bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Energia solar como ferramenta de educação financeira e sustentável
Authors: Ferreira Paulo Roberto Nunes , Cerqueira Bruno de Souza Barboza
Published: May 2022

Dentre as energias renováveis, a energia fotovoltaica foi a que apresentou maior crescimento e que obteve maiores investimentos. O consumo consciente e responsável ajuda a proporcionar prazer no presente e a viabilizar a segurança financeira para o futuro. Portanto, este trabalho proporcionará a informação de como a energia solar pode ser uma ferramenta de educação financeira e sustentabilidade. Identificar como o investimento em energia solar pode trazer benefícios a curto e longo prazo para o investidor e o meio ambiente, reafirmando a importância em ser um consumidor sustentável a partir dos aspectos positivos e negativos na aplicação da energia solar, demostrar a relação consumo e retorno financeiro e apresentar as novas mudanças ocorridas no Brasil que facilitaria o acesso à energia solar por parte da população. O trabalho subdivide-se em 3 partes sendo a primeira e terceira feito um estudo de caráter quali-quantitativo, descritivo e exploratório com finalidade básica pura e tempo transversal, aplicando um panorama da energia fotovoltaica, as vantagens e desafios e como o país está se posicionando nesta pauta mundial, além das mudanças legislativas e fiscais ocorridas. A segunda parte observa-se três exemplos de consumo de pequeno, médio e grande porte explanado com base na NBR 16690 por meio de tabelas e a partir disso será desenvolvido o cálculo de consumo e quantas placas solares serão necessárias para serem utilizadas. Estudo de atratividade do empreendimento como o valor a ser investido na elaboração do projeto, aplicação e o seu retorno para análise da viabilidade econômico-financeira a partir do cálculo segundo Macedo (2014) do Valor Presente Líquido (VPL) e da Taxa Interna de Retorno (TIR) confirma que a energia fotovoltaica é um investimento com bom retorno financeiro aos contratantes. Adotar essa fonte de energia gera um potencial de produção e controle dos gastos, que pode atender toda a necessidade de energia do Brasil de forma a ser aproveitada com grande benefício à população.
Mobilidade e acessibilidade urbana: análise da realidade de uma avenida no município de Porto Nacional (TO)
Authors: Mariano Rosilmar Barros Costa
Published: May 2022

A crescente preocupação com a inclusão social tem provocado grandes interesses sobre a acessibilidade e a mobilidade urbana, uma vez que a circulação de pessoas esta voltada a necessidade de se locomover, descansar, praticar exercício, laser, dentre outros. O objetivo é analisar as condições de acessibilidade e mobilidade urbana da avenida Beira Rio do município de Porto Nacional-TO. Trata-se de um estudo de caso realizado na Avenida Beira Rio (Orla) do município de Porto Nacional-TO, baseado nos critérios de desempenho estabelecidos pela NBR 16537 – Acessibilidade-Sinalização tátil no piso-Diretrizes para elaboração de projetos e instalação e NBR 9050 – Acessibilidade a edificações, mobiliário, espaços e equipamentos urbanos. Foram analisadas variáveis como: rampas, calçadas, piso tátil, faixa de pedestre. A avenida possui rampas, porém insuficientes para suprir a demanda; não foram observadas a implantação de piso tátil em nenhuma das laterais da avenida; as faixas de pedestre possuem boa visibilidade, porém não existem rampas para o acesso às calçadas; as vagas para estacionamento estão dispostas somente em uma das laterais, sendo que os mesmos não dispõem de vagas para pessoas com dificuldade de locomoção. Devido algumas inconformidades encontradas na avenida, percebe-se que a mesma se encontra inapta para atender pessoas com mobilidade reduzida ou com alguma deficiência.
Fire resilience of a steel-concrete composite floor system :
Authors: Choe Lisa , Ramesh Selvarajah , Hoehler Matthew , Bundy Matthew , Bryant Rodney , Dai Xu , Story Brian , Chakalis Anthony , Chernovsky Artur
Published: May 2022

The National Institute of Standards and Technology is currently conducting a series of large compartment fire tests to investigate the behavior and fire-induced failure mechanisms of the full-scale composite floor assemblies with the two-story steel gravity frame, two bays by three bays in plan. This report presents the experimental design and results from the second fire experiment (Test #2) conducted at the National Fire Research Laboratory. The Test #2 was aimed to investigate the influence of the slab reinforcement on the structural integrity of the 9.1 m 6.1 m steel-concrete composite floor subjected to combined mechanical loads and compartment fire exposure. The fire test bay was situated on the ground floor in the middle edge bay of the two-story test building. The floor slab in the test bay was reinforced with the No.3 deformed bars placed 30 cm on center (230 mm2/m). The test floor was hydraulically loaded to 2.7 kPa to mimic the code-prescribed gravity loads for fire conditions. The natural gas burners created a peak gas temperature exceeding 1100 C below the test floor. The test fire lasted about 131 min, but the hydraulic loading was not removed until the test floor cooled down over 2 hours. This experimental study confirmed that the steel reinforcement played a vital role in maintaining the integrity of the composite floor under prolonged compartment fire exposure. The mid-panel vertical displacement increased at a rate less than 1 mm/ C as the protected steel beams were heated to 850 C on average. The peak vertical displacement of the test slab was recorded 475 mm surpassing the displacement limit prescribed in the standard fire test. Although the test slab developed extensive surface cracks, it successfully contained the test fire underneath while sustaining the imposed loads simultaneously. The test floor retained the post-fire flexural strength exceeding 90 % of the ambient design strength of the composite secondary beam prior to fire exposure. The experimental results presented in this report can be used for validation of predictive models to perform parametric studies incorporating the variability in the steel reinforcement scheme (area, spacing, and material) for safer and cost-effective composite floor construction for fire safety.
Is Onychodontida (Osteichthyes, Sarcopterygii) monophyletic? Assessing discordant phylogenies with quantitative comparative cladistics
Authors: Ciudad Real Maria , Mondéjar-Fernández Jorge , Vidal Daniel , Botella Héctor
Published: May 2022

Onychodontida (Osteichthyes, Sarcopterygii) was an extinct group of Devonian predatory marine fishes, representing an early branch in sarcopterygian evolution, and currently considered closely related to coelacanths (Actinistia). Due to their limited fossil record, the relationships of onychodonts within sarcopterygians, and whether all taxa traditionally considered as onychodonts form a clade, are still unclear. Here we review the most recent phylogenetic analyses by comparing their data matrices using recent tools and methodology in quantitative comparative cladistics in order to evaluate the source of discrepancies in the different datasets and provide possible practical solutions to test the monophyly of Onychodontida. These discrepancies range from the ambiguous formulation of character statements and character states to the poor preservation of certain fossils, which make interpretation of character states difficult. Understudied but highly complete fossil specimens are also a source of missing data that have an impact in discording tree topologies. In-depth analysis and description of these specimens is needed to improve the resolution of future phylogenetic analyses. Finally, we propose a formal stem-based phylogenetic defi nition for Onychodontida.
Application of georadiolocation to assess the influence of the highway on the depth of permafrost in polygonal swamps of the North of Western Siberia
Authors: Kaverin Dmitry Aleksandrovich , Sudakova Maria Sergeevna , Khomutov Artem Valerievich , Khairullin Rustam Rustamovich , Fakashchuk Nikita Yurievich , Pastukhov Aleksandr Valerievich
Published: May 2022

The results of the application of geo-radar profiling for the study of soils and underlying rocks of polygonal bogs of the Pur-Taz interfluve (North of Western Siberia), functioning in natural and anthropogenic disturbed conditions, are presented. The research area belongs to the southern tundra with a predominantly continuous distribution of permafrost rocks. The construction of highways in the North of Russia is one of the main factors of anthropogenic impact on the tundra geosystems of the cryolithozone, affecting the temperature regimes of soils and the depth of permafrost. The features of spatial differentiation of the depth of occurrence of permafrost rocks on the site of polygonal swamps intersected by a federal highway were determined by the methods of geo-radar profiling. Georadiolactic profiling made it possible to determine the configuration of the depth of the permafrost roof both in natural and anthropogenic disturbed areas of polygonal swamps. The maximum lowering of the permafrost roof is determined at the base of the road embankment and does not exceed a depth of three meters. Despite the deep occurrence of the MMP roof under the road embankment, the thickness of the thawed buried peat horizons here is similar to that of the seasonally shallow layer of undisturbed peat polygons. The features of spatial differentiation of the depth of the permafrost roof in the polygonal swamps intersected by the bulk highway in the North of Western Siberia are similar to those characteristic of regions with a continuous low-temperature cryolithozone. The method of manual probing of the permafrost roof was used to verify the results of geo-radar profiling within undisturbed areas.
Art, Science, and the Politics of Knowledge
Authors: Rogers Hannah Star
Published: May 2022

How the tools of STS can be used to understand art and science and the practices of these knowledge-making communities.

In Art, Science, and the Politics of Knowledge, Hannah Star Rogers suggests that art and science are not as different from each other as we might assume. She shows how the tools of science and technology studies (STS) can be applied to artistic practice, offering new ways of thinking about people and objects that have largely fallen outside the scope of STS research. Arguing that the categories of art and science are labels with specific powers to order social worlds—and that art and science are best understood as networks that produce knowledge—Rogers shows, through a series of cases, the similarities and overlapping practices of these knowledge communities.

The cases, which range from nineteenth-century artisans to contemporary bioartists, illustrate how art can provide the basis for a new subdiscipline called art, science, and technology studies (ASTS), offering hybrid tools for investigating art–science collaborations. Rogers's subjects include the work of father and son glassblowers, the Blaschkas, whose glass models, produced in the nineteenth century for use in biological classification, are now displayed as works of art; the physics photographs of documentary photographer Berenice Abbott; and a bioart lab that produces work functioning as both artwork and scientific output. Finally, Rogers, an STS scholar and contemporary art–science curator, draws on her own work to consider the concept of curation as a form of critical analysis.
Active site geometry stabilization of a presenilin homolog by the lipid bilayer promotes intramembrane proteolysis
Authors: Feilen Lukas P , Chen Shu-Yu , Fukumori Akio , Feederle Regina , Zacharias Martin , Steiner Harald
Published: May 2022

Cleavage of membrane proteins in the lipid bilayer by intramembrane proteases is crucial for health and disease. Although different lipid environments can potently modulate their activity, how this is linked to their structural dynamics is unclear. Here, we show that the carboxy-peptidase-like activity of the archaeal intramembrane protease PSH, a homolog of the Alzheimer’s disease-associated presenilin/γ-secretase is impaired in micelles and promoted in a lipid bilayer. Comparative molecular dynamics simulations revealed that important elements for substrate binding such as transmembrane domain 6a of PSH are more labile in micelles and stabilized in the lipid bilayer. Moreover, consistent with an enhanced interaction of PSH with a transition-state analog inhibitor, the bilayer promoted the formation of the enzyme’s catalytic active site geometry. Our data indicate that the lipid environment of an intramembrane protease plays a critical role in structural stabilization and active site arrangement of the enzyme-substrate complex thereby promoting intramembrane proteolysis.
Structure of the IL-27 quaternary receptor signaling complex
Authors: Caveney Nathanael A , Glassman Caleb R , Jude Kevin M , Tsutsumi Naotaka , Garcia K Christopher
Published: May 2022

Interleukin 27 (IL-27) is a heterodimeric cytokine that functions to constrain T cell-mediated inflammation and plays an important role in immune homeostasis. Binding of IL-27 to cell surface receptors, IL-27Rα and gp130, results in activation of receptor-associated Janus Kinases and nuclear translocation of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 1 (STAT1) and STAT3 transcription factors. Despite the emerging therapeutic importance of this cytokine axis in cancer and autoimmunity, a molecular blueprint of the IL-27 receptor signaling complex, and its relation to other gp130/IL-12 family cytokines, is currently unclear. We used cryogenic-electron microscopy to determine the quaternary structure of IL-27, composed of p28 and Epstein-Barr Virus-Induced 3 (Ebi3) subunits, bound to receptors, IL-27Rα and gp130. The resulting 3.47 Å resolution structure revealed a three-site assembly mechanism nucleated by the central p28 subunit of the cytokine. The overall topology and molecular details of this binding are reminiscent of IL-6 but distinct from related heterodimeric cytokines IL-12 and IL-23. These results indicate distinct receptor assembly mechanisms used by heterodimeric cytokines with important consequences for targeted agonism and antagonism of IL-27 signaling.
Experimentally broadcast ocean surf and river noise alters birdsong
Authors: Reed Veronica A. , Toth Cory A. , Wardle Ryan N. , Gomes Dylan G.E. , Barber Jesse R. , Francis Clinton D.
Published: May 2022

Anthropogenic noise and its effects on acoustic communication have received considerable attention in recent decades. Yet, the natural acoustic environment’s influence on communication and its role in shaping acoustic signals remains unclear. We used large-scale playbacks of ocean surf in coastal areas and whitewater river noise in riparian areas to investigate how natural sounds influences song structure in six songbird species. We recorded individuals defending territories in a variety of acoustic conditions across 19 study sites in California and 18 sites in Idaho. Acoustic characteristics across the sites included naturally quiet ‘control’ sites, ‘positive control’ sites that were adjacent to the ocean or a whitewater river and thus were naturally noisy, ‘phantom’ playback sites that were exposed to continuous broadcast of low-frequency ocean surf or whitewater noise, and ‘shifted’ playback sites with continuous broadcast of ocean surf or whitewater noise shifted up in frequency. We predicted that spectral and temporal song structure would generally correlate with background sound amplitude and that signal features would differ across site types based on the spectral profile of the acoustic environment. We found that the ways in which song structure varied with background acoustics were quite variable from species to species. For instance, in Idaho both the frequency bandwidth and duration of lazuli bunting (Passerina amoena) and song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) songs decreased with elevated background noise, but these song features were unrelated to background noise in the warbling vireo (Vireo gilvus), which tended to increase both the minimum and maximum frequency of songs with background noise amplitude. In California, the bandwidth of the trill of white-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) song decreased with background noise amplitude, matching results of previous studies involving both natural and anthropogenic noise. In contrast, wrentit (Chamaea fasciata) song bandwidth was positively related to the amplitude of background noise. Although responses were quite heterogeneous, song features of all six species varied with amplitude and/or frequency of background noise. Collectively, these results provide strong evidence that natural soundscapes have long influenced vocal behavior. More broadly, the evolved behavioral responses to the long-standing challenges presented by natural sources of noise likely explain the many responses observed for species communicating in difficult signal conditions presented by human-made noise.
Genome-wide identification of xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase gene family members in peanut and their expression profiles during seed germination
Authors: Zhu Jieqiong , Tang Guiying , Xu Pingli , Li Guowei , Ma Changle , Li Pengxiang , Jiang Chunyu , Shan Lei , Wan Shubo
Published: May 2022

Seed germination marks the beginning of a new plant life cycle. Improving the germination rate of seeds and the consistency of seedling emergence in the field could improve crop yields. Many genes are involved in the regulation of seed germination. Our previous study found that some peanut XTHs (xyloglucan endotransglucosylases/hydrolases) were expressed at higher levels at the newly germinated stage. However, studies of the XTH gene family in peanut have not been reported. In this study, a total of 58 AhXTH genes were identified in the peanut genome. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these AhXTHs, along with 33 AtXTHs from Arabidopsis and 61 GmXTHs from soybean, were classified into three subgroups: the I/II, IIIA and IIIB subclades. All AhXTH genes were unevenly distributed on the 18 peanut chromosomes, with the exception of chr. 07 and 17, and they had relatively conserved exon-intron patterns, most with three to four introns. Through chromosomal distribution pattern and synteny analysis, it was found that the AhXTH family experienced many replication events, including 42 pairs of segmental duplications and 23 pairs of tandem duplications, during genome evolution. Conserved motif analysis indicated that their encoded proteins contained the conserved ExDxE domain and N-linked glycosylation sites and displayed the conserved secondary structural loops 1–3 in members of the same group. Expression profile analysis of freshly harvested seeds, dried seeds, and newly germinated seeds using transcriptome data revealed that 26 AhXTH genes, which account for 45% of the gene family, had relatively higher expression levels at the seed germination stage, implying the important roles of AhXTHs in regulating seed germination. The results of quantitative real-time PCR also confirmed that some AhXTHs were upregulated during seed germination. The results of GUS histochemical staining showed that AhXTH4 was mainly expressed in germinated seeds and etiolated seedlings and had higher expression levels in elongated hypocotyls. AhXTH4 was also verified to play a crucial role in the cell elongation of hypocotyls during seed germination.
Adams Oliver Syndrome- A Rare Entity
Authors: Thakur Jyoti Rani , Kharkongor Nancy Pherlin , Dalal Jagjit Singh
Published: May 2022

Adams-Oliver syndrome (AOS) is a rare congenital disorder with an incidence of 1 in 225,000 individuals. It is characterised by the presence of Aplasia Cutis Congenita (ACC) of the scalp and transverse limb defects. The authors herein describes a rare case of late preterm (36-weeks) male neonate born with cranial vault defect and transverse limb defect in the form of constricted short fingers of bilateral hand with Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) diagnosed on Echocardiography (ECHO) while screening. No other associated anomalies were found. Baby was diagnosed as AOS based on these features. Patient was clinically stable with no signs of complications due to skull defect. Multidisciplinary team was involved in management and closure of skull defect was planned if not closed spontaneously in follow-up and early physical therapy or prosthetic application for the limb defects was planned as the child grows. Since the ASD was small, parents were reassured about the spontaneous closure with regular two dimensional (2D) ECHO monitoring. On follow-up at nine months of age, scalp defect closed spontaneously and child is growing well. Clinicians should be aware and all the babies born with ACC and scalp defect should be evaluated for associated anomalies as it can be a part of AOS. The early evaluation and management can be planned accordingly for better outcome.
Neonatal Outcome of Antenatally Diagnosed Hydronephrosis at a Tertiary Care Centre, Telangana, India: A Prospective Study
Authors: Gopu Sneha Latha , Begum Ayesha
Published: May 2022

Introduction: Antenatal Hydronephrosis (ANH) is one of the most commonly detected congenital anomaly by antenatal sonogram. It requires periodic follow-up and in selected cases, early interventions are required in postnatal period. Aim: To study the relationship between Anteroposterior Diameter (APD) of foetal renal pelvis and postnatal outcome of hydronephrosis in neonates and to study the relation between APD of foetal renal pelvis and structural abnormalities of kidney. Materials and Methods: This prospective study included neonates whose antenatal scan showed hydronephrosis. The study was conducted during the period of November 2018 to November 2020, in Niloufer Hospital (Osmania Medical College), Hyderabad, Telangana, India. A total of 50 neonates were included. For all neonates postnatal monitoring with ultrasonography was done to detect structural anomalies and resolution of hydronephrosis. Micturating cystourethrogram was done in selected cases. The cases which needed surgery were treated accordingly. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24.0 was used for data analysis. Kruskal-Wallis Chi-square test was used to test the significance of difference between quantitative variables. The p-value less than 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Results: Among 50 neonates enrolled in the study, 27 (54%) had transient hydronephrosis and 23 (46%) had urogenital structural abnormalities. Twenty-two cases (44%) required micturating cystourethrogram. Antenatal APD of 9.5 mm predicted the development of significant postnatal uropathy with a sensitivity of 74% and specificity of 89%. Antenatal APD of 9.5 mm had 100% sensitivity and 67% specificity in predicting the need for surgical intervention. Only 3 (6%) cases needed surgical intervention in neonatal period and all cases were kept under follow-up. Conclusion: All cases of ANH need postnatal evaluation and pertinent follow-up to detect significant uropathy for their proper management to prevent renal damage. Antenatal renal pelvic diameter has significant role in predicting the significant uropathy and surgical intervention.
Prevalence of Haemoglobin Variants and Haemoglobinopathies in a Single Paediatric Centre in Southern India: A Retrospective Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Kumar B Vinodh , Kadiyala Pramila , Kandasamy Menaka Shanthi , Malar P Pon , Sadagopan Papathi , Ravichandran C
Published: May 2022

Introduction: Haemoglobinopathies are qualitative disorders of Haemoglobin (Hb) resulting from structural defects in the amino acid sequence of one of the globin chains, whereas, thalassaemia results from quantitative defects in the synthesis of one or more of the globin chain subunits of the Hb tetramer. Cation Exchange- High Performance Liquid Chromatography (CE-HPLC) is one of the methods for initial screening of Hb variants like HbS, HbD, HbE etc and for quantification of HbF, HbA and HbA2 levels. Aim: To find out the prevalence of haemoglobinopathies in patients of a Government paediatric tertiary care hospital in south India. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective, cross-sectional study, all laboratory requests, in the period from August 2019 to July 2021, for Hb variant analysis by HPLC were collected, irrespective of provisional diagnosis. The Hb variant analysis was carried out by CE-HPLC on the Bio-Rad D-10 analyser. This study was conducted in a Government Paediatric tertiary care hospital in Southern India for patients who had any clinical or familial suspicion of haemoglobinopathies. The Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel 2010. Results: Total data of 704 laboratory requests for Hb Variant analysis were obtained. Out of 704 laboratory request, 585 were from children younger than 12 years of age and 119 were parental screening. There were 164 abnormal chromatograms. Out of 164 patients, 91 were female patients and 73 were male patients. Out of 164 abnormal chromatograms, 97 (59.15%) were beta- thalassaemia trait, 18 (10.98%) were beta-thalassaemia major, 13 (7.93%) were sickle cell trait, 2 (1.22%) were sickle cell disease, 21 (12.80%) were HbE trait, 2 (1.22%) were homozygous HbE, 2 (1.22%) were HbD trait, 3 (1.83%) were Hereditary Persistence of Foetal Hb (HPFH)/delta beta-thalassaemia, 2 (1.22%) were HbJ trait, 1 (0.61%) was HbE beta-thalassaemia, 1 (0.61%) was sickle- beta-thalassaemia and 2 (1.22%) were alpha thalassaemia. Conclusion: From this study, beta-thalassaemia trait and beta- thalassaemia major were found to be the first and second most prevalent haemoglobinopathies in children below 12 years of age. This data suggests the importance of premarital and antenatal screening procedures that can help in reducing the possibility of such haemoglobinopathies in the future generation, suffering and burden of disease to the family and society.
Effect of Foam Rolling along with Self-stretching on Pain and Range of Motion in Plantar Fasciitis Patient- A Quasi-experimental Study
Authors: Yadav Sunny , Malik Shikha , Bansal Saru
Published: May 2022

Introduction: The most common cause of heel pain is plantar fasciitis. Previous literature suggests that stretching exercise had shown better results in the non surgical treatment options available, due to this technique muscle strength and the force production capacity is reduced. Myofascial release is an alternate technique which can improve Range Of Motion (ROM) and reduce pain without compromising the muscle performance. Aim: To evaluate the effect of foam rolling along with selfstretching on pain and ROM in plantar fasciitis patients. Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted between May 2020 to May 2021, at Kailash Institute of Nursing and Paramedical Sciences, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India. Thirty participants with plantar fasciitis meeting the inclusion criteria of age between 24-60 years were included and allocated into two groups by convenience sampling. Group A received self-stretching of calf and plantar fascia whereas group B received foam rolling along with self-stretching of calf and plantar fascia for three weeks. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Weight Bearing Lunge Test (WBLT) were recorded at baseline and by the end of 3rd week for both the groups to measure pain and ankle ROM. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0 statistical software. The independent sample t-test was used for intergroup comparison and student’s paired t-test was utilised for within group comparison. The statistical difference significance was set at p-value <0.05 for all the test performed. Results: Within group analysis has shown that there was a statistically significant difference (p<0.001) in all the outcome measures in both the groups. The between group analysis showed no statistically significant difference in VAS (p=0.405) however significant difference were found in WBLT (p=0.003). Conclusion: The present study proved that both self-stretching and foam rolling with self-stretching showed significant improvement on pain and increasing ROM in plantar fasciitis. However, effectiveness of foam rolling with self-stretching was superior to self-stretching in terms of increasing WBLT.
Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy: A Case Misinterpreted As Optic Neuritis
Authors: Shah Dhaivat , Damani Tina , Gokharu Shirali , Soni Akshar
Published: May 2022

A 38 year old male presented with bilateral complete loss of vision over 1 year, left followed by right eye. He was diagnosed to have optic neuritis and was given treatment accordingly, with no improvement in vision. After clinical examination and MRI testing, we diagnosed him to have LHON, explained him the guarded course and nature of the disease and advised gene testing. LHON is a diagnosis of exclusion, and often confused with other optic neuropathies. A sound history, astute clinical examination and appropriate testing can diagnose this rare condition.
Single fraction radiosurgery/stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for spine metastasis: A dosimetric comparison of multiple delivery platforms
Authors: Nalichowski Adrian , Kaufman Isaac , Gallo John , Bossenberger Todd , Solberg Tim , Ramirez Ezequiel , Yan Yulong , Fredrick Julie , Bichay Tewfik , Mayville Alan , Burmeister Jay
Published: May 2022

There are numerous commercial radiotherapy systems capable of delivering single fraction spine radiosurgery/SBRT. We aim to compare the capabilities of several of these systems to deliver this treatment when following standardized criteria from a national protocol. Four distinct target lesions representing various case presentations of spine metastases were contoured in both the thoracic and lumbar spine of an anthropomorphic SBRT phantom. Single fraction radiosurgery/SBRT plans were designed for each target with each of our treatment platforms. Plans were prescribed to 16 Gy in one fraction to cover 90% of the target volume using normal tissue and target constraints from RTOG 0631. We analyzed these plans with priority on the dose to 10% of the partial spinal cord and dose to 0.03 cc of the spinal cord. Each system was able to maintain 90% target coverage while meeting all the constraints of RTOG 0631. On average, CyberKnife was able to achieve the lowest spinal cord doses overall and also generated the sharpest dose falloff as indicated by the Paddick gradient index. Treatment times varied widely depending on the modality utilized. On average, treatment can be delivered faster with Flattening Filter Free RapidArc and Tomotherapy, compared to Vero and Cyberknife. While all systems analyzed were able to meet the dose constraints of RTOG 0631, unique characteristics of individual treatment modalities may guide modality selection. Specifically, certain modalities performed better than the others for specific target shapes and locations, and delivery time varied significantly among the different modalities. These findings could provide guidance in determining which of the available modalities would be preferable for the treatment of spine metastases based on individualized treatment goals.
Life Cycle Assessment of Fusion Welding Processes—A Case Study of Resistance Spot Welding Versus Laser Beam Welding
Authors: Pittner Andreas , Rethmeier Michael
Published: May 2022

The high amount of resource consumption of fusion welding processes offers the potential to reduce their environmental impact. While the driving forces are known from a qualitative perspective, the quantitative assessment of the crucial parameters is not a trivial task. Therefore, herein, a welding‐specific methodology to utilize life cycle assessment as a tool for evaluating the environmental impact of fusion welding processes is presented. In this context, two welding processes, resistance spot welding and laser beam welding, are analyzed for two different use cases. These comprise the welding of shear test specimens and a cap profile made of electrogalvanized sheets of DC 05 + ZE (1.0312) as representative of an automotive application. For both welding processes, the main influences on the resulting environmental impact categories are evaluated and compared. The requirements for ecological efficient welding processes are discussed and implemented.
Dendrimersome Synthetic Cells Harbor Cell Division Machinery of Bacteria
Authors: Wagner Anna M. , Eto Hiromune , Joseph Anton , Kohyama Shunshi , Haraszti Tamás , Zamora Ricardo A. , Vorobii Mariia , Giannotti Marina I. , Schwille Petra , Rodriguez‐Emmenegger Cesar
Published: May 2022

The integration of active cell machinery with synthetic building blocks is the bridge toward developing synthetic cells with biological functions and beyond. Self‐replication is one of the most important tasks of living systems, and various complex machineries exist to execute it. In Escherichia coli, a contractile division ring is positioned to mid‐cell by concentration oscillations of self‐organizing proteins (MinCDE), where it severs membrane and cell wall. So far, the reconstitution of any cell division machinery has exclusively been tied to liposomes. Here, the reconstitution of a rudimentary bacterial divisome in fully synthetic bicomponent dendrimersomes is shown. By tuning the membrane composition, the interaction of biological machinery with synthetic membranes can be tailored to reproduce its dynamic behavior. This constitutes an important breakthrough in the assembly of synthetic cells with biological elements, as tuning of membrane–divisome interactions is the key to engineering emergent biological behavior from the bottom‐up.
Mixed‐Precision Continual Learning Based on Computational Resistance Random Access Memory
Authors: Li Yi , Zhang Woyu , Xu Xiaoxin , He Yifan , Dong Danian , Jiang Nanjia , Wang Fei , Guo Zeyu , Wang Shaocong , Dou Chunmeng , Liu Yongpan , Wang Zhongrui , Shang Dashan
Published: May 2022

Artificial neural networks have acquired remarkable achievements in the field of artificial intelligence. However, it suffers from catastrophic forgetting when dealing with continual learning problems, i.e., the loss of previously learned knowledge upon learning new information. Although several continual learning algorithms have been proposed, it remains a challenge to implement these algorithms efficiently on conventional digital systems due to the physical separation between memory and processing units. Herein, a software–hardware codesigned in‐memory computing paradigm is proposed, where a mixed‐precision continual learning (MPCL) model is deployed on a hybrid analogue–digital hardware system equipped with resistance random access memory chip. Software‐wise, the MPCL effectively alleviates catastrophic forgetting and circumvents the requirement for high‐precision weights. Hardware‐wise, the hybrid analogue–digital system takes advantage of the colocation of memory and processing units, greatly improving energy efficiency. By combining the MPCL with an in situ fine‐tuning method, high classification accuracies of 94.9% and 95.3% (software baseline 97.0% and 97.7%) on the 5‐split‐MNIST and 5‐split‐FashionMNIST are achieved, respectively. The proposed system reduces ≈200 times energy consumption of the multiply‐and‐accumulation operations during the inference phase compared to the conventional digital systems. This work paves the way for future autonomous systems at the edge.
Differences between men and women in their risk of work injury and disability: A systematic review
Authors: Biswas Aviroop , Harbin Shireen , Irvin Emma , Johnston Heather , Begum Momtaz , Tiong Maggie , Apedaile Dorothy , Koehoorn Mieke , Smith Peter
Published: May 2022

Background

Health responses associated with occupational exposures can vary between men and women.

Aims

This study reviewed the work injury and disability risks associated with similar types of occupational exposures for men and women within and across occupations.

Materials & Methods

A systematic review was undertaken of observational studies published between 2009 and 2019. Studies were required to empirically compare men and women for associations between occupational exposures and work injury or disability outcomes. Included studies were appraised for methodological quality and medium to high rated studies were compared for risk differences between men and women.

Results

Of 14,006 records identified, 440 articles were assessed for methodological quality, and 33 medium to high rated studies were included and reviewed. Among all occupations, the association between physical exposures, job demands, noise, and repetitive tasks, and injury risk were stronger among men. The relationship between repetitive tasks and sickness absence was stronger among women. Most studies examining psychological exposures found no risk differences for men and women across occupations. Men were at higher injury risk in certain occupations in primary and secondary industry sectors involving physical exposures and some chemical/biological exposures. Women were at higher injury risk for the physical demands and repetitive tasks of health care and aluminum production occupations.

Conclusion

This review found that men and women can have different work injury and disability risks, both across and within the same occupations, for some physical exposures and to a lesser extent for some chemical and biological exposures. These differences might be a result of occupation‐specific task differences.
Racial and ethnic differences in the prevalence of work organization and occupational psychosocial exposures
Authors: Hawkins Devan , Alenó Hernández Karlen M.
Published: May 2022

Backgrounds

This study sought to assess if there were differences in exposure to job insecurity, shift work, work–life imbalance, workplace harassment, and nonstandard work arrangements according to race and ethnicity in the United States.

Methods

Using data from the nationally representative National Health Interview Survey conducted in 2015, we calculated the prevalence of job insecurity, shift work, work–life imbalance, workplace harassment, and nonstandard work arrangements according to race and ethnicity. Using this data, we then modeled the prevalence of these exposures while adjusting for covariates including occupation.

Results

Compared to non‐Hispanic White workers, Hispanic (prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.47, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.30, 1.66) and non‐Hispanic Asian (PR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.28, 1.92) workers reported more job insecurity. Non‐Hispanic Black workers were more likely to report working in shifts (PR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.22, 1.46) and Hispanic workers reported being employed in alternative work arrangements (PR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.23, 1.58) more often than non‐Hispanic White workers. Non‐Hispanic White workers were slightly more likely to report work–life imbalance and workplace harassment than other races/ethnicities. Occupational segregation accounted for some of the racial/ethnic differences in shift work and alternative work arrangements.

Conclusions

These findings are consistent with some previous research on differences in the prevalence of these work organization and psychosocial exposures by race/ethnicity, especially with respect to shift work and alternative work arrangements. However, other studies have found contradictory findings, especially with respect to workplace harassment. There is a need for future research that tackles the association between these exposures and racial/ethnic health disparities.
Clinical heterogeneity in epidermolysis bullosa simplex with plectin (PLEC) mutations—A study of six unrelated families from India
Authors: Vishwanathan Gurudatta Baraka , Srinivasa Manoj , Batrani Meenakshi , Kubba Asha , Ghosh Suparna , Gupta Divya , Jayashankar Charitha , Rai Abhigna , Jangond Ajith , Inamadar Arun , Hiremagalore Ravi
Published: May 2022

Epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) with plectin mutations is a very rare subtype of EB usually associated with pyloric atresia (PA) or muscular dystrophy (MD). We report six unrelated children between ages 4 and 14 years from India with varied clinical manifestations. Only one had PA, and none has developed MD to date. All except the one with PA presented with early onset blistering along with laryngeal involvement in the form of hoarseness of voice and nail involvement. Patient with PA presented with aplasia cutis and died in the first week. Two patients had predominantly respiratory and gastrointestinal involvement with varying severity while two had features of myasthenic syndrome but no limb‐girdle involvement and one patient phenocopied laryngo‐onycho‐cutaneous (LOC) syndrome. Using whole‐exome sequencing, we identified novel mutations in PLEC. Histopathological analysis (Immunofluorescence antigen mapping) showed absence of staining to plectin antibodies. Our observations propose to append a phenotype of EBS, hoarseness of voice and nail dystrophy or LOC‐like phenotype with plectin mutations. Long‐term follow up is necessary to monitor for the development of muscular dystrophy.
Iodine‐Mediated sp3 C−H Amination Reactions Forming α‐Amino Ketones/Esters and Fused Imidazoles
Authors: Li Kailu , Li Qianmin , Shi Qinhao , He Yanmin , Yu Wenquan , Chang Junbiao
Published: May 2022

An iodine‐mediated direct sp3 C−H amination reaction has been established for the synthesis of nitrogen‐containing compounds from readily available substrates under transition‐metal‐free conditions. The I2‐promoted amination of ketones/esters with cyclic or acyclic secondary amines using 1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐ene (DBU) as a base led to the formation of various α‐amino ketone or ester products including two medications, Amfepramone and Plavix. Sequential I2‐mediated sp3 C−H amination and condensation of ketones with 2‐aminopyridines in the presence of Na2CO3 produced a series of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines and related fused imidazoles in a one‐pot reaction. This synthetic method is operationally simple and can be conveniently conducted on a gram scale under mild reaction conditions.
Recent Developments in Quantum‐Circuit Refrigeration
Authors: Mörstedt Timm Fabian , Viitanen Arto , Vadimov Vasilii , Sevriuk Vasilii , Partanen Matti , Hyyppä Eric , Catelani Gianluigi , Silveri Matti , Tan Kuan Yen , Möttönen Mikko
Published: May 2022

The recent progress in direct active cooling of the quantum‐electric degrees of freedom in engineered circuits, or quantum‐circuit refrigeration is reviewed. In 2017, the discovery of a quantum‐circuit refrigerator (QCR) based on photon‐assisted tunneling of quasiparticles through normal‐metal–insulator–superconductor junctions inspired a series of experimental studies demonstrating the following main properties: i) the direct‐current (dc) bias voltage of the junction can change the QCR‐induced damping rate of a superconducting microwave resonator by orders of magnitude and give rise to nontrivial Lamb shifts, ii) the damping rate can be controlled in nanosecond time scales, and ii) the dc bias can be replaced by a microwave excitation, the amplitude of which controls the induced damping rate. Theoretically, it is predicted that state‐of‐the‐art superconducting resonators and qubits can be reset with an infidelity lower than 10−4 in tens of nanoseconds using experimentally feasible parameters. A QCR‐equipped resonator has also been demonstrated as an incoherent photon source with an output temperature above 1 K yet operating at millikelvin. This source has been used to calibrate cryogenic amplification chains. In the future, the QCR may be experimentally used to quickly reset superconducting qubits, and hence assist in the great challenge of building a practical quantum computer.
Solving Large‐Scale Linear Systems of Equations by a Quantum Hybrid Algorithm
Authors: Perelshtein M. R. , Pakhomchik A. I. , Melnikov A. A. , Novikov A. A. , Glatz A. , Paraoanu G. S. , Vinokur V. M. , Lesovik G. B.
Published: May 2022

Today's intermediate‐scale quantum computers, although imperfect, already perform computational tasks that are manifestly beyond the capabilities of modern classical supercomputers. However, so far, quantum‐enabled large‐scale solutions have been realized only for limited set of problems. Here a hybrid algorithm based on phase estimation and classical optimization of the circuit width and depth is employed for solving a specific class of large linear systems of equations ubiquitous to many areas of science and engineering. A classification of linear systems based on the entanglement properties of the associated phase‐estimation unitary operation is introduced, enabling a highly efficient search for solutions that is facilitated by a straightforward matrix‐to‐circuit map. A 217‐dimensional problem is implemented on several IBM quantum computer superconducting quantum processors, a record‐breaking result for a linear system solved by a quantum computer. Demonstrated realisation sets a clear benchmark in the quest for the future quantum speedup in the linear systems of equations solution.
N‐Ligand‐Enabled Aromatic Nucleophilic Amination of 1,2‐Diaryl‐o‐Carboranes with (R2N)2Mg for Selective Synthesis of 4‐R2N‐o‐Carboranes and 2‐R2N‐m‐Carboranes
Authors: Zhang Jie , Xie Zuowei
Published: May 2022

The nucleophilic aromatic BH substitution reaction of carboranes is uncommon, compared to the electrophilic one. This work reported a pyridine‐enabled transition‐metal‐free regioselective nucleophilic aromatic cage B(4)‐H amination of 1,2‐diaryl‐o‐carboranes with magnesium bisamides, giving a series of B(4)‐aminated o‐carboranes. DFT calculations showcased a stepwise B−N formation/B−H cleavage process, in which Mg−H formation/cage closure is the rate‐determining step. Unprecedentedly, in the presence of 4,4′‐di‐tert‐butyl‐2,2′‐dipyridyl (dtbpy), a tandem B(4)‐amination/cage isomerization reaction of o‐carboranes was discovered for the facile preparation of B(2)‐aminated m‐carboranes. Control experiments indicated that magnesium complex, bidentate ligand (dtbpy) and reaction temperature were crucial in the cage isomerization process. This direct nucleophilic aromatic cage B−H amination reaction offers an alternative strategy for selective amination of o‐ and m‐carboranes.
Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Natural Lindenane Sesquiterpenoid Oligomers via a Triene as a Potential Biosynthetic Intermediate
Authors: Huang Zhengsong , Huang Ganxing , Wang Xiao , Qin Song , Fu Shaomin , Liu Bo
Published: May 2022

A previously proposed triene of the lindenane skeleton was synthesized, characterized, and identified as the common intermediate for the non‐enzymatic synthesis of natural lindenane oligomers through linear, [4+2]‐type and [6+6]‐type homo‐ and hetero‐ dimerization under simulated physiological conditions. As a result, the following six natural products were successfully synthesized through thermalhead‐to‐head,head‐to‐tail, andhead‐to‐backbinding modes: shizukaols A and J, cycloshizukaol A, chlorahupetone F, chlotrichene B, and trishizukaol A.
Photouncaging of Carboxylic Acids from Cyanine Dyes with Near‐Infrared Light**
Authors: Janeková Hana , Russo Marina , Ziegler Urs , Štacko Peter
Published: May 2022

Near‐infrared light (NIR; 650–900 nm) offers unparalleled advantages as a biocompatible stimulus. The development of photocages that operate in this region represents a fundamental challenge due to the low energy of the excitation light. Herein, we repurpose cyanine dyes into photocages that are available on a multigram scale in three steps and efficiently release carboxylic acids in aqueous media upon irradiation with NIR light up to 820 nm. The photouncaging process is examined using several techniques, providing evidence that it proceeds via photooxidative pathway. We demonstrate the practical utility in live HeLa cells by delivery and release of the carboxylic acid cargo, that was otherwise not uptaken by cells in its free form. In combination with modularity of the cyanine scaffold, the realization of these accessible photocages will fully unleash the potential of the emerging field of NIR‐photoactivation and facilitate its widespread adoption outside the photochemistry community.