bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Serum β‐carotene concentrations are associated with self‐reported fatty acid intake in United States adults from the National Health and Examination Surveys
Authors: Crusan Ambria C. , Reicks Marla , Demmer Ryan T. , Raatz Susan K.
Published: March 2022

Bioavailability of dietary β‐carotene (BC) is dependent on dose, quantity, dispersion, and presence of fat in the diet. Fats are comprised of a variety of fatty acids, which may impact the bioavailability of carotenoids. However, there is a gap in research on whether specific fatty acid classes affect serum BC concentrations in population samples. The primary objective of this study was to assess the association between reported fat and fatty acid intake and serum BC concentrations utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) 2003–2006. Data from 3278 NHANES participants 20–85 years old were analyzed to estimate the relationships between serum BC concentrations and reported saturated (SFA), monounsaturated (MUFA), and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty acid intakes. Multiple linear regression estimated ln(serum BC) based on reported fatty acid intakes adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and reported dietary BC intakes. Mean and standard error (SE) for serum BC concentrations were 14.31 ± 0.05 μg/dl. Means and SE for total fat, SFA, MUFA, and PUFA were 85.7 ± 1.3, 26.9 ± 0.4, 31.1 ± 0.5, and 17.8 ± 0.4 g, respectively. There was a significant trend for association between serum BC and reported total fat intakes (r = −0.002, p < 0.0001), but the association was not strong. Multiple linear regression showed positive associations between serum BC concentrations and higher reported dietary PUFA consumption. PUFA alpha‐linolenic acid intakes are positively associated with serum BC concentrations, while MUFA palmitoleic acid and SFA stearic acid were inversely associated with serum BC. The inverse association between MUFA and SFA suggests there may be multiple post‐digestion factors affecting serum carotenoid concentrations.
Abrupt changes in the physical and biological structure of endorheic upland lakes due to 8‐m lake‐level variation during the 20th century
Authors: Bjorndahl Judith A. , Gushulak Cale A.C. , Mezzini Stefano , Simpson Gavin L. , Haig Heather A. , Leavitt Peter R. , Finlay Kerri
Published: March 2022

Climate‐induced variation in lake level can affect physicochemical properties of endorheic lakes, but its consequences for phototrophic production and regime shifts are not well understood. Here, we quantified changes in the abundance and community composition of phototrophs in Kenosee and White Bear lakes, two endorheic basins in the parkland Moose Mountain uplands of southeastern Saskatchewan, Canada, which have experienced > 8 m declines in water level since ~ 1900. We hypothesized that lower water levels and warmer temperatures should manifest as increased abundance of phytoplankton, particularly cyanobacteria, and possibly trigger a regime shift to turbid conditions due to evaporative concentration of nutrients and solutes. High‐resolution analysis of sedimentary pigments revealed an increase in total phototrophic abundance (as β‐carotene) concurrent with lake‐level decline beginning ~ 1930, but demonstrated little directional change in cyanobacteria. Instead, significant increases in obligately anaerobic purple sulfur bacteria (as okenone) occurred in both lakes during ~ 1930–1950, coeval with alterations to light environments and declines in lake level. The presence of okenone suggests that climate‐induced increases in solute concentrations may have favored the formation of novel bacterial habitats where photic and anoxic zones overlapped. Generalized additive models showed that establishment of this unique habitat was likely preceded by increased temporal variance of sulfur bacteria, but not phytoplankton or cyanobacteria, suggesting that this abrupt change to physical lake structure was unique to deep‐water environments. Such climate‐induced shifts may become more frequent in the region due to hydrological stress on lake levels due to warming temperatures across the Northern Great Plains.
Evaluating the Effect of Chemical Digestion Treatments on Polystyrene Microplastics: Recommended Updates to Chemical Digestion Protocols
Authors: Gulizia Alexandra M. , Brodie Eve , Daumuller Renee , Bloom Sarah B. , Corbett Tayla , Santana Marina M. F. , Motti Cherie A. , Vamvounis George
Published: March 2022

Establishing the toxicity and exposure consequences of microplastics (MPs) on marine organisms relies on the nondestructive isolation of plastics from biological matrices. MPs are commonly extracted from these matrices by chemical digestion using alkali (e.g., potassium hydroxide (KOH) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH)), oxidative (e.g., hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)) and/or acidic (e.g., nitric acid (HNO3)) reagents. Although these digestion conditions can be highly effective for MP extraction, they can also react with the plastics. This can attribute an inaccurate representation of plastic contamination by altering MP visual characteristics (size, shape, color), thereby impeding identification and potentially returning erroneous numbers of ingested particles. In this study, the degradative impacts are assessed of the routinely applied digestion reagents (i) KOH, (ii) NaOH, (iii) H2O2, and (iv) HNO3 on polystyrene (PS) based MPs sized between 200 µm and 5 mm. Degradation of the PS MPs is evaluated using FT‐IR, gel permeation chromatography, NMR, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and microscopy. These studies reveal HNO3 to be the most destructive for PS MPs, while the alkali and oxidative reagents result in negligible changes in plastic properties. These results are recommended to be used as a guideline to update current protocols to ensure the nondestructive treatment of MPs.
Biocomposites from Thermoplastic Postindustrial Waste Starches Filled with Mineral Fillers for Single‐Use Flexible Packaging
Authors: Scharnowski Jenna B. , Rodriguez‐Uribe Arturo , Pal Akhilesh K. , Wang Tao , Snowdon Michael R. , Misra Manjusri , Mohanty Amar K.
Published: March 2022

Plasticized starch (PS) materials hold a fundamental role in the design of novel biodegradable and compostable plastics aimed to reduce global single‐use plastic wastes. This work exemplifies the plasticization of postindustrial waste wheat starch (pWWS) and postindustrial corn starch (pWCS) with a comparison to food‐grade corn starch (pCS) by introducing technical waste glycerol (25%) along with urea (5%) and water. The PS (30%) is blended with 70% poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) to design a matrix with optimized mechanical properties. As a result, the inclusion of pWCS and pCS shows similar impact strength and melt flow index (MFI) values. Further, the mineral fillers, i.e., talc and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) (25%), are introduced into the PBAT/PS (70%/30%) matrix to explore the effect on MFI, mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties. Scanning electron microscopy analysis reveals good dispersion of PS particles and mineral fillers into the PBAT. Adding talc into the PBAT/pWWS and PBAT/pCS blends shows significantly higher modulus (≈134% and ≈105%, respectively) and heat deflection temperature (HDT) (7.8% and 9.3%, respectively). The addition of 25% CaCO3 results in the impact strength of PBAT/pWWS being improved by ≈20%. Due to talc's lamellar platelet structure and better dispersion, the inclusion of talc into the PBAT/PS blends shows improved rheological properties compared to that of CaCO3.
Scattering properties and dispersion estimates for a one‐dimensional discrete Dirac equation
Authors: Kopylova Elena , Teschl Gerald
Published: March 2022

We derive dispersion estimates for solutions of a one‐dimensional discrete Dirac equations with a potential. In particular, we improve our previous result, weakening the conditions on the potential. To this end we also provide new results concerning scattering for the corresponding perturbed Dirac operators which are of independent interest. Most notably, we show that the reflection and transmission coefficients belong to the Wiener algebra.
Synthesis of Crystalline CF3‐Rich Perfluoropolyethers from Hexafluoropropylene Oxide and (Trifluoromethyl)Trimethylsilane
Authors: Koyama Minoru , Akiyama Midori , Kashiwagi Kimiaki , Nozaki Kyoko , Okazoe Takashi
Published: March 2022

The synthesis of a CF3‐rich perfluoropolyether (PFPE) is achieved via the fluoride‐catalyzed reaction of hexafluoropropylene oxide (HFPO) with (trifluoromethyl)trimethylsilane (TMSCF3, so‐called Ruppert–Prakash reagent). Nucleophilic addition of a CF3 anion to HFPO affords an acyl fluoride via the ring‐opening of HFPO, followed by fluoride elimination. Further addition of CF3 anions to the acyl fluoride gives tertiary perfluoroalkoxide, which attacks HFPO to regenerate an acyl fluoride. Repetition of the sequence via substitution–polymerization affords a new PFPE as a solid, whose structure was confirmed using 19F NMR spectroscopy, GC–MS, and MALDI–TOF MS analysis. Thermal and X‐ray diffraction analyses revealed a crystalline character. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of crystalline PFPE. Based on contact‐angle measurements, the critical surface tension of this solid PFPE (13.4 mN m−1) suggests a water‐ and oil‐repellency of this CF3‐rich PFPE that is higher than that of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE; 18.5 mN m−1).
When Dynamic Diselenide Bonds Meet Dynamic Imine Bonds in Polymeric Materials
Authors: Cao Muqing , Zhao Peng , Liu Cheng , Xia Jiahao , Xu Huaping
Published: March 2022

In both natural and artificial functional systems, the cooperation between different dynamic interactions is of vital importance for realizing complicated functions. Dynamic covalent bonds are one kind of relatively stable dynamic interactions and have shown synergistic effect in natural systems such as functional proteins. However, synergistic interactions between different dynamic covalent bonds in polymeric materials are still unclear. Herein, polymeric materials containing diselenide and imine bonds are prepared, and then the synergistic effect between the two dynamic covalent bonds is quantitatively evaluated in typical processes of dynamic materials. The results reveal that dynamic covalent bonds show weak synergistic effect in the degradation process and have strong synergistic effect in stress relaxation process. Therefore, introducing multiple dynamic covalent bonds in polymeric materials can extensively enhance their dynamic properties.
Rollover restrictions and the maturity mismatch between investment and enterprise financing
Authors: Bai Min
Published: March 2022

The economic effect triggered by changes in the bank rollover standard has always been the focus of public attention. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between the rollover restriction and the mismatch between investment and financing of enterprises in China. Using a difference‐in‐differences approach based on a quasi‐natural experiment of the 2007 reform of bank loan rollover policy that now prohibits firms from borrowing new loans to repay old ones, we employed the data of listed Chinese firms from 2002 to 2013 and determined that the rollover restriction significantly alleviated the degree of maturity mismatch. In addition, corporate short‐term loans decreased significantly after the restriction—mainly in the form of credit debt—while the level of long‐term debt did not significantly change. We further observed that bank credit resources began to favor high‐quality enterprises under the new rules. In addition, we concluded that the improvement in the efficiency of enterprise investment was the main reason for the alleviation of the maturity mismatch. Enterprises' preference for short‐term loans further aggravated the degree of maturity mismatch. Finally, the rollover restriction reduced corporate default risk and stock price crash risk.
Translational Pharmacology of PRAX‐944, a Novel T‐Type Calcium Channel Blocker in Development for the Treatment of Essential Tremor
Authors: Scott Liam , Puryear Corey B. , Belfort Gabriel M. , Raines Shane , Hughes Zoë A. , Matthews Lillian G. , Ravina Bernard , Wittmann Marion
Published: March 2022

Background

Essential tremor is the most common movement disorder with clear unmet need. Mounting evidence indicates tremor is caused by increased neuronal burst firing and oscillations in cerebello‐thalamo‐cortical circuitry and may be dependent on T‐type calcium channel activity. T‐type calcium channels regulate sigma band electroencephalogram (EEG) power during non‐rapid eye movement sleep, representing a potential biomarker of channel activity. PRAX‐944 is a novel T‐type calcium channel blocker in development for essential tremor.

Objectives

Using a rat tremor model and sigma‐band EEG power, we assessed pharmacodynamically‐active doses of PRAX‐944 and their translation into clinically tolerated doses in healthy participants, informing dose selection for future efficacy trials.

Methods

Harmaline‐induced tremor and spontaneous locomotor activity were used to assess PRAX‐944 efficacy and tolerability, respectively, in rats. Sigma‐power was used as a translational biomarker of T‐type calcium channel blockade in rats and, subsequently, in a phase 1 trial assessing pharmacologic activity and tolerability in healthy participants.

Results

In rats, PRAX‐944 dose‐dependently reduced tremor by 50% and 72% at 1 and 3 mg/kg doses, respectively, without locomotor side effects. These doses also reduced sigma‐power by ~30% to 50% in rats. In healthy participants, sigma‐power was similarly reduced by 34% to 50% at 10 to 100 mg, with no further reduction at 120 mg. All doses were well tolerated.

Conclusions

In rats, PRAX‐944 reduced sigma‐power at concentrations that reduced tremor without locomotor side effects. In healthy participants, comparable reductions in sigma‐power indicate that robust T‐type calcium channel blockade was achieved at well‐tolerated doses that may hold promise for reducing tremor in patients with essential tremor. © 2022 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Design and implementation of a cohort‐based undergraduate research experience in the agricultural sciences
Authors: Maaz Tai McClellan , Nguyen Nhu H. , Del Valle Echevarria Angel R. , Kantar Michael B. , Mileyko Yuriy , Muszynski Michael G.
Published: March 2022

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education is consistently seen as a top priority; however, STEM programs often suffer from low retention. Students who start in STEM degree programs often lose interest or face obstacles that cause them to leave. Here, we describe a non‐traditional approach meant to encourage a range of students to pursue or continue their STEM education. Active learning approaches have long been touted to stimulate long‐term interest and prepare students for a career in natural science. We provide a case study of an interdisciplinary, cohort‐centric, mentor‐guided summer research internship. By establishing an understanding of how science is currently conducted in agriculture, through several faculty mentors, the program allowed students to embrace their core interests while being able to fit into larger interdisciplinary narratives which provided motivation to continue their path in STEM education.
Examination of serum metabolome altered by cigarette smoking identifies novel metabolites mediating smoking‐BMI association
Authors: Zhang Ruiyuan , Sun Xiao , Huang Zhijie , Pan Yang , Westbrook Adrianna , Li Shengxu , Bazzano Lydia , Chen Wei , He Jiang , Kelly Tanika , Li Changwei
Published: March 2022

Objective

The authors hypothesize that an untargeted metabolomics study will identify novel mechanisms underlying smoking‐associated weight loss.

Methods

This study performed cross‐sectional analyses among 1,252 participants in the Bogalusa Heart Study and assessed 1,202 plasma metabolites for mediation effects on smoking‐BMI associations. Significant metabolites were tested for associations with smoking genetic risk scores among a subset of participants (n = 654) with available genomic data, followed by direction dependence analysis to investigate causal relationships between the metabolites and smoking and BMI. All analyses controlled for age, sex, race, education, alcohol drinking, and physical activity.

Results

Compared with never smokers, current and former smokers had a 3.31‐kg/m2 and 1.77‐kg/m2 lower BMI after adjusting for all covariables, respectively. A total of 22 xenobiotics and 94 endogenous metabolites were significantly associated with current smoking. Eight xenobiotics were also associated with former smoking. Forty metabolites mediated the smoking‐BMI associations, and five showed causal relationships with both smoking and BMI. These metabolites, including 1‐oleoyl‐GPE (18:1), 1‐linoleoyl‐GPE (18:2), 1‐stearoyl‐2‐arachidonoyl‐GPE (18:0/20:4), α‐ketobutyrate, and 1‐palmitoyl‐GPE (16:0), mediated 26.0% of the association between current smoking and BMI.

Conclusions

This study cataloged plasma metabolites altered by cigarette smoking and identified five metabolites that partially mediated the association between current smoking and BMI.
France and Oceanian Sovereignties
Authors: Le Meur Pierre‐Yves , Mawyer Alexander
Published: March 2022

The character of sovereignty in its constitution, expression, and experience across Pacific Islands has come into renewed focus over recent years. Decades after the onset of the post‐war period of decolonization and independence, non‐self governing French territories in Oceania are seeing communities chart and navigate new relationships with sovereignty conceptions and practices across local, regional, and global scales. These navigations often evidence striking articulations of authority, rights, governance, and law rooted in enduring cultural values of Pacific Islander communities. Drawing nuanced attention to divergent historical and contemporary articulations of sovereignties in French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, and Vanuatu, the seven articles gathered here collectively highlight the comparabilities, diversities, and trajectories in how sovereignties are being negotiated and contested by different communities within France entangled Oceania. This collection brings into visibility the complicated field of actors maintaining, transforming, or seeking to summon, establish or disestablish forms of sovereignty on the ground in everyday Oceanian worlds.
System Awareness Innovations Improve Wastewater Operations
Authors: Campbell Christa
Published: March 2022

A sustainability plan to replenish the Potomac aquifer and combat sea level rise also offers groundbreaking operational intelligence capabilities at Virginia's Hampton Roads Sanitation District.
Motion corrected fetal body magnetic resonance imaging provides reliable 3D lung volumes in normal and abnormal fetuses
Authors: Davidson Joseph , Uus Alena , Egloff Alexia , van Poppel Milou , Matthew Jacqueline , Steinweg Johannes , Deprez Maria , Aertsen Michael , Deprest Jan , Rutherford Mary
Published: March 2022

Objectives

To calculate 3D‐segmented total lung volume (TLV) in fetuses with thoracic anomalies using deformable slice‐to‐volume registration (DSVR) with comparison to 2D‐manual segmentation. To establish a normogram of TLV calculated by DSVR in healthy control fetuses.

Methods

A pilot study at a single regional fetal medicine referral centre included 16 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) datasets of fetuses (22–32 weeks gestational age). Diagnosis was CDH (n = 6), CPAM (n = 2), and healthy controls (n = 8). Deformable slice‐to‐volume registration was used for reconstruction of 3D isotropic (0.85 mm) volumes of the fetal body followed by semi‐automated lung segmentation. 3D TLV were compared to traditional 2D‐based volumetry. Abnormal cases referenced to a normogram produced from 100 normal fetuses whose TLV was calculated by DSVR only.

Results

Deformable slice‐to‐volume registration‐derived TLV values have high correlation with the 2D‐based measurements but with a consistently lower volume; bias −1.44 cm3 [95% limits: −2.6 to −0.3] with improved resolution to exclude hilar structures even in cases of motion corruption or very low lung volumes.

Conclusions

Deformable slice‐to‐volume registration for fetal lung MRI aids analysis of motion corrupted scans and does not suffer from the interpolation error inherent to 2D‐segmentation. It increases information content of acquired data in terms of visualising organs in 3D space and quantification of volumes, which may improve counselling and surgical planning.
Physiologically‐based pharmacokinetic modeling of dextromethorphan to investigate interindividual variability within CYP2D6 activity score groups
Authors: Rüdesheim Simeon , Selzer Dominik , Fuhr Uwe , Schwab Matthias , Lehr Thorsten
Published: March 2022

This study provides a whole‐body physiologically‐based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model of dextromethorphan and its metabolites dextrorphan and dextrorphan O‐glucuronide for predicting the effects of cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) drug‐gene interactions (DGIs) on dextromethorphan pharmacokinetics (PK). Moreover, the effect of interindividual variability (IIV) within CYP2D6 activity score groups on the PK of dextromethorphan and its metabolites was investigated. A parent‐metabolite‐metabolite PBPK model of dextromethorphan, dextrorphan, and dextrorphan O‐glucuronide was developed in PK‐Sim and MoBi. Drug‐dependent parameters were obtained from the literature or optimized. Plasma concentration‐time profiles of all three analytes were gathered from published studies and used for model development and model evaluation. The model was evaluated comparing simulated plasma concentration‐time profiles, area under the concentration‐time curve from the time of the first measurement to the time of the last measurement (AUClast) and maximum concentration (Cmax) values to observed study data. The final PBPK model accurately describes 28 population plasma concentration‐time profiles and plasma concentration‐time profiles of 72 individuals from four cocktail studies. Moreover, the model predicts CYP2D6 DGI scenarios with six of seven DGI AUClast and seven of seven DGI Cmax ratios within the acceptance criteria. The high IIV in plasma concentrations was analyzed by characterizing the distribution of individually optimized CYP2D6 kcat values stratified by activity score group. Population simulations with sampling from the resulting distributions with calculated log‐normal dispersion and mean parameters could explain a large extent of the observed IIV. The model is publicly available alongside comprehensive documentation of model building and model evaluation.
Effect of Mixing Ratio and Heating Rate on Sintering Properties of SiO2/Glass Composite
Authors: Choi Yong Geun , Choi Jeoung Sik , Kim Dong Chul , Shin Hyo Soon , Yeo Dong Hun , Heo Young Woo
Published: March 2022

It is necessary to develop a low‐loss dielectric material based on the low‐temperature co‐fired ceramic (LTCC) process, which is essential for expanding 5G service. LTCC is designed by mixing SiO2 and glass to secure low dielectric constant. The density, porosity, and average diameter of pores of the sintered specimen are analyzed and evaluated to confirm the change in sintering behavior according to the mixing composition ratio of SiO2 and glass and the heating rate. When the ratio of the mixed filler is 35 vol%, the density is the highest at 2.30 g cm−3, the porosity is the lowest at 4.59%, and the diameter of the pores is also the smallest at about 5.80 μm. Therefore, it is selected as the optimal mixing ratio. When the heating rate is used as a variable, the density is high in 1, 3, and 5 °C min−1, and the porosity and pore diameter are small. However, it is confirmed that as the heating rate increases, the density gradually decreases, while the porosity as well as pore diameter increases. As a result of analyzing the sample under the optimal conditions, the dielectric constant 3.64 and loss 0.01 are shown in 30 GHz.
Icaritin ameliorates extracellular microparticles‐induced inflammatory pre‐metastatic niche via modulating the cGAS‐STING signaling
Authors: Tu Shumei , Mao Dengxuan , Shi Mengxin , Zhang Huangqin , Liu Congyan , Li Xiaoqi , Zhao Yang , Chen Yan , Liu Yuping
Published: March 2022

The concept of the inflammatory pre‐metastatic niche (PMN) provides a new and promising direction for the prevention and treatment of metastasis. The excessive activation of the GAS‐STING signaling leads to augmented metastasis by promoting the formation of the inflammatory PMN. In this study, tumor‐derived microparticles (MP) were used to establish the PMN model both in vitro and in vivo, and pro‐inflammatory mediators were also employed to evaluate the effects of Icaritin (ICT). It was demonstrated that ICT could inhibit the pulmonary metastasis of B16BL6 melanoma cells in mice via interfering with PMN. The phosphorylation and dimerization of STING and its downstream signaling TBK1‐IFNβ were proved to be diminished in the presence of ICT. Furthermore, we revealed that ICT suppressed the generation of pro‐inflammatory PMN through conferring the inactivation of the STING signaling pathway. CETSA and DARTS assay also confirmed that STING tended to be a target for the action of ICT. Collectively, our findings highlight a new binding mechanism between STING and ICT for the inhibition of transduction of the STING signaling pathway, suggesting that pharmacological or therapeutic intervention of the STING‐TBK1‐IFNβ singling axis may serve as an effective strategy to prevent the progression of inflammatory PMN and lung metastasis.
Theoretical study on the interaction of flutamide anticancer drug with cucurbit[n]uril (n = 5–8) as a drug delivery system
Authors: Pandya Jalaja B. , Shinde Satyam M. , Jha Prafulla K.
Published: March 2022

The supramolecular complexation of flutamide, an anti‐androgen drug with cucurbit[n]uril was studies using density functional theory (DFT). The structural and electronic analysis of the complexes was performed. The negative binding energy of the complexes show that complexation process is exothermic. The thermodynamic results reveal that the process of inclusion complex formation is spontaneous. To gain insightful knowledge about the nature of interactions present between the host‐guest molecules of the complexes, molecular electrostatic potential, non‐covalent interaction–reduced density gradient, and natural bond orbital analysis was done. These results suggest that electrostatic interactions and intermolecular hydrogen bond formation contribute to the stability of these complexes. The coupled‐cluster theory with single, double and perturbatively connected triple excitations calculations for the complexes support the DFT results. The quantitative decomposition of the interaction energies of the complexes was acquired by the local energy decomposition analysis. The atom‐centered density matrix propagation molecular dynamic analysis confirms the stability of the examined complexes.
Immunoglobulin G4‐positive interstitial pneumonia associated with pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis
Authors: Sugino Keishi , Ono Hirotaka , Saito Mikako , Igarashi Seiji , Kurosaki Atsuko , Tsuboi Eiyasu
Published: March 2022

A 79‐year‐old former smoking Japanese man was admitted to our hospital with a 2‐year history of dry cough and dyspnoea on exertion. High‐resolution computed tomography of the chest revealed reticulation and perilobular opacity with bronchial wall thickening and ground‐glass opacities (GGOs) in both lungs, in addition to subpleural dense consolidation (pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis‐like lesion; PPFE‐like lesion) predominantly in the bilateral upper lobes. Serum immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) was elevated (348 mg/dl). Lung biopsy specimens obtained by video‐assisted surgery revealed a mixture of usual interstitial pneumonia (IP) and non‐specific IP pattern admixed with PPFE. In addition, immunohistochemical staining of IgG4 showed numerous IgG4‐positive plasma cells. Consequently, he was diagnosed with IgG4‐positive IP associated with PPFE. We initiated a combination therapy with prednisolone and cyclosporine as a calcineurin inhibitor. During prednisolone tapering, his clinical conditions and GGOs improved gradually over 12 months. However, reticular opacities and PPFE‐like lesions remained unchanged, and pulmonary function test findings slightly deteriorated.
Prediction of shear crack width for steel fiber reinforced concrete beams
Authors: Negi Bichitra Singh , Jain Kranti
Published: March 2022

The shear crack width, crack behavior, and crack development of 24 reinforced concrete beams have been experimentally investigated. All the beams reinforced with longitudinal reinforcement and hooked‐end steel fibers in place of transverse reinforcement. Hooked‐end steel fibers 35 and 60 mm long are used at volume fractions ranging from 0.75% to 1.5% in the first case, and from 0.5% to 1% in the latter case. For extending the scope of the investigation, two types of concrete matrices (normal‐strength of 25 MPa and medium‐strength of 45 MPa) have been investigated. A simple mechanics‐based mathematical model is developed by determining the strains in the transverse direction of shear cracks and the average horizontal spacing between the shear cracks. The accuracy of the model has been confirmed with the experimental results and conservative predictions have been observed with mean, SD, and coefficient of variation as 0.99, 0.19, and 18.96, respectively. Based on detailed mathematical and experimental investigation, the minimum approximately observed shear crack width has value of 0.4 mm for all SFRC beams therefore the allowable shear crack width of 0.4 mm, for steel fiber reinforced concrete has been recommended.
R&D support, technological turbulence, and SMEs' degree of internationalization: The mediating role of technological capability
Authors: Adomako Samuel , Amankwah‐Amoah Joseph , Danquah Joseph Kwadwo
Published: March 2022

This article examines the role of R&D support in the degree of internationalization through the mediating mechanism of technological capability. We also investigate the moderating role of technological turbulence in the relationship between R&D support and technological capability. Using primary data collected from 227 firms engaged in cross‐border activities, and employing moderated mediation analysis, the results show that R&D support positively relates to technological capability, and this relationship is moderated by technological turbulence. Moreover, the impact of R&D support on firms' degree of internationalization is mediated by technological capability. The findings from the study provide implications for IB theory and practice.
Comparison of three anaerobic digestion reactors for low‐carbon wastewater treatment
Authors: Wei Denghui , Zhang Xiaojing , Chen Zhao , He Yu , Dai Jiaqian , Zhang Shengnan
Published: March 2022

In this study, three anaerobic digestion reactors using up‐flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB), anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (AnSBR), and anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) were studied. The chemical oxygen demand (COD), gas production, sludge performance, and microbial characteristics of the anaerobic digestion process were assessed. The results showed that the average COD removal efficiencies reached 86%, 83%, and 85%, with corresponding removed rates of 2.49, 0.48, and 0.79 kg COD m−3 d−1 in UASB, AnSBR, and AnMBR, respectively. After the reactors attained stable operation, both extracellular polymeric substances and soluble microbial products decreased in all the reactors compared with the seed sludge. Methanothrix was the dominant archaea for methane production in the UASB, the relative abundance of which increased from 58.3% to 83.4%. These results identify UASB as the most suitable reactor for anaerobic digestion when treating wastewater with low carbon. Such reactors are important for the application and development of the energy self‐sufficiency in sewage treatment.

Practitioner Points

UASB, SBR, and MBR were adopted to treat low‐carbon wastewater using anaerobic digestion process.

UASB performed the highest COD removal from low‐carbon wastewater.

The main microorganisms in UASB were Methanothrix, Methanomassiliicoccus, and Methanobacterium.
Gauging lepton flavor SU(3) for the muon g − 2
Authors: Alonso-Álvarez Gonzalo , Cline James M.
Published: March 2022

Abstract

Gauging a specific difference of lepton numbers such as Lμ− Lτ is a popular model-building option, which gives rise to economical explanations for the muon anomalous magnetic moment. However, this choice of gauge group seems rather arbitrary, and additional physics is required to reproduce the observed neutrino masses and mixings. We address these shortcomings by embedding Lμ− Lτ in the vectorial SU(3) gauge symmetry of lepton flavor. The vacuum expectation values (VEVs) of scalar fields in the fundamental, six-dimensional and adjoint representations allow for phenomenologically viable lepton and gauge boson masses. The octet scalar gives rise to charged lepton masses, and together with the triplet scalar generates masses for all the leptophilic gauge bosons except for the Lμ− Lτ one. The latter gets its smaller mass from the sextet VEVs, which also generate the neutrino masses, and are determined up to an overall scaling by the observed masses and mixings. The model predicts three heavy neutral leptons at the GeV-TeV scale as well as vectorlike charged lepton partners; it requires the mass of the lightest active neutrino to exceed 10−4 eV, and it naturally provides a resolution of the Cabibbo angle anomaly.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Patients
Authors: Siger Malgorzata
Published: March 2022

The recently developed effective treatment of primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) requires the accurate diagnosis of patients with this type of disease. Currently, the diagnosis of PPMS is based on the 2017 McDonald criteria, although the contribution of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to this process is fundamental. PPMS, one of the clinical types of MS, represents 10%–15% of all MS patients. Compared to relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS), PPMS differs in terms of pathology, clinical presentation and MRI features. Regarding conventional MRI, focal lesions on T2-weighted images and acute inflammatory lesions with contrast enhancement are less common in PPMS than in RRMS. On the other hand, MRI features of chronic inflammation, such as slowly evolving/expanding lesions (SELs) and leptomeningeal enhancement (LME), and brain and spinal cord atrophy are more common MRI characteristics in PPMS than RRMS. Nonconventional MRI also shows differences in subtle white and grey matter damage between PPMS and other clinical types of disease. In this review, we present separate diagnostic criteria, conventional and nonconventional MRI specificity for PPMS, which may support and simplify the diagnosis of this type of MS in daily clinical practice.
Safety and effectiveness of ferric citrate hydrate in serum phosphorus management of patients with chronic kidney disease: a long-term, real-world, observational, post-marketing surveillance study
Authors: Yokoyama Keitaro , Hashimoto Teruo , Okuda Yuri , Matsumoto Yu , Ito Kyoko , Yamada Ryoichi , Susai Hiroyuki , Nishino Noriaki
Published: March 2022

Background

Ferric citrate hydrate (FC) is an oral iron-based phosphate binder that is used to treat hyperphosphatemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This post-marketing surveillance study was performed to investigate the long-term safety and effectiveness of FC.

Methods

This prospective, multicenter, observational post-marketing surveillance study was performed in a real-world setting in Japan. The study involved CKD patients with hyperphosphatemia receiving FC who were undergoing either hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis or were non-dialysis-dependent. Adverse drug reactions, iron- and erythrocyte-related parameters (i.e., levels of serum ferritin, transferrin saturation, and hemoglobin), and serum levels of phosphorus, corrected calcium, and intact parathyroid hormone were monitored for up to 104 weeks.

Results

Safety was evaluated in 2723 patients. Of these patients, 20.5% discontinued FC because of adverse events, and 3.9% discontinued FC because of unsatisfactory effectiveness. Iron-related parameters gradually increased after the initiation of FC treatment but stabilized after week 36. Effectiveness was analyzed in 2367 patients. Serum phosphorus immediately decreased, and the effect persisted for 104 weeks.

Conclusion

In this 104 week surveillance study, no new safety concerns were noted. The safety profile was not obviously different from those in pre-approval clinical trials and the 52 week interim report of this surveillance study. The serum ferritin level of most patients was below the upper limit of the target range, and iron overload risk was not evident. Long-term FC treatment effectively controlled serum phosphorus.
The $N$-Link Swimmer in Three Dimensions: Controllability and Optimality Results
Authors: Marchello Roberto , Morandotti Marco , Shum Henry , Zoppello Marta
Published: March 2022

The controllability of a fully three-dimensional $N$
N
-link swimmer is studied. After deriving the equations of motion in a low Reynolds number fluid by means of Resistive Force Theory, the controllability of the minimal 2-link swimmer is tackled using techniques from Geometric Control Theory. The shape of the 2-link swimmer is described by two angle parameters. It is shown that the associated vector fields that govern the dynamics generate, via taking their Lie brackets, all eight linearly independent directions in the combined configuration and shape space, leading to controllability; the swimmer can move from any starting configuration and shape to any target configuration and shape by operating on the two shape variables. The result is subsequently extended to the $N$
N
-link swimmer. Finally, the minimal time optimal control problem and the minimization of the power expended are addressed and a qualitative description of the optimal strategies is provided.
Associations Between Maternal Stressful Life Events and Perceived Distress during Pregnancy and Child Mental Health at Age 4
Authors: Rudd Kristen L. , Cheng Sylvia S. , Cordeiro Alana , Coccia Michael , Karr Catherine J. , LeWinn Kaja Z. , Mason W. Alex , Trasande Leonardo , Nguyen Ruby H. N. , Sathyanarayana Sheela , Swan Shanna H. , Barrett Emily S. , Bush Nicole R.
Published: March 2022

Accumulating evidence suggests that maternal exposure to objectively stressful events and subjective distress during pregnancy may have intergenerational impacts on children’s mental health, yet evidence is limited. In a multisite longitudinal cohort (N = 454), we used multi-variable linear regression models to evaluate the predictive value of exposure to stressful events and perceived distress in pregnancy for children’s internalizing problems, externalizing problems, and adaptive skills at age 4. We also explored two- and three-way interactions between stressful events, distress, and child sex. Both objective and subjective maternal stress independently predicted children’s behavior, with more stressful events and higher distress predicting more internalizing and externalizing problems and worse adaptability; stress types did not significantly interact. There was some evidence that more stressful events predicted higher externalizing behaviors only for girls. Three-way interactions were not significant. The current findings highlight the importance of considering the type of stress measurement being used (e.g., counts of objective event exposure or subjective perceptions), suggest prenatal stress effects may be transdiagnostic, and meet calls for rigor and reproducibility by confirming these independent main effects in a relatively large group of families across multiple U.S. regions. Results point to adversity prevention having a two-generation impact and that pre- and postnatal family-focused intervention targets may help curb the rising rates of children’s mental health problems.
On refined Chern–Simons and refined ABJ matrix models
Authors: Cassia Luca , Zabzine Maxim
Published: March 2022

We consider the matrix model ofU(N) refined Chern–Simons theory on$$S^3$$S3for the unknot. We derive aq-difference operator whose insertion in the matrix integral reproduces an infinite set of Ward identities which we interpret asq-Virasoro constraints. The constraints are rewritten as difference equations for the generating function of Wilson loop expectation values which we solve as a recursion for the correlators of the model. The solution is repackaged in the form ofsuperintegrabilityformulas for Macdonald polynomials. Additionally, we derive an equivalentq-difference operator for a similar refinement of ABJ theory and show that the correspondingq-Virasoro constraints are equal to those of refined Chern–Simons for a gauge super-groupU(N|M). Our equations and solutions are manifestly symmetric under Langlands duality$$q\leftrightarrow t^{-1}$$q↔t-1which correctly reproduces 3d Seiberg duality whenqis a specific root of unity.
Appraisal of kinetin spraying strategy to alleviate the harmful effects of UVC stress on tomato plants
Authors: Dawood Mona F. A. , Abu-Elsaoud Abdelghafar M. , Sofy Mahmoud R. , Mohamed Heba I. , Soliman Mona H.
Published: March 2022

Increasing ultraviolet (UV) radiation is causing oxidative stress that accounts for growth and yield losses in the present era of climate change. Plant hormones are useful tools for minimizing UV-induced oxidative stress in plants, but their putative roles in protecting tomato development under UVC remain unknown. Therefore, we investigated the underlying mechanism of pre-and post-kinetin (Kn) treatments on tomato plants under UVC stress. The best dose of Kn was screened in the preliminary experiments, and this dose was tested in further experiments. UVC significantly decreases growth traits, photosynthetic pigments, protein content, and primary metabolites (proteins, carbohydrates, amino acids) but increases oxidative stress biomarkers (lipid peroxidation, lipoxygenase activity, superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical, and hydrogen peroxide) and proline content. Treatment of pre-and post-kinetin spraying to tomato plants decreases UVC-induced oxidative stress by restoring the primary and secondary metabolites’ (phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and anthocyanins) status and upregulating the antioxidant defense systems (non-enzymatic antioxidants as ascorbate, reduced glutathione, α-tocopherol as well as enzymatic antioxidants as superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase). Thus, the application of Kn in optimum doses and through different modes can be used to alleviate UVC-induced negative impacts in tomato plants.

Graphical abstract
Zirkulierendes Wissen. Didaktische Lernmaterialien als Objekte trans-epistemischer Kooperation
Authors: Cress Torsten , Kalthoff Herbert
Published: March 2022

Seit einigen Jahren beobachtet die sozialwissenschaftliche Schul- und Unterrichtsforschung die Rolle schulischen Lehr- und Lernmaterials. Fokussiert wird dabei vor allem die soziale Verwendung der meist bereits fertig vorliegenden Materialien im Vollzugsgeschehen des Unterrichts. Dieser Beitrag tritt einen Schritt zurück und beobachtet stattdessen die Herstellung und Verwendung solcher Objektevorihrer Produktreife. Anhand eines Fallbeispiels einer Kooperation zwischen zwei Schulen und einem bildungswirtschaftlichen Technologieunternehmen wird die Entwicklung und Erprobung einer Lernsoftware sowie dazugehöriger VR-Technologie untersucht. Es wird analysiert, wie Lehrkräfte und Firmenmitarbeiter/innen in die jeweils anderen Praxiskontexte eingebunden werden und dabei ihr technisches resp. didaktisches Wissen wechselseitig füreinander verfügbar machen. In der kooperativen Arbeit an digitalen didaktischen Objekten werden Grenzziehungen zwischen Schule und Unternehmen temporär transzendiert. Die Objekte, die auf dieser Basis anwendungsorientiert entwickelt werden, erweisen sich als Resultat einer trans-epistemischen kooperativen Regulation von didaktischen „Visionen“ und technischer „Machbarkeit“. Indem die verschiedenen Dimensionen der kooperativen gewerblichen Fertigung digitaler didaktischer Objekte sowie deren prototypisches Versuchsstadium in den Blick genommen werden, analysiert der Beitrag den Prozess der Digitalisierung von Unterricht als ein innovatives soziales Geschehen, das durch ökonomische, technische und didaktische Rationalitäten strukturiert wird.
Incremental Versus Immediate Induction of Hypertension in the Treatment of Delayed Cerebral Ischemia After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Veldeman Michael , Weiss Miriam , Albanna Walid , Nikoubashman Omid , Schulze-Steinen Henna , Clusmann Hans , Hoellig Anke , Schubert Gerrit Alexander
Published: March 2022

Background

Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is a common complication of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and contributes to unfavorable outcome. In patients with deterioration despite prophylactic nimodipine treatment, induced hypertension (iHTN) can be considered, although the safety and efficacy of induction are still a matter of debate. In this study, two iHTN treatment algorithms were compared with different approaches toward setting pressure targets.

Methods

In a cohort of 325 consecutive patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage, 139 patients were treated by induced hypertension as a first tier treatment. On diagnosing DCI, blood pressure was raised via norepinephrine infusion in 20-mm Hg increments in 37 patients (iHTNincr), whereas 102 patients were treated by immediate elevation to systolic pressure above 180 mm Hg (iHTNimm). Treatment choice was based on personal preference of the treating physician but with a gradual shift away from incremental elevation. Both groups were evaluated for DCI-caused infarction, the need of additional endovascular rescue treatment, the occurrence of pressor-treatment-related complications, and clinical outcome assessed by the extended Glasgow outcome scale after 12 months.

Results

The rate of refractory DCI requiring additional rescue therapy was comparable in both groups (48.9% in iHTNincr, 40.0% in iHTNimm; p = 0.332). The type of induced hypertension was not independently associated with the occurrence of DCI-related infarction in a logistic regression model (odds ratio 1.004; 95% confidence interval 0.329–3.443; p = 0.942). Similar rates of pressor-treatment-related complications were observed in both treatment groups. Favorable outcome was reached in 44 (43.1%) patients in the immediate vs. 10 (27.0%) patients in the incremental treatment group (p = 0.076). However, only Hunt and Hess grading was identified as an independent predictor variable of clinical outcome (odds ratio 0.422; 95% confidence interval 0.216–0.824; p = 0.012).

Conclusions

Immediate induction of hypertension with higher pressure targets did not result in a lower rate of DCI-related infarctions but was not associated with a higher complication rate compared with an incremental approach. Future tailored blood pressure management based on patient- and time-point-specific needs will hopefully better balance the neurological advantages versus the systemic complications of induced hypertension.