bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modified compact fluorescent lamps improve light‐induced off‐season floral stimulation in dragon fruit farming
Authors: Nguyen Quang Thach , Ngo Minh Dung , Truong Thanh Hung , Nguyen Duy Chinh , Nguyen Minh Chau
Published: March 2021

Efficient light‐induced floral stimulation plays a key role in energy conservation and maintaining stable productivity during off‐season periods of dragon fruit plants. In this study, we first reported on results of a survey on dragon fruit farmers regarding use of lamps in performing artificially induced flowering process in Vietnam. It was found that the use of incandescent lamp was prevalent in dragon fruit cultivation practices, resulting in heavy electricity consumption, and that low‐power compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs were not extensively utilized, possibly due to low floral induction performance of domestic CFL bulbs. Arguing that emission spectra of currently used lamps were not consistent with adsorption spectra of phytochromes, whose transformation is responsible for flowering process of dragon fruit, we then proposed three improved CFL lamps (power capacity of 20 W) having emission spectra focused on red and far‐red regions. New lamp prototypes were tested in 7 field experiments in three different provinces in Vietnam. One improved CFL bulb (treatment 2) performed relatively well in comparison with the incandescent control lamp (60 W) in six out of seven experiments with regard to some growth indicators (e.g., number of floral stems, number of bubs, number of fruits per plant) and fruit yield. Recent success on commercialization of the improved CFL lamp demonstrates the potential of CFL lamps in floral stimulating irradiation of other crops and plants and in alleviating electricity burden in dragon fruit growing areas.
Intensity‐modulated radiation therapy for nasal cavity and paranasal sinus tumors: Experience from a single institute
Authors: Laskar Sarbani Ghosh , Pai Prathamesh , Sinha Shwetabh , Budrukkar Ashwini , Nair Deepa , Swain Monali , Mummudi Naveen , Gupta Tejpal , Murthy Vedang , Agarwal Jai Prakash , Tiwari Neelesh , Thiagrajan Shiva , Chaukar Devendra , Chaturvedi Pankaj , Pantvaidya Gouri , Deshmukh Anuja , Nair Sudhir , Prabhash Kumar , Joshi Amit , Noronha Vanita , Patil Vijay , Menon Nandini , Patil Asawari , Bal Munita , Mittal Neha , Rane Swapnil
Published: March 2021

Background

To assess the efficacy of intensity‐modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for tumors of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinus (PNS) region.

Materials and Methods

Two hundred fourteen patients with tumors of the nasal cavity and PNS region treated with curative intent IMRT between 2007 and 2019 were included in this retrospective analysis.

Results

Fifty‐one (24.1%) received definitive RT/CTRT and 163 (75.9%) received adjuvant RT. Most common histology was squamous cell carcinoma (26.1%) followed by adenoid cystic carcinoma (21.5%). The median follow‐up was 43.5 months. The 5‐year local control (LC), event‐free survival (EFS), and overall survival (OS) for the entire cohort was 66.9%, 59%, and 73.9%, respectively. On univariate analysis treatment with nonsurgical modality, T classification and undifferentiated/poorly differentiated histology were associated with inferior 5‐year LC, EFS, and OS. Four patients had late Grade 3/Grade 4 ocular toxicity.

Conclusions

IMRT should be the standard of care for tumors of PNS region across all histologies and treatment setting.
Episodic processes in moral decisions: Evidence from medial temporal lobe amnesia
Authors: Verfaellie Mieke , Hunsberger Renee , Keane Margaret M.
Published: March 2021

Theoretical accounts of moral decision making imply distinct ways in which episodic memory processes may contribute to judgments about moral dilemmas that entail high conflict between a harmful action and a greater good resulting from such action. Yet, studies examining the status of moral judgment in amnesic patients with medial temporal lobe (MTL) lesions have yielded inconsistent results. To examine whether and how episodic processes contribute to high conflict moral decisions, amnesic patients with MTL damage and control participants were asked to judge the moral acceptability of a harmful action across two conditions that differed in the framing of the moral question. We predicted that personal (but not abstract) framing would engage episodic processes involved in mental simulation, yielding a selective impairment in MTL patients in the personal framing condition. This prediction was not confirmed as neither patients nor controls were influenced by the framing of the moral question. With the exception of a patient whose lesion extended into the amygdala bilaterally, patients were less willing than controls to endorse the utilitarian option, rejecting the harmful action despite its beneficial outcome. They also rated actions as emotionally more intense than did controls. These findings suggest that episodic processes involved in mental simulation are necessary to prospectively evaluate action‐outcome contingencies.
Does peer group membership relate to sociodramatic play engagement? A social ethological approach
Authors: Malloy Caitlin
Published: March 2021

Engagement in sociodramatic play has been shown to positively impact young children's learning and development. By definition, this type of social play occurs in groups; however, research to date has primarily sought to understand sociodramatic play engagement by focusing on individual factors. Little work has considered the role of the peer group in sociodramatic play engagement. This concurrent correlational study investigated relations between types of peer group membership and the amount of children's sociodramatic play engagement, using hierarchical cluster analyses, chi‐square tests and multiple regression to analyse naturalistic data of preschoolers' free play. Findings suggest that membership in a highly cohesive peer subgroup may be important for sociodramatic play engagement. This study illustrates how social ethological perspectives can be useful for understanding social play in early childhood.
“They Are Doers”: Writing to Advocate With Immigrant Youth in Community‐Based Organizations
Authors: Lee Crystal Chen , Dufresne Kelsey Virginia , Relyea Jackie Eunjung
Published: March 2021

Over the course of a year, student authors in the Juntos NC Writing Project participated in the Literary and Community Initiative to write, publish, and share their lived experiences and identities as Latinx immigrants and first‐generation high school students in North Carolina. Throughout the publication process of their collaborative bilingual book titledThe Voices of Our People: Nuestras Verdades, student authors actively engaged in pursuing advocacy and activism in three ways: (1) community space as an intentional space for advocacy, (2) writing as a vehicle for collective advocacy, and (3) publishing and sharing as an opportunity for youth activism. The participants’ words and actions demonstrated how youth in community organizations can use literacy practices to collectively advocate for their community and become activists who write about and vocalize immigrant youth’s strengths and needs.
Advancing the Counseling Profession by Examining Relationships Between Variables
Authors: Limberg Dodie , Gnilka Philip B. , Broda Michael
Published: March 2021

We provide counseling researchers an overview of correlational research design. More specifically, we discuss how researchers can determine whether the use of correlational research is appropriate, and we provide examples of correlational research questions and studies. Furthermore, we highlight several statistical analyses (i.e., regression analysis, path analysis, structural equation modeling, mediation, and moderation) aligned with correlational design. Finally, we review correlational design challenges and provide strategies to address them.
Functionalization of sodium carboxymethylated yeast β‐glucan by epigallocatechin gallate: Antioxidant activity and color stability
Authors: Chen Meiling , Ji Tianchen , Hong Jianquan , Zheng Changge
Published: March 2021

Sodium carboxymethylated yeast β‐glucan (SC‐GLUCAN) was functionalized with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) by esterification. EGCG was first succinylized and then grafted onto SC‐GLUCAN through an N, N′ carbonyldiimidazole mediated reaction. The graft of EGCG with SC‐GLUCAN (SC‐GLUCAN‐g‐EGCG) was verified by spectroscopic (UV, FTIR) and thermal (derivative thermogravimetric [DTG] and thermogravimetric analysis [TGA]) analyses. The grafting ratio of SC‐GLUCAN‐g‐EGCG was determined by the Folin–Ciocalteu procedure and up to 100.25 mg/g SC‐GLUCAN‐g‐EGCG. The antioxidant activity of SC‐GLUCAN‐g‐EGCG was evaluated by scavenging activity of DPPH and ABTS radical, reducing power, and iron chelating ability. SC‐GLUCAN‐g‐EGCG exhibited dramatical increases in DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity. In addition, the color development of SC‐GLUCAN‐g‐EGCG solution was studied through sun irradiation. SC‐GLUCAN‐g‐EGCG solutions presented better color stability at 0.2 and 0.4 mg/mL, especially within 4 hr of the sun. TGA and DTG showed that SC‐GLUCAN‐g‐EGCG had good thermal stability. Therefore, SC‐GLUCAN‐g‐EGCG might show potential in active food packaging, and could be further used as cosmetics ingredient.
Co‐Ni‐P‐B catalyzed hydroformylation of long linear α olefins
Authors: Guo Jing , He Xiaofei , Fan Subing , Gao Xinhua , Zhang Jianli , Ma Qingxiang , Zhao Tian‐Sheng
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

As indirect liquefaction of coal has been carried out in megaton scale, extension of the Fischer‐Tropsch synthesis products has received renewed interest. Hydroformylation provides a way for the transformation of alkenes to aldehydes. Homogeneous rhodium complex catalysts are efficacious but expensive and not easy to recover and reuse. Heterogeneous catalysts are desired to enable their easy separation. Amorphous four‐component non‐precious metal catalysts were prepared using facile reduction and their activity toward hydroformylation of long linear α olefins was investigated.

RESULTS

Obtained Co‐Ni‐P‐B presented uniform nanoparticles that were well‐dispersed Co with more electrons, attributing to isolation and electron transfer among the four components. The Co, Ni, P, and B were in both atomic states and oxidation states. The Co in Co‐Ni‐P‐B was shown to be electron‐enriched with enhanced catalytic activity. Co‐Ni‐P‐B displayed good catalytic activity for hydroformylation of linear C6, C8, C10, or C12 α olefins, and the highest activity for 1‐octene. The conversion of 1‐octene and the selectivity of C9 aldehydes reached 99.62% and 96.30%, respectively. The ratio of nonanal to isononanal was 1.44. The selectivity for isomeric products was 3.70%. There existed an appropriate four‐component ratio for hydroformylation of 1‐octene owing to synergistic effects among the Co, Ni, P, and B. Co‐Ni‐P‐B exhibited good reusability.

CONCLUSION

Amorphous four‐component Co‐Ni‐P‐B prepared by facile reduction showed good catalytic performance toward hydroformylation of long linear C6, C8, C10, or C12 α olefins due to synergistic effects among the Co, Ni, P, and B. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of sequential dilute acid‐alkali pretreated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) stalk for cellulosic ethanol production
Authors: Hemansi  , Kaushik Abhishek , Yadav Garima , Saini Jitendra Kumar
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

Cotton stalk (CS) was deconstructed by sequential dilute acid‐alkali pretreatment (DALP) using sulfuric acid (1%, v/v) and sodium hydroxide (3%, w/v). The enzymatic hydrolysis of DALP‐CS by cellulase was optimized by Taguchi method, employing factors like solid loading, enzyme dose, tween 80, and pH as main process variables. For bioethanol production, pretreated CS was subjected to simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) using a newly identified yeast strain Kluyveromyces marxianus JKSG‐6.

RESULTS

Sequential pretreatment of CS resulted in 66% and 42% removal of hemicellulose and lignin, respectively. The same was evident from the changes in the fourier transforming infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy absorption spectrum. Under optimized conditions, the enzymatic hydrolysis of DALP‐CS released 375.50 ± 0.04 mg g−1 of glucose. Further, by employing K. marxianus JKSG‐6 under SSF at 42 °C, the strain produced an ethanol titer of 26.10 ± 0.05 g L−1 from pretreated CS.

CONCLUSION

Sequential dilute acid‐alkali pretreatment rendered CS, a highly recalcitrant LCB feedstock for bioethanol, more accessible for hydrolysis by cellulase. SSF of the effectively pretreated CS was successfully carried out for bioethanol production by employing a newly identified yeast K. marxianus JKSG‐6. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
How lung injury and therapeutic oxygen could alter white matter development
Authors: Dettman Robert W. , Dizon Maria L. V.
Published: March 2021

Developmental brain injury describes a spectrum of neurological pathologies resulting from either antenatal or perinatal injury. This includes both cognitive and motor defects that affect patients for their entire lives. Developmental brain injury can be caused by a spectrum of conditions including stroke, perinatal hypoxia‐ischemia, and intracranial hemorrhage. Additional risk factors have been identified including very low birth weight, mechanical ventilation, and oxygen (O2) supplementation. In fact, infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, an inflammatory disease associated with disrupted lung development, have been shown to have decreased cerebral white matter and decreased intracranial volumes. Thus, there appears to be a developmental link between the lung, O2, and the brain that leads to proper myelination. Here, we will discuss what is currently known about the link between O2 and myelination and how scientists are exploring mechanisms through which supplemental O2 and/or lung injury can affect brain development. Consideration of a link between the diseased lung and developing brain will allow clinicians to fine tune their approaches in managing preterm lung disease in order to optimize brain health.
Body composition assessment after pediatric liver transplant
Authors: Perteet‐Jackson Alissa D. , Earthman Carrie P. , Price Kathleen L. , Hanson Amy , Shyne Michael P. , Larson‐Nath Catherine M.
Published: March 2021

Background

Pediatric liver transplantation generally restores metabolic function; yet after transplantation, some children remain malnourished, have increased adiposity, and develop obesity. Measurement of body composition in the assessment of nutrition status could reduce adverse consequences in children.

Methods

Anthropometric measurements, multiple‐frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis, air displacement plethysmography, and ultrasound measurements were conducted on children recruited from the liver transplant program at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital. A cross‐sectional study was conducted to describe the quality of weight gain in post–liver transplant children between the ages of 2 and 17 years using multiple assessment tools (air displacement plethysmography, multiple‐frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis, and ultrasound) and to determine whether multiple‐frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis and ultrasound accurately describe body composition and quality of weight gain.

Results

Mean percent body fat by air displacement plethysmography and multiple‐frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis was 18.4% (±3.3) and 19.0% (±3.9), respectively (P > .99). There were insufficient data to examine the relationship between summed muscle and adipose thickness measures by ultrasound and percent body fat determined by air displacement plethysmography or multiple‐frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis.

Conclusion

Percent body fat, fat mass, and fat‐free mass measures determined by air displacement plethysmography and multiple‐frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis were not statistically different, which suggests the stand‐on device used in this study could be a useful body composition assessment tool for the pediatric population.
Could the central‐eastern Iberian Mediterranean region be defined as a refugium? Fauna and flora in MIS 5–3 and their implications for Palaeolithic human behaviour
Authors: Real Cristina , Martínez‐varea Carmen María , Carrión Yolanda , Badal Ernestina , Sanchis Alfred , Guillem Pere , Martínez‐valle Rafael , Villaverde Valentín
Published: March 2021

Neanderthals and modern humans from the Early Upper Palaeolithic had a highly developed knowledge of their environment, where they found the essential resources for their subsistence. Therefore, changes in the local landscape and available resources should have influenced their behaviour, as indicated by faunal and plant remains recovered from archaeological sites. In the central‐eastern Iberian Mediterranean region, the archaeological sites of Cova Negra, Abrigo de la Quebrada, Cova de les Malladetes and Cova de les Cendres have provided wood charcoal, seeds and fauna. The combination of these data allows an accurate reconstruction of the regional landscape from MIS 5 to the beginning of MIS 2. The available evidence suggests that this region could be defined as a refugium in which biodiversity persisted. This type of refugium, containing a high diversity of biotopes and some endemic species, which has lasted until the present day, can be seen at a regional scale, but also locally, especially near the coast. These special characteristics of the region – relatively stable climatic conditions with oscillations mainly in aridity and humidity, and a high diversity of flora and fauna – could explain the high density of Palaeolithic sites throughout Middle and Upper Palaeolithic here.
Mixing of Surfactin, an Anionic Biosurfactant, with Alkylbenzene Sulfonate, a Chemically Synthesized Anionic Surfactant, at the n‐Decane/Water Interface
Authors: Gang Hong‐Ze , Bian Peng‐Cheng , He Xiuli , He Xiujuan , Bao Xinning , Mu Bo‐Zhong , Li Yingcheng , Yang Shi‐Zhong
Published: March 2021

Biosurfactants show synergic effects with synthesized surfactant in reducing hydrophobic/hydrophilic interfacial tension, while the understanding of the synergistic mechanism is limited. In the present work, mixed monolayers of surfactin and branched alkylbenzene sulfonate at the n‐decane/water interface were studied using atomistic molecular dynamics simulations, and the presence of surfactin affecting the microstructure and dynamic properties of the mixed monolayer was evaluated at molecular level. The density distributions of the surfactants along the direction normal to the interface, radial distribution functions of the surfactant head groups, hydrophobic contacts between surfactants, translational activities of both surfactants and counterions, and the dynamics of the hydrogen bonds formed between surfactant and water were calculated. The results suggested that the structure of the mixed monolayers was more compact than that of the individual system of alkylbenzene sulfonate and the interfacial tension was more efficiently reduced, and the translational activities of both surfactants within the mixed monolayers were much lower. The results implied that biosurfactant surfactin and alkylbenzene sulfonate mixed well at the n‐decane/water interface, though they were both anionic surfactants.
An analytic study on the approximate solution of a nonlinear time‐fractional Cauchy reaction–diffusion equation with the Mittag–Leffler law
Authors: Hosseini Kamyar , Ilie Mousa , Mirzazadeh Mohammad , Baleanu Dumitru
Published: March 2021

The main aim of the current article is considering a nonlinear time‐fractional Cauchy reaction–diffusion equation with the Mittag–Leffler law and deriving its approximate analytical solution in a systematic way. More precisely, after reformulating the nonlinear time‐fractional Cauchy reaction–diffusion equation with the Mittag–Leffler law, its approximate analytical solution is derived formally through the use of the homotopy analysis transform method (HATM) which is based on the homotopy method and the Laplace transform. The existence and uniqueness of the solution of the nonlinear time‐fractional Cauchy reaction–diffusion equation with the Mittag–Leffler law are also studied by adopting the fixed‐point theorem. In the end, by considering some two‐ and three‐dimensional graphs, the influence of the order of time‐fractional operator on the displacement is examined in detail.
Calorie Restriction and SIRT1 Overexpression Induce Different Gene Expression Profiles in White Adipose Tissue in Association with Metabolic Improvement
Authors: Pardo Rosario , Velilla Marc , Herrero Laura , Cervela Luis , Ribeiro Marcelo L. , Simó Rafael , Villena Josep A.
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Calorie restriction (CR) exerts multiple effects on health, including the amelioration of systemic insulin resistance. Although the precise mechanisms by which CR improves glucose homeostasis remain poorly defined, SIRT1 has been suggested to act as a central mediator of the cellular responses to CR. Here, we aim at identifying the mechanisms by which CR and SIRT1 modulate white adipose tissue (WAT) function, a key tissue in the control of glucose homeostasis.

Material and Methods

A gene expression profiling study using DNA microarrays is conducted in WAT of control and SIRT1 transgenic mice fed ad libitum (AL) and mice subjected to 40% CR.

Results

Gene expression profiling reveals a relatively low degree of overlap between the transcriptional programs regulated by SIRT1 and CR. Gene networks related to extracellular matrix appear commonly downregulated by SIRT1/CR, whereas mitochondrial biogenesis is enhanced exclusively by CR. Moreover, WAT inflammation is reduced by CR and SIRT1, although their anti‐inflammatory effects appeared to be achieved by regulating different gene networks related to the immune system.

Concluding Remarks

In WAT, SIRT1 does not mediate most of the effects of CR on gene expression. Still, gene networks differentially regulated by SIRT1 and CR converge to reduce WAT inflammation.
Validation of Malnutrition Clinical Characteristics in Critically Ill Patients
Authors: Vavruk Ana Maria , Martins Cristina , Mazza do Nascimento Marcelo
Published: March 2021

Background

This study aimed to validate the Malnutrition Clinical Characteristics (MCC) compared with the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), considering anthropometric measures, comorbidities, and mortality in critically ill patients.

Methods

This longitudinal observational study included patients admitted to the general intensive care unit (ICU) of a public hospital. SGA was used as the reference standard for diagnosing malnutrition. The inclusion criteria were patients receiving nutrition support therapy and age >18 years. The nutrition therapy was optimized as close as possible to 100% of the patients’ energy and protein needs regardless of the access route. Hospital length of stay (LOS), comorbidities on admission, and death were documented during the entire hospitalization of each patient. Body mass index (BMI), midarm circumference (MAC), and calf circumference (CC) were considered anthropometric measures.

Results

The convenience sample comprised 102 ICU patients. Comparing the original malnutrition classifications of SGA with MCC, the specificity was 87.5%, sensitivity was 100%, accuracy was 93.3%, positive predictive value was 87.5%, and negative predictive value was 100%. When classified in 2 groups, namely “well‐nourished” and “malnourished,” specificity and sensitivity were 100% between both groups. Malnourished patients had significantly higher mortality rates (P = .006) and longer LOSs (P <.001). As expected, BMI, MAC, and CC results were similar for SGA and MCC.

Conclusions

MCC was a valid tool for classifying malnutrition in ICU patients. Because the evaluation is fast and does not require expensive equipment that is difficult to handle, it is believed to be practical, low‐cost, and easy to use.
An Underdiagnosed Hypothyroidism and Its Clinical Significance in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Shao Yu-Yun , Cheng Ann-Lii , Hsu Chih-Hung
Published: March 2021

Background

Many systemic therapies for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may cause hypothyroidism; however, in these patients, hypothyroidism prevalence before therapy and its prognostic impact remain unclear.

Materials and Methods

We previously established a prospective cohort of patients who received sorafenib as first-line therapy for advanced HCC. No patients had been clinically diagnosed with hypothyroidism before or during sorafenib treatment. We retrospectively determined the levels of thyrotropin and free thyroxine before initiation of systemic therapy. Hypothyroidism was defined as thyrotropin level higher than the upper limit of the normal range. Among patients with hypothyroidism, free thyroxine level less than the lower normal range was defined as overt hypothyroidism, and free thyroxine level within the normal range was defined as subclinical hypothyroidism.

Results

In total, 79 patients were enrolled; of them, 16 (20%) had hypothyroidism (overt hypothyroidism, 10; subclinical hypothyroidism, 6). Patients with hypothyroidism, compared with those without hypothyroidism, were more likely to be older than 65 years (56% vs. 29%, p = .037), have a serum α-fetoprotein level of >400 ng/mL (81% vs. 52%, p = .037), and have a significantly poorer overall survival (OS; median, 5.5 vs. 11.6 months, p = .043). After adjusting for other potential prognostic factors, hypothyroidism remained an independent predictor for poorer OS (hazard ratio, 2.53, p = .018). Patients with overt hypothyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism exhibited similarly poor OS (p = .768).

Conclusion

Underdiagnosis of hypothyroidism in patients with advanced HCC was common. Hypothyroidism, whether overt or subclinical, is associated with poor prognosis of advanced HCC.

Implications for Practice

The results of this study showed the underdiagnosis of hypothyroidism in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its influence on prognosis. These findings implied the importance of thyroid function check before initiation of systemic therapy for patients with advanced HCC.
Do macroeconomic indicators determine income inequality in selected African countries?
Authors: Asogwa Fredrick O. , Onyeke Queen O. , Kuma Patricia M. , Arazue Winnie O. , Nkalu Chigozie Nelson
Published: March 2021

This study investigates the effect of macroeconomic variables on income distribution in Africa using panel data from 2001 to 2016. This is motivated by the high degree of income inequality and poverty in the region. Twenty‐eight (28) African countries were selected to capture every region. The selection of countries and the choice of this period were informed by data availability. The variables of interest were income inequality obtained from the Standardized World Income Inequality Database (SWIID), while the Gross Domestic Product, Inflation, and Unemployment were obtained from the World Bank database. A dynamic panel model using the Generalized Method of Moment (GMM) estimator was used to control for both individual and time‐specific effects. The Heterogeneous aspect of the Augmented Dicky‐Fuller (ADF), the Levine‐Lin‐Chu test and, the Im‐Pesaran‐Shin (IPS) panel units root process were utilized to test for the stationarity of the panel data. The results of the General Method of Moment (GMM) indicate a significant negative relationship between income inequality and economic growth. The study rejected the existence of the Kuznets curve hypothesis, and concludes that Inflation rate, Wage rate and labour force impact negatively income inequality, while unemployment and education impact positively.
Synthesis and radical copolymerization of 2‐(4‐((4‐isocyanophenyl)diazenyl)phenoxy)ethyl‐3‐phenylacrylate with maleic anhydride
Authors: Burkeyev Meiram , Satpaeva Zhanarkul , Tazhbayev Yerkeblan , Seilkhanov Tulegen , Havlicek David
Published: March 2021

A monomer containing a photochromic group was synthesized by condensation of 4‐(2‐hydroxyethyloxy)‐4‐cyanoazobenzene with cinnamoyl chloride. The structure and composition of the monomer were established by FTIR, UV–Vis, 1H NMR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. The values of chemical shifts, multiplicity, and integrated intensity of 1H signals in one‐dimensional NMR spectra of the monomer were determined, and the homo‐ and heteronuclear interactions were found. The crystal structure of 4‐(2‐hydroxyethyloxy)‐4‐cyanoazobenzene was established using X‐ray diffraction analysis. A copolymer containing photochromic mesogenic fragment was synthesized by radical copolymerization of 2‐(4‐((4‐isocyanophenyl)diazenyl)phenoxy)ethyl‐3‐phenylacrylate with maleic anhydride.
Impact of interconnection failure on photovoltaic module performance
Authors: Colvin Dylan J. , Schneller Eric J. , Davis Kristopher O.
Published: March 2021

Understanding the impact of failures on performance is necessary for any technology's development. There are many interconnection schemes that have emerged as the field solar photovoltaics has matured, but the most commonly used and well‐understood scheme is ribbon tabbing. In the field, the contacts between the ribbons and the cell metallization can fail via corrosion or solder joint failure. Solder joint failures are simulated by systematically cutting the interconnections of four‐busbar, multicrystalline silicon modules. It is shown that not only do the failures themselves contribute to performance loss but the location of the failed interconnection with respect to those near it is also important. Different breakage schemes and their impact on performance are compared. Different methods of calculating series resistance are evaluated. Multi‐irradiance performance is used to show how energy yield models can inaccurately predict module output for modules with high series resistance.
Sleep practices in pediatric cancer patients: Indirect effects on sleep disturbances and symptom burden
Authors: Daniel Lauren C. , Meltzer Lisa J. , Gross J. Yael , Flannery Jamie L. , Forrest Christopher B. , Barakat Lamia P.
Published: March 2021

Objective

Sleep hygiene recommendations are commonly given to address patient‐reported concerns about sleep, yet few studies have examined the relationship between sleep hygiene and sleep disturbances in the context of pediatric oncology. Because poor sleep may affect the patient's experience of cancer‐related symptoms, understanding whether sleep hygiene practices influence sleep disturbances and symptoms may be important to improving symptom burden.

Methods

One hundred and two caregivers of children ages 5–17 and 59 patients ages 8–17 receiving treatment for cancer completed parallel measures of child sleep, sleep hygiene, pain, fatigue, and nausea. Sleep hygiene practices were described, correlates between measures were examined, and the indirect relationship of sleep hygiene on symptom burden through sleep disturbances was tested using PROCESS.

Results

Patients received adequate sleep for age but sleep timing was later than recommended for more than half of the sample and consistency in sleep times was poor. Sleep disturbances were moderately related to all symptoms, with the exception of patient‐reported fatigue. Consistent sleep habits were indirectly related to fewer cancer‐related symptoms of pain, fatigue, and nausea through sleep disturbances by caregiver report but not patient report.

Conclusion

Sleep disturbances are closely related to pain, fatigue, and nausea in pediatric cancer. Consistency in sleep/wake routines and schedules may be important to experiencing fewer sleep disturbances and lower symptom burden. Providing recommendations supporting consistent sleep habits broadly across pediatric oncology may be more effective than only presenting sleep hygiene recommendations to patients experiencing poor sleep.
Small heat shock protein 22 kDa can modulate the aggregation and liquid–liquid phase separation behavior of tau
Authors: Darling April L. , Dahrendorff Jan , Creodore Stefan G. , Dickey Chad A. , Blair Laura J. , Uversky Vladimir N.
Published: March 2021

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive fatal neurodegenerative disease with no cure or effective treatments. The hallmarks of disease include extracellular plaques and intracellular tangles of aggregated protein. The intracellular tangles consist of the microtubule associated protein tau. Preventing the pathological aggregation of tau may be an important therapeutic approach to treat disease. In this study we show that small heat shock protein 22 kDa (Hsp22) can prevent the aggregation of tau in vitro. Additionally, tau can undergo liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) in the presence of crowding reagents which causes it to have an increased aggregation rate. We show that Hsp22 can modulate both the aggregation and LLPS behavior of tau in vitro.
The use of extrapolation based on modeling and simulation to support high‐dose regimens of ceftaroline fosamil in pediatric patients with complicated skin and soft‐tissue infections
Authors: Chan Phylinda L.S. , McFadyen Lynn , Quaye Andrea , Leister‐Tebbe Heidi , Hendrick Victoria M. , Hammond Jennifer , Raber Susan
Published: March 2021

A model‐informed drug development approach was used to select ceftaroline fosamil high‐dose regimens for pediatric patients with complicated skin and soft‐tissue infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus with a ceftaroline minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 2 or 4 mg/L. Steady‐state ceftaroline concentrations were simulated using a population pharmacokinetics (PK) model for ceftaroline fosamil and ceftaroline including data from 304 pediatric subjects and 944 adults. Probability of target attainment (PTA) for various simulated pediatric high‐dose regimens and renal function categories were calculated based on patients achieving 35% fT>MIC (S. aureus PK/pharmacodynamic target for 2‐log10 bacterial killing). For extrapolation of efficacy, simulated exposures and PTA were compared to adults with normal renal function receiving high‐dose ceftaroline fosamil (600 mg 2‐h infusions every 8 h). For safety, predicted ceftaroline exposures were compared with observed pediatric and adult data. Predicted ceftaroline exposures for the approved pediatric high‐dose regimens (12, 10, or 8 mg/kg by 2‐h infusions every 8 h for patients aged >2 to <18 years with normal/mild, moderate, or severe renal impairment, respectively; 10 mg/kg by 2‐h infusions every 8 h for patients aged ≥2 months to <2 years with normal renal function/mild impairment) were well matched to adults with normal renal function. Median predicted maximum concentration at steady state (Cmax,ss) and area under the plasma concentration‐time curve over 24 h at steady state pediatric to adult ratios were 0.907–1.33 and 0.940–1.41, respectively. PTAs (>99% and ≥81% for MICs of 2 and 4 mg/L, respectively) matched or exceeded the adult predictions. Simulated Cmax,ss values were below the maximum observed data in other indications, including a high‐dose pediatric pneumonia trial, which reported no adverse events related to high exposure.
A family history of Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome complicated with pulmonary fibrosis: a case series and review
Authors: Liendo Martinez Katiuska , Pedraza Fernando , Fuentes Alonso Marta , Puente Maestu Luis , Rodriguez Naranjo Carla , De Miguel‐Diez Javier
Published: March 2021

The Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is a rare genetic disorder. We report three cases from a family of 12 siblings, with six albinos, of whom four and the father had pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Case 1 was admitted to our hospital due to increasing dyspnoea and history of gynaecological bleeding. Pulmonary function test showed a restrictive airflow pattern, high‐resolution computed tomographic scan demonstrated interstitial lung disease (ILD), and platelet aggregation was compromised with a reduced number of platelet dense bodies. The family history revealed endogamy and 11 members with suspected HPS. One of the albino sisters and the father had passed away with unidentified ILD, an albino brother died 14 years earlier, his autopsy had shown collections of ceroid pigments in the lungs, consistent with HPS, and another brother was followed up at our hospital for ILD and compromised platelet aggregation. This family probably has the highest number of members affected by HPS in Spain.
Dynamic trade‐offs in granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) administration during chemotherapy
Authors: İrsoy Orkun , Güz Şanser , Akan Naz Beril , Yücel Gönenç
Published: March 2021

Chemotherapeutic treatment of cancer comes with side effects on the immune system, such as Chemotherapy‐Induced Neutropenia (CIN). A recombinant form of Granulocyte Colony‐Stimulating Factor (G‐CSF) has been used to alleviate CIN. This is a challenging task due to the feedback complexity of the hematological system. A System Dynamics model is constructed to study this system and to derive practical insights for the management of CIN. Stimulation of neutrophil production via G‐CSF is observed to propose crucial trade‐offs. On one hand, production by stem cells and mobilization from bone marrow should be stimulated to compensate for the impairment caused by chemotherapy. On the other hand, it is important to avoid overstimulation, which reduces the regenerative capacity, as well as draining the much‐needed bone‐marrow reservoir. Our analysis supports the intuition that the response to G‐CSF administration is conditional to patient characteristics, and “one for all” treatment protocols are impractical. © 2021 System Dynamics Society
Latent class mediator for multiple indicators of mediation
Authors: Sint Kyaw , Rosenheck Robert , Lin Haiqun
Published: March 2021

This paper demonstrates the utility of latent classes in evaluating the effect of an intervention on an outcome through multiple indicators of mediation. These indicators are observed intermediate variables that identify an underlying latent class mediator, with each class representing a different mediating pathway. The use of a latent class mediator allows us to avoid modeling the complex interactions between the multiple indicators and ensures the decomposition of the total mediating effects into additive effects from individual mediating pathways, a desirable feature for evaluating multiple indicators of mediation. This method is suitable when the goal is to estimate the total mediating effects that can be decomposed into the additive effects of distinct mediating pathways. Each indicator may be involved in multiple mediation pathways and at the same time multiple indicators may contribute to a single mediating pathway. The relative importance of each pathway may vary across subjects. We applied this method to the analysis of the first 6 months of data from a 2‐year clustered randomized trial for adults in their first episode of schizophrenia. Four indicators of mediation are considered: individual resiliency training; family psychoeducation; supported education and employment; and a structural assessment for medication. The improvement in symptoms was found to be mediated by the latent class mediator derived from these four service indicators. Simulation studies were conducted to assess the performance of the proposed model and showed that the simultaneous estimation through the maximum likelihood yielded little bias when the entropy of the indicators was high.
Censored functional data for incomplete follow‐up studies
Authors: Strzalkowska‐Kominiak Ewa , Romo Juan
Published: March 2021

Functional data analysis plays an increasingly important role in medical research because patients are followed over time. Thus, the measurements of a particular biomarker for each patient are often registered as curves. Hence, it is of interest to estimate the mean function under certain conditions as an average of the observed functional data over a given period. However, this is often difficult as this type of follow‐up studies are confronted with the challenge of some individuals dropping‐out before study completion. Therefore, for these individuals, only a partial functional observation is available. In this study, we propose an estimator for the functional mean when the functions may be censored from the right, and thus, only partly observed. Unlike sparse functional data, the censored curves are observed until some (random) time and this censoring time may depend on the trajectory of the functional observations. Our approach is model‐free and fully nonparametric, although the proposed methods can also be incorporated into regression models. The use of the functional structure of the data distinguishes our approach from the longitudinal data approaches. In addition, in this study, we propose a bootstrap‐based confidence band for the mean function, examine the estimation of the covariance function, and apply our new approach to functional principal component analysis. Employing an extensive simulation study, we demonstrate that our method outperforms the only two existing approaches. Furthermore, we apply our new estimator to a real data example on lung growth, measured by changes in pulmonary function for girls in the United States.
CdS/MoS2 Nanoparticles on Nanoribbon Heterostructures with Boosted Photocatalytic H2 Evolution under Visible‐light Irradiation
Authors: Ma Di , Lu Qifang , Guo Enyan , Tao Furong , Wei Mingzhi
Published: March 2021

The construction of the heterostructures with intimate contacts and prominent sunlight absorption capacity are essential for achieving the highly effective photocatalytic H2 evolution. Here, the CdS/MoS2 heterostructures constituted by CdS nanoparticals loaded on uniform MoS2 nanoribbons were synthesized through solid‐gas reaction and hydrothermal treatments. In the as‐prepared CdS/MoS2 heterostructures, there are large‐area contact interfaces between the external highly dispersed small CdS nanoparticals and MoS2 nanoribbons. Impressively, the optimized CdS/MoS2‐8 photocatalyst delivered the highest hydrogen production rate of 91.2 μmol h−1, which is 9 times that of CdS. It demonstrates that the formation of the heterostructures could eﬀectively promote the separation and transfer of photogenerated charge carriers due to the intimate contacts between CdS nanoparticals and MoS2 nanoribbons. This work would provide a new method to develop efficient photocatalysts for photocatalytic H2 evolution.
Concise Synthesis of Some New Benzothiazole‐Based Heterocycles as Probable Anticancer and Antioxidant Agents
Authors: El‐Mekabaty Ahmed , Sofan Mamdouh A. , Hasel Ali M. , Said Samy B.
Published: March 2021

Benzothiazole is the basic skeleton of multi‐target drugs with remarkable anticancer and antioxidant characteristics. In this research, new sets of benzothiazole derivatives carrying different pharmacophores and heterocyclic rings (e. g. 1,2,3‐triazole, pyrazole, thiazolidinone, thiophene, benzothiazole, 1,3‐dithiane, chromene, and pyrimidine) were efficiently synthesized through different synthetic routes from the newly synthesized ethyl 3‐(benzo[d]thiazol‐2‐ylamino)‐3‐oxopropanoate (1). These compounds were assessed in vitro as cytotoxic agents against two human cell lines, HCT‐116 (colon carcinoma) and WI‐38 (normal lung fibroblast) employing the MTT (3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, in which doxorubicin was used as a positive standard. Among the synthesized compounds, 1,2,3‐triazole 3 and pyrazoles 6 and 12 inhibited the growth of HCT‐116 cell line with high potency (IC50=7.54±0.7, 9.89±0.8, and 8.45±0.7 μM, respectively), along with low toxicity to normal cells, indicated their selectivity. Further, they were screened for their antioxidant performance using the ABTS (2,2′‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid)) bioassay and the results coincided with those of the cytotoxicity test, where the most powerful anticancer candidates displayed promising antioxidant activities with % inhibition 80.98 %, 84.12 %, and 88.82 %, respectively, comparable or superior to those of ascorbic acid (88.63 %).
Model Lipid Membranes Assembled from Natural Plant Thylakoids into 2D Microarray Patterns as a Platform to Assess the Organization and Photophysics of Light‐Harvesting Proteins
Authors: Meredith Sophie A. , Yoneda Takuro , Hancock Ashley M. , Connell Simon D. , Evans Stephen D. , Morigaki Kenichi , Adams Peter G.
Published: March 2021

Natural photosynthetic “thylakoid” membranes found in green plants contain a large network of light‐harvesting (LH) protein complexes. Rearrangement of this photosynthetic machinery, laterally within stacked membranes called “grana”, alters protein–protein interactions leading to changes in the energy balance within the system. Preparation of an experimentally accessible model system that allows the detailed investigation of these complex interactions can be achieved by interfacing thylakoid membranes and synthetic lipids into a template comprised of polymerized lipids in a 2D microarray pattern on glass surfaces. This paper uses this system to interrogate the behavior of LH proteins at the micro‐ and nanoscale and assesses the efficacy of this model. A combination of fluorescence lifetime imaging and atomic force microscopy reveals the differences in photophysical state and lateral organization between native thylakoid and hybrid membranes, the mechanism of LH protein incorporation into the developing hybrid membranes, and the nanoscale structure of the system. The resulting model system within each corral is a high‐quality supported lipid bilayer that incorporates laterally mobile LH proteins. Photosynthetic activity is assessed in the hybrid membranes versus proteoliposomes, revealing that commonly used photochemical assays to test the electron transfer activity of photosystem II may actually produce false‐positive results.
Preparation of Hollow Cobalt–Iron Phosphides Nanospheres by Controllable Atom Migration for Enhanced Water Oxidation and Splitting
Authors: Chen Qiming , Zhang Qicheng , Liu Huibin , Liang Junmei , Peng Wenchao , Li Yang , Zhang Fengbao , Fan Xiaobin
Published: March 2021

Transition metal phosphides (TMPs), especially the dual‐metal TMPs, are highly active non‐precious metal oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts. Herein, an interesting atom migration phenomenon induced by Kirkendall effect is reported for the preparation of cobalt–iron (Co–Fe) phosphides by the direct phosphorization of Co–Fe alloys. The compositions and distributions of the Co and Fe phosphides phases on the surfaces of the electrocatalysts can be readily controlled by CoxFey alloys precursors and the phosphorization process with interesting atom migration phenomenon. The optimized Co7Fe3 phosphides exhibit a low overpotential of 225 mV at 10 mA cm−2 in 1 m KOH alkaline media, with a small Tafel slope of 37.88 mV dec−1 and excellent durability. It only requires a voltage of 1.56 V to drive the current density of 10 mA cm−2 when used as both anode and cathode for overall water splitting. This work opens a new strategy to controllable preparation of dual‐metal TMPs with designed phosphides active sites for enhanced OER and overall water splitting.