bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Low‐powerFinFETbased boost converter design using dynamic threshold body biasing technique
Authors: Sharma Kulbhushan , Thakur Sandeep , Elangovan M. , Sachdeva Ashish
Published: August 2023

The recent development in the field of sustainable energy solution for ultra‐low power application is attracting the attention of researchers. This paper is themed on the boosting of input harvested voltage from micro thermo‐electric generator to an appropriate output voltage level. This research proposed an optimized DC–DC boost converter design comprising of cross‐coupled FinFET based LC resonant oscillator and FinFET three‐stage charge pump circuit. The design utilizes the dynamic threshold body biasing technique to control the threshold voltage of FinFET switches and enhance the performance in sub‐threshold region. This design succeeded in achieving 29.25% peak power conversion efficiency to generate 438 mV output voltage from 96 mV minimum input voltage while consuming 344 nW of power only. Further, the proposed boost converter shows peak voltage conversion efficiency of 53.51% and settling time of 121 μS for 1% band. The performance of proposed boost converter observed for rigorous process, temperature and load variations is within acceptable limits. In contrast to MOSFET technology, the adopted 18 nm FinFET technology make the proposed design excellent to tackle the challenges of short channel effects in ultra‐low power application.
Agricultural expansion and forest retreat in Mainland Southeast Asia since the late 1980s
Authors: Xiao Chiwei , Li Peng , Feng Zhiming
Published: August 2023

Agrarian expansion and intensification in the tropical agricultural‐forest frontiers (TAFF) are continuously encroaching on forests, yet the magnitudes and processes of agricultural‐forest advances and retreats remain lacking investigation systematically and quantitatively. With over three‐decade (1987–2018) of land‐cover products, here, we revealed the spatiotemporal dynamic processes of agricultural advance and forest retreat and then quantified forest loss (FL) due to cropland and plantation expansion (PE) in Mainland Southeast Asia (MSEA). First, the agricultural expansion and FL peaked in the late 1990s to early 2000s and decelerated afterward in MSEA. Meanwhile, the continuous decline in deforestation rates was accompanied by a decline in the patches of forest fragments, while cropland and plantations first decreased and then increased. Second, 85% of cropland expansion (CE) occurred in forest frontiers of Myanmar (37%) and Thailand (32%) in particular, compared with 72% of PE in plantation‐forest frontiers, for example, 24% in Thailand and 22% in Cambodia. Third, 51% and 37% of the forests that declined were converted into cropland and plantations, respectively, with obvious national variations. In the least developed countries, such as Myanmar and Cambodia, CE dominated (65%), while the proportion of PE in Thailand and Vietnam was up to 56%. Finally, over 10% of the advances and retreats (re‐)occurred in various protected areas, with the expansion ratio of cropland and plantations nearly 1:2, particularly the Cambodia‐Thailand border. We thus appeal for more effective efforts from governments, the scientific community, and international initiatives (e.g., the UN‐REDD and Sustainable Development Goals) to further study and solve the issues of forest retreat and agricultural advance across the entire TAFF. Our new findings and insights about agricultural‐forest advances and retreats in their frontiers can enrich existing pan‐regional research of forest conversion or FL and agricultural expansion and provide an encouraging basis for action to reduce environmental degradation in tropical forests, including protected areas.
Environmental decision support system development for natural distribution prediction ofFestuca ovinain restoration of degraded lands
Authors: Saffariha Maryam , Jahani Ali , Roche Leslie M. , Hosseinnejad Zeinab
Published: August 2023

Anthropogenic activities, species invasions, and ecological factors are driving rapid changes in rangeland ecosystems. For ensuring the richness and sustainability of plant species habitats, there is a pressing need for a reliable prediction model that can accurately forecast and map species distribution under varying ecological conditions. We aimed to compare the performance of three widely used machine learning methods: Multilayer perceptron (MLP), radial basis function (RBF), and support vector machine (SVM) in predicting the distribution ofFestuca ovinain mountainous protected rangelands. We conducted our investigation by analyzing the distribution ofF. ovinain 305 randomly selected plant sample plots. In each plot, we recorded 10 ecological variables. Three machine learning models were developed to predict the likelihood ofF. ovinadistribution. Our results demonstrated that the RBF model had a higher number of misclassifications (11 samples) compared to MLP and SVM models (10 samples), indicating that MLP and SVM models were more accurate for distribution modeling. Additionally, MLP showed a higher R‐squared value (0.87) compared to SVM (0.85), suggesting that MLP was the most accurate model for restoring degraded lands. Hence, we developed theFestuca ovinaDistribution Model (FODM) using the MLP model. Sensitivity analyses revealed that soil texture, soil depth, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, and vegetation density significantly influencedF. ovinadistribution, with respective sensitivity coefficients of 0.48, 0.47, 0.45, 0.41, and 0.41. Based on the finalized FODM, we designed an Environmental Decision Support System (EDSS) tool to assist rangeland managers in mappingF. ovinadistribution. By applying the EDSS tool, we demonstrated its practicality in using the FODM for effective decision‐making and land management. The EDSS tool serves as a valuable resource for rangeland managers, enabling them to make informed decisions regardingF. ovinarestoration and effectively use the predictive capabilities of the FODM in real‐world applications.
Convergence to equilibrium for linear parabolic systems coupled by matrix‐valued potentials
Authors: Dobrick Alexander , Glück Jochen
Published: August 2023

We consider systems of parabolic linear equations, subject to Neumann boundary conditions on bounded domains in , that are coupled by a matrix‐valued potentialV, and investigate under which conditions each solution to such a system converges to an equilibrium as . While this is clearly a fundamental question about systems of parabolic equations, it has been studied, up to now, only under certain positivity assumptions on the potentialV. Without positivity, Perron–Frobenius theory cannot be applied and the problem is seemingly wide open. In this paper, we address this problem for all potentials that are ‐dissipative for some . While the case can be treated by classical Hilbert space methods, the matter becomes more delicate for . We solve this problem by employing recent spectral theoretic results that are closely tied to the geometric structure of ‐spaces.
Consumer hate and boycott communications of socially irresponsible fashion brands: Applying complexity theory in psychology and marketing research
Authors: Woodside Arch G. , Akrout Houcine , Mrad Mona
Published: August 2023

Applying complexity theory tenets, this cross‐cultural study proposes and empirically examines generalizable, asymmetric, case outcome models of consumers who respond extremely negatively to luxury and mass fashion brands that they judge to be acting socially irresponsibly—and separately, consumers who do not engage in such responses—among separate national samples of consumers in France, the UK, and USA. This study includes constructing a theory of discrete simple and complex antecedent algorithms (i.e., screens) of who perceives specific brands acting socially irresponsible, who exudes brand hate (BH), and which brand haters call versus do not call for brand boycotts. The study's findings support the following conclusions. Most consumers expressing BH advocate call for boycotting the brand (supported cross‐culturally in the study here). Among consumers who also view the brand to be very unlike themselves, most consumers recognizing a brand to be acting socially irresponsibly hate the brand. Separate tests of propositions for the models' predictive validities across three national samples of consumers support the models' generalizability. The study adds to workable approaches in psychology and marketing for complementing (or replacing) theories framed in terms of symmetric, variable, directional relationships and examined using null hypotheses significance tests.
Integrated variant allele frequency analysis pipeline and R package: easyVAF
Authors: Hu Junxiao , Alami Vida , Zhuang Yonghua , Alzofon Nathaniel , Jimeno Antonio , Gao Dexiang
Published: August 2023

Somatic sequence variants are associated with cancer diagnosis, prognostic stratification, and treatment response. Variant allele frequency (VAF), the percentage of sequence reads with a specific DNA variant over the read depth at that locus, has been used as a metric to quantify mutation rates in these applications. VAF has the potential for feature detection by reflecting changes in tumor clonal composition across treatments or time points. Although there are several packages, including Genome Analysis Toolkit and VarScan, designed for variant calling and rare mutation identification, there is no readily available package for comparing VAFs among and between groups to identify loci of interest. To this end, we have developed the R package easyVAF, which includes parametric and nonparametric tests to compare VAFs among multiple groups. It is accompanied by an interactive R Shiny app. With easyVAF, the investigator has the option between three statistical tests to maximize power while maintaining an acceptable type I error rate. This paper presents our proposed pipeline for VAF analysis, from quality checking to group comparison. We evaluate our method in a wide range of simulated scenarios and show that choosing the appropriate test to limit the type I error rate is critical. For situations where data is sparse, we recommend comparing VAFs with the beta‐binomial likelihood ratio test over Fisher's exact test and Pearson'sχ2test.
Limonoids from neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) are potential anticancer drug candidates
Authors: Nagini Siddavaram , Palrasu Manikandan , Bishayee Anupam
Published: August 2023

Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.), a versatile evergreen tree recognized for its ethnopharmacological value, is a rich source of limonoids of the triterpenoid class, endowed with potent medicinal properties. Extracts of neem have been documented to display anticancer effects in diverse malignant cell lines as well as in preclinical animal models that has largely been attributed to the constituent limonoids. Of late, neem limonoids have become the cynosure of research attention as potential candidate agents for cancer prevention and therapy. Among the various limonoids found in neem, azadirachtin, epoxyazadiradione, gedunin, and nimbolide, have been extensively investigated for anticancer activity. Azadirachtin, a potent biodegradable pesticide, exhibits profound antiproliferative effects by preventing mitotic spindle formation and cell division. The antiproliferative activity of gedunin has been demonstrated to be mediated primarily via inhibition of heat shock protein90 and its client proteins. Epoxyazadiradione inhibits pro‐inflammatory and kinase‐driven signaling pathways to block tumorigenesis. Nimbolide, the most potent cytotoxic neem limonoid, inhibits the growth of cancer cells by regulating the phosphorylation of keystone kinases that drive oncogenic signaling besides modulating the epigenome. There is overwhelming evidence to indicate that neem limonoids exert anticancer effects by preventing the acquisition of hallmark traits of cancer, such as cell proliferation, apoptosis evasion, inflammation, invasion, angiogenesis, and drug resistance. Neem limonoids are value additions to the armamentarium of natural compounds that target aberrant oncogenic signaling to inhibit cancer development and progression.
MH groups mobilize in disaster relief efforts during ongoing Maui wildfires
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: August 2023

The death toll from the devastating Maui wildfires in Hawaii continues to rise. At MHW press time, the number reached 106, while many more people remain missing, in the historic coastal town of Lahaina, according to news reports. Following the wildfires that commenced on Aug. 8, mental health providers and officials have been mobilizing in recent days and weeks to address the emotional aftermath.
Awards support early‐career researchers' brain science studies
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: August 2023

Three new emerging leaders in neuropsychiatry were announced last week as the latest recipients of the One Mind Rising Star Awards with the goal of pursuing research to advance the understanding, treatment and prevention of mental illness.
Slow‐wave substrate integrated suspended parallel strip line and its application to rat‐race coupler
Authors: Shen Huajiao , Wang Yongqiang , Meng Fanyi , Ma Kaixue
Published: August 2023

This paper presents a slow‐wave substrate integrated suspended parallel strip line (SW‐SISPSL) for the first time. The slow‐wave effect is produced by cascading high/low‐impedance SISPSL in the meander line configuration. Different from conventional single‐ended slow‐wave transmission lines, the proposed SW‐SISPSL supports differential signal transmission. The characteristic impedance and slow‐wave factor of the SW‐SISPSL are analyzed using equivalent circuit models. Using the proposed SW‐SISPSL and a SISPSL phase inverter, a very compact rat‐race coupler is implemented. The core circuit area of the slow‐wave rat‐race coupler is 0.083 λg × 0.089 λg, which is only 4.12% of the conventional topology.
Genetic structure of the Silver Chub indicates distinctiveness of Lake Erie population
Authors: Elbassiouny Ahmed A. , Fontenelle João Pedro , Kočovský Patrick M. , Mandrak Nicholas E. , Lovejoy Nathan R.
Published: August 2023

Objective

Silver Chub Macrhybopsis storeriana is a small riverine minnow endemic to North American fresh waters. Its range extends from the southern USA to southcentral Canada; the latter includes a rare lacustrine population in Lake Erie. Anthropogenic activities pose an immediate threat to several Silver Chub populations, currently categorized from special concern to threatened at the state level in the USA and federally and provincially not-at-risk to endangered in Canada. Several studies have examined the anthropogenic causes for the decline of Silver Chub populations, but conservation efforts have been hindered by the lack of knowledge of the population genetics of this species.

Methods

Here, we provide an assessment of the genetic diversity of Silver Chub populations across the USA and Canada using a fast-evolving mitochondrial gene, with particular focus on the Lake Erie population.

Result

We found the Lake Erie population to be divergent from all other populations, with nearly all the haplotypes sampled there being private.

Conclusion

Our study provides genetic evidence that the Silver Chub population in Lake Erie could be considered a separate conservation unit.
Medication use in a cohort of adults with chronic intestinal failure: A prospective cross‐sectional study
Authors: Deleenheer Barbara , Lauwers Nathalie , Spriet Isabel , Declercq Peter , Vanuytsel Tim
Published: August 2023

Background

Oral drug therapy may be compromised in chronic intestinal failure (IF) because of alterations in absorption and transit. Only scarce literature is available on which medication patients with chronic IF take in daily life. The aim was to describe the medication use in these patients.

Methods

A medication history was obtained from adults with chronic IF treated in our tertiary care IF center. Degree of polypharmacy, drug classes, Biopharmaceutics Classification System classes, route of administration, and formulation of drugs were analyzed.

Results

From October 2019 until December 2020, 72 patients (35 patients with short bowel syndrome [SBS] and 37 patients without SBS) were included. Polypharmacy was seen in 85.7% of patients with SBS and 75.7% of patients without SBS. The top three drug classes were proton‐pump inhibitors, vitamin D or acetaminophen, and antimotility medication or laxatives/benzodiazepines. Approximately 25% of the drugs were classified as Biopharmaceutics Classification System class I drugs. In patients with SBS (78%) and patients without SBS (74.9%), most medication was taken orally, requiring gastrointestinal absorption of the active substance to be pharmacologically active. Most of these medications (77% in patients with SBS and 80.8% in patients without SBS) were formulated as a capsule or tablet, requiring disintegration and dissolution in the gastrointestinal tract before absorption can take place.

Conclusion

Polypharmacy was observed in most patients with chronic IF. Most medication was taken orally in formulations requiring disintegration, dissolution, and gastrointestinal absorption, which could be compromised in chronic IF.
Differences in self‐reported psychotic symptoms between patients with autism spectrum disorder and those with schizophrenia
Authors: Yamada Momoka , Sugawara Norio , Kawamata Yasushi , Yasui‐Furukori Norio
Published: August 2023

Aim

Patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are prone to develop overt psychosis and share symptom presentations with those with schizophrenia (SZ). This study aimed to explore differences in the distributions of psychotic symptoms among first‐visit patients with ASD, SZ, or a nonpsychiatric diagnosis (N‐PD).

Methods

Data from first‐visit patients were retrospectively collected from medical records from the Department of Psychiatry, Dokkyo Medical University Hospital between June 2019 and May 2021. A total of 254 patients with data on the PRIME Screen‐Revised (PS‐R) assessments were included in our analysis. In the hospital, all psychiatric diagnoses were based on the DSM‐5 diagnostic criteria.

Results

In the ASD, SZ, and N‐PD groups, endorsements of perplexity and delusional mood were 15.6% (7/45), 41.5% (44/106), and 1.1% (1/88), and those of perceptual abnormalities were 11.1% (5/45), 40.6% (43/106), and 2.3% (2/88), respectively. Trend analysis clarified that the endorsement of these psychotic symptoms increased from N‐PD to ASD and SZ. In the multivariate‐adjusted multinomial logistic regression analysis, the ASD and N‐PD groups were compared with the SZ group. Higher age and the presence of perceptual abnormalities were associated with lack of an ASD diagnosis, whereas male sex, lack of perplexity and delusional mood, and lack of perceptual abnormalities were associated with N‐PD.

Conclusion

Our results are preliminary; however, a detailed assessment of positive symptoms might facilitate differentiation between ASD and SZ.
Phenotypic characteristics, healthcare use, and treatment in children with night cough compared with children with wheeze
Authors: Mallet Maria C. , Mozun Rebeca , Ardura‐Garcia Cristina , Pedersen Eva S. L. , Jurca Maja , Latzin Philipp ,   LUIS Study Group, Moeller Alexander , Kuehni Claudia E.
Published: August 2023

Objectives

Population‐based studies of children with dry night cough alone compared with those who also wheeze are few and inconclusive. We compared how children with dry night cough differ from those who wheeze.

Methods

LuftiBus in the school is a population‐based study of schoolchildren conducted between 2013 and 2016 in Zurich, Switzerland. We divided children into four mutually exclusive groups based on reported dry night cough (henceforth referred as “cough”) and wheeze and compared parent‐reported symptoms, comorbidities, exposures, FeNO, spirometry, and healthcare use and treatment.

Results

Among 3457 schoolchildren aged 6–17 years, 294 (9%) reported “cough,” 181 (5%) reported “wheeze,” 100 (3%) reported “wheeze and cough,” and 2882 (83%) were “asymptomatic.” Adjusting for confounders in a multinomial regression, children with “cough” reported more frequent colds, rhinitis, and snoring than “asymptomatic” children; children with “wheeze” or “wheeze and cough” more often reported hay fever, eczema, and parental histories of asthma. FeNO and spirometry were similar among “asymptomatic” and children with “cough,” while children with “wheeze” or “wheeze and cough” had higher FeNO and evidence of bronchial obstruction. Children with “cough” used healthcare less often than those with “wheeze,” and they attended mainly primary care. Twenty‐two children (7% of those with “cough”) reported a physician diagnosis of asthma and used inhalers. These had similar characteristics as children with wheeze.

Conclusion

Our representative population‐based study confirms that children with dry night cough without wheeze clearly differed from those with wheeze. This suggests asthma is unlikely, and they should be investigated for alternative aetiologies, particularly upper airway disease.
The impact of obstructive sleep apnea in children with sickle cell disease and asthma
Authors: Feld Lance , Bhandari Anita , Allen Julian , Saxena Shikha , Stefanovski Darko , Afolabi‐Brown Olufunke
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Asthma and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are chronic diseases that disproportionately affect children with sickle cell disease (SCD). The literature describes the negative impact that both conditions have on children with SCD separately; however, the effect of OSA on asthmatic children with OSA is less specific. We hypothesized that the presence of OSA in children with SCD and asthma is associated with specific hematologic markers, worse clinical outcomes, and greater healthcare utilization.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated children with both SCD and asthma who underwent polysomnography (PSG). We assessed their demographic information, PSG data, hematologic indices, and healthcare utilization based on the concurrent presence of OSA.

Results

Fifty‐nine percent of the cohort had OSA with a lower oxygen saturation (SpO2) nadir (87% vs. 93%, p < 0.001) and a lower median daytime SpO2 (96.5% vs. 98.5%, p < 0.05); those with OSA were more likely to have the hemoglobin SS genotype (86% vs. 46.5%, p = 0.03). Additionally, those with OSA had a higher mean corpuscular volume (87 vs. 77.2 fL, p = 0.03) and reticulocyte count (10.1% vs. 5.5%, p < 0.01). There was no difference in asthma severity or healthcare utilization between those with OSA and those without OSA.

Discussion

Overall, children with SCD and asthma might be at increased risk for developing OSA, and screening for sleep‐disordered breathing should be incorporated as part of their routine care.
Structure and energetics of hydroxyl‐terminated polybutadiene via density functional theory
Authors: Buszek Robert J. , Moore Levi M. J. , Lonnecker Alexander T. , Ghiassi Kamran B. , Boatz Jerry A.
Published: August 2023

Hydroxyl‐terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) is a commonly used binding polymer in industry to produce polyurethanes. HTPB synthesis via allylic radical propagation leads to varied compositions and conformations that govern the bulk physical and mechanical properties of this polymer. While HTPB is incredibly well studied, its enthalpy of formation is still an open question and is critical to understanding the energetic contributions of the binding polymer in propellant formulations. This study investigates a series of HTPB polymers of experimentally relevant size and composition to understand the effects of conformations and monomer compositions on enthalpies of formation. The distribution of component monomer species comprising HTPB polymers is shown to have a significant effect on the condensed phase enthalpy of formation. The present study provides a best estimate of 331.2±50.3 kJ/mol or 150.7±22.9 kJ/kg for the condensed phase enthalpy of formation for commercially available HTPB formulations. The effects of the polymer folding motifs are smaller but distinct, with more highly folded structures exhibiting lower enthalpies of formation.
Pesticide use, arthropod fauna and fruit damage in apple orchards in a Nordic climate
Authors: Hatteland Bjørn Arild , Andrade Moral Rafael De , Jaastad Gunnhild , Myren Gaute , Bjotveit Endre , Sekse Irén Lunde , Westrum Karin , Trandem Nina
Published: August 2023

BACKGROUND

Integrated pest management (IPM) has a long history in fruit production and has become even more important with the implementation of the EU directive 2009/128/EC making IPM mandatory. In this study, we surveyed 30 apple orchards in Norway for 3 years (2016–2018) monitoring pest‐ and beneficial arthropods as well as evaluating fruit damage. We obtained growers’ diaries of pest management and used these data to study positive and negative correlations of pesticides with the different arthropod groups and damage due to pests.

RESULTS

IPM level had no significant effects on damage of harvested apples by arthropod pests. Furthermore, damage by arthropods was mainly caused by lepidopteran larvae, tortricids being especially important. The number of insecticide applications varied between 0 and 3 per year (mean 0.8), while acaricide applications varied between 0 and 1 per year (mean 0.06). Applications were often based on forecasts of important pest species such as the apple fruit moth (Argyresthia conjugella). Narrow‐spectrum insecticides were commonly used against aphids and lepidopteran larvae, although broad‐spectrum neonicotinoid (thiacloprid) insecticides were also applied. Anthocorid bugs and phytoseiid mites were the most abundant natural enemies in the studied orchards. However, we found large differences in abundance of various “beneficials” (e.g., lacewings, anthocorids, parasitic wasps) between eastern and western Norway. A low level of IPM negatively affected the abundance of spiders.

CONCLUSION

Lepidoptera was found to be the most important pest group in apple orchards. Insecticide use was overall low, but number of spray applications and use of broad‐spectrum insecticides varied between growers and regions. IPM level did not predict the level of fruit damage by insects nor the abundance of important pests or most beneficial groups in an apple orchard. © 2023 The Authors.Pest Management Sciencepublished by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Practicing Taichi together in the park: A case study of Taichiscape and older people's wellbeing
Authors: Zhang Bo , Huang Yuling
Published: August 2023

Inspired by Gesler's notion of therapeutic landscapes, this paper proposes a new concept, ‘Taichiscape’, to demonstrate how older people obtain a sense of healing and wellbeing through the practice of group Taichi in the park. Based on extensive fieldwork with 42 older people between 2020 and 2021 in Tianhe Park in Guangzhou, China, the paper presents Taichiscape in three aspects: (1) From the physical aspect, the Chinese traditional health concepts of ‘becoming one with nature’ and the form of Yin‐Yang balance, allowing older people to maintain closeness and be immersed in the natural environment, rhythmically connecting with natural elements, and relaxing via flourishing positive affect (PA); (2) In terms of socialising, older people practice Taichi together to establish a synchronised rhythm in a spatiotemporal order and collectively create a positive social atmosphere, where they gain a sense of PA through belonging, self‐esteem and pleasure; (3) At the body level, through the rhythm of slowness, older people enjoy diverse and bodily sensations that temporally nurture their minds and souls and initiate the therapeutic process of embodied restoration. Theoretically, the healing power of Taichiscape is habitually, contextually, and temporally constructed through a dynamic creation between human and nonhuman elements. This work extends knowledge of therapeutic landscapes by underlining how slowness in Taichiscape can be seen as a sign of progress and an active pursuit of wellbeing, and older people's sense of control over their lives.
Leaving the parental home in post‐apartheid South Africa
Authors: Thornton Amy
Published: August 2023

The process by which young people leave home in South Africa is central for understanding the lives of the country's young adult population, as well as, their role in the structural household change that has occurred over the post‐apartheid period. However, hardly any quantitative work has been conducted on this process and no work exists on trends. This study provides nationally representative trends of home‐leaving for young adults in South Africa for the first time using a stacked series of annual cross‐sections between 1995 and 2011. Different home‐leaving rates by race converged in the late 90s and steadied in the 2000s. Most South Africans only left home by age 25—but whether this can be interpreted as ‘delayed’ or not is complicated by diverse family patterns and the presence of stretched households. Home‐leavers are especially dependent on labour market income in the absence of social grants targeted at the large unemployed young adult population. Since young women face higher unemployment rates than young men, women were notably more reliant than men on marriage as a pathway out of the parental home. Over time, young male home‐leavers are living alone at higher rates, meaning they have contributed to general household proliferation.
The risk profile change in patients with severe chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension treated with subcutaneous treprostinil
Authors: Jansa Pavel , Kopeć Grzegorz , Torbicki Adam , Sadushi‐Kolici Roela , Campean Ioana‐Alexandra , Halank Michael , Simkova Iveta , Steringer‐Mascherbauer Regina , Salobir Barbara , Klepetko Walter , Lindner Jaroslav , Lang Irene M.
Published: August 2023

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is successfully treatable with pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA), balloon pulmonary angioplasty, and medical therapy. Registry to Evaluate Early and Long‐Term Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Disease Management risk score (RRS) is able to predict long‐term outcome in inoperable patients or in patients with residual PH after surgery. We performed a post hoc analysis of RRS in patients who were enrolled in the CTREPH study (NCT01416636), a randomized, double‐blind clinical trial comparing high‐dose and low‐dose subcutaneous (SC) treprostinil in patients with severe CTEPH that was classified by an interdisciplinary CTEPH team as nonoperable, or as persistent or recurrent pulmonary hypertension after PEA. Baseline mean RRS was similar in both treatment groups (8.7 in high‐dose arm vs. 8.6 in low‐dose arm), but mean RRS change from baseline to Week 24 was greater in the high‐dose treprostinil group than in the low‐dose treprostinil group (−0.88 vs. −0.17). The difference in RRS change from baseline to Week 24 between high dose versus low dose was statistically significant with mean difference of −0.70 (95% confidence interval: −1.36 to −0.05, p = 0.0352), and was driven mainly by improvement of World Health Organization functional class and N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide concentration. SC treprostinil therapy administered in standard dose had positive effect on the risk profile measured by RRS in patients with inoperable or persistent/recurrent severe CTEPH. Although our study was limited by the small sample size and post hoc nature, assessment of risk profile is of great importance to this particular patient population with very poor prognosis.
Human papillomavirus vaccination uptake in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas: Results from a pilot community‐based educational and school‐based vaccination program
Authors: Rodriguez Ana M. , Do Thuy Quynh N. , Chen Lu , Schmeler Kathleen M. , Montealegre Jane R. , Kuo Yong‐Fang
Published: August 2023

Objective

To pilot and evaluate a combined community‐based education and middle school‐based human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program in a rural, medically underserved Texas area.

Methods

The study included 2276 students enrolled at three Rio Grande City Grulla Independent School District, (RGCGISD, formerly Rio Grande City Consolidated Independent School District) middle schools (08/2016–02/2020). The intervention took place in a middle school setting with the community‐based, physician‐led HPV education campaign starting in 08/2016, and a school‐based vaccination program (Phase 1: 08/2017; Phase 2: 08/2018). Pre‐ and postintervention HPV vaccination rates were tracked against 2016 National Immunization Survey‐Teen rates (target: initiation 49.3%; completion 32.9%). Summary statistics were stratified by middle school.

Results

In 2016, HPV vaccine initiation and completion rates for RGCGISD were lower than the national average (39.7% and 17.9%, respectively). In 2020, the overall HPV vaccine initiation rate increased by 58.0% (from 39.7% to 68.5%) and completion rates doubled (from 17.9% to 42.1%). The median age at HPV vaccine initiation and HPV vaccine completion (range) were 11.2 years (9–15) and 12 years (9–15). The median interval between HPV vaccine doses (range) was 287 days (36–1576). There were different between males and females among the three middle schools.

Conclusions

Middle schools serve as a feasible, effective interventional setting for delivering and increasing HPV education and vaccine uptake among adolescents, which offers substantial long‐term health benefits.
Automated streamflow measurements in high‐elevation Alpine catchments
Authors: Hofmeister Florentin , Venegas Brenda Rubens , Sentlinger Gabriel , Tarantik Michael , Blume Theresa , Disse Markus , Chiogna Gabriele
Published: August 2023

Salt dilution is a well‐established streamflow measurement method in creeks, which works particularly well downstream of turbulent flow sections as the mixing of the salt tracer is enhanced. Usually, salt dilution measurements are performed manually, which considerably limits the observations of rare peak flow events. These events are particularly important for constructing robust rating curves and avoiding large uncertainties in the extrapolation of streamflow values. An additional challenge is the variability of the river cross section, especially after larger discharge events, leading to nonstationary rating curves. Therefore, discharge measurements well distributed over time are needed to construct a reliable streamflow–water level relationship and to detect changes caused by erosion and deposition processes. To overcome these two issues, we used an automated streamflow measuring systems at three different sites with contrasting hydrological and hydraulic characteristics in the Alps. This system allowed us to measure discharge at nearly maximum flow of the observation period (2020–2021) at all three sites and to detect abrupt changes in the rating curve by performing event‐based salt injections. The uncertainty in the measurements was quantified, and the streamflow was compared with official gauging stations in the same catchment. Based on a very large dataset of almost 300 measurements, we were able to evaluate the reliability of the system and identify the primary sources of uncertainty in the experimental setup. One key aspect was the site selection for the downstream electrical conductivity sensors, as measurement location strongly controls the signal‐to‐noise ratio in the recorded breakthrough curves.
Social participation in science museums: A concept under construction
Authors: de Oliveira Bianca Hipólito , Bizerra Alessandra Fernandes
Published: August 2023

The term social participation is widely used and has various meanings in different contexts. This article aims to enhance the understanding of social participation in science museums. The research was conducted using a cultural‐historical perspective in six steps: (1) survey to identify the meanings attributed to the term social participation and actions considered participatory in Brazilian science museums; (2) content analysis with coding; (3) literature review on social participation meanings; (4) analysis and revision of categories; (5) survey for educators from Brazilian science museums to validate the dimensions emerged in the first survey; (6) final analysis: synthesis of the dimensions of social participation and proposal of a model. As a result, we recognized five dimensions that contribute to the concept of social participation in science museums: “access”—removing barriers to participation that promote social exclusion; “identity and diversity”—creating a multicultural space that examines and redefines oppressive and unequal relationships; “co‐creation and authorship”—fostering different forms of collaboration with audiences; “interaction and dialogue”—expanding opportunities for interaction with exhibitions; “exercise of citizenship”—empowering the audiences to participate in social change. Although these dimensions provide insights into social participation in science museums, limitations exist. These dimensions can contribute to developing museum practices that dialogue with communities and strengthen social participation in science museums.
Estimation of the time of exposure based on interval and censored data using theε‐accelerated EM algorithm
Authors: Yoneoka Daisuke , Kawashima Takayuki , Tanoue Yuta , Nomura Shuhei , Eguchi Akifumi
Published: August 2023

Accurately estimating the timing of pathogen exposure plays a crucial role in outbreak control for emerging infectious diseases, including the source identification, contact tracing, and vaccine research and development. However, since surveillance activities often collect data retrospectively after symptoms have appeared, obtaining accurate data on the timing of disease onset is difficult in practice and can involve “coarse” observations, such as interval or censored data. To address this challenge, we propose a novel likelihood function, tailored to coarsely observed data in rapid outbreak surveillance, along with an optimization method based on an ‐accelerated EM algorithm for faster convergence to find maximum likelihood estimates (MLEs). The covariance matrix of MLEs is also discussed using a nonparametric bootstrap approach. In terms of bias and mean‐squared error, the performance of our proposed method is evaluated through extensive numerical experiments, as well as its application to a series of epidemiological surveillance focused on cases of mass food poisoning. The experiments show that our method exhibits less bias than conventional methods, providing greater efficiency across all scenarios.
A flexible quasi‐likelihood model for microbiome abundance count data
Authors: Shi Yiming , Li Huilin , Wang Chan , Chen Jun , Jiang Hongmei , Shih Ya‐Chen T. , Zhang Haixiang , Song Yizhe , Feng Yang , Liu Lei
Published: August 2023

In this article, we present a flexible model for microbiome count data. We consider a quasi‐likelihood framework, in which we do not make any assumptions on the distribution of the microbiome count except that its variance is an unknown but smooth function of the mean. By comparing our model to the negative binomial generalized linear model (GLM) and Poisson GLM in simulation studies, we show that our flexible quasi‐likelihood method yields valid inferential results. Using a real microbiome study, we demonstrate the utility of our method by examining the relationship between adenomas and microbiota. We also provide an R package “fql” for the application of our method.
Rational Design of Zincophilic Ag/Permselective PEDOT:PSS Heterogeneous Interfaces for High‐Rate Zinc Electrodeposition
Authors: Zhang Ying , Yang Shanchen , Deng Jie , Chen Ningxin , Xie Sida , Zhou Jiajun , Wang Zhaohui
Published: August 2023

Designing artificial interface is a promising strategy to protect Zn metal anode but achieving long Zn plating/stripping lifespans and efficient nucleation/deposition kinetics, particularly at high current densities, remains a challenge. In this study, a permselective zincophilic heterogeneous interface consisting of metallic Ag layer and poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) is designed via a simple chemical displacement and drop casting process. The artificial interface plays a multifunctional role in inhibiting dendrite growth/side reactions by reducing the nucleation barrier through a large number of Zn nucleation sites offered by the bottom Ag layer, homogenizing electrical field/Zn2+ flux and shielding SO42− migration via the compact, conducting, and Zn2+‐permselective PEDOT:PSS supporting layer. Moreover, the heterogeneous interface demonstrates enhanced structural integrity owing to the binder effect of PEDOT:PSS. As a result, the modified Zn anode demonstrates a cyclic lifespan of 200 h and a reduced voltage hysteresis of ≈150 mV at 20 mA cm−2/5 mAh cm−2, far surpassing its counterparts. Moreover, the protected Zn anode allows the LiMn2O4‐based full cells with remarkable rate and cycling performance. These findings provide new insight into the design of an efficient artificial interface for highly reversible and high‐rate Zn electrodeposition.
Whole‐Voltage‐Range Solid‐Solution Reaction in Layered Oxide Cathode of Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Ren Meng , Zhu Zhuo , Liang Zhaohui , Huang Yaohui , Zhang Tong , Hou Machuan , Zhang Kai , Chen Zonghai , He Yushi , Ma Zifeng , Chen Jun , Li Fujun
Published: August 2023

Layered manganese‐based oxides (LMOs) are promising cathode materials for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) due to their versatile structures. However, the Jahn–Teller effect of Mn3+ induces severe distortion of MnO6 octahedra, and the resultant low symmetry is responsible for the gliding of MnO2 layers and then inferior multiple‐phase transitions upon Na+ extraction/insertion. Here, hexagonal P2‐Na0.643Li0.078Mn0.827Ti0.095O2 is synthesized through the incorporation of Li and Ti into the distorted orthorhombic P'2‐Na0.67MnO2 to function as a phase‐transition‐free oxide cathode. It is revealed that Li in both the transition‐metal and Na layers enhances the covalency of Mn–O bonds and allows degeneracy of Mn 3d eg orbitals to favor the formation of hexagonal phase, and the high strength of Ti–O bonds reduces the electrostatic interaction between Na and O for suppressed Na+/vacancy rearrangements. These collectively lead to a whole‐voltage‐range solid‐solution reaction between 1.8 and 4.3 V with a small volume variation of 1.49%. This rewards its excellent cycling stability (capacity retention of 90% after 500 cycles) and rate capability (89 mAh g−1 at 2000 mA g−1).
Tellurium Nanowires for Lithium‐Metal Anode Stabilization in High‐Performance Anode‐Free Li–S Batteries
Authors: Sul Hyunki , He Jiarui , Manthiram Arumugam
Published: August 2023

Enhancing the reversibility of Li is crucial for extending the cycle life of Li‐limited anode‐free lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries. Incorporating tellurium (Te) in the system has proven to be highly effective by its reaction with polysulfides and forming a passivating interfacial layer on Li surface, which reduces the Li‐ion diffusion barrier. However, due to the poor utilization of Te, a significant amount of Te is required to improve cell cycling performance. To address this, nanowire‐structured Te (TeNW) is synthesized via a hydrothermal method and applied to Li2S‐based anode‐free cells to minimize the Te content in the system while extending the cell cycle life. Coating TeNW onto the separator greatly enhances Te utilization and demonstrates a significant cycle life improvement (38% retention over 300 cycles) with only 4 wt% TeNW content relative to the active material. The versatility of TeNW is further demonstrated by utilizing them with carbon nanotubes as the anode substrate. The exceptional performance of TeNW is attributed to the high‐surface‐area nanostructure and excellent conductive network, facilitating efficient electron transfer during cell cycling. These advantageous properties position TeNW as a promising material to enhance the cycle life of Li‐limited Li–S batteries.
Mentoring to subvert racialized‐gendered spaces: Critical perspectives of black women academic administrators
Authors: Cobb‐Roberts Deirdre , Esnard Talia
Published: August 2023

Black cis/trans women faculty face many challenges that impact their access to and success within administrative positions. We use critical race feminism (CRF) to highlight the role of mentoring in subverting multiple axes of power Black women encounter along the pathway to academic administration.
Disclosures 5: Notifying parents about student suspensions, Part 1
Authors: Rainsberger Richard
Published: August 2023

I sometimes wonder if it wouldn’t be better if parents had the ability to know what their student's grades and academic status were without having to prove their student was a dependent. These two items of a student's education records are considered by The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act to be non‐directory information. The obvious solution, as I’ve mentioned several times before, is that the student could give written consent or digital permission for the parents to see all that information online.
Prediction using serum glycosylated fibronectin of imminent pre‐eclampsia in women with new‐onset hypertension
Authors: Sokratous N. , Bednorz M. , Wright A. , Nicolaides K. H. , Kametas N. A.
Published: August 2023

Objective

To compare the predictive performance for delivery with pre‐eclampsia (PE) within 2 weeks after assessment in women with new‐onset hypertension at 24–41 weeks' gestation between serum glycosylated fibronectin (GlyFn) concentration, serum placental growth factor (PlGF) concentration and soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase‐1 (sFlt‐1) to PlGF concentration ratio.

Methods

This was a prospective observational study of 409 women with a singleton pregnancy presenting at 24–41 weeks' gestation with new‐onset hypertension. The recommended cut‐off for sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio for the prediction of PE in the platform used in this study is 85; the appropriate cut‐offs for GlyFn and PlGF were determined to achieve the same screen‐positive rate as that of sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio > 85. We then compared the predictive performance for delivery with PE within 2 weeks after presentation between GlyFn, PlGF and sFlt‐1/PlGF, both overall and in subgroups according to gestational age at presentation.

Results

Delivery with PE within 2 weeks occurred in 93 (22.7%) cases. The screen‐positive rate for sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio > 85 was 46.2%. The cut‐off corresponding to a screen‐positive rate of 46.2% was 75 pg/mL for PlGF and 510 µg/mL for GlyFn. The overall detection rate for delivery with PE within 2 weeks after presentation was 62.4% (95% CI, 51.7–72.2%) for GlyFn and sFlt‐1/PlGF and 60.2% (95% CI, 49.5–70.2%) for PlGF. In all women who delivered with PE within 2 weeks after presentation at < 34 weeks' gestation and in about 60–70% of those presenting at < 38 weeks, GlyFn and sFlt‐1/PlGF were increased and PlGF was reduced. However, the screen‐positive rate for these tests was very high at about 45%. The predictive performance for delivery with PE within 2 weeks after presentation at ≥ 38 weeks' gestation was poorer for all three methods of screening, with detection rates of 47–63% at screen‐positive rates of 40–50%.

Conclusions

In women with new‐onset hypertension, the predictive performance for delivery with PE within 2 weeks after presentation for serum GlyFn is similar to that of PlGF and the sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio, but GlyFn may be the preferred option because it is a rapid point‐of‐care test. However, the predictive performance for all tests is relatively poor. © 2023 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.