bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Apolipoprotein F is reduced in humans with steatosis and controls plasma triglyceride‐rich lipoprotein metabolism
Authors: Deprince Audrey , Hennuyer Nathalie , Kooijman Sander , Pronk Amanda C. M. , Baugé Eric , Lienard Viktor , Verrijken An , Dirinck Eveline , Vonghia Luisa , Woitrain Eloïse , Kloosterhuis Niels J. , Marez Eléonore , Jacquemain Pauline , Wolters Justina C. , Lalloyer Fanny , Eberlé Delphine , Quemener Sandrine , Vallez Emmanuelle , Tailleux Anne , Kouach Mostafa , Goossens Jean‐Francois , Raverdy Violeta , Derudas Bruno , Kuivenhoven Jan Albert , Croyal Mikaël , van de Sluis Bart , Francque Sven , Pattou François , Rensen Patrick C. N. , Staels Bart , Haas Joel T.
Published: June 2022

Background:

NAFLD affects nearly 25% of the global population. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of death among patients with NAFLD, in line with highly prevalent dyslipidemia in this population. Increased plasma triglyceride (TG)‐rich lipoprotein (TRL) concentrations, an important risk factor for CVD, are closely linked with hepatic TG content. Therefore, it is of great interest to identify regulatory mechanisms of hepatic TRL production and remnant uptake in the setting of hepatic steatosis.

Approach and Results:

To identify liver‐regulated pathways linking intrahepatic and plasma TG metabolism, we performed transcriptomic analysis of liver biopsies from two independent cohorts of obese patients. Hepatic encoding apolipoprotein F (APOF) expression showed the fourth‐strongest negatively correlation with hepatic steatosis and the strongest negative correlation with plasma TG levels. The effects of adenoviral‐mediated human ApoF (hApoF) overexpression on plasma and hepatic TG were assessed in C57BL6/J mice. Surprisingly, hApoF overexpression increased both hepatic very low density lipoprotein (VLDL)‐TG secretion and hepatic lipoprotein remnant clearance, associated a ~25% reduction in plasma TG levels. Conversely, reducing endogenous ApoF expression reduced VLDL secretion in vivo, and reduced hepatocyte VLDL uptake by ~15% in vitro. Transcriptomic analysis of APOF‐overexpressing mouse livers revealed a gene signature related to enhanced ApoB‐lipoprotein clearance, including increased expression of Ldlr and Lrp1, among others.

Conclusion:

These data reveal a previously undescribed role for ApoF in the control of plasma and hepatic lipoprotein metabolism by favoring VLDL‐TG secretion and hepatic lipoprotein remnant particle clearance.
Ecological risk assessment for contaminated sites in Italy: Guidelines and path forward
Authors: Bizzotto Elisa Chiara , Semenzin Elena , Giubilato Elisa , Frisario Silvia , Zaninetta Luciano , Bonfedi Guido , Villani Federico , Marcomini Antonio
Published: June 2022

Ecological risk assessment (ERA) is defined as an iterative process that evaluates the likelihood of adverse ecological effects resulting from exposure to one or more stressors. Although ERA is recognized as a valuable procedure to better address efforts and strategies for site remediation, in Europe a common framework for the implementation of ERA in the management of contaminated sites is lacking. In Italy, there are no legally binding provisions regulating the direct assessment of potential likelihood of ecological risks. In this context, the main objective of this article was to develop a guideline to facilitate ERA application in support of an effective and sustainable management of contaminated sites in Italy and to facilitate a multistakeholder dialogue. The work was based on a critical review of existing ERA guidelines in the international context, as well as other regulatory documents and technical approaches dealing with the evaluation of ecological effects of chemical contaminants in different environmental compartments. Approaches and tools available in these documents were then used to prepare a proposed guideline for the Italian context; the proposed ERA guideline is meant to represent a flexible but robust approach that can be useful in evaluating existing data (e.g., from past investigations) as well as in the planning of site-specific investigations. To facilitate the direct application of the ERA procedure, the guideline was prepared including several templates of summary tables, checklists, and examples. The proposed ERA guideline could facilitate the decision-making process for contaminated sites with ecological values, although its application would necessarily require, at least in the initial phase, testing of its suitability to the Italian context and setting-up of a close dialogue and collaboration with local authorities and other stakeholders. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:913–919. © 2022 SETAC
Biallelic KIF24 Variants Are Responsible for a Spectrum of Skeletal Disorders Ranging From Lethal Skeletal Ciliopathy to Severe Acromesomelic Dysplasia
Authors: Reilly Madeline Louise , Ain Noor ul , Muurinen Mari , Tata Alice , Huber Céline , Simon Marleen , Ishaq Tayyaba , Shaw Nick , Rusanen Salla , Pekkinen Minna , Högler Wolfgang , Knapen Maarten F. C. M. , van den Born Myrthe , Saunier Sophie , Naz Sadaf , Cormier-Daire Valérie , Benmerah Alexandre , Makitie Outi
Published: June 2022

Skeletal dysplasias comprise a large spectrum of mostly monogenic disorders affecting bone growth, patterning, and homeostasis, and ranging in severity from lethal to mild phenotypes. This study aimed to underpin the genetic cause of skeletal dysplasia in three unrelated families with variable skeletal manifestations. The six affected individuals from three families had severe short stature with extreme shortening of forelimbs, short long-bones, and metatarsals, and brachydactyly (family 1); mild short stature, platyspondyly, and metaphyseal irregularities (family 2); or a prenatally lethal skeletal dysplasia with kidney features suggestive of a ciliopathy (family 3). Genetic studies by whole genome, whole exome, and ciliome panel sequencing identified in all affected individuals biallelic missense variants in KIF24, which encodes a kinesin family member controlling ciliogenesis. In families 1 and 3, with the more severe phenotype, the affected subjects harbored homozygous variants (c.1457A>G; p.(Ile486Val) and c.1565A>G; p.(Asn522Ser), respectively) in the motor domain which plays a crucial role in KIF24 function. In family 2, compound heterozygous variants (c.1697C>T; p.(Ser566Phe)/c.1811C>T; p.(Thr604Met)) were found C-terminal to the motor domain, in agreement with a genotype–phenotype correlation. In vitro experiments performed on amnioblasts of one affected fetus from family 3 showed that primary cilia assembly was severely impaired, and that cytokinesis was also affected. In conclusion, our study describes novel forms of skeletal dysplasia associated with biallelic variants in KIF24. To our knowledge this is the first report implicating KIF24 variants as the cause of a skeletal dysplasia, thereby extending the genetic heterogeneity and the phenotypic spectrum of rare bone disorders and underscoring the wide range of monogenetic skeletal ciliopathies. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Respiratory virus testing and clinical outcomes among children hospitalized with pneumonia
Authors: Shapiro Daniel J. , Thurm Cary W. , Hall Matthew , Lipsett Susan C. , Hersh Adam L. , Ambroggio Lilliam , Shah Samir S. , Brogan Thomas V. , Gerber Jeffrey S. , Grijalva Carlos G. , Blaschke Anne J. , Cogen Jonathan D. , Neuman Mark I.
Published: June 2022

Background

Despite the increased availability of diagnostic tests for respiratory viruses, their clinical utility for children with community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains uncertain.

Objective

To identify patterns of respiratory virus testing across children's hospitals prior to the COVID‐19 pandemic and to determine whether hospital‐level rates of viral testing were associated with clinical outcomes.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Multicenter retrospective cohort study of children hospitalized for CAP at 19 children's hospitals in the United States from 2010‐2019.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Using a novel method to identify the performance of viral testing, we assessed time trends in the use of viral tests, both overall and stratified by testing method. Adjusted proportions of encounters with viral testing were compared across hospitals and were correlated with length of stay, antibiotic and oseltamivir use, and performance of ancillary laboratory testing.

Results

There were 46,038 hospitalizations for non‐severe CAP among children without complex chronic conditions. The proportion with viral testing increased from 38.8% to 44.2% during the study period (p < .001). Molecular testing increased (27.2% to 40.0%, p < .001) and antigen testing decreased (33.2% to 7.8%, p < .001). Hospital‐specific adjusted proportions of testing ranged from 10.0% to 83.5% and were not associated with length of stay, antibiotic use, or antiviral use. Hospitals that performed more viral testing did not have lower rates of ancillary laboratory testing.

Conclusions

Viral testing practices varied widely across children's hospitals and were not associated with clinically important process or outcome measures. Viral testing may not influence clinical management for many children hospitalized with CAP.
Implication of Cerebral Small‐Vessel Disease on Perihematomal Edema Progress in Patients With Hypertensive Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Authors: Guo Wenliang , Meng Lanxi , Lin Aiyu , Lin Yi , Fu Ying , Chen WanJin , LI Shaowu
Published: June 2022

Background

Perihematomal edema (PHE) is an important determinant of outcome in spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) due to cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). However, it is not known to date whether the severity of CSVD is associated with the extent of PHE progression in the acute phase.

Purpose

To investigate the association between the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) marker of severe chronic‐ischemia cerebral small vessel changes (sciSVC) and PHE growth or hematoma absorption among ICH patients with hypertension.

Study Type

Retrospective.

Population

Three hundred and sixty‐eight consecutive hypertensive ICH patients without surgical treatment.

Field Strength/Sequence

3 T; spin‐echo echo‐planar imaging‐diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI); T2‐weighted, fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), T2*‐weighted gradient‐recalled echo and T1‐weighted.

Assessment

The hematoma and PHE volumes at 24 hours and 5 days after symptom onset were measured in 121 patients with spontaneous ICH who had been administered standard medical treatment. Patients were grouped into two categories: those with sciSVC and those without. The imaging marker of sciSVC was defined as white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) Fazekas 2–3 combined cavitating lacunes.

Statistical Tests

Univariable analyses, χ2 test, Mann–Whitney U test, and multiple linear regression.

Results

The presence of sciSVC (multiple lacunes and confluent WMH) had a significant negative influence on PHE progress (Beta = −5.3 mL, 95% CI = −10.3 mL to −0.3 mL), and hematoma absorption (Beta = −3.2 mL, 95% CI = −5.9 mL to −0.4 mL) compared to that observed in the absence of sciSVC, as determined by multivariate linear regression analysis.

Data Conclusions

The presence of sciSVC (multiple lacunes and confluent WMH) negatively influenced hematoma absorption and PHE progress in ICH patients.

Level of Evidence

4

Technical Efficacy

Stage 3
Epidemiological features and sociodemographic factors associated with mumps in mainland China from 2004 to 2018
Authors: Fu Xiaofang , Ge Minjie , Xu Wucheng , Yu Min , Ju Jiangang , Zhong Yonghong , Huang Huaqiong
Published: June 2022

Mumps is an acute infectious disease that spreads widely around the world. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiological features and sociodemographic factors associated with mumps in mainland China from 2004 to 2018. Incidence data for mumps during the period 2004–2018 were collected from the Public Health Sciences Data Center of China. Joinpoint regression analysis was performed to explore the trends of mumps. Space–time clustering analysis was conducted to spatial and temporal aggregation areas of mumps. A generalized linear model was used to explore sociodemographic factors associated with the incidence of mumps. The average annual incidence of mumps was 21.44/100 000 in mainland China. It was increased dramatically during 2004–2012 (annual percentage change​ [​​​​​​APC] = 7.51, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.28–13.00). After 2012, it remained stable, however, significantly increased in intermediately developed regions from 2015 to 2018 (APC = 25.84, 95% CI: 3.59–52.86). The first‐level spatial and temporal aggregation areas were distributed in Xinjiang, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia and Shaanxi, Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan, Chongqing, Guizhou, and Guangxi, with gathering times from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2012 (relative risk [RR] = 1.87, p < 0.001). The percentage of the population aged 0–14 years, number of health workers per capital, and number of passengers were found to be positively associated with the incidence of mumps. Overall, after 2012, the incidence of mumps in mainland China remained stable. High‐risk periods, clusters of regions, and sociodemographic factors for mumps were identified, which will help the government develop the disease‐ and location‐specific interventive measures.
Climatology and variability of wind speeds along the southwest coast of India derived from Climate Forecast System Reanalysis winds
Authors: Abdulla Cheriyeri Poyil , Aboobacker Valliyil Mohammed , Shanas Puthuveetil Razak , Vijith Vijayakumaran , Sajeev Raveendran , Vethamony Ponnumony
Published: June 2022

Wind climate along the southwest coast of India (Kerala coast) has been analysed using 41 years of Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) winds to delineate long‐term trends and variability. The study reveals significant decreasing trends in annual mean wind speeds, of the order of −2.0 to −2.5 cm·s−1·year−1, for the period 1979–2019. Southwest monsoon has contributed the highest weakening trends (−3.0 to −4.0 cm·s−1·year−1) due to significant decrease in the southwesterly/westerly wind speeds. The wind climate and trends during the northeast monsoon and premonsoon seasons have been characterized largely by the prevalence of sea breeze and shamal–makran wind systems. We find that the intensity of both sea breeze and shamal–makran wind systems reduces from north to south along the Kerala coast, which is in consistent with the earlier studies. Decadal oscillations in wind speeds, driven by the decadal variability in large‐scale atmosphere–ocean circulations, are evident. Recent changes in the frequency of occurrence of Indian Ocean Dipole in the Indian Ocean have determined the overturning trends since 2010, and resulted in increasing trends in the current decade along the central and northern coasts of Kerala. Furthermore, interannual variability in wind speeds has been linked to the El Niño–Southern Oscillations (ENSO) and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD).
Determination of sediment transport capacity by hydrodynamic variables considering subsurface water flow
Authors: Tao Tingting , Li Yanhai , Chen Shiqi , Chen Xiaoyan
Published: June 2022

Subsurface water flow can cause serious soil erosion on sloping farmland. Sediment transport capacity (Tc) data at different subsurface water flow depths are limited. The objective of this study was to develop a new equation that can accurately determine Tc under subsurface water flow impacts. Subsurface water flows were arranged at three depths: 15, 10, and 5 cm. Three flow discharges (2, 4, and 8 L min−1) and four slope gradients (5°, 10°, 15°, and 20°) were designed to conduct flume scouring experiments. The results indicate that flow velocity, shear stress, and unit energy with linear equations and stream power with power equations can be used to determine Tc, but those using the unit stream power perform relatively poorly under the different subsurface water flow depths. Among these parameters, the shear stress is the preferred predictor of Tc. The addition of prediction parameters, subsurface water flow depth, in response to Tc equations can improve the accuracy of Tc modeling. The power‐exponential equation of shear stress combined with the subsurface water flow depth best described the Tc of rill flow under subsurface water flow impacts. Subsurface water flow can increase the soil erodibility, and thus decrease the critical shear stress, resulting in a lower critical flow velocity at which sediment transport capacity can be achieved. This research provides a new equation for directly determining Tc in subsurface water flow‐impacted rill flow on purple soil slopes.
Comparison of outcomes for balloon dilation of the Eustachian tube under local vs general anesthesia
Authors: Toivonen Joonas , Dean Marc , Kawai Kosuke , Poe Dennis
Published: June 2022

Objective

To compare the effectiveness of balloon dilation of the Eustachian tube (BDET) under local versus general anesthesia in the treatment of obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunction (OETD).

Study Design

Retrospective review.

Methods

Consecutive patients ages ≥18 with persistent OETD having failed adequate medical therapy underwent BDET between 2013 and 2018 under local or general anesthesia. Inclusion criteria were persistent type B or C tympanograms with symptoms or type A with symptoms upon barochallenge. Objective outcome measures were tympanometry, otoscopy and the need for additional subsequent intervention (revision dilation and tympanostomy tube). Primary outcome (failure) was defined as no change or worse in tympanogram.

Results

The 191 patients (332 ETs), ages 18–88 years (mean 58.0) underwent BDET. The 112 patients (59%) were female. The 107 procedures (32%) were performed under local anesthesia. Mean duration of follow‐up was 3.1 years (SD 1.9). Tympanograms improved to type A in 88% for BDET under local and 74% for general anesthesia at 12 months. Probability of being failure‐free at 5 years was 70% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 52%–82%) in the local anesthesia group versus 65% (95% CI: 55%–73%) in the general anesthesia group. Risk of failure did not significantly differ between the groups (HR = 0.60; 95% CI: 0.27–1.31; p = .20).

Conclusion

BDET under local anesthesia is effective in treating OETD and results in sustained improvements over 2 years. The procedure was successfully performed in all but one case utilizing a precise anesthesia protocol, and results are comparable with the procedure performed under general anesthesia.

Level of evidence

4
Basin‐scale estimates of greenhouse gas emissions from the Mara River, Kenya: Importance of discharge, stream size, and land use/land cover
Authors: Mwanake Ricky M. , Gettel Gretchen M. , Ishimwe Clarisse , Wangari Elizabeth G. , Butterbach‐Bahl Klaus , Kiese Ralf
Published: June 2022

Greenhouse gas fluxes (CO2, CH4, and N2O) from African streams and rivers are under‐represented in global datasets, resulting in uncertainties in their contributions to regional and global budgets. We conducted year‐long sampling of 59 sites in a nested‐catchment design in the Mara River, Kenya in which fluxes were quantified and their underlying controls assessed. We estimated annual basin‐scale greenhouse gas emissions from measured in‐stream gas concentrations, modeled gas transfer velocities, and determined the sensitivity of up‐scaling to discharge. Based on the total annual CO2‐equivalent emissions calculated from global warming potentials (GWP), the Mara basin was a net greenhouse gas source (294 ± 35 Gg CO2 eq yr−1). Lower‐order streams (1–3) contributed 81% of the total fluxes, and higher stream orders (4–8) contributed 19%. Cropland‐draining streams also exhibited higher fluxes compared to forested streams. Seasonality in stream discharge affected stream widths (and stream area) and gas exchange rates, strongly influencing the basin‐wide annual flux, which was 10 times higher during the high and medium discharge periods than the low discharge period. The basin‐wide estimate was underestimated by up to 36% if discharge was ignored, and up to 37% for lower stream orders. Future research should therefore include seasonality in stream surface areas in upscaling procedures to better constrain basin‐wide fluxes. Given that agricultural activities are a major factor increasing riverine greenhouse gas fluxes in the study region, increased conversion of forests and agricultural intensification has the possibility of increasing the contribution of the African continent to global greenhouse gas sources.
One dimensional Brownian motion with holding and jumping boundary
Authors: Leung Yuk‐J
Published: June 2022

Let a particle start at some point in the unit interval
and undergo Brownian motion in
until it hits one of the end points. At this instant, the particle stays put for a finite holding time with an exponential distribution and then jumps back to a point inside
with a probability density
or
parametrized by the boundary point it was at. The process starts afresh. The same evolution repeats independently each time. Many probabilistic aspects of this diffusion process are investigated in the paper by Peng and Li listed in the reference. The authors in the cited paper call this process diffusion with holding and jumping (DHJ). Our simple aim in this paper is to analyze the eigenvalues of a nonlocal boundary problem arising from this process. In particular, we answer a question on the spectral gap of the DHJ process raised at the end of the paper by Peng and Li.
Seasonal Movement Patterns and Summertime Use of Thermal Refuge Areas by Muskellunge in the Nontidal Potomac River, Maryland
Authors: Henesy Joshua , Goetz Daniel , Mullican John E.
Published: June 2022

The nontidal Potomac River is Maryland's most popular freshwater fishery, largely due to the multiple angling opportunities and accessibility. Increasing popularity of the Muskellunge Esox masquinongy fishery has prompted further investigation of Muskellunge seasonal movement patterns and summer habitat use during thermally stressful periods. Radiotelemetry was used to investigate seasonal movement and summertime habitat use by Muskellunge in the Potomac River from 2017 to 2020. Movement was greatest during spring, with reduced movement during summer, fall, and winter. Potomac River main-stem temperatures during summer often exceeded levels considered stressful to Muskellunge. During thermally stressful periods, Muskellunge sought thermal refugia and movements ceased. A generalized linear mixed model predicted that (1) when daily average temperatures reached 24.0°C, over 50% of the Muskellunge habitually occupied thermal refugia and (2) at 26.0°C, greater than 90% of tagged Muskellunge were located in refuge sites. Aggregation of Muskellunge in thermal refugia during summer has implications for increased angling vulnerability and fishing mortality in a warming climate, which could potentially limit the quality of these sport fisheries in southern river systems.
Creating respectful workplaces for nurses in regional acute care settings: A quasi‐experimental design
Authors: Hawkins Natasha , Jeong Sarah Yeun‐Sim , Smith Tony , Sim Jenny , Clapham Matthew
Published: June 2022

Aim

To examine self‐reported exposure and experiences of negative workplace behaviour and ways of coping of nursing staff before and after educational workshops.

Design

A Quasi‐experimental design.

Method/Setting/Participants

Data were collected pre‐ /postworkshops using a structured questionnaire. Nurses (N = 230) from 12 units in four regional acute care hospitals were invited to complete a pre‐intervention survey. Educational workshops were then implemented by the organization at two of the hospitals, after which, follow‐up surveys were undertaken.

Results

There were 74 responses in the pre‐intervention and 56 responses in the postintervention time period. There were 111 participants who attended the educational intervention, 20% (n = 22) completed the follow‐up survey. Participants were more likely exposed to work‐related bullying acts and they used problem‐focused coping strategies and sought social support as a way of coping when exposed to the negative behaviours. Overall, there was a decrease in both bullying and incivility experienced by participants; however, our findings were unable to establish that a statistically significant difference was made due to the implementation of the intervention.

Study Registration

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (Registration No. ACTRN12618002007213; December 14, 2018).
Institutional quality and economic growth: Evidence from South‐Asian countries
Authors: Mehmood Waqas , Mohy Ul Din Sajid , Aman‐Ullah Attia , Khan Ali Burhan , Fareed Muhammad
Published: June 2022

The current study investigates the relationship between institutional quality and economic growth, focusing on South‐Asian countries entailing Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, from 2002 to 2018. The data are analysed using the dynamic heterogeneous panel (panel autoregressive distributed lag [ARDL] model) approach, specifically the dynamic fixed effect (DFE), mean group (MG), and pooled mean group (PMG). Based on the findings, the three governance indicators, namely corruption control, accountability, and the rule of law, positively and significantly affect economic growth. All the nations have consistent long‐run estimates but varied short‐run estimates and adjustment speed for the long‐term equilibrium. This is due to governance volatility that is evident in all the nations. This article offers both practical and theoretical contributions. This article contributes to the institutional quality and economic growth literature from a theoretical perspective from the South‐Asian perspective. From a practical perspective, the study findings are significant for policymakers, particularly those from the countries that demonstrate major fiscal and external imbalance due to war and terrorism, low oil prices and weak trade. Hence, there is a pressing need to address economic growth issues instigated by the policymakers' negligence to ensure appropriate governance and macroeconomic management. Regulators can improve economic growth through national and regional image building by developing a stable economic and political landscape and maintaining macroeconomic stability by improving the institutional quality indicators. There is evidence that institutional quality improvement leads to better economic growth.
An energy‐based approach to study the aggregation/agglomeration phenomenon in polymer nanocomposites: Dispersion force against inter‐particle cohesion
Authors: Sharifzadeh Esmail , Maleki Meysam
Published: June 2022

In this study, a novel method was proposed to predict the size and content of the nanoparticle aggregates/agglomerates in polymer nanocomposites based on the characteristics of the mixer, cohesion energy between nanoparticles and their content in the system. The internal energy equilibrium was evaluated by calculating the induced mixing energy by the mixer, aggregation, and agglomeration energies. An analytical model was designed to predict the tensile modulus of the system based on dispersion content and size of the aggregates/agglomerates. In addition, the tensile modulus of the aggregates/agglomerates was defined by developing Wacke's empirical equation. Two sets of PP and PA6 nanocomposite samples, containing 1–3 vol% of silica nanoparticles, were prepared and tested to verify the theoretical results. The applied nanoparticles were subjected to surface modification processes to maximize their compatibility with their surrounding polymer matrix. Different tests, including FE‐SEM, contact‐angle and tensile, were used to determine the mechanical/physical characteristics of the samples. The predicted results for the size of the aggregated/agglomerated domains were very close to those defined using FE‐SEM tests. On the other hand, the predicted tensile moduli based on the content, size and mechanical characteristics of the aggregated/agglomerated domains were acceptably accurate considering the tensile test results.
Design of short fiber‐reinforced thermoplastic composites: A review
Authors: Jiang Lijuan , Zhou Yinzhi , Jin Fengnian
Published: June 2022

Short fiber‐reinforced thermoplastic (SFRT) composites are drawing increasing academic and industrial interest owing to their outstanding mechanical properties, good economic efficiency, excellent designability, and recyclability. This review primarily introduces several common SFRT manufacturing methods and analyzes their advantages and disadvantages. The stress transfer and damage mechanisms in the SFRT, as well as the effects of the fiber length, fiber volume fraction, fiber orientation, fiber kinds, matrix, and interface, are discussed in depth. The review also discusses the most widely applied rule of mixture for elastic modulus prediction, the Kelly–Tyson model and the Bowyer–Bader model for strength prediction. Overall, this review summarizes the latest research developments on SFRT composites with the aim of providing literary support for their future development.
Effects of carbon nanotube size on the mode I interlaminar fracture behavior of E‐glass/epoxy nanocomposites: Static loading
Authors: Daricik Fatih , Aslan Zuleyha
Published: June 2022

Three types of carboxyl‐functionalized multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were used to manufacture MWCNT‐modified laminates. The effects of the MWCNTs on the mode I interlaminar fracture toughness and the fracture propagation were investigated experimentally. Fractured surfaces were inspected with SEM micrographs to justify the effects of MWCNTs on the mode I fracture of the laminate. The short‐thin MWCNTs in a weight ratio of 0.3% increases mode I interlaminar fracture resistance of the laminate by about 2 times. The effects of long‐thin and long‐thick MWCNTs are quite low. Polymer crazing is the most important mechanism to improve interlaminar fracture properties.
Investigation of effects of extreme environment conditions on multiwall carbon nanotube‐epoxy adhesive and adhesive joints
Authors: dos Reis Milvia Oliveira , Nascimento Hermano , Monteiro Elvis Carneiro , Leão Suchilla Garcia , Ávila Antonio Ferreira
Published: June 2022

Mechanical and thermal properties of epoxy‐multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) at different fractions (0.0, 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 wt%) were investigated. The dispersion of the nanotubes in an epoxy adhesive commonly used in an automotive application was performed using a grease worker. This device has a perforated plate, able to produce mechanical shear. To investigate the behavior of adhesive‐carbon nanotubes mixtures and the bonding performance, four groups were prepared using two different perforated plates, P1 and P2. All MWCNT‐epoxy were submitted to extreme environmental conditions, resumed as reference (non‐aged), 500 h at 100°C, 500 h at 95% of relative humidity at 40°C, and 500 h under salt spray. A reduction in glass transition temperature was observed with the addition of the nanofiller and no increases on statistic heat‐resistant index temperature were noticed in MWCNT‐epoxy produced using both plates. Changes in the peaks at 3300, 1510, and 835 cm−1 after aging were seen in infrared spectra. The MWCNT addition to pure epoxy increased the apparent shear strength by 14% using P1. In P2, which has the mechanical shear greater by a factor of 2, no significant differences were observed, due to defects and agglomeration of MWCNTs observed by image analysis.
Mind wandering in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Preliminary evaluation using the Mind Excessively Wandering Scale in a Japanese clinical population
Authors: Hayashi Wakaho , Tomita Akisa , Iwanami Akira
Published: June 2022

Aim

Mind wandering (MW) has been closely associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); however, the field remains understudied in Japan. The present study examined MW in adults with ADHD using the Mind Excessively Wandering Scale (MEWS) in a Japanese clinical population.

Methods

Fifty‐two adults with ADHD (mean age, 33.0 years; 33 men), diagnosed per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM‐5) criteria, completed the MEWS, Mind Wandering Questionnaire, Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scale (CAARS), Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), and Japanese Adult Reading Test‐25.

Results

The mean MEWS score was 18.8 (standard deviation, 7.6). MEWS scores showed significant correlations with the CAARS Inattention/Memory Problems, Problems with Self‐Concept, DSM‐IV ADHD Symptoms Total, ADHD Index, and AQ scores. Higher MEWS scores were associated with greater ADHD and autism spectrum disorder symptoms in patients with ADHD.

Conclusion

Our results not only provide supporting evidence of the presence of excessive MW in adults with ADHD, but also indicate the heterogeneous nature of MW in ADHD.
The state of PSA counseling in male‐to‐female transgender patients in the U.S.
Authors: Marthi Siddharth , O'Rourke Timothy K. , Tucci Christopher , Pareek Gyan , Hyams Elias
Published: June 2022

Background

Morbidity and mortality from prostate cancer (PCa) are known to vary heavily based on socioeconomic and demographic risk factors. We sought to describe prescreening PSA (prostate‐specific antigen) counseling (PPC) rates amongst male‐to‐female transgender (MtF‐TG) patients and non‐TG patients using the behavioral risk factor surveillance system (BRFSS).

Methods

We used the survey data from 2014, 2016, and 2018 BRFSS and included respondents aged 40–79 years who completed the “PCa screening” and “sexual orientation and gender identity” modules. We analyzed differences in age, education level, income level, marital status, and race/ethnicity using Pearson's χ2 tests. The association of PPC with MtF‐TG status and other patient characteristics was evaluated using multivariate logistic regression.

Results

A total of 175,383 respondents were included, of which 0.3% identified as MtF‐TG. Overall, 62.4% of respondents reported undergoing PPC. On univariate analysis, PPC rates were lower among MtF‐TG respondents when compared to the non‐TG group (58.3% vs. 62.4%, p = 0.03). MtF‐TG respondents were also more likely to report lower education level (p < 0.01), lower‐income level (p < 0.01), and were less likely to be white (p < 0.01) than non‐TG respondents. However, multivariate analysis adjusting for these respondent features demonstrated an association between higher income and higher education levels with increased odds of PPC, but no association was demonstrated between MtF‐TG status and PPC rates. PPC rates for the MtF‐TG and non‐TG populations did not change significantly over time.

Conclusions

Although PPC was less frequently reported among MtF‐TG respondents than in the non‐TG group on univariate analysis, this association was not demonstrated when controlling for confounders, including education and income levels. Instead, on multivariate analysis, low education and income levels were more predictive of PPC rates. Further research is needed to ensure equivalent access to prescreening counseling for patients across the socioeconomic and gender identity spectrum.
A MCP‐Mod approach to designing and analyzing survival trials with potential non‐proportional hazards
Authors: Luo Xiaodong , Sun Yuan , Xu Zhixing
Published: June 2022

Non‐proportional hazards have been observed in many studies especially in immuno‐oncology clinical trials. Traditional analysis using the combined approach with log‐rank test as the significance test and Cox model for treatment effect estimation becomes questionable as this approach relies heavily on the proportional hazards assumption. Inspired by the MCP‐Mod (multiple comparisons and modeling approach) that has been widely used in dose‐finding studies, we propose a similar approach to handle non‐proportional hazards. Using this approach, efficacy signal is first established by a max‐combo test, after which hazard ratios across time will be estimated using a logically nested splines model. Simulations studies and real‐data examples are used to illustrate the use of this approach.
Band Alignment Engineering by Twist Angle and Composition Modulation for Heterobilayer
Authors: Kang Ting , Jin Zijing , Han Xu , Liu Yong , You Jiawen , Wong Hoilun , Liu Hongwei , Pan Jie , Liu Zhenjing , Tang Tsz Wing , Zhang Kenan , Wang Jun , Yu Junting , Li Dong , Pan Anlian , Pan Ding , Wang Jiannong , Liu Yuan , Luo Zhengtang
Published: June 2022

Atomically thin monolayer semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), exhibiting direct band gap and strong light‐matter interaction, are promising for optoelectronic devices. However, an efficient band alignment engineering method is required to further broaden their practical applications as versatile optoelectronics. In this work, the band alignment of two vertically stacked monolayer TMDs using the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method is effectively tuned by two strategies: 1) formulating the compositions of MoS2(1‐x)Se2x alloys, and 2) varying the twist angles of the stacked heterobilayer structures. Photoluminescence (PL) results combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculation show that by changing the alloy composition, a continuously tunable band alignment and a transition of type II‐type I‐type II band alignment of TMD heterobilayer is achieved. Moreover, only at moderate (10°–50°) twist angles, a PL enhancement of 28%–110% caused by the type I alignment is observed, indicating that the twist angle is coupled with the global band structure of heterobilayer. A heterojunction device made with MoS0.76Se1.24/WS2 of 14° displays a significantly high photoresponsivity (55.9 A W−1), large detectivity (1.07 × 1010 Jones), and high external quantum efficiency (135%). These findings provide engineering tools for heterostructure design for their application in optoelectronic devices.
Bisdemethoxycurcumin suppresses human brain glioblastoma multiforme GBM 8401 cell migration and invasion via affecting NF‐κB and MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 signaling pathway in vitro
Authors: Chen Chiung‐Ju , Shang Hung‐Sheng , Huang Yuan‐Li , Tien Ni , Chen Yung‐Liang , Hsu Sheng‐Yao , Wu Rick Sai‐Chuen , Tang Chien‐Lun , Lien Jin‐Cherng , Lee Mei‐Hui , Lu Hsu‐Feng , Hsia Te‐Chun
Published: June 2022

Human glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the common cancer death in adults worldwide, and its metastasis will lead to difficult treatment. Finding compounds for future to develop treatment is urgent. Bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC), a natural product, was isolated from the rhizome of turmeric (Curcuma longa), which has been shown to against many human cancer cells. In the present study, we evaluated the antimetastasis activity of BDMC in human GBM cells. Cell proliferation, cell viability, cellular uptake, wound healing, migration and invasion, and western blotting were analyzed. Results indicated that BDMC at 1.5–3 μM significantly decreased the cell proliferation by MTT assay. BDMC showed the highest uptake by cells at 3 h. After treatment of BDMC at 12–48 h significantly inhibited cell motility in GBM 8401 cells by wound healing assay. BDMC suppressed cell migration and invasion at 24 and 48 h treatment by transwell chamber assay. BDMC significantly decreased the levels of proteins associated with PI3K/Akt, Ras/MEK/ERK pathways and resulted in the decrease in the expressions of NF‐κB, MMP‐2, MMP‐9, and N‐cadherin, leading to the inhibition of cell migration and invasion. These findings suggest that BDMC may be a potential candidate for the antimetastasis of human GBM cells in the future.
State‐of‐the‐art analytical approaches and strategies to assess disposal of drugs for wastewater‐based epidemiology
Authors: Quireyns Maarten , Boogaerts Tim , Van Wichelen Natan , Covaci Adrian , van Nuijs Alexander L. N.
Published: June 2022

Not all residues of drugs found in influent wastewater are the result of consumption. Identifying intentional or accidental disposal is crucial in wastewater‐based epidemiology to ensure the accuracy of observed spatiotemporal trends in consumption patterns. So far, only a limited number of studies provided analytical evidence for the direct disposal of illicit drugs or pharmaceuticals. Additionally, only minimal standardization in the workflow is employed to distinguish direct disposal from consumption. PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science databases were searched using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA, 2020) guidelines. The search focused on wastewater‐based epidemiology publications in which the dumping event was strongly suspected or identified through (i) parent compound‐metabolite ratios, (ii) enantiomeric profiling, and (iii) nontarget and suspect screening. In total, 29 studies were included in this systematic literature review. This study aims to review existing approaches to assess direct disposal of drugs in influent wastewater, review literature for potential dumping events, and proposes a simple evidence‐based scoring system for the identification of direct disposal of drugs in influent wastewater, based on available analytical evidence. This framework is a first effort to standardize dumping/disposal assessment, while more research is needed to further refine the decision criteria and analytical techniques used within the proposed strategy.

This article is categorized under:

Toxicology > Drug Analysis

Toxicology > Analytical
Interdisciplinary Explorations of Postmortem Interaction: An Introduction
Authors: Weiss-Krejci Estella , Becker Sebastian , Schwyzer Philip
Published: June 2022

In the present as in the past, the dead have been deployed to promote visions of identity, as well as ostensibly wider human values. Through a series of case studies from ancient Egypt through prehistoric, historic, and present-day Europe, this book discusses what is constant and what is locally and historically specific in our ways of interacting with the remains of the dead, their objects, and monuments. Postmortem interaction encompasses not only funerary rituals and intergenerational engagement with forebears, but also concerns encounters with the dead who died centuries and millennia ago. Drawing from a variety of disciplines such as archaeology, bioarchaeology, literary studies, ancient Egyptian philology and literature, and sociocultural anthropology, this volume provides an interdisciplinary account of the ways in which the dead are able to transcend temporal distances and engender social relationships. In this introduction, we highlight some unifying aspects of this book.
Shakespearean Exhumations: Richard III, the Princes in the Tower, and the Prehistoric Romeo and Juliet
Authors: Schwyzer Philip
Published: June 2022

This chapter explores how Shakespeare’s plays have been invoked and characterized in relation to three celebrated archaeological events over the last century: the exhumation of Richard III in Leicester (2012), the forensic examination of the putative remains of the Princes in the Tower (1933), and the discovery of a pair of embracing prehistoric skeletons near Mantua (2007). In the case of Richard III, archaeological and dramatic truths were seen as fundamentally opposed, with the hard evidence of archaeology triumphing over Shakespeare’s fiction. Eighty years previously, on the other hand, Shakespeare’s plays were cited as evidence that bones interred in Westminster Abbey really belonged to the murdered sons of Edward IV. In 2007, when the remains of a young man and woman were found locked in an embrace in a prehistoric grave in Valdaro, near Mantua, the combination of the posture and the location led inevitably to the skeletons being dubbed the “Neolithic Romeo and Juliet;” in this case, archaeological and dramatic truths were hailed as mutually confirming. Analysis of these events indicates that the contest of authority between Shakespeare and mortuary archaeology remains a surprisingly live issue, one that may shed light on what is at stake in the public fascination with both.
In Search of an Acceptable Past: History, Archaeology, and ‘Looted’ Graves in the Construction of the Frankish Early Middle Ages
Authors: Noterman Astrid A. , Klevnäs Alison
Published: June 2022

The Early Middle Ages have provided material for imagining selves and groups in a wide range of contexts since the earliest beginnings of the historical and archaeological disciplines. Considerable recent research has shown how modern political conflicts and regional-national identities have crystallized in this period in particular. This essay traces ways in which early medieval remains, mainly from the richly furnished cemeteries, have been brought into play in developing scholarly and popular accounts of the history of France. During the second half of the nineteenth century, the recovery of considerable numbers of finely worked grave goods from the large rural cemeteries provided material for studying and reevaluating Merovingian-period societies, previously only glimpsed in written sources and largely out-competed as national ancestors by the popular appeal of Gaulish warriors. Yet paradoxically, another form of discovery in the same burial grounds seemed to place them back in the Dark Ages: many graves were found to have been ransacked and robbed soon after burial, making the communities of the time appear lawless and barbarous. Archaeological attitudes towards excavated early medieval graves, and in particular the many thousands of graves already reopened in antiquity, not only highlight key aspects of the development of the discipline, but also reveal ways in which the remains of the dead may be integral to processes of national identity construction.
Training and Education
Authors: Hoare Steve , Hazell Philip , Kwan Polly , Sarmiento Karen , Lino Bianca
Published: June 2022

The Walker Unit has two principal educational functions; workforce development to increase the knowledge and skillset of clinicians, and supervised placement for students from a range of health disciplines. New appointees have access to an Introduction to CAMHS programme funded by the state government. The health service also provides orientation which incorporates mandatory training. In-house, the Walker Unit provides regular in-services to staff, and funds fortnightly supervision from an external provider. Advanced trainees in child and adolescent psychiatry and basic trainees in general psychiatry work in the unit. On observational placement are students from medicine, nursing, psychology, social work, and occupational therapy. Attention is given to preparing students for the intense nature of the programme and the clinical environment.
Invertible and Isometric Weighted Composition Operators
Authors: Mas Alejandro , Vukotić Dragan
Published: June 2022

We consider abstract Banach spaces of
analytic functions on general bounded domains that satisfy only a minimum number of axioms. We describe all invertible (equivalently, surjective) weighted composition operators acting on such spaces. For the spaces of analytic functions in the disk whose norm is given in terms of a natural seminorm (such as the typical spaces given in terms of derivatives), we describe all surjective weighted composition operators that are isometric. This generalizes a number of known results.
Injectors in $$\pi $$-Separable Groups
Authors: Arroyo-Jordá M. , Arroyo-Jordá P. , Dark R. , Feldman A. D. , Pérez-Ramos M. D.
Published: June 2022

Let $$\pi $$
π
be a set of primes. We show that $$\pi $$
π
-separable groups have a conjugacy class of $${\mathfrak {F}}$$
F
-injectors for suitable Fitting classes $${\mathfrak {F}}$$
F
, which coincide with the usual ones when specializing to soluble groups.