bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bioengineered 3D microfibrous‐matrix modulates osteopontin release from MSCs and facilitates the expansion of hematopoietic stem cells
Authors: Nandakumar Niji , Mohan Malini , Thilakan Akhil T. , Sidharthan Hridhya K. , Ramu Janarthanan , Sharma Deepti , Nair Shantikumar V. , Sathy Binulal N.
Published: July 2022

The osteopontin (OPN) released from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) undergoing lineage differentiation can negatively influence the expansion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in coculture systems developed for expanding HSCs. Therefore, minimizing the amount of OPN in the coculture system is important for the successful ex vivo expansion of HSCs. Toward this goal, a bioengineered three dimensional (3D) microfibrous‐matrix that can maintain MSCs in less OPN‐releasing conditions has been developed, and its influence on the expansion of HSCs has been studied. The newly developed 3D matrix significantly decreased the release of OPN, depending on the MSC culture conditions used during the priming period before HSC seeding. The culture system with the lowest amount of OPN facilitated a more than 24‐fold increase in HSC number in 1 week time period. Interestingly, the viability of expanded cells and the CD34+  pure population of HSCs were found to be the highest in the low OPN‐containing system. Therefore, bioengineered microfibrous 3D matrices seeded with MSCs, primed under suitable culture conditions, can be an improved ex vivo expansion system for HSC culture.
Dual cytoplasmic‐peroxisomal engineering for high‐yield production of sesquiterpene α‐humulene in Yarrowia lipolytica
Authors: Guo Qi , Li Ya‐Wen , Yan Fang , Li Ke , Wang Yue‐Tong , Ye Chao , Shi Tian‐Qiong , Huang He
Published: July 2022

The sesquiterpene α‐humulene is an important plant natural product, which has been used in the pharmaceutical industry due to its anti‐inflammatory and anticancer activities. Although phytoextraction and chemical synthesis have previously been applied in α‐humulene production, the low efficiency and high costs limit the development. In this study, Yarrowia lipolytica was engineered as the robust cell factory for sustainable α‐humulene production. First, a chassis with high α‐humulene output in the cytoplasm was constructed by integrating α‐humulene synthases with high catalytic activity, optimizing the flux of mevalonate and acetyl‐CoA pathways. Subsequently, the strategy of dual cytoplasmic‐peroxisomal engineering was adopted in Y. lipolytica; the best strain GQ3006 generated by introducing 31 copies of 12 different genes could produce 2280.3± 38.2 mg/l (98.7 ± 4.2 mg/g dry cell weight) α‐humulene, a 100‐fold improvement relative to the baseline strain. To further improve the titer, a novel strategy for downregulation of squalene biosynthesis based on Cu2+‐repressible promoters was firstly established, which significantly improved the α‐humulene titer by 54.2% to 3516.6 ± 34.3 mg/l. Finally, the engineered strain could produce 21.7 g/l α‐humulene in a 5‐L bioreactor, 6.8‐fold higher than the highest α‐humulene titer reported before this study. Overall, system metabolic engineering strategies used in this study provide a valuable reference for the highly sustainable production of terpenoids in Y. lipolytica.
Layered similarity detection for programming plagiarism and collusion on weekly assessments
Authors: Karnalim Oscar , Simon  , Chivers William
Published: July 2022

When weekly programming assessments are used, it is often the case that some of them are either trivial or strongly directed. Common code similarity detectors are not particularly helpful with such assessments: some potential instances of misconduct are not selected for manual investigation as all submissions are expected to be similar and it is not feasible to check them all. Several dedicated similarity detectors have been developed to work with such assessments, but the experience is required to determine when to use them. This paper presents a similarity detector that works on many kinds of weekly assessments. It combines three‐layered types of similarity so that even within a set of highly similar submissions, program pairs are still sorted according to their levels of similarity. Our similarity detector is more effective than JPlag in distinguishing similar programs and helping to identify plagiarism and collusion. The similarity detector is slower than JPlag, but the longer execution time is partly offset by some optimization that has no negative impact on the effectiveness. As weekly assessments seldom entail large submissions, the execution time does not appear to be a barrier to use.
Assembly of Two‐Dimensional DNA Arrays Could Influence the Formation of Their Component Tiles
Authors: Paluzzi Victoria E. , Zhang Cuizheng , Mao Chengde
Published: July 2022

Tile‐based DNA self‐assembly is a powerful approach for nano‐constructions. In this approach, individual DNA single strands first assemble into well‐defined structural tiles, which, then, further associate with each other into final nanostructures. It is a general assumption that the lower‐level structures (tiles) determine the higher‐level, final structures. In this study, we present concrete experimental data to show that higher‐level structures could, at least in the current example, also impact on the formation of lower‐level structures. This study prompts questions such as: how general is this phenomenon in programmed DNA self‐assembly and can we turn it into a useful tool for fine tuning DNA self‐assembly?
Sex differences on outcomes following left atrial appendage occlusion in atrial fibrillation: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhu Yuansong , Sasmita Bryan Richard , Xue Yuzhou , Jiang Yi , Huang Bi , Luo Suxin
Published: July 2022

There is a lack of sufficient data on sex‐related differences in outcomes of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) patients following left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO). We conducted a meta‐analysis to investigate the procedural complications and long‐term outcomes after LAAO in women versus men. We screened Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Center Register of Controlled Trials, and Clinical Trials.gov. The inclusion criteria were studies targeting the sex‐related differences in outcomes in nonvalvular AF patients treated by LAAO. Procedural endpoints of interest included success rate, pericardial complications, major bleeding, and vascular complications during hospitalization. Long‐term outcomes included all‐cause mortality and ischemic stroke during follow‐up. Studies that merely considered sex in the subgroup analysis were not included. Six observational studies with a total of 64,035 patients were identified. The procedural success rates did not differ between sexes (odds ratio [OR]: 0.98, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.89–1.09, p = 0.77), while women experienced more pericardial complications (OR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.58–2.01, p < 0.00001), major bleedings (OR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.75–2.39, p < 0.00001), and vascular complications (OR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.41–2.17, p < 0.00001) than men. The sensitivity analysis performed by removing the largest study showed good stability. The long‐term mortality and stroke rates did not differ between women and men in either the 1‐year subgroup or the 2‐year subgroup. In conclusion, despite comparable procedural success rates, women have a significantly higher incidence of pericardial complications, major bleeding, and vascular complications following LAAO. The long‐term mortality and stroke rates do not differ between the sexes.
Local versus general anesthesia for endovascular aneurysm repair in ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Lei Jiahao , Pu Hongji , Wu Zhaoyu , Huang Qun , Yang Xinrui , Liu Guang , Lu Xinwu
Published: July 2022

Objectives/Background

In the endovascular treatment of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA), there is no effective evidence to show preference for a specific anesthetic option. A meta‐analysis was conducted to assess the result of different anesthesia in endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) of RAAA.

Methods

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies were searched in PubMed, Embase, Ovid, and the Cochrane Library. Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale and the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool were applied to evaluate the quality of cohort studies and RCTs, respectively. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to express differences for primary and secondary outcomes. Subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were applied in the primary outcome to illustrate the results further. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Random‐effects models were used considering limited research regardless of I2 < 50%.

Results

Ten cohort studies were included in this meta‐analysis. Perioperative mortality was presented as the primary outcome by analyzing eight of these research. Among the included patients, local anesthesia (LA) was considered as a better choice considering perioperative mortality (n = 156/902) rather than general anesthesia (n = 907/3434) with significant difference (OR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.35−0.67; p < 0.00001; I2 = 42%). However, no significant difference was found in the secondary outcome: the complication rate, ICU admission rate, postoperative morbidity of pneumonia, myocardial infarction, leg ischemia, and wound complication.

Conclusions

There exists some evidence in this review that LA appears to improve perioperative mortality, especially in hemodynamically stable patients and should be recommended for patients undergoing EVAR with RAAA when appropriate.
Sr Surface Enrichment in Solid Oxide Cells – Approaching the Limits of EDX Analysis by Multivariate Statistical Analysis and Simulations
Authors: Türk Hanna , Götsch Thomas , Schmidt Franz‐Philipp , Hammud Adnan , Ivanov Danail , de Haart L. G. J. (Bert) , Vinke Izaak C. , Eichel Rüdiger‐A. , Schlögl Robert , Reuter Karsten , Knop‐Gericke Axel , Lunkenbein Thomas , Scheurer Christoph
Published: July 2022

In solid oxide cells, Sr segregation has been correlated with degradation. Yet, the atomistic mechanism remains unknown. Here we begin to localize the origin of Sr surface nucleation by combining force field based simulations, energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX), and multi‐variate statistical analysis. We find increased ion mobility in the complexion between yttria‐stabilized zirconia and strontium‐doped lanthanum manganite. Furthermore, we developed a robust and automated routine to detect localized nucleation seeds of Sr at the complexion surface. This hints at a mechanism originating at the complexion and requires in‐depth studies at the atomistic level, where the developed routine can be beneficial for analyzing large hyperspectral EDX datasets.
An Enzyme Cascade Reaction for the Recovery of Hydroxytyrosol Dervatives from Olive Mill Wastewater
Authors: Terholsen Henrik , Kaur Jasmin , Kaloudis Nikolaos , Staudt Amanda , Pavlidis Ioannis V. , Bornscheuer Uwe T.
Published: July 2022

The valorization of olive mill wastewaters (OMWW), a by‐product of the olive milling, is getting rising attention. Lipophilization of the main phenolic compound 3‐hydroxytyrosol (HT) could facilitate its extraction. An immobilized variant of the promiscuous hydrolase/acyltransferase from Pyrobaculum calidifontis VA1 (PestE) was used to perform acetylation in water using ethyl acetate as acyl donor. PestE was used in a segmented flow setting to allow continuous operation. Additionally, HT precursors were made accessible by pretreatment with almond β‐glucosidase and the hydrolytic activity of PestE_I208A_L209F_N288A.
Use of a Scattered Light Sensor for Monitoring the Dispersed Surface in Crystallization
Authors: Schmitt Lukas , Meyer Conrad , Schorz Stefan , Manser Steffen , Scholl Stephan , Rädle and Matthias
Published: July 2022

The specific surface area of the dispersed phase in suspensions, emulsions, bubble columns and aerosols plays a decisive role in the increasement of heat and mass transfer processes. This has a direct effect on the space‐time yield in large‐scale chemical/process engineering production plants. Initial investigations show that an easy‐to‐install optical backscatter sensor outputs the dispersed surface area as a direct primary signal under certain boundary conditions. The article describes the construction, the mode of operation and first investigations applying of this new sensor. The sensor works even in high concentrated suspensions and emulsions, where conventional nephelometry already fails. Trends and limitations found so far for the sensor, which can be used in‐line in batch and continuously operated crystallizers, even in harsh production environments and in potentially explosive zones, are shown.
Experimental methods in chemical engineering: Pressure
Authors: Wu Kaiqiao , Galli Federico , de Tommaso Jacopo , Patience Gregory S. , van Ommen J. Ruud
Published: July 2022

Pressure and temperature are the most important state variables for monitoring physicochemical processes to detect deviations that might lead to explosions and to verify levels, flow rate, and solids/gas hold‐up. Pressure fluctuations in multi‐phase systems identify regime changes and flow anomalies. Pressure signals are the first indicator of a process upset and are tied into distributed control systems (DCS) to sound alarms when they drift to high or low and activate safety interlocks in the case of high, high‐high, low, and low‐low conditions. To maximize the information, it requires that pressure gauges (transducers) are installed and calibrated precisely. Pressure measuring devices include manometers, aneroid devices like bellows and Bourdon gauges, and electronic instruments—piezoresistive, piezoelectric, and capacitive. The electronic elements have the advantage of higher precision and faster response times to measure fluctuations. The Bourdon gauges are standard equipment for pressure regulators and are mounted on the exterior of vessels and pipes to facilitate visual inspections. Over 2 million articles indexed by the Web of Science Core collection mention pressure, and in 2021, chemical engineering ranks had over 7000 articles—only multidisciplinary material sciences and energy and fuels had more. A bibliometric analysis identified five research clusters: temperature, combustion, and kinetics; separation, membranes, and energy efficiency; carbon dioxide (capture and storage), water, and thermodynamics; methane, adsorption, and transport phenomena (e.g., diffusion and permeability); and modelling, optimization, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD).
Mixed neuroendocrine–non‐neuroendocrine neoplasm arising from long‐segment Barrettʼs esophagus showing exceptionally aggressive clinical behavior
Authors: Miyaguchi Kazuya , Kawasaki Tomonori , Tashima Tomoaki , Ryozawa Shomei
Published: July 2022

Background

There is only one report of Barrett's esophagus (BE) with mixed neuroendocrine–non‐neuroendocrine neoplasm (MiNEN). Herein, for the first time, we present a case with an aggressive esophageal MiNEN, as well as with both primary MiNEN and conventional adenocarcinoma, arising in BE.

Case

A 68‐year‐old woman had been diagnosed with 0‐IIa type adenocarcinoma in the background of long‐segment BE, 45 months earlier. She underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and the pathological diagnosis was tubular adenocarcinoma, well‐differentiated, with slight submucosal invasion. There was no lymphovascular invasion and the margins were intact. The upper esophagogastroduodenoscopy conducted the year after ESD showed no residual or recurrent cancer. However, she was subsequently followed up at another hospital, and endoscopy was not performed after the second year. She was urgently transported to our hospital due to buttock pain in the ninth month of the fourth year. A computed tomography (CT) of the head showed multiple cerebral metastases and positron emission tomography–CT revealed numerous osseous and nodal involvements. We performed upper endoscopy and detected type 3 esophageal tumor. Multiple biopsy specimens histopathologically contained invasive neoplasm composed of neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) and adenocarcinoma, moderately to poorly differentiated. The NEC element showed diffuse proliferation of primitive cancer cells possessing fine‐granular cytoplasm and nuclei with prominent nucleoli, whereas the adenocarcinoma component had tubules or nested growth of basophilic cells. Immunohistochemically, the NEC cells were diffusely positive for synaptophysin, with focal expressions of INSM1, chromogranin A and NCAM, whereas the adenocarcinoma cells were mostly negative for these NE markers. The Ki67 index was 90% at the hot spots in both types. The patient died 3.5 months after the biopsy‐based histological diagnosis.

Conclusion

Appropriate therapy according to the guidelines and/or meticulous clinical follow‐up based on periodic endoscopy as well as a full physical examination are essential, from a proactive perspective, for early diagnosis of secondary aggressive cancers after ESD.
The influence of proton pump inhibitors on tissue attachment around teeth and dental implants: A scoping review
Authors: Chawla Bhavneet K. , Cohen Robert E. , Stellrecht Elizabeth M. , Yerke Lisa M.
Published: July 2022

Objectives

Proton pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole and pantoprazole, are frequently prescribed for the treatment of acid reflux. However, those medications have been shown to affect a variety of physiologic processes, including bone homeostasis and the gastrointestinal microbiome. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between proton pump inhibitors and attachment levels around teeth and dental implants. A scoping review was performed to assess the extent and quality of the relevant literature.

Materials and Methods

We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA‐ScR) and searched four relevant biomedical literature databases in addition to the grey literature. Keywords in the title and abstract fields, and subject headings for proton pump inhibitors, teeth, and dental implants were included as search terms.

Results

Overall search results identified 791 publications which, after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, yielded 27 publications that were further analyzed for relevance and quality of scientific evidence. The majority of eligible publications were retrospective cohort studies. Following critical analysis, 13 publications, including six abstracts, were used to assess the effect of proton pump inhibitors on tissue attachment around teeth and dental implants.

Conclusions

There are few high‐quality studies describing the effect of proton pump inhibitors on tissue attachment around teeth and dental implants. Nevertheless, among the included papers with the fewest confounding factors, there was a positive relationship between proton pump inhibitors and soft tissue attachment levels around teeth, and a predominantly negative but variable effect of proton pump inhibitors on the bone level around dental implants. Additional well‐controlled prospective studies are required to fully elucidate those relationships.
Pain intensity and salivary α‐amylase activity in patients following mandibular third molar surgery
Authors: Surin Wanvipa , Chatiketu Piyanart , Hutachok Nuntouchaporn , Srichairatanakool Somdet , Chatupos Vuttinun
Published: July 2022

Objective

We aimed to compare the levels of pain and salivary α‐amylase (SAA) in patients before and after mandibular third molar surgery.

Materials and Methods

Patients were divided into asymptomatic and symptomatic groups and were then identified by the analgesic drug taken throughout the 2‐week study. The visual analog scale (VAS) was employed to evaluate the severity of pain experienced by a given subject before treatment, when the anesthetic wore off, in the morning, and at night for a period of 1 week. Saliva was collected from the mouth floor of the subjects and the levels of SAA activity were measured at indicated times.

Results

The levels of postoperative pain were higher than those of pretreatment pain (p < 0.05), but were not necessarily different between the two groups. The pain levels were positively correlated with SAA activities in both groups (p < 0.05). There was no difference between the number of analgesics taken by the two groups and the postoperative complications observed during the study. A significant correlation was observed between the VAS pain scale and SAA activities.

Conclusion

SAA would be a simple effective biomarker for the objective assessment of pain intensity in patients who have undergone mandibular third molar surgery.
β‐Aminosulfonyl Fluorides via Water‐Accelerated N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Catalysis
Authors: Park Jin Hyun , Lee Sun Bu , Koo Byeong Jun , Bae Han Yong
Published: July 2022

Herein, a water‐accelerated, N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)‐catalyzed aza‐Michael addition reaction was reported to access β‐aminosulfonyl fluorides, which are key hubs of the sulfur(VI) fluoride exchange (SuFEx) reaction. As a crucial reaction medium, water considerably enhanced the reaction rate with excellent chemo‐ and site‐selectivity (up to >99 : 1) compared to conventional solvents. In addition, the late‐stage ligation of bioactive molecules with the aliphatic β‐amino SuFEx hub was demonstrated. Mechanistic studies on experimental, analytical, and computational approaches support noncovalent activation over NHC catalysis “on‐water”.
Emerging methodologies in stability and optimization problems of learning‐based nonlinear model predictive control: A survey
Authors: Meng Fei , Shen Xuyu , Karimi Hamid Reza
Published: July 2022

Since last 40 years, the theory and technology of model predictive control (MPC) have been developed rapidly. However, nonlinear MPC still faces difficulties such as high online computational complexity and inability to accurately model the system. In order to improve or solve the problems mentioned above of MPC, recent researches have deepened the learning‐based control. The learned method can model unknown or highly uncertain nonlinearities. And the emergence of efficient algorithms has greatly improved the feasibility of computing. Stability is at the heart of control design. Learning‐based nonlinear model predictive control (LB‐NMPC) has achieved systematic research results in the past 10 years. But the stability of LB‐NMPC is still an open question that has not been fully addressed in the literature. This review mainly summarizes the latest research progress of LB‐NMPC. More specifically, the uncertainty and online optimization problems of the considered systems are investigated mainly focusing on the use of learning techniques. At the same time, the research hotspots such as the control stability and constraint satisfaction of LB‐NMPC are briefly discussed. Finally, the application of LB‐NMPC technology in integrated circuits, path tracking control, and other fields is reviewed, which provides a reference for the research and application of LB‐NMPC.
Inhibiting the DNA damage response pathway promotes functional recovery after spinal cord injury
Authors: Ahmed Zubair , Tuxworth Richard I.
Published: July 2022

Spinal cord injury (SCI) affects up to 1.26 million people every year, leading to permanent disability and death. The biggest causes of SCI are motor vehicle accidents, falls and interpersonal violence with clinical outcomes very much dependent on the severity and location of the lesion. Frequently, there is loss of motor or sensory function below the level of injury. At present, there are no restorative treatments for SCI patients, with only palliative treatments on offer and complicated further by the low intrinsic capacity of the central nervous system to regenerate. A recent study by Tuxworth and Ahmed, published in Clinical and Translational Medicine1 shows that inhibiting ataxia‐telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase, a central regulator of the DNA damage response pathway, promoted axon regeneration and remarkable improvements in sensory and motor function after SCI in both mice and rats. Moreover, the ATM inhibitor, AZD1390, is potent and highly selective, orally bioavailable and brain‐penetrant.2 AZD1390 is currently being developed for the treatment of brain cancers but with its simple route of administration (oral), has the potential to be re‐purposed for use in SCI.
Applications of single‐cell multi‐omics sequencing in deep understanding of brain diseases
Authors: Zhang Xu , Lu Ping , Shen Xiaorong
Published: July 2022

Introduction

The mammalian brain consists of intricate neural networks of millions to billions of highly differentiated and interconnected cells. Single‐cell sequencing (SCS), a newly developed technology, revolutionises our comprehension of the genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and epigenomic landscapes of cells within the brain. With single‐cell sequencing technology, it's possible to profile brain cell type diversity, to elucidate the specific function, connectivity and state of brain cells and to reveal the neural complexity, functional organisation and dynamics of the brain, which provides novel data sources for exploration of brain development and diseases.

Methods

In this review, we described current single‐cell‐based methodologies used for single‐cell sequencing technology, and then summarised recent applications of this cutting‐edge technology in brain research, including cellular heterogeneity, development and disease mechanisms of the brain.

Results

Single‐cell sequencing (SCS) has substantially advanced our knowledge of brain functions and diseases by enhancing the resolution of diverse cell subpopulations within the brain, identifying novel gene signatures and cell markers and shedding light upon functional differences and developmental trajectories.

Conclusion

Despite a large amount of work remains to be accomplished due to the complexity of the brain and the vast amount of single‐cell data, the prospects of single‐cell sequencing in deciphering brain intricacy and facilitating molecular/clinical/earlier diagnosis, targeted treatment, therapy assessment and prognosis of a wide range of brain diseases are promising.
Palaeocene to Miocene southern Tethyan carbonate factories: A meta‐analysis of the successions of South‐western and Western Central Asia
Authors: Coletti Giovanni , Commissario Lucrezi , Mariani Luca , Bosio Giulia , Desbiolles Fabien , Soldi Mara , Bialik Or M.
Published: July 2022

One hundred and forty‐four published successions of shallow‐water carbonates, deposited between the Palaeocene and the Miocene, from the Levant to the Himalayas, have been re‐analysed using a standardised approach to investigate the distribution of carbonate facies and carbonate‐producing organisms. Large benthic foraminifera were found to be the volumetrically most important group of carbonate producers during the whole period, with a peak in abundance during the Eocene. Colonial corals are relatively abundant during the Palaeocene and Miocene, their abundance peaks during the Oligocene and has a minimum during the Eocene. Red calcareous algae have a similar pattern although their peak in abundance covers both the Oligocene and Miocene. Green calcareous algae decrease from the Palaeocene onward. Facies related to very shallow and/or restricted marine conditions peak during the Miocene and in particular during the Aquitanian. Both the pattern of large benthic foraminifera and of colonial corals seems to be related to temperature, with warm periods favouring the former group and cool periods the latter group. Red calcareous algae display a pattern similar to that of colonial corals suggesting that the periods favourable for one group are, on a large scale, also favourable for the other. The progressive decrease of green calcareous alga could be tentatively related to a preservation bias connected to the transition from Palaeogene assemblages that included presumably calcitic taxa of green algae to Neogene assemblages entirely constituted by aragonitic taxa with limited preservation potential. The Aquitanian peak in facies related to very shallow and/or restricted marine conditions is most likely connected to the progressive narrowing of the Tethys related to the collision between Arabia and Eurasia. These results denote an overall agreement between the abundance of the various types of shallow‐water carbonate facies and large‐scale environmental and geological processes, highlighting the potential for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction locked in the shallow‐water record.
Monitoring resistance and resilience using carbon trajectories: Analysis of forest management–disturbance interactions
Authors: Davis Thomas S. , Meddens Arjan J. H. , Stevens‐Rumann Camille S. , Jansen Vincent S. , Sibold Jason S. , Battaglia Mike A.
Published: July 2022

A changing climate is altering ecosystem carbon dynamics with consequences for natural systems and human economies, but there are few tools available for land managers to meaningfully incorporate carbon trajectories into planning efforts. To address uncertainties wrought by rapidly changing conditions, many practitioners adopt resistance and resilience as ecosystem management goals, but these concepts have proven difficult to monitor across landscapes. Here, we address the growing need to understand and plan for ecosystem carbon with concepts of resistance and resilience. Using time series of carbon fixation (n = 103), we evaluate forest management treatments and their relative impacts on resistance and resilience in the context of an expansive and severe natural disturbance. Using subalpine spruce–fir forest with a known management history as a study system, we match metrics of ecosystem productivity (net primary production, g C m−2 year−1) with site‐level forest structural measurements to evaluate (1) whether past management efforts impacted forest resistance and resilience during a spruce beetle (Dendroctonus rufipennis) outbreak, and (2) how forest structure and physiography contribute to anomalies in carbon trajectories. Our analyses have several important implications. First, we show that the framework we applied was robust for detecting forest treatment impacts on carbon trajectories, closely tracked changes in site‐level biomass, and was supported by multiple evaluation methods converging on similar management effects on resistance and resilience. Second, we found that stand species composition, site productivity, and elevation predicted resistance, but resilience was only related to elevation and aspect. Our analyses demonstrate application of a practical approach for comparing forest treatments and isolating specific site and physiographic factors associated with resistance and resilience to biotic disturbance in a forest system, which can be used by managers to monitor and plan for both outcomes. More broadly, the approach we take here can be applied to many scenarios, which can facilitate integrated management and monitoring efforts.
Sodium‐Coordinated Polymeric Phthalocyanines as Stable High‐Capacity Organic Anodes for Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Lee Jeongyeon , Kim Yoonbin , Park Soyong , Shin Kang Ho , Jang Gun , Hwang Min Jun , Kim Daekyu , Min Kyung‐Ah , Park Ho Seok , Han Byungchan , Ng Dennis K. P. , Lee Lawrence Yoon Suk
Published: July 2022

Sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) have attracted considerable interest as an alternative to lithium‐ion batteries owing to their similar electrochemical performance and superior long‐term cycle stability. Organic materials are regarded as promising anode materials for constructing SIBs with high capacity and good retention. However, utilization of organic materials is rather limited by their low energy density and poor stability at high current densities. To overcome these limitations, we utilized a novel polymeric disodium phthalocyanines (pNaPc) as SIB anodes to provide stable coordination sites for Na ions as well as to enhance the stability at high current density. By varying the linker type during a one‐pot cyclization and polymerization process, two pNaPc anodes with O‐ (O‐pNaPc) and S‐linkers (S‐pNaPc) were prepared, and their structural and electrochemical properties were investigated. The O‐pNaPc binds Na ions with a lower binding energy compared with S‐pNaPc, which leads to more facile Na‐ion coordination/dissociation when engaged as SIB anode. The use of O‐pNaPc significantly improves the redox kinetics and cycle stability and allows the fabrication of a full cell against Na3V2(PO4)2F3/C cathode, which demonstrates its practical application with high energy density (288 Wh kg−1) and high power density (149 W kg−1).
Prognosis value of Forrester's classification in advanced heart failure patients awaiting heart transplantation
Authors: Baudry Guillaume , Coutance Guillaume , Dorent Richard , Bauer Fabrice , Blanchart Katrien , Boignard Aude , Chabanne Céline , Delmas Clément , D'Ostrevy Nicolas , Epailly Eric , Gariboldi Vlad , Gaudard Philippe , Goéminne Céline , Grosjean Sandrine , Guihaire Julien , Guillemain Romain , Mattei Mathieu , Nubret Karine , Pattier Sabine , Pozzi Matteo , Rossignol Patrick , Vermes Emmanuelle , Sebbag Laurent , Girerd Nicolas
Published: July 2022

Aims

The value of Forrester's perfusion/congestion profiles assessed by invasive catheter evaluation in non‐inotrope advanced heart failure patients listed for heart transplant (HT) is unclear. We aimed to assess the value of haemodynamic evaluation according to Forrester's profiles to predict events on the HT waitlist.

Methods and results

All non‐inotrope patients (n = 837, 79% ambulatory at listing) registered on the French national HT waiting list between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2019 with right heart catheterization (RHC) were included. The primary outcome was a combined criteria of waitlist death, delisting for aggravation, urgent HT or left ventricular assist device implantation. Secondary outcome was waitlist death. The ‘warm‐dry’, ‘cold‐dry’, ‘warm‐wet’, and ‘cold‐wet’ profiles represented 27%, 18%, 27%, and 28% of patients, respectively. At 12 months, the respective rates of primary outcome were 15%, 17%, 25%, and 29% (P = 0.008). Taking the ‘warm‐dry’ category as reference, a significant increase in the risk of primary outcome was observed only in the ‘wet’ categories, irrespectively of ‘warm/cold’ status: hazard ratios, 1.50; 1.06–2.13; P = 0.024 in ‘warm‐wet’ and 1.77; 1. 25–2.49; P = 0.001 in ‘cold‐wet’.

Conclusions

Haemodynamic assessment of advanced HF patients using perfusion/congestion profiles predicts the risk of the combine endpoint of waitlist death, delisting for aggravation, urgent heart transplantation, or left ventricular assist device implantation. ‘Wet’ patients had the worst prognosis, independently of perfusion status, thus placing special emphasis on the cardinal prominence of persistent congestion in advanced HF.
Aerosol Assisted Synthesis of Y/ZSM‐5 Composite Zeolite and Its Application in Cracking Reaction
Authors: Xiong Guang , Zhou Shengyang , Liu Liping , Qian Ji , Liu Jiaxu , Zhao Leping
Published: July 2022

Y/ZSM‐5 composite zeolite was synthesized by an aerosol assisted hydrothermal method including a two‐step crystallization. The aerosol technique was used to prepare the precursor of Y/ZSM‐5 composite zeolite. This helped to fully utilize the amorphous silica‐alumina species left in the primary crystallization solution of NaY zeolite, and to bring the two zeolites close to each other during the second crystallization step. The optimal adding sequence and synthesis conditions were investigated to reduce the amount of template and accelerate the crystallization rate. The composite zeolites were analyzed using XRD, SEM, nitrogen physical adsorption, NH3‐TPD techniques. It was found that the acid properties can be adjusted by modulating the SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratio of the secondary crystallization feed. The BET specific surface area of the optimal Y/ZSM‐5(20) composite zeolite is 502 m2/g, the pyrolysis conversion rate of 1,3,5‐triisopropylbenzene reaches 95.1 %, and the selectivity to benzene reaches 53.4 %.
Enantioselective Synthesis of α,β‐Unsaturated Aryl Lactams by Heck‐Matsuda and Heck‐Mizoroki Arylations of Enelactams
Authors: Bastos Braga Ingredy , Almir Angnes Ricardo , Carlos de Lucca Júnior Emilio , Carmo Braga Ataualpa Albert , Roque Duarte Correia Carlos
Published: July 2022

The chiral aryl lactam nucleus is a common motif present in many bioactive natural products and the development of effective enantioselective methodologies for its preparation is of great interest. In this work, we report the synthesis of several enantioenriched aryl lactams in good yields and enantiomeric ratios using a combined strategy employing arenediazonium salts bearing electron‐withdrawing substituents, aryl iodides with electron‐donating substituents, and chiral N,N‐ligands. The chiral α,β‐unsaturated aryl lactams were obtained in yields of up to 78 % and enantiomeric ratios up to 95 : 5. Furthermore, this work demonstrates the use of chiral N,N‐ligands as a viable alternative to the phosphine‐based ligands in the enantioselective Heck‐Mizoroki reactions using aryl iodides. The origins of the enantioselectivity and the full catalytic cycle for the Heck‐Matsuda arylation of the enelactams were investigated through DFT calculations.
7,12‐Dihydrobenzo[de]indolo[3,2‐b]quinoline: Unique Reactivity and Redox Interconversion
Authors: Fujimoto Keisuke , Sasaki Kentaro , Yamagishi Shota , Inuzuka Toshiyasu , Sanada Kazutaka , Sakamoto Masami , Takahashi Masaki
Published: July 2022

Acetyl‐substituted 7,12‐dihydrobenzo[de]indolo[3,2‐b]quinoline was developed as a N‐substituted polycyclic heteroaromatic molecule via Pd‐catalyzed cyclo‐isomerization of an alkyne precursor, followed by intramolecular Goldberg amination. This compound showed unique reactivity, notably, base‐mediated deacylative oxygenation and photo‐Fries rearrangement. A series of products exhibited characteristic electronic properties based on the redox state of the corresponding nitrogen atoms. The photo‐rearranged product, which possesses a 1,2‐diaminoethene substructure, akin to the redox functionality of the natural flavin adenine dinucleotide, underwent reversible interconversion with the corresponding oxidized form. The efficient stabilization of the highly electron‐rich 7,12‐dihydrobenzo[de]indolo[3,2‐b]quinoline skeleton was ascribed to the electron‐withdrawing effect, intramolecular hydrogen bonding of the acetyl group, and local aromatic stabilization in the indole moiety.
Psychosocial factors associated with pain and health‐related quality of life in Endometriosis: A systematic review
Authors: Kalfas Michail , Chisari Claudia , Windgassen Sula
Published: July 2022

Background and Objective

Endometriosis is associated with pain and impaired health‐related quality of life (HRQoL). Psychosocial factors have been associated with pain and HRQoL in other conditions, suggesting their potential relevance in Endometriosis. However, the role of psychosocial factors in this population has not been systematically explored yet. This systematic review aims to explore the association of psychosocial factors with pain intensity/severity and HRQoL in women with Endometriosis.

Databases and Data Treatment

Observational and experimental studies that explored the association of psychosocial factors with pain and HRQoL in women with Endometriosis were eligible. The following databases were searched: Medline, Embase, Cochrane library, Web of Science, PsychInfo and Cumulative index of nursing and allied health literature. The methodological quality was assessed, and findings were synthesized using narrative synthesis.

Results

Twenty‐seven studies were eligible for inclusion, which included 5419 women with Endometriosis. Catastrophising and anxiety were the factors most consistently associated with greater pain, whilst depression, anxiety and stress were related to worse HRQoL. Findings regarding depression and pain were mixed, and research on social factors was limited.

Conclusions

This systematic review highlights the role of psychosocial factors in Endometriosis. Anxiety, depression and catastrophising are suggested as potential treatment targets. The review also indicates the lack of research on other potentially important psychosocial factors, such as avoidance, perceived injustice and social support.

Significance

This systematic review explored the role of psychosocial factors in Endometriosis, suggesting that these are associated with pain and health‐related quality of life (HRQoL). Among the psychosocial factors included, anxiety, depression and catastrophising were the factors most often associated with pain and HRQoL in Endometriosis. These findings highlight the need to target psychological factors in the treatment of women with Endometriosis.
Experimental study of the influence of temperature and cooling method on dynamic mechanical properties and damage of granite
Authors: Xi Yan , Wang Haoyu , Zha Chunqing , Li Jun , Guo Boyun
Published: July 2022

The change in mechanical properties of high‐temperature rock after cooling treatments is getting increasing attention. However, only a few studies have been conducted on the dynamic characteristic parameters. Therefore, this study aims to perform a dynamic damage analysis of high‐temperature rocks subjected to different thermal shocks. Accordingly, the specimens were grouped and heated to 200°C, 400°C, 600°C, and 800°C, and they were cooled by natural, water, and liquid nitrogen cooling. Ultrasonic detector tests, the split Hopkinson pressure bar experiments, and scanning electron microscope tests of the high‐temperature granite specimens were conducted using different cooling methods. Subsequently, the change rules of dynamic stress–strain curves and properties were calculated, and the morphology and micromorphology of fragments were compared. Based on the outcomes, the thermal shock damage and impact damage evolution were evaluated and quantified. The findings revealed that when the treatment temperature increases, the dynamic peak stress and elastic modulus decrease, while the peak strain increases, and the effect of rapid cooling was more significant in the influence of rock dynamic characteristics. Moreover, when the damage factor is more than 0.51, the change of dynamic stress‐strain is accelerated, leading to the instability of the structure under the impact load. The research results are expected to provide an adequate theoretical basis for the development and utilization of geothermal resources and underground engineering applications.
Evaluation of different agricultural wastes for the production of polysaccharides from Oudemansiella raphanipes and its antioxidant properties
Authors: Wei Qi , Zhong Xinrong , Haruna Maryam Hajia , Liu Shengrong , Zhou Fengfang , Chen Meixia
Published: July 2022

Oudemansiella raphanipes (OR) is a commercial mushroom which possesses high nutritional value and excellent and unique flavors. In this study, various agricultural wastes were utilized as substitute materials in the low‐cost and high‐yield production of mycelia biomass and polysaccharides by liquid fermentation. The sawdust, wheat bran, apple pomace, sugarcane, and corn particles were employed to cultivate OR, using the potato dextrose broth as control. Additionally, a preliminary characterization and in vitro antioxidant activities of partial purified OR polysaccharides were investigated. The substrate of sugarcane was suitable for mycelia growth of OR, with high yield of mycelia biomass and polysaccharides content. In vitro antioxidant activity assays demonstrated that OR polysaccharides could effectively scavenge 2,2′‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) and 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl radicals. OR polysaccharides had configuration as revealed by Fourier transform infrared, and was mainly composed of fucose (Fuc), rhamnose (Rha), arabinose (Ara), galactose (Gal), glucose (Glc), xylose (Xyl), mannose (Man), ribose (Rib), and galacturonic acid (Gal‐UA), with mass percentages of 3.29%, 0.64%, 1.09%, 16.03%, 72.69%, 0.56%, 3.18%, 0.93%, and 1.59%, respectively. This study may offer support for decreasing the cost of OR polysaccharides production and dealing with these agricultural wastes.
EGFR internal tandem duplications in fusion‐negative congenital and neonatal spindle cell tumors
Authors: Koo Selene C. , Schieffer Kathleen M. , Lee Kristy , Gupta Ajay , Pfau Ruthann B. , Avenarius Matthew R. , Stonerock Eileen , LaHaye Stephanie , Fitch James , Setty Bhuvana A. , Roberts Ryan , Ranalli Mark , Conces Miriam R. , Bu Fang , Mardis Elaine R. , Cottrell Catherine E.
Published: July 2022

Next‐generation sequencing (NGS) assays can sensitively detect somatic variation, and increasingly can enable the identification of complex structural rearrangements. A subset of infantile spindle cell sarcomas, particularly congenital mesoblastic nephromas with classic or mixed histology, have structural rearrangement in the form of internal tandem duplications (ITD) involving EGFR. We performed prospective analysis to identify EGFR ITD through clinical or research studies, as well as retrospective analysis to quantify the frequency of EGFR ITD in pediatric sarcomas. Within our institution, three tumors with EGFR ITD were prospectively identified, all occurring in patients less than 1 year of age at diagnosis, including two renal tumors and one mediastinal soft tissue tumor. These three cases exhibited both cellular and mixed cellular and classic histology. All patients had no evidence of disease progression off therapy, despite incomplete resection. To extend our analysis and quantify the frequency of EGFR ITD in pediatric sarcomas, we retrospectively analyzed a cohort of tumors (n = 90) that were previously negative for clinical RT‐PCR‐based fusion testing. We identified EGFR ITD in three analyzed cases, all in patients less than 1 year of age (n = 18; 3/18, 17%). Here we expand the spectrum of tumors with EGFR ITD to congenital soft tissue tumors and report an unusual example of an EGFR ITD in a tumor with cellular congenital mesoblastic nephroma histology. We also highlight the importance of appropriate test selection and bioinformatic analysis for identification of this genomic alteration that is unexpectedly common in congenital and infantile spindle cell tumors.
Experimental investigations of pump‐driven closed‐loop thermosyphon system
Authors: Birajdar Mahasidha R. , Sewatkar Chandrasekhar M.
Published: July 2022

The thermal management of the compact electronic system is one of the major challenges in the present power electronics and computational industries. The present paper investigates the effects of a pump‐driven flow on the thermal performance of a closed‐loop thermosyphon (CLT) system. This paper discusses the effect of pump‐driven flow on the thermal performance of CLT. In this study, the experimentation is carried out on the water‐charged pump‐driven closed‐loop thermosyphon (PDLT) with different heat inputs, filling ratios (FR), and adiabatic lengths to understand the effects of these parameters on the thermal performance of the system. The results indicate that the heat transfer performance of CLT is improved using pump‐driven flow in the PDLT and the minimum thermal resistance (0.035 k/W) is obtained at FR = 0.6 and 3 kW heat input. It is also noticed that the thermal resistance of PDLT is up to 35% higher than CLT at FR = 0.6, 0.5 kW heat input, and 500 mm adiabatic length. The unstable geyser boiling phenomenon is eliminated from the system at the adiabatic lengths of 200 and 500 mm. However, for long adiabatic length (800 mm), the geyser boiling occurs at a higher FR (FR = 0.6) and moderate heat flux (0.5 kW).