bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stoichiometry‐Directed Two‐Level Hierarchical Growth of Lanthanide‐Based Supramolecular Nanoarchitectures
Authors: Moreno Daniel , Santos José , Parreiras Sofia O. , Martín‐Fuentes Cristina , Lauwaet Koen , Urgel José I. , Miranda Rodolfo , Martín Nazario , Gallego José M. , Écija David
Published: March 2023

The design of a well‐ordered arrangement of atoms on a solid surface has long been sought due to the envisioned applications in many different fields. On‐surface synthesis of metal‐organic networks is one of the most promising fabrication techniques. Hierarchical growth, which involves coordinative schemes with weaker interactions, favours the formation of extended areas with the desired complex structure. However, the control of such hierarchical growth is in its infancy, particularly for lanthanide‐based architectures. Here the hierarchical growth of a Dy‐based supramolecular nanoarchitecture on Au(111) is described. Such an assembly is based on a first hierarchical level of metallo‐supramolecular motifs, which in a second level of hierarchy self‐assemble through directional hydrogen bonds, giving rise to a periodic two‐dimensional supramolecular porous network. Notably, the size of the metal‐organic based tecton of the first level of hierarchy can be tailored by modifying the metal‐ligand stoichiometric ratio.
Synthesis, Stepwise Bromination, and Functionalization of Picene Diimide
Authors: Wang Xin , Chen Li , Li Nuoya , Wu Di , Xia Jianlong
Published: March 2023

Materials Synthesis and Processing Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) diimides are indispensable candidates for n‐type organic semiconductors in organic optoelectronic devices. Developing new PAH diimide building blocks are of remarkable significance for material diversity and further advance in organic semiconductors. In this contribution, 4,5,8,9‐picene diimide (PiDI) was designed and synthesized. Controllable stepwise bromination of PiDI were accomplished to afford 13‐monobromo‐, 13,14‐dibromo‐, 2,13,14‐tribromo‐ and 2,11,13,14‐tetrabromo‐PiDI. Moreover, cyanation of 2,11,13,14‐tetrabromo‐PiDI gave the corresponding tetracyanated PiDI, which can be utilized as n‐type semiconductor with OFET electron mobility up 0.073 cm2 V−1 s−1. This result demonstrates the potential of PiDI as a building block for constructing new high‐performance electronic‐transporting materials.
Instantly evaluating bacterial infections on skin ulcers in an Asian population using a fluorescence‐emitting device
Authors: Kurokami Yu , Kurosaki Yukiho , Yamashita Chigusa , Yokoi Kazunori , Tonomura Kyoko , Kiyohara Eiji , Ishitsuka Yosuke , Fujimoto Manabu , Tanemura Atsushi
Published: March 2023

MolecuLight i:X® is a handy instrument capable of visualizing the bacterial adhesion over 10,000 CFU/g by recognizing porphyrin and pyoverdine as fluorescence. We took a total of 55 clinical photographs and fluorescence images (20 cases) from May 2021 to December 2021, after which the correlation between fluorescence observation and culture results was investigated. In addition, the course of fluorescent and ulcer status was shown in representative cases. The results suppose that MolecuLight i:X® is in real‐time use and would be helpful in determining the range of collection of bacterial cultures as well as in judging therapeutic necessity for intractable skin ulcers.
Mehr Kapazität im Schüttgutlager der Duisburger Hafenniederlassung
Authors: Mauermann Olivia
Published: March 2023

Das Familienunternehmen Karl Schmidt ist Dienstleister für Schüttgutlogistik. Zusammen mit SSB Wägetechnik haben die Anlagenbauer im Duisburger Hafen ein Logistikzentrum für Schüttgüter aus der Chemieindustrie errichtet. Die Erweiterung der Anlage, die im Januar 2023 abgeschlossen wurde, umfasst 40 Silos. Die Schüttgutanlage arbeitet automatisiert von der Verladung bis zur Absackung und Kennzeichnung.
Mehr Effizienz beim Lithium‐Recycling
Authors: Gorman Elisabeth
Published: March 2023

Obwohl Lithium bereits für Millionen von Antriebsbatterien in Elektromobilen unverzichtbar ist, enden die Batterien und Ihre Rohstoffe wie das wertvolle Lithium nach Gebrauch noch zu 95 % im Müll, weil die konventionellen Recyclingverfahren zu teuer sind. Forscher bei Evonik setzen auf einen Elektrolyse‐Prozess mit einer Keramikmembran, bei dem auch Wasserstoff entsteht.
Kompakte Fluidiksysteme regeln Betriebsmedien
Authors: Renninger Jürgen
Published: March 2023

Pharmazeutische Anlagen für das Mahlen und die Pulver‐ bzw. Partikelaufbereitung benötigen eine individuell gestaltete Prozessgas‐ und Flüssigkeitsverteilung. Bürkert Fluid Control Systems bietet dafür verschweißte Ventilplattformen, die die Medienführung wirtschaftlicher gestalten.
Modular und Ex‐geschützt
Authors: Friedrich Horst
Published: March 2023

Die neuen komplett modular aufgebauten HMI‐Bedienstationen ORCA wurden speziell für diese Anforderungen in explosionsgefährdeten Bereichen entwickelt und sind auch für den Einsatz in der Produktion unter hygienischen Bedingen wie in der Pharmaindustrie geeignet.
Neue Automatisierungstechnik in Brownfield‐Anlagen
Authors: Schollähn Burkhard
Published: March 2023

Anlagen laufen meist über viele Jahrzehnte, wobei sich die in ihnen gefertigten Produkte oder der Stand der Technik in deutlich kürzeren Abständen ändern. Da eine Neuanschaffung häufig zu teuer ist, müssen die Bownfield‐Anlagen daher an die neuen Rahmenbedingungen adaptiert werden. Eine anlagenspezifische Systemverkabelung unterstützt beim zuverlässigen und schnellen Umstieg auf eine moderne Steuerungstechnik..
CO2 capture by benzene‐based hypercrosslinked polymer adsorbent: Artificial neural network and response surface methodology
Authors: Moradi Mohammad Reza , Ramezanipour Penchah Hamid , Ghaemi Ahad
Published: March 2023

In this research, porous benzene‐based hypercrosslinked polymeric adsorbents with different morphological properties were synthesized through Friedel–Crafts alkylation reaction. The resulting samples were applied for CO2 capture at different operational conditions. Two modelling approaches, including artificial neural network (radial basis function [RBF] and multi layer perceptron [MLP]) and response surface methodology (RSM), were employed to investigate the effect of independent parameters on adsorption capacity. A semi‐empirical quadratic model for adsorption capacity was presented based on RSM‐central composite design technique. Additionally, the optimal structure of RBF was determined with 200 neurons, and the optimal structure of MLP was determined with three hidden layers and 10, 8, and 7 neurons. The modelling results demonstrate the better prediction of MLP and RBF approaches than the RSM method with correlation coefficient values of 0.999, 0.989, and 0.931, respectively. Finally, process optimization was carried out using RSM optimization module and the optimized values of synthesis time, crosslinker ratio (formaldehyde dimethyl acetal [FDA]/benzene), adsorption time, pressure, and temperature were obtained at 10.11 h, 1, 220 s, 9 bar, and 55°C, respectively. The optimum value of CO2 uptake capacity was obtained around 167 (mg/g).
The “preexisting condition” invention in American health care: The persistence of a potential insurance nightmare
Authors: Nelson Bryn , Faquin William
Published: March 2023

This news section is written by a medical journalist and offers Cancer Cytopathology readers timely information on events, issues, and personalities of interest to the subspecialty. In this issue, the first in a two‐part series, we examine the uniquely American business model of private health insurance and its practice of preexisting conditions, which has excluded millions for reasons that have little to do with medicine or biology.
Advances and challenges in designing MXene quantum dots for sensors
Authors: Cheng Yonghua , Jiang Bowen , Chaemchuen Somboon , Verpoort Francis , Kou Zongkui
Published: March 2023

MXene quantum dots (MQDs) sensor is a promising platform for identifying target analytes by sensing fluorescence, electrochemical signals, photoluminescence, biomedical, and so on. On the way to designing MQDs in the sensors, substantial progress has been made with basic scientific and technological hurdles remaining. Combining specific functional designs of MQDs with mechanistic understanding provides new research prospects and technology opportunities even at the industrial level. However, MQDs must be able to detect target analytes with higher sensitivity, robust stability, and applied compatibility. Here, we review the recent advances and challenges in the synthetic strategies and rational design of MQDs. By zooming in on several representative examples, we discuss the existing potentials of MQDs in the application of fluorescence, electrochemical luminescence, photoluminescence, colorimetric/fluorescent dual‐mode, and biomedical sensors. Finally, we identify the opportunities and challenges to further understanding of MQDs sensors.
Large Thermally Irreversible Photoinduced Shift of Selective Light Reflection in Hydrazone‐Containing Cholesteric Polymer Systems
Authors: Boychuk Artem , Shibaev Valery , Cigl Martin , Hamplová Vĕra , Novotná Vladimíra , Bobrovsky Alexey
Published: March 2023

Stimuli responsive liquid crystalline polymers are a unique class of so‐called “smart” materials demonstrating various types of mesomorphic structures easily controlled by external fields, including light. In the present work we synthesized and studied a comb‐shaped hydrazone‐containing copolyacrylate exhibited cholesteric liquid crystalline properties with the pitch length of the helix being tuned under irradiation with light. In the cholesteric phase selective light reflection in the near IR spectral range (1650 nm) was measured and a large blue shift of the reflection peak from 1650 nm to 500 nm was found under blue light (428 or 457 nm) irradiation. This shift is related to the Z‐E isomerization of photochromic hydrazone‐containing groups and it is photochemically reversible. The improved and faster photo‐optical response was found after copolymer doping with 10 wt % of low‐molar‐mass liquid crystal. It is noteworthy that both, the E and Z isomers of hydrazone photochromic group are thermally stable that enable to achieve a pure photoinduced switch without any dark relaxation at any temperatures. The large photoinduced shift of the selective light reflection, together with thermal bistability, makes such systems promising for applications in photonics.
Exploring Glycosylated Soy Isoflavones Affinities toward G‐tetrads as Studied by Survival Yield Method
Authors: Stężycka Olga , Frańska Magdalena , Beszterda‐Buszczak Monika
Published: March 2023

Taking soy‐based food supplements for menopausal symptoms by women may reduce the risk of cancer. Therefore, the interaction between nucleic acids (or their constituents) and ingredients of the supplements, e. g., isoflavone glucosides, on the molecular level, has been of interest with respect to cancer therapy. In this work, the interaction between isoflavone glucosides and G‐tetrads, namely [4G+Na]+ ions (G stands for guanosine or deoxyguanosine), were analyzed by using electrospray ionization‐collision induced dissociation‐mass spectrometry (ESI‐CID‐MS) and survival yields method. The strength of isoflavone glucosides‐[4G+Na]+ interaction in the gas phase was determined from Ecom50 – the energy required to fragment 50 % of selected precursor ions. Glycitin‐[4G+Na]+ interaction was found to be the strongest, and the interaction between isoflavone glucosides and guanosine tetrad was established to be stronger than that between isoflavone glucosides and deoxyguanosine tetrad.
Comparison of Efficacy and Safety of Direct Oral Anticoagulants and Warfarin between Patients in Asian and Non‐Asian Regions: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Regression Analysis
Authors: Ambe Kaori , Akita Ayu , Wei Jie , Yoshii Yuka , Onishi Mayu , Tohkin Masahiro
Published: March 2023

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have increasingly replaced warfarin for treating patients with non‐valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). DOACs have been demonstrated to be more useful than warfarin, which was highlighted at its ethnic differences in efficacy and safety; however, the regional differences of DOACs remain unclear. We conducted a systematic review, meta‐analysis, and meta‐regression to evaluate the efficacy and safety of DOACs in patients from Asian and non‐Asian regions with NVAF. We systematically searched randomized control trials published before August 2019. We defined 11 studies comprising 7,118 Asian and 53,282 non‐Asian patients, totaling 60,400 patients with NVAF. The risk ratios (RRs) of DOACs were calculated against warfarin. The efficacy of DOACs was significantly higher in Asian regions regarding stroke/systemic embolism events (RR: 0.62 and 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.49–0.78 for the Asian region; RR: 0.83 and 95% CI: 0.75–0.92 for non‐Asian regions; P interaction: 0.02), when compared with warfarin. The safety of DOACs was significantly higher in Asian regions regarding major bleeding (RR: 0.62 and 95% CI: 0.51–0.75 for Asian regions; RR: 0.90 and 95% CI: 0.76–1.05 for non‐Asian regions; P interaction: 0.004), compared with warfarin. In addition, we conducted meta‐regression analysis to discuss the true regional differences of DOACs to warfarin. The meta‐regression analysis, which adjusts the effect of individual backgrounds in each study, indicated that the regional differences were observed in the efficacy but not in drug safety. These results suggest that treatment with DOACs may be more effective than the conventional warfarin in the Asian region.
Study on the Intrinsic Correlation between Sintering Method, Ion Diffusion, and Dielectric Properties of Ba0.5Sr0.5TiO3‐ZnAl2O4 Composite Ceramics
Authors: Zhang Xianxin , Xin Le , Zhang Mingwei , Zhai Jiwei
Published: March 2023

Ba0.5Sr0.5TiO3‐ZnAl2O4 composite ceramics of different components are prepared by solid‐phase sintering and microwave sintering, respectively. The ion diffusion phenomenon between the two phases under different sintering methods and the effect of sintering method on the microstructure and dielectric properties of composite ceramics are studied. The results show that during solid‐phase sintering, the generation of liquid phase can effectively enhance the ion diffusion between the two phases. Compared with solid‐phase sintering, microwave sintering effectively reduces the sintering temperature of composite ceramics, and the refinement of grains enhances the ion diffusion between the two phases, resulting in an increase in the Ba/Sr ratio, and the Curie temperature moves to high temperature and increases the tunability. Under microwave sintering conditions, when the ZnAl2O4 content is 50 wt%, the tunability of the composite ceramics reaches 40.03%, and it has a good Q‐value.
Addressing Profitability With Conservation Programs
Authors: Rackley Denice
Published: March 2023

Repurposing underperforming cropland to improve environmental outcomes and increase producer profitability is possible. Transitioning these acres into conservation areas, utilizing farm bill programs, and partnering with organizations like Quail Forever and Cotton Inc. can provide guaranteed income from these marginal soils.
Vulnerability of protected areas to future climate change, land use modification, and biological invasions in China
Authors: Xin Yusi , Yang Zhixu , Du Yuanbao , Cui Ruina , Xi Yonghong , Liu Xuan
Published: March 2023

Anthropogenic climate change, land use modifications, and alien species invasions are major threats to global biodiversity. Protected areas (PAs) are regarded as the cornerstone of biodiversity conservation, however, few studies have quantified the vulnerability of PAs to these global change factors together. Here, we overlay the risks of climate change, land use change, and alien vertebrate establishment within boundaries of a total of 1020 PAs with different administrative levels in China to quantify their vulnerabilities. Our results show that 56.6% of PAs will face at least one stress factor, and 21 PAs are threatened under the highest risk with three stressors simultaneously. PAs designed for forest conservation in Southwest and South China are most sensitive to the three global change factors. In addition, wildlife and wetland PAs are predicted to mainly experience climate change and high land use anthropogenetic modifications, and many wildlife PAs can also provide suitable habitats for alien vertebrate establishment. Our study highlights the urgent need for proactive conservation and management planning of Chinese PAs by considering different global change factors together.
Revisiting the nutraceutical profile, chemical composition, and health benefits of jaggery: Updates from recent decade
Authors: Sharifi‐Rad Javad , Painuli Sakshi , Sener Bilge , Kılıç Mehtap , Kumar Nanjangud V. A. , Semwal Prabhakar , Docea Anca O. , Suleria Hafiz A. R. , Calina Daniela
Published: March 2023

Foods as medicine have been utilized from ancient civilizations and shared from generation to generation as dietary health practices. It provides therapeutic assistance along with nutrition and health benefits. Presently, food products, diet, and individual health are receiving a lot of attention and are in high demand. In this context, jaggery is an important part of food and diet in the rural areas of many regions/countries. It is made up of sugarcane juice and is recognized as a natural source of nutraceuticals due to the presence of different types of essential amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidant potential along with other biological applications. In this updated review article, we discussed the newest research and information on traditional uses, nutraceutical profiling, chemical composition, and biological applications of jaggery. The published data were collected from different scientific search engines including PubMed, Springer Link, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Wiley online library. Given these findings, we can conclude that jaggery is a strong source of nutraceuticals and its nutraceutical potential can be enhanced with value addition and other scientific interventions. Detailed investigations on preclinical (in silico, in vitro, and in vivo) studies along with its actual mechanism of action in depth are required. Additionally, clinical trials also should be conducted to validate the preclinical studies.
Association between changes in loop diuretic dose and outcomes in acute heart failure
Authors: Seko Yuta , Kato Takao , Morimoto Takeshi , Yaku Hidenori , Inuzuka Yasutaka , Tamaki Yodo , Ozasa Neiko , Shiba Masayuki , Yamamoto Erika , Yoshikawa Yusuke , Yamashita Yugo , Kitai Takeshi , Taniguchi Ryoji , Iguchi Moritake , Nagao Kazuya , Kawai Takafumi , Komasa Akihiro , Nishikawa Ryusuke , Kawase Yuichi , Morinaga Takashi , Toyofuku Mamoru , Furukawa Yutaka , Ando Kenji , Kadota Kazushige , Sato Yukihito , Kuwahara Koichiro , Kimura Takeshi ,   for the KCHF Study Investigators
Published: March 2023

Aims

Little is known about the association between the starting of or dose changes in loop diuretics during acute heart failure (AHF) hospitalization and post‐discharge outcomes. We investigated the clinical impact of starting loop diuretics and changing the loop diuretics dose during hospitalization on post‐discharge outcomes.

Methods and results

From the Kyoto Congestive Heart Failure registry, 3665 consecutive patients hospitalized for HF and discharged alive were included in this study. We analysed 1906 patients without loop diuretics on admission and were discharged alive and 1759 patients who received loop diuretics on admission and were discharged alive. The primary outcome measure was all‐cause death. Of the 1906 patients without loop diuretics on admission, 1366 (71.7%) patients started loop diuretics during the index AHF hospitalization. Starting loop diuretics was not associated with lower post‐discharge mortality [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 0.92, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.68–1.25]. Of the 1759 patients who received loop diuretics on admission, loop diuretic dose was decreased in 23.8%, unchanged in 44.6%, and increased in 31.6% of the patients. Changes in the dose at discharge compared with no change in dose were not associated with lower risk of post‐discharge mortality (decrease relative to no change: adjusted HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.76–1.28; increase relative to no change: adjusted HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.78–1.27). Compared with no loop diuretics at discharge, a loop diuretics dose of ≥80 mg at discharge was associated with higher post‐discharge mortality risk.

Conclusions

In patients with AHF, we found no association between the starting of loop diuretics and post‐discharge outcomes and between dose changes and post‐discharge outcomes.
Recent advances on the development of graphene‐based field‐effect transistors, electrochemical biosensors and electrochemiluminescence biosensors
Authors: Hu Xue‐Bo , Zhang Yi‐Xiao , Chen Xiao‐Hui , He Meng‐Yuan , Jin Zi‐He
Published: March 2023

Graphene, a honeycomb lattice of carbon material with single‐atom‐layer structure, demonstrates extraordinary mechanical, thermal, chemical and electronic properties. Thus, it has sparked tremendous interests in various fields, such as energy storage and conversion devices, field‐effect transistors (FET), chemical sensors and biosensors. In this review, we will first focus on the synthesis method of graphene and the fabrication strategy of graphene‐based materials. Subsequently, the construction of graphene‐based biosensors are introduced, in which three kinds of biosensors are discussed in details, including the FET, electrochemical biosensors and electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensors. The performances of the state‐of‐the‐art biosensors on the detection of biomolecules are also displayed. Finally, we also highlight some critical challenges remain to be solved and the development in this field for further research.
In the fast lane: Receptor trafficking during status epilepticus
Authors: Naylor David E.
Published: March 2023

Status epilepticus (SE) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality and often is refractory to standard first‐line treatments. A rapid loss of synaptic inhibition and development of pharmacoresistance to benzodiazepines (BZDs) occurs early during SE, while NMDA and AMPA receptor antagonists remain effective treatments after BZDs have failed. Multimodal and subunit‐selective receptor trafficking within minutes to an hour of SE involves GABA‐A, NMDA, and AMPA receptors and contributes to shifts in the number and subunit composition of surface receptors with differential impacts on the physiology, pharmacology, and strength of GABAergic and glutamatergic currents at synaptic and extrasynaptic sites. During the first hour of SE, synaptic GABA‐A receptors containing γ2 subunits move to the cell interior while extrasynaptic GABA‐A receptors with δ subunits are preserved. Conversely, NMDA receptors containing N2B subunits are increased at synaptic and extrasynaptic sites, and homomeric GluA1 (“GluA2‐lacking”) calcium permeant AMPA receptor surface expression also is increased. Molecular mechanisms, largely driven by NMDA receptor or calcium permeant AMPA receptor activation early during circuit hyperactivity, regulate subunit‐specific interactions with proteins involved with synaptic scaffolding, adaptin‐AP2/clathrin‐dependent endocytosis, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention, and endosomal recycling. Reviewed here is how SE‐induced shifts in receptor subunit composition and surface representation increase the excitatory to inhibitory imbalance that sustains seizures and fuels excitotoxicity contributing to chronic sequela such as “spontaneous recurrent seizures” (SRS). A role for early multimodal therapy is suggested both for treatment of SE and for prevention of long‐term comorbidities.
Potential Risk of Residues From Neonicotinoid-Treated Sugar Beet in Flowering Weeds to Honey Bees (Apis mellifera L.)
Authors: Odemer Richard , Friedrich Elsa , Illies Ingrid , Berg Stefan , Pistorius Jens , Bischoff Gabriela
Published: March 2023

In 2018 the European Union (EU) banned the three neonicotinoid insecticides imidacloprid, clothianidin (CLO), and thiamethoxam (TMX), but they can still be used if an EU Member State issues an emergency approval. Such an approval went into effect in 2021 for TMX-coated sugar beet seeds in Germany. Usually, this crop is harvested before flowering without exposing non-target organisms to the active ingredient or its metabolites. In addition to the approval, strict mitigation measures were imposed by the EU and the German federal states. One of the measures was to monitor the drilling of sugar beet and its impact on the environment. Hence we took residue samples from different bee and plant matrices and at different dates to fully map beet growth in the German states of Lower Saxony, Bavaria, and Baden-Württemberg. A total of four treated and three untreated plots were surveyed, resulting in 189 samples. Residue data were evaluated using the US Environmental Protection Agency BeeREX model to assess acute and chronic risk to honey bees from the samples, because oral toxicity data are widely available for both TMX and CLO. Within treated plots, we found no residues either in pools of nectar and honey crop samples (n = 24) or dead bee samples (n = 21). Although 13% of beebread and pollen samples and 88% of weed and sugar beet shoot samples were positive, the BeeREX model found no evidence of acute or chronic risk. We also detected neonicotinoid residues in the nesting material of the solitary bee Osmia bicornis, probably from contaminated soil of a treated plot. All control plots were free of residues. Currently, there are insufficient data on wild bee species to allow for an individual risk assessment. In terms of the future use of these highly potent insecticides, therefore, it must be ensured that all regulatory requirements are complied with to mitigate any unintentional exposure. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:1167–1177. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
Combination of four bacterial strains isolated from Yamahai‐shubo in traditional Japanese sake brewing
Authors: Fujiwara Hisashi , Watanabe Kunihiko , Wakai Yoshinori
Published: March 2023

This study investigated the interactions of four bacteria strains isolated from Yamahai‐shubo, the source of yeast used to produce a Japanese traditional rice wine, Yamahai‐shikomi sake. The bacterial strains were nitrate‐reducing Pseudomonas sp. 61‐02, Leuconostoc mesenteroides LM‐1, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LP‐2, and Latilactobacillus sakei LS‐4. We examined fermentation factors for Yamahai‐shubo and Yamahai‐shikomi sake samples to compare the suitability of their bacterial combination (16 variations). As a result of principal component analysis, we found that two major groups were formed; one containing strain LP‐2 and the other containing strain LS‐4, and that strains LP‐2 and LS‐4 were important in the Yamahai‐shikomi sake in the presence of strains 61‐02 and LM‐1. Then, we investigated the effects of strains LP‐2 and LS‐4 on the concentration of organic acids (pyruvic acid, citric acid, succinic acid, malic acid, and lactic acid) in Yamahai‐shikomi sake. Only in lactic acid, a tendency to decrease with a smaller proportion of LS‐4 strains in Yamahai‐shubo was observed. Subsequently, their effect on the concentration of diacetyl, crucial for aroma, was investigated between the LP‐2 and LS‐4 strains. The sample prepared in the absence of strain LS‐4 exhibited the lowest concentration of diacetyl. This result was supported by the statistical analysis for the sensory scores performed for aroma of each Yamahai‐shikomi sake sample. In conclusion, strain LP‐2 plays a more significant role in improving Yamahai‐shikomi sake quality with strains LM‐1 and 61‐02 rather than strain LS‐4 in Yamahai‐shubo preparation and Yamahai‐shikomi sake brewing.
A neuropsychological profile and its correlation with neuroimaging markers in patients with subcortical ischaemic vascular dementia
Authors: Tian Rui , Zhang Yanxin , Liu Fang , Xue Xinran , Zhang Yutong , Tian Zhuo , Fang Tingting , Fan Ruxue , Li Yuan , Zhang Nan
Published: March 2023

Objectives

Cognitive and neuroimaging assessments are still the main clinical practice methods for screening and diagnosing vascular dementia (VaD) patients. This study aimed to establish the neuropsychological characteristics of mild‐to‐moderate subcortical ischaemic vascular dementia (SIVD) patients, find an optimal cognitive marker for differentiating them from Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, and explore the correlation between cognitive function and total small vessel disease (SVD) burden.

Methods

SIVD (n = 60) and AD (n = 30) patients and cognitively unimpaired healthy controls (HCs; n = 30) were recruited from our longitudinal MRI AD and SIVD study (ChiCTR1900027943) and received a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment and a multimodal MRI scan. Cognitive performance and MRI SVD markers were compared between groups. Combined cognitive scores were established for differentiating between SIVD and AD patients. Correlations between cognitive function and total SVD scores were analysed in dementia patients.

Results

SIVD patients showed poorer performance in information processing speed and better performance in memory, language, and visuospatial function than AD patients, although all cognitive domains were impaired in both groups compared with HCs. Combined cognitive scores showed an area under the curve of 0.727 (95%CI 0.62–0.84, p < 0.001) for differentiating SIVD and AD patients. Auditory Verbal Learning Test recognition scores were negatively correlated with total SVD scores in SIVD patients.

Conclusions

Our results suggested that neuropsychological assessments, specifically combined tests including episodic memory, information processing speed, language and visuospatial ability, are useful in the clinical differentiation between SIVD and AD patients. Moreover, cognitive dysfunction was partly correlated with MRI SVD burden in SIVD patients.
Gated transformations from egocentric to allocentric reference frames involving retrosplenial cortex, entorhinal cortex, and hippocampus
Authors: Alexander Andrew S. , Robinson Jennifer C. , Stern Chantal E. , Hasselmo Michael E.
Published: March 2023

This paper reviews the recent experimental finding that neurons in behaving rodents show egocentric coding of the environment in a number of structures associated with the hippocampus. Many animals generating behavior on the basis of sensory input must deal with the transformation of coordinates from the egocentric position of sensory input relative to the animal, into an allocentric framework concerning the position of multiple goals and objects relative to each other in the environment. Neurons in retrosplenial cortex show egocentric coding of the position of boundaries in relation to an animal. These neuronal responses are discussed in relation to existing models of the transformation from egocentric to allocentric coordinates using gain fields and a new model proposing transformations of phase coding that differ from current models. The same type of transformations could allow hierarchical representations of complex scenes. The responses in rodents are also discussed in comparison to work on coordinate transformations in humans and non‐human primates.
Does medical insurance improve health? An empirical analysis from China
Authors: Yi Chengzhi , Wei Linsha , Long Cuihong
Published: March 2023

Background

Medical insurance is considered to be closely related to individual health status, while their relationship are left to be clarified. This article aims to examine the relationship between medical insurance and the health status of residents in China.

Methods

The data is from a nationally representative sample of CGSS2015, and the estimation methods of ordered logit model, generalised ordered logit model and instrumental variable (IV) were used.

Results

Both public medical insurance (PMI) and commercial medical insurance (CMI) had a positive correlation with residents' self‐assessed physical and mental health, while PMI was more statistically significant and substantively important than CMI. The basic results estimated with the generalised ordered logit model and IV model still remained robust. Further analysis found that medical insurance, whether public or commercial, had more or less weakened the importance of income to personal health, showing a substitute effect for income.

Conclusion

PMI has been proven to help promote the physical and mental health of residents and moderate the importance of residents' income to health. Besides, CMI also plays a beneficial supplementary role in promoting residents' health.
TFEB‐translocated and ‐amplified renal cell carcinoma with VEGFA co‐amplification: A case of long‐term control by multimodal therapy including a vascular endothelial growth factor‐receptor inhibitor
Authors: Takamori Hajime , Maeshima Akiko Miyagi , Kato Ikuma , Baba Masaya , Nakamura Eijiro , Matsui Yoshiyuki
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Renal cell carcinoma with TFEB amplification is rare and reportedly aggressive. We herein report a case of renal cell carcinoma with TFEB translocation and amplification in which long‐term control was achieved by multimodal therapy including a vascular endothelial growth factor ‐receptor inhibitor.

Case presentation

A 70‐year‐old man was referred to our institution for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma with multinodal metastases. Open nephrectomy and lymph node dissection were performed. Immunohistochemistry for transcription factor EB was positive, and fluorescent in situ hybridization revealed TFEB rearrangement and amplification. The diagnosis was TFEB‐translocated and ‐amplified renal cell carcinoma. VEGFA amplification was also demonstrated by fluorescent in situ hybridization. The residual and recurrent tumors were treated and controlled for 52 months by vascular endothelial growth factor‐receptor target therapy, radiation therapy, and additional surgery.

Conclusion

A good long‐term response to anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor drug therapy may be due to VEGFA amplification and subsequent vascular endothelial growth factor overexpression.
Local officials' political capital and poverty alleviation
Authors: Wang Shubin , Li Qiang , Gu Yan
Published: March 2023

This study examined the effect of local officials' political capital on poverty alleviation by using a manually compiled database of county party secretaries (CPSs) in impoverished counties in China. The empirical results reveal that CPSs with political capital positively affect poverty alleviation. Mechanism tests indicated that CPSs with political capital contribute to greater agricultural and financial development, attract more enterprise investment, and increase fiscal expenditure. The promotional effect of local officials' political capital on poverty alleviation was influenced by CPSs' characteristics (e.g., tenure, education level, and age) and was less pronounced during central government inspection and when the provincial government was less concerned about local officials' poverty alleviation. Our results suggest that local officials' political capital can alleviate poverty in emerging economies.
Label‐free cleared tissue microscopy and machine learning for 3D histopathology of biomaterial implants
Authors: Ngo Tran B , DeStefano Sabrina , Liu Jiamin , Su Yijun , Shroff Hari , Vishwasrao Harshad D , Sadtler Kaitlyn
Published: March 2023

Tissue clearing of whole intact organs has enhanced imaging by enabling the exploration of tissue structure at a subcellular level in three‐dimensional space. Although clearing and imaging of the whole organ have been used to study tissue biology, the microenvironment in which cells evolve to adapt to biomaterial implants or allografts in the body is poorly understood. Obtaining high‐resolution information from complex cell–biomaterial interactions with volumetric landscapes represents a key challenge in the fields of biomaterials and regenerative medicine. To provide a new approach to examine how tissue responds to biomaterial implants, we apply cleared tissue light‐sheet microscopy and three‐dimensional reconstruction to utilize the wealth of autofluorescence information for visualizing and contrasting anatomical structures. This study demonstrates the adaptability of the clearing and imaging technique to provide sub‐cellular resolution (0.6 μm isotropic) 3D maps of various tissue types, using samples from fully intact peritoneal organs to volumetric muscle loss injury specimens. Specifically, in the volumetric muscle loss injury model, we provide 3D visualization of the implanted extracellular matrix biomaterial in the wound bed of the quadricep muscle groups and further apply computational‐driven image classification to analyze the autofluorescence spectrum at multiple emission wavelengths to categorize tissue types at the injured site interacting with the biomaterial scaffolds.
Early evidence of the effect of ASU 2017‐12 on derivative disclosure compliance
Authors: Troyer Joseph , Johnston Joseph , Trimble Madeline
Published: March 2023

The growth in the use of financial derivatives for a variety of purposes has caused increased complexity in derivative reporting standards. As such, financial statement users have asked the Financial Accounting Standards Board to update guidance to increase transparency while preparers seek clearer guidance on the application of standards and a broadened scope of hedge accounting. The most recent derivative accounting guidance update, ASU 2017‐12 (Topic 815), broadens instruments that qualify for hedge accounting, expands allowable hedge accounting techniques, and reduces reporting requirements by omitting the reporting of hedge ineffectiveness. While these changes might simplify reporting requirements, there is the risk that the omitted disclosure would have been relevant to investors’ decision‐making. In this paper, we examine how derivative disclosure practices changed following the implementation of ASU 2017‐12. Using a hand‐collected sample of twenty S&P 500 firms, we calculate a derivative disclosure compliance (DDC) score and find that, on average, DDC scores decreased following firm adoption of ASU 2017‐12. This decline was realized for firms regardless of the notional amounts of derivative instruments held. However, the decline was not significant for early adopting firms suggesting a motivation for completeness by select firms. Our initial findings indicate that the update on derivative disclosures is not being uniformly applied potentially lessening its value to users. As a result, further updates may be necessary.
Associations between positive memory count and hazardous substance use in a trauma‐exposed sample: Examining the moderating role of emotion dysregulation
Authors: Compton Sidonia E. , Slavish Danica C. , Weiss Nicole H. , Bowen Holly J. , Contractor Ateka A.
Published: March 2023

Objectives

Research has demonstrated links between autobiographical memory retrieval and hazardous substance use. However, limited work has examined relations between positive autobiographical memories and hazardous substance use, as well as moderating factors influencing these relations. Thus, we examined the potential moderating roles of negative and positive emotion dysregulation in the relations between count of retrieved positive memories and hazardous substance use (alcohol and drug use separately).

Methods

Participants were 333 trauma‐exposed students (Mage = 21.05; 85.9% women) who completed self‐report measures assessing positive memory count, hazardous alcohol and drug use, negative emotion dysregulation, and positive emotion dysregulation.

Results

Positive emotion dysregulation significantly moderated the association between positive memory count and hazardous alcohol use (b = 0.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.01, 0.06], p = 0.019), as well as the association between positive memory count and hazardous drug use (b = 0.02, 95% CI [0.01, 0.03], p = 0.002). Individuals with more positive emotion dysregulation had stronger associations between increases in positive memory count and increased hazardous substance use.

Conclusion

Findings indicate that trauma‐exposed individuals who retrieve more positive memories and experience difficulties regulating positive emotions report greater hazardous substance use. Positive emotion dysregulation may be an important target for memory‐based interventions among trauma‐exposed individuals who report hazardous substance use.
Detection and diagnosis of melanoma skin cancers in dermoscopic images using pipelined internal module architecture (PIMA) method
Authors: Bharathi G. , Malleswaran M. , Muthupriya V.
Published: March 2023

Detection and diagnosis of melanoma skin cancer is important to save the life of humans. The main objective of this article is to perform both detection and diagnosis of the skin cancers in dermoscopy images. Both skin cancer detection and diagnosis system uses deep learning architectures for the effective performance improvement as the main objective. The detection process involves by identifying the cancer affected skin dermoscopy images and the diagnosis process involves by estimating the severity levels of the segmented cancer regions in skin images. This article proposes parallel CNN architecture for the classification of skin images into either melanoma or healthy. Initially, color map histogram equalization (CMHE) method is proposed in this article to enhance the source skin images and then thick and thin edges are detected from the enhanced skin image using the Fuzzy system. The gray‐level co‐occurrence matrix (GLCM) and Law's texture features are extracted from the edge detected images and these features are optimized using genetic algorithm (GA) approach. Further, the optimized features are classified by the developed pipelined internal module architecture (PIMA) of deep learning structure. The cancer regions in the classified melanoma skin images are segmented using mathematical morphological process and these segmented cancer regions are diagnosed into either mild or severe using the proposed PIMA structure. The proposed PIMA‐based skin cancer classification system is applied and tested on ISIC and HAM 10000 skin image datasets.

Research Highlights

The melanoma skin cancer is detected and classified using dermoscopy images.

The skin dermoscopy images are enhanced using color map histogram equalization.

GLCM and Law's texture features are extracted from the enhanced skin images.

To propose pipelined internal module architecture (PIMA) for the classification of skin images.
sRNA21, a novel small RNA, protects Mycobacterium abscessus against oxidative stress
Authors: Tan Zhili , Fan Junsheng , He Siyuan , Zhang Zhemin , Chu Haiqing
Published: March 2023

Background

During infection, Mycobacterium abscessus encounters numerous environmental changes and adapts to them using a variety of complex mechanisms. Non‐coding small RNAs (sRNAs) have been shown in other bacteria to be involved in post‐transcriptional regulatory pathways, including environmental stress adaptation. However, the potential role of sRNAs in the resistance to oxidative stress in M. abscessus was not clearly described.

Methods

In the present study, we analyzed putative sRNAs identified by RNA‐sequencing (RNA‐seq) experiments in M. abscessus ATCC_19977 under oxidative stress, and the transcription profiles of sRNAs with differential expression were verified by quantitative reverse transcription‐PCR (qRT‐PCR). Six sRNA overexpression strains were constructed, and the differences in growth curves between these strains and the control strain were verified. An upregulated sRNA under oxidative stress was selected and named sRNA21. The survival ability of the sRNA21 overexpression strain was assessed, and computer‐based approaches were used to predict the targets and pathways regulated by sRNA21. The total ATP production and NAD+/NADH ratio of the sRNA21 overexpression strain were measured. The expression level of antioxidase‐related genes and the activity of antioxidase were tested to confirm the interaction of sRNA21 with the predicted target genes in silico.

Results

In total, 14 putative sRNAs were identified under oxidative stress, and the qRT‐PCR analysis of six sRNAs showed comparable results to RNA‐seq assays. Overexpression of sRNA21 in M. abscessus increased cell growth rate and intracellular ATP level before and after peroxide exposure. The expression of genes encoding alkyl hydroperoxidase and superoxide dismutase was significantly increased, and superoxide dismutase activity was enhanced in the sRNA21 overexpression strain. Meanwhile, after sRNA21 overexpression, the intracellular NAD+/NADH ratio decreased, indicating changes in redox homeostasis.

Conclusions

Our findings show that sRNA21 is an oxidative stress‐induced sRNA that increases M. abscessus survival and promotes the expression of antioxidant enzymes under oxidative stress. These findings may provide new insights into the adaptive transcriptional response of M. abscessus to oxidative stress.
All longest cycles in a 2‐connected partial 3‐tree share a common vertex
Authors: Gutiérrez Juan
Published: March 2023

In 1966 Gallai asked whether all longest paths in a connected graph have nonempty intersection. This is not true in general and various counterexamples have been found. In this paper, we study the related question on longest cycles instead of longest paths (to make the question valid, we require 2‐connectivity). The answer for cycles is also negative and not so much attention has been given to it. Classes for which the answer is known to be positive are dually chordal graphs and 3‐trees. Perhaps the main open class for the question of both paths and cycles is the class of chordal graphs. In this paper, we show that all longest cycles intersect in graphs with treewidth at most three. This class of graphs includes several important subclasses of graphs, such as series‐parallel graphs and ‐free chordal graphs.
An efficient synthesis of new 3,5‐bis(2‐arylthiazol‐4‐yl)‐1,2,4‐oxadiazole derivatives and their antimicrobial evaluation
Authors: Shaikh Abdul Latif N. , Bhoye Manish , Nandurkar Yogesh , Pawar Hari R. , Bobade Vivek , Mhaske Pravin C.
Published: March 2023

A new series of 3,5‐bis(2‐arylthiazol‐4‐yl)‐1,2,4‐oxadiazole (8a–o) has been synthesized by modified reaction conditions. The reaction of ester 7a with N′‐hydroxy‐2‐phenylthiazole‐4‐carboximidamide 6a using NaOH in DMSO gave the formation of product 8a up to 40% yield. In the second method, the reaction with K2CO3 in toluene at reflux conditions gave a 50% yield. In the third method, the reaction condition was modified. The ester 7a was hydrolyzed to acid 9a. The reactions of acid 9a using N,N‐dimethyl amino pyridine (DMAP) in N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF), followed by the addition of N‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl)‐N′‐ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC·HCl), and then N′‐hydroxy‐2‐phenylthiazole‐4‐carboximidamide 6a, furnished a 65% yield of 8a. The compounds 8b–o were synthesized using DMAP and EDC·HCl as coupling reagents and gave 60%–72% yields. The structure of newly synthesized compounds was confirmed by spectral analysis. The synthesized compounds were screened for in vitro antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli (NCIM 2574), Proteus mirabilis (NCIM 2388), Bacillus subtilis (NCIM2063), Staphylococcus albus (NCIM 2178), Candida albicans (NCIM 3100), and Aspergillus niger (ATCC 504). Among the 8a–o derivatives, eight compounds 8c, 8e, 8f, 8g, 8i, 8j, 8k, and 8l showed good activity S. albus with a MIC 31.25–62.5 μg/mL.