bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thermally Activated and Aggregation‐Regulated Excitonic Coupling Enable Emissive High‐Lying Triplet Excitons**
Authors: Wang Tao , De Joydip , Wu Sen , Gupta Abhishek Kumar , Zysman‐Colman Eli
Published: June 2022

Room‐temperature phosphorescence (RTP) originating from higher‐lying triplet excitons remains a rather rarely documented occurrence for purely organic molecular systems. Here, we report two naphthalene‐based RTP luminophores whose phosphorescence emission is enabled by radiative decay of high‐lying triplet excitons. In contrast, upon cooling the dominant phosphorescence originates from the lowest‐lying triplet excited state, which is manifested by a red‐shifted emission. Photophysical and theoretical studies reveal that the unusual RTP results from thermally activated excitonic coupling between different conformations of the compounds. Aggregation‐regulated excitonic coupling is observed when increasing the doping concentration of the emitters in poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA). Further, the RTP quantum efficiency improves more than 80‐fold in 1,3‐bis(N‐carbazolyl)benzene (mCP) compared to that in PMMA. This design principle offers important insight into triplet excited state dynamics and has been exploited in afterglow‐indicating temperature sensing.
Producing high value unsaturated fatty acid by whole‐cell catalysis using microalga: A case study with Tribonema minus
Authors: Zhou Wenjun , Ji Xiaotong , Zheng Li , Yang Guanpin , Liu Tianzhong
Published: June 2022

High value unsaturated fatty acids can be produced by de novo synthesis in microalgal cells, especially via heterotrophic cultivation. Unfortunately, the lipid accumulation of heterotrophic microalgae cannot be improved efficiently in conventional ways. Here we reported heterotrophic Tribonema minus, a promising resource for the production of palmitoleic acid which has increasing demands in health service for patients with metabolic syndrome, as whole‐cell biocatalyst to develop a novel way of shifting low value exogenous saturated fatty acids to high value ones. Results showed that myristic acid is the best precursor for whole‐cell catalysis; it elevated the lipid content of T. minus to 42.2%, the highest among the tried precursors. The influences of cultivation condition on the utilization of extrinsic myristic acid and lipid accumulation were also determined. Under the optimized condition, the lipid content reached as high as 48.9%. In addition, our findings showed that ~13.0% of C16:1 in T. minus is derived from extrinsic myristic acid, and 30.1% of metabolized precursor is converted into heterologous fatty acids. Thus, a feasible approach for both increasing the value of low value saturated fatty acid by bioconversion and enhancing the lipid accumulation in microalgae is proposed by supplementing extrinsic myristic acid.
Toward reanimating the laughter‐involved large‐scale brain networks to alleviate affective symptoms
Authors: Zarei Shahab A. , Yahyavi Seyedeh‐Saeedeh , Salehi Iman , Kazemiha Milad , Kamali Ali‐Mohammad , Nami Mohammad
Published: June 2022

Introduction

The practicality of the idea whether the laughter‐involved large‐scale brain networks can be stimulated to remediate affective symptoms, namely depression, has remained elusive.

Methods

In this study, 25 healthy individuals were tested through 21‐channel quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) setup upon resting state and while submitted to standardized funny video clips (corated by two behavioral neuroscientists and a verified expert comedian, into neutral and mildly to highly funny). We evaluated the individuals’ facial expressions against the valence and intensity of each stimulus through the Nuldos face analysis software. The study also employed an eye‐tracking setup to examine fixations, gaze, and saccadic movements upon each task. In addition, changes in polygraphic parameters were monitored upon resting state and exposure to clips using the 4‐channel Nexus polygraphy setup.

Results

The happy facial expression analysis, as a function of rated funny clips, showed a significant difference against neutral videos (p < 0.001). In terms of the polygraphic changes, heart rate variability and the trapezius muscle surface electromyography measures were significantly higher upon exposure to funny vs. neutral videos (p < 0.5). The average pupil size and fixation drifts were significantly higher and lower, respectively, upon exposure to funny videos (p < 0.01). The qEEG data revealed the highest current source density (CSD) for the alpha frequency band localized in the left frontotemporal network (FTN) upon exposure to funny clips. Additionally, left FTN acquired the highest value for theta coherence z‐score, while the beta CSD predominantly fell upon the salience network (SN).

Conclusions

These preliminary data support the notion that left FTN may be targeted as a cortical hub for noninvasive neuromodulation as a single or adjunct therapy in remediating affective disorders in the clinical setting. Further studies are needed to test the hypotheses derived from the present report.
Significant Effect of the Flexibility of Bridging Alkyl Chains on the Proximity of Stacked Porphyrin and Phthalocyanine Conjugated with a Fourfold Rotaxane Linkage
Authors: Yamada Yasuyuki , Iida Hayato , Shibano Shinya , Mihara Nozomi , Kato Tatsuhisa , Tanaka Kentaro
Published: June 2022

Invited for the cover of this issue are Kentaro Tanaka at Nagoya University and co‐workers. The image depicts the importance of the flexibility of bridging alkyl chains in a molecular conjugate to pack the components closely to generate efficient molecular communication. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.202200819.
Characterization of the expression of gastrin‐releasing peptide and its receptor in the trigeminal and spinal somatosensory systems of Japanese macaque monkeys: Insight into humans
Authors: Takanami Keiko , Oti Takumi , Kobayashi Yasuhisa , Hasegawa Koki , Ito Takashi , Tsutsui Naoaki , Ueda Yasumasa , Carstens Earl , Sakamoto Tatsuya , Sakamoto Hirotaka
Published: June 2022

Gastrin‐releasing peptide (GRP) and its receptor (GRPR) have been identified as itch mediators in the spinal and trigeminal somatosensory systems in rodents. In primates, there are few reports of GRP/GRPR expression or function in the spinal sensory system and virtually nothing is known in the trigeminal system. The aim of the present study was to characterize GRP and GRPR in the trigeminal and spinal somatosensory system of Japanese macaque monkeys (Macaca fuscata). cDNA encoding GRP was isolated from the macaque dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and exhibited an amino acid sequence that was highly conserved among mammals and especially in primates. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that GRP was expressed mainly in the small‐sized trigeminal ganglion and DRG in adult macaque monkeys. Densely stained GRP‐immunoreactive (ir) fibers were observed in superficial layers of the spinal trigeminal nucleus caudalis (Sp5C) and the spinal cord. In contrast, GRP‐ir fibers were rarely observed in the principal sensory trigeminal nucleus and oral and interpolar divisions of the spinal trigeminal nucleus. cDNA cloning, in situ hybridization, and Western blot revealed substantial expression of GRPR mRNA and GRPR protein in the macaque spinal dorsal horn and Sp5C. Our Western ligand blot and ligand derivative stain for GRPR revealed that GRP directly bound in the macaque Sp5C and spinal dorsal horn as reported in rodents. Finally, GRP‐ir fibers were also detected in the human spinal dorsal horn. The spinal and trigeminal itch neural circuits labeled with GRP and GRPR appear to function also in primates.
Macrophage Fate Mapping
Authors: Xu Yingzheng , Schrank Patricia R. , Williams Jesse W.
Published: June 2022

Tissue‐resident macrophages are present in all tissues where they perform homeostatic and immune surveillance functions. In many tissues, resident macrophages develop from embryonic progenitors, which mature into a self‐maintaining population through local proliferation. However, tissue‐resident macrophages can be supported by recruited monocyte‐derived macrophages during scenarios such as tissue growth, infection, or sterile inflammation. Circulating blood monocytes arise from hematopoietic stem cell progenitors and possess unique gene profiles that support additional functions within the tissue. Determining cell origins (ontogeny) and cellular turnover within tissues has become important to understanding monocyte and macrophage contributions to tissue homeostasis and disease. Fate mapping, or lineage tracing, is a promising approach to tracking cells based on unique gene expression driving reporter systems, often downstream of a Cre‐recombinase–mediated excision event, to express a fluorescent protein. This approach is typically deployed temporally with developmental stage, disease onset, or in association with key stages of inflammation resolution. Importantly, myeloid fate mapping can be combined with many emerging technologies, including single‐cell RNA‐sequencing and spatial imaging. The application of myeloid cell fate mapping approaches has allowed for impactful discoveries regarding myeloid ontogeny, tissue residency, and monocyte fate within disease models. This protocol outline will discuss a variety of myeloid fate mapping approaches, including constitutive and inducible labeling approaches in adult and embryo tissues. This article outlines basic approaches and models used in mice for fate mapping macrophages. © 2022 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Basic Protocol 1: Adult Fate Mapping

Basic Protocol 2: Embryonic Fate Mapping
Aminocatalysts are More Environmentally Friendly than Hydrogen‐Bonding Catalysts
Authors: Sihtmäe Mariliis , Silm Estelle , Kriis Kadri , Kahru Anne , Kanger Tõnis
Published: June 2022

The importance of asymmetric organocatalysis in contemporary organic synthesis is widely acknowledged. However, there are practically no data on the environmental safety of organocatalysts, although this aspect is crucial for the sustainability of all new materials, chemicals, and technologies. To start to fill this data‐gap, a library of 26 organocatalysts containing hydrogen‐bonding catalysts [(thio)ureas and squaramides] and aminocatalysts (primary or secondary amines) was evaluated for their toxicity using the naturally luminescent Vibrio fischeri bacteria (ISO assay; one of the most widely used ecotoxicity tests). Thioureas and squaramides were shown to be relatively toxic: none of them was ranked as “not harmful” (i. e., half maximal effective concentration EC50>100 mg L−1), whereas the presence of the trifluoromethyl moiety increased their toxic effect. Importantly, the aminocatalysts, whose EC50 values ranged from 25 to >300 mg L−1, could be considered remarkably more environmentally safe or green alternatives.
Identification of the synthetic cannabinoid‐type new psychoactive substance, CH‐PIACA, in seized material
Authors: Pasin Daniel , Nedahl Michael , Mollerup Christian Brinch , Tortzen Christian , Reitzel Lotte Ask , Dalsgaard Petur Weihe
Published: June 2022

Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) remain the largest class of new psychoactive substances (NPS), and while the number of NPS that are reported to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) for the first time each year declines, the number of newly reported SCs still exceeds other NPS classes. This decline can be seen as a result of legislative changes by different jurisdictions which have sometimes transitioned to a more generalized approach when controlling substances by defining common structural scaffolds rather than explicit structures. While the consequences of such legislative changes have been expected over the years, the introduction of so‐called “class‐wide” bans puts further pressure on clandestine laboratories to synthesize compounds which are out of the scope of the legislation, and thus, these compounds are initially harder to detect and/or identify in the absence of analytical data. Recently, a SC with an indole‐3‐acetamide core‐linker scaffold, AD‐18 (i.e., ADB‐FUBIATA or ADB‐FUBIACA), was reported for the first time in China in 2021. Here, an additional cannabinoid with the indole‐3‐acetamide scaffold, N‐cyclohexyl‐2‐(1‐pentyl‐1H‐indol‐3‐yl)acetamide (CH‐PIACA), is reported which was identified for the first time in a seized material in Denmark. Structural characterization was performed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), liquid chromatography‐high‐resolution mass spectrometry (LC‐HRMS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.
Computed tomography image generation from magnetic resonance imaging using Wasserstein metric for MR‐only radiation therapy
Authors: Joseph Jiffy , Hemanth Challa , Pulinthanathu Narayanan Pournami , Pottekkattuvalappil Balakrishnan Jayaraj , Puzhakkal Niyas
Published: June 2022

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) are the prevalent imaging techniques used in treatment planning in radiation therapy. Since MR‐only radiation therapy planning (RTP) is needed in the future for new technologies like MR‐LINAC (medical linear accelerator), MR to CT synthesis model benefits in CT synthesis from MR images generated via MR‐LINAC. A Wasserstein generative adversarial network (WGAN) architecture with a residual UNet based generator and a patch‐based discriminator is proposed in this paper. The WGAN uses the Wasserstein metric with gradient penalty along with mean absolute error (MAE) as the loss function. The WGAN is trained and tested on an NVIDIA Tesla V100 GPU server using mutually aligned MR‐CT brain images of 26 patients. The proposed model generates synthetic CTs with an average PSNR of 31.09 dB, SSIM of 0.9265, MAE of 48.39 HU, and RMSE of 172.75 HU. The treatment planning was performed on real and synthetic CTs. The dose distributions of the synthetic CTs obtained were similar to that of the corresponding real CTs. The synthetic CTs exhibit good visual quality as well. The experimental outcomes and image quality of the model surpass many of the state‐of‐the‐art methods. The proposed CT synthesizer supports MR‐only radiation therapy while minimizing treatment costs and radiation exposure. A significant increase in the training set can further improve the CT prediction accuracy of the proposed model.
Structural diversity in a stereotypic organelle — Sensory cilia of Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Maurya Ashish K.
Published: June 2022

Sensory cilia, an ancient organelle, displays a high degree of conservation in its structure and functioning. Sensory cilia also fulfill a wide range of sensory functions, from sensing environmental signals (light, sound, chemicals, and mechanical forces) to interpreting intercellular developmental signals. One way they appear to fulfill these diverse and specialized roles is by adopting a variety of shapes and sizes. We are only beginning to document and appreciate this complexity. Here in this review, using the varied and specialized cilia found on Caenorhabditis elegans sensory neurons, I highlight some of the most obvious examples of this structural diversity and the underlying mechanisms if known. Such structural diversity appears to arise from the modulation of deeply conserved molecular pathways and also from cell‐ and species‐specific mechanisms. Studying these ciliary specializations will thus provide for a comprehensive understanding of ciliary biology and might uncover understudied aspects of ciliary disease biology.
Charitable Triad Theory: How donors, beneficiaries, and fundraisers influence charitable giving
Authors: Chapman Cassandra M. , Louis Winnifred R. , Masser Barbara M. , Thomas Emma F.
Published: June 2022

Nonprofits address some of the world's most pressing problems, and many rely on donations to fund their essential work. Nonprofit marketers are, therefore, tasked with promoting charitable giving. Research on giving has largely focused on identifying the characteristics that make people generous but has generated inconsistent findings, suggesting important moderators that are not well understood. Moreover, there is not yet an overarching theory to help integrate the vast and interdisciplinary literature. To address this, we propose Charitable Triad Theory, a new theory of giving with three key tenets: First, giving is triadic because the characteristics of three actors—donors, beneficiaries, and fundraisers—influence charitable decisions. Second, the characteristics of each of the three actors may be necessary but not sufficient to promote giving. Third, giving is relational because interactive relationships between the triad determine charitable choices. A systematic review of 1337 empirical articles published between 1980 and 2020 helps evidence seven key propositions of the theory, which articulate the ways in which donors, beneficiaries, fundraisers, and the dyadic and triadic relationships between them, can affect charitable behavior. We end with a research agenda outlining specific suggestions for future research on (a) the neglected fundraiser and (b) how beneficiaries influence giving.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Polymer Nanocomposites Welding: Interfacial Structure, Dynamics and Strength
Authors: Chen Ruisi , Zhang Zhiyu , Zhou Mengyu , Han Yue , Li Fanzhu , Liu Jun , Zhang Liqun
Published: June 2022

Polymer welding has received numerous scientific attention, however, the welding of polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) has not been studied yet. In this work, via coarse‐grained molecular dynamics simulation, the attention on investigating the welding interfacial structure, dynamics, and strength by constructing the upper and lower layers of PNCs, by varying the polymer–nanoparticle (NP) interaction strength εNP‐p is focused. Remarkably, at low εNP‐p, the NPs gradually migrate into the top and bottom surface layer perpendicular to the z direction during the adhesion process, while they are distributed in the middle region at high εNP‐p. Meanwhile, the dimension of polymer chains is found to exhibit a remarkable anisotropy evidenced by the root‐mean‐square radius of gyration in the xy‐ (Rg,xy) and z‐ (Rg,z) component. The welding interdiffusion depth increases the fastest at low εNP‐p, attributed to the high mobility of polymer chains and NPs. Lastly, although the mechanical properties of PNCs at high εNP‐p is the strongest because of the presence of the NPs in the bulk region, the welding efficiency is the greatest at low εNP‐p. Generally, this work provides a fundamental understanding of the interfacial welding of PNCs, in hopes of guiding to design and fabricate excellent self‐healable PNCs.
Risk SNP‐mediated LINC01614 upregulation drives head and neck squamous cell carcinoma progression via PI3K/AKT signaling pathway
Authors: Hou Yaxuan , Zhou Meng , Li Yuncheng , Tian Tingting , Sun Xun , Chen Mo , Xu Wenmao , Lu Meixia
Published: June 2022

As potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in the tumorigenesis of various tumors. Genetic variation in long noncoding regions can lead to lncRNA dysfunction and even cancer. Nevertheless, studies on the association between lncRNA‐associated single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the risk of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remain inadequate. Here, we aimed to explore the association between SNPs in LINC01614 and HNSCC risk, and the potential role of LINC01614 in tumorigenesis. In this study, we found that rs16854802 A > G (odds ratio [OR] = 1.42, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22–1.77, p < 0.001) and rs3113503 G > C (OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.15–1.64, p < 0.001) in LINC01614 increased the risk of HNSCC in the Chinese population. Functional bioinformatic analysis and luciferase reporter assay revealed that rs3113503 G > C variant disrupted the binding of miRNA‐616‐3p to LINC01614, which resulted in the increased expression of LINC01614. Further analysis of the TCGA database demonstrated that the upregulated LINC01614 in HNSCC cancer tissues was associated with poor prognostic in HNSCC patients. In vitro experiments showed that knockdown of LINC01614 inhibited the proliferation, invasion, and migration ability of HNSCC cells. Mechanistically, allele C of rs3113503 in LINC01614 was more effective than allele G in activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Moreover, the reduced expression of LINC01614 also inhibited the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. In summary, our findings revealed that the risk SNP rs3113503 G > C in LINC01614 altered the binding to miR‐616‐3p, which led to increased LINC01614 expression and promoted HNSCC progression by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
A double‐strand‐break model for the relative biological effectiveness of electrons based on ionization clustering
Authors: Pfuhl Tabea , Friedrich Thomas , Scholz Michael
Published: June 2022

Background

The effectiveness of ionizing radiation regarding DNA damage induction depends on its spatial energy deposition pattern. For electrons an increased effectiveness is observed at low kinetic energies due to the enhanced density of energy deposition events at electron track ends.

Purpose

A model is presented, which enables the calculation of the double‐strand‐break (DSB) yield and the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) for DSB induction of electrons.

Methods

The model applies the mean free path between two ionizations and the assumption that two ionizations within a certain threshold distance are necessary to potentially lead to a DSB. Next to an expression for the electron RBE according to its common definition, a local RBE is determined, which describes the electrons' local effectiveness at a defined point on their track.

Results

This local RBE allows a better understanding of microscopic processes resulting from radiation and can be used, for instance, to describe the mean effectiveness of the mixed electron radiation field as a function of the radial distance to the center of an ion track.

Conclusions

The presented model reflects the experimentally observed increased effectiveness of low‐energetic electrons. It will be used in a future work to improve RBE predictions for ions performed with the local effect model.
The effect of exercise on health‐related quality of life in persons with musculoskeletal pain: A meta‐analysis of randomised control trials
Authors: Amiri Sohrab
Published: June 2022

Objectives

Exercise has positive effects on musculoskeletal pain. In this project, the impact of exercise was studied on improving health‐related quality of life in persons with musculoskeletal pain.

Method

The study design was a systematic review and meta‐analysis. A search was conducted to find original studies in four sources, including PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library and Scopus, and this search was limited to the original articles published until April 2021, which were in English. For each study, the effect size was calculated. The analysis was based on the random‐effects method.

Result

Twenty‐Seven randomised control trial studies were included in the meta‐analysis. The total population of participants in the meta‐analysis was 1927 persons. Exercise improves health‐related quality of life in these persons and the hedges' g was 0.66 (95% CI = 0.38–0.94; I2 = 88.29%).

Discussion

Overall, based on the findings, exercise is associated with improving the health‐related quality of life of persons with musculoskeletal pain, and therefore the health implications of this finding are beneficial to the general population and professionals.
Flares and their impact among male urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome patients: An in‐depth qualitative analysis in the Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain (MAPP) Research Network
Authors: Quallich Susanne A. , Quentin Clemens J. , Ronstrom Carrie , James Aimee S. , Kreder Karl J. , Henry Lai H. , Naliboff Bruce D. , Rodriguez Larissa V. , Berry Sandra H. , Sutcliffe Siobhan
Published: June 2022

Introduction

There has been a sparse exploration of the lived experience of men with urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome (UCPPS), and none with the goal of Investigating the experience of “flares” as part of this chronic pain syndrome in men.

Methods

We conducted three focus groups of male UCPPS patients at two sites of the MAPP Research Network (n = 16 total participants) to explore the full spectrum of flares and their impact on men's lives.

Results

Flare experiences were common and specific symptom components varied widely. Men reported nonpelvic symptoms (e.g., diarrhea), and variability in symptom intensity (mild to severe), duration (minutes to days), and frequency of flares. Flares episodes, and the threat of flares, were disruptive to their lives, social roles, and relationships. Distinct long‐term impacts were reported, such as decreased sexual activity, decreased travel, and potential loss of employment or career. The themes included social isolation and the need for a sense of control and understanding over their unpredictable symptoms.

Conclusions

Given their negative impact, future research with men and UCPPS should focus on approaches to prevent flares, and should consider a multimodal approach to reducing the frequency, severity, and/or duration. Quality of life may be improved by providing men with a sense of control over their symptoms and offering them multimodal treatment options, consistent with the recommendations for further research for women with UCPPS.
A community in transition: Analysis of health and well‐being in people living during and following aridification
Authors: Caine Alyson C. , Roberts Charlotte A. , Kennet Derek
Published: June 2022

This paper considers skeletal and dental lesions to assess the effects of aridification on two skeletal samples from the Bronze Age in what is now the United Arab Emirates (UAE), located on the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. This paper hypothesized that the sample from Qarn al‐Harf (QAH) Tomb 6 would show a greater prevalence of skeletal and dental lesions in comparison with that from QAH Tomb 5, because QAH Tomb 6 dates to a period of aridification when compared with the wetter Wadi Suq period (~2000 B.C.). The skeletal remains from two tombs from QAH cemetery are studied: one dated to the transition period from the Umm an‐Nar to Wadi Suq period (~2000 B.C.) (Tomb 6, n = 141) and one Wadi Suq period tomb (Tomb 5, n = 44; 2000–1600 B.C.). Skeletal and dental lesions, including carious lesions, antemortem tooth loss, dental enamel hypoplasia, periosteal new bone formation, cribra orbitalia, and porotic hyperostosis, were recorded and used to assess differential lived experience. Findings from the two tombs are compared with five contemporary sites of the Umm an‐Nar and Wadi Suq periods. Fisher's exact tests found more statistically significant differences in the prevalence of cribra orbitalia (p = 0.0050) and non‐adult mortality (p = 0.0118) for the QAH Tomb 6 skeletal sample than that from QAH Tomb 5. No other skeletal or dental lesions were significantly different according to Fisher's exact tests. While not significant, periosteal new bone formation rates in QAH 6 in conjunction with cribra orbitalia rates suggest individuals were experiencing stressors that were not impacting QAH Tomb 5 individuals. Skeletal and dental lesion rates are not directly attributable to climate change; however, we argue that intense aridification around 2000 B.C. caused desiccated crops and an increased reliance on marine sources for QAH Tomb 6. This reliance likely promoted nutritionally deficient diets manifesting as observed higher rates of cribra orbitalia and periosteal new bone formation.
Modification and refinement of three‐dimensional reconstruction to estimate body volume from a simulated single‐camera image
Authors: Chiu Chuang‐Yuan , Dunn Marcus , Heller Ben , Churchill Sarah M. , Maden‐Wilkinson Tom
Published: June 2022

Objective

Body volumes (BV) are used for calculating body composition to perform obesity assessments. Conventional BV estimation techniques, such as underwater weighing, can be difficult to apply. Advanced machine learning techniques enable multiple obesity‐related body measurements to be obtained using a single‐camera image; however, the accuracy of BV calculated using these techniques is unknown. This study aims to adapt and evaluate a machine learning technique, synthetic training for real accurate pose and shape (STRAPS), to estimate BV.

Methods

The machine learning technique, STRAPS, was applied to generate three‐dimensional (3D) models from simulated two‐dimensional (2D) images; these 3D models were then scaled with body stature and BV were estimated using regression models corrected for body mass. A commercial 3D scan dataset with a wide range of participants (n = 4318) was used to compare reference and estimated BV data.

Results

The developed methods estimated BV with small relative standard errors of estimation (<7%) although performance varied when applied to different groups. The BV estimated for people with body mass index (BMI) < 30 kg/m2 (1.9% for males and 1.8% for females) were more accurate than for people with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 (6.9% for males and 2.4% for females).

Conclusions

The developed method can be used for females and males with BMI < 30 kg/m2 in BV estimation and could be used for obesity assessments at home or clinic settings.
How do we approach the management of medulloblastoma in young children?
Authors: Lafay‐Cousin Lucie , Baroni Lorena , Ramaswamy Vijay , Bouffet Eric
Published: June 2022

Therapeutic strategies avoiding craniospinal irradiation were developed for young children with medulloblastoma to improve survival while protecting the neurocognitive outcomes of these vulnerable patients. These strategies most commonly rely on high‐dose chemotherapy with stem cell rescue or conventional chemotherapy combined with intraventricular chemotherapy or conventional chemotherapy with adjuvant focal irradiation. Over the past decade, our growing understanding of the molecular landscape of medulloblastoma has transformed how we risk stratify and allocate treatment in this young age group. We present the results of the most recent approaches and clinical trials for medulloblastoma of early childhood, according to the different molecular subgroups. Overall, young children with sonic hedgehog medulloblastoma treated with intensive adjuvant chemotherapy achieve excellent survival and can safely be spared from radiotherapy. For patients with group 3 and 4 medulloblastomas, the interplay between molecular alterations and treatment intensity still needs to be further delineated. While recent clinical trials point toward more encouraging survival figure for a sizeable number of them, patients identified with very high‐risk feature desperately needs innovative therapies.
Effect of Agave americana fibers used as reinforcement in the preparation of composites based on recycled PVC
Authors: Chelali Lynda , Benaboura Ahmed
Published: June 2022

This work deals with the preparation and the study of a new composite obtained from a thermoplastic polymer and a vegetal fiber. The polymer used is a recycled polyvinylchloride (PVC) and the fiber used was extracted from Agave americana, a plant which grows easily under Mediterranean type climates. Prior chemical treatment of the extracted fiber was necessary to modify the surface of the fiber in order to optimize the adhesion between this fiber and the recycled PVC during the preparation of composites from these materials. For this purpose, our investigations led us to attempt various reactions modification of the surface fiber. The method that gave the best results consists of an alkaline treatment followed by a reaction with acetic anhydride. Once completed chemicals treatments of fiber, the material is mixed with the recycled PVC which serves as a matrix to prepare composites at varying rates from 5% to 30% by weight of agave modified fibers. The effects of the incorporation of raw and processed agave fibers on the mechanical, thermal and morphological properties of PVC/agave fiber composites were examined and discussed.
Impact of winding on nanoimprinted surfaces in roll‐to‐roll nanoimprint lithography
Authors: Jambhapuram Manogna , Good James K. , Azoug Aurélie
Published: June 2022

Roll‐to‐Roll manufacturing aims at scaling ultraviolet‐ and thermally cured nanoimprint lithography (UV‐NIL, T‐NIL) to commercial production speeds and volumes. Winding is the only convenient way of storing large quantities of nanoimprinted webs as they await unwinding in sequential R2R processes with distinct transport speeds. At production speeds, the imprinted resin is still chemically evolving when the imprinted web enters the winder, through a phenomenon called dark curing. The viscoelastic resin at various curing stages deforms under the contact pressure due to winding. This study is concerned with the impact of the contact pressure on the imprinted peak heights and potentially the functionality of the nanoimprinted surface. We develop a multiscale numerical model of the winding of the imprinted web. First the evolving properties of the resin through time are characterized, combining the effect of dark curing and viscoelasticity on the time‐dependent properties. Second, a finite element model of the imprinted web uses the resin mechanical properties to determine the effective properties of the imprinted web. Finally, the winding model determines the pressure and resulting strain of the imprints in the wound roll. The surface creep is quantified. This prediction will establish how and how long the imprinted materials should be wound.
Quantum Spin Hall Phases in Graphene and the Atomically Thin Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Family
Authors: Haruyama Junji
Published: June 2022

The quantum‐spin‐Hall (QSH) phase with helical edge spin states, in which opposite‐moment electron spins counter‐propagate within a topologically preserved time reversal symmetry, is attracting considerable attention. The helical edge spin currents allow zero‐emission energy spintronic‐devices with small error rates by modulating with external bias voltages. Recently, QSH phases and possible 2D topological insulating states have been reported in various atomically thin layers (such as graphene and the transition metal dichalcogenide family). Particularly, (twisted) bi‐layer graphene on heavy substrates is becoming a novel candidate for robust QSH phases (including Chern insulating phases), nevertheless, graphene itself lacks spin‐orbit coupling owing to the light carbon atoms. Here, research of QSH phases focusing on graphene is reviewed, particularly for using heavy adatom decoration and heavy substrates. They will open the door to next‐generation spintronic architectures.
Low‐Light Shadow Imaging Using Quadrature‐Noise Detection with a Camera
Authors: Cuozzo Savannah L. , Barge Pratik J. , Prajapati Nikunjkumar , Bhusal Narayan , Lee Hwang , Cohen Lior , Novikova Irina , Mikhailov Eugeniy E.
Published: June 2022

This paper experimentally demonstrates an imaging technique based on quadrature noise modification after interaction with an opaque object. By using a homodyne‐like detection scheme, the detrimental effect of the camera dark noise is eliminated, making this approach particularly attractive for imaging scenarios which require weak illumination. As an example, the image of an object illuminated with a squeezed vacuum is reconstructed using a total of 800 probing photons, utilizing less than one photon per frame on average.
Getting to a good place with science instruction: Rethinking an appropriate conception of teaching science
Authors: Larkin Douglas B.
Published: June 2022

This essay opens with a question about what science teaching would look like in a world where categorical seams of human diversity were not probabilistic determinants of science learning. After revisiting Hewson and Hewson's description of an “appropriate conception of science teaching,” I detail the ways in which the field of science education has advanced in the decades since that article's publication. Drawing upon Cohen's notion of teaching as an “impossible profession,” I highlight how conceptions of science teaching compete with other popular models of teaching and learning science. Fenstermacher and Richardson's distinction between successful teaching, and good teaching is then presented to demonstrate that even science teaching that is considered successful and good remains embedded in a constrained system where well‐regarded classroom practices may still lead to accumulated negative consequences. The essay ends with a discussion of complexity and recursiveness in science teaching, an argument for science teaching that includes embedded understandings of that teaching and learning on the part of the students themselves, and suggestions for a revised conception of science teaching.
Atomic Fe−N−C Sites on Porous Carbon Nanostructures for Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Authors: Wang Minkang , Wang Xinming , Liao Tianhao , Zhang Xinglong , Tang Hui
Published: June 2022

Iron‐nitrogen‐carbon (Fe−N−C) materials are considered as promising oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts due to their high efficiency, low cost, and high tolerance of CO and methanol, with the potential to replace platinum (Pt) based catalysts. However, the complex synthesis procedure and toxic raw materials inhibit the large‐scale production of Fe−N−C catalysts. Herein, an atomic Fe−N−C catalyst, derived from biomass (pig blood) using a facile annealing process is reported. The prepared catalysts possess hierarchical porous structure and exhibit superior ORR efficiency with a high onset potential (Eonset=0.999 V) and a half‐wave potential (E1/2=0.875 V), comparable with commercial Pt/C. The synthesized catalysts show excellent long‐term stability and tolerance to methanol. Moreover, Fe−N−C‐900 catalyst as cathode of Zn‐air battery exhibits high discharge voltage, high power density and cycling stability. Our work proposed the synthesis of Fe−N−C catalysts, using biomass as precursor. These prepared catalysts have great potential for further study and applications in energy.
Probing the Structural Details of Chitin Nanocrystal–Water Interfaces by Three‐Dimensional Atomic Force Microscopy
Authors: Yurtsever Ayhan , Wang Pei‐Xi , Priante Fabio , Morais Jaques Ygor , Miyata Kazuki , MacLachlan Mark J. , Foster Adam S. , Fukuma Takeshi
Published: June 2022

Chitin is one of the most abundant and renewable natural biopolymers. It exists in the form of crystalline microfibrils and is the basic structural building block of many biological materials. Its surface crystalline structure is yet to be reported at the molecular level. Herein, atomic force microscopy (AFM) in combination with molecular dynamics simulations reveals the molecular‐scale structural details of the chitin nanocrystal (chitin NC)–water interface. High‐resolution AFM images reveal the molecular details of chitin chain arrangements at the surfaces of individual chitin NCs, showing highly ordered, stable crystalline structures almost free of structural defects or disorder. 3D‐AFM measurements with submolecular spatial resolution demonstrate that chitin NC surfaces interact strongly with interfacial water molecules creating stable, well‐ordered hydration layers. Inhomogeneous encapsulation of the underlying chitin substrate by these hydration layers reflects the chitin NCs’ multifaceted surface character with different chain arrangements and molecular packing. These findings provide important insights into chitin NC structures at the molecular level, which is critical for developing the properties of chitin‐based nanomaterials. Furthermore, these results will contribute to a better understanding of the chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis of chitin and other native polysaccharides, which is also essential for the enzymatic conversion of biomass.
Inelastic Dirac dark matter
Authors: Filimonova Anastasiia , Junius Sam , Honorez Laura Lopez , Westhoff Susanne
Published: June 2022

Abstract

Feebly interacting thermal relics are promising dark matter candidates. Among them, scenarios of inelastic Dark Matter evade direct detection by suppressed elastic scattering off atomic nuclei. We introduce inelastic Dirac Dark Matter, a new model with two Dirac fermions in the MeV-GeV mass range. At feeble couplings, dark matter can depart from chemical as well as kinetic equilibrium with the Standard Model before freeze-out. In this case, the freeze-out is driven by conversion processes like coscattering, rather than coannihilation. We show that inelastic Dirac relics are consistent with cosmological observations, in particular with nucleosynthesis and the cosmic microwave background. Searches for dark sectors at colliders and fixed-target experiments, in turn, are very sensitive probes. Compared to the strongly constrained pseudo-Dirac scenario, inelastic Dirac Dark Matter offers a new search target for existing and upcoming experiments like Belle II, ICARUS, LDMX and SeaQuest.
A review of how the biology of male sea turtles may help mitigate female-biased hatchling sex ratio skews in a warming climate
Authors: Hays Graeme C. , Shimada Takahiro , Schofield Gail
Published: June 2022

In a warming climate, male sea turtles may become increasingly rare due to temperature-dependent sex determination with females being produced at warmer temperatures. Hence there is widespread concern that a lack of adult males may impact population viability. However, there is controversy over this scenario and here we review aspects of the biology of male sea turtles that will help mitigate female-biased hatchling sex ratios. In particular, there is strong evidence that males generally breed more frequently than females (i.e. have a shorter remigration interval) and that individual breeding males actively search for females and may mate with multiple females from different nesting sites. These aspects of the biology of male turtles will cause female-biased hatchling sex ratios to translate into more balanced adult sex ratios on the breeding grounds (i.e. operational sex ratios). Sexual dimorphism is widespread with adult male turtles generally being smaller than females. In freshwater turtles, this sexual dimorphism is linked to earlier age at maturity for males, although this possibility has not been examined widely in sea turtles. We make a forward-looking horizon-scanning prediction for key changes that might be expected at sea turtle breeding grounds if female-biased sex ratios become so extreme that male turtles start to become limiting and start driving populations to extinction. In particular, as the numbers of adult males on the breeding grounds become limiting there may be changes in egg fertility, multiple paternity and hatching success within clutches.
Species-specific tidal locomotion linked to a parasitic infection in sympatric sea snails
Authors: Ni Steven , Doherty Jean-François
Published: June 2022

Parasites can play a critical role in mediating inter-species interactions. Potential effects induced by parasites can range from species-wide traits to functional alterations in host community structure. One of the most intriguing host–parasite interactions pertains to adaptative host manipulation, an evolutionary occurrence where parasites alter the phenotype of their host to increase their own fitness. This study aims to address this phenomenon in a marine setting by investigating the effect of a philophthalmid trematode, Parorchis sp., on the vertical upward movement and phototactic behaviour of their intermediate hosts whilst simultaneously addressing the host specificity of these effects. These behaviours could impact the odds of trematodes successfully transmitting from their intermediate snail host to their definitive shorebird host, a crucial step in the life cycle of these parasites. Most trematode species exhibit strong specificity for snail hosts, typically infecting only a single snail species. In this rare system, however, the trematode infects a pair of sympatric and congeneric littorinid sea snails found in the intertidal zone of New Zealand’s rocky shores: Austrolittorina cincta and A. antipodum. Precisely, experiments were conducted in a controlled, laboratory-based setting, extending over a period of six weeks, during which vertical displacement and response to light were measured. Our results demonstrate that vertical upward movement amongst infected snails increased for A. cincta, but not for A. antipodum. No difference in response to light between infected and uninfected groups was evident across either species. Our findings highlight the complex nature of parasitic infections, where trait-specific behavioural effects are dissimilar across even congeneric host taxa.
Antibiotic prophylaxis in patients who had undergone to prostate biopsy in between the EMA warning era: effects of fluoroquinolones in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Results of an observational cohort study
Authors: Bartoletti Riccardo , Claps Francesco , Tulone Gabriele , Perotti Alessandro , Zucchi Alessandro , Riccardi Niccolò , Ficarra Vincenzo , De Nunzio Cosimo , Tubaro Andrea , Simonato Alchiede
Published: June 2022

Purpose

To investigate the effects of different antibiotic prophylaxis regimens in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) candidates to trans-rectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy (TRUSPB).

Methods

143 outpatients with DM who underwent TRUSPB during the period 2018–2020 were selected from a cohort of 1150 patients in 3 different institutions. Exclusion criteria were allergies, concomitant anti-platelet therapies and uncontrolled DM. Different antibiotic prophylaxis regimens were adopted. Bacterial resistance levels to fluoroquinolones into the different communities were also collected. Univariable and multivariable binomial logistic regression analyses were used to assess the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) testing the risk of infective complications' occurrence after adjusting for clinical covariates.

Results

Overall, DM patients were significantly associated with infective complications' occurrence (p < 0.001). No differences on the event of sepsis were found between diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Clinically relevant infections with fever > 37 °C were found in 9.1% and 1.5% (p < 0.001) in diabetic and non-diabetic patients, respectively. Trimethoprim–sulphametoxazole and fluoroquinolones were six times more efficient than Cefixime in non-diabetic patients. Fluoroquinolones confirmed the same effect in diabetic patients although the level of resistance in the period of study decreased only from 56 to 46%.

Conclusion

Fluoroquinolones were active in antibiotic prophylaxis of diabetic patients who had undergone to TRUSPB independently from the level of bacterial resistance found in the community. These results conflict with the recent European warning and support the Japanese and American guidelines on the topic.
Generic existence of multiplicity-1 minmax minimal hypersurfaces via Allen–Cahn
Authors: Bellettini Costante
Published: June 2022

In Guaraco (J. Differential Geom. 108(1):91–133, 2018) a new proof was given of the existence of a closed minimal hypersurface in a compact Riemannian manifold $$N^{n+1}$$

N

n
+
1

with $$n\ge 2$$

n
≥
2

. This was achieved by employing an Allen–Cahn approximation scheme and a one-parameter minmax for the Allen–Cahn energy (relying on works by Hutchinson, Tonegawa, Wickramasekera to pass to the limit as the Allen-Cahn parameter tends to 0). The minimal hypersurface obtained may a priori carry a locally constant integer multiplicity. Here we modify the minmax construction of Guaraco (J. Differential Geom. 108(1):91–133, 2018), by allowing an initial freedom on the choice of the valley points between which the mountain pass construction is carried out, and then optimising over said choice. We then prove that, when $$2\le n\le 6$$

2
≤
n
≤
6

and the metric is bumpy, this minmax leads to a (smooth closed) minimal hypersurface with multiplicity 1. (When $$n=2$$

n
=
2

this conclusion also follows from Chodosh and Mantoulidis (Ann. Math. 191(1):213–328, 2020).) As immediate corollary we obtain that every compact Riemannian manifold of dimension $$n+1$$

n
+
1

, $$2\le n\le 6$$

2
≤
n
≤
6

, endowed with a bumpy metric, admits a two-sided smooth closed minimal hypersurface (this existence conclusion also follows from Zhou X (Ann. Math. (2), 192(3):767–820, 2020) for minmax constructions via Almgren–Pitts theory).