bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fertility and banking development: New panel evidence
Authors: Kim Dong‐Hyeon , Chen Ting‐Cih , Lin Shu‐Chin
Published: May 2022

Fertility plays a crucial role in the process of economic development. Understanding its determinants is pivotal. While most studies emphasize real factors such as industrialization and education, they usually, with a few exceptions, overlook the financial sector channel of impact. To close the gap, the paper investigates the effect of banking development on fertility. Using panel time‐series techniques to a panel of developed and developing countries, it finds that fertility rises with banking development but decreases with banking volatility. It also finds asymmetric responses of fertility to changes in banking development. Households tend to have more children when the banking sector is expanding but do not have less children when the banking sector is declining. The evidence holds for both bank credit to households and to firms. In addition, as additional sources of funds and investment opportunities, development in securities markets is found to raise fertility. Asymmetry is also detected with a larger fertility effect during market booms than busts.
Melanoma segmentation: A framework of improved DenseNet77 and UNET convolutional neural network
Authors: Nawaz Marriam , Nazir Tahira , Masood Momina , Ali Farooq , Khan Muhammad Attique , Tariq Usman , Sahar Naveera , Damaševičius Robertas
Published: May 2022

Melanoma is the most fatal type of skin cancer which can cause the death of victims at the advanced stage. Extensive work has been presented by the researcher on computer vision for skin lesion localization. However, correct and effective melanoma segmentation is still a tough job because of the extensive variations found in the shape, color, and sizes of skin moles. Moreover, the presence of light and brightness variations further complicates the segmentation task. We have presented improved deep learning (DL)‐based approach, namely, the DenseNet77‐based UNET model. More clearly, we have introduced the DenseNet77 network at the encoder unit of the UNET approach to computing the more representative set of image features. The calculated keypoints are later segmented by the decoder of the UNET model. We have used two standard datasets, namely, the ISIC‐2017 and ISIC‐2018 to evaluate the performance of the proposed approach and acquired the segmentation accuracies of 99.21% and 99.51% for the ISIC‐2017 and ISIC‐2018 datasets, respectively. We have confirmed through both the quantitative and qualitative results that the proposed improved UNET approach is robust to skin lesions segmentation and can accurately recognize the moles of varying colors and sizes.
In‐the‐moment ratings on the Early Relational Health Screen: A pilot study of application in home visiting and primary care
Authors: Rosenblum Katherine L. , Riggs Jessica , Freeman Sarah , Shah Prachi E. , Muzik Maria ,   the Michigan Collaborative for Infant Mental Health Research
Published: May 2022

Early infant‐parent interaction sets a critical foundation for young children's well‐being, and evidence regarding the protective role of secure early relationships has led to increased interest in effective screening and promotion of early relational health in pediatric primary care and home visiting settings. We report findings from two pilot studies conducted in the United States that describe the reliability and validity of a relational health screening tool, the Early Relational Health Screen (ERHS), implemented in two different contexts: an innovative model of relational health promotion in pediatric primary care (Study 1) and an Infant Mental Health Home Visiting (IMH‐HV) model (Study 2). Across both studies, a trained clinician rated the ERHS following real‐time observation of interaction (i.e., “in‐the‐moment” ratings). Reliability was assessed by comparing “in‐the‐moment” ERHS ratings to subsequent coding of the same interaction from video by an independent evaluator. In addition, Study 2 data permitted evaluation of the validity of “in‐the‐moment” ERHS ratings. Results from both studies indicated reliability of “in‐the‐moment” ERHS ratings. In addition, Study 2 clinician “in‐the‐moment” ratings were associated with maternal depression and ratings of child‐parent interaction derived from a separate observational task coded by independent evaluators using a different well‐validated research‐based measure. Discussion highlights the potential of the ERHS as a screening, promotion, and prevention tool that may be feasibly administered by providers across pediatric primary care and home visiting settings.
Investigating the drivers of cybersecurity enhancement in public organizations: The case of Jordan
Authors: Al‐ma'aitah Mohammad Atwah
Published: May 2022

Electronic government systems are broadly recognized in the modern era as useful and valid means of delivering e‐services. As the importance and prevalence of e‐government services have grown, increasing attention has necessarily been placed on the cybersecurity of electronic programs. Multiple drivers have been identified as contributing to the enhancement of cybersecurity, however, there is limited empirical research confirming these drivers. The main aims of this study are to investigate the drivers of e‐government cybersecurity enhancement and determine the impact of cybersecurity on the effectiveness of e‐government systems. The study constructs were extracted from the human–organization–technology (HOT) theory and institutional theory. A total of 500 questionnaires were randomly distributed to information technology department staff members and e‐government officials in Jordanian ministries. The resulting data were analyzed using a structural equation modeling approach. The findings indicate that technical measures, the role of senior management, coercive pressures, and memetic pressures are important drivers for enhanced cybersecurity levels in governmental organizations. The results also show that enhancing cybersecurity levels in organizations promote the effectiveness of e‐government services. These conclusions offer researchers and practitioners insight as to the drivers of an enhanced cybersecurity and the importance of cybersecurity in e‐government as a whole.
Optimization of production and characterization of a recombinant soluble human Cripto‐1 protein inhibiting self‐renewal of cancer stem cells
Authors: Afify Said M. , Hassan Ghmkin , Nawara Hend M. , H Zahra Maram , Xu Yanning , Alam Md Jahangir , Saitoh Koichi , Mansour Hager , Abu Quora Hagar A. , Sheta Mona , Monzur Sadia , Du Juan , Oh Sue Young , Seno Akimasa , Salomon David S. , Seno Masaharu
Published: May 2022

Human Cripto‐1 is a member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF)‐Cripto‐FRL‐1‐Cryptic (CFC) family family and performs critical roles in cancer and various pathological and developmental processes. Recently we demonstrated that a soluble form of Cripto‐1 suppresses the self‐renewal and enhances the differentiation of cancer stem cells (CSCs). A functional form of soluble Cripto‐1 was found to be difficult to obtain because of the 12 cysteine residues in the protein which impairs the folding process. Here, we optimized the protocol for a T7 expression system, purification from inclusion bodies under denatured conditions refolding of a His‐tagged Cripto‐1 protein. A concentrations of 0.2−0.4 mM isopropyl β‐D‐1‐thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) at 37°C was found to be the optimal concentration for Cripto‐1 expression while imidazole at 0.5 M was the optimum concentration to elute the Cripto‐1 protein from a Ni‐column in the smallest volume. Cation exchange column chromatography of the Cripto‐1 protein in the presence of 8 M urea exhibited sufficient elution profile at pH 5, which was more efficient at recovery. The recovery of the protein reached to more than 26.6% after refolding with arginine. The purified Cripto‐1 exhibited high affinity to the anti‐ALK‐4 antibody and suppressed sphere forming ability of CSCs at high dose and induced cell differentiation.
Autophagic flux inhibition, apoptosis, and mitochondrial dysfunction in bile acids‐induced impairment of human placental trophoblast
Authors: Yang Xi , Zhou Yulai , Li Huan , Song Fuzhen , Li Juan , Zhang Yong , Lin Yi , Zhang Huijuan , Fan Jianxia , Wu Weibin
Published: May 2022

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a common pregnancy‐specific disease, characterized by increased bile acid levels and adverse fetal outcomes. We previously reported excessive bile acids led to dysfunction of placental trophoblasts in ICP. However, the detailed mechanism is still unclear. Autophagy is fundamental process for protecting cell survival against adverse conditions. Here, we evaluated the effect of increased concentration of bile acids on autophagy in trophoblasts in vitro and in vivo. First, we demonstrated that the autophagy substrate p62/sequestosome‐1 was accumulated in placental tissues from patients with ICP and in human trophoblasts treated with hydrophobic bile acids, including chenodeoxycholic acid and deoxycholic acid. Furthermore, we found that treatment with hydrophobic bile acids impaired autophagic flux in both time‐ and concentration‐dependent manners, by suppressing the AMP‐activated protein kinase/unc‐51‐like kinase 1 autophagic signaling pathway. Notably, trophoblasts were prone to apoptotic cell death upon starvation along with bile‐acids treatment in vitro or in an ICP mouse model in vivo. Additionally, we revealed mitochondrial dysfunction was the predominant biological process in excessive bile acids induced trophoblast impairment under starvation by proteomic assay. Collectively, our study proposed a complex interaction of excessive bile acids induced autophagic flux, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cellular apoptosis in placental trophoblasts may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of ICP.
Liquid extraction surface analysis‐mass spectrometry: An advanced and environment‐friendly analytical tool in modern analysis
Authors: Das Shibam , Bhatia Rohit
Published: May 2022

The liquid extraction surface analysis technique is a new high‐throughput instrument for ambient mass spectrometry. The benefits of the liquid extraction surface analysis‐mass spectrometry approach are the high throughput screening of samples and the absence of sample preparation. liquid extraction surface analysis‐mass spectrometry also consumes less solvent for extraction, making it more environmentally friendly and there is no substrate restriction. It utilizes advanced instrumentation like the use of robotic pipettes, nanoelectrospray systems, electronspray ionization chips which makes it highly efficient. In recent years, liquid extraction surface analysis‐mass spectrometry has seen widespread use in a variety of analytical fields including drug metabolite analysis, mapping drug distribution in tissues, protein and lipid characterization, etc. In this review, we have summarized the basic working principles of the liquid extraction surface analysis‐mass spectrometry approach in detail along with a detailed description of the recently reported applications in the analysis of proteins, lipids, drugs and foods. The investigated analytes along with detection methodologies and significant outcomes of various research reports have been presented with the help of tables. This tool has also been utilized in clinical investigations of biological fluids, fingerprint analysis and authentication of agarwood.
Magnetic phenolic resin core‐shell structure derived carbon microspheres for ultrafast magnetic solid‐phase extraction of triazine herbicides
Authors: Pan Hong , Gan Zushan , Hu Haoyun , Liu Cheng , Huang Yipeng , Ruan Guihua
Published: May 2022

In this study, monodisperse magnetic carbon microspheres were successfully synthesized through the carbonization of phenolic resin encapsulated Fe3O4 core‐shell structures. The magnetic carbon microspheres showed high performance in ultrafast extraction and separation of trace triazine herbicides from environmental water samples. Under optimized conditions, both the adsorption and desorption processes could be achieved in 2 min, and the maximum adsorption capacity for simazine and prometryn were 387.6 and 448.5 μg/g. Coupled with high‐performance liquid chromatography‐ultraviolet detection technology, the detection limit of triazine herbicides was in the range of 0.30–0.41 ng/mL. The mean recoveries ranged from 81.44 to 91.03% with relative standard deviations lower than 7.47%. The excellent magnetic solid‐phase extraction performance indicates that magnetic carbon microspheres are promising candidate adsorbents for the fast analysis of environmental contaminants.
Contrast‐Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) in the Evaluation of Hemoperitoneum in Patients With Cirrhosis
Authors: Abushamat Farid , Dietrich Christoph F. , Clevert Dirk‐Andre , Piscaglia Fabio , Fetzer David T. , Meloni Maria Franca , Shiehmorteza Masoud , Kono Yuko
Published: May 2022

Hemoperitoneum in cirrhosis is a life‐threatening condition that requires emergent evaluation. Contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) permits multiple dynamic characterizations of abdominal structures through all vascular phases, and contrast extravasation or the presence of microbubbles in the ascites could be a sensitive tool. We reviewed 13 patients with cirrhosis that underwent CEUS due to high suspicion for intra‐abdominal bleeding. In 10 cases, CEUS demonstrated extravasation of contrast, including 2 instances where CEUS detected active bleeding despite negative computed tomography. These data support further study of CEUS in direct comparison to other imaging modalities in this clinical context.
Nanoscaled PAMAM Dendrimer Spacer Improved the Photothermal‒Photodynamic Treatment Efficiency of Photosensitizer‐Decorated Confeito‐Like Gold Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy
Authors: Saw Wen Shang , Anasamy Theebaa , Do Thu Thi Anh , Lee Hong Boon , Chee Chin Fei , Isci Umit , Misran Misni , Dumoulin Fabienne , Chong Wu Yi , Kiew Lik Voon , Imae Toyoko , Chung Lip Yong
Published: May 2022

A critical factor in developing an efficient photosensitizer‐gold nanoparticle (PS‐AuNP) hybrid system with improved plasmonic photosensitization is to allocate a suitable space between AuNPs and PS. Poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer is selected as a spacer between the PS and confeito‐like gold nanoparticles (confeito‐AuNPs), providing the required distance (≈2.5‒22.5 nm) for plasmon‐enhanced singlet oxygen generation and heat production upon 638‐nm laser irradiation and increase the cellular internalization of the nanoconjugates. The loading of the PS, tetrakis(4‐carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (TCPP), and modified zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc1) onto PAMAM‐confeito‐AuNPs demonstrate better in vitro cancer cell‐killing efficacy, as the combined photothermal‒photodynamic therapies (PTT‒PDTs) outperforms the single treatment modalities (PTT or PDT alone). These PS‐PAMAM‐confeito‐AuNPs also demonstrate higher phototoxicity than photosensitizers directly conjugated to confeito‐AuNPs (TCPP‐confeito‐AuNPs and ZnPc1‐confeito‐AuNPs) against all breast cancer cell lines tested (MDA‐MB‐231, MCF7, and 4T1). In the in vivo studies, TCPP‐PAMAM‐confeito‐AuNPs are biocompatible and exhibit a selective tumor accumulation effect, resulting in higher antitumor efficacy than free TCPP, PAMAM‐confeito‐AuNPs, and TCPP‐confeito‐AuNPs. In vitro and in vivo evaluations confirm PAMAM effectiveness in facilitating cellular uptake, plasmon‐enhanced singlet oxygen and heat generation. In summary, this study highlights the potential of integrating a PAMAM spacer in enhancing the plasmon effect‐based photothermal‒photodynamic anticancer treatment efficiency of PS‐decorated confeito‐AuNPs.
Nanomaterials Based on Functional Polymers for Sensitizing Cancer Radiotherapy
Authors: Lin Jinfeng , Yin Mingming , Liu Xiaoming , Meng Fanling , Luo Liang
Published: May 2022

Despite being the mainstay treatment for many types of cancer in clinic, radiotherapy is undertaking great challenges in overcoming a series of limitations. Radiosensitizers are promising agents capable of depositing irradiation energy and generating free radicals to enhance the radiosensitivity of tumor cells. Combining radiosensitizers with functional polymer‐based nanomaterials holds great potential to improve biodistribution, circulation time, and stability in vivo. The derived polymeric nano‐radiosensitizers can significantly improve the efficiency of tumor targeting and radiotherapy, and reduce the side effect to healthy tissues. In this review, an overview of functional polymer‐based nanomaterials for radiosensitization in recent years is provided. Particular emphases are given to the action mechanisms, drug loading methods, targeting efficiencies, the impact on therapeutic effects, and biocompatibility of various radiosensitizing polymers, which are classified as polymeric micelles, dendrimers, polymeric nanospheres, nanoscale coordination polymers, polymersomes, and nanogels. The challenges and outlooks of polymeric nano‐radiosensitizers are also discussed.
A discrete retarded Gronwall–Bellman type inequality and its applications to difference equations
Authors: Chen Feichao , Li Desheng , Zhang Guang
Published: May 2022

In this paper, we present a new discrete retarded Gronwall–Bellman type inequality. As applications, the dynamics of some delay difference equations are studied. First, the asymptotic behavior of solutions for scalar difference equation
is discussed, and some new criteria on the asymptotic stability of the zero solution are obtained under weaker assumptions. Then the dissipativity of a nonautonomous delay difference system with superlinear nonlinearities is investigated. By using the inequalities established here, it is shown that the discrete set‐valued process generated by the system possesses a unique global pullback attractor.
Alzheimer's disease amyloidogenesis is linked to altered lower urinary tract physiology
Authors: Hardy Cara C. , Ramasamy Ramalakshmi , Rosenberg Dawn A. , Kuchel George A. , Yan Riqiang , Hu Xiangyou , Smith Phillip P.
Published: May 2022

Aims

While most Alzheimer's disease (AD) research emphasizes cognitive and behavioral abnormalities, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are observed in a third of AD patients, contributing to morbidity, poor quality of life, and need for institutionalization. Alzheimer's disease‐associated urinary dysfunction (ADUD) has been assumed to be due to cognitive decline alone. While mouse studies have suggested that bladder innervation and voiding behavior may be altered in AD models, technical challenges precluded voiding reflex assessments. This study seeks to establish a mouse model of ADUD, and it seeks to characterize the noncognitive sequelae involved in AD‐pathology associated alterations in the voiding reflex.

Methods

Having developed techniques permitting the assessment of bladder volume, pressure, and flow in mice, we now provide evidence of alterations in involuntary bladder control and increased response heterogeneity in a transgenic amyloidosis mouse model of AD using cystometry and tissue pharmacomyography. Tg‐APP/PS1DE9 (PA) mice and their wild‐type (WT) littermates (n = 6–8 per group) were used before plaque onset in the PA mice (4–6 months) and after plaque accumulation in the PA mice (8–10 months) in comparison to their WT control littermates.

Results

Novel findings include data suggestive of sphincteric discoordination, with pharmacological evidence of altered adrenergic mechanisms.

Conclusions

Together, these data highlight the importance of addressing noncognitive sequelae of AD and offer novel translational insights into the debilitating impact of AD on LUTS and incontinence.
Development and validation of a grading system for assessing muscle mass phenotype using mid‐upper arm muscle area and handgrip strength in patients with incurable cancer
Authors: Calixto‐Lima Larissa , Souza‐Silva Renata de , Oliveira Livia Costa de , Chaves, Gabriela Villaça , Wiegert Emanuelly Varea Maria
Published: May 2022

Background

This study aimed to develop and validate a distinct method to evaluate muscle mass phenotype in patients with incurable cancer based on a combination of mid‐upper arm muscle area (MUAMA) and handgrip strength (HGS).

Methods

This prospective cohort study was conducted with patients with incurable cancer who were enrolled at the palliative care unit of a cancer institute. The 1,660 patients were randomized into two data sets: training (70%; n = 1162), used to determine the muscle mass phenotype groups, derived from a combination of MUAMA and HGS cutoff points related to 180‐days mortality; and validation (30%; n = 498), used to evaluate the relationship of the proposed muscle phenotype grading system with performance status, body composition, nutrition status, and mortality.

Results

The training data set resulted in three distinct groups formed by combining the cutoff points of MUAMA and HGS, with the best muscle mass phenotype being group 1, the group with any impairment of muscle mass being the 2, and the worst muscle mass phenotype being group 3. In the validation data set, lower performance status (both sexes p < 0.001), worse skeletal muscle index (both sexes p < 0.001), muscle radiodensity (men, p = 0.001; women, p = 0.008), and nutritional status (men, p = 0.003; women, p < 0.001) were observed as MUAMA and HGS values diminished. Patients in group 3 presented significantly higher risk of 180‐day mortality (both sexes p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The muscle mass phenotype grading system proved to be able to identify patients with lower performance status, worse body composition measurements and nutritional status, and higher risk of death in 180 days.
Integrating the effects of sucrose intake on the brain and white adipose tissue: Could autophagy be a possible link?
Authors: Mattar Pamela , Toledo‐Valenzuela Lilian , Hernández‐Cáceres María Paz , Peña‐Oyarzún Daniel , Morselli Eugenia , Perez‐Leighton Claudio
Published: May 2022

Excess dietary sucrose is associated with obesity and metabolic diseases. This relationship is driven by the malfunction of several cell types and tissues critical for the regulation of energy balance, including hypothalamic neurons and white adipose tissue (WAT). However, the mechanisms behind these effects of dietary sucrose are still unclear and might be independent of increased adiposity. Accumulating evidence has indicated that dysregulation of autophagy, a fundamental process for maintenance of cellular homeostasis, alters energy metabolism in hypothalamic neurons and WAT, but whether autophagy could mediate the detrimental effects of dietary sucrose on hypothalamic neurons and WAT that contribute to weight gain is a matter of debate. In this review, we examine the hypothesis that dysregulated autophagy in hypothalamic neurons and WAT is an adiposity‐independent effect of sucrose that contributes to increased body weight gain. We propose that excess dietary sucrose leads to autophagy unbalance in hypothalamic neurons and WAT, which increases caloric intake and body weight, favoring the emergence of obesity and metabolic diseases.
Adaptive dynamic programming for decentralized neuro‐control of nonlinear systems subject to mismatched interconnections
Authors: Tang Yuhong , Yang Xiong , Dong Na
Published: May 2022

This article presents a decentralized neuro‐control scheme for a class of continuous‐time nonlinear systems with mismatched interconnections through an optimal control method. The decentralized control problem of the studied nonlinear‐interconnected systems is transformed into a group of optimal control problems of auxiliary subsystems. First, the value functions of auxiliary subsystems are designed, which are related to the boundaries of interconnected terms. It is proved that, under certain conditions, the decentralized control consisting of optimal control policies of auxiliary subsystems can stabilize the entire interconnected system. Then, an adaptive dynamic programming algorithm is presented to solve the Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equations. Critic neural networks (NNs) are employed to approximate the value functions of auxiliary subsystems in order to acquire the optimal control policies. Moreover, the auxiliary subsystems' states and the critic NNs' weight estimation errors are proved to be uniformly ultimately bounded. Finally, a numerical example and an interconnected power system are provided to validate the proposed decentralized neuro‐control strategy.
Predicting fragment intensities and retention time of iTRAQ‐ and TMTPro‐labeled peptides with Prosit‐TMT
Authors: Gabriel Wassim , Giurcoiu Victor , Lautenbacher Ludwig , Wilhelm Mathias
Published: May 2022

Isobaric labeling increases the throughput of proteomics by enabling the parallel identification and quantification of peptides and proteins. Over the past decades, a variety of isobaric tags have been developed allowing the multiplexed analysis of up to 18 samples. However, experiments utilizing such tags often exhibit reduced identification rates and thus show decreased analytical depth. Re‐scoring has been shown to rescue otherwise missed identifications but was not yet systematically applied on isobarically labeled data. Because iTRAQ 4/8‐plex and the recently released TMTpro 16/18‐plex share similar characteristics with TMT 6/10/11‐plex, we hypothesized that Prosit‐TMT, trained exclusively on 6/10/11‐plex labeled peptides, may be applicable to these isobaric labeling strategies as well. To investigate this, we re‐analyzed nine publicly available datasets covering iTRAQ and TMTpro labeling for samples with human and mouse origin. We highlight that Prosit‐TMT shows remarkably good performance when comparing experimentally acquired and predicted fragmentation spectra (R of 0.84 ‐ 0.9) and retention times (ΔRT95% of 3% ‐ 10% gradient time) of peptides. Furthermore, re‐scoring substantially increases the number of confidently identified spectra, peptides, and proteins.
Deciphering the role of the two conserved motifs of the ECF41 family σ factor in the autoregulation of its own promoter in Azospirillum brasilense Sp245
Authors: Pathak Ekta , Dubey Ashutosh Prakash , Singh Vijay Shankar , Mishra Rajeev , Tripathi Anil Kumar
Published: May 2022

In Azospirillum brasilense, an extra‐cytoplasmic function σ factor (RpoE10) shows the characteristic 119 amino acid long C‐terminal extension found in ECF41‐type σ factors, which possesses three conserved motifs (WLPEP, DGGGR, and NPDKV), one in the linker region between the σ2 and σ4, and the other two in the SnoaL_2 domain of the C‐terminal extension. Here, we have described the role of the two conserved motifs in the SnoaL_2 domain of RpoE10 in the inhibition and activation of its activity, respectively. Truncation of the distal part of the C‐terminal sequence of the RpoE10 (including NPDKV but excluding the DGGGR motif) results in its promoter's activation suggesting autoregulation. Further truncation of the C‐terminal sequence up to its proximal part, including NPDKV and DGGGR motif, abolished promoter activation. Replacement of NPDKV motif with NAAAV in RpoE10 increased its ability to activate its promoter, whereas replacement of DGGGR motif led to reduced promoter activation. We have explored the dynamic modulation of σ2 ‐σ4 domains and the relevant molecular interactions mediated by the two conserved motifs of the SnoaL2 domain using molecular dynamics simulation. The analysis enabled us to explain that the NPDKV motif located distally in the C‐terminus negatively impacts transcriptional activation. In contrast, the DGGGR motif found proximally of the C‐terminal extension is required to activate RpoE10.
The utilities and pitfalls of stratified analysis in challenging situations
Authors: Wang Jin
Published: May 2022

Stratified analysis is commonly used to control confounding factors in evaluating treatment effect at both design and analysis stages. Motivated by a real‐life experience, this article illustrates the utilities and pitfalls of stratified analysis through continuous and binary endpoints by comparing some typical analysis methodologies. Stratified analyses in some challenging situations, including propensity score stratification are discussed.
Persistent warm and dry extremes over the eastern Mediterranean during winter: The role of North Atlantic blocking and central Mediterranean cyclones
Authors: Berkovic Sigalit , Raveh‐Rubin Shira
Published: May 2022

Persistent dry winter events over the eastern Mediterranean (EM) disrupt the rainy (winter) season precipitation patterns and dramatically reduce water availability in the region. Here we objectively identify persistent dry, warm winter events over Israel, and apply a Lagrangian approach to three case‐studies, aiming to understand the relation between the synoptic setting, precursor Rossby waves, and how the dry, warm conditions emerge. Self‐organizing map classification of atmospheric profile data over Israel shows that the most persistent (at least 5 days) dry and warm winter events are induced by a stagnant upper tropospheric ridge over the EM, a pronounced trough or cut‐off low over the western/central Mediterranean and blocking over the North Atlantic. The leading mechanisms of the warm and dry conditions are: adiabatic heating during slantwise subsidence, heating by sensible heat fluxes from the surface, and advection of warm and dry continental air. The relative contributions of the mechanisms and geographical locations of the back trajectories vary greatly both within and among the events. In addition, the Atlantic blocking and EM ridge are supported by upstream diabatic heating in warm conveyor belts of North Atlantic cyclones and Mediterranean cyclones, respectively. A quantitative classification of the back trajectories above the Atlantic and the Mediterranean has shown transitions from adiabatic to diabatic contributions and vice versa along these paths. The sequential relation between Atlantic ridge (or block), trough over Europe and ridge over EM and/or west Russia places local persistent warm and dry extremes into a large‐scale context and thus provides new opportunities for understanding their predictability at weather and climate scales.
Heterostructured Mo‐Doped CoP on MXene Supports Enhanced the Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution Activity
Authors: Zhao Jiafu , Luo Shaojuan , Chen Yonghui , Zhu Runxian , Liang Jinyi , Wang Fei , Fu Xiaobo , Wu Chuande
Published: May 2022

The development of safe, efficient, and non‐noble‐metal electrocatalysts is a promising approach for hydrogen energy production. However, due to low electrical conductivity and weak stability, non‐noble metal catalysts for HER are significantly limited in practice. Here, a method for low‐cost catalysts was reported for synthesizing Mo‐CoP/Ti3C2Tx composites in which Mo‐doped CoP materials were facilely grown on the surface of Ti3C2Tx MXene. The introduction of MXene and the doping of Mo promoted electron transfer and increased the active sites compared with CoP. As HER electrocatalysts, the Mo‐CoP/Ti3C2Tx materials exhibited a good HER activity with a low overpotential of only 117 mV. What's more, these catalysts had shown excellent electron conductivity, fast catalytic dynamics, and a boosted electrochemical active surface. Suitable synthetic ratios were obtained by optimizing the MXene substrate and the Mo doping amount. This work provided a new guide for the design and exploration of MXene based electrocatalysts.
Magnetic Nanoparticles Supported on g‐C3N4 : An Efficient Heterogeneous Catalyst for Selective Transfer Hydrogenation of Furfural to Furfuryl alcohol
Authors: Basyach Purashri , Saikia Lakshi
Published: May 2022

A series of economic and environmental benign g‐C3N4 supported magnetic ferrite nanoparticles (Fe3O4@g‐C3N4) were synthesized for the catalytic transfer hydrogenation of furfural (FF) into furfuryl alcohol (FFA) using ethanol as a source of hydrogen donor and solvent. The unique feature of high nitrogen content and locally conjugated structure of the g‐C3N4 have made it excellent support for loading of small sized ferrite nanoparticles. Excellent furfural conversion of 95.6 % was obtained with 100 % selectivity of the required product furfuryl alcohol over this Fe3O4@g‐C3N4 nanoparticles having mass ratio 0.2 of Fe3O4@g‐C3N4. The high surface properties, uniform dispersion of ferrite and very high ability of adsorption of furfural over g‐C3N4 attributed to the effective catalytic activity. The effect of iron content, catalyst amount, solvent, temperature and reaction time on the CTH of furfural were studied. The synthesized catalysts were characterised by various physic‐chemical, spectroscopic and microscopic techniques.
Electrochemical Determination of Riboflavin using a Poly(Titan Yellow) Modified Carbon Nanotube Paste Electrode in the Presence of Dopamine
Authors: Nagarajappa Hareesha , Manjunatha Jamballi G. , Al‐Kahtani Abdullah A. , Tighezza Ammar M. , Ataollahi Narges
Published: May 2022

The bare carbon nanotube paste electrode (BCNTPE) is a helpful base material for the construction of different electrometric sensors for analytical purposes. The BCNTPE was chemically modified with a polymerization process using titan yellow (TY) dye for the selective determination of riboflavin (RF) in presence of dopamine (DA). A poly(titan yellow) modified carbon nanotubes paste electrode (PTYMCNTPE) has been constructed by a simple and eco‐friendly procedure. The PTYMCNTPE material surface was examined by cyclic voltammetry (CV), Field emission‐scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) methods. The outcomes suggested that the modified electrode displays high electrocatalytic action for the redox reaction of RF. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) for the detection of RF were found to be 2.679×10−8 M and 8.932×10−8 M, correspondingly. The proposed sensor was effectively applied for the determination of RF in a pharmaceutical sample.
Exploring the Spindle‐Shaped Copper Oxide Nanoparticles as Cost‐Effective Catalyst
Authors: Ning Yuxue , Guan Yawen , Zhang Nannan , Song Wanyu , Zhang Fang , Chen Lihua , Chai Fang
Published: May 2022

Appropriate purification of the polluted water is a sustainable and significant work. The hydrogenation of 4‐nitrophenol (4‐NP) is an invaluable process by transforming toxic nitrophenol to serviceable industrial raw material 4‐aminophenol (4‐AP). Suffering the limit of high‐cost precious metal as catalyst, the design and exploring cheap and efficient catalyst is urgently needed, to promote this informative process. Here, we propose a simple and economical synthesis route to synthesize spindle‐shaped CuO nanoparticles (S‐CuO NPs). XRD, SEM, HRTEM and ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy were used to characterize the structure, morphology and catalytic performance of the prepared nanoparticles. In the presence of NaBH4 as a reducing agent, the reduction can be completed in only 90 seconds by using S‐CuO NPs as catalyst, with a good rate constant (k) of 3.774×10−2 s−1. In view of the fact positive surface charge of S‐CuO NPs promotes the occurrence of hydride transfer phenomenon, this mechanism is discussed. The conclusion shows that the prepared S‐CuO NPs have good catalytic activity, can be used as a mild and effective catalyst for the reduction of 4‐NP with good reusability, and have potential applications in catalytic applications.
Design, Synthesis, and Biological Examination of N‐Phenyl‐6‐fluoro‐4‐hydroxy‐2‐quinolone‐3‐carboxamides as Anticancer Agents
Authors: Sabbah Dima A. , Samarat Hla H. , Al‐Shalabi Eveen , Bardaweel Sanaa K. , Hajjo Rima , Sweidan Kamal , Khalaf Reema Abu , Al‐Zuheiri Aya M. , Abushaikha Ghassan
Published: May 2022

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and it has a major impact on public health. Phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3Kα) has been recognized as a promising drug target for developing anticancer agents. Herein, a series of N‐phenyl‐6‐fluoro‐4‐hydroxy‐2‐quinolone‐3‐carboxamides was developed to target PI3Kα. All synthesized compounds were characterized using FT‐IR, NMR (1H and 13C) and elemental analysis. All synthesized chemical analogues exerted distinctive anticancer activity. They inhibited the growth of human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco‐2) with IC50 values between 48.63–378 μM, and human colon cancer (HCT‐116) cell lines with IC50 values between 44–664 μM. Computational modelling studies provided important biological insight. Induced‐fit docking (IFD) studies showed that the synthesized chemical analogues fit the kinase catalytic domains and form a significant H‐bond interaction network with key amino acids at the biding site. Furthermore, cheminformatics analyses indicated that all synthesized compounds were drug‐like permitting further animal testing or clinical development.
Deep‐Red Fluorescence from AIE‐Active Luminophore: High‐Brightness and Wide‐Range Piezochromism**
Authors: Ye Lijie , Lv Chunyang , Yao Yini , Wang Kunyan , Song Qingbao , Wang Kai , Zhang Cheng , Zhang Yujian
Published: May 2022

Driven by the rapidly increasing demand for intelligent materials, the sensitivity of organic materials to pressure has been intensively investigated in recent years. Many examples describe material responses to both mechanical grinding and hydrostatic pressure, but only few materials have been identified with clear colour difference as well as strong penetrability, especially under high pressure, limiting development of pressure sensors. In this work, an asymmetric luminophore, MTBA was developed by end‐capping a (Z)‐3‐(benzo[c][1,2,5]‐thiadiazol‐4‐yl)‐2‐phenylacrylonitrile (TPAN) core with propeller‐like triphenylamine (TPA) and rigid 12b‐methyl‐5,12b‐dihydroindeno[1,2,3‐kl]acridine (MeIAc) units, revealing aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) behaviour. In high‐pressure and grinding experiments, MTBA exhibits a dramatically large colour difference of up to 164 nm and 112 nm in deep‐red and near‐infrared regions, respectively, for piezochromic performance that is among the best reports for pure organic materials. The experimental and theoretical analyses indicated that the excellent piezochromic performance of MTBA is due to its highly twisty and rigid conformation, which weakens intermolecular π‐π interaction and obstructs emission quenching during compression.
Fatigue of welded tubular K‐joints made up of circular hollow sections
Authors: Kuhlmann Ulrike , Dürr André , Bove Simon , Roth Jakob , Knecht Wigand
Published: May 2022

This article deals with the fatigue behaviour of thick‐walled welded K‐joints made up of circular hollow sections (CHS). Two important aspects of the investigations were the extension of the application range to large CHS and the development of practice‐oriented recommendations for fabrication and quality assurance for weld shape and weld quality. For this purpose, fatigue tests were conducted on large CHS joints and on single K‐joints with specified weld irregularities. These studies were accompanied by systematic ultrasonic tests using the phased‐array technique, which were also used for the development of an inspection method for these complex weld geometries. Based on the results achieved by these experimental studies and additional numerical and statistical investigations, a proposal for a German design guideline (DASt‐Richtlinie 029) was finally elaborated to promote the practical implementation of trusses made up of CHS with thick‐walled chords and also to take a first step towards standardization.
Welded connections at high‐strength steel hollow section joints
Authors: Stroetmann Richard , Kästner Thoralf , Rust Brian , Schmidt Jan
Published: May 2022

The calculation of the loadbearing capacity of hollow section joints using the design formulas according to EN 1993‐1‐8 assumes full‐strength welded connections if the non‐linear stress distribution over the circumference is not covered by calculation. Sufficient ductility in the connections ensures a plastic redistribution capacity within each joint. In the case of hollow section structures made of high‐strength steels, it becomes more difficult to meet the requirement for full‐strength welds as the yield strength of the base material increases.

This article begins with a summary of the current rules for the design and execution of welded hollow section joints. The softening behaviour of high‐strength steels and the loadbearing capacity of welded connections with local softening in the HAZ are then discussed. That is followed by the presentation of the results from the AiF‐FOSTA research project P1020 regarding the influence of manufacturing parameters on the properties of welded connections and the HAZ. The experimental test programme for single‐sided welded T‐connections and the parameter studies within the research project P1453 are also described. Finally, a design approach is presented to account for HAZ failure and hybrid failure modes of hollow section connections.
Experimental investigation on flexural and ductile behaviors of rebar‐reinforced ultra‐high‐performance concrete beams
Authors: Qiu Minghong , Hu Yuqing , Shao Xudong , Zhu Yanping , Li Panpan , Li Xuefeng
Published: May 2022

This paper experimentally investigated the flexural and ductile behaviors of ultra‐high‐performance concrete (UHPC) beams. The failure modes, deflection, ductility, concrete strain, and reinforcement strain were tested using eight UHPC rectangular beams. The experimental parameters were the reinforcement ratio, the reinforcement diameter, and the UHPC cover thickness. The experimental results showed that all specimens exhibited flexural failure characterized by the yielding of steel rebars, multiple micro‐cracks, one localized macro‐crack, and slight crushing of UHPC. It was concluded that increasing the reinforcement ratio significantly enhanced the stiffness, flexural capacity, and ductility of the rebar‐reinforced UHPC beams, whereas showed little effect on their cracking load. Meanwhile, both the reinforcement diameter and UHPC cover thickness in the range investigated here had little influence on the flexural performance of UHPC beams in the elastic stage and crack development stage, whereas exhibited different influences in the yield stage. Besides, increasing the reinforcement ratio was in favor of presenting the deflection‐hardening behavior, while the reinforcement diameter and UHPC cover thickness had little influence on the deflection‐hardening behavior. The analytical models were established to predict the yielding load, peak load, and ultimate load of rebar‐reinforced UHPC beams, and the predictions showed good agreement with the experimental results in this study. Also, the steel reinforcement could show a dominant role in the bearing capacity by increasing the reinforcement ratio. A post‐yielding capacity factor λ was proposed, which could reasonably evaluate the deflection‐hardening and deflection‐softening behavior of UHPC flexural members in the present study. Based on other experimental results collected in literature, three different ranges for the post‐yielding capacity factor, namely, λ ≤ 0.7, 0.7 < λ < 0.9, and λ ≥ 0.9, were identified, corresponding to the deflection‐softening behavior, transition stage, and deflection‐hardening behavior, respectively.
Communication in context: How culture, structure, and agency shape health and risk communication about COVID‐19 in Ghana
Authors: Adekunle Tiwaladeoluwa B. , Mohammed Wunpini Fatimata
Published: May 2022

Despite impressive strides toward proper health education about the pandemic, in resource‐limited contexts, health information dissemination occurs within a structural context that restricts the enactment of agency and further marginalizes the most vulnerable. Through observations of and reflections about Ghana's work in health communication about the COVID‐19 pandemic, this essay examines the key processes and outcomes of COVID‐19 information dissemination in Ghana, highlighting the structural factors that contribute to health inequities during the pandemic. We argue that although Ghana has been commended continentally and globally for the country's efforts in containing the virus and vaccinating its populace, there is evidence of health information access disparities across the country, especially in rural communities. In doing so, we increase knowledge about health information needs and gaps, and conclude by making recommendations for public health practitioners in Ghana and similar contexts.
Response rate and content differences between web and mail surveys
Authors: Hoerl Leone Erin , Bankovich Brittany , Morales Nia , Sauby Kristen , Shields Roger
Published: May 2022

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (Commission) conducts an annual harvest survey of licensed wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) hunters to determine the proportion of license holders that hunt and the estimated total harvest. The harvest survey is traditionally conducted with a mailed postcard, which is increasingly costly and time‐consuming to administer. The Commission has considered using a less costly and less protracted web‐based survey. From 2012 through 2014, we conducted web and mail surveys of licensed turkey hunters to compare response rates and reported rate of hunting participation. The average response rate differed between mail and web survey respondents (25.5% and 16.5%, respectively). Rates of hunting participation also differed between the survey modes; 40.5% and 61.4%, respectively, of mail and web survey respondents said that they hunted during the previous spring season. When hunting participation rates were extrapolated to the total number of license holders in the state, the projected average number of hunters across the 3 years was 17,356 (52%) greater from the web survey than the mail survey. Demographic weighting (age class, sex, ethnicity, median household income, or urbanicity) failed to account for the difference in reported hunting participation between survey modes. Our results indicated that respondents of the 2 survey modes differed fundamentally in either their hunting behavior or in their propensity to respond to the surveys, both of which have ramifications when management decisions are based on the results of harvest surveys. Although a mixed‐mode survey may be a feasible option to reduce cost and still obtain accurate harvest estimates, we caution against abruptly switching from mail to web surveys given the vastly different outcomes.
Zusammenfassung und Ausblick
Authors: Geursen Elisabeth
Published: May 2022

In Kapitel 7 erfolgt die zusammenfassende Beantwortung der Forschungsfrage und es wird ein Ausblick sowie Vorschläge für die weitere Forschung gegeben. Die Untersuchung erweitert die bisherige Nachhaltigkeitsforschung in einem wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen Themenfeld durch eine operationalisierte, theoretisch-fundierte linguistische Methodik. Dabei verzahnt die Arbeit die Analyse von Unternehmens- und Medientexten mithilfe der Zusammenführung einer framesemantisch fundierten Korpuskonstitution und (Unter-)Kategorienbestimmung mit einer innovativen thematischen Klassifizierung entsprechend des Personalzyklus innerhalb eins Unternehmens. Das primäre Ergebnis der Untersuchung stellt das Kategoriensystem inklusive der Unterkategorien dar. In der Untersuchung werden nicht nur die prominenten Themen, Akteure bzw. Akteursgruppen und ihre verbalen Handlungen innerhalb des Diskurses erfasst, sondern es lassen sich auch die für die Unternehmen und Gesellschaft zentralen Themen sowie ihre Relevanz und Häufigkeit spezifischer Phänomene nachzeichnen. Aus den Analyseergebnissen leitet die Arbeit konkrete Handlungsempfehlungen für die Unternehmen, den Staat und die Öffentlichkeit ab.