bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Borophene and Boron‐Based Nanosheets: Recent Advances in Synthesis Strategies and Applications in the Field of Environment and Energy
Authors: Chand Hushan , Kumar Ashish , Krishnan Venkata 
Published: July 2021

AbstractSince the discovery of borophene in 2014, tremendous efforts have been invested in exploring its synthesis methods as well as in exploiting the potential applications. Borophene has been progressively used in the field of chemistry, material science, nanotechnology, and condensed matter physics. This review discusses the physical (thermal, electronic, superconductive, and mechanical) and chemical properties of borophene followed by the advances in the experimental synthesis strategies and finally its applications in the field of environment and energy. Initially, the potential of borophene as a heterogeneous catalyst is discussed in CO2 reduction, N2 fixation, hydrogen evolution and oxygen evolution reactions followed by its use as a potential material for hydrogen storage, supercapacitors as well as its use as an anode material in batteries. Finally, a detailed summary followed by an outlook on the future potential of borophene as a remarkable material for environment and energy applications is presented.
Materials and Cytokines in the Healing of Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Authors: Kim KaKyung , Mahajan Aryan , Patel Kamiya , Syed Shareef , Acevedo‐Jake Amanda M. , Kumar Vivek A. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractDiabetes affects an increasing number of patients, and is associated with sustained and chronic inflammation. Complications arising from diabetes, including hypoxia, neuropathy, hyperglycemia, and ischemia that contribute to a delayed and reduced healing response result in chronic slow healing wounds. Here, key differences in native versus diabetic wound healing during each phase of healing are discussed, and the roles of cells and their secreted cytokines which regulate this process are outlined. Monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1) is a pro‐inflammatory mediator which plays a key role in modulating angiogenesis. Its importance in diabetic wound healing as well as recent work using MCP‐1 and similar chemokines to reduce inflammation and improve healing are reviewed. The delayed healing response observed in diabetic patients often results in the formation of slow healing wounds, commonly presenting in the lower extremities as diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs); classification systems and current treatment options for DFUs, including debridement, off‐loading, and amputation are outlined. Common dressing strategies are highlighted, and recent work developing biocompatible and bioactive hydrogels to address and hasten chronic wound healing is focused on.
New methods for the additive hazards model with the informatively interval‐censored failure time data
Authors: Zhao Bo , Wang Shuying , Wang Chunjie , Sun Jianguo 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe additive hazards model is one of the most commonly used models for regression analysis of failure time data and many inference procedures have been developed for it under various situations. In particular, Wang et al. (2018a, Computational Statistics and Data Analysis, 125, 1–9) discussed the situation where one observes informatively interval‐censored data and proposed a likelihood estimation approach. However , it involves estimation of the unknown baseline cumulative hazard function and thus may be time‐consuming . Corresponding to this, we propose two new procedures, an estimating equation‐based one and an empirical likelihood‐based one, and both do not need estimation of the cumulative hazard function and can be easily implemented. The asymptotic properties of the proposed methods are established and an extensive simulation study suggests that they work well in practical situations. An application is also provided.
Bioanalytical RP‐HPLC method for the determination of ponazuril in plasma
Authors: Cox Sherry , Harvill Lainey , Singleton Sarah , Bergman Joan , DeBolt Becky 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe goal of this investigation was to establish a reliable technique for the quantitation of ponazuril in limited sample volumes. Samples were extracted with chloroform and separation was achieved with a Symmetry RP18 column. Ultraviolet absorption was measured at 254 nm. A combination of 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile (50:50) was used as the mobile phase. The calibration curve was linear from 0.1–25 μg/mL, with a lower limit of quantification of 0.1 μg/mL with a 100 μL sample. The precision and accuracy were well within the range set by the Food and Drug Administration and the recovery was over 95%. This technique was used to analyze ponazuril samples and found to be appropriate for pharmacokinetic studies.
Profiling COVID‐related experiences in the United States with the Epidemic‐Pandemic Impacts Inventory: Linkages to psychosocial functioning
Authors: Grasso Damion J. , Briggs‐Gowan Margaret J. , Carter Alice S. , Goldstein Brandon L. , Ford Julian D. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe COVID‐19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the lives of individuals, families, and communities around the world with constraints on multiple aspects of daily life. The purpose of the present study was to identify specific profiles of pandemic‐related experiences and their relation to psychosocial functioning using the 92‐item Epidemic‐Pandemic Impacts Inventory (EPII). Data were collected as part of a cross‐sectional, online survey of adults (18+) residing in the Northeast region of the United States (N = 652) and recruited via online advertisements. Person‐centered latent class analysis (LCA) was applied to 38 pandemic‐related experiences that showed a significant bivariate correlation with perceived stress. Measures of psychosocial risk were also obtained. Results revealed five unique profiles of respondents based on patterns of pandemic‐related experiences. Three profiles representing about 64% of the sample were characterized by moderate to high exposure to adverse experiences during the pandemic and were more likely to screen positive for depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress. These profiles were differentiated by sociodemographic differences, including age, caregiving, and employment status. Two profiles differentiated by age and caregiver status represented about 36% of the sample and were characterized by relatively low exposure to adverse experiences and lower risk for psychosocial impairment. Findings support the EPII as an instrument for measuring tangible and meaningful experiences in the context of an unprecedented pandemic disaster. This research may serve to identify high‐risk subpopulations toward developing public health strategies for supporting families and communities in the context of public health emergencies such as the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Zeolitic Vanadotungstates with Ultrahigh Porosities for Separation of Butane and Isobutane
Authors: Hu Panpan , Zhu Qianqian , Zhang Zhenxin , Li Yanshuo , Ueda Wataru 
Published: July 2021

AbstractZeolitic vanadotungstates with tunable microporosity have potential interests in gas separation. The pore openings of the materials are in between the diameters of normal butane and isobutane, which causes the materials only adsorb normal butane. The breakthrough experiments show that the materials effectively separate normal butane from the normal butane and isobutane mixture even at high temperatures. The robust materials can be reused without loss of the separation performance.
Limits of High Recovery Inland Desalination: Closed‐Circuit Reverse Osmosis – a Viable Option?
Authors: Futterlieb Martin , ElSherbiny Ibrahim M. A. , Tuczinski Marc , Lipnizki Jens , Panglisch Stefan 
Published: July 2021

AbstractCost‐efficient operation of inland brackish water reverse osmosis (BWRO) demands a high recovery. As recovery of BWRO is often limited to scaling, antiscalants (AS) are applied, whose environmental impact is disputed. In this paper, different systems (conventional single‐ and two‐stage plug flow RO (PFRO) and closed‐circuit RO (CCRO)) were simulated in various configurations (AS dosing, ion exchange (IEX) pretreatment, elements per vessel) to determine the recovery limiting factor for a hard feed. The novel proposed IEX‐CCRO reached the highest recovery without AS dosing. PFRO configurations had lower recoveries, mainly due to hydraulic limitations. Utilizing RO brine reduced both the water demand and salts necessary for IEX regeneration.
Long‐term outcomes in patients with normal coronary arteries, nonobstructive, or obstructive coronary artery disease on invasive coronary angiography
Authors: Hanson Christopher A. , Lu Edwin , Ghumman Saad S. , Ouellette Michelle L. , Löffler Adrián I. , Beller George A. , Bourque Jamieson M. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackgroundNormal or near normal coronary arteries (NNCA) or nonobstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) are commonly found on invasive coronary angiography (ICA).HypothesisWe aimed to determine long‐term outcomes by severity of CAD in a contemporary cohort of patients undergoing ICA for evaluation for ischemic heart disease.MethodsWe assessed a consecutive cohort of 925 patients who underwent non‐emergent ICA over 24 months. Cardiac death (CD), nonfatal myocardial infarction (NFMI), late revascularization, and medication use were assessed.ResultsFollow‐up data was available in 850 patients. Of patients without heart failure, at a median of 6.0 years, there was a significant decrease in survival free from CD or NFMI, and from all cardiac events, for those with obstructive CAD compared with patients with NNCAs or nonobstructive CAD (p < .001 for both). No differences between NNCA and nonobstructive CAD patients in rates of CD or NFMI (2.0% vs. 2.1%/year, p = .58) or all cardiac events (2.4% vs. 2.9%/year, p = .84) were observed.ConclusionLong‐term follow‐up in a contemporary cohort of consecutive patients undergoing non‐emergent ICA for detection of CAD showed no difference in annual rates of CD or NFMI, or total cardiac events, in patients with NNCAs versus those with nonobstructive CAD, whereas patients with obstructive CAD had significantly more events. Event rates were low and similar by gender. Use of aspirin, lipid lowering therapy, and beta‐blockers increased in all subgroups after ICA. We speculate this may explain the low incidence of subsequent cardiac events, and similar event rates in patients with NNCA and nonobstructive CAD, even in patients presenting with non‐ST‐elevation MI.
Organization and neural connections of the lateral complex in the brain of the desert locust
Authors: Hensgen Ronja , Göthe Jonas , Jahn Stefanie , Hümmert Sophie , Schneider Kim Lucia , Takahashi Naomi , Pegel Uta , Gotthardt Sascha , Homberg Uwe 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe lateral complexes (LXs) are bilaterally paired neuropils in the insect brain that mediate communication between the central complex (CX), a brain center controlling spatial orientation, various sensory processing areas, and thoracic motor centers that execute locomotion. The LX of the desert locust consists of the lateral accessory lobe (LAL), and the medial and lateral bulb. We have analyzed the anatomical organization and the neuronal connections of the LX in the locust, to provide a basis for future functional studies. Reanalyzing the morphology of neurons connecting the CX and the LX revealed likely feedback loops in the sky compass network of the CX via connections in the gall of the LAL and a newly identified neuropil termed ovoid body. In addition, we characterized 16 different types of neuron that connect the LAL with other areas in the brain. Eight types of neuron provide information flow between both LALs, five types are LAL input neurons, and three types are LAL output neurons. Among these are neurons providing input from sensory brain areas such as the lobula and antennal neuropils. Brain regions most often targeted by LAL neurons are the posterior slope, the wedge, and the crepine. Two descending neurons with dendrites in the LAL were identified. Our data support and complement existing knowledge about how the LAL is embedded in the neuronal network involved in processing of sensory information and generation of appropriate behavioral output for goal‐directed locomotion.
A comparison of non‐invasive methods of measuring body composition in patients with heart failure: a report from SICA‐HF
Authors: Shah Parin , Abel Alexandra A.I. , Boyalla Vennela , Pellicori Pierpaolo , Kallvikbacka‐Bennett Anna , Sze Shirley , Cleland John G.F. , Clark Andrew L. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackgroundCachexia is common in patients with chronic heart failure and is associated with poor prognosis. How best to measure body composition is not clear.Methods and resultsWe characterized body composition in 120 patients with chronic heart failure: mean (SD) age 70 (10) years, left ventricular ejection fraction 44 (10) %, and median (Q1–Q3) N‐terminal pro B‐type natriuretic peptide 845 (355–1368) ng/L. We measured body composition using dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and a multi‐frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) device (Tanita BIA MC‐180MA). Mean (SD) fat mass (FM) was 27.2 (11.7) kg by BIA and 32.3 (12.2) kg by DEXA (mean difference −5.1 kg, 95% limits of agreement: −11.7, 1.5; 4% of values outside limit of agreement); mean (SD) lean mass (LM) was 56.6 (10.9) kg by BIA and 51.1 (9.9) kg by DEXA (mean difference 5.5 kg, 95% limits of agreement: −1.3, 12.3; 6% of values outside limit of agreement); and mean (SD) bone mass (BM) was 3.0 (0.5) kg by BIA and 2.8 (0.6) kg by DEXA (mean difference 0.2 kg, 95% limits of agreement: −0.5, 0.8; 5% of values outside limit of agreement). There was a close correlation between DEXA and BIA for both LM and FM (LM: r = 0.95, P < 0.001; FM: r = 0.96, P < 0.001) but less so for BM (r = 0.84, P < 0.001). Both DEXA and BIA body composition measurements correlated well with other measures of body size (body mass index, hip circumference, and waist circumference).ConclusionsThere are differences in the measurements of FM, LM, and BM between the two techniques, which should not be used interchangeably.
New insights into the conversion of electropherograms to the effective electrophoretic mobility scale
Authors: Codesido Santiago , Drouin Nicolas , Ferré Sabrina , Schappler Julie , Rudaz Serge , González‐Ruiz Víctor 
Published: July 2021

AbstractCE–MS is increasingly gaining momentum as an analytical tool in metabolomics, due to its ability to obtain information about the most polar elements in biological samples. This has been helped by improvements of robustness in peak identification by means of mobility‐scale representations of the electropherograms (mobilograms). As a necessary step toward facilitating the use of CE–MS for untargeted metabolomics data, the authors previously developed and introduced ROMANCE, a software automating mobilogram generation for large untargeted datasets through a simple and self‐contained user interface. Herein, we introduce a new version of ROMANCE including new features such as compatibility with other types of data (targeted MS data and 2D UV‐Vis absorption‐like electropherograms), and the much needed additional flexibility in the transformation parameters (including field ramping and the use of secondary markers), more measurement conditions (depending on detection and integration modes), and most importantly tackling the issue of quantitative peak conversion. First, we present a review of the current theoretical framework with regard to peak characterization, and we develop new formulas for multiple marker peak area corrections, for anticipating peak position precision, and for assessing peak shape distortion. Then, the new version of the software is presented and validated experimentally. We contrast the multiple marker mobility transformations with previous results, finding increased peak position precision, and finally we showcase an application to actual untargeted metabolomics data.
Characteristics of turbulence over the semi‐fixed desert area north of Xinjiang, China
Authors: Mamtimin Ali , Wang Yu , Sayit Hajigul , Yang Xing Hua , Yang Fan , Huo Wen , Zhou Chenglong , Jin Lili 
Published: July 2021

AbstractAs the largest fixed and semi‐fixed desert in China, the Gurbantünggüt Desert undergoes a long period of snow cover in the winter and the rapid growth of ephemeral plants in the spring, presenting obvious seasonal changes in the underlying desert surface type, which can lead to variation in the turbulence of the near‐surface boundary layer turbulence over the desert. In this study, gradient tower data and eddy covariance data from 2017 were analysed to investigate the turbulence characteristics of the different surface boundary layers in the hinterland of the Gurbantünggüt Desert. The results indicate that stable atmospheric conditions in the desert occur exclusively during the early morning and at night in the desert, and the onset and duration of this stable state varies seasonally. Two regimes of intermittent turbulence occur during the night, a weak turbulent regime that occurs when the wind speed is less than the threshold and a strong turbulent regime when the wind speed exceeds the threshold, and different wind speed thresholds were observed at each level. These parameters follow a seasonal pattern of summer (July) > spring (April) > autumn (October) > winter (January) in terms of magnitude. The mean turbulence intensities of the along‐wind, cross‐wind and vertical wind are 0.5, 0.47 and 0.14, respectively, with Iu > Iv > Iw. The normalized standard deviation of the wind velocity components (σu, σv and σw) generally satisfies a 1/3 power‐law relation. Our results show that the night‐time turbulence regime classification for the Gurbantünggüt Desert strongly depends on meteorological and orographic features, and the intermittent turbulent events have the non‐stationarity of the flow in common. The results can contribute to the study of land surface processes, climate change and desertification in inland arid desert areas.
Smouldering fire and emission characteristics of Eucalyptus litter fuel
Authors: Wang Houzhi , van Eyk Philip J. , Medwell Paul R. , Birzer Cristian H. , Tian Zhao F. , Possell Malcolm , Huang Xinyan 
Published: July 2021

SummaryEucalyptus is one of the most widespread genera around the world and a key element in recent wildfires. In a Eucalyptus forest, the accumulation of litter builds up a ground fuel layer that can support both flaming and smouldering wildfires. This work investigates the smouldering wildfire on leaf, bark, and twig beds (bulk density: 70‐140 kg/m3) of Eucalyptus species. Two‐stage smouldering spread processes are observed. The first‐stage smouldering fire has the peak temperature of 600°C‐700°C and spread rate of 5‐9 mm/min. The measured emission factors are 1000‐1500 g/kg (CO2), 180‐450 g/kg (CO), 9‐16 g/kg (CH4), and 2‐6 g/kg (H2), respectively. The CO/CO2 ratio ranges from 0.15 (leaf) to 0.8 (bark). Laboratory experiments demonstrate that the smouldering fire spread is slower in leaf than those in bark and twig. The burning of stringy barks is less complete, compared to smooth barks. For leaf and twig beds, the influence of Eucalyptus species and heating value on smouldering fire is negligible. This is the first work to reveal smouldering fire behaviors on different Eucalyptus litter fuels and provides valuable information for understanding the effects of Eucalyptus species and plant parts on smouldering combustion.
Associations of loneliness with poor physical health, poor mental health and health risk behaviours among a nationally representative community‐dwelling sample of middle‐aged and older adults in India
Authors: Pengpid Supa , Peltzer Karl 
Published: July 2021

AbstractObjectivesLoneliness may negatively impact on health outcomes. The study aimed to estimate the associations between loneliness and poor physical health, poor mental health, and health risk behaviours in middle‐aged and older adults in a national population survey in India.MethodsThe sample included 72,262 middle‐aged and older adults from a cross‐sectional national community‐dwelling survey in India in 2017–2018.ResultsResults indicate that the prevalence of moderate loneliness was 20.5%, and severe loneliness was 13.3%. In the adjusted logistic regression analysis, moderate and/or severe loneliness was significantly positively associated with fair or poor self‐rated health status, and significantly negatively associated with life satisfaction and cognitive functioning. Furthermore, loneliness was associated with stroke, angina, physical injury, difficulty of Activities of Daily Living, difficulties of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living and multi‐morbidity. Loneliness increased the odds of major depressive disorder and insomnia symptoms. The associations between loneliness and current tobacco use and body mass index were negative and between loneliness and physical inactivity and underweight were positive.ConclusionsLoneliness is associated with poor physical health, poor mental health and health risk behaviour (physical inactivity), emphasising the need to consider loneliness in various physical and mental health contexts.
Disentangling the welfarism/extra‐welfarism distinction: Towards a more fine‐grained categorization
Authors: Sakowsky Ruben Andreas 
Published: July 2021

AbstractIn health economics, the distinction between welfarism and extra‐welfarism has been employed to discuss various epistemological and normative differences between health evaluation approaches. However, a clear consensus on the definition of either welfarism, extra‐welfarism, or the differences between the two sets of approaches has not emerged. I propose an alternative set of distinctions that allows for a more fine‐grained categorization of health evaluation approaches. This categorization focuses on five dimensions: (1) the maximand of an evaluation approach, (2) its sensitivity toward normative concerns that defy compensation, (3) its position on which groups of individuals or collective entities act as sources of values, (4) its sensitivity to changes of mind, and (5) the inclusion of process‐external values.
Exploration of potential inhibitors for tuberculosis via structure‐based drug design, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation studies
Authors: Rajasekhar Sreerama , Karuppasamy Ramanathan , Chanda Kaushik 
Published: July 2021

AbstractDrug resistance in tuberculosis is major threat to human population. In the present investigation, we aimed to identify novel and potent benzimidazole molecules to overcome the resistance management. A series of 20 benzimidazole derivatives were examined for its activity as selective antitubercular agents. Initially, AutodockVina algorithm was performed to assess the efficacy of the molecules. The results are further enriched by redocking by means of Glide algorithm. The binding free energies of the compounds were then calculated by MM‐generalized‐born surface area method. Molecular docking studies elucidated that benzimidazole derivatives has revealed formation of hydrogen bond and strong binding affinity in the active site of Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein. Note that ARG308, GLY189, VAL312, LEU403, and LEU190 amino acid residues of Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein PrpR are involved in binding with ligands of benzimidazoles. Interestingly, the ligands exhibited same binding potential to the active site of protein complex PrpR in both the docking programs. In essence, the result portrays that benzimidazole derivatives such as 1p, 1q, and 1 t could be potent and selective antitubercular agents than the standard drug isoniazid. These compounds were then subjected to molecular dynamics simulation to validate the dynamics activity of the compounds against PrpR. Finally, the inhibitory behavior of compounds was predicted using a machine learning algorithm trained on a data collection of 15,000 compounds utilizing graph‐based signatures. Overall, the study concludes that designed benzimidazoles can be employed as antitubercular agents. Indeed, the results are helpful for the experimental biologists to develop safe and non‐toxic drugs against tuberculosis.