bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Two‐Step Heat Treatments on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of a β‐Solidifying Titanium Aluminide Alloy Fabricated via Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion
Authors: Moritz Juliane , Teschke Mirko , Marquardt Axel , Heinze Stefan , Heckert Mirko , Stepien Lukas , López Elena , Brueckner Frank , Walther Frank , Leyens Christoph
Published: October 2022

Additive manufacturing technologies, particularly electron beam powder bed fusion (PBF‐EB/M), are becoming increasingly important for the processing of intermetallic titanium aluminides. This study presents the effects of hot isostatic pressing (HIP) and subsequent two‐step heat treatments on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the TNM‐B1 alloy (Ti–43.5Al–4Nb–1Mo–0.1B) fabricated via PBF‐EB/M. Adequate solution heat treatment temperatures allow the adjustment of fully lamellar (FL) and nearly lamellar (NL‐β) microstructures. The specimens are characterized by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray computed tomography (CT), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The mechanical properties at ambient temperatures are evaluated via tensile testing and subsequent fractography. While lack‐of‐fusion defects are the main causes of failure in the as‐built condition, the mechanical properties in the heat‐treated conditions are predominantly controlled by the microstructure. The highest ultimate tensile strength is achieved after HIP due to the elimination of lack‐of‐fusion defects. The results reveal challenges originating from the PBF‐EB/M process, for example, local variations in chemical composition due to aluminum evaporation, which in turn affect the microstructures after heat treatment. For designing suitable heat treatment strategies, particular attention should therefore be paid to the microstructural characteristics associated with additive manufacturing.
Transparent and Flexible Photo‐Driven Smart Window Display Displayed by Near‐Infrared Laser
Authors: Yang Jonguk , Lim Taekyung , Ju Sanghyun
Published: October 2022

A smart window is an active light control technology that can freely control the transmittance of light, thereby improving the energy efficiency of the interior space and providing a comfortable environment through the control of sunlight from the outside. In this study, a novel smart window that can be utilized as an information‐providing display is developed by a simple light‐blocking technology for existing smart windows. A transparent flexible smart window board is fabricated by inserting a hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC)–cesium tungsten oxide (CTO) composite hydrogel between two transparent substrates. When the smart window board is irradiated with a near‐infrared (NIR) laser, the heat emitted from the CTO absorbing the NIR energy is transferred to the HPC, thereby changing the visible light transmittance of the HPC. Because only the portion irradiated with the NIR laser can selectively change the visible‐light transmittance, various types of images can be formed in real time. The proposed photo‐driven smart window display can be utilized as a novel platform for window displays that can express various images in real time and can act as a curtain by adjusting the transmittance of light, changing to transparent/opaque, which is oriented in existing smart windows.
Evolution of Reverse‐Biased Current of a Barristor Junction by Varying Temperature and Barrier Height of the Junction
Authors: Choi Inchul , Jeong Nae bong , Kim Minjeong , Yu Jaeho , Chung Hyun‐Jong
Published: October 2022

The reverse‐biased current of a Schottky junction comprises the thermionic emission current and the Fowler–Nordheim tunneling current, depending on the barrier height and thickness. Because both are fixed at traditional Schottky junctions, so is the current mechanism. However, a barristor junction has a tunable barrier height and the current mechanism changes accordingly. Here, the evolution of the current mechanism of the graphene–WS2 junction is investigated by varying the gate voltage, drain voltage, and temperature. As the height decreases with the accumulation of electrons on graphene, the dominant transport mechanism of the junction changes from thermionic to field emission. As the temperature increases, the extrinsic carrier concentration of WS2 increases and thus the thickness decreases, resulting in the same evolution. In addition, a kink in the ID–VD curves over a specific range of gate voltages and temperatures is observed. This may originate from the alignment of the Fermi level of graphene to the Dirac point, which dramatically reduces the Fowler–Nordheim tunneling current.
Rapid and Modular Access to Vinyl Cyclopropanes Enabled by Air‐stable Palladium(I) Dimer Catalysis
Authors: Mendel Marvin , Gnägi Lars , Dabranskaya Uladzislava , Schoenebeck Franziska
Published: October 2022

While vinyl cyclopropanes are valuable functional groups in drugs or natural products as well as established precursors to trigger a rich variety of synthetic transformations, their reactive nature can make their installation via direct catalytic approaches challenging. We herein present a modular access to (di)vinyl cyclopropanes under very mild conditions and full conservation of stereochemistry, allowing access to thecisortranscyclopropane‐ as well asEorZvinyl‐stereochemical relationships. Our protocol relies on air‐stable dinuclear PdIcatalysis, which enables rapid (<30 min) and selective access to a diverse range of vinyl cyclopropane motifs at room temperature, even on gram scale.
NaCdSb: An Orthorhombic Zintl Phase with Exceptional Intrinsic Thermoelectric Performance
Authors: Guo Kai , Zhang Yuting , Yuan Song , Tang Qinghang , Lin Chen , Luo Pengfei , Yang Jiong , Pan Shusheng , Zhao Li‐Dong , Cheng Guofeng , Zhang Jiye , Luo Jun
Published: October 2022

Many Zintl phases are promising thermoelectric materials owning to their features like narrow band gaps, multiband behaviors, ideal charge transport tunnels, and loosely bound cations. Herein we show a new Zintl phase NaCdSb with exceptional intrinsic thermoelectric performance. Pristine NaCdSb exhibits semiconductor behaviors with an experimental hole concentration of 2.9×1018 cm−3 and a calculated band gap of 0.5 eV. As the temperature increases, the hole concentration rises gradually and approaches its optimal one, leading to a high power factor of 11.56 μW cm−1 K−2 at 673 K. The ultralow thermal conductivity is derived from the small phonon group velocity and short phonon lifetime, ascribed to the structural anharmonicity of Cd−Sb bonds. As a consequence, a maximum zT of 1.3 at 673 K has been achieved without any doping optimization or structural modification, demonstrating that NaCdSb is a remarkable thermoelectric compound with great potential for performance improvement.
Transition‐Metal‐Catalyzed Denitrogenative Annulation to Access High‐Valued N‐Heterocycles
Authors: Das Sandip Kumar , Roy Satyajit , Chattopadhyay Buddhadeb
Published: October 2022

Over the past few years, the development of efficient methods to construct high‐valued N‐heterocyclic molecules have received massive attention owing to their extensive application in the areas of medicinal chemistry, drug discovery, natural product synthesis and so on. To access those high‐valued N‐heterocycles, many methods have been developed. In this context, transition‐metal‐catalyzed denitrogenative annulation of 1,2,3‐triazoles and 1,2,3,4‐tetrazoles has appeared as a powerful synthetic tool because it offers a step‐ and atom‐economical route for the preparation of the nitrogen‐rich molecules. Compared with the denitrogenative annulation of various 1,2,3‐triazole frameworks, annulation of 1,2,3,4‐tetrazole remains more challenging due to the inertness of the tetrazole moiety. This Review summarizes the significant achievements made in the field of denitrogenative annulation of various 1,2,3‐triazoles and 1,2,3,4‐tetrazoles including some pioneering examples in this area of research. We anticipate that this denitrogenative annulation reaction will find broad applications in the pharmaceutical industry, drug discovery and other fields of medicinal chemistry.
A hydrogel–fiber–hydrogel composite scaffold based on silk fibroin with the dual‐delivery of oxygen and quercetin
Authors: Aleemardani Mina , Solouk Atefeh , Akbari Somaye , Moeini Mohammad
Published: October 2022

Supplying sufficient oxygen within the scaffolds is one of the essential hindrances in tissue engineering that can be resolved by oxygen‐generating biomaterials (OGBs). Two main issues related to OGBs are controlling oxygenation and reactive oxygen species (ROS). To address these concerns, we developed a composite scaffold entailing three layers (hydrogel‐electrospun fibers‐hydrogel) with antioxidant and antibacterial properties. The fibers, the middle layer, reinforced the composite structure, enhancing the mechanical strength from 4.27 ± 0.15 to 8.27 ± 0.25 kPa; also, this layer is made of calcium peroxide and silk fibroin (SF) through electrospinning, which enables oxygen delivery. The first and third layers are physical SF hydrogels to control oxygen release, containing quercetin (Q), a nonenzymatic antioxidant. This composite scaffold resulted in almost more than 40 mmHg of oxygen release for at least 13 days, and compared with similar studies is in a high range. Here, Q was used for the first time for an OGB to scavenge the possible ROS. Q delivery not only led to antioxidant activity but also stabilized oxygen release and enhanced cell viability. Based on the given results, this composite scaffold can be introduced as a safe and controllable oxygen supplier, which is promising for tissue engineering applications, particularly for bone.
Selection of synthetic proteins to modulate the human frataxin function
Authors: Pignataro María Florencia , Herrera María Georgina , Fernández Natalia Brenda , Aran Martín , Gentili Hernán Gustavo , Battaglini Fernando , Santos Javier
Published: October 2022

Frataxin is a kinetic activator of the mitochondrial supercomplex for iron‐sulfur cluster assembly. Low frataxin expression or a decrease in its functionality results in Friedreich's Ataxia (FRDA). With the aim of creating new molecular tools to study this metabolic pathway, and ultimately, to explore new therapeutic strategies, we have investigated the possibility of obtaining small proteins exhibiting a high affinity for frataxin. In this study, we applied the ribosome display approach, using human frataxin as the target. We focused on Affi_224, one of the proteins that we were able to select after five rounds of selection. We have studied the interaction between both proteins and discussed some applications of this specific molecular tutor, concerning the modulation of the supercomplex activity. Affi_224 and frataxin showed a KD value in the nanomolar range, as judged by surface plasmon resonance analysis. Most likely, it binds to the frataxin acidic ridge, as suggested by the analysis of chemical shift perturbations (nuclear magnetic resonance) and computational simulations. Affi_224 was able to increase Cys NFS1 desulfurase activation exerted by the FRDA frataxin variant G130V. Importantly, Affi_224 interacts with frataxin in a human cellular model. Our results suggest quaternary addition may be a new tool to modulate frataxin function in vivo. Nevertheless, more functional experiments under physiological conditions should be carried out to evaluate Affi_224 effectiveness in FRDA cell models.
Benzothiazole‐based fluorescent probe for N2H4
Authors: Wang Hanlin , Huang Jiexun , Huang Weidong , Yang Longyuan
Published: October 2022

A fluorescence enhancement probe 2‐[2‐(1,3‐benzothiazol‐2‐yl)phenyl]‐1H‐isoin‐dole‐1,3(2H)‐dione (HL1) for N2H4 was synthesized and characterized by using 2‐(2‐aminophenyl)benzothiazole as a fluorophore, and its spectroscopic properties had been researched. The results exhibited that HL1 was highly selective and sensitive to N2H4, and it had the excellent anti‐interference ability and displayed a fast response. The fluorescent intensity of HL1 showed a good linear relationship with the concentration of N2H4 (1.5–12.5 μmolL−1), and its detection limit was 0.12 μmol/L. In addition, HL1 was also applied for determining N2H4 levels in real water samples and imaging N2H4 in living HeLa cells.
Characterization of meningiomas with synthetic imaging
Authors: Ludovichetti Riccardo , Delattre Bénédicte , Boto José , LaGrange Daniela , Meling Torstein , Vargas Maria Isabel
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Synthetic magnetic resonance imaging (SyMRI) is a novel quantitative and qualitative technique that permits the reconstruction of multiple image contrasts and quantitative maps from a single scan, thereby providing quantitative information and reducing scan times. The purpose of this study is to characterize intracranial meningiomas using SyMRI.

Methods

The study included 35 patients with meningiomas (6 males, 29 females; mean age 61 ± 17 years; range 21–90 years). Using 3T MR scanners, SyMRI was performed in addition to conventional FSET2, FLAIR, DWI, T1, and T1 with gadolinium. SyMRI software was used to generate T1, T2, and PD quantitative maps. Osirix MD was used to measure quantitative values of T1, T2, and PD using a ROI.

Results

We analyzed 42 meningiomas, 8 of which were associated with edema, and 5 contained calcifications.

Mean relaxivity values of meningiomas on synthetic T1, T2, and PD maps at 3T MRI were 1382.6 ± 391.7 ms, 95.6 ± 36.5 ms, and 89.1 ± 9.7 pu, respectively. Signal intensities in terms of T1, T2, and PD did not differ significantly between meningiomas with and without edema (p = .994, p = .356, and p = .221, respectively), nor between meningiomas containing and not containing calcifications (p = .840, p = .710, and p = .455, respectively). Values of T1 and T2 measured in meningiomas and the normal‐appearing white matter approximated reference values found in the literature with other quantitative methods.

Conclusion

The presented method offers a novel approach to characterize meningiomas through their relaxation parameters measured with a SyMRI sequence.
Screening of malnutrition using Patient‐Generated Subjective Global Assessment tool and hand muscle strength in subjects with pancreatitis
Authors: Thantry Akshatha Nagaraj , Urooj Asna , Halumathigatta Nagappa Dinesh
Published: October 2022

Background

Pancreatitis patients are at an increased risk of malnutrition due to impaired digestion, absorption, and metabolism. The degree of malnutrition is dependent on the duration, viz. acute or chronic. Studies on nutritional status in patients with pancreatitis are limited. Prevalence of nutritional status, physical functioning, and muscle strength among the subjects are scarce globally. The main aim of this study was to screen the status of malnutrition using appropriate screening tools and to assess hand muscle strength among subjects.

Method

A cross‐sectional study was conducted on 64 subjects (18–80 years old, 59 males and 5 females) in Mysore city, Karnataka. The patients were screened for malnutrition using a standard tool Patient‐Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG‐SGA) and handgrip strength on both dominant and nondominant hands.

Results

The majority of patients (n = 44) were categorized as moderately malnourished/suspected malnutrition (Stage B) according to PG‐SGA. A significant difference (p < 0.005) in handgrip strength was seen in men aged 31–40 (t = −3.287) and 41–50 (t = −5.487) years compared to healthy adults.

Conclusion

This study was able to identify patients at risk of malnutrition when the PG‐SGA tool was used along with handgrip strength and other anthropometric parameters.
Excitation‐Wavelength‐Dependent Functionalities of Temporally Controlled Sensing and Generation of Singlet Oxygen by a Photoexcited State Engineered Rhodamine 6G‐Anthracene Conjugate
Authors: Zhao Hanjun , Takano Yuta , Sasikumar Devika , Miyatake Yukiko , Biju Vasudevanpillai
Published: October 2022

The present study provides design guidance for unique multipotent molecules that sense and generate singlet oxygen (1O2). A rhodamine 6G‐aminomethylanthracene‐linked donor‐acceptor molecule (RA) is designed and synthesized for demonstrating wavelength‐dependent functionalities as follows; (i) RA acts as a conventional fluorogenic 1O2 sensor molecule like the commercially available reagent, singlet oxygen sensor green (SOSG), when it absorbs ultraviolet (UV)‐visible light and reacts with 1O2. (ii) RA acts as a temporally controlled 1O2 sensing reagent under the longer wavelength (∼700 nm) photosensitization. RA enters an intermediate state after capturing 1O2 and does not become strongly fluorescent until it is exposed to UV, blue, or green light. (iii) RA acts as an efficient photosensitizer to generate 1O2 under green light illumination. The spin‐orbit charge transfer mediated intersystem crossing (SOCT‐ISC) process achieves this function, and RA shows a potential cancer‐killing effect on pancreatic cancer cells. The wavelength‐switchable functionalities in RA offer to promise molecular tools to apply 1O2 in a spatiotemporal manner.
A 2.71‐pA/√Hz ultra‐low noise, 70‐dB dynamic range CMOS transimpedance amplifier with incorporated microstrip line techniques over extended bandwidth
Authors: Gorre Pradeep , Vignesh R. , Kumar Sandeep , Song Hanjung , Roy Gunjan Mittal
Published: October 2022

Recent advancements in the area of telemedicine have focused on remote patient monitoring services as a new frontier in medical applications. The present work reports a 65‐nm complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS)‐based transimpedance amplifier (TIA) in an optical radar system for non‐contact patient monitoring. A T‐shaped microstrip line (MSL) integrated with variable gain common source TIA using MSL peaking technique and off‐chip post‐amplification integration is a newly proposed architecture to achieve a ultra‐low noise, high dynamic range (DR) and high figure of merit over broadband than a traditional TIAs. First, the integrated T‐shaped MSL develops an additional resonant frequency that resonates with a photodiode capacitance improving the bandwidth performance at higher Q values. Second, the shunt MSL peaking technique that introduces an additional conjugate pole‐pair that cancels the effect of input capacitance helps to further improve the bandwidth of the TIA. Finally, an active feedback concept achieves a wide linear dynamic range enabling high TIA detectability. The proposed TIA realizes an impedance bandwidth of 770 MHz ranging from 7.12 to 7.89 GHz with a transimpedance gain of 105.1 dBΩ and ultra‐low input‐referred noise (IRN) density of 2.71 pA/√Hz. A high linear DR of 70 dB is achieved by employing a variable gain control scheme with a low group delay variation of 0.81 ns. The proposed work demonstrates a 1‐Gb/s data rate while a bit‐error rate less than 10−12 is achieved. The TIA consumes a power of 0.82 mW under the supply voltage of 1.2 V.
Ecohydrology of coastal aquifers in humid environments and implications of a drying climate
Authors: Dyring Madeleine , Hofmann Harald , Stanton David , Moss Patrick , Froend Ray
Published: October 2022

Coastal groundwater‐dependent ecosystems (GDEs), such as wetlands, estuaries and mangrove forests, are globally important habitats that promote biodiversity, provide climate regulation and serve as refugia for plant and animal communities. However, global warming, coastal development and over‐abstraction threaten the availability and quality of groundwater in coastal aquifers and, by extension, the ecohydrological function of dependent ecosystems. Because ecohydrological knowledge of coastal groundwater is disparate across disciplines and habitat types, we begin by summarising the physiochemical, biological and hydrological processes supported by groundwater across coastal watersheds. Groundwater makes a significant but poorly recognised contribution to the function and resilience of coastal ecosystems and will play an essential role in climate change mitigation and adaptation. This review then explores how critical ecosystem processes supported by groundwater will be affected in areas of the humid subtropics that are expected to be impacted by climatic drying. Where rainfall is predicted to decrease, reduced groundwater recharge will interrupt the hydrology of coastal GDEs, while anthropogenic pressures, such as land‐use intensification and pollution, will diminish the quality of remaining groundwater. The challenges of managing groundwater for multiple purposes under climate change predictions are highlighted. To improve the management of coastal GDEs, research should be aimed at developing robust conceptual models of coastal groundwater systems that quantify biophysical linkages with ecological communities across relevant spatiotemporal scales.
Highly extendable passive current balancing interleaved high step‐up boost converter using voltage multipliers
Authors: Koyama Kakeru , Uno Masatoshi , Inohara Hiroki
Published: October 2022

High step‐up boost converters with large input current capacity are necessary for low‐voltage renewable energy sources, such as photovoltaic panels and fuel cells. Interleaved converters are a suitable topology for low‐voltage, large input current applications. Conventional interleaved converters, however, face a variety of challenges, such as the necessity of additional current control loops for active current balancing, increased voltage stress of semiconductors, and poor extendibility. In this paper, highly extendable interleaved high step‐up boost converters with a passive current balancing and reduced semiconductor voltage stresses are proposed. Current capacities and step‐up conversion ratios of the proposed converters can be arbitrarily enhanced by extending the number of phases and voltage multiplier (VM) stages, respectively. The experimental results of 500‐W prototypes demonstrated passive current balancing, reduced semiconductor voltage stresses, and enhanced step‐up conversion ratios.
Clinical performance and quality measures for heart failure management in China: the China‐Heart Failure registry study
Authors: Zhang Yuhui , Gao Chuanyu , Greene Stephen J. , Greenberg Barry H. , Butler Javed , Yu Jing , Zheng Zhaofen , Ma Genshan , Wang Lian , Yang Ping , Ji Xiaoping , Xu Dingli , Wang Jiang , Zhang Yao , Liu Ying , Zhao Yan , Qi Hong , Zhai Mei , Feng Jiayu , Huang Yan , Zhou Qiong , Zhang Jian
Published: October 2022

Aims

Heart failure (HF) remains a major public health problem with increasing prevalence in China. This study evaluated the clinical performance and quality measures for HF management to identify gaps in the standardization of care for patients hospitalized for HF in China.

Methods and results

Following the results of China‐HF stage I (2012–2015), the second stage of the China‐HF was launched in 2017. Among 113 hospitals with ≥100 cases, the China‐HF Stage II assessed the quality of care measures for HF and compared results with previous data in China and the US‐based Get with The Guidelines‐Heart Failure (GWTG‐HF) registries. In total, 34 938 patients hospitalized with HF were enrolled from January 2017 to October 2020. Echocardiographic left ventricular function and natriuretic peptide test were performed in 93.7% and 93.0% of the cases, respectively. Adherence to standardized guidelines in China‐HF stage II was higher than that in the China‐HF stage I, but generally lower than GWTG‐HF registry with 78.2% of eligible patients was prescribed oral diuretics, 78.7% renin‐angiotensin‐system inhibitors, and 82.2% beta‐blockers. Implantable cardioverter‐defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization devices were implanted in 3.9% and 14.6%, respectively. In contrast, the proportion of eligible patients discharged with spironolactone (87.8%) was higher than GWTG‐HF. The median length of hospitalization was 9 (6, 12) days, and 938 (2.8%) patients died or withdrew from treatment during hospitalization.

Conclusions

Despite significant improvements in the use of guideline‐recommended testing and therapy, there remain major gaps in quality of care for patients hospitalized for HF in China that are generally larger than gaps observed in the United States.
Zoonoses and Animal Culling: The Need for One Health Policy
Authors: Lederman Zohar
Published: October 2022

One Health (OH) as a biomedical and social movement calls to reorient public health approaches toward more holistic, nonanthropocentric approaches that do not exclude the interests of animals and ecosystems. OH thus urges reexamination, from both scientific and moral perspectives, of the practice of culling pet, farm, or wild animals in the face of a zoonosis. Pandemics such as Covid and monkeypox highlight the need for more rigorous analysis of the justifications traditionally provided to back these culling practices. Such analyses should then ground reasonable OH policies and legislation that consider the rights of humans, animals, and the environment. Bill S.861, “Advancing Emergency Preparedness through One Health Act of 2021,” which was introduced in the U.S. Congress, is a step in the right direction.
Not Just for Nurses
Authors: Wocial Lucia
Published: October 2022

While not perfect, Clinical Ethics Handbook for Nurses: Emphasizing Context, Communication and Collaboration, edited by Pamela Grace and Aimee Milliken (Springer, 2022), provides an excellent clinical ethics overview for any nurse, nursing student or faculty member, or anyone in clinical practice. The editors have successfully assembled a book that will help point‐of‐care nurses develop their skills in ethical decision‐making and assist nurse educators and nurse leaders in mentoring nurses who may be challenged to exercise moral agency on behalf of good patient care. Throughout the chapters, cases and exercises are introduced, providing practical strategies to improve nurses' confidence in ethical decision‐making both as individuals and in collaboration with others. The book is well grounded in the uniqueness of nursing, making it a must read for anyone who teaches clinical ethics or practices clinical ethics with nurses.
Ventricular segmentation and modeling using topological watershed transformation and harmonic state model
Authors: Mahmoudi Ramzi
Published: October 2022

This paper proposes an adapted ventricular segmentation method based on topological watershed transform. Segmentation will allow spatio‐temporal modeling of trajectories of the different points belonging to the borders of the ventricle using a harmonic motion model that is able to describe such motion over the entire cardiac cycle. In addition, extraction of the adopted canonical state vector and the corresponding state equations guarantees an optimal efficacy and a gradual transition from order n to order n + 1. To validate the proposed approach, an intern‐image base was used. Our results show a promising ability to discern whether subjects are healthy or pathological with an 80% success rate.
PrEP awareness and protective barrier negotiation among transgender people attracted to men in Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors: Byrne Jack L. , Tan Kyle K. H. , Saxton Peter J. , Bentham Ryan M. , Veale Jaimie F.
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Internationally, trans women are disproportionately impacted by HIV, encounter specific barriers navigating safer sex and face inequities accessing HIV prevention, including pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Aotearoa/New Zealand (hereafter Aotearoa) was one of the first countries internationally to publicly fund PrEP in 2018, including for trans people. However, few data exist on PrEP awareness or sexual negotiation among trans populations to guide implementation. We present the first Aotearoa data on trans people's ability to negotiate barrier protection and awareness of PrEP efficacy and availability.

Methods

We used data from a large, diverse community‐based nationwide survey of trans (including non‐binary) people in Aotearoa: Counting Ourselves (N = 1178) conducted from 21 June to 30 September 2018. Generalized regression analyses were carried out among participants who have had sex (n = 704; Mage = 32.5) to identify associations between demographic factors (age, gender and sexual attraction, ethnicity, income, education qualification and current sex work involvement) and the Trans‐Specific Barrier Negotiation Self‐Efficacy (T‐Barrier) Scale and PrEP awareness.

Results

The mean value of a 40‐point T‐Barrier Scale was 33.45 (SD: 6.89), suggesting a relatively high perceived ability among our participants to negotiate protective barrier usages in different situations. Asian participants scored 3.46 points lower compared to Pākehā (White) participants, and trans women attracted to men (cisgender and/or trans men) scored 2.40 points higher than trans women not attracted to men. Three‐fifths (59.7%) were aware that PrEP reduced HIV risks and did not prevent sexually transmitted infections (STI) transmission, and only two‐fifths (40.2%) knew PrEP was publicly funded for trans people. In multivariate models, we found participants who were older, trans women or those with lower education qualifications were less likely to have increased levels of PrEP awareness.

Conclusions

Participants attracted to men have a higher potential need for PrEP and were more likely to report PrEP awareness and that they could negotiate protective barrier usage. However, trans women and those with lower educational qualifications reported lower levels of PrEP awareness. More trans‐competent sexual health education, drawing on the newly released PrEP guidelines, is needed to promote the benefits of PrEP in the Aotearoa HIV epidemic context, particularly for trans women.
Quantitative Assessment of Resting‐State Functional Connectivity MRI to Differentiate Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment, Late‐Onset Alzheimer's Disease From Normal Subjects
Authors: Mohammadian Fatemeh , Zare Sadeghi Arash , Noroozian Maryam , Malekian Vahid , Abbasi Sisara Majid , Hashemi Hasan , Mobarak Salari Hanieh , Valizadeh Gelareh , Samadi Fardin , Sodaei Forough , Saligheh Rad Hamidreza
Published: October 2022

Background

Alzheimer disease (AD) is a neurological disorder with brain network dysfunction. Investigation of the brain network functional connectivity (FC) alterations using resting‐state functional MRI (rs‐fMRI) can provide valuable information about the brain network pattern in early AD diagnosis.

Purpose

To quantitatively assess FC patterns of resting‐state brain networks and graph theory metrics (GTMs) to identify potential features for differentiation of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and late‐onset AD from normal.

Study Type

Prospective.

Subjects

A total of 14 normal, 16 aMCI, and 13 late‐onset AD.

Field Strength/Sequence

A 3.0 T; rs‐fMRI: single‐shot 2D‐EPI and T1‐weighted structure: MPRAGE.

Assessment

By applying bivariate correlation coefficient and Fisher transformation on the time series of predefined ROIs' pairs, correlation coefficient matrixes and ROI‐to‐ROI connectivity (RRC) were extracted. By thresholding the RRC matrix (with a threshold of 0.15), a graph adjacency matrix was created to compute GTMs.

Statistical Tests

Region of interest (ROI)‐based analysis: parametric multivariable statistical analysis (PMSA) with a false discovery rate using (FDR)‐corrected P < 0.05 cluster‐level threshold together with posthoc uncorrected P < 0.05 connection‐level threshold. Graph‐theory analysis (GTA): P‐FDR‐corrected < 0.05. One‐way ANOVA and Chi‐square tests were used to compare clinical characteristics.

Results

PMSA differentiated AD from normal, with a significant decrease in FC of default mode, salience, dorsal attention, frontoparietal, language, visual, and cerebellar networks. Furthermore, significant increase in overall FC of visual and language networks was observed in aMCI compared to normal. GTA revealed a significant decrease in global‐efficiency (28.05 < 45), local‐efficiency (22.98 < 24.05), and betweenness‐centrality (14.60 < 17.39) for AD against normal. Moreover, a significant increase in local‐efficiency (33.46 > 24.05) and clustering‐coefficient (25 > 20.18) were found in aMCI compared to normal.

Data Conclusion

This study demonstrated resting‐state FC potential as an indicator to differentiate AD, aMCI, and normal. GTA revealed brain integration and breakdown by providing concise and comprehensible statistics.

Evidence Level

1

Technical Efficacy

Stage 2
Persistence of neutrophil extracellular traps and anticardiolipin auto‐antibodies in post‐acute phase COVID‐19 patients
Authors: Pisareva Ekaterina , Badiou Stephanie , Mihalovičová Lucia , Mirandola Alexia , Pastor Brice , Kudriavtsev Andrei , Berger Marie , Roubille Camille , Fesler Pierre , Klouche Kada , Cristol Jean‐Paul , Thierry Alain R.
Published: October 2022

In the early phase of the pandemic, we were among the first to postulate that neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) play a key role in COVID‐19 pathogenesis. This exploratory prospective study based on 279 individuals showed that plasma levels of neutrophil elastase, myeloperoxidase and circulating DNA of nuclear and mitochondrial origins in nonsevere (NS), severe (S) and postacute phase (PAP) COVID‐19 patients were statistically different as compared to the levels in healthy individuals, and revealed the high diagnostic power of these NETs markers in respect to the disease severity. The diagnostic power of NE, MPO, and cir‐nDNA as determined by the Area Under Receiver Operating Curves (AUROC) was 0.95, 097, and 0.64; 0.99, 1.0, and 0.82; and 0.94, 1.0, and 0.93, in NS, S, and PAP patient subgroups, respectively. In addition, a significant fraction of NS, S as well as of PAP patients exhibited aCL IgM/IgG and anti‐B2GP IgM/IgG positivity. We first demonstrate persistence of these NETs markers in PAP patients and consequently of sustained innate immune response imbalance, and a prolonged low‐level pro‐thrombotic potential activity highlighting the need to monitor these markers in all COVID‐19 PAP individuals, to investigate postacute COVID‐19 pathogenesis following intensive care, and to better identify which medical resources will ensure complete patient recovery.
Molecular evolution and antigenic drift of type 3 iVDPVs excreted from a patient with immunodeficiency in Ningxia, China
Authors: Fan Qin , Ma Jiangtao , Li Xiaolei , Jorba Jaume , Yuan Fang , Zhu Hui , Hu Lan , Song Yang , Wang Dongyan , Zhu Shuangli , Yan Dongmei , Chen Hui , Xu Wenbo , Zhang Yong
Published: October 2022

A 2.5‐year‐old pediatric patient with acute flaccid paralysis was diagnosed with primary immunodeficiency (PID) in Ningxia Province, China, in 2011. Twelve consecutive stool specimens were collected from the patient over a period of 10 months (18 February 2011 to 20 November 2011), and 12 immunodeficiency vaccine‐derived poliovirus (iVDPV) strains (CHN15017‐1 to CHN15017‐12) were subsequently isolated. Nucleotide sequencing analysis of the plaque‐purified iVDPVs revealed 2%–3.5% VP1‐region differences from their parental Sabin 3 strain. Full‐length genome sequencing showed they were all Sabin 3/Sabin 1 recombinants, sharing a common 2C‐region crossover site, and the two key determinants of attenuation (U472C in the 5′ untranslated region and T2493C in the VP1 region) had reverted. Temperature‐sensitive experiments demonstrated that the first two iVDPV strains partially retained the temperature‐sensitive phenotype's nature, while the subsequent ten iVDPV strains distinctly lost it, possibly associated with increased neurovirulence. Nineteen amino‐acid substitutions were detected between 12 iVDPVs and the parental Sabin strain, of which only one (K1419R) was found on the subsequent 10 iVDPV isolates, suggesting this site's potential as a temperature‐sensitive determination site. A Bayesian Monte Carlo Markov Chain phylogenetic analysis based on the P1 coding region yielded a mean iVDPV evolutionary rate of 1.02 × 10−2 total substitutions/site/year, and the initial oral‐polio‐vaccine dose was presumably administered around June 2009. Our findings provide valuable information regarding the genetic structure, high‐temperature growth sensitivity, and antigenic properties of iVDPVs following long‐term evolution in a single PID patient, thus augmenting the currently limited knowledge regarding the dynamic changes and evolutionary pathway of iVDPV populations with PID during long‐term global replication.
Involvement of intestinal flora and miRNA into the mechanism of coarse grains improving type 2 diabetes: an overview
Authors: Deng Xu , Niu Li , Xiao Jing , Guo Qianqian , Liang Jiayi , Tang Jiayu , Liu Xuebo , Xiao Chunxia
Published: October 2022

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes has been growing at an increasing rate worldwide. Dietary therapy is probably the easiest and least expensive method to prevent and treat diabetes. Previous studies have reported that coarse grains have anti‐diabetic effects. Although considerable efforts have been made on the anti‐diabetic function of different grains, the mechanisms of coarse grains on type 2 diabetes have not been systematically compared and summarized so far. Intestinal flora, reported as the main ‘organ’ of action underlying coarse grains, is an important factor in the alleviation of type 2 diabetes by coarse grains. Furthermore, microRNA (miRNA), as a new disease marker and ‘dark nutrient’, plays a likely influential role in cross‐border communication among coarse grains, intestinal flora, and hosts. Given this context, this article reviews several possible mechanisms for the role of coarse grains on diabetes, incorporating resistance to inflammation and oxidative stress, repair of insulin signaling and β‐cell dysfunction, and highlights the regulation of intestinal flora disorders and miRNAs expression, along with some novel insights. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
Adverse events of coblation or microdebrider in pediatric adenoidectomy: A retrospective analysis in 468 patients
Authors: Liu Tiancong , Ji Chao , Sun Yang , Bai Weiliang
Published: October 2022

Objective

Childhood obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is a common clinical disease that can cause serious complications if not treated in time. Adenoidectomy with or without tonsillectomy is the most important first line surgical treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in children. The aim of this study was to compare the differences between these two surgical procedures for adenoidectomy in terms of operation time, intraoperative blood loss, proportion of patients experiencing postoperative delayed hemorrhage, and incidence of adverse events.

Study Design

Retrospective analysis.

Methods

We performed a retrospective systematic analysis of patient data using the in‐house electronic patient records and considered a 2‐year period from 2016 to 2017. In total, 468 patients who underwent adenoidectomy under nasal endoscopy with coblation or microdebrider were identified.

Results

The coblation adenoidectomy technique was associated with significantly reduced blood loss and operation time. However, incidence of fever, neck pain, and halitosis were significantly lower in the microdebrider adenoidectomy group (p < .01). The difference in the postoperative primary and secondary hemorrhage between the two groups was not statistically significant (p > .05).

Conclusion

Coblation adenoidectomy had a significantly higher incidence of adverse events such as halitosis, neck pain, and fever. Therefore, otorhinolaryngologists should consider the differences in adverse events when selecting use of coblation adenoidectomy for pediatric patients.

Level of Evidence

IV
Influence of terrigenous supply from the African continent on sedimentary CaCO3 distribution in the Southeast Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Liu Xiaoqing , Luo Yiming
Published: October 2022

Terrigenous materials are transported to the ocean via various pathways, which can modify the weight contents of calcium carbonate (wt% CaCO3) in marine sediment and mask CaCO3 dissolution profiles, especially in ocean margins. Although the effect of terrigenous dilution on marine CaCO3 has long been established, there is still a lack of quantitative assessment on how the terrigenous input shapes sedimentary CaCO3 depth distribution features. In this study, we focus on the CaCO3 depth distribution patterns on the seafloor in the Southeast Atlantic Ocean. Based on an up‐to‐date compilation of surficial sedimentary CaCO3 content data and a simple conceptual model, the regional dilution effect of terrigenous supply from the African continent on the basinal sedimentary CaCO3 depth distribution is quantified. Our results show that the flux of noncarbonate materials needed to reproduce the carbonate distribution decreases with distance to the African continent. The noncarbonate flux to pelagic sediment in the Southeast Atlantic Ocean is on the same order of magnitude of the dust deposition rate, while the flux to marginal sediment is intensified as a consequence of the fluvial discharge. Moreover, enhanced dissolution of CaCO3 is found in marginal regions, which is due to faster rates of deep (boundary) currents than those in the pelagic ocean. These new insights help to distinguish the dilution impact from carbonate dissolution patterns and will advance research on land–ocean interaction and paleoclimate/environment reconstructions in ocean margins.
Using mass spectrometry‐based methods to understand amyloid formation and inhibition of alpha‐synuclein and amyloid beta
Authors: Wagner Wesley J. , Gross Michael L.
Published: October 2022

Amyloid fibrils, insoluble β‐sheets structures that arise from protein misfolding, are associated with several neurodegenerative disorders. Many small molecules have been investigated to prevent amyloid fibrils from forming; however, there are currently no therapeutics to combat these diseases. Mass spectrometry (MS) is proving to be effective for studying the high order structure (HOS) of aggregating proteins and for determining structural changes accompanying protein–inhibitor interactions. When combined with native MS (nMS), gas‐phase ion mobility, protein footprinting, and chemical cross‐linking, MS can afford regional and sometimes amino acid spatial resolution of the aggregating protein. The spatial resolution is greater than typical low‐resolution spectroscopic, calorimetric, and the traditional ThT fluorescence methods used in amyloid research today. High‐resolution approaches can struggle when investigating protein aggregation, as the proteins exist as complex oligomeric mixtures of many sizes and several conformations or polymorphs. Thus, MS is positioned to complement both high‐ and low‐resolution approaches to studying amyloid fibril formation and protein–inhibitor interactions. This review covers basics in MS paired with ion mobility, continuous hydrogen‐deuterium exchange (continuous HDX), pulsed hydrogen‐deuterium exchange (pulsed HDX), fast photochemical oxidation of proteins (FPOP) and other irreversible labeling methods, and chemical cross‐linking. We then review the applications of these approaches to studying amyloid‐prone proteins with a focus on amyloid beta and alpha‐synuclein. Another focus is the determination of protein–inhibitor interactions. The expectation is that MS will bring new insights to amyloid formation and thereby play an important role to prevent their formation.
On the genesis and dynamics of Madden–Julian oscillation‐like structure formed by equatorial adjustment of localized heating
Authors: Rostami Masoud , Zhao Bowen , Petri Stefan
Published: October 2022

By means of a new multilayer pseudo‐spectral moist‐convective thermal rotating shallow‐water (mcTRSW) model in a full sphere, we present a possible equatorial adjustment beyond Gill's mechanism for the genesis and dynamics of the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO). According to this theory, an eastward‐propagating MJO‐like structure can be generated in a self‐sustained and self‐propelled manner due to nonlinear relaxation (adjustment) of a large‐scale positive buoyancy anomaly, depressed anomaly, or a combination of these, as soon as this anomaly reaches a critical threshold in the presence of moist convection at the Equator. This MJO‐like episode possesses a convectively coupled “hybrid structure” that consists of a “quasi‐equatorial modon” with an enhanced vortex pair and a convectively coupled baroclinic Kelvin wave (BKW), with greater phase speed than that of dipolar structure on an intraseasonal time‐scale. Interaction of the BKW, after circumnavigating the entire Equator, with a new large‐scale buoyancy anomaly may contribute to excitation of a recurrent generation of the next cycle of MJO‐like structure. Overall, the generated “hybrid structure” captures a few of the crudest features of the MJO, including its quadrupolar structure, convective activity, condensation patterns, vorticity field, phase speed, and westerly and easterly inflows in the lower and upper troposphere. Although moisture‐fed convection is a necessary condition for the “hybrid structure” to be excited and maintained in the proposed theory in this study, it is fundamentally different from moisture‐mode theories, because the barotropic equatorial modon and BKW also exist in “dry” environments, while there are no similar “dry” dynamical basic structures in moisture‐mode theories. The proposed theory can therefore be a possible mechanism to explain the genesis and backbone structure of the MJO and to converge some theories that previously seemed divergent.
Coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination‐induced acute exacerbation in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Sugino Keishi , Ono Hirotaka , Saito Mikako , Ando Masahiro , Tsuboi Eiyasu
Published: October 2022

We report a rare case of acute exacerbation (AE) of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) vaccination. Clinicians should be aware of this COVID‐19 vaccination‐induced AE in IPF
Early Identification of Children with Dyslexia: Variables Differentially Predict Poor Reading Versus Unexpected Poor Reading
Authors: Wagner Richard K. , Lonigan Christopher J.
Published: October 2022

Definitions of dyslexia typically make reference to unexpected poor reading, although how best to operationalize unexpected remains an issue. When operationally defined as reading below expectations based on the level of oral language, cases of unexpected poor reading make up fewer than half of cases of poor reading, and cases of unexpected poor reading occur throughout the range of reading proficiency. An implication is that what optimally predicts poor reading may not optimally predict unexpected poor reading. The goal of the three presented studies was to test this implication empirically. In Study 1, a model‐based meta‐analysis, phonological awareness accounted for 40% of the variance in decoding but only 1% of the variance in decoding that was unexpected based on level of vocabulary. Conversely, unexpected phonological awareness accounted for 34% of the variance in unexpected decoding but only 1% of the variance in decoding. An analogous pattern of results occurred for reading comprehension. In Study 2, a study of 766 children in kindergarten, first grade, and second grade, latent variables were used to represent oral vocabulary, phonological awareness, and decoding. As was seen in Study 1, unexpected decoding was better predicted by unexpected phonological awareness than by phonological awareness. In Study 3, a longitudinal study of 1025 children followed from preschool through grade 2, the pattern of results mirrored those of Studies 1 and 2. An important implication of these studies is that typical assessments may be better at identifying poor reading than they are at identifying unexpected poor reading or dyslexia.