bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ionic‐electronic coupling in PEO‐PEDOT/potassium triflate composite films for organic mixed conductivity enhancement
Authors: Al‐Bataineh Qais M. , Ahmad Ahmad A. , Alakhras Lina A. , Telfah Ahmad
Published: September 2023

Organic mixed ionic‐electronic conductors (OMIECs) are organic materials capable of transporting both ionic species and electronic charges, facilitating ionic‐electronic coupling and enhancing electrical conductivity. PEO‐PEDOT/KOTf composite films synthesized in this study demonstrate significant electrical conductivity enhancement due to the ionic‐electronic coupling. The electrical conductivity of PEO‐PEDOT is 7.05 S.cm−1, predominantly arising from the electronic transport of PEDOT polarons with a minor contribution from ionic transport in PEO. However, introducing KOTf into the PEO‐PEDOT matrix at varying concentrations gradually increases electrical conductivity. At a KOTf concentration of 16 wt.%, the electrical conductivity reaches 51.06 S.cm−1. This pronounced enhancement can be primarily due to the ionic‐electronic coupling occurring at the interface between phase‐separated regions within the polymer matrix. The incorporation of KOTf into PEO‐PEDOT was characterized using FTIR spectroscopy. Moreover, our investigation involved X‐ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry analysis, which unveiled a notable trend. As the KOTf concentrations increased, the degree of crystallinity in the PEO‐PEDOT/KOTf composite films declined. This observation provides valuable insights into the structural changes occurring within the films as KOTf is integrated. The potential implications of this discovery span across numerous fields, opening exciting possibilities for advancing electronic and energy‐related technologies.
Synergistic effect of thermoplastic polyester elastomer and polytetrafluoroethylene in situ fibrillation on the resilience and compression strength of long‐chain branched polypropylene foam
Authors: Wang Xiaoli , Wang Yaqiao , Wang Xiangdong
Published: September 2023

Excellent resilience and compression resistance are the key characteristics of cushioning and water–oil separation materials. Although polypropylene (PP) offers excellent performance and affordability of PP, it exhibits poor resilience. To address this shortcoming, polymer blends with long‐chain branched PP (LCBPP), thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPEE), and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) were prepared via melt blending, and their mechanical properties were tested. The LCBPP/TPEE/PTFE composites were subjected to physical foaming using supercritical CO2 (scCO2) as the blowing agent. The synergistic toughening mechanism of the elastomer/nanofiber and the effect of the structure and crystallization of the dispersed phase on the foam resilience and foam compression strength were investigated. The results revealed that fibrous PTFE and spherical TPEE formed a composite dispersed phase in LCBPP. The impact and tensile strengths of the unfoamed LCBPP were found to have been simultaneously optimized owing to the synergistic effect of the elastomeric toughening of TPEE and the reinforcement of the PTFE fiber–induced fibrous crystal structure. Compared with pure LCBPP, the impact strength of the LCBPP/TPEE/PTFE composite increased by 216%, whereas its tensile strength decreased by only 6%. In particular, the synergistic effect of TPEE/PTFE improved the resilience and compression strength of the LCBPP foam. Compared with the pure LCBPP foam, the permanent strain of the LCBPP/TPEE/PTFE foam was reduced by 13.8% after five cycles of compression and its compression strength increased by 27.3%. The experimental results of our study could be used to prepare LCBPP foams with exceptional resilience, high compression strength, and good application prospects.
The fossil record of appendicular muscle evolution in Synapsida on the line to mammals: Part I—Forelimb
Authors: Bishop Peter J. , Pierce Stephanie E.
Published: September 2023

This paper is the first in a two‐part series that charts the evolution of appendicular musculature along the mammalian stem lineage, drawing upon the exceptional fossil record of extinct synapsids. Here, attention is focused on muscles of the forelimb. Understanding forelimb muscular anatomy in extinct synapsids, and how this changed on the line to mammals, can provide important perspective for interpreting skeletal and functional evolution in this lineage, and how the diversity of forelimb functions in extant mammals arose. This study surveyed the osteological evidence for muscular attachments in extinct mammalian and nonmammalian synapsids, two extinct amniote outgroups, and a large selection of extant mammals, saurians, and salamanders. Observations were integrated into an explicit phylogenetic framework, comprising 73 character–state complexes covering all muscles crossing the shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints. These were coded for 33 operational taxonomic units spanning >330 Ma of tetrapod evolution, and ancestral state reconstruction was used to evaluate the sequence of muscular evolution along the stem lineage from Amniota to Theria. In addition to producing a comprehensive documentation of osteological evidence for muscle attachments in extinct synapsids, this work has clarified homology hypotheses across disparate taxa and helped resolve competing hypotheses of muscular anatomy in extinct species. The evolutionary history of mammalian forelimb musculature was a complex and nonlinear narrative, punctuated by multiple instances of convergence and concentrated phases of anatomical transformation. More broadly, this study highlights the great insight that a fossil‐based perspective can provide for understanding the assembly of novel body plans.
Mantelverordnung – Überblick, Bewertung und vorläufige Anmerkungen
Authors: Hörtkorn Florian , Rungas Patrick , v. Maubeuge Kent , Lüking Jan
Published: September 2023

In der Mantelverordnung werden teilweise bekannte, aber auch neue Verordnungen – etwa aus dem Bereich der Bodenverwertung – als gesamtheitliches Werk veröffentlicht. Zum 1. August 2023 wurden die einzelnen Verordnungen eingeführt. Dieser Beitrag beschreibt die einzelnen Verordnungen der Mantelverordnung, geht hierbei aber im Speziellen auf die Ersatzbaustoffverordnung (EBV) ein. Diese wird besonders aus baupraktischer Sicht relevant, da sie die Verwertung oder weitere Verwendbarkeit von Bodenmaterial und Baggergut regelt. Bisherige gesetzliche Regelungen der Bundesländer werden mit der Einführung der Mantelverordnung ungültig. Gleiches gilt für bisherige Testverfahren und Grenzwerte, die durch neue Verfahren und Grenzwerte abgelöst werden.
Performance enhancement and emissions reduction of ethanol‐fueled spark ignition engine with hydrogen
Authors: Marwaha Akshey , Subramanian K. A.
Published: September 2023

This study deals with the effect of hydrogen on the performance, combustion and regulated [carbon monoxide (CO), non‐methane hydrocarbons (NMHC), nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2)] and unregulated [nitrous oxide (N2O), ethanol, ethene, acetaldehyde, methanol] emissions of a spark ignition engine fueled with ethanol (E100). The engine was operated at a constant torque of 5.5 Nm and various speeds of 3500, 3800 and 4000 rpm, and both fuels (ethanol and hydrogen) were independently injected into the intake manifold of the engine during the suction stroke. The optimum hydrogen energy share at all speeds was 15% based on the combustion stability compared with base ethanol. The brake thermal efficiency with E100 at an engine speed of 4000 rpm increased from 14.4 to 15%, with a 15% hydrogen energy share (15% HES)‐E100. The emissions such as CO, NMHC, unburned ethanol, ethene and acetaldehyde decreased significantly with the optimum HES‐E100 compared with E100. However, the NO, NO2 and N2O emissions increased with hydrogen. Hydrogen addition to an ethanol‐fueled spark ignition engine could significantly reduce carbonaceous emissions along with improving energy efficiency.
Impacts of antioxidants on stability of biodiesel derived from waste frying oil
Authors: Fu Jinxia , Le Phung K. , Turn Scott Q.
Published: September 2023

Measurement of the composition and properties of biodiesel derived from waste frying oil (B100 WFO) demonstrated the impacts of antioxidant (AO) concentration on oxidative stability. The B100 WFO was found to have similar physicochemical properties to B100 derived from waste cooking oil and catfish oil but it possessed better oxidation stability owing to AO added to the waste frying oil (WFO) and because of the lower content of polyunsaturated fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs). A modified American Society for Testing and Materials D525 method was employed to study the impacts of oxidation on B100 WFO containing 0–0.24% v/v commercial BioExtend 30 AO and its fuel properties. BioExtend 30 protected B100 WFO from both degradation and polymerization reactions and a higher concentration of AO was found to prolong the shelf life of biodiesel linearly.
Trial arm outcome variance difference after dropout as an indicator of missing‐not‐at‐random bias in randomized controlled trials
Authors: Hazewinkel Audinga‐Dea , Tilling Kate , Wade Kaitlin H. , Palmer Tom
Published: September 2023

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are vulnerable to bias from missing data. When outcomes are missing not at random (MNAR), estimates from complete case analysis (CCA) and multiple imputation (MI) may be biased. There is no statistical test for distinguishing between outcomes missing at random (MAR) and MNAR. Current strategies rely on comparing dropout proportions and covariate distributions, and using auxiliary information to assess the likelihood of dropout being associated with the outcome. We propose using the observed variance difference across trial arms as a tool for assessing the risk of dropout being MNAR in RCTs with continuous outcomes. In an RCT, at randomization, the distributions of all covariates should be equal in the populations randomized to the intervention and control arms. Under the assumption of homogeneous treatment effects and homoskedastic outcome errors, the variance of the outcome will also be equal in the two populations over the course of follow‐up. We show that under MAR dropout, the observed outcome variances, conditional on the variables included in the model, are equal across trial arms, whereas MNAR dropout may result in unequal variances. Consequently, unequal observed conditional trial arm variances are an indicator of MNAR dropout and possible bias of the estimated treatment effect. Heterogeneous treatment effects or heteroskedastic outcome errors are another potential cause of observing different outcome variances. We show that for longitudinal data, we can isolate the effect of MNAR outcome‐dependent dropout by considering the variance difference at baseline in the same set of patients who are observed at final follow‐up. We illustrate our method in simulation for CCA and MI, and in applications using individual‐level data and summary data.
Rational design and experimental evaluation of peptide ligands for the purification of adeno‐associated viruses via affinity chromatography
Authors: Shastry Shriarjun , Chu Wenning , Barbieri Eduardo , Greback‐Clarke Paul , Smith William K. , Cummings Christopher , Minzoni Arianna , Pancorbo Jennifer , Gilleskie Gary , Ritola Kimberly , Daniele Michael A. , Johnson Thomas F. , Menegatti Stefano
Published: September 2023

Adeno‐associated viruses (AAVs) have acquired a central role in modern medicine as delivery agents for gene therapies targeting rare diseases. While new AAVs with improved tissue targeting, potency, and safety are being introduced, their biomanufacturing technology is lagging. In particular, the AAV purification pipeline hinges on protein ligands for the affinity‐based capture step. While featuring excellent AAV binding capacity and selectivity, these ligands require strong acid (pH <3) elution conditions, which can compromise the product's activity and stability. Additionally, their high cost and limited lifetime has a significant impact on the price tag of AAV‐based therapies. Seeking to introduce a more robust and affordable affinity technology, this study introduces a cohort of peptide ligands that (i) mimic the biorecognition activity of the AAV receptor (AAVR) and anti‐AAV antibody A20, (ii) enable product elution under near‐physiological conditions (pH 6.0), and (iii) grant extended reusability by withstanding multiple regenerations. A20‐mimetic CYIHFSGYTNYNPSLKSC and AAVR‐mimetic CVIDGSQSTDDDKIC demonstrated excellent capture of serotypes belonging to distinct clones/clades – namely, AAV1, AAV2, AAV5, AAV6, AAV8, and AAV9. This corroborates the in silico models documenting their ability to target regions of the viral capsid that are conserved across all serotypes. CVIDGSQSTDDDKIC‐Toyopearl resin features binding capacity (≈1014 vp mL−1) and product yields (≈60%–80%) on par with commercial adsorbents, and purifies AAV2 from HEK293 and Sf9 cell lysates with high recovery (up to 78%), reduction of host cell proteins (up to 700‐fold), and high transduction activity (up to 65%).
Internationalization and corporate sustainability expenditure: The role of institutional support and foreign knowledge acquisition
Authors: Frimpong Kwabena
Published: September 2023

This study extends the literature on international business and sustainability by examining the impact of internationalization on corporate sustainability expenditures, and the conditions under which this relationship is enhanced or attenuated. Based on insights from institutional and firm resource theories, we examine the moderating effects of institutional support and foreign knowledge acquisition capability on the hypothesized relationship. Survey data were collected from 260 small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana, a developing sub‐Saharan African country, and analyzed using ordinary least squares (OLS) regression. The results indicate that increased internationalization levels are positively and significantly linked to corporate sustainability expenditure. In addition, the results of the moderation analyses reveal that the positive effect of internationalization on sustainability expenditure is stronger at high levels of institutional support for firms with high foreign knowledge acquisition capability. This study offers new perspectives and directions for improving SMEs' internationalization and sustainability practices through an integrated strategy that enhances the quality of domestic institutional environments by policymakers, augmented by managers' proactive efforts to develop their firms' foreign market learning capabilities. The limitations of this study and their implications for further research are discussed.
Short‐term solutions to biodiversity conservation in portfolio construction: Forward‐looking disclosure and classification‐based metrics
Authors: Layman Hannah , Akçakaya H. Resit , Irwin Amanda , zu Ermgassen Sophus , Addison Prue , Burgman Mark
Published: September 2023

Demand is increasing among investors to create portfolios that encourage positive outcomes for biological diversity. The evolution of investment strategies for transitions to zero carbon over the last two decades provides insights that will assist in shaping strategies for biodiversity‐positive investments. Many emerging approaches to capture company impact and dependence on biodiversity focus on nature‐related threats to an organisation by assessing ecosystem integrity. Other approaches focus on minimising an organisation's contribution to risks of species extinction by using data sets such as the IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species. However, while these approaches are useful for assessing threats to and from biodiversity for individual companies, to be effective for investment portfolio construction, metrics need to be comparable across companies in an investment universe. Many of the threat assessments that could link corporate activities to impacts are incomplete and omit critical information. If the investment community focuses on biodiversity without sufficient forethought, there is a risk of entrenching metrics with significant flaws. In this paper, we suggest that interim approaches are needed to support investors in understanding the approaches being taken by potential investee companies. To that end, we present and discuss a disclosure‐based Biodiversity Management Quality and a classification‐based Biodiversity Revenues metric for biodiversity‐related investing.
Driving businesses towards a better climate: Macro and micro mechanisms to protect the planet
Authors: Al‐Shaer Habiba , Liu Yang Stephanie , Albitar Khaldoon
Published: September 2023

This study examines whether corporate commitment to climate change is driven by country‐level factors related to cultural values and the legal system (LS) of a country. We also investigate the impact of corporate governance strength on climate change commitment and the extent to which there are moderating effects between corporate governance and cultural and LS influences. We use a large dataset of 21,564 firm‐year observations of companies operating in the United States, UK, and China for the period 2013 to 2020 and develop a unique measure for climate change commitment using different proxies for measuring climate change practices. We find variations in climate change commitment among the three countries and that cultural values and LSs affect corporate commitment to climate change. Companies located in a socially oriented society, which are transparent and characterized by long‐term orientation, are more strongly involved in climate change actions. The strength of corporate governance increases corporate commitment to climate change. Corporate governance also moderates some of the detrimental cultural influences on climate change commitment. These findings have implications for managers as they reveal that macro‐level factors affect behavior and that corporate governance can help to moderate these factors.
Comparative Studies of Essential Oil Composition and Biological Activities of Callistemon citrinus from Western Himalaya
Authors: Vashisath Sachin , Kapoor Smita , Kumari Vandana , Butt Shabana , Kumar Dinesh
Published: September 2023

This work described a comprehensive study to estimate chemical constituents of essential oils (EOs) extracted from different parts of the Callistemon citrinus viz: fruits, leaves and aerial part. The EOs were characterized using physicochemical parameters, and GC‐FID/MS. It was observed that among different parts, aerial part has the highest oil yield (0.90 %) followed by leaves and fruits. Further, seventeen compounds were characterized, and represented total amount (97.2–99.5 %) with domination of monoterpenes (12.5–34.6 %) and oxygenated monoterpenes hydrocarbon (61.8–86.8 %). α‐pinene (11.8–24.7 %), α‐phellandrene (1.2–3.0 %), p‐cymene (3.3–3.9 %) and 1,8‐cineole (58.3–85.1 %) were found as major compounds in C. citrinus samples. These major compounds are the quality chemical markers of C. citrinus oil. The findings revealed significant quantitative variations in EO composition of samples and were also clearly supported by multivariate statistical analysis. Moreover, EOs were evaluated for glucosidase and colon cancer cell lines inhibitory activities, which were found promising.
Selective photosynthesis of Z‐olefins through crystalline metal–organic cage‐initiated expeditious cascade reactions
Authors: Lu Jia‐Ni , Huang Yunze , Xia Yuan‐Sheng , Dong Long‐Zhang , Zhang Lei , Liu Jing‐Jing , Xie Lan‐Gui , Liu Jiang , Lan Ya‐Qian
Published: September 2023

The semi‐hydrogenation of alkyne to form Z‐olefins with high conversion and high selectivity is still a huge challenge in the chemical industry. Moreover, flammable and explosive hydrogen as the common hydrogen source of this reaction increases the cost and danger of industrial production. Herein, we connect the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction and the semi‐hydrogenation reaction of alkynes in series and successfully realize the high selective production of Z‐alkenes using low‐cost, safe, and green water as the proton source. Before the cascade reaction, a series of isomorphic metal–organic cage catalysts (CoxZn8−xL6, x = 0, 3, 4, 5, and 8) are designed and synthesized to improve the yield of the photocatalytic hydrogen production. Among them, Co5Zn3L6 shows the highest photocatalytic activity, with a H2 generation rate of 8.81 mmol g−1 h−1. Then, Co5Zn3L6 is further applied in the above tandem reaction to efficiently reduce alkynes to Z‐alkenes under ambient conditions, which can reach high conversion of >98% and high selectivity of >99%, and maintain original catalytic activity after multiple cycles. This “one‐pot” tandem reaction can achieve a highly selective and safe stepwise conversion from water into hydrogen into Z‐olefins under mild reaction conditions.
Halide‐Coupled Double Electron Transfer with Electron‐Rich Diboranes
Authors: Filbeck Erik , Cremer Sebastian , Jansen Moritz C. F. , Kaifer Elisabeth , Himmel Hans‐Jörg
Published: September 2023

The ditriflato‐diborane B2(μ‐hpp)2(OTf)2 (hpp=1,3,4,6,7,8‐hexahydro‐2H‐pyrimido[1,2‐a]pyrimidinate) acts as a stable surrogate of the elusive dication [B2(hpp)2]2+, being both electrophilic (vacant boron p orbitals) and nucleophilic (filled B−B bond orbital). This combination of seemingly contrasting behaviors could be used to develop a metallomimetic diborane chemistry, with Lewis σ‐basic and π‐acidic substrates being bound and reduced at the diborane. Here, we report on a novel reaction type within this general theme, in which double electron transfer from the diboron unit to the boron–bound organic substrate is coupled with halide transfer in the other direction. Novel diborylated dienamines are synthesized in this way. The scope of this unprecedented reaction motif and the reaction pathways are elucidated.
K‐DDoS‐SDN: A distributed DDoS attacks detection approach for protecting SDN environment
Authors: Kaur Amandeep , Krishna C. Rama , Patil Nilesh Vishwasrao
Published: September 2023

Software‐defined networking (SDN) is an advanced networking paradigm that decouples forwarding control logic from the data plane. Therefore, it provides a loosely‐coupled architecture between the control and data plane. This separation provides flexibility in the SDN environment for addressing any transformations. Further, it delivers a centralized way of managing networks due to control logic embedded in the SDN controller. However, this advanced networking paradigm has been facing several security issues, such as topology spoofing, exhausting bandwidth, flow table updating, and distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. A DDoS attack is one of the most powerful menaces to the SDN environment. Further, the central data controller of SDN becomes the primary target of DDoS attacks. In this article, we propose a Kafka‐based distributed DDoS attacks detection approach for protecting the SDN environment named K‐DDoS‐SDN. The K‐DDoS‐SDN consists of two modules: (i) Network traffic classification (NTClassification) module and (ii) Network traffic storage (NTStorage) module. The NTClassification module is the detection approach designed using scalable H2O ML techniques in a distributed manner and deployed an efficient model on the two‐nodes Kafka Streams cluster to classify incoming network traces in real‐time. The NTStorage module collects raw packets, network flows, and 21 essential attributes and then systematically stores them in the HDFS to re‐train existing models. The proposed K‐DDoS‐SDN designed and evaluated using the recent and publically available CICDDoS2019 dataset. The average classification accuracy of the proposed distributed K‐DDoS‐SDN for classifying network traces into legitimate and one of the most popular attacks, such as DDoS_UDP is 99.22%. Further, the outcomes demonstrate that proposed distributed K‐DDoS‐SDN classifies traffic traces into five categories with at least 81% classification accuracy.
5‐Nitrofuryl‐Containing Thiosemicarbazone Gold(I) Compounds: Synthesis, Stability Studies, and Anticancer Activity
Authors: Rodríguez‐Arce Esteban , Gavrilov Eric , Alvite Ximena , Nayeem Nazia , León Ignacio E. , Neary Michelle C. , Otero Lucía , Gambino Dinorah , Olea Azar Claudio , Contel María
Published: September 2023

Invited for this month's cover are the collaborating groups of Esteban Rodríguez‐Arce from the University of Chile and María Contel from The City University of New York Brooklyn College. The cover picture shows “Supergold“ a very powerful gender neutral warrior with superpowers who fights against cancer! The warrior's golden armor and sword represent the pharmacological power of the gold atom. Engraved on the shield, the gold‐thiosemicarbazone molecules are the warrior's coat of arms. Supergold selectively destroys different cancer cells. More information can be found in the Research Article by Esteban Rodríguez‐Arce, María Contel, and co‐workers.
Photoinduced Reactions of Styrylpyridine Derivatives for the In Situ Formation of Selective Ligands for Apyrimidinic DNA
Authors: Schlosser Julika , Stötzel Nils , Fedorov Yuri , Ihmels Heiko
Published: September 2023

The photocyclization reaction of sterically demanding styrylpyridine derivatives was investigated and shown to depend on the type of substituent. With this method, a 2,2‐diphenyl‐1,3‐benzodioxolo‐annelated benzo[c]quinolizinium was synthesized, and its association with regular and abasic site‐containing DNA (AP‐DNA) was investigated by absorption, fluorescence, circular and linear dichroism spectroscopy. Specifically, this ligand binds preferentially to AP‐DNA relative to regular duplex DNA, and the AP‐DNA/ligand complex is formed in situ upon irradiation of the styrylpyridine substrate in the presence of the DNA.
How do technologies meet the needs of the writer with dyslexia? An examination of functions scaffolding the transcription and proofreading in text production aimed towards researchers and practitioners in education
Authors: Mossige Margunn , Arendal Erik , Kongskov Laura , Svendsen Helle Bundgaard
Published: September 2023

Technological reading and writing tools can help students with dyslexia improve their writing, but students do not use reading and writing functions as much as expected. However, research addressing relevant technological functions is scarce. This study explored the needs of writers with dyslexia and how technological writing tools developed for three Nordic languages meet these needs. Snowball sampling was used to identify different technological features, spellchecker, word prediction, auto‐correction, text‐to‐speech and speech‐to‐text functions available in nine widely used programmes were investigated. The results indicated that students with moderate spelling difficulties can now achieve accurate spellings using the most sophisticated spelling aids; however, most of these features require time and attention, and this can disturb writing fluency and hamper text production. The implication of this study is that the underlying conflict between spelling accuracy and writing fluency must be actively managed, which necessitates competence in the use of technological tools for both students and teachers in school. Also, further development of tools for scaffolding transcription must consider the dilemma of achieving both writing fluency and spelling accuracy. Further, the accuracy of the aid for students with severe spelling difficulties remains unclear and must be investigated.
The effectiveness and cultural adaptations of psychological interventions for eating disorders in East Asia: A systematic scoping review
Authors: Yim See Heng , Schmidt Ulrike
Published: September 2023

Objective

There has been no review on eating disorder‐focused psychological interventions in East Asia. The aims of this systematic scoping review were to summarize existing and forthcoming studies and to synthesize the cultural adaptations and effectiveness of the interventions identified.

Method

Five databases (PubMed, Embase, Global Health, Medline, PsychInfo) and seven trial registries were searched. Studies examining eating disorder (ED)‐focused psychological interventions in East Asia were included. Narrative synthesis was used for the analysis.

Results

Eighteen published studies and 14 ongoing/completed but unpublished studies were included. Most published studies were uncontrolled and five were feasibility studies. Among the ongoing studies, 71% are randomized controlled trials. Cognitive therapies were the main approach used, including individual cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), internet CBT, group CBT, guided self‐help, and cognitive remediation therapy. Cultural adaptations were mostly related to language, communication style and tailoring the dietary requirements to local diets. Interventions were shortened to increase acceptability and reduce financial and time burden to patients. Overall, studies showed good acceptability, completion rates and positive effects on ED symptoms (indicated by moderate to large effect sizes or statistical significance).

Discussion

Studies were underpowered and uncontrolled, thus precluding meaningful interpretations of effectiveness to be made. However, the psychological interventions were acceptable and showed promise in delivery. Digital and group interventions seemed to be the most feasible given barriers in the local health systems. More controlled studies, as well as studies on children and adolescents, are needed in future.

Public significance

This is the first systematic scoping review examining psychological interventions for eating disorders in East Asia. Research in eating disorders has largely focused on White people and in Western countries. This review will be helpful for clinicians and researchers to understand the current state of the field through a non‐Eurocentric lens, to identify gaps and plan future research.
Detection of transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy by automated data extraction from electronic health records
Authors: Moya Ana , Oeste Clara L. , Beles Monika , Verstreken Sofie , Dierckx Riet , Heggermont Ward , Bartunek Jozef , Bogaerts Eline , Masuy Imke , Hens Dries , Bertolone Dario , Vanderheyden Marc
Published: September 2023

Aims

Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR‐CM), a progressive and fatal cardiomyopathy, is frequently misdiagnosed or entails diagnostic delays, hindering patients from timely treatment. This study aimed to generate a systematic framework based on data from electronic health records (EHRs) to assess patients with ATTR‐CM in a real‐world population of heart failure (HF) patients. Predictive factors or combinations of predictive factors related to ATTR‐CM in a European population were also assessed.

Methods and results

Retrospective unstructured and semi‐structured data from EHRs of patients from OLV Hospital Aalst, Belgium (2012–20), were processed using natural language processing (NLP) to generate an Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model database. NLP model performance was assessed on a random subset of EHRs by comparing algorithm outputs to a physician‐generated standard (using precision, recall, and their harmonic mean, or F1‐score). Of the 3127 HF patients, 103 potentially had ATTR‐CM (age 78 ± 9 years; male 55%; ejection fraction of 48% ± 16). The mean diagnostic delay between HF and ATTR‐CM diagnosis was 1.8 years. Besides HF and cardiomyopathy‐related phenotypes, the strongest cardiac predictor was atrial fibrillation (AF; 72% in ATTR‐CM vs. 60% in non‐ATTR‐CM, P = 0.02), whereas the strongest non‐cardiac predictor was carpal tunnel syndrome (21% in ATTR‐CM vs. 3% in non‐ATTR‐CM, P < 0.001). The strongest combination predictor was AF, joint disorders, and HF with preserved ejection fraction (29% in ATTR‐CM vs. 18% in non‐ATTR‐CM: odds ratio = 2.03, 95% confidence interval = 1.28–3.22).

Conclusions

Not only well‐known variables associated with ATTR‐CM but also unique combinations of cardiac and non‐cardiac phenotypes are able to predict ATTR‐CM in a real‐world HF population, aiding in early identification of ATTR‐CM patients.
Phenotype, outcomes and natural history of early‐stage non‐ischaemic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Hammersley Daniel J. , Jones Richard E. , Owen Ruth , Mach Lukas , Lota Amrit S. , Khalique Zohya , De Marvao Antonio , Androulakis Emmanuel , Hatipoglu Suzan , Gulati Ankur , Reddy Rohin K. , Yoon Won Young , Talukder Suprateeka , Shah Riya , Baruah Resham , Guha Kaushik , Pantazis Antonis , Baksi A. John , Gregson John , Cleland John G.F. , Tayal Upasana , Pennell Dudley J. , Ware James S. , Halliday Brian P. , Prasad Sanjay K.
Published: September 2023

Aims

To characterize the phenotype, clinical outcomes and rate of disease progression in patients with early‐stage non‐ischaemic cardiomyopathy (early‐NICM).

Methods and results

We conducted a prospective observational cohort study of patients with early‐NICM assessed by late gadolinium enhancement cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). Cases were classified into the following subgroups: isolated left ventricular dilatation (early‐NICM H−/D+), non‐dilated left ventricular cardiomyopathy (early‐NICM H+/D−), or early dilated cardiomyopathy (early‐NICM H+/D+). Clinical follow‐up for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) included non‐fatal life‐threatening arrhythmia, unplanned cardiovascular hospitalization or cardiovascular death. A subset of patients (n = 119) underwent a second CMR to assess changes in cardiac structure and function. Of 254 patients with early‐NICM (median age 46 years [interquartile range 36–58], 94 [37%] women, median left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] 55% [52–59]), myocardial fibrosis was present in 65 (26%). There was no difference in the prevalence of fibrosis between subgroups (p = 0.90), however fibrosis mass was lowest in early‐NICM H−/D+, higher in early‐NICM H+/D− and highest in early‐NICM H+/D+ (p = 0.03). Over a median follow‐up of 7.9 (5.5–10.0) years, 28 patients (11%) experienced MACE. Non‐sustained ventricular tachycardia (hazard ratio [HR] 5.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.36–11.00, p < 0.001), myocardial fibrosis (HR 3.77, 95% CI 1.73–8.20, p < 0.001) and diabetes mellitus (HR 5.12, 95% CI 1.73–15.18, p = 0.003) were associated with MACE in a multivariable model. Only 8% of patients progressed from early‐NICM to dilated cardiomyopathy with LVEF <50% over a median of 16 (11–34) months.

Conclusion

Early‐NICM is not benign. Fibrosis develops early in the phenotypic course. In‐depth characterization enhances risk stratification and might aid clinical management.
Multiobjective optimization allocation of multi‐skilled workers considering the skill heterogeneity and time‐varying effects in unit brake production lines
Authors: Zeng Huiqin , Nie Sen
Published: September 2023

The optimal allocation of multi‐skilled workers in labor‐intensive industries can improve production capacity and reduce production costs. In actual production, the efficiency of workers will change with time due to their proficiency, fatigue, and other effects. In this article, we attempt to solve the problem of multi‐skilled workers allocation in unit brake production lines considering the heterogeneity of skills and time‐varying effects. A nonlinear mixed‐integer programming model is established, which fully considers the impact of worker efficiency due to proficiency, fatigue, and multi‐task rest recovery. The product production cycle and worker cost are the two objectives of the optimization solution. An enhanced NSGA‐II algorithm that combines the improved NSGA‐II algorithm and the variable neighborhood search (VNS) algorithm is used to solve the multiobjective optimization problem. Finally, the weighted ideal point method is used to obtain the Pareto optimal solution. The application case of a unit brake production is considered to evaluate the proposed model. The results indicate that the time cost and salary cost of workers are reduced by 8.03% and 18.91% compared with the original scheduling. The scheduling model considering learning, fatigue and recovery factors is more suitable for the actual production situation, ensuring the completion time and reducing the labor cost.
EWM: An entropy‐based framework for estimating energy consumption of edge servers
Authors: Li Guangxu , Li Junke
Published: September 2023

In mobile edge computing (MEC), accurately predicting and monitoring the energy consumption of edge servers is a key challenge in achieving green computing. The importance of solving this problem is that it can help optimize the energy usage in data centers and thus reduce the carbon emission of MEC. To this end, we propose an innovative entropy‐based power modeling framework called entropy weighted model (EWM). The EWM framework weights and combines classical prediction models by analyzing the major components of a server and selecting appropriate parameters. We validate the performance of EWM using real server power and performance counter data and compare it with other classical prediction models by Friedman test. The results show that EWM outperforms other classical prediction models in all test datasets. This result validates the significant advantages of our EWM framework in solving the critical problem of edge server power prediction, and provides an effective tool for achieving data center energy optimization and promoting green computing, resulting in a highly general and accurate prediction model.
Shake table tests to compare the seismic response of concrete frames with conventional and high‐strength reinforcement
Authors: Chin Chih‐Hsuan , Cheng Min‐Yuan , Lepage Andrés , Lequesne Rémy D.
Published: September 2023

Reported test results suggest reinforcement grade can have an important effect on the seismic displacement demands of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Two one‐story one‐bay RC frames (Specimens C1 and H1) were mounted in parallel on the NCREE‐Taiwan shake table and simultaneously subjected to 16 base motions, each representing a horizontal component of recorded earthquakes. The dynamic tests were followed by quasi‐static large‐amplitude cyclic testing. The specimens had the same nominal dimensions and base shear strengths with longitudinal reinforcement that was Grade 60 (60 ksi [420 MPa]) in C1 and Grade 100 (100 ksi [690 MPa]) in H1. Maximum drifts of H1 were 1.3 to 2.3 times larger than for C1. The lateral stiffness of H1 was consistently lower than C1, with stiffness ratios (H1 to C1) ranging from 0.78 after Run 1 to 0.45 after Run 16. Drift estimates using stiffness values based on gross‐section properties provided a reasonable upper bound for C1 but were unconservative for H1. Drift estimates based on the secant‐to‐yield stiffnesses, which were inversely proportional to reinforcement grade, provided an upper bound for both specimens. Preliminary recommendations are made for accounting for these effects in design.
Seismic behavior of a fully tempered insulating glass curtain wall system under various loading protocols
Authors: Ji Xiaodong , Zhuang Yuncheng , Lim Wanhui , Qu Zhe
Published: September 2023

This paper investigates the seismic behavior of a glass curtain wall system under various loading scenarios. Experimental set‐ups and approaches were developed to test full‐scale fully tempered (FT) insulating glass curtain wall systems subjected to three loading protocols: quasi‐static in‐plane loading, dynamic in‐plane loading, and dynamic coupled in‐plane and out‐of‐plane loading. A refined finite element (FE) model was developed to understand the behavior of the system. The average drift associated with glass cracking and fallout was found to be nearly identical for quasi‐static and dynamic in‐plane loading, indicating that in‐plane floor accelerations exerted marginal influence on the failure of the glass curtain walls. Bi‐directional loading led to an approximately 30% decrease in the glass fallout drift compared with in‐plane loading. This is because the out‐of‐plane drift placed an increased stress demand on the glass panel, as indicated by the FE analysis. Both the experimental tests and FE analysis revealed that the ASCE 7–16 formula, which is used to calculate the drift of contact between the glass and frame, is nonconservative as it does not consider the deformation of the surrounding frame and the friction between the gasket and the glass. The failure mechanism of the glass panel was caused by the stress concentrations at the diagonal corners due to glass‐to‐frame contact. The FE analysis indicated that the interactional effect among different glass units was negligible, and the glass panels exhibited a similar stress state regardless of their positions.
Physics‐based preconditioning of Jacobian‐free Newton–Krylov solver for Navier–Stokes equations using nodal integral method
Authors: Ahmed Nadeem , Singh Suneet , Kumar Niteen
Published: September 2023

The nodal integral methods (NIMs) have found widespread use in the nuclear industry for neutron transport problems due to their high accuracy. However, despite considerable development, these methods have limited acceptability among the fluid flow community. One major drawback of these methods is the lack of robust and efficient nonlinear solvers for the algebraic equations resulting from discretization. Since its inception, several modifications have been made to make NIMs more agile, efficient, and accurate. Modified nodal integral method (MNIM) and modified MNIM (M2NIM) are the two most recent and efficient versions of the NIM for fluid flow problems. M2NIM modifies the MNIM by replacing the current time convective velocity with the previous time convective velocity, leading to faster convergence albeit with reduced accuracy. This work proposes a preconditioned Jacobian‐free Newton–Krylov approach for solving the Navier–Stokes equation using MNIM. The Krylov solvers do not generally work well without an appropriate preconditioner. Therefore, M2NIM is used here as a preconditioner to accelerate the solution of MNIM. Due to pressure–velocity coupling in the Navier–Stokes equation, developing a quality preconditioner for these equations needs significant effort. The momentum equation is solved using the time‐splitting alternate direction implicit method. The velocities obtained from the solution are then used to solve the pressure Poisson equation. The computational results for the Navier–Stokes equation are presented to underscore the advantages of the developed algorithm.
Influence of deep magmatic source region in the growth of complex maar‐diatreme volcanoes
Authors: Chako‐Tchamabé Boris , Graettinger Alison , Gountié Dedzo Merlin , Tamen Jules , Nemeth Károly , Weber Bodo , Fozing Eric Martial , Silis‐Esquivel Jhoanna , Asaah Asobo Elvis Nkengmatia , Youmen Dieudonné , Ohba Takeshi
Published: September 2023

Using a multidisciplinary approach to understand the subsurface processes behind the formation of maar‐diatreme volcanoes is of growing interest. While geophysical characterization can visualize the diatreme and the feeding dike system beneath the volcano at a reasonable scale, such data are rare and generally unavailable. Stratigraphic‐controlled sampling and geochemical analysis of pyroclasts within the ejecta ring can, however, provide substantial information on dike evolution and the influence of the magmatic plumbing system on the growth of these volcanoes. Such investigation is presented here for the Barombi Mbo Maar (BMM), a complex maar of the Cameroon Volcanic Line (CVL) composed of a pile of tephra units linked to multiple explosive phases that were grouped into three eruptive episodes. Major and trace element compositions of lavas collected from the different eruptive units indicate that the erupted magmas at BMM consist mainly of basalt, trachybasalt and basanite, with Oceanic Island Basalts (OIB) and high μ (μ = 238U/204Pb) (HIMU) signatures. Compositional modelling suggests that partial melting occurred at different degrees in the garnet‐to‐spinel transition zone from one episode to another. The repetition of eruptions with big gaps between them, the presence of another large adjacent old maar crater next to the 2.5 km crater of the BMM, and the overall similarity in geochemical compositions from one eruption to another suggest a deep high‐productive zone in the mantle beneath the BMM. The latter productive zone was capable of generating magma batches episodically to fuel several individual monogenetic eruptions at the same location.
Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Simplified Analogues of the Major Corn Strigolactones, Zealactone and Zeapyranolactone
Authors: Yoshimura Masahiko , Dieckmann Michael , Lumbroso Alexandre , Fonné‐Pfister Raymonde , Screpanti Claudio , Hermann Katrin , Rendine Stefano , Quinodoz Pierre , De Mesmaeker Alain
Published: September 2023

Strigolactones are one of the phytohormones, which have multiple activities on plant growth and development. Since these strigolactone activities are highly associated with crop yield, use of strigolactone could be a promising technology in modern sustainable agriculture. The major strigolactones in corn root exudates have been identified as zealactone 1a/b and zeapyranolactone. We recently disclosed the first total synthesis of zealactone 1a/b together with its biological activity in corn. Herein, we describe the design and synthesis of simplified analogues of both corn‐derived strigolactones with their bioavailability in soil and their biological activities. These compounds would be potential leads for the development of synthetic strigolactones for the agronomical use in a more sustainable crop production.
Synthesis and Evaluation of Novel 5‐O‐(4‐C‐Aminoalkyl‐β‐D‐ribofuranosyl) Apramycin Derivatives for the Inhibition of Gram‐Negative Pathogens Carrying the Aminoglycoside Phosphotransferase(3′)‐Ia Resistance Determinant
Authors: Lubriks Dmitrijs , Haldimann Klara , Kiliç Fatmanur , Hartmann Maximilian , Böttger Erik C. , Hobbie Sven N. , Suna Edgars , Crich David
Published: September 2023

We report the synthesis and evaluation of two new apramycin 5‐O‐β‐d‐ribofuranosides, or apralogs, carrying aminoalkyl branches at the ribofuranose 4‐position. This novel modification conveys excellent activity for the inhibition of protein synthesis by wild‐type bacterial ribosomes and correspondingly high antibacterial activity against several Gram‐negative pathogens. Notably, these new modifications overcome the reduction of antibacterial activity in other 2‐deoxystreptamine‐type aminoglycosides carrying a 5‐O‐ribofuranosyl moiety when challenged by the presence of an aminoglycoside phosphotransferase enzyme capable of acting on the ribose 5‐position.
Contour integration for the view factor calculation between two rectangular surfaces
Authors: Camaraza‐Medina Yanan , Hernandez‐Guerrero Abel , Luviano‐Ortiz J. Luis
Published: September 2023

The calculation of the view factor is an important consideration in radiative heat transfer analysis. Thermal engineering requires the view factor calculations between complex geometries containing parallel and inclined surfaces. There is currently no analytic formula available for this, so the summation rule (SR) must be used. However, when complex geometries are analyzed, processing SR becomes a very intensive task. Therefore, the present study aims to exploit vector calculus to develop a formula for calculating the view factors for radiative heat transfer from any two rectangular oblique or parallel surfaces. The exact solution obtained by means of the contour integration was compared with the numerical integration of the quadruple integral using the multiple Simpson's rule 1/3 with five intervals (MSR) and the summation rule via the Hamilton–Morgan solution (HMS). The lack of similar precedents in the literature reinforces the scientific and practical nature of the proposed method.