bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sustainable efficiency indicator for urban transportation: Case study of public bus and rapid transit systems in Bangkok
Authors: Varabuntoonvit Viganda , Boonyarith Kultida , Pakornkarn Panarin , Pichetwanit Panatda , Sittipong Witchakorn
Published: April 2023

Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is confronting critical traffic congestion caused by the large number of private vehicles. In 2019, the city was ranked eleventh highest on the global traffic index. Public transport was proposed as the key to alleviating the problem. Nonetheless, the sustainability of public transportation should be evaluated from environmental, economic, and social perspectives to support policy decision‐makers and monitor the improvement. This research developed a sustainability indicator and used a case study to assess the sustainability of public transportation in Bangkok, by comparing the public bus to the rapid transit (electric rail transportation) service due to their high use rates in Bangkok. A sustainable efficiency indicator (SEI) was developed using the concept of eco‐efficiency and the negative impacts were extended to cover environmental, economic, and social aspects. The results showed that the environmental impact of the bus was greatest during the operational phase, whereas for rail transport, it was greatest during the construction phase. In terms of the economy, because the railway system had been designed to service a large population, an increase in passenger numbers for rail transportation could increase its sustainable efficiency. The social impact was assessed based on a satisfaction survey for each of the two types of transportation. All the impacts were converted into monetary values to calculate the SEI. The SEI could also be used to monitor the enhancement of sustainability effectiveness as a tracking performance indicator.
Mixing of magmas from multiple sources in the petrogenesis of multi‐stage Early Cretaceous syenites in the Wulingshan alkaline complex, northern North China Craton: Evidence from enclaves
Authors: Liu Ruibin , Tong Ying , Zhang Huafeng , Duan Sining , Guo Lei
Published: April 2023

There are several different models for the origin of syenites, but the role of magma mixing in the formation of syenites remains unclear. The Wulingshan alkaline complex in the northern North China Craton consists mainly of porphyritic syenite and syenite with abundant enclaves. These enclaves may provide new insights into the petrogenesis of syenites. We obtained zircon U–Pb age, mineral chemistry, whole‐rock major and trace elements, and Sr–Nd isotopic data for the enclaves and their host rocks to constrain the petrogenesis and identify the role of magma mixing during the formation of the different syenites in the Wulingshan alkaline complex. The results of zircon U–Pb dating indicate that the enclaves and host rocks crystallized contemporaneously at ca. 133 Ma. The enclaves contain abundant clinopyroxene, amphibole, and biotite, and their average Nb/Ta (18.46) and Th/Ce (0.04) ratios are similar to those of the mantle. The enclaves have relatively high Fe2O3T, MgO, and CaO contents, and their SiO2 contents are equivalent to those of intermediate rocks, indicating that they formed by mixing the mafic and felsic magmas to some extent. The different mineral assemblages, major and trace elements and isotopic compositions of the enclaves in the porphyritic syenite and syenite indicate that they are two batches of parental magma with different properties derived from the mantle. The porphyritic syenite and syenite have high SiO2 and low Fe2O3T, MgO, and CaO contents, as well as low V, Cr, Co, and Ni contents. These major and trace element characteristics of the host rocks require the involvement of crustal components. The Sr–Nd isotopic compositions of the enclaves and the host syenitoids plot on a mixing curve between enriched lithospheric mantle and lower crust, indicating that these rocks are the products of magma mixing and crust–mantle interaction. Considering the contact relationships, the geochemistry data, and the mixing model presented in the paper, we propose that the upwelling of the hot asthenosphere heated the overlying enriched lithospheric mantle and triggered low‐degree partial melting. The alkalic mafic magmas derived from enriched mantle sources were mixed with felsic magmas generated by partial melting of the lower (or upper) crust to form the different syenites.
Graph‐matching distance between individuals' functional connectomes varies with relatedness, age, and cognitive score
Authors: Bukhari Hussain , Su Chang , Dhamala Elvisha , Gu Zijin , Jamison Keith , Kuceyeski Amy
Published: April 2023

Functional connectomes (FCs), represented by networks or graphs that summarize coactivation patterns between pairs of brain regions, have been related at a population level to age, sex, cognitive/behavioral scores, life experience, genetics, and disease/disorders. However, quantifying FC differences between individuals also provides a rich source of information with which to map to differences in those individuals' biology, experience, genetics or behavior. In this study, graph matching is used to create a novel inter‐individual FC metric, called swap distance, that quantifies the distance between pairs of individuals' partial FCs, with a smaller swap distance indicating the individuals have more similar FC. We apply graph matching to align FCs between individuals from the the Human Connectome Project and find that swap distance (i) increases with increasing familial distance, (ii) increases with subjects' ages, (iii) is smaller for pairs of females compared to pairs of males, and (iv) is larger for females with lower cognitive scores compared to females with larger cognitive scores. Regions that contributed most to individuals' swap distances were in higher‐order networks, that is, default‐mode and fronto‐parietal, that underlie executive function and memory. These higher‐order networks' regions also had swap frequencies that varied monotonically with familial relatedness of the individuals in question. We posit that the proposed graph matching technique provides a novel way to study inter‐subject differences in FC and enables quantification of how FC may vary with age, relatedness, sex, and behavior.
Effects of l‐arginine supplementation in patients with sickle cell disease: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of clinical trials
Authors: Sadeghi Alireza , Taherifard Ehsan , Dehdari Ebrahimi Niloofar , Rafiei Elham , Hadianfard Farshad , Taherifard Erfan
Published: April 2023

Background and Aims

Previous studies have shown that supplementation of some amino acids such as l‐arginine or its precursors could exert beneficial effects in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). The objective of this study is to systematically review the literature to assess the effect of arginine administration on the clinical and paraclinical parameters of patients with SCD.

Methods

Four online databases of PubMed, Web of Sciences, Scopus, and Embase were selected for systematic search. Eligible studies were clinical trials that evaluated the effect of arginine usage in patients with SCD. Effects sizes were calculated using weighted mean difference (WMD) and Hedge's g and they were pooled using random‐effects modeling with Hartung–Knapp adjustment. Additional analyses were also conducted.

Results

Twelve studies containing detail of 399 patients with SCD were found to be eligible. The data synthesis showed that l‐arginine significantly increased the level of NO metabolites (Hedge's g: 1.50, 0.48–1.82, I2: 88%) and hemoglobin F (WMD: 1.69%, 0.86–2.52, I2: 0%) and significantly decreased systolic blood pressure (WMD: −8.46 mmHg, −15.58 to −1.33, I2: 53%) and aspartate transaminase (Hedge's g: −0.49, −0.73 to −0.26, I2: 0%). However, there were no significant effects on hemoglobin, reticulocyte, malondialdehyde and diastolic blood pressure, and alanine transaminase.

Conclusion

Our meta‐analysis showed that l‐arginine use for SCD could be beneficial, increase hemoglobin F and exert blood pressure‐lowering and hepatoprotective properties. However, for a firm conclusion and widespread use of 
l‐arginine for these patients, more studies are needed.
A case of hyperammonemia occurring during treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma with axitinib
Authors: Kimura Shoichi , Fujisaki Yukiya , Onizuka Chie , Hasuike Satoru , Sato Yuichiro , Mukai Shoichiro , Kamoto Toshiyuki
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Although the incidence of hyperammonemia as an adverse event of tyrosine kinase inhibitors is quite low, several cases of tyrosine kinase inhibitor associated hyperammonemia have been reported. We report a case of hyperammonemia, that occurred during combined treatment with axitinib and pembrolizumab in a metastatic renal cell carcinoma patient without hepatic disorder or liver metastases.

Case presentation

A 77‐year‐old Japanese woman was diagnosed with metastatic renal cell carcinoma and was treated with pembrolizumab and axitinib. Both agents were subsequently discontinued due to hyperammonemia with hypothyroidism. After recovery, the patient resumed single‐agent therapy with axitinib. However, hyperammonemia and hypothyroidism occurred again, suggesting axitinib‐inducible adverse event. After nephrectomy, a lower dose of axitinib was restarted and continued safely for residual metastases under prophylactic treatment with aminoleban, lactulose, and levothyroxine.

Conclusion

The rare occurrence of hyperammonemia should be considered during treatment with VEGFR‐ targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor including axitinib, and supportive prophylactic medication may be useful.
You Don't Save Money by Doing Less Testing – You Save Money by Doing More of the Right Testing!
Authors: Pickard Andrew C , Beasley Richard , Nolan Andy J
Published: April 2023

Like so many aspects of life, we are looking for value‐for‐money. But we need to consider the value in terms of both short and long‐term gains. Although certification standards require verification that requirements have been met, we need to recognize that verification is also there to bring value to a project and to the business as a whole. However, prioritizing the value to the project over the value to the business can result in sub‐optimization and an overall higher cost to the business. This paper examines a specific case, the prediction of the fatigue lives of critical parts in gas turbine engines, to illustrate the more general case of performing tests to calibrate models that then have general applicability across multiple projects, rather than focusing testing on the needs of a specific project. In some circumstances, testing may not even be the best approach to take; if some level of error escape into service is acceptable (unlike the life prediction example given in this paper) then more focus on requirements validation and design review may provide a more cost‐effective approach. This is where the linkage in a systems engineering model between requirements, functions, failure modes and effects analysis, verification test cases, and available calibrated models can help with identifying opportunities and risks.
Inconsistent and Incomplete Datasheet: The Case for Systematic Use of Requirement Engineering
Authors: Brisacier‐Porchon Lorraine , Hammami Omar
Published: April 2023

The lifecycle of a system is extended from its early conception to its retirement of service. The lifespan of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) can be expected to last over 50 years in the defense market. In this context, the rising complexity of UGV systems imposes engineering steps that would ensure both capabilities of the system and resilience to its future inclusion in a system‐of system context. During its operational usage, the UGV is supposed to be maneuvered for specifically designed purposes following user manual datasheet of the components off‐the‐shelf (COTS) that were integrated. This paper exposes the public user datasheet relevance compared to the system engineering requirements that are the artifacts of system design architecture. The use of connecting COTS user manual to system requirements is discussed, all the more if the systems are to be re‐used in a system production line. This article is intended to explore system of system conception methods for future robotized battlefield.
Purification, crystallization, and X‐ray diffraction analysis of succinyl‐diaminopimelate desuccinylase from Wolbachia endosymbiont of Brugia malayi
Authors: Saravanan Sruthi Thiraviam , Poopandi Saritha , Huang Yen‐Chieh , Mathimaran Amala , Jeyaraman Jeyakanthan , Chen Chun‐Jung
Published: April 2023

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a debilitating mosquito‐borne parasitic disease caused by Brugia malayi in humans in the lymphatic system. Although limited drugs are available to treat this disease, these drugs are only effective against the larvae of Brugia malayi. As resistance has been reported to the available drugs, a new antifilarial drug is needed with better prognostic features, a short period of time of use, and efficiency at preventing adult worm survival. In this study, we have targeted succinyl‐diaminopimelate desuccinylase (DapE) from the Wolbachia endosymbiont of Brugia malayi (WBm), which is involved in the production of lysine and meso‐diaminopimelic acid, an essential component for the formation of bacterial cell walls, and plays a vital role in pathogen survival. Deletion of DapE gene is lethal to WBm since the organism has no alternative pathway for lysine biosynthesis. Here, the expression, purification, and crystallization of DapE are reported. The crystals of DapE, with an estimated solvent content of 50.76%, diffract synchrotron X‐rays to a resolution of 2.3 Å and belong to the space group C2221, with unit‐cell parameters of a = 51.78, b = 78.83, and c = 216.20 Å. The X‐ray absorption spectroscopy further confirms that zinc atoms are incorporated in DapE.
Detection of Vaccine Adverse Events Before Package Insert Revisions Using a Japanese Spontaneous Reporting System
Authors: Suzuki Shimon , Imai Shungo , Mitsuboshi Satoru , Kizaki Hayato , Hashiguchi Masayuki , Hori Satoko
Published: April 2023

The usefulness of disproportionality analysis for the pharmacovigilance of vaccines in the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report (JADER) database is yet to be proven. This study aimed to verify whether significant disproportionality could be detected before adding new vaccine adverse event information to package inserts. Information on package insert revisions related to vaccine adverse drug events from January 2013 to March 2023 was extracted from the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency website. This period was set as the maximum period for which early disproportionalities could be detected by the latest JADER database (April 2004 to December 2022). From JADER data, 15 revision histories (10 types of vaccines) of package inserts were identified, and 823,662 cases were obtained. Of the 15, 12 (80%) adverse events were identified as significant disproportionalities before package insert revisions were made. Nine of the 15 (60%) events were identified as significant disproportionalities earlier than at least 12 months. These findings suggest that the JADER database may detect vaccine adverse events earlier than package insert revisions, indicating its usefulness for the safety surveillance of vaccines.
Autoimmune Thyroiditis Attenuates Cardiometabolic Effects of Cabergoline in Young Women With Hyperprolactinemia
Authors: Krysiak Robert , Kowalcze Karolina , Okopień Bogusław
Published: April 2023

Both prolactin excess and autoimmune (Hashimoto) thyroiditis may predispose to the development of cardiometabolic disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate whether autoimmune thyroiditis determines cardiometabolic effects of cabergoline. The study population consisted of 2 groups of young women: 32 women with euthyroid Hashimoto thyroiditis (group A) and 32 individuals without thyroid disorders (group B). Both groups were matched for age, body mass index, blood pressure, and prolactin levels. Plasma prolactin, thyroid antibodies, glucose homeostasis markers, plasma lipids, circulating levels of uric acid, high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP), fibrinogen and homocysteine, and the urinary albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio were assessed before and after 6 months of cabergoline treatment. All women completed the study. Both groups differed in thyroid antibody titers, insulin sensitivity, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, hsCRP, homocysteine, and the albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio. Although cabergoline treatment reduced prolactin levels, improved insulin sensitivity, decreased glycated hemoglobin, increased high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, decreased hsCRP, and reduced the albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio in both treatment groups, these effects (except for glycated hemoglobin) were more pronounced in group B than in group A. Only in group B, the drug decreased triglycerides, uric acid, fibrinogen, and homocysteine. In group A, hsCRP levels correlated with both baseline thyroid antibody titers and with other cardiometabolic risk factors. The impact of cabergoline on cardiometabolic risk factors depended on the degree of reduction in prolactin levels, while in group A additionally correlated with the effect of treatment on hsCRP. The obtained results suggest that coexisting autoimmune thyroiditis attenuates cardiometabolic effects of cabergoline in young women with hyperprolactinemia.
Implementation of Clinical Cytochrome P450 3A Genotyping for Tacrolimus Dosing in a Large Kidney Transplant Program
Authors: Tillman Emma , Nikirk Miley G. , Chen Jeanne , Skaar Todd C. , Shugg Tyler , Maddatu Judith P. , Sharfuddin Asif A. , Eadon Michael T.
Published: April 2023

Tacrolimus is a calcineurin inhibitor with a narrow therapeutic range and is metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoenzymes CYP3A4 and CYP3A5. The Clinical Pharmacogenetic Implementation Consortium published evidence‐based guidelines for CYP3A5 normal/intermediate metabolizers prescribed tacrolimus, yet few transplant centers have implemented routine testing. The objective of this study was to implement preemptive CYP3A genotyping into clinical practice in a large kidney transplant program and to evaluate workflow feasibility, potential clinical benefit, and reimbursement to identify barriers and determine sustainability. Preemptive pharmacogenetic testing for CYP3A5 and CYP3A4 was implemented in all patients listed for a kidney transplant as part of standard clinical care. Genotyping was performed at the listing appointment, results were reported as discrete data in the electronic medical record, and education and clinical decision support alerts were developed to provide pharmacogenetic‐recommended tacrolimus dosing. During this initial phase, all patients were administered standard tacrolimus dosing, and clinical and reimbursement outcomes were collected. Greater than 99.5% of genotyping claims were reimbursed by third‐party payers. CYP3A5 normal/intermediate metabolizers had significantly fewer tacrolimus trough concentrations within the target range and a significantly longer time to their first therapeutic trough compared to poor metabolizers. The challenge of tacrolimus dosing is magnified in the African American population. The US Food and Drug Administration drug label recommends increased starting doses in African ancestry, yet only ≈66% of African Americans in our cohort were normal/intermediate metabolizers who required higher doses. Routine CYP3A5 genotyping may overcome this issue by using genotype over race as a more accurate predictor of drug response.
The environmental impact of inhaler replacement: A carbon footprint and economic calculation of the National Database of Health Insurance Claims in Japan
Authors: Nagasaki Kazuya , Kaji Yuki , Wada Yoshiki , Sasaki Takafumi
Published: April 2023

Background

Drugs are a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from healthcare systems. Pressurized metered‐dose inhalers (pMDIs) have raised concerns over their environmental impact due to GHG emissions. Evaluations and reduction strategies for GHGs have been primarily studied in Europe, but not in other regions, including Japan. Therefore, our objective was to calculate the carbon footprint of inhalers in Japan and evaluate their reduction scenarios.

Methods

Using the National Database of Health Insurance Claims, our analysis was conducted on inhaler prescriptions in Japan for the fiscal year of 2019. We calculated the number of inhalers used, GHG emissions, and total costs. Next, we simulated the environmental and economic impacts of three reduction scenarios: the first scenario replaced pMDI with dry power inhalers, followed by age‐based replacements. In the last scenario, we replaced pMDI with a propellant with a lower global warming potential.

Results

All inhaler‐related GHG emissions were 202 ktCO2e, of which 90.9% were attributed to pMDI use. Scenario analysis demonstrated that replacing 10% pMDI with DPI would reduce emissions by 6.7%, with a relatively modest increase in cost; substituting 10% of pMDI used by adults (excluding children and older adults) with alternative inhalers would reduce emissions by 6.1%, with a 0.7% increase in cost; and, replacing 10% of pMDI propellants with lower global warming potential would reduce emissions by 9.3%.

Conclusions

Selecting appropriate inhalers can mitigate GHG emissions in Japan, but its impact will be less than in other countries. Nevertheless, collaborative efforts between physicians, patients, and pharmaceutical companies are necessary to reduce GHG emissions.
Multi‐level habitat selection of boreal breeding mallards
Authors: Johnstone Ryan P. H. , Dyson Matthew E. , Slattery Stuart M. , Fedy Bradley C.
Published: April 2023

Canada's western boreal forest is a vital breeding habitat for North American duck populations. This region has experienced considerable demand for its valuable natural resources (e.g., oil and gas, forestry) resulting in extensive industrial development (e.g., infrastructure), which is predicted to continue. The potential effects of industrial development on breeding ducks in the western boreal forest, however, remains largely unexplored. We used backpack harness global positioning system (GPS) transmitters to document habitat selection by breeding female mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) across a gradient of industrial development in the western boreal forest of Alberta, Canada. We modeled breeding home range (second order) selection and habitat selection within the home range (third order) using resource selection functions, and spatially predicted our models across the landscape to highlight important breeding habitat. Contrary to our predictions, breeding female mallards did not avoid all industrial development at the second and third orders. Females established home ranges (second order) with greater proportions of marsh, graminoid fen, and well pads, and lower proportions of forest. Within their home range (third order), females selected shrub swamp, graminoid fen, marsh, well pads, and borrow pits, and avoided open water, swamp, treed peatland, forest, forest harvest areas, and industrials (e.g., buildings). Females also selected habitat that was close to pipelines and roads. Our results suggest that the magnitude and direction of breeding season habitat selection by female mallards varies depending on the scale and landscape features, but current levels of industrial development within our study area still allowed for the establishment of breeding season home ranges. Our spatially predicted maps contribute to the increasing body of work surrounding boreal waterfowl ecology by highlighting important breeding habitat for mallards in Canada's western boreal forest.
Climate change, wildfire, and past forest management challenge conservation of Canada lynx in Washington, USA
Authors: Lyons Andrea L. , Gaines William L. , Lewis Jeffrey C. , Maletzke Benjamin T. , Werntz Dave , Thornton Daniel H. , Hessburg Paul F. , Begley James , Vanbianchi Carmen , King Travis W. , Blatz Gretchen , Fitkin Scott
Published: April 2023

The synergistic effects of climate change, wildfires, fire suppression, and past forest management are challenging efforts to protect and recover Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) in the North Cascades of Washington, USA. Canada lynx is a threatened species in the United States and a focal species used to gain insights into the structure and function of boreal forest ecosystems. To understand how multiple stressors are influencing lynx populations and the boreal forest in Washington, we developed a spatially explicit carrying capacity model in HexSim using local data on lynx resource selection and life history. We used this model to estimate changes in carrying capacity and population persistence for 3 time steps: year 2000, which represented limited historical wildfire and aggressive fire suppression; year 2013, after nearly 2,000 km2 of wildfires burned about 17% of lynx habitat; and year 2020, after an additional 2,000 km2 of wildfires burned another 15% of lynx habitat in our study area. Fires altered habitat distribution and landscape capacity to support Canada lynx. There was a 66–73% reduction in lynx carrying capacity in our study area because of large, high‐severity fires that have occurred from 2000–2020, despite aggressive fire suppression. This reduction in carrying capacity was concurrent with decreases in the probability of lynx persistence from year 2000 to year 2020 simulations and was most pronounced for simulations that included no immigration and the largest home range size. The negative synergistic influences of long‐term fire suppression, timber harvest, increased drought, longer wildfire seasons, declining mountain snowpack, and increasingly frequent large fires pose considerable challenges to the conservation and recovery of Canada lynx and the boreal forest ecosystem upon which they depend. We discuss an alternative approach to vegetation and fire management to conserve and restore lynx habitat and populations in Washington.
Error in demographic ratios from aerial surveys of white‐tailed deer in semi‐arid rangelands
Authors: Foley Aaron M. , DeYoung Randy W. , Hewitt David G.
Published: April 2023

Aerial surveys can efficiently monitor populations of large animals in geographically extensive management units but are time‐ and cost‐intensive. Biologists often design population surveys to balance cost, spatial coverage, and precision in estimates of population size. Demographic ratio data from aerial surveys are an important component of population monitoring and management, yet the error of ratio data remains under‐appreciated, especially for low‐density populations. We quantified error in juvenile:female, male:female, and young:mature male ratios from 177 helicopter surveys of white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in 37 wildlife management units encompassing 3,269 km2 of semi‐arid grasslands and brush in South Texas, USA, during 2011–2015. We classified error (the % difference between the mean and the limits of the confidence interval) of surveys as appropriate for research‐based (≤25% error) or monitoring surveys (≤50% error). Overall, error usually met criteria for monitoring surveys but not for research‐based surveys; male:female (x̄ = 32% error) and juvenile:female (x̄ = 37%) ratios had smaller errors than young:mature male ratios (x̄ = 51%). As number of detections increased, errors declined; minimum number of detections for both components of a given ratio needed for monitoring and research‐based surveys was about 30–40 and 150–185 at the 90% confidence interval and 45–60 and 210–230 at the 95% confidence interval, respectively. Acceptable error to reliably detect changes in demographic ratios may require greater survey effort or a different survey design for low‐density populations. Furthermore, obtaining sufficient detections for acceptable error of male age structure estimates may not be feasible. Error of demographic ratios is an important consideration given their role in the design of harvest plans, evaluation of the effects of management, and tracking the effect of diseases, such as chronic wasting disease. The high effort required to obtain acceptable error with ratio data in areas with low deer densities indicates that helicopter surveys may not be an ideal platform to investigate fine‐scale variation in demographic data. Managers will have to consider trade‐offs between expenses and variance of ratio data collected from aerial surveys and whether obtaining acceptable error with ratio data is feasible given deer densities and detection probabilities are site‐specific.
Three‐dimensional simulation on spatiotemporal variation of salinity in reclaimed saline soil and yield reduction risk assessment
Authors: Song Jianghui , Shi Xiaoyan , Wang Haijiang , Zhu Yongqi , Li Weidi , Wang Jingang , Tian Tian , Zhong Mingtao , Lv Xin , Li Baoguo
Published: April 2023

Amelioration of saline soil to grow crops could increase food production and improve food security. However, the long‐term effects of different methods for ameliorating saline soil still need to be evaluated. In this study (2014–2021), the salinity variations of saline soils under different amelioration methods (T1: salt isolation by a stone layer + cropping; T2: subsurface drainage + cropping; T3: 5‐year cropping; T4: 3‐year cropping; CK: bare land) were monitored using electromagnetic induction. Besides, the long‐term effects of different amelioration methods and yield reduction risk were assessed using the three‐dimensional sequential Gaussian simulation (3D‐SGS). The 3D‐SGS results showed that soil salinity increased during abandonment (2014–2015) and then decreased during reclamation (2016–2021). Salt accumulated in the 0–40 cm soil layer in T3, T4, and CK treatments, while it accumulated in the 40–80 cm soil layer in T1 and T2 treatments. The proportion of high‐risk areas in T1, T2, T3, and T4 treatments reduced after reclamation, but soil salinity only slightly reduced in T3 and T4 treatments, showing a high risk of yield reduction. Besides, the time‐specific regression model had the highest prediction accuracy for soil salinity. Therefore, probabilistic evaluation based on 3D‐SGS is an effective method to evaluate the effectiveness of saline soil amelioration methods, and could help decision‐makers formulate scientific saline soil amelioration plans.
Statistical Copolymers Comprising Bio‐Based Aromatic Methacrylate Segments and Their Influence on the Glass Transition Temperature
Authors: Heinz Markus , Kepkow Maximilian , Strehmel Veronika
Published: April 2023

Synthesis of statistical copolymers is described from bio‐based 4‐(4‐methacryloyloxyphenyl)butan‐2‐one (1) with an aliphatic methacrylate, such asn‐butyl methacrylate (2),N,N‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (3), and lauryl methacrylate (4), using mostly dimethyl sulfoxide as solvent in the free radical polymerization. Though4 is insoluble in dimethyl sulfoxide, diethyl carbonate is the preferred solvent for the copolymerization using this monomer although both yield and molecular weight are lower even for poly(4‐(4‐methacryloyloxyphenyl)butan‐2‐one) than using dimethyl sulfoxide as solvent.1H NMR spectroscopic analysis gives information about the content on the monomer segments in all copolymers. Furthermore, elementary analysis additionally supports the results obtained for the copolymers made from1 and3. As shown by the copolymerization diagrams and the copolymerization parameters, the copolymerization of1with2is a nearly ideal copolymerization using short polymerization time (20 min). Extending the polymerization time results in slight deviation from an ideal copolymerization. Furthermore, the glass transition temperature of the copolymers determined by DSC and calculated using both the Fox equation and the Gibbs‐DiMarzio equation show the strong influence of the copolymer composition. As expected, the glass transition temperature increases with increasing content on aromatic segments in the copolymer that may be interesting for application in coatings and adhesives, respectively.
A variant in CYP26B1 associated with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma risk by affecting retinoic acid metabolism
Authors: Niu Siyuan , Shi Ke , Yue Xinying , Pan Miaoxin , Song Lina , Gu Linglong , Tan Yuqian , Miao Xiaoping , Tian Jianbo , Chang Jiang
Published: April 2023

All‐trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is the natural and synthetic analogue of vitamin A, playing an essential tumor suppressive role in multiple cancers including the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Cytochrome P450 family 26 subfamily B member 1 (CYP26B1) exerts a critical regulator of ATRA levels through specific inactivation of ATRA to hydroxylated forms. Our previous exome‐wide analyses revealed a rare missense variant in CYP26B1 significantly associated with ESCC risk in the Chinese population. However, it is still unclear whether there are common variants in CYP26B1 affect the susceptibility of ESCC and the tumor promotion role of CYP26B1 in vivo. In this research, we conducted a two‐stage case‐control study comprised of 5057 ESCC cases and 5397 controls, followed by a series of biochemical experiments to explore the function of CYP26B1 and its common variants in the tumorigenesis of ESCC. Intriguingly, we identified a missense variant rs2241057[A>G] in the fourth exon of CYP26B1 significantly associated with the ESCC risk (combined odds ratio = 1.28; 95% confidence interval = 1.15–1.42; p = 2.96 × 10−6). Through further functional analysis, we demonstrated that ESCC cells with the overexpression of rs2241057[G] had a significant lower level of retinoic acid, compared with the overexpression of rs2241057[A] or the control vector. In addition, the CYP26B1 overexpression and knock‐out ESCC cells affected cell proliferation rate both in vitro and in vivo. These results highlighted the carcinogenicity of CYP26B1 related to the ATRA metabolism in ESCC risk.
Some fundamental issues associated with theoretical analyses of reactive infiltration instability in fluid‐saturated porous media
Authors: Zhao Chongbin , Hobbs Bruce E. , Ord Alison
Published: April 2023

This paper deals with three fundamental issues associated with theoretical analyses of reactive infiltration instability (RII) problems in fluid‐saturated porous media. The first fundamental issue is to determine the spatial shapes of chemical dissolution‐fronts in the limit case of the mineral dissolution ratio approaching zero in both conventional time (daily life time) and unconventional time (abstract time) domains. The chemical dissolution‐front is commonly represented by the spatial shape of the porosity profile. The second fundamental issue is to conduct theoretical analyses of the RII problems associated with the mineral dissolution ratio approaching zero through directly solving dimensional mathematical governing equations in the conventional time domain. The third fundamental issue is to carry out theoretical analyses of the RII problems associated with the mineral dissolution ratio approaching zero through solving dimensionless mathematical governing equations in the unconventional time domain. Through purely mathematical deductions, it has been proven that: (1) the spatially sharp shape of a chemical dissolution‐front, which is theoretically predicted either at a much smaller timescale than the dissolution timescale associated with the daily life time or at a much larger timescale than the dissolution timescale associated with the daily life time, can be observed in the daily life time domain; (2) the theoretical instability criterion of an RII problem can be established directly at three different length‐scales in the daily life time domain; and (3) although the spatial shape of a chemical dissolution‐front at the dissolution timescale associated with the daily life time cannot be observed in the daily life time domain, the theoretical instability criterion of an RII problem at the dissolution timescale associated with the daily life time can be established when a physically consistent mathematical transform is used in the theoretical analysis.
Discrete‐time mean field social control with a major agent
Authors: Ma Xiao , Wang Bing‐Chang , Zhang Huanshui
Published: April 2023

This paper considers a linear‐quadratic mean field control problem involving a major agent and minor agents. We aim to optimize a social cost as a weighted sum of the individual costs under decentralized information. Firstly, the forward‐backward stochastic difference equations (FBSDEs) are obtained for this problem by variational analysis. Then, by decoupling the FBSDEs, we design the decentralized control laws, which are further shown to be asymptotically optimal.
MALDImID: Spatialomics R package and Shiny app for more specific identification of MALDI imaging proteolytic peaks using LC‐MS/MS‐based proteomic biomarker discovery data
Authors: Oliveira Cristiano , Longuespée Rémi
Published: April 2023

Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) imaging of proteolytic peptides from formalin‐fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue sections could be integrated in the portfolio of molecular pathologists for protein localization and tissue classification. However, protein identification can be very tedious using MALDI‐time‐of‐flight (TOF) and post‐source decay (PSD)‐based fragmentation. Hereby, we implemented an R package and Shiny app to exploit liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS)‐based proteomic biomarker discovery data for more specific identification of peaks observed in bottom‐up MALDI imaging data. The package is made available under the GPL 3 license. The Shiny app can directly be used at the following address: https://biosciences.shinyapps.io/Maldimid.
Charge site manipulation to enhance top‐down fragmentation efficiency
Authors: Habeck Tanja , Maciel Edvaldo Vasconcelos Soares , Kretschmer Kevin , Lermyte Frederik
Published: April 2023

In recent years, top‐down mass spectrometry has become a widely used approach to study proteoforms; however, improving sequence coverage remains an important goal. Here, two different proteins, α‐synuclein and bovine carbonic anhydrase, were subjected to top‐down collision‐induced dissociation (CID) after electrospray ionisation. Two high‐boiling solvents, DMSO and propylene carbonate, were added to the protein solution in low concentration (2%) and the effects on the top‐down fragmentation patterns of the proteins were systematically investigated. Each sample was measured in triplicate, which revealed highly reproducible differences in the top‐down CID fragmentation patterns in the presence of a solution additive, even if the same precursor charge state was isolated in the quadrupole of the instrument. Further investigation supports the solution condition‐dependent selective formation of different protonation site isomers as the underlying cause of these differences. Higher sequence coverage was often observed in the presence of additives, and the benefits of this approach became even more evident when datasets from different solution conditions were combined, as increases up to 35% in cleavage coverage were obtained. Overall, this approach therefore represents a promising opportunity to increase top‐down fragmentation efficiency.
Preference matters: New aspects on how foreign bodies should and could be removed from a child's airway
Authors: Freitag Nadine , Möllenberg Leon , Wiemers Anna , Bosse Hans Martin , Kristin Julia , Vicencio Alfin , Schramm Dirk
Published: April 2023

Background

Foreign body aspiration in children is a potentially life‐threatening event that can be diagnosed and treated by airway endoscopy. We aimed to analyze the influence of the examiner's experience and preference on the choice of the technique and the resulting complication rate.

Methods

In this international study, experts in the field documented their preferred and applied technique as well as the outcome of each case of foreign body removal. Personal data of the bronchoscopists and their medical center were collected via an online questionnaire separately from the case specifics.

Results

A total of 399 foreign body removals were performed by 64 examiners. A total of 279 removals were performed using rigid endoscopy, and 120 procedures were performed by flexible. When a difficulty was expected, flexible endoscopy was used significantly more often (χ2(1) = 11.06, p < 0.001). Complications occurred significantly less often when the bronchoscopist used their preferred technique (χ2(1) = 6.41, p = 0.011), had more than 5 years of experience (χ2(1) = 5.13, p = 0.023) or performed more than 100 removals (χ2(2) = 11.51, p = 0.003). In medical centers, complication rates significantly decreased if more than 200 bronchoscopies were performed in children, compared to the centers that perform 50–200 bronchoscopies per year (χ2(1) = 24.56, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Preference and experience of a bronchoscopist and his/her medical center with flexible or rigid foreign body removal distinctively affect the outcome of the procedure and cannot be neglected in the discourse on the appropriate technique. This link also emphasizes the importance of a structured training program.
Outcomes among heart failure patients hospitalized for acute pulmonary embolism and COVID‐19 infection: Insight from the National Inpatient Sample
Authors: Casipit Bruce , Tito Sahana , Ogunmola Isaac , Idowu Abiodun , Patil Shivaraj , Lo Kevin , Bozorgnia Behnam
Published: April 2023

There is paucity of data regarding the outcomes of hospitalized acute pulmonary embolism (PE) patients with heart failure (HF) and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19) infection. We utilized the 2020 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) Database in conducting a retrospective cohort study to investigate the outcomes of hospitalized acute PE patients with HF and COVID‐19, looking at its impact on in‐hospital mortality, thrombolysis, and thrombectomy utilization as well as hospital length of stay (LOS). A total of 23,413 hospitalized acute PE patients with HF were identified in our study, of which 1.26% (n = 295/23,413) had COVID‐19 infection. Utilizing a stepwise survey multivariable logistic regression model that adjusted for confounders, COVID‐19 infection among acute PE patients with HF was found to be an independent predictor of overall in‐hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15–6.67; p = 0.023) and thrombolysis utilization (aOR: 5.52; 95% CI, 2.57–11.84; p ≤ 0.001) compared to those without COVID‐19. However, there were comparable rates of thrombectomy utilization and LOS among acute PE patients with HF regardless of the COVID‐19 infection status. On subgroup analysis, patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction was found to be associated with increased risk for in‐hospital mortality (aOR: 3.89; 95% CI, 1.33–11.39; p = 0.013) and thrombectomy utilization (aOR: 4.58; 95% CI, 1.08–19.41; p = 0.042), whereas both HF subtypes were associated with increased thrombolysis utilization. COVID‐19 infection among acute PE patients with HF was associated with higher over‐all in‐hospital mortality and increased thrombolysis utilization but had comparable hospital LOS as well as thrombectomy utilization.
A case of resected pulmonary capillary hemangioma with a literature review
Authors: Hagui Emi , Sakane Tadashi , Hioki Keisuke , Nakano Tomoharu , Haneda Hiroshi
Published: April 2023

Pulmonary hemangiomas are benign, relatively rare tumours. Because computed tomography (CT) findings show a variety of images, it is often difficult to distinguish hemangiomas from lung cancer and other benign tumours. We report a 63‐year‐old man who was diagnosed with a pulmonary capillary hemangioma (PCH). A right lung basal segmentectomy was performed for diagnosis and treatment. On chest CT, the lesion was shown to be a solid nodule with contrast‐enhanced margins. This finding was thought to reflect the dense vascular hyperplasia of the central part of the tumour based on the pathologic findings. Although few studies involving PCH have referred to contrast‐enhanced CT, the findings of contrast‐enhanced CT might be a valuable indicator for diagnosing PCH.
Dexterity enhancement of continuum robot for natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery in the dual‐manipulator collaborative space
Authors: Cheng Tianyu , Zhang Gang , Sun Jianjun , Zhang Tao , Du Fuxin
Published: April 2023

Background

Suturing and knotting in Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) requires the robot not only to be able to work with multiple manipulators but also to have a high degree of dexterity. However, little attention has been paid to the design and enhancement of dexterity in multi‐manipulated robots.

Methods

In this paper, the dexterity of a new dual‐manipulator collaborative continuum robot in collaborative space is analyzed and enhanced. A kinematic model of the continuum robot was developed. The dexterity function of the robot is evaluated based on the concepts of the low‐Degree‐of‐Freedom Jacobian matrix. Then an Adaptive Parameter Gray Wolf Coupled Cuckoo Optimization Algorithm with faster convergence and higher accuracy is innovatively proposed to optimize the objective function. Finally, experiments demonstrate that the dexterity of the optimized continuum robot is enhanced.

Results

The optimization results show that the optimized dexterity is 24.91% better than the initial state.

Conclusion

Through the work of this paper, the robot for NOTES can perform suturing and knot more dexterously, which has significant implications for the treatment of digestive tract diseases.
A systematic literature review on long‐term localization and mapping for mobile robots
Authors: Sousa Ricardo B. , Sobreira Héber M. , Moreira António Paulo
Published: April 2023

Long‐term operation of robots creates new challenges to Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) algorithms. Long‐term SLAM algorithms should adapt to recent changes while preserving older states, when dealing with appearance variations (lighting, daytime, weather, or seasonal) or environment reconfiguration. When also operating robots for long periods and trajectory lengths, the map should readjust to environment changes but not grow indefinitely. The map size should depend only on updating the map with new information of interest, not on the operation time or trajectory length. Although several studies in the literature review SLAM algorithms, none of the studies focus on the challenges associated to lifelong SLAM. Thus, this paper presents a systematic literature review on long‐term localization and mapping following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta‐Analysis guidelines. The review analyzes 142 works covering appearance invariance, modeling the environment dynamics, map size management, multisession, and computational topics such as parallel computing and timing efficiency. The analysis also focus on the experimental data and evaluation metrics commonly used to assess long‐term autonomy. Moreover, an overview over the bibliographic data of the 142 records provides analysis in terms of keywords and authorship co‐occurrence to identify the terms more used in long‐term SLAM and research networks between authors, respectively. Future studies can update this paper thanks to the systematic methodology presented in the review and the public GitHub repository with all the documentation and scripts used during the review process.