bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increasing Prevalence of Antinuclear Antibodies in the United States
Authors: Dinse Gregg E. , Parks Christine G. , Weinberg Clarice R. , Co Caroll A. , Wilkerson Jesse , Zeldin Darryl C. , Chan Edward K. L. , Miller Frederick W.
Published: August 2022

Objective

Growing evidence suggests increasing frequencies of autoimmunity and autoimmune diseases, but findings are limited by the lack of systematic data and evolving approaches and definitions. This study was undertaken to investigate whether the prevalence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA), the most common biomarker of autoimmunity, changed over a recent 25‐year span in the US.

Methods

Serum ANA were measured by standard indirect immunofluorescence assays on HEp‐2 cells in 13,519 participants age ≥12 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, with approximately one‐third from each of 3 time periods: 1988–1991, 1999–2004, and 2011–2012. We used logistic regression adjusted for sex, age, race/ethnicity, and survey design variables to estimate changes in ANA prevalence across the time periods.

Results

The prevalence of ANA was 11.0% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 9.7–12.6%) in 1988–1991, 11.4% (95% CI 10.2–12.8%) in 1999–2004, and 16.1% (95% CI 14.4–18.0%) in 2011–2012 (P for trend <0.0001), corresponding to ~22.3 million, ~26.6 million, and ~41.5 million affected individuals, respectively. Among adolescents age 12–19 years, ANA prevalence increased substantially, with odds ratios of 2.07 (95% CI 1.18–3.64) and 2.77 (95% CI 1.56–4.91) in the second and third time periods relative to the first (P for trend = 0.0004). ANA prevalence increased in both sexes (especially in men), older adults (age ≥50 years), and non‐Hispanic white individuals. These increases in ANA prevalence were not explained by concurrent trends in weight (obesity/overweight), smoking exposure, or alcohol consumption.

Conclusion

The prevalence of ANA in the US has increased considerably in recent years. Additional studies to determine factors underlying these increases in ANA prevalence could elucidate causes of autoimmunity and enable the development of preventative measures.
Catalyst‐Free Accelerated Three‐Component Synthesis of Betti Bases in Microdroplets
Authors: Jin Xiaoxiao , Wu Yikang , Dai Chengbiao , Sun Jiannan , Ye Meiying , Liu Jinhua , Cheng Heyong
Published: August 2022

Due to their important roles in medicine and asymmetric metal catalysis, the formation of Betti bases has attracted wide interest in organic chemical community. Traditional multicomponent reaction methods for synthesizing Betti bases normally require long reaction times under harsh conditions (high temperature, microwave or ultrasonic irradiation, etc.) in the presence of various catalysts. In this study, we developed a mild, highly efficient and environmentally friendly method to synthesize Betti bases without the use of any catalysts in microdroplets. The Betti reaction was accelerated by 6.53×103 in microdroplets by comparing the measured rate constant in bulk. Fifteen Betti bases were synthesized by the microdroplet method using a variety of aldehydes, naphthols and amines with 68–98 % yields at a scaled‐up amount of 1.9 g h−1. Overall it is an attractive alternative to classic organic synthesis for the construction of Betti bases and derivatives.
Operating time for wire ligation with self‐ligating and conventional brackets: A standardized in vitro study
Authors: Cattaneo Paolo M. , Tepedino Michele , Hansen Emilie B. , Gram Anna R. , Cornelis Marie A.
Published: August 2022

Objective

Operating time is one of the main advantages attributed from the literature to the use of self‐ligating brackets (SLB). The aim of this study is to investigate the time needed for a complete archwire change procedure with conventional brackets (CB) and SLBs in a standardized in vitro research setting, comparing operators with different expertise.

Materials and Methods

Thirty‐three participants were divided into three equal groups: undergraduate students, postgraduate students, and orthodontists. Three sets of typodonts bonded with three types of brackets, including passive SLBs, active SLBs, and CBs using both steel and elastic ligatures were investigated. Operators had to insert, ligate, deligate, and remove wires in sets of typodonts representing an actual dentition before and after orthodontic treatment, mounted in phantoms. Archwire change procedure times were compared between the different bracket/ligation systems, between the before‐ and after‐treatment typodonts, and between operators.

Results

There were significant differences between SLBs and CBs, the greatest difference being 11 min 16 s between passive SLBs and CBs ligated with metallic ligatures at T0, for the total archwire change procedure by the operators overall. For all the operators, there was a statistically significant difference in total archwire change procedure time between the systems. The undergraduate students were the slowest when using CBs, but they showed no significant difference compared to the other users when using SLBs.

Conclusion

SLBs can offer a significant operating time reduction compared to CBs, and time saving is not dependent on the operator's experience and training.
Effect of gender diversity on corporate soundness and social contribution
Authors: Rhee Chang Seop , Woo Sohee , Rhee Hyunjung
Published: August 2022

This study investigates whether gender diversity within a company has a positive effect on corporate soundness and social contribution. We collect the data of female employment status, corporate soundness, and social contribution, and then we perform empirical tests using 1524 Korean firm‐year observations from 2012 to 2020. From the empirical results, we find that firms with high gender diversity have more corporate soundness than those with low gender diversity. We also find that there is a positive association between the level of gender diversity and social contribution. Our findings imply that by increasing the ratio of female employees, companies can create a more stable and rigorous corporate climate, and consequently improve the corporate soundness and social contribution. This study supports the importance of females in the workforce by presenting empirical evidence that female employment helps improve corporate soundness and social contribution.
Design of a novel micro‐Zone adaptive Energy‐Trust evaluation Active On‐Demand Vector protocol to optimize communication in challenging and attacked mobile network
Authors: Juneja Kapil
Published: August 2022

High congestion, mobility, and energy restrictions are the critical challenges to mobile networks. The conventional routing protocols are unable to ensure effective and reliable communication in such dynamic and unpredictable situations. In this paper, a novel micro‐Zone adaptive Energy‐Trust evaluation Active On‐Demand Vector (mZ‐ETAODV) protocol is designed to provide routing solutions in extreme conditions. In this work, the complete network is divided into smaller zones of nxn. The extreme zone position‐based evaluation is conducted to handle the stability and to identify the next intermediate node. The zone‐covered neighbors are further computed under energy and trust measures to identify the most reliable neighbor. The proposed protocol is simulated under high mobility, congestion and man‐in‐middle attack situations. The analytical observations are recorded in terms of Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR) ratio, energy consumption, delay and communication loss parameters. The comparative results are generated against AODV, SAODV, PSAODV, PDS‐AODV, NVS‐AODV, iNVS‐AODV, Tripathy et al., DFMCRP, FBSSR, MBDP‐AODV, AGHA, and Singh et al. protocols. The experimentation is conducted in a highly challenging mobile network with high congestion, high mobility, energy restriction, existence of blackhole, grayhole, DDOS, and mixed attacks. These attacks are performed with 0% to 10% density, and analysis is conducted against PDR ratio, communication delay, route switching, dead node count, remaining energy, and attack detection rate measures. The analysis results identified that the proposed protocol reduced the communication delay and energy consumption and achieved significant gain in attack detection rate, network life and PDR ratio.
The RhoGAP‐myosin Myo9b regulates ocular lens pit morphogenesis
Authors: Hemkemeyer Sandra A. , Liu Zhijun , Vollmer Veith , Xu Yan , Lohmann Birgit , Bähler Martin
Published: August 2022

Background

During eye development the lens placode invaginates to form the lens pit. Further bending of lens epithelium and separation from ectoderm leads eventually to a spherical lens vesicle with enclosed extracellular fluid. Changes in epithelial morphology involve the actin cytoskeleton and its regulators. The myosin Myo9b is simultaneously an actin‐based motor and Rho GTPase‐activating protein that regulates actin cytoskeleton organization. Myo9b‐deficient adult mice and embryos were analyzed for eye malformations and alterations in lens development.

Results

Myo9b‐deficient mice showed a high incidence of microphthalmia and cataracts with occasional blepharitis. Formation of the lens vesicle during embryonic lens development was disordered in virtually all embryos. Lens placode invagination was less deep and gave rise to a conical structure instead of a spherical pit. At later stages either no lens vesicle was formed or a significantly smaller one that was not enclosed by the optic cup. Expression of the cell fate marker Pax6 was not altered. Staining of adherens junctions and F‐actin was most intense at the tip of conical invaginations, suggesting that mechanical forces are not properly coordinated between epithelial cells that form the pit.

Conclusions

Myo9b is a critical regulator of ocular lens vesicle morphogenesis during eye development.
Range‐wide sources of variation in reproductive rates of northern spotted owls
Authors: Rockweit Jeremy T. , Jenkins Julianna M. , Hines James E. , Nichols James D. , Dugger Katie M. , Franklin Alan B. , Carlson Peter C. , Kendall William L. , Lesmeister Damon B. , McCafferty Christopher , Ackers Steven H. , Andrews L. Steven , Bailey Larissa L. , Burgher Jesse , Burnham Kenneth P. , Chestnut Tara , Conner Mary M. , Davis Raymond J. , Dilione Krista E. , Forsman Eric D. , Glenn Elizabeth M. , Gremel Scott A. , Hamm Keith A. , Herter Dale R. , Higley J. Mark , Horn Rob B. , Lamphear David W. , McDonald Trent L. , Reid Janice A. , Schwarz Carl J. , Simon David C. , Sovern Stan G. , Swingle James K. , Wiens J. David , Wise Heather , Yackulic Charles B.
Published: August 2022

We conducted a range‐wide investigation of the dynamics of site‐level reproductive rate of northern spotted owls using survey data from 11 study areas across the subspecies geographic range collected during 1993–2018. Our analytical approach accounted for imperfect detection of owl pairs and misclassification of successful reproduction (i.e., at least one young fledged) and contributed further insights into northern spotted owl population ecology and dynamics. Both nondetection and state misclassification were important, especially because factors affecting these sources of error also affected focal ecological parameters. Annual probabilities of site occupancy were greatest at sites with successful reproduction in the previous year and lowest for sites not occupied by a pair in the previous year. Site‐specific occupancy transition probabilities declined over time and were negatively affected by barred owl presence. Overall, the site‐specific probability of successful reproduction showed substantial year‐to‐year fluctuations and was similar for occupied sites that did or did not experience successful reproduction the previous year. Site‐specific probabilities for successful reproduction were very small for sites that were unoccupied the previous year. Barred owl presence negatively affected the probability of successful reproduction by northern spotted owls in Washington and California, as predicted, but the effect in Oregon was mixed. The proportions of sites occupied by northern spotted owl pairs showed steep, near‐monotonic declines over the study period, with all study areas showing the lowest observed levels of occupancy to date. If trends continue it is likely that northern spotted owls will become extirpated throughout large portions of their range in the coming decades.
Integrating invasive species risk assessment into environmental DNA metabarcoding reference libraries
Authors: Mahon Andrew R. , Grey Erin K. , Jerde Christopher L.
Published: August 2022

Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has shown promise as a tool for estimating biodiversity and early detection of invasive species. In aquatic systems, advantages of this method include the ability to concurrently monitor biodiversity and detect incipient invasions simply through the collection and analysis of water samples. However, depending on the molecular markers chosen for a given study, reference libraries containing target sequences from present species may limit the usefulness of eDNA metabarcoding. To explore the extent of this issue and how it may be resolved to aid biodiversity and invasive species early detection goals, we focus on fishes in the well‐studied Laurentian Great Lakes region. First, we provide a synthesis of species currently known from the region and of non‐indigenous species identified as threats by international, national, regional, and introduction pathway‐specific fish risk assessments. With these species lists, we then evaluate 23 primer pairs commonly used in fish eDNA metabarcoding with available databases of sequence coverage and species specificity. Finally, we identify established and potentially invasive non‐indigenous fish that should be prioritized for genetic sequencing to ensure robust eDNA metabarcoding for the region. Our results should increase confidence in using eDNA metabarcoding for fisheries conservation and management in the Great Lakes region and help prioritize reference sequencing efforts. The ultimate utility of eDNA metabarcoding approaches will come when conservation management of existing fish communities is integrated with early detection efforts for invasive species surveillance to assess total fish biodiversity.
Intimacy across species boundaries: Interspecific allopreening between Spot‐necked (Stachyris strialata) and Nonggang Babblers (S. nonggangensis)
Authors: Zhou Wenyi , Zhang Zhuyang
Published: August 2022

Allopreening occurs in many species of birds and is known for providing hygienic and social benefits. While this behavior has been extensively studied among conspecifics, its occurrence among different species remains little known. Outside of captive environments, only a few records of interspecific allopreening exist. In this study, we describe our observations of the interspecific allopreening behavior between Spot‐necked (Stachyris strialata) and Nonggang Babblers (S. nonggangensis) in a non‐captive environment in southern China. To our knowledge, these observations represent the first record of interspecific allopreening in the family Timaliidae. We suggest that this understudied behavior is most likely related to the dominant–subordinate relationship between these two species: either the dominant species preening the subordinate species to assert dominance or the subordinate species preening the dominant species to reduce tensions by appeasement. We also suggest interspecific allopreening may not be as rare as we thought if we study this behavior under circumstances where different species are close to each other. This study contributes to our understanding of not only the potential mechanism(s) behind interspecific allopreening but also the behavioral ecology of the vulnerable Nonggang Babbler.
Relationship between diversity and stability of a karst plant community
Authors: Wang Yang , Chen Jin , Zhang Limin , Feng Ling , Yan Linbin , Li Fangbing , Zhao Xiangwei , Yu Lifei , Liu Na
Published: August 2022

The relationships among species diversity, functional diversity, functional redundancy, and community stability are central to community and ecosystem ecology. In this paper, a “space substitution for time” approach is used to study the plant communities at different stages of the natural recovery process of degraded karst vegetation on the karst plateau of Guizhou. These restoration stages include the herbaceous stage, herbaceous and shrub transition stage, shrub stage, tree and shrub transition stage, and tree stage. We calculated the functional diversity and functional redundancy of the community based on functional characteristics and mediated the relationship between functional diversity, functional redundancy, and stability of the plant community through changes in functional diversity and functional redundancy. This study aims to reveal the mechanisms of changes in species diversity and community stability and thus further reveals the intrinsic reasons for maintaining the stability of karst plant communities. The most important results include the following: (1) Species diversity, functional redundancy, and stability gradually increased with restoration, and there were significant differences among the different stages; functional diversity increased at first and then decreased, and reached the highest level at the tree and shrub transition stage; (2) Plant height and specific leaf area were functional traits that influenced the diversity and stability of the plant community, with plant height being positively correlated with plant community diversity and stability, and specific leaf area being negatively correlated with plant community diversity and stability; (3) During the community's recovery, functional diversity and functional redundancy interacted to maintain stability. In the early and late stages of recovery, the effect of functional redundancy on stability was greater than that of functional diversity, but it was the opposite in the middle stages; (4) The tree and shrub transition stage is the likely point at which the functional diversity of plant communities in karst areas reaches saturation, and the growth rate of functional redundancy after functional diversity saturation is greater than that before saturation. Overall, community stability increased with species diversity; habitat heterogeneity increased functional diversity in the early stages of recovery; and habitat homogeneity increased functional redundancy.
Solvent‐Free Manufacturing of Lithium‐Ion Battery Electrodes via Cold Plasma
Authors: Liang Zhiming , Li Tianyi , Chi Holden , Ziegelbauer Joseph , Sun Kai , Wang Ming , Zhang Wei , Liu Tuo , Cheng Yang‐Tse , Chen Zonghai , Gayden Xiaohong , Ban Chunmei
Published: August 2022

Slurry casting has been used to fabricate lithium‐ion battery electrodes for decades, which involves toxic and expensive organic solvents followed by high‐cost vacuum drying and electrode calendering. This work presents a new manufacturing method using a nonthermal plasma to create inter‐particle binding without using any polymeric binding materials, enabling solvent‐free manufacturing electrodes with any electrochemistry of choice. The cold‐plasma‐coating technique enables fabricating electrodes with thickness (>200 μm), high mass loading (>30 mg cm−2), high peel strength, and the ability to print lithium‐ion batteries in an arbitrary geometry. This crosscutting, chemistry agnostic, platform technology would increase energy density, eliminate the use of solvents, vacuum drying, and calendering processes during production, and reduce manufacturing cost for current and future cell designs. Here, lithium iron phosphate and lithium cobalt oxide were used as examples to demonstrate the efficacy of the cold‐plasma‐coating technique. It is found that the mechanical peel strength of cold‐plasma‐coating‐manufactured lithium iron phosphate is over an order of magnitude higher than that of slurry‐casted lithium iron phosphate electrodes. Full cells assembled with a graphite anode and the cold‐plasma‐coating‐lithium iron phosphate cathode offer highly reversible cycling performance with a capacity retention of 81.6% over 500 cycles. For the highly conductive cathode material lithium cobalt oxide, an areal capacity of 4.2 mAh cm−2 at 0.2 C is attained. We anticipate that this new, highly scalable manufacturing technique will redefine global lithium‐ion battery manufacturing providing significantly reduced plant footprints and material costs.
Cation‐Anion Redox Active Organic Complex for High Performance Aqueous Zinc Ion Battery
Authors: Zhang Lilin , Chen Yining , Jiang Zongyuan , Chen Jingwei , Wei Cong , Wu Wenzhuo , Li Shaohui , Xu Qun
Published: August 2022

Organic redox compounds are attractive cathode materials in aqueous zinc‐ion batteries owing to their low cost, environmental friendliness, multiple‐electron‐transfer reactions, and resource sustainability. However, the realized energy density is constrained by the limited capacity and low voltage. Herein, copper‐tetracyanoquinodimethane (CuTCNQ), an organic charge–transfer complex is evaluated as a zinc‐ion battery cathode owing to the good electron acceptation ability in the cyano groups that improves the voltage output. Through electrochemical activation, electrolyte optimization, and adoption of graphene‐based separator, CuTCNQ‐based aqueous zinc‐ion batteries deliver much improved rate performance and cycling stability with anti‐self‐discharge properties. The structural evolution of CuTCNQ during discharge/charge are investigated by ex situ Fourier transform infra‐red (FT‐IR) spectra, ex situ X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and in situ ultraviolet visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), revealing reversible redox reactions in both cuprous cations (Cu+) and organic anions (TCNQx‐1), thus delivering a high voltage output of 1.0 V and excellent discharge capacity of 158 mAh g−1. The remarkable electrochemical performance in Zn//CuTCNQ is ascribed to the strong inductive effect of cyano groups in CuTCNQ that elevated the voltage output and the graphene‐modified separator that inhibited CuTCNQ dissolution and shuttle effect in aqueous electrolytes.
Microchip electrophoresis separation coupled to mass spectrometry (MCE–MS) for the rapid monitoring of multiple quality attributes of monoclonal antibodies
Authors: Madren Seth , Yi Linda
Published: August 2022

Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are highly heterogeneous as a result of posttranslational modifications (PTMs) during bioprocessing and storage. The modifications that impact mAb product quality are regarded as critical quality attributes and require monitoring. The conventional LC–mass spectrometer (MS) method used for product quality monitoring may require protein A purification prior to analysis. In this paper, we present a high‐throughput microchip electrophoresis (<4 min) in‐line with MS (MCE–MS) that enables baseline separation and characterization of Fc, Fd′, and light chain (LC) domains of IdeS‐treated mAb sample directly from bioreactor. The NISTmAb was used to optimize the MCE separation and to assess its capability of multiple attribute monitoring. The MCE–MS can uniquely separate and characterize deamidated species at domain level compared to LC–MS method. Two case studies were followed to demonstrate the method capability of monitoring product quality of mAb samples from stability studies or directly from bioreactors.
A Solid‐State Carrier Transport‐Prompted Z‐Scheme BiVO4 Quantum Dots‐Based Photocatalyst for Boosted Photocatalytic Degradation of Antibiotics
Authors: Bao Zhiyong , Li Zixing , Du Yunlong , Zhang Maofeng , Wang Jiaheng , Cai Jing , Lv Jun , Cheng He-fa , Zhang Yong , Wu Yucheng
Published: August 2022

Monoclinic BiVO4 is extensively exploited in organic oxidation because of its appropriate valence band and remarkable catalytic activity. BiVO4 quantum dots not only have a high specific surface area and active sites for photocatalytic reactions, but can address the short carrier diffusion path problem. Herein, a Z‐scheme BiVO4 quantum dots/reduced graphene oxide/g‐C3N4 photocatalyst is constructed. Benefiting from the distinct BiVO4 quantum dots and layered g‐C3N4 sheets, the photocatalytic compound possesses a considerable light capture capability and surface area. The established Z‐scheme photocatalytic compound with a suitable electronic band structure and redox potential is integrated with a “synthesis and assembly” method. The sodium oleate surfactant plays an important role in the preparation of uniform BiVO4 quantum dots with a diameter of 3–6 nm. The optimized photocatalytic degradation experiments show that the ciprofloxacin and amoxicillin photocatalytic efficiencies are up to 92.2% and 70.7% in 1 h, respectively. It is shown that the improved photocatalytic activities involve in the prolonged lifetime of photogenerated electrons and fast carrier migration in the compound upon simulated sunlight exposure. Herein, a prospective stage for developing more Z‐scheme heterojunctions with excellent photocatalytic properties for antibiotic wastewater treatment and reproducible solar capture in photochemical energy conversion is offered.
Impact factors and contributions of commingled production in multiple coal seams
Authors: Jin Jun , Fang Xiaojie , Wu Caifang , Han Jiang , Jiang Xiuming , Liu Ningning , Gao Bin
Published: August 2022

The multilayer development of coalbed methane (CBM) is affected by many factors, and the gas production contribution of each seam is unclear. In this study, 12 geological and 10 engineering parameters were adopted to reveal the key factors affecting the combined‐layer drainage productivity of CBM wells before using numerical simulation to clarify the contribution of each coal seam. The results show that the coal reservoir in the Laochang mining area exhibited the advantages of high gas content, intact coal body structure, and large thickness of the combined coal seams, and it was deficient with low saturation and ratio of critical desorption pressure to reservoir pressure. The medium permeability after fracturing and the influence of a small range of fracturing leads to the steep and deep pressure drop funnel of the coal reservoir, and most of the reservoir pressure drop is ineffective; this may be the reason for the unstable production and rapid attenuation of most CBM wells in the study area. The gas production of the Nos. 13 and 18 coal seams is stable and makes a significant contribution, and they can be used as the key objects of follow‐up CBM exploration and development in this area. Geological factors, such as coal body structure, ratio of critical desorption pressure to reservoir pressure, thickness of combined coal seams, and gas saturation, as well as engineering factors, such as permeability and half length of fractures after fracturing, are the main factors affecting the productivity of the CBM wells in the Laochang mining area.
A data‐driven memory model for solving turbulent flows with the pseudo‐direct numerical simulation method
Authors: Larreteguy Axel E. , Gimenez Juan M. , Nigro Norberto M. , Sívori Francisco M. , Idelsohn Sergio R.
Published: August 2022

It is well known that the inherent three‐dimensional and unsteady nature of turbulent flows is a stumbling block for all approaches aimed at resolving their spatial and temporal variability. The pseudo‐direct numerical simulation (P‐DNS) method for turbulent flows, proposed by the authors in a previous publication, focused on resolving the spatial variability, leaving the task of solving the temporal evolution to a highly simplified, parameter dependent model, to be adjusted in a case by case basis. Although some auspicious results were obtained, the applicability of P‐DNS for problems of industrial interest required a more sophisticated method to deal with the temporal variability. In this sense, the present work proposes a new, parameter free, data‐driven memory model for P‐DNS. The model is based on the study of off‐line DNS solutions of turbulent flows transitioning between statistically steady states in simple domains. The new P‐DNS model is tested and successfully compared against existing methods in selected three‐dimensional turbulent flows.
GA4GH Phenopackets: A Practical Introduction
Authors: Ladewig Markus S. , Jacobsen Julius O. B. , Wagner Alex H. , Danis Daniel , El Kassaby Baha , Gargano Michael , Groza Tudor , Baudis Michael , Steinhaus Robin , Seelow Dominik , Bechrakis Nikolaos E. , Mungall Christopher J. , Schofield Paul N. , Elemento Olivier , Smith Lindsay , McMurry Julie A. , Munoz‐Torres Monica , Haendel Melissa A. , Robinson Peter N.
Published: August 2022

The Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH) is developing a suite of coordinated standards for genomics for healthcare. The Phenopacket is a new GA4GH standard for sharing disease and phenotype information that characterizes an individual person, linking that individual to detailed phenotypic descriptions, genetic information, diagnoses, and treatments. A detailed example is presented that illustrates how to use the schema to represent the clinical course of a patient with retinoblastoma, including demographic information, the clinical diagnosis, phenotypic features and clinical measurements, an examination of the extirpated tumor, therapies, and the results of genomic analysis. The Phenopacket Schema, together with other GA4GH data and technical standards, will enable data exchange and provide a foundation for the computational analysis of disease and phenotype information to improve our ability to diagnose and conduct research on all types of disorders, including cancer and rare diseases.
An investigation into managerial support for the psychological wellbeing of national health service doctors during the Covid‐19 pandemic: A cross sectional study
Authors: Jabbar Salman Ahmed Abdul , Marshall Carol
Published: August 2022

Aim

This study investigates the psychological wellbeing of United Kingdom National Health Service doctors during the Covid‐19 pandemic and evaluates how they have been supported managerially.

Method

A mixed‐method sequential study design of online surveys and semi‐structured interviews was employed between July‐August 2020, with a response rate of 273/300 and 4/4 respectively. The Warwick‐Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS) and Health and Safety Executive Management Standards (HSE MS) were used as measuring tools. The Jobs Demands Resource (JD‐R) model and its relation to psychological wellbeing was determined. Survey findings informed semi‐structured interviews, coded using thematic analysis.

Results

Overall mean WEMWBS, 43.2 (SD = 9.44), was low as was mean managerial support, 2.38 (SD = 0.78). Overall mean clinical demand score was high (2.6 on reverse scale). First year female trainee respondents from frontline specialties were found to have low psychological wellbeing scores. Key correlations were found between high managerial support, low clinical demands and low psychological wellbeing (r > 0.6). Core themes emerged: (1) breakdown of leadership, (2) vulnerability of wellbeing without support, (3) suboptimal navigation through change and (4) poor physical and human resource management.

Conclusion

Maintaining the psychological wellbeing of doctors requires physical and psychological resources to meet clinical demands and the enhancement of fundamental managerial principles of control, communication, change management and leadership through adversity.
Applying embedded program evaluation for care delivery transformation: An analysis of a home‐based urgent care program
Authors: Carlson Lucas C. , Pu Charles T. , Mark Eden , Gao Ya , Nussbaum Lisa , Vogeli Christine
Published: August 2022

Background

In 2014, Mass General Brigham, formerly Partners HealthCare, launched a novel urgent home‐based medical care program to provide rapid medical evaluation and treatment to homebound patients and older adults with frailty or limited mobility named the partners mobile observation unit (PMOU) program.

Methods

We conducted a pragmatic, embedded evaluation assessing the impact of PMOU on postreferral utilization and total medical expenditure (TME). We used propensity weighting and logistic regression to estimate the 30‐day adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of emergency department (ED) utilization and inpatient medical hospitalization for patients enrolled in PMOU (891 episodes of care) relative to those who were referred but not enrolled in the program (57 episodes of care) during the period of April 2017 to June 2018. We additionally conducted a difference‐in‐differences analysis assessing program impact on TME, comparing claims data 30 days pre/post referral.

Results

Despite positive trends, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups with regard to postreferral ED visits or hospitalizations, with an OR of 0.83 (p = 0.56) and OR of 0.64 (p = 0.21), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in pre/post referral TME for intervention relative to control episodes (p = 0.64). In post hoc analysis of control episodes, 75% received care elsewhere within 14 days of referral.

Conclusion

Although the results suggested positive trends, this analysis of this relatively mature program was unable to identify statistically significant reductions in ED visits, hospitalizations, or TME associated with the PMOU program. Future efforts to build home‐based urgent care programs or related programs targeting older adults with frailty or limited mobility should aim to improve patient targeting and identify opportunities to improve program operations and generate meaningful reductions in healthcare utilization and spending.
The effect of digital transformation on employment in Egypt: An applied study using ARDL model
Authors: Elgohary Esam Mohamed , Abdel‐Aziz Reham Oncy
Published: August 2022

The current study aims to measure the effect of digital transformation on employment in Egypt, in addition to developing some proposed measures to sustain the digital vision in the New Republic to reduce unemployment. So, this study tries to contribute to this discussion, which attracted the attention of the two researchers to the problem of this research. EViews 12 Software was used as this study depended on the autoregressive distributed lag methodology, which gives the best results in the long run, and is considered one of the most suitable models with the sample size used in this research. The sample size consisted of 18 observations extended from 2003 to 2020. As well as, the Vector Auto‐Regression model was used to test the relationship between variables in order to test hypotheses as it is characterized by dealing with the variables entering the system as correlated internal variables. The study results showed that the unemployment variable did not have a causal effect on the independent variables, while the education variable and the Gross domestic product variable had a causal and positive effect on the independent variables that express the transformation digital where the significance value was less than 5%.
Determining best practices to delivering comprehensive medication management in practices with patients with chronic kidney disease: A qualitative study
Authors: Pestka Deborah L. , Maxson Rebecca , Bradley Shelby , Hsu Yu‐Chia , Traynor Andrew , St. Peter Wendy L.
Published: August 2022

Introduction

New payment models have intensified the importance of providing comprehensive medication management (CMM) to patients with chronic kidney disease. While some practices have pharmacists integrated into their kidney care teams, increasing the presence of pharmacists providing CMM will be key to practices achieving kidney‐related care outcomes and taking advantage of emergent value‐based payment models. To support future practices, the objective of this study was to understand what an ideal practice providing CMM to patients with kidney disease would look like from the perspective of those already in practice.

Methods

Qualitative semi‐structured interviews were carried out with 11 pharmacists practicing in diverse settings where kidney care was provided. Transcripts were coded deductively using a CMM practice management framework to determine the state of current practice, limitations, and components of an ideal practice.

Results

Some components of an ideal CMM practice that were coded include alternative methods of CMM billing and revenue capture, incorporating methods for identifying CMM patients beyond a referral‐based system, and having collaborative practice agreements in place. Barriers cited by those currently in practice include not always having support staff available for CMM, and a lack of processes in place to consistently and frequently measure CMM outcomes.

Conclusion

While this study outlined several of the components that would contribute to an ideal practice providing CMM to patients with kidney disease, it also revealed that many existing CMM practices face practice management barriers or limitations. Given the rising importance of providing CMM to patients with kidney disease, a number of implementation supports are now under development. Utilization of these supports will be key to expanding and optimizing CMM services thereby meeting the public health need of improving kidney health and reducing health care costs.
On the reliability of atoms in molecules, noncovalent index, and natural bond orbital to identify and quantify noncovalent bonds
Authors: Scheiner Steve
Published: August 2022

Atoms in molecules, noncovalent index, and natural bond orbital methods are commonly invoked to identify the presence of various noncovalent bonds and to measure their strength. However, there are numerous instances in the literature where these methods provide contradictory or apparently erroneous interpretations of the bonding. The range of reliability of these methods is assessed by calculations of a variety of systems, which include an H‐bond, halogen bond, π‐tetrel bond, CH··HC interaction, and a pairing of two anions. While the results appear to be meaningful for the equilibrium geometries, and those where the two subunits are progressively pulled apart, these techniques erroneously predict a progressively stronger bonding interaction as the two units are compressed and the interaction becomes clearly repulsive. The methods falsely indicate a bonding interaction in the CH··HC arrangement, and incorrectly mimic the behavior of the energy when two anions approach. These approaches are also unreliable for understanding angular deformations.
Development of starch microstructures containing vitamin B3 by electrospinning technique for application in functional food
Authors: Coelho Sílvia Castro , Rocha Fernando , Estevinho Berta N.
Published: August 2022

Background

Vitamin B3 is a micronutrient that acts as antioxidant and possesses a crucial role on the cell and DNA mechanisms. It presents associated limitations such as low stability and bioavailability, and degradation by external agents that make it suitable for entrapment by the electrospinning process.

Results

In this study, starch microstructures were produced and optimized to encapsulate vitamin B3. The incorporation of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and glycerol as plasticizers, which can increase the plasticity of the starch solution, decreasing its viscosity and friction during the electrospinning process, was evaluated. The different microsystems were investigated in terms of morphology, physical stability, antioxidant activity of B3 and release of vitamin from starch microstructures in a controlled way and under gastric conditions (simulated gastric fluid). Vitamin B3 was successfully loaded into starch matrices, with good encapsulation efficiency. A high antioxidant activity was verified, which depended on the PEO or glycerol amount in the polymer solution. Microstructures prepared with 12% w/w starch in general presented the highest encapsulation efficiency and the highest antioxidant activity.

Conclusion

It is possible to conclude that the behavior of the starch microstructures changed with PEO/glycerol incorporation. Starch microstructures can be used as effective microsystems to increase the stability of the ingredients. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Effects of arsenic on bioelectricity output and anode microbial community of soil microbial fuel cells in arsenic–petroleum hydrocarbon‐contaminated soils
Authors: Zhu Ting , Feng Liu , Cao Chengwei
Published: August 2022

Background

Hydrocarbon production is a potential emission source of arsenic. Sites contaminated by arsenic and hydrocarbons are common but have received little attention. This study selects soil polluted by petroleum hydrocarbons and arsenic as a matrix to construct soil microbial fuel cells (SMFCs), investigates the effect of arsenic on the performance of the SMFCs, so as to provide basic data for the remediation design of such sites, and thus provides a new technical option for the remediation of organic–inorganic‐contaminated sites.

Results

Five groups of SMFCs were tested under different soil arsenic concentrations. When soil arsenic concentration increased from 4.72 to 842.12 mg kg−1, the maximum power density of the SMFCs decreased from 11.3 to 1.8 mW m−2, while the internal resistance increased from 871.4 to 1322.1 Ω. The anode microbial community of the SMFCs aggregated arsenic‐resistant and electric adaptive microbes due to increased arsenic stress, resulting in a decrease in community abundance but an increase in community evenness, which accordingly contributed to the observed change in bioelectricity output. SMFCs did drive the migration of arsenic in soil to the cathode, and this effect decreased with increasing soil arsenic concentration.

Conclusions

With an increase of arsenic, the bioelectricity output of SMFCs was significantly inhibited and the abundance of anode microbial communities decreased. SMFCs did have a cathodic driving effect on arsenic in the soil. This study has practical significance for improving SMFCs in metal/metalloid‐polluted sites, which can provide an optional process for the remediation of organic–metal/metalloid‐polluted sites. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Distribution of Multiplexed Continuous‐Variable Entanglement for Quantum Networks
Authors: Ren Yuan , Wang Xutong , Lv Yinghui , Bacco Davide , Jing Jietai
Published: August 2022

Quantum networks, the backbone of the future quantum internet, require flexible and precise control to faithfully share entanglement with different users. These networks will allow multiple applications including distributed quantum computation and information theoretic secure communication. In this scenario, orbital angular momentum (OAM) can be employed to enhance the capacity of quantum information processing and to distribute quantum entanglement in an efficient and scalable way with multiple users. Here, a method for realizing a multiplexed continuous variable (CV) quantum entanglement distribution based on a four‐wave mixing process combined with an active routing technique is experimentally demonstrated. By exploiting Sagnac‐based OAM sorters, the OAM entanglement can be distributed and measured with the different users in a quasi‐complete star network configuration. The generations of multiple sets of OAM multiplexed bipartite CV entanglement with four users and six users are proposed and demonstrated here. In addition, the propagation of one mode through a 1 km of single‐mode fiber shows the applicability of this approach. These results propose and demonstrate a new method for distributing CV entanglement in a quantum network enlarging the range of applicability of CV quantum information protocols.
Approximation of functions by complex conformable derivative bases in Fréchet spaces
Authors: Hassan Gamal F. , Abdel‐Salam Emad A‐B. , Rashwan Rashwan A.
Published: August 2022

In the present paper, the representation, in different domains, of analytic functions by complex conformable fractional derivative bases (CCFDB) and complex conformable fractional integral bases (CCFIB) in Fréchet space are investigated. Results are proved to show that such representation is possible in closed disks, open disks, open regions surrounding closed disks, at the origin, and for all entire functions. Also, some results concerning the growth order and type of CCFDB and CCFIB are determined. Moreover, the
‐property of CCFDB and CCFIB is discussed. The obtained results recover some known results when
. Finally, some applications to the CCFDB and CCFIB of Bernoulli, Euler, Bessel, and Chebyshev polynomials have been studied.
Core‐shell nanocatalysts with reduced platinum content toward more cost‐effective proton exchange membrane fuel cells
Authors: Li Qun , Zhang Guisheng , Yuan Botao , Zhong Shijie , Ji Yuanpeng , Liu Yuanpeng , Wu Xiaoqiang , Kong Qingquan , Han Jiecai , He Weidong
Published: August 2022

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have become a major component of current clean energy technologies. Accounting for nearly half the cost of a commercial fuel cell stack, Pt‐based catalysts are the main choices for both anode and cathode in PEMFCs. However, catalytical activity and operating life of Pt‐based catalysts are still unsatisfactory. High cost and scarcity of Pt further hinder the development of PEMFCs. Constructing core‐shell structure for Pt‐based catalysts is a promising strategy to enhance the catalytic activity and reduce the cost. In this review, we overview recent advances in Pt‐based core‐shell catalysts according to catalytic reaction types involved in PEMFCs. Furthermore, we discuss the working principle of core‐shell catalysts from the perspective of coupling between core and shell. In the end, we conclude the recent progress and discuss the future developments and facing challenges.
Computational coupled large‐deformation periporomechanics for dynamic failure and fracturing in variably saturated porous media
Authors: Menon Shashank , Song Xiaoyu
Published: August 2022

The large‐deformation mechanics and multiphysics of continuous or fracturing partially saturated porous media under static and dynamic loads are significant in engineering and science. This article is devoted to a computational coupled large‐deformation periporomechanics paradigm assuming passive air pressure for modeling dynamic failure and fracturing in variably saturated porous media. The coupled governing equations for bulk and fracture material points are formulated in the current/deformed configuration through the updated Lagrangian–Eulerian framework. It is assumed that the horizon of a mixed material point remains spherical and its neighbor points are determined in the current configuration. As a significant contribution, the mixed interface/phreatic material points near the phreatic line are explicitly considered for modeling the transition from partial to full saturation (vice versa) through the mixed peridynamic state concept. We have formulated the coupled constitutive correspondence principle and stabilization scheme in the updated Lagrangian–Eulerian framework for bulk and interface points. We numerically implement the coupled large deformation periporomechanics through a fully implicit fractional‐step algorithm in time and a hybrid updated Lagrangian–Eulerian meshfree method in space. Numerical examples are presented to validate the implemented stabilized computational coupled large‐deformation periporomechanics and demonstrate its efficacy and robustness in modeling dynamic failure and fracturing in variably saturated porous media.