bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accumulation of molybdenum in major organs following repeated oral administration of bis‐choline tetrathiomolybdate in the Sprague Dawley rat
Authors: Foster John R. , Billimoria Kharmen , del Castillo Busto M. Estela , Strekopytov Stanislav , Goenaga‐Infante Heidi , Morley Timothy J.
Published: June 2022

Molybdenum is an essential dietary trace element required for several critical enzyme systems. High intake is associated with toxicity in ruminants and animal studies. The proposed therapeutic use of molybdenum‐based drugs poses a potential risk for accumulation through chronic administration of therapeutic doses of this element. The current experiment was designed to study the effect of daily dosing of a molybdenum compound, bis‐choline tetrathiomolybdate (TTM), in Sprague Dawley rats using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐ToF‐MS) and two dosing levels of TTM for up to 3 months. To investigate if molybdenum accumulation was associated with tissue toxicity, histopathology, haematology and clinical biochemistry markers of toxicity were incorporated into the study design. There were no behavioural signs of toxicity to the rats, and no clinical or anatomic pathology was associated with treatment. The current data did show a progressive accumulation of molybdenum within the adrenal gland, kidneys, liver, spleen, brain and testes. Although this was not associated with tissue toxicity within the 3‐month study design, greater exposure over a longer period of time has the potential for producing adverse pathophysiological cellular function. Tissue toxicity, as a result of local excessive accumulation of molybdenum over time, has clear implications for the therapeutic use of molybdenum in humans and demands sensitive monitoring of tissue molybdenum levels to avoid toxicity. The current study highlights the shortcomings of conventional biomonitoring approaches to detect molybdenum accumulation with the goal of avoiding molybdenum‐associated toxicity.
Glutaric aciduria type 1: Diagnosis, clinical features and long‐term outcome in a large cohort of 34 Irish patients
Authors: Healy Lydia , O'Shea Meabh , McNulty Jennifer , King Graham , Twomey Eilish , Treacy Eileen , Crushell Ellen , Hughes Joanne , Knerr Ina , Monavari Ahmad Ardeshir
Published: June 2022

Glutaric aciduria type 1 (GA1) is a rare neurometabolic disorder that can lead to encephalopathic crises and severe dystonic movement disorders. Adherence to strict dietary restriction, in particular a diet low in lysine, carnitine supplementation and emergency treatment in pre‐symptomatic patients diagnosed by high‐risk screen (HRS) or newborn screen (NBS) leads to a favourable outcome. We present biochemical and clinical characteristics and long‐term outcome data of 34 Irish patients with GA1 aged 1–40 years. Sixteen patients were diagnosed clinically, and 17 patients by HRS, prior to introduction of NBS for GA1 in the Republic of Ireland in 2018. One patient was diagnosed by NBS. Clinical diagnosis was at a median of 1 year (range 1 month to 8 years) and by HRS was at a median of 4 days (range 3 days to 11 years). 14/18 (77.8%) diagnosed by HRS or NBS had neither clinical manifestations nor radiological features of GA1, or had radiological features only, compared to 0/16 (0%) diagnosed clinically (p < 0.001). Patients diagnosed clinically who survived to school‐age were more likely to have significant cerebral palsy and dystonia (7/11; 63.6% vs. 0/13; 0%, p < 0.001). They were less likely to be in mainstream school versus the HRS group (5/10; 50% vs. 12/13; 92.3%; p = 0.012). Clinical events occurring after 6 years of age were unusual, but included spastic diplegia, thalamic haemorrhage, Chiari malformation, pituitary hormone deficiency and epilepsy. The exact aetiology of these events is unclear.
Waitlist mortality of young patients with biliary atresia: Impact of allocation policy and living donor liver transplantation
Authors: Esmati Hedayatullah , van Rosmalen Marieke , van Rheenen Patrick F. , de Boer Marieke T. , van den Berg Aad P. , van der Doef Hubert P. J. , Rayar Michel , de Kleine Ruben H.J. , Porte Robert J. , de Meijer Vincent E. , Verkade Henkjan J.
Published: June 2022

Patients with biliary atresia (BA) below 2 years of age in need of a transplantation largely rely on partial grafts from deceased donors (deceased donor liver transplantation [DDLT]) or living donors (living donor liver transplantation [LDLT]). Because of high waitlist mortality in especially young patients with BA, the Eurotransplant Liver Intestine Advisory Committee (ELIAC) has further prioritized patients with BA listed before their second birthday for allocation of a deceased donor liver since 2014. We evaluated whether this Eurotransplant (ET) allocation prioritization changed the waitlist mortality of young patients with BA. We used a pre–post cohort study design with the implementation of the new allocation rule between the two periods. Participants were patients with BA younger than 2 years who were listed for liver transplantation in the ET database between 2001 and 2018. Competing risk analyses were performed to assess waitlist mortality in the first 2 years after listing. We analyzed a total of 1055 patients with BA, of which 882 had been listed in the preimplementation phase (PRE) and 173 in the postimplementation phase (POST). Waitlist mortality decreased from 6.7% in PRE to 2.3% in POST (p = 0.03). Interestingly, the proportion of young patients with BA undergoing DDLT decreased from 32% to 18% after ET allocation prioritization (p = 0.001), whereas LDLT increased from 55% to 74% (p = 0.001). The proportional increase in LDLT decreased the median waitlist duration of transplanted patients from 1.5 months in PRE to 0.85 months in POST (p = 0.003). Since 2014, waitlist mortality in young patients with BA has strongly decreased in the ET region. Rather than associated with prioritized allocation of deceased donor organs, the decreased waitlist mortality was related to a higher proportion of patients undergoing LDLT.
Investigation of Water‐Soluble Binders for LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4‐Based Full Cells
Authors: Salian Girish D. , Højberg Jonathan , Fink Elkjær Christian , Tesfamhret Yonas , Hernández Guiomar , Lacey Matthew J. , Younesi Reza
Published: June 2022

Two water‐soluble binders of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and sodium alginate (SA) have been studied in comparison with N‐methylpyrrolidone‐soluble poly(vinylidene difluoride–co‐hexafluoropropylene) (PVdF‐HFP) to understand their effect on the electrochemical performance of a high‐voltage lithium nickel manganese oxide (LNMO) cathode. The electrochemical performance has been investigated in full cells using a Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) anode. At room temperature, LNMO cathodes prepared with aqueous binders provided a similar electrochemical performance as those prepared with PVdF‐HFP. However, at 55 °C, the full cells containing LNMO with the aqueous binders showed higher cycling stability. The results are supported by intermittent current interruption resistance measurements, wherein the electrodes with SA showed lower resistance. The surface layer formed on the electrodes after cycling has been characterized by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The amount of transition metal dissolutions was comparable for all three cells. However, the amount of hydrogen fluoride (HF) content in the electrolyte cycled at 55 °C is lower in the cell with the SA binder. These results suggest that use of water‐soluble binders could provide a practical and more sustainable alternative to PVdF‐based binders for the fabrication of LNMO electrodes.
Effect of automatic emotional processing on response inhibition among heroin abstainers
Authors: Su Hongting , Yang Ling , Cao Hua , Zhang Jianxun , Li Xiaomin , Li Yun
Published: June 2022

Previous studies have explored effects of the conscious processing of emotional information on the interaction between emotion and executive control. However, the conscious processing of emotional information introduces “defensive responses,” which might limit the emotional effect. To avoid the limitations, this study aimed to explore the effect of automatic emotional processing on response inhibition among heroin abstainers. Individuals experiencing heroin withdrawal symptoms are not entirely exempt from the influence of drugs, and it is challenging to find heroin addicts in practice. Therefore, similar to previous studies, we recruited heroin abstainers in this study. In Experiment 1, for the heroin abstainers group, 30 participants meeting the inclusion criteria were recruited from a compulsory isolated detoxification center, whereas 30 age‐ and education‐matched participants were recruited from the community as the control group. These participants completed the Go/No‐Go task by supraliminal emotional priming. In Experiment 2, the heroin abstainers group comprised 33 eligible participants and control group comprised 33 eligible participants. These participants completed the Go/No‐Go task by subliminal emotional priming. We compared the participants’ rates of commission errors in the Go/No‐Go tasks. The rate of commission errors was lowest upon the activation of positive emotion. Moreover, under subliminal emotional priming, the rate of commission errors for the heroin abstainers group was significantly lower than that for the control group. However, regarding supraliminal emotional priming, there was no significant difference between the rates of commission errors for the two groups. These results suggest automatic positive emotional processing can enhance response inhibition among heroin abstainers. Moreover, under subliminal emotional priming, heroin abstainers had more enhanced response inhibition than the control groups. This study plays a significant role in understanding the effect of automatic emotional processing on response inhibition among drug addicts. This study also provides a theoretical basis for ensuring enhanced response inhibition among drug addicts.
Use of fetal tele‐echo at small regional hospitals increases the rate of prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease
Authors: Meiman Jenna , Zhang Charlie , Holland Brian
Published: June 2022

Background

To improve the rate of prenatal diagnosis of Congenital heart disease (CHD) in Kentucky, four fetal tele‐echocardiography sites were established at regional hospitals in Kentucky: Ashland in 2011, Paducah in 2014, Lexington in 2014, and Owensboro in 2016.

Methods

A 13‐year retrospective review of medical records at Norton Children's Hospital was performed to identify patients with CHD who had cardiac surgery or intervention prior to one year of age. The rate of prenatal diagnosis prior to establishing any fetal tele‐echocardiography sites was compared to the rate of prenatal diagnosis after the sites were established. Independent t‐tests were used to determine if there was a statistically significant increase in the rate of prenatal diagnosis.

Results

1287 patients had cardiac surgery or cath lab intervention prior to one year of age at our institution from June 2005 to December 2018 and were included in the analysis. Seventeen patients were excluded due to incomplete medical records. The rate of prenatal diagnosis prior to the implementation of the first fetal tele‐echocardiography site was 13.8% and after the sites were established, the prenatal diagnosis rate was 39.7% (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Increasing the number of fetal tele‐echocardiography sites at small regional hospitals in Kentucky was associated with a statistically significant increase in the rate of prenatal diagnosis for patients less than 1 year of age who had cardiac surgery or cath lab intervention at Norton Children's Hospital in Louisville. Fetal tele‐echocardiography is an effective method to improve the rate of prenatal diagnosis in regions served by small regional hospitals with limited access to fetal echocardiography.
Stock liquidity and director compensation
Authors: Obonyo Tirimba
Published: June 2022

This study investigates how stock liquidity affects the compensation incentives faced by the directors on the board. The results show that the proportion of cash‐based compensation in the directors' compensation package increases when the firm's shares are less liquid: a one standard deviation increase in the bid‐ask spread from the mean is associated with a 3% larger fraction of cash in the directors' compensation package. The effect is more pronounced for firms whose management does not issue Earnings Per Share (EPS) guidance and for firms whose Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) themselves have higher pay in cash and lower pay in the form of equity. These results suggest the compensation incentives offered to directors in firms with illiquid shares result in the interests of shareholders being less aligned with those of the directors compared with firms with liquid shares.
Side‐viewing handheld confocal Raman probe coupled with an off‐axis parabolic mirror for superficial epithelial Raman measurements of luminal organs
Authors: Wang Jianfeng , Zhang Guling
Published: June 2022

We report on the development of a side‐viewing handheld confocal Raman probe coupled with an off‐axis parabolic (OAP) mirror for superficial epithelial Raman measurements of luminal organs. The OAP mirror realizes an effective numerical aperture of 0.36, a measured Raman excitation spot diameter of 130 μm and a depth of focus of 128 μm, allowing real time Raman spectra acquisition. The OAP mirror tilts the Raman optical path by 90°, making it well suited for superficial epithelium Raman interrogation of luminal organs. In addition, the probe results in no Raman interferences that may arise from transmission optics. The superficial epithelium Raman interrogation capability of the probe developed is validated through a two‐layer tissue phantom experiment. This work suggests the potential of the side‐viewing handheld confocal Raman probe coupled with an OAP mirror for enhancing the diagnosis of epithelial precancer and cancer of luminal organs.
Recent Advances in Stability Issues of Inorganic Solid Electrolytes and Composite Solid Electrolytes for All‐Solid‐State Batteries
Authors: Liu Quanyi , Jiang Lan , Zheng Penglun , Sun Jichang , Liu Chuanbang , Chai Jingchao , Li Xue , Zheng Yun , Liu Zhihong
Published: June 2022

The development of solid‐state batteries has become one of the most promising directions in rechargeable secondary batteries due to their considerable energy densities and favorable safety. However, solid‐state batteries with higher energy density and more durable and stable cycle life should be developed for large‐scale energy storage and adaption to the rapidly increasing lithium battery production and sales market. Although inorganic solid electrolytes (ISEs) and composite solid electrolytes (CSEs) are relatively advantageous solid‐state electrolytes, they also face severe challenges. This review summarizes the main stability issues related to chemical, mechanical, thermal, and electrochemical aspects faced by ISEs and CSEs. The corresponding state‐of‐the‐art improvement strategies have been proposed, including filling of modified particles, electrolyte pore adjustment, electrolyte internal structure arrangement, and interface modification.
Design for drainability in density-based topology optimization
Authors: Giele Reinier , van Keulen Fred , Langelaar Matthijs
Published: June 2022

Topology optimization methods improve the structural performance of components. However, in food processing, medical, high-precision, and other industries' designs should also fulfil the requirement of being cleanable. An important aspect of cleanability is drainability, which entails that fluids can always run off the structure under just gravity. Therefore, taking drainability into account during the optimization process is essential for many applications. This paper proposes a drainage filter that turns a blueprint design into a drainable design. In a layer-by-layer fashion, the design is adjusted, to ensure fluids can always run down its surface. A smooth minimum and maximum are used in the formulation to allow for consistent sensitivity calculation. To allow for the small runoff angles, typical for practical drainability, a grid refinement is proposed. Moreover, any drainage direction can be considered. The effectiveness of the method is illustrated in 2D and 3D.
Predicting pathologic complete response in locally advanced rectal cancer patients after neoadjuvant therapy: a machine learning model using XGBoost
Authors: Chen Xijie , Wang Wenhui , Chen Junguo , Xu Liang , He Xiaosheng , Lan Ping , Hu Jiancong , Lian Lei
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Watch and wait strategy is a safe and effective alternative to surgery in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) who have achieved pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant therapy (NAT); present restaging methods do not meet clinical needs. This study aimed to construct a machine learning (ML) model to predict pCR preoperatively.

Methods

LARC patients who received NAT were included to generate an extreme gradient boosting-based ML model to predict pCR. The group was divided into a training set and a tuning set at a 7:3 ratio. The SHapley Additive exPlanations value was used to quantify feature importance. The ML model was compared with a nomogram model developed using independent risk factors identified by conventional multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results

Compared with the nomogram model, our ML model improved the area under the receiver operating characteristics from 0.72 to 0.95, sensitivity from 43 to 82.2%, and specificity from 87.1 to 91.6% in the training set, the same trend applied to the tuning set. Neoadjuvant radiotherapy, preoperative carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), CA199, carcinoembryonic antigen level, and depth of tumor invasion were significant in predicting pCR in both models.

Conclusion

Our ML model is a potential alternative to the existing assessment tools to conduct triage treatment for patients and provides reference for clinicians in tailoring individual treatment: the watch and wait strategy is used to avoid surgical trauma in pCR patients, and non-pCR patients receive surgical treatment to avoid missing the optimal operation time window.
Naturbasierte Lösungen im Klimaschutzrecht – zugleich eine Anmerkung zu 3a KSG
Authors: Freytag Caterina
Published: June 2022

Mit Novellierung des Klimaschutzgesetzes (KSG) hat sich Deutschland ab 2045 zu Netto-Treibhausgasneutralität
verpflichtet. Der Beitrag richtet den Blick auf die Emissionsstruktur des Zieljahres und damit auf die
Frage, in welcher Höhe Restemissionen zugestanden werden sollen und mit welchen CO2-Entnahmeoptionen
diese ausgeglichen werden können. Fest steht: Nur auf ein Minimum reduzierte THG-Emissionen können
nachhaltig ausgeglichen werden. Die Reduktion geht der Entnahme damit vor. Inwieweit aber die Senkenausbauziele,
die mit 3a KSG erstmals Eingang in die deutsche Klimaschutzarchitektur gefunden haben, dem verbleibenden
Kompensationsbedarf Rechnung tragen, wird im Folgenden näher untersucht.
Group cognitive remediation therapy for children and adolescents in intensive day-patient treatment for anorexia nervosa: a feasibility study
Authors: Rhind Charlotte , Mahdi Mishka , Simic Mima , Espie Jonathan , Tchanturia Kate
Published: June 2022

Background

Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CRT) is an adjunct treatment targeting set-shifting (SS) and weak central coherence (CC) thought to play a role in maintaining anorexia nervosa (AN). This study aimed to test the feasibility of brief group CRT for young people with AN in a day-patient setting using neuropsychological assessment of SS and CC. It also explored the benefit for young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) features.

Methods

Twenty female day-patients (12–18 years) with AN or Atypical AN completed neuropsychological assessment of SS (using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task and the Brixton Spatial Anticipation Test) and of CC (using the Rey Osterrieth Complex Figures Task) pre and post 4 sessions of group CRT. Baseline ASD features and weight change pre and post were measured. Feasibility was assessed regarding the recruitment process, intervention feedback, suitability of neuropsychological assessment measures, and effect sizes.

Results

Study uptake was 95%, intervention retention was 91%, and group CRT was rated as acceptable. Medium to large effect size improvements were found across measures of SS (dz = 0.44 to dz = 0.90) and medium size improvements found in CC (dz = 0.59). Young people with ASD features showed smaller to similar size improvements in SS and larger improvements in CC. There was a moderate (not significant) correlation with level of weight restoration.

Conclusions

Important study parameters have been estimated in order to plan a future definitive trial of brief group CRT in a day-patient setting using neuropsychological assessment. These findings also have implications for the use of brief group CRT in young people with ASD features.
Rule of the Commoner
Authors: Krishnan Rajan Kurai , Sriramachandran Ravindran , Subagunarajan VMS
Published: June 2022

The Dravida
Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has been singular in heralding and
establishing a firm regional polity among the Indian states
after the Indian Union was inaugurated as a republic. Academic
scholarship has often treated the DMK as a Tamil nationalist or
ethno-nationalist formation without conceptual clarity or
critical insight. Rule of the Commoner demonstrates with
persuasive evidence that the DMK appealed to a federalist and
not nationalist imagination. The DMK's combining of the
non-Brahmin Dravidian identity and allegiance to Tamil language
led to a counter hegemonic formation of the plebes and left
populism. Drawing on Ernesto Laclau, the book argues that the
DMK achieved the construction of a people as Dravidian-Tamil,
with Tamil being the empty signifier of the social whole,
Brahmin vs. non-Brahmin divide functioning as the internal
frontier leading to the formations of the political. It
elaborates the conceptual scheme under the three rubrics of
Ideation, Imagination and Mobilization.
Decentering Mid-century Latin American Abstraction
Authors: Pagnanelli Ayelen
Published: June 2022

This essay reviews the following books:

New Geographies of Abstract Art in Postwar Latin America. Edited by Mariola V. Alvarez and Ana M. Franco. New York: Routledge, 2018. Pp. 268. $48.95 paperback. ISBN: 9780367787004.

Dematerialization: Art and Design in Latin America. By Karen Benezra. Oakland: University of California Press, 2020. Pp. xiv + 256. $50.00 hardcover. ISBN: 9780520307063.

Learning from Madness: Brazilian Modernism and Global Contemporary Art. By Kaira M. Cabañas. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2018. Pp. 240. $45.00 hardcover. ISBN: 9780226556284.

Crossings: Cultural Exchange between Argentina and Brazil. By Maria Amalia García, translated by Jane Brodie. Oakland: University of California Press, 2019. Pp. xiii + 320. $50.00 hardcover. ISBN: 9780520302198.

Contra el canon: El arte contemporáneo en un mundo sin centro. By Andrea Giunta. Buenos Aires: Siglo XXI, 2020. Pp. 234. $9.99 Kindle. ASIN: B08599RSVV.

Sur Moderno: Journeys of Abstraction–The Patricia Phelps de Cisneros Gift. By Inés Katzenstein and Maria Amalia García, et al. New York: Museum of Modern Art, 2019. Pp. 240. $60.00 hardcover. ISBN: 9781633450707.

Lina Bo Bardi: Habitat. By Adriano Pedrosa, José Esparza Chong Cuy, Julieta González, and Tomás Toledo. São Paulo: MASP, 2019. Pp. 352. $60.00 paperback. ISBN: 9788531000669.

Hemispheric Integration: Materiality, Mobility, and the Making of Latin American Art. By Niko Vicario. Oakland: University of California Press, 2020. Pp. x + 312. $50.00 hardcover. ISBN: 9780520310025.
HECKE OPERATORS AND DRINFELD CUSP FORMS OF LEVEL
Authors: BANDINI ANDREA , VALENTINO MARIA
Published: June 2022

We use a linear algebra interpretation of the action of Hecke operators on Drinfeld cusp forms to prove that when the dimension of the
$\mathbb {C}_\infty $
-vector space
$S_{k,m}(\mathrm {{GL}}_2(\mathbb {F}_q[t]))$
is one, the Hecke operator
$\mathbf {T}_t$
is injective on
$S_{k,m}(\mathrm {{GL}}_2(\mathbb {F}_q[t]))$
and
$S_{k,m}(\Gamma _0(t))$
is a direct sum of oldforms and newforms.
“What’s Keeping Me Up at Night?” Reflections on the COVID-19 Pandemic in Asia
Authors: Mundy Linda , Kearney Brendon
Published: June 2022

Objectives

The 2021 Health Technology Assessment International (HTAi) Asia Policy Forum (APF) aimed to explore the challenges and opportunities presented by the global COVID-19 pandemic for health systems and industry in the Asia region, to discuss how HTA changed during the pandemic, and what its role may be moving forward into a postpandemic era.

Methods

Discussions during the virtual 2021 APF, informed by a premeeting survey of HTA agencies and industry attendees from the region describing their experience during the pandemic, form the basis of this paper.

Results

During the pandemic, regulatory approval for COVID-related technologies was fast-tracked with fewer evidentiary requirements, and little or no HTA being conducted before these technologies were implemented in health systems in the region. “Living HTA” incorporating real-world evidence (RWE) as it was generated became part of the HTA landscape. In comparison, non-COVID technologies experienced regulatory approval and HTA delays. A major concern of APF members was future pandemic preparedness, and to ensure that lessons are learned from COVID-19. Governments need to continue to invest in innovation and allow early regulatory approvals with the increased use of RWE. Capacity building was identified as a key investment, including capacity in HTA, modeling, as well as local production of necessary supplies and equipment. Finally, collaboration at all levels of the health system was viewed as vital.

Conclusions

Post-COVID, different forms of HTA must be embraced as part of the new HTA landscape in addition to increased intra- and intercountry collaboration across all sectors of the health system, including regulatory bodies.
High‐Resolution Field Measurement of Soil Heat Capacity and Changes in Soil Moisture Using a Dual‐Probe Heat‐Pulse Distributed Temperature Sensing Approach
Authors: Shehata Mahmoud , Heitman Joshua , Sayde Chadi
Published: June 2022

Increasing interest in studying the variability of soil water content and its spatial scale dependency necessitates the development of new techniques to accurately monitor soil water over a wide range of spatial scales. Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) techniques offer unprecedented opportunities to measure temperature with a spatial resolution of a few centimeters over several kilometers, which can be used to measure soil moisture. This study is the first of its kind that investigates under field conditions the feasibility of combining the Dual‐Probe Heat‐Pulse (DPHP) technique with the DTS technology to measure soil thermal properties and variation in soil moisture. A field experiment was conducted over a 30 m transect in the Lake Wheeler Field laboratory in Raleigh, NC. Three different DPHP sensors were constructed from combinations of different fiber optic cables and heating elements and were tested to assess their performance and the effect of their construction characteristics on their accuracy. Measurements were taken over different soil moisture conditions and the system performance was compared against independent soil water content sensors. The system was able to track changes in soil water content with a mean RMSE of 0.02 m3 m−3 using the optimal DPHP sensor. The key advantage of the tested system is that it does not need any site‐specific calibrations typically required for other DTS‐based systems. The findings of this study provide some practical information and measures that need to be taken for successful DTS‐DPHP construction and application under field conditions.
Quantification of Errors in the Planetary Atmospheric Profiles Derived From Radio Occultation Measurements
Authors: Tripathi Keshav R. , Choudhary R. K.
Published: June 2022

Radio occultation (RO) measurement is an established technique for profiling planetary atmosphere/ionosphere. The accuracy of the derived physical parameters (atmospheric temperature, pressure, and density in the lower atmosphere, and electron density in the ionosphere) however depends on uncertainty in the observed frequency and robustness of the retrieval algorithm. The objective of this paper is to identify all possible sources of errors in RO experiments and their propagation to the retrieved atmospheric profiles. Quantification of errors due to assumptions used in the retrieval algorithm has also been attempted. We used the data from one‐way downlink single‐frequency (X‐band) radio signals, transmitted from the radio science payload onboard Akatsuki spacecraft orbiting Venus and received at Indian Deep Space Network, Bengaluru, India for this study. We followed the standard signal processing technique to analyze the raw data. Atmospheric profiles were retrieved using the basic concept of geometrical optics. Possible sources of errors in RO experiments are identified and their magnitude range has been quantified. The propagation of errors in obtained atmospheric profiles is also discussed. These results would be useful while devising RO experiments for future planetary explorations.
Steep Mountain Slopes Have Surprisingly Long Lifetimes
Authors: Dzombak Rebecca
Published: June 2022

New models of eastern Tibetan hillsides show that steep slopes with “excess” rock last longer on average than their shallower counterparts.
Production of high loading insulin nanoparticles suitable for oral delivery by spray drying and freeze drying techniques
Authors: Guo Yigong , Baldelli Alberto , Singh Anika , Fathordoobady Farahnaz , Kitts David , Pratap-Singh Anubhav
Published: June 2022

Insulin nanoparticles (NPs) with high loading content have found diverse applications in different dosage forms. This work aimed to evaluate the impact of freeze-drying and spray drying process on the structures of insulin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles, with or without mannitol as cryoprotectants. We also assessed the quality of these nanoparticles by redissolving them. Before dehydration, the chitosan/sodium tripolyphosphate/insulin crosslinked nanoparticles were optimized to 318 nm of particle size, 0.18 of PDI, 99.4% of entrapment efficiency, and 25.01% of loading content. After reconstitution, all nanoparticles, except the one produced by the freeze-drying method without using mannitol, maintained their spherical particle structure. The nanoparticles dehydrated by spray drying without mannitol also showed the smallest mean particle size (376 nm) and highest loading content (25.02%) with similar entrapment efficiency (98.7%) and PDI (0.20) compared to mannitol-containing nanoparticles dehydrated by either spray drying or freeze-drying techniques. The nanoparticles dried by spray drying without mannitol also resulted in the fastest release and highest cellular uptake efficacy of insulin. This work shows that spray drying can dehydrate insulin nanoparticles without the need for cryoprotectants, creating a significant advantage in terms of greater loading capacity with lower additive requirements and operating costs as compared to conventional freeze drying approaches.
Effects of temporally regular versus irregular distractors on goal-directed cognition and behavior
Authors: Lui Troby Ka-Yan , Wöstmann Malte
Published: June 2022

Human environments comprise plenty of task-irrelevant sensory inputs, which are potentially distracting. Auditory distractors often possess an inherent temporal structure. However, it is largely unknown whether and how the temporal regularity of distractors interferes with goal-directed cognitive processes, such as working memory. Here, we tested a total sample of N = 90 participants across four working memory tasks with sequences of temporally regular versus irregular distractors. Temporal irregularity was operationalized by a final tone onset time that violated an otherwise regular tone sequence (Experiment 1), by a sequence of tones with irregular onset-to-onset delays (Experiment 2), and by sequences of speech items with irregular onset-to-onset delays (Experiments 3 and 4). Across all experiments, temporal regularity of distractors did not modulate participants’ primary performance metric, that is, accuracy in recalling items from working memory. Instead, temporal regularity of distractors modulated secondary performance metrics: for regular versus irregular distractors, recall of the first item from memory was faster (Experiment 3) and the response bias was more conservative (Experiment 4). Taken together, the present results provide evidence that the temporal regularity of task-irrelevant input does not inevitably affect the precision of memory representations (reflected in the primary performance metric accuracy) but rather the response behavior (reflected in secondary performance metrics like response speed and bias). Our findings emphasize that a comprehensive understanding of auditory distraction requires that existing models of attention include often-neglected secondary performance metrics to understand how different features of auditory distraction reach awareness and impact cognition and behavior.
Risk assessment of glyphosate and malathion pollution and their potential impact on Oreochromis niloticus: role of organic selenium supplementation
Authors: Hassan Marwa A. , Hozien Samaa T. , Abdel Wahab Mona M. , Hassan Ahmed M.
Published: June 2022

A field survey was conducted on five fish farms to trace glyphosate and malathion pollution with some physicochemical parameters. A precise half-life time, LC50-96h, of these agrochemicals on Oreochromis niloticus, as well as chronic exposure with organic selenium (OS) supplementation, were experimentally investigated. Oreochromis niloticus was subjected to the following: (negative control); (2 mg L−1 glyphosate); (0.5 mg L−1 malathion); (glyphosate 1.6 mg L−1 and 0.3 mg L−1 malathion); (glyphosate 2 mg L−1 and OS 0.8 g kg−1 diet); (malathion 0.5 mg L−1 and OS 0.8 g kg−1 diet) and (glyphosate 1.6 mg L−1; malathion 0.3 mg L−1 and OS 0.8 g kg−1 diet). Furthermore, data from the analyzed pond revealed a medium risk quotient (RQ) for both agrochemicals. The detected agrochemicals were related to their application, and vegetation type surrounding the farms, also their biodegradation was correlated to water pH, temperature, and salinity. Glyphosate and malathion had half-lives of 2.8 and 2.3 days and LC50-96h of 2.331 and 0.738 mg L−1, respectively. The severest nervous symptoms; increased oxidative stress markers, as well as high bacterial count in the livers and kidneys of fish challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila, were observed in the combined exposure, followed by a single exposure to malathion and then glyphosate. Organic selenium mitigated these impacts.
Functional, morphological and molecular characteristics in a novel rat model of spinal sacral nerve injury-surgical approach, pathological process and clinical relevance
Authors: Li Junyang , Li Shiqiang , Wang Yu , Shang Aijia
Published: June 2022

Spinal sacral nerve injury represents one of the most serious conditions associated with many diseases such as sacral fracture, tethered cord syndrome and sacral canal tumor. Spinal sacral nerve injury could cause bladder denervation and detrusor underactivity. There is limited clinical experience resolving spinal sacral nerve injury associated detrusor underactivity patients, and thus the treatment options are also scarce. In this study, we established a spinal sacral nerve injury animal model for deeper understanding and further researching of this disease. Forty 8 w (week) old Sprague Dawley rats were included and equally divided into sham (n = 20) and crush group (n = 20). Bilateral spinal sacral nerves of rats were crushed in crush group, and sham group received same procedure without nerve crush. Comprehensive evaluations at three time points (1 w, 4 w and 6 w) were performed to comprehend the nature process of this disease. According to urodynamic test, ultrasonography and retrograde urography, we could demonstrate severe bladder dysfunction after spinal sacral nerve injury along the observation period compared with sham group. These functional changes were further reflected by histological examination (hematoxylin-eosin and Masson’s trichrome staining) of microstructure of nerves and bladders. Immunostaining of nerve/bladder revealed schwann cell death, axon degeneration and collagen remodeling of bladder. Polymerase Chain Reaction results revealed vigorous nerve inflammation and bladder fibrosis 1 week after injury and inflammation/fibrosis returned to normal at 4 w. The CatWalk gait analysis was performed and there was no obvious difference between two groups. In conclusion, we established a reliable and reproducible model for spinal sacral nerve injury, this model provided an approach to evaluate the treatment strategies and to understand the pathological process of spinal sacral nerve injuries. It allowed us to understand how nerve degeneration and bladder fibrosis changed following spinal sacral nerve injury and how recovery could be facilitated by therapeutic options for further research.
Image quality and radiation dose of dual source high pitch computed tomography in pediatric congenital heart disease
Authors: Kravchenko Dmitrij , Hart Christopher , Garbe Stephan , Luetkens Julian A. , Isaak Alexander , Mesropyan Narine , Vergnat Mathieu , Leyens Judith , Attenberger Ulrike , Kuetting Daniel
Published: June 2022

To explore the image quality and radiation dose of dual source high-pitch cardiac computed tomography with tailored contrast injection protocols for pediatric congenital heart disease patients (CHD). In total, 27 infants with CHD (median age 109 days [IQR 6–199]) were retrospectively analyzed regarding dose length product (DLP) and effective dose (ED) after undergoing cardiothoracic CT imaging. Scan parameters were adjusted on a dual source/detector CT (DSCT) to minimize radiation dose while maintaining adequate quality. Image acquisition was performed at 70% of the R–R interval. Dose reducing measures included prospective electrocardiogram gating, utilizing slow injection velocities and foregoing bolus tracking during contrast injection. Image quality was assessed for artefacts, vessel definition, and noise on a 5-point scale (1 non-diagnostic, 5 excellent). Series were scored on a 0-to-3-point scale regarding answered clinical questions (0 non-diagnostic, 3 all clinical questions could be answered). The median DLP was 5.2 mGy*cm (IQR 3.5–7.8) leading to a median ED of 0.20 mSv (IQR 0.14–0.30). On average the acquired images scored 13.3 ± 2.1 (SD) out of a maximum 15 points with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.94. All acquired series were able to fully answer all clinical questions scoring maximum points (ICC 1.0). Dual source high pitch CT protocols combined with custom contrast agent injection protocols in pediatric patients with CHD delivered sufficiently high diagnostic imaging quality combined with low submilisievert radiation doses. Prospective high pitch imaging is a reliable method for depiction of cardiac anatomy even in very young pediatric CHD patients with elevated heart rates.
Exceptional warming over the Barents area
Authors: Isaksen Ketil , Nordli Øyvind , Ivanov Boris , Køltzow Morten A. Ø. , Aaboe Signe , Gjelten Herdis M. , Mezghani Abdelkader , Eastwood Steinar , Førland Eirik , Benestad Rasmus E. , Hanssen-Bauer Inger , Brækkan Ragnar , Sviashchennikov Pavel , Demin Valery , Revina Anastasiia , Karandasheva Tatiana
Published: June 2022

In recent decades, surface air temperature (SAT) data from Global reanalyses points to maximum warming over the northern Barents area. However, a scarcity of observations hampers the confidence of reanalyses in this Arctic hotspot region. Here, we study the warming over the past 20–40 years based on new available SAT observations and a quality controlled comprehensive SAT dataset from the northern archipelagos in the Barents Sea. We identify a statistically significant record-high annual warming of up to 2.7 °C per decade, with a maximum in autumn of up to 4.0 °C per decade. Our results are compared with the most recent global and Arctic regional reanalysis data sets, as well as remote sensing data records of sea ice concentration (SIC), sea surface temperature (SST) and high-resolution ice charts. The warming pattern is primarily consistent with reductions in sea ice cover and confirms the general spatial and temporal patterns represented by reanalyses. However, our findings suggest even a stronger rate of warming and SIC-SAT relation than was known in this region until now.
Sofosbuvir-based direct-acting antivirals and changes in cholesterol and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol
Authors: Wang Yi-Kai , Wang Ying-Wen , Lu Chia-Ling , Huang Yi-Hsiang , Hou Ming-Chih , Chang Yuh-Lih , Lee Wei-Ping , Lan Keng-Hsin
Published: June 2022

Worsened lipid profiles were observed in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients during direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) treatment, among which combination drugs confounded the effect of individual ingredient on lipid. Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) also worsened lipid profiles in HIV patients. Structural similarity between sofosbuvir (SOF) and TAF prompted us to investigate rapid increase in total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in CHC patients treated with SOF-based DAAs. A retrospective study was performed to analyze 487 CHC patients receiving DAAs with SVR12. Relative risks on elevating TC and LDL-C were analyzed by logistic regression to determine SOF-based over non-SOF-based regimens. TC or LDL-C levels at baseline, week-4 and SVR12 were compared by Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test. Week 4 or SVR12 to baseline ratios of serum TC or LDL-C between regimens were compared by Mann–Whitney's test. 487 patients were treated with Harvoni (SOF-based, 206 patients), Epclusa (SOF-based, 124 patients), Maviret (non-SOF-based, 122 patients), or Zepatier (non-SOF-based, 35 patients). At week 4 during drug treatment, Harvoni, Epclusa, and Maviret induced statistically significant elevation of TC and LDL-C, but Zepatier did not. SOF-based regimens had 2.72-fold higher relative risk (RR) causing 10% elevation of TC (95% CI 1.84–4.02, p < 0.001) and 2.04-fold higher RR causing 10% elevation of LDL-C (95% CI 1.39–3.01, p < 0.001) than non-SOF-based DAAs. SOF-based DAAs were associated with significantly larger amplitude of increases in TC and LDL-C than non-SOF-based DAAs during the initial 4 weeks of treatment, but the increases were not sustained to SVR12.
Machine learning for comprehensive prediction of high risk for Alzheimer’s disease based on chromatic pupilloperimetry
Authors: Lustig-Barzelay Yael , Sher Ifat , Sharvit-Ginon Inbal , Feldman Yael , Mrejen Michael , Dallasheh Shada , Livny Abigail , Schnaider Beeri Michal , Weller Aron , Ravona-Springer Ramit , Rotenstreich Ygal
Published: June 2022

Currently there are no reliable biomarkers for early detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) at the preclinical stage. This study assessed the pupil light reflex (PLR) for focal red and blue light stimuli in central and peripheral retina in 125 cognitively normal middle age subjects (45–71 years old) at high risk for AD due to a family history of the disease (FH+), and 61 age-similar subjects with no family history of AD (FH−) using Chromatic Pupilloperimetry coupled with Machine Learning (ML). All subjects had normal ophthalmic assessment, and normal retinal and optic nerve thickness by optical coherence tomography. No significant differences were observed between groups in cognitive function and volumetric brain MRI. Chromatic pupilloperimetry-based ML models were highly discriminative in differentiating subjects with and without AD family history, using transient PLR for focal red (primarily cone-mediated), and dim blue (primarily rod-mediated) light stimuli. Features associated with transient pupil response latency (PRL) achieved Area Under the Curve Receiver Operating Characteristic (AUC-ROC) of 0.90 ± 0.051 (left-eye) and 0.87 ± 0.048 (right-eye). Parameters associated with the contraction arm of the rod and cone-mediated PLR were more discriminative compared to parameters associated with the relaxation arm and melanopsin-mediated PLR. Significantly shorter PRL for dim blue light was measured in the FH+ group in two test targets in the temporal visual field in right eye that had highest relative weight in the ML algorithm (mean ± standard error, SE 0.449 s ± 0.007 s vs. 0.478 s ± 0.010 s, p = 0.038). Taken together our study suggests that subtle focal changes in pupil contraction latency may be detected in subjects at high risk to develop AD, decades before the onset of AD clinical symptoms. The dendrites of melanopsin containing retinal ganglion cells may be affected very early at the preclinical stages of AD.
Predicting ecological impacts of the invasive brush-clawed shore crab under environmental change
Authors: Theurich Nora , Briski Elizabeta , Cuthbert Ross N.
Published: June 2022

Globally, the number of invasive non-indigenous species is continually rising, representing a major driver of biodiversity declines and a growing socio-economic burden.Hemigrapsus takanoi, the Japanese brush-clawed shore crab, is a highly successful invader in European seas. However, the ecological consequences of this invasion have remained unexamined under environmental changes—such as climatic warming and desalination, which are projected in the Baltic Sea—impeding impact prediction and management. Recently, the comparative functional response (resource use across resource densities) has been pioneered as a reliable approach to quantify and predict the ecological impacts of invasive non-indigenous species under environmental contexts. This study investigated the functional response ofH. takanoifactorially between different crab sexes and under environmental conditions predicted for the Baltic Sea in the contexts of climate warming (16 and 22 °C) and desalination (15 and 10), towards blue musselMytilus edulisprey provided at different densities.Hemigrapsus takanoidisplayed a potentially population-destabilising Type II functional response (i.e. inversely-density dependent) towards mussel prey under all environmental conditions, characterised by high feeding rates at low prey densities that could extirpate prey populations—notwithstanding high in-field abundances ofM. edulis. Males exhibited higher feeding rates than females under all environmental conditions. Higher temperatures reduced the feeding rate of maleH. takanoi, but did not affect the feeding rate of females. Salinity did not have a clear effect on feeding rates for either sex. These results provide insights into interactions between biological invasions and climate change, with future warming potentially lessening the impacts of this rapidly spreading marine invader, depending on the underlying population demographics and abundances.