bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cost and Return Analysis of Small-scale Cacao (Theobroma cacao) Production in Camarines Sur, Philippines
Authors: Lirag Ma. Teresa B.
Published: March 2021

The presence of cacao industry plays a critical role in the economic development of a country. A study was conducted to determine the cost, return and added value along the value chain stages of cacao in Camarines Sur, Philippines. Sixty-eight farmers served as respondents using purposive sampling technique and interviews/key informant surveys were conducted. Results of the study showed that cacao production has high return on investment of 77.89% and 160% for the farmer and processor, respectively but a low return on investment of 13% for traders. The value added from farmer to processor is Php 590.00/kilogram, and Php 125.00/kilogram from processor to trader. Various opportunities and prospects for cacao production had been identified such as increased technical and production support from the government, presence of R & D programs, increasing trend towards wellness & healthy lifestyle, and increasing businesses offering cocoa-based products. Recommendations include improvement in access and availability of processing facilities, improvement of market information for farmers, provision of trainings to enhance capability of farmers, strengthening of farmers’ groups to increase their access to technical and financial assistance from government and provision of infrastructure support and storage facilities.
Phytochemical Evaluation and Anti-Diabetic Effects of Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Petersianthus macrocarpus on Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats
Authors: Ugochukwu Aligwekwe A. , Anna Idaguko C.
Published: March 2021

Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antidiabetic effect of ethanolic extracts of Petersianthus macrocarpus leaf and its phytochemical analysis using different solvents.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out between March and September in 2018 in the Department of Anatomy, Madonna University, Elele. River State, Nigeria.

Materials and Methods: Twenty five Wistar rats, weighing between 200-225g were divided into five groups of five rats.  Group A (Control) while Groups B, C, D and E were induced with diabetes using streptozotocin firstly 35mg/kg b.w; and 2 weeks later 25mg/kg b.w.  Group B (Diabetic control), Group C received 0.5mg/kg b.w of Glibenclamide. Groups D and E received daily 50 and 100 mg/kg b.w of ethanolic leaf extract of P. macrocarpus orally for two weeks. The fasting blood glucose levels were determined weekly for two weeks. At the end of the experiment, the animals were sacrificed and the pancreas was removed for histological procedures.

Results: The body weights increased significantly (P<0.05) in 100 mg/kg b.w group when compared to the diabetic control rats weight at the end of the experiment. Also there was a significantly decreased (P<0.05) in blood glucose levels in P. macrocarpus (100mg/kg b.w). The histological section of the pancreas of diabetic control showed eosinophilic material in the islet, shrinkage of the islet of Langerhans while the group treated with 100 mg/kg of extract showed granulated and well prominent pancreatic islet of Langerhans. Phytochemical screening showed methanolic extract of P. macrocarpus leaf having alkaloid, saponin, tannin, phenol, flavonoid, cardiac glycoside, steroids, terpenoids, anthocyanin and anthraquinone. However, cardiac glycosides and steroids were absent in ethanolic extract. Cardiac glycoside and terpenoids were also absent in hexane and acetone extract, while phenol, cardiac glycosides, steroids and anthrocyanin were absent in the water extract.

Conclusion: Ethanolic leaf extract of P. macrocarpus ameliorate streptozotocin-induced diabetes in Wistar rats.
Hydropower Potential in near Future Climate over Burundi (East Africa) : A Case study of Rwegura Catchment
Authors: Manirakiza C´elestin , Emmanuel Lawin Agnid´e , Batablinl`e Lamboni , Niyongendako Marc
Published: March 2021

This paper assessed the near future projected hydropower potential over Rwegura catchment hosting, up to date, the biggest hydropower plant of Burundi. Observed and gridded data were considered over the period 1981
Prescribing Pattern and Medication Related Problems in Hospitalized Diabetic Patients: A Hospital-Based Study
Authors: Prasad T. S. Durga , Ranganayakulu D. , Devanna N.
Published: March 2021

Aim: To assess the drug-related problems (DRPs) and World Health Organization (WHO) core prescribing indicators among hospitalized diabetic patients.

Methodology: A prospective, observational study was made among the diabetic inpatients of the General Medicine Department of a tertiary care hospital located in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India. A suitable data collection form was used to collect the data pertaining to demographics, clinical variables, DRPs, and WHO prescribing indicators. Descriptive statistics like frequency, mean, and percentage were used to represent the demographics, distribution of DRPs, and prescribing indicators in the study. Inferential statistics like Chi-square test was employed to test the significant association between the demographics and occurrence of DRPs.

Results: A total of 199 diabetic patients were enrolled in this study. The mean age of the study participants was 55.8±11.3. The study shows the prevalence of DRPs in diabetic in-patients was 48.7%. The most commonly identified DRPs are drug interactions (53; 45.3%), adverse drug reactions (24; 20.5%), and untreated indication (21; 17.9%). Patient characteristics like, advanced age (≥60 years), presence of co-morbid condition, comprising more than 5 drugs in prescription, and stay in the hospital for more than four days are significantly associated with the development of DRPs. Findings of WHO indicators show the average number of drugs, percentage of drugs prescribed by the generic name, percentage of encounters with an antibiotic, injection, and from essential drug list have deviated from standards of WHO.

Conclusion: The prevalence of DRPs in diabetic in-patients was 48.7%. Drug interactions and adverse drug reactions are the most common DRPs found in our study. Developing the drug policy guidelines focused on factors associated with DRP and WHO prescribing indicators may reduce the burden of DRPs and improves patient outcomes.
Engineered Microglia Potentiate the Action of Drugs against Glioma Through Extracellular Vesicles and Tunneling Nanotubes
Authors: Du Yitian , Yang Zhenzhen , Sun Qi , Lin Meng , Wang Rudong , Peng Yiwei , Chen Xinyi , Qi Xianrong
Published: March 2021

Gliomas remain difficult to treat because of their metastatic and recurrent nature and the existence of the blood–brain barrier (BBB), which impedes drug delivery. Microglia, the resident macrophages in the CNS, can be recruited by gliomas and can penetrate the tumor. In this study, microglia (BV2 cells) are used as transport vectors to deliver paclitaxel for the treatment of glioma. To avoid paclitaxel toxicity in microglia, liposomes are first employed to isolate the drug from BV2 cells. Dipalmitoyl phosphatidylserine (DPPS), as an “eat me” signal, is doped into liposomes to amplify their phagocytosis by microglia. This study demonstrates that engineered microglia can cross the BBB, independently migrate toward gliomas, and transfer cargo to glioma cells. Of note, extracellular vesicles and tunneling nanotubes are found to offer unique modes of cargo transportation between microglia and glioma cells. In vivo, the engineered drug‐loaded microglia has a high ability to target the brain, penetrate glioma, and suppress tumor progression, supporting the notion that the use of engineered microglia is a potential strategy for the treatment of glioma. These findings present new opportunities for exploration into the use of microglia as transport vectors to deliver therapeutic agents through specific membrane nanotubes and vesicles.
Engineered Extracellular Vesicles for Cancer Therapy
Authors: Zhang Xu , Zhang Hongbo , Gu Jianmei , Zhang Jiayin , Shi Hui , Qian Hui , Wang Dongqing , Xu Wenrong , Pan Jianming , Santos Hélder A.
Published: March 2021

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as a novel cell‐free strategy for the treatment of many diseases including cancer. As a result of their natural properties to mediate cell‐to‐cell communication and their high physiochemical stability and biocompatibility, EVs are considered as excellent delivery vehicles for a variety of therapeutic agents such as nucleic acids and proteins, drugs, and nanomaterials. Increasing studies have shown that EVs can be modified, engineered, or designed to improve their efficiency, specificity, and safety for cancer therapy. Herein, a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in the strategies and methodologies of engineering EVs for scalable production and improved cargo‐loading and tumor‐targeting is provided. Additionally, the potential applications of engineered EVs in cancer therapy are discussed by presenting prominent examples, and the opportunities and challenges for translating engineered EVs into clinical practice are evaluated.
Homochiral MOF as Chiroptical Sensor for Determination of Absolute Configuration and Enantiomeric Ratio of Chiral Tryptophan
Authors: Zhu Yanyu , Zhou Yanan , Zhang Xu , Sun Zhengang , Jiao Chengqi
Published: March 2021

The development of a highly selective and sensitive optical method for quantitative enantioselective sensing of chiral amino acids in the presence of other amino acid interferences has remained a major challenge to date. Herein, a homochiral metal–organic framework (MOF), [Zn(L)(2,2′‐bipy)]·H2O (LNNU‐1) (H2L = HOOCC6H4CH2PO(OH)(OC2H5), 2,2′‐bipy = 2,2′‐bipyridine), is designed to interact with tryptophan via multiple noncovalent interactions. The interactions result in the emergence of a strong induced circular dichroism signal. This enables accurate determination of the absolute configuration and enantiomeric ratio of chiral tryptophan in water, mixed natural amino acids, and blood plasma components without any interference from other coexistent species. A simple device with advantageous characteristics of reusability and simple manipulation is designed for enantioselective sensing assay. The obtained results suggest that the rationally designed homochiral MOF is a promising candidate for enantioselective sensing of chiral species.
Electrochemically Decorated Iridium Electrodes with WS3−x Toward Improved Oxygen Evolution Electrocatalyst Stability in Acidic Electrolytes
Authors: Escalera‐López Daniel , Jensen Kim D. , Rees Neil V. , Escudero‐Escribano María
Published: March 2021

Iridium‐based oxides, currently the state‐of‐the‐art oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts in acidic electrolytes, are cost‐intensive materials which undergo significant corrosion under long‐term OER operation. Thus, numerous researchers have devoted their efforts to mitigate iridium corrosion by decoration with corrosion‐resistant metal oxides and/or supports to maximize OER catalyst durability whilst retaining high activity. Herein a one‐step, facile electrochemical route to obtain improved IrOx thin film OER stability in acid by decorating with amorphous tungsten sulphide (WS3−x) upon electrochemical decomposition of a [WS4]2− aqueous precursor is proposed. The rationale behind applying such WS3−x decoration stems from the generation of a tungsten oxide phase, a well‐known corrosion‐resistant photoactive OER catalyst. The study demonstrates the viability of the proposed WS3−x decoration, allowing the tailoring of experimental parameters responsible for WS3−x nanoparticle size and surface coverage. OER stability tests coupled by ex situ SEM and XPS corroborate the beneficial effect of WS3−x decoration, yielding improved OER specific activity metrics along with minimized Ir surface roughening, a characteristic of electrodissolution. Iridium decoration with electrodeposited, corrosion‐resistant oxides is consequently shown to be a promising route to maximize OER stabilities.
Ketone Body 3‐Hydroxybutyrate Ameliorates Atherosclerosis via Receptor Gpr109a‐Mediated Calcium Influx
Authors: Zhang Shu‐jie , Li Zi‐hua , Zhang Yu‐dian , Chen Jin , Li Yuan , Wu Fu‐qing , Wang Wei , Cui Zong Jie , Chen Guo‐Qiang
Published: March 2021

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that can cause acute cardiovascular events. Activation of the NOD‐like receptor family, pyrin domain containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome enhances atherogenesis, which links lipid metabolism to sterile inflammation. This study examines the impact of an endogenous metabolite, namely ketone body 3‐hydroxybutyrate (3‐HB), on a mouse model of atherosclerosis. It is found that daily oral administration of 3‐HB can significantly ameliorate atherosclerosis. Mechanistically, 3‐HB is found to reduce the M1 macrophage proportion and promote cholesterol efflux by acting on macrophages through its receptor G‐protein‐coupled receptor 109a (Gpr109a). 3‐HB–Gpr109a signaling promotes extracellular calcium (Ca2+) influx. The elevation of intracellular Ca2+ level reduces the release of Ca2+ from the endothelium reticulum (ER) to mitochondria, thus inhibits ER stress triggered by ER Ca2+ store depletion. As NLRP3 inflammasome can be activated by ER stress, 3‐HB can inhibit the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, which triggers the increase of M1 macrophage proportion and the inhibition of cholesterol efflux. It is concluded that daily nutritional supplementation of 3‐HB attenuates atherosclerosis in mice.
COVID‐19 and cardiovascular problems in elderly patients: Food for thought
Authors: Costa Raffaele , Castagna Alberto , Ruotolo Giovanni
Published: March 2021

The global number of COVID‐19 infections, as of December 23, 2020, stood at approximately 79 million, with over 1.7 million deaths. The development of vascular inflammation may also contribute to a hypercoagulable state and endothelial dysfunction in such patients. It is known that multi‐organ damage is more likely in patients with sepsis if they develop coagulopathy and that inhibition of thrombin synthesis can have a positive impact in reducing mortality. In this review, we will focus on the protection of the most fragile groups of the population, such as the elderly. This segment of the population will be a key issue and probably of primary interest to all. Biomarkers appear to be extremely useful as an indicator of what is happening from a pathophysiological point of view in the heart, allowing us to better stratify the prognosis of our patients affected by COVID‐19, especially in the most severe cases and those with comorbidities.
Continuing the precedent: Financially disadvantaging young people in "unprecedented" COVID‐19 times
Authors: O’Keeffe Patrick , Johnson Belinda , Daley Kathryn
Published: March 2021

The COVID‐19 pandemic is both a health and an economic crisis. Economically, lockdowns across Australia have devastated business and industry, creating immediate spikes in under‐ and unemployment. These impacts intersect with the precarious labour market of casualised and "gig" economy work, where young workers constitute an established and substantial group. While negatively impacting upon many young people’s lives, in recent decades precarious employment has also been normalised for young people as they are encouraged to understand themselves as self‐reliant and entrepreneurial in their working lives. Yet, these workers have been largely abandoned in the government’s economic response to COVID‐19. The economic impact and government response to the pandemic substantially disadvantage young people. This article analyses the impact of new government initiatives: the "JobKeeper" wage subsidy scheme, "JobSeeker" payments and early access to superannuation, "JobMaker" economic recovery plan and the redesign of university fees. These initiatives compound preexisting youth policy of low welfare levels, youth wages and high university fees to economically burden young people. Contrasting the repeated expression of anything pandemic related as "unprecedented", we argue that the economic abandonment of young people in the immediate COVID‐19 crisis continues a decades‐long precedent in Australia of economically disadvantaging young people.
The RNA helicase DDX3 is required for ovarian development and oocyte maturation in Locusta migratoria
Authors: Wang Junxiu , Li Tingting , Deng Sufang , Ma Enbo , Zhang Jianzhen , Xing Shuping
Published: March 2021

DDX3 represents a well‐defined subfamily of DEAD‐box RNA helicase and exerts multiple functions in RNA metabolism, cell cycle, tumorigenesis, signal pathway, and fertility. Our previous study has shown that LmDDX3, the ortholog of DDX3 in Locusta migratoria, is ubiquitously expressed, and with a high abundance in testis and ovary. Knockdown of LmDDX3 results in a lethal phenotype in nymph, but it still remains unclear for its role in reproductive process. In this study, we therefore characterized LmDDX3 expression in female adult locust and analyzed its function in oocyte development. LmDDX3 was expressed in all tissues examined with significant more transcripts in ovary and hindgut. In ovary, a strong expression level was detected at the day just after adult eclosion, and a dramatic reduction then occurred during the oocyte development. LmDDX3 RNAi led to a reduced vitellogenin (Vg) expression in fat body via partially at least, the JH signaling pathway, and caused an upregulation of vitellogenin receptor (VgR) in ovary, and thus blocked the ovarian development and oocyte maturation. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis indicated that LmDDX3 was closely related to termite DDX3. Taken together, these data reveal a critical role for LmDDX3 in regulating the transcription of Vg and VgR, two major factors in vitellogenesis that is a key process required for ovary development and oocyte maturation in locust, and contribute thereof a new putative target for locust biological control.
Stratification of Patients With Sjögren’s Syndrome and Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus According to Two Shared Immune Cell Signatures, With Potential Therapeutic Implications
Authors: Martin‐Gutierrez Lucia , Peng Junjie , Thompson Nicolyn L. , Robinson George A. , Naja Meena , Peckham Hannah , Wu WingHan , J’bari Hajar , Ahwireng Nyarko , Waddington Kirsty E. , Bradford Claire M. , Varnier Giulia , Gandhi Akash , Radmore Rebecca , Gupta Vivek , Isenberg David A. , Jury Elizabeth C. , Ciurtin Coziana
Published: March 2021

Objective

Similarities in the clinical and laboratory features of primary Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have led to attempts to treat patients with primary SS or SLE with similar biologic therapeutics. However, the results of many clinical trials are disappointing, and no biologic treatments are licensed for use in primary SS, while only a few biologic agents are available to treat SLE patients whose disease has remained refractory to other treatments. With the aim of improving treatment selections, this study was undertaken to identify distinct immunologic signatures in patients with primary SS and patients with SLE, using a stratification approach based on immune cell endotypes.

Methods

Immunophentyping of 29 immune cell subsets was performed using flow cytometry in peripheral blood from patients with primary SS (n = 45), patients with SLE (n = 29), and patients with secondary SS associated with SLE (SLE/SS) (n = 14), all of whom were considered to have low disease activity or be in clinical remission, and sex‐matched healthy controls (n = 31). Data were analyzed using supervised machine learning (balanced random forest, sparse partial least squares discriminant analysis), logistic regression, and multiple t‐tests. Patients were stratified by K‐means clustering and clinical trajectory analysis.

Results

Patients with primary SS and patients with SLE had a similar immunologic architecture despite having different clinical presentations and prognoses. Stratification of the combined primary SS, SLE, and SLE/SS patient cohorts by K‐means cluster analysis revealed 2 endotypes, characterized by distinct immune cell profiles spanning the diagnoses. A signature of 8 T cell subsets that distinctly differentiated the 2 endotypes with high accuracy (area under the curve 0.9979) was identified in logistic regression and machine learning models. In clinical trajectory analyses, the change in damage scores and disease activity levels from baseline to 5 years differed between the 2 endotypes.

Conclusion

These findings identify an immune cell toolkit that may be useful for differentiating, with high accuracy, the immunologic profiles of patients with primary SS and patients with SLE as a way to achieve targeted therapeutic approaches.
Methods for the Determination of Valid Impedance Spectra in Non‐stationary Electrochemical Systems: Concepts and Techniques of Practical Importance
Authors: Szekeres Krisztina J. , Vesztergom Soma , Ujvári Maria , Láng Gyözö G.
Published: March 2021

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is a widely used technique for characterizing electrochemical systems. The term “electrochemical impedance spectroscopy” actually has a two‐fold meaning: it is both a measurement technique to determine impedance spectra and an analysis tool for extracting information about an electrochemical system. Contrary to some opinions, the design of valid EIS measurements is not trivial in practice, as systems under test also have to meet certain requirements to ensure the validity of the measured data. One of the most serious and underestimated problems is that many electrochemical systems (including biological, reacting, and corroding systems) are intrinsically non‐stationary and are affected by time‐dependent phenomena. This study provides an overview and guidance on some of the methodologies proposed in the literature to address problems related to impedance measurements in time‐varying (non‐stationary) systems. Selected techniques for the determination of “true” impedance spectra in non‐stationary systems are briefly reviewed. To better understand the theoretical background of the different approaches, basic principles of the measuring methods and the fundamentals of data collection, validation, and correction are also discussed.
Ditch‐Structured Sulfur Cathode: Enhancing the Uniformity of Sulfur Redox Reaction in a Thick Sulfur Electrode
Authors: Lee Jinhong , Kwack Hobeom , Kyung Kim Min , Jo Wonhee , Noh Hyungjun , Kim Yun‐Jung , Chu Hyunwon , Baek Jaewon , Roh Youngil , Noh Jiwhan , Kim Hee‐Tak
Published: March 2021

Increasing of sulfur loading in a sulfur cathode is a direct approach to improve the energy density of lithium sulfur (Li−S) batteries. However, the inhomogeneous redox reaction in high‐sulfur loaded, thick electrodes presents a challenge. Here, we report that the sulfur utilization in thick sulfur cathodes can be enhanced by simply making ditches on the electrodes. A nanosecond‐pulse laser is used to carve the line‐ditch pattern on the surface of the sulfur cathode, without damaging the surface pore structure. The ditch structure can promote the transport of lithium ion into the deep interior of sulfur cathode, resulting in more uniform sulfur redox reaction. A ditch‐structured sulfur cathode with a sulfur loading of 7 mg ⋅ cm−2 shows seven times higher sulfur utilization at a high current of 5.2 mA ⋅ cm−2 compared with an unpatterned sulfur electrode. Simple laser patterning technology provides a platform to engineer a thick cathode of high performance.
Process Design of a Multistage Drying Process via Flowsheet Simulation
Authors: Buchholz Moritz , Haus Johannes , Blesinger Lukas , Riemann Christian , Pietsch Swantje , Jäger Frank Kleine , Heinrich Stefan
Published: March 2021

Multistage drying processes including spray drying and fluidized bed unit operations are challenging to design due to the dependencies of the preceding process steps. Flowsheet simulation offers the possibility to simulate a complete process by the application of suitable short‐cut models. In this contribution a novel model for a spray dryer based on a population balance approach is presented. Furthermore, a dynamic model for a fluidized bed dryer is introduced. Experimental data is used for validation and parameter optimization. The calibrated models are then used to design an industrial drying process of multiple drying stages.
Immobilization of β‐Galactosidase on Monolithic Discs for the Production of Prebiotics Galacto‐oligosaccharides
Authors: Pottratz Ines , Schmidt Christoph , Müller Ines , Hamel Christof
Published: March 2021

Four different activated methacrylatic monoliths, acting as pore‐through‐flow membrane reactors in order to reduce enzyme costs and mass‐transfer limitations, were characterized as support for immobilization of β‐galactosidase to produce galacto‐oligosaccharides (GOS). GOS synthesis was studied in different operation modes. A higher affinity of the immobilized enzyme towards the transgalactosylation reaction could be obtained, which results in desired GOS with higher degree of polymerisation. Kinetic models were successfully parametrized forming a basis for process modeling and optimization.
Identifying key factors for the effectiveness of pancreatic cancer screening: A model‐based analysis
Authors: Koopmann Brechtje D. M. , Harinck Femme , Kroep Sonja , Konings Ingrid C. A. W. , Naber Steffie K. , Lansdorp‐Vogelaar Iris , Fockens Paul , van Hooft Jeanin E. , Cahen Djuna L. , van Ballegooijen Marjolein , Bruno Marco J. , de Kok Inge M. C. M.
Published: March 2021

Pancreatic cancer (PC) survival is poor, as detection usually occurs late, when treatment options are limited. Screening of high‐risk individuals may enable early detection and a more favorable prognosis. Knowledge gaps prohibit establishing the effectiveness of screening. We developed a Microsimulation Screening Analysis model to analyze the impact of relevant uncertainties on the effect of PC screening in high‐risk individuals. The model simulates two base cases: one in which lesions always progress to PC and one in which indolent and faster progressive lesions coexist. For each base case, the effect of annual and 5‐yearly screening with endoscopic ultrasonography/magnetic resonance imaging was evaluated. The impact of variance in PC risk, screening test characteristics and surgery‐related mortality was evaluated using sensitivity analyses. Screening resulted in a reduction of PC mortality by at least 16% in all simulated scenarios. This reduction depended strongly on the natural disease course (annual screening: −57% for “Progressive‐only” vs −41% for “Indolent Included”). The number of screen and surveillance tests needed to prevent one cancer death was impacted most by PC risk. A 10% increase in test sensitivity reduced mortality by 1.9% at most. Test specificity is important for the number of surveillance tests. In conclusion, screening reduces PC mortality in all modeled scenarios. The natural disease course and PC risk strongly determines the effectiveness of screening. Test sensitivity seems of lesser influence than specificity. Future research should gain more insight in PC pathobiology to establish the true value of PC screening in high‐risk individuals.
Planar Iron Hydride Nanoclusters: Combined Spectroscopic and Theoretical Insights into Structures and Building Principles
Authors: Chakraborty Uttam , Bügel Patrick , Fritsch Lorena , Weigend Florian , Bauer Matthias , Jacobi von Wangelin Axel
Published: March 2021

The controlled assembly of well‐defined planar nanoclusters from molecular precursors is synthetically challenging and often plagued by the predominant formation of 3D‐structures and nanoparticles. Herein, we report planar iron hydride nanoclusters from reactions of main group element hydrides with iron(II) bis(hexamethyldisilazide). The structures and properties of isolated Fe4, Fe6, and Fe7 nanoplatelets and calculated intermediates enable an unprecedented insight into the underlying building principle and growth mechanism of iron clusters, metal monolayers, and nanoparticles.
Effects of annealing time on physical and mechanical properties of PVDF microporous membranes by a melt extrusion‐stretching process
Authors: Men Shulin , Gao Zhihao , Wen Rongyan , Tang Jie , Zhang Jian Min
Published: March 2021

Polyvinylidene fluoride‐based separators for secondary battery have attracted enormous attention both in academia and in industries during the last decade. In this study, a facile, cost‐effective, and environmentally friendly melt extrusion‐stretching (MES) process was applied to prepare high performance PVDF microporous membranes for separator applications. In order to achieve a balance between the formation of row‐nucleated lamellar structure and sufficient lamellae separation during stretching, a blend of high‐ and low‐molecular‐weight PVDF grades was chosen as raw material. Meanwhile, the effects of annealing time on physical and mechanical properties of PVDF cast films and membranes were systematically investigated, demonstrating that 6 h @145°C annealing treatment can lead to a preferable crystalline structure for the following stretching process. Therefore, PVDF membrane with high porosity, high electrolyte uptake ratio, and superior tensile strength was obtained by this MES process. Interestingly, the increase of β phase content by stretching was not significant for this PVDF membrane, revealing that the formation of micropores/microfibrils in the stretching process would lead to stress relaxation and less crystalline structure conversion.
Posthospitalization follow‐up recommendations after pediatric critical illness due to respiratory failure
Authors: Yagiela Lauren M. , Pfarr Marie A. , Meert Kathleen L. , Odetola Fola O.
Published: March 2021

Objectives

To characterize the recommended posthospitalization follow‐up by provider type and location after a pediatric critical illness due to respiratory failure.

Working hypothesis

After pediatric critical illness due to respiratory failure, patients will not have a standard follow‐up pattern with regard to provider type or follow‐up location.

Study design

A retrospective cohort study.

Subject selection

Children, 18 years or younger, admitted to a quaternary care pediatric intensive care unit with respiratory failure between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2014.

Methodology

For eligible patients, recommendations for posthospitalization follow‐up including provider type (primary care and specialty care) and location (community care center vs. tertiary care center) were characterized from medical chart review. Recommendations were examined for all patients and two patient subgroups (patients who received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and patients with tracheostomy).

Results

Of 155 patients alive at hospital discharge, the median age was 2.1 (interquartile range, 0.7–10.6) years. Eighty percent of patients were instructed to follow‐up with a primary care provider but only 52.9% with a pulmonologist. We found 10 unique follow‐up patterns between provider location (community care center, tertiary care center, or both) and global provider type (primary care versus specialty care). Primary care follow‐up was recommended more often at community locations (74.2%), whereas specialty care was more often recommended at tertiary care centers (68.6%).

Conclusions

Our study findings demonstrate significant variability in the recommendations for follow‐up by provider type and location after hospitalization for acute respiratory failure and highlight areas for improvement in follow‐up care after pediatric critical illness.
Small land cover changes in the transboundary Kootenai River basin greatly alter water quality
Authors: Stickney Emily , Kunza Lisa , Hoffman Gregory , Chowanski Kurt
Published: March 2021

Increased nutrient loading in aquatic environments can have a long‐lasting influence on ecosystem processes and functions. The Kootenai River was historically oligotrophic, but nitrate levels have been steadily increasing since the mid‐2000s, while phosphorus levels have remained low. Our study objective was to evaluate the current nutrient distribution throughout the Kootenai River watershed in the context of land use and land cover change. Each of the three land cover types we assessed, agriculture, developed areas, and surface mines, encompass less than 1% of the land area in the Kootenai River watershed. We measured nitrate, ammonium, and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) monthly at sites spanning 400 river km on the Kootenai River, and co‐located tributary sites in British Columbia, Canada, and Montana and Idaho, USA. During July 2017, we measured the same nutrients along each of the selected tributaries with co‐located sites at sub‐catchment tributaries. Sites were selected to include a range of contributing drainage areas identified as agricultural, developed, or mining. Nutrient concentrations ranged from 0.012 to 4.299 mg/L for nitrate, 0.0005–0.02 mg/L for ammonium, and 0.003–0.076 mg/L for SRP. Nitrate concentrations were elevated downstream of mining land cover, and decreased with distance from the mining areas; however, nitrate remained elevated compared to sites not affected by mining activity. If the imbalance of N:P continues to increase due to nitrate loading, resources available to biota may become skewed, resulting in alterations to ecosystem processes and functions critical to support the biodiversity in the Kootenai River.
NHC Organocatalysis in D2O for the Highly Diastereoselective Synthesis of Deuterated Spiropyran Analogues
Authors: Suresh Pavithira , Thamotharan Subbiah , Selva Ganesan Subramaniapillai
Published: March 2021

Metal‐free N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) organocatalysis in D2O medium was elegantly utilised for the synthesis of highly diastereoselective deuterated spiropyran derivatives. Selective deuteration was exclusively achieved on the C5 carbon atom of the pyran ring. Quantum chemical calculations were performed to prove the preferential formation of a single diastereomer from the possible four diastereomers. The scope of NHC organocatalysis in D2O was also extended for the synthesis of deuterated spirooxindole derivative.
Sustainability of supply chains: Is there alignment?
Authors: Borella Margareth Rodrigues de Carvalho , Barcellos Paulo Fernando Pinto , Borella Lucas de Carvalho
Published: March 2021

A sustainable supply chain, beyond green, must operate within a suitable financial structure, as well as contribute value to the society (Cuthbertson, 2011), being the three main sustainable dimensions for any organization. The aim of this work is to verify to what extent organizations configured in supply chains (SC) are aligned with sustainability and with each other, in the triple bottom line context. We analyzed the sustainability of supply chain of four organizations positioned in the condition of governance of their supply chain belonging to the commerce, industry, service, and public service sectors, all of which are recognized in the region and in the state, they are located by their social, financial, or environmental performances. We used mathematical alignment calculations based on the theoretical profile and profile deviation techniques to obtain indices of alignment with sustainability. The main finding was the medium‐ to high‐level alignment among SC members, whose practices are moderately sustainable. In addition, the work has an educative role while proposing a sustainability matrix in which it is possible to position the supply chain governance and its members and infer about the convergence of the sustainable practices between them.
Oculocutaneous albinism in a wild koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) with unusual renal impairment
Authors: Gonzalez‐Astudillo Viviana , Palmieri Chiara , Shaw Stephanie , Allavena Rachel
Published: March 2021

An albino koala with progressive weight loss was submitted twice to a wildlife clinic. Due to poor prognosis, the koala was euthanised. Relevant histopathology findings include a membranous glomerulopathy and renal ceroid lipofuscinosis. Transmission electron microscopy revealed thickening of the mesangial matrix and glomerular basement membrane and a few dense deposits suggestive of a chronic nephropathy. Albinism in koalas is rare, and this report describes general features of wildlife albinism as well as drawing a comparison to a well‐described amelanotic syndrome in humans that typically results in a severe glomerulopathy due to circulating or in situ immune complexes.
Persistent right aortic arch and absent left subclavian artery in a seven‐week‐old English Springer Spaniel
Authors: Rowan Conor , Bilek Andrea , Böhler Alexandra
Published: March 2021

A seven‐week‐old English Springer Spaniel presented with recurrent vomiting that began with the introduction of solid food. No musculoskeletal issues such as lameness were identified. On radiography, focal dilation of the oesophagus cranial to the heart base was identified. CT angiography confirmed the suspected persistent right aortic arch. A concurrent absent left subclavian artery was identified that has not been reported in detail previously. In addition, a bicarotid trunk and right subclavian artery branched directly from the aortic arch in lieu of a brachiocephalic trunk. A collateral blood supply via an intercostal and vertebral artery furnished the branches of the absent left subclavian artery. The dog developed aspiration pneumonia, deteriorated and was euthanised.
Flower preformation in the nival plant Ranunculus glacialis L.: shoot architecture and impact of the growing season length on floral morphogenesis and developmental dynamics
Authors: Mauracher Stephanie , Wagner Johanna
Published: March 2021

Flower preformation is a widespread phenomenon in perennial plants from temperate and cold regions. An advanced preformation status reduces the prefloration period and thus increases the chance to mature seeds in time. Despite the particular importance of this strategy for high-mountain plants, studies are rare. Here we investigated how the length of the growing season impacts floral development, and to what extent floral development is synchronized with reproductive phenophases in the arctic-alpine speciesRanunculus glacialisL. The study was carried out in the alpine-nival ecotone in the European Central Alps at sites with different snowmelt dates. Individuals were sampled at regular intervals throughout the growing season, and shoot architecture and changes in floral structures were analysed in detail using different microscopic techniques.R. glacialisindividuals consist of a cluster of independent ramets, comprising 3 sympodia each. Floral initiation terminates the vegetative growth of each sympodium 2–3 years before flowers become functional. A specific feature is that basal and distal leaves on a sympodium mature in different years. The date of snowmelt did not affect the speed of development but flower size and the number of lateral flowers within an inflorescence. Belowground floral preformation is closely linked to aboveground reproductive processes, however, continues below the snow in case winter conditions set in too early. The staggered preformation of architectural units creates a permanent belowground reserve pool of floral structures which might be advantageous in the climatically harsh and unpredictable high-mountain environment.
The Impact of the Singapore Convention on the Development of Non-adjudicative Forms of International Dispute Resolution
Authors: Schneider Andrea
Published: March 2021

The impact of the Singapore Convention might affect both state and companies’ behaviors even more than encouraging mediation. We have had for a long time the phrase “bargaining in the shadow of the law,” and then more recently, in particular when we look at international investment, it is bargaining in the shadow of international arbitration. We know that a dispute could end up in arbitration and therefore impact behaviors before that. I want us to think about what bargaining might look like in the shadow of mediation.
Will China and/or the United States Transform the WTO?
Authors: Lester Simon
Published: March 2021

China's 2001 entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the 2016 election of Donald Trump have converged to form an existential threat to the WTO. Can the WTO manage a large economy with China's level of state economic intervention and political authoritarianism? Will the Trump administration's confrontational approach reform or destroy the organization?
Remarks by Mariana Durney
Authors: Durney Mariana
Published: March 2021

I will take Karen's challenging question about the goals of a multilateral institution as the starting point for analyzing whether the promise of multilateralism in Latin America has been honored, if the current crisis is related to those goals (or their absence), and whether multilateralism still holds any promise for the future. In my analysis, key elements of Ruggie's definition (institutional form, coordination, generalized principles) will also be at stake. Thus, objectives and principles are at the center of this discussion.
Remarks by Michael J. Camilleri
Authors: Camilleri Michael J.
Published: March 2021

While it is true that Latin American multilateralism currently appears fragmented and paralyzed in many ways, the situation remains more positive with respect to democracy and human rights.
Remarks by Catherine Marchi-Uhel
Authors: Marchi-Uhel Catherine
Published: March 2021

The IIIM is different in that it is not a judicial entity. It cannot adjudicate crimes. It is not a court or tribunal. The IIIM has been referred to as having a “quasi-prosecutorial” function. It has been mandated by the General Assembly in 2016 to assist in the investigation and prosecution of core international crimes committed in the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011.
Introductory Remarks by David Bigge
Authors: Bigge David , Koh Harold Hongju , Kessler Amalia D. , Reid Natalie L. , Thornton Jennifer
Published: March 2021

Thank you all for joining us today. My name is David Bigge, and I am the co-chair of the International Courts and Tribunals Interest Group, which organized this particular panel. I would like to, up front, thank the sponsor for this panel, Curtis Mallet.
Introductory Remarks by Monica Hakimi
Authors: Hakimi Monica , Väljataga Ann , Huang Zhixiong , Allen Charles , Robertson Sue , Wilson Doug
Published: March 2021

Hi, everyone. I am Monica Hakimi from the University of Michigan Law School, and I would like to welcome you to our panel on cyber power and its limits. The topic almost does not need an introduction. We all know just from reading the news that our collective dependence on cyberspace is also a huge vulnerability, and state and non-state actors exploit this vulnerability to do one another harm. They use cyber technologies not just to spy on one another, but also, for example, to interfere in national elections, to steal trade secrets or other valuable information, to disrupt the activities of political, military, or economic institutions, and at times to cause physical destruction or death.
Household expenditure and child health in Vietnam: analysis of longitudinal data
Authors: Trinh Trong-Anh , Srivastava Preety , Brown Sarah
Published: March 2021

While the relationship between socioeconomic status and child health has been studied extensively in developed countries, evidence is limited for developing countries. This study makes an important contribution by examining the relationship between child health and household socioeconomic status in Vietnam, using household expenditure as an alternative measure. This also allows us to explore the mechanisms via which income affects child health, in which household consumption arguably plays a crucial role. We employ different measures of health that allow us to examine both long-run and short-run effects, and two alternative instrumental variables, the unemployment rate and rainfall deviation, to address the potential endogeneity of household expenditure. We find evidence of a strong positive impact of household expenditure on child health and the findings are consistent across age groups. Specifically, a 10% increase in expenditure will result in a weight gain of 213–541 g in a “typical” child. We also explore the effect of a range of exogenous adverse economic shocks on children's health.
OPTIMAL ADMISSION AND ROUTING WITH CONGESTION-SENSITIVE CUSTOMER CLASSES
Authors: Aslan Ayse
Published: March 2021

This paper considers optimal admission and routing control in multi-class service systems in which customers can either receive quality regular service which is subject to congestion or can receive congestion-free but less desirable service at an alternative service station, which we call the self-service station. We formulate the problem within the Markov decision process framework and focus on characterizing the structure of dynamic optimal policies which maximize the expected long-run rewards. For this, value function and sample path arguments are used. The congestion sensitivity of customers is modeled with class-independent holding costs at the regular service station. The results show how the admission rewards of customer classes affect their priorities at the regular and self-service stations. We explore that the priority for regular service may not only depend on regular service admission rewards of classes but also on the difference between regular and self-service admission rewards. We show that optimal policies have monotonicity properties, regarding the optimal decisions of individual customer classes such that they divide the state space into three connected regions per class.
HOUSING WEALTH REALLOCATION BETWEEN SUBPRIME AND PRIME BORROWERS DURING RECESSIONS
Authors: Sapci Ayse , Vu Nam T.
Published: March 2021

The Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) indicates that, unlike subprime borrowers, prime borrowers are more likely to own investment homes during recessions than during recoveries. Drawing on this empirical fact, we present and estimate a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model that distinguishes between borrowers through their credit access. We find that the relative ease of credit access among borrowers explains the divergence in investment homeownership seen in the data. This divergence is amplified when subprime borrowers are subject to lax credit conditions prior to a financial shock or when the nominal interest rate is constrained at the zero lower bound (ZLB). An expansionary monetary policy helps bridge this gap across borrowers.
Importin-αs are required for the nuclear localization and function of the Plasmopara viticola effector PvAVH53
Authors: Chen Tingting , Peng Jing , Yin Xiao , Li Meijie , Xiang Gaoqing , Wang Yuejin , Lei Yan , Xu Yan
Published: March 2021

Plant pathogenic oomycetes deliver a troop of effector proteins into the nucleus of host cells to manipulate plant cellular immunity and promote colonization. Recently, researchers have focused on identifying how effectors are transferred into the host cell nucleus, as well as the identity of the nuclear targets. In this study, we found that the RxLR effector PvAVH53 from the grapevine (Vitis vinifera) oomycete pathogen Plasmopara viticola physically interacts with grapevine nuclear import factor importin alphas (VvImpα and VvImpα4), localizes to the nucleus and triggers cell death when transiently expressed in tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana) cells. Deletion of a nuclear localization signal (NLS) sequence from PvAVH53 or addition of a nuclear export signal (NES) sequence disrupted the nuclear localization of PvAVH53 and attenuated its ability to trigger cell death. Suppression of two tobacco importin-α genes, namely, NbImp-α1 and NbImp-α2, by virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) also disrupted the nuclear localization and ability of PvAVH53 to induce cell death. Likewise, we transiently silenced the expression of VvImpα/α4 in grape through CRISPR/Cas13a, which has been reported to target RNA in vivo. Finally, we found that attenuating the expression of the Importin-αs genes resulted in increased susceptibility to the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora capsici in N. benthamiana and P. viticola in V. vinifera. Our results demonstrate that importin-αs are required for the nuclear localization and function of PvAVH53 and are essential for host innate immunity. The findings provide insight into the functions of importin-αs in grapevine against downy mildew.