bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The influence of predator community composition on photoprotective traits of copepods
Authors: Oester Rebecca , Greenway Ryan , Moosmann Marvin , Sommaruga Ruben , Tartarotti Barbara , Brodersen Jakob , Matthews Blake
Published: April 2022

Trait expression of natural populations often jointly depends on prevailing abiotic environmental conditions and predation risk. Copepods, for example, can vary their expression of compounds that confer protection against ultraviolet radiation (UVR), such as astaxanthin and mycosporine‐like amino acids (MAAs), in relation to predation risk. Despite ample evidence that copepods accumulate less astaxanthin in the presence of predators, little is known about how the community composition of planktivorous fish can affect the overall expression of photoprotective compounds. Here, we investigate how the (co‐)occurrence of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) and threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) affects the photoprotective phenotype of the copepod Leptodiaptomus minutus in lake ecosystems in southern Greenland. We found that average astaxanthin and MAA contents were lowest in lakes with stickleback, but we found no evidence that these photoprotective compounds were affected by the presence of charr. Furthermore, variance in astaxanthin among individual copepods was greatest in the presence of stickleback and the astaxanthin content of copepods was negatively correlated with increasing stickleback density. Overall, we show that the presence and density of stickleback jointly affect the content of photoprotective compounds by copepods, illustrating how the community composition of predators in an ecosystem can determine the expression of prey traits that are also influenced by abiotic stressors.
Biodiversity, climate change, and adaptation in the Mediterranean
Authors: Aurelle Didier , Thomas Séverine , Albert Cécile , Bally Marc , Bondeau Alberte , Boudouresque Charles‐François , Cahill Abigail E. , Carlotti François , Chenuil Anne , Cramer Wolfgang , Davi Hendrik , De Jode Aurélien , Ereskovsky Alexander , Farnet Anne‐Marie , Fernandez Catherine , Gauquelin Thierry , Mirleau Pascal , Monnet Anne‐Christine , Prévosto Bernard , Rossi Vincent , Sartoretto Stéphane , Van Wambeke France , Fady Bruno
Published: April 2022

Potential for, and limits to, adaptation to environmental changes are critical for resilience and risk mitigation. The Mediterranean basin is a mosaic of biodiversity‐rich ecosystems long affected by human influence, whose resilience is now questioned by climate change. After reviewing the different components of biological adaptation, we present the main characteristics of marine and terrestrial biodiversity in the Mediterranean basin and of the pressures they face. Taking climatic trends into consideration, we discuss the adaptive potential of a range of ecosystems dominated by species without active dispersal. We argue that the high heterogeneity of Mediterranean landscapes and seascapes constitutes a laboratory for the study of adaptation when environmental conditions change rapidly and may provide opportunities for adaptation and adaptability of species and ecosystems. Adaptive management in the Mediterranean can and should harness the nature‐based solutions offered by both ecological and evolutionary processes for increasing the resilience of ecosystems to climate change.
Measuring Policy Performance, Democracy, and Governance Capacities: A conceptual and methodological assessment of the Sustainable Governance Indicators (SGI)
Authors: Croissant Aurel , Pelke Lars
Published: April 2022

This paper provides a critical assessment of the Sustainable Governance Indicators (SGI) and compares it with other prominent indices that address specific components of governance: V‐Dem, WGI, and BTI. We offer a comparative assessment of content validity of these governance measures, their data generation processes, and their convergent validity. We conclude that the SGI’s most important contribution is the conceptualization of policy performance as a discrete index. Other relative strengths are the theoretical embeddedness and the exclusion of irrelevant meanings of governance, and the conceptualization of three governance components (Governance, Policy Performance, and Democracy). However, in terms of geographic and temporal coverage, the SGI is clearly inferior to WGI and V‐Dem. The handling of third‐party statistical data, the absence of uncertainty scores, and the (a‐theoretical) aggregation of different indicators are additional shortcomings of the SGI. Finally, the SGI’s iterative process of expert deliberation has merits but is prone to biases.
Analyzing national policy styles empirically using the Sustainable Governance Indicators (SGI): insights into long‐term patterns of policy‐making
Authors: Tosun Jale , Howlett Michael
Published: April 2022

The concept of national policy styles differs between states in respect of whether their governments react to policy changes in an anticipatory or reactive fashion and whether they seek to achieve consensus with societal actors or impose decisions on them. To date, this conceptualization has been applied to a limited number of states and produced only a small set of case studies due to the absence of large‐n data. We assess whether the dimensions on strategic planning and public consultation of the Bertelsmann Sustainable Governance Indicators (SGI) provide conceptually sound and empirically insightful indicators of national policy styles. Our explorative analysis reveals that the SGI are useful for operationalizing the concept of national policy styles and could advance the debate on it. Our analysis shows that differences exist between countries in terms of their policy styles, and that the policy styles remained stable in most countries between 2014 and 2020.
Effect of stevia leaves (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) on diabetes: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of preclinical studies
Authors: Chowdhury Akibul Islam , Rahanur Alam Mohammad , Raihan M Maruf , Rahman Tanjina , Islam Saiful , Halima Oumma
Published: April 2022

Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) is a natural herb with biological activities such as anticancer, antidiabetic, anticardiovascular disease, anti‐inflammatory, and antimicrobial. The current systematic review and meta‐analysis of previously published data were performed to assess the antidiabetic effect of stevia leaves. Three electronic databases (PubMed, CENTRAL, and DOAJ) had been used for searching articles published before September 2020. Meta‐analysis via random‐effect model had been performed to assess the effects of different doses of stevia on blood glucose level (BGL) and studies were weighted according to an estimate of the standard mean difference (SMD). Overall, 16 eligible studies were selected for qualitative analysis and 9 were included for quantitative analysis. The results of the meta‐analysis for BGL showed that at the doses of 200, 300, and 400 mg/kg of stevia leaves there was a significant difference in means of BGL between the intervention and control group and the dose of 500 mg/kg showed no significance (Standard mean difference (SMD): −3.84 (−9.96, 2.27); p = .22). Based on the duration of intervention, subgroup analysis of articles showed a significant difference between the groups (p < .001). The results of the meta‐analysis support the hypothesis that stevia leaf has an antihyperglycemic effect and reduces the blood glucose level at doses of 200, 300, and 400 mg/kg. Therefore, more clinical trials on animals and humans have to be done to investigate the antidiabetic and antihyperglycemic effects along with the efficacy and safety of these medicinal leaves.
Differences in working memory coding of biological motion attributed to oneself and others
Authors: Woźniak Mateusz , Schmidt Timo Torsten , Wu Yuan‐hao , Blankenburg Felix , Hohwy Jakob
Published: April 2022

The question how the brain distinguishes between information about self and others is of fundamental interest to both philosophy and neuroscience. In this functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, we sought to distinguish the neural substrates of representing a full‐body movement as one's movement and as someone else's movement. Participants performed a delayed match‐to‐sample working memory task where a retained full‐body movement (displayed using point‐light walkers) was arbitrarily labeled as one's own movement or as performed by someone else. By using arbitrary associations we aimed to address a limitation of previous studies, namely that our own movements are more familiar to us than movements of other people. A searchlight multivariate decoding analysis was used to test where information about types of movement and about self‐association was coded. Movement specific activation patterns were found in a network of regions also involved in perceptual processing of movement stimuli, however not in early sensory regions. Information about whether a memorized movement was associated with the self or with another person was found to be coded by activity in the left middle frontal gyrus (MFG), left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), bilateral supplementary motor area, and (at reduced threshold) in the left temporoparietal junction (TPJ). These areas are frequently reported as involved in action understanding (IFG, MFG) and domain‐general self/other distinction (TPJ). Finally, in univariate analysis we found that selecting a self‐associated movement for retention was related to increased activity in the ventral medial prefrontal cortex.
Alcohol‐associated fibrosis in females is mediated by female‐specific activation of lysine demethylases KDM5B and KDM5C
Authors: Schonfeld Michael , Averilla Janice , Gunewardena Sumedha , Weinman Steven A. , Tikhanovich Irina
Published: April 2022

Alcohol‐associated liver disease is a major cause of alcohol‐related mortality. However, the mechanisms underlying disease progression are not fully understood. Recently we found that liver molecular pathways are altered by alcohol consumption differently in males and females. We were able to associate these sex‐specific pathways with two upstream regulators: H3K4‐specific demethylase enzymes KDM5B and KDM5C. Mice were fed the Lieber‐DeCarli alcohol liquid diet for 3 weeks or a combination of a high‐fat diet with alcohol in water for 16 weeks (western diet alcohol model [WDA] model). To assess the role of histone demethylases, mice were treated with AAV‐shControl, AAV‐shKdm5b, and/or AAV‐shKdm5c and/or AAV‐shAhR vectors. Gene expression and epigenetic changes after Kdm5b/5c knockdown were assessed by RNA‐sequencing and H3K4me3 chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis. We found that less than 5% of genes affected by Kdm5b/Kdm5c knockdown were common between males and females. In females, Kdm5b/Kdm5c knockdown prevented fibrosis development in mice fed the WDA alcohol diet for 16 weeks and decreased fibrosis‐associated gene expression in mice fed the Lieber‐DeCarli alcohol liquid diet. In contrast, fibrosis was not affected by Kdm5b/Kdm5c knockdown in males. We found that KDM5B and KDM5C promote fibrosis in females through down‐regulation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway components in hepatic stellate cells. Kdm5b/Kdm5c knockdown resulted in an up‐regulation of Ahr, Arnt, and Aip in female but not in male mice, thus preventing fibrosis development. Ahr knockdown in combination with Kdm5b/Kdm5c knockdown restored profibrotic gene expression. Conclusion: KDM5 demethylases contribute to differences between males and females in the alcohol response in the liver. The KDM5/AhR axis is a female‐specific mechanism of fibrosis development in alcohol‐fed mice.
The impact of adjuvant therapy on outcome in UICC stage I pancreatic cancer
Authors: Guenther Michael , Boeck Stefan , Heinemann Volker , Werner Jens , Engel Jutta , Ormanns Steffen
Published: April 2022

Adjuvant chemotherapy has become standard of care for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) as it improves patient outcome. However, its clinical meaning in early‐stage, UICC I tumors remains uncertain. We examined the effect of adjuvant therapy on disease‐free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of UICC stage I PDAC patients treated at an academic tertiary care center between 2000 and 2016. Among 124 patients (69 male, 55 female; median age 68 years, range 41‐84 years) with UICC stage I disease, adjuvant therapy improved both DFS (19.8 vs 12.8 months, HR 0.59, 95% CI: 0.37‐0.94, P = .03) and OS (40.9 vs 20.3 months, HR 0.54, 95% CI: 0.35‐0.84, P = .005). Multivariate analyses and propensity score matching confirmed the prognostic impact of adjuvant therapy independent of localization, differentiation and R‐status. Thus, every patient with UICC I PDAC should receive adjuvant chemotherapy as it may improve outcome significantly. Our findings support the concept of PDAC as systemic disease from early stages on.
The combined signatures of hypoxia and cellular landscape provides a prognostic and therapeutic biomarker in hepatitis B virus‐related hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Chen Shipeng , Gao Yuzhen , Wang Ying , Daemen Toos
Published: April 2022

Prognosis and treatment options of hepatitis B virus‐related hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV‐HCC) are generally based on tumor burden and liver function. Yet, tumor growth and therapeutic resistance of HBV‐HCC are strongly influenced by intratumoral hypoxia and cells infiltrating the tumor microenvironment (TME). We, therefore, studied whether linking parameters associated with hypoxia and TME cells could have a better prediction of prognosis and therapeutic responses. Quantification of 109 hypoxia‐related genes and 64 TME cells was performed in 452 HBV‐HCC tumors. Prognostic hypoxia and TME cells signatures were determined based on Cox regression and meta‐analysis for generating the Hypoxia‐TME classifier. Thereafter, the prognosis, tumor, and immune characteristics as well as the benefit of therapies in Hypoxia‐TME defined subgroups were analyzed. Patients in the Hypoxialow/TMEhigh subgroup showed a better prognosis and therapeutic responses than any other subgroups, which can be well elucidated based on the differences in terms of immune‐related molecules, tumor somatic mutations, and cancer cellular signaling pathways. Notably, our analysis furthermore demonstrated the synergistic influence of hypoxia and TME on tumor metabolism and proliferation. Besides, the classifier allowed a further subdivision of patients with early‐ and late‐HCC stages. In addition, the Hypoxia‐TME classifier was validated in another independent HBV‐HCC cohort (n = 144) and several pan‐cancer cohorts. Overall, the Hypoxia‐TME classifier showed a pretreatment predictive value for prognosis and therapeutic responses, which might provide new directions for strategizing patients with optimal therapies.
The impact of taxing sugar‐sweetened beverages in México: A censored QUAI demand system approach
Authors: Nava Noé J. , Dong Diansheng
Published: April 2022

In 2014, México imposed a 20% price hike on sugar‐sweetened beverages (SSB) to curb its obesity epidemic, paving the road for other Latin‐American countries to adopt similar measures. This paper estimates a beverage demand system with a censored Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand system. Our study finds that a 20% tax on SSB can reduce SSB consumption between 16.6% and 19.0%. Additionally, the price increase is associated with increased water consumption if an equivalent income compensation accompanies the fiscal approach. Finally, while the effect is small, our results indicate that education is the primary demographic factor in decreasing SSB consumption.
A proposal for the assessment of replication of effects in single‐case experimental designs
Authors: Manolov Rumen , Tanious René , Fernández‐Castilla Belén
Published: April 2022

In science in general and in the context of single‐case experimental designs, replication of the effects of the intervention within and/or across participants or experiments is crucial for establishing causality and for assessing the generality of the intervention effect. Specific developments and proposals for assessing whether an effect has been replicated or not (or to what extent) are scarce, in the general context of behavioral sciences, and practically null in the single‐case experimental designs context. We propose an extension of the modified Brinley plot for assessing how many of the effects replicate. To make this assessment possible, a definition of replication is suggested, on the basis of expert judgment, rather than on statistical criteria. The definition of replication and its graphical representation are justified, presenting their strengths and limitations, and illustrated with real data. A user‐friendly software is made available for obtaining automatically the graphical representation.
LncRNA SNHG1 promotes renal cell carcinoma progression through regulation of HMGA2 via sponging miR‐103a
Authors: Ye Zhi‐hua , Gui Ding‐wen , Wang Xiao‐ying , Wang Jing , Fu Jin‐lun
Published: April 2022

Background

Long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) plays a vital role in tumorigenesis and development. The molecular mechanism of SNHG1 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has not been illustrated. The aim of this research was to explore the expression and function of LncRNA SNHG1 in RCC.

Material and Methods

The expression of SNHG1 in clinical tissues and RCC cell lines was detected. Luciferase reporter assay was performed to verify the correlation between SNHG1, miR‐103a, and HMGA2. CCK‐8 assay was performed to examine cell viability. Cell apoptosis was analyzed using flow cytometry. Cell invasion capacity was determined by Transwell assays. The protein level of HMGA2 was analyzed by Western blotting.

Results

The expression of SNHG1 markedly increased in RCC tissues and cell lines. Subsequent studies identified SNHG1 as a miRNA sponge for miR‐103a. In addition, SNHG1 knockdown and miR‐103a overexpression significantly inhibited progression of RCC. miR‐103a also regulated HMGA2 levels.

Conclusion

Our findings showed that SNHG1 was upregulated in RCC cells and tissues. SNHG1 promoted the malignant characteristics of RCC cells. Its regulatory effect may be regulation of HMGA2 by sponging miR‐103a. Therefore, Our study facilitates the understanding of SNHG1 function in RCC.
Artificial intelligence applied to cardiovascular imaging, a critical focus on echocardiography: The point‐of‐view from “the other side of the coin”
Authors: Dell'Angela Luca , Nicolosi Gian Luigi
Published: April 2022

Cardiovascular imaging has achieved a crucial role in the management of cardiovascular diseases. In this field, echocardiography advantages include wide availability, portability, and affordability, at a relatively low cost. However, echocardiographic assessment requires highly trained operators, and implies high observer variability, as compared with the other cardiac imaging modalities. Hence, artificial intelligence might be extremely helpful. From the point‐of‐view of the peripheral “Spoke” Hospital potential user (“the other side of the coin”), artificial intelligence development appears very slow in the clinical arena. Many limitations are still present, and require full involvement, cooperation, and coordination of professional operators into Hub‐and‐Spoke network.
Direct and indirect regulation of the tumor immune microenvironment by VEGF
Authors: Zhang Yuqing , Brekken Rolf A
Published: April 2022

Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF) is the predominant angiogenic factor that is expressed in solid tumors. Besides its critical function in mediating tumor angiogenesis, multiple studies have demonstrated that VEGF also contributes to tumor immunosuppression. VEGF interferes with immune cell trafficking indirectly by promoting a vascular immune barrier through VEGF receptor (VEGFR) activity on endothelial cells. However, VEGFRs are also expressed on multiple immune cell types, including T cells (effector T cells, Tregs) and myeloid cells (DCs, TAMs, MDSCs), where VEGF can have direct effects on immune cell phenotype and function. Thus, it is not surprising that strategies targeting VEGF/VEGFRs have shown efficacy in alleviating tumor-associated immunosuppression and have been combined with immunotherapies, especially immune checkpoint blockade. In this review, we discuss the direct and indirect effects of VEGF on the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment with particular focus on the direct regulation of immune cells through VEGFR2 activity. We also summarize preclinical and clinical observations of combining antiangiogenesis agents with immunotherapies for the treatment of solid tumors.
Exploring long‐term datasets of land use, economy, and demography variations in karst wetland areas to detect possible microclimate changes
Authors: Lan Funing , Zhao Yi , Jiang Zhongcheng , Yu Yang , Li Yanqing , Caballero‐Calvo Andrés , Senciales González José María , Rodrigo‐Comino Jesús
Published: April 2022

This study explores the possibility of deciphering changes in the total area of a karst wetland due to shifts inland use, economy and population over a long‐term period (35 years) and microclimate changes (1958–2019). To achieve this goal, we focused on Huangcaozhou Karst Wetland, a national karst wetland park located in China. Based on remote sensing interpretation, long‐term climate data, and statistical yearbook datasets, our results showed that from 1984 to 2019, owing to the rapid rates of urbanization and economic development, swamplands in our study area decreased by 16.4%, while urban lands increased up to 16.7%. The inflection point on the land use and land cover (LUCC) curve we constructed appeared in 2006, after which the areas of swampland, rocky desertification land, and wasteland sharply decreased and those of urban land and farmland increased. This is consistent with the increase in gross domestic production (GDP) and the totalnumber of inhabitants. From 1958, when Luxi registered an annual average temperature of 14.8°C, to 2019, the air temperature increased with a gradient of 0.157°C per decade, until it reached an average of 15.3°C. We did not find a clear trend for the number of annual rainy days (average of 140.6 rainy days per year) but the mean torrentiality (average annual volume divided by the annual number of rainy days) shows a slight trend of increase (0.72 mm per day per decade). Precipitation we found has gradually declined. We concluded that economic and demographic changes are interacting with microclimate changes, which are affected by the regional eco‐environment over a long‐time scale in the Huangcaozhou Karst Wetland, causing the wetland quality significantly varied in recent decades. This would help to develop more efficient land management plans to better correctly handle new human activities allowing policymakers to regulate the wetland ecosystem in Southwestern China.
Shift in soil bacterial communities from K‐ to r‐strategists facilitates adaptation to grassland degradation
Authors: Peng Junwei , Liu Hong , Hu Yang , Sun Yang , Liu Qin , Li Jiangang , Dong Yuanhua
Published: April 2022

Numerous studies have investigated bacterial community structure and bacterial responses to human management at various spatial and temporal scales in grassland ecosystems; however, research on soil bacterial community assembly dynamics in the course of grassland degradation is limited. Here, the authors investigate the response and assembly processes of bacterial communities adopted in two grasslands with different degrees of degradation. Stochastic processes dominated bacterial community assembly in response to grassland degradation. With an increase in degree of grassland degradation, bacterial richness decreased from 3526 to 2930 and from 3573 to 3021 in Grassland 1 (G1) and Grassland 2 (G2), respectively; however, functional gene richness increased from 6760 to 6887 and from 6851 to 7040 in G1 and G2, respectively. The KO gene numbers of each operational taxonomic units were positively correlated with standardized effect size measure of the mean nearest taxon distance (R2 = 0.38 and 0.68 in G1 and G2, respectively), indicating that phylogenetic dispersion in community assembly under grassland degradation increases functional genes. Furthermore, different phyla exhibited distinct response strategies: Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, as r‐strategists, exhibited positive productivity, with increases in diversity, abundance, and niche breadth; other phyla exhibited greater phylogenetic dispersion, and less diversity and niche overlap, highlighting the role of K‐strategists in improving resource‐use efficiency in response to nutrient loss. The transition of communities from K‐ to r‐strategists could help communities adapt to environmental disturbance. The results enhance our understanding of bacterial community assembly and ecology‐associated functions in underground grassland ecosystems, which could facilitate degradation prediction and grassland management.
Association of matrix metalloproteinase‐9 and nitric oxide with hypertension in obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: Zeng Shiying , Li Shisheng , Tang Qinglai , Tuerdi Ayinuer , Tong Xinying , Tang Xiaojun , Yin Danhui , Li Mengmeng , Yang Qian
Published: April 2022

Background

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are more likely to suffer from hypertension. At the same time, the serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) and nitric oxide (NO) in patients with OSA are also changed in OSA patients. We investigated the correlation between serum levels of MMP‐9, NO in patients with OSA and their association with hypertension in those patients, and the effects of continuous positive airway pressure therapy (CPAP) on these serum biomarkers and blood pressure.

Methods

Serum MMP‐9 and NO levels and blood pressure of 57 patients with newly diagnosed OSA and 30 controls were measured; among them, 30 patients with moderate to severe OSA underwent 3‐month CPAP treatment.

Results

In comparison to the control group, the MMP‐9 serum levels were higher (232.8 ± 103.2 ng/ml versus 161.6 ± 56.5 ng/ml, p < .001*), there was no statistical significance difference among serum NO (26.7 ± 9.1 IU/ml versus 31.0 ± 11.7 IU/ml, p = .06), and MMP‐9 was negatively correlated to NO, especially in patients with hypertension (r = −.644, p = .02*). MMP‐9, NO, and blood pressure were significantly recovered in the patients with OSA after CPAP treatment for 3 months (p < .05*).

Conclusion

The MMP‐9 level and the NO level were altered in OSA patients. The relationship between the two especially in patients with hypertension suggests the potential mechanism of OSA‐induced hypertension.
Fast Exciton Diffusion in Monolayer PtSe2
Authors: Wang Pengzhi , He Dawei , Wang Yongsheng , Zhang Xiaoxian , He Jiaqi , Zhao Hui
Published: April 2022

Recently, 2D noble metal dichalcogenides have drawn considerable attention due to their thickness‐tunable electronic and optical properties. However, the dynamical properties of photocarriers in these materials are less studied. Here, photocarrier dynamics in monolayer and bilayer PtSe samples prepared by chemical vapor deposition are studied by transient absorption microscopy. Spatially and temporally resolved differential reflectance measurements yield room‐temperature exciton lifetimes of 25 and 50 ps for monolayer and bilayer samples, respectively. The exciton diffusion coefficient in monolayer PtSe is found to be as large as 48 cm s. This value is higher than exciton diffusion coefficients of most known monolayer semiconductors. The deduced exciton mobility is close to the theoretical limit of charge carrier mobility of monolayer PtSe. The superior exciton transport property is unique to monolayers, as the exciton diffusion coefficient drops to 6.7 cm s in bilayers PtSe. The novel exciton transport properties, along with its high air stability, make monolayer PtSe an attractive material for ultrathin excitonic devices. These results provide insights on the exciton dynamic properties of 2D PtSe and help develop fundamental understanding on the performance of various optoelectronic devices based on 2D PtSe.
Does the Size of Microgels Influence the Toughness of Microgel‐Reinforced Hydrogels?
Authors: Kessler Michael , Nassisi Quentin , Amstad Esther
Published: April 2022

Rapid advances in the biomedical field increasingly often demand soft materials that can be processed into complex 3D shapes while being able to reliably bear significant loads. Granular hydrogels have the potential to serve as artificial tissues because they can be 3D printed into complex shapes and their composition can be tuned over short length scales. Unfortunately, granular hydrogels are typically soft such that they cannot be used for load‐bearing applications. To address this shortcoming, individual microgels can be connected through a percolating network, such that they introduce the double network toughening mechanism into granular hydrogels. However, the influence of the microgel size and concentration on the processing and toughness of microgel‐reinforced hydrogels (MRHs) remains to be elucidated. Here, it is demonstrated that processing and toughness depend on the inter‐microgel connectivity, while the stress at break is solely dependent on the microgel size. These findings offer an in‐depth understanding of how liquid‐ and paste‐like precursors containing soft, deformable microgels can be processed into bulk microstructured soft materials and how the size and concentration of these microgels influence the mechanical properties of microgel‐reinforced hydrogels.
Tracking of rigid head motion duringMRIusing an EEGsystem
Authors: Laustsen Malte , Andersen Mads , Xue Rong , Madsen Kristoffer H. , Hanson Lars G.
Published: April 2022

Purpose

To demonstrate a novel method for tracking of head movements during MRI using electroencephalography (EEG) hardware for recording signals induced by native imaging gradients.

Theory and Methods

Gradient switching during simultaneous EEG–fMRI induces distortions in EEG signals, which depend on subject head position and orientation. When EEG electrodes are interconnected with high‐impedance carbon wire loops, the induced voltages are linear combinations of the temporal gradient waveform derivatives. We introduce head tracking based on these signals (CapTrack) involving 3 steps: (1) phantom scanning is used to characterize the target sequence and a fast calibration sequence; (2) a linear relation between changes of induced signals and head pose is established using the calibration sequence; and (3) induced signals recorded during target sequence scanning are used for tracking and retrospective correction of head movement without prolonging the scan time of the target sequence. Performance of CapTrack is compared directly to interleaved navigators.

Results

Head‐pose tracking at 27.5 Hz during echo planar imaging (EPI) was demonstrated with close resemblance to rigid body alignment (mean absolute difference: [0.14 0.38 0.15]‐mm translation, [0.30 0.27 0.22]‐degree rotation). Retrospective correction of 3D gradient‐echo imaging shows an increase of average edge strength of 12%/−0.39% for instructed/uninstructed motion with CapTrack pose estimates, with a tracking interval of 1561 ms and high similarity to interleaved navigator estimates (mean absolute difference: [0.13 0.33 0.12] mm, [0.28 0.15 0.22] degrees).

Conclusion

Motion can be estimated from recordings of gradient switching with little or no sequence modification, optionally in real time at low computational burden and synchronized to image acquisition, using EEG equipment already found at many research institutions.
Selective excitation localized by the Bloch–Siegert shift and a B1+ gradient
Authors: Martin Jonathan B. , Srinivas Sai Abitha , Vaughn Christopher E. , Sun Heng , Griswold Mark A. , Grissom William A.
Published: April 2022

Purpose

To perform ‐selective excitation using the Bloch–Siegert shift for spatial localization.

Theory and Methods

A ‐selective excitation is produced by an radiofrequency (RF) pulse consisting of two summed component pulses: an off‐resonant pulse that induces a ‐dependent Bloch–Siegert frequency shift and a frequency‐selective excitation pulse. The passband of the pulse can be tailored by adjusting the frequency content of the frequency‐selective pulse, as in conventional gradient‐localized excitation. Fine magnetization profile control is achieved by using the Shinnar–Le Roux algorithm to design the frequency‐selective excitation pulse. Simulations analyzed the pulses' robustness to off‐resonance, their suitability for multi‐echo spin echo pulse sequences, and how their performance compares to that of rotating‐frame selective excitation pulses. The pulses were evaluated experimentally on a 47.5 mT MRI scanner using an RF gradient transmit coil. Multiphoton resonances produced by the pulses were characterized and their distribution across predicted.

Results

With correction for varying across the desired profile, the proposed pulses produced selective excitation with the specified profile characteristics. The pulses were robust against off‐resonance and RF amplifier distortion, and suitable for multi‐echo pulse sequences. Experimental profiles closely matched simulated patterns.

Conclusion

The Bloch–Siegert shift can be used to perform ‐gradient‐free selective excitation, enabling the excitation of slices or slabs in RF gradient‐encoded MRI.
Musculoskeletal mimics of cervical radiculopathy
Authors: Chiou‐Tan Faye Y.
Published: April 2022

Musculoskeletal mimics of cervical radiculopathy will be explored in this AANEM monograph. A review of the literature and textbooks was conducted. Musculoskeletal cervical radiculopathy mimics include: (1) head/neck pain, such as neck tension, cervicogenic headache, and temporomandibular disorder; (2) referred pain from shoulder pathology, such as rotator cuff tears/impingement; (3) elbow region abnormalities, including medial/lateral epicondylitis; (4) wrist/hand conditions, such as DeQuervain′s tenosynovitis and intersection syndrome; (5) muscle connective tissue disorders, including myofascial trigger points; (6) conditions that have decreased range of motion, including frozen shoulder and rounded shoulders with tight pectoral/scalene muscles; (7) conditions with joint hyperlaxity and instability, as seen in post‐stroke shoulder subluxation; (8) vascular conditions, such as thoracic outlet syndrome; and (9) autonomic controlled soft tissue changes associated with complex regional pain syndrome. Formulating a differential diagnosis and recognizing mimics of cervical radiculopathy can decrease the time between symptom onset and diagnosis/treatment plan.
Demonstration gardens as informal education strategies in rehabilitation efforts
Authors: Bechtold Rachel , Shoulders Catherine , Popp Jennie , Johnson Don , Wood Lisa
Published: April 2022

Use of demonstration plots showcasing native forbs and grasses in public greenspaces or along well‐traveled paths can be helpful in increasing awareness of beneficial plant species. Signage can be used as an educational delivery method—such as that used in arboretums and museums—to bring awareness of the importance of biodiversity, pollinators, and native species. Additionally, using species that are considered aesthetic, or which create positive feelings in the viewer, may influence local trail users to further incorporate the same plants in their community. This study evaluated the process and efficacy of installing a demonstration plot along a multiuse trail in Southeast Kansas to educate the community on rehabilitative plots. While many demonstration and community gardens use an active approach to learning, evaluating more passive or informal techniques is also useful. The greatest perceived challenges for this case study were the allotment of time and money for initial costs of the demonstration plot as well as addressing methodology for plant blindness in viewers.
Flame‐retardant, thermal and mechanical properties ofPLA/ramie fiber composites
Authors: Zhan Jianghu , Wang Jiachang , Lin Jun , Zhao Guoqun , Ji Shengcheng , Li Xiaoling , Li Jiao , Wang Guilong , Chen Liang , Guan Yanjin , Naceur Hakim
Published: April 2022

Although the natural fiber composites are preferable for sustainable and green product due to the environmental friendliness, they suffer from the high flammability. In this study, the flame retardant ramie fiber reinforced poly(lactic acid) composites were prepared and the synergistic barrier effect of aluminum diethylphosphinate, melamine cyanurate and silica was investigated. When the mass ratio of each flame retardant was 10%, the composites reached UL‐94 V0 rating with the limiting oxygen index of 30.1%. The excellent flame retardancy was resulted from the formation of high‐quality char layers, the chain reaction of free radicals as well as the dilute effect of inert gases generated during the combustion process. Besides, the cone calorimeter test showed that the peak heat release rate and total heat release decreased by 22.5% and 15.0%, respectively. Importantly, the flame retardants did not deteriorate the mechanical properties, thanks to the fiber reinforcement and high‐adhesion work between the flame retardants and the matrix which was demonstrated by the contact angle test.
Study on properties of gelatin–silica mineralized wood composite
Authors: Li Hang , Wang Chi , Wang Zhaohui , Zhang Mengying , Liu Da , Yuan Guangming
Published: April 2022

Wood is a natural organic composite material that has abundant sources, is renewable, and exhibits an organized structure. However, the fast‐growing poplar tree is loose in texture and has poor physical, mechanical, and flame retardant properties. Inspired by the biomineralization mediated by the natural organic matrix, a biocompatible and mineral‐inducible gelatin solution is impregnated into the wood. Subsequently, the sol–gel method is used for the in‐situ mineralization of silica in wood pores and cell cavities using silica to prepare mineralized wood composite materials with excellent mechanical and flame retardancy properties. Fourier transform spectroscopy shows that wood and silica form an organic–inorganic hybrid structure, and scanning electron microscopy shows that gelatin coordinates with silica to form a dense microstructure. Compared with untreated wood, the compressive strength parallel to the grain, bending strength, and elasticity modulus of the mineralized wood were higher by 59.3%, 52.2%, and 46.2%, respectively. The peak heat release rate associated with cone calorimetry decreased by 45.8%. This effective and environment‐friendly method can improve the properties of wood. Furthermore, the preparation process is simple, green, and environment‐friendly, providing an alternative approach to wood modification research.
Study on preparation of highly dispersed graphite composite expandable polystyrene foam by homogeneous dissolution‐suspension polymerization with waste polystyrene
Authors: Zhao Zhi Feng , Wang Xin Lei , Wang Jia , Li Junfeng
Published: April 2022

Graphite expandable polystyrene (GEPS) has the advantage of low thermal conductivity, however, the disadvantage of the low compatibility with styrene and a tendency to agglomerate, which limits the application of GEPS in the thermal insulation industry. In this article, the high‐dispersion GEPS beads were prepared by homogeneous dissolution‐suspension polymerization method. Then, the GEPS beads were foamed, molded, and cured to form GEPS foam boards. The characterization results of IR, scanning electron microscope, X‐ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analyzer of GEPS beads, the microporous structure, water absorption, flexural strength, compressive strength, and oxygen index of GEPS foam board show that the performance is equal to or exceeds corporate expandable polystyrene. In particular, the thermal conductivity of GEPS foam (0.034 W/(mk)) is 10.5% lower than that of corporate EPS (0.038 W/(mk)). In addition, it is noteworthy that the dissolution of waste expandable polystyrene or polystyrene beads reaches up to 45% of the styrene monomer mass, while the enterprise can dissolve only 5.2%.
Photovoltaic fleet degradation insights
Authors: Jordan Dirk C. , Anderson Kevin , Perry Kirsten , Muller Matthew , Deceglie Michael , White Robert , Deline Chris
Published: April 2022

In the PV Fleet Performance Data Initiative, high‐frequency data from commercial and utility‐scale photovoltaic (PV) systems have been collected to examine performance loss rates (PLRs) at a fleet scale. To date, performance data from more than 7.2‐gigawatt (GW) capacity, 1700 sites and 19,000 inverters—approximately equivalent to 6% to 7% of the entire US PV market—have been collected. An overall PLR of −0.75%/year was found, which is in line with historical and recent findings. Tracked silicon (Si) and cadmium telluride (CdTe) performed comparably with all fixed‐tilt systems. Higher PLRs were found for hotter temperature zones; cooler climates exhibit a median −0.48%/year loss, which increases to −0.88%/year in hotter climates. High‐efficiency module technologies showed median PLRs in line with conventional Si technologies but demonstrated markedly different PLR behavior when filtered only for low‐light conditions <600 W/m2. Causes for this technology‐dependent behavior are under investigation.
Reaching underserved domestic and international populations through Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency training: A survey of residents and program directors
Authors: Malik G. Ross , Jayabalan Prakash
Published: April 2022

Introduction

In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that over 400 million individuals worldwide lack access to medical care. In addition, clinicians are more likely to treat underserved patients during their careers if they have exposure to these populations during their training.

Objectives

To analyze what forms of didactic experiences are available and which opportunities are the most valuable with domestic/international underserved populations in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) residency programs in the United States.

Design

Cross‐sectional survey using REDCap software.

Setting

PM&R residency programs in the United States.

Participants

A total of 137 participants in Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)‐accredited PM&R residencies in the United States (24 program directors and 113 residents).

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Surveys collected information regarding demographic data, prior global health training experiences, current residency training experiences involving domestic/international underserved populations being offered, participants' perceived importance of training experiences with domestic/international underserved population, barriers that impede these experiences, and if availability of these opportunities affected resident recruitment.

Results

Participants reported that their PM&R programs did not offer global health simulations (91.2%), educational tracks (75.2%), international electives (71.5%), or rotations with domestic underserved populations (48.9%). Residents viewed exposure to simulation labs (3.25/5), educational tracks (3.42/5), and electives (4.02/5) more importantly than attending physicians. Conversely, attending physicians viewed lectures (3.92/5), journal clubs (3.58), and rotations treating domestic underserved populations (4.42/5) more favorably. Both residents and attending physicians endorse lack of financial support and mentorship as barriers to these opportunities. Participants from all regions outside the Midwest reported that these educational opportunities would affect residency recruitment (56% vs. 31%).

Conclusions

This is the first study assessing the current state of global health training opportunities for PM&R residents as well as the perceived value of such experiences. Many PM&R medical trainees desire exposure to global health medicine curriculum, and many would alter their residency selection based on its availability.
Sequence‐defined Pareto frontier of a copolymer structure
Authors: Bale Ashwin A. , Gautham Sachin M. B. , Patra Tarak K.
Published: April 2022

The correlations between the sequence of monomers in a macromolecule and its three‐dimensional (3D) structure is a grand challenge in polymer science. The properties and functions of macromolecules depend on their 3D shape that has appeared to be dictated by their monomer sequence. However, the progress towards understanding the sequence–structure‐property correlations and their utilization in materials engineering are slow because it is almost impossible to characterize an astronomically large number of possible sequences of a copolymer using traditional experimental and simulation methods. To address this problem, here, we combine evolutionary computing and coarse‐grained molecular dynamics (CGMD) simulation and study the sequence‐structure correlations of a model AB‐type copolymer in a solution and assess the impact of sequence on the packing density in its bulk phase. The CGMD‐based evolutionary algorithm (EA) screens the sequence space of a single chain copolymer efficiently and identifies a wide range of single‐molecule structures including extremal radii of gyration. The data are utilized to estimate the Pareto front of the structure‐space of a binary copolymer as a function of its composition. The monomer packings in single‐molecule solution phase and multimolecular bulk phase are found to be identical. The work highlights the opportunities of sequence‐specific control of macromolecular structure for designing target materials.
Current and projected number of years of life lost due to prostate cancer: A global study
Authors: Withrow Diana , Pilleron Sophie , Nikita Nikita , Ferlay Jacques , Sharma Swapnil , Nicholson Brian , Rebbeck Timothy R. , Lu‐Yao Grace
Published: April 2022

Background

Prostate cancer is an important cause of death worldwide. The number of years of life lost (YLL) due to prostate cancer is a metric of the toll of prostate cancer and using projections of demographic changes, can be used to measure future burden.

Methods

Prostate cancer mortality data by country and world region was retrieved from the Global Cancer Observatory and the World Health Organization mortality data set, and life expectancy was from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. We estimated YLL as the difference between age at death in people with prostate cancer and remaining life expectancy for people of the same age in the general population. We also estimated the age‐standardized YLL rates per 100,000 males over 50 and the average annual percentage change in YLL rates over the period 2000–2019 and the number of YLL for the year 2040 by applying population projections to the 2020 YLL rates.

Results

In 2020, 3.5 million person‐years of life were lost due to prostate cancer in males over 50, and 40% of YLL were in those aged over 75. Age‐standardized rates varied greatly between and within regions. Over the last two decades, rates of YLL have increased in many Asian and African countries while they have decreased in northern American and European countries. Globally, YLL are anticipated to double by 2040 to reach 7.5 million, with the greatest increases in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

Conclusion

There are wide variations in the burden of prostate cancer globally as measured by YLL. The burden of prostate cancer is projected to increase over time and appears to be highest in Sub‐Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe, and Latin America and the Caribbean. It will be critical to plan and implement programs to reduce the burden of prostate cancer globally.