bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhanced Solar Evaporation Using a Scalable MoS2‐Based Hydrogel for Highly Efficient Solar Desalination
Authors: Liu Pan , Hu Yi‐bo , Li Xiao‐Ying , Xu Lei , Chen Chen , Yuan Baoling , Fu Ming‐Lai
Published: July 2022

Interfacial photo‐vapor conversion has been suggested as a cost‐effective and sustainable technology for seawater desalination. However, the conversion performance was still limited by some drawbacks, like salt accumulation and poor mechanical stability. Herein, a scalable MoS2‐based porous hydrogel (SMoS2‐PH) with good mechanical stability and salt resistance was successfully constructed through a crosslinking foaming polymerization method. With the high porosity (92.63 %), the SMoS2‐PH performed an impressive evaporation rate of 3.297 kg m−2 h−1 and photothermal conversion efficiency of 93.4 % under 1‐sun illumination. Most importantly, the SMoS2‐PH could maintain high and stable photothermal properties for 15 days on the surface of seawater. We believe that the excellent salt resistance, the high photothermal conversion efficiency, the ease of scale preparation method and the available commercial MoS2 make the SMoS2‐PH a promising device for full‐scale seawater desalination.
Hiring Outside Directors When Private Companies Don't Have To: They Bring Change
Authors: Collard John M.
Published: July 2022

John M. Collard is chairman of Annapolis, Maryland, ‐based Strategic Management Partners. In this article, he discusses the ins and outs of bringing in outside directors to help guide decision‐making and bring fresh perspectives.
Dentistry students' opinion toward Biochemistry course and its relevance in clinical practice in Chennai, India
Authors: Ramalingam Mathangi , Jayesh Raghavendra , Parthasarathi Sowmiya
Published: July 2022

Biochemistry is a subject that is essential to understand the molecular basis of a disease, its diagnosis, and prognosis. However, study of biochemistry in dentistry at the undergraduate level is considered to be much teacher‐oriented and the students show a lackluster attitude toward the subject. This questionnaire study is carried out to understand the perception of dental students in studying biochemistry and its relevance in dental practice. A pre‐set questionnaire was sent to Bachelor of Dental Surgery students from first to final year and the responses were recorded. Although students are positive about liking biochemistry as a theory subject, still many are wary of the detailed study of complex reactions and metabolic pathways, which hampers the extensive study of the subject and its application in clinical practice.
Plasmid‐to‐plasmid Southern blot analysis validates the presence of nucleotide binding site (nbs) sequences in cloned plasmids
Authors: Chang Ming‐Mei
Published: July 2022

Southern blot analysis is an important molecular biology technique for identifying a specific sequence in DNA samples. Although it is no longer used extensively in recent years, the steps and underlying principles of Southern blot are applicable to modern biology. High sensitivity and limited background are keys to successful Southern blots, whereas obtaining good quality and quantity of genomic DNA as starting materials and detecting a single/low copy target sequence in the genome can be challenging. To ensure student success in performing the technique for the first time, a modified “plasmid‐to‐plasmid” Southern blot was implemented to confirm the presence of grape nucleotide‐binding site (nbs) sequences in cloned plasmids like those described previously. The plasmid DNA and a control plasmid, pSCA7 (T1‐T3‐W6) containing a known grape nbs sequence, were digested with restriction enzymes, followed by agarose gel electrophoresis. The DNA band corresponding to the nbs sequence of the pSCA7 (T1‐T3‐W6) was extracted from the gel for PCR digoxigenin (DIG) probe synthesis. At the same time, the cloned plasmid DNA and its digested DNA fragments were blotted from the gel onto nylon membranes to be hybridized with the DIG probe followed by the detection for nbs sequences. Students successfully performed Southern blots to confirm the presence of nbs sequences in their cloned plasmids and wrote up the results following the format of scientific research papers. They learned the principles and applications of Southern blot and gained hands‐on experience with associated techniques.
The Total Synthesis of Glycolipids from Streptococcus pneumoniae and a Re‐evaluation of Their Immunological Activity**
Authors: Sadraei Seyed Iraj , Yousif Greg , Taimoory S. Maryamdokht , Kosar Maryam , Mehri Samaneh , Alolabi Raghd , Igbokwe Emmanuel , Toma Jason , Rahim Mir Munir A. , Trant John F.
Published: July 2022

Invariant natural killer (iNK) T cells, Type I iNKTs, are responsible for the production of pro‐inflammatory cytokines which induce a systemic immune response. They are distinctive in possessing an semi‐invariant T‐cell receptor that recognizes glycolipid antigens presented by CD1d, a protein closely related to the class I major histocompatibility complex, conserved across multiple mammalian species in a class of proteins well‐renowned for their high degree of polymorphism. This receptor's first potent identified antigen is the α‐galactosylceramide, KRN7000, a synthetic glycosphingolipid closely related to those isolated from bacteria that were found on a Japanese marine sponge. A corresponding terrestrial antigen remained unidentified until two specific diacylglycerol‐containing glycolipids, reported to activate iNKT cells, were isolated from Streptococcus pneumoniae. We report the total synthesis and immunological re‐evaluation of these two glycolipids. The compounds are unable to meaningfully activate iNKT cells. Computational modelling shows that these ligands, while being capable of interacting with the CD1d receptor, create a different surface for the binary complex that makes formation of the ternary complex with the iNKT T‐cell receptor difficult. Together these results suggest that the reported activity might have been due to an impurity in the original isolated sample and highlights the importance of taking care when reporting biological activity from isolated natural products.
Engineering of Cascade Reactions and Alditol Oxidase for High‐Yielding Synthesis of (R)‐Phenylethanolamine from Styrene, l‐Phenylalanine, Glycerol or Glucose
Authors: Wang Zilong , Li Xirui , Li Zhi
Published: July 2022

(R)‐phenylethanolamine (PEA) is a useful and valuable chiral chemical and requires enantioselective and efficient synthesis method. A novel SMO‐StEH‐AldO‐CvTA‐catalyzed cascade reaction was established to convert styrene to (R)‐PEA via epoxidation‐hydrolysis‐oxidation‐amination. The key transformation of (R)‐1‐phenyl‐1,2‐ethanediol to (R)‐PEA in the cascade was achieved in 94 % conversion via AldO‐CvTA. The limiting enzyme AldO was engineered through directed evolution, yielding a mutant AldO(MVIK) with 3‐fold enhanced catalytic efficiency. The use of AldO(MVIK) in the 4‐enzyme cascade significantly increased the productivity than the use of AldO, yielding 34.6 mM (R)‐PEA with >99 % ee. By incorporating deamination and decarboxylation enzymes, a 6‐enzyme cascade was engineered to produce 23.7 mM (R)‐PEA from l‐phenylalanine. Coupling of l‐phenylalanine biosynthesis pathway with 6‐enzyme cascade enabled synthesis of (R)‐PEA from glycerol or glucose, producing 6.8 mM and 6.5 mM (R)‐PEA, respectively. The developed cascade biotransformations provide direct synthesis of (R)‐PEA from either simple chemicals or renewable feedstocks.
Photocatalytic Activities of Siliceous Termite Hill‐Based Composites in Dye Degradation
Authors: Yusuff Adeyinka Sikiru , Ajayi Olusegun Ayoola
Published: July 2022

Herein, ZnO/termite hill (ZnO‐TH) and TiO2/termite hill (TiO2‐TH) composites were prepared, characterized by various techniques, and tested in the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye under solar irradiation. Increased surface area, formation of ZnO and TiO2 on the TH surface, dominance of active surface functional groups, and reduced bandgap energy all contributed to the outstanding performance of the photocatalysts, as validated by the characterization results. The degradation of MB dye in aqueous solution followed the pseudo‐first‐order approximation of the Langmuir‐Hinshelwood model. Experimental apparent rate constants revealed that TiO2‐TH is 1.5 times more efficient for MB degradation than ZnO‐TH.
New Synthetic Route to Water‐Soluble Prism[5]arene Hosts and Their Molecular Recognition Properties**
Authors: Zhai Canjia , Isaacs Lyle
Published: July 2022

We report that the direct macrocyclization of naphthalene monomers bearing ethyl ester functional groups delivers prism[5]arene derivatives, which can be deprotected to yield water‐soluble prism[5]arenes (H1 and H3). 1H NMR spectroscopy showed that dicationic guests bind with the hydrophobic cores buried inside the anisotropic magnetically shielding cavity. Isothermal titration calorimetry measurements showed that H1 and H3 are high‐affinity hosts in PBS‐buffered water with Ka values exceeding 109 M−1 for a select guest. The complexation events are driven by the non‐classical hydrophobic effect, CH⋅⋅⋅π interactions, and electrostatic interactions. Host H1 displays somewhat higher affinity toward a common guest than pillar[6]arene bearing carboxylic acid functional groups but is significantly less potent than pillar[6]arene bearing sulfate groups. H1 and H3 should be considered alongside other high affinity hosts for a variety of chemical and biological applications.
Large ∣k∣ Behavior of Complex Geometric Optics Solutions to d‐bar Problems
Authors: Klein Christian , Sjöstrand Johannes , Stoilov Nikola
Published: July 2022

Complex geometric optics solutions to a system of d‐bar equations appearing in the context of electrical impedance tomography and the scattering theory of the integrable Davey‐Stewartson II equations are studied for large values of the spectral parameter k. For potentials for some , it is shown that the solution converges as the geometric series in . For potentials q being the characteristic function of a strictly convex open set with smooth boundary, this still holds with s = 3/2, i.e., with instead of . The leading‐order contributions are computed explicitly. Numerical simulations show the applicability of the asymptotic formulae for the example of the characteristic function of the disk. © 2022 Courant Institute of Mathematics and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Vascular and microstructural markers of cognitive pathology
Authors: Coffin Claudia , Suerken Cynthia K. , Bateman James R. , Whitlow Christopher T. , Williams Benjamin J. , Espeland Mark A. , Sachs Bonnie C. , Cleveland Maryjo , Yang Mia , Rogers Samantha , Hayden Kathleen M. , Baker Laura D. , Williamson Jeff , Craft Suzanne , Hughes Timothy M. , Lockhart Samuel N.
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Arterial stiffness may play a role in the development of dementia through poorly understood effects on brain microstructural integrity and perfusion.

Methods

We examined markers of arterial stiffness (carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity [cfPWV]) and elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) in relation to cognitive function and brain magnetic resonance imaging macrostructure (gray matter [GM] and white matter [WM] volumes), microstructure (diffusion based free water [FW] and fractional anisotropy [FA]), and cerebral blood flow (CBF) in WM and GM in models adjusted for age, race, sex, education, and apolipoprotein E ε4 status.

Results

Among 460 participants (70 ± 8 years; 44 dementia, 158 mild cognitive impairment, 258 normal cognition), higher cfPWV and SBP were independently associated with higher FW, higher WM hyperintensity volume, and worse cognition (global and executive function). Higher SBP alone was significantly associated with lower WM and GM CBF.

Discussion

Arterial stiffness is associated with impaired WM microstructure and global and executive cognitive function.
Retinal arteriolar parameters as a surrogate marker of intracranial vascular pathology
Authors: Abdelhak Ahmed , Solomon Isaac , Montes Shivany Condor , Saias Alexandra , Cordano Christian , Asken Breton , Fonseca Corrina , Oertel Frederike Cosima , Arfanakis Konstantinos , Staffaroni Adam M. , Kramer Joel H. , Geschwind Michael , Miller Bruce L. , Elahi Fanny M. , Green Ari J.
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Development of novel diagnostic tools is a top research priority in vascular dementia. A major obstacle is the lack of a simple, non‐invasive method to visualize cerebral arteriolar walls in vivo. Retinal arterioles offer a window into the cerebral circulation.

Methods

Intensity‐based retinal arteriolar visualization in optical coherence tomography (I‐bRAVO) was applied to evaluate mean wall thickness (MWT) and wall‐to‐lumen ratio (WLR) in 250 subjects with sporadic and genetic cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), non‐vascular neurodegenerative diseases (NVND), and healthy controls (HC) in association with imaging and cognitive markers.

Results

MWT and WLR were higher in CSVD, associated with severity of vascular white matter lesions, and correlated with magnetic resonance imaging‐based intracranial arteriolosclerosis score. WLR correlated with gray and white matter volume and differentiated asymptomatic sporadic CSVD from HC (area under the curve = 0.82).

Discussion

I‐bRAVO is a rapid, non‐invasive tool. MWT and WLR were associated with imaging markers of CSVD and could contribute to early identification of sporadic CSVD.
The extinction time under mutational meltdown driven by high mutation rates
Authors: Lansch‐Justen Lucy , Cusseddu Davide , Schmitz Mark A. , Bank Claudia
Published: July 2022

Mutational meltdown describes an eco‐evolutionary process in which the accumulation of deleterious mutations causes a fitness decline that eventually leads to the extinction of a population. Possible applications of this concept include medical treatment of RNA virus infections based on mutagenic drugs that increase the mutation rate of the pathogen. To determine the usefulness and expected success of such an antiviral treatment, estimates of the expected time to mutational meltdown are necessary. Here, we compute the extinction time of a population under high mutation rates, using both analytical approaches and stochastic simulations. Extinction is the result of three consecutive processes: (a) initial accumulation of deleterious mutations due to the increased mutation pressure; (b) consecutive loss of the fittest haplotype due to Muller's ratchet; (c) rapid population decline toward extinction. We find accurate analytical results for the mean extinction time, which show that the deleterious mutation rate has the strongest effect on the extinction time. We confirm that intermediate‐sized deleterious selection coefficients minimize the extinction time. Finally, our simulations show that the variation in extinction time, given a set of parameters, is surprisingly small.
Using an affinity analysis to identify phytoplankton associations
Authors: Zhu Weiju , Ding Zhaojian , Pan Yangdong , Wang Quanxi
Published: July 2022

Phytoplankton functional traits can represent particular environmental conditions in complex aquatic ecosystems. Categorizing phytoplankton species into functional groups is challenging and time‐consuming, and requires high‐level expertise in species autecology. In this study, we introduced an affinity analysis to aid the identification of candidate associations of phytoplankton from two data sets comprised of phytoplankton and environmental information. In the Huaihe River Basin with a drainage area of 270,000 km2 in China, samples were collected from 217 selected sites during the low‐water period in May 2013; monthly samples were collected during 2006–2011 in a man‐made pond, Dishui Lake. Our results indicated that the affinity analysis can be used to define some meaningful functional groups. The identified phytoplankton associations reflect the ecological preferences of phytoplankton in terms of light and nutrient acquisition. Advantages and disadvantages of applying the affinity analysis to identify phytoplankton associations are discussed with perspectives on their utility in ecological assessment.
Are behavioral responses to eyespots in sticklebacks influenced by the visual environment? An experimental examination
Authors: Juntorp Evelina , Åkerman Madicken , Fitzpatrick John L.
Published: July 2022

Eyespots are taxonomically widespread color patterns consisting of large concentric rings that are commonly assumed to protect prey by influencing the behaviors of predators. Although there is ample experimental evidence supporting an anti‐predator function of eyespots in terrestrial animals, whether eyespots have a similar deterring function in aquatic animals remains unclear. Furthermore, studies in terrestrial systems suggest that the protective function of eyespots depends on ambient light conditions where predators encounter them, but this effect has never been tested in aquatic environments. Here, we examine how eyespots influence behavioral responses in an aquatic environment under different visual environments, using laboratory‐reared three‐spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) as model predators. Specifically, we experimentally examined behavioral responses of sticklebacks toward artificial prey patterns (control vs. eyespots) under two different light environment treatments (low vs. high). We found that eyespots did not postpone attacks from sticklebacks. However, sticklebacks approaching eyespots stopped more frequently than sticklebacks approaching prey items with a control pattern. Sticklebacks were (marginally) slower to attack prey in the low‐light treatment, but the light level did not influence stickleback behavioral responses toward eyespots. We conclude that eyespots can modulate some behaviors of an aquatic predator, albeit with a different functional role from that previously demonstrated in terrestrial species.
Entrainment of bed sediment composed of very fine material
Authors: Harada Daisuke , Egashira Shinji , Ahmed Tanjir Saif , Ito Hiroyuki
Published: July 2022

In an estuary bed composed of very fine sediment material, tidal currents cause active sediment transportation, bar morphology changes, and severe bank erosion. However, it is difficult to evaluate the erosion rate of a sediment bed composed of particles measuring five to several tens of micrometres using methodologies found in the available literature that estimate entrainment in the presence of fine sediment suspension. This paper proposes a new method to evaluate the erosion rate of a sediment bed composed of very fine material by introducing the concept of entrainment developed for density stratified flows. A series of flume experiments were conducted to investigate the erosion rates of bed material with water–sediment mixtures of different concentrations, sediment particle sizes, and overall Richardson numbers. The results of the flume experiments are compared with past theories and experimental results conducted for density stratified flows. The data show that the erosion rate of a water–sediment mixture is proportional to the inverse of the overall Richardson number, as proposed in previous studies on density stratified flows. In cases with a strong cohesion, the erosion rate can be evaluated using a modified Richardson number, introduced to evaluate the influence of viscosity on entrainment rates. The applicability of the proposed method is also tested by comparing the results of the present study with those of previous studies in terms of equilibrium suspended sediment concentration and size distributions of suspended sediment. The present results show that the proposed method can be used to evaluate not only the erosion rate of suspended sediment but also the characteristics of equilibrium transport processes.
Identification of AtSND1 homologous NAC genes related to cotton fiber development, in silico analyses, and gene expression patterns
Authors: Wang Guifeng , Yue Xiaomin , Feng Zongqin , Cai Lijuan , Li Na , Geng Fang , Xu Chuanjie , Wang Lichen , Wang Depeng , Fahad Shah
Published: July 2022

Because cotton is the most important fiber crop, the differentiation and development mechanism of cotton fiber cells has been a hot topic in cotton research. NAC (for NAM, ATAF, and CUC2) is a class of plant‐specific transcription factor families that regulate multiple aspects of plant growth and development. Previously, we identified 33 differentially expressed NAC genes in upland cotton based on fiber‐related transcriptome profiling. In this study, we conducted chromosome localization, systematic evolution, and gene structural analysis of 242 NAC genes genome‐wide based on a high‐quality reference genome of upland cotton. In addition, the expression pattern analysis of 16 differentially expressed GhNACs was carried out by RT–PCR using ovules at early fiber initiation stages of n2 recessive naked seed mutant (n2NSM) and Xuzhou142 fuzzless–lintless mutant (Xu142fl). The results showed that GhNAC230 and GhNAC115 were most closely related to AtSND1 and downregulated in ovules of Xu142fl compared with n2NSM. Quantitative RT–PCR (qRT–PCR) analysis of GhNAC230 demonstrated its gradual accumulation from −1 days postanthesis (DPA) to 1 DPA in n2NSM and further confirmed its downregulated expression in 1 DPA ovules of Xu142fl compared to n2NSM. The current study predicted a pair of NAC genes that might be key candidate genes that are crucial for lint fiber development.
Transvaginal repair of enterocele following robot‐assisted radical cystectomy using a mesh for abdominal wall hernia repair
Authors: Kuwata Tomoko , Takeyama Masami , Watanabe Masaki , Kashihara Hiromi , Kato Chikako
Published: July 2022

Introduction

This report aims to describe our experience in the pelvic floor reconstruction of anterior enterocele following radical cystectomy by transvaginal surgery using a mesh for abdominal wall hernia repair.

Case presentation

An 84‐years‐old woman developed pelvic organ prolapse 4 months after undergoing robot‐assisted radical cystectomy. After examination, she was diagnosed with a midline anterior enterocele. Considering the thinness of the vaginal wall and the large defect of the vaginal wall muscle layer, we performed transvaginal repair using a mesh for abdominal wall hernia repair designed to reduce the adhesion to the intestinal tract.

Conclusion

At the 1‐year follow‐up, neither recurrence nor complications were observed. This showed that transvaginal mesh surgery for abdominal wall hernia repair could be a treatment option for pelvic organ prolapse with a vaginal wall muscle layer defect after radical cystectomy.
Associations between sexting motivations and consequences among adolescent girls
Authors: Bragard Elise , Fisher Celia B.
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Approximately 15% of adolescent girls in the United States have engaged in sexting. Although sexting frequency is similar across genders, adolescent girls report more negative consequences. To date, the majority of sexting research focuses on demographic and behavioral predictors of sexting frequency or onset and there is limited research on the associations between different sexting motivations and consequences. This cross‐sectional study draws upon approach‐avoidance motivation theory to examine how different sexting motivations serve as risk and protective factors related to negative sexting consequences and which motivations promote more positive experiences.

Method

A sample of 200 cisgender girls, 14–18 years, diverse with respect to race/ethnicity and geographical region, who had sexted a male recipient in the past year completed an online survey.

Results

Regression analyses indicated that avoidance motivations sexting in response to peer pressure and popularity and sexting in response to male coercion were risk factors for negative sexting consequences. Sexual subjectivity (sexual body‐esteem, entitlement to sexual pleasure, and sexual self‐reflection) was a protective factor against negative sexting consequences and, along with sexting for sexual or romantic reasons, an approach motivation, was associated with experiencing more positive sexting consequences.

Conclusion

These findings support previous recommendations that schools incorporate ways to counter pressured sexting into existing cyberbullying or dating violence curricula and also align with a positive sexual development framework that acknowledges the importance of consensual and healthy sexual experiences during adolescence that minimize risks and vulnerabilities.
Friendship selection and influence processes for popularity in early and mid‐adolescents
Authors: Bravo Ana , Ortega‐Ruiz Rosario , Veenstra René , Engels Maaike C. , Romera Eva M.
Published: July 2022

Introduction

This study examined the effect of popularity levels on friendship selection and friends' influence on popularity levels in early and mid‐adolescence.

Methods

Participants were 4205 Spanish adolescents (Mage = 13.1 years at Wave 1; 48% girls) belonging to 160 classrooms in two waves. Adolescents were asked about their friendships and the popularity of their classmates.

Results

Longitudinal social network analyses showed that adolescents preferred similarly popular peers as friends. High popular classmates were more attractive as friends, particularly in early adolescence. Popular adolescents were more selective in their friendship nominations and adolescents with popular friends became more popular over time. These two effects were only significant in mid‐adolescents, although comparative analyses showed a similar tendency at both age groups.

Conclusions

This study highlights the importance of popularity levels in adolescents' friendship selection and suggests that popularity, at the individual and group level, plays a relevant role in social development. Implications adapted to the different selection and influence processes in early and mid‐adolescence are discussed.
Early and continuing grandparental care and middle school students' educational and mental health outcomes in China
Authors: Hong Yanbi , Zeng Diyang
Published: July 2022

Several recent studies have examined the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren, but few have examined the effects of early and continuing grandparental care on children's development in China. Using data from the China Education Panel Survey, this study examines the effects of early and continuing care, in which grandparents serve as primary caregivers on middle school students' educational (measured by academic performance and cognitive scores) and mental health (depression score) outcomes. Using multilevel analyses and robustness tests, the results show that for urban and rural students, students cared for by their grandparents showed no disadvantages in their educational outcomes. For rural students who received grandparental care in early childhood or adolescence academically outperformed those who received only parental care. Urban and rural students who received only grandparental care in early childhood and adolescence show worse mental health outcomes. These results challenge the prevailing belief that grandparent caregiving can harm grandchildren's school preparation and cognitive abilities.
Unconscious inferences in perception in early experimental psychology: From Wundt to Peirce
Authors: Cristalli Claudia
Published: July 2022

What are unconscious inferences in psychology? This article investigates their journey from the early philosophical psychology of Wilhelm Wundt (1832–1920) to the experimental psychology of the American pragmatist Charles S. Peirce (1839–1914). Peirce's reception of Wundt's early works situates him in an international web of 19th‐century experimental psychologists and its reconstruction opens new perspectives on the relation between philosophy, psychology, and epistemology. Moreover, this reception testifies to a heretofore overlooked strand of influence of Wundt on North American experimental psychology. The notion of unconscious inferences, of which Hermann von Helmholtz is usually considered the chief exponent, becomes the backbone of Peirce's theory of perception mostly because of the affinity between Wundt's early philosophy of mind and Peirce's logic‐mediated approach to psychology.
Morphological pattern of the dermal denticles of the Southern sawtail catshark Galeus mincaronei Soto, 2001
Authors: Macías‐Cuyare Marioxis , Oddone María Cristina
Published: July 2022

Dermal denticles cover the skin of sharks for protection and may have additional functions, depending on the environment. The aim of the present study was to analyze the morphological pattern of dermal denticles across the body of the poorly known deep‐water catshark Galeus mincaronei, which is endemic to Southern Brazil. Additionally, we aimed to identify differences between sexes and stages of sexual maturity. For this purpose, we analyzed patches of eight skin samples from body regions, that is, the head, body, and tail. Dermal denticles were imaged using scanning electron microscopy. Measurements of crown morphological variations (length and width) and density of dermal denticles were performed. Nine characters of dermal denticle morphology were selected to describe a morphological pattern using principal component analysis (PCA). The first PCA axis explained 45.2% of the variation, the second explained 33%, and the third explained 14.3%, together explaining 92.5% of the total variation in denticle morphology. We identified three groups of dermal denticle crown morphologies and their possible functions. The first was composed of nostril and snout denticles, which might suggest abrasion strength functions; the second was composed of most body denticles, such as those in the cranium, on the left side of the body, and on the pectoral, dorsal, and caudal fins, which might be related to generalized functions; and the third was composed of only caudal crest denticles, which might indicate defense functions with hydrodynamic properties in G. mincaronei. Likewise, our results reveal variations in dermal denticle morphology and arrangement along the three maturity stages considered in both sexes. Similarly, sexual dimorphism in the crown width and morphology of dermal denticles was observed in developing and mature individuals. Our results are the first to reveal the morphological variation of dermal denticles in relation to function, sex, and ontogeny of individual G. mincaronei.
Choiceless large cardinals and set‐theoretic potentialism
Authors: Cutolo Raffaella , Hamkins Joel David
Published: July 2022

We define a potentialist system of ‐structures, i.e., a collection of possible worlds in the language of connected by a binary accessibility relation, achieving a potentialist account of the full background set‐theoretic universe V. The definition involves Berkeley cardinals, the strongest known large cardinal axioms, inconsistent with the Axiom of Choice. In fact, as background theory we assume just . It turns out that the propositional modal assertions which are valid at every world of our system are exactly those in the modal theory . Moreover, we characterize the worlds satisfying the potentialist maximality principle, and thus the modal theory , both for assertions in the language of and for assertions in the full potentialist language.
Solution Processable Benzotrithiophene (BTT)‐Based Organic Semiconductors: Recent Advances and Review
Authors: Patra Dhananjaya , Park Sungjune
Published: July 2022

Conjugated polymers and small molecules (SMs) with fused electron‐rich and electron‐deficient building blocks are promising materials for low‐cost organic electronic devices. Benzotrithiophene (BTT) is one such electron‐rich hybrid building block composed of three fused thiophene moieties with an extended π‐system that has been widely used to synthesize a variety of electronic materials. Additionally, BTT has a planar and sulfur‐rich core with a number of distinct advantages, including structural diversity, tunable electro‐optical properties and exceptional hole‐transport behavior. So far, four BTT‐based isomers have been synthesized on a gram scale from seven isomeric structures, three of which are symmetric (BTT1‐3) and one of which is asymmetric (BTT5), for use in a variety of optoelectronic applications. However, no report summarizing the progress of BTT‐based semiconductors for electronic applications is available. The current review presents an overview of the recent developments in BTT‐based monomers, polymers and SMs, as well as their applications in energy harvesting. Additionally, recent advances on charge transport devices, most notably organic solar cells (OSCs), organic thin field‐effect transistors (OTFTs), and perovskite solar cells (Pero‐SCs) are also surveyed and summarized. It is anticipated that this comprehensive review will stimulate further research and development of future BTT‐based electronic materials, particularly for low‐cost and high‐performance organic electronic devices.
Shape optimization for the mitigation of coastal erosion via porous shallow water equations
Authors: Schlegel Luka , Schulz Volker
Published: July 2022

Coastal erosion describes the displacement of land caused by destructive sea waves, currents, or tides. Major efforts have been made to mitigate these effects using groynes, breakwaters, and various other structures. We address this problem by applying shape optimization techniques on the obstacles. We model the propagation of waves toward the coastline using two‐dimensional porous shallow water equations with artificial viscosity. The obstacle's shape, which is assumed to be permeable, is optimized over an appropriate cost function to minimize the height and velocities of water waves along the shore, without relying on a finite‐dimensional design space, but based on shape calculus.
Additive manufacturing of bioresorbable poly(ester‐urethane)/glass‐ceramic composite scaffolds
Authors: Lores Nayla J. , Hung Xavier , Talou Mariano H. , Ballarre Josefina , Abraham Gustavo A. , Caracciolo Pablo C.
Published: July 2022

The development of three‐dimensionally printed implants for biomaterial‐based tissue engineering applications is currently an active research field. In order to meet the requirements of several applications, new biocompatible and bioresorbable polymer‐based materials are needed to design tailor‐made polymer/composite scaffolds. In the last decade, bioresorbable segmented poly(ester‐urethanes) (SPEU) have been extensively investigated for their applications in tissue engineering and many biomedical devices. In this work, 3D printed poly(ester‐urethane)/bioceramic composite scaffolds were successfully fabricated by fused deposition modeling for the first time. A twin‐screw extruder was used for making the SPEU composite filaments containing 5% and 10% wt/wt of glass‐ceramic particles. Both filaments and scaffolds were physically and chemically studied in terms of morphology, thermal properties, wettability, and mechanical properties. The resulting composite scaffolds could be remarkably interesting for potential applications in soft tissue engineering.
Study on supercritical CO2‐assisted modification of aramid pulp and properties of its reinforced EPDM composites
Authors: Li Biao , Kong Haijuan , Qin Minglin , Ding Haiquan , Du Xue , Song Jiyin , Sun Xiaoling , Yu Muhuo
Published: July 2022

Aramid pulp (AP) is often used as a composite reinforcement due to its excellent properties, but poor dispersion and interfacial adhesion restrict its application in composite materials. In this work, tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) was carried on the surface of AP by supercritical CO2 (scCO2) and hydrolyzed to synthesize the nano‐silica, which improves the dispersion of AP in ethylene‐propylene‐diene elastomer (EPDM). The nano‐silica particles were deposited on the AP surface, and th modified AP was evenly dispersed in the EPDM composites based on the SEM results. Moreover, a silane coupling agent (KH‐560) was brought by scCO2 to further modify the nano‐silica on the surface of the AP to improve the interfacial adhesion. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy results show that after KH‐560 modification, active epoxy groups were introduced on the surface of AP. The tensile strength and tear strength of the KH‐560‐nano‐silica‐AP/EPDM composites were significantly improved, reaching 8.98 and 42.06 MPa, which increased by 26% and 88.10%, respectively, compared with untreated‐AP/EPDM composites. Dynamic mechanical analysis shows that the storage modulus of KH‐560‐nano‐silica‐AP/EPDM composites increased to 2456 MPa compared with the pure EPDM for 1873 MPa, and the loss factor decreased. When the AP was modified in scCO2 with nano‐silica and KH‐560, the composites' oil resistance was also improved.
The mediating effects of metacognition and creative thinking on the relationship between teachers' autonomy support and teachers' self‐efficacy
Authors: Orakci Şenol , Durnali Mehmet
Published: July 2022

A bulk of research has shown strong relationships between metacognition, creative thinking, autonomy support, and self‐efficacy among teachers. However, we could not find research with a large sample of teachers exploring the mediating effects of creative thinking and metacognition on the relationship between autonomy support and self‐efficacy. A need for a novel structural equation model (Covariance‐based) underlying psychological rationality of said relationships was deemed actual. To that end, firstly the effects of teachers' autonomy support (opportunity and decision‐making) on teachers' creative thinking, metacognition, and self‐efficacy were tested. Then, the mediating effects of metacognition and creative thinking on the relationship between teachers' autonomy support and teachers' self‐efficacy were explored. A simple random‐sampling method was utilized to gather 787 teachers' data. The results revealed that decision‐making and autonomy opportunity predicted creative thinking, metacognition, and self‐efficacy positively and meaningfully. Subsequently, creative thinking as well as metacognition had mediating effects on the effects of autonomy opportunity and decision‐making on self‐efficacy. In closing, for boosting teachers' skills in autonomy support and self‐efficacy, attention should be given to fostering their creative thinking as well as metacognition. The study provides implications and suggestions for research on school psychology and improvement.
Same storm, different boat: The global impact of COVID‐19 on palliative care
Authors: Willis Kelcie D. , Rao Seema Rajesh , Normen Michelle , de Groot Janet , Calman Lynn , Bahcivan Ozan , Centeno Isabel , Fehon Dwain C.
Published: July 2022

Objective

The COVID‐19 pandemic has had a complex and profound impact on the provision of palliative care globally. To support learning from palliative care providers and researchers worldwide, the Education Subcommittee of International Psycho‐Oncology Society (IPOS) Palliative Care Special Interest Group developed a webinar with presentations by and discussion with eight international palliative care leaders.

Methods

Presentations were content rich; the speakers used both quantitative (e.g., sharing recent statistical findings) and qualitative (e.g., narrative storytelling, anecdotal experiences) approaches to portray the effect of COVID‐19 in their region. Subsequent to the webinar, the committee collectively identified five themes conveyed by the presenters through consensus.

Results

The themes included: (1) altered accessibility to palliative care, with socio‐economic status impacting virtual health availability; (2) reduced opportunities to preserve dignity, as survival has been prioritized over preserving the humanity of patients and their loved ones; (3) complicated grief and bereavement arising from social distancing requirements; (4) greater awareness of the importance of sustaining health provider well‐being; and (5) the development of valuable innovations across nations, institutions, disciplines, and communities.

Conclusions

Overall, the webinar facilitated valuable connection for global learning and identified opportunities for research and clinical interventions. In an ongoing crisis that has exacerbated isolation, we will need to continue to learn and lean on one another as a global community to navigate ongoing challenges of the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Impact of immunoprophylaxis with palivizumab on respiratory syncytial virus infection in preterm infants less than 35 weeks in Colombian hospitals
Authors: Galvis Clara , Colmenares Alejandro , Cabrales Lina , Ibatá Linda , Marulanda Juliana , Ovalle Oscar , Puello Dionisio , Rojas Catherine , Africano Martha , Ballesteros Adriana , Posso Héctor
Published: July 2022

Objective

To evaluate the impact of immunoprophylaxis with palivizumab in preterm infants less than 35 weeks in terms of hospitalization rate, intensive care unit requirement, and mortality.

Methods

A prospective cohort study was conducted at six Colombian hospitals. Preterm infants less than 35 weeks who received at least one dose of palivizumab during the first 6 months of life were included. The primary outcome was the hospitalization rate related to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection.

Results

A total of 222 newborns participated in the study; 204 (91.8%) completed the 6‐month follow‐up, and three died during the study. 88.7% received a second dose of palivizumab, 79.7% a third, 34.7% a fourth, and 25.2% a fifth. The nonadjusted incidence rate of RSV infection was 2.4%, and the overall RSV‐positive hospitalization rate was 1.9%. The proportion of patients that required Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and mechanical ventilation in relation to RSV infection was 1.4%. Discharge with home oxygen, pulmonary dysplasia, and being younger than 6 months were significantly associated with respiratory infection. Furthermore, exposition to cigarette smoke was the only factor associated with increased risk of hospitalization. The group that required hospitalization received fewer doses of palivizumab (p = 0.049). No discontinuation of treatment due to adverse events were reported. No death was judged to be related to palivizumab.

Conclusion

The hospitalization rate and the need for NICU admission were lower than those reported in the literature. In this real‐life setting, palivizumab appears to be effective in preventing serious cases of RSV infection.
Global human exposure to urban riverine floods and storms
Authors: Varis Olli , Taka Maija , Tortajada Cecilia
Published: July 2022

The world's urban population is soaring, with an increasing number of people exposed to urban natural hazards such as riverine floods and storm surges. The global quantification of their extent is, however, still blurred. The ongoing surge in high‐resolution data allows novel opportunities for quantification of hazards and exposure. Here, we provide a global spatial synthesis of urban populations' exposure to riverine floods and storm surges in 1990 and 2015. Our results reveal that, owing to rapid economic development globally in a large proportion of exposed areas, most of the exposure has shifted from low‐income to middle‐income countries. Asia dominates as a continent. The total growth of human exposure continues, suggesting that disaster risk reduction policies and implementation call for enduring effort.
Accommodating population differences when validating risk prediction models
Authors: Pfeiffer Ruth M. , Chen Yiyao , Gail Mitchell H. , Ankerst Donna P.
Published: July 2022

Validation of risk prediction models in independent data provides a more rigorous assessment of model performance than internal assessment, for example, done by cross‐validation in the data used for model development. However, several differences between the populations that gave rise to the training and the validation data can lead to seemingly poor performance of a risk model. In this paper we formalize the notions of “similarity” or “relatedness” of the training and validation data, and define reproducibility and transportability. We address the impact of different distributions of model predictors and differences in verifying the disease status or outcome on measures of calibration, accuracy and discrimination of a model. When individual level information from both the training and validation data sets is available, we propose and study weighted versions of the validation metrics that adjust for differences in the risk factor distributions and in outcome verification between the training and validation data to provide a more comprehensive assessment of model performance. We provide conditions on the risk model and the populations that gave rise to the training and validation data that ensure a model's reproducibility or transportability, and show how to check these conditions using weighted and unweighted performance measures. We illustrate the method by developing and validating a model that predicts the risk of developing prostate cancer using data from two large prostate cancer screening trials.
Rapid Antigen Diagnostics as Frontline Testing in the COVID‐19 Pandemic
Authors: Xu Jiang , Kerr Liam , Jiang Yue , Suo Wenhao , Zhang Lei , Lao Taotao , Chen Yuxin , Zhang Yan
Published: July 2022

The ongoing global COVID‐19 pandemic, caused by the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus, has resulted in significant loss of life since December 2019. Timely and precise virus detection has been proven as an effective solution to reduce the spread of the virus and to track the epidemic. Rapid antigen diagnostics has played a significant role in the frontline of COVID‐19 testing because of its convenience, low cost, and high accuracy. Herein, different types of recently innovated in‐lab and commercial antigen diagnostic technologies with emphasis on the strengths and limitations of these technologies including the limit of detection, sensitivity, specificity, affordability, and usability are systematically reviewed. The perspectives of assay development are looked into.
Optimizing methods for capturing neonate elk when using vaginal implant transmitters
Authors: Turnley Matthew T. , Larsen Randy T. , Hersey Kent R. , Sallee Daniel W , Hinton Morgan S. , McMillan Brock R.
Published: July 2022

The ability to capture and monitor neonate ungulates has been enhanced by vaginal implant transmitters (VITs). Improving capture methodology when using VITs will further increase the likelihood of capturing neonates. We analyzed data from 55 attempted captures of neonate elk (Cervus canadensis) in Utah, USA, during 2019–2020 to determine when searches for neonate elk should begin to maximize likelihood of capture while minimizing disturbance. Reducing the time elapsed between parturition and search initiation resulted in a decreased search length, decreased distance traveled by the neonate, and increased likelihood of capture. We initiated searches as early as 3.6 hours post‐parturition with no evidence of maternal abandonment. Probability of capture was near or above 90% when searches were initiated within 10 hours of parturition. We recommend that researchers initiate searches 3.6–10 hours post‐parturition to allow for capture attempts that are effective, efficient, and minimally disruptive.