bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Near‐Infrared‐Enpowered Nanomotor‐Mediated Targeted Chemotherapy and Mitochondrial Phototherapy to Boost Systematic Antitumor Immunity
Authors: Zhang Xueqing , He Qian , Sun Jianfeng , Gong Hanlin , Cao Yingui , Duan Lian , Yi Shixiong , Ying Binwu , Xiao Bo
Published: May 2022

Phototherapy is an important strategy to inhibit tumor growth and activate antitumor immunity. However, the effect of photothermal/photodynamic therapy (PTT/PDT) is restricted by limited tumor penetration depth and unsatisfactory potentiation of antitumor immunity. Here, a near‐infrared (NIR)‐driven nanomotor is constructed with a mesoporous silicon nanoparticle (MSN) as the core, end‐capped with Antheraea pernyi silk fibroin (ApSF) comprising arginine–glycine–aspartate (RGD) tripeptides. Upon NIR irradiation, the resulting ApSF‐coated MSNs (DIMs) loading with photosensitizers (ICG derivatives, IDs) and chemotherapeutic drugs (doxorubicin, Dox) can efficiently penetrate into the internal tumor tissues and achieve effective phototherapy. Combined with chemotherapy, a triple‐modal treatment (PTT, PDT, and chemotherapy) approach is developed to induce the immunogenic cell death of tumor cells and to accelerate the release of damage‐associated molecular patterns. In vivo results suggest that DIMs can promote the maturation of dendritic cells and surge the number of infiltrated immune cells. Meanwhile, DIMs can polarize macrophages from M2 to M1 phenotypes and reduce the percentages of immunosuppressive Tregs, which reverse the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and activate systemic antitumor immunity. By achieving synergistic effects on the tumor inhibition and the antitumor immunity activation, DIMs show great promise as new nanoplatforms to treat metastatic breast cancer.
Frozen Mode in an Asymmetric Serpentine Optical Waveguide
Authors: Herrero-Parareda Albert , Vitebskiy Ilya , Scheuer Jacob , Capolino Filippo
Published: May 2022

The existence of a frozen mode in a periodic serpentine waveguide with broken longitudinal symmetry is demonstrated numerically. The frozen mode is associated with a stationary inflection point (SIP) of the Bloch dispersion relation, where three Bloch eigenmodes collapse on each other, as it is an exceptional point of order three. The frozen mode regime is characterized by vanishing group velocity and enhanced field amplitude, which can be very attractive in various applications including dispersion engineering, lasers, and delay lines. Useful and simple design equations that lead to realization of the frozen mode by adjusting a few parameters are derived. The trend in group delay and quality factor with waveguide length that is peculiar of the frozen mode is shown. The symmetry conditions for the existence of exceptional points of degeneracy associated with the frozen mode are also discussed.
Imidazole‐Modified Lignin as a Suitable Substrate for Synthesis of N and S Co‐Doped Carbon Supported Cobalt Sulfide Dual‐Functional Electrocatalyst for Overall Water Splitting
Authors: Qin Hengfei , Luo Shipeng , Li Yan , Zhang Yifan , Dong Ruoyu , Zhou Yang , Luo Jing , Zhu Yeling , Jiang Feng
Published: May 2022

The hydrogen production by water electrolysis has attracted great research interest as a sustainable approach for clean energy production. However, such process is plagued by the use of high‐cost precious metal‐based catalysts (such as Pt, RuO2). Hereby, the use of a low‐cost Nitrogen and Sulfur co‐doped carbon‐supported cobalt sulfide dual‐functional electrocatalyst derived from imidazole modified lignin for overall water splitting is presented. To introduce nitrogen and sulfur heteroatoms in the carbon structure, lignin is modified by imidazolation through thiol‐alkynes click reaction. Imidazole‐lignin shows a strong chelation tendancy with cobalt salt, and N and the S co‐doped cobalt sulfide catalyst (IL‐Co@GC‐PO) is obtained by pyrolysis. The IL‐Co@GC‐PO has an oxygen evolution potential of 1.57 V and a hydrogen evolution overpotential of 204 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2. During the overall water splitting process, the IL‐Co@GC‐PO catalysts require only 1.58 V to reach a current density of 10 mA cm−2, which is equivalent to the performance of the system composed of the noble metal Pt/C||RuO2. This work not only provides a strategy for the preparation of N and S co‐doped cobalt sulfide catalysts, but also provides guidance for using lignin as a carbon source to design and develop cheap electrocatalysts.
Functionalization of polyurethane for infection‐resistance surface
Authors: Somani Manali , Mukhopadhyay Samrat , Gupta Bhuvanesh
Published: May 2022

Polyurethane (PU) has an eminence potential to be used as a urinary catheter because of its physicochemical properties. The biofilm accumulation on the surface of polyurethane is the biggest hindrance for its usage as a safe and prolonged catheter. Herein, the antimicrobial polyurethane was developed via wet chemistry method. Alkaline hydrolysis using NaOH was used for the generation of hydrophilic (amine) functionality on polyurethane surface. The reactant concentration and reaction time was investigated in terms of good amine functionality. The amine content at optimized condition was found to be ~4 μM/g in 8 h after treating with 10% NaOH. The surface morphology of hydrolyzed polyurethane was characterized using SEM and atomic force microscopy (AFM) technique, which confirmed the formation microdomains on the PU surface due to hydrolysis. Chlorohexidine digluconate (CLX) was used as model drug and CLX was simply incorporated by immersion of the PU in the CLX solution. The immobilization of drug was confirmed using surface chemistry analysis, that is, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and energy‐dispersive X‐ray mapping technique. The cumulative release of drug was observed with varying concentration of drug. Excellent bacteriostatic and bactericidal efficiency were observed for drug immobilized polyurethane against both gram‐positive bacteria S. aureus and gram‐negative bacteria E. coli. The designed CLX‐PU film did not allow the bacteria to adhere on its surface and mitigate the risk of biofilm formation.
Evaluation of the Relationship Between Serum Urate Levels, Clinical Manifestations of Gout, and Death From Cardiovascular Causes in Patients Receiving Febuxostat or Allopurinol in an Outcomes Trial
Authors: Saag Kenneth G. , Becker Michael A. , White William B. , Whelton Andrew , Borer Jeffrey S. , Gorelick Philip B. , Hunt Barbara , Castillo Majin , Gunawardhana Lhanoo ,   CARES Investigators
Published: May 2022

Objective

To investigate whether serum urate levels, number of gout flares, and tophi burden are related to death from cardiovascular (CV) causes after treatment with febuxostat or allopurinol in patients with gout from the Cardiovascular Safety of Febuxostat or Allopurinol in Patients With Gout and Cardiovascular Comorbidities (CARES) trial.

Methods

Patients were randomly assigned to receive febuxostat (40 mg or 80 mg once daily, according to serum urate levels at week 2) or allopurinol titrated in 100‐mg increments from 200–400 mg or 300–600 mg (with dose determined according to kidney function). Changes from baseline in serum urate level, gout flares, and tophus resolution were key exploratory efficacy parameters in the overall population and in subgroups of patients who died and those who did not die from a CV‐related cause. The latter subgroup included patients who died due to non‐CV causes and those who did not die due to any cause.

Results

Patients received treatment with febuxostat (n = 3,098) or allopurinol (n = 3,092) for a median follow‐up period of 32 months (for a maximum of 85 months). In the overall population, mean serum urate levels were lower in those receiving febuxostat compared with those receiving allopurinol at most study visits. There were no associations between serum urate levels and death from CV causes with febuxostat. The number of gout flares requiring treatment was higher within 1 year of treatment with febuxostat compared with allopurinol (mean incidence of gout flares per patient‐years of exposure 1.33 versus 1.20), but was comparable thereafter and decreased overall throughout the study period (mean incidence of gout flares per patient‐years of exposure 0.35 versus 0.34 after 1 year of treatment; overall mean incidence 0.68 versus 0.63) irrespective of whether the patient died from a CV‐related cause. Overall, 20.8% of patients had ≥1 tophus at baseline; tophus resolution rates were similar between treatment groups, with cumulative resolution rates of >50%.

Conclusion

In the CARES trial, febuxostat and allopurinol (≤600 mg doses) had comparable efficacy in patients with gout and CV disease, and there was no evidence of a relationship between death from CV causes and serum urate levels, number of gout flares, or tophus resolution among the patients receiving febuxostat.
Roughness Effect of Cu on Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction towards C2H4
Authors: Jiang Yong , Zhong Dazhong , Wang Lei , Li Jiayuan , Hao Genyan , Li Jinping , Zhao Qiang
Published: May 2022

Electrochemical reduction of CO2 to produce valuable multi‐carbon products is a promising avenue for promoting CO2 conversion and achieving renewable energy storage, and it has also attracted considerable attention recently. However, the synthesis of Cu electrode with a controllable electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) to understand its role in CO2 reduction to C2H4 remains challenging. Herein, a series of Cu electrodes with different ECSA is synthesized through a simple oxidation‐reduction approach. We reveal that the improved selectivity of C2H4 is proportional to the ECSA of Cu in the low ECSA range, and a further increase in ECSA has a negligible effect on its selectivity. The enlarged surface area could strengthen the local pH effect near the surface of Cu electrode and suppress the generation of C1 products as well as H2. The study provides a feasible strategy to rationally design electrocatalysts with high electrochemical CO2 reduction performances.
Strategies towards High Performance Lithium‐Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Weret Misganaw Adigo , Su Wei‐Nien , Hwang Bing Joe
Published: May 2022

Rechargeable Lithium‐sulfur batteries (LSBs) have been considered as a potential candidate for next‐generation energy storage technologies because of ultrahigh‐energy density (2600 Wh kg−1) and being lightweight. However, the practical applications of LSBs are currently limited by lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) shuttle, continuous electrolyte decomposition, and lithium anode corrosion. These challenges are mainly related to the cathode structure framework, the reactive nature of lithium anode, and the redox reactions occurring at the electrode‐electrolyte interfaces. Proper cathode architecture design, development of novel electrolytes, and anode protection have been developed to improve the electrochemical performance of LSBs. In this review, the working principles and challenges of LSBs are briefly introduced. The strategies to overcome the challenges of LSBs, such as electrode design and modification, development of novel electrolytes, separator modification/functional interlayer insertion, and protection of lithium anode are systematically discussed. The advanced in situ/operando characterization techniques deployed to reveal the redox chemistries of LSBs also summarized. Finally, a summary and future perspective for developing electrode structure, electrolyte engineering, functional interlayers/separators, and anode protection for the practical application of LSBs are provided.
Detektion von Hüllrohren und Bewehrungsstäben und Genauigkeit der Messung von deren Einbautiefen mit Ultraschallecho
Authors: Taffe Alexander , Bernhard Niklas
Published: May 2022

Klassische Betondeckungsmessgeräte geraten bei Betondeckungen von mehr als 6 bis 7 cm und bei Objekten hinter oberflächennaher Bewehrung an ihre Grenzen. In diesem Beitrag wird für tiefere Objekte primär auf Ultraschall eingegangen und zunächst dessen Einsatzbereich von Radar abgegrenzt. Während die „Betondeckung“ mit max. 6 bis 7 cm nur für die Dauerhaftigkeit von Beton eine Rolle spielt, werden Radar und Ultraschallecho zur Ermittlung der „Einbautiefe“ von Hüllrohren und Bewehrung in deutlich größeren Tiefen verwendet, deren Kenntnis primär für den Nachweis der Standsicherheit von Konstruktionen notwendig ist (ZfPStatik). Dabei entscheiden Prüfaufgabe und Randbedingungen, welches Verfahren zum Einsatz kommt. Durch systematische Untersuchungen an Betonbauteilen und der Variation von Verlegedichte der Bewehrung an der Oberfläche, Einbautiefe, Stababstand der zu detektierenden Bewehrung und deren Durchmesser werden Leistungsfähigkeit und Grenzen von Ultraschall in Echo‐Anordnung (Sender und Empfänger eines Arrays auf einer Seite des Bauteils) hinsichtlich der Detektierbarkeit von Hüllrohren und Bewehrungsstäben aufgezeigt und die Genauigkeit der Messung der Einbautiefe ermittelt. Diese Erkenntnisse zu Ultraschall werden abschließend im Vergleich zur Leistungsfähigkeit von Radar und magnetisch induktiven Verfahren eingeordnet, die bereits in vorangegangenen Beiträgen behandelt wurden. Durch die zusammenfassende Betrachtung am Ende dieses Beitrags soll es dem Anwender erleichtert werden, das für seine Prüfaufgabe und Randbedingungen am besten geeignete Verfahren auszuwählen und realistische Erwartungen an die erzielbaren Ergebnisse zu stellen.
A 3′‐end capture sequencing method for high‐throughput targeted gene expression profiling
Authors: de Bony Eric , Gysens Fien , Yigit Nurten , Anckaert Jasper , Everaert Celine , Vanden Eynde Eveline , Verniers Kimberly , van Snippenberg Willem , Trypsteen Wim , Mestdagh Pieter
Published: May 2022

Molecular phenotyping through shallow 3′‐end RNA‐sequencing workflows is increasingly applied in the context of large‐scale chemical or genetic perturbation screens to study disease biology or support drug discovery. While these workflows enable accurate quantification of the most abundant genes, they are less effective for applications that require expression profiling of low abundant transcripts, like long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), or selected gene panels. To tackle these issues, we describe a workflow combining 3′‐end library preparation with 3′‐end hybrid capture probes and shallow RNA‐sequencing for cost‐effective, targeted quantification of subsets of (low abundant) genes across hundreds to thousands of samples. To assess the performance of the method, we designed a capture probe set for more than 100 mRNA and lncRNA target genes and applied the workflow to a cohort of 360 samples. When compared to standard 3′‐end RNA‐sequencing, 3′‐end capture sequencing resulted in a more than 200‐fold enrichment of target gene abundance while conserving relative intergene and intersample abundances. 3′‐end RNA capture sequencing enables accurate targeted gene expression profiling at extremely shallow sequencing depth.
Geometric structural insights for enhanced radiative efficiency: Spiro[fluorene–carbazole]‐based ortho‐carboranyl luminophores
Authors: Ryu Chan Hee , Lee Seok Ho , Kim Mingi , Lee Kang Mun
Published: May 2022

We herein report the preparation of two compounds (C1 and C2) with an ortho‐carborane cage appended at the C4‐position of the fluorene (C1) or carbazole (C2) moiety of their spiro[fluorene–carbazole] scaffolds. Photoluminescence spectra of both compounds in solution at 298 K did not demonstrate any emissive trace; however, those of both compounds in solution at 77 K and in the film state exhibited strong orange emission. Interestingly, the quantum efficiency and radiative decay constant of C2 in the film state were much higher than that of C1. This distinctly showed that the position of the o‐carborane unit on the scaffold strongly affected the efficiency of the radiative decay process based on intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) transitions. These findings revealed that that the electronic environment of the scaffold‐molecule linked with the o‐carborane cage plays an important role to control the ICT‐based radiative decay process.
The strategic choice of payment method in takeovers: The role of environmental, social and governance performance
Authors: Hussaini Mussa , Rigoni Ugo , Perego Paolo
Published: May 2022

Payment method choice in takeovers is mainly driven by both asymmetric information between the acquirer and the target and the acquirer's financial capability. In this paper, we examine whether increased transparency and better access to finance induced by environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance are associated with the strategic choice of payment method in takeovers. More specifically, we investigate how the acquirer's and the target's ESG coverage and different levels of ESG performance affect the probability of cash offers in a sample of 836 US takeovers from 1992 to 2014. In examining the target, our results suggest that ESG coverage is positively associated with the probability of cash offers, whereas we find a negative relationship for ESG concerns and no effect for ESG strengths. Upon examining the acquirer, ESG coverage and ESG concerns both increase the probability of cash offers; however, we do not find results supporting our prediction regarding the acquirer's ESG strengths. We infer that ESG coverage and level affect strategic considerations in the choice of the payment method in takeovers because they not only reduce information asymmetry, but also enhance financing capability.
Establishment of an age‐ and tumor microenvironment‐related gene signature for survival prediction in prostate cancer
Authors: Chen Lei , Zhang Meng , Zhou Jun , Zhang Li , Liang Chaozhao
Published: May 2022

Background

The incidence of prostate cancer (PCa) increases with age, and age and tumor microenvironment (TME) have important roles in the development of PCa, while the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated.

Materials and method

The Cancer Genome Atlas‐Prostate Adenocarcinoma (TCGA‐PRAD) RNA‐Seq, the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER‐PRAD), and ESTIMATE data were downloaded, and the clinical information of PRAD patients in our cohort was collected. The associations among age, TME, and PCa were analyzed. The age‐ and TME‐related risk score (ATRS) of each TCGA‐PRAD sample was calculated based on the identified age‐ and TME‐related differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and the correlation of ATRS with immune‐related characteristics of PCa patients was analyzed, and the ATRS‐based overall survival (OS)‐predicting nomogram was also established.

Results

Age was correlated with OS, PSA level, tumor stage, T stage, N stage, Gleason score, nerve invasion of PCa, and age was positively correlated with stromal, immune, and ESTIMATE scores. The compositions of immune cells of TCGA‐PRAD patients altered with age. Nine age‐ and TME‐related prognostic DEGs were identified, and the ATRS of each TCGA‐PRAD patient was calculated based on the identified nine DEGs. The ATRS was associated with the expression of immune checkpoints and intratumoral cytolytic activity, and the ATRS‐based nomogram performed well in predicting the outcomes of PCa patients.

Conclusions

Age and TME had crucial roles in PCa, and the ATRS gene signature was associated with the immune‐related characteristics of PCa patients, which showed good performance in predicting OS of PCa patients.
Transcriptome of sessile serrated adenoma/polyps is associated with MSI‐high colorectal cancer and decreased expression of CDX2
Authors: Ohki Daisuke , Yamamichi Nobutake , Sakaguchi Yoshiki , Takahashi Yu , Kageyama‐Yahara Natsuko , Yamamichi Mitsue , Takeuchi Chihiro , Tsuji Yosuke , Sakai Yasuhiro , Sakurai Kouhei , Tomida Shuta , Koike Kazuhiko , Fujishiro Mitsuhiro
Published: May 2022

The objective of this study was to elucidate the molecular background of sessile serrated adenoma/polyp (SSA/P) endoscopically resected with comprehensive gene expression analysis. Gene expression profiling was performed for 10 tumor‐normal pairs of SSA/P. Cluster analysis, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), and consensus molecular subtype (CMS) classification of colorectal cancer (CRC) were applied to our transcriptome analysis. Unsupervised cluster analysis showed that the gene expression profile of SSA/Ps is different from that of adjacent normal epithelial cells, even in the very early stage of tumorigenesis. According to the CMS classification, our microarray data indicated that SSA/Ps were classified as CMS1. GSEA demonstrated a strong association between SSA/P and microsatellite instability‐high (MSI‐H) CRC (p < 10−5). Transcriptome analysis of five MSI‐related genes (MSH2, MSH6, MLH1, PMS1, and PMS2) and five CRC‐related genes (BRAF, KRAS, APC, TP53, and CDX2) showed that CDX2 expression was most severely decreased in SSA/P. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed that CDX2 protein was reduced compared with the surrounding mucosa. Direct sequencing of the BRAF gene showed that the BRAF V600E mutation was detected in only nine of 36 cases. In a mouse model, BRAF, APC, or CDX2 deficiency indicated that the gene expression pattern with loss of CDX2 is more similar to our SSA/Ps compared with those induced by BRAF or APC mutation. Transcriptome analysis of SSA/Ps showed characteristic gene expression with a strong resemblance to MSI‐H CRC. Downregulation of CDX2 expression is an essential molecular mechanism involved in the initial stage of SSA/P tumorigenesis. (UMIN000027365).
Molecular interactome and starch–protein matrix, functional properties, phytochemical constituents, and antioxidant activity of foxtail millet (Setaria italica) flour as influenced during gaseous ozonation
Authors: Sharma Rajan , Bhandari Manisha , Kaur Kulwinder , Singh Arashdeep , Sharma Savita , Kaur Preetinder
Published: May 2022

Background and Objectives

Ozonation declared as generally recognized as safe is a promising processing technology for disinfestation of food and its shelf life extension. The present investigation aimed at assessing the impact of gaseous ozone treatment (0.06 L/min) for 15, 30, 45, and 60 min on functional properties, antinutrients, bioactive constituents, and structural–macromolecular interactions of foxtail millet flour.

Findings

Ozonation cause significant (p < .05) linear reduction in tannin content (112.43–64.83 mg/100 g) and total flavonoid content (331.46–273.59 mg/100 g) while total phenolic content and phytic acid were found to increase during aforesaid treatment. Further, major changes were associated with the technological functionality of flour; there was significant (p < .05) increase in the water absorption and solubility, oil absorption, swelling power, and paste clarity. However, emulsification properties were found to decline during ozonation while gel strength improved.

Conclusions

It may be inferred from the study that ozonation can be considered a green technology for processing various grains modulating functional properties with a little compromise in total flavonoid contents and phytic content.

Significance and Novelty

This study provides the effect of ozonation on foxtail millet of various parameters, such as bio‐techno‐functional, structural, and molecular parameters, which have never been studied before.
A systematic overview of live virtual machine migration methods
Authors: Hassannezhad Najjari Ahmadreza , Pourhaji Kazem Ali Asghar
Published: May 2022

Virtualization is regarded as one of the key technologies used in cloud computing by means of which virtual resources and dynamic resources are provided for users. Power management, load balancing, online system maintenance are remarkable benefits of virtualization. Such advantages are attributed to the feature of Virtual machine (VM) migration. Many research studies have been recently conducted on live migration and many researchers are seeking to reduce migration time. Prolonged migration time results in some problems especially in WANs which are geographically far from data centers. Hence, the speed of VM transfer from the source to the destination is reduced. There are many cases which can affect the migration of the VM. To the best of the researchers' knowledge, there is no comprehensive overview of studies conducted on live VM migration. This paper is aimed at providing a systematic overview and at investigating the literature on live migration. It includes 50 selected research reports which were published between 2011 and 2020. These papers are categorized by year of publication, publisher, number of citations, authors, immigration methods, techniques used, and effective parameters, and different results have been obtained from them, which we have been discussed in the paper.
Emergence of personality in weaning‐age kittens of the domestic cat?
Authors: Urrutia Andrea , Bánszegi Oxána , Szenczi Péter , Hudson Robyn
Published: May 2022

Individual differences in behavior (animal personality) have recently received much attention although less so in young mammals. We tested 74 preweaning‐age kittens from 16 litters of domestic cats in five everyday contexts repeated three times each across a 3‐week period: a handling test where an experimenter held the kitten, a test where a piece of raw beef was given to the kitten and gradually withdrawn, a test where the kitten was presented with a live mouse in a jar, a test where the kitten was briefly confined in a pet carrier, and an encounter with an unfamiliar human who first remained passive and then attempted to stroke the kitten. We found consistent individual differences in behavior in all tests except with the mouse, although less marked than in equivalent tests with adult cats. Differences in behavior were unrelated to sex, body mass, litter size, or maternal identity. We found only weak correlations in results among the tests (behavioral syndromes), again unlike findings in adult cats. We conclude that weanling kittens show consistent individual differences in behavior but in a different manner to adults. If and how the pattern of such differences changes across development remains to be studied.
A tale of two rivers: Dam‐induced hydrologic drought on the lower Dolores River and its impact on tamarisk establishment
Authors: Dott Cynthia , Bombaci Sara , Kasprak Alan , Korb Julie
Published: May 2022

The effects of river regulation on the flow patterns of rivers in western North America often mimic the impacts of naturally occurring episodic drought. On the Dolores River in southwestern Colorado, two distinct periods of flow modification have occurred, with very different drought‐like consequences for downstream habitat. The first period of major irrigation diversions (1889–1984) led to extreme low flows during the summer months with little change to spring peak flows. The second period after dam construction (1984 to present) caused a decline in peak flows but an increase in summer minimum flows. We studied the role of these different flow regimes in promoting the recruitment of non‐native tamarisk, since understanding historic patterns of recruitment may inform current and future flow management. We used dendrochronology to determine tamarisk establishment dates and tested the connection between establishment years and a suite of hydroclimatic variables. Tamarisk recruitment occurred between 1952 and 2002, with 92% of trees establishing during the first flow diversion period. The strongest hydroclimate predictor was low minimum flow for a given year, especially when coupled with higher peak flows in the year of, or before, establishment. Almost no tamarisk recruitment has occurred in the second, dam‐controlled period, where lowered peak flows and elevated minimum flows prevail. In spite of the drought tolerance of tamarisk, drought‐like conditions below this dam did not promote its invasion. Instead, the combination of lowered peaks but increased summer baseflows post‐dam has driven channel narrowing and vegetation encroachment by native willows. What current and future meteorologic drought conditions, coupled with dam‐controlled flows, will bring to the channel and adjacent riparian vegetation is uncertain, but this work may help to forecast the impacts of future river flows on riparian vegetation community evolution.
Controlling invasive fish in fluctuating environments: Model analysis of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in a shallow lake
Authors: Pearson James B. , Bellmore J. Ryan , Dunham Jason B.
Published: May 2022

Climate change can act to facilitate or inhibit invasions of non‐native species. Here, we address the influence of climate change on control of non‐native common carp (hereafter, carp), a species recognized as one of the “world's worst” invaders across the globe. Control of this species is exceedingly difficult, as it exhibits rapid population growth and compensatory density dependence. In many locations where carp have invaded, however, climate change is altering hydrologic regimes and may influence population demography and efficacy of human control efforts. To further evaluate these processes, we employed a modified version of an age‐based population model (CarpMOD), to investigate how hydrologic variability (change in lake area) influences carp population dynamics and control efforts in Malheur Lake, southeastern Oregon, USA. We explored how changes in lake area influence carp populations under three control scenarios: (1) no carp removal, (2) carp removal during low water years, and (3) carp removal during all years. Lake area fluctuations strongly influenced carp populations and the efficacy of carp control. Modeled carp biomass peaked when the lake transitioned from high‐to‐low levels, and carp biomass declined when lake area transitioned from low‐to‐high. Removing carp during low water periods—when fish were concentrated into a smaller area—reduced carp populations almost as much as removing carp every year. Furthermore, the effectiveness of control efforts increased with the prevalence and severity of low lake conditions (longer durations of very low lake area). These simulations suggest that a drier climate may naturally decrease carp populations and make them easier to control. However, drier conditions may also negatively affect aquatic ecosystems and potentially have a greater impact than non‐native species themselves.
Nature and nurture. Genetic and environmental factors on the relationship between back pain and sleep quality
Authors: Madrid‐Valero Juan J. , Andreucci Alessandro , Carrillo Eduvigis , Ferreira Paulo H. , Martínez‐Selva Jose M. , Ordoñana Juan R.
Published: May 2022

Background

Chronic low back pain (LBP), neck pain (NP), and sleep quality (SQ) are genetically influenced. All three conditions frequently co‐occur and shared genetic aetiology on a pairwise base has been reported. However, to our knowledge, no study has yet investigated if these three conditions are influenced by the same genetic and environmental factors and the extent and pattern of genetic overlap between them, hence the current research.

Methods

The sample included 2134 participants. Lifetime prevalence of NP and LBP were assessed through a dichotomous self‐reported question derived from the Spanish National Health Survey. SQ was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Questionnaire. A common pathway model with sleep quality and back pain as latent factors was fitted.

Results

Our results highlight that a latent back pain factor, including both NP and LBP, is explained by both genetic (41%) and environmental (59%) factors. There are also significant unique environmental factors for NP (33%) and LBP (37%) respectively. Yet, specific genetic factors were scant (9%) for NP and negligible for LBP (0%). Genetic and environmental factors affecting SQ only contribute with 3% and 5% of the variance, respectively, to the common latent back pain variable.

Conclusions

NP and LBP share most of their genetic variance, while environmental effects show greater specificity for each of the back pain locations. Associations with SQ were of a limited magnitude.

Significance

Our results confirm a significant association between both chronic NP and LBP and sleep quality. Such relationship comprises both genetic and environmental factors, with a greater relative weight of the latter. A large part of the individual variance for chronic LBP and chronic NP can be accounted for by a latent common factor of ‘back pain’. Genetic influences for LBP and NP were mainly shared. However, environmental influences were common for both problems and specific for each of them in similar magnitudes.
Do we need a new definition of enrollment management? Part 2
Authors: Dennis Marguerite J.
Published: May 2022

In last month's article, I introduced the need for a new definition of enrollment management based on the new student‐customer, post‐pandemic. Numerous reports have detailed how the virus has changed what higher education students and their parents expect from their collegiate experience.
Provide a level of support that attracts students with disabilities to campus
Authors: Hope Joan
Published: May 2022

Wright State University officials worked to create an inclusive culture even before Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act became law. Tom Webb, ADA/504 Coordinator and Director of the Office of Disability Services, shared how his office provides extensive support to students.
Build connections in a new position, whether you are remote or in the office
Authors: Hope Joan
Published: May 2022

When Erin Michelle Collins, M.A., started her new position as Registrar at Pomona College in June 2021, it would be a while before she would meet her staff members in person or get the chance to drop into a colleague's office on campus. But that didn't prevent her from making connections and establishing herself as a leader in the office and at the college.
Stretchable fiber‐shaped aqueous aluminum ion batteries
Authors: Xiong Ting , He Bing , Zhou Tianzhu , Wang Zhe , Wang Zhixun , Xin Jiwu , Zhang Haozhe , Zhou Xuhui , Liu Yanting , Wei Lei
Published: May 2022

The emerging wearable electronics have significantly motivated the development of fiber‐shaped batteries with excellent electrochemical performance, safety, and flexibility. Aluminum (Al) ion batteries are potential candidates due to their high natural abundance, three‐electron‐redox behavior, and low cost. However, the integration of Al ion battery into wearable electronics remains unexplored. Herein, a stretchable fiber‐shaped aqueous Al ion battery is reported, which involves manganese hexacyanoferrate cathode, graphene oxide decorated MoO3 anode, and hydrogel electrolyte. The resulting fiber‐shaped battery exhibits good stretching properties and cycling stability (91.6% over 100 cycles at 1 A cm−3). Moreover, by employing a rocking‐chair energy storage mechanism, the fiber‐shaped battery offers a high specific capacity of 42 mAh cm−3 at 0.5 A cm−3, corresponding to a high specific energy of 30.6 mWh cm−3. As a demonstration, the fiber‐based Al ion batteries are integrated into wearable textiles to power LED light, demonstrating the feasibility in stretchable and wearable electronics.

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The influence of democracy, governance and government policies on the COVID‐19 pandemic mortality
Authors: Wagschal Uwe
Published: May 2022

The paper analyses the determinants of mortality during the Corona pandemic. In a first step, possible causes are subjected to a global comparison.The focus is on political, institutional, economic, demographic and health policy factors. It is shown that, contrary to the assumption, democratic countries have a higher Covid‐19 mortality. In a second step, the developed democracies are then analysed to explain this puzzle. Here, more detailed information is used than in the global comparison. It turns out that, measured by the Oxford Stringency Index, government action has been largely unsuccessful. Also, the party‐political composition of the government does not play a role.The most important factors are a country's governance structures, the level of corona incidence, a country's burden of high‐risk patients and its health system. In addition, cultural factors and the vaccination rate seem to have an influence on mortality.
Investigation on the unsteady pressure pulsations and related vortical structures in a molten salt pump
Authors: Gu Jiarong , Gao Bo , Ni Dan , Li Chao , Zhong Yiming
Published: May 2022

The high‐temperature molten salt pump (MSP) is the core equipment of the thermal storage system for concentrating solar power plants, which circulates the molten salt of the thermal storage medium. This study employs numerical simulation of a two‐stage MSP with a storage tank to find the correlation between pressure pulsations and the evolutions of vortical structures based on renormalization group k‐ε turbulence model. It is shown that rotor/stator interaction is the most significant excitation source of pressure pulsations with the prominent excitations being the diffuser passing frequency (fDPF) in the impeller and the blade passing frequency (fBPF). Furthermore, Q‐criterion is employed to capture the periodic shedding vortexes with a frequency of about 3fR at the suction surface and the trailing edge in diffusers. Impinging vortex and shedding vortex with the frequency 6fR on the leading edge of the diffuser is captured. The vortex shedding characteristics are significantly different under various conditions, and the separation vortexes appear at the leading edge of pressure surface in the diffusers at higher flow rates. Finally, it is obvious that the excited components and their magnitudes in the pressure spectrum are closely associated with the unsteady vortical structures within the model pump.
FogBus3: A scalable and reliable framework for integrated IoT and fog computing scenario
Authors: Verma Richa , Chandra Shalini
Published: May 2022

Fog computing is an advantageous concept that works in consonance with cloud computing to enhance user experience. It presents innumerable benefits such as low latency, bandwidth saving, and location awareness. But, just being opportunistic towards the platform without checking it for security is not at all justifiable. As more and more sensitive data flows through the fog layer, it becomes mandatory to examine it for security. The fog nodes being closer to the user end are highly vulnerable to being malicious. There exists a possibility that a faulty fog node tries to tamper the data generated from the Internet of things (IoT) device layer and restrains the other functioning nodes to operate upon a common perceived value. In this regard, the authors have proposed the FogBus3 framework that guarantees reliable results from the fog level even in the presence of faulty fog nodes. The proposed framework adds a job categorization mechanism and a reliability ensuring IoT‐Fog Agreement Algorithm (IFAA) to the fog layer. The proposed framework has been thoroughly examined with the help of a working example and simulated through MATLAB R2021a. Further, the scenario has been tested before and after implementation of the proposed algorithm on the basis of execution time. Experimental results show that FogBus3's IFAA algorithm improves the execution time of the said setup by 41%. FogBus3 has also been evaluated for its scalability and is believed to ensure reliability in the said scenario.
Improving access to COVID‐19 information by ensuring the readability of government websites
Authors: Serry Tanya , Stebbins Tonya , Martchenko Andrew , Araujo Natalie , McCarthy Brigid
Published: May 2022

Issue addressed

This study evaluated the readability of web pages from two public‐facing Victorian government websites that were responsible for communicating key health messages relating to the COVID‐19 pandemic in 2020.

Methods

Webpages were downloaded and filtered to identify relevant materials (English language materials containing HTML files that referred to COVID‐19). The files were converted to text files and two Python packages, SpaCy and TextStat were used to obtain the data presented here. In addition to running two well‐established readability tests, SMOG Index (Simple Measure of Gobbledygook) and Flesch Reading Ease formula, we also calculated the figures for sentence length and word length, which drive the readability measures and allow a disaggregated view of the data. Type token ratio measures were conducted as a reflection of the breadth of vocabulary used in the web pages.

Results

Derived measures of text complexity were higher than recommended levels of text complexity for health promotion materials, which are generally set at senior primary school levels. This did not vary depending on the intended audience (public or professional). A senior secondary reading level was required for effective engagement with the text published on both sites.

Conclusions

Improving the readability of materials on key government websites where information about COVID‐19 is being communicated to the public, represents a low cost and potentially effective means of improving public understanding of the pandemic and the steps individuals need to take to protect themselves and the community.

So what?

Given the challenges widely identified in ensuring compliance with protective behaviours, confidence in seeking vaccination and increasing distrust of government, it would be strategic to improve public communication to ensure health messages are simple and readily understood.

The complexity and readability of text contained in web pages during 2020 from two Victorian government departments were evaluated. Communication regarding the restrictions and the management of risks associated with COVID‐19 was the main focus of these 367 individual web pages from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Department of Education and Training (DET). Results indicated that across both sites and on both readability measures used, an education level equivalent to senior secondary school would be required to readily understand the contents.
Reliable developmental research: Not only for infancy
Authors: Brosseau‐Liard Patricia E.
Published: May 2022

Reliability in developmental research is important to consider not only for infant research but also for researchers who wish to study individual differences at all ages. Forced‐choice behavioural tasks are popular in cognitive developmental research with preschoolers and young school‐age children because of their ease of administration and interpretation; however, the fact that guessing correctly is possible introduces noise that reduces reliability. An informal simulation is presented to illustrate this issue. Researchers wishing to investigate individual differences are encouraged to consider the reliability of the tasks they choose and not reflexively rely on familiar tasks that may be poorly suited to the study of true individual differences.
Developmental psychologists should care about measurement precision
Authors: Lindsay Shane , Mather Emily
Published: May 2022

In a wide ranging article in this journal, Byers‐Heinlein et al. (2022) make a persuasive case for paying close attention to reliability in developmental research. They focus on measurement reliability, which indexes how well individuals can be ranked across repeated measurements. We highlight the importance of measurement precision as a complement to understanding measurement reliability. We describe how this more absolute type of reliability can be quantified by the within‐participant standard deviation across trials, also known as the standard error of measurement (SEM). We outline how reporting and understanding measurement precision can play a key role in achieving the ‘six solutions’ for improving reliability in developmental research offered by Byers‐Heinlein et al.
Valid points and looks: Reliability and validity go hand‐in‐hand when improving infant methods
Authors: Zettersten Martin , Pomper Ron , Saffran Jenny
Published: May 2022

In this commentary, we suggest that infancy researchers should carefully consider validity when taking steps to improve reliability. Zooming in to focus on looking‐time methods, we argue that limitations in validity represent perhaps an even more fundamental issue than reliability. At the same time, focusing single‐mindedly on reliability comes with two possible pitfalls: maximizing reliability at the expense of construct validity, and overvaluing parental report measures compared to direct measures of infant behaviour. Finally, we articulate several promising avenues for improving validity in infant research: experimental and modelling efforts to characterize the functional relationship between measures such as looking time and infant cognition, using multiple measures to establish convergent validity, and improving our understanding of how measures vary across a broader set of stimulus characteristics.
On the reliability of reliability estimates in infancy research
Authors: Rhemtulla Mijke , Bottesini Julia G.
Published: May 2022

In this commentary on Byers‐Heinlein, Bergmann, and Savalei's (this issue) call to consider reliability in infancy measures, we note that the combination of highly unreliable measures and typically small sample sizes means that most reliability estimates based on single infant studies are, themselves, highly unreliable. To achieve reasonably precise reliability estimates requires either high population reliability or sample sizes several orders of magnitude larger than those typically seen in infancy research. Thus, we caution researchers to always report CIs around reliability estimates, and to be circumspect when interpreting those estimates.
Extremal connectedness of hedge funds
Authors: Mhalla Linda , Hambuckers Julien , Lambert Marie
Published: May 2022

We propose a dynamic measure of extremal connectedness tailored to the short reporting period and unbalanced nature of hedge funds data. Using multivariate extreme value regression techniques, we estimate this measure conditional on factors reflecting the economic uncertainty and the state of the financial markets, and derive risk indicators reflecting the likelihood of extreme spillovers. Empirically, we study the dynamics of tail dependencies between hedge funds grouped per investment strategies, as well as with the banking sector. We show that during crisis periods, some pairs of strategies display an increase in their extremal connectedness, revealing a higher likelihood of simultaneous extreme losses. We also find a sizable tail dependence between hedge funds and banks, indicating that banks are more likely to suffer extreme losses when the hedge fund sector does. Our results highlight that a proactive regulatory framework should account for the dynamic nature of the tail dependence and its link with financial stress.