bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of novel pyridine‐derived N‐heterocyclic silylenes via density functional theory perspective
Authors: Hassanpour Akbar , Heravi Mohammad Reza Poor , Rahmani Zahra , Ebadi Abdolghaffar , Ahmadi Sheida
Published: April 2021

We theoretically searched new derivatives of N‐heterocyclic silylenes (NHSis) by substituting of pyridine and phosphinine rings, compared to the reference carbenes (N‐heterocyclic carbenes—NHCs) including benzopyridine‐4‐ylidene (1) and dibenzopyridine‐4‐ylidene (2), at M06‐2X/AUG‐cc‐pVTZ and B3LYP/AUG‐cc‐pVTZ. Regardless of how organized NHSis are, fusion of 1 six‐membered ring leads to more vibration frequency (υmin), stabilizing effect, and polarizability than 2 six‐membered rings. In all cases, singlet (3s‐10s) and triplet (3t‐10t) NHSis emerge as ground state, showing more stability of singlet states than their corresponding triplet congeners. From thermodynamic and kinetic viewpoints, the scrutinized singlet NHSis show more stability than the parent singlet NHCs (1s and 2s), but the studied triplet NHSis exhibit less stability than triplet NHCs (1t and 2t). Regarding the orientation of silylenic center and nitrogen or phosphor heteroatoms of fused rings, the stabilizing energy for para−fused rings is more than ortho ones. The most stability is confirmed by one para−substituted pyridine NHSi (singlet‐triplet energy difference; ΔΕs‐t = 47.3 and band gap; ΔEHOMO‐LUMO = 85.0 kcal/mol; highest occupied molecular orbital [HOMO] and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital [LUMO]) and the least stability is demonstrated by two substituted benzene NHC (ΔΕs‐t = 11.9 and ΔEHOMO‐LUMO = 58.6 kcal/mol). In contrast to pure NHCs, triplet NHSis (3t‐10t) show lower ΔΕHOMO‐LUMO, higher nucleophilicity, lower electrophilicity, and lower chemical hardness than their corresponding singlet states (3s‐10s).
Changes in expressions of ecdysteroidogenic enzyme and ecdysteroid signaling genes in relation to Bombyx embryonic development
Authors: Gu Shi‐Hong , Chen Chien‐Hung , Lin Pei‐Ling
Published: April 2021

Although the role of ecdysteroids in regulating egg diapause process in Bombyx mori is well documented, temporal changes in expression levels of genes involved in ecdysteroid biosynthesis and its downstream signaling are less well understood. In the present study, we studied changes in expression levels of genes involved in ecdysteroid biosynthesis and its downstream signaling during embryonic development of B. mori. Results showed that in diapause eggs, the expression of ecdysteroid‐phosphate phosphatase (EPPase) gene and Halloween genes (Spook [Spo] and Shade [Shd]) remained at very low levels. However, in eggs whose diapause initiation was prevented by HCl, significant increases in the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of EPPase, Spo, and Shd were detected during embryonic development. Other Halloween genes (Neverland [Nvd] and Phantom [Phm]) also showed different changes between diapause and HCl‐treated eggs. However, genes of Disembodied (Dib) and Shadow (Sad) showed similar changes in both diapause and HCl‐treated eggs. We further investigated changes in expression levels of ecdysone receptor genes (EcRA, EcRB1, and USP) and downstream signaling genes (E75A, E75B, E74A, E74B, Br‐C, HR3, HR4, KR‐H1, and FTZ‐F1). Results showed that genes of EcRA and the other nuclear receptors (E75A, E75B, E74A, HR3, HR4, KR‐H1, and FTZ‐F1) exhibited significant differential patterns between diapause and HCl‐treated eggs, with increased levels being detected during later stages of embryonic development in HCl‐treated eggs. Differential temporal changes in expressions of genes involved ecdysteroid biosynthesis and its downstream signaling found between diapause and HCl‐treated eggs were further confirmed using nondiapause eggs. Our results showed that nondiapause eggs exhibited the same changing patterns as those in HCl‐treated eggs, thus clearly indicating potential correlations between expressions of these genes and embryonic development in B. mori. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive report to study the transcriptional regulation of ecdysteroidogenic and ecdysteroid signaling genes, thus providing useful information for a clearer understanding of insect egg diapause mechanisms.
Optimal uses of pooled testing for COVID‐19 incorporating imperfect test performance and pool dilution effect: An application to congregate settings in Los Angeles County
Authors: Nianogo Roch A. , Emeruwa I. Obi , Gounder Prabhu , Manuel Vladimir , Anderson Nathaniel W. , Kuo Tony , Inkelas Moira , Arah Onyebuchi A.
Published: April 2021

Introduction

Pooled testing is a potentially efficient alternative strategy for COVID‐19 testing in congregate settings. We evaluated the utility and cost‐savings of pooled testing based on imperfect test performance and potential dilution effect due to pooling and created a practical calculator for online use.

Methods

We developed a 2‐stage pooled testing model accounting for dilution. The model was applied to hypothetical scenarios of 100 specimens collected during a one‐week time‐horizon cycle for varying levels of COVID‐19 prevalence and test sensitivity and specificity, and to 338 skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) in Los Angeles County (Los Angeles) (data collected and analyzed in 2020).

Results

Optimal pool sizes ranged from 1 to 12 in instances where there is a least one case in the batch of specimens. 40% of Los Angeles SNFs had more than one case triggering a response‐testing strategy. The median number (minimum; maximum) of tests performed per facility were 56 (14; 356) for a pool size of 4, 64 (13; 429) for a pool size of 10, and 52 (11; 352) for an optimal pool size strategy among response‐testing facilities. The median costs of tests in response‐testing facilities were $8250 ($1100; $46,100), $6000 ($1340; $37,700), $6820 ($1260; $43,540), and $5960 ($1100; $37,380) when adopting individual testing, a pooled testing strategy using pool sizes of 4, 10, and optimal pool size, respectively.

Conclusions

Pooled testing is an efficient strategy for congregate settings with a low prevalence of COVID‐19. Dilution as a result of pooling can lead to erroneous false‐negative results.
Unravelling the influence of subjectivity on ranking of CMIP6 based climate models: A case study
Authors: Anil Suram , Manikanta Velpuri , Pallakury Anand Raj
Published: April 2021

The skill of General Circulation Models (GCMs) in mimicking the observed climate is assessed through various procedures and are ranked. The performance of a GCM is site‐specific and the ranking pattern varies spatially. In general, a set of best performing GCMs is extracted to study the impact of climate change. As, there is no universally accepted ranking procedure, the ranking of GCMs is prone to subjectivity. In this study, it is aimed to address the effect of this subjectivity on the GCM rankings. The past performance of GCMs from Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 6 (CMIP6) in simulating the maximum and minimum temperature across India are evaluated and ranked by different ranking procedures. These ranking procedures involve combinations of various components present in the ranking procedure such as model evaluation criteria, criteria weightage allocation methods, Multicriteria Decision Making methods (MCDM) and reference gridded datasets. Different criteria and methods involved in the ranking procedures are carefully selected to address the subjectivity involved in ranking of GCMs. The effect of each individual component on the ranking pattern is systematically analysed and the spatial distribution of grids with same ranking patterns across all the combinations are considered as grids with same ranking. The performance of best performing GCM is attributed to homogenous climatic zones and its corresponding topological features. An ensemble of frequently performing top five GCMs among 16 different ranking procedures are extracted for each climate zone as the most suitable set of GCMs.
Ultrasound Imaging of Superficial Venous Thrombosis in the Upper and Lower Extremities
Authors: Smith Zachary T. , Bagley Anjuli R. , Guy Dave , Preston Lindsey , Ali Naiim S.
Published: April 2021

Superficial venous thrombosis (SVT) of the upper and lower extremities has long been considered a relatively benign condition. But in recent years, the literature has suggested a benefit to anticoagulation in patients with certain thrombus characteristics (size, location, and distance to deep venous system) resulting in updates to clinical guidelines for the treatment of lower extremity SVT. Despite these now well‐established guidelines, there remains a paucity of guidance from national and international societies regarding the imaging of superficial veins when evaluating for venous thrombosis. We recommend potential strategies to close this gap.
Subcutaneous Versus Sublingual Immunotherapy for Adults with Allergic Rhinitis: A Systematic Review with Meta‐Analyses
Authors: Tie Kevin , Miller Craig , Zanation Adam M. , Ebert Charles S.
Published: April 2021

Objectives

To determine whether subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) or sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) better improves patient outcomes and quality of life for adults with allergic rhinitis or rhinoconjunctivitis (AR/C) with or without mild to moderate asthma.

Methods

Systematic review methodology was based on the Cochrane Collaboration handbook and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐analyses. Four databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Web of Science) were queried from inception to July 30, 2020. Two independent reviewers screened potentially relevant studies and assessed risk of bias. Outcomes of interest were symptom score (SS), medication score (MS), combined symptom medication score (CSMS), and Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ). Meta‐analyses with an adjusted indirect comparison were conducted in RevMan 5.4.1.

Results

Seven SCIT versus SLIT randomized controlled trials (RCTs) demonstrated no significant differences for any outcomes, but insufficient data precluded direct meta‐analysis. For the adjusted indirect comparison, 46 RCTs over 39 studies were included for SCIT versus placebo (n = 13) and SLIT versus placebo (n = 33). Statistically significant results favoring SCIT were found for SS (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.40; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.31–0.49), MS (SMD = 0.26; 95% CI = 0.14–0.39), CSMS (SMD = 0.42; 95% CI = 0.17–0.67), and RQLQ (MD = 0.24; 95% CI = 0.04–0.44). Statistically significant results favoring SLIT were found for SS (SMD = 0.42; 95% CI = 0.32–0.53), MS (SMD = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.28–0.53), CSMS (SMD = 0.37; 95% CI = 0.29–0.45), and RQLQ (MD = 0.32; 95% CI = 0.20–0.43). No significant differences were found between SCIT and SLIT for SS (SMD = −0.02; 95% CI = −0.15 to 0.11), MS (SMD = −0.14; 95% CI = −0.31 to 0.03), CSMS (SMD = 0.05; 95% CI = −0.21 to 0.31), or RQLQ (MD = −0.08; 95% CI = −0.31 to 0.15).

Conclusion

SCIT and SLIT are comparably effective treatments for adults with AR/C. More RCTs analyzing SCIT versus SLIT are needed to directly compare the two. Laryngoscope, 132:499–508, 2022
Concurrent zinc and vitamin B6 deficiencies in acutely exacerbated inflammatory bowel disease: Case reports
Authors: Moon Nabeel , Figgins Bradley , Altshuler Ellery , Pham Angela , Kamel Amir Y.
Published: April 2021

Background

Limited evidence is available to describe the prevalence, causes, and consequences of zinc and vitamin B6 deficiencies in those with acutely exacerbated inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Zinc is important for immune function and wound healing, and B6 is needed for metabolic and neurological function. Patients with IBD are at risk of micronutrient deficiencies, particularly during flares.

Presentations

The cases of 2 patients with IBD exacerbations were reviewed in which deficiencies of both zinc and vitamin B6 were identified.

Conclusions

These cases highlight the need for increased screening for zinc and pyridoxine deficiencies in IBD population, especially during disease exacerbation. Therefore, we recommend a comprehensive nutrition workup with physical exam, diet history, and a complete micronutrient panel while ruling out contributing factors. If patients are susceptible to deficiencies during flares, prophylactic oral zinc and pyridoxine supplementation may be considered, with close monitoring for subsequent iron and copper deficiencies.
Discussion on degree of entanglement, chain confinement, and reinforcement efficiency factor of PTT/PE blend nanocomposite embedded with MWCNTs
Authors: Madathinal Kunjappan Aswathi , Reghunadhan Arunima , Ramachandran Ajitha A. , Mathew Lovely , Padmanabhan Moothetty , Laroze David , Thomas Sabu
Published: April 2021

The current report addresses the rheological and viscoelastic properties of poly (trimethylene terephthalate)/polyethylene blend system containing multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The alliance of MWCNT into the blend system raises both the modulus and the dynamic viscosity. The thermophysical properties of blend nanocomposites exhibit a lower threshold percolation particularly in comparison to nanocomposites PTT/MWCNT. The dynamic mechanical properties of nanocomposites were also enhanced by adding MWCNT and the higher storage modulus value of nanocomposites explains their reasonable load—bearing capacity by inserting MWCNT. Reinforcing efficiency factor, degree of entanglement density, coefficient of effectiveness, and volume of the constrained region of blend nanocomposites are studied and 90PTT/10PE/3CNT has shown maximum entanglement density value and reinforcement efficiency factor. Different theoretical models were used to predict the storage modulus of blend nanocomposites and among them, the Takayanagi model established fine concurrence with the experimental results.
Functional decline in hospitalized patients with COVID‐19 in the early months of the pandemic
Authors: Daunter Alecia K. , Bowman Angeline , Danko John , Claflin Edward S. , Kratz Anna L.
Published: April 2021

Introduction

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) survivors are at risk of functional decline. To address the current gap in knowledge about post‐acute needs of those infected by COVID‐19, we examined discharge function data to better prepare patients, providers, and health systems to return patients to optimal levels of functioning.

Objective

To examine the prevalence of functional decline and related rehabilitation needs at hospital discharge.

Design

Prospective chart review.

Setting

Academic tertiary care hospital.

Participants

Hospitalized adults with a laboratory confirmed COVID‐19 diagnosis, with admission dates between March 4, 2020 and May 1, 2020.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Discharge location; need for outpatient physical, occupational, or speech therapy; need for durable medical equipment at discharge; presence of dysphagia at discharge; functional decline.

Results

Three hundred eleven potential cases were reviewed. The final number of cases included in analysis was N = 288; patient ages ranged from 20 to 95 years old (mean 66.80 ± 15.31 years). Nearly 20 % of COVID‐19 survivors were discharged to a location other than their home. Forty‐five percent of survivors experienced functional decline impacting their discharge. Eighty‐seven survivors (80.6%) who showed functional change during hospitalization were referred for additional therapy at discharge. At least 73 (67.6%) of these patients required durable medical equipment at discharge (in 12 cases this was not clearly documented). Twenty‐nine (26.7%) of the survivors who showed functional changes had ongoing dysphagia at the time of hospital discharge. Ninety‐seven of the survivors (40.6%) were never assessed by a PM&R physician, physical therapist, occupational therapist, or speech language pathologist during their hospitalization.

Conclusions

COVID‐19 mortality rates are frequently reported in the media, whereas the effects on function are not as well described. The information provided here highlights the need for rehabilitative services during and after hospitalization for COVID‐19.
Theoretical insights into phosphine‐catalyzed [4 + 2] annulation of allenoates with thiazolone‐derived alkenes
Authors: Hao Qiqi , He Nan , Wang Yi , Yang Xiaoyan , Wang Yonghuan , Zhu Yanyan , Qu Lingbo
Published: April 2021

In this article, the mechanism of [4 + 2] annulation of allenoates with thiazolone‐derived alkenes catalyzed by phosphine has been studied using density functional theory (DFT). This work adopted the two different phosphine catalysts (named as Cat1 and Cat2) to participate in the theoretical calculation. Catalyst Cat1 was used as a chiral catalyst to obtain optically active products in good yield with excellent enantioselectivity. With the use of Cat2 as the achiral catalyst, products were not enantioselective. The calculated results indicate that the CC bond formation is not only the rate‐determining step but also the stereoselectivity‐determining step. The R‐configured product is predicted as the dominant product catalyzed by Cat1, which is consistent with the experimental results. Moreover, global reaction index (GRI), natural bond orbital (NBO), and frontier molecular orbital (FMO) analyses indicate that the phosphine catalyst can enhance the nucleophilicity of reactant R1 and reduce the energy gap of the interacting HOMO and LUMO orbitals. The revealed mechanism would provide valuable clues in novel catalyst design.
The starting rate for high‐flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy in infants with bronchiolitis: Is clinical judgment enough?
Authors: Papoff Paola , Caresta Elena , Luciani Stefano , Pierangeli Alessandra , Scagnolari Carolina , Giannini Luigi , Midulla Fabio , Montecchia Francesco
Published: April 2021

Objectives

To determine whether in infants with bronchiolitis admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) the starting rate for high‐flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy set by the attending physicians upon clinical judgment meets patients' peak inspiratory flow (PIF) demands and how it influences respiratory mechanics and breathing effort.

Methodology

We simultaneously obtained respiratory flow and esophageal pressure data from 31 young infants with moderate‐to‐severe bronchiolitis before and after setting the HFNC rate at 1 L/kg/min (HFNC‐1), 2 L/kg/min (HFNC‐2) or upon clinical judgment and compared data for PIF, respiratory mechanics, and breathing effort.

Results

Before HFNC oxygen therapy started, 16 (65%) infants had a PIF less than 1 L/kg/min (normal‐PIF) and 15 (45%) had a PIF more than or equal to 1 L/kg/min (high‐PIF). Normal‐PIF‐infants had higher airway resistance (p < .001) and breathing effort indexes (e.g., pressure rate product per min [PTP/min], p = .028) than high‐PIF‐infants. Starting the HFNC rate upon clinical judgment (1.20–2.05 L/kg/min) met all infants' PIFs. In normal‐PIF‐infants, the clinically judged flow rate increased PIF (p = .081) and tidal volume (p = .029), reduced airway resistance (p = .011), and intrinsic positive end‐expiratory pressure (p = .041), whereas, in both high‐PIF and normal‐PIF infants, it decreased respiratory rate (p < .001) and indexes of breathing effort such as PTP/min (in normal‐PIF infants, p = .004; in high‐PIF infants, p = .001). The 2 L/kg/min but not 1 L/kg/min rate induced similar effects.

Conclusions

The wide PIF distribution in our PICU population of infants with bronchiolitis suggests two disease phenotypes whose therapeutic options might differ. An initial flow rate of nearly 2 L/kg/min meets patients' flow demands and improves respiratory mechanics and breathing effort.
BoxCar increases the depth and reproducibility of diabetic urinary proteome analysis
Authors: Ye Shu , Zhai Linhui , Hu Hao , Tan Minjia , Du Shichun
Published: April 2021

Purpose

Mass spectrometry‐based proteomics performs well in high throughput detection of urinary proteins. Nonetheless, protein identification depth and reproducibility remain the challenges in diabetic urinary proteome with high complexity and broad dynamic range, especially for low‐abundant proteins. As a new data acquisition strategy, the BoxCar method was reported to benefit for low‐abundant protein identification. Whether it is propitious to diabetic samples with high dynamic range proteomes has not been discussed yet. We aimed to apply BoxCar method to diabetic urine sample analysis, and to compare it with standard data dependent acquisition (DDA) method on protein identification in detail.

Experimental Design

We performed seven technical replicates analysis on two urine samples from healthy individuals and diabetic patients to evaluate protein detection of BoxCar and standard DDA methods on single sample. Further comparison of two methods was made on multiple diabetic urine samples.

Results

BoxCar could increase over 20% of identified proteins and performed better quantitative reproducibility than standard DDA method either in single or multiple diabetic urinary samples. BoxCar also improved the detection of low‐abundant proteins. Functional enrichment analysis of normal albuminuria or microalbuminuria samples indicated that BoxCar acquired more diabetes‐related biological information.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

The study demonstrates that BoxCar could enhance the depth and reproducibility in diabetic urinary proteome analysis, which provides reference for mass spectrometry approach selection in clinical urinary proteomic research.
Complex structure reveals CcmM and CcmN form a heterotrimeric adaptor in β‐carboxysome
Authors: Sun Hui , Cui Ning , Han Shu‐Jing , Chen Zhi‐Peng , Xia Ling‐Yun , Chen Yuxing , Jiang Yong‐Liang , Zhou Cong‐Zhao
Published: April 2021

Carboxysome is an icosahedral self‐assembled microcompartment that sequesters RuBisCO and carbonic anhydrases within a selectively permeable protein shell. The scaffolding proteins, CcmM, and CcmN were proposed to act as adaptors that crosslink the enzymatic core to shell facets. However, the details of interaction pattern remain unknown. Here we obtained a stable heterotrimeric complex of CcmM γ‐carbonic anhydrase domain (termed CcmMNT) and CcmN, with a 1:2 stoichiometry, which interacts with the shell proteins CcmO and CcmL in vitro. The 2.9 Å crystal structure of this heterotrimer revealed an asymmetric bundle composed of one CcmMNT and two CcmN subunits, all of which adopt a triangular left‐handed β‐helical barrel structure. The central CcmN subunit packs against CcmMNT and another CcmN subunit via a wall‐to‐edge or wall‐to‐wall pattern, respectively. Together with previous findings, we propose CcmMNT‐CcmN functions as an adaptor to facilitate the recruitment of shell proteins and the assembly of intact β‐carboxysome.
Picotamide inhibits a wide spectrum of agonist‐induced smooth muscle contractions in porcine renal interlobar and coronary arteries
Authors: Li Bingsheng , Huang Ru , Wang Ruixiao , Liu Yuhan , Stief Christian G. , Hennenberg Martin
Published: April 2021

Picotamide is a thromboxane A2 (TXA2) receptor antagonist and TXA2 synthase inhibitor. In clinical studies, it has been considered as a platelet aggregation inhibitor and improved renal function. In vitro studies suggested inhibition of smooth muscle contraction by picotamide, which is poorly understood. Here, we examined effects of picotamide on contractions of renal interlobar and coronary porcine arteries, induced by different vasoconstrictors. Contractions were induced in an organ bath by agonists or electric field stimulation (EFS). Picotamide inhibited EFS‐induced contractions of interlobar arteries around 50% using concentrations of 100 and 300 µM. In interlobar arteries, concentration response curves for contractions induced by three different α1‐adrenoceptor agonists were shifted to the right by picotamide (2–10‐fold increases in EC50). In coronary arteries, α1‐adrenergic contractions were inhibited without right shift (approx. 50%). Contractions induced by two different cholinergic agonists in coronary arteries were inhibited by picotamide (≥50%) withouth right shift. Inhibition of serotonin‐induced contractions by picotamide showed features of a right shift, whereas contractions induced by the TXA2 analog U46619, angiotensin‐II, and endothelin‐1 were inhibited by picotamide in interlobar and coronary arteries without right shifts and to different degree. Picotamide inhibits a wide spectrum of vasoconstrictor‐induced contractions in porcine interlobar and coronary arteries. Inhibition of vasocontraction may contribute to beneficial effects of picotamide in the cardiovascular system and kidney.
A class of new nonparametric circular‐grid charts for signal classification
Authors: Song Zhi , Mukherjee Amitava , Ma Ning , Zhang Jiujun
Published: April 2021

In this paper, some efficient monitoring and post‐signal follow‐up approaches are studied and compared for joint surveillance of location and scale of a process using the notions of circular‐grid (CG) schemes. Precisely, three variants of CG Cucconi schemes are introduced and compared with three variants of percentile modified Lepage (PML) schemes. One of the PML schemes is equivalent to the traditional CG Lepage scheme, while another may be viewed as the Lepage type statistic using Gastwrith score, which is also a powerful tool for process surveillance. Overall, one of the proposed CG Cucconi schemes is most effective in identifying a class of signals, whether it is a location shift or scale shift or a shift in both parameters. It also indicates the direction of the shifts in either or both the parameters. Detecting a downward scale shift is the most challenging task in joint monitoring, and to this end, a new bias‐corrected CG Lepage scheme is introduced. We compare the competing schemes in terms of correct signal classification probabilities. We illustrate the use of the proposed schemes in monitoring the trip‐duration data in cab services. Some concluding remarks and future research problems are offered.
Flexible time reduction method for burn‐in of high‐quality products
Authors: Kurz Daniel , Lewitschnig Horst , Pilz Juergen
Published: April 2021

Burn‐in is an effective method to screen out early failures of electronic devices. Typically, this is achieved by operating the devices under accelerated stress conditions. This paper focuses on a burn‐in concept where a random sample of devices is drawn out of the running production, put to burn‐in, and investigated for early failures. This procedure is called burn‐in study. In parallel, as long as the burn‐in study is ongoing, all other produced devices are subjected to burn‐in screening. In this article, new flexible sampling plans for burn‐in studies are introduced. These are based on the progress of these studies and defined quality targets. Furthermore, these sampling plans enable fast burn‐in time reductions and various time reduction strategies. From a statistical point of view, this requires to combine the proportion of early failures in a population with their lifetime distribution function. The new model is illustrated by case studies and simulations. It contributes to burn‐in cost reductions, while controlling quality levels at the same time.
Reliability modeling for multistage systems subject to competing failure processes
Authors: Lyu Hao , Yang Zaiyou , Wang Shuai , Zhao Yaping , Pecht Michael
Published: April 2021

In this paper, a novel multistage reliability model is provided as systems are often divided into many stages according to system degradation characteristics. Multistage hard failure (caused by random shock) process (MHFP) and multistage soft failure (caused by random shock and continuous degradation) process (MSFP) are introduced to describe the competing failure processes, where either the MSFP or MHFP would break down the system. The shock processes impact the system in three ways: (1) fatal load shocks cause hard failure immediately in the hard failure process; (2) time shocks cause a hard failure threshold changing; (3) damage load shocks cause degradation level increasing in the soft failure process. In this paper, a density function dispersion method is carried out to address the multistage reliability model, and the effectiveness of the proposed models is demonstrated by reliability analysis with the one‐stage model. Finally, the multistage model is applied to a case study, the degradation process is divided into three stages, and the hard failure threshold can be transmitted twice. The proposed model can be applied in other multistage situations, and the calculation method can satisfy the accuracy requirements.
Study of Anticancer Drugs Interaction with Hemoglobin by Electrochemical Methods and Molecular Docking: Implications towards Anticancer Treatment
Authors: Nayak Jyotsnamayee , Sahoo Suban K. , Kumar Rajender
Published: April 2021

Chemotherapeutic drugs tend to cause hemolysis; however, hemoglobin‘s mode of action is still less explored. In the present study, we used electrochemical methods and molecular docking approach to study anticancer drugs and hemoglobin interaction. For this purpose, we prepared self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) of thiolated hemoglobin on the gold substrate. Electrochemically active chemo drugs, i. e., doxorubicin, withaferin‐a, and 5‐fluorouracil, are selected and allowed to interact with SAMs of hemoglobin at the physiological condition to study the redox activity and impedimetric behavior. Doxorubicin and withaferin‐a show similar behavior in cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopic, i. e., redox process due to hydroquinone/quinone/ketone ring, and faster interfacial electro‐transfer kinetics and decreasing in electron‐transfer resistance with increasing concentration. In contrast, 5‐fluorouracil shows only the oxidation reaction. The molecular docking studies were in good agreement with the electrochemical study. All selected anticancer drugs are found to bind hemoglobin, with doxorubicin showing maximum binding efficiency and 5‐fluorouracil showing the least. Doxorubicin's highest binding sites contain Tyr 145, which may be involved in the electron transport pathway between doxorubicin and hemoglobin, while Tyr35 in withaferin‐a, but absent in case of 5‐fluorouracil.
Facile Synthesis of Ag NPs Decorated CuO/Cu2O Composite Nanoparticles for Enhancing Catalytic Activity in the Hydrogenation of 4‐ Nitrophenol
Authors: Zhang Nannan , Xie Ruyan , Song Wanyu , Zhang Fang , Chen Lihua , Chai Fang
Published: April 2021

The catalytic hydrogenation of 4‐Nitrophenol (4‐NP) can transfer serious toxic 4‐NP to invaluable industrial raw materials 4‐aminophenol (4‐AP) in the presence of NaBH4, which prevents industrial and agricultural wastewater affecting the health of living beings. It is crucial and meaningful to design cost‐effective catalysts as alternate to cut down the dependence on precious metals catalysts in the reduction of 4‐NP. Metal/semiconductor composites can be endowed promising cost‐effective substitution to catalyticly reduce 4‐NP. Herein, CuO/Cu2O−Ag composite nanoparticles (CNPs) were prepared based on the CuO/Cu2O nanocubes by a step method. The morphology and components of the CuO/Cu2O−Ag CNPs were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX) respectively. CuO/Cu2O−Ag CNPs displayed high catalytic activity in the hydrogenation of 4‐NP with pseudo‐first‐order rate constant of 1.5×10−2 s−1. Notably, a high turnover frequency of 6.44×10−2 s−1 was obtained, which expressed much higher than some noble‐metal catalysts. Also, CuO/Cu2O−Ag CNPs exhibited outstanding sustainable catalytic performance, as no distinct activity slump was perceived in continuous 10 cycles with conversion rate exceed 95 %, endowed it potential utility in industrialization.
A geometric Jacquet–Langlands correspondence for paramodular Siegel threefolds
Authors: van Hoften Pol
Published: April 2021

We study the Picard–Lefschetz formula for Siegel modular threefolds of paramodular level and prove the weight-monodromy conjecture for its middle degree inner cohomology. We give some applications to the Langlands programme: using Rapoport-Zink uniformisation of the supersingular locus of the special fiber, we construct a geometric Jacquet–Langlands correspondence between$${\text {GSp}}_4$$GSp4and a definite inner form, proving a conjecture of Ibukiyama. We also prove an integral version of the weight-monodromy conjecture and use it to deduce a level lowering result for cohomological cuspidal automorphic representations of$${\text {GSp}}_4$$GSp4.
Kompetenzdiagnose in der Berufsbildung von Pflegelehrpersonen
Authors: Schürmann Mirko , Bender Elena , Grebe Christian
Published: April 2021

In diesem Beitrag der Zeitschrift Gruppe. Interaktion. Organisation. (GIO) wird das Instrument zur Diagnose pädagogischer Kompetenzen von Pflegelehrpersonen (PädKomPflege) vorgestellt.

Die Berufsbildung in der Pflege ist durch sich verändernde inhaltliche und gesetzliche Anforderungen geprägt. Verschiedene landesspezifische rechtliche Vorgaben führen zu einem sehr heterogenen Bild von Qualifikationen und Kompetenzen der Pflegelehrpersonen. Die Anrechnung bereits erworbener Kompetenzen auf pflegepädagogische Studiengänge sowie die Kompetenzerfassung und -bilanzierung in Berufsbildungseinrichtungen spielt daher eine wichtige Rolle. Vor diesem Hintergrund wurde das Instrument PädKomPflege entwickelt und erprobt. Grundlage des Kompetenzmodells sind die Empfehlungen der Kultusministerkonferenz (2004) zu den Standards für die (allgemeine) Lehrerbildung sowie Expertenworkshops und -interviews mit PflegedidaktikerInnen. Die empirische Erprobung erfolgte an einer Stichprobe von 1096 Pflegelehrpersonen. Psychometrische Analysen auf Grundlage der klassischen Testtheorie sowie IRT-basierte Analysen führten zu einer Überarbeitung des Instruments, welches nun als zweisprachiges Online-Self-Assessmenttool (eng./deut.) vorliegt. Die Validierung der deutschsprachigen Version fand anhand von 545 TeilnehmerInnen im Jahr 2016 statt, sodass ein geprüftes Instrument mit 54 Items in den fünf Hauptskalen (Unterricht, Beurteilung, Beratung, Lernortkooperation sowie Organisations- und Schulentwicklung) und 18 Subskalen zur Verfügung steht.

Sowohl klassische als auch probabilistische Testgütekriterien werden erfüllt. Die Skalen weisen hohe interne Konsistenzen auf (α > 0,80) und sind überwiegend konstruktvalide. So lassen sich für 17 der 18 Subskalen ordinale Raschmodelle anpassen. Auf der Ebene der Hauptskalen können Partial Credit Modelle für alle Items von modellkonformen Subskalen einer Hauptskala angepasst werden. Das Instrument kann zur individuellen Kompetenzdiagnostik, zur Identifikation von Bildungsbedarfen in Schulen des Gesundheitswesens und im Kontext beruflicher Bildungsprozesse genutzt werden. In der Onlineversion erhalten Teilnehmende abschließend ein individuelles Kompetenzprofil mit möglichen Vergleichswerten. Das Tool kann begleitend zu Qualifizierungsprozessen als Monitoring-Instrument oder zur individuellen Kompetenzbilanzierung eingesetzt werden.
Probing the nanofriction of non-halogenated phosphonium-based ionic liquid additives in glycol ether oil on titanium surface
Authors: Qiu Xiuhua , Lu Linghong , Qu Zhenyu , Liao Jiongtao , Fan Qi , Shah Faiz Ullah , Zhang Wenling , An Rong
Published: April 2021

The nanofrictional behavior of non-halogentated phosphonium-based ionic liquids (ILs) mixed with diethylene glycol dibutyl ether in the molar ratios of 1:10 and 1:70 was investigated on the titanium (Ti) substrate using atomic force microscopy (AFM). A significant reduction is observed in the friction coefficient μ for the IL-oil mixtures with a higher IL concentration (1:10, μ ∼ 0.05), compared to that for the lower concentration 1:70 (μ ∼ 0.1). AFM approaching force-distance curves and number density profiles for IL-oil mixtures with a higher concentration revealed that the IL preferred to accumulate at the surface forming IL-rich layered structures. The ordered IL-rich layers formed on the titanium surface facilitated the reduction of the nanoscale friction by preventing direct surface-to-surface contact. However, the ordered IL layers disappeared in the case of lower concentration, resulting in an incomplete boundary layers, because the ions were displaced by molecules of the oil during sliding and revealed to be less efficient in friction reduction.
Firmware Security Module
Authors: Pott Claudius , Jungklass Philipp , Csejka David Jacek , Eisenbarth Thomas , Siebert Marco
Published: April 2021

New services such as autonomous driving, the connectivity of the traffic infrastructure and the tight coupling of user operated smart devices with the vehicle have significantly increased the demand for cryptographic protection in the automobile. To provide a secure environment for the calculation and verification of cryptographic material, automotive microcontrollers now frequently integrate Hardware Security Modules (HSM), special well-protected co-processors, which are protected against manipulation and external access. HSMs use special hardware accelerators to provide the required cryptographic services. While these accelerators provide good performance, they limit flexibility and updatability. In addition, as more services require cryptographic protection, the amount of key material that needs to be managed by the HSM also increases, turning the limited protected memory of the HSM into a bottleneck. This paper presents a framework that uses the safety mechanisms of a microcontroller to achieve both HSM-equivalent security through software solutions, while providing an equivalent level of functionality. Furthermore, the proposed framework provides crypto-agility, as the security stack can be updated if desired. In order to verify the functionality, the presented framework is implemented and evaluated on an Infineon AURIX TC399 and compared with the integrated HSM.
International Norms, Moral Psychology, and Neuroscience
Authors: Price Richard , Sikkink Kathryn
Published: April 2021

Research on international norms has yet to answer satisfactorily some of our own most important questions about the origins of norms and the conditions under which some norms win out over others. The authors argue that international relations (IR) theorists should engage more with research in moral psychology and neuroscience to advance theories of norm emergence and resonance. This Element first provides an overview of six areas of research in neuroscience and moral psychology that hold particular promise for norms theorists and international relations theory more generally. It next surveys existing literature in IR to see how literature from moral psychology is already being put to use, and then recommends a research agenda for norms researchers engaging with this literature. The authors do not believe that this exchange should be a one-way street, however, and they discuss various ways in which the IR literature on norms may be of interest and of use to moral psychologists, and of use to advocacy communities.
Low-fidelity method for rapid aerostructural optimisation and design-space exploration of planar wings
Authors: Taylor J.D. , Hunsaker D.F.
Published: April 2021

During early phases of wing design, analytic and low-fidelity methods are often used to identify promising design concepts. In many cases, solutions obtained using these methods provide intuition about the design space that is not easily obtained using higher-fidelity methods. This is especially true for aerostructural design. However, many analytic and low-fidelity aerostructural solutions are limited in application to wings with specific planforms and weight distributions. Here, a numerical method for minimising induced drag with structural constraints is presented that uses approximations that apply to unswept planar wings with arbitrary planforms and weight distributions. The method is applied to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ikhana airframe to show how it can be used for rapid aerostructural optimisation and design-space exploration. The design space around the optimum solution is visualised, and the sensitivity of the optimum solution to changes in weight distribution, structural properties, wing loading and taper ratio is shown. The optimum lift distribution and wing-structure weight for the Ikhana airframe are shown to be in good agreement with analytic solutions. Whereas most modern high-fidelity solvers obtain solutions in a matter of hours, all of the solutions shown here can be obtained in a matter of seconds.
Pesky Polygamist Women: The Marginalization of Qualitative Data in British Columbia’s Charter Reference on Polygamy
Authors: Bullock Nerida
Published: April 2021

This paper explores the thorny mingling of law with qualitative social science methodologies through the lens of the 2010–11 Supreme Court of British Columbia Charter Reference on polygamy, which was conducted to determine whether the criminalization of polygamy was consistent with theCanadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.The Reference reveals how the marginalization of qualitative research(ers) effectively controlled whose voices were to be heard and whose were to be silenced in the broader project of sovereign intervention into family formation. With specific focus on Professor Angela Campbell, who provided expert opinion testimony in the Reference, this paper reflects on two important questions: when social science is invoked in legal settings, whose knowledge is legitimized, and who benefits from this legitimization? Drawing upon the longstanding feminist project of deconstructing assumptions of value-neutrality in all science, this paper considers how qualitative, feminist research(ers) may be inherently at odds with law’s quest for (rational) “truth.”
Impact of COVID-19 on PM2.5 Pollution in Fastest-Growing Megacity Dhaka, Bangladesh
Authors: Sarkar Showmitra Kumar , Khan Md Mehedi Hasan
Published: April 2021

Objective:

The purpose of the research was to investigate and identify the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution in Dhaka, Bangladesh by using ground-based observation data.

Methods:

The research assessed air quality during the COVID-19 pandemic for PM2.5 from January 1, 2017 to August 1, 2020. The research considered pollution in pre-COVID-19 (January 1 to March 23), during COVID-19 (March 24 to May 30), and post-COVID-19 (May 31 to August 1) lockdown periods with current (2020) and historical (2017-2019) data.

Results:

PM2.5 pollution followed a similar yearly trend in year 2017-2020. The average concentration for PM2.5 was found 87.47 μg/m3 in the study period. Significant PM2.5 declines were observed in the current COVID-19 lockdown period compared with historical data: 11.31% reduction with an absolute decrease of 7.15 μg/m3.

Conclusions:

The findings of the research provide an overview of how the COVID-19 pandemic affects air pollution. The results will provide initial evidence regarding human behavioral changes and emission controls. This research will also suggest avenues for further study to link the findings with health outcomes.
Rigidity of joinings for some measure-preserving systems
Authors: DONG CHANGGUANG , KANIGOWSKI ADAM , WEI DAREN
Published: April 2021

We introduce two properties: strong R-property and
$C(q)$
-property, describing a special way of divergence of nearby trajectories for an abstract measure-preserving system. We show that systems satisfying the strong R-property are disjoint (in the sense of Furstenberg) with systems satisfying the
$C(q)$
-property. Moreover, we show that if
$u_t$
is a unipotent flow on
$G/\Gamma $
with
$\Gamma $
irreducible, then
$u_t$
satisfies the
$C(q)$
-property provided that
$u_t$
is not of the form
$h_t\times \operatorname {id}$
, where
$h_t$
is the classical horocycle flow. Finally, we show that the strong R-property holds for all (smooth) time changes of horocycle flows and non-trivial time changes of bounded-type Heisenberg nilflows.
With a Little Help from Their Friends: The Consequences of Populists in National Government for Policymaking in Local Government
Authors: Paxton Fred
Published: April 2021

Despite increasing research into populist parties in power, their impact on subnational institutions has been neglected. Taking a novel multilevel perspective, this article inquires into the policy consequences of populist radical right parties (specifically, the FPÖ and Lega) in local government, and the effect of their simultaneous participation in national government. The article shows the expansion of exclusionary policy that follows their concurrent presence in national and local government. The process that leads from national government entry to local policy influence is traced using interview and newspaper data. The article argues that the influence of central parties over these ‘showcase’ localities is rooted in different multilevel governance configurations. These vary cross-nationally according to two factors: the strength of mayors’ linkages with higher government levels in the different institutional settings and, due to the different extent of party nationalization, the strategic value of the municipality to the central party.
LAW, RELIGION, AND THE POLITICIZATION OF SEXUAL CITIZENSHIP IN KENYA
Authors: Parsitau Damaris Seleina
Published: April 2021

In Kenya, debates about sexual orientation have assumed center stage at several points in recent years, but particularly before and after the promulgation of the Constitution of Kenya in 2010. These debates have been fueled by religious clergy and by politicians who want to align themselves with religious organizations for respectability and legitimation, particularly by seeking to influence the nation's legal norms around sexuality. I argue that through their responses and attempts to influence legal norms, the religious and political leaders are not only responsible for the nonacceptance of same-sex relationships in Africa, but have also ensured that sexuality and embodiment have become a cultural and religious battleground. These same clergy and politicians seek to frame homosexuality as un-African, unacceptable, a threat to African moral and cultural sensibilities and sensitivities, and an affront to African moral and family values. Consequently, the perception is that homosexuals do not belong in Africa—that they cannot be entertained, accommodated, tolerated, or even understood. Ultimately, I argue that the politicization and religionization of same-sex relationships in Kenya, as elsewhere in Africa, has masked human rights debates and stifled serious academic and pragmatic engagements with important issues around sexual difference and sexual orientation while fueling negative attitudes toward people with different sexual orientations.
Molecular biomarkers to track clinical improvement following an integrative treatment model in autistic toddlers
Authors: Piras Ignazio S. , Manti Filippo , Costa Anna , Carone Valentina , Scalese Bruna , Talboom Joshua S. , Veronesi Christian , Tabolacci Claudio , Persico Antonio M. , Huentelman Matthew J. , Sacco Roberto , Lintas Carla
Published: April 2021

Objectives:

Identifying an objective, laboratory-based diagnostic tool (e.g. changes in gene expression), when used in conjunction with disease-specific clinical assessment, could increase the accuracy of the effectiveness of a therapeutic intervention.

Methods:

We assessed the association between treatment outcome and blood RNA expression before the therapeutic intervention to post-treatment (after 1 year) of five autism spectrum disorder (ASD) toddlers who underwent an intensive cognitive-behavioural intervention integrated with psychomotor and speech therapy.

Results:

We found 113 significant differentially expressed genes enriched for the nervous system, immune system, and transcription and translation-related pathways. Some of these genes, as MALAT-1, TSPO, and CFL1, appear to be promising candidates.

Conclusions:

Our findings show that changes in peripheral gene expression could be used in conjunction with clinical scales to monitor a rehabilitation intervention’s effectiveness in toddlers affected by ASD. These results need to be validated in a larger cohort.