bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Homogeneous‐to‐Heterogeneous‐Strategy Enables Multifunctional Phase‐Change Materials for Energy Storage
Authors: Liu Changhui , Zhang Tianjian , Li Tingsong , Wang Yafei
Published: April 2022

Functional phase‐change materials (PCMs) are conspicuously absent in various organic or inorganic solids with diversified applications in which the attributes of these molecular materials have been highly realized. Leakage problem during the phase transition process is the main obstacle on the way of widely use of solid‐liquid PCMs who has been recognized to be promisingly practical candidates for energy storage owing to the high energy storage density and small volume change in the phase transition process. Herein, a novel homogeneous‐to‐heterogeneous‐strategy, in which all the starting materials involved display a homogeneous state and the encapsulation framework formed in situ in the encapsulation process, enabled by an aerogel reaction of silica was realized under the catalysis of an organic base. Besides the comprehensive study upon energy storage performance, light‐to‐thermal conversion and recyclability performance study of the obtained materials reveal the clear superiority over pristine paraffin wax (PW) thanks to the versatility and robustness of this fabrication method. More importantly, the homogeneous‐to‐heterogeneous‐strategy endows a unique adsorption ability with respect to organic pollutant due to the PCMs inside and therefore bearing a great potential to be used in environment protection fields.
Isomorphic Fluorescent Nucleosides Facilitate Real‐Time Monitoring of RNA Depurination by Ribosome Inactivating Proteins
Authors: Cong Deyuan , Li Yao , Ludford Paul T. , Tor Yitzhak
Published: April 2022

Ribosome‐inactivating proteins, a family of highly cytotoxic proteins, interfere with protein synthesis by depurinating a specific adenosine residue within the conserved α‐sarcin/ricin loop of eukaryotic ribosomal RNA. Besides being biological warfare agents, certain RIPs have been promoted as potential therapeutic tools. Monitoring their deglycosylation activity and their inhibition in real time have remained, however, elusive. Herein, we describe the enzymatic preparation and utility of consensus RIP hairpin substrates in which specific G residues, next to the depurination site, are surgically replaced with tzG and thG, fluorescent G analogs. By strategically modifying key positions with responsive fluorescent surrogate nucleotides, RIP‐mediated depurination can be monitored in real time by steady‐state fluorescence spectroscopy. Subtle differences observed in preferential depurination sites provide insight into the RNA folding as well as RIPs’ substrate recognition features.
Pd‐Catalyzed Difluoromethylations of Aryl Boronic Acids, Halides, and Pseudohalides with ICF2H Generated ex Situ
Authors: Gedde Oliver R. , Bonde Andreas , Golbækdal Peter I. , Skrydstrup Troels
Published: April 2022

An expedient ex‐situ generation of difluoroiodomethane (DFIM) and its immediate use in a Pd‐catalyzed difluoromethylation of aryl boronic acids and ester derivatives in a two‐chamber reactor is reported. Heating a solution of bromodifluoroacetic acid with sodium iodide in sulfolane proved to be effective for the generation of near stoichiometric amounts of DFIM for the ensuing catalytic coupling step. A two‐step difluoromethylation of aryl (pseudo)halides with tetrahydroxydiboron as a low‐cost reducing agent, both promoted by Pd catalysis, proved effective to install this fluorine‐containing C1 group onto several pharmaceutically relevant molecules. Finally, the method proved adaptable to deuterium incorporation by simply adding D2O to the DFIM‐generating chamber.
The association between the inflammatory potential of diet and the risk of histopathological and molecular subtypes of breast cancer in northwestern Iran: Results from the Breast Cancer Risk and Lifestyle study
Authors: Hayati Zahra , Montazeri Vahid , Shivappa Nitin , Hebert James R. , Pirouzpanah Saeed
Published: April 2022

Background

This study explored the association between diet‐associated inflammation and the risk of different molecular subtypes of breast cancer (BrCA) in a large, population‐based case‐control study conducted in northwestern Iran.

Methods

The study consisted of 1007 women with histopathologically confirmed BrCA and 1004 controls admitted to hospitals in Tabriz, northwestern Iran, for nonneoplastic conditions. Dietary Inflammatory Index scores and energy‐adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (E‐DII) scores, with and without supplements, were computed on the basis of dietary intake collected using a validated 136‐item food frequency questionnaire.

Results

Women with the highest E‐DII scores (quartile 4) versus those with the lowest E‐DII scores (quartile 1) showed a significantly increased BrCA risk (odds ratio for quartile 4 vs quartile 1 [ORQ4vsQ1], 1.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.42‐2.47), particularly for lobular carcinoma (ORQ4vsQ1, 3.07; 95% CI, 1.34‐7.02). Findings were similar for premenopausal women diagnosed with luminal A BrCA (ORQ4vsQ1, 2.71; 95% CI, 1.74‐4.22) or luminal B BrCA (ORQ4vsQ1, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.39‐5.89). Women consuming the most proinflammatory diets were 3 times more likely to have triple‐negative BrCA (ORQ4vsQ1, 3.00; 95% CI, 1.002‐8.96) while compared to luminal A BrCA. The BrCA risk for women consuming diets in the highest half of E‐DII scores (E‐DII > 0) was 59% greater than the risk for those in the lowest half (95% CI, 1.29‐1.97). Also, higher E‐DII scores that took into account supplements were associated with larger tumor sizes (T3 > 5 cm; P < .05).

Conclusions

A proinflammatory diet, as indicated by higher E‐DII scores, appears to increase the risk of BrCA in Iranian women. Large increases in risk were seen in invasive molecular subtypes of BrCA. Anti‐inflammatory diets are suggested to prevent the risk of overall BrCA and more aggressive forms of BrCA in particular.
Workflow offloading with privacy preservation in a cloud‐edge environment
Authors: Wang Jin
Published: April 2022

Owing to the limited computing capability of edge cloudlets, use of cloud platforms to provide computation‐intensive services as an assistant should be studied. Offloading, among the key techniques in the cloud‐edge environment, is plagued by the serious problem of privacy disclosure. In addition, the edge does not have access control of terminals, and the controller working the edge that makes offloading decisions, must not be allowed access to any information regarding the contents of the terminal. Thus, this study introduced a system architecture wherein the data was separated from the control plane to minimize systemic risk and optimize the offloading process towards makespan and cost reduction. Traditional methods of privacy preservation are dependent on encryption of total or content awareness. Edge privacy preservation renders maintaining edge delay advantages a challenge because traditional architectures result in edges being engaged with data encryption and decryption. Moreover, in content applications such as video compression and intelligent collaborative applications, users are unaware of content considered private data, and the relative privacy sensitivity and security priority of tasks. The proposed solution avoids side‐channel attacks by eliminating the individual characteristics via risk‐free constraints under a certain amount of entropy at the security level. Further, a smart optimum approach based on MOEA/D was employed to strike the balance between privacy preservation and the cost/latency of activity. This reduces the burden on edge servers, enhances security based on a better offloading strategy, and protects against threats and attacks using a reasonable system architecture. Through experiments on different types of workflow parameters the validity and effectiveness of the offloading algorithm with privacy preservation was demonstrated.
Validation of a therapeutic strategy involving the mitochondrial delivery of thiamine pyrophosphate using brain damage induced mouse model
Authors: Yamada Yuma , Ishimaru Takuya , Harashima Hideyoshi
Published: April 2022

Ischemic brain disease, a type of cerebrovascular disease, has a high mortality rate, and even when patients survive, they are frequently affected by neurological dysfunction due to damage to brain cells. Strategies to increase intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production are promising approaches for tissue regeneration and restoring neurological function. We report here on an attempt to deliver thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP), a coenzyme that activates the tricarboxylic acid cycle, which is responsible for ATP production, to mitochondria. To achieve this, we used a MITO‐Porter, a liposomal drug delivery system for delivering various cargoes to mitochondria via membrane fusion. In the present study, we investigated the therapeutic effect of the MITO‐Porter (TPP) focusing on its delivery to the brain and neurological function using a bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) mouse model. Fluorescent microscopic analyses confirmed, after a cerebral ischemia‐reperfusion injury had been induced, that the intracerebral delivery of the MITO‐Porter occurred after intravenous administration. Behavioral analyses indicated that the MITO‐Porter (TPP) resulted in significant therapeutic effects compared to the corresponding administration of naked TPP. Histological evaluations also confirmed that the MITO‐Porter (TPP) clearly had an effect on the growth of brain neurons in the BCCAO mouse. Our findings indicate that the mitochondrial delivery of TPP represents a potential innovative therapeutic strategy for enhancing mitochondrial energy production in certain cases of brain diseases.
Deep SED‐Net with interactive learning for multiple testicular cell types segmentation and cell composition analysis in mouse seminiferous tubules
Authors: Liang Shi , Lu Haoda , Zang Min , Wang Xiangxue , Jiao Yiping , Zhao Tingting , Xu Eugene Yujun , Xu Jun
Published: April 2022

The development of mouse spermatozoa is a continuous process from spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids to mature sperm. Those developing germ cells (spermatogonia, spermatocyte, and spermatids) together with supporting sertoli cells are all enclosed inside seminiferous tubules of the testis, their identification is key to testis histology and pathology analysis. Automated segmentation of all these cells is a challenging task because of their dynamical changes in different stages. The accurate segmentation of testicular cells is critical in developing computerized spermatogenesis staging. In this paper, we present a novel segmentation model, SED‐Net, which incorporates a squeeze‐and‐excitation (SE) module and a dense unit. The SE module optimizes and obtains features from different channels, whereas the dense unit uses fewer parameters to enhance the use of features. A human‐in‐the‐loop strategy, named deep interactive learning, is developed to achieve better segmentation performance while reducing the workload of manual annotation and time consumption. Across a cohort of 274 seminiferous tubules from stages VI to VIII, the SED‐Net achieved a pixel accuracy of 0.930, a mean pixel accuracy of 0.866, a mean intersection over union of 0.710, and a frequency weighted intersection over union of 0.878, respectively, in terms of four types of testicular cell segmentation. There is no significant difference between manual annotated tubules and segmentation results by SED‐Net in cell composition analysis for tubules from stages VI to VIII. In addition, we performed cell composition analysis on 2346 segmented seminiferous tubule images from 12 segmented testicular section results. The results provided quantitation of cells of various testicular cell types across 12 stages. The rule reflects the cell variation tendency across 12 stages during development of mouse spermatozoa. The method could enable us to not only analyze cell morphology and staging during the development of mouse spermatozoa but also potentially could be applied to the study of reproductive diseases such as infertility.
Machine learning methods applied to genotyping data capture interactions between single nucleotide variants in late onset Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Arnal Segura Magdalena , Bini Giorgio , Fernandez Orth Dietmar , Samaras Eleftherios , Kassis Maya , Aisopos Fotis , Rambla De Argila Jordi , Paliouras George , Garrard Peter , Giambartolomei Claudia , Tartaglia Gian Gaetano
Published: April 2022

Introduction

Genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) in late onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) provide lists of individual genetic determinants. However, GWAS do not capture the synergistic effects among multiple genetic variants and lack good specificity.

Methods

We applied tree‐based machine learning algorithms (MLs) to discriminate LOAD (>700 individuals) and age‐matched unaffected subjects in UK Biobank with single nucleotide variants (SNVs) from Alzheimer's disease (AD) studies, obtaining specific genomic profiles with the prioritized SNVs.

Results

MLs prioritized a set of SNVs located in genes PVRL2, TOMM40, APOE, and APOC1, also influencing gene expression and splicing. The genomic profiles in this region showed interaction patterns involving rs405509 and rs1160985, also present in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) dataset. rs405509 located in APOE promoter interacts with rs429358 among others, seemingly neutralizing their predisposing effect.

Discussion

Our approach efficiently discriminates LOAD from controls, capturing genomic profiles defined by interactions among SNVs in a hot‐spot region.
Channel trajectories control deep‐water stratigraphic architecture
Authors: Morris Paul D. , Sylvester Zoltán , Covault Jacob A. , Mohrig David
Published: April 2022

Interpretation of deep‐water channel deposits is challenging because the spatial arrangement of their constituent lithologies is highly variable. This variability is often thought to be a signature of complex interactions between controlling boundary conditions and processes. A three‐dimensional forward stratigraphic model of a sinuous meandering channel is used to explore the production of channelised deep‐water stratigraphy. This model highlights three stages of stratigraphic evolution for channel belts: (1) an initial phase of rapid growth in mean belt width and variability in belt width driven by increasing channel sinuosity; (2) a subsequent phase of reduced belt‐width growth rate because of cutoff processes; and (3) a mature phase during which repeated bend lifecycles act to produce a statistically stable channel‐belt width. When a trajectory defining the vertical movement of a channel over time is added to the model, commonly recognised patterns of deep‐water channel‐belt stratigraphy are produced. These results demonstrate how forward stratigraphic models provide insights into processes governing the evolution of deep‐water stratigraphy that elude interpretations of static outcrops and seismic images of subsurface examples.
The developmental high wire: Balancing resource investment in immunity and reproduction
Authors: Breiner Daniel J. , Whalen Matthew R. , Worthington Amy M.
Published: April 2022

The strategic allocation of resources into immunity poses a unique challenge for individuals, where infection at different stages of development may result in unique trade‐offs with concurrent physiological processes or future fitness‐enhancing traits. Here, we experimentally induced an immune challenge in female Gryllus firmus crickets to test whether illness at discrete life stages differentially impacts fitness. We injected heat‐killed Serratia marcescens bacteria into antepenultimate juveniles, penultimate juveniles, sexually immature adults, and sexually mature adults, and then measured body growth, instar duration, mating rate, viability of stored sperm, egg production, oviposition rate, and egg viability. Immune activation significantly impacted reproductive traits, where females that were immune challenged as adults had decreased mating success and decreased egg viability compared to healthy individuals or females that were immune challenged as juveniles. Although there was no effect of an immune challenge on the other traits measured, the stress of handling resulted in reduced mass gain and smaller adult body size in females from the juvenile treatments, and females in the adult treatments suffered from reduced viability of sperm stored within their spermatheca. In summary, we found that an immune challenge does have negative impacts on reproduction, but also that even minor acute stressors can have significant impacts on fitness‐enhancing traits. These findings highlight that the factors affecting fitness can be complex and at times unpredictable, and that the consequences of illness are specific to when during an individual's life an immune challenge is induced.
Timescale analyses of fluctuations in coexisting populations of a native and invasive tree squirrel
Authors: Desharnais Robert A. , Muchlinski Alan E. , Ortiz Janel L. , Alvidrez Ruby I. , Gatza Brian P.
Published: April 2022

Competition from invasive species is an increasing threat to biodiversity. In Southern California, the western gray squirrel (Sciurus griseus, WGS) is facing competition from the fox squirrel (Sciurus niger, FS), an invasive congener.

We used spectral methods to analyze 140 consecutive monthly censuses of WGS and FS within a 11.3 ha section of the California Botanic Garden. Variation in the numbers for both species and their synchrony was distributed across long timescales (>15 months).

After filtering out annual changes, concurrent mean monthly temperatures from nearby Ontario Airport yielded a spectrum with a large semi‐annual peak and significant spectral power at long timescales (>28 months). The cospectrum between WGS numbers and temperature revealed a significant negative correlation at long timescales (>35 months). Cospectra also revealed significant negative correlations with temperature at a six‐month timescale for both WGS and FS.

Simulations from a model of two competing species indicate that the risk of extinction for the weaker competitor increases quickly as environmental noise shifts from short to long timescales.

We analyzed the timescales of fluctuations in detrended mean annual temperatures for the time period 1915–2014 from 1218 locations across the continental USA. In the last two decades, significant shifts from short to long timescales have occurred, from <3 years to 4–6 years.

Our results indicate that (i) population fluctuations in co‐occurring native and invasive tree squirrels are synchronous, occur over long timescales, and may be driven by fluctuations in environmental conditions; (ii) long timescale population fluctuations increase the risk of extinction in competing species, especially for the inferior competitor; and (iii) the timescales of interannual environmental fluctuations may be increasing from recent historical values. These results have broad implications for the impact of climate change on the maintenance of biodiversity.
Crowding does not affect monarch butterflies’ resistance to a protozoan parasite
Authors: Alaidrous Wajd , Villa Scott M. , de Roode Jacobus C. , Majewska Ania A.
Published: April 2022

Host density is an important factor when it comes to parasite transmission and host resistance. Increased host density can increase contact rate between individuals and thus parasite transmission. Host density can also cause physiological changes in the host, which can affect host resistance. Yet, the direction in which host density affects host resistance remains unresolved. It is also unclear whether food limitation plays a role in this effect. We investigated the effect of larval density in monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus, on the resistance to their natural protozoan parasite Ophryocystis elektroscirrha under both unlimited and limited food conditions. We exposed monarchs to various density treatments as larvae to mimic high densities observed in sedentary populations. Data on infection and parasite spore load were collected as well as development time, survival, wing size, and melanization. Disease susceptibility under either food condition or across density treatments was similar. However, we found high larval density impacted development time, adult survival, and wing morphology when food was limited. This study aids our understanding of the dynamics of environmental parasite transmission in monarch populations, which can help explain the increased prevalence of parasites in sedentary monarch populations compared to migratory populations.
Adipose tissue measurement in clinical research for obesity, type 2 diabetes and NAFLD/NASH
Authors: Vilalta Adrian , Gutiérrez Julio A. , Chaves SuZanne , Hernández Moisés , Urbina Silvia , Hompesch Marcus
Published: April 2022

Introduction

Excess body fat is linked to higher risks for metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and cardiovascular disease (CV), among other health conditions. However, it is not only the level but also the distribution of body fat that contributes to increased disease risks. For example, an increased level of abdominal fat, or visceral adipose tissue (VAT), is associated with a higher risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Methods

A review of the most relevant primary and secondary sources on body composition from the last 25 years was conducted. Relevant articles were identified using PUBMED and Google Scholar. Narrative synthesis was performed as statistical pooling was not possible due to the heterogeneous nature of the studies.

Results

The body mass index (BMI) is commonly used as a proxy measure of body fatness. However, BMI does not reflect the level and distribution of body fat. Other anthropometric methods such as waist circumference measurement and waist‐hip ratio, as well as methodologies like hydro densitometry, bioelectrical impedance, and isotope dilution are also limited in their ability to determine body fat distribution.

Imaging techniques to define body composition have greatly improved performance over traditional approaches. Ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are now commonly used in clinical research. Of these, MRI can provide the most accurate and high‐resolution measure of body composition. In addition, MRI techniques are considered the best for the determination of fat at the organ level. On the other hand, imaging modalities require specialized, often expensive equipment and expert operation.

Conclusions

Anthropometric methods are suitable for rapid, high‐volume screening of subjects but do not provide information on body fat distribution. Imaging techniques are more accurate but are expensive and do not lend themselves for high throughput. Therefore, successful trial strategies require a tiered approach in which subjects are first screened using anthropometric methods followed by more sophisticated modalities during the execution of the trial.

This article provides a brief description of the most clinically relevant adipose tissue measurement techniques and discusses their value in obesity, diabetes, and NAFLD/NASH clinical research.
Negative emotion‐related eating behaviours in young women with underweight status, overweight status, anorexia nervosa, and bulimia nervosa in Korea
Authors: An Zhen , Kim Kyung Hee , Kim Mirihae , Kim Youl‐Ri
Published: April 2022

Objective

This study aimed at investigating the negative emotion‐related eating behaviours of young women with extreme weights or eating disorders (EDs).

Method

A total of 808 young women participated including 144 with underweight (UW), 364 with normal‐weight (NW) and 137 with overweight (OW; including 27 with obesity) from universities, and 63 patients with anorexia nervosa (AN), and 100 patients with bulimia nervosa (BN) from a hospital. Participants were interviewed and completed questionnaires on eating behaviours related to negative emotions.

Results

While both OW and BN groups ate more in response to negative emotions, UW and AN groups ate less compared to NW group. Negative feelings after overeating were prominent in OW group and patients with ED. In negative emotions, patients with EDs preferred sweet tastes, but BN group preferred spicy tastes less. Patients with EDs had increased external eating, and BN group also showed increased restrained eating. Neuroticism had indirect impacts on OW status via emotional eating unlike BN.

Conclusions

The results suggest that UW and OW status were on the spectrum of emotional eating, and AN and BN were on the extremes of external eating, which may be integrated into the development of interventions targeting each status.
Associations between childhood autistic traits and adolescent eating disorder behaviours are partially mediated by fussy eating
Authors: Carter Leno Virginia , Micali Nadia , Bryant‐Waugh Rachel , Herle Moritz
Published: April 2022

Objective

Previous literature shows an increased risk for eating disorders in autistic individuals. This study tested whether fussy eating contributes to the association between childhood autistic traits and adolescent eating disorder behaviours.

Method

Using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, we estimated the intercept and slope of parent‐rated autistic traits and fussy eating between 7 and 14 years (N = 8982) and their association with self‐reported eating disorder behaviours at age 14 years, including the indirect path from autistic traits to eating disorder behaviours via fussy eating. Analyses were adjusted for child sex, maternal age at delivery, maternal body mass index and maternal education.

Results

Analyses found a small indirect pathway from autistic traits intercept to eating disorder behaviours via fussy eating slope (b = 0.017, 95% CI = 0.002–0.032, p = 0.026), with higher levels of autistic traits at age 7 years being associated with a shallower decline in fussy eating, which in turn was associated with greater eating disorder behaviours.

Conclusion

Findings point towards fussy eating as a potential link between childhood autistic traits and later disordered eating. Addressing fussy eating patterns before they become entrenched may decrease risk for eating disorders later in development.
Examining the determinants of electricity consumption in the nine South African provinces: A panel data application
Authors: Sehlapelo Tebogo , Inglesi‐Lotz Roula
Published: April 2022

South Africa has been experiencing a series of power cuts since 2008 due to the state‐owned electricity distributor's (Eskom) insufficient power generation capacity. The ongoing energy crisis has negatively impacted the growth and development of the South African economy. Therefore, it is imperative to have an insight into what explains electricity demand in an attempt to address issues facing the energy sector and electricity access at the provincial level. The study's main objective is to examine the determinants of electricity demand in the nine South African provinces from 1995 to 2019 to highlight regional intervention and policy implementation potential. The empirical examination was carried out through two‐panel estimation techniques, namely Fixed Effects and the Pooled Mean Group, to account for time‐invariant unobservable individual aspects that can be associated with the observed explanatory variables and to provide both short‐ and long‐run coefficients thus allowing the intercept, the slope coefficients and the regression for electricity demand to be province‐specific in the short‐run. The results demonstrate the importance of examining the demand for electricity at the provincial level and providing critical province‐specific developments that can potentially influence economic growth.
Development of nano‐enhanced phase change materials using manganese dioxide nanoparticles obtained through green synthesis
Authors: Anand Abhishek , Srivastava Vartika , Singh Shailendra , Shukla Amritanshu , Choubey Abhay Kumar , Sharma Atul
Published: April 2022

The current paper summarizes the development of nano‐enhanced phase change materials (NPCMs) using capric acid (CA) and manganese dioxide (α‐MnO2) nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were obtained by the green synthesis technique using the leaves of Ficus retusa plant. The obtained nanoparticles were used in 1%, 2%, and 3% weight fractions in the nano‐formulations. The field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) was employed to confirm the morphological structure and energy‐dispersive X‐ray (EDX) spectroscopy was used for the elemental analysis of the synthesized nanoparticles. The crystallographic studies were done using X‐ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy. The Fourier‐transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy results showed that the insertion of nanoparticles did not disturb the chemical configuration of CA. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis revealed that the developed nanocomposites had excellent thermal energy storage capability that lay within the range of 145–164 kJ/kg. Five hundred extended thermal cycles were carried out which showed that the developed PCM had excellent thermal reliability and can be useful for a year‐long application. The variations reported with 1% nano‐formulation was −1.43% to +0.53%, −0.03% to +1.52%, and −6.67% to 9.94% with respect to onset, peak melting temperature, and latent heat of fusion. The thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) results showed that developed PCMs were stable within the working temperature range. The melting/solidification curve showed faster heat storage and release rates owing to the increased thermal conductivity. These developed PCMs are useful for photovoltaic/thermal and building applications.
Mind mapping in qualitative data analysis: Managing interview data in interdisciplinary and multi‐sited research projects
Authors: Fearnley Carina J.
Published: April 2022

Typically, interviews are transcribed to enable coding and analysis of the data to establish the research findings. However, where discourse is not central, this article argues that mind mapping is a valuable tool to identify relationships and differences across large datasets. This is particularly useful for large‐scale research projects that may also be interdisciplinary and/or multi‐sited where the ability to transcribe and analyse audio‐recordings is often a time‐intensive process for the researcher and costly if outsourced. Additionally, there are challenges to analysing vast amounts of text into something meaningful. This article first reviews what mind maps are, and how they work. Second it explores the value of mind maps in qualitative data collection and analysis, particularly in the role of transcription. Third, using research conducted on volcano alert level systems, a methodology using mind maps to analyse interview recording is established. Fourth, the pros and cons of mind maps and potential application in other qualitative research methods and in different academic fields is discussed. Findings demonstrate that mind maps can be highly time beneficial providing a close and intimate reading of the data and enabling the researcher to make sense of the emerging themes, particularly for large data sets typically collected through multi‐sited research, or smaller research projects with limited resources.
Effects of left and right medial temporal lobe resections on hemodynamic correlates of negative and neutral scene processing
Authors: Reisch Lea Marie , Wegrzyn Martin , Mielke Malena , Mehlmann Alexandra , Woermann Friedrich G. , Kissler Johanna , Bien Christian G.
Published: April 2022

Enhanced visual cortex activation by negative compared to neutral stimuli is often attributed to modulating feedback from the amygdala, but evidence from lesion studies is scarce, particularly regarding differential effects of left and right amygdala lesions. Therefore, we compared visual cortex activation by negative and neutral complex scenes in an event‐related fMRI study between 40 patients with unilateral temporal lobe resection (TLR; 19 left [lTLR], 21 right [rTLR]), including the amygdala, and 20 healthy controls. We found preserved hemodynamic emotion modulation of visual cortex in rTLR patients and only subtle reductions in lTLR patients. In contrast, rTLR patients showed a significant decrease in visual cortex activation irrespective of picture content. In line with this, healthy controls showed small emotional modulation of the left amygdala only, while their right amygdala was activated equally by negative and neutral pictures. Correlations of activation in amygdala and visual cortex were observed for both negative and neutral pictures in the controls. In both patient groups, this relationship was attenuated ipsilateral to the TLR. Our results support the notion of reentrant mechanisms between amygdala and visual cortex and suggest laterality differences in their emotion‐specificity. While right medial temporal lobe structures including the amygdala seem to influence visual processing in general, the left medial temporal lobe appears to contribute specifically to emotion processing. Still, effects of left TLR on visual emotion processing were relatively subtle. Therefore, hemodynamic correlates of visual emotion processing are likely supported by a distributed cerebral network, challenging an amygdalocentric view of emotion processing.
Triple apheresis platelet concentrate quality after pneumatic tube system, conveyor box, and courier transport: An observational study
Authors: Reichert Lena , Wallner Stefan , Burkhardt Ralph , Offner Robert , Ahrens Norbert , Hähnel Viola
Published: April 2022

Background and Aims

Platelets are prone to activation from handling; they are therefore transported as gently as possible, most commonly by courier. Speedier methods like pneumatic tube system (PTS) transport could improve patient care but may subject platelets to mechanical stress. To test the impact of mechanical stress caused by transport, we compared a PTS with a conveyor box and courier transport on apheresis platelet function.

Methods

Fourteen apheresis platelet concentrate triple donations were analyzed by light transmission aggregometry (LTA), rotational thrombelastometry (ROTEM), and flow cytometry before and after indoor transport over 800 m by PTS, conveyor, and courier, respectively, while recording shocks and vibrations with a high‐frequency acceleration data logger. Shock index scores were calculated as shock intensity (g‐force) times frequency.

Results

The shock index was 81 for courier, 6279 for conveyor, and 9075 for PTS. Flow cytometry revealed no significant difference in platelet surface expression of CD62p before (16%) and after transport via courier (15%), conveyor (14%), or PTS (16%). LTA with adenosine phosphate and thrombin receptor‐activating peptide‐6 resulted in comparable platelet aggregation for courier, conveyor, and PTS. ROTEM assays showed no relevant differences in coagulation time, clot formation time, and maximum clot firmness between transport modes.

Conclusion

Though the mechanical challenge was smallest with courier transport, there were no significant differences in platelet activation or aggregation between the three transport modes. These data contradict restrictions on the use of PTSs for platelet concentrate transport.
Bacterial taxa predictive of hyperpigmented skins
Authors: Zanchetta Catherine , Vilanova David , Jarrin Cyrille , Scandolera Amandine , Chapuis Emilie , Auriol Daniel , Robe Patrick , Dupont Joran , Lapierre Laura , Reynaud Romain
Published: April 2022

Background and Aims

Dark spots, brown spots, or hyperpigmented spots (HPS) are oval or irregular brown areas of skin. Their emergence is associated with dysregulation of the immune system, and may also be caused by a deficiency in stromal cell‐derived factor‐1, leading to perturbed melanogenesis and accumulation of melanosomes within neighboring keratinocytes. The skin microbiota (living microorganisms present on the surface of the skin) is known to play essential roles in maintaining skin homeostasis and in regulating the immune system. Here, we investigated whether the microbiota could play a role in the emergence of HPS.

Methods

The clinical study involved 38 European women, selected from among 74 volunteers. Participants were divided into two groups depending on the spot areas measured on their faces. The study was designed to avoid conflicting factors: both groups presented similar skin pH, hydration, transepidermal water loss, and sebum levels. The two cohorts were also age‐matched, with a mean of 29‐years‐old for both.

Results

Alpha‐diversity of the microbiota was similar for the two groups. On skins with more HPS, seven bacterial genera were identified in significantly higher proportions and included opportunistic pathogens and inflammatory bacteria. Six bacterial genera, including bacteria showing antioxidant and anti‐UV properties, were identified in significantly higher proportions on less spotted skins. Cross‐domain association networks revealed distinct co‐occurrences of genera between the two groups, suggesting nonidentical community structures and exchanges, depending on the HPS status.

Conclusion

Our results reveal specific microbiota composition and networks on skins based on HPS status. Changes could alter communication with the immune system, leading to the emergence of dark spots. As an essential part of the overall skin ecosystem, and through its interaction with the skin matrix, the skin microbiota and its maintenance could be considered a new target for skincare applications.
Technology‐based contingency management for walking to prevent prolonged periods of workday sitting
Authors: Erath Tyler G. , DiGennaro Reed Florence D.
Published: April 2022

Sedentary behavior is an emerging public health issue. Frequent, brief bouts of walking are recommended by experts to reduce the health risks correlated with physical inactivity and prolonged sedentary periods. The purpose of the current study was to extend the literature by evaluating a remote, technology‐based contingency management (CM) intervention that reinforced frequent, brief bouts of walking to decrease prolonged periods of sitting during the workday. A packaged intervention consisting of a contingency contract, monetary incentives, goal setting, textual prompts, and performance feedback was implemented with individuals with sedentary job responsibilities working from home during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The intervention increased the number of physically active intervals to mastery for 4 participants, thereby disrupting prolonged periods of sedentary time. For 2 participants, the intervention did not meaningfully increase the number of physically active intervals. Results suggest that a remote, digital CM intervention can decrease sedentary behavior in home office environments.
Developing clinical reasoning: An introduction for pharmacy preceptors
Authors: Smith Kathryn J. , Childs‐Kean Lindsey M. , Smith Mary Douglass
Published: April 2022

Clinical reasoning is the thinking and decision‐making process undertaken to solve and manage a clinical problem. This process differs from problem solving or critical thinking and refers to the process of identifying drug therapy problems and optimizing therapeutic options. While clinical reasoning is a professional expectation of pharmacists in practice, pharmacy preceptors may find it difficult to teach and assess the complexity and nuances of clinical reasoning. The purpose of this guide is to briefly review clinical reasoning processes in pharmacy practice and to summarize practical strategies for preceptors to implement with their learners to promote the development of clinical reasoning.
Age‐related differences in self‐reported disgust toward core disgust, sex‐related, and food stimuli
Authors: Oosterwijk T. A. (Tamara) , Borg C. (Charmaine) , van Dijk M. W. G. (Marijn)
Published: April 2022

Introduction

While disgust is functional in preventing contagion from pathogens, it also plays a role in various psychopathologies. Disgust responses toward dirt, bodily secretions, certain types of food, and sexual stimuli typically emerge during (early) childhood. However, there is a lack of research on how disgust develops. This cross‐sectional study investigated whether there are age‐related differences in subjective, self‐reported disgust between early and late adolescence and whether there are differences for distinctive types of disgust (core‐disgust, sex‐related, food‐related).

Methods

Using an online survey, 240 Dutch children (116 female, 124 male) aged 9 through 16 years rated the extent to which they found the different types of stimuli disgusting or not on a VAS scale.

Results and Conclusions

The results showed that only the disgust responses to sex‐related stimuli decreased with age, whereas disgust toward the other categories did not show any age‐related differences. Overall girls reported somewhat higher disgust ratings than boys for sex‐related stimuli, but not for the other categories. The present study offers important new angles for future research, which might further disentangle the mechanisms through which the changes occur.
Size‐adjustable ring‐shape photoacoustic tomography imager in vivo
Authors: Jiang Daohuai , Xu Yifei , Lan Hengrong , Shen Yuting , Zhang Yifan , Gao Feng , Liu Li , Gao Fei
Published: April 2022

Photoacoustic tomography (PAT) has become a novel biomedical imaging modality for scientific research and clinical diagnosis. It combines the advantages of spectroscopic optical absorption contrast and acoustic resolution with deep penetration. In this article, an imaging size‐adjustable PAT system is proposed for potential clinical applications such as breast cancer detection and screening, which can adapt to imaging targets with various sizes. Comparing with the conventional PAT setup with a fixed radius ring shape ultrasound transducer (UT) array, the proposed system is more flexible for imaging diverse size targets based on sectorial ultrasound transducer arrays (SUTAs). Four SUTAs form a 128‐channel UT array for photoacoustic detection, where each SUTA has 32 elements. Such four SUTAs are controlled by four stepper motors, respectively, and can change their distribution layout position to adapt for various imaging applications. In this proposed system, the radius of the imaging region of interest (ROI) can be adjusted from 50 to 100 mm, which is much more flexible than the conventional PAT system with a full ring UT array. The simulation experiments using the MATLAB k‐wave toolbox demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed system. To further validate the proposed system, imaging of pencil leads made phantom, ex‐vivo pork breast with indocyanine green (ICG) injected, and in‐vivo human wrist, finger and ankle are conducted to prove its feasibility for potential clinical applications.
Daily associations of interpersonal and emotional experiences following stressful events among young adults with and without nonsuicidal self‐injury
Authors: Berghoff Christopher R. , Dixon‐Gordon Katherine L. , Chapman Alexander L. , Baer Margaret M. , Turner Brianna J. , Tull Matthew T. , Gratz Kim L.
Published: April 2022

Objectives

Emotional and interpersonal dysfunction appears central to nonsuicidal self‐injury (NSSI), yet research examining the interplay of these factors among individuals with NSSI is limited. This study aimed to specify such associations before and after daily stressful events among individuals with (vs. without) NSSI.

Methods

Young adult participants (Mage = 20.4) with past‐year (n = 56) or no history (n = 47) of NSSI completed daily diary assessments over a 2‐week period.

Results

No differences in rates of positive or negative interpersonal experiences before or after stressful events were identified. NSSI participants, however, reported greater negative emotion following stressful events compared with non‐NSSI participants. The presence (vs. absence) of a positive interpersonal experience following a stressful event was related to lower negative emotional responses only in the NSSI group.

Conclusion

Positive interpersonal experiences may downregulate negative emotions following stressful events among individuals with NSSI, highlighting the potential relevance of interpersonal emotion regulation to this population.
Reasons affecting the uptake of reproductive genetic carrier screening among nonpregnant reproductive‐aged women in Flanders (Belgium)
Authors: Van Steijvoort Eva , Demuynck Remke , Peeters Hilde , Vandecruys Hilde , Verguts Jasper , Peeraer Karen , Matthijs Gert , Borry Pascal
Published: April 2022

Reproductive genetic carrier screening (RGCS) allows to identify couples who have an increased likelihood of conceiving a child affected with an autosomal recessive or X‐linked monogenic condition. Multiple studies have reported on a wide and fragmented set of reasons to accept or decline RGCS. Only a few studies have been performed to assess the uptake of RGCS. Nonpregnant women visiting their gynecologist were invited to complete a questionnaire assessing perceived susceptibility, the acceptability of offering RGCS, attitudes, the intention to participate in RGCS, reasons to accept or decline RGCS, and sociodemographic characteristics. Women who showed the intention to have RGCS were asked to consider a free RGCS offer. Most women (n = 127) were between 25 and 34 years old (60%), in a relationship (91%), and wanted to have children (65%). Study participants had positive attitudes towards RGCS and the intention to consider RGCS in the future. Reasons to accept RGCS were being able to share genetic information with children or relatives (n = 104/127, 82%), to prevent the birth of a child affected with a hereditary condition (n = 103/127, 81%), and/or to know the chance of conceiving a child with a hereditary condition (n = 102/127, 80%). Reasons for declining RGCS were the possible concerns that could arise when receiving test results (n = 27/127, 21%), having no family history of hereditary disorders (n = 19/127, 15%), and not wanting to take action based on test results (n = 13/127, 10%). Among test intenders that met the inclusion criteria, 53% decided to participate in RGCS together with their male reproductive partner. More in‐depth research on the decision‐making process behind the choice to accept or decline an RGCS offer would be highly valuable to make sure couples are making informed reproductive choices.
Building resilience in the chars of Bangladesh: An impact assessment
Authors: Misha Farzana , Shahed Syeda Sitwat , Wagner Natascha , Bedi Arjun
Published: April 2022

Recent evidence highlights that integrated interventions have sustainable impacts on household welfare. This paper evaluates the ‘Char Development and Settlement Program,’ which targets marginalized, coastal populations of Bangladesh and is implemented by the NGO BRAC, which pioneers integrated programs in over 20 countries. The analysis exploits household panel data (2012, 2016) for over 2500 households living in 11 chars to measure the impact of a programme, comprising microfinance, health services and legal aid. Employing a difference‐in‐difference approach, we find considerable, programme‐induced increases in consumption, food security and legal awareness suggesting that an integrated ‘big push’ is efficient for poverty alleviation.