bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sulphonylurea sensitivity and enriched expression implicate inward rectifier K+ channels inDrosophila melanogasterrenal function
Authors: Evans Jennifer M. , Allan Adrian K. , Davies Shireen A. , Dow Julian A. T.
Published: September 2005

Insect Malpighian (renal) tubules are capable of transporting fluid at remarkable rates. Secondary active transport of potassium at the apical surface of the principal cell must be matched by a high-capacity basolateral potassium entry route. A recent microarray analysis of Drosophilatubule identified three extremely abundant and enriched K+ channel genes encoding the three inward rectifier channels of Drosophila: ir, irk2 and irk3. Enriched expression of inward rectifier channels in tubule was verified by quantitative RT-PCR, and all three IRKs localised to principal cells of the main segment (and irand irk3 to the lower tubule) by in situ hybridisation,suggesting roles both in primary secretion and reabsorption. A new splice form of irk2 was also identified. The role of inward rectifiers in fluid secretion was assessed with a panel of selective inhibitors of inward rectifier channels, the antidiabetic sulphonylureas. All completely inhibited fluid secretion, with IC50s of 0.78 mmol l-1 for glibenclamide and approximately 5 mmol l-1 for tolbutamide, 0.01 mmol l-1 for minoxidil and 0.1 mmol l-1 for diazoxide. This pharmacology is consistent with a lower-affinity class of inward rectifier channel that does not form an obligate multimer with the sulphonylurea receptor (SUR), although effects on non-IRK targets cannot be excluded. Glibenclamide inhibited fluid secretion similarly to basolateral K+-free saline.

Radiolabelled glibenclamide is both potently transported and metabolised by tubule. Furthermore, glibenclamide is capable of blocking transport of the organic dye amaranth (azorubin S), at concentrations of glibenclamide much lower than required to impact on fluid secretion. Glibenclamide thus interacts with tubule in three separate ways; as a potent inhibitor of fluid secretion,as an inhibitor (possibly competitive) of an organic solute transporter and as a substrate for excretion and metabolism.
A computational study of the aerodynamics and forewing-hindwing interaction of a model dragonfly in forward flight
Authors: Wang Ji Kang , Sun Mao
Published: September 2005

The aerodynamics and forewing-hindwing interaction of a model dragonfly in forward flight are studied, using the method of numerically solving the Navier-Stokes equations. Available morphological and stroke-kinematic parameters of dragonfly (Aeshna juncea) are used for the model dragonfly. Six advance ratios (J; ranging from 0 to 0.75) and, at each J, four forewing-hindwing phase angle differences(γd; 180°, 90°, 60° and 0°) are considered. The mean vertical force and thrust are made to balance the weight and body-drag, respectively, by adjusting the angles of attack of the wings, so that the flight could better approximate the real flight.

At hovering and low J (J=0, 0.15), the model dragonfly uses separated flows or leading-edge vortices (LEV) on both the fore- and hindwing downstrokes; at medium J (J=0.30, 0.45), it uses the LEV on the forewing downstroke and attached flow on the hindwing downstroke; at high J (J=0.6, 0.75), it uses attached flows on both fore- and hindwing downstrokes. (The upstrokes are very lightly loaded and, in general, the flows are attached.)

At a given J, at γd=180°, there are two vertical force peaks in a cycle, one in the first half of the cycle, produced mainly by the hindwing downstroke, and the other in the second half of the cycle, produced mainly by the forewing downstroke; atγ d=90°, 60° and 0°, the two force peaks merge into one peak. The vertical force is close to the resultant aerodynamic force[because the thrust (or body-drag) is much smaller than vertical force (or the weight)]. 55-65% of the vertical force is contributed by the drag of the wings.

The forewing-hindwing interaction is detrimental to the vertical force (and resultant force) generation. At hovering, the interaction reduces the mean vertical force (and resultant force) by 8-15%, compared with that without interaction; as J increases, the reduction generally decreases (e.g. at J=0.6 and γd=90°, it becomes 1.6%). A possible reason for the detrimental interaction is as follows: each of the wings produces a mean vertical force coefficient close to half that needed for weight support, and a downward flow is generated in producing the vertical force; thus, in general, a wing moves in the downwash-velocity field induced by the other wing, reducing its aerodynamic forces.
Safeway Designs Mixed-Product Pallets to Support Just-in-Time Deliveries
Authors: Chao John , Chen Matty , Deng Aileen , Miao Harold , Newman Alexandra , Tseng Sophia , Yano Candace Arai
Published: September 2005

In 1998, Safeway milk plants began daily deliveries to most stores, doubling their delivery frequency. The new schedule increased the workloads for assembling orders at the milk plant by 20 percent because, under the new system, very few store orders called for full pallets of a single product, and store-specific mixed pallets were time consuming to assemble. To reduce the excess workload, we designed two types of standard mixed pallets that, in quantities of one to three, could satisfy part of the demands of many stores on most days, thereby reducing the need for store-specific mixed pallets. Our mathematical model optimizes the design of the standard mixed-product pallets. These mixed-product pallets can be assembled prior to the peak shipping periods and during other off-peak times to ease peak workloads and eliminate excessive overtime. Safeway implemented the solution without our assistance and continues to use it nearly five years after implementation with good results.
Top-25-Business-School Professors Rate Journals in Operations Management and Related Fields
Authors: Olson Josephine E.
Published: September 2005

I obtained quality ratings and rankings of 39 journals in operations management and related disciplines through surveys of faculty members at top-25 US business schools in 2000 and in 2002. I also computed five-year impact factors for 29 of these journals and developed a ranking based on these impact factors. I found evidence of some change in journal quality ratings over the two-year period. Ratings also differed by research area but not by professorial level. In addition, I ranked the journals based on the number of academics who rated their quality, calling this a visibility measure. Finally, I compared my ratings to ratings in earlier survey and citation studies. The quality ratings were more consistent than the citation ratings.
Sizing Backbone Internet Links
Authors: Heyman Daniel P.
Published: September 2005

One of the distinguishing features of a backbone link is that it is designed to carry traffic from a large number of end users. This results in a Normal distribution for the number of bytes or packets that arrive in a fixed-length time interval. Based on this observation, which is substantiated by data analysis, we present a simple model for the steady-state loss probability that can be solved in closed form. This model assumes that there is no buffer, so that issues raised by the correlation of counts that is characteristic of packet traffic are bypassed.

The longest interval that captures the relevant statistical fluctuations of backbone traffic is one second. Data collection on live commercial networks is costly, so byte and packet counts are usually collected over much longer time intervals; five minutes is a lower bound. This creates no problem in estimating the mean of the Normal distribution, but it makes direct estimation of the variance for one-second counts infeasible. Routers collect flow data; flows are analogous to “calls” in telephony. By modeling the number of active flows as an M/G/∞ queue and assuming that packets in a flow are spread uniformly in time, an equation for the variance of (say) one-second counts in terms of measured quantities is derived. The efficacy of this formula is demonstrated by applying it to data.
Recovering Cyclic Schedules Using Dynamic Produce-Up-To Policies
Authors: Eisenstein Donald D.
Published: September 2005

We consider facilities that follow a cyclic schedule to replenish the inventory of a set of items through production by a shared resource. We introduce a dynamic produce-up-to policy that recovers the target cyclic schedule after a single disruption, and is also shown to be effective when disruptions are more frequent. Our policy is more flexible than traditional recovery policies in that our policy is able to adjust the amount of idle time observed during recovery in response to disruptions, and yet re-establish the target idle time as the schedule recovers. This results in a policy that not only saves cost and time, but provides better schedule stability than other recovery procedures. Furthermore, unlike simple produce-up-to policies, our policy is anticipatory—replenishments will be speeded up or delayed, whichever is necessary, to help avoid congestion at the shared resource. In addition, recovery is controlled by a single “knob” or parameter that can tune recovery to be fast and aggressive (frequent setups and small batches) or slow and methodical (few setups and larger batches). Finally, our policy is easy to implement, augmenting a traditional produce-up-to policy with a simple set of counters that control replenishment decisions.
A Note on Closure Properties of Failure Rate Distributions
Authors: Paul Anand
Published: September 2005

Increasing generalized failure rate (IGFR) distributions were introduced as a tool in the study of contracting mechanisms in supply chains. In this note, we compare and contrast the closure—and the lack thereof—of IGFR and increasing failure rate (IFR) distributions with respect to standard operations on random variables. Some implications of these results for the use of IGFR distributions in supply chain models are noted.
Erratum to “The Three-Dimensional Bin Packing Problem”: Robot-Packable and Orthogonal Variants of Packing Problems
Authors: den Boef Edgar , Korst Jan , Martello Silvano , Pisinger David , Vigo Daniele
Published: September 2005

In the three-dimensional bin packing problem the task is to orthogonally pack a given set of rectangular items into a minimum number of three-dimensional rectangular bins. We give a characterization of the algorithm proposed by Martello et al. (2000) for the exact solution of the problem, showing that not all orthogonal packings can be generated by the proposed algorithm. The packings, however, have the property of being robot packings, which is relevant in practical settings. References to the modified algorithm, which solves the orthogonal as well as robot packable three-dimensional problem, are given.
Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Erythrocyte Thiopurine Nucleotides and Effect of Thiopurine Methyltransferase Gene Variants on These Metabolites in Patients Receiving Azathioprine/6-Mercaptopurine Therapy
Authors: Dervieux Thierry , Meyer Gary , Barham Robert , Matsutani Mariko , Barry Mary , Boulieu Roselyne , Neri Bruce , Seidman Ernest
Published: September 2005

Background: Polymorphic thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) is a major determinant of thiopurine toxicity.

Methods: We extracted 6-thioguanine nucleotides (6-TGNs) and 6-methylmercaptopurine nucleotides (6-MMPNs) from erythrocytes with perchloric acid and converted them to 6-thioguanine (6-TG) and a 6-methylmercaptopurine (6-MMP) derivative during a 60-min acid hydrolysis step. The liquid chromatography system consisted of a C18 column with an ammonium acetate–formic acid–acetonitrile buffer. 8-Bromoadenine was the internal standard. Analytes were measured with positive ionization and multiple reaction monitoring mode. With PCR–restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and TaqMan allelic discrimination, common TPMT alleles (*1, *2, *3A, *3B, *3C) were determined in 31 792 individuals. We used perchloric acid extraction, acid hydrolysis, and HPLC with ultraviolet detection to measure erythrocyte 6-TG and 6-MMP nucleotide concentrations in 6189 patients with inflammatory bowel disease receiving azathioprine/6-mercaptopurine therapy.

Results: Intra- and interday imprecision were <10% at low and high analyte concentrations. The conversion of 6-TG and 6-MMP nucleoside mono-, di-, and triphosphates was complete after hydrolysis. Allelic frequency for TPMT variant alleles ranged from 0.0063% (*3B) to 3.61% (*3A). Compared with wild types, TPMT heterozygotes had an 8.3-fold higher risk for 6-TGNs >450 pmol/8 × 108 erythrocytes (concentration associated with increased risk for leukopenia), but an 8.2-fold lower risk for 6-MMPNs >5700 pmol/8 × 108 erythrocytes (concentration associated with increased risk for hepatotoxicity).

Conclusions: The liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method can be applied to the routine monitoring of thiopurine therapy. The association between TPMT genotype and metabolite concentrations illustrates the utility of pharmacogenetics in the management of patients undergoing treatment with thiopurines.
Disposition of Cocaine and Its Metabolites in Human Sweat after Controlled Cocaine Administration
Authors: Kacinko Sherri L , Barnes Allan J , Schwilke Eugene W , Cone Edward J , Moolchan Eric T , Huestis Marilyn A
Published: September 2005

Background: Sweat testing is a noninvasive technique for monitoring drug exposure in treatment, criminal justice, and employment settings.

Methods: We evaluated cocaine excretion in 9 participants’ sweat after they received 3 low doses (75 mg/70 kg) of cocaine HCl subcutaneously within 1 week and, 3 weeks later, 3 high doses (150 mg/70 kg). Six additional participants completed portions of the study. PharmChek® sweat patches (n = 1390) were collected throughout a 3-week washout period, reflecting previously self-administered drugs, and during and after controlled dosing.

Results: Cocaine was the primary analyte detected with 24% of patches positive at the gas chromatography–mass spectrometry limit of quantification of 2.5 ng/patch and 7% of patches at the proposed Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration cutoff of 25 ng/patch. Ecgonine methyl ester (EME) was detected more often and at generally higher concentrations than benzoylecgonine. In patches containing both metabolites, there was no statistically significant difference in the benzoylecgonine/EME ratio based on length of patch wear. During washout, 2 participants’ weekly patches tested positive (≥25 ng/patch) during the first week; one remained positive during week 2; and none were positive during week 3. Cocaine and EME were detectable within 2 h; benzoylecgonine was not detected until 4–8 h after low doses and slightly sooner after high doses. The majority of drug was excreted within 24 h. Over 70% of weekly patches worn during low doses were positive for cocaine (≥25 ng/patch), increasing to 100% during high doses.

Conclusion: Sweat testing is an effective and reliable method of monitoring cocaine exposure.
Development of an In Vitro Screening Assay to Test the Antiinflammatory Properties of Dietary Supplements and Pharmacologic Agents
Authors: Singh Uma , Tabibian James , Venugopal Senthil K , Devaraj Sridevi , Jialal Ishwarlal
Published: September 2005

Background: Monocytes and macrophages are critical in atherosclerosis and on stimulation secrete proinflammatory, proatherogenic cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1β, which have been shown to be present in atherosclerotic lesions. The aim of this study was to develop a rapid in vitro screening assay to test the antiinflammatory effects of different compounds.

Methods and Results: THP-1 cells (human monocytic cell line) were stimulated with different concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 0 to 1000 μg/L) and for different times (4, 12, and 24 h), and the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α) was assessed. TNF-α secretion was maximum at the lowest LPS concentration (100 μg/L) and at shortest duration of incubation (4 h). Maximum secretion of IL-1β and IL-6 was achieved at 24 h with higher doses of LPS. Treatment of THP-1 with various test compounds such as dietary supplements (α-tocopherol, N-acetylcysteine, catechin and epigallocatechin gallate) as well as pharmacologic agents (statins, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ agonists, and an angiotensin II receptor blocker) significantly inhibited LPS-stimulated TNF-α release.

Conclusions: The release of TNF-α after stimulation of THP-1 cells with LPS is a valid model system to test novel compounds for potential antiinflammatory effects.
Gene-Expression Profiling of CD34+ Hematopoietic Cells Expanded in a Collagen I Matrix
Authors: Oswald Joachim , Steudel Christine , Salchert Katrin , Joergensen Brigitte , Thiede Christian , Ehninger Gerhard , Werner Carsten , Bornhäuser Martin
Published: September 2005

CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSCs) reside in the bone marrow in close proximity to the endosteal bone surface, surrounded by osteoblasts, stromal cells, and various extracellular matrix molecules. We used a bioartificial matrix of fibrillar collagen I, the major matrix component of bone, as a scaffold for ex vivo expansion of HSCs. CD34+ HSCs were isolated from umbilical cord blood and cultivated within reconstituted collagen I fibrils in the presence of fms-like tyrosine kinase-3 ligand, stem cell factor, and interleukin (IL)-3. After 7 days of culture, the cell number, number of colony-forming units (CFU-C), and gene-expression profile of the cultured cells were assessed. Although the total expansion factor of CD34+ cells was slightly lower when cells were cultivated in the collagen I gel, the frequency of CFU-C was greater than in control suspension cultures. Gene-expression analysis with microarray chip technology revealed the upregulation of more than 50 genes in the presence of collagen I. Among these, genes for several growth factors, cytokines, and chemokines (e.g., IL-8 and macrophage inhibitory protein 1α) could be confirmed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, greater expression levels of the negative cell-cycle regulator BTG2/TIS21 and an inhibitor of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, DUSP2, underline the regulatory role of the extracellular matrix. Together, these data show that the expansion of CD34+ cord blood cells in a culture system containing a three-dimensional collagen I matrix induces a qualitative change in the gene-expression profile of cultivated HSCs.
Photobiology
Authors: Young Antony R.
Published: February 2024

Solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is ubiquitous and has many molecular, cellular and clinical effects on healthy human skin. These effects can affect the skin directly and/or have systemic consequences and are heavily dependent on constitutive skin pigmentation. This chapter provides an overview of solar UVR and its effects on skin, as well as their mitigation, and provides a background for the understanding of phototherapy and the photodermatoses that are discussed in other chapters. Dermatologists have largely focused on the adverse effects of sunlight but there is increasing interest in clinical benefits other than vitamin D synthesis.
Ectodermal Dysplasias
Authors: Itin Peter
Published: February 2024

Ectodermal dysplasias manifest congenital defects in two or more ectodermal structures. Often, they show alterations in the skin, hair, nails and eccrine or seborrhoeic glands. There are more than 200 different entities which have to be separated in this disease group. The confirmation of these heterogeneous and very rare clinical diseases is done nowadays by molecular genetics.
Inherited Hair Disorders
Authors: Sprecher Eli
Published: February 2024

Congenital and inherited disorders of hair growth and differentiation, also known as genotrichoses, can be subdivided into conditions associated with either excessive hair growth, known as
hypertrichoses
, or defective hair development or
alopecias
. Some of these disorders feature isolated hair abnormalities, others are associated with extracutaneous manifestations and as such require careful surveillance or timely interventions for possible complications.
Inherited Immunodeficiency
Authors: Niehues Tim , Gennery Andrew R.
Published: February 2024

Inborn errors of immunity (IEI) are inherited disorders resulting in defects in the immune system leading to increased susceptibility to infection, autoimmune diseases, autoinflammation, a failure of the inflammatory response and/or lymphocyte apoptosis as well as an increased susceptibility to neoplasia. Inheritance can be recessive or dominant, x‐linked or autosomal, and penetrance may be variable. Commonly, IEI present with cutaneous infections or non‐infectious skin manifestations – some are mainly characterised by their dermatological presentation. IEI are classified as combined immunodeficiencies with or without associated or syndromic features, predominantly antibody deficiencies, diseases with immune dysregulation, congenital defects of phagocyte number and function, defects in innate immunity, autoinflammatory or complement disorders. The most prevalent of these IEI associated with dermatological manifestations are discussed and characteristic figures are provided.
Susceptibility to cancer misinformation: Predictors of false belief and false memory formation
Authors: King Nora , Greene Ciara M.
Published: February 2024

Previous research has shown that people sometimes come to believe in misinformation presented in the form of fake news, and even form false memories for the fabricated events described. This study aimed to investigate the effects of analytical reasoning, attitudes to complementary and alternative medicine, bullshit receptivity, and previous experience with cancer on the formation of false memory and false belief for cancer related misinformation. Participants (N = 466) were exposed to four fake news stories and four true news stories relating to cancer treatment and services. Male gender, low analytical reasoning, receptivity to bullshit, and endorsement of complementary and alternative medicine were all significant predictors of belief in cancer misinformation, while participants with poor analytical reasoning or higher receptivity to bullshit reported more false memories for fake news stories. These results indicate that reflexive, intuitive thinking styles contribute to susceptibility to cancer misinformation, suggesting a potential target for public health interventions.
“How are you?” Perspectives From Patients and Health Care Providers of Text Messaging to Support Rheumatoid Arthritis Care: A Thematic Analysis
Authors: Zafar Saania N. , Hazlewood Glen , Dhiman Kiran , Charlton Alexandra , Then Karen L. , Dempsey Erika , Lester Richard , Hoens Alison M. , Lacaille Diane , Barnabe Cheryl , Rankin James , Mosher Dianne , Barber Claire E. H.
Published: February 2024

Objective

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may need to access rheumatology care between scheduled visits. WelTel is a virtual care platform that supports secure two‐way text‐messaging between patients and their health care team. The objective of the present study was to explore perspectives and experiences of health care providers (HCPs) and patients related to the use of WelTel as an adjunct to routine care.

Methods

Seventy patients with RA were enrolled in a six‐month WelTel pilot project launched in September 2021. Patients received monthly “How are you?” text message check‐ins and could message their health care team during clinic hours to request health advice. The current project is a qualitative study of the WelTel pilot. A subgroup of pilot participants was purposively sampled and invited to participate in interviews. A thematic analysis of transcripts was conducted using a deductive approach leveraging quality of care domains.

Results

Thirteen patients (62% female, mean age 62 years, 10 White) completed interviews. Patients’ views suggested that text messaging with the rheumatology team supported high‐quality care across multiple quality domains including patient‐centeredness, timeliness, efficiency, safety, effectiveness, equity, and appropriateness. Seven HCPs (57.1% female, one pharmacist and six rheumatologists) completed interviews. HCPs' perspectives varied based on their experience with the WelTel platform. Additional themes reported by HCPs included perceived increased workload and burnout.

Conclusions

Patients with RA perceived text‐based messaging as supporting high‐quality care. The impact of increased communications on HCP burnout and workload requires consideration, and future studies should evaluate the effect of texting on patient outcomes.
Stretchable and Highly Sensitive Flexible Strain Sensor Based on a Three‐Layer Core–Shell Structure of Polydopamine/Polypyrrole@Natural Rubber for Human Activity Monitoring
Authors: Zhan Ziwei , Yuan Yizhong , Zhang Yao , Tian Xiaohui , Sun Jinyu , Jin Jie , Wu Wangbao , Ayikanbaier Kadier
Published: February 2024

In recent years, flexible strain sensors with a wide detection range and high sensitivity have garnered significant attention for human health monitoring. However, fabricating strain sensors with a broad strain range while retaining high sensitivity remains a major challenge. Herein, a green and facile method is successfully developed to fabricate the polydopamine/polypyrrole@natural rubber (PDA/PPy@NR)‐based strain sensor with a three‐layer core–shell structure. PDA and PPy are coated uniformly onto the surface of the NR nanosphere by in situ polymerization. The electromechanical and strain sensing properties of the fabricated composite are investigated. The homogeneous coating of PPy and PDA layers has facilitated the formation of continuous conductive pathways within the NR matrix, even at low loading levels. Consequently, the strain sensor exhibits remarkable sensitivity over a wide strain range (≈800%) and long‐term reliability (2500 cycles at 50%). The PDA/PPy@NR strain sensor shows an exceptionally high gauge factor value (142.6) and a short response time (125 ms). Furthermore, this PDA/PPy@NR strain sensor can effectively detect and capture subtle and large human movements such as limb joints and facial movements as well as even distinguish the pronunciation of different words. The PDA/PPy@NR strain sensor holds great promise for integration into flexible wearable electronics.
Perovskite Solar Cells with Extremely High 24.63% Efficiency through Design of Double Electron Transport Layers and Double Luminescent Converter Layers
Authors: Liu Bin , Wang Yuqi , Bian Shuhang , Liu Zhongqi , Wu Yanjie , Shao Long , Zhang Yuhong , Lyu Jiekai , Zhang Lidong , Mao Jiangwei , Bai Xue , Xu Lin , Zhou Donglei , Dong Biao , Song Hongwei
Published: February 2024

Introduction of fluorescent down‐conversion layer inside perovskite solar cells (PSCs) can highly improve the ultraviolet response of the devices and the light stability. However, such a device is usually confronted with the problem of inter‐diffusion with the perovskite absorber layer, which severely limits its further development. To address this problem, herein, this work employs an interfacial dual electron transport layers (ETLs) strategy, sandwiching Cd‐CsPbCl3:Mn2+ luminescent quantum dots within gap of the ETLs, which not only reduces the interface energy level offset, but also improves the nucleation and crystallization kinetics of perovskite films and prevents their diffusion to the perovskite absorber layer. As a result, the efficient synergy effect effectively elevates both the open‐circuit voltage and fill factor of the PSCs, reaching maximum values of 1.181 V and 81.14%, respectively, finally delivering progressively increased device power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 24.32% with significantly improved light stability. To further improve the ultraviolet response, this work further adopts the strategy of dual fluorescent conversion layers inside and outside the PSCs, and finally obtains PCE of 24.63%, which is the best for various luminescent conversion cells. This work opens a new door for the development of efficient and stable photoluminescence conversion PSCs.
Strain Regulation of Mixed‐Halide Perovskites Enables High‐Performance Wide‐Bandgap Photovoltaics
Authors: Li Xinhao , Li Yifan , Feng Yanxing , Qi Jiahui , Shen Jinliang , Shi Guodong , Yang Shaopeng , Yuan Mingjian , He Tingwei
Published: February 2024

Wide‐bandgap mixed‐halogen perovskite materials are widely used as top cells in tandem solar cells. However, serious open‐circuit voltage (Voc) loss restricts the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of wide‐bandgap perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Herein, it is shown that the resulting methylammonium vacancies induce lattice distortion in methylammonium chloride‐assisted perovskite film, resulting in an inhomogeneous halogen distribution and low Voc. Thus, a lattice strain regulation strategy is reported to fabricate high‐performance wide‐bandgap PSCs. Rubidium (Rb) cations are introduced to fill the A‐site vacancy caused by the methylammonium volatilization, which alleviates shrinkage strain of the perovskite crystal. The reduced lattice distortion and increased halide ion migration barrier result in a homogeneous mixed‐halide perovskite film. Due to improved carrier transport and suppressed nonradiative recombination, the Rb‐treated wide‐bandgap PSC (1.68 eV) achieves an excellent PCE of 21.72%, accompanied by a high Voc of 1.22 V. The resulting device maintains more than 90% of its initial PCE after 1500 h under 1‐sun illumination conditions.
General cognitive ability in high school, attained education, occupational complexity, and dementia risk
Authors: Huh Jimi , Arpawong Thalida Em , Gruenewald Tara L. , Fisher Gwenith G. , Prescott Carol A. , Manly Jennifer J. , Seblova Dominika , Walters Ellen E. , Gatz Margaret
Published: February 2024

INTRODUCTION

We address the extent to which adolescent cognition predicts dementia risk in later life, mediated by educational attainment and occupational complexity.

METHODS

Using data from Project Talent Aging Study (PTAS), we fitted two structural equation models to test whether adolescent cognition predicts cognitive impairment (CI) and Ascertain Dementia 8 (AD8) status simultaneously (NCognitive Assessment = 2477) and AD8 alone (NQuestionnaire = 6491) 60 years later, mediated by education and occupational complexity. Co‐twin control analysis examined 82 discordant pairs for CI/AD8.

RESULTS

Education partially mediated the effect of adolescent cognition on CI in the cognitive assessment aample and AD8 in the questionnaire sample (Ps < 0.001). Within twin pairs, differences in adolescent cognition were small, but intrapair differences in education predicted CI status.

DISCUSSION

Adolescent cognition predicted dementia risk 60 years later, partially mediated through education. Educational attainment, but not occupational complexity, contributes to CI risk beyond its role as a mediator of adolescent cognition, further supported by the co‐twin analyses.

Highlights

Project Talent Aging Study follows enrollees from high school for nearly 60 years.

General cognitive ability in high school predicts later‐life cognitive impairment.

Low education is a risk partially due to its association with cognitive ability.
Lanthanide‐Based Probes for Imaging Detection of Enzyme Activities by NIR Luminescence, T1‐ and ParaCEST MRI
Authors: Jouclas Rémy , Laine Sophie , Eliseeva Svetlana V. , Mandel Jérémie , Szeremeta Frédéric , Retailleau Pascal , He Jiefang , Gallard Jean‐François , Pallier Agnès , Bonnet Célia S. , Petoud Stéphane , Durand Philippe , Tóth Éva
Published: February 2024

Applying a single molecular probe to monitor enzymatic activities in multiple, complementary imaging modalities is highly desirable to ascertain detection and to avoid the complexity associated with the use of agents of different chemical entities. We demonstrate here the versatility of lanthanide (Ln3+) complexes with respect to their optical and magnetic properties and their potential for enzymatic detection in NIR luminescence, CEST and T1 MR imaging, controlled by the nature of the Ln3+ ion, while using a unique chelator. Based on X‐ray structural, photophysical, and solution NMR investigations of a family of Ln3+ DO3A‐pyridine model complexes, we could rationalize the luminescence (Eu3+, Yb3+), CEST (Yb3+) and relaxation (Gd3+) properties and their variations between carbamate and amine derivatives. This allowed the design of
probes which undergo enzyme‐mediated changes detectable in NIR luminescence, CEST and T1‐weighted MRI, respectively governed by variations in their absorption energy, in their exchanging proton pool and in their size, thus relaxation efficacy. We demonstrate that these properties can be exploited for the visualization of β‐galactosidase activity in phantom samples by different imaging modalities: NIR optical imaging, CEST and T1‐weighted MRI.
Enhancement in kerosene droplet–coal particle collision and adsorption by bubble trailing vortex in coal slurry conditioning: Energy evolution of collision process
Authors: Zhu Hongzheng , Qin Zhiqian , Chen Kun , Zhu Wenliang , Shi Qinghui , Yang Ming , Li Chao , Zhang Yong
Published: February 2024

Understanding the collision between kerosene droplets and coal particles in the bubble trailing vortex region is crucial for enhancing slurry conditioning. We found the area of the bubble trailing vortex region increased as the bubble size increased via the Fluent 6.3.26 software. A kerosene droplet velocity range of 0.074–0.106 m/s and a coal particle velocity range of 0.062–0.104 m/s were obtained if a bubble had a diameter of 0.3 mm. We employed a high‐speed motion acquisition system and observed the collision process, which was divided into two stages: Compression and Rebound. The critical motion distance increased as the kerosene droplet size increased, and sufficient kerosene droplet motion distance and enough kinetic energy normally resulted in a rebound phenomenon. The attenuation energy was almost positively linear to the initial energy, and the energy attenuation coefficient of the collision process was fitted to 0.626. Our results can provide valuable insight into mineral separation.
The impact of TV advertising on website traffic
Authors: Veverka Lukáš , Holý Vladimír
Published: February 2024

We propose a modeling procedure for estimating immediate responses to TV ads and evaluating the factors influencing their size. First, we capture diurnal and seasonal patterns of website visits using the kernel smoothing method. Second, we estimate a gradual increase in website visits after an ad using the maximum likelihood method. Third, we analyze the nonlinear dependence of the estimated increase in website visits on characteristics of the ads using the random forest method. The proposed methodology is applied to a dataset containing minute‐by‐minute organic website visits and detailed characteristics of TV ads for an e‐commerce company in 2019. The results show that people are indeed willing to switch between screens and multitask. Moreover, the time of the day, the TV channel, and the advertising motive play a great role in the impact of the ads.
A high‐fidelity, dual site‐specific integration system in CHO cells by a Bxb1 recombinase
Authors: Xu Yifeng , Crowe Kerstin B. , Lieske Paulena L. , Barnes Michael , Bandara Kalpanie , Chu Jianlin , Wei Wei , Scarcelli John J. , Zhang Lin
Published: February 2024

Site‐specific integration (SSI) via recombinase mediated cassette exchange (RMCE) has shown advantages over random integration methods for expression of biotherapeutics. As an extension of our previous work developing SSI host cells, we developed a dual‐site SSI system having two independent integration sites at different genomic loci, each containing a unique landing pad (LP). This system was leveraged to generate and compare two RMCE hosts, one (dFRT) compatible with the Flp recombinase, the other (dBxb1) compatible with the Bxb1 recombinase. Our comparison demonstrated that the dBxb1 host was able to generate stable transfectant pools in a shorter time frame, and cells within the dBxb1 transfectant pools were more phenotypically and genotypically stable. We further improved process performance of the dBxb1 host, resulting in desired fed batch performance attributes. Clones derived from this improved host (referred as 41L‐11) maintained stable expression profiles over extended generations. While the data represents a significant improvement in the efficiency of our cell line development process, the dual LP architecture also affords a high degree of flexibility for development of complex protein modalities.
Production of D‐tagatose, bioethanol, and microbial protein from the dairy industry by‐product whey powder using an integrated bioprocess
Authors: Ma Wei , Li Fengyi , Li Longyue , Li Bin , Niu Kangle , Liu Qinghua , Han Laichuang , Han Lijuan , Fang Xu
Published: February 2024

We designed and constructed a green and sustainable bioprocess to efficiently coproduce D‐tagatose, bioethanol, and microbial protein from whey powder. First, a one‐pot biosynthesis process involving lactose hydrolysis and D‐galactose redox reactions for D‐tagatose production was established in vitro via a three‐enzyme cascade. Second, a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate‐dependent galactitol dehydrogenase mutant, D36A/I37R, based on the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide‐dependent polyol dehydrogenase from Paracoccus denitrificans was created through rational design and screening. Moreover, an NADPH recycling module was created in the oxidoreductive pathway, and the tagatose yield increased by 3.35‐fold compared with that achieved through the pathway without the cofactor cycle. The reaction process was accelerated using an enzyme assembly with a glycine–serine linker, and the tagatose production rate was 9.28‐fold higher than the initial yield. Finally, Saccharomyces cerevisiae was introduced into the reaction solution, and 266.5 g of D‐tagatose, 162.6 g of bioethanol, and 215.4 g of dry yeast (including 38% protein) were obtained from 1 kg of whey powder (including 810 g lactose). This study provides a promising sustainable process for functional food (D‐tagatose) production. Moreover, this process fully utilized whey powder, demonstrating good atom economy.
Relationship between face‐to‐face and non‐face‐to‐face communication, and well‐being in older volunteers during the pandemic: The REPRINTS project
Authors: Fujihira Kyoko , Takahashi Tomoya , Sagara Tomoya , Matsunaga Hiroko , Fujita Koji , Suzuki Hiroyuki , Murayama Hiroshi , Fujiwara Yoshinori
Published: February 2024

Volunteering older adults plays a role in maintaining well‐being through facilitation of face‐to‐face communication. However, the COVID‐19 pandemic reduced volunteer opportunities involving physical interaction among seniors. While studies have reported that indirect communication such as non‐face‐to‐face can support and improve mental health, it remains unclear whether it can substitute face‐to‐face communication among older volunteers accustomed to frequent interpersonal interactions. Therefore, the current study aimed to examine the relationship between communication forms and well‐being during the pandemic by communication partner, among volunteers aged 65 years and above. Participants engaged in REPRINTS, which are volunteer who read picture books to children. At questionnaire survey was completed to investigate changes in the frequency of face‐to‐face and non‐face‐to‐face communication before and during the pandemic, and well‐being using the WHO‐5. The results showed that maintaining or increasing the frequency of face‐to‐face communication with friends and neighbours before to during the pandemic was associated with a lower risk of being determined poor well‐being (ORs: 0.465, 95% CI: 0.274–0.789, p = .004). This study demonstrated the significance of creating opportunities for face‐to‐face communication to maintain the well‐being of older volunteers during the pandemic.
Marfan syndrome in a Ghanaian male: The diagnostic challenges
Authors: Folson Aba A. , Agyapong Kwabena Oteng , Dey Dzifa , Eghan Philip , Quaye Billey
Published: February 2024

Key Clinical Message

Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an autosomal dominantly inherited condition that has varying phenotypic expressions. This case report describes one such African patient, from Ghana, who had typical clinical and imaging traits of MFS but was first diagnosed incidentally at the age of 23 years. In this report, we explore the challenges of early diagnosis in this population.
Optimization of Ca/Si ratio in schists to enhance the pozzolanic supplementary cementitious material for OPC blending
Authors: Mokhtari Pozhhan , Hassannezhad Kosar , Bundur Zeynep Basaran , Donmez Sezen , Gulgun Mehmet Ali , Kriven Waltraud M.
Published: February 2024

Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) are partial substitutes for ordinary Portland cement (OPC) to reduce cost, the production of carbon dioxide (CO2), and fossil fuel consumption. Recent studies illustrated the effectiveness of calcined kaolinite clay as a proper partial replacement for OPC. Hence, schist‐type materials containing sufficient clay contents are regarded as promising candidates for OPC replacement. This study focuses on the possible use of activated calcium carbonates (CaCO3) to augment pozzolanic reactions of schists as a substitute for OPC. The use of activated calcium carbonates proved to be successful in expediting pozzolanic reactions and facilitating the formation of additional calcium aluminosilicate hydrate (C‐A‐S‐H). In this study, the optimal strength performance for blended cement was achieved by adjusting the total carbonate content to 30 wt.% of the schist. The decision to introduce carbonate to the schist was guided by calculations determining the need for an excess of calcium ions to fully harness the potential for C‐A‐S‐H formation. Virgin and augmented schists were activated by up to 80% of their respective potentials by heat treatment. Phase content and decomposition behavior of the active components were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), x‐ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cement paste samples incorporating 30 wt.% replacement of OPC with activated schist SCMs were prepared. The phase distribution and compressive strengths of these samples were assessed at hydration intervals of 2, 7, 28, 50, and 90 days. Cement formulations with activated calcium‐augmented SCMs exhibited compressive strength values at 109%, 101%, 96%, 95%, and 94% compared to pure cement paste at 2, 7, 28, 50, and 90 days, respectively. These values surpassed 90% of the compressive strength of pure OPC at equivalent hydration time points.
A new study finds that online‐only programs hurt graduation rates
Authors: May Rachel
Published: February 2024

Students benefit when enrolled in face‐to‐face or mixed courses, rather than simply taking online‐only classes, according to new research. As institutions emerge from the pandemic days of increased online offerings, the authors of a new study examined how students fare in online‐only environments, versus in mixed online and face‐to‐face settings.
Ten tips to make difficult conversations easier
Authors: Schwebel David C.
Published: February 2024

Academia offers plenty of rewarding pleasures; consider commencement, award ceremonies, and student “a‐ha” moments, among others. We also face daily stresses and challenges. One less rewarding academic duty is the delivery of difficult news. This need arises for multiple reasons, including policy violations, negative performance reviews, academic dishonesty, and conflict resolution.
Fish and coral assemblages of a highly isolated oceanic island: The first eDNA survey of the Ogasawara Islands
Authors: Açıkbaş Ayşe Haruka Oshima , Narisoko Haruhi , Huerlimann Roger , Nishitsuji Koki , Satoh Noriyuki , Reimer James Davis , Ravasi Timothy
Published: February 2024

The Ogasawara Islands are a highly isolated oceanic archipelago in the Pacific Ocean that possess unique faunal and floral biodiversity with a high level of endemism. As historically more focus has been put on the terrestrial realm in examining diversification and evolutionary processes on oceanic islands, publicly accessible and spatially resolved data of marine reef ecosystems remain scarce. To address this issue, we conducted the first environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding surveys of the actinopterygian (ray‐finned) and elasmobranch fishes and of Scleractinia coral assemblages in the waters of the Ogasawara Islands. We detected a total of 124 unique taxa of fish and 38 unique taxa of scleractinian corals. Overall, our eDNA results confirmed that the Ogasawara Islands host a rich variety of coral and fish fauna and underline the strength of eDNA surveys in rapidly obtaining targeted multi‐taxa data using seawater samples, requiring comparatively little effort and a lack of requirement for in situ taxonomic expertise. We anticipate that continued biomonitoring using eDNA with high sampling effort will add to and complement the body of knowledge regarding species distributions, invasive species, and biodiversity hotspots within oceanic archipelagos.
What is an academic leader?
Authors: Hodges Dawn Z.
Published: February 2024

As 2024 begins, I call for us to reflect on last year and consider the future. Over the past several months, we’ve looked at leaders in different fields, such as music, football, and politics. But now I think it's time for us to remember who we are as leaders. We are academic leaders.
SUNY Westchester CC receives $3 million NSF grant
Authors: Elfman Lois
Published: February 2024

As part of its celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, State University of New York (SUNY) Westchester Community College (WCC) announced it has received a $3 million, five‐year grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to increase the recruitment, retention and graduation rates of students pursuing STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) at Hispanic‐Serving Institutions (HSIs). HSI is a federal designation given to schools that meet various requirements, including at least 25% of enrolled students being of Hispanic backgrounds.
Enhancing betacyanin stability: Comparison of dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) pulp and peel powders through encapsulation technology during storage
Authors: Nurhadi Bambang , Qonit Muhammad Abdillah Hasan , Mubarok Syariful , Saputra Rudy Adi
Published: February 2024

Betacyanin can be found in the peel or pulp of dragon fruit. As a natural pigment, betacyanin is unstable, so it requires encapsulation technology to maintain its quality. The stability of encapsulated betacyanin from dragon fruit peel compared to dragon fruit pulp has yet to be discovered. This study aims to compare the stability of encapsulated betacyanin (with maltodextrin and gum Arabic) from dragon fruit peel and pulp dried with vacuum drying. Dragon fruit peel extraction utilized a 50% aqueous ethanol solvent, while pulp juice extraction was performed. The ratio of dragon fruit extract to coating materials was set at 1:3 (solid/solid). Research shows that dragon fruit juice powder had higher stability and phytochemical concentrations than the ethanol extract of dragon fruit peel powder during 30 days of storage. Despite similar color stability (similar range value of ΔE), the color from dragon fruit juice powder more closely resembled the natural fruit, albeit with weaker antioxidant activity than the peel powder. Betacyanin concentration in juice powder was notably higher (82.56–156.82 μg/g) than in the ethanol extract of dragon fruit peel powder (52.51–75.12 μg/g). A combination of maltodextrin and Arabic gum (1:1) as coating materials demonstrated the highest concentrations of total phenolic and total betacyanin (81.15–95.87 mg/g and 121.91–156.82 μg/g, respectively) during the storage period. These findings contribute to our comprehension of betacyanin stability and functionality, facilitating precise applications in industrial processing environments based on their source attributes.