bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling Fibrous Tissue in Vascular Fluid–Structure Interaction: A Morphology‐Based Pipeline and Biomechanical Significance
Authors: Sun Yujie , Huang Jiayi , Lu Qingshuang , Yue Xinhai , Huang Xuanming , He Wei , Shi Yun , Liu Ju
Published: December 2024

Modeling fibrous tissue for vascular fluid–structure interaction analysis poses significant challenges due to the lack of effective tools for preparing simulation data from medical images. This limitation hinders the physiologically realistic modeling of vasculature and its use in clinical settings. Leveraging an established lumen modeling strategy, we propose a comprehensive pipeline for generating thick‐walled artery models. A specialized mesh generation procedure is developed to ensure mesh continuity across the lumen and wall interface. Exploiting the centerline information, a series of procedures are introduced for generating local basis vectors within the arterial wall. The procedures are tailored to handle thick‐walled tissues where basis vectors may exhibit transmural variations. Additionally, we propose methods for accurately identifying the centerline in multi‐branched vessels and bifurcating regions. These modeling approaches are algorithmically implementable, rendering them readily integrable into mainstream cardiovascular modeling software. The developed fiber generation method is evaluated against the strategy using linear elastostatics analysis, demonstrating that the proposed approach yields satisfactory fiber definitions in the considered benchmark. Finally, we examine the impact of anisotropic arterial wall models on the vascular fluid–structure interaction analysis through numerical examples, employing the neo‐Hookean model for comparative purposes. The first case involves an idealized curved geometry, while the second studies an image‐based abdominal aorta model. Our numerical results reveal that the deformation and stress distribution are critically related to the constitutive model of the wall, whereas hemodynamic factors are less sensitive to the wall model. This work paves the way for more accurate image‐based vascular modeling and enhances the prediction of arterial behavior under physiologically realistic conditions.
The Power of Ethics: Merchant Culture and Corporate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Disclosure
Authors: Wang Wei , Hu Guoliu
Published: December 2024

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) disclosure has emerged as a strategic imperative for sustainable development, yet the full range of its drivers remains unexplored. While formal institutions, such as environmental regulations, have been scrutinized, the impact of informal institutions, particularly traditional culture, has largely been uncharted. We empirically examine the impact of traditional Chinese business group culture—referred to as merchant culture—on the ESG disclosure of listed companies in China, using a sample from 2011 to 2021. Merchant culture is measured based on the proximity of a company's registered location to the origins of merchant guilds. Our analysis of the manually collected data reveals a robust positive correlation between merchant culture and ESG disclosure. This positive correlation is particularly pronounced among firms without Big four auditors, in heavily polluted industries, and in regions with weaker legal frameworks. Crucially, merchant culture appears to foster corporate integrity and mitigate the negative impact of social dishonesty environment on ESG disclosure. These findings suggest that, as a social norm, merchant culture can promote integrity and encourage ethical behaviors among companies.
Water‐Soluble Iron Porphyrins as Catalysts for Suppressing Chlorinated Disinfection Byproducts in Hypochlorite‐Dependent Water Remediation
Authors: Engbers Silène , Lind Maja J. , Skavenborg Mathias L. , Klein Johannes E. M. N. , Lauritsen Frants R. , McKenzie Christine J.
Published: December 2024

We are facing a world‐wide shortage of clean drinking water which will only be further exacerbated by climate change. The development of reliable and affordable methods for water remediation is thus of utmost importance. Chlorine (which forms active hypochlorites in solution) is the most commonly used disinfectant due to its reliability and low cost. One drawback is that it reacts with organic pollutants to generate toxic chlorinated byproducts. To mitigate chlorination in water remediation, we have investigated the use of catalytic amounts of charged water‐soluble iron porphyrins. These are known to activate hypochlorite to generate high valent oxoiron species. We studied the depletion of the model micropollutant phenol and the accumulation of chlorinated disinfection byproducts under water remediation conditions, using iron porphyrins [(TMPyP)FeCl]Cl4 and (NH4)4[(TPPS)FeCl] as catalysts, by membrane inlet mass spectrometry. Despite bearing opposite charges on the meso‐substituent, both iron porphyrins suppress the formation of chlorinated disinfection by‐products equally well. To gain further insight, spectroscopic studies were performed. These showed the transient formation of Compound II, followed by either regeneration of the iron(III) porphyrin at low NaOCl concentrations, or total decomposition of the porphyrin complex at high NaOCl concentrations. Potential future directions for modifications of porphyrin‐based catalysts are discussed.
HEBE Optimized Mob‐LSTM for Channel Estimation in RIS‐Assisted mmWave MIMO System
Authors: Durga Naga Lakshmi N. , Vijaya Lakshmi B.
Published: December 2024

Channel acquisitions are one of the most significant challenges to implementing reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS)–assisted wireless networks. Basically, the base station (BS) and the mobile station (MS) are connected to one another via the RIS. However, accurate channel state information for each individual channel is required for the RIS to perform at its highest level. Therefore, effective execution of superresolution channel estimation (CE) at the BS to RIS, RIS to MS, and composed channel is necessary. Hence, this research proposed the MobileNet–long short‐term memory (Mob‐LSTM) technique for the RIS‐aided mmWave MIMO system in order to provide an accurate CE model. In this research, three types of channels were initially developed: BS to RIS, RIS to MS, and composed channel. After that, these three types of channel parameters are estimated with the aid of the proposed Mob‐LSTM model. Additionally, this research utilized a sequential weighting method, namely, a hybrid extended bald eagle (HEBE) optimizer, for fine‐tuning the hyperparameters of the Mob‐LSTM. Furthermore, the proposed research is implemented and examined using the MATLAB tool. In the simulation scenario, the proposed method can outperform the various existing approaches in terms of normalized mean square error (NMSE) and mean square error (MSE). Additionally, four different scenarios have been used to assess the proposed approach's efficiency: path gain analysis and convergence analysis of Mob‐LSTM, MSE, and NMSE measures. According to the simulation outcomes, the suggested method attains a lower NMSE value of −52.53 and exceeds the existing techniques with high‐CE effectiveness.
Distribution and Conservation of Ephedra rhytidosperma
Authors: Tan Chao , Ferguson David Kay , Yang Yong
Published: December 2024

With global warming and increasingly intensified human activities, numerous species are on the verge of extinction, ca. 28% of living species are threatened globally, although conservation of endangered species has received worldwide attention. It remains unclear if threatened species have been appropriately conserved or not. Ephedra rhytidosperma is an endangered species and included in the List of National Key Protected Wild Plants in China (released in September 2021). This shrubby species is endemic to the Helan Mountains in northwestern China where it dominates the lowland vegetation. We have conducted an integrative investigation on the conservation of the species. We used the MaxEnt model to predict the potential geographic distribution of E. rhytidosperma under past, current, and future climatic scenarios based on distributional occurrences and environmental data and investigated the conservation status and its effectiveness. The results show that E. rhytidosperma is mainly distributed in lowland Helan Mountains, while the range in the past and future show different patterns. The range has shrunk significantly and migrated westwards since the Last Interglacial, whereas the projected area in the future displays a fluctuating pattern and easterly migration. The precipitation (Bio14), the temperature (Bio9), and degree of slope (Slope) are the dominant factors influencing its current and future ranges. We also found that E. rhytidosperma populations at different altitudes showed different adaptations to the environment. Our assessment of the conservation status of the hotspots revealed that only 15.1% occur in nature reserves, implying that a large conservation gap remains. In addition, there has been less attention paid to ex situ conservation. As a result, we propose conducting an integrative conservation approach including both in situ and ex situ management to save E. rhytidosperma. Our study lays a solid foundation for the development of targeted conservation strategies for E. rhytidosperma.
Effectiveness of canine‐assisted surveillance and human searches for early detection of invasive spotted lanternfly
Authors: Fuller Angela K. , Augustine Ben C. , Clifton Eric H. , Hajek Ann E. , Blumenthal Arden , Beese Josh , Hurt Aimee , Brown‐Lima Carrie J.
Published: December 2024

Prevention and early detection of invasive species are championed as the most cost‐effective and efficient strategies for reducing or preventing negative impacts on ecosystems. Spotted lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula, is a recently introduced invasive insect whose range in the United States has been expanding rapidly since it was first discovered in Pennsylvania in 2014. Feeding by this planthopper can cause severe impacts on agricultural production, particularly grapes (Vitis spp.). Human visual surveys are the most common search method employed for detection but can be ineffective due to the insect's cryptic egg masses and low density during early stages of infestation. Therefore, finding alternative early detection methods has become a priority for agencies tasked with addressing SLF management. This study experimentally tested whether trained detector dogs could improve the probability of detecting SLF in both agricultural and forest settings. We surveyed transects in 20 vineyards and their adjacent wooded areas in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, USA, and used a multiscale occupancy model to estimate detection probability achieved by human observers and detection dogs as a function of SLF infestation level, weather, and habitat covariates. We modeled transect‐level occupancy of SLF as a function of infestation level, habitat type, topographic position index, and distance to forests. Occupancy probability of SLF was higher on vines within vineyards than in forests, and occupancy declined with increasing distance from forests, which is informative for future search efforts. Detection probability of SLF was lower at forested sites but was higher at high infestation sites. Detection dogs had a lower detection probability than humans in the vineyards, but the detection probability of dogs was >3× greater than that of humans in forested sites. Our study suggests that detection dogs are more effective than human visual searches as an early detection method for SLF in forested areas, and utilizing detector dogs could strengthen SLF early detection efforts. This study demonstrates the potential applicability of using canine‐assisted search strategies combined with occupancy models to enhance the surveillance and prevention of other difficult‐to‐detect invasive species.
A suite of wildlife crossing structures facilitates mammal movement across tropical forest fragments in a city
Authors: Tay Li Si , Choo Ruisheng , Khoo Max D. Y. , Kong Eunice , Chan Yi Xiang , Neo Wivian H. Y. , Ow Sebastian , Toh Yuet Hsin , Ling Han , Soh Malcolm C. K. , Lee Benjamin P. Y.‐H. , Loo Adrian H. B. , Er Kenneth B. H.
Published: December 2024

Wildlife crossing structures and road calming measures are frequently implemented to improve habitat connectivity and mitigate the risks of wildlife–vehicle collisions on roads. Although Southeast Asia is a known biodiversity hotspot, majority of studies assessing effectiveness of such structures were conducted outside the region. Existing studies also tended to be non‐comparative and focused on crossing structures in silo. We addressed this gap by simultaneously surveying and comparing the usage frequency of mammals across three crossing types—culverts, roads and rope bridges—along a road surrounded by forests in Singapore. This allowed us to evaluate the preferences of mammals, assess usage patterns and investigate factors influencing the use of different crossing types. Using camera traps and closed‐circuit televisions, we documented 1133 independent crossing events across a 9‐month study period from March to November 2021. Fourteen mammal species were detected across all crossing types, with wild boar (Sus scrofa) being the most prevalent species (68.2%). Locally critically endangered species such as the Malayan porcupine (Hystrix brachyura), Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica), and Raffles' banded langur (Presbytis femoralis femoralis) were also recorded to use culverts, roads, and rope bridges for crossings, respectively. Although many species used multiple crossing types, most species had a preferred crossing method. Between culverts and roads, factors that influenced crossing preferences included group size for wild boars and time of day and presence of fences for other mammals. Even though such culverts were intended for drainage, they were still widely used by mammals. Overall, all three crossing methods were crucial in facilitating the movement of animals between habitats. Thus, a variety of infrastructure and measures to accommodate the diversity of wildlife moving across forest patches in a fragmented landscape is recommended.
Assessment of Allometry in Environmental DNA and RNA Production From Ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis) in an Experimental Condition Using Mitochondrial and Nuclear Gene Markers
Authors: Jo Toshiaki S. , Ozaki Yusuke , Matsuda Nao , Yamanaka Hiroki
Published: December 2024

Recent studies demonstrated that integrating allometric scaling could strengthen the relationship between environmental DNA (eDNA) concentration and organism abundance. The finding has been supported mainly by field surveys but has not been verified sufficiently at the individual level in a controlled experimental condition. In addition, it remains unknown whether not only eDNA but also environmental RNA (eRNA) production scales allometrically with body mass. To address the knowledge gaps, we conducted a long‐term rearing experiment using ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis) to monitor the production of their eDNA and messenger and ribosomal eRNA in their growth from larvae to adults. Water samples were collected from the experimental tanks and P. altivelis eDNA and eRNA (eNAs) concentrations in water samples were estimated using a quantitative real‐time PCR with the mitochondrial and nuclear gene markers. In parallel with each water sampling, the number of fish individuals and total biomass in the tank were recorded. Regardless of gene and RNA types, individual‐level P. altivelis eNA concentrations were related to their allometric scaled mass (ASM), with the scaling coefficient (b) = 0.75, more strongly than their mean body mass. The result indicated that a larger individual produces lesser mass‐specific eNA particles, supporting the relevance of the allometric scaling in eDNA production at the population level observed in field surveys. Moreover, the ratios of some eNA concentrations significantly decreased with larger mean fish body mass in the tank. The finding may relate to the changes in intracellular physiology with individual growth and/or aging, having the potential to indicate the population's average body size. Our study offered insights into the production of various eNA particles depending on body size and metabolic rate and implications for a better understanding of the population's ecology and more effective stock management.
On‐Demand Photochemical Modification of Glassy Carbon Surface
Authors: Hesari Mahdi , Workentin Mark S.
Published: December 2024

Chemical modification of carbonaceous materials is a convenient and reliable approach for the permanent fabrication of functional moieties. Among different linkers, diazirines offer a photogenerated reactive carbene that can insert into X–H (X; O, N) and add to π bonds to tether a variety of moieties on the surface of carbonaceous materials. Explicitly, 3‐phenyl‐3‐(trifluoromethyl)‐3H‐diazirine is more thermally and chemically stable within the diazirine family. Here, we synthesized 3‐(ferrocenylalkyloxy)‐3‐(trifluoromethyl)‐diazirine derivatives and utilized them to covalently modify the surface of glassy carbon (GC). The photogenerated carbene enabled the tethering of the ferrocene (Fc) to the surface of a GC electrode (GCE). The modified surface properties were investigated using different electrochemical techniques, ellipsometry spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Electrochemical surface responses in KCl and Ru(NH3)63+ solutions clearly exhibited ferrocene redox behavior and surface blocking during modification, respectively. Surface analysis results revealed a clear correlation between the thickness and capacitance current of the modified surface. More importantly, the obtained electrochemistry data show substantial chemical stability of the covalently tethered Fc on the GCE surface in both aqueous and nonaqueous media. The presented work offers an approach for the on‐demand photochemical formation of carbene from diazirines to add functionality for applications of modified electrodes in electrocatalysis and sensing.
A Novel Green Electrochemical Approach for the Determination of the Recently Approved Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Dacomitinib in Dosage Forms
Authors: Alossaimi Manal A. , Aldakhil Taibah , Elmansi Heba , Magdy Galal , Hashem Heba M.
Published: December 2024

The current study introduces the first voltammetric approach for the quantitation of the recently approved anticancer medication dacomitinib (DCN). The developed method is based on examining the electrode's voltammetric behavior with carbon paste. In this approach, both square wave and cyclic voltammetry were used. To achieve a satisfactory sensitivity, the measuring instrumental parameters were carefully studied using square‐wave voltammetry. The limits of detection and quantitation were 6.7 × 10−7 and 2.0 × 10−6 M, respectively, indicating the method's high sensitivity. The anodic peak current increased linearly with DCN concentration over the range of 2.3 × 10−6–1.5 × 10−5 M upon adjusting the pH at 4 with Britton–Robinson buffer. The electrochemical method was fully validated as per the International Council of Harmonization (ICH) guidelines. The inter‐ and intra‐assay precision relative standard deviation (%RSD) values were ≤1.809. This approach was applied to determine the drug in its pharmaceutical tablets (Vizimpro) with satisfactory %recoveries (98.8–100.9). The statistical results were favorably compared to those provided by a reported spectrofluorimetric method. The greenness and eco‐friendliness of the designed approach were demonstrated using the Green Analytical Procedure Index (GAPI) and Analytical GREEnness (AGREE) tools, suggesting its usage as an environmentally friendly alternative for the routine assay of the investigated drug.
Psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents with temporal lobe epilepsy: A narrative review
Authors: Cappelletto Pietro , Accolla Claudia , Preti Martina , Pisano Tiziana , Barba Carmen , Guerrini Renzo
Published: December 2024

People with epilepsy (PWE) are at higher risk of psychiatric disorders (PD), disability, and reduced quality of life than the general population, especially in childhood and adolescence and when seizures originate from the temporal lobe. Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE) is the most common type of focal epilepsy and can be due to structural abnormalities, or non‐lesional causes, such as genetic variants. The prevalence of PD is approximately 20%–30% in people with epilepsy in general, and from 40% up to 80% in people with TLE. A higher rate of anxiety and depression disorders has been observed in association with TLE than with extra‐temporal epilepsy, or idiopathic generalized epilepsy, or other chronic diseases such as diabetes. However, while the association between psychopathology and TLE has been extensively assessed in adults, only a few studies have focused on its expression in children and adolescents. In this review, we describe the prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors for PD in people with epilepsy in general and with TLE, with a specific focus on the pediatric age. In addition, we provide insights into the current knowledge of the pathophysiological bases of psychiatric symptoms in children and adolescents with TLE.

Plain Language Summary

This review examines the frequency and characteristics of psychiatric disorders in people with temporal lobe epilepsy, with a focus on children and adolescents.

Similarly to adults, younger people with epilepsy have higher rates of psychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety, than healthy peers or children with other chronic illnesses such as diabetes and asthma. Contributing risk factors include epilepsy duration and severity, and the effects of antiseizure medications, as well as psychological challenges, sociocultural influences, and family dynamics. Psychiatric disorders associated with temporal lobe epilepsy are relatively frequent, probably in relation to the critical role that some limbic structures in the temporal lobe, such as the amygdala and hippocampus, play in regulating emotions and behavior.
Wildfire Risk Assessment to Overhead Transmission‐Line Based on Improved Analytic Hierarchy Process
Authors: Xu Jun , Fang Chaoying , Cheng Yunchu
Published: December 2024

The occurrence of wildfire disasters can easily trigger tripping in overhead transmission‐line, thereby posing a significant threat to the safe and stable operation of the power system. In order to enhance the wildfire prevention and control capability of overhead transmission‐line, a wildfire risk assessment method based on the improved analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is proposed. First, the main factors of wildfire occurrence are explored, and the wildfire risk indicator system for overhead transmission‐line is constructed. We propose a novel runaway coefficient of fire for assessing the impact of fire sources on wildfire disaster. Secondly, the mutual information method is used to avoid the subjective arbitrariness of AHP to improve the reliability of each index weight. The results show that about 82.14% of new fire events of 2023 in Fujian (China) are located in medium‐, high‐, and very‐high‐risk areas, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed method. This methodology offers a foundation for the power system to mitigate the risk of wildfire.
Effects of Lipids and Emulsifiers on the Release of Strawberry Aroma Compounds in Soy‐Based Emulsions
Authors: Xu Jiao , Zeng Maomao , Wang Zhaojun , Chen Qiuming , Qin Fang , Chen Jie , He Zhiyong
Published: December 2024

To explore the effects of lipids and emulsifiers on the release of strawberry aroma compounds in soy‐based emulsions, the release of seven strawberry aroma compounds (limonene, ethyl hexanoate, (Z)‐3‐hexenyl acetate, ethyl 2‐methylbutanoate, ethyl butanoate, (Z)‐3‐hexenol, and diacetyl) was examined using static headspace gas chromatographic analysis. Sensory evaluations revealed that the incorporation of soy protein isolate (SPI) emulsions led to a marked imbalance in the strawberry flavor profile. Although no direct correlation was found between emulsion viscosity or particle size and flavor release, lipid type and concentration (soybean oil and palm oil), and emulsifier type (sucrose ester, tween 80, and monoglyceride) significantly impacted flavor retention. Specifically, the hydrophilic compound diacetyl exhibited significantly higher retention in soybean oil emulsions (41%) than in palm oil emulsions (34%) (p < 0.05). The retention of esters and limonene increased with lipid content, whereas diacetyl retention decreased. Sucrose ester and tween 80 demonstrated stronger adsorption of ester compounds than monoglyceride. After sucrose ester addition, retention values of ethyl butanoate, limonene, and diacetyl increased by 1.6, 2.1, and 1.8 times, respectively, compared to samples without it. This study provides theoretical insights into the flavor release behavior in soy‐based beverages.
Perturbed Polynomial With Multiple Free‐Parameters Reconstructed WENO Schemes
Authors: Tao Yang , Xi Chen , Bo Wang , Zhao Qijun , Zhao Guoqing
Published: December 2024

The classical WENO schemes perform well for most flow field simulations, they may encounter the ‘Cannikin Law’ trap, that is, the lowest accuracy order of the scheme may have a significant influence on the simulation. In this article, a novel WENO scheme (termed HPWENO) with improved convergence order is proposed to alleviate this issue. The research in this article is structured around three key steps: Firstly, the stencil is classified as either smooth stencil or non‐smooth stencil by using the classification strategy of the hybrid WENO scheme. Secondly, perturbed polynomial reconstruction with double free‐parameters is proposed. Finally, the new reconstruction coefficients containing multiple free‐parameters, built on the classical fifth‐order WENO schemes, are obtained by using the perturbed polynomial reconstruction. Compared to the fifth‐order WENO schemes, a maximum two‐order of accuracy improvement in candidate stencils and one‐order of accuracy improvement in global stencil can be achieved by adaptively adjusting the values of these free‐parameters, resulting in sixth‐order accuracy in global stencil and fifth‐order accuracy in candidate stencils. Compared to the classical fifth‐order WENO5‐Z scheme and the WENO‐AO(5,3) scheme, numerical examples show that the HPWENO schemes have higher convergence ratio, provide sharper solution profiles near discontinuities, and perform well in resolving small‐scale structures. Compared to the sixth‐order WENO‐CU6 scheme and the seventh‐order WENO7‐Z scheme, the proposed HPWENO schemes outperform the two schemes in resolving the small‐scale vortex of two‐dimensional issues, and it saves approximately 15% and 25% of computational resources, respectively.
Hydrochemical Characterisation and Genesis Mechanism of Li‐Rich Geothermal Waters in the High‐Temperature Geothermal Areas of Western Sichuan, China
Authors: Yuan Xingcheng , Zhang Yunhui , Huang Jinhang , Yang Shiming , Wang Ying , Wang Yangshuang , Zhang Ji
Published: December 2024

Lithium (Li) is a valuable resource with significant economic benefits and strategic importance. The extraction of Li from Li‐rich geothermal fluids has low production costs and may be an essential source of Li in the future. The Li contents in the high‐temperature geothermal systems of western Sichuan are high (most exceeding 1 mg/L) and reach the exploration standard. However, the Li source and enrichment processes of high‐temperature geothermal fluids are not well known. Therefore, 30 groups of natural hot springs with Li ≥ 1 mg/L from Batang, Litang, and Kangding high‐temperature geothermal systems were selected to analyse the Li enrichment mechanism in high‐temperature geothermal water. The average exposed temperatures of Batang, Litang, and Kangding geothermal waters were 82.4°C, 53.7°C, and 61.9°C, respectively, and the hydrochemical types were HCO3‐Na. The average concentrations of Li in the geothermal waters of Batang, Litang, and Kangding were 2.32, 3.29, and 3.54 mg/L. Based on the δD and δ18O characteristics, the geothermal waters in the study area originated from meteoric water and snow‐melt water. Magmatic water was also mixed during circulation, with Kangding geothermal water being the most mixed (25.0%). Strong water–rock interactions occurred during geothermal water runoff ascent, including silicate mineral dissolution, geothermal gas dissolution, and cation exchange. The deep reservoir temperatures in the geothermal systems of Batang, Litang, and Kangding were estimated to be 239°C, 200°C, and 242°C, and the shallow reservoir temperatures were 175°C, 86°C, and 116°C. Finally, two Li enrichment mechanisms were proposed: (1) Li in the geothermal waters of Batang and Litang geothermal systems mainly came from the leaching of lepidolite and spodumene during water–rock interactions. (2) Li in the Kangding geothermal system mainly originated from the input of magmatic water. This research deepens the understanding of Li enrichment mechanisms in high‐temperature geothermal systems, which will be helpful for the exploration of geothermal Li resources.
Green Cities, Healthier Children: The Effect of Expanding Urban Green Space on Body Weight for Primary School Starters
Authors: Koebe Josefine
Published: December 2024

The discussion on tackling childhood obesity is often centered around fostering physical activity. A potential relationship yet overlooked could run from providing the proper environment for healthy lifestyles to reduced weight problems. A unique quasi‐experimental setting of transforming former airport grounds to a large urban green space allows me to apply a difference‐in‐differences approach within an intention‐to‐treat framework, comparing several weight outcomes of residential children to children living further away before and after park opening. I use new administrative data on the Berlin district level from mandatory school entrance examinations and provide robust evidence of a lower probability by 4.3% points for treated children to be overweight (BMI > 90 P.), driven entirely by girls, mainly by children from foreign cultural backgrounds and children with less childcare exposure. My results are robust to corrective methods of inference, including synthetic controls, and may open a new perspective for obesity policy action and prevention.
How Ideas About Context and Remapping Developed in Brooklyn
Authors: Kubie John L.
Published: December 2024

In 1979, I joined Jim Ranck's group in Brooklyn and began recording hippocampal neurons. The first project was to record single neurons across three behaviors in different chambers: pellet retrieval on a radial‐arm maze, bar‐pressing for food reward in an operant chamber, and maternal pup‐retrieval in a large home box. We found spatial firing in all three chambers, with a single‐neuron's firing pattern unpredictable from one chamber to the next. We interpreted the spatial firing patterns as representing “context.” Later, in the 1980s, I began collaborating with Bob Muller (and Jim Ranck). In the first of a pair of 1987 papers, we used computerized data acquisition, recorded in simple, reduced environments to demonstrate robust, stable place cell firing and the characteristic features of firing fields. In the second paper we showed that when a rat is transferred from one environment to another, the set of place cells “remaps.” “Remapping” was defined later, in a pair of 1990 papers. “Context” was introduced in the early three‐behavior experiment but was not discussed in the 1987 papers. What is the true relationship between the biological observation of “remapping” and the psychological concept of “context”? This difficult question is addressed here and in more detail in our recent paper.
Regional anesthesia for clavicle fractures in emergency medicine: A scoping review
Authors: Su En‐Hsien , Chen Cheng‐Chien , Chen Kuo‐Chih , Chau Su Weng , Lee Yi‐Kung , Tsai Tou‐Yuan
Published: December 2024

Background

Regional anesthesia (RA) has emerged as an alternative technique for managing pain from clavicle fractures in emergency medicine (EM). However, comprehensive data on how RA practices have evolved in EM are lacking.

Objectives

In this study, we aimed to systematically review the characteristics of both published and unpublished research on the use of RA for clavicle fractures in EM.

Methods

Relevant publications were retrieved from ClinicalTrials.gov, Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar up to September 2024. Studies focused on RA for clavicle fractures in EM were included. The study outcomes included geographic distribution, publication in EM journals, article type, study setting, specialties of RA providers, patient characteristics, and RA techniques used in clavicle fractures.

Results

Eight eligible publications were included, comprising three reviews, three case reports, and two research articles. Overall, four RA techniques were documented in the EM literature: the superficial cervical plexus block, interscalene block, supraclavicular nerve block, and clavipectoral plane block. All research articles and case reports reported a reduction in pain scores following RA. Emergency physicians were the primary providers of RA. Most publications focused on the use of single‐shot ultrasound‐guided techniques with long‐acting regimens.

Conclusion

This scoping review from reviews, research articles, and case reports highlights the effectiveness of RA for managing clavicle fractures in EM, although the literature remains limited. With the limitation of the scoping review, our findings should be interpreted as preliminary and hypothesis generating rather than definitive evidence of the effectiveness of RA for clavicle fracture management. Further prospective high‐quality studies are needed to support these findings.
Rapid Early Screening for Lymphedema Using Kinect
Authors: Noble Sneha , Gopalakrishnan Uma , Vijaykumar D. K. , Pathinarupothi Rahul Krishnan
Published: December 2024

Breast cancer related lymphedema (BCRL) is the swelling that generally occurs in the arms and is caused by the removal of or damage to lymph nodes as a part of invasive cancer treatment. Treating it at the earliest possible stage is the best way to manage the condition and prevent the pain, recurrent infection, reduced mobility, and impaired function. Current approaches for lymphedema detection include physical examination with tape measurement, lymphoscintigraphy, and magnetic resonance lymphangiography. The tape measurement method requires high manual involvement and lacks standardization, and the imaging modalities are expensive, time‐consuming and involve the injection of a contrast agent. To overcome these challenges, we built and validated a noncontact volumetric measurement system called rapid early screening for lymphedema (RESLy) consisting of (a) noninvasive Kinect infrared sensor‐based imaging that captures and builds a 3D reconstructed model of the body, (b) an automated segmentation process for extracting the region of interest (ROI), and (c) the volumetric computation of lymphedema. By employing density‐based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN), which is a density‐based unsupervised learning algorithm, RESLy automatically segments out limbs from 3D maps, thereby streamlining automated measurements to be conducted quickly. The in‐lab calibration, testing, validation, and clinical deployment of RESLy among twelve patients in a tertiary cancer care department demonstrate that it is able to accurately identify limb volume differences with the least standard error of measurement, as well as identify lymphedema stages satisfactorily.
Lightweight Auxiliary Sports Training Quality Evaluation Based on Edge‐Cloud Collaboration
Authors: Li Aichen
Published: December 2024

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and internet of things (IoTs) technologies, it has become a challenge task to assist sports training using intelligent system in physical education. This paper establishes a lightweight assisted sports training quality evaluation system using edge‐cloud computing and AI technology to weaken this issue. First, the skeleton of person during sports training is captured by Kinect camera; then, the skeleton is represented as joint angle feature vector; lastly, the joint angle feature vector is sent to cloud server in which an ordinal regression forest is deployed. Compared with complex deep learning model, both skeletal joint angle feature extraction and ordinal regression forest need fewer computing resources, which can adapt limited resources in devices under IoT environment. On the other hand, ordinal regression forest can reflect the ordinal relationship between sports training quality levels to reach lower mean absolute error (MAE). The experiments show the effectiveness of the proposed sports training quality evaluation system.
Efficacy of Various Dry Electrode‐Based ECG Sensors: A Review
Authors: Kumar Ghanshyam , Duggal Bhanu , Singh J. P. , Shrivastava Yash
Published: December 2024

Long‐term electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring is crucial for detecting and diagnosing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Monitoring cardiac health and activities using efficient, noninvasive, and cost‐effective techniques such as ECG can be vital for the early detection of different CVDs. Wet electrode‐based traditional ECG techniques come with unavoidable limitations of the altered quality of ECG signals caused by gel volatilization and unwanted noise followed by dermatitis. The limitation related to the wet electrodes for long‐term ECG monitoring in static and dynamic postures reminds us of the urgency of a suitable substitute. Dry electrodes promise long‐term ECG monitoring with the potential for significant noise reduction. This review discusses traditional and alternative techniques to record ECG in terms of meeting the efficient detection of CVDs by conducting a detailed analysis of different types of dry electrodes along with materials (substrate, support, matrix, and conductive part) used for fabrication, followed by the number of human subjects they have been used for validation. The degradation of these electrodes has also been discussed briefly. This review finds a need for more validation on a sufficient number of subjects and the issue of cost and noise hindering the commercialization of these dry electrodes.
The role of chloride in calcium precipitation from drinking groundwater
Authors: Ramírez Juárez Juan Ernesto , Villalobos de Alba Ángel Alfonso , Ramírez Rodríguez Roxana , Flores de la Torre Juan Armando , Baltazar Hernandez Víctor Hugo , Cervantes Francisco J.
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND

Chloride is present in many water sources. In addition, the use of hypochlorite as a disinfectant for drinking water increases its chloride concentration. However, the effect of this prevalent ion on Ca precipitation in drinking water is poorly described, and its effect, as a function of the Ca/Mg ratio, which drives Ca precipitation, has not been studied. Accordingly, Ca precipitation was studied using batch assays at different concentrations of chloride and hypochlorite for Ca/Mg ratios of 4.0 and 1.1. The assays were performed at 20 and 25 °C. Chemical speciation analysis was performed using Visual MINTEQ software, and precipitates derived from the process were analyzed by X‐ray diffraction.

RESULTS

Ca precipitation was influenced by the Cl− concentration, causing an oversaturation of CaCO3 with a trend to a maximum. The highest Ca precipitation was achieved at a Ca/Mg ratio of 4.0, obtained at an initial Cl− concentration of 50 mg L−1, both at 20 and 25 °C. For a Ca/Mg ratio of 1.1, the highest precipitation occurred at initial Cl− concentrations of 10–15 mg L−1 at 20 °C and 20 mg L−1 at 25 °C. In ClO− experiments, Ca precipitation increases proportionally with hypochlorite dosage. Greater Ca precipitation is observed at Ca/Mg = 4.0 compared to Ca/Mg = 1.1. The proportion of aragonite or calcite in the precipitates obtained depends on the presence of Cl− and ClO− as well as on the Ca/Mg ratio.

CONCLUSION

Chloride affects Ca precipitation by oversaturation, and the precipitation of CaCO3 species depends on the concentration of Mg. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Effect of neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage on 30‐day readmissions: A systematic review
Authors: Garrett Lindsey , Muhammad Adil , Kulshreshtha Ambar
Published: December 2024

Background

The area deprivation index (ADI) is a measure of neighborhood disadvantage. It uses census‐level information to quantify a person's neighborhood deprivation level based on their address. Recent studies have used ADI to examine the relationship between a patient's address and various health outcomes, including 30‐day readmissions.

Objective

This systematic review was conducted to determine the effect of ADI on 30‐day readmissions for both medical and surgical conditions.

Methods

We performed a comprehensive literature search in scientific databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and SCOPUS from 2013 to 2024. Our search included terms related to ADI and 30‐day readmissions in adult populations in the United States. Studies were included if they utilized ADI as their primary exposure and examined the risk of readmissions within 30 days as an outcome. Two reviewers independently extracted the data and assessed quality and biases in the studies.

Results

Of the 66 papers found through database search, 23 (35%) were included. These studies focused on conditions such as cardiac, diabetic, neurological, and pulmonary diseases, as well as postsurgical and septic patients, with three studies examining all patients in general. When examining the highest level of ADI, 15 (65%) studies (6 of which focused on postsurgical patients) found that high ADI (most disadvantaged) is significantly associated with 30‐day readmissions.

Conclusion

Living in a high ADI area moderately impacts 30‐day readmissions, particularly for patients who have undergone surgery or have undifferentiated problems.
Valine Restriction Extends Survival in a Drosophila Model of Short‐Chain Enoyl‐CoA Hydratase 1 (ECHS1) Deficiency
Authors: Mele Sarah , Martelli Felipe , Barlow Christopher K. , Jefferies Grace , Dworkin Sebastian , Christodoulou John , Schittenhelm Ralf B. , Piper Matthew D. W. , Johnson Travis K.
Published: December 2024

Short‐chain enoyl‐CoA hydratase 1 deficiency (ECHS1D) is a rare genetic disorder caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in the ECHS1 gene. ECHS1D is characterised by severe neurological and physical impairment that often leads to childhood mortality. Therapies such as protein and single nutrient‐restricted diets show poor efficacy, whereas the development of new treatments is hindered by the low prevalence of the disorder and a lack of model systems for treatment testing. Here, we report on the establishment of a Drosophila model of ECHS1D. Flies carrying mutations in Echs1 (CG6543) were characterised for their physical and metabolic phenotypes, and dietary intervention to improve fly model health was explored. The Echs1 null larvae recapitulated human ECHS1D phenotypes including poor motor behaviour and early mortality and could be rescued by the expression of a human ECHS1 transgene. We observed that both restriction of valine in isolation, or all branched‐chain amino acids (BCAAs—leucine, isoleucine and valine) together, extended larval survival, supporting the idea that reducing BCAA pathway catabolic flux is beneficial in this disorder. Further, metabolic profiling revealed substantial changes to carbohydrate metabolism, suggesting that Echs1 loss causes widespread metabolic dysregulation beyond valine metabolism. The similarities between Drosophila and human ECHS1D suggest that the fly model is a valuable animal system in which to explore mechanisms of pathogenesis and novel treatment options for this disorder.
An Analytical Subthreshold I–V Model of SiC Double Gate JFETs
Authors: Li Yi , Zhou Tao , Guo Zixuan , Yang Yuqiu , Wu Junyao , Cai Huan , Wang Jun , Yin Jungang , Liu Qin , Deng Linfeng
Published: December 2024

SiC double gate (DG) junction field effect transistor (JFET) is promising for low‐noise and high‐temperature electronics. Existing studies indicate that JFETs can be considered a special case of MOSFETs when the oxide layer thickness approaches zero. In this article, we exploited the structural similarity between the DG JFETs and the DG MOSFETs. By obtaining the 2D Poisson's equation for the DG MOSFETs and deriving the limits, we developed a model for calculating the channel current of SiC DG JFETs in the subthreshold region. The model is derived from device physics, requiring no fitting parameters and offering relatively low computational complexity. The results indicate that, whether for enhancement mode or depletion mode JFETs, the calculated values of this model are in good agreement with the 2D numerical analysis results obtained from Silvaco Atlas. Moreover, for enhancement mode JFETs, even when significant short‐channel effects occur, the subthreshold current can still be well predicted. In addition, the model displays predictive capability for the depletion‐mode JFETs.
Planet‐friendly plates: the effect of a plant‐based diet on sustainable eating behavior in a sample of Turkish adults
Authors: Kenger Emre Batuhan , Özlü Karahan Tuğçe , Meral Koç Bilge
Published: December 2024

Background

In addition to the health effects of plant‐based diets, their impact on the environment is becoming increasingly important. This study was conducted to assess the impact of adherence to a plant‐based diet on sustainable eating behaviors.

Materials and methods

This cross‐sectional study was conducted on 2122 Turkish adults, 73% female and 27% male. The plant‐based diet index (PDI), healthy plant‐based diet index (hPDI) and unhealthy plant‐based diet index (uPDI) were obtained from a validated semi‐quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). After the index scores were calculated, the sample was divided into tertiles for each index. The sustainable eating behaviors of the participants were determined with the ‘Behaviors Scale towards Sustainable Nutrition’.

Results

The PDI and hPDI levels of female participants were found to be higher than those of male participants. Factors such as age, exercise and educational status were also found to affect adherence to a plant‐based diet. In regression models, PDI (Model 1; β: 0.413, Model 2; β: 0.369, Model 3; β: 0.367) and hPDI (Model 1; β: 0.462, Model 2; β: 0.366, Model 3; β: 0. 351) scores had a positive effect on sustainable eating behavior scores, whereas uPDI (Model 1; β: −0.496, Model 2; β: −0.471, Model 3; β: −0.459) scores had a negative effect (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that individuals with higher adherence to overall plant‐based and healthy plant‐based diets exhibit more sustainable eating behaviors. Promoting healthy plant‐based diets presents a promising approach to advancing sustainable nutrition, and mitigating environmental challenges. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.