bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous free flap and forehead flap for nasal reconstruction
Authors: Yen Cheng‐I , Kao Huang‐Kai , Chang Chun‐Shin , Huang Chih‐Jung , Chen Hung‐Chang , Yang Shih‐Yi , Chang Shu‐Yin , Yang Jui‐Yung , Chuang Shiow‐Shuh , Hsiao Yen‐Chang
Published: February 2023

Background

Reconstruction of total or near‐total nasal defects is challenging and requires the re‐creation of three nasal layers. Fasciocutaneous free flaps have been used effectively for restoring the vascularized nasal lining and staged forehead flap for nasal skin replacement, which is a long process. The aim of this study is to share our experience of combination of preliminary free tissue transfer with paramedian forehead flap reconstruction in the same stage of complex nasal reconstruction.

Methods

From December 2015 to July 2021, 10 patients underwent nasal reconstruction with free flaps including 4 medial sural artery perforator (MSAP) flaps, 5 anterolateral thigh (ALT) flaps and 1 radial forearm flap for lining and forehead flaps for skin coverage simultaneously for total or subtotal nasal defects. Nasal obstruction symptoms evaluation (NOSE) score was utilized to evaluate the functional outcome and the aesthetic results were evaluated with the last follow‐up photos with score 1–5 by 5 plastic surgeon and 5 laypersons.

Results

The size of the free flaps ranged from 3 cm x 6 cm to 6 cm x 13 cm. After excluding one patient who expired before forehead flap division due to comorbidities, the average duration between combination surgery and the division of the forehead flap pedicle of the remaining patients was 5.7 months (range, 2–12). For patients without any postoperative events, the duration was 2.2 months (range, 2–3). One free flap had partial necrosis due to infection. The average follow‐up duration was 29.6 months (range, 12–64). The NOSE score was 5.9 (range, 0–10) and the aesthetic score is 4.1 (range, 3–5) in average.

Conclusions

The combination of preliminary free tissue transfer for nasal lining restoration with a paramedian forehead flap for nasal skin replacement in the same stage may shorten the long process and achieve satisfactory reconstruction in complex nasal reconstruction.
Estimating and pricing commodity futures with time‐delay stochastic processes
Authors: Gómez‐Valle Lourdes , Martínez‐Rodríguez Julia
Published: February 2023

In commodity futures pricing models, the commodity present price is generally considered to reflect all information in the markets and past information is not regarded important. However, there is some empirical evidence that shows that this fact is unrealistic. In this paper, we consider some stochastic models with delay for pricing commodity futures. The functions of the commodity price stochastic process under the risk‐neutral measure are necessary for pricing derivatives. However, the observations in the market have risk. Then, we use a technique that allows us to estimate the functions of the risk‐neutral commodity spot price stochastic process, directly from futures prices traded in the market, and show how to price the commodity futures. Finally, we make an empirical application of this methodology with gold futures traded in the COMEX. Furthermore, we make clear the supremacy of the delay models in pricing gold futures.
Effects of Prey Size, Microalgal Density, and Light Intensity on Survival of Pacific Red Snapper Larvae
Authors: Amador-Marrero Ulises , Cota-Taylor Roberto , Contreras-Olguín Mauricio , Flores-Montijo Laura , Martínez-Díaz Sergio , Cavallin Fernando , García Gerardo , Rodriguez Montes de Oca Gustavo , Román-Reyes José Cristobal , Dumas Silvie
Published: February 2023

Development of Pacific Red Snapper Lutjanus peru culture has been impeded by low survival in larval culture. We studied the effects of different culture conditions on larval survival in four experiments that examined (1) different-size prey at first feeding (nauplii of the copepods Parvocalanus crassirostris and Pseudodiaptomus euryhalinus; rotifers Proales similis; and a mix of these three prey types); (2) microalgal density (3 × 105 and 1 × 106 cells/mL); (3) the presence of adult copepods P. crassirostris in larval culture tanks compared to daily nauplius addition (Adult and Nauplius treatments); and (4) light intensity (50, 200, 500, and 1,000 lx). In experiment 1, a strong preference was observed for copepod P. crassirostris nauplii compared to other prey types. Survival at 15 d posthatch (DPH) was significantly higher in the P. crassirostris treatment (mean ± SD = 19.5 ± 10.2%) and the Mixed diet treatment (33.4 ± 9.4%). However, strange behavior of larvae was observed, followed by drastic mortality (at 15–18 DPH) when microalgal addition to larval tanks ceased. This behavior and mortality had not been observed in experiment 2 at any of the microalgal densities supplied until 20 DPH. In experiment 3, survival was evaluated at 2, 5, 7, and 9 DPH and dropped to 50% (5 DPH) in both treatments. At 9 DPH, survival was 14.8 ± 9.5% for the Adult treatment and 3.4 ± 0.9% for the Nauplius treatment. In experiment 4, a significant difference was observed for survival at 9 DPH; survival at 1,000 lx (26.5 ± 18.4%) was significantly higher than survival at 200 lx (4.9 ± 5%) and 50 lx (0.6 ± 0.6%) but was not different from survival at 500 lx (6.6 ± 3.1%). In conclusion, P. crassirostris nauplii are an adequate prey for first feeding of Pacific Red Snapper. Therefore, to improve larval survival, P. crassirostris adults should be added to the larval culture tanks. Moreover, microalgae should be present during all larval rearing, and a light intensity of 1,000 lx should be used.
Ovarian high‐grade serous carcinoma cells with low SMARCA4 expression and high SMARCA2 expression contribute to platinum resistance
Authors: Kido Kansuke , Nojima Satoshi , Motooka Daisuke , Nomura Yusuke , Kohara Masaharu , Sato Kazuaki , Ohshima Kenji , Tahara Shinichiro , Kurashige Masako , Umeda Daisuke , Takashima Tsuyoshi , Kiyokawa Hiroki , Ukon Koto , Matsui Takahiro , Okuzaki Daisuke , Morii Eiichi
Published: February 2023

Platinum resistance is a major obstacle to the treatment of ovarian cancer and is correlated with poor clinical outcomes. Intratumor heterogeneity plays a key role in chemoresistance. Recent studies have emphasized the contributions of genetic and epigenetic factors to the development of intratumor heterogeneity. Although the clinical significance of multi‐subunit chromatin remodeler, switch/sucrose nonfermenting (SWI/SNF) complexes in cancers has been reported, the impacts of SWI/SNF‐related, matrix‐associated, actin‐dependent regulator of chromatin, subfamily A, member 4/subfamily A, member 2 (SMARCA4/A2) expression patterns in human cancer tissues have not been fully elucidated. Here, we show that low expression of SMARCA4 and high expression of SMARCA2 are associated with platinum resistance in ovarian high‐grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) cells. We used fluorescence multiplex immunohistochemistry (fmIHC) to study resected specimens; we examined heterogeneity in human HGSC tissues at the single‐cell level, which revealed that the proportion of cells with the SMARCA4low/SMARCA2high phenotype was positively correlated with clinical platinum‐resistant recurrence. We used stable transfection of SMARCA2 and siRNA knockdown of SMARCA4 to generate HGSC cells with the SMARCA4low/SMARCA2high phenotype; these cells had the greatest resistance to carboplatin. Bioinformatics analyses revealed that the underlying mechanism involved in substantial alterations to chromatin accessibility and resultant fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling activation, MAPK pathway activation, BCL2 overexpression, and reduced carboplatin‐induced apoptosis; these were confirmed by in vitro functional experiments. Furthermore, in vivo experiments in an animal model demonstrated that combination therapy with carboplatin and a fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitor promoted cell death in HGSC xenografts. Taken together, these observations reveal a specific subpopulation of HGSC cells that is associated with clinical chemoresistance, which may lead to the establishment of a histopathological prediction system for carboplatin response. Our findings may facilitate the development of novel therapeutic strategies for platinum‐resistant HGSC cells. © 2023 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Non‐invasive fetal genotyping for maternal alleles with droplet digital PCR: A comparative study of analytical approaches
Authors: Shaw Joe , Scotchman Elizabeth , Paternoster Ben , Ramos Maureen , Nesbitt Sarah , Sheppard Sophie , Snowsill Tristan , Chitty Lyn S. , Chandler Natalie
Published: February 2023

Objectives

To develop a flexible droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) workflow to perform non‐invasive prenatal diagnosis via relative mutation dosage (RMD) for maternal pathogenic variants with a range of inheritance patterns, and to compare the accuracy of multiple analytical approaches.

Methods

Cell free DNA (cfDNA) was tested from 124 archived maternal plasma samples: 88 cases for sickle cell disease and 36 for rare Mendelian conditions. Three analytical methods were compared: sequential probability ratio testing (SPRT), Bayesian and z‐score analyses.

Results

The SPRT, Bayesian and z‐score analyses performed similarly well with correct prediction rates of 96%, 97% and 98%, respectively. However, there were high rates of inconclusive results for each cohort, particularly for z‐score analysis which was 31% overall. Two samples were incorrectly classified by all three analytical methods; a false negative result predicted for a fetus affected with sickle cell disease and a false positive result predicting the presence of an X‐linked IDS variant in an unaffected fetus.

Conclusions

ddPCR can be applied to RMD for diverse conditions and inheritance patterns, but all methods carry a small risk of erroneous results. Further evaluation is required both to reduce the rate of inconclusive results and explore discordant results in more detail.
Effect of Preparation Method on the SCR Activity of Fe‐Doped CoCr Oxide Catalysts
Authors: Jin Leying , Li Haixia , Zhang Yun , Peng Dan , Sun Zhijun , Zhang Anchao
Published: February 2023

Fe‐doped CoCr oxide catalysts are prepared by solid‐phase mixing method, coprecipitation method, mechanical mixing method, and citric acid method, respectively, and their catalytic activity in the selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides with NH3 (NH3‐SCR) is tested. The Fe0.5CoCrOx catalysts prepared by all preparation methods have good water resistance and sulfur resistance when the calcination temperature is 400 °C. Fe0.5CoCrOx prepared by coprecipitation method by calcination at 400 °C (CP‐400) is shown to have the optimum catalyst activity. In addition, the catalysts are characterized by a series of characterizations. The characterization results show that CP‐400 has the largest specific surface area, which makes the active and acidic sites highly dispersed on the surface of CP‐400, resulting in stronger redox and acidity and improved SCR activity. The removal of NO by NH3‐SCR over CP‐400 at 150 °C follows the Eley‐Rideal (ER) and Langmuir‐Hinshelwood (LH) mechanisms.
Identification of androgen response‐related lncRNAs in prostate cancer
Authors: Karthikeyan Santhosh Kumar , Xu Nuo , Ferguson 3 James E. , Rais‐Bahrami Soroush , Qin Zhaohui S. , Manne Upender , Netto George J. , S. Chandrashekar Darshan , Varambally Sooryanarayana
Published: February 2023

Background

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are RNA molecules with over 200 nucleotides that do not code for proteins, but are known to be widely expressed and have key roles in gene regulation and cellular functions. They are also found to be involved in the onset and development of various cancers, including prostate cancer (PCa). Since PCa are commonly driven by androgen regulated signaling, mainly stimulated pathways, identification and determining the influence of lncRNAs in androgen response is useful and necessary. LncRNAs regulated by the androgen receptor (AR) can serve as potential biomarkers for PCa. In the present study, gene expression data analysis were performed to distinguish lncRNAs related to the androgen response pathway.

Methods and Results

We used publicly available RNA‐sequencing and ChIP‐seq data to identify lncRNAs that are associated with the androgen response pathway. Using Universal Correlation Coefficient (UCC) and Pearson Correlation Coefficient (PCC) analyses, we found 15 lncRNAs that have (a) highly correlated expression with androgen response genes in PCa and are (b) differentially expressed in the setting of treatment with an androgen agonist as well as antagonist compared to controls. Using publicly available ChIP‐seq data, we investigated the role of androgen/AR axis in regulating expression of these lncRNAs. We observed AR binding in the promoter regions of 5 lncRNAs (MIR99AHG, DUBR, DRAIC, PVT1, and COLCA1), showing the direct influence of AR on their expression and highlighting their association with the androgen response pathway.

Conclusion

By utilizing publicly available multiomics data and by employing in silico methods, we identified five candidate lncRNAs that are involved in the androgen response pathway. These lncRNAs should be investigated as potential biomarkers for PCa.
Eugenol promotes appetite through TRP channels mediated‐CaMKK2/AMPK signaling pathway
Authors: Huang Tengteng , Chen Xiaoling , Chen Daiwen , Yu Bing , He Jun , Yan Hui , Luo Yuheng , Zheng Ping , Chen Hong , Huang Zhiqing
Published: February 2023

Eugenol is a major component of clove oil. A recent study found that inhalation of eugenol promoted the appetite of mice. However, whether oral ingestion of eugenol promoted appetite is unclear and its mechanism await study. Here, mice were divided into four treatments (n = 20) and fed a basal diet supplemented with 0%, 0.005%, 0.01% and 0.02% eugenol for 4 weeks. In addition, mice (n = 7) were injected intraperitoneally with 3 mg/kg body weight eugenol. Our data showed that feeding mice with 0.01% and 0.02% eugenol promoted their appetite. In addition, the short‐term intraperitoneal injection of eugenol enhanced the feed intake in mice within 1 h. Further studies found that dietary eugenol increased orexigenic factors expression and decreased anorexigenic factors expression in mice. We then carried out N38 cell experiments to explore the transient receptor potential (TRP) channels‐dependent mechanism of eugenol in promoting appetite. We found that eugenol activated the TRP channels mediated‐CaMKK2/AMPK signaling pathway in the hypothalamus and N38 cells. Besides, the inhibition of TRPV1 and AMPK eliminated the upregulation of eugenol on the agouti‐related protein level in N38 cells. In conclusion, the study suggested that eugenol promotes appetite through TRPV1 mediated‐CaMKK2/AMPK signaling pathway.
Effect of strain on the thermoelectric properties of three‐dimensional PtS2: A first‐principles study
Authors: Liang Xiao‐Chong , Hao Yan‐Jun , Zhu Jun , Guo Hua‐Zhong
Published: February 2023

The effect of strain on the electronic structure and thermoelectric properties of three‐dimensional (3D) PtS2 was investigated through ab initio calculations. The phonon dispersion curve has no imaginary frequency under biaxial tensile and compressive strains, indicating that the studied structure is stable. All the studied structures show higher Seebeck coefficients (>400 μV/K), and the Seebeck coefficient of p‐type semiconductors is superior to that of n‐type semiconductors. Tensile strain can decrease the lattice thermal conductivity of PtS2, whereas compressive stress has the opposite effect on the lattice thermal conductivity. The smallest lattice thermal conductivity is 26.7 W/m·K under 6% strain when the temperature is 800 K. The maximum ZT values for the p‐type and n‐type semiconductors are 0.17 and 0.48, respectively. This work provides a guide to studying how strain modulates thermoelectric properties of materials; the relaxation time calculation method in this study is believed to be more accurate due to the fact that the influence of the carrier concentration is considered.
A Heterogeneous Single Atom Cobalt Catalyst for Highly Efficient Acceptorless Dehydrogenative Coupling Reactions
Authors: Li Zhijun , Lu Xiaowen , Zhao Rufang , Ji Siqi , Zhang Mingyang , Horton J. Hugh , Wang Yang , Xu Qian , Zhu Junfa
Published: February 2023

A fundamental understanding of metal active sites in single‐atom catalysts (SACs) is important and challenging in the development of high‐performance catalyst systems. Here, a highly efficient and straightforward molten‐salt‐assisted approach is reported to create atomically dispersed cobalt atoms supported over vanadium pentoxide layered material, with each cobalt atom coordinated with four neighboring oxygen atoms. The liquid environment and the strong polarizing force of the molten salt at high temperatures potentially favor the weakening of VO bonding and the formation of CoO bonding on the vanadium oxide surface. This cobalt SAC achieves extraordinary catalytic efficiency in acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling of alcohols with amines to give imines, with more than 99% selectivity under almost 100% conversion within 3 h, along with a high turnover frequency (TOF) of 5882 h−1, exceeding those of previously reported benchmarking catalysts. Moreover, it delivers excellent recyclability, reaction scalability, and substrate tolerance. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further confirm that the optimized coordination environment and strong electronic metal‐support interaction contribute significantly to the activation of reactants. The findings provide a feasible route to construct SACs at the atomic level for use in organic transformations.
Unveiling Hidden Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks Guided by Intuition‐Based Geometrical Factors
Authors: Lee Soochan , Nam Dongsik , Yang David ChangMo , Choe Wonyoung
Published: February 2023

Herein, synthesizable candidate topologies to form zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) are efficiently identified from over 2 000 000 hypothetical structures in zeolite databases, using structural descriptors extracted from known ZIFs. A combination of intuition‐based structural descriptors, such as ring patterns, node numbers, and TOT bridging angles (T = tetrahedral metal nodes in zeolites and ZIFs), is used as data filters to eliminate topologies infeasible for ZIF formation. Carefully chosen structural descriptors facilitate the prediction of plausible ZIF topologies. To investigate potential applications as porous ZIFs, this work performs hydrogen adsorption screening and suggested notable target ZIFs. The collection of new plausible ZIFs, derived from the combined descriptors, will be a structural blueprint for synthetic chemists.
The Significant Impact on Microstructure–Properties Relationship of 20Mn2Si2Cr Bainitic Steels Produced by Multistep Austempering Process
Authors: Luo Ping , Tan Zhunli , Zhang Wenliang , Li Xianjun , Jiang Chao , Tian Yu , Li Ji
Published: February 2023

To elucidate the relationship between different isothermal processes and toughness of 20Mn2Si2Cr bainite high‐strength steel, conventional austempering (AT), multistep austempering (MAT), and inverse multistep austempering (IMAT) heat treatment processes at different temperatures are conducted. The changes of properties with different processes are analyzed according to microstructure characteristics. The results indicate that the fraction of retained austenite is changed slightly for all processes, while the carbon content in retained austenite is from 1.03 wt% (AT‐1) to 1.24 wt% (IMAT‐2). Toughness is improved significantly by adjusting process parameters, but strength is not greatly affected at the same time. The toughness of AT‐1 specimens is only 98 J cm−2, and it increases to 123 J cm−2 (AT‐2 specimens) by reducing isothermal temperature. Compared with AT‐1 specimens, toughness of MAT‐2 and IMAT‐2 specimens is increased by about ≈40% (138 J cm−2) and ≈65% (162 J cm−2), respectively. It is also noteworthy that the tensile strength varies in a small range from 998 to 1080 MPa. The improvement in properties is severely related to modification of microstructure.
Lessons learnt from blind competition of shear behavior of fiber‐reinforced concrete T‐beam
Authors: Skadins Ulvis , Cervenka Jan
Published: February 2023

The positive effect of fiber‐reinforced concrete (FRC) on shear capacity of reinforced concrete beams is well presented in many experimental studies since 1970s. However, as the main effect of fibers is in the cracking stage, it increases the complexity to analyze such structures numerically. With the increased availability of nonlinear finite element analysis software, structural designers are encouraged to use them to solve complex structural problems. In such cases, understanding and correct definition of material laws in cracked stage of FRC structures are crucial. A blind competition was organized by fib WG 2.4.2 to address this issue. It revealed that the numerical predictions of almost all of the participants overestimated the shear capacity of a T‐beam subjected to bending. The aim of the current study is to demonstrate critical aspects in the definition of input parameters of FRC analysis. A comprehensive parametric analysis is performed considering tensile softening law, shear stiffness, and shear strength definition in cracked stage as well as shrinkage effects. The results suggest that most important aspect is the correct definition of tensile softening law, which should correspond to the lower bound of residual strength obtained by standard notched prisms tests according to EN 14651 or even smaller.
Progress of Metal‐Based Anticancer Chemotherapeutic Agents in Last two Decades and their Comprehensive Biological (DNA/RNA Binding, Cleavage and Cytotoxicity Activity) Studies
Authors: Arjmand Farukh , Yasir Khan Huzaifa , Tabassum Sartaj
Published: February 2023

During last two decades, there has been an enormous growth in the discovery of innovative active inorganic anticancer complexes (exerting remarkable cytotoxicity at sub micro‐molar levels) derived from myriad ligand scaffolds, mainly acting on cancerous vs healthy cells by either halting or inhibiting their uncontrolled growth. The phenomenal success of cisplatin to treat numerous forms of solid malignancies has placed metal‐based drugs to the forefront of treatment strategies against cancers. More than 10,000 platinum anticancer complexes have been developed during the past 40 years, but only five drugs have been approved for usage in humans while ten more complexes are currently undergoing clinical trials. Most of the compounds have failed either at R&D stages or in preclinical trails. This has led to extensive investigations by researchers of medicinal chemistry, including our group to design and prepare tailored 3d‐metallo‐drugs and organotin(IV) compounds from some naturally occurring bioactive compounds, such as amino‐acids, peptides, chromone derivatives and NSAID's etc. that were used either alone or in cocktail combination, capable of specifically targeting DNA, lnc RNAs and proteins. Furthermore, 3d‐metal ions such as copper, cobalt and zinc etc. incorporated in these ligand framework are biocompatible and induce a unique multi‐modal mechanism of cytotoxic action involving angiogenesis, ROS‐induced DNA damage, apoptosis by p53 mitochondrial genes and caspases etc. The results observed a positive correlation between the binding affinity of complexes with DNA (as quantified by intrinsic binding constant values) and their cytotoxic behavior. Complexes with high DNA binding propensity were typically lethal against a diverse panel of malignant cell types compared to normal cells.
Ion Pair Catalyst ‐ Pentanidinium
Authors: Qin Yimin , Zhang Zhenqiang , Ye Xinyi , Tan Choon‐Hong
Published: February 2023

In this account, we further describe our already developed N‐sp2 hybrid guanidinium as an efficient phase‐transfer catalyst and ion pair catalysis based on N‐sp2 hybrid pentanidinium and its application in some new reactions. The sp3 hybrid quaternary ammonium salt has a tetrahedral structure, which means that three sides of it can be effectively steric, allowing the remaining side to be close to the substrate. However, the sp2 hybrid ammonium salt allows the substrate to form ion pairs from both directions respectively, so it is a greater challenge to control the stereoselectivity of the reaction. Van der Waals forces, such as hydrogen bonds and
interactions, have been used to make electrophiles approach from a certain direction, leading to a higher enantioselectivity. Based on the above idea, we designed an N‐sp2 hybrid phase‐transfer catalyst, pentanidinium. Pentanidinium has five conjugated nitrogen atoms, one of which has a formal positive charge, which is necessary for it to become an ion pair catalyst. We have confirmed that pentanidinium can catalyze α‐hydroxylation of 3‐substituted‐2‐oxindoles, Michael addition of 3‐alkyloxindoles with vinyl sulfone, and alkylation reactions of sulfenate anions and dihydrocoumarins, desymmetrization of pro‐chiral sulfinate to afford enantioenriched sulfinate esters. Pentanidinium with side chain structure changes can also be catalyzed efficiently with enantioconvergent halogenophilic nucleophilic substitution, including azidation and thioesterification. In the reaction catalyzed by pentanidinium, it always attracts us with the advantages of low catalytic load and good enantioselectivity.
Aptasensors in environmental forensics: Tracking the silent killers
Authors: Dube Shubhankar , Satish Swathi , Rawtani Deepak
Published: February 2023

Since its inception, environmental forensics has observed expansion of its horizons across several threats to life forms, be it pertaining to wildlife trafficking or tracking the release of effluents containing pharmaceutical drugs, toxins, pesticides, heavy metals, pathogenic microbes, and microplastics. With the substantial growth of pharmaceutical industry over the past few decades, especially with respect to therapeutic personal care products and over the counter drugs, a new threat to environment has emerged from pharmaceutical toxicity. Due to the recalcitrant nature and poor wastewater treatment practices related to these pollutants, they leach into different strata of ecosystem like aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric systems. These drugs pose a threat to several life forms even at trace concentrations. This article aims at providing a profound perspective by exhaustively reviewing several classes of pharmaceutical drugs that are silently threatening the wildlife and environment. The sensitive, specific, and rapid detection of such drugs menacing the environment and wildlife is pertinent and can be achieved through aptamer‐based biosensors known as aptasensors. These are a rising class of biosensors with vast application potential in numerous fields including environmental and wildlife forensics. This article also highlights the gap in research in the availability of rapid sensors for trace detection of drugs in environment hence encouraging researchers to explore the under‐explored potential of aptasensors in environmental forensics. Highly sensitive and selective detection of such drugs is crucial in narrowing down the origin of such pollutants so as to aid the regulatory authorities in enforcing control over their release into environment.

This article is categorized under:

Forensic Chemistry and Trace Evidence > Trace Evidence

Forensic Chemistry and Trace Evidence > Forensic Food and Environment Analysis
Generalized mathematical formulation for active vibration control of rotating machines with voltage‐driven electrodynamic actuators between machine feet and steel frame foundation
Authors: Werner Ulrich
Published: February 2023

In the paper, a generalized mathematical formulation for active vibration control of rotating machines with voltage‐driven electrodynamic actuators between machine feet and steel frame foundation is derived. This generalized mathematical formulation is based on a state space description in the Laplace domain, where the state space vector is lead back, for considering the actuator forces. The aim of the paper is that this generalized mathematical formulation can be used now for arbitrarily models of rotating machines—1D‐, 2D‐, and 3D‐models—with voltage‐driven electrodynamic actuators between machine feet and steel frame foundation, and where the vertical vibration acceleration at each machine foot is lead back to a separate controller. Of course, this mathematical formulation can also be adopt easily to other boundary conditions. As an example, the generalized mathematical formulation is used here for a 1D‐model of a rotating machine, to calculate the poles and the frequency response functions.
A Formal IDE for Railways: Research Challenges
Authors: Cavada Roberto , Cimatti Alessandro , Griggio Alberto , Susi Angelo
Published: February 2023

The development of modern railways applications must be supported by trusted tools, able to cover the whole development process. In this paper we report on the research challenges underlying a comprehensive toolset for the design of computer-based interlocking systems. Following a VV development process, the framework adopts a clear separation between the abstract interlocking logic and the instantiations characterizing the single stations. The challenges include the definition of adequate specification languages, the generation of executable code and simulation infrastructure, traceability, test case generation, and formal verification.
A worldsheet description of instant folded strings
Authors: Hashimoto Akikazu , Itzhaki Nissan , Peleg Uri
Published: February 2023

Abstract

Time-like linear dilaton backgrounds admit a classical solution that describes a closed folded string that is created at an instant. We refer to such strings as Instant Folded Strings (IFS). We study an exact worldsheet CFT description of an IFS that involves two vertex operators which describe two open string modes that propagate on a time-like FZZT-brane, which plays the role of a regulator to the IFS. We take advantage of this description to calculate the most basic quantity associated with IFSs — their production rate. Some implications of this calculation to stringy cosmology and black hole interior are briefly discussed.
Loop corrections in Minkowski spacetime away from equilibrium. Part I. Late-time resummations
Authors: Chaykov Spasen , Agarwal Nishant , Bahrami Sina , Holman R.
Published: February 2023

Abstract

Loop corrections to unequal-time correlation functions in Minkowski spacetime exhibit secular growth due to a breakdown of time-dependent perturbation theory. This is analogous to secular growth in equal-time correlators on time-dependent backgrounds, except that in Minkowski the divergences must not signal a real IR issue. In this paper, we calculate the late-time limit of the two-point correlator for different massless self-interacting scalar quantum field theories on a Minkowski background. We first use a late-time version of the in-in path integral starting in the vacuum of the free theory; in this limit, the calculation, including UV renormalization, reduces to that in in-out. We find linear or logarithmic growth in time, depending on whether the interaction strength is dimension-one or dimensionless, respectively. We next develop the Weisskopf-Wigner resummation method, that proceeds by demanding unitarity within a truncated Hilbert space, to calculate the resummed correlator and find that it gives an exact exponentiation of the late-time perturbative result. The resummed (unequal-time) correlator thus decays with an exponential or polynomial time-dependence, which is suggestive of ‘universal’ behavior that depends on the dimensions of the interaction strength.
Involutive symmetric Gödel spaces, their algebraic duals and logic
Authors: Di Nola A. , Grigolia R. , Vitale G.
Published: February 2023

It is introduced a new algebra$$(A, \otimes , \oplus , *, \rightharpoonup , 0, 1)$$(A,⊗,⊕,∗,⇀,0,1)called$$L_PG$$LPG-algebra if$$(A, \otimes , \oplus , *, 0, 1)$$(A,⊗,⊕,∗,0,1)is$$L_P$$LP-algebra (i.e. an algebra from the variety generated by perfectMV-algebras) and$$(A,\rightharpoonup , 0, 1)$$(A,⇀,0,1)is a Gödel algebra (i.e. Heyting algebra satisfying the identity$$(x \rightharpoonup y ) \vee (y \rightharpoonup x ) =1)$$(x⇀y)∨(y⇀x)=1). The lattice of congruences of an$$L_PG$$LPG-algebra$$(A, \otimes , \oplus , *, \rightharpoonup , 0, 1)$$(A,⊗,⊕,∗,⇀,0,1)is isomorphic to the lattice of Skolem filters (i.e. special type ofMV-filters) of theMV-algebra$$(A, \otimes , \oplus , *, 0, 1)$$(A,⊗,⊕,∗,0,1). The variety$$\mathbf {L_PG}$$LPGof$$L_PG$$LPG-algebras is generated by the algebras$$(C, \otimes , \oplus , *, \rightharpoonup , 0, 1)$$(C,⊗,⊕,∗,⇀,0,1)where$$(C, \otimes , \oplus , *, 0, 1)$$(C,⊗,⊕,∗,0,1)is ChangMV-algebra. Any$$L_PG$$LPG-algebra is bi-Heyting algebra. The set of theorems of the logic$$L_PG$$LPGis recursively enumerable. Moreover, we describe finitely generated free$$L_PG$$LPG-algebras.
Effective semi-ampleness of Hodge line bundles on curves
Authors: Zhou Chuyu
Published: February 2023

In this note, we prove effective semi-ampleness conjecture due to Prokhorov and Shokurov for a special case, more concretely, for $${\mathbb {Q}}$$
Q
-Gorenstein klt-trivial fibrations over smooth projective curves whose fibers are all klt log Calabi-Yau pairs of Fano type.
β-oxidation–polyhydroxyalkanoates synthesis relationship in Pseudomonas putida KT2440 revisited
Authors: Liu Si , Narancic Tanja , Tham Jia-Lynn , O’Connor Kevin E.
Published: February 2023

Pseudomonas putidaKT2440 is a well-known model organism for the medium-chain-length (mcl) polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) accumulation. (R)-Specific enoyl-coenzyme A hydratase (PhaJ) was considered to be the main supplier of monomers for PHA synthesis by converting theβ-oxidation intermediate, trans-2-enoyl-CoA to (R)-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA when fatty acids (FA) are used. Three PhaJ homologues, PhaJ1, PhaJ4 and MaoC, are annotated inP. putidaKT2440. To investigate the relationship of fatty acids–PHA metabolism and the role of each PhaJ in PHA biosynthesis inP. putidaKT2440, a series ofP. putidaKT2440 knockouts was obtained. PHA content and monomer composition in wild type (WT) and mutants under different growth conditions were analysed. PhaJ4 was the main monomer supplier for PHA synthesis with FA as sole carbon and energy source, with preference towards C8 and C10 substrate, whereas PhaJ1 showed preference for the C6 substrate. However, when all three PhaJ homologues were deleted, the mutant still accumulated PHA up to 10.7% of the cell dry weight (CDW). The deletion of (R)-3-hydroxydecanoyl-ACP:CoA transacylase (PhaG), which connects de novo FA and PHA synthesis pathways, while causing a further 1.8-fold decrease in PHA content, did not abolish PHA accumulation. Further proteome analysis revealed quinoprotein alcohol dehydrogenases PedE and PedH as potential monomer suppliers, but when these were deleted, the PHA level remained at 2.2–14.8% CDW depending on the fatty acid used and whether nitrogen limitation was applied. Therefore, it is likely that some other non-specific dehydrogenases supply monomers for PHA synthesis, demonstrating the redundancy of PHA metabolism.

Key points

•β-oxidation intermediates are converted to PHA monomers by hydratases PhaJ1, PhaJ4 and MaoC in Pseudomonas putida KT2440.

•When these are deleted, the PHA level decreases, but it is not abolished.

•PHA non-specific enzyme(s) also contributes to PHA metabolism in KT2440.
Turnover of the extracellular polymeric matrix of granules performing biological phosphate removal
Authors: Tomás-Martínez Sergio , Zwolsman Erwin J. , Merlier Franck , Pabst Martin , Lin Yuemei , van Loosdrecht Mark C.M. , Weissbrodt David G.
Published: February 2023

Polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) are responsible for enhanced biological phosphate removal (EBPR) from wastewater, where they grow embedded in a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). EPSs comprise a mixture of biopolymers like polysaccharides or (glyco)proteins. Despite previous studies, little is known about the dynamics of EPS in mixed cultures, and their production by PAOs and potential consumption by flanking microbes. EPSs are biodegradable and have been suggested to be a substrate for other organisms in the community. Studying EPS turnover can help elucidate their biosynthesis and biodegradation cycles. We analyzed the turnover of proteins and polysaccharides in the EPS of an enrichment culture of PAOs relative to the turnover of internal proteins. An anaerobic-aerobic sequencing batch reactor (SBR) simulating EBPR conditions was operated to enrich for PAOs. After achieving a stable culture, carbon source was switched to uniformly 13C-labeled acetate. Samples were collected at the end of each aerobic phase. EPSs were extracted by alkaline treatment. 13C enrichment in proteins and sugars (after hydrolysis of polysaccharides) in the extracted EPS were measured by mass spectrometry. The average turnover rate of sugars and proteins (0.167 and 0.192 d−1 respectively) was higher than the expected value based on the solid removal rate (0.132 d−1), and no significant difference was observed between intracellular and extracellular proteins. This indicates that EPS from the PAO enriched community is not selectively degraded by flanking populations under stable EBPR process conditions. Instead, we observed general decay of biomass, which corresponds to a value of 0.048 d−1.

Key Points

• Proteins showed a higher turnover rate than carbohydrates.

• Turnover of EPS was similar to the turnover of intracellular proteins.

• EPS is not preferentially consumed by flanking populations.
Drivers and Dynamics of Collaborative Governance in Environmental Management
Authors: Ulibarri Nicola , Imperial Mark T. , Siddiki Saba , Henderson Hayley
Published: February 2023

This special issue brings together new case studies and comparative works highlighting the drivers and dynamics of collaborative environmental governance. Each case is part of the Collaborative Governance Case Database, which is an open-access resource allowing individuals to contribute and access cases to support research projects. This article highlights the special issue’s contributions to collaborative governance theory. Common themes that cut across the studies include: the importance of using a broad definition of collaborative governance to capture the diversity in interorganizational relationships across contexts; improving our understanding of the drivers for initiating collaborative governance; an enhanced understanding collaboration’s lifecycle dynamics and developmental trajectories; the importance of individuals and their roles in collaborative processes; the political dynamics of collaboration; the role of accountability; and the challenges associated with assessing the performance of collaborations. Collectively, the cases also demonstrate the value of using resources such as the Collaborative Governance Case Database to undertake small-n and medium-n comparative studies that further theory building.
Agroforestry Adoption Decision in Green Growth Initiative Programs: Key Lessons from the Billion Trees Afforestation Project (BTAP)
Authors: Ullah Ayat , Mishra Ashok K. , Bavorova Miroslava
Published: February 2023

Adoption of agroforestry in the early spring under the green growth initiative programs, such as the Billion Trees Afforestation Project, has positively impacted crop productivity and plantation success in Pakistan. However, the timely adoption decision of agroforestry in the Hindu Kush Himalayan is still low, particularly among smallholders. Using a mixed-method approach, we examine the factors influencing smallholder households and community-level timely agroforestry adoption decisions. Findings show that the early and later decision-makers farmers had agricultural lands on riversides and primarily adopted agroforestry to protect their crops from devastating effects of winds and floods. In contrast, late adoption decision-makers adopted agroforestry for income diversification. Results of our logit model show that several household and community-level factors influence smallholders’ timely adoption of agroforestry. The factors that positively affect the timely adoption of agroforestry include age-related factors, education, and the establishment/existence of functional community-based organizations. In contrast, political conflicts and tenure insecurity negatively affect smallholders’ timely adoption of agroforestry. In-depth interviews with Village Development Committees members revealed that terrace farming, farms on riversides, communities without access to other energy sources, population growth, and low farm acreage ensured the timely adoption of agroforestry. The policy recommendations include strengthening collaborative efforts among community members, especially engaging educated old-aged farmers (elders of traditional communities) to increase adoption rates and land tenure security to ensure timely agroforestry adoption under the newly launched 10-BTAP.
Impact of Drain Position on Drain Fluid Amylase, Fluid Collection and Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula after Distal Pancreatectomy
Authors: Lee Jun Suh , Yoon Yoo‐Seok , Han Ho‐Seong , Cho Jai Young , Lee Hae‐Won , Lee Boram , Jo Yeongsoo , Kang MeeYoung , Lee Eunhye , Park Yeshong
Published: February 2023

Background

The current definition for postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is based on the drain fluid amylase (DFA), and drains must be positioned adequately. We investigated the impact of DFA level, drain position and fluid collection after distal pancreatectomy (DP).

Methods

We performed a retrospective study of 516 patients who underwent DP between June 2004 and December 2018. Patients were excluded if DP was not main procedure, DFA was not measured, postoperative computed tomography (CT) was not performed, or drains were removed before CT. Demographic and perioperative data were analyzed in 422 eligible patients.

Results

Of 422 patients, 49(11.6%) had clinically relevant (CR)‐POPF and 102(24.2%) had a malpositioned drain. There was no difference in CR‐POPF rate between the high and low DFA groups (12.6% vs 10.7%, P = 0.649). Drain malposition was more frequently associated with symptomatic fluid collection and CR‐POPF than well‐positioned drains. Male sex, high body mass index, transfusion, and drain malposition were CR‐POPF risk factors. In subgroup analysis, drain malposition was also an independent risk factor for CR‐POPF in the low DFA group.

Conclusions

After DP, the incidence of CR‐POPF in the high and low DFA groups was similar and drain malposition increased the risk of CR‐POPF. Thus, the ISGPS definition of POPF based on DFA levels is limited in DP, and DFA levels should be interpreted together with the drain position.
The clinical significance of the human vomeronasal organ
Authors: Bruintjes Tjasse D. , Bleys Ronald L. A. W.
Published: February 2023

Objective

To find out whether the vomeronasal organ (VNO) can be identified in the nose as a mucosal pit in the anterior nasal septum, to elucidate its function in man and to determine whether it is important to preserve the VNO during septal surgery.

Methods

Literature review.

Results and conclusion

The VNO is histologically present in almost all humans, but a macroscopically visible septal pit does not necessarily correspond with the actual VNO. The human VNO is probably a vestigial organ with a non-operational sensory function. It is not necessary to take particular care not to damage the VNO during septal surgery.
Effects of empagliflozin on left ventricular diastolic function in addition to usual care in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus—results from the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled EmDia trial
Authors: Prochaska Jürgen H. , Jünger Claus , Schulz Andreas , Arnold Natalie , Müller Felix , Heidorn Marc William , Baumkötter Rieke , Zahn Daniela , Koeck Thomas , Tröbs Sven-Oliver , Lackner Karl J. , Daiber Andreas , Binder Harald , Shah Sanjiv J. , Gori Tommaso , Münzel Thomas , Wild Philipp S.
Published: February 2023

Background

The sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor empagliflozin improves cardiovascular outcome in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and heart failure. Experimental studies suggest a direct cardiac effect of empagliflozin associated with an improvement in left ventricular diastolic function.

Methods

In the randomized, double-blind, two-armed, placebo-controlled, parallel group trial EmDia, patients with T2DM and elevated left ventricular E/E´ ratio were enrolled and randomized 1:1 to receive empagliflozin 10 mg/day versus placebo. The primary endpoint was the change of left ventricular E/E´ ratio after 12 weeks of intervention.

Results

A total of 144 patients with T2DM and an elevated left ventricular E/e´ ratio (age 68.9 ± 7.7 years; 14.1% women; E/e´ ratio 9.61[8.24/11.14], left ventricular ejection fraction 58.9% ± 5.6%). After 12 weeks of intervention, empagliflozin resulted in a significant higher decrease in the primary endpoint E/e´ ratio by − 1.18 ([95% confidence interval (CI) − 1.72/− 0.65]; P < 0.0001) compared with placebo. The beneficial effect of empagliflozin was consistent across all subgroups and also occurred in subjects with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (n = 30). Additional effects of empagliflozin on body weight, HbA1c, uric acid, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and hematocrit were detected (all P < 0.001). Approximately one-third of the reduction in E/e´ by empagliflozin could be explained by the variables examined.

Conclusions

Empagliflozin improves diastolic function in patients with T2DM and elevated end-diastolic pressure. Since the positive effects were consistent in patients with and without heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, the data add a mechanistic insight for the beneficial cardiovascular effect of empagliflozin.

Trial registration

Clinicaltrials.gov, unique identifier: NCT02932436.

Graphical abstract
Chromosomal radiosensitivity of human breast carcinoma cells and blood lymphocytes following photon and proton exposures
Authors: Kowalska Agata , Nasonova Elena , Kutsalo Polina , Czerski Konrad
Published: February 2023

Breast carcinomas (BC) are among the most frequent cancers in women. Studies on radiosensitivity and ionizing radiation response of BC cells are scarce and mainly focused on intrinsic molecular mechanisms but do not include clinically relevant features as chromosomal rearrangements important for radiotherapy. The main purpose of this study was to compare the ionizing radiation response and efficiency of repair mechanisms of human breast carcinoma cells (Cal 51) and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) for different doses and radiation qualities (60Co γ-rays, 150 MeV and spread-out Bragg peak (SOBP) proton beams). The radiation response functions obtained using the conventional metaphase assay and premature chromosome condensation (PCC) technique enabled us to determine the number of chromosomal breaks at different time after irradiation. Both cytogenetic assays used confirmed the higher biological radiosensitivity for proton beams in tumor cells compared to PBL, corresponding to higher values of the linear LQ parameter α. additionally, the ratio of the LQ parameters β/α describing efficiency of the repair mechanisms, obtained for chromosome aberrations, showed higher numbers for PBL than for Cal 51 for all exposures. Similar results were observed for the ratio of PCC breaks determined directly after irradiation to that obtained 12 h later. This parameter (t0/t12) showed faster decrease of the repair efficiency with increasing LET value for Cal 51 cells. This finding supports the use of the proton therapy for breast cancer patients.