bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conjoint use of Naphthalene Diimide and Fullerene Derivatives to Generate Organic Semiconductors for n–type Organic Thin Film Transistors
Authors: Birajdar Shailesh S. , Brixi Samantha , Rao Pedada Srinivasa , Bhosale Rajesh S. , Kobaisi Mohammad Al , Gupta Akhil , Lessard Benoît H. , Bhosale Sidhanath V. , Bhosale Sheshanath V.
Published: February 2021

In this paper, we described the design, synthesis, and characterization of two novel naphthalene diimide (NDI) core‐based targets modified with terminal fullerene (C60) yield – so called S4 and S5, in which NDI bearing 1 and 2 molecules of C60, respectively. The absorption, electrochemical and thin‐film transistor characteristics of the newly developed targets were investigated in detail. Both S4 and S5 displayed broad absorption in the 450–500 nm region, owing to the effect of conjugation due to fullerene functionalities. The electrochemical measurement suggested that the HOMO and the LUMO energy levels can be altered with the number of C60 units. Both S4 and S5 were employed as organic semiconductor materials in n‐channel transistors. The thin film transistor based on S4 exhibited superior electron mobility (μe) values ranging from 1.20×10−4 to 3.58×10−4 cm2 V−1 s−1 with a current on‐off ratio varying from 102 to 103 in comparison with the performance of S5 based transistor, which exhibited μe ranging from 8.33×10−5 to 2.03×10−4 cm2 V−1 s−1 depending on channel lengths.
Positive Health Externalities of Mandating Paid Sick Leave
Authors: Pichler Stefan , Wen Katherine , Ziebarth Nicolas R.
Published: February 2021

A growing economic literature studies the optimal design of social insurance systems and the empirical identification of welfare‐relevant externalities. In this paper, we test whether mandating employee access to paid sick leave has reduced influenza‐like‐illness (ILI) transmission rates as well as pneumonia and influenza (P&I) mortality rates in the United States. Using uniquely compiled data from administrative sources at the state‐week level from 2010 to 2018 along with difference‐in‐differences methods, we present quasi‐experimental evidence that sick pay mandates have causally reduced doctor‐certified ILI rates at the population level. On average, ILI rates fell by about 11 percent or 290 ILI cases per 100,000 patients per week in the first year.
Factors influencing nature interactions vary between cities and types of nature interactions
Authors: Oh Rui Ying Rachel , Fielding Kelly S. , Nghiem Thi Phuong Le , Chang Chia‐Chen , Shanahan Danielle F. , Gaston Kevin J. , Carrasco Roman L. , Fuller Richard A.
Published: February 2021

There is mounting concern that people living more urbanised, modern lifestyles have fewer and lower quality interactions with nature, and therefore have limited access to the associated health and well‐being benefits. Yet, variation in the different types of nature interactions and the factors that influence these interactions across populations are poorly understood.

We compared four types of nature interactions by administering surveys across two cities that differ markedly in urbanisation pattern and population density—Singapore and Brisbane—: (a) indirect (viewing nature through a window at work or at home); (b) incidental (spending time in nature as part of work); (c) intentional interactions in gardens; and (d) intentional interactions in public urban greenspace.

Our results show that Singapore respondents spent about half as much time (25.8 hr/week) interacting with nature as Brisbane respondents (52.3 hr/week), and indirect interactions were the most prevalent across both cities.

Nature orientation, age, income and gender significantly predicted the duration of nature interactions in both cities, while self‐reported health, education and ethnicity additionally predicted the duration of nature interactions only for Brisbane. Also, the relationship(s) between each factor and duration could differ in direction and effect size between the types of nature interactions.

As such, we conclude that there is much local variation in the dynamics of interactions between people and nature, and that focused studies are needed to develop effective interventions addressing declines in nature interactions in different locations.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Effect of two‐dimensional zeolitic imidazolate frameworks‐L on flame retardant property of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers
Authors: Xu Wenzong , Cheng Zihao , Zhong Di , Qin Zhongqiong , Zhou Nan , Li Wu
Published: February 2021

In this study, three kinds of two‐dimensional nanoplates consisting of zinc zeolite imidazole frameworks‐L (Zn‐ZIF‐L), cobalt zeolite imidazole frameworks‐L (Co‐ZIF‐L), and Zinc‐Cobalt hybrid zeolite imidazole frameworks‐L (Zn&Co‐ZIF‐L), were prepared by a green and nonpolluting method. Each of the three nanoplates was added to thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers (TPU) at 3 wt% to investigate their performance in flame retardancy and smoke suppression of TPU. Compared with pure TPU, the limiting oxygen index values of Zn‐ZIF‐L/TPU, Co‐ZIF‐L/TPU, and Zn&Co‐ZIF‐L/TPU increased from 23.2% for pure TPU to 25.3, 26.0, and 25.7%, respectively; the total heat release of these three composite materials decreased by 7.8, 11.4, and 9.3%, their peak heat release rate decreased by 28.8, 42.8, and 43.8% and their peak smoke production rate reduced by 50, 45, and 51.5%, respectively. All three nanoplates showed good flame retardancy and smoke suppression properties. In addition, through thermogravimetric/Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TG‐FTIR) analysis of the TPU composite and the X‐ray diffraction analysis of residual char, the specific flame‐retardant mechanisms and smoke suppression mechanisms were explored.
Association between the timing of asthma diagnosis and medication use during pregnancy
Authors: Issa Simone , Longo Cristina , Forget Amélie , Blais Lucie
Published: February 2021

Study objective

To assess whether asthma medication use during pregnancy differs in women newly diagnosed with asthma early in pregnancy (first 19 weeks of pregnancy) compared to those newly diagnosed up to 2 years pre‐pregnancy.

Design

A retrospective population‐based cohort study.

Data source

To conduct this study, we used the Quebec Asthma and Pregnancy Database (QAPD) constructed by linking two administrative health databases from the province of Quebec (Canada): the Régie de l’Assurance Maladie du Québec and Maintenance et Exploitation des Données pour l’Étude de la Clientèle Hospitalière databases.

Patients

A cohort comprising pregnant women newly diagnosed with asthma at any time in the 2 years prior to pregnancy or during the first 19 weeks of pregnancy was selected from the QAPD.

Measurements and Main Results

We assessed the number of filled prescriptions of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), ICS/long‐acting β2 agonists (LABA), and short‐acting β2 agonists (SABA), as well as the number of days’ supply of oral corticosteroid (OCS) from the 20th week of pregnancy until delivery. Poisson regression was used to compare the rates of asthma medication use in women diagnosed pre‐pregnancy versus early in pregnancy. The cohort included 1731 women newly diagnosed with asthma pre‐pregnancy and 359 women newly diagnosed with asthma early in pregnancy. Women diagnosed early in pregnancy were more likely to use ICS (adjusted rate ratio: 1.9, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.6–2.3) and SABA (adjusted rate ratio: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.7–2.4) from the 20th week of pregnancy until delivery than those newly diagnosed pre‐pregnancy. No significant differences were observed in the use of ICS/LABA [adjusted rate ratio: 0.9, 95% CI: 0.7–1.3] and OCS [adjusted rate ratio: 0.8, 95% CI: 0.6–1.2].

Conclusion

The higher use of ICS and SABA observed in women newly diagnosed with asthma early in pregnancy may suggest a more persistent asthma phenotype caused by pregnancy‐triggered hormonal changes.
Dual‐spectroscopic real‐time monitoring of the reduction reaction between aristolochic acid I and Fe2+ and its bio‐application
Authors: Gao Ce , Zhang Qijia , Ma Liping , Lu Xuemei , Wu Shiwei , Song Peng , Xia Lixin
Published: February 2021

Aristolochic acid (AA) is widely present in herbal medicine. Aristolochic acid I (AAI) and aristolochic acid lactam (AAT), as the main active ingredients in AAs, have serious nephrotoxicity, strong carcinogenicity, and mutagenicity. AAT is a metabolite of AAI in the human body. AAI can be reduced by Fe2+ both in the human body and soil. A new dual spectrum is proposed to monitor the reaction directly from the human protein serum (HAS) and A549 cells through surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and its biological product AAT through fluorescence detection (FLD) spectra based on its unique spectral response. In order to better monitor the reduction reaction, the AAI detection conditions are optimized, including concentration, pH, reducing agent, and reaction time. During the experiment, Ag@Au is selected as the SERS substrate. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize the prepared SERS support substrate. CCK‐8 assays showed that the viability of cells decline after adding AAI. Fe2+ was found to detect AAI in endogenous A 549 cells.
Crystal structure and molecular dynamics simulations of a promiscuous ancestor reveal residues and an epistatic interaction involved in substrate binding and catalysis in the ATP‐dependent vitamin kinase family members
Authors: Gonzalez‐Ordenes Felipe , Bravo‐Moraga Felipe , Gonzalez Evelin , Hernandez‐Cabello Leslie , Alzate‐Morales Jans , Guixé Victoria , Castro‐Fernandez Victor
Published: February 2021

Enzymes with hydroxymethylpyrimidine/phosphomethylpyrimidine kinase activity (HMPPK) are essential in the vitamin B1 (thiamine pyrophosphate) biosynthesis and recycling pathways. In contrast, enzymes with pyridoxal kinase activity (PLK) produce pyridoxal phosphate (vitamin B6), an essential cofactor for various biochemical reactions. In the ATP‐dependent vitamin kinases family, the members of PLK/HMPPK‐like subfamily have both enzymatic activities. It has been proposed that the promiscuous PLK activity of ancestral HMPPK enzymes could have been the starting point for this activity. In earlier work, we reconstructed the ancestral sequences of this family and characterized the substrate specificity of the common ancestor between PLK/HMPPK‐like and HMPPK enzymes (AncC). From these studies, the Gln45Met mutation was proposed as a critical event for the PLK activity emergence. Here, we crystallize and determine the AncC structure by X‐ray crystallography and assess the role of the Gln45Met mutation by site‐directed mutagenesis. Kinetic characterization of this mutant shows a significant increase in the PL affinity. Through molecular dynamics simulation and MM/PBSA calculations some residues, important for substrate interactions and catalysis, were identified in the wild type and in the mutated ancestor. Interestingly, a strong epistatic interaction responsible for the evolutionary pathway of the PLK activity in PLK/HMPPK‐like enzymes was revealed. Also, other putative mutations relevant to PLK activity in modern PLK/HMPPK‐like enzymes were identified.
Nitrous oxide improves cardiovascular, respiratory, and thermal stability during prolonged isoflurane anesthesia in juvenile guinea pigs
Authors: Sixtus Ryan P. , Gray Clint , Berry Mary J. , Dyson Rebecca M.
Published: February 2021

Anesthesia is frequently used to facilitate physiological monitoring during interventional animal studies. However, its use may induce cardiovascular (central and peripheral), respiratory, and thermoregulatory depression, confounding results in anesthetized animals. Despite the wide utility of guinea pigs as a translational platform, anesthetic protocols remain unstandardized for extended physiological studies in this species. Therefore, optimizing an anesthetic protocol that balances stable anesthesia with intact cardiorespiratory and metabolic function is crucial. To achieve this, 12 age and sex‐matched juvenile Dunkin Hartley guinea pigs underwent extended anesthesia (≤150 min) with either (a) isoflurane (ISO: 1.5%), or (b) isoflurane + N2O (ISO+ N2O: 0.8% +70%), in this randomized cross‐over designed study. Cardiovascular (HR, SBP, peripheral microvascular blood flow), respiratory (respiratory rate, SpO2), and thermal (Tre and Tsk) measures were recorded continuously throughout anesthesia. Blood gas measures pre‐ and post‐ anesthesia were performed. Incorporation of 70% N2O allowed for significant reductions in isoflurane (to 0.8%) while maintaining an effective anesthetic depth for prolonged noninvasive physiological examination in guinea pigs. ISO+N2O maintained heart rate, peripheral blood flow, respiratory rate, and thermoregulatory function at levels closest to those of conscious animals, especially in females; however, it did not fully rescue anesthesia‐induced hypotension. These results suggest that for studies requiring prolonged physiological examination (≤150 min) in guinea pigs, 0.8% isoflurane with a 70% N2O adjuvant provides adequate anesthesia, while minimizing associated cardiorespiratory depression. The preservation of cardiorespiratory status is most marked throughout the first hour of anesthesia.
Seed dressing with triflumezopyrim controls brown planthopper populations by inhibiting feeding behavior, fecundity and enhancing rice plant resistance
Authors: Wu Qing , Zhang Guo , Chen Yu , Yu Julong , Zhou Yongkai , Shu Zhaolin , Ge Linquan
Published: February 2021

BACKGROUND

Triflumezopyrim (TFM), a novel mesoionic insecticide, has high efficiency at a low dosage, and is mainly used to control hopper species. A previous study demonstrated that seed dressing with TFM effectively controlled rice planthopper populations in mechanically transplanted rice fields; however, mode of action for control was unclear.

RESULTS

The study shows that seed dressing with TFM resulted in elevated levels of oxalic acid, flavonoids, phenolic substances, callose and other compounds associated with Nilaparvata lugens resistance in rice plants, and low TFM residue content in rice plant stem and grain. Host choice behavioral experiments showed that N. lugens females prefer feeding on untreated rice plants. Electrical penetration graph (EPG) data showed that seed dressing with TFM at medium and high doses significantly prolonged the non‐probing period and inhibited phloem ingestion in N. lugens females. These changes led to a significant decrease in female secretion of honeydew, expression of genes encoding vitellogenin and juvenile hormone acid methyltransferase, body weight and longevity, and significantly influenced several physiological parameters resulting in impaired oocyte growth, fecundity and population. Field survey data showed that seed dressing with TFM was efficacious and relatively durable in protecting rice plants from infestation by planthoppers.

CONCLUSION

This study revealed that seed dressing with TFM enhances rice plant resistance to N. lugens by limiting phloem ingestion and increasing the N. lugens non‐probing period; this leads to reduced fecundity of females and lowers N. lugens numbers in the field.

© 2021 Society of Chemical Industry
Statistical approaches to assimilate ASCAT soil moisture information—I. Methodologies and first assessment
Authors: Aires Filipe , Weston Peter , de Rosnay Patricia , Fairbairn David
Published: February 2021

Land surfaces are characterised by strong heterogeneities of soil texture, orography, land cover, soil moisture, snow, and other variables. The complexity of the surface properties is very challenging to represent accurately in radiative transfer models, which have a limited reliability over land, especially for observations such as given. This has resulted in difficulties in assimilating land‐surface related satellite observations in numerical weather prediction models. Simple statistical relationships between satellite observations and surface variables have therefore been considered in the last 20 years. In this study, we propose to compare two such approaches: cumulative distribution function (CDF)‐matching (used as a normalisation and an inversion technique) and neural network (NN) methods. CDF‐matching finds a simple monovariate relationship at the local scale and is very dependent on the land‐surface model (LSM) on which it is calibrated. NNs are global multivariate models able to exploit auxiliary information and the synergy of multiple instruments, but the solution is global and no local characteristics constrain the solution. One of these two methods will be better suited, depending on the application—in particular the simplicity of the satellite/variable relationship. We illustrate these concepts here using Advanced SCATerometer (ASCAT) observations for soil moisture (SM) retrieval in an assimilation context. The two approaches are compared and combined. We also compare the more traditional inversion scheme and forward modelling, which could be attractive for assimilation purposes. We show that, in the context of ASCAT, the inversion approach seems better suited than the forward modelling. We also show that it is possible to combine the global model obtained using the NN and the localised information of the LSM offered by CDF‐matching.
District‐level estimation of vaccination coverage: Discrete vs continuous spatial models
Authors: Utazi C. Edson , Nilsen Kristine , Pannell Oliver , Dotse‐Gborgbortsi Winfred , Tatem Andrew J.
Published: February 2021

Health and development indicators (HDIs) such as vaccination coverage are regularly measured in many low‐ and middle‐income countries using household surveys, often due to the unreliability or incompleteness of routine data collection systems. Recently, the development of model‐based approaches for producing subnational estimates of HDIs using survey data, particularly cluster‐level data, has been an active area of research. This is mostly driven by the increasing demand for estimates at certain administrative levels, for example, districts, at which many development goals are set and evaluated. In this study, we explore spatial modeling approaches for producing district‐level estimates of vaccination coverage. Specifically, we compare discrete spatial smoothing models which directly model district‐level data with continuous Gaussian process (GP) models that utilize geolocated cluster‐level data. We adopt a fully Bayesian framework, implemented using the INLA and SPDE approaches. We compare the predictive performance of the models by analyzing vaccination coverage using data from two Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), namely the 2014 Kenya DHS and the 2015‐16 Malawi DHS. We find that the continuous GP models performed well, offering a credible alternative to traditional discrete spatial smoothing models. Our analysis also revealed that accounting for between‐cluster variation in the continuous GP models did not have any real effect on the district‐level estimates. Our results provide guidance to practitioners on the reliability of these model‐based approaches for producing estimates of vaccination coverage and other HDIs.
Photooxidation Analysis of Two Isomeric Nonfullerene Acceptors: A Systematic Study of Conformational, Morphological, and Environmental Factors
Authors: Guo Jing , Wu Yao , Sun Rui , Wang Wei , Li Jianfeng , Zhou Erjun , Guo Jie , Wang Tao , Wu Qiang , Luo Zhenghui , Gao Wei , Pan Yamin , Yang Chuluo , Min Jie
Published: February 2021

Despite the striking progress toward improving the efficiencies of organic solar cells (OSCs) resulting from the development of nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs), there is a rising requirement of investigation of the molecular design for achieving photochemically stable NFAs. Herein, applying two isomeric NFA molecules a‐IDTBTRh and l‐IDTBTRh based on angular‐indaceno[2,1‐b:6,5‐b′]dithiophene (a‐IDT) and linear‐IDT (l‐IDT) as the central cores, the effects of molecular conformation, aggregation behavior, and environmental factors on their photooxidation degradation processes are systematically studied. It is found that tuning regioisomeric central cores on the molecular skeleton influences the backbone conformation and conjugation, resulting in the different optoelectronic properties and molecular stacking characteristics. A strong molecular aggregation dependence of the optical losses and degradation mechanics in the annealed neat films is also observed, and it is shown that l‐IDTBTRh is much more photostable than its less‐ordered core derivative, a‐IDTBTRh. Furthermore, the effects of external environmental stresses on photobleaching behaviors of the annealed thin films are studied systematically, highlighting the role of concentrated light in accelerating photooxidation of organic materials. The results not only provide a comprehensive insight into the photooxidation properties and attenuation mechanisms of organic materials, but also suggest guidelines to rationally select materials for stable OSCs.
Effect of Glycerol Content on the Properties of Potato Flour Films
Authors: Fu Zong‐qiang , Guo Shao‐xiang , Sun Yao , Wu Hong‐jian , Huang Zhi‐gang , Wu Min
Published: February 2021

Potato flour films are prepared by using glycerol as a plasticizer in the content range of 10–40% (w/w). The mechanical properties, opacity, water resistance performance, and glass transition temperature of potato flour films are studied. The tensile strength of films decrease with increases in glycerol content. The elongation at break increase with increases in glycerol content from 10% to 20% (w/w) and then decrease as glycerol content increased. Film samples are more transparent at higher glycerol content. Sorption isotherms of films plasticized with the highest concentration of glycerol show the highest water affinity and binding sites. As glycerol content increases, the water solubility index and water vapor permeability of films increases, while the water contact angle decreases significantly. The glass transition temperature decreases with the increase of glycerol content. The results show that the potato flour could be used to prepare film successfully with glycerol as the plasticizer.
Atrazine toxicity to Handroanthus heptaphyllus, a nontarget species from a Brazilian biome threatened by agriculture
Authors: Silva Fabia Barbosa , Costa Alan Carlos , Megguer Clarice Aparecida , Lima Júlien Silva , Batista Priscila Ferreira , Martins Deborah Amorim , Almeida Gabriel Martins , Domingos Marisa , Müller Caroline
Published: February 2021

The economic basis of the Brazilian midwest is agriculture, concentrating most of the grain production in the country. With the purpose of increasing yield, farmers have intensified land use and the use of atrazine among other pesticides, which can supposedly compromise human health and photosynthetic metabolism of plant species from Cerrado, such as Handroanthus heptaphyllus. The aim of this study was to determine experimentally the sensitivity level of H. heptaphyllus to atrazine, by measuring gas exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence, chloroplastidic pigments, and membrane permeability. The experiment was conducted in a factorial scheme. Nine‐month‐old H. heptaphyllus plants were treated with six realistic doses of atrazine: 0, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 g a.i. ha–1 (corresponding to 10, 20, 40, 80, and 100% of the commercial dose recommended for corn crops, respectively), with five replications. Evaluations were performed at 12, 36, 84, 180, and 276 h after treatment application. Photosynthesis, the effective quantum yield of photosystem II, and electron transport rate were gradually reduced by the action of atrazine. On the other hand, the nonphotochemical quenching increased gradually, which indicates that this mechanism was not sufficient to avoid oxidative stress and cellular damage in H. heptaphyllus treated plants. Based on these results, we concluded that the action of the herbicide in the photosynthetic reduction occurs by the electron transport rate limitation. Therefore, H. heptaphyllus trees are at risk in Cerrado areas next to agricultural lands.
What is the purpose of the RCVS Fellowship?
Authors: Loeb Josh
Published: February 2021

The RCVS Fellowship has been in existence for 140 years, but what is the role of Fellows and what does the future hold for this group of learned professionals? Josh Loeb investigates.
Successful prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a Siamese cat: A case of post‐cardiac arrest concerns
Authors: Grace Justin , Nagel Salome , Zeiler Gareth
Published: February 2021

A 4.5‐year‐old male neutered Siamese cat was admitted to referral hospital for medical work‐up of chronic anorexia and emesis. No severe abnormalities were detected on routine blood work; however thickened gastric wall and small intestines were noted on abdominal ultrasonography. The cat was premedicated with buprenorphine followed by a diazepam‐propofol co‐induction. Endotracheal intubation was performed, and anaesthesia was maintained using isoflurane in oxygen for endoscopic investigation of the thickened gastric wall and biopsies retrieval. During the anaesthetic recovery, the animal went into cardiopulmonary arrest. Successful ROSC (return of spontaneous circulation) was achieved at approximate 40 minutes (prolonged) post‐arrest, and the animal had a survived event (ROSC > 20 minutes). However, failure to identify the inciting cause of the CPA and laxity in the post‐cardiac arrest care resulted in rearrest of the cat, 77 hours after the initial ROSC with no success of a second ROSC.
Forty-three years of absolute gravity observations of the Fennoscandian postglacial rebound in Finland
Authors: Bilker-Koivula Mirjam , Mäkinen Jaakko , Ruotsalainen Hannu , Näränen Jyri , Saari Timo
Published: February 2021

Postglacial rebound in Fennoscandia causes striking trends in gravity measurements of the area. We present time series of absolute gravity data collected between 1976 and 2019 on 12 stations in Finland with different types of instruments. First, we determine the trends at each station and analyse the effect of the instrument types. We estimate, for example, an offset of 6.8 μgal for the JILAg-5 instrument with respect to the FG5-type instruments. Applying the offsets in the trend analysis strengthens the trends being in good agreement with the NKG2016LU_gdot model of gravity change. Trends of seven stations were found robust and were used to analyse the stabilization of the trends in time and to determine the relationship between gravity change rates and land uplift rates as measured with global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) as well as from the NKG2016LU_abs land uplift model. Trends calculated from combined and offset-corrected measurements of JILAg-5- and FG5-type instruments stabilized in 15 to 20 years and at some stations even faster. The trends of FG5-type instrument data alone stabilized generally within 10 years. The ratio between gravity change rates and vertical rates from different data sets yields values between − 0.206 ± 0.017 and − 0.227 ± 0.024 µGal/mm and axis intercept values between 0.248 ± 0.089 and 0.335 ± 0.136 µGal/yr. These values are larger than previous estimates for Fennoscandia.
Impact of microfluidization on colloidal properties of insoluble pea protein fractions
Authors: Moll Pascal , Salminen Hanna , Schmitt Christophe , Weiss Jochen
Published: February 2021

Microfluidization is a technique commonly used to disrupt and homogenize dispersions such as oil-in-water emulsions or cellular suspensions. In this study, we investigated its ability to alter the physicochemical properties of plant-derived insoluble protein aggregates such as those found in pea protein extracts. Insoluble pea protein dispersions (5% w/w, pH 7) were homogenized at 25–150 MPa for 1–5 cycles. Increasing the homogenization pressure and cycles decreased the particle size (d43) of the unhomogenized insoluble pea proteins from 180 ± 40 μm to 0.2 ± 0.0 μm (at ≥ 125 MPa), leading to more transparent dispersions. Furthermore, the solubility of the insoluble pea proteins increased from 23 ± 1% to 86 ± 4%. Treatments with chaotropic agents, dithiothreitol and urea, revealed that insoluble pea protein aggregates were stabilized not only by disulphide bonds but also by hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. These molecular interactions were disrupted by microfluidization. The study provides insights into the disruption mechanism of insoluble pea proteins by applying microfluidization and offers a mean to improve their technofunctional properties to facilitate further use in food manufacture.
Brownian Loops, Layering Fields and Imaginary Gaussian Multiplicative Chaos
Authors: Camia Federico , Gandolfi Alberto , Peccati Giovanni , Reddy Tulasi Ram
Published: February 2021

We study fields reminiscent of vertex operators built from the Brownian loop soup in the limit as the loop soup intensity tends to infinity. More precisely, following Camia et al. (Nucl Phys B 902:483–507, 2016), we take a (massless or massive) Brownian loop soup in a planar domain and assign a random sign to each loop. We then consider random fields defined by taking, at every point of the domain, the exponential of a purely imaginary constant times the sum of the signs associated to the loops that wind around that point. For domains conformally equivalent to a disk, the sum diverges logarithmically due to the small loops, but we show that a suitable renormalization procedure allows to define the fields in an appropriate Sobolev space. Subsequently, we let the intensity of the loop soup tend to infinity and prove that these vertex-like fields tend to a conformally covariant random field which can be expressed as an explicit functional of the imaginary Gaussian multiplicative chaos with covariance kernel given by the Brownian loop measure. Besides using properties of the Brownian loop soup and the Brownian loop measure, a main tool in our analysis is an explicit Wiener–Itô chaos expansion of linear functionals of vertex-like fields. Our methods apply to other variants of the model in which, for example, Brownian loops are replaced by disks.
Clinical validity of increased cortical uptake of [18F]flortaucipir on PET as a biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease in the context of a structured 5-phase biomarker development framework
Authors: Wolters E. E. , Dodich A. , Boccardi M. , Corre J. , Drzezga A. , Hansson O. , Nordberg A. , Frisoni G. B. , Garibotto V. , Ossenkoppele R.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

In 2017, the Geneva Alzheimer’s disease (AD) Biomarker Roadmap initiative adapted the framework of the systematic validation of oncological diagnostic biomarkers to AD biomarkers, with the aim to accelerate their development and implementation in clinical practice. With this work, we assess the maturity of [18F]flortaucipir PET and define its research priorities.

Methods

The level of maturity of [18F]flortaucipir was assessed based on the AD Biomarker Roadmap. The framework assesses analytical validity (phases 1–2), clinical validity (phases 3–4), and clinical utility (phase 5).

Results

The main aims of phases 1 (rationale for use) and 2 (discriminative ability) have been achieved. [18F]Flortaucipir binds with high affinity to paired helical filaments of tau and has favorable kinetic properties and excellent discriminative accuracy for AD. The majority of secondary aims of phase 2 were fully achieved. Multiple studies showed high correlations between ante-mortem [18F]flortaucipir PET and post-mortem tau (as assessed by histopathology), and also the effects of covariates on tracer binding are well studied. The aims of phase 3 (early detection ability) were only partially or preliminarily achieved, and the aims of phases 4 and 5 were not achieved.

Conclusion

Current literature provides partial evidence for clinical utility of [18F]flortaucipir PET. The aims for phases 1 and 2 were mostly achieved. Phase 3 studies are currently ongoing. Future studies including representative MCI populations and a focus on healthcare outcomes are required to establish full maturity of phases 4 and 5.
Application of the “bubbling” procedure to dead body portraits in forensic identification
Authors: Potente Stefan , Ramsthaler Frank , Kettner Mattias , Ikeda Tomoya , Schmidt Peter
Published: February 2021

Purpose

A procedure is needed for bodies with disfiguring injuries to the face and the use of their portrait for visual identification.

Method

We present the application of a simple image processing procedure, otherwise known as ”bubbling,” which is based on the concept of ”perceptual filling-in,” to images for visual identification in the forensic context. The method is straight forward and can be performed using readily available software and hardware..

Results

The method is demonstrated and examples are shown. The visual recognition of known persons using “bubbled” images was successfully tested.

Conclusion

The “bubbling” procedure for visual identification enhancement is quick and straightforward and may be attempted before escalating to more involved identification methods and procedures.
Screening for cognition in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: test characteristics of a new screen
Authors: Beeldman Emma , Govaarts Rosanne , de Visser Marianne , van Es Michael A. , Pijnenburg Yolande A. L. , Schmand Ben A. , Raaphorst Joost
Published: February 2021

Cognitive and behavioural impairment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) negatively influences the quality of life and survival, and, therefore, screening for these impairments is recommended. We developed a cognitive screening tool, the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis–frontotemporal dementia–cognitive screen (ALS–FTD–Cog) and aimed to validate it in patients with ALS. During the current study, the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS) was published and we, therefore, decided to compare these two cognitive screening methods. The ALS–FTD–Cog was administered to 72 patients with ALS, 21 patients with behavioural variant FTD (bvFTD) and 34 healthy controls. Twenty-nine patients with ALS underwent the ECAS. ROC curve analyses were performed and sensitivity and specificity of the ALS–FTD–Cog and ECAS were calculated, with a neuropsychological examination (NPE) as the gold standard. Cognitive impairment was present in 28% of patients with ALS. ROC curve analyses of the ALS–FTD–Cog and ECAS showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.72 (95% CI 0.58–0.86) and 0.95 (95% CI 0.86–1.03), respectively. Compared to a full NPE, sensitivity and specificity of the ALS–FTD–Cog were 65.0% and 63.5% and of the ECAS 83.3% and 91.3%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the ALS–FTD–Cog in patients with bvFTD were 94.4% and 100%, respectively. Test characteristics of the ALS–FTD–Cog were moderate, suggesting restricted practical value, as compared to a comprehensive NPE. The ECAS had an excellent AUC and high sensitivity and specificity, indicating that it is a valid screening instrument for cognitive impairment in ALS.
Does hunger promote the detection of foods? The effect of value on inattentional blindness
Authors: Redlich Dennis , Memmert Daniel , Kreitz Carina
Published: February 2021

Although human perception has evolved into a potent and efficient system, we still fall prey to astonishing failures of awareness as we miss an unexpected object in our direct view when our attention is engaged elsewhere (inattentional blindness). While specific types of value of the unexpected object have been identified to modulate the likelihood of this failure of awareness, it is not clear whether the effect of value on inattentional blindness can be generalized. We hypothesized that the combination of hunger and food-stimuli might increase a more general type of value so that food stimuli have a higher probability to be noticed by hungry participants than by satiated participants. In total, 240 participants were assigned towards a hungry (16 h of fasting) or satiated (no fasting) manipulation and performed afterward a static inattentional blindness task. However, we did not find any effect of value on inattentional blindness based on hunger and food stimuli. We speculate that different underlying mechanisms are involved for different types of value and that value manipulations need to be strong enough to ensure certain value strengths.
In vitro screening as an anthelmintic discovery pipeline for Calicophoron daubneyi: nutritive media and rumen environment-based approaches
Authors: Huson K. M. , Morphew R. M. , Winters A. , Cookson A. , Hauck B. , Brophy P. M.
Published: February 2021

Paramphistomosis can lead to morbidity and mortality of ruminant livestock within tropical and sub-tropical climates. In recent decades, rumen fluke has become an emerging infection in temperate climates across Western Europe, with Calicophoron daubneyi, the primary species present. Clinical outbreaks with C. daubneyi larvae are reported and adults might be responsible for production losses. There is not currently a widely licensed anthelmintic product available to control C. daubneyi. In this study, three existing flukicide anthelmintics were tested for efficacy against mature C. daubneyi, comparing a standard in vitro culturing assay and a new more relevant rumen fluid based in vitro compound screening protocol. The new rumen based screen confirmed that oxyclozanide was active against adult C. daubneyi and identified activity with praziquantel. The study highlighted the downstream value of incorporating relevant in vitro screening for anthelmintic discovery pipelines.
Health service organisation impact on lower extremity amputations in people with type 2 diabetes with foot ulcers: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Meza-Torres Bernardo , Carinci Fabrizio , Heiss Christian , Joy Mark , de Lusignan Simon
Published: February 2021

Aims

Despite the evidence available on the epidemiology of diabetic foot ulcers and associated complications, it is not clear how specific organizational aspects of health care systems can positively affect their clinical trajectory. We aim to evaluate the impact of organizational aspects of care on lower extremity amputation rates among people with type 2 diabetes affected by foot ulcers.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review of the scientific literature published between 1999 and 2019, using the following key terms as search criteria: people with type 2 diabetes, diagnosed with diabetic foot ulcer, treated with specific processes and care pathways, and LEA as primary outcome. Overall results were reported as pooled odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals obtained using fixed and random effects models.

Results

A total of 57 studies were found eligible, highlighting the following arrangements: dedicated teams, care pathways and protocols, multidisciplinary teams, and combined interventions. Among them, seven studies qualified for a meta-analysis. According to the random effects model, interventions including any of the four arrangements were associated with a 29% reduced risk of any type of lower extremity amputation (OR = 0.71; 95% CI 0.52–0.96). The effect was larger when focusing on major LEAs alone, leading to a 48% risk reduction (OR = 0.52; 95% CI 0.30–0.91).

Conclusions

Specific organizational arrangements including multidisciplinary teams and care pathways can prevent half of the amputations in people with diabetes and foot ulcers. Further studies using standardized criteria are needed to investigate the cost-effectiveness to facilitate wider implementation of improved organizational arrangements. Similarly, research should identify specific roadblocks to translating evidence into action. These may be structures and processes at the health system level, e.g. availability of professionals with the right skillset, reimbursement mechanisms, and clear organizational intervention implementation guidelines.
Clinical benefits of routine examination and synchronous repair of occult inguinal hernia during laparoscopic peritoneal dialysis catheter insertion: a single-center experience
Authors: Kou H.-W. , Yeh C.-N. , Tsai C.-Y. , Hsu J.-T. , Wang S.-Y. , Lee C.-W. , Yu M.-C. , Hwang T.-L.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Occult inguinal hernias (IH) predispose peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients to the symptomatic IH formation after starting PD, which may cause complications. We conducted a retrospective study to assess the benefit/risk profile of routine laparoscopic examination for occult IH (RLEOH) with a synchronous repair in patients receiving PD catheter placement.

Methods

432 patients were enrolled in this study. Patients with an internal hernia sac at all sizes were deemed to have occult IH. We retrospectively reviewed data including demographic characteristics and operative details. We also measured incidence rates of symptomatic IH, metachronous IH repair, and catheter survival over a follow-up period after starting PD.

Results

These patients were classified into the RLEOH group (n = 365) and the non-RLEOH group (n = 67). The RLEOH group was subdivided into occult IH with a synchronous repair (n = 17; the subgroup A), no occult IH (n = 339; the subgroup B), and occult IH without a synchronous repair (n = 9; the subgroup C). The incidence rates of symptomatic IH developed after staring PD in subgroups A, B, and C were 0, 5.6, and 22.2%, respectively, whereas that in the non-RLEOH group was 13.4%. The RLEOH group had a reduced hazard ratio for metachronous IH repair compared with the non-RLEOH group (HR = 0.426; 95% CI 0.195–0.930,p = 0.032). None of our patients suffered from herniorrhaphy-related complications.

Conclusion

RLEOH with a synchronous repair during PD catheter insertion confers clinical benefits in reducing the risk of developing IH after starting PD and the need for a metachronous repair. This is a safe and reasonable approach.
Sharp Rank-One Convexity Conditions in Planar Isotropic Elasticity for the Additive Volumetric-Isochoric Split
Authors: Voss Jendrik , Ghiba Ionel-Dumitrel , Martin Robert J. , Neff Patrizio
Published: February 2021

We consider the volumetric-isochoric split in planar isotropic hyperelasticity and give a precise analysis of rank-one convexity criteria for this case, showing that the Legendre-Hadamard ellipticity condition separates and simplifies in a suitable sense. Starting from the classical two-dimensional criterion by Knowles and Sternberg, we can reduce the conditions for rank-one convexity to a family of one-dimensional coupled differential inequalities. In particular, this allows us to derive a simple rank-one convexity classification for generalized Hadamard energies of the type$W(F)=\frac{\mu }{2} \hspace{0.07em} \frac{\lVert F \rVert ^{2}}{\det F}+f(\det F)$W(F)=μ2∥F∥2detF+f(detF); such an energy is rank-one convex if and only if the function$f$fis convex.
Ambient air pollution and emergency department visits in Toronto, Canada
Authors: Szyszkowicz Mieczysław , de Angelis Nicholas
Published: February 2021

To investigate the acute impact of various air pollutants on various disease groups in the urban area of the city of Toronto, Canada. Statistical models were developed to estimate the relative risk of an emergency department visit associated with ambient air pollution concentration levels. These models were generated for 8 air pollutants (lagged from 0 to 14 days) and for 18 strata (based on sex, age group, and season). Twelve disease groups extracted from the International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD-10) were used as health classifications in the models. The qualitative results were collected in matrices composed of 18 rows (strata) and 15 columns (lags) for each air pollutant and the 12 health classifications. The matrix cells were assigned a value of 1 if the association was positively statistically significant; otherwise, they were assigned to a value of 0. The constructed matrices were totalized separately for each air pollutant. The resulting matrices show qualitative associations for grouped diseases, air pollutants, and their corresponding lagged concentrations and indicate the frequency of statistically significant positive associations. The results are presented in colour-gradient matrices with the number of associations for every combination of patient strata, pollutant, and lag in corresponding cells. The highest number of the associations was 8 (of 12 possible) obtained for the same day exposure to carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and days with elevated air quality health index (AQHI) values. For carbon monoxide, the number of the associations decreases with the increasing lags. For this air pollutant, there were almost no associations after 8 days of lag. In the case of nitrogen dioxide, the associations persist even for longer lags. The numerical values obtained from the models are provided for every pollutant. The constructed matrices are a useful tool to analyze the impact of ambient air pollution concentrations on public health.
Preoperative use of furosemide may increase the incidence of acute kidney injury after coronary artery bypass grafting: a propensity score-matched study
Authors: Zheng Hui , Liu Le , Fan Guoliang , Liu Zhigang , Wang Zhengqing , Chang Baocheng
Published: February 2021

Objectives

Furosemide is usually administered before the Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) to improve water–sodium retention. However, no final conclusions are available on the postoperative renal outcome of furosemide. We evaluated the effect of preoperative furosemide on acute kidney injury (AKI) after CABG.

Methods

We recorded the use of furosemide 14 days before surgery in all patients who underwent CABG from 2016 to 2017. Patients were divided into furosemide (F) group and non-furosemide (NF) group according to preoperative use of furosemide. A 1:1 propensity score matching was performed. Multivariate analyses were conducted to determine risk factors for AKI after CABG.

Results

Overall, 974 patients were included in the study, of which 82 cases were complicated with postoperative AKI. The incidence of AKI was significantly increased in F group than NF group (28.9% vs. 7.4%, p = 0.000). After adjusting for risk factors, the incidence of AKI in the F group was 5.34 times more than the NF group (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.45–11.64; p = 0.000). The incidence of AKI increased significantly when the cumulative dosage of furosemide exceeded 110 mg (odds ratio [OR] 6.23; 95% CI 2.07–18.74, p = 0.001) and 250 mg (OR 8.31; 95% CI 2.87–24.02, p = 0.000). After the propensity-matching group analysis, same results were obtained.

Conclusions

The incidence of AKI after CABG was related to the use of preoperative furosemide, and it increased exponentially with the increase of cumulative dose of furosemide. This provides guidance for the dose of preoperative furosemide.
Imaging the influence of oxides on the electrostatic potential of photovoltaic InP nanowires
Authors: Hrachowina Lukas , Zou Xianshao , Chen Yang , Zhang Yuwei , Barrigón Enrique , Yartsev Arkady , Borgström Magnus T.
Published: February 2021

Nanowires require surface passivation due to their inherent large surface to volume ratio. We investigate the effect of embedding InP nanowires in different oxides with respect to surface passivation by use of electron beam induced current measurements enabled by a nanoprobe based system inside a scanning electron microscope. The measurements reveal remote doping due to fixed charge carriers in the passivating POx/Al2O3shell in contrast to results using SiOx. We used time-resolved photoluminescence to characterize the lifetime of charge carriers to evaluate the success of surface passivation. In addition, spatially resolved internal quantum efficiency simulations support and correlate the two applied techniques. We find that atomic-layer deposited POx/Al2O3has the potential to passivate the surface of InP nanowires, but at the cost of inducing a field-effect on the nanowires, altering their electrostatic potential profile. The results show the importance of using complementary techniques to correctly evaluate and interpret processing related effects for optimization of nanowire-based optoelectronic devices.