bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Excellent room temperature catalytic activity for formaldehyde oxidation on a single-atom iron catalyst in a moist atmosphere
Authors: Liu Zhijian , Wei Jihao , Zhang Guikai , Zhang Dewang , Zhang Jing , Yang Weijie , Wu Chongchong , Gates Ian D.
Published: December 2022

(1) Theoretical calculation-guided design of catalysts for formaldehyde removal. (2) High removal efficiency even at room temperature with moisture. (3) An unusual promotion effect of moisture on catalytic oxidation of formaldehyde.
Theoretical investigation on water adsorption conformations at aqueous anatase TiO2/water interfaces
Authors: Li Jie-Qiong , Sun Yan , Cheng Jun
Published: December 2022

Whether water dissociates on a perfect TiO2 surface is unclear. To address this issue, we simulated TiO2–water interfaces with a combination of thermodynamic (i.e., acidity constant) and kinetic (i.e., activation barrier) calculations.
Introducing photo-crosslinked bio-nanocomposites based on polyvinylidene fluoride/poly(glycerol azelaic acid)-g-glycidyl methacrylate for bone tissue engineering
Authors: Fakhri Vafa , Jafari Aliakbar , Zeraatkar Ali , Rahimi Maryam , Hadian Hooriyeh , Nouranian Sasan , Kruppke Benjamin , Khonakdar Hossein Ali
Published: December 2022

As a glycerol-based polyester, poly(glycerol azelaic acid) has shown great potential for biomedical applications, such as tissue engineering.
Chemically induced crosslinked enhanced emission of carbon polymer dots discerning healthy and cancer cells through pH-dependent tunable photoluminescence
Authors: Nayak Suman , Guleria Kanika , Sen Abhik , Banerjee Subhrajeet , Subramanian Ranga , Das Prolay
Published: December 2022

Distinguishing healthy and cancer cells through chemically induced crosslinked enhanced emission of carbon polymer dots.
Microfluidics for diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease
Authors: Ma Yonggeng , Liu Chenbin , Cao Siyu , Chen Tianshu , Chen Guifang
Published: December 2022

We have reviewed various recent applications of microfluidics in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of CVDs and presented the prospects and challenges of microfluidics in the diagnosis and treatment of CVDs.
A light-triggered molecular switch for an efficient OFET-based organic memory device
Authors: Mumyatov Alexander V. , Frolova Lyubov A. , Gutsev Lavrenty G. , Khakina Ekaterina A. , Sanina Natalia A. , Aldoshin Sergey M. , Troshin Pavel A.
Published: December 2022

An efficient OFET-based memory is designed using spiropyran molecular switch operating via two complementary mechanisms: reversible photoisomerization and light-induced electron transfer involving [Cr(C2O4)3]3− counterion.
Thermochromic hydrogels with an adjustable critical response temperature for temperature monitoring and smart windows
Authors: Yu Zhenkun , Yang Yuanyuan , Shen Chang , Mao Linhan , Cui Congcong , Chen Zhaoxia , Zhang Yuhong
Published: December 2022

A novel thermochromic hydrogel with the capability of reasonable and adjustable Tk (16–34 °C), high flexibility and excellent transparency (>85%) was developed for the fields of smart windows, temperature monitoring and security protection.
Design and fabrication of a multilayer metamaterial antenna with high‐gain and good radiation patterns for WiFi and WiMAX applications
Authors: Fathipour Masood , Asadpor Loghman
Published: December 2022

This paper proposes a metamaterial‐based multilayer antenna for WiFi and WiMAX applications. The multilayer structure is beneficial for achieving a gain of more than 15 dB. The substrate is made of FR‐4, and the superstrate is Rogers RT/duroid 5880 with a dielectric constant of 2.2 and a loss tangent of 0.009. The desired metamaterial structure is realized using metallic square rings printed on the superstrate. The thickness of the substrate is 1.58 mm, and the overall area of the antenna is 105×72.5 mm2. Using an area‐efficient multilayer configuration for this microstrip antenna, its gain is cost‐effectively enhanced to more than 18 dB, and the shape of the radiation patterns is also appropriate. This antenna is fabricated and fully measured; the measurement and simulation results are in excellent agreement.
Joint estimation of imaging plane and three‐dimensional structure based on inverse synthetic aperture radar image sequences
Authors: Liu Afei , Zhang Shuanghui , Zhang Chi , Liu Yongxiang
Published: December 2022

It is difficult to estimate the effective rotation velocity for non‐triaxial stabilized space targets, which leads to deviations in the estimation of imaging plane vectors and azimuth resolution. This makes it hard to reconstruct the three‐dimensional (3D) of space targets based on inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) image sequence. To solve this problem, a joint estimation method of imaging plane vector and 3D structure based on ISAR image sequences is proposed. First, a compact form of imaging plane vector is defined. Then, the 3D structure of a target is characterized by a fully connected deep network. The volume rendering for ISAR images is redesigned with the analysis of projection formula for ISAR imaging. The network is trained using the discrepancy between the modulus of rendered and observed ISAR images in a self‐supervised manner without 3D supervision. And the 3D structure can be obtained by inquiring all points in the 3D space. Therefore, it can optimize imaging planes and produce more complete and accurate results for complex space targets. Adequate simulation experiments verify its superiority.
A two‐stage transformer fault diagnosis method based multi‐filter interactive feature selection integrated adaptive sparrow algorithm optimised support vector machine
Authors: Shi Hanyu , Chen Mingxia
Published: December 2022

The scarcity of samples and disunity of feature inputs hinder the enhancement of transformer fault diagnosis performance, and there are mutual influences between model construction and feature selection, which cannot only consider a single process. Therefore, this study proposes a novel two‐stage transformer fault diagnosis strategy, which includes a multi‐filter interactive feature selection method (MIFS) constructed, and a diagnosis model ASSA‐SVM based on the adaptive sparrow algorithm (ASSA) optimised support vector machine (SVM). Firstly, the proposed MIFS incorporates ReliefF and mRMR to establish a comprehensive criterion ReliefF‐mRMR for feature importance ranking, and then performs dimension‐by‐dimension input classifier interaction selection based on the ranking results to obtain the optimal feature subset. Secondly, ASSA was proposed to optimise the kernel parameters of SVM. A two‐stage integration model MIFS‐ASSA‐SVM was developed. Finally, Experiments were conducted using real fault data, and the diagnostic performance of different feature inputs, optimisation algorithms and classifiers were compared. The results show that the proposed method performs well on parameter optimisation, can dynamically and interactively select feature subsets with few dimensions and good generalisation performance, its overall diagnosis accuracy reached 92.47%, and the diagnosis performance of each fault type has good performance in multiple evaluation metrics.
A new terahertz source from the wave particle duality mechanism
Authors: Deng James T. Q.
Published: December 2022

The terahertz source (THz) is basically the electromagnetic wave radiation source generated by using the energy level transitions and photoelectric quantum effects in special materials such as semiconductors or crystals, also with practical realizations by super‐surface technologies and micro‐structure arrays. Quantization hypothesis and wave particle duality are the two core basic hypotheses in the quantum theory, which have been widely used in sciences and technologies for a century, with basing on Planck's blackbody radiation law and the upgraded photoelectric double slit experiment. For the first time, the ‘quantized wave particle duality equation’ is derived and expressed by a way of physical and mathematical formulas, and accompanied by a full interpretation of the related physical laws. From now on, they are no longer the premise hypothesis of quantum theory, but the inevitable conclusion. Based on this revealed physical mechanism and the model of photoelectric double slit experiment, a new concept of THz and quantum wave generator from the wave particle duality mechanism are proposed and investigated theoretically and experimentally for other possibilities and technical implementation routes of different kinds of terahertz sources.
CHANG-ES
Authors: Stein M. , Heesen V. , Dettmar R.-J. , Stein Y. , Brüggen M. , Beck R. , Adebahr B. , Wiegert T. , Vargas C. J. , Bomans D. J. , Li J. , English J. , Chyży K. T. , Paladino R. , Tabatabaei F. S. , Strong A.
Published: December 2022

Context. Galactic winds play a key role in regulating the evolution of galaxies over cosmic time. In recent years, the role of cosmic rays (CRs) in the formation of the galactic wind has increasingly gained attention. Therefore, we use radio continuum data to analyse the CR transport in edge-on galaxies.

Aims. With newly reduced radio continuum data of five edge-on galaxies (NGC 891, NGC 3432, NGC 4013, NGC 4157, and NGC 4631), we plan to set new constraints on the morphology of radio halos and the physical properties of galactic winds driven by stellar feedback. By distinguishing between the central and outer regions of the galaxies, our study setup allows us to search for variations in the radio halo profile or CR transport along the galactic disk.

Methods. Data from the LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) Data Release 2 at 144 MHz (HBA) and reprocessed data from the Very Large Array (VLA) at 1.5 GHz (L band) from the Continuum Halos in Nearby Galaxies – an EVLA Survey (CHANG-ES) enable us to increase the extent of the analysed radio continuum profile significantly (up to a factor of 2) compared to previous studies. We computed thermal emission maps using a mixture approach with Hα and near-infrared data, which were then subtracted to yield radio synchrotron emission maps. Then we compiled non-thermal spectral index maps and computed intensity profiles using a box integration approach. Lastly, we performed 1D CR transport modelling.

Results. The non-thermal spectral index maps show evidence that the LoTSS maps are affected by thermal absorption in star-forming regions. The scale height analysis reveals that most of the galaxies are equally well fitted with a one-component instead of a two-component exponential profile. We find a bi-modality within our sample. While NGC 3432 and NGC 4013 have similar scale heights in the L band and HBA, the low-frequency scale heights of NGC 891, NGC 4157, and NGC 4631 exceed their high-frequency counterpart significantly. The 1D CR transport modelling shows agreement between the predicted magnetic field strength and the magnetic field strength estimates of equipartition measurements. Additionally, we find an increasing difference in wind velocities (with increasing height over the galactic disk) between the central and outer regions of the analysed galaxies.
A spectroscopic multiplicity survey of Galactic Wolf-Rayet stars
Authors: Dsilva K. , Shenar T. , Sana H. , Marchant P.
Published: December 2022

Context. Massive stars are powerful cosmic engines that have a huge impact on their surroundings and host galaxies. The majority of massive stars will interact with a companion star during their evolution. The effects of this interaction on their end-of-life products are currently poorly constrained. In the phases immediately preceding core-collapse, massive stars in the Galaxy with Mi ≳ 20 M⊙ may appear as classical Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars. The multiplicity properties of the WR population are thus required to further our understanding of stellar evolution at the upper-mass end.

Aims. As the final contribution of a homogeneous radial velocity (RV) survey, this work aims to constrain the multiplicity properties of northern Galactic late-type nitrogen-rich Wolf-Rayet (WNL) stars. We compare their intrinsic binary fraction and orbital period distribution to the carbon-rich (WC) and early-type nitrogen-rich (WNE) populations from previous works.

Methods. We obtained high-resolution spectra of the complete magnitude-limited sample of 11 Galactic WNL stars with the Mercator telescope on the island of La Palma. We used cross-correlation with a log-likelihood framework to measure relative RVs and flagged binary candidates based on the peak-to-peak RV dispersion. By using Monte Carlo sampling and a Bayesian framework, we computed the three-dimensional likelihood and one-dimensional posteriors for the upper period cut-off (log PmaxWNL), power-law index (πWNL), and intrinsic binary fraction (fintWNL).

Results. Adopting a threshold C of 50 km s−1, we derived fobsWNL   =  0.36  ±  0.15. Our Bayesian analysis produces fintWNL = 0.42−0.17+0.15, πWNL
= −0.70−1.02+0.73 and log PmaxWNL = 4.90−3.40+0.09 for the parent WNL population. The combined analysis of the Galactic WN population results in fintWN  = 0.52−0.12+0.14, πWN
 = −0.99−0.50+0.57 and log PmaxWN = 4.99−1.11+0.00. The observed period distribution of Galactic WN and WC binaries from the literature is in agreement with what is found.

Conclusions. The period distribution of Galactic WN binaries peaks at P ∼ 1–10 d and that of the WC population at P ∼ 5000 d. This shift cannot be reconciled by orbital evolution due to mass loss or mass transfer. At long periods, the evolutionary sequence O (→LBV) → WN → WC seems feasible. The high frequency of short-period WN binaries compared to WC binaries suggests that they either tend to merge, or that the WN components in these binaries rarely evolve into WC stars in the Galaxy.
Predicting atomic interface behavior from first principles
Authors: Patrick Chris
Published: December 2022

Simulations predict the atomic structure of complex interfaces shared by incompatible surfaces, including a heterojunction relevant to photovoltaic performance.
A numerical study of tumor cell arrest in microvessels qualifying for mechanical entrapment
Authors: Wang Sitong , Ye Ting
Published: December 2022

During hematogenous metastasis, the arrest of tumor cells in the microvasculature is a prerequisite for extravasation from the circulation to a distant host organ. To reveal such arrest behavior, we implement three-dimensional numerical simulations on the motion of a single tumor cell in microvessels at the cellular scale and mainly investigate the interactions among mechanical entrapment, adhesion, and cell stiffness, and their effects on the tumor cell arrest. Two types of vascular configurations qualifying for mechanical entrapment are considered, the constriction and bifurcation structures that are comparable in diameter with the tumor cell. The main results indicate that in the constriction tube, as the constriction radius is increased, the tendency that number of adhesion bonds increases with increasing shear modulus becomes more and more obvious. However, the adhesion behavior has little effect on the tumor cell arrest in the constriction region, regardless of the number of adhesion bonds. The mechanical entrapment plays a more important role than the cell stiffness in the tumor cell arrest in the constriction tube. In the bifurcated tube, the tumor cell is more likely to be arrested in the bifurcation region with a small bifurcation angle. Moreover, as the bifurcation angle or shear modulus is decreased, the effect of adhesion behavior on the tumor cell arrest becomes increasingly obvious. These results are helpful in understanding the biomechanism of tumor metastasis.
Measurement system for ion beam profiles using fixed parallel wires and Faraday cup array
Authors: Rawat Bharat Singh , Sharma S. K , Choksi B. , Prahlad V. , Baruah U. K.
Published: December 2022

The radial profiles of ion current density are measured using a combination of two techniques—fixed parallel wires and a Faraday cup array—in a ring cusp ion source. These measurements are carried out for Ar+ ion beam current in the range of 20–90 mA and energy in the range of 850–1650 eV. Current density profiles near the extraction plane of the ion source are obtained by Abel inversion of the profiles of current measured using the parallel wires. In addition, the Faraday cup array provides radial profiles of ion current density at two different locations along the beam axis. A numerical model is developed and utilized for estimating the beam divergence and focal length from the profiles of ion current density measured using the two techniques. A fixed parallel wire array is established as an effective method for monitoring the ion beam profiles close to the ion source's extraction plane when the ion beam is utilized for other applications. The performance of the two measurement techniques is compared by estimating the ion beam current from the measurement of ion current density with the beam current measured from the power supply.
Influence of expansion corner on the interaction of dual separation zones
Authors: Zhu Zi-yuan , Zhao Yi-long , Zhao Yu-xin , Wang Li-can , Zhou Yong-yi
Published: December 2022

The complex shock waves/boundary layer interaction is an important problem in inlets, which induces the interaction of multiple separation zones and has attracted experts’ attention gradually. In this paper, based on a two-dimensional hypersonic inlet model, a numerical method is used to study the influence characteristics of the expansion corner on dual separation zones’ interaction. The shock wave distance is changed to realize the fusion of dual separation zones and the re-separation of the fused separation zone. Analyses are carried out by setting different corner angles of 0°, 2°, 5°, and 10°. The results show that with the increase in the corner angle, the maximum separation scale achieved by the fusion process gradually decreases and the flow field structures of the fusion and re-separation processes tend to be consistent in the same shock wave distance. Furthermore, given the inflow parameters, the scale change and the “hysteresis effect” of the interaction between different separation zones are weakened by the corner influence.
Design and experimental study of piezoelectric driven flexible Braille contacts
Authors: Liu Xia , Wang Tongyu , Liu Jinlong , Sun Yuze , Wang Hu , Tian Xiaochao
Published: December 2022

A new flexible contact structure using the principle of air pressure amplification is proposed to enable better access to information for the blind. First, the structure and working principle of piezoelectric flexible Braille contacts were designed and analyzed, and the theoretical model of air pressure amplification and theoretical expressions were established. Then the gas–solid coupling simulation analysis was carried out using COMSOL Multiphysics software to derive the influencing factors of the system flexible contact amplification and the degree of influence of different gases on the contact output displacement, and the structure of flexible Braille contacts was tested experimentally. The experimental results show that when the diameter of the air cavity is 24 mm, the height of the cavity is 6 mm, the thickness of the flexible film is 0.1 mm, the contact height is 2 mm, the input voltage is 135 V, the resonance frequency reaches 196.5 Hz, the maximum output displacement of the piezoelectric flexible Braille contact is 0.286 mm, and the point display effect of the Braille contact is more significant, which verifies the feasibility of the device.
Étude de trois variantes de l’interrogation totale en français
Authors: Guryev Alexander , Delafontaine François
Published: December 2022

Il est traditionnellement considéré qu’en français l’emploi des interrogatives dépend de valeurs
sociolinguistiques. Nous discuterons ici d’une approche alternative en termes de ‘potentiel interactif’, concept défini comme la
capacité pour des structures grammaticales de faciliter l’échange verbal entre interactants. Notre analyse de 1659 structures
interrogatives totales en provenance du Corpus suisse de SMS (Stark, Ueberwasser & Ruef 2009–2015) suggère qu’il est notamment possible de distinguer deux classes de structures : (i) les variantes ‘fortes’ à
‘haut potentiel interactif’ : leur usage est plus adapté aux besoins généraux des interactants dans le contexte d’une
communication informelle ; (ii) les variantes ‘faibles’ avec un ‘potentiel interactif bas’ ou ‘moyen’ : leur emploi se restreint à
des types spécifiques de contextes discursifs et de constructions syntaxiques.
Citrus vein enation virus. [Distribution map].
Authors: CABI  , EPPO
Published: December 2022

A new distribution map is provided for Citrus vein enation virus. Solemoviridae: Enamovirus. Hosts:
Citrus
spp.
Meloidogyne minor Karssen et al. [Distribution map].
Authors: CABI  , EPPO
Published: December 2022

A new distribution map is provided for Meloidogyne minor Karssen et al. Tylenchida: Meloidogynidae. Hosts: potato (
Solanum tueum
) tomato (
S. lycopersicum
), also turfgrasses such as Lolium perenne and Agrostis stolonifera.
Tomato brown rugose fruit virus. [Distribution map].
Authors: CABI  , EPPO
Published: December 2022

A new distribution map is provided for Tomato brown rugose fruit virus. Virgaviridae: Tobamovirus. Hosts: tomato (
Solanum lycopersicum
), pepper (
Capsicum annuum
).
Moroccan watermelon mosaic virus. [Distribution map].
Authors: CABI  , EPPO
Published: December 2022

A new distribution map is provided for Moroccan watermelon mosaic virus. Potyviridae: Potyvirus. Main hosts: Cucurbitaceae, papaya (
Carica papaya
).
Okra mosaic virus. [Distribution map].
Authors: CABI  , EPPO
Published: December 2022

A new distribution map is provided for Okra mosaic virus. Tymoviridae: Tymovirus. Hosts: okra (
Abelmoschus esculentus
).
Terahertz all metallic perfect absorber for refractive index sensing and glucose concentration detection
Authors: Barzegar-Parizi Saeedeh , Ebrahimi Amir
Published: December 2022

A metallic perfect electromagnetic absorber with a simple design at terahertz frequencies is presented in this paper. The designed absorber consists of two-dimensional arrays of square cavities terminated with a conducting layer acting as a back reflector. Through a proper design of the unit cell dimensions, a very narrow resonance band with perfect absorption amplitude is achieved at THz frequencies. The designed absorber shows 0.052% fractional bandwidth with more than 90% absorption around the center frequency of 0.4978 THz with a quality factor of Q = 1920. The proposed structure can be used as a sensor to detect the refractive index of different materials with a sensitivity of 0.32 THz per refractive index unit (THz/RIU) and normalized sensitivity of 0.64 (1/RIU) resulting in figure-of-Merit (FOM) of 1230 (1/RIU). The designed absorber has potential applications in identifying biological samples as well. The results show that the sensor can be used to detect glucose concentration with an average sensitivity of 2.6 (THz/(mol l−1)).
Primordial black holes and gravitational waves from dissipation during inflation
Authors: Ballesteros Guillermo , García Marcos A.G. , Pérez Rodríguez Alejandro , Pierre Mathias , Rey Julián
Published: December 2022

We study the generation of a localized peak in the primordial spectrum of curvature perturbations from a transient dissipative phase during inflation, leading to a large population of primordial black holes. The enhancement of the power spectrum occurs due to stochastic thermal noise sourcing curvature fluctuations. We solve the stochastic system of Einstein equations for many realizations of the noise and obtain the distribution for the curvature power spectrum. We then propose a method to find its expectation value using a deterministic system of differential equations. In addition, we find a single stochastic equation whose analytic solution helps to understand the main features of the spectrum. Finally, we derive a complete expression and a numerical estimate for the energy density of the stochastic background of gravitational waves induced at second order in perturbation theory. This includes the gravitational waves induced during inflation, during the subsequent radiation epoch and their mixing. Our scenario provides a novel way of generating primordial black hole dark matter with a peaked mass distribution and a detectable stochastic background of gravitational waves from inflation.
Superradiance in stars: non-equilibrium approach to damping of fields in stellar media
Authors: Chadha-Day F. , Garbrecht B. , McDonald J.I.
Published: December 2022

Superradiance in black holes is well-understood but a general treatment for superradiance in stars has until now been lacking. This is surprising given the ease with which we can observe isolated neutron stars and the array of signatures which would result from stellar superradiance. In this work, we present the first systematic pipeline for computing superradiance rates in rotating stars. Our method can be used with any Lagrangian describing the interaction between the superradiant field and the constituents of the star. Our scheme falls into two parts: firstly we show how field theory at finite density can be used to express the absorption of long wavelength modes into the star in terms of microphsyical scattering processes. This allows us to derive a damped equation of motion for the bosonic field. We then feed this into an effective theory for long wavelengths (the so-called worldline formalism) to describe the amplification of superradiant modes of arbitrary multipole moment for a rapidly rotating star. Our method places stellar superradiance on a firm theoretical footing and allows the calculation of the superradiance rate arising from any interaction between a bosonic field and stellar matter.
Tixagevimab Plus Cilgavimab Does Not Affect the Interpretation of Electrophoretic and Free Light Chain Assays
Authors: Baloda Vandana , McCreary Erin K , Goscicki Breana K , Shurin Michael R , Wheeler Sarah E
Published: December 2022

Objectives

There is concern that the anti–severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 therapeutic monoclonal antibodies, used as preexposure prophylaxis in patients with multiple myeloma, may appear as a detectable monoclonal protein by electrophoretic methods, resulting in misinterpretation or inability to measure therapeutic responses in some patients. In this pilot study, we characterize the effect of tixagevimab plus cilgavimab (Evusheld; T + C) on interpretation of serum protein electrophoresis (SPE), immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE), and serum free light chain (sFLC) assays.

Methods

We performed spiking experiments with T + C at serum maximum concentration following a 300-mg dose (1× Cmax) and at 10 times the concentration of Cmax (10× Cmax) with pooled serum samples. SPE and IFE technical procedures were performed on the SPIFE 3000, and sFLC and immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) subtype quantitation was performed on the Optilite.

Results

T + C–associated interference was not visible as an M-spike in normogammaglobulinemic pooled samples. Hypogammaglobulemic pooled samples at 10× Cmax demonstrated an M-spike in SPE and immunoglobulin Gκ pattern in IFE. No increases were noted in the results of sFLC or IgG1 levels.

Conclusions

This study indicates that T + C at pharmacologic Cmax is unlikely to interfere with SPE, IFE, sFLC, or IgG1 analyses when spiked into patient serum samples, but further evaluation of recently injected patients may be warranted.
A Validated UHPLC–MS/MS Method for Determination of Nalbuphine in Human Plasma and Application for Pharmacokinetic Study of Patients Undergoing General Anesthesia
Authors: Gao Xiaonan , Nie Xuyang , Gao Jinglin , Heng Tianfang , Zhang Yuqi , Hua Li , Sun Yaqi , Feng Zhangying , Jia Li , Wang Mingxia
Published: December 2022

Nalbuphine was a semisynthetic opioid analgesic widely used in the treatment of both acute and chronic pain. We developed and validated a rapid, simple and sensitive method by ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) for the simultaneous quantitation of nalbuphine in human plasma, and we reported the pharmacokinetic features of patients during general anesthesia for abdominal surgery. Sample separation was achieved on a Kinetex Phenyl-Hexyl column (50 × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm) after simple protein precipitation with acetonitrile. The mobile phase was composed of acetonitrile and 3 mM of ammonium acetate aqueous solution with 0.1% formic acid. Gradient elution was used in 4.5 min with a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min at 40°C. MS detection using AB Sciex QTRAP 5500 mass spectrometer was characterized by electrospray ionization for positive ions in multiple reaction monitoring mode. Quantitative ion pairs were m/z 358.4 → 340.1 for nalbuphine and m/z 340.0 → 268.3 for nalmefene, which were used as the internal standard (IS). The calibration curves showed good linearity (r2>0.99) over concentration range of 0.1–500 ng/mL. The intra-and inter-batch precisions were within 10.67%, and accuracy ranged from 94.07 to 105.34%. The IS–normalized matrix factors were 1.02–1.03 with RSD% (≤5.82%). The recoveries ranged from 101.09 to 106.30%. In conclusion, a rapid, simple, sensitive and economical analytical method was developed and validated to detect the concentration in plasma samples obtained from patients receiving nalbuphine intravenous injection and was successfully applicated to human pharmacokinetic studies of nalbuphine.
Practical approaches to building up a cardiorenal clinic
Authors: de la Espriella Rafael , Marcos Marta Cobo , Ronco Claudio , Banerjee Debasish , González Miguel , Górriz José Luis , Quiroga Borja , Soler María José , Díez Javier , Núñez Julio
Published: December 2022

The population with concomitant heart and kidney disease (often termed ‘cardiorenal’ disease) is expected to grow, significantly impacting public health and healthcare utilization. Moreover, the cardiorenal nexus encompasses a bidirectional relationship that worsens prognosis and may complicate pharmacological management in often elderly and frail patients. Therefore, a more cohesive multidisciplinary team approach aiming to provide holistic, coordinated and specialized care would be a positive shift towards improving patient outcomes and optimizing healthcare resources. This article aims to define the organizational aspects and key elements for setting up a multidisciplinary cardiorenal clinical program as a potential healthcare model adapted to the particular characteristics of patients with cardiorenal disease.
Unfavourable outcomes in patients with heart failure with higher preserved left ventricular ejection fraction
Authors: Ohte Nobuyuki , Kikuchi Shohei , Iwahashi Noriaki , Kinugasa Yoshiharu , Dohi Kaoru , Takase Hiroyuki , Masai Kumiko , Inoue Katsuji , Okumura Takahiro , Hachiya Kenta , Kitada Shuichi , Seo Yoshihiro ,   EASY HFpEF Investigators, Ohte Nobuyuki , Kikuchi Shohei , Iwahashi Noriaki , Kinugasa Yoshiharu , Dohi Kaoru , Takase Hiroyuki , Masai Kumiko , Inoue Katsuji , Okumura Takahiro , Hachiya Kenta , Kitada Shuichi , Seo Yoshihiro , Murohara Toyoaki , Iwano Hiroyuki , Murata Mitsushige , Yamada Hirotsugu , Kusunose Kenya , Iwataki Mai , Sugiura Emiyo , Yuda Satoshi , Suzuki Takeshi
Published: December 2022

Aims

Newly introduced drugs for heart failure (HF) have been reported to improve the prognosis of HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in the lower range of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). We hypothesized that a higher LVEF is related to an unfavourable prognosis in patients with HFpEF.

Methods and results

We tested this hypothesis by analysing the data from a prospective multicentre cohort study in 255 patients admitted to the hospital due to decompensated HF (LVEF > 40% at discharge). The primary endpoint of this study was a composite outcome of all-cause death and readmission due to HF, and the secondary endpoint was readmission due to HF. LVEF and the mitral E/e′ ratio were measured using echocardiography. In multicovariate parametric survival time analysis, LVEF [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.046 per 1% increase, P = 0.001], concurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) (HR = 3.203, P < 0.001), and E/e′ (HR = 1.083 per 1.0 increase, P < 0.001) were significantly correlated with the primary endpoint. In addition to these covariates, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI)/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) use was significantly correlated with the secondary endpoint (HR = 0.451, P = 0.008). Diagnostic performance plot analysis demonstrated that the discrimination threshold value for LVEF that could identify patients prone to reaching the primary endpoint was ≥57.2%. The prevalence of AF or E/e′ ratio did not differ significantly between patients with LVEF ≥ 58% and with 40% < LVEF < 58%.

Conclusion

A higher LVEF is independently related to poor prognosis in patients with HFpEF, in addition to concurrent AF and an elevated E/e′ ratio. ACEI/ARB use, in contrast, was associated with improved prognosis, especially with regard to readmission due to HF.

Clinical Trial Registration

https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index.htm

Unique identifier

UMIN000017725
Why do gendered divisions of labour persist? Parental leave take-up among adoptive and biological parents
Authors: Moberg Ylva , van der Vleuten Maaike
Published: December 2022

Mothers’ longer time out of the labour market due to parental leave has been proposed as one of the main determinants of the gender pay gap. This study focuses on the mechanisms behind the gendered division of care after entering parenthood. By comparing paid parental leave use of biological parents (where mothers gave birth) to adoptive parents (where they did not), we assess to what extend the unequal division of care can be explained by physiological aspects of motherhood or if other explanations, like gender norms or financial motives, can explain these differences. We analyse Swedish register data from 1994 to 2009 on couples whose first child was biological (N = 114,479) or adopted (N = 5,467) (between-family comparisons) and for families who had both adopted and biological children (within-family comparisons; N = 1,033). We find highly similar patterns in the division, length, and timing of parental leave for biological and adoptive children. Both biological and adoptive mothers take the majority of leave (78–82 per cent), the longest leave, and the first leave period. We conclude that persistent norms of mothers as caregivers/homemakers and fathers as breadwinners shape parents’ use of parental leave to a greater extent than factors related to biological motherhood or financial motives.
Children’s and Parents’ Perspectives on the Effects of Children’s Digital Technology Use
Authors: Žulec Ana , Varga Vanesa , Štefanić Luka
Published: December 2022

With the rapid development of digital technology, examining the effects of digital technology use on children becomes more critical every day. This paper explores the effects of digital technology use on children from children’s and parents’ perspectives. Focus groups with children aged 9 to 15 and their parents were conducted from 30 March to 5 May 2021, via the Zoom platform. Using the thematic analysis approach, we found that both children and parents perceive different positive and negative effects of digital technology use on emotional, behavioral, physical, social and cognitive development and functioning in children, and problematic digital technology use as a general effect of excessive digital technology use in children. These results give insight into different perspectives of digital technology use and allow for encouraging positive effects and intervening in negative ones.
Post-translational modification of lysine residues in erythrocyte α-synuclein
Authors: Amagai Ryosuke , Yoshioka Sakura , Otomo Riki , Nagano Hidekazu , Hashimoto Naoko , Sakakibara Ryuji , Tanaka Tomoaki , Okado-Matsumoto Ayako
Published: December 2022

α-Synuclein is a protein linked to various synuclein-associated diseases (‘synucleinopathies’), including Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy Bodies and multiple system atrophy, and is highly expressed in the central nervous system and in erythrocytes. Moreover, α-synuclein-containing erythrocyte-derived extracellular vesicles may be involved in the pathogenesis of synucleinopathies and their progression across the blood–brain barrier. Several post-translational modifications of α-synuclein have been reported in brain inclusions, including S129 phosphorylation, but fewer have been found in erythrocytes. In this study, we analysed the post-translational modifications of erythrocyte α-synuclein using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. We found that all lysine residues in the α-synuclein protein could be modified by acetylation, glycation, ubiquitination or SUMOylation but that phosphorylation, nitration and acylation were uncommon minor post-translational modifications in erythrocytes. Since the post-translational modification of lysine residues has been implicated in both membrane association and protein clearance, our findings provide new insight into how synucleinopathies may progress and suggest possible therapeutic strategies designed to target α-synuclein.
Municipal Employees’ Perceptions of Tree Risk and Liability in Alabama
Authors: Judice Abbie , Gordon Jason S , Brodbeck Arnold
Published: December 2022

Research about the broad range of ecological, social, and economic benefits urban forests provide communities trees has expanded significantly and helped provide justification for protecting and enhancing urban forests. However, an empirical understanding of risks and liabilities is limited despite an abundance of risk research in other disciplines. Employing Alabama as a case study, this research examined municipal employees’ perceptions of factors, including legal liability, influencing actions towards urban tree risk mitigation. Qualitative interviews revealed attitudes and practices regarding municipal responsibility towards public tree management. Cities were unlikely to implement risk assessments to provide a foundation for tree maintenance. As a result, there was limited adaptive and integrative governance to handle risk in the community forest. Results are implicated in the broader narrative of community sustainability and resilience, particularly management of complexity, uncertainty, and ambiguity of urban forest risk and benefits.

Study Implications: Large-population cities were equipped to address tree maintenance, implement best management practices, and focus on preventative risk management. However, all cities were limited in capacity to conduct comprehensive tree risk assessments and communicate with residents about proper tree selection and care to reduce risk of failure. Whereas this has negative implications for community resilience, a number of small and medium-sized communities demonstrated opportunities to address urban forest health such as harnessing employee champions, local sources of expertise, and encouraging volunteerism. Municipal tree programs should not overlook community assets and culture in the goal to reduce risk while maximizing tree benefits.
The field of applied mechanics: historical outlook from past to present and its implications for future applications
Authors: Lee Chih-Kung
Published: December 2022

The focus of this paper is to look at the development of the field of Applied Mechanics from past to present. With a historical perspective, we can better understand the important contributions and achievements that the field of Applied Mechanics has played in our society. The paper will begin by reviewing the history of Applied Mechanics over the past 400 years, followed by looking at engineering education in the 19th and 20th centuries, and then examining the evolution of Applied Mechanics in society today. We will discuss some of today's interdisciplinary developments in Applied Mechanics such as the buckling of ferromagnetic materials in strong magnetic fields, mechanics-based nanoscale measurement instruments, radio frequency microelectromical systems, biochips and nanotechnology. Finally, we will conclude by looking at Maslow's Five-level Theory of Human Needs and provide several innovative examples to further implement innovative models of Applied Mechanics research to teach more advanced knowledge in today's artificial intelligence and information technology based society.
Lamp-post with an outflow and the hard state of Cyg X-1
Authors: Klepczarek Łukasz , Niedźwiecki Andrzej , Szanecki Michał
Published: December 2022

Relativistic reflection observed in the hard states of accreting black holes (BH) often shows a weak amplitude relative to the main Comptonization component, which may result from either a disc truncation or a non-isotropy of the X-ray source, e.g. due to a motion away from the reflector. We investigate here the latter case, assuming that the X-ray source is located on the symmetry axis of the Kerr BH. We discuss effects relevant to a proper computation of the reflected radiation, and we implement them in the model for data analysis, reflkerrv. We apply it to the simultaneous Suzaku and NuSTAR observation of Cyg X-1 in the hard state, and we find a good fit for an untruncated disc irradiated by the source moving away from it at 0.36 c. However, we find a slightly better solution in a geometry closely approximating the truncated disc irradiated by an inner hot flow. In this solution, we either still need a subrelativistic outflow or the source opposite to the observer must contribute to the directly observed radiation. We also discuss differences between the implementation of the outflow effect in reflkerrv and in relxilllpcp.
Evolution and Diversity of TGF-β Pathways are Linked with Novel Developmental and Behavioral Traits
Authors: Lo Wen-Sui , Roca Marianne , Dardiry Mohannad , Mackie Marisa , Eberhardt Gabi , Witte Hanh , Hong Ray , Sommer Ralf J , Lightfoot James W
Published: December 2022

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling is essential for numerous biologic functions. It is a highly conserved pathway found in all metazoans including the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, which has also been pivotal in identifying many components. Utilizing a comparative evolutionary approach, we explored TGF-β signaling in nine nematode species and revealed striking variability in TGF-β gene frequency across the lineage. Of the species analyzed, gene duplications in the DAF-7 pathway appear common with the greatest disparity observed in Pristionchus pacificus. Specifically, multiple paralogues of daf-3, daf-4 and daf-7 were detected. To investigate this additional diversity, we induced mutations in 22 TGF-β components and generated corresponding double, triple, and quadruple mutants revealing both conservation and diversification in function. Although the DBL-1 pathway regulating body morphology appears highly conserved, the DAF-7 pathway exhibits functional divergence, notably in some aspects of dauer formation. Furthermore, the formation of the phenotypically plastic mouth in P. pacificus is partially influenced through TGF-β with the strongest effect in Ppa-tag-68. This appears important for numerous processes in P. pacificus but has no known function in C. elegans. Finally, we observe behavioral differences in TGF-β mutants including in chemosensation and the establishment of the P. pacificus kin-recognition signal. Thus, TGF-β signaling in nematodes represents a stochastic genetic network capable of generating novel functions through the duplication and deletion of associated genes.
Publics and their health: 50 years of continuity and change
Authors: Mold Alex
Published: December 2022

Background

This article explores a set of changes and continuities in relation to public health and its publics in the UK since the establishment of the Faculty of Public Health in 1972.

Methods

The article draws on historical research to produce a synthetic analysis of key changes and continuities in British public health since 1972.

Results

Three key areas are identified. The first centres on the issue of who has responsibility for public health. The second examines the persistence of social and racial inequalities in population health. The third considers the ‘return’ of infectious disease as a threat to public health.

Conclusions

Despite the trend to place more responsibility for individual and collective health on the public itself, there was a proliferation in the actors and authorities involved in securing and protecting the health of the public. The strong linkages between health and structural inequality, and the challenges of addressing these, demonstrate that public health never was (and never can be) solely an individual matter. The appearance of new diseases, such as HIV/AIDS and the return of ones thought to have been conquered, like tuberculosis, raised profound questions for public health authorities and the people they cared for.
Creating a robust multidisciplinary public health workforce — almost there?
Authors: Sim Fiona , Wright Jenny , Ferguson Katie
Published: December 2022

From 1972 to 2001, membership of the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) was only open to medical practitioners with recognised specialist experience or training in public health. In 2001, the Faculty became multidisciplinary at the specialist level, a rare achievement in a medical specialty in the UK. 1 Specialists from backgrounds other than medicine were accepted as Members and Fellows of the Faculty provided they met the required standards. They were eligible for Consultant and Director of Public Health (DPH) posts, initially in England and Wales. A multidisciplinary higher specialist training scheme was established and, over time, rolled out systematically across the UK. These changes later led to limited developments for public health practitioners filling roles distinct from those in the specialist workforce. Reviewing this history reminds current and future generations of the struggles to reach the unique model we have today. The article teases out the key factors leading to the changes, summarises the somewhat bumpy journey over five decades and, in the shadow of the pandemic, reflects on the contemporary situation for the UK’s public health workforce.
Public health women doctors in England: from backwater to strategic roles in 20 years
Authors: Wright Jenny
Published: December 2022

Women doctors in public health were able to achieve consultant status, and major strategic leadership roles, well ahead of female colleagues in other areas of medical and, especially, surgical practice. This development was bound up with the struggles in the early days of the Faculty of Community Medicine to achieve its status as a separate Faculty of the Royal College of Physicians, raise standards and encourage able and committed doctors to join the specialty. This paper outlines the history of public health medicine in England between 1974 and the 1990s when, through a combination of design, and happenstance in response to organizational changes, a gender-neutral specialty was created, benefiting both men and women, and enabling the latter, in particular, to flourish.