bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mass spectrometry and synchrotron‐FTIR microspectroscopy reveal the anti‐inflammatory activity of Bua Bok extracts
Authors: Paemanee Atchara , Rattanabunyong Siriluk , Ketngamkum Yanisa , Siriwaseree Jeeraprapa , Pongpamorn Ponkanok , Romyanon Kanokwan , Tangphatsornruang Sithichoke , Kuaprasert Buabarn , Choowongkomon Kiattawee
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Bua Bok or Centella asiatica (CA) is an Asian vegetable with anti‐inflammatory benefits. Asiaticoside, asiatic acid, madecassoside and madecassic have been characterised as major active ingredients with a wide range of pharmacological advantages. In manufacturing processes, high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LCMS) are used to routinely determine the active compounds in raw materials.

Objectives

This research aims to explore anti‐inflammatory properties, characterise metabolites and observe the biochemical changes of the inflammatory induced macrophages after pretreatment with the potential extracted fractions.

Methods

Bua Bok leaf extracts were prepared. Macrophages were pretreated with non‐toxic fractions to determine the anti‐inflammatory action. Tentative metabolites of effective fractions were identified by LC–MS. Synchrotron fourier‐transform infrared (S‐FTIR) microspectroscopy was utilised to observe the biochemical change of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced cells after pretreatment with potential fractions.

Results

Fractions of ethyl acetate, 30% and 100% ethanol highly increased the nitrile scavenging and suppressed the function of phospholipase A2. Fractions of 70% and 100% ethanol strongly decreased nitric oxide production. The comparison of 39 chemical compounds was presented. The change of proteins was improved after pretreatment of macrophages with fraction 70% ethanol. Fraction of 100% ethanol revealed the lipid accumulation was lower than 70% ethanol and diclofenac.

Conclusion

While the anti‐inflammatory actions of 70% and 100% ethanol were similar. S‐FTIR expressed they inhibited inflammatory response with the distinct features of biomolecules. The S‐FTIR, LC–MS and biological assay confidently provided the efficient strategies to inform the advantage of herbal extract on cellular organisation instead of a single compound.
New insights into the Van Krevelen diagram: Automated molecular formula determination from HRMS for a large chemical profiling of lichen extracts
Authors: Ollivier Simon , Jéhan Philippe , Olivier‐Jimenez Damien , Lambert Fabian , Boustie Joël , Lohézic‐Le Dévéhat Françoise , Le Yondre Nicolas
Published: July 2022

Introduction

In recent years, LC‐MS has become the golden standard for metabolomic studies. Indeed, LC is relatively easy to couple with the soft electrospray ionization. As a consequence, many tools have been developed for the structural annotation of tandem mass spectra. However, it is sometimes difficult to do data‐dependent acquisition (DDA), especially when developing new methods that stray from the classical LC‐MS workflow.

Objective

An old tool from petroleomics that has recently gained popularity in metabolomics, the Van Krevelen diagram, is adapted for an overview of the molecular diversity profile in lichens through high‐resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS).

Methods

A new method is benchmarked against the state‐of‐the‐art classification tool ClassyFire using a database containing most known lichen metabolites (n ≈ 2,000). Four lichens known for their contrasted chemical composition were selected, and extractions with apolar, aprotic polar, and protic polar solvents were performed to cover a wide range of polarities. Extracts were analyzed with direct infusion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DI‐ESI‐MS) and atmospheric solids analysis probe mass spectrometry (ASAP‐MS) techniques to be compared with the chemical composition described in the literature.

Results

The most common lichen metabolites were efficiently classified, with more than 90% of the molecules in some classes being matched with ClassyFire. Results from this method are consistent with the various extraction protocols in the present case study.

Conclusion

This approach is a rapid and efficient tool to gain structural insight regarding lichen metabolites analyzed by HRMS without relying on DDA by LC‐MS/MS analysis. It may notably be of use during the development phase of novel MS‐based metabolomic approaches.
The impact of testicular cancer and its treatment on masculinity: A systematic review
Authors: Dax Victoria , Ftanou Maria , Tran Ben , Lewin Jeremy , Wallace Rebecca , Seidler Zac , Wiley Joshua F.
Published: July 2022

Objective

The purpose of this review was to synthesise the literature on the topic of masculinity and testicular cancer (TC) and investigate the relative impact of TC on men's view of their masculinity.

Methods

Searches were conducted across four databases (MEDline, PsycInfo, CINAHL Plus and Scopus) for articles published before April 2022 that included (1) TC and (2) masculinity. Two researchers independently rated studies for inclusion with a third resolving conflicts. Of the 6464 articles screened, 24 articles (10 quantitative and 14 qualitative) were included in the review. Articles were rated for quality and a narrative synthesis was performed.

Results

Overall, results indicated some men experience a shift in the way they relate to their sense of masculinity following diagnosis and treatment for TC. Being single and without children was related to the experience of negative masculinity‐related outcomes, possibly due to a compounding lack of relational support and being unable to conform to protector, provider traditions. Men who described testicle loss as symbolic of their diminished masculinity were also negatively impacted. However, recent, high‐quality literature on the topic using standardised masculinity measures was limited.

Conclusion

Some men experience a reduced sense of masculinity after TC, however the impact of TC on masculinity remains person dependent. Further research using validated masculinity measures is required to uncover psycho‐social variables that may account for whether and how meaning is made between TC and its treatment and any subsequent impact on perceived masculinity. Such factors may better support these men in life beyond cancer.

Systematic review registration: PROSPERO.

International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews: CRD42020185649.
On‐orbit results for radial distances between collocated GEO satellites for RF analysis
Authors: Yilmaz Umit Cezmi
Published: July 2022

Because the GEO belt is becoming more and more crowded every day, controlling the number of satellites in the same control box is becoming more common. There are different kinds of collocation strategies to control more than two satellites in the same box, such as (1) eccentricity and inclination separation or (2) longitude separation. TURKSAT has been using option (1) for a long time. In this paper, we demonstrated TURKSAT on‐orbit experience to show mainly radial distances between the satellites. The motivation of this study is to demonstrate how often the satellites are becoming behind of each other, which can be used for RF colocation analysis. Most of the cases the worst case for RF interference analysis between two collocated satellites is having zero distance in normal and tangential but having a radial distance only. In this study, based on the radial distance thresholds, the noninterfered link availability is also shown.
Online communities on competing platforms: Evidence from game wikis
Authors: Loh Johannes , Kretschmer Tobias
Published: July 2022

Research Summary

Many platforms rely on volunteer contributions for value creation. Thus, unpaid contributors are valuable to the platform, but control over their activities is limited. We study whether and how volunteer communities can provide a competitive advantage and ask how contributor behavior depends on a platform's competitive position. We propose two channels: First, a stronger competitive position facilitates contributor coordination, leading to a larger active community. Second, a platform's competitive position is related to contributor motivation, which drives how much individuals contribute. Studying two competing game wiki platforms, we find that a platform's stronger competitive position is associated with higher activity, primarily driven by the number of contributors, which in turn triggers increased contributions by existing contributors. Further, high‐productivity contributors are especially active on a stronger platform.

Managerial Summary

Online “crowdsourcing” communities create value for many digital platforms, but managing them in a way that ensures productive contributions is challenging. To better understand the conditions under which online communities create value productively we analyze how contribution patterns differ between more and less successful platforms. We study 13 game wiki communities on two competing platforms and find that success is tied to higher activity, which is in turn the result of more manpower in the value creation process, but also higher productivity by individual contributors. In addition, a dedicated core of highly productive community members is an important driver of platform success. These findings have implications for the motivation of community members, and the entry and growth strategies of crowdsourced platforms.
Ferromagnetic‐Based Charge‐Accumulation Triboelectric Nanogenerator With Ultrahigh Surface Charge Density
Authors: Qi Youchao , Liu Guoxu , Bu Tianzhao , Zeng Jianhua , Zhang Zhi , Zhang Chi
Published: July 2022

An encouraging micro‐energy harvesting technology, the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), has been proven to transfer ambient environmental micro‐energy into electricity, but a low surface charge density results in low performance and limits the practical application of TENG. Here, a ferromagnetic‐based charge‐accumulation TENG (FC–TENG) is proposed with ultrahigh surface charge density and performances. The FC–TENG introduces a ferromagnetic media to enhance the output charge by magnetization effect. Meanwhile, the charge can also be continuously accumulated by the charge pump effects. Based on these two effects, an ultra‐high surface charge density of 2.85 mC m−2 is obtained under ambient atmospheric conditions using an ultra‐thin PET film (3 µm) and deposited Permalloy ferromagnetic electrodes. Meanwhile, the surface charge density of the FC–TENG can always maintain more than 1.5 mC m−2, even if the relative humidity arrives at 90%. This work provides a prospective technical mode to enhance the surface charge density of TENG, which would shed a new insight and guidance on the high‐performance TENG for various environmental conditions such as the ocean, industrial manufacturing, aerospace, and rail traffic.
A Single‐Atom Fe‐N‐C Catalyst with Ultrahigh Utilization of Active Sites for Efficient Oxygen Reduction
Authors: Ao Xiang , Ding Yong , Nam Gyutae , Soule Luke , Jing Panpan , Zhao Bote , Hwang Jee Youn , Jang Ji‐Hoon , Wang Chundong , Liu Meilin
Published: July 2022

Fe‐N‐C single‐atom catalysts (SACs) are emerging as a promising class of electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) to replace Pt‐based catalysts. However, due to the limited loading of Fe for SACs and the inaccessibility of internal active sites, only a small portion of the sites near the external surface are able to contribute to the ORR activity. Here, this work reports a metal–organic framework‐derived Fe‐N‐C SAC with a hierarchically porous and concave nanoarchitecture prepared through a facile but effective strategy, which exhibits superior electrocatalytic ORR activity with a half‐wave potential of 0.926 V (vs RHE) in alkaline media and 0.8 V (vs RHE) in acidic media while maintaining excellent stability. The superior ORR activity of the as‐designed catalyst stems from the unique architecture, where the hierarchically porous architecture contains micropores as Fe SAC anchoring sites, meso‐/macro‐pores as accessible channels, and concave shell for increasing external surface area. The unique architecture has dramatically enhanced the utilization of previously blocked internal active sites, as confirmed by a high turnover frequency of 3.37 s−1 and operando X‐ray absorption spectroscopy analysis with a distinct shift of adsorption edge.
CrN Coating on 316L Stainless Steel via Inductively Coupled Plasma‐Enhanced Magnetron Sputtering as Bipolar Plates for Proton‐Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
Authors: Hu Shengsheng , Li Maoyang , Yang Jiaqi , Wu Xuemei
Published: July 2022

Herein, CrN monolayer films are deposited on 316L stainless steel (316LSS) via inductively coupled plasma (ICP)‐enhanced magnetron sputtering technology to compensate the defects of bare 316LSS in an acidic, hot, and humid proton‐exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) environment. To assess the anticorrosive performance and conductivity of CrN‐coated 316LSS, the electrochemical behavior and interfacial contact resistances (ICRs) of samples are measured before and after the modification. The results of the potentiodynamic polarization test show that CrN‐coated 316LSS possesses high anticorrosion performance according to the ultralow corrosion current density of 0.094 and 0.078 μA cm−2 under the imitated PEMFC anode and cathode environments, respectively. These values are far below the USA Department of Energy's requirements of <l μA cm−2. In addition, the ICR of CrN‐coated 316LSS also satisfies the DOE's target (<10 mΩ cm2), which is obtained to be 7.8 mΩ cm2 under 140 N cm−2. Through analysis of potentiostatic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, it suggests that CrN‐coated 316LSS combines better long‐term stability under the working voltages of two electrodes in PEMFCs with better electrochemical impedance than bare 316LSS. Consequently, CrN coating on 316LSS via ICP‐enhanced magnetron sputtering technology can be potentially suitable for bipolar plate applications in PEMFCs.
Nanosized Lamellar Structures and Tensile Properties of Intercritical‐Annealed Medium Mn Steels Containing Multiphases
Authors: Trang Thi Thanh Tram , Jeong Chang-Gon , Lee Dongwon , Heo Yoon-Uk
Published: July 2022

The effect of extended intercritical annealing time on the changes of the microstructure and tensile properties is studied in a medium Mn steel. Nanosized lamellar structures are formed after intercritical annealing at 550 °C for 8 and 16 h; they consist of mainly tempered‐α′ martensite with retained austenite. Many cementite precipitates are observed in the tempered‐α′ martensite matrix and at the high‐angle boundaries. The orientation relationship between θ‐cementite and tempered‐α′ martensite is identified to be ()θ//()tempered‐α′, [011]θ//[011]tempered‐α′, and []θ//[]tempered‐α′. Fresh α′ martensite is detected between the tempered‐α′ martensite and austenite lamellae in the quenched specimens. The fresh α′ martensite is formed due to partial martensitic transformation of austenite upon cooling. The fractions of cementite and fresh α′ martensite increase with extended annealing time, leading to reduced austenite fraction after quenching. Additional baking treatment at 200 °C increases yield stress and elongation due to the stabilization of the austenite. This study provides a detailed understanding of these complex nanosized microstructures and discusses the key factors governing their yield stresses and work hardening behaviors.
A change management roadmap for wasta‐free managerial practices in Arab organizations
Authors: Alsarhan Fadi
Published: July 2022

Wasta, which is the typical informal network style pervasive in the Arab world, has long been believed to constitute an intrinsic feature of managerial activities and practices in Arab organizations. With a long and intertwined history on one side, and a large widespread on the other, this practice seems near impossible to dissociate from the social and professional landscape of this part of the world. While more and more studies are emerging in order to understand the mechanisms of this practice, the conditions of its emergences, the factors which stand behind its widespread, and the consequences it brings forth, less attention has been directed towards proposing a solution for this problem. Some scholars have nonetheless attempted to offer practical indications on dealing with wasta in order to limit its spread and disintegrate its operational systems. This paper, which falls in line with these works, proposes a roadmap towards a wasta‐free management system in Arab organizations. Through formulating holistic and comprehensive measures in different levels and areas, this study hopes to contribute a clear roadmap, ready for use by global business leaders, managers, HR practitioners, and government executives alike.
Evolutionary fates of gene‐body methylation and its divergent association with gene expression in pigeonpea
Authors: Junaid Alim , Singh Nagendra Kumar , Gaikwad Kishor
Published: July 2022

Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L. Huth) is an agronomically important legume cultivated worldwide. In this study, we extensively analyzed gene‐body methylation (GbM) patterns in pigeonpea. We found a bimodal distribution of CG and CHG methylation patterns. GbM features‐ slow evolution rate and increased length remained conserved. Genes with moderate CG body methylation showed highest expression where as highly‐methylated genes showed lowest expression. Transposable element (TE)‐related genes were methylated in multiple contexts and hence classified as C‐methylated genes. A low expression among C‐methylated genes was associated with transposons insertion in gene‐body and upstream regulatory regions. The CG methylation patterns were found to be conserved in orthologs compared with non‐CG methylation. By comparing methylation patterns between differentially methylated regions (DMRs) of the three genotypes, we found that variably methylated marks are less likely to target evolutionary conserved sequences. Finally, our analysis showed enrichment of nitrogen‐related genes in GbM orthologs of legumes, which could be promising candidates for generating epialleles for crop improvement.
Transient respiratory arrest after quadratus lumborum block in a dog
Authors: Herrera‐Linares Manuel E. , Martínez Miguel
Published: July 2022

A 13.9 kg, 4‐year‐old, male cocker spaniel dog was scheduled for cystotomy. Premedication consisted of intravenous medetomidine (5 µg/kg), induction with propofol (1 mg/kg, intravenous) and anaesthesia maintenance with isoflurane in O2 100%. A medetomidine constant‐rate infusion (1 µg/kg/h) was administered throughout. A bilateral quadratus lumborum block with 3 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine (each side) was performed, and intermittent positive‐pressure ventilation was initiated. At the end of the surgery, medetomidine constant‐rate infusion and intermittent positive‐pressure ventilation ceased. The patient remained in apnoea and developed severe hypercapnia (end‐tidal carbon dioxide: 12 kPa). Thirty minutes after isoflurane discontinuation, respiratory muscles movement started. Three days before, the dog underwent a mini‐hemilaminectomy (similar anaesthetic protocol) without complications. Epidural/spinal migration from the right quadratus lumborum block was suspected, although the definitive cause of transient respiratory arrest after bilateral quadratus lumborum block could not be ascertained. We advise caution when performing quadratus lumborum if previous neighbouring spinal surgery was performed.
Impact of slip boundary conditions, magnetic force, and porous medium on blood flow of Jeffrey fluid
Authors: Nazeer Mubbashar , Ahamdi Ahmad Aziz Al , Alzaed Ali Nasser , Alwetaishi Mamdooh , Nazir Muhammad Waqas , Khan Muhammad Ijaz
Published: July 2022

In this study, the comparative study of the peristaltic flow of Newtonian and non‐Newtonian fluids under the consideration of the magnetic field in the porous inclined channel is investigated. The effects of velocity slip and convective boundary conditions are also considered. Moreover, the variable liquid properties are also taken. The mathematical model is developed with the help of the Jeffrey fluid model in the form of partial differential equations. After that, convert them into dimensional form by using the dimensionless quantities. The resultant system of equations is solved through the perturbation method and presented the solution of velocity, temperature, and concentration in analytical form. The impact of physical parameters on the velocity, temperature, and concentration profiles are highlighted with the help of the graphs. The outcomes revealed that the magnetic parameter slows down the velocity of the fluid while the Darcy number enhanced the velocity and temperature distribution and suppressed the concentration profile.
Bullöse Arzneimittelreaktion nach Gabe von Pembrolizumab – 2 Fallberichte
Authors: Golle L. , Michl C. , Kreft B.
Published: July 2022

Zu den schweren, blasenbildenden Arzneimittelreaktionen an der Haut gehören das Stevens-Johnson-Syndrom (SJS) und die toxisch epidermale Nekrolyse (TEN). Allopurinol, Antikonvulsiva, Sulfonamidantibiotika und nichtsteroidale Antirheumatika vom Oxicam-Typ sind wiederholt als Auslöser beschrieben. Zunehmend rücken auch Immuntherapien als Auslöser schwerer Hautreaktionen in den Fokus. Vorgestellt werden 2 Patienten mit bullösen Hauterscheinungen nach Gabe des Checkpointinhibitors Pembrolizumab. Da das klinische Bild nicht immer eine zweifelsfreie Einordnung zulässt, ist eine histologische Mitbeurteilung vielfach unverzichtbar.
Soy product intake and risk of incident disabling dementia: the JPHC Disabling Dementia Study
Authors: Murai Utako , Sawada Norie , Charvat Hadrien , Inoue Manami , Yasuda Nobufumi , Yamagishi Kazumasa , Tsugane Shoichiro ,   For the JPHC Study Group
Published: July 2022

Purpose

We evaluated the association between total soy, soy product (natto, miso and tofu) and isoflavone intake and incident disabling dementia in a Japanese population.

Methods

We conducted a population-based prospective study in 18,991 men and 22,456 women. Intake of soy products and isoflavone was calculated using a validated food frequency questionnaire when participants were 45–74 years old (1995 and 1998). Incident disabling dementia was defined by the daily living disability status related to dementia in the long-term care insurance program of Japan from 2006 to 2016. Multivariate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of disabling dementia were calculated by quintiles of total soy, individual soy product and isoflavone intake, using Cox proportional hazard regression models.

Results

Total soy product intake was not associated with disabling dementia risk in both men and women. By individual soy products, natto intake was marginally inversely associated with disabling dementia in women (trend P = 0.050). When we stratified by age, this inverse association was clearer in women aged under 60 years (multivariate HR for the highest versus lowest quintile was 0.78, 95% CI 0.59–1.04, trend P = 0.020 for those aged under 60 years and 0.90, 95% CI 0.77–1.05, trend P = 0.23 for those aged 60 years and older, respectively). Any soy product or isoflavone intake was not associated with disabling dementia risk in men.

Conclusions

Although total soy product intake was not associated with disabling dementia risk, natto intake may contribute to reducing the risk of disabling dementia in women, especially in those aged under 60 years.
Dissociation of liner from cup in THA: does liner damage affect the risk of dissociation?
Authors: Beckmann Nicholas Andreas , Schonhoff Mareike , Bastian Johannes Dominik , Renkawitz Tobias , Jaeger Sebastian
Published: July 2022

Introduction

A rare catastrophic failure of modular component Total Hip Arthroplasty is dissociation between liner and cup, which has been associated with component malposition and/or impingement and seems to be more frequently associated with the Pinnacle system. The goal of this study was to evaluate the resistance of a polyethylene liner to lever-out-forces of the Pinnacle locking mechanism and the locking mechanisms of two other current cup/liner systems using a standardized testing method (ASTM).

Materials and methods

Five of each of the following cups were evaluated with their corresponding polyethylene liners: Pinnacle Multihole cup with and without intact anti-rotation tabs (ART’s); Allofit-S-Alloclassic and Plasmafit Plus7 cups. The ASTM test set-up was used to evaluate the lever-out force resulting in liner dissociation for each construct.

Results

The Pinnacle construct with intact ARTs required the greatest force (F) to achieve dissociation (263.2 ± 79.2 N) followed by the Plasmafit Plus7 (185.8 ± 36.9 N) and the Allofit-S (101.4 ± 35.3 N) constructs, respectively. However, after removal of the ARTs, the Pinnacle system required the least force to achieve dissociation (75.1 ± 22.2 N) (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The intact Pinnacle system appeared the most stable in lever-out tests when compared to the other systems. However, after removal of the ARTs, the Pinnacle system required the least force for dissociation, consistent with locking mechanism failure, and suggesting that the ARTs are a critical component of the locking mechanism. Our findings are consistent with the clinical experience of dissociated Pinnacle constructs displaying damaged or missing ARTs, and that damage to these may increase risk of liner dissociation.
A link between age, affect, and predictions?
Authors: Trapp Sabrina , Guitart-Masip Marc , Schröger Erich
Published: July 2022

The prevalence of depressive symptoms decreases from late adolescence to middle age adulthood. Furthermore, despite significant losses in motor and cognitive functioning, overall emotional well-being tends to increase with age, and a bias to positive information has been observed multiple times. Several causes have been discussed for this age-related development, such as improvement in emotion regulation, less regret, and higher socioeconomic status. Here, we explore a further explanation. Our minds host mental models that generate predictions about forthcoming events to successfully interact with our physical and social environment. To keep these models faithful, the difference between the predicted and the actual event, that is, the prediction error, is computed. We argue that prediction errors are attenuated in the middle age and older mind, which, in turn, may translate to less negative affect, lower susceptibility to affective disorders, and possibly, to a bias to positive information. Our proposal is primarily linked to perceptual inferences, but may hold as well for higher-level, cognitive, and emotional forms of error processing.
Community-based accompaniment for adolescents transitioning to adult HIV care in urban Peru: a pilot study
Authors: Vargas Valentina , Wong Milagros , Rodriguez Carly A. , Sanchez Hugo , Galea Jerome , Ramos Alicia , Senador Liz , Kolevic Lenka , Matos Eduardo , Sanchez Eduardo , Errea Renato A. , Ramos Karen , Beckhorn Catherine , Lindeborg Andrew , Benites Carlos , Lecca Leonid , Shin Sonya , Franke Molly F.
Published: July 2022

We piloted a community-based intervention to improve outcomes among adolescents living with HIV who were transitioning to adult-oriented care in Lima, Peru. We assessed feasibility and potential effectiveness, including within-person changes in self-reported adherence, psychosocial metrics (NIH Toolbox), and transition readiness (“Am I on TRAC” questionnaire, “Got Transition” checklist). From October 2019 to January 2020, we enrolled 30 adolescents (15–21 years). The nine-month intervention consisted of logistical, adherence and social support delivered by entry-level health workers and group sessions to improve health-related knowledge and skills and social support. In transition readiness, we observed within-person improvements relative to baseline. We also observed strong evidence of improvements in adherence, social support, self-efficacy, and stress, which were generally sustained three months post-intervention. All participants remained in treatment after 12 months. The intervention was feasible and potentially effective for bridging the transition to adult HIV care. A large-scale evaluation, including biological endpoints, is warranted.
Benevolent Sexism and the Traditional Sexual Script as Predictors of Sexual Dissatisfaction in Heterosexual Women from the U.S.
Authors: Bonell Sarah , Lee Harrison , Pearson Samuel , Harris Emily , Barlow Fiona Kate
Published: July 2022

Women report lower sexual satisfaction than men. Given that sexual dissatisfaction adversely impacts health and well-being, it is imperative that we investigate why women are sexually dissatisfied. In the present study, we explored whether women’s benevolently sexist attitudes might predict their sexual dissatisfaction. In a sample of 308 (Mage = 38.09) heterosexual American women who had previously had sex with a man, we hypothesized that women’s benevolent sexism would be associated with an increased adoption of the traditional sexual script (i.e., an increased propensity for submissiveness and passivity during sex) and that this, in turn, would be associated with increased sexual dissatisfaction. We also hypothesized that the relationship between the adoption of the traditional sexual script and sexual dissatisfaction would be moderated by the degree to which participants enjoy submissiveness. Overall, we did not find support for our model: benevolent sexism did not predict sexual dissatisfaction. However, we did find that adopting the traditional sexual script was predictive of sexual dissatisfaction for women who do not enjoy submissiveness. These findings contribute to an emerging literature pertaining to women’s sexual health. Specifically, results suggest that benevolent sexism does not contribute to women’s experiences of sexual dissatisfaction. Instead, they suggest that sexual dissatisfaction in women may (in part) be driven by their engagement in sexual roles that do not align with their sexual preferences. Theoretical and clinical implications for these findings are discussed.
Manipulation at optimum locations for maximum force transmission with mobile robots under environmental disturbances
Authors: Tugal Harun , Cetin Kamil , Petillot Yvan , Dunnigan Matthew , Erden Mustafa Suphi
Published: July 2022

Remote manipulation plays a key role for applications in hazardous conditions, yet designing a robust controller enabling safe interaction with unknown environment and under the influence of disturbances is a challenge. In this study, we propose effective control and optimization methods for mobile robotic manipulator systems that can increase effort transmission to a task in desired directions. The vehicle position is optimized by utilizing constrained particle swarm optimization where the objective is to enhance directional manipulability of the robotic arm within the system. A forward dynamic controller is implemented to eliminate undesired excessive motions near singular joint configurations. A reset control algorithm along with an admittance type controller are developed for stable interaction with an unknown object under environmental disturbances. The experimentally validated results show that the proposed method phase out undesired position disturbances and increase the directional manipulability for the required task enabling augmented effort transmission for the task execution.
Teacher Autonomy Support and Internalizing Problems of Adolescents from Divorced and Intact Families: Moderation by Personality Typologies
Authors: Lan Xiaoyu , Mastrotheodoros Stefanos
Published: July 2022

The present research compared internalizing problems of adolescents who experienced parental divorce with those of adolescents who remained in intact families. Furthermore, this research investigated the association of teacher autonomy support with adolescents’ internalizing problems for the whole sample and further ascertained whether this association was moderated by distinctive personality profiles using a person-centered approach and family structures (divorced vs. intact families). A sample of 2756 Chinese adolescents (8.5% from divorced families), aged 13–18 years, participated in the present research. They completed a set of self-reported questionnaires during school hours. Results based on ANCOVA showed that adolescents who experienced parental divorce reported higher internalizing problems than did those who remained in intact families. Moreover, latent profile analysis revealed three personality profiles: psychopathic (22.7%), normative (56.4%), and resilient (20.9%). In addition, teacher autonomy support was negatively related to adolescents’ internalizing problems in the overall sample. However, interaction analyses further exhibited that this association was insignificant for psychopathic adolescents who experienced parental divorce. The current findings indicate that although teacher autonomy support may protect adolescents from internalizing problems, psychopathic adolescents whose parents got divorced should be paid exceptional attention by mental health professionals and school counselors.
Alendronate-loaded gelatin microparticles as templating agents for macroporous magnesium phosphate-based bone cements
Authors: Gelli Rita , Sforzi Lucrezia , Montanari Francesco , Ridi Francesca , Baglioni Piero
Published: July 2022

Magnesium phosphate-based cements (MPCs) have recently attracted great attention as materials for bone repair. However, the lack of macroporosity, fundamental for cells permeation and bone ingrowth, is one of the main limitations hampering MPCs full exploitation. In this work gelatin microparticles are exploited as templating agents for the creation of macroporosities in MPCs. In addition, gelatin particles were loaded with a well-recognized drug for the treatment of osteoporosis, alendronate, to locally release the therapeutic agent. Gelatin microparticles of different size were prepared with a simple water-in-oil emulsion method and included in MPCs at various concentrations. The properties of both the MPCs and the final material were characterized by assessing the composite in terms of injectability, setting time, infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and confocal Raman microscopy. The MPC-gelatin composites were then incubated in water at physiological temperature, to promote the dissolution of the gelatin, obtain a macroporous cement, and release gelatin and alendronate. The obtained results show that gelatin microparticles have a twofold action as they allow for the formation of MPC with an interconnected and hundreds of µm-sized porosity and the local release of alendronate, resulting in a material with ideal features for bone repair.

Graphical abstract
Striving for Personal Perfection: Rudolf Allers’s Psycho-Ethic-Metaphysical Approach to Character and Self-Improvement
Authors: García-Alandete Joaquín
Published: July 2022

The Viennese psychiatrist Rudolf Allers was one of the principal authors that studied character and contributed to understanding its development and education, including the neurotic character. His psychological observations were based on his own clinical experience, his individual psychology, phenomenological and existential philosophies, and, above all, the doctrine of the Fathers of the Catholic Church and Thomas Aquinas. This paper presents Allers’s main ideas about self-improvement as a process of personal changing toward self-perfection, that is, toward the best version of oneself. For Allers, self-perfection implies the modification of insane aspects of character such as egocentricity, pride, and untidy love for oneself, which are the most important impediments to self-improvement.
50 Years of the steric-blocking mechanism in vertebrate skeletal muscle: a retrospective
Authors: Parry David A. D.
Published: July 2022

Fifty years have now passed since Parry and Squire proposed a detailed structural model that explained how tropomyosin, mediated by troponin, played a steric-blocking role in the regulation of vertebrate skeletal muscle. In this Special Issue dedicated to the memory of John Squire it is an opportune time to look back on this research and to appreciate John’s key contributions. A review is also presented of a selection of the developments and insights into muscle regulation that have occurred in the years since this proposal was formulated.
Histone demethylase KDM5B catalyzed H3K4me3 demethylation to promote differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into cardiomyocytes
Authors: Wang Zhen , Zhong Chenlu , Li Hongxiao
Published: July 2022

Background

Studies have shown that histone H3 methylation is involved in regulating the differentiation of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells (BMSCs). KDM5B can specifically reduce the level of histone 3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3), thereby activating the expression of related genes and participating in biological processes such as cell differentiation, embryonic development and tumor formation. Whether KDM5B is involved in the regulation of BMSCs differentiation into cardiomyocytes through the above manner has not been reported.

Objective

To investigate the effect of KDM5B on the induction and differentiation of swine BMSCs into myocardial cells in vitro.

Methods

Swine bone marrow BMSCs were isolated and cultured, and the overexpression, interference expression and blank vector of KMD5B were constructed and transfected by lentivirus. BMSCs was induced to differentiate into cardiomyocytes by 5-azacytidine (5-AZA) in vitro, and the differentiation efficiency was compared by immunofluorescence, RT-PCR, Western Blot and whole-cell patch clamp detection.

Result

Compared with the control group, the expression levels of histone H3K4me3 and pluripotency gene Nanog in KDM5B overexpression group were significantly decreased, while the expression level of key myocardial gene HCN4 and myocardial marker gene α-Actin and cTNT were significantly increased, and the Na+ current density on the surface of differentiated myocardial cell membrane was significantly increased. Meanwhile, the corresponding results of the KDM5B silent expression group were just opposite.

Conclusions

It indicated that enhanced KDM5B expression could promote the differentiation of BMSCs into cardiomyocytes and improve the differentiation efficiency by controlling H3K4 methylation levels.
Mothers’ Domestic Responsibilities and Well-Being During the COVID-19 Lockdown: The Moderating Role of Gender Essentialist Beliefs About Parenthood
Authors: Thorsteinsen Kjærsti , Parks-Stamm Elizabeth J. , Kvalø Marie , Olsen Marte , Martiny Sarah E.
Published: July 2022

The present work investigates how the increased domestic responsibilities created by the Spring 2020 lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway and gender ideologies relate to the well-being of mothers with elementary school children. In June 2020, we conducted a cross-sectional online study including current and retrospective measures with 180 mothers (Mage = 39.96 years,SD = 6.11) of elementary school children across Norway. First, in line with earlier research on the strain of the pandemic on parents, and especially mothers, we found that Norwegian mothers’ well-being during the lockdown significantly declined compared to before the lockdown (both measured retrospectively). Furthermore, mothers’ well-being after the Spring 2020 lockdown did not immediately return to pre-lockdown levels. Finally, we predicted that gender ideologies (i.e., essentialist beliefs about parenthood) would exacerbate the negative impact of increased domestic responsibilities (i.e., childcare and housework) on mothers’ well-being (i.e.,higher standard-higher stresshypothesis). As predicted, for mothers who more strongly endorsed the belief that mothers are instinctively and innately better caretakers than fathers, perceptions of increased domestic responsibilities were associated with lower well-being post-lockdown. These findings point to the specific challenges mothers face in times of crisis, and the importance of addressing and confronting seemingly benevolent ideologies about motherhood that place additional burdens on women.
Rate of Change of Large-Scale Solar-Wind Structure
Authors: Owens Mathew J. , Chakraborty Nachiketa , Turner Harriet , Lang Matthew , Riley Pete , Lockwood Mike , Barnard Luke A. , Chi Yutian
Published: July 2022

Quantifying the rate at which the large-scale solar-wind structure evolves is important for both understanding the physical processes occurring in the corona and for space-weather forecast improvement. Models of the global corona and heliosphere typically assume that the ambient solar-wind structure is steady and corotates with the Sun, which is generally expected to be more valid at solar minimum than solar maximum, but this has not been well tested. Similarly, assimilation of solar-wind observations into models requires quantitative knowledge of how the reliability of the observations changes with age. In this study we examine 25 years of near-Earth in situ solar-wind observations and 45 years of observation-constrained solar-wind simulations to determine how much the 1-AU solar-wind speed, $V$
V
, and radial magnetic-field component, $B_{R}$

B
R

, vary between consecutive Carrington rotations (CRs). For the in situ spacecraft observations, we find the rate of change of $V$
V
and $B_{R}$

B
R

is similar during solar maximum and minimum, particularly when transient interplanetary coronal mass ejections are removed from the data. This is somewhat counter to expectations. Conversely, the rate of change in $V$
V
and $B_{R}$

B
R

obtained from global heliospheric simulations is strongly correlated with the solar cycle, with the corona and heliosphere being more variable at solar maximum, as expected. Limiting the analysis of the simulations to the solar equatorial region, however, strongly reduces the difference between solar maximum and minimum, bringing the result into close agreement with the in situ observations. This latitudinal sensitivity is explained in terms of the global solar-wind structure over the solar cycle. For the purposes of assimilating in-ecliptic solar-wind observations, we suggest the uncertainty in $V$
V
should increase by around 3 km s−1 per day since the observation was made and 0.1 nT per day for $B_{R}$

B
R

. For observations made at higher latitude, the effect of observation age will be solar-cycle dependent.
Belief merging in absence of reliability information
Authors: Liberatore Paolo
Published: July 2022

Merging beliefs depends on the relative reliability of their sources. When this is information is absent, assuming equal reliability is unwarranted. The solution proposed in this article is that every reliability profile is possible, and only what holds according to all of them is accepted. Alternatively, one source is completely reliable, but which one is not specified. These two cases motivate two existing forms of merging: maxcons-based merging and disjunctive merging.
Modeling of Two Phase Flow in a Hydrophobic Porous Medium Interacting with a Hydrophilic Structure
Authors: Michalkowski Cynthia , Weishaupt Kilian , Schleper Veronika , Helmig Rainer
Published: July 2022

Fluid flow through layered materials with different wetting behavior is observed in a wide range of applications in biological, environmental and technical systems. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the occuring transport mechanisms of the fluids at the interface between the layered constituents. Of special interest is the water transport in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Here, it is necessary to understand the transport mechanisms of water throughout the cell constituents especially on the cathode side, where the excess water has to be removed. This is crucial to choose optimal operating conditions and improve the overall cell performance. Pore-scale modeling of gas diffusion layers (GDLs) and gas distributor has been established as a favorable technique to investigate the ongoing processes. Investigating the interface between the hydrophobic porous GDL and the hydrophilic gas distributor, a particular challenge is the combination and interaction of the different material structures and wetting properties at the interface and its influence on the flow. In this paper, a modeling approach is presented which captures the influence of a hydrophilic domain on the flow in a hydrophobic porous domain at the interface between the two domains. A pore-network model is used as the basis of the developed concept which is extended to allow the modeling of mixed-wet interactions at the interface. The functionality of the model is demonstrated using basic example configurations with one and several interface pores and it is applied to a realistic GDL representation in contact with a channel-land structured gas distributor.
Bringing Sectors Together in Da Nang, Vietnam: Participatory Systems Mapping
Authors: Kieu Thi Kinh , Grattan Karen , Goldman Bailey , Ha Tran Thi Thuy , Thi Tran Thi Thu , Pomeroy–Stevens Amanda , Bachani Damodar
Published: July 2022

The USAID-funded Building Healthy Cities (BHC) work in Da Nang, Vietnam, engaged 108 multi-sector stakeholders to gather qualitative data across two workshops and three citizen town halls from 2019 to 2021. These data were synthesized with the results from BHC’s seven other activities in Da Nang to build systems maps. Contextual findings showed that multi-sector, multi-level participation and collaboration have been the key to moving the city toward their smart and livable city goals. Currently, citizen, nongovernmental organization, and private sector collaboration are low for many government sectors, which results in policy and programs that are mismatched to actual needs and therefore have less powerful impacts. When these policies and programs are implemented, they struggle to demonstrate strong benefits to these stakeholder groups, further decreasing participation. This is central to the systems map that BHC developed, and is expanded upon through additional patterns that fall within four main areas: management quality; vision and leadership; workforce capacity; and community engagement. Stakeholders found four key leverage points within this context that, if included in every action, could help overcome barriers. These leverage opportunities are: (1) investing at all levels; (2) improving function and innovation of information technology; (3) increasing participation and feedback; and (4) creating more responsive policy. As BHC concludes activities in Da Nang, local university students will be trained on systems mapping techniques to embed systems thinking skills into the next generation of workforce, and a set of recommendations will be developed to share with the government to act on these findings.