bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Energy Conversion in Single‐Crystal‐to‐Single‐Crystal Phase Transition Materials
Authors: Zheng Yongshen , Jia Xiaodi , Li Kai , Xu Jialiang , Bu Xian‐He
Published: April 2021

Single‐crystal‐to‐single‐crystal (SCSC) phase transitions are direct structural evolutions of crystalline materials in the solid state without the damage of ordering in the crystal lattice. These multidimensional SCSC phase transition materials are responsive to multiple external stimuli (heat, light, mechanical force, electricity, etc.), and have therefore demonstrated promising applications in many fields such as sensors, actuators, artificial muscles, soft robotics, and energy harvesting. The directionality and cooperativity of intermolecular interactions in crystal structures together with a sustained and long‐range dynamics, and the fact that they can operate at high frequency, enable fast and efficient energy conversion processes in SCSC phase transition materials. In this review, the SCSC phase transition materials are analyzed by dividing them into different types of energy transformation, from the point of view of different stimuli that initiate and drive the phase transition, including the thermo‐, photo‐, electric‐, and mechanic‐induced energy transformation, and the dimensionality dependent characteristics in these processes are presented. Moreover, the state‐of‐the‐art design and fabrication of the SCSC phase transition materials as well as the mechanisms of their energy conversion processes are discussed. Finally, the challenges and future potentials are also discussed.
Supramolecular Cylinders Target Bulge Structures in the 5′ UTR of the RNA Genome of SARS‐CoV‐2 and Inhibit Viral Replication**
Authors: Melidis Lazaros , Hill Harriet J. , Coltman Nicholas J. , Davies Scott P. , Winczura Kinga , Chauhan Tasha , Craig James S. , Garai Aditya , Hooper Catherine A. J. , Egan Ross T. , McKeating Jane A. , Hodges Nikolas J. , Stamataki Zania , Grzechnik Pawel , Hannon Michael J.
Published: April 2021

The untranslated regions (UTRs) of viral genomes contain a variety of conserved yet dynamic structures crucial for viral replication, providing drug targets for the development of broad spectrum anti‐virals. We combine in vitro RNA analysis with molecular dynamics simulations to build the first 3D models of the structure and dynamics of key regions of the 5′ UTR of the SARS‐CoV‐2 genome. Furthermore, we determine the binding of metallo‐supramolecular helicates (cylinders) to this RNA structure. These nano‐size agents are uniquely able to thread through RNA junctions and we identify their binding to a 3‐base bulge and the central cross 4‐way junction located in stem loop 5. Finally, we show these RNA‐binding cylinders suppress SARS‐CoV‐2 replication, highlighting their potential as novel anti‐viral agents.
Zwitterion‐Based Hydrogen Sulfide Nanomotors Induce Multiple Acidosis in Tumor Cells by Destroying Tumor Metabolic Symbiosis
Authors: Wan Mimi , Liu Zhiyong , Li Ting , Chen Huan , Wang Qi , Chen Tiantian , Tao Yingfang , Mao Chun
Published: April 2021

Destruction of tumor metabolism symbiosis is an attractive cancer treatment method which targets tumor cells with little harm to normal cells. Yet, a single intervention strategy and poor penetration of the drug in tumor tissue result in limited effect. Herein, we propose a zero‐waste zwitterion‐based hydrogen sulfide (H2S)‐driven nanomotor based on the basic principle of reaction in human body. When loaded with monocarboxylic acid transporter inhibitor α‐cyano‐4‐hydroxycinnamic acid (α‐CHCA), the nanomotor can move in tumor microenvironment and induce multiple acidosis of tumor cells and inhibit tumor growth through the synergistic effect of motion effect, driving force H2S and α‐CHCA. Given the good biosafety of the substrate and driving gas of this kind of nanomotor, as well as the limited variety of nanomotors currently available to move in the tumor microenvironment, this kind of nanomotor may provide a competitive candidate for the active drug delivery system of cancer treatment.
Immediate Implant With Provisionalization and Soft Tissue Grafting After 4‐Year Follow‐Up
Authors: de Siqueira Glaudemir Reinaldo Cavalcanti , Tavares José Rodolfo , Pedrosa Ricardo Ferreira , de Siqueira Rafael Amorim Cavalcanti , Fernandes Gustavo Vicentis de Oliveira
Published: April 2021

Introduction

This paper presents a case report of immediate implant placement (IIP) with a provisionalization technique to restore function and esthetics with follow‐up after 4 years.

Case Presentation

Minimally traumatic extraction was performed with IIP, soft‐tissue grafting, and immediate provisional crown. Six months after optimal healing, the patient was submitted to an esthetic restorative work through veneers in lithium disilicate. Fourteen‐month and 4‐year follow‐up visits revealed stability of the peri‐implant soft‐tissues with peri‐implant health status, with the evaluation of the pink and white esthetic score, yielding to mean scores, respectively, in 14 months of 11.62 ± 2.07 (pink esthetic score [PES]) and 18.25 ± 1.46 (PES/white esthetic score [WES]) and in 4 years of 11.0 ± 1.32 (PES) and 17.62 ± 0.65 (PES/WES). Intraoral digital radiographs showed minimal crestal bone level changes throughout the follow‐up period. Thus, IIP is a sensitive technique procedure, and a 3D implant position is crucial for success.

Conclusion

Immediate implant with grafting to fill the gap and soft tissue augmentation led to less horizontal changes and stable mucosal margin, and immediate provisionalization helped to maintain soft tissue architecture, and proper case selection is key for clinical success.
Chemical Composition, Antibacterial Screening and Cytotoxic Activity of Chiliadenus antiatlanticus (Asteraceae) Essential Oil
Authors: El Yaagoubi Mohamed , Ortiz Sergio , Mechqoq Hicham , Cavaleiro Carlos , Lecsö‐Bornet Marylin , Rodrigues Maria João , Custódio Luísa , El Mousadik Abdelhamid , Grougnet Raphaël , El Aouad Noureddine , Msanda Fouad , Kritsanida Marina
Published: April 2021

The chemical composition and in vitro antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of the essential oil (EO) of Chiliadenus antiatlanticus (Emb. & Maire) Gómiz, an asteraceous species endemic to the southwest of Morocco, were investigated. The EO yield was 1.07±0.28 %, twenty‐seven metabolites were identified representing more than 96.4 % of the total composition. Camphor (35.7 %) and derivatives, borneol (4.9 %) and camphene (4.2 %) together with intermedeol (19.9 %), α‐pinene (15.5 %) and (E)‐pinocarveol (4.1 %) were the major constituents. An antibacterial activity was noticed against 24 strains (all Gram‐positive) out of 71 at MICs values=100 μg/mL. The EO also showed significant toxicity towards liver HepG2 (55.8 % of cell viability) and melanoma B16 4A5 (41.6 % of cell viability) tumor cell lines at 100 μg/mL.
Binding Mode Characterization of Osteopontin on Hydroxyapatite by Solution NMR Spectroscopy
Authors: Holzinger Julian , Kotisch Harald , Richter Klaus W. , Konrat Robert
Published: April 2021

Extracellular matrix glycoproteins play a major role in bone mineralization and modulation of osteogenesis. Among these, the intrinsically disordered protein osteopontin (OPN) is associated with the inhibition of formation, growth and proliferation of the bone mineral hydroxyapatite (HAP). Furthermore, post‐translational modifications like phosphorylation can alter conformations and interaction properties of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). Therefore, the actual interaction of OPN with a HAP surface on an atomic level and how this interaction is affected by phosphorylation is of great interest. Here, we study the interaction of full‐length OPN on the surface of suspended HAP nanoparticles by solution NMR spectroscopy. We report the binding modes of this IDP and provide evidence for the influence of hyperphosphorylation on the binding character and an explanation for the differing roles in biomineralization. Our study moreover presents an easy and suitable option to measure interaction of nanoparticles in a stable suspension with full‐length proteins.
Small‐scale hypoxic cultures for monitoring the spatial reorganization of glycolytic enzymes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Yoshimura Yuki , Hirayama Reina , Miura Natsuko , Utsumi Ryotaro , Kuroda Kouichi , Ueda Mitsuyoshi , Kataoka Michihiko
Published: April 2021

At normal oxygen concentration, glycolytic enzymes are scattered in the cytoplasm of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Under hypoxia, however, most of these enzymes, including enolase, pyruvate kinase, and phosphoglycerate mutase, spatially reorganize to form cytoplasmic foci. We tested various small‐scale hypoxic culture systems and showed that enolase foci formation occurs in all the systems tested, including in liquid and on solid media. Notably, a small‐scale hypoxic culture in a bench‐top multi‐gas incubator enabled the regulation of oxygen concentration in the media and faster foci formation. Here, we demonstrate that the foci formation of enolase starts within few hours after changing the oxygen concentration to 1% in a small‐scale cultivation system. The order of foci formation by each enzyme is tightly regulated, and of the three enzymes, enolase was the fastest to respond to hypoxia. We further tested the use of the small‐scale cultivation method to screen reagents that can control the spatial reorganization of enzymes under hypoxia. An AMPK inhibitor, dorsomorphin, was found to delay formation of the foci in all three glycolytic enzymes tested. These methods and results provide efficient ways to investigate the spatial reorganization of proteins under hypoxia to form a multienzyme assembly, the META body, thereby contributing to understanding and utilizing natural systems to control cellular metabolism via the spatial reorganization of enzymes.
Flow cytometric quantification of apoptotic and proliferating cells applying an improved method for dissociation of spheroids
Authors: Metzger Wolfgang , Rösch Barbara , Sossong Daniela , Bubel Monika , Pohlemann Tim
Published: April 2021

Spheroids are a promising tool for many cell culture applications, but their microscopic analysis is limited. Flow cytometry on a single cell basis, which requires a gentle but also efficient dissociation of spheroids, could be an alternative analysis. Mono‐culture and coculture spheroids consisting of human fibroblasts and human endothelial cells were generated by the liquid overlay technique and were dissociated using AccuMax as a dissociation agent combined with gentle mechanical forces. This study aimed to quantify the number of apoptotic and proliferative cells. We were able to dissociate spheroids of differing size, age, and cellular composition in a single‐step dissociation protocol within 10 min. The number of single cells was higher than 95% and in most cases, the viability of the cells after dissociation was higher than 85%. Coculture spheroids exhibited a higher sensitivity as shown by lower viability, higher amount of cellular debris, and a higher amount of apoptotic cells. Considerable expression of the proliferation marker Ki67 could only be seen in 1‐day‐old spheroids but was already downregulated on Day 3. In summary, our dissociation protocol enabled a fast and gentle dissociation of spheroids for the subsequent flow cytometric analysis. The chosen cell type had a strong influence on cell viability and apoptosis. Initially high rates of proliferative cells decreased rapidly and reached values of healthy tissue 3 days after generation of the spheroids. In conclusion, the flow cytometry of dissociated spheroids could be a promising analytical tool, which could be ideally combined with microscopic techniques.
Exosomes: Isolation, characterization, and biomedical applications
Authors: Alzhrani Ghadi N. , Alanazi Sarah T. , Alsharif Sumayyah Y. , Albalawi Amani M. , Alsharif Anwar A. , Abdel‐Maksoud Mohamed S. , Elsherbiny Nehal
Published: April 2021

Exosomes are nano‐sized bioactive vesicles of 30–150 nm in diameter. They are secreted by exocytosis of nearly all type of cells in to the extracellular fluid. Thereby, they can be found in many biological fluids. Exosomes regulate intracellular communication between cells via delivery of their cargo which include lipids, proteins, and nucleic acid. Many desirable features of exosomes made them promising candidates in several therapeutic applications. In this review, we discuss the use of exosomes as diagnostic tools and their possible biomedical applications. Additionally, current techniques used for isolation, purification, and characterization of exosomes from both biological fluids and in vitro cell cultures were discussed.
Isolation of a Uranium(III)‐Carbon Multiple Bond Complex
Authors: Su Wei , Ma Yanshun , Xiang Libo , Wang Junyi , Wang Shuao , Zhao Lili , Frenking Gernot , Ye Qing
Published: April 2021

Low‐valent uranium‐element multiple bond complexes remain scarce, though there is burgeoning interest regarding to their bonding and reactivity. Herein, isolation of a uranium(III)‐carbon double bond complex [(Cp*)2U(CDP)](BPh4) (1) comprising a tridentate carbodiphosphorane (CDP) was reported for the first time. Oxidation of 1 afforded the corresponding U(IV) complex [(Cp*)2U(CDP)](BPh4)2 (2). The distance between U and C in 2 is 2.481 Å, indicating the existence of a typical U=C double bond, which is further confirmed by quantum chemical calculations. Bonding analysis suggested that the CDP also serves as both σ‐ and π‐donor in complex 1, though a longer U−C bond (2.666(3) Å) is observed. It implies that 1 is the first isolable mononuclear uranium(III) carbene complex. Moreover, these results suggest that CDPs are promising ligands to establish other low‐valent f‐block metal‐carbon multiple bond complexes.
Relay selection, clustering, and data aggregation routing in wireless body area networks
Authors: Ziaei Negin , Avokh Avid
Published: April 2021

This paper addresses the problems of relay selection, clustering, and routing to extend the lifetime of wireless body area networks. We first propose an efficient algorithm called “Energy‐aware Relay Selection and Cluster‐based Routing (ERSCR)” to develop a hybrid data aggregation tree in the network. ERSCR has three phases, including the relay selection, clustering and Cluster Head (CH) selection, and data transmission. It divides the biosensors into several clusters and selects an appropriate CH for each cluster. Each biosensor transmits data to its CH or relay node. The aggregated data are then routed to the sink through an energy‐balanced routing tree. The proposed scheme considers both residual energy and distance for routing data of biosensors. It not only reduces the energy consumption in the network but also balances the energy consumed by different biosensors. Subsequently, we improve the ERSCR algorithm and introduce the “Joint Relay Selection, Clustering, and Routing (JRSCR)” algorithm to achieve a better network performance. JRSCR benefits from the advantages of the ERSCR algorithm. Moreover, it reduces the number of transmissions with the direct use of the relay nodes as CH. As another advantage, both ERSCR and JRSCR algorithms are compatible with the natural physical states of the human body. Simulation results demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed algorithms in terms of energy consumption, network lifetime, and maximum hop count.
National scale down-the-drain environmental risk assessment of oxybenzone in the United States
Authors: Burns Emily E. , Csiszar Susan A. , Roush Kyle S. , Davies Iain A.
Published: April 2021

Organic ultraviolet (UV) filters are used in cosmetic and personal care products (CPCPs) and over-the-counter (OTC) sunscreens, due to their ability to absorb solar radiation. When OTC and CPCP ingredients are washed down the drain, they can then enter freshwaters that receive wastewater treatment plant effluents. This paper presents a freshwater environmental safety assessment of a key UV filter, oxybenzone, used in OTC sunscreens and CPCPs in the United States. Exposure was characterized using iSTREEM®, a spatially resolved aquatic exposure model developed for chemicals disposed of down the drain. iSTREEM® provides a comprehensive exposure assessment of oxybenzone concentrations in United States receiving waters through predicted environmental concentration (PEC) distributions representative of conditions across the region. A review of available hazard data was used to derive a predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) using aquatic toxicity data and assessment factors. A safety assessment was conducted by comparing the PEC distribution with the PNEC. The results indicate that oxybenzone is of low concern and there is a significant margin of safety as the 90th percentile PEC is two orders of magnitude below the PNEC. These results are instrumental in demonstrating the environmental safety of key organic UV filters in the U.S. freshwater environment and will help prioritize future work. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2021;17:951–960. © 2021 Personal Care Products Council. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC)

KEY POINTS

A freshwater environmental risk assessment for oxybenzone was conducted that considered available aquatic toxicity data and down-the-drain emissions of sunscreen, cosmetic, and personal care products. A nationwide distribution of predicted environmental concentrations was modeled, using the spatially explicit iSTREEM® exposure model, and the median and 90th percentile oxybenzone concentrations were predicted to be 0.01 and 0.15 µg/L, respectively. The 90th percentile exposure prediction (reasonable worst case) is two orders of magnitude below the predicted no-effect concentration value of 18 µg/L, indicating that risk is negligible. This paper provides a down-the-drain freshwater environmental risk assessment framework suitable for over-the-counter drugs, cosmetic, and personal care ingredients.
Improving our understanding of the environmental persistence of chemicals
Authors: Whale Graham , Parsons John , van Ginkel Kees , Davenport Russell , Vaiopoulou Eleni , Fenner Kathrin , Schaeffer Andreas
Published: April 2021

Significant progress has been made in the scientific understanding of factors that influence the outcome of biodegradation tests used to assess the persistence (P) of chemicals. This needs to be evaluated to assess whether recently acquired knowledge could enhance existing regulations and environmental risk assessments. Biodegradation tests have limitations, which are accentuated for “difficult-to-test” substances, and failure to recognize these can potentially lead to inappropriate conclusions regarding a chemical's environmental persistence. Many of these limitations have been previously recognized and discussed in a series of ECETOC reports and workshops. These were subsequently used to develop a series of research projects designed to address key issues and, where possible, propose methods to mitigate the limitations of current assessments. Here, we report on the output of a Cefic LRI–Concawe Workshop held in Helsinki on September 27, 2018. The objectives of this workshop were to disseminate key findings from recent projects and assess how new scientific knowledge can potentially support and improve assessments under existing regulatory frameworks. The workshop provided a unique opportunity to initiate a process to reexamine the fundamentals of degradation and what current assessment methods can achieve by (1) providing an overview of the key elements and messages coming from recent research initiatives and (2) stimulating discussion regarding how these interrelate and how new findings can be developed to improve persistence assessments. Opportunities to try and improve understanding of factors affecting biodegradation assessments and better understanding of the persistence of chemicals (particularly UVCBs [substances of unknown or variable composition, complex reaction products, or biological materials]) were identified, and the workshop acted as a catalyst for further multistakeholder activities and engagements to take the persistence assessment of chemicals into the 21st century. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2021;17:1123–1135. © 2021 European Petroleum Refiners Association – Concawe Division. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

KEY POINTS

A multistakeholder workshop discussed implications of recent developments in biodegradation tests used to assess persistence of chemicals. Recognition that current tests and approaches to assess chemical persistence have limitations, especially for difficult-to-test substances. Opportunities to try and improve understanding of factors affecting biodegradation assessments and better understanding of the persistence of chemicals (particularly UVCBs) were identified. The workshop acted as a catalyst for further multistakeholder activities and engagements to take the persistence assessment of chemicals into the 21st century.
Estimating household consumption insurance
Authors: Chatterjee Arpita , Morley James , Singh Aarti
Published: April 2021

Blundell, Pistaferri, and Preston (American Economic Review, 2008, 98(5), 1887–1921) report an estimate of household consumption insurance with respect to permanent income shocks of 36%. In replicating findings for their model and data, we find that this estimate is distorted by a code error and is not robust to weighting scheme for generalized method of moments (GMM) or consideration of quasi maximum likelihood estimation (QMLE), which produces a significantly higher estimate of consumption insurance at 55%. For sub‐groups by age and education, the differences between estimates across methods are even more pronounced, and QMLE provides new insights into heterogeneity across households compared to the original study. Monte Carlo experiments using non‐normal shocks suggest that consumption insurance estimates for the model are more accurate for QMLE than GMM, including when correcting for bias and especially given a smaller sample such as is only available when looking at sub‐groups.
High‐resolution single‐shot phase‐shifting interference microscopy using deep neural network for quantitative phase imaging of biological samples
Authors: Bhatt Sunil , Butola Ankit , Kanade Sheetal Raosaheb , Kumar Anand , Mehta Dalip Singh
Published: April 2021

White light phase‐shifting interference microscopy (WL‐PSIM) is a prominent technique for high‐resolution quantitative phase imaging (QPI) of industrial and biological specimens. However, multiple interferograms with accurate phase‐shifts are essentially required in WL‐PSIM for measuring the accurate phase of the object. Here, we present single‐shot phase‐shifting interferometric techniques for accurate phase measurement using filtered white light (520±36 nm) phase‐shifting interference microscopy (F‐WL‐PSIM) and deep neural network (DNN). The methods are incorporated by training the DNN to generate (a) four phase‐shifted frames and (b) direct phase from a single interferogram. The training of network is performed on two different samples i.e., optical waveguide and MG63 osteosarcoma cells. Further, performance of F‐WL‐PSIM+DNN framework is validated by comparing the phase map extracted from network generated and experimentally recorded interferograms. The current approach can further strengthen QPI techniques for high‐resolution phase recovery using a single frame for different biomedical applications.
Determinants of worry using the SARS‐CoV‐19 worry (CoV‐Wo) scale among United States residents
Authors: Dayton Lauren , Schneider Kristin , Strickland Justin C. , Latkin Carl
Published: April 2021

We sought to develop a brief Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2‐related worry (CoV‐Wo) scale to understand COVID‐19‐related worry among adults in the United States. We also aimed to model key determinants of worry in the early stage of the COVID‐19 pandemic in the United States. A total of 806 participants completed an online survey in late March 2020. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses assessed scale structure. Factor analysis stratified by depression was used to assess measurement invariance. Linear regression models examined COVID‐19‐related worry determinants. The CoV‐Wo scale exhibited good reliability (α = 0.80) and a two‐factor structure: health (α = 0.83) and resources (α = 0.71). The full scale and both subscales were higher among participants who stopped working due to COVID‐19 and those with depression. Perception of quality medical care if infected with COVID‐19 was associated with reduced worry. The CoV‐Wo scale is a low burden assessment of COVID‐19‐related worry, that captures common worries in domains affected by COVID‐19 and can be used to develop psychosocial resources.
Tanshinone IIA enhances susceptibility of non-small cell lung cancer cells to NK cell-mediated lysis by up-regulating ULBP1 and DR5
Authors: Sun Yufang , Gong Chenyuan , Ni Zhongya , Hu Dan , Ng Wanyi , Zhu Xiaowen , Wang Lixin , Si Guifan , Yan Xuewei , Zhao Chen , Yao Chao , Zhu Shiguo
Published: April 2021

Natural killer (NK) cells have a great potential in cancer immunotherapy. However, their therapeutic efficacy is clinically limited owing to cancer cell immune escape. Therefore, it is urgently necessary to develop novel method to improve the antitumor immunity of NK cells. In the present study, it was found that the natural product tanshinone IIA (TIIA) enhanced NK cell-mediated killing of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. TIIA in combination with adoptive transfer of NK cells synergistically suppressed the tumor growth of NSCLC cells in an immune-incompetent mouse model. Furthermore, TIIA significantly inhibited the tumor growth of Lewis lung cancer (LLC) in an immune-competent syngeneic mouse model, and such inhibitory effect was reversed by the depletion of NK cells. Moreover, TIIA increased expressions of ULBP1 and DR5 in NSCLC cells, and inhibition of DR5 and ULBP1 reduced the enhancement of NK cell-mediated lysis by TIIA. Besides, TIIA increased the levels of p-PERK, ATF4 and CHOP. Knockdown of ATF4 completely reversed the up-regulation of ULBP1 and DR5 by TIIA in all detected NSCLC cells, while knockdown of CHOP only partly reduced these enhanced expressions in small parts of NSCLC cells. These results demonstrated that TIIA could increase the susceptibility of NSCLC cells to NK cell-mediated lysis by up-regulating ULBP1 and DR5, suggesting that TIIA had a promising potential in cancer immunotherapy, especially in NK cell-based cancer immunotherapy.
Diagnostic accuracy of the Cepheid Xpert Xpress and the Abbott ID NOW assay for rapid detection of SARS‐CoV‐2: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Lee Jonghoo , Song Jae‐Uk
Published: April 2021

Rapid and accurate diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection is essential to prevent the spread of the virus. We investigated the diagnostic accuracy of the Xpert Xpress and the ID NOW assays for rapid detection of SARS‐CoV‐2 using a systemic review and meta‐analysis approach. A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane COVID‐19 Study Register. The sensitivity and specificity of these tests for detecting viruses in patients with suspected SARS‐CoV‐2 infection were pooled. We used commercial and laboratory‐developed reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reactions as reference standards. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies‐2 tool was used to assess the risk of bias. We identified 11 studies involving 1734 subjects for the Xpert Xpress assay and 10 studies involving 1778 subjects for the ID NOW assay. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of the Xpert Xpress assay for detection of SARS‐CoV‐2 were 0.99 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.97 to 0.99) and 0.97 (95% CI, 0.95 to 0.98), respectively. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of the ID NOW assay were 0.79 (95% CI, 0.69 to 0.86) and 1.00 (95% CI, 0.98 to 1.00), respectively. The studies included in our analysis seemed to have low methodological quality. The Xpert Xpress assay showed excellent diagnostic accuracy for rapid detection of SARS‐CoV‐2. However, as the ID NOW assay showed relatively low sensitivity, this test might miss several positive samples.
Multi‐segment foot kinematics during gait following ankle arthroplasty
Authors: Fritz Jessica M. , Canseco Karl , Konop Katherine A. , Kruger Karen M. , Tarima Sergey , Long Jason T. , Law Brian C. , Kraus Jonathan C. , King David M. , Harris Gerald F.
Published: April 2021

Ankle arthritis is a debilitating disease marked by pain and limited function. Total ankle arthroplasty improves pain while preserving motion and offers an alternative to the traditional treatment of ankle fusion. Gait analysis and functional outcomes tools can provide an objective balanced analysis of ankle replacement for the treatment of ankle arthritis. Twenty‐nine patients with end‐stage ankle arthritis were evaluated before and after ankle arthroplasty. Multi‐segment foot and ankle kinematics were assessed annually following surgery (average 3.5 years, range 1–6 years) using the Milwaukee Foot Model and a Vicon video motion analysis system. Functional outcomes (American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society [AOFAS] ankle/hindfoot scale, short form 36 [SF‐36] questionnaire) and temporal‐spatial parameters were also assessed. Kinematic results were compared to findings from a previously collected group of healthy ambulators. AOFAS and SF‐36 mean scores improved postoperatively. Walking speed and stride length increased after surgery. There were significant improvements in tibial sagittal range of motion in terminal stance and hindfoot sagittal range of motion in preswing. Decreased external rotation of the tibia and increased external rotation of the hindfoot were noted throughout the gait cycle. Pain and function improved after ankle replacement as supported by better outcomes scores, increased temporal‐spatial parameters, and significant improvement in tibial sagittal range of motion during terminal stance and hindfoot sagittal range of motion during preswing. While multi‐segment foot kinematics were improved, they were not restored to control values. Statement of clinical significance: Total ankle arthroplasty does not fully normalize mutli‐segment gait kinematics despite improved patient‐reported outcomes and gait mechanics.
Long term comparison of the prognostic performance of PerioRisk, periodontal risk assessment, periodontal risk calculator, and staging and grading systems
Authors: Saleh Muhammad H. A. , Dukka Himabindu , Troiano Giuseppe , Ravidà Andrea , Qazi Musa , Wang Hom‐Lay , Greenwell Henry
Published: April 2021

Background

Clinicians predominantly use personal judgment for risk assessment. Periodontal risk assessment tools (PRATs) provide an effective and logical system to stratify patients based on their individual treatment needs. This retrospective longitudinal study aimed to validate the association of different risk categories of four PRATs (Staging and grading; Periodontal Risk Assessment (PRA); Periodontal Risk Calculator; and PerioRisk) with periodontal related tooth loss (TLP), and to compare their prognostic performance.

Methods

Data on medical history, smoking status, and clinical periodontal parameters were retrieved from patients who received surgical and non‐surgical periodontal treatment. A comparison of the rate of TLP and non‐periodontal related tooth loss (TLO) within the risk tool classes were performed by means of Kruskal‐Wallis test followed by post‐hoc comparison with the Bonferroni test. Both univariate and multivariate Cox Proportional hazard regression models were built to analyze the prognostic significance for each single risk assessment tool class on TLP.

Results

A total of 167 patients with 4321 teeth followed up for a mean period of 26 years were assigned to four PRATs. PerioRisk class 5 had a hazard ratio of 18.43, Stage 4 had a hazard ratio of 7.99, and PRA class 3 had a hazard ratio of 6.13 compared with class/stage I. With respect to prognostic performance, PerioRisk tool demonstrated the best discrimination and model fit followed by PRA.

Conclusion

All PRATs displayed very good predictive capability of TLP. PerioRisk showed the best discrimination and model fit, followed by PRA.
Decidable fan theorem and uniform continuity theorem with continuous moduli
Authors: Fujiwara Makoto , Kawai Tatsuji
Published: April 2021

The uniform continuity theorem states that every pointwise continuous real‐valued function on the unit interval is uniformly continuous. In constructive mathematics, is strictly stronger than the decidable fan theorem , but Loeb [17] has shown that the two principles become equivalent by encoding continuous real‐valued functions as type‐one functions. However, the precise relation between such type‐one functions and continuous real‐valued functions (usually described as type‐two objects) has been unknown. In this paper, we introduce an appropriate notion of continuity for a modulus of a continuous real‐valued function on [0, 1], and show that real‐valued functions with continuous moduli are exactly those functions induced by Loeb's codes. Our characterisation relies on two assumptions: (1) real numbers are represented by regular sequences (equivalently Cauchy sequences with explicitly given moduli); (2) the continuity of a modulus is defined with respect to the product metric on the regular sequences inherited from the Baire space. Our result implies that is equivalent to the statement that every pointwise continuous real‐valued function on [0, 1] with a continuous modulus is uniformly continuous. We also show that is equivalent to a similar principle for real‐valued functions on the Cantor space . These results extend Berger's [2] characterisation of for integer‐valued functions on and unify some characterisations of in terms of functions having continuous moduli.
An effective relaxed alternating procedure for Cauchy problem connected with Helmholtz Equation
Authors: Berdawood Karzan A. , Nachaoui Abdeljalil , Nachaoui Mourad , Aboud Fatima
Published: April 2021

This paper is concerned with the Cauchy problem for the Helmholtz equation. Recently, some new works asked the convergence of the well‐known alternating iterative method. Our main result is to propose a new alternating algorithm based on relaxation technique. In contrast to the existing results, the proposed algorithm is simple to implement, converges for all choice of wave number, and it can be used as an acceleration of convergence in the case where the classical alternating algorithm converges. We present theoretical results of the convergence of our algorithm. The numerical results obtained using our relaxed algorithm and the finite element approximation show the numerical stability, consistency and convergence of this algorithm. This confirms the efficiency of the proposed method.
Enhancement in the Dielectric Property of Thick Lead Zirconium Titanate Films under UV Illumination
Authors: Vandana  , Gupta Reema , Tomar Monika , Tandon Ram Pal , Gupta Vinay
Published: April 2021

This work studies the effect on dielectric properties of lead zirconium titanate (Pb1.1Zr0.4Ti0.6O3 [PZT]) thick films under UV light illumination (wavelength =325 nm) for the realization of tunable capacitors. A modified sol–gel technique is utilized for the growth of polycrystalline PZT thick films on nickel substrate. The PZT films are deposited on Ni, and three different temperatures (450, 550, and 650 °C) are selected for annealing the samples in air atmosphere. Dielectric studies are performed on the optimized films, under varying intensities of UV radiation. Enhanced dielectric constant values are observed under UV illumination for the PZT films annealed at 550 and 650 °C due to generation of photocarriers and induced oxygen vacancies. An appreciable change in dielectric constant of about 75% at 1 MHz frequency is seen for the PZT film fabricated at higher annealing temperature (650 ºC) under UV illumination (intensity = 12 mW cm−2). The obtained results are encouraging for the utilization of thick PZT films in tunable capacitors.
Is the Science of Reading Just the Science of Reading English?
Authors: Share David L.
Published: April 2021

The science of reading has made genuine progress in understanding reading and the teaching of reading, but is the science of reading just the science of reading English? Worldwide, a majority of students learn to read and write in non‐European, nonalphabetic orthographies such as abjads (e.g., Arabic), abugidas/alphasyllabaries (e.g., Hindi), or morphosyllabaries (e.g., Chinese). Over a decade ago, I argued that the extreme inconsistency of English spelling–sound correspondence had confined the science of reading to an insular, Anglocentric research agenda addressing theoretical and applied issues with limited relevance for a universal science of reading. Here, I ask if the science of reading has moved forward. Acknowledging some limited progress over the past decade, it is evident that even today, mainstream reading research remains entrenched in Anglocentrism, Eurocentrism, and another form of ethnocentrism that I call alphabetism. Even the two dominant theoretical frameworks for describing cross‐script diversity, orthographic depth and psycholinguistic grain size theory, give little or no consideration to non‐European alphabets or nonalphabetic scripts, promoting a one‐dimensional view of script variation (i.e., spelling–sound consistency). Consideration of the full spectrum of the world’s languages and writing systems reveals multiple dimensions of writing system complexity, each liable to create obstacles for the developing reader. If the science of reading is to contribute meaningfully to assessment, diagnosis, instruction, and intervention for all readers around the world, then we must extricate our field from entrenched ethnocentrism and embrace global diversity.
“People Get Mistaken”: Asian American Girls Using Multiple Literacies to Defy Dominant Imaginings of Asian American Girlhood
Authors: Player Grace D.
Published: April 2021

In this article, I use narrative portraiture as a methodology to inquire into the ways that two Asian American (AsAm) girls used their time in an after‐school writing collaborative for girls of Color to explore and express their identities and political commitments through multiple literacies. Building on theoretical foundations of AsianCrit, women of Color, and AsAm feminisms, and sociocultural understandings of literacies, I argue against the flattening of AsAm girlhood, rooted in the harmful intersection of sexism and stereotypes such as the model minority and forever foreigner tropes. Three learnings emerged from this study: (1) AsAm girls’ relational literacies are used to explore and express AsAm girlhood, (2) AsAm girls use multimodal literacies to inquire into and story their identities in ways that resist dominant definitions of AsAm girlhood, and (3) AsAm girls are holders of emerging political identities that can be supported through supportive literacy curriculum. The work of the girls featured in this article has important implications for the ways the field understands AsAm girlhood and AsAm girl literacies. I put forth a necessary call for more AsAm feminist scholars to work alongside AsAm girls to create richer understandings of their needs and desires and how we might support them through literacy pedagogies.
Organizing knowledge transfer between university and agribusiness firms
Authors: Vesperi Walter , Melina Anna Maria , Ventura Marzia , Coppolino Raffaella , Reina Rocco
Published: April 2021

The agribusiness sector represents an economic sector of particular importance and with the highest employment rate. The sector is very complex due to the characteristics of the organizations that are part of it and need to base their competitive advantage on innovations often obtained by sharing knowledge with third organizations. The study highlights the main theories of the key organizational factors that influence the knowledge transfer process between universities and firms and presents the first results of an exploratory analysis, aimed to understand what are the key organizational factors identified by the entrepreneurs of the agribusiness sector that affect knowledge transfer for innovation, in particular from universities and high educational institutions. The study can help agribusiness organizations to activate and manage their interorganizational relationships in order to improve their mechanism of knowledge sharing for innovation and shed light for scholars on an important business sector.
Energy Harvesting/Storage and Environmental Remediation via Hot Drinks Wastes
Authors: Parsimehr Hamidreza , Ehsani Ali , Goharshenas Moghadam Saba , Arachchige Dumith Madushanka Jayathilaka Wanasinghe , Ramakrishna Seeram
Published: April 2021

Providing energy and materials are considered one most important issue in the world. Produce and storage energy and also, prepare chemical substances from disposable biomass materials have been widely developed in recent decades to decrease environmental pollutions and production costs. The waste of hot drinks including coffee wastes and tea wastes have considerable potentials to provide energy and different chemical substances. Also, hazardous materials (especially aqueous ions) can be absorbed via hot drinks wastes to protect the environment against perilous pollutants. The low‐cost and benign hot drinks wastes including tea wastes and coffee grounds and also the pyrolyzed of them as the hot drinks waste biochar materials have been widely used to produce and store green energies and also, absorb hazardous materials. Production and storage energy and environmental remediation in these sustainable procedures not only reduce the cost of energy but also protect the environment.
Straightforward Construction and Functionalizations of Nitrogen‐Containing Heterocycles Through Migratory Insertion of Metal‐Carbenes/Nitrenes
Authors: Bera Satabdi , Biswas Aniruddha , Samanta Rajarshi
Published: April 2021

Nitrogen‐containing heterocycles are widely found in various biologically active substrates, pharmaceuticals, natural products and organic materials. Consequently, the continuous effort has been devoted towards the development of straightforward, economical, environmentally acceptable, efficient and ingenious methods for the synthesis of various N‐containing heterocycles and their functionalizations. Arguably, one of the most prominent direct strategy is regioselective C−H bond functionalizations which provide the step and atom economical approaches in the presence of suitable coupling partners. In this context, site‐selective migratory insertion of metal carbenes/nitrenes to the desired C−H bonds has proven as a useful tool to access various functionalized nitrogen heterocycles. In this personal account, we highlight some of our contemporary development toward constructing N‐containing heterocycles and their direct functionalizations via transition metal catalysed C−H bond functionalizations based on migratory insertion of metal‐carbenes and nitrenes.
China's diversification strategy in Latin American and African markets: Defense software and hardware exports
Authors: Gouvea Raul , Kapelianis Dimitri , Terra Branca
Published: April 2021

In the past two decades, China has become a strategic economic partner for both Latin American and African nations. China's economic global relevance is translating via its “Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)” into massive amounts of foreign trade, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), loans, and aid for both regions. Recently, China has added a national security and defense dimension to its BRI relationship with both regions. China's global strategic economic, geopolitical, and global defense goals are being expressed in its global “Road and Belt” power initiatives and strategies. This paper explores an additional dimension of China's BRI initiative: its role in both regions' defense industries and national security environments. China is increasingly using its trade and investment leverage with both regions to unbalance their defense choices and strategic defense relationships. China's increasing interactions with African and Latin American countries poses a number of geopolitical implications for both the United States and Western European countries.
Interobserver agreement of transvaginal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging in local staging of cervical cancer
Authors: Pálsdóttir K. , Fridsten S. , Blomqvist L. , Alagic Z. , Fischerova D. , Gaurilcikas A. , Hasselrot K. , Jäderling F. , Testa A. C. , Sundin A. , Epstein E.
Published: April 2021

Objective

To evaluate interobserver agreement for the assessment of local tumor extension in women with cervical cancer, among experienced and less experienced observers, using transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods

The TVS observers were all gynecologists and consultant ultrasound specialists, six with and seven without previous experience in cervical cancer imaging. The MRI observers were five radiologists experienced in pelvic MRI and four less experienced radiology residents without previous experience in MRI of the pelvis. The less experienced TVS observers and all MRI observers underwent a short basic training session in the assessment of cervical tumor extension, while the experienced TVS observers received only a written directive. All observers were assigned the same images from cervical cancer patients at all stages (n = 60) and performed offline evaluation to answer the following three questions: (1) Is there a visible primary tumor? (2) Does the tumor infiltrate > ⅓ of the cervical stroma? and (3) Is there parametrial invasion? Interobserver agreement within the four groups of observers was assessed using Fleiss kappa (κ) with 95% CI.

Results

Experienced and less experienced TVS observers, respectively, had moderate interobserver agreement with respect to tumor detection (κ (95% CI), 0.46 (0.40–0.53) and 0.46 (0.41–0.52)), stromal invasion > ⅓ (κ (95% CI), 0.45 (0.38–0.51) and 0.53 (0.40–0.58)) and parametrial invasion (κ (95% CI), 0.57 (0.51–0.64) and 0.44 (0.39–0.50)). Experienced MRI observers had good interobserver agreement with respect to tumor detection (κ (95% CI), 0.70 (0.62–0.78)), while less experienced MRI observers had moderate agreement (κ (95% CI), 0.51 (0.41–0.62)), and both experienced and less experienced MRI observers, respectively, had good interobserver agreement regarding stromal invasion (κ (95% CI), 0.80 (0.72–0.88) and 0.71 (0.61–0.81)) and parametrial invasion (κ (95% CI), 0.69 (0.61–0.77) and 0.71 (0.61–0.81)).

Conclusions

We found interobserver agreement for the assessment of local tumor extension in patients with cervical cancer to be moderate for TVS and moderate‐to‐good for MRI. The level of interobserver agreement was associated with experience among TVS observers only for parametrial invasion. © 2021 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Stray Agency and Interspecies Care: The Amsterdam Stray Cats and Their Humans
Authors: Meijer Eva
Published: April 2021

This chapter discusses the Stichting Amsterdamse Zwerfkatten (Amsterdam Stray Cat Foundation, afterwards SAZ), who work with and for stray cats. In their practices and views they challenge common assumptions about cat subjectivity and agency, the cats’ right to a habitat and social relations, as well as the idea that there is a strict difference between cats and humans. Their approach offers an alternative way of thinking about cat agency and human agency, networks of cat-human relations, sharing the city with cats, and working towards more freedom for cats and humans. In the chapter I examine these relations from the perspective of agency, care, and politics, and investigate whether or not this can function as a model for building new communities with other animals, which centres their agency.