bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seasonally variable relationships between surface water temperature and inflow in the upper San Francisco Estuary
Authors: Bashevkin Samuel M. , Mahardja Brian
Published: January 2022

Water temperature and inflow are key environmental drivers in aquatic systems that are linked through a causal web of factors including climate, weather, water management, and their downstream linkages. However, we do not yet fully understand the relationship between inflow and water temperature, especially in complex managed systems such as estuaries. The San Francisco Estuary is the center of a critical water supply infrastructure and home to a deteriorating ecosystem with several declining fish species at the warm edge of their thermal range. We used generalized additive modeling of long‐term monitoring data to evaluate the relationship between inflow and water temperature along with its spatio‐seasonal variability. Most commonly, we found a negative temperature‐inflow relationship in which water temperatures increased as inflow decreased, up to 2°C from high‐ to low‐inflow years. However, the opposite (positive) relationship was observed in the winter months, and in the western (downstream) regions from July–September, up to − 1.2°C from high‐ to low‐inflow years. These results were upheld by models that included the long‐term temperature trend or used salinity as a proxy for location. Upstream factors likely played the biggest role in the summer when local precipitation is negligible, whereas local precipitation and the related weather conditions may drive much of the winter pattern. Although further mechanistic studies are needed to infer the direct effect of dam releases on water temperatures, these results provide a broader understanding of the impacts of flood and drought dynamics for those tasked with managing estuarine ecosystems.
Portal vein complications and outcomes following pediatric liver transplantation: Data from the Society of Pediatric Liver Transplantation
Authors: Stevens James P. , Xiang Yijin , Leong Traci , Naik Kushal , Gupta Nitika Arora
Published: January 2022

Children who undergo liver transplantation are at risk for portal vein complications (PVCs) including thrombosis (PVT) and stenosis (PVS). Using multicenter data from the Society of Pediatric Liver Transplantation, we analyzed the prevalence, timing, and risk factors for PVC following a first liver transplantation, and assessed the potential impact of PVC on patient outcomes. Our cohort included 4278 patients, of whom 327 (7.6%) developed PVC. Multivariate analysis discovered several factors independently associated with PVC: younger recipient age, lower weight at time of transplantation, diagnosis of biliary atresia (BA), receiving a technical variant graft (TVG), warm ischemia time over 3 h, PVT in the recipient’s pretransplantation native liver, and concurrent hepatic artery thrombosis (all p < 0.05). Subgroup analysis of those with BA found higher prevalence in patients transplanted at less than 2 years of age and those with TVGs. There was no difference in PVC prevalence among patients with BA with vs. without prior Kasai portoenterostomy. Most PVT (77.7%) presented within 90 days after transplantation. Patients with PVC had a higher risk of graft failure (23.9% vs. 8.3%; adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 3.08; p < 0.001) and a higher risk of death (16.4% vs. 8.9%; adjusted HR, 1.96; p = 0.01). Recurrence after retransplantation was similar to the overall prevalence in the cohort (8.2%). Our results recognize the common occurrence of PVC following pediatric liver transplantation, describe independently associated risk factors, and determine that patients with PVC have worse outcomes. Further studies are needed to improve PVC prevention, detection, and management strategies.
Silyl Glyoximides: Toward a New Class of Visible Light Photoinitiators
Authors: Kirschner Julie , Baralle Alexandre , Paillard Julien , Graff Bernadette , Becht Jean‐Michel , Klee Joachim E. , Lalevée Jacques
Published: January 2022

Many academic and industrial works are carried out for the search of new classes of visible light photoinitiators. In the last decade, new Type I photoinitiator generating silyl, germyl, or stannyl radicals is elegantly reported; the chemical mechanisms being often associated with the cleavage of the C(═O)Si, C(═O)Ge, or C(═O)Sn bonds. In this context, silyl glyoxylates are also reported as dual Type I and Type II photoinitiators. Silyl glyoximides are proposed here as new near‐UV and blue light sensitive photoinitiators. The synthesis of such compounds as well as their light absorption properties is discussed. Their photochemical properties are studied through steady state photolysis experiments and molecular modeling data (i.e., through the calculations of the frontier orbitals, CC bond dissociation energies and triplet state energy levels). To finish, their photoinitiating ability upon near‐UV or blue light emitting diode light is examined in a benchmark methacrylate monomer blend (BisGMA/TEGDMA). Markedly, a Type I photoinitiator behavior is highlighted but better initiating properties are found in multicomponent systems in combination with iodonium salt and amine.
The algebraic significance of weak excluded middle laws
Authors: Lávička Tomáš , Moraschini Tommaso , Raftery James G.
Published: January 2022

For (finitary) deductive systems, we formulate a signature‐independent abstraction of the weak excluded middle law (WEML), which strengthens the existing general notion of an inconsistency lemma (IL). Of special interest is the case where a quasivariety algebraizes a deductive system ⊢. We prove that, in this case, if ⊢ has a WEML (in the general sense) then every relatively subdirectly irreducible member of has a greatest proper ‐congruence; the converse holds if ⊢ has an inconsistency lemma. The result extends, in a suitable form, to all protoalgebraic logics. A super‐intuitionistic logic possesses a WEML iff it extends . We characterize the IL and the WEML for normal modal logics and for relevance logics. A normal extension of has a global consequence relation with a WEML iff it extends , while every axiomatic extension of with an IL has a WEML.
Antimicrobial Biocomposites Fiber‐Welded with Lignocellulose Containing Silver Nanoparticles
Authors: Shen Hongchen , Gulbrandson Anders J. , Park Seok , Li Mengqiao , Shuai Danmeng , Trulove Paul C. , Durkin David P.
Published: January 2022

Biopolymer materials that use silver to imbue antimicrobial properties are finding broad application in areas such as packaging, textiles, and building materials. Conventional methods to incorporate silver can damage the supporting biopolymer matrix and/or result in large‐sized silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) with poor antimicrobial efficacy. To mitigate these concerns, in this study, uniformly distributed, small (≈5–10 nm) Ag NPs are grown into a well‐preserved lignocellulose powder matrix by using a gas‐phase reducing agent at low temperature. The Ag NP‐ lignocellulose powders are fully characterized and their antimicrobial performance is investigated by inactivating planktonic bacteria and inhibiting biofilms. The most potent antimicrobial product, L_10Ag, achieves more than 4‐log reduction in planktonic bacterial viability within 3 h and a biofilm inhibition rate of 97.9%. Furthermore, the Ag NP impregnated powders are post‐processed through natural fiber welding (NFW), an emergent, innovative, ionic liquid (IL)‐based method that can be used to engineer biopolymer materials into new functional biocomposites. NFW transforms the powders into higher‐order structures, imparting anti‐microbial capacity without degrading the material properties of the biopolymer support.
Multicompartment Hydrogels
Authors: Schmidt Bernhard V. K. J.
Published: January 2022

Hydrogels belong to the most promising materials in polymer and materials science at the moment. As they feature soft and tissue‐like character as well as high water‐content, a broad range of applications are addressed with hydrogels, e.g., tissue engineering and wound dressings but also soft robotics, drug delivery, actuators, and catalysis. Ways to tailor hydrogel properties are crosslinking mechanisms, hydrogel shape, and reinforcement, but new features can be introduced by variation of hydrogel composition as well, e.g., via monomer choice, functionalization or compartmentalization. In particular, multicompartment hydrogels drive progress toward complex and highly functional soft materials. In the present review the latest developments in multicompartment hydrogels are highlighted with a focus on three types of compartments; micellar/vesicular, droplets, and multilayers including various subcategories. Furthermore, several morphologies of compartmentalized hydrogels and applications of multicompartment hydrogels will be discussed as well. Finally, an outlook toward future developments of the field will be given. The further development of multicompartment hydrogels is highly relevant for a broad range of applications and will have a significant impact on biomedicine and organic devices.
Accelerated epigenetic age and shortened telomere length based on DNA methylation in Nicolaides–Baraitser syndrome
Authors: Shinko Yutaka , Okazaki Satoshi , Otsuka Ikuo , Horai Tadasu , Kim Saehyeon , Tanifuji Takaki , Hishimoto Akitoyo
Published: January 2022

Background

Nicolaides–Baraitser syndrome (NCBRS) is a rare disorder characterized by neurodevelopmental delays, seizures, and diverse physical characteristics. The DNA methylation (DNAm) profile in NCBRS is significantly different. DNAm is linked to the biological aging of cells and the health risks associated with biological aging. In this study, we examined changes in biological ages in NCBRS to provide insights into the prognosis and health risks of NCBRS.

Methods

We used a publicly available dataset to examine biological aging in NCBRS using DNAm‐based epigenetic ages, such as PhenoAge and GrimAge, as well as DNAm‐based estimator of telomere length (DNAmTL). We investigated 12 cases, clinically diagnosed as NCBRS, and 27 controls.

Results

Compared to controls, NCBRS cases exhibited significantly accelerated PhenoAge and GrimAge as well as significantly shortened DNAmTL.

Conclusion

These results suggest an acceleration of biological aging in NCBRS and provide insights into the prognosis and health risks of NCBRS.
Exome sequencing and RNA analysis identify two novel CPLANE1 variants causing Joubert syndrome
Authors: Fei Hongjun , Wu Yi , Wang Yanlin , Zhang Junyu
Published: January 2022

Background

Joubert syndrome (JS) is a genetically heterogeneous disorder; its genetic etiology involves more than 35 genes, and a limited number of studies have investigated the pathogenic mechanism of variants in patients with JS. RNA splicing analysis is critical to determine the functional significance for noncanonical splicing variants.

Methods

Whole exome sequencing was performed to screen the causative gene variants in a JS family. Sanger sequencing was used to verify the variants. cDNA PCR products were analyzed and functional experiments were performed to determine the pathogenicity of the variants.

Results

The clinical phenotypes and CPLANE1 variants in the JS patient were analyzed and proved consistent. We identified two novel heterozygous variants of CPLANE1 in the proband first, including c.4459del (frameshift variant) and c.7534‐14G > A (intronic variant). We analyzed the pathogenic consequences of the 2 variants and classified the c.4459del as likely pathogenic according to the ACMG/AMP guidelines; however, the pathogenic significance of c.7534‐14G > A was uncertain. Furthermore, we performed RNA splicing analysis and revealed that the noncanonical splicing variant (c.7534‐14G > A) caused aberrant exon 37 skipping. It produced an aberrant transcript that was predicted to encode a C‐terminal truncated protein.

Conclusions

The genetic variation spectrum of JS caused by CPLANE1 was updated. Two novel variants further deepened our insight into the disease's molecular mechanism and confirmed the significance of diagnostic whole‐exome sequencing.
Ultrasound‐targeted microbubbles destruction assists dual delivery of beta‐amyloid antibody and neural stem cells to restore neural function in transgenic mice of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Zhu Qiong , Xu Xiaoxun , Chen Beibei , Liao Yiyi , Guan Xue , He Ying , Cui Hai , Rong Yani , Liu Zheng , Xu Yali
Published: January 2022

Objectives

To explore the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of ultrasound‐targeted microbubbles destruction (UTMD) assisted dual delivery of beta‐amyloid (Aβ) antibody loaded by microbubbles (MBAβ) and neural stem cells (NSCs) on Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods

Twenty‐seven APP/PS1 double transgenic mice (Tg mice) and 33 wild‐type mice were used. Wild‐type mice were insonated by diagnostic ultrasound with microbubbles (MB) for 5 min to observe the blood brain barrier (BBB) opening. The survival situation of engrafted NSCs crossing the opened BBB mediated by UTMD in Tg mice was evaluated by in vivo imaging system. We further explored the combination therapy effects of UTMD mediated Aβ antibody and NSCs dual delivery. Tg mice in each group were exposed to diagnostic ultrasound for 5 min once a week for four times, with MB, MBAβ, and/or NSCs administration according to groups. Cognition and memory functions were explored by Morris water maze test, Aβ plaques deposition was evaluated by immunohistochemical, and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and synaptophysin (SYN) expression were detected by western blot and immunofluorescence.

Results

BBB was opened mediated by diagnostic ultrasound with MB, and the duration of opening was about 10 h. The transplanted NSCs survived in Tg mice for no more than 72 h. Compared with control group, the Tg mice in combined delivery of NSCs and Aβ antibody by UTMD group improved memory function and spatial learning with shorter latency to find the platform, longer distance traveled, and longer time spent in targeted quadrant, and more crossing times (p < 0.05). Besides, the combination delivery group promoted the clearance of Aβ plaques compared with control group both in hippocampus (p < 0.01) and cortex (p < 0.05). Moreover, the expression of BDNF in combination delivery group was significantly higher than that in control group and ultrasound‐mediated MB group (p < 0.05). No significant change of SYN was observed in each group.

Conclusion

UTMD assisted dual delivery of Aβ antibody and NSCs crossing the BBB into AD mice brain could help to clear Aβ plaques, increase the expression of BDNF, and restore the impaired neural function. This finding may offer potential insight into treatment of AD.
Automatic pulmonary ground‐glass opacity nodules detection and classification based on 3D neural network
Authors: Ma He , Guo Huimin , Zhao Mingfang , Qi Shouliang , Li Heming , Tian Yumeng , Li Zhi , Zhang Guanjing , Yao Yudong , Qian Wei
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Pulmonary ground‐glass opacity (GGO) nodules are more likely to be malignant compared with solid solitary nodules. Due to indistinct boundaries of GGO nodules, the detection and diagnosis are challenging for doctors. Therefore, designing an automatic GGO nodule detection and classification scheme is significantly essential.

Methods

In this paper, we proposed a two‐stage 3D GGO nodule detection and classification framework. First, we used a pretrained 3D U‐Net to extract lung parenchyma. Second, we adapted the architecture of Mask region‐based convolutional neural networks (RCNN) to handle 3D medical images. The 3D model was then applied to detect the locations of GGO nodules and classify lesions (benign or malignant). The class‐balanced loss function was also used to balance the number of benign and malignant lesions. Finally, we employed a novel false positive elimination scheme called the feature‐based weighted clustering (FWC) to promote the detection accuracy further.

Results

The experiments were conducted based on fivefold cross‐validation with the imbalanced data set. Experimental results showed that the mean average precision could keep a high level (0.5182) in the phase of detection. Meanwhile, the false positive rate was effectively controlled, and the competition performance metric (CPM) reached 0.817 benefited from the FWC algorithm. The comparative statistical analyses with other deep learning methods also proved the effectiveness of our proposed method.

Conclusions

We put forward an automatic pulmonary GGO nodules detection and classification framework based on deep learning. The proposed method locate and classify nodules accurately, which could be an effective tool to help doctors in clinical diagnoses.
Portable single‐sided NMR measurements at variable temperatures: Implementation of a thermo‐controlled device and application to the heating of bread dough
Authors: Rondeau‐Mouro Corinne , Cambert Mireille , Blondel Laurent , Diascorn Yves , Mbaya Léo , Binti Ahmad Nazari Nor Nadiah , Helary Sarah , Lucas Tiphaine
Published: January 2022

A temperature control unit was implemented to vary the temperature of samples studied on a commercial Mobile Universal Surface Explorer nuclear magnetic resonance (MOUSE‐NMR) apparatus. The device was miniaturized to fit the maximum MOUSE sampling depth (25 mm). It was constituted by a sample holder sandwiched between two heat exchangers placed below and above the sample. Air was chosen as the fluid to control the temperature at the bottom of the sample, at the interface between the NMR probe and the sample holder, in order to gain space. The upper surface of the sample was regulated by the circulation of water inside a second heat exchanger placed above the sample holder. The feasibility of using such a device was demonstrated first on pure water and then on several samples of bread dough with different water contents. For this, T1 relaxation times were measured at various temperatures and depths and were then compared with those acquired with a conventional compact closed‐magnet spectrometer. Discussion of results was based on biochemical transformations in bread dough (starch gelatinization and gluten heat denaturation). It was demonstrated that, within a certain water level range, and because of the low magnetic field strength of the MOUSE, a linear relationship could be established between T1 relaxation times and the local temperature in the dough sample.
Motion‐compensated fat‐water imaging for 3D cardiac MRI at ultra‐high fields
Authors: Dietrich Sebastian , Aigner Christoph Stefan , Mayer Johannes , Kolbitsch Christoph , Schulz‐Menger Jeanette , Schaeffter Tobias , Schmitter Sebastian
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Respiratory motion‐compensated (MC) 3D cardiac fat‐water imaging at 7T.

Methods

Free‐breathing bipolar 3D triple‐echo gradient‐recalled‐echo (GRE) data with radial phase‐encoding (RPE) trajectory were acquired in 11 healthy volunteers (7M\4F, 21–35 years, mean: 30 years) with a wide range of body mass index (BMI; 19.9–34.0 kg/m2) and volunteer tailored shimming. The bipolar‐corrected triple‐echo GRE‐RPE data were binned into different respiratory phases (self‐navigation) and were used for the estimation of non‐rigid motion vector fields (MF) and respiratory resolved (RR) maps of the main magnetic field deviations (ΔB0). RR ΔB0 maps and MC ΔB0 maps were compared to a reference respiratory phase to assess respiration‐induced changes. Subsequently, cardiac binned fat‐water images were obtained using a model‐based, respiratory motion‐corrected image reconstruction.

Results

The 3D cardiac fat‐water imaging at 7T was successfully demonstrated. Local respiration‐induced frequency shifts in MC ΔB0 maps are small compared to the chemical shifts used in the multi‐peak model. Compared to the reference exhale ΔB0 map these changes are in the order of 10 Hz on average. Cardiac binned MC fat‐water reconstruction reduced respiration induced blurring in the fat‐water images, and flow artifacts are reduced in the end‐diastolic fat‐water separated images.

Conclusion

This work demonstrates the feasibility of 3D fat‐water imaging at UHF for the entire human heart despite spatial and temporal and B0 variations, as well as respiratory and cardiac motion.
Plug‐and‐play advanced magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Authors: Deelchand Dinesh K. , Henry Pierre‐Gilles , Joers James M. , Auerbach Edward J. , Park Young Woo , Kara Firat , Ratai Eva‐Maria , Kantarci Kejal , Öz Gülin
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Advanced MRS protocols improve data quality and reproducibility relative to vendor‐provided protocols; however, they are challenging to incorporate into the clinical workflow and require local MRS expertise for successful implementation. Here, we developed an automated advanced MRS acquisition protocol at 3T to facilitate acquisition of high‐quality spectroscopic data without local MRS expertise.

Methods

First, a B0 shimming protocol was selected for automation by comparing 3 widely used B0 algorithms (2 vendor protocols and FAST(EST)MAP). Next, voxel‐based B0 and B1 calibrations were incorporated into the consensus‐recommended semi‐LASER sequence and combined with an automated VOI prescription tool, a recently developed method for automated voxel prescription. The efficiency of collecting single‐voxel data from a clinical cohort (N = 40) with the automated protocol (calibration time and fraction of usable datasets) was compared with the nonautomated semi‐LASER protocol (N = 35) whereby all prescan calibrations were executed manually in the academic hospital setting with rotating MR technologists in the neuroradiology unit.

Results

A multi‐iteration FAST(EST)MAP protocol resulted in narrower water linewidths than vendor’s B0 shim protocols for data acquired from 6 brain locations (p < 1e‐5) and was selected for automation. The automated B0 and B1 calibrations resulted in a time saving of ~4.5 minutes per voxel relative to the same advanced protocol executed manually. All spectra acquired with the automated protocol were usable, whereas only 86% of those collected with the manual protocol were usable and spectral quality was more variable.

Conclusion

The plug‐and‐play advanced MRS protocol allows automated acquisition of high‐quality MRS data with high success rate and consistency on a clinical 3T platform.
Effect of inter‐electrode RF coupling on heating patterns of wire‐like conducting implants in MRI
Authors: Bhusal Bhumi , Bhattacharyya Pallab , Baig Tanvir , Jones Stephen , Martens Michael
Published: January 2022

Purpose

In this study, the effects of RF coupling on the magnitude and spatial patterns of RF‐induced heating near multiple wire‐like conducting implants (such as simultaneous electrical stimulation of stereoelectroencephalography electrodes) during MRI were assessed.

Methods

Simulations and experimental measurements of RF‐induced temperature increases near partially immersed wire‐like conductors were performed using a phantom with a transmit/receive head coil on a 3T MRI system. The conductors consisted of either a pair of wires or a single simultaneous electrical stimulation of stereoelectroencephalography electrode with multiple contacts, and the locations and lengths of the conductors were varied to study the effect of electromagnetic coupling on RF‐induced heating.

Results

The temperature increase near a wire within the phantom was dependent not only on its own location and length, but also on the locations and lengths of the other partially immersed wires. In the configurations that were studied, the presence of a second implant could increase the heating near the tip of the conductor by as much as 95%.

Conclusion

The level of RF‐induced heating during an MR scan is affected significantly by RF coupling when more than one wire‐like implant is present. In some of the configurations studied, the heating was increased by the presence of a second conductor partially immersed in the phantom. Thus, RF coupling is an important factor to consider in the assessment of safety issues for MRI when multiple implants are present.
Readiness for advance care planning and its relationship to coping style in patients with chronic diseases in communities: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Wang Xinru , Sheng Yu
Published: January 2022

Aim

This study aimed to assess advance care planning readiness among patients with chronic diseases and identify its relationship to patients’ coping styles.

Design

A cross‐sectional study.

Methods

Patients with chronic diseases (N = 168) were recruited from community health service centres. We used a self‐designed and validated “advance care planning readiness questionnaire” to measure the patients’ advance care planning readiness and a "simplified coping style questionnaire” to measure the patients’ coping styles.

Results

Multiple linear regression analyses observed a positive relationship between “active coping style” (p = .002, 95%CI: 1.788, 7.599) with ACP readiness and a negative relationship between “passive coping style” (p < .001, 95%CI: −10.526, −4.274) with ACP readiness. Our study showed that there was a clear relationship between coping styles and ACP readiness. We suggest encouraging patients to choose more active coping strategies and to explore suitable conversation strategies for different coping styles when facilitating ACP discussion.
The illness perception and health promotion behaviour of young and middle‐aged patients with hyperuricaemia: A qualitative study
Authors: Liu Li , Jia Hong‐hong , Zhou Yu‐Qiu , Liu Yan‐Rui , Yin Fei , Liu Xiu‐fang
Published: January 2022

Aim

The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the health‐promoting behaviours of patients with hyperuricaemia and influencing factors.

Design

A descriptive qualitative design was used to gain insight into the personal experience of health promotion behaviour in patients with hyperuricaemia.

Methods

Sixteen patients were sampled in face‐to‐face interviews with maximum variation, and the data were transcribed verbatim. The data analysis was based on the phrases of thematic analysis outlined by Braun and Clarke (2006).

Results

Four main themes were identified in the data: (a) Perception of disease; (b) Motivation to change health‐promoting behaviour; (c) Strategies for health‐promoting behaviour; and (d) Encounter obstacles to change health‐promoting behaviour.
Comparison of the effects of calcium channel blockers plus iron chelation therapy versus chelation therapy only on iron overload in children and young adults with transfusion‐dependent thalassemia: A randomized double‐blind placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Gupta Vineeta , Kumar Ishan , Raj Vibhesh , Aggarwal Priyanka , Agrawal Vikas
Published: January 2022

Background

Myocardial iron deposition is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with transfusion‐dependent thalassemia (TDT). Amlodipine, L‐type calcium channel blocker with regular chelation therapy may reduce myocardial iron overload. Lack of randomized trials prompted this study to assess the effect of calcium channel blocker (amlodipine) in combination with iron chelation therapy on iron overload in patients with TDT.

Methods

Sixty‐four eligible patients were randomized to receive either amlodipine and chelation (group A) or chelation alone (group B) in double‐blind placebo‐controlled trial. Myocardial iron concentration (MIC) using T2* magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), liver iron concentration (LIC), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and serum ferritin were measured at baseline and 12 months.

Results

In the amlodipine group, mean cardiac T2* value significantly increased from 18.11 ± 8.47 to 22.15 ± 7.61 (p = .002) at 12 months, whereas in control group, there was a nonsignificant increase (p = .62) in cardiac T2* value from 19.50 ± 8.84 to 20.03 ± 9.07. There was a significant decrease in MRI‐derived MIC in the amlodipine group compared to control group (1.93 ± 1.61 to 1.29 ± 0.90, p = .01). Changes in the LVEF (p = .45), MRI‐derived LIC (p = .09), and serum ferritin (p = .81) were not significant between the two groups.

Conclusion

Amlodipine is safe and when combined with chelation therapy appears to be more effective in reducing cardiac iron overload than chelation only in children and young adults with TDT.
Transparency of high‐dimensional propensity score analyses: Guidance for diagnostics and reporting
Authors: Tazare John , Wyss Richard , Franklin Jessica M. , Smeeth Liam , Evans Stephen J. W. , Wang Shirley V. , Schneeweiss Sebastian , Douglas Ian J. , Gagne Joshua J. , Williamson Elizabeth J.
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The high‐dimensional propensity score (HDPS) is a semi‐automated procedure for confounder identification, prioritisation and adjustment in large healthcare databases that requires investigators to specify data dimensions, prioritisation strategy and tuning parameters. In practice, reporting of these decisions is inconsistent and this can undermine the transparency, and reproducibility of results obtained. We illustrate reporting tools, graphical displays and sensitivity analyses to increase transparency and facilitate evaluation of the robustness of analyses involving HDPS.

Methods

Using a study from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink that implemented HDPS we demonstrate the application of the proposed recommendations.

Results

We identify seven considerations surrounding the implementation of HDPS, such as the identification of data dimensions, method for code prioritisation and number of variables selected. Graphical diagnostic tools include assessing the balance of key confounders before and after adjusting for empirically selected HDPS covariates and the identification of potentially influential covariates. Sensitivity analyses include varying the number of covariates selected and assessing the impact of covariates behaving empirically as instrumental variables. In our example, results were robust to both the number of covariates selected and the inclusion of potentially influential covariates. Furthermore, our HDPS models achieved good balance in key confounders.

Conclusions

The data‐adaptive approach of HDPS and the resulting benefits have led to its popularity as a method for confounder adjustment in pharmacoepidemiological studies. Reporting of HDPS analyses in practice may be improved by the considerations and tools proposed here to increase the transparency and reproducibility of study results.
Biological nanopores for sensing applications
Authors: Zhang Ming , Chen Chen , Zhang Yanjing , Geng Jia
Published: January 2022

Biological nanopores are proteins with transmembrane pore that can be embedded in lipid bilayer. With the development of single‐channel current measurement technologies, biological nanopores have been reconstituted into planar lipid bilayer and used for single‐molecule sensing of various analytes and events such as single‐molecule DNA sensing and sequencing. To improve the sensitivity for specific analytes, various engineered nanopore proteins and strategies are deployed. Here, we introduce the origin and principle of nanopore sensing technology as well as the structure and associated properties of frequently used protein nanopores. Furthermore, sensing strategies for different applications are reviewed, with focus on the alteration of buffer condition, protein engineering, and deployment of accessory proteins and adapter‐assisted sensing. Finally, outlooks for de novo design of nanopore and nanopore beyond sensing are discussed.
Criteria for the Use of Approximations for Full Band Structures of Compound III–V Semiconductor Quantum Wells
Authors: Davidson Zoe C. M. , Rorison Judy M.
Published: January 2022

The calculation of material gain and performance characteristics of compound III–V semiconductor quantum well (QW) lasers has been developed, incorporating various approximations for the band structure. As the accuracy and sophistication of the band structure are increased, the computational time and mathematical complexity rise accordingly. The modeling of QW lasers is examined to determine the criteria for the accurate use of a parabolic approximation for the full band structure in the calculation of the material gain and performance characteristics of a conventional III–V QW. A comparison of the cosine approximation of band structure in highly mismatched alloys is also presented.
Beam Shift Modulation Based on Larmor Resonance in Graphene–VO2 Photonic Crystal
Authors: Tang Tingting , Li Jun , Mao Yinghui , Liu Bo , Peng Sui , Yu Bo , Liang Xiao , Luo Li , Tang Yujie , He Ke
Published: January 2022

A new method to enhance the beam shift of Goos–Hänchen (GH) effect in a 1D photonic crystal based on Larmor resonance in terahertz (THz) region is proposed. Larmor resonance can enhance the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect, which enhances the GH effect. A 1D photonic crystal with a graphene–VO2 periodic structure is designed. As a result of different states at different temperatures, the SPR effect of graphene–VO2 periodic structure photonic crystals will change. In this structure, Larmor resonance caused by a strong magnetic field perpendicular to the incident surface will resonate with surface plasmons. It is found that the strength of the magnetic field required to enhance SPR is relative to the frequency of electromagnetic waves and the Fermi level. The enhancement of the GH effect by the Larmor resonance theory provides a new way for us to measure strong magnetic fields.
Time from trophectoderm biopsy to vitrification affects the developmental competence of biopsied blastocysts
Authors: Miki Tetsuya , Ezoe Kenji , Kouraba Shizu , Ohata Kazuki , Kato Keiichi
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The present study aimed to examine the correlations of the time interval from trophectoderm (TE) biopsy to vitrification with the blastocyst survival rate and blastocyst outgrowth ability.

Methods

A total of 1,202 mouse blastocysts were randomly divided into control (non‐biopsy) and TE biopsy groups. The biopsied blastocysts were vitrified at various time points. The survival rate after warming, blastocyst adhesion rate, and outgrowth area was investigated. Several biopsied blastocysts were cultured in a time‐lapse incubator, and the time required for re‐expansion was measured.

Results

Blastocyst survival rates after warming and blastocyst adhesion rates were comparable between the control and biopsy groups. The area of trophoblast outgrowth in the 1‐h biopsy group was significantly smaller than that in the control, 0‐h biopsy, and 4‐h biopsy groups (p = 0.0304, p = 0.0058, and p = 0.0029, respectively). Re‐expansion of blastocysts was observed at a high incidence 1–2 h after TE biopsy.

Conclusions

The vitrification of biopsied blastocysts in the process of re‐expansion impairs outgrowth competence; therefore, blastocyst vitrification should be performed immediately after TE biopsy and before initiation of re‐expansion.
Molecular Regulation of Polymeric Raman Probes for Ultrasensitive Microtumor Diagnosis and Noninvasive Microvessle Imaging
Authors: Cui Kai , Zhang Yongming , Chen Gaoxian , Cui Yanna , Wu Wenwei , Zhao Na , Liu Tize , Xiao Zeyu
Published: January 2022

Raman imaging is a powerful tool for the diagnosis of cancers and visualization of various biological processes. Polymers possessing excellent biocompatibility are promising probes for Raman imaging. However, few polymers are reported to serve as Raman probes for in vivo imaging, mainly due to the intrinsic weak Raman signal intensity and fluorescence interference of these polymers. Herein, a poly(indacenodithiophene‐benzothiadiazole) (IDT‐BT) polymer is presented, which emits unprecedentedly strong Raman signals under the near‐infrared wavelength (785 nm) excitation, thus functioning as a Raman probe for ultrasensitive in vivo Raman imaging. Further mechanistic studies unveil that the unique Raman feature of the IDT‐BT polymer relies on molecularly regulating its absorbance edge adjacent to the desired excitation wavelength, thus avoiding fluorescence interference and simultaneously emitting strong Raman scattering under preresonant excitation. Taking advantage of this discipline, the IDT‐BT polymeric probe successfully realizes intraoperative Raman imaging of micrometastasis as small as 0.3 mm × 0.3 mm, comparable to the most sensitive Raman probes currently reported. Impressively, the IDT‐BT enables noninvasive microvascular imaging, which is not achieved using other Raman probes. This work opens a new avenue toward the development of polymeric Raman probes for in vivo Raman imaging.
Polyacrylonitrile‐Reinforced Composite Gel Polymer Electrolytes for Stable Potassium Metal Anodes
Authors: Zhang Yue , Bahi Addie , Ko Frank , Liu Jian
Published: January 2022

The potassium‐ion battery (PIB) is an emerging energy storage technology due to its potential low cost and reasonably high energy density. However, PIB suffers from severe potassium (K) dendrites growth and even short circuiting caused by the high reactivity of K metal. To address these challenges, this work develops a robust composite gel polymer electrolyte (CGPE), named poly(vinylidene fluoride‐hexafluoropropylene) potassium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide polyacrylonitrile (PVDF‐HFP‐KFSI@PAN). It is found that the introduction of PAN nanofibers not only improves the mechanical properties but also widens the electrochemical stability window of the CGPE. As a result, the CGPE is much more effective in regulating K stripping/plating and enabling stable K metal anode. K metal symmetrical cells with CGPE exhibit a lifetime of over 1200 h at the current density of 0.5 mA cm−2, in contrast to 22 h for PVDF‐HFP‐KFSI and 185 h for a conventional glass fiber separator. The main reasons for the excellent performance of K metal cells with CGPE are attributed to the suppressed K dendrite growth, good structural integrity electrochemical stability of the CGPE, and stable KF‐rich solid electrolyte interphase layer at the electrode‐CGPE interface. It is expected that this facile strategy to stabilize K metal will pave the way for safer and more durable K metal batteries.
Ionic Current Fluctuation and Orientation of Tetrahedral DNA Nanostructures in a Solid‐State Nanopore
Authors: Chen Xiaoyu , Zhao Xinjia , Ma Ruiping , Hu Ying , Cui Chengjun , Mi Zhuang , Dou Ruifen , Pan Dun , Shan Xinyan , Wang Lihua , Fan Chunhai , Lu Xinghua
Published: January 2022

Understanding the dynamic behavior of a nanostructure translocating through a nanopore is important for various applications. In this paper, the characteristics in ion current traces of tetrahedral DNA nanostructures (TDN) translocating through a solid‐state nanopore are examined, by combined experimental and theoretical simulations. The results of finite element analysis reveal the correlation between orientation of TDN and the conductance blockade. The experimentally measured fluctuations in the conductance blockade, expressed as voltage‐dependent histogram profiles, are consistent with the simulation, revealing the nature of a random distribution in orientation and weak influence of electrostatic and viscous torques. The step changes in orientation of a TDN during translocation are further explained by the collision with the nanopore, while the gradual changes in orientation illustrate the impact of a weak torque field in the nano‐fluidic channel. The results demonstrate a general method and basic understanding in the dynamic behavior of nanostructures translocating through solid‐state nanopores.
Ethylenediaminetetraacetate functionalized ordered Santa Barbara Amorphous‐15 mesoporous silica as an effective adsorbent for preconcentration of some heavy metals followed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry
Authors: Samadifar Mahsa , Yamini Yadollah , Khataei Mohammad Mahdi , Badiei Alireza
Published: January 2022

A simple and sensitive method was developed for preconcentration of the several transition metal ions using Santa Barbara Amorphous‐15 mesoporous silica functionalized with the ethylenediaminetetraacetate functional group. The determination of the metal ions was performed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. The effective parameters on the extraction efficiency of the ions were investigated. The optimized conditions were: the sample solution pH 4, adsorbent amount = 10 mg, adsorption time = 30 min, elution solvent = 1.5 M of HCl, and desorption time = 5 min. Under the optimum conditions, limits of detection of 50, 5, 10, 50, 10, and 500 ng/L were obtained for Co2+, Mn2+, Cu2+, Cd2+, Zn2+, and Fe3+ respectively. The relative standard deviations for determination of the selected metal ions at concentration level of 50 μg/L (n = 4) were in the range of 1.7–5.8%. Linear ranges for Co2+ and Cd2+ (0.1–250 μg/L), Cu2+ and Zn2+ (0.05–250 μg/L), Fe3+ (1–250 μg/L), and Mn2+ (0.01–25 and 50–500 μg/L) were obtained with perfect correlation coefficients (R = 0.9958–0.9996, n = 8). The applicability of the method was evaluated by the extraction and determination of the heavy metal ions in different water samples.
Wettbewerb und Entwurf zum Ersatzneubau der Norderelbbrücke (A 1) in Hamburg
Authors: Gebert Gregor
Published: January 2022

Die Norderelbbrücke aus dem Jahre 1963 ist ein herausragendes Zeugnis der Ingenieurskunst. Nach fast 60 Jahren hat das Bauwerk das Ende seiner Nutzungszeit erreicht. Mit Hochdruck laufen die Planungen für den Ersatzneubau. Ziel ist es, das bestehende Bauwerk bis 2027 außer Betrieb zu nehmen. Mit dem Neubau ist auch die Erweiterung der A 1 auf acht Fahrstreifen verbunden. Die angrenzenden Autobahndreiecke erfordern darüber hinaus zusätzliche Verflechtungsstreifen, sodass der Neubau insgesamt zwölf Fahrstreifen zu überführen hat und mehr als doppelt so breit sein wird wie der Bestand. Aufgrund der gestalterischen und technischen Bedeutung wurde 2018/2019 für den Ersatzneubau der Norderelbbrücke ein Realisierungswettbewerb durchgeführt. Der Siegerentwurf befindet sich derzeit in der Entwurfsplanung. Der Beitrag geht sowohl ausführlich auf den Realisierungswettbewerb als auch auf den aktuellen Stand der Entwurfsplanung ein. Abschließend erfolgt ein Blick auf zwei weitere Schrägseilbrückenprojekte, die aktuell in Deutschland in Bau sind – die Rheinbrücken in Leverkusen und in Duisburg‐Neuenkamp.
Interactive Effect of Retrogradation and Addition of Pulses, Cooking Oil on Predicted Glycemic Index and Resistant Starch of Potato
Authors: Lal Milan Kumar , Singh Brajesh , Tiwari Rahul Kumar , Kumar Sudhir , Gopalakrishnan S. , Gaikwad Kishor , Kumar Awadhesh , Paul Vijay , Singh Madan Pal
Published: January 2022

Potato is consumed as boiled, microwaved, baked, or fried and in combination with pulses and/or oils which might affect the postprandial blood glucose response. The effect of the combination of potato with pulses/oils followed by retrogradation is investigated on the predicted glycemic index (GI), resistant starch (RS), and related parameters. The addition of pulses to potato results in lowering of GI and enhancement of RS. Moreover, retrogradation (4°C for 48 h) of potato‐pulse combination shows a GI lowering effect compared to control. Out of eight pulses, pigeon pea and kidney beans are more effective in lowering GI and increasing RS. The addition of oils to potato during cooking results in the reduction of GI and glycemic load (GL), with an increase in RS. Further, storage of cooked potato‐oil combination at 4°C for 48 h results in the reduction of GI and increase in RS. Out of seven cooking oils, olive oil and ghee (clarified butter) bring about an effective lowering of GI and GL. The results suggest that the addition of pulses and cooking oil to potato, followed by cooling might be an effective approach in managing the postprandial rise in the levels of blood glucose.
LSTM‐based japanese speaker identification using an omnidirectional camera and voice information
Authors: Nakamura Etsuro , Kageyama Yoichi , Hirose Satoshi
Published: January 2022

Numerous companies in Japan currently desire to increase the efficiency of meetings, which is an important objective that should be addressed with computational methods. To this end, increasing the efficiency of minute‐taking tasks using voice‐recognition technology has been considered. The development of an automated system able to identify individual speakers by voice so as to add information encoding which speaker uttered which text would substantially improve the overall efficiency of the process. Several speaker‐identification methods have been proposed in prior works on the automatic generation of meeting minutes. However, such methods require the preparation of multiple microphones to register audio signals. In contrast, speakers can be identified with a smaller preparation cost by utilizing an omnidirectional camera; however, hundreds of hours of training data are required. In this study, we propose a speaker‐identification method that uses only tens of minutes of moving images as training data. Evaluation results demonstrate that the proposed method is able to identify speakers with maximum and average success rates of 93.0% and 87.2%, respectively. © 2022 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Proposal of a pseudo‐electrocardiogram model incorporating heart rate variability and QT‐interval variability, and its application
Authors: Ueyama Tomohiro , Yoshino Ayaka , Nakamura Harunobu , Okita Yoshimitsu
Published: January 2022

In this work, we propose a model that incorporates QT‐interval variability (QTV) by extending the synthetic electrocardiogram (ECG) model including heart rate variability (HRV). The model consists of three modified coupled ordinary differential equations and an equation to incorporate QTV by shifting the position of the T‐wave; in addition, RR and QT tachograms that have frequency characteristics composed of multiple Gaussian distribution peaks are used. An ECG signal can be generated by adapting a certain ECG waveform and by giving the means, standard deviations, and power spectral density parameters of HRV and QTV. This proposed model may reveal the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the relationship between QTV and HRV and/or the autonomic activity, and it may solve problems in the measurement of QT‐interval. In conclusion, this proposed model is a very useful tool in medical education and experimental simulation. © 2022 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Cache‐enabled reinforcement learning scheme for power allocation and user selection in opportunistic downlink NOMA transmissions
Authors: Gendia Ahmad , Muta Osamu , Nasser Ahmed
Published: January 2022

Non‐orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) allows multiple user equipment (UE) to simultaneously share the same resource blocks using varying levels of transmit power at the base station (BS) side. Proper allocation of transmission power and selection of candidate users for pairing over the same resource block are critical for an efficient utilization of the available resources. Optimal UE selection and power splitting among paired UEs can be made through an exhaustive search over the space of all possible solutions. However, the cost incurred by such approach can render it practically infeasible. Reinforcement learning (RL) deploying double deep‐Q networks (DDQN) is a promising framework that can be adopted for tackling the problem. In this article, an RL‐based DDQN scheme is proposed for user pairing in opportunistic access to downlink NOMA systems with capacity‐limited backhaul link connections. The proposed algorithm relies on proactive data caching to alleviate the throttling caused by backhaul bottlenecks, and optimized UE selection and power allocation are accomplished through the continuous interaction between an RL agent and the NOMA environment to increase the overall system throughput. Simulation results are presented to showcase the near‐optimal strategy achieved by the proposed scheme. © 2022 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.