bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
"FROM EDOM HE WENT UP . .": SOME REMARKS ON THE TEXT AND INTERPRETATION OF MICAH II 12-13
Authors: Wagenaar Jan
Published: July 2002

The grammar, syntax and meaning of Micah ii 12-13 are puzzling. The origin of the puzzle may be found in a faulty division of vv. 12-13, in which the initial word of v. 13 has been erroneously taken with v. 12. Verse 13 may originally have been a note from an editor, who confirmed the return of exiles from 'Edom': 'From Edom (më"edōm) the "breaker" went up'. The note may have been inspired by the misinterpretation of the word b rh in the preceding Oracle of Salvation ('I will put them together like a flock in the fold [bassnräh]'), as a reference to the Edomite capital 'Bozrah': 'I will put them together like the flocks of Bozrah (bōsräh)'. Once më'edōm was taken with the Oracle of Salvation, it was read as më'ädäm and interpreted as a reference to the fold: 'they will buzz with men (më'ädäm)'. The misinterpretation 'Bozrah' in v. 12, however, has survived in the text until this day.
DEEP-SEA MYSIDS FROM THE NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN WITH DESCRIPTION OF FOUR NEW SPECIES
Authors: Murano Masaaki , Mauchline John
Published: July 2002

Seven species of Erythropini from the northeast Atlantic and one from the northwest Atlantic are dealt with. Four are described as new species, and three are new to science but remain unnamed because of mutilated condition. A known species Katerythrops oceanae, is described for the first time for the male pleopods and a revision of the diagnosis of the genus is presented. Five are pelagic species while three were obtained from the stomach contents of demersal fishes. Huit especes d'Erythropini de l'Atlantique sont traitees, dont sept du nord-est et une du nordouest de cet ocean. Quatre sont decrites comme nouvelles et trois sont nouvelle pour la science, mais non nommees en raison de leur condition mutilee. Les pleopodes males d'un espece connue, Katerythrops oceanae, sont decrits pour la premiere fois et la diagnose du genre est revisee. Cinq especes sont pelagiques et trois proviennent de contenus stomacaux de poissons demersaux.
"SEEING THROUGH" SELF-DECEPTION IN NARRATIVE REPORTS: FINDING PSYCHOLOGICAL TRUTH IN PROBLEMATIC DATA
Authors: Churchill Scott
Published: July 2002

The problem of narrative validity is discussed in reference to psychologists' criticisms of verbal report data and in dialogue with Jean-Paul Sartre's understanding of self-knowledge in general and of self-deception in particular. Sartre's notion of "purifying reflection" is invoked as a way of seeing through the distortions and deceptions inherent in narrative accounts of lived experience. Excerpts from empirically-based phenomenological investigations of desire and sexual compliance will be used as illustrations of both the content and process of phenomenologically-based narrative research.
A SONG OF MOURNING FOR THE DISSOLVING JEWISH COMMUNITY OF SAMARKAND
Authors: Cooper Alanna
Published: July 2002

Before 1991, approximately 60,000 Central Asian Jews lived in Uzbekistan. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, their centurieslong history in the region underwent dramatic changes. The lifting of emigration restrictions coupled with fear of economic chaos, political instability, growth of national movements and a rise in antisemitism, provoked massive Jewish emigration. Today, only about 4,000 Central Asian Jews remain in Uzbekistan. The others have emigrated primarily to the United States, Israel and Austria. The following piece is about the Central Asian Jews who still live in Samarkand, Uzbekistan's second largest city. Today, about one thousand—only ten percent of the city's former community—remain there. Those who have stayed have all watched while relatives and friends have packed their belongings, sold their homes and left the country. They have witnessed the community structure crumble and they have seen the city's old Jewish quarter been sold off, house by house, to outsiders. Today, they are each faced with the question: What is home and where is it now? The work is fiction, informed by an anthropological perspective. The narrative was woven from ethnographic data that I collected during field work among the Central Asian Jews in Samarkand.
Chemistry of dark zinnwaldite from bom futuro tin mine, Rondônia, Brazil
Authors: Lowell G. R. , Ahl M.
Published: July 2002

Physical and chemical properties of lustrous black mica from greisen veins at the Bom Futuro tin mine indicate that it is a relatively Fe-F-rich, Li-poor zinnwaldite with a composition near the midpoint of the polylithionite-siderophyllite join. On the basis of 22 oxygens, the mica contains 1.28–1.73 atoms of Li with an average octahedral occupancy of 5.61 and a filled interlayer site. Compositional variation reflects the net effects of alteration, coupled tetrahedral-octahedral substitutions, and petrogenetic factors related to vein fluid chemistry. Geological constraints and compositional data suggest the Bom Futuro zinnwaldite crystallized at T ≈ 500°, P ≈ 1–500 bar, and fO2 ≈ 10−23. High Mn-Zn concentrations in the Bom Futuro mica appear to be a feature of Fe-Li micas from evolved anorogenic granitic systems not shared by orogenic counterparts.
A view of reactions at mineral surfaces from the aqueous phase
Authors: Casey W. H.
Published: July 2002

The processes by which a metal–oxygen bond dissociates in aqueous complexes are discussed and the reactions related to more complicated pathways of mineral dissolution. The dissolution of oxide minerals, and in fact many other classes of surface reactions, can be viewed as a ligand-exchange reaction because the bridging oxygens that link the metal to the mineral are progressively replaced by non-bridging functional groups. These ligand-exchange reactions are accelerated by protonations, hydroxylations and ligand substitutions that modify the lability of surface oxygens, but always at specific sites. Molecular information is important because reactions at some sites retard rates while reaction at other sites enhance them. Virtually all of the important variables that affect these reaction rates are local.
Activation of EGFP expression by Cre-mediated excision in a new ROSA26 reporter mouse strain
Authors: Mao Xiaohong , Fujiwara Yuko , Chapdelaine Aimée , Yang Haidi , Orkin Stuart H.
Published: July 2002

Reporter mouse strains are important tools for monitoring Cre recombinase-mediated excision in vivo. In practice, excision may be incomplete in a given population due to threshold level or variegated expression of Cre. Hence, it is desirable in many experimental contexts to isolate cells that have undergone excision to assess the consequences of gene ablation. To generate alternative reporter mice, an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene was targeted to the retroviral-trapped ROSA26 locus. Upon Cre-mediated excision of “Stop” sequences, EGFP was expressed ubiquitously during embryogenesis and in adult tissues (including T cells, B cells, and myeloid cells). Using this new reporter strain, separation of excised from nonexcised cells in vitro was achieved in thymocytes in a noninvasive manner based on activated EGFP expression. This new EGFP reporter strain should facilitate a variety of conditional gene-targeting experiments, including the functional studies of hematopoietic cells in lineage-specific knockout mice.
Inhibitory effect of the transcription factor encoded by the mutant mi microphthalmia allele on transactivation of mouse mast cell protease 7 gene
Authors: Ogihara Hideki , Morii Eiichi , Kim Dae-Ki , Oboki Keisuke , Kitamura Yukihiko
Published: July 2002

The transcription factor encoded by the mi locus (MITF) is a transcription factor of the basic-helix-loop-helix zipper protein family. Mice of mi/mi genotype express a normal amount of abnormal MITF, whereas mice oftg/tg genotype do not express any MITFs due to the transgene insertional mutation. The effect of normal (+) and mutant (mi) MITFs on the expression of mouse mast cell protease (MMCP) 6 and 7 was examined. Both MMCP-6 and MMCP-7 are tryptases, and their coding regions with high homology are closely located on chromosome 17. Both MMCP-6 and MMCP-7 genes are expressed in normal cultured mast cells (+/+ CMCs). Although the transcription of MMCP-6 gene was severely suppressed in bothmi/mi and tg/tg CMCs, that of MMCP-7 gene was severely suppressed only in mi/mi CMCs. The study identified the most significant segment for the transcription in the 5′ flanking region of MMCP-7 gene. Unexpectedly, no CANNTG motifs were found that are recognized and bound by +-MITF in this segment. Instead, there was an AP-1 binding motif, and binding of c-Jun to the AP-1 motif significantly enhanced the transcription of MMCP-7 gene. The complex formation of c-Jun with either +-MITF ormi-MITF was demonstrated. The binding of +-MITF to c-Jun enhanced the transactivation of MMCP-7 gene, and that ofmi-MITF suppressed the transactivation. Although the former complex was located only in the nucleus, the latter complex was predominantly found in the cytoplasm. The negative effect ofmi-MITF on the transcription of MMCP-7 gene appeared to be executed through the interaction with c-Jun.
Role of double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase in mediating hypersensitivity of Fanconi anemia complementation group C cells to interferon γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, and double-stranded RNA
Authors: Pang Qishen , Keeble Winifred , Diaz Jane , Christianson Tracy A. , Fagerlie Sara , Rathbun Keaney , Faulkner Gregory R. , O'Dwyer Michael , Bagby Grover C.
Published: July 2002

Hematopoietic cells bearing inactivating mutations of Fanconi anemia group C (FANCC) are excessively apoptotic and demonstrate hypersensitivity not only to cross-linking agents but also to interferon γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-α. Seeking essential signaling pathways for this phenotype, this study quantified constitutive and induced RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) activation in Fanconi anemia cells of the C complementation group (FA-C). PKR was constitutively phosphorylated and exhibited an increased binding affinity for double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) in FANCC−/− cells. FANCC−/− cells were hypersensitive to both dsRNA and the combination of dsRNA and IFN-γ in that these agents induced a higher fraction of apoptosis in FANCC−/− cells than in normal cells. Overexpression of wild-type PKR-sensitized FANCC−/− cells to apoptosis induced by IFN-γ and dsRNA. Conversely, inhibition of PKR function by enforced expression of a dominant-negative inhibitory mutant of PKR (PKRΔ6) substantially reduced the IFN and dsRNA hypersensitivity of FANCC−/− cells. Two PKR target molecules, IκB-α and IRF-1, were not differentially activated in FANCC−/−cells, but enforced expression of a nonphosphorylatable form of eukaryotic translation initiation factor-2α reversed the PKR-mediated block of messenger RNA translation and partially abrogated the PKR-mediated apoptosis in FANCC−/− cells. Because no evidence was found of a PKR/FANCC complex in normal cells, it was concluded that an essential function of FANCC is to suppress, indirectly, the activity of PKR and that FANCC inactivation results in IFN hypersensitivity, at least in part, because this function of FANCC is abrogated.
Serum free light-chain measurements for identifying and monitoring patients with nonsecretory multiple myeloma
Authors: Drayson Mark , Tang Lian X. , Drew Roger , Mead Graham P. , Carr-Smith Hugh , Bradwell Arthur R.
Published: July 2002

Using sensitive, automated immunoassays, increased concentrations of either κ or λ free light chains (and abnormal κ/λ ratios) were detected in the sera of 19 of 28 patients with nonsecretory multiple myeloma. Four other patients had suppression of one or both light chains, and the remaining 5 sera had normal or raised free light-chain concentrations with substantially normal κ/λ ratios. Six of the patients with an elevated single free light chain, who were studied during follow-up, had changes in disease activity that were reflected by the changes in free light-chain concentrations. It is concluded that quantification of free light chains in serum should prove useful for the diagnosis and monitoring of many patients with nonsecretory myeloma.
Lack of correlation between numbers of circulating t(14;18)-positive cells and response to first-line treatment in follicular lymphoma
Authors: Mandigers Caroline M. P. W. , Meijerink Jules P. P. , Mensink Ewald J. B. M. , Tönnissen Evelyn L. R. T. M. , Hebeda Konnie M. , Bogman M. José J. T. , Raemaekers John M. M.
Published: July 2002

In follicular lymphoma, the t(14;18) status of the peripheral blood and bone marrow analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is assumed to correlate with disease activity in patients with relapsed disease. The clinical significance of quantitating circulating lymphoma cells by real-time PCR is reported in patients on first-line treatment. Thirty-four consecutive patients with previously untreated follicular lymphoma and detectable t(14;18)-positive cells in pretreatment peripheral blood samples were monitored. All patients were treated with standard chemotherapy in combination with interferon alfa-2b. Before and after induction therapy, blood samples were taken for quantitative analysis of t(14;18). At presentation, a median of 262 t(14;18)-positive cells per 75 000 normal cells was found (range, 1-75 000). Patients with lower numbers of circulating tumor cells more frequently had bulky disease (P = .02). Seventy-nine percent of the patients responded clinically to treatment. In 22 of 28 patients, including 4 patients in whom treatment had failed clinically, the number of circulating t(14;18)-positive cells decreased to undetectable or low levels after therapy. In the remaining responding patients, circulating tumor cells persisted after therapy. These quantitative data on circulating t(14;18)-positive cells call into question the usefulness of molecular monitoring of the blood in a group of patients with follicular lymphoma uniformly treated with a noncurative first-line regimen. T(14;18)-positive cells decreased in peripheral blood after treatment, irrespective of the clinical response. Therefore, the significance of so-called molecular remission should be reconsidered in follicular lymphoma.
Systemic therapy of myeloma xenografts by an attenuated measles virus
Authors: Peng Kah-Whye , Ahmann Gregory J. , Pham Linh , Greipp Philip R. , Cattaneo Roberto , Russell Stephen J.
Published: July 2002

Conditionally replicating viruses are promising agents for the treatment of malignancy. Here it is shown that the live attenuated Edmonston-B vaccine strain of measles virus (MV-Edm) replicates selectively in human myeloma cells and has potent antitumor activity. In vitro, replication of MV-Edm was restricted in phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) but proceeded efficiently in a panel of 6 myeloma cell lines—ARH-77, RPMI 8226, JJN-3, MM1, KAS-6/1, and KMS-11—and in primary myeloma cells isolated by CD138 sorting from the bone marrow aspirates of 6 patients. MV-Edm infection induced potent cytopathic effects in these myeloma cells, resulting in the formation of multinucleated syncytia that eventually became nonviable. In contrast, syncytial formation in PHA-stimulated PBLs was minimal after MV-Edm infection. In vivo, MV-Edm was antitumorigenic and inhibited the establishment of myeloma cells as xenografts in immunocompromised mice. When injected directly into ARH-77 myeloma xenografts in the mice, MV-Edm caused complete regression of these xenografts. MV-Edm administered intravenously into the tail veins of mice also showed significant antineoplastic activity against established RPMI 8226 and ARH-77 xenografts. In particular, the ARH-77 myeloma xenografts were exquisitely sensitive to MV-Edm therapy, and tumors in all mice regressed completely. In light of its selectivity for myeloma cells and its potent antineoplastic activity against myeloma xenografts in vivo, MV-Edm merits further development for the treatment of multiple myeloma.
Expression of the recombination-activating genes in extrafollicular lymphocytes but no apparent reinduction in germinal center reactions in human tonsils
Authors: Meru Nadine , Jung Andreas , Baumann Irith , Niedobitek Gerald
Published: July 2002

V(D)J recombination in lymphocytes is mediated by 2 recombination-activating genes, RAG1 and RAG2,which are expressed during lymphocyte development in bone marrow and thymus. Prompted by studies reporting re-expression of the RAGs in germinal center B cells, the expression of RAGs and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) in human lymphoid tissues was examined using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Here it is shown that RAGs and TdT are not reinduced in germinal center reactions. However, RAG+/TdT+ cells are frequently present in extrafollicular areas of tonsils mainly at the boundary between lymphoid tissue and fibrous scaffold. Phenotypic analyses suggest that these cells are B cells. Finally, it is shown that RAG+/TdT+ cells are found more frequently in tonsils than in other peripheral lymphoid tissues. This may reflect an increased influx of RAG+/TdT+ cells as a result of higher antigenic stimulation at this site. Alternatively, this observation may indicate that the tonsils are an additional site of lymphocyte ontogeny.
Clinical Relevance of MGMT in the Treatment of Cancer
Authors: Gerson Stanton L.
Published: July 2002

ABSTRACT: A number of DNA-damaging chemotherapeutic agents attack the O6 position on guanine, forming the most potent cytotoxic DNA adducts known. The DNA repair enzyme O6-alkylguanine DNA alkyltransferase (AGT), encoded by the gene MGMT, repairs alkylation at this site and is responsible for protecting both tumor and normal cells from these agents. Cells and tissues vary greatly in AGT expression, not only between tissues but also between individuals. AGT activity correlates inversely with sensitivity to agents that form O6-alkylguanine DNA adducts, such as carmustine (BCNU), temozolomide, streptozotocin, and dacarbazine. The one exception is those tumors lacking mismatch repair, which renders them resistant to methylating agents. A recent study in patients with gliomas confirmed the correlation between low-level expression of the MGMT gene and response and survival after BCNU. An inhibitor to AGT, O6-benzylguanine (BG), depletes AGT in human tumors without associated toxicity and is now in phase II clinical trials. Finally, mutations within the active site region of the MGMT gene render the AGT protein resistant to BG inactivation. As a result, mutant MGMT gene transfer into hematopoietic stem cells has been shown to selectively protect the marrow from the combination of an alkylating agent and BG, while at the same time sensitizing tumor cells. MGMT remains a paradigm for development of new agents that modulate known mechanisms of drug resistance in cancer cells and raise the spectra of combinatorial therapies that encompass known drug resistance mechanisms.
Influenza Infection During Pregnancy and Risk of Seizures in Offspring
Authors: Lee Yi-Feng , Lin Yi-Hsuan , Lin Ching-Heng , Lin Ming-Chih
Published: September 2024

Importance

Seizure is a common neurological problem among infants and children up to age 6 years. Prenatal exposure to maternal influenza infection has been reported to be associated with childhood seizures.

Objective

To evaluate the association between maternal influenza infection and risk of childhood seizures.

Designs, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study identified mother-offspring pairs from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2013, using records in Taiwan’s Maternal and Child Health Database. Mothers who had influenza infection during pregnancy and their first offspring were identified and assigned to the influenza group. Mothers in the control group were those without influenza during pregnancy and were matched 1:4 with mothers in the influenza group by maternal age, offspring sex, and date of delivery. Offspring were followed up until December 31, 2020. Data were analyzed between March 2023 and July 2024.

Exposure

Diagnosis of influenza infection during pregnancy defined using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes 487.0, 487.1, and 487.8, or International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification codes J09, J10, and J11.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was the association between maternal influenza infection during pregnancy and risk of any type of seizures during childhood, including both epilepsy and febrile seizures. Adjusted hazard ratios (AHRs) and 95% CIs were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression models. Pregnancy-related complications were collected as covariates.

Results

A total of 1 316 107 mother-offspring pairs were enrolled, of whom 75 835 mothers (predominant maternal age, 25-29 years; 39 324 male offspring [51.9%]) were assigned to the influenza group and 1 240 272 were matched and assigned to the control group (n = 303 340; predominant maternal age, 30-34 years; 157 296 male offspring [51.9%]). In the influenza group, there was a slightly higher prevalence of placenta previa or abruption compared with the control group (1.6% [1241] vs 1.4% [4350]; P < .001). The cumulative risk of seizures was higher among offspring whose mothers had influenza infection. After controlling for potential confounders, the AHRs were 1.09 (95% CI, 1.05-1.14) for seizures, 1.11 (95% CI, 1.06-1.17) for febrile convulsions, and 1.04 (95% CI, 0.97-1.13) for epilepsy. In the subgroup analysis, no statistically significant differences were observed between the trimesters regarding the timing of influenza infection.

Conclusions and Relevance

Results of this cohort study suggest that maternal influenza infection during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of childhood seizures, especially febrile seizures, but not epilepsy. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying childhood neurological development.
Efficient and robust sequential decision making algorithms
Authors: Xu Pan
Published: September 2024

Sequential decision‐making involves making informed decisions based on continuous interactions with a complex environment. This process is ubiquitous in various applications, including recommendation systems and clinical treatment design. My research has concentrated on addressing two pivotal challenges in sequential decision‐making: (1) How can we design algorithms that efficiently learn the optimal decision strategy with minimal interactions and limited sample data? (2) How can we ensure robustness in decision‐making algorithms when faced with distributional shifts due to environmental changes and the sim‐to‐real gap? This paper summarizes and expands upon the talk I presented at the AAAI 2024 New Faculty Highlights program, detailing how my research aims to tackle these challenges.
Association of multiple trace metals in scalp hair with glioma risk: the mediating role of inflammation
Authors: Yan Lingjun , You Honghai , Wang Huiying , Ding Chenyu , He Baochang , Wang Jing , Fang Wenhua , Lin Yuanxiang , Kang Dezhi , Chen Fa
Published: September 2024

Objective

To explore the relationship between 35 trace metals in scalp hair and the glioma risk as well as the potential mediating roles of 27 plasma inflammatory cytokines.

Methods

A case–control study involving 228 participants was performed in southeastern China. Trace metals in scalp hair were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and multiplex cytokines were detected based on Luminex® technology. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression in combination with four machine learning methods were used to select trace metals associated with gliomas. The joint exposure effect of trace metals was estimated using the generalized weighted quantile sum (gWQS) regression and quantile‐based g‐computation (qgcomp) algorithms.

Results

Both LASSO regression and random forest algorithms identified five trace metals (gadolinium [Gd], lithium [Li], thulium [Tm], thorium [Th], and molybdenum [Mo]) associated with gliomas. After adjustments for potential confounders, Gd (odds ratio [OR] = 2.84, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.89–4.43) and Li (OR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.04–3.02) concentrations were positively associated with glioma risk, while Tm (OR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.17–0.73) and Th (OR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.28–0.71) exhibited inverse associations. Both gWQS and qgcomp algorithms showed Gd contributed most to the mixture effect. Moreover, there was a significant interaction between Gd and Tm or Th on glioma risk (p < 0.05). Notably, granulocyte–macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) mediated the association between Gd exposure and glioma risk by 25.75%.

Interpretation

These findings suggest potential associations of certain trace metals, especially for Gd, with glioma risk, and may provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying from an inflammatory response perspective.
Entropy‐Driven Crystallization of Polymeric Colloids Swollen by Photocurable Resin for Ultranarrow Stopband
Authors: Jo Hyeonbin , Kim Shin‐Hyun
Published: September 2024

Colloidal crystals hold promise as structural colorants, but developing photonic platforms with narrow bandwidth, high reflectance, flexibility, and scalable production is challenging. To address this, all‐polymer photonic crystals are crafted by harnessing the spontaneous crystallization of polymeric colloids dispersed in photocurable resin. These colloid dispersions undergo a fluid‐to‐crystal transition within a narrow volume fraction range, akin to hard spheres. As the crosslinked polymeric colloids swell in the resin, their effective volume fraction increases, reducing the refractive index contrast. This reduced contrast diminishes van der Waals attraction, causing the colloids to behave like hard spheres. The colloids crystallize when their effective volume fraction exceeds 0.494 and fully crystallize at 0.545. Elevated temperatures induce phase transitions at lower volume fractions due to increased swelling. The reduced index contrast leads to ultra‐narrow bandwidth spectra while maintaining high reflectance due to high crystallinity and uniform orientation. Photopolymerization of the dispersions results in flexible all‐polymer photonic films with further reduced bandwidth. This narrow bandwidth enables the creation of multiple peaks within a short wavelength range through film stacking, beneficial for programmable optical codes. Additionally, entropy‐driven crystallization applies to various monomers that swell the crosslinked polymeric particles, opening new opportunities for diverse applications.
Microfluidic Manufacture of Composite Fibers for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Dores Rodrigo , Oliveira Mónica S.N. , Bimbo Luis M.
Published: September 2024

Fibrous materials are essential structural elements widely distributed throughout natural systems. In order to replicate and harness the unique properties of natural fibers, microfluidic technologies have been employed and refined to allow for a precise control over the mechanical properties, diameter, alignment, and morphology of spun fibers. To further their versatility and adaptability, and to better mimic their natural counterparts, microfluidics technologies have also allowed for the integration of multiple materials and functional components at the microscale giving rise to composite fibers. These fibers, composed of a combination of different materials, offer a wide range of properties and functionalities that surpass those of their individual components and can be tailored to specific applications. This review discusses various microfluidic fabrication methods, highlighting their advantages and limitations. The review also compares natural and synthetic polymers employed in microfluidic fiber manufacture and examines the influence of process parameters on the properties of composite fibers, such as mechanical strength, porosity, and biocompatibility and discusses the incorporation of nanoparticles, biomolecules, and microstructures within the fibers to tailor their functionality for specific biomedical applications. Finally, the paper provides an outline of current trends as well as future directions for the field.
Head Horn Enhances Hydrodynamic Perception in Eyeless Cavefish
Authors: Ma Zhiqiang , Gong Zheng , Jiang Yonggang , Wu Peng , You Changxin , Dong Zihao , Cao Hongchao , Yang Zhen , Zhao Yahui , Chen Huawei , Zhang Deyuan
Published: September 2024

Fish can use hydrodynamic stimuli, decoded by lateral line systems, to explore the surroundings. Eyeless species of the genus Sinocyclocheilus have evolved conspicuous horns on their heads, whereas the specific function of which is still unknown. Meanwhile, the eyeless cavefish exhibits more sophisticated lateral line systems and enhanced behavioral capabilities (for instance rheotaxis), compared with their eyed counterparts. Here, the influence of head horn on the hydrodynamic perception capability is investigated through computational fluid dynamics, particle image velocimetry, and a bioinspired cavefish model integrated with an artificial lateral line system. The results show strong evidence that the head horn structure can enhance the hydrodynamic perception, from aspects of multiple hydrodynamic sensory indicators. It is uncovered as that the head horn renders eyeless cavefish with stronger hydrodynamic stimuli, induced by double‐stagnation points near the head, which are perceived by the strengthened lateral line systems. Furthermore, the eyeless cavefish model has ≈17% higher obstacle recognition accuracy and lower cost (time and sensor number) than eyed cavefish model is conceptually demonstrated, by incorporating with machine learning. This study provides novel insights into form‐function relationships in eyeless cavefish, in addition paves the way for optimizing sensor arrangement in fish robots and underwater vehicles.
Host Engineering of Deep‐Blue‐Fluorescent Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes with High Operational Stability and Narrowband Emission
Authors: Cai Wanqing , Li Wansi , Song Xiaoge , Zheng Xiujie , Guo Hao , Lin Chengwei , Yang Dezhi , Ma Dongge , Ng Maggie , Tang Man‐Chung
Published: September 2024

The realization of highly operationally stable blue organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) is a challenge in both academia and industry. This paper describes the development of anthracene–dibenzofuran host materials, 2‐(10‐(naphthalen‐1‐yl)anthracen‐9‐yl)naphtho[2,3‐b]benzofuran (Host 1) and 2‐(10‐([1,1′‐biphenyl]‐2‐yl)anthracen‐9‐yl)naphtho[2,3‐b]benzofuran (Host 2), namely for use in the emissive layer of an OLED stack. A multiple‐resonance thermally activated delayed serves as the blue fluorescence emitter and exhibits an initial luminance of 1000 cd m−2 and long operational stability (i.e., time to decay to 90% of initial luminance) of 249 h. Furthermore, a deep‐blue OLED with an optimized top‐emitting architecture with a high current efficiency of 154.3 cd A−1, is fabricated and calibrated to a Commission International de l’Éclairage y chromaticity coordinate of 0.048. Moreover, the emission spectrum of this OLED has a narrowband peak at 476 nm with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 16 nm. This work provides valuable insights into the design of anthracene‐based host materials and highlights the importance of host optimization in improving the operational stability of OLEDs.
RGB‐based indices for estimating cover crop biomass, nitrogen content, and carbon:nitrogen ratio
Authors: Rosen Lucas , Ewing Patrick M. , Runck Bryan C.
Published: September 2024

Plant cover and biochemical composition are essential parameters for evaluating cover crop management. Destructive sampling or estimates with aerial imagery require substantial labor, time, expertise, or instrumentation cost. Using low‐cost consumer and mobile phone cameras to estimate plant canopy coverage and biochemical composition could broaden the use of high‐throughput technologies in research and crop management. Here, we estimated canopy development, tissue nitrogen, and biomass of medium red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), a perennial forage legume and common cover crop, using red‐green‐blue (RGB) indices collected with standard settings in non‐standardized field conditions. Pixels were classified as plant or background using combinations of four RGB indices with both unsupervised machine learning and preset thresholds. The excess green minus red (ExGR) index with a preset threshold of zero was the best index and threshold combination. It correctly identified pixels as plant or background 86.25% of the time. This combination also provided accurate estimates of crop growth and quality: Canopy coverage correlated with red clover biomass (R2 = 0.554, root mean square error [RMSE] = 219.29 kg ha−1), and ExGR index values of vegetation pixels were highly correlated with clover nitrogen content (R2 = 0.573, RMSE = 3.5 g kg−1) and carbon:nitrogen ratio (R2 = 0.574, RMSE = 1.29 g g−1). Data collection were simple to implement and stable across imaging conditions. Pending testing across different sensors, sites, and crop species, this method contributes to a growing and open set of decision support tools for agricultural research and management.
Emission Library and Applications of 2,1,3‐Benzothiadiazole and Its Derivative‐Based Luminescent Metal–Organic Frameworks
Authors: Han Chao‐Qin , Liu Xiao‐Yuan
Published: September 2024

Organic linker‐based luminescent metal–organic frameworks (LMOFs) have received extensive attention due to their promising applications in chemical sensing, energy transfer, solid‐state‐lighting and heterogeneous catalysis. Benefiting from the virtually unlimited emissive organic linkers and the intrinsic advantages of MOFs, significant progress has been made in constructing LMOFs with specific emission behaviors and outstanding performances. Among these reported organic linkers, 2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole and its derivatives, as unique building units with tunable electron‐withdrawing abilities, can be used to synthesize numerous emissive linkers with a donor‐bridge‐acceptor‐bridge‐donor type structure. These linkers were utilized to coordinate with different metal nodes, forming LMOFs with diverse underlying nets and optical properties. In this Minireview, 2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole and its derivative‐based organic linkers and their corresponding LMOFs are summarized with which an emission library is built between the linker structures and the emission behaviors of constructed LMOFs. In particular, the preparation of LMOFs with customized emission properties ranging from deep‐blue to near‐infrared and sizes from dozens to hundreds of nanometers is discussed in detail. The applications of these LMOFs, including chemical sensing, energy harvesting and transfer, and catalysis, are then highlighted. Key perspectives and challenges for the future development of LMOFs are also addressed.
Red‐Emitting Pyrazole Azo Hydrazone and Its Metal Complexes for Photophysical Probing, Latent Fingerprints, Anti‐counterfeiting, and Biological Studies
Authors: Krishnamurthy Chethan , Keshavayya Jathi
Published: September 2024

The present paper discusses the synthesis of unprecedented red‐emitting mono‐azo compound pyrazole azo fluorescent tag (PAFT) by a diazotization method, followed by an electrophilic substitution reaction. Further, the metal complex of PAFT is also prepared by refluxing the ethanolic solution of the ligand with the corresponding metal (RuCl3 and C4H6CuO4.H2O) salts under suitable experimental conditions. The synthesized fluorophore PAFT displays intense fluorescence in the aggregate state and has excellent qualities, including high purity, low cost, eco‐friendliness, and good photostability. These unique characteristics of PAFT led to the development of new fluorescence‐based technology for the in situ viewing of latent fingerprints. Various spectroscopic and analytical techniques are used to confirm the structural characteristics of the synthesized compounds, including UV–Vis, FT‐IR, (1H) NMR, HRMS, TGA, VSM, ESR, and powder XRD methods. The potency of the antibacterial activity of the compounds was evaluated. The results revealed that compound PAFT and [Ru(PAFT)Cl3] H2O showed excellent sensitivity at 0.8 μL/mL against the Gram‐positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus.
Tartrate‐Anchored Tetranuclear Titanium‐Oxo Clusters Functionalized by Chromophore Ligands Exhibiting Photoelectric Response and Photodegradation Performances of Methylene Blue
Authors: Wang Yali , Yao Boxin , Xie Bin , He Yi , Lai Chuan , Liu Mengnan , Feng Jianshen , Mou Wenyu , Zheng Zhixi
Published: September 2024

In recent years, researchers have devoted considerable effort to the study of high crystalline titanium‐oxo clusters (TOCs), because TOCs are considered to be the molecular analogs of TiO2 nanoparticles and have the potential to be utilized as effective cleaning and catalytic materials. Two new tartrate‐anchored tetranuclear TOCs functionalized with chromophore ligand of p‐nitrobenzoate (NB)/p‐toluenesulfonate (TS), namely, [Ti4(TA)(NB)2(OiPr)10] (1, H4TA = tartaric acid) and [Ti4(TA)(TS)2(OiPr)10] (2), were synthesized and their structures were characterized by various methods. The molecular structure analyses indicated that 1 and 2 are all tetranuclear {Ti4} TOCs, in which tartrate appears as a hexadentate μ4‐bridging ligand while p‐nitrobenzoate/p‐toluenesulfonate acts as a bidentate μ2‐bridging ligand. TOCs 1 and 2 are of good thermal and solvent stability. Furthermore, their photocurrent responses and photocatalytic degradation activities towards methylene blue (MB) were also investigated. In the presence of H2O2, the photocatalytic degradation efficiencies of MB by 1 and 2 are about 84.43% and 71.00%, respectively, at room temperature under visible light irradiation for 60 min. These findings shed light on designing efficient polycarboxylate‐based TOCs photocatalysts.
Development of molecularly imprinted nanoparticles for the detection of cardiovascular diseases biomarker Angiotensin II in human serum
Authors: Arısoy Pırıl , Baydemir Peşint Gözde
Published: September 2024

Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a peptide hormone that causes vasoconstriction and an increase in blood pressure. Due to its relationship with cardiovascular diseases, it is an important biomarker in blood serum. In this study, Ang II imprinted nanoparticles were synthesized by miniemulsion polymerization reaction for the determination of Ang II from human serum. Hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) based Ang II imprinted (Ang II‐MIPnp) and non‐imprinted nanoparticles (NIPnp) were synthesized, characterized by zeta size analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR‐ATR). The average particle size of the NPs was recorded as 50 nm. Ang II molecules were successfully removed from the Ang II‐MIPnp with a 98% success rate using 0.5 M NaCl solution to obtain template‐specific cavities. Then, the adsorption studies were achieved. The binding capacity was found as 4500 pg. g−1 at 700 pg. mL−1 Ang II concentration. The selectivity studies showed that Ang II‐MIPnp can recognize Ang II molecules 2.76 times and 3.23 times selectivity than Ang I and Vsp respectively. Reusability studies shows that the synthesized nanomaterial is reusable.
Coating of mussel‐inspired PDA modified SiC whiskers for enhancing the mechanical properties of SLS‐formed TPU parts
Authors: Xie Fenghui , Wu Wei , Hu Huanbo , Ye Junjian , Cui Lu , Wang Zhengyi , Zhang Wenxue
Published: September 2024

In order to enhance the mechanical properties of lattice structure parts made of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU) prepared by selective laser sintering (SLS) technology, this study employed the oxidative self‐polymerization of dopamine (DA) to prepare polydopamine‐modified silicon carbide whiskers (PDA‐SiC) fillers with a core‐shell structure. These fillers were uniformly dispersed in a waterborne polyurethane (WPU) to form a coating solution, which was then used to prepare TPU printed parts with a uniform PDA‐SiC/WPU coating structure through post‐treatment impregnating‐curing processes. The coated TPU parts exhibited tensile strength, elongation at break, and room temperature compressive strength of 8.37 MPa, 610.2%, and 1.062 MPa, respectively, representing improvements of 40.9%, 33.2%, and 353.3% compared to pure TPU parts. This approach effectively enhanced the mechanical performance of SLS‐formed TPU parts, strengthening their application in the field of flexible lattice structure parts.
Balancing thermal conductivity, dielectric, and tribological properties in polyamide 1010 with 2D nanomaterials
Authors: Pinto Gabriel M. , Staffa Lucas , Helal Emna , Hahn Carolina , Vieira Lúcia , Ribeiro Hélio , David Eric , Demarquette Nicole R. , Fechine Guilhermino J. M.
Published: September 2024

Low electrical conductivity and high heat dissipation are crucial for electronic packaging materials. Additionally, friction is critical for the lifespan and energy efficiency of components. To address these requirements, polymer nanocomposites based on bio‐based polyamide 1010 and ultra‐low contents of 2D nanomaterials were produced by melt‐blending. Graphene oxide, hexagonal boron nitride, and molybdenum disulfide were selected for their two‐dimensional structure and electrical insulation, providing high thermal conductivity while preserving the polymer's dielectric nature. Hybrid nanocomposites were also produced to explore potential synergistic effects. Results showed all compositions maintained the polymer's intrinsic dielectric properties. Although the friction coefficient increased slightly compared with neat polyamide, all nanocomposites remained within the low‐friction range required for low‐friction materials. Thermal conductivity improved by 5%–10% compared with unfilled polyamide, with hybrid systems performing slightly better, indicating a minor synergistic effect. Despite these enhancements being modest compared with the literature, achieving high thermal conductivity usually requires over 20 wt% of nanofiller, which is detrimental to mechanical performance. In this study, at most 0.5 wt% was used, with composites being obtained directly through melt‐blending. This highlights their potential as low‐content additives for thermal interface materials without compromising other essential properties.
Sleep disturbance and other co‐occurring conditions in autistic children: A network approach to understanding their inter‐relationships
Authors: Richdale Amanda L. , Shui Amy M. , Lampinen Linnea A. , Katz Terry
Published: September 2024

Autistic children frequently have one or more co‐occurring psychological, behavioral, or medical conditions. We examined relationships between child behaviors, sleep, adaptive behavior, autistic traits, mental health conditions, and health in autistic children using network analysis. Network analysis is hypothesis generating and can inform our understanding of relationships between multiple conditions and behaviors, directing the development of transdiagnostic treatments for co‐occurring conditions. Participants were two child cohorts from the Autism Treatment Network registry: ages 2–5 years (n = 2372) and 6–17 years (n = 1553). Least absolute‐shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regularized partial correlation network analysis was performed in the 2–5 years cohort (35 items) and the 6–17 years cohort (36 items). The Spinglass algorithm determined communities within each network. Two‐step expected influence (EI2) determined the importance of network variables. The most influential network items were sleep difficulties (2 items) and aggressive behaviors for young children and aggressive behaviors, social problems, and anxious/depressed behavior for older children. Five communities were found for younger children and seven for older children. Of the top three most important bridge variables, night‐waking/parasomnias and anxious/depressed behavior were in both age‐groups, and somatic complaints and sleep initiation/duration were in younger and older cohorts respectively. Despite cohort differences, sleep disturbances were prominent in all networks, indicating they are a transdiagnostic feature across many clinical conditions, and thus a target for intervention and monitoring. Aggressive behavior was influential in the partial correlation networks, indicating a potential red flag for clinical monitoring. Other items of strong network importance may also be intervention targets or screening flags.
Multivariate Scalar on Multidimensional Distribution Regression With Application to Modeling the Association Between Physical Activity and Cognitive Functions
Authors: Ghosal Rahul , Matabuena Marcos
Published: September 2024

We develop a new method for multivariate scalar on multidimensional distribution regression. Traditional approaches typically analyze isolated univariate scalar outcomes or consider unidimensional distributional representations as predictors. However, these approaches are suboptimal because (i) they fail to utilize the dependence between the distributional predictors and (ii) neglect the correlation structure of the response. To overcome these limitations, we propose a multivariate distributional analysis framework that harnesses the power of multivariate density functions and multitask learning. We develop a computationally efficient semiparametric estimation method for modeling the effect of the latent joint density on the multivariate response of interest. Additionally, we introduce a new conformal prediction algorithm for quantifying the uncertainty of our multivariate predictions based on subject characteristics and individualized distributional predictors, providing valuable insights into the conditional distribution of the response. We validate the effectiveness of our proposed method through comprehensive numerical simulations, clearly demonstrating its superior performance compared to traditional methods. The application of the proposed method is demonstrated on triaxial accelerometer data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2014 for modeling the association between cognitive scores across various domains and distributional representation of physical activity among the older adult population. Our results highlight the advantages of the proposed approach, emphasizing the significance of incorporating multidimensional distributional information in the triaxial accelerometer data.
Mediating effects of rumination on insomnia in cancer survivors: Influences of cancer‐related fatigue, fear of recurrence, and psychological distress
Authors: Amani Omid , Mazaheri Mohammad Ali , Malekzadeh Moghani Mona , Zarani Fariba , Hamidi Choolabi Rasool
Published: September 2024

Background

While advancements in cancer treatments have improved survival rates, they also lead to adverse effects such as insomnia, which significantly impacts survivors' sleep quality.

Objective

This study explores the influence of cancer‐related fatigue (CRF), Fear of Cancer Recurrence (FCR), and psychological distress, with rumination serving as a mediating factor, on the insomnia experienced by cancer survivors.

Methods

The study involved 220 cancer survivors attending Shohada‐e‐Tajrish Hospital's oncology center in Tehran, Iran. Participants were selected through convenience sampling and completed several questionnaires: the Insomnia Severity Index, Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory, Cancer Fatigue Scale, Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, and Rumination Response Scale.

Results

The results showed that the tested model had a good fit, and the correlation matrix demonstrated significant positive correlations between CRF (0.46), FCR (0.15), psychological distress (0.55), and rumination (0.42) with insomnia in cancer survivors (p < 0.05). Notably, CRF (B = 0.356, p < 0.001) and psychological distress (B = 0.339, p < 0.001) affect insomnia both directly and indirectly through mediation by rumination, while the impact of FCR on insomnia was indirectly significant (B = 0.73, p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The findings suggest that interventions focused on managing rumination could be potential targets to alleviate insomnia and improve the sleep quality of cancer survivors.