bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Polyaniline Plastic Nanocomposite as Multi‐Functional Nanomaterial
Authors: Yadav Ankita , Kumar Harish
Published: August 2022

Mixed metal nanocomposites encapsulated with conducting polymer plastic may show synergistic effects in their properties resulting in unique applications in optoelectronic, conducting material, recording tapes, data‐storing quantum dots, catalysis, sensors, adsorption, purification, seperation, biosensors, antibacterial, and anti‐corrosive agents. Encapsulation of Ni/Cu/ZnO (NCZ) nanocomposites (NCs) with polyaniline (PANI) plastic by in situ method results in unique properties. A modified sol‐gel method was used for synthesizing mixed metal NCs. The PANI was synthesized by the chemical‐oxidative method. TEM, FTIR, FESEM, UV‐visible, and XRD techniques were used for characterizing NCZ NCs, PANI, and NCZ/PANI NCs. The theoretical (computational) study was carried out to support the experimental results. The adsorption, magnetic, photocatalytic, photoluminescence, electrical, antibacterial, and anticorrosive properties of NCs were explored. The NCZ/PANI NCs were proved paramagnetic. The optical band gap of NCs observed from UV‐visible and computational techniques were comparable i. e., ∼2.32 eV. The NCs show 86.5 % corrosion inhibition efficiency for mild steel in acidic medium. The adsorption power of the Silica gel/NCs column was greater than the pure silica gel column. The NCs degrade methyl‐red dye in UV light. The antibacterial activity was investigated against E. coli (‐) and bacillus (+). No significant antibacterial activity was observed. The synthesized NCZ/PANI NCs were proved to be very good nanomaterials for adsorption, separation, magnetic, photocatalytic, electrical, and corrosion inhibitor.
Selective Electrochemical Oxidation of Alcohols Catalyzed by Partially Biobased TEMPO Analogs**
Authors: Doll Kenneth M. , Cermak Steven C.
Published: August 2022

A new electrochemical catalyst has been synthesized from an analog of 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐1‐oxyl (TEMPO) and the medium chain fatty acid, undecenoic acid. The electrochemical properties of the new material are shifted to more positive potential by ∼170 mV, typical for other substituted TEMPOs. The straightforward reaction gives a catalyst that has been tested in the oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes and ketones and gives reaction rates similar to TEMPOs when considered on a per nitroxyl basis. However, the new system gives an ∼ 3‐fold higher primary over secondary selectivity. This reaction shows promise as a versatile method in the potential to synthesize rationally designed electroactive materials with a high biobased content.
Dynamics of Formation of Binuclear Metal Complexes: A New Cu(I) Compound with N‐(2‐thiophenecarbonyl)‐N’‐(3‐Cl, 4‐F‐phenyl)thiourea as Ligand
Authors: Ramos Cairo Raúl , María Plutín Ana , Oscar Mocelo Castell Raúl , Castellano Eduardo E. , Corrêa Rodrigo S. , Nossa González Diana L. , Erben Mauricio F. , Regina Cominetti Marcia , Morais Leite Celisnolia , Donizeth de Oliveira Tamires , Batista Alzir A.
Published: August 2022

Herein we report the synthesis and characterization of a new copper(I) complex with triphenylphosphine (PPh3) and N‐(2‐thiophenecarbonyl)‐N’‐(3‐Cl, 4‐F‐phenyl)thiourea (HL), as ligands. The complex was characterized by vibrational (FTIR and FT‐Raman) and multinuclear (1H, 13C {1H}, 31P{1H}) NMR spectroscopies. The crystalline structure of the complex was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, confirming that a neutral binuclear compound, identified as [Cu(PPh3)(L‐κ2‐N,μ‐S)]2, was obtained. The anionic thiourea ligand coordinates to the metal through the sulfur and nitrogen atoms in an unusual bidentate κ2‐N,μ‐S coordination mode. The complex is a dimer sited on a crystallographic center of symmetry. Each Cu2(μ‐S)2 cation bridges trough the sulfur atoms of two symmetry related thiourea moieties and is also coordinated to the nitrogen atom of the thiourea ligand and the phosphorus atom from PPh3 co‐ligand, forming a slightly distorted tetrahedral geometry. An intramolecular N−H⋅⋅⋅O=C hydrogen bond is observed in the anionic ligand, forming a six‐membered ring that stabilizes the N−H thioamide group. Hirshfeld surface analysis shows that the molecules are connected by weak intermolecular contacts C⋅⋅⋅C, H⋅⋅⋅C and H⋅⋅⋅H which add to the stability of the crystalline packing. The in vitro cytotoxicity study of the complex indicates that it is more active against human lung carcinoma cells (A549), when compared to the free ligand.
Design and Preparation of β‐Lactam Derivatives Bearing Phenanthrenimidazole as Cytotoxic Agents
Authors: Alborz Maryam , Pournejati Roya , Ameri Rad Javad , Jarrahpour Aliasghar , Reza Karbalaei‐Heidari Hamid , Michel Brunel Jean , Turos Edward
Published: August 2022

In the present work, a novel series of monocyclic 1H‐phenanthro[9,10‐d]imidazole β‐lactam hybrids has been synthesized in yields varying from 70–95 % by a stereoselective [2+2]‐cyclocondensation (Staudinger reaction). The newly‐synthesized compounds and their imine intermediates were characterized by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and elemental analyses. The 1H‐phenanthro[9,10‐d]imidazole β‐lactam hybrids showed moderate cytotoxicity towards two mammalian cancerous cell lines, MCF‐7 and A549, and to a lesser extent on immortalized normal fibroblast SV‐80 cells. In addition, hemolytic activity of the Phenanthren‐imidazole β‐lactam conjugates showed their potential as a medicine. None of the compounds displayed antibacterial or anti‐inflammatory activity.
Cycloacceleration of Reactive Oxygen Species Generation Based on Exceedingly Small Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Tumor Ferroptosis Therapy
Authors: Zhou Huimin , Lu Xuanyi , Du Chao , Zhou Zijian , Feng Jie , Liang Zhiyu , Xu Yikai , Qiu Xiaozhong , Shen Zheyu
Published: August 2022

Because of the insufficiency of hydrogen peroxide, the relatively low rate of Fenton reaction, and the active glutathione (GSH) peroxidase 4 (GPX4) in tumor cells, it is difficult to achieve a desirable efficacy of ferroptosis therapy (FT) for tumors based on nanomaterials. Inspired by the concept of “cyclotron” in physics, in this study, a new concept of cycloacceleration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in tumor cells to realize high‐performance FT of tumors is proposed. Typically, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent of dotted core–shell Fe3O4/Gd2O3 hybrid nanoparticles (FGNPs) is prepared based on exceedingly small magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (ES‐MIONs). Sorafenib (SFN) is loaded and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether‐poly(propylene sulfide)‐NH2 (mPEG‐PPS‐NH2) is grafted on the surface of FGNP to generate SA‐SFN‐FGNP via self‐assembly. The results of in vitro and in vivo demonstrate SA‐SFN‐FGNP can work with the acidic tumor microenvironment and endosomal conditions, Fenton reaction and system XC−, and generate cyclic reactions in tumor cells, resulting in specific cycloacceleration of ROS generation for high‐performance FT of tumors. The very high longitudinal relaxivity (r1, 33.43 mM−1 s−1, 3.0 T) makes sure that the SA‐SFN‐FGNP can be used for MRI‐guided FT of tumors.
A systems approach to enabling student‐led critical discussion
Authors: Cooray Shavindrie , Champion Donna
Published: August 2022

This research explored the application of Systems methods and tools to enable student‐led critical discussion in both face‐to‐face and online learning environments. We found that student teams using Systems tools to help address a problem (whether working face‐to‐face or online in virtual teams) reported an increased level of controversy and disagreement in their discussions compared with teams that worked without using Systems tools. Interestingly, the teams applying Systems tools also expressed more confidence and satisfaction with the problem‐solving process and resulting decision. We discuss these findings and set out some suggestions for applying Systems thinking to encourage team working and student‐led critical discussion in both online and face‐to‐face learning environments.
Measuring quality of reporting in systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy studies in medical imaging: comparison of PRISMA‐DTA and PRISMA
Authors: Li Q. , Hou W. , Li L. , Xu J. , Ren Y. , Zou K. , Tian R. , Sun X.
Published: August 2022

Objectives

To compare the reporting quality measured by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses of Diagnostic Test Accuracy studies (PRISMA‐DTA) vs the original PRISMA checklist for systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy studies in imaging and survey the use of PRISMA‐DTA by researchers and endorsement by journals.

Methods

Systematic reviews of DTA studies published in 2020 and 2021 in Quartile 1 and Quartile 3 medical imaging journals (defined by Journal Citation Reports) were identified through PubMed. The reporting of each systematic review was assessed using PRISMA‐DTA, PRISMA‐2009 and PRISMA‐2020. The item scores and overall score were compared among the three checklists. We also examined checklist adoption by the included systematic reviews and surveyed checklist endorsement from author instructions of included journals.

Results

A total of 173 systematic reviews from 66 journals were included. The use of PRISMA‐DTA, compared with PRISMA‐2009 and PRISMA‐2020, identified more issues in the reporting of title (proportion of systematic reviews with proper reporting, 27.2% vs 98.8% vs 98.8%), abstract (39.3% vs 97.1% vs 64.7%), eligibility criteria (67.6% vs 94.2% vs 94.2%), search (28.9% vs 72.3% vs 28.9%), definitions for data extraction (14.5% vs 91.9% vs 91.9%), diagnostic accuracy measures (38.2% vs 93.6% vs 93.6%), synthesis of results (28.9% vs 89.6% vs 73.4%) and results of individual studies (40.5% vs 80.3% vs 80.3%). The overall median reporting score measured by PRISMA‐DTA (72.0% (interquartile range (IQR), 66.7–77.8%)) was lower than that measured by PRISMA‐2009 (88.9% (IQR, 84.0–92.6%)) and similar to that measured by PRISMA‐2020 (74.1% (IQR, 66.7–77.8%)). Additionally, PRISMA‐DTA was used by only 43 (24.9%) systematic reviews and endorsed by two (3.0%) journals. These trends remained consistent for reviews published in journals with diverse scientific impact.

Conclusions

The use of PRISMA‐DTA may identify more reporting inadequacies compared with the original PRISMA checklists when assessing diagnostic test accuracy systematic reviews, especially in critical sections such as title, abstract and methods. However, this tool is not commonly used by researchers and is inadequately endorsed by imaging journals. Our findings suggest a strong need to use PRISMA‐DTA for reporting of diagnostic test accuracy systematic reviews by authors and its endorsement by journals. © 2022 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Preparation and application of (Cu2O‐Ag)@TA composite nanomaterials with enhanced stability and photocatalytic antibacterial activity
Authors: Zhao Yanzhen , Yan Jianghao , Yang Liu , Xu Meirong , Wang Huifang , Niu Baolong , Li Wenfeng
Published: August 2022

Food spoilage caused by bacterial growth is a serious threat to human health, so food preservation technology with long‐acting antibacterial effect has been widely studied. In this work, (Cu2O‐Ag)@TA heterojunction composite antibacterial material with a core‐shell structure was synthesized to improve the stability of Cu2O. Morphological characterization shows that silver nanoparticles are uniformly distributed on the surface of Cu2O microspheres, (Cu2O‐Ag)@TA has a core‐shell structure, the particle size is about 300 nm, and the thickness of the tannic acid shell is about 6 nm. In addition, (Cu2O‐Ag)@TA exhibits excellent dispersibility and stability, it can stably release Cu2+ within 14 days and has enhanced reactive oxygen species release performance, thus achieving excellent antibacterial properties, with a minimum inhibitory concentrations of 96 μg ml−1 against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, adding (Cu2O‐Ag)@TA into the LbL‐PVA/CS/FA composite film can improve the mechanical properties and antibacterial ability of the composite film, providing a feasible solution for new biodegradable antibacterial packaging materials.
Structural Diversity of Lithium N‐Mesityl‐P,P‐diphenylphosphinimidate of the type [(L)Li{O−PPh2=N−Mes]n Depending on Lewis Base L
Authors: Schönherr Paul R. W. , Pröhl Felix E. , Görls Helmar , Krieck Sven , Westerhausen Matthias
Published: August 2022

Metalation of N‐mesityl‐P,P‐diphenylphosphinic amide with nBuLi in toluene yields tetranuclear lithium N‐mesityl‐P,P‐diphenylphosphinimidate ([Ph2P(OLi)=N−Mes]4, 1). Metalation of Ph2P(O)−N(H)Mes with a mixture of dibutylmagnesium and butyllithium in DME leads to formation of dinuclear [Ph2P{OLi(dme)}=N−Mes]2 (2). Excess of Ph2P(O)−N(H)Mes gives dinuclear [Li(O−PPh2=N−Mes){Ph2P(=O)−N(H)−Mes}]2 (3) with three‐coordinate alkali ions. The metathetical approach via reaction of 1 with anhydrous magnesium bromide in ethereal solution yields [{(thf)LiBr}2{(thf)Li(O−PPh2=NMes)(Et2O)Li(O−PPh2=NMes)}] (4). Heterobimetallic Li/Mg compounds are not accessible by these protocols. Reactions of 1 with DME, with excess of Ph2P(O)−N(H)Mes or with LiBr allows the straightforward conversion to compounds 2, 3 and 4.
Hexanuclear Niobium Cluster Alcoholates – First Representatives with Isopropanolato Ligands
Authors: Schröder Florian , Köckerling Martin
Published: August 2022

Four new compounds were synthesized which belong to the so far very small group of hexanuclear niobium cluster alcoholates. These are [Mg(HOCH3)6]3[Nb6Cl12(OCH3)6]2 ⋅ 6CH3OH (1), (Ph4P)2[Nb6(OC2H5)12Cl6] (2), (Ph4P)2[Nb6(OC3H7)i4Cli8Cla6] (3) and (NC5H6)2[Nb6(OC3H7)12Cl6] (4). The last two compounds represent the first examples with isopropanolato ligands on the inner coordination sites of the octahedral metal atom cores. The X‐ray structures of 1–3 have been determined. All cluster units with alcoholato ligands on the inner sites carry 14 cluster‐based electrons (CBEs), as do all other so far known cluster alcoholates. The cluster unit in Compound 1, which carries chloride ligands on the inner coordination sites, is a 15 CBE unit. The cluster anion in 3 has four inner ligand sites occupied by isopropanolate anions, which are arranged trans to each other and define a common plane. Because of the smaller size of the alcoholato O donor atom compared to halogenido ligands matrix effects are not much or not at all present in the cluster anions of 2 and 3 (and 4) and thereby the Nb−Nb distances are much smaller than found in cluster units with halogenido ligands.
Gravitational potential and galaxy rotation curves in multi-fractional spacetimes
Authors: Calcagni Gianluca , Varieschi Gabriele U.
Published: August 2022

Abstract

Multi-fractional theories with integer-order derivatives are models of gravitational and matter fields living in spacetimes with variable Hausdorff and spectral dimension, originally proposed as descriptions of geometries arising in quantum gravity. We derive the Poisson equation and the Newtonian potential of these theories starting from their covariant modified Einstein’s equations. In particular, in the case of the theory Tv with weighted derivatives with small fractional corrections, we find a gravitational potential that grows logarithmically at large radii when the fractional exponent takes the special value α = 4/3. This behaviour is associated with a restoration law for the Hausdorff dimension of spacetime independently found in the dark-energy sector of the same theory. As an application, we check whether this potential can serve as an alternative to dark matter for the galaxies NGC7814, NGC6503 and NGC3741 in the SPARC catalogue. We show that their rotation curves at medium-to-large radii can indeed be explained by purely geometric effects, although the Tully-Fisher relation is not reproduced well. We discuss how to fix the small-radius behaviour by lifting some approximations and how to test the model with other observables and an enlarged galaxy sample.
$$ T\overline{T} $$-deformed free energy of the Airy model
Authors: Ebert Stephen , Sun Hao-Yu , Sun Zhengdi
Published: August 2022

Abstract

Sharpening the correspondence of Jackiw-Teitelboim (JT) gravity and its dual matrix model description at a finite radial cutoff λ through the $$ T\overline{T} $$
T

T
¯

deformation is of interest. To proceed, we simplify the problem by considering the Airy model and deform Airy correlators in the same way as in $$ T\overline{T} $$
T

T
¯

-deformed JT gravity. We use those correlators to compute the annealed and quenched free energies for both λ > 0 and λ < 0 from an integral representation of the replica trick. At the leading order in λ and low temperatures, we confirm that the genus-zero quenched free energy monotonically decreases as a function of temperature when perturbation theory is valid. We then study the all-genus quenched free energy at low temperatures, where we discover and discuss subtleties due to non-perturbative effects in the Airy model, as well as the contributions from the non-perturbative branch under the $$ T\overline{T} $$
T

T
¯

deformation.
Quantum phase transitions in a bidimensional O(N) × ℤ2 scalar field model
Authors: Heymans Gustavo O. , Pinto Marcus Benghi , Ramos Rudnei O.
Published: August 2022

Abstract

We analyze the possible quantum phase transition patterns occurring within the O(N) × ℤ2 scalar multi-field model at vanishing temperatures in (1 + 1)-dimensions. The physical masses associated with the two coupled scalar sectors are evaluated using the loop approximation up to second order. We observe that in the strong coupling regime, the breaking O(N) × ℤ2→ O(N), which is allowed by the Mermin-Wagner-Hohenberg-Coleman theorem, can take place through a second-order phase transition. In order to satisfy this no-go theorem, the O(N) sector must have a finite mass gap for all coupling values, such that conformality is never attained, in opposition to what happens in the simpler ℤ2 version. Our evaluations also show that the sign of the interaction between the two different fields alters the transition pattern in a significant way. These results may be relevant to describe the quantum phase transitions taking place in cold linear systems with competing order parameters. At the same time the super-renormalizable model proposed here can turn out to be useful as a prototype to test resummation techniques as well as non-perturbative methods.
Flavour and dark matter in a scoto/type-II seesaw model
Authors: Barreiros D. M. , Câmara H. B. , Joaquim F. R.
Published: August 2022

Abstract

The neutrino mass and dark matter (DM) problems are addressed in a Standard Model extension where the type-II seesaw and scotogenic mechanisms coexist. The model features a flavour 𝒵8 discrete symmetry which is broken down to a 𝒵2, stabilising the (scalar or fermion) DM particle. Spontaneous CP violation is implemented through the complex vacuum expectation value of a singlet scalar field, inducing observable CP-violating effects in the lepton sector. The structure of the effective neutrino mass matrix leads to constraints on the low-energy neutrino observables, namely the atmospheric neutrino mixing angle θ23, the Dirac CP-violating phase δ and the absolute neutrino mass scale mlightest. In particular, in most cases, the model selects one θ23 octant with δ ≃ 3π/2. Moreover, the obtained lower bounds on mlightest are typically in the range probed by cosmology. We also analyse the constraints imposed on the model by current experimental limits on charged lepton flavour violating (cLFV) processes, as well as future projected sensitivities. It is shown that the Higgs triplet and scotogenic contributions to cLFV never overlap and that the interplay among Yukawa couplings, dark charged scalar masses and mixing leads to a wide parameter-space region compatible with current experimental bounds. We investigate the scalar and fermion DM parameter space of our model by considering relic density, direct-detection (DD) and collider constraints. For scalar DM the mass interval 68 GeV ≲ mDM ≲ 90 GeV is viable and will be probed by future DD searches. In the fermion DM case, correct relic density is always obtained for mDM ≳ 45 GeV thanks to dark fermion-scalar coannihilation channels.
Effective field theories and cosmological scattering equations
Authors: Armstrong C. , Gomez H. , Jusinskas R. Lipinski , Lipstein A. , Mei J.
Published: August 2022

Abstract

We propose worldsheet formulae for wavefunction coefficients of the massive non-linear sigma model (NLSM), scalar Dirac-Born-Infeld (DBI), and special Galileon (sGal) theories in de Sitter momentum space in terms of the recently proposed cosmological scattering equations constructed from conformal generators in the future boundary. The four-point integrands are assembled from simple building blocks and we identify a double copy prescription mapping the NLSM wavefunction coefficient to the DBI and sGal wavefunction coefficients, including mass deformations and curvature corrections. Finally, we compute the soft limits of these wavefunction coefficients and find that they can be written in terms of boundary conformal generators acting on contact diagrams.
Compact objects of spherical symmetry in beyond Horndeski theories
Authors: Bakopoulos A. , Charmousis C. , Kanti P. , Lecoeur N.
Published: August 2022

Abstract

We analyse in all generality beyond Horndeski theories of shift symmetry in a static and spherically symmetric spacetime. By introducing four auxiliary functions, we write the field equations in a particularly compact form. We show that assuming additionally parity symmetry renders the system directly integrable giving multiple families of black-hole solutions. These have typically an asymptotically-flat Reissner-Nordstrom behaviour, and emerge in the presence of a canonical kinetic term for the scalar field. In the absence of parity symmetry, we present a general method which allows us to integrate the field equations by choosing the form of only one coupling function and an auxiliary quantity. This method leads to asymptotically flat and AdS black hole solutions with differing properties. We finally discuss disformal transformations within this context as a means of obtaining wormhole and black hole solutions in different theories.
Rules of Geometries of Control in Muslim Architecture: Emergence and Conflicts of a Research Field in France (1863–1899)
Authors: Girón Sierra Francisco Javier
Published: August 2022

In the second half of the nineteenth century, studies and hypotheses on the geometric rules used in the past for setting up buildings experienced a growing momentum, fueled by the demands of a discipline in the making: the history of architecture. One area yet to be studied was the regulating geometric lines of Muslim architecture. This article describes how this research emerged and developed in France, highlighting its protagonists, hypotheses, and conceptual framework. The research was carried out by a small group of architects, engineers, and diplomats tied by professional or personal links: Vogüé, Mauss, Dieulafoy, and Choisy, being all of whom were in some way influenced by Viollet-le-Duc. Also discusses is why their sustained efforts failed to achieve a consistent overall picture. At the end of the nineteenth century, the task of describing the geometric of Muslim architecture and finding its place in the universal history of architecture was still open.
Evolution and molecular interactions of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-G, -E and -F genes
Authors: Arnaiz-Villena Antonio , Suarez-Trujillo Fabio , Juarez Ignacio , Rodríguez-Sainz Carmen , Palacio-Gruber José , Vaquero-Yuste Christian , Molina-Alejandre Marta , Fernández-Cruz Eduardo , Martin-Villa José Manuel
Published: August 2022

ClassicalHLA(Human Leukocyte Antigen) is the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) in man. HLA genes and disease association has been studied at least since 1967 and no firm pathogenic mechanisms have been established yet.HLA-Gimmune modulation gene (and also-Eand-F) are starting the same arduous way: statistics and allele association are the trending subjects with the same few results obtained byHLAclassical genes, i.e., no pathogenesis may be discovered after many years of a great amount of researchers’ effort. Thus, we believe that it is necessary to follow different research methodologies: (1) to approach this problem, based on how evolution has worked maintaining together a cluster of immune-related genes (the MHC) in a relatively short chromosome area since amniotes to human at least, i.e., immune regulatory genes (MHC-G, -E and -F), adaptive immune classical class I and II genes, non-adaptive immune genes like (C2, C4 and Bf) (2); in addition to using new in vitro models which explain pathogenetics ofHLAand disease associations. In fact, this evolution may be quite reliably studied during about 40 million years by analyzing the evolution ofMHC-G, -E, -F, and their receptors (KIR—killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptor, NKG2—natural killer group 2-, or TCR-T-cell receptor—among others) in the primate evolutionary lineage, where orthology of these molecules is apparently established, although cladistic studies show thatMHC-GandMHC-Bgenes are the ancestral class I genes, and that New World apesMHC-Gis paralogous and not orthologous to all other apes and manMHC-Ggenes. In the present review, we outline past and possible future research topics: co-evolution of adaptiveMHCclassical (class I and II), non-adaptive (i.e., complement) and modulation (i.e., non-classical class I) immune genes may imply that the study of full or part of MHC haplotypes involving several loci/alleles instead of single alleles is important for uncovering HLA and disease pathogenesis. It would mainly apply to starting research on HLA-G extended haplotypes and disease association and not only using single HLA-G genetic markers.
Social information-mediated population dynamics in non-grouping prey
Authors: Tóth Zoltán , Kőmüves Gabriella
Published: August 2022

Inadvertent social information (ISI) use, i.e., the exploitation of social cues including the presence and behaviour of others, has been predicted to mediate population-level processes even in the absence of cohesive grouping. However, we know little about how such effects may arise when the prey population lacks social structure beyond the spatiotemporal autocorrelation originating from the random movement of individuals. In this study, we built an individual-based model where predator avoidance behaviour could spread among randomly moving prey through the network of nearby observers. We qualitatively assessed how ISI use may affect prey population size when cue detection was associated with different probabilities and fitness costs, and characterised the structural properties of the emerging detection networks that would provide pathways for information spread in prey. We found that ISI use was among the most influential model parameters affecting prey abundance and increased equilibrium population sizes in most examined scenarios. Moreover, it could substantially contribute to population survival under high predation pressure, but this effect strongly depended on the level of predator detection ability. When prey exploited social cues in the presence of high predation risk, the observed detection networks consisted of a large number of connected components with small sizes and small ego networks; this resulted in efficient information spread among connected individuals in the detection networks. Our study provides hypothetical mechanisms about how temporary local densities may allow information diffusion about predation threats among conspecifics and facilitate population stability and persistence in non-grouping animals.

Significance statement

The exploitation of inadvertently produced social cues may not only modify individual behaviour but also fundamentally influence population dynamics and species interactions. Using an individual-based model, we investigated how the detection and spread of adaptive antipredator behaviour may cascade to changes in the demographic performance of randomly moving (i.e., non-grouping) prey. We found that social information use contributed to population stability and persistence by reducing predation-related per capita mortality and raising equilibrium population sizes when predator detection ability reached a sufficient level. We also showed that temporary detection networks had structural properties that allowed efficient information spread among prey under high predation pressure. Our work represents a general modelling approach that could be adapted to specific predator-prey systems and scrutinise how temporary local densities allow dynamic information diffusion about predation threats and facilitate population stability in non-grouping animals.
Head-to-head comparison of biparametric versus multiparametric MRI of the prostate before robot-assisted transperineal fusion prostate biopsy
Authors: Thaiss Wolfgang M. , Moser Simone , Hepp Tobias , Kruck Stephan , Rausch Steffen , Scharpf Marcus , Nikolaou Konstantin , Stenzl Arnulf , Bedke Jens , Kaufmann Sascha
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Prostate biparametric magnetic resonance imaging (bpMRI) including T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) might be an alternative to multiparametric MRI (mpMRI, including dynamic contrast imaging, DCE) to detect and guide targeted biopsy in patients with suspected prostate cancer (PCa). However, there is no upgrading peripheral zone PI-RADS 3 to PI-RADS 4 without DCE in bpMRI. The aim of this study was to evaluate bpMRI against mpMRI in biopsy-naïve men with elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) scheduled for robot-assisted-transperineal fusion-prostate biopsy (RA-TB).

Methods

Retrospective single-center-study of 563 biopsy-naïve men (from 01/2015 to 09/2018, mean PSA 9.7 ± 6.5 ng/mL) with PI-RADSv2.1 conform mpMRI at 3 T before RA-TB. Clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) was defined as ISUP grade ≥ 2 in any core. Two experienced readers independently evaluated images according to PI-RADSv2.1 criteria (separate readings for bpMRI and mpMRI sequences, 6-month interval). Reference standard was histology from RA-TB.

Results

PI-RADS 2 was scored in 5.1% of cases (3.4% cancer/3.4% csPCa), PI-RADS 3 in 16.9% (32.6%/3.2%), PI-RADS 4 in 57.6% (66.1%/58.3%) and PI-RADS 5 in 20.4% of cases (79.1%/74.8%). For mpMRI/bpMRI test comparison, sensitivity was 99.0%/97.1% (p < 0.001), specificity 47.5%/61.2% (p < 0.001), PPV 69.5%/75.1% (p < 0.001) and NPV 97.6%/94.6% (n.s.). csPCa was considered gold standard. 35 cases without cancer were upgraded to PI-RADS 4 (mpMRI) and six PI-RADS 3 cases with csPCa were not upgraded (bpMRI).

Conclusion

In patients planned for RA-TB with elevated PSA and clinical suspicion for PCa, specificity was higher in bpMRI vs. mpMRI, which could solve constrains regarding time and contrast agent.
Redox-dependent Ti stable isotope fractionation on the Moon: implications for current lunar magma ocean models
Authors: Rzehak Laura J. A. , Kommescher Sebastian , Hoare Liam , Kurzweil Florian , Sprung Peter , Leitzke Felipe P. , Fonseca Raúl O. C.
Published: August 2022

In terrestrial magmas titanium is predominantly tetravalent (Ti4+), in contrast, lunar magmas are more reduced (IW-1) and hence approximately 10% of their bulk Ti content is trivalent (Ti3+). Changes in oxidation state and coordination number are both important parameters that can serve to drive Ti stable isotope fractionation. As such, mineral–mineral and mineral-melt Ti stable isotope fractionation factors determined for terrestrial samples may not be appropriate for lunar samples that formed under more reducing conditions. To address this issue, several experiments were carried out in gas mixing furnaces over a range offO2(air to IW-1) to determine Ti stable isotope fractionation factors for minerals, such as ilmenite, clinopyroxene and rutile that are highly abundant on the Moon. Results show that the extent of Ti stable isotope fractionation significantly increases with decreasingfO2. For example, the isotopic difference between ilmenite and residual melt (Δ49Tiilmenite-melt) is resolvably lower by ~ 0.44 ‰ from terrestrial-like FMQ-0.5 to lunar-like IW-1 at an intermediate precision of ± 0.003 ‰ (95% c.i. OL–Ti). This confirms that fractionation factors determined for terrestrial conditions are indeed not applicable to lunar settings. Our new fractionation factors for ilmenite, clinopyroxene and silicate melt are mostly consistent with those previously determined by ab initio modelling based on density-functional theory. Using our new experimental data in conjunction with previously published high-precision HFSE data and Ti stable isotope data of lunar basalts, we modelled the solidification of the Lunar Magma Ocean (LMO). The model for LMO solidification included fractionation of Ti stable isotopes not only by Ti-oxides, but also by typical lunar silicate minerals as pyroxene or olivine. The resulting δ49Ti for urKREEP and ilmenite-bearing cumulates are within error of previous estimates, but also indicate that ilmenite-bearing cumulates must have contained around 15% ilmenite.
Clinical and genotypic analysis in determining dystonia non-motor phenotypic heterogeneity: a UK Biobank study
Authors: Wadon Megan E. , Fenner Eilidh , Kendall Kimberley M. , Bailey Grace A. , Sandor Cynthia , Rees Elliott , Peall Kathryn J.
Published: August 2022

The spectrum of non-motor symptoms in dystonia remains unclear. Using UK Biobank data, we analysed clinical phenotypic and genetic information in the largest dystonia cohort reported to date. Case–control comparison of dystonia and matched control cohort was undertaken to identify domains (psychiatric, pain, sleep and cognition) of increased symptom burden in dystonia. Whole exome data were used to determine the rate and likely pathogenicity of variants in Mendelian inherited dystonia causing genes and linked to clinical data. Within the dystonia cohort, phenotypic and genetic single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data were combined in a mixed model analysis to derive genetically informed phenotypic axes. A total of 1572 individuals with dystonia were identified, including cervical dystonia (n = 775), blepharospasm (n = 131), tremor (n = 488) and dystonia, unspecified (n = 154) groups. Phenotypic patterns highlighted a predominance of psychiatric symptoms (anxiety and depression), excess pain and sleep disturbance. Cognitive impairment was limited to prospective memory and fluid intelligence. Whole exome sequencing identified 798 loss of function variants in dystonia-linked genes, 67 missense variants (MPC > 3) and 305 other forms of non-synonymous variants (including inframe deletion, inframe insertion, stop loss and start loss variants). A single loss of function variant (ANO3) was identified in the dystonia cohort. Combined SNP and clinical data identified multiple genetically informed phenotypic axes with predominance of psychiatric, pain and sleep non-motor domains. An excess of psychiatric, pain and sleep symptoms were evident across all forms of dystonia. Combination with genetic data highlights phenotypic subgroups consistent with the heterogeneity observed in clinical practice.
Is acidemia at birth a risk factor for functional gastrointestinal disorders?
Authors: Indrio Flavia , Marchese Flavia , Rinaldi Matteo , Maffei Gianfranco , Dargenio Vanessa , Cinquepalmi Roberta , Mantovani Massimo Pettoello , Aceti Arianna
Published: August 2022

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are common in early childhood. It has been demonstrated that neonatal acidemia at delivery can lead to significant neonatal morbidity. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between acidemia at birth and the development of FGIDs, as regurgitation, colic, and constipation, in term infants. Term newborns born at the Foggia University Hospital, Italy during the year 2020 were included in the study. As per routine clinical practice, a cord blood gas analysis on a blood sample drawn from the umbilical artery (UA) of each infant immediately after birth was performed, and Apgar score was recorded. One year after birth, each infant’s parents were interviewed through a phone call to investigate development of FGIDs, feeding practices, and morbidities. During the study period, 1574 term newborns met the inclusion criteria. The prevalence of infantile colic, regurgitation, and constipation was higher in infants with low UA pH (colic 51.5% vs. 25.4%, p < 0.001; regurgitation 30.6% vs. 15.2%, p < 0.001; constipation 24.6% vs. 16.0%, p = 0.015), with infants having moderate-severe acidemia facing the highest risk for all the examined FGIDs. In binary logistic regression analyses, UA pH and perinatal antibiotic exposure proved to be independently associated with the later diagnosis of each FGID.

Conclusion: Newborns with acidemia at birth appear to face a higher risk of FGIDs in infancy. Avoiding low cord blood pH should continue to be the goal for obstetricians, while enhanced long-term surveillance for infants who experienced birth acidemia should be required.

What is Known:• Cord blood gas analysis is recommended in all high-risk deliveries, and in some centers, it is performed after all deliveries.• Neonatal acidemia at birth has been linked to adverse outcomes, mainly neurological. Recently, perinatal asphyxia has been reported to increase the risk of developing necrotizing enterocolitis in term infants.

What is New:• An association between acidemia at birth and risk of developing FGIDs such as regurgitation and colic during the first year of life had never been described so far.• An increased surveillance of infants with low UA pH at birth may be beneficial and could allow for early detection of any of the reported FGIDs.
Social Validity in Spain of the Mantente REAL Prevention Program for Early Adolescents
Authors: Cutrín Olalla , Fadden I. Mac , Marsiglia F. F. , Kulis S. S.
Published: August 2022

Studies focusing on the relevance or impact of a program, not just on its efficacy or effectiveness, can make important contributions to prevention science. This article documents the social validity (i.e., a construct encompassing feasibility, acceptability, and utility) of a universal substance use prevention program for early adolescents in Spain. The Mantente REAL (keepin’it REAL) program was culturally adapted to the Spanish context, implemented, and evaluated in six public middle schools in two regions of Spain. Participating teachers (N = 15), students (N = 354), and research team members (N = 6) reported on the feasibility, acceptability, and utility of the program implemented with first grade secondary school students. Qualitative and quantitative data about the program, its curriculum, and the implementation process were collected through teachers’ focus groups, students’ surveys, and observation forms completed by members of the research team. Mantente REAL was perceived to be a prevention program that was feasible for implementation in Spanish middle schools, although some logistics related to school structural constraints should be addressed in future implementations. The topics and activities in the curriculum were highly accepted by teachers and students, and they reported that the program was useful in teaching resistance strategies to cope with substance use and other risky situations. The findings support the social validity of the culturally adapted Mantente REAL program for early adolescents in Spain, and highlight how feedback from stakeholders involved in the implementation can improve the dissemination of effective prevention approaches.
Speed of International Expansion: The Mediating Role of Network Resources Mobilisation
Authors: Bolívar Luis Miguel , Roldán José Luis , Castro-Abancéns Ignacio , Casanueva Cristóbal
Published: August 2022

Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) are often under pressure to expand at the highest possible speed in international markets. They therefore embed themselves in networks of alliances where they can access resources in the form of relational assets, information, and learning to facilitate swifter internationalisation whilst circumventing the risks of time-compression diseconomies. Hence, drawing from the network theory of international business and the perspective of structural embeddedness of interorganisational relationships, this study aims to determine the relationship between access to and mobilisation of network resources in relation to the speed of international expansion among MNEs. For this purpose, we assembled a sample of 131 global-reach MNEs from the airline industry and observed their international expansion activities over a 5-year period. Partial-Least-Squares Structural-Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was applied to capture the multidimensionality of internationalisation speed, under the commitment-breadth-intensity framework, as well as the multidimensionality of both embeddedness and mobilisation; similarly, we employ Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) to identify the necessary antecedent variables in our research model. As a result, understanding was gained of the position of each firm within an international alliance network, in terms of how it creates value by obtaining access to resources for international expansion; furthermore, we learned that access is as necessary as mobilisation to increase internationalisation speed, and that, mobilisation is required to mediate the capture of network opportunities. Consequently, the study provided insights for managerial practice: MNEs should pursue centrality in their networks at the same time as planning their resources mobilisation strategies.
The trustworthy and acceptable HRI checklist (TA-HRI): questions and design recommendations to support a trust-worthy and acceptable design of human-robot interaction
Authors: Kraus Johannes , Babel Franziska , Hock Philipp , Hauber Katrin , Baumann Martin
Published: August 2022

This contribution to the journal Gruppe. Interaktion. Organisation. (GIO) presents a checklist of questions and design recommendations for designing acceptable and trustworthy human-robot interaction (HRI). In order to extend the application scope of robots towards more complex contexts in the public domain and in private households, robots have to fulfill requirements regarding social interaction between humans and robots in addition to safety and efficiency. In particular, this results in recommendations for the design of the appearance, behavior, and interaction strategies of robots that can contribute to acceptance and appropriate trust. The presented checklist was derived from existing guidelines of associated fields of application, the current state of research on HRI, and the results of the BMBF-funded project RobotKoop. The trustworthy and acceptable HRI checklist (TA-HRI) contains 60 design topics with questions and design recommendations for the development and design of acceptable and trustworthy robots. The TA-HRI Checklist provides a basis for discussion of the design of service robots for use in public and private environments and will be continuously refined based on feedback from the community.
Identification and characterization of potential change agents among agri-food producers: regime, niche and hybrid actors
Authors: Bünger Arne , Schiller Daniel
Published: August 2022

The multi-level perspective has been criticized for being functionalistic and paying little attention to actor-based perspectives. Nevertheless, for the identification and assessment of potential change agents in a sustainability transition, a clear conceptual and methodological approach is necessary. This paper, thus, develops a multi-dimensional typology of niche, regime, and hybrid actors, which is conceptually grounded in transition studies and empirically illustrated by a cluster analysis based on a survey of pig and poultry farmers in Germany, France, and the Netherlands. Animal husbandry is chosen as a case study because a significant share of the environmental impact within the agri-food system is attributed to this sector and there is evidence for resistance to change by mainstream actors. Conceptually, the paper provides a framework of constitutive elements for different kinds of actors and contributes to an extension of the niche–regime dichotomy by adding the group of hybrid actors. The empirical results show that cluster analysis is a suitable approach to identify conceptually meaningful differences among interviewed farmers. Among pig and poultry farmers, the regime actors are by far the largest group. The smaller group of hybrid actors, however, has large potential to act as boundary spanners. A particularly interesting finding is that several larger farms are among the group of niche actors which hints at the possibility that larger farms are not necessarily resistant to change.
Diagnostic and Management Strategies in Patients with Late Recurrent Angina after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
Authors: de Winter Ruben W. , Rahman Mohammed S. , van Diemen Pepijn A. , Schumacher Stefan P. , Jukema Ruurt A. , Somsen Yvemarie B. O. , van Rossum Albert C. , Verouden Niels J. , Danad Ibrahim , Delewi Ronak , Nap Alexander , Knaapen Paul
Published: August 2022

Purpose of Review

This review will outline the current evidence on the anatomical, functional, and physiological tools that may be applied in the evaluation of patients with late recurrent angina after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Furthermore, we discuss management strategies and propose an algorithm to guide decision-making for this complex patient population.

Recent Findings

Patients with prior CABG often present with late recurrent angina as a result of bypass graft failure and progression of native coronary artery disease (CAD). These patients are generally older, have a higher prevalence of comorbidities, and more complex atherosclerotic lesion morphology compared to CABG-naïve patients. In addition, guideline recommendations are based on studies in which post-CABG patients have been largely excluded.

Several invasive and non-invasive diagnostic tools are currently available to assess graft patency, the hemodynamic significance of native CAD progression, left ventricular function, and myocardial viability. Such tools, in particular the latest generation coronary computed tomography angiography, are part of a systematic diagnostic work-up to guide optimal repeat revascularization strategy in patients presenting with late recurrent angina after CABG.
‘Kindness and empathy beyond all else’: Challenges to professional identities of Higher Education teachers during COVID-19 times
Authors: Cain Melissa , Campbell Chris , Coleman Kathryn
Published: August 2022

COVID-19 has continued to effect higher education globally in significant ways. During 2020, many institutions shifted learning online overnight as the sector closed its doors and opened new sites for remote teaching. This article reports on an international study [Phillips et al., 2021] that sought to capture how cross-sectoral teachers experienced these emergency changes during the first months of restrictions. The data, analysed using narrative identity theory, revealed concerns that fall into two broad categories: technologies and relationships. Significantly, it was not a loss of content delivery or changes to assessment that prompted the greatest anxiety for our colleagues, but that they held significant concerns about their students’ mental health; inequities of access to a range of services including technological; and challenges connecting emotionally with their students at a distance. The results provide actionable strategies for higher education institutions to apply in future emergencies where remote teaching is necessary.