bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Twin combination of Omicron and Delta variants triggering a tsunami wave of ever high surges in COVID‐19 cases: A challenging global threat with a special focus on the Indian subcontinent
Authors: Mohapatra Ranjan K. , Tiwari Ruchi , Sarangi Ashish K. , Sharma Sanjay K. , Khandia Rekha , Saikumar G. , Dhama Kuldeep
Published: January 2022

The emergence of Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant of SARS‐CoV‐2 has resulted into a very massive surge in COVID‐19 cases worldwide. Due to continuous emergence of multiple variants of SARS‐CoV‐2, the ongoing pandemic has caused severe morbidity and mortality in last two years. The rate of infectivity of Omicron variant is much higher than Delta variant and in a very quick time Omicron has displaced the Delta variant and now become a dominant variant across the globe. The twin combination of Omicron and Delta variant is triggering a Tsunami wave of ever high surges in COVID‐19 cases worldwide. This article highlights the global threats and challenges posed by Omicron, and strategies to counter it with a particular focus on Indian sub‐continent.
Identification and characterization of the novel bioactive compounds from microalgae and cyanobacteria for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications
Authors: Hassan Saqib , Meenatchi Ramu , Pachillu Kalpana , Bansal Sonia , Brindangnanam Pownraj , Arockiaraj Jesu , Kiran George Seghal , Selvin Joseph
Published: January 2022

Microalgae and cyanobacteria (blue‐green algae) are used as food by humans. They have gained a lot of attention in recent years because of their potential applications in biotechnology. Microalgae and cyanobacteria are good sources of many valuable compounds, including important biologically active compounds with antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer activities. Under optimal growth condition and stress factors, algal biomass produce varieties of potential bioactive compounds. In the current review, bioactive compounds production and their remarkable applications such as pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications along with processes involved in identification and characterization of the novel bioactive compounds are discussed. Comprehensive knowledge about the exploration, extraction, screening, and trading of bioactive products from microalgae and cyanobacteria and their pharmaceutical and other applications will open up new avenues for drug discovery and bioprospecting.
Raman spectroscopy and XPS study of the thermal decomposition of Mg‐hornblende into augite
Authors: Li Yongli , Huang Fei , Gao Wenyuan , Zhu Qi , Shen Can , Li Mingyu , Sun Xueyan , Wang Xiuchun
Published: January 2022

The breaking and reorganization of chemical bonds during the transformation of amphiboles to pyroxenes are obscure due to similar structures and seemingly stable tetrahedrons. A systematic heating experiment was carried out on amphibolites at medium and high temperatures (600–1180°C) to explore the transformation mechanism of double‐chain silicate minerals (amphiboles) to single‐chain silicate minerals (pyroxenes). It was found that the morphology of Mg‐hornblende changed significantly at 1050°C. Raman spectroscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed that a large amount of electron transfer promoted H+ escape during Fe2+ oxidation to Fe3+. Meanwhile, the decrease of ANa, AK, and TAl shortens the distance between the two tetrahedrons and breaks the O‐Si‐O bond connecting the tetrahedron and octahedron M4. Electron transfer between the octahedral and tetrahedral sites occurs at approximately 600°C. At ~900°C, a part of the Ca‐O electrons was transferred to the Ca‐O‐Si. Finally, the O‐Si‐O bond break caused Ca in M4 to move into cavity A‐site to form augite together with Si‐O‐Si at the site of T1‐T1, which behaves accordingly, the number of electrons lost by Ca‐O is similar to that gained by Si‐O‐Si at 1050–1100°C. This study provides direct evidence of Raman spectroscopy and XPS to reveal the phase transformation mechanism and establish phase transition thermometers of amphiboles to pyroxenes.
Do hunters target auxiliary markers? An example using black brant
Authors: Sedinger James S. , Lindberg Mark S. , Riecke Thomas V. , Leach Alan G. , Meixell Brandt W. , Nicolai Christopher A. , Koons David N.
Published: January 2022

Auxiliary markers play an essential role in understanding migration, movement, demography, and behavior of migratory birds. Use of such markers relies on the assumption that the markers do not affect the traits of interest. Neck collars, among the most conspicuous of markers, substantially affect risk of harvest, and survival even in the absence of harvest. Effects of less‐conspicuous markers, such as colored plastic tarsal bands, are not well understood. We used 30 years (1986–2015) of banding, recovery, and recapture data from the Yukon‐Kuskokwim Delta in Alaska, USA, to assess differences in direct band recovery rates (DRRs) between black plastic and brightly colored plastic bands applied to black brant (Branta bernicla nigricans). We also assessed the effect of the color of plastic tarsal bands on annual survival, risks of natural mortality harvest, and fidelity to the breeding colony of adult female black brant. When assessing only DRRs we found that brightly colored bands were recovered at higher rates than black plastic bands in the early 2000s, but DRRs for black bands increased more rapidly through time, resulting in similar DRRs for the 2 band colors at the end of the study. Using a Burnham model structure, our results demonstrated that individuals fitted with colored bands had slightly lower hazards of dying from natural causes or hunting than individuals carrying less‐conspicuous black tarsal bands. Differences on annual probability scales were small and credible intervals broadly overlapped between band types, indicating minimal differences between individuals with different band types; however, we could not resolve all confounding in our study design and we suggest that specific studies directed at assessing marker effects are warranted. We encourage education of hunters about their roles as citizen scientists and the potentially detrimental effect of targeting birds with auxiliary markers.
Behavioral responses of male elk to hunting risk
Authors: Smith Joshua B. , Spitz Derek B. , Brown Casey L. , Wisdom Michael J. , Rowland Mary M. , Forrester Tavis D. , Johnson Bruce K. , Clark Darren A.
Published: January 2022

Prey respond to predation risk with a range of behavioral tactics that can vary based on space use and hunting mode of the predator. Unlike other predators, human hunters are often more spatially and temporally restricted, which creates a period of short‐duration, high‐intensity predation risk for prey. Consequently, identifying the roles different hunting modes (i.e., archery and rifle), hunts for targeted and non‐targeted species, and landscape features play in altering spatial and temporal responses of prey to predation risk by humans is important for effective management of harvested populations. From 2009 to 2016, we used a large‐scale experiment including 50 animal‐years of location data from 38 unique male elk (Cervus canadensis) to quantify changes in movement and resource selection in response to hunters during 3 separate 5‐day controlled hunts for antlered males (elk archery, deer [Odocoileus spp.] rifle, and elk rifle) at the Starkey Experimental Forest and Range in northeast Oregon, USA. We evaluated competing hypotheses regarding elk responses to varying levels of prey risk posed by the different hunt types. We predicted that the strength of elk behavioral responses would increase with perceived hunter lethality (i.e., weak response to elk archery but similar response to elk and deer rifle hunts) and that prey response would be closely associated with hunter activity within the diel cycle (greater during diurnal than nocturnal hours) and across hunting seasons. Elk responses were strongest during diurnal hours when hunters were active on the landscape and were generally more pronounced during both rifle hunts than during the archery hunt (supporting our perceived lethality hypothesis). Male elk avoided open roads across all periods except during nocturnal hours of the breeding season and alternated between avoidance of areas with high canopy cover during nocturnal hours and selection during diurnal hours. In combination these patterns led to distinct distributional changes of male elk from pre‐hunt to hunt periods. Patterns of male elk selection highlight the importance of managing for heterogeneous landscapes to meet a variety of habitat, harvest, hunter satisfaction, and escapement objectives.
Habitat and weather influence body condition in white‐tailed deer, Wisconsin, USA
Authors: McGraw Amanda M. , Storm Daniel J. , Bronson Dustin R. , Pearson Teresa
Published: January 2022

In temperate and northern ecosystems where there are pronounced seasonal patterns in weather and available energy, there are corresponding patterns of body condition among white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Body condition of white‐tailed deer can affect survival and reproduction, which has large repercussions for state‐level natural resource agencies that allocate hunting permits. In this study, we investigated how variation in winter weather, spring phenology, habitat composition, and browse quantity affected white‐tailed deer body condition across a large spatial scale. Several body condition indicators (e.g., carcass mass, heart fat, antler size) were measured by hunters for 795 deer during September–December 2016–2018 in Wisconsin, USA. Winter severity in the previous year was an unreliable predictor of fall body condition of deer when winters were considered mild or moderate. The timing of spring green‐up had a consistent effect on the body condition of all age and sex classes of deer. Earlier spring green‐up resulted in heavier fawns and larger antlers among adult males. Region and spring green‐up interacted to affect the heart fat of adult females. Earlier springs resulted in adult females in northern and central Wisconsin having a higher probability of heavy heart fat, whereas spring green‐up had no effect on adult female heart fat in southern Wisconsin. Effects of habitat differed by age and sex class of deer, and by the body condition metric being evaluated, indicating that there are important physiological differences among age and sex classes of deer that are affected by the environment. Our study demonstrates that the hunting public can contribute large‐scale, cost‐effective, and quality data to deer monitoring and research projects. It is important that natural resource agencies be able to identify and recruit highly engaged members of the hunting public to ensure project success. The timing of spring green‐up can have lasting effects on deer health that can be consistently observed the following fall, which is in contrast to the effects of winter severity that did not appear to persist when previous winters were mild or moderate. We encourage managers in northern or temperate regions to consider measures of spring green‐up timing in conjunction with traditional winter severity when making deer population management decisions, such as antlerless tag allocation.
Supercharged massetric‐facial cross‐graft for gracilis reinnervation in unilateral facial palsy treatment
Authors: Bianchi Bernardo , Bergonzani Michela , Stella Enrica , Perlangeli Giuseppe , De Stefani Elisa , Sesenna Enrico , Ferri Andrea
Published: January 2022

Background

The choice of neurotization source for gracilis neuromuscular transplant is a key point in the treatment of unilateral long‐standing paralysis. To combine the advantages of different donor nerves and overcome their disadvantages, mixed neurotization sources have been described with encouraging results. The authors present a preliminary report of a novel technique, the “supercharged” cross‐graft, a two‐step technique consisting of a double powered cross nerve graft provided by a zygomatic branch of the healthy facial nerve and the masseter nerve of the healthy side.

Patients and methods

From January 2015 to December 2019 eight patients, aged between 19 and 61 years old (mean age at surgery 33.62) suffering unilateral established paralysis (congenital or acquired, >24 months) underwent gracilis reinnervation with the supercharged cross grafting technique. Subjects underwent a two‐step surgical rehabilitation: in the first operation sural nerve was harvested and used as cross‐graft cooptated by healthy side facial nerve branch and masseteric nerve. During second procedure gracilis neuromuscular transplant was performed reinnervarting the muscle with the cross‐graft. Patients were evaluated using Emotrics software, which allowed for automated facial measurements on post‐operative pictures taken at the last follow‐up. The results of the different poses were compared to assess the contribution to smile excursion by the masseter and facial nerve, together and separately. Finally, we analyzed spontaneous smile to assess whether masseteric contribution is used in daily life.

Results

No major or minor complications occurred. Follow‐up time ranged from 12 to 41 months, with a mean of 22.75 months. A good commissure excursion (mean 33.84 mm) was obtained during smile with no teeth clenching (without masseter activation), as well as during teeth clenching without smiling (activation of gracilis only – mean 32.55). When smiling and biting simultaneously the excursion was greater than the single two components (mean 35.91). In spontaneous smile, commissure excursion was higher (mean 34.23) than that provided by only the facial nerve (smile only) in most patients.

Conclusions

This novel technique of mixed neurotization for gracilis transplant shows consistent results with powerful contraction and good smile coordination. It also allows us to extend the indications for mixed neurotization techniques.
MR‐based truncation correction using an advanced HUGE method to improve attenuation correction in PET/MR imaging of obese patients
Authors: Lindemann Maike E. , Gratz Marcel , Blumhagen Jan Ole , Jakoby Bjoern , Quick Harald H.
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Truncation artifacts in the periphery of the magnetic resonance (MR) field‐of‐view (FOV) and thus, in the MR‐based attenuation correction (AC) map, may hamper accurate positron emission tomography (PET) quantification in whole‐body PET/MR, which is especially problematic in patients with obesity with overall large body dimensions. Therefore, an advanced truncation correction (TC) method to extend the conventional MR FOV is needed.

Methods

The extent of MR‐based AC‐map truncations in obese patients was determined in a dataset including n  =  10 patients that underwent whole‐body PET/MR exams. Patient inclusion criteria were defined as BMI > 30 kg/m2 and body weight > 100 kg. Truncations in PET/MR patients with obesity were quantified comparing the MR‐based AC‐map volume to segmented non‐AC PET data, serving as the reference body volume without truncations to demonstrate the need of improved TC. The new method implemented in this study, termed “advanced HUGE,” was modified and extended from the original HUGE method by Blumhagen et al. in order to provide improved TC across the entire axial MR FOV and to unlock new clinical applications of PET/MR. Advanced HUGE was then systematically tested in PET/MR NEMA phantom measurements. Relative differences between computed tomography (CT) AC PET data of the phantom setup (reference) and MR‐based Dixon AC, respectively Dixon + advanced HUGE AC, were calculated. The applicability of the method for advanced TC was then demonstrated in first MR‐based measurements in healthy volunteers.

Results

It was found that the MR‐based AC maps of obese patients often reveal truncations in the anterior–posterior direction. Especially, the abdominal region could benefit from improved TC, where maximal relative differences in the AC‐map volume up to −17% were calculated. Applying advanced HUGE to improve the MR‐based AC in PET/MR, PET quantification errors in the large‐volume phantom setup could be considerably reduced from average −18.6% (Dixon AC) to 4.6% compared to the CT AC reference. Volunteer measurements demonstrate that formerly missing AC‐map volume in the Dixon‐VIBE AC‐map could be added due to advanced HUGE in the anterior–posterior direction and thus, potentially improves AC in PET/MR.

Conclusions

The advanced HUGE method for truncation correction considerably reduces truncations in the anterior–posterior direction demonstrated in phantom measurements and healthy volunteers and thus, further improves MR‐based AC in PET/MR imaging.
Single‐voxel short‐TR multi‐TI multi‐TE STEAM MRS for water–fat relaxometry
Authors: Ruschke Stefan , Karampinos Dimitrios C.
Published: January 2022

Purpose

To propose a short‐TR multi‐TI multi‐TE (SHORTIE, [ˈshȯr‐tē]) STEAM single‐voxel MRS acquisition scheme for the simultaneous assessment of T1 relaxation, T2 relaxation, and the proton density fat fraction at reduced scan times when compared with conventional long‐TR multi‐TI STEAM and long‐TR multi‐TE STEAM single‐voxel MRS.

Methods

Theoretical analysis for multi‐TI (TI = 10, 100, 500, 1500 ms; scan time = 2:43 minutes), multi‐TE (TE = 12, 15, 20, 25 ms; scan time = 2:24 minutes), and SHORTIE STEAM (all TI and TE combinations; scan time = 2:52 minutes) was carried out including Cramér‐Rao lower bound and parameter estimation efficiency analysis for T1 (150–2000 ms) and T2 (5–150 ms) relaxation. The SHORTIE STEAM acquisition was compared with multi‐TI STEAM and multi‐TE STEAM in water–fat phantoms and in a human in vivo study of the adipose tissue depot in the supraclavicular fossa in 7 volunteers at 3 T.

Results

Cramér‐Rao lower bound analysis revealed similar to increased variances for T1 and T2 estimators for SHORTIE STEAM. Parameter efficiency analysis demonstrated superior performance of SHORTIE, particularly for shorter T1 and T2 when compared with multi‐TI STEAM and multi‐TE STEAM. For the phantom data, linear regression and Bland‐Altmann analysis yielded a slope/intercept/mean difference of 1.07/−15.40/−17.18 for T1 (in ms; r = 0.999), 0.93/+1.32/+1.09 for T2 (in ms; r = 0.995), and 0.98/−0.04/+0.78 for the fat fraction (in percent; r = 0.999); and for the in vivo data 1.08/+1.77/−62.2 for T1 (r = 0.994), 0.88/+6.69/−1.55 for T2 (r = 0.884), and 0.56/+34.40/−0.46 for the fat fraction (r = 0.673), respectively.

Conclusion

The SHORTIE STEAM acquisition allows shorter scan times for the simultaneous probing of relaxation properties and spectral content in the water–fat environment when compared with combined long‐TR multi‐TI, and long‐TR multi‐TE STEAM.
The status and predictors of self‐care among older adults with hypertension in China using the Chinese version of Self‐Care of Hypertension Inventory – A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Guo Yu‐Jie , Hu Xiao‐Yun , Ji Hong‐Juan , Zhao Qiao , Wang Long‐Yuan , Zhou Xiao‐Yan , Tang Jue , Yang Lei , Sun Xiang‐Chao
Published: January 2022

Aim

To investigate the status and predictors of self‐care among older adults with hypertension in China by the Chinese version of Self‐Care of Hypertension Inventory.

Design

A cross‐sectional questionnaire survey.

Methods

A convenience sampling of 544 older adults with hypertension was surveyed using the Chinese version of Self‐Care of Hypertension Inventory. SPSS25.0 software was used for statistical analysis of the data. Generalized liner model univariate analysis and the optimal scaling regression analysis were performed to investigate the predictors of self‐care.

Results

The status of self‐care was poor with the median and inter‐quartile range of total scores of self‐care (140.00 ± 67), the scores of self‐care maintenance (50 ± 24.76), the scores of self‐care management (56.25 ± 29.41) and the scores of self‐care confidence (54.79 ± 29.17). Age, family model, primary caregiver, maximum systolic blood pressure, coverage of medical insurance, disease duration, receiving self‐care education, education level, economic burden and family history of hypertension were the most powerful predictors of self‐care among older adults with hypertension.
When worlds collide: Non‐state actors, philanthropy and the commercial promotion of fertility control options in developing countries
Authors: Wale Jeffrey , Rowlands Sam
Published: January 2022

The purpose of this study is an ethical evaluation of the role of transnational philanthropic and commercial actors in the promotion and implementation of fertility control and family planning programmes in developing countries around the world. In particular, we consider the application, extension and association of collective and individualist ethical justifications to these actors. Our aim is to achieve a better understanding of the rights and obligations that different stakeholders might hold in this arena. We use a critical theoretical lens to examine conventional ethical discourse and literature to develop a fresh conceptual understanding of the arguments applicable to philanthropic and commercial actors in the context of fertility control and family planning. Whilst complex multi‐stakeholder arrangements make ethical assessment challenging, caution ought to be exercised in the application and extension of conventional state‐based justifications for fertility control or family planning to these transnational non‐state actors. Collective justifications or interests cannot be automatically extended to cover the activities of these organisations and actors in this context. Potential conflicts of interest and inequalities in the power dynamics between stakeholders are all too apparent. The lack of direct accountability and transparency of action also raises questions about the building of philanthropic partnerships and the appropriate degree of state and international oversight. State and philanthropic/commercial interests are unlikely to be aligned when the transformative goals of the latter promote self‐sufficiency and individualist agendas. This paper contributes to ethical knowledge of and literacy in philanthropic activities in the arena of family planning, sexual and reproductive health and fertility control. It offers guidance for the evaluation of these contributions and the development of global philanthropic partnerships.
Piezoelectric biodegradable poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) based electrospun fiber mats with tailored porosity
Authors: Marques‐Almeida Teresa , Fernandes Liliana C. , Correia Daniela M. , Tubio Carmen R. , Lanceros‐Mendez Senentxu , Ribeiro Clarisse
Published: January 2022

Piezoelectric polymers allow transducing a mechanical stimulus into an electrical voltage, and vice‐versa, leading to a large variety of sensor and actuator applications. Further, biodegradable platforms are increasingly needed in the environmental and biotechnological areas. In this context, this work reports on electrospun fiber based membranes with tailored physical properties and morphology, through the combination of the piezoelectric and biodegradable poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) polymer with poly(ethylene oxide). The use of a binary polymer mixture and a binary solvent system of chloroform and dimethylformamide allows these materials to have their external and internal morphologies tailored. The porosity of the neat and blend fibers ranges between 79% and 93%. The produced materials demonstrated huge potential for environmental and biotechnological applications that require piezoelectricity, biodegradability, and porosity.
A novel waterborne g‐CPP sizing agent for the interfacial enhancement of SCF/PP composites
Authors: Li Zheng , Wang Kexin , Liu Xudong , Hu Jiaoli , Zhang Jie , Yang Guorui , Xie Ruihang , Zhang Jialiang , Ao Yuhui
Published: January 2022

To enhance the interfacial adhesion of short carbon fiber (SCF) reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites, a new modified chlorinated polypropylene resin (g‐CPP) was synthesized and utilized to manufacture the sizing agent for SCF. The findings of thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry showed that g‐CPP had high thermal characteristics, with its glass transition temperature (Tg) raised by 11°C.The g‐CPP sizing agent that has been developed has increased storage stability (particle size was 109.8 nm). The contact angle of SCF was reduced from 81.52° to 60.04° after sizing, and the surface free energy was raised from 29.31 mN/m soared to 47.13 mN/m. The SCF/PP composites with 1 wt% sizing agent demonstrated the best interfacial adhesion, with improvements in flexural and tensile strengths of 54% and 39%, respectively. The interfacial reinforcement mechanism of sizing agent to improve interfacial adhesion was investigated. This work proposes an attractive way for the future preparation of high‐performance SCF/PP composites.
Direct measurement of axial compressive strength of carbon fibers using multifilament method
Authors: Zhixin Wang , Aijun Gao , Lianghua Xu , Yuanjian Tong
Published: January 2022

To measuring the compressive strength of carbon fibers accurately and effectively, a specially designed fixture was applied for directly measuring axial compressive strength of carbon fibers using T800HB‐12 K multifilament. Influence of adhesive thickness and specimen length on the testing results was investigated. Adhesive of epoxy effectively transferred compressive stress from the fixture to the specimen and provided enough support of multifilament rod from bending during compressive load. Typical shear failure for multifilament rod was realized for T800HB‐12 K carbon fibers during compression testing using the purposely designed fixture at adhesive thickness of 0.101–0.110 mm and test length of 2.0–3.0 mm. Compressive strength of about 2700 MPa with variation coefficient of 8% was obtained for T800HB‐12 K carbon fibers. The fixture and method established were capable for characterizing axial compressive strength of 1–24 K carbon fibers.
Interrater reliability of quantitative ultrasound measures of muscle in critically ill patients
Authors: Baston Cameron M. , Gellhorn Alfred C. , Hough Catherine L. , Bunnell Aaron E.
Published: January 2022

Background

Quantitative neuromuscular ultrasound is increasingly used to study muscle pathology and changes in muscle mass during critical illness. Advantages of ultrasound are high axial resolution, low procedural risks, no ionizing radiation, and ease of use early in the course of disease. However, ultrasound is known to be an operator dependent imaging modality and the intensive care unit setting poses additional challenges to obtaining reliable measurements. There is limited evidence validating the feasibility and reliability of its application in this setting.

Objective

To conduct a standardized protocol for measuring muscle linear depth and cross‐sectional area in critically ill populations with a high degree of interrater agreement and feasibility.

Design

Prospective observational cohort study of interrater reliability.

Setting

Medical intensive care unit at an academic medical center and a level one trauma and burn center.

Patients

Fifteen critically ill patients were evaluated using a standardized ultrasound protocol measuring total elbow flexor, knee extensor, and tibialis anterior depth, as well as rectus femoris cross‐sectional area. Each site was independently scanned by two investigators. Reliability of measurements between observers was determined by calculating intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) using a two‐way random effects model and absolute agreement. An ICC > 0.75 was considered good and >0.90 was considered excellent.

Results

In critically ill patients, interrater reliability of linear depth measured at elbow flexor, knee extensor, tibialis anterior, and cross‐sectional area of rectus femoris sites was good to excellent with ICC between 0.87 (0.54–0.97) and 0.99 (0.97–1.00). Interrater reliability was improved by creating a summary index of measures resulting in an ICC of 0.99 (0.98–1.00). Feasibility, as definite by the percentage of each measure that was obtainable, ranged from 75%–100%.

Conclusions

Using a standardized protocol, ultrasound measures obtained in critically ill patients demonstrated high levels of interrater agreement with good to excellent feasibility.
Recent Development and Directions in Printed Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Samantaray Nita , Parida Bhaskar , Soga Tetsuo , Sharma Ambika , Kapoor Avinashi , Najar Adel , Singh Arjun
Published: January 2022

Just over a decade ago, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) established themselves as the next generation of photovoltaic technology due to their comparably higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) (25.6%), cheaper and simpler manufacturing processes to that of Silicon solar cells. Based on the potential, several methods and processes have been developed to produce high‐quality perovskite films for commercialization of PSCs. It has recently been found that printing technology is very effective in controlling film formation, resulting in a high PCE of over 21%. This review summarizes the intense research that has been done on newer printing techniques to enlarge perovskite films and other layers such as the hole transport layer (HTL), the electron transport layer (ETL), and electrodes for PSCs. At the end, the review article describes the future scope of research to address the challenges of commercializing PSCs.
Power analysis for stepped wedge trials with multiple interventions
Authors: Sundin Phillip , Crespi Catherine M.
Published: January 2022

Stepped wedge design (SWD) trials are cluster randomized trials that feature staggered, unidirectional cross‐over between treatment conditions. Existing literature on power for SWDs focuses primarily on designs with two conditions, typically a control and an intervention condition. However, SWDs with more than one treatment condition are being proposed and conducted. We present a linear mixed model for SWDs with two or more interventions, including both multiarm and factorial designs. We derive standard errors of the intervention effect coefficients, and present power calculation methods. We consider both repeated cross‐sectional and cohort designs. Design features, with a focus on treatment allocations, are examined to determine their impact on power.
Customized Structure Design and Functional Mechanism Analysis of Carbon Spheres for Advanced Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Kang Junbao , Tian Xiaohui , Yan Chenzheng , Wei Liying , Gao Lu , Ju Jingge , Zhao Yixia , Deng Nanping , Cheng Bowen , Kang Weimin
Published: January 2022

Lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs) are attracting much attention due to their high theoretical energy density and are considered to be the predominant competitors for next‐generation energy storage systems. The practical commercial application of LSBs is mainly hindered by the severe “shuttle effect” of the lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) and the serious damage of lithium dendrites. Various carbon materials with different characteristics have played an important role in overcoming the above‐mentioned problems. Carbon spheres (CSs) are extensively explored to enhance the performance of LSBs owing to their superior structures. The review presents the state‐of‐the‐art advances of CSs for advanced high‐energy LSBs, including their preparation strategies and applications in inhibiting the “shuttle effect” of the LiPSs and protecting lithium anodes. The unique restriction effect of CSs on LiPSs is explained from three working mechanisms: physical confinement, chemical interaction, and catalytic conversion. From the perspective of interfacial engineering and 3D structure designing, the protective effect of CSs on the lithium anode is also analyzed. Not only does this review article contain a summary of CSs in LSBs, but also future directions and prospects are discussed. The systematic discussions and suggested directions can enlighten thoughts in the reasonable design of CSs for LSBs in near future.
Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes as an Additive in Organic Photovoltaics: Effects on Carrier Generation and Recombination Dynamics
Authors: Abudulimu Abasi , Eckstein Klaus , Gemayel Mirella El , Namal Imge , Phillips Adam B. , Ellingson Randy J. , Heben Michael J. , Hertel Tobias , Meier Sebastian B. , Lüer Larry
Published: January 2022

Employing single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) as an additive in the active layer of organic photovoltaics (OPV) to improve charge extraction is gaining weight in the research community. While SWNTs can transport charge carriers orders of magnitudes faster than conventional polymers, they also quench excitons and trap‐free charges, reducing device performance. Such influences of SWNTs on OPV device performance remain inadequately explored and incompletely understood. Herein, the impact of SWNTs, enriched in (6,5) chirality, on the charge generation and extraction properties of two different OPV devices is studied by femtosecond‐microsecond transient absorption spectroscopy and transient photovoltage/photocurrent techniques. It is shown that depending on the donor material properties (e.g., energetics), SWNTs can reduce carrier generation by quenching the excitons and increase carrier recombination through trapping processes. Then, by performing an analytical calculation of the current–voltage characteristics of the devices using the parameters determined via the transient measurements, it is shown that the increased recombination also relates to morphological changes induced by the SWNTs. These results shed light on the performance limiting factors of the SWNTs when incorporated into the active layer of the solar cells. This work thus can accelerate the blend optimization process for high‐performance organic solar cells.
Recent Advances in the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction of ZnxCd1−xS‐Based Photocatalysts
Authors: Liu Yuhao , Zheng Xinlong , Yang Yuqi , Song Yiming , Yang Yingjie , Li Jing , Shim Chong Michael , Shen Yijun , Tian Xinlong
Published: January 2022

Efficient solar‐to‐hydrogen (STH) conversion through water splitting relies on the development of low‐cost photocatalysts with high photoactivity and stability. ZnxCd1−xS, an emerging metal sulfide (MS) solid solution for STH, possesses several unique advantages, such as a tunable bandgap, abundant elemental constituents, and high stability. Although ZnxCd1−xS‐based photocatalysts are investigated for hydrogen evolution, their photoactivity still has to be enhanced for commercial applications. Herein, the design concept, crystal and band structure properties, and original photoactivity of ZnxCd1−xS are briefly introduced, and ZnxCd1−xS solutions with different morphologies and structures, modifications, synthesis methods, and vacancy engineering are then discussed. Subsequently, the combination of ZnxCd1−xS and cocatalysts and several representative ZnxCd1−xS‐based heterojunction photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution are reviewed and discussed in detail. Finally, the unsolved issues in the application of ZnxCd1−xS photocatalysts and their potential solutions for developing advanced ZnxCd1−xS‐based photocatalysts are discussed.
A Deep Learning Neural Network for the Residential Energy Consumption Prediction
Authors: Huang Jinhai , Pang Chengxin , Yang Weijun , Zeng Xinhua , Zhang Jun , Huang Chizhi
Published: January 2022

In order to provide guidance for demand‐side management and improve energy efficiency, the accuracy of residential electricity demand forecasting plays a significant role. Data‐driven methods and deep learning network methods have been proved an effective methods for time series forecasting. In the context, the current research work proposes a novel neural network model based on convolutional neural network (CNN)‐attention‐bidirectional long‐short term memory (BiLSTM) to predict residential energy consumption. The proposed approach combines CNN, attention mechanism, and BiLSTM, initially implementing CNN to extract the effective features of the original data. Subsequently, the extracted segments are employed as the input of attention‐BiLSTM to predict energy consumption, where the attention mechanism comprehensively considers the output of BiLSTM neurons and assigns weights to neurons at each timestamp. In this article, we evaluate the proposed method using household electricity consumption data. This paper selects different input timestamp lengths (10/60/120 min, respectively) to validate the model's performance. We compare evaluation indicators (root mean square error, mean absolute error, mean absolute percentage error [MAPE]) between the proposed method and the state‐of‐the‐art prediction methods. The experimental result shows that the proposed method achieves higher energy consumption forecasting accuracy and has the lowest average MAPE (3.7%). © 2022 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Gross anatomy of the musculature of the thoracic limb of the aulacod
Authors: Kabkia Dieudoné , Ataba Aklesso , Agba Kondi Charles
Published: January 2022

Objective

The cane rat is a wild rodent appreciated for its meat. Currently domesticated, its breeding is expanding in sub‐Saharan Africa where it originates. However, the pathological problems already identified during the domestication phase of the cane rat on station still constitute a major constraint to the development of aulacodiculture. Our study aims at filling the lack of illustrations on the myology of the thoracic limb of the cane rat

Methodology

We used 16 adults cane rats ranging in age from 3 to 4 years

Results

The study of the different muscles of the thoracic limb reveals many similarities in the Glires (rodents and lagomorphs). However, some particularities are noteworthy. Indeed, in the cane rat, the deltoid muscle, as well as the muscles of the forearm, are very developed with its three portions, the biceps brachii and brachialis muscles are fusiform and the triceps brachii muscle has a very bulky long part (caput longum)

Conclusion

These illustrations will be very effective tools for understanding the muscles of the thoracic limbs and a reliable technical support for veterinary students and practitioners.
Detection of candidate genes affecting milk production traits in sheep using whole‐genome sequencing analysis
Authors: Rezvannejad Elham , Asadollahpour Nanaei Hojjat , Esmailizadeh Ali
Published: January 2022

Background

Artificial and natural selection for important economic traits and genetic adaptation of the populations to specific environments have led to the changes on the sheep genome. Recent advances in genome sequencing methods have made it possible to use comparative genomics tools to identify genes under selection for traits of economic interest in domestic animals.

Objectives

In this study, we compared the genomes of Assaf and Awassi sheep breeds with those of the Cambridge, Romanov and British du cher sheep breeds to explore positive selection signatures for milk traits using nucleotide diversity (Pi) and FST statistical methods.

Methods

Genome sequences from fourteen sheep with a mean sequence depth of 9.32X per sample were analysed, and a total of 23 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were called and applied for this study. Genomic clustering of breeds was identified using ADMIXTURE software. The FST and Pi values for each SNP were computed between population A (Assaf and Awassi) and population B (Cambridge, British du cher, and Romanov).

Results

The results of the PCA grouped two classes for these five dairy sheep breeds. The selection signatures analysis displayed 735 and 515 genes from FST and nucleotide diversity (Pi) statistical methods, respectively. Among all these, 12 genes were shared between the two approaches. The most conspicuous genes were related to milk traits, including ST3GAL1 (the synthesis of oligosacáridos), CSN1S1 (milk protein), CSN2 (milk protein), OSBPL8 (fatty acid traits), SLC35A3 (milk fat and protein percentage), VPS13B (total milk production, fat yield, and protein yield), DPY19L1 (peak yield), CCDC152 (lactation persistency and somatic cell count), NT5DC1 (lactation persistency), P4HTM (test day protein), CYTH4 (FAT Production) and METRNL (somatic cell), U1 (milk traits), U6 (milk traits) and 5S_RRNA (milk traits).

Conclusions

The findings provide new insight into the genetic basis of sheep milk properties and can play a role in designing sheep breeding programs incorporating genomic information.
Community‐based social interventions for people with severe mental illness: a systematic review and narrative synthesis of recent evidence
Authors: Killaspy Helen , Harvey Carol , Brasier Catherine , Brophy Lisa , Ennals Priscilla , Fletcher Justine , Hamilton Bridget
Published: January 2022

People living with severe mental illness (SMI) are one of the most marginalized groups in society. Interventions which aim to improve their social and economic participation are of crucial importance to clinicians, policy‐makers and people with SMI themselves. We conducted a systematic review of the literature on social interventions for people with SMI published since 2016 and collated our findings through narrative synthesis. We found an encouragingly large amount of research in this field, and 72 papers met our inclusion criteria. Over half reported on the effectiveness of interventions delivered at the service level (supported accommodation, education or employment), while the remainder targeted individuals directly (community participation, family interventions, peer‐led/supported interventions, social skills training). We identified good evidence for the Housing First model of supported accommodation, for the Individual Placement and Support model of supported employment, and for family psychoeducation, with the caveat that a range of models are nonetheless required to meet the varied housing, employment and family‐related needs of individuals. Our findings also highlighted the importance of contextual factors and the need to make local adaptations when “importing” interventions from elsewhere. We found that augmentation strategies to enhance the effectiveness of social interventions (particularly supported employment and social skills training) by addressing cognitive impairments did not lead to transferable “real life” skills despite improvements in cognitive function. We also identified an emerging evidence base for peer‐led/supported interventions, recovery colleges and other interventions to support community participation. We concluded that social interventions have considerable benefits but are arguably the most complex in the mental health field, and require multi‐level stakeholder commitment and investment for successful implementation.
The efficacy of psychotherapies and pharmacotherapies for mental disorders in adults: an umbrella review and meta‐analytic evaluation of recent meta‐analyses
Authors: Leichsenring Falk , Steinert Christiane , Rabung Sven , Ioannidis John P.A.
Published: January 2022

Mental disorders represent a worldwide public health concern. Psychotherapies and pharmacotherapies are recommended as first line treatments. However, evidence has emerged that their efficacy may be overestimated, due to a variety of shortcomings in clinical trials (e.g., publication bias, weak control conditions such as waiting list). We performed an umbrella review of recent meta‐analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of psychotherapies and pharmacotherapies for the main mental disorders in adults. We selected meta‐analyses that formally assessed risk of bias or quality of studies, excluded weak comparators, and used effect sizes for target symptoms as primary outcome. We searched PubMed and PsycINFO and individual records of the Cochrane Library for meta‐analyses published between January 2014 and March 2021 comparing psychotherapies or pharmacotherapies with placebo or treatment‐as‐usual (TAU), or psychotherapies vs. pharmacotherapies head‐to‐head, or the combination of psychotherapy with pharmacotherapy to either monotherapy. One hundred and two meta‐analyses, encompassing 3,782 RCTs and 650,514 patients, were included, covering depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, post‐traumatic stress disorder, obsessive‐compulsive disorder, somatoform disorders, eating disorders, attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder, substance use disorders, insomnia, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and bipolar disorder. Across disorders and treatments, the majority of effect sizes for target symptoms were small. A random effect meta‐analytic evaluation of the effect sizes reported by the largest meta‐analyses per disorder yielded a standardized mean difference (SMD) of 0.34 (95% CI: 0.26‐0.42) for psychotherapies and 0.36 (95% CI: 0.32‐0.41) for pharmacotherapies compared with placebo or TAU. The SMD for head‐to‐head comparisons of psychotherapies vs. pharmacotherapies was 0.11 (95% CI: –0.05 to 0.26). The SMD for the combined treatment compared with either monotherapy was 0.31 (95% CI: 0.19‐0.44). Risk of bias was often high. After more than half a century of research, thousands of RCTs and millions of invested funds, the effect sizes of psychotherapies and pharmacotherapies for mental disorders are limited, suggesting a ceiling effect for treatment research as presently conducted. A paradigm shift in research seems to be required to achieve further progress.
Correction to: A Roadmap to Drive Adoption of Data Ecosystems
Authors: Zillner Sonja , Le Bars Laure , de Lama Nuria , Scerri Simon , García Robles Ana , Tonna Marie Claire , Kenneally Jim , Mayer Dirk , Hahn Thomas , Caj Södergård , Seidl Robert , Carbonare Davide Dalle , Curry Edward
Published: January 2022

The original version of the chapter was inadvertently published with an error. The affiliation of the author Davide Dalle Carbonare has now been corrected to “Engineering Ingegneria Informatica, Rome, Italy”.
Understanding Suicide-Related Risk in Immigrant and Ethnic and Racial Minority Youth Through an Ecological and Developmental Context
Authors: Meca Alan , Polanco-Roman Lillian , Cowan Isis , Jimenez Audris
Published: January 2022

The US is home to the world’s largest immigrant population, with an estimated 51 million foreign-born migrants, who largely originate from the global south. A significant proportion of the US population thus experiences acculturation or psychological changes as they navigate between different cultural environments. Contemporary conceptualizations of acculturation draw on a bidimensional conceptualization that posits heritage retention and acquisition of the host culture as independent dimensions spread across cultural identification, values, and practices. Such models facilitate the study of the impact of acculturative processes on suicide-related risk in immigrant adolescents, particularly of ethnic and racial minority background. Although early findings suggest immigrant youth are at lower risk for suicide than US-born youth, recent findings indicate this relation is more nuanced and that acculturative processes may play an important role in suicide-related risk in immigrant and racial and ethnic minority adolescents.

This chapter reviews traditional and contemporary models of acculturation and describes the role of acculturation in suicide-related risk among adolescents from immigrant families. Potential explanatory mechanisms behind the association between acculturation and suicide-related risk are identified, as well as conceptual and methodological limitations that have been prominent in the field of acculturation. Recommendations are provided pointing out how the field might best move forward. This chapter concludes with clinical implications and discusses the benefits of integrating acculturation into suicide prevention strategies to reduce suicide-related risk in immigrant and ethnic and racial minority adolescents.