bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trends of seasonal forage yield changes of triticale in the southern Great Plains of the United States
Authors: Kumssa Tadele T. , Anderson Joshua D. , Johnson James P. , Norton Shawn , Saha Malay C. , Trammell Michael A. , Rogers James K. , Butler Twain J. , Ma Xue‐Feng
Published: October 2022

Background

The focus of triticale breeding in the southern Great Plains of the United States has been to increase forage yield for autumn–winter seasons when most other forage species are dormant. This study aims to estimate the trends of seasonal yield changes over time.

Methods

Yield trials had been conducted in a randomized complete block design for up to two decades. Seasonal yield changes over time were estimated using linear regression analysis.

Results

The analysis revealed a significant positive relation between autumn forage yield (relative to common checks) and calendar years when the trials were conducted. The estimated improvement of autumn forage yield was about 1.9% per year on medium and heavy soil at Ardmore, Oklahoma, and about 5.4% per year on light soil at Burneyville, Oklahoma. However, winter forage yield change was minimal and the spring forage yield increase was negative, although this decline was not significant. Total forage yield improvements were about 0.6% and 0.7% per year at Ardmore and Burneyville, respectively. Similar results were also observed when years of cultivars' introduction were used instead.

Conclusions

The results indicate a significant gain in autumn forage yield, but a minor gain in the total forage yield due to the yield tradeoff between the autumn and spring seasons.
What's data got to do with it? A scoping review of data used as evidence in policies promoting the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the Northern Territory, Australia
Authors: Lloyd‐Johnsen Catherine , Eades Sandra , D'Aprano Anita , Goldfeld Sharon
Published: October 2022

Issue addressed

Accurate data on the health of Australia's First Nations peoples is critical in determining appropriate public health programs and establishing a baseline against which to measure progress. The effective translation of evidence into practice continues to be a challenge for Australian health departments and policymakers. The objective of this scoping review was to (i) determine the extent and range of policies relevant to the health and well‐being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the Northern Territory (NT); to (ii) identify what data is reported to be used as evidence to reconcile policy goals with outcomes, (iii) to describe issues acknowledged by policy makers relating to data availability and/or limitations, and to (iv) examine how principles of Indigenous inclusion and self‐determination are included in these policies.

Methods

A search for current policy documents, strategic plans/initiatives or frameworks was conducted across Ovid Medline, PubMed, Informit, Scopus, in addition to a web‐based search for grey literature. Current policy documents for the period 2010‐2021 were included providing at least one of the goals or objectives were relevant to the health and well‐being of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from the NT.

Results

The search located 2610 unique citations. Full‐text screening was conducted on 85 documents, a total of 49 policy documents or strategic plans/frameworks were included in the final synthesis. The source of data being used as evidence was unclear or absent in 10 of the 49 (20.4%) identified policy documents. Limitations of the available data were mentioned to some extent, but detailed information on quality and completeness was largely absent. In mapping the key principles of working in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health contexts, only two policies articulated the need for information sharing and data governance.

Conclusions

This review underscores the importance of providing clear information about which data is being used to inform policy decisions so that they may be evaluated and critiqued in meaningful ways that ensure decision makers are accountable.

So what?

Specific data items and/or indicators should be explicitly referenced as evidence used in the development of policies promoting the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their communities from the outset so that evaluation is clear and policy makers are held accountable.
Preoperative sonographic sliding sign for prediction of intra‐abdominal adhesions before repeat cesarean delivery
Authors: Charernjiratragul Kla , Suntharasaj Thitima , Pranpanus Savitree , Chanwadi Suthiraphorn , Kwankaew Noppasin , Petpichetchian Chusana
Published: October 2022

Objective

To evaluate the usefulness of the uterine sliding sign for predicting intra‐abdominal adhesions in women undergoing repeat cesarean section (CS) and the association of the sliding sign with other operative and neonatal outcomes.

Methods

A prospective cohort study was conducted among pregnant women with at least one previous CS. Transabdominal ultrasonography was performed and classified as a positive or negative sliding sign. Surgeons blinded to the sonographic results assessed intra‐abdominal adhesions. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were calculated. Operative and neonatal outcomes of the positive and negative sliding sign groups were compared. Factors associated with intraoperative adhesions were also analyzed.

Results

A total of 380 women were recruited. The sensitivity and specificity of the uterine sliding sign to detect moderate‐to‐thick adhesions were 60.6% and 91.9%, respectively. A negative sliding sign was significantly associated with a higher incidence of adhesions, longer skin‐to‐delivery time, longer total operative time, and lower 5‐min APGAR score in newborns. A negative sliding sign and history of two or more previous CS were significant predictors of moderate‐to‐thick adhesions.

Conclusion

The uterine sliding sign is an independent predictor of intraoperative adhesions, with acceptable sensitivity and high specificity and negative predictive value.
Metabolite profiling of human‐originated Lachnospiraceae at the strain level
Authors: Abdugheni Rashidin , Wang Wen‐Zhao , Wang Yu‐Jing , Du Meng‐Xuan , Liu Feng‐Lan , Zhou Nan , Jiang Cheng‐Ying , Wang Chang‐Yu , Wu Linhuan , Ma Juncai , Liu Chang , Liu Shuang‐Jiang
Published: October 2022

The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract harbors diverse microbes, and the family Lachnospiraceae is one of the most abundant and widely occurring bacterial groups in the human GI tract. Beneficial and adverse effects of the Lachnospiraceae on host health were reported, but the diversities at species/strain levels as well as their metabolites of Lachnospiraceae have been, so far, not well documented. In the present study, we report on the collection of 77 human‐originated Lachnospiraceae species (please refer hLchsp, https://hgmb.nmdc.cn/subject/lachnospiraceae) and the in vitro metabolite profiles of 110 Lachnospiraceae strains (https://hgmb.nmdc.cn/subject/lachnospiraceae/metabolites). The Lachnospiraceae strains in hLchsp produced 242 metabolites of 17 categories. The larger categories were alcohols (89), ketones (35), pyrazines (29), short (C2–C5), and long (C > 5) chain acids (31), phenols (14), aldehydes (14), and other 30 compounds. Among them, 22 metabolites were aromatic compounds. The well‐known beneficial gut microbial metabolite, butyric acid, was generally produced by many Lachnospiraceae strains, and Agathobacter rectalis strain Lach‐101 and Coprococcus comes strain NSJ‐173 were the top 2 butyric acid producers, as 331.5 and 310.9 mg/L of butyric acids were produced in vitro, respectively. Further analysis of the publicly available cohort‐based volatile‐metabolomic data sets of human feces revealed that over 30% of the prevailing volatile metabolites were covered by Lachnospiraceae metabolites identified in this study. This study provides Lachnospiraceae strain resources together with their metabolic profiles for future studies on host–microbe interactions and developments of novel probiotics or biotherapies.
Recent advances in interface engineering strategy for highly‐efficient electrocatalytic water splitting
Authors: Du Yunmei , Li Bin , Xu Guangrui , Wang Lei
Published: October 2022

The hydrogen energy generated by the electrocatalytic water splitting reaction has been established as a renewable and clean energy carrier with ultra‐high energy density, which can well make up for shortcomings of conventional renewable energy sources, such as geographical limitations, climatic dependence, and energy wastage. Notably, the introduction of electrocatalysts can enhance the efficiency of the water splitting process to generate hydrogen. Particularly, the heterostructure electrocatalysts constructed by coupling multiple components (or phases) have emerged as the most promising option for water splitting due to the well‐known electronic and synergistic effects. The existing reviews on interface engineering for electrocatalyst design mostly focus on the relationship between the heterostructures and specific electrocatalytic reactions. However, a comprehensive overview of the integration of model building, directional synthesis, and electrocatalytic mechanism has been rarely reported. To this end, in this review, the development of heterostructure catalysts is systematically introduced from the perspective of interface classification, interface growth and synthesis, and regulation of electrocatalytic performance based on the interfacial microenvironment (bonding, electronic configuration, lattice strain, etc.), thereby offering useful insights on the design and construction of interfacial models. Besides, combined with the current development and applications of interface engineering strategies, the challenges of future heterostructure catalysts are discussed and relevant solutions are proposed. Overall, this review can serve as a useful theoretical reference for the integration of interfacial model building, directional synthesis, and electrocatalytic mechanism, which can further promote the development of hydrogen production technologies with low energy consumption and high yield.

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Phosphorylase phosphatase and flash activation of skeletal muscle glycogen phosphorylase—A tribute to Edmond H. Fischer
Authors: Brautigan David L.
Published: October 2022

Glycogen is a polymerized form of glucose that serves as an energy reserve in all types of organisms. In animals glycogen synthesis and degradation, especially in liver and skeletal muscle, are regulated by hormonal and physiological signals that reciprocally control the opposing activities of glycogen synthase and glycogen phosphorylase. These enzymes are under allosteric control by binding of metabolites (e.g., ATP, AMP, G6P) and covalent control by reversible phosphorylation by kinase and phosphatase all assembled together on glycogen. More than 50 years ago Edmond Fischer and colleagues showed “flash activation” of phosphorylase in glycogen particles. This involved transient and extensive inhibition of protein phosphatase but even today the phenomenon is not understood. Phosphatase regulation is known to rely on regulatory subunits including glycogen binding subunits that serve as scaffolds, binding catalytic subunit, glycogen, and substrates. This tribute article to Edmond Fischer highlights his thoughts and ideas about the transient inhibition of phosphorylase phosphatase during flash activation of phosphorylase and speculates that phosphatase regulation in glycogen particles might involve a/b hybrids of phosphorylase.
Enhancement of fructosyltransferase stability by immobilization on polyhydroxybutyrate and glutaraldehyde‐activated polyhydroxybutyrate for fructooligosaccharides production
Authors: Araújo Isabella Medeiros , Becalette Pedro Capalbo , da Silva Elda Sabino , de Souza Dias Giancarlo , da Cunha Abreu Xavier Michelle , de Almeida Alex Fernando , Maiorano Alfredo Eduardo , Morales Sergio Andres Villalba , Perna Rafael Firmani
Published: October 2022

BACKGROUND

Fructosyltransferase (FTase) enzyme is an important biocatalyst for fructooligossaccaride (FOS) production, but it has low stability in soluble form. The aim of this work was to analyze the stability and kinetics of an fructosyltransferase (FTase E.C.2.4.1.9) from Aspergillus oryzae IPT‐301 immobilized on polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and glutaraldehyde‐activated polyhydroxybutyrate (GLU‐PHB).

RESULTS

The immobilization yields of the FTase on PHB and GLU‐PHB were about 41% and 55%, respectively. The recovery activities of the FTase immobilized on PHB and GLU‐PHB were about 17% and 11%, respectively. At 30 °C, the FTase immobilized on GLU‐PHB showed a half‐life 2.6 and 1.4 times higher than the soluble FTase and the FTase immobilized on PHB, respectively. The FTase immobilized on PHB and GLU‐PHB retained more than 40% and 55% of their initial activity after six sequential reaction batches, respectively. Both immobilized enzymes showed kinetic behaviors that were fitted by the Hill model, with transfructosylation activity maximum at concentrations between 400 g substrate L−1 and 500 g substrate L−1.

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrate that the FTase immobilized on PHB and, especially, on GLU‐PHB, are promising biocatalysts for FOS production in heterogeneous reaction systems. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Treatment pattern and clinical outcomes in portopulmonary hypertension: A database study in Japan
Authors: Atsukawa Masanori , Takano Masashi , Omura Junichi
Published: October 2022

Background and Aim

Portopulmonary hypertension (PoPH) is a complication associated with portal hypertension. Since the epidemiological study in Japan was limited, this study aimed to investigate the characteristics, treatment patterns, and prognosis of PoPH patients in real‐world data.

Methods

The characteristics and treatment patterns of PoPH (n = 386) and portal hypertension without pulmonary arterial hypertension (portal hypertension w/o PAH) (n = 96 463) were analyzed based on the Medical Data Vision (MDV) dataset from April 2008 to September 2020. Survival‐time analyses of emergency hospitalization and mortality were also conducted between matched pair cohorts of PoPH (n = 210) and portal hypertension w/o PAH (n = 840).

Results

Among 386 PoPH patients, the Child–Pugh classification of PoPH group comprised patients with Class A (59 [15.3%]), B (109 [28.2%]), and C (42 [10.9%]), and missing (176 [45.6%]). Regarding the feature of PoPH group, the proportion of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) (13.7%) and splenomegaly (9.8%) was higher compared with portal hypertension w/o PAH group. The survival time of all‐cause hospitalization in PoPH group was shorter than portal hypertension w/o PAH group in matched pair cohort (P < 0.001 by log‐rank test). Of PoPH patients, the frequency of PAH‐specific medicine usage within 90 days was monotherapy of 79 patients (20.5%), combination therapy of 64 patients (16.6%), and PAH‐specific medicine usage of 243 patients (63.0%).

Conclusion

This was the first study demonstrating that high proportion of PBC and splenomegaly and a greater risk of hospitalization were observed in PoPH patients based on the analysis using administrative claim database.
UPLC‐QToF‐MS based fingerprinting of polyphenolic metabolites in the bark extract of Boehmeria rugulosa Wedd
Authors: Balkrishna Acharya , Verma Sudeep , Tiwari Deepti , Srivastava Jyotish , Varshney Anurag
Published: October 2022

Boehmeria rugulosa Wedd. is an evergreen tree of Urticaceae family. Its bark has been extensively used in ethno‐medicinal system for various ailments such as bone fracture, sprain, snakebite, and wound healing. Phyto‐metabolites, which are considered as the principle components for biological activities, have been least explored for this plant. The present work investigated metabolite profiling of the stem bark of B. rugulosa in water extract using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography Quadrupole Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (UPLC‐QToF‐MS) technique coupled with the UNIFI platform. We identified, for the first time, 20 polyphenolic metabolites belonging to seven groups: caffeoylquinic acids, coumaroylquinic acids, flavan‐3‐ols, oligomeric flavonoids, caffeic acid derivatives, coumaric acid derivative, and flavone glycoside in the B. rugulosa extract. UNIFI informatics‐coupled UPLC‐QToF‐MS platform aids in the quick identification and fragmentation pattern of metabolites, with higher degree of reproducibility. The present study provides a chemical and therapeutic basis for further exploration of B. rugulosa as a valuable source of phytochemicals that could be instrumental in deciphering its ethno‐medicinal utility for various human diseases.
Studies of pure and nitrogen gas mixed xenon ECR plasma: Signature of abundance dependent unusual trends in isotope anomaly
Authors: Tripathi Puneeta , Singh Shushant Kumar , Kumar Pravin
Published: October 2022

We report the effect of N2 gas‐mixing in the xenon electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma, and abundance‐dependent novel, exciting and unusual trends of the isotope anomaly. The xenon plasma was produced using a 10 GHz all‐permanent‐magnet NANOGAN ECR ion source, and the charge state distributions of naturally abundant six stable xenon isotopes with and without N2 gas‐mixing (at 25%, 50%, and 75%) were recorded. The intensity ratio of the heavier to lighter isotope, where the heavier isotope is less abundant, showed a clear signature of the isotope anomaly as explained by the linear Landau wave damping theory. Contrary to the theoretical prediction that the isotope anomaly should vanish with a relatively large fraction of the heavier isotope in mixed plasmas, the trends of intensity ratios observed in such cases are very unusual and have almost the mirror‐symmetrical shapes of those trends recorded with less abundant heavier isotope. Further, the effect of relative mass difference on the isotope anomaly was also evidenced. The N2 gas‐mixing of the xenon plasma at 25% and 50% shifted the entire charge state distribution toward the higher intensity side owing to the supply of additional electrons that caused high ionization efficiency. However, a prominent gas‐mixing effect was observed at 75% of N2 mixing in the xenon plasma beyond the +7 charge state. The abundance‐dependent unusual trends in isotope anomaly have been explained by considering different ionic temperatures, ion heating by the wave damping, and Coulomb scattering in the core of the plasma.
Vascularized Tracheal Transplantation: A Twenty Month Follow Up
Authors: Genden Eric M , Harkin Timothy , Laitman Benjamin M , Florman Sander S.
Published: October 2022

Background

Tracheal transplantation has been considered the ideal option for the reconstruction of long‐segment circumferential tracheal defects. Our group developed a technique for vascularized single‐staged tracheal transplantation. Twenty months ago, we performed the first‐in‐human tracheal transplantation. Herein, we report a twenty‐month follow‐up.

Methods

The recipient presented with a 9.0 cm airway tracheal stenosis and complete cricoid stenosis. The patient previously failed six major conventional surgical procedures. Prior to transplantation, the patient's airway was maintained with an extended tracheostomy and stent. The patient experienced repeated life‐threatening airway obstruction because of mucous plugging and obstructive granulation tissue. In January 2020 the patient underwent a single‐staged tracheal transplantation treated with triple‐therapy immunosuppression. Organ rejection was monitored with endoscopic tracheoscopy, narrow‐band imaging, free‐cell DNA assessment, and histological and cytogenetic analysis of tracheal biopsies. Mucociliary function was assessed with dye motility studies.

Results

Twenty months following transplantation, there has been no evidence of acute or chronic rejection. Since day 60, there has been no detectable free cell DNA, a surrogate marker for immune‐mediated allograft rejection. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) cytogenetics demonstrated that the donor trachea was repopulated with recipient epithelium establishing a chimeric allograft. Narrow‐band imaging demonstrates a well‐vascularized epithelial mucosa and bronchoscopic biopsies demonstrate normal ciliated epithelial architecture and viable epithelial lining with functional ciliated epithelium. The patient has resumed a normal life without a stent or tracheostomy and has returned to work.

Conclusions

Twenty months after single‐staged vascularized tracheal transplantation, the trachea is functional and the patient breathes without the need for a tracheostomy or stent. Single‐staged long‐segment tracheal transplantation is a viable option for tracheal defects that are not amenable to conventional reconstructive techniques.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 133:1839–1845, 2023
Split‐Belt Treadmill Training to Improve Gait Adaptation in Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Hulzinga Femke , Seuthe Jana , D'Cruz Nicholas , Ginis Pieter , Nieuwboer Alice , Schlenstedt Christian
Published: October 2022

Background

Gait deficits in people with Parkinson's disease (PD) are triggered by circumstances requiring gait adaptation. The effects of gait adaptation training on a split‐belt treadmill (SBT) are unknown in PD.

Objective

We investigated the effects of repeated SBT versus tied‐belt treadmill (TBT) training on retention and automaticity of gait adaptation and its transfer to over‐ground walking and turning.

Methods

We recruited 52 individuals with PD, of whom 22 were freezers, in a multi‐center randomized single‐blind controlled study. Training consisted of 4 weeks of supervised treadmill training delivered three times per week. Tests were conducted pre‐ and post‐training and at 4‐weeks follow‐up. Turning (primary outcome) and gait were assessed over‐ground and during a gait adaptation protocol on the treadmill. All tasks were performed with and without a cognitive task.

Results

We found that SBT‐training improved gait adaptation with moderate to large effects sizes (P < 0.02) compared to TBT, effects that were sustained at follow‐up and during dual tasking. However, better gait adaptation did not transfer to over‐ground turning speed. In both SBT‐ and TBT‐arms, over‐ground walking and Movement Disorder Society‐Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale III (MDS‐UPDRS‐III scores were improved, the latter of which reached clinically meaningful effects in the SBT‐group only. No impact was found on freezing of gait.

Conclusion

People with PD are able to learn and retain the ability to overcome asymmetric gait‐speed perturbations on a treadmill remarkably well, but seem unable to generalize these skills to asymmetric gait off‐treadmill. Future study is warranted into gait adaptation training to boost the transfer of complex walking skills. © 2022 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Delaying mealtimes reduces fat oxidation: A randomized, crossover, controlled feeding study
Authors: Carabuena Thomas J. , Boege Hedda L. , Bhatti Mehreen Z. , Whyte Kathryn J. , Cheng Bin , St‐Onge Marie‐Pierre
Published: October 2022

Objective

This study investigated the effects of circadian misalignment (CM), induced by delaying mealtimes, independent of sleep timing and duration and eating window duration, on energy expenditure (EE), respiratory quotient (RQ), and substrate oxidation.

Methods

Healthy adults, aged 20 to 49 years, participated in this randomized crossover study under controlled feeding conditions. Eating window duration was identical in both conditions (circadian alignment [CA]: 9:00 am–7:00 pm; CM: 1:00 pm–11:00 pm), and bedtimes were constant (11:30 pm–8:00 am). EE, RQ, and substrate oxidation were obtained over 23 hours in a metabolic chamber on days 3 and 4 and days 14 and 15 in each condition. Twenty‐four–hour and post‐meal outcomes were analyzed using a linear mixed‐effects model including condition, day, and day‐by‐condition interaction as main predictors and sex as a covariate.

Results

Three men and four women (age 37.4 ± 8.8 years, BMI 30.4 ± 3.3 kg/m2) completed the study. Twenty‐four–hour EE did not differ between conditions. Post‐meal RQ for dinner and snack was higher in CM versus CA (both p < 0.001) with correspondingly higher glucose oxidation (both p < 0.01) and lower fat oxidation (dinner only p = 0.0001).

Conclusions

CM, induced by delaying mealtimes by 4 hours relative to CA, independently shifts nutrient metabolism toward greater carbohydrate and lower fat oxidation.
A nationwide study of multimedicine use in people treated with cardiovascular medicines in Australia
Authors: Schaffer Andrea L. , Chia Joel , Brett Jonathan , Pearson Sallie‐Anne , Falster Michael O.
Published: October 2022

Study Objective

Multimorbidity and multimedicine use are common in people with cardiovascular disease and can lead to harms, such as prescribing errors and drug interactions. We quantified multimedicine use in people treated with cardiovascular medicines in a national sample of Australians.

Design

Cross‐sectional study.

Data Source

Pharmaceutical dispensing claims for a 10% random sample of Australians.

Patients

Australian adults dispensed any cardiovascular medicine between June and August 2019.

Intervention

None.

Measurements

We quantified the number and type of cardiovascular and non‐cardiovascular medicines dispensed during the study period, and the number of unique prescribers, by age and sex.

Main Results

We identified 493,081 people dispensed any cardiovascular medicine (median age = 67 years, 50.2% women). The population prevalence of cardiovascular medicine dispensing increased from 1.7% (n = 10,503) in people 18–34 years to 80.1% (n = 99,271) in people 75–84 years. Cardiovascular medicine dispensing varied by sex; women 18–34 years were more likely to be dispensed any cardiovascular medicine than men (male:female prevalence ratio [PR] = 0.84, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.81–0.87), whereas the prevalence of cardiovascular medicine dispensing was higher in men 35–44 years (PR = 1.27, 95% CI 1.24–1.30) and 45–54 years (PR = 1.24, 95% CI 1.22–1.26) and was similar between sexes in people ≥65 years. Overall, both women and men were dispensed a median of 2.0 (interquartile range [IQR] = 1.0–3.0) cardiovascular medicines. Two‐thirds of people ≥65 years (73.5%; n = 208,524) were dispensed ≥2 cardiovascular medicines, with 16.6% (n = 6736) of people ≥85 years dispensed five or more. Women and men were dispensed a median of 2.0 (IQR = 1.0–5.0) and 2.0 (IQR = 0.0–4.0) non‐cardiovascular medicines, respectively, to treat comorbid conditions, commonly gastroesophageal reflux disease medicines (32.2% of women and 26.6% of men), antibiotics (28.7% of women and 22.4% of men), and antidepressants (26.3% of women and 15.9% of men). One quarter of both sexes had multiple prescribers for their cardiovascular medicines alone, whereas 54.5% (n = 134,939) of women and 49.9% (n = 122,706) of men had multiple prescribers for all medicines.

Conclusion

Multimedicine use is common in people treated with cardiovascular medicines and presents a risk for inappropriate prescribing. Understanding the comorbid conditions commonly treated concurrently with cardiovascular disease can help improve co‐prescribing guidelines and develop a person‐centered approach to multimorbidity treatment.
“How do you shelter in place on the road?”: Building Information Resilience through Communal Support for Van Dwellers in the Onset of Covid‐19
Authors: Montague Kaitlin
Published: October 2022

During the onset of the Covid‐19 pandemic, new health information was being disseminated at unprecedented rates which included ever‐changing mandates and regulations, resulting in information overload for many. Shelter in place orders are the pandemic‐related information that will be discussed. As these dynamic orders were announced and enforced, mobile populations—people who live in their vans or “van dwellers”—abandoned life on the road and rushed to loved ones to abide by social distancing directives. Others had nowhere to turn. This pilot study of van dweller's information practices focuses on the early weeks of the pandemic and how this population adapted to an overwhelming information environment. Using the information resilience conceptual framework, I describe how van dwellers adapted when a myriad of information and misinformation was circulating. The van dweller community, and their supporters, banded together to provide resources and safe spaces in a time of crisis.
How to Assess Student Learning in Information Science: Exploratory Evidence from Large College Courses
Authors: Sung SeoYoon , Alon Lilach , Cho Ji Yong , Kizilcec Rene
Published: October 2022

Assessments in higher education can help instructors understand their students' incoming knowledge and learning gains. Constructing and validating assessments is especially challenging in emergent, fast‐growing interdisciplinary STEM fields such as information science. Unlike more traditional STEM fields like physics and mathematics, information science builds on cross‐disciplinary connections with multiple pools of domain knowledge. This research investigates how to construct and use assessments to effectively capture knowledge and skills in information science. Our study was conducted in five large information science courses at a U.S. research university on data analytics, web development, visualization, technology design, and natural language processing. We worked with domain experts to develop assessment items at three levels of knowledge: declarative, applied, and transferred (Anderson et al., 2002). The assessments were administered in a pre‐post design over two semesters with 1,202 students, with an evidence‐based revision of the assessments between the semesters. Our initial findings suggest that some knowledge levels (applied and transferred) may be more suitable for assessing student learning in information science courses. The findings have implications for assessment in emergent interdisciplinary education and inform our plans to develop constructive assessment methods for information science education.
Personal Information Management Literacy in the Discourse of Youth
Authors: Van Alstyne Judith H.
Published: October 2022

Technological advances have led to a powerful, complex information landscape where managing one's personal information is increasingly challenging. Personal Information Management (PIM) is the field of study dedicated to the activities people engage in to organize their information so that items can be found again when needed. Searching for previously located information items is a common frustration, yet PIM is not present in the standards of Information Literacy (IL). Situating PIM Literacy within the sociocultural New Literacies theory, I explore how youth currently make sense of PIM as Discourse—what they communicate through multiple sign‐systems about their PIM practices. In this phenomenological mixed‐methods study, after an initial survey of secondary school participants, I conducted two phases of interviews—guided tours of participants’ personal information places and Information Places Map (IPM) interviews regarding their perceptions of PIM. This ongoing study addresses the dearth of PIM research with youth. Initial findings suggest the importance of information systems’ default sorting by recency, the potential benefits of instruction in file structures and archiving, and opportunities to address email overload. Evaluating student needs assists in the development of K‐12 PIM Literacy, a necessary competency for high‐school graduates to successfully participate in the digital age.
Children's Interest, Search, and Knowledge: A Pilot Analysis of a STEM Maker Workshop
Authors: Jung Yong Ju , Liu Jiqun
Published: October 2022

When understanding information seeking, individuals' knowledge construction and interest development are critical to be considered because of their active interactions with each other. Especially for children, these three dimensions—interest, search, and knowledge—can constantly influence each other and support meaningful learning experiences. However, there is a lack of empirical investigation to understand this interplay between the dimensions, particularly in children's real‐life environments. Building upon the previous literature on the conceptual demonstration of interest, search, and knowledge construction, we used a qualitative, video‐based research approach to conduct a pilot analysis of a child's experiences from a maker workshop at a science museum. Our pilot analysis provides a basis for empirical investigation of children's authentic information seeking and learning.
Is This a Good Idea? A Case Study on Civil Perception of Smart City Projects
Authors: Nguyen Bich Chau , Zimmer Franziska
Published: October 2022

The purpose of this research is to pursue a better understanding of citizens' needs in a fast‐changing medium‐sized town transitioning to a smart city. The investigation focuses on the citizens' perceptions of smart city projects, the use intensity of said projects, and further examines what other factors play a part in shaping a citizen's opinion on smart city initiatives concerning their hometown. It was discovered that the majority of citizens perceive smart city projects positively, even though the projects are rarely used. Their behaviour and opinion were not related to their age, gender, and education in contrast to claims from previous research. Citizens had positive perception of the city's offer to involve them in urban planning, but otherwise refrain from actively getting involved. This was mostly due to the fact that they either did not feel the need to do so or were not confident enough in their contribution.
Aufbau principle and singlet‐triplet gap in spherical Hooke atoms
Authors: Telleria‐Allika Xabier , Ugalde Jesus M. , Matito Eduard , Ramos‐Cordoba Eloy , Rodríguez‐Mayorga Mauricio , Lopez Xabier
Published: October 2022

Singlet and triplet spin state energies for three‐dimensional Hooke atoms, that is, electrons in a quadratic confinement, with even number of electrons (2, 4, 6, 8, 10) is discussed using Full‐CI and CASSCF type wavefunctions with a variety of basis sets and considering perturbative corrections up to second order. The effect of the screening of the electron–electron interaction is also discussed by using a Yukawa‐type potential with different values of the Yukawa screening parameter (λee = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0). Our results show that the singlet state is the ground state for two and eight electron Hooke atoms, whereas the triplet is the ground spin state for 4‐, 6‐, and 10‐electron systems. This suggests the following Aufbau structure 1s < 1p < 1d with singlet ground spin states for systems in which the generation of the triplet implies an inter‐shell one‐electron promotion, and triplet ground states in cases when there is a partial filling of electrons of a given shell. It is also observed that the screening of electron–electron interactions has a sizable quantitative effect on the relative energies of both spin states, specially in the case of two‐ and eight‐electron systems, favoring the singlet state over the triplet. However, the screening of the electron–electron interaction does not provoke a change in the nature of the ground spin state of these systems. By analyzing the different components of the energy, we have gained a deeper understanding of the effects of the kinetic, confinement and electron–electron interaction components of the energy.
Excellent Effect of Betaine in Dilute Electrolytes and Application to High Performance Aqueous Li‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Tian Yinbing , Dai Liyi , Wang Yuanyuan
Published: October 2022

The energy density and operating voltage of aqueous batteries are limited by the narrow electrochemical stability window and side reactions of traditional aqueous electrolytes. Considering that the optimization of electrolyte composition can effectively improve the electrochemical performance of aqueous batteries, and it has the advantages of simple and easy large‐scale preparation, betaine with rich polar groups and zwitterions is added to the electrolyte as a functional material to reduce the binding degree of water molecules and adsorbed in the electrolyte‐electrode interface to prevent the contact of water molecules with the interface. A wide electrolyte operating window (2.91 V) and low salt concentration (2 M) were achieved in the betaine aqueous electrolyte. The interactions between water molecules, lithium salts and betaine in the electrolyte were explored by ATR‐FITR, NMR and Raman spectroscopy. Aqueous TiO2/LiFePO4 full cells with stable specific energies 69 Wh kg−1 were demonstrated over 500 cycles on such low non‐fluorinated lithium salt concentration electrolyte.
Triplet Sensitized Photo‐Dehydro‐Diels‐Alder Reaction
Authors: Wessig Pablo , Badetko Dominik , Koebe Michael
Published: October 2022

We report on the triplet sensitization of the intramolecular Photo‐Dehydro‐Diels‐Alder (PDDA) reaction of two diaryl suberates bearing methyl propiolate chromophors. Compared with the non‐sensitized irradiation, considerably increased yields could be observed. Moreover, it is possible to use the more efficient UVA lamps instead of UVB lamps. Among three investigated sensitizers (xanthone, benzophenone, thioxanthone) xanthone gave the best results.
The Fe0/Fe3O4/Fe3C@hydrophilic Carbon Composite for LED Light‐Assisted, Improved Fenton‐Like Catalytic Activity for Dye Degradation
Authors: Zheng Yanping , Wei Yunxia , Fan Jinhu , Liu Xianyu , Zhu Zhenhong , Yang Baoping
Published: October 2022

The dispersive, reusable catalyst and convenient separation is still a key factor for water treatment. Herein, the Fe0/Fe3O4/Fe3C@ hydrophilic carbon composite catalyst was obtained through thermal reduction, in which Fe0 is generated by in‐situ carbothermal reduction of the rationally designed gel precursor. The FTIR, SEM‐EDX and the XPS analysis revealed that the major hydrophilic functional groups and elements were well‐dispersed on the entire surface of the catalyst. Through batch control experiments, it is shown that the synthetic catalyst can significantly accelerate the catalysis of Methylene blue under the radiation of 30 W LED lamp. The Electron Spin Resonance test further confirms that catalyst could be successfully trap ⋅OH radicals. With the increase of radiation time, such energy changes affect the coupling effect of spin‐orbital motion is stronger leading to changes in the g‐anisotropy. Organic pollution can be degraded by the porous catalyst in a photo‐Fenton reaction with the degradation efficiency rate approaching nearly 100 % when the concentration of H2O2 is 7 mm. The reusability was demonstrated by five consecutive reaction cycles at continuously good performance. This work provides a highly promising and facile strategy for many wastewater treatments, especially in the field of photo‐Fenton like reaction to environmental modification.
c-functions in flows across dimensions
Authors: Lezcano Alfredo González , Hong Junho , Liu James T. , Pando Zayas Leopoldo A. , Uhlemann Christoph F.
Published: October 2022

Abstract

We explore the notion of c-functions in renormalization group flows between theories in different spacetime dimensions. We discuss functions connecting central charges of the UV and IR fixed point theories on the one hand, and functions which are monotonic along the flow on the other. First, using the geometric properties of the holographic dual RG flows across dimensions and the constraints from the null energy condition, we construct a monotonic holographic c-function and thereby establish a holographic c-theorem across dimensions. Second, we use entanglement entropies for two different types of entangling regions in a field theory along the RG flow across dimensions to construct candidate c-functions which satisfy one of the two criteria but not both. In due process we also discuss an interesting connection between corner contributions to the entanglement entropy and the topology of the compact internal space. As concrete examples for both approaches, we holographically study twisted compactifications of 4d $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 SYM and compactifications of 6d $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= (2, 0) theories.
One-loop Fierz transformations
Authors: Aebischer Jason , Pesut Marko
Published: October 2022

Abstract

Fierz transformations for four-fermion operators are generalized to the one-loop level. A general renormalization scheme is used to compute QCD and QED corrections to the tree-level relations, which result from Fierz-evanescent operators. The results can be used to perform general one-loop basis transformations involving four-fermi and evanescent operators. We illustrate the usefulness of our results by discussing two examples from a matching calculation and a one-loop basis change.
Determinants of ureteral obstruction after percutaneous nephrolithotomy
Authors: Lee Harry H. , Yang Heiko , Martin-Tuite Patrick , Unno Rei , Hamouche Fadl , Ahn Justin , Bayne David , Stoller Marshall , Chi Thomas
Published: October 2022

Background

Ureteral obstruction after percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) may require prolonged drainage with a nephrostomy tube (NT) or ureteral stent, but it is not well understood how and why this occurs. The goal of this study was to identify risk factors associated with postoperative ureteral obstruction to help guide drainage tube selection.

Methods

Prospective data from adult patients enrolled in the Registry for Stones of the Kidney and Ureter (ReSKU) who underwent PCNL from 2016 to 2020 were used. Patients who had postoperative NTs with antegrade imaging-based flow assessment on postoperative day one (POD1) were included. Patients with transplanted kidneys or those without appropriate preoperative imaging were excluded. We assessed the association between patient demographics, stone characteristics, and intraoperative factors using POD1 antegrade flow, a proxy for ureteral patency, as the primary outcome. Stepwise selection was used to develop a multivariate logistic regression model controlling for BMI, stone location, stone burden, ipsilateral ureteroscopy (URS), access location, estimated blood loss, and operative time.

Results

We analyzed 241 cases for this study; 204 (84.6%) had a visual clearance of stone. Antegrade flow on POD1 was absent in 76 cases (31.5%). A multivariate logistic regression model found that stones located anywhere other than in the renal pelvis (OR 2.63, 95% CI 1.29–5.53;p = 0.01), non-lower pole access (OR 2.81, 95% CI 1.42–5.74;p < 0.01), and concurrent ipsilateral URS (OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.02–4.65;p = 0.05) increased the likelihood of obstruction. BMI, pre-operative stone burden, EBL, and operative time did not affect antegrade flow outcomes.

Conclusion

Concurrent ipsilateral URS, absence of stones in the renal pelvis, and non-lower pole access are associated with increased likelihood of ureteral obstruction after PCNL. Access location appears to be the strongest predictor. Recognizing these risk factors can be helpful in guiding postoperative tube management.
A computed tomography study investigating the effects of botulinum toxin injections prior to complex abdominal wall reconstruction
Authors: Claessen J. J. M. , Timmer A. S. , Hemke R. , Atema J. J. , Hompes R. , Boermeester M. A. , Rutten M. V. H.
Published: October 2022

Objective

To explore how intramuscular injection of botulinum toxin A (BTA) affects the lateral abdominal wall (LAW) musculature, abdominal- and hernia dimensions, and muscle structure on computed tomography (CT) in patients scheduled for complex abdominal wall reconstruction (CAWR).

Methods

Retrospective analysis of prospectively registered patients who received bilateral intramuscular BTA injections into all three muscles of the LAW. Only patients for which a CT was available before and 3–6 weeks after BTA treatment prior to surgery were analyzed.

Results

Fifty-two patients were analyzed. Median hernia width in all patients decreased with 0.4 cm (IQR − 2.1;0.6) (p = 0.023). Median intra-abdominal transverse diameter increased with 0.9 cm (IQR − 0.2;3.3) (p = 0.001) and the intra-abdominal anterior–posterior diameter decreased with 0.5 cm (IQR − 1.3;0.5) (p = 0.017), making the abdomen more oval. Median LAW muscle length increased with 0.9 cm (IQR 0.0;2.4) per side (p < 0.001), muscle thickness decreased with 0.5 cm (IQR − 0.8;− 0.2) (− 25.0%) per side (p < 0.001), and muscle mass decreased with 3.9 cm2 (IQR − 6.4;-1.5) (− 15.8%) per side (p < 0.001). Median HU of the psoas muscles (density) increased with 4.8 HU (IQR 0.4;9.7) (10.3%) per side (p < 0.001). Effects of BTA were more pronounced in patients with a loss of domain (LoD) ≥ 20%.

Conclusions

The main effect of BTA injections is elongation and thinning of the LAW muscles, more than a decrease in hernia width. Concomitantly, the abdomen becomes more oval. An increase of psoas muscles density is seen, associated with offloading of the LAW muscles. Patients with large LoD have a proportionally higher effect of BTA.
A methodology for systematic mapping of heat sources in an urban area
Authors: Sundell Dennis , Rämä Miika
Published: October 2022

The increased use of heat pumps to utilise low-temperature heat will undoubtedly be a part of future emission reduction measures within the heating sector. Identifying these heat sources and assessing their heat potential is essential for their utilisation. Different methods for estimating the potential of excess and natural heat sources found in the urban environment are presented in this study. The research aims to present a replicable estimation methodology which can be applied to any urban area. The methods are developed around publicly available data sources, or otherwise easily obtainable data. The research aims at producing data accurate enough to support decision-making on the district heating company or city level on utilising these heat sources. A wide range of excess and natural heat sources found in urban environments were identified in a literature review. Methods for estimating the potential of the heat sources were developed based on findings of the literature review and the expected availability of data. The developed estimation methods were applied in a case study where the potential of heat sources identified within the Turku area in Southwest Finland was estimated. The results of the case study show the potential of the heat sources within the studied area. The difficulty of obtaining raw, high-quality data are also highlighted. This emphasises the need for advanced processing of available data and insight on the related sources, e.g. building management systems or industrial processes. The methods presented in this study give an overview on how heat potential could be estimated. It can be used as a base for developing more refined methods and for detailed techno-economic assessment for utilising available excess and natural heat sources.

Graphical abstract