bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An integrated laboratory experiment for the determination of main components in different food samples
Authors: Khalid Habiba , Amin Farrukh Raza , Chen Chang
Published: December 2021

An integrated laboratory experiment was designed for introducing biochemistry students to basic static biochemistry to deepen their understanding on the properties and analysis of biomolecules such as total carbohydrates, lipid, protein, and protein‐constituent amino acids. Food represents a very important source of biomolecules of technological and functional interest; therefore, 15 types of food samples were selected to demonstrate the analysis of basic composition of these biomolecules. In this experiment, students learnt testing the total carbohydrates of all the food samples using 3,5‐dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) method, while performing acid hydrolysis. Then, lipid extraction was done using Soxhlet extraction method in order to determine the crude lipid concentration in different samples. After this, the students learnt testing crude protein content of these samples by using Kjeldahl method, and amino acid analysis was performed using HPLC. From the experiments, students grasped the concept and advantages of these methods and deepened their understanding on compositional analysis of different food samples. This laboratory exercise can be included into any college‐level biochemistry courses and gives hands‐on experience to the students for conducting scientific research in the field of life sciences, food science, and other bio‐related fields.
A development platform prototype for virtual laboratories
Authors: Ni Jian‐Long , Li Jing‐Rong , Xu De‐Jian , Yu Yong‐Peng , Wang Qing‐Hui
Published: December 2021

Virtual laboratories provide a cost‐efficient way for schools and universities to organize high‐quality laboratory work in engineering disciplines. However, developing virtual labs is time‐consuming and often comes with duplicated efforts in developing common features. This paper presents a development platform prototype for virtual laboratories (DPVL). It consists of multiple modules to meet the needs of developing virtual labs. Details of the platform module design and its implementation are explained. Finally, the case study about the development of a virtual gearbox lab demonstrates the functionality of DPVL and the process of applying it for corresponding development. To evaluate the performance of DPVL, a comparative study has been conducted by involving different developers to develop the same virtual lab with and without the support of DPVL. The results proved that the VL development effort can be greatly reduced by more than 60% both in development time consumed and the code size generated. Moreover, DPVL is further tested for its hardware compatibility by students who developed VL for different display hardware. However, the final user evaluation experiment conducted has verified that DPVL is well received by users in terms of its ease of development, user‐friendliness, and usefulness.
Characteristics of metastasis and survival between male and female breast cancer with different molecular subtypes: A population‐based observational study
Authors: Fang Wentong , Huang Yue , Han Xu , Peng Jinghui , Zheng Mingjie
Published: December 2021

Objective

Male breast cancer (BC) is a rare disease, having different clinicopathological features and survival outcomes from female patients. The aim of this research was to, combine with molecular subtypes, analyze the metastatic patterns, and prognosis between male and female patients, and to determine whether the gender was the independent prognostic factor for BC.

Methods

Data used in this study were acquired from the SEER database from 2010 to 2016. The clinicopathology features and metastatic patterns were compared by the Chi‐square test and Fisher's exact test. Kaplan–Meier method was performed to compare overall survival (OS) and factors correlated with OS were determined by Cox regression models. Competing risk models were used to ascertain factors related to breast cancer‐specific death (BCSD).

Results

Compared with female BC, the incidence of regional LN (HR 1.849, 95% CI 1.674–2.043, p < 0.001) and distant metastasis (HR 1.421, 95%CI: 1.157–1.744, p < 0.001) was higher in male BC. For regional LN metastasis, hormone receptor (HoR)−/HER2+ subtype occupied the majority in both male (55.56%) and female (36.86%) groups. For distant metastasis, HoR−/HER2− subtype (21.26%), and HoR−/HER2+ (7.67%) were in major in male and female group separately. Male patients shared similar combinations of metastases with female groups as for single‐site, bi‐site, and tri‐site metastasis. Gender was an independent prognostic factor for OS (p < 0.001) but not for BCSD(p = 0.620). In subgroup of patients with HoR+/HER2−(OS: p = 0.003; BCSD: p = 0.606), HoR+/HER2+(OS: p = 0.003; BCSD: p = 0.277), regional LN positive(OS: p = 0.005; BCSD: p = 0.379), or bone metastasis (OS: p = 0.030; BCSD: p = 0.862), the male cohort had poorer OS but similar BCSD with female cohort.

Conclusions

Compared with female patients, male BC had different metastasis patterns and prognostic outcomes, and the affection of breast subtypes on metastasis and survivorship was also different. More attention needs to be paid for specific molecular subtype and more personalized therapeutic strategies should be customized while treating male patients.
Mycophenolate mofetil‐induced peripheral neuropathy in the treatment of membranous glomerulonephropathy: A case report
Authors: Moghimi Minoo , Nekoukar Zahra , Gholami Farhad
Published: December 2021

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) as an immunosuppressive agent is widely used in the management of Membranous Glomerulonephropathy (MGN). In this report, we described a 66‐year‐old male MGN case treated with MMF and revealed acquired sensory‐motor axonal polyneuropathy, which is rare and has not been reported before.
A rare presentation of an ACTH‐producing high‐grade large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma with Cushing’s syndrome
Authors: Essien Francis , Persaud Christine , Dado David , Eden Rina , Tate Joshua , Shahin George
Published: December 2021

High‐grade neuroendocrine tumors (HGNET) are rare neoplasms composed of neural and hormonal with only around 42 cases reported in the last 20 years1. Herein, we describe a rare case of pancreatic HGNET, large cell type, associated with a Cushing's syndrome presentation.
Tuberculous lymphadenitis ‐ A case report
Authors: Leal Filipa , Pombo Francisco , Silva Rocha Ana
Published: December 2021

Although tuberculosis manifests mostly as a pulmonary disease, extrapulmonary presentations can occur and must be taken into consideration depending on the clinical setting.
Fitz‐Hugh‐Curtis syndrome without salpingitis: Should contrast‐enhanced computed tomography be a routine diagnostic procedure?
Authors: Harada Taku , Shimizu Taro
Published: December 2021

Fitz‐Hugh‐Curtis syndrome should be suspected in sexually active young women presenting with acute right upper quadrant pain even in the absence of lower abdominal pain. The risk of radiation exposure associated with computed tomography should also be considered while making a diagnosis of abdominal pain in young patients.
Bilateral complex lactating adenosis: Clinical presentation and management in Sudan
Authors: Dafaalla Hatoun , Khougali Hussam S. , Malassi Yussra
Published: December 2021

Lactating adenosis is a benign breast neoplasm usually seen during pregnancy and lactation. We present a rare case of bilateral complex benign lactating adenosis in 19‐year‐old female patient presented with lactating adenosis that mimics cancer growth after giving birth. Histopathology confirmed diagnosis. Simple mastectomy was the treatment of choice.
Acute thyroid swelling with severe hypothyroid myxoedema after COVID‐19 vaccination
Authors: Giusti Massimo , Maio Agostino
Published: December 2021

The SARS‐CoV‐2 virus can trigger thyroid dysfunction. Thyroid dysfunctions after COVID‐19 vaccination have been rarely reported. We report the case of overt hypothyroidism in a 61‐year‐old woman seen after BNT162b2‐mRNA vaccination. This case underlines the fact that thyroid function should also be monitored after COVID‐19 vaccination, especially in at‐risk subjects.
Graphon estimation via nearest‐neighbour algorithm and two‐dimensional fused‐lasso denoising
Authors: Hernan Madrid Padilla Oscar , Chen Yanzhen
Published: December 2021

We propose a class of methods for graphon estimation based on exploiting connections with nonparametric regression. The idea is to construct an ordering of the nodes in the network, similar in spirit to Chan & Airoldi (2014). However, rather than considering orderings based only on the empirical degree as in Chan & Airoldi (2014), we use the nearest‐neighbour algorithm which is an approximative solution to the travelling salesman problem. This algorithm in turn can handle general distances between the nodes, allowing us to incorporate rich information from the network. Once an ordering is constructed, we formulate a two‐dimensional‐grid graph‐denoising problem that we solve through fused‐lasso regularization. For particular choices of the metric , we show that the corresponding two‐step estimator can attain competitive rates when the true model is the stochastic block model, and when the underlying graphon is piecewise Hölder or has bounded variation.
Ureidosulfocoumarin Derivatives As Selective and Potent Carbonic Anhydrase IX and XII Inhibitors
Authors: Singh Priti , Kumar Sigalapalli Dilep , Sridhar Goud Nerella , Swain Baijayantimala , Kumar Sahoo Santosh , Angeli Andrea , Shaik Afzal B. , Madhavi Yaddanapudi Venkata , Supuran Claudiu T. , Arifuddin Mohammed
Published: December 2021

Owing to severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) and resistance exhibited by sulfonamide‐based carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitors, non‐classical or non‐sulfonamide CA inhibitors are gaining increased attention by medicinal chemists. In this context, we report the design and synthesis of 30 new non‐sulfonamide sulfocoumarin derivatives as CA inhibitors. They were investigated against hCA I and II (cytosolic isozymes) as well as hCA IX and XII (transmembrane, tumor‐associated enzymes). All compounds showed prominent selectivity for the tumor‐associated isoenzymes hCA IX and XII over the cytosolic isoenzymes hCA I and II. Among all synthesized compounds, 1‐(2,2‐dioxidobenzo[e][1,2]oxathiin‐6‐yl)‐3‐(o‐tolyl)urea(5 j)and1‐(3‐fluorophenyl)‐3‐(8‐methoxy‐2,2‐dioxidobenzo[e][1,2]oxathiin‐6‐yl)urea(5 q)were found to be more potent and to have better inhibition constant values against hCA IX than the standard acetazolamide (AAZ), with Ki values of 23.6 and 23.3 nM, respectively. All other compounds were found to be active under Ki=920 nM against hCA IX and XII.This study provides a new perspective for the future development of non‐sulfonamide derivatives as selective CA inhibitors.
Modeling and simulation of defense game model for jamming attack in wireless sensor networks using evolutionary game theory
Authors: K Mohaideen Pitchai
Published: December 2021

The open and shared communication medium of wireless sensor networks creates vulnerability to various types of attacks. In particular, jamming is a kind of attack that is difficult to defend. When the jammer transmits the jamming signal, the nodes covered by the jamming signal will suffer for their transmission. The interactions between the jammer and the source nodes are complex. Thus this article models the interactions between the jammer and the source node as an evolutionary game‐theoretical model. The game model of jamming is formulated, and then the evolutionary analysis of the game model is done. The game model is solved using replicator dynamics, and also the solution is verified by conducting various simulations. It can also be verified by using a stability diagram of replicator dynamics. The equilibrium points are analyzed to check whether that is an evolutionarily stable strategy. Extensive numerical simulation experiments have been carried out to analyze the evolution of strategies for source nodes and jammer nodes.
Anion‐Dependent Outstanding Luminescence Enhancement of Eu(D‐facam)3 Upon Coexistence With the Tetramethylammonium Cation
Authors: Li Ziying , Minami Haruki , Nakamura Kazuki , Kobayashi Norihisa
Published: December 2021

The front cover artwork is provided by the group of Norihisa Kobayashi and Kazuki Nakamura at Chiba University. The image shows the drastic luminescence enhancement and induced circular polarization of Eu(D‐facam)3 in the presence of tetramethylammonium acetate. Read the full text of the Article at 10.1002/cphc.202100609.
METTL1 promotes hepatocarcinogenesis via m7G tRNA modification‐dependent translation control
Authors: Chen Zhihang , Zhu Wanjie , Zhu Shenghua , Sun Kaiyu , Liao Junbin , Liu Haining , Dai Zihao , Han Hui , Ren Xuxin , Yang Qingxia , Zheng Siyi , Peng Baogang , Peng Sui , Kuang Ming , Lin Shuibin
Published: December 2021

Background

N7‐methylguanosine (m7G) modification is one of the most common transfer RNA (tRNA) modifications in humans. The precise function and molecular mechanism of m7G tRNA modification in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain poorly understood.

Methods

The prognostic value and expression level of m7G tRNA methyltransferase complex components methyltransferase‐like protein‐1 (METTL1) and WD repeat domain 4 (WDR4) in HCC were evaluated using clinical samples and TCGA data. The biological functions and mechanisms of m7G tRNA modification in HCC progression were studied in vitro and in vivo using cell culture, xenograft model, knockin and knockout mouse models. The m7G reduction and cleavage sequencing (TRAC‐seq), polysome profiling and polyribosome‐associated mRNA sequencing methods were used to study the levels of m7G tRNA modification, tRNA expression and mRNA translation efficiency.

Results

The levels of METTL1 and WDR4 are elevated in HCC and associated with advanced tumour stages and poor patient survival. Functionally, silencing METTL1 or WDR4 inhibits HCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, while forced expression of wild‐type METTL1 but not its catalytic dead mutant promotes HCC progression. Knockdown of METTL1 reduces m7G tRNA modification and decreases m7G‐modified tRNA expression in HCC cells. Mechanistically, METTL1‐mediated tRNA m7G modification promotes the translation of target mRNAs with higher frequencies of m7G‐related codons. Furthermore, in vivo studies with Mettl1 knockin and conditional knockout mice reveal the essential physiological function of Mettl1 in hepatocarcinogenesis using hydrodynamics transfection HCC model.

Conclusions

Our work reveals new insights into the role of the misregulated tRNA modifications in liver cancer and provides molecular basis for HCC diagnosis and treatment.
In a search of a protective titer: Do we or do we not need to know?
Authors: Baranova Ancha , Chandhoke Vikas , Makarova Alena V. , Veytsman Boris
Published: December 2021

The level of postvaccine protection depends on two factors: antibodies and T‐cell responses. While the first one is relatively easily measured, the measuring of the second one is a difficult problem. The recent studies indicate that the first one may be a good proxy for the protection, at least for SARS‐CoV‐2. The massive data currently gathered by both researcher and citizen scientists may be pivotal in confirming this observation, and the collective body of evidence is growing daily. This leads to an acceptance of IgG antibody levels as an accessible biomarker of individual's protection. With enormous and immediate need for assessing patient condition at the point of care, quantitative antibody analysis remains the most effective and efficient way to assess the protection against the disease. Let us not discount importance of reference points in the turmoil of current pandemics.
Can single cell RNA sequencing reshape the clinical biochemistry of hematology: New clusters of circulating blood cells
Authors: Fang Hao , Zeng Yiming , Zhang Lianzhong , Chen Chengshui , Powell Charles A , Wang Xiangdong
Published: December 2021

scRNA‐seq is on track for use as a routine measurement of clinical biochemistry and to assist in clinical decision‐making and guide the performance of molecular medicine, but there are still a large number of challenges to be overcome. In conclusion, scRNA‐seq‐based clusters and differentiation of circulating blood cells have been examined and informative in patients with various diseases, although the information generated from scRNA‐seq varies between different conditions, technologies, and diseases. Most of the clinical studies published have focused on the landscape of circulating immune cells, disease‐specific patterns of new clusters, understanding of potential mechanisms, and potential correlation between cell clusters, differentiations, cell interactions, and circulating and migrated cells. It is clear that the information from scRNA‐seq advances the understanding of the disease, identifies disease‐specific target panels, and suggests new therapeutic strategies. The adaptation of scRNA‐seq as a routine clinical measurement will require standardization and normalization of scRNA‐seq‐based comprehensive information and validation in a large population of healthy and diseased patients. The integration of public databases on human circulating cell clusters and differentiations with an application of artificial intelligence and computational science will accelerate the application of scRNA‐seq for clinical practice. Thus, we call special attention from scientists and clinicians to the clinical and translational discovery, validation, and medicine opportunities of scRNA‐seq development.
Abnormal B‐lymphoblasts in myelodysplastic syndromes and myeloproliferative neoplasms other than chronic myeloid leukemia
Authors: Chan Alexander , Kumar Priyadarshini , Gao Qi , Baik Jeeyeon , Sigler Allison , Londono Dory , Liu Ying , Arcila Maria E. , Dogan Ahmet , Zhang Yanming , Roshal Mikhail , Xiao Wenbin
Published: December 2021

Background

Lineage infidelity is characteristic of mixed phenotype acute leukemia and is also seen in blast phase of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), myeloid/lymphoid neoplasia with eosinophilia and gene rearrangements, and subtypes of acute myeloid leukemia. Driver genetic events often occur in multipotent progenitor cells in myeloid neoplasms, suggesting that multilineage output may be more common than appreciated. This phenomenon is not well studied in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and non‐CML myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN).

Methods

We systematically evaluated phenotypic lineage infidelity by reviewing bone marrow pathology and flow cytometry (FC) studies of 1262 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of MDS and/or non‐CML MPN. We assessed B‐ and T‐cells in these patients by FC. When abnormal B‐lymphoblast (ABLB) populations were detected, we additionally evaluated immature B‐cells using a high sensitivity FC assay for B‐lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (B‐ALL).

Results

We identified 9 patients (7 MDS, 7/713, 1%; 2 non‐CML MPN, 2/312, 0.6%; 0 in MDS/MPN) with low‐level ABLB populations (0.012%–3.6% of WBCs in marrow) with abnormal immunophenotypes. Genetic studies on flow sorted cell populations confirmed that some ABLB populations were clonally related to myeloid blasts (4/6, 67%). On follow‐up, ABLB populations in 8/9 patients remained stable or disappeared. Only 1 case progressed to B‐ALL.

Conclusions

These findings demonstrate that phenotypically detectable abnormal immature B lineage output occurs in MDS and non‐CML MPN, albeit rarely. While presence of ABLB does not necessarily reflect blast crisis, the underlying disease biology of our findings may ultimately be relevant to patient management and warrants further investigation.
Defining the specificity of recombinant human erythropoietin confirmation in equine samples by liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Timms Mark , Steel Rohan
Published: December 2021

The proteotypic human EPO peptides YLLEAK (T4), SLTTLLR (T11), TITADTFR (T14), and VYSNFLR (T17) are often used to confirm the presence of recombinant human EPO (rhEPO) in equine samples. Each of these peptides contains one or more isomeric leucine or isoleucine amino acids, raising the possibility that a simple leucine/isoleucine substitution could lead to a false identification when compared with a rhEPO reference standard. To examine this possibility variants of these four peptides were analysed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS). These studies indicate that confirmation of rhEPO in equine samples by immuno‐affinity capture and LC‐MS/MS analysis is true and accurate. It was also found that chromatography played a greater role in determining LC‐MS/MS specificity than tandem mass spectrometry and that, in the case of more hydrophilic peptides, the accuracy of peptide identification could be enhanced by the inclusion of 13C and 15N labelled peptide internal standards.
Asynchronous flowering patterns in saguaro cacti (Carnegiea gigantea)
Authors: Foley Theresa , Swann Don E. , Sotelo Guadalupe , Perkins Nicholas , Winkler Daniel E.
Published: December 2021

The saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea [Engelm.] Britton & Rose) is a keystone species endemic to the Sonoran Desert of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States. The saguaro produces large white flowers near its stem apex (crown) during April–June, which bloom at night and close the following day. In 1924, Duncan Johnson reported that saguaro floral buds are likely to have an asymmetrical distribution in which buds occur in higher densities on the eastern half of a plant's crown. Using technology not available to Johnson, we tested his observations to determine whether flowers are asymmetrically distributed using repeat photography. We also tested whether there is a seasonal pattern of flowering that may explain Johnson’s observations. We tracked intra‐individual flowering phenology of 20 saguaros and measured 2372 flowers across two reproductive seasons in Saguaro National Park, Tucson, Arizona. Flowers first appeared on the east side of all saguaro crowns at the start of the reproductive season, and then spread radially in a counterclockwise direction as the season progressed. In contrast to previous reports, saguaro flowers were consistently more abundant on the northern part of the crown than in the eastern part. To our knowledge, this study is the first to document a seasonal, counterclockwise pattern of asynchronous flowering in saguaro or any angiosperm. We discuss potential drivers of this phenomenon as well as implications for saguaros responding to climate change.
Introduced mangroves escape damage from marine and terrestrial enemies
Authors: Davidson Timothy M. , Smith Celia M. , Torchin Mark E.
Published: December 2021

The enemy release hypothesis (ERH) posits that introduced species often leave their enemies behind when introduced to a new range. This release from enemies may allow introduced species to achieve higher growth and reproduction and may explain why some invaders flourish in new locations. Red mangroves (Rhizophora mangle) were introduced to Hawaiʻi from Florida over a century ago. Because Hawaiʻi has no native mangroves, the arrival of R. mangle fundamentally changed the structure and function of estuarine shorelines. While numerous enemies affect red mangroves in their native range (tropical America), in Hawaiʻi, mangroves apparently experience little herbivory, which may explain why introduced mangroves are so productive, fecund, and continue to spread. In this study, we compared the effects of enemies in native and introduced populations of brackish red mangroves (R. mangle) in 8–10 sites in the native range (Florida, Belize, and Panama) and introduced range of mangroves (Hawaiʻi). At each site, we measured the (1) occurrence of enemies using timed visual surveys, (2) occurrence of damage to different mangrove structures (leaves, apical buds, dead twigs, roots, propagules, and seedlings), and (3) rate of propagule herbivory using tethering experiments. Consistent with the ERH, we found an order of magnitude less damage and fewer enemies in introduced than native mangrove sites. While introduced mangroves harbored few enemies and minimal damage, native mangroves were affected by numerous enemies, including leaf‐eating crabs, specialist bud moths, wood‐boring insects and isopods, and propagule predators. These patterns were consistent across all plant structures (roots to leaves), among marine and terrestrial enemies, and across functional groups (browsers, borers, pathogens, etc.), which demonstrates enemy escape occurs consistently among different functional groups and via trophic (e.g., herbivores) and non‐trophic (e.g., root borers) interactions. Our study is among the first biogeographical enemy release studies to take a comprehensive approach to quantifying the occurrence of damage from a broad suite of marine and terrestrial taxa across an array of wetland plant structures. Understanding how natural enemies alter this key foundation species will become increasingly relevant globally as mangroves continue to invade new regions through intentional plantings or range expansion driven by climate change.
A review on tactile IoT: Architecture, requirements, prospects, and future directions
Authors: Ray Partha Pratim
Published: December 2021

Tactile internet (TI) has emerged as a new possibility into revolutionizing whole society by involving human beings, communication aspects, and industrial operation. Main purpose of TI is to disseminate perceptual, that is, haptic information to remote industry machines for pouring skills and expertise as if it were actually accomplished by a person in reality. Internet of things is an established tool to serve various smart application development that mainly depends on sensors, actuators, communication technology, and cloud‐based services. Existing studies do not clearly mention the key requirements, architectural standardization and TI enabled functions to transfer haptic information via a suitable communication media. Although 5G has been considered as a valuable core of TI infrastructure, lack of actual implementation and related evidence has raised a dilemma about its effectiveness for industry applications leaving with no direction. In this article, we present architectural and system model‐wise development of tactile internet of things for possible industry application realization. We also present key requirements, functional and optimal aspects of tactile internet of things. Study of potential communication technologies and state‐of‐the‐art study on recent works on TI‐based approaches are paved. Lastly, we present key open challenges and future direction to augment this problem.
Modelling spatio‐temporal soil moisture dynamics in mountain tundra
Authors: Tyystjärvi Vilna , Kemppinen Julia , Luoto Miska , Aalto Tuula , Markkanen Tiina , Launiainen Samuli , Kieloaho Antti‐Jussi , Aalto Juha
Published: December 2021

Soil moisture has a fundamental influence on the processes and functions of tundra ecosystems. Yet, the local dynamics of soil moisture are often ignored, due to the lack of fine resolution, spatially extensive data. In this study, we modelled soil moisture with two mechanistic models, SpaFHy (a catchment‐scale hydrological model) and JSBACH (a global land surface model), and examined the results in comparison with extensive growing‐season field measurements over a mountain tundra area in northwestern Finland. Our results show that soil moisture varies considerably in the study area and this variation creates a mosaic of moisture conditions, ranging from dry ridges (growing season average 12 VWC%, Volumetric Water Content) to water‐logged mires (65 VWC%). The models, particularly SpaFHy, simulated temporal soil moisture dynamics reasonably well in parts of the landscape, but both underestimated the range of variation spatially and temporally. Soil properties and topography were important drivers of spatial variation in soil moisture dynamics. By testing the applicability of two mechanistic models to predict fine‐scale spatial and temporal variability in soil moisture, this study paves the way towards understanding the functioning of tundra ecosystems under climate change.
Supramolecular‐mediated ball‐in‐ball porous carbon nanospheres for ultrafast energy storage
Authors: Yao Lei , Lin Junsheng , Chen Yuanyuan , Li Xiujuan , Wang Dongrui , Yang Haitao , Deng Libo , Zheng Zijian
Published: December 2021

Hierarchical porous carbons are the most viable electrode material for supercapacitors because of their balanced capacitive performance and chemical stability. Their pore connectivity plays a pivotal role in electrolyte transport, which is quantified by a new parameter, defined in this work as the longest possible pore separation (LPPS). Herein, we report hierarchical porous carbon nanospheres (HPC‐NS) with a unique ball‐in‐ball structure, which is achieved by the pyrolysis of a supramolecular complex of γ‐cyclodextrin (γ‐CD)/PEO‐PPO‐PEO (F127). This approach differs from the conventional soft‐templating method in that, apart from the assembly of the monomicelles that leads to the host nanospheres (approximately 300 nm), the γ‐CD‐containing monomicelles themselves are converted to small porous carbon nanospheres (<10 nm), which results in an ultralow LPPS of 10 nm, representing the best‐known pore connectivity of the HPC family. The HPC‐NS delivers a high specific capacitance (405 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 and 71% capacitance retention at 200 A g−1), wide voltage window (up to 1.6 V), and simultaneously high energy and power densities (24.3 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 151 W kg−1 and 9 Wh kg−1 at 105 W kg−1) in aqueous electrolytes. This new strategy boosts the development of porous carbon electrodes for aqueous supercapacitors with simultaneously high power and energy densities.

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Exact capacity of downlink NOMA system
Authors: Abu Ella Omar
Published: December 2021

Non‐orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) is a key technology beyond 5G/6G wireless and mobile communication systems. Simply because of the high efficiency of resource utilization, the system can meet the ever‐increasing requirements of higher data rates and ultra‐reliability. Keeping that in mind, we seek in this paper to derive simple closed‐form expressions to compute the maximum achievable user rate and formulate the probability density function of the SNR and SINR in the system. In addition to that, we determine the outage probability of the system in a generalized and explicit form. All of that is in terms of the user's deterministic propagation channel parameters, such as power allocation factor, noise level, position, and pathloss coefficient. Simulation results validate the accuracy of the obtained formulae.
Bisphosphonate Treatment Alters the Skeletal Response to Mechanical Stimulation in Children With Osteogenesis Imperfecta: A Pilot Study
Authors: Sithambaran Siva , Harrison Rachel , Gopal‐Kothandapandi Sujatha , Rigby Alan , Bishop Nick
Published: December 2021

Children with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) are commonly treated with bisphosphonates. We investigated the skeletal response to mechanical stimulation in children with OI before and after bisphosphonate treatment. Twelve children with OI, naïve to bisphosphonate treatment, stood on a high‐frequency (30 Hz), low‐amplitude (50 to 200 μ) vibrating platform (Marodyne LivMD) for 10 minutes daily (2.5 minutes × 4 with interspersed 1‐minute rest periods) for 7 days (whole body vibration [WBV] 1; day (D) 1–7), followed successively by 5 weeks' monitoring without intervention, 6 weeks' risedronate treatment, 1 week of WBV (WBV2; D85–91), and 1 week without intervention (D92–98). Procollagen type I N‐terminal propeptide (P1NP), bone‐specific alkaline phosphatase (BSALP), and carboxy‐terminal telopeptide of type I collagen cross‐link (CTX) were measured at baseline and intervals bracketing periods of vibration and risedronate treatment. Both P1NP and CTX rose to D8 (18.4%, 13.8%, p < 0.05, respectively), plateaued, then rose again at D43 (19.8%, 19.2%, respectively, p < 0.05 versus baseline). At D85 (after risedronate) both P1NP and CTX had fallen to pre‐WBV1 levels. A significantly smaller increase in P1NP was found after WBV2 (D85–91) at D92 (3.5%, 9.2%, respectively) and D99 versus after WBV1 (both p < 0.05). BSALP changed little after WBV1, fell during risedronate, and rose toward baseline after WBV2. We thus showed that WBV increased bone formation and resorption; that increase was attenuated after risedronate. The early increase in P1NP and CTX (D8) after WBV1 suggests increased osteoid formation within existing remodeling units but not increased mineralization. Later increases in P1NP/CTX (D42) suggest increased remodeling cycle initiation after WBV. Risedronate suppressed both biomarkers. The lower increase in P1NP/CTX after WBV2 suggests limited capacity to increase osteoid formation from existing “early stage” osteoblasts and a possible “hangover” effect of risedronate on remodeling activation. These results provide insights into both the response to WBV, ie, mechanical stimulation, and the effect of antiresorptive therapy in children with OI. © 2021 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
CellSys: An open‐source tool for building initial structures for bio‐membranes and drug‐delivery systems
Authors: Abbasi Ali , Amjad‐Iranagh Sepideh , Dabir Bahram
Published: December 2021

Since phospholipids are the most important components in the structure of biomembranes, they deserve to be considered with a lot of attention in both experimental and computational theoretical studies using molecular simulation methods related to the research in the fields of drug design and drug delivery where they involve knowledge about the interactions of drug molecules with cell membranes. To employ the molecular simulation approach for this purpose the essential requirement is having information about the initial structure of phospholipids and how they interact with the drugs. Therefore in this article, we introduce an open‐source software package in Python programming language for utilizing data manipulation for generation and developing the initial structure of biomolecular cells to provide the needed information for investigation in drug delivery systems. In addition, the proposed software package can be used for the efficient storage of membrane structural data to be exploited in designing new drug delivery systems. To verify the performance of the code and the results of the simulations, several analyses have been done, such as the calculation of area per lipid and self‐diffusion coefficient, in addition to lipid order parameter. The results were in complete agreement with the references.
Critical realism, community psychology, and the curious case of autism: A philosophy and practice of science with social justice in mind
Authors: Botha Monique
Published: December 2021

Community psychology (CP) is a transformative subdiscipline of psychology which aims to address inequality and social injustice and to attend to wellbeing. It has been argued that CP lacks an underpinning philosophy of science. Philosophies of science provide road maps for values, methods, and objectives, thus ultimately framing all research. This study will highlight how traditional philosophies of science such as positivism, interpretivism, and social constructivism fail to support the complexity of CP and often essentialise complex phenomena, such as autism, to the detriment of stakeholders. Critical realism will then be introduced as a promising philosophy of science for CP, which can reinvigorate CPs push for impactful research and social change. The study will highlight how CP provides a platform for appreciating the complexity of autism and for transforming structures of inequality experienced by autistic people, together with autistic people.
Validation of a proxy‐reported SARC‐F questionnaire for current and retrospective screening of sarcopenia‐related functional impairments
Authors: Maurus Johannes , Terzer Tobias , Benner Axel , Goisser Sabine , Eidam Annette , Roth Anja , Janssen Maike , Jaramillo Sonia , Lorenz Hannes Martin , Micol William , Hauer Klaus , Müller‐Tidow Carsten , Bauer Jürgen M. , Jordan Karin , Neuendorff Nina Rosa
Published: December 2021

Background

The strength, assistance walking, rise from a chair, climb stairs, and falls (SARC‐F) questionnaire is a well‐established instrument for screening of sarcopenia and sarcopenia‐related functional impairments. As it is based on self‐reporting, its use precludes patients who are unable to answer the questionnaire as a consequence of severe acute diseases or cognitive impairment. Therefore, we aimed to validate a proxy‐reported version of the SARC‐F for both ad‐hoc as well as retrospective screening for severe sarcopenia‐related functional impairments.

Methods

Patients aged ≥60 years completed the SARC‐F and performed the short physical performance battery (SPPB) at baseline (T1). Proxies in Cohort A gave a simultaneous assessment of the patients' functional status with the proxy‐reported SARC‐F at T1 and again, retrospectively, after 3 months (T2). Proxies in Cohort B only completed the SARC‐F retrospectively at T2.

The questionnaires' performances were assessed through sensitivity/specificity analyses and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. For non‐inferiority analyses, results of both the patient‐reported and proxy‐reported SARC‐F were correlated with the SPPB total score as well as the results of the chair‐rise test subcategory; the respective correlation coefficients were tested against each other.

Results

One hundred and four patients and 135 proxies participated. Using a SPPB score < 9 points as the reference standard, the proxy‐reported SARC‐F identified patients at high risk for sarcopenia‐related functional impairment with a sensitivity of 0.81 (ad‐hoc), 0.88 (retrospective Cohort A), and 0.87 (retrospective Cohort B) as well as a specificity of 0.89 (ad‐hoc), 0.78 (retrospective Cohort A), and 0.64 (retrospective Cohort B). Areas under the ROC curves were ≥ 0.9 for the ad‐hoc proxy‐reported SARC‐F and the retrospective proxy‐reported SARC‐F in both cohorts. The proxy‐reported SARC‐F showed a non‐inferior correlation with the SPPB compared with the patient‐reported SARC‐F for ad‐hoc (P = <0.001) as well as retrospective screening for severe sarcopenia‐related functional impairment in both Cohorts A (P = 0.007) and B (P = 0.026).

Conclusions

Proxy‐reported SARC‐F is a valid instrument for both ad‐hoc as well as retrospective screening for sarcopenia‐related functional impairment and could become the standard tool for evaluating this risk in older adults with severe acute disease, for example, in patients with quickly evolving haematological conditions.
Grappling with race: A national study of the broaching attitudes and behavior of school counselors, clinical mental health counselors, and counselor trainees
Authors: Day‐Vines Norma L. , Bryan Julia , Brodar Jennifer R. , Griffin Dana
Published: December 2021

This study examined counselors’ openness to discussing issues of race, ethnicity, and culture by setting (e.g., school, clinical mental health, and counselor trainee) using the Broaching Attitudes and Behavior Scale. School counselors and White counselors reported significantly higher mean scores on the Avoidant subscale, a measure of counselors’ perceptions that discussions about race, ethnicity, and culture are unwarranted. Significant main effects resulted for counselor setting. Implications for counseling are addressed.
Influence of boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation on rainfall extremes in the Philippines
Authors: Olaguera Lyndon Mark P. , Manalo John A. , Matsumoto Jun
Published: December 2021

This study investigates the impact of the northward/northwestward propagating 30–60‐day mode of the boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation (BSISO) on the extreme rainfall events in the Philippines during the June–September (JJAS) season from 1979 to 2018. The Philippines domain is divided into the three latitudinal regions: Luzon region (13°–22°N), Visayas region (10°–13°N), and Mindanao region (5°–10°N) to account for the regional differences in the timing of extreme rainfall events. The probability density functions of JJAS rainfall are skewed towards higher values relative to the non‐BSISO days in BSISO Phases 6–8, Phases 5–7, and Phases 4–6 over the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao regions, respectively, during which the probability of extreme rainfall events at the 95th percentile increases by as much as 80% in some stations in these regions. Further analyses of the large‐scale circulation features show that the increase (decrease) in the probability of extreme rainfall events is associated with enhanced moisture convergence (divergence) induced by the cyclonic (anticyclonic) circulation anomalies of the BSISO and appearance of multiple tropical cyclones. About 36% of the total extreme rainfall events over the Luzon region are associated with TCs during Phases 7–8. On the other hand, TCs contribute by no more than 24% in all phases over the Visayas and Mindanao regions, indicating less TC influence in these regions. This study is the first attempt to clarify the impact of the BSISO on the extreme rainfall events in the Philippines.
Melanoma trials that defined surgical management
Authors: Faries Mark B.
Published: December 2021

Treatment of regional lymph nodes in melanoma has been controversial for more than a century. A series of clinical trials evaluating elective lymph node dissection and then sentinel lymph node biopsy have helped define the current standard of care. These trials resulted in increasingly selective application of surgical intervention for regional lymph nodes in melanoma. First by focusing on optimal candidates for elective lymph node dissection and then by identifying patients through sentinel lymph node biopsy. The current standard of sentinel lymph node biopsy for appropriately selected patients and nodal observation for many patients, even with involved sentinel nodes is both more accurate in staging and much less morbid than what came before.
Lessons learned from investigator‐initiated clinical trials for localized pancreatic cancer
Authors: Tsai Susan , Evans Douglas B.
Published: December 2021

Investigator‐initiated trials (IITs) are clinical trials in which the clinician is both the sponsor and the investigator. IITs have also been developed to test strategies designed to optimize existing therapies or treatment approaches that may not be supported by industry sponsors or may be too novel to gain the consensus to be supported by cooperative groups. The role of the investigator is comprehensive and includes protocol development, securing funding for the administration of the trial, recruitment and monitoring of subjects, and assurance for the protection of human subjects. We will briefly review the importance of surgeons in developing IITs and provide insights into logistical barriers from conception to completion of the trial.
APPLY THE 3 I’S FOR BREAKTHROUGH CREATIVITY: INQUIRY, IMPROVISATION, AND INTUTION
Authors: Nixon Natalie
Published: December 2021

The author writes about how creativity can be applied inside and outside the workplace, to benefit individuals, and organizations. This means application of both wonder and rigor; in addition to what she terms as the 3 I's: Inquiry, Improvisation, and Intuition. In her words, within inquiry she points out that “Inquiry is the root of wisdom and the precursor of empathy.” Within improvisation, “Examples of great improvisation show up in jazz, rap, comedy, sales pitches, and scientific experimentation.” Within, Intuition, “Harriet Tubman, Albert Einstein, and Steve Jobs are examples of famous innovators and leaders who relied on and valued their intuition, coupling it with their rational intellect to make decisions.” For the book from which this article is adapted, she “interviewed 56 people with diverse backgrounds—farming, law, plumbing, architecture, perfumery, medicine, education, and technology, to name a few—between June 2018 and August 2019. I wanted to understand how creativity manifests in their work.” She cites such examples/research from the educational nonprofit Leadership+Design (L+D), Nissan Design International, Columbia Business School professor William Duggan, Comcast Corporation, and others. The article concludes with a call to action: “Ultimately, just start. Don't make excuses; follow the bread crumbs and see where they lead you.”
Shore‐up veterans support services in these turbulent times
Authors: McCarthy Claudine
Published: December 2021

In these times, student‐veterans and other students with connections to the military need support now more than ever. Recent worldwide events, especially the withdrawal from Afghanistan, have triggered a range of reactions among veterans and military families.
Association of problematic internet use with depression, impulsivity, anger, aggression, and social anxiety: Results of a national study among Lebanese adolescents
Authors: Haddad Chadia , Malaeb Diana , Sacre Hala , Bou Khalil Jad , Khansa Wael , Al Hajj Roula , Kheir Nelly , Saade Sylvia , Obeid Sahar , Hallit Souheil
Published: December 2021

Importance

Several studies conducted worldwide (mostly in Western countries) highlighted the negative effects of problematic internet use, particularly among adolescents aged 12 to 17, including depression, impulsivity, aggression, and social fear and avoidance. In Lebanon, literature on the prevalence and impact of problematic internet use among adolescents is limited.

Objective

This study aim was to study the association between problematic internet use and depression, impulsivity, anger, aggression and social phobia among Lebanese adolescents.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was performed on 1103 young adolescents (14–17 years), recruited from October 2017 till April 2018. The Internet Addiction Test (IAT) was used to evaluate the level of problematic internet use. Data were analyzed using the MANCOVA analysis. The main independent variable of interest was the IAT, while the dependent variables included the psychological scales.

Results

The multivariate analysis taking the psychological scales as the dependent variables and the problematic internet use (IAT score) as an independent variable, showed that problematic internet use was associated with higher depression, impulsivity, aggression, anger, hostility and social anxiety.

Interpretation

Problematic internet use has become an important health issue that should not be overlooked, particularly because of the increased use of the internet by adolescents. Educational programs on early exposure to the internet should be developed.