bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The realm of metaverse: A survey
Authors: Venugopal Jothi Prakash , Subramanian Arul Antran Vijay , Peatchimuthu Jegathesh
Published: March 2023

The next step of digital development is the metaverse, which has the potential to drastically alter how people use technology and expand the range of services available beyond conventional systems that can be accessed online. As the efficiency, performance, and quality of service access reach their peak levels, the focus has shifted to the user experience. Due to this, there is an increasing demand for more involved and thorough customer service, and service providers are willing to increase their present standards. Consumers are genuinely asking for tactile and immersive elements in their digital interfaces, but these features can only be made possible by the metaverse's potentially futuristic subfields of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), and extended reality (XR). However, the metaverse may not be widely used due to significant security and privacy issues either from underlying technology or produced by the new digital environment. A variety of fundamental problems, such as scalability and interoperability, can arise in terms of ensuring security for the metaverse because of the metaverse's inherent properties, such as immersive realism, sustainability, and heterogeneity. In this survey, we propose a hypothetical meta‐stack framework to understand the various components in the realm of metaverse and then provide wide‐ranging insights on the most recent development in metaverse realm in the context of cutting‐edge technologies, security vulnerabilities and preventive measures specific to the metaverse and the research challenges pertaining to metaverse.
Regulators can we get DCB balloons approved for use in the United States?
Authors: Heuser Richard R.
Published: March 2023

Key points

Many patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have an increased bleeding risk with antiplatelet agents.

Bleeding can be a life‐ending event in our PCI patients, with mortality increased seven times when bleeding occurs.

We urgently need the drug‐coated balloon (DCB) approved for use in the United States.
Transoral robotic resection of large intramural, cervical esophageal lipoma—Report of a case and description of technique
Authors: Panuganti Bharat Akhanda , Jeyarajan Harishanker
Published: March 2023

Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) has evolved into a common surgical modality used to treat primarily oropharyngeal malignant and benign pathologies. The single port Intuitive Surgical da Vinci surgical robotics system facilitates access to the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus. We aim to describe our approach and advantages of the technique.
Sulfur‐Decorated Nonaromatic Amine Emitters Towards Efficient Triplet Exciton Utilization in Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes
Authors: Li Mengke , Su Shi‐Jian
Published: March 2023

Purely organic compounds served as promising materials for organic electronics have intrigued extensive research focuses owing to their unique photophysical and electronic properties. In the field of organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs), the utilization of triplet excitons is of great significance for realizing high‐performance devices. In contrast to the traditional aromatic amine‐based counterparts, sulfur atom with a high‐level outer orbit simultaneously provides powerful electron‐donating ability and striking spin‐orbit coupling effect to facilitate the utilization of theoretically spin‐forbidden triplet excitons, demonstrating great prospect in constructing highly emissive purely organic emitters for OLED applications. Herein, we summarize the currently developed sulfur‐decorated nonaromatic amine‐based emitters exhibiting attractive photoelectronic characteristics, and gain insight into the understanding of molecular design and photophysical processes of these emitters, providing new perspectives for enriching the existing luminescent material systems and designing high‐performance emitters.
An Umpolung Approach to Acyclic 1,4‐Dicarbonyl Amides via Photoredox‐Generated Carbamoyl Radicals
Authors: Williams Jason D. , Leach Stuart G. , Kerr William J.
Published: March 2023

A method for the generation and reaction of carbamoyl radicals from oxamate salts, followed by reaction with electron‐poor olefins, is described. The oxamate salt acts as a reductive quencher in the photoredox catalytic cycle, allowing mild and mass‐efficient formation of 1,4‐dicarbonyl products; a challenging transformation in the context of functionalized amide formation. Increased understanding has been obtained by the use of ab initio calculations, in support of experimental observations. Furthermore, steps have been taken towards an environmentally‐friendly protocol, by utilizing sodium as a cheap and low mass counterion, and demonstrating successful reactions using a metal‐free photocatalyst and a sustainable, non‐toxic solvent system.
Facilitating [2+2] Photocycloadditions by Promoting Oxygen Tolerance and Substrate Activation in Water
Authors: Kürschner Julian C. G. , Brüss Linda , Næsborg Line
Published: March 2023

Micellar photocatalysis has been used to overcome oxygen quenching and enable a [2+2] photocycloaddition through triplet‐energy transfer in water under aerobic conditions. The cheap and commercially available self‐assembling sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles were found to increase the oxygen tolerance of a typically oxygen‐sensitive reaction. Furthermore, the use of the micellar solution was found to activate α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds to energy transfer and allow [2+2] photocycloadditions to take place. Our preliminary studies of micellar effects on energy‐transfer‐based reactions demonstrate the reaction between α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds and activated alkenes in a mixture of SDS, water and [Ru(bpy)3](PF6)2.
Ohne Chemie ist alles nichts
Authors: Elmlinger Linda , Adolf Katharina , Bahne Eric , Hülsmann Hanna , Großmann Andre
Published: March 2023

Schon Justus von Liebig engagierte sich für die Ausbildung junger Chemiker und hätte als Entwickler des wasserlöslichen Phosphatdüngers seine Freude am 5. ChemPlant‐Wettbewerb gehabt. 2022 gewannen die Studierenden des Karlsruher Instituts für Technologie KIT mit ihrem Konzept für das ‐Recycling von Phosphor. Auch 2023 ist sind die Wettbewerbe ChemCar und ChemPlant wieder am Start und die kreativen Teams können sich ab sofort bewerben.
Die Gemeinsamkeiten stärken
Authors: Rübberdt Kathrin , Woppowa Ljuba
Published: March 2023

Die gemeinsame Arbeit von Dechema und VDI erhält einen neuen Rahmen, denn die Gremienlandschaft wird neu aufgestellt. Die Umstrukturierung soll die Netzwerkarbeit der Gremien verbessern und dabei unterstützen, Querschnittsthemen schneller und effizienter zu bearbeiten. Im Interview mit CITplus erläutern Dr. Kathrin Rübberdt, Bereichsleiterin Wissenschaft & Industrie der Dechema, und Dr. Ljuba Woppowa, Geschäftsführerin der VDI‐Gesellschaft Verfahrenstechnik und Chemieingenieurwesen, die Hintergründe und geben einen Ausblick auf die neue Form der Zusammenarbeit
Enhancing Suppression of Chain Transfer via Catalyst Structural Evolution in Ethylene (Co)Polymerization
Authors: Ding Beihang , Jiang Lihang , Kang Xiaohui , Dai Shengyu
Published: March 2023

Comprehensive Summary

Usually, the aniline‐based late‐transition‐metal catalysts often require bulky steric substituents on both sides of the ortho‐aryl position to achieve efficient suppression of chain transfer in ethylene polymerization. In this contribution, we demonstrated that α‐diimine catalysts based on naphthylamine with only one bulky ortho‐aryl substituent also demonstrated excellent capabilities to suppress the chain transfer. Firstly, a class of α‐diimine nickel and palladium complexes with only one o‐aryl‐dibenzhydryl or o‐aryl‐dibenzosuberyl substituent were synthesized and characterized. Secondly, the as‐prepared naphthylamine‐based nickel catalysts demonstrated outstanding activities (up to 13.02 × 106 g·mol–1·h–1) and yielded lightly branched (16—40/1000C) polyethylenes with very high molecular weights (445.8—854.3 kg/mol) in ethylene polymerization. In comparison, the corresponding palladium catalysts showed moderate activities (level of 104—105 g·mol–1·h–1), generating moderately branched (47—78/1000C) polyethylenes with moderate molecular weights (21.6—82.0 kg/mol). Moreover, the palladium catalysts could also copolymerize ethylene and methyl acrylate (MA), albeit in low activities (level of 103 g·mol–1·h–1), providing E‐MA copolymers with low to moderate molecular weights (1.4—16.3 kg/mol) and a moderate level of incorporation ratio (2.4—7.4 mol%) and branching density (53—84/1000C). As compared with aniline‐based nickel and palladium catalysts, the naphthylamine‐based catalysts displayed a superior ability to suppress the chain transfer reactions and could give access to (co)polymers with orders of magnitude higher molecular weight in ethylene (co)polymerization.
Combination of coronary CT angiography, FFRCT, and risk factors in the prediction of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients suspected CAD
Authors: Wada Shinichi , Iwanaga Yoshitaka , Nakai Michikazu , Nakao Yoko M. , Miyamoto Yoshihiro , Noguchi Teruo ,   for The NADESICO Study Investigators
Published: March 2023

Background

To examine the utility of fractional flow reserve by coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography (FFRCT) for predicting major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods

This was a nationwide multicenter prospective cohort study including consecutive 1187 patients aged 50−74 years with suspected CAD and had available coronary CT angiography (CCTA). In patients with ≥50% coronary artery stenosis (CAS), FFRCT was further analyzed. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to examine the association of FFRCT and cardiovascular risk factors with incident MACE within 2 years.

Results

Among 933 patients with available information on MACE within 2 years after enrollment, the incidence rate of MACE was higher in 281 patients with CAS than in those without CAS (6.11 vs. 1.16 per 100 patient‐year). In 241 patients with CAS, the Cox proportional hazards analysis showed that FFRCT as well as diabetes mellitus and low high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol level were independently associated with incident MACE. Moreover, the hazard ratio was significantly higher in patients harboring all three factors compared to those harboring 0−2 of the three factors (6.01; 95% confidence interval: 2.77−13.03).

Conclusions

Combinatorial assessment using CCTA for stenosis, FFRCT, and risk factors was useful for more accurate prediction of MACE in patients with suspected CAD. Among patients with CAS, those with lower FFRCT, diabetes mellitus, and low high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol level were at highest risk for MACE during the 2‐year period following enrollment.
First‐in‐Human, Single‐ and Multiple‐Ascending‐Dose, Food‐Effect, and Absolute Bioavailability Trials to Assess the Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Tolerability of Pritelivir, a Nonnucleoside Helicase‐Primase Inhibitor Against Herpes Simplex Virus in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Kropeit Dirk , Bonsmann Susanne , von Richter Oliver , McCormick David , Pausch Jörg , Sumner Melanie , Birkmann Alexander , Zimmermann Holger , Rübsamen‐Schaeff Helga
Published: March 2023

The pharmacokinetics and safety of the novel herpes simplex virus helicase‐primase inhibitor pritelivir were evaluated in 5 phase 1 trials: a single‐ascending‐dose trial, 2 multiple‐ascending‐dose trials, a food‐effect trial, and an absolute bioavailability trial in healthy male subjects. One cohort of healthy female subjects was included in the single‐ascending‐dose trial. Pritelivir pharmacokinetics were linear up to 480 mg following single and up to 400 mg following multiple once‐daily doses. The half‐life ranged from 52 to 83 hours, and steady state was reached between 8 and 13 days. Maximum plasma concentration and area under the plasma concentration–time curve from time 0 to the last quantifiable concentration were 1.5‐ and 1.1‐fold higher in female compared to male subjects. Absolute bioavailability was 72% under fasted conditions. Following a fatty diet, pritelivir time to maximum concentration was 1.5 hour delayed and maximum plasma concentration and area under the plasma concentration–time curve from time 0 to the last quantifiable concentration were 33% and 16% higher, respectively. Pritelivir was safe and well tolerated up to 600 mg following single and up to 200 mg following multiple once‐daily doses. Considering a therapeutic dose of 100 mg once‐daily, pritelivir demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability and pharmacokinetic profile in healthy subjects to support further development.
A three‐level three port isolated converter with reduced current stress for DC microgrid applications
Authors: S. Sofiya , Sathyan Shelas
Published: March 2023

This paper proposes a three‐level three port isolated converter (3L3PIC), which can be employed as an intermediate power conversion circuit for connecting different DC bus voltages in a DC microgrid. This topology utilize half bridge multilevel structure to reduce voltage stress across the transformer windings and the semiconductor switches. Conventionally the power transfer between the ports of a 3PIC were attained by traditional phase‐shift modulation (TPM), but this will impose increased current stress and associated losses in the converter at wide change in voltage conversion ratio. To minimize these losses, this paper introduces a 3L3PIC, that is, by employing dual phase‐shift modulation (DPM) in 3PIC. Steady state analysis of 3L3PIC are presented and derived the power transfer equations between the ports. The current equations through each port are determined at different combinations of voltage conversion ratios. Procedure for obtaining optimized phase‐shift values for both TPM and DPM techniques in 3PIC are explained. A comparison between the modulation schemes in 3PIC is performed and found better results for the DPM technique in terms of reduced current stress, reduced circulating power flow, and extended soft switching region. This in turn leads to a reduction in conduction losses and transformer losses in the converter. A hardware prototype of 1.5 kW 3PIC has been implemented and tested. The experimental results obtained validates with the theoretical analysis.
A review of the literature: How does prenatal opioid exposure impact placental health and fetal brain development?
Authors: Humphries Audrey , Simcox Kim , Howell Brittany
Published: March 2023

In recent years, there has been a sixfold increase in the number of pregnant people with opioid use disorder (OUD). Rates of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS), previously known as neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), have significantly increased in virtually every state and demographic group (Healthcare Cost Utilization Project, HCUP, 2010). NOWS is a condition resulting from chronic exposure to either therapeutic opioid use (e.g., medication for OUD, chronic pain conditions) or nonprescribed opioid use. To date, there is no known prenatal treatment to help decrease the risk of infants developing NOWS and subsequent neurodevelopmental outcomes. Given the increasing support for how placental signaling, or placental programming, may play a role in downstream pathology, prospective research investigating how the placenta is affected by chronic opioid exposure morphologically, histologically, and at the cellular level may open up potential treatment opportunities in this field. In this review, we discuss literature exploring the physiological roles of nitric oxide and dopamine not only in the vascular development of the placenta, but also in fetal cerebral blood flow, neurogenesis, neuronal differentiation, and neuronal activity. We also discuss histological preclinical studies that suggest chronic opioid exposure to induce some combination of placental dysfunction and hypoxia in a manner similar to other well‐known placental pathologies, as denoted by the compensatory neovascularization and increased utilization of the placenta's supply of trophoblast cells, which play an essential role in placental angiogenesis. Overall, we found that the current literature, while limited, suggests chronic opioid exposure negatively impacts placental function and fetal brain development on a cellular and histopathological level. We conclude that it is worthwhile to consider the placenta as a therapeutic target with the ultimate goal of decreasing the incidence of NOWS and the long‐term impacts of prenatal opioid exposure.
Lithium Ion Transport Environment by Molecular Vibrations in Ion‐Conducting Glasses
Authors: Yamada Hiroki , Ohara Koji , Hiroi Satoshi , Sakuda Atsushi , Ikeda Kazutaka , Ohkubo Takahiro , Nakada Kengo , Tsukasaki Hirofumi , Nakajima Hiroshi , Temleitner Laszlo , Pusztai Laszlo , Ariga Shunsuke , Matsuo Aoto , Ding Jiong , Nakano Takumi , Kimura Takuya , Kobayashi Ryo , Usuki Takeshi , Tahara Shuta , Amezawa Koji , Tateyama Yoshitaka , Mori Shigeo , Hayashi Akitoshi
Published: March 2023

Controlling Li ion transport in glasses at atomic and molecular levels is key to realizing all‐solid‐state batteries, a promising technology for electric vehicles. In this context, Li3PS4 glass, a promising solid electrolyte candidate, exhibits dynamic coupling between the Li+ cation mobility and the PS43− anion libration, which is commonly referred to as the paddlewheel effect. In addition, it exhibits a concerted cation diffusion effect (i.e., a cation–cation interaction), which is regarded as the essence of high Li ion transport. However, the correlation between the Li+ ions within the glass structure can only be vaguely determined, due to the limited experimental information that can be obtained. Here, this study reports that the Li ions present in glasses can be classified by evaluating their valence oscillations via Bader analysis to topologically analyze the chemical bonds. It is found that three types of Li ions are present in Li3PS4 glass, and that the more mobile Li ions (i.e., the Li3‐type ions) exhibit a characteristic correlation at relatively long distances of 4.0–5.0 Å. Furthermore, reverse Monte Carlo simulations combined with deep learning potentials that reproduce X‐ray, neutron, and electron diffraction pair distribution functions showed an increase in the number of Li3‐type ions for partially crystallized glass structures with improved Li ion transport properties. Our results show order within the disorder of the Li ion distribution in the glass by a topological analysis of their valences. Thus, considering the molecular vibrations in the glass during the evaluation of the Li ion valences is expected to lead to the development of new solid electrolytes.
Bimetallic Carbonyl Complexes Based on Iridium and Rhodium: Useful Tools for Hydrodefluorination Reactions
Authors: Kretschmar Konrad , Pelmenschikov Vladimir , Kaupp Martin , Braun Thomas , Wittwer Philipp , Rachor Simon , Cardozo Jesvita
Published: March 2023

A set of bimetallic complexes based on iridium and rhodium with bis(diphenylphosphino)methane, bis(di‐iso‐propylphosphino)methane, diphenyl‐2‐pyridylphosphine and 2‐(di‐iso‐propylphosphino)imidazole bridging ligands was prepared. The complexes were characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy and studied quantum‐chemically using DFT methods. The bimetallic systems succeeded in catalytic hydrodefluorination reactions of lower fluorinated aryl fluorides using molecular hydrogen and sodiumtert‐butoxide as a base. Effects of (i) ligand variation, (ii) mono‐ vs bimetallic nuclearity, and (iii) Ir vs Rh metal identity were studied and rationalized en route to achieve an effective hydrodefluorination.
Nonlinear signal‐based control for shake table experiments with sliding masses
Authors: Enokida Ryuta , Ikago Kohju , Guo Jia , Kajiwara Koichi
Published: March 2023

This study introduces the first application of nonlinear signal‐based control (NSBC) to shake table experiments with sliding masses. NSBC utilising a nonlinear signal was specifically developed for nonlinear system control. In shake table experiments with a steel structure, it realised a seismic acceleration record on the table with near 100% accuracy even when the structure displayed nonlinear characteristics due to yielding of its components. Regarding the severity, sliding is stronger than yielding because of the rapid shifts of stick and slip states. Sliding is utilised for structural damage mitigation in seismic isolation systems, which are prominent devices in earthquake engineering. However, when sliding occurs on a shake table, it significantly jeopardises the table control. Thus, this study investigates the performance of NSBC to shake table experiments involving the phenomenon. First, this study examines the effectiveness of NSBC via numerical simulations on a shake table with a sliding interface, demonstrated by the Karnopp model, with a friction coefficient of 0.2. Subsequently, a linear model is designed based on the stability analysis of NSBC to assess stability margins obtained from different models. Experiments are performed by placing masses weighing approximately twice the table weight on sliding interfaces with friction coefficients of 0.2–0.4. In these experiments, NSBC with a reasonable linear model design realised expected acceleration records with sufficiently high accuracies, whereas inversion‐based control failed. This study verifies the effectiveness of NSBC for shake table experiments with sliding masses.
Building a Conceptual Model for the Environmental Fate of the Fungicide Benzovindiflupyr
Authors: Hand Laurence H. , Marshall Samantha J. , Kuet Sui F.
Published: March 2023

Degradation of the fungicide benzovindiflupyr was slow in standard regulatory laboratory studies in soil and aquatic systems, suggesting it is a persistent molecule. However, the conditions in these studies differed significantly from actual environmental conditions, particularly the exclusion of light, which prevents potential contributions from the phototrophic microorganisms that are ubiquitous in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. Higher tier laboratory studies that include a more comprehensive range of degradation processes can more accurately describe environmental fate under field conditions. Indirect aqueous photolysis studies with benzovindiflupyr showed that the photolytic half-life in natural surface water can be as short as 10 days, compared with 94 days in pure buffered water. Inclusion of a light–dark cycle in higher tier aquatic metabolism studies, to include the contribution of phototrophic organisms, reduced the total system half-life from >1 year in dark test systems to as little as 23 days. The relevance of these additional processes was confirmed in an outdoor aquatic microcosm study in which the half-life of benzovindiflupyr was 13–58 days. In laboratory soil degradation studies, the degradation rate of benzovindiflupyr was significantly faster in cores with an undisturbed surface microbiotic crust, incubated in a light–dark cycle (half-life of 35 days), than in regulatory studies with sieved soil in the dark (half-life >1 year). A radiolabeled field study validated these observations, showing residue decline with a half-life of approximately 25 days over the initial 4 weeks. Conceptual models of environmental fate based on standard regulatory studies may be incomplete, and additional higher tier laboratory studies can be valuable in elucidating degradation processes and improving the prediction of persistence under actual use conditions. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:995–1009. © 2023 SETAC

Abstract

Building a conceptual model for the environmental fate of the fungicide benzovindiflupyr. DAT, days after treatment; DT50, time taken for 50% of the compound to dissipate; PAR, photosynthetically active radiation.
Application of stable inversion to flexible manipulators modeled by the absolute nodal coordinate formulation
Authors: Drücker Svenja , Seifried Robert
Published: March 2023

Compared to conventional robots, flexible manipulators offer many advantages, such as faster end‐effector velocities and less energy consumption. However, their flexible structure can lead to undesired oscillations. Therefore, the applied control strategy should account for these elasticities. A feedforward controller based on an inverse model of the system is an efficient way to improve the performance. However, unstable internal dynamics arise for many common flexible robots and stable inversion must be applied. In this contribution, an approximation of the original stable inversion approach is proposed. The approximation simplifies the problem setup, since the internal dynamics do not need to be derived explicitly for the definition of the boundary conditions. From a practical point of view, this makes the method applicable to more complex systems with many unactuated degrees of freedom. Flexible manipulators modeled by the absolute nodal coordinate formulation (ANCF) are considered as an application example.
Sustainable and scalable continuous synthesis of metal‐organic frameworks for CO2 capture
Authors: Chen Yipei , Wu Tao
Published: March 2023

This study demonstrates a continuous method for the production of high‐quality ZIF‐8 and HKUST‐1 (surface areas over 1500 m2/g) under mild synthesis conditions (ambient pressure and temperatures below 100°C) with only environmentally preferable green solvents (water and ethanol) being used in the entire synthesis process. High yields of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are achieved (65% for ZIF‐8 and 79% for HKUST‐1). The comparison between the as‐synthesized samples and commercially available equivalents with respect to shape, size, surface area, thermal stability and CO2 uptake capability was conducted in this research. The synthesized MOFs both show competitive CO2 adsorption ability under a pressure in the range of 1–5 bar. Under a pressure of 5 bar,CO2 uptake capacity of ZIF‐8 and HKUST‐1 is 3.83 mmol/g and 6.68 mmol/g, respectively, which are 3.81 mmol/g and 6.62 mmol/g, respectively, for commercialized samples. The synthesized HKUST‐1 has higher values compared to the commercialized one within this range of pressures. This indicates the method developed in this study is promising to to be used for the continuous production of high‐quality MOFs for CO2 capture applications. © 2023 The Authors. Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology published by Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
A molecular guide to systemic therapy in salivary gland carcinoma
Authors: Weaver Alice N. , Lakritz Stephanie , Mandair Divneet , Ulanja Mark B. , Bowles Daniel W.
Published: March 2023

Salivary gland carcinomas (SGC) are a rare and variable group of head and neck cancers with historically poor response to cytotoxic chemotherapy and immunotherapy in the recurrent, advanced, and metastatic settings. In the last decade, a number of targetable molecular alterations have been identified in SGCs including HER2 upregulation, androgen receptor overexpression, Notch receptor activation, NTRK gene fusions, and RET alterations which have dramatically improved treatment outcomes in this disease. Here, we review the landscape of precision therapy in SGC including current options for systemic management, ongoing clinical trials, and promising future directions.
Heat transfer and hydromagnetic electroosmotic Von Kármán swirling flow from a rotating porous disc to a permeable medium with viscous heating and Joule dissipation
Authors: Balaji R. , Prakash J. , Tripathi Dharmendra , Anwar Bég O.
Published: March 2023

Magnetohydrodynamic flow and heat transfer in an ionic viscous fluid in a porous medium induced by a stretching spinning disc and modulated by electroosmosis under an axial magnetic field and radial electrical field is presented in this study. The effects of convective wall boundary conditions, Joule heating and viscous dissipation are incorporated. The governing partial differential conservation equations are transformed into a system of self‐similar coupled, nonlinear ordinary differential equations with associated boundary conditions. The Matlab bvp4c solver featuring a shooting technique and the fourth‐order Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg method are used to numerically solve the governing dimensionless boundary value problem. Multivariate analysis is also performed to examine the thermal characteristics. An increase in rotation parameter induces a reduction in the radial velocity, whereas it elevates the tangential velocity. Greater electrical field parameter strongly damps the radial velocity whereas it slightly decreases the tangential velocity. Increasing magnetic parameter also damps both the radial and tangential velocities. An increment in electroosmotic parameter substantially decelerates the radial flow but has a weak effect on the tangential velocity field. Increasing permeability parameter (inversely proportional to permeability) markedly damps both radial and tangential velocities. The pressure gradient is initially enhanced near the disk surface but reduced further from the disk surface with increasing magnetic parameter and electrical field parameter, whereas the opposite effect is produced with increasing Joule dissipation. Increasing magnetic and rotational parameters generate a strong heating effect and boost temperature and thermal boundary layer thickness. Nusselt number is boosted with increasing Brinkman number (viscous heating effect) and Reynolds number. The simulations are relevant to electromagnetic coating flows, bioreactors and electrochemical sensing technologies in medicine.
Random fractional partial differential equations and solutions for water movement in soils: Theory and applications
Authors: Su Ninghu
Published: March 2023

This paper analyses a set of random fractional partial differential equations (rfPDEs) for water movement in soils. The rfPDEs for both rigid and swelling soils are solved for both a random flux boundary condition (BC), and random concentration BC. Solutions from a random flux BC are presented for the large‐time and small‐time situations with the large‐time solution as a very simple method for determining the flux through the surface of the soil. The equation of cumulative infiltration is presented with random parameters of the rfPDE subject to a random concentration BC. The simulations using the results of the rfPDE for the two types of BCs yielded encouraging and stable results based on two sets of field data: the first set of the data was measurements at a single site while the second set was from 26 measurements in a small catchment. The results suggest that the presented procedures are very useful methods for the interpolation, extrapolation, and prediction of hydrological variables and parameters such as water content, hydraulic conductivity or the flux through the surface of the soil. The methodologies presented in this paper are able to reveal and reproduce the realistic hydrological processes in nature which are often stochastic and random.
Environmental exposure assessment of co-formulants in plant protection products under REACH
Authors: McMillan Claire , Bonifay Sébastien , Dobe Christopher , Fliege Ralph , Krass Joachim D. , Terry Adrian , Wormuth Matthias
Published: March 2023

It is a regulatory requirement to assess co-formulants in plant protection products (PPP) under the European Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) legislation. The standard environmental exposure assessment framework for chemicals under REACH is a multicompartmental mass-balanced model and, at the local scale, is designed for use with urban (wide dispersive) or industrial (point source) emissions. However, the environmental release of co-formulants used in PPP is to agricultural soil and indirectly to waterbodies adjacent to a field and, for sprayed products, to the air. The Local Environment Tool (LET) has been developed to assess these specific emission pathways for co-formulants in a local-scale REACH exposure assessment, based on standard approaches and models used for PPP. As such, it closes a gap between the standard REACH exposure model's scope and REACH requirements to assess co-formulants in PPP. When combined with the output of the standard REACH exposure model, the LET includes an estimate of the contribution from other nonagricultural background sources of the same substance. The LET is an improvement over the use of higher tier PPP models for screening purposes because it provides a simple standardized exposure scenario. A set of predefined and conservatively selected inputs allows a REACH registrant to conduct an assessment without requiring detailed knowledge of PPP risk assessment methods or typical conditions of use. The benefit to the co-formulant downstream user (formulators) is a standardized and consistent approach to co-formulant assessment, with meaningful and readily interpretable conditions of use. The LET can serve as an example to other sectors of how to address possible gaps in the environmental exposure assessment by combining a customized local-scale exposure model with the standard REACH models. A detailed conceptual explanation of the LET model is provided here together with a discussion on its use in a regulatory context. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:1544–1554. © 2023 BASF SE, Bayer AG et al. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC)
Proximal thermal imaging‐based irrigation scheduling for bread wheat in Egypt
Authors: Omar Mohie El Din , Nangia Vinay
Published: March 2023

Owing to the significance of leaf and air temperature differences (ΔT) under arid conditions, this study aimed to prove the proximal thermal imaging concept for irrigation scheduling under controlled irrigation amounts for wheat in Egypt. This led to variation in leaf relative water content (RWC), soil water content (SWC) and ΔT and allowed us to obtain relationships. Two experiments were conducted in the 2022 winter season under different agroecological conditions. The average temperature of bright leaves (Tleaf) and average temperature of entire images (Timage) were estimated. Strong inverse relationships were observed between the bright leaves and air temperature difference (ΔT‐L) and both RWC and SWC, with R2 values of 0.736 and 0.844, respectively. Additionally, the entire image and air temperature difference (ΔT‐I) showed strong inverse relationships, with R2 values of 0.735 and 0.880, respectively. The study proved reliability for detecting water stress, instantly measuring RWC and SWC and providing thermal‐based irrigation scheduling in newly reclaimed lands. This study recommends determining ΔT thresholds for various crops. The study was the first step to prove the concept under controlled conditions and provide ΔT thresholds. The next step will capitalize on findings to schedule irrigation under uncontrolled conditions in farmer fields in the 2023 winter season to test the ability to achieve an impact.
A survey of South Carolina pharmacists' readiness to prescribe human immunodeficiency virus pre‐exposure prophylaxis
Authors: Burns Charles M. , Endres Kyle , Derrick Caroline , Cooper Alexandra , Fabel Patricia , Okeke Nwora Lance , Ahuja Divya , Corneli Amy , McKellar Mehri S.
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is largely underutilized in the Southern United States. Given their community presence, pharmacists are well positioned to provide PrEP within rural, Southern regions. However, pharmacists' readiness to prescribe PrEP in these communities remains unknown.

Objective

To determine the perceived feasibility and acceptability of prescribing PrEP by pharmacists in South Carolina (SC).

Methods

We distributed a 43‐question online descriptive survey through the University of South Carolina Kennedy Pharmacy Innovation Center's listserv of licensed SC pharmacists. We assessed pharmacists' comfort, knowledge, and readiness to provide PrEP.

Results

A total of 150 pharmacists responded to the survey. The majority were White (73%, n = 110), female (62%, n = 93), and non‐Hispanic (83%, n = 125). Pharmacists practiced in retail (25%, n = 37), hospital (22%, n = 33), independent (17%, n = 25), community (13%, n = 19), specialty (6%, n = 9), and academic settings (3%, n = 4); 11% (n = 17) practiced in rural locales. Pharmacists viewed PrEP as both effective (97%, n = 122/125) and beneficial (74% n = 97/131) for their clients. Many pharmacists reported being ready (60% n = 79/130) and willing (86% n = 111/129) to prescribe PrEP, although over half (62% n = 73/118) cited lack of PrEP knowledge as a barrier. Pharmacists described pharmacies as an appropriate location to prescribe PrEP (72% n = 97/134).

Conclusions

Most SC pharmacists surveyed considered PrEP to be effective and beneficial for individuals who frequent their pharmacy and are willing to prescribe this therapy if statewide statutes allow. Many felt that pharmacies are an appropriate location to prescribe PrEP but lack a complete understanding of required protocols to manage these patients. Further investigation into facilitators and barriers of pharmacy‐driven PrEP is needed to enhance utilization within communities.
Impact of osteosarcopenia on disability and mortality among Japanese older adults
Authors: Shimada Hiroyuki , Suzuki Takao , Doi Takehiko , Lee Sangyoon , Nakakubo Sho , Makino Keitaro , Arai Hidenori
Published: March 2023

Background

In clinical settings, muscle mass and bone mineral density assessments are usually performed using dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA), the clinical standard technique. However, DXA is often unavailable in community settings. This study aimed to determine whether osteoporosis, osteopenia (OP) and sarcopenia (SP) identified by simplified instruments are associated with the future incidence of disability and mortality and evaluate the validity of these instruments as community screening tools. We also examined osteosarcopenia (OS), defined as the coexistence of OP and SP, as a new indicator of geriatric syndromes to determine whether it has an additive effect on adverse outcome incidence compared with OP and SP alone.

Methods

In total, 8995 older adults participated in the study (women: 51.7%, average age: 73.5 ± 5.4 years). Data were extracted from the Japanese national cohort study, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology‐Study of Geriatric Syndromes. We determined OP based on T‐scores generated based on the speed of sound, which is the time taken for ultrasound waves to go through a determined distance in the calcaneus bone. Skeletal muscle mass was evaluated using a bioimpedance analysis device. Handgrip strength and walking speed were measured as physical performance indicators. Incidences of disability and mortality were prospectively determined for 5 years.

Results

The prevalence of OP, SP and OS was 45.5%, 3.9% and 7.4%, respectively. The incidence of disability in the nonOP/nonSP, OP, SP and OS groups was 6.5%, 14.9%, 20.5% and 33.5%, respectively. The incidence of mortality in the nonOP/nonSP, OP, SP and OS groups was 4.0%, 4.9%, 10.3% and 10.2%, respectively. Participants with OP (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.45, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.25–1.68), SP (HR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.08–1.76) and OS (HR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.43–2.09) had a higher risk of disability than nonOP/nonSP participants. Participants with OP (HR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.04–1.64) and OS (HR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.05–2.00) had a higher risk of mortality than nonOP/nonSP participants. SP was not significantly related to mortality (HR: 1.14, 95% CI: 0.90–1.45). There was no statistical interaction between OP and SP in incident disability and mortality.

Conclusions

Among older adults, OS identified by bioimpedance and quantitative ultrasound assessments was associated with an increased risk of disability and mortality. Further research is needed to implement these findings in community health activities, such as setting precise cut‐off values and constructing accurate disability and mortality prediction models.
A systematic review of dramatherapy interventions used to alleviate emotional distress and support the well‐being of children and young people aged 8–18 years old
Authors: Keiller Eleanor , Tjasink Megan , Bourne Jane , Ougrin Dennis , Carr Catherine Elizabeth , Lau Jennifer Y. F.
Published: March 2023

Background

Dramatherapy, a creative form of psychotherapy, may be a useful treatment for child and adolescent mental health. As there is a growing evidence base, this systematic review sought to identify, describe and evaluate dramatherapy with children and adolescents who were experiencing emotional distress (anxiety, depression and trauma) in order to inform future research in this area.

Methods

Seven databases (PsychInfo, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, EMBASE and Cochrane) were searched for peer‐reviewed articles exploring dramatherapy as a treatment for child and adolescent emotional distress. Hand searches of relevant journals were also conducted. Two reviewers coded articles for eligibility and independently appraised papers using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tools. Details relating to intervention and participant characteristics were extracted and, where data were available, effect sizes on measures relating to emotional distress were calculated.

Results

Fifteen papers were included. Studies showed that dramatherapy was often delivered in schools (46%) and clinical settings (20%) and was more frequently delivered to adolescents (53%) (>11 years) than children (26%) (8–11 years). Dramatherapy was used as a treatment for diagnostically heterogeneous groups (40%), for emotional and behavioural difficulties (33%) and following a shared, traumatic, experience (20%). Seven papers reported relevant quantitative data however, just three of these studies were controlled and none were blinded. Pre‐to‐post intervention effect sizes ranged from d = 0.17 to d > 2 yet samples were small and participant response to treatment was not always consistent. The largest effects were seen in dramatherapy employed following trauma and in clinical settings. Medium to large effects were also seen in early intervention school‐based dramatherapy.

Conclusion

Despite promising results with regards to the treatment of child and adolescent emotional distress, the evidence base for dramatherapy is small and methodologically flawed. Larger, methodologically robust trials should test the efficacy of dramatherapy in future research.
Evolution and copula modelling of drought duration and severity over Africa using CORDEX‐CORE regional climate models
Authors: Olusegun Christiana Funmilola , Ogunjo Samuel , Olusola Adeyemi
Published: March 2023

This study assessed the dependence of drought severity and duration across four subregions (Southern, Western, Eastern and Central) in Africa using copula modelling. The analysis was carried out for the reference period 1991–2020 and the future period 2071–2099. Simulated daily precipitation at a horizontal resolution of 0.22° were obtained from three regional climate models (RCMs) participating in the Coordinated Output for Regional Evaluations within the Coordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX‐CORE). The RCMs were downscaled by three global climate models and validated using three high‐resolution gridded daily precipitation products obtained from The Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Stations data (CHIRPS), Climate Prediction Center Africa Rainfall Climatology Version 2.0 (CPC‐ARC2) and Tropical Applications of Meteorology using SATellite data and ground‐based observations (TAMSAT). Comparison of precipitation from the RCMs with the three gridded reference observations shows relatively good performance across the different regions with median value within the range of 3–5 mm·day−1 in Central Africa, 1.5–4.5 mm·day−1 in Western Africa, 1.8–2.8 mm·day−1 in Eastern Africa and 0.5–2.2 mm·day−1 in Southern Africa. On the other hand, the correlation values of drought duration–severity from CORDEX‐CORE models in the different regions of Africa exhibit predominantly strong values greater than 0.8 for both historical and projected climate. The analysis also considered two families of copulas: Archimedean (Frank, Clayton, Gumbel) and Elliptical (Gaussian, Student's t). The performance of the copula functions were estimated using the Akaike information criteria (AIC). Generally, there is a good agreement in the distribution of observed precipitation among the three observational data products across the subregion of Africa, with slight differences attributed to the different processing algorithms of the products. Across West Africa, mean precipitation values from CPC, CHIRPS and TAMSAT was 2.86, 3.16 and 3.07 mm·day−1, respectively. The CCLM‐NCC underestimated the mean values of precipitation reported in the observation data, while CCLM‐MPI and CCLM‐HAD overestimated the mean values of precipitation in the West Africa region.
Bias correction of CMIP6 simulations of precipitation over Indian monsoon core region using deep learning algorithms
Authors: Kesavavarthini T. , Rajesh A. Naga , Venkata Srinivas C. , Kumar T. V. Lakshmi
Published: March 2023

General Circulation Models or Global Climate Models (GCMs) output consists of inevitable bias due to insufficient knowledge about parameterization schemes and other mathematical computations that involve thermodynamical and physical laws while designing climate models. Indian summer monsoon (southwest monsoon) accounts for 75%–90% of the annual rainfall over most climatic zones of India during the months, June, July, August, and September, which has a direct impact on the agricultural economy of India. The aim of this study is to bias correct the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase – 6 (CMIP6) GCMs' precipitation data for the historical period from 1985 to 2014 and two Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP) SSP1‐2.6 and SSP5‐8.5, from the period 2015 to 2100, with reference to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) observed rainfall gridded dataset. The datasets used are for the rain‐bearing Indian southwest monsoon season from the months, June to September. Monsoon Core Region is selected to carry out the bias correction using a couple of deep learning algorithms, namely one‐dimensional Convolutional Neural Network (CNN1D) and Long Short‐Term Memory Encoder‐Decoder (LSTM‐ED) Neural Network. The performance of both algorithms is evaluated with metrics. The LSTM‐ED algorithm yielded better results with least error output. The bias‐corrected data obtained using the LSTM‐ED algorithm is then compared with IMD observed rainfall data for the climatic events such as ENSO (El Niño and La Niña) and Positive and Negative IOD (Indian Ocean Dipole).