bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Feasibility of immunotherapy in cancer patients with persistent or past hepatitis B or C virus infection
Authors: Nakabori Tasuku , Abe Yutaro , Higashi Sena , Hirao Takeru , Kawamoto Yasuharu , Maeda Shingo , Daiku Kazuma , Urabe Makiko , Kai Yugo , Takada Ryoji , Yamai Takuo , Ikezawa Kenji , Uehara Hiroyuki , Ohkawa Kazuyoshi
Published: April 2022

Background and Aim

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can cause immune‐related adverse events in the liver. The risk of exacerbating liver injury is of concern in patients infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV), as immunotherapy can damage liver function because of the immune response against viral antigens. We assessed the feasibility of immunotherapy in HBV‐ or HCV‐infected patients.

Methods

This retrospective study included 266 patients with persistent or past HBV infection, 26 patients seropositive for anti‐HCV, and 820 patients with negative viral markers for HBV and HCV, who were treated with ICIs. ICI‐induced liver injury and changes in virological markers were analyzed.

Results

The occurrence rates of ICI‐induced liver injury in the HBsAg‐positive, anti‐HBc‐positive/anti‐HBs‐positive, and anti‐HBc‐positive/anti‐HBs‐negative groups were 12.5, 21.6, and 19.1%, respectively, which were comparable with those of the negative for HBV‐ and HCV‐related markers group (20.9%). The frequency of any grade ICI‐induced liver injury was different among the HCV RNA‐positive (3/5; 60.0%), anti‐HCV‐positive/HCV RNA‐negative (2/21; 9.5%), and negative for HBV‐ and HCV‐related markers (171/820; 20.9%) groups (P = 0.045), with no significant difference in grade ≥2 ICI‐induced liver injury. In patients with persistent infection, neither serum HBV DNA, HBsAg, nor HCV RNA level changed significantly during ICI treatment. One of five treatment‐naïve HCV‐infected patients required interruption of ICI treatment due to virus‐related liver injury.

Conclusion

Immunotherapy is feasible for most cancer patients with chronic HBV or HCV infection; however, liver function and virological markers should be carefully monitored in treatment‐naïve patients, especially those with HCV infection, during ICI treatment.
Prediction of malignancy in main duct or mixed‐type intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas
Authors: Jung Hye‐Sol , Han Youngmin , Kang Jae Seung , Sohn Heeju , Lee Mirang , Lee Kyung‐Bun , Kim Hongbeom , Kwon Wooil , Jang Jin‐Young
Published: April 2022

Background/Purpose

Surgical indications of main duct‐involved intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN), especially for main pancreatic duct (MPD) of 5‐9 mm, remain controversial. We aimed to predict malignancy risk of main duct‐involved IPMN.

Methods

Total 258 patients with main duct‐involved IPMN between 2000 and 2017 in our institute were retrospectively analyzed. Main duct IPMN was classified into segmental and diffuse‐type by dilated MPD pattern. Clinicopathologic features and predictive factors for malignancy were analyzed.

Results

Among 258 patients, 47 and 211 had pure main duct (segmental: 27, diffuse type: 20) and mixed type, respectively. Malignant IPMN presented higher in main duct type (66.0%) compared to mixed type (46.9%). The diffuse type (72.2%) had more invasive carcinoma than the segmental type (40.7%). Invasive IPMN risk increased proportionally to the MPD diameter (5 ≤ MPD <10 mm vs 10 ≤ MPD < 15 mm vs MPD ≥ 15 mm; 23.4% vs 40.0% vs 48.6%). Symptoms, elevated serum carbohydrate antigen, MPD ≥10 mm, mural nodule, thickened wall, and distal atrophy were independent predictive factors for malignancy. Patients with MPD of 5‐9 mm with at least one predictive factor had 35.0% of malignancy risk.

Conclusions

The invasive IPMN risk was different according to the dilated main duct pattern. Patients with main duct type, diffuse type, MPD ≥10 mm, and MPD 5‐9 mm with at least one predictive factor should be candidates for immediate surgery.
In search of self, belonging, and a degree: The lived experience of historically marginalized racial minority college commuter students
Authors: Burke Erin K. , Park‐Taylor Jennie
Published: April 2022

This study explored the lived experiences of 10 historically marginalized racial minority college commuter students. Data revealed an overarching experience of “in‐betweenness,” consisting of constant transition and yearning for achievement and connections. Major themes include (a) identity negotiations and developmental change, (b) the desire for meaningful work, (c) commuter life as a world of “fear of missing out (FOMO)” and missed connections, (d) adult‐ish: distant familial relationships living under one roof, and (e) desired community resources to facilitate success.
Enhancing the therapeutic alliance with African American clients: Using a critical race theoretical approach to navigate conversations about racism
Authors: Fripp Jessica A. , Adams Justin J.
Published: April 2022

Significant challenges like stigma and disparities prevent African Americans from entering counseling. Additionally, discrimination and racism might exacerbate anxieties around help‐seeking. However, openly expressing their stories of racism and oppression in counseling increases the therapeutic alliance and creates a safe space for healing and trust. We introduce a critical race theoretical approach to support counselors as they navigate difficult conversations about race. Counseling implications are provided to increase the opportunity for dialogue about racism.
Decrease of winter cyclone passage over northern Japan due to the reduction in the regional cyclogenesis associated with cold air outbreak
Authors: Tamura Kenta , Sato Tomonori
Published: April 2022

In East Asia, a strong winter monsoon and high baroclinicity cause enhanced cyclone activity, which has been the subject of intensive study. Despite the high frequency of genesis of mesoscale cyclones in this area, most of the studies on the decadal timescale have focused only on synoptic‐scale cyclones. To clarify the interannual variation of the passage of winter cyclones including synoptic‐scale and mesoscale cyclones over and around Japan, a tracking algorithm was applied to 62 winter seasons (December–March) from 1958/1959 to 2019/2020. During the study period, the passage of cyclones around northern Japan showed a decreasing trend. Most cyclones that pass around northern Japan are generated over the northern part of the Sea of Japan, which is an area where cyclogenesis has decreased during the study period. Weather pattern classification based on synoptic scale atmospheric conditions revealed that passage of upper‐level troughs and occurrence of lower‐level cold air outbreaks are the preferential conditions for cyclogenesis in this region. In addition, the intensity of the cold air outbreak in this region was weakened during the study period. These results suggest that changes in atmospheric conditions due to climate change have reduced mesocyclone genesis over the northern Sea of Japan, resulting in the reduction in the number of cyclones passing over and around northern Japan.
Evaluating observed and future spatiotemporal changes in precipitation and temperature across China based on CMIP6‐GCMs
Authors: Lu Kaidong , Arshad Muhammad , Ma Xieyao , Ullah Irfan , Wang Jianjian , Shao Wei
Published: April 2022

The present study aimed to evaluate the performance of 46 global climate models (GCMs) from the newly released Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) in the historical simulation of precipitation and temperature, and select the best performing GCMs for future projection across China and three major river basins. This study uses four shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs), namely SSP1‐2.6, SSP2‐4.5, SSP3‐7.0, and SSP5‐8.5 relative to the base period (1961–2014). Initially, 46 models were evaluated across China employing an improved Taylor diagram method. Based on relatively better performance, 10 best‐performing models (TBMs) were selected out of 46 models for further evaluation. The results show that historical temperature was well reproduced by CMIP6 over the study regions with a high correlation coefficient (CC). All the TBMs produced good CC ranging from 0.8 to 0.99 presenting the precipitation and temperature distribution well. Meanwhile, EC‐Earth3 and EC‐Earth3‐Veg well simulated the precipitation and temperature amounts as well as trends over selected three river basins. The multimodel ensemble mean (MME) underestimates temperature over China and selected three basins with bias values of −0.53, −0.21, −0.91, and −0.68°C, respectively. In contrast, MEM overestimated the simulated precipitation with the amount of 27.7, 32.4, 21.0, and 104.6% across China and selected three basins. During future projections, increased precipitation and temperature trends are projected over three selected river basins as well as all across China. The increasing trend of future precipitation over China under SSP1‐2.6, SSP2‐4.5, SSP3‐7.0, and SSP5‐8.5 scenarios are 0.65, 0.86, 1.29, and 0.76 mm·a−1, whereas, the increasing trend of temperature is 0.008, 0.028, 0.050, and 0.065°C·a−1, respectively. Comparatively, the greater the radiation force, the higher projected increases in precipitation and temperature across China and three major river basins were observed. The extent of CMIP6 models over the target region and its river basins calls for further deep assessment of the attribution and possible implementation of robust methods that can accurately simulate the observed patterns for future practice.
Source and hub of inflammation: The infrapatellar fat pad and its interactions with articular tissues during knee osteoarthritis
Authors: Zhou Sijia , Maleitzke Tazio , Geissler Sven , Hildebrandt Alexander , Fleckenstein Florian Nima , Niemann Marcel , Fischer Heilwig , Perka Carsten , Duda Georg N. , Winkler Tobias
Published: April 2022

Knee osteoarthritis, the most prevalent degenerative joint disorder worldwide, is driven by chronic low‐grade inflammation and subsequent cartilage degradation. Clinical data on the role of the Hoffa or infrapatellar fat pad in knee osteoarthritis are, however, scarce. The infrapatellar fat pad is a richly innervated intracapsular, extrasynovial adipose tissue, and an abundant source of adipokines and proinflammatory and catabolic cytokines, which may contribute to chronic synovial inflammation, cartilage destruction, and subchondral bone remodeling during knee osteoarthritis. How the infrapatellar fat pad interacts with neighboring tissues is poorly understood. Here, we review available literature with regard to the infrapatellar fat pad's interactions with cartilage, synovium, bone, menisci, ligaments, and nervous tissue during the development and progression of knee osteoarthritis. Signaling cascades are described with a focus on immune cell populations, pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory cytokines, adipokines, mesenchymal stromal cells, and molecules derived from conditioned media from the infrapatellar fat pad. Understanding the complex interplay between the infrapatellar fat pad and its neighboring articular tissues may help to better understand and treat the multifactorial pathogenesis of osteoarthritis.
Comparison and optimization of sheep in vivo intervertebral disc injury model
Authors: Constant Caroline , Hom Warren W. , Nehrbass Dirk , Carmel Eric‐Norman , Albers Christoph E. , Deml Moritz C. , Gehweiler Dominic , Lee Yunsoo , Hecht Andrew , Grad Sibylle , Iatridis James C. , Zeiter Stephan
Published: April 2022

Background

The current standard of care for intervertebral disc (IVD) herniation, surgical discectomy, does not repair annulus fibrosus (AF) defects, which is partly due to the lack of effective methods to do so and is why new repair strategies are widely investigated and tested preclinically. There is a need to develop a standardized IVD injury model in large animals to enable comparison and interpretation across preclinical study results. The purpose of this study was to compare in vivo IVD injury models in sheep to determine which annulus fibrosus (AF) defect type combined with partial nucleus pulposus (NP) removal would better mimic degenerative human spinal pathologies.

Methods

Six skeletally mature sheep were randomly assigned to one of the two observation periods (1 and 3 months) and underwent creation of 3 different AF defect types (slit, cruciate, and box‐cut AF defects) in conjunction with 0.1 g NP removal in three lumbar levels using a lateral retroperitoneal surgical approach. The spine was monitored by clinical CT scans pre‐ and postoperatively, at 2 weeks and euthanasia, and by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histology after euthanasia to determine the severity of degeneration (disc height loss, Pfirrmann grading, semiquantitative histopathology grading).

Results

All AF defects led to significant degenerative changes detectable on CT and MR images, produced bulging of disc tissue without disc herniation and led to degenerative and inflammatory histopathological changes. However, AF defects were not equal in terms of disc height loss at 3 months postoperatively; the cruciate and box‐cut AF defects showed significantly decreased disc height compared to their preoperative height, with the box‐cut defect creating the greatest disc height loss, while the slit AF defect showed restoration of normal preoperative disc height.

Conclusions

The tested IVD injury models do not all generate comparable disc degeneration but can be considered suitable IVD injury models to investigate new treatments. Results of the current study clearly indicate that slit AF defect should be avoided if disc height is used as one of the main outcomes; additional confirmatory studies may be warranted to generalize this finding.
miR‐450a exerts oncosuppressive effects in breast carcinoma by targeting CREB1
Authors: Zhang Ying , Han Xiao‐Xu , Lin Xiao‐Meng , Li Zhong , Zhang Jun‐Hua
Published: April 2022

Emerging evidence greatly implicates that microRNA‐450a (miR‐450a) plays an essential role in cancer pathobiology. While the pathological role of miR‐450a in breast carcinogenesis remains enigmatic. Herein, we showed that miR‐450a was lowly expressed in breast cancer cell lines compared with normal, and low miR‐450a expression was associated with poor survival in patients with breast cancer. We revealed that miR‐450a mimic transfected breast cancer cells (T47D and BT474) exhibited attenuated capacities of proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro, and miR‐450a suppressed T47D cell growth in a xenograft tumor model. Mechanistically, cAMP response element‐binding protein 1 (CREB1) was negatively targeted by miR‐450a, and CREB1 deletion mimicked the effects of miR‐450a mimic treatment. Bioinformatics analysis further revealed that elevated expression of CREB1 correlated with poor prognosis in patients with breast cancer and miR‐450a level was negatively correlated with CREB1 level in breast cancer. Additionally, miR‐450a inhibited the phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase/V‐akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog (PI3K/AKT) and the activities of matrix metalloproteinase‐2/9 (MMP‐2/9). The following rescue assay indicated that CREB1 was implicated in the anti‐tumoral effect of mR‐450a in breast carcinoma. All these observations disclosed that miR‐450a negatively regulates the growth and metastatic property of breast carcinoma cells.
Immediate repeated testing (IRT) for BPPV: A cost‐effective examination
Authors: H. Mella Mariam , Al Hakim Elena , Khoury Jihad , Fata Fouad
Published: April 2022

Objective

To show that a negative Dix‐Hallpike test or Pagnini‐McClure test may convert into positive after head shaking in cases of semicircular canalith jam.

Methods

This is a retrospective study, where 768 cases of BPPV were studied of which 36 were found to have canalith jam.

Results

Thirty‐six patients (4.7%) presented with canalith jam; 4.8% of posterior canal BPPV and 3.7% of lateral canal BPPV were attributed to canalith jam.

Conclusion

Immediate repeated testing for BPPV allows us to identify undiagnosed cases of BPPV where canalith jam has occurred. It is a cost‐effective technique that provides benefits for clinicians, patients, and the healthcare system.
Fibrous Polyethyleneimine‐Functionalized Cellulose Materials for CO2 Capture and Release
Authors: Vocht Marc P. , Tomasic Patricija , Beyer Ronald , Müller Alexandra , Zuberbühler Ulrich , Stürmer Bernd , Hermanutz Frank , Buchmeiser Michael R.
Published: April 2022

Poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI) immobilized on support materials are valuable alternatives to aqueous amine solutions for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture from the atmosphere since the thermal desorption of CO2 from these materials usually requires less energy. Herein, fibrous PEI‐functionalized carrier systems based on cellulose, cellulose tosylate (CT), and cellulose carbamate (CC) are described. Branched PEI is used for functionalization since higher CO2 sorption capacities compared to linear PEIs can be achieved. Under wet conditions, a PEI‐functionalized nonwoven material has a sorption capacity of 0.026 mg CO2/mg adsorbent; complete and reversible CO2 desorption is accomplished at 80 °C.
Synthesis of Nitrogen‐Rich Black Phosphorus via a Diazotization Strategy for Efficient Flame Retardancy and Mechanical Properties of Epoxy Resins
Authors: Wang Jingwen , Qiu Shuilai , Chen Weijian , Yang Wenhao , Song Lei , Hu Yuan
Published: April 2022

Severe flame retardancy and poor impact resistance of epoxy resins (EPs) have become key factors limiting their industrial application. Herein, a strategy is developed to integrate nitrogen‐rich black phosphorus (BP) loaded with cerium oxide via aryl diazonium chemistry to reduce the flame risk of the EPs. Cone test results exhibit that the fire hazard of EPs containing 2 wt.% BP‐NHH‐Ce is suppressed effectively, such as that total heat release rate (THR) is reduced by 46.9%, the peak heat release rate (pHRR) is reduced by 56.2%, and the total smoke production (TSP) is reduced by 48.9%. With only 1.0 wt.% of the BP‐NHH‐Ce added, the nanocomposite can reach up to 30.5 of LOI value and simultaneously upgrade the UL‐94 rate to V‐0. In addition, the nano‐structure is beneficial to stress transfer and homogenization, which leads to significant elevation (28.2%) for the impact strength of EPs. This developed new EP/BP‐NHH‐Ce nanocomposite merits the high‐end field application of EPs.
Enhancing Hole Transport of Quantum‐Dot Light‐Emitting Diodes by a Cruciform Oligothiophene for Effective p‐Type Doping
Authors: Zhang Wenjing , Ren Fumeng , Wen Yu , Xu Zhangwang , Sun Juan , Yan Zhenzhen , Ding Lei , Hai Xia , Zhang Qin
Published: April 2022

Effective p‐type doping is essential to enhance hole transport and balance electron–hole injection in quantum dot light‐emitting diodes (QLEDs). Here, an oligothiophene material is adopted as a p‐type dopant in the hole‐transport layer, considering its cruciform cross‐center structure, precise molecular weight, and high purity. Compared with the dopant‐free counterpart, hole transport capability at the optimal doping level exhibits a significant improvement, producing a boosted external quantum efficiency (EQE) and luminance up to 20.8%, 213 439 cd m–2, respectively, among the highest reported on the red‐light emission. The work indicates the potential applications of oligothiophene material in red light‐emitting devices.
Study: Digital therapy may improve cognitive impairment in adults with MDD
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: April 2022

New research involving video game digital‐based therapy has found significant improvement in cognitive functioning in adults diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) who are being treated with antidepressant therapy, according to researchers of a study published online April 12 in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
The career paths of executive directors: Founders, fillers, planners and risers
Authors: Einolf Christopher J.
Published: April 2022

This paper analyzes qualitative interview data with a sample of 41 executive directors of human services nonprofits to discover why people become executive directors, what career paths they follow, and how well these career paths prepare them for the job. All became executive directors because they wanted to help others. Less important motivations included influencing how programs operate, wanting to be successful, and wanting a higher salary. The paper proposes a new typology of career paths: founders who started their own nonprofit, fillers from the board or a volunteer position, planners who actively pursued an executive position for years, and risers who worked their way up through the ranks and found that executive director was the next step. Most considered themselves well prepared at the time they took on the position, and there was little difference among the four types of career paths in the level of perceived preparedness. The findings suggest that nonprofit organizations should pay more attention to training leaders who rise up through the ranks, and that management education programs can assist in this mid‐career training. Future research should expand the examination of career paths and preparedness to a large and nationally representative survey.
Experimental and numerical studies on the low‐velocity impact response of carbon fiber‐reinforced polymer anisogrid cylindrical shells
Authors: Paramasivam Suresh , Johnson Anish Jafrin Thilak
Published: April 2022

This work presents the experimental and finite element (FE) simulations to investigate the behavior of both unstiffened and anisogrid composite cylindrical shells subjected to low‐velocity axial impact. Impact damage has been an epidemic problem for composite structures. Even subjected to a low‐velocity impact, thin‐walled composite structures may sacrifice its load‐carrying capacity considerably due to various modes of failure. A low cost, reliable and innovative manufacturing process is proposed for the production of anisogrid cylindrical lattice structures. Initially, test coupons are fabricated as per American Society for Testing of Materials (ASTM) standards and inspected using infrared (IR) thermography to find the imperfections incurred during fabrication. The test coupons without defects were only taken into account for material characterization. FE simulations were carried out on both the unstiffened and anisogrid shells using LS‐DYNA® for a series of low‐velocity impacts. Also these shell structures were subjected to impact loading experimentally for the validation of the numerical results. The results of these studies indicate that the anisogrid model presented in this work possesses a great load‐carrying capacity than an unstiffened shell under dynamic loading conditions, also the weight of the structure has been reduced up to 51.27%. Numerical simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental data, having less than 11.56% of maximum deviation on the energy absorption value.
The long‐term effects of invasive earthworms on plant community composition and diversity in a hardwood forest in northern Minnesota
Authors: Alexander Genevieve , Almendinger John , White Peter
Published: April 2022

Nonnative European earthworms are invading hardwood forests of the Chippewa National Forest, MN. While effects on plant communities at the leading edge of invasion have been studied, little is known about longer‐term effects of invasive earthworms. We applied a model using historic O‐horizon soil thickness and a chronosequence approach to classify 41 hardwood sites in the Chippewa National Forest as “long‐term wormed” (wormed >2 decades), “short‐term wormed” or “unwormed/lightly wormed.” Graminoids, especially Carex pensylvanica, had the greatest mean percent cover in sites that had been wormed for over two decades. The families with the greatest negative change in mean percent cover after over two decades of earthworm invasion were Asteraceae, Violaceae, and Sapindaceae (specifically Acer species). Across all diversity metrics measured, long‐term wormed sites had the lowest understory plant species diversity, short‐term wormed sites had intermediate diversity, and unwormed/lightly wormed sites exhibited the highest diversity. Long‐term wormed sites had the lowest mean species richness across all sample scales (1–1024 m2). The greatest within‐group compositional dissimilarity occurred at sites that had been wormed for over two decades, suggesting that sites that had been wormed for over two decades have not reached a compositionally similar end‐state “wormed” community type. Our study suggests that understory diversity will decrease as hardwood forest stands become wormed over time. While our results support other findings that exotic earthworm invasion is associated with lower understory plant diversity in hardwood forests, our study was the first to use space‐for‐time substitution to document the effects after multiple decades of earthworm invasion.
DNA sequencing analysis of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene identifies cystic fibrosis‐associated variants in the Severe Asthma Research Program
Authors: Izquierdo Manuel E. , Marion Chad R. , Moore Wendy C. , Raraigh Karen S. , Taylor‐Cousar Jennifer L. , Cutting Gary R. , Ampleford E. , Hawkins Gregory A. , Zein Joe , Castro M. , Denlinger Loren C. , Erzurum Serpil C. , Fahy John V. , Israel Elliot , Jarjour Nizar N. , Mauger David , Levy Bruce D. , Wenzel Sally E. , Woodruff Prescott , Bleecker Eugene R. , Meyers Deborah A. , Ortega Victor E.
Published: April 2022

Background

Heterozygote carriers of potentially pathogenic variants in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene have increased asthma risk. However, the frequency and impact of CFTR variation among individuals with asthma is unknown.

Objective

To determine whether potentially pathogenic CFTR variants associate with disease severity and whether individuals with two potentially pathogenic variants exist in a severe asthma‐enriched cohort.

Methods

We analyzed sequencing data spanning a 190.5Kb region of CFTR in participants from the Severe Asthma Research Program (SARP1‐3). Potentially pathogenic, rare CFTR variants (frequency < 0.05) were classified as CF‐causing or of varying clinical consequences (VVCC) (CFTR2. org). Regression‐based models tested for association between CFTR genotypes (0‐2 potentially pathogenic variants) and severity outcomes.

Results

Of 1401 participants, 9.5% (134) had one potentially pathogenic variant, occurring more frequently in non‐Hispanic white (NHW, 10.1% [84 of 831]) compared to African American individuals (AA, 5.2% [22 of 426]). We found ≥2 potentially pathogenic CFTR variants in 1.4% (19); 0.5% (4) of NHW and 2.8% (12) of AA. Potentially pathogenic CFTR variant genotypes (≥1 or ≥2 variants) were not cumulatively associated with lung function or exacerbations. In NHW, we found three F508del compound heterozygotes with F508del and a VVCC (two 5 T; TG12[c.1210‐11 T > G] and one Arg1070Trp) and a homozygote for the VVCC, 5 T; TG12.

Conclusions

We found potentially pathogenic CFTR variants within a severe asthma‐enriched cohort, including three compound heterozygote genotypes variably associated with CF in NHW individuals. These findings provide the rationale for CFTR sequencing and phenotyping of CF‐related traits in individuals with severe asthma.
The use of 100 m scale NWP models to understand differences between different measures of mixing height in a morning growing clear convective boundary layer over London
Authors: Lean Humphrey W , Barlow Janet F , Clark Peter A
Published: April 2022

An important practical problem is to understand the depth to which pollutants will be mixed in the boundary layer over cities. This is particularly important shortly after sunrise on clear days when the mixed layer is often shallow and there may be large emissions from rush‐hour traffic. The 100 m scale NWP models currently under development have the potential to represent the boundary‐layer structure over cities on neighbourhood scales for air quality and other applications. Here we describe work with Met Office Unified Model (MetUM) configurations with grid lengths of 100, 50 and 25 m to represent the morning growth of a clear convective boundary layer over London compared to observations. All three models explicitly represent the convective overturning although it is not as well resolved at 100 m and this is a particular problem early in the day. It is found that in both the observations and in the models that the depth to which aerosol is mixed up into the model from the surface is lower than the turbulence mixed‐layer depth as measured from the vertical velocity variance. We present an analysis in the 25 m model that shows that the reason for the discrepancy is that the aerosol is transported upwards from the surface by convective plumes whereas further up there is wave motion which does not transport aerosol. The signature for these two layers can be seen both in the 25 m model and in the observations. We discuss the representation of these effects in the coarser‐resolution 100 and 55 m models and also possible mechanisms for the generation of the waves.
On‐line estimation of power model parameters for skid‐steer robots with applications in mission energy use prediction
Authors: Pentzer Jesse , Brennan Sean , Reichard Karl
Published: April 2022

This paper presents algorithms to predict the energy used by a skid‐steer robot to complete a given path, including the refinement of that prediction during operation. The vast majority of commercially available ground mobile robots utilize skid‐steer technology due to the robustness and maneuverability of the design. However, the complex track/terrain interactions developed during skid‐steer maneuvers make traction‐related power losses difficult to model. Accurate estimates of skid‐steer power and energy usage enable more intelligent mission planning decisions to be made. In this study, a skid‐steer power model that is linear in three unknown parameters was used and tested extensively on two skid‐steer vehicles, one tracked and the other wheeled. Repeated testing shows good repeatability of estimated parameters, and results indicate that the tracked vehicle exhibits a much larger sensitivity to the surface types tested than the wheeled vehicle. The skid‐steer power model is then combined with a kinematic model of skid‐steer movement and a trajectory control algorithm to predict the energy required to complete a given traversal path. This is useful for estimating energy demands for retro‐traversal, an application demonstrated in this study. The energy predictions are further refined through the mapping of power model parameters onto terrain types using overhead imagery of the area of operation. The maps are used to predict what terrain types will be encountered along the planned path to improve the estimate of the energy required.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Photophysical Properties of a New Indolizine Pyridine Complex with a Large Two‐Photon Absorption Cross‐Section
Authors: Liu E. , Jin Zesen , Jian Fangfang
Published: April 2022

The value of two‐photon absorption cross‐section represents the effectiveness of simultaneous absorption of two incident photons. We reported a novel organic TPA material which has not reported before. It is an acceptor‐π‐donor‐π‐acceptor (A‐π‐D‐π‐A) idolizing pyridine compound 1, namely 3‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐N‐(3‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)indolizin‐1‐yl)indolizin‐1‐aminium perchlorate, (C26H20N5)⋅ClO4. The material can be easily synthesized in a one‐pot method with cheap materials. The compound 1 was structurally characterized through single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography, Hirshfeld surface, and spectroscopic techniques. Its photophysical properties were investigated. Compound 1 gives blue fluorescence and the lifetime of the emission peak in ethanol solution is τ=0.607 ns. The nonlinear absorption of the compound 1 solutions (in C2H5OH) was measured by the open‐aperture Z‐scan technique at a 532 nm wavelength. The results of Z‐scan experiments show that compound 1 has remarkable nonlinear optical absorption effects. The TPA cross‐section is δ=22583 GM.
Production of Ethyl Levulinate from Biomass‐Derived Carbohydrates and Food/Kitchen Waste Catalyzed by Cucurbit[6]uril‐Sulfate
Authors: Zhang Luxin , Hu Menglu , Zhao Zhimeng , Tian Lu
Published: April 2022

The research on production of fuels and value‐added chemicals from sustainable feedstocks is of considerable significance. In this study, a solid acid, cucurbit[6]uril‐sulfate (Q[6]‐sulfate) was prepared as an efficient catalyst to produce ethyl levulinate (EL) from various feedstocks, including biomass‐derived carbohydrates (fructose, glucose, and sucrose), expired fructan‐probiotic granules and kitchen waste. Compared to homogeneous mineral/organic acids, the application of solid acid Q[6]‐sulfate reduced the acidic waste effluent and alleviated the corrosion of equipment. Q[6]‐sulfate exhibited higher catalytic efficiency than conventional sulfonic solid acids. After optimizing reaction conditions, EL yields of 97.3 %, 97.1 %, and 76.3 % were obtained from fructose, glucose, and sucrose, respectively. Furthermore, EL was successfully produced by the Q[6]‐sulfate‐catalyzed ethanolysis of expired fructan‐probiotic granules and kitchen waste, and maximum yields of 89.5 % and 43.7 % were obtained respectively. This work provides a sustainable route for the catalytic production of EL and the valorization of biomass‐derived carbohydrates and food/kitchen waste.
Naphthalimide‐Hydroxyquinoline Conjugates for Discriminative Detection of Nitro Aromatic Compounds in Aqueous Medium and Soil Sample
Authors: Singh Prabhpreet , Sharma Ananay , Kumar Sanjeev
Published: April 2022

Naphthalimide‐hydroxyquinoline based conjugates (NQ1 and NQ2) were synthesized for the detection of nitroaromatics in HEPES buffer/DMSO (9/1, v/v, pH=7.4) and Fe3+/Pd2+ in CH3CN solvent. The NQ1 and NQ2 were characterized using NMR (1H, 13C, COSY) and IR spectroscopies. Theoretical studies revealed that 8‐HQ moiety in NQ1 and NQ2 placed at orthogonal position with respect to naphthalimide core to minimize steric crowding. The energy gap between HOMO and LUMO for NQ1 and NQ2 were found to be −3.1 eV. The emission spectrum of NQ1 and NQ2 showed decrease in the emission intensity at 450 nm upon addition of picric acid (PA) and trinitrotoluene (TNT) whereas addition of 2‐nitroaniline caused quenching with concomitant red‐shift of the emission band in 90 % HEPES buffer‐DMSO. The detection limit of NQ1 for PA, TNT and 2‐NA detection was calculated as 8.7×10−6 M, 2.2×10−5 M and 1.8×10−5 M. The complexation of NQ1 with PA, TNT and 2‐NA was further supported by Job's plot, dynamic light scattering studies and NMR titrations. We successfully utilized NQ1 and NQ2 for the detection of PA, TNT and 2‐NA in real soil samples with excellent recovery. NQ1 also showed quenching of the emission intensity at 450 nm upon addition of Fe3+ and Pd2+ ions in CH3CN. Thus, NQ1 showed solvent‐dependent dual chemosensor type behavior. The functioning of NOR gate has been achieved using Fe3+/NACs with NQ1.
Advanced Buffering Acidic Aqueous Electrolytes for Ultra‐Long Life Aqueous Zinc‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Zhao Xuesong , Zhang Xuan , Dong Ning , Yan Mengdie , Zhang Fenglin , Mochizuki Kenji , Pan Huilin
Published: April 2022

Mild aqueous Zn batteries have attracted increasing attention for energy storage due to the advantages of high safety and low cost; however, the rechargeability of Zn anodes is one major issue for practical applications. In this work, an effective approach is proposed to improve the reversibility and stability of Zn anodes using advanced acidic electrolytes. A trace amount of acetic acid (HAc) is employed as a buffering agent to provide a stable pH environment in aqueous Zn electrolytes, and thus suppress passivation from precipitation reactions on Zn electrodes. Meanwhile, tetramethylene sulfone (TMS) is introduced as the critical component to stabilize the Zn anodes in the acidic electrolyte. TMS greatly strengthens the hydrogen‐bonding network with reduced H2O activity and extends the electrochemical window of acidic electrolytes. With the optimal 3 m Zn(OTF)2 in (H2O‐HAc)/TMS acidic electrolyte (pH 1.6), the Zn electrode exhibits a coulombic efficiency of >99.8% and smooth Zn deposition. The Zn‐V2O5 full cell demonstrates ultra‐stable cycling over 20 000 cycles with a low decay rate of 0.0009% for each cycle at a negative/postive capacity ratio of 6.5. This work provides an insightful perspective to stabilize Zn electrodes by regulating the pH environment and limiting the H2O activity simultaneously for long‐life Zn anodes.
Wires with Continuous Sabal Leaf‐Patterned Micropores Constructed by Freeze Printing for a Wearable Sensor Responsible to Multiple Deformations
Authors: Xie Yu , Zou Junfeng , Li Gang , Liu Hongtao , Wang Ye , Lei Yifeng , Liu Kang , Xue Longjian , Liu Sheng
Published: April 2022

The design of porous structure in wearable sensors is very important for the detection of mechanical signals. However, it remains challenging to construct a porous structure capable of detecting all kinds of mechanical signals. Here, round wire with long‐range orientated micropores (RW‐LOM) is fabricated by a newly established freeze printing technique and constructed into a wearable sensor by the incorporation of carbon nanotubes and polydimethylsiloxane. The Sabal leaf‐like lamellar structure in RW‐LOM is realized and can be tuned by the proper coordination of slurry concentration and the printing parameters. The fine structures in RW‐LOM allow the wearable sensor to detect compression, stretching, twisting, and bending with a high sensitivity, stability, and broad detecting range. This work not only provides a wearable sensor with high stability and high sensitivity but also establishes a technique to construct porous wires that could find applications in the fields like intelligent industry and healthcare.
Situationsbezogener Einsatz von Technologien der erweiterten Realität bei Stahl‐Glas‐Konstruktionen – Ein Bericht aus dem Forschungsprojekt DigitalTWIN
Authors: Schmid Fabian , Eisert Peter , Feldmann Ingo
Published: April 2022

Prozesse beim Planen, Bauen und Betreiben sind von Abstimmungen, Bewertungen und Entscheidungen geprägt, bei denen Modelldaten, Visualisierungen und Simulationen wesentlich unterstützen. Im Forschungsprojekt DigitalTWIN steht deshalb der Einsatz von Diensten der erweiterten Realität (Extended Reality/XR) als ein wesentlicher Visualisierungsweg zukünftiger Arbeitsabläufe im Fokus. Eine durchgängige Datenverarbeitung, um Objekt‐, Prozess‐ und Werkzeugdaten koordiniert kombinieren zu können, ist eine wesentliche Voraussetzung. Der systematische Einsatz der Gebäudedatenmodellierung (Building Information Modeling/BIM) und die Anwendung agiler Projektmanagementmethoden sind hierfür die Basis. Um die Schnittstellen durch IT‐Werkzeuge schneller und aufgabenspezifisch zu lösen, wurden die entwickelten Dienste für kompatible, offene Plattformtechnologien entwickelt. Auch neue Funktechnologien für die latenzarme Vernetzung sowie die Frage des Breitbandausbaus auf der Baustelle wurden untersucht, da mit modernsten Visualisierungs‐ und Interaktionstechnologien die Anforderungen an die Breitbandinfrastruktur steigen. Der Aufsatz leitet zu den Möglichkeiten von XR‐Diensten im Bauwesen ein und zeigt dann die entwickelten Szenarien für Stahl‐Glas‐Konstruktionen. Abschließend wird die Kombinierbarkeit der Softwaremodule für spezifische Einsatzszenarien gezeigt und ein Ausblick gegeben, wie Technologien des Industrial Internet of Things und der erweiterten Realität verknüpft werden können.
Past, present and future of chamois science
Authors: Corlatti L. , Iacolina L. , Safner T. , Apollonio M. , Buzan E. , Ferretti F. , Hammer S. E. , Herrero J. , Rossi L. , Serrano E. , Arnal M. C. , Brivio F. , Chirichella R. , Cotza A. , Crestanello B. , Espunyes J. , Fernández de Luco D. , Friedrich S. , Gačić D. , Grassi L. , Grignolio S. , Hauffe H. C. , Kavčić K. , Kinser A. , Lioce F. , Malagnino A. , Miller C. , Peters W. , Pokorny B. , Reiner R. , Rezić A. , Stipoljev S. , Tešija T. , Yankov Y. , Zwijacz‐Kozica T. , Šprem N.
Published: April 2022

The chamois Rupicapra spp. is the most abundant mountain ungulate of Europe and the Near East, where it occurs as two species, the northern chamois R. rupicapra and the southern chamois R. pyrenaica. Here, we provide a state‐of‐the‐art overview of research trends and the most challenging issues in chamois research and conservation, focusing on taxonomy and systematics, genetics, life history, ecology and behavior, physiology and disease, management and conservation. Research on Rupicapra has a longstanding history and has contributed substantially to the biological and ecological knowledge of mountain ungulates. Although the number of publications on this genus has markedly increased over the past two decades, major differences persist with respect to knowledge of species and subspecies, with research mostly focusing on the Alpine chamois R. r. rupicapra and, to a lesser extent, the Pyrenean chamois R. p. pyrenaica. In addition, a scarcity of replicate studies of populations of different subspecies and/or geographic areas limits the advancement of chamois science. Since environmental heterogeneity impacts behavioral, physiological and life history traits, understanding the underlying processes would be of great value from both an evolutionary and conservation/management standpoint, especially in the light of ongoing climatic change. Substantial contributions to this challenge may derive from a quantitative assessment of reproductive success, investigation of fine‐scale foraging patterns, and a mechanistic understanding of disease outbreak and resilience. For improving conservation status, resolving taxonomic disputes, identifying subspecies hybridization, assessing the impact of hunting and establishing reliable methods of abundance estimation are of primary concern. Despite being one of the most well‐known mountain ungulates, substantial field efforts to collect paleontological, behavioral, ecological, morphological, physiological and genetic data on different populations and subspecies are still needed to ensure a successful future for chamois research and conservation.
Phenomic Selection: A New and Efficient Alternative to Genomic Selection
Authors: Robert Pauline , Brault Charlotte , Rincent Renaud , Segura Vincent
Published: April 2022

Recently, it has been proposed to switch molecular markers to near-infrared (NIR) spectra for inferring relationships between individuals and further performing phenomic selection (PS), analogous to genomic selection (GS). The PS concept is similar to genomic-like omics-based (GLOB) selection, in which molecular markers are replaced by endophenotypes, such as metabolites or transcript levels, except that the phenomic information obtained for instance by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has usually a much lower cost than other omics. Though NIRS has been routinely used in breeding for several decades, especially to deal with end-product quality traits, its use to predict other traits of interest and further make selections is new. Since the seminal paper on PS, several publications have advocated the use of spectral acquisition (including NIRS and hyperspectral imaging) in plant breeding towards PS, potentially providing a scope of what is possible. In the present chapter, we first come back to the concept of PS as originally proposed and provide a classification of selected papers related to the use of phenomics in breeding. We further provide a review of the selected literature concerning the type of technology used, the preprocessing of the spectra, and the statistical modeling to make predictions. We discuss the factors that likely affect the efficiency of PS and compare it to GS in terms of predictive ability. Finally, we propose several prospects for future work and application of PS in the context of plant breeding.
The Use of Robots in Aquatic Biomonitoring with Special Focus on Biohybrid Entities
Authors: Rajewicz Wiktoria , Schmickl Thomas , Thenius Ronald
Published: April 2022

Aquatic monitoring is an essential part of battling the rising ecological crisis. Classical methods involving extensive sampling and sensor measurements are precise, however, time and money consuming. For these reasons, they are unsuitable for long-term continuous data collection. With the increasing water pollution, there is a need to monitor the environment in new, more efficient ways over a long period of time. Project Robocoenosis introduces a novel concept of autonomous, long-term aquatic monitoring with the use of biohybrids. By linking technological parts with living organisms, a more well-balanced information on the state of the environment can be obtained. This will be done by using organisms such as mussels and Daphnia as live biosensors and combining them with low-power robotics. The autonomous biohybrid entity will use Microbial Fuel Cells (MFC) as a natural power source through electricity harvesting. The fields of operation are focused on various Austrian lakes including the lakes Lake Hallstatt and Lake Millstatt in the Alpine Region as well as Lake Neusiedler.
An improved search for the electric dipole moment of the τ lepton
Authors:   The BELLE collaboration, Inami K. , Hayasaka K. , Adachi I. , Aihara H. , Al Said S. , Asner D. M. , Aulchenko V. , Aushev T. , Ayad R. , Babu V. , Bahinipati S. , Behera P. , Bessner M. , Bhuyan B. , Bilka T. , Biswal J. , Bobrov A. , Bonvicini G. , Bozek A. , Bračko M. , Browder T. E. , Campajola M. , Červenkov D. , Cheon B. G. , Chilikin K. , Cho H. E. , Cho K. , Choi Y. , Choudhury S. , Cinabro D. , Cunliffe S. , Das S. , De Nardo G. , Dhamija R. , Di Capua F. , Doležal Z. , Dong T. V. , Dubey S. , Eidelman S. , Epifanov D. , Ferber T. , Fulsom B. G. , Garg R. , Gaur V. , Gabyshev N. , Garmash A. , Giri A. , Goldenzweig P. , Golob B. , Greenwald D. , Gudkova K. , Hadjivasiliou C. , Hartbrich O. , Hayashii H. , Hedges M. T. , Hou W.-S. , Hsu C.-L. , Iijima T. , Inguglia G. , Ishikawa A. , Itoh R. , Iwasaki M. , Iwasaki Y. , Jacobs W. W. , Jang E.-J. , Jin Y. , Joo C. W. , Joo K. K. , Kato Y. , Kawasaki T. , Kichimi H. , Kiesling C. , Kim C. H. , Kim D. Y. , Kim S. H. , Kim Y.-K. , Kimmel T. D. , Kinoshita K. , Kodyš P. , Konno T. , Korpar S. , Križan P. , Kroeger R. , Krokovny P. , Kulasiri R. , Kumar M. , Kumar R. , Kumara K. , Kwon Y.-J. , Lalwani K. , Lange J. S. , Lee S. C. , Li C. H. , Li J. , Li L. K. , Li Y. B. , Gioi L. Li , Libby J. , Liventsev D. , MacQueen C. , Masuda M. , Matsuda T. , Matvienko D. , Merola M. , Metzner F. , Miyabayashi K. , Mizuk R. , Mohanty G. B. , Mohanty S. , Moon T. J. , Nakao M. , Natochii A. , Nayak L. , Nayak M. , Nisar N. K. , Nishida S. , Ogawa S. , Ono H. , Onuki Y. , Oskin P. , Pakhlov P. , Pakhlova G. , Pardi S. , Park S.-H. , Paul S. , Pedlar T. K. , Pestotnik R. , Piilonen L. E. , Podobnik T. , Popov V. , Prencipe E. , Prim M. T. , Rabusov A. , Röhrken M. , Rostomyan A. , Rout N. , Russo G. , Sahoo D. , Sandilya S. , Sangal A. , Santelj L. , Sanuki T. , Savinov V. , Schnell G. , Schwanda C. , Seino Y. , Senyo K. , Sevior M. E. , Shapkin M. , Sharma C. , Shiu J.-G. , Shwartz B. , Simon F. , Solovieva E. , Starič M. , Stottler Z. S. , Strube J. F. , Sumisawa K. , Sutcliffe W. , Takizawa M. , Tamponi U. , Tanida K. , Tao Y. , Tenchini F. , Trabelsi K. , Uchida M. , Uehara S. , Uno S. , Ushiroda Y. , Van Tonder R. , Varner G. , Vinokurova A. , Wang C. H. , Wang E. , Wang P. , Watanabe M. , Watanuki S. , Won E. , Xu X. , Yabsley B. D. , Yan W. , Yang S. B. , Ye H. , Yin J. H. , Yusa Y. , Zhang Z. P. , Zhilich V. , Zhukova V.
Published: April 2022

Abstract

We report a measurement of the electric dipole moment of the τ lepton (dτ) using an 833 fb−1 data sample collected near the Υ(4S) resonance, with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e+e− collider. Using an optimal observable method, we obtain the real and imaginary parts of dτ as Re(dτ) = (−0.62 ± 0.63) × 10−17ecm and Im(dτ) = (−0.40 ± 0.32) × 10−17ecm, respectively. These results are consistent with null electric dipole moment at the present level of experimental sensitivity and improve the sensitivity by about a factor of three.