bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A review of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) value chain: Postharvest handling, processing, and processed products
Authors: Oduro‐Yeboah Charlotte , Sulaiman Rabiha , Uebersax Mark A. , Dolan Kirk D.
Published: December 2022

Lentils (Lens culinaris Medik.) are grown worldwide in diverse agroecological regions with significant global production and trade. Since early 2000s, lentils production and consumption have been growing beyond its traditional areas of production and utilization, notably in USA, Canada, Australia, UK, and many European Union countries. Lentils are a rich source of protein, minerals, and many bioactive compounds. Therefore, lentil‐based products can offer a healthy food choice for all consumers, including those who are vegetarian or vegans, and/or looking for meat protein alternatives due to health and/or environmental concerns. In order to avail all the benefits that lentils offer, a quality maintenance approach is essential across value‐chain operations of postharvest handling, storage, and value‐added processing. In recent years, lentils have been used increasingly in a variety of value‐added products and cuisines in the developed countries. Different processing methods, for example, cooking, autoclaving, extrusion, baking, roasting, fermentation, and sprouting, significantly improve protein bioavailability, total digestibility, and overall nutritional and organoleptic quality. A number of traditional and innovative processing techniques also have been used to produce lentil‐based end‐products or ingredients for various food applications. Overall, lentils are well positioned as a food legume crop to cater to emerging trends among consumers, especially those looking for healthy food choices, an alternative plant‐based protein for global food security, and foods that are produced in environmentally friendly and agriculturally sustainable manner. Significant production and consumption trends for lentils clearly demonstrate enhanced value for consumers and further impact in contributions to a nutritious global food supply.
Recent Research Progress of 19F Magnetic Resonance Imaging Probes: Principle, Design, and Their Application
Authors: Mo Yongyi , Huang Chixiang , Liu Changjiang , Duan Ziwei , Liu Juan , Wu Dalin
Published: December 2022

Visualization of biomolecules, cells, and tissues, as well as metabolic processes in vivo is significant for studying the associated biological activities. Fluorine magnetic resonance imaging (19F MRI) holds potential among various imaging technologies thanks to its negligible background signal and deep tissue penetration in vivo. To achieve detection on the targets with high resolution and accuracy, requirements of high‐performance 19F MRI probes are demanding. An ideal 19F MRI probe is thought to have, first, fluorine tags with magnetically equivalent 19F nuclei, second, high fluorine content, third, adequate fluorine nuclei mobility, as well as excellent water solubility or dispersity, but not limited to. This review summarizes the research progresses of 19F MRI probes and mainly discusses the impacts of structures on in vitro and in vivo imaging performances. Additionally, the applications of 19F MRI probes in ions sensing, molecular structures analysis, cells tracking, and in vivo diagnosis of disease lesions are also covered in this article. From authors’ perspectives, this review is able to provide inspirations for relevant researchers on designing and synthesizing advanced 19F MRI probes.
The role of technological innovation, strategy, firms performance, and firms size and their aggregate impact on organizational structure
Authors: Li Haishi , Jiang Youxue , Ashiq Anam , Salman Asma , Haseeb Mohammad , Shabbir Malik Shahzad
Published: December 2022

This study investigates how numerous contingencies work together to influence the organizational structure of privately held businesses in China. This study is using a cross‐section primary data set from 83 private firms listed in China. The data are gathered by face‐to‐face interviews with entrepreneurs, and six hypotheses tests are performed regarding the contingencies of organizational form. Furthermore, the empirical findings indicate that environment, strategy, size, and technology play a significant role in explaining organizational form. Finally, financial factors are important aspects of the business environment, notably in dealing with cash flow problems and in forming profit expectations.
Real‐time 3D MRI reconstruction from cine‐MRI using unsupervised network in MRI‐guided radiotherapy for liver cancer
Authors: Wei Ran , Chen Jiayun , Liang Bin , Chen Xinyuan , Men Kuo , Dai Jianrong
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Respiration has a major impact on the accuracy of radiation treatment for thorax and abdominal tumours. Instantaneous volumetric imaging could provide precise knowledge of tumour and normal organs’ three‐dimensional (3D) movement, which is the key to reducing the negative effect of breathing motion. Therefore, this study proposed a real‐time 3D MRI reconstruction method from cine‐MRI using an unsupervised network.

Methods and materials

Cine‐MRI and setup 3D‐MRI from eight patients with liver cancer were utilized to establish and validate the deep learning network for 3D‐MRI reconstruction. Unlike previous methods that required 4D‐MRI for network training, the proposed method utilized a reference 3D‐MRI and cine‐MRI to generate the training data. Then, a network was trained in an unsupervised manner to estimate the relationship between the cine‐MRI acquired on coronal plane and deformation vector field (DVF) that describes the patient's breathing motion. After the training process, the coronal cine‐MRI were inputted into the network, and the corresponding DVF was obtained. By wrapping the reference 3D‐MRI with the generated DVF, the 3D‐MRI could be reconstructed.

Results

The reconstructed 3D‐MRI slices were compared with the corresponding phase‐sorted cine‐MRI using dice similarity coefficients (DSCs) of liver contours and blood vessel localization error. In all patients, the liver DSC had mean value >96.1% and standard deviation < 1.3%; the blood vessel localization error had mean value <2.6 mm, and standard deviation was <2.0 mm. Moreover, the time for 3D‐MRI reconstruction was approximately 100 ms. These results indicated that the proposed method could accurately reconstruct the 3D‐MRI in real time.

Conclusions

The proposed method could accurately reconstruct the 3D‐MRI from cine‐MRI in real time. This method has great potential in improving the accuracy of radiotherapy for moving tumours.
Preparation of highly efficient thermal insulating halloysite nanotubes/polyvinyl alcohol composite aerogel based on a simple freeze‐drying strategy
Authors: Lv Qingtao , Yang Jingfeng , Sun Xin , Tang Hui , Wang Lixin
Published: December 2022

The development of high‐performance energy‐saving insulation materials is significant for reducing building energy consumption and promoting carbon neutrality. Aerogels show great potential in energy‐saving insulation. However, their high preparation cost and poor mechanical properties limit their application. Here, based on a simple freeze‐drying strategy, a halloysite nanotubes (HNTs)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite aerogel is achieved via low‐cost and degradable industrial raw material. In particular, a simple process for changing the properties of HNTs/PVA composite aerogels by regulating the solid concentration. As a result, stable covalent cross‐linking and hydrogen bonding structure between HNTs and PVA, long‐range ordered pore structure with high porosity (97.6%), low density (0.12 g/cm3), and low thermal conductivity (44.333 mW/m K) endow the HNTs/PVA composite aerogel high compressive strength (3.33 MPa), lightweight, and highly efficient thermal insulation properties. This work offers an attractive material for building insulation and carbon neutral.
Effects of silane‐modified nano‐CaCO3 particles on the mechanical properties of carbon fiber/epoxy (CF/EP) composites
Authors: Durukan Seyma Nur , Beylergil Bertan , Dulgerbaki Cigdem
Published: December 2022

In this study, the effects of silane‐treated nano‐CaCO3 particles on the flexural, Mode‐I, Mode‐II and interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) properties of carbon fiber/epoxy composites are investigated experimentally. The surface of nano‐CaCO3 particles is treated with a silane coupling agent, namely, (3‐Glycidyloxypropyl) trimethoxysilane (GPTMS). Three‐point bending, double cantilever beam (DCB), end‐notch flexure (ENF), and short beam shear (SBS) tests are carried out on the prepared composite specimens according to the relevant ASTM requirements. The results show that with the dispersion of 5 wt% silane‐treated nano‐CaCO3 particles the flexural modulus, flexural strength, Mode‐I fracture toughness, Mode‐II fracture toughness, and ILSS values can be enhanced by 16.8%, 13.6%, 25.7%, 19.6%, and 19.8%, respectively, compared to reference composites. The storage modulus is also increased by about 15.3% with the silane‐treated nano‐CaCO3 particles. The silane‐treated nano‐CaCO3 particles had no significant effect on the glass transition temperature of the composites.
Large genomic introgression blocks of Phaseolus parvifolius Freytag bean into the common bean enhance the crossability between tepary and common beans
Authors: Barrera Santos , Berny Mier y Teran Jorge C. , Lobaton Juan David , Escobar Roosevelt , Gepts Paul , Beebe Steve , Urrea Carlos A.
Published: December 2022

The production of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), one of the most important sources of protein and minerals and one of the most consumed grain legumes globally, is highly affected by heat and drought constraints. In contrast, the tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius A. Gray), a common bean‐related species, is adapted to hot and dry climates. Hybridization to introduce complex traits from the tepary bean into the common bean has been challenging, as embryo rescue is required. In this study, we report three novel interspecific lines that were obtained by crossing lines from prior common bean × tepary bean hybridization with Phaseolus parvifolius Freytag in order to increase the male gametic diversity to facilitate interspecific crosses. These interspecific lines enhanced the crossability of the common bean and tepary bean species while avoiding the embryo rescue process. Crossing these three interspecific lines with tepary beans resulted in 12‐fold more hybrid plants than crossing traditional common beans with tepary beans. Whole‐genome sequencing analysis of these three interspecific lines shows large introgressions of genomic regions corresponding to P. parvifolius on chromosomes that presumably contribute to reproductive barriers between both species. The development of these lines opens up the possibility of increasing the introgression of desirable tepary bean traits into the common bean to address constraints driven by climate change.
Gastrointestinal factors associated with risk of bronchiectasis in children
Authors: Duncan Daniel R. , Cohen Alexandra , Golden Clare , Lurie Margot , Mitchell Paul D. , Liu Enju , Simoneau Tregony , Rosen Rachel L.
Published: December 2022

Objective

To evaluate gastrointestinal (GI) risk factors for bronchiectasis in children. We hypothesized that upper GI tract dysmotility would be associated with increased risk of bronchiectasis.

Study design

Subjects in this retrospective cohort study included those evaluated for persistent pulmonary symptoms in the Aerodigestive Center at Boston Children's Hospital who underwent chest computed tomography (CT) between 2002 and 2019. To determine gastrointestinal predictors of bronchiectasis, baseline characteristics, comorbidities, enteral tube status, medications received, gastroesophageal reflux burden, adequacy of swallow function, esophageal dysmotility, gastric dysmotility, and neutrophil count on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were compared between patients with and without bronchiectasis. Proportions were compared with Fisher's exact test and binary logistic regression with stepwise selection was used for multivariate analysis. ROC analyses were utilized to compare BAL neutrophils and bronchiectasis.

Results

Of 192 subjects, 24% were found to have evidence of bronchiectasis on chest CT at age 7.9 ± 0.5 years. Enteral tubes (OR 5.77, 95% CI 2.25–14.83,p < 0.001) and increased BAL neutrophil count (OR 5.79, 95% CI 1.87–17.94,p = 0.002) were associated with increased risk while neurologic comorbidities were associated with decreased risk (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.09–0.66,p = 0.006). Gastroesophageal reflux was not found to be a significant risk factor. Neutrophil counts >10% had 72% sensitivity and 60% specificity for identifying bronchiectasis.

Conclusions

Enteral tubes were associated with significantly increased risk of bronchiectasis but gastroesophageal reflux was not. Providers should consider obtaining chest CT to evaluate for bronchiectasis in children found to have unexplained elevated BAL neutrophil count.
Utilization of the Critic Subnetwork of a Generative Adversarial Network as Detector of Morphological Material Change in Image Data
Authors: Beste Ariana , Bolintineanu Dan S. , Bufford Daniel C.
Published: December 2022

The resolution of computed tomography (CT) has become high enough to monitor morphological changes due to aging in materials in long‐term applications. We explored the utility of the critic of a generative adversarial network (GAN) to automatically detect such changes. The GAN was trained with images of pristine Pharmatose, which is used as a surrogate energetic material. It is important to note that images of the material with altered morphology were only used during the test phase. The GAN‐generated images reproduced the microstructure of Pharmatose well, although some unrealistic particle fusion was seen. Calculated morphological metrics (volume fraction, interfacial line length, and local thickness) for the synthetic images also showed good agreement with the training data, albeit with signs of mode collapse in the interfacial line length. While the critic exposed changes in particle size, it showed limited ability to distinguish images by particle shape. The detection of shape differences was also a more challenging task for the selected morphological metrics that related to energetic material performance. We further tested the critic with images of aged Pharmatose. Subtle changes due to aging are difficult for the human analyst to detect; but both critic and morphological metrics analysis showed image differentiation.
Metal‐binding and circular permutation‐dependent thermodynamic and kinetic stability of azurin
Authors: Das Debanjana , Yadav Priya , Mitra Soumyajit , Ainavarapu Sri Rama Koti
Published: December 2022

Native topology is known to determine the folding kinetics and the energy landscape of proteins. Furthermore, the circular permutation (CP) of proteins alters the order of the secondary structure connectivity while retaining the three‐dimensional structure, making it an elegant and powerful approach to altering native topology. Previous studies elucidated the influence of CP in proteins with different folds such as Greek key β‐barrel, β‐sandwich, β‐α‐β, and all α‐Greek key. CP mainly affects the protein stability and unfolding kinetics, while folding kinetics remains mostly unaltered. However, the effect of CP on metalloproteins is yet to be elaborately studied. The active site of metalloproteins poses an additional complexity in studying protein folding. Here, we investigate a CP variant (cpN42) of azurin—in both metal‐free and metal‐bound (holo) forms. As observed earlier in other proteins, apo‐forms of wild‐type (WT) and cpN42 fold with similar rates. In contrast, zinc‐binding accelerates the folding of WT but decelerates the folding of cpN42. On zinc‐binding, the spontaneous folding rate of WT increases by >250 times that of cpN42, which is unprecedented and the highest for any CP to date. On the other hand, zinc‐binding reduces the spontaneous unfolding rate of cpN42 by ~100 times, making the WT and CP azurins unfold at similar rates. Our study demonstrates metal binding as a novel way to modulate the unfolding and folding rates of CPs compared to their WT counterparts. We hope our study increases the understanding of the effect of CP on the folding mechanism and energy landscape of metalloproteins.
A Bayesian method for safety signal detection in ongoing blinded randomised controlled trials
Authors: Brock Kristian , Chen Chen , Ho Shuyen , Fuller Greg , Woolfolk Jared , McShea Cindy , Penard Nils
Published: December 2022

Sponsors have a responsibility to minimise risk to participants in clinical studies through safety monitoring. The FDA Final Rule for IND Safety Reporting requires routine aggregate safety evaluation, including in ongoing blinded studies. We are interested in estimating the probability that the true adverse event rate in the experimental arm exceeds that in the control arm. We developed a Bayesian approach that specifies an informative meta‐analytic predictive prior on the event probability in the control arm and an uninformative prior on that in the experimental arm. We combined these priors with a mixture likelihood that considers each patient in the ongoing blinded study may belong to the experimental or control arm. This allowed us to estimate the quantity of interest without unblinding. We evaluated our method by simulation, pairing scenarios that differed only in whether a safety signal was present or missing, and quantifying the ability of our model to discriminate using signal detection theory. Our approach shows benefit. It detects safety signals more reliably with greater sample sizes and for common rather than rare events. Performance does not deteriorate markedly when historical studies exhibit heterogeneous hazards or non‐constant hazards. Our method will allow us to monitor safety signals in ongoing blinded studies with the goal of earlier identification and risk mitigation. Our method could be adapted to use informative priors on both arms or predictive covariates where pertinent data exist. We stress that ongoing safety monitoring should involve a multi‐disciplinary team where statistical methods are paired with medical judgement.
“I Don't Like Peas!”: Using Picturebooks to Think Differently & Critically about Curriculum, Teaching, Learning, and Technology
Authors: Bintz William P.
Published: December 2022

This article shares a variety of picturebooks that invite teachers to think critically about curriculum, teaching, learning, and technology (CTLT). It posits that teaching and learning are not perfectible absolutes but continuous processes that invite teachers to develop beyond what they already know. Reading professional literature, conducting research, attending conferences, collaborating with colleagues, and discussing and reflecting on current practices are resources for teachers to grow and develop, instructionally and intellectually. Picturebooks are also important resources. Like all texts, picturebooks can offer meaning potentials that invite teachers to think critically about CTLT, as well as help K‐12 students and teachers develop a love affair with books.
A synthesis of ecosystem metabolism of China's major rivers and coastal zones (2000–2020)
Authors: Zhang Meng , Francis Robert A. , Chadwick Michael A.
Published: December 2022

Ecosystem metabolism is a vital measurement for understanding the dynamics of aquatic environments. China has a range of aquatic resources and in the past two decades, there has been an increasing interest in ecosystem metabolism research. However, no studies have evaluated overall variation and environmental patterns which affect metabolism in China's vast range of aquatic systems. For this paper, we searched for articles with metabolism data for China's major rivers and coastal zones from 2000 to 2020. We identified 127 studies documenting ecosystem metabolism functions including primary production (PP), community respiration (CR) and net ecosystem production (NEP). Using path analysis, we documented relationships across a range of environmental parameters. Light availability affected riverine and coastal PP (<0.1–10.7 gC m−2 day−1), while riverine PP was also linked to precipitation, photosynthesis‐related biomass, and land‐use variables. Riverine and coastal CR ranged from 0.01 to 24.3 gC m−2 day−1 and was affected strongly by nutrient concentrations. Average NEP ranged from 2.9 to 9.2 gC m−2 day−1, suggesting the potential of some of the evaluated ecosystems to be CO2 sinks. Within this review, the large spatiotemporal range allows for a wide‐ranging understanding of the variation of metabolic processes which contribute to CO2 dynamics and the role of aquatic ecosystems in regional climate change. Additionally, by evaluating aquatic ecosystem metabolism across such a diverse range of environmental conditions this work provides a scientific basis for future assessments of ecological risks under the complex conditions of climate change.

This article is categorized under:

Science of Water > Water Quality

Science of Water > Water and Environmental Change

Water and Life > Nature of Freshwater Ecosystems
Wind plant power maximization via extremum seeking yaw control: A wind tunnel experiment
Authors: Kumar Devesh , Rotea Mario A. , Aju Emmanuvel J. , Jin Yaqing
Published: December 2022

This work describes the results from wind tunnel experiments performed to maximize wind plant total power output using wake steering via closed loop yaw angle control. The experimental wind plant consists of nine turbines arranged in two different layouts; both are two dimensional arrays and differ in the positioning of the individual turbines. Two algorithms are implemented to maximize wind plant power: Log‐of‐Power Extremum Seeking Control (LP‐ESC) and Log‐of‐Power Proportional Integral Extremum Seeking Control (LP‐PIESC). These algorithms command the yaw angles of the turbines in the upstream row. The results demonstrate that the algorithms can find the optimal yaw angles that maximize total power output. The LP‐PIESC reached the optimal yaw angles much faster than the LP‐ESC. The sensitivity of the LP‐PIESC to variations in free stream wind speed and initial yaw angles is studied to demonstrate robustness to variations in wind speed and unknown yaw misalignment.
Overcoming Abstraction: Affectual States in the Efforts to Decarbonize Energy Among Young Climate Activists in Stavanger, Norway
Authors: Lautrup Andy
Published: December 2022

Lautrup engages ethnographically with energy transitions towards a low-carbon future as experienced by young climate activists in Norway’s oil-capital Stavanger. By relating the activists’ sense of climate change as abstract to climate change’s manifestation in digital data models as a phenomenon taking place in no specific location and mainly in the future (Knox. 2021. “Hacking Anthropology”.Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute27.S1 (2021): 108–126), the chapter shows that the activists work to overcome abstractions by focusing on the local and contemporary through examples that come from the Global North and provide visceral, embodied effects. The young activists’ concretizing practices, Lautrup argues, result in affective states that render concreteness as something desirable and abstraction as something undesirable to be overcome, but also that in an oil-city, there is a limit to the desirability of concreteness.
Mediatised Practices: Renovating Homes with Media and ICTs in Australia
Authors: Aggeli Aggeliki , Mechlenborg Mette
Published: December 2022

The extensive use of media and information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the household is building a new normality, where the use of technology is imperceptible to its users. Within this context, home renovation can be examined as a mediatised practice, which suggests the interactive transformation of practices which takes place with and through media. Our chapter is based on an interdisciplinary Australian study of 13 home renovations and their media practices. In this chapter, we argue that home renovation activities have moved into the digital realm. Furthermore, we emphasise that these mediatised home renovation practices contribute to the development of new mediatised domains that could assist in the transition and domestication of low-carbon practices and technologies.
Deep Learning for the Benes Filter
Authors: Lobbe Alexander
Published: December 2022

The filtering problem is concerned with the optimal estimation of a hidden state given partial and noisy observations. Filtering is extensively studied in the theoretical and applied mathematical literature. One of the central challenges in filtering today is the numerical approximation of the optimal filter. Here, accurate and fast methods are actively sought after, especially for such high-dimensional settings as numerical weather prediction, for example. In this paper we present a brief study of a new numerical method based on the mesh-free neural network representation of the density of the solution of the filtering problem achieved by deep learning. Based on the classical SPDE splitting method, our algorithm includes a recursive normalisation procedure to recover the normalised conditional distribution of the signal process. The present work uses the Benes model as a benchmark. The Benes filter is a well-known continuous-time stochastic filtering model in one dimension that has the advantage of being explicitly solvable. Within the analytically tractable setting of the Benes filter, we discuss the role of nonlinearity in the filtering model equations for the choice of the domain of the neural network. Further, we present the first study of the neural network method with an adaptive domain for the Benes model.
A Two-Step Numerical Scheme in Time for Surface Quasi Geostrophic Equations Under Location Uncertainty
Authors: Fiorini Camilla , Boulvard Pierre-Marie , Li Long , Mémin Etienne
Published: December 2022

In this work we consider the surface quasi-geostrophic (SQG) system under location uncertainty (LU) and propose a Milstein-type scheme for these equations, which is then used in a multi-step method. The SQG system considered here consists of one stochastic partial differential equation, which models the stochastic transport of the buoyancy, and a linear operator linking the velocity and the buoyancy. In the LU setting, the Euler-Maruyama scheme converges with weak order 1 and strong order 0.5. Our aim is to develop higher order schemes in time, based on a Milstein-type scheme in a multi-step framework. First we compared different kinds of Milstein schemes. The scheme with the best performance is then included in the two-step scheme. Finally, we show how our two-step scheme decreases the error in comparison to other multi-step schemes.
Feedbackorientierte Lernumgebungen zur Gestaltung offener Aufgabenstellungen mit Machine Learning, AR und 3D-Druck
Authors: Lutz Tim
Published: December 2022

Dieser Artikel beschäftigt sich mit verschiedenen Ansätzen der Entwicklung feedbackorientierter Lernumgebungen zur Gestaltung immer offener gefasster Aufgabenstellungen mit Machine Learning (ML), Augmented Reality und 3D-Druck. Vom Begriff „Feedback“ ausgehend werden Aspekte des computerbasierten Feedbacks dargestellt. Dabei wird die in der Hochschulmathematik sehr beliebte Software STACK als ein aktuelles Beispiel für vielfältige Feedbackmöglichkeiten aufgezeigt. Die konkrete Ausgestaltung von computerbasiertem Feedback mittels STACK führt dann zu Überlegungen, wie Feedback für noch „offenere“ Aufgabenstellungen designt werden kann. Der Hauptteil dieses Artikels zeigt dies an Praxisbeispielen. Für die Mathematikdidaktik sollen Bereiche ausgelotet werden, um vielfältige neue digital gestützte Feedbackansätze zu entwickeln.
Cardiac MRI in patients with COVID-19 infection
Authors: Abdeldayem Emad H. , Raief Mosaad Basant M. , Yassin Aya , Abdelrahman Ahmed S.
Published: December 2022

Objective

COVID-19 infection is a systemic disease with various cardiovascular symptoms and complications. Cardiac MRI with late gadolinium enhancement is the modality of choice for the assessment of myocardial involvement. T1 and T2 mapping can increase diagnostic accuracy and improve further management. Our study aimed to evaluate the different aspects of myocardial damage in cases of COVID-19 infection using cardiac MRI.

Methods

This descriptive retrospective study included 86 cases, with a history of COVID-19 infection confirmed by positive RT-PCR, who met the inclusion criteria. Patients had progressive chest pain or dyspnoea with a suspected underlying cardiac cause, either by an abnormal electrocardiogram or elevated troponin levels. Cardiac MRI was performed with late contrast-enhanced (LGE) imaging, followed by T1 and T2 mapping.

Results

Twenty-four patients have elevated hsTnT with a median hsTnT value of 133 ng/L (IQR: 102 to 159 ng/L); normal value < 14 ng/L. Other sixty-two patients showed elevated hsTnI with a median hsTnI value of 1637 ng/L (IQR: 1340 to 2540 ng/L); normal value < 40 ng/L. CMR showed 52 patients with acute myocarditis, 23 with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, and 11 with myocardial infarction. Invasive coronary angiography was performed only in selected patients.

Conclusion

Different COVID-19-related cardiac injuries may cause similar clinical symptoms. Cardiac MRI is the modality of choice to differentiate between the different types of myocardial injury such as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy and infection-related cardiomyopathy or even acute coronary syndrome secondary to vasculitis or oxygen-demand mismatch.

Key Points

• It is essential to detect early COVID-related cardiac injury using different cardiac biomarkers and cardiac imaging, as it has a significant impact on patient management and outcome.

• Cardiac MRI is the modality of choice to differentiate between the different aspects of COVID-related myocardial injury.
Mushroom to manoeuvre? Using photogrammetry to track the movement and survival of free-living corals
Authors: Bayley D. T. I. , Mogg A. O. M.
Published: December 2022

Mushroom corals can play an important role in tropical reef ecosystems by providing habitat and performing important ecological functions. Unlike most stony corals, free-living mushroom corals can move, both passively and actively, and can use this ability to escape competition or harmful environments. However, as their movement is typically slow, occurs over relatively small scales, and is traditionally hard to measure, their movement ecology is little researched. Nevertheless, quantitative geospatial data on species’ movement, distribution, survival, and interaction can improve mechanistic modelling of community dynamics in various environments. We use ‘structure from motion’ photogrammetry to track 51 individual corals’ 3D movement and survival over one year within an isolated and enclosed lagoon. This technique essentially provides a large-scale quantitative community time-lapse and allows detailed individual level life-history data to be collected over spatial and temporal scales that were previously impractical.
Oral and general health conditions involved in periodontal status during pregnancy: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Gil-Montoya J. A. , Rivero-Blanco T. , Leon-Rios X. , Exposito-Ruiz M. , Pérez-Castillo I. , Aguilar-Cordero M. J.
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Pregnancy is a period in a woman’s life that has important consequences on oral health, particularly for gingival health. Present study aims to identify women at higher risk of developing periodontal disease (gingivitis and periodontitis) during late pregnancy and evaluate how this condition evolves during this period.

Methods

Prospective cohort study was designed with pregnant women who were assessed during the first and third trimesters of gestation in a southern Spanish public hospital. Data regarding gingival and periodontal health, oral hygiene, and overall health status (obesity and diabetes mellitus) were collected. Reporting followed STROBE checklist.

Results

Significantly higher number of women had the periodontal and gingival disease in the third trimester of gestation compared with in early pregnancy. In the third trimester of gestation, 42 (28.6%) and 63 (42.9%) of women presented symptoms of periodontal disease and gingival disease, respectively. Obesity (OR 2.834; 95%CI 0.919–8.741), worse oral hygiene during the first trimester of gestation (OR: 4.031; 95%CI 2.12–7.65), and periodontal disease during early pregnancy (OR: 15.104; 95%CI 3.60–63.36) most effectively predicted periodontal disease during late pregnancy.

Conclusions

Pregnancy is associated with exacerbated periodontal and gingival disease symptoms throughout the different trimesters of gestation. Obesity and oral hygiene during early pregnancy were the risk factors that most contributed to the aforementioned changes in periodontal disease.
A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group Phase 2b Trial of P2X3 Receptor Antagonist Sivopixant for Refractory or Unexplained Chronic Cough
Authors: McGarvey Lorcan , Smith Jaclyn A. , Morice Alyn , Birring Surinder S. , Chung Kian Fan , Dicpinigaitis Peter V. , Niimi Akio , Benninger Michael S. , Sher Mandel , Matsunaga Yuko , Miyazaki Sayaka , Machida Mitsuaki , Ishihara Hiroyuki , Mahmood Adnan , Gomez Juan-Carlos
Published: December 2022

Introduction

To determine the optimal dose of sivopixant, a highly selective P2X3 receptor antagonist, for refractory or unexplained chronic cough (RCC/UCC).

Methods

In this phase 2b, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicenter trial, patients received sivopixant 50, 150, or 300 mg or placebo once daily for 4 weeks. The primary endpoint was a change from baseline in 24-h cough frequency (coughs/h) with sivopixant vs placebo.

Results

Overall, 390/406 randomized patients completed the study. Placebo-adjusted changes in hourly cough count over 24 h were 13.17% (P = 0.3532), − 1.77% (P = 0.8935), and − 12.47% (P = 0.3241) and in cough severity (visual analog scale) were 1.75 mm (P = 0.5854), − 1.21 mm (P = 0.7056), and − 6.55 mm (P = 0.0433) with sivopixant 50, 150, and 300 mg, respectively. Placebo-adjusted changes from baseline in Leicester Cough Questionnaire total scores were − 0.37 (P = 0.4207), − 0.07 (P = 0.8806), and 0.69 (P = 0.1473) with sivopixant 50, 150, and 300 mg, respectively. Additionally, 61.3%, 78.3%, 86.8%, and 71.4% of patients receiving sivopixant 50, 150, and 300 mg and placebo, respectively, reported any improvements in Patient Global Impression of Change. The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) was 25.7%, 32.0%, 49.0%, and 20.6% in sivopixant 50, 150, and 300 mg and placebo groups, respectively; all TEAEs in the sivopixant group were mild-to-moderate.

Conclusion

Sivopixant did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference vs placebo in change from baseline in 24-h cough frequency. The dose of 300 mg has potential for RCC/UCC, showing the greatest improvements in cough frequency and patient-reported outcomes and dose-related mild to moderate reversible taste disturbance, although further trials are needed.

Clinical Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT04110054; registered September 26, 2019.
Fatigue trajectories during pediatric ALL therapy are associated with fatigue after treatment: a national longitudinal cohort study
Authors: Irestorm Elin , Steur Lindsay M. H. , Kaspers Gertjan J. L. , Van Eijkelenburg Natasha K. A. , Van der Sluis Inge M. , Dors Natasja , Van den Bos Cor , Tissing Wim J. E. , Grootenhuis Martha A. , Van Litsenburg Raphaele R. L.
Published: December 2022

Objective

Fatigue is one of the most prevalent and distressing symptoms reported by survivors of childhood cancer. There is currently a lack of longitudinal studies on cancer-related fatigue, and especially on the relationship between the course of fatigue during treatment and fatigue at follow-up. The purpose of the current study was therefore to investigate if the course of fatigue during treatment, treatment intensity, serious adverse events, sex, or age at diagnosis are associated with cancer-related fatigue after treatment.

Methods

Participants were 92 children and adolescents diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (mean age at diagnosis was 6.26 years). Fatigue was measured with PedsQL multidimensional fatigue scale proxy reports 5 months after diagnosis, 12 months after diagnosis, 24 months after diagnosis, and at follow-up 12 months after end of treatment. The effect of patient and treatment characteristics on fatigue reported at follow-up was tested through logistic regression analyses.

Results

The course of fatigue during treatment significantly predicted fatigue reported at follow-up for general fatigue (p = .038, OR = 9.20), sleep/rest fatigue (p = .011, OR = 15.48), and cognitive fatigue (p < .001, OR = 10.78). None of the other variables were associated with fatigue at follow-up for any of the subscales.

Conclusions

The findings demonstrate that fatigue reported during treatment can predict fatigue at follow-up. These results stress the need for longitudinal assessments. Healthcare professionals need to be aware that pediatric patients who are fatigued during treatment need to receive additional attention and timely interventions since cancer-related fatigue will not resolve by itself in the first year after end of treatment.
Do members of cancer peer support groups know more about cancer than non-members? Results from a cross-sectional study in Germany
Authors: Ziegler Elâ , Klein Jens , Kofahl Christopher
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This study aims to assess whether cancer-specific knowledge (CSK) is associated with membership in a cancer peer support group (PSG) and other factors.

Methods

A cross-sectional study investigated the CSK of 1121 cancer patients of various entities across Germany. CSK was measured with the BCKS-14, a 14-item knowledge instrument which was previously participatory developed with patient representatives and oncologists. Associations between CSK and PSG membership, sociodemographic factors, internet use, and preferences in medical decision-making were analysed with t-tests and multiple linear regressions.

Results

The t-test showed a statistically significant difference in CSK between members and non-members of PSGs. Knowledge for PSG members was on average 0.97 points higher (p < 0.001) and varied between 2 and 14 points compared to 0–14 points for non-members. Regression analysis revealed age, gender, time since diagnosis, education, internet use, and PSG activity to be statistically significant predictors. Younger (β =  − 0.15; p < 0.001), female (β = 0.10; p = 0.001), higher educated patients (β = 0.27; p < 0.001) with and a diagnosis longer ago (β = 0.10; p = 0.002) who use the internet frequently for information seeking (β = 0.20; p ≤ 0.001) and members of cancer PSGs (β = 0.18; p ≤ 0.001) showed a higher CSK.

Conclusion

Overall, CSK of the participants shows a high degree of variance. CSK should be promoted for all patients and especially for older, newly diagnosed patients with low educational levels and PSGs introduced early on as they contribute to improving CSK among other benefits.
CO2 Injection-Induced Shearing and Fracturing in Naturally Fractured Conventional and Superhot Geothermal Environments
Authors: Pramudyo Eko , Goto Ryota , Sakaguchi Kiyotoshi , Nakamura Kengo , Watanabe Noriaki
Published: December 2022

This study elucidates the possibility of CO2 injection-induced formation of a complex cloud-fracture network (CFN) in granite, along with shearing (shear slip) of natural pre-existing fractures under conventional (~ 150–300 °C) and superhot (> ~ 400 °C) geothermal conditions, potentially providing additional connecting flow paths between the stimulated natural fractures. Here, we conduct a set of experiments under triaxial stress states at 150 °C and 450 °C on cylindrical granite samples containing a sawcut (representing a natural fracture) inclined 45° from the sample’s axis. CO2 injection induced dynamic shear slip on the sawcut, with higher slip velocities at 150 °C owing to the higher elasticity of the rock than that at 450 °C. The lower viscosity of CO2 also allowed it to more uniformly pressurize the sawcut, resulting in higher slip velocities and slip displacements compared with those based on water injection in the 150 °C experiments. This implies that under conventional geothermal conditions, CO2 injection can stimulate the same volume of rock as that of water injection at lower injection-well pressures. The CFNs then formed via CO2 injection at pressures similar to those predicted by the Griffith failure criterion as the sawcut shear slip progressed at both experimental temperatures. The experiments also revealed potential challenges associated with CO2 injection in naturally fractured geothermal environments, such as narrow aperture CFNs, owing to decreasing differential stress during their formation; all these factors should be addressed in future research.
Climate change projections of continental-scale streamflow across the Mississippi River Basin
Authors: Lewis James W. , Lytle Sara E. , Tavakoly Ahmad A.
Published: December 2022

A large body of scientific research has demonstrated a changing climate, which affects river flow regimes and extreme flood frequencies and magnitudes. The magnitude and frequency of extreme events are of critical importance in the evaluation of river systems to inform flood risk reduction under current and future conditions. The global climate projections from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project, Phase 5 (CMIP5) datasets were used by the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) land surface model to produce a runoff dataset, implementing a Bias-Correction Spatial Disaggregation (BCSD) approach. The resulting runoff was then used as input to the Routing Application for Parallel computatIon of Discharge (RAPID) river routing model to simulate daily flows within all 1.2 million Mississippi River Basin river reaches for years 1950 through 2099. This research effort analyzed the performance of the models for the historical time period, comparing with the observations at 64 gage locations for 16 different climate models. A recurrence interval analysis was performed to determine the 2-, 5-, 10-, 50-, 100-, 500-, and 1000-year events within both the historical and projected time periods, highlighting the relative changes predicted into the future. Anticipated seasonal changes are demonstrated by comparing monthly average streamflows for three different time periods (1951–2005, 2006–2049, and 2050–2099). Results indicate that the hydrologic conditions of the Lower Mississippi River are not stationary. Based on all 16 models considered in this study, the median of the model projections shows an 8% increase in the 100-year return period discharge at Vicksburg, Mississippi, into the future time period, although the full range of 16 models varies widely from − 11 to + 85% change in the 100-year discharge in the future.
Dye-labeled aromatic azides for multi-photon grafting
Authors: Gallas Katharina , Wohlmuth Dominik , Li Zhiquan , Ajami Aliasghar , Ovsianikov Aleksandr , Liska Robert , Slugovc Christian
Published: December 2022

The synthesis of two dye-labeled azides via de-symmetrization of 2,6-bis(4-azidobenzylidene)-4-methylcyclohexanone (BAC-M) with a copper(I)-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) using fluorescent dyes is reported. An alkyne functionalized dansyl derivative and an alkyne functionalized perylene diimide derivative were used as the dyes. The photo-physical properties of these dye dyads are described, and their performance in multi-photon grafting onto polyethylene glycol-based hydrogels is investigated. While the dansyl-conjugated BAC derivate is well suited for multi-photon grafting with lasers operating at 800 nm, the perylene diimide-bearing dye does not give the desired result.

Graphical abstract
Gemeinsame Perspektiven Humanistischer Psychotherapien in Covid-Zeiten
Authors: Grillmeier-Rehder Ursula , Hochreiter Karoline , Kisler Ida-Maria , Korunka Christian , Schigl Brigitte
Published: December 2022

Der Beitrag ist ein Versuch, das Spannungsfeld von Unterschieden und Gemeinsamkeiten der fünf großen humanistischen Schulen (Gestalt, Psychodrama, Personzentrierte PT, Logotherapie und Existenzanalyse, Integrative Therapie) in Bezug auf ein relevantes gesellschaftliches Themenfeld auszuloten. Die Covid-19 Pandemie stellt für die gesamte Psychotherapie eine große Herausforderung dar. Viele Menschen leiden unter den zahlreichen Auswirkungen der Pandemie. Aber auch die therapeutische Praxis hat sich dadurch verändert. Wir suchen in diesem Beitrag nach Antworten aus der Sicht der humanistischen Psychotherapieverfahren.

Im ersten Teil werden schulenspezifische Zugänge in Bezug auf die Auswirkungen der Pandemie vorgestellt. Hier unterscheiden sich die Schulen in Theorie, Sprache und Schwerpunktsetzungen. Anschließend versuchen wir die Gemeinsamkeiten unserer Ansätze zu erarbeiten. Im zweiten Teil werden Gemeinsamkeiten humanistischer Ansätze in Bezug auf den Umgang mit der Pandemie erarbeitet. Dazu gehören Aspekte des Menschenbildes, philosophische Verankerungen, die Spannungsfelder von Freiheit/Verantwortung und Autonomie/Bezogenheit und die Rolle der therapeutischen Beziehung.
Low-temperature Mössbauer spectroscopy of organs from 57Fe-enriched HFE(−/−) hemochromatosis mice: an iron-dependent threshold for generating hemosiderin
Authors: Vali Shaik Waseem , Lindahl Paul A.
Published: December 2022

Hereditary hemochromatosis is an iron-overload disease most often arising from a mutation in the Homeostatic Fe regulator (HFE) gene. HFE organs become overloaded with iron which causes damage. Iron-overload is commonly detected by NMR imaging, but the spectroscopic technique is insensitive to diamagnetic iron. Here, we used Mössbauer spectroscopy to examine the iron content of liver, spleen, kidney, heart, and brain of 57Fe-enriched HFE(−/−) mice of ages 3–52 wk. Overall, the iron contents of all investigated HFE organs were similar to the same healthy organ but from an older mouse. Livers and spleens were majorly overloaded, followed by kidneys. Excess iron was generally present as ferritin. Iron–sulfur clusters and low-spin FeII hemes (combined into the central quadrupole doublet) and nonheme high-spin FeII species were also observed. Spectra of young and middle-aged HFE kidneys were dominated by the central quadrupole doublet and were largely devoid of ferritin. Collecting and comparing spectra at 5 and 60 K allowed the presence of hemosiderin, a decomposition product of ferritin, to be quantified, and it also allowed the diamagnetic central doublet to be distinguished from ferritin. Hemosiderin was observed in spleens and livers from HFE mice, and in spleens from controls, but only when iron concentrations exceeded 2–3 mM. Even in those cases, hemosiderin represented only 10–20% of the iron in the sample. NMR imaging can identify iron-overload under non-invasive room-temperature conditions, but Mössbauer spectroscopy of 57Fe-enriched mice can detect all forms of iron and perhaps allow the process of iron-overloading to be probed in greater detail.

Graphical Abstract