bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vers une trilogie de la performance sociétale de l’entreprise. Principes, acteurs et instruments
Authors: Boussoura Ezzeddine , Boutiba Rim , Zeribi Ben-Slimane Olfa
Published: November 2021

Ce travail de recherche se propose de développer et de valider un cadre d’analyse de la Performance Sociétale de l’Entreprise (PSE) dans le cas des PME. Au-delà des représentations conventionnelles du concept, ce modèle décline la PSE en trois dimensions : normative (principes), organisationnelle (acteurs) et instrumentale (outils). Notre étude a permis d’entériner le constat selon lequel la pratique sociétale de la PME est une démarche pilotée par des principes de responsabilité et appuyée par la mise en place d’une panoplie d’instruments sociétaux.
Assessing methods to improve benthic fish sampling in a stony headwater stream
Authors: Pritchard Eleri G. , Chadwick Daniel D. A. , Chadwick Michael A. , Bradley Paul , Sayer Carl D. , Axmacher Jan C.
Published: November 2021

Electrofishing is a well‐established and widely used method for surveying fish populations. Nonetheless, its effectiveness is impacted by numerous factors, including water chemistry, habitat type and fish species. Both physiological and behavioural responses make bottom‐dwelling ‘benthic’ fish which lack swim bladders (e.g. European bullhead Cottus gobio) particularly difficult to survey by electrofishing.

We compare the performance and practicalities of electrofishing for benthic fish at a rocky northern English headwater stream with two sampling methods originally designed for crayfish surveys; the triple drawdown method which involves repeated dewatering of a site, and the Pritchard Trap method which involves sunken traps filled with natural substrate that samples a small, fixed (0.25 m2) area of river bed.

Both the Pritchard trapping and triple drawdown methods provided similar high‐density population density estimates for bullhead which were at least 2.5–5 times higher than predicted from electrofishing derived sweep depletion curves.

Electrofishing and the triple drawdown method are both resource‐intensive, requiring expensive equipment and a team of trained operatives. These approaches also pose a risk to fish and non‐target organisms. In contrast, Pritchard Traps provide a cost‐effective passive, low risk survey method requiring minimal training and only one operative. Pritchard traps, therefore, show particular promise for benthic fish surveying and monitoring.
2–2 Type PVDF‐Based Composites Interlayered by Epitaxial (111)‐Oriented BTO Films for High Energy Storage Density
Authors: Wang Tian , Peng Ren‐Ci , Peng Wanjun , Dong Guohua , Zhou Chao , Yang Sen , Zhou Ziyao , Liu Ming
Published: November 2021

Quick charge/discharge polymer‐based composites filled with inorganic nanosheets have attracted extensive attention and provided a more efficient way to achieve high energy storage density (U) because of the alleviated agglomeration of fillers and the formation of conduction barriers. However, conductive paths have a chance to extend along out‐of‐plane directions by circumventing the micrometer‐sized nanosheets. Here, large‐sized (111)‐oriented BaTiO3 (BTO) films with outstanding epitaxiality and ferroelectricity are embedded in poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) using optimal transfer and hot‐pressing processes. The 2D–2D (2–2) type BTO/PVDF composites interlayered by 2‐layer BTO (about 0.2 µm thick of each layer) exhibit the highest U of 20.7 J cm‐3 at 690 MV m‐1, which is 222.6% that of pure PVDF. Phase‐field simulations reveal that high‐resistance PVDF films as outer layers can prevent the charges injection from electrodes and high‐dielectric BTO films as inner layers can effectively suppress the mobile charges across interfaces between layers, leading to a remarkable improvement of breakdown strength. This work puts forward a scalable approach to enhance the U of inorganic/organic composites for advanced energy storage materials and applications.
An Injectable Asymmetric‐Adhesive Hydrogel as a GATA6+ Cavity Macrophage Trap to Prevent the Formation of Postoperative Adhesions after Minimally Invasive Surgery
Authors: Wu Xiaoqi , Guo Weihong , Wang Ling , Xu Yichao , Wang Zihan , Yang Yang , Yu Liu , Huang Junfei , Li Yanbin , Zhang Hongwu , Wu Yaobin , Li Guoxin , Huang Wenhua
Published: November 2021

Antiadhesive hydrogels have been developed for preventing the formation of postoperative adhesions. However, it is challenging to design an injectable hydrogel with superior tissue retention properties that can be easily administered during minimally invasive surgical procedures to prevent the development of postsurgical adhesions. In this study, an injectable asymmetric‐adhesive hydrogel is fabricated using photocurable catechol‐grafted hyaluronic acid (HAD) for use during minimally invasive procedures to prevent the development of postoperative adhesions. The hydrogel exhibits superior tissue retention properties and favorably inhibits postoperative adhesion formation. This is the first time that an injectable hydrogel is designed via photocrosslinking to control asymmetric‐adhesive capability. The results show that laparoscopically delivered HAD precursor acts as a wet adhesive on the injured cecum, while its outward‐facing side is nonadherent after photocrosslinking. Intriguingly, the HAD acts as a physical barrier and polyanion trap to neutralize scavenger receptors, thereby inhibiting collagen deposition and uncontrolled recruitment of GATA6+ cavity macrophages. Furthermore, the HAD significantly downregulates the expression of fibrosis‐related and proinflammatory cytokines and promotes macrophage polarization. These results demonstrate that injection of the hydrogel can be readily integrated into laparoscopic surgery. Moreover, the HAD may be suitable for preventing adhesion formation after minimally invasive surgical procedures.
Layer‐by‐Layer Engineered All‐Liquid Microfluidic Chips for Enzyme Immobilization
Authors: Liu Tan , Yin Yixuan , Yang Yang , Russell Thomas P. , Shi Shaowei
Published: November 2021

Enzyme immobilization in the confines of microfluidic chips, that promote enzyme activity and stability, has become a powerful strategy to enhance biocatalysis and biomass conversion. Here, based on a newly developed all‐liquid microfluidic chip, fabricated by the interfacial assembly of nanoparticle surfactants (NPSs) in a biphasic system, a layer‐by‐layer assembly strategy to generate polysaccharide multilayers on the surface of a microchannel, greatly enhancing the mechanical properties of the microchannel and offering a biocompatible microenvironment for enzyme immobilization, is presented. Using horseradish peroxidase and glucose oxidase as model enzymes, all‐liquid microfluidic enzymatic and cascade reactors have been constructed and the crucial role of polysaccharide multilayers on enhancing the enzyme loading and catalytic efficiency is demonstrated.
Ternary Blend Organic Solar Cells: Understanding the Morphology from Recent Progress
Authors: Xu Xiaopeng , Li Ying , Peng Qiang
Published: November 2021

Ternary blend organic solar cells (TB‐OSCs) incorporating multiple donor and/or acceptor materials into the active layer have emerged as a promising strategy to simultaneously improve the overall device parameters for realizing higher performances than binary devices. Whereas introducing multiple materials also results in a more complicated morphology than their binary blend counterparts. Understanding the morphology is crucially important for further improving the device performance of TB‐OSC. This review introduces the solubility and miscibility parameters that affect the morphology of ternary blends. Then, this review summarizes the recent processes of morphology study on ternary blends from the aspects of molecular crystallinity, molecular packing orientation, domain size and purity, directly observation of morphology, vertical phase separation as well as morphological stability. Finally, summary and prospects of TB‐OSCs are concluded.
Auxiliary‐Free Remote Dearomatizative Nitrenoid Transfer for Enantioselective Construction of Spirolactams
Authors: Zhu Bo‐Han , Guo Wen‐Ting , Sun Qing , Qian Peng‐Cheng , Ye Long‐Wu , Li Long
Published: November 2021

An Ir‐catalyzed remote dearomatizative amidation for the enantioselective construction of chiral spirolactams in 70–93% yield with 81–96% ee was developed. This protocol represented a more atom‐economical approach to chiral spirolactams via Ir‐catalyzed nitrenoid transfer without the introduction of a traceless O‐silyl achiral auxiliary.

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On the relation between Pressure and Coupling Potential in Adaptive Resolution Simulations of Open Systems in contact with a Reservoir
Authors: Gholami Abbas , Klein Rupert , Delle Site Luigi
Published: November 2021

In a previous paper, a precise relation between the chemical potential of a fully atomistic simulation and the simulation of an open system in the adaptive resolution method (AdResS) was identified. The starting point was the equivalence derived from the statistical partition functions between the grand potentials, Ω, of the open system and of the equivalent subregion in the fully atomistic simulation of reference. In this work, instead, the authors treat the identity for the grand potential based on the thermodynamic relation and investigate the behavior of the pressure in the coupling region of the adaptive resolution method (AdResS). The authors confirm the physical consistency of the method for determining the chemical potential described by the previous work and strengthen it further by identifying a clear numerical relation between the potential that couples the open system to the reservoir on the one hand and the local pressure of the reference fully atomistic system on the other hand. Such a relation is of crucial importance in the perspective of coupling the AdResS method for open system to the continuum hydrodynamic regime.
Understanding the CO2/CH4/N2 Separation Performance of Nanoporous Amorphous N‐Doped Carbon Combined Hybrid Monte Carlo with Machine Learning
Authors: Li Boran , Wang Song , Tian Ziqi , Yao Ge , Li Hui , Chen Liang
Published: November 2021

Amorphous carbon (aC) is widely used as the adsorbent in the purification of industrial gas. Introducing nitrogen dopant can regulate the morphology and improve the adsorption capacity of specific species. Due to the amorphous structure, it is difficult to understand the relationship between structural features and adsorption performance through atom‐based simulation. Here, a series of nitrogen‐doped amorphous carbon (N‐aC) models is built through reverse Monte Carlo method. The uptakes of three common gases, i.e., CO2, CH4, and N2 are estimated in each constructed framework by using grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC). Deep neural network is trained based on the simulated adsorption capacity with nitrogen content, surface area, pore size, atomic charge, and other factors. Through the data‐driven approaches, the adsorption capacity and the selectivity of three gases are predicted. The simulation in this study shows that the nitrogen content has less influence on the capacity and selectivity than the structural parameters, while nitrogen doping may improve CO2 loading and separation selectivity in the nanopores with pore size close to gas molecules. This work is helpful in constructing amorphous carbon structures for further simulation and understanding the influence of various features on gas separation.
A Hybrid Grid‐Based Finite‐Element Approach For 3D Steel Casing Forward Modeling
Authors: Yu Nian , Gao Lei , Li Ruiheng , Wu Xialan , Wang Enci
Published: November 2021

Steel casing forward modeling often requires considering the slender casing in the study area to study the influence of this casing on the underground electromagnetic field, which can be implemented by the unstructured finite‐element (FE) method based on tetrahedra. However, the calculation efficiency of applying the unstructured FE method directly to the steel casing model is poor. To this end, this article develops an FE approach based on a hybrid grid by using slender prismatic elements to mesh the steel casing area, while the remaining areas are still discretely meshed with tetrahedra. By showing numerical examples of the vertical single steel casing and L‐shaped steel casing models, the advantages of the method are tested by evaluating the response curves and the degrees of freedom. The results show that prismatic elements are suitable for discretizing steel casing areas. This approach can maintain the high accuracy of the numerical solution and reduce the number of elements required for discretizing the steel casing area. Hybrid grids can greatly increase the computational efficiency of the FE method for steel casing forward modeling.
Swallowing Lithium Dendrites in All‐Solid‐State Battery by Lithiation with Silicon Nanoparticles
Authors: Tao Jianming , Wang Daoyi , Yang Yanmin , Li Jiaxin , Huang Zhigao , Mathur Sanjay , Hong Zhensheng , Lin Yingbin
Published: November 2021

Eliminating the uncontrolled growth of Li dendrite inside solid electrolytes is a critical tactic for the performance improvement of all‐solid‐state Li batteries (ASSLBs). Herein, a strategy to swallow and anchor Li dendrites by filling Si nanoparticles into the solid electrolytes by the lithiation effect with Li dendrites is proposed. It is found that Si nanoparticles can lithiate with the adjacent Li dendrites which have a strong electron transport ability. Such effect can inhibit the formation of Li dendrites at the interface of Li anode, and also swallow the tip Li inside the solid electrolytes, and thus inhibiting its longitudinal growth and avoiding the solid electrolyte puncturing. As a proof of concept, a novel sandwich‐structure solid electrolyte of Li6.7La3Zr2Al0.1O12 (LLZA)‐PEO/Si‐PEO electrolyte/ (LLZA)‐PEO with asymmetrical structure is first constructed and demonstrated stable Li plating/stripping over 1800 h and remarkably improved cycling stability in Li/LiFePO4 cells with a reversible capacity of 111.9 mAh g−1 at 1 C after 150 cycles. The proof of lithiation of Si‐PEO electrolyte in the interlayer is also verified. Furthermore, the pouch cell thus prepared exhibits comparable cyclic stability and is allowable for folding and cutting, suggesting its promising application in ASSLBs by this simple and efficient strategy.
Ultrasmall Luminescent Metal Nanoparticles: Surface Engineering Strategies for Biological Targeting and Imaging
Authors: Luo Xiaoxi , Liu Jinbin
Published: November 2021

In the past decade, ultrasmall luminescent metal nanoparticles (ULMNPs, d < 3 nm) have achieved rapid progress in addressing many challenges in the healthcare field because of their excellent physicochemical properties and biological behaviors. With the sharp shrinking size of large plasmonic metal nanoparticles (PMNPs), the contributions from the surface characteristics increase significantly, which brings both opportunities and challenges in the application‐driven surface engineering of ULMNPs toward advanced biological applications. Here, the systematic advancements in the biological applications of ULMNPs from bioimaging to theranostics are summarized with emphasis on the versatile surface engineering strategies in the regulation of biological targeting and imaging performance. The efforts in the surface functionalization strategies of ULMNPs for enhanced disease targeting abilities are first discussed. Thereafter, self‐assembly strategies of ULMNPs for fabricating multifunctional nanostructures for multimodal imaging and nanomedicine are discussed. Further, surface engineering strategies of ratiometric ULMNPs to enhance the imaging stability to address the imaging challenges in complicated bioenvironments are summarized. Finally, the phototoxicity of ULMNPs and future perspectives are also reviewed, which are expected to provide a fundamental understanding of the physicochemical properties and biological behaviors of ULMNPs to accelerate their future clinical applications in healthcare.
Adaptive robust design for nonlinear switched systems with unmodeled dynamics and input quantization
Authors: Zhang Yaoli , Ma Yajing , Li Zhanjie , Zhao Jun
Published: November 2021

In this paper, we focus on the adaptive robust input quantized control problem for a class of uncertain nonlinear switched systems under a state‐dependent switching law. The considered systems admit the non‐ISS unmodeled dynamics, the unknown virtual control coefficients, and an unknown parameter. In order to reduce the conservativeness of the common Lyapunov function, the multiple Lyapunov functions method is used to design a state‐dependent switching law. Besides, to overcome the design difficulty arising from the quantization behavior, a nonlinear decomposition method is used to establish the relationship between the control signal and the quantized signal. We put forward the adaptive robust controllers for the individual subsystems, based on which the resulted closed‐loop system is uniformly ultimately bounded. Finally, to verify the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme, two examples are given to construct the adaptive robust controllers.
A neural network‐based design method of the fractional order PID controller for a class of motion control systems
Authors: Zheng Weijia , Chen YangQuan , Wang Xiaohong , Lin Meijin
Published: November 2021

A neural network‐based design method for the fractional order proportional‐integral‐derivative (
) controller is developed in this paper. The tuning process is divided into two steps: the integral and derivative orders of the controller are estimated by the neural networks, which are established according to the design specifications and the features of the plant; the remaining controller parameters are calculated according to the flat‐phase specification. In this way, the optimal
controller can be obtained without the optimization process. The effectiveness of the proposed method is studied via the application to a motion control system. The control performance of the controller tuned by the proposed method is compared with those tuned by some existing methods. Simulation and experimental results show that the controller obtained using the proposed method can offer good tracking performance and disturbance rejection performance for the control system.
Effect of Solid Particles on the Slurry Bubble Columns Behavior – A Review
Authors: Mahmoudi Sadra , Hlawitschka Mark W.
Published: November 2021

A wide‐ranging review is presented on the most focal aspects of gas‐liquid‐solid reactors to discuss the fresh headways towards the understanding of slurry bubble column reactors' behavior. In more detail, in this critical review, published works' findings concerning the effects of solid particles characteristics (size, concentration and density) on volumetric mass transfer coefficient, liquid‐side mass transfer coefficient, gas‐liquid interfacial area, gas hold‐up and flow regime are deliberated. Besides, the effects of other pivotal parameters such as pressure, temperature, reactor size, height of liquid, gas distributor, density, and viscosity on the performance of slurry bubble column reactors are considered. Eventually, regarding the effects of each of the aforementioned parameters on the performance of reactor, logical conclusions are drawn.
Clinical outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion by treated segment length
Authors: Shoaib Ahmad , Spratt James C. , Curzen Nick , Wilson Simon , Rashid Muhammad , Ahmad Fatima , Ludman Peter , Kinnaird Tim , Mamas Mamas A. ,   the British Cardiovascular Intervention Society (BCIS) and the National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research (NICOR)
Published: November 2021

Background

Long lesions are known to have worse outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), but there are limited data assessing the association between lesion length and clinical outcomes in PCI procedures undertaken in chronic total occlusions (CTO).

Methods and results

We formed a longitudinal cohort (2006–2018, n = 27,205) of stable angina patients who underwent PCI to CTO in the British Cardiovascular Intervention Society (BCIS) database. Clinical, demographical, procedural, and outcome data were analyzed in three groups by treated segment length, < 30 mm (n = 11,782), 30–59 mm (n = 10,415), ≥ 60 mm (n = 5008). Prevalence of previous myocardial infarction and PCI were higher in patients in 30–59 mm group or ≥ 60 mm group compared with < 30 mm group. Following multivariable analysis, no significant difference was observed in in‐patient death (OR = 30–59 mm group = 1.10, CI:0.55–2.19, p = 0.78) (OR ≥ 60 mm group = 0.82, CI: 0.33–2.05, p = 0.67), and 1‐year death (OR = 30–59 mm group = 1.06, CI: 0.81–1.37, p = 0.69) (OR ≥ 60 mm group =1.01, CI: 0.70–1.43, p = 0.99) (< 30 mm group = reference) but in‐patient MACE was higher in > = 60 mm group (OR: 1.52, CI: 1.15–2.01, p = 0.06) but similar in 30–59 mm group (OR: 1.16, CI: 0.91–1.48, p = 0.22) compared with < 30 mm group. The adjusted rates of procedural complications were higher in ≥ 60 mm group (OR: 1.61, CI: 1.40–1.85, p < 0.001) but were similar in 30–59 mm group (OR: 1.06, CI: 0.94–1.20, p < 0.31) compared with < 30 mm group. For every 10 mm increase, there was an increased adjusted risk of in‐patient procedural complications and coronary perforation but not in‐patient MACE or death.

Conclusion

Patients with very long CTO lesions have higher risk of procedural complications and in‐patient MACE but similar risk of short or long‐term mortality compared with short CTO lesions.
Multiple cystic lesions after treatment for pulmonary cryptococcosis
Authors: Taketa Tomoyo , Nakamura Takahito
Published: November 2021

Pulmonary cryptococcosis presents various radiological manifestations depending on the immunological status of the host. The most common chest radiographic findings include single or multiple nodules. Herein, we present a rare case of pulmonary cryptococcosis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis presenting as multiple cystic lesions that enlarged after treatment.
Dry pleural dissemination of malignancy diagnosed by aggressive thoracoscopy
Authors: Nigi Akina , Toyoshima Hirokazu , Tanigawa Motoaki
Published: November 2021

Determination of pleural dissemination of lung cancer helps define the treatment strategy. Positron emission tomography‐computed tomography imaging could be false‐negative for dry pleural dissemination of lung cancer. Clinicians should consider preoperative thoracoscopy in affected patients showing limited pleural effusion, interlobar fine granular shadows, and no metastasis on high‐resolution computed tomography.
Increasing numbers of harbour seals and grey seals in the Solent
Authors: Castles Robyne , Woods Fiona , Hughes Peter , Arnott John , MacCallum Louise , Marley Sarah
Published: November 2021

Harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) both occur within the UK, but display regional contrasting population trends. While grey seals are typically increasing in number, harbour seals have shown varying trends in recent decades following repeated pandemics. There is a need for monitoring of regional and local populations to understand overall trends. This study utilized a 20‐year dataset of seal counts from two neighboring harbours in the Solent region of south England. Generalized additive models showed a significant increase in the numbers of harbour (mean 5.3–30.5) and grey (mean 0–12.0) seals utilizing Chichester Harbour. Conversely, in Langstone Harbour there has been a slight decrease in the number of harbour seals (mean 5.3–4.0). Accompanying photographic data from 2016 to 18 supports the increase in seal numbers within Chichester Harbour, with a total of 68 harbour and 8 grey seals identified. These data also show evidence of site fidelity of harbour seals in this area, with almost a quarter of animals resighted within the past three years. Overall, this long‐term study indicates an increasing number of both harbour and grey seals within the Solent. However, more research is required to identify the drivers of this trend.
Differences in the occurrence and abundance of batoids across an oceanic archipelago using complementary data sources: Implications for conservation
Authors: Tuya Fernando , Aguilar Ricardo , Espino Fernando , Bosch Nestor E. , Meyers Eva K. M. , Jiménez‐Alvarado David , Castro Jose J. , Otero‐Ferrer Francisco , Haroun Ricardo
Published: November 2021

Batoids, distributed from shallow to abyssal depths, are considerably vulnerable to anthropogenic threats. Data deficiencies on the distribution patterns of batoids, however, challenge their effective management and conservation. In this study, we took advantage of the particular geological and geomorphological configuration of the Canary Islands, across an east‐to‐west gradient in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, to assess whether patterns in the occurrence and abundance of batoids varied between groups of islands (western, central, and eastern). Data were collected from shallow (<40 m, via underwater visual counts and by a local community science program) and deep waters (60–700 m, via ROV deployments). Eleven species of batoids, assessed by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, were registered, including three “Critically Endangered” (Aetomylaeus bovinus, Dipturus batis, and Myliobatis aquila), three “Endangered” (Gymnura altavela, Mobula mobular, and Rostroraja alba), two “Vulnerable” (Dasyatis pastinaca and Raja maderenseis), and two “Data Deficient” (Taeniurops grabata and Torpedo marmorata). Also, a “Least Concern” species (Bathytoshia lata) was observed. Overall, batoids were ~1 to 2 orders of magnitude more abundant in the central and eastern islands, relative to the western islands. This pattern was consistent among the three sources of data and for both shallow and deep waters. This study, therefore, shows differences in the abundance of batoids across an oceanic archipelago, likely related to varying insular shelf area, availability of habitats, and proximity to the nearby continental (African) mass. Large variation in population abundances among islands suggests that “whole” archipelago management strategies are unlikely to provide adequate conservation. Instead, management plans should be adjusted individually per island and complemented with focused research to fill data gaps on the spatial use and movements of these iconic species.
Alpine community recruitment potential is determined by habitat attributes in the alpine ecosystems of the Himalaya‐Hengduan Mountains, SW China
Authors: Chen Xufang , Qian Lishen , Zhang Yazhou , Shi Honghua , Sun Hang , Chen Jianguo
Published: November 2021

The fragility and sensitivity to climate change of alpine ecosystems make it difficult to maintain the stability of their plant communities. Thus, it is important to determine which plant propagules are stored in the soils in order to understand community recruitment potential, especially under different environmental conditions. Based on a soil seed germination and seedling cultivation experiment, we aimed to identify differences in the soil seed attributes between three typical habitat types in the alpine subnival ecosystems of the Himalaya‐Hengduan Mountains and hence to predict the community recruitment potential of each of these different communities. We found that the seed assemblages in the soils differed between habitats. The most abundant taxa were from the generaSaxifraga,Kobresia,Arenaria,Polygonum,Draba, andViola, while the taxa with lowest abundance wereApiaceae,Campanulaceae,Circaea,Crassulaceae, andGentiana. Different habitats exhibited variable soil seed richness, diversity, and density. However, the patterns differed between study sites. Specifically, at Baima (BM) and Shika (SK) snow mountains, soil seed richness, diversity, and density were generally highest in grassland, followed by rock bed and bare ground. In contrast, on Jiaozi (JZ) snow mountain, the rock bed supported the highest soil seed richness and density, followed by grassland and bare ground. These results suggest that the attributes of habitats and communities can both affect the accumulation of soil seeds. Bare ground supports the lowest seed diversity and density but also harbors the most empty niches. We, therefore, predict that, once the thermal conditions become suitable as a result of global warming, this habitat has the potential to see greater changes than grassland and rock bed in terms of community recruitment.
Late Jurassic Nb‐enriched basalts from the Bilong Co area in the southern Qiangtang Terrane, central Tibet, and their implications
Authors: Cheng Jianbo , Li Yalin , He Haiyang , Xiao Siqi , Bi Wenjun , Zou Yu
Published: November 2021

Arc‐related magmatic records in the southern Qiangtang Terrane play a key role in the complete understanding of the tectonic evolution of the Bangong–Nujiang Ocean during the late Mesozoic. In this study, we present new zircon U–Pb ages, whole‐rock geochemical, and Sr–Nd isotopic data for the Bilong Co basalts in the central segment of the southern Qiangtang Terrane. The results show that the studied basalts were most likely emplaced during the Kimmeridgian (Late Jurassic). They are characterized by low SiO2 (49.48–52.55 wt%), and high Al2O3 (14.75–15.89 wt%) and MgO (7.44–9.16 wt%), and belong to the high‐K calc‐alkaline to shoshonite series. All samples show significant enrichment in light rare earth elements (LaN/YbN = 14.99–17.47) and large‐ion lithophile elements, but depletion in high‐field‐strength elements with pronounced negative Nb‐Ta‐Ti anomalies. Six samples exhibit constant and depleted whole‐rock εNd(t) values ranging from 5.78 to 6.03. The Bilong Co basalts have high Nb (6.47–9.52 ppm) contents and Nb/Yb (3.49–4.30) ratios, which resemble those of the arc‐related Nb‐enriched basaltic rocks in the southern Qiangtang Terrane. These geochemical signatures reveal that the Bilong Co basalts were most likely derived from a mantle wedge metasomatized by slab‐derived melts and sediments in a continental arc setting, indicating the northward subduction of the Bangong–Nujiang oceanic lithosphere beneath the southern Qiangtang Terrane during the Late Jurassic. Our results, together with the previously published data, suggest that the Late Jurassic arc‐related magmatism is rather extensive in the southern Qiangtang Terrane, further supporting a Cretaceous closure of the Bangong–Nujiang Ocean.
Lower Emsian (Lower Devonian) conodonts from southwestern and central Guangxi, South China: Implications for palaeogeographic reconstructions
Authors: Guo Wen , Nie Ting , Lu Jianfeng , Yu Changmin , Li Jincheng , Mai Chi , Yin Baoan , Sun Yuanlin
Published: November 2021

Conodont biostratigraphy is investigated in the Poyuan, Shangkou, and Menggong sections in Guangxi, and the Lower Emsian (Lower Devonian) excavatus and nothoperbonus zones are partly recognized. Combining the Lower Devonian conodont framework and lithological successions to date, the process of the Early Devonian northeastward stepwise transgression in South China is more elaborated in detail herein. It is proved that the differentiation of the “Xiangzhou Facies” and the “Nandan Facies” in South China took place in the nothoperbonus Zone. A series of high‐resolution Early Devonian palaeogeographic maps of South China is illustrated in this study.
Hypoglycemia during the oral glucose tolerance test in pregnancy—maternal characteristics and neonatal outcomes
Authors: Raviv Shira , Wilkof‐Segev Renana , Maor‐Sagie Esther , Naeh Amir , Yoeli Yochai , Hallak Mordechai , Gabbay‐Benziv Rinat
Published: November 2021

Objective

To evaluate maternal and neonatal outcomes in pregnancies complicated by hypoglycemia on 100‐g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

Methods

A retrospective cohort analysis of all live‐born deliveries in a single medical center during 2018 and 2019 with available OGTT results and birth outcomes. Preterm deliveries (<34 weeks), multiple pregnancies and major anomalies were excluded. Hypoglycemia during OGTT was defined as at least one glucose value below 60 mg/dl. Maternal characteristics and perinatal outcomes were compared between three groups: Hypoglycemia on OGTT, Normal OGTT and Abnormal OGTT. Univariate followed by multivariate analyses were used to control for confounders.

Results

Overall, 2079 women were entered into the analysis. Of these, 216 (10.4%) had at least one hypoglycemic value, 1072 (51.6%) had normal OGTTs and 791 (38%) abnormal OGTTs. Hypoglycemia in OGTT was more prevalent in multiparous women and was associated with fetal male gender. Absolute birth weight, low birth weight and small for gestational age differed between groups; however, there was no difference between groups in overall birth weight centiles (60.1 ± 26.8 versus 63 ± 26 versus 60.9 ± 27; P > 0.05). Following adjustment of confounders, hypoglycemia was not associated with rates of low birth weight or small for gestational age (P < 0.05). There were no other differences in perinatal outcomes between groups.

Conclusion

Hypoglycemia in OGTT is not associated with maternal or neonatal adverse outcomes.
Investigating and treating chronic diarrhoea in dogs. Part 2: specific disorders of the small and large intestines
Authors: Walker Joshua , McMahon Lucy
Published: November 2021

Background: Diarrhoea is a common complaint in dogs and may cause significant patient morbidity and owner distress. Many diseases can lead to chronic diarrhoea (›three weeks) in dogs.

Aim of the article: Part one of this series discussed the systematic approach to the diagnosis of chronic diarrhoea in the dog (Walker and McMahon 2019). This second article covers treatment of specific causes of chronic diarrhoea in more detail, focusing on diseases commonly identified in practice. In recognition of the fact that many clients cannot afford extensive investigation, a ‘low‐cost’ treatment approach is suggested at the end of this article.
Antimicrobial use: importance of bacterial culture and susceptibility testing
Authors: Allerton Fergus , Nuttall Tim
Published: November 2021

Background: Tools are needed to assist in the battle against multi‐drug resistant infections. To ensure rational antimicrobial use, it is crucial to identify infectious agents.

Aim of the article: This article highlights the application of culture and susceptibility testing, which will assist practitioners in optimising antimicrobial selection. It describes techniques to obtain a representative sample for analysis and how to maximise pathogen viability during transport and handling. Some of the different methodologies employed for bacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing will be reviewed with guidance on how to interpret the results. We wholeheartedly support practitioner efforts to detect and characterise bacterial pathogens and hope to provide a useful guide to the analysis of these results so that they can inform therapeutic strategy. By working closely with your local veterinary diagnostic laboratory patient care may be enhanced; maintaining open channels of communication with the microbiologist can also provide context to unexpected results. Bacterial culture and susceptibility testing facilitate appropriate antimicrobial selection and, therefore, play a pivotal role in tackling antimicrobial resistance. It is beholden to veterinarians to learn how to use these tools most effectively.
Pursuit of patient safety culture
Authors: Turner Mark
Published: November 2021

This article explores patient safety culture and defines the various beliefs, behaviours, and competencies that contribute to it. In collaboration with RCVS Knowledge, whose quality improvement campaign supports practice teams to make changes that will lead to better patient outcomes, better system performance, and better professional development, Mark Turner discusses a topic that is increasingly regarded as important to veterinary care.
Referral rate for obstructive sleep apnea in a pre‐doctoral dental clinic using the STOP‐Bang Questionnaire
Authors: Guess Nathan William , Fischbach Henry , Ni Andy A. , Firestone Allen R.
Published: November 2021

Objectives

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common condition that can result in significant illness when untreated. Only 10%–20% of individuals with OSA are believed to be properly diagnosed. Consequently, dentists are encouraged to identify patients at high risk for OSA. The aim of this study was to determine whether patients in a dental school student clinic were referred for evaluation of OSA when appropriate.

Materials and methods

All patients 18 or older admitted to the College of Dentistry between July 2017 and March 2020 completed a medical history form. Data were extracted from their responses to determine a STOP‐Bang score, as well as data regarding a previous diagnosis of OSA and a list of referrals. Students are expected to refer patients appropriately where there are indications of a high risk of undiagnosed disease. In the case of a sleep apnea evaluation, this would include any patient whose STOP‐Bang score was 5 or greater, per the lecture on sleep disorders. For patients identified as high risk, notes and referral forms were reviewed to determine if the appropriate referral occurred.

Results

Of the 21,312 new patients, 1098 (5.2%) were identified as high‐risk for OSA. Of those, 398 (36%) had not been previously diagnosed with OSA. None of these 398 patients received a referral for further evaluation of OSA.

Conclusion

The rate of referral for further evaluation for patients deemed at high risk for OSA was inadequate. Continued education and changes to the electronic health record are needed to ensure those at high‐risk for OSA are appropriately managed.
Sensorimotor outcomes in adrenomyeloneuropathy show significant disease progression
Authors: Keller Jennifer L. , Eloyan Ani , Raymond Gerald V. , Fatemi Ali , Zackowski Kathleen M.
Published: November 2021

Current outcomes used to evaluate adrenomyeloneuropathy are limited by rater bias, not sensitive to preclinical changes, and require years to decades to detect disease progression. Quantitative outcomes are needed that detect meaningful change in a short time period over a broad range of disability. The study aim was to track sensorimotor outcomes in adults with adrenomyeloneuropathy and evaluate differences in progression between men and women. This prospective observational cohort study analyzes data collected annually in the Phase III study of adults with adrenomyeloneuropathy. Outcomes include postural sway in four static standing conditions, great‐toe vibration, hip strength, walking velocity, timed up‐and‐go, and 6‐minute walk distance. Linear mixed model analysis was used to detect change in the outcomes in 2 years, correcting for age, sex, disability, symptom duration, and treatment across the cohort. Modeling was repeated for each sex to evaluate differences. Power computations were carried out by sex and for the full dataset. Sixty‐one men and 87 women participated. Average age, 46 ± 12 years; Expanded Disability Status Scale, 3 (1‐6.5); symptom duration, 10.8 ± 9.4 years. The cohort showed significant worsening in all standing conditions (P < .001), sensation (P = .0223) and strength (P = .001); but more stability in walking with only velocity (P < .0337) significantly declining. For each sex, postural sway declines significantly in all conditions (P < .01) except for eyes closed feet together for women. Strength declines significantly by sex for hip flexion (P < .03). Sex‐specific significant decline is seen in walking (velocity P = .0276; distance P = .0072) for men only. Quantitative measures of postural sway, sensation strength, and walking are effective measures of adrenomyeloneuropathy progression in 2 years.
Amygdala network reorganization mediates the theory of mind performances in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Koubiyr Ismail , Dulau‐Metras Cécile , Deloire Mathilde , Charré‐Morin Julie , Saubusse Aurore , Brochet Bruno , Ruet Aurélie
Published: November 2021

Theory of mind (ToM) seems to be affected in multiple sclerosis (MS). MRI studies suggested a role of the amygdala in social cognitive performances. Therefore, we explored the role of the amygdala network in ToM using a multimodal MRI approach. In MS, patients with impaired ToM showed contradictory dysexecutive neuropsychological profile. Therefore, we compared neural networks involved in ToM and executive functions (EFs). Twenty patients with relapsing‐remitting MS and 15 matched healthy controls were selected. ToM (Faux Pas test and mind stories) and EFs were assessed within and outside the scanner. All subjects underwent a battery of neuropsychological tests. Multimodal MRI with structural (diffusion imaging) and functional (resting‐state and task‐based) sequences was used to analyze the role and connections of the amygdala in ToM functioning. Cognitive and ToM performances were similar between patients and controls. Resting‐state data revealed decreased connectivity of the left amygdala with frontal areas in patients compared to controls (p < 0.0001). During the task‐based functional MRI, patients demonstrated increased connectivity between the amygdala and several cerebellar and left temporal regions (all p < 0.05). The microstructural alterations between the left amygdala and left temporal regions were associated with increased functional connectivity within the same pathway (r = 0.74; p < 0.01). No overlap was observed between functional networks involved in ToM and EFs. Our study demonstrates more connectivity recruitment between the amygdala and cerebellar and temporal regions in MS patients to reach preserved ToM performance. Microstructural abnormalities have been related to this compensatory network. Finally, different networks were involved in EFs and ToM.
Non‐linearchanges in phase inversion temperature for oil and water emulsions of nonionic surfactant mixtures
Authors: Dado Gregory P. , Knox Paul W. , Lang Rachel M. , Knock Mona M.
Published: November 2021

Hydrophilic–lipophilic deviation (HLD) is a semiempirical framework for surfactant‐oil–water (SOW) formulation that has effectively assimilated SOW properties such as phase inversion temperature (PIT) and Winsor Type I ↔ II ↔ III ↔ IV microemulsion behavior. The HLD system's reliance on surfactant and oil parameters necessitates their experimental determination when relevant and accurate values are not available. In this study, experiments have been of the type commonly used to generate test surfactant HLD parameters based on perturbation of a well‐defined SOW reference system and assumption of linear mixing behavior for PIT versus component mole fractions. The reference SOW compositions comprisedn‐octane, 0.01 M aqueous NaCl, and puren‐decyl tetraethylene glycol ether (C10E4) reference surfactant. Test surfactants were primary alcohol ethoxylates and nonylphenol ethoxylates comprising disperse PEG (polyethylene glycol) chain lengths that are inherent to commercial production of nonionic ethoxylate surfactants. We observe non‐linear behavior of PIT versus test surfactant mole fraction, even when accounting for surfactant concentration effects, so the desired linear correlation that could otherwise be used to assign an HLD parameter has not been obtained. Since an objective of this study has been to improve the predictive utility of the HLD framework for commercial nonionic surfactants, relevant terms in the HLD equation have been assessed in terms of their potential contributions to non‐linear behavior. One current working‐explanation relates substantial non‐linear PIT contribution to oil‐like surfactant components in disperse commercial ethoxylates.
Development of ultra‐high‐performance supercritical fluid chromatography‐mass spectrometry assays to analyze potential biomarkers in sweat
Authors: Herniman Julie M. , Worsley Peter R. , Greenhill Rachel , Bader Dan L. , John Langley G.
Published: November 2021

Liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry methods were required to afford the rapid separation and detection of purines and small organic acids. These compounds are found in sweat and sebum and are potential biomarkers for the early detection of pressures sores. Two ultra‐high‐performance supercritical fluid chromatography‐mass spectrometry assays have been successfully developed for both classes of compounds. Separation for purines was achieved using a gradient of supercritical carbon dioxide and methanol with a 1‐aminoanthracene sub 2 μm particle size column followed by positive ion electrospray ionization. Separation for organic acids was achieved using a gradient of supercritical carbon dioxide and methanol (50 mM ammonium acetate 2% water) with a Diol sub 2 μm particle size column followed by negative ion electrospray ionization. Calibration curves were created in the absence of internal standards and R2 values > 0.96 were achieved using single ion monitoring methods for the protonated purines and the deprotonated acids. The two new assays afford rapid analytical methods for the separation and detection of potential biomarkers in human sweat leading to the early detection and prevention of pressure sores.
Reference state, structure, regime shifts, and regulatory drivers in a coastal sea over the last century: The Central Baltic Sea case
Authors: Tomczak Maciej T. , Müller‐Karulis Bärbel , Blenckner Thorsten , Ehrnsten Eva , Eero Margit , Gustafsson Bo , Norkko Alf , Otto Saskia A. , Timmermann Karen , Humborg Christoph
Published: November 2021

The occurrence of regime shifts in marine ecosystems has important implications for environmental legislation that requires setting reference levels and targets of quantitative restoration outcomes. The Baltic Sea ecosystem has undergone large changes in the 20th century related to anthropogenic pressures and climate variability, which have caused ecosystem reorganization. Here, we compiled historical information and identified relationships in our dataset using multivariate statistics and modeling across 31 biotic and abiotic variables from 1925 to 2005 in the Central Baltic Sea. We identified a series of ecosystem regime shifts in the 1930s, 1970s, and at the end of the 1980s/beginning of the 1990s. In the long term, the Central Baltic Sea showed a regime shift from a benthic to pelagic‐dominated state. Historically, benthic components played a significant role in trophic transfer, while in the more recent productive system pelagic–benthic coupling was weak and pelagic components dominated. Our analysis shows that for the entire time period, productivity, climate, and hydrography mainly affected the functioning of the food web, whereas fishing became important more recently. Eutrophication had far‐reaching direct and indirect impacts from a long‐term perspective and changed not only the trophic state of the system but also affected higher trophic levels. Our study also suggests a switch in regulatory drivers from salinity to oxygen. The “reference ecosystem” identified in our analysis may guide the establishment of an ecosystem state baseline and threshold values for ecosystem state indicators of the Central Baltic Sea.