

This study demonstrates the potential for quantifiable patterns of 18F‐PI2620 binding in hippocampus subfields, accompanied by diffusion and volume metrics, to be valuable markers of AD.
Emerging cases of mucormycosis under COVID‐19 pandemic in India: Misuse of antibiotics
Authors: Gupta Gaurav , S. Roshan , Singh Yogendra , Thangavelu Lakshmi , Singh Sachin Kumar , Dureja Harish , Chellappan Dinesh Kumar , Dua Kamal
Published: July 2021

COVID‐19's second wave had a significant impact on India, on May 7, 2021, the largest daily recorded case count was a little more than 4 million, and it has since fallen. Although the number of new cases reported has dropped, during the third week of May 2021, India accounted for about 45% of new cases identified globally and around 34% of deaths. As India maintains its present level of stability, a new urgent threat has emerged in the form of coronavirus‐associated mucormycosis. Mucormycosis, an acute and deadly fungal infection caused by Mucorales‐related fungal species, is a fungal emergency with a particularly aggressive propensity for contiguous spread, associated with a poor prognosis if not properly and immediately identified, and treated. Mucormycosis, sometimes referred to as the “black fungus,” has increased more rapidly in India during the second wave of COVID‐19 than during the first wave, with at least 14,872 cases as of May 28, 2021. Uncontrolled diabetic mellitus (DM) and other immunosuppressive diseases such as neutropenia and corticosteroid treatment have traditionally been identified as risk factors for mucormycosis. Therefore, the use of glucocorticoids or high doses of glucocorticoids in mild COVID‐19 cases (without hypoxemia) should be avoided. In addition, drugs that target the immune pathway, such as tocilizumab, are not recommended without clear benefits.
Development of the smooth newt, Lissotriton vulgaris, as observed in a garden pond during lockdown
Authors: Solovieva Tatiana
Published: July 2021

Background

Lissotriton vulgaris (“smooth newt”) was an important organism for experimental embryology, especially in the early 20th century. The stages of development of L. vulgaris from the appearance of the first cleavage to metamorphosis have previously been described, but only through drawings.

Results

Referring to Glaesner's staging and utilizing a makeshift lockdown laboratory, this study documents the development of L. vulgaris embryos in a small garden pond in Surrey, UK. This study describes varying developmental rates between individuals, identifies pigmented cells in close proximity/contributing to the heart, describes early gill development and reports a case of spontaneous, non‐conjoined newt twins.

Conclusions

While pigmentation in the heart has been reported in some amphibians, no pigmentation within urodele hearts has been documented to date. Furthermore, although the literature on conjoined twinning in amphibia is extensive, separate, non‐conjoined twinning is largely unexplored in the literature. This study invites further research into understanding of these topics.
Triparental care in the collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis): Cooperation of two females with a cuckolded male in rearing a brood
Authors: Laczi Miklós , Kopena Renáta , Sarkadi Fanni , Kötél Dóra , Török János , Rosivall Balázs , Hegyi Gergely
Published: July 2021

Certain predominant forms of mating and parental care systems are assumed in several model species among birds, but the opportunistic and apparently infrequent variations of “family structures” may often remain hidden due to methodological limitations with regard to genetic or behavioral observations. One of the intensively studied model species, the collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis), is usually characterized by social monogamy with polyterritorial, facultative social polygyny, and frequent extrapair mating and extrapair paternity. During a brood‐size manipulation experiment, we observed two females and a male delivering food at an enlarged brood. A combination of breeding phenology data (egg laying and hatching date), behavioral data (feeding rates) from video recordings at 10 days of nestling age, and microsatellite genotyping for maternity and paternity suggests a situation of an unrelated female helping a pair in chick rearing. Such observations highlight the relevance of using traditional techniques and genetic analyses together to assess the parental roles within a population, which becomes more important where individuals may dynamically switch from their main and presupposed roles according to the actual environmental conditions.
Major impacts and societal costs of seagrass loss on sediment carbon and nitrogen stocks
Authors: Moksnes Per‐Olav , Röhr Maria Emilia , Holmer Marianne , Eklöf Johan S. , Eriander Louise , Infantes Eduardo , Boström Christoffer
Published: July 2021

Seagrass meadows constitute important carbon sinks, and the ongoing global loss of seagrass habitats raises concerns about the release of carbon stored in their sediments. However, the actual consequences of seagrass loss for the release of carbon and nutrients remain unclear. Here, we take advantage of well‐documented historic losses of eelgrass (Zostera marina) meadows along the Swedish NW coast to assess how the contents of organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in the sediment change when a meadow is lost. We find unusually high contents of C and N (on average 3.7% and 0.39% DW, respectively) in Swedish eelgrass sediments down to >100 cm depth, suggesting that these habitats constitute global hot spots for C and N storage. However, the C and N stocks were strongly influenced by wave exposure and were almost twice as high in sheltered compared to exposed eelgrass meadows. The sediment composition and stable isotope values were distinctly different in areas that have lost eelgrass meadows, with on average >2.6 times lower contents of C and N. The results indicate an erosion of >35 cm sediment following the historical eelgrass loss, and that sheltered meadows have more vulnerable sediment stocks. The results suggest that eelgrass loss has resulted in a release of 60.2 Mg C and 6.63 Mg N per hectare, with an estimated economic cost to society of 7944 and 141,355 US$/ha, respectively. The value of N storage represents one of the highest monetary values presented for an ecosystem service provided by seagrasses and shows that Swedish eelgrass meadows are particularly important for mitigating eutrophication. Following a documented loss of approximately 10 km2 of eelgrass in the study area, it is estimated that over 60,000 Mg of nitrogen was released to the coastal environment over a 20‐yr period, which constitutes over three times the annual river load of nitrogen to the Swedish NW coast. The study exemplifies the significant role of seagrass sediments as sinks for both carbon and nutrients, and that the risk of nutrient release following vegetation loss should be taken into account in the spatial management of seagrass and other coastal habitats.
Sudden cardiac death after acute decompensation in heart failure patients: implications of discharge haemoglobin levels
Authors: Fukuoka Ryoma , Kohsaka Shun , Shiraishi Yasuyuki , Sawano Mitsuaki , Abe Takayuki , Levy Wayne C. , Nagatomo Yuji , Nishihata Yosuke , Goda Ayumi , Kohno Takashi , Kawamura Akio , Fukuda Keiichi , Yoshikawa Tsutomu
Published: July 2021

Aims

Heart failure (HF) patients have a high risk of mortality due to sudden cardiac death (SCD) and non‐SCD, including pump failure death (PFD). Anaemia predicts more severe symptomatic burden and higher morbidity, as noted by markedly increased hospitalizations and readmission rates, and mortality, underscoring its importance in HF management. Herein, we aimed to determine whether haemoglobin (Hb) level at discharge affects the mode of death and influences SCD risk prediction.

Methods

We evaluated the data of 3020 consecutive acute HF patients from a Japanese prospective multicentre registry. Patients were divided into four groups based on discharge Hb levels. SCD was defined as an unexpected and otherwise unexplained death in a previously stable patient or death due to documented or presumed cardiac arrhythmia without a clear non‐cardiovascular cause. The mode of death (SCD, PFD or other cause) was adjudicated by a central committee. Finally, we investigated whether adding Hb level to the Seattle Proportional Risk Model (SPRM; established risk score utilized to estimate ‘proportion’ of SCD among death events) would affect its performance.

Results

The mean age of studied patients was 74.3 ± 12.9 years, and 59.8% were male. The mean Hb level was 12.0 ± 2.1 g/dL (61.3% of patients had anaemia defined by World Health Organization criteria). During the 2‐year follow‐up, 474 deaths (15.7%) occurred, including 93 SCDs (3.1%), 171 PFDs (5.7%) and 210 other deaths (7.0%; predominantly non‐cardiac death). Absolute risk of PFD (P < 0.001) or other death (P < 0.001) increased along with the severity of anaemia, whereas the incidence of SCD was low but remained consistent across all four groups (P = 0.440). As a proportion of total deaths in each Hb level group, the contributions from non‐SCD increased and from SCD decreased along with anaemia severity (P = 0.007). Adding Hb level to the SPRM improved the overall discrimination (c‐index: 0.62 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.56–0.69] to 0.65 [95% CI 0.59–0.71]), regardless of the baseline ejection fraction (EF) (c‐index: 0.64 [95% CI 0.55–0.73] to 0.67 [95% CI 0.58–0.75] for reduced EF and 0.55 [95% CI 0.45–0.66] to 0.61 [95% CI 0.52–0.70] for preserved EF).

Conclusions

The discharge Hb level provides information about both absolute and proportional risks for each mode of death in acute HF patients, and the addition of Hb level improves the performance of SPRM by identifying more non‐SCD cases. Future ‘proportional’ SCD risk models should incorporate Hb level as a covariate to meet this high performance.
Heterogeneity of germinal center B cells: New insights from single‐cell studies
Authors: Attaf Noudjoud , Baaklini Sabrina , Binet Laurine , Milpied Pierre
Published: July 2021

Upon antigen exposure, activated B cells in antigen‐draining lymphoid organs form microanatomical structures, called germinal centers (GCs), where affinity maturation occurs. Within the GC microenvironment, GC B cells undergo proliferation and B cell receptor (BCR) genes somatic hypermutation in the dark zone (DZ), and affinity‐based selection in the light zone (LZ). In the current paradigm of GC dynamics, high‐affinity LZ B cells may be selected by cognate T‐ follicular helper cells to either differentiate into plasma cells or memory B cells, or re‐enter the DZ and initiate a new round of proliferation and BCR diversification, before migrating back to the LZ. Given the diversity of cell states and potential cell fates that GC B cells may adopt, the two‐state DZ‐LZ paradigm has been challenged by studies that explored GC B‐cell heterogeneity with a variety of single‐cell technologies. Here, we review studies and single‐cell technologies which have allowed to refine the working model of GC B‐cell cellular and molecular heterogeneity during affinity maturation. This review also covers the use of single‐cell quantitative data for mathematical modeling of GC reactions, and the application of single‐cell genomics to the study of GC‐derived malignancies.
Design and characteristics of low‐resistance lithium‐ion battery pack and its fast charging method for smart phones
Authors: Kim Gi Young , Park Seok Ryun , Yu Jae Su
Published: July 2021

In order to apply fast charging in 5th generation (5G) mobile telecommunication, smart phones need to be used at higher current. As the resistance of battery pack increases, the charging time, heat generation, and capacity loss increase in proportion to the charging/discharging current. Thus, a low resistance battery pack is essential. Herein, we proposed a new lithium (Li)‐ion battery pack consisting of a low‐resistance battery cell and protection circuit module (PCM) for Galaxy S10 5G application. The battery cell reduced current density and resistance by loading level of active material and electrode thickness. The resistance of PCM was also reduced by employing low‐resistance circuit components and printed circuit board. It lowered resistance to 51 mΩ compared to 71 mΩ of the battery pack for Galaxy S10. For 5G mobile telecommunication and 25 W fast charging, the charging current should be increased from 3 to 5.7 A and the width of the PCM should be increased 2.45 times, but the low‐resistance components and optimization pattern design maintain 2.9 mm PCM width without decreasing capacity of battery pack. The experiment results showed that reducing the resistance of the battery pack by 26 mΩ reduced full charging time by 27 minutes and increased discharging time by 1 minute. The low‐resistance battery pack met the standard of UL2054 and heating temperature of smart phone. The optimal charging method was also proposed by comparing the charging capacity, charging time, and heat generation by charging current. The proposed charging method reduced the existing 153 minutes of full charging time to 126 minutes. The smart phone with low‐resistance battery pack was able to manage the maximum heating temperature below 43.1°C when charging with a 25 W charger. In addition, 0.2 C discharging capacity was 99.3% (4369.5 mAh) compared to the initial capacity after 400 cycles. After 400 cycles, the direct current internal resistance of the battery pack increased, but no Li precipitation was observed on the electrode. This could be applied to a smart phone employing Samsung Electronics' first 1.3 C fast charging for Galaxy S10 5G in the world's first 5G mobile telecommunication.
Dye‐sensitized solar cells based on nickel‐doped tungsten diselenide counter electrodes
Authors: Nair Salil , Joy Jolly , Patel Kireet D.
Published: July 2021

Dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are gaining considerable interest as substitutes to solar cells based on semiconductor thin‐films owing to their cost‐effective and effortless fabrication methods. Efforts are being made to replace counter electrodes (CE) in DSSCs, which are conventionally based on noble metal platinum (Pt). Among the new materials as CE, two‐dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenide is one of the most explored to develop Pt‐free DSSCs. We report here the preparation of TiO2‐based DSSCs using beetroot (Beta vulgaris) extracts as sensitizers with carbon‐, pristine‐, and Ni (4%)‐doped WSe2 as the CEs. The Ni (4%) WSe2 CE exhibited a high‐power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.66% under the illumination of 100 mW cm−2. The electrical characteristics, including I‐V, C‐V, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, corroborate the better efficiency of Ni (4%) WSe2 CE. The cost‐effectiveness and efficiencies obtained for Pure and Ni (4%) WSe2 make them a worthy candidate as CE for DSSCs.
Time‐dependent flows in grooved non‐isothermal channels
Authors: Panday Shoyon , Floryan Jerzy Maciej
Published: July 2021

A highly accurate and fully implicit algorithm for analyses of transient effects in heated grooved channels, including chaotic responses and transition to secondary states, has been developed. The algorithm can handle pattern interaction problems arising from combinations of geometric and heating patterns which are expected to be beneficial in the development of energy efficient stirring systems. The algorithm uses spectral spatial discretization and up to sixth‐order temporal discretization, providing the means to deliver machine accuracy. The spatial discretization relies on a combination of Chebyshev and Fourier expansions, guaranteeing very good resolution in the vicinity of the grooved walls. The enforcement of boundary conditions along the irregular boundaries is carried out using the immersed boundary conditions. The overall discretization leads to a gridless algorithm and provides the geometric flexibility required for efficient analyses of multitude of topography patterns. Extensive testing demonstrates that the algorithm achieves the theoretically predicted accuracy.
Evaluation of organochlorine pesticide residues in Betavulgaris, Brassicaoleracea, and Solanumtuberosum in Bloemfontein markets, South Africa
Authors: Motshabi Nthabiseng , Ncube Somandla , Nindi Mathew Muzi , Khetsha Zenzile Peter , Malebo Ntsoaki Joyce
Published: July 2021

This study evaluated the level of selected pesticide residues in the staple vegetables; Brassica oleracea var. capitata (cabbage), Beta vulgaris var. cicla (Swiss chard), and Solanum tuberosum (potato) from fresh produce markets in the city of Bloemfontein, South Africa. A QuEChERS extraction method was used followed by quantitation using GC‐HRT/MS. The pesticide residues were detected in levels lower than the recommended Maximum Residue Levels ranging from not detected to 121.6 ng/kg recorded for heptachlor in cabbage samples. Cabbage was generally susceptible to pesticide residue accumulation with the average total concentration for different markets at 222 mg/kg. The pesticide residues were predicted to be from recent applications but their existence within guideline limits indicated that their use in vegetable farming was within the FAO/WHO recommended good agricultural practices. While the current situation points that consumption of the vegetables in the province poses limited health concerns due to organochlorine pesticides, the unmonitored use of products containing these compounds may result in elevated levels. Continued monitoring and a call for the South African legislature to revise its regulations of the Fertilizers Act to reflect the current international laws on pesticides management is recommended.
Uterine inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor: First report of a ROS1 fusion
Authors: Bennett Jennifer A. , Wang Peng , Wanjari Pankhuri , Diaz Lidia , Oliva Esther
Published: July 2021

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) of the uterus is an uncommon mesenchymal neoplasm that frequently harbors ALK rearrangements. In this report, we describe the first uterine IMT with a FN1‐ROS1 fusion, which occurred in a 43‐year‐old woman who presented with menorrhagia. Morphologically, the well‐circumscribed 3 cm tumor was comprised of compact and myxoid foci of relatively bland spindle cells admixed with scattered chronic inflammatory cells limited to the myxoid areas. ROS1 showed moderate cytoplasmic granular staining in < 30% of cells in the myxoid foci, while ALK was negative. RNA sequencing detected a FN1‐ROS1 rearrangement that fused FN1 exon 37 to ROS1 exon 34. Although non‐ALK‐rearranged uterine IMTs are exceedingly rare, this example highlights the importance of performing ROS1 immunohistochemistry and/or molecular analysis in ALK‐negative uterine neoplasms morphologically compatible with IMT.
Genesis of the Neoarchean subduction‐related Taoke Ni–Cu‐(PGE) sulphide deposit in the North China Craton: Constraints from Os–S isotopes and PGE geochemistry
Authors: Zhang Ai‐Ping , Sun Tao , Zhao Zhi‐Fang , Zhou Jia‐Xi , Li Wan‐Ting , Qi Qun‐Jia , Wei Xi‐Zhu
Published: July 2021

Archean magmatic Ni‐Cu‐[platinum‐group element (PGE)] deposits are very important and mainly associated with komatiitic rocks in intracratonic rift zones throughout the world. However, the Taoke Ni‐Cu‐(PGE) deposit in the North China Craton, which is the oldest (Neoarchean, 2,537 Ma) magmatic sulphide deposit in China, and is genetically related to the subduction zone. The intrusion is predominantly composed of a small ultramafic body (olivine websterite) and a much larger gabbroic body (gabbronorite). Sulphide mineralization is mainly associated with the ultramafic body with average grades of 0.66 wt% Ni, 0.62 wt% Cu and ~1 g/t PGE. Sulphides of the Taoke deposit are characterized by a chalcopyrite + pentlandite + pyrrhotite + millerite assemblage, which hosts variable amounts of platinum‐group minerals. Good correlations are found for Pd versus individual Ir subgroup of platinum‐group elements (IPGEs; i.e., Pd vs. Os, Ir, Ru, and Rh) and for Ir and Pd subgroup of platinum‐group elements (PPGEs; i.e., Ir vs. Pt and Pd), indicating that the PGE contents of immiscible sulphide liquids in the Taoke deposit are mainly controlled by the initial PGE concentrations in the parental magma and R factor (magma/sulphide mass ratio). Based on our calculations, the initial contents of Ir and Pd in the parental magma are estimated to be 0.13 and 5.6 ppb, respectively, suggesting that the parental magma of the Taoke deposit is PGE undepleted. The multiple sulphur isotopes can provide direct indications of the source of sulphur for the Archean intrusion. The γOs(t) values and Archean crustal sulphur (three samples have anomalous Δ33S values <−0.1‰) suggest that the addition of crustal sulphur occurred in the magma. Fractional crystallization and the addition of crustal sulphur are the most likely key factors for sulphide saturation in the Taoke mafic magma.
SKAP2 as a new regulator of oligodendroglial migration and myelin sheath formation
Authors: Ghelman Julia , Grewing Laureen , Windener Farina , Albrecht Stefanie , Zarbock Alexander , Kuhlmann Tanja
Published: July 2021

Oligodendroglial progenitor cells (OPCs) are highly proliferative and migratory cells, which differentiate into complex myelin forming and axon ensheathing mature oligodendrocytes during myelination. Recent studies indicate that the oligodendroglial cell population is heterogeneous on transcriptional and functional level depending on the location in the central nervous system. Here, we compared intrinsic properties of OPC from spinal cord and brain on functional and transcriptional level. Spinal cord OPC demonstrated increased migration as well as differentiation capacity. Moreover, transcriptome analysis revealed differential expression of several genes between both OPC populations. In spinal cord OPC, we confirmed upregulation of SKAP2, a cytoplasmatic adaptor protein known for its implication in cytoskeletal remodeling and migration in other cell types. Recent findings suggest that actin dynamics determine not only oligodendroglial migration, but also differentiation: Whereas actin polymerization is important for process extension, actin destabilization and depolymerization is required for myelin sheath formation. Downregulation or complete lack of SKAP2 in OPC resulted in reduced migration and impaired morphological maturation in oligodendrocytes. In contrast, overexpression of SKAP2 as well as constitutively active SKAP2 increased OPC migration suggesting that SKAP2 function is dependent on activation by phosphorylation. Furthermore, lack of SKAP2 enhanced the positive effect on OPC migration after integrin activation suggesting that SKAP2 acts as modulator of integrin dependent migration. In summary, we demonstrate the presence of intrinsic differences between spinal cord and brain OPC and identified SKAP2 as a new regulator of oligodendroglial migration and sheath formation.
Topologically convergent and divergent morphological gray matter networks in early‐stage Parkinson's disease with and without mild cognitive impairment
Authors: Suo Xueling , Lei Du , Li Nannan , Li Junying , Peng Jiaxin , Li Wenbin , Yang Jing , Qin Kun , Kemp Graham J. , Peng Rong , Gong Qiyong
Published: July 2021

Patients with Parkinson's disease with mild cognitive impairment (PD‐M) progress to dementia more frequently than those with normal cognition (PD‐N), but the underlying neurobiology remains unclear. This study aimed to define the specific morphological brain network alterations in PD‐M, and explore their potential diagnostic value. Twenty‐four PD‐M patients, 17 PD‐N patients, and 29 healthy controls (HC) underwent a structural MRI scan. Similarity between interregional gray matter volume distributions was used to construct individual morphological brain networks. These were analyzed using graph theory and network‐based statistics (NBS), and their relationship to neuropsychological tests was assessed. Support vector machine (SVM) was used to perform individual classification. Globally, compared with HC, PD‐M showed increased local efficiency (p = .001) in their morphological networks, while PD‐N showed decreased normalized path length (p = .008). Locally, similar nodal deficits were found in the rectus and lingual gyrus, and cerebellum of both PD groups relative to HC; additionally in PD‐M nodal deficits involved several frontal and parietal regions, correlated with cognitive scores. NBS found that similar connections were involved in the default mode and cerebellar networks of both PD groups (to a greater extent in PD‐M), while PD‐M, but not PD‐N, showed altered connections involving the frontoparietal network. Using connections identified by NBS, SVM allowed discrimination with high accuracy between PD‐N and HC (90%), PD‐M and HC (85%), and between the two PD groups (65%). These results suggest that default mode and cerebellar disruption characterizes PD, more so in PD‐M, whereas frontoparietal disruption has diagnostic potential.