bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Public health crisis and risky road behaviors
Authors: Shr Yau‐Huo (Jimmy) , Yang Feng‐An
Published: March 2023

This study investigates how exposure to riskier environments influences risky road behaviors, using the COVID‐19 pandemic as a natural experiment. Utilizing administrative individual traffic violation records from Taipei, where neither mandatory lockdown nor mobility restrictions were imposed, we find that pandemic‐induced risk decreased speeding violations and that the effect was transitory. However, no significant changes were observed concerning violations with a minimal risk of casualties, such as illegal parking. These findings suggest that experiencing a higher level of life‐threatening risk discourages risky behaviors concerning human life but has little spillover effect on those concerning only financial costs.
Forecasting the human and climate impacts on groundwater resources in the irrigated agricultural region of North China Plain
Authors: Chen Haorui , Wu Mousong , Duan Zheng , Zha Yuanyuan , Wang Songhan , Yang Long , Zou Liangchao , Zheng Minjie , Chen Peng , Cao Wei , Zhang Wenxin
Published: March 2023

Climate change has caused significant impacts on water resource redistribution around the world and posed a great threat in the last several decades due to intensive human activities. The impacts of human water use and management on regional water resources remain unclear as they are intertwined with the impacts of climate change. In this study, we disentangled the impact of climate‐induced human activities on groundwater resources in a typical region of the semi‐arid North China Plain based on a process‐oriented groundwater modelling approach accounting for climate‐human‐groundwater interactions. We found that the climate‐induced human effect is amplified in water resources management (‘amplifying effect’) for our study region under future climate scenarios. We specifically derived a tipping point for annual precipitation of 350 mm, below which the climate‐induced human activities on groundwater withdrawal will cause significant ‘amplifying effect’ on groundwater depletion. Furthermore, we explored the different pumping scenarios under various climate conditions and investigated the pumping thresholds, which the pumping amount should not exceed (4 × 107 m3) in order to control future groundwater level depletion. Our results highlight that it is critical to implement adaptive water use practices, such as water‐saving irrigation technologies in the semi‐arid regions, in order to mitigate the negative impacts of groundwater overexploitation, particularly when annual precipitation is anomalously low.
Caregiving antecedents of secure base script knowledge inferred from the Adult Attachment Interview: A comparative, pre‐registered analysis
Authors: Nivison Marissa D. , Dagan Or , Booth‐LaForce Cathryn , Roisman Glenn I. , Waters Theodore E. A.
Published: March 2023

Attachment theorists claim that the quality of parental support is internalized as a mental representation of early relationship experiences. Increasingly, the content of attachment representations is evaluated by studying the extent to which adults demonstrate knowledge of the secure base script, either in the context of the attachment script assessment (ASA) or during the Adult Attachment Interview (AAIsbs). Preliminary evidence from a high‐risk sample showed that AAIsbs was more strongly associated with the quality of antecedent caregiving than was the more traditional approach to the measurement of adult attachment focused on the coherence of adults' AAI discourse. Drawing on new coding of data from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (SECCYD), we found that AAIsbs around age 18 years was significantly predicted by observations of maternal (r = 0.21) and paternal (r = 0.12) sensitivity assessed prospectively through age 15 years, and with attachment security in the first 3 years of life (r = 0.08). AAIsbs was also associated with existing measures of adult attachment (rs = 0.31–0.42). Pre‐registered analyses revealed that AAIsbs performed in a manner roughly comparable to traditional, though more labour‐intensive approaches to coding the AAI. Based on all available evidence from the SECCYD and the pragmatic challenges and advantages of different narrative methods for assessing adult attachment representations, researchers seeking to measure attachment representations should strongly consider the strengths of the ASA in term of practicality, performance, and adaptability to various age groups across development.

Highlights

The present report examines the extent to which secure base script knowledge, as assessed by the Adult Attachment Interview (AAIsbs) has its origins in early caregiving experiences, and to report how AAIsbs performs in comparison to existing measures of adult attachment, in a large scale, normative‐risks sample of adolescents.

Data were drawn from the newly re‐coded AAIs from the NICHD Study of Early Childcare and Youth Development.

Overall, the AAIsbs system performs as well as traditional AAI measures, but researchers looking to examine adult attachment representations should consider using the Attachment Script Assessment both for its empirical and pragmatic advantages.
A multidimensional approach to measuring vulnerability to poverty among refugee populations
Authors: Lyons Angela C. , Kass‐Hanna Josephine , Montoya Castano Alejandro
Published: March 2023

This study constructs a multidimensional livelihood index (MLI) using data from Syrian refugees in Lebanon to identify households who are currently poor. The MLI is then used to predict households' vulnerability to future poverty using a three‐stage Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS) model. The analysis identifies more precisely which households and geographical locations are vulnerable to experiencing prolonged poverty. This study is among the first to adapt the multidimensional poverty framework to the context of protracted forced displacement. The approach provides insights into how humanitarian and development organizations can more optimally target assistance to alleviate immediate and future poverty.
A biophysical approach to study the impact of muscle relaxant drug tizanidine on stability and activity of serum albumins
Authors: Patel Rajan , Singh Birajpal , Sharma Anurag , Wani Farooq Ahmad , Siddiquee Md. Abrar , Anand Aashima , Malik Maqsood Ahmad , Al‐Thabaiti Shaeel Ahmed , Khan Imran
Published: March 2023

The binding affinity of a drug with carrier proteins plays a major role in the distribution and administration of the drug within the body. Tizanidine (TND) is a muscle relaxant having antispasmodic and antispastic effects. Herein, we have studied the effect of tizanidine on serum albumins by spectroscopic techniques, such as absorption spectroscopic analysis, steady, state fluorescence, synchronous fluorescence, circular dichroism, and molecular docking. The binding constant and number of binding sites of TND with serum proteins were determined by means of fluorescence data. The thermodynamic parameters, like Gibbs' free energy (ΔG), enthalpy change (ΔH), and entropy change (ΔS), revealed that the complex formation is spontaneous, exothermic, and entropy driven. Further, synchronous spectroscopy revealed the involvement of Trp (amino acid) responsible for quenching of intensity in fluorescence in serum albumins in presence of TND. Circular dichroism results suggest that more folded secondary structure of proteins. In BSA the presence of 20 μM concentration of TND was able to gain most of its helical content. Similarly, in HSA the presence of 40 μM concentration of TND has been able to gain more helical content. Molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation further confirm the binding of TND with serum albumins, thus validating our experimental results.
Correct standard errors can bias meta‐analysis
Authors: Stanley T. D. , Doucouliagos Hristos
Published: March 2023

Partial correlation coefficients are often used as effect sizes in the meta‐analysis and systematic review of multiple regression analysis research results. There are two well‐known formulas for the variance and thereby for the standard error (SE) of partial correlation coefficients (PCC). One is considered the “correct” variance in the sense that it better reflects the variation of the sampling distribution of partial correlation coefficients. The second is used to test whether the population PCC is zero, and it reproduces the test statistics and the p‐values of the original multiple regression coefficient that PCC is meant to represent. Simulations show that the “correct” PCC variance causes random effects to be more biased than the alternative variance formula. Meta‐analyses produced by this alternative formula statistically dominate those that use “correct” SEs. Meta‐analysts should never use the “correct” formula for partial correlations' standard errors.
Value of Hands Ultrasonography in the Differential Diagnosis Between Psoriatic Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Abdelghani Kawther Ben , Boussaa Hiba , Miladi Saoussen , Zakraoui Leith , Fazaa Alia , Laatar Ahmed
Published: March 2023

Objectives

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) can mimic rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at an early stage, especially when psoriasis is lacking. In the absence of specific radiological and immunological markers, the differential diagnosis between these two diseases can be challenging. We aimed to determine whether hands ultrasonography (US) may be useful in the differential diagnosis between PsA and RA.

Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional study including patients with PsA and RA. All wrists and small joints of the hands were examined using gray‐scale and Power Doppler US. The evaluated US lesions were: synovitis, tenosynovitis of extensor carpi ulnaris, extensor communis and flexor tendons, enthesitis of extensor tendons at distal interphalangeal joints, peritendon inflammation of extensor tendons, and soft tissue edema.

Results

Six hundred joints in 20 PsA patients and 900 joints in 30 RA patients were assessed. Extensor enthesitis was significantly more observed in PsA compared with RA (39.4 vs 26.3%, P = .006) with a significant higher frequency of enthesophytes and calcifications (P = .022 and P = .002, respectively). Peritendon inflammation of extensor digitorum tendons was observed in 13% of metacarpophalangeal joints in PsA patients versus 3% in RA patients with a significant difference (P < .001). Soft tissue edema was exclusively observed in PsA (1.5 vs 0%, P = .033). Power Doppler synovitis was significantly more frequent in RA (9.2 vs 5%, P = .002). Extensor carpi ulnaris tenosynovitis was significantly more frequent in RA (18.3 vs 2.5%, P = .017).

Conclusion

Extrasynovial US findings may be helpful to distinguish PsA from RA especially in patients with immunonegative polyarthritis and no evidence of psoriasis.
Prognosis of Acute Low‐Tone Hearing Loss Without Vertigo: A Scoping Review
Authors: Huang Ryan J. , Del Risco Amanda , Riska Kristal M. , Cooper Matthew W. , Clark Nicholas W. , Kaplan Samantha J. , Kaylie David , Francis Howard W.
Published: March 2023

Objective

Despite its relatively high prevalence, our understanding of the natural clinical course of acute low‐tone hearing loss (ALHL) without vertigo remains incomplete. The purpose of this study is to summarize the findings of studies that evaluated recovery from hearing loss (HL), recurrence and/or fluctuation of HL, and progression to Meniere's Disease (MD) of patients presenting with ALHL without vertigo.

Methods

A scoping review of the English literature was performed. On May 14, 2020 and July 6, 2022, MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus were searched to identify articles related to the prognosis of ALHL. To be included, articles had to present outcomes that were clearly distinguishable for patients with ALHL without vertigo. Two reviewers evaluated articles for inclusion and extracted data. Disagreements were adjudicated by a third reviewer.

Results

Forty‐one studies were included. There was extensive heterogeneity between studies in regard to defining ALHL, treatment methods, and time of follow‐up. Most of the cohorts (39 out of 40) reported partial or complete recovery of hearing in the majority (>50%) of patients, although reports of recurrence were relatively common. Progression to MD was infrequently reported. Shorter time from onset of symptoms to treatment predicted better hearing outcomes in 6 of 8 studies.

Conclusion

The literature suggests that although the majority of patients with ALHL experience hearing improvement, recurrence and/or fluctuation are common, and progression to MD occurs in a minority of patients. Additional trials utilizing standardized inclusion and outcome criteria are needed to determine the ideal treatment for ALHL.

Level of Evidence

NA Laryngoscope, 133:2457–2469, 2023
Ferredoxin 1, the key regulator of cuproptosis, was associated with prognosis and immune cell infiltration in clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Xia Dian , Liu Kun , Jiao Wen , Peng Longfei , Liu Qi , Liu Chang , Bi Liangkuan
Published: March 2023

According to a number of studies, the occurrence and progression clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), among the most prevalent cancerous tumors of the urinary bladder, may be inextricable from metabolism and immunology. The recent discovery of cuproptosis revealed a novel cell death mechanism based on mitochondrial respiration and the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and cuproptosis is strongly linked to the metabolic process. The cuproptosis process is different from the previously revealed cell death processes such as pyroptosis, apoptosis and ferroptosis, which is expected to provide a new perspective in the study of tumor mechanism. Here we aim to explore the important role of key regulators of cuproptosis in renal cancer using a combination of bioinformatics and experimental validation. We found that Ferredoxin 1 (FDX1) was related to the infiltration of various immune cells in the tumor microenvironment and the response to immunotherapy in ccRCC. At the same time, the experiment confirmed that FDX1 was significantly lower in ccRCC, which was consistent with the previous analysis results. In conclusions, FDX1 was expected to be an important marker of immune infiltration, immunotherapy, and tumor prognosis in ccRCC.
Time‐average stochastic control based on a singular local Lévy model for environmental project planning under habit formation
Authors: Yoshioka Hidekazu , Tsujimura Motoh , Hamagami Kunihiko , Tomobe Haruka
Published: March 2023

This study applies the theory of stochastic control to an environmental project planning to counteract against the sediment starvation problem in river environments. This can be considered as a time‐average inventory problem to time‐discretely control a continuous‐time system driven by a non‐smooth jump process under habit formation disturbing project implementation. The system is modeled such that the sediment storage dynamics are physically consistent with certain experimental results. Further, the habit formation is modeled as simple linear dynamics and serves as a constraint related to the replenishment amount of the sediment. We show that the time‐average control problem is not necessarily ergodic. Consequently, the effective Hamiltonian may become a non‐constant. Thereafter, ratcheting cases as extreme cases of the irreversible habit formation are considered, owing to them being unique exactly solvable non‐ergodic control problems. The optimality equation associated with a regularized and hence well‐defined control problem is verified. Furthermore, a finite difference scheme is examined against the exactly solvable case and then applied to more complicated cases.
Dual‐role nurse interpreter perceptions of language barriers and Spanish‐speaking patients: A qualitative study
Authors: Villanueva Lizette
Published: March 2023

Aim

As the United States population is ever changing and is growing in diverse population patterns, the health care system is called to initiate responsive health care practices that are based on the public's changing and diverse cultural patterns. This study sought to explore the perceptions of certified medical interpreter dual‐role nurses and their experiences with Spanish‐speaking patients from admission to discharge in hospital stays.

Design

A qualitative descriptive case study was applied in this study.

Methods

Data was collected from nurses working at a United States Southwest Borderland hospital using purposive sampling and semi‐structured in‐depth interviews. A total of four dual‐role nurses participated, and thematic narrative analysis was applied.

Results

Four major themes emerged. The main themes were “being a dual‐role nurse interpreter,” “patient experience,” “culture and competence, “and “nursing and caring,” With each major theme multiple sub themes emerged. Two sub themes emerged with “being a dual‐role nurse interpreter,” and two sub themes emerged with “patient experiences.” The major themes that emerged from the interviews indicated that the language barrier greatly affects Spanish‐speaking patients in their hospital stay. Participants reported having at least one encounter with a Spanish‐speaking patient that was not afforded interpretation services or had interpretation from someone other than a qualified interpreter. Patients experienced confusion, apprehension and anger associated with not being able to communicate their needs to the healthcare system.

Conclusions

According to the experiences of the certified dual‐role nurse interpreters, having a language barrier makes a tremendous impact on the care of Spanish‐speaking patients. Nurse participants describe how patients and their family members experience dissatisfaction, anger and confusion when there is a language barrier and most importantly how language barriers have detrimental effects on patients with wrong medication prescriptions and wrong diagnosis.

Clinical relevance

When hospital administration recognize and support nurses as certified medical interpreters as a key component for patient care when assisting persons with limited English proficiency, patients are empowered to become active members of their healthcare regimen. The role of dual‐role nurses enables brokering between the healthcare system and serves as a tool to bridge health disparities based on linguistic inequities existing in healthcare. Recruitment and retention of certified medical interpreter trained Spanish‐speaking nurses deter errors in healthcare and makes a positive impact on the healthcare regimen of Spanish‐speaking patients enabling patient empowerment through education and advocacy.
Evaluation of computer‐based training and high‐fidelity simulation to improve early recognition of sepsis on the adult general ward
Authors: Marsack William J. , De Gagne Jennie C. , Reid Joseph , Pakieser‐Reed Katherine , Francisco Mary Ann , Kang Hee Sun
Published: March 2023

This quality improvement project involved developing, implementing and evaluating an educational intervention using computer‐based training (CBT) and high‐fidelity simulation (HFS) to increase knowledge, confidence and compliance of nurses identifying sepsis. A one‐group pretest‐posttest design was used. Participants were nurses on a general ward of an academic medical centre. Study variables were measured over three timepoints: 2 weeks before, immediately after and 90 days after implementation. Data were collected from January 30, 2018, to June 22, 2018. SQUIRE 2.0 checklist for quality improvement reporting used. Improvements in knowledge of sepsis (F(2,83) = 18.14, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.30) and confidence in early recognition of sepsis (F(2,83) = 13.67, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.25) were found. Additionally, compliance with sepsis screening improved between the preimplementation and postimplementation period (χ2 = 13.633, df = 1, p < 0.001). Overall, the nurses evaluated their experience with the CBT and HFS as strongly positive. When designing and implementing an educational intervention on sepsis, a process for follow‐up which provides reinforcement should be considered to retain nurses' knowledge.
Relationships among disease knowledge, social support, anxiety and self‐efficacy in patients after total knee arthroplasty: A chain mediating effect
Authors: Li Na , Yao Xue , Ji Hong
Published: March 2023

Aim

To explore relationships among disease knowledge, social support, anxiety and self‐efficacy in patients after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) through a chain mediating model.

Design

A cross‐sectional study.

Methods

A total of 282 post‐TKA patients from three tertiary hospitals in Jinan, Shandong Province are conveniently chosen as the subjects of this study. We use established scales to assess relevant variables and apply the PROCESS 3.5 software of SPSS to construct a chain mediating effect.

Results

The results of this study found that disease knowledge can directly affect patients' self‐efficacy (β = 0.466, t = 5.227, p < 0.001). Social support and anxiety play a significant mediating role between disease knowledge and self‐efficacy, with an overall mediating effect value of 0.257. After including social support and anxiety, the direct effect value of disease knowledge on self‐efficacy is 0.210.

Conclusion

Disease knowledge in TKA patients can significantly and positively predict their post‐operative self‐efficacy. Between disease knowledge and self‐efficacy, there is not only an independent mediating effect of social support and anxiety but also a chain mediating effect.

Patient or Public Contribution

The patients were actively involved in the data collection for this study.
New results on finite‐time guaranteed cost control of uncertain polytopic fractional‐order systems with time‐varying delays
Authors: Thanh Nguyen Truong , Thuan Mai Viet , Tuan Tran Ngoc
Published: March 2023

This article deals with the problem of finite time guaranteed cost control for uncertain polytopic fractional‐order systems with time‐varying delays. A linear quadratic cost function is considered as a performance measure for the closed‐loop system. By using Laplace transform and linear matrix inequalities (LMIs), a guaranteed cost controller design is presented and sufficient conditions for the existence of a finite time guaranteed cost state‐feedback control for the system are given in terms of LMIs. Two numerical examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the obtained result.
Soft dielectric actuator produced by multi‐material fused filament fabrication 3D printing
Authors: Raguž Ivan , Berer Michael , Fleisch Mathias , Holzer Clemens , Brancart Joost , Vanderborght Bram , Schlögl Sandra
Published: March 2023

Dielectric elastomer actuators rely on Coulomb forces for their actuation. They are promising candidates when it comes to the manufacture of electrically driven soft and lightweight robotic devices, which can undergo large movement. However, their commercial availability and hence their technological relevance are still rather limited due to several reasons: in‐depth material knowhow in terms of electrical and mechanical behavior required; materials have to be available in thin sheets; complicated and error prone fabrication; limited design freedom. In order to change this, this paper presents a soft dielectric actuator fully produced by fused filament fabrication. Additive manufacturing with conventional fused filament fabrication machines offers the potential for the production of personalized dielectric actuators which are easily accessible and comparably cheap. The only requirement is a fused filament fabrication printer with multi‐material capability. Focusing on a mass customization of the 3D printed actuators, exclusively commercially available devices and filaments without any modifications are used. In particular, the 3D printed prototypes are characterized in terms of the maximum displacement depending on the electrode printing direction. As a showcase example, a soft dielectric gripper made of two 3D printed actuators is developed. Comparable with other dielectric elastomer actuators, a maximum displacement of 42% is reached.
Efficacy of mirror therapy on lower limb motor recovery, balance and gait in subacute and chronic stroke: A systematic review
Authors: Kundi Maryam Khan , Spence Nicola J.
Published: March 2023

Objective

Mirror therapy (MT) has been proposed to be an effective therapeutic regimen for lower limb stroke rehabilitation. This review is the first to evaluate the efficacy of MT in subacute and chronic stroke for lower‐limb motor functions, balance and gait focusing on particular stage of stroke with specific outcome measures.

Methods

According to PRISMA guidelines, all relevant sources were searched from 2005 to 2020 using “PIOD” framework. Search methods included electronic database, hand and citation searching. Screening and quality assessment was performed by two individual reviewers. Data was extracted and synthesised from 10 studies. Thematic analysis was considered, random‐effect models were used and pooled analysis was performed using forest plots.

Results

For motor recovery, MT showed statistically significant effects compared to control group using Fugl‐Meyer Assessment and Brunnstorm stages as outcome measures (SMD 0.59; 95% CI 0.29 to 0.88; p < 0.0001; I2 = 0%). Statistical significant improvement was reported for balance in MT compared to control using Berg Balance Scale and Biodex in pooled analysis (SMD 0.47; 95% CI 0.04 to 0.90; p = 0.03; I2 = 0%). When compared with electric stimulation and action‐observation training MT showed no signifiant improvement for balance (SMD −0.21; 95% CI −0.91 to 0.50; p = 0.56; I2 = 39%). For gait, MT showed statistical and clinical significant improvement compared to control group (SMD 1.13; 95% CI 0.27–2.00; p = 0.01; I2 = 84%) and when compared to action‐observation training and electrical stimulation, presented statistical improvement using 10‐m walk test and Motion Capture system (SMD −0.65; 95% CI −1.15 to −0.15; p = 0.01; I2 = 0%).

Conclusion

This review has shown that MT is effective in lower‐limb motor recovery, balance and gait in subacute and chronic stroke in patients 18 years or above with no severe cognitive disorder, MMSE score ≥24 and FAC level ≥2. MT could be used for 30 min/day, 5 days/week for 4 weeks, as stand‐alone for motor recovery and balance or as an adjunct with electric stimulation for gait for beneficial effects.
High‐Sensitivity Thin‐Film Grating Absorbers for Sensing Applications
Authors: Sun Jie , Shen Kesheng , Zheng Yun , Liu Hongchao , Lu Hai , Dong Chao , Dong Shiqing
Published: March 2023

Herein, based on the finite‐element calculation method, a high‐sensitivity infrared absorption sensor is designed with ZnSe as the substrate, Mo as the waveguide layer and periodic grating, and Ge as the thin film. The absorption performance of the structure is not sensitive to the polarization of the incident light when the transverse‐magnetic light wave is perpendicular to the structure. The thickness of the Ge thin film and the width of the grating column are the main factors for determining its absorption and sensing performance. The optimized structure is sensitive to the refractive index on the grating. Herein, a correspondence between the refractive index change and the position of the peak of the absorbance spectrum is established. When this structure is used as a refractive index sensor, the sensitivity can reach 2300 nm RIU−1 with a high figure of merit of 37.09. In addition, temperature sensing in ethanol shows that the waveguide can quantify the solution temperature by resonance. It is demonstrated in the results that the grating absorber has great potential applications in biomedical sensing.
A Strongly Correlated Quantum Dot Heat Engine with Optimal Performance: A Nonequilibrium Green's Function Approach
Authors: Verma Sachin , Singh Ajay
Published: March 2023

Herein, an analytical study of a strongly correlated quantum dot‐based thermoelectric particle‐exchange heat engine for both finite and infinite on‐dot Coulomb interaction is presented. Employing Keldysh's nonequilibrium Green's function formalism for different decoupling schemes in the equation of motion, the thermoelectric properties within the nonlinear transport regime have been analyzed. Initially, Hubbard‐I approximation has been used to study the quantum dot level position (), thermal gradient (), and on‐dot Coulomb interaction (U) dependence of the thermoelectric properties. Furthermore, as a natural extension, a decoupling beyond Hubbard‐I (Lacroix approximation) with infinite‐U limit (strong on‐dot Coulomb repulsion) has been used to provide additional insight into the operation of a more practical quantum dot heat engine. Within this infinite‐U limit, the role of the symmetric dot‐reservoir tunneling (Γ) and external serial load resistance (R) in optimizing the performance of the strongly correlated quantum dot heat engine is examined. The infinite‐U results show a good quantitative agreement with recent experimental data for a quantum dot coupled to two metallic reservoirs.
Invariant Percolation Properties in Random Isotropic Systems of Conductive Discorectangles on a Plane: From Disks to Sticks
Authors: Tarasevich Yuri Yu. , Eserkepov Andrei V.
Published: March 2023

Nanorod‐ and nanowire‐based films are promising 2D materials for the transparent conductive electrodes, including flexible and stretchable ones. To mimic the shape of elongated conductive nanoparticles and, at the same time, simplify the simulations, different simple geometrical figures are used. During simulation, the shape and the aspect ratio of the particles affect the electrical and optical properties of films. However, some features of the conductive films may be insensitive both to the shape of particles and to their aspect ratio. 2D random systems of isotropically placed, overlapping, identical discorectangles (stadia) with aspect ratios ranging from 1 (disks) to ∞ (zero‐width sticks) are studied. The particular case when only the junction resistance between conductive particles is taken into account is considered. The effect of the aspect ratio and the number density of conductive discorectangles on the behavior of the electrical conductivity, the local conductivity exponent, and the current‐carrying backbone is analyzed. The computer simulations demonstrate that some of the properties of random, isotropic 2D systems of conductive discorectangles are insensitive to the aspect ratios of the particles.
Remaining useful life prediction of rolling bearings based on Bayesian neural network and uncertainty quantification
Authors: Jiang Guang‐Jun , Yang Jin‐Sen , Cheng Tian‐Cai , Sun Hong‐Hua
Published: March 2023

This paper constructs a remaining useful life (RUL) prediction model combining a convolutional neural network and a long short‐term memory network (CNNLSTM) to support decision‐making, especially the safety of rotational equipment. It avoids the influence of personnel and realizes the complementary advantages of the network. With the assistance of Bayesian short‐term and long‐term memory neural networks, the remaining life prediction method is able to provide the confidence interval of the remaining life prediction of rolling bearings. The compression between the proposed method and existing state‐of‐the‐art methods validated the good performance of the proposed method. Overall, the proposed method contributes to life prediction and condition‐based maintenance of bearings and complex rotational systems.
Ultra‐low current electrospray ionization of chloroform solution for the analysis of perfluorinated sulfonic acids
Authors: Wang Taoqing , Li Huishan , Allen Nicholas , Ferraro Ian , Li Anyin
Published: March 2023

Rationale

Femtoamp and picoamp electrospray ionization (ESI) characteristics of a nonpolar solvent were explored. The direct ESI mass spectrometry analysis of chloroform extract solution enabled rapid analysis of perfluorinated sulfonic acid analytes in drinking water.

Methods

Neat chloroform solvent and extracts were directly used in a typical wire‐in ESI setup using micrometer emitter tips. Ionization currents were measured with femtoamp sensitivity while ramping the spray voltage from 0 to −5000 V. Methanol was used as a comparison to illustrate the characteristics of electrospraying chloroform. The effects of spray voltage and inlet temperature were studied. A liquid–liquid extraction workflow was developed to analyze perfluorooctanoate sulfonate (PFOS) in drinking water using an ion‐trap mass spectrometer.

Results

The ionization onset of chloroform solution was 41 ± 17 fA at 300 V. The ionization current gradually increased with voltage while remaining below 100 pA when using voltages up to −5000 V. The ion signal of PFOS was significantly enhanced to improve the limit of detection (LoD) to 25 ppt in chloroform. Coupled with a liquid–liquid extraction workflow, LoD of 0.38–5.1 ppt and a quantitation range of 5–400 ppt were achieved for perfluorinated sulfonic compounds in 1‐ml water samples.

Conclusions

Femtoamp and picoamp modes expand the solvent compatibility range of ESI and can enable quantitative analysis in parts per trillion (ppt) concentrations.
External enablers in existing organizations: Emergence, novelty, and persistence of entrepreneurial initiatives
Authors: Cestino Castilla Joaquin , Naldi Lucia , Ots Mart
Published: March 2023

Research Summary

There is growing consensus that exogenous environmental changes can affect entrepreneurship. The external enabler framework, which provides the structures and terminology to analyze these enabling effects, has typically focused on new venture creation. In an attempt to extend the external enabler framework to corporate entrepreneurship and innovation, our longitudinal multiple‐case study explores how environmental changes enable entrepreneurial initiatives in existing organizations. Our findings contribute to the external enabler framework, corporate entrepreneurship, and innovation literature by identifying new conceptual tools to understand the enabling effect of environmental change for the emergence, novelty, and persistence of entrepreneurial initiatives in existing organizations.

Managerial Summary

We studied how the Covid‐19 pandemic enabled the initiation and continuation of entrepreneurial activities. Our study of eight small US‐based news companies shows that some entrepreneurial initiatives emerged as these organizations redirected their course of action toward new initiatives enabled by the changes in the external environment. Notably, the entrepreneurial initiatives that were new‐to‐the‐industry originated from ideas that were already available in some form within the organization but were not in use until the pandemic gave them a second life. Furthermore, the continuation of these initiatives depended on the persistence of the changes in the environment and on the low maintenance requirements of these initiatives in terms of time, effort, and resources.
Sulfur Polymer as Emerging Advanced Materials: Synthesis and Applications
Authors: Cherumukkil Sandeep , Agrawal Santosh , Jasra Raksh Vir
Published: March 2023

Abundant availability of inexpensive sulfur coupled with its reactivity triggered the interest of scientific community to explore the unique chemistry of sulfur for developing advanced materials. The reactivity of sulfur diradicals is used for making copolymers with cross‐linker monomer dienes through inverse vulcanization principle which is later upgraded by conducting reactions in presence of catalysts so as to achieve functionalized sulfur copolymers at lower reaction temperatures and lower time. Multi‐component reactions provide an opportunity for the direct utilization of sulfur at mild conditions. The diverse processing methodologies have further expanded the applicability of sulfur polymeric materials. The dynamicity of the S−S bonds has potential to create avenue for making self‐healing materials and usher the generation of more functionalized segmented block co‐polymers with superior properties. Interfacial condensation polymerization has successfully been implemented for the generation of sulfur nanoparticles in aqueous medium. The recent emergence of sulfur quantum dots through various approaches generated more advanced sulfur based materials in terms of expanding sulfur applications. This review provides an account on advanced materials synthesized using sulfur as raw material and their respective applications.
Kinetic Mechanism for Simulating the Temperature and Pressure Effect on the Explosive Decomposition of Acetylene by ReaxFF Molecular Dynamics
Authors: Zhang Minhua , Zhou Baofeng , Chen Yifei , Gong Hao
Published: March 2023

In the utilization of acetylene as the raw material in chemical engineering, understanding its pyrolysis mechanism is a vital issue in avoiding its explosion. The ReaxFF MD simulation was adopted to investigate the pyrolytic behavior of acetylene at various temperatures and pressures. The simulation results revealed that the pyrolysis mechanism of acetylene could be divided into three temperature ranges: (i) T<1200 K, where homogenous molecular polymerization of acetylene occurs, producing polymerization products primarily C4H4 and C6H6; (ii) 1200<T<1800 K, where the free radical path competes with the molecular path, and free radicals such as C2H3⋅ and C4H3⋅ participate in the polymerization reaction; (iii) T>1800 K, where the acetylene molecule is cracked, and H⋅ and C2H⋅ drive the formation of polyacetylene and hydrogen. Finally, a reaction network for the pyrolysis of acetylene to yield compounds below C10 is generated through the identification, quantification, and evaluation of the reaction trajectory. The kinetic model of acetylene pyrolysis has been dramatically improved and supplemented, which is in satisfactory agreement with experimental values.
Palladium‐Catalyzed Cyclopropanation of Aryl/Heteroaryl Fluoro‐sulfonates
Authors: Guan Chenfei , Qi Huijie , Han Linjun , Liu Miaoyu , Wang Jing , Zhang Guofu , Ding Chengrong
Published: March 2023

The cyclopropane group is widely present as an important motif in pharmaceuticals and natural products. Herein, we report a cyclopropanation strategy by inexpensive and readily available aryl/heteroaryl fluorosulfonates. The strategy displays wide functional group compatibility and furnishes the corresponding cyclopropane products in excellent yields. The power of this new platform is showcased through one‐pot and gram‐scale experiments. This is reinforced by its application in late‐stage functionalization.
Carvacrol reduces abnormal and dead sperm counts by attenuating sodium arsenite‐induced oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and autophagy in the testicular tissues of rats
Authors: Gur Cihan , Akarsu Serkan Ali , Akaras Nurhan , Tuncer Sibel Cigdem , Kandemir Fatih Mehmet
Published: March 2023

Arsenic (As) is a highly toxic metalloid. Carvacrol (CAR) is the active ingredient of Lamiaceae plants and has various biological and pharmacological properties. The present study investigated the protective effects of carvacrol (CAR) against testicular toxicity induced by sodium arsenite (SA). Rats were given SA (10 mg/kg) and/or CAR (25 or 50 mg/kg) for 14 days. Semen analyzes showed that CAR increased sperm motility and decreased the percentage of abnormal and dead sperm. It was determined that the oxidative stress induced by SA decreased with the increase of Nrf‐2 and HO‐1 expressions, SOD, CAT, GPx, and GSH levels, and MDA levels decreased after CAR treatment. It was observed that autophagy and inflammation triggered by SA in testicular tissue were alleviated by suppressing the expressions of LC3A, LC3B, MAPK‐14, NF‐κB, TNF‐α, IL‐1β, iNOS, and COX‐2 biomarkers in rats given CAR. Also, CAR treatment suppressed SA‐induced apoptosis by inhibiting Bax and Caspase‐3 expressions in testicles and up‐regulating Bcl‐2 expression. Histopathological analyzes showed that rats given SA had deterioration in tubule structure and spermatogenesis cell line, especially a serious loss of spermatogonia cells, atrophy of seminiferous tubules, and deterioration of germinal epithelium. In the group given CAR, the germinal epithelium and connective tissue were in normal morphological structure and an increase in seminiferous tubule diameters was observed. As a result, it was determined that oxidative stress, inflammation, autophagy, and apoptosis induced by SA were suppressed by CAR, thus protecting the testicular tissue from damage and increasing semen quality.
Integrated fecal microbiome and metabolome analysis explore the link between polystyrene nanoplastics exposure and male reproductive toxicity in mice
Authors: Fu Xufeng , Liu Ling , Han Hang , Li Yuanyuan , Si Shengbin , Xu Bo , Dai Wenjie , Yang Hong , He Tiantian , Du Xing , Pei Xiuying
Published: March 2023

Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are novel environmental pollutants that are ubiquitous in the environment and everyday life. NPs can easily enter the tissues and have more significant potential health risks due to their smaller diameter. Previous studies have shown that NPs can induce male reproductive toxicity, but the detailed mechanisms remain uncertain. In this study, intragastric administration treated mice with polystyrene NPs (PS‐NPs, 50, and 90 nm) at 3 and 15 mg/mL/day doses for 30 days. Then, the fresh fecal samples were collected from those mice that the exposure doses of 50 nm PS‐NPs at 3 mg/mL/day and 90 nm at 15 mg/mL/day for subsequent investigations of 16S rRNA and metabolomics according to significant toxicological effects (Sperm number, viability, abnormality, and testosterone level). The conjoint analysis findings indicated that PS‐NPs disrupted the homeostasis of the gut microbiota, metabolism, and male reproduction, suggesting that abnormal gut microbiota‐metabolite pathways may be important in PS‐NPs‐induced male reproductive toxicity. Meanwhile, the common differential metabolites such as 4‐deoxy‐Erythronic acid, 8‐iso‐15‐keto‐PGE2, apo‐10′‐violaxanthin, beta‐D‐glucosamine, isokobusone, oleamide, oxoadipic acid, sphingosine induced by 50 and 90 nm PS‐NPs might be used as biomarkers to explore PS‐NPs‐induced male reproductive toxicity. In addition, this study systematically demonstrated that nano‐scale PS‐NPs induced male reproductive toxicity via the crosstalk of gut microbiota and metabolites. It also provided valuable insights into the toxicity of PS‐NPs, which was conducive to reproductive health risk assessment for public health prevention and treatment.
Sema3A alleviates viral myocarditis by modulating SIRT1 to regulate cardiomyocyte mitophagy
Authors: Lin Lin , Wei Jin , Zhu Canzhan , Hao Guanghua , Xue Jiahong , Zhu Yanhe , Wu Ruiyun
Published: March 2023

Viral myocarditis (VMC) is a common myocardial inflammatory disease characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration and cardiomyocyte necrosis. Sema3A was reported to reduce cardiac inflammation and improve cardiac function after myocardial infarction, but its role in VMC remains to be explored. Here, a VMC mouse model was established by infection with CVB3, and Sema3A was overexpressed in vivo by intraventricular injection of an adenovirus‐mediated Sema3A expression vector (Ad‐Sema3A). We found that Sema3A overexpression attenuated CVB3‐induced cardiac dysfunction and tissue inflammation. And Sema3A also reduced macrophage accumulation and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the myocardium of VMC mice. In vitro, LPS was used to stimulate primary splenic macrophages to mimic the macrophage activation state in vivo. Activated macrophages were co‐cultured with primary mouse cardiomyocytes to evaluate macrophage infiltration‐induced cardiomyocyte damage. Ectopic expression of Sema3A in cardiomyocytes effectively protected cardiomyocytes from activated macrophage‐induced inflammation, apoptosis, and ROS accumulation. Mechanistically, cardiomyocyte‐expressed Sema3A mitigated macrophage infiltration‐caused cardiomyocyte dysfunction by promoting cardiomyocyte mitophagy and hindering NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Furthermore, NAM (a SIRT1 inhibitor) reversed the protective effect of Sema3A against activated macrophage‐induced cardiomyocyte dysfunction by suppressing cardiomyocyte mitophagy. In conclusion, Sema3A promoted cardiomyocyte mitophagy and suppressed inflammasome activation by regulating SIRT1, thereby attenuating macrophage infiltration‐induced cardiomyocyte injury in VMC.
Critical review for the quantification of leachate production: Evaluation example for the “Oum Azza” public landfill in Rabat city, Morocco
Authors: Bouyakhsass Roukaya , Bouaouda Soukaina , Taleb Abdeslam , Madinzi Abdelaziz , Baudu Michel , Souabi Salah
Published: March 2023

The estimation of leachate quantities produced in landfills is necessary to dimension the treatment plants allowing to reduce the polluting load of these effluents and consequently avoid their negative impacts on the environment. Different leachate quantification methods were used in this study to assess the leachate volume produced at the Oum Azza landfill. The water balance method give comparable estimations of leachate production to the Ouled Berjal landfill ratio. The first method showed average values between 487 and 495 m3/day for 2015, 2018, and 2019, and at the same time, the second method gave values between 470 and 477 m3/day for the same years. In contrast, the World Bank ratio showed high values that vary between 2260 and 2295 m3/day for 2015, 2018, and 2019. The on‐site data and the statistical analysis showed us that the World Bank ratio is not adapted for the estimation of the leachates produced in Oum Azza landfill, while the water balance and the ratio of Ouled Berjal landfill allowed to give comparable results to reality.
General Concepts in Ecology
Authors: Huntley Brian John
Published: March 2023

This Chapter details the hierarchy of ecological assembly, from organismic, to population, to community, to ecosystem and to landscape levels. The processes of evolution by natural selection, genetic differentiation and speciation are described. Measures of species richness, evenness, diversity, endemism and categories of threat are important to conservation needs assessment and are illustrated with examples from Africa. The use of models of life history patterns (such as r- and K-strategies), and of the concepts of the ecological niche and guild are explained. Interactions between consumers and their food source provides a basis for their classification into herbivores, carnivores, omnivores and decomposers. To these are added interactions between two species with reciprocal effects—predation, parasitism, mutualism and commensalism. At landscape scales, interactions within and between populations and communities of existing and immigrant species, and the rates of immigration and extinction, are explored using the theories of island biogeography and of metapopulations. The impact of invasive species on rural livelihoods is used to demonstrate the fragility of natural communities to anthropogenic disturbance.
Identifying and Assessing Self-Management Behaviours
Authors: Henriques Helga Rafael , Camolas José , Pimenta Nuno , Mendes Anabela
Published: March 2023

This chapter firstly describes target behaviours for chronic diseases, chosen based on their prevalence and potential for self-management: type 2 diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, heart failure, obesity, asthma and ischaemic heart disease. High-level target behaviours (e.g. diet, physical activity, medication adherence, smoking cessation, symptom monitoring and management) are presented for each of these diseases when applicable, accompanied by low-level target behaviours. Next, we address ways of assessing these target behaviours – diet, physical activity, medication adherence and smoking cessation – a necessary first step for understanding these behaviours and identifying needs.