bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lessons Learned on a High-Altitude Expedition to Mount Kilimanjaro
Authors: Wagner Thomas D. , Paul Megan E. , Youngson Laura R. , Levin Dana R.
Published: May 2023

High-altitude expeditions expose teams to particular medical, environmental, and social challenges that can have unintended and severe consequences for crew members. In June 2017, the 9-d Equal Playing Field (EPF) expedition to Mount Kilimanjaro to set a world record for the highest-altitude soccer match ever played demonstrated the variety of challenges that may arise during these types of trips. This trip included a full-length soccer match at 5714 m (18,746 ft), leading to additional challenges for expedition members participating in the athletic event. The EPF medical team identified the challenges that occurred during the expedition and documented the methods used to resolve these challenges in real time. From the challenges faced during the expedition, we describe the lessons learned for future expeditions to Mount Kilimanjaro and other high-altitude environments. Challenges arose with medical tent visibility, medical disqualification, underreporting of medical events, and acute pain management, while anticipated challenges with interpersonal conflict did not occur. The rigorous preparation and anticipation by the EPF medical team prior to expedition departure may have helped mitigate this conflict as well as prevented unintended severe medical events from occurring.
Death in Fifteenth-Century Castile: Ideologies of the Elites
Authors: Vivanco Laura
Published: May 2023

Differences in attitudes to death and dying in two distinct social classes, the ecclesiastics and the nobility.
Contemporary Peruvian Narrative and Popular Culture
Authors: Ruz Robert
Published: May 2023

The first book-length study of modern Peruvian narrative and its resurgence in the 1990s, focussing on Jaime Bayly, Iván Thays and Jorge Eduardo Benavides.
Women and the Law: Carmen de Burgos, an Early Feminist
Authors: Louis Anja
Published: May 2023

This study in the interdisciplinary field of law and literature analyses the representation of law in the work of twentieth-century Spanish writer Carmen de Burgos (1867-1932).
Co-designing with engineers for community engagement in rural Uganda
Authors: White P.J. , Okello Dorothy , Casey Brian P. , Najjuuko Claire , Lukanga Ronald
Published: May 2023

Co-design is seen as crucial for designing solutions for resource-constrained people living in developing countries. To best understand their needs, user engagement and co-design strategies need to first be developed. In this Design Practice Brief, a process of co-design was created and used to understand ways telecommunication engineers could engage with rural communities in Uganda. It reports and reflects on (i) the experience of co-designing with nondesigners and (ii) creating a co-design structure and developing co-design methods of engaging with community members living in developing countries. In doing so, it offers a format and case study for future practitioners facilitating and conducting co-design with nondesigners and contributes to a knowledge gap in the reporting and reflection of co-design practice. This case study is unique as the co-design practice was achieved remotely (online), crossed disciplines (designers and telecommunication engineers) and cultural boundaries (European and African). It finds that in co-designing with nondesigners, preparation and structure are key, with acknowledgement and management of cultural and discipline differences.
Examining the impact of racial disparities on Clostridioides difficile infection outcomes at a Southern California academic teaching hospital
Authors: Lee Jina M. , Zhou Anna Y. , Ortiz-Gratacos Natalie M. , Al Isso Almas , Tan Karen K. , Abdul-Mutakabbir Jacinda C.
Published: May 2023

Racial differences in Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) outcomes have been reported. In this study, minoritized patients with CDIs had prolonged hospitalizations and increased intensive care unit admissions. Chronic kidney disease was shown to partially mediate the relationship between race or ethnicity and severe CDI. Our findings suggest potential areas for equitable interventions.
The catalytic effect of near-inertial waves on -plane zonal jets
Authors: Zhang Lin-Fan , Xie Jin-Han
Published: May 2023

Zonal jets and inertia–gravity waves are ubiquitous on planets such as Earth, Jupiter and Saturn. Motivated by the modification of energy flux of balanced flow by inertia–gravity waves, this paper studies the impact of near-inertial waves (NIWs) on zonal jets on a$\beta$-plane. Using a two-dimensional quasi-geostrophic and NIW coupled system on a$\beta$-plane (Xie & Vanneste,J. Fluid Mech., vol. 774, 2015, pp. 143–169), we find NIWs catalytically impact several features of zonal jets. The NIWs inhibit jet formation due to the waves’ catalytic induction of downscale mean energy flux. As the strength of NIWs increases, a critical point exists beyond which zonal jets are annihilated. The jet spacing is captured by the Rhines scale$L\sim \sqrt {U/\beta }$with$U$estimated from the upscale energy flux induced by the mean flow alone, which again shows that the NIWs’ impact is catalytic. Also, the temporal asymmetry of NIWs leads to the spatial asymmetry of jet dynamics. The jet profiles are asymmetric with a stronger shear on the left flank. And similar to the left turning of vortex dipole under the impact of NIWs, the NIW-modified jets migrate poleward. The NIWs also show a catalytic role in jet migration: the net momentum flux directly induced by NIWs is of secondary importance in the zonal mean momentum dynamics and impedes jet migration, while the advective effect of NIW-modified mean flow dominates the jet migration velocity.
Architecting materials for extremal stiffness, yield, and buckling strength
Authors: Wang Fengwen , Sigmund Ole
Published: May 2023

This paper proposes a methodology for architecting microstructures with extremal stiffness, yield, and buckling strength using topology optimisation. The optimised microstructures reveal an interesting transition from simple lattice-like structures for yield-dominated situations to hierarchical lattice structures for buckling-dominated situations. The transition from simple to hierarchical is governed by the relative yield strength of the constituent base material as well as the volume fraction. The overall performances of the optimised microstructures indicate that maximum strength is determined by the buckling strength at low-volume fractions and yield strength at higher-volume fractions, regardless of the base material’s relative yield strength. The non-normalised properties of the optimised microstructures show that higher base material Young’s modulus leads to both higher Young’s modulus and strength of the architected microstructures. Furthermore, the polynomial order of the maximum strength lines with respect to mass density obtained from the optimised microstructures reduces as base material relative yield strength decreases, reducing from 2.3 for buckling-dominated thermoplastic polyurethane to 1 for yield-dominated steel microstructures.
White-adjacent Muslim development: racializing British Muslim aid in Mali
Authors: Rahman Rhea
Published: May 2023

Muslim aid organizations are relatively new actors in the Western aid industry. Based on multi-sited ethnographic research with the UK-based NGO Islamic Relief, I explore the organization’s engagement with a school in need of repair in southern rural Mali that is also the site of a sacred shrine of importance to locals. I examine the contextual global logics of racialization that undergird different interpretations and practices of what it means to ‘do good’. Situating an understanding of ‘development’ in an analysis of global racial capitalism, I argue that, as an Islamically inspired aid organization based in the UK, Islamic Relief is both subject to anti-Muslim racism and complicit in a white-adjacent racialized project of ‘development’ in Africa. I foreground the whiteness of development to show how modernist development practice makes it impossible to see other ways of conceptualizing ‘doing good’ that are also deeply grounded in Islam.
Cannabis use as a potential mediator between childhood adversity and first-episode psychosis: results from the EU-GEI case–control study
Authors: Trotta Giulia , Rodriguez Victoria , Quattrone Diego , Spinazzola Edoardo , Tripoli Giada , Gayer-Anderson Charlotte , Freeman Tom P , Jongsma Hannah E , Sideli Lucia , Aas Monica , Stilo Simona A , La Cascia Caterina , Ferraro Laura , La Barbera Daniele , Lasalvia Antonio , Tosato Sarah , Tarricone Ilaria , D'Andrea Giuseppe , Tortelli Andrea , Schürhoff Franck , Szöke Andrei , Pignon Baptiste , Selten Jean-Paul , Velthorst Eva , de Haan Lieuwe , Llorca Pierre-Michel , Rossi Menezes Paulo , Del Ben Cristina M , Santos Jose Luis , Arrojo Manuel , Bobes Julio , Sanjuán Julio , Bernardo Miquel , Arango Celso , Kirkbride James B , Jones Peter B , Richards Alexander , Rutten Bart P , Van Os Jim , Austin-Zimmerman Isabelle , Li Zhikun , Morgan Craig , Sham Pak C , Vassos Evangelos , Wong Chloe , Bentall Richard , Fisher Helen L , Murray Robin M , Alameda Luis , Di Forti Marta ,   EU-GEI WP2 Group
Published: May 2023

Background

Childhood adversity and cannabis use are considered independent risk factors for psychosis, but whether different patterns of cannabis use may be acting as mediator between adversity and psychotic disorders has not yet been explored. The aim of this study is to examine whether cannabis use mediates the relationship between childhood adversity and psychosis.

Methods

Data were utilised on 881 first-episode psychosis patients and 1231 controls from the European network of national schizophrenia networks studying Gene–Environment Interactions (EU-GEI) study. Detailed history of cannabis use was collected with the Cannabis Experience Questionnaire. The Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse Questionnaire was used to assess exposure to household discord, sexual, physical or emotional abuse and bullying in two periods: early (0–11 years), and late (12–17 years). A path decomposition method was used to analyse whether the association between childhood adversity and psychosis was mediated by (1) lifetime cannabis use, (2) cannabis potency and (3) frequency of use.

Results

The association between household discord and psychosis was partially mediated by lifetime use of cannabis (indirect effect coef. 0.078, s.e. 0.022, 17%), its potency (indirect effect coef. 0.059, s.e. 0.018, 14%) and by frequency (indirect effect coef. 0.117, s.e. 0.038, 29%). Similar findings were obtained when analyses were restricted to early exposure to household discord.

Conclusions

Harmful patterns of cannabis use mediated the association between specific childhood adversities, like household discord, with later psychosis. Children exposed to particularly challenging environments in their household could benefit from psychosocial interventions aimed at preventing cannabis misuse.
Quality and accuracy of online nutrition-related information: a systematic review of content analysis studies
Authors: Denniss Emily , Lindberg Rebecca , McNaughton Sarah A
Published: May 2023

Objective:

This systematic review aimed to summarise the level of quality and accuracy of nutrition-related information on websites and social media and determine if quality and accuracy varied between websites and social media or publishers of information.

Design:

This systematic review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021224277). CINAHL, MEDLINE, Embase, Global Health and Academic Search Complete were systematically searched on 15 January 2021 to identify content analysis studies, published in English after 1989, that evaluated the quality and/or accuracy of nutrition-related information published on websites or social media. A coding framework was used to classify studies’ findings about information quality and/or accuracy as poor, good, moderate or varied. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Quality Criteria Checklist was used to assess the risk of bias.

Setting:

N/A.

Participants:

N/A.

Results:

From 10 482 articles retrieved, sixty-four were included. Most studies evaluated information from websites (n53, 82·8 %). Similar numbers of studies assessed quality (n41, 64·1 %) and accuracy (n47, 73·4 %). Almost half of the studies reported that quality (n20, 48·8 %) or accuracy (n23, 48·9 %) was low. Quality and accuracy of information were similar on social media and websites, however, varied between information publishers. High risk of bias in sample selection and quality or accuracy evaluations was a common limitation.

Conclusion:

Online nutrition-related information is often inaccurate and of low quality. Consumers seeking information online are at risk of being misinformed. More action is needed to improve the public’s eHealth and media literacy and the reliability of online nutrition-related information.
Strengthening Environmental Decision Making through Legislation: Insights from Cognitive Science and Behavioural Economics
Authors: van der Zee Eva
Published: May 2023

The environmental assessment literature has neglected the distorting effect of cognitive and unconscious motivational biases (CUMB) in environmental assessment processes. This is problematic because CUMB are present in most, if not all, decision-making situations and can significantly distort decision-making processes. This article assesses how debiasing techniques are, or should be, incorporated in (supra)national environmental assessment legislation. The Dutch case study undertaken for this article shows that EU and Dutch legislation do not sufficiently incorporate debiasing techniques to ensure sound environmental decision making. Furthermore, the extent to which Dutch legislation incorporates debiasing techniques was found to be decreasing. Based on these findings, the article presents ways to incorporate debiasing techniques in environmental assessment legislation more generally, and in EU and Dutch legislation in particular.
Secular Trends of Birth Weight in Twins and Singletons in South Korea from 2000 to 2020
Authors: Hur Yoon-Mi
Published: May 2023

Whether the decline of birth weight (BW) reported in developed countries in the early 2000s is ongoing remains unknown. Furthermore, despite recent sharp increases in twin births, comparing secular trends of BW between singletons and twins is difficult, as studies have rarely examined secular trends of BW in twins and singletons simultaneously. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the most recent 20-year trends (2000–2020) of BW in twins and singletons in South Korea. Annual natality files from 2000 to 2020 obtained from the Korean Statistical Information Service were analyzed. A yearly decrease of BW was 3 g among singletons and 5 to 6 g in twins from 2000 to 2020, indicating a widening gap of BW between twins and singletons with increasing years. Gestational age (GA) also decreased in twins and singletons with yearly decreases of 0.28 days in singletons and 0.41 days in twins. Whereas BW decreased in term (GA ≥ 37 weeks), and very preterm groups (28 weeks ≤ GA < 32 weeks) from 2000 to 2020 in twins and singletons, it increased in moderate to late preterm (32 weeks ≤ GA < 37 weeks) groups, indicating a non-linear relationship between BW and GA. The prevalence of macrosomia (BW > 4000 g) in singletons decreased from 2000 to 2020, whereas low birth weight (LBW; BW < 2500 g) increased in twins and singletons. LBW is associated with adverse health outcomes. Effective public health strategies aiming at reduction in the incidence of LBW in the population should be developed.
Metacognitive Monitoring via Strategies and Judgments
Authors: Händel Marion , Naujoks-Schober Nick , Dresel Markus
Published: May 2023

Abstract: Metacognitive monitoring is conceptualized as a situation-specific and context-dependent process that helps learners to regulate their learning. The current study builds on the idea that metacognitive monitoring can fulfil monitoring functions in different phases (when to monitor: during learning or during testing), and that it refers to several objects (what to monitor: processing or retrieval). The cross-sectional study with 184 higher-education students used a situation-specific approach and referred to students’ monitoring via monitoring strategies and monitoring judgments during test preparation and test processing. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that monitoring via strategies and judgments can be directed at different objects. In addition, monitoring different objects was more strongly correlated within the same phase than across different phases. The study results emphasize the need for an object-specific and comprehensive consideration of metacognitive monitoring via monitoring strategies and monitoring judgments.
Global Warming Reshapes European Pyroregions
Authors: Galizia Luiz Felipe , Barbero Renaud , Rodrigues Marcos , Ruffault Julien , Pimont Francois , Curt Thomas
Published: May 2023

Wildland fire is expected to increase in response to global warming, yet little is known about future changes to fire regimes in Europe. Here, we developed a pyrogeography based on statistical fire models to better understand how global warming reshapes fire regimes across the continent. We identified five large‐scale pyroregions with different levels of area burned, fire frequency, intensity, length of fire period, size distribution, and seasonality. All other things being equal, global warming was found to alter the distribution of these pyroregions, with an expansion of the most fire prone pyroregions ranging respectively from 50% to 130% under 2° and 4°C global warming scenarios. Our estimates indicate a strong amplification of fire across parts of southern Europe and a subsequent shift toward new fire regimes, implying substantial socio‐ecological impacts in the absence of mitigation or adaptation measures.
Mapping Landslide Susceptibility Over Large Regions With Limited Data
Authors: Woodard J. B. , Mirus B. B. , Crawford M. M. , Or D. , Leshchinsky B. A. , Allstadt K. E. , Wood N. J.
Published: May 2023

Landslide susceptibility maps indicate the spatial distribution of landslide likelihood. Modeling susceptibility over large or diverse terrains remains a challenge due to the sparsity of landslide data (mapped extent of known landslides) and the variability in triggering conditions. Several different data sampling strategies of landslide locations used to train a susceptibility model are used to mitigate this challenge. However, to our knowledge, no study has systematically evaluated how different sampling strategies alter a model's predictor effects (i.e., how a predictor value influences the susceptibility output) critical to explaining differences in model outputs. Here, we introduce a statistical framework that examines the variation in predictor effects and the model accuracy (measured using receiver operator characteristics) to highlight why certain sampling strategies are more effective than others. Specifically, we apply our framework to an array of logistic regression models trained on landslide inventories collected at sub‐regional scales over four terrains across the United States. Results show significant variations in predictor effects depending on the inventory used to train the models. The inconsistent predictor effects cause low accuracies when testing models on inventories outside the domain of the training data. Grouping test and training sets according to physiographic and ecological characteristics, which are thought to share similar triggering mechanisms, does not improve model accuracy. We also show that using limited landslide data distributed uniformly over the entire modeling domain is better than using dense but spatially isolated data to train a model for applications over large regions.
The phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate-Rab35 axis regulates migrasome formation
Authors: Ding Tianlun , Ji Jinyao , Zhang Weiying , Liu Yuheng , Liu Boqi , Han Yiyang , Chen Chunlai , Yu Li
Published: May 2023

Migrasomes are recently discovered organelles, which are formed on the ends or branch points of retraction fibers at the trailing edge of migrating cells. Previously, we showed that recruitment of integrins to the site of migrasome formation is essential for migrasome biogenesis. In this study, we found that prior to migrasome formation, PIP5K1A, a PI4P kinase which converts PI4P into PI(4,5)P2, is recruited to migrasome formation sites. The recruitment of PIP5K1A results in generation of PI(4,5)P2 at the migrasome formation site. Once accumulated, PI(4,5)P2 recruits Rab35 to the migrasome formation site by interacting with the C-terminal polybasic cluster of Rab35. We further demonstrated that active Rab35 promotes migrasome formation by recruiting and concentrating integrin α5 at migrasome formation sites, which is likely mediated by the interaction between integrin α5 and Rab35. Our study identifies the upstream signaling events orchestrating migrasome biogenesis.
Restoration of lysosomal acidification rescues autophagy and metabolic dysfunction in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Zeng Jialiu , Acin-Perez Rebeca , Assali Essam A. , Martin Andrew , Brownstein Alexandra J. , Petcherski Anton , Fernández-del-Rio Lucía , Xiao Ruiqing , Lo Chih Hung , Shum Michaël , Liesa Marc , Han Xue , Shirihai Orian S. , Grinstaff Mark W.
Published: May 2023

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease in the world. High levels of free fatty acids in the liver impair hepatic lysosomal acidification and reduce autophagic flux. We investigate whether restoration of lysosomal function in NAFLD recovers autophagic flux, mitochondrial function, and insulin sensitivity. Here, we report the synthesis of novel biodegradable acid-activated acidifying nanoparticles (acNPs) as a lysosome targeting treatment to restore lysosomal acidity and autophagy. The acNPs, composed of fluorinated polyesters, remain inactive at plasma pH, and only become activated in lysosomes after endocytosis. Specifically, they degrade at pH of ~6 characteristic of dysfunctional lysosomes, to further acidify and enhance the function of lysosomes. In established in vivo high fat diet mouse models of NAFLD, re-acidification of lysosomes via acNP treatment restores autophagy and mitochondria function to lean, healthy levels. This restoration, concurrent with reversal of fasting hyperglycemia and hepatic steatosis, indicates the potential use of acNPs as a first-in-kind therapeutic for NAFLD.
Structure of dimeric lipoprotein lipase reveals a pore adjacent to the active site
Authors: Gunn Kathryn H. , Neher Saskia B.
Published: May 2023

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) hydrolyzes triglycerides from circulating lipoproteins, releasing free fatty acids. Active LPL is needed to prevent hypertriglyceridemia, which is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Using cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM), we determined the structure of an active LPL dimer at 3.9 Å resolution. This structure reveals an open hydrophobic pore adjacent to the active site residues. Using modeling, we demonstrate that this pore can accommodate an acyl chain from a triglyceride. Known LPL mutations that lead to hypertriglyceridemia localize to the end of the pore and cause defective substrate hydrolysis. The pore may provide additional substrate specificity and/or allow unidirectional acyl chain release from LPL. This structure also revises previous models on how LPL dimerizes, revealing a C-terminal to C-terminal interface. We hypothesize that this active C-terminal to C-terminal conformation is adopted by LPL when associated with lipoproteins in capillaries.
A semiconductor-electrocatalyst nano interface constructed for successive photoelectrochemical water oxidation
Authors: Wu Zilong , Liu Xiangyu , Li Haijing , Sun Zhiyi , Cao Maosheng , Li Zezhou , Fang Chaohe , Zhou Jihan , Cao Chuanbao , Dong Juncai , Zhao Shenlong , Chen Zhuo
Published: May 2023

Photoelectrochemical water splitting has long been considered an ideal approach to producing green hydrogen by utilizing solar energy. However, the limited photocurrents and large overpotentials of the anodes seriously impede large-scale application of this technology. Here, we use an interfacial engineering strategy to construct a nanostructural photoelectrochemical catalyst by incorporating a semiconductor CdS/CdSe-MoS2 and NiFe layered double hydroxide for the oxygen evolution reaction. Impressively, the as-prepared photoelectrode requires an low potential of 1.001 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode for a photocurrent density of 10 mA cm−2, and this is 228 mV lower than the theoretical water splitting potential (1.229 vs. reversible hydrogen electrode). Additionally, the generated current density (15 mA cm−2) of the photoelectrode at a given overpotential of 0.2 V remains at 95% after long-term testing (100 h). Operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy revealed that the formation of highly oxidized Ni species under illumination provides large photocurrent gains. This finding opens an avenue for designing high-efficiency photoelectrochemical catalysts for successive water splitting.
Glutamate indicators with improved activation kinetics and localization for imaging synaptic transmission
Authors: Aggarwal Abhi , Liu Rui , Chen Yang , Ralowicz Amelia J. , Bergerson Samuel J. , Tomaska Filip , Mohar Boaz , Hanson Timothy L. , Hasseman Jeremy P. , Reep Daniel , Tsegaye Getahun , Yao Pantong , Ji Xiang , Kloos Marinus , Walpita Deepika , Patel Ronak , Mohr Manuel A. , Tillberg Paul W. ,   The GENIE Project Team, Looger Loren L. , Marvin Jonathan S. , Hoppa Michael B. , Konnerth Arthur , Kleinfeld David , Schreiter Eric R. , Podgorski Kaspar
Published: May 2023

The fluorescent glutamate indicator iGluSnFR enables imaging of neurotransmission with genetic and molecular specificity. However, existing iGluSnFR variants exhibit low in vivo signal-to-noise ratios, saturating activation kinetics and exclusion from postsynaptic densities. Using a multiassay screen in bacteria, soluble protein and cultured neurons, we generated variants with improved signal-to-noise ratios and kinetics. We developed surface display constructs that improve iGluSnFR’s nanoscopic localization to postsynapses. The resulting indicator iGluSnFR3 exhibits rapid nonsaturating activation kinetics and reports synaptic glutamate release with decreased saturation and increased specificity versus extrasynaptic signals in cultured neurons. Simultaneous imaging and electrophysiology at individual boutons in mouse visual cortex showed that iGluSnFR3 transients report single action potentials with high specificity. In vibrissal sensory cortex layer 4, we used iGluSnFR3 to characterize distinct patterns of touch-evoked feedforward input from thalamocortical boutons and both feedforward and recurrent input onto L4 cortical neuron dendritic spines.
Blood unconjugated bilirubin and tacrolimus are negative predictors of specific cellular immunity in kidney transplant recipients after SAR-CoV-2 inactivated vaccination
Authors: Zhang Lei , Yang Jiaqing , Deng Min , Xu Chuanhui , Lai Changchun , Deng Xuanying , Wang Yan , Zhou Qiang , Liu Yichu , Wan Li , Li Pingchao , Fang Jiali , Hou Jingcai , Lai Xingqiang , Ma Feifei , Li Ning , Li Guanghui , Kong Weiya , Zhang Weiting , Li Jiali , Cao Mibu , Feng Liqiang , Chen Zheng , Chen Ling , Ji Tianxing
Published: May 2023

The immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines is poor in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). The factors related to poor immunogenicity to vaccination in KTRs are not well defined. Here, observational study demonstrated no severe adverse effects were observed in KTRs and healthy participants (HPs) after first or second dose of SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine. Different from HPs with excellent immunity against SARS-CoV-2, IgG antibodies against S1 subunit of spike protein, receptor-binding domain, and nucleocapsid protein were not effectively induced in a majority of KTRs after the second dose of inactivated vaccine. Specific T cell immunity response was detectable in 40% KTRs after the second dose of inactivated vaccine. KTRs who developed specific T cell immunity were more likely to be female, and have lower levels of total bilirubin, unconjugated bilirubin, and blood tacrolimus concentrations. Multivariate logistic regression analysis found that blood unconjugated bilirubin and tacrolimus concentration were significantly negatively associated with SARS-CoV-2 specific T cell immunity response in KTRs. Altogether, these data suggest compared to humoral immunity, SARS-CoV-2 specific T cell immunity response are more likely to be induced in KTRs after administration of inactivated vaccine. Reduction of unconjugated bilirubin and tacrolimus concentration might benefit specific cellular immunity response in KTRs following vaccination.
Green synthesis and characterization of iron oxide nanoparticles for the removal of heavy metals (Cd2+ and Ni2+) from aqueous solutions with Antimicrobial Investigation
Authors: Mohamed Abdelrahman , Atta R. R. , Kotp Amna A. , Abo El-Ela Fatma I. , Abd El-Raheem Hany , Farghali Ahmed , Alkhalifah Dalal Hussien M. , Hozzein Wael N. , Mahmoud Rehab
Published: May 2023

Clove and green Coffee (g-Coffee) extracts were used to synthesize green iron oxide nanoparticles, which were then used to sorb Cd2+ and Ni2+ ions out of an aqueous solution. Investigations with x-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption and desorption (BET), Zeta potential, and scanning electron microscopy were performed to know and understand more about the chemical structure and surface morphology of the produced iron oxide nanoparticles. The characterization revealed that the main component of iron nanoparticles was magnetite when the Clove extract was used as a reducing agent for Fe3+, but both magnetite and hematite were included when the g-Coffee extract was used. Sorption capacity for metal ions was studied as a function of sorbent dosage, metal ion concentration, and sorption period. The maximum Cd2+ adsorption capacity was 78 and 74 mg/g, while that of Ni2+ was 64.8 and 80 mg/g for iron nanoparticles prepared using Clove and g-Coffee, respectively. Different isotherm and kinetic adsorption models were used to fit experimental adsorption data. Adsorption of Cd2+ and Ni2+ on the iron oxide surface was found to be heterogeneous, and the mechanism of chemisorption is involved in the stage of determining the rate. The correlation coefficient R2 and error functions like RMSE, MES and MAE were used to evaluate the best fit models to the experimental adsorption data. The adsorption mechanism was explored using FTIR analysis. Antimicrobial study showed broad spectrum antibacterial activity of the tested nanomaterials against both Gram positive (S. aureus) (25923) and Gram negative (E. coli) (25913) bacteria with increased activity against Gram positive bacteria than Gram negative one and more activity for Green iron oxide nanoparticles prepared from Clove than g-Coffee one.
Longitudinal surveillance of serum titanium ion levels in patients with indigenous 3D printed total temporomandibular joint replacement
Authors: Khandelwal Garima , Roychoudhury Ajoy , Bhutia Ongkila , Shariff A.
Published: May 2023

The purpose of this longitudinal study was to surveil the serum titanium ion levels at various time intervals in patients with indigenous 3D-printed total temporomandibular joint replacement (TMJ TJR). The study was conducted on 11 patients (male: 8; female: 3) who had undergone unilateral or bilateral TMJ TJR. Blood samples were drawn preoperatively (T0), 3 months (T1), 6 months (T2), and 1 year (T3) postoperatively. Data were analyzed and a p value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The mean serum titanium ion levels at T0, T1, T2, and T3 was 9.34 ± 8.70 µg/L (mcg/L), 35.97 ± 20.27 mcg/L, 31.68 ± 17.03 mcg/L, and 47.91 ± 15.47 mcg/L respectively. The mean serum titanium ion levels increased significantly at T1 (p = 0.009), T2 (p = 0.032), and T3 (p = 0.00) interval. There was no significant difference between unilateral and bilateral groups. Serum titanium ion continued to show increased levels till the last follow-up of 1 year. These initial serum titanium ion levels increase is due to the initial wear phase of the prosthesis which manifests over 1 year. Further studies with large sample sizes and long-term follow-ups are required to see the deleterious effect if any on the TMJ TJR.
An improved lightweight high-resolution network based on multi-dimensional weighting for human pose estimation
Authors: Zhang Lei , Zheng Jia-Chun , Zhao Shi-Jia
Published: May 2023

Human pose estimation is one of the key technologies in action recognition, motion analysis, human–computer interaction, animation generation etc. How to improve its performance has become a current research hotspot. Lite-HRNet establishes long range connections between keypoints and exhibits good performance in human pose estimation tasks. However, the scale of this method to extract features is relatively single and lacks sufficient information interaction channels. To solve this problem, we propose an improved lightweight high-resolution network based on multi-dimensional weighting, named MDW-HRNet, which is implemented by the following aspects: first, we propose global context modeling, which can learn multi-channel and multi-scale resolution information weights. Second, a cross-channel dynamic convolution module is designed, it performs inter-channel attention aggregation between dynamic and parallel kernels, replacing the basic convolution module. These make the network capable of channel weighting, spatial weighting and convolution weighting. At the same time, we simplify the network structure to perform information exchange and information compensation between high-resolution modules while ensuring speed and accuracy. Experimental results show that our method achieves good performance on both COCO and MPII human pose estimation datasets, and its accuracy surpasses mainstream lightweight pose estimation networks without increasing computational complexity.
Therapeutic effects of clonazepam in patients with burning mouth syndrome and various symptoms or psychological conditions
Authors: Shin Hyun-Il , Bang Joo-In , Kim Geun-Jeon , Kim Mi Ra , Sun Dong-Il , Kim Sang-Yeon
Published: May 2023

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is frequently accompanied by dysgeusia and xerostomia. Clonazepam has been widely prescribed and is effective, but it is unclear whether clonazepam also affects the symptoms that accompany BMS, or whether such symptoms affect treatment outcomes. Here, we investigated the therapeutic outcomes in BMS patients with various symptoms or comorbidities. We retrospectively reviewed 41 patients diagnosed with BMS between June 2010 and June 2021 at a single institution. Patients were instructed to take clonazepam for 6 weeks. Before the first dose, burning pain intensity was measured using a visual analog scale (VAS); the unstimulated salivary flow rate (USFR), psychologic characteristics, site(s) of pain, and any taste disturbance were evaluated. Burning pain intensity was measured again after 6 weeks. Thirty-one of the 41 patents (75.7%) exhibited a depressed mood, whereas more than 67.8% of the patients exhibited anxiety. Subjective xerostomia was reported by ten patients (24.3%). The mean salivary flow rate was 0.69 mL/min and hyposalivation (an unstimulated salivary flow rate ≤ 0.5 mL/min) was apparent in ten patients (24.3%). Dysgeusia was present in 20 patients (48.7%); a bitter taste (n = 15, 75%) was reported by the largest proportion of patients. Patients who reported a bitter taste responded best in terms of burning pain reduction after 6 weeks (n = 4, 26.6%). Overall, 32 patients (78%) reported decreased oral burning pain after clonazepam (mean VAS score changed from 6.56 to 5.34) use. Patients who reported taste disturbances exhibited a significantly greater decrease in burning pain, compared with other patients (mean VAS score changed from 6.41 to 4.58) (p = 0.02). Clonazepam significantly improved burning pain in BMS patients who had taste disturbances.
Diagnosis of thyroid micronodules on ultrasound using a deep convolutional neural network
Authors: Rho Miribi , Chun Sei Hyun , Lee Eunjung , Lee Hye Sun , Yoon Jung Hyun , Park Vivian Youngjean , Han Kyunghwa , Kwak Jin Young
Published: May 2023

To assess the performance of deep convolutional neural network (CNN) to discriminate malignant and benign thyroid nodules < 10 mm in size and compare the diagnostic performance of CNN with those of radiologists. Computer-aided diagnosis was implemented with CNN and trained using ultrasound (US) images of 13,560 nodules ≥ 10 mm in size. Between March 2016 and February 2018, US images of nodules < 10 mm were retrospectively collected at the same institution. All nodules were confirmed as malignant or benign from aspirate cytology or surgical histology. Diagnostic performances of CNN and radiologists were assessed and compared for area under curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. Subgroup analyses were performed based on nodule size with a cut-off value of 5 mm. Categorization performances of CNN and radiologists were also compared. A total of 370 nodules from 362 consecutive patients were assessed. CNN showed higher negative predictive value (35.3% vs. 22.6%, P = 0.048) and AUC (0.66 vs. 0.57, P = 0.04) than radiologists. CNN also showed better categorization performance than radiologists. In the subgroup of nodules ≤ 5 mm, CNN showed higher AUC (0.63 vs. 0.51, P = 0.08) and specificity (68.2% vs. 9.1%, P < 0.001) than radiologists. Convolutional neural network trained with thyroid nodules ≥ 10 mm in size showed overall better diagnostic performance than radiologists in the diagnosis and categorization of thyroid nodules < 10 mm, especially in nodules ≤ 5 mm.
Climate change mitigation costs reduction caused by socioeconomic-technological transitions
Authors: Fujimori Shinichiro , Oshiro Ken , Hasegawa Tomoko , Takakura Junya , Ueda Kayo
Published: May 2023

Numerical scenarios generated by Integrated Assessment Models describing future energy and land-use systems that attain climate change mitigation goals have been considered important sources of guidance for climate policymaking. The climate change mitigation cost is one of the concerns in the emissions reduction efforts. However, how to moderate climate change mitigation costs is not well understood. Here, we describe the conditions needed for reducing or taking away climate change mitigation costs by implementing socioeconomic-technological transitions into numerical scenario assessment. The results indicate that integration of multiple socioeconomic-technological transitions would be effective, including lowering energy demand, shifting to an environmentally friendly food system, energy technology progress and the stimulus of capital formation that is additionally imposed to the normal carbon pricing mechanism. No single measure is sufficient to fully take away mitigation costs. These results indicate that cross-sectoral transformation is needed, as the realisation of all measures depends on effective government policies as well as uncertain social and technological changes.
A metal–organic framework-supported dinuclear iron catalyst for hydroboration of carbonyl compounds
Authors: Zhu Yi-Jie , Wang Jun-Jie , Li Jun-Yu , Zhang Teng
Published: May 2023

A metal-organic framework-supported bimetallic catalyst, FICN-7-Fe2, was reported. FICN-7-Fe2effectively catalyses hydroboration of ketone, aldehyde and imine substrates and is 15 times more active than its mononuclear counterpart FICN-7-Fe1.
Construction of 1,2-dihydro-1,3,5-triazines via reactions involving amidines
Authors: Guo Honghong , Lin Jianying , Liu Qiang , Li Xing
Published: May 2023

Construction of 1,2-dihydro-1,3,5-triazine compounds using three sets of reactions of amidines with, respectively, paraformaldehyde, aldehydes and N-arylnitrones under different conditions has been described.
Broadband high‐gain low‐temperature cofired ceramic substrate integrated cavity antenna array based on high‐order mode for W‐band applications
Authors: Yuan Bin , Du Qing , Yuan Yang , Yu Zhongjun
Published: May 2023

A broadband substrate integrated cavity (SIC) antenna array based on high‐order mode is proposed for low‐temperature cofired ceramic (LTCC) integrated systems in W‐band. To improve the gain of antenna element, a large SIC is adopted to work in high‐order mode, which also avoid using excessive vias and reduce the process complexity. Two parasitic patches are loaded on the high‐order mode SIC to remove the reverse E‐field in the open aperture, leading to a high‐gain broadside radiation. The high‐order‐mode SIC antenna element is fed by high‐order TE20‐mode substrate integrated waveguide (SIW), rather than regular TE10‐mode SIW. The simplified feeding network with TE20‐mode SIW is also designed with wideband performance, further enhancing the fabrication robustness of antenna array. To validate the proposed high‐order mode‐based antenna element and feeding network, a W‐band 2 × 4 antenna array is designed as an example using LTCC technology. The measured return loss is better than 10 dB from 81.1 to 98.1 GHz (19% bandwidth) with a maximum gain of 18.3 dB at 94 GHz. The proposed antenna array has great potential in millimetre‐wave and terahertz LTCC integrated applications.
Cosmology with cosmic web environments
Authors: Bonnaire Tony , Kuruvilla Joseph , Aghanim Nabila , Decelle Aurélien
Published: May 2023

Degeneracies among parameters of the cosmological model are known to drastically limit the information contained in the matter distribution. In the first paper of this series, we show that the cosmic web environments, namely the voids, walls, filaments and nodes, can be used as leverage to improve the real-space constraints on a set of six cosmological parameters, including the summed neutrino mass. Following up on these results, we propose to investigate the extent to which constraints can be obtained with environment-dependent power spectra in redshift space where the velocities add information to the standard two-point statistics by breaking the isotropy of the matter density field. A Fisher analysis based on a set of thousands of Quijote simulations allows us to conclude that a combination of power spectra computed in several cosmic web environments is able to break some degeneracies. Compared to the matter monopole and quadrupole information alone, the combination of environment-dependent spectra improves constraints on key parameters such as the matter density and the summed neutrino mass by up to a factor of 5.5. Additionally, while the information contained in the matter statistic quickly saturates at mildly non-linear scales in redshift space, a combination of power spectra from different environments appears to be a rich source of information that can be used to improve the constraints at all the studied scales from 0.1 to 0.5 h Mpc−1 and suggests that further improvements could be attainable at even finer scales.
Constraints on the cosmological coupling of black holes from Gaia
Authors: Andrae René , El-Badry Kareem
Published: May 2023

Recent work has suggested that black holes (BHs) could be cosmologically coupled to the accelerated expansion of the Universe, potentially becoming a candidate for origin of dark energy. This would imply that BH mass growth follows cosmological expansion, with the masses of individual BHs growing as MBH ∝ (1 + z)3. In this Letter, we discuss the binary systems Gaia BH1 and Gaia BH2, which contain ∼9 M⊙ BHs orbited by ∼1 M⊙ stars in widely separated orbits. The ages of both systems can be constrained by the properties of the luminous stars. If BH masses are indeed growing as (1 + z)3, the masses of both BHs at formation would have been significantly smaller than today. We find a 77% probability that the mass of the BH in Gaia BH2 would have been below 2.2 M⊙ at formation. This is below the classical Tolman–Oppenheimer–Volkov limit, though it is not yet clear whether or not BHs subject to cosmological coupling should obey this limit. For Gaia BH1, the same probability is 70%. This analysis is consistent with results from two BHs in the globular cluster NGC 3201, but unlike the NGC 3201 BHs, the Gaia BHs have well-constrained inclinations and therefore firm upper mass limits. The discovery of more BHs in binary systems with Gaia astrometry in the coming years will allow us to test the cosmological coupling hypothesis decisively.
Present Situation and Prospects of Energy Storage Technology in the Context of New Power System Construction
Authors: Wen Cao , Wang Xi , Wei Wei , Tian Yuting , Sun Xinwei
Published: May 2023

With the promotion of new power system construction, due to the real-time-balance characteristics of power system and the randomness and volatility of renewable energy, the power system needs more adjustable means, which boost the development of large-scale energy storage. This paper summarizes the problems faced by new power system operation with large-scale grid-connected renewable energy. Furthermore, the current mainstream energy storage technology and its development status are summarized. On this basis, the security, economy, system and mechanism problems faced by large-scale application of energy storage technology in power system are proposed. Finally, the key development directions and prospects of large-scale energy storage applications are prospected.
Research on Energy Trading Mechanism of Zero carbon Park Based on Blockchain Technology
Authors: Pan Xiukui , Feng Jingli , Duan Tingting
Published: May 2023

In the context of global climate change and various environmental problems, stabilizing the global average temperature, implementing near zero carbon emissions, and finally achieving absolute zero carbon emissions in the future have become an important task of China’s ecological civilization construction. As an important population and industrial cluster, the park is the carrier of important economic and social activities, so the park is the most important form to achieve the dual carbon goal. Based on blockchain technology, this paper comprehensively uses carbon neutral mechanisms such as zero carbon energy substitution, low carbon technology, carbon sequestration and carbon sink, and purchase of voluntary emission reductions to gradually reduce the carbon emissions in the park to zero, and finally realizes intelligent and automatic management of carbon emission reduction management in the park.
Design of an all-weather water extraction system based on solar energy and diurnal temperature difference
Authors: Zhang Chengran , Pu Liangyu , Bai Weihan , Guo Tianyuan , Wen Haiming
Published: May 2023

According to the survey, the water content in the air is as high as 14,000 km3. To make full use of the moisture retained in the air, we designed this all-weather water extraction system based on solar energy and the temperature difference between day and night. The system uses solar power panels to supply power to the micro-suction fan during the daytime, builds a condensation structure of “air-ground”, and uses the natural temperature difference between day and night to condense water at night and store it in the buried water reservoir. Semi-arid areas have water demand and have the advantages of all-weather use, fast water extraction, low cost, and ease of promotion.