On the Sidelines: Labor Force Participation of Prime Age Men

labor force participation, labor market, human capital, gender, labor/leisure choice

Abstract: For more than a century, labor force participation rates of men have been falling, representing one of the most significant trends in the labor market. The concomitant rise in non-participation of prime age men has been attributed to both cyclical and structural factors. Over the past two decades, participation rates of prime age men have fallen by almost 5%, representing both a problem and a paradox. The author describes changes in men’s labor force participation, focusing on human capital and demographic variables, and then estimates non-participation of prime age men over selected years. A model of labor/ leisure choice and estimation of non-participation over selected years is presented using a probit model.


Air in intravenous lines: a need to review old opinions

intravenous lines，air embolism,Paradoxical Air Emboli, PAE,venous air emboli, VAE,endothelial glycocalyx,intravenous-line air filters


Ability of chlorhexidine, octenidine, polyhexanide and chloroxylenol to inhibit metabolism of biofilm-forming clinical multidrug-resistant organisms

Frank Günther, Brigitte Blessing, Ulrike Dapunt, Alexander Mischnik, Nico T Mutters

Chlorhexidine, octenidine, multidrug resistant gram-negatives, hospital-acquired infection, MRSA, biofilm

Abstract: Purpose: This in vitro study was designed to determine if standard antiseptics used for skin and environmental surface cleansing can disrupt the metabolic activity (as a measure of viability) of multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus isolates within their native biofilms. Methods: Sixty clinical isolates of multidrug-resistant bacteria were selected for testing in different chlorhexidine gluconate, octenidine, polyhexanide and chloroxylenol concentrations. Metabolic inhibition of biofilm for each clinical isolate was analysed using a biofilm viability assay. Results: Chlorhexidine gluconate (mean = 83.8% ± 9.8%) and octenidine (mean = 84.5% ± 6.8%) showed the greatest efficacy against biofilms of the tested microorganisms, with the greatest efficacies against MRSA. The antiseptics demonstrated the least efficacy against biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Conclusion: Chlorhexidine gluconate and octenidine showed the greatest level of bacterial metabolic inhibition and were statistically equivalent. Polyhexanide was more effective than chloroxylenol, but both were inferior to chlorhexidine gluconate and octenidine against the tested organisms


The Impact of Work Environment on Nurses’ Compassion: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study

Sepideh Naseri, MSc , Mansour Ghafourifard, PhD, Akram Ghahramanian, PhD

compassionate care, compassion, critical care nurses, work environment

Abstract: Introduction: Compassionate care is considered as the main part of the nurses’ identity and a core component of nursing care. One clinical environment where patients experience a lot of pain and nurses play a vital role in delivering care is the intensive care unit (ICU). Objective: Considering the importance of compassionate care in intensive care units, this study aimed to assess the relation ship between the work environment and nurses’ compassion in intensive care units. Methods: In this cross-sectional survey, a total of 235 nurses were randomly selected from the intensive care units of four educational hospitals of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences from January to March 2021. Data were collected by demo graphic questionnaire, the Sussex-Oxford Compassion for Others Scale (SOCS-O) and the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI). Results: The results showed that there was a significant and inverse relationship between the patient per nurse ratio and the mean score of nurses’ compassion (P<.05). Moreover, Pearson correlation coefficient showed that the mean total score of the nursing work index had a significant positive relationship with the mean score of the compassion for others (r = 0.16, P = .016). Conclusion: Health care managers and leaders should pay more attention to the promotion of nurses’ working environ ments and they should remove the organizational barriers of compassionate care delivery


The presence of Leptospira sp. and leptospirosis risk factor analysis in Boyolali district

Yuliani Setyaningsih, Nurdin Bahtiar, Apoina Kartini, Siti Fatimah Pradigdo, Lintang Dian Saraswati

Leptospira sp., leptospirosis, water bodies

Abstract: Background: Leptospirosis is a health problem that causes death in Indonesia. In 2017, Boyolali District was reported that the number of leptospirosis cases reached 40.62 per 100,000 popula tion with a CFR of 23.52%. The determination of risk factors and Leptospira bacteria's presence in the body of water plays an essen tial role in the transmission of leptospirosis. Design and methods: This study aims to determine the risk factors and Leptospira bacteria's presence in water bodies in Boyolali District. This research is descriptive research with a sur vey method using a cross-sectional design and an analytical study using an observational method with a case-control approach. The sample was 100 water samples from wells, rivers, and paddy fields in endemic and non-endemic areas of leptospirosis. This study's population was 34 people with leptospirosis in Boyolali Regency in January 2017 - August 2018. Results: There was a significant relationship between lep tospirosis incidence in the Boyolali Regency with garbage, the pet presence, a history of injuries, and field activity. Leptospira bac teria are found in rivers (18.18%) and rice fields (6.67%), while in sub-districts with cases occur almost every year. Leptospira are found in wells (18.18%) and rice fields (6.67%). Conclusions: People should pay more attention to home sani tation and the surrounding environment to avoid leptospirosis.


The Added Value of Neuroscience Methods in Organizational Research

David A. Waldman, Danni Wang, Virgil Fenters

neuroscience, individual characteristics, teams

Abstract: Historically, the lack of availability and prohibitive expense of brain imaging technology have limited the application of neuroscience research in organizational settings. However, recent advances in technology have made it possible to use brain imaging in organizational settings at relatively little expense and in a practical manner to further research efforts. In this article, we weigh the advantages and disadvantages of neuroscience applications to organizational research. Further, we present three key methodological issues that need to be considered with regard to such applications: (a) level of assessment, (b) intrinsic versus reflexive brain activity, and (c) the targeting of brain region(s) or networks. We also pose specific examples of how neuroscience may be applied to various topical areas in organizational behavior research at both individual and team levels


Symposium Introduction Labour, Capital and Change: Selected Papers from AIRAANZ 2009


Beyond Neoliberalism: A Policy Agenda for a Progressive City

progressive city, public transit and equity, climate change, affordable housing, work and income

Abstract: The urban crisis—poverty and inequality, un—and under-employment, inadequate and unaffordable housing and public transportation, pollution and climate disasters—is the result of the failure of the neoliberal agenda to produce adequate funds and capacities to ensure the provision of services necessary for the city to function and its residents to thrive, especially the most vulnerable, and increasingly, the middle class. In the last few years, there appears to be a potential for a new more radical direction in urban policy. Yet, urban scholars and practitioners have been slow to notice the new possibilities that reopens the question of whether cities may engage in redistributive policies. In reviewing the history and current practice of progressive politics and policy in cities, this paper explores what a policy agenda for a progressive city might entail and identifies themes and questions for a renewed urban politics research agenda.


Three-Dimensional Structure of Dimeric Human Recombinant Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor

Jayvardhan Pandit, Andrew Bohm, Jarmila Jancarik, Robert Halenbeck, Kirston Koths, Sung-Hou Kim


PHTHALIDEISOQUINOLINE ALKALOIDS AND RELATED COMPOUNDS


The contribution of vehicle lights in urban and peripheral urban environments


THE USE OF REACTIVE COATINGS ON FILTERS FOR THE REMOVAL OF INDOOR GASEOUS POLLUTANTS


STUDIES ON THE STEREOSELECTIVITY AND SUBSTITUTED GROUPS OF (+)-CAMPHOR DERIVATIVES

GUO PENG, LIU GUI-LAN, JIANG YAO-ZHONG, ZHOU ZHONG-YUAN

(+)-camphor derivatives, configuration, stereoselectivity

Abstract: From (+)-camphor, six new (+)-camphor derivatives were synthesized. According to the structure and chemical properties of the derivatives, the relation between the substituted groups and the stereoselectivity of alkylation and reduction was examined. It is found that the chemical shift of protons of C(8), C(9) methyl groups and chemical properties of carbonyl O(2) are associated with the substituted groups.


術後に癌性胸膜炎を発症し長期生存中の乳癌の 1 例

渕之上祐子, 堀口和美, 山下年成, 堀口慎一郎,  黒井克昌

再発乳癌, 癌性胸膜炎, 長期生存

Abstract: 症例は，62歳時に右乳癌T1N0M0 StageⅠの診断で右乳房部分切除・腋窩リンパ節 郭清を施行された．病理は浸潤性乳管癌，浸潤径 ８ mm，リンパ節転移陰性，enzyme immunoassay（EIA）でER（－），PgR（－）であった．術後残存乳房照射を行った．術 後 ３ 年目に胸水を認め，細胞診で乳癌術後癌性胸膜炎と診断した．CTで他臓器転移を 認めなかった．再発時に原発巣の免疫染色を再検し，ER（＋），PgR（－），HER2（－） と判明した．胸膜癒着術後，doxifluridine（ ５ ’DFUR）＋medroxyprogesteroneacetate （MPA）＋cyclophosphamide（CPA）の内服を開始した．その後増悪なく再発後 ４ 年 目に治療を中止した．以降 ９ 年経過した現在まで寛解を維持している．今回，癌性胸膜 炎発症後13年間に亘り長期生存を得られている １ 例を経験したので報告する.


Double-Tracer Radiography with Sulfur-35 and Phosphorus-32 Using Imaging Plates in Brassica napus L.

Hiroki ISHIBASHI, Masato YAMAWAKI, Atsushi HIROSE, Akihiko NODA, Satomi KANO, Takayuki SAITO, Sayaka MASUDA, Syohei SEYAMA, Keitaro TANOI, Tomoko M. NAKANISHI

double-tracer radiography, sulfur-35, sulfuric acid, phosphorus-32, phosphoric acid, Brassica napus L

Abstract: We present double-tracer autoradiography with ³⁵S and ³²P using imaging plates and an aluminum plate to visualize the individual distribution of sulfur and phosphorus in Brassica napus L.. Because of the different attenuation efficiencies of β-rays emitted from ³⁵S and ³²P, the specific image of ³²P was taken when an aluminum plate was placed between the sample and the imaging plate. The specific image of ³⁵S was obtained by subtracting the ³²P image from the ³⁵S and ³²P image. It was observed that high amount of ³⁵S was distributed at the edge of the leaves and in root tips. The ³²P was distributed throughout the whole plant and it was found that the phosphorous amount was higher at the shoot apical meristems than those in leaves.


Effect of Cardiac Rehabilitation in Preventing Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Therapy in Patients with Reduced Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction

Ko OGAWA, Mitsuharu KAWAMURA*, Shinji KOBA, Yumi MUNETSUGU, Yuya NAKAMURA, Akinori OCHI, Koichiro INOKUCHI, Yuya YOKOTA, Tatsuya ONUKI, Fumiyoshi TSUNODA, Makoto SHOJI, Norikazu WATANABE and Youichi KOBAYASHI

cardiac rehabilitation, ICD, therapy event, inappropriate therapy event

Abstract: In patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) or cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-D), appropriate and inappropriate shocks lead to a higher risk of mortality. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is an established therapy for patients with ischemic heart disease and/or congestive heart failure. However, it is unclear whether CR could reduce the need for device therapies. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether CR reduces device therapies and mortality in patients with severe cardiac dysfunction and ICD or CRT-D. Of the 390 patients who were implanted with an ICD or CRT-D between 1998 and 2015, 222 (178 men, 44 women) with a low ejection fraction (EF; < 45%) were investigated in this present study. The study cohort was divided into two groups, the CR group (n = 70) and the non-CR group (n = 152), and baseline clinical characteristics of the two groups were compared. Furthermore, the number of all device therapies, appropriate therapies, inappropriate therapies, and mortality for 1 year after ICD or CRT-D implantation were compared. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the CR and non-CR groups (e.g. age 68.5 vs 66.2 years [P = 0.16]; EF 27.9% vs 29.7% [P = 0.14]). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that all device therapy events and inappropriate therapy events were lower in the CR than non-CR group (P = 0.01 and P = 0.03, respectively). Appropriate therapy events and mortality did not differ significantly between the two groups (5.7% vs 13.1% [P = 0.09] and 11.4% vs 17.0% [P = 0.28], respectively). CR may have beneficial effects in preventing therapy events, especially inappropriate therapy, in patients with an ICD or CRT-D.


II. 治療の進歩
2. 感染症治療時の全身管理

古西満, 善本英一郎, 三笠桂一, 成田亘啓

敗血症、ショック、播種性血管内凝固症候群（DIC）、低アルブミン血症

Abstract: 敗血症の臨床像は患者の基礎疾患により異なり、ショックや播種性血管内凝固症候群（DIC）を合併した症例は予後が不良で、敗血症治療時には合併症治療も行なう必要がある。敗血症性ショックの病態は末梢血管拡張と血管透過性亢進による循環障害で、治療の基本は体液補正である。敗血症によるDICは線溶抑制型で、より臓器障害を起こし易いので積極的な治療が求められる。したがって感染症治療時には原因治療とともに全身管理が重要な課題となる。


Weiss-Weinstein bound of frequency estimation error for very weak GNSS signals

Xin Zhang, Xingqun Zhan, Jihong Huang, Jiahui Liu, Yingchao Xiao

Abstract: Tightness remains the center quest in all modern estimation bounds. For very weak signals, this is made possible with judicial choices of prior probability distribution and bound family. While current bounds in GNSS assess performance of carrier frequency estimators under Gaussian or uniform assumptions, the circular nature of frequency is overlooked. In addition, of all bounds in Bayesian framework, Weiss-Weinstein bound (WWB) stands out since it is free from regularity conditions or requirements on the prior distribution. Therefore, WWB is extended for the current frequency estimation problem. A divide-and-conquer type of hyperparameter tuning method is developed to level off the curse of computational complexity for the WWB family while enhancing tightness. Synthetic results show that with von Mises as prior probability distribution, WWB provides a bound up to 22.5% tighter than Ziv-Zakaï bound (ZZB) when SNR varies between -3.5 dB and -20 dB, where GNSS signal is deemed extremely weak.


ADI schemes for valuing European options under the Bates model

partial integro-differential equations, operator splitting methods, alternating direction implicit schemes, stability, Bates model

Abstract: This paper is concerned with the adaptation of alternating direction implicit (ADI) time discretization schemes for the numerical solution of partial integro-differential equations (PIDEs) with application to the Bates model in finance. Three different adaptations are formulated and their (von Neumann) stability is analyzed. Ample numerical experiments are provided for the Bates PIDE, illustrating the actual stability and convergence behaviour of the three adaptations.


A time-domain numerical method for Biot-JKD poroelastic waves in 2D heterogeneous media

Emilie Blanc, Guillaume Chiavassa, Bruno Lombard

bers: 43.20.-Gp Keywords: porous media, elastic waves, Biot-JKD model, fractional derivatives, numerical modeling, diffusive representation, finite difference methods, Cartesian grid


VALUE-DISTRIBUTION OF THE RIEMANN ZETA-FUNCTION ALONG ITS JULIA LINES

Riemann zeta-function, value-distribution, critical line, Julia line

Abstract: For an arbitrary complex number a 6= 0 we consider the distribution of values of the Riemann zeta-function ζ at the a-points of the function ∆ which appears in the functional equation ζ(s) = ∆(s)ζ(1 − s). These a-points δa are clustered around the critical line 1/2 + iR which happens to be a Julia line for the essential singularity of ζ at infinity. We observe a remarkable average behaviour for the sequence of values ζ(δa).


MgNO: E fficient Parameterization of Linear Operators via Multigrid

Abstract: In this work, we propose a concise neural operator architecture for operator learning. Drawing an analogy with a conventional fully connected neural network, we define the neural operator as follows: the output of the ii-th neuron in a nonlinear operator layer is defined by Oi(μ)=σ(∑jWijμ+Bj)Oi(μ)=σ(∑jWijμ+Bj). Here, WijWij denotes the bounded linear operator connecting the jj-th input neuron to the ii-th output neuron, and the bias BjBj takes the form of a function rather than a scalar. Given its new universal approximation property, the efficient parametrization of the bounded operators between two neurons (Banach spaces) plays a critical role. As a result, we introduce MgNO, utilizing multigrid structures to parameterize these linear operators between neurons. This approach offers both mathematical rigor and practical expressivity. Additionally, MgNO obviates the need for conventional lifting and projecting operators typically required in previous neural operators. Moreover, it seamlessly accommodates diverse boundary conditions. Our empirical observations reveal that MgNO exhibits superior ease of training compared to other CNN-based models, while also displaying a reduced susceptibility to overfitting when contrasted with spectral-type neural operators. We demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of our method with consistently state-of-the-art performance on different types of partial differential equations (PDEs).


Inherently Unstable Internal Gravity Waves due to Resonant Harmonic Generation

Abstract: Here we show that there exist internal gravity waves that are inherently unstable, that is, they cannot exist in nature for a long time. The instability mechanism is a one-way (irreversible) harmonic-generation resonance that permanently transfers the energy of an internal wave to its higher harmonics. We show that, in fact, there are countably infinite number of such unstable waves. For the harmonic-generation resonance to take place, nonlinear terms in the free surface boundary condition play a pivotal role, and the instability does not obtain for a linearly-stratified fluid if a simplified boundary condition such as rigid lid or linear form is employed. Harmonic-generation resonance presented here also provides a mechanism for the transfer of the energy of the internal waves to the higher-frequency part of the spectrum where internal waves are more prone to breaking, hence losing energy to turbulence and heat and contributing to oceanic mixing


Towards computing low-makespan solutions for multi-arm multi-task planning problems

Abstract: We propose an approach to find low-makespan solutions to multi-robot multi-task planning problems in environments where robots block each other from completing tasks simul taneously. Weintroduce a formulation of the problem that allows for an approach based on greedy descent with random restarts for generation of the task assignment and task sequence. We then use a multi-agent path planner to evaluate the makespan of a given assignment and sequence. The planner decomposes the problem into multiple simple subproblems that only contain a single robots and a single task, and can thus be solved quickly to produce a solution for a fixed task sequence. The solutions to the subproblems are then combined to form a valid solution to the original problem. We showcase the approach on robotic stippling and robotic bin picking with up to 4 robot arms. The makespan of the so lutions found by our algorithm are up to 30% lower compared to a greedy approach.


Chilling unit accumulation and forcing effects on carbohydrates of young apple rootstocks


Fusobacterium nucleatum Involvement in Adult Periodontitis and Possible Modification of Strain Classification

Christine G. Roques, Said El Kaddouri, Pierre Barthet, Jean-François Duffort, Michel Arellano

Fusobacterium nucleatum, hemagglutination, fatty acids, short-chain, periodontitis/microbiology


СИНТЕЗ И СВОЙСТВА ХРОМАТОГРАФИЧЕСКИХ СОРБЕНТОВ С ПРИВИТЫМИ СЛОЯМИ АЦЕТИЛАЦЕТОНАТА НИКЕЛЯ

Е.А. Пахнутова, Ю.Г. Слижов

Газовая хроматография, хелатсодержащие сорбенты, ацетилацетон

Abstract: Синтезированы хелатсодержащие хроматографические сорбенты с привитыми слоями ацетилацетоната никеля с помощью последовательной сборки на поверхности носителя через стадию хлорирования силикагеля. Исследованы их структурные и хроматографические характеристики физико-химическими методами. Показано, что полученные сорбенты могут применяться в газовой хроматографии для разделения легких олефиновых, ароматических, насыщенных углеводородов, а также спиртов, альдегидов и кетонов.


Collaborative Sensing for Cognitive Radio under Log-Normal Shadowing

Nedaa Al Hussien, Mohammed Abdel-Hafez, Khaled Shuaib

spectrum sensing, cognitive radio, log-normal shadowing, probability of detection, collaborative sensing, soft (data) combining, hard (decision) combining

Abstract: Spectrum sensing is an essential function in cognitive radio networks. It defines spectrum opportunities that can be used by secondary users to increase spectrum utilization. However, sensing performance is highly affected by shadowing. In this paper, sensing in a log-normal shadowing environment is investigated, where a closed-form for the probability of detection based on Gauss-Hermite integration is derived, and the accuracy of this form is studied. In addition, collaborative sensing in log-normal shadowing is addressed, where the performance of different soft combining schemes is evaluated via Complementary Receiver Operating Characteristic (CROC) curves.


To look or not to look during vaccination: A pilot randomized trial

Priyanjali Mithal, Pamela Simmons, Tessa Cornelissen, Horace Wong, Rebecca Pillai Riddell, C. Meghan McMurtry, Lisa Burry, Derek Stephens, Anna Taddio

vaccination, pain, fear, needle, looking preference

Abstract: Background: Clinicians commonly advise patients to look away fromthe needle during vaccinations;however, thisrecommendationisnotevidencebased. Aim: Theaimof thisstudywas todeterminewhether lookingat theneedleversus looking awayaffectspainandfearduringvaccinations inadults. Methods:Thiswasapilotrandomizedtwo-groupparallel trialwithuniversitystudentsreceiv inginfluenzavaccinations.Participantswerestratifiedaccordingtotheir initialneedle-looking preferenceandrandomlyassignedtoeither lookatversusawayfromtheneedle.Participants self-reportedtheirpainandfearduringvaccination. Results:Ofthe184subjectswhoagreedtoparticipate,160wereenrolled;66%werefemale.A three-wayanalysisofvariance(ANOVA;Lookingallocationassignment×Lookingpreference× Sex) revealedasignificantmaineffectof lookingallocationassignmentonfear (P=0.025); thosewhowererandomizedtolookhadhigherfearscoresthanthosewhowererandomized tolookaway.Therewasalsoasignificantmaineffectof lookingpreferenceonfear(P<0.001); thosewhopreferredtolookawayhadhigher fear scores thanthosewhopreferredtolook. Therewasnoevidenceofaneffectof lookingallocationassignmentor lookingpreferenceon pain.Therewasasignificantmaineffectofsexonfearandpain,withfemalesreportinghigher painand fear scores thanmales (P=0.017 andP=0.001, respectively). Therewereno significant interactions. Conclusion: Thesepreliminary findings suggest thatadvising individuals to lookaway from theneedlereducesfear.Alargertrial includingmoreindividualsandadifferentpopulationis recommendedtoconfirmtheresults


LA CLASSE COMME REPRÉSENTATION ET COMME VOLONTÉ

Abstract: La discussion scientifique sur le problème des classes continue d'être empoisonnée par les arrière-pensées teurs et commentateurs idéologiques qu'au- se prêtent réciproquement. A qui écrit un livre sur les classes et la lutte de classes, la première posée est celle de la conformité question des thèses présentées avec la pensée marxiste, quitte pour chaque ou de la non-conformité à se faire son interprétation interrogateur « pensée marxiste », entre les textes de jeunesse abandonnés « à la personnelle de la critique des souris » et tournés en dérision V Idéologie allemande, par Marx lui-même et les textes de YAnti-Dühring, dès approuvés par Marx mais désavoués par la plupart des philosophes qui, en France, se déclarent marxistes (mais non marxistes-léninistes), c'est-à-dire fidèles au vrai Marx. Le vrai Marx étant le Marx qui a dit ce qu'ils tiennent pour la vérité, ils appliquent sans le savoir ou, en tout cas, sans l'avouer la devise d'Alain : le vrai Marx est le Marx qui est vrai. Peut-être la discussion est-elle empoisonnée, les soupçons idéologiques, autant que par par l'équivoque du vocabulaire. Quand on lit sous la plume d'un sociologue (Alain Touraine), que classes et civilisation industrielle sont des réalités incompatibles et sous la plume d'un autre sociologue (Georges Gurvitch) que toute société industrialisée comporte des classes et des luttes de classes, on aurait tort d'en conclure immédiatement que les deux propo- sitions portent sur les mêmes faits et résultent d'un déchiffrement radicalement autre de la réalité. Pour une part qui reste à déter- miner, le dissentiment porte sur le vocabulaire, sur le sens donné aux mots, ce qui n'exclut pas qu'entre les définitions et la vision de la société le lien ne soit significatif et étroit. Nous tâcherons, dans la communication la méthode qui permet, nous semble-t-il, adoptées qui suit, d'esquisser de tourner les obstacles


Identification and Characterization of NDT 9513727 [N,N-bis(1,3-Benzodioxol-5-ylmethyl)-1-butyl-2,4-diphenyl-1H-imidazole-5-methanamine], a Novel, Orally Bioavailable C5a Receptor Inverse Agonist

Robbin M. Brodbeck, Daniel N. Cortright, Andrzej P. Kieltyka, Jianying Yu, Carolyn O. Baltazar, Marianne E. Buck, Robin Meade, George D. Maynard, Andrew Thurkauf, Du-Shieng Chien, Alan J. Hutchison, James E. Krause

Abstract: The complement system represents an innate immune mech anism of host defense that has three effector arms, the C3a receptor, the C5a receptor (C5aR), and the membrane attack complex. Because of its inflammatory and immune-enhancing properties, the biological activity of C5a and its classical recep tor have been widely studied. Because specific antagonism of the C5aR could have therapeutic benefit without affecting the protective immune response, the C5aR continues to be a prom ising target for pharmaceutical research. The lack of specific, potent and orally bioavailable small-molecule antagonists has limited the clinical investigation of the C5aR. We report the dis covery of NDT 9513727 [N,N-bis(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylmethyl) 1-butyl-2,4-diphenyl-1H-imidazole-5-methanamine], a small molecule, orally bioavailable, selective, and potent inverse agonist of the human C5aR. NDT 9513727 was discovered based on the integrated use of in vitro affinity and functional assays in conjunction with medicinal chemistry. NDT 9513727 inhibited C5a-stimulated responses, including guanosine 5-3 O-(thio)triphosphate binding, Ca2 mobilization, oxidative burst, degranulation, cell surface CD11b expression and chemotaxis in various cell types with IC50 s from 1.1 to 9.2 nM, respectively. In C5a competition radioligand binding experiments, NDT 9513727 exhibited an IC50 of 11.6 nM. NDT 9513727 effectively inhibited C5a-induced neutropenia in gerbil and cynomolgus macaque in vivo. The findings suggest that NDT 9513727 may be a promising new entity for the treatment of human inflammatory diseases


Chromium propionate in broilers: human food and broiler safety

J. W. Spears, K. E. Lloyd, C. A. Pickworth, Y. L. Huang, K. Krafka,  J. Hyda, J. L. Grimes

Abstract: Chromium propionate (Cr Prop) is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine for supplementation to broiler diets up to 0.20 mg Cr/kg diet. A 49-day study was conducted to: 1) determine the safety of Cr Prop when supplemented at 2 and 10 times (×) the approved feeding level over the normal life span of broilers, and 2) determine the effects of supplementing Cr Prop on Cr concentrations of tissues consumed by humans. On day zero, 216 Ross 708 broilers were stratified by weight within sex and randomly assigned to treatments. Dietary treatments were 0 (control), 0.40, and 2.0 mg supplemental Cr/kg diet from Cr Prop. There were 6 replicate cages each of male and female broilers per treatment. At the end of the study, blood was collected for determination of plasma biochemical measurements and tissue samples were collected for Cr analysis. Supplementing 0.40 mg Cr/kg diet (2×) did not adversely affect broiler performance, mortality, plasma biochemical measurements or Cr concentrations in breast muscle, skin with adhering fat, or liver. Chromium propionate supplemented at 2.0 mg Cr/kg (10×) did not affect Cr concentrations in breast muscle or skin with adhering fat, but increased (P < 0.05) liver Cr concentrations. Supplementing Cr Prop at 10× the approved feeding level decreased feed intake and gain in male but not female broilers from days 21 to 49. Results of this study support the safety of Cr Prop in broiler diets, and indicate that Cr Prop supplementation to broiler diets at 2 or 10× the approved feeding level does not present a human health concern.


3D-printing quality in relation to melt flow and fusion behavior of polymer materials

Dietmar Auhl, Falk Rohnstock, Oliver Löschke, Konstanze Schäfer, Peng Wang, Manfred H. Wagner

Abstract: Full fusion and layer contact are essential for the mechanical, but also optical quality of 3D-printed parts. A comprehensive study on relations of 3D-printing quality to melt flow and fusion behavior is presented for a wide range of thermoplastic polymer materials. We investigated the influence of polymer structure and chain length as well as processing temperature, which largely determine material viscosity and surface tension. Furthermore, the influence of particle or layer dimensions is investigated. Comparisons of experimental and simulated data using well-established models and sets of parameters allow drawing valuable conclusions for optimizations of 3D-printing conditions and product quality.


砂生槐根际促生菌的筛选及干旱胁迫下对其种子萌发和幼苗生长的促生效应研究

砂生槐，根际促生菌，干旱胁迫，促生效应

Abstract:
随着社会经济的发展，加上环境污染、能源枯竭等一系列问题的出现，严重危害了地球生态系统的平衡，全球经济也遭受了巨大的破坏。西藏高原是一个自然环境独特、社会经济发展状况迥异于其他地区的地方，脆弱的生态环境以及所处荒漠化区域严重影响到了藏区工农业生产和藏区人民的生活水平，给西藏自治区综合开发和经济发展构成了直接威胁。砂生槐作为高原主要建群种之一，具有固沙、保持水土的生态功能，并且饲用和药用价值可观。由于砂生槐分布的特殊地理环境，一年中遭受低温和大风的时间较长，还有放牧、人为砍伐、水灾和干旱等多种不利因素的影响，再加上砂生槐本身造林成活率低下，一直制约着雅鲁藏布江流域生态的恢复与发展。
植物在生长过程中产生的植物根际促生菌（PGPR），包括生长调节剂（植物激素）、固氮菌、溶磷菌和生长素等物质。一方面直接影响着植物的新陈代谢，另一方面也提高了植物从土壤中吸收其他养分的适应能力，直接或间接地使植物更加容易吸收营养物质，防止流失，是一种新型的提高作物产量、缓解胁迫、保护环境的微生物肥料，因此如何筛选出具有高效促生能力的菌株至关重要。本试验以筛选具有良好促生作用的砂生槐植物根际促生菌为研究目标，在西藏农牧学院生物技术中心展开实验，探究筛选获得的根际促生菌的溶磷、固氮和产IAA能力，通过使用平板对峙法来测定菌株的拮抗作用，采用革兰氏染色探究菌株的生理生化特性。研究干旱胁迫下筛选菌株对砂生槐种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响，在模拟自然干旱条件下设立盆栽试验进一步验证菌株促生能力，探讨干旱胁迫下接种PGPR对砂生槐幼苗的影响。最终实验结果如下：
（1）本研究从西藏米林县、朗县、加查县、林周县、白朗县、拉萨市、日喀则市、贡嘎县、扎囊县等地采集盛花期和结荚期砂生槐根际土壤进行微生物分离、纯化及促生性测试获得固氮菌株12株，解有机磷菌株10株，解无机磷菌株4株，其中有10株菌株产IAA。
（2）通过采用半微量凯氏定氮法和钼锑抗比色法分别测定菌株氮含量和有效磷含量，测定结果显示：筛选得到的菌株氮含量在108~225μg/mL之间，其中菌株N24-2氮含量最高为225μg/mL，其次是菌株N23-3，氮含量为200μg/mL。14株溶磷菌中菌株SR21-的D/d比值最大为3.8，菌株SR15-1和SR10-6的D/d比值最小为2.0；解磷菌中有效磷含量最高的菌株是SR19-2，有效磷含量为96.13μg/mL，其次为SR19-1，为92.13μg/mL。有效磷含量最低的菌株为SR10-3，有效磷含量仅有33.25μg/mL，溶磷圈大小也较小，D/d比值为2.4。
其中筛选得到的菌种中有10株菌株具有分泌IAA的能力，菌株SR26-3产IAA的量最高，为43.28mg/L，产IAA量最低的是菌株SR21-1，分泌IAA量为19.02mg/L。
（3）菌株与病原菌的拮抗实验结果显示筛选所得的菌株N40-4和N22-5对小麦纹枯病原菌、小麦赤霉病原菌、小麦根腐病原菌、马铃薯干腐病原菌和玉米大斑病原菌均有拮抗作用，其中其中N21-1只对马铃薯干腐病原菌不产生拮抗作用，SR19-2只对小麦赤霉病原菌不产生拮抗作用，对其余四种病原菌均产良好的抑制效果；大多数菌株对小麦赤霉病原菌、小麦根腐病原菌和玉米大班病原菌有拮抗作用，相比较而言，菌株对小麦纹枯病原菌和马铃薯干腐病原菌的抑制整体来说相对较弱。
（4）PGPR对砂生槐种子萌发和在PEG模拟干旱胁迫条件下的促生实验表明在种子萌发期间，接种菌悬液的情况下对砂生槐种子萌发影响较大，种子萌发期间接种固氮菌和溶磷菌时，除N35-2和SR22-3外，其余菌株均对砂生槐种子萌发有一定的促进作用，其中菌株N21-1和SR21-1对种子促生效果最好。在不同PEG浓度的影响下，通过对照CK1（无菌水条件）和CK2（有机磷对照培养液）的种子萌发以及各项指标综和分析，不同菌株的处理在不同PEG浓度梯度下对砂生槐种子萌发表现出不同的促进或抑制作用，其中SR21-1、SR26-3两个菌株综合评价最好，耐旱等级为1级，在模拟干旱条件下促进了砂生槐种子的萌发并显著增强了砂生槐的抗旱性。
（5）通过菌株形态特征观察发现：两组菌株均呈白色，不透明，隆起度为凸起。其中SR21-1为椭圆形，齿状边缘，表面较为干燥；SR26-3为圆形，边缘完整，表面较为湿润。通过对菌株的细胞特征观察发现，SR21-1和SR26-3细胞形态均呈杆状，均不产生芽孢，且革兰氏染色均为阴性（G-）；菌株经16SrDNA分子鉴定初步结果显示：菌株SR21-1鉴定结果为曼格洛维杆菌；菌株SR26-3鉴定结果为普利茅斯沙雷氏菌。
（6）自然干旱胁迫下在对砂生槐幼苗接种PGPR的盆栽实验结果表明，干旱胁迫下随着时间梯度的进行接种PGPR后的砂生槐幼苗体内脯氨酸和丙二醛含量均会随着不同的干旱时间而做出改变，均有增长的趋势，并且在接种促生菌后，叶绿素的含量较CK明显增加，表明接种植物根际促生菌能够促进叶绿素的合成，明显提高光合速率，促进砂生槐幼苗的生长。
试验结果表明，最终筛选获得的SR26-3和SR21-1具有良好的耐干旱能力，可初步作为缓解砂生槐在干旱胁迫下生长的优良菌株，为后期砂生槐根际促生菌的筛选提供科学合理的理论依据。


具有硅交联结构的高导离子杂化凝胶聚合物电解质的制备及性能研究

凝胶聚合物电解质, 溶胶－凝胶法, 电化学性能, 热性能, 电致变色性能

Abstract:
凝胶聚合物电解质（GPEs）结合了固态聚合物电解质和液态电解质的优势，易于配置成所需尺寸和形状，具有制备轻巧、薄而小的电化学器件的潜力。本文选用溶胶-凝胶法制备具有硅氧烷结构的高导离子有机/无机杂化 GPEs，并研究了其性能。以均苯四甲酸二酐（PMDA）与聚丙二醇双（2-氨基丙基醚）（2-APPG）为原料，反应形成带端氨基的聚酰亚胺基预聚体，利用异氰酸酯丙基三甲氧基硅烷（ICS）与末端氨基反应引入甲氧基硅烷结构，通过适量的γ-缩水甘油醚氧基丙基三甲氧基硅烷（GLMO）与电解质体系中残留的酰胺酸反应，最后利用溶胶-凝胶法制备得到有机-无机杂化 APiG-x。在聚合物基体中，GLMO 添加的比例对杂化 APiG-x 的性能有显著影响。APiG-25 具有优异的热稳定性，在 280°C 的温度下无明显的分解，高离子电导率（1.62×10⁻³ S/cm）及良好的光学调制性能（CE 值为 198.9 cm²/C），以此电解质组装得到的电致变色器件（ECDs）具有良好的循环稳定性。
在上述试验的基础上，为了得到无色透明的聚合物电解质，以进一步提高电致变色器件的光学调制性能，以异佛尔酮二异氰酸酯（IPDI）作为原料，在聚合物电解质结构中引入稳定的脲基结构。得到的聚合物基体水解缩合成膜后，在电解液中溶胀得到无色透明的杂化凝胶聚合物电解质 AlI-x。研究了 2-APPG 的分子量对杂化 AlI-x 的性能的影响。与其他 AlI-x 相比，AlI-50 具有最低的玻璃化转变温度（-57.54°C）、最高的溶胀率（477%）和离子电导率（1.43×10⁻³ S/cm）。设计得到的 AlI-x 电解质确为无色透明的聚合物电解质，并且以 AlI-50 为电解质制备成的电致变色器件具有良好的光学调制性能（着色效率 CE 值=278.6 cm²/C）。
在杂化 AlI-x 的基础上，通过在聚合物主链结构中引入另一种由 ICS 与聚乙二醇单甲醚（MPEG）反应合成的前驱体，通过水解和缩合反应在聚合物主链中形成柔软支链结构。研究了两种前驱体的不同配比对具有硅氧烷结构的脲基改性 AM-x 的结构、热性能、电化学性能的影响，并进一步探讨了 AM-x 组装的 ECDs 的电致变色性能。采用傅立叶变换红外光谱测试（FTIR）和²⁹Si 核磁谱图对 AM-x 结构进行分析，证实了在聚合物主链中成功引入柔性支链。由差示扫描量热法（DSC）和电化学测试证实，引入支链结构确实降低了聚合物基体的玻璃化转变温度，增大了在电解液中溶胀率和离子电导率。同 APiG-25 和 AlI-50 相比，AM-9 具有最低的玻璃化转变温度（-58.57°C）、良好的热稳定性（315°C 之前无明显质量损失）、最高的溶胀率（507%）、最高的离子电导率（1.67×10⁻³ S/cm），制备成的电致变色器件具有最好的光学调制性能（CE 值=282.9 cm²/C）和良好的循环性能（550 次）。


转录因子 DDIT3 的相分离及其影响乳腺癌细胞增殖和迁移能力的研究

DDIT3, IDR, 液液相分离, 突变体, 抑癌因子

Abstract:
DDIT3 (DNA damage-inducible transcript 3)，也被称为CHOP (C/EBP homologous protein)，在内质网应激过程中促进细胞凋亡。通过对DDIT3的结构进行分析，发现其蛋白序列中有一段内在无序的低复杂序列（Intrinsically disordered region, IDR）。近年来的多项研究发现，许多带有IDR的蛋白能够通过该区域的相互作用而发生相分离，进而调控蛋白的各种生物学功能。因此，本论文的研究目的是鉴定DDIT3是否发生相分离，并通过相分离机制调控细胞的增殖与迁移。研究结果包括：
（1）设计了四个DDIT3突变体，包括一个只含有转录激活域（TAD）的突变体DDIT3(34-124)、一个含有IDR的C端碱性亮氨酸拉链结构域（bZIP）突变体DDIT3(125-192)和两个突变了核定位信号的突变体DDIT3(4A)和DDIT3(3A)，并构建了野生型（WT）和这些突变体的原核和真核细胞表达载体。
（2）在大肠杆菌表达和纯化了WT和各突变体的EGFP-DDIT3融合蛋白。在聚乙二醇作为拥挤剂的体外条件下，EGFP-DDIT3(WT)能够形成动态液滴，表明发生了相分离；DDIT3(125-192)，DDIT3(4A)和DDIT3(3A)虽然也能够进行相分离，但能力明显减弱；而DDIT3(34-124)失去了体外相分离的能力。
（3）在HeLa和U2OS细胞中表达时，DDIT3(WT)能够在细胞核内形成对1,6-己二醇敏感的聚集点，从而鉴定了DDIT3在细胞核内也能够发生相分离。在各DDIT3突变体中，仅有DDIT3(125-192)能够在细胞内发生相分离。
（4）在凝胶电泳迁移（EMSA）实验中，DDIT3(WT)及其突变体均显示与DR4基因启动子探针的结合能力，其中，DDIT3(125-192)显示出以多聚体形式与DR4启动子探针相结合。
（5）在检测DDIT3对乳腺癌细胞影响的实验中，内源DDIT3的敲低促进了乳腺癌细胞增殖；在表达外源DDIT3时，DDIT3(WT)显示出对乳腺癌细胞最强的抑制活性，DDIT3(4A)的抑制癌细胞活性与WT相似，DDIT3(34-124)和DDIT3(3A)都显示出活性降低，而DDIT3(125-192)丧失了最多的抑制活性。在细胞划痕实验中，这些DDIT3(WT)和突变体对乳腺癌细胞迁移的抑制活性也显示相似的变化趋势。
本论文的实验结果表明，DDIT3能够在体外及细胞内发生相分离。与以往报道的转录因子不同，DDIT3蛋白中负责相分离的IDRs不仅存在于TAD区域，还与其DNA结合区域有所重叠。缺失TAD或bZIP区域，均会影响DDIT3的抑癌活性。同时，我们首次鉴定了DDIT3是一个具有多个DNA结合位点的转录因子。
本研究揭示了DDIT3蛋白能够发生相分离，这为解析DDIT3抑癌活性的分子机制提供了理论和实验基础。


¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT 联合临床指标在初治多发性骨髓瘤中的预后价值

Abstract:
目的 多发性骨髓瘤（multiple myeloma, MM）属于增殖性浆细胞肿瘤，患者预后差异显著。临床常用的判断预后的传统分期系统仅针对临床指标而在局限性。¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT 作为一种全面评估 MM 病情的影像学手段，能提供代谢层面的疾病信息。本研究旨在综合应用 ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT 影像参数和临床指标，对未经治疗的新诊断 MM 患者的预后进行评估，以期获得更佳的预后评价指标。
方法 回顾性收集 2014.08.01–2020.07.31 期间临床明确诊断为 MM、且未经治疗的患者 133 例，其中男性 77 例，女性 56 例，平均年龄 59.0±9.6 岁，所有患者均进行 ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT 检查，且临床资料及随访资料完整，中位随访时间 22 月。记录患者无进展生存期（progression free survival, PFS）和总生存期（overall survival, OS）。利用 Mann-Whitney U 及 χ² 检验或 Fisher 精确检验分析 ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT 参数间的差异，Cox 比例风险模型评估 ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT、临床参数对 PFS 和 OS 的预测能力。按每个独立预测因子的积分法构建新预后预测系统（new prognostic prediction system, NPPS），Kaplan-Meier 估计 NPPS 对患者生存期的影响。比较 NPPS 与 ISS、修订的国际分期系统（revised-ISS, R-ISS）的预测效能。
结果 在 133 例患者中，26 例进展或复发，53 例死亡，54 例无病生存。通过 χ²/U 检验得出，当以最大标准化摄取值（maximum standard uptake value, SUVmax）≥ 2.5 为分界点时，高 SUVmax 组的血清钙（sCa）、骨髓浆细胞浸润百分比（BMPC%）较低水平升高（p < 0.05）；SUVmax ≥ 5.3 的男性比例大于女性，β₂ 微球蛋白（β2-microglobulin, β2-MG）、血肌酐（sCr）、白蛋白（sAlb）、C 反应蛋白（creative protein, CRP）、ISS 及 R-ISS 分期水平有升高趋势。以局灶性病灶数（focal lesions, Fls）以3个分组，组间的sCa、血清游离轻链比（sFLC比）、BMPC%、R-ISS分期出现统计学差异，FIs≥10时，高水平组sCr、sCa值、DSS（Durie-salmon staging）分期更高，且更易出现髓外病灶（extremely malignant disease, EMD）。以梅奥骨髓瘤分层及风险调整治疗分层系统（Mayo Stratification of Myeloma And Risk-adapted Therapy, mSMART）3.0确立的高危患者（n=62）中，Kaplan-Meier显示“双打击”与“非双打击”组间OS（24.0 vs 48.0月，χ²=20.3，p=0.023）有显著差异。生存分析显示¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT阳性组的生存期明显差于阴性组。Cox多因素分析显示SUVmax≥5.3、受累与非受累血清游离轻链（serum free-light chain, sFLC）比＞100、EMD存在、高sCa是PFS的独立预测因子（p＜0.05）；SUVmax≥5.3、EMD存在、sFLC比＞100是OS的独立危险因素（p＜0.05）。ISS分期I期与II期、R-ISS分期II期与III期患者间OS无统计学差异（χ²分别为0.705、3.184，p＞0.05）；而本研究中利用上述独立因素构建NPPS后，能对MM的总生存期进行新的分期，从而对患者的OS进行更好地区分（χ²分别为17.344 [ISS I期vs II期]、29.966 [R-ISS II期vs III期]，p＜0.05）。
结论：本研究结果显示，基于 ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT（阳性或阴性、SUVmax 和 EMD）及临床指标（sFLC 比、sCa）能够很好地预测 MM 患者的 OS 和 PFS。由此构建的新预后预测系统（NPPS）比传统分期（ISS 和 R-ISS）更有效。以 mSMART 3.0 将骨髓瘤患者划分为高危组后，若伴有任意两个高危细胞遗传学异常的“双打击”标记“非双打击”组预后不良。此外，¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT 的影像学参数与临床指标关系密切，高 SUVmax、FIs 与较高的 sCa、sCr、CRP、sβ2-MG 以及髓外病灶的出现有一定关联，且与较晚的临床分期有关。


大口黑鲈转食过程中肝脏转录组与肠道微生物研究

大口黑鲈, 转食, 转录组, 肠道微生物, 16S rDNA, 消化酶, 肠道组织学观察

Abstract:
近年来，大口黑鲈逐渐成为中国最受欢迎的名优养殖品种之一，已经成为我国“第五家鱼”。转食是大口黑鲈养殖过程中最重要的生产环节，但其仔稚鱼转食成活率不稳定，死亡率高，一直制约着产业的发展。本研究利用第二代测序技术，对大口黑鲈转食三个阶段（转食前、中、后：pre，mid，post-weaning stages）肝脏转录组和肠道微生物进行研究以揭示大口黑鲈在转食过程中的肝脏代谢和肠道菌群的动态变化特征；同时通过消化酶活活性来探讨其转食过程中消化能力的大小及变化。主要结果如下：
（1）对转食三个时期肝脏、肠道中三个重要消化酶（胰蛋白酶、脂肪酶、淀粉酶）检测发现：肠道中三种消化酶在转食中期均出现显著下降（p<0.5）；肝脏中淀粉在转食三个时期呈下降趋势，而在肝脏中未检测出脂肪酶和胰蛋白酶。随着转食进程的推进，大口黑鲈前肠道绒毛高度、宽度、肠壁厚度以及吸收面积在转食后显著高于转食前、中期；而肠道在转食中期肠壁厚度最薄和吸收面积最小。
（2）通过对三个转食阶段两两之间进行差异表达基因分析，相较于其他两个时期，肝脏中在转食前有156个基因表达较高、260个表达较低；在转食中有60个基因表达较高、20个表达较低；在转食后有206个基因表达较高、165个表达较低。转食前高表达基因富集在胆固醇代谢、维生素消化吸收、氨基酸的生物合成和代谢等通路；转食前低表达基因富集在不饱和脂肪酸的生物合成、PPAR信号通路、脂肪消化吸收等通路。转食中高表达基因富集在环境信息处理、蛋白质消化吸收、运输和分解代谢等通路；转食中低表达基因富集在补体和凝血级联、血小板活化、抗坏血酸和新陈代谢等通路。转食后期高表达基因富集在PPAR信号通路、不饱和脂肪酸的生物合成、脂肪酸代谢、碳代谢等通路；转食后期低表达基因富集在氨基酸代谢、氨基酸的生物合成、胆汁分泌等代谢通路。
（3）三个转食阶段肠道菌群主要分布在厚壁菌门、软壁菌门、梭杆菌门、拟杆菌门、放线菌门、变形菌门和蓝藻菌门。其中变形菌门和厚壁菌门变化最为显著，变形菌门丰度从转食前的56.32%下降到转食中、后阶段的28.91%、16.84%，而厚壁菌门丰度从25.29%上升到60.70%、62.81%。在转食中后期变形菌门中邻单胞菌属、鞘氨醇单胞菌属、不动杆菌属和寡养单胞菌属的丰度下降较为明显，而厚壁菌门中梭菌属丰度增长最为明显。
总体而言，本研究揭示了大口黑鲈转食过程中肝脏转录组、肠道微生物及肠道消化酶的动态变化特征，为今后大口黑鲈转食研究提供一定的依据和参考。


过共晶 Al-14wt%Si 合金裂纹扩展行为研究

过共晶铝硅合金, 裂纹扩展, 原位观察, 断口形貌, 热处理

Abstract:
到目前为止，科学工作者们对于过共晶Al-Si合金断裂机制的研究都是对于宏观表征的研究，对于过共晶Al-Si合金断裂过程中裂纹扩展机制的研究较少。
本文针对过共晶铝硅合金裂纹萌生及扩展过程不清楚的问题，以Al-14wt%Si合金为研究对象，通过使用带有拉伸功能的高温激光共聚焦扫描显微镜，原位观察了裂纹的扩展过程，研究了裂纹的萌生位置及扩展路径、计算了裂纹在不同相中的扩展速率以及分析不同形貌硅相对裂纹扩展行为的影响规律。
实验发现，裂纹首先在大尺寸硅相表面萌生、裂纹在初生硅内存在呈阶梯式扩展的现象。明确了裂纹萌生与扩展过程和硅相尺寸及形貌之间的对应关系。
揭示了硅相尺寸越大，裂纹越容易在硅相表面萌生，硅相尺寸越小，裂纹萌生的方式逐渐向硅相与基体界面开裂转变；硅相内裂纹以直线方式扩展为主，以阶梯式及分叉方式扩展为辅；硅相开裂后裂纹首先选择硅相与基体界面为扩展路径，向硅相尖角处扩展，而后进入基体，其次直接进入基体，向就近的硅相扩展；硅相尺寸是导致过共晶铝硅合金断裂的主要因素、形貌影响较小的规律。
研究表明，裂纹在硅相内直线扩展时，其扩展速率高达200~606μm/s，呈阶梯式扩展时扩展速率会降低90%。裂纹沿硅相界面最快扩展速率为4.97μm/s，在α（Al）基体内的扩展速率只有0.98μm/s。


气候变化背景下黄河流域植被变化成因及未来预估

黄河流域, 植被变化, 气候变化, 人类活动, CＭIP６, 预估

Abstract:
全球气候变暖已成事实，这对人类社会、经济及生态环境产生重要影响。作为陆地生态系统中最重要的组成部分，植被在改善生态环境、减少水土流失等方面发挥巨大作用，但随着我国人口和经济的快速增长，人类活动可以直接或间接影响植被覆盖，加之气候变化的区域差异性，使植被覆盖变化十分复杂。深入研究植被覆盖的时空变化特征并探究其驱动因素对于制定生态文明建设的政策具有重要意义。
黄河流域大部分位于干旱半干旱区，对气候变化十分敏感，也是人类活动最剧烈的地区之一。近年来，随着气候呈现出暖干化的趋势和“退耕还林还草”政策的实施，使整个流域植被覆盖发生了显著变化。2019年9月18日，习近平总书记在郑州召开“黄河流域生态保护和高质量发展”座谈会，黄河流域生态保护和高质量发展上升为国家战略。因此，研究气候变化背景下黄河流域植被变化及其成因，并基于未来气候变化条件，准确预测未来植被动态变化特征对了解黄河流域生态系统现状和未来植被变化特点具有重要意义。本文基于归一化植被指数（Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, NDVI）、气温、降水、scPDSI数据和土地利用数据，运用线性趋势、相关性分析、多元回归和残差分析等方法，从不同时空尺度分析近20年黄河流域植被变化与气候变化特征，探究NDVI变化与驱动因素之间的关系，评估气候和人类活动对植被变化的相应贡献；最后，通过历史气象和植被数据资料构建植被预测模型，预测2021-2050年在SSP2-4.5和SSP5-8.5两种情景下的植被动态变化特征。主要结论如下：
(1) 2001-2020年黄河流域及子流域NDVI呈上升趋势且趋势基本一致，其中黄河中游NDVI增长速率（约为0.05/10a）高于整个流域（约为0.03/10a），而黄河上游增长趋势（约为0.02/10a）相对较小。夏季和生长季NDVI分别以0.06/10a和0.05/10a的速率呈明显波动上升趋势，而春季NDVI的线性趋势相对较小，为0.03/10a。空间尺度上，黄河流域植被指数总体呈现东南高西北低的分布特征。从NDVI变化趋势及显著性看，近20年黄河流域NDVI整体呈增加的趋势，较显著增加和显著增加区域占流域总面积的79.85%，显著减少主要集中在城市集中发展区。
(2) 2001-2020年黄河流域年平均气温以0.12℃/10a的速率呈显著上升趋势，各子流域的升温速率排序为黄河下游＞黄河上游＞黄河中游。四个季节均有增温趋势，其中春季增温幅度最大。空间上，黄河下游等区域增温速率最大，而在陕西中部等区域，增温速率较小。黄河流域年降水量以24.63mm/10a的速率呈增加趋势，其中黄河上游增加趋势最快，而黄河下游增加趋势最慢。各季节降水量均呈增加趋势，生长季降水量增加最快；空间上，黄河流域降水量变化趋势存在较大的空间异质性。黄河流域年平均scPDSI以1.12/10a的速率呈增加趋势，其中黄河上游的增加速率最快，而黄河下游的增加速率最慢。季节尺度上，各个季节均呈增加趋势，其中夏季增加速率最快。空间上，scPDSI在四川省、青海省和甘肃省西部等区域以超过0.15/a速率呈增加趋势，而在黄河下游，scPDSI呈下降趋势，其值低于-0.02/a。
(3) 黄河流域NDVI与气温、降水和scPDSI在大部分区域均呈正相关，且植被变化受降水和scPDSI两者的影响较大。在黄河上游，NDVI与降水和scPDSI的关系最为密切，其对NDVI变化趋势的贡献分别达到57.76%和67.24%；温度与NDVI的相关性在黄河下游最高，对其变化趋势的贡献达30.25%。季节尺度上，春季，NDVI与气温和scPDSI的相关性最高，而在夏季NDVI与降水量的相关性最高。近20年气候变化和人类活动对黄河流域NDVI变化的影响分别是0.76×10-3/a和0.27×10-2/a，相对贡献率分别为22%和78%。2000-2020年黄河流域土地利用变化较大，主要表现为草地与耕地、林地、未利用地之间的相互转换以及建筑用地的进一步扩张。可见，人类活动对黄河流域的植被变化有较大的影响。
(4) 2021-2050年黄河流域年均气温和季节气温在SSP2-4.5和SSP5-8.5情景下均呈增加趋势且SSP5-8.5情景下增加幅度更大。季节尺度上，夏季气温增幅最大，春季增幅最小；年际降水量在SSP5-8.5情景下的线性趋势低于SSP2-4.5情景。季节尺度上，秋季降水增幅最大，其次是生长季。不同情景下，气温和降水量的趋势分布在空间上存在较大的差异性。未来黄河流域植被覆盖普遍增加，在年际、春季、秋季和生长季，SSP5-8.5情景下的植被覆盖增加程度大于SSP2-4.5情景，而夏季时，SSP2-4.5情景下植被指数上升速率高于SSP5-8.5情景。未来中游北部植被覆盖呈上升趋势，而在陕西中部区域，植被变率为负值，表明植被在退化。


基于网络评论的情感分析与用户行为研究

机器学习, 特征提取, 循环神经网络, 卷积神经网络, 自注意力机制

Abstract:
随着电子商务行业的飞速发展，消费者越来越注重商品质量和购物体验，为方便商家和物流公司听取消费者意见，电商平台通常会具备商品评论功能。商品评论包含了消费者对商品质量，物流效率和平台的使用情况等多方面的评价。商家、物流公司和电商平台可以根据商品评论规划发展策略，提升服务质量。
由于文本数据自身的抽象性和复杂性加之商品评论口语化和网络化的特点，使基于情感词典按规则计算的方式或采用机器学习实现商品评论情感分析的效果都不甚理想。为提升模型的情感倾向识别能力，本文在卷积神经网络（CNNs）、循环神经网络（RNNs）和自注意力机制的基础上提出 TextInception 卷积网络和两种融合模型：
（1）本文在文本卷积神经网络（TextCNN）的基础上结合图像处理领域的 Inception 模型结构的设计思想，提出 TextInception 文本卷积模型。
（2）基于 RNNs、多头自注意力机制（Multi-Self-Attention）、句嵌入自注意力机制和 TextInception 四种网络结构设计了 SA-BiLSTM-TextInception 融合模型。Multi-Self-Attention 用来增强各个输入节点的上下文信息，通过 SA-BiLSTM 和 TextInception 两种不同的编码方式实现特征二次提取并分别输出句向量，最后由 Add 层融合两种句向量后作为 SA-BiLSTM-TextInception 的输出结果。
（3）本文基于预训练神经网络语言模型（ELMo）的迁移学习方法提出 SA-ELMo-TextInception 融合模型。通过 ELMo 生产词向量，能显著增强模型特征提取能力，使模型理解更复杂的句法和语义信息。
将上述两种融合模型分别在预处理后的商品评论数据训练后分析实验结果，验证 ELMo 特征提取方式和焦点损失函数（Focal Loss）对模型分类能力的提升。


污泥-薰衣草生物炭及绿色合成材料对亚甲基蓝吸附性能研究

生物炭, 绿色合成, 纳米零价铁, 吸附, 亚甲基蓝

Abstract:
近年来，伴随着我国染料行业和工业化迅速发展的浪潮，在自然环境中产生了大量的污泥并且有一大部分的染料在生产和使用过程中直接或间接地释放到环境中，其中多数染料不稳定，排放到水中难以自然降解。去除废水中染料的方法较多，吸附法因具有简单、高效、廉价等优势，因而被广泛应用。污泥中含有多种复杂成分且产量广泛，对其进行资源化管理是保护环境的大势所趋；薰衣草中含有羟基、氨基等多种有机基团，是一种优良吸附剂且以薰衣草作为吸附材料去除染料亚甲基蓝(MB)的研究较少。本文利用污水处理厂的污泥和薰衣草混合制备生物炭，薰衣草提取液合成生物炭负载纳米零价铁(LA-nZVI/BC)作为生物炭材料，其中纳米零价铁的英文名称为(Nano zero valent iron)，简写(nZVI),用吸附法研究在水溶液中混合生物炭和绿色合成生物炭对MB的吸附特性。主要结论如下：
（1）通过扫描电镜(SEM)可以观察到干污泥呈块状结构，其表面较平整光滑。高温热解后，生物炭表面块状结构减少，且孔隙散乱分布，表面粗糙，有结团现象，孔隙度大于干污泥，比表面积显著增大，此现象与比表面积与孔径分析仪(BET)测试结果一致。通过傅立叶红外光谱(FTIR)发现：污泥生物炭(SL)含有较丰富的含氧官能团和芳香化结构，为吸附MB提供了有利条件。
（2）按照相同质量对污泥、薰衣草进行热解、按照3:2和1:1的质量比将污泥与薰衣草混合后再进行热解制备生物炭，热解温度500℃，热解时间180min，在此条件下热解制得四种比例的生物炭分别为污泥生物炭(SL)、薰衣草生物炭(LA)、污泥和薰衣草混合质量比3:2生物炭(SL-LA40%)、污泥和薰衣草混合质量比1:1生物炭(SL-LA50%)。通过吸附实验，得出对MB吸附的最佳条件：溶液初始pH为8，投加量为0.05g，吸附平衡时间为360min，初始浓度50mg/L，在此条件下实验得出对MB的吸附量由大到小依次为LA＞SL-LA50%＞SL-LA40%＞SL，在MB初始浓度为20~500mg/L的范围内，对MB的吸附量随初始浓度的增大而增大，LA在30℃下对MB的最大吸附量为144.50mg/g，SL在30℃下对MB的最大吸附量为114.29mg/g。准二级动力学和Langmuir吸附等温线模型可以较好地描述该吸附过程。SL、SL-LA40%、SL-LA50%、LA吸附速率常数在投加量为0.05g、溶液初始pH为8，MB水溶液初始浓度为50mg/L时，分别为：0.00471、0.00694、0.00723、0.00365 g/(mg·min)⁻¹。
（3）动力学模型和等温线模型表明，四种比例的生物炭对MB的吸附主要是单分子层吸附，整个吸附过程是吸热反应，升温对吸附反应有促进作用，且以化学吸附为主。
（4）四种比例中，SL对MB的吸附性能最低，因此对污泥生物炭进行绿色合成负载纳米零价铁来提高它的吸附性能。选取薰衣草萃取液浓度、固液比、FeSO₄·7H₂O浓度为影响因素，以MB吸附容量为实验指标，通过正交实验，得到固液比(A)＞薰衣草萃取液浓度(B) > FeSO₄·7H₂O(C)浓度。最佳条件为：A₃B₁C₁，固液比为1:200 g/mL，薰衣草萃取液浓度为100 g/L，FeSO₄·7H₂O浓度0.1 mol/L。通过绿色合成对水溶液中MB的吸附性能和吸附机理进行研究。结果表明，与SL相比，LA-nZVI/BC对MB的吸附性能明显提高。在中性或弱碱性条件下，投加0.05 g绿色合成材料，在30 ℃下震荡360 min，在MB初始浓度20–500 mg/L范围内，MB初始浓度越大，吸附量越大，LA-nZVI/BC对MB的最大吸附量为205.34 mg/g，吸附动力学符合准二级动力学模型，Langmuir吸附等温线模型能较好地描述该吸附过程，吸附机理与静电相互作用、氢键、配位络合作用、π-π、离子交换等有关。
（5）对绿色合成材料做了 SEM、FTIR、XPS(X 射线光电子能谱)表征，结果表明：薰衣草提取液能将二价铁离子还原成纳米零价铁颗粒，在生物炭表面形成球形颗粒，均匀地附着在生物炭表面形成 LA-nZVI/BC 材料，薰衣草提取液中的有机物，如黄铜、多糖、多酚等有机物附着在 LA-nZVI/BC 的表面，提高对材料的稳定性和 MB 的吸附性。


复杂环境中非对称半潜式起重平台及系泊系统耦合动力响应特性研究

非对称半潜式起重平台, 耦合动力响应, 系泊系统特性, 安全校核

Abstract:
非对称半潜式起重平台拥有超强的吊装能力，它的结构比较新颖，不同于传统的半潜式平台，具有非对称的下体结构，在平台主体的右侧配备有重型起重机，载有起重机的一侧的浮体尺寸明显大于另外一侧。非对称的结构会使此平台在系泊系统的水动力及运动响应不同于常规的半潜式起重平台，所以研究其水动力及运动响应具有重要的意义。
本文采用势流理论并进行相关的数值计算，对一新型非对称的半潜式起重平台及系泊系统的耦合工作响应进行研究，具体相关工作为：
（1）建立三维水动力模型，根据三维势流理论对非对称半潜式起重平台进行水动力性能分析，获得非对称半潜式起重平台的运动响应幅值 RAO、一阶波浪力、二阶波浪力、附加质量等计算结果，分析非对称结构对平台水动力性能的影响。结果显示：平台的横荡、横摇、艏摇运动受受峰向值的影响较大。横荡运动的 90°和-90°的 RAO 数值存在一定偏差，90°的峰值为 1.308m/m，-90°的峰值为 1.302m/m。横荡 90°浪向下的最大值为 0.700°/m，-90°的浪向下的最大值为 0.657°/m。船舶运动主要出现在斜浪 60°和-60°下，分别为 0.287°/m、0.271°/m。
（2）本文对非对称半潜式起重平台系泊系统特性展开研究，对系泊系统进行布置，研究不同缆绳数目、系泊缆悬链松弛度等系泊系统参数，计算分析这些参数对平台运动及系泊受力情况的影响。结果发现：在系泊缆数目参数分析中，比较了 8 根和 12 根系泊缆下的平台运动和系泊缆张力情况，发现在同时满足规范要求的情况下，8 根系泊缆的经济性更好；在研究系泊缆悬链松弛度时，选择了 5 种不同的松弛度的系泊缆，发现悬链松弛度为 7.5 的系泊缆运动性能和经济性最好。
（3）对非对称半潜式起重平台及系泊进行时长3小时的时域短期预报，得到不同工况下的运动响应时历曲线，系泊张力统计值，分析总结不同方向海况下不同缆绳的分布规律以及运动响应的统计特性，并对三种工况下系泊系统进行安全校核。结果发现：当有义波高为6m，风浪流入射方向为-180°时，非对称半潜式起重平台系泊缆中受力最大的是8#缆绳，系泊张力为8.29×10⁶N，安全系数为5.33；当有义波高为2.5m，风浪流入射方向为-90°时，非对称半潜式起重平台系泊缆中受力最大的是4#缆绳，系泊张力为3.75×10⁶N，安全系数为11.77，这两种工况下的系泊系统都可以满足规范要求。当有义波高为13.5m时，风浪流入射方向为180°，8#缆绳存在最大张力3.4671×10⁷N，安全系数为1.28，小于规范要求的安全系数1.67，此极限海况下的系泊系统已无法满足规范要求，但没有超过破断强度，尚可以处于生存状态。所以总体来说三种工况的系泊系统基本可以满足要求。


靶向乳腺癌高亲和力融合肽探针诊疗一体化体系的构建

⁶⁸Ga-DOTA-RGD-ATWLPPR, 乳腺癌, RGD, ATWLPPR，PET 显像

Abstract:
目的：已有相关文献证实 Neuropilin-1（NRP-1）和整合素 αvβ3 受体在乳腺癌组织中均有表达。我们将 Arg-Gly-Asp（RGD）和 Ala-Thr-Trp-Leu-Pro-Pro-Arg（ATWLPPR）肽团合成二聚体 RGD-ATWLPPR，通过标记放射性核素 ⁶⁸Ga，来靶向 αvβ3 受体和 NRP-1 受体。研究 ⁶⁸Ga-DOTA-RGD-ATWLPPR 对乳腺癌显像和诊断的价值，并对其作为乳腺癌靶向示踪剂进行生物学评价。
方法：①通过 DOTA 上的羧基与融合肽 RGD-ATWLPPR 对应的游离氨基反应，所得到的前体被进一步纯化。通过 ⁶⁸Ga 进行放射性标记，测定标记物的放射化学纯度以及药物体外的稳定性。②在人乳腺癌 MCF7 荷瘤裸鼠体内进行小动物 PET/CT 显像，并与 ⁶⁸Ga-DOTA-RGD、⁶⁸Ga-DOTA-ATWLPPR 两种单肽显像剂在 PET/CT 研究中进行对比。③研究该药物在 MCF7 荷瘤裸鼠体内的药代动力学，注射 ⁶⁸Ga-DOTA-RGD-ATWLPPR 后 5、15、30 和 60 分钟立即进行生物分布研究。④MCF7 肿瘤组织中 αvβ3 和 NRP-1 的表达水平检测。
结果：⁶⁸Ga-DOTA-RGD-ATWLPPR 在 25 分钟内标记，衰减校正产率 86.1±4.8%（n=3），比活性为 59.1-73.9 GBq/μmol，体外表现出较高的稳定性。静态 PET/CT 成像研究中，MCF7 荷瘤裸鼠肿瘤在注射 ⁶⁸Ga-DOTA-RGD-ATWLPPR 后 30 分钟可清晰显示，并表现出比 ⁶⁸Ga-DOTA-RGD 或 ⁶⁸Ga-DOTA-ATWLPPR 单肽显像剂更高的摄取，绘制感兴趣区域（ROI）以量化肿瘤对不同显像剂的摄取能力。MCF7 对 ⁶⁸Ga-DOTA-RGD-ATWLPPR（4.94±1.05 %ID/g）的摄取高于⁶⁸Ga-DOTA-RGD（3.69±0.72%ID/g，P<0.05）和 ⁶⁸Ga-DOTA-ATWLPPR（2.59±0.56%ID/g，P<0.001），说明 ⁶⁸Ga-DOTA-RGD-ATWLPPR 具有更高的靶向亲和力。用 Arg-Gly-Asp（RGD）和 Ala-Thr-Trp-Leu-Pro-Pro-Arg（ATWLPPR）冷肽进行阻断研究显示了 ⁶⁸Ga-DOTA-RGD-ATWLPPR 高特异性，PET/CT 延迟显像中，MCF7 荷瘤裸鼠肿瘤 60 分钟后对 ⁶⁸Ga-DOTA-RGD-ATWLPPR 的摄取值仍然较高，能清晰的反应肿瘤病灶，T/N 比值高于 ⁶⁸Ga-DOTA-RGD、⁶⁸Ga-DOTA-ATWLPPR 对照组。生物分布显示 ⁶⁸Ga-DOTA-RGD-ATWLPPR 示踪剂主要通过肾脏清除。
结论：⁶⁸Ga-DOTA-RGD-ATWLPPR 是一种 αvβ3 和 Neuropilin-1 双受体靶向示踪剂，与单体 ⁶⁸Ga-DOTA-RGD 和 ⁶⁸Ga-DOTA-ATWLPPR 相比，具有更高的结合亲和力、靶向效率和更长的肿瘤保留时间，提示其具有应用于乳腺癌成像诊断的前景，为进一步的诊疗一体化研究建立基础。


Cationic Polaron Delocalization in Porphyrin Nanoribbons

Sebastian M. Kopp, Jie-Ren Deng, Ashley J. Redman, Henrik Gotfredsen, Robert M. J. Jacobs, Harry L. Anderson, Christiane R. Timmel

porphyrin tapes, delocalization, polarons, electron paramagnetic resonance, spectroelectrochemistry, organic polymers, nanoribbons

Abstract: Long-range delocalization of unpaired electrons in organic p-conjugated oligomers is an important requirement to achieve high charge carrier mobilities in molecular transistors. We have investigated the polaron delocalization in the radical cations of a series of b,meso,b-edge-fused porphyrin oligomers consisting of up to 18 porphyrin units by a combination of cw-EPR, 1 H and 14N ENDOR, HYSCORE and vis-NIR-MIR spectroscopy, supported by DFT simulations. The results demonstrate coherent delocalization of the radical cation over more than ten porphyrin units, which corresponds to an effective coherence length >8.5 nm. We discovered a remarkably non-uniform distribution of the radical spin density and an increase in phase memory time with increasing delocalization length (up to Tm ≈ 4 µs at 50 K). This study opens new avenues towards the design of molecular electronic and spintronic materials.


Isothiourea-Catalysed Acylative Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of Tetra-substituted Morpholinone and Benzoxazinone Lactols

Haoxiang Zhu, Alejandro Manchado, Abdikani Omar Farah, Aidan P. McKay, David B. Cordes, Paul Ha-Yeon Cheong, Kevin Kasten, Andrew D. Smith

Abstract: The development of methods to allow the selective acylative dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of tetra-substituted lactols is a recognised synthetic challenge. In this manuscript, a highly enantioselective isothiourea-catalysed acylative DKR of tetra substituted morpholinone and benzoxazinone-derived lactols is reported. The scope and limitations of this methodology have been developed, with high enantioselectivity and good to excellent yields (up to 89%, 99:1 er) observed across a broad range of substrate derivatives incorporating substitution at N(4) and C(2), di- and spirocyclic substitution at C(5)- and C(6)-position, as well as benzannulation (>35 examples in total). The DKR process is amenable to scale-up on a 1 g laboratory scale. The factors leading to high selectivity in this DKR process have been probed through computation, with an N-C=O•••isothiouronium interaction identified as key to producing ester products in highly enantioenriched form.


Organomagnesium crown ethers and their binding affinities with Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Be²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺ ions - A theoretical study

Krishnan Thirumoorthy, Uday Kumar Padidela, Pothiappan Vairaprakash, Venkatesan S. Thimmakondu

organomagnesium crowns, host-guest molecules, alkali metal ions, alkaline earth metal ions, binding energies, Be²⁺ encapsulation

Abstract: Novel organomagnesium crown ether molecules have been computationally char acterized for the rst time using density functional theory (DFT). Monomer units of MgC6 have been used as building blocks. The potential energy surface of the par ent elemental composition, MgC6H2, has been extensively explored using both DFT and coupled-cluster methods. It is concluded that the seven-membered ring isomer, 1-magnesacyclohept-4-en-2,6-diyne, is the thermodynamically most stable molecule at all levels. Thus, the latter has been used as the building block for organomagnesium crown ethers. Both alkali (Li+, Na+, and K+) and alkaline-earth (Be2+, Mg2+, and Ca2+) metal ions selective complexes have been theoretically identi ed. Binding ener gies ( E at 0 K) and thermally corrected Gibbs free energies ( G at 298.15 K) have been computed for these metal ions with MgC6-9-crown-3 and MgC6-12-crown-4 to gauge their binding a nities


Does φ-Aromaticity exist in prismatic {Bi6}-based clusters?

Dariusz W. Szczepanik1* and Miquel Solà2*


Effect of Bimetallic Doping in Cobalt Titanate for Methane Reforming

Abstract: Unlike conventional supported bimetallic Ni catalysts, where Ni forms alloy with other metal, this study focuses on the incorporation of Ni and Pt in the lattice of the perovskite oxide. Perovskites offer high thermal stability and their properties can be tailored easily. In this study, the ionic substitution of Ni and Pt in CoTiO₃ was done by sonochemical method. The catalytic activity of the monometallic Ni and Pt samples were compared bimetallic catalysts towards SRM. The reducibility of the synthesized samples was examined by H₂ TPR and the appearance of multiple features mark the existence of complex interaction between metal ions and the support. The catalytic activity and stability towards steam (SRM) and dry reforming of methane (DRM) was studied over bimetallic Ni-Pt catalyst. A comprehensive reaction mechanism was proposed over bimetallic Ni-Pt-CoTiO₃ for SRM and DRM, with insights from ex situ and in situ characterization to understand the catalyst behavior.


A guidebook for sustainability in laboratories

T. Freese, R. Kat, S. D. Lanooij, T. C. Böllersen, C. M. De Roo, N. Elzinga, M. Beatty, B. Setz, R. R. Weber, I. Malta, T. B. Gandek, P. Fodran, R. Pollice, M. M. Lerch


Mechanochemistry of Spiropyran Under Internal Stresses of a Glassy Polymer

mechanophores, residual stress, polymers, polymeric glass, stress imaging

Abstract: Mechanophores are powerful molecular tools used in polymers to track bond rupture and characterize mechanical damage. The majority of mechanophores are known to respond to external stresses and in this study we report the first precedent of a mechanochemical response to internal, residual stresses that accumulate during polymer vitrification. While internal stress is intrinsic to polymers that can form solids, we demonstrate that it can dramatically affect the mechanochemistry of spyropyran probes and alter their intramolecular isomerization barriers by up to 70 kJꞏmol-1. This new behavior of spiropyrans enables their application for analysis of internal stresses and their mechanochemical characterization on the molecular level. Spectroscopy and imaging based on spiropyran mechanochemistry showed high topological sensitivity and allowed to discern different levels of internal stress in various locations along the polymer chain. The nature of the developed technique allows for wide field imaging of stress heterogeneities in polymer samples of irregular shapes and dimensions, making it feasible to directly observe molecular level manifestations of mechanical stresses that accompany the formation of a vast number of solid polymer.


Mechanistic Evidence for a Radical-Radical Recombination Pathway of Flavin-based Photocatalytic Tyrosine Labeling

Taylor O. Hope, Tamara Reyes-Robles, Keun Ah Ryu, Nicole Removski, Jacinthe Maisonneuve, Rob C. Oslund, Olugbeminiyi O. Fadeyi, Mathieu Frenette

Photocatalysis, proximity labeling, phenol-coupling, riboflavin tetraacetate, photoredox catalysis, radical recombination

Abstract: We recently introduced flavin-based photocatalysts such as riboflavin tetraacetate (RFT) as a robust platform for light mediated protein labeling via phenoxyl radical-mediated tyrosine-biotin phenol coupling on live cells. To gain insight into this cou pling reaction, we conducted detailed mechanistic analysis for RFT-photomediated activation of phenols for tyrosine labeling. Con trary to previously proposed mechanisms, we find that the initial covalent binding step between the tag and tyrosine is not radical addition, but rather radical-radical recombination. Radical addition to a phenol, while often proposed in the literature, is prohibitively unfavorable according to DFT calculations. Radical-radical recombination, followed by rearomatization, is the preferred pathway for the phenol-phenol coupling presented herein, but may also explain the mechanism of other tyrosine-tagging approaches described in the literature. Competitive kinetics experiments show that phenoxyl radicals are generated by the reaction of phenols with several reactive intermediates in the proposed mechanism: primarily with the riboflavin-photocatalyst excited state or singlet oxygen, but also possibly with the semi-reduced photocatalyst or hydroperoxyl radicals produced at key steps in the mechanism.


Chemical Synthesis of Glycopeptides containing L-Arabinosylated Hydroxyproline and Sulfated Tyrosine


Ester Transfer Reaction of Aromatic Esters with Haloarenes and Arenols by a Nickel Catalyst

Ryota Isshiki, Naomi Inayama, Kei Muto, Junichiro Yamaguchi

Abstract: A catalytic ester transfer reaction of aromatic es ters with aryl halides/arenols was developed. The present re action can transfer an ester functional group from certain aro matic esters to haloarenes. This ester transfer reaction involves two oxidative additions— one from the C–C bond of the ar omatic ester and one from the C–halogen bond of haloarenes— onto a nickel catalyst. The utilization of a Ni/dcypt catalyst capable of cleaving both chemical bonds was a key for the reaction progress. Furthermore, naphthol based aryl electrophiles were also applicable to the catalytic system via C–O bond activation.


Cancer Curriculum for Appalachian Kentucky Middle and High Schools

Lauren Hudson, Katherine Sharp, Chris Prichard, Melinda Ickes, Sahar Alameh, Nathan L. Vanderford

Appalachia, cancer, school curriculum, middle school, high school, students, teachers

Abstract: Background: Appalachian Kentucky faces the highest cancer incidence and mortality rates in the country due to poor health behaviors and lifestyle choices. These poor health behaviors are facilitated by a lack of cancer education. Youth represent a vulnerable population that could be greatly impacted by increased cancer education. Teachers have the power to facilitate this learning. Purpose: This study examined the need for cancer education curriculum in Appalachian Kentucky middle and high schools from the perspective of educators. Methods: An online survey was conducted with science and health teachers (n=21) in Appalachian Kentucky, consisting of questions that investigated existing cancer education efforts, relevance of cancer education, and feasibility of such curriculum being delivered in the classroom. Content analysis was used to analyze teacher comments. A 3-part cancer education curriculum was developed that is culturally relevant and aligned with science and health education standards. Results: All participating teachers agree that cancer education is important to students’ lives. Teachers also agree that there is an inconsistent amount of cancer education within schools, and qualitative content analysis revealed that cancer education likely fits best in certain course subjects. Cancer education could feasibly be integrated into science and health classrooms, although the perception of needing to teach to the academic standards and having limited time to teach additional lessons outside of the standards are significant barriers. To combat this, a cancer curriculum that aligns with state and national science and health education standards was developed. Implications: Cancer education curriculum could play an important role in improving the cancer outlook in Appalachian Kentucky. Teachers have expressed a desire for increased cancer education in the classroom. By disseminating and implementing cancer curriculum in schools in the region and revising the curriculum -based on teacher and student feedback to better fit their needs, it has the potential to increase cancer literacy and improve related health behaviors and outcomes.


The complexity of obesity-related health problems after bariatric surgery: The patient perspective

G. Konings, M. Drukker, R. Severeijns, R. Ponds

Long-term results Bariatric surgery Health problems Patient perspective

Abstract: Background: Bariatric surgery aims to improve quality of life by means of weight loss. Obesity-related physical and psychological health problems should improve, but long-term data are scarce. Objectives: To evaluate preoperative physical and mental health problems perceived by the patient and the as sociation with weight loss and quality of life, 5 years after bariatric surgery. Methods: 101 persons (response rate 67%) who had had bariatric surgery an average of 4.6 years before this study completed a written survey on obesity-related physical and psychological health problems and three psycho logical questionnaires collecting information on eating behavior and quality of life. Over half of the participants (55%) had had a laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. Results: Preoperatively reported health problems improved but were not necessarily associated with weight loss. Minimal improvement in tiredness, shame and weight instability were associated with significantly less weight loss. Preoperative type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) improved but participants had significantly less weight loss and more dissatisfaction regarding the bariatric trajectory than participants without T2D. Eating concerns, emotional eating and external eating improved but not restrained eating. Compared to the Dutch population reference, most quality of life scores of the participants were lower. Conclusion: In this analysis, participants did report satisfaction although from a patients’ perspective, improve ments of weight and health did not necessarily lead to satisfaction regarding the bariatric trajectory. Participants with postoperative reported fatigue and shame as well as participants with preoperative T2D showed significant less weight loss. More long-term research is necessary to close the current knowledge gap.


From micelles to bicelles: Effect of the membrane on particulate methane monooxygenase activity

Soo Y. Ro, Matthew O. Ross, Yue Wen Deng, Sharon Batelu, Thomas J. Lawton, Joseph D. Hurley, Timothy L. Stemmler, Brian M. Hoffman, X Amy C. Rosenzweig

Abstract: Particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO) is a copper-dependent integral membrane metalloenzyme that converts methane to methanol in methanotrophic bacteria. Studies of isolated pMMO have been hindered by loss of enzymatic activity upon its removal from the native membrane. To characterize pMMO in a membrane-like environment, we reconstituted pMMOs from Methylococcus (Mcc.) capsulatus (Bath) and Methylomicrobium (Mm.) alcaliphilum 20Z into bicelles. Reconstitution into bicelles recovers methane oxidation activity lost upon detergent solubilization and purification without substantial alterations to copper content or copper electronic structure, as observed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. These findings suggest that loss of pMMO activity upon isolation is due to removal from the membranes rather than caused by loss of the catalytic copper ions. A 2.7 Å resolution crystal structure of pMMO from Mm. alcaliphilum 20Z reveals a mononuclear copper center in the PmoB subunit and indicates that the transmembrane PmoC subunit may be conformationally flexible. Finally, results from extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis of pMMO from Mm. alcaliphilum 20Z were consistent with the observed monocopper center in the PmoB subunit. These results underscore the importance of studying membrane proteins in a membrane-like environment and provide valuable insight into pMMO function.


Xenografting of human fetal testis tissue: a new approach to study fetal testis development and germ cell differentiation

Rod T. Mitchell, Philippa T.K. Saunders, Andrew J. Childs, Claire Cassidy-Kojima, Richard A. Anderson, W. Hamish B.Wallace, Chris J.H. Kelnar, Richard M. Sharpe

fetal testis, disorders of sexual differentiation, testicular dysgenesis syndrome, xenografts, fetal germ cell differentiation

Abstract: background: Abnormal fetal testis development can result in disorders of sex development (DSDs) and predispose to later testicular dysgenesis syndrome (TDS) disorders such as testicular germ cell tumours. Studies of human fetal testis development are hampered by the lack of appropriate model, and intervention systems. We hypothesized that human fetal testis xenografts can recapitulate normal development. methods: Humanfetal testes (at 9 weeks, n ¼ 4 and 14–18 weeks gestation, n ¼ 6) were xenografted into male nude mice for 6 weeks, with or without hCG treatment of the host, and evaluated for normal cellular development and function using immunohistochemistry, triple immunofluorescence and testosterone assay. The differentiation and proliferation status of germ cells within xenografts was quantified and compared with age-matched controls. results: Xenografts showed .75% survival with normal morphology. In the first-trimester xenografts seminiferous cord formation was initiated and in first- and second-trimester grafts normal functional development of Sertoli, Leydig and peritubular myoid cells was demon strated using cell-specific protein markers. Grafts produced testosterone when hosts were treated with hCG (P ¼ 0.004 versus control). Proliferation of germ cells and differentiation from gonocytes (OCT4+) into pre-spermatogonia (VASA+) occurred in grafts and quantification showed this progressed comparably with age-matched ungrafted controls. conclusions: Human fetal testis tissue xenografts demonstrate normal structure, function and development after xenografting, including normal germ cell differentiation. This provides an in vivo system to study normal human fetal testis development and its susceptibility to disruption by exogenous factors (e.g. environmental chemicals). This should provide mechanistic insight into the fetal origins of DSDs and TDS disorders


Applying psychological theories to evidence-based clinical practice: Identifying factors predictive of managing upper respiratory tract infections without antibiotics

Martin P Eccles, Jeremy M Grimshaw, Marie Johnston, Nick Steen, Nigel B Pitts, Ruth Thomas, Elizabeth Glidewell, Graeme Maclennan, Debbie Bonetti, Anne Walker

Abstract: Background: Psychological models can be used to understand and predict behaviour in a wide range of settings. However, they have not been consistently applied to health professional behaviours, and the contribution of differing theories is not clear. The aim of this study was to explore the usefulness of a range of psychological theories to predict health professional behaviour relating to management of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) without antibiotics. Methods: Psychological measures were collected by postal questionnaire survey from a random sample of general practitioners (GPs) in Scotland. The outcome measures were clinical behaviour (using antibiotic prescription rates as a proxy indicator), behavioural simulation (scenario-based decisions to managing URTI with or without antibiotics) and behavioural intention (general intention to managing URTI without antibiotics). Explanatory variables were the constructs within the following theories: Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), Common Sense Self-Regulation Model (CS-SRM), Operant Learning Theory (OLT), Implementation Intention (II), Stage Model (SM), and knowledge (a non-theoretical construct). For each outcome measure, multiple regression analysis was used to examine the predictive value of each theoretical model individually. Following this 'theory level' analysis, a 'cross theory' analysis was conducted to investigate the combined predictive value of all significant individual constructs across theories. Results: All theories were tested, but only significant results are presented. When predicting behaviour, at the theory level, OLT explained 6% of the variance and, in a cross theory analysis, OLT 'evidence of habitual behaviour' also explained 6%. When predicting behavioural simulation, at the theory level, the proportion of variance explained was: TPB, 31%; SCT, 26%; II, 6%; OLT 24%. GPs who reported having already decided to change their management to try to avoid the use of antibiotics made significantly fewer scenario-based decisions to prescribe. In the cross theory analysis, perceived behavioural control (TPB), evidence of habitual behaviour (OLT), CS-SRM cause (chance/bad luck), and intention entered the equation, together explaining 36% of the variance. When predicting intention, at the theory level, the proportion of variance explained was: TPB, 30%; SCT, 29%; CS-SRM 27%; OLT, 43%. GPs who reported that they had already decided to change their management to try to avoid the use of antibiotics had a significantly higher intention to manage URTIs without prescribing antibiotics. In the cross theory analysis, OLT evidence of habitual behaviour, TPB attitudes, risk perception, CS-SRM control by doctor, TPB perceived behavioural control and CS-SRM control by treatment entered the equation, together explaining 49% of the variance in intention. Conclusion: The study provides evidence that psychological models can be useful in understanding and predicting clinical behaviour. Taking a theory-based approach enables the creation of a replicable methodology for identifying factors that predict clinical behaviour. However, a number of conceptual and methodological challenges remain


Association between Dietary Diversity and Weight Status of Aboriginal Primary School Children in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

Divanirsh Devindran, Vaidehi Ulaganathan, Zhe Yee Oeh, Lih Xuan Tan, Silambarasi Kuralneethi, Zen Yang Eddie Eng, Lih Shiow Lim, Wei Ni Grace Chieng, Jia Ling Tay, Sook Yee Lim

aborigine children, food groups, diet diversity status, weight status

Abstract: Background: The purpose of this study is to determine the association between dietary diversity and weight status of aboriginal primary school children. Methods: Dietary diversity measures food intake diversity in food groups, whereas weight status indicates nutritional status. Dietary serving score (DSS) method was used to determine dietary diversity status, while weight status was assessed using BMI-for-Age (BAZ). Results: Results reported that 51.9% and 54.2% were male and 10 years old-12 years old children, respectively. A total of 36.4% of children consumed cereal/grains diversely while fruits were not diversely consumed by 96.4% of them. Approximately 60.8% of children were reported to have normal weight status, which was followed by overweight (17.7%), obese (16.7%) and thinness to severe-thinness (4.8%). There was an association between DSS of fruits, meat/fish/ eggs, legumes/lentils and milk/dairy products with age group, vegetables DSS with gender and BAZ with parental employment status (P < 0.05). The association between DSS of all food groups and total with BAZ were reported to be insignificant, indicating no association between both variables (0.00 < r < 0.30; P > 0.05). Conclusion: Children from this study were shown to practice a monotonous diet, although the majority of them were within normal weight status.


Combined antisaccade task and transcranial direct current stimulation to increase response inhibition in binge eating disorder

Sebastian M. Max,
Christian Plewnia,
Stephan Zipfel,
Katrin E. Giel, Kathrin Schag

Antisaccade, Binge eating disorder, Cognitive control, Impulsivity, Response inhibition, Transcranial direct current stimulation

Abstract: Binge eating disorder (BED) is associated with deficient response inhibition. Malfunctioning response inhibition is linked to hypoactivation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), where excitability could be increased by anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Response inhibition can be assessed using an antisaccade task which requires supressing a dominant response (i.e. saccade) towards a newly appearing picture in the visual field. We performed a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled proof-of-concept-study in which we combined a food-modified antisaccade task with tDCS in people with BED. We expected task learning and modulatory tDCS effects. Sixteen people were allocated to a 1 mA condition, 15 people to a 2 mA condition. Each participant underwent the food-modified antisaccade task at three measurement points: baseline without stimulation, anodal verum and sham stimulation at the right dlPFC in a crossover design. The error rate and the latencies of correct antisaccades decreased over time. No tDCS effect on the error rate could be observed. Compared to sham stimulation, 2 mA tDCS decreased the latencies of correct antisaccades, whereas 1 mA tDCS increased it. Self-reported binge eating episodes were reduced in the 2 mA condition, while there was no change in the 1 mA condition. Participants demonstrated increased response inhibition capacities by a task learning effect concerning the error rate and latencies of correct antisaccades over time as well as a nonlinear tDCS effect represented by ameliorated latencies in the 2 mA and impaired latencies in the 1 mA condition. The reduction of binge eating episodes might indicate a transfer effect to everyday life. Given that the reduction in binge eating was observed before tDCS administration, this effect could not be the result of neuromodulation. Randomized clinical trials are needed to fully understand this reduction, and to explore the efficacy of a combined antisaccade and tDCS training for BED.


Denosumab dopo teriparatide in donne premenopausali con osteoporosi idiopatica


Correction to: Chloroplast genome sequences of Carya illinoinensis from two distinct geographic populations

Xinwang Wang, Hormat Shadgou Rhein, Jerry Jenkins, Jeremy Schmutz, Jane Grimwood, L. J. Grauke, Jennifer J. Randall


“NiCo Buster”: engineering E. coli for fast and efficient capture of cobalt and nickel

Alexandre Duprey, Viviane Chansavang, Franck Frémion, Clémence Gonthier, Yoann Louis, Philippe Lejeune, Fanny Springer, Valérie Desjardin, Agnès Rodrigue, Corinne Dorel

Bioremediation, Cobalt, Nickel, Biofilm, Biofilter, NiCoT, Synthetic biology

Abstract: Background: Metal contamination is widespread and results from natural geogenic and constantly increasing anthropogenic sources (mainly mining and extraction activities, electroplating, battery and steel manufacturing or metal finishing). Consequently, there is a growing need for methods to detoxify polluted ecosystems. Industrial wastewater, surface water and ground water need to be decontaminated to alleviate the contamination of soils and sediments and, ultimately, the human food chain. In nuclear power plants, radioactive metals are produced; these metals need to be removed from effluents before they are released into the environment, not only for pollution prevention but also for waste minimization. Many physicochemical methods have been developed for metal removal from aqueous solutions, including chemical coagulation, adsorption, extraction, ion exchange and membrane separation; however, these methods are generally not metal selective. Bacteria, because they contain metal transporters, provide a potentially competitive alternative to the current use of expensive and high-volume ion-exchange resins. Results: The feasibility of using bacterial biofilters as efficient tools for nickel and cobalt ions specific remediation was investigated. Among the factors susceptible to genetic modification in Escherichia coli, specific efflux and sequestration systems were engineered to improve its metal sequestration abilities. Genomic suppression of the RcnA nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co) efflux system was combined with the plasmid-controlled expression of a genetically improved version of a specific metallic transporter, NiCoT, which originates from Novosphingobium aromaticivorans. The resulting strain exhibited enhanced nickel (II) and cobalt (II) uptake, with a maximum metal ion accumulation of 6 mg/g bacterial dry weight during 10 min of treatment. A synthetic adherence operon was successfully introduced into the plasmid carrying the improved NiCoT transporter, conferring the ability to form thick biofilm structures, especially when exposed to nickel and cobalt metallic compounds. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the efficient use of genetic engineering to increase metal sequestration and biofilm formation by E. coli. This method allows Co and Ni contaminants to be sequestered while spatially confining the bacteria to an abiotic support. Biofiltration of nickel (II) and cobalt (II) by immobilized cells is therefore a promising option for treating these contaminants at an industrial scale. Keywords: Bioremediation, Cobalt, Nickel, Biofilm, Biofilter, NiCoT, Synthetic biolog


Malay Version of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale: Validity and Reliability

Nicholas Tze Ping Pang1 &Assis Kamu1 &Nurfarah Lydia Binti Hambali1 & Ho Chong Mun1 &Mohd Amiruddin Kassim1 & Noor Hassline Mohamed1 & Friska Ayu2 & Syed Sharizman Syed Abdul Rahim1 & Azizan Omar1 & Mohammad Saffree Jeffree1

COVID-19, Coronavirus. COVID-19 fear, FCV-19S Malay, Fear of COVID-19 scale, Malaysia

Abstract: The newly developed Persian Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) is a seven-item uni-dimensional scale that assesses the severityof fearofCOVID-19.Atranslation and validation of the FCV-19S in the Malay language was expedited due to the severe psychological sequelae of COVID-19 in Malaysia. Formal WHO forward and backward translation sequences were employed in translating the English version into Malay. Malaysian university participants were recruited via conve nience sampling online using snowball methods. The reliability and validity prop erties of the Malay FCV-19S were rigorously psychometrically evaluated (utilising both confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch analysis) in relation to socio demographic variables and response to the depression, anxiety and stress subscales of the Malay validation of the DASS-21. The sample comprised 228 Malaysian participants. The Cronbach α value for the Malay FCV-19S was 0.893 indicating very good internal reliability. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis showed that the uni-dimensional factor structure of the FCV19S fitted well with the data. The FCV-19S-M was significantly correlated with anxiety (r=0.481, p <0.001) and stress (r=0.389, p<0.001) subscales of DASS-21. The FCV-19S M’s properties tested using Rasch analysis were also satisfactory. Hence, the Malay FCV-19S is valid and reliable, with robust psychometric properties from classical and modern psychometric methods. It therefore is a highly crucial and timely addition to the psychological toolkit both in operational and research settings in identifying, managing and responding to the psychological distress engendered by COVID-19


Comparison of durability of treated wood using stake tests and survival analysis

Stake test, Field test, Survival analysis, Wood preservative

Abstract: The stake test is widely used to evaluate the efficacy of wood preservatives. This test monitors the deterioration level observed in treated stakes partially inserted into the ground. The results are conventionally expressed as the relation ship between deterioration levels and exposure periods. The preservative efficacy is compared among the stake groups treated with different retention levels based on the test results; however, there is no scientific basis for the comparison. We applied survival analysis to the conventional stake test to include a scientific basis to the test. Stakes impregnated with different types and retention levels of preservatives were subjected to deterioration at two test sites for approximately 30 years. The deterioration levels were monitored according to the conventional procedure and survival analysis was applied to the monitored data. Kaplan–Meier plots of the survival probabilities against the exposure periods indicated that there is a significant difference between the durability of the stakes treated with alkylammonium chloride (AAC-1) at K2 and K3 retention levels, whereas no significant difference was observed between those at K3 and K4 retention levels. Contrastingly, emulsified copper naphthenate (NCU-E) was found to be a reliable preservative, and the stakes impregnated with NCU-E showed a significant increase in durability in accord ance with preservative retention. Alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ-1) also appeared to be a reliable preservative; how ever, the increase in stake durability after ACQ-1 treatment differed between the test sites. These results were verified using the modified Gehan–Breslow–Wilcoxon test with Holm’s p adjusting method


Improved upper limits on baryon-number violating dinucleon decays to dileptons

Abstract: We consider effects of n - n̄ oscillations and resultant matter instability due to dinucleon decays. We point out that existing upper bounds on the rates for the dinucleon decays nn → 2π⁰, nn → π⁺ π⁻, and np → π⁺ π⁰ imply upper bounds on the rates for dinucleon decays to dileptons nn → e⁺ e⁻, nn → μ⁺ μ⁻, nn → νℓ ν̄ℓ, and np → ℓ⁺ νℓ, where ℓ = e, μ, τ. We present estimates for these upper bounds. Our bounds are substantially stronger than corresponding limits from direct searches.


Boundary entropy under ambient RG flow in the AdS/BCFT model

Abstract: We discuss the change of the boundary entropy under an ambient renormalization group flow. We use conformal perturbation theory to calculate the change of the boundary entropy for d-dimensional BCFTs between two nearby fixed points. We also use the AdSdþ1=BCFTd model to calculate the boundary entropy. We show that the boundary entropy can increase under the ambient renormalization group flow both in conformal perturbation theory and the AdSdþ1=BCFTd model. In a special case, the change of the boundary entropy in the AdSdþ1=BCFTd model reduces to that of the conformal perturbation theory


Stable circular orbits in higher-dimensional multi–black-hole spacetimes

Abstract: We consider the dynamics of particles, particularly focusing on circular orbits in the higher-dimensional Majumdar-Papapetrou (MP) spacetimes with two equal mass black holes. It is widely known that in the 5D Schwarzschild-Tangherlini and Myers-Perry backgrounds, there are no stable circular orbits. In contrast, we show that in the 5D MP background, stable circular orbits can always exist when the separation of two black holes is large enough. More precisely, for a large separation, stable circular orbits exist from the vicinity of horizons to infinity; for a medium one, they appear only in a certain finite region bounded by the innermost stable circular orbit and the outermost stable circular orbit outside the horizons; for a small one, they do not appear at all. Moreover, we show that in MP spacetimes in more than 5D, they do not exist for any separations.


Transverse momentum weighted Sivers asymmetries in SIDIS and Drell-Yan processes at COMPASS

Shi-Chen Xue a,b, Shuailiang Yang a, Xiaoyu Wang a, ,∗, De-Min Li a, Zhun Lu

Abstract: We investigate the transverse momentum weighted Sivers asymmetries in the processes with transversely polarized proton target, including the 𝑃ℎ𝑇 𝑧𝑀𝑝 sin(𝜙ℎ − 𝜙𝑆) weighted asymmetry in charged hadron production in semi-inclusive deeply inelastic scattering (SIDIS) and the 𝑞𝑇 𝑀𝑝 sin(𝜙𝑆) weighted asymmetry in 𝜋−𝑝 Drell Yan process. These asymmetries can be expressed as the product of the transverse-moments of the transverse momentum dependent (TMD) parton distribution functions (PDFs) and fragmentation functions (FFs). Using the parametrization for the Sivers function of the proton, the unpolarized PDFs of proton and pion, and the unpolarized FF of charged hadron, we present the numerical calculation for weighted Sivers asymmetries in SIDIS and Drell-Yan processes at the kinematics of COMPASS. We find that our prediction for the SIDIS process is in agreement with the recent COMPASS measurement. Recent new high-statistics data of Sivers asymmetry measured in SIDIS process and Drell-Yan process from COMPASS favored the sign change of Sivers function. High-precision experimental data of weighted asymmetries are still needed to test the sign change property o


Australian general practitioners’ perceptions of the barriers and opportunities for community-based care of patients with viral hepatitis: a mixed methods study

Belaynew Taye, Patricia Valery, Burglind Liddle, Aidan Woodward, Shaouli Shahid, Rebecca Farley, Donata Sackey, Paul Clark

access to healthcare, culturally and linguistically diverse populations, engagement of primary care, general practitioners, mixed methods, models of care, primary health care, shared model of care, viral hepatitis.

Abstract: Introduction. Engagement of general practitioners (GPs) is essential to improving rates of diagnosis and treatment of viral hepatitis, as traditional tertiary hospital-based models of care often face challenges. Aim. We investigated Australian general practitioners’ perceptions of a community-based model of care for patients with viral hepatitis. Methods. We conducted a mixed methods study using survey questionnaires (23 GPs) and an open-ended interview guide (10 GPs) at primary care clinics in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics in Stata 15.1 and qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis following an inductive approach. Results. Patient loss to follow up and high cost of diagnostic tests were identified as the biggest challenges to providing care for patients with viral hepatitis. Most GPs interviewed believe a more community-based model of care with support to GPs may improve uptake of care and increase both GP and patient engagement. General practitioners felt a community-based model of care could also improve viral hepatitis testing and follow-up rates. Discussion. For Australian GPs, improving patient retention and diagnostics access were key pressure points in the viral hepatitis care pathway. A broader and more profound capacity-building allows community-based viral hepatitis care to be sustainable.


‘The awesome power of yeast’

ageing research, cancer research, drug discovery, gene engineering, mitochondrial function, Nobel prizes, teaching, yeast-derived vaccines

Abstract: Yeast is one of the most useful microorganisms in society. Aside from the well known traditional uses in beer, wine and bread making, yeast is currently providing new opportunities for our society. This article examines some of those new opportunities which include using yeast as a model organism, yeast as a cell factory for valuable proteins, including vaccines and new therapeutics, and yeast as a very convenient tool for teaching.


Changes in mononuclear immune cells during bovine pregnancy

Heloisa M. Rutigliano, Kelsy A. Leppo, Kira P. Morgado

bovine gestation, diestrous, endometrium, gene expression, immune cell, leukocyte, lymphocyte, maternal–fetal interface, placenta, regulatory T cell.

Abstract: This study aimed to determine the differences in gene expression between mononuclear cells derived from peripheral blood and endometrium during pregnancy in cattle and to determine the proportion of mononuclear cells in the endometrium of pregnant and diestrous cows. Endometrial tissue and peripheral blood were collected from Day 34 ± 2 pregnant cows, and mononuclear cell populations were quantified and sorted (n = 5). The relative mRNA levels of inflammatory mediators was assessed by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction. During pregnancy, the proportion of CD8+ , CD4+,CD4+CD25− and CD4+CD25dim cells among mononuclear cells was greater in blood than endometrium, and cells positive for CD14 and CD68 expressed greater mRNA amounts of interleukin (IL) 6, CXCL8 and IL10 in endometrium compared with blood. Cells positive for γ/δ-T cell receptor expressed greater amounts of IL1A transcript in the endometrium than in blood of diestrous cows, CD4+CD25bright cells expressed more CTLA4 mRNA in the endometrium compared with blood of diestrous cows, and endometrial natural killer cells expressed greater CXCL8 mRNA compared with blood of pregnant and diestrous cows. The percentages of CD21+ , NCR1+ , CD8+ , FoxP3+ , CD3+ and CD68+ cells were greater in the endometrium of Day 35 pregnant cows compared with diestrous cows.


Optimising the delivery of sexual health services in Australia: a qualitative study

Varsicka Kularadhan, Christopher K. Fairley, Marcus Chen, Jade Bilardi, Ria Fortune, Eric P. F. Chow, Tiffany Philips, Jason J. Ong

Australian sexual health services, health service delivery, HIV, priority populations, service providers, sexually transmitted infection, strategies, strategies to optimise

Abstract: Background. With a rise in sexually transmitted infections in Australia, it is important to evaluate and optimise current sexual health services to reduce barriers to access and increase testing. We aimed to describe the range of sexual health services in Australia, focusing on strategies to improve testing among priority populations, and any future strategies participants believed would improve service delivery. Methods. We conducted 20 semi-structured interviews with key informants working in Australian sexual health services from July to December 2020, and collected data on service characteristics and strategies to improve access. We used content analysis, then coded and categorised the data into recurring themes and sub-themes. Results. We identified two major themes: ‘Expanding Traditional Service Delivery’ and ‘Thinking Outside the Box’. The first theme outlines strategies that build upon pre-existing service delivery models, such as express clinics and an increased focus on confidentiality. The second theme outlines new strategies introduced to fill gaps in service delivery, such as self-testing and outreach. Conclusions. To improve access to HIV/STI testing, there is a need for multiple access points to cater for a range of populations and their preferences. Establishing strategies to accomplish this involves utilising a combination of expanding traditional service models and implementing new approaches to service delivery.


Statistical modelling of tropical cyclones’ longevity after landfall in Australia

Abstract: Most of the devastation caused by a tropical cyclone occurs on land, and there fore, its longevity after landfall is of critical importance. Published literature identifies many factors including inland environmental characteristics that influ ence this longevity as well as power dissipation rate. These have been studied in this research in the context of tropical cyclones that hit Australian coasts during the period 1984-2010. For obvious reasons, tropical cyclones which manifested recurrence or multiple landfalls have been excluded. After applying several sta tistical tools to the observed data, it has been found, from the list of variables identified in literature related to tropical cyclones, that storm intensity at land fall, translation speed, relative humidity, surface temperature, upper level diver gence, and surface roughness exhibited statistical significance. However, step wise regression retained only surface roughness and central pressure which yielded a coefficient of determination of 76 percent during calibration and 59 percent during validation with 60%/40% split in data. The influence of surface roughness is well understood, but as yet, no consistent metric for the purpose of tropical cyclones’ propagation exists, and therefore, this paper introduces a method of assigning surface roughness based on terrain characteristics.


Bureaucratic inertia in dealing with annual forest fires in Indonesia

Eko Priyo Purnomo, Rijal Ramdan, Agustiyara , Achmad Nurmandi, Dina Wahyu Trisnawati, Aqil Teguh Fathani

bureaucratic inertia, collaboration, coordination, forest fire, Indonesia

Abstract: Indonesia has sustained annual forest fires since the 1990s related to land clearing activities for agriculture. The Indonesian Government has made substantial efforts to resolve annual fires by improving intergovernmental coordination at national and local levels. Overall, 96 government agencies are liable for controlling forest fire. This study explores local to central government’s bureaucratic reluctance in addressing forest fires, focusing on Riau Province, the most forest fire-prone region in Indonesia. Data were collected from 2015 to 2019 using participatory observation, engaging in meetings of key players; in-depth interviews with key heads of relevant agencies, officials, and NGOs; and a questionnaire forSocialNetworkAnalysis.Theresultsshowthatthereareseveninfluentialinstitutionsforaddressingland andforestfires inRiau.However,thepowerofthedecision-makingprocessisconcentratedatthelevelofthePresidentand the Governor as the regional leader, which implies that large institutions involved in fire response have less power and responsibility owing in part to bureaucratic inertia as bureaucracy is overly centralised and less responsive. In the long term,devolutionofgovernmentauthorityfromthecentraltothelocallevelisrequiredtofurnishfront-lineinstitutionswith the power to deal with the fires


Nudging consumers toward greener air travel by adding carbon to the equation in online flight search

Carbon Emissions, Air Travel, Flight Search, Interface Design, Online Travel Booking

Abstract: This study explores the potential to promote lower-emissions air travel by providing consumers with information about the carbon emissions of alternative flight choices in the context of online flight search and booking. We surveyed over 450 employees of the University of California, Davis, asking them to choose among hypothetical flight options for university-related business trips. Emissions estimates for flight alternatives were prominently displayed alongside cost, layovers and airport, and the lowest-emissions flight was labeled “Greenest Flight”. We found an impressive rate of willingness to pay for lower-emissions flights: around $200/ton of CO2e saved, a magnitude higher than that seen in carbon offsets programs, and consistent with findings from a prior study with a non-university-based sample. In a second step of analysis, we estimated the carbon and cost impacts if the university were to adopt a flight-search interface that prioritizes carbon emissions information and displays alternatives from multiple regional airports in their employee travel-booking portal. We estimated potential annual savings of 79 tons of CO2e, while reducing airfare costs by $56,000, mainly due to an increased willingness of travelers to take advantage of cheaper nonstop (lower-emissions) flights from a more distant airport in the region over indirect flights from their preferred airport for medium-distance flights. Institutionalizing this strategy within organizations with large travel budgets could reduce personal and organizational carbon footprints. If implemented across major flight search engines, it could potentially reduce the demand for higher-emissions flights leading to an industry-wide impact on aviation emissions.


The Effect of Electoral Institutions on Tort Awards

Abstract: Politicians are not neutral maximizers of the public good, they respond to incentives just like other individuals. We apply the same reasoning to those politicians in robes called judges. We argue that elected judges, particularly partisan elected judges, have an incentive to redistribute wealth from out-of-state defendants (non-voters) to in-state plaintiffs (voters). The partisan electoral hypothesis is tested first using data on 75,000 tort awards from across the states. We control for differences in injuries, state incomes, poverty levels, selection effects and other factors that may cause awards to differ across the states. One difference which appears difficult to control for is that each state has its own body of tort law. We take advantage of a peculiar aspect of American Federalism to make this distinction. In cases involving citizens of different states, aptly called diversity of citizenship cases, Federal judges apply state law to decide disputes. Diversity of citizenship cases allows us to test whether differences in awards are caused by differences in electoral systems or differences in state law. The evidence from the cross-state regressions and from the diversity of citizenship cases, strongly supports the partisan election hypothesis. In cases involving out-of-state defendants and in-state plaintiffs the average award (conditional on winning) is 42% higher in partisan than in non-partisan states; approximately 2/3 ds of the larger award is due to a bias against out-of-state defendants and the remainder due to generally higher awards against businesses in partisan states.


Tethered balloon measurements of biogenic volatile organic compounds at a Boreal forest site

C. Spirig, A. Guenther, J. P. Greenberg, P. Calanca, V. Tarvainen

Abstract: Measurements of biogenic volatile organic com pounds (VOCs) were performed at Hyyti¨al¨a, a Boreal for est site in Southern Finland as part of the OSOA (origin and formation of secondary organic aerosol) project in August 2001. At this site, frequent formation of new particles has been observed and the role of biogenic VOCs in this pro cess is still unclear. Tethered balloons served as platforms to collect VOC samples within the planetary boundary layer at heights up to 1.2km above ground during daytime. Mean mixed layer concentrations of total monoterpenes varied be tween 10 and 170pptv, with α-pinene, limonene and 13 carene as major compounds, isoprene was detected at levels of 2–35pptv. A mixed layer gradient technique and a budget approach are applied to derive surface fluxes representative for areas of tens to hundreds of square kilometres. Effects of spatial heterogeneity in surface emissions are examined with a footprint analysis. Depending on the source area consid ered, mean afternoon emissions of the sum of terpenes range between 180 and 300µgm−2h−1 for the period of 2–12 Au gust 2001. Surface fluxes close to Hyyti¨al¨a were higher than the regional average, and agree well with mean emissions predicted by a biogenic VOC emission model. Total rates of monoterpene oxidation were calculated with a photochemi cal model. The rates did not correlate with the occurrence of new particle formation, but the ozone pathway was of more importance on days with particle formation. Condens able vapour production from the oxidation of monoterpenes throughout the mixed layer can only account for a fraction of the increase in aerosol mass observed at the surface


Gestational Surrogacy: Participants’ Discussion and Decision Making Regarding Pregnancy Management, Including Prenatal Testing and Pregnancy Complication

Abstract: While gestational surrogacy has grown in popularity in the last decade, the surrogacy process is far from homogeneous. This lack of standardization can cause problems between surrogates and intended parents and can be troublesome for healthcare providers. The purpose of this study was to understand the current practices regarding discussion of potential pregnancy complications and prenatal testing in an attempt to determine how these decisions are made. This study also examined how comfortable surrogates felt expressing their opinions with the intended parents regarding these topics. Surveys were distributed through four surrogacy agencies and included several topics that could pose a potential conflict between the surrogates and intended parents. One hundred and eleven participants were included in this study. Decisional topics included carrier screening, fetal anomalies, and screening/testing options. The number of topics discussed by the surrogates varied, with about 1/3 of participants reporting that they discussed most or all of these topics before being matched with the intended parents. Decisions during the pregnancy were most often made by medical professionals, followed by the gestational surrogate and intended parent(s) together. Most participants felt comfortable voicing their opinions and that their opinions were vi considered throughout the surrogacy experience. These results indicate that surrogates generally feel comfortable and empowered throughout their experience. The results of this study revealed overall positive experiences for the surrogates. Having standardized guidelines may increase satisfaction with the surrogacy process and be beneficial in preventing serious conflicts between surrogates and intended parents. Given the recent increase in prenatal screening and testing options, standardized guidelines are needed to assist genetic counselors with facilitating discussions between surrogates and intended parent(s)