bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DaxibotulinumtoxinA for injection: A review of the current data
Authors: Chao Kevin , Moradi Amir , Khalifian Saami
Published: June 2022

Products containing botulinum toxin type A (BoNTA) are popular for addressing patients' cosmetic and medical concerns. Current BoNTA products in the market had recommended treatment intervals of 12–16 weeks and require repeat visits to maintain therapeutic efficacy. DaxibotulinumtoxinA (DAXI) for injection is a novel neuromodulator with a unique formulation that may provide longer duration of action than those currently available. Here, we will review the literature on DAXI and provide an overview of the clinical formulation, mechanism of action, pivotal clinical trials, indications, safety profile, adverse events, and immunogenicity. DAXI has the potential to improve the management of both aesthetic and neuromuscular conditions. Long‐term clinical data and further studies are needed to confirm the promising initial clinical data.
Impact of the North Sea–Caspian pattern on meteorological drought and vegetation response over diverging environmental systems in western Eurasia
Authors: He Qing , Xu Bolin , Dieppois Bastien , Yetemen Omer , Sen Omer Lutfi , Klaus Julian , Schoppach Rémy , Çağlar Ferat , Fan Ping Yu , Chen Liang , Danaila Luminita , Massei Nicolas , Chun Kwok Pan
Published: June 2022

Emerging drought stress on vegetation over western Eurasia is linked to varying teleconnection patterns. The North Sea–Caspian Pattern (NCP) is a relatively less studied Eurasian teleconnection pattern, which has a role on drought conditions and the consequence of changing conditions on vegetation. Between 1981 and 2015, we found that the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) have different trend patterns over various parts of western Eurasia. Specifically, the vegetation greenness is linked with wetter conditions over Scandinavia, and vegetation cover decreases over a drying central Asia. However, western Russia and Franceare paradoxically becoming greener under drier conditions. Using the Budyko framework, such paradoxical patterns are found in energy‐limited environmental systems, where vegetation growth is primarily promoted by warmer temperatures. While most studies focused on the impacts of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), we test whether the NCP explains better the variability of meteorological drought and vegetation response over western Eurasia. We hypothesised that the positive phases of the NCP are correlated to high pressure anomalies over the North Sea, which can be associated with weakening onshore moisture advection, leading to warmer and dryness conditions. These conditions are driving vegetation greening, as western Eurasia is mainly energy limited. However, we show that as the climate is warming along with the teleconnection impacts, the future ecosystem over western Eurasia will be transferred from energy‐limited to water‐limited systems. This suggests that the observed vegetation greening over past three decades is unlikely to sustain in the future.
Reaching Room‐Temperature Mesomorphism through Expansion of the Tristriazolotriazine Core with Alkoxybenzoate Units
Authors: Westphal Eduard , Windisch Alana Carolina , Zambelli Mezalira Daniela , Gallardo Hugo
Published: June 2022

The tristriazolotriazine (TTT) N‐heterocycle, despite being a relatively new mesogenic core for use in discotic liquid crystals, has already demonstrated its importance and promising characteristics. In this work, we extended the knowledge about the TTT, increasing the core size with alkoxybenzoate units, as well as evaluating how the expansion and number of peripheral chains affected the thermal and photophysical properties, both in solution and spin‐coated films. Their thermal behaviour and self‐assembly were studied by differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy and X‐ray diffraction with synchrotron radiation, while the photophysics was investigated by UV‐Vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results show that, despite a considerable decrease in the fluorescence quantum yield with the core expansion, the mesomorphic properties are significantly enhanced, with two products showing Colh mesophase at room temperature, with large range of mesomorphism and very good thermal stability. It was also demonstrated how structural changes affected the self‐assembly properties.
Development of Organochlorine Pesticide Electrochemical Sensor Based on Fe3O4 Nanoparticles@indium Tin Oxide Electrode
Authors: Alnahdi Hanan S. , Mousa Rasha Mousa Ahmed , El‐Said Waleed A.
Published: June 2022

Monitoring food quality and safety need the development of highly sensitive and accurate techniques. Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are a widely used category of pesticides. The high toxicity and high stability of OCPs pesticides made their detection the target of several research studies. Chloridazon, one of the wide used OCPs pesticides, and its major degradation product (chloridazon‐desphenyl) have shown high harmful effects. Here, a specific OCPs electrochemical sensor was developed. Fe3O4 nanostructures decorated indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode showed high specificity towards the OCPs because of the capability of chlorine atoms, to interact with the iron oxide NPs. The chemical composition and the morphology of the modified nanosensor were investigated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), energy dispersive x‐ray (EDX), and Raman spectroscopy techniques. The results showed the formation of two morphologies, including spongy agglomerated NPs with100 nm in diameter and nanofibers with 20 nm in thickness. The modified electrode exhibited a high sensitivity with a detection limit of 0.9 μmol L−1. Also, chloridazon was detected in the presence of various interferences, including isoproturon pesticide and urea. Furthermore, chloridazon pesticide was also detected in a surface water sample.
Understanding Ecotoxicological Responses of Fish Embryos and Gill Cells to Cationic Polymers
Authors: Rawlings Jane M. , Belanger Scott E. , Connors Kristin A. , Karb Mike J. , Thomas Jacqueline B. , Roush Kyle S. , Sanderson Hans
Published: June 2022

Cationic polymers are considered by the scientific and regulatory communities as a group of greater interest amongst the polymers in commerce. As a category, relatively little hazard information is available in the public literature. Very few examples exist of published, high-quality polymer characterization and quantification of exposure. In the present study we describe a series of fish embryo toxicity (FET) and fish gill cytotoxicity assays used to establish a baseline understanding of several representative polyquaternium categories (PQ-6, PQ-10, PQ-16) in animal alternative models, accompanied by high-quality analytical characterization. Materials were chosen to encompass a range of molecular weights and charge densities to determine the influence of test material characteristics on toxicity. Both chorionated and dechorionated FET assays were generally similar to published acute fish toxicity data. Toxicity was correlated with cationic polymer charge density, and not with molecular weight, and was a combination of physical effects and likely toxicity at the site of action. Toxicity could be ameliorated by humic acid in a dose-dependent manner. Fish gill cytotoxicity results were orders of magnitude less sensitive than FET test responses. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:2259–2272. © 2022 SETAC
Novel HLA associations with outcomes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis exposure and sarcoidosis in individuals of African ancestry using nearest‐neighbor feature selection
Authors: Dawkins Bryan A. , Garman Lori , Cejda Nicholas , Pezant Nathan , Rasmussen Astrid , Rybicki Benjamin A. , Levin Albert M. , Benchek Penelope , Seshadri Chetan , Mayanja‐Kizza Harriet , Iannuzzi Michael C. , Stein Catherine M. , Montgomery Courtney G.
Published: June 2022

Tuberculosis and sarcoidosis are inflammatory diseases characterized by granulomas that may occur in any organ but are often found in the lung. The panoply of classical human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles associated with occurrence and/or severity of both diseases varies considerably across studies. This heterogeneity of results, due to variation in factors like ancestry and disease subphenotype, as well as the use of simple modeling strategies to elucidate likely complex relationships, has made conclusions about underlying commonalities difficult. Here we perform HLA association analyses in individuals of African ancestry, using a greater resolution to include subphenotypes of disease and employing more comprehensive analytical techniques. Using a novel application of nearest‐neighbor feature selection to score allelic importance, we investigated HLA allele association with Mycobacterium tuberculosis exposure outcomes in the first analysis of both latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and active disease compared with those who, despite long‐term exposure to active index cases, have neither positive diagnostic tests nor display clinical symptoms. We also compared persistent to resolved sarcoidosis. This led to the identification of novel HLA associations and evidence of main effects and interaction effects. We found strikingly similar main effects and interaction effects at HLA‐DRB1, ‐DQB1, and ‐DPB1 in those resistant to tuberculosis (either latent or active) and persistent sarcoidosis.
A numerical approach of forced convection of Casson nanofluid flow over a vertical plate with varying viscosity and thermal conductivity
Authors: Gnanaprasanna K. , Singh Abhishek Kumar
Published: June 2022

The present study involves a numerical approach of forced convection of the rheological properties of Casson nanofluids flowing on a vertical plate with variable viscosity and Prandtl number using Buongiorno's single‐phase model. The non‐Newtonian Casson fluid is very useful in the process of metal coatings and fabrication manufacturing as these types of nanofluids experiences more shear‐thinning effects. The influence of velocity, concentration, and temperature profiles for nonuniform physical parameters on the steady Casson nanofluid flow induced on a vertical plate was studied numerically. The investigations include the graphs of velocity, concentration, temperature, skin friction coefficient, and Nusselt number profiles for velocity ratio parameter (), Casson fluid parameter (), and Lewis number (). The characteristic features of augmented values of Casson fluid parameter () enhance the velocity profile, whereas declines the temperature profiles. Non‐Newtonian fluids on a vertical plate are commonly encountered in irrigation problems, heat storage beds, biological systems, petroleum, textile, paper, and polymer composite industries, optimization and solidification processes of metals and metal alloys, geothermal source investigations, and nuclear fuel debris treatment.
Quantifying the climate change‐driven impacts on the hydrology of a data‐scarce watershed located in the Brazilian Tropical Savanna
Authors: Amorim Jhones da Silva , Viola Marcelo Ribeiro , Junqueira Rubens , de Mello Carlos Rogério , Bento Nicole Lopes , Avanzi Junior Cesar
Published: June 2022

Tropical savannas are one of the most affected biomes worldwide by anthropogenic activities. The Cerrado biome, also referred to as the Brazilian Tropical Savanna, is one of the world's environmental hotspots due to its high biodiversity and endemism. Also, it is essential for water resources in South America and hydropower generation in Brazil. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate possible changes in water availability in the Cerrado due to the impacts of climate change throughout the 21st century under different emissions scenarios. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was calibrated and validated in a watershed encompassing 51 237 km2. The regional climate models (RCMs) Eta‐HadGEM‐ES and Eta‐MIROC5 under the representative concentration pathways (RCPs) 4.5 and 8.5 were used to simulate the streamflow changes in three time slices (2010–2040, 2041–2070, and 2071–2099). The streamflow can be reduced by up to 70%, being Eta/HadGEM2‐ES RCM under RCP 8.5 projected the most severe impact. On average, the most significant runoff reductions occurred in the first and third time slice (−54.51%). Baseflow and evapotranspiration can reduce up to 55% and 23%, respectively, at the end of the century. In addition, the hydrological drought assessment stressed the higher frequency of severe drought events in the first time slice. Streamflow regularization can be an alternative to mitigate the impacts of climate change in the Brazilian Tropical Savanna throughout the 21st century.
COVID‐19 outbreak in Lombardy: Impact on reducing solid cancer diagnoses in 2020
Authors: Trama Annalisa , Bernasconi Alice , Botta Laura , Di Cosimo Serena , Miceli Rosalba , Claps Melanie , Badenchini Fabio , Lillini Roberto , Rubino Massimiliano , Lasalvia Paolo
Published: June 2022

Our aim was to analyse, on a population level, the year‐long decline in cancer diagnoses in the region of Lombardy (Italy), and to characterise the tumours with the greatest reduction in diagnosis by patient age, sex and tumour stage at diagnosis. We used the health care utilisation databases of the Lombardy region to identify cancer patients' characteristics (eg, sex, age) and cancer‐related information (eg, cancer site, stage at diagnosis). The frequency of new cancer diagnoses in 2019 and 2020 were compared in terms of percentage differences in undiagnosed cases. We observed two peaks in the decline in cancer diagnoses: March to May 2020 (−37%) and October to December 2020 (−19%). The decline persisted over the course of 2020 and was higher in males and patients aged 74+. Diagnoses of all four common cancers analysed (female breast, lung, colorectal and prostate) remained below pre‐pandemic levels. For breast and colorectal cancers, the decline in diagnoses was high in the age groups targeted by population‐based screening programmes. We observed a reduction in localised stage cancer diagnoses for all four cancers. Our data confirm that timely monitoring of cancer diagnoses and interventions to prevent disruption of routine diagnostic services are needed to mitigate the impact of emergencies on cancer patients.
Context‐relevant risk and protective factors for children in rural communities: Long‐term implications for adulthood educational and mental health outcomes
Authors: Shen Wensong , Hannum Emily
Published: June 2022

Globally, rural children are more likely than others to experience barriers to opportunity. We propose context‐relevant family risk and protective factors for children in rural villages in one of China's poorest provinces and analyze long‐term implications for educational and mental health outcomes in early adulthood. Four proposed risk factors—low parental education, insufficient income, parental migration, and parental ill‐health—show statistically significant detrimental implications for educational attainment. Low parental education stands out, with negative estimated effects on all outcomes. Insufficient income predicts higher scores for depression but not self‐esteem. Parental migration and parental ill health have no significant relationships with mental health outcomes. Proposed protective factors– parental warmth, doing things together, and household credit limit—have positive estimated effects on educational attainment, but not on most mental health outcomes. Few interactions between protective and risk factors exist, and patterns are generally similar for girls and boys.
Barriers to employment for people with intellectual disabilities in low‐ and middle‐income countries: Self‐advocate and family perspectives
Authors: Bialik Kimber , Mhiri Manel
Published: June 2022

Despite a growing focus on disability‐inclusive employment and livelihoods, people with intellectual disabilities and their families remain underrepresented in both the literature and in employment programming. This paper identifies key barriers to inclusive employment collected through six (6) focus groups made up of people with intellectual disabilities (N:54) and their family members (N:45) in Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, and Bangladesh. Self‐advocates and families report stigma, denial of access to education, safety and security concerns, pressure to engage in self‐employment, and discrimination as key barriers. Their experiences can contribute to more inclusive cross‐disability perspectives on employment and provide guidance for practitioners aiming to design responsive disability‐inclusive employment programmes.
Comparative effectiveness and durability of COVID‐19 vaccination against death and severe disease in an ongoing nationwide mass vaccination campaign
Authors: Lytras Theodore , Kontopidou Flora , Lambrou Angeliki , Tsiodras Sotirios
Published: June 2022

As national coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) mass vaccination campaigns are rolled out, monitoring real‐world Vaccine Effectiveness (VE) and its durability is essential. We aimed to estimate COVID‐19 VE against severe disease and death in the Greek population, for all vaccines currently in use. Nationwide active surveillance and vaccination registry data during January–December 2021 were used to estimate VE via quasi‐Poisson regression, adjusted for age and calendar time. Interaction terms were included to assess VE by age group, against the “delta” severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 variant and waning of VE over time. Two doses of BNT162b2, mRNA‐1273, or ChAdOx1 nCov‐19 vaccines offered very high (>90%) VE against both intubation and death across all age groups, similar against both “delta” and previous variants, with one‐dose Ad26.COV2.S slightly lower. VE waned over time but remained >80% at 6 months, and three doses increased VE again to near 100%. Vaccination prevented an estimated 19 691 COVID‐19 deaths (95% confidence interval: 18 890–20 788) over the study period. All approved vaccines offer strong and also durable protection against COVID‐19 severe disease and death. Every effort should be made to vaccinate the population with at least two doses, to reduce the mortality and morbidity impact of the pandemic.
Gender differences in the relationship between presenteeism and extra‐role behaviors
Authors: Luksyte Aleksandra , Unsworth Kerrie L. , Avery Derek R. , Cordery John L. , Seah Jasmine
Published: June 2022

The relationship between presenteeism, or working despite ill‐health, and extra‐role behavior can be negative, positive, or null. Our research examines the role of gender in influencing this relationship. We build on the self‐regulatory perspective on resource allocation in the context of presenteeism, which emphasizes the role of internal and external pressure on resources. We hypothesize that sick men will direct their resources toward protecting their performance rather than their health, thereby demonstrating citizenship. In contrast, sick women focus their resources on protecting their health, thereby not engaging in extra‐role behaviors. We tested our hypotheses in three studies. The results of Study 1, based on employees' (N = 78) and their supervisors' (N = 17) data, showed that sick men appeared to protect their performance by engaging in extra‐role behaviors. The findings of Study 2 (N = 280) demonstrated that citizenship pressure was not related to the extra‐role behaviors of sick men. Yet it was associated with the performance of sick women, who, unlike men, appeared to preserve health and engaged in extra‐role behaviors only when they felt pressured to do so. The results of the experimental Study 3 (N = 195) showed that, as predicted, women tended to protect health more than men and that when health protection motive was high (low), presenteeism was negatively (positively) related to extra‐role behavior.
Effect of l‐amino acid‐based biostimulants on nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in lettuce plants
Authors: Navarro‐León Eloy , López‐Moreno Francisco Javier , Borda Elisabet , Marín Cándido , Sierras Nuria , Blasco Begoña , Ruiz Juan Manuel
Published: June 2022

BACKGROUND

Biostimulants are increasingly integrated into production systems with the goal of modifying physiological processes in plants to optimize productivity. Specifically, l‐α‐amino acid‐based biostimulants enhance plant productivity through improved photosynthesis and increased assimilation of essential nutrients such as nitrogen (N). This element is a major component of fertilizers, which usually are applied in excess. Thus, the inefficient use of N fertilizers has generated a serious environmental pollution issue. The use of biostimulants has the potential to address problems related to N fertilization. Therefore, the objective of this study is to analyze whether two biostimulants based on l‐α‐amino acid (Terra Sorb® radicular and Terramin® Pro) designed by Bioiberica, S.A.U company can compensate deficient N fertilization and test its effect on lettuce plants. Growth, photosynthetic, N accumulation, and N use efficiency (NUE) parameters were analyzed on lettuce leaves.

RESULTS

Results showed that regardless of N fertilization, the use of both biostimulants, especially Terramin® Pro, increased biomass production. Moreover, both biostimulants enhanced photosynthetic, NO3− and total N accumulations as well as NUE parameters.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, Terra Sorb® radicular and Terramin® Pro constitute a useful tool for crops development in N‐limiting areas, and in intensive agricultural areas without N deficiency allowing the reduction of N inputs without impairing crop yields and reducing environmental impact. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Perceptions on the prevalence and impact of predatory academic journals and conferences: A global survey of researchers
Authors: Elliott Tracey , Fazeen Bisma , Asrat Asfawossen , Cetto Ana María , Eriksson Stefan , Looi Lai Meng , Negra Diane
Published: June 2022

A global survey of researchers was conducted to gather perceptions on the prevalence and impact of predatory academic journals and conferences. The survey was open and inclusive in nature, with 1872 researchers, from a wide array of geographic regions, disciplines and academic career stages, voluntarily participating. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analysed. The survey revealed that over 80% (1537 of 1859) of respondents perceive predatory practices are already a serious problem or on the rise in their country of work, and risk infiltrating and undermining the research enterprise if left unchallenged. At least 24% (445 of 1872) of respondents admitted they had already published in a predatory journal, participated in a predatory conference, or did not know if they had. Over 87% of respondents who had published (174 of 199) or participated (60 of 64) indicated that a lack of awareness of predatory practices was the main reason. Those in lower‐middle and upper‐middle‐income countries were more likely to indicate they had engaged in these activities than those in high‐income ones, with some disciplines appearing to engage more than others. Individual impact was mixed: some indicated no impact while others noted a range of negative and detrimental feelings.
Factors associated with invasive fungal sinusitis in patients with COVID‐19: A systematic review and single‐center case series
Authors: Donovan Maggie R. , Miglani Amar , Lal Devyani , Marino Michael J.
Published: June 2022

Objective

Invasive fungal sinusitis (IFS) in patients with active or recent COVID‐19 have been reported throughout the world. The primary purpose of the systematic review is to describe factors associated with IFS in patients with COVID‐19. The goal of the case series was to also characterize these factors in addition to evaluating the incidence of IFS at our institution after the onset of the pandemic.

Methods

A systematic review using the preferred reporting in systematic reviews and meta‐analyses (PRISMA) framework identified publications of IFS cases associated with COVID‐19 (IFSAC). Search terms were “COVID‐19,” “invasive,” “fungal,” and “sinusitis.” IFS cases were evaluated for COVID‐19 status, fungal etiology, comorbidities, treatment, and outcome. A case series of patients at our center with IFS between December 1, 2018 to March 31, 2020 (“pre‐covid”) and April 1, 2020 to August 1, 2021 (“post‐covid”) was also performed with the above parameters.

Results

Fourteen studies totaling 206 cases of IFSAC were identified. Most cases came from India (140/206, 68.0%), followed by Egypt (62/206, 30.1%), and North America (4/206, 1.9%). Diabetes was the most common comorbidity (151/206, 73.3%). Recent or prolonged steroid use was noted in 65.0% of cases (134/206). In our series, five pre‐covid and four post‐covid cases were identified. One had recent COVID‐19 infection. Acute myeloid leukemia was the most common pre‐covid comorbidity (3/5, 60.0%). Diabetes was the most frequent post‐covid comorbidity (2/4, 50.0%). Chronic steroid usage was noted in two pre‐covid and one post‐covid cases.

Conclusion

Diabetes and steroid use are common factors in reported cases of IFSAC. IFS incidence in our case series did not change appreciably after the onset of the pandemic.

Level of Evidence: 4.
Functional genomics of reproduction in pigs: Are we there yet?
Authors: Nonneman Dan J. , Lents Clay A.
Published: June 2022

Reproductive failure is the main reason for culling females in swine herds and is both a financial and sustainability issue. Because reproductive traits are complex and lowly to moderately heritable, genomic selection within populations can achieve substantial genetic gain in reproductive efficiency. A better understanding of the physiological components affecting the expression of these traits will facilitate greater understanding of the genes affecting reproductive traits and is necessary to improve and optimize management strategies to maximize reproductive success of gilts and sows. Large‐scale genotyping with single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays are used for genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) and have facilitated identification of positional candidate genes. Transcriptomic data can be used to weight SNP for GWAS and could lead to previously unidentified candidate genes. Resequencing and fine mapping of candidate genes are necessary to identify putative functional variants and some of these have been incorporated into new genotyping arrays. Sequence imputation and genotype by sequence are newer strategies that could reveal novel functional mutations. In this study, these approaches are discussed. Advantages and limitations are highlighted where additional research is needed.
Effect of ceramic nano‐particles on the properties of a carbon‐phenolic ablator
Authors: Paglia Laura , Mapelli Caterina , Genova Virgilio , Bracciale Maria Paola , Marra Francesco , Bartuli Cecilia , Fratoddi Ilaria , Pulci Giovanni
Published: June 2022

Carbon‐phenolic ablators are very efficient heat shields for atmospheric reentry vehicles: they are able to protect a capsule from hyper thermal environments characterized by intense heat fluxes (>1 MW/m2) and very high temperature (also exceeding 300°C). Ablative materials can be modified by the addition of nano‐fillers in order to improve their performance: small amounts of nano‐fillers (in the order of 2–5 wt%) are able to enhance the matrix material properties, guarantying a weight saving too. In this work, three different kinds of ceramic nano‐particles (ZrO2, SiC, and MgO) were tested as fillers for a phenolic resin and for a carbon‐phenolic ablator: the variation in the mechanical properties and ablative performances were verified through mechanical tests and oxyacetylene flame exposure. The influence of the nano‐particles in the composite materials properties and the phenomena connected to their presence in the ablative material were deeply investigated with scanning electron microscope, EDS, XRD, and FTIR analysis.
The role of classroom engagement on academic grit, intolerance to uncertainty and well‐being among school students during the second wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic in India
Authors: Kareem Jacqueline , Thomas Shinto , Kumar P. Aneesh , Neelakantan Meera
Published: June 2022

The forced changes and disruptions in educational systems and learning experiences due to the pandemic has impacted students' mental health and well‐being. The present study aims to understand the effects of the determinants of well‐being on students in India during the second wave (April to August 2021) of the COVID‐19 pandemic. The determinants of well‐being in this study are academic grit, intolerance to uncertainty and students' engagement in an online learning environment. In this study, well‐being is characterized as students' confidence and satisfaction in an online learning and pandemic environment. The data collected from 1174 students (12–19 years) from various states, using standardized tools, were analyzed to find out about the mediating effect of students' engagement on the relationship between academic grit and well‐being, and between intolerance to uncertainty and well‐being. Further, the model fit analysis of the determinants of well‐being is explored. The paper reports that students' classroom engagement does mediate in the path of academic grit and well‐being, and in the path of intolerance to uncertainty and well‐being. It also evidence the model fit of the influence of the determinants of well‐being on that of school students during the second wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic. The study also draws implications and suggestions for educators using the current model of students' well‐being.
Poly(hydroxyurethane‐co‐thiourethane)s cross‐linked with disulfide bonds: Synthesis via isocyanate‐free approach, thermomechanical and reprocessing properties
Authors: Liu Weiming , Ge Wenming , Mei Honggang , Hang Guohua , Li Lei , Zheng Sixun
Published: June 2022

Both difunctional five‐membered cyclic carbonate (E5CC) and trithiocarbonate (E5CTC) were synthesized via the reactions of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) with carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbon disulfide (CS2), respectively. These two monomers were employed to synthesize linear poly(hydroxyurethane‐co‐mecaptotrithiourethane) [P(HU‐co‐MTU)] copolymers via the polymerization with an α,ω‐diamino‐terminated poly(propylene oxide). By controlling the mole ratios of E5CC to E5CTC, the P(HU‐co‐MTU) copolymers were synthesized with variable contents of thiol groups. It was found that the linear P(HU‐co‐MTU) copolymers were readily cross‐linked with the disulfide bonds which were in situ generated via the radical coupling of the side thiol groups. The cross‐linking exerted a profound impact on the thermomechanical properties of the materials. The glass transition temperature (Tg's), Young's moduli and tensile strengths were significantly enhanced with increasing the contents of disulfide bonds. More importantly, the networks significantly displayed the self‐healing and reprocessing properties, which are attributable to the dynamic exchanges of disulfide bonds.
Mechanism‐driven strategies for prevention of rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Holers V. Michael , Kuhn Kristine A. , Demoruelle M. Kristen , Norris Jill M. , Firestein Gary S. , James Eddie A. , Robinson William H. , Buckner Jane H. , Deane Kevin D.
Published: June 2022

In seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the onset of clinically apparent inflammatory arthritis (IA) is typically preceded by a prolonged period of autoimmunity manifest by the presence of circulating autoantibodies that can include antibodies to citrullinated protein antigens (ACPA) and rheumatoid factor. This period before clinical IA can be designated preclinical RA in those individuals who have progressed to a clinical diagnosis of RA, and an “at‐risk” status in those who have not developed IA but exhibit predictive biomarkers of future clinical RA. With the goal of developing RA prevention strategies, studies have characterized immune phenotypes of preclinical RA/at‐risk states. From these studies, a model has emerged wherein mucosal inflammation and dysbiosis may lead first to local autoantibody production, which should normally be transient, but instead is followed by a systemic spread of the autoimmunity as manifested by serum autoantibody elevations, ultimately driving the development of clinically identified joint inflammation. This model can be envisioned as the progression of disease development through serial “checkpoints” that in principle should constrain or resolve autoimmunity; however, instead, the checkpoints “fail” and clinical RA develops. Herein we review the immune processes that are likely to be present at each step and the potential therapeutic strategies that could be envisioned to delay, diminish, halt, or even reverse the progression to clinical RA. Notably, these prevention strategies could utilize existing therapies approved for clinical RA, therapies approved for other diseases that target relevant pathways in the preclinical/at‐risk state, or approaches that target novel pathways.
Influence of invasive crayfish on fine sediment transport, ingress and bed storage in lowland rivers
Authors: Mathers Kate L. , Rice Stephen P. , Chadd Richard , Wood Paul J.
Published: June 2022

Historically it has been assumed that abiotic forces dominate fluvial sediment dynamics. However, a growing body of work indicates that biological energy can also exert a significant control over sediment dynamics. The role that invasive species may play in altering fine sediment dynamics is particularly pertinent given that any influence may disrupt the natural equilibrium of the ecosystem. Here we investigated the effect of invasive signal crayfish (Pacisfastcus leniusculus) on the transport and storage of fine sediment in a densely populated river compared with a nearby control river without crayfish, over an 18‐week period. We observed clear evidence of diurnal fluctuations in turbidity associated with crayfish presence including periodograms with power peaks at a period of 1 day. Fine sediment fluxes indicated that crayfish contributed on average 18.5% extra to baseflow loads than would be likely under abiotic forcing alone. Temporal variations in suspended sediment concentrations were also observed at the control site but these were different in character and exhibited no clear temporal pattern or consistency as confirmed by periodogram analysis. Crayfish did not have an effect on sediment ingress rates relative to the control site and, at the crayfish site, the reach scale sediment budget was in net equilibrium during the sampling period. Our results provide further evidence that biological energy alters riverine fine sediment dynamics and warrants consideration in sediment dynamic models.
Carbon Dots for Intracellular Sensing
Authors: Lin Fengming , Jia Chenyang , Wu Fu-Gen
Published: June 2022

Carbon dots (CDs), a type of small, carbon element‐based nanomaterials, have found numerous applications in many fields due to their outstanding properties like fascinating photoluminescence characteristic, great biocompatibility, easy and economical synthesis, and facile functionalization. Over the last decade, huge progress and achievements have been made in terms of the applications of CDs in cellular detection. However, a comprehensive review focusing on this topic is still lacking. Herein, the recent progress in CDs‐mediated intracellular detection, including the fluorescence imaging of cellular structures (e.g., nucleus/nucleolus, mitochondrion, lysosome, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and lipid droplet), the fluorescence detection of a large variety of cellular substances (including endogenous biomacromolecules and their monomers, vitamins, important metabolites, adenosine triphosphate, reactive oxygen species, biothiols, ions, and exogenous compounds), and the monitoring of cellular parameters (pH, temperature, and mitochondrial membrane potential), is thoroughly reviewed. The synthesis, functionalization, and performance of the CDs that serve as fluorescent nanoprobes in living cells are presented. Their underlying working mechanisms are also discussed if available. Finally, the challenges and future research directions of the related research field are listed. This review may foster the future development of more CDs with better cellular sensing performance.
Recent Development in Laminar Transition Metal Dichalcogenides‐Based Membranes Towards Water Desalination: A Review
Authors: Rehman Faisal , Hussain Memon Fida , Ullah Sami , Jafar Mazumder Mohammad A. , Al‐Ahmed Amir , Khan Firoz , Hussain Thebo Khalid
Published: June 2022

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs)‐based laminar membranes have gained significant interest in energy storage, fuel cell, gas separation, wastewater treatment, and desalination applications due to single layer structure, good functionality, high mechanical strength, and chemical resistivity. Herein, we review the recent efforts and development on TMDCs‐based laminar membranes, and focus is given on their fabrication strategies. Further, TMDCs‐based laminar membranes for water purification and seawater desalination are discussed in detail. Finally, present their merits, limits and future challenges needed in this area.
Settling Down and Setting Up: Itinerant Peddlers from Russian Karelia as Shopkeepers in Late Nineteenth- and Early Twentieth-Century Finland
Authors: Sundelin Anna
Published: June 2022

The chapter analyzes mobile traders from Russian Karelia who abandoned their itinerant livelihood and settled down in Finland in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Many of these former peddlers opened up stores in the Finnish countryside, making use of their skills as traders and previously formed networks to keep their stores well supplied. The analysis revolves around the relationship between local residents and strangers settling down. By combining ethnographical sources with newspaper writings and advertisements the chapter offers new insights into the transition from itinerant peddling to storekeeping as well as the experiences of migrant entrepreneurs in Finland at the turn of the twentieth century.
A Social-Media Study of the Older Adults Coping with the COVID-19 Stress by Information and Communication Technologies
Authors: Khalili-Mahani Najmeh , Sawchuk Kim , Elbaz Sasha , Hebblethwaite Shannon , Timm-Bottos Janis
Published: June 2022

In this paper, we convey the results of our digital fieldwork within the current mediascape (English) by examining online reactions to an important source of cultural influence: the news media's depiction of older adult's stress, the proposals offered to older adults to assist them in coping with the stress of living in the COVID-19 pandemic, and finally, the responses of online commentators to these proposals. A quasi-automated social network analysis of 3390 valid comments in seven major international news outlets (Jan-June 2020), revealed how older adults were generally resourceful and able to cope with COVID-19 stress. For many in this technology-using sample, information and communication technologies (ICTs) were important for staying informed, busy, and connected, but they were not the primary resources for coping. Although teleconferencing tools were praised for facilitating new forms of intergenerational connection during the lockdowns, they were considered temporary and inadequate substitutes for connection to family. Importantly, older adults objected to uncritical and patronizing assumptions about their ability to deal with stress, and to the promotion of ICTs as the most important coping strategy. Our findings underline the necessity of a critical and media-ecological approach to studying the affordances of new ICTs for older adults, which considers changing needs and contextual preferences of aging populations in adoption of de-stressing technologies.
Probing light vector mediators with coherent scattering at future facilities
Authors: Bertuzzo E. , Grilli di Cortona G. , Ramos L. Magno Dantas
Published: June 2022

Abstract

Future experiments dedicated to the detection of Coherent Elastic Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering may be powerful tools in probing light new physics. In this paper we study the sensitivity on light Z′ mediators of two proposed experiments: a directional low pressure Time Projection Chamber detector, νBDX-DRIFT, that will utilize neutrinos produced at the Long Baseline Neutrino Facility, and several possible experiments to be installed at the European Spallation Source. We compare the results obtained with existing limits from fixed-target, accelerator, solar neutrino and reactor experiments. Furthermore, we show that these experiments have the potential to test unexplored regions that, in some case, could explain the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon or peculiar spectral features in the cosmic neutrino spectrum observed by IceCube.
Real-time holography and hybrid WKB for BTZ wormholes
Authors: Dimitrov Vasil , Mayerson Daniel R. , Min Vincent
Published: June 2022

Abstract

We study probe scalar correlation functions in a Solodukhin wormhole corresponding to the non-rotating BTZ black hole, as a toy model for microstate geometries thereof. Using real-time holography, we obtain the retarded scalar correlator in the wormhole geometry and quantitatively compare it to the result of the hybrid WKB method for the same correlator. We also calculate an off-diagonal correlator ∼ 〈HLLH′〉 involving two different (heavy) wormhole states.
The see-saw portal at future Higgs factories: the role of dimension six operators
Authors: Barducci Daniele , Bertuzzo Enrico
Published: June 2022

Abstract

We study an extension of the Standard Model with electroweak scale right-handed singlet fermions N that induces neutrino masses, plus a generic new physics sector at a higher scale Λ. The latter is parametrized in terms of effective operators in the language of the νSMEFT. We study its phenomenology considering operators up to d = 6, where additional production and decay modes for N are present in addition to those arising from the mixing with the active neutrinos. We focus on the production with four-Fermi operators and we identify the most relevant additional decay modes to be N → νγ and N → 3f. We assess the sensitivity of future Higgs factories on the νSMEFT in regions of the parameter space where the new states decay promptly, displaced or are stable on detector lengths. We show that new physics scale up to 5–60 TeV can be explored, depending on the collider considered.
Penalized maximum likelihood estimator for mixture of von Mises–Fisher distributions
Authors: Ng Tin Lok James
Published: June 2022

The von Mises–Fisher distribution is one of the most widely used probability distributions to describe directional data. Finite mixtures of von Mises–Fisher distributions have found numerous applications. However, the likelihood function for the finite mixture of von Mises–Fisher distributions is unbounded and consequently the maximum likelihood estimation is not well defined. To address the problem of likelihood degeneracy, we consider a penalized maximum likelihood approach whereby a penalty function is incorporated. We prove strong consistency of the resulting estimator. An Expectation–Maximization algorithm for the penalized likelihood function is developed and experiments are performed to examine its performance.
Accuracy of Parathyroid Adenoma Localization by Preoperative Ultrasound and Sestamibi in 1089 Patients with Primary Hyperparathyroidism
Authors: Iwen K. Alexander , Kußmann Jochen , Fendrich Volker , Lindner Kirsten , Zahn Alexandra
Published: June 2022

Background

Primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) is well treatable surgically. Sonography (US) and sestamibi scintigraphy (MIBI) are used routinely, but it is unclear how valuable they are in determining Parathyroid glands’ different locations. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of US and MIBI in relation to the different localization of parathyroid adenomas in one of the largest study populations analyzed to date.

Methods

1089 patients with pHPT who had treatment in one tertiary referral center between 2007 and 2016 were analyzed. Preoperative US and MIBI reports were compared with the parathyroid adenoma's intraoperative localization. All parathyroid glands were confirmed by histological diagnosis.

Results

No gland was detectable in 22.5% and 27.7% of all patients, by US or by MIBI, respectively. In relation to the different adenoma locations, the sensitivity of US ranged from 21.3% (upper right) to 68.9% (lower left) and of MIBI ranged from 23.5% (upper right) to 72% (lower left). The specificity for US ranged from 85% (lower right) to 99.2% (upper right) and for MIBI ranged from 86.1% (lower right) to 99.1% (upper right. Positive predictive values for all gland sites were 54% and 59% for MIBI and US, respectively. The value increased for side‐only prediction to 73% and 78%, respectively. Neither the parathyroid hormone level nor the calcium value level influenced the sensitivity or specificity of the two test methods.

Conclusions

The validity of preoperative US and MIBI depends crucially on the specific localization of adenomas. This should be considered when planning the extent of parathyroid surgery.
Possible strategies for use of artificial intelligence in screen-reading of mammograms, based on retrospective data from 122,969 screening examinations
Authors: Larsen Marthe , Aglen Camilla F. , Hoff Solveig R. , Lund-Hanssen Håkon , Hofvind Solveig
Published: June 2022

Objectives

Artificial intelligence (AI) has shown promising results when used on retrospective data from mammographic screening. However, few studies have explored the possible consequences of different strategies for combining AI and radiologists in screen-reading.

Methods

A total of 122,969 digital screening examinations performed between 2009 and 2018 in BreastScreen Norway were retrospectively processed by an AI system, which scored the examinations from 1 to 10; 1 indicated low suspicion of malignancy and 10 high suspicion. Results were merged with information about screening outcome and used to explore consensus, recall, and cancer detection for 11 different scenarios of combining AI and radiologists.

Results

Recall was 3.2%, screen-detected cancer 0.61% and interval cancer 0.17% after independent double reading and served as reference values. In a scenario where examinations with AI scores 1–5 were considered negative and 6–10 resulted in standard independent double reading, the estimated recall was 2.6% and screen-detected cancer 0.60%. When scores 1–9 were considered negative and score 10 double read, recall was 1.2% and screen-detected cancer 0.53%. In these two scenarios, potential rates of screen-detected cancer could be up to 0.63% and 0.56%, if the interval cancers selected for consensus were detected at screening. In the former scenario, screen-reading volume would be reduced by 50%, while the latter would reduce the volume by 90%.

Conclusion

Several theoretical scenarios with AI and radiologists have the potential to reduce the volume in screen-reading without affecting cancer detection substantially. Possible influence on recall and interval cancers must be evaluated in prospective studies.

Key Points

• Different scenarios using artificial intelligence in combination with radiologists could reduce the screen-reading volume by 50% and result in a rate of screen-detected cancer ranging from 0.59% to 0.60%, compared to 0.61% after standard independent double reading

• The use of artificial intelligence in combination with radiologists has the potential to identify negative screening examinations with high precision in mammographic screening and to reduce the rate of interval cancer