bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Die "hyggeligen" Dänen und die arroganten Deutschen
Authors: Hulgaard Anne Marie
Published: December 2022

The “hyggelige” Danes and the arrogant Germans – Communicative Differences as a Consequence of National Stereotypes?

The aim of this article is to discuss why German students code switch between German and Danish in a more appropriate way than their Danish fellow students do. The data consist of approximately 230 emails written by 40 German and Danish students enrolled in the Cross-Border Study Programme at the University of Southern Denmark and Europa-Universität Flensburg. A reason for this difference in ability to switch code can be explained by the students’ stereotypes about their own group as auto stereotypes and about the others as hetero stereotypes. In general, Danish auto stereotypes are very positive contrary to the negative hetero stereotypes of the Germans. Because of this, the Danish students seem to think that it is acceptable to use Danish communication structures even though they know that the chosen formulation will not be seen as appropriate German by their German professors.
Hvordan trøster du spedbarnet ditt?
Authors: Landsem Inger Pauline
Published: December 2022

Dette essayet omhandler spedbarnstrøst. Hvorfor trøst er så betydningsfullt for spedbarnet,  og hvordan omsorgspersoners kapasitet til å trøste påvirkes av intuitiv adferd, kultur og nyere forskning og erfaringsbasert kunnskap. Trøst i denne livsfasen er innspunnet i grunnleggende omsorg, og barnet behøver hyppig støtte til å dempe uhensiktsmessig aktivitet i et umodent nervesystem. Det essensielle er spedbarnets totale avhengighet, men også omsorgspersonenes evne til å forstå uttrykksfullheten og ressursene hos det lille mennesket de samhandler med.
Open Science – A Croatian Perspective
Authors: Stojanovski Jadranka , Aspaas Per Pippin
Published: December 2022

Jadranka Stojanovski discusses the evolution of library support for open science from a Croatian perspective. From her vantage point as (former) library director of the Ruđer Bošković Institute and associate professor at the department of information science of the University of Zadar, Stojanovski has been a pioneer in establishing services exploiting the possibilities offered by new information technologies since the 1990s. Many of her activities have been connected to broad European collaborative projects such as OpenAIRE, OASPA, and EOSC.

The Croatian approach has been a very proactive one. Already in 1997, the CROSBI was launched, a combined national scientific bibliography and repository for Green Open Access documents. Although deposition of articles and other research documents is entirely voluntary, CROSBI now carries metadata on more than 725,000 documents, a large proportion of which are available in fulltext. Alongisde CROSBI, there are also several institutions running their own institutional repositories. There is now extensive collaboration between these services in the form of DABAR (‘beaver’ in English), aiming to enhance the interoperability and findability of documents stored in the various repositories. Stojanovski has also been involved in setting up an inventory on Who’s Who in Science in Croatia as well as a database on scientific equipment, Šestar (‘pair of compasses’).

Set up in 2005, the HRČAK (‘hamster’) platform for Croatian scientific and professional journals has been a massive success. Less than twenty years after its inception, it now carries more than 500 scholarly journals and series of conference proceedings, nearly all of which are Diamond Open Access (i.e., free to the reader and with no author-facing publishing charges). Roughly 150 of these journals receive annual subsidies from the government, the rest are fully based on voluntary work from individual editors and the institutions or learned societies they represent. Only around 25 HRČAK journals charge Article Processing Charges. The Social Sciences and Humanities are particularly well represented on the platform, with many journals publishing in Croatian despite the lack of an official language policy in favor of Croatian as a scholarly language. The University Computing Centre in Zagreb (SRCE, ‘heart’) is responsible for the technical development of HRČAK, which is based on seamless interconnection between in-house developed software and open-source software for editorial processes, primarily Open Journal Systems.

A national Research Data Policy or, better still, a general Open Science Policy is highly desirable, Stojanovski argues. Infrastructure is in place, but usage will undoubtedly rise significantly as soon as open science practices become mandatory.

Alongside Dominic Tate (episode 43) and Pierre Mounier (episode 44), Jadranka was a keynote speaker at the 17th Munin Conference on Scholarly Publishing. This interview was first published online on December 13, 2022.
Hygiene of housing conditions and proinflammatory signals alter gene expressions in porcine adipose tissues and blood cells
Authors: Quéméner Audrey , Perruchot Marie-Hélène , Dessauge Frédéric , Vincent Annie , Merlot Elodie , Le Floch Nathalie , Louveau Isabelle
Published: December 2022

Adipose tissue is an organ with metabolic, endocrine and immune functions. In this tissue, the expressions of genes associated with several metabolic pathways, including lipid metabolism, have been shown to be affected by genetic selection for feed efficiency, an important trait to consider in livestock. We hypothesized that the stimulation of immune system caused by poor hygiene conditions of housing impacts the molecular and cellular features of adipose tissue and that the impact may differ between pigs that diverge in feed efficiency. At the age of 12 weeks, Large White pigs from two genetic lines divergent for residual feed intake (RFI) were housed in two contrasting hygiene conditions (good vs poor). After six weeks of exposure, pigs were slaughtered (n = 36). Samples of blood, subcutaneous (SCAT) and perirenal (PRAT) adipose tissues were collected for cell response and gene expression investigations. The decrease in the relative weight of PRAT was associated with a decline in mRNA levels of FASN, ME, LCN2 and TLR4 (P < 0.05) in pigs housed in poor conditions compared with pigs housed in good conditions for both RFI lines. In SCAT, the expressions of only two key genes (PPARG and TLR4) were significantly affected by the hygiene of housing conditions. Besides, the mRNA levels of both LCN2 and GPX3 were influenced by the RFI line (P < 0.05). Because we suspected an effect of poor hygiene at the cellular levels, we investigated the differentiation of stromal vascular cells isolated from SCAT in vitro in the absence or presence of a pro-inflammatory cytokine, Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α). The ability of these cells to differentiate in the absence or presence of TNF-α did not differ among the four groups of animals (P > 0.05). We also investigated the expressions of genes involved in the immune response and lipid metabolism in whole blood cells cultured in the absence and presence of LPS. The hygiene conditions had no effect but, the relative expression of the GPX3 gene was higher (P < 0.001) in high RFI than in low RFI pigs while the expressions of IL-10 (P = 0.027), TGFβ1 (P = 0.023) and ADIPOR2 (P = 0.05) genes were lower in high RFI than in low RFI pigs. Overall, the current study indicates that the hygiene of housing had similar effects on both RFI lines on the expression of genes in adipose tissues and on the features of SCAT adipose cells and whole blood cells in response to TNF-α and LPS. It further demonstrates that the number of genes with expression impacted by housing conditions was higher in PRAT than in SCAT. It suggests a depot-specific response of adipose tissue to the current challenge.
An Appraisal of Traditional Rice Cultivation in Kerala, India
Authors: Ahaljith R. , Krishnankutty Jayasree , Raju Rajesh K.
Published: December 2022

Rice cultivation is the mainstay of agriculture in Kerala for centuries. But as time progressed, rice cultivation using traditional varieties was confined to some pockets in the state. Traditional rice farmers are mainly unorganised and are followers of lineage. This study was taken up to attempt to outline the evolution of traditional rice farming, understand farmers’ perceptions about its sustainability, and look into the legal protective measures available for these varieties. It was found that the centuries-long presence of this system is now in peril. However, the farmers had a more positive perception of its sustainability than a negative one. The cultivating farmers were largely unaware of the government’s measures to support traditional agriculture.
Clinical Characteristics of Cardiac Arrhythmias in Pediatric Age Group
Authors: El-Sawaf Sally Mohammed , El-Hefnawy Suzan Bayoumy , El-Sheikh Raghda Ghonimy , El-Setieha Mohammed El-Sayed , Badr Seham Fahmy
Published: December 2022

Background: The Symptomatic manifestation of pediatric arrhythmias varies according to the age. Patients with disturbances in cardiac rhythm have several complaints, but also could be totally asymptomatic. This study aimed to assess clinical characteristics of Tachy and Brady arrhythmia in neonates, infant, children and adolescents of various age groups.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 253 patients of pediatric age below 18 years old presented with different types of tachyarrhythmia or bradyarrhythmia. All patients were subjected to clinical general examination of patient, vital data collection, local cardiac examination, 12 leads electrocardiography, ambulatory ECG Holter monitoring, exercise ECG stress testing if indicated and transthoracic echocardiography.  

Results: There was a significant relation between age of presentation of the study patients and classification of arrhythmia (P < 0.001). Palpitations was the most common presentations of arrhythmia in our study patients (32%) followed by dyspnea in 17.8 % of the patients. 20.6 % of the study patients with arrhythmias were asymptomatic. Congenital heart anomalies were in 43 % of the patients.

Conclusion: Pediatric arrhythmia can be totally asymptomatic and discovered accidentally. Congenital cardiac anomalies and cardiac arrhythmias are closely correlated. Holter monitoring and exercise ECG testing can help in diagnosing pediatric arrhythmia. Untreated or persistent arrhythmia causes LV myopathy and dilatation.  Antiarrhythmic drugs can have their harmful effect on the growing child.
Genetic Variability Studies for Yield and Related Attributes in Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana) Genotypes
Authors: Kumar Rakesh , Shweta . , Jaiswal Mallika , Mishra Aman , Yadav Devesh , Prajapati Pramod Kumar , Mishra Upendra Kumar
Published: December 2022

The fifty-finger millet (Eleusine coracana) genotypes used in the current experiment were examined in four different environments: E1 and E2 at the Student Research Farm at the C.S.A.U.A.&T. Kanpur, and E3 and E4 seeded at the Research Farm in Daleep Nagar, Kanpur. The genotypes were assessed using a randomised block design with three replications to determine genetic variability for the following traits: days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height (cm), number of productive tillers per plant, number of fingers per ear, length of finger (cm), finger width (cm), ear head width (cm), ear head length (cm), ear head weight (g), ear head weight (g), straw yield per plant (g), harvest index (%), 1000 grain weight (g), protein content (%) and grain yield per plant (g).  This experiment revealed low genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) for days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, ear head width across all conditions, and protein content across all environments with the exception of E2. High levels of GCV and PCV were found in the ear head weight, straw yield per plant, 1000 grain weight, and grain yield per plant. In every context, the magnitude of GCV was often lower than the corresponding PCV. Plant height, finger width, ear head weight, straw yield per plant, harvest index, 1000 grain weight, and grain yield per plant all showed strong heritability along with high genetic progress. As a result of the cumulative impact of its component features, the yield has a complicated and highly variable character. It is the outcome of the combined influence of its constituent features, therefore straight selection for yield might not be very effective.
Effect of Diet and Exercise on Knee Pain in Patients With Osteoarthritis and Overweight or Obesity
Authors: Messier Stephen P. , Beavers Daniel P. , Queen Kate , Mihalko Shannon L. , Miller Gary D. , Losina Elena , Katz Jeffrey N. , Loeser Richard F. , DeVita Paul , Hunter David J. , Newman Jovita J. , Quandt Sara A. , Lyles Mary F. , Jordan Joanne M. , Callahan Leigh F.
Published: December 2022

Importance

Some weight loss and exercise programs that have been successful in academic center–based trials have not been evaluated in community settings.

Objective

To determine whether adaptation of a diet and exercise intervention to community settings resulted in a statistically significant reduction in pain, compared with an attention control group, at 18-month follow-up.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Assessor-blinded randomized clinical trial conducted in community settings in urban and rural counties in North Carolina. Patients were men and women aged 50 years or older with knee osteoarthritis and overweight or obesity (body mass index ≥27). Enrollment (N = 823) occurred between May 2016 and August 2019, with follow-up ending in April 2021.

Interventions

Patients were randomly assigned to either a diet and exercise intervention (n = 414) or an attention control (n = 409) group for 18 months.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was the between-group difference in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) knee pain score (range, 0 [none] to 20 [severe]; minimum clinically important difference, 1.6) over 18 months, tested using a repeated-measures mixed linear model with adjustments for covariates. There were 7 secondary outcomes including body weight.

Results

Among the 823 randomized patients (mean age, 64.6 years; 637 [77%] women), 658 (80%) completed the trial. At 18-month follow-up, the adjusted mean WOMAC pain score was 5.0 in the diet and exercise group (n = 329) compared with 5.5 in the attention control group (n = 316) (adjusted difference, −0.6; 95% CI, −1.0 to −0.1; P = .02). Of 7 secondary outcomes, 5 were significantly better in the intervention group compared with control. The mean change in unadjusted 18-month body weight for patients with available data was −7.7 kg (8%) in the diet and exercise group (n = 289) and −1.7 kg (2%) in the attention control group (n = 273) (mean difference, −6.0 kg; 95% CI, −7.3 kg to −4.7 kg). There were 169 serious adverse events; none were definitely related to the study. There were 729 adverse events; 32 (4%) were definitely related to the study, including 10 body injuries (9 in diet and exercise; 1 in attention control), 7 muscle strains (6 in diet and exercise; 1 in attention control), and 6 trip/fall events (all 6 in diet and exercise).

Conclusions and Relevance

Among patients with knee osteoarthritis and overweight or obesity, diet and exercise compared with an attention control led to a statistically significant but small difference in knee pain over 18 months. The magnitude of the difference in pain between groups is of uncertain clinical importance.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02577549
Bone Tissue Engineering Scaffolds: Function of Multi‐Material Hierarchically Structured Scaffolds
Authors: Koushik Tejas M. , Miller Catherine M. , Antunes Elsa
Published: December 2022

Bone tissue engineering (BTE) is a topic of interest for the last decade, and advances in materials, processing techniques, and the understanding of bone healing pathways have opened new avenues of research. The dual responsibility of BTE scaffolds in providing load‐bearing capability and interaction with the local extracellular matrix to promote bone healing is a challenge in synthetic scaffolds. This article describes the usage and processing of multi‐materials and hierarchical structures to mimic the structure of natural bone tissues to function as bioactive and load‐bearing synthetic scaffolds. The first part of this literature review describes the physiology of bone healing responses and the interactions at different stages of bone repair. The following section reviews the available literature on biomaterials used for BTE scaffolds followed by some multi‐material approaches. The next section discusses the impact of the scaffold's structural features on bone healing and the necessity of a hierarchical distribution in the scaffold structure. Finally, the last section of this review highlights the emerging trends in BTE scaffold developments that can inspire new tissue engineering strategies and truly develop the next generation of synthetic scaffolds.
Understanding Self‐Assembly of Silica‐Precipitating Peptides to Control Silica Particle Morphology
Authors: Strobl Johannes , Kozak Fanny , Kamalov Meder , Reichinger Daniela , Kurzbach Dennis , Becker Christian FW
Published: December 2022

The most advanced materials are those found in nature. These evolutionary optimized substances provide highest efficiencies, e.g., in harvesting solar energy or providing extreme stability, and are intrinsically biocompatible. However, the mimicry of biological materials is limited to a few successful applications since there is still a lack of the tools to recreate natural materials. Herein, such means are provided based on a peptide library derived from the silaffin protein R5 that enables rational biomimetic materials design. It is now evident that biomaterials do not form via mechanisms observed in vitro. Instead, the material's function and morphology are predetermined by precursors that self‐assemble in solution, often from a combination of protein and salts. These assemblies act as templates for biomaterials. The RRIL peptides used here are a small part of the silica‐precipitation machinery in diatoms. By connecting RRIL motifs via varying central bi‐ or trifunctional residues, a library of stereoisomers is generated, which allows characterization of different template structures in the presence of phosphate ions by combining residue‐resolved real‐time NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Understanding these templates in atomistic detail, the morphology of silica particles is controlled via manipulation of the template precursors.
New Strategy for the Persistent Photocatalytic Reduction of U(VI): Utilization and Storage of Solar Energy in K+ and Cyano Co‐Decorated Poly(Heptazine Imide)
Authors: Wang Jingjing , Li Ping , Wang Yun , Liu Ziyi , Wang Dongqi , Liang Jianjun , Fan Qiaohui
Published: December 2022

The photocatalytic conversion of soluble U(VI) into insoluble U(IV) is a robust strategy to harvest aqueous uranium, but remains challenging owing to the intermittent availability of solar influx and reoxidation of U(IV) without illumination. Herein, a dual platform based on K+ and cyano group co‐decorated poly(heptazine imide) (K‐CN‐PHI) is reported that can drive persistent U(VI) extraction upon/beyond light. K‐CN‐PHI achieves the photocatalytic reduction of U(VI) with a reaction rate of 0.89 min−1, being 47 times greater than that over pristine carbon nitride (PCN). This system can further be triggered by light to form long‐living radicals, driving the reduction of U(VI) in the dark for over 3 d. The flexible structural K+ as counterions stabilize the electrons trapped by cyanamide groups, enabling the long lifetime of the generated radicals. The results collectively prove K‐CN‐PHI to be a novel and efficient photocatalyst enabling persistent U(VI) extraction around the clock, and broadening the practical applications of the photocatalytic extraction of U(VI).
Resonant acoustic monitoring of damage in plug‐screw feeders
Authors: Greenhall John , Pantea Cristian , Semelsberger Troy Allen
Published: December 2022

Plug‐screw feeders are critical in many industrial processes for compressing slurry materials via a rotating plug‐screw feeder. Over time, increasing plug‐screw feeder wear will eventually lead to catastrophic mechanical failure. Early detection of the wear state can prevent unplanned catastrophic failures resulting in operational shut‐downs, costly repairs, and most importantly the health and safety of workers. We present a theoretical basis for a noninvasive, in operando acoustic resonant technique to monitor the wear state of plug‐screw feeders. The technique is based on tracking the resonant acoustic modes of the plug‐screw feeder, which are sensitive to the plug‐screw feeder geometry, material, and operating conditions. We implemented a multivariate polynomial model to estimate the plug‐screw feeder wear state using multiple acoustic resonances by simulating the acoustic resonant modes for two categories of wear (tip and thread damage) that are common in plug‐screw feeders. Fitting multiple resonances to the polynomial model, we demonstrate accurate estimation of the total mass loss, as well as characterization of the type of damage (i.e., tip vs. thread). Current approaches for monitoring plug‐screw feeder wear rely on shutting down the operation and visually inspecting the plug‐screw feeder. The presented acoustic technique offers a noninvasive, in operando measurement approach that mitigates unplanned catastrophic failures. The acoustic resonance technique presented in the paper has a broad range of industrial applications including the Pharmaceutical, Mining, Integrated Biorefineries (IBR), and Additive Manufacturing industries, to name a few.
Dibenzomethanopentacene‐Based Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity for Use in Gas‐Separation Membranes
Authors: Chen Jie , Longo Mariagiulia , Fuoco Alessio , Esposito Elisa , Monteleone Marcello , Comesaña Gándara Bibiana , Carolus Jansen Johannes , McKeown Neil B.
Published: December 2022

Dibenzomethanopentacene (DBMP) is shown to be a useful structural component for making Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity (PIMs) with promise for making efficient membranes for gas separations. DBMP‐based monomers for PIMs are readily prepared using a Diels–Alder reaction between 2,3‐dimethoxyanthracene and norbornadiene as the key synthetic step. Compared to date for the archetypal PIM‐1, the incorporation of DBMP simultaneously enhances both gas permeability and the ideal selectivity for one gas over another. Hence, both ideal and mixed gas permeability data for DBMP‐rich co‐polymers and an amidoxime modified PIM are close to the current Robeson upper bounds, which define the state‐of‐the‐art for the trade‐off between permeability and selectivity, for several important gas pairs. Furthermore, long‐term studies (over ≈3 years) reveal that the reduction in gas permeabilities on ageing is less for DBMP‐containing PIMs relative to that for other high performing PIMs, which is an attractive property for the fabrication of membranes for efficient gas separations.
Direct Excitation of Aldehyde to Activate the C(sp2)−H Bond by Cobaloxime Catalysis toward Fluorenones Synthesis with Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Guo Jia‐Dong , Chen Ya‐Jing , Wang Chen‐Hong , He Qiao , Yang Xiu‐Long , Ding Tian‐Yu , Zhang Ke , Ci Rui‐Nan , Chen Bin , Tung Chen‐Ho , Wu Li‐Zhu
Published: December 2022

A new way to form fluorenones via the direct excitation of substrates instead of photocatalyst to activate the C(sp2)−H bond under redox‐neutral condition is reported. Our design relies on the photoexcited aromatic aldehyde intermediates that can be intercepted by cobaloxime catalyst through single electron transfer for following β‐H elimination. The generation of acyl radical and successful interception by a metal catalyst cobaloxime avoid the use of a photocatalyst and stoichiometric external oxidants, affording a series of highly substituted fluorenones, including six‐membered ketones, such as xanthone and thioxanthone derivatives in good to excellent yields, and with hydrogen as the only byproduct. This catalytic system features a readily available metal catalyst, mild reaction conditions and broad substrate scope, in which sunlight reaction and scale‐up experiments by continuous‐flow approach make the new methodology sustainable and amenable for potentially operational procedures.
Chiral Alcohols from Alkenes and Water: Directed Evolution of a Styrene Hydratase
Authors: Gajdoš Matúš , Wagner Jendrik , Ospina Felipe , Köhler Antonia , Engqvist Martin K. M. , Hammer Stephan C.
Published: December 2022

Enantioselective synthesis of chiral alcohols through asymmetric addition of water across an unactivated alkene is a highly sought‐after transformation and a big challenge in catalysis. Herein we report the identification and directed evolution of a fatty acid hydratase from Marinitoga hydrogenitolerans for the highly enantioselective hydration of styrenes to yield chiral 1‐arylethanols. While directed evolution for styrene hydration was performed in the presence of heptanoic acid to mimic fatty acid binding, the engineered enzyme displayed remarkable asymmetric styrene hydration activity in the absence of the small molecule activator. The evolved styrene hydratase provided access to chiral alcohols from simple alkenes and water with high enantioselectivity (>99 : 1 e.r.) and could be applied on a preparative scale.
Solution‐Processable Pure‐Red Multiple Resonance‐induced Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Emitter for Organic Light‐Emitting Diode with External Quantum Efficiency over 20 %
Authors: Cai Xinliang , Xu Yincai , Pan Yue , Li Linjie , Pu Yexuan , Zhuang Xuming , Li Chenglong , Wang Yue
Published: December 2022

Developing solution‐processable red organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) with high color purity and efficiency based on multiple resonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence (MR‐TADF) is a formidable challenge. Herein, by introducing auxiliary electron donor and acceptor moieties into the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) distributed positions of multiple resonance skeleton simultaneously, an effective strategy to obtain red MR‐TADF emitters was represented. The proof‐of‐the‐concept molecule BN‐R exhibits a narrowband pure‐red emission at 624 nm, with a high luminous efficiency of 94 % and a narrow bandwidth of 46 nm. Notably, the fabricated solution‐processable pure‐red OLED based on BN‐R exhibits a state‐of‐the‐art external quantum efficiency over 20 % with the Commission Internationale de I’Éclairage coordinates of (0.663, 0.337) and a long operational lifetime (LT50) of 1088 hours at an initial luminance of 1000 cd m−2.
Reversible Handedness Inversion and Circularly Polarized Light Reflection Tuning in Self‐Organized Helical Superstructures Using Visible‐Light‐Driven Macrocyclic Chiral Switches
Authors: Wang Hao , Tang Yuqi , Krishna Bisoyi Hari , Li Quan
Published: December 2022

A series of macrocyclic azobenzene‐based chiral photoswitches have been judiciously designed, synthesized, and characterized. In the molecular structures, binaphthyl is covalently linked to ortho‐positions of azobenzene, and four different substituents are linked to 6,6′‐positions of binaphthyl. The photoswitches show enhanced helical twisting power (HTP) when doping in commercially available achiral liquid crystals to form self‐organized helical superstructures, i.e., cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs). All the photoswitches exhibit reversible photoisomerization driven by visible light of different wavelengths in both organic solvent and liquid crystals. The photoswitches with shorter substituents enable handedness inversion of CLCs upon photoisomerization. These are the first examples of ortho‐linked azobenzene‐based photoswitches that enable handedness inversion in CLCs. The photoswitches with longer substituents display only HTP values decreasing while maintaining the same handedness.
Significant Enhancement of the Upconversion Emission in Highly Er3+‐Doped Nanoparticles at Cryogenic Temperatures
Authors: Tu Langping , Wu Kefan , Luo Yongshi , Wang Enhui , Yuan Jun , Zuo Jing , Zhou Ding , Li Bin , Zhou Jiajia , Jin Dayong , Zhang Hong
Published: December 2022

Relatively low efficiency is the bottleneck for the application of lanthanide‐doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs). The high‐level doping strategy realized in recent years has not improved the efficiency as much as expected. It is argued that cross relaxation (CR) is not detrimental to upconversion. Here we combine theoretical simulation and spectroscopy to elucidate the role of CR in upconversion process of Er3+ highly doped (HD) UCNPs. It is found that if CR is purposively suppressed, upconversion efficiency can be significantly improved. Specifically, we demonstrate experimentally that inhibition of CR by introducing cryogenic environment (40 K) enhances upconversion emission by more than two orders of magnitude. This work not only elucidates the nature of CR and its non‐negligible adverse effects, but also provides a new perspective for improving upconversion efficiency. The result can be directly applied to cryogenic imaging and wide range temperature sensing.
Synthesis of a Dicyclohepta[a,g]heptalene‐Containing Polycyclic Conjugated Hydrocarbon and the Impact of Non‐Alternant Topologies
Authors: Wang Junting , Gámez Fernando Gordillo , Marín‐Beloqui Jose , Diaz‐Andres Aitor , Miao Xiaohe , Casanova David , Casado Juan , Liu Junzhi
Published: December 2022

Incorporating non‐hexagonal rings into polycyclic conjugated hydrocarbons (PCHs) can significantly affect their electronic and optoelectronic properties and chemical reactivities. Here, we report the first bottom‐up synthesis of a dicyclohepta[a,g]heptalene‐embedded PCH (1) with four continuous heptagons, which are arranged in a “Z” shape. Compared with its structural isomer bischrysene1 Rwith only hexagonal rings, compound1presents a distinct antiaromatic character, especially the inner heptalene core, which possesses clear antiaromatic nature. In addition, PCH1exhibits a narrower highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO)‐lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy gap than its benzenoid contrast1 R, as verified by experimental measurements and theoretical calculations. Our work reported herein not only provides a new way to synthesize novel PCHs with non‐alternant topologies but also offers the possibility to tune their electronic and optical properties.
The lateral ulnar collateral ligament: Anatomical and structural study for clinical application in the diagnosis and treatment of elbow lateral ligament injuries
Authors: Noriego Diana , Carrera Anna , Tubbs Richard Shane , Guibernau Jorge , San Millán Marta , Iwanaga Joe , Cateura Aïda , Sañudo Jose , Reina Francisco
Published: December 2022

The lateral ulnar collateral ligament (LUCL) is considered one of the main stabilizers of the elbow. However, its anatomical description is not well established. Imaging techniques do not always have agreed upon parameters for the study of this ligament. Therefore, herein, we studied the macro and microanatomy of the LUCL to establish its morphological and morphometric characteristics more precisely. Fifty‐five fresh‐frozen human elbows underwent dissection of the lateral collateral ligament. Morphological characteristics were studied in detail. Ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance (MR) were done before dissection. Two specimens were selected for PGP 9.5 S immunohistochemistry. Ten additional elbows were analyzed by E12 sheet plastination. LUCL was identified in all specimens and clearly defined by E12 semi‐thin sections. It fused with the common extensor tendon and the radial ligament. The total length of the LUCL was 48.50 mm at 90°, 46.76 mm at maximum flexion and 44.10 mm at complete extension. Three morphological insertion variants were identified. Both US and MR identified the LUCL in all cases. It was hypoechoic in the middle and distal third in 85%. The LUCL was hypointense on MR in 95%. Free nerve endings were present on histology. The LUCL is closely related to the anular ligament. It is stretched during flexion and supination. US and MR can reliably identify its fibers. Anatomical data are relevant to the surgeon who repairs the ligaments of the elbow. Also, to the radiologist and pain physician who interpret imaging and treat patients with pain syndromes of the elbow.
The journey towards active self‐care and empowerment: Insights from a thematic analysis of a women's therapeutic expressive writing group (UK)
Authors: Forster Melanie , Bertolucci Juliana , James Sarah
Published: December 2022

There is a strong evidence base that demonstrates the beneficial impact of engaging in therapeutic writing tasks, often with reference to the successful emotional processing of traumatic life events. This paper looks to explore the experiences and impact of a community‐based therapeutic expressive writing group, which embraced a direct psychoeducational model to enhance emotional well‐being in a group of women. From an experiential qualitative position that embraces a “hermeneutics of empathy”, this study uses a thematic analysis (TA) methodology (informed by the work of Braun & Clarke (2013) to explore the group members' narratives obtained through semistructured interviews. The study reveals the significance of a number of key factors, including the importance of the group setting, the identification of core therapeutic writing activities, the beneficial impact of skilled and supportive therapist facilitation, and the emotional value in “letting go” of unhelpful thoughts and feelings in order to strengthen psychological well‐being and resilience. The findings have important implications for service commissioning and the proactive delivery of effective time‐limited, low‐cost mental health interventions within primary settings across society.
DACH1 inhibits the proliferation and migration of papillary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Liang Shengru , Xu Qian , Liu Boyun , Hu Ruofan , Lai Jingbo , Wang Wei , Yu Xinwen , Gou Jiakun , Wang Li , Chen Yanyan , Ji Qiuhe , Zhou Jie
Published: December 2022

DACH1 is an important component of the retinal determinate gene network (RDGN), which regulates the expression of target genes by directly binding or interacting with other factors. DACH1 shows inhibitory effects in most tumors, but its role in papillary thyroid carcinoma is unclear and warrants further investigation. We assessed the expression of DACH1 in different tissues and correlation with immune infiltration by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMMER2.0 databases). The effects of DACH1 on the proliferation and migration of TPC‐1 and Bcpap cells were assessed by cell viability assay, colony formation assay, wound healing assay, transwell migration assay, and flow cytometry. Finally, the effects of DACH1 on CXCL8, CXCL10, and CXCL12 expression in Nthy‐ori‐3‐1, TPC‐1 and Bcpap cells were assessed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay kit and real‐time polymerase chain reaction, respectively. The results showed that DACH1 was differentially expressed in different tumors and tissues. Basal expression of DACH1 was lower in thyroid and papillary thyroid carcinoma than in other normal tissues and corresponding tumors, and positively correlated with CD8+ T cell infiltration. In Nthy‐ori‐3‐1, TPC‐1 and Bcpap cells, overexpression of DACH1 inhibited cell migration and proliferation, and the opposite results was obtained by knocking down DACH1 using small interfering RNA. We also demonstrated that DACH1 regulated chemokines CXCL8, CXCL10, and CXCL12, thereby modulating tumor immunity.
Mate choice for body size leads to size assortative mating in the Ryukyu Scops Owl Otus elegans
Authors: Sawada Akira , Iwasaki Tetsuya , Akatani Kana , Takagi Masaoki
Published: December 2022

Understanding evolutionary phenomena that involve size assortative mating requires elucidating the generating mechanisms on which assortment is based. Although various mechanisms have been suggested, their relative importance may differ across taxonomic groups. Males selecting for large, fecund females combined with the dominance of large males in the competition for females has been suggested as a major mechanism in specific groups. However, raptors do not appear to conform to this, because the selection for smallness among males (assumed in a theory of reversed sexual size dimorphism) and the selection for largeness among males (assumed in the theory of size assortative mating) are in opposite directions. We studied the assortative mating during a long‐term study of the Ryukyu Scops Owls Otus elegans interpositus. Significant assortative mating was found for culmen length (from the base to the tip of the bill) and wing length (from the bend of the wing to the tip of the longest primary). Statistical control of the spatial and temporal accessibility of potential mates did not affect the assortment. Males with short wings had slightly higher fitness components than those with long wings, and females settling early tended to have small wings. Considering that early‐settling females can preferentially choose their mates, these results suggest that smaller females have an advantage when choosing smaller males with good reproductive performance. Improved flying and hunting ability of smaller individuals may be the background of choosing smaller individuals. We propose that, not passive process like similarity between individuals and their potential mates, but active mate choice for small individuals is an explanation for the assortative mating in this owl.
Responses in thermal tolerance and daily activity rhythm to urban stress in Drosophila suzukii
Authors: Sato Ayame , Takahashi Yuma
Published: December 2022

Cities experience changes in abiotic factors, such as warming, increases in noise and light. These changes can lead to phenotypic changes. Several studies have revealed that altered environments change phenotypes in plants and animals in cities. However, limited studies have isolated evolutionary from nongenetic changes. Here, we analyzed the evolution of thermal tolerance and diurnal activity patterns in the urban population of the fruit pest, Drosophila suzukii. Urban and rural isofemale lines were reared under constant conditions. We compared the lower and upper thermal limits (CTmin and CTmax, respectively), and effects of temperature exposure on the thermal limits of urban and rural populations. Common garden experiments showed that urban populations exhibit a lower CTmin than rural populations, suggesting genetic difference in CTmin among populations. On the other hand, the difference in CTmax between urban and rural populations was not significant. Exposure to cold temperature did not affect CTmin in both urban and rural populations. In contrast, exposure to hot temperature increased CTmax especially in urban population, suggesting that urban populations evolved in response to urban heat. We also investigated the daily activity patterns of urban and rural populations and the effect of lifelong artificial light at night on daily activity. We found that night‐time light (dim light) reduced the total amount of activity compared to dark night condition. In addition, dim light at night altered the daily rhythm of activity and increased the activity rate at night. The effect of night light on total activity was less in urban than that in rural populations, suggesting that populations in cities evolved to mitigate decreased activity under night light. Our results showed that environmental temperature and artificial light at night evolutionarily and plastically influence ecologically important traits, such as temperature tolerance and diurnal activity.
Prospective multicenter cohort study of possible psychogenic nonepileptic seizure cases—Results at 1‐year follow‐up examinations
Authors: Kanemoto Kousuke , Tadokoro Yukari , Motooka Hiromichi , Kawasaki Jun , Horinouchi Toru , Tsuji Tomikimi , Fukuchi Toshihiko , Tomohiro Oshima
Published: December 2022

Objective

The primary purpose of this prospective multicenter study was to examine clinical and demographic feature differences according to the diagnostic level of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) and then clarify whether prognosis may also differ accordingly.

Methods

Two hundred forty‐two consecutive patients strongly suspected of having PNES attacks were invited to participate, of whom 52 did not consent or contact was lost. At the 1‐year follow‐up examination, PNES diagnosis was reconsidered in nine patients. In 96 patients, the diagnostic level remained the same (P‐group), with that in 43 considered to be clinically established (CE‐group) and in 42 documented (D‐group). The Qolie‐10 and NDDI‐E questionnaires were examined at both the study entry and the follow‐up examination.

Results

Multiple regression analysis of quality of life (QoL) score (n = 173; R2 = 0.374; F = 7.349; P < 0.001) revealed NDDI‐E score (t = −6.402; P < 0.001), age of PNES onset (t = −3.026; P = 0.003), and ethnic minority status (t = 3.068; P = 0.003) as significant contributors. At entry, the P‐group showed the lowest PNES attack frequency (P < 0.000), the lowest rate of antiseizure, antidepressant, and antipsychotic medication (P < 0.000; P = 0.031; P = 0.013, respectively), and the lowest proportion of psychosis (P = 0.046). At follow‐up, PNES attack frequency (P < 0.000), number of admittances to emergency room (P < 0.000), and scores for QoL (P < 0.000) as well as depression (P = 0.004) were found to be significantly improved together with other collateral indicators, such as rate of antiseizure medication prescription (P = 0.001) and psychiatric symptoms (P = 0.03). Multiple regression analysis of a sample limited to patients with intellectual disability (ID) (n = 44; R2 = 0.366; F = 4.493; P = 0.002) revealed continued psychotherapy at follow‐up (t = 2.610, P = 0.013) and successful reduction in antiseizure medication (t = 2.868; P = 0.007) as positively related with improved QoL.

Significance

Clinical and the socio‐psychological constellation of possible, clinically established, and documented PNES were found to differ greatly. Unexpectedly, significant effects of the continuous psychotherapeutic intervention were confirmed in PNES patients with ID.
Reproductive outcomes of neonatal exposure to betamethasone in male and female rats
Authors: Figueiredo Thamiris Moreira , de Barros Jorge Willian Franco , dos Santos Borges Cibele , Pacheco Tainá Louise , de Lima Rosa Josiane , Anselmo‐Franci Janete Aparecida , Kempinas Wilma De Grava
Published: December 2022

Betamethasone (BM) is the drug of choice for antenatal corticosteroid therapy for women at risk of preterm delivery because it induces fetal lung maturation and enhances survival after birth. However, our group reported evidence of fetal programming and impaired reproductive development and function in rats exposed during the critical window of genital system development. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of BM on the sexual development of rats in the period that corresponds to antenatal corticosteroid therapy in humans. Male and female rats were exposed subcutaneously to BM at 0.1 μg/g of pups' body weight or to a NaCl 0.9% solution (control) on postnatal days 1–3. It was observed that neonatal exposure to BM decreased body weight and weight gain in male and female rats during treatment. The estrous cycle was deregulated and LH level was decreased in female rats. In male rats, the sperm concentration in the caput–corpus of the epididymis was decreased, whereas the sperm transit time and sperm concentration in the cauda of the epididymis were increased. Our results demonstrated that neonatal exposure to BM impaired body growth of male and female rats, deregulated the estrous cycle of female rats, and altered sperm quality of male rats. Therefore, BM exposure from postnatal days 1 to 3 corroborated results previously observed after prenatal exposure to this drug. Despite the recognized importance of human antenatal corticosteroid therapy, the findings of this study should encourage further studies in order to minimize possible adverse postnatal effects.
Effectiveness of Japanese encephalitis vaccination among children in central India
Authors: Tandale Babasaheb V. , Khude Poornima M. , Deshmukh Pravin S. , Narang Rahul , Qazi Mohiuddin S. , Padmaja Goteti V. , Jain Manish , Jain Dipty , Guduru Vijay Kumar , Deshmukh Pradeep R. , Raut Abhishek V. , Narlawar Uday W. , Jha Punam Kumari , Rajderkar Shekhar S. ,   Japanese Encephalitis Epidemiology Study Group
Published: December 2022

Japanese encephalitis (JE) disease among children continues in central India despite vaccination implemented in the routine immunization program. Therefore, we planned to estimate the JE vaccination effectiveness among children by undertaking a 1:2 individually‐matched population‐based case‐control study from August 2018 to October 2020. The laboratory‐confirmed JE cases aged 1–15 years were enrolled along with neighborhood controls without fever and encephalitis matched on the residence area, age and sex. The JE vaccination history was enquired from parents and verified independently from the vaccination cards available at home and records at health facilities. We enrolled 35 JE cases and 70 matched controls. The vaccination effectiveness of 86.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 30.8–94.7) was estimated on the per‐protocol analysis of 31 case‐control sets. The screening method provided an effectiveness of 89.5% (CI: 78.9–94.7) on using the population vaccination coverage of 90% reported earlier in the same area. In conclusion, JE vaccination offered a moderate level of protection among children in JE medium‐endemic central India, similar to reports from high‐endemic areas in India. The operational aspects of vaccination program implementation need to be evaluated to assess the impact of vaccination on the disease burden of JE in medium‐endemic regions of India.
Five‐year survival outcomes in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma following transoral laser microsurgery
Authors: Turner Brooke , MacKay Colin , Taylor S. Mark , Rigby Matthew Hall
Published: December 2022

Objective

To determine the 5‐year survival outcomes of patients with oropharyngeal cancer treated with transoral laser microsurgery at our institution.

Methods

A prospective longitudinal cohort study of all cases of oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer or clinically unknown primaries diagnosed at our institution between September 1, 2014, to December 31, 2019, treated with primary transoral laser microsurgery were analyzed. Patients with a previous history of head and neck radiation were excluded from analysis. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were used to estimate 5‐year overall survival, disease‐specific survival, local control, and recurrence free survival rates in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Results

Of 142 patients identified, 135 met criteria and were included in the survival analysis. Five‐year local control rates in p16 positive and negative disease were 99.2% and 100%, respectively, with one locoregional failure in the p16 positive cohort. Five‐year overall survival, disease‐specific survival, and recurrence free survival in p16 positive disease were 91%, 95.2%, and 87% respectively (n = 124). Five‐year overall survival, disease‐specific survival, and recurrence free survival in p16 negative disease were 39.8%, 58.3%, and 60%, respectively (n = 11). The permanent gastrostomy tube rate was 1.5% and zero patients received a tracheostomy at the time of surgery. One patient (0.74%) required a return to the OR for a post‐operative pharyngeal bleed.

Conclusion

Transoral laser microsurgery is a safe primary treatment option for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma with high 5‐year survival outcomes, notably in p16 positive disease. More randomized trials are needed to compare survival outcomes and associated morbidity in transoral laser microsurgery compared to treatment with primary chemoradiation.

Level of Evidence

3