bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MARCKSL1 interacted with F‐actin to promote esophageal squamous cell carcinoma mobility by modulating the formation of invadopodia
Authors: Zhao Yue , Xie Xiufeng , Tian Lusong , Liu Fang , Sun Yulin , Lu Haizhen , Zhao Xiaohang , Mao Yousheng
Published: July 2022

Background

Emerging evidence indicates that myristoylated alanine‐rich C kinase substrate like 1 (MARCKSL1) is involved in the progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, the underpinning mechanism is unclear. Here, we investigated the mechanisms involving MARCKSL1 in ESCC progression.

Methods

CCK8, Transwell and wound‐healing assays were employed to test the effect of MARCKSL1 on proliferation, invasion and migration in vitro. Next, transcriptome profiling was conducted through RNA sequencing to reveal the underlying mechanism of MARCKSL1 in ESCC progression, which was subsequently verified by western blot and qPCR analysis. Moreover, immunofluorescence and gelatin degradation assays were performed to reveal the ability of MARCKSL1 to mediate invadopodia formation and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. Finally, the correlation between MARCKSL1 and the clinicopathological features of ESCC patients was assessed based on TCGA database analysis and immunohistochemistry staining of tissue microarrays.

Results

Knockdown of MARCKSL1 markedly attenuated the cell motility capacity of ESCC cells in vitro, while MARCKSL1 overexpression had the opposite effect. Transcriptomic analysis showed that MARCKSL1 mediated the mobility and migration of ESCC cells. In addition, overexpression of MARCKSL1 increased the colocalization of F‐actin and cortactin at the frontier edge of migrating cells and ECM degradation. Furthermore, in ESCC patients, the mRNA level of MARCKSL1 in esophageal carcinomas (n = 182) was found to be notably higher than that in adjacent esophageal epithelia (n = 286) and the expression levels of MARCKSL1 in the tumor tissues (n = 811) were significantly increased compared to those in noncancerous esophageal tissues (n = 442) with a large sample size. Higher expression of MARCKSL1 was positively correlated with lymph node metastasis and associated with worse survival rates of patients with ESCC.

Conclusion

MARCKSL1 promotes cell migration and invasion by interacting with F‐actin and cortactin to regulate invadopodia formation and ECM degeneration. High MARCKSL1 expression is positively correlated with poor prognosis in ESCC patients with lymph node metastasis.
Prophylactic cranial irradiation for limited‐stage small‐cell lung cancer in the magnetic resonance imaging era
Authors: Pan Lihua , Fan Xingwen , Wang Lifang , Wang Yihua , Li Yaqi , Cui Yingshan , Zheng Hong , Yi Qiong , Wu Kailiang
Published: July 2022

Background

We investigated the role of prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) in limited‐stage small‐cell lung cancer (LS‐SCLC) according to tumor response in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) era.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated patients with LS‐SCLC without brain metastases (BMs) on MRI who achieved either complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) after initial chemoradiotherapy at our center from 2006 to 2017.

Results

This study comprised 116 patients (median age, 58 years; men, 92; women, 24). After initial chemoradiotherapy, 53 patients achieved CR, while 63 patients achieved PR. Eighty‐three patients received PCI. Patients who received PCI had better overall survival (OS, 5‐year: 52.5% vs. 35.1%; p = 0.012) and progression‐free survival (PFS, 5‐year: 45.0% vs. 28.2%; p = 0.001) and a lower incidence of BMs (5‐year: 18.3% vs. 39.4%; p = 0.010). In the subgroup analysis, PCI improved OS (5‐year: 67.8% vs. 46.7%, p = 0.005) and PFS (5‐year: 65.2% vs. 35.0%, p = 0.021) and decreased BM risk (5‐year: 12.1% vs. 52.4%, p = 0.002) for patients with CR. However, PCI had no benefit (5‐year OS: 40.5% vs. 35.6%, p = 0.763; 5‐year BMs: 24.6% vs. 31.9%, p = 0.561) for patients with PR.

Conclusions

Tumor response remained an important factor for selecting patients for PCI in the MRI era. PCI should be recommended for patients with LS‐SCLC who achieve CR after initial thoracic chemoradiotherapy.
Current, Concentration and Overpotential Distributions on Columnar Structured Electrodes in a 2D PEMFC Model
Authors: Zinola Carlos F.
Published: July 2022

The optimization of a fuel cell performance involves the prediction of its operation conditions and electrochemical properties for short and long‐time periods. One of the topics not studied in detail is the influence in the change of surface roughness and morphology of metallic catalytic layers on the fuel cell working conditions. For platinum anodic catalysts a columnar growth was demonstrated after 1 month of hydrogen/oxygen continuous operation at 1 A cm−2. In this sense the mass balance equations was solved to obtain current and overpotential profiles for these columnar electrodes adapting a curvilinear parametric model of periodic columns (trochoid curvilinear contours). Since they acted as a dynamic system, numerical solutions were not useful as they permanently needed parametric profile optimizations. The use of exact analytical functions instead, reduced large computational times and assured this information only knowing the structure morphology. The analytical solutions were compared with those of a smooth surface (early uses of the fuel cell) and with experimental values obtained using a 200 cm2 home‐made hydrogen/oxygen polymeric membrane cell.
Channel‐Rich Pt0.23Mn0.42Ni0.35 Ternary Alloy Nanocatalysts for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Zeng Biao , Sheng Hongbin , Cao Lixin , Dong Bohua
Published: July 2022

The development of highly active and durable electrocatalysts with low Pt content for key reactions (hydrogen evolution reactions) in acidic electrolyte environments is desirable but remains an open challenge for clean and efficient energy conversion. Here, homogeneous, and unique Pt0.23Mn0.42Ni0.35 flower‐like nanostructure were firstly synthesized by a simple low‐temperature oil‐phase strategy. These Pt0.23Mn0.42Ni0.35 catalysts exhibit a significantly increased electrochemically active surface area and excellent electrical conductivity due to their alloy nature, uniform, and unique channel‐rich morphological characteristics. The new‐type catalyst shows an ultra‐small overpotential of 23 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2, high mass activity (7.61 A mg−1 Pt at −0.07 V) and excellent stability in acidic media.
Initial Stages of Sodium Deposition onto Au(111) from [MPPip][TFSI]: An In‐Situ STM Study for Sodium‐Ion Battery Electrolytes
Authors: Heubach Maren‐Kathrin , Schuett Fabian M. , Kibler Ludwig A. , Abdelrahman Areeg , Jacob Timo
Published: July 2022

Sodium‐ion batteries are promising candidates for post‐lithium‐ion batteries. While sodium has a less negative standard electrode potential compared to lithium, it is still a strong reducing agent. Ionic liquids are suitable solvents for sodium metal batteries, since metallic sodium is very reactive, particularly with water and molecules containing acidic hydrogen atoms. In this study, the initial stages of electrodeposition of sodium on Au(111) from N‐methyl‐N‐propylpiperidinium [MPPip] bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide [TFSI] were studied using voltammetry and in‐situ scanning tunnelling microscopy. Four subsequent underpotential deposition stages were observed: (i) nucleation at the Au(111) reconstruction elbows, followed by (ii) growth of small monoatomically high islands that form (iii) a smooth layer via coalescence, and (iv) further island growth on top of the existing layers. The electrocrystallisation mode changed from smooth layer formation to 3D growth, resulting in cauliflower‐like structures. The deposition process was accompanied by simultaneous alloy formation.
Evaluation of sweating responses in patients with systemic connective tissue disorders using the quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test
Authors: Ashida Miwa , Morimoto Shimpei , Yozaki Mariko , Ehara Daisuke , Koike Yuta , Murota Hiroyuki
Published: July 2022

Background

In systemic connective tissue disorders, eccrine sweat glands are frequently attacked by immune cells, as evidenced by pathological observations.

Aims

Sweating affects vascular activity through the autonomic nervous system, while few studies have reported sweating ability in systemic connective tissue disorders or the relationship between sweating ability and Raynaud's phenomenon caused by sympathetic hyperreactivity.

Materials & methods

We performed the quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test on 85 patients diagnosed with systemic sclerosis, mixed connective tissue disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren's syndrome, and dermatomyositis. Evaluations were performed once in summer and once in winter. We investigated the relationship between the axon reflex sweat volume or the reaction time and Raynaud's phenomenon assessed by a Raynaud's condition score, skin symptoms such as nailfold capillary changes, skin sclerosis severity, digital ulcers, chilblains, subcutaneous calcifications, and telangiectasia, and patient background.

Results

Most patients did not show a decrease in sweating compared to healthy participants, but patients with systemic sclerosis who were positive for anti‐RNA polymerase III antibodies showed little or no sweating. One in three patients showed less sweating in summer than in winter, which is the opposite of the normal seasonal variation. Although no relationship was observed between the sweat volume and the total Raynaud's condition scores, patients with pain had more sweating than those without pain.

Conclusion

This is the first exploratory observational study of sweating ability in patients with systemic connective tissue disorders, revealing several clinical factors associated with acetylcholine‐induced sweating.
Frequent pattern mining algorithms in fog computing environments: A systematic review
Authors: Fadaei Tehrani Ahmad , Sharifi Mahdi , Rahmani Amir Masoud
Published: July 2022

Recent advances in technology have resulted in generating or collecting massive volumes of data from rich data resources such as sensors and mobile devices in Internet of Things (IoT). Using data mining techniques can help overcome the mining problem in Fog computing environments which include millions of IoT devices. In addition, it can optimize response times, recourse consumption, and scalability in IoT applications. Frequent pattern mining, as one of the fundamental data mining tasks, is used for finding hidden patterns in such large datasets. The traditional data mining algorithms have many challenges such as scalability and resource consumption. This systematic review aimed to investigate the data mining algorithms, which focus on handling massive datasets, and present a technical taxonomy including the transaction‐centric, item‐centric, distributed, and parallel topics. The transaction‐centric and MapReduce‐based approaches were mostly utilized by 37% and 38%, respectively. Additionally, item‐centric, distributed, and parallel algorithms were employed 12% and 13%, respectively. The response time as a Quality of Service (QoS) factor had the highest percentage in the estimations of data mining algorithms (55%), followed by scalability (25%), and cost (20%). To the best of our knowledge, no study has focused on fog‐computing frequent pattern mining algorithms as one of the most important data mining tasks. This article aims to present a systematic review of the frequent pattern mining algorithms in fog computing and discuss the issues, challenges, and research perspectives for helping academia and industry leverage the power of data mining algorithms in fog computing.
Was the decline of saltmarsh tabanid populations after the 2010 oil spill associated with change in the larval food web?
Authors: Husseneder Claudia , Bhalerao Devika R. , Foil Lane D.
Published: July 2022

Horse flies of the species Tabanus nigrovittatus and Tabanus acutus are native to coastal marshlands. Their larvae are apex invertebrate predators, and their development is dependent on the food web in the marsh sediment. Surveillance of T. nigrovittatus after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico showed population crashes of adult flies in southeast Louisiana marshes near oil landfall, but not in southwest Louisiana where oil did not reach. Sediment collection in 2011 from Louisiana marshes showed a near‐complete absence of larvae in the southeast yet high numbers in the southwest. We hypothesized that oil contamination destroyed critical components of the larval food web and/or residual toxicity led to larval death. We used 18S rRNA gene metagenomics to identify components of the food web in larval guts and sediment from southeast and southwest Louisiana marshes. Sediment oil contamination, biochemistry, and toxicity could not explain the lack of larvae in the southeast, because oiling at our high‐tide mark sites was low at the time of the study and toxicity was independent of sediment biochemistry. Hexapods were the main food web components in tabanid larval guts. Abundance of stink bug, vinegar fly, and mosquito species in the sediment was positively associated with the presence of larvae. However, these taxa were enriched in southeastern (near oil) versus southwestern (unoiled reference) sediment, and thus, lack of major food web components due to oiling could not explain lack of larva in the east. We conclude that the immediate crash in adult populations in oiled regions was the main cause for the absence of larvae the following year. While most saltmarsh arthropod groups had rebounded within a year after the oil spill, recovery of saltmarsh horse flies was ongoing for 5 years.
Complete operational voltage assessment of Shandong pilot offshore wind project
Authors: Cai Deyu , Liu Xumin , Xu Dapeng
Published: July 2022

This article presents a thorough methodology for the voltage assessment of pilot offshore wind project in Shandong province, China. The results presented in this paper can be considered as the milestone of the offshore wind research in Shandong Province since there is still no grid codes for offshore wind power plant grid connection in the local electrical power grid. It mainly consists of three parts. In the first part, a detailed model of the offshore wind farm created in the DIgSILENT PowerFacotry simulation platform is presented, including wind turbines, power converters, transformers, submarine cables and relevant control schemes. In the second part, nonlinear time‐domain simulations were performed to analyze the wind farm's active power, reactive power, and voltage conditions under different wind scenarios. Based on the simulations results, a dynamic reactive power compensation system was proposed, and the consequence of the reactive power compensation was also demonstrated using nonlinear time‐domain simulations.
Desmodium adscendens (Sw.) DC.: A magnificent plant with biological and pharmacological properties
Authors: Manzione Maria Giulia , Herrera‐Bravo Jesús , Sharifi‐Rad Javad , Kregiel Dorota , Sevindik Mustafa , Sevindik Emre , Salamoglu Zeliha , Zam Wissam , Vitalini Sara , Hano Christophe , Kukula‐Koch Wirginia , Koch Wojciech , Pezzani Raffaele
Published: July 2022

Desmodium adscendens (Sw.) DC. is a plant of the Fabaceae family especially rich in flavonoids but also in alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, phenols, phenylpropanoids, glycosides, and volatiles. This herb has been traditionally used in numerous countries all over the world for its pharmacological and biological properties (i.e., it has been used for the treatment of diarrheas, fever, epilepsy, asthma, leishmaniasis, gastroduodenal ulcer, diabetes, hepatic diseases, etc.). Given the wide uses of D. adscendens, this review summarizes all recent data on D. adscendens evaluating its phytochemistry as well as its ethno‐traditional and pharmacological properties. In addition, an association between the phytocompounds of this plant and its potential mechanism of action in cell and animal models has been investigated, focusing with a special emphasis on human experiments.
Consumption of probiotic yogurt and vitamin D‐fortified yogurt increases fasting level of GLP‐1 in obese adults undergoing low‐calorie diet: A double‐blind randomized controlled trial
Authors: Hajipoor Shima , Hekmatdoost Azita , Pasdar Yahya , Mohammadi Reza , Alipour Meysam , Rezaie Mansour , Nachvak Seyed Mostafa , Balthazar Celso Fasura , Sobhiyeh Mohammad Reza , Mortazavian Amir Mohammad , Cruz Adriano G.
Published: July 2022

Energy restriction and manipulation of macronutrient composition of the diet are the main approaches that are used by people who aim to lose weight. When such strategies are employed, appetite and endocrine regulators of satiety, such as gut peptides, all are deeply affected. The gut microbiota–brain axis controls energy homeostasis in humans by affecting central satiety and gut peptides. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if the synergistic effect of probiotics and vitamin D in yogurt matrix can modulate this effect. In the double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled trial, 140 obese adults were randomly allocated into four groups: 1) regular yogurt plus low‐calorie diet; 2) PY plus low‐calorie diet; 3) vitamin D‐fortified yogurt plus low‐calorie diet, and 4) probiotic and vitamin D co‐fortified yogurt plus low‐calorie diet. All groups were encouraged to increase their physical activity. Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1), peptide Tyrosin‐Tysrosin (PYY), ghrelin, anthropometric variables, insulin, fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin resistance/sensitivity, 1,25(OH)2 D3, dietary intake, and physical activity were measured before and after 10 weeks. The difference between groups for GLP‐1 after 10 weeks was significant after adjusting for baseline GLP‐1 and protein intake as confounders. PY showed the largest effect size (ES) on GLP‐1 (p = 14.2) and FBS (p = 14) compared with others. Pairwise comparison of yogurts effect sizes on GLP‐1 showed a significant difference in group 1 vs. group 2 (p = .001), group 1 vs. group 3 (p = .003), and group 1 vs. group 4 (p = .048). Vitamin D‐fortified yogurt had the largest effect size on the serum level of vitamin D and it showed a significant difference with RY (p = .018) and PY (p = .002). Consumption of vitamin D‐fortified yogurt and PY could be regarded as a promising approach during calorie restriction.
Effects of Allium roseum L. extracts on the proliferation and the differentiation of the acute myeloid leukemia cell line U937
Authors: Ben Arfa Abdelkarim , Boulaaba Mondher , Merhi Faten , Bauvois Brigitte , Ingrid Arnault , Auger Jacques , Neffati Mohamed , Najjaa Hanen
Published: July 2022

Epidemiologic studies keep up the proposition that Allium vegetables can lower the risk of cancers. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells exhibit high proliferative potency and have a reduced capacity of undergoing apoptosis and maturation. The beneficial effects of Allium seem related to the organosulfur products generated upon processing of these species. For this purpose, the aim of this study was to test Allium roseum fresh (FAE), crude (CAE) and dried (DAE) aqueous extracts for activity against the human acute leukemia cell line (U937). As assessed by flow cytometry, inhibited cell proliferation was in a dose‐dependent manner. Firstly, study showed that cell growth was inhibited with 20 mg/mL using FAE and CAE (60% and 73% respectively). Secondly, our experiments clearly indicate that all A. roseum extracts do not induce cell apoptosis. This was confirmed by the soft binding of Annexin V to phosphatidylserine. Finally, the high expression of macrophage's marker CD11 associated with adequate morphological changes proves clearly the differentiation aspect produced by A. roseum extract. Taken together, these data suggest that A. roseum could be a promising candidate for the alternative medicine in the field of cancer therapy.
Rheological characterization and fouling deposition behavior of coconut cream emulsion at heat processing temperature range
Authors: Maghazechi Avan , Mohammadi Nafchi Abdorreza , Tan Thuan‐Chew , Easa Azhar Mat
Published: July 2022

Fouling deposition in the coconut cream emulsion (CCE) is considered a severe technical issue in the industry. Since the fouling deposition results from the heating effect on the CCE bulk, the heat‐induced structural changes in the CCE bulk at different temperatures were rheologically investigated in the first part of this study. The second part applied different heat treatment conditions to investigate generated fouling deposition (GFD). Chemical composition, FTIR, and SEM imaging were used to explore GFDs thoroughly. The increase in viscosity and storage modulus (G′) reflect such heat‐induced changes over the experimental conditions. More structural changes were predicted at around ≥85°C, accompanied by a sharp increase in viscosity and (G′), which was associated with the gelation of CCE. The conformational transition, fat agglomeration in CCE bulk, generated fouling deposits (GFDs) were significant around 70°C. The chemical composition of the GFD has shown an increasing trend in the protein, carbohydrates, and ash, meanwhile fluctuation in the fat contents with increasing temperature. The FTIR peaks showed novel peaks around temperature ≥85°C, which implied new amide groups or new protein conformation. The SEM images provided the different microstructures of GFDs at high‐temperature levels. More likely the GFDs appeared at temperature ≥85°C are a gel deposit layer. These findings strongly suggest that emulsion gelation was the primary cause of coconut cream fouling.
Facial nerve palsy: Narrative review on the importance of the eye and its assessment
Authors: Hasmat Shaheen , Low Tsu‐Hui ( Hubert) , Dusseldorp Joseph R. , Mukherjee Payal , Clark Jonathan R.
Published: July 2022

New solutions are emerging that address specific facial regions in facial nerve palsy (FNP). However the most dreaded consequence of FNP is paralytic lagophthalmos threatening the eye. A way to prioritize these regions is thus required. A review of the literature is conduced to capture the current concepts in evaluating FNP. Overall, patients are assessed from three perspectives: from the clinician's perspective using validated clinician‐based grading instruments, from patient's perspective based on FNP‐specific patient‐reported outcome measures, and from the perspective of the layperson. The existing tools however provide limited information regarding the relative importance of different regions of the face. The eye appears to be an area of great concern for the patient where most surgical therapies are directed at. Addressing ocular problems in FNP carry a high priority but this is not clearly reflected by the standard systems.
Up‐regulated LRRN2 expression as a marker for graft quality in living donor liver transplantation
Authors: Tomiyama Takahiro , Yamamoto Takuya , Takahama Shokichi , Toshima Takeo , Itoh Shinji , Harada Noboru , Shimokawa Mototsugu , Okuzaki Daisuke , Mori Masaki , Yoshizumi Tomoharu
Published: July 2022

The quality and size of liver grafts are critical factors that influence living‐donor liver transplantation (LDLT) function and safety. However, the biomarkers used for predicting graft quality are lacking. In this study, we sought to identify unique graft quality markers, aside from donor age, by using the livers of non‐human primates. Hepatic gene microarray expression data from young and elderly cynomolgus macaques revealed a total of 271 genes with significantly increased expression in the elderly. These candidate genes were then narrowed down to six through bioinformatics analyses. The expression patterns of these candidate genes in human donor liver tissues were subsequently examined. Importantly, we found that grafts exhibiting up‐regulated expression of these six candidate genes were associated with an increased incidence of liver graft failure. Multivariable analysis further revealed that up‐regulated expression of LRRN2 (encoding leucine‐rich repeat protein, neuronal 2) in donor liver tissue served as an independent risk factor for graft failure (odds ratio 4.50, confidence interval 2.08–9.72). Stratification based on graft expression of LRRN2 and donor age was also significantly associated with 6‐month graft survival rates. Conclusion: Up‐regulated LRRN2 expression of liver graft is significantly correlated with graft failure in LDLT. In addition, combination of graft LRRN2 expression and donor age may represent a promising marker for predicting LDLT graft quality.
Cascaded networks for the embryo classification on microscopic images using the residual external‐attention
Authors: Guo Wei , Liu Shijie , Gong Zhaoxuan , Zhang Guodong , Jiang Xiran
Published: July 2022

Embryo assessment and selection are usually based on the visual morphological analysis by expert embryologists. Although the embryologist assessment has been routinely used in clinical practice, it is highly dependent on the embryologist's experience and is very time‐consuming. Therefore, objective and efficient methods for automated embryo evaluation are in high demand. We proposed a framework of cascaded networks to hierarchically extract and integrate the microscopic image features for embryo classification. The cascaded networks consisted of a coarse network and a refined network. The coarse network produced a classification activation mapping (CAM) with the highest classification probability, which indicated the most discriminative regions of embryo classification. The refined network extracted and integrated the image features again by using both the CAMs and the corresponding original images. In addition, the residual external‐attention block (ResEA) was used in the refined network to better capture long‐range dependencies. Our cascaded networks were trained on a dataset of 7728 microscopic images of day 3 embryos from 1800 couples and evaluated on an independent testing dataset of 734 microscopic images. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision, and F1‐score were employed to evaluate the performance of our cascaded networks. Compared with the coarse network and the refined network, respectively, the cascaded networks without the ResEA improved the classification results of embryos. The ResEA block helped the cascaded networks to further improve all five metrics for better embryo classification. Our proposed cascaded networks also achieved better classification results than a junior embryologist did. The cascaded networks hierarchically make full use of image features for more effective learning, and the ResEA further improves the performance of embryo classification.
Effects of digital processing on repeatability assessment of a multiple reaction monitoring liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry system by ISO 11843‐7
Authors: Machida Koichi , Kotani Akira , Hayashi Yuzuru , Hakamata Hideki
Published: July 2022

ISO 11843 part 7 (ISO 11843‐7) can provide a standard deviation (SD) of area measurements of a target peak through the stochastic behaviors of instrumental noises. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that ISO 11843‐7 can be applied to assess repeatability in an isocratic liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) system without repetitive measurements. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of the peak area of ergosterol picolinyl ester, which was used as an example, on a multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) chromatogram was determined by ISO 11843‐7. The RSD by ISO 11843‐7 (N = 1) was within a 95% confidence band of the RSD by repetitive measurements (N = 6). Moreover, the effects of digital smoothing, such as moving average, were also examined on the repeatability assessment in LC–MS/MS by ISO 11843‐7. From the results of the comparisons of the RSDs obtained by ISO 11843‐7 and the repetitive measurements, it was shown that suitable RSDs of the peak area were obtained from the smoothed MRM chromatograms by the moving average for narrow data point windows (e.g., one‐sixth of the peak width). In conclusion, the utility of repeatability assessment based on ISO 11843‐7 has been expanded for the validation of an LC–MS/MS system.
Evaluation of response to different COVID‐19 vaccines in vaccinated healthcare workers in a single center in Iran
Authors: Pourakbari Babak , Mirbeyk Mona , Mahmoudi Shima , Hosseinpour Sadeghi Reihaneh H. , Rezaei Nima , Ghasemi Raheleh , Esfandiari Fatemeh , Mamishi Setareh
Published: July 2022

Due to the recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic and emergent administration of various vaccines worldwide, comprehensive studies on the different aspects of vaccines are in demand. This study evaluated antibody response after the second dose of the COVID‐19 vaccine in the Children's Medical Center personnel. The blood samples of 174 healthcare workers were gathered at least 10 days after vaccination. The administered vaccines included Oxford/AstraZeneca, COVAXIN, Sinopharm, and Sputnik V. This study assessed all antibodies employing ELISA methods, including anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 neutralizing antibody by DiaZist and Pishtazteb kits, anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2‐nucleocapsid by Pishtazteb kit, and anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2‐Spike by Razi kit. The cutoff for the tests' results was calculated according to the instructions of each kit. Totally, 174 individuals with an average age of 40 ± 9 years participated in this study, the proportion of men was 31%, and the frequency of past COVID‐19 infection was 66 (38%). Sixteen (9%) personnel received Oxford/AstraZeneca, 28 (16%) COVAXIN, 29 (17%) Sinopharm, and 101 (58%) Sputnik V. anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2‐nucleocapsid and anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2‐Spike were positive in 37 (21%), and 163 (94%) participants and their mean level were more in adenoviral‐vectored vaccines (p value < 0.0001). Neutralizing antibody was positive in 74% using Pishtazteb kit while 87% using DiaZist kit. All antibodies' levels were significantly higher in those with a past COVID‐19 infection (p value < 0.0001). In conclusion, Oxford/AstraZeneca and Sputnik V had a similar outcome of inducing high levels of anti‐SARS‐Cov‐2‐spike and neutralizing antibodies, which were more than Sinopharm and COVAXIN. The titers of Anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2‐nucleocapsid antibody were low in all of these four vaccines.
Numerical study of the magnetic skin effect: Efficient parameterization of 2D surface‐impedance solutions for linear ferromagnetic materials
Authors: Abou El Nasser El Yafi Dima , Péron Victor , Perrussel Ronan , Krähenbühl Laurent
Published: July 2022

This work presents an efficient method based on asymptotic models in order to solve numerically eddy current problems in a bi‐dimensional setting with a high contrast of linear relative magnetic permeability μr ≫ 1 between a conductor and a dielectric subdomain. We describe a magnetic skin effect by deriving a multiscale expansion for the magnetic potential in power series of a small parameter δ which represents the skin depth. We make explicit the first asymptotics up to the order three. Some numerical results based on the finite element method will be presented to illustrate the magnetic skin effect and to validate the performance of the proposed asymptotic models in the dielectric medium. We confirm that the proposed asymptotics provide reduced computational costs for a wide range of physical parameters introduced in our problem.
The untapped potential of early career researchers in academic publishing: Lessons learned from the Journal of Emerging Investigators model
Authors: Otero Claire E. , Osinski Victoria , Mattison Kari A.
Published: July 2022

Key points

The lack of formal training in peer review can be detrimental to the publishing activities of early career researchers, including graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

Lack of recognition of the work of early career researchers (ECRs) in review means that journals cannot easily identify them as potential reviewers in the future.

Participation as peer‐reviewers increases understanding in early career researchers of their own writing and review process.

ECRs can be highly motivated to volunteer for journal editorial work—Journal of Emerging Investigators encourages this by offering many different roles.

Publishers that utilize and train early career researchers as peer‐reviewers can prevent poor reviewer practices.
Use of preprint peer review to educate and enculturate science undergraduates
Authors: McDowell Gary S. , Fankhauser Sarah , Saderi Daniela , Balgopal Meena , Lijek Rebeccah S.
Published: July 2022

Key points

Undergraduate science education should include education in scholarly practices like peer review.

Authentic experiences in peer review increase science literacy and science identity.

Peer review of preprints provides a means for undergraduates to be involved in peer review that is independent of journal gatekeeping processes.
For early‐career researchers by early‐career researchers: The GPNG model for advancing, promoting and supporting innovative research
Authors: Stiles Gregory , Pescinski Janina , Petrich Katharine , Ufimtseva Anastasia
Published: July 2022

Key points

An early‐career researchers (ECR) journal can provide the vital mentorship and guidance needed for ECRs to overcome the unfamiliarity with a publishing process that inhibits the successful submission, revision and publication of ECR work.

ECR journals can address some of the exclusionary effects in academic publishing that are particularly pronounced for women, minorities and ECRs located outside the Global North.

A successful ECR publishing model has to extend into education, mentorship and post‐publication promotion to build confidence and encourage long‐term publication success.

The use of social media and outreach activities are vital to engage global ECR audiences as well as policymakers.
Editing a journal at the semiperiphery: Ambivalence of juniority and meaningfulness of publishing
Authors: Karmazin Aleš
Published: July 2022

Key points

Juniority is a complex category dependent not only on the length of academic career but also cultural and structural factors.

Because of the complexity of defining juniority, it may not be easily changeable to seniority in some situations.

For some journals, even those that are not solely student‐oriented, PhD candidates and other early‐career scholars represent a critical group of contributors.

Fostering a link to junior scholars may be a key journal development strategy, especially for lower‐ranked journals and those looking for fresh ideas and innovation.
Junior journals in politics and international relations: Potential and challenges
Authors: Plancarte‐Escobar Rafael , Steuer Max
Published: July 2022

Key points

Junior journals occupy an intermediate space between student and senior journals and diversify academic publishing.

Junior journals have the potential to help reduce two undesirable trends in academic publishing: predatory publishing and the absence of diversity.

Some of the practices followed by Politikon: The IAPSS Journal of Political Science could be increasingly employed by senior journals.

To increase the perceived value of involvement in them, junior journals should speak to the needs of academia in general.

The challenges junior journals face with indexing may be alleviated by establishing networks between them or by gaining the support of professional publishers.
Advancing the student‐oriented model of academic publishing: The case of legal studies in Hong Kong
Authors: Lui Wilson
Published: July 2022

Key points

The Hong Kong Journal of Legal Studies and the City University of Hong Kong Law Review provide valuable case studies of the student‐oriented model in the Hong Kong legal academic publishing context.

The three essential features of student‐oriented publishing are (1) run by students; (2) managed by students; and (3) a focus on the learning experience of student editors and authors.

The recommended features of student‐oriented publishing are (1) peer review by students; and (2) a focus on publication of student‐authored articles.

Student‐oriented publishing encourages students to publish as authors and equips student editors with professional and personal skills.

Student‐oriented law journals benefit both the professional and the academic communities. This is less apparent in Hong Kong due to the local publishing landscape and a weak academic–practice connection.

Student‐oriented publishing can thrive in its own right and is complementary, rather than inferior, to publications run by senior academics and practitioners.
Thermal Degradation Behavior and Mechanism of Organosilicon Modified Epoxy Resin
Authors: Qiu Chen , Luo Jiemin , Ling Youquan , Lu Zhaohui , Ni Long , Chen Yang , Zou Huawei , Heng Zhengguang , Liang Mei
Published: July 2022

Organosilicon modified epoxy resin is one of the most widely used ablative coating matrices in the whole aerospace industry. However, most research focuses on the final effect of organosilicon modification, while systematic studies on thermal degradation behavior and mechanism of organosilicon modified epoxy resin are rarely reported. In this work, a heat‐resistant epoxy resin (ES231) is prepared through the condensation reaction between epoxy resin and methylphenyl organosilicon intermediate. The TGA test results show that the integral procedural decomposition temperature (IPDT), the thermal residual weight at 800 °C (R800), and decomposition temperature range all improve under both N2 and air atmospheres after modification. The functional groups variation of polymers and the generated volatile segments during the degradation process are measured by FTIR, TG‐IR, and TG‐MS to investigate the thermal degradation mechanism in detail. Meanwhile, the composition and microstructure of the solid residue after thermal degradation are also systematically studied by SEM, XPS, and Raman spectroscopy. It is expected that this work can provide some theoretical basis and new ideas for designing new heat‐resistant epoxy resin.
The applicability of the myasthenia gravis patient registry data to disease burden and medication changes in clinical practice
Authors: Kushlaf Hani
Published: July 2022

See article on pages 411‐420 in this issue
Utility of Carpal Tunnel Release and Ulnar Decompression in CMT1A and HNPP
Authors: Chompoopong Pitcha , Niu Zhiyv , Shouman Kamal , Madigan Nicolas N. , Sandroni Paola , Berini Sarah E. , Shin Alexander Y. , Brault Jeffrey S. , Boon Andrea J. , Laughlin Ruple S. , Thorland Erik , Mandrekar Jay , Klein Christopher J.
Published: July 2022

Introduction/Aims

Carpal and cubital tunnel syndrome (CTS, CuTS) are common among patients with hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure‐palsies (HNPP) and Charcot–Marie‐Tooth type 1A (CMT1A) and may impact quality of life. We aimed to evaluate the utility of nerve decompression surgeries in these patients.

Methods

Medical records were reviewed for patients with PMP22 mutations confirmed in Mayo Clinic laboratories from January 1999 to December 2020, who had CTS and CuTS and underwent surgical decompression.

Results

CTS occurred in 53.3% of HNPP and 11.5% of CMT1A, while CuTS was present in 43.3% of HNPP and 5.8% of CMT1A patients. CTS decompression occurred in 10‐HNPP and 5‐CMT1A patients, and CuTS decompression with/without transposition was performed in 5‐HNPP and 1‐CMT1A patients. In HNPP, electrodiagnostic studies identified median neuropathy at the wrist in 9/10 patients and ultrasound showed focal enlargements at the carpal and cubital tunnels. In CMT1A, median and ulnar sensory responses were all absent, and the nerves were diffusely enlarged. After CTS surgery, pain, sensory loss, and strength improved in 4/5 CMT1A, and 6/10 HNPP patients. Of clinical, electrophysiologic and ultrasound findings, only activity‐provoked features significantly correlated with CTS surgical benefit in HNPP patients (odds ratio = 117.0:95% confidence interval, 1.94 > 999.99, p = 0.01). One CMT1A and one HNPP patient improved with CuTS surgery while 2 HNPP patients worsened.

Discussion

CTS symptom improvement post‐surgery can be seen in CMT1A and (less frequent) in HNPP patients. CuTS surgery commonly worsened course in HNPP. Activity‐provoked symptoms in HNPP best informed benefits from CTS surgery.
Identifying essential nonprofits with a novel NLP Method
Authors: Jones Michael , McCabe Erin , Olson Rebecca
Published: July 2022

In this research note, we propose a classification method for identifying whether a 501c3 nonprofit organization is considered essential for economic recovery. During the first few months of the COVID‐19 pandemic, many nonprofit organizations experienced negative financial effects from the economic recession. While these nonprofits saw increased demand for their services, the weakness in the overall economy led to a decline in donations. Fiscal assistance by local, state, and federal government to essential organizations was a critical element to an economic recovery, and governments needed to prioritize aid to the most essential organizations first. By identifying essential nonprofit organizations in advance, these organizations could quickly and efficiently receive financial assistance. Using descriptive text data provided by Ohio nonprofit organizations in their IRS tax filings, we propose a novel natural language processing (NLP) technique to measure the degree of “essentialness” to a nonprofit's work. We show that our model offers an improvement to the classification system known as the National Taxonomy of Exempt Organizations (NTEE). Our machine learning model is also compared to an independent evaluation of a nonprofit's essentialness produced by human researchers.
Effect of the pendent groups on biobased polymers, obtained from click chemistry suitable, for the adsorption of organic pollutants from water
Authors: Brirmi Nour El Houda , Chabbah Taha , Chatti Saber , Schiets Frédéric , Casabianca Hervé , Marestin Catherine , Mercier Regis , Weidner Steffen M. , Errachid Abdelhamid , Jaffrezic‐Renault Nicole , Romdhane Hatem Ben
Published: July 2022

In this work, four triazole‐based poly(ether‐pyridine)s polymers were synthesized and used as an adsorbent for the removal of phenolic compounds from aqueous solutions. For this purpose, new fluoromonomers containing 1,2,3‐triazole units were prepared by the Cu(I)‐catalyzed 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reaction and then used for the elaboration of novel poly(ether‐pyridine‐triazole)s (PEPTs) by direct polycondensation with isosorbide and bisphenol A. Chemical structure of fluorinated pyridinic monomers as well as resulting polymers was confirmed by 1H and 19F NMR spectroscopic methods. The thermal behavior of the obtained PEPTs was characterized using differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. Results of sorption showed that polymers can be effectively used as a sorbent for the removal of polar organic pollutants. The isosorbide‐based poly(ether‐pyridine‐triazole) which contains hydrophilic hydroxyl groups as pendants chains (P4) exhibited the highest sorption efficiencies (78%–100% after 1 h). In order to explain the results an adsorption mechanism mainly based on π–π interactions and hydrogen bonding with the pendent groups is proposed.
Real‐time observation of microcrack growth in thin film microtomed from rubber/nanocellulose composite sheets, during tensile deformation
Authors: Jinnai Hiroshi , Noguchi Toru , Kumagai Akemi , Endo Morinobu , Isogai Akira
Published: July 2022

Rubber/nanocellulose composite sheets improve tensile properties compared with neat rubber sheets, when nanocellulose materials are suitably compounded with rubber matrices. First, two oven‐dried nanocellulose materials containing different additive components were prepared from nanocellulose/water dispersions, and the oven‐dried nanocellulose‐containing materials were compounded with rubber sheets under high shear forces by using a two‐roll mill. The tensile moduli and strength of the rubber/nanocellulose composite sheets were clearly better than those of the rubber sheet prepared without nanocellulose, while the elongations at break were similar. Thin films were cut from the rubber/nanocellulose composite sheets, and their real‐time tensile deformation processes were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to understand the time‐dependent patterns of crack propagation, void formations, and fusion between cracks and voids in the composites during tensile deformation. TEM observations showed that the composite sheets consisted of individual rubber/nanocellulose clusters. Voids initially formed inside the rubber/nanocellulose clusters, propagated to form cracks, fused with other voids or secondary cracks. There were slight differences between the crack‐propagation patterns of the two rubber composites, probably because of differences in the morphologies, sizes, distributions, and structures of the rubber/nanocellulose clusters, and surface chemical structures of individual nanocellulose elements between the composites.
Structural, Elastic, Electronic, Magnetic, and Thermoelectric Characteristics of MgEu2X4 (X = S, Se) Spinel Compounds: Ab‐Initio Calculations
Authors: Mousa Ahmad A. , Al Azar Said M. , Essaoud Saber Sâad , Berarma Khadidja , Awad Aymen , Mahmoud Nada T. , Jaradat Emad K. , Abu-Jafar Mohammed S.
Published: July 2022

The structural, elastic, electronic, magnetic, and thermoelectric properties of MgEu2X4 (X = S and Se) spinel compounds are investigated computationally. Calculations are performed using the full‐potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP‐LAPW) method within the Perdew, Burke, and Ernzerhof generalized gradient approximation (PBE‐GGA), GGA + U, and modified Becke–Johnson (mBJ‐GGA) approximations. The band structure and density of states results from the three exchange‐correlation approximation methods (mBJ, GGA + U, and PBE) show that these spinel compounds are fully spin‐polarized. Also, they possess a half‐metallic character in the spin‐down channel with a direct bandgap (Γ–Γ) of about 3.44, 2.712, and 2.472 eV for MgEu2S4 and 2.89, 2.285, and 2.017 eV for MgEu2Se4, respectively. The formation of both compounds is energetically favorable based on the results of the total energy and cohesive energy calculations. Furthermore, the two compounds are chemically and mechanically stable, as concluded from cohesive energy and elastic calculations. The elastic calculations reveal that both spinel compounds are ductile materials. The ionic bonds are predominant. The quasi‐harmonic model has also been used to investigate the influences of temperature and pressure on thermal characteristics. The thermoelectric behavior is studied using the BoltzTraP code. Both systems show good thermoelectric properties for the spin‐down channel.
Isolation‐oriented Lyapunov‐based design of simultaneous feedback strategies for disease control of SIQR
Authors: Ito Hiroshi
Published: July 2022

This article pursues a new approach to the design of feedback control laws mitigating the spread of human infectious diseases. The control inputs of vaccination, isolation, and outing/gathering regulation are derived as the gradient of a positive definite function of all the population variables of the SIQR model. Lyapunov functions in which susceptible and infected populations are decoupled are known to be non‐self‐sufficient for proving stability of the SIQR model as well as other variants of the SIR model. This fact has been hampering Lyapunov‐based control design of infectious disease models. This article demonstrates that a popular decoupled function can still serve as a control Lyapunov function as long as isolation is made state‐dependent. Techniques realizing this novel idea are presented and shown to allow the Lyapunov function to establish a robustness guarantee in terms of input‐to‐state stability with respect to immigration and newborn perturbation on an arbitrarily large domain. The effectiveness of the proposed simultaneous controller is illustrated through numerical simulations performed with a parameter set of COVID‐19.
Mentoring science educators for equity‐centered futures
Authors: Settlage John
Published: July 2022

This framing essay situates the author's experiences with mentoring. This serves as a prelude to the two foundational essays about equity‐centered science education included within this special issue.