bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Don't go breaking apart: Anthropogenic disturbances predict meadow fragmentation of an endangered seagrass
Authors: Swadling Daniel S. , West Greg J. , Gibson Peter T. , Laird Roger J. , Glasby Tim M.
Published: December 2022

Although it is well established that human activities are linked to the loss of seagrasses worldwide, the influence of anthropogenic disturbances on the habitat fragmentation of seagrass meadows is less understood. This information is essential to identify how humans are modifying seascapes and what disturbances pose the greatest risk to seagrasses, which is pertinent given the rapid urbanization occurring in coastal areas.

This study examined how the habitat fragmentation of an endangered seagrass Posidonia australis varied in relation to several anthropogenic disturbances (i.e. human population, marine infrastructure, terrestrial run‐off and catchment land‐usage) within 10 estuaries across 620 km of coastline in New South Wales, Australia.

When comparing between estuaries, the fragmentation of P. australis meadows was significantly greater in estuaries adjacent to highly populated metropolitan centres – generally in the Greater Sydney region. At sites within estuaries, the density of boat moorings was the most important predictor of habitat fragmentation, but there was also evidence of higher fragmentation with increased numbers of jetties and oyster aquaculture leases.

These results suggest that the fragmentation of seagrass meadows will become more pervasive as the human population continues to grow and estuarine development increases. Strategies to mitigate anthropogenic disturbances on seagrass meadow fragmentation could include prohibiting the construction of boat moorings and other artificial structures in areas where seagrasses are present or promoting environmentally friendly designs for marine infrastructure. This knowledge will support ongoing management actions attempting to balance coastal development and the conservation of seagrasses.
Finite time time‐varying formation tracking for second‐order multiagent systems with prescribed transient performance
Authors: An Binghe , Wang Bo , Fan Huijin , Liu Lei , Wang Yongji
Published: December 2022

This paper studies the finite time output formation tracking for a class of second‐order multiagent systems subject to prescribed transient performance. The considered leader–follower time‐varying formation tracking is realized under a directed communication topology. First, a performance function is introduced into a time‐varying barrier Lyapunov function (TV‐BLF) for the purpose of shaping the transient behavior. Then, based on the TV‐BLF and adding a power integrator technology, a distributed formation control law is constructed such that all followers can form a predefined formation pattern while tracking the leader in finite time with satisfied transient performance. Moreover, a robust term is designed in the proposed controller to improve the disturbance rejection capability of the formation system. Finally, a simulation example is carried out to verify the effectiveness and superiority of the presented formation control protocol.
Zika virus as a cause of birth defects: Were the teratogenic effects of Zika virus missed for decades?
Authors: Gilbert Rachel K. , Petersen Lyle R. , Honein Margaret A. , Moore Cynthia A. , Rasmussen Sonja A.
Published: December 2022

Zika virus (ZIKV) was identified as a teratogen in 2016 when an increase in severe microcephaly and other brain defects was observed in fetuses and newborns following outbreaks in French Polynesia (2013–2014) and Brazil (2015–2016) and among travelers to other countries experiencing outbreaks. Some have questioned why ZIKV was not recognized as a teratogen before these outbreaks: whether novel genetic changes in ZIKV had increased its teratogenicity or whether its association with birth defects had previously been undetected. Here we examine the evidence for these two possibilities. We describe evidence for specific mutations that arose before the French Polynesia outbreak that might have increased ZIKV teratogenicity. We also present information on children born with findings consistent with congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) as early as 2009 and epidemiological evidence that suggests increases in CZS‐type birth defects before 2013. We also explore reasons why a link between ZIKV and birth defects might have been missed, including issues with surveillance of ZIKV infections and of birth defects, challenges to ZIKV diagnostic testing, and the susceptibility of different populations to ZIKV infection at the time of pregnancy. Although it is not possible to prove definitively that ZIKV had teratogenic properties before 2013, several pieces of evidence support the hypothesis that its teratogenicity had been missed in the past. These findings emphasize the need for further investments in global surveillance for emerging infections and for birth defects so that infectious teratogens can be identified more expeditiously in the future.
Baseline heart rate in infants with prenatal alcohol exposure: A systematic review and independent analysis
Authors: McDonnell Peyton , Fornell Pia , Ponce Sarah , Dyer Laura
Published: December 2022

Background

Infants with fetal alcohol syndrome exhibit a range of developmental anomalies, many related to the heart (e.g., decreased heart rate variability). However, the baseline heart rate in this population remains unclear. We hypothesized that the age at which heart rate was measured or the age during exposure to alcohol affects the baseline heart rate.

Methods

First, we conducted a systemic review to determine the published heart rate of infants with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). Exclusion criteria included potentially confounding factors, including the commonly associated phenotypes of small for gestational age and premature birth. Risk of bias was evaluated based on case study limitations, and data were compared with established heart rate norms. Then, we evaluated the precise age at heart rate measurement using existing datasets from the Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and the Maternal Lifestyle Study.

Results

Based on the weighted means of six studies, the baseline heart rate was 4.6 bpm higher in infants with PAE (n = 253) than in control infants (n = 152). Using the individual patient data, baseline heart rates were similar between age‐matched infants with PAE and control infants who were born full‐term and showed no signs of growth restriction (ANOVA, p > .05; n = 49–124 infants per age and exposure).

Conclusions

A systematic literature review suggested that heart rate is elevated in infants with PAE, but these findings are limited by the number of studies and how few studies included control infants. The analysis of individual patient data indicates that infants with PAE have normal baseline heart rates. This knowledge may help clinicians detect changes in cardiac function in infants with PAE. (Registered via PROSPERO, #CRD42020191212.)
Production of medium‐chain‐length PHA in octanoate‐fed enrichments dominated by Sphaerotilus sp.
Authors: Vermeer Chris M. , Depaz Lena , van den Berg Emily , Koelmans Tom , Kleerebezem Robbert
Published: December 2022

Medium‐chain‐length polyhydroxyalkanoate (mcl‐PHA) production by using microbial enrichments is a promising but largely unexplored approach to obtain elastomeric biomaterials from secondary resources. In this study, several enrichment strategies were tested to select a community with a high mcl‐PHA storage capacity when feeding octanoate. On the basis of analysis of the metabolic pathways, the hypothesis was formulated that mcl‐PHA production is more favorable under oxygen‐limited conditions than short‐chain‐length PHA (scl‐PHA). This hypothesis was confirmed by bioreactor experiments showing that oxygen limitation during the PHA accumulation experiments resulted in a higher fraction of mcl‐PHA over scl‐PHA (i.e., a PHA content of 76 wt% with an mcl fraction of 0.79 with oxygen limitation, compared to a PHA content of 72 wt% with an mcl‐fraction of 0.62 without oxygen limitation). Physicochemical analysis revealed that the extracted PHA could be separated efficiently into a hydroxybutyrate‐rich fraction with a higher Mw and a hydroxyhexanoate/hydroxyoctanoate‐rich fraction with a lower Mw. The ratio between the two fractions could be adjusted by changing the environmental conditions, such as oxygen availability and pH. Almost all enrichments were dominated by Sphaerotilus sp. This is the first scientific report that links this genus to mcl‐PHA production, demonstrating that microbial enrichments can be a powerful tool to explore mcl‐PHA biodiversity and to discover novel industrially relevant strains.
Description and nomenclature of organ subdivisions in the Terminologia Anatomica and in anatomical education: Comparison with cancer classifications
Authors: Gocht Andreas , Schumacher Udo
Published: December 2022

Terminology is the basis for communication among medical professionals. For anatomists, their daily work is based on the Terminologia Anatomica (TA), while pathologists cite the Tumor Node Metastasis (TNM) classification when referring to the anatomical boundaries and regions of malignant tumors. Terminologia Anatomica and clinical‐based classifications, including the TMN classification of tumors, use a world‐wide standardized nomenclature, which has been revised regularly to incorporate new anatomical discoveries and clinically relevant structures. In medical education, students are familiarized with medical nomenclatures in anatomy textbooks and online learning platforms. Sometime, descriptions and illustrations in anatomy teaching materials put a different focus on the importance of anatomical subdivisions and their borders than is found in cancer classifications. This discrepancy contrasts with the efforts of medical societies to define and implement clinically relevant anatomical structures, including organ subdivisions and their boundaries, in daily clinical practice. Here, we illustrate this problem using the larynx and pancreas as examples. Anatomy education should coordinate teaching content with the requirements of the clinical disciplines.
Synthesis of New Ester Derivatives of Salicylic Acid and Evaluation of Their COX Inhibitory Potential
Authors: Koca Mehmet , Anıl Barış , Nişancı Bilal , Bayır Yasin , Ercan Zeynep , Özakar Emrah
Published: December 2022

Salicylic acid is an NSAID with serious side effects on the GIS. The side effects of salicylic acid on the GIS are slightly reduced by acetylating salicylic acid. 12 new ester analogs of salicylic acid were synthesized with high yields in this study. The chemical structures of the synthesized compounds were characterized by 1H‐NMR, 13C‐NMR, and HRMS spectra. The inhibitory potential of the compounds was evaluated on COXs by in vitro and in silico studies. The COX2 inhibitory activity of the most potent inhibitor MEST1 (IC50: 0.048 μM) was found to be much higher than the COX2 inhibitory activity of aspirin (IC50: 2.60 μM). In docking studies, the strongest inhibitor among the compounds synthesized was predicted to be MEST1, with the lowest binding energy. Docking studies revealed that MEST1 extends from the hydrophobic channel to the top of the cyclooxygenase active site, forming various interactions with residues in the binding pocket.
Protective Mechanism of Ethyl Gallate against Intestinal Ischemia‐Reperfusion Injury in Mice by in Vivo and in Vitro Studies Based on Transcriptomics
Authors: Fan Shuyuan , Feng Xiaoyan , Li Kun , Li Bin , Diao Yunpeng
Published: December 2022

Intestinal ischemia‐reperfusion injury (IIRI) is a common clinical disease that can be life‐threatening in severe cases. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ethyl gallate (EG) on IIRI and its underlying mechanisms. A mouse model was established to mimic human IIRI by clamping the superior mesenteric artery. Transcriptomics techniques were used in conjunction with experiments to explore the potential mechanisms of EG action. Intestinal histomorphological damage, including intestinal villi damage and mucosal hemorrhage, was significantly reversed by EG. EG also alleviated the oxidative stress, inflammation, and intestinal epithelial apoptosis caused by IIRI. 2592 up‐regulated genes and 2754 down‐regulated genes were identified after EG treatment, and these differential genes were enriched in signaling pathways, including fat digestion and absorption, and extracellular matrix (ECM) receptor interactions. In IIRI mouse intestinal tissue, expression of the differential protein matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), as well as its co‐protein NF‐κB‐p65, was significantly increased, while EG inhibited the expression of MMP9 and NF‐κB‐p65. In Caco‐2 cells in an established oxygen‐glucose deprivation/reperfusion model (OGD/R), EG significantly reversed the decrease in intestinal barrier trans‐epithelial electrical resistance (TEER). However, in the presence of MMP9 inhibitors, EG did not reverse the decreasing trend in TEER. This study illustrates the protective effect and mechanism of action of EG on IIRI and, combined with in vivo and in vitro experiments, it reveals that MMP9 may be the main target of EG action. This study provides new scientific information on the therapeutic effects of EG on IIRI.
Cladiella Octocorals: Enormous Sources of Secondary Metabolites with Diverse Structural and Biological Properties
Authors: Du Ye‐Qing , Liang Lin‐Fu , Guo Yue‐Wei
Published: December 2022

Marine octocorals belonging to the genus Cladiella, usually encountered on reefs in the Indo‐Pacific region, have been proven to be rich sources of diverse secondary metabolites with intriguing structural features and promising bioactivities. In this review, 155 compounds from six unambiguously identified C. krempfi, C. australis, C. pachyclados, C. hirsuta, C. tuberculosa, C. conifera, together with several unidentified Cladiella spp. are summarized covering the literatures from 2006 to August 2022. It is noteworthy that diterpenoids dominated the secondary metabolite profile of this genus counting for 78 %. Structurally, the majority of these diterpenes belonged to eunicellan family characterized by different patterns of ether linkage. The impacts of these chemical compositions on an array of potential pharmacological activities were also reviewed, giving an overview of the potential application of Cladiella secondary metabolites.
Use of the MSJCC: A content analysis of ACA journals
Authors: Gantt‐Howrey Alexandra , Becnel Alexander , Shi Yun , Lau Jared
Published: December 2022

Using quantitative content analysis, we examined the prevalence and use of the Multicultural Social Justice Counseling Competencies (MSJCC) in 21 ACA journals between June 2015 and July 2021. We found that only 7.62% of the articles (n = 2860) referenced the MSJCC. Implications for counselor educators are discussed.
Wireless electromechanical enantio‐responsive valves
Authors: Salinas Gerardo , Malacarne Filippo , Bonetti Giorgia , Cirilli Roberto , Benincori Tiziana , Arnaboldi Serena , Kuhn Alexander
Published: December 2022

Microfluidic valves based on chemically responsive materials have gained considerable attention in recent years. Herein, a wireless enantio‐responsive valve triggered by bipolar electrochemistry combined with chiral recognition is reported. A conducting polymer actuator functionalized with the enantiomers of an inherently chiral oligomer was used as bipolar valve to cover a tube loaded with a dye and immersed in a solution containing chiral analytes. When an electric field is applied, the designed actuator shows a reversible cantilever‐type deflection, allowing the release of the dye from the reservoir. The tube can be opened and closed by simply switching the polarity of the system. Qualitative results show the successful release of the colorant, driven by chirality and redox reactions occurring at the bipolar valve. The device works well even in the presence of chemically different chiral analytes in the same solution. These systems open up new possibilities in the field of microfluidics, including also controlled drug delivery applications.
Multi‐layer features ensemble soft sensor regression model based on stacked autoencoder and vine copula
Authors: Chen Hongmin , Li Shaojun
Published: December 2022

It is crucial in industrial processes to consider key variables to ensure safe operation and high product quality. Moreover, these variables are difficult to obtain using traditional measurement methods; hence, it makes sense to develop soft sensor regression models to process the variable prediction. However, there are numerous variables integrating noisy and redundant information in complex industrial processes. Using such variables in traditional regression models may result in reducing the model's efficiency and performance. Thus, this paper proposes a multi‐layer feature ensemble soft sensor regression method using a stacked auto‐encoder (SAE) and vine copula (ESAE–VCR) to address these problems. To do so, the number of neurons in the hidden layer of the SAE is determined by the principal component analysis (PCA). The multi‐layer features of the process variables are extracted using a stacked AE, and the regression models are established for each feature layer. A linear regression ensemble method is used to combine the regression models with the multi‐layer features to obtain the final predictive model that will estimate the values of the key variables. The effectiveness and practicality of the ESAE–VCR are validated by comparing them with several common soft measurement methods in two examples. In the numerical example, the ESAE–VCR yields an accuracy of prediction (R2) of 0.9898 and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.1804. In the industrial example, the ESAE–VCR yields an R2 of 0.9908 and an RMSE of 0.1205.
A comparative study of different data representations under CNN and a novel integrated FDD architecture
Authors: Ren Jia , Tang Lijuan , Zou Hongrui
Published: December 2022

In recent years, deep‐learning‐based fault detection and diagnosis (FDD) methods have received extensive attention. As we all know, different input forms have a great impact on the final performance. In this paper, three categories and seven representation methods are discussed: numeric representations, image mapping representations (radar chart mapping and Gramian angular summation field (GASF) mapping), and signal transforming representations (fast Fourier transform (FFT) and wavelet). The tests on the Tennessee Eastman process (TEP) dataset prove that the FFT method has achieved the best performance on average. Based on this, a general FDD integration framework is proposed to integrate multiple base learners together to make decisions by weighted voting or maximum voting. Finally, the comparison between our proposed method and other five typical models (FFT, a GASF and a multi‐scale neural network (GASF–MSNN), convolutional neural network (CNN), Long Short‐Term Memory (LSTM), and Support Vector Machine (SVM)) illustrates the effectiveness of our method for FDD on the TEP. The proposed integrated method provides an effective platform for deep‐learning‐based FDD.
Assessing axial and temporal effects of the leaf sheath on the flexural stiffness of large‐grain stems
Authors: Hale Jared , Webb Spencer , Hale Nathan , Stubbs Christopher , Cook Douglas
Published: December 2022

The leaf sheath of many plants has been observed to influence both stiffness and ultimate strength. For example, the sheath has been observed to be closely related to “greensnap” (or “brittle‐snap”) failure of Zea mays. The goal of this study was to develop a method for assessing longitudinal and temporal patterns of sheath influence on flexural stiffness. This metric was chosen because it has been shown to be predictive of ultimate bending strength. A three‐point bending test method was developed for assessing the longitudinal and temporal influence of the sheath on flexural stiffness of Zea mays. Comparisons between pairs of tests at the same location (sheath present vs. absent) were performed. Four types of maize were tested. The sheath had a statistically significant influence on bending. Sheath influence appears to be closely related to maturity since both spatial and temporal patterns of influence mirror the sigmoidal maturation patterns previously observed in maize stalks. The paired nature of this method increases statistical significance and allows for multiple tests along the length of the stalk. Results indicate that the influence of the sheath changes over the life span of the Zea mays in parallel with maturation patterns. However, further studies will be needed to confirm this hypothesis more broadly and to study additional issues such as heritability and the influence of genotype and environment on sheath effects. Due to the common architecture of Poacea plants, this method can be used to provide new insights on sheath influences of various species.
White gastric mucosa during endoscopy as a new endoscopic feature of chronic ischemic gastritis: A case report
Authors: Ichita Chikamasa , Sasaki Akiko , Isogai Naoko , Sumida Chihiro , Nishino Takashi , Kubota Jun , Shionoya Kento , Kimura Karen
Published: December 2022

Chronic ischemic gastritis (CIG) requires early diagnosis and treatment as complications of thromboembolism can be fatal. Although computed tomography (CT) is useful in the diagnosis of CIG, it is difficult to diagnose from a patient's history, endoscopic findings, and tissue biopsy. Identification of the key findings that motivate computed tomography is an important issue. We report a case of CIG diagnosed by endoscopic findings of white patches of mucosa over time. A 63‐year‐old man presented with epigastric pain. He had a history of repeated gastric ulcers of an undetermined cause. We performed upper endoscopy and observed the appearance of multiple white patches on the gastric mucosa. Central vessel stenosis was considered, and aortic computed tomography revealed complete occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery and stenosis of the celiac artery. We carried out a surgical bypass and found no postoperative endoscopic mucosal changes or abdominal pain. White patch changes in the gastric mucosa over time during endoscopy may indicate CIG. This finding may help in the future diagnosis of CIG.
EdgeMesh: A hybrid distributed training mechanism for heterogeneous edge devices
Authors: Xu Fei , Feng Jianqiang , Zhang Zhuoya , Ning Linpeng , Jia Yuxi
Published: December 2022

The proliferation of large‐scale distributed Internet of Things (IoT) applications has resulted in a surge in demand for network models such as deep neural networks (DNNs) to be trained and inferred at the edge. Due to the central data transmission mechanism, heterogeneity of edge devices, and resource constraints, the existing single data‐parallel, and model‐parallel distributed training mechanisms frequently fail to fully utilize the computing power of edge devices, network topology and bandwidth resources. In light of the shortcomings mentioned earlier, this article proposes EdgeMesh, a hybrid parallel training mode based on the Mesh‐Tensorflow framework, consisting of an adaptive meshing strategy and a dynamic model convolutional partitioning strategy. The computing power of IoT edge devices significantly speeds up the DNN training process. In a resource‐constrained environment, each node only supports a subset of the model's parallel computing tasks, reducing communication and memory overhead while retaining high scalability. Experiments show that when compared to single‐machine training and data parallel mode, EdgeMesh distributed training mechanism can reduce the average delay by 3.2 times and average memory overhead by 43% while maintaining model accuracy. The computing power of IoT edge devices effectively accelerates the DNN training process.
Estimation of grain yield in wheat using source–sink datasets derived from RGB and thermal infrared imaging
Authors: Li Rui , Wang Dunliang , Zhu Bo , Liu Tao , Sun Chengming , Zhang Zujian
Published: December 2022

Timely and efficient monitoring of crop aboveground biomass (AGB) and grain yield (GY) forecasting before harvesting are critical for improving crop yields and ensuring food security in precision agriculture. The purpose of this study is to explore the potential of fusing source–sink‐level color, texture, and temperature values extracted from RGB images and thermal images based on proximal sensing technology to improve grain yield prediction. High‐quality images of wheat from flowering to maturity under different treatments of nitrogen application were collected using proximal sensing technology over a 2‐year trial. Numerous variables based on source and sink organs were extracted from the acquired subsample images, including 30 color features, 10 texture features, and two temperature values. The principal component analysis (PCA), least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), and recursive feature elimination (RFE) were used to screen variables. Support vector regression (SVR) and random forest (RF) were applied to establish AGB estimation models, and the GY prediction models were built by RF. The source dataset and sink dataset performed differently on AGB and GY estimation, but the combined source–sink dataset performed best for estimating both AGB and GY. Based on the source–sink dataset, the LASSO‐RF model was the best combination for predicting AGB and GY, with the coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.85 and 0.86, root mean square error (RMSE) of 1179.09 and 609.61 kg ha−1, and the ratio of performance to deviation (RPD) of 2.10 and 2.45, respectively. This study demonstrates that the multivariate eigenvalues of both source and sink organs have the potential to predict wheat yield and that the combination of machine learning models and variable selection methods can significantly affect the accuracy of yield prediction models and achieve effective monitoring of crop growth at late reproductive stages.
A new option for mortality–interest rates
Authors: Lin Tzuling , Tsai Cary Chi‐Liang
Published: December 2022

We propose a new type of mortality–interest option related to a new random variable, the force of mortality–interest denoted as , the addition of the force of mortality and the force of interest. We assume moves approximately linearly, design the new mortality–interest option, and then derive closed‐form formulas for its expected values. We show that using the new mortality–interest options, an annuity provider and a life insurer can, respectively, hedge the longevity and mortality risks with interest rate risk; a financial intermediary selling the new options can benefit from natural hedges resulted from two‐side businesses with the annuity provider and life insurer.
Practice patterns for positive sentinel lymph node in head and neck melanoma
Authors: Berania Ilyes , Tzelnick Sharon , de Almeida John R. , McKinnon Gregory , Goldstein David P.
Published: December 2022

Background

An international survey was conducted to investigate the preferences for completion lymph node dissection (CLND) in head and neck melanomas.

Methods

A questionnaire was sent through the American Society of Head & Neck Surgery (AHNS) and Canadian Society of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery (CSO).

Results

Hundred and forty‐nine surgeons completed the survey. Response rate was 6.3% and 9.7% from AHNS and CSO members, respectively. When presented the scenario of a 47‐year‐old male with a clinical T3bN0 cheek melanoma, with 1/1 positive sentinel lymph node (SLN) with nodal deposit <2 mm, 72 of respondents (48.3%) would perform a CLND. Reasons for CLND included multiples positive SLN (64.1%), size of nodal deposits (54.2%), and perceived lack of compliance to follow‐up (54.2%). Surgeons with access to immunotherapy treatment were less likely to recommend CLND (p = 0.025).

Conclusions

Following SLN biopsy, nearly half of the surveyed head and neck surgeons would recommend CLND, which contrasts with the current melanoma practice patterns in other anatomic locations. However, compared with an earlier study in the literature it does seem that there has been a shift away from completion neck dissection. Further investigation into understanding practice variations is warranted.
A distinct impact of repeated morphine exposure on synaptic plasticity at Schaffer collateral‐CA1, temporoammonic‐CA1, and perforant pathway‐dentate gyrus synapses along the longitudinal axis of the hippocampus
Authors: Anvari Sohrab , Foolad Forough , Javan Mohammad , Mirnajafi‐Zadeh Javad , Fathollahi Yaghoub
Published: December 2022

We aimed to study how morphine affects synaptic transmission in the dentate gyrus and CA1 regions along the hippocampal long axis. For this, recording and measuring of field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) were utilized to test the effects of repeated morphine exposure on paired‐pulse evoked responses and long‐term potentiation (LTP) at Schaffer collateral‐CA1 (Sch‐CA1), temporoammonic‐CA1 (TA‐CA1) and perforant pathway‐dentate gyrus (PP‐DG) synapses in transverse slices from the dorsal (DH), intermediate (IH), and ventral (VH) hippocampus in adult male rats. After repeated morphine exposure, the expression of opioid receptors and the α1 and α5 GABAA subunits were also examined. We found that repeated morphine exposure blunt the difference between the DH and the VH in their basal levels of synaptic transmission at Sch‐CA1 synapses that were seen in the control groups. Significant paired‐pulse facilitation of excitatory synaptic transmission was observed at Sch‐CA1 synapses in slices taken from all three hippocampal segments as well as at PP‐DG synapses in slices taken from the VH segment in the morphine‐treated groups as compared to the control groups. Interestingly, significant paired‐pulse inhibition of excitatory synaptic transmission was observed at TA‐CA1 synapses in the DH slices from the morphine‐treated group as compared to the control group. While primed‐burst stimulation (a protocol reflecting normal neuronal firing) induced a robust LTP in hippocampal subfields in all control groups, resulting in a decaying LTP at TA‐CA1 synapses in the VH slices and at PP‐DG synapses in both the IH and VH slices taken from the morphine‐treated rats. In the DH of morphine‐treated rats, we found increased levels of the mRNAs encoding the α1 and α5 GABAA subunits as compared to the control group. Taken together, these findings suggest the potential mechanisms through which repeated morphine exposure causes differential changes in circuit excitability and synaptic plasticity in the dentate gyrus and CA1 regions along the hippocampal long axis.
A tribute to Howard Rachlin and his two‐parameter discounting model: Reliable and flexible model fitting
Authors: Franck Christopher T. , Traxler Haily K. , Kaplan Brent A. , Koffarnus Mikhail N. , Rzeszutek Mark J.
Published: December 2022

Delay discounting reflects the rate at which a reward loses its subjective value as a function of delay to that reward. Many models have been proposed to measure delay discounting, and many comparisons have been made among these models. We highlight the two‐parameter delay discounting model popularized by Howard Rachlin by demonstrating two key practical features of the Rachlin model. The first feature is flexibility; the Rachlin model fits empirical discounting data closely. Second, when compared with other available two‐parameter discounting models, the Rachlin model has the advantage that unique best estimates for parameters are easy to obtain across a wide variety of potential discounting patterns. We focus this work on this second feature in the context of maximum likelihood, showing the relative ease with which the Rachlin model can be utilized compared with the extreme care that must be used with other models for discounting data, focusing on two illustrative cases that pass checks for data validity. Both of these features are demonstrated via a reanalysis of discounting data the authors have previously used for model selection purposes.
Analytical validation and quality control/quality assurance practices for improved rigor and reproducibility of biochemical assays in orthopaedic research
Authors: Andress Benjamin , Hoffman Maureane , McNulty Amy L.
Published: December 2022

Orthopaedic research, and biomedical research in general, has made enormous strides to develop treatments for conditions long thought to be inevitable or untreatable; however, there is growing concern about the quality of published research. Considerable efforts have been made to improve overall research quality, integrity, and rigor, including meaningful proposals focused on transparency of reporting, appropriate use of statistics, and reporting of negative results. However, we believe that there is another key component to rigor and reproducibility that is not discussed sufficiently—analytical validation and quality control (QC). In this commentary, we discuss QC and method validation principles and practices that are systematically applied in the clinical laboratory setting to verify and monitor the analytical performance of quantitative assays, and the utility of applying similar practices to biochemical assays in the orthopaedic research setting. This commentary includes (1) recommendations for validation and QC practices, including examples of assay performance limitations uncovered by validation experiments performed in our laboratory, and (2) a description of an ongoing QC program developed to monitor the ongoing performance of commonly used assays in our lab. We hope that this commentary and the examples presented here will be thought‐provoking and inspire further discussion and adaptation of analytical validation and QC procedures to advance our shared pursuit of high‐quality, rigorous, and reproducible orthopaedic research.
A Raman spectral database of naturally aged plastics: A proof‐of‐concept study for waste plastic sorting
Authors: Marica Ioana , Pînzaru Simona Cîntă
Published: December 2022

A Raman spectral database of naturally aged plastics for years is developed aiming to support efficient and proper plastic waste management based on Raman sorting technology. The database is designed as a website and contains the Raman spectral data for 146 plastic waste samples degraded for years in natural environmental conditions. Plastic samples aged for years in indoor conditions are also included along with a few undegraded, common plastics. The natural environmental degradation occurring for years of exposure to sun radiation, terrestrial and aquatic factors, or temperature variations is poorly understood in terms of spectral changes of representative plastics. The samples of choice are represented by the widespread types of plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate, high‐density polyethylene, low‐density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, and polystyrene. Each plastic sample is described individually on the database's website, and its Raman spectrum is available as a txt file for both educational and analytical purposes. Moreover, the database was validated by external validation of the machine‐learning classifiers: k‐nearest neighbor, support vector machine, logistic regression, random forest, and Naïve Bayes resulting in a classification accuracy between 0.902 and 0.973.
The effect of nanoparticle fillers on glass fiber/poly‐ether‐ether‐ketone prepreg laser absorbance, thermal conductivity and interlayer performance
Authors: Li Yanrui , Li Yong , Huan Dajun , Li Lisha , Liu Hongquan , Wang Wuqiang , Wang Junsheng , Zhu Chunling , Zhao Ning
Published: December 2022

Aiming at the use of glass fiber reinforced poly‐ether‐ether‐ketone (GF/PEEK) with low laser absorbance in laser assisted tape winding/placement (LATW/LATP), a method for dyeing GF/PEEK prepreg with nanoparticle fillers (NFs) is presented. First, the effects of carbon black (CB) and graphite (G) NFs on composites laser absorbance and reflection pattern were quantified, and the complex refractive index model was derived. Next, the effects of NFs on composites transverse thermal conductivity were tested, and the accuracy of four thermal conductivity prediction models were compared. Finally, the effects of NFs on composites interlayer performance were studied. The optical test results showed that NFs could improve laser absorbance while not changing reflection pattern, and the increase rate of absorbance for CB was higher than for G. As calculated by complex refractive index model, GF/PEEK with 1‐layer thickness could achieve complete laser absorption by addition of either 2.74%CB or 3.78%G. The thermal conductivity test results showed that NFs could improve composites transverse thermal conductivity. The increase rate of thermal conductivity for G was higher than for CB. Among the four prediction model, the Lewis‐Nielsen model had correct prediction regularity and was within 10% predict deviation. Based on this model, the transverse thermal conductivity of GF/PEEK/2.74%CB was 0.557 W/m K, and of GF/PEEK/3.78%G was 0.592 W/m K. The mechanical test results showed that the CB loading ≤4% had little effect on interlayer performance, while the G decreased interlayer performance. Consequently, adding CB at a low loading is a better way to realize GF/PEEK application in LATW/LATP.
Registration of ‘CP 14‐1934’ sugarcane for Florida organic soils
Authors: Coto Arbelo Orlando , Davidson Wayne , Islam Md S. , Sandhu Hardev S. , Zhao Duli , Sood Sushma , Momotaz Aliya , Baltazar Miguel , Gordon Vanessa S.
Published: December 2022

‘CP 14‐1934’ (Reg. no. CV‐210, PI 700310) sugarcane cultivar, a complex hybrid of Saccharum spp., was developed through cooperative research of the USDA‐ARS, the University of Florida, and the Florida Sugarcane League. The Florida Sugarcane Variety Committee released CP 14‐1934 in June 2021 for commercial cultivation on organic (muck) soil. CP 14‐1934 originates from a cross CPX11‐1041 between CP 07‐2460 (female parent) and CP 06‐2335 (male parent). CP 14‐1934 was released due to its high cane yield; high sucrose yields; acceptable commercial recoverable sucrose; and resistance to brown rust (tested positive to Bru1 marker), orange rust, sugarcane mosaic virus strain E (mosaic), and ratoon stunting disease. CP 14‐1934 was found moderately resistant to leaf scald and to have intermediate freeze tolerance. Based on results of three harvests cycles over five locations in final‐stage replicated yield trials (Stage 4) on muck soils, CP 14‐1934 cane and sucrose yields were 17.8 and 19.8% greater than the mean of reference cultivars, respectively. CP 14‐1934 rarely flowers in Florida's climate. The new released cultivar CP 14‐1934 is expected to increase the profitability and the efficiency in the use of resources of Florida sugarcane growers.
The Study of the Efficiency of Nitrogen to Nitrogen‐Vacancy (NV)‐Center Conversion in High‐Nitrogen Content Samples
Authors: Bolshedvorskii Stepan V. , Tarelkin Sergey A. , Soshenko Vladimir V. , Cojocaru Ivan S. , Rubinas Olga R. , Sorokin Vadim N. , Vins Victor G. , Smolyaninov Andrey N. , Buga Sergei G. , Galkin Artem S. , Drozdova Taisiya E. , Kuznetsov Mikhail S. , Nosukhin Sergei A. , Akimov Alexey V.
Published: December 2022

The nitrogen‐vacancy color center in diamond is one of the important systems in the fast‐growing field of sensing. This color center is used in both high‐resolution and high‐sensitivity sensors. However, techniques for the quick and efficient formation of NV centers are still in the development stage. Herein, a study on the influence of the electron irradiation dose on the conversion of substitutional nitrogen into NV− centers is presented. The study is done on diamonds that are highly enriched with nitrogen (≈100 ppm), which, on one hand, should maximize the effect of irradiation, and, on other hand, be of interest for high‐sensitivity magnetometers. The maximum achieved conversion efficiency is as high as 37% ± 3.7%, with no observed saturation on the electron dose even with the simplest annealing procedure. The measurements of the corresponding dephasing time made it possible to make a theoretical estimate for the shot‐noise‐limited magnetic field sensitivity per unit volume of diamond to be roughly .
Enhancement Performance of Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes Through Self‐Assembled Monolayer‐Modified ITO Anode
Authors: Wang DongDong , Zhang Yifan , Luo MeiTing , Ning ShuYa
Published: December 2022

Herein, three self‐assembling materials (SAMs), (pyridine‐4‐ylmethyl)phosphonic acid (PyPA), benzylphosphonic acid (BnPA), and pentafluorobenzyl phosphonic acid (F5BnPA), are selected as hole‐injecting layers in organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) and the effects of the aromatic ring of SAMs on indium tin oxide (ITO) work function (WF), hole injection, and device performances are investigated. After assembling them on ITO, the X‐ray photoemission spectroscopy data suggest that three samples have a similar binding mode, and the ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy shows the effective change of ITO WF gradually enlarged along the order of PyPA, BnPA, and F5BnPA, resulting in increase in hole‐injecting capability in turn. The calculated molecule dipole of pyridine is 2.65 Debye, clearly larger than that of phenyl (0.32 Debye) and pentafluorophenyl (1.88 Debye), but PyPA presents minimum ITO WF change. Such differentiated WF changes are not only contributed by the molecular dipole of aromatic ring but also their titling angles. In OLEDs based on tris(8‐hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (III) (Alq3), the device modified by PyPA affords the highest external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 1.45% and current efficiency (CE) of 4.62 cd A−1. However, in the device using 9‐[4‐(4,6‐diphenyl‐1,3,5‐triazine‐2‐yll)phenyl]‐N,N,N′,N′‐tetraphenyl‐9H‐carbazole‐3,6‐diamine as emitters, the OLEDs modified by F5BnPA show the best EQE of 24.85% and CE of 81.88 cd A−1.
Topological Phase Transition in MoTe2: A Review
Authors: Paul Suvodeep , Talukdar Saswata , Singh Ravi Shankar , Saha Surajit
Published: December 2022

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are a branch of 2D materials which in addition to having an “easy‐to‐exfoliate” layered structure, also host semiconducting, metallic, superconducting, and topological properties in various polymorphs with potential applications. MoTe2 is an example of such a TMD, which shows semiconducting (in 2H phase), metallic (in 1T′ phase), topological Weyl semimetallic, and superconducting behavior (in Td phase). Consequently, an extensive amount of research has been done on MoTe2, particularly on the topological phase transition between the metallic‐type 1T′ phase and the topological Td phase. This phase transition has been reviewed and its association with the crystal structure, charge transport, and electronic band structure is elaborately discussed. Also, the effect of various stimuli like reduced dimensionality, pressure, charge doping, and chemical substitution, which affect the structural transition as well as the superconducting transition temperatures, is reviewed; thereby, suggesting certain correlations between the apparently unrelated structural and superconducting phase transitions. The review also brings out some open questions which are likely to interest the community to address the physics associated with the phase transition and its potential applications.
Deploying an Inter‐European Quantum Network
Authors: Ribezzo Domenico , Zahidy Mujtaba , Vagniluca Ilaria , Biagi Nicola , Francesconi Saverio , Occhipinti Tommaso , Oxenløwe Leif K. , Lončarić Martin , Cvitić Ivan , Stipčević Mario , Pušavec Žiga , Kaltenbaek Rainer , Ramšak Anton , Cesa Francesco , Giorgetti Giorgio , Scazza Francesco , Bassi Angelo , De Natale Paolo , Cataliotti Francesco Saverio , Inguscio Massimo , Bacco Davide , Zavatta Alessandro
Published: December 2022

Around 40 years have passed since the first pioneering works introduced the possibility of using quantum physics to enhance communications safety. Nowadays, quantum key distribution (QKD) exited the physics laboratories to become a mature technology, triggering the attention of States, military forces, banks, and private corporations. This work takes on the challenge of bringing QKD closer to a consumer technology: deployed optical fibers by telecommunication companies of different States have been used to realize a quantum network, the first‐ever connecting three different countries. This work also emphasizes the necessity of networks where QKD can come up besides classical communications, whose coexistence currently represents the main limitation of this technology. This network connects Trieste to Rijeka and Ljubljana via a trusted node in Postojna. A key rate of over 3 kbps in the shortest link and a 7‐hour‐long measurement demonstrate the system's stability and reliability. The network has been used to present the QKD at the G20 Digital Ministers' Meeting in Trieste. The experimental results, together with the interest that one of the most important events of international politics has attracted, showcase the maturity of the QKD technology bundle, placing it in the spotlight for consumer applications in the near term.
Efficient Spin‐Direction Coupling between Circular Polarized Electric and Magnetic Dipoles and Photonic Modes
Authors: Zhai Tingting , Mazzola Matteo , Macias Demetrio , Salas‐Montiel Rafael
Published: December 2022

Integrated single photon sources are essential elements in quantum computing, simulation, communication, and photonic neural networks. The directional radiation and scattering of single‐photon sources play a crucial role in light manipulation and rely on electric and magnetic dipole moments. Although clever physical insights and designer intuition strategies have been successfully applied in the development of integrated sources, inverse strategies could enhance and maximize its performance. Recently, topology‐optimized couplers for on‐chip single‐photon sources are designed to efficiently couple a guided mode and an electric dipole. However, the superposition of orthogonal electric and magnetic dipoles can also be harnessed due to the additional degrees of freedom via their interference. Here, the authors have extended the strategy to couplers that enhance spin‐direction coupling of circularly polarized, Huygens, and Janus dipoles. The authors demonstrate that optimization not only increases the coupling to a desire mode but also enhances the electric and magnetic local density of states (LDOS) while maintaining the amplitude and phase relation between the orthogonal dipoles for unidirectional coupling. Currently, coupling efficiency and enhanced LDOS of up to 88%, 94%, and 93% and up to 9.4, 18.6, and 14.9 are obtained for these dipoles. The topology optimization improves the performances of 3D integrated photonic devices.