bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ultralong Organic Phosphorescence Modulation of Aromatic Carbonyls and Multi‐Component Systems
Authors: Ren Chunguang , Wang Zhengshuo , Wang Tianjie , Guo Jiayi , Dai Yifeng , Yuan Hua , Tan Yeqiang
Published: May 2022

Comprehensive Summary

Aromatic carbonyls have evoked sustained attention in the field of room‐temperature phosphorescence (RTP). The introduction of carbonyl groups is a general way to achieve RTP for their effective intersystem crossing (ISC) by improving spin‐orbit coupling (SOC). With further molecular design and processing strategies, aromatic carbonyls materials with multi‐functional and high efficiency ultralong organic phosphorescence (UOP) can be obtained. This review summarizes the mechanism of aromatic carbonyls with UOP in pure aromatic carbonyls and their multi‐component systems. Some detailed strategies for improving UOP performance are further introduced. The summary and outlook are presented to expound on the advances and lack of aromatic carbonyls. Further development directions and requirements are also put forward.
Pilot‐Scale Study on Salt Separation of Industrial High‐Salt Wastewater Based on Nanofiltration
Authors: Liu Dan , Liu Qiongqiong , Fu Xujin , Li Hui , Zhou Bin , Xu Weijie , Chai Man
Published: May 2022

To explore the effect of nanofiltration on salt separation in high‐salt wastewater, a pilot plant of nanofiltration combined with a “sand filtration–carbon filtration–ultrafiltration–ozone” pretreatment process is designed. The water used in the pilot‐scale study is the sodium salt wastewater from a battery factory in Tianjin Binhai industrial park. Under the continuous and stable operation of the pilot plant, the key consideration is to investigate the retention rate of monovalent and divalent salt ions in high‐salt wastewater by nanofiltration membranes. The results show that the combined process has a good removal effect on pollutants in wastewater. Among them, the removal rates of conventional pollutants such as turbidity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total dissolved solids (TDS) are 97.5, 92.35, and 87.06%, respectively. The retention rate of SO42− is as high as 99.7%, but there is a negative retention phenomenon of Cl−. The main inorganic salts Na2SO4 and NaCl in high‐salt wastewater could be effectively separated. The efficiency of the combined process to remove pollutants and different salts mainly focuses on the nanofiltration part. The pretreatment has a specific removal effect on the turbidity and macromolecular organics of wastewater, reducing the pressure for the subsequent membrane process.
Inverse problems in blood flow modeling: A review
Authors: Nolte David , Bertoglio Cristóbal
Published: May 2022

Mathematical and computational modeling of the cardiovascular system is increasingly providing non‐invasive alternatives to traditional invasive clinical procedures. Moreover, it has the potential for generating additional diagnostic markers. In blood flow computations, the personalization of spatially distributed (i.e., 3D) models is a key step which relies on the formulation and numerical solution of inverse problems using clinical data, typically medical images for measuring both anatomy and function of the vasculature. In the last years, the development and application of inverse methods has rapidly expanded most likely due to the increased availability of data in clinical centers and the growing interest of modelers and clinicians in collaborating. Therefore, this work aims to provide a wide and comparative overview of literature within the last decade. We review the current state of the art of inverse problems in blood flows, focusing on studies considering fully dimensional fluid and fluid–solid models. The relevant physical models and hemodynamic measurement techniques are introduced, followed by a survey of mathematical data assimilation approaches used to solve different kinds of inverse problems, namely state and parameter estimation. An exhaustive discussion of the literature of the last decade is presented, structured by types of problems, models and available data.
Thermal ablation effects on rotors that characterize functional re‐entry cardiac arrhythmia
Authors: Dantas Eber , Orlande Helcio R. B. , Dulikravich George S.
Published: May 2022

Thermal ablation is a well‐established successful treatment for cardiac arrhythmia, but it still presents limitations that require further studies and developments. In the rotor‐driven functional re‐entry arrhythmia, tissue heterogeneity results on the generation of spiral/scroll waves and wave break dynamics that may cause dangerous sustainable fibrillation. The selection of the target region to perform thermal ablation to mitigate this type of arrhythmia is challenging, since it considerably affects the local electrophysiology dynamics. This work deals with the numerical simulation of the thermal ablation of a cardiac muscle tissue and its effects on the dynamics of rotor‐driven functional re‐entry arrhythmia. A non‐homogeneous two‐dimensional rectangular region is used in the present numerical analysis, where radiofrequency ablation is performed. The electrophysiology problem for the propagation of the action potential in the cardiac tissue is simulated with the Fenton–Karma model. Thermal damage caused to the tissue by the radiofrequency heating is modeled by the Arrhenius equation. The effects of size and position of a heterogeneous region in the original muscle tissue were first analyzed, in order to verify the possible existence of the functional re‐entry arrhythmia during the time period considered in the simulations. For each case that exhibited re‐entry arrhythmia, six different ablation procedures were analyzed, depending on the position of the radiofrequency electrode and heating time. The obtained results revealed the effects of different model parameters on the existence and possible mitigation of the functional re‐entry arrhythmia.
Color identification method for fashion runway images: An experimental study
Authors: Dai Yuqian , Chen Yuyilan , Gu Wen , Tan Yini , Liu Xiaogang
Published: May 2022

Fashion runway images are one of the most important sources for color research. In this study, an experimental study was conducted to develop the optimal color identification method for fashion images under uncertain conditions. For this purpose, five different experimental schemes were designed for comparison. Experts' visual assessment, PANTONE Color Palettes Generator (PCPG), and K‐means method are the existing methods. Experts' visual assessment combined with PCPG and experts' visual assessment combined with K‐means method are the new method developed in this study. The color measuring instrument extracted the color of the standard sample by the actual clothing. Five methods extracted the color of the contrast sample from the clothing image, and the color difference was calculated. The data were processed using Microsoft Excel and the statistical program SPSS23.0. Descriptive analyses, One‐way ANOVA and least‐significant difference multiple comparisons analysis were conducted to analyze the color difference data. The results of data analysis showed that experts' visual assessment combined with K‐means method was the most accurate method with ΔE*ab 1.41–4.58, mean <4, and SD <1. The experimental results were verified and the accurate method was stable. These results are of great importance for the research of fashion colors. They help to improve the accuracy of fashion color database.
Assessing the potential for demographic restoration and assisted evolution to build climate resilience in coral reefs
Authors: DeFilippo Lukas B. , McManus Lisa C. , Schindler Daniel E. , Pinsky Malin L. , Colton Madhavi A. , Fox Helen E. , Tekwa E. W. , Palumbi Stephen R. , Essington Timothy E. , Webster Michael M.
Published: May 2022

Interest is growing in developing conservation strategies to restore and maintain coral reef ecosystems in the face of mounting anthropogenic stressors, particularly climate warming and associated mass bleaching events. One such approach is to propagate coral colonies ex situ and transplant them to degraded reef areas to augment habitat for reef‐dependent fauna, prevent colonization from spatial competitors, and enhance coral reproductive output. In addition to such “demographic restoration” efforts, manipulating the thermal tolerance of outplanted colonies through assisted relocation, selective breeding, or genetic engineering is being considered for enhancing rates of evolutionary adaptation to warming. Although research into such “assisted evolution” strategies has been growing, their expected performance remains unclear. We evaluated the potential outcomes of demographic restoration and assisted evolution in climate change scenarios using an eco‐evolutionary simulation model. We found that supplementing reefs with pre‐existing genotypes (demographic restoration) offers little climate resilience benefits unless input levels are large and maintained for centuries. Supplementation with thermally resistant colonies was successful at improving coral cover at lower input levels, but only if maintained for at least a century. Overall, we found that, although demographic restoration and assisted evolution have the potential to improve long‐term coral cover, both approaches had a limited impact in preventing severe declines under climate change scenarios. Conversely, with sufficient natural genetic variance and time, corals could readily adapt to warming temperatures, suggesting that restoration approaches focused on building genetic variance may outperform those based solely on introducing heat‐tolerant genotypes.
An aggressive nonconsumptive effect mediates pest control and multipredator interactions in a coffee agroecosystem
Authors: Morris Jonathan R. , Perfecto Ivette
Published: May 2022

Natural pest control is an alternative to pesticide use in agriculture, and may help to curb insect declines and promote crop production. Nonconsumptive interactions in natural pest control that historically have received far less attention than consumptive interactions, may have distinct impacts on pest damage suppression and may also mediate positive multipredator interactions. Additionally, when nonconsumptive effects are driven by natural enemy aggression, variation in alternative resources for enemies may impact the strength of pest control. Here we study control of the coffee berry borer (CBB), Hypothenemus hampei, by a keystone arboreal ant species, Azteca sericeasur, which exhibits a nonconsumptive effect on CBB by throwing them off coffee plants. We conducted two experiments to investigate: (1) if the strength of this behavior is driven by spatial or temporal variability in scale insect density (an alternative resource that Azteca tends for honeydew), (2) if this behavior mediates positive interactions between Azteca and other ground‐foraging ants, and (3) the effect this behavior has on the overall suppression of CBB damage in multipredator scenarios. Our behavioral experiment showed that nearly all interactions between Azteca and CBB are nonconsumptive and that this behavior occurs more frequently in the dry season and with higher densities of scale insects on coffee branches. Our multipredator experiment revealed that borers thrown off coffee plants by Azteca can survive and potentially damage other nearby plants but may be suppressed by ground‐foraging ants. Although we found no non‐additive effects between Azteca and ground‐foraging ants on overall CBB damage, together, both species resulted in the lowest level of plant damage with the subsequent reduction in “spillover” damage caused by thrown CBB, indicating spatial complementarity between predators. These results present a unique case of natural pest control, in which damage suppression is driven almost exclusively by nonconsumptive natural enemy aggression, as opposed to consumption or prey behavioral changes. Furthermore, our results demonstrate the variability that may occur in nonconsumptive pest control interactions when natural enemy aggressive behavior is impacted by alternative resources, and also show how these nonconsumptive effects can mediate positive interactions between natural enemies to enhance overall crop damage reduction.
Recent advances in the biosynthesis, structure–activity relationships, formulations, pharmacology, and clinical trials of fisetin
Authors: Zhong Ruting , Farag Mohamed A. , Chen Meiwan , He Chengwei , Xiao Jianbo
Published: May 2022

Fisetin is one of the most popular flavonoids found in vegetables and fruits with several health benefits such as antidiabetic, anticancer, and anti‐inflammatory activities. Biotechnology or chemosynthesis tools were used for the synthesis of fisetin and its analogs to improve their yield and efficacy. Structure activity relationships (SARs) revealed that the aromatic hydroxyl groups especially the 3,4‐dihydroxylation at ring B were crucial for fisetin biological activities, whereas substitution of several hydroxyl groups in fisetin appeared to impact its original effects. The ongoing or upcoming clinical trials containing fisetin are applied in drugs and dietary supplements. Noteworthily, fisetin has been successfully incorporated into nutraceuticals in the market. Furthermore, the delivery system of fisetin‐loaded nanocochleates showed the best bioavailability compared to other formulations. This review presents the latest research progress of fisetin on its synthesis, structure–activity relationships, pharmacokinetics, biological activities, and underlying mechanisms, bioavailability, delivery systems, and clinical trials to provide a comprehensive insight into the research and application of this valuable natural compound.
Numerical investigation of blast furnace gas and coke oven gas combustion under different O2/CO2 environments
Authors: Yi Zhengming , Zhang Chou , Hu Xuman , Lin Chaoqun
Published: May 2022

A numerical model of a 75 t/h gas‐fired boiler burning blast furnace gas (BFG) and coke oven gas (COG) was developed to study the effect of O2/CO2 conditions on the combustion characteristics, verified by comparing with the results measured in field experiments. The results showed that the ignition distance of COG was shorter than that of BFG, and COG reached the stable combustion temperature of 1000 K earlier in the condition of O2/CO2 combustion with 31% O2 than in the condition of air combustion. Under different O2/CO2 conditions, the overall temperature of gas‐fired boiler decreased. The maximum temperature of air combustion, O2/CO2 combustion with 26% O2, and O2/CO2 combustion with 31% O2 were 1867, 1678, and 1834 K, respectively. Under the condition of O2/CO2 combustion, the radiation heat transfer of mixed gas was enhanced, and the overall heat flux was obviously improved. Under the O2/CO2 condition, the overall temperature was lower than that of air combustion, but the wall heat flux increased. The NOx production decreased after the change to O2/CO2 combustion, and the NOx generation at the furnace arch decreased from 70.28 mg/m3 to 6.94 mg/m3 under the condition of O2/CO2 combustion with 26% O2. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Outcomes of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for primary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in adults
Authors: He Lingbo , Wang Yini , Suolitiken Dina , Zhang Ruoxi , Liu Menghan , Hua Zhengjie , Yao Shuyan , Zou Heshan , Wang Zhao
Published: May 2022

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only curative approach for primary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (pHLH), but data on adult patients are scarce. Here we present an 8‐year experience on HSCT for adult pHLH to reveal the benefits and risks in this population. A total of 29 adult pHLH patients entered this study, at a median follow‐up of 29 months (3–112 months), the 5‐year probability of survival was 60%. Six patients rejected HSCT, of whom 1 alive in complete response (CR). In 23 patients who underwent HSCT, 5‐year survival post‐HSCT overall was 73%, and in haploidentical HSCT (haplo‐HSCT) cases, 71%. Patients who achieved CR at HSCT had a better outcome than those of partial response (92% vs. 47%, p = 0.013). Neither the use of HLA mismatched donor (75% vs. 72%, p = 0.996) nor the use of donor with monoallelic mutation (74% vs. 71%, p = 0.901) affected the prognosis. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis status of CR at HSCT was a positive prognostic factor. We concluded that HSCT is a promising method to cure adult‐onset pHLH. Achieving CR before HSCT contributes to better outcome. Haplo‐HSCT is safe and effective for adult pHLH patients, donors with monoallelic mutations in pHLH related genes but normal cytotoxic functions are reliable.
Foresight study on online health community: The perspective of knowledge empowerment for patients with chronic diseases
Authors: Vainauskienė Vestina , Vaitkienė Rimgailė
Published: May 2022

Patient empowerment is an indispensable precondition for patients to self‐manage their disease. The article takes the position that patients are empowered for disease self‐management through patient knowledge empowerment when sharing knowledge. One of the most important instruments to successfully empower a patient to manage a chronic disease and maintain social relations, which are also a precondition for the prevention of chronic illnesses, is the possibility to access online health communities (OHCs) and participate in them. The aim of the article is to model possible development scenarios of OHCs as enablers of patient knowledge in relation to other digital health technologies (DHTs). A foresight methodology was used to achieve the goal, employing a technology scanning approach after selecting 10 foresight studies, which resulted in four future scenario models for the empowerment of patients wcith chronic diseases through digital health communities. They reveal options for the future interoperability of OHCs with other DHTs and highlight their importance and significance for the healthcare system as a technology for balancing patient self‐efficacy and social relations as well as the need to maintain and develop them.
The characteristics of occupational tuberculosis risk in healthcare workers
Authors: Zein Rizqy Amelia , Wulandari Ratna Dwi , Ridlo Ilham Akhsanu , Hendriani Wiwin , Suhariadi Fendy , Rianto Anang
Published: May 2022

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) remains to be one of the most common causes of morbidity worldwide, but the discourse of its prevention has disproportionately singled out the occupational risks that affect healthcare workers. In this research, we aimed to: (1) investigate the underlying factor structure of Risk Characteristics (RC), specifically the risk of nosocomial TB transmission in health care facilities; (2) estimate the effects of work‐related determinants and RC on risk perception; and (3) compare occupational risk perception of contracting TB with expert risk assessment.

Method

A paper‐based questionnaire was administered to 179 health care workers (HCWs) working at 10 public health centres and two hospitals in Surabaya, Indonesia. We analysed our data using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to unravel the latent structure of RC and structural equation modelling (SEM) to identify determinants of risk perceptions.

Results

EFA revealed a two‐factor solution for nine qualitative RC: controllability of damage and knowledge‐evoked dread. Our SEM analysis found evidence that the controllability aspect of the TB risk was a more profound determinant in predicting risk perception than knowledge‐evoked dread, implying that HCWs might benefit from training aims to increase their beliefs on the controllability of TB risk despite its severity.

Conclusion

Although further research is necessary, our study highlights the importance of addressing occupational risk perceptions in health facilities, encouraging HCWs to become more active in advocating for the necessary allocation of resources for their workplaces, and raising communities' awareness of TB transmissions.
Primary signet‐ring cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis: An autopsy case
Authors: Iijima Heisuke , Murata Hiroaki , Oishi Shinnosuke , Kubota Yusuke , Sakamoto Akihiko , Tanabe Kuniaki , Sugiyama Kazutaka , Matsumoto Akihiko , Kuriki Ken , Kume Haruki
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Signet‐ring cell carcinoma is an extremely rare histological variant of upper urinary tract carcinoma, associated with poor prognosis.

Case presentation

We report a case of a 75‐year‐old female diagnosed with left primary upper urinary tract signet‐ring cell carcinoma, initially treated with surgery. Post‐surgical development of multifocal metastases was followed by a devastating clinical course. An autopsy confirmed the tumor's primary origin in the upper urinary tract.

Conclusion

We experienced a case of upper urinary tract signet‐ring cell carcinoma, with a rare opportunity to thoroughly confirm its primary site with an autopsy.
Mowing frequency and performance of genetically modified St. Augustinegrass and standard commercial cultivars
Authors: Buhlman Jamie L. , Freshour Samuel L. , Harriman Robert W. , Koch Matthew J. , Unruh Joseph B. , van Santen Edzard , Williams Karen E. , Yurisic Cory A. , Kenworthy Kevin E.
Published: May 2022

Mowing is a key input when maintaining a turfgrass lawn but has an environmental impact and represents a repetitive expense. In an effort to reduce canopy growth rate and to improve weed control, genetically modified St. Augustinegrasses [Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walter) Kuntze] derived from the cultivar ‘Floratam’ are now in production and characterized by reduced levels of t gibberellic acid by insertion of the spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) gibberellic acid 2‐oxidase gene and glyphosate tolerance due to the insertion of 5‐enolpyruvylshikimate‐3‐phosphate synthase gene from Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. The objective of this study was to determine if eight genetically modified St. Augustinegrass entries required less frequent mowing than two standard commercial cultivars, Floratam and ‘615866’ (Seville™), while maintaining turfgrass quality (TQ) comparable to the standards. This study was planted in 2017 as a randomized complete block design at two Florida locations. Mowing frequency, TQ, density, and color were recorded from 2018 to 2019. Gray leaf spot severity was rated when present. Overall, the genetically modified St. Augustinegrass entries required less frequent mowing than standard cultivars, with PV‐A and PV‐B requiring less frequent mowing than Floratam across all seasons at both locations. Of these two, PV‐A showed TQ comparable to Floratam at Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center for the entirety of the trial, and at Plant Science Research and Education Unit for 7/10 seasons. For end‐users, the availability of a high performing turfgrass with reduced mowing requirements can lead to a decreased maintenance cost and a reduced environmental impact.
A review of a novel enzyme system for the management of thatch and soil water repellency in turfgrass
Authors: Sidhu Sudeep , Huang Qingguo Jack , Carrow Robert N. , Jesperson David , Liu Jiayang , Raymer Paul L.
Published: May 2022

Managing soil organic matter is a crucial component of greenkeeping and turfgrass maintenance. Organic matter accumulation as thatch is a major problem in modern turfgrass management. Additionally, soil water repellency (SWR) caused by hydrophobic organic coatings on sand particles can create serious soil water infiltration and potential runoff problems and contribute to a reduction in turf quality and playability. Lignin is a major component of thatch and acts as protective matrix limiting microbial degradation of cellulose and hemi‐celluloses. This article reviews lignin structure and its unique oxidation mechanism that makes it suitable for use in turfgrass systems and the research progress to develop laccase as a tool to manage thatch layer and SWR. A series of experiments explored the potential for direct application of fungal produced enzymes to degrade lignin, speed thatch degradation, and thereby reduce thatch accumulation. Greenhouse studies provided proof of concept and confirmed laccase impact on physical and chemical properties of thatch. Field studies verified the effectiveness of laccase application on different turfgrass species and optimized application rates and frequency. The reduction in thatch layer thickness by laccase treatments was similar to reductions achieved by cultural management and greater reductions occurred when applied in combination with cultural management. The use of laccase and other enzymes to ameliorate SWR was verified by a series of laboratory and field studies. Single applications of laccase were effective in reducing SWR but not as effective as wetting agents. Enzyme applications combined with a wetting agent to provide maximum relief of SWR. Application of laccase in combination with core‐aeration and sand topdressing could reduce the number of mechanical cultivations necessary to keep thatch layers at desired levels and reduce the potential for SWR. Laccase could provide a nondisruptive organic approach to manage thatch and SWR on highly managed turfgrass.
Use of clinical pharmacy services by American Indians and Alaska Native adults with cardiovascular disease
Authors: O'Connell Joan , Grau Laura , Manson Spero M. , Bott Anne Marie , Sheffer Kyle , Steers Randy , Jiang Luohua
Published: May 2022

Introduction

The Indian Health Service (IHS) and Tribal health programs provide clinical pharmacy services to improve health outcomes among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults with cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Objectives

The study's primary objective was to describe characteristics, including social determinants of health (SDOH), associated with clinical pharmacy utilization by AI/ANs with CVD who accessed IHS/Tribal services. A secondary objective assessed changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP) associated with such utilization.

Methods

Analysis included IHS data for 9844 adults aged 18 and older with CVD who lived in 5 locations. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine patient characteristics (eg, age, sex, health status, SDOH) associated with clinical pharmacy utilization in fiscal year (FY) 2012. A propensity score model was employed to estimate the association of elevated SBP in FY2013 with FY2012 clinical pharmacy utilization.

Results

Nearly 15% of adults with CVD used clinical pharmacy services. Among adults with CVD, the odds of clinical pharmacy use were higher among adults diagnosed with congestive heart failure (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.22; 95% CI:1.01‐1.47), other types of heart disease not including ischemia (OR = 1.40; 95% CI: 1.18‐1.65), and vascular disease (OR = 1.23; 95% CI: 1.04‐1.46), compared to adults without these conditions. Diabetes (OR = 4.05, 95% CI: 3.29‐5.00) and anticoagulation medication use (OR = 20.88, 95% CI: 16.76‐20.61) were associated with substantially higher odds of clinical pharmacy utilization. Medicaid coverage (OR = 0.72; 95% CI: 0.56‐0.93) and longer travel times to services (OR = 0.87; 95% CI: 0.83‐0.92) were each associated with lower odds. FY2012 clinical pharmacy users had lower odds of elevated SBP (OR = 0.71 95% CI: 0.58‐0.87) in FY2013 than nonusers.

Conclusion

In addition to health status, SDOH (eg, Medicaid coverage, longer travel times) influenced clinical pharmacy utilization. Understanding characteristics associated with clinical pharmacy utilization may assist IHS/Tribal health programs in efforts to support optimization of these services.
Evaluating the effect of graphene oxide PEGylation on the properties of chitosan‐graphene oxide nanocomposite scaffold
Authors: Bakhtkhosh Hagh Haleh , Unsworth Larry D. , Olad Ali
Published: May 2022

In this study, graphene oxide (GO) was functionalized with polyethylene glycol (PEG) to understand the effect of PEGlayted GO on properties of chitosan‐based nanocomposite scaffold. GO was synthesized according to modified Hummer's method and covalently linked to polymeric chains of PEG to produce polyethylene glycolated GO (PGO). Successful preparation of GO and PGO was confirmed by FT‐IR and Raman techniques, where the chemical bonding of PEG and GO nanosheets were concluded based on PGOs' lower zeta potential compared to GO. Nanocomposite scaffolds were prepared by adding equal amounts of GO and PGO into 2% (w/v) chitosan (Cs) solutions. The highly porous scaffolds were developed by lyophilization of solutions. Incorporation of GO and PGO into chitosan scaffold network resulted in uniform and spherical pores. Modified samples offered higher porosity and density, indicating adequate scaffold structure. Improvements in the physical properties of prepared chitosan scaffolds were concluded through higher water absorption and retention values. Compressive strength measurement showed 6.33 and 5.5 times improvement respectively for Cs‐GO and Cs‐PGO samples compared to Cs scaffold. The Cs‐GO scaffolds showed minimum susceptibility toward enzymatic degradation and higher degrees of protein adsorption (26% and 23% improvement in value of adsorbed protein respectively for Cs‐GO and Cs‐PGO compared to Cs scaffold) and biomineral formation on scaffold surface. Also, Cs‐PGO sample showed the highest degree of cell viability and lower hemolysis than both Cs and Cs‐GO scaffolds. Investigations showed that cell infiltration into scaffold porous structure was more prominent in Cs‐PGO scaffolds than in Cs and Cs‐GO scaffolds.
Aha over Haha: Brands benefit more from being clever than from being funny
Authors: Howe Holly S. , Zhou Lingrui , Dias Rodrigo S. , Fitzsimons Gavan J.
Published: May 2022

We examine whether the cleverness of a brand's humor attempt affects consumers' brand attitudes and engagement. A clever humor attempt is any humor attempt wherein the consumer feels she must make mental connections to solve the joke (e.g., understand a cultural reference, understand the dual meaning of a pun). Across five studies, we demonstrate that as the cleverness of a humor attempt increases, consumers report higher brand attitudes and are more engaged with the brand. This effect is mediated by perceptions of brand warmth and competence and moderated by consumers' need for cognition.
Predictors and consequences of HIV status disclosure to adolescents living with HIV in Eastern Cape, South Africa: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Edun Olanrewaju , Shenderovich Yulia , Zhou Siyanai , Toska Elona , Okell Lucy , Eaton Jeffrey W. , Cluver Lucie
Published: May 2022

Introduction

The World Health Organization recommends full disclosure of HIV‐positive status to adolescents who acquired HIV perinatally (APHIV) by age 12. However, even among adolescents (aged 10–19) already on antiretroviral therapy (ART), disclosure rates are low. Caregivers often report the child being too young and fear of disclosure worsening adolescents’ mental health as reasons for non‐disclosure. We aimed to identify the predictors of disclosure and the association of disclosure with adherence, viral suppression and mental health outcomes among adolescents in sub‐Saharan Africa.

Methods

Analyses included three rounds (2014–2018) of data collected among a closed cohort of adolescents living with HIV in Eastern Cape, South Africa. We used logistic regression with respondent random‐effects to identify factors associated with disclosure, and assess differences in ART adherence, viral suppression and mental health symptoms between adolescents by disclosure status. We also explored differences in the change in mental health symptoms and adherence between study rounds and disclosure groups with logistic regression.

Results

Eight hundred and thirteen APHIV were interviewed at baseline, of whom 769 (94.6%) and 729 (89.7%) were interviewed at the second and third rounds, respectively. The proportion aware of their HIV‐positive status increased from 63.1% at the first round to 85.5% by the third round. Older age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.27; 1.08–1.48) and living in an urban location (aOR: 2.85; 1.72–4.73) were associated with disclosure between interviews. There was no association between awareness of HIV‐positive status and ART adherence, viral suppression or mental health symptoms among all APHIV interviewed. However, among APHIV not aware of their status at baseline, adherence decreased at the second round among those who were disclosed to (N = 131) and increased among those not disclosed to (N = 151) (interaction aOR: 0.39; 0.19–0.80). There was no significant difference in the change in mental health symptoms between study rounds and disclosure groups.

Conclusions

Awareness of HIV‐positive status was not associated with higher rates of mental health symptoms, or lower rates of viral suppression among adolescents. Disclosure was not associated with worse mental health. These findings support the recommendation for timely disclosure to APHIV; however, adherence support post‐disclosure is important.
Impact of exclusive enteral nutrition on the gut microbiome of children with medical complexity
Authors: Beauchamp‐Walters Julia , Aleti Gajender , Herrera Lourdes , Debelius Justine , Lima Natalie , Dalal Pritha , Hong Suzi , Knight Rob , Rhee Kyung E.
Published: May 2022

Background

Children with medical complexity (CMC) often require enteral tube feedings to meet their nutrition needs. Many, however, experience symptoms of feeding intolerance, such as vomiting and pain. The goal of this analysis was to examine the relationship between diet and the gut microbiome, controlling for medications, among CMC receiving enteral tube feedings, CMC consuming oral nutrition, and healthy controls. Given the variety of available commercial formula preparations, we were also interested in examining the impact of different formula types on the CMC microbiome.

Methods

Fecal samples from 91 children (57 CMC and 34 healthy controls) were collected and analyzed. Parents completed clinical and dietary questionnaires. 16S ribosomal RNA amplicon sequencing was completed using the QIIME2 pipeline.

Results

A significant decrease in alpha diversity among CMC receiving exclusive enteral nutrition (CMC EEN) compared with healthy controls (Shannon P = 0.006 and Faith's phylogenetic distance P = 0.006) was found that was not observed between CMC receiving oral nutrition and healthy controls. Significant differences in beta diversity were also observed between CMC EEN and healthy controls, with CMC EEN having a greater relative abundance of Enterobacteriaceae and obligate anaerobes. Differences were also noted between CMC EEN and CMC receiving oral nutrition (Aitchison distance P = 0.001); however, no differences were observed between CMC receiving oral nutrition and healthy controls.

Conclusion

Despite similarities in medication profiles, CMC EEN have decreased alpha diversity and differences in beta diversity compared with healthy controls not observed in CMC receiving oral nutrition, highlighting the impact of diet over medications.
Energy expenditure in COVID‐19 mechanically ventilated patients: A comparison of three methods of energy estimation
Authors: Saseedharan Sanjith , Chada Radha Reddy , Kadam Vaijayanti , Chiluka Annapurna , Nagalla Balakrishna
Published: May 2022

Background

Indirect calorimetry (IC) is the gold standard for measuring resting energy expenditure. Energy expenditure (EE) estimated by ventilator‐derived carbon dioxide consumption (EEVCO2) has also been proposed. In the absence of IC, predictive weight‐based equations have been recommended to estimate daily energy requirements. This study aims to compare simple predictive weight‐based equations with those estimated by EEVCO2 and IC in mechanically ventilated patients of COVID‐19.

Methods

Retrospective study of a cohort of critically ill adult patients with COVID‐19 requiring mechanical ventilation and artificial nutrition to compare energy estimations by three methods through the calculation of bias and precision agreement, reliability, and accuracy rates.

Results

In 58 mechanically ventilated patients, a total of 117 paired measurements were obtained. The mean estimated energy derived from weight‐based calculations was 2576 ± 469 kcal/24 h, as compared with 1507 ± 499 kcal/24 h when EE was estimated by IC, resulting in a significant bias of 1069 kcal/day (95% CI [−2158 to 18.7 kcal]; P < 0.001). Similarly, estimated mean EEVCO2 was 1388 ± 467 kcal/24 h when compared with estimation of EE from IC. A significant bias of only 118 kcal/day (95% CI [−187 to 422 kcal]; P < 0.001), compared by the Bland‐Altman plot, was noted.

Conclusion

The energy estimated with EEVCO2 correlated better with IC values than energy derived from weight‐based calculations. Our data suggest that the use of simple predictive equations may potentially lead to overfeeding in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID‐19.
Determination of trace organic chlorides in hydrogen for fuel cell vehicles by gas chromatography coupled with ion mobility spectrometry
Authors: Chen Hongyan , Li Changxiu , Wang Yamin , Zhang Yiwei , Xu Guangtong
Published: May 2022

A method for the determination of organic chlorides in hydrogen for fuel cell vehicles by gas chromatography coupled with ion mobility spectrometry was established. Organic chlorides were separated by a non‐polar gas chromatography column and detected in the negative ion mode of the ion mobility spectrometer. The effect of operating parameters of ion mobility spectrometer including drift gas flow rate and drift tube temperature on sensitivity and resolution were evaluated. Under the optimized conditions, the detection limits of seven organic chlorides were from 0.65 to 6.73 nmol/mol, which met the requirement of detection for the specification limit of 50 nmol/mol of total halogen impurities in hydrogen for fuel cell vehicles. Compared with gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry, and gas chromatography coupled with electron capture detector under the same gas chromatography conditions, gas chromatography coupled with ion mobility spectrometry method demonstrated higher sensitivity for detection of organic chlorides under study. Based on the portability of the device and its detection capabilities, gas chromatography coupled with ion mobility spectrometry has the potential to perform online detection of impurities in hydrogen for fuel cell vehicles.
Construction of self‐adjoint differential operators with prescribed spectral properties
Authors: Behrndt Jussi , Khrabustovskyi Andrii
Published: May 2022

In this expository article some spectral properties of self‐adjoint differential operators are investigated. The main objective is to illustrate and (partly) review how one can construct domains or potentials such that the essential or discrete spectrum of a Schrödinger operator of a certain type (e.g. the Neumann Laplacian) coincides with a predefined subset of the real line. Another aim is to emphasize that the spectrum of a differential operator on a bounded domain or bounded interval is not necessarily discrete, that is, eigenvalues of infinite multiplicity, continuous spectrum, and eigenvalues embedded in the continuous spectrum may be present. This unusual spectral effect is, very roughly speaking, caused by (at least) one of the following three reasons: The bounded domain has a rough boundary, the potential is singular, or the boundary condition is nonstandard. In three separate explicit constructions we demonstrate how each of these possibilities leads to a Schrödinger operator with prescribed essential spectrum.
Consistency re‐evaluation in analytic hierarchy process based on simulated consistent matrices
Authors: Bose Amarnath
Published: May 2022

A new approach to re‐evaluating consistency in the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) using simulated consistent matrices is presented. The proposed consistency evaluation method makes use of statistically significant deviations from the average consistency measure for the simulated matrices. This addresses most of the deficiencies of the conventional consistency ratio (CR) method. A pairwise comparison matrix (PCM) is adjudged inconsistent by the proposed method if its consistency measure exceeds the modeled consistency threshold. Comparison of the consistency evaluation for simulated nearly‐consistent matrices using the proposed method shows a statistically significant reduction of the order‐specific bias in comparison with the CR method. The proportion of nearly consistent matrices which are evaluated as ‘inconsistent’ increases more than three‐folds when the evaluation is done using the CR method. Several examples are presented which illustrate the advantages of the proposed method and differences in classification with the CR approach. Evaluation of consistency using the proposed method of statistically derived thresholds from simulated, nearly consistent matrices is more nuanced and objective, as well as intuitive in its interpretability.
Comparison of summer raindrop size distribution characteristics in the western and central Tianshan Mountains of China
Authors: Jiang Yufei , Yang Lianmei , Zeng Yong , Tong Zepeng , Li Jiangang , Liu Fan , Zhang Jinru , Liu Jin
Published: May 2022

The microphysical processes of cloud and precipitation in the Tianshan Mountains still remain unclear due to the complex terrain and the lack of ground‐based observational data. In this study, the characteristics of summer raindrop size distribution (RSD) in the western and central Tianshan Mountains of China were investigated in 2020 and 2021. According to the average raindrop spectra, the RSD characteristics exhibit significant differences that the concentration of medium and large particles is relatively higher at Zhaosu than that at Tianchi. Weak precipitation prevails in the Tianshan Mountains most of the time, yet moderate rainfall and heavy rainfall have a great impact on the accumulated rainfall amount. For each rainfall rate class, raindrops of diameter less than 0.75mm have a lower concentration and raindrops of diameter greater than 3 mm have a higher concentration at Zhaosu as compared to those at Tianchi. Compared with Tianchi, Zhaosu has a larger mass‐weighted mean diameter (Dm) and a lower normalized intercept parameter (log10Nw). Compared with the classical convective spectrum, the RSDs at both Zhaosu and Tianchi are similar to the continental convective cluster. The relationships between the shape and slope (μ–Λ), and radar reflectivity and rainfall rate (Z–R) exhibit a significant difference in the western and central Tianshan Mountains of China.
The number of positive solutions for Schrödinger–Poisson system under the effect of eigenvalue
Authors: Sun Juntao , Wang Kuan‐Hsiang , Wu Tsung‐fang
Published: May 2022

We investigate the eigenvalue problem for the Schrödinger–Poisson system as follows:

where
is nonnegative and
is a potential well with bottom
A bounded Cerami sequence is established by using the truncation technique, decomposition of Hilbert space and mountain pass theorem. Then exploiting the property of steep potential well, under some proper assumptions on
, we conclude that one positive solution exists for
while two positive solutions exist for
when
where
is the principal eigenvalue of
in
with weight function
and
is the corresponding principal eigenfunction. Moreover, an interesting phenomenon is that when
, one positive solution is always present near
for
unaffected by the non‐local term, however large its norm might be.
A system‐based operational assessment of external beam radiotherapy
Authors: Wong Lawrence M. , Pawlicki Todd
Published: May 2022

Purpose

Advanced technologies have led to improvements in modern radiotherapy over the years. However, adoption of advanced technologies can present challenges to existing clinical operations and negatively impact safety. The purpose of this work is to perform an assessment of modern radiotherapy for the operational objectives of safety, efficiency, and financial viability.

Methods

This work focuses on external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). The operational assessment included department management, treatment planning, treatment delivery, and associated workflows for three equipment configurations of Ethos, Halcyon, and TrueBeam with the ARIA information system, Eclipse treatment planning, and IDENTIFY surface guidance. Systems‐theoretic process analysis (STPA) was used to analyze the related workflows. Control actions, unsafe contexts of those control actions, and associated causal scenarios that can lead to unsafe radiation and non‐radiation physical injury (safety objective), reduced treatment capacity (efficiency objective), and costs that exceed budget (financial viability objective) were identified.

Results

The number of control actions (and causal scenarios) were 18 (254), 18 (267), and 20 (267) for the equipment configurations of Halcyon, TrueBeam, and Ethos, respectively. The extent that safety, efficiency, and financial viability were impacted is similar across the different equipment configurations, but there were some noteworthy differences related to information transfer and workflow bottlenecks potentially impacting access to care. Seventy‐five percent of the scenarios across all three configurations were related to safety. Overall, 29% of the scenarios impacted more than one operational objective and 48% were related to human decisions during the process of care. Planned or unplanned process changes were responsible for 8% of the causal scenarios.

Conclusions

Broad‐based clinical improvements may be realized by addressing causal scenarios that impact multiple objectives. Redesigning the roles and responsibilities of the clinical team and some aspects of the radiotherapy workflow may be helpful to fully realize the benefits of advanced technologies. Radiotherapy may benefit from additional tools to improve the consistency between decisions and actions when system or process changes occur.
Data‐driven motion‐corrected brain MRI incorporating pose‐dependent B0 fields
Authors: Brackenier Yannick , Cordero‐Grande Lucilio , Tomi‐Tricot Raphael , Wilkinson Thomas , Bridgen Philippa , Price Anthony , Malik Shaihan J. , De Vita Enrico , Hajnal Joseph V.
Published: May 2022

Purpose

To develop a fully data‐driven retrospective intrascan motion‐correction framework for volumetric brain MRI at ultrahigh field (7 Tesla) that includes modeling of pose‐dependent changes in polarizing magnetic (B0) fields.

Theory and Methods

Tissue susceptibility induces spatially varying B0 distributions in the head, which change with pose. A physics‐inspired B0 model has been deployed to model the B0 variations in the head and was validated in vivo. This model is integrated into a forward parallel imaging model for imaging in the presence of motion. Our proposal minimizes the number of added parameters, enabling the developed framework to estimate dynamic B0 variations from appropriately acquired data without requiring navigators. The effect on data‐driven motion correction is validated in simulations and in vivo.

Results

The applicability of the physics‐inspired B0 model was confirmed in vivo. Simulations show the need to include the pose‐dependent B0 fields in the reconstruction to improve motion‐correction performance and the feasibility of estimating B0 evolution from the acquired data. The proposed motion and B0 correction showed improved image quality for strongly corrupted data at 7 Tesla in simulations and in vivo.

Conclusion

We have developed a motion‐correction framework that accounts for and estimates pose‐dependent B0 fields. The method improves current state‐of‐the‐art data‐driven motion‐correction techniques when B0 dependencies cannot be neglected. The use of a compact physics‐inspired B0 model together with leveraging the parallel imaging encoding redundancy and previously proposed optimized sampling patterns enables a purely data‐driven approach.