bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vortex‐assisted dispersive solid‐phase microextraction of ondansetron and domperidone using carbonized cockle shell modified with nitrogen and sulfur‐doped carbon dots as a bio‐based sorbent
Authors: Khezeli Tahere , Daneshfar Ali
Published: July 2022

Herein, for the first time, the wasted cockle shells were modified with nitrogen and sulfur‐doped carbon dots after carbonization and used as a suitable bio‐based sorbent for the extraction of two important antiemetic drugs named ondansetron and domperidone. The extraction and separation were performed based on vortex‐assisted dispersive solid‐phase microextraction and high‐performance liquid chromatography, respectively. Various techniques such as Fourier‐transform infrared, fluorescence, field emission scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, nitrogen adsorption‐desorption analysis, X‐ray powder diffraction, and energy‐dispersive spectroscopy were used to characterize the chemical composition of prepared sorbent. After examining the factors affecting the extraction efficiency and access to the optimal points using the response surface methodology, the linearity was in the range of 5–350 μg/L with acceptable coefficients of determination (R2 > 0.993). The limits of detection and quantification were in the range of 1.5–2.3  and 4.9–7.1 μg/L, respectively. In the end, the proposed method was applied for the quantitative determination of trace levels of target analytes from pharmaceutical tablets, serum, and urine samples. The recoveries were more than 95.2%, indicating the proposed method's excellent accuracy.
Identifying and predicting posttraumatic stress symptom states in adults with posttraumatic stress disorder
Authors: Howe Esther S. , Fisher Aaron J.
Published: July 2022

Between‐person heterogeneity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is well established. Within‐person analyses and the DSM‐5 suggest that heterogeneity may also be evident within individuals across time as they move through social contexts and biological cycles. Modeling within‐person symptom‐level fluctuations may confirm such heterogeneity, elucidate mechanisms of disorder maintenance, and inform time‐ and person‐specific interventions. The present study aimed to identify and predict discrete within‐person disorder presentations, or symptom states, and explore group‐level patterns of these states. Adults (N = 20, 60.0% male, M age = 38.25 years) with PTSD responded to symptom surveys four times per day for 30 days. We subjected each individual's dataset to Gaussian finite mixture modeling (GFMM) to uncover latent, within‐person classes of symptom levels (i.e., states) and predicted those states with idiographic elastic net regularized regression using a set of time‐based and behavioral predictors. Next, we conducted a GFMM of the within‐person GFMM outputs and tested idiographic prediction models of these states. Multiple within‐person states were revealed for 19 of 20 participants (Mdn = 4; 66 for the full sample). Prediction models were moderately successful, M AUC = .66 (d = 0.58), range: .50–1.00. The GFMM of the within‐person model outputs revealed two states: one with above‐average and one with below‐average symptom levels. Prediction models were, again, moderately successful, M AUC = .66; range: .50–.89. The findings provide evidence for within‐person heterogeneity of PTSD as well as between‐person similarities and suggest that future work should incorporate additional contextual variables as symptom state predictors.
Transperineal Ultrasound Before and After Prostatectomy: Technical Approach and Description
Authors: Colarieti Anna , Shaida Nadeem , Thiruchelvam Nikesh , Barrett Tristan
Published: July 2022

This study assessed the feasibility of dynamic transperineal ultrasound (TPUS) pre/post‐radical prostatectomy (RP). Ninety‐eight patients were scanned pre‐operatively and at four time‐points post‐operatively. TPUS was performed in 98 patients using an abdominal transducer at rest, during pelvic floor contraction (PFC) and Valsalva (VS) maneuver in supine and standing positions. Urodynamic evaluations included bladder neck angle at rest/PFC/VS, and degree of bladder neck movement. Pre‐operative and post‐operative measurements were technically feasible in >85% (supine) and >90% (standing) of patients. TPUS offers a reliable non‐invasive dynamic assessment of the pelvic floor post‐prostatectomy and may prove a useful adjunct for guiding exercises to preserve continence.
Performance of the artificial urinary sphincter implantation in men with urinary incontinence: Results from a contemporary long‐term real‐world nationwide analysis
Authors: Plata Mauricio , Zuluaga Laura , Santander Jessica , Salazar Milton , Castaño Juan Carlos , Benavides‐MartÍnez Johana A. , Garzón Diana L. , Schlesinger Ricardo , Serrano Brigitte , Echeverry Mariana , Silva José M. , Varela Daniela , Carvajal Alejandro , Azuero Julián
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) is one of the most effective surgical treatments for male urinary incontinence regardless of its severity. Current knowledge comes from high‐volume centers, but little is known about the performance of this surgery from community practices. This study aims to report contemporary AUS performance in a nationwide observational study in Colombia.

Methods

Male patients who underwent AUS surgery with AMS 800™ between 2000 and 2020 in more than 17 centers and four cities were identified. Pre, intra, and postoperative characteristics were evaluated, mainly addressing patient reported outcomes measurements in the postoperative period. Retrospective and prospective data collection and descriptive analysis were completed. Kaplan‐Meier analysis was used to determine AUS survival rate.

Results

Out of an initial 667 cases, a total of 215 patients met inclusion and exclusion criteria and were included. Mean age was 67 ± 9.4 years, and mean follow‐up was 6.0 ± 4.4 years with maximum range of 14 years. The etiology of urinary incontinence was prostate cancer surgery in 141 (81%) of the cases. The rest of the cases were related to benign prostatic disease or spinal cord injury. It is noteworthy that out of 115 patients, only 59 (51.3%) reported previous formal pelvic floor rehabilitation. Subjective severity of urinary incontinence determined by a visual analog scale showed a decrease in 4.5 points after sphincter implantation. Sphincter removal was required in 50 (23.2%) cases. The main reasons for implant removal were urethral erosion and infection. The sphincter survival rate at 2, 5, 8, 10, and 14 years was 76%, 70%, 60%, 57%, and 17%, respectively. Of the subjects at the last follow‐up with the device still in place, 80.7% defined their urinary condition as “does not cause or causes minor discomfort,” and 99% would recommend the device to a friend or relative in the same condition.

Conclusions

This series from a community‐based practice shows the lack of adherence to clinical practice guidelines and the lack of standardized data collection. In contrast, this study provides real‐world data on explantation and revision rates, allows physicians to inform patients and to have clear metrics for a shared decision‐making process before the procedure.
Relationship among psychotic features, benzodiazepine receptor agonists, and rehospitalization in patients with electroconvulsive therapy‐responsive major depressive disorder: A retrospective 2‐year observational study
Authors: Umakoshi Akise , Takeshima Masahiro , Itoh Yu , Yamamoto Mari , Shibata Nana , Ogasawara Masaya , Ayabe Naoko , Mishima Kazuo
Published: July 2022

Aim

It is controversial whether psychotic features are a risk factor for relapse in patients with electroconvulsive therapy‐responsive major depressive disorder. A recent study reported that benzodiazepine receptor agonists reduce relapse of psychotic depression. As long‐term use of these agonists may induce dependence, further research is required. We examined whether psychotic features are associated with rehospitalization in electroconvulsive therapy‐responsive major depressive disorder patients. We also investigated whether taking benzodiazepine receptor agonists at the end of electro‐convulsive therapy was associated with rehospitalization among patients with psychotic depression.

Methods

This study included 47 hospitalized patients (22 with psychotic depression, 25 with non‐psychotic depression) who had responded to electroconvulsive therapy. Rehospitalization for major depressive episodes within two years from the last session was investigated.

Results

Twenty‐three subjects (49%) were rehospitalized during the two‐year follow‐up. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed no difference in rehospitalization between patients with psychotic and non‐psychotic depression (Log‐rank P = 0.87). Among the 22 responders to electroconvulsive therapy with psychotic depression, there was no difference in benzodiazepine receptor agonist use at the end of electroconvulsive therapy between the rehospitalization and non‐rehospitalization groups.

Conclusion

Our exploratory study found no difference in the benzodiazepine receptor agonists use at the end of electroconvulsive therapy between rehospitalization and non‐rehospitalization groups in patients with electroconvulsive therapy‐responsive psychotic depression. Thus, the relapse‐preventing effect of these agonists in psychotic depression should be investigated in future randomized controlled trials. Further research is also needed to determine whether psychotic features are associated with rehospitalization in these patients.
Self‐lubrication and tribological properties ofSBA‐15 as smart microcontainer and resin composites
Authors: Sun Yiming , Ren Yilong , Zhu Lina , Si Lina , Kang Jiajie , Xie Guoxin
Published: July 2022

In this work, we showed that the mesoporous molecular sieve SBA‐15 could be used as an oil storage smart microcontainer to adsorb PAO6 oils and is prepared as an oil‐containing molecular sieve SBA‐15O, the compositing of SBA‐15O with unsaturated polyester resins (UPR) can significantly improve the lubrication properties of UPR. The oil‐containing molecular sieve SBA‐15O was prepared by vacuum impregnation and compounded into the UPR. The lubricating effect of different SBA‐15O contents on the UPR was investigated. As compared with the UPR, the coefficient of friction (COF) of the 10%SBA‐15O/UPR could be reduced to 10% of that without SBA‐15O, and the wear rate by three orders of magnitude. The results show that the improvement of lubricating performance is related to the release of lubricating oil from the microcontainer to the surface to produce a lubricating oil film during friction, thereby enhancing the self‐lubricating performance of the composite material.
Fingolimod effects on the brain are mediated through biochemical modulation of bioenergetics, autophagy, and neuroinflammatory networks
Authors: Mirzaei Mehdi , Abyadeh Morteza , Turner Anita J. , Wall Roshana Vander , Chick Joel M. , Paulo Joao A. , Gupta Veer K. , Basavarajappa Devaraj , Chitranshi Nitin , Mirshahvaladi Seyed Shahab Oddin , You Yuyi , Fitzhenry Matthew J. , Amirkhani Ardeshir , Haynes Paul A. , Klistorner Alexander , Gupta Vivek , Graham Stuart L.
Published: July 2022

Fingolimod (FTY720) is an oral drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for management of multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms, which has also shown beneficial effects against Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's (PD) diseases pathologies. Although an extensive effort has been made to identify mechanisms underpinning its therapeutic effects, much remains unknown. Here, we investigated Fingolimod induced proteome changes in the cerebellum (CB) and frontal cortex (FC) regions of the brain which are known to be severely affected in MS, using a tandem mass tag (TMT) isobaric labeling‐based quantitative mass‐spectrometric approach to investigate the mechanism of action of Fingolimod. This study identified 6749 and 6319 proteins in CB and FC, respectively, and returned 2609 and 3086 differentially expressed proteins in mouse CB and FC, respectively, between Fingolimod treated and control groups. Subsequent bioinformatics analyses indicated a metabolic reprogramming in both brain regions of the Fingolimod treated group, where oxidative phosphorylation was upregulated while glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathway were downregulated. In addition, modulation of neuroinflammation in the Fingolimod treated group was indicated by upregulation of retrograde endocannabinoid signaling and autophagy pathways, and downregulation of neuroinflammation related pathways including neutrophil degranulation and the IL‐12 mediated signaling pathway. Our findings suggest that Fingolimod may exert its protective effects on the brain by inducing metabolic reprogramming and neuroinflammation pathway modulation.
Improving cancer caregiver communication and health literacy with a brief online training module
Authors: Wittenberg Elaine , Goldsmith Joy V. , Rios Melissa
Published: July 2022

Key points

A 15‐min asynchronous online module was developed to provide cancer caregivers with communication and health literacy training for working with doctors and nurses

The module was considered feasible and achieved high participant satisfaction

Caregivers' communication attitudes, knowledge, and skill were improved post‐module

Nearly all participants (99%) demonstrated use of module‐specific communication tools and strategies
Optional strategies for low‐risk and non‐risk applications of fungal pesticides to avoid solar ultraviolet damage
Authors: Yu Lei , Xu Si‐Yuan , Tong Sen‐Miao , Ying Sheng‐Hua , Feng Ming‐Guang
Published: July 2022

BACKGROUND

Solar ultraviolet (UV) irradiation is harmful to formulated conidia as active ingredients of fungal pesticides and hence restrains their field application in sunny days of summer, a season requiring frequent pest controls. This conflict makes it necessary to explore optimal strategies for the application of fungal pesticides to suppress pest populations but avoid solar UV damage during summer.

RESULTS

The conidia of Beauveria bassiana, a wide‐spectrum fungal pesticide, were tolerable to UVB (major solar UV wavelengths) damage of ≤0.5 J cm−2. The damage of this upper limit caused a loss of conidial viability and infectivity if not photoreactivated by light exposure after irradiation. Intriguingly, the light exposure resulted in a high photoreactivation rate of UVB‐inactivated conidia and an insignificant or marginal difference in insecticidal activity between normal conidia and those photoreactivated. Modeling analysis of solar UVB intensity recorded hourly over the daylight of five sunny summer days from 5:00 am to 7:00 pm at 30° 17′57′′ N and 120°5′7′′ E revealed a variation of daily accumulated UVB dose from 2.07 to 2.78 J cm−2, which was far beyond the upper limit. A more tolerable dose of ~0.2 J cm−2 appeared between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm, and no harmful dose accumulated between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm.

CONCLUSION

Fungal UVB tolerance, fungal photoreactivation capability and the daily accumulation pattern of solar UV irradiation are based to propose an optional strategy for low‐risk or non‐risk application of fungal pesticides after 3:00 or 5:00 pm during summer. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
Effect of Transition Metal (Hf and Cd) Doping/Codoping on Ti3C2O2 MXene as NH3 Sensor: First Principles
Authors: Liu Xin , Zhang Hanmei , Liu Chi , Wang Zhenjia , Shen Tao
Published: July 2022

Ti3C2O2 MXene has been found to have good NH3 sensing ability and researchers are trying to modify its derivatives to improve its sensitivity. However, the effect of Ti3C2O2 MXene doped with transition metals with comparable sizes on NH3 sensitivity has not yet been studied. Herein, the density functional theory (DFT) method is used to investigate the sensitivity of pristine Ti3C2O2, Hf‐doped Ti3C2O2, Cd‐doped Ti3C2O2, and Cd–Hf codoped Ti3C2O2 toward NH3. The adsorption energy of the optimized geometric structure is calculated to investigate the applicability and effectiveness of the modified Ti3C2O2 MXene structure for NH3 sensing. The adsorption energy of Hf–Cd codoped Ti3C2O2 MXene surface is enhanced to −1.568 eV to NH3. In addition, the charge transfer analysis, adsorption height, energy band, and density of states are also considered. The reactivity of Ti3C2O2 MXene surface for NH3 adsorption is found to be greatly enhanced by Hf–Cd codoped Ti3C2O2 MXene as demonstrated by the adsorption energies, optical and electronic properties.
Soft Template‐Based Synthesis of Mesoporous Phosphorus‐ and Boron‐Codoped NiFe‐Based Alloys for Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Kang Yunqing , Guo Yanna , Zhao Jingjing , Jiang Bo , Guo Jingru , Tang Yi , Li Hexing , Malgras Victor , Amin Mohammed A. , Nara Hiroki , Sugahara Yoshiyuki , Yamauchi Yusuke , Asahi Toru
Published: July 2022

Controlling the morphology, composition, and crystalline phase of mesoporous nonnoble metal catalysts is essential for improving their performance. Herein, well‐defined P‐ and B‐codoped NiFe alloy mesoporous nanospheres (NiFeB‐P MNs) with an adjustable Ni/Fe ratio and large mesopores (11 nm) are synthesized via soft‐template‐based chemical reduction and a subsequent phosphine‐vapor‐based phosphidation process. Earth‐abundant NiFe‐based materials are considered promising electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) because of their low cost and high intrinsic catalytic activity. The resulting NiFeB‐P MNs exhibit a low OER overpotential of 252 mV at 10 mA cm−2, which is significantly smaller than that of B‐doped NiFe MNs (274 mV) and commercial RuO2 (269 mV) in alkaline electrolytes. Thus, this work highlights the practicality of designing mesoporous nonnoble metal structures and the importance of incorporating P in metallic‐B‐based alloys to modify their electronic structure for enhancing their intrinsic activity.
Competing‐risks model for pre‐eclampsia and adverse pregnancy outcomes
Authors: Syngelaki A. , Magee L. A. , von Dadelszen P. , Akolekar R. , Wright A. , Wright D. , Nicolaides K. H.
Published: July 2022

Objective

The competing‐risks model for assessment of risk for pre‐eclampsia (PE) at 35–37 weeks' gestation identifies the majority of women who are at high risk of subsequent delivery with PE. We aimed to examine the incidence and relative risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in patient groups stratified according to the estimated risk of delivery with PE.

Methods

This was a prospective non‐interventional, observational study in women with a singleton pregnancy attending for a routine hospital visit at 35 + 0 to 36 + 6 weeks' gestation. The risk of delivery with PE for each patient in the study population was estimated using the competing‐risks model, combining the prior distribution of gestational age at delivery with PE and the likelihood from multiples of the median values of mean arterial pressure, placental growth factor and soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase‐1. The patients were assigned to one of the following five risk categories: Group A, ≥ 1 in 2; Group B, 1 in 5 to 1 in 3; Group C, 1 in 20 to 1 in 6; Group D, 1 in 50 to 1 in 21; and Group E, < 1 in 50. The outcome measures were delivery with PE, gestational hypertension (GH), small‐for‐gestational age (SGA) at birth, delivery by Cesarean section, stillbirth, neonatal death, perinatal death and admission to the neonatal unit (NNU) for at least 48 h. In each risk category, the proportion of women with each adverse outcome was determined and relative risks (RR) were calculated as compared with the lowest‐risk Group E.

Results

In the study population of 29 035 women, 1.6%, 2.7%, 8.2%, 9.8% and 77.8% were categorized into Groups A, B, C, D and E, respectively. Compared with women in Group E, women in the higher‐risk groups were more likely to have an adverse outcome. The RR of delivery with PE in Group A compared with Group E was 65.5 (95% CI, 54.1–79.1) and the respective values were 11.9 (95% CI, 9.1–15.5) for GH, 1.8 (95% CI, 1.5–2.1) for delivery by emergency Cesarean section, 1.5 (95% CI, 1.2–1.8) for delivery by elective Cesarean section, 8.9 (95% CI, 7.4–10.8) for SGA with birth weight < 3rd percentile, 4.8 (95% CI, 4.3–5.4) for SGA with birth weight < 10th percentile, 5.3 (95% CI, 1.4–20.5) for stillbirth and 3.4 (95% CI, 2.8–4.2) for NNU admission for ≥ 48 h. The RR for these pregnancy complications in higher‐risk groups (vs Group E) was particularly high for cases with delivery within 2 weeks after assessment. In terms of SGA, both for birth weight < 10th and < 3rd percentiles, the trend in all cases was stronger than that observed when the analysis was confined to normotensive pregnancies. The rates of neonatal death were too small to allow meaningful comparisons between risk groups.

Conclusion

Pregnant women identified by the competing‐risks model to be at high risk of PE are also at increased risk of GH, Cesarean section, stillbirth, SGA and NNU admission for ≥ 48 h. © 2022 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Assessment of the bi-directional relationship between blood mitochondrial DNA copy number and type 2 diabetes mellitus: a multivariable-adjusted regression and Mendelian randomisation study
Authors: Wang Wenyi , Luo Jiao , Willems van Dijk Ko , Hägg Sara , Grassmann Felix , `t Hart Leen M. , van Heemst Diana , Noordam Raymond
Published: July 2022

Aims/hypothesis

Mitochondrial dysfunction, which can be approximated by blood mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN), has been implicated in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Thus far, however, insights from prospective cohort studies and Mendelian randomisation (MR) analyses on this relationship are limited. We assessed the association between blood mtDNA-CN and incident type 2 diabetes using multivariable-adjusted regression analyses, and the associations between blood mtDNA-CN and type 2 diabetes and BMI using bi-directional MR.

Methods

Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the association between blood mtDNA-CN and incident type 2 diabetes in 285,967 unrelated European individuals from UK Biobank free of type 2 diabetes at baseline. Additionally, a cross-sectional analysis was performed to investigate the association between blood mtDNA-CN and BMI. We also assessed the potentially causal relationship between blood mtDNA-CN and type 2 diabetes (N=898,130 from DIAGRAM, N=215,654 from FinnGen) and BMI (N=681,275 from GIANT) using bi-directional two-sample MR.

Results

During a median follow-up of 11.87 years, 15,111 participants developed type 2 diabetes. Participants with a higher level of blood mtDNA-CN are at lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes (HR 0.90 [95% CI 0.89, 0.92]). After additional adjustment for BMI and other confounders, these results attenuated moderately and remained present. The multivariable-adjusted cross-sectional analyses showed that higher blood mtDNA-CN was associated with lower BMI (−0.12 [95% CI −0.14, −0.10]) kg/m2. In the bi-directional MR analyses, we found no evidence for causal associations between blood mtDNA-CN and type 2 diabetes, and blood mtDNA-CN and BMI in either direction.

Conclusions/interpretation

The results from the present study indicate that the observed association between low blood mtDNA-CN and higher risk of type 2 diabetes is likely not causal.

Graphical abstract
Pre- and post-therapeutic evaluation of liver and spleen in type I and type III Gaucher’s disease using diffusion tensor imaging
Authors: Alnaghy Eman , Razek Ahmed Abdel , Abdelhalim Ebrahim
Published: July 2022

Purpose

To assess the role of diffusion tensor imaging in assessing liver and splenic parenchymal infiltration in Gaucher’s disease (G.D.) type I and III before and after therapy.

Methods

A prospective study was conducted upon 28 consecutive patients with G.D. type I and III and 28 age and sex-matched controls. They underwent an MRI and DTI of the liver and spleen. Mean diffusivity (M.D.) and fractional anisotropy (F.A.) values of the liver and spleen were evaluated before and after treatment and compared with control.

Results

There was a statistically significant difference in the M.D. value of the liver and spleen between untreated patients and controls and between control and treated patients and in the M.D. value of the liver and spleen between untreated and treated patients. There is a statistically significant difference in the F.A. value of the liver and spleen between untreated patients and controls and in the F.A. value of the liver and spleen between untreated and treated patients. Hemoglobin level was positively correlated with the M.D. value of the spleen. Clinical score was negatively correlated with M.D. value of the spleen and was positively correlated with F.A. values of the liver and F.A. values of the spleen. Spleen volume was negatively correlated with M.D. values of the spleen.

Conclusion

Significant difference in M.D. and F.A. values of liver and splenic parenchyma in p

atients with type I and III G.D. and controls, and between untreated and treated patients. The M.D. and F.A. values were well correlated with some biomarkers of disease activity.
Summer temperature—but not growing season length—influences radial growth of Salix arctica in coastal Arctic tundra
Authors: Boyle Joseph S. , Angers-Blondin Sandra , Assmann Jakob J. , Myers-Smith Isla H.
Published: July 2022

Arctic climate change is leading to an advance of plant phenology (the timing of life history events) with uncertain impacts on tundra ecosystems. Although the lengthening of the growing season is thought to lead to increased plant growth, we have few studies of how plant phenology change is altering tundra plant productivity. Here, we test the correspondence between 14 years of Salix arctica phenology data and radial growth on Qikiqtaruk–Herschel Island, Yukon Territory, Canada. We analysed stems from 28 individuals using dendroecology and linear mixed-effect models to test the statistical power of growing season length and climate variables to individually predict radial growth. We found that summer temperature best explained annual variation in radial growth. We found no strong evidence that leaf emergence date, earlier leaf senescence date, or total growing season length had any direct or lagged effects on radial growth. Radial growth was also not explained by interannual variation in precipitation, MODIS surface greenness (NDVI), or sea ice concentration. Our results demonstrate that at this site, for the widely distributed species S. arctica, temperature—but not growing season length—influences radial growth. These findings challenge the assumption that advancing phenology and longer growing seasons will increase the productivity of all plant species in Arctic tundra ecosystems.
Effect of clay/nepheline tailing ratio on the dielectric relaxation and conduction mechanism of the conventional ceramic
Authors: Mahani Ragab M. , Omara ·Shereen
Published: July 2022

The dielectric relaxation and conduction mechanism of 40 wt% nepheline tailing and 60 wt% clay-based ceramic, i.e., the 40/60 ceramic, have been investigated over wide ranges of frequency and temperature, using a broadband dielectric spectrometer (BDS) and then compared with the data recently reported for the 50/50 ceramic. Both 40/60 and 50/50 ceramics were fabricated by grinding the raw materials to be very fine, wet homogenously mixing, drying and finally firing at 1200 °C. Their crystalline phases identified by X-ray diffraction were quartz, hematite, cristobalite, and albite. The 40/60 ceramic of lower glassy phase (nepheline tailing) content displays lower crystallinity than the 50/50 ceramic. Its conduction activation energies (Eac) show values between 0.12 and 0.32 eV, corresponding to the activation energy of oxygen vacancies (Vo++ ~ 0.22 eV). As oxygen vacancies migrate at relatively low operating voltages, the fabricated ceramics would be promising in manufacturing the random access memory (RAM), taking into consideration that the 50/50 ceramic is more useful than the 40/60 ceramic. As a result, nepheline tailing or the glassy phase component may generate more oxygen vacancies and thus enhance the ceramic electrical properties. Finally, the conduction mechanism of both ceramics is described via the correlated barrier hopping (CBH) model.
Temporal and spatial summation of laser heat stimuli in cultured nociceptive neurons of the rat
Authors: Jubileum Elisabeth , Binzen Uta , Treede Rolf-Detlef , Greffrath Wolfgang
Published: July 2022

We studied the efficacy of a near-infrared laser (1475 nm) to activate rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons with short punctate radiant heat pulses (55 µm diameter) and investigated temporal and spatial summation properties for the transduction process for noxious heat at a subcellular level. Strength-duration curves (10–80 ms range) indicated a minimum power of 30.2mW for the induction of laser-induced calcium transients and a chronaxia of 13.9 ms. However, threshold energy increased with increasing stimulus duration suggesting substantial radial cooling of the laser spot. Increasing stimulus duration demonstrated suprathreshold intensity coding of calcium transients with less than linear gains (Stevens exponents 0.29/35mW, 0.38/60mW, 0.46/70mW). The competitive TRPV1 antagonist capsazepine blocked responses to short near-threshold stimuli and significantly reduced responses to longer duration suprathreshold heat. Heating 1/3 of the soma of a neuron was sufficient to induce calcium transients significantly above baseline (p < 0.05), but maximum amplitude was only achieved by centering the laser over the entire neuron. Heat-induced calcium increase was highest in heated cell parts but rapidly reached unstimulated areas reminiscent of spreading depolarization and opening of voltage-gated calcium channels. Full intracellular equilibrium took about 3 s, consistent with a diffusion process. In summary, we investigated transduction mechanisms for noxious laser heat pulses in native sensory neurons at milliseconds temporal and subcellular spatial resolution and characterized strength duration properties, intensity coding, and spatial summation within single neurons. Thermal excitation of parts of a nociceptor spread via both membrane depolarization and intracellular calcium diffusion.
Differential role of chronic liver diseases on the incidence of cancer: a longitudinal analysis among 248,224 outpatients in Germany
Authors: Loosen Sven H. , Schöler David , Luedde Mark , Eschrich Johannes , Luedde Tom , Kostev Karel , Roderburg Christoph
Published: July 2022

Background

Chronic liver diseases, especially chronic hepatitis, are a known risk factor for the development of liver cancer. However, the risk of total cancer development and malignant potential from these diseases is largely unknown. Systematic data on the risk of cancer development from these diseases are missing. Therefore, the goal of this study is to analyze the risk of total cancer development in chronic liver diseases.

Methods

A cohort of 15,706 patients with chronic hepatitis and 15,706 patients without hepatitis were matched by propensity scoring from outpatient practices in Germany over a period of 15 years. Cox regression models were conducted to study the association between alcoholic hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and cancer incidence, including liver, other digestive organs, skin, prostate, breast and lymphoid and hematopoietic tissue cancer.

Results

Within 10 years of the index date, 19.3% of patients with alcoholic hepatitis and 13.4% of non-hepatitis individuals were diagnosed with cancer (log-rank p = 0.035). These proportions were 15.0 vs. 9.9% (p = 0.078) for autoimmune hepatitis, 8.7 vs. 7.1% (p = 0.015) for hepatitis B, and 12.7 vs. 7.6% (p < 0.001) for hepatitis C. In regression analyses, only alcoholic hepatitis (HR: 1.84, 95% CI 1.32–2.54) and hepatitis C (HR: 2.10, 95% CI 1.77–2.50) were significantly associated with increased risk of cancer. There was a very strong positive association between hepatitis C and liver cancer (HR: 78.2 (95% CI 10.9–560.7). Furthermore, hepatitis C was associated with an increased risk of respiratory organ cancer (HR: 2.59, 95% CI 1.42–4.73).

Conclusion

This study confirms the strong association between chronic hepatitis and liver cancer, but also with an overall elevated cancer risk, and especially of cancer in the respiratory tract in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
Species-specific effects of ethanol concentration on host colonization by four common species of ambrosia beetles
Authors: Cavaletto Giacomo , Ranger Christopher M. , Reding Michael E. , Montecchio Lucio , Rassati Davide
Published: July 2022

Ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera; Curculionidae; Scolytinae and Platypodinae) can cause severe damage to trees growing in plant nurseries, orchards and natural forests. Ethanol is emitted by stressed trees and represents an important cue used by ambrosia beetles to locate suitable hosts to infest. Ethanol also favors the growth of ambrosia beetles’ nutritional fungal symbionts and suppresses the growth of antagonistic fungi. An optimal concentration of ethanol in host tissues might maximize fungal growth and offspring production, but it is unclear if this optimal concentration varies among ambrosia beetle species. To investigate this mechanism, we injected five different concentrations of aqueous ethanol solution (5%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 90%) into the stems of container-grown oak trees, Quercus robur L. Modified Falcon tube chambers were used to confine four species of field-collected ambrosia beetles to the injected stems, namely, Anisandrus dispar, Xyleborinus saxesenii, Xylosandrus germanus, and Xylosandrus crassiusculus. Incidence of boring, ejected sawdust, gallery development, and offspring production were then quantified. The incidence of boring generally increased with increasing ethanol concentration for all four Scolytinae species tested. Ejected sawdust and offspring production increased with increasing ethanol concentration up to 90% for A. dispar and X. saxesenii; by contrast, an increasing trend up to 75% ethanol followed by a decrease at 90% ethanol was associated with X. germanus and X. crassiusculus. Our study highlights the key role of ethanol for ambrosia beetles, and showed that the optimal concentration maximizing colonization and offspring production can vary among species.
Trastuzumab therapy duration in HER2-positive de novo metastatic breast cancer: 1999–2018
Authors: Kaplan Henry G. , Malmgren Judith A. , Guo Boya , Atwood Mary K.
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The optimal duration of first-line trastuzumab (T) treatment for de novo stage IV HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients after complete response (CR) is not known.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of de novo stage IV HER2-positive MBC patients who had trastuzumab included in their initial treatment (n = 69), 1999–2018, was conducted with follow-up for CR, progressive disease (PD), vital status, and disease-specific survival (DSS). Statistics included Kaplan–Meier plots and Cox proportional hazards models.

Results

Mean trastuzumab treatment time was 4.1 years (range 0.1–15). 54% of patients experienced CR at average time 9 months on treatment (n = 37). Eight CR patients discontinued T treatment after 18 months average post-CR time (range 0–86) and twenty-nine stayed on T treatment post CR [average 65 months (range 10–170)]. Average follow-up was 6 years, range 1–15 years. 5-year DSS was 92% for CR on T patients (N = 29); 88% CR off T (n = 8); 73% No CR on T (n = 14); and 29% No CR off T (n = 18) (p < 0.001). In forward Cox proportional hazards modeling, CR = yes [HzR = 0.31, (95% CI 0.14, 0.73), p = 0.007], continuous T treatment > 2 years [HzR = 0.24, (95% CI 0.10, 0.62), p = 0.003], and age < 65 [HzR = 0.29, (95% CI 0.11, 0.81), p = 0.018] were significantly associated with better DSS.

Conclusion

Maximum trastuzumab treatment time to CR was 27 months with 2 or more years trastuzumab treatment independently associated with better survival. Survival comparisons and hazard modeling both indicate as good or better survival associated with continuous trastuzumab treatment regardless of CR status.

Word count (n = 250).
One Genus or Two? Evaluating Whether Gracile and Robust Capuchin Monkeys are Validly Classified as Separate Genera Based on Craniofacial Shape
Authors: Balolia Katharine L. , Wulff Alexandra
Published: July 2022

Assessments of whether closely related species should be classified into more than one genus have been a longstanding source of controversy in primatology. For example, researchers hold differing opinions about whether cebine species should be classified into one or two genera. In this study, we investigated whether craniofacial shape is a reliable taxonomic indicator among cebines and statistically evaluated whether the magnitude of craniofacial shape differences observed among gracile and robust capuchin species is consistent with a two-genus taxonomic framework. We quantify craniofacial shape using 3D landmark data taken from 72 surface models, representing five cebine species (Cebus albifrons, C. capucinus, C. olivaceus, C. (Sapajus) libidinosus, and C. (S.) macrocephalus). We find that although statistically significant shape differences exist between gracile and robust capuchins in all four craniofacial regions investigated (face and palate, basicranium, calvarium, and frontal region of the calvarium), the magnitude of shape differences between species pairs does not support gracile and robust species being classified into separate genera. The shape of the frontal region of the calvarium and the face and palate show the highest magnitude of shape differences between the gracile and robust capuchin groups, and both regions are good taxonomic predictors, showing correct classification rates of 97% and 96%, respectively. At the species-level, face and palate shape is the only craniofacial measure that consistently shows high classification rates among species (84-97% for combined-sex analyses). Our findings suggest that robust capuchin species that are often assigned to Sapajus may be more appropriately considered as Cebus under a single-genus framework for cebines based on craniofacial shape evidence.
Flexible multimethod approach for seismic site characterization
Authors: Stephenson William J. , Yong Alan , Martin Antony
Published: July 2022

We describe the flexible multimethod seismic site characterization technique for obtaining shear-wave velocity (VS) profiles and derivative information, such as the time-averaged VS of the upper 30 m (VS30). Simply stated, the multimethod approach relies on the application of multiple independent noninvasive site characterization acquisition and analysis techniques utilized in a flexible field-based approach through a decision process based on primary factors such as the investigator’s available equipment, field logistics (e.g., available array deployment space, urban versus rural), geologic setting, and funding among other primary factors. In a multimethod approach, sites ideally should be characterized using both active and passive noninvasive (i.e., no drilling and only minimal disturbance to the ground surface) methods. Almost without exception, we recommend the use of at least one active-source technique for analyzing surface waves, which in the current state of practice would include one or more of the following: spectral analysis of surface waves (SASW; commonly Rayleigh waves) and multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW; Rayleigh and/or Love waves). In addition, passive-source microtremor array methods (MAMs) using linear (one-dimensional) and two-dimensional arrays may be appropriate or even required for characterizing a given site. Similarly, the microtremor horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (mHVSR) method thacan be valuable for identifying shallow rock sites. Finally, P- and SH-wave seismic refraction methods warrant consideration, especially at rock and shallow-rock sites.
Promoting Daily Well-being in Adolescents using mHealth
Authors: Mens Michelle M. J. , Keijsers Loes , Dietvorst Evelien , Koval Soldado , Legerstee Jeroen S. , Hillegers Manon H. J.
Published: July 2022

Adolescents are at increased risk for developing mental health problems. The Grow It! app is an mHealth intervention aimed at preventing mental health problems through improving coping by cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-inspired challenges as well as self-monitoring of emotions through Experience Sampling Methods (ESM). Yet, little is known about daily changes in well-being and coping during a stressful period, like the COVID-19 pandemic. The current study aimed to elucidate daily changes in positive and negative affect, and adaptive coping, and to better understand the within-person’s mechanisms of the Grow It! app. The sample consisted of 12–25-year old Dutch adolescents in two independent cohorts (cohort 1: N = 476, Mage = 16.24, 76.1% female, 88.7% Dutch; cohort 2: N = 814, Mage = 18.45, 82.8% female, 97.2% Dutch). ESM were used to measure daily positive and negative affect and coping (cohort 1: 42 days, 210 assessments per person; cohort 2: 21 days, 105 assessments). The results showed that, on average, adolescents decreased in daily positive affect and adaptive coping, and increased in their experienced negative affect. A positive relation between adaptive coping and positive affect was found, although independent of the CBT-based challenges. Latent class analysis identified two heterogeneous trajectories for both positive and negative affect, indicating that the majority of participants with low to moderate-risk on developing mental health problems were likely to benefit from the Grow It! app.
Risky choice: Probability weighting explains independence axiom violations in monkeys
Authors: Ferrari-Toniolo Simone , Seak Leo Chi U. , Schultz Wolfram
Published: July 2022

Expected Utility Theory (EUT) provides axioms for maximizing utility in risky choice. The Independence Axiom (IA) is its most demanding axiom: preferences between two options should not change when altering both options equally by mixing them with a common gamble. We tested common consequence (CC) and common ratio (CR) violations of the IA over several months in thousands of stochastic choices using a large variety of binary option sets. Three monkeys showed consistently few outright Preference Reversals (8%) but substantial graded Preference Changes (46%) between the initial preferred gamble and the corresponding altered gamble. Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) indicated that gamble probabilities predicted most Preference Changes in CC (72%) and CR (88%) tests. The Akaike Information Criterion indicated that probability weighting within Cumulative Prospect Theory (CPT) explained choices better than models using Expected Value (EV) or EUT. Fitting by utility and probability weighting functions of CPT resulted in nonlinear and non-parallel indifference curves (IC) in the Marschak-Machina triangle and suggested IA non-compliance of models using EV or EUT. Indeed, CPT models predicted Preference Changes better than EV and EUT models. Indifference points in out-of-sample tests were closer to CPT-estimated ICs than EV and EUT ICs. Finally, while the few outright Preference Reversals may reflect the long experience of our monkeys, their more graded Preference Changes corresponded to those reported for humans. In benefitting from the wide testing possibilities in monkeys, our stringent axiomatic tests contribute critical information about risky decision-making and serves as basis for investigating neuronal decision mechanisms.
Is Working from Home a Blessing or a Burden? Home Demands as a Mediator of the Relationship Between Work Engagement and Work-Life Balance
Authors: Ugwu Fabian Onyekachi , Enwereuzor Ibeawuchi K. , Mazei Jens
Published: July 2022

As COVID-19 pandemic made its incursion into the world of work in early 2020, many employees were compelled to work from home to slow down the transmission of the disease. Since then, it has been asked whether working from home is a blessing or a burden. We respond to this question by building on the Affective Events Theory to examine whether work engagement is related to work-life balance (WLB), and whether home demands mediate this relationship, using data from 219 knowledge workers drawn from universities in the South-eastern region of Nigeria primarily working from home when they were surveyed. Results of regression analysis using PROCESS macro showed that work engagement related positively to home demands; in turn, home demands related negatively to WLB. The results further revealed that work engagement related negatively to WLB and that home demands mediated the negative work engagement-WLB connection. Theoretical as well as practical implications of the study are discussed, limitations are highlighted, and suggestions for future research are outlined.
Developments in Neuroprotection for HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders (HAND)
Authors: Kolson Dennis L.
Published: July 2022

Purpose of Review

Reducing the risk of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) is an elusive treatment goal for people living with HIV. Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has reduced the prevalence of HIV-associated dementia, but milder, disabling HAND is an unmet challenge. As newer cART regimens that more consistently suppress central nervous system (CNS) HIV replication are developed, the testing of adjunctive neuroprotective therapies must accelerate.

Recent Findings

Successes in modifying cART regimens for CNS efficacy (penetrance, chemokine receptor targeting) and delivery (nanoformulations) in pilot studies suggest that improving cART neuroprotection and reducing HAND risk is achievable. Additionally, drugs currently used in neuroinflammatory, neuropsychiatric, and metabolic disorders show promise as adjuncts to cART, likely by broadly targeting neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, aerobic metabolism, and/or neurotransmitter metabolism. Adjunctive cognitive brain therapy and aerobic exercise may provide additional efficacy.

Adjunctive neuroprotective therapies, including available FDA-approved drugs, cognitive therapy, and aerobic exercise combined with improved cART offer plausible strategies for optimizing the prevention and treatment of HAND.
Bromine–Graphite Intercalation Enabled Two-Electron Transfer for a Bromine-Based Flow Battery
Authors: Xu Yue , Xie Congxin , Li Xianfeng
Published: July 2022

Br2/Br− is a promising redox couple in flow batteries because of its high potential, solubility, and low cost. However, the reaction between Br− and Br2 only involves a single-electron transfer process, which limits its energy density. Herein, a novel two-electron transfer reaction based on Br−/Br+ was studied and realized through Br+ intercalation into graphite to form a bromine–graphite intercalation compound (Br–GIC). Compared with the pristine Br−/Br2 redox pair, the redox potential of Br intercalation/deintercalation in graphite is 0.5 V higher, which has the potential to substantially increase the energy density. Different from Br2/Br− in the electrolyte, the diffusion rate of Br intercalation in graphite decreases with increasing charge state because of the decreasing intercalation sites in graphite, and the integrity of the graphite structure is important for the intercalation reaction. As a result, the battery can continuously run for more than 300 cycles with a Coulombic efficiency exceeding 97% and an energy efficiency of approximately 80% at 30 mA/cm2, and the energy density increases by 65% compared with Br−/Br2. Combined with double-electron transfer and a highly reversible electrochemical process, the Br intercalation redox couple demonstrates very promising prospects for stationary energy storage.