bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intracranial Sensors for Continuous Monitoring of Neurophysiology
Authors: Jiang Nan , Flyax Sergey , Kurz Wolfgang , Jakobi Martin , Tasoglu Savas , Koch Alexander W. , Yetisen Ali K.
Published: August 2021

Monitoring physiological parameters in the brain is important to identify early signs of secondary brain injuries. A variety of different intracranial sensors enable continuous monitoring of important brain parameters in clinical applications. However, many of the clinically approved and established technologies show drawbacks in zero‐drift properties, accuracy and magnet resonance imaging (MRI) compatibility. This review gives a comparative overview of the established technologies and provides an outlook on fiber‐optic sensors (FOS) with potential use in future intracranial monitoring applications. Neurophysiological parameters recorded by bioelectrical signals include intracranial pressure (ICP), brain temperature, brain tissue oxygenation, cerebral blood flow, and cerebral metabolism. The comparison of ICP sensors revealed that piezoresistive strain gauge sensors provide the highest accuracy and the smallest zero‐drift in clinical catheters. Fiber‐optic pressure sensors show a potential to be used in future intracranial applications. Thermistors and thermocouples prove to be reliable for temperature measurement in intracranial catheters, but have limited MRI compatibility. FOS show potential to be used in future intracranial catheters for temperature and oxygen measurement, as they provide higher accuracy and a better response time. Microdialysis catheters, in combination with new automated electrochemical and optical analyzers, provide the possibility of routine metabolism monitoring in clinics.
Black Phosphorus—Diketopyrrolopyrrole Polymer Semiconductor Hybrid for Enhanced Charge Transfer and Photodetection
Authors: Low Mei Xian , Kuriakose Sruthi , Liu Qian , Taylor Patrick D. , Dong Dashen , Yang Terry Chien-Jen , Ahmed Taimur , Wilson Gregory , Spencer Michelle J. S. , Tawfik Sherif Abdulkader , Sriram Sharath , Bhaskaran Madhu , Sonar Prashant , Walia Sumeet
Published: August 2021

Black phosphorus (BP) has emerged as an exciting 2D material for optics, photonics, and electronics. However, there are few studies on BP in terms of modulation and enhancement of their electronic and optical properties and their concurrent reactivity and hence reduction after exposure to the ambient environment. To resolve such challenges, creating inorganic–organic hybrid materials is a suitable approach that offers significant opportunities to enhance the utility of BP by combining them with an organic material which has a complementary set of properties. Herein, a hybrid‐layered BP material coupled with a low bandgap donor–acceptor organic semiconducting polymer, selenophene‐flanked diketopyrrolopyrrole with thienyl‐vinylene‐thienyl (PDPPSe–TVT) is reported, to broaden the optical absorption and tune the ambipolar field effect transistor characteristics. A highly sensitive, nongated broadband photodetection capability of the hybrid device with a detection range from UV–vis to near‐IR (280–1050 nm) and responsivities of up to 4.22 × 103 A W−1 in ambient conditions. In addition to improved photodetection, simultaneous enhancement in both hole (71%) and electron (91%) mobilities is achieved while protecting the sensitive BP material from rapid environmental degradation. The findings therefore report a breakthrough in enhancing the utility of BP as a light‐active material for versatile photonics and electronics applications without operating in an inert environment.
Sonoporation‐Enhanced Delivery of STING Agonist Induced Robust Immune Modulation and Tumor Regression
Authors: Xu Jun , Solban Nicolas , Wang Yun , Ferguson Heidi , Perera Samanthi , Lin Ken , Cai Mingmei , Paul Miller , Schutt Ernest G. , Larsen Clayton T. , Li Rhodemann , Saklatvala Robert , Long Brian J. , Ranganath Sheila , Procopio Adam T. , Mittal Sachin , Templeton Allen C.
Published: August 2021

Sonoporation, the temporal cell membrane openings that can arise after ultrasound exposure, has been explored across many preclinical applications but has lacked translational momentum. This can be attributed to a lack of quantitative characterization of the sonoporation process. Additionally, the impact of sonoporation on modulating the tumor microenvironment is not well understood. Using a cyclic dinucleotide‐based STING (stimulator
of interferon genes) agonist, MSA‐1, that is analogous to MK‐1454, and approved microbubbles and diagnostic ultrasound, the authors report a 5 min sonoporation procedure enhanced the tumor local concentration of systemically administered MSA‐1 by 6.58‐fold 15 min post sonoporation. The improved pharmacokinetic profile translates into greater STING‐mediated cytokine production, including TNF‐α, IFN‐α, and IFN‐β. Furthermore, through immunophenotyping, the authors report sonoporation could sustain STING‐mediated immune activation while reversing its impact on immune suppression. In both unilaterally and bilaterally inoculated syngeneic tumor models, the authors demonstrate that the sonoporation treated group significantly outperformed other controls at equivalent dosing conditions. These findings may further the understanding of the sonoporation process and its impact on immune modulation, which will accelerate the translational momentum of sonoporation.
Iodine(III)‐Promoted Ring Expansion Reactions: A Metal‐Free Approach toward Seven‐Membered Heterocyclic Rings
Authors: Khan Ajmir , Silva Luiz F. , Rabnawaz Muhammad
Published: August 2021

A metal‐free approach for the synthesis of seven‐membered heterocycles (chromane, thiochromane) or rings fused with heterocycles (furan, indole, pyrrole, and thiophene) is described. The salient feature of the strategy is based on the ring expansion of methylenic heterocycles mediated by the iodine(III) reagent HTIB (PhI(OH)OTs) in aqueous acetonitrile.
Blind snakes beneath the surface: Continuing the legacy of Richard Thomas
Authors: Laver Rebecca J. , Daza Juan D.
Published: August 2021

Blind snakes (Scolecophidia) are small‐bodied, enigmatic burrowing reptiles with members found on all continents except Antarctica. This Special Issue on blind snakes honors and advances the foundational studies by a remarkable anatomist, Richard Thomas. Richard is currently one of the living herpetologists to have described the greatest number of herpetofauna species, including many blind snake taxa. Recent interest in scolecophidian research at several conferences led to the development of this Special Issue on blind snake anatomy. This issue spans a diversity of papers, from biographical accounts of Richard's life and works, to a brief history of scolecophidian anatomical studies and the benefits of computed tomography (CT) technology, to a variety of studies on the skull and post‐cranial osteology, cranial and jaw biomechanics related to subterranean lifestyles, evolution, and systematics of blind snake taxa from around the globe. This Special Issue will hopefully serve as a valuable resource and contribution to the field of blind snake anatomy research, and a joyful reflection on the life and career of a herpetologist who mentored and inspired a new generation of researchers in this area.
SELEX: Critical factors and optimization strategies for successful aptamer selection
Authors: Kohlberger Michael , Gadermaier Gabriele
Published: August 2021

Within the last decade, the application range of aptamers in biochemistry and medicine has expanded rapidly. More than just a replacement for antibodies, these intrinsically structured RNA‐ or DNA‐oligonucleotides show great potential for utilization in diagnostics, specific drug delivery, and treatment of certain medical conditions. However, what is analyzed less frequently is the process of aptamer identification known as systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) and the functional mechanisms that lie at its core. SELEX involves numerous singular processes, each of which contributes to the success or failure of aptamer generation. In this review, critical steps during aptamer selection are discussed in‐depth, and specific problems are presented along with potential solutions. The discussed aspects include the size and molecule type of the selected target, the nature and stringency of the selection process, the amplification step with its possible PCR bias, the efficient regeneration of RNA or single‐stranded DNA, and the different sequencing procedures and screening assays currently available. Finally, useful quality control steps and their role within SELEX are presented. By understanding the mechanisms through which aptamer selection is influenced, the design of more efficient SELEX procedures leading to a higher success rate in aptamer identification is enabled.
The perils of generalization: Rethinking breast cancer screening guidelines for young women of color
Authors: Seewaldt Victoria L. , Bernstein Leslie
Published: August 2021

Women of Color are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer under the age of 40 years and are more likely to die (vs non‐Hispanic Whites). These findings support the concern that the US Preventive Services Task Force breast cancer guidelines adversely affect Women of Color.
Out‐of‐pocket costs associated with head and neck cancer treatment
Authors: Khan Mohemmed N. , Hueniken Katrina , Manojlovic‐Kolarski Mirko , Eng Lawson , Mirshams Maryam , Khan Khaleeq , Simpson Colleen , Au Michael , Liu Geoffrey , Xu Wei , Longo Christopher J. , Goldstein David P. , Ringash Jolie , Martino Rosemary , Hansen Aaron R. , de Almeida John R.
Published: August 2021

Background

Out‐of‐pocket costs (OOPC) associated with treatment have significant implications on quality of life and survival in cancer patients. Head and neck cancer patients face unique treatment‐related challenges, but to date OOPC have been understudied in this population.

Aims

This study aims to identify and measure OOPC for patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) in Ontario.

Methods

HNC patients between 2015 and 2018 at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto were recruited. Participants completed OOPC questionnaires and lost income questions during radiation, post‐surgery, and 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after completion of treatment. Associations between OOPC and treatment modality and disease site were tested with multivariable hurdle regression.

Results

A total of 1545 questionnaires were completed by 657 patients. Median estimated OOPC for the total duration of treatment for participants undergoing chemoradiation was $1452 [$0–14 616], for surgery with adjuvant radiation or chemoradiation (C/RT) was $1626, for radiation therapy alone was $635, and for surgery alone was $360. The major expenses for participants at the mid‐treatment time‐point was travel (mean $424, standard error of the mean [SEM] $34) and meals, parking, and accommodations (mean $617, SEM $67). In multivariable analysis, chemoradiation, surgery with C/RT, and radiation were associated with significantly higher OOPC than surgery alone during treatment (791% higher, p < .001; 539% higher, p < .001; 370% higher, p < .001 respectively) among patients with non‐zero OOPC. Participants with non‐zero OOPC in the laryngeal cancer group paid 49% lower OOPC than those with oropharyngeal cancers in adjusted analysis (p = .025).

Conclusions

Patients undergoing treatment for HNC pay significant OOPC. These costs are highest during treatment and gradually decrease over time. OOPC vary by patient demographics, clinical factors, and, in particular, treatment modality.
Mathematical Modeling and Analysis of Spatial Neuron Dynamics: Dendritic Integration and Beyond
Authors: Li Songting , McLaughlin David W. , Zhou Douglas
Published: August 2021

Neurons compute by integrating spatiotemporal excitatory (E) and inhibitory (I) synaptic inputs received from the dendrites. The investigation of dendritic integration is crucial for understanding neuronal information processing. Yet quantitative rules of dendritic integration and their mathematical modeling remain to be fully elucidated. Here neuronal dendritic integration is investigated by using theoretical and computational approaches. Based on the passive cable theory, a PDE‐based cable neuron model with spatially branched dendritic structure is introduced to describe the neuronal subthreshold membrane potential dynamics, and the analytical solutions in response to conductance‐based synaptic inputs are derived. Using the analytical solutions, a bilinear dendritic integration rule is identified, and it characterizes the change of somatic membrane potential when receiving multiple spatiotemporal synaptic inputs from the dendrites. In addition, the PDE‐based cable neuron model is reduced to an ODE‐based point‐neuron model with the feature of bilinear dendritic integration inherited, thus providing an efficient computational framework of neuronal simulation incorporating certain important dendritic functions. The above results are further extended to active dendrites by numerical verification in realistic neuron simulations. Our work provides a comprehensive and systematic theoretical and computational framework for the study of spatial neuron dynamics. © 2021 The Authors. Communications on Pure and Applied Mathematics published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
A Model Electron Transfer Reaction in Confined Aqueous Solution
Authors: Olivieri Jean‐François , Laage Damien , Hynes James T.
Published: August 2021

Liquid water confined within nanometer‐sized channels exhibits a strongly reduced local dielectric constant perpendicular to the wall, especially at the interface, and this has been suggested to induce faster electron transfer kinetics at the interface than in the bulk. We study a model electron transfer reaction in aqueous solution confined between graphene sheets with classical molecular dynamics. We show that the solvent reorganization energy is reduced at the interface compared to the bulk, which explains the larger rate constant. However, this facilitated solvent reorganization is due to the partial desolvation by the graphene sheet of the ions involved in the electron transfer and not to a local dielectric constant reduction effect.
Design and implementation of programmable logic array using crossbar structure in quantum‐dot cellular automata
Authors: Zhu Chunsong , Xie Guangjun , Zhang Yongqiang
Published: August 2021

Quantum‐dot cellular automata (QCA) is a promising nanoelectronic technology having the characteristics of stable operation, breakneck speed, and ultralow energy consumption in theory. However, no scalable and modular architecture can facilitate circuit implementation, restricting the overall development of this technology. Different from the traditional programmable logic array (PLA) using AND‐OR arrays, this paper proposes a design method of PLA using crossbar structure in QCA. The PLA consists of multiple programmable units in which the majority gates can be programmed as AND/OR gates, and an inverter following each majority gate will invert the output as needed. To flexibly adjust the logic states of each programmable unit, a programmable clock scheme and N‐bit latch are then proposed. Therefore, a circuit can arbitrarily be achieved by programming the PLA. Four circuits, including full adder, 2–1 MUX, D flip‐flop, and 1‐bit memory, are designed, implemented, and simulated in QCA, by using this PLA. Experimental results show that the designed circuits realize logic functions correctly and stably.
Incomplete IgG avidity maturation after seasonal coronavirus infections
Authors: Struck Friedhelm , Schreiner Patrick , Staschik Eva , Wochinz‐Richter Karin , Schulz Sarah , Soutschek Erwin , Motz Manfred , Bauer Georg
Published: August 2021

In classical viral infections, the avidity of immunoglobulin G (IgG) is low during acute infection and high a few months later. As recently reported, SARS‐CoV‐2 infections are not following this scheme, but they are rather characterized by incomplete avidity maturation. This study was performed to clarify whether infection with seasonal coronaviruses also leads to incomplete avidity maturation.

The avidity of IgG toward the nucleoprotein (NP) of the seasonal coronaviruses 229E, NL63, OC43, HKU1 and of SARS‐CoV‐2 was determined in the sera from 88 healthy, SARS‐CoV‐2‐negative subjects and in the sera from 70 COVID‐19 outpatients, using the recomLine SARS‐CoV‐2 assay with recombinant antigens. In the sera from SARS‐CoV‐2‐negative subjects, incomplete avidity maturation (persistent low and intermediate avidity indices) was the lowest for infections with the alpha‐coronaviruses 229E (33.3%) and NL63 (61.3%), and the highest for the beta‐coronaviruses OC43 (77.5%) and HKU1 (71.4%). In the sera from COVID‐19 patients, the degree of incomplete avidity maturation of IgG toward NP of 223E, OC43, and HKU1 was not significantly different from that found in SARS‐CoV‐2‐negative subjects, but a significant increase in avidity was observed for IgG toward NP of NL63. Though there was no cross‐reaction between SARS‐CoV‐2 and seasonal coronaviruses, higher concentrations of IgG directed toward seasonal coronaviruses seemed to indirectly increase avidity maturation of IgG directed toward SARS‐CoV‐2. Our data show that incomplete IgG avidity maturation represents a characteristic consequence of coronavirus infections. This raises problems for the serological differentiation between acute and past infections and may be important for the biology of coronaviruses.
Cumulative meta‐analysis: What works
Authors: Kulinskaya Elena , Mah Eung Yaw
Published: August 2021

To present time‐varying evidence, cumulative meta‐analysis (CMA) updates results of previous meta‐analyses to incorporate new study results. We investigate the properties of CMA, suggest possible improvements and provide the first in‐depth simulation study of the use of CMA and CUSUM methods for detection of temporal trends in random‐effects meta‐analysis. We use the standardized mean difference (SMD) as an effect measure of interest. For CMA, we compare the standard inverse‐variance‐weighted estimation of the overall effect using REML‐based estimation of between‐study variance with the sample‐size‐weighted estimation of the effect accompanied by Kulinskaya–Dollinger–Bjørkestøl (Biometrics. 2011; 67:203–212) (KDB) estimation of . For all methods, we consider Type 1 error under no shift and power under a shift in the mean in the random‐effects model. To ameliorate the lack of power in CMA, we introduce two‐stage CMA, in which is estimated at Stage 1 (from the first 5–10 studies), and further CMA monitors a target value of effect, keeping the value fixed. We recommend this two‐stage CMA combined with cumulative testing for positive shift in . In practice, use of CMA requires at least 15–20 studies.
Consumer subversion and its relationship to anti‐consumption, deviant and dysfunctional behaviors, and consumer revenge
Authors: Wilson Matthew , Robson Karen , Pitt Leyland
Published: August 2021

Consumer subversion refers to consumer acts that are intended to impede the ability of marketers to develop and implement a marketing strategy, including market segmentation, target marketing, and the formulation of a marketing mix. Consumer subversion has featured across many bodies of marketing literature, yet it has not been explicitly defined and studied. This paper identifies and organizes examples of consumer subversion from marketing literature. It delineates how consumer subversion is related to, yet different from, related terms, such as anti‐consumption, consumer revenge and retaliation, dysfunctional and deviant consumer behavior, and consumer movements. Consumer subversion can be proactive or reactive, and can be targeted at specific firms or towards the marketing function in general. Such acts range from individual exit or using ad blockers to extreme hostility via revenge or sabotage. This study derives a classification of consumer subverters, discusses the psychological “need to win” linked to consumer subversion, and presents a research agenda organized around consumers who subvert, firms that are subverted, and antecedents and consequences of subversion.
Increased Menopausal Age Reduces the Risk of Parkinson's Disease: A Mendelian Randomization Approach
Authors: Kusters Cynthia D.J. , Paul Kimberly C. , Duarte Folle Aline , Keener Adrienne M. , Bronstein Jeff M. , Bertram Lars , Hansen Johnni , Horvath Steve , Sinsheimer Janet S. , Lill Christina M. , Ritz Beate R.
Published: August 2021

Background

Studies of Parkinson's disease (PD) and the association with age at menarche or menopause have reported inconsistent findings. Mendelian randomization (MR) may address measurement errors because of difficulties accurately reporting the age these life events occur.

Objective

We used MR to assess the association between age at menopause and age at menarche with PD risk.

Methods

We performed inverse variant‐weighted (IVW) MR analysis using external genome‐wide association study (GWAS) summary data from the United Kingdom biobank, and the effect estimates between genetic variants and PD among two population‐based studies (Parkinson's disease in Denmark (PASIDA) study, Denmark, and Parkinson's Environment and Gene study [PEG], United States) that enrolled 1737 female and 2430 male subjects of European ancestry. We, then, replicated our findings for age at menopause using summary statistics from the PD consortium (19 773 women), followed by a meta‐analysis combining all summary statistics.

Results

For each year increase in age at menopause, the risk for PD decreased (odds ration [OR], 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.73–0.98; P = 0.03) among women in our study, whereas there was no association among men (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.85–1.11; P = 0.71). A replication using summary statistics from the PD consortium estimated an OR of 0.94 (95% CI, 0.90–0.99; P = 0.01), and we calculated a meta‐analytic OR of 0.93 (95% CI, 0.89–0.98; P = 0.003). There was no indication for an association between age at menarche and PD (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.44–1.29; P = 0.29).

Conclusions

A later age at menopause was associated with a decreased risk of PD in women, supporting the hypothesis that sex hormones or other factors related to late menopause may be neuroprotective in PD. © 2021 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Prevalence of Y chromosome microdeletion in azoospermia factor subregions among infertile men from West Bengal, India
Authors: Dutta Saurav , Paladhi Pranab , Pal Samudra , Bose Gunja , Ghosh Papiya , Chattopadhyay Ratna , Chakravarty Baidyanath , Ghosh Sujay
Published: August 2021

Background

Etiology of male infertility is intriguing and Y chromosome microdeletion within azoospermia factor (AZF) sub‐regions is considered major cause. We conducted a screening for Y chromosome microdeletion in an infertile male cohort from West Bengal, India to characterize Y chromosome microdeletion among infertile men.

Methods

We recruited case subjects that were categorized on the basis of sperm count as azoospermia (N = 63), severe oligozoospermia (N = 38), and oligozoospermia (N = 17) and compared them with age, demography, and ethnicity matched healthy proven fertile control males (N = 84). Sequence Tagged Site makers and polymerase chain reaction based profiling of Y chromosome was done for AZF region and SRY for cases and controls.

Results

We scored 16.1% of cases (19 out of 118) that bear one or more microdeletions in the studied loci and none among the controls. The aberrations were more frequent among azoospermic males (17 of 19) than in severe oligozoospermic subjects (2 of 19).

Conclusion

Our study provides the results of screening of the largest Bengali infertile men sample genotyped with the maximum number of STS markers spanning the entire length of Y chromosome long arm. Y chromosome microdeletion is a significant genetic etiology of infertility among Bengali men.
Improving processability for in‐mold coating formulations: Part II: Two‐reinforcement formulations
Authors: Cai Kaiyu , Zhang Dan , Straus Elliott J. , Villarreal Maria G. , Castro Jose M.
Published: August 2021

The in‐mold coating (IMC) process nowadays is well accepted by the sheet molding compound industry. The currently used IMC contains 2.8 wt% carbon black (CB) to provide enough electrical conductivity for maximum paint transfer efficiency (PTE) for electrostatic painting. Due to its relatively large viscosity, this formulation makes use of more than one injection gate for coating some large parts necessary. Our previous research investigated the possibility to replace the CB with higher conductivity carbon‐based nanoparticles, namely carbon nanofibers (CNFs), multi‐wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), industrial graphene (grapheneblack [G]), and single‐wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and found that the IMC with 11.3 wt% G has the best processability among all IMC formulations. To improve this formulation, herein, we study the use of a second reinforcement in combination with G, i.e., CB, CNF, and MWCNT. Results from this study suggest that most G/CB‐reinforced IMC formulations have a better performance than the G‐reinforced IMC formulations, and IMC with 1 wt% CB and 6 wt% G is the best among all G/CB‐reinforced IMC formulations. To be specific, the new formulation allows parts to be painted to have a 300% increase in size when compared with the standard IMC.
Coulomb Drag by Injected Ballistic Carriers in Graphene n+−i−n−n+ Structures: Doping and Temperature Effects
Authors: Ryzhii Victor , Otsuji Taichi , Ryzhii Maxim , Mitin Vladimir , Shur Michael S.
Published: August 2021

The Coulomb carrier drag effect in lateral
−i−n−
graphene diodes and field‐effect transistors with the injection of ballistic electrons into the n‐region are evaluated. Calculating the drag factor determining the amplification of the injected current, its dependence on the structural parameters, carrier Fermi energy in the n‐region, and temperature is found. As demonstrated, the drag factor exhibits a maximum in certain values of the Fermi energy (i.e., the gate voltage and density of the remote donors) and the temperature. The parameter determining the shape of the current–voltage characteristics (monotonous or S shaped) is also calculated. The obtained results can be used for the optimization of the structures under consideration for different devices, in particular, voltage‐ and current‐driven switches, frequency multipliers, and terahertz emitters.
Intensifying Solar Interfacial Heat Accumulation for Clean Water Generation Excluding Heavy Metal Ions and Oil Emulsions
Authors: Irshad Muhammad Sultan , Arshad Naila , Wang Xianbao , Li Hong Rong , Javed M. Qasim , Xu You , Alshahrani Lina Abdullah , Mei Tao , Li Jinhua
Published: August 2021

Solar‐driven interfacial steam generation has emerged as an innovative technique for seawater desalination due to its high photothermal conversion efficiency and potential industrial applications. Herein, a superior interfacial heat accumulation structure composed of semiconductive in situ polymerization (polypyrrole) of nickel foam (IPNF) is reported. The IPNF photothermal layer is assembled with superhydrophilic polyurethane substrate for synchronous water transport and excellent thermal insulation. The 2D ultrablack mesh induces multiple incident rays within the diffused polymerized surface, which allows omnidirectional solar absorption (88.5 %) and intensifying heat localization (49.5 °C @ 1 sun). The state‐of‐the‐art evaporation performances reveal that the integrated IPNF solar evaporator exhibits an excellent evaporation rate (1.74 kg m−2 h−1) and solar‐to‐vapor conversion efficiency (90% excluding heat losses) under 1 kW m−2 solar intensity. Besides this, the long‐term evaporation experiments show negligible discrepancy under seawater conditions (13.27 kg m−2/8 h under 1 kW m−2) and engrain its functioning potential for multimedia and salt rejection (3.2 g × NaCl/240 min). More importantly, herein, insights into different water states in the polymeric network systems during solar‐driven evaporation are provided. This work shows a significant potential to generate freshwater excluding heavy metals and other oil emulsions for industrial applications.
A multivariate normal approximation for the Dirichlet density and some applications
Authors: Ouimet Frédéric
Published: August 2021

In this short note, we prove an asymptotic expansion for the ratio of the Dirichlet density to the multivariate normal density with the same mean and covariance matrix. The expansion is then used to derive an upper bound on the total variation between the corresponding probability measures and rederive the asymptotic variance of the Dirichlet kernel estimators introduced by Aitchison and Lauder (1985) and studied theoretically in Ouimet (2020). Another potential application related to the asymptotic equivalence between the Gaussian variance regression problem and the Gaussian white noise problem is briefly mentioned but left open for future research.
Design of a Data‐Driven Control System Simultaneously Estimating Disturbance Signal Based on Ms Robustness
Authors: Kinoshita Takuya , Itsuka Hiroki , Yamamoto Toru
Published: August 2021

The control system design scheme for improving disturbance response have been proposed in recent years. In general, system identification is required to estimate disturbance, and the control performance depends on an identification accuracy. In contrast, the data‐driven control scheme has been proposed in which the control parameters are directly calculated from operational data without system identification. This paper proposes the data‐driven control scheme that simultaneously designs a controller and a disturbance estimator. In the proposed scheme, the control parameters are calculated by using the least‐squares method. Specifically, the disturbance is suppressed only using the desired reference model, controller and the adjustable parameter . Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed scheme is numerically demonstrated. © 2021 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Faciogenital dysplasia 5 confers the cancer stem cell‐like traits of gastric cancer cells through enhancing Sox2 protein stability
Authors: You Huaqiang , Gao Shan , Xu Xiaoping , Yuan Hong
Published: August 2021

The promoting roles of faciogenital dysplasia 5 (FGD5) in tumor progression have been identified in various tumors, however, its roles in gastric cancer progression are still confusing. Currently, it was found that FGD5 was highly expressed in gastric cancer tissues and negatively correlated with different types of survival of gastric cancer patients via online dataset analysis. In vitro analysis of different types of gastric cancer cell lines and normal gastric epithelial cells obtained a consistent result. Then FGD5 was knocked down in gastric cancer cell lines through two independent siRNAs against FGD5 and it was identified that FGD5 knockdown suppressed the cancer stem cell (CSC)—like traits of gastric cancer cells through analyzing the expression of CSC markers, ALDH1 activity and spheroid‐formation ability. Further mechanistic studies revealed that FGD5 interacted with Sox2 protein, a critical regulator of CSC progression, enhanced Sox2 protein stability and decreased its ubquitination. Additionally, FGD5 supported the CSC‐like traits dependent on Sox2 expression. Taken together, this work identified a novel FGD5/Sox2 axis responsible for the CSC‐like traits of gastric cancer cells.
Microbial content of non‐fermented liquid feed consumed by sows affects the occurrence of neonatal diarrhoea in their piglets: A case–control study
Authors: Boulbria Gwenaël , Teixeira‐Costa Charlotte , Chevance Céline , Grandin Romane , Jeusselin Justine , Berton Pauline , Guennec Jean Le , Normand Valérie , Bouchet Franck , Brissonnier Mathieu , Lebret Arnaud
Published: August 2021

Background

Microbial colonisation of piglets’ intestines starts at birth, especially from contact with sow's faeces. Piglet microbiota could therefore be influenced by the sow's diet. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the microbiological flora of liquid feed for sows can be associated with the development of neonatal diarrhoea.

Methods

This study was carried out on 10 case farms with neonatal diarrhoea and 10 control farms without neonatal diarrhoea. On each farm, a microbiological analysis of gestating and lactating liquid feed was performed. A generalised linear model was used to study the impact of the liquid feed microbiological counts and pH on the probability of neonatal diarrhoea developing.

Results

For thermotolerant coliforms, sulphite‐reducing bacteria, heterotrophic bacteria and lactic‐acid bacteria counts, there was no significant difference between case and control farms. The higher the count of total coliforms, enterococci and yeasts in sow non‐fermented liquid feed, the greater the probability of observing neonatal diarrhoea. Moreover, taking into account total coliforms and yeasts counts together is highly predictive of neonatal diarrhoea risk.

Conclusion

This study offers new perspectives of investigation and understanding of neonatal diarrhoea in breeding farms feeding sows with a non‐fermented liquid feed.
Adolescent cocaine induced persistent negative affect in female rats exposed to early-life stress
Authors: Bis-Humbert Cristian , García-Fuster M. Julia
Published: August 2021

Rationale

The combination of several risk factors (sex, a prior underlying psychiatric condition, or early drug initiation) could induce the emergence of negative affect during cocaine abstinence and increase the risk of developing addiction. However, most prior preclinical studies have been centered in male rodents, traditionally excluding females from these analyses.

Objectives

To ascertain the behavioral and neurochemical consequences of adolescent cocaine exposure when the combination of several risk factors is present (female, early-life stress).

Methods

Whole litters of Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed to maternal deprivation for 24 h on postnatal day (PND) 9. Cocaine was administered in adolescence (15 mg/kg/day, i.p., PND 33–39). Negative affect was assessed by several behavioral tests (forced swim, open field, novelty-suppressed feeding, sucrose preference). Hippocampal cell fate markers were evaluated by western blot (FADD, Bax, cytochrome c) or immunohistochemistry (Ki-67; cell proliferation).

Results

Maternal deprivation is a suitable model of psychiatric vulnerability in which to study the impact of adolescent cocaine in female rats. While adolescent cocaine did not alter affective-like behavior during adolescence, a pro-depressive–like state emerged during adulthood, exclusively in rats re-exposed to cocaine during abstinence. FADD regulation by cocaine in early-life stressed female rats might contribute to certain hippocampal neuroadaptations with some significance to the observed induced negative affect.

Conclusions

Adolescent cocaine induced persistent negative affect in female rats exposed to early-life stress, highlighting the risk of early drug initiation during adolescence for the emergence of negative reinforcement during abstinence likely driving cocaine addiction vulnerability, also in female rats.
Manta ray foraging and Gaussian mutation-based elephant herding optimization for global optimization
Authors: Duan Yuxian , Liu Changyun , Li Song , Guo Xiangke , Yang Chunlin
Published: August 2021

The elephant herding optimization (EHO) algorithm is a novel metaheuristic optimizer inspired by the clan renewal and separation behaviors of elephant populations. Although it has few parameters and is easy to implement, it suffers from a lack of exploitation, leading to slow convergence. This paper proposes an improved EHO algorithm called manta ray foraging and Gaussian mutation-based EHO for global optimization (MGEHO). The clan updating operator in the original EHO algorithm is replaced by the somersault foraging strategy of manta rays, which aims to optimally adjust patriarch positions. Additionally, a dynamic convergence factor is set to balance exploration and exploitation. The gaussian mutation is adopted to enhance the population diversity, enabling MGEHO to maintain a strong local search capability. To evaluate the performances of different algorithms, 33 classical benchmark functions are chosen to verify the superiority of MGEHO. Also, the enhanced paradigm is compared with other advanced metaheuristic algorithms on 32 benchmark functions from IEEE CEC2014 and CEC2017. Furthermore, a scalability test, convergence analysis, statistical analysis, diversity analysis, and running time analysis demonstrate the effectiveness of MGEHO from various aspects. The results illustrate that MGEHO is superior to other algorithms in terms of solution accuracy and stability. Finally, MGEHO is applied to solve three real engineering problems. The comparison results show that this method is a powerful auxiliary tool for handling complex problems.
Altered expression of costimulatory molecules in dementias
Authors: Busse Stefan , von Hoff Franz , Michler Enrico , Hartig Roland , Bogerts Bernhard , Busse Mandy
Published: August 2021

Although the expression of co-stimulatory molecules plays an important role in the immune system, only little is known about their regulation in dementias. Therefore, we determined the expression of CD28, ICOS (CD278) and CTLA-4 (CD152) by CD4 + and CD8 + T cells in the peripheral blood of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI; N = 19), Alzheimer’s disease (AD; N = 51), vascular dementia (VD; N = 21) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD; N = 6) at the point in time of diagnosis compared to 19 non-demented elderly persons. The expression of CD28 and ICOS by CD4 + and CD8 + T cells was not changed in AD, FTD or VD patients. The expression of the negative regulator CTLA-4 was increased by CD4 + T cells from AD and FTD patients and by CD8 + T cells from VD patients. The classification of the AD patients according to the severity of the disorder showed stage-dependent alterations of CD28, ICOS and CTLA-4 expression. In AD patients, the correlation analysis showed an association between the decline in CD28 + T cells and the increase in CTLA-4 + T cells with cognitive decline, measured by the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), tau proteins and Amyloid-β, important AD biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In FTD patients, a positive association between Q Albumin, a marker for blood-CSF-barrier function, and CD28 and a negative correlation between Q Albumin and ICOS expression were determined. Our data suggest a dysregulated balance between the expression of negative and positive co-stimulatory molecules by T cells in AD patients, which might contribute to chronic inflammation observed in dementia.
Effect of 24% EDTA root conditioning on the outcome of modified coronally advanced tunnel technique with subepithelial connective tissue graft for the treatment of multiple gingival recessions: a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Górski Bartłomiej , Szerszeń Marcin , Kaczyński Tomasz
Published: August 2021

Objectives

To investigate effects of root conditioning with 24% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) on the 12-month outcomes after treatment of multiple gingival recessions (GR) with modified coronally advanced tunnel (MCAT) and subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG).

Materials and methods

Twenty patients with 142 GR were treated (72 test sites: SCTG + EDTA and 70 control sites: SCTG). Average and complete root coverage (ARC, CRC), gain in keratinized tissue width (KTW), gain in gingival thickness (GT), root esthetic coverage score (RES), and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were evaluated at 12 months post-operatively.

Results

Differences between pre- and post-operative values were statistically significant only within but not between treatment modalities. At 12 months, ARC was 86.0% for SCTG + EDTA-treated and 84.6 for SCTG-treated defects (p = 0.6636). CRC was observed in 90.2% (tests) and 91.4% (controls) of all cases (p = 0.9903). Professional assessment of esthetic outcomes using RES showed highly positive results reaching the value of 8.9 in case of test sites and 8.7 for control sites (p = 0.3358). Severity of pain and swelling did not differ between sites, regardless of whether EDTA was used.

Conclusions

Test and control sites presented similarly positive outcomes related to root coverage, periodontal and esthetic parameters, and patient satisfaction and self-reported morbidity with no statistical differences between them 12 months after surgery. No significant differences in evaluated variables were observed between sites treated with and without 24% EDTA.

Clinical relevance

Considering the limitations of the present study, the use of 24% EDTA for root conditioning did not improve 12-month outcomes after treatment of multiple RT1 and RT2 gingival recessions with MCAT and SCTG.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03354104
Neurologisches Ergebnis und allgemeiner Gesundheitszustand bei Langzeitüberleben nach außerklinischer kardiopulmonaler Reanimation
Authors: Poth J. M. , Buschmann C. M. , Kappler J. , Heister U. , Ehrentraut S. F. , Muenster S. , Diepenseifen C. J. , Ellerkmann R. , Schewe J.-C.
Published: August 2021

Fragestellung

Für Deutschland liegen nur wenige Daten zum Gesundheitszustand und Langzeitüberleben nach außerklinischer Reanimation vor. Die vorliegende Studie untersucht den allgemeinen Gesundheitszustand und das neurologische Langzeitergebnis 2,5 bis 5 Jahre nach dem Reanimationsereignis sowie den Zusammenhang zwischen Behandlungsergebnis und präklinischen Patienten- und Behandlungsfaktoren.

Methodik

Alle über einen Zeitraum von 30 Monaten (2011–2013) durch den Rettungsdienst der Stadt Bonn durchgeführten Reanimationen wurden auf Grundlage der Notarzteinsatzprotokolle und des Deutschen Reanimationsregisters retrospektiv analysiert. Der allgemeine Gesundheitszustand wurde in Anlehnung an den SF-12 erfasst und das neurologische Langzeitergebnis kategorisiert (Cerebral Performance Category [CPC]). Die vorliegenden Daten wurden einer uni- und multivariaten logistischen Regressionsanalyse unterzogen.

Ergebnis

Von insgesamt 458 Patienten überlebten 17,9 % bis zur Krankenhausentlassung, 13,8 % mehr als 2,5 Jahre und 7,7 % bis zum Stichtag der Befragung. Von den noch lebenden Patienten hatten 85,3 % ein gutes neurologisches Ergebnis (CPC ≤ 2), welches durch ein geringeres Alter, einen beobachteten Kollaps, die Durchführung einer Defibrillation und das Ausbleiben einer Vasopressorgabe begünstigt wurde (multivariate Analyse). 74,2 % der Überlebenden beschrieben ihren Gesundheitszustand als gut.

Interpretation

Insgesamt überleben langfristig nur wenige Patienten einen außerklinischen Herz-Kreislauf-Stillstand. Die überlebenden Patienten beurteilen ihren Gesundheitszustand als gut und zeigen ein gutes neurologisches Ergebnis. Dabei hängt dieses Behandlungsergebnis von denselben Parametern wie der primäre Reanimationserfolg (Überleben bis Krankenhausaufnahme) ab. Die Etablierung klinischer Instrumente zur frühen Prognoseerstellung ist wünschenswert. Hierzu sind weitere Langzeituntersuchungen größerer Patientenkollektive mit Zugriff auf Routinedaten notwendig.
Zu Inhalt und Konzeption eines revidierten Landwirtschaftsgesetzes
Authors: Busse Christian
Published: August 2021

Der Verfasser hat in der vorliegenden Zeitschrift die “Leipziger Erklärung” des Deutschen
Naturschutzrechtstages vom 25.4.2018 einer kritischen Analyse unterzogen. Darauf erwiderten Czybulka/Fischer-Hüftle/Hampicke/Köck/Martinez
ebenfalls in dieser Zeitschrift. Die Erwiderung nimmt der Verfasser zum Anlass, zum einen seine kritische
Analyse zu überprüfen und zum anderen auf einige mit der Debatte verbundene rechtssystematische
Fragen einzugehen. Die Debatte fügt sich dabei in die aktuelle Diskussion über die zukünftige
Ausgestaltung des Agrarumwelt- und Agrarförderrechts ein.
Kastenstandhaltung und kein Ende
Authors: Schürmeier Claudia
Published: August 2021

Seit Jahrzehnten werden Jungsauen und Sauen über Wochen hinweg in Kastenständen zur Zucht
von Ferkeln eingepfercht und können sich weder bewegen noch umdrehen. Selbst das Ausstrecken der Beine
in Seitenlage wird zum jahrelangen Diskussionsgegenstand, weil aus wirtschaftlichen Gründen um die
Breite der Kastenstände und damit um die baulichen Bedingungen in den Ställen gerungen wird. Die
Stimmen in der Gesellschaft, die sich gegen eine solche Behandlung der Schweine, aber auch gegen den in
großen Teilen nicht artgerechten Umgang mit Tieren in der Landwirtschaft insgesamt wenden, wurden in
den vergangenen Jahren immer lauter. Werden politische Entscheidungen zugunsten der Tiere getroffen, sind
diese bis zu ihrer Wirksamkeit allerdings oftmals mit langen Übergangsfristen verbunden. Ein Beispiel
dafür ist die Beschlussfassung der Siebten Änderungsverordnung zur Tierschutz-Nutztierhaltungsverordnung,
die die rechtliche Grundlage für die Abschaffung der Kastenstandhaltung legt. Dennoch ist der jüngste
Beschluss des Bundesrates aus tierschutzrechtlicher Sicht keineswegs zufriedenstellend. Die Änderungsverordnung
vermittelt den Eindruck, es gehe in erster Linie nicht um das Wohl der Tiere, sondern um ein möglichst
langes Hinauszögern der Abschaffung der Kastenstandhaltung, um wirtschaftliche Nachteile für die
Halter gering zu halten. Übergangsfristen von bis zu fünfzehn Jahren nach Inkrafttreten der Verordnung
geben den Schweinehaltern eine lange Planungsperspektive. Für die betroffenen Tiere ändert sich
derweil auf Jahre hinaus aber nichts.
A Multi-level Review of Engineering Ethics Education: Towards a Socio-technical Orientation of Engineering Education for Ethics
Authors: Martin Diana Adela , Conlon Eddie , Bowe Brian
Published: August 2021

This paper aims to review the empirical and theoretical research on engineering ethics education, by focusing on the challenges reported in the literature. The analysis is conducted at four levels of the engineering education system. First, the individual level is dedicated to findings about teaching practices reported by instructors. Second, the institutional level brings together findings about the implementation and presence of ethics within engineering programmes. Third, the level of policy situates findings about engineering ethics education in the context of accreditation. Finally, there is the level of the culture of engineering education. The multi-level analysis allows us to address some of the limitations of higher education research which tends to focus on individual actors such as instructors or remains focused on the levels of policy and practice without examining the deeper levels of paradigm and purpose guiding them. Our approach links some of the challenges of engineering ethics education with wider debates about its guiding paradigms. The main contribution of the paper is to situate the analysis of the theoretical and empirical findings reported in the literature on engineering ethics education in the context of broader discussions about the purpose of engineering education and the aims of reform programmes. We conclude by putting forward a series of recommendations for a socio-technical oriented reform of engineering educationforethics.