bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study of high‐temperature proton exchange membrane through one‐step encapsulation of ionic liquid in sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone)
Authors: Sun Lijun , Qu Shuguo , Lv Xueyan , Duan Jihai , Wang Weiwen
Published: November 2022

The proton exchange membrane (PEM) is the core component of a high‐performance proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). Since the traditional PEM has the disadvantages of poor cell performance and high cost, a new kind of PEM with good proton conductivity, low cost and simple preparation should be explored. In this paper, several different binary hybrid membranes were successfully prepared through one‐step encapsulation of different ionic liquids (ILs) in sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK). The prepared membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), proton conductivity measurements and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). SEM images showed that ILs were fully doped into SPEEK. FT‐IR and XPS proved that SPEEK and IL formed a new chemical bond combined with intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The TG results showed that the binary hybrid membranes could maintain stability even at 300°C. The water uptake and swelling ratio showed that the water absorption capacity of the binary composite membrane played a vital role in improving proton conductivity. The proton conductivity study showed that ILs doping also helped to improve the proton conductivity of the SPEEK membrane. When the doping amount of IL was maintained at 30 wt.%, it has the highest proton conductivity, 25 mS cm−1 at 120°C. It was proved that anhydrous hybrid membrane tetraphenyl imidazole sulfate/SPEEK ([IM2][H2PO4]/SPEEK) could be used in PEMFC at medium temperature.
A practical approach to identifying autistic adults within the electronic health record
Authors: Malow Beth A. , Veatch Olivia J. , Niu Xinnan , Fitzpatrick Kasey A. , Hucks Donald , Maxwell‐Horn Angie , Davis Lea K.
Published: November 2022

The electronic health record (EHR) provides valuable data for understanding physical and mental health conditions in autism. We developed an approach to identify charts of autistic young adults, retrieved from our institution's de‐identified EHR database. Clinical notes within two cohorts were identified. Cohort 1 charts had at least one International Classification of Diseases (ICD‐CM) autism code. Cohort 2 charts had only autism key terms without ICD‐CM codes, and at least four notes per chart. A natural language processing tool parsed medical charts to identify key terms associated with autism diagnoses and mapped them to Unified Medical Language System Concept Unique Identifiers (CUIs). Average scores were calculated for each set of charts based on captured CUIs. Chart review determined whether patients met criteria for autism using a classification rubric. In Cohort 1, of 418 patients, 361 were confirmed to have autism by chart review. Sensitivity was 0.99 and specificity was 0.68 with positive predictive value (PPV) of 0.97. Specificity improved to 0.81 (sensitivity was 0.95; PPV was 0.98) when the number of notes was limited to four or more per chart. In Cohort 2, 48 of 136 patients were confirmed to have autism by chart review. Sensitivity was 0.95, specificity was 0.73, and PPV was 0.70. Our approach, which included using key terms, identified autism charts with high sensitivity, even in the absence of ICD‐CM codes. Relying on ICD‐CM codes alone may result in inclusion of false positive cases and exclusion of true cases with autism.
Beyond the GTP‐cap: Elucidating the molecular mechanisms of microtubule catastrophe
Authors: Farmer Veronica J. , Zanic Marija
Published: November 2022

Almost 40 years since the discovery of microtubule dynamic instability, the molecular mechanisms underlying microtubule dynamics remain an area of intense research interest. The “standard model” of microtubule dynamics implicates a “cap” of GTP‐bound tubulin dimers at the growing microtubule end as the main determinant of microtubule stability. Loss of the GTP‐cap leads to microtubule “catastrophe,” a switch‐like transition from microtubule growth to shrinkage. However, recent studies, using biochemical in vitro reconstitution, cryo‐EM, and computational modeling approaches, challenge the simple GTP‐cap model. Instead, a new perspective on the mechanisms of microtubule dynamics is emerging. In this view, highly dynamic transitions between different structural conformations of the growing microtubule end – which may or may not be directly linked to the nucleotide content at the microtubule end – ultimately drive microtubule catastrophe.
Sentence comprehension and production in children with cochlear implants: Errorless procedures and equivalence‐based instruction
Authors: Neves Anderson Jonas das , Almeida‐Verdu Ana Claudia Moreira , Silva Leandra Tabanez do Nascimento , Moret Adriane Lima Mortari , de Souza Deisy das Graças
Published: November 2022

Research supports equivalence‐based instruction (EBI) and matrix training for increased listening and speaking skills in children with cochlear implants (CI). We incorporated errorless procedures to optimize the EBI and evaluated the effects on the auditory comprehension and verbal responding at‐sentences level in six CI children who were readers and showed inaccurate tacting. Subject‐verb‐object sentences were arranged in two matrices; diagonal combinations were trained and evaluated non‐diagonal combinations. EBI included stimulus fading and exclusion to directly teach the dictated sentence‐picture matching; written‐sentences construction upon dictation also was taught. Probes assessed the derived stimulus‐stimulus and stimulus‐response relations. All participants learned the auditory‐visual discriminations and the exclusion resulted in fewer errors than on a stimulus fading procedure. Five participants formed equivalence classes and increased verbal responding to equivalent stimuli, especially pictures tacting. They also showed recombinative generalization for both matrices. Professionals can incorporate errorless procedures to EBI for improving sentence comprehension, tacting, and productivity in CI children.
Recent advances in ZnO nanostructure as a gas‐sensing element for an acetone sensor: a short review
Authors: Mishra Rajneesh Kumar , Kumar Vipin , Trung Le Gia , Choi Gyu Jin , Ryu Jeong Won , Bhardwaj Rajesh , Kumar Pushpendra , Singh Jay , Lee Seung Hee , Gwag Jin Seog
Published: November 2022

Air pollution is a severe concern globally as it disturbs the health conditions of living beings and the environment because of the discharge of acetone molecules. Metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) nanomaterials are crucial for developing efficient sensors because of their outstanding chemical and physical properties, empowering the inclusive developments in gas sensor productivity. This review presents the ZnO nanostructure state of the art and notable growth, and their structural, morphological, electronic, optical, and acetone‐sensing properties. The key parameters, such as response, gas detection limit, sensitivity, reproducibility, response and recovery time, selectivity, and stability of the acetone sensor, have been discussed. Furthermore, gas‐sensing mechanism models based on MOS for acetone sensing are reported and discussed. Finally, future possibilities and challenges for MOS (ZnO)‐based gas sensors for acetone detection have also been explored.
Organic food consumption and contextual factors: An attitude–behavior–context perspective
Authors: Sadiq Mohd , Adil Mohd , Paul Justin
Published: November 2022

This study is grounded within the theoretical framework of attitude–behavior–context. The study examines how perceived health risk shapes both health and environmental attitudes, leading to organic food consumption. Further, we also assess the role of perceived effectiveness and green trust in moderating the proposed relationships. The data were collected from 461 consumers through Amazon Mechanical Turk platform. Our findings indicate that consumers' perception of health risk plays a significant role in developing positive environmental and health attitudes. Consequently, this leads consumers to adopt organic food. Further, this study confirms that there is an attitude–behavior gap, as both environmental and health attitudes seem to have a weak Cohen f2 effect on organic food consumption. Though perceived effectiveness moderates the relationship of organic food consumption with perceived health risk and attitude, green trust does not bridge the attitude–behavior gap. This study may help organic food marketers, policy‐makers, and retailers bridge the consumers' attitude–behavior gap.
Did court reinstate failure to hire claim?
Authors: Lyerly Eric
Published: November 2022

The University of Cincinnati's Department of Biological Sciences posted a job opening for an assistant professor.
Growth in eligibility criteria content and failure to accrue among National Cancer Institute (NCI)‐affiliated clinical trials
Authors: Peterson John S. , Plana Deborah , Bitterman Danielle S. , Johnson Skyler Bryce , Aerts Hugo J. W. L. , Kann Benjamin Harris
Published: November 2022

Background

Cancer trial accrual is a national priority, yet up to 20% of trials fail to accrue. Trial eligibility criteria growth may be associated with accrual failure. We sought to quantify eligibility criteria growth within National Cancer Institute (NCI)‐affiliated trials and determine impact on accrual.

Methods

Utilizing the Aggregated Analysis of ClinicalTrials.gov, we analyzed phase II/III interventional NCI‐affiliated trials initiated between 2008 and 2018. Eligibility criteria growth was assessed via number of unique content words within combined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Association between unique word count and accrual failure was evaluated with multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for known predictors of failure. Medical terms associated with accrual failure were identified via natural language processing and categorized.

Results

Of 1197 trials, 231 (19.3%) failed due to low accrual. Accrual failure rate increased with eligibility criteria growth, from 11.8% in the lowest decile (12–112 words) to 29.4% in the highest decile (445–750 words). Median eligibility criteria increased over time, from 214 (IQR [23, 282]) unique content words in 2008 to 417 (IQR [289, 514]) in 2018 (r2 = 0.73, P < 0.001). Eligibility criteria growth was independently associated with accrual failure (OR: 1.09 per decile, 95% CI [1.03–1.15], p = 0.004). Eighteen exclusion criteria categories were significantly associated with accrual failure, including renal, pulmonary, and diabetic, among others (Bonferroni‐corrected p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Eligibility criteria content growth is increasing dramatically among NCI‐affiliated trials and is strongly associated with accrual failure. These findings support national initiatives to simplify eligibility criteria and suggest that further efforts are warranted to improve cancer trial accrual.
Controlled register‐based study of road traffic accidents in 12,651 Finnish cancer patients during 2013–2019
Authors: Huuskonen Marja‐Liisa , Koistinen Tero , Sihvola Niina , Parkkari Inkeri , Palovaara Sanna , Kytö Ville , Sipilä Jussi , Jyrkkiö Sirkku , Heervä Eetu
Published: November 2022

Background

Little controlled evidence exists on road traffic accident (RTA) risk among patients diagnosed with cancer, while clinicians are often requested to comment their ability to drive. The aim of this study was to evaluate RTA risk in a population‐based cohort of cancer patients living in Southwest Finland.

Patients

All adult patients diagnosed with cancer in 2013–2019 were included. Acute appendectomy/cholecystectomy and actinic keratosis patients without cancer were selected from the same region as the control cohort. Participants were cross‐referenced to a national driving licence database, yielding 12,651 cancer and 6334 control patients with a valid licence. Due to marked differences in their clinical presentation, the cancer cohort was divided into nine cancers of interest (breast, prostate, colorectal, lung, melanoma, head & neck, primary brain tumours, gynaecological and haematological malignancies). The nationwide law‐regulated motor liability insurance registry was searched for all RTAs leading to injury with claims paid to not‐ or at‐fault participants. At‐fault drivers were verified based on sex and birth year.

Results

During a median follow‐up of 34 months, 167 persons were at‐fault drivers in RTAs leading to injury. Among the nine cancers of interest, RTA risk did not differ from the control cohort. Among cancer patients, multivariable regression suggested male sex and opioid use, but not advanced cancer stage or given systemic therapy, as the most influential risk factors for RTA.

Conclusions

Cancer diagnosis itself was not associated with increased RTA risk, but other associated symptoms, medications, comorbidities or specific cancer subgroups may.
Effect of cooking on the in vitro and in vivo protein quality of soy, oat and wheat varieties
Authors: Nosworthy Matthew G. , Hernandez‐Alvarez Alan J. , Franczyk Adam J. , Medina Gerardo , Neufeld Jason , Arcand Yves , Ribéreau Sabine , Sánchez‐Velázquez Oscar Abel , House James D.
Published: November 2022

Background and Objectives

Soy, wheat, and oats are widely consumed crops globally, but variation between cultivars and processing methods can produce products of varying protein quality. This study cooked two different cultivars of wheat, oats, and soy and compared indices of protein quality as well as quantified differences in antinutritional factors.

Findings

Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) was highest in cooked soy cultivars and lowest in wheat samples, with cooking having the most impact on soy PER. Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS) of soy was greater than oats which was greater than wheat. Antinutritional factors differed significantly between crops and cultivars, with processing having the greatest impact on soy. In vitro measurements of PDCAAS correlated well with in vivo assessment.

Conclusions

Thermal processing has variable effects on protein quality depending on crop and cultivar selected, primarily due to differences in amino acid composition. In vitro measurement of protein quality can be used as a rapid screening tool.

Significance and Novelty

Direct comparison in protein quality between wheat, oat, and soy is rarely reported. Measuring the protein quality of different cultivars and crops pre and postprocessing provides essential data for product development and dietary formulation.
Lab‐Scale Investigation of Slickwater Impact on Methane Desorption on Longmaxi Gas Shale
Authors: Liu Zhonghua , Ding Zhongpei , Yang Huan , Li Xiaogang , Qu Hai , Xie Yingming , Zeng Shunpeng
Published: November 2022

After multistage hydraulic fracking, a huge amount of slickwater stuck in shale gas formation significantly affects the shale‐gas‐well production performance. A set of comparative experiments to illustrate slickwater and its chemicals' impact on the methane desorption on shale powders were performed. The influence of slickwater and its chemicals on desorption isotherm, desorption efficiency, and adsorbed phase methane content as well as cumulative gas production was analyzed. The findings reflect the synthetic slickwater impact on methane desorption on shale powders, indicating that it can be helpful to optimize slickwater formulation and design shale‐gas‐well bottom flow pressure to obtain higher gas production. Also, the observations and analysis give a supplement for improving shale gas recovery through studying the function of chemical additives in slickwater on methane desorption.
Enhanced Performance of Laser‐Structured Copper Electrodes Towards Electrocatalytic Hydrogenation of Furfural
Authors: Munirathinam Balakrishnan , Lerch Lukas , Hüne Dorian , Lentz Lukas , Lenk Thorben , Görke Marion , Garnweitner Georg , Schlüter Nicolas , Kubannek Fabian , Schröder Daniel , Gimpel Thomas
Published: November 2022

Electrocatalytic hydrogenation (ECH) of biomass derived compounds is an emerging technology for the production of biofuels. Herein, the ECH of furfural was investigated systematically on femtosecond laser‐structured copper electrodes, amending the work on commonly used bulk copper electrodes or electrodeposits. Laser‐structuring was used to vary the amount of active sites and the crystallographic orientation on the copper electrodes (evidenced with scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction), and to achieve nickel alloying with the structured copper surface. We showed that the production rate and the Faradaic efficiency for furfural ECH on both Cu (111) and Ni‐alloyed Cu were substantially increased. This improvement was ascribed to more catalytic sites offered for hydrogen and interactions of furanic intermediates. Moreover, the Ni‐alloyed Cu electrode enabled the stable production of 2‐methylfuran even at large overpotentials. The mechanistic insights gained could open up new pathways to produce sustainable biofuel candidates with more stable electrodes.
The diagnostic utility of trichorhinophalangeal syndrome type 1 immunohistochemistry for metastatic breast carcinoma in effusion cytology specimens
Authors: Chen Chih‐Jung , Hang Jen‐Fan , Chen Yun‐An , Lin Shu‐Jiuan , Chiu Hung‐Ming , Hsu Chih‐Yi , Lai Chiung‐Ru , Yang Chi‐Shun
Published: November 2022

Background

Trichorhinophalangeal syndrome type 1 (TRPS1) is a novel immunohistochemical marker with excellent performance in distinguishing breast carcinoma from other cancers in surgical specimens. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic utility of TRPS1 compared with GATA3 for metastatic breast carcinoma in effusion cytology specimens.

Methods

In total, 91 cell blocks of malignant effusion specimens, including 47 metastatic breast carcinomas (nine triple‐negative breast carcinomas [TNBCs] and 38 non‐TNBCs) and 44 nonmammary malignancies, were selected for TRPS1 and GATA3 immunohistochemistry. Modified H scores ≥ 200 were considered positive staining.

Results

The positive rate of TRPS1 was similar between TNBC and non‐TNBC (77.8% vs 73.3%, p = .802), whereas the positive rate of GATA3 was lower in TNBC than in non‐TNBC (66.7% vs 89.5%, p = .087). The positive rate of TRPS1 was significantly higher in breast carcinoma than in urothelial carcinoma (74.5% vs 0%, p < .001), whereas the positive rate of GATA3 showed no difference between these two (85.1% vs 85.7%, p = .956). Notably, diffuse and strong aberrant expression of TRPS1 was observed in one lung adenocarcinoma and one serous adenocarcinoma in this series. The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of TRPS1 immunohistochemistry for breast carcinoma were 74.5%, 95.5%, 94.6%, and 77.8%, respectively.

Conclusion

TRPS1 is a sensitive and specific marker for metastatic breast cancer in serous effusion cell‐block specimens. It shows superior sensitivity and specificity compared with GATA3, especially in the TNBC setting and for excluding urothelial carcinoma.
Cytopathological assessment is an accurate method for identifying immunophenotypic features and BRCA1/2 mutations of high‐grade serous carcinoma from ascites
Authors: Miceska Simona , Škof Erik , Novaković Srdjan , Stegel Vida , Jeričević Anja , Grčar Kuzmanov Biljana , Smrkolj Špela , Cvjetičanin Branko , Bebar Sonja , Globočnik Kukovica Marta , Kloboves‐Prevodnik Veronika
Published: November 2022

Background

High‐grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) is the most common and aggressive type of ovarian cancer, and it is often associated with ascites at presentation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of cytopathology to identify immunophenotypic features of HGSC and BRCA1/2 mutations from ascites.

Methods

The study included 45 patients with histologically confirmed primary HGSC and malignant ascites. Immunocytochemistry (ICC) staining for PAX8, WT1, P53, P16, and Ki‐67 was performed on cytospins and cytoblocks prepared from ascites. Next‐generation sequencing (NGS) was used to detect germline/somatic BRCA1/2 mutations in the ascites. Both ICC and NGS results were compared with immunohistochemistry (IHC) and NGS results from tissue blocks of primary tumor. Cronbach α and χ2 statistics, respectively, were used.

Results

ICC/IHC results for PAX8, WT1, P53, and P16 showed good reliability between cytospins, cytoblocks, and tissue blocks (α > 0.75), whereas poor reliability and significant differences were observed for Ki‐67 between ascites and tissue blocks (α < 0.26; p < .001 [Kruskal–Wallis]). For germline BRCA1/2 mutations, 100% concordance was confirmed, but only 14% concordance was confirmed for somatic mutations.

Conclusions

These results demonstrate that cytopathology is an accurate method for identifying immunophenotypic features of HGSC and detecting germline BRCA1/2 mutations from ascites. However, further investigation is required for assessing the proliferation activity of HGSC in ascites and for detecting somatic BRCA1/2 mutations.
Properties and estimation approaches of the odd JCA family with applications
Authors: Iqbal Tariq , Alfaer Nada M. , Tahir Muhammad H. , Aljohani Hassan M. , Jamal Farrukh , Afify Ahmed Z.
Published: November 2022

In this article, we study a new generator of distributions called the odd JCA‐G family. We determine the main mathematical properties of the new family. Some special submodels of the odd JCA‐G family are presented. The special models of the JCA‐G family have tractable densities shapes which possess various kinds of asymmetric, reversed‐J, left‐skewed, right‐skewed, symmetrical shapes. Furthermore, special submodels exhibit flexible hazard rate shapes. Additionally, the parameters of the odd JCA Burr‐XII model are estimated using some classical estimation approaches. The performance and efficiency of these approaches are explored via numerical simulations. The applicability of the odd JCA‐G family is illustrated by fitting two real‐life datasets. The data analysis shows that the odd JCA Burr‐XII model outperforms some well‐known distributions for the selected data.
New negative‐grounded capacitance multiplier circuits
Authors: Raj Ajishek , Bhaskar Data Ram , Shrivastava Meghana , Kumar Pragati
Published: November 2022

In this communication, three new negative‐grounded capacitance multiplier (NGCM) circuits employing a single current feedback operational amplifier (CFOA), two resistors, and a grounded capacitor (which is most suitable for parasitic absorption and also IC implementation point of view) are investigated. No matching constraints are required for any of the proposed circuit realizations. Out of the three proposed circuits, multiplication factor of one of the capacitance multiplier can be controlled electronically as the controlling resistor is grounded, which can easily be replaced by a voltage‐controlled resistor (VCR). Error analysis of the proposed NGCMs has been carried out, and the results have been compared with those obtained from ideal analysis. To substantiate the feasibility of the proposed circuits, macro model of CFOA has been used, and the simulations have been performed in Personal Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis (PSPICE). Simulation results for frequency analysis, Monte‐Carlo analysis, and temperature analysis have been included for the theoretical justification. Noise analysis and power supply rejection ratio analysis have also been carried out for the proposed circuits. The multiplication factors of the proposed NGCMs have been obtained up to a maximum value of 2001. The impedance and phase of the proposed NGCM structures are insensitive with temperature. The functionality of the proposed structures has also been validated experimentally using commercially available IC AD844‐type CFOA.
Dynamics of dust particles in the glow discharge stratum in crossed E × B field
Authors: Abdirakhmanov Assan R. , Kodanova Sandugash K. , Ramazanov Tlekkabul S.
Published: November 2022

In this work, the dynamic behaviour of micron‐sized dust particles suspended in the glow discharge stratum at low pressure in the crossed magnetic and electric fields was experimentally studied. The observations showed that the dust particles move in the direction opposite to the ExB drift with increasing magnetic field induction. When the magnetic field induction reaches a threshold point (B > 10 mT), the dust particles begin to rotate, forming pair of counter‐rotating vortex in the horizontal plane. It was also found that the shape of the dust structures changes from a disk shape to an ellipsoid shape. The dynamic behaviour of the dust vortices was analysed using the PIV (particle image velocimetry) method. The quantitative explanation of the generation of the co‐vortex rotation observed in the experiment was explained on the basis of the charge gradient of the dust particles, which was orthogonal to the ion drag force.
Longitudinal CSF Alzheimer's disease biomarker changes from middle age to late adulthood
Authors: Pettigrew Corinne , Soldan Anja , Wang Jiangxia , Wang Mei‐Cheng , Greenberg Barry , Albert Marilyn , Moghekar Abhay ,   the BIOCARD Research Team
Published: November 2022

Introduction

We examined longitudinal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarker changes among cognitively normal individuals with 10.7 years follow‐up, on average.

Methods

Analyses included 278 participants (M age = 57.5 years); 94 have progressed from normal cognition to mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Amyloid beta (Aβ)42/Aβ40, phosphorylated tau181 (p‐tau181), and total tau (t‐tau) were measured using automated electrochemiluminescence assays.

Results

Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 carriers had lower baseline Aβ42/Aβ40, but longitudinal Aβ42/Aβ40 decreases did not differ by APOE ε4 after accounting for Aβ42/Aβ40 positivity. Lower baseline Aβ42/Aβ40 was associated with greater increases in tau (more strongly in males), and APOE ε4 genotype was associated with greater tau increases after reaching Aβ42/Aβ40 positivity. Participants who progressed to MCI had more abnormal biomarker levels and greater tau increases prior to MCI symptom onset. Biomarkers were more abnormal among older adults, but unrelated to sex or education.

Discussion

Our results confirm accelerated biomarker changes during preclinical AD and highlight the important role of amyloid levels in tau accelerations.
Quantifying and linking mechanism scenarios to invasive species impact
Authors: Cadotte Marc William
Published: November 2022

Plant species invasion represents one of the major drivers of biodiversity change globally, yet there is confusion about the nature of nonindigenous species (NIS) impact. This confusion stems from differing notions of what constitutes invasive species impact and the scales at which it should be assessed. At local scales, the mechanisms of the impact on local competitors can be classified into four scenarios: (1) minimal impact from NIS inhabiting unique niches; (2) neutral impact spread across the community and proportional to NIS abundance; (3) targeted impact on a small number of competitors with overlapping niches; and (4) pervasive impact that is disproportionate to NIS abundance and caused by modifications that filter out other species. I developed a statistical test to distinguish these four mechanism scenarios based on plant community rank‐abundance curves and then created a scale‐independent standardized impact score. Using an example long‐term dataset with high native plant diversity and an abundance gradient of the invasive vine, Vincetoxicum rossicum, I show that the impact resulted in either targeted or pervasive extirpations. Regardless of whether the NIS impact is neutral, targeted, or pervasive, the net outcome will be the homogenization of ecosystems and reduced biodiversity at larger scales, perhaps reducing ecosystem resilience. The framework and statistical evaluation of impact presented in this paper provide researchers and managers with an objective approach to quantifying NIS impact and prioritizing species for further management actions.
Dry–wet seasonal variations of microbially mediated carbon metabolism in soils of a floodplain lake
Authors: Liu Yajun , Wen Zhan , He Mengjie , Wang Binhua , Kong Zhaoyu , Mou Xiaozhen , Wu Lan
Published: November 2022

Seasonal water level fluctuations in floodplain lakes are known to alter carbon transport, yet it is unclear how such changes affect microbially mediated carbon metabolism. Poyang Lake is a typical floodplain lake linked to the Yangtze River and is significantly affected by water level fluctuations. In this study, we examined the differences of soil organic matter (SOM) properties, bacterial communities and carbon metabolic functions between dry (March) and wet (August) seasons in lake centre, delta and floodplain from Poyang Lake. Generally, the SOM properties (quantity and quality) and microbially mediated carbon metabolism in the three types of sampling areas have undergone greater changes from dry to wet season than bacterial community. Structural equation modelling and variation partition analysis indicated that SOM properties contributed more in shaping the carbon metabolism of microorganisms than bacterial community structures, especially in lake centre. Dry–wet seasonal changes of microbially mediated carbon metabolism in lake centre were mainly affected by amide C=O1650 and aliphatic C‐H2850, 2924, while the delta and floodplain were mainly affected by aromatic C‐O1234. Furthermore, we also found that bacterial community composition could better explain the effects of seasonal hydrology on carbon metabolism, rather than the diversity and assembly processes. We highlight that studies on tightly coupled changes in SOM and microbially mediated carbon metabolism can enhance the understanding of soil carbon dynamics across the floodplain lake.
People, infrastructure, and data: A pathway to an inclusive and diverse ecological network of networks
Authors: SanClements Michael D. , Record Sydne , Rose Kevin C. , Donnelly Alison , Chong Steven S. , Duffy Katharyn , Hallmark Alesia , Heffernan James B. , Liu Jianguo , Mitchell Jessica J. , Moore David J. P. , Naithani Kusum , O'Reilly Catherine M. , Sokol Eric R. , Stack Whitney Kaitlin , Weintraub‐Leff Samantha R. , Yang Di
Published: November 2022

Macrosystem‐scale research is supported by many ecological networks of people, infrastructure, and data. However, no network is sufficient to address all macrosystems ecology research questions, and there is much to be gained by conducting research and sharing resources across multiple networks. Unfortunately, conducting macrosystem research across networks is challenging due to the diversity of expertise and skills required, as well as issues related to data discoverability, veracity, and interoperability. The ecological and environmental science community could substantially benefit from networking existing networks to leverage past research investments and spur new collaborations. Here, we describe the need for a “network of networks” (NoN) approach to macrosystems ecological research and articulate both the challenges and potential benefits associated with such an effort. We describe the challenges brought by rapid increases in the volume, velocity, and variety of “big data” ecology and highlight how a NoN could build on the successes and creativity within component networks, while also recognizing and improving upon past failures. We argue that a NoN approach requires careful planning to ensure that it is accessible and inclusive, incorporates multimodal communications and ways to interact, supports the creation, testing, and promulgation of community standards, and ensures individuals and groups receive appropriate credit for their contributions. Additionally, a NoN must recognize important trade‐offs in network architecture, including how the degree of centralization of people, infrastructure, and data influence network scalability and creativity. If implemented carefully and thoughtfully, a NoN has the potential to substantially advance our understanding of ecological processes, characteristics, and trajectories across broad spatial and temporal scales in an efficient, inclusive, and equitable manner.
Extraction of Oil from Roman Nettle Seed by Cold Press and Evaluation of its Quality during Storage
Authors: Siabi Shahla , Torbati Mohammadali , Azadmard‐Damirchi Sodeif , Naebi Maryam , Savage Geoffrey P.
Published: November 2022

Roman nettle (Urtica pilulifera L.) is an annual plant whose seeds are rich in oil and valuable phytochemicals. In this study, oil from Roman nettle seeds is extracted by cold pressing and its quality is evaluated during storage at room temperature for up to 90 days. The seed moisture content is adjusted to 0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10% (g 100 g−1) to evaluate its effect on oil extraction yield. The highest oil yield (31.5%) is found in the seeds containing 5% moisture. Acid and peroxide values increase with both moisture content increase and during storage. Moreover, an increase in seed moisture content decreases the oxidative stability (from 8.1 to 6.3 h), carotenoids (from 25 to 14 mg kg−1), chlorophylls (from 742 to 486 mg kg−1), and phenolic contents (from 134 to 97 (mg caffeic acid per kg oil)) of the extracted oils. Fatty acid profile and phytosterols are not significantly influenced (p > 0.05) by the moisture content of the seeds and storage. Total phenol contents and γ‐tocopherol levels increase during storage, but carotenoids, chlorophylls, and α‐tocopherol levels decrease. Based on overall composition and quality parameters, Roman nettle seed oil may have potential food applications.
Investigating the relationship between pain indicators and observers’ judgements of pain
Authors: Yessick Lindsey R. , Tanguay Justine , Gandhi Wiebke , Harrison Richard , Dinu Ruxandra , Chakrabarti Bhismadev , Borg Emma , Salomons Tim V.
Published: November 2022

Background

Due to the inherent subjectivity of pain, it is difficult to make accurate judgements of pain in others. Research has found discrepancies between the ways in which perceived “objective” (e.g., medical evidence of injury) and “subjective” information (e.g., self‐report) influence judgements of pain. This study aims to explore which potential cues (depictions of sensory input, brain activation, self‐reported pain and facial expressions) participants are most influenced by when evaluating pain in others.

Methods

First, 60 participants (23 women, 36 ± 10 years old) judged who was in more pain between two different pain indicators representing two different patients. These trials revealed which congruent indicator (i.e., two high pain indicators) would most influence participant decisions. Second, participants prescribed quantities of analgesia for one patient's pain based on two different pain indicators. These trials revealed which incongruent indicators (i.e., one high and one low indicator) would most influence participant decisions.

Results

As predicted, facial expressions were perceived as subjective and were the least likely, among all pain indicators, to influence observer's judgements of pain. Participants relied upon indicators they perceived as objective. Self‐report pain ratings had the greatest influence on participants judgements about how much analgesic cream to prescribe and was perceived as objective by half of the participants.

Conclusions

We found that in situations where incongruent information was presented about an individual's pain, participants relied on pain indicators that they perceived to be objective. The current study provides important insights about biases that people hold when making judgements of pain in others.

Significance

Interpretation and assessment of pain remains one of the largest barriers to pain management and involves complex, idiosyncratic processing. This study provides insights into what information participants view as critical in making attributions of pain when presented with multiple, seemingly incongruent sources of information.
Production and purification of bacterial membrane vesicles for biotechnology applications: Challenges and opportunities
Authors: Castillo‐Romero Keshia F. , Santacruz Arlette , González‐Valdez José
Published: November 2022

Bacterial membrane vesicles (BMVs) are bi‐layered nanostructures derived from Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria. Among other pathophysiological roles, BMVs are critical messengers in intercellular communication. As a result, BMVs are emerging as a promising technology for the development of numerous therapeutic applications. Despite the remarkable progress in unveiling BMV biology and functions in recent years, their successful isolation and purification have been limited. Several challenges related to vesicle purity, yield, and scalability severely hamper the further development of BMVs for biotechnology and clinical applications. This review focuses on the current technologies and methodologies used in BMV production and purification, such as ultracentrifugation, density‐gradient centrifugation, size‐exclusion chromatography, ultrafiltration, and precipitation. We also discuss the current challenges related to BMV isolation, large‐scale production, storage, and stability that limit their application. More importantly, the present work explains the most recent strategies proposed for overcoming those challenges. Finally, we summarize the ongoing applications of BMVs in the biotechnological field.
Effects of the Electrolyte Concentration on the Nature of the Solid Electrolyte Interphase of a Lithium Metal Electrode
Authors: Touja Justine , Salembier Peyrovi Parnian , Tison Yann , Martinez Hervé , Gimello Olinda , Louvain Nicolas , Stievano Lorenzo , Monconduit Laure
Published: November 2022

The need of more powerful systems with higher energy density raises a lot of interest in lithium metal batteries (LMBs). As LMBs suffer from safety concerns due to the dendrite growth, several strategies have been studied to limit this growth. Using a highly concentrated electrolyte allows a homogeneous lithium plating that delays the formation of dendrites. Herein, different techniques are used in order to better understand the beneficial role of the salt concentration in the lithium plating/stripping. Operando Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy highlights the better reversibility of the Li+ solvation in the 5 M lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) in 1,2‐dioxolane/1,3‐dimethoxyethane electrolyte in comparison with the 1 M electrolyte. This obviously leads to different electrolyte decompositions during the lithium plating/stripping and changes the nature of the electrode solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) depending on the salt concentration. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry as well as X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirms that with the 5 M LiTFSI electrolyte the salt is preferentially reduced during the plating/stripping, leading to a more inorganic SEI on the lithium metal electrode.
Coating Fluoropolymer on BaTiO3 Nanoparticles to Boost Permittivity and Energy Density of Polymer Nanocomposites
Authors: Liu Xiu , Du Fang-Yan , Che Junjin , Li Jia-Le , Yang Ao-Shuang , Lv Jia-Hao , Shen Qiu-Yu , He Li , Li Yin-Tao , Zhou Yuan-Lin , Yuan Jinkai , Zhang Quan-Ping
Published: November 2022

Significantly enhanced dielectric constant and energy storage density positively facilitate miniaturising dielectric capacitors for various applications in electronics and electrical devices. Herein, a fluoropolymer is coated on BaTiO3 (BT) nanoparticles to form a core–shell structure (BT@PF80), which is used as additional dipoles to enhance the dielectric constant and energy density of polymer nanocomposites. Characterizations with various techniques show uniform dispersion of nanoparticles and good compatibility of interfaces in polymer nanocomposites. Furthermore, the dielectric constant increases from 7.85 of neat polymer to 9.43 of the nanocomposites filled with BT@PF80 while the dielectric loss further decreases from 0.05 to 0.04 at 1 KHz. In addition, 7.79 J cm−3 of energy density is achieved at the nanocomposites filled with BT@PF80, which is 2.65 times higher than that of the neat polymer. This work presents a simple and effective means to enhance dielectric constant and energy density, which tends to fertilize the fabrications of polymer dielectrics for electric energy storage.
Ni‐MnO2/Graphene as Cathode Material for Super‐Capacity Aqueous Rechargeable Zn‐Ion Battery
Authors: Zhao Bin , Li Song , Liu Yue , Bai Mingshan , Wen Zhongsheng , Ji Shijun , Sun Juncai
Published: November 2022

The development of cathode materials is an effective way to improve the electrochemical performance of zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs). Herein, Ni2+‐doped MnO2/graphene nanocomposites (denoted as NMO/rGO) are synthesized by hydrothermal and mechanical ball milling methods as cathode materials for ZIBs. The NMO/rGO electrode shows a super capacity, excellent rate performance, and good cycling stability. The specific discharge capacity can reach 431.5 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1. Moreover, the specific capacity retention rate is 56% after 2200 cycles at 2 A g−1. The excellent electrochemical performance is attributed on the one hand to the stable insertion of Ni2+, which affects the MnO bond and weakens the electrostatic interaction between MnO2 and Zn2+ and on the other hand, the strong interaction (MnOC bond) is formed between NMO and rGO through ball milling, which improves the electrical conductivity and mitigates the volume expansion. Notably, mechanical ball milling can also introduce oxygen vacancies for MnO2, thus increasing the active sites for redox reactions and significantly improving the electrochemical performance of the materials.
Biota-Sediment Accumulation Factors for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
Authors: Burkhard Lawrence P. , Votava Lauren K.
Published: November 2022

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used in commercial products such textiles, firefighting foams, and surface coatings across the globe and some PFAS are known to be bioaccumulative in aquatic species. The ultimate sink for numerous anthropogenic chemicals is the sediments in lakes, rivers, and oceans. To understand the relationship between sediment and aquatic species, a literature search was performed and biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) data for 17 taxonomic classes were assembled. The carbonyl and sulfonyl PFAS classes were relatively data rich whereas phosphate (no measurements), ether (one chemical), and fluorotelomer (limited number of chemicals) PFAS classes were data poor. Taxonomic classes of Teleostei and Clitellata had the largest BSAFs whereas Magnoliopsida and Bivalvia had the smallest BSAFs, and BSAF values >1 (kg-OC/kg-wet wt) were very rare. Across all studies, median (±standard deviation) whole-body Teleostei BSAFs for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and perfluorooctanoic acid (kg-OC/kg-wet wt) were 0.0580 (±0.445, n = 60) and 0.00283 (±0.103,24), respectively. Laboratory-measured BSAFs were consistently larger than field-measured BSAFs, that is, 53 of 67 comparisons were larger (80%). Comparing BSAFs across taxonomic classes, 72% of the BSAFs were significantly different (α = 0.05). Comparing BSAFs within a taxonomic class, BSAFs were significantly different for 63% of the taxonomic classes. Elimination kinetics for benthic invertebrates suggests steady-state conditions might be reached in the 28-day uptake portion of a laboratory bioaccumulation test for some test species. The largest data gaps, beyond limited measurements, are understanding the effects of concentration and mixtures on bioaccumulation from sediments, quantifying the difference, if any, in BSAFs between freshwater and brackish/marine ecosystems, and models for predicting BSAFs based on concentrations in sediment. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:277–295. © 2022 SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
Secrecy satellite‐terrestrial downlink transmissions against randomly located eavesdroppers
Authors: Wu Haowei , Huang Fengjiao , Xiao Pei , Fang Ke , Ou Jinglan
Published: November 2022

The satellite‐terrestrial downlink transmissions with larger coverage areas face more severe security challenges than terrestrial cellular communications due to the limitation of the satellite's power and the complexity of the channel. In this paper, the system model consists of one satellite, one legitimate user and multiple randomly distributed eavesdroppers while taking into account practical hardware impairments (HIs) at all transceivers involved. The Shadowed‐Rician fading model is adopted since it is a perfect fit for the satellite‐terrestrial channel. Besides, the full‐duplex (FD) operation is introduced in the destination where the receiver acquires the information signal and simultaneously emits the artificial noise (AN) to interfere with the nearby eavesdroppers. The maximal ratio combination scheme is applied to the destination to improve security. To facilitate evaluation of the effect of various parameters on the security performance, the closed‐form expressions of secrecy outage probability and ergodic secrecy capacity for the system are derived under the stochastic geometry framework. Finally, the simulation results show that the AN plays a pivotal role in improving the security performance, while the HIs can greatly deteriorate the performance, especially in the high transmit power regime. In addition, compared with the traditional half‐duplex receiver, the FD receiver have better security performance and can significantly alleviate the performance deterioration caused by HIs.
Practical challenges of continuous real‐time functional magnetic resonance imaging neurofeedback with multiband accelerated echo‐planar imaging and short repetition times
Authors: Renz Malika P. , Zidda Francesca , Andoh Jamila , Prager Marcel , Sack Markus , Becker Robert , Ruf Matthias , Schmitgen Mike M. , Wolf Robert C. , Meyer‐Lindenberg Andreas , Tost Heike
Published: November 2022

Continuous real‐time functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) neurofeedback is gaining increasing scientific attention in clinical neuroscience and may benefit from the short repetition times of modern multiband echoplanar imaging sequences. However, minimizing feedback delay can result in technical challenges. Here, we report a technical problem we experienced during continuous fMRI neurofeedback with multiband echoplanar imaging and short repetition times. We identify the possible origins of this problem, describe our current interim solution and provide openly available workflows and code to other researchers in case they wish to use a similar approach.
The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic and related policy responses on non‐COVID‐19 healthcare utilization in China
Authors: Huang Feng , Liu Hong
Published: November 2022

We investigate the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic and related policy responses on non‐COVID‐19 healthcare utilization (i.e., different types of outpatient care) up to October 2020 in China. Using an administrative database from a large prefecture‐level city, we find that both direct exposure to the COVID‐19 pandemic and the strict containment policy responses led to reductions in outpatient care utilization. The largest decline during the lockdown was observed in preventive care visits, which nevertheless recovered to pre‐pandemic levels 2 months after the lockdown. The disruptions in prenatal care visits could not be offset by the recovery later on. Chronic care and emergency department visits had not returned to pre‐pandemic levels as of October 2020, which may be driven by extended days' supply of prescription medication, increased use of telemedicine, and improved health‐protective behaviors. In the reopening period, there were increases in visits for mental and sleep disorders, especially among children, and for medical abortion. Among health facilities at all levels, primary care facilities saw the least reductions in total outpatient visits. Our results emphasize the need for strategies to ensure access to urgent or essential care services when managing the current epidemiologic transition and future crises.