bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Serum Zinc and Magnesium Levels in Children with Febrile Seizure: A Hospital Based Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Debroy Pamela , Baruah Aditi
Published: June 2022

Introduction: Febrile Seizure (FS) is one of the most common forms of seizures in children. Precise aetiology of FS is still not known. Studies have shown that micronutrients like zinc, magnesium, iron, selenium, and copper are highly effective in preventing FS. Aim: To assess serum zinc and magnesium levels in children with FS and to compare them with that of febrile children without seizure, in order to find out whether serum zinc and magnesium levels have any relationship with occurrence of FS. Materials and Methods: This was a hospital based comparative cross-sectional study done in the Paediatrics department of Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh, Assam (India). One hundred and thirty children between 6-60 months, with first episode of FS, admitted in the department of paediatrics from June 2016 to May 2017 were taken as cases and 130 age and sex matched febrile children without seizure were taken as controls. After recording history, examination findings and investigations on pre-designed proforma, serum zinc and magnesium levels were estimated using colorimetric and modified methylthymol blue method respectively and comparison was made between cases and controls, and also among simple and complex FS. Data were analysed by Microsoft Excel 2010 and SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) program version 16.0 and p<0.05 was taken as significant. Results: Mean serum zinc levels in cases and controls were (79.68±21.7 μg/dL) and (120.93±29.00 μg/dL), respectively. Hypozincaemia was present in 14 (10.77%) cases and 1 (0.77%) control (p<0.001). Mean serum magnesium levels in cases and controls were 2.02±0.21 mg/dL) and (2.22±0.22 mg/dL), respectively. Hypomagnesemia was present in 8 (6.15%) cases while none of the controls had hypomagnesemia (p=0.006). Mean serum zinc levels in cases with simple and complex FS were (85.55±24.13 μg/dL) and (71.92±14.97 μg/dL), respectively (p<0.001). Mean serum magnesium levels in simple and complex FS were (2.11±0.21 mg/dL) and (1.90±0.14 mg/dL), respectively (p<0.001). Conclusion: Children with FS had low serum zinc and magnesium levels in comparison to febrile children without seizure and both the levels were lower in children with complex FS than in simple FS.
A Review of Agri-Voltaic System in India: Opportunities and Constraints
Authors: Shukla Aditya , Kumar Mukesh , Shukla Akanksha
Published: June 2022

The rising trend of solar PV generation from ground-based installations has led to competition for land between agriculture and PV generation. The solution to this challenge lies in the agri-voltaic system (AVS). However, many of them encounter difficulties as a result of their reliance on unreliable farming techniques. The difficulties can sometimes become so overwhelming that they commit suicide. Furthermore, India is densely populated, and its population is continually growing, necessitating the government's growth in GDP and energy supply to keep pace. This article examines Agrivoltaics, or the integration of solar farming with agriculture, as a Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) option for Indian farmers. Similarly, the paper presents opportunities and constraints to agrivoltaics in India.
Faecal Carriage of Escherichia coli 0157:H7 Serotype by Free-Ranged and Confined Small Domestic Ruminants within Cross River State, Nigeria
Authors: Nfongeh Joseph F. , Odonye n Dauda D. , Akhaneregbe Pedro , Adibe Onyemachi O. , Fadayomi Victor K.
Published: June 2022

Background: The type of animal grazing method to be promulgated into the Federal Legal System has been an issue of controversy following incessant Farmers/Herdsmen clashes in Nigeria. The method to be adopted has to ensure a drastic reduction of common pathogens associated with the consumption of meat and its products notably Escherichia coli O157:H7. This pathogen has regularly been isolated from cattle by researchers while scanty information exists implicating small domestic ruminants especially in Cross River State, Niger Delta Region of Nigeria where ruminant meat is highly consumed. Similar studies on this pathogen associated with small domestic ruminants do not take into consideration all the different grazing methods practiced.

Aim: This study was aimed at investigating the effects of two commonly used grazing methods (free-ranging and confined grazing) on the potentials of fecal carriage of Escherichia coli 0157:H7 by sheep and goats in different locations within Cross River State, Nigeria.

Methodology: A total of 360 fresh recto-anal faecal swap samples each were collected from both confined (penned) and free- ranging goats and sheep within a 5-months sampling duration. Combined culture and serological methods such as growth on sorbitol macconkey agar supplemented with cefixime and tellurite (SMAC-CT), nonfluorescence of 4-Methylumbilliferyl- D-Glucoronide (E. coli-MUG) cultures under uv light at 650nm wavelength, serological identification using ELISA technique and H typing with standard E. coli H7 rabbit antisera were used in the isolation and identification of the pathogen.

 Results: Among the various groups of domestic ruminants, free-ranged and confined sheep had highest overall prevalence of 31/180 (17.22%) and 12/180 ( 6.67%) respectively compared to free-ranged and confined goats with overall values of 19/180 ( 10.50%) and 9/180 (5.00%) respectively. Prevalence rates showed no significant difference (P = .05) between confined goats and sheep while significant difference (P =.05) was observed between the free-ranged groups. Also, the monthly values differed significantly at P = .05 between the free-ranged and confined groups.

Conclusion: Confined grazing of ruminants in pens (ranching) significantly reduced the transmission of E. coli O157:H7 by goats and sheep which were highly implicated as possible vehicles within Cross River State, Nigeria.
Prevalence of Oral Screen Appliance Therapy in 6-12 Year Old Children Visiting a University Dental Hospital: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Ram Arunn Jaikumarr , Mathew Mebin George
Published: June 2022

The oral screen is a versatile and simple myofunctional instrument that is used to treat dental arc deformities early in the interception. A lip training device was described as an oral screen. Oral screens can be used for people who have bad habits such as mouth breathing, chewing nails, big overjet and lip muscle hypotonus. A sample of 4355 patients of age 6-12 years visiting the hospital were taken. We reviewed patients’ records, analysed data of 7415 patients between June 2020 to March 2021 and clinical findings are recorded. Out of the sample size 4355,260 patients in the hospital database were diagnosed with orthodontic deformities and use of oral screen was recommended. The data is then tabulated in Microsoft Excel. Chi square test is used for comparison of groups. The data is analysed with the help of SPSS software. In this study we observed that 3.8% of the total patients (260) showed incidence of undergoing treatment using oral screen. Prevalence of oral screen appliance is observed to be more in age groups between 10-12 years followed by 6-9 years. Within the limitations of the study, 0.2% of the children visiting university hospital have undergone treatment using oral screen appliances.
Assessment of Pragmatics
Authors: Roever Carsten
Published: June 2022

Testing of second language pragmatics is a relatively new area of language testing but has seen significant growth and development in the past 25 years. Two main streams can be distinguished. The earlier one relies on an atomistic construct of pragmatics and primarily assesses learners' ability to produce and understand speech acts, with later work also integrating other aspects, such as routine formulas and implicature. Learners' ability to use language appropriately in terms of politeness, appropriateness, and situational fit is the main assessment target. A more recent stream takes a more holistic view of pragmatics and assesses learners' interactional abilities through tasks requiring extended conversations, such as role plays and elicited conversations. The targets of assessment are learners' ability to create intersubjectivity in extended talk, perform social actions, and demonstrate sensitivity to social context. While significant research work has taken place in these two traditions, pragmatics is still not formally assessed in large‐scale language tests, probably due to the low practicality of pragmatics assessments, the challenges of creating items difficult enough for high‐proficiency test takers, and the need to attain standardization in interactionally focused tests. A significant amount of research remains to be done in these areas, with testing of pragmatics in languages other than English and the opportunities offered by intelligent agent systems being of particular importance.
Corpus Analysis of Business English
Authors: Friginal Eric , Udell Rachelle
Published: June 2022

Business English, also referred to as international business English or business English as a lingua franca, pertains to spoken and written language used in commercial, transactional, and often for‐profit workplace contexts. It encompasses a wide variety of registers, such as letters, memos, e‐mails, text messages or SMSs, print and broadcast news, multimodal presentations, conference calls, workplace interactions, social media and Internet‐based texts, reports, prospectuses, white papers, and responses to customer‐initiated correspondence or phone calls. Nearly 90% of all international business proceedings and e‐commerce transactions are now conducted in English, and the number of high‐profile, multinational corporations that have adopted English‐only policies for important business communications continues to increase. This entry focuses on the applications of corpus linguistic (CL) approaches in the linguistic analysis of business English. It provides a summary of several well‐known corpora of business English across written and spoken registers and discusses results of related analyses. Expanding research in oral or spoken business discourse in CL is highlighted, together with a sample study of business English in telephone‐based interactions using corpus‐based multidimensional analysis (MDA). The MDA framework was developed by Douglas Biber in establishing the statistical co‐occurrence of part‐of‐speech‐tagged linguistic features from corpora. The concept of linguistic co‐occurrence, which is the foundation of MDA, can be introduced by pointing out intuitively the common differences (or similarities) in the linguistic composition of various types of spoken or written business registers.
Multimodality and Systemic Functional Analysis
Authors: Knox John S. , Hao Jing
Published: June 2022

Multimodality is the study of how multiple communication modes (e.g., language, gesture, and proxemics; language, image, and layout) combine to make meaning. Multimodality transcends and draws on a variety of disciplines and theories. One approach to theorizing multimodality builds upon the principles of systemic functional (SF) theory. One key aspect of SF theory, which has been widely applied in studies of multimodality, is the observation that there are three broad kinds of meaning (called metafunctions) in language. The three metafunctions of systemic functional multimodal discourse analysis (SF‐MDA) appear as representational, interactional, and compositional meanings in multimodal discourse. Researchers have used SF‐MDA to examine meaning in two dimensions (on page and screen), three dimensions (in physical space), and across time (in music and film).
Online Psycholinguistic Methods in Second Language Acquisition Research
Authors: Pliatsikas Christos , Marinis Theodoros
Published: June 2022

Second language acquisition (SLA) research has traditionally used paper‐and‐pencil tasks, such as grammaticality judgment and completion tasks. In such tasks, participants usually have time to read the whole sentence, think and reflect about its form and meaning, and then make a conscious judgment about its grammaticality or how to complete it. This is why these tasks are called offline; that is, the information we get is after the participant has read the whole sentence and has had time to think about it. This is in contrast to online methods that measure how participants process sentences as they unfold word by word or phrase by phrase; that is, these methods measure how participants process sentences in real time. This entry focuses on widely used behavioral online methods, and will provide a short introduction to four such methods recently used in SLA research to address how second language (L2) learners process sentences in real time. These methods are: (a) word monitoring, (b) cross‐modal priming, (c) self‐paced reading/listening, and (d) self‐paced listening with picture verification. Each method is described with examples from key L2 studies. This is followed by a section discussing the advantages and disadvantages of each of these methods. The final section provides a brief overview of eye‐tracking, a behavioral method which is gaining popularity in the field, along with its advantages and disadvantages.
Psychotropic medication use and Parkinson's disease risk amongst older women
Authors: Beydoun Hind A. , Saquib Nazmus , Wallace Robert B. , Chen Jiu‐Chiuan , Coday Mace , Naughton Michelle J. , Beydoun May A. , Shadyab Aladdin H. , Zonderman Alan B. , Brunner Robert L.
Published: June 2022

Objective

To examine associations of antidepressant, anxiolytic and hypnotic use amongst older women (≥65 years) with incident Parkinson's Disease (PD), using data from Women's Health Initiative linked to Medicare claims.

Methods

PD was defined using self‐report, first diagnosis, medications and/or death certificates and psychotropic medications were ascertained at baseline and 3‐year follow‐up. Cox regression models were constructed to calculate adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), controlling for socio‐demographic, lifestyle and health characteristics, overall and amongst women diagnosed with depression, anxiety and/or sleep disorders (DASD).

Results

A total of 53,996 WHI participants (1,756 PD cases)—including 27,631 women diagnosed with DASD (1,137 PD cases)—were followed up for ~14 years. Use of hypnotics was not significantly associated with PD risk (aHR = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.82, 1.16), whereas PD risk was increased amongst users of antidepressants (aHR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.56, 1.96) and anxiolytics (aHR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.25, 1.73). Compared to non‐users of psychotropic medications, those who used 1 type had ~50% higher PD risk, whereas those who used ≥2 types had ~150% higher PD risk. Women who experienced transitions in psychotropic medication use (‘use to non‐use’ or ‘non‐use to use’) between baseline and 3‐year follow‐up had higher PD risk than those who did not. We obtained similar results with propensity scoring and amongst DASD‐diagnosed women.

Interpretation

The use of antidepressants, anxiolytics or multiple psychotropic medication types and transitions in psychotropic medication use was associated with increased PD risk, whereas the use of hypnotics was not associated with PD risk amongst older women.
Enhanced Piezocatalytic Performance of BaTiO3 Nanosheets with Highly Exposed {001} Facets
Authors: Tang Qiao , Wu Jiang , Kim Donghoon , Franco Carlos , Terzopoulou Anastasia , Veciana Andrea , Puigmartí‐Luis Josep , Chen Xiang‐Zhong , Nelson Bradley J. , Pané Salvador
Published: June 2022

Piezocatalysis has gradually come into the limelight due to its great potential for solving energy shortages and environmental pollution problems. However, limited piezocatalytic efficiency is a severe bottleneck for its practical applications. Here, well‐defined BaTiO3 nanosheets with highly exposed {001} polar facets are successfully synthesized to enhance the piezocatalytic activity. The [001] piezoelectric polarization can drive the carriers to migrate to the surface along the out‐of‐plane direction. The polar surface provides abundant active sites for the piezocatalytic reaction. As a result, a superior piezocatalytic degradation ratio of organic pollutants is obtained with a high first‐order rate constant k of 0.0835  min−1, which is 2.7 times higher than the BaTiO3 nanoparticles. Furthermore, BaTiO3 nanosheets display an outstanding H2 production capability, with the rate of 305 µmol g−1 h–1, which is almost two times higher than that of BaTiO3 nanoparticles. This work thus provides a novel and comprehensive strategy for designing high‐performance piezocatalysts with an out‐of‐plane polarization, and also provides novel insights for the optimization of the piezocatalytic activity by regulating the polar facet of piezocatalysts.
Self‐Regulation of Spin Polarization Density Propelling the Ion Diffusion Kinetics for Flexible Potassium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Xu Mengyao , Zhou Dan , Wu Tianli , Qi Jing , Du Qing , Xiao Zhubing
Published: June 2022

Potassium ion batteries (PIBs) have aroused intensive research interest owing to their abundant source, low cost, and suitable working potential. Here, a V2C‐VO2 nanoribbon intertwined nanosheet 3D multi‐heterostructure with rich heterointerface and heterojunction is fabricated via a facile solution‐based method for realizing a highly flexible and robust anode material of PIBs. The co‐existence of V2C‐VO2 in the constituent individual nanoribbon and nanosheet generates rich heterojunctions and heterointerfaces in this hetero‐dimensional and multi‐scale heterostructure, which not only constructs interconnected 3D channels for rapid electron/ion transfer and diffusion, but also greatly enhances the structural durability and mechanical robustness. With experimental results and systematical theoretical studies, it is confirmed that the V2C‐VO2 multi‐heterostructure can self‐regulate the spin polarization density of constituent individual V2C and VO2, which propels the K+ ion diffusion kinetics during charge and discharge processes. Consequently, the multi‐heterostructure‐based electrode can maintain a capacity of ≈200 mAh g−1 over repeated 2000 cycles at 1 A g−1. Practically, the flexible full cells exhibit decent electrochemical property under intensive bending conditions, holding great promise for flexible electronic devices.
Nanosilicate‐Reinforced Silk Fibroin Hydrogel for Endogenous Regeneration of Both Cartilage and Subchondral Bone
Authors: Sheng Renwang , Chen Jialin , Wang Hongmei , Luo Yifan , Liu Jia , Chen Zhixuan , Mo Qingyun , Chi Jiayu , Ling Chen , Tan Xin , Yao Qingqiang , Zhang Wei
Published: June 2022

Osteochondral defects are characterized by injuries to both cartilage and subchondral bone, which is a result of trauma, inflammation, or inappropriate loading. Due to the unique biological properties of subchondral bone and cartilage, developing a tissue engineering scaffold that can promote dual‐lineage regeneration of cartilage and bone simultaneously remains a great challenge. In this study, a microporous nanosilicate‐reinforced enzymatically crosslinked silk fibroin (SF) hydrogel is fabricated by introducing montmorillonite (MMT) nanoparticles via intercalation chemistry. In vitro studies show that SF‐MMT nanocomposite hydrogel has improved mechanical properties and hydrophilicity, as well as the bioactivities to promote the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and maintain chondrocyte phenotype compared with SF hydrogel. Global proteomic analysis verifies the dual‐lineage bioactivities of SF‐MMT nanocomposite hydrogel, which are probably regulated by multiple signaling pathways. Furthermore, it is observed that the biophysical interaction of cells and SF‐MMT nanocomposite hydrogel is partially mediated by clathrin‐mediated endocytosis and its downstream processes. In vivo, the SF‐MMT nanocomposite hydrogel effectively promotes osteochondral regeneration as evidenced by macroscopic, micro‐CT, and histological evaluation. In conclusion, a functionalized SF‐MMT nanocomposite hydrogel is developed with dual‐lineage bioactivity for osteochondral regeneration, indicating its potential in osteochondral tissue engineering.
Turbostratic Boron–Carbon–Nitrogen and Boron Nitride by Flash Joule Heating
Authors: Chen Weiyin , Li John Tianci , Ge Chang , Yuan Zhe , Algozeeb Wala A. , Advincula Paul A. , Gao Guanhui , Chen Jinhang , Ling Kexin , Choi Chi Hun , McHugh Emily A. , Wyss Kevin M. , Luong Duy Xuan , Wang Zhe , Han Yimo , Tour James M.
Published: June 2022

Turbostratic layers in 2D materials have an interlayer misalignment. The lack of alignment expands the intrinsic interlayer distances and weakens the optical and electronic interactions between adjacent layers. This introduces properties distinct from those structures with well‐aligned lattices and strong coupling interactions. However, direct and rapid synthesis of turbostratic materials remains a challenge owing to their thermodynamically metastable properties. Here, a flash Joule heating (FJH) method to achieve bulk synthesis of boron–carbon–nitrogen ternary compounds with turbostratic structures by a kinetically controlled ultrafast cooling process that takes place within milliseconds (103 to 104 K s−1) is reported. Theoretical calculations support the existence of turbostratic structures and provide estimates of the energy barriers with respect to conversion into the corresponding well‐aligned counterparts. When using non‐carbon conductive additives, a direct synthesis of boron nitride is possible. The turbostratic nature facilitates mechanical exfoliation and more stable dispersions. Accordingly, the addition of flash products to a poly(vinyl alcohol) nanocomposite film coating a copper surface greatly improves the copper's resistance to corrosion in 0.5 m sulfuric acid or 3.5 wt% saline solution. FJH allows the use of bulk materials as reactants and provides a rapid approach to large quantities of the hitherto hard‐to‐access turbostratic materials.
Formulating High‐Rate and Long‐Cycle Heterostructured Layered Oxide Cathodes by Local Chemistry and Orbital Hybridization Modulation for Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Xiao Yao , Wang Hong‐Rui , Hu Hai‐Yan , Zhu Yan‐Fang , Li Shi , Li Jia‐Yang , Wu Xiong‐Wei , Chou Shu‐Lei
Published: June 2022

It is still very urgent and challenging to simultaneously develop high‐rate and long‐cycle oxide cathodes for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) because of the sluggish kinetics and complex multiphase evolution during cycling. Here, the concept of accurately manipulating structural evolution and formulating high‐performance heterostructured biphasic layered oxide cathodes by local chemistry and orbital hybridization modulation is reported. The P2‐structure stoichiometric composition of the cathode material shows a layered P2‐ and O3‐type heterostructure that is explicitly evidenced by various macroscale and atomic‐scale techniques. Surprisingly, the heterostructured cathode displays excellent rate performance, remarkable cycling stability (capacity retention of 82.16% after 600 cycles at 2 C), and outstanding compatibility with hard carbon anode because of the integrated advantages of intergrowth structure and local environment regulation. Meanwhile, the formation process from precursors during calcination and the highly reversible dynamic structural evolution during the Na+ intercalation/deintercalation process are clearly articulated by a series of in situ characterization techniques. Also, the intrinsic structural properties and corresponding electrochemical behavior are further elucidated by the density of states and electron localization function of density functional theory calculations. Overall, this strategy, which finely tunes the local chemistry and orbitals hybridization for high‐performance SIBs, will open up a new field for other materials.
Blue LED‐Pumped Broadband Short‐Wave Infrared Emitter Based on LiMgPO4:Cr3+,Ni2+ Phosphor
Authors: Miao Shihai , Liang Yanjie , Zhang Yan , Chen Dongxun , Wang Xiao‐Jun
Published: June 2022

Blue light‐emitting diode (LED) pumped short‐wave infrared (SWIR; 900–1700 nm) emitters are providing new solutions in the design of portable and cost‐effective infrared light sources for medical, surveillance, and spectroscopy applications by taking advantage of converter technology. However, desirable blue‐light‐excitable SWIR‐emitting phosphors with a peak wavelength longer than 1000 nm are lacking. Herein, a promising broadband SWIR phosphor is designed and developed by incorporating Cr3+‐Ni2+ ion pairs into LiMgPO4 host. Upon 450 nm blue light excitation, the as‐synthesized LiMgPO4:Cr3+,Ni2+ phosphor exhibits a broad and intense SWIR emission spanning from 1100–1600 nm with peak wavelength at 1380 nm and a full width at half maximum of 273 nm due to the efficient energy transfer from Cr3+ to Ni2+. Moreover, phosphor‐converted SWIR LED prototype device based on the combination of 450 nm blue LED chip and the optimized phosphor is fabricated as a new type of broadband illuminator covering the SWIR waveband, delivering a maximum radiant power of ≈2.7 mW at 120 mA driving current. Benefiting from the distinct spectral characteristics of SWIR light, the practical relevance of the fabricated SWIR illuminator is demonstrated in covert information identification and night vision lighting.
Discovery of a New Mcl‐1 Protein Inhibitor through the QSAR Approach and Molecular Docking Study
Authors: Byadi Said , Sadik Karima , Hachim Mouhi Eddine , Daoudi Mohamed , Podlipnik Črtomir , Aboulmouhajir Aziz
Published: June 2022

In this study, a quantitative structure‐activity relationship (QSAR) model of anticancer activity against myeloid cell leukemia 1 (Mcl‐1) for a series of 41 tricyclic indole diazepinone derivatives is established. Three different modeling methods, multiple linear regression (MLR), partial least square (PLS), and artificial neural network (ANN) are investigated to perform a QSAR model with significant predictiveness. A clustering method is also used for dividing all compounds into training and external test (ET) sets. Component principal analysis is used to eliminate the redundancy between descriptors. The accuracy and predictability of the proposed models are proven by comparing their key statistical terms. The good results obtained with the internal and external validations (EV) show that the proposed models can predict high‐performance activities and that the selected descriptors are pertinent. This model is also validated using internal validation (IV), mainly using cross‐validation (leave‐many‐out (LMOCV)). The applicability domain (AD) is identified. Based on the SAR map analysis, a novel Mcl‐1 inhibitor with a good predicted activity using the best model is proposed, the interaction of the designed compound with the binding site of Mcl‐1 protein is evaluated and its docking score is found high.
Selective Doping to Controllably Tailor Maximum Unit‐Cell‐Volume Change of Intercalating Li+‐Storage Materials: A Case Study of γ Phase Li3VO4
Authors: Deng Jianbin , Lv Changpeng , Jiang Tian , Ma Siyuan , Liu Xuehua , Lin Chunfu
Published: June 2022

Capacity decay of an intercalating Li+‐storage material is mainly due to the its particle microcracks from stress‐causing volume change. To extend its cycle life, its unit‐cell‐volume change has to be minimized as much as possible. Here, based on a γ‐Li3VO4 model material, the authors explore selective doping as a general strategy to controllably tailor its maximum unit‐cell‐volume change, then clarify the relationship between its crystal‐structure openness and maximum unit‐cell‐volume change, and finally demonstrate the superiority of “zero‐strain” materials within 25–60 °C (especially at 60 °C). With increasing the large‐sized Ge4+ dopant, the unit‐cell volume of γ‐Li3+xGexV1−xO4 becomes larger and its crystal structure becomes looser, resulting in the decrease of its maximum unit‐cell‐volume change. In contrast, the doping with small‐sized Si4+ shows a reverse trend. The tailoring reveals that γ‐Li3.09Ge0.09V0.91O4 owns the smallest maximum unit‐cell‐volume change of 0.016% in the research field of intercalating Li+‐storage materials. Consequently, γ‐Li3.09Ge0.09V0.91O4 nanowires exhibit excellent cycling stability at 25/60 °C with 94.8%/111.5% capacity‐retention percentages after 1800/1500 cycles at 2 A g−1. This material further shows large reversible capacities, proper working potentials, and high rate capability at both temperatures, fully demonstrating its great application potential in long‐life lithium‐ion batteries.
Imaging Dynamics Beneath Turbid Media via Parallelized Single‐Photon Detection
Authors: Xu Shiqi , Yang Xi , Liu Wenhui , Jönsson Joakim , Qian Ruobing , Konda Pavan Chandra , Zhou Kevin C. , Kreiß Lucas , Wang Haoqian , Dai Qionghai , Berrocal Edouard , Horstmeyer Roarke
Published: June 2022

Noninvasive optical imaging through dynamic scattering media has numerous important biomedical applications but still remains a challenging task. While standard diffuse imaging methods measure optical absorption or fluorescent emission, it is also well‐established that the temporal correlation of scattered coherent light diffuses through tissue much like optical intensity. Few works to date, however, have aimed to experimentally measure and process such temporal correlation data to demonstrate deep‐tissue video reconstruction of decorrelation dynamics. In this work, a single‐photon avalanche diode array camera is utilized to simultaneously monitor the temporal dynamics of speckle fluctuations at the single‐photon level from 12 different phantom tissue surface locations delivered via a customized fiber bundle array. Then a deep neural network is applied to convert the acquired single‐photon measurements into video of scattering dynamics beneath rapidly decorrelating tissue phantoms. The ability to reconstruct images of transient (0.1–0.4 s) dynamic events occurring up to 8 mm beneath a decorrelating tissue phantom with millimeter‐scale resolution is demonstrated, and it is highlighted how the model can flexibly extend to monitor flow speed within buried phantom vessels.
Palladium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Cycloaddition of Vinylethylene Carbonates with Nitroalkenes: A Route to Tetrahydrofurans bearing Vicinal Tetrasubstituted Stereocenters
Authors: Zhao Can , Khan Sardaraz , Khan Ijaz , Shah Babar Hussain , Zhang Yong Jian
Published: June 2022

An efficient method for the diastereo‐ and enantioselective construction of tetrahydrofurans bearing three continuous stereocenters including vicinal tetrasubstituted stereocenters via palladium‐catalyzed asymmetric allylic cycloaddition of vinylethylene carbonates with nitroalkenes was developed. By using a palladium complex generated in situ from [Pd2(dba)3] ⋅ CHCl3 and (R)‐BINAP ligand as a catalyst under mild reaction conditions, the process provides multi‐functionalized tetrahydrofurans in good yields with excellent stereoselectivities.
Well‐dispersed poly(ether‐ether‐ketone)/multi‐walled carbon nanotubes nanocomposite for harsh environment applications
Authors: Jiang Zhiyuan , Zhu Zewen , Zhao Mingzhen , Chen Hengxi , Sue Hung‐Jue
Published: June 2022

Reinforcing poly(ether‐ether‐ketone) (PEEK) with multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) is of great interest for harsh environment applications, such as seals for oil and gas recovery because of its expected superior thermal and mechanical properties and environmental stability. In this research, a PEEK nanocomposite containing 10 wt% of well‐dispersed MWCNT was successfully prepared using a solution mixing approach. Compared to a commercial PEEK/PBI (polybenzimidazole) blend benchmark, PEEK/MWCNT exhibits significantly increased Young's modulus, much lower water absorption, and better modulus retention under hot‐wet conditions. Based on a physics‐based Ngai's Coupling model and calculation of activation energy on stress relaxation, PEEK/MWCNT system shows stronger intermolecular interaction and higher energy barrier for chain mobility than PEEK/PBI system under hot‐wet environment. These enhanced properties of PEEK/MWCNT nanocomposite are suitable for many high performance, harsh environment applications.
Immunomodulatory effect of Linalool (Lin) against CCl4‐induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative damage in rats
Authors: Hsouna Anis Ben , Sadaka Carmen , Beyrouthy Marc El , Hfaiedh Mbarka , Dhifi Wissal , Brini Faical , Saad Rania Ben , Mnif Wissem
Published: June 2022

The current study explored the hepatoprotective and immunomodulatory effects of Linalool (Lin) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)‐induced toxicity in mice. Four study groups (n = 8 each) were used: (1) a negative control group and (2) a toxicity control group (single dose of CCl4 administered on day 14 as 1 mL/kg of CCL4 in 1% olive oil). Intraperitoneally (i.p.)), and two experimental groups where mice were treated with either (3) Lin (25 mg/kg b.w., orally, daily for 15 days) or (4) pretreated with Lin (25 mg/kg b.w., orally, daily for 14 days) and intoxicated with CCl4 (1 mL/kg of CCL4 in 1% olive oil. i.p.) on day 14. The levels of the anti‐inflammatory cytokine interleukin 10 (IL‐10), the proinflammatory cytokines TNF‐α, IL‐6, and TGF‐1β, and the histopathology of the liver were assessed. According to our findings, IL‐10 concentrations were significantly increased in Lin‐treated groups, while other cytokine levels were marked by a considerable decrease in the toxicity model group (CCl4‐treated group). Histopathological examinations of liver tissues showed that the Lin‐treated groups had an almost normal structure. The current findings showed that Lin could inhibit CCl4‐induced liver injury in mice, which warrants further investigation of Lin as a potential protective and therapeutic agent against hepatotoxicity.
Paradox lost: Concerted evolution and centromeric instability
Authors: Haig David
Published: June 2022

Homologous centromeres compete for segregation to the secondary oocyte nucleus at female meiosis I. Centromeric repeats also compete with each other to populate centromeres in mitotic cells of the germline and have become adapted to use the recombinational machinery present at centromeres to promote their own propagation. Repeats are not needed at centromeres, rather centromeres appear to be hospitable habitats for the colonization and proliferation of repeats. This is probably an indirect consequence of two distinctive features of centromeric DNA. Centromeres are subject to breakage by the mechanical forces exerted by microtubules and meiotic crossing‐over is suppressed. Centromeric proteins acting in trans are under selection to mitigate the costs of centromeric repeats acting in cis. Collateral costs of mitotic competition at centromeres may help to explain the high rates of aneuploidy observed in early human embryos.
Benchmarking sustainable E‐commerce enterprises based on evolving customer expectations amidst COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Pratap Saurabh , Jauhar Sunil Kumar , Daultani Yash , Paul Sanjoy Kumar
Published: June 2022

The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) pandemic has seriously impacted the performance of all types of businesses. It has given a tremendous structural boost to e‐commerce enterprises by forcing customers to online shopping over visiting physical stores. Moreover, customer expectations of the digital and operational capabilities of e‐commerce firms are also increasing globally. Thus, it has become crucial for an e‐commerce enterprise to reassess and realign its business practices to meet evolving customer needs and remain sustainable. This paper presents a comprehensive performance evaluation framework for e‐commerce enterprises based on evolving customer expectations due to the COVID‐19 pandemic. The framework comprises seven primary criteria, which are further divided into 25 sub‐criteria, including two sustainability factors, namely, environmental sustainability and carbon emissions. The evaluation approach is then practically demonstrated by analyzing the case of three Indian e‐commerce firms. The results are obtained using a multi‐criteria decision‐making (MCDM) method, namely, Fuzzy VIKOR, to capture the fuzziness of the inherent decision‐making problem. Further, numerical analysis is conducted to evaluate and rank various e‐commerce enterprises based on customer expectations and satisfaction benchmarks. The findings explain the most important criteria and sub‐criteria for e‐commerce businesses to ensure customer expectations along with their economic and environmental sustainability.
Nitrogen rate and cultivar effects on zoysiagrass putting greens in the transition zone
Authors: Carr Tyler Q. , Sorochan John C. , Dickson Kyley H.
Published: June 2022

Zoysiagrasses (Zoysiaspp. Willd.) have been predominately used as turfgrass for residential and commercial lawns in addition to golf course fairways and tees due to reduced input requirements compared with bermudagrass (Cynodonspp.). The recent development of fine‐textured zoysiagrass cultivars has sparked interest in using zoysiagrass on putting greens. A complete‐factorial field experiment was conducted over replicate trials in Knoxville, TN to evaluate the putting green performance and quality of four zoysiagrass cultivars under two nitrogen (N) rates in the transition zone. Four zoysiagrass cultivars (Lazer, M85, Prizm, and Trinity) were treated with either 0.93 or 1.9 g N m−2every 2 wk over a 16‐wk period from June to September in 2020 and 2021. Ball roll distance, surface firmness, and turfgrass color were evaluated weekly. Lazer and M85 consistently provided the greatest ball roll distance and turfgrass color over both seasons, whereas Prizm occasionally exhibited similar performance and color. Lazer produced the firmest greens, whereas Prizm exhibited the softest surface. Trinity had reduced turfgrass color over both years, implying that it should not be used on putting surfaces. The 1.9 g N m−2rate reduced ball roll distance and increased turfgrass color but had limited effect on surface firmness. Applying 0.93 g N m−2increased ball roll distance, reduced turfgrass color, and maintained surface firmness similar to 1.9 g N m−2. Additionally, cultivar selection will likely affect putting green performance, playability, and quality.
Evaluation of longitudinal 13C isotope ratio mass spectrometric data in antidoping analysis
Authors: de la Torre Xavier , Jardines Daniel , Botrè Francesco
Published: June 2022

The detection of testosterone and its precursors' abuse in antidoping sports analysis is based on the longitudinal evaluation of markers of the urinary endogenous steroid profile. A Bayesian statistical approach is applied, allowing the establishment of credible intervals of the selected parameters for every athlete. Samples showing values outside the acceptable boundaries are selected for additional confirmation by isotope ratio mass spectrometric (IRMS) analysis. The alterations of the IRMS values last longer than the alterations of the steroid profile. Then the application of IRMS to a larger number of samples, at a screening level, would presumably allow detection of additional positive cases. The steroid profile and IRMS data can be treated using the same Bayesian inference procedure. In nonsports population, we have demonstrated the stability of IRMS data. In this work, we studied the variability of these data in real conditions, in samples collected on athletes subjected to antidoping analyses over the years. The data obtained confirmed previous observations and the applicability of the proposed approach. The results of cases where confounding factors of the steroid profile were reported are discussed, showing that in most of the cases no significant changes are observed over the absolute delta values. Changes in diet may significantly change the absolute delta values but not the ones relative to endogenous reference compounds. Finally, a case that could have been evaluated as normal with the current approach without a thorough review of the data was detected as positive by the proposed approach, demonstrating the benefit of its application.
C‐reactive protein “at first sight”: Standard postoperative trend in gynecological surgery and a comparative analysis with white blood cell levels
Authors: De Cicco Nardone Carlo , De Luca Cristiana , Plotti Francesco , Fabris Silvia , Rossini Gianmarco , Montera Roberto , Luvero Daniela , Angioli Roberto , Terranova Corrado
Published: June 2022

Objective

There is a lack of information about the normal trend of C‐reactive protein (CRP) blood levels in the postoperative days after gynecological benign surgery. We investigated the impact of different surgical techniques on CRP trend. We performed a comparative analysis between a CRP and white blood cell (WBC) trend in postoperative monitoring.

Methods

We studied 207 surgical patients for benign gynecological pathology. We analyzed CRP and WBC levels after surgery in the total number of women and separately by approaches.

Results

CRP mean log scores showed a typical behavior. Moreover, results from chi‐square test underline that the proportion of women with this result is independent from the type of surgery they underwent. Log score mean values of CPR differed between all groups and between times. No difference in the mean number of white cells between the second and the third day was found, as observed for CRP.

Conclusions

Our study shows a trend reference model in postoperative monitoring of patients with benign gynecological surgery. The comparative analysis between the CRP and WBC trend in the postoperative days provided us data demonstrating the superiority of CRP in postsurgical patient outcomes monitoring.
Five‐year recurrence pattern of mature cystic teratoma according to operation type in young women
Authors: Park Chan‐Hong , Kim Soo‐Min , Kim Sung Eun , Lee Dong‐Yun , Choi Doo Seok
Published: June 2022

Objective

To find cumulative recurrence rate and risk factors for recurrence in young women with mature cystic teratoma (MCT).

Methods

Patients aged 10–29 years with MCT confirmed by their first ovarian surgery between 2000 and 2018 were included in the study. To rule out residual lesions, only patients with no MCT‐suspected lesions on imaging within 1 year after surgery were included in the study. Patients who had not undergone imaging tests from 1 year after surgery or had other findings on biopsy were excluded.

Results

The present study included 372 (84.2%) patients with cystectomy and 70 (15.8%) patients with oophorectomy. The 5‐year cumulative recurrence rates for each patient group were 11.2% and 20.3%, respectively. The hazard rate of recurrence was higher in the oophorectomy group than the cystectomy group within 5 years after surgery. Large tumor size (hazard ratio [HR] 2.59; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11–6.08) and bilaterality (HR 2.65; 95% CI 1.27–5.52) were significant predictors of recurrence in the cystectomy group.

Conclusion

The 5‐year cumulative recurrence rate after surgery in young women with ovarian MCT was 11.2% in the cystectomy group and 20.3% in the oophorectomy group. Risk factors for recurrence after cystectomy were large tumor size and bilaterality.
Evaluating Large Bank Risk Using Stock Market Measures in the Basel III Period
Authors: Song Guoxiang
Published: June 2022

There is a puzzle in the literature which seems to indicate that high capital levels introduced by Basel III increase bank risk. This paper attempts to solve this puzzle by investigating whether the risk of the eight U.S. global systemically important banks (GSIBs) increased in the Basel III period from previous periods. This paper uses case studies of the eight U.S. GSIBs to evaluate whether Basel III has changed their risk perceived by the market. Basel III has reduced the systematic risk of equity of U.S. GSIBs perceived by the stock market, and it does not explain the decline in return on equity (ROE) which may indicate some increase in large bank financial risk. The paper breaks down stock market measures into drivers which capture systematic risk of equity and other drivers which capture financial risk, and it finds new evidence which solves the puzzle in the literature on large bank risk. The findings of the paper help investors, creditors and regulators to have a clear understanding of the market perception of large bank risk. The paper provides new methods and evidence which could help regulators to assess the impact of Basel III on bank risk perceived by the market.
Epigenetic silencing of E‐cadherin gene induced by lncRNA MALAT‐1 in acute myeloid leukaemia
Authors: Huang Jinlong , Fang Jingping , Chen Qinchang , Chen Jinyuan , Shen Jianzhen
Published: June 2022

Background

Epigenetic abnormalities in acute myeloid leukaemia provide us with a target for novel therapeutic strategies. The aim of the study was to verify the epigenetic regulatory mechanism of E‐cadherin gene silencing induced by long non‐coding RNA MALAT‐1 in AML.

Methods

Expression of MALAT‐1, E‐cadherin, EZH2, SUZ12 and EED genes in AML patients was detected by RT‐qPCR. After MALAT‐1 silencing in AML cell lines, levels of the E‐cadherin, EZH2, SUZ12, EED, DNMT1, DNMT3A and DNMT3B genes and encoded proteins were detected by RT‐qPCR and Western blotting. The level of CpG island methylation and trimethylation modification of histone H3K27 in the promoter region of E‐cadherin was detected by pyrosequencing and ChIP‐qPCR. RIP‐qPCR was used to detect the interaction between MALAT‐1 and proteins.

Results

MALAT‐1, EZH2 and EED gene expression was markedly increased in AML patients with E‐cadherin down‐regulation. A positive correlation between EZH2 or SUZ12 and MALAT‐1 expression was observed. After MALAT‐1 silencing, the expression of E‐cadherin was up‐regulated, whereas the expression of EZH2, SUZ12, DNMT1, DNMT3A and DNMT3B was down‐regulated. Results of Western blotting were consistent with those of RT‐qPCR. Methylation levels of E‐cadherin in AML patients were higher than that in normal controls, which appeared to increase with age. Methylation of the CpG island and H3K27 trimethylation of E‐cadherin were decreased after MALAT‐1 silencing. RIP‐qPCR suggested that MALAT‐1 might be enriched by EZH2 and SUZ12.

Conclusion

Our findings verified that MALAT‐1 might lead to the transcriptional silencing of E‐cadherin gene through the trimethylation of H3K27 mediated by recruiting EZH2 and SUZ12.