bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The dynamics of social cohesion in response to simulated intergroup conflict in banded mongooses
Authors: Preston Elizabeth F. R. , Thompson Faye J. , Kyabulima Solomon , Croft Darren P. , Cant Michael A.
Published: December 2021

Intergroup conflict is widespread in nature and is proposed to have strong impacts on the evolution of social behavior. The conflict–cohesion hypothesis predicts that exposure to intergroup conflict should lead to increased social cohesion to improve group success or resilience in future conflicts. There is evidence to support this prediction from studies of affiliative responses to outgroup threats in some animal societies. However, most of these studies have focused on behavioral changes over short time periods (minutes and hours after exposure to an outgroup), and hence very little is known about the dynamics and durability of responses to intergroup conflict over the longer term. We investigated this question by simulating intergroup encounters in wild banded mongooses (Mungos mungo) and measuring social behavior before, during, and after these encounters over a 5‐day period. We also ran control trials with non‐threatening stimuli. Banded mongooses reacted immediately to intrusion stimuli by vocalizing, grouping together, and advancing on the stimulus. In the first 5 min after simulated intrusions, we saw an elevation in grooming levels, but in the hour after exposure grooming rates declined sharply, contrary to our expectation. In the two subsequent days, grooming rates remained at this depressed rate. In control trials, the initial increase in grooming was not seen, but grooming declined compared to the longer‐term time periods. Grooming changed across time, but not in the same pattern as during intrusions, suggesting that intrusions had an impact above and beyond that of the experimental setup. The dynamics of grooming responses were short lived and more complex than we initially expected. We suggest this unexpected result may be linked to the frequency of aggressive intergroup encounters in this system. As control and experimental trials were run at different times of year, future work would be needed to confirm that these relative patterns are replicable. Our results indicate short‐lived impacts of outgroup threat on measures of social cohesion in this species, but cannot confirm longer‐term changes.
Tuning Material Properties of Porous Organic Cage CC3 with Postsynthetic Dynamic Covalent Chemistry
Authors: Rivera Matthew P. , Liu Ming , He Donglin , Lively Ryan P.
Published: December 2021

Porous organic cages (POCs) represent a new class of microporous materials with an impressive breadth of potential applications. One of their many advantages is the degree of tunability of cage properties, similar to that seen in more established microporous materials like metal‐organic frameworks. In this work, a prototypical POC, CC3, is used to explore the potential to tune cage properties via post‐synthetic dynamic covalent chemistry. Ethylenediamine, the linker used in another POC, CC1, was partially substituted into the CC3 cage structure to varying degrees based on the starting relative molar ratios. The resulting products were investigated for the relative distribution of the two linkers, crystallinity, and surface area. It was found that even when small amounts of other compatible diamine linkers are introduced, they substitute into the existing cages, although some structural products are apparently favored over others within the reactant ratios investigated.
Non‐traditional encryption methods: Moving toward electrochemical cryptography
Authors: Biddle Giana , McGoldrick Leif , Halamek Jan
Published: December 2021

Cybersecurity and encryption are critical in diverse applications from simple emails to high‐priority government secrets. It is best accomplished by an “unbreakable” cipher or one which is only decrypted by those with a matching cipher key to the initial encryption. Recent advances have incorporated quantitative data as an asymmetric encryption key. With this method, the sender and receiver each run the same experiment to encode and decode the message of interest. Experimental asymmetric keys can come from DNA, enzymatic assays, and most recently, electrochemical data. This manuscript summarizes recent advances in cryptography and outlines new electrochemical techniques.
Optimal tuning of fractional‐order proportional, integral, derivative and tilt‐integral‐derivative based power system stabilizers using Runge Kutta optimizer
Authors: El‐Dabah Mahmoud Abbas , Kamel Salah , Abido Mohammad Ali Yousef , Khan Baseem
Published: December 2021

Low‐frequency power system oscillation is of great concern as it may lead to power system instability. Moreover, this action will lead to the abate capability of electric power transfer. By introducing a stabilizing signal into the excitation system, it was possible to improve the damping in the system. The power system stabilizer (PSS) provides this signal. This manuscript aims to find the optimal tuning of three different PSS controllers using a recent optimization algorithm called Runge Kutta optimizer (RUN). Based on the obtained results, the RUN shows superiority and fast convergence over competitive algorithms. In addition, the fractional‐order proportional, integral, derivative (FOPID) and tilt‐integral‐derivative (TID) based PSS shows great damping capability over the lead–lag, PI, and FOPID‐based PSS. Also, the TID‐based PSS achieves better performance indices in terms of the lowest maximum overshoot and minimum settling time. Hence, it is recommended for PSS based controller.
Performance Benchmarking of Large Aperture Parabolic Trough Solar Collector for Various Optical Errors and Geometrical Concentration Ratio
Authors: Malan Anish , Kumar K. Ravi
Published: December 2021

Herein, the effect of the various errors associated with concentrator, receiver, and tracking unit has been investigated on the optical performance of the large aperture parabolic trough solar collector (PTSC). The various combinations of the PTSC aperture sizes with the commercially available receiver sizes are considered for the analysis. The best combinations are identified based on the receiver's availability and intercept factor of the collector configuration. The effects of both the random (slope and tracking error) and non‐random (receiver alignment) errors have been investigated. It is observed that the PTSC performance should not be predicted based on the geometrical concentration ratio alone, as the focal length, absorber diameter, and aperture size also affect the PTSC performance. The intercept factor of large aperture PTSC is marginally affected by the receiver alignment error as compared to 5.77 m aperture. The rightward and leftward receiver displacement has no effect on the intercept factor for all the PTSC configurations. The slope error drastically affects the flux distribution as a change in the slope error from 0 to 8 mrad, the peak local concentration ratio decreases from 62 to 47. There is a decrease in the intercept factor by 22%, including a tracking error up to 8 mrad.
Vacuum‐assisted vaginal delivery with annular placenta and vasa previa: A rare case report
Authors: Živković Krešimir , Cerovac Anis , Habek Dubravko
Published: December 2021

Although rare, a diagnosis of annular placenta and/or vasa previa should be considered even in the absence of antepartum hemorrhage.
A longitudinal examination of the relation between academic stress and anxiety symptoms among adolescents in India: The role of physiological hyperarousal and social acceptance
Authors: Trevethan Mackenzie , Jain Anjali T. , Shatiyaseelan Anuradha , Luebbe Aaron M. , Raval Vaishali V.
Published: December 2021

Academic stress is a critical aspect of adolescent experience around the world, but particularly in countries with dense populations that lead to highly competitive college admissions. With a population of over one billion people, the competition for higher education in India is significantly high. Although research has shown that academic pressures are associated with anxiety in adolescents, this work is primarily cross‐sectional. The current study examined academic stress and anxiety symptoms over time and assessed physiological hyperarousal as a mediator and social acceptance as a moderator of this relation in a sample of adolescents from India (N = 282, 13–18 years, 84% female). Adolescents completed measures of academic stress, physiological hyperarousal, social acceptance and anxiety symptoms at two‐time points, 5 months apart. Findings demonstrate direct effects of academic stress on changes in symptoms of generalised anxiety and panic, as well as indirect effects through physiological hyperarousal. Social acceptance did not moderate the relation, although it uniquely predicted changes in panic disorder symptoms over time. The findings of this study contribute to the scientific understanding of a potential mechanism through which academic stress leads to anxiety among adolescents in India.
Increased selenium concentration in the synthesis of CdSe magic‐sized quantum dots affects how the brain responds to oxidative stress
Authors: Vilela Danielle Diniz , Justino Allisson Benatti , Caixeta Douglas Carvalho , de Souza Adriele Vieira , Teixeira Renata Roland , Franco Rodrigo Rodrigues , Saraiva André Lopes , Fonseca Belchiolina Beatriz , Dantas Noelio Oliveira , Silva Anielle Christine Almeida , Espindola Foued Salmen
Published: December 2021

CdSe magic‐sized quantum dots (MSQDs) have been widely used as fluorescent probes in biological systems due to their excellent optical properties with a broader fluorescence spectrum and stable luminescence in biological media. However, they can be cytotoxic and alter the redox balance depending on the amounts of Cd2+ adsorbed on their surface. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate whether increases in selenium concentration in the synthesis of CdSe‐MSQDs decrease the oxidative stress caused by Cd2+‐based quantum dots. CdSe‐MSQDs synthesized with different concentrations of selenium were investigated against oxidative stress in the brain of chicken embryos by examining total antioxidant capacity, lipid peroxidation, thiol, and glutathione contents, as well as the activities of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione reductase. In addition, the vascularization of the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) analysis was performed. Higher selenium concentrations alter the surface defect levels (decrease free Cd2+) and controlled the oxidative effects of CdSe‐MSQDs by reducing the lipid peroxidation, restoring the glutathione defense system and the antioxidant enzymes SOD and CAT, and maintaining the vascular density of the CAM. The current findings reinforce the study of the effects of the presence of Cd2+ ions on the surface of quantum dots, changing toxicity, and aiming interesting strategies of nanomaterials in biological systems.
Cultural appropriation, appreciation, and adaption: A rejoinder to “Effects of a Rite of Passage Ceremony on Veterans' Well‐Being”
Authors: Meade Nicola A. , Branco Susan F. , Burt Isaac , White Roni K. , Hanks Alaina
Published: December 2021

This rejoinder critically examines Greenleaf, Roessger, Williams, and Motsenbocker's article in the Journal of Counseling & Development (JCD) entitled “Effects of a Rite of Passage Ceremony on Veterans' Well‐Being” using the concepts cultural appropriation, appreciation, and adaption, combined with the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies (MSJCCs). We will introduce these terms and connect them to examples related to Native American history, while providing an analysis of the article's approach to Native American culture. Concluding the rejoinder are suggestions to meet multicultural competencies, including pragmatic ways in which counseling practice and research can improve and a checklist applicable for practitioners and scholars.
Internet use, depression, and cognitive outcomes among Chinese adolescents
Authors: Zhou Muzhi , Ding Xuejie
Published: December 2021

This study provides new evidence on how the growingly significant digital life shapes Chinese adolescents' cognitive and mental health outcomes based on their gender, parental education, and geographical location. Using the China Education Panel Survey, a nationally representative survey following 12–15‐year‐old students in 2013 and 2014, and individual fixed‐effect models, we find that more time spent on the Internet is associated with higher self‐reported depression scores. This negative impact on mental health is more substantial for girls, those with less‐educated parents, and those living outside the city center. The link between Internet use and cognitive development is almost null. Time spent online negatively affects Chinese young adolescents' subjective well‐being but has little impact on their cognitive development. The link between Internet use time and subjective well‐being also depends on gender, parental education, and the geographical location of those adolescents. The heterogeneous impacts of Internet use time offer crucial new evidence to the multiple dimensions of the digital divide among adolescents in China.
Physiological and kinetic evaluation of ampicillin oxidation as unique electron source by a denitrifying sludge
Authors: Yeny Banda , Anne‐Claire Texier , Flor de María Cuervo‐López
Published: December 2021

BACKGROUND

Denitrification allows the simultaneous oxidation of recalcitrant compounds and the reduction of nitrate. Scarce information on consumption and oxidation of ampicillin (AMP) as sole electron source is found in the literature. The physiological and kinetic ability of a denitrifying sludge without previous exposure to antibiotics for oxidizing several AMP concentrations was evaluated.

RESULTS

Complete denitrification was accomplished in batch reference assays with acetate (20–100 mg C L−1) and nitrate (C/N 1.1) within 4 h of culture, resulting in yields of HCO3− (YHCO3−) and N2 (YN2) of 0.89–1.0 mg C or N produced mg−1 C or N consumed, respectively. Assays amended with different concentrations of AMP (5–100 mg C L−1) as unique electron source at stoichiometric C/N ratio (0.86) showed that within 8–12 h of culture the antibiotic was totally consumed and oxidized to HCO3− and CO2 (YHCO3− between 0.27 and 0.67 and YCO2 between 0.35 and 0.54 mg C produced mg−1 C consumed), while nitrate was mostly reduced to N2 (YN2 = 0.77–1.0 mg N produced mg−1 N consumed). At AMP concentrations higher than 20 mg C L−1, N2O and carbon intermediates production was detected. Decreases of 20–90% in denitrifying specific rates were determined regarding the denitrifying reference. After exposure to the antibiotic, the sludge was able to recover its denitrifying activity in the absence of AMP with no N2O accumulation, whereas only 39% of the denitrification rates were recuperated.

CONCLUSION

It was clearly evidenced that AMP was used as electron donor for conducting denitrification; however, the denitrifying process occurred at lower specific rates. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Graph colorings with restricted bicolored subgraphs: II. The graph coloring game
Authors: Bradshaw Peter
Published: December 2021

We consider the graph coloring game, a game in which two players take turns properly coloring the vertices of a graph, with one player attempting to complete a proper coloring, and the other player attempting to prevent a proper coloring. We show that if a graph has a proper coloring in which the game coloring number of each bicolored subgraph is bounded, then the game chromatic number of is bounded. As a corollary to this result, we show that for two graphs and with bounded game coloring number, the Cartesian product has bounded game chromatic number, answering a question of X. Zhu. We also obtain an upper bound on the game chromatic number of the strong product of two graphs.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging During a Pandemic: Recommendations by the ISMRM Safety Committee
Authors: Collins Jeremy D. , Rowley Howard , Leiner Tim , Reeder Scott , Hood Maureen , Dekkers Ilona , Tha Khin , Gulani Vikas , Kopanoglu Emre ,   for the ISMRM MR Safety Committee
Published: December 2021

The COVID‐19 pandemic highlighted the challenges delivering face‐to‐face patient care across healthcare systems. In particular the COVID‐19 pandemic challenged the imaging community to provide timely access to essential diagnostic imaging modalities while ensuring appropriate safeguards were in place for both patients and personnel. With increasing vaccine availability and greater prevalence of vaccination in communities worldwide we are finally emerging on the other side of the COVID‐19 pandemic. As we learned from our institutional and healthcare system responses to the pandemic, maintaining timely access to MR imaging is essential. Radiologists and other imaging providers partnered with their referring providers to ensure that timely access to advanced MR imaging was maintained. On behalf of the International Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) Safety Committee, this white paper is intended to serve as a guide for radiology departments, imaging centers, and other imaging specialists who perform MR imaging to refer to as we prepare for the next pandemic. Lessons learned including strategies to triage and prioritize MR imaging research during a pandemic are discussed.

Level of Evidence

5

Technical Efficacy

Stage 5
Temperature extremes and circulation types in the Czech Republic, 1961–2020
Authors: Zahradníček Pavel , Brázdil Rudolf , Řehoř Jan , Lhotka Ondřej , Dobrovolný Petr , Štěpánek Petr , Trnka Miroslav
Published: December 2021

This paper presents the characteristics of extreme temperatures in the Czech Republic, as calculated from homogenized series of daily maximum (TMAX) and daily minimum (TMIN) temperatures recorded by 133 climatological stations throughout the territory in the 1961–2020 period. In general, statistically significant increasing linear trends were recognized in series of absolute TMAX, absolute TMIN, numbers of summer days, tropical days, days with tropical nights, heat‐wave, and warm‐anomaly days. Significant decreasing linear trends appeared in series of numbers of frost days, ice days, cold‐wave, and cold‐anomaly days. Objective classification of circulation types demonstrated the importance of anticyclonic types (especially those with warm airflow from the southern quadrant) and an unclassified type in the development of summer hot extremes, while winter cold extremes were linked to cold (north‐)easterly advection. Significant changes in the frequency of certain circulation types emerged, as well as an increasing number of anticyclonic types conducive to hot extremes, a trend that contributed to their more frequent occurrence in recent decades. Existing trends in temperatures were complemented by spatiotemporal analysis of extreme temperatures, the characteristics of extremes and the circulation types in the two “normal” periods of 1961–1990 and 1991–2020. These exhibited significant differences in means and variances. The results obtained are also discussed in a broader context.
Eurasian Holocene climate trends in transient coupled climate simulations and stable oxygen isotope records
Authors: DANEK CHRISTOPHER , GIERZ PAUL , KOSTROVA SVETLANA S. , MEISTER PHILIP , MEYER HANNO , WERNER MARTIN
Published: December 2021

Transient simulations of the global fully coupled climate model COSMOS under realistic varying orbital and greenhouse gas forcings are systematically compared to diatom oxygen isotope () records from Russian lakes with focus on Eurasian Holocene climate trends. The measured decrease and other temperature proxies are interpreted as large‐scale cooling throughout the Holocene while the model simulations are biased too warm, likely through missing radiative forcings. This large‐scale warm bias also dictates the modeled . Hence, at locations where the signs of model and proxy temperature/precipitation trends agree, measured and modeled trends show notable accordance. An increased temporal variability of modeled is linked to persistent atmospheric circulation patterns. Applying the transient forcings in an accelerated way (every 10th year only) yields a similar, yet weaker or delayed model response, especially in the ocean.
Genetic variants in SLC22A1 are related to serum lipid levels in Mexican women
Authors: Cahua‐Pablo José Ángel , Gómez‐Zamudio Jaime Héctor , Reséndiz‐Abarca Carlos Alberto , Tello‐Flores Vianet Argelia , Eulogio‐Metodio Yesica , Ramírez‐Vargas Marco Antonio , Cruz Miguel , del Carmen Alarcón‐Romero Luz , Matia‐García Inés , Marino‐Ortega Linda Anahí , Zubillaga‐Guerrero Ma. Isabel , Flores‐Alfaro Eugenia
Published: December 2021

Dyslipidemia is the main risk factor for coronary artery disease and is characterized by alterations in concentrations of lipids, including low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐c), high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐c), and triacylglycerols. The participation of several genes in the development of dyslipidemia has been evidenced. Genetic variants in SLC22A1 have been associated with elevated cholesterol and LDL‐c levels. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the SLC22A1 gene with atherogenic risk lipid levels in Mexican women. Anthropometric and biochemical measurements were performed, and four SNPs in SLC22A1 were genotyped by real‐time polymerase chain reaction. The Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium was verified, and haplotype frequencies were calculated. We found significant differences between the allele frequencies of the SNPs analyzed with those reported in Mexico and in the world, which could be due to differences in the historical admixture of the women studied. Generalized linear models were evaluated to determine the association between genotypes and haplotypes with lipids levels. We identified a significant increase in total cholesterol and LDL‐c levels in women who were carriers of the GA and AG genotypes of the polymorphisms rs628031 and rs594709, respectively, significant effect that is also shown in a dominant inheritance model. Interestingly, we identified an important relationship of the AGC‐GAT haplotype with the elevation in LDL‐c levels and AGA‐GAT haplotype with the elevation in HDL‐c levels. On the other hand, we found a strong linkage disequilibrium between the polymorphisms studied. Our results show that variants in the SLC22A1 gene influence serum levels of atherogenic risk lipids, suggesting that these variants probably affect the function of organic cation transporter‐1 and therefore, on the regulation of lipid metabolism.
Assessment of styrene‐divinylbenzene polymer (PPL) solid‐phase extraction and non‐targeted tandem mass spectrometry for the analysis of xenobiotics in seawater
Authors: Cancelada Lucia , Torres Ralph R. , Garrafa Luna James , Dorrestein Pieter C. , Aluwihare Lihini I. , Prather Kimberly A. , Petras Daniel
Published: December 2021

Anthropogenic imprints have become a fundamental part of most ecosystems. Our chemical footprint is often detected using targeted approaches, whereas xenobiotics are embedded within the large pool of dissolved metabolites, altered by biotic and abiotic mechanisms. Thus, it is necessary to simultaneously study anthropogenic signals entwined with the variety of organic signatures that exist in aquatic environments. However, methods for non‐targeted analysis of natural metabolites are not always well suited for the analysis of pollutants. Here, we report the reassessment of styrene‐divinylbenzene polymer‐based Priority PolLutant (PPL) solid‐phase extraction (PPL‐SPE), which is typically used to extract marine dissolved organic matter (DOM) for biogeochemical studies, to analyze a set of xenobiotics commonly observed in coastal North Pacific seawater. After PPL extraction and analysis by nontargeted liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS), we successfully detected 23 out of 25 selected pharmaceuticals, personal care products, biocides, perfluorocarbons, and polymer additives in a complex marine DOM sample using positive and negative electrospray ionization. We tested two pH conditions to mimic typical marine DOM extraction studies and found mean recovery rates of xenobiotics were approximately 10% higher in seawater pH (pH ~ 8) than in acidified samples (pH ~ 2) for both negative and positive modes, although overall, mean recovery rates were 10% lower in negative mode. Our results indicate that PPL‐SPE in combination with non‐targeted LC–MS/MS is capable of capturing the tested set of xenobiotics, thus allowing the repurposing of biogeochemical sampling strategies as well as existing DOM samples and MS data for the subsequent assessment of anthropogenic impacts in marine environments.
Lower Alpha‐Fetoprotein Threshold of 500 ng/mL for Liver Transplantation May Improve Posttransplant Outcomes in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Goldman Max L. , Zhou Kali , Dodge Jennifer L. , Yao Francis , Mehta Neil
Published: December 2021

Under current United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) policy, patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) levels ≥1000 ng/mL are required to show a reduction in AFP level to <500 ng/mL before liver transplantation (LT). However, effects of AFP reduction on post‐LT HCC outcomes among patients with HCC with moderately elevated AFP levels between 100 and <1000 ng/mL are unclear. Adults in the UNOS registry who underwent LTs from January 2005 to September 2015 with initial AFP levels of 100 to 999 ng/mL at listing for Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease exceptions were included. Primary predictor was AFP level at LT, categorized as <100, 100 to 499, or ≥500 ng/mL, and patients with only 1 recorded pre‐LT AFP value (AFP 1‐value). Survival was compared using the Kaplan‐Meier curve method. Factors associated with post‐LT survival and HCC recurrence were assessed in a multivariable Cox regression model. Among 1766 included patients, 50.2% had AFP 1‐value, followed by 24.7%, 18.9%, and 6.2% with AFP levels <100, 100 to 499, and ≥500 ng/mL, respectively. The 5‐year post‐LT survival rate was lowest in the AFP ≥500 category, at 56.1%, compared with 72.7%, 70.4%, and 65.6% in the AFP <100, 100 to 499 ng/mL, and AFP 1‐value categories, respectively. In multivariable analysis, AFP ≥500 ng/mL at LT was associated with a greater risk of post‐LT death (hazard ratio [HR], 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1‐2.1) and HCC recurrence (HR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1‐3.1) when compared with the AFP <100 ng/mL category; other significant variables included donor risk index, age, race/ethnicity, Child‐Turcotte‐Pugh class, and tumor diameter. Among AFP levels ≥500 ng/mL at LT, 40.4% had AFP levels ≥1000, but no difference in post‐LT survival or recurrence was seen between those patients with AFP levels < or ≥1000 ng/mL. Mandating AFP <500 ng/mL at LT for all patients, not only for those with initial AFP levels ≥1000 ng/mL, may improve post‐LT outcomes and can be considered in future UNOS policy.
Augmented reality advertising via a mobile app
Authors: Sung Eunyoung (Christine) , Han Dai‐In Danny , Choi Yung Kyun
Published: December 2021

Augmented reality (AR) mobile app advertising offers new opportunities for interactive consumer engagement to boost advertising effectiveness and elicit positive consumer responses. In this study, we investigate the role of escapism by analyzing its antecedents and consequences. We aim to shed light on how AR mobile app advertising can be used to enhance escapism experiences by considering two psychological mechanisms of mental imagery: narrative transportation (in response to ad storytelling) and spatial immersion. The consequences of escapism experiences include positive social media sharing, purchase intentions through brand attitudes, and new brand engagement via AR mobile app advertising. Prior brand preference does not affect the relationship between escapism and consumer responses after exposure to immersive AR advertising. Our findings have meaningful implications for how industry practitioners can enhance escapism in the context of AR mobile app advertising.
On the viscous Cahn–Hilliard–Oono system with chemotaxis and singular potential
Authors: He Jingning
Published: December 2021

We analyze a diffuse interface model that couples a viscous Cahn–Hilliard equation for the phase function φ with a diffusion‐reaction equation for the nutrient concentration σ. The system under consideration also takes into account some important mechanisms like chemotaxis, active transport, and nonlocal interaction of Oono's type. When the spatial dimension is three, we prove the existence and uniqueness of a global weak solution to the model with singular potentials including the physically relevant logarithmic potential. Then we obtain some regularity properties of the weak solution when t > 0. In particular, with the aid of the viscous term ϵ∂tφ, we prove the so‐called instantaneous separation property of the phase variable φ such that it stays away from the pure states ±1 as long as t > 0. Next, we study longtime behavior of the system, by proving the existence of the global attractor in a suitable phase space and characterizing the ω‐limit set. Moreover, we show the existence of an exponential attractor, which implies that the global attractor is of finite fractal dimension.
Patient engagement in the design of an intervention to prevent muscle loss in individuals with knee osteoarthritis and a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 35
Authors: Godziuk Kristine , Prado Carla M. , Forhan Mary
Published: December 2021

Objective

Interventions for knee osteoarthritis (OA) in adults with a large body size (defined as a body mass index [BMI] ≥ 35 kg/m2) often prioritise weight‐loss, which may overshadow specific benefits for physical function, metabolic health, and body composition. As part of the development of a future clinical study, we gathered perspectives from individuals living with knee OA and a large body size to inform the proposed intervention design and delivery.

Methods

Purposive and voluntary sampling was used to engage individuals ≥40 years of age with self‐reported knee OA and a BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2. An anonymous electronic survey was distributed on social media between April 2020 and June 2020. Open‐ended questions addressed a proposed 12‐week multimodal intervention (involving targeted nutrition, resistance exercises, and self‐management support). An optional semi‐structured interview was offered upon completion, with interviews recorded and transcribed verbatim. Reflexive thematic analysis and interpretation guided by an acceptability framework was used to identify recommendations for the intervention design and delivery.

Results

Twenty individuals living across Canada completed the survey (100% female; 18 aged <65 years and 2 ≥ 65 years). Ten individuals completed the interview. From aggregate survey and interview data, three recommendations were generated: (1) the effectiveness of the intervention for health improvement (specifically mobility and pain) must be emphasised to avoid perceived weight‐loss expectations; (2) extend support beyond 12‐weeks and consider terminology free from weight‐bias to enhance acceptance; (3) include optional customisation of intervention delivery to reduce acceptability‐related burden.

Conclusion

These female patient‐derived recommendations may improve perceived intervention acceptability, and thereby may enhance participant enrolment and retention in clinical trials.
Influence of foundation flexibility on the topology optimization of piled structures
Authors: Cavalcante Iago , Tavares Emanuel , Picelli Renato , Labaki Josué
Published: December 2021

This article investigates the influence of foundation and soil flexibility on the topology optimization of piled structures. The structure is modeled with classical finite elements, while the embedded pile group foundation and its interaction with the soil are modeled via the stiffness matrix method. Coupling between the structure and its foundation is obtained by establishing direct continuity and equilibrium conditions at their interface. Topology optimization of the discretized piled structure is performed through the Bi‐directional Evolutionary Structural Optimization (BESO) method for various boundary conditions. The objective function of the optimization problem is the minimization of the compliance of the piled structure under prescribed volume restriction. The results show that the flexibility of the soil and piles may have a significant effect on the optimal topology of the structure, as well as on the achievable optimization objective.
MyD88 in myofibroblasts regulates aerobic glycolysis‐driven hepatocarcinogenesis via ERK‐dependent PKM2 nuclear relocalization and activation
Authors: Yuan Qi , Zhang Jie , Liu Yu , Chen Haiqiang , Liu Haiyang , Wang Jinyan , Niu Meng , Hou Lingling , Wu Zhenlong , Chen Zhinan , Zhang Jinhua
Published: December 2021

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play critical roles in liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MyD88 controls the expression of several key modifier genes in liver tumorigenesis; however, whether and how MyD88 in myofibroblasts contributes to the development of fibrosis‐associated liver cancer remains elusive. Here, we used an established hepatocarcinogenesis mouse model involving apparent liver fibrogenesis in which MyD88 was selectively depleted in myofibroblasts. Myofibroblast MyD88‐deficient (Fib‐MyD88 KO) mice developed significantly fewer and smaller liver tumor nodules. MyD88 deficiency in myofibroblasts attenuated liver fibrosis and aerobic glycolysis in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues. Mechanistically, MyD88 signaling in myofibroblasts increased the secretion of CCL20, which promoted aerobic glycolysis in cancer cells. This process was dependent on the CCR6 receptor and ERK/PKM2 signaling. Furthermore, liver tumor growth was greatly relieved when the mice were treated with a CCR6 inhibitor. Our data revealed a critical role for MyD88 in myofibroblasts in the promotion of hepatocellular carcinoma by affecting aerobic glycolysis in cancer cells and might provide a potential molecular therapeutic target for HCC. © 2021 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Resistance to pydiflumetofen in Botrytis cinerea: risk assessment and detection of point mutations in sdh genes that confer resistance
Authors: Li Xiong , Gao Xuheng , Hu Shiping , Hao Xinchang , Li Guixiang , Chen Yue , Liu Zeqi , Li Yiwen , Miao Jianqiang , Gu Biao , Liu Xili
Published: December 2021

BACKGROUND

Gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea Pers. is one of the most significant airborne diseases. It can infest a wide range of crops, causing significant losses in yield and quality worldwide. Pydiflumetofen, a new generation succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI), is currently being registered in China to control gray mold in a variety of crops. The baseline sensitivity, resistance risk, and resistance mechanism of Botrytis cinerea to pydiflumetofen were assessed in this study.

RESULTS

A total of 138 strains of B. cinerea from 10 different regions were tested for their sensitivity to pydiflumetofen, and the mean EC50 value was 0.0056 μg mL−1. Eight mutants were obtained by fungicide adaption from five sensitive parental isolates, and the resistance factor (RF) ranged from 51 to 135. The mutants exhibited strong adaptive traits in conidial production, conidial germination, and pathogenicity. Positive cross‐resistance was only observed between other SDHIs (i.e. boscalid, fluopyram, and isopyrazam). Two different types of pydiflumetofen‐resistant mutants were identified: point mutation P225L in sdhB and double mutation G85A and I93V in sdhC. The in vivo control efficacy of pydiflumetofen on the resistant mutants carrying P225L in sdhB as well as G85A and I93V in sdhC was significantly decreased to 52.62% and 32.27%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The fitness was significantly higher for all pydiflumetofen‐resistant mutants than the corresponding parental. Two types of point mutations, sdhB‐P225L and sdhC‐G85A and I93V, might confer resistance to pydiflumetofen in B. cinerea. A precautionary resistance management strategy should be implemented. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry
The Structural, Magnetic, and Transport Properties of the Pulsed Laser‐Deposited Co2FeAl Thin Films
Authors: Wu Yong , Chen Jikun , Xu Xiaoguang , Miao Jun , Jiang Yong
Published: December 2021

Pulsed laser deposition (PLD)‐grown Co2FeAl (CFA) thin films on MgO(001) substrates are investigated in terms of structural, magnetic, and transport properties. The crystal structure of CFA thin films is changed from disordered A2 to partly ordered B2 structure, as the substrate temperature (Ts) increases from 600 to 700 °C, and both the saturation magnetization Ms and the coercive field Hc are enhanced with increasing Ts. Different from the CFA thin films prepared by magnetron sputtering, longitudinal resistivity shows a local minimum near 20 K for all the films due to a weak localization effect, and this type of low‐temperature anomaly is weakened with the improvement of structure ordering. Moreover, the origin of anomalous Hall effect (AHE) in CFA thin films is dominated by intrinsic mechanism, and the scattering‐independent intrinsic parameter is enhanced with the increase of Ts due to the improvement of crystal structure.
Microstructures and Luminescent Properties of Sm3+‐Doped KSr2Nb5O15 Prepared by Molten Salt Synthesis Method
Authors: Cao Shuyao , Feng Xiaoying , Chen Qian , Guo Yiting , Teng Duo , Yang Yuhang , Liao Linqing , Liu Yiwei , Xu Jie , Gao Feng
Published: December 2021

To explore the excellent luminescent activator and associated luminescent behavior for the development of the potential coupling effect about luminescent and photochromic properties of novel KSr2Nb5O15 materials, the Sm3+‐doped KSr2Nb5O15 powders have been prepared using the molten salt method. The effects of Sm3+ doping on the phases, morphologies, bonding vibrations, and luminescent properties have been investigated. The results show that the Sm3+‐doped KSr2Nb5O15 powders can emit orange light (main peak wavelength around 601 nm) under the blue light (407 nm) excitation, and the optimal doping concentration of Sm3+ is 10 mol%. The main emission band is well matched with the photochromic absorption band of KSN host. The inversion symmetry of the environment around Sm3+ in KSN lattice and the electric dipole transition of Sm3+ are affected by the neighboring Nb(II)O6 octahedrons. The related concentration quenching mechanism of luminescence and the effect of Sm3+ doping on the KSN lattice structures are further discussed.
Estimating the treatment effect for adherers using multiple imputation
Authors: Luo Junxiang , Ruberg Stephen J. , Qu Yongming
Published: December 2021

Randomized controlled trials are considered the gold standard to evaluate the treatment effect (estimand) for efficacy and safety. According to the recent International Council on Harmonization (ICH)‐E9 addendum (R1), intercurrent events (ICEs) need to be considered when defining an estimand, and principal stratum is one of the five strategies to handle ICEs. Qu et al. (2020, Statistics in Biopharmaceutical Research 12:1–18) proposed estimators for the adherer average causal effect (AdACE) for estimating the treatment difference for those who adhere to one or both treatments based on the causal‐inference framework, and demonstrated the consistency of those estimators; however, this method requires complex custom programming related to high‐dimensional numeric integrations. In this article, we implemented the AdACE estimators using multiple imputation (MI) and constructed confidence intervals (CIs) through bootstrapping. A simulation study showed that the MI‐based estimators provided consistent estimators with the nominal coverage probabilities of CIs for the treatment difference for the adherent populations of interest. As an illustrative example, the new method was applied to data from a real clinical trial comparing two types of basal insulin for patients with type 1 diabetes.
Inflammatory phenotype of osteoarthritis and its potential therapies
Authors: Cao Yumei , Tang Su'an , Ding Changhai
Published: December 2021

Introduction

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder in the world but there are no approved therapies to slow disease progression. Historically, OA has been considered a wear and tear joint disease and efforts to identify and develop disease modifying therapies have primarily focused on inhibiting cartilage degradation directly. However, increasing studies have suggested that inflammation is a key player of joint pathology in some OA patients and also a link between obesity and OA. Therefore, targeting inflammation in these patients could be a promising therapeutic strategy.

Areas Covered

In this review, we collate the latest evidence on the relationship between inflammation and OA which allows to propose the inflammatory phenotype of OA, and summarize major results of some emerging therapies targeting this phenotype in clinical trials which could implicate future directions for OA treatment.

Expert Opinion

The authors believe early diagnosis, phenotyping OA patients and precise therapies would expedite the development of DMOADs targeting OA inflammatory phenotype. In the future, well‐designed clinical trials including appropriate subgroups or phenotypes of patients according to underlying causes and mechanisms of OA are expected for investigational therapies.
Did court dismiss pre‐assault Title IX claim?
Authors: Lyerly Eric
Published: December 2021

A student at Washington State University Vancouver campus accused a classmate of sexually harassing  her via electronic communications. However, she allegedly didn't want the university to open an investigation. Accordingly, the university merely ordered him to cease all contact with her and closed the complaint.
High diversity of siliceous sponges in Western Tethyan areas during the Eocene: palaeobiogeographical, ecological and taxonomic significance
Authors: Łukowiak Magdalena , Pisera Andrzej , Stefanska Tetiana , Stefanskyi Vadym
Published: December 2021

Porifera is a clade of globally distributed, early diverging metazoans that are important components of modern aquatic environments. Despite the fact that they were also abundant in the geological past, their fossil record is uneven. For example, little is known about sponge communities that inhabited the Tethyan areas during the Cenozoic. Here, we record an abundant and taxonomically diverse assemblage of middle–late Eocene sponges from east‐central Ukraine. The material consists of preserved whole‐body specimens as well as disassociated spicules. The taxonomic composition of this new assemblage, supplemented with previously published data obtained from sponge materials originating from the middle and upper Eocene of the East European Platform, documents a surprisingly rich sponge community that inhabited shallow waters (depths of 100 m) and comprised at least 30 demosponge species, including two new taxa, Paratetilla milanek Łukowiak and Theonella alexandriae Łukowiak, three hexactinellids and a single homoscleromorph. Additionally, we report the first fossil occurrence of Vetulina, a demosponge genus that currently is found near the Philippines and Australia and in the Caribbean Sea. Some of the sponge taxa recognized were previously noted from the upper Eocene of Australia and New Zealand. This is indicative of their wide distribution during the early Cenozoic and also shows that a non‐interrupted connection existed between the western Tethyan and peri‐Australian areas, explaining the patchy distribution of some sponge taxa in modern seas.
Secure audio signal transmission based on color image watermarking
Authors: Dandooh Azza , S. El‐Fishawy Adel , E. Abd El‐Samie Fathi , Hemdan Ezz El‐Din
Published: December 2021

This paper presents a new color image watermarking system with encrypted audio signals using singular value decomposition (SVD), Arnold, and chaotic techniques for secure audio transmission over open channels. This system is based on embedding encrypted audio watermarks after transforming them into a 2‐D format in the singular values of the color cover image components. Three different audio watermarks are embedded in the three color image components after separating the cover image into its red, green and blue components. The three resulting watermarked components are merged again to produce the final color watermarked image. To maintain the audio signal quality, we estimate some audio signal quality metrics after converting the audio signal into a 1‐D format. The transformation from the 1‐D to 2‐D formats is performed through lexicographic ordering. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed system preserves the high quality of the RGB cover image. In addition, the audio watermark extraction and decryption are possible, even in the presence of attacks. Furthermore, the results show an enhancement in the watermark detectability in the presence of severe attacks, such as rotation, blurring, cropping, histogram equalization, and noise addition to the watermarked images.
Spectral theory of approximate lattices in nilpotent Lie groups
Authors: Björklund Michael , Hartnick Tobias
Published: December 2021

We consider approximate lattices in nilpotent Lie groups. With every such approximate lattice one can associate a hull dynamical system and, to every invariant measure of this system, a corresponding unitary representation. Our results concern both the spectral theory of the representation and the topological dynamics of the system. On the spectral side we construct explicit eigenfunctions for a large collection of central characters using weighted periodization against a twisted fiber density function. We construct this density function by establishing a parametric version of the Bombieri–Taylor conjecture and apply our results to locate high-intensity Bragg peaks in the central diffraction of an approximate lattice. On the topological side we show that under some mild regularity conditions the hull of an approximate lattice admits a sequence of continuous horizontal factors, where the final horizontal factor is abelian and each intermediate factor corresponds to a central extension. We apply this to extend theorems of Meyer and Dani–Navada concerning number-theoretic properties of Meyer sets to the nilpotent setting.
Toxicity of Tire Rubber Microplastics to Freshwater Sediment Organisms
Authors: Carrasco-Navarro Victor , Nuutinen Aino , Sorvari Jouni , Kukkonen Jussi V. K.
Published: December 2021

High emission of tire rubber particles to the surrounding environment is an inevitable consequence of the current habits of transportation. Although most of the emissions stay within a close range of the sources, it has been proven that the smallest particles can be transported to remote locations through the atmosphere, including inland water bodies. It has been estimated that a relevant portion of the global emissions of tire rubber particles reach surface waters, but effects on aquatic life in the receiving water bodies are not completely understood. In the present study, we used the freshwater sediment dwellers Lumbriculus variegatus and Chironomus riparius to examine the toxicity of tire rubber particles at environmentally relevant concentrations, using different types of sediment and two particle sizes of tire rubber. Overall, the experiments were unable to discern any effects on the growth, survival or reproduction of the two animals tested. Significant differences were found among the animals dwelling on different sediments, but the effects were not attributable to the presence of tire rubber particles. This study provides important information regarding the lack of effect of tire rubber particles in laboratory experiments with model sediment dwellers and opens more questions about the potential effects of tire rubber particles in the real environment with longer durations and varying environmental factors. The influence of other factors such as the leaching of additives in the overall toxicity of tire rubber particles should be also considered.