bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation of the μ‐ and κ‐opioid receptor activation by eight new synthetic opioids using the [35S]‐GTPγS assay: U‐47700, isopropyl U‐47700, U‐49900, U‐47931E, N‐methyl U‐47931E, U‐51754, U‐48520, and U‐48800
Authors: Otte Lorina , Wilde Maurice , Auwärter Volker , Grafinger Katharina Elisabeth
Published: February 2022

In 2009, new synthetic opioids appeared on the new psychoactive substances market. This class of new psychoactive substances generally poses a health risk due to the high affinity and potency of most of these compounds for the opioid receptors. It is known that overdoses can lead to respiratory depression and result in death. However, for many new synthetic opioids, data on toxicological and toxicokinetic properties are scarce. In the present study, eight U‐opioids were investigated for their structure activity relationships at the μ‐ and κ‐opioid receptors using a [35S]‐GTPγS assay. The potencies of the investigated U‐opioids were lower than those of the reference compounds (μ‐opioid receptor: hydromorphone, fentanyl; κ‐opioid receptor: U‐69593, U‐50488). At the μ‐opioid receptor, U‐47700 showed the highest potency with an EC50 value of 111 nM, and at the κ‐opioid receptor, U‐51754 was found to be the most potent compound with an EC50 value of 120 nM. The following structural features were advantageous for activating the μ‐opioid receptor: two chlorine substituents in 3,4‐position at the aromatic ring, the absence of the methylene group between the amide group and the aromatic ring, a methyl group at the amide nitrogen, and/or a dimethylamine residue at the amine nitrogen of the cyclohexane ring. Further, the following structural features were beneficial for κ‐opioid receptor activation: a methylene group between the amide group and the aromatic ring, a pyrrolidine residue at the amine nitrogen of the cyclohexane ring, a methyl group at the amide nitrogen, and/or a chlorine substitution at the 3,4‐position of the aromatic ring.
Inferred seasonal alternation in the anatomical structures determining maximum transpiration rate in upland boreal stand types
Authors: Studens John A. , Wang Xianli , Candau Jean‐Noel
Published: February 2022

In the boreal forest the water‐absorbing fraction of the root network undergoes an annual cycle of growth and dieback that is positively correlated with soil temperature. This study is a modelling exercise that uses duff temperature as a proxy for root uptake capacity to gain insight into its potential influence on the seasonal dynamics of maximum transpiration rate. Atmospheric and soil variables were measured hourly over six growing seasons in four boreal stand types. Empirical drying models predicting the relative contribution of evaporation and transpiration to the hourly change in duff moisture content were developed for periods when precipitation was not adding water and bulk flow was not removing it. The transpiration model was effective at predicting duff moisture loss in the springtime and late autumn but underestimated it in the intervening period. This divergence could be corrected by replacing the model's duff‐temperature input variable with a calibrated fixed value between 15°C and 24°C. These findings suggest that root uptake capacity is the dynamic limiting factor to maximum transpiration rate in the spring and late autumn while outflow potential through the fixed number of stomata in the canopy assumes the role during the summer and early autumn once functional equilibrium with root uptake capacity has been established. Deterioration in this three‐phase pattern in later iterations of the study was associated with drought‐induced reductions in transpiration at the same sites in the preceding year and hints at shortfalls in the production of starch needed to initiate fine‐root growth in the spring.
Review on Occurrence, Sources of Contamination, and Mitigation Strategies of Phthalates in Vegetable Oils
Authors: Wang Su Yin , Wang Man Qiu , Yang En Qi , Chen Xian Mao , Pan Feng Guang
Published: February 2022

Phthalates (PAEs) are fat‐soluble pollutants with a molecular structure similar to hormones. Long‐term intake of PAEs exceeding the safe dose can lead to poisoning of the liver, kidney, lung, heart, and multiple tissue systems causing harm to the human body. Edible vegetable oil is one of the sources of human exposure to PAEs. Therefore, information on PAE levels in edible vegetable oils is very important for human exposure assessment. This paper reviews the sources of PAEs in edible vegetable oil, the causes of pollution in the process of production, processing, storage, and transportation, relevant control strategies and existing removal methods.

Practical applications: This article reviews the sources, content, and removal methods of PAEs in edible vegetable oils. It aims to assess the global pollution status of PAEs in edible vegetable oil, provide information and reference for the control of PAEs in edible vegetable oil, and provide future reference for PAEs in edible vegetable oil.
Deep generative model for probabilistic wind speed and wind power estimation at a wind farm
Authors: Salazar Andrés A. , Zheng Jiafeng , Che Yuzhang , Xiao Feng
Published: February 2022

This work introduces a novel method to generate probabilistic hub‐height wind speed forecasts aimed at power output prediction. We employ state‐of‐the‐art convolutional variational autoencoders (CVAEs) trained with historical wind speed observations, multivariable outputs (wind speed, direction, temperature, pressure, and humidity) from a numerical weather prediction (NWP) model and spatio‐temporal encodings. After training, we exploit the CVAE data generating capabilities to produce probabilistic forecasts from the same deterministic dynamical NWP model. The resulting probabilistic forecast provides an insight into the uncertainty of the original deterministic input that compensate for errors due to numerical discretization, inaccuracies in initial/boundary conditions and parameterizations and, most importantly wind speed fluctuations due to complex terrain features. To show the performance of the proposed model, we validate the approach with forecasted and observed data for fifteen sites in a wind farm in Awaji Island, Japan, in a challenging zone with complex topography and highly fluctuating wind patterns. We show that the proposed method provides improved wind speed forecasts from both deterministic (reduced root mean square error) and probabilistic (reduced continuous ranked probability score) standpoints. We also use ensemble forecast validation methods to assess the statistical properties of the CVAE and conclude that in zones with rapidly changing wind speed dynamics, the CVAE ensemble performs in a superior way when compared to the analog ensemble method. Finally, we also provide an insight on how the results can be used to obtain reliable wind power estimations.
Wind flow dynamics and sand deposition behind excavated foredune notches on developed coasts
Authors: Nguyen Duc , Hilton Michael , Wakes Sarah
Published: February 2022

This study examines wind flow dynamics and downwind sand deposition behind engineered notches in a foredune system on a developed coast. Recent studies have examined the morphodynamics downwind of such notches, however, wind flow dynamics and sand deposition in the lee of such notches is not well understood, particularly in relation to artificial foredunes on developed coasts. Wind flow dynamics behind an excavated notch at St Kilda beach, Dunedin, New Zealand is measured using vertical arrays of ultrasonic anemometers. Field data is used to validate computational fluid dynamic flow simulations to examine flow dynamics behind a foredune section with multiple notches. Sand deposition behind the notches is measured using sand pot traps.

Wind direction across the depositional lobe aligns with notch orientation and the normalized wind speed increases when the incident wind direction is >10° to the shoreline in a notch that orientates 67° to the shoreline. Wind speed in the swale downwind a notch decreases when the incident wind direction shifts from alongshore to onshore normal. Flow reversal occurs when the incident wind direction approaches onshore normal (>72° to the shoreline). Helicoidal flow appears to occur in the lee of the higher foredune section when the incident wind direction is 74° to the shoreline, while alongshore flow dominates in the lower section. Most sand deposition occurs within 5 m of the depositional lobe of the notch. The orientation of excavated notches should be less than 74° relative to the shoreline to prevent the occurrence of flow reversal in the swale, which might reduce the distance that sand can be transported inland from the notches when the incident wind direction is parallel to the notch axis.
Earthworm (Metaphire guillelmi) activities increase the risk of soil erosion – a simulation experiment
Authors: Chen Mingyu , Shao Ming'an , Wei Xiaorong , Li Tongchuan , Zhang Qingyin , Sun Shuchen , Yang Xi , Gan Miao
Published: February 2022

Earthworms exert a great impact on soil physical and chemical properties through feeding, burrowing, and casting activities. These activities can further affect soil erosion processes. However, we have insufficient knowledge on the effects of earthworm activities on soil erosion. In this study, we quantified the effects of earthworm activities on soil water distribution, runoff rate, and soil erosion rate under three slope gradients (5°, 10°, and 15°) through a laboratory‐simulated rainfall experiment. The uniform rainfall intensity (80 mm h−1) was set, and the rainfall duration after runoff generation was set to 60 min. Results showed that earthworm increased soil water infiltration and soil water storage (SWS). The increments in SWS were 41.2, 24.0, and 34.9 mm, respectively, in the tanks with earthworms at the slope gradients of 5°, 10°, and 15°, which were 93%, 51%, and 70% higher than the values of the control plots (21.3, 15.9, and 20.5 mm). Compared with the control plots, earthworm activities reduced the runoff rate at slope gradients of 5°, 10°, and 15° by 70%, 13%, and 39%, respectively; and increased soil erosion rate at slope gradients of 10° and 15° by 42% and 46%, respectively. Through their feeding, burrowing, and casting activities, earthworm increased soil water infiltration, reduced surface runoff, and increased soil erosion. This study provides insights into the effects of soil animals on soil erosion processes, and these data could then be incorporated into existing soil erosion simulation models or provide a basis for new models.
Phagocytic astrocytes: Emerging from the shadows of microglia
Authors: Konishi Hiroyuki , Koizumi Schuichi , Kiyama Hiroshi
Published: February 2022

Elimination of dead or live cells take place in both a healthy and diseased central nervous system (CNS). Dying or dead cells are quickly cleared by phagocytosis for the maintenance of a healthy CNS or for recovery after injury. Live cells or parts thereof, such as the synapses and myelin, are appropriately eliminated by phagocytosis to maintain or refine neural networks during development and adulthood. Microglia, the specific population of resident macrophages in the CNS, are classically considered as primary phagocytes; however, astrocytes have also been highlighted as phagocytes in the last decade. Phagocytic targets and receptors are reported to be mostly common between astrocytes and microglia, which raises the question of how astrocytic phagocytosis differs from microglial phagocytosis, and how these two phagocytic systems cooperate. In this review, we address the consequences of astrocytic phagocytosis, particularly focusing on these elusive points.
“We have nothing left to bury.”
Authors: Brummett Abram , Thornton Andrea , Salter Erica K. , Deters Samuel
Published: February 2022

After miscarrying in the hospital at eleven weeks, a patient gratefully accepts the hospital’s offer to take advantage of a program for low‐income patients that provides burial for fetal remains and a memorial plaque for the gravesite. However, a hospital employee accidentally incinerates the remains, and the error is not discovered until after the ashes are discarded. Two commentaries offer opposing arguments in response to the question whether, to avoid adding to the patient’s grief, it is ethically permissible for the clinicians not to disclose the error to her and to proceed with having the name put on a plaque at the burial ground.
Long‐term outcomes and central nervous system relapse in extranodal natural killer/T‐cell lymphoma
Authors: Miyazaki Kana , Suzuki Ritsuro , Oguchi Masahiko , Taguchi Senzo , Amaki Jun , Maeda Takeshi , Kubota Nobuko , Maruyama Dai , Terui Yasuhito , Sekiguchi Nodoka , Takizawa Jun , Tsukamoto Hiroyuki , Murayama Tohru , Ando Toshihiko , Matsuoka Hiroshi , Hasegawa Masatoshi , Wada Hideho , Sakai Rika , Kameoka Yoshihiro , Tsukamoto Norifumi , Choi Ilseung , Masaki Yasufumi , Shimada Kazuyuki , Fukuhara Noriko , Utsumi Takahiko , Uoshima Nobuhiko , Kagami Yoshitoyo , Asano Naoko , Ejima Yasuo , Katayama Naoyuki , Yamaguchi Motoko
Published: February 2022

To elucidate the long‐term outcomes of non‐anthracycline‐containing therapies and central nervous system (CNS) events in patients with extranodal NK/T‐cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKTL), the clinical data of 313 patients with ENKTL diagnosed between 2000 and 2013 in a nationwide retrospective study in Japan were updated and analyzed. At a median follow‐up of 8.4 years, the 5‐year overall survival (OS) and progression‐free survival (PFS) were 71% and 64%, respectively, in 140 localized ENKTL patients who received radiotherapy‐dexamethasone, etoposide, ifosfamide, and carboplatin (RT‐DeVIC) in clinical practice. Nine (6.4%) patients experienced second malignancies. In 155 localized ENKTL patients treated with RT‐DeVIC, 10 (6.5%) experienced CNS relapse (median, 12.8 months after diagnosis). In five of them, the events were confined to the CNS. Nine of the 10 patients who experienced CNS relapse died within 1 year after CNS relapse. Multivariate analysis identified gingival (hazard ratio [HR], 54.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 8.60–343.35) and paranasal involvement (HR, 7.42; 95% CI, 1.78–30.89) as independent risk factors for CNS relapse. In 80 advanced ENKTL patients, 18 received steroid (dexamethasone), methotrexate, ifosfamide, L‐asparaginase, and etoposide (SMILE) chemotherapy as first‐line treatment. Patients who received SMILE as their first‐line treatment tended to have better OS than those who did not (p = 0.071). Six (7.5%) advanced ENKTL patients experienced isolated CNS relapse (median, 2.6 months after diagnosis) and died within 4 months of relapse. No second malignancies were documented in advanced ENKTL patients. In the entire cohort, the median OS after first relapse or progression was 4.6 months. 12 patients who survived 5 years after PFS events were disease‐free at the last follow‐up. Of those, 11 (92%) underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Our 8‐year follow‐up revealed the long‐term efficacy and safety of RT‐DeVIC and SMILE. The risk of CNS relapse is an important consideration in advanced ENKTL.
Validation of parental stress scale in a Greek sample of mothers with infants from 0 to 12 months
Authors: Ekizoglou Chrysoula , Vousoura Eleni , Anagnostopoulos Dimitrios , Papageorgiou Charalampos , Zervas Ioannis M.
Published: February 2022

Parenting an offspring is a rewarding, albeit challenging task, often accompanied by high levels of stress. It is important to accurately assess the stress associated with parenting, as severe forms of stress may affect the parent‐child dyad and lead to poor child outcomes. The aim of this study was to translate and validate the Parental Stress Scale (PSS) in the Greek population. We implemented forward and back translation and conducted a pilot test. A total of 735 mothers (Mage = 34.6) with infants aged 0–12 months completed the PSS, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The Greek PSS‐18 showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = .83) and adequate convergent validity. Results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis revealed two underlying factors: positive aspects of parenting and negative aspects of parenting. Our data confirm the validity of the Greek version of the PSS‐18 in mothers with infants aged 0–12 months. The Greek version of the PSS‐18 could be a useful tool for professionals and researchers who are interested in perinatal period and the aspects of parenthood.
ERK3‐MK5 signaling regulates myogenic differentiation and muscle regeneration by promoting FoxO3 degradation
Authors: Soulez Mathilde , Tanguay Pierre‐Luc , Dô Florence , Dort Junio , Crist Colin , Kotlyarov Alexey , Gaestel Matthias , Ferron Mathieu , Dumont Nicolas A. , Meloche Sylvain
Published: February 2022

The physiological functions and downstream effectors of the atypical mitogen‐activated protein kinase extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 3 (ERK3) remain to be characterized. We recently reported that mice expressing catalytically‐inactive ERK3 (Mapk6KD/KD) exhibit a reduced postnatal growth rate as compared to control mice. Here, we show that genetic inactivation of ERK3 impairs postnatal skeletal muscle growth and adult muscle regeneration after injury. Loss of MAPK‐activated protein kinase 5 (MK5) phenocopies the muscle phenotypes of Mapk6KD/KD mice. At the cellular level, genetic or pharmacological inactivation of ERK3 or MK5 induces precocious differentiation of C2C12 or primary myoblasts, concomitant with MyoD activation. Reciprocally, ectopic expression of activated MK5 inhibits myogenic differentiation. Mechanistically, we show that MK5 directly phosphorylates FoxO3, promoting its degradation and reducing its association with MyoD. Depletion of FoxO3 rescues in part the premature differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts observed upon inactivation of ERK3 or MK5. Our findings reveal that ERK3 and its substrate MK5 act in a linear signaling pathway to control postnatal myogenic differentiation.
Patterns of utilization and evaluation of advanced practice providers on academic hospital medicine teams: A national survey
Authors: Shannon Evan M. , Cauley Marissa , Vitale Matthew , Wines Leanne , Chopra Vineet , Greysen S. Ryan , Herzig Shoshana J. , Kripalani Sunil , O'Leary Kevin J. , Vasilevskis Eduard E. , Williams Mark V. , Auerbach Andrew D. , Mueller Stephanie K. , Schnipper Jeffrey L.
Published: February 2022

This survey study aimed to provide a contemporary appraisal of advanced practice provider (APP) practice and to summarize perceptions of the benefits and challenges of integrating APPs into adult academic hospital medicine (HM) groups. We surveyed leaders of academic HM groups. We received responses from 43 of 86 groups (50%) surveyed. Thirty‐four (79%) reported that they employed APPs. In most groups (85%), APPs were reported to perform daily tasks of patient care, including rounding and documentation. Less than half of the groups reported that APPs had completed HM‐specific postgraduate training. The reported benefits of APPs included improved perceived quality of care and greater volume of patients that could be seen. Reported challenges included training requirements and support for new hires. Further investigation is needed to determine which APP team structures deliver the highest quality care. There may be a role for expanding standardized competency‐based postgraduate training for APPs planning to practice HM.
The operational tensions in using compensation to resolve wartime mass property claims
Authors: Unruh Jon D.
Published: February 2022

The inclination to pursue monetary compensation to solve difficult large‐scale housing, land, and property (HLP) claims problems resulting from wartime population dislocation as part of peacebuilding efforts has become common in recent years. Certain donors, countries, militaries, nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), and policy organisations see compensation as a relatively quick, easy, and conclusive solution to massive numbers of destabilizing HLP claims. This article examines such a preference and finds that while the international legal, human rights, and moral foundations for using compensation in this way are significantly developed, a series of operational tensions exists that preclude compensation from being the easy remedy it is often thought to be.
Five years of #MedRadJClub: An impact evaluation of an established twitter journal club
Authors: Bolderston Amanda , Meeking Kim , Snaith Bev , Watson Julia , Westerink Adam , Woznitza Nick
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Twitter journal clubs are a relatively new adaptation of an established continuing professional development (CPD) activity within healthcare. The medical radiation science (MRS) journal club ‘MedRadJClub’ (MRJC) was founded in March 2015 by a group of academics, researchers and clinicians as an international forum for the discussion of peer‐reviewed papers. To investigate the reach and impact of MRJC, a five‐year analysis was conducted.

Methods

Tweetchat data (number of participants, tweets and impressions) for the first five years of MRJC were extracted and chat topics organised into themes. Fifth anniversary MRJC chat tweets were analysed and examples of academic and professional outputs were collated.

Results

A total of 59 chats have been held over five years with a mean of 41 participants and 483,000 impressions per hour‐long synchronous chat. Ten different tweetchat themes were identified, with student engagement/preceptorship the most popular. Eight posters or oral presentations at conferences, one social media workshop and four papers have been produced. Qualitative analysis revealed five core themes relating to the perceived benefits of participation in MRJC: (1) CPD and research impact, (2) professional growth and influencing practice, (3) interdisciplinary learning and inclusion, (4) networking and social support and (5) globalisation.

Conclusion

MRJC is a unique, multi‐professional, global community with consistent engagement. It is beneficial for both CPD, research engagement, dissemination and socialisation within the MRS community.
On the road toward highly efficient and large volume three‐dimensional‐printed liquid chromatography columns?
Authors: Gritti Fabrice , Nawada Suhas
Published: February 2022

The current performance of commercially packed liquid chromatography columns is limited by the random structure of the packed bed and by the wall‐to‐center heterogeneity of its structure. The minimum reduced plate heights observed are not smaller than 1.4, whereas they could theoretically be as low as 0.1 for dense and perfectly ordered packings of spheres. To bridge this gap, a wide inner diameter column with an ordered macroporous structure is printed in three dimensions by stereolithography of poly(ethylene glycol diacrylate) resin. Feature sizes below 100 μm are achieved by combining conventional polymer stereolithography with photolithography using photomasks. A layer‐by‐layer polymerization is performed by alternating two distinct photomasks having horizontally and vertically oriented patterns. Despite the inevitable printing imperfections, minimum reduced plate heights around unity are measured for nonretained analytes. The next challenges for the successful printing of highly efficient and large volume liquid chromatography columns are threefold: reducing the feature size down to below 10 μm, keeping minimum the unevenness of the flow channel dimensions, and tackling additive manufacturing of silica aerogels at such small feature sizes for higher mechanical stability and broader range of retention/selectivity than those delivered by polymer materials.
Effect of Culture Conditions on Cellulose Production by a Komagataeibacter xylinus Strain
Authors: Zhang Heng , Chen Chuntao , Yang Jiazhi , Sun Bianjing , Lin Jianbin , Sun Dongping
Published: February 2022

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is an abundant biopolymer with a wide range of potential industrial applications. However, the industrial application of BC has been hampered by inefficient production. This study aims to investigate the influence of a spontaneous mutation that results in decreased cellulose production by a Komagataeibacter xylinus strain. The yields of cellulose are significantly different under different culture conditions, which imply that the shearing force is responsible for the selection of spontaneous mutants. Fermenter culture conditions under shake‐flask culture conditions are further simulated. The shearing force activates the conversion of microbial cells to Cel− mutants, and the accumulation of water‐soluble exopolysaccharides is observed. The Cel+ cells under agitated culture are not easily converted into Cel− mutants upon the addition of water‐soluble exopolysaccharides synthesized by K. xylinus and a viscous polysaccharide, such as xanthan gum. The conversion ratio of Cel+ cells to Cel− mutants is strongly related to the shearing force and viscosity of the fermentation broth. The synthetic pathways of bacterial cellulose and water‐soluble polysaccharides are independent of each other at the genetic level. However, a substrate competitive relationship between these two polysaccharides is found, which is significant in terms of the optimization of cellulose production in commercial processes.
Data Mining Meets Machine Learning: A Novel ANN‐based Multi‐body Interaction Docking Scoring Function (MBI‐score) Based on Utilizing Frequent Geometric and Chemical Patterns of Interfacial Atoms in Native Protein‐ligand Complexes
Authors: Khashan Raed , Tropsha Alexander , Zheng Weifan
Published: February 2022

Accurate prediction of binding poses is crucial to structure‐based drug design. We employ two powerful artificial intelligence (AI) approaches, data‐mining and machine‐learning, to design artificial neural network (ANN) based pose‐scoring function. It is a simple machine‐learning‐based statistical function that employs frequent geometric and chemical patterns of interacting atoms at protein‐ligand interfaces. The patterns are derived by mining interfaces of “native” protein‐ligand complexes. Each interface is represented by a graph where nodes are atoms and edges connect protein‐ligand interfacial atoms located within certain cutoff distance of each other. Applying frequent subgraph mining to these interfaces provides “native” frequent patterns of interacting atoms. Subsequently, given a pose for a protein‐ligand complex of interest, the pose‐scoring function (the information‐processing unit or neuron) calculates the degree of matching between the interaction patterns present at the pose's interface and the native frequent patterns. The pose‐scoring function takes into account the frequency of occurrence of the matching native patterns, the size of the match, and the degree of geometrical similarity between pose‐specific and matching native frequent patterns. This novel “multi‐body interaction” pose‐scoring function (MBI‐Score) was validated using two databases, PDBbind and Astex‐85, and it outperformed seven commonly used commercial scoring functions. MBI‐Score is available atwww.khashanlab.org/mbi‐score.
Respiration induced B1+ changes and their impact on universal and tailored 3D kT‐point parallel transmission pulses for 7T cardiac imaging
Authors: Aigner Christoph Stefan , Dietrich Sebastian , Schmitter Sebastian
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Human heart imaging at ultra‐high fields is highly challenging because of respiratory motion‐induced artefacts and spatially heterogeneous profiles. This work demonstrates that respiration resolved 3D ‐maps can be used with a dedicated tailored and universal parallel transmission (pTx) pulse design to compensate respiration related changes in subjects performing shallow and deep breathing (SB/DB).

Methods

Three‐dimensional (3D) ‐maps of the thorax were acquired in 31 subjects under SB and in 15 subjects under SB and DB. Different universal and tailored non‐selective pTx pulses were designed from non‐respiration resolved (NRR) and respiration resolved (RR) reconstructions of the SB/DB ‐maps. The performance of all pulses was tested with RR‐SB/DB ‐maps. Respiration‐robust tailored and universal pulses were applied in vivo in 5 subjects at 7T in 3D gradient‐echo free‐breathing scans.

Results

All optimized pTx pulses performed well for SB. For DB, however, only the universal and the tailored respiration‐robust pulses achieved homogeneous flip angles (FAs) in all subjects and across all respiration states, whereas the tailored respiration‐specific pulses resulted in a higher FA variation. The respiration‐robust universal pulse resulted in an average coefficient of variation in the FA maps of 12.6% compared to 8.2% achieved by tailored respiration‐robust pulses. In vivo measurements at 7T demonstrate the benefits of using respiration‐robust pulses for DB.

Conclusion

Universal and tailored respiration‐robust pTx pulses based on RR ‐maps are highly preferred to achieve 3D heart FA homogenization at 7T when subjects perform DB, whereas universal and tailored pulses based on NRR ‐maps are sufficient when subjects perform SB.
Multi‐patch variational differential quadrature method for shear‐deformable strain gradient plates
Authors: Torabi Jalal , Niiranen Jarkko , Ansari Reza
Published: February 2022

The integration of generalized differential quadrature techniques and finite element (FE) methods has been developed during the past decade for engineering problems within classical continuum theories. Hence, the main objective of the present study is to propose a novel numerical strategy called the multi‐patch variational differential quadrature (VDQ) method to model the structural behavior of plate structures obeying the shear deformation plate theory within the strain gradient elasticity theory. The idea is to divide the two‐dimensional solution domain of the plate model into sub‐domains, called patches, and then to apply the VDQ method along with the FE mapping technique for each patch. The formulation is presented in a weak form and due to the ‐continuity requirements the corresponding compatibility conditions are applied through the patch interfaces. The Lagrange multiplier technique and the penalty method are implemented to apply the higher‐order compatibility conditions and boundary conditions, respectively. To show the efficiency of the proposed method, numerical results are provided for plate structures with both regular and irregular solution domains. The provided numerical examples demonstrate the applicability and accuracy of the method in predicting the bending and vibration behavior of plate structures following the higher‐order plate model.
Family members' experience of well‐being as racial/ethnic minorities raising a child with a neurodevelopmental disorder: A qualitative meta‐synthesis
Authors: Emmanuel Crisma J. , Knafl Kathleen A. , Hodges Eric A. , Docherty Sharron L. , O'Shea Thomas Michael , Santos Hudson P.
Published: February 2022

Raising a child with a neurodevelopmental disorder has often been associated with poorer quality of life and family functioning. Yet, many family members describe themselves as resilient and capable of achieving well‐being. Whether and how this occurs in racial/ethnic minority families remains largely unexplored. The aim of this study was to systematically synthesize qualitative studies exploring how families from a racial/ethnic minority background in the United States (1) experienced well‐being and (2) responded to challenges they faced while caring for a child diagnosed with three selected neurodevelopmental disorders: autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and intellectual disability. A systematic literature search was conducted in November and December of 2019 and updated in October 2021. Three themes were developed based on included studies: “moving toward well‐being as a caregiver,” “family and culture: impact on well‐being,” and “community and culture: impact on well‐being.” The findings in this review indicate that to develop well‐being, racial/ethnic minority families faced additional barriers, including racial/ethnic discrimination and stigma within their family and cultural community. The knowledge generated has the potential to identify areas of intervention to promote resilience and well‐being in racial/ethnic minority families raising a child with a neurodevelopmental disorder.
Infant weight growth patterns, childhood BMI, and arterial health at age 10 years
Authors: Monasso Giulietta S. , Silva Carolina C. V. , Santos Susana , Goncalvez Romy , Gaillard Romy , Felix Janine F. , Jaddoe Vincent W. V.
Published: February 2022

Objective

Associations of obesity with cardiovascular disease may originate in childhood. This study examined critical periods for BMI in relation to arterial health at school age.

Methods

Among 4,731 children from a prospective cohort study, associations of infant peak weight velocity, both age and BMI at adiposity peak, and BMI trajectories with carotid artery intima‐media thickness and carotid artery distensibility at 10 years were examined.

Results

A 1‐standard deviation score (SDS) higher peak weight velocity and BMI at adiposity peak were associated with higher intima‐media thickness (0.10 SDS; 95% CI: 0.06 to 0.13 and 0.08 SDS; 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.12) and lower distensibility (−0.07 SDS; 95% CI: −0.10 to −0.03 and −0.07 SDS; 95% CI: −0.11 to −0.03) at 10 years. For distensibility, current BMI explained these associations. Children within the highest BMI tertile at ages 2 and 10 years had the lowest distensibility (p < 0.05), but similar intima‐media thickness, compared with children constantly within the middle tertile.

Conclusions

Infant weight growth patterns and childhood BMI are associated with subtle differences in carotid intima‐media thickness and carotid distensibility at school age. For distensibility, current BMI seems critical. Follow‐up is needed to determine whether these associations lead to adult cardiovascular disease.
Maximum power tracking of variable‐speed wind energy conversion systems based on a near‐optimal servomechanism control system
Authors: Sarsembayev Bayandy , Zholtayev Darkhan , Do Ton Duc
Published: February 2022

In this article, integral servomechanism based state‐dependent Riccati equation (SDRE) nonlinear output feedback control for wind energy conversion systems (WECSs) has been proposed. The numerical off‐line solving the proposed SDRE control requires to formulate algebraic Riccati equation and algebraic Lyapunov equation. This method approximates the solution of SDRE with Taylor series expansions which are solved with MATLAB solvers. The maximum power point tracking is achieved by defining relation between the optimal angular shaft speed and maximum power providing optimal tip speed ratio in variable‐speed WECSs. The proposed control can significantly reduce the angular shaft speed errors of the permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG)‐based WECSs without use of disturbance observers to compensate model uncertainties, modeling errors and noise as in the conventional SDRE control method. The simulation results demonstrate the superior results under mean average errors and root mean square error evaluation methods of the angular shaft speed of PMSG. The performance of the proposed integral servomechanism based SDRE control system has been improved by 80.67% and 80.05% in both scenarios compared to the conventional SDRE control based on compensation technique with disturbance observers.
Improve the bonding between wood veneer and wood fiber/high‐density polyethylene composite board for decoration
Authors: Zhou Xuelian , Shen Tingwen , Sun Yanan , Dun Mengyuan , Shan Weidong , Wang Weihong
Published: February 2022

Wood fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites are regarded as a kind of environmentally friendly material obtained by combining recycled thermoplastic and wood fibers together. However, they are difficult to be decorated for using due to their non‐polar, dense, and smooth surface characteristics. In this study, methods for improving the bonding strength between wood veneer and wood fiber/high‐density polyethylene (WF/HDPE) board were explored. A macromolecular coupling agent, allyl polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene epoxy‐terminated polyether (AEPH) grafted γ‐aminopropyl triethoxysilane (KH‐550) was synthesized to treat wood veneer prior to lamination with WF/HDPE board. For further improving the bonding strength between wood veneer and WF/HDPE board, a low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE) film was inserted between as adhesive. As control, KH‐550, a commonly used coupling agent and water were also used to treat the veneer. Infrared spectroscopy measurement showed that the LLDPE film combines well with both the veneer and WF/HDPE composite board. Surface bonding strength test proved that all treated veneers significantly improved the combination with WF/HDPE substrated and the LLDPE intermediate film played a key role in it. The veneering endowed the WF/HDPE composite board much better flexural properties, up to 77.39 MPa, which is 50% higher than that of WF/HDPE substrate. The AEPH‐KH‐550‐treated veneer presented the highest bonding strength and best water resistant for glue line.
Retrospective identification of prenatal fetal anomalies associated with diagnostic neonatal genomic sequencing results
Authors: Zhang‐Rutledge Kathy , Owen Mallory , Sweeney Nathaly M. , Dimmock David , Kingsmore Stephen F. , Laurent Louise C.
Published: February 2022

Objective

To determine which types of fetal anomalies are associated with postnatal diagnoses of genetic diseases by genomic sequencing and to assess how prenatal genomic sequencing could affect clinical management.

Method

This was a secondary analysis of the second Newborn Sequencing in Genomic Medicine and Public Health study that compared fetal imaging results in critically ill infants who had actionable versus negative postnatal genomic sequencing results.

Results

Of 213 infants who received genomic sequencing, 80 had available prenatal ultrasounds. Twenty‐one (26%) of these were found to have genetic diseases by genomic sequencing. Fourteen (67%) of the 21 with genetic diseases had suspected anomalies prenatally, compared with 33 (56%) of 59 with negative results. Among fetuses with suspected anomalies, genetic diseases were 4.5 times more common in those with multiple anomalies and 6.7 times more common in those with anomalies of the extremities compared to those with negative results. Had the genetic diseases been diagnosed prenatally, clinical management would have been altered in 13 of 14.

Conclusion

Critically ill infants with diagnostic genomic sequencing were more likely to have multiple anomalies and anomalies of the extremities on fetal imaging. Among almost all infants with suspected fetal anomalies and diagnostic genomic sequencing results, prenatal diagnosis would have likely altered clinical management.
Assessing anxiety in youth with autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Moskowitz Lauren J. , Braconnier Megan
Published: February 2022

Anxiety is now recognized as one of the most common co‐occurring conditions in youth diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Despite the prevalence of this comorbid condition, accurate assessment and diagnosis of anxiety in ASD has proven difficult. This paper will address the considerable research literature on assessing anxiety in youth with ASD, including difficulties related to assessment and differential diagnosis. In addition, this paper will describe relevant tools and methods for assessing anxiety in this complex population.
Improving the proteome coverage of Daphnia magna ‐ implications for future ecotoxicoproteomics studies
Authors: Wilde Magdalena V. , Brehm Julian , Schwarzer Michael , Stöckl Jan B. , Laforsch Christian , Fröhlich Thomas
Published: February 2022

Aquatic pollution is an increasing problem and requires extensive research efforts to understand associated consequences and to find suitable solutions. The crustacean Daphnia is a keystone species in lacustrine ecosystems by connecting primary producers with higher trophic levels. Therefore, Daphnia is perfectly suitable to investigate biological effects of freshwater pollution and is frequently used as an important model organism in ecotoxicology. The field of ecotoxicoproteomics has become increasingly prevalent, as proteins are important for an organism's physiology and respond rapidly to changing environmental conditions. However, one obstacle in proteome analysis of Daphnia is highly abundant proteins like vitellogenin, decreasing the analytical depth of proteome analysis. To improve proteome coverage in Daphnia, we established an easy‐to‐use procedure based on the LC‐MS/MS of whole daphnids and the dissected Daphnia gut, which is the main tissue getting in contact with soluble and particulate pollutants, separately. Using a comprehensive spectral library, generated by gas‐phase fractionation and a data‐independent acquisition method, we identified 4621 and 5233 protein groups at high confidence (false discovery rate < 0.01) in Daphnia and Daphnia gut samples, respectively. By combining both datasets, a proteome coverage of 6027 proteins was achieved, demonstrating the effectiveness of our approach.
Molecular evidences on anti‐inflammatory, anticancer, and memory‐boosting effects of frankincense
Authors: Khajehdehi Mina , Khalaj‐Kondori Mohammad , Baradaran Behzad
Published: February 2022

Chemical diversity of natural products with drug‐like features has attracted much attention from medicine to develop more safe and effective drugs. Their anti‐inflammatory, antitumor, analgesic, and other therapeutic properties are sometimes more successful than chemical drugs in controlling disease due to fewer drug resistance and side effects and being more tolerable in a long time. Frankincense, the oleo gum resin extracted from the Boswellia species, contains some of these chemicals. The anti‐inflammatory effect of its main ingredient, boswellic acid, has been traditionally used to treat many diseases, mainly those target memory functions. In this review, we have accumulated research evidence from the beneficial effect of Frankincense consumption in memory improvement and the prevention of inflammation and cancer. Besides, we have discussed the molecular pathways mediating the therapeutic effects of this natural supplement.
Berberine as a natural modulator of inflammatory signaling pathways in the immune system: Focus on NF‐κB, JAK/STAT, and MAPK signaling pathways
Authors: Haftcheshmeh Saeed Mohammadian , Abedi Maliheh , Mashayekhi Kazem , Mousavi Mohammad Javad , Navashenaq Jamshid Gholizadeh , Mohammadi Asadollah , Momtazi‐Borojeni Amir Abbas
Published: February 2022

Three main inflammatory signaling pathways include nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB), Janus kinases/Signal transducer and activator of transcriptions (JAKs/STATs), and mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs) play crucial roles in inducing, promoting, and regulating inflammatory responses in the immune system. Importantly, the breakdown of mechanisms that tightly regulate inflammatory signaling pathways can be the underlying cause of uncontrolled inflammatory responses and be associated with the generation and development of several inflammatory diseases. Hence, therapeutic strategies targeting inflammatory signaling pathways and their downstream components may promise to treat inflammatory diseases. Studies over the past two decades have provided important information on the polytrophic pharmacological and biochemical properties of berberine (BBR) as a naturally occurring compound, such as antioxidant, antitumor, antimicrobial, and antiinflammatory activates. Interestingly, the modulatory effects of BBR on inflammatory signaling cascades, which lead to the inhibition of inflammation, have been widely investigated in several in vitro and in vivo studies. For the first time, herein, this comprehensive review attempts to put together these studies and provide important insight into the modulatory effects of BBR on NF‐κB, JAKs/STATs, and MAPKs signaling pathways in vitro in various types of immune cells and in vivo in several experimental inflammatory diseases. As the second achievement of this review, we also explore the therapeutic efficacy and antiinflammatory effects of BBR regarding its modulatory action.
Field assessment of horizontal accelerations using air ride suspension trailers
Authors: Dunno Kyle , Ge Changfeng
Published: February 2022

Current laboratory tests designed to evaluate package and unit load systems focus strictly on the intensity of vertical orientation. However, due to an increased demand for source reduction and the light‐weighting of packaging components, unit loads are becoming more susceptible to the horizontal forces encountered during transport. Understanding the field measured acceleration levels is critical to developing accurate laboratory test simulations to examine unit load rigidity. This paper uses horizontal acceleration data collected from two air ride suspension trailers to quantify the rise times and steady‐state accelerations levels experienced by the vehicles in the longitudinal (braking) and lateral directions. These characteristics are essential in establishing test methods that accurately reflect field measured events. The results show that the rise times experienced by larger transport trailers are longer than previous reports using smaller trailers. The larger transport vehicles from the present study showed lower decelerations and accelerations in braking and lateral moving events, respectively, compared to smaller transport vehicles. Regardless of travel direction, the deceleration and acceleration levels are right‐skewed, with most of the events falling below 0.33 g.
Ordered Element Distributed C3N Quantum Dots Manipulated Crystallization Kinetics for 2D CsPbI3 Solar Cells with Ultra‐High Performance
Authors: Li Zhizai , Yang Siwei , Ye Caichao , Wang Gang , Ma Bo , Yao Huanhuan , Wang Qian , Peng Guoqiang , Wang Qiang , Zhang Hao‐Li , Jin Zhiwen
Published: February 2022

Two‐dimensional (2D) CsPbI3 is developed to conquer the phase‐stability problem of CsPbI3 by introducing bulky organic cations to produce a steric hindrance effect. However, organic cations also inevitably increase the formation energy and difficulty in crystallization kinetics regulation. Such poor crystallization process modulation of 2D CsPbI3 leads to disordered phase‐arrangement, which impedes the transport of photo‐generated carriers and worsens device performance. Herein, a type of C3N quantum dots (QDs) with ordered carbon and nitrogen atoms to manipulate the crystallization process of 2D CsPbI3 for improving the crystallization pathway, phase‐arrangement and morphology, is introduced. Combination analyses of theoretical simulation, morphology regulation and femtosecond transient absorption (fs‐TA) characterization, show that the C3N QDs induce the formation of electron‐rich regions to adsorb bulky organic cations and provide nucleation sites to realize a bi‐directional crystallization process. Meanwhile, the quality of 2D CsPbI3 film is improved with lower trap density, higher surface potential, and compact morphology. As a result, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the optimized device (n = 5) boosts to an ultra‐high value of 15.63% with strengthened environmental stability. Moreover, the simple C3N QDs insertion method shows good universality to other bulky organic cations of Ruddlesden‐Popper and Dion‐Jacobson, providing a good modulation strategy for other optoelectronic devices.