bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A rare case of pycnodysostosis during pregnancy
Authors: Alshdefat Aisha , Nashwan Abdulqadir J. , Al Bibi Hayat
Published: November 2022

We describe a case in which a 41‐year‐old pregnant female with pycnodysostosis presented for elective cesarean section at week 37 + 5 of pregnancy. This is the first reported case of pycnodysostosis during pregnancy in Oman, to the author's best knowledge.
Leakage of Metallic Ball Seat Valves with Anisotropic Surfaces
Authors: Fischer Felix , Bady Dariush , Schmitz Katharina
Published: November 2022

Metallic ball seat valves are an essential component of many hydraulic systems. They are used for many different purposes such as pressure relief valves or check valves. Despite their universal usage, their sealing mechanism is not yet fully understood. In previous works, a successful method for the simulation of the fluid leakage of metallic ball seat valves has been developed and confirmed experimentally. The method is based on Persson's contact mechanics theory, which is based on surface roughness power spectrum C(q). This theory takes a wide range of roughness values at different length scales into account. The previous method has been restricted to isotropic surfaces, but most surfaces of practical interest are highly anisotropic. A method for the calculation of pressure flow factors using Persson's method is presented. Based on these, a model for the leakage calculation can be developed. The simulation results are validated using an experiment.
Olive Oil Mill Wastewater Degradation: Storage Effect
Authors: Faria Benedita , Rocha Cláudio
Published: November 2022

Olive oil mill wastewater (OMW) is one of the pollutant sub‐products produced by the olive oil industry. Nowadays, to treat the effluent and decrease its environmental impact, several studies on different methods for degradation have been developed, e.g., wastewater valorization through the steam reforming process. This work aimed to analyze how physicochemical characteristics of OMW are modified under different storage conditions. Different conditions were applied to the effluent in terms of temperature, light, and storage time. Real and synthetic OMW samples were tested during this work. The results showed that the properties of the effluent changed when it was stored at high temperatures due to degradation of organic species during storage.
Extreme High‐Speed Laser Material Application‐Coated Carbide‐Reinforced Control Plates and Conventional Lead‐Based Plates in Axial Piston Machines
Authors: Holzer Achill , Koss Stephan , Schleifenbaum Johannes Henrich , Schmitz Katharina
Published: November 2022

Hydraulic drive train technology is widely used in both mobile and stationary systems, when high forces or torques are applied. In hydraulic components, high load levels must be supported due to increasing pressure levels of the fluid. Conventionally, leaded brass is used right against steel, where the lead not only aids the manufacturing process but also provides good tribological properties, such as low friction over a wide range of speeds and pressures. Currently promising lead‐free coatings using high‐speed laser material deposition (EHLA) will be implemented in a state‐of‐the‐art axial piston pump.
Diastereo‐ and Enantioselective Reductive Mannich‐type Reaction of α,β‐Unsaturated Carboxylic Acids to Ketimines: A Direct Entry to Unprotected β2,3,3‐Amino Acids
Authors: Suzuki Hirotsugu , Kondo Sora , Yamada Koichiro , Matsuda Takanori
Published: November 2022

Stereoselective construction of unprotected β‐amino acids is a significant challenge owing to the lack of methods for the catalytic generation of highly enantioenriched carboxylic acid enolates. In this study, a novel copper‐catalyzed diastereo‐ and enantioselective reductive Mannich‐type reaction of α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids was developed, which provides a direct and scalable synthetic method for enantioenriched β2,3,3‐amino acids with vicinal stereogenic centers. The protocol features in situ generation of transiently protected carboxylic acids by a hydrosilane and their diastereo‐ and enantioselective reductive coupling with ketimines. The synthetic utility of this process was demonstrated by a gram‐scale reaction and the transformation of β‐amino acids.
Modifying the Stöber Process: Is the Organic Solvent Indispensable?
Authors: Wang Jinxin , Zhang Kaimin , Kavak Safiyye , Bals Sara , Meynen Vera
Published: November 2022

The Stöber method is one of the most important and fundamental processes for the synthesis of inorganic (nano)materials but has the drawback of using a large amount of organic solvent. Herein, ethanol was used as an example to explore if the organic solvent in a typical Stöber method can be omitted. It was found that ethanol increases the particle size of the obtained silica spheres and aids the formation of uniform silica particles rather than forming a gel. Nevertheless, the results indicated that an organic solvent in the initial synthesis mixture is not indispensable. An initially immiscible synthesis method was discovered, which can replace the organic solvent‐based Stöber method to successfully synthesize silica particles with the same size ranges as the original Stöber process without addition of organic solvents. Moreover, this process can be of further value for the extension to synthesis processes of other materials based on the Stöber process.
Structure‐Activity Relationships in Nucleic‐Acid‐Templated Vectors Based on Peptidic Dynamic Covalent Polymers
Authors: Su Dan‐Dan , Ali Lamiaa M. A. , Coste Maëva , Laroui Nabila , Bessin Yannick , Barboiu Mihail , Bettache Nadir , Ulrich Sébastien
Published: November 2022

The use of nucleic acids as templates, which can trigger the self‐assembly of their own vectors represent an emerging, simple and versatile, approach toward the self‐fabrication of tailored nucleic acids delivery vectors. However, the structure‐activity relationships governing this complex templated self‐assembly process that accompanies the complexation of nucleic acids remains poorly understood. Herein, the class of arginine‐rich dynamic covalent polymers (DCPs) composed of different monomers varying the number and position of arginines were studied. The combinations that lead to nucleic acid complexation, in saline buffer, using different templates, from short siRNA to long DNA, are described. Finally, a successful peptidic DCP featuring six‐arginine repeating unit that promote the safe and effective delivery of siRNA in live cancer cells was identified.
Rhodium‐Catalyzed Formylation of Unactivated Alkyl Chlorides to Aldehydes
Authors: Wang Peng , Wang Yaxin , Neumann Helfried , Beller Matthias
Published: November 2022

The first rhodium‐catalyzed formylation of non‐activated alkyl chlorides with syn gas (H2/CO) allows to produce aldehydes in high yields (25 examples). A catalyst optimization study revealed Rh(acac)(CO)2 in the presence of 1,3‐bisdiphenylphosphinopropane (DPPP) as the most active catalyst system for this transformation. Key for the success of the reaction is the addition of sodium iodide (NaI) to the reaction system, which leads to the formation of activated alkyl iodides as intermediates. Depending on the reaction conditions, either the linear or branched aldehydes can be preferentially obtained, which is explained by a different mechanism.
Joining Two Switches in One Nano‐Object: Photoacidity and Photoisomerization in Electrostatic Self‐Assembly
Authors: Zika Alexander , Agarwal Mohit , Schweins Ralf , Gröhn Franziska
Published: November 2022

Multi‐switchable supramolecular nano‐objects that respond to irradiation of different wavelengths with changes in size and shape have been built from two different water‐soluble molecular switches, joined by attachment to the same polyelectrolyte. Accordingly, two wavelength‐specific reactions, namely the excited‐state proton dissociation of a photoacid and the cis–trans isomerization of an azo dye, are combined in one supramolecular nano‐object that is stable in aqueous solution. The concept has potential in the fields of sensors, molecular motors, and transport.
Mithplatins: Mithramycin SA‐Pt(II) Complex Conjugates for the Treatment of Platinum‐Resistant Ovarian Cancers
Authors: Bhosale Suhas S. , Mandal Abhisek , Hou Caixia , McCorkle J. Robert , Schweer David , Hill Kristen S. , Subramanian Vivekanandan , Kolesar Jill M. , Tsodikov Oleg V. , Rohr Jürgen
Published: November 2022

DNA coordinating platinum (Pt) containing compounds cisplatin and carboplatin have been used for the treatment of ovarian cancer therapy for four decades. However, recurrent Pt‐resistant cancers are a major cause of mortality. To combat Pt‐resistant ovarian cancers, we designed and synthesized a conjugate of an anticancer drug mithramycin with a reactive Pt(II) bearing moiety, which we termed mithplatin. The conjugates displayed both the Mg2+‐dependent noncovalent DNA binding characteristic of mithramycin and the covalent crosslinking to DNA of the Pt. The conjugate was three times as potent as cisplatin against ovarian cancer cells. The DNA lesions caused by the conjugate led to the generation of DNA double‐strand breaks, as also observed with cisplatin. Nevertheless, the conjugate was highly active against both Pt‐sensitive and Pt‐resistant ovarian cancer cells. This study paves the way to developing mithplatins to combat Pt‐resistant ovarian cancers.
Creating sensuous experiences: Combining dichroic filters and textile weaving to create aesthetic spatial installations
Authors: Jönsson Elvira , Kooroshnia Marjan
Published: November 2022

Even though color is frequently used in the design of textiles and spaces, research into the use of color in more innovative ways has been uncommon in relation to textile practice. This may be due to a lack of exploration of nontextile materials such as dichroic filters and their design possibilities, which not only produce colors in novel and environmentally friendly ways but also influence space by creating physical and emotional experiences. Dichroic filters are an interesting design material regarding their ability to create surfaces that change color when activated by light and when viewed from different angles and can also influence surrounding space by coloring it. This research project aims to explore the design potential of combining dichroic filters and textile weaving techniques to create textile installations that influence space and create sensuous experiences. The research project resulted in a series of textile installations wherein dichroic filters changed the expression of textile surfaces and/or influenced the installation space. The installations visually reveal a poetic relationship between the craftsmanship of textiles and light, colors, the viewer, space, and our senses. They also highlight the performative property of textiles that influence space and have the power to create sensuous experiences.
GPU implementations of deflate encoding and decoding
Authors: Takafuji Daisuke , Nakano Koji , Ito Yasuaki , Kasagi Akihiko
Published: November 2022

Deflate coding is a very popular lossless data compression method used in zlib, gzip (GNU zip), and zip, which performs the LZSS compression algorithm with Huffman coding. Deflate encoding and decoding involve sequential operations and their parallel acceleration using a GPU is quite hard. The main purpose of this paper is to present GPU implementations for encoding and decoding of Deflate coding. For efficient GPU implementations of Deflate coding, we have used multiple small hash tables for finding matching subsequences in the dictionary by multiple threads in parallel and applied the Single Kernel Soft Synchronization (SKSS) technique to fully utilize GPU computing resources. We have also adopted Huffman coding with gap arrays to accelerate parallel Huffman decoding. We have evaluated the performance of our GPU implementations using an NVIDIA A100 GPU and compared them with parallel/sequential Deflate encoding and decoding on the Intel X86 multicore CPUs using multiple threads/a single thread. Our GPU implementation of Deflate decoding is 1.66x–8.33x faster than the multiple thread implementation and 4.13x–36.56x faster than the single thread implementation.
Solution‐Phase Chemical Synthesis of Modified RNA Dinucleotides
Authors: Senthilvelan Annamalai , Shanmugasundaram Muthian , Kore Anilkumar R.
Published: November 2022

This article describes a simple, reliable, efficient, and improved solution‐phase method for the gram‐scale chemical synthesis of RNA dinucleotides such as pAmpA, pAmpG, and pAmpU that utilizes phosphoramidite chemistry. The overall synthetic strategy involves three steps. The first step involves the coupling reaction between 5′‐O‐MMT protected nucleoside‐3′‐O‐phosphoramidite and a protected nucleoside containing a free 5′‐OH group in the presence of tetrazole, followed by the oxidation of phosphite triester using tert‐butyl hydroperoxide to give the corresponding protected NmpN. Next, the 5′‐O‐MMT is cleaved under 3% trichloroacetic acid in dichloromethane conditions. Finally, the 5′‐hydroxyl group is phosphorylated by the use of an activated bis(2‐cyanoethyl)‐N,N‐diisopropyl phosphoramidite using tetrazole, followed by the oxidation of trivalent to pentavalent phosphorus using tert‐butyl hydroperoxide and subsequent deprotection using ammonium hydroxide to afford the corresponding RNA dinucleotide, pNmpN, in good yields with high purity (>99.5%). © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Accounting for long–range interaction in the Kelbg pseudopotential
Authors: Demyanov Georgy S. , Levashov Pavel R.
Published: November 2022

An expression for the high–temperature density matrix taking into account long–range interaction effects is obtained. The angular averaged Ewald (AAE) potential and Kelbg's solution of the Bloch equation in the first order of perturbation theory are used for this purpose. The expression generalizes the high–temperature density matrix for the Coulomb potential derived earlier by G. Kelbg. An analytical formula for the diagonal Kelbg‐AAE pseudopotential is obtained and analysed. The results can be useful in path integral Monte Carlo methods.
The impact of early‐stage COVID‐19 pandemic on the diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer: A cross‐sectional study using a large‐scale cancer registry in Hiroshima, Japan
Authors: Kodama Masanobu , Miyamori Daisuke , Kanno Keishi , Ito Masanori
Published: November 2022

Background

After the confirmation of coronavirus infection in Japan, a behavioral change caused people and physicians to refrain from visiting hospitals or undergoing examinations. This study aimed to assess how the trend of diagnosis in gastric cancers changed, and how it affected the therapeutic strategies and the interval from diagnosis to treatment during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Methods

We use 15 cancer‐designated hospitals’ registries in Hiroshima, Japan. The target period was March to December 2020, and the same period in 2019 was set as the control period. The monthly mean of diagnoses and the interval from diagnosis to treatment were compared overall and separately by age, treatment procedure, diagnostic process, and clinical stage.

Result

In 2020, the monthly mean (standard deviation [SD]) of patients was 192.2 (29.9), a significant 20.1% decrease from 240.7 (20.7) in 2019 due to older age and curative treatment groups. By reason for performing endoscopy, the change rate in cancer screening, endoscopic follow‐up, and symptomatic status were ‐27.0%, ‐18.0%, and ‐17.3%, respectively. Meanwhile, the interval (days) from diagnosis to treatment (SD) was 37.8 (26.5) in 2020, significantly shorter than 46 (31.5) in 2019.

Conclusion

From 2019 to 2020, we observed a significant decrease in the diagnosis of curable early‐stage gastric cancer and treatments, although the interval from diagnosis to treatment decreased. This study suggests that cancer screening played a significant role in the decline in cancer diagnosis that occurred during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Even under COVID‐19 pandemic conditions, there should be an awareness of cancer screening and endoscopic follow‐up.
Research on numerical solution algorithm for real‐time hybrid simulation of high‐speed railway on suspension bridge
Authors: Guo Wei , Zhang Rui , Hu Jingyi , Wang Yang
Published: November 2022

Real‐time hybrid simulation combines experimental substructure and numerical substructure and is an effective method to study the dynamic response of coupled vibrations on high‐speed railway. This paper constructs a semi‐active suspension‐train‐suspension bridge coupling real‐time hybrid framework and a real‐time hybrid simulation method based on a neural network is proposed, which uses a long‐short‐term memory model instead of a complex train‐bridge structure model, evaluates the prediction performance of the trained network models through time history, regression analysis, and normalization error distribution. Finally, the network model is applied to a real‐time hybrid simulation, the accuracy and real‐time ability of the method are verified, and the results show that the proposed method can effectively improve the accuracy and efficiency of solving the numerical substructure.
Immune status of the murine 22q11.2 deletion syndrome model
Authors: Crockett Alexis M. , Kebir Hania , Benallegue Naïl , Adelman Philippa , Gur Raquel E. , Sullivan Kathleen , Anderson Stewart A. , Alvarez Jorge I.
Published: November 2022

Mice modeling the hemizygous deletion of chromosome 22q11.2 (22qMc) have been utilized to address various clinical phenotypes associated with the disease, including cardiac malformations, altered neural circuitry, and behavioral deficits. Yet, the status of the T cell compartment, an important clinical concern among 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22qDS) patients, has not been addressed. While infancy and early childhood in 22qDS are associated with deficient T cell numbers and thymic hypoplasia, which can be severe in a small subset of patients, studies suggest normalization of the T cell counts by adulthood. We found that adult 22qMc do not exhibit thymic hypoplasia or altered thymic T cell development. Our findings that immune cell counts and inflammatory T cell activation are unaffected in 22qMc lend support to the hypothesis that human 22qDS immunodeficiencies are secondary to thymic hypoplasia, rather than intrinsic effects due to the deletion. Furthermore, the 22q11.2 deletion does not impact the differentiation capacity of T cells, nor their activity and response during inflammatory activation. Thus, 22qMc reflects the T cell compartment in adult 22qDS patients, and our findings suggest that 22qMc may serve as a novel model to address experimental and translational aspects of immunity in 22qDS.
Review and outlook of global energy use under the impact of COVID‐19
Authors: Zhang Dongdong , Rong Cunhao , Ahmad Tanveer , Xie Haonan , Zhu Hongyu , Li Xiang , Wu Thomas
Published: November 2022

By collecting and sorting the energy demand data of developing and developed countries, this paper makes a comprehensive analysis of their energy demand, including the change of energy demand and the change trend of energy load in various sectors. The survey scope of the article includes the overall change trend of energy supply, natural gas, oil, electricity, coal, renewable energy (such as wind energy, solar energy, geothermal energy, tidal energy, etc.), and the data change of global carbon dioxide emission. Besides, this paper selects a variety of energy sources for comprehensive analysis to analyze the existing change trend in chronological order. The analysis methods include data statistics of primary energy production and consumption, energy intensity analysis of gross domestic product (GDP), production, and demand balance of oil, natural gas, and coal, and study the trade balance between different types of energy in different countries and regions. The regions examined in this review include the organization for economic cooperation and development (OECD); the group of seven (G7); Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICs); the European Union; Europe; North America; the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS); Asia; Latin America; the Pacific Ocean; the Middle East and Africa. By studying these data, we can make a better summary of the current energy use, so as to conveniently grasp the context of energy development and have a general understanding of the current energy structure. Therefore, individuals and policymakers in the fields of energy trade can think more deeply about the future situation and draw conclusions.
Reliable and Representative Estimation of Extrapolation Model Application in Deriving Water Quality Criteria for Antibiotics
Authors: Cao Leiping , Liu Ruimin , Wang Linfang , Liu Yue , Li Lin , Wang Yue
Published: November 2022

Deriving water quality benchmarks based on the species sensitivity distribution (SSD) is crucial for assessing the ecological risks of antibiotics. The application of extrapolation methods such as interspecies correlation estimation (ICE) and acute-to-chronic ratios (ACRs) can effectively supplement insufficient toxicity data for these emerging contaminants. Acute-to-chronic ratios can predict chronic toxicity from acute toxicity, and ICE can extrapolate an acute toxicity value from one species to another species. The present study explored the impact of two extrapolation methods on the reliability of SSDs by analyzing different scenarios. The results show that, compared with the normal and Weibull distributions, the logistic model was the best-fitting model. For most antibiotics, SSDs derived by extrapolation have high reliability, with 82.9% of R2 values being higher than 0.9, and combining ICE and ACR methods can bring a maximum increase of 10% in R2. Based on the results of Monte Carlo simulation, the statistical uncertainty brought by ICE in SSD is 10–40 times larger than that brought by ACR, and combining the two methods could reduce uncertainty. In addition, the sensitivity test showed that whether the toxicity data came from extrapolation or actual measurement, the lower the value of toxicity endpoints was, the greater the bias caused by the corresponding species in every scenario. Combining the two aforementioned extrapolation methods could effectively increase the stability of SSD, with their bias nearly equal to 1. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:191–204. © 2022 SETAC
Copy Number Variation and Structural Genomic Findings in 116 Cases of Sudden Unexplained Death between 1 and 28 Months of Age
Authors: Brownstein Catherine A. , Douard Elise , Haynes Robin L. , Koh Hyun Yong , Haghighi Alireza , Keywan Christine , Martin Bree , Alexandrescu Sanda , Haas Elisabeth A. , Vargas Sara O. , Wojcik Monica H. , Jacquemont Sébastien , Poduri Annapurna H. , Goldstein Richard D. , Holm Ingrid A.
Published: November 2022

In sudden unexplained death in pediatrics (SUDP) the cause of death is unknown despite an autopsy and investigation. The role of copy number variations (CNVs) in SUDP has not been well‐studied. Chromosomal microarray (CMA) data are generated for 116 SUDP cases with age at death between 1 and 28 months. CNVs are classified using the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines and CNVs in our cohort are compared to an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) cohort, and to a control cohort. Pathogenic CNVs are identified in 5 of 116 cases (4.3%). Variants of uncertain significance (VUS) favoring pathogenic CNVs are identified in 9 cases (7.8%). Several CNVs are associated with neurodevelopmental phenotypes including seizures, ASD, developmental delay, and schizophrenia. The structural variant 47,XXY is identified in two cases (2/69 boys, 2.9%) not previously diagnosed with Klinefelter syndrome. Pathogenicity scores for deletions are significantly elevated in the SUDP cohort versus controls (p = 0.007) and are not significantly different from the ASD cohort. The finding of pathogenic or VUS favoring pathogenic CNVs, or structural variants, in 12.1% of cases, combined with the observation of higher pathogenicity scores for deletions in SUDP versus controls, suggests that CMA should be included in the genetic evaluation of SUDP.
Ordovician continental arc magmatism in the Tam Ky‐Phuoc Son Suture Zone, Central Indochina Block, Southeast Asia
Authors: Ngo Thanh Xuan , Bui Hau V. , Tran Dung M. , Kim Yoonsup , Xiaochun Li , Tran Hai T. , Kwon Sanghoon , Jang Yirang , Sang Bui V. , Khang Luong Q.
Published: November 2022

The Indochina Block is considered as a part of the Indian and Australian margins of Gondwana, and the Tam Ky‐Phuoc Son Suture Zone (TPSZ) lies in its central region as the boundary between the Truong Son Belt and Kon Tum Massif (KTM). However, the early Palaeozoic tectonic nature and timing of magmatism within the TPSZ are still controversial. To tackle the issue, we present herein the zircon U–Pb ages with their trace‐element compositions of five dioritic–granitic granitoids in the TPSZ. U–Pb age dating of magmatic zircons from them suggests emplacement ages of ca. 447–450 Ma. Whole‐rock geochemistry of the samples shows low TiO2 contents (0.36–1.18 wt%) and Mg# (42.04–53.07). They display enrichment in light rare earth elements ([La/Yb]N = 4.10–15.19), pronounced negative Nb, Ta and Ti anomalies relative to the chondrite‐normalized rare earth element patterns and primitive mantle‐normalized trace‐element distribution diagrams. The whole‐rock geochemical characteristics together with zircon trace‐element compositions from the same samples revealed their petrogenesis of a continental arc tectonic setting. Combining the results from this study together with available data from the TPSZ and its neighbouring units, we suggest accretionary orogenesis was responsible for generation of the Ordovician magmatic arc in the KTM, which will provide better understanding of the Early Palaeozoic evolution of the eastern Indochina Block.
GPR56 S4 variant is required for microglia‐mediated synaptic pruning
Authors: Li Tao , Luo Rong , Schmidt Rachael , D'Alessandro Nicholas , Kishore Priya , Zhu Beika , Yu Diankun , Piao Xianhua
Published: November 2022

ADGRG1 (also called GPR56) plays critical roles in brain development and wiring, including cortical lamination, central nervous system (CNS) myelination, and developmental synaptic refinement. However, the underlying mechanism(s) in mediating such diverse functions is not fully understood. Here, we investigate the function of one specific alternative splicing isoform, the GPR56 splice variant 4 (S4), to test the hypothesis that alternative splicing variants of GPR56 in part support its different functions. We created a new transgenic mouse line, Gpr56∆S4, using CRISPR/Cas9, in which GPR56 S4 was deleted. Detailed phenotype analyses show that Gpr56∆S4 mice manifest no deficits in cortical architecture and CNS myelination compared to controls. Excitingly, they present significantly increased synapse densities, decreased synapse engulfment by microglia, and impaired eye‐segregation. Taken together, our findings support that the GPR56 S4 variant is dispensable for cortical development and CNS myelination but is essential for microglia‐mediated synaptic pruning.
The impact of violence on healthcare workers' mental health in conflict based settings amidst COVID‐19 pandemic, and potential interventions: A narrative review
Authors: Rija Aiman , Islam Zarmina , Bilal Wajeeha , Qamar Khulud , Gangat Shazil Ahmed , Abbas Samina , Mirha Hania Tul , Mohanan Parvathy , Rahmat Zainab Syyeda , Shaeen Sean Kaisser , Djedid Selma Nihel Klouche , Essar Mohammad Yasir , Kashyap Rahul
Published: November 2022

Healthcare workers (HCWs) have faced an increased amount of mental health struggles amidst the COVID‐19 pandemic. However, those in conflict‐based settings with fragile healthcare systems meet additional challenges. This study reviews violence, conflict and mental health among HCWs in five countries: Syria, Palestine, Yemen, Afghanistan and Lebanon. Our study reports that HCWs are targeted by violence, bombings, mistreatment and different forms of abuse, including verbal and physical. With the additional burdens of the pandemic including prolonged working hours, limited resources and insufficient humanitarian aid, the healthcare workers fall victim to increased levels of burnout and mental illnesses. The situation leads to dire consequences on their personal lives and professional development, compelling them to quit their job or country all together. Although healthcare workers remain resilient in these conflict‐based settings, immediate interventions are required to prevent violence against them and cater to their rapidly declining mental health.
Numerical simulation of heat and mass transfers radiative–convective fluid flow on a stretching porous surface with temperature‐dependent thermophysical properties
Authors: Omowaye A. J. , Falodun B. O. , Ahmed L. O.
Published: November 2022

This paper is focused on the analysis of heat and mass transfer radiative–convective fluid flow using quadratic multiple regression and numerical approach. The physical phenomenon is analyzed by utilizing partial differential equations (PDEs). Thermophysical properties, such as viscosity, thermal conductivity, and mass diffusivity, are varied and temperature‐dependent. This study is unique because of its applications in magnetohydrodynamic power accelerators, drilling operators, and bioengineering. The governing PDEs are transformed into coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs). The transformed ODEs are solved numerically using the spectral homotopy analysis method. Also, a quadratic multiple regression analysis is performed on quantities of engineering interest to show the significance of the flow parameters. It is observed that the heat and mass transfer process is affected by nonlinear buoyancy impact. The Lorentz force produced by the imposed magnetic field decline the thickness of the hydrodynamic boundary layer. Findings revealed that the nonlinear convective parameter and variable thermophysical properties are greatly affected by the rate of heat and mass transfer. Previously published work was used to validate the present one, which conformed with it. The slope of linear regression through data points is adopted to show the rate of change in skin friction, Nusselt, and Sherwood numbers during the flow phenomenon.
Etanercept alleviates psoriasis by reducing the Th17/Treg ratio and promoting M2 polarization of macrophages
Authors: Li Xiaoqing , Jiang Ming , Chen Xia , Sun Weiguo
Published: November 2022

Introduction

This study aimed to investigate the effect of etanercept in psoriasis and its underlying mechanism.

Methods

Female mice were treated with imiquimod (IMQ) to induce psoriasis, and intraperitoneally administered etanercept (0.1–0.4 mg/ml). The RAW264.7 cells were treated with LPS and IFN‐γ to polarize to M1, and were treated with IL‐13 and IL‐4 to polarize to M2.

Results

In our study, Etanercept markedly reduced the psoriasis area and severity index scores, and epidermal thickness of mice induced by IMQ. In addition, etanercept reduced the levels of TNF‐α and IL‐6/12/23, and enhanced the levels of IL‐4/10, reduced Th17/Treg ratio and facilitated the polarization of macrophages to M2 in psoriasis model mice. Furthermore, etanercept inhibited the JAK/STAT3 pathway and increased the protein levels of SOCS1 and SOCS3.

Conclusions

In conclusion, our findings indicated that etanercept could inhibit the JAK/STAT3 pathway to reduce Th17/Treg ratio and promote M2 polarization, thereby alleviating psoriasis of mice.
Pagetoid spread of urothelial carcinoma controlled without resection
Authors: Yamamoto Shutaro , Shimomura Tatsuya , Kasai Kanako , Yamazaki Taisuke , Enei Yuki , Koike Yusuke , Ito Toshihiro , Harada Tohru , Furuta Nozomu , Kimura Takahiro
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Extramammary Paget's disease is an eczematous skin condition that affects the vulva and perineum. Extramammary Paget's disease secondary to urothelial carcinoma is a rare condition that is typically treated with invasive surgical resection of the lesion.

Case presentation

An 80‐year‐old woman with a 7‐year history of urothelial carcinoma presented with erythema of the labia majora. Immunostaining of skin biopsy specimens suggested extramammary Paget's disease secondary to urothelial carcinoma. The patient did not consent to resection of the lesion. Nine cycles of first‐line platinum‐based chemotherapy for metastatic urothelial carcinoma were administered. As tumor cells remained after systemic chemotherapy, pembrolizumab will be administered to the patient for treating residual extramammary Paget's disease.

Conclusion

Platinum‐based chemotherapy can control extramammary Paget's disease secondary to urothelial carcinoma.
Cigarette smoke interacts with amiodarone toxicity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Al‐Attrache Houssein , Halloum Iman , Hammoud Lara , El Ghoz Katia , Abdel‐Razzak Ziad
Published: November 2022

Amiodarone (AMD) is an antiarrhythmic drug prescribed to treat ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation. However, it causes an unpredictable toxicity (idiosyncratic), which may depend on co‐exposure to pollutants. AMD toxicity involves calcium homeostasis alteration and oxidative stress, which are also affected by cigarette smoke (CS). We investigated the interaction of CS‐condensate (CSC), phenanthrene, and benzo(a)pyrene with AMD toxicity on Saccharomyces cerevisiae. AMD toxicity was reduced by CSC or phenanthrene. Benzo(a)pyrene mildly decreased AMD toxicity on the wild‐type strain, but not on the catalase‐CTT1 mutant. This latter and other mutants in glucose receptor‐GPR1 or calcium transporter‐PMR1 showed lower antagonistic effect to AMD by CSC or phenanthrene relative to the wild type, suggesting roles of oxidative stress, calcium homeostasis, and hexose‐sensing in this interaction.
Identification of a Functional Susceptibility Variant for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis that Upregulates Early Growth Response 1 (EGR1)-Mediated UNCX Expression
Authors: Yonezawa Yoshiro , Guo Long , Kakinuma Hisaya , Otomo Nao , Yoshino Soichiro , Takeda Kazuki , Nakajima Masahiro , Shiraki Toshiyuki , Ogura Yoji , Takahashi Yohei , Koike Yoshinao , Minami Shohei , Uno Koki , Kawakami Noriaki , Ito Manabu , Yonezawa Ikuho , Watanabe Kei , Kaito Takashi , Yanagida Haruhisa , Taneichi Hiroshi , Harimaya Katsumi , Taniguchi Yuki , Shigematsu Hideki , Iida Takahiro , Demura Satoru , Sugawara Ryo , Fujita Nobuyuki , Yagi Mitsuru , Okada Eijiro , Hosogane Naobumi , Kono Katsuki , Chiba Kazuhiro , Kotani Toshiaki , Sakuma Tsuyoshi , Akazawa Tsutomu , Suzuki Teppei , Nishida Kotaro , Kakutani Kenichiro , Tsuji Taichi , Sudo Hideki , Iwata Akira , Sato Tatsuya , Inami Satoshi , Nakamura Masaya , Matsumoto Morio , Terao Chikashi , Watanabe Kota , Okamoto Hitoshi , Ikegawa Shiro
Published: November 2022

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a serious health problem affecting 3% of live births all over the world. Many loci associated with AIS have been identified by previous genome wide association studies, but their biological implication remains mostly unclear. In this study, we evaluated the AIS-associated variants in the 7p22.3 locus by combining in silico, in vitro, and in vivo analyses. rs78148157 was located in an enhancer of UNCX, a homeobox gene and its risk allele upregulated the UNCX expression. A transcription factor, early growth response 1 (EGR1), transactivated the rs78148157-located enhancer and showed a higher binding affinity for the risk allele of rs78148157. Furthermore, zebrafish larvae with UNCX messenger RNA (mRNA) injection developed body curvature and defective neurogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. rs78148157 confers the genetic susceptibility to AIS by enhancing the EGR1-regulated UNCX expression. © 2022 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Exploring the relationship between corporate governance and firm's performance: Does political connection matter?
Authors: Almarayeh Taha , Tahtamouni Asem , Al‐Hamadeen Radhi , Alaodat Hamza , Alsoboa Sliman
Published: November 2022

The purpose of this research is to investigate the influence of corporate board and audit committee characteristics on firm performance as measured by accounting‐based ratios (earnings per share, return on asset, and return on equity) as well as the market‐based measure (Tobin's Q). In addition, this research introduces political connections to examine whether it can moderate the relationship between corporate board characteristics and firm performance. The study reveals that a higher proportion of independent directors and CEO duality positively affected firm performance. However, board meetings and board financial experience have no affected firm performance. The study also shows that audit committee independence, audit committee size, and audit committee expertise are positively related to firm performance. In contrast, it finds no discernible impact of audit committee meetings on firm performance. Our findings also suggest that the beneficial influences of the corporate board, in terms of higher firm performance, are greater in firms with political connections. To the best of the researchers’ knowledge, this is almost certainly the first analysis to examine the relation between the corporate board, audit committee characteristics, and firm performance, and the moderating effect of political connection of this relationship.
Does walking during chemotherapy impact p16INK4a levels in women with early breast cancer
Authors: Kammire Maria S. , Deal Allison M. , Damone Emily M. , Rosen Vanessa , Nyrop Kirsten A. , Mitin Natalia , Muss Hyman B.
Published: November 2022

Background

Increased p16INK4a (p16) expression is directly related to cellular senescence and is a robust biomarker of aging in humans. Prior studies have shown that levels of p16 dramatically increase in breast cancer patients who have received adjuvant chemotherapy. This study investigated whether moderate physical activity during chemotherapy would attenuate the expected rise in p16 expression.

Methods

Participants were women with Stage I–III breast cancer enrolled in a walking study for the duration of their chemotherapy (NCT02167932, NCT02328313, NCT03761706). Participants were asked to walk at least 30 min or 6200 steps/day following a structured walking program and to wear an activity tracker. p16 mRNA levels were measured in peripheral blood T‐cells before chemotherapy initiation and at approximately 6 months after last chemotherapy treatment (mean 200 days, SD 40 days).

Results

In total, 141 participants met inclusion criteria and 10% (n = 14) averaged > 6200 steps/day. There was no significant association of daily steps with change in p16 levels pre‐ to post‐chemotherapy (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.11, p = 0.17). After adjusting for age, stage, anthracycline‐based chemotherapy, and baseline p16, the change in log2 p16 for each 1000 steps was estimated to be 0.03 (p = 0.35). Most participants were sedentary prior to chemotherapy and achieved modest levels of physical activity during treatment.

Conclusion

A self‐guided walking program achieved only modest levels of physical activity and was unable to ameliorate chemotherapy‐induced change in p16 levels in women undergoing chemotherapy for early‐stage breast cancer. More structured and vigorous exercise programs should be tested for a more definitive exploration of their impact on post‐chemotherapy p16 levels.
Neonatal kaempferol exposure attenuates gait and strength deficits and prevents altered muscle phenotype in a rat model of cerebral palsy
Authors: Visco Diego Bulcão , Manhães de Castro Raul , da Silva Márcia Maria , Costa de Santana Bárbara Juacy Rodrigues , Bezerra Gouveia Henrique José Cavalcanti , de Moura Ferraz Maria Laura Rodrigues , de Albuquerque Glayciele Leandro , Lacerda Diego Cabral , de Vasconcelos Diogo Antonio Alves , Guzman Quevedo Omar , Toscano Ana Elisa
Published: November 2022

Cerebral palsy (CP) is characterized by brain damage at a critical period of development of the central nervous system, and, as a result, motor, behavioural and learning deficits are observed in those affected. Flavonoids such as kaempferol have demonstrated potential anti‐inflammatory and neuroprotective properties for neurological disorders. This study aimed to assess the effects of neonatal treatment with kaempferol on the body development, grip strength, gait performance and morphological and biochemical phenotype of skeletal muscle in rats subjected to a model of CP. The groups were formed by randomly allocating male Wistar rats after birth to four groups as follows: C = control treated with vehicle, K = control treated with kaempferol, CP = CP treated with vehicle and CPK = CP treated with kaempferol. The model of CP involved perinatal anoxia and sensorimotor restriction of the hind paws during infancy, from the second to the 28th day of postnatal life. Treatment with kaempferol (1 mg/kg) was performed intraperitoneally during the neonatal period. Body weight and length, muscle strength, gait kinetics and temporal and spatial parameters were evaluated in the offspring. On the 36th day of postnatal life, the animals were euthanized for soleus muscle dissection. The muscle fibre phenotype was assessed using the myofibrillar ATPase technique, and the muscle protein expression was measured using the Western blot technique. A reduction in the impact of CP on body phenotype was observed, and this also attenuated deficits in muscle strength and gait. Treatment also mitigated the impact on muscle phenotype by preventing a reduction in the proportion of oxidative fibres and in the histomorphometric parameters in the soleus muscle of rats in the CP group. The results demonstrate that neonatal treatment with kaempferol attenuated gait deficits and impaired muscle strength and muscle maturation in rats subjected to a model of CP.
Agronomic and economic implications of cover crop and phosphorus fertilizer management practices for water quality improvement
Authors: Nelson Nathan O. , Roozeboom Kraig L. , Yeager Elizabeth A. , Williams Jeffery R. , Zerger Sarah E. , Kluitenberg Gerard J. , Tomlinson Peter J. , Abel David S. , Carver R. Elliott
Published: November 2022

Phosphorus (P) fertilization practices and winter cover crops are promoted to protect water quality yet can potentially influence crop yield and profitability. This study examined the impacts of three P fertilizer management practices (no P, fall broadcast P, and spring injected P) and winter annual cover crop use on yields, net returns, and water quality in a no‐till corn–soybean rotation. Treatments were replicated in a 4‐yr field study where sediment, total P, and dissolved reactive P (DRP) losses in edge‐of‐field surface runoff were continuously monitored. Production budgets were developed for each treatment and coupled with water quality data to identify optimal practices and opportunity costs for improving water quality. Applying P fertilizers increased crop yield regardless of application method or cover crop, but the response was more pronounced in corn than soybean. The cover crop reduced corn grain yield in 1 yr with high temperature and low precipitation but did not impact grain yield in the other corn year or either year of soybean. The most profitable treatment was fall broadcast P fertilizer with no cover crop, which also had the greatest total P and DRP losses and near greatest sediment loss. The lowest‐cost methods of reducing total P, DRP, and sediment losses were, respectively, no P fertilizer without a cover crop ($47.56 kg−1 total P), spring injected P fertilizer without a cover crop ($56.47 kg−1 DRP), and spring injected P fertilizer with a cover crop ($0.16 kg−1 sediment). Widespread adoption of these practices will likely require monetary incentives.
Implicit and explicit racial prejudice and stereotyping toward Black (vs. White) Americans: The prevalence and variation among genetic counselors in North America
Authors: Hagiwara Nao , Duffy Conor , Quillin John
Published: November 2022

Research has shown that patient experiences and outcomes of genetic counseling are not equitable across racial categories, disadvantaging Black patients relative to White patients. One major factor contributing to such racial disparities might be genetic counselor racial bias. The present study examined the prevalence of and variation in racial bias toward Black (vs. White) Americans among genetic counselors in North America. This study extends the current literature of racial disparities in experiences and outcomes of genetic counseling by distinguishing prejudice (negative feelings or attitudes) and stereotyping (beliefs) at the implicit and explicit levels as well as by including both certified genetic counselors and genetic counseling trainees. Two‐hundred and fifteen genetic counselors (107 genetic counselors Board‐certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling, 108 genetic counseling trainees from Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling accredited programs) completed four measures in a random order: the Race Implicit Association Test (IAT, for implicit prejudice), feeling thermometer (for explicit prejudice), the Medical Cooperativeness IAT (for implicit stereotyping), and a self‐report measure of explicit stereotypes (for explicit stereotyping). On average, genetic counselors (both certified genetic counselors and genetic counseling trainees) were slightly to moderately in favor of White Americans over Black Americans at the implicit level. They were also slightly more likely to associate “medically cooperative” stereotypes with White Americans more than Black Americans implicitly. In contrast, genetic counselors, on average, did not display either explicit prejudice or explicit negative stereotyping, which may reflect social desirability concerns among genetic counselors. However, genetic counselors as a group strongly endorsed stereotypes related to mistrust (mistrustful of the healthcare system, skeptical of genetic testing, mistrustful of genetic counselors) to be more true for Black (vs. White) Americans. Finally, our study revealed relatively large variability in each type of bias across genetic counselors. Future research should examine how such variability in each type of bias is associated with patient experiences and outcomes of genetic counseling.
Outcomes after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in acute myeloid leukemia patients with der(1;7)(q10;p10)
Authors: Mizumaki Hiroki , Ishiyama Ken , Aoki Jun , Mori Jinichi , Mizuno Shohei , Doki Noriko , Fukuda Takahiro , Uchida Naoyuki , Onizuka Masahito , Tanaka Masatsugu , Katayama Yuta , Ozawa Yukiyasu , Ikegame Kazuhiro , Takada Satoru , Kawakita Toshiro , Aotsuka Nobuyuki , Atsuta Yoshiko , Yanada Masamitsu
Published: November 2022

The prognosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with der(1;7)(q10;p10) who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo‐SCT) is unclear due to its rarity. We retrospectively analyzed 151 AML patients with der(1;7)(q10;p10) and compared the findings with those of 853 AML patients with monosomy 7 or chromosome 7q deletion (‐7/del(7q)) using Japanese nationwide registry data. The der(1;7)(q10;p10) group showed significantly better transplant outcomes than the ‐7/del(7q) group. In the multivariate analysis of the der(1;7)(q10;p10) group, additional chromosomal abnormalities and a poor performance status significantly influenced the survival. In conclusion, allo‐SCT is a feasible treatment option for AML patients with der(1;7)(q10;p10).
Passion for work passion research: Taming breadth and promoting depth
Authors: Astakhova Marina N. , Cardon Melissa S. , Ho Violet T. , Kong Dejun Tony
Published: November 2022

Despite growing interest among researchers and practitioners in the topic of work passion, multiple conceptualizations of this construct exist, and research within each conceptualization has advanced along independent streams with little integration or cross‐fertilization. In this editorial, we provide a brief overview of the literature on work passion (including employee passion and entrepreneurial passion), describe five extant conceptualizations, and present criticisms and opportunities for future research. We discuss the six papers in this special issue on work passion research and strongly encourage additional research that tames breadth and promotes depth in the study of passion at work.