bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Waterlogging and salinity: Cause and effect in the framework of a social, environmental and financial nexus
Authors: Vlotman Willem F. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractWaterlogging and salinity are the effect of something that happened upstream of the point of observation, the cause. The most common responses to solving the twin problem of waterlogging and salinity are installing drainage, providing more irrigation water, cleaning existing outfall drains regularly and maintaining low groundwater levels. This article emphasizes that looking for the cause of the effect would have to be the first action to be undertaken. It may be that a sustainable solution is upstream of the location of the problem. Involving stakeholders' right from the beginning and creating dialogues with all involved throughout the process of initiating, planning, designing, constructing, operating and maintaining a drainage and irrigation system is essential. Performing a triple bottom line within the framework of a water–food–energy nexus is recommended.Areas with waterlogging and salinity are generally well‐known locally (i.e. in‐country), but the extent not necessarily. This is readily overcome by an aerial survey with camera‐equipped drones (remote sensing) or by tapping into the fast libraries of space‐based imagery.Innovative products such as the Capiphon Drainage, the Hydroluis drainpipe–envelope combination and SwarmFarm robots to monitor on‐farm irrigation and drainage are described.
Accessibility in video gaming: An overview and implications for English language arts education
Authors: von Gillern Sam , Nash Brady 
Published: May 2023

AbstractScholars in recent years have explored the connections between video games, literacy, and learning. Research illustrates that video games can serve as texts for engagement and analysis in English language arts classrooms. Scholars have also demonstrated how games themselves effectively integrate a complex array of learning principles that help players understand and progress in the game. In this article, we explore how recent efforts in game design to promote accessibility for differently abled gamers have implications for literacy education that can promote inclusivity and equity in English language arts classrooms. While recognizing the social construction of the concept of (dis)abilities, we explore existing literature on the video games, literacy, accessibility, and universal design for learning. We then demonstrate specific ways that video game designers promote visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive accessibility for gamers and share how literacy educators can draw upon these strategies to promote accessibility in their curriculum and instruction to help all students engage, learn, and thrive.
Engineering of poly(caprolactone) and poly(glycerol sebacate) small‐diameter vascular prosthesis with quercetin
Authors: Ferrari Pier Francesco , Aliakbarian Bahar , Barisione Chiara , Kahn Cyril J. F. , Arab‐Tehrany Elmira , Palombo Domenico , Perego Patrizia 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThe fabrication of biodegradable, bioabsorbable, and biocompatible vascular scaffolds with enhanced mechanical and biological properties that are able to modulate local inflammation and induce endothelialization after surgical implant is still a challenge. In this work, a fibrous scaffold, made of poly(ε‐caprolactone) and poly(glycerol sebacate), was fabricated to be potentially used as a small‐diameter graft in vascular surgery. The novelty of this research is represented by the direct incorporation of quercetin, a well‐known antioxidant compound with several biological properties, into a polymeric scaffold obtaining a vascular construct able to modulate two key factors involved in postsurgical inflammation, matrix metalloproteinase‐9 and endothelial nitric oxide synthase. For its production, an electrospinning apparatus, a solution made of the two polymers (both 20% (w/v), mixed at the ratio 1:1 (v/v)), and free quercetin (0.05% (w/v)) were used. Scanning electron and atomic force microscopies were employed to investigate the morphological properties of the fabricated electrospun scaffolds. Furthermore, physicochemical properties, including Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, mass loss, fluid uptake, quercetin release, mechanical properties, and biological activity of the scaffolds were studied. The expression of matrix metalloproteinase‐9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase‐1, and of endothelial nitric oxide synthase was evaluated when the quercetin‐functionalized scaffold was exposed to human endothelial cells treated with tumor necrosis factor‐α. The results of this study confirmed the feasibility of incorporating free quercetin during the electrospinning process to impart biological properties to small‐diameter vascular prostheses.
Effect of Hepatic Impairment on the Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Cilofexor, a Selective Nonsteroidal Farnesoid X Receptor Agonist
Authors: Younis Islam R. , Hsueh Chia‐Hsiang , Nelson Cara , Billin Andrew N. , Yue Mun Sang , Xiao Deqing , Watkins Timothy R. , Othman Ahmed A. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractCilofexor is a nonsteroidal farnesoid X receptor agonist in clinical development for treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. This work characterized the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, safety, and tolerability of cilofexor in participants with normal hepatic function or hepatic impairment (HI). Participants with stable mild, moderate, or severe HI (Child–Pugh [CP] A, B, or C, respectively, [n = 10/group]) and healthy matched controls with normal hepatic function received a single oral dose of cilofexor (30 mg for CP‐A or B; 10 mg for CP‐C) with a standardized meal. Overall, 56 participants received cilofexor and completed the study. Cilofexor area under the plasma concentration–time curve was 76%, 2.5‐fold, and 6.3‐fold higher in participants with mild, moderate, or severe HI, respectively, relative to the area under the plasma concentration–time curve in matched participants with normal hepatic function. Cilofexor unbound fraction was 38%, 2‐fold, and 3.16‐fold higher in participants with mild, moderate, and severe HI, respectively, relative to participants with normal hepatic function. Moderate correlations were identified between cilofexor exposure and CP score or laboratory tests components of CP score. Serum 7α‐hydroxy‐4‐cholesten‐3‐one and plasma fibroblast growth factor 19 were similar in participants with mild, moderate, or severe HI and participants with normal hepatic function. Cilofexor was generally well tolerated; all cilofexor‐related adverse events were mild in severity. Cilofexor can be administered to patients with mild HI without dose adjustment. Caution and dose modification are warranted when administering cilofexor to patients with moderate or severe HI.
Effects of S‐pindolol in mouse pancreatic and lung cancer cachexia models
Authors: Springer Jochen , Jové Queralt , de Lima Junior Edson Alves , Ladrón Natalia Álvarez , López‐Soriano Francisco Javier , Busquets Silvia , Argiles Josep M. , Marks Daniel L. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractBackgroundIt is known that S‐pindolol attenuates muscle loss in animal models of cancer cachexia and sarcopenia. In cancer cachexia, it also significantly reduced mortality and improved cardiac function, which is strongly compromised in cachectic animals.MethodsHere, we tested 3 mg/kg/day of S‐pindolol in two murine cancer cachexia models: pancreatic cancer cachexia (KPC) and Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC).ResultsTreatment of mice with 3 mg/kg/day of S‐pindolol in KPC or LLC cancer cachexia models significantly attenuated the loss of body weight, including lean mass and muscle weights, leading to improved grip strength compared with placebo‐treated mice. In the KPC model, treated mice lost less than half of the total weight lost by placebo (−0.9 ± 1.0 vs. −2.2 ± 1.4 g for S‐pindolol and placebo, respectively, P < 0.05) and around a third of the lean mass lost by tumour‐bearing controls (−0.4 ± 1.0 vs. −1.5 ± 1.5 g for S‐pindolol and placebo, respectively, P < 0.05), whereas loss of fat mass was similar. In the LLC model, the gastrocnemius weight was higher in sham (108 ± 16 mg) and S‐pindolol tumour‐bearing (94 ± 15 mg) mice than that in placebo (83 ± 12 mg), whereas the soleus weight was only significantly higher in the S‐pindolol‐treated group (7.9 ± 1.7 mg) than that in placebo (6.5 ± 0.9). Grip strength was significantly improved by S‐pindolol treatment (110.8 ± 16.2 vs. 93.9 ± 17.1 g for S‐pindolol and placebo, respectively). A higher grip strength was observed in all groups; whereas S‐pindolol‐treated mice improved by 32.7 ± 18.5 g, tumour‐bearing mice only show minimal improvements (7.3 ± 19.4 g, P < 0.01).ConclusionsS‐pindolol is an important candidate for clinical development in the treatment of cancer cachexia that strongly attenuates loss of body weight and lean body mass. This was also seen in the weight of individual muscles and resulted in higher grip strength.
Theoretical insights into the effect of CO on the heterogeneous reduction of N2O on char
Authors: Yin Yanshan , Tao Jianhang , Deng Wenpeng , Wang Tao , Yang Rufan , Zhang Wei , Tian Hong , Chen Donglin 
Published: May 2023

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe role of CO and adsorption sequence of CO and N2O in the adsorption and reduction of N2O on char was investigated based on density functional theory at the M06‐2X/6‐311G(d) theoretical level. This study lays a foundation for reaction mechanisms of the influence of CO on heterogeneous N2O reduction on char.RESULTSZigzag and armchair models were used as char models. The first adsorption of CO increases the limiting‐step energy barrier of the reaction by 44.5 kJ⋅mol−1 compared with the first adsorption of N2O for zigzag char. However, the adsorption sequence does not have an effect for armchair char. The rate‐limiting steps of the overall reaction for zigzag and armchair char models occur in the stages of N2O adsorption and N2O reduction, respectively. The introduction of CO has little effect on the N2O adsorption stage but increases the energy barrier of the N2O reduction stage. During the reduction of N2O on coal char, zigzag char releases greater heat than armchair char; moreover, zigzag char has a much lower activation energy than armchair char.CONCLUSIONIn the simultaneous presence of CO and N2O, the char model prefers to adsorb N2O. The rate‐limiting step of the two char models are located in different reaction stages, and CO mainly affects the N2O reduction stage. The presence of CO hinders the reduction of N2O on the surface of both zigzag and armchair char models. A rise of temperature can promote the reduction of N2O by char. Zigzag char is superior to armchair char in both thermodynamics and kinetics. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Leukaemic cells expressing ETV6::FRK are sensitive to dasatinib in vivo
Authors: Mayumi Azusa , Imamura Toshihiko , Yoshida Hideki , Osone Shinya , Yasuda Takahiko , Iehara Tomoko 
Published: May 2023

AbstractETV6::Fyn‐related kinase (FRK), which is a Src family tyrosine‐kinase‐related fusion gene and firstly identified in our patient with paediatric high risk B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B‐ALL), has no evidence of efficacy of tyrosine kinase inhibitor in vivo. We performed functional analysis of ETV6::FRK to establish molecular targeting therapy and determined that dasatinib could abrogate proliferation activity of ETV6::FRK through the repression of FRK‐STAT3/STAT5 pathway in vitro and significantly extended the survival time of the xenografted mice in vivo (p < 0.01). Our data support the potential of dasatinib as a therapeutic option for patients with B‐ALL harboring FRK rearrangements.
Effect of tele‐COVID rounds and a tele‐stewardship intervention on antibiotic use in COVID‐19 patients admitted to 17 small community hospitals
Authors: May Stephanie Shealy , Veillette John J. , Webb Brandon J. , Stenehjem Edward A. , Throneberry Steven K. , Gelman Stephanie , Pirozzi Michael , Stanfield Valoree , Dustin Waters C. , Grisel Nancy A. , Vento Todd J. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractAntibiotic stewardship interventions are urgently needed to reduce antibiotic overuse in hospitalized COVID‐19 patients, particularly in small community hospitals (SCHs), who often lack access to infectious diseases (ID) and stewardship resources. We implemented multidisciplinary tele‐COVID rounds plus tele‐antibiotic stewardship surveillance in 17 SCHs to standardize COVID management and evaluate concurrent antibiotics for discontinuation. Antibiotic use was compared in the 4 months preintervention versus 10 months postintervention. Interrupted time‐series analysis demonstrated an immediate decrease in antibiotic use by 339 days of therapy/1000 COVID‐19 patient days (p < .001), and an estimated 5258 antibiotic days avoided during the postintervention period. Thirty‐day mortality was not significantly different, and a significant reduction in transfers was observed following the intervention (23.3% vs. 7.8%, p < .001). A novel tele‐ID and tele‐stewardship intervention significantly decreased antibiotic use and transfers among COVID‐19 patients at 17 SCHs, demonstrating that telehealth is a feasible way to provide ID expertise in community and rural settings.
Radially variant contrast measurement in virtual reality headsets using circular concentric ring patterns
Authors: Zhao Chumin , Beams Ryan , Badano Aldo 
Published: May 2023

AbstractImage quality on virtual reality (VR) head‐mounted displays (HMDs) is radially variant on each eyepiece from the visual center (optical axis of the HMD) towards the periphery. The virtual image is blurred at the periphery of display field of view (FOV) resulting in contrast and resolution degradation. Conventional measurement methods adopted from flat‐panel display evaluation do not consider the spatially dependent image artifacts by additional optical components such as HMD lenses and thus may not be adequate to assess the VR image quality. We develop a new method using circular concentric ring patterns to measure the radially variant Michelson contrast on multiple VR HMDs. The results show that measured image contrast reduces towards the periphery of display FOV especially at high‐spatial frequencies. In addition, image quality on VR HMDs can be affected by the 3D position of the eye (or the camera) within the eyebox. Specifically, contrast is further degraded if the interpupillary distance (IPD) setting of the HMD does not match that of the user. It also varies with the entrance pupil location of the light‐measuring device. We propose an efficient method for image quality evaluation that can facilitate the regulatory evaluation of VR headsets.
A clock embedded intra‐panel interface with 1.96% data overhead for beyond 8K displays
Authors: Park Yong‐Yun , Jang Won‐Ho , Kim Kyong‐Ho , Ryu Kyungho , Lim Jung‐Pil , Kwon Yongil , Lim Hyun‐Wook , Lee Jae‐Youl 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThis paper proposes a 6Gb/s receiver for 8K displays and beyond. In the proposed receiver, a novel channel coding with 1.96% overhead is presented to guarantee minimum run‐length in the clock embedded interface. It can also reduce bandwidth for effective data transmission compared to 9b/10b coding that requires 11.11% overhead. Furthermore, we present an on‐chip eye margin tester that can measure the internal timing margin of receiver with only 1% area overhead. The prototype ICs are implemented using 0.18‐μm HVCMOS process and evaluated in an 8K 65‐in. panel.
Small‐scale spatial variability of Technosol properties in a chronosequence of reclamation of dredged‐sediment landfills
Authors: Betancur‐Corredor Bibiana , Kamau Juliet Wanjiku , Perez‐Jimenez Juan Sebastian , Loaiza‐Usuga Juan Carlos , Cardona‐Gallo Santiago Alonso , Denich Manfred , Borgemeister Christian 
Published: May 2023

AbstractActive reclamation is often necessary to ensure a transformation of mining waste into Technosols—“soils dominated or strongly influenced by human‐made material”—and restore its utility and environmental value. The objective of this study is to assess the spatial variation of the physicochemical properties relevant for reclamation and Technosol formation on dredged‐sediment landfills left by alluvial gold mining in a chronosequence of reclamation (0, 4, 8, and 12 years). We hypothesize a higher spatial dependency of most soil properties with increasing time of Technosol formation and an overall homogenization of the soil resulting from pedogenetic processes. Our results show early signs of Technosol pedogenesis with strong physicochemical changes after only few years of formation. We observed that older Technosols (>4 years) are more acidic, have less nutrient and organic matter content, higher exchangeable cations, and less signs of compaction than nonrevegetated landfills. The content of organic matter, phosphorus, and exchangeable cations show the highest spatial variability in Technosols of all ages. In older Technosols, most soil properties showed less spatial variability than in younger Technosols. A multivariate geostatistical approach allowed the delineation of zones with distinctive physicochemical properties within areas of the chronosequence. The results show that reclamation and Technosol formation lead to spatially dependent fragmentation processes reflected in more and smaller clustered zones in Technosols after 12 years of formation. From the perspective of reclamation management, understanding the spatial variability of highly heterogeneous Technosols where substantial changes can be observed within small distances can support the development of site‐specific reclamation strategies suitable to the characteristics of each field as well as the determination of its potential uses.
Contribution of vegetation restoration to carbon sequestration driven by ex‐situ poverty alleviation and relocation in ecologically fragile areas—Taking Guizhou, China, as a case
Authors: Zhu Meng , Zhou Zhongfa , Feng Qing , Wu Xiaopiao , Liu Rongping , Wu Guijie , Zheng Jiajia , Luo Wanlin 
Published: May 2023

AbstractVegetation restoration in ecologically fragile areas has a significant carbon sequestration (CS) effect. However, it is usually difficult to achieve quantitative assessment at the regional scale for this part of human activity intervention. The Chinese government's ex‐situ poverty alleviation and relocation (EPAR) project has relocated approximately 10 million people from areas with a fragile ecological environment to urban centralized resettlement, which is a typical case of weakened environmental intervention by human activities (Guizhou Province accounting for approximately 20% of the total relocated population in China). The CS model of vegetation photosynthesis and spatial analysis of geographic information were used to quantify the contribution of human activities to the natural restoration of vegetation CS, based on the data of net primary productivity (NPP) of vegetation from 2000 to 2020. The results show that the implementation of the EPAR project acts as an external force to drive vegetation restoration and CS, which increases the slope of the carbon density change trend (from k = 30.9 to k = 57.41), resulting in an overall carbon density increase of 26.51 tCkm−2. The regional spatial analysis showed that the correlation coefficients between carbon density and relocation intensity in the 5‐year and 10‐year change were r = 0.976 (p < 0.01) and r = 0.949 (p < 0.05), respectively, indicating a significant positive correlation. Based on this, the CS contribution of vegetation in 84 districts in Guizhou Province that implemented EPAR projects was calculated, showing that 79 districts contributed positively, accounting for 94%. The average contribution of CS by vegetation restoration in each district was 0.0556 Tg, and offset CO2 emissions were 0.2059 Tg. The other five districts with a negative contribution to CS were distributed in regions with relatively stable ecosystems and mature forests. This shows that human intervention in the environment changes more significantly in fragile ecological areas.
Microbial functioning in Mediterranean forest soils: Does land use legacy matter?
Authors: Delcourt Ninon , Dupuy Nathalie , Rébufa Catherine , Abadie Juliet , Foli Lisa , Farnet‐Da Silva Anne‐Marie 
Published: May 2023

AbstractLand use is known to be one of the major factors driving soil microbial and physico‐chemical properties. Understanding its long‐term effect remains a major challenge in assessing current soil functioning. Here, soil microbial and physico‐chemical properties of recent and very recent forests (forests developed in 1958 vs. after 1958) were compared with those of ancient forests (present in 1860 and 1958) to assess the effect of Land Use Legacy (LUL). LUL effects were further analysed depending on contrasting (i) climate conditions (sub‐humid vs. humid Mediterranean climates) and (ii) seasons (winter and summer), to examine whether LUL modified microbial responses to different spatio‐temporal climate conditions. Microbial indicators (lignocellulolytic activities, basal respiration, and microbial biomass) and physico‐chemical properties (C and N contents, mineralogical analyses, pH and conductivity) were assessed. A strong effect of past agricultural practice (terrace cultivation) was observed in soils from very recent forests: reduced microbial biomass and activities as well as number of Quercus pubescens stems together with increased phosphorous content and pH. Interestingly, LUL effect did not affect microbial and physico‐chemical responses to seasonal contrasts (winter vs. summer). Microbial response to LUL was not influenced by climate while climate modified LUL effects on some physico‐chemical properties (CaCO3, Corg, and K content). Moreover, soil recovered “pristine” physico‐chemical and microbial functional properties after at least 60 years of reforestation.
Broadband Four‐Wave Mixing Enhanced by Plasmonic Surface Lattice Resonance and Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance in an Azimuthally Chirped Grating
Authors: Chakraborty Abhik , Barman Parijat , Singh Ankit Kumar , Wu Xiaofei , Akimov Denis A. , Meyer‐Zedler Tobias , Nolte Stefan , Ronning Carsten , Schmitt Michael , Popp Jürgen , Huang Jer‐Shing 
Published: May 2023

AbstractPlasmonic enhancement of nonlinear light–matter interaction can be achieved via dedicated optimization of resonant plasmonic modes that are spectrally matched to the different wavelengths involved in the particular nonlinear optical process. Here, the generation and enhancement of broadband four‐wave mixing (FWM) are investigated in a plasmonic azimuthally chirped grating (ACG). The azimuthally varying grating periodicity in an ACG offers a well‐defined channel to mediate the near field and the far field over a broad range of wavelengths. However, the particular mechanism responsible for field enhancement in such a platform depends on the interplay between the effects manifested by both the groove geometry and the grating's periodicity. This work delineates the collective contribution of groove geometry‐dependent localized surface plasmon resonance and periodicity‐dependent plasmonic surface lattice resonance over a broad range of wavelengths to bring into effect the enhancement of broadband FWM in an ACG.