bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microwave Quasi‐Solid State to Construct Strong Metal‐Support Interactions with Interfacial Electron‐Enriched Ru for Anion Exchange Membrane Electrolysis
Authors: Yang Pengfei , Liu Fusheng , Zang Xingchao , Xin Liantao , Xiao Weiping , Xu Guangrui , Li Hui , Li Zhenjiang , Ma Tianyi , Wang Jinsong , Wu Zexing , Wang Lei
Published: December 2023

Regulating the metal‐support interaction of the anchored metal nanoclusters is recognized as valid approach to optimize the electrocatalytic performance through tuning the interfacial electronic structure. However, developing novel support and understanding the interfacial electron accumulation on modulating the reaction kinetics are still elusive. Herein, highly‐dispersed Ruthenium (Ru) nanoclusters anchored onto phosphorous doped molybdenum boride (Ru/P‐MoB) is developed through ultrafast microwave‐plasma (60 s) approach. The synthesized Ru/P‐MoB impressively promote the hydrogen evolution with low overpotentials of 34, 45, and 40 mV to drive 10 mA cm−2 in alkaline freshwater, alkaline seawater and acid media. Specially, it presents superior turnover frequency and mass/specific activity relative to Pt/C, Ru/C, and Ru/MoB. Moreover, the anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyzer cell based on Ru/P‐MoB can achieve 500 and 1000 mA cm−2 with small voltages of 1.71 and 1.78 V with good durability. Experimental and density functional theoretical (DFT) analysis reveal that the strong metal‐support interactions (Ru─Mo and Ru─P bonds) with generated interfacial electron‐enriched Ru, and then favoring the water‐molecule adsorption/dissociation and optimal H intermediate adsorption free energy. This work provides novel designing avenue to exploit electrocatalysts with outstanding catalytic performance under high current density at practical high‐temperature.
Harnessing Electrochemical‐Mechanical Couplings to Improve the Reliability of Solid‐State Batteries
Authors: Monismith Scott , Fincher Cole D. , Chiang Yet‐Ming , Qu Jianmin , Dingreville Rémi
Published: December 2023

One key barrier to using lithium‐metal anode batteries is that metal dendrites can penetrate solid electrolytes, causing short‐circuits and battery failures. It is established that this failure is likely caused by crack propagation due to electrodeposition‐induced stresses from lithium metal. This study explores ways to harness these electrochemical‐mechanical couplings to control dendrite growth and improve battery reliability using a phase‐field model and targeted fracture experiments. The results show that dendrite growth can be effectively mitigated by applying mechanical stresses or tailoring the material's fracture toughness. This study also outlines the requirements for compressive stress to halt or deflect dendrites as a function of the overpotential and discusses the role of microstructure in this process.
Examining the impact of trading volume on liquidity and prices in China's soybean complex
Authors: Xu Yuanyuan , Li Jian , Wang Linjie , Etienne Xiaoli
Published: December 2023

This paper presents liquidity measures in high resolution and investigates the impact of trading volume on market liquidity and prices in China's soybean complex markets. We document a U‐shaped distribution of volume and spreads over the course of a trading day. Quantile regression results show that trading volume tends to tighten bid‐ask spreads but widen spreads in the lower tail. We further find that the impact of trading volume on prices is significantly more pronounced during the opening hours, possibly indicating a higher prevalence of informed trading. Additionally, smaller‐sized transactions have a disproportionately larger impact on prices compared to large‐sized orders, a possible indication that stealth trading, that is, shaving large orders into smaller slices to conceal private information, presents in China's soybean complex.
Polyurethane with β‐Selenocarbonyl Structure Enabling the Combination of Plastic Degradation and Waste Upcycling
Authors: He Chaowei , Liu Cheng , Pan Shuojiong , Tan Yizheng , Guan Jun , Xu Huaping
Published: December 2023

Degradable polymers offer a promising solution to mitigate global plastic pollution, but the degraded products often suffer from diminished value. Upcycling is a more sustainable approach to upgrade polymer waste into value‐added products. Herein, we report a β‐selenocarbonyl‐containing polyurethane (SePU), which can be directly degraded under mild conditions into valuable selenium fertilizers for selenium‐rich vegetable cultivation globally, enabling both plastic degradation and waste upcycling. Under oxidation condition, this polymer can be easily and selectively degraded via selenoxide elimination reaction from mixed plastic waste. The degraded product can serve as effective selenium fertilizers to increase selenium content in radish and pak choi. The SePU exhibits excellent mechanical properties. Additionally, we observed the formation of spherulites‐like selenium particles within the materials during degradation for the first time. Our research offers a successful application of selenoxide elimination reaction in the field of plastic degradation for the first time, endowing plastics with both degradability and high reusable value. This strategy provides a promising solution to reduce pollution and improve economy and sustainability of plastics.
DNAzyme‐Catalyzed Site‐Specific N‐Acylation of DNA Oligonucleotide Nucleobases
Authors: Kennebeck Morgan M. , Kaminsky Caroline K. , Massa Maria A. , Das Prakriti K. , Boyd Robert D. , Bishka Michelle , Tricarico J. Tomas , Silverman Scott K.
Published: December 2023

We used in vitro selection to identify DNAzymes that acylate the exocyclic nucleobase amines of cytidine, guanosine, and adenosine in DNA oligonucleotides. The acyl donor was the 2,3,5,6‐tetrafluorophenyl ester (TFPE) of a 5′‐carboxyl oligonucleotide. Yields are as high as >95 % in 6 h. Several of the N‐acylation DNAzymes are catalytically active with RNA rather than DNA oligonucleotide substrates, and eight of nine DNAzymes for modifying C are site‐specific (>95 %) for one particular substrate nucleotide. These findings expand the catalytic ability of DNA to include site‐specific N‐acylation of oligonucleotide nucleobases. Future efforts will investigate the DNA and RNA substrate sequence generality of DNAzymes for oligonucleotide nucleobase N‐acylation, toward a universal approach for site‐specific oligonucleotide modification.
On treatment options to improve the functionality of pea protein
Authors: Mathew Hannah Chacko , Kim Woojeong , Wang Yong , Clayton Celeste , Selomulya Cordelia
Published: December 2023

Pea proteins have garnered attention as a viable alternative to animal proteins, offering health, and sustainability benefits. However, their functional limitations, such as poor solubility, hinder their application in plant‐based food products. This review details the specific physical, chemical, and biological methods employed to enhance pea protein functionality. Chemical methods have been the most effective, particularly in improving solubility, emulsification, and foaming properties, which are essential for food applications like dairy alternatives and meat analogues. Biological methods significantly enhance water and oil retention, contributing to better food texture. Physical methods, including ultrasound and heat treatment, also show promise but require careful application to avoid protein denaturation. While chemical methods are efficacious, they raise concerns about cost‐effectiveness and environmental impact. The review identifies combined treatment approaches as a fertile area for future research, suggesting that a multi‐faceted strategy may provide comprehensive improvements to pea protein functionality.
Graphene oxide a promising formaldehyde scavenger of phenolic resin‐bonded plywood: From elaboration to evaluation
Authors: Ait Benhamou Anass , Salim Mohamed Hamid , Boussetta Abdelghani , Mennani Mehdi , Essifi Kamal , Kassab Zineb , El Achaby Mounir , Moubarik Amine
Published: December 2023

A long‐standing manufactured and most frequently used resin is phenol‐formaldehyde resin, which has currently reached new horizons by incorporating nano reinforcements, even at lower loadings. Nanostructured materials, particularly graphene, have gained considerable interest in recent years because of their fascinating characteristics. Herein, this study explores for the first time the potential of prepared graphene oxide (GnO) as an effective formaldehyde scavenger in the development of plywood panels containing PF resins. The addition of 1% of GnO to the system resulted in a significant improvements in the mechanical properties by more than 45% in the shear strength (SS), 35% in modulus of elasticity, and 25% in modulus of rupture when compared with the reference panel. While the moisture resistance of panels were found to remarkably enhanced showing an increase in SS by 25% and 37% After 24 h in cold water (20°C) and 12 h of immersion in boiling water, respectively. The results also demonstrated that GnO exhibited exceptional formaldehyde capture efficiency, surpassing 60% reduction compared with the control. This innovative research not only unveils the novel potential of GnO in improving the performance of PF resins but also ushers in a new way of developing eco‐friendly wood‐based materials.
Unveiling Carrier Relaxation Mechanism in Protonated/Deprotonated Carbon Dots and Their Solvent Effects via Ultrafast Spectroscopy
Authors: Zhang Jihao , Yuan Chunze , Dou Hongbin , Zhu Ruixue , Li Lin , Weng Tsu‐Chien
Published: December 2023

The intricate nature of the surface structure of carbon dots (CDs) hinders a comprehensive understanding of their emission behavior. In this study, we employ two types of CDs created through acid‐alkali treatments, one with surface protonation and the other with surface deprotonation, with the objective of investigating the impact of these surface modifications on carrier behavior using ultrafast spectroscopy techniques. TEM, XRD, FTIR and Raman spectra demonstrate the CDs’ structure, featuring graphitic core and abundant surface functional groups. XPS confirms the successful surface modifications of CDs via protonation and deprotonation. Ultrafast transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy reveals that deprotonation modification may decelerate the relaxation process, thereby increasing the visible PL quantum yields (PLQY). Conversely, protonation may accelerate the relaxation process due to the induced low‐energy absorption band, resulting in self‐absorption and reduced PLQY. Furthermore, TA analysis of CDs in mixed solvents with different proportions of ethanol shows the beneficial effect of ethanol in decelerating the relaxation process, leading to an increased PLQY of 33.7 % for deprotonated CDs and 22.1 % for protonated CDs. This study illuminates the intricate relationship between surface deprotonation/protonation modifications and carrier behavior in CDs, offering a potential avenue for the design of high‐brightness CDs for diverse applications.
Factors associated with infant sex and preterm birth status for selected birth defects from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997–2011
Authors: Williford Eva M. , Yang Wei , Howley Meredith M. , Ma Chen , Collins Ronnie T. , Weber Kari A. , Heinke Dominique , Petersen Julie M. , Agopian A. J. , Archer Natalie P. , Olshan Andrew F. , Williams Lindsay A. , Browne Marilyn L. , Shaw Gary M. ,   the National Birth Defects Prevention Study
Published: December 2023

Background

Birth defects and preterm birth co‐occur, with some overlapping risk factors. Many birth defects and preterm births tend to have a male preponderance. We explored potential risk factors impacting sex and preterm (<37 weeks of gestation) birth differences among infants with selected birth defects delivered from 1997 to 2011 using data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS).

Methods

The NBDPS was a large multisite, population‐based case–control study. Using random forests, we identified important predictors of male preterm, female preterm, and male term, each compared with female term births for each birth defect. Using logistic regression, we estimated odds ratios for associations between important predictors and sex‐preterm birth status by birth defect.

Results

We examined 11,379 infants with nine specific birth defects. The top 10 most important predictors of sex‐preterm birth status from the random forests varied greatly across the birth defects and sex‐preterm comparisons within a given defect group, with several being novel factors. However, one consistency was that short interpregnancy interval was associated with sex‐preterm birth status for many of the studied birth defects. Although obesity has been identified as a risk factor for preterm birth and birth defects in other research, it was not associated with sex‐preterm birth status for any of the examined defects.

Conclusions

We confirmed expected associations for sex‐preterm birth status differences and found new potential risk factors for further exploration among the studied birth defects.
Leisure time television watching, computer use and risks of breast, colorectal and prostate cancer: A Mendelian randomisation analysis
Authors: Papadimitriou Nikos , Kazmi Nabila , Dimou Niki , Tsilidis Konstantinos K. , Martin Richard M. , Lewis Sarah J. , Lynch Brigid M. , Hoffmeister Michael , Kweon Sun‐Seog , Li Li , Milne Roger L. , Sakoda Lori C. , Schoen Robert E. , Phipps Amanda I. , Figueiredo Jane C. , Peters Ulrike , Dixon‐Suen Suzanne C. , Gunter Marc J. , Murphy Neil
Published: December 2023

Background

Sedentary behaviours have been associated with increased risks of some common cancers in epidemiological studies; however, it is unclear if these associations are causal.

Methods

We used univariable and multivariable two‐sample Mendelian randomisation (MR) to examine potential causal relationships between sedentary behaviours and risks of breast, colorectal and prostate cancer. Genetic variants associated with self‐reported leisure television watching and computer use were identified from a recent genome‐wide association study (GWAS). Data related to cancer risk were obtained from cancer GWAS consortia. A series of sensitivity analyses were applied to examine the robustness of the results to the presence of confounding.

Results

A 1‐standard deviation (SD: 1.5 h/day) increment in hours of television watching increased risk of breast cancer (OR per 1‐SD: 1.15, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05–1.26) and colorectal cancer (OR per 1‐SD: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.16–1.49) while there was little evidence of an association for prostate cancer risk (OR per 1‐SD: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.84–1.06). After adjusting for years of education, the effect estimates for television watching were attenuated (breast cancer, OR per 1‐SD: 1.08, 95% CI: 0.92–1.27; colorectal cancer, OR per 1‐SD: 1.08, 95% CI: 0.90–1.31). Post hoc analyses showed that years of education might have a possible confounding and mediating role in the association between television watching with breast and colorectal cancer. Consistent results were observed for each cancer site according to sex (colorectal cancer), anatomical subsites and cancer subtypes. There was little evidence of associations between genetically predicted computer use and cancer risk.

Conclusions

Our univariable analysis identified some positive associations between hours of television watching and risks of breast and colorectal cancer. However, further adjustment for additional lifestyle factors especially years of education attenuated these results. Future studies using objective measures of exposure can provide new insights into the possible role of sedentary behaviour in cancer development.
Evaluation of Food Effect on the Pharmacokinetics of Velufenacin, a New Muscarinic Receptor Antagonist, in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Khwarg Juyoung , Chung Woo Kyung , Lee Soyoung , Yang Eunsol , Ryu Chaelim , Lee Dae Young , Lee Min Jung , Jang In‐Jin , Yu Kyung‐Sang , Lee SeungHwan
Published: December 2023

Velufenacin (DA‐8010) is a new muscarinic receptor antagonist under development for the treatment of overactive bladder. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of food on the pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety of velufenacin in healthy subjects. A randomized, open‐label, single‐dose, 4‐sequence, 4‐treatment, 4‐period crossover study was conducted. Subjects received a single oral dose of velufenacin 2.5 or 5 mg in a fasted or fed (high‐fat meal) state in each period with a 7‐day washout. PK parameters including maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the concentration‐time curve from time 0 to the last measurable point were compared between the fed and fasted states. Twenty‐seven subjects completed the study. The mean area under the concentration‐time curve from time 0 to the last measurable point of the velufenacin 2.5 and 5 mg doses under the fed condition showed a 1.5‐ and 1.3‐fold increase, respectively, compared to the fasted condition. The corresponding values for Cmax were a 2.3‐ and 2.0‐fold increase, respectively. The time to reach Cmax was comparable regardless of the dose or food intake, showing median values of 4.5‐5.0 hours. These results suggest a modest increase of velufenacin absorption by food intake. Velufenacin was generally safe and well tolerated at the 2.5 and 5 mg doses regardless of food.
Bring more than green? The impact of green human resource management on hospitality employees' organizational citizenship behaviors
Authors: Ma Yueru , Teng Yefan , Yan Bowen
Published: December 2023

Hotels are implementing green human resource management to achieve sustainable development in response to increasingly stringent environmental policies and to meet stakeholder expectations. This study aims to elucidate the impact of green human resource management (GHRM) on organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) implemented by hospitality employees in organizational, interpersonal, and customer contexts, respectively. Specifically, a mediation model with dual moderation from employees' personality, perceptual and cognitive perspectives simultaneously is proposed, which supported by organizational support theory, social identity theory and social cognitive theory. Structural equation modeling is used to evaluate 440 data collected from the Chinese hospitality industry based on conditional sampling method. This paper finds that GHRM can promote OCBs towards the organization and customers and perceived CSR has a mediating effect. Employees' environmental value positively moderates the promotion of perceived CSR through GHRM implementation, and the proactive personality positively moderates the relationship between perceived CSR and OCBs towards the organization and customers. The original value of the study lies in the simultaneous consideration of the three aspects of employees' cognition, perception, and personality, expanding the research perspective of GHRM and discovering the benefits beyond green that this green management model can bring. For hotel managers, this study helps them understand that GHRM brings hotels more than just green. Hotels should focus on matching potential employees' attributes with the organizational culture during recruitment and on improving employees' environmental value and proactive personality level during their subsequent training.
Optimized deep learning driven signal detection and adaptive channel estimation in underwater acoustic IoT networks
Authors: Kapileswar Nellore , Phani Kumar Polasi
Published: December 2023

Nowadays, multiple input multiple outputs with orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MIMO‐OFDM) provide better communication performance that can be applied to the fast‐growing Internet of Things (IoTs). In underwater IoT, information fades away rapidly due to varying water conditions. Therefore, the MIMO model can be applied to the OFDM acoustic system, enabling high‐speed data transmission without affecting the channel effectively. However, detecting the underwater signal and estimating the channel is highly necessary for enhancing underwater acoustic communication (UWAC). Recently, many techniques have been introduced for effectively performing signal detection and channel estimation. However, those techniques face high time complexity due to increased channel interferences and noises during data transmission. Hence, this article brings a novel technique for SD and CE for the UWAC‐IoT‐enabled MIMO‐OFDM system. An adaptive recursive least square (ARLS) technique is proposed in this study for CE that aids in evaluating the acoustic channel parameters effectively. For performing SD, a bi‐directional deep pelican convolutional neural network (BDPCNN) technique is introduced to ensure the presence and absence of signals at the receiver end. The proposed method is analyzed via the MATLAB platform, and the performances are analyzed under different water types like turbid water, coastal water, clear ocean water, and pure seawater. Different performance metrics like bit error rate (BER), mean square error (MSE), energy efficiency (EE), and time complexity are analyzed with different existing techniques. The experimental section obtains the BER of 0.0086, 0.013, 0.017, and 0.021 for turbid, coastal, clear, and pure seawater, respectively.
Unlocking renewable energy potential: A case study of solar and wind site selection in the Kasserine region, central‐western Tunisia
Authors: Rekik Sassi , El Alimi Souheil
Published: December 2023

Developing wind and solar photovoltaics on a large scale requires substantial financial investments, making it crucial to identify the most suitable locations beforehand. To address this issue, a spatial analysis is carried out to determine the most potential sites for hosting large‐scale solar photovoltaic and wind systems in the region of Kasserine, central‐western Tunisia. To this end, an integrated model based on Step‐wise Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA), Decision‐Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL), and Geographic Information System is proposed. An extensive literature survey is conducted to establish suitability criteria and constraints. The SWARA‐DEMATEL is used to assign weights and capture the interdependencies among the considered criteria, while the raster calculator tool from the ArcGis 10.8 software is utilized to extract the final suitability maps. The obtained results indicate that the region of Kasserine exhibits great solar and wind potential, with areas of 635 and 467 km2 extremely fit for installing solar and wind systems, respectively. Furthermore, 349 km2 are identified as potential locations for hosting solar‐wind hybrid systems. Considering these outcomes, policymakers can take the initiative to accelerate the deployment of these facilities, which would assist the country in achieving its plans by 2030.
Unleashing diversity through flexibility: The evolutionary journey of sex chromosomes in amphibians and reptiles
Authors: Uno Yoshinobu , Matsubara Kazumi
Published: December 2023

Sex determination systems have greatly diversified between amphibians and reptiles, with such as the different sex chromosome compositions within a single species and transition between temperature‐dependent sex determination (TSD) and genetic sex determination (GSD). In most sex chromosome studies on amphibians and reptiles, the whole‐genome sequence of Xenopous tropicalis and chicken have been used as references to compare the chromosome homology of sex chromosomes among each of these taxonomic groups, respectively. In the present study, we reviewed existing reports on sex chromosomes, including karyotypes, in amphibians and reptiles. Furthermore, we compared the identified genetic linkages of sex chromosomes in amphibians and reptiles with the chicken genome as a reference, which is believed to resemble the ancestral tetrapod karyotype. Our findings revealed that sex chromosomes in amphibians are derived from genetic linkages homologous to various chicken chromosomes, even among several frogs within single families, such as Ranidae and Pipidae. In contrast, sex chromosomes in reptiles exhibit conserved genetic linkages with chicken chromosomes, not only across most species within a single family, but also within closely related families. The diversity of sex chromosomes in amphibians and reptiles may be attributed to the flexibility of their sex determination systems, including the ease of sex reversal in these animals.
Assessment of methomyl‐induced adrenal gland disruption in rat fetuses and pups: Potential protective effects of propolis supplementation
Authors: Atallah Marwa N. , Badawy Gamal M. , Abdallah Fatma S. , El‐Borm Hend T.
Published: December 2023

The present study aimed to unravel the possible adverse effects of methomyl on the developing adrenal gland of rat fetuses and pups. Additionally, this study explored the potential improving effects of propolis against these possible hazards induced by methomyl exposure. To achieve that, pregnant rats were divided into four groups: control group, received 1 mL distilled water, propolis group, received 1 mL propolis at a dose of 300 mg/kg, methomyl group, received 1 mL methomyl at a dose of 2 mg/kg, and combined group, received 1 mL methomyl followed by 1 mL propolis, an hour later at the same previous doses. The results revealed that methomyl exposure, during pregnancy and lactation, induced many histological and ultrastructural changes, caused DNA damage and downregulated the expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) and CYP11B2 genes in the adrenal glands of both rat fetuses and pups. Interestingly, propolis supplementation demonstrated a remarkable ability to mitigate these deleterious effects and restored the histology and ultrastructure architecture of the adrenal glands of both fetuses and pups, as well as decreased DNA damage and upregulated the expression of StAR and CYP11B2 genes in the adrenal gland of rat fetuses and pups. In conclusion, our study highlights the potential hazardous impact of methomyl exposure during pregnancy and lactation on the development of the adrenal gland in rat fetuses and pups, moreover, the study presents a new approach to alleviate these effects through propolis administration which could be used as a dietary supplement to mitigate the adverse effects of methomyl exposure.
Impact of B0$$ {\mathrm{B}}_0 $$ field imperfections correction on BOLD sensitivity in 3D‐SPARKLING fMRI data
Authors: Amor Zaineb , Le Ster Caroline , GR Chaithya , Daval‐Frérot Guillaume , Boulant Nicolas , Mauconduit Franck , Thirion Bertrand , Ciuciu Philippe , Vignaud Alexandre
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Static and dynamic field imperfections are detrimental to functional MRI (fMRI) applications, especially at ultra‐high magnetic fields (UHF). In this work, a field camera is used to assess the benefits of retrospectively correcting field perturbations on Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) sensitivity in non‐Cartesian three‐dimensional (3D)‐SPARKLING fMRI acquisitions.

Methods

fMRI data were acquired at 1 mm and for a 2.4s‐TR while concurrently monitoring in real‐time field perturbations using a Skope Clip‐on field camera in a novel experimental setting involving a shorter TR than the required minimal TR of the field probes. Measurements of the dynamic field deviations were used along with a static map to retrospectively correct static and dynamic field imperfections, respectively. In order to evaluate the impact of such a correction on fMRI volumes, a comparative study was conducted on healthy volunteers.

Results

Correction of deviations improved image quality and yielded between 20% and 30% increase in median temporal signal‐to‐noise ratio (tSNR).Using fMRI data collected during a retinotopic mapping experiment, we demonstrated a significant increase in sensitivity to the BOLD contrast and improved accuracy of the BOLD phase maps: 44% (resp., 159%) more activated voxels were retrieved when using a significance control level based on a p‐value of 0.001 without correcting for multiple comparisons (resp., 0.05 with a false discovery rate correction).

Conclusion

3D‐SPARKLING fMRI hugely benefits from static and dynamic imperfections correction. However, the proposed experimental protocol is flexible enough to be deployed on a large spectrum of encoding schemes, including arbitrary non‐Cartesian readouts.
Tensor‐valued diffusion MRI of human acute stroke
Authors: Zhou Mi , Stobbe Robert , Szczepankiewicz Filip , Budde Matthew , Buck Brian , Kate Mahesh , Lloret Mar , Fairall Paige , Butcher Ken , Shuaib Ashfaq , Emery Derek , Nilsson Markus , Westin Carl‐Fredrik , Beaulieu Christian
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Tensor‐valued diffusion encoding can disentangle orientation dispersion and subvoxel anisotropy, potentially offering insight into microstructural changes after cerebral ischemia. The purpose was to evaluate tensor‐valued diffusion MRI in human acute ischemic stroke, assess potential confounders from diffusion time dependencies, and compare to Monte Carlo diffusion simulations of axon beading.

Methods

Linear (LTE) and spherical (STE) b‐tensor encoding with inherently different effective diffusion times were acquired in 21 acute ischemic stroke patients between 3 and 57 h post‐onset at 3 T in 2.5 min. In an additional 10 patients, STE with 2 LTE yielding different effective diffusion times were acquired for comparison. Diffusional variance decomposition (DIVIDE) was used to estimate microscopic anisotropy (μFA), as well as anisotropic, isotropic, and total diffusional variance (MKA, MKI, MKT). DIVIDE parameters, and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)‐derived mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy (FA) were compared in lesion versus contralateral white matter. Monte Carlo diffusion simulations of various cylindrical geometries for all b‐tensor protocols were used to interpret parameter measurements.

Results

MD was ˜40% lower in lesions for all LTE/STE protocols. The DIVIDE parameters varied with effective diffusion time: higher μFA and MKA in lesion versus contralateral white matter for STE with longer effective diffusion time LTE, whereas the shorter effective diffusion time LTE protocol yielded lower μFA and MKA in lesions. Both protocols, regardless of diffusion time, were consistent with simulations of greater beading amplitude and intracellular volume fraction.

Conclusion

DIVIDE parameters depend on diffusion time in acute stroke but consistently indicate neurite beading and larger intracellular volume fraction.
Mitigating slice cross‐talk in multi‐slice multi‐echo spin echo T2 mapping
Authors: Brui Ekaterina A. , Badrieva Zilya , de Mayenne Charles‐Alexis , Rapacchi Stanislas , Troalen Thomas , Bendahan David
Published: December 2023

Purpose

To investigate whether a T2 inter‐slice variation could occur when a multi‐slice multi‐echo spin echo (MESE) sequence is used for image acquisition and to propose an enhanced method for reconstructing T2 maps that can effectively address and correct these variations.

Methods

Bloch simulations were performed accounting for the direct saturation effect to evaluate magnetization changes in multi‐slice 2D MESE sequence. Experimental phantom scans were performed to validate these simulations. An improved version of the dictionary‐based reconstruction approach was proposed, enabling the creation of a multi‐slice dictionary of echo modulation curves (EMC). The corresponding method has been assayed considering inter‐slice T2 variation with phantoms and in lower leg.

Results

Experimental and numerical study illustrate that direct saturation leads to a bias of EMCs. This bias during the T2 maps reconstructions using original single‐slice EMC‐dictionary method led to inter‐slice T2 variation of 2.03% in average coefficient of variation (CV) in agarose phantoms, and up to 2.8% in vivo (for TR = 2 s, slice gap = 0%). A reduction of CV was observed when increasing the gap up to 100% (0.36% in phantoms, and up to 1.5% in vivo) or increasing TR up to 4 s (0.76% in phantoms, and up to 1.9% in vivo). Matching the multi‐slice experimental data with multi‐slice dictionaries provided a reduced CV of 0.54% in phantoms and up to 2.3% in vivo.

Conclusion

T2 values quantified from multi‐slice MESE images using single‐slice dictionaries are biased. A dedicated multi‐slice EMC method providing the appropriate dictionaries can reduce the inter‐slice T2 variation.
The clinical and genetic landscape of early‐onset thrombophilia in Japan
Authors: Egami Naoki , Ishimura Masataka , Ochiai Masayuki , Ichiyama Masako , Inoue Hirosuke , Suenobu Souichi , Nishikubo Toshiya , Nogami Keiji , Ishiguro Akira , Hotta Taeko , Uchiumi Takeshi , Kang Dongchon , Ohga Shouichi
Published: December 2023

Objectives

To determine the optimal management for early‐onset thrombophilia (EOT), the genetic and clinical features of protein C (PC)‐, protein S (PS)‐, or antithrombin (AT)‐deficient patients of ≤20 years of age were studied in Japan.

Methods/results

Clinical and genetic information of all genetically diagnosed cases was collected through the prospective, retrospective study, and literature review. One‐hundred‐one patients had PC (n = 55), PS (n = 29), or AT deficiency (n = 18). One overlapping case had PC‐ and PS‐monoallelic variant. Fifty‐five PC‐deficient patients (54%) had 26 monoallelic or 29 biallelic variant(s), and 29 (29%) PS‐deficient patients had 20 monoallelic or nine biallelic variant(s). None of the patients had AT‐biallelic variants. The frequent low‐risk allele p.K193del (PC‐Tottori) was found in five patients with monoallelic (19%) but not 29 with biallelic variant(s). The most common low‐risk allele p.K196E (PS‐Tokushima) was found in five with monoallelic (25%) and six with biallelic variant(s) (67%). One exceptional de novo PC variant was found in 32 families with EOT. Only five parents had a history of thromboembolism. Thrombosis concurrently developed in three mother–newborn pairs (two PC deficiency and one AT deficiency). The prospective cohort revealed the outcomes of 35 patients: three deaths with PC deficiency and 20 complication‐free survivors. Neurological complications were more frequently found in patients with PC‐biallelic variants than those with PC‐, PS‐, or AT‐monoallelic variants (73% vs. 24%, p = .019).

Conclusions

We demonstrate the need for elective screening for EOT targeting PC deficiency in Japan. Early prenatal diagnosis of PC deficiency in mother–infant pairs may prevent perinatal thrombosis in them.
Oncology mental health providers' adaptation of an evidence‐based intervention: A mixed‐methods study
Authors: Conley Claire C. , Ryba Marlena M. , Brothers Brittany M. , Lo Stephen B. , Andersen Barbara L.
Published: December 2023

Background

Adaptations are intentional modifications maximizing the fit of an evidence‐based intervention (EBI) in new context. Little is known about EBI adaptation within psychosocial oncology. Guided by the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications‐Enhanced (FRAME), this mixed‐methods study describes oncology mental health providers' planned adaptations to a psychosocial oncology EBI and examines the relationship between planned adaptations and longitudinal EBI usage.

Methods

Providers (N = 128) were social workers (47%) and psychologists (40%) practicing in community settings (44%) or academic medical centers (41%). They attended a 3‐day training on a multicomponent psychosocial oncology EBI, the Biobehavioral Intervention (BBI). During training, providers prepared an “adaptation plan” describing necessary adaptations to BBI and rationales for change. Qualitative data from adaptation plans were analyzed using directed content analysis. Linear mixed models examined the relationship between adaptation characteristics (number, similarity to the manualized BBI) and EBI usage across 12 months post‐training.

Results

Three sets of qualitative themes reflecting FRAME elements emerged: (1) content modifications (e.g., shortening/condensing, selecting elements, adding/removing elements); (2) contextual changes (e.g., alternative group formats); and (3) reasons for adaptations (e.g., organization/setting, provider, and recipient factors). Neither number of adaptations nor adaptation similarity were associated with BBI usage across 12 months post‐training.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, this study is the first to characterize oncology mental health providers' planned adaptations to a psychosocial oncology EBI. Planned adaptations did not increase usage, but importantly they did not decrease usage. The adaptation process enabled providers to make thoughtful adaptation choices, with implementation successful irrespective of setting constraints.
Pediatric systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis‐related lung disease: Description of clinical cohort and review of management
Authors: Swanson Chandra , Khan Erin K. , Cooper Ashley , Ibarra Maria , Tam‐Williams Jade
Published: December 2023

Context

Since the early 2010s, there has been an increased awareness of interstitial lung disease in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA‐LD) in pediatric patients. Despite the increase in prevalence of sJIA‐LD, little is known about this disease process and effective therapeutic management.

Objectives

To identify and characterize the disease process and management of interstitial lung disease related to systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Study Design

In this single‐center, retrospective case series of 9 patients, we analyze demographic, clinical, radiographic, and laboratory data to corroborate common clinical characteristics and describe an approach for diagnosis and monitoring of sJIA‐LD.

Data Extraction

All data was extracted through electronic medical records and individually reviewed by two pediatric pulmonologists and two pediatric rheumatologists.

Results

Our results were similar to other described cases of sJIA‐LD as patients in our cohort were more likely to be younger, have a history of macrophage activation syndrome and prior use of biologic therapies. In contrast to prior studies, they did not present with peripheral lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly.

Limitations

The cohort size was small and data is reflective of one center's approach to management of a rare lung disease process.

Conclusion

Interstitial lung disease due to sJIA is rare and management can be difficult in these complex patients.More research is necessary to understand the increased incidence and treatment of sJIA‐LD in pediatric population.
Nonfragile containment control of nonlinear multi‐agent systems via a disturbance observer‐based approach
Authors: Zhou Tuo , Liu Quanli , Wang Wei
Published: December 2023

In this article, we consider the nonfragile containment control problem of nonlinear multi‐agent systems (MASs) with exogenous disturbance where the communication links among agents under consideration is directed. Firstly, based on relative output measurements between the agent and its neighbors, a disturbance observer‐based control protocol is proposed to solve the containment control problem of MASs with inherent nonlinear dynamics and exogenous disturbances. Secondly, because of the additional tuning of parameters in the real control systems, uncertainties in the designing of observer and controller gains always occur, and as a result, an output feedback controller with disturbance rejection is conceived and the containment control problem of nonlinear MASs with nonfragility is thoroughly investigated. Then, depending on matrix transformation and inequality technique, sufficient conditions of the designed controller gains exist, which is derived from the asymptotic stability analysis problem of some containment error dynamics of MASs. Finally, two simulation examples are exploited to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed techniques.
Amplifying circular technological innovation for low greenhouse emissions: Empirical evidence from 30 advanced and emerging economies
Authors: Erdiaw‐Kwasie Michael Odei , Owusu‐Ansah Kofi Kusi , Abunyewah Matthew
Published: December 2023

This paper aims to examine the causal effect of circular technological innovation on greenhouse gas emissions. In the study, panel data are collected from 30 advanced and emerging economies spanning more than two decades, and a recently innovated instrumental variable approach with a common factor error structure is used to analyze dynamic panel data. The results provide robust findings during sensitivity tests. We find that technological innovation in a circular economy causes a significant reduction in major greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). Since the net effects of circular technological innovation translate into a reduction of emissions, this appears as a suitable tool in the fight against climate change. In addition, our study highlights the need to reinforce measures to promote circular technological innovation to influence environmental quality, compared to viewing it as an alternative approach to environmental sustainability.
Dipole–Dipole Tuned Electronic Reconfiguration of Defective Carbon Sites for Efficient Oxygen Reduction into H2O2
Authors: Su Jiaxin , Jiang Lei , Xiao Bingbing , Liu Zixian , Wang Heng , Zhu Yongfa , Wang Jun , Zhu Xiaofeng
Published: December 2023

Metal‐free carbon‐based materials are one of the most promising electrocatalysts toward 2‐electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e‐ORR) for on‐site production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which however suffer from uncontrollable carbonizations and inferior 2e‐ORR selectivity. To this end, a polydopamine (PDA)‐modified carbon catalyst with a dipole–dipole enhancement is developed via a calcination‐free method. The H2O2 yield rate outstandingly reaches 1.8 mol gcat−1 h−1 with high faradaic efficiency of above 95% under a wide potential range of 0.4–0.7 VRHE, overwhelming most of carbon electrocatalysts. Meanwhile, within a lab‐made flow cell, the synthesized ORR electrode features an exceptional stability for over 250 h, achieved a pure H2O2 production efficacy of 306 g kWh−1. By virtue of its industrial‐level capabilities, the established flow cell manages to perform a rapid pulp bleaching within 30 min. The superior performance and enhanced selectivity of 2e‐ORR is experimentally revealed and attributed to the electronic reconfiguration on defective carbon sites induced by non‐covalent dipole–dipole influence between PDA and carbon, thereby prohibiting the cleavage of O–O in OOH intermediates. This proposed strategy of dipole–dipole effects is universally applicable over 1D carbon nanotubes and 2D graphene, providing a practical route to design 2e‐ORR catalysts.
TRIOBP modulates β-catenin signaling by regulation of miR-29b in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Wang Lan , Zhao Wenyu , Xia Cong , Ma Shuaichen , Li Zhongzheng , Wang Ningdan , Ding Linke , Wang Yaxuan , Cheng Lianhui , Liu Huibing , Yang Juntang , Li Yajun , Rosas Ivan , Yu Guoying
Published: December 2023

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal and devastating lung disease of unknown etiology, described as the result of multiple cycles of epithelial cell injury and fibroblast activation. Despite this impressive increase in understanding, a therapy that reverses this form of fibrosis remains elusive. In our previous study, we found that miR-29b has a therapeutic effect on pulmonary fibrosis. However, its anti-fibrotic mechanism is not yet clear. Recently, our study identified that F-Actin Binding Protein (TRIOBP) is one of the target genes of miR-29b and found that deficiency of TRIOBP increases resistance to lung fibrosis in vivo. TRIOBP knockdown inhibited the proliferation of epithelial cells and attenuated the activation of fibroblasts. In addition, deficiency of Trio Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor (TRIO) in epithelial cells and fibroblasts decreases susceptibility to lung fibrosis. TRIOBP interacting with TRIO promoted abnormal epithelial–mesenchymal crosstalk and modulated the nucleocytoplasmic translocation of β-catenin. We concluded that the miR-29b‒TRIOBP–TRIO–β-catenin axis might be a key anti-fibrotic axis in IPF to regulate lung regeneration and fibrosis, which may provide a promising treatment strategy for lung fibrosis.

Graphical Abstract
The role of beta-adrenoreceptors in postoperative ileus in rats
Authors: Marcin Bitel , Katarzyna Sztormowska-Achranowicz , Ivan Kocić
Published: December 2023

The aim of the research was to evaluate the influence of antagonists of specific beta-adrenergic receptor subtypes on bowel motility following abdominal surgery in rat model of postoperative ileus. Bowel motility was measured by the intestinal transit of Evans blue introduced via orogastric tube after surgical procedures of skin incision, laparotomy and laparotomy with gut manipulation. Male rats were given individual adrenergic receptor subtypes antagonists intraperitoneally, and the influence of administered agents on intestinal transit of Evans blue was then evaluated. No statistically significant differences in the length of intestine in tested rats were observed. Propranolol administered prior to surgical procedure has shown protective effect on Evans blue migration in rats undergoing laparotomy and gut manipulation. Intestinal dye transit for propranolol doses of 10, 30 and 45 mg/kg was 18.00 ± 1.88c m, 23.75 ± 1.71 cm and 22.5 ± 2.43 cm, respectively, and for last two doses, statistically significant increase of dye passage was noted, compared to Evans blue transit of 11.00 ± 2.43 cm in the control group. No acceleration of dye migration was seen following administration of beta1-, beta2- and beta3-selective adrenergic receptor antagonist metoprolol, ICI 118.551 and SR58894A, respectively. Our research confirmed that propranolol at high doses, as seen by other researchers, improved bowel motility in early phase of postoperative ileus. That slight acceleration of intestinal dye transit after surgery with gut manipulation is rather connected with membrane-stabilizing action, than the receptor blocking effect, as this effect was not observed after the application of selective antagonists of respective subtypes of beta-adrenergic receptor.
A novel single nucleotide mutation of TFL1 alters the plant architecture of Gossypium arboreum through changing the pre-mRNA splicing
Authors: Liu Ji , Miao Pengfei , Qin Wenqiang , Hu Wei , Wei Zhenzhen , Ding Wusi , Zhang Huan , Wang Zhi
Published: December 2023

Key message

A single nucleotide mutation from G to A at the 201st position changed the 5′ splice site and deleted 31 amino acids in the first exon of GaTFL1.

Growth habit is an important agronomic trait that plays a decisive role in the plant architecture and crop yield. Cotton (Gossypium) tends to indeterminate growth, which is unsuitable for the once-over mechanical harvest system. Here, we identified a determinate growth mutant (dt1) in Gossypium arboreum by EMS mutagenesis, in which the main axis was terminated with the shoot apical meristem (SAM) converted into flowers. The map-based cloning of the dt1 locus showed a single nucleotide mutation from G to A at the 201st positions in TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (GaTFL1), which changed the alternative RNA 5′ splice site and resulted in 31 amino acids deletion and loss of function of GaTFL1. Comparative transcriptomic RNA-Seq analysis identified many transporters responsible for the phytohormones, auxin, sugar, and flavonoids, which may function downstream of GaTFL1 to involve the plant architecture regulation. These findings indicate a novel alternative splicing mechanism involved in the post-transcriptional modification and TFL1 may function upstream of the auxin and sugar pathways through mediating their transport to determine the SAM fate and coordinate the vegetative and reproductive development from the SAM of the plant, which provides clues for the TFL1 mechanism in plant development regulation and provide research strategies for plant architecture improvement.