bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
One‐year clinical and echocardiographic outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement with SAPIEN 3 Ultra versus SAPIEN 3
Authors: Isogai Toshiaki , Agrawal Ankit , Shekhar Shashank , Spilias Nikolaos , Hodges Kevin , Yun James J. , Puri Rishi , Reed Grant W. , Krishnaswamy Amar , Kapadia Samir R.
Published: December 2022

Background

The newest‐generation balloon‐expandable valve, SAPIEN 3 Ultra (S3U), is expected to function well with the enhanced sealing skirt compared with SAPIEN 3 (S3). However, current literature on the comparison between these two valves is limited to short‐term follow‐ups. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the 1‐year outcomes and echocardiographic changes of S3U compared with S3.

Methods

We retrospectively identified patients who underwent transfemoral‐transcatheter aortic valve replacement with S3U or S3 (20/23/26 mm) at our institution in 2018–2020. Outcomes were 1‐year clinical events and echocardiographic parameters, and were compared between S3U and S3 after adjustment with inverse probability of treatment weighting.

Results

The S3U and S3 groups included 297 (25.7%) and 858 (74.3%) patients, respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups in clinical events (death 5.8% vs. 5.5%, hazard ratio [HR] 1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.81–1.90; death or heart failure hospitalization 10.3% vs. 10.1%, HR 1.04, 95% CI 0.67–1.62). The S3U group had a lower prevalence of mild paravalvular leakage (PVL) (13.7% vs. 22.3%, p = 0.044), with similar moderate PVL (0.7% vs. 1.2%, p > 0.99). No significant differences were observed in aortic valve mean gradient and Doppler velocity index at 1 year. However, the S3U group had a larger increase in mean gradient from implantation to 1 year (median +4.70 vs. +1.63 mmHg, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

S3U and S3 carried similarly favorable clinical event risks. Nonetheless, S3U was associated with less frequent mild PVL but a larger increase in transprosthetic gradient. Further studies are needed to determine the prognostic impact of these hemodynamic differences.
Redox Behavior of In−O−Ti Interface for Selective Hydrogenation of CO2 to CO in Doped In−TiO2 Catalyst
Authors: Dostagir Nazmul H. Md. , Fukuoka Atsushi , Shrotri Abhijit
Published: December 2022

In the CO2 hydrogenation reaction, selective synthesis of CO at low temperature and high pressure is needed to integrate the reverse water gas shift reaction with Fischer‐Tropsch synthesis. Here, we show that a mixed oxide catalyst prepared by doping indium (In) into TiO2 produces CO with the formation rate of 22 μmol g−1 s−1. The CO selectivity was more than 99 % at 350 °C and 3 MPa pressure. Moreover, the catalyst was durable for over 100 h on stream. During reaction the interfacial In3+−O−Ti4+ sites were first reduced in presence of H2 and then oxidized back with CO2 producing CO. Because of the redox mechanism, the formation of methanol and methane was limited. This study shows the development of a promoter‐free oxide catalyst for CO2 hydrogenation and the importance of the redox property at the oxide interface for selective hydrogenation of CO2 to CO under unfavorable conditions.
Novel Nitrogen‐Doped Porous Carbon with High Surface Areas Prepared from Industrial Alkali Lignin for Supercapacitors
Authors: Zheng Liang , Wang Xiaohui , Wang Huimei , Zhao Xin , Kong Fangong , Liu Yu
Published: December 2022

As a waste of the pulp and papermaking industry, industrial alkali lignin (IAL) was employed to prepare nitrogen‐doped porous carbon by pre‐carbonizing of lignin under a N2 atmosphere at 400 °C and carbonizing with the assistance of urea at 800 °C for 1 h. The porosity and surface chemical properties of the obtained porous carbons strongly depended on the alkaline environment of the lignin. The obtained porous carbons showed specific surface areas ranging from 1.759 m2 g−1 to 1482 m2 g−1 and nitrogen contents of 1.12 % to 7.78 %. The unique microstructure and nitrogen functionalities endowed the porous carbon with a high capacitance of 283.4 F g−1 in 6 mol L−1 KOH aqueous electrolytes. In addition, the optimal porous carbon exhibited excellent rate capability (212.0 F g−1 at 20 A g−1) and cycle durability (97.6 % after 10000 charge‐discharge cycles), making it a promising electrode material for supercapacitors.
A Neutral‐pH Aqueous Redox Flow Battery Based on Sustainable Organic Electrolytes
Authors: Montero Jorge , da Silva Freitas Williane , Mecheri Barbara , Forchetta Mattia , Galloni Pierluca , Licoccia Silvia , D'Epifanio Alessandra
Published: December 2022

Aqueous organic redox flow batteries (AORFBs) have gained increasing attention for large‐scale storage due to the advantages of decoupled energy and power, safe and sustainable chemistry, and tunability of the redox‐active species. Here, we report the development of a neutral‐pH AORFB assembled with a highly water‐soluble ferrocene 1,1‐disulfonic disodium salt (DS−Fc) and two viologen derivatives, 1,1’‐bis(3‐sulfonatopropyl)‐viologen (BSP−Vi) and Bis(3‐trimethylammonium)propyl viologen tetrachloride (BTMAP−Vi). Synthesized electrolytes showed excellent redox potential, good diffusion coefficient, and a good transfer rate constant. In particular, BSP−Vi has a more negative redox potential (‐0.4 V) than BTMAP−Vi (−0.3 V) and faster kinetics; therefore, it was selected to be assembled in an AORFB as anolyte, coupled with DS−Fc as catholyte.The resulting AORFB based on BTMAP−Vi/DS−Fc and BSP−Vi/DS−Fc redox couple had a high cell voltage (1.2 V and 1.3 V, respectively) and theoretical energy density (13 WhL−1 and 14 WhL−1 respectively) and was able to sustain 70 charge‐discharge cycles with energy efficiency as high as 97 %.
MOFs in Emerging Solar Cells
Authors: Dou Jie , Chen Qi
Published: December 2022

Comprehensive Summary

Metal‐organic framework (MOF) materials have attracted intense scientific interest in the solar cell research community owing to their unique physiochemical properties and various preparation methods. The photovoltaic performance and stability of resultant optoelectronic devices can also be improved by adopting MOF materials. This review pays close attention to the summary and generalization of recent representative achievements in solar cells by utilizing MOFs, including dye‐sensitized solar cells, perovskite solar cells, organic solar cells, and so on. This mini‐review is expected to improve understanding of material properties and broaden the scope of future material applications.
Matrix compatibility and correlation mixture representation of generalized Gini's gamma
Authors: Koike Takaaki , Hofert Marius
Published: December 2022

Representations of measures of concordance in terms of Pearson's correlation coefficient are studied. All transforms of random variables are characterized such that the correlation coefficient of the transformed random variables is a measure of concordance. Gini's gamma then is generalized and it is shown that the resulting generalized Gini's gamma can be represented as a mixture of measures of concordance that are Pearson's correlation coefficients of transformed random variables. As an application of this correlation mixture representation of generalized Gini's gamma, lower and upper bounds of the compatible set of generalized Gini's gamma, i.e., the collection of all square matrices of pairwise generalized Gini's gammas, are derived.
Cryo‐EM for Small Molecules
Authors: Cabral Angela , Cabral Julia Elise , McNulty Reginald
Published: December 2022

In recent years, protein structure analysis using cryo‐electron microscopy(cryo‐EM) has expanded and improved. In this review, we discuss many recent improvements to the field, the problems those improvements hope to solve, and some of the still unanswered questions. Most notably, this review will discuss improvements in resolving small or fragmented protein structures, as well as methods to improve the signal‐to‐noise ratio of the data by increasing image contrast using carbon‐based systems. We will also describe how, in the last 5 years, methodological improvements have allowed for better 3D image resolution by capturing a continuum of 3D images. We will provide examples of these methods in practice and discuss how these improved methods may be used in small‐molecule drug discovery and development. © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Ionomers Modify the Selectivity of Cu‐Catalyzed Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
Authors: Chang Miyeon , Ren Wenhao , Ni Weiyan , Lee Seunghwa , Hu Xile
Published: December 2022

Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2RR) to produce energy‐rich fuels using copper‐based electrocatalysts is widely studied as a possible solution to CO2 recycling. Ionomers are commonly used as binders to prepare catalyst‐loaded electrodes, but their effects on the performance have not been fully investigated. In this study, electrochemical and operando Raman spectroscopic measurements are used to study the effects of three archetypical ionomers [Nafion, Sustainion‐type XA‐9, and poly(terphenyl piperidinium) (PTP)] on Cu‐catalyzed CO2 reduction at high current densities (up to 200 mA cm−2). Nafion is found to have little influence, whereas XA‐9 promotes the formation of CO over multicarbon products and PTP favors hydrogen and formate production. Charge and hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity are found to be important parameters of the ionomers. The observed effects are attributed to the charge transfer between Cu and XA‐9 weakening the CO adsorption energy, whereas the hydrophilicity of PTP reduces M−H energy. This study reveals the structure‐sensitive nature of the ionomer‐catalyst interaction in CO2RR.
A review on technological aspects of different PWM techniques and its comparison based on different performance parameters
Authors: Chatterjee Shantanu , Das Abhijit
Published: December 2022

Use of Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) techniques has enabled the converters to be used in low‐frequency high‐power applications. The main objectives of PWM are to reduce the line current harmonic, switching energy loss, and torque pulsation and motor acoustic noise (for motor drive applications). This paper mainly deals with selective harmonic elimination PWM (SHEPWM), Hysteresis current controlled PWM (HCPWM), space vector PWM (SVPWM), bus‐clamping PWM (BCPWM), and the most advanced wavelet PWM technique (WPWM). Different conventional as well as advanced soft computing techniques have been discussed for SHEPWM in order to solve the complex non‐linear transcendental equations and obtain the optimized switching angles. The paper also deals with different conventional and advanced bus clamping sequences that have shown superior result in mitigating the switching loss. In order to judge the true performance of SHEPWM and CSVPWM in terms of accuracy of obtaining the switching angles, convergence rate, THD, torque ripple, switching energy loss, etc., a common experimental test bench consisting of three‐phase, two‐level, six switch inverter coupled with a 2 hp, 50 Hz, three‐phase induction machine has been formed. The selected BIA‐based SHEPWM and CSVPWM have been implemented in the MATLAB simulation software, and the same has also been applied to the experimental test bench through dSPACE 1104 DAC card. Performance of HCPWM and different BC‐PWM sequences has also been verified using the same experimental test bench. This manuscript will help the researches and practitioners working in this field, to gain a clear idea about the type of PWM to be used for their specific application in order to achieve superior performance.
Mutual synchronization of rotary pulses in coupled tunnel‐diode oscillator lattice loops
Authors: Narahara Koichi
Published: December 2022

Coupled tunnel‐diode oscillator lattice loops are investigated to characterize the mutual synchronization of nonlinear rotary pulses. In a properly biased lattice loop, a pulsed phase wave autonomously rotates. When two loops are coupled, these pulses are supposed to be mutually synchronized to start rotating with a fixed phase difference. To quantify the synchronization properties of both the in‐phase and out‐of‐phase rotary pulses, two five‐cell loops that are point‐coupled by a capacitor are studied using bifurcation analyses with respect to the bias voltage and coupling capacitance. In‐phase pulses are allowed irrespective of the coupling capacitance, whereas relatively small coupling is favorable for out‐of‐phase pulses. Moreover, a solution exists whose phase difference continuously varies with the bias voltage, which bifurcates from the out‐of‐phase pulses through pitchfork bifurcation. This study presents the result from the bifurcation analyses. For validation of the rotary pulse in the coupled loops, we measured a breadboarded test circuit in both the frequency and time domains. The in‐phase, out‐of‐phase, and symmetry‐broken rotary pulses were detected successfully.
The impact of sequencing depth and relatedness of the reference genome in population genomic studies: A case study with two caddisfly species (Trichoptera, Rhyacophilidae, Himalopsyche)
Authors: Deng Xi‐Ling , Frandsen Paul B. , Dikow Rebecca B. , Favre Adrien , Shah Deep Narayan , Shah Ram Devi Tachamo , Schneider Julio V. , Heckenhauer Jacqueline , Pauls Steffen U.
Published: December 2022

Whole genome sequencing for generating SNP data is increasingly used in population genetic studies. However, obtaining genomes for massive numbers of samples is still not within the budgets of many researchers. It is thus imperative to select an appropriate reference genome and sequencing depth to ensure the accuracy of the results for a specific research question, while balancing cost and feasibility. To evaluate the effect of the choice of the reference genome and sequencing depth on downstream analyses, we used five confamilial reference genomes of variable relatedness and three levels of sequencing depth (3.5×, 7.5× and 12×) in a population genomic study on two caddisfly species: Himalopsyche digitata and H. tibetana. Using these 30 datasets (five reference genomes × three depths × two target species), we estimated population genetic indices (inbreeding coefficient, nucleotide diversity, pairwise FST, and genome‐wide distribution of FST) based on variants and population structure (PCA and admixture) based on genotype likelihood estimates. The results showed that both distantly related reference genomes and lower sequencing depth lead to degradation of resolution. In addition, choosing a more closely related reference genome may significantly remedy the defects caused by low depth. Therefore, we conclude that population genetic studies would benefit from closely related reference genomes, especially as the costs of obtaining a high‐quality reference genome continue to decrease. However, to determine a cost‐efficient strategy for a specific population genomic study, a trade‐off between reference genome relatedness and sequencing depth can be considered.
Frog body size responses to precipitation shift from resource‐driven to desiccation‐resistant as temperatures warm
Authors: Sheridan Jennifer A. , Mendenhall Chase D. , Yambun Paul
Published: December 2022

Climate change threatens biodiversity in a range of ways, including changing animal body sizes. Despite numerous examples of size declines related to increasing temperatures, patterns of size change are not universal, suggesting that one or more primary mechanisms impacting size change are unknown. Precipitation is likely to influence the size different from and in conjunction with changes in temperature, yet tests of the interaction between these variables are rare. In this study, we show that a crossover interaction between temperature and precipitation impacts the body size of frogs as the climate warms. Using more than 3000 museum frog specimens from Borneo and climate records spanning more than 100 years, we found that frogs are larger in wet conditions than in dry conditions at cool temperatures, suggesting that resource availability determines body size at colder temperature. Conversely, frogs are larger in dry conditions than in wet conditions at warm temperatures, resulting in a crossover to desiccation resistance as the main determinant of body size as climates warm. Our results demonstrate that global warming can alter the impact of precipitation on life‐history traits. We suggest that increased attention be paid to such interactive effects of climate variables, to identify complex mechanisms driving climate‐induced size changes.
The origins of climate‐diversity relationships and richness patterns in Chinese plants
Authors: Wu Guilin , Wiens John J.
Published: December 2022

A major goal of ecology and evolutionary biology is to explain geographic patterns of species richness. Richness is often correlated with climatic variables. However, the processes underlying these climate‐diversity relationships remain poorly understood. Two potential hypotheses to explain these relationships involve: (i) faster diversification rates (speciation minus extinction) in high‐richness climates and (ii) earlier colonization of high‐richness climates, allowing more time for speciation to build up richness. Few studies have tested these hypotheses directly, and most focused on animal clades with limited richness. In this study, we test these hypotheses in Chinese angiosperms, encompassing ~10% of Earth's plant species, using large‐scale phylogenetic, climatic, and distributional data including 26,977 species. We find that climatic zones that were colonized earlier have higher species richness. By contrast, relationships between diversification rates and richness of climatic zones are often nonsignificant or negative. Our study reveals that even when richness is strongly correlated with climate, the underlying explanation may still be rooted in phylogenetic history. Thus, climate may not be a competing explanation for richness patterns relative to colonization times and diversification rates. We also show that the timing of colonization can be crucial for explaining richness patterns. Yet, many recent studies have ignored this explanation and instead have focused solely on rates of speciation and diversification as drivers of diversity gradients.
Grassland bird population declines at three Breeding Bird Survey spatial scales in contrast to a large native prairie
Authors: Mahony Nancy A. , Dale Brenda C. , Miller David A. W.
Published: December 2022

Grassland biomes in North America are threatened by agricultural intensification with implications for grassland‐associated bird populations via habitat loss, alteration, pesticide use, and declining landscape heterogeneity. Despite decades of conservation concern, steep declines of grassland birds continue. Key to optimizing conservation effort is understanding how land‐use practices, such as agriculture, across the annual cycle affect population status. Determining the relative influence of impacts on grassland bird declines is difficult given that the most robust estimate of trends, the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), is conducted throughout agriculturally dominated regions. Our goal was to explore whether agriculture during the breeding season is a major driver of grassland bird declines, by evaluating population trends in regions with different amounts of agricultural development. We derived trends for 16 bird species spanning 23 years (1994–2016) at a large (459 km2), native prairie site, Suffield National Wildlife Area (SNWA) in Alberta, Canada. We compared those trends with the BBS across three spatial scales, a regional monitoring scheme with higher than average native grass cover (Grassland Bird Monitoring [GBM]), Bird Conservation Region 11 Canada (Canada), and all of Bird Conservation Region 11 (BCR 11). Trends measured as annual percent change and credible interval varied greatly among species and survey strata. Across all species, declines were greatest for Canada (−1.3%, CI: −2.8, 0.0) and BCR 11 (−1.9%, CI: −3.2, −0.6). This contrasts with positive trends for GBM routes (1.0%, CI: −0.4, 2.3) and the SNWA data (1.7%, CI: 0.3, 3.3). Six of 16 species at SNWA were increasing with one decreasing. Five species increased at GBM and four declined. Canada had 10 species declines and 3 increases and BCR 11 had 10 declines and no increases. None of the six grassland obligate species declined at SNWA, two declined at GBM, and all six declined over the two larger BBS strata. Our results showing fewer negative population trends at a large native grassland site compared with BBS at three spatial scales across the North American prairies support the prediction that agricultural intensification on breeding grounds may be driving population declines and protection of native grasslands is a key component of grassland bird conservation efforts.
Plant species richness and sunlight exposure increase pollinator attraction to pollinator gardens
Authors: Watson Travis L. , Martel Carlos , Arceo‐Gómez Gerardo
Published: December 2022

Evidence documenting the decline of insect populations is accumulating. Efforts have increased to mitigate pollinator losses by establishing gardens to support pollinator diversity. However, knowledge of the specific garden characteristics, landscape features, and environmental factors that affect pollinator diversity and abundance is limited, particularly in biodiverse regions in North America. In order to better understand how garden characteristics affect pollinator attraction, we compared pollinator composition across 16 pollinator gardens in the Appalachian ecoregion in North America. We evaluated the effects of garden characteristics (e.g., plant richness, flower abundance, garden size, and proportion of native species), landscape features (land‐use type and distance to forest), and environmental factors (sunlight exposure) on pollinator richness, overall visitation rate, and visitation rate by defined pollinator groups (i.e., solitary native bees, bumblebees, honeybees, lepidopterans, and other insects). Solitary bees (i.e., native bees besides Bombus) were the most frequent visitors (61%). We found differences in pollinator species composition between urban and rural gardens. Moreover, plant richness had a positive effect on pollinator richness and an increase in flower abundance increased the pollinator visitation rate. Flower abundance, plant richness, and high sunlight exposure increased visitation rate of solitary bees. Visitation rate of solitary bees however decreased with increasing proportion of native plants. Overall, our results indicate that garden characteristics, landscape features, and environmental factors all are important mediators of pollinator diversity and abundance. Solitary bees were most affected by garden (i.e., plant richness, number of flowers, and proportion of native plants) and environmental factors (i.e., sunlight exposure). However, we also identified differential effects of garden and environmental factors across pollinator groups. We suggest that an integrated management approach that considers multiple garden and environmental characteristics could help improve the effectiveness of pollinator garden as a conservation tool and help preserve this key ecosystem service.
The clinical relevance of quality of life in heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction
Authors: Seo Masahiro , Watanabe Tetsuya , Yamada Takahisa , Yano Masamichi , Hayashi Takaharu , Nakagawa Akito , Nakagawa Yusuke , Tamaki Shunsuke , Yasumura Yoshio , Sotomi Yohei , Hikoso Shungo , Nakatani Daisaku , Fukunami Masatake , Sakata Yasushi ,   the Osaka CardioVascular Conference (OCVC)‐Heart Failure investigators
Published: December 2022

Aims

Patient reported outcomes (PROs) are gradually being incorporated into daily practice to assess individual health‐related quality of life (QOL). However, despite accumulating evidence of the prognostic utility of heart failure (HF)‐specific QOL indices, evidence on the generic QOL score is scarce, especially in patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Methods and results

Patient data were extracted from the Prospective mUlticenteR obServational stUdy of patIenTs with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (PURSUIT HFpEF) study. EuroQol 5 dimensions 5‐level (EQ‐5D‐5L) data were obtained at discharge to evaluate patients' health‐related QOL. The study population (n = 864) was divided into tertiles based on their EQ‐5D‐5L index as follows: low EQ‐5D‐5L 0.038–0.664 (n = 287), middle EQ‐5D‐5L 0.665–0.867 (n = 293), and high EQ‐5D‐5L 0.871–1.000 (n = 284). A total of 206 patients died over a mean follow‐up period of 2.0 ± 1.2 years. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that the risk of mortality increased with the tertile of the EQ‐5D‐5L index (34% vs. 23% vs. 14%, P < 0.001). Cox multivariable analysis revealed that patients with EQ‐5D‐5L index in the low and middle tertiles had a significantly greater risk of mortality than those with EQ‐5D‐5L index in the high tertile [low EQ‐5D‐5L: adjusted hazard ratio (HR): 1.81 (1.12–2.92), P = 0.002, middle EQ‐5D‐5L: adjusted HR 1.91 (1.21–3.03), P = 0.006]. Among the dimensions of EQ‐5D‐5L, mobility (P = 0.014), self‐care (P = 0.023) and usual activities (P = 0.008) were significant factors associated with all‐cause mortality after multivariable adjustment.

Conclusions

EQ‐5D‐5L is useful tool for risk stratification in patients with HFpEF.
Eddy covariance data reveal that a small freshwater reservoir emits a substantial amount of carbon dioxide and methane
Authors: Hounshell Alexandria G , D'Acunha Brenda M , Breef-Pilz Adrienne , Johnson Mark S. , Thomas R. Quinn , Carey Cayelan
Published: December 2022

Small freshwater reservoirs are ubiquitous and likely play an important
role in global greenhouse gas (GHG) budgets relative to their limited
water surface area. However, constraining annual GHG fluxes in small
freshwater reservoirs is challenging given their footprint area and
spatially and temporally variable emissions. To quantify the GHG budget
of a small (0.1 km) reservoir, we deployed an eddy
covariance system in a small reservoir located in southwestern Virginia,
USA over two years to measure carbon dioxide (CO) and
methane (CH) fluxes near-continuously. Fluxes were
coupled with in situ sensors measuring multiple environmental
parameters. Over both years, we found the reservoir to be a large source
of CO (633-731 g CO-C
m yr) and CH
(1.02-1.29 g CH-C m
yr) to the atmosphere, with substantial sub-daily,
daily, weekly, and seasonal timescales of variability. For example,
fluxes were substantially greater during the summer thermally-stratified
season as compared to the winter. In addition, we observed significantly
greater GHG fluxes during winter intermittent ice-on conditions as
compared to continuous ice-on conditions, suggesting GHG emissions from
lakes and reservoirs may increase with predicted decreases in winter
ice-cover. Finally, we identified several key environmental variables
that may be driving reservoir GHG fluxes at multiple timescales,
including, surface water temperature and thermocline depth followed by
fluorescent dissolved organic matter. Overall, our novel year-round eddy
covariance data from a small reservoir indicate that these freshwater
ecosystems likely contribute a substantial amount of CO
and CH to global GHG budgets, relative to their surface
area.
The curious case of the second/end peak in the heat release rate of wood: A cone calorimeter investigation
Authors: Sanned Ellinor , Mensah Rhoda Afriyie , Försth Michael , Das Oisik
Published: December 2022

The reasons behind the occurrence of a second/end peak heat release rate (PHRR) during wood combustion under radiative heating were determined. Effects of the type of rear material, wood thickness, char progression, and its microstructure, as well as moisture content/transport in spruce wood, were studied. Rear materials used were insulating Kaowool, conducting steel, and the same wood but physically separated from test specimen by aluminium foil. The intensity of the second/end PHRR with Kaowool was almost 50% more than that of the sample with steel. Thus, the second/end peak is governed by the boundary condition defined by the rear material, which determines the heat losses at the rear side of the specimen and consequently the temperature of the specimen. Higher specimen temperature enhances the pyrolysis rate, thereby causing the second/end PHRR. The appearance times and values of the second/end PHRR for 30, 20, and 10 mm wood were 1740 s/78 kWm−2, 685 s/134 kWm−2, and 450 s/160 kWm−2, respectively. Char progressed to the rear of the samples even with a thin (8 mm) conductive steel substrate. Cracks in char grew almost three times wider during the second/end PHRR compared to the sample with no second/end peak. Char cracking had no significance on the time of occurrence of the second/end PHRR but affected the overall heat release. High moisture content reduced the charring rate and delayed the time of occurrence of the second/end PHRR as more water was needed to undergo a phase change, requiring a higher amount of energy.
Conformational Diversity in Partially Fluorinated N‐Alkyl Pipecolic Acid Amide Derivatives
Authors: Trapp Nils , Wörle Michael , Kuhn Bernd , Gerber Paul , Vorberg Raffael , Carreira Erick M. , Müller Klaus
Published: December 2022

The molecular and crystal structures of 19 N‐alkyl‐substituted pipecolamide derivatives with partial fluorination of N‐propyl and N‐butyl groups are presented. Fluorination patterns include one F‐atom at internal or terminal locations, two F‐atoms in geminal or vicinal arrangements at various positions, as well as terminal trifluoromethylation. Due to the presence of the carboxamide side chain in pipecolamide derivatives, enantiomeric fluorination patterns in the N‐alkyl group result in diastereomeric compounds, which exhibit dramatically different crystal and molecular structures. An extraordinary conformational diversity is diagnosed for the various N‐alkylpiperidine units. Structural comparisons and theoretical assessments based on extensive force field calculations provide insight into consistent conformational patterns that point to intramolecular factors as well as intermolecular modulations due to crystal packing effects.
miR‐216b‐5p regulates proliferation and apoptosis of ox‐LDL‐stimulated VSMCs and HUVECs via IGF2
Authors: Qu Chuan , Liu Xin , Han Xueyu , Sun Meng , Liu Haixia , Yang Bo
Published: December 2022

Atherosclerosis (AS) is one of the principal causes of cardiovascular disorder. Reportedly, vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) play key roles in AS development, and microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate their functions. The function of miR‐216b‐5p in AS remains unknown. Human VSMCs and human HUVECs were treated with ox‐LDL to establish the in vitro model of AS. MiR‐216b‐5p and IGF2 expressions in VSMCs and HUVECs were probed by qRT‐PCR and western blot. The viability, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis of VSMCs and HUVECs were evaluated by Cell Counting Kit‐8 (CCK‐8), 5‐ethynyl‐2′‐deoxyuridine, and flow cytometry assays, respectively. The binding sites between IGF2 3′UTR and miR‐216b‐5p were validated by dual‐luciferase reporter assay. miR‐216b‐5p expression was declined in ox‐LDL‐induced VSMCs and HUVECs. In VSMCs, miR‐216b‐5p overexpression inhibited excessive proliferation and induced apoptosis. MiR‐216b‐5p could markedly restrain the viabiblity of VSMCs induced by ox‐LDL and enhanced the viability of HUVECs. Additionally, IGF2 was confirmed as the direct target of miR‐216b‐5p and transfection of IGF2 overexpression plasmids rescued the effects of miR‐216b‐5p on VSMCs and HUVECs. miR‐216b‐5p alleviates the dysfunction of VSMCs and HUVECs caused by ox‐LDL via repressing IGF2, and exerts protective functions to block the development of AS.
Quality over quantity: Sampling high probability rare events with the weighted ensemble algorithm
Authors: Roussey Nicole M. , Dickson Alex
Published: December 2022

The prediction of (un)binding rates and free energies is of great significance to the drug design process. Although many enhanced sampling algorithms and approaches have been developed, there is not yet a reliable workflow to predict these quantities. Previously we have shown that free energies and transition rates can be calculated by directly simulating the binding and unbinding processes with our variant of the WE algorithm “Resampling of Ensembles by Variation Optimization”, or “REVO”. Here, we calculate binding free energies retrospectively for three SAMPL6 host‐guest systems and prospectively for a SAMPL9 system to test a modification of REVO that restricts its cloning behavior in quasi‐unbound states. Specifically, trajectories cannot clone if they meet a physical requirement that represents a high likelihood of unbinding, which in the case of this work is a center‐of‐mass to center‐of‐mass distance. The overall effect of this change was difficult to predict, as it results in fewer unbinding events each of which with a much higher statistical weight. For all four systems tested, this new strategy produced either more accurate unbinding free energies or more consistent results between simulations than the standard REVO algorithm. This approach is highly flexible, and any feature of interest for a system can be used to determine cloning eligibility. These findings thus constitute an important improvement in the calculation of transition rates and binding free energies with the weighted ensemble method.
Manipulating Li3V2(PO4)3 cathode grains and conductivity with halloysite nanotubes and carbon layer toward durable lithium ion batteries
Authors: Dong Qi , Chen Xingyu , Jiang Ao , Zhang Xinyi , Chen Shanhua , Hao Shuai , Zhang Zhengdong , Di Yuli , Li Taishan
Published: December 2022

As an olivine‐based cathode with high discharge platform and theoretical capacity, Li3V2(PO4)3's (LVP's) low conductivity and excessive grain size are the important factors hindering its development in the battery field. Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) is a natural and cheap nanotube‐like material with large specific surface area and abundant surface nucleation sites, which can cooperate with conductive carbon layer to solve the deficiency of LVP. In this paper, we design a cathode material for in‐situ growth of LVP on HNTs (LVP@HNTs) and demonstrate that it has the appropriate particle size and the excellent specific surface area in the mass ratio of LVP to HNTs is 2:1. The capacity retention rate of LVP@HNTs‐2 reached almost 100% (97.0 mAh g−1) after 100 cycles at a low rate of 0.5 C. Moreover, its specific discharge capacity is 89.3 mAh g−1 at a high rate of 20 C and its capacity retention rate is as high as 90.1% (80.5 mAh g−1) after 5,000 cycles, showing that the LVP@HNTs‐2 has marvelous rate capability and cycle stability. This study provides an innovative strategy for the development of the high‐performance cathode materials with low‐cost, excellent rate capability, and cycle stability of lithium ion batteries.
Long non‐coding RNA HOXC‐AS1 exerts its oncogenic effects in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by interaction with IGF2BP2 to stabilize SIRT1 expression
Authors: Yang Zhengwu , Wan Junhu , Ma Liwei , Li Zhuofang , Yang Ruotong , Yang Haijun , Li Junkuo , Zhou Fuyou , Ming Liang
Published: December 2022

Background

Long non‐coding RNA HOXC cluster antisense RNA 1 (HOXC‐AS1) is a novel lncRNA whose cancer‐promoting effect in gastric cancer and nasopharyngeal carcinoma has already been demonstrated. However, its functions in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unknown. LncRNAs can interact with RNA‐binding proteins (RBPs) and affect gene expression levels through post‐transcriptional regulation. Insulin‐like growth factor 2 mRNA‐binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2) is a widely studied RBP, and sirtuin 1 also known as SIRT1 has been reported to be involved in cancer progression.

Methods

Establishment of in vivo models, HE and immunohistochemistry staining verified the oncogenic effect of HOXC‐AS1. The interaction relationship between HOXC‐AS1, IGF2BP2 and SIRT1 was verified by RNA pulldown and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. Relative expression and stability changes of genes were detected by qPCR and actinomycin D experiments. Finally, the effect of HOXC‐AS1‐IGF2BP2‐SIRT1 axis on ESCC was verified by rescue experiments.

Results

HOXC‐AS1 is highly expressed in ESCC cells and plays oncogenic effects in vivo. qPCR showed the positive relationship between HOXC‐AS1 and SIRT1 following HOXC‐AS1 knockdown or overexpression. RNA‐pulldown, mass spectrometry and RIP assay demonstrated that IGF2BP2 is an RBP downstream of HOXC‐AS1. Then, RIP and qPCR showed that IGF2BP2 could bind to SIRT1 mRNA and knockdown IGF2BP2 resulted in decreased SIRT1 mRNA level. Finally, a series of rescue assay showed that the HOXC‐AS1‐IGF2BP2‐SIRT1 axis can affect the function of ESCC.

Conclusion

LncRNA HOXC‐AS1 acts as an oncogenic role in ESCC, which impacts ESCC progression by interaction with IGF2BP2 to stabilize SIRT1 expression.
Growth arrest and DNA damage‐inducible alpha regulates muscle repair and fat infiltration through ATP synthase F1 subunit alpha
Authors: You Wenjing , Liu Shiqi , Ji Jianfei , Ling Defeng , Tu Yuang , Zhou Yanbing , Chen Wentao , Valencak Teresa G. , Wang Yizhen , Shan Tizhong
Published: December 2022

Background

Skeletal muscle fat infiltration is a common feature during ageing, obesity and several myopathies associated with muscular dysfunction and sarcopenia. However, the regulatory mechanisms of intramuscular adipogenesis and strategies to reduce fat infiltration in muscle remain unclear. Here, we identified the growth arrest and DNA damage‐inducible alpha (GADD45A), a stress‐inducible histone folding protein, as a critical regulator of intramuscular fat (IMAT) infiltration.

Methods

To explore the role of GADD45A on IMAT infiltration and muscle regeneration, the gain or loss function of GADD45A in intramuscular preadipocytes was performed. The adipocyte‐specific GADD45A knock‐in (KI) mice and high IMAT‐infiltrated muscle model by glycerol injection (50 μL of 50% v/v GLY) were generated. RNA‐sequencing, histological changes, gene expression, lipid metabolism, mitochondrial function and the effect of dietary factor epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG) treatment (100 mg/kg) on IMAT infiltration were studied.

Results

The unbiased transcriptomics data analysis indicated that GADD45A expression positively correlates with IMAT infiltration and muscle metabolic disorders in humans (correlation: young vs. aged people, Gadd45a and Cebpa, r2 = 0.20, P < 0.05) and animals (correlation: wild‐type [WT] vs. mdx mice, Gadd45a and Cebpa, r2 = 0.38, P < 0.05; NaCl vs. GLY mice, Gadd45a and Adipoq/Fabp4, r2 = 0.80/0.71, both P < 0.0001). In vitro, GADD45A overexpression promotes intramuscular preadipocyte adipogenesis, upregulating the expression of adipogenic genes (Ppara: +47%, Adipoq: +28%, P < 0.001; Cebpa: +135%, Fabp4: +16%, P < 0.01; Pparg: +66%, Leptin: +77%, P < 0.05). GADD45A knockdown robustly decreased lipid accumulation (Pparg: −57%, Adipoq: −35%, P < 0.001; Fabp4: −37%, P < 0.01; Leptin: −28%, P < 0.05). GADD45A KI mice exhibit inhibited skeletal muscle regeneration (myofibres: −40%, P < 0.01) and enhanced IMAT infiltration (adipocytes: +20%, P < 0.05). These KI mice have impaired exercise endurance and mitochondrial function. Mechanistically, GADD45A affects ATP synthase F1 subunit alpha (ATP5A1) ubiquitination degradation (ubiquitinated ATP5A1, P < 0.001) by recruiting the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM25, which decreases ATP synthesis (ATP production: −23%, P < 0.01) and inactivates the cAMP/PKA/LKB1 signalling pathway (cAMP: −36%, P < 0.01; decreased phospho‐PKA and phospho‐LKB1 protein content, P < 0.01). The dietary factor EGCG can protect against muscle fat infiltration (triglyceride: −64%, P < 0.05) via downregulating GADD45A (decreased GADD45A protein content, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Our findings reveal a crucial role of GADD45A in regulating muscle repair and fat infiltration and suggest that inhibition of GADD45A by EGCG might be a potential strategy to combat fat infiltration and its associated muscle dysfunction.
Removal of antimony by dissimilatory and sulfate‐reducing pathways in anaerobic packed bed bioreactors
Authors: Ramírez‐Patiño Jesús , Pérez‐Trevilla Jaime , Cervantes Francisco J. , Moreno‐Andrade Iván
Published: December 2022

BACKGROUND

Antimony is a toxic and potentially carcinogenic metalloid widely used in industry, whose untreated wastewater could lead to water body pollution. Antimony‐reduced species tend to precipitate in the form of minerals. The biological reduction of antimonate to antimonite occurs under anaerobic conditions by two extracellular pathways: dissimilatory biological reduction and reaction with dissolved H2S in sulfate‐reducing systems. The objective of this study was to determine antimonate removal from synthetic wastewater by dissimilatory and sulfate‐reducing pathways in anaerobic packed bed reactors.

RESULTS

The average antimony removal was 28.4% and 58.8% for the dissimilatory and sulfate‐reducing processes, respectively. At the end of the experiment, X‐ray diffraction analysis demonstrated the presence of valentinite in the dissimilatory reactor, and struvite, valentinite, and kermesite in the sulfate‐reducing reactor, being a crystal form resulting from stibnite oxidation by exposure to environmental conditions. Phylogenetic analysis showed the presence of genera Geobacter and Pseudomonas, associated with the dissimilatory reduction, and a high abundance of sulfate‐reducing bacteria in the sulfate‐reducing reactor. In the dissimilatory reactor, there was a dominance of the genus Dysgonomonas, which could play a key role in the redox transformation of the metalloid.

CONCLUSION

Antimony removal has been obtained in dissimilatory and sulfate‐reducing processes. Valentinite was observed in the dissimilatory reactor, and struvite, valentinite, and kermesite in the sulfate‐reducing reactor. Phylogenetic analysis showed differences between both processes, with a possible key genus acting in the antimony transformation. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
An obscure cause of gastrointestinal bleeding: Recurrent duodenal variceal hemorrhage treated with intramuscular octreotide in the absence of portal hypertension
Authors: O'Neill Robert S , Wang William J , Chan Patrick , Ho Vincent , Verdon Christine , Turner Ian , Acharya Priya
Published: December 2022

Duodenal varices (DVs) are ectopic gastrointestinal varices (ECVs) associated with portal hypertension (PH). We present the case of an 82‐year‐old woman who presented with symptomatic anemia secondary to DV hemorrhage diagnosed on oesophagogastroduodenoscopy. This lesion was treated with endoscopic adrenaline injection and clip application. The patient re‐presented on multiple occasions with bleeding recurrence localized to the duodenum, which was managed with intramuscular octreotide and oral beta‐blockade resulting in sustained remission of bleeding. This case highlights a rare cause of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage and highlights the value of somatostatin analogues for conservative treatment of DVs.
Mechanical harvesting at dawn in a super‐high‐density table olive orchard: effect on the quality of fruits
Authors: Morales‐Sillero Ana , Jiménez María Rocío , Suárez María Paz , Rallo Pilar , Casanova Laura
Published: December 2022

BACKGROUND

Mechanical harvesting with over‐the‐row harvesters in super‐high‐density (SHD) table olive orchards increases the effectiveness of fruit removal, although bruising can limit the fruit quality. Additionally, an early harvest in periods less favourable to quality production is increasingly frequent as a result of global warming. The present study explores the impact on olive quality of harvesting at dawn when the environmental temperature is low. The study was carried out for 2 years on two cultivars with different tolerance to bruising (‘Manzanilla de Sevilla’ and ‘Manzanilla Cacereña’), grown in SHD conditions and harvested at two timepoints: dawn and morning.

RESULTS

Fruit morphology was not modified by the moment of harvest in either of the cultivars. Fruit harvested at dawn produced less CO2 and ethylene and was less damaged externally and internally compared to fruit harvested in the morning. However, environmental conditions throughout development influenced the response because the highest values of bruising (incidence, area and volume of damaged area), total internal damage and the number of tissue ruptures increased in the year with the hottest summer, and the differences between harvest treatments were less evident.

CONCLUSION

Mechanical harvesting at dawn contributes to reducing the damage in olive fruit. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Improving OutpatientFollow‐UpRates for NewIn‐HospitalConsults
Authors: Stanisce Luke , Ahmad Nadir , Solomon Donald H. , Kolia Nadeem , Garcia Lucia D. , Spalla Thomas C. , Gaughan John P. , Koshkareva Yekaterina
Published: December 2022

Objective(s)

This investigation aimed to define the rate of outpatient follow‐up after in‐hospital consultation, identify factors associated with establishing care, and evaluate an alternative scheduling process to improve outpatient adherence.

Methods

Two‐phase, prospective study at an academic, tertiary‐care institution from March 2020 to August 2022. First, all patients not previously known to our practice encountered via inpatient consult who warranted outpatient follow‐up were prospectively captured. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify demographic, disease, and practice factors predictive of follow‐up. Second, a randomized control trial was performed to validate the effects of pre‐assigning appointments prior to discharge.

Results

Six hundred subjects were included in the final study cohort; 500 in phase‐one, and 100 randomized during phase‐two. In the phase‐one cohort, 54% (n = 272) were lost to follow‐up. Multivariate analysis showed increased odds of outpatient follow‐up when appointments were pre‐assigned before discharge (odds ratio [OR]: 3.69 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.29–5.96],p < 0.001), the primary reason for hospitalization was ENT and consult‐related (OR: 3.29 [1.92–5.64],p < 0.001), and the diagnosis was one of Oncology (OR: 1.93 [1.02–3.69],p = 0.045) or Pediatrics (OR: 3.36 [1.41–7.98],p = 0.006) subspecialties. During phase‐two, subjects randomized for pre‐assigned appointments had higher outpatient follow‐up (82%) compared to the control group (20%) (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Hospital‐based consultations represent an important referral pathway for new patients. Disease characteristics may identify patients less likely to follow‐up upon discharge. Appointment scheduling protocols, including pre‐assigning appointments, are modifiable targets for improving adherence to care.Laryngoscope, 133:2540–2545, 2023