bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FIGO good practice recommendations on magnesium sulfate administration for preterm fetal neuroprotection
Authors: Shennan Andrew , Suff Natalie , Jacobsson Bo ,   the FIGO Working Group for Preterm Birth
Published: September 2021

In women at risk of early preterm imminent birth, from viability to 30 weeks of gestation, use of MgSO4 for neuroprotection of the fetus is recommended. In pregnancies below 32–34 weeks of gestation, the use of MgSO4 for neuroprotection of the fetus should be considered. MgSO4 should be administered regardless of the cause for preterm birth and the number of babies in utero. MgSO4 should be administered when early preterm birth is planned or expected within 24 h. When birth is planned, MgSO4 should commence as close as possible to 4 h before birth. If delivery is planned or expected to occur sooner than 4 h, MgSO4 should be administered, as there is still likely to be an advantage from administration within this time. The optimal regimen of MgSO4 for fetal neuroprotection is an intravenous loading dose of 4 g (administered slowly over 20–30 min), followed by a 1 g per hour maintenance dose. This regimen should continue until birth but should be stopped after 24 h if undelivered. When MgSO4 is administered, women should be monitored for clinical signs of magnesium toxicity at least every 4 h by recording pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and deep tendon (for example, patellar) reflexes.
Comparison and optimization of various moving patient‐based real‐time quality control procedures for serum sodium
Authors: Li Yuanyuan , Yu Qian , Zhang Xiaoyan , Chen Xiaoling
Published: September 2021

Background

Patient‐based real‐time quality control (PBRTQC) is a valuable tool for monitoring the performance of testing processes. We aimed to compare and optimize various PBRTQC procedures for serum sodium.

Methods

In a computer simulation, artificial errors were added to 680,000 real patients’ results. The characteristics of error detection of various algorithms—moving average, moving median, moving SD and moving proportion of normal results including different control limits (CLs)—were assessed on their ability to detect critical errors early.

Results

The moving average and moving median were sensitive to system error, and the moving SD tended to detect random error. P3SD (moving proportion of normal results, CLs based on mean and SD of proportion of normal results) demonstrated excellent performance for both system error and random error. The increase of block sizes (N) leads to the delay of error detection and the decrease of false rejection, except for QC procedures with minimum and maximum as CLs. CLs calculation with “0.1% false alarm rate” had more effective performance than that set false alarm to zero (minimum and maximum as CLs). The impact of truncation on QC performance depended on truncation limits, algorithms and the types of error. The significant improvement in QC performance due to truncation was only found in moving SD.

Conclusion

“P3SD,N = 50, without truncation” and “moving SD, N = 25, set 0.1% false alarm as CLs and set 1% outliers exclusion as truncation limits” were recommended as the optimized procedures for serum sodium to monitor system error and random error, respectively.
Potential engineers: A systematic literature review exploring Black children's access to and experiences with STEM
Authors: London Jeremi S. , Lee Walter C. , Hawkins Ash Chaneé D.
Published: September 2021

Background

As engineering remains central to the US economy, it is imperative that the innovators of this field reflect the world in which we live. Despite decades of concerted effort to broaden participation in engineering, representation continues to lack.

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide education researchers and practitioners with a clear understanding of barriers to the participation of Black American children in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Our interest is driven by the role that precollege STEM experiences play in children's likelihood of becoming potential engineering students.

Scope/Method

We conducted a systematic literature review of 41 articles focused on Black children in precollege STEM contexts. Each article underwent individual review to gain deeper insight into key contextual factors that enable and constrain these potential engineers.

Results

We situate our research findings in Perna's college choice model to highlight the key factors that may influence one's career and college decisions. The contextual factors are associated with the (1) social, economic, and policy context (e.g., racism, sexism, and classism); (2) STEM educational and community context (i.e., social perceptions and access); and (3) the local support context (i.e., teachers and family).

Conclusions

Our results represent the early workings of a “glass ceiling” above the heads of potential engineering students. The underrepresentation of Black Americans who thrive in engineering is a byproduct of the lack of accessibility to quality and advanced learning experiences that too often plague K–12 schools and communities that serve high populations of Black Americans. Such findings have implications for research and practice.
Optimally manage the energy between electric vehicle charging stations and electricity distribution system: A hybrid technique
Authors: Venkatakrishnan Giri Rajanbabu , Rengaraj Ramasubbu , Prakash Nattamai Balasubramanian
Published: September 2021

In this manuscript, the energy trading model is proposed for investigating the cooperative benefits between several electric vehicle charging stations (EVCSs) and integrated energy systems (IES) based on hybrid system. The proposed hybrid system is combination of Radial‐Basis Function Neural Network (RBFNN) and artificial transgender longicorn algorithm (ATLA), hence it is called RBFNN‐ATLA technique. Initially, the RBFNN approach manages the energy between IES and EVCSs. After that, the original issue breaks down into the main energy trade and payment negotiation issue. The energy trading issue and payment negotiation problem can be solved using ATLA approach. This proposed structure may not only diminish the IES cost, however also enlarge the EVCS profit. The uncertainties in electricity and renewable energy prices are modeled using a robust optimization technique. Additionally, the integrated demand response is modeled for maximizing operational performance. The distributed algorithm depends on the proposed technique is evolved for solving the issue of energy trading, ensuring the privacy of players. The proposed algorithm may obtain the global optimal solutions devoid of adjusting the parameter compared with existing algorithm. The proposed system is performed by the matrix laboratory (MATLAB)/Simulink and the performance is evaluated with other existing methods. The RBFNN‐ATLA method reduces the cost up to 3.76%, 7.793%, 8.210% and 9.01% for independent and cooperative mode. The experimental outcomes demonstrate that the proposed system can accurately detect that optimal global solution.
Diffusion tensor imaging‐based pontine damage as a degeneration marker in synucleinopathy
Authors: Chung Seok Jong , Cho Kyoo Ho , Lee Yang Hyun , Yoo Han Soo , Baik KyoungWon , Jung Jin Ho , Ye Byoung Seok , Sohn Young H. , Cha Jungho , Lee Phil Hyu
Published: September 2021

The pons is one of the earliest affected regions in patients with synucleinopathies. We aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of measuring pontine damage using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in these patients. We enrolled 49 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), 16 patients with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (iRBD), 23 patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA), and 39 healthy controls in this study. All the participants underwent high‐resolution T1‐weighted imaging and DTI. Mean diffusivity (MD) and fraction anisotropy (FA) values in the pons were calculated to characterize structural damage. The discriminatory power of pontine MD and FA values to differentiate patients with synucleinopathies from healthy controls was examined using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analyses. Compared to healthy controls, patients with PD, iRBD, and MSA had increased MD values and decreased FA values in the pons, although no correlation was observed between these DTI measures and disease severity. The ROC analyses showed that MD values in the pons had a fair discriminatory power to differentiate healthy controls from patients with PD (area under the curve [AUC], 0.813), iRBD (AUC, 0.779), and MSA (AUC, 0.951). The AUC for pontine FA values was smaller than that for pontine MD values when differentiating healthy controls from patients with PD (AUC, 0.713; p = 0.054) and iRBD (AUC, 0.686; p = 0.045). Our results suggest that MD values in the pons may be a useful marker of brain stem neurodegeneration in patients with synucleinopathies.
Biodegradation of phorate by bacterial strains in the presence of humic acid and metal ions
Authors: Singh Simranjeet , Kumar Vijay , Anil Amith G. , Romero Romina , Ramamurthy Praveen C. , Singh Joginder
Published: September 2021

Phorate is a systemic insecticide used to eradicate mites, insects, and nematodes. Extensive use of this organophosphate has engendered severe environmental concerns. The current research aimed to explore the kinetic pathways of phorate biodegradation in aqueous solutions. Two novel bacterial strains Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PR1 (KP268772.1) and Pseudomonas sp. PR_02 (KP268773.1) were isolated, screened, and developed given their potential to degrade phorate. Mineralization of phorate was assayed with and without the addition of metal ions [Fe (II) and Cu (II)] and humic acid (HA). In 14 days, experiment both strains have consumed about 69%–94.5% (half‐life from 3.58 to 6.02 days) of phorate. The observed biodegradation rate of phorate with Cu (II) in the system was 73% and 87%, with a half‐life of 4.86 and 4.07 days for PR1 and PR2, respectively. The biodegradation of phorate using Fe(II) was 69% and 82%, with half‐life periods 5.68 and 4.49 days. Meanwhile, incorporating HA, the phorate biodegradation was inhibited significantly, showing 71% and 85% degradation, with half‐life periods of 6.02 and 5.02 days. The results indicated that both bacterial strains were able to mineralize phorate with PR2 > PR1. Summarizing, the inhibition in phorate biodegradation order under different conditions was as HA > Fe (II) > Cu (II). UV–visible measurements and gas chromatography‐mass spectrometric assays indicated that the possible degradation pathway of phorate included ethoxy‐phosphonothio‐methanethiol S‐mercaptomethyl‐O,O‐dihydrogen phosphorodithioate, diethyl‐methylphosphonate, methane dithiol, ethanethiol, and phosphate, as the main metabolites identified. Therefore, it was concluded that the newly isolated Pseudomonas strains could be a potential candidates for biodegradation of phorate in a cost‐effective, safe, and environmentally friendly alternative.
Impact of Pacific Decadal Oscillation on interannual relationship between El Niño and South China Sea summer monsoon onset
Authors: Xu Meng , Xu Haiming , Ma Jing , Deng Jiechun
Published: September 2021

In this study, we investigate impact of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) on the interannual relationship between the El Niño and South China Sea summer monsoon onset (SCSSMO) using observations and community atmosphere model (CAM) simulations. We find that the interannual relationship between El Niño and SCSSMO during 1948–2019 has significant decadal variation, namely, this variation is consistent with PDO phase change. Specifically, a high El Niño‐SCSSMO correlation appears during the positive PDO phase from the mid‐1970s to the mid‐1990s; in contrast, no significant correlation exists during the negative PDO phase from the mid‐1950s to the mid‐1970s and also from the 2000s to the 2010s. Further analyses suggest that the PDO‐related sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs) in the western North Pacific (WNP), rather than in the North Pacific, modulate the El Niño‐SCSSMO relationship. The SSTAs in the WNP can prolong the existence of the anomalous WNP anticyclone (WNPAC) from the El Niño mature winter to the following May, and the corresponding western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) is stronger and extends further westward, thus causing a late SCSSMO during the positive PDO phase. In contrast, the WNPAC disappears and the WPSH withdraws earlier in May during the negative PDO phase, inducing an early onset of the SCSSM. The observed PDO's impact on the interannual relationship between the El Niño and SCSSMO is confirmed by CAM simulations.
Cardiometabolic risk: New chronic care models
Authors: Nieto‐Martínez Ramfis , González‐Rivas Juan P. , Mechanick Jeffrey I.
Published: September 2021

Cardiometabolic risk factors, and the chronic cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) that result from them, are highly prevalent in the US and amenable to clinical nutrition interventions. This creates an urgency to develop comprehensive care models that incorporate prevention‐based actions by improving lifestyle routines. Such care models should account for social determinants of health, ethnocultural variables, and challenges to sustainability. The relevance of these newly designed chronic care models is to inform and facilitate early intervention, primarily consisting of lifestyle changes and healthy nutrition, which mitigates progression from one stage to subsequent, higher morbidity stages to a greater extent than late intervention. In this article, the mechanistic drivers and ethnocultural validation of the Cardiometabolic‐Based Chronic Disease (CMBCD) model are reviewed. Main findings are that in CMBCD, primary (genetics, environment, and behavior) and metabolic (obesity as Adiposity‐Based Chronic Disease [ABCD], type 2 diabetes as Dysglycemia‐Based Chronic Disease [DBCD], hypertension, and dyslipidemia) drivers initiate and perpetuate the progression of CVD. Epidemiological findings and molecular mechanisms support intra‐ABCD/DBCD, as well as ABCD to DBCD stage progression culminating in CVD. The ABCD definition overcomes weight stigma and body mass index underperformance by considering adiposity amount, distribution, and function; and the DBCD definition overcomes criticisms of prediabetes and an exclusive glucocentric approach by considering insulin resistance and residual vascular risk along a clinical spectrum. In conclusion, clinicians should approach patients using the CMBCD model to incorporate lifestyle changes as early as possible to optimally mitigate the burden of CVD.
Structure‐function relationships of the human vertebral endplate
Authors: Wu Yuanqiao , Loaiza Johnfredy , Banerji Rohin , Blouin Olivia , Morgan Elise
Published: September 2021

Background

Although deformation and fracture of the vertebral endplate have been implicated in spinal conditions such as vertebral fracture and disc degeneration, few biomechanical studies of this structure are available. The goal of this study was to quantify the mechanical behavior of the vertebral endplate.

Methods

Eight‐five rectangular specimens were dissected from the superior and/or inferior central endplates of human lumbar spine segments L1 to L4. Micro‐computed tomography (μCT) imaging, four‐point‐bend testing, and ashing were performed to quantify the apparent elastic modulus and yield stress (modulus and yield stress, respectively, of the porous vertebral endplate), tissue yield stress (yield stress of the tissue of the vertebral endplate, excluding pores), ultimate strain, fracture strain, bone volume fraction (BV/TV), bone mineral density (BMD), and various measures of tissue density and composition (tissue mineral density, ash fraction, and ash density). Regression was used to assess the dependence of mechanical properties on density and composition.

Results

Wide variations in elastic and failure properties, and in density and tissue composition, were observed. BMD and BV/TV were good predictors of many of the apparent‐level mechanical properties, including modulus, yield stress, and in the case of the inferior vertebral endplate, failure strains. Similar values of the mechanical properties were noted between superior and inferior vertebral endplates. In contrast to the dependence of apparent stiffness and strength on BMD and BV/TV, none of the mechanical properties depended on any of the tissue‐level density measurements.

Conclusion

The dependence of many of the mechanical properties of the vertebral endplate on BV/TV and BMD suggests possibilities for noninvasive assessment of how this region of the spine behaves during habitual and injurious loading. Further study of the nonmineral components of the endplate tissue is required to understand how the composition of this tissue may influence the overall mechanical behavior of the vertebral endplate.
Quantitative assessments on induced high yielding mutant lines in urdbean [Vigna mungo (L.) hepper]
Authors: Goyal Sonu , Wani Mohammad Rafiq , Raina Aamir , Laskar Rafiul Amin , Khan Samiullah
Published: September 2021

Vigna mungo (L.) hepper is an important grain legume with immense potential for establishing food security worldwide. However, the low genetic variability due to the self‐pollination mode of reproduction restricts its improvement endeavours. Therefore, the present study aimed at increasing the genetic variability and mean values of quantitative traits was undertaken by treating two widely cultivated varieties T‐9 and Pant U‐30, with low, intermediate and high doses of gamma rays and ethyl methanesulfonate in single and combination sets. The study accomplished selection of six mutant lines with augmented yield and manifold increase in genetic parameters, namely, genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), heritability (h2), and genetic advance (GA) for economically important traits in M3 generation. A substantial increase in mean values of fertile branches per plant, pods per plant, and total plant productivity was noticed among the mutant lines. Phenotypic correlation between various character pairs showed a positive and significant relationship among the number of fertile branches, pods, total plant productivity, and negative association between the seed protein content and total plant yield in the selected mutant lines. In the control population, nitrate reductase activity (NRA), chlorophyll, carotenoid, and protein levels were significantly higher in M3 mutant lines in both varieties. The number and intensity of electrophoretic bands for seed protein in the mutant lines differed from the controls, indicating the mutagen induced polymorphism in protein bands among the mutant lines. In conclusion, the M3 high yielding mutant lines increased genetic variability, yield, protein, and pigment concentrations, isolated in this study, could serve as a valuable germplasm resource for black gram improvement programs.
Influence of dislocation on sour corrosion of carbon steel in a low H2S sour environment
Authors: Samusawa Itaru , Izumi Daich , Shimamura Junji
Published: September 2021

The influence of dislocation on corrosion of low alloy steel in a low H2S sour corrosion environment was investigated experimentally (immersion corrosion test and polarization measurement) and theoretically (ESM‐RISM simulation). The results showed that dislocation increases corrosion weight loss by promoting the anodic dissolution reaction. The Fe atom solubilities of two kinds of Fe slab models simulating conditions with/without lattice defects were evaluated, and the high Fe solubility of the model with lattice defects was clarified. Based on these experimental and theoretical findings, the mechanism by which dislocation influences anodic dissolution was discussed.
New approach for propagated light with optical solitons by optical fiber in pseudohyperbolic space ℍ02
Authors: Inc Mustafa , Körpınar Talat , Körpınar Zeliha , Baleanu Dumitru , Cem Demirkol Rıdvan
Published: September 2021

In this paper, a new evolution of polarized light ray by optical fiber in the pseudohyperbolic space
is examined. Firstly, the characterization of the parallel transportation law associated with the geometric pseudohyperbolic phase of the light ray is given. Later, a principle nature of electric and magnetic field along with the light ray in the pseudohyperbolic space
is defined by the geometric invariants. Finally, optical solutions of nonlinear pseudohyperbolic Schrödinger's equations governing the propagation of electromagnetic fields are successfully derived by using the traveling wave hypothesis approach.
Numerical solution for a porous fin thermal performance problem by application of Sinc collocation method
Authors: Nabati Mohammad , Salehi Gholamreza , Taherifar Somaye
Published: September 2021

Heat transfer can be enhanced in various equipment by utilizing fins that have pores in their media. Efforts have been made to solve the porous fins problem by numerical, semianalytical, and analytical methods. In this paper, after the extraction of equations and the expression of boundary conditions, the Sinc collocation method is employed for problem solving the first time. By using the properties of the Sinc collocation method, the nonlinear problem is discritized into a nonlinear system of equations. The results support the accuracy and speed of the solution. The effects of effective physical parameters such as fins porosity, thermal conductivity of fin, Raley's number, and Darcy parameter have been considered in solving the problem. Also, the variations in temperature distribution, efficiency, and performance of fins are investigated. Therefore, changes in the parameters of the solving method indicate the convergence of the problem in the domain of many issues. In general, the results show that the proposed method can be considered as a powerful method for solving different types of fines.
On inverse problem for linear and semilinear diffusion equation with Caputo–Fabrizio derivative
Authors: Hoang Luc Nguyen , Singh Jagdev , Nguyen Pham Quynh Trang , Thi Kim Van Ho
Published: September 2021

We investigate a fractional time diffusion equation with Caputo–Fabrizio derivative instead of classical derivative. We set up the existence, uniqueness, and regularity of the mild solution and then consider the above problem in some various cases including linear and nonlinear source function. Thanks to applying some Sobolev embeddings, we derive the regularity of the mild solution for linear case. For nonlinear case, we apply the fixed point theory to obtain the existence of the mild solution.
Technical Note: Clinical modeling and validation of breast tissue expander metallic ports in a commercial treatment planning system for proton therapy
Authors: Kang Yixiu , Shen Jiajian , Bues Martin , Hu Yanle , Liu Wei , Ding Xiaoning
Published: September 2021

Purpose

To validate breast tissue expander metallic port (MP) models in a commercial treatment planning system (TPS) in proton pencil beam scanning (PBS) treatments for breast cancer patients with breast tissue expanders.

Methods and materials

Three types of MPs taken out of a Mentor CPX4, a Natrelle 133, and a PMT Integra breast tissue expanders and a 650 cc saline filled Mentor CPX4 expander were placed on top of acrylic slabs, and scanned using a Siemens Somatom Definition AS Open RT CT scanner. Structure templates for each of the MPs were designed within Eclipse TPS. The CT numbers for the metallic parts were overridden to reflect measured or calculated relative proton stopping powers (RPSPs). Mock targets were contoured in acrylic to represent postmastectomy chest‐wall radiation therapy (PMRT) targets. Plans with different beam incident angles were optimized using the Eclipse TPS to deliver uniform prescription dose to the target using Hitachi Probeat‐V PBS beams. Eclipse calculated doses and an in‐house Monte Carlo (MC) code calculated doses were compared to the measured Gafchromic EBT3 film doses in acrylic.

Results

TPS/MC and film dose comparison results showed that (1) 3%/2 mm/10% threshold Gamma pass rates were better than 90.8% in the acrylic target region for all plans; (2) comparing TPS and film doses for the individual beam plans in the MP dose shadow areas, the area with dose difference above 5% ([ΔA] 5%) ranged from 1.1 to 5.0 cm2, and the maximum dose difference ([ΔD] 0.01 cm2) ranged from 12.5% to 25.0%; (3) comparing MC and film doses for the individual beam plans in the MP dose shadow areas, the (ΔA) 5% varied from 1.1 to 2.9 cm2 and (ΔD) 0.01 cm2 varied from 8.5% to 24.2%; (4) for a plan composed of three individual beams treating through the Mentor CPX4 expander, the TPS (ΔA) 5% was less than 0.13 cm2, and the (ΔD) 0.01 cm2 was less than 6% in the MP dose shadow areas.

Conclusions

It is feasible to treat patients with tissue expanders using multiple PBS beams using a structure template with CT number overridden to represent the measured/calculated RPSP for MPs for PBS treatment planning. MC dose was more accurate than analytical dose in the areas with high dose gradient caused by the density heterogeneity of the breast tissue expander MPs.
Quantitative lung perfusion blood volume using dual energy CT–based effective atomic number (Zeff) imaging
Authors: Li Ke , Li Yinsheng , Qi Zhihua , Garrett John W. , Grist Thomas M. , Chen Guang‐Hong
Published: September 2021

Background

Iodine material images (aka iodine basis images) generated from dual energy computed tomography (DECT) have been used to assess potential perfusion defects in the pulmonary parenchyma. However, iodine material images do not provide the needed absolute quantification of the pulmonary blood pool, as materials with effective atomic numbers (Zeff) different from those of basis materials may also contribute to iodine material images, thus confounding the quantification of perfusion defects.

Purpose

(i) To demonstrate the limitations of iodine material images in pulmonary perfusion defect quantification and (ii) to develop and validate a new quantitative biomarker using effective atomic numbers derived from DECT images.

Methods

The quantitative relationship between the perfusion blood volume (PBV) in pulmonary parenchyma and the effective atomic number (Zeff) spatial distribution was studied to show that the desired quantitative PBV maps are determined by the spatial maps of Zeff as , where a, b, and β are three constants. Namely, quantitative is determined by Zeff images instead of the iodine basis images. Perfusion maps were generated for four human subjects to demonstrate the differences between conventional iodine material image‐based PBV (PBViodine) derived from two‐material decompositions and the proposed method.

Results

Among patients with pulmonary emboli, the proposed maps clearly show the perfusion defects while the PBViodine maps do not. Additionally, when there are no perfusion defects present in the derived PBV maps, no pulmonary emboli were diagnosed by an experienced thoracic radiologist.

Conclusion

Effective atomic number–based quantitative PBV maps provide the needed sensitive and specific biomarker to quantify pulmonary perfusion defects.
A Multipore Model for Heterogeneous Catalytic Polymerization: Structure–Performance Relationships
Authors: Sheikhzadeh Mansoor , Pourmahdian Saeed
Published: September 2021

A novel single‐particle model is developed for the physicochemical processes involved in the heterogeneous catalytic polymerization. The model considers the reaction kinetics together with the detailed initial pore structure and explicitly describes the support fragmentation. It captures some of the most widely observed morphological features of heterogeneous catalysis for both before and after starting fragmentation, including the possibility of occurrence of both known fragmentation mechanisms. All the monomer mass conservation equations are solved using a robust semianalytical approach. The results show that the catalyst pore structure, which can be tuned during chemical preparations, has a vital role in determining the catalyst performance through changing the contribution of each of the two fragmentation mechanisms in the overall fragmentation process and that decreasing the propagation rate constant and/or increasing diffusion coefficient intensifies the continuous bisection mechanism. A potential fragmentation index is proposed in order to relate the fragmentation phenomenon to structural features of the catalyst. By defining a weighted average fill factor, it is shown that the fragmentation index is in fact a measure of how much the pores closer to the center relative to the pores closer to the surface are filled up at the fragmentation moment.
Transparency of nonprofit organizations: An integrative framework and research agenda
Authors: Dethier Fanny , Delcourt Cécile , Willems Jurgen
Published: September 2021

Over the past 20 years, as the study of transparency has evolved into a burgeoning multidisciplinary field, nonprofit scholars have developed an impressive body of research on the antecedents and outcomes of the transparency of nonprofit organizations (NPOs). From both theoretical and practical purposes, it is necessary to develop an overall picture of such antecedents and outcomes, to allow scholars and NPOs to understand why, when, and how transparency should be implemented. Current studies provide a fragmented view, focused on specific elements of NPO transparency; with a systematic literature review of 76 articles, this article offers both an integrative framework of the antecedents and outcomes of NPO transparency and an agenda for research, based on a critical analysis of the integrative framework. Four relevant research orientations emerge: (1) direction of NPO transparency, (2) distinguishing actual from perceived transparency, (3) the dark side of NPO transparency, and (4) NPO transparency contingency factors. Research along these four orientations could add nuance to existing knowledge of transparency and provide key insights with regard to why, when, and how transparency works.
Adherence to mobile‐app‐based dietary self‐monitoring—Impact on weight loss in adults
Authors: Payne Jason E. , Turk Melanie T. , Kalarchian Melissa A. , Pellegrini Christine A.
Published: September 2021

Objectives

Greater dietary self‐monitoring adherence is associated with weight loss, however, the dietary self‐monitoring adherence criteria that predict weight loss are unknown. The criteria used to define adherence to dietary self‐monitoring in obesity treatment tend to vary, particularly in studies that include dietary self‐monitoring via mobile applications (apps). The objectives of this study were to (a) determine weight change outcomes related to app‐based dietary self‐monitoring and (b) determine the associations between the frequency, consistency, and completeness of dietary self‐monitoring and weight change.

Methods

In this single‐arm uncontrolled prospective study, employees at a large, urban health system who had overweight or obesity self‐monitored dietary intake for 8 weeks using the Calorie Counter by FatSecret app. A paired sample t‐test examined the association of app‐based dietary self‐monitoring and weight change; linear regression examined the associations of frequent, consistent, and complete dietary self‐monitoring and weight change.

Results

A significant mean difference [t (89) = 6.59, p < 0.001] was found between baseline and 8‐week weight (M = −1.5 ± 2.1 kg) in the sample (N = 90). Linear regression revealed a significant association [F (1, 88) = 7.18, p = 0.009] between total weeks of consistent dietary self‐monitoring (M = 4.4 ± 2.8) and percent weight loss (M = −1.54% ± 2.26%), and a significant association [F (1, 88) = 6.42, p = 0.013] between dietary self‐monitoring frequency (M = 50.1% ± 33.3%) and percent weight loss. The total weeks of complete dietary self‐monitoring (M = 3.42 ± 2.87) was not associated [F (1, 88) = 3.57, p = 0.062] with percent weight loss.

Conclusions

Consistent and frequent app‐based dietary self‐monitoring were associated with short‐term weight loss. Emphasizing these aspects of self‐monitoring may be an avenue for decreasing the burden of self‐monitoring.
Along the government–media frontier: Press secretaries offline/online
Authors: Johansson Elena , Johansson Karl Magnus
Published: September 2021

While the position of press secretaries to ministers has become routinized, we still know little about their everyday life in the political executive. This article, based on in‐depth interviews with press secretaries and an inventory of social media use conducted among ministers and press secretaries in Sweden, explores what press secretaries do and the roles and functions they fill. It addresses the overarching question of what it is really like to be government press secretary. It engages with this question through a combination of methods, mapping, and explaining patterns of behavior across related fields and strategic spaces. We argue that existing research and role typologies, while still useful, must be developed by accounting more for how press secretary work changes through new techniques and digitalization. We conclude that press secretaries fill a mix of roles and these are quite stable, but social media impacts on the daily routine of the press secretary and are a part of the work that is difficult or impossible to control. In addition, this study of Swedish press secretaries helps to redress a geographical imbalance in political communication (system) research where the focus usually is on Anglo‐American‐based scholarship and systems.
Antiflaming poly(L‐lactide) by synthesizing polyurethane with phosphorus and nitrogen
Authors: Sun Qihao , Shen Yueshi , Wei Junge , Zhang Zhuanzhuan , Zhang Baochang , Song Xiaofeng
Published: September 2021

A novel polyurethane containing phosphorus and nitrogen (PU) was synthesized and characterized with 1H‐NMR, FTIR, and GPC. It was served as flame retardant to blend with poly(L‐lactide) (PLLA) through solution casting technique. PU particle dispersed in PLLA substrate irregularly and improved the crystallinity of PLLA. The initial decomposition temperature of PLLA composite was significantly lower, but char residue increased. Flame retardancy and mechanical properties of PU/PLLA blends were evaluated. When the blend ratio of PU/PLLA was 10 wt%, LOI was 26.8%, and UL94 test reached V‐2 grade. The inflaming retarding mechanism was outlined. The tensile strength of PLLA blend was 42.8 MPa, while its elongation at break was only 2%. By adjusting PU and adding compatilizer, the balance between flame retardancy and good mechanical properties of PLLA would be controlled.
Machine Learning with Explainable Artificial Intelligence Vision for Characterization of Solution Conductivity Using Optical Emission Spectroscopy of Plasma in Aqueous Solution
Authors: Wang Ching‐Yu , Ko Tsung‐Shun , Hsu Cheng‐Che
Published: September 2021

This study presents an explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) vision for optical emission spectroscopy (OES) of plasma in aqueous solution. We aim to characterize the plasma and OES with XAI. Trained with 18000 spectra, a multilayer artificial neural network (ANN) model accurately predicted the solution conductivity. Local interpretable model‐agnostics explanations (LIME), an XAI method, interpreted the model through perturbing spectral features and fitting the feature contribution with a linear model. LIME showed that OH, Hγ, and Hβ emission lines were critical to the model, differing from the lines typically selected by humans. The results demonstrated that machine captured the spectral features neglected by humans. We believe using XAI for plasma OES analysis impacts the fields of plasma and analytical chemistry.
Protein sequence‐to‐structure learning: Is this the end(‐to‐end revolution)?
Authors: Laine Elodie , Eismann Stephan , Elofsson Arne , Grudinin Sergei
Published: September 2021

The potential of deep learning has been recognized in the protein structure prediction community for some time, and became indisputable after CASP13. In CASP14, deep learning has boosted the field to unanticipated levels reaching near‐experimental accuracy. This success comes from advances transferred from other machine learning areas, as well as methods specifically designed to deal with protein sequences and structures, and their abstractions. Novel emerging approaches include (i) geometric learning, that is, learning on representations such as graphs, three‐dimensional (3D) Voronoi tessellations, and point clouds; (ii) pretrained protein language models leveraging attention; (iii) equivariant architectures preserving the symmetry of 3D space; (iv) use of large meta‐genome databases; (v) combinations of protein representations; and (vi) finally truly end‐to‐end architectures, that is, differentiable models starting from a sequence and returning a 3D structure. Here, we provide an overview and our opinion of the novel deep learning approaches developed in the last 2 years and widely used in CASP14.
Magnetotransport of Functional Oxide Heterostructures Affected by Spin–Orbit Coupling: A Tale of Two‐Dimensional Systems
Authors: Bartel Robert , Lettl Elias , Seiler Patrick , Kopp Thilo , Hammerl German
Published: September 2021

Oxide heterostructures allow for detailed studies of 2D electronic transport phenomena. Herein, different facets of magnetotransport in selected spin–orbit‐coupled systems are analyzed and characterized by their single‐band and multiband behavior, respectively. Experimentally, temperature and magnetic field dependent measurements in the single‐band system BaPbO3/SrTiO3 reveal strong interplay of weak antilocalization (WAL) and electron–electron interaction (EEI). Within a scheme which treats both, WAL and EEI, on an equal footing a strong contribution of EEI at low temperatures is found which suggests the emergence of a strongly correlated ground state. Furthermore, now considering multiband effects as they appear, e.g., in the model system LaAlO3/SrTiO3, theoretical investigations predict a huge impact of filling on the topological Hall effect in systems with intermingled bands. Already weak band coupling produces striking deviations from the well‐known Hall conductivity that are explainable in a fully quantum mechanical treatment which builds upon the hybridization of intersecting Hofstadter bands.
A comparative analysis of social vulnerability and proximity to coal‐fired power plants and windmill farms
Authors: Crowley Julia
Published: September 2021

This research examines if there are differences in the social vulnerability of U.S. residents living within a five‐mile radius of a coal‐fired power plant compared to residents living within a five‐mile radius of a windmill farm (N = 5776) for facilities in operation as of April 2020. Two logistic regression models were created with demographic data for 2020 and 2010 to account for the decline of the coal power industry and rise of the wind power industry. Results suggest that U.S. census tracts with higher percentages of populations aged 25 and over with a Bachelor's degree, living in poverty, minorities, and employed in the utilities sector were significantly more likely to live within a five‐mile radius of a coal power facility than a wind power facility for both the 2020 and 2010 models. The only major discrepancy between the two models involved the percentage of owner‐occupied housing as the variable was only a significant predictor for the 2010 model. Census tracts with higher percentages of owner‐occupied housing were less likely to be located near a coal power facility.
ID1/ID3 Mediate the Contribution of Skin Fibroblasts to Local Nerve Regeneration Through Itga6 in Wound Repair
Authors: Chen Zelin , Shen Gufang , Tan Xu , Qu Langfan , Zhang Can , Ma Le , Luo Peng , Cao Xiaohui , Yang Fan , Liu Yunsheng , Wang Yu , Shi Chunmeng
Published: September 2021

Cutaneous wound healing requires intricate synchronization of several key processes. Among them, local nerve regeneration is known to be vitally important for proper repair. However, the underlying mechanisms of local nerve regeneration are still unclear. Fibroblasts are one of the key cell types within the skin whose role in local nerve regeneration has not been extensively studied. In our study, we found skin fibroblasts were in tight contact with regenerated nerves during wound healing, while rare interactions were shown under normal circumstances. Moreover, skin fibroblasts surrounding the nerves were shown to be activated and reprogrammed to exhibit neural cell-like properties by upregulated expressing inhibitor of DNA binding 1 (ID1) and ID3. Furthermore, we identified the regulation of integrin α6 (Itga6) by ID1/ID3 in fibroblasts as the mechanism for axon guidance. Accordingly, transplantation of the ID1/ID3-overexpressing fibroblasts or topical injection of ID1/ID3 lentivirus significantly promoted local nerve regeneration and wound healing following skin excision or sciatic nerve injury. Therefore, we demonstrated a new role for skin fibroblasts in nerve regeneration following local injury by directly contacting and guiding axon regrowth, which might hold therapeutic potential in peripheral nerve disorders and peripheral neuropathies in relatively chronic refractory wounds.
Plasmonic Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells: Fundamentals, Recent Developments, and Future Perspectives
Authors: Javed Hafiz Muhammad Asif , Sarfaraz Muhammad , Nisar M. Zubair , Qureshi Akbar Ali , e Alam M. Fakhar , Que Wenxiu , Yin Xingtian , Abd‐Rabboh Hisham S. M. , Shahid Arslan , Ahmad M. Irfan , Ullah Sana
Published: September 2021

The rapid depletion of fossil fuel soon would drive us to look for an alternative clean energy resources to meet the global energy demand. Several attempts have been made in recent years to improve the performances of renewable energy devices to achieve higher efficiency and to compete with conventional energy sources. Solar cells have great potential for a sustainable solution to the world energy crisis. The titania (TiO2) is the most frequently used photoanode in dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSC) but its interfacial defects and restricted optical features lead it to low performance. The advent of Au/TiO2 nanocomposite materials as photoanode in DSSC has explored new approaches in the successful optimization of renewable energy devices. The newly invented plasmonic dye‐sensitized solar cells (PDSSC) also have optimized performance as well as reduced adverse effects. The fabrication of nanostructured composites with the inclusion of metallic nanoparticles is very helpful to increase the light scattering by plasmonic effects. The PDSSC facilitates the electronic transport by reducing the electron‐hole recombination rates due to the surface plasmon resonance effect of gold nanoparticles anchored with titania that's why these types of cells achieved maximum attention in the current era. In this review, fundamentals, recent developments, and future perspectives of PDSSC have been discussed.
Effect of Oxygen at Basic Oxygen Furnace Endpoint on Control of Inclusions in a Si–Mn Killed Steel
Authors: Liu Nan , Yang Wen , Zhang Lifeng , Wu Songjie
Published: September 2021

The existence of the dissolved aluminum and other impurity elements in alloys would inevitably lead to the formation of the Al2O3 component of inclusions in Si–Mn killed steels. Herein, the effect of dissolved oxygen at the endpoint of basic oxygen furnace (BOF) on the control of inclusions in a Si–Mn killed steel is investigated. With the increase in the dissolved oxygen at the BOF endpoint, the (FeO + MnO) content in the refining slag increases and the dissolved aluminum in the steel decreases as a whole. Meanwhile, the proper increase in the dissolved oxygen hardly deteriorated the cleanliness of the steel. As the equilibrium dissolved oxygen at the BOF endpoint increased from 148 to 402 ppm, the Al2O3 content of inclusions could be lowered to <4 wt%. Both industrial trials and the thermodynamic consideration indicate that increasing the dissolved oxygen at the endpoint of BOF can be an efficient approach to achieve the ultralow Al2O3 content of inclusions in the Si–Mn killed steel due to the oxidation of the dissolved aluminum by the oxygen both in the molten steel and in the refining slag.
Strength of SCLC recycled springs and fibers concrete subject to high temperatures
Authors: Pachideh Ghasem , Toufigh Vahab
Published: September 2021

In this article, the self‐compacting lightweight concretes (SCLC) with different fibers were prepared and exposed to elevated temperatures, and their mechanical properties were investigated. Three types of fibers were steel fibers (SF), polypropylene fibers (PPF), and metal springs with a volume fraction of 0.4%. One hundred and fifty cylindrical specimens were prepared, and the compression, tensile and flexural tests were carried out on them after exposure to high temperatures ranging from 25 to 700°C. The findings indicate that incorporation of steel fibers and springs enhanced the compressive strength of concrete by 20% compared to the control specimen. Meanwhile, the polypropylene fibers increased the tensile strength up to 70% after exposure to the elevated temperatures. The flexural strength of concrete in all specimens was dramatically reduced at the temperature of 700°C. Following an increase in temperature, the bending‐induced strain energy in the specimens containing steel fibers and metal spring increased by 70% and 88% in contrast to the control specimen. Conversely, the strain energy of the specimens containing polypropylene reduced by 70%. For all concrete mixes, the threshold temperature for severe strength loss in the compressive, tensile, and flexural strength tests was 500°C, and the strengths of concrete specimens decreased remarkably at the temperature of 700°C. Finally, the use of metal springs could relatively enhance the mechanical properties of SCLC and reduce the cost.
Limit of a Consistent Approximation to the Complete Compressible Euler System
Authors: Chaudhuri Nilasis
Published: September 2021

The goal of the present paper is to prove that if a weak limit of a consistent approximation scheme of the compressible complete Euler system in full space$$ \mathbb {R}^d,\; d=2,3 $$Rd,d=2,3is a weak solution of the system, then the approximate solutions eventually converge strongly in suitable norms locally under a minimal assumption on the initial data of the approximate solutions. The class of consistent approximate solutions is quite general and includes the vanishing viscosity and heat conductivity limit. In particular, they may not satisfy theminimal principle for entropy.
Consecutive Colouring of Oriented Graphs
Authors: Borowiecka-Olszewska Marta , Drgas-Burchardt Ewa , Javier-Nol Nahid Yelene , Zuazua Rita
Published: September 2021

We consider arc colourings of oriented graphs such that for each vertex the colours of all out-arcs incident with the vertex and the colours of all in-arcs incident with the vertex form intervals. We prove that the existence of such a colouring is an NP-complete problem. We give the solution of the problem for r-regular oriented graphs, transitive tournaments, oriented graphs with small maximum degree, oriented graphs with small order and some other classes of oriented graphs. We state the conjecture that for each graph there exists a consecutive colourable orientation and confirm the conjecture for complete graphs, 2-degenerate graphs, planar graphs with girth at least 8, and bipartite graphs with arboricity at most two that include all planar bipartite graphs. Additionally, we prove that the conjecture is true for all perfect consecutively colourable graphs and for all forbidden graphs for the class of perfect consecutively colourable graphs.