bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intensification of drought propagation over the Yangtze River basin under climate warming
Authors: Ma Feng , Yuan Xing , Liu Xinyue
Published: June 2023

The propagation from meteorological to hydrological drought is critical for better understanding hydrological drought. However, how climate change would affect the drought propagation has not been well studied, especially over regions mixed with massive human interventions. The study attempts to explore changes in the characteristics of meteorological and hydrological droughts, and the corresponding drought propagation under different climate change scenarios across six watersheds over the Yangtze River basin (YZB). Seasonal meteorological and hydrological droughts were characterized by using standardized precipitation and streamflow index at 3‐month scales (SPI‐3 and SSI‐3), which were calculated using precipitation simulations from 15 Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) climate models and streamflow simulations from PCR‐GLOBWB 2.0 hydrological model driven by CMIP6 outputs. Drought propagation characteristics, including propagation ratio, lag and lengthening, were then determined. Both meteorological and hydrological drought durations would shorten, while their drought severity would increase excluding a downstream watershed. About 40%–50% of meteorological droughts could develop into hydrological droughts, with lag time less than 1.4 months and lengthening time less than 1.8 months, respectively. Under climate warming, the drought propagation ratio would increase over two watersheds, while decrease and then increase over three watersheds. The drought propagation lag time is expected to prolong over the regions above Cuntan under moderate emission scenario, while prolong first and then shorten over most watersheds under high‐emission scenario. The drought propagation lengthening time would shorten over most watersheds excluding a downstream watershed, where drought conditions would further worsen during drought propagation. This study calls for climate mitigation efforts to suppress drought aggravation in the propagation particularly for the downstream YZB.
O/D emulsions stabilized by quaternary ammonium gemini surfactants together with alumina nanoparticles
Authors: Wei Peng , Wu Faming , Zhang Qinghua , Liu Zhirong
Published: June 2023

Oil‐in‐dispersion (O/D) emulsions are the focus in many fields due to their new microstructures and new functions. Herein, O/D emulsions were successfully prepared using series of cationic gemini surfactants 12‐s‐12 (s = 2, 3, and 6) and alumina nanoparticles. The microstructures and type of emulsions were identified using optical microscopy, zeta potential and contact angle methods. Gemini surfactants with two head groups carry more charges than that of conventional surfactants when adsorbed at the oil–water interface. The O/D emulsions can be stabilized at lower surfactant concentrations compared with the conventional single‐headed surfactants. In the presence of 0.1 wt% alumina nanoparticles, gemini surfactants 12‐s‐12 (s = 2, 3, and 6) can stabilize emulsions at the concentration of 3 × 10−4 mM (1.84 × 10−5 wt%), 6 × 10−4 mM (3.76 × 10−5 wt%) and 1 × 10−3 mM (6.68 × 10−5 wt%), respectively. Addition of excessive organic salts such as sodium salicylate and sodium p‐methylbenzenesulfonate shielded the head group charges of gemini surfactants, leading to gemini surfactants to behave as nonionic surfactants Adsorption of surfactants at the alumina nanoparticles occurred, resulting in the transformation from the O/D emulsions to Pickering emulsions. This work shows the advantages of preparing O/D emulsions using gemini surfactants and also provides a new methods of emulsion type transformations by adding excessive oppositely charged organic salts.
Fabrication mechanism and functional properties of ovalbumin fibrils prepared by acidic heat treatment
Authors: Chang Cuihua , Li Xin , Li Junhua , Su Yujie , Gu Luping , Xiong Wen , Yang Yanjun
Published: June 2023

BACKGROUND

Ovalbumin (OVA), accounting for 50% of proteins in egg white, is a kind of high‐quality protein with excellent nutritional and processing functions. Acid heat treatment will induce the deformation and filtration of OVA, endowing it with improved functionality. However, the molecular kinetic process during the fibrillation of OVA and the application of the fabricated OVA fibrils (OVAFs) have not been thoroughly studied and revealed.

RESULTS

In this study, the fabrication mechanism and the application OVAFs as an interfacial stabilizer and polyphenol protector were investigated. Acidic (pH 3.0) heat treatment was used to induce the fibrillation of OVA, and thioflavin T fluorescence intensity, molecular weight distribution, and the tertiary and secondary structures of OVAF samples were recorded to determine the fibrillation efficiency and the molecular mechanism. The results showed that, in the initial stage of fibrillation, OVA first hydrolyzed to oligopeptides, accompanied by the exposure of hydrophobic domains. Then, oligopeptides were connected by disulfide bonds to form primary fibril monomers. Hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bonding may participate in the further polymerization of the fibrils. The fabricated OVAFs were characterized by a β‐sheet‐rich structure and possessed improved emulsifying, foaming, and polyphenol protection ability.

CONCLUSION

The research work was meaningful for exploring the application of globular water‐soluble OVA in an emerging nutritious food with novel texture and sensory properties. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Air speed and plastic crate vent‐holes for wine grape quality during postharvest dehydration: commercial and laboratory studies
Authors: Santini Gregorio , Bianchi Alessandro , Pettinelli Stefano , Modesti Margherita , Cerreta Raffaele , Bellincontro Andrea
Published: June 2023

BACKGROUND

Airflow is an important issue to favor postharvest dehydration keeping wine grape quality. The aim of this experimental work was to analyze the grape quality during postharvest dehydration: (i) in a commercial facility (‘fruttaia’) by monitoring the efficiency of the ventilation system and (ii) at laboratory level, studying the influence of crate type and airflow direction.

RESULTS

In the fruttaia, the airflow was provided by an air duct hanging from the ceiling, and by floor fans. A great gap in air speed from 0 up to 3.7 m s−1 was measured in different sectors of the fruttaia, leading to a different weight loss and grape quality in crates, depending on crate stack height and sector. At the laboratory level, two tunnels, with exhaust or supply fans, were used and four crate types with different percentages of vent‐holes were adopted. A decrease of about 5% delayed the weight loss rate depending on the type of crate, and the exhaust fan guaranteed a faster dehydration.

CONCLUSION

The results clarified the inefficiency of the commercial ventilation system in ensuring homogeneous grape weight loss in all crates. In addition, the exhaust fan guaranteed a more uniform air distribution around crates, and a slightly higher air speed. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Utility of Color Doppler Ultrasonography in Monitoring of a Free Jejunal Flap
Authors: Maeda Taku , Ishikawa Kosuke , Oda Yoichiro , Kano Satoshi , Tsushima Nayuta , Sakashita Tomohiro , Homma Akihiro , Yamamoto Yuhei , Funayama Emi
Published: June 2023

Objectives

External color Doppler ultrasonography is reported to be a useful monitoring technique that is simple and noninvasive; however, details of imaging of the transferred free jejunal flap have not been reported. We reviewed our experience using external color Doppler ultrasonography to monitor a transferred free jejunal flap and examined its utility.

Study Design

Retrospective study.

Methods

Subjects were 43 patients who underwent total pharyngolaryngectomy, reconstruction with a free jejunal flap, and color Doppler ultrasonography before, during, and after surgery between September 2017 and December 2021.

Results

During surgery, arterial thrombosis was detected up to 100% with the loss of continuous color signals in the entire circumference. After surgery, the positive predictive value was 100% for each of wiggling movement, dynamic intestinal movement, and continuous color signals in the entire circumference on color Doppler ultrasonography for detecting flap viability. Their negative predictive value was 100%, 7.1%, and 50%, respectively.

Conclusions

During surgery, the continuous color signals in the entire circumference sign were useful with 100% negative predictive value for detecting the arterial thrombosis. After surgery, the wiggling movement sign very was useful with 100% positive and negative predictive values, enabling salvage surgery to be performed soon after detection of flap failure.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 133:3361–3369, 2023
Development and deployment of a long‐term aquatic eddy covariance system
Authors: Coogan Jeff , Long Matthew H.
Published: June 2023

The aquatic eddy covariance (AEC) technique is a versatile tool for understanding benthic fluxes, and calculating primary production, respiration, and net ecosystem metabolism rates of benthic communities. A limitation for researchers has been the length of deployments where the major constraints have primarily been sensor breakage and degradation over time and battery consumption. This paper evaluates the design and deployment of a long‐term eddy covariance system (LECS) that was deployed in a temperate seagrass meadow for 6 months that resulted in reliable data 79% of the time. The system consisted of a fixed bottom lander that measured the AEC and a surface buoy that transmitted real time data and provided solar power. This study found a gradual reduction in sensor response time, likely due to fouling, that reduced the response time from 1 to 22 s and resulted in a normalized root square mean error of 8% when comparing the LECS with a second short‐term AEC system. New spectral analysis techniques allow for these changes in sensor response time to be monitored in real time so the sensor can be replaced or cleaned as needed. This ensures future deployments will be able to collect high‐quality data and allow for long‐term analyses of benthic fluxes using the new technology and analyses of the presented LECS.
Synthesis and Characterization of Flexible Meta‐Aramid Modified with 4,4′‐Methylenedianiline
Authors: Hong Wenqin , Zhang Zheng , Xu Changhai , Xiao Guowei , Miao Dagang , Jiang Yang , Du Jinmei
Published: June 2023

Meta‐aramids (poly(m‐phenylene isophthalamide), PMIA) have excellent flame, heat resistance, and electrical insulation. However, the rigid molecular backbone of PMIA and the strong hydrogen bonding force between its molecular chains make it poorly flexible, soluble, and processed. In this study, a series of modified PMIA containing methylene groups on the main chain (APMIA‐n, where n is the molar fraction of 4,4′‐methylenedianiline (MDA) in m‐phenylenediamine, and n = 0, 5, 10, 15, 20) is synthesized by introducing different ratios of MDA into PMIA by copolymerization. APMIA‐n films are prepared by the solution casting method. The results show some improvement in the solubility of APMIA‐n in polar organic solvents such as N,N‐dimethylformamide and dimethyl sulfoxide. With the increase of the molar fraction of MDA, the tensile modulus of obtained APMIA‐n films decrease from 4.62 to 2.98 GPa, indicating that the flexibility of the films is evidently increased. APMIA‐n films are self‐extinguishing which suggests that the addition of MDA during copolymerization has a slight influence on the flame resistance of the synthesized PMIA. Moreover, APMIA‐n films containing MDA components exhibit good optical transparency, which may expand the application of PMIA in more fields such as packaging and screen display.
Longitudinal Imaging of Regional Brain Volumes, SV2A, and Glucose Metabolism In Huntington's Disease
Authors: Delva Aline , Van Laere Koen , Vandenberghe Wim
Published: June 2023

Background

Development of disease‐modifying treatments for Huntington's disease (HD) could be aided by the use of imaging biomarkers of disease progression. Positron emission tomography (PET) with 11C‐UCB‐J, a radioligand for the brain‐wide presynaptic marker synaptic vesicle protein 2A (SV2A), detects more widespread brain changes in early HD than volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 18F‐fludeoxyglucose (18F‐FDG) PET, but longitudinal 11C‐UCB‐J PET data have not been reported. The aim of this study was to compare the sensitivity of 11C‐UCB‐J PET, 18F‐FDG PET, and volumetric MRI for detection of longitudinal changes in early HD.

Methods

Seventeen HD mutation carriers (six premanifest and 11 early manifest) and 13 healthy controls underwent 11C‐UCB‐J PET, 18F‐FDG PET, and volumetric MRI at baseline (BL) and after 21.4 ± 2.7 months (Y2). Within‐group and between‐group longitudinal clinical and imaging changes were assessed.

Results

The HD group showed significant 2‐year worsening of Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale motor scores. There was significant longitudinal volume loss within the HD group in caudate (−4.5% ± 3.8%), putamen (−3.6% ± 3.5%), pallidum (−3.0% ± 2.7%), and frontal cortex (−2.0% ± 2.1%) (all P < 0.001). Within the HD group there was longitudinal loss of putaminal SV2A binding (6.4% ± 8.8%, P = 0.01) and putaminal glucose metabolism (−2.8% ± 4.4%, P = 0.008), but these changes were not significant after correction for multiple comparisons. Premanifest subjects at BL only had significantly lower SV2A binding than controls in basal ganglia structures, but at Y2 additionally had significant SV2A loss in frontal and parietal cortex, indicating spread of SV2A loss from subcortical to cortical regions.

Conclusions

Volumetric MRI may be more sensitive than 11C‐UCB‐J PET and 18F‐FDG PET for detection of 2‐year brain changes in early HD. © 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Detection of a Parkinson's Disease–Specific MicroRNA Signature in Nasal and Oral Swabs
Authors: Schließer Patricia , Struebing Felix L. , Northoff Bernd H. , Kurz Anna , Rémi Jan , Holdt Lesca , Höglinger Günter U. , Herms Jochen , Koeglsperger Thomas
Published: June 2023

Background

Biomaterials from oral and nasal swabs provide, in theory, a potential resource for biomarker development. However, their diagnostic value has not yet been investigated in the context of Parkinson's disease (PD) and associated conditions.

Objective

We have previously identified a PD‐specific microRNA (miRNA) signature in gut biopsies. In this work, we aimed to investigate the expression of miRNAs in routine buccal (oral) and nasal swabs obtained from cases with idiopathic PD and isolated rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (iRBD), a prodromal symptom that often precedes α‐synucleinopathies. We aimed to address their value as a diagnostic biomarker for PD and their mechanistic contribution to PD onset and progression.

Methods

Healthy control cases (n = 28), cases with PD (n = 29), and cases with iRBD (n = 8) were prospectively recruited to undergo routine buccal and nasal swabs. Total RNA was extracted from the swab material, and the expression of a predefined set of miRNAs was quantified by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction.

Results

Statistical analysis revealed a significantly increased expression of hsa‐miR‐1260a in cases who had PD. Interestingly, hsa‐miR‐1260a expression levels correlated with diseases severity, as well as olfactory function, in the PD and iRBD cohorts. Mechanistically, hsa‐miR‐1260a segregated to Golgi‐associated cellular processes with a potential role in mucosal plasma cells. Predicted hsa‐miR‐1260a target gene expression was reduced in iRBD and PD groups.

Conclusions

Our work demonstrates oral and nasal swabs as a valuable biomarker pool in PD and associated neurodegenerative conditions. © 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Association of Rare Variants in ARSA with Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Senkevich Konstantin , Beletskaia Mariia , Dworkind Aliza , Yu Eric , Ahmad Jamil , Ruskey Jennifer A. , Asayesh Farnaz , Spiegelman Dan , Fahn Stanley , Waters Cheryl , Monchi Oury , Dauvilliers Yves , Dupré Nicolas , Greenbaum Lior , Hassin‐Baer Sharon , Nagornov Ilya , Tyurin Alexandr , Miliukhina Irina , Timofeeva Alla , Emelyanov Anton , Trempe Jean‐François , Zakharova Ekaterina , Alcalay Roy N. , Pchelina Sofya , Gan‐Or Ziv
Published: June 2023

Background

Several lysosomal genes are associated with Parkinson's disease (PD), yet the association between PD and ARSA remains unclear.

Objectives

To study rare ARSA variants in PD.

Methods

To study rare ARSA variants (minor allele frequency < 0.01) in PD, we performed burden analyses in six independent cohorts with 5801 PD patients and 20,475 controls, followed by a meta‐analysis.

Results

We found evidence for associations between functional ARSA variants and PD in four cohorts (P ≤ 0.05 in each) and in the meta‐analysis (P = 0.042). We also found an association between loss‐of‐function variants and PD in the United Kingdom Biobank cohort (P = 0.005) and in the meta‐analysis (P = 0.049). These results should be interpreted with caution as no association survived multiple comparisons correction. Additionally, we describe two families with potential co‐segregation of ARSA p.E382K and PD.

Conclusions

Rare functional and loss‐of‐function ARSA variants may be associated with PD. Further replications in large case–control/familial cohorts are required. © 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Existence and multiplicity of solutions for a class of critical anisotropic elliptic equations of Schrödinger–Kirchhoff‐type
Authors: Chems Eddine Nabil , Duc Nguyen Phuong , Alessandra Ragusa Maria
Published: June 2023

In this article, we obtain the existence and infinitely many nontrivial solutions for a class of nonlinear critical anisotropic elliptic equations involving variable exponents and two real parameters, via combining the variational method, and the concentration‐compactness principle for anisotropic variable exponent under suitable assumptions on the nonlinearities.
Brain perfusion imaging by multi‐delay arterial spin labeling: Impact of modeling dispersion and interaction with denoising strategies and pathology
Authors: Pires Monteiro Sara , Pinto Joana , Chappell Michael A. , Fouto Ana , Baptista Miguel V. , Vilela Pedro , Figueiredo Patricia
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Arterial spin labeling (ASL) acquisitions at multiple post‐labeling delays may provide more accurate quantification of cerebral blood flow (CBF), by fitting appropriate kinetic models and simultaneously estimating relevant parameters such as the arterial transit time (ATT) and arterial cerebral blood volume (aCBV). We evaluate the effects of denoising strategies on model fitting and parameter estimation when accounting for the dispersion of the label bolus through the vasculature in cerebrovascular disease.

Methods

We analyzed multi‐delay ASL data from 17 cerebral small vessel disease patients (50 ± 9 y) and 13 healthy controls (52 ± 8 y), by fitting an extended kinetic model with or without bolus dispersion. We considered two denoising strategies: removal of structured noise sources by independent component analysis (ICA) of the control‐label image timeseries; and averaging the repetitions of the control‐label images prior to model fitting.

Results

Modeling bolus dispersion improved estimation precision and impacted parameter values, but these effects strongly depended on whether repetitions were averaged before model fitting. In general, repetition averaging improved model fitting but adversely affected parameter values, particularly CBF and aCBV near arterial locations in patients. This suggests that using all repetitions allows better noise estimation at the earlier delays. In contrast, ICA denoising improved model fitting and estimation precision while leaving parameter values unaffected.

Conclusion

Our results support the use of ICA denoising to improve model fitting to multi‐delay ASL and suggest that using all control‐label repetitions improves the estimation of macrovascular signal contributions and hence perfusion quantification near arterial locations. This is important when modeling flow dispersion in cerebrovascular pathology.
Efficient prediction of MRI gradient‐induced heating for guiding safety testing of conductive implants
Authors: Zanovello Umberto , Fuss Carina , Arduino Alessandro , Bottauscio Oriano
Published: June 2023

Purpose

To propose an efficient numerical method to predict the temperature increase of an implantable medical device induced by any linearly polarized homogeneous magnetic field, according to the ISO 10974 methodology for testing of gradient‐induced device heating.

Theory and Methods

The concepts of device‐specific power and temperature tensors are introduced to mathematically describe the electromagnetic and thermal anisotropic behavior of the device, from which the device heating for an arbitrary exposure direction can be predicted. The proposed method is compared to a brute‐force approach based on simulations, and validated by applying it to four reference orthopedic implants with a commercial simulation software.

Results

The proposed method requires about 5 of the time required by the brute‐force approach, and 30 of the memory occupancy. The temperature increase predicted by the proposed method over a range of incident magnetic field exposures deviated from brute‐force direct simulations by less than 0.3.

Conclusion

The proposed method allows efficient prediction of the heating of an implantable medical device induced by any linearly polarized homogeneous magnetic field using a small fraction of the simulations required by the brute‐force approach. The results can be used to predict the worst‐case orientation of the gradient field, for subsequent experimental characterization according to the ISO 10974 standard.
Trendbericht Lebensmittelchemie 2023
Authors: Loos Helene M.
Published: June 2023

Hören, sehen, riechen, schmecken, fühlen – mit unseren Sinnen nehmen wir Informationen über unsere Umwelt auf. So können wir die Qualität von Lebensmitteln einschätzen, aber auch – teils ohne es zu merken – mit unseren Mitmenschen kommunizieren. Gerade die Forschung zur chemischen Kommunikation beim Menschen erlebt nach Jahrzehnten einen erneuten Aufschwung in der Aroma‐ und Geruchsforschung, einem Teilbereich der Lebensmittelchemie.
Blickpunkt Biowissenschaften: Tintenfische schmecken anders
Authors: Groß Michael
Published: June 2023

Die Idee, dass nur Wirbeltiere komplexe Formen und höhere Intelligenz entwickeln können, haben Tintenfische längst über den Haufen geworfen. Jetzt zeigen strukturbiologische Untersuchungen, wie sich die Geschmackswahrnehmung in ihren Armen entwickelte.
Gefahrstoffverordnung: Stoffe und Verfahren ersetzen
Authors: Klemeyer Horst
Published: June 2023

Bei der Beratung zu Substitutionsprüfungen sind für einen Stoff etwa Luftgrenzwerte und Aufnahmewege zu berücksichtigen. Dabei hilft ein Spaltenmodell. Beispiele zeigen, wie sich dabei Prüfungsmethoden kombinieren lassen.
Promotionsrecht für Hochschulen für angewandte Wissenschaften: Kooperativ und selektiv
Authors: Zbikowski Frauke
Published: June 2023

Das Promotionsrecht für Hochschulen für angewandte Wissenschaften wird sich durchsetzen, meint das Centrum für Hochschulentwicklung.
The role of free‐strain assumption in axisymmetric electro‐osmosis‐enhanced preloading consolidation of unsaturated soil
Authors: Jiang Lianghua , Qin Aifang , Li Linzhong
Published: June 2023

The axisymmetric, equal‐strain consolidation theory of soil is widely employed in engineering due to the user‐friendliness of its solution. However, the radially averaged excess pore pressure (EPP) is unable to reveal the coupling effect of the radial electric field when the soil is consolidated by electro‐osmotic and surcharge preloading. In this paper, the axisymmetric consolidation analytical models with free strain and equal strain assumptions are developed to investigate the importance of the free strain assumption in the consolidation of unsaturated soil by electro‐osmosis‐aided preloading. The finite Hankel transform, decoupling technique, and Laplace transform are then utilised to derive the semi‐analytical solutions. Finally, the comparison of EPP, surface settlement, and average degree of consolidation under the two assumptions reveals that the free‐strain solution accurately shows the distribution of EPP at any point in the soils and the development of surface settlement at different radii, thus helping to analyse the electro‐osmotic consolidation characteristics. Moreover, it was discovered that electro‐osmosis combined with preloading allows for a more uniform consolidation of unsaturated soil. The difference in the average degree of consolidation under both assumptions is insignificant, while the installation distance of the cathode and anode vertical wells has a significant effect.
Efficient imaging using spiral acquisitions on a portable 50‐mT MR head scanner
Authors: Zhang Yuxiang , He Wei , Yang Lei , Xuan Liang , Wu Jiamin , He Yucheng , Guo Yi , Xu Zheng
Published: June 2023

Ultralow‐field (ULF) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can suffer from inferior image quality because of low signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR). As an efficient way to cover the k‐space, the spiral acquisition technique has shown great potential in improving imaging SNR efficiency at ULF. The current study aimed to address the problems of noise and blurring cancelation in the ULF case with spiral trajectory, and we proposed a spiral‐out sequence for brain imaging using a portable 50‐mT MRI system. The proposed sequence consisted of three modules: noise calibration, field map acquisition, and imaging. In the calibration step, transfer coefficients were obtained between signals from primary and noise‐pick‐up coils to perform electromagnetic interference (EMI) cancelation. Embedded field map acquisition was performed to correct accumulated phase error due to main field inhomogeneity. Considering imaging SNR, a lower bandwidth for data sampling was adopted in the sequence design because the 50‐mT scanner is in a low SNR regime. Image reconstruction proceeded with sampled data by leveraging system imperfections, such as gradient delays and concomitant fields. The proposed method can provide images with higher SNR efficiency compared with its Cartesian counterparts. An improvement in temporal SNR of approximately 23%–44% was measured via phantom and in vivo experiments. Distortion‐free images with a noise suppression rate of nearly 80% were obtained by the proposed technique. A comparison was also made with a state‐of‐the‐art EMI cancelation algorithm used in the ULF‐MRI system. SNR efficiency‐enhanced spiral acquisitions were investigated for ULF‐MR scanners and future studies could focus on various image contrasts based on our proposed approach to widen ULF applications.
Helen Garrett: University of Washington's Innovative Registrar
Authors: D’Orio Wayne
Published: June 2023

If you attended AACRAO's annual conference in Colorado this spring, chances are you came back to your job with a head‐swirling number of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act interpretations and the sound of Helen Garrett's voice ringing in your ears.
Understanding the benefits and challenges of creating customized flex‐path degrees
Authors: Sutton Halley
Published: June 2023

CHICAGO — Creating customized degrees is a way to serve the needs of your local marketplace, both by providing skilled workers and by offering adult learners a chance to pursue something directly in line with their own career goals and interests. But scaling these programs — making it possible to have a wide range of options for your students, without competing internally with your own programs — can prove to be a challenge.
Recruiting in Sub‐Saharan Africa: Opportunities and challenges
Authors: Dennis Marguerite J.
Published: June 2023

I consider that Africa is simply the central global, essential continent because it is here that the contemporary challenges collide. It is in Africa that part of the tipping of the world will be played.

Emmanuel Macron, France's president, 2017
Why should we care about emotional intelligence?
Authors: Hodges Dawn Z.
Published: June 2023

Generally, I don’t read articles about emotional intelligence. As a matter of course, I avoid them. If I see EI, I just keep scrolling. Why? Well, I haven’t really wanted to know if I’m emotionally intelligent or unintelligent.
Indicators of developmental status among adolescents and young adults with cancer: Perceived adult status, social milestones, and health‐related quality of life
Authors: Fladeboe Kaitlyn M. , Siembida Elizabeth J. , Ip Edward , Rosenberg Abby R. , Snyder Mallory A. , Salsman John M.
Published: June 2023

Objective

Developmental disruption contributes to poor psychosocial outcomes among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer, though indicators of AYAs' developmental status are not well understood. In this study, we describe perceived adult status as a novel developmental indicator and examine its associations with social milestones achievements and health‐related quality of life (HRQoL).

Methods

For this secondary analysis, AYAs with cancer were recruited using a 2 (on/off treatment) × 2 [emerging adults (EAs) 18–25 years‐old, young adults (YAs) 26–39 years‐old] stratified sampling design through an online research panel. Surveys assessed perceived adult status (i.e., self‐perception of the extent to which one has reached adulthood), social milestones (marital, child‐rearing, employment, educational status), demographic and treatment characteristics, and HRQoL. Generalized linear models tested associations between perceived adult status, social milestones, and HRQoL.

Results

AYAs (N = 383; Mage = 27.2, SD = 6.0) were majority male (56%) and treated with radiation without chemotherapy (37%). Most EAs (60%) perceived they had reached adulthood in some ways; most YAs (65%) perceived they had reached adulthood. EAs who perceived they had reached adulthood were more likely to be married, raising a child, and working than EAs who did not perceive they had reached adulthood. Among EAs, lower perceived adult status was associated with lower HRQoL when accounting for social milestones. Among YAs, perceived adult status was not associated with social milestones and neither perceived adult status nor social milestones were associated with HRQoL.

Conclusions

Perceived adult status may be a useful developmental indicator for EAs with cancer. Findings highlight unique developmental needs of EAs and utility of patient perspectives for understanding developmental outcomes.
Sensory integration versus Masgutova neuro‐sensorimotor reflex integration program on controlling primitive reflexes and gross motor abilities in children with diplegic cerebral palsy
Authors: Mohamed Mustafa A. , El‐Dein Manal Salah , EL‐Deen Sahar M. Nour , El Fakharany Mahmoud S.
Published: June 2023

Background and Objective

An abnormality in muscular tone, lack of postural control, and a lack of coordination are all linked to the retention of primitive and immature postural reflexes. The Purpose of this study aimed of detecting which therapeutic approach is more effective in integrating retained primitive reflexes, either Masgutova neuro‐sensorimotor reflex integration or Sensory integration (SI) program.

Methods

Forty children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (CP) (11 girls and 29 boys), involved in the current study and their ages ranged from 3 to 6 years old. They were divided at random into two groups (A and B), patients in the study group (A) (n = 20) were treated by Masgutova neuro‐sensorimotor reflex integration program (MNRI) while those of study group (B) (n = 20), were subjected to Sensory integration program (SIP), A standardized physical treatment regimen was provided to both groups (Stretching exercise, Strengthening exercise, and facilitation of developing motor milestones) All children were evaluated by using GMFM‐88 and (PDMS‐2) reflexes subtest before and after treatment that lasted for three successive months at a frequency of three sessions per week.

Results

There was a statistically substantial increase in GMFM scores and control of primitive reflexes post treatment in each group compared to those of the pretreatment mean values (p > 0.05). There was also a statistically non‐significance difference between group A and group B regarding post treatment results (p > 0.05).

Implications on Physiotherapy Practice

SI and MNRI programs can equally be used in the treatment of children with spastic CP who suffer from retained primitive reflexes and delayed gross motor function.
Failure factor analysis of China hazardous chemicals safety regulation system based on FMEA
Authors: Hao Chenyu , Fan Yunxiao , Huo Siyu , Niu Yi
Published: June 2023

In order to strengthen research on the identification and classification of the failure factors at the level of government safety regulation, comprehensively and systematically understand the failure of China's hazardous chemical safety regulation system, strengthen the prevention of hazardous chemical accidents, and construct China's hazardous chemical safety regulation system according to the principle of “Safety II”, the three subsystems of the regulation subject, regulatory object, and third‐party institution and their seven functional blocks are determined. Second, taking 26 dangerous chemical accidents as analysis materials, the failure mode and effect analysis method (FMEA) is used to analyze China's dangerous chemical safety regulation system. Nineteen failure modes of China's dangerous chemical safety regulation system are identified and the distribution of failure modes is analyzed and discussed. The results show that personnel failure is the main factor in the failure of the safety regulation system. Good institutional tools help to improve law enforcement work. The coordination between the regulatory agencies has an essential impact on the role of the regulatory body. It is necessary to strengthen the regulation of third‐party institutions.
Safety behavior in pesticide use among farmers of northern Greece: the role of information sources
Authors: Tsakiris Petros , Damalas Christos A , Koutroubas Spyridon D
Published: June 2023

BACKGROUND

Farmers' compliance with common safety practices in pesticide use (i.e., keeping records of pesticide applications, reading the information of pesticide labels, and taking protective measures during pesticide handling) and the use of information sources about pesticides were studied in a simple random sample of farmers in Evros Province, northern Greece.

RESULTS

According to the three common safety practices considered in the study, most farmers (56.9%) complied with safety practices. Nevertheless, a noticeable proportion of the farmers never kept records of pesticide applications (33.9%), never read the information of pesticide labels (20.2%), and never took protective measures during pesticide handling (24.8%). Farmers reported using up to six different sources of information about pesticides, but the majority (51.4%) reported using up to one source and almost one‐third (33.9%) relied on own sources. The most common information source about pesticides was the staff of the agricultural supply stores, used by 88.1% of the farmers. Safety behavior was positively correlated with total sources of information (P < 0.01) and information by the agricultural supply stores (P < 0.01). Multiple regression analysis showed that safety behavior was reduced in females, whereas it was increased in farmers with high education, high number of plots, and high level of information sources.

CONCLUSION

Despite good levels of safety behavior by most farmers, keeping records of sprayings should be improved. Using multiple information sources about pesticides is crucial to improve safety behavior of farmers. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Potential of entomopathogenic nematode‐infected insect cadavers for the biocontrol of the red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta
Authors: Wu Sheng‐Yen , Tang Huatao , Zhang Chen , Tang Fanxi , Lin Jihang , Wang Yuxin , Chen Lihong , Hou Youming
Published: June 2023

Background

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) in an aqueous suspension treatment showed potential in the biocontrol of the red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta, whereas colony relocation following this inundative application had restricted overall effectiveness. As a novel strategy, EPN pre‐infected insect cadavers carrying the next generation of nematode‐infective juveniles (IJs) might be used to efficiently manage insect pests. However, this strategy has not been tested on S. invicta. This study evaluated EPNs emerging from wax moth Galleria mellonella cadavers to facilitate infection of S. invicta compared to those used in aqueous suspensions.

Results

Among seven EPN species, Steinernema riobrave and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora had the highest insecticidal efficiency in aqueous treatment. Cadavers of G. mellonella colonized by either one of two EPN species were not damaged by worker ants, ensuring that the IJs could develop within and emerge successfully from the cadavers. Likewise, compared to an aqueous suspension treatment with an equivalent number of IJs, treatment with an S. riobrave‐infected cadaver increased the mortality of S. invicta by ≈10%, whereas infection by H. bacteriophora did not differ between treatments. However, the coexistence of S. riobrave‐ and H. bacteriophora‐infected cadavers adversely affected the control of S. invicta, likely as a result of competition resulting from the increased dispersal of each emerging EPN species.

Conclusion

Using EPN‐infected G. mellonella cadavers as a strategy increased the mortality of S. invicta in the laboratory. This study provides positive evidence for the future applications of S. riobrave‐infected cadavers in the biocontrol of red imported fire ants. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Light Out‐Coupling Enhancement of Blue Quantum‐Dot Light‐Emitting Diodes with Internal Diffraction Wrinkle Pattern
Authors: Qi Hui , Guo Peng , Yuan Peiling , Zang Shuaipu , Ding Xingxing , Zhang Ying , Jin Wentao , Zhang Kun , Chen Ling
Published: June 2023

Highly efficient blue quantum‐dot light‐emitting diodes (QLEDs) are still a challenge for displays and solid‐state lighting due to light trapping in a device. Herein, an internal diffraction wrinkle pattern is used to demonstrate a spectrum‐independent enhancement strategy for light out‐coupling. The optimized device with wrinkle pattern shows a peak external quantum efficiency of 15.25% and a maximum luminance of 13 134 cd m−2, and the enhancement of those is 23% and 28%, respectively. The improvement of device performance can be attributed to the extraction of waveguide light by the internal wrinkle pattern used as a diffraction grating. Moreover, simulation also shows that wrinkle pattern is an attractive option to improve the performances of blue QLEDs.
Atractylenolide‐III alleviates osteoarthritis and chondrocyte senescence by targeting NF‐κB signaling
Authors: Xu Yizhou , Hu Xiaofang , Cai Jiale , Li Yunlun , Zou Ying , Wang Yihan , Xie Changnan , Xu Shuyi , Wang Yanqing , Zheng Yuli , Mahamat Djibril Adam , Xu Yuantao , Wang Xianghai , Li Xican , Liu Aijun , Chen Dongfeng , Zhu Lixin , Guo Jiasong
Published: June 2023

Atractylenolide‐III (AT‐III) is well known as its role in antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory. Present study was aimed to figure out its effects on osteoarthritis and potential mechanisms. Rat model, human osteoarthritis cartilage explants as well as rat/human chondrocyte cultures were prepared to test AT‐III's effects on osteoarthritis progression and chondrocyte senescence. Potential targeted molecules of AT‐III were predicted using network pharmacology and molecular docking, assessed by Western blotting and then verified with rescue experiments. AT‐III treatment alleviated osteoarthritis severity (shown by OARSI grading score and micro‐CT) and chondrocyte senescence (indexed by levels of SA‐β‐gal, P16, P53, MMP13, ROS and ratio of healthy/collapsed mitochondrial membrane potentials). Network pharmacology and molecular docking suggested that AT‐III might play role through NF‐κB pathway. Further experiments revealed that AT‐III reduced phosphorylation of IKKα/β, IκBα and P65 in NF‐κB pathway. As well as nuclear translocation of p65. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments indicated that AT‐III's effects on osteoarthritis and anti‐senescence were reversed by an NF‐κB agonist. AT‐III could alleviate osteoarthritis by inhibiting chondrocyte senescence through NF‐κB pathway, which indicated that AT‐III is a prospective drug for osteoarthritis treatment.
The Role of Cascade Screening in Heritable Forms of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Varghese Nidhy P. , Padhye Akhilesh A. , Magoulas Pilar L. , Mallory George B. , Ruiz Fadel E. , Sahay Sandeep
Published: June 2023

Heritable pulmonary artery hypertension (HPAH) is an increasingly recognized type of pulmonary arterial hypertension, in both pediatric and adult population. Intrinsic to hereditary disease, screening for genetic mutations within families is an important component of diagnosis and understanding burden of disease. Recently, consensus guidelines are published for genetic screening in PAH. These guidelines include recommendations for screening at diagnosis, noting individuals with presumed PAH due to familial, or idiopathic etiologies. Cascade genetic testing is specifically recommended as a testing paradigm to screen relatives for detection of mutation carriers, who may be asymptomatic. Without targeted genetic testing, familial mutation carriers may only come to attention when pulmonary vascular disease burden is high enough to cause symptoms, suggesting more advanced disease. Here, we present our collective experience with HPAH in five distinct families, specifically to report on the clinical courses of patients who were diagnosed with genetic mutation at diagnosis versus those who were offered genetic screening. In three families, asymptomatic mutation carriers were identified and monitored for clinical worsening. In two families, screening was not done and affected family members presented with advanced disease.
Development of robust X‐bar charts with unequal sample sizes
Authors: Park Chanseok , Ouyang Linhan , Wang Min
Published: June 2023

The traditional variable control charts, such as the chart, are widely used to monitor variation in a process. They have been shown to perform well for monitoring processes under the general assumptions that the observations are normally distributed without data contamination and that the sample sizes from the process are all equal. However, these two assumptions may not be met and satisfied in many practical applications and thus make them potentially limited for widespread application especially in production processes. In this paper, we alleviate this limitation by providing a novel method for constructing the robust control charts, which can simultaneously deal with both data contamination and unequal sample sizes. The proposed method for the process parameters is optimal in a sense of the best linear unbiased estimation. Numerical results from extensive Monte Carlo simulations and a real data analysis reveal that traditional control charts seriously underperform for monitoring process in the presence of data contamination and are extremely sensitive to even a single contaminated value, while the proposed robust control charts outperform in a manner that is comparable with the traditional ones, whereas they are far superior when the data are contaminated by outliers.
A quantum chemical and kinetics study on the unimolecular reactions of fuel radicals formed during the oxidation of n‐propylamine
Authors: Sone Tatsuya , Miyazaki Yuta , Sakai Yasuyuki
Published: June 2023

The major intermediate product under co‐combustion conditions of hydrocarbon fuels with ammonia are amines. Herein, we have theoretically investigated the unimolecular reactions of fuel radicals formed during the oxidation of n‐propylamine. Quantum chemical calculations were performed to obtain the optimized structures and vibrational frequencies of reactants, products, and transition states at the B3LYP/aug‐cc‐pVTZ theory level. CCSD(T) single point energy calculations with the basis sets of aug‐cc‐pVDZ and aug‐cc‐pVTZ were further performed against the optimized structures, and the energies were extrapolated into infinite basis limit. Pressure‐dependent rate constants were calculated using Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus/master equation analysis. The major reaction pathways for the fuel radicals were found to be β‐scission reactions at CC or CN bonds, and minor pathways were internal hydrogen shift and β‐scission reactions at CH or NH bonds. The calculated reaction rate constant trends were attributed to the decrease in CC and CN bond dissociation energies due to substitution effects from the amino group.
Robotic‐assisted double lingual mucosal graft ureteroplasty for multifocal ureteral strictures: Case report and technical description
Authors: Zhou Yuancheng , Chai Shuaishuai , Cheng Gong , Xiao Xingyuan , Han Xiaomin , Li Bing
Published: June 2023

Background

Ureteroplasty with a single onlay graft for proximal ureter stricture has been widely used in the clinic. However, robotic ureteroplasty with a double lingual mucosal graft (RU‐DLMG) has not been reported.

Methods

The intraoperative measured ureteral stricture lengths of patient 1 were 1.8, 2.5, and 4.6 cm, and those of patient 2 were 2.5 and 3.5 cm. We performed a RU‐DLMG in which the diseased ureter was incised longitudinally from the ventral side and repaired with a double lingual mucosal graft to widen the ureteral lumen. Because of the presence of a distal ureter stricture, RU‐DLMG combined with ureteral reimplantation was performed in patient 1.

Results

Antegrade urography showed no obstruction of the reconstructed ureteral segment after removing the ureteral stent. The patients had no complaints about the donor site and flank pain during the 12‐month follow‐up.

Conclusions

RU‐DLMG appears to be a suitable option for multifocal ureteral strictures.
Robotic‐assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy for synchronous pulmonary sequestration and adenocarcinoma: A case report
Authors: He Hao , Wu Zeyu , Hu Qikang , Peng Muyun
Published: June 2023

Background

Pulmonary sequestration (PS) is a congenital pulmonary malformation. Adenocarcinoma arising in PS is extremely rare.

Methods and Results

We present the first reported case of synchronous intralobar PS and lung adenocarcinoma in the right lower lobe, which was successfully treated using robotic‐assisted thoracic surgery (RATS). The robotic system allowed for easy identification, clipping, and dissection of the abnormal artery, highlighting its benefits over traditional surgical approaches.

Conclusions

This case underscores the importance of considering the possibility of coexisting lung cancer in patients with a clinical diagnosis of PS and demonstrates the safety and efficacy of RATS in managing this rare condition.