bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Academic career outcomes of Orthopedic Research and Education Foundation resident grant recipients
Authors: Silvestre Jason , Burgess Regan K. , Nelson Charles L. , Thompson Terry L.
Published: May 2022

The Orthopedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF) awards resident research grants to orthopedic surgery residents. Outcomes are lacking for OREF resident grant recipients including academic career choice and scholarly productivity. This was a retrospective cohort study of OREF resident grant recipients (2012–2020). The percentage of OREF resident grant recipients selecting an academic career was compared with the percentage of academic orthopedic surgeons in the United States via a χ2 test. Two hundred and seventy‐six OREF resident grants were issued to 272 orthopedic surgery residents at 73 programs. OREF resident grant recipients were predominantly male (79.0%) and Caucasian (70.2%). OREF resident grant recipients had greater women representation than the national cohort of orthopedic surgery residents (21.0% vs. 16.0%, p = 0.030) with similar proportions of underrepresented racial minorities (29.8% vs. 27.2%, p = 0.351). OREF resident grants consisted of clinical (69.6%) and basic/translational science (30.4%) research and were awarded mostly for sports medicine (25.4%), trauma (18.8%), and adult reconstruction (15.9%) topics. The average h‐index was 8.5 ± 9.2 resulting from 29.5 ± 51.2 manuscripts. The majority of OREF resident grant recipients selected an academic career, which was higher than the national benchmark of academic orthopedic surgeons (63.8% vs. 24.4%, p < 0.001). Two OREF resident grant recipients transitioned to National Institutes of Health research funding (0.7%). Multivariable logistical regression demonstrated two independent characteristics associated with pursuit of a future academic career: female sex (p = 0.042) and higher h‐index values (p = 0.002). Procurement of OREF resident grants is associated with pursuit of an academic career. Clinical significance: There is great interest in fostering the next generation of orthopedic surgeon scientists. Results from this study demonstrate the association between receipt of an OREF resident research grant and pursuit of a future career in academic orthopedic surgery.
Use of compost in the uptake mitigation of arsenic in Beta vulgaris L. var. cicla
Authors: Stazi Silvia Rita , Allevato Enrica , Marabottini Rosita , Digiesi Leonardo , Vannini Andrea , Chilosi Gabriele
Published: May 2022

Background

Arsenic (As) may represent a risk for crop yield quality and human health since it may accumulate in the edible plant organs with the potential of leading to acute or chronic toxic effects in varied segments of the population. Management of soil fertility through compost has proven to be a valuable practice for increasing and maintaining soil organic matter, with nutritional benefits for crops. This work aimed to evaluate Swiss chard yield and the change in the bioavailability, bioaccumulation, and partitioning of As in the response of the use of compost or conventional mineral fertilization in an open‐field trial conducted in a volcanic area in central Italy characterized by the natural contamination of As in soil.

Results

Compost treatment led to a short‐term increase trend in soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and available phosphorus in a significant way. In the compost‐amended plots, the mitigation of the As uptake was detected in leaves, which are the edible part of Swiss chard. The As bioaccumulation factor in leaves of Swiss chard and the translocation factor for leaves/roots were also decreased using compost.

Conclusion

Fertilization by compost can improve soil fertility, sustain Swiss chard production, and mitigate As accumulation in leaves of this crop grown in a naturally As‐contaminated soil. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Biomimetic Hydrogel Scaffolds with Copper Peptide‐Functionalized RADA16 Nanofiber Improve Wound Healing in Diabetes
Authors: Yang Xinlei , Zhang Yu , Huang Cheng , Lu Lei , Chen Junying , Weng Yajun
Published: May 2022

Wound healing in diabetes is retarded by the dysfunctional local microenvironment. Although there are many studies using hydrogels as substitutes for natural extracellular matrices (ECMs), hydrogels that can mimic both the structure and functions of natural ECM remain a challenge. Self‐assembling peptide RADA16 nanofiber has distinct advantages to provide a biomimetic extracellular matrix nanofiber structure. However, it still lacks biological cues to promote angiogenesis that is of vital significance for diabetic wound healing. With a customized copper peptide glycyl‐histidyl‐lysine (GHK) functionalized RADA16, an integrated approach using functionalized RADA16 nanofiber to chelate copper ion, is innovatively proposed in this present study. The acquired composite hydrogel holds the biomimetic nanofiber architecture, and exhibits promoting angiogenesis by both enhancing adhesion and proliferation of endothelial cells (EC) in vitro and neovascularization in vivo. It shows that the functionalized nanofiber scaffolds significantly accelerated wound closure, collagen deposition, and tissue remodeling both in healthy and diabetic mice. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analysis give evidence that an upregulated expression of eNOS and CD31 in the copper peptide‐functionalized RADA16 treated group. It can be envisioned that this scaffold can serve as a promising dressing for diabetic wound healing.
Downregulation of ammonium uptake improves the growth and tolerance of Kluyveromyces marxianus at high temperature
Authors: Ai Yi , Luo Tongyu , Yu Yao , Zhou Jungang , Lu Hong
Published: May 2022

The growth and tolerance of Kluyveromyces marxianus at high temperatures decreased significantly in the synthetic medium (SM), which is commonly used in industrial fermentations. After 100 days of adaptive laboratory evolution, a strain named KM234 exhibited excellent tolerance at a high temperature, without loss of its growth ability at a moderate temperature. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the KM234 strain decreased the expression of the ammonium (NH4+) transporter gene MEP3 and increased the synthesis of the amino acid carbon backbone, which may contribute greatly to the high‐temperature growth phenotype. High NH4+ content in SM significantly increased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production at high temperatures and thus caused toxicity to yeast cells. Replacing NH4+ with organic nitrogen sources or increasing the concentration of potassium ions (K+) in the medium restored the growth of the wild‐type K. marxianus at a high temperature in SM. We also showed that the NH4+ toxicity mitigated by K+ might closely depend on the KIN1 gene. Our results provide a practical solution to industrial fermentation under high‐temperature conditions.
Role of vitamin D3 in tumor aggressiveness and radiation response for hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Chen Ping‐Tsung , Hsieh Ching‐Chuan , Chen Miao‐Fen
Published: May 2022

Locoregional control is a significant prognostic factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Historically, the use of radiotherapy (RT) for HCC was limited owing to the low radiotolerance of the liver and the need for high RT doses for disease control. We aimed to examine if 1α,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol) has a role in the tumor inhibition and the radiation response of HCC in vitro and in vivo, and explore the underlying mechanisms. The human and murine liver cancer cell lines were selected for cellular and animal experiments to investigate the changes in tumor characteristics and the radiation response after calcitriol supplementation. The effects induced by calcitriol supplementation on interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) signaling and the tumor immune microenvironment following RT were also examined. Our data revealed that calcitriol supplementation attenuated tumor aggressive behavior, decrease IL‐6 expression, and augmented radiation‐induced tumor inhibition. The biological changes following calcitriol treatment included suppressed epithelial‐mesenchymal transition, attenuated cancer stem cell‐like properties and increased radiation‐induced reactive oxygen species and cell death in vitro. Regarding immune microenvironment, calcitriol attenuated the recruitment of myeloid‐derived suppressor cell (MDSC) recruitment and increased the infiltration of cytotoxic T cells in tumor following RT. Furthermore, When the primary liver tumor was irradiated with larger dose per fraction, calcitriol induced a smaller size of synchronous unirradiated tumor in mice, which linked with attenuated IL‐6 signaling and MDSC recruitment. In conclusion, calcitriol treatment reduced tumor aggressiveness and enhanced the radiation response. The inhibited IL‐6 signaling and subsequently enhanced antitumor immunity might be responsible to augment radiation‐induced tumoricidal effect induced by calcitriol. Based on our results, we suggest that calcitriol could exert the antitumor and radiosensitization effects for HCC, especially for multifocal tumors.
Sign coherence factor‐based double‐stage delay multiply and sum beamforming algorithm for breast cancer detection
Authors: Hao Si‐Si , Li Jian‐Ying , Feng Yao , Yu Xu‐Jing
Published: May 2022

The delay‐multiply‐and‐sum (DMAS) beamforming algorithm has been extensively used in medical imaging. In this study, we proposed a fast double‐stage DMAS beamformer for breast cancer detection, combined with the sign coherence factor (SCF), namely SCF‐DMAS. The performance of this method was evaluated on a three‐dimensional‐printed breast phantom surrounded by evenly spaced circular array antennas. The results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms the other beamformers involved with respect to the signal‐to‐clutter Ratio, signal‐to‐mean ratio, and localization error. To summarize, the SCF‐DMAS improves the resolution and sidelobe suppression without significantly increasing the computational complexity.
Numerical simulation of hydraulic fracturing: A hybrid FEM‐based algorithm
Authors: Wrobel Michal , Papanastasiou Panos , Peck Daniel
Published: May 2022

In this paper, a problem of numerical simulation of hydraulic fractures is considered. An efficient algorithm of solution is proposed for the plain strain model of hydraulic fracturing. The algorithm utilizes a FEM‐based subroutine to compute deformation of the fractured material. The flow of generalized Newtonian fluid in the fracture is modeled in the framework of lubrication theory. In this way, the architecture of the computational scheme is relatively simple and enables one to deal with advanced cases of the fractured material properties and configurations as well as various rheological models of fluid. In particular, the problems of poroelasticity, plasticity, and spatially varying properties of the fractured material can be analyzed. The accuracy and efficiency of the proposed algorithm are verified against analytical benchmark solutions. The algorithm capabilities are demonstrated using the example of the hydraulic fracture propagating in complex geological settings.
Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS): Single‐center 20 year experience and treatment results in India
Authors: Mishra Nagendra N.
Published: May 2022

Objectives

Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is an enigmatic disease that is difficult to treat. Even among physicians, the prevalent belief is that patients do not improve over time. In this study, we retrospectively reviewed our experience and treatment results for patients diagnosed with IC/BPS at our clinic in India over the past 20 years.

Materials and Methods

Three hundred and eighty IC/BPS patients diagnosed between January 2001 and December 2020 were included. Patients underwent cystoscopy and hydrodistension and were treated with oral drugs, intravesical instillations, and surgery as needed. From January 2021 to June 2021, all patients were contacted by telephone.

Results

The study had 380 participants, but only 231 could be contacted for analysis. Follow‐up averaged 6.37 years and the median was 14 years. Eighteen percent showed no improvement, 2% showed a slight improvement on Global Response Assessment (GRA) questionnaire and were considered nonresponders (NR). Yet, 67% reported notable improvements, and 13% moderate improvements, all of which make up 80% responders (R). In 11 patients who were operated on for ileocystoplasty, 9 showed significant improvements. In addition, three patients developed Urothelial Malignancy. Pregnancy did not affect the disease in any way.

Conclusions

Long‐term results have been encouraging for IC/BPS patients. Unfortunately, Hunner's lesions patients need a more intensive treatment regimen. Re‐evaluation with cystoscopy is recommended in NR. In spite of good results of surgery in our series, it is best to perform surgery only as a last resort.
The Stigma Resistance Scale for people with mental illness: Transcultural adaption and validation of the Chinese version
Authors: Shi Xiuxiu , Li Zheng
Published: May 2022

The understanding of stigma resistance and its prevalence is limited due to the limitation of existing measures. This study aims to modify the Stigma Resistance Scale (SRS) and assess the psychometric properties of Chinese patients with mental illness. Seven experts were invited to assess the content validity of the Chinese version of the SRS (C‐SRS), which has been translated and adapted into Chinese. Convenience samples were included from two psychiatric hospitals and three community healthcare centers in Beijing, China. A total of 484 patients completed the survey from November 2020 to July 2021. Samples were randomized into two parts exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). EFA (n = 242) yielded three factors with Cronbach's α of 0.932 for the total scale, and 0.835, 0.877, and 0.858 for the subscales. CFA (n = 242) revealed good model fit (χ2/df = 2.190, RMSEA = 0.070). The domain‐total correlation scores were 0.834–0.939. The correlation coefficient of test‐retest ranged from 0.726 to 0.887. The correlation coefficient between the C‐SRS and Stigma Resistance subscale of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale was 0.399. This study found that the C‐SRS has evidence of excellent reliability and validity for assessing stigma resistance. It could be used in Chinese people with mental illness to identify and address stigma resistance.
Gender and sexuality alliance advisors' perceptions of self‐efficacy and social emotional competency: An exploratory study
Authors: Davis Kelly M. , Dunham Kinsie J. , Kahlo Danielle M. , Cochran Bryan N.
Published: May 2022

The presence of a Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) reduces risk for sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth across a variety of domains, but little is known about the adult advisor‐level variables contributing to these observed benefits. This study explored relationships between advisors' tenure, receipt of professional development, self‐efficacy, and social emotional competencies (SECs). Participants (N = 167) completed an online survey measuring their own social‐emotional competencies and their perceived self‐efficacy as a GSA advisor. As hypothesized, results demonstrated relationships between advisor tenure and self‐efficacy and between advisor receipt of professional development and self‐efficacy. Further, advisor SEC significantly predicted self‐efficacy, and both receipt of professional development and SEC positively predicted perceived self‐efficacy, as well. Findings point to opportunities for providing training to GSA advisors, with a focus on SEC to increase their efficacy in working with SGM youth. Implications for school psychologists are discussed.
Personality disorder and mild traumatic brain injury
Authors: Moley James P. , Norman Joshua L. , Coccaro Emil F.
Published: May 2022

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) poses risk to the neurocognitive, emotional, and financial well‐being of affected individuals. While aggression and impulsivity have been examined in relation to mTBI, little work has been done to evaluate the relationship between history of mTBI and personality disorder (PD). The authors examined the associations between history of mTBI and PD in a control group without history of mTBI (N = 1189) and individuals with history of mTBI (N = 267). Results demonstrated that any PD diagnosis is a significant risk factor for mTBI (p < 0.001). Cluster B diagnoses, particularly borderline and antisocial PD, were independently significant risk factors for mTBI. These data suggest a role for screening for a history of mTBI in patients with PDs and associated traits.
Stability and reproducibility of proteomic profiles in epidemiological studies: comparing the Olink and SOMAscan platforms
Authors: Haslam Danielle E. , Li Jun , Dillon Simon T. , Gu Xuesong , Cao Yin , Zeleznik Oana A. , Sasamoto Naoko , Zhang Xuehong , Eliassen A. Heather , Liang Liming , Stampfer Meir J. , Mora Samia , Chen Zsu‐Zsu , Terry Kathryn L. , Gerszten Robert E. , Hu Frank B. , Chan Andrew T. , Libermann Towia A. , Bhupathiraju Shilpa N.
Published: May 2022

Limited data exist on the performance of high‐throughput proteomics profiling in epidemiological settings, including the impact of specimen collection and within‐person variability over time. Thus, the Olink (972 proteins) and SOMAscan7Kv4.1 (7322 proteoforms of 6596 proteins) assays were utilized to measure protein concentrations in archived plasma samples from the Nurses’ Health Studies and Health Professionals Follow‐Up Study. Spearman's correlation coefficients (r) and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to assess agreement between (1) 42 triplicate samples processed immediately, 24‐h or 48‐h after blood collection from 14 participants; and (2) 80 plasma samples from 40 participants collected 1‐year apart. When comparing samples processed immediately, 24‐h, and 48‐h later, 55% of assays had an ICC/r ≥ 0.75 and 87% had an ICC/r ≥ 0.40 in Olink compared to 44% with an ICC/r ≥ 0.75 and 72% with an ICC/r ≥ 0.40 in SOMAscan7K. For both platforms, >90% of the assays were stable (ICC/r ≥ 0.40) in samples collected 1‐year apart. Among 817 proteins measured with both platforms, Spearman's correlations were high (r > 0.75) for 14.7% and poor (r < 0.40) for 44.8% of proteins. High‐throughput proteomics profiling demonstrated reproducibility in archived plasma samples and stability after delayed processing in epidemiological studies, yet correlations between proteins measured with the Olink and SOMAscan7K platforms were highly variable.
Pep–Whisperer: Inhibitory peptide design
Authors: Hurwitz Naama , Zaidman Daniel , Wolfson Haim J.
Published: May 2022

Designing peptides for protein–protein interaction inhibition is of significant interest in computer‐aided drug design. Such inhibitory peptides could mimic and compete with the binding of the partner protein to the inhibition target. Experimental peptide design is a laborious, time consuming, and expensive multi‐step process. Therefore, in silico peptide design can be beneficial for achieving this task. We present a novel algorithm, Pep–Whisperer, which aims to design inhibitory peptides for protein–protein interaction. The desirable peptides would have a relatively high predicted binding affinity to the target protein in a given protein–protein complex. The algorithm outputs linear peptides which are based on an initial template. The template could either be a peptide which is retrieved from the interaction site, or a patch of nonconsecutive amino acids from the protein–protein interface which is completed to a linear peptide by short polyalanine linkers. In addition, the algorithm takes into consideration the conservation of the amino acids in the ligand‐protein binding site by using evolutionary information for choosing the preferred amino acids in each position of the designed peptide. Our algorithm was able to design peptides with high predicted binding affinity to the target protein. The method is fully automated and available as a web server at http://bioinfo3d.cs.tau.ac.il/PepWhisperer/.
Modelling push‐pull management of pest insects using repellents and attractive traps in fruit tree orchards
Authors: Byers John A. , Levi‐Zada Anat
Published: May 2022

BACKGROUND

Push‐pull with semiochemicals in pest management uses repellents to reduce response of pests to food‐mate resources (push) and attractive traps to reduce populations (pull). Simulation models of push‐pull can aid understanding of plant‐insect interactions in nature and suggest hypotheses for field tests that improve management. A previous model indicated advantages of push‐pull for controlling ambrosia beetle, Euwallacea fornicatus, pest of avocado trees. However, the simulated behavior of repellency was inconsistent with field observations.

RESULTS

We simulated individual‐based movement of insects in push‐pull to reveal relationships between parameters of radii (strength) of attractive traps, pest aggregations, and repellents with densities of each in an avocado orchard to visualize and understand the interactions and significance. Simulations indicated placement of traps along a 1‐ha area periphery as a barrier resulted in similar trapping and mating as when traps were in a grid, either when insects originated randomly inside the plot or came from outside the plot. However, when insects originated from outside, both arrangements caught slightly more than when insects originated within the plot.

CONCLUSION

There were no differences in capture rates whether traps were spaced in a barrier along the plot's periphery or in a grid covering the plot. Push‐pull was more effective than pull (mass trapping) alone. Repellent behavior of individuals when encountering a repellent radius was modelled by approximate 90° turns (right or left at random) when about to enter an infestation, consistent with earlier observations of effects of repellents on bark beetles orienting to aggregation pheromone. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
Free‐Volume Extended Defects in Structurally Modified Ge–Ga–S/Se Glasses
Authors: Klym Halyna , Calvez Laurent , Popov Anatoli I.
Published: May 2022

Herein, transformation of free‐volume extended defects in selected chalcogenide glasses caused by thermal annealing for 10, 25, and 50 h is studied. For 80GeSe2–20Ga2Se3 as well as for GeS2–Ga2S3 glasses with different GeS2 and Ga2S3 contents (80GeS2–20Ga2S3, 82GeS2–18Ga2S3, 84GeS2–16Ga2S3), positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy and Doppler broadening of annihilation radiation methods are applied. By analyzing the positron annihilation lifetime spectra decomposed into two components, it is shown that the observed changes in the second defect‐related component for the 80GeSe2–20Ga2Se3 glasses confirm the agglomeration of free volumes in the initial stage of annealing (10 h) with further fragmentation (25 h) and shrinkage (50 h). Increased content of Ge‐related subsystem in the GeS2–Ga2S3‐based glasses results in the agglomeration of free‐volume defects in the 82GeS2–18Ga2S3 glasses with their further expansion in the 84GeS2–16Ga2S3 matrix.
Reliability maximization of a load‐sharing system without redundant components
Authors: Kim Kyungmee O. , Park Seongjun , Hong Yujin
Published: May 2022

This paper considers a problem of determining the optimal number of components for maximizing reliability of a load‐sharing series system in which no redundant components exist. Previously, this problem has been studied numerically, under the assumption that the load–life relationship is described by a power function, and the component follows an exponential or a Weibull lifetime distribution. In this paper, our objective is to obtain analytical results for the optimal number of components given that a general link function explains a load–life relationship and the component follows a general lifetime distribution. We show that the optimal number of components non‐decreases with the elasticity of the link function and the ratio of the component failures sensitive to the changing design load. We also show that the premature failures occurring early in the life of a component affect the optimal solution, depending on whether a link function is used for scaling the nominal failure rate independently of the mission time, or it is used for scaling the nominal life dependently with the mission time. We believe that the result is useful in selecting the number of the components to use in a system when studying design trade‐offs at an early design stage.
An intergenerational competency framework: Competencies for knowledge sustainability and start‐up development in the digital age
Authors: Nurhas Irawan , Geisler Stefan , Pawlowski Jan
Published: May 2022

In this study, we looked at the competencies and changes in the competency spectrum required for global start‐ups in the digital age. Specifically, we explored intergenerational collaboration as an intervention in which experienced business‐people from senior adult groups support young entrepreneurs. We conducted a Delphi study with 20 experts from different disciplines, considering the study context. The results of this study shed light on understanding the necessary competencies of entrepreneurs for intergenerationally supported start‐up innovation by providing 27 competencies categorized as follows: intergenerational safety facilitation, cultural awareness, virtues for growth, effectual creativity, technical expertise, responsive teamwork, values‐based organization, and sustainable network development. In addition, the study results also reveal the competency priorities and the minimum requirements for each competency group based on the global innovation process and can be used to develop a readiness assessment for start‐up entrepreneurs.
Multilevel hybrid principal components analysis for region‐referenced functional electroencephalography data
Authors: Campos Emilie , Wolfe Scheffler Aaron , Telesca Donatello , Sugar Catherine , DiStefano Charlotte , Jeste Shafali , Levin April R. , Naples Adam , Webb Sara J. , Shic Frederick , Dawson Geraldine , Faja Susan , McPartland James C. , Şentürk Damla ,   Autism Biomarkers Consortium for Clinical Trials
Published: May 2022

Electroencephalography experiments produce region‐referenced functional data representing brain signals in the time or the frequency domain collected across the scalp. The data typically also have a multilevel structure with high‐dimensional observations collected across multiple experimental conditions or visits. Common analysis approaches reduce the data complexity by collapsing the functional and regional dimensions, where event‐related potential (ERP) features or band power are targeted in a pre‐specified scalp region. This practice can fail to portray more comprehensive differences in the entire ERP signal or the power spectral density (PSD) across the scalp. Building on the weak separability of the high‐dimensional covariance process, the proposed multilevel hybrid principal components analysis (M‐HPCA) utilizes dimension reduction tools from both vector and functional principal components analysis to decompose the total variation into between‐ and within‐subject variance. The resulting model components are estimated in a mixed effects modeling framework via a computationally efficient minorization‐maximization algorithm coupled with bootstrap. The diverse array of applications of M‐HPCA is showcased with two studies of individuals with autism. While ERP responses to match vs mismatch conditions are compared in an audio odd‐ball paradigm in the first study, short‐term reliability of the PSD across visits is compared in the second. Finite sample properties of the proposed methodology are studied in extensive simulations.
Integrating Covalent Organic Framework with Transition Metal Phosphide for Noble‐Metal‐Free Visible‐Light‐Driven Photocatalytic H2 Evolution
Authors: Yan Ge , Sun Xiaodong , Zhang Kailai , Zhang Yu , Li Hui , Dou Yuhai , Yuan Ding , Huang Hongwei , Jia Baohua , Li Hao , Ma Tianyi
Published: May 2022

2D covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are considered as one kind of the most promising crystalline porous materials for solar‐driven hydrogen production. However, adding noble metal co‐catalysts into the COFs‐based photocatalytic system is always indispensable. Herein, through a simple solvothermal synthesis method, TpPa‐1‐COF, a typical 2D COF, which displays a wide light absorption region, is rationally combined with transition metal phosphides (TMPs) to fabricate three TMPs/TpPa‐1‐COF hybrid materials, named Ni12P5 (Ni2P or CoP)/TpPa‐1‐COF. The incorporated TMPs can be served as electron collectors for accelerating the transfer of charges on TpPa‐1‐COF, thus the composites are demonstrated to be efficient photocatalysts for promoting water splitting. Benefitting from the richer surface reactive sites and lower H* formation energy barrier, the Ni12P5 can most effectively improve the photocatalytic performance of the TpPa‐1‐COF, and the H2 evolution rate can reach up to 31.6 µmol h−1, approximately 19 times greater than pristine TpPa‐1‐COF (1.65 µmol h−1), and is comparable to the Pt/TpPa‐1‐COF (38.8 µmol h−1). This work is the first example of combining COFs with TMPs to construct efficient photocatalysts, which may offer new insight for constructing noble‐metal‐free COF‐based photocatalysts.
On the utilization of non‐quality assessed literature in software engineering research
Authors: Yasin Affan , Fatima Rubia , Liu Lin , Ali Khan Javed , Ali Raian , Wang Jianmin
Published: May 2022

Quality of research and knowledge sources can be a critical factor to judge the quality of the research citing them. The prevailing online dissemination of research via blogs, websites, experience reports, and white papers can be helpful as it minimizes potential publication biases. In this paper, we have (i) identified the body of software engineering (SE) literature that is non‐indexed by Web‐of‐Science but has been used in published SE systematic literature review (SLR) studies (as primary studies); (ii) proposed a checklist‐based method for quality assessment of non‐indexed and grey literature; (iii) empirically evaluated the effectiveness of the proposed method; (iv) searched primary studies retrieved from the SLRs in DBLP and Google Scholar (GS) to verify whether DBLP or Google Scholar can act as viable options to search for non‐indexed Web‐of‐Science (non‐WOS‐indexed) literature. Besides proposing our synthesized checklist method, we found that (i) SE literature reviews use significantly non‐indexed Web‐of‐Science sources; (ii) DBLP only covers a portion of the non‐WOS‐indexed reference, whereas GS has a more complete coverage of the non‐indexed reference in comparison. Preliminary evaluation of the proposed quality assessment point system‐based and checklist‐based methods shows it to be a viable way to assess quality of the non‐indexed and grey literature.
Type II Seesaw leptogenesis
Authors: Barrie Neil D. , Han Chengcheng , Murayama Hitoshi
Published: May 2022

Abstract

The Type II Seesaw Mechanism provides a minimal framework to explain the neutrino masses involving the introduction of a single triplet Higgs to the Standard Model. However, this simple extension was believed to be unable to successfully explain the observed baryon asymmetry of the universe through Leptogenesis. In our previous work (Phys. Rev. Lett.128 (2022) 141801), we demonstrated that the triplet Higgs of the Type II Seesaw Mechanism alone can simultaneously generate the observed baryon asymmetry of the universe and the neutrino masses while playing a role in setting up Inflation. This is achievable with a triplet Higgs mass as low as 1 TeV, and predicts that the neutral component obtains a small vacuum expectation value v∆< 10 keV. We find that our model has very rich phenomenology and can be tested by various terrestrial experiments as well as by astronomical observations. Particularly, we show that the successful parameter region may be probed at a future 100 TeV collider, upcoming lepton flavor violation experiments such as Mu3e, and neutrinoless double beta decay experiments. Additionally, the tensor-to-scalar ratio from the inflationary scenario will be probed by the LiteBIRD telescope, and observable isocurvature perturbations may be produced for some parameter choices. In this article, we present all the technical details of our calculations and further discussion of its phenomenological implications.
Seiberg-Witten geometry, modular rational elliptic surfaces and BPS quivers
Authors: Magureanu Horia
Published: May 2022

Abstract

We study the Coulomb branches of four-dimensional supersymmetric quantum field theories with$$ \mathcal{N} $$N= 2 supersymmetry, including the KK theories obtained from the circle compactification of the 5d$$ \mathcal{N} $$N= 1EnSeiberg theories, with particular focus on the relation between their Seiberg-Witten geometries and rational elliptic surfaces. More attention is given to the modular surfaces, which we completely classify using the classification of subgroups of the modular group PSL(2,ℤ), deriving closed-form expressions for the modular functions for all congruence and some of the non-congruence subgroups. Moreover, in such cases, we give a prescription for determining the BPS quivers from the fundamental domains of the monodromy groups and study how changes of these domains can be interpreted as quiver mutations. This prescription can be also generalized to theories whose Coulomb branches contain ‘undeformable’ singularities, leading to known quivers of such theories.
Mettl14 mediates the inflammatory response of macrophages in atherosclerosis through the NF-κB/IL-6 signaling pathway
Authors: Zheng Yang , Li Yunqi , Ran Xianwen , Wang Di , Zheng Xianghui , Zhang Maomao , Yu Bo , Sun Yong , Wu Jian
Published: May 2022

The inflammatory response of macrophages has been reported to play a critical role in atherosclerosis. The inflammatory state of macrophages is modified by epigenetic reprogramming. m6A RNA methylation is an epigenetic modification of RNAs. However, little is known about the potential roles and underlying mechanisms of m6A modification in macrophage inflammation. Herein, we showed that the expression of the m6A modification “writer” Mettl14 was increased in coronary heart disease and LPS-stimulated THP-1 cells. Knockdown of Mettl14 promoted M2 polarization of macrophages, inhibited foam cell formation and decreased migration. Mechanistically, the expression of Myd88 and IL-6 was decreased in Mettl14 knockdown cells. Through m6A modification, Mettl14 regulated the stability of Myd88 mRNA. Furthermore, Myd88 affected the transcription of IL-6 via the distribution of p65 in nuclei rather than directly regulating the expression of IL-6 through m6A modification. In vivo, Mettl14 gene knockout significantly reduced the inflammatory response of macrophages and the development of atherosclerotic plaques. Taken together, our data demonstrate that Mettl14 plays a vital role in macrophage inflammation in atherosclerosis via the NF-κB/IL-6 signaling pathway, suggesting that Mettl14 may be a promising therapeutic target for the clinical treatment of atherosclerosis.
Monocentric evaluation of Ki-67 labeling index in combination with a modified RPA score as a prognostic factor for survival in IDH-wildtype glioblastoma patients treated with radiochemotherapy
Authors: Dumke R. , Dumke C. , Eberle F. , Nimsky Ch. , Keber U. , Engenhart-Cabillic R. , Lautenschläger S.
Published: May 2022

Purpose

The prognosis for glioblastoma patients remains dismal despite intensive research on better treatment options. Molecular and immunohistochemical markers are increasingly being investigated as understanding of their role in disease progression grows. O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation has been shown to have prognostic and therapeutic relevance for glioblastoma patients. Other markers implicated in tumor formation and/or malignancy are p53, Alpha thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome X-linked (ATRX), Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor splice variant III (EGFRvIII), and Ki-67, with loss of nuclear ATRX expression and lower Ki-67 index being associated with prolonged survival. For p53 and EGFRvIII the data are contradictory. Our aim was to investigate the markers mentioned above regarding progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) to evaluate their viability as independent prognostic markers for our patient collective.

Methods

In this retrospective study, we collected data on patients undergoing radiotherapy due to isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) wildtype glioblastoma at a single university hospital between 2014 and 2020.

Results

Our findings confirm Ki-67 labeling index ≤ 20% as an independent prognostic factor for prolonged PFS as well as MGMT promoter methylation for both prolonged PFS and OS, in consideration of age and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) status, chemotherapy treatment, and total radiation dose for PFS as well as additionally sex, resection status, and receipt of treatment for progression or recurrence for OS. Additionally, Ki-67 labeling index ≤ 20% showed a significant correlation with prolonged OS in univariate analysis. Modification of the recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) score to include Ki-67 labeling index resulted in a classification with the possible ability to distinguish long-term-survivors from patients with unfavorable prognosis.

Conclusion

MGMT promoter methylation and Ki-67 labeling index were independent predictors of survival in our collective. We see further studies pooling patient collectives to reach larger patient numbers concerning Ki-67 labeling index as being warranted.
Utilising Electronic PROMs to Measure a Change in Health Following Elective Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Daliya Prita , Lobo Dileep N. , Parsons Simon L.
Published: May 2022

Background

The collection of patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs) has many benefits for clinical practice. However, there are many barriers that prevent them from becoming a part of routine clinical care. The aim of this feasibility study was to pilot the use of a digital platform to facilitate the routine collection of pre‐ and post‐operative electronic PROMs (ePROMs) in participants undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy and to validate the use of existing patient‐reported outcomes for our population.

Methods

Participants scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were asked to complete digital versions of the Otago gallstones Condition‐Specific Questionnaire (CSQ), and the RAND 36‐item health survey (SF36). An assessment of methodological quality of ePROM questionnaires was also performed.

Results

Preoperative ePROMs were completed by 200 participants undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Post‐operatively attrition was high (completion at 30 days, 3 months, and 6months: n = 61, 54, and 38, respectively) due to difficulties accessing our ePROMs portal. Of those able to complete, a significant improvement in quality of life was seen across all health domains post‐operatively when compared with baseline preoperative values for both disease‐specific and generic PROMs. Methodological quality was assessed as good to excellent in both digital questionnaires.

Conclusion

The collection of ePROMs is possible with current technological advances. Although it may be an acceptable, and convenient process for patients, and a useful measure of quality‐of‐life trends for clinicians, further developmental work is necessary to improve accessibility for patients, improve compliance, and reduce reporting bias from high attrition rates.
Quantitative normal values of helical flow, flow jets and wall shear stress of healthy volunteers in the ascending aorta
Authors: Ebel Sebastian , Kühn Alexander , Aggarwal Abhinav , Köhler Benjamin , Behrendt Benjamin , Gohmann Robin , Riekena Boris , Lücke Christian , Ziegert Juliane , Vogtmann Charlotte , Preim Bernhard , Kropf Siegfried , Jung Bernd , Denecke Timm , Grothoff Matthias , Gutberlet Matthias
Published: May 2022

Objectives

4D flow MRI enables quantitative assessment of helical flow. We sought to generate normal values and elucidate changes of helical flow (duration, volume, length, velocities and rotational direction) and flow jet (displacement, flow angle) as well as wall shear stress (WSS).

Methods

We assessed the temporal helical existence (THEX), maximum helical volume (HVmax), accumulated helical volume (HVacc), accumulated helical volume length (HVLacc), maximum forward velocity (maxVfor), maximum circumferential velocity (maxVcirc), rotational direction (RD) and maximum wall shear stress (WSS) as reported elsewhere using the software tool Bloodline in 86 healthy volunteers (46 females, mean age 41 ± 13 years).

Results

WSS decreased by 42.1% and maxVfor by 55.7% across age. There was no link between age and gender regarding the other parameters.

Conclusion

This study provides age-dependent normal values regarding WSS and maxVfor and age- and gender-independent normal values regarding THEX, HVmax, HVacc, HVLacc, RD and maxVcirc.

Key Points

• 4D flow provides numerous new parameters; therefore, normal values are mandatory.

• Wall shear stress decreases over age.

• Maximum helical forward velocity decreases over age.
Applying generalized funnel plots to help design statistical analyses
Authors: Aisbett Janet , Drinkwater Eric J. , Quarrie Kenneth L. , Woodcock Stephen
Published: May 2022

Researchers across many fields routinely analyze trial data using Null Hypothesis Significance Tests with zero null and p < 0.05. To promote thoughtful statistical testing, we propose a visualization tool that highlights practically meaningful effects when calculating sample sizes. The tool re-purposes and adapts funnel plots, originally developed for meta-analyses, after generalizing them to cater for meaningful effects. As with traditional sample size calculators, researchers must nominate anticipated effect sizes and variability alongside the desired power. The advantage of our tool is that it simultaneously presents sample sizes needed to adequately power tests for equivalence, for non-inferiority and for superiority, each considered at up to three alpha levels and in positive and negative directions. The tool thus encourages researchers at the design stage to think about the type and level of test in terms of their research goals, costs of errors, meaningful effect sizes and feasible sample sizes. An R-implementation of the tool is available on-line.
Kokain-induzierte Vaskulitiden und Vaskulitis-Mimics
Authors: Ruffer Nikolas , Krusche Martin , Holl-Ulrich Konstanze , Kötter Ina , Lötscher Fabian
Published: May 2022

Kokain ist ein psychoaktives Tropanalkaloid, das typischerweise in Form von Pulver nasal konsumiert wird. Das in Deutschland im Umlauf befindliche Kokain ist häufig mit Levamisol, einem Anthelminthikum mit immunmodulatorischer Wirkung, versetzt. Sowohl Kokain als auch Levamisol werden mit der Entwicklung von klinisch bedeutsamen Autoimmunphänomenen in Verbindung gebracht. Bei den sog. „cocaine-induced midline destructive lesions“ handelt es sich um Gewebedestruktionen des HNO-Traktes, die eine lokalisierte Granulomatose mit Polyangiitis imitieren können. Zusätzlich wurde auch die Entwicklung einer systemischen Vaskulitis durch Kokain und Levamisol beschrieben. Die Unterscheidung dieser Syndrome von einer primären Vaskulitis stellt häufig eine klinische Herausforderung dar, da immunserologisch in den meisten Fällen antineutrophile zytoplasmatische Antikörper (ANCA) nachweisbar sind. Die klinische Besserung ist eng mit der Beendigung des Substanzkonsums verknüpft, deshalb kommt der frühzeitigen Diagnosestellung eine besondere Bedeutung zu.
Effects of neuraxial analgesia technique on labor and maternal–fetal outcomes: a retrospective study
Authors: Lazzari Cecilia , Raffaelli Ricciarda , D’Alessandro Roberto , Simonetto Chiara , Bosco Mariachiara , Zorzato Pier Carlo , Uccella Stefano , Taddei Fabrizio , Franchi Massimo , Garzon Simone
Published: May 2022

Purpose

To compare the effects of epidural analgesia (EA) and combined spinal epidural analgesia (SEA) on labor and maternal–fetal outcomes.

Methods

We retrospectively identified and included 1499 patients with a single cephalic fetus who delivered at the study center from January 2015 to December 2018 and received neuraxial analgesia at the beginning of the active phase of labor (presence of regular painful contractions and cervical dilatation between 4 and 6 cm). Data including analgesia, labor characteristics, and maternal–fetal outcomes were retrieved from the prospectively collected delivery room database and medical records.

Results

SEA was associated with a shorter first stage of labor than EA, with a median difference of 60 min. On multivariable ordinal logistic regression analysis, neuraxial analgesia, gestational age, fetal weight, labor induction, and parity were independently associated with the first stage length: patients in the EA group were 1.32 times more likely to have a longer first stage of labor (95% CI 1.06–1.64, p = 0.012) than those in the SEA group. Additionally, a significantly lower incidence of fundal pressure was performed among patients who underwent SEA (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.34–0.9, p = 0.017). No associations were observed between the used neuraxial analgesia technique and other outcomes.

Conclusions

SEA was associated with a shorter length of the first stage of labor and a lower rate of fundal pressure use than EA. Further studies confirming the effects of SEA on labor management and clarifying differences in maternal–fetal outcomes will allow concluding about the superiority of one technique upon the other.
CSF tap test in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus: still a necessary prognostic test?
Authors: Griffa Alessandra , Bommarito Giulia , Assal Frédéric , Preti Maria Giulia , Goldstein Rachel , Armand Stéphane , Herrmann François R. , Van De Ville Dimitri , Allali Gilles
Published: May 2022

Objective

To assess whether gait, neuropsychological, and multimodal MRI parameters predict short-term symptom reversal after cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tap test in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH).

Methods

Thirty patients (79.3 ± 5.9 years, 12 women) with a diagnosis of probable iNPH and 46 healthy controls (74.7 ± 5.4 years, 35 women) underwent comprehensive neuropsychological, quantitative gait, and multimodal MRI assessments of brain morphology, periventricular white-matter microstructure, cortical and subcortical blood perfusion, default mode network function, and white-matter lesion load. Responders were defined as an improvement of at least 10% in walking speed or timed up and go test 24 h after tap test. Univariate and multivariable tap test outcome prediction models were evaluated with logistic regression and linear support vector machine classification.

Results

Sixteen patients (53%) respondedpositively to tap test. None of the gait, neuropsychological, or neuroimaging parameters considered separately predicted outcome. A multivariable classifier achieved modest out-of-sample outcome prediction accuracy of 70% (p = .028); gait parameters, white-matter lesion load and periventricular microstructure were the main contributors.

Conclusions

Our negative findings show that short-term symptom reversal after tap test cannot be predicted from single gait, neuropsychological, or MRI parameters, thus supporting the use of tap test as prognostic procedure. However, multivariable approaches integrating non-invasive multimodal data are informative of outcome and may be included in patient-screening procedures. Their value in predicting shunting outcome should be further explored, particularly in relation to gait and white-matter parameters.