bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Excellent Outcome in Living Donor Liver Transplantation: Treating Patients With Acute‐on‐Chronic Liver Failure
Authors: Wang Yu‐Chen , Yong Chee‐Chien , Lin Chih‐Che , Alam Humaira , Naseer Faisal , Lin Yu‐Hung , Yeh Cheng‐Hsi , Wang Shih‐Ho , Lin Tsan‐Shiun , Lin Ting‐Lung , Lee Wei‐Feng , Chan Yi‐Chia , Wang Chih‐Chi , Chen Chao‐Long
Published: May 2021

Acute‐on‐chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a fatal condition, and liver transplantation (LT) is a vital option for these patients. However, the result of living donor LT (LDLT) for ACLF is not well investigated. This study investigated the outcomes of LDLT in patients with ACLF compared with patients without ACLF. This was a single‐center, retrospective, matched case‐control study. From July 2002 to March 2017, a total of 112 patients with ACLF who underwent LDLT were enrolled according to the consensus of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver. A total of 224 patients were selected for control comparison (non‐ACLF) with demographic factors (sex, age, and body mass index) matched (1:2). Patients with ACLF were stratified into ACLF 1, 2, and 3 categories according to the number of organ failures based on the Chronic Liver Failure–Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score. Survival and surgical outcomes after LDLT were analyzed. The Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease and Child‐Turcotte‐Pugh scores in the ACLF group were significantly higher than those in the non‐ACLF group (P < 0.001). The 90‐day, 3‐year, and 5‐year survival rates in the ACLF and non‐ACLF groups were 97.3%, 95.5%, 92.9%, respectively, and 96.9%, 94.2%, and 91.1%, respectively (P = 0.58). There was more intraoperative blood loss in the ACLF group than in the non‐ACLF group (P < 0.001). The other postoperative complications were not significantly different between the groups. A total of 20 patients (17.9%) in the ACLF group presented with 3 or more organ system dysfunctions (ACLF 3), and the 90‐day, 3‐year, and 5‐year survival rates were comparable with those of ACLF 1 and ACLF 2 (P = 0.25). In carefully selected patients, LDLT gives excellent outcomes in patients with ACLF regardless of the number of organs involved. Comprehensive perioperative care and timely transplantation play crucial roles in saving the lives of patients with ACLF.
Three‐dimensional assessment of brain arterial compliance: Technical development, comparison with aortic pulse wave velocity, and age effect
Authors: Li Yang , Lim Chantelle , Schär Michael , Jiang Dengrong , Qiao Ye , Pillai Jay J. , Lu Hanzhang
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The ability to measure cerebral vascular compliance (VC) is important in the evaluation of vascular diseases. Additionally, quantification of arterial wall pulsation in the brain may be useful for understanding the driving force of the recently discovered glymphatic system. Our goal is to develop an MRI technique to measure VC and arterial wall pulsation in major intracranial vessels.

Methods

A total of 17 healthy subjects were studied on a 3T MRI system. The technique, called VaCom‐PCASL, uses pseudo‐continuous arterial spin labeling (PCASL) to obtain pure blood vessel signal, uses a 3D radial acquisition, and applies a golden‐angle radial sparse parallel (GRASP) algorithm for image reconstruction. The k‐space data were retrospectively sorted into different cardiac phases. The GRASP algorithm allows the reconstruction of 5D (three spatial dimensions, one control/label dimension, and one cardiac‐phase dimension) data simultaneously. The proposed technique was optimized in terms of reconstruction parameters and labeling duration. Intracranial VC was compared with aortic pulse wave velocity measured with phase‐contrast MRI. Age differences in VC were studied.

Results

The VaCom‐PCASL technique using 10 cardiac phases and GRASP sparsity constraints of λlabel/control = 0.05 and λcardiac = 0.05 provided the highest contrast‐to‐noise ratio. A labeling duration of 800 ms was found to yield signals comparable to those of longer duration (P > .2), whereas 400 ms yielded significant overestimation (P < .005). A significant correlation was observed between intracranial VC and aortic pulse wave velocity (r = −0.73, P = .038, N = 8). Vascular compliance in the older group was lower than that in the younger group.

Conclusion

The VaCom‐PCASL‐MRI technique represents a promising approach for noninvasive assessment of arterial stiffness and pulsatility.
Role of hydration and micellar shielding in tuning the structure of single crystalline iron oxide nanoparticles for designer applications
Authors: Arbi Ramis , Ibrahim Amr , Goldring‐Vandergeest Liora , Liang Kunyu , Hanta Greg , Hui Lok Shu , Turak Ayse
Published: May 2021

Different physicochemical properties of nanoscale iron oxides have been useful in enabling various applications. Desirable biochemical, magnetic, and catalytic properties result from the structure and size of the iron oxide polymorph particles. To produce monodispersed single crystalline particles, PS‐b‐P2VP reverse micelle templating has proven to be a convenient low temperature method. Here, Raman spectroscopy and quantitative nanomechanical mapping analysis are used to provide a full picture of the formation and transformation processes that occur within the reverse micelle templates. Surprisingly, shielding of the hygroscopic FeCl precursor salt against hydration rather than complexation with the pyridine is responsible for the formation of ‐FeO particles. Additionally, micelle shielded nanoparticles not only exhibited a uniform size distribution and ordered dispersion, but also an increased transition temperature for the to ‐phase transition, up to 700 C, making them much more stable than traditional nanoparticles. Using these key understandings of particle formation, nanoparticles can be tuned with composition ranging from a purely spinel (‐FeO, FeO) to a purely hexagonal phase (‐FeO), and varying ratios of the three phases, while maintaining a fixed particle size. Modifying parameters offer intriguing opportunities to tailor designer iron oxide nanoparticles for targeted applications with a facile and scalable technique.
Poly(vinylidene fluoride) separators for next‐generation lithium based batteries
Authors: Liu Rong , Yuan Botao , Zhong Shijie , Liu Jipeng , Dong Liwei , Ji Yuanpeng , Dong Yunfa , Yang Chunhui , He Weidong
Published: May 2021

Lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) have become star products in wireless electronic equipment, new energy vehicles and many other fields due to their advantages of high energy density, light weight, good stability, high charging‐discharging efficiency, long service life and environmental friendliness. The separator is an indispensable part of batteries that does not participate in electrochemical reactions, separating the anode and cathode. It has a microporous structure, which can store electrolyte and allow ions to transfer freely. Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)‐based separators are characterized by strong polarity, high dielectric constant, stable electrochemical performance, excellent tensile properties and mechanical strength, favorable thermal stability and wettability. Therefore, they are proposed to be potential candidates for novel separators in the field of LIBs. This review introduces the recent researches and advances in PVDF‐based separators for LIBs, with the characterizations and requirements for separators. It is mainly divided into the two types including monolayer and multilayer separators. Furthermore, the performance of the PVDF‐based separators is summarized, and the challenges and prospects in their practical application are briefly analyzed.
Malnutrition is associated with hyperinflammation and immunosuppression in COVID‐19 patients: A prospective observational study
Authors: Liu Heng , Zhou Liang , Wang Hugen , Wang Xiaobo , Qu Guangbo , Cai Jing , Zhang Hong
Published: May 2021

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is spreading globally and has caused many deaths. This study investigated, for the first time, COVID‐19 patients’ nutrition status and its effects on their inflammatory and immune responses.

Methods

Forty‐seven COVID‐19 patients were recruited for this prospective study. According to the subjective global assessment at admission, patients were divided into the normal nutrition (NN), risk of malnutrition (RMN), or MN group. Serum cytokines and whole blood T‐cell subpopulations were measured to assess the inflammatory and immune responses in COVID‐19 patients. Analysis of covariance and χ2 tests were used.

Results

On admission, the incidences of MN and the RMN in COVID‐19 patients were 17.0% and 38.3%, respectively. The MN group had a higher proportion with severe/critical COVID‐19 and a longer hospitalization duration than the NN group. Serum interleukin (IL) 6 concentrations were elevated in 97.9% of the patients and were the highest in malnourished patients. The IL‐4 and IL‐10 levels were elevated in 46.8% and 48.9% of the patients, respectively. The proportion of CD8+ T cells was significantly lower in the MN group than in the NN group.

Conclusion

A high proportion of COVID‐19 patients are malnourished or at risk of malnuourishment, especially those with severe disease. MN is associated with hyperinflammation and immunosuppression in COVID‐19 patients, and it may contribute to disease progression.
Characterizing the mechanical properties of nanocomposites with aligned graphene
Authors: Su Lin‐Shiang , Tsai Jia‐Lin
Published: May 2021

This study fabricated nanocomposites with aligned graphene platelets and examined their mechanical properties. Both reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and functionalized graphene (FG) were used in this study. Graphene platelets were incorporated into epoxy matrix through mechanical mixing, followed by sonication for homogeneous dispersion. To align the graphene platelets, before curing, an electric field was applied to the epoxy–graphene compound. Real‐time microscopic observation revealed that under an electric field, the graphene platelets rotated, translated, and eventually formed a chain‐like microstructure along the electric field. Tensile tests were conducted on the nanocomposites with aligned graphene, and failure mechanisms were identified using scanning electrical microscopy of the fracture surfaces. For comparison, nanocomposites with randomly oriented graphene were prepared and then subjected to tensile loading. Moreover, the moduli of the graphene nanocomposites were characterized using the modified Mori–Tanaka micromechanical model. The experimental results indicated that the nanocomposites with aligned graphene exhibited higher tensile moduli and tensile strength than those with randomly oriented graphene. Moreover, the nanocomposites with FG had superior interfacial properties and thus superior mechanical properties compared with those with RGO.
Simultaneous quantitative analysis of ten bioactive flavonoids in Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride (Qing Pi) by ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography and high‐resolution mass spectrometry combined with chemometric methods
Authors: He Xiaofang , Huang Sisi , Wu Mengmei , Wu Menghua , Zhang Ying , Ma Zhiguo , Liu Li , Cao Hui
Published: May 2021

Introduction

Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride (Qing Pi in Chinese) is a clinically effective Chinese herb, which contains biologically valuable flavonoids. Qing Pi is divided into two commodity specifications, Si Hua Qing Pi (SHQP) and Ge Qing Pi (GQP), based on the harvesting time. The flavonoid contents in Qing Pi from different origins and commodity specifications may vary significantly, which will affect their therapeutic functions. Thus, it is crucial to set up a reliable and comprehensive quality evaluation method for flavonoid analysis in Qing Pi.

Objectives

We aimed to establish a rapid and sensitive ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography method coupled with diode‐array detection and high‐resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC‐DAD‐HRMS) for identification and quantification of ten flavonoids in Qing Pi. Chemometric methods were further applied to distinguish Qing Pi of different origins and specifications.

Methodology

An UPLC‐DAD‐HRMS method was developed for the simultaneous separation and quantification of ten flavonoids in 46 batches of Qing Pi samples from different sources in China. Chemometric approaches were applied to discriminate Qing Pi from different origins and commodity specifications.

Results

The chemometric procedures (i.e., hierarchical clustering analysis and principal component analysis) were employed to identify the differences of Qing Pi samples with different origins and commodity specifications. The results showed that the contents of ten flavonoids in Qing Pi samples of different origins were significantly different, and the same results were found out between SHQP and GQP.

Conclusions

This study provides a chemical basis for quality control of Qing Pi.
Rotundic acid reduces LPS‐induced acute lung injury in vitro and in vivo through regulating TLR4 dimer
Authors: Li Xin‐Xing , Yuan Renyikun , Wang Qin‐Qin , Han Shan , Liu Zhenjie , Xu Qiongming , Yang Shilin , Gao Hongwei
Published: May 2021

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a serious clinical disease. Rotundic acid (RA), a natural ingredient isolated from Ilex rotunda Thunb, exhibits multiple pharmacological activities. However, RA's therapeutic effect and mechanism on ALI remain to be elucidated. The present study aimed to further clarify its regulating effects on inflammation in vitro and in vivo. Our results indicated that RA significantly inhibited the overproduction of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). RA decreased ROS production and calcium influx. In addition, RA inhibited the activation of PI3K, MAPK, and NF‐κB pathways and enhanced the activity of nuclear factor E2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling. The cellular thermal shift assay and docking results indicated that RA bind to TLR4 to block TLR4 dimerization. Furthermore, RA pretreatment effectively inhibited ear edema induced by xylene and LPS‐induced endotoxin death and had a protective effect on LPS‐induced ALI. Our findings collectively indicated that RA has anti‐inflammatory effects, which may serve as a potential therapeutic option for pulmonary inflammation.
Assessment of anthropogenic pollution using multiple hydrogeochemical tools and statistical analysis in rural plain basins of the Argentinian Pampean Plain
Authors: Borzi Guido , Idaszkin Yanina L. , Tanjal Carolina , Galliari Julieta , Carol Eleonora
Published: May 2021

Chemistry of surface water and groundwater can be conditioned by geology, anthropic influence, and exchange of flow between them. The Pampean Plain located in Argentina has gaining streams and mainly rural activities. An increase in the concentration of chemical values of surface waters with respect to groundwater can be attributed to the anthropogenic contribution. The aim of this work was to identify the natural and/or anthropic processes that determine the chemistry of surface water and groundwater in a sector of the Pampean Plain of Argentina through the analysis of major and trace elements, 18O and 2H isotopes, and statistical tools. A surface water and groundwater sampling network was designed, where physicochemical parameters were measured, and samples were taken to determine major and trace elements and stable isotopes of water. The results indicate that dissolution, cation exchange, and evaporation are the main processes that determine the chemistry of the major elements associated with natural processes without showing evidence of anthropic involvement. Some trace elements that are statistically associated with major ions evidence water‐sediment interaction within the aquifer. On the other hand, trace elements, as heavy metals, present a higher concentration in surface water compared to groundwater. This fact, evidences an anthropogenic contribution attributable to anthropic activities. The multivariate statistical analysis allowed discriminating between those trace elements associated with natural processes from those influenced by anthropic activity, even when these elements' concentration was very low.
The ambiguity of price and the labor of land brokers in Kathmandu, Nepal
Authors: Haxby Andrew
Published: May 2021

Few figures are more at odds with convenience than the informal land broker. Lambasted for corruption, opacity, and inefficiency, at best such brokers are portrayed as necessary bridges between different embedded markets, at worst as crooks profiting from their monopolizing of relationships and information. Yet, little attention is given to how brokers can affect the formation of markets and the meaning of price. Herein I offer an analysis of land brokerage in Kathmandu, Nepal. Though families have seemingly little control over the price of their land, I argue that their employing of informal land brokers allows their personal valuations of their own land's worth to influence its market price, helping to create a market where land prices seemingly “never go down.” I explore the ways different potential framings of land value illuminate each other—what I call “crosstalk”—and how this phenomenon paradoxically depends on owners being bracketed out of the negotiation over their land's sale, a service that brokers provide. Through ethnographic accounts of land sales and brokerage techniques, I present brokers as key to the formation of an unusual market, one that allows for the commodification of land while eliding the determinative effects of supply and demand.
Investigation of an atomic‐layer‐deposited Al2O3 diffusion barrier between Pt and Si for the use in atomic scale atom probe tomography studies on a combinatorial processing platform
Authors: Li Yujiao , Zanders David , Meischein Michael , Devi Anjana , Ludwig Alfred
Published: May 2021

In order to enable the application of atomic probe tomography combinatorial processing platforms for atomic‐scale investigations of phase evolution at elevated temperatures, the pre‐sharpened Si tip of 10–20 nm in diameter must be protected against interdiffusion and reaction of the reactive Si with a film of interest by a conformal coating on the Si tip. It is shown that unwanted reactions can be suppressed by introducing a 20‐nm‐thick intermediate Al2O3 layer grown by atomic layer deposition (ALD). As a representative case, Pt is chosen as a film of interest, as it easily forms silicides. Whereas without the ALD coating diffusion/reactions occur, with the protective film, this is prevented for temperatures up to at least 600°C. The effectiveness of the Al2O3 layer serving as a diffusion barrier is not limited to a sharpened Si tip but works generally for all cases where a Si substrate is used.
Electrochemical Sensor for Detection of Paracetamol Based on Pendent Nitrogen Heterocyclic Ring‐Functionalized Polyterthiophene Derivatives
Authors: Jamal Ruxangul , Liu Yingcheng , Abdurexit Abdukeyum , Sawut Nurbiye , Yan Yinqiang , Ali Ahmat , Abdiryim Tursun
Published: May 2021

In this work, the donor‐acceptor (D−A) type conducting polymer with pendent nitrogen heterocycle (pyridine or pyrimidine) grafted polyterthiophene derivatives based electro‐chemical sensor for paracetamol (PAR) was proposed. The structure of polymer materials was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR), UV‐vis spectroscopy (UV‐vis), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Thermogravimetric (TG) analysis methods. The electrochemical performance of polymer modified electrodes was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) methods. The effect of pendent nitrogen heterocycles on the structure and electrochemical performance of polymers were studied. The results showed that the non‐covalent interactions (hydrogen bonding and π‐π stacking) between the polymers and PAR could improve the electrochemical behavior. Compared with that of pyridine, the pyrimidine grafted polymer exhibited better electrochemical performance with a minimum detection concentration of 0.16 μM, a linear range of 0.16 μM–1300 μM, and a minimum detection limit of 0.06 μM.
Characterization Study of Cytotoxicity of Green Synthesized ZnO Nanoparticles Loaded with Anti‐Cancer Doxorubicin Drug
Authors: Gomathi Rajagopal , Suhana Harindran , Paradesi Deivanayagam
Published: May 2021

The green synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticle (ZnO) was filled with a commercially available anti‐cancer drug, Doxorubicin (DoX). The loading of the drug into ZnO was validated using UV‐Visible and Raman spectroscopy. X‐ray diffraction data showed the wurtzite structure of the nanoparticles of ZnO. Scanning electron microphotography images detected the encapsulation of DoX drugs into ZnO nanoparticles. Fourier transformer infrared spectrum of DoX loaded ZnO showed a single band at 478 cm−1 attributed to the ZnO vibrational band and the carbonyl group peak at 1578 cm−1, suggesting the loading of DoX into ZnO. In addition, in vitro cytotoxicity of DoX, ZnO and ZnO‐DoX against HeLa cells was studied using the MTT colorimetric cell viability assay, which showed 99.4 % inhibition of ZnO‐DoX cells at a concentration of 100 μg/mL. The findings thus provide compelling evidence for green biosynthesized ZnO, which could serve as a promising nano‐drug carrier for the targeted drug delivery system.
Synthesis, Antifungal Activity and 3D‐QSAR Study of Novel (E)‐Longifolene‐Derived Tetralone Oxime Ethers
Authors: Zhang Qianan , Lin Guishan , Duan Wengui , Zhao Shuyan , He Jiamin , Lei Fuhou
Published: May 2021

In search of novel antifungal agents from natural renewable biomass resources, twenty‐two (E)‐longifolene‐derived tetralone oxime ether compounds were synthesized. Their structures were confirmed by IR, 1H‐NMR, 13C‐NMR, ESI‐MS and elemental analysis. The preliminary evaluation of in vitro antifungal activity showed that, at the concentration of 50 μg/mL, eight target compounds exhibited better antifungal activity than that of the positive control commercial fungicide chlorothalonil against Gibberella zeae, in which compound 5 a held excellent inhibition rate of 85.6 % against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Cucumerinu, and compound 5 d displayed a good and broad‐spectrum antifungal activity. Furthermore, a preliminary three‐dimensional quantitative structure‐activity relationship (3D‐QSAR) study was carried out by the CoMFA method for the inhibitory activity of the target compounds with aromatic R substituents against G. zeae, and a reasonable and effective 3D‐QSAR model (r2=0.992, q2=0.523) was established.
One‐Pot, Multi‐Component Synthesis of Novel 2‐Amino‐[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidine‐6‐carboxamide Derivatives as Antiproliferative Agents
Authors: Huo Xiansen , Ma Yufeng , Chen Zhiru , Yuan Lili , Zheng Xiaolan , Li Xiongli , Fengting  , Liang  , You Wenwei , Zhao Peiliang
Published: May 2021

A novel series of 2‐amino‐[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidine‐6‐carboxamide derivatives has been achieved successfully via an efficient one‐pot three‐component Biginelli‐like heterocyclization reaction between different benzaldehydes, 1H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3,5‐diamine, and N‐substituted acetoacetamides in the presence of p‐toluenesulfonic acid as a catalyst. Moreover, the effects of different conditions on the reaction were well investigated. In addition, cancer cell growth inhibition activity for these target compounds was also explored, and analogue 5 l demonstrated the most potent cytotoxic activity against different cancer cells. These finds indicat that 2‐amino‐[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidine‐6‐carboxamide core could be well worth further optimization as a potential scaffold for development of anticancer agents.
One‐Pot Synthesis of Xanthone by Carbonylative Suzuki Coupling Reaction
Authors: Loureiro Daniela R. P. , Soares José X. , Maia Ana , Silva André M. N. , Rangel Maria , Azevedo Carlos M. G. , Hansen Steffen V. , Ulven Trond , Pinto Madalena M. M. , Reis Salette , Afonso Carlos M. M.
Published: May 2021

Xanthone derivatives have a dibenzo‐y‐pyrone scaffold which has gained great interest in Medicinal Chemistry due to their diverse biological activities. Usually, its synthesis requires multi‐step synthetic routes using harsh conditions and high catalyst loadings. In this communication, we report for the first time a one‐pot synthesis of the xanthone scaffold based on a carbonylative Suzuki coupling. Iodophenol and (2‐methoxyphenyl)boronic acid were coupled under carbon monoxide, generated from a carbon monoxide surrogate. An experimental data‐based model was built to guide the reaction optimization. The optimized conditions were 1 mol% of a pincer complex as palladium catalyst, 5 equivalents of K2CO3 as base, and DMF:water (7 : 3) as solvent. The robustness of the synthetic method, namely in terms of the reactants scope, was also evaluated. This approach provided the xanthone scaffold in high yields and provided a deep insight into the carbonylative Suzuki couplings.
Self‐Organizing Microdroplet Protocells Displaying Light‐Driven Oscillatory and Morphological Evolution
Authors: Cheng Gong , Lin Chenyu , Perez‐Mercader Juan
Published: May 2021

The development of synthetic systems that enable the sustained active self‐assembly of molecular blocks to mimic the complexity and dynamic behavior of living systems is of great interest in elucidating the origins of life, understanding the basic principles behind biological organization, and designing active materials. However, it remains a challenge to construct microsystems with dynamic behaviors and functions that are connected to molecular self‐assembly processes driven by external energy. Here, an active self‐assembly of microdroplet protocells with dynamic structure and high structural complexity through living radical polymerization under constant energy flux is reported. The active microdroplet protocells exhibit nonlinear behaviors including oscillatory growth and shrinkage. This relies on the transient stabilization of molecular assembly, which can channel the inflow of energy through noncovalent interactions of pure synthetic components. The intercommunication of microdroplet protocells through stochastic fusion leads to the formation of a variety of dynamic and higher‐order biomimetic microstructures. This work constitutes an important step toward the realization of autonomous and dynamic microsystems and active materials with life‐like properties.
Nonhalide Materials for Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Chen Jiangzhao , Park Nam‐Gyu
Published: May 2021

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have witnessed great advancements in power conversion efficiency (PCE) and stability. Over the past several years, various nonhalide materials have been extensively developed to enhance both PCE and stability by including them in perovskite compositions, perovskite precursor materials, additives, post‐treatment reagents, dopants for charge transport materials (CTMs), CTMs, and interfacial modifiers. In this review, various nonhalide materials reported for PSCs are described and the dependence of the photovoltaic performance on anions (or in part cations) in nonhalide materials is investigated. This review highlights the importance of synergistic and rational engineering of anions and cations of the nonhalide materials in order to maximize both PCE and stability of PSCs.
Cortisol levels in blood and hair of unanesthetized grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) following intravenous cosyntropin injection
Authors: Cattet Marc , Janz David M. , Kapronczai Luciene , Erlenbach Joy A. , Jansen Heiko T. , Nelson O Lynne , Robbins Charles T. , Stenhouse Gordon B.
Published: May 2021

Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) is being used increasingly to evaluate long‐term stress in many mammalian species. Most of the cortisol is assumed to passively diffuse from circulating blood into hair follicles and gradually accumulate in growing hair. However, our research with free‐ranging grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) suggests HCC increases significantly within several hours following capture, a time too brief to be explained by this mechanism alone. In this study with captive grizzly bears, we sought to determine if a brief spike in blood cortisol concentration, thus mimicking a single stressful event, would cause an increase in HCC over a 7‐day period. To do this, we administered a single intravenous dose (5 μg/kg) of cosyntropin to three captive unanaesthetised adult female grizzly bears on two occasions, during April when hair growth was arrested and during August when hair was growing. In both trials, the cosyntropin caused a two‐fold or greater increase in serum cortisol levels within 1 hr but did not appear to influence HCC at 1, 48, and 168 hr following cosyntropin administration. We conclude the cosyntropin‐induced cortisol spike was likely insignificant when compared to the adrenocortical response that occurs in free‐ranging bears when captured. We suggest further study with a larger sample of captive bears to evaluate the combined effects of anaesthesia and multiple doses of cosyntropin administered over several hours would better simulate the adrenocortical response of free‐ranging grizzly bears during capture.
4-manifolds and topological modular forms
Authors: Gukov Sergei , Pei Du , Putrov Pavel , Vafa Cumrun
Published: May 2021

Abstract

We build a connection between topology of smooth 4-manifolds and the theory of topological modular forms by considering topologically twisted compactification of 6d (1, 0) theories on 4-manifolds with flavor symmetry backgrounds. The effective 2d theory has (0, 1) supersymmetry and, possibly, a residual flavor symmetry. The equivariant topological Witten genus of this 2d theory then produces a new invariant of the 4-manifold equipped with a principle bundle, valued in the ring of equivariant weakly holomorphic (topological) modular forms. We describe basic properties of this map and present a few simple examples. As a byproduct, we obtain some new results on ’t Hooft anomalies of 6d (1, 0) theories and a better understanding of the relation between 2d (0, 1) theories and TMF spectra.
“Self-testimony of a Past Present”: Reuses of Historical Film Documents
Authors: Sattelmacher Anja
Published: May 2021

Has the history of film digitization ever been incorporated in questions of evidence and knowledge production? The digitization of thousands of films from the former Institute for Scientific Film (IWF) that is currently underway gives an occasion to think about the provenance and reuses of filmic images as well as the ways in which they claim to produce scientific (or in this case, historical) evidence. In the years between 1956 and 1960, the German Social Democrat, historian and filmmaker Friedrich “Fritz” Terveen initiated a film series that used historical found film footage in order to educate university students about contemporary history. The first small series of films was entitledAirship Aviation in Germanywhich consisted of four short films using found footage of zeppelin flights, of which the earliest images stem from around 1904 and the latest from 1937, the moment of the “Hindenburg disaster.” This article explores how Terveen sought to shape the political landscape of history teaching in the new Federal Republic of Germany by first setting up nation-wide visual archives to host historical film documents, and secondly by seeking to improve the political education of a new generation of young Germans with the aid of the moving image.
Altersspezifische Trends des risikoreichen Alkoholkonsums in Deutschland: Parallele oder unterschiedliche Verläufe?
Authors: Kraus Ludwig , Loy Johanna K. , Wilms Nicolas , Starker Anne
Published: May 2021

Einleitung

Nach der Collectivity-of-Drinking-Cultures-Theorie von Skog finden Veränderungen des Alkoholkonsums in allen Bevölkerungsgruppen und -schichten als parallele Verschiebungen statt. Ziele des vorliegenden Beitrags sind (1) die Darstellung zeitlicher Trends des riskanten Konsums und des episodischen Rauschtrinkens nach Altersgruppen und Geschlecht und (2) die Prüfung, ob die Trends in allen Altersgruppen parallel verlaufen („Kollektivität“) oder zwischen Altersgruppen divergieren („Polarisierung“).

Methoden

Datengrundlage sind 9 Erhebungen des Epidemiologischen Suchtsurveys (ESA) zwischen 1995 und 2018. Als Schwellenwert für riskanten Alkoholkonsum wurde ein täglicher Konsum von mehr als 12 g Reinalkohol bei Frauen beziehungsweise 24 g bei Männern herangezogen. Episodisches Rauschtrinken wurde als Konsum von 5 oder mehr Gläsern Alkohol (ca. 70 g Reinalkohol) an mindestens einem Tag in den letzten 30 Tagen definiert. Lineare Regressionen wurden für die Vorhersage des zeitlichen Effekts auf riskanten Konsum bzw. Rauschkonsum nach Altersgruppen (18–29, 30–39, 40–49 und 50–59 Jahre) und Geschlecht getrennt berechnet und auf Unterschiede geprüft.

Ergebnisse

Die Entwicklungen riskanten Alkoholkonsums nach Altersgruppen verlaufen bei Männern weitgehend parallel, bei Frauen gegenläufig. Die Trends des episodischen Rauschtrinken weisen bei beiden Geschlechtern keine parallele Entwicklung auf: Während in der jüngsten und ältesten Altersgruppe die Prävalenz im Zeitverlauf anstieg, sank sie in den übrigen Altersgruppen.

Diskussion

Vor dem Hintergrund einer generellen Abnahme spricht die Zunahme in den Trends risikoreichen Alkoholkonsums in bestimmten Gruppen für einen Ausbau verhaltenspräventiver Maßnahmen. Zur Fortsetzung der positiven Entwicklung und der Vermeidung einer Trendumkehr sollten zudem auf die Gesamtbevölkerung ausgerichtete Präventionsanstrengungen intensiviert werden, beispielsweise durch Erhöhung der Alkoholsteuer oder Reduktion der Verfügbarkeit von Alkohol.
AI and social theory
Authors: Mökander Jakob , Schroeder Ralph
Published: May 2021

In this paper, we sketch a programme for AI-driven social theory. We begin by defining what we mean by artificial intelligence (AI) in this context. We then lay out our specification for how AI-based models can draw on the growing availability of digital data to help test the validity of different social theories based on their predictive power. In doing so, we use the work of Randall Collins and his state breakdown model to exemplify that, already today, AI-based models can help synthesise knowledge from a variety of sources, reason about the world, and apply what is known across a wide range of problems in a systematic way. However, we also find that AI-driven social theory remains subject to a range of practical, technical, and epistemological limitations. Most critically, existing AI-systems lack three essential capabilities needed to advance social theory in ways that are cumulative, holistic, open-ended, and purposeful. These are (1) semanticisation, i.e., the ability to develop and operationalize verbal concepts to represent machine-manipulable knowledge; (2) transferability, i.e., the ability to transfer what has been learned in one context to another; and (3) generativity, i.e., the ability to independently create and improve on concepts and models. We argue that if the gaps identified here are addressed by further research, there is no reason why, in the future, the most advanced programme in social theory should not be led by AI-driven cumulative advances.
Chronic intestinal inflammation drives colorectal tumor formation triggered by dietary heme iron in vivo
Authors: Seiwert Nina , Adam Janine , Steinberg Pablo , Wirtz Stefan , Schwerdtle Tanja , Adams-Quack Petra , Hövelmeyer Nadine , Kaina Bernd , Foersch Sebastian , Fahrer Jörg
Published: May 2021

The consumption of red meat is associated with an increased risk for colorectal cancer (CRC). Multiple lines of evidence suggest that heme iron as abundant constituent of red meat is responsible for its carcinogenic potential. However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood and particularly the role of intestinal inflammation has not been investigated. To address this important issue, we analyzed the impact of heme iron (0.25 µmol/g diet) on the intestinal microbiota, gut inflammation and colorectal tumor formation in mice. An iron-balanced diet with ferric citrate (0.25 µmol/g diet) was used as reference. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that dietary heme reduced α-diversity and caused a persistent intestinal dysbiosis, with a continuous increase in gram-negative Proteobacteria. This was linked to chronic gut inflammation and hyperproliferation of the intestinal epithelium as attested by mini-endoscopy, histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Dietary heme triggered the infiltration of myeloid cells into colorectal mucosa with an increased level of COX-2 positive cells. Furthermore, flow cytometry-based phenotyping demonstrated an increased number of T cells and B cells in the lamina propria following heme intake, while γδ-T cells were reduced in the intraepithelial compartment. Dietary heme iron catalyzed formation of fecal N-nitroso compounds and was genotoxic in intestinal epithelial cells, yet suppressed intestinal apoptosis as evidenced by confocal microscopy and western blot analysis. Finally, a chemically induced CRC mouse model showed persistent intestinal dysbiosis, chronic gut inflammation and increased colorectal tumorigenesis following heme iron intake. Altogether, this study unveiled intestinal inflammation as important driver in heme iron-associated colorectal carcinogenesis.
Which particles to select, and if yes, how many?
Authors: Schwaferts Christian , Schwaferts Patrick , von der Esch Elisabeth , Elsner Martin , Ivleva Natalia P.
Published: May 2021

Micro- and nanoplastic contamination is becoming a growing concern for environmental protection and food safety. Therefore, analytical techniques need to produce reliable quantification to ensure proper risk assessment. Raman microspectroscopy (RM) offers identification of single particles, but to ensure that the results are reliable, a certain number of particles has to be analyzed. For larger MP, all particles on the Raman filter can be detected, errors can be quantified, and the minimal sample size can be calculated easily by random sampling. In contrast, very small particles might not all be detected, demanding a window-based analysis of the filter. A bootstrap method is presented to provide an error quantification with confidence intervals from the available window data. In this context, different window selection schemes are evaluated and there is a clear recommendation to employ random (rather than systematically placed) window locations with many small rather than few larger windows. Ultimately, these results are united in a proposed RM measurement algorithm that computes confidence intervals on-the-fly during the analysis and, by checking whether given precision requirements are already met, automatically stops if an appropriate number of particles are identified, thus improving efficiency.
Carbon nanomaterial hybrids via laser writing for high-performance non-enzymatic electrochemical sensors: a critical review
Authors: Simsek Marcel , Wongkaew Nongnoot
Published: May 2021

Non-enzymatic electrochemical sensors possess superior stability and affordability in comparison to natural enzyme-based counterparts. A large variety of nanomaterials have been introduced as enzyme mimicking with appreciable sensitivity and detection limit for various analytes of which glucose and H2O2have been mostly investigated. The nanomaterials made from noble metal, non-noble metal, and metal composites, as well as carbon and their derivatives in various architectures, have been extensively proposed over the past years. Three-dimensional (3D) transducers especially realized from the hybrids of carbon nanomaterials either with metal-based nanocatalysts or heteroatom dopants are favorable owing to low cost, good electrical conductivity, and stability. In this critical review, we evaluate the current strategies to create such nanomaterials to serve as non-enzymatic transducers. Laser writing has emerged as a powerful tool for the next generation of devices owing to their low cost and resultant remarkable performance that are highly attractive to non-enzymatic transducers. So far, only few works have been reported, but in the coming years, more and more research on this topic is foreseeable.

Graphical abstract
The potential of training specialist oncology nurses in real-life reporting of adverse drug reactions
Authors: Reumerman M. , Tichelaar J. , van Eekeren R. , van Puijenbroek E. P. , Richir M. C. , van Agtmael M. A.
Published: May 2021

Specialist oncology nurses (SONs) have the potential to play a major role in monitoring and reporting adverse drug reactions (ADRs); and reduce the level of underreporting by current healthcare professionals. The aim of this study was to investigate the long term clinical and educational effects of real-life pharmacovigilance education intervention for SONs on ADR reporting. This prospective cohort study, with a 2-year follow-up, was carried out in the three postgraduate schools in the Netherlands. In one of the schools, the prescribing qualification course was expanded to include a lecture on pharmacovigilance, an ADR reporting assignment, and group discussion of self-reported ADRs (intervention). The clinical value of the intervention was assessed by analyzing the quantity and quality of ADR-reports sent to the Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Center Lareb, up to 2 years after the course and by evaluating the competences regarding pharmacovigilance of SONs annually. Eighty-eight SONs (78% of all SONs with a prescribing qualification in the Netherlands) were included. During the study, 82 ADRs were reported by the intervention group and 0 by the control group. This made the intervention group 105 times more likely to report an ADR after the course than an average nurse in the Netherlands. This is the first study to show a significant and relevant increase in the number of well-documented ADR reports after a single educational intervention. The real-life pharmacovigilance educational intervention also resulted in a long-term increase in pharmacovigilance competence. We recommend implementing real-life, context- and problem-based pharmacovigilance learning assignments in all healthcare curricula.
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound of pediatric lungs
Authors: Rafailidis Vasileios , Andronikou Savvas , Mentzel Hans-Joachim , Piskunowicz Maciej , Squires Judy H. , Barnewolt Carol E.
Published: May 2021

In addition to radiography, ultrasound (US) has long proved to be a valuable imaging modality to evaluate the pediatric lung and pleural cavity. Its many inherent advantages, including real-time performance, high spatial resolution, lack of ionizing radiation and lack of need for sedation make it preferable over other imaging modalities such as CT. Since the introduction of ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs), contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has become a valuable complementary US technique, with many well-established uses in adults and evolving uses in children. Lung CEUS applications are still not licensed and are performed off-label, although the added value of CEUS in certain clinical scenarios is increasingly reported. The limited evidence of CEUS in the evaluation of pediatric lungs focuses primarily on community-acquired pneumonia and its complications. In this clinical setting, CEUS is used to confidently and accurately diagnose necrotizing pneumonia and to delineate pleural effusions and empyema. In addition to intravenous use, UCAs can be administered directly into the pleural cavity through chest catheters to improve visualization of loculations within a complex pleural effusion, which might necessitate fibrinolytic therapy. The purpose of this paper is to present the current experience on pediatric lung CEUS and to suggest potential additional uses that can be derived from adult studies.
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound of benign and malignant liver lesions in children
Authors: Fang Cheng , Anupindi Sudha A. , Back Susan J. , Franke Doris , Green Thomas G. , Harkanyi Zoltan , Jüngert Jörg , Kwon Jeannie K. , Paltiel Harriet J. , Squires Judy H. , Zefov Vassil N. , McCarville M. Beth
Published: May 2021

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is increasingly being used in children. One of the most common referrals for CEUS performance is characterization of indeterminate focal liver lesions and follow-up of known liver lesions. In this setting, CEUS is performed with intravenous administration of ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs). When injected into a vein, UCA microbubbles remain confined within the vascular network until they dissipate. Therefore, visualization of UCA within the tissues and lesions corresponds to true blood flow. CEUS enables continuous, real-time observation of the enhancement pattern of a focal liver lesion, allowing in most cases for a definite diagnosis and obviating the need for further cross-sectional imaging or other interventional procedures. The recent approval of Lumason (Bracco Diagnostics, Monroe Township, NJ) for pediatric liver CEUS applications has spurred the widespread use of CEUS. In this review article we describe the role of CEUS in pediatric liver applications, focusing on the examination technique and interpretation of main imaging findings of the most commonly encountered benign and malignant focal liver lesions. We also compare the diagnostic performance of CEUS with other imaging modalities for accurate characterization of focal liver lesions.
Der Wearable Kardioverter-Defibrillator als Diagnostikum
Authors: Pulickal Tobyson , Helms Thomas M. , Perings Christian A.
Published: May 2021

Eine telemedizinische Versorgung kann neue Einsatzmöglichkeiten bereits etablierter Therapeutika wie einer tragbaren Defibrillator-Weste (WCD) ermöglichen und über ein verbessertes Management von hierüber abgeleiteten Vitaldaten die Versorgungsqualität von chronisch kranken Patienten mit Herzinsuffizienz (HI) erhöhen. Im aktuellen Fallbericht wird der klinische Verlauf eines 71 Jahre alten Patienten beschrieben, der nach einer akuten kardialen Dekompensation und neudiagnostizierter hochgradiger Einschränkung der kardialen Pumpfunktion im Rahmen einer ischämischen Kardiomyopathie leitliniengerecht mit einer WCD bis zur endgültigen Entscheidung über eine ICD-Implantation versorgt wurde. Die durch die WCD gesammelten Vitalwerte wurden über ein Telemedizinzentrum (TMZ) strukturiert ausgewertet und hierbei ein Rezidiv des vorbekannten paroxysmalen Vorhofflimmerns (VHF) entdeckt, was vor einer möglichen Dekompensation durch Anpassung der Medikation und frühzeitiger Initiierung einer Pulmonalvenenisolation (PVI) therapiert werden konnte. Dieser Fall zeigt exemplarisch die Sinnhaftigkeit strukturierter telemedizinischer Intervention auf, die es ermöglicht, etablierte Konzepte der Patientenversorgung sinnvoll zu ergänzen, bestehende Konzepte zu optimieren und die Patientenversorgung signifikant zu verbessern.