bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measuring the Impact of MyLupusGuide in Canada: Results of a Randomized Controlled Study
Authors: Fortin Paul R. , Neville Carolyn , Julien Anne‐Sophie , Rahme Elham , Haroun Vinita , Nimigon‐Young Jodie , Morrison Anna‐Lisa , Eng Davy , Peschken Christine A. , Vinet Evelyne , Hudson Marie , Smith Doug , Matsos Mark , Pope Janet E. , Clarke Ann E. , Keeling Stephanie , Avina‐Zubieta J. Antonio , Rochon Murray , Da Costa Deborah
Published: February 2022

Objective

This study was undertaken to assess the effects of a web‐based program, MyLupusGuide, developed to facilitate self‐management in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods

In this randomized controlled online study, participants received either immediate access to the MyLupusGuide site or delayed access starting on month 3. The primary outcome was the patient activation measure (PAM) score. Secondary outcomes included measurements of health status, self‐efficacy, coping, perceived patient–physician relationship, and medication adherence. Outcomes were measured at the baseline visit and at the 3‐month and 6‐month follow‐up visits. We used linear mixed modeling to compare PAM scores between the 2 groups at months 3 and 6.

Results

There were 541 participants included in this study. The mean ± SE age was 50 ± 14 years; 93% were female and 74% were White. The mean ± SE disease duration was 17 ± 12 years, and 56% visited MyLupusGuide at least once. The baseline mean ± SE PAM score was 61.2 ± 13, with 36% scoring low for perceived self‐management skills. After 3 months of exposure to MyLupusGuide, there were no differences in terms of PAM scores between groups. In exploratory analyses, we found significant improvement in PAM scores in those who had low PAM scores at baseline and in male individuals. We observed significant improvements in self‐efficacy before and after access to MyLupusGuide and delayed improvements at month 6 compared to month 3 in terms of mental health and emotional coping.

Conclusion

MyLupusGuide increases self‐efficacy but not patient activation. A total of 56% of participants visited the MyLupusGuide site during the study period. Individuals with lupus need support to become activated toward self‐management behaviors.
Meso‐Microporous Nanosheet‐Constructed 3DOM Perovskites for Remarkable Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production
Authors: Zhao Heng , Liu Jing , Li Chao‐Fan , Zhang Xu , Li Yu , Hu Zhi‐Yi , Li Bei , Chen Zhangxin , Hu Jinguang , Su Bao‐Lian
Published: February 2022

Three‐dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) structures have been widely utilized to largely enhance a photocatalytic activity. However, the common nanoparticles‐constructed 3DOM photocatalysts possess numerous grain boundaries, unavoidably leading to a fast recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes. Herein, for the first time, a hierarchically two‐dimensional (2D) meso‐microporous perovskite nanosheet‐constructed 3DOM CaTiO3 to significantly reduce the grain boundaries is designed and fabricated. Using carbon quantum dots (CQDs) as a metal‐free co‐catalyst, the 3DOM CQDs‐CaTiO3 exhibits an outstanding photocatalytic activity for hydrogen generation of 0.13 mmol h−1 (20 mg photocatalyst) with remarkable apparent quantum efficiency (QAY) of 14.55% at 365 nm monochromatic light. This unprecedented performance is endowed by the synergy of a macro‐meso‐microporosity architecture, a large surface area, enhanced light harvesting, and improved charge carriers separation and transport. Density functional theory calculations and finite difference time‐domain simulations further reveal the mechanism behind the enhanced separation of photogenerated electrons and holes. The present work demonstrates a trial on rationally designing meso‐microporous nanosheet‐constructed 3DOM perovskites for solar driven hydrogen production.
Gelatin‐Lysozyme Nanofibrils Electrospun Patches with Improved Mechanical, Antioxidant, and Bioresorbability Properties for Myocardial Regeneration Applications
Authors: Carvalho Tiago , Ezazi Nazanin Zanjanizadeh , Correia Alexandra , Vilela Carla , Santos Hélder A. , Freire Carmen S. R.
Published: February 2022

Biopolymeric patches show enormous potential for the regeneration of infarcted myocardium tissues. However, most of them usually lack appropriate mechanical performance, stability in water, and important functionalities; for instance, antioxidant activity. Protein nanofibrils, such as lysozyme nanofibrils (LNFs), are biocompatible nanostructures with excellent mechanical performance, water insolubility, and antioxidant activity exploited to fabricate materials for different biomedical applications. In this study, LNFs are used to produce gelatin electrospun nanocomposite cardiac patches with improved properties. The addition of the LNFs to the gelatin electrospun patches enhance their mechanical properties, increasing the patches Young's modulus from 3 to 6 MPa, in their wet state, which agrees with the requirements of myocardial contractility. Additionally, it is observed an increment of the antioxidant activity to 80%, by adding only 5% (w/w) of LNFs, and the bioresorbability rate is shortened to 30–35 d, compared to 45 d for the gelatin‐only patches, while maintaining their morphology, and biocompatibility toward cardiomyoblasts and fibroblasts. Furthermore, 15% of a model drug is burst released from the patches and preserved for 21 d. Overall, these results demonstrate that LNFs have a great potential as functional reinforcements to fabricate biopolymeric electrospun patches for myocardial infarcted tissue regeneration.
Fog Harvesting Devices Inspired from Single to Multiple Creatures: Current Progress and Future Perspective
Authors: Yu Zhihua , Zhu Tianxue , Zhang Jichao , Ge Mingzheng , Fu Shaohai , Lai Yuekun
Published: February 2022

The increasing demand for clean water driven by the rapid growth of the population and the pollution of water necessitates the development of direct and rapid water harvesting methods. Fog harvesting is proven as a highly efficient water capture method in dry but foggy areas. Herein, the state‐of‐the‐art developments on the multiple biomimetic fog harvesting devices (FHDs) are presented. First, the fundamental and specific mechanisms of fog harvesting involving the Namib Desert beetle, spider silk, cactus, and Nepenthes alata are described in detail, respectively. Second, an in‐depth discussion on the mechanisms of fog harvesting including fog capture and water transport is proposed. Third, a detailed account of the innovative design strategies and fabrication technologies of FHDs is proposed, from single to multiple biomimetic FHDs with typical examples and the merits and demerits are compared. Finally, a critical analysis of current challenges and future development is presented, aiming to promote next‐generation FHDs from scientific research to practical application.
Patterning of Wafer‐Scale MXene Films for High‐Performance Image Sensor Arrays
Authors: Li Bo , Zhu Qian‐Bing , Cui Cong , Liu Chi , Wang Zuo‐Hua , Feng Shun , Sun Yun , Zhu Hong‐Lei , Su Xin , Zhao Yi‐Ming , Zhang Hong‐Wang , Yao Jian , Qiu Song , Li Qing‐Wen , Wang Xiao‐Mu , Wang Xiao‐Hui , Cheng Hui‐Ming , Sun Dong‐Ming
Published: February 2022

As a rapidly growing family of 2D transition metal carbides and nitrides, MXenes are recognized as promising materials for the development of future electronics and optoelectronics. So far, the reported patterning methods for MXene films lack efficiency, resolution, and compatibility, resulting in limited device integration and performance. Here, a high‐performance MXene image sensor array fabricated by a wafer‐scale combination patterning method of an MXene film is reported. This method combines MXene centrifugation, spin‐coating, photolithography, and dry‐etching and is highly compatible with mainstream semiconductor processing, with a resolution up to 2 µm, which is at least 100 times higher than other large‐area patterning methods reported previously. As a result, a high‐density integrated array of 1024‐pixel Ti3C2Tx/Si photodetectors with a detectivity of 7.73 × 1014 Jones and a light–dark current ratio (Ilight/Idark) of 6.22 × 106, which is the ultrahigh value among all reported MXene‐based photodetectors, is fabricated. This patterning technique paves a way for large‐scale high‐performance MXetronics compatible with mainstream semiconductor processes.
Modulating Non‐Radiative Deactivation via Acceptor Reconstruction to Expand High‐Efficient Red Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescent Emitters
Authors: Liu Jianjun , Li Zhiyi , Hu Taiping , Gao Teng , Yi Yuanping , Wang Pengfei , Wang Ying
Published: February 2022

The development of high‐efficient red thermally activated delayed fluorescent (TADF) materials is crucial to expanding their applications. Here, the acceptor reconstruction strategies of acceptor bonding and acceptor fusing in donor–acceptor‐type materials to modulate their nonradiative deactivation process and emission color for expanding high‐efficient red TADF emitters are presented. They are applied to design novel red TADF emitters TXO‐b‐TPA and TXO‐f‐TPA based on non‐red thioxanthone oxide (TXO) acceptor. Compared to TXO‐based emitter TXO‐TPA, these acceptor reconstruction strategies enable red‐shifted (48–88 nm) and efficient red TADF emission (600–640 nm). Their radiative and nonradiative transition processes can be modulated by the different molecular orbital and excited state distributions based on their acceptor structural differences, which results in a dramatic enhancement of their organic light‐emitting diode (OLED) device efficiencies from 1.21/3.63% (TXO‐f‐TPA) to 20.9% (TXO‐b‐TPA). These results confirm that the acceptor reconstruction strategies provide a viable solution for overcoming the limitations of previous red TADF emitters. Moreover, the retrieval of reported TADF materials can further demonstrate that these acceptor reconstruction strategies can be transferrable to more non‐red TADF materials to expand high‐efficient red‐shift and/or red TADF materials.
Expression of Channelrhodopsin‐2 in Rod Bipolar Cells Restores ON and OFF Responses at High Spatial Resolution in Blind Mouse Retina
Authors: Reh Miriam , Lee Meng‐Jung , Zeck Günther
Published: February 2022

Rod bipolar cells (rBCs) represent a promising target for vision restoration as they relay information to the major image processing pathways in the retina. However, the diversity of the retinal output and the resolution obtained by optogenetic actuation of rBCs is unclear. Herein, the photostimulation of rBCs expressing channelrhodopsin‐2 is studied in a transgenic, photoreceptor‐degeneration mouse (rd10) while simultaneously recording the retinal output using a high‐density microelectrode array. After analyzing several hundred retinal output neurons, both optogenetic ON and OFF type responses are identified at similar ratio at stimulation thresholds well below photodamage intensity. The temporal latency of both response types is in the same range ( 50 ms) as reported for healthy mouse retinal ganglion cells. The spatial resolution ranges between 0.1 and 0.2 cycles deg‐1, which is close to that found in healthy mice. Photostimulation over an extended area (29 deg) but not localized stimuli induces strong bursting activity, which may originate from large‐scale activation of a coupled network of retinal cells. The distinct ON and OFF optogenetically induced activity patterns in retinal ganglion cells and the high temporal and spatial resolution demonstrate that near‐physiological vision restoration may be achieved under optimal conditions in late stage retinal degeneration.
Correlative AFM and Scanning Microlens Microscopy for Time‐Efficient Multiscale Imaging
Authors: Zhang Tianyao , Yu Haibo , Shi Jialin , Wang Xiaoduo , Luo Hao , Lin Daojing , Liu Zhu , Su Chanmin , Wang Yuechao , Liu Lianqing
Published: February 2022

With the rapid evolution of microelectronics and nanofabrication technologies, the feature sizes of large‐scale integrated circuits continue to move toward the nanoscale. There is a strong need to improve the quality and efficiency of integrated circuit inspection, but it remains a great challenge to provide both rapid imaging and circuit node‐level high‐resolution images simultaneously using a conventional microscope. This paper proposes a nondestructive, high‐throughput, multiscale correlation imaging method that combines atomic force microscopy (AFM) with microlens‐based scanning optical microscopy. In this method, a microlens is coupled to the end of the AFM cantilever and the sample‐facing side of the microlens contains a focused ion beam deposited tip which serves as the AFM scanning probe. The introduction of a microlens improves the imaging resolution of the AFM optical system, providing a 3–4× increase in optical imaging magnification while the scanning imaging throughput is improved ≈8×. The proposed method bridges the resolution gap between traditional optical imaging and AFM, achieves cross‐scale rapid imaging with micrometer to nanometer resolution, and improves the efficiency of AFM‐based large‐scale imaging and detection. Simultaneously, nanoscale‐level correlation between the acquired optical image and structure information is enabled by the method, providing a powerful tool for semiconductor device inspection.
Highly Efficient and Stable Blue Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes based on Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorophor with Donor‐Void‐Acceptor Motif
Authors: Zhang Dongdong , Wada Yoshimasa , Wang Qi , Dai Hengyi , Fan Tianjiao , Meng Guoyun , Wei Jinbei , Zhang Yuewei , Suzuki Katsuaki , Li Guomeng , Duan Lian , Kaji Hironori
Published: February 2022

Thermally activated delayed fluorophores (TADF) with donor–acceptor (D‐A) structures always face strong conjugation between donor and acceptor segments, rendering delocalized new molecular orbitals that go against blue emission. Developing TADF emitters with blue colors, high efficiencies, and long lifetimes simultaneously is therefore challenging. Here, a D‐void‐A structure with D and A moieties connected at the void‐position where the frontier orbital from donor and acceptor cannot be distributed, resulting in nonoverlap of the orbitals is proposed. A proof‐of‐the‐concept TADF emitter with 3,6‐diphenyl‐9H‐carbazole (D) connected at the 3’3‐positions of 9H‐xanthen‐9‐one (A), the void carbon‐atom with no distribution of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of A‐segment, realizes more efficient and blue‐shifted emission compared with the contrast D‐A isomers. The deeper HOMO‐2 of A is found to participate into conjugation rather than HOMO, providing a wider‐energy‐gap. The corresponding blue device exhibits a y color coordinate (CIEy) of 0.252 and a maximum external quantum efficiency of 27.5%. The stability of this compound is further evaluated as a sensitizer for a multiple resonance fluorophore, realizing a long lifetime of ≈650 h at an initial luminance of 100 cd m−2 with a CIEy of 0.195 and a narrowband emission with a full‐width‐at‐half‐maxima of 21 nm.
Highly‐Exposed Single‐Interlayered Cu Edges Enable High‐Rate CO2‐to‐CH4 Electrosynthesis
Authors: Peng Chen , Xu Zikai , Luo Gan , Yan Shuai , Zhang Junbo , Li Si , Chen Yangsheng , Chang Lo Yueh , Wang Zhiqiang , Sham Tsun‐Kong , Zheng Gengfeng
Published: February 2022

The electrochemical CO2 reduction to CH4 is a promising approach for producing highly specific combustion fuel but has relatively poor selectivity and activity at high‐current‐density electrolysis. In this work, ultrathin CuGaO2 nanosheets with highly exposed single‐interlayered Cu edges are synthesized via an induced anisotropic growth strategy. Density functional theory calculations indicate that the exposed single‐interlayered Cu(I) edges on the (001) surface of CuGaO2 present a high‐density of single‐atomic Cu sites, which feature excellent CO2 electroreduction catalytic activity toward CH4. The CuGaO2 nanosheet catalysts exhibit efficient and stable CO2‐to‐CH4 electroreduction with Faradaic efficiency (FECH4) of 71.7% at a high current density of –1 A cm−2, corresponding to a superior CH4 partial current density of 717 ± 33 mA cm−2. This work suggests an attractive design strategy for tuning both the crystal facets and Cu–Cu distance to promote the CH4 electrosynthesis at high‐current‐density CO2 reduction.
Impact of government programs on producer demand for hedging
Authors: Maples William E. , Giri Anil K. , Coble Keith H. , Subedi Dipak
Published: February 2022

This paper evaluates producer risk management decisions accounting for government provided risk management programs. An analytical model is developed to investigate the effect of crop insurance and Farm Bill program choice on producer demand for hedging in the futures market. Simulation results show government programs has potential to alter the optimal hedging decisions of producers. Yield protection insurance is found to complement hedging in most locations, while revenue insurance is generally found to substitute for hedging. Farm Bill programs are found to have varying effects based on price level.
The digital scent device as a new concept for olfactory assessment
Authors: Nakanishi Marcio , Fornazieri Marco Aurélio , Lança Gomes Pedro , Dias Luis Augusto de Miranda , Freire Gustavo Subtil Magalhães , Vinha Luís Gustavo do Amaral , Barbosa de Sa Leonardo Conrado , Voegels Richard Louis , Galvão Claudia , Lima Wilma Terezinha Anselmo
Published: February 2022

Background

There are major challenges in olfactory measurements in clinical practice; therefore, a handheld digital scent device (DSD; Noar MultiScent 20) was developed as a tablet with an integrated storage system for odors. The DSD is a self‐administered, handheld device that controls the duration of odor release to the nasal cavity through a touchscreen digital interface with automatic database generation. In this study we aimed to determine the feasibility of this DSD as an olfactory assessment test.

Methods

We recruited 180 participants (age [mean ± standard deviation], 34.58 ± 9.71 years; 114 women and 66 men) to participate in smell tests using both the DSD and the 40‐item Smell Identification Test (SIT‐40), which contained the same type and order of odors and the same multiple‐choice answers. The scores were compared and evaluated for correlation between the tests, and test‐retest reliability was calculated.

Results

The DSD test scores were higher than the SIT‐40 scores (median [interquartile range], 32 [5.0] vs 31 [7.0]; p = 0.005). The completion time was less for the DSD test than for the SIT‐40 (12.5 [5.0] vs 16 [6.0] minutes; p < 0.001). The tests were strongly correlated (Spearman rho = 0.74; p < 0.001) and exhibited a high level of agreement (Bland‐Altman regression coefficient = 0.672; p = 0.003). The DSD test‐retest reliability coefficient was 0.820.

Conclusion

The DSD is feasible as an olfactory assessment test. The digitalization of olfactory assessment combined with data science may enable new research perspectives in the field of olfaction.
Drop Size Distribution and Effective Determination of the Constitution of Throughfall Droplets under Maize Canopy
Authors: Zhu Zhongrui , Zhu Delan , Ge Maosheng
Published: February 2022

Sprinkler irrigation has dominated the irrigation erosion, and droplet diameter is an important determinant. To clarify the influence of maize canopy and sprinkler droplets landing angle on drop size distribution, distribution trend, and throughfall droplets diameters, the information on droplet size and velocity are collected via 2D‐video‐disdrometer. The results showed that due to the presence of maize canopy and the decrease in landing angle, the proportion of the tiny droplets (<2 mm) within throughfall increased. Throughfall droplet size distribution under maize canopy exhibited a distinct bimodal trend, however, the new droplet volume ratio is greater when the droplet size is smaller. In addition, the trend‐line of throughfall droplet size distribution gradually shifted toward the origin as the landing angle decreased. Because of maize canopy and gradual decrease in the landing angle, throughfall droplets diameters decreased. When the droplets are <2 mm, their volume proportion is greater than that in the absence of maize canopy because of the fragmentation of large droplets. Affected by the convergence of small droplets on maize leaves, the diameter of drips generated from maize leaves in this study probably ranged from 2–5 mm. Drops >5.01 mm maight have originated from direct throughfall.
The emergence of nebulin repeats and evolution of lasp family proteins
Authors: Fujita Yuki , Chokki Tamami , Nishioka Tatsuji , Morimoto Kouta , Nakayama Ayako , Nakae Hiroki , Ogasawara Michio , Terasaki Asako G
Published: February 2022

The LIM and SH3 domain protein (lasp) family, the smallest proteins in the nebulin superfamily, consists of vertebrate lasp‐1 expressed in various non‐muscle tissues, vertebrate lasp‐2 expressed in the brain and cardiac muscle, and invertebrate lasp whose functions have been analyzed in Ascidiacea and Insecta. Gene evolution of the lasp family proteins was investigated by multiple alignments, comparison of gene structure, and synteny analyses in eukaryotes in which mRNA expression was confirmed. All invertebrates analyzed in this study belonging to the clade Filasterea, with the exception of Placozoa, have at least one lasp gene. The minimal actin‐binding region (LIM domain and first nebulin repeat) and SH3 domain detected in vertebrate lasp‐2 were found to be conserved among the lasp family proteins, and we showed that nematode lasp has actin‐binding activity. The linker sequences vary among invertebrate lasp proteins, implying that the lasp family proteins have universal and diverse functions. Gene structures and syntenic analyses suggest that a gene fragment encoding two nebulin repeats and a linker emerged in Filasterea or Holozoa, and the first lasp gene was generated following combination of three gene fragments encoding the LIM domain, two nebulin repeats with a linker, and the SH3 domain.
Grain sorghum productivity as affected by nitrogen rates and available soil water
Authors: Obour Augustine K. , Holman Johnathon D. , Assefa Yared
Published: February 2022

Despite greater drought tolerance, soil water stress and low soil nitrogen (N) are major factors that affect sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) productivity and profitability in dryland environments. The main objective of this study was to determine the effects of available soil water at planting and N fertilizer on grain sorghum yield and net return. The study was conducted near Hays, KS, from Summer 1971 to Fall 2002. Treatments were four N rates (0, 22, 45 and 67 kg N ha−1) and depth of moist soil determined prior to sorghum planting each year. Results showed a −0.96, 14.4, 29.3, and 36.5 kg ha−1yield change per kg N applied for very low yielding (yield < 1,269 kg ha−1), low yielding (1,269< yield <2,611), high yielding (2,611< yield <3,986), and very high yielding (yield > 3,986 kg ha−1) environments, respectively. Sorghum yield increased by rates of 9.6 and 20.4 kg ha−1per mm increase in available soil water (ASW) at planting for 0 and 67 kg N ha−1, respectively. A multilinear function showed that grain yield increased by 20 kg ha−1for each kg N ha−1applied, by 15 kg ha−1for each mm increase in ASW, and by 0.67 kg ha−1for each mm increase of in‐season precipitation (ISP). Net return was negative for all environments when depth of moist soil at planting was ≤76 cm. We concluded that ASW prior to planting is critical for sorghum production and can be used to adjust sorghum N fertilizer rates early in the season.
Curriculum reform in Wales: Physical education teacher educators' negotiation of policy positions
Authors: Aldous David , Evans Victoria , Penney Dawn
Published: February 2022

This paper reports on research that explored the experiences of secondary Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) professionals' simultaneous negotiation and implementation of the new Curriculum for Wales (CfW) Health and Well‐Being (HWB) Area of Learning and Experience (AoLE) and policies focused on the transformation of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) in Wales. The study was an exploratory case study of PETE professionals working within one university's ITE programme. Data were generated through documentary analysis of PETE and ITE programme materials and semi‐structured interviews with staff involved in programme management and delivery. Data analysis employed Ball and colleagues' conceptualisation of policy actors and contexts to critically examine the varied policy positions that PETE professionals adopt in navigating and negotiating enactment of the HWB AoLE within their ITE provision. Attention is drawn to the significance of historical and culturally situated dimensions of secondary physical education and PETE in Wales, and significant changes to the professional culture of ITE, in shaping PETE educators' engagement with the HWB AoLE. The paper concludes by contending that ITE institutions in Wales need to further consider how PETE (and other) educators can be actively supported to engage in sophisticated policy work within their institutions and across policy and professional networks.
Electroencephalogram aperiodic power spectral slope can be reliably measured and predicts ADHD risk in early development
Authors: Karalunas Sarah L. , Ostlund Brendan D. , Alperin Brittany R. , Figuracion McKenzie , Gustafsson Hanna C. , Deming Erika Michiko , Foti Dan , Antovich Dylan , Dude Jason , Nigg Joel , Sullivan Elinor
Published: February 2022

The aperiodic exponent of the electroencephalogram (EEG) power spectrum has received growing attention as a physiological marker of neurodevelopmental psychopathology, including attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, its use as a marker of ADHD risk across development, and particularly in very young children, is limited by unknown reliability, difficulty in aligning canonical band‐based measures across development periods, and unclear effects of treatment in later development. Here, we investigate the internal consistency of the aperiodic EEG power spectrum slope and its association with ADHD risk in both infants (n = 69, 1‐month‐old) and adolescents (n = 262, ages 11–17 years). Results confirm good to excellent internal consistency in infancy and adolescence. In infancy, a larger aperiodic exponent was associated with greater family history of ADHD. In contrast, in adolescence, ADHD diagnosis was associated with a smaller aperiodic exponent, but only in children with ADHD who had not received stimulant medication treatment. Results suggest that disruptions in cortical development associated with ADHD risk may be detectable shortly after birth via this approach. Together, findings imply a dynamic developmental shift in which the developmentally normative flattening of the EEG power spectrum is exaggerated in ADHD, potentially reflecting imbalances in cortical excitation and inhibition that could contribute to long‐lasting differences in brain connectivity.
Risk for youth anxiety during the COVID‐19 pandemic: The interactive impact of financial stress and prepandemic electrocortical reactivity to negative self‐referential stimuli
Authors: Feurer Cope , Granros Maria , Calentino Alison E. , Suor Jennifer H. , Burkhouse Katie L.
Published: February 2022

Despite evidence that stress exposure increases risk for internalizing symptoms in youth, it remains unclear which youth are most vulnerable. This study examined whether youth's prepandemic late positive potential (LPP), an electrocortical marker of sustained attention to affective stimuli, exacerbated the impact of stress on prospective increases in depression and anxiety symptoms from before to during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Participants were 29 youth (ages 9–16, 82.8% girls) who completed depression and anxiety symptom measures and an affective words task to assess LPP to positive and negative self‐referential stimuli prepandemic onset. Postpandemic onset, approximately 16.03 months (SD = 8.86) after their baseline assessments, youth again completed symptom measures as well as the UCLA Life Stress Interview to assess ongoing social and financial chronic stress. Results indicated a significant interaction between youth LPP to negative words and financial stress. Greater exposure to financial stress during the pandemic predicted greater anxiety symptom increases specifically for youth who demonstrated enhanced prepandemic LPP to negative words. Results were specific to the prediction of anxiety, but not depression, symptoms. If replicated in larger studies, findings highlight enhanced LPP to negative stimuli as a promising target for intervention for youth exposed to greater financial stress.
An Integrated Testing Strategy for Ecotoxicity (ITS-ECO) Assessment in the Marine Environmental Compartment using Mytilus spp.: A Case Study using Pristine and Coated CuO and TiO2 Nanomaterials
Authors: Connolly Mona , Little Simon , Hartl Mark G. J. , Fernandes Teresa F.
Published: February 2022

An integrated testing strategy for ecotoxicity assessment (ITS-ECO) was developed to aid in the hazard and fate assessment of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) deposited in marine environments using the bivalve Mytilus spp. as a test species. The ENMs copper(II) oxide (CuO) and titanium dioxide (TiO2), either in pristine form (core) or with functionalized coatings (polyethylene glycol [PEG], carboxyl [COOH], and ammonia [NH3]) were selected as case study materials based on their production levels and use. High-throughput in vitro testing in Tier 1 of the ITS-ECO revealed CuO ENMs to elicit cytotoxic effects on lysosomes of hemocytes of mussels, with the hazard potential CuO PEG > CuO COOH > CuO NH3 > CuO core, whereas TiO2 ENMs were not cytotoxic. Genotoxicity in hemocytes as well as gill cells of mussels following in vivo exposure (48 h) to CuO ENMs was also seen. Longer in vivo exposures in Tier 2 (48 h–21 days) revealed subacute and chronic oxidative effects for both CuO and TiO2 ENMs, in some cases leading to lipid peroxidation (core TiO2 ENMs). In Tier 3 bioaccumulation studies, distinct patterns of uptake for Cu (predominantly in gills) and Ti (predominantly in digestive glands) and between the different core and coated ENMs were found. Clear NM-specific and coating-dependent effects on hazard and fate were seen. Overall, using a tiered testing approach, the ITS-ECO was able to differentiate the hazard (acute, subacute, and chronic effects) posed by ENMs of different compositions and coatings and to provide information on fate for environmental risk assessment of these ENMs. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:1390–1406. © 2022 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

Abstract

Framework for ecotoxicity testing of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) using a marine compartment-specific Integrated testing strategy (ITS-ECO) and the marine bivalve mussel Mytilus spp.
Dual‐cooled microwave extraction of Foeniculum vulgare essential oil and its chemical composition and antibacterial activity: Comparison with hydrodistillation and conventional microwave
Authors: Dong Li‐Jia , Huang Xue‐Yi , Wei Zuo‐Fu , Zhao Bao‐Shan , Yang Huan‐Yi
Published: February 2022

Numerous studies indicate that the efficiency of microwave extraction, a popular method for extracting essential oil, needs to be improved. In this study, we used fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) as the focused species, extracted its essential oil using three methods, including traditional hydrodistillation (HD), single‐cooled microwave extraction (SCME) and dual‐cooled microwave extraction (DCME), and then tested the chemical composition and antibacterial activity of the essential oils. The optimum parameters of DCME were liquid‐solid ratio 5.6 mL/g, extraction time 27 min and irradiation power 600 W. The yield of fennel essential oil raised to 1.172%. The composition of essential oils obtained by both SCME and DCME was obviously different from that obtained by HD, such as higher monoterpene hydrocarbons in SCME and higher oxygenated monoterpenes in DCME. Furthermore, Salmonella Typhimurium and Escherichia coli were the most sensitive to fennel essential oil, followed by Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes. The activity of essential oil from different methods against four bacteria strains was similar. Our founding revealed that the improved microwave extraction greatly raised the yield of fennel essential oil, retained its fragrance and antibacterial activity. Overall, this study provides a theoretical basis for the separation and application of essential oils from natural aromatic plants.
Consistent population activity on the scale of minutes in the mouse hippocampus
Authors: Liu Yue , Levy Samuel , Mau William , Geva Nitzan , Rubin Alon , Ziv Yaniv , Hasselmo Michael , Howard Marc
Published: February 2022

Neurons in the hippocampus fire in consistent sequence over the timescale of seconds during the delay period of some memory experiments. For longer timescales, the firing of hippocampal neurons also changes slowly over minutes within experimental sessions. It was thought that these slow dynamics are caused by stochastic drift or a continuous change in the representation of the episode, rather than consistent sequences unfolding over minutes. This paper studies the consistency of contextual drift in three chronic calcium imaging recordings from the hippocampus CA1 region in mice. Computational measures of consistency show reliable sequences within experimental trials at the scale of seconds as one would expect from time cells or place cells during the trial, as well as across experimental trials on the scale of minutes within a recording session. Consistent sequences in the hippocampus are observed over a wide range of time scales, from seconds to minutes. The hippocampal activity could reflect a scale‐invariant spatiotemporal context as suggested by theories of memory from cognitive psychology.
Sexual debut and association with oral human papillomavirus infection, persistence and oropharyngeal cancer—An analysis of two Australian cohorts
Authors: Antonsson Annika , de Souza Marjorie M. A. , Panizza Benedict J. , Whiteman David C.
Published: February 2022

Oropharyngeal cancer is increasingly caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), and this increase is believed to be caused by changing sexual behaviour. It has been hypothesised that an immune response to HPV through sexual intercourse is much stronger than an immune response elicited from oral sex. Therefore, people who have their debut of oral sex before or at the same time as sexual intercourse would have a weaker immune response to HPV and hence be more likely to develop a persistent oral HPV infection and oropharyngeal cancer. Drake et al (Cancer. 2021;127[7]:1029‐1038) found some evidence that supported this hypothesis. We have reanalysed two of our Australian cohorts with similar data in order to provide a perspective of Drake and colleagues' publication, as sexual behaviour varies depending on culture and geographical location. We found that engaging in oral sex (OR 4.46, 95% CI [1.88‐10.62]) and being younger than 20 years at oral sex debut (OR 9.46, 95% CI [3.53‐25.31]) were both very strong risk factors for oropharyngeal cancer. Participants in the general population cohort who had their sexual intercourse debut before the age of 18 were more likely to be oral HPV positive (OR 2.69, 95% CI [1.50‐4.83]). Oral sex debut before sexual intercourse debut was quite uncommon in our two Australian cohorts. However, timing of or sexual debuts may further add to risks of oropharyngeal cancer, and future studies should be designed to investigate timing and order of sexual debuts to help clarify the roles of these potential causal factors.
Development of polycarbonate urethane‐based materials with controlled diclofenac release for cartilage replacement
Authors: Oliveira Andreia S. , Ferreira Inês , Branco Ana C. , Silva João C. , Costa Carolina , Nolasco Pedro , Marques Ana C. , Silva Diana , Colaço Rogério , Figueiredo‐Pina Célio G. , Serro Ana P.
Published: February 2022

Hydrogels are very promising human cartilage replacement materials since they are able to mimic its structure and properties. Besides, they can be used as platforms for drug delivery to reduce inflammatory postsurgical reactions. Polycarbonate urethane (PCU) has been used in orthopedic applications due to its long‐term biocompatibility and bio‐durability. In this work, PCU‐based hydrogels with the ability to release an anti‐inflammatory (diclofenac) were developed, for the first time, for such purpose. The materials were reinforced with different amounts of cellulose acetate (CA, 10%, 15%, and 25% w/w) or carbon nanotubes (CNT, 1% and 2% w/w) in order to improve their mechanical properties. Samples were characterized in terms of compressive and tensile mechanical behavior. It was found that 15% CA and 2% CNT reinforcement led to the best mechanical properties. Thus, these materials were further characterized in terms of morphology, wettability, and friction coefficient (CoF). Contrarily to CNTs, the addition of CA significantly increased the material's porosity. Both materials became more hydrophilic, and the CoF slightly increased for PCU + 15%CA. The materials were loaded by soaking with diclofenac, and drug release experiments were conducted. PCU, PCU + 15%CA and PCU + 2%CNT presented similar release profiles, being able to ensure a controlled release of DFN for at least 4 days. Finally, in vitro cytotoxicity tests using human chondrocytes were also performed and confirmed a high biocompatibility for the three studied materials.
A new Geographic Profiling Suspect Mapping And Ranking Technique for crime investigations: GP‐SMART
Authors: Curtis‐Ham Sophie , Bernasco Wim , Medvedev Oleg N. , Polaschek Devon L. L.
Published: February 2022

This study developed and tested a new geographic profiling method for automating suspect prioritisation in crime investigations. The Geographic Profiling Suspect Mapping And Ranking Technique (GP‐SMART) maps suspects' activity locations available in police records—such as home addresses, family members' home addresses, prior offence locations, locations of non‐crime incidents, and other contacts with police—and ranks suspects based on both the proximity and nature of these locations, relative to an input crime. In accuracy tests using solved burglary, robbery and extra‐familial sex offence cases in New Zealand (n = 4511), GP‐SMART ranked the offender at or near the top of the suspect list at rates greatly exceeding chance. Highlighting the benefit of its novel inclusion and differentiation of many different types of activity location, GP‐SMART also outperformed baseline methods—approximating existing algorithms—that ranked suspects using only the proximity of their activity locations, or home addresses, to the input crime.
Moderate‐to‐Severe Polyhydramnios
Authors: Qureshey Emma J. , Bicocca Matthew J. , Chauhan Suneet P. , Nowlen Carol , Soto Eleazar E. , Sibai Baha M. , Stafford Irene
Published: February 2022

Objective

Society for Maternal‐fetal medicine Consult Series (#46) states “antenatal fetal surveillance is not required for mild idiopathic” polyhydramnios defined as amniotic fluid index (AFI) of 24 cm or a deepest vertical pocket (DVP) between 8 and 11 cm. The objective of this study was to determine the cutoff for DVP which correlates with AFI ≥ 30 cm.

Methods

This retrospective study of singleton third trimester ultrasounds included a study group randomly divided into test and validation. In the test group, DVP cutoffs correlating with AFI ≥ 30 cm which was used to define moderate–severe polyhydramnios were calculated in two ways, rounded to the nearest whole number: 1) a receiver operating curve and Youden's J statistic (DVP‐Youden) and 2) calculation of the DVP percentile that corresponded with AFI of 30 cm (DVP‐Percentile). Using the validation group, diagnostic characteristics were DVP‐Youden and DVP‐Percentile for diagnosis of AFI ≥ 30 cm and were compared against SMFM cutoffs (DVP‐SMFM).

Results

Seventy one thousand eight hundred and ninety three ultrasound exams in the 3rd trimester had assessment of AFI and DVP. Moderate–severe polyhydramnios occurred in 286 (1.2%) in test group and 571 (1.2%) in validation group. AFI of 30 cm corresponded to the 98.9th percentile, which in turn correlated to a DVP of 10 cm (DVP‐Percentile). The calculated cutoff for moderate–severe polyhydramnios was 8 cm for DVP‐Youden.

Conclusion

Using 8.0 cm rather than 12.0 cm increased the detection of moderate–severe polyhydramnios to 100% with a false positive rate under 5%. For those utilizing DVP for amniotic fluid evaluation, identification of a DVP ≥ 8.0 cm should prompt further evaluation with complete AFI.
Simple relationships between residence time and annual nutrient retention, export, and loading for estuaries
Authors: Shen Jian , Du Jiabi , Lucas Lisa V.
Published: February 2022

Simple mathematical models are derived from mass balances for water and transported substance to provide insight into the relationships between import, export, transport, and internal removal for nonconservative substances in an estuary. Extending previous work, our models explicitly include water and substance inputs from the ocean and are expressed in terms of timescales (i.e., mean residence time and the timescale for net removal). Steady‐state, timescale‐based expressions for ratios of export to import, retention to import, and net export to loading, as well as for loading and annually averaged concentration, are provided. Thenet export:loadingmodel explains the underlying mechanisms for a well‐known empirical relationship between fractional net export and residence time derived by other authors. Although our simplified models are first‐order approximations, the relative importance of physical and biochemical processes influencing export or retention of a substance can be assessed using mean residence time and the timescale for net removal. Assumptions employed in deriving the simplified models (e.g., well‐mixed, dynamic steady state) may not be met for real estuaries. However, model application to Chesapeake Bay for 1985–2012 demonstrates that interannual variations in total nitrogen (TN)net export:loadingcan be evaluated, and annual nutrient loadings can be well estimated using numerically modeled time‐varying mean residence time, observation‐based mean concentration, freshwater inflow, and an appropriately estimated removal timescale. Our model shows that net fractional export of TN loading ranges from 0.3 to 0.5 over the 28‐yr period. The models can be employed for other substances and water bodies if the underlying assumptions are applicable.
Successful postpyloric feeding tube insertion using prokinetic drugs for nasoenteric tube placement: A network meta‐analysis
Authors: Liu Jia‐Hong , Wang Wen‐Juan , Zhang Jing , Qin Yu‐Ju
Published: February 2022

Objectives

The objective was to compare the effects of prokinetic drugs on the success of postpyloric nasoenteric tube placement using network meta‐analysis methods.

Materials and methods

Articles from PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were retrieved up to April 18, 2021. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the effect of prokinetic drugs on postpyloric nasoenteric tube placement. Reviews, retrospective studies, observational studies, letters to the editors, and conference abstracts were excluded. Biases in each study were identified by using the tool recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration. Stata14.0 software were used to process the network meta‐analysis.

Results

A total of 12 eligible RCTs with 777 patients receiving postpyloric nasoenteric tube placement were finally included for analysis. Patients receiving the following drugs appeared to have significant success with postpyloric feeding tube insertion compared with placebo: metoclopramide (odds ratio [OR] = 2.27; 95% CrI, 1.53–3.37), erythromycin (OR = 1.88; 95% CrI, 1.17–3.19), and domperidone (OR = 2.39; 95% CrI, 1.31–4.35). The surface under the cumulative ranking of placebo, erythromycin, metoclopramide, and domperidone were respectively 9.8%, 73.0%, 62.6%, and 54.6%. Erythromycin had an advantage over the other treatments in success postpyloric feeding tube insertion.

Conclusions

Erythromycin may have the greatest possibility to improve success postpyloric feeding tube insertion.
Development and psychometric evaluation of self‐management scale for pregnant woman with gestational diabetes mellitus in China
Authors: Kuang Guofang , Meng Xin , Wang Yiqian , Xu Ru , Zhang Meng
Published: February 2022

Aim

To develop a self‐management scale and evaluate its validity for pregnant woman with GDM in China.

Design

A cross‐sectional survey design.

Methods

This study was conducted through three phases. The item pools of the scale were developed through literature review and expert interview. Content validity was assessed by an expert panel. Structure validity was evaluated through exploratory factor analysis. In the end, internal consistency reliability was tested.

Results

The self‐management scale includes four dimensions, including self‐management consciousness, pregnancy management, blood glucose management and resource utilization, with a total of 35 items. In the scale, the Cronbach's α was 0.95. The split‐half reliability of the overall scale is 0.79. And the test‐retest reliability was 0.91. The content validity was 0.94.

Conclusions

The scale is significantly valid and reliable, and it can be used to evaluate the self‐management ability of pregnant woman with GDM in China.
A novel convenient finite difference method for shallow water waves derived by fifth‐order Kortweg and De‐Vries‐type equation
Authors: Poochinapan Kanyuta , Wongsaijai Ben
Published: February 2022

In this research, two new finite difference schemes are derived and presented for estimating a solution to the fifth‐order Kortweg and De‐Vries equation. The global conservation law on any time–space regions which yields a three‐level linear‐implicit algorithm with a diagonal system is exactly preserved by the intended finite difference method. Theoretically verified and numerically proved, the created schemes are unconditionally stable and have the second‐order accuracy both in time and space. The obtained results guarantee that the novel idea offers a new aspect to analyze the wave behavior.
Maximum principle for stochastic optimal control problem of finite state forward‐backward stochastic difference systems
Authors: Ji Shaolin , Liu Haodong
Published: February 2022

This article studies the maximum principle for stochastic optimal control problems of forward‐backward stochastic difference systems (FBSSs) where the uncertainty is modeled by a discrete time, finite state process, rather than white noises. Two distinct forms of FBSSs are investigated. The first one is described by a partially coupled forward‐backward stochastic difference equation (FBSE) and the second one is described by a fully coupled FBSE. We deduce the adjoint difference equation by adopting an appropriate representation of the product rule and a proper formulation of the backward stochastic difference equation (BSE). Finally, the maximum principle for this optimal control problem with the convex control domain is established.