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In recent years, numerous researchers have incorporated plant fibers into polymers to alter the thermal and mechanical properties of materials. Grapevines, considered agricultural waste, have led to burdens for farmers and environmental challenges due to their mass production. This study aims to reduce the brittleness of polylactic acid (PLA) by adding polybutylene succinate (PBS) as a toughening agent and employing grapevine fiber (GVF) as a biomass filler. Additionally, the influence of GVF, toughening agents, compatibilizers, and lubrication agents on the tensile strength, heat deflection temperature (HDT), and impact strength of the composites was examined. The findings revealed that the addition of 10% GVF and 5% PBS increased the impact and tensile strengths of PLA from 17.47 J/m and 49.74 MPa to 29.7 J/m and 54.46 MPa, respectively. Moreover, the HDT of the composites exceeded 120 °C when the GVF content was more than 40 wt%. Additionally, the inclusion of a compatibilizer and a lubrication agent enabled the composite containing 30% GVF to achieve tensile and impact strengths of 45.30 MPa and 25.52 J/m, respectively. Consequently, these GVF/PLA green bio-composites not only improve the mechanical and thermal properties of PLA but also promote the reuse of waste grapevines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to energy shortages and the greenhouse effect, the efficient use of energy through phase-change materials (PCMs) is gaining increased attention. In this study, magnetic phase-change microcapsules (Mag-mc) were prepared by suspension polymerization. The shell layer of the microcapsules was formed by copolymerizing methyl methacrylate and triethoxyethylene silane, with the latter enhancing the compatibility of the shell layer with the magnetic additive. Ferric ferrous oxide modified by oleic acid (Fe3O4(m)) was added as the magnetic additive. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) testing revealed that the content of phase-change materials in microcapsules without and with ferric ferrous oxide were 79.77% and 96.63%, respectively, demonstrating that the addition of Fe3O4(m) improved the encapsulation efficiency and enhanced the energy storage ability of the microcapsules. Laser particle size analysis showed that the overall average particle sizes for the microcapsules without and with ferric ferrous oxide were 3.48 μm and 2.09 μm, respectively, indicating that the incorporation of magnetic materials reduced the size and distribution of the microcapsules. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the thermal stability of the microcapsules was enhanced by the addition of Fe3O4(m). Moreover, the infrared emissivity of the microcapsule-containing film decreased from 0.77 to 0.72 with the addition of Fe3O4(m) to the shell of microcapsules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintaining the good mental health of Taiwanese military personnel is crucial, especially in light of incidents such as the Taiwan Strait crisis. Suicide is a leading cause of death among military personnel and alexithymia is a significant risk factor for suicidal ideation. However, the mechanisms linking alexithymia and suicidal ideation in this psychologically burdened population remain poorly understood. In total, 863 voluntary army military personnel from Taiwanese reserve brigades and combined‐arms brigades were enroled between May 2020 and February 2021. Structured questionnaires about alexithymia, perceived stress, depression, suicidal ideation, and background characteristics were used. Mediation analyses were conducted to examine the serial mediation roles of perceived stress and depression in the relationship between alexithymia and suicidal ideation. Significant positive correlations were observed between alexithymia, perceived stress, depression, and suicidal ideation in bivariate analyses. Serial mediation analyses revealed that alexithymia significantly predicted higher levels of perceived stress, subsequently leading to depressive symptoms, which were associated with suicidal ideation. Depression served as a significant mediator between alexithymia and suicidal ideation. The strongest mediating effect (71.4%) was observed in the pathway from alexithymia through perceived stress and depression to suicidal ideation. Limitations included the utilization of cross‐sectional data and a reliance on retrospective self‐report measures. Perceived stress and depression were identified as serial mediators in the association between alexithymia and suicidal ideation. Clinically, it is crucial to prioritise interventions that target emotional regulation skills and assess the presence of alexithymia to effectively reduce suicidal ideation in military personnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sepsis constitutes a condition that involves life-threatening organ dysfunction induced by severe infection. This nested case–control study investigated risk factors for severe sepsis and whether antipsychotic use is associated with severe sepsis risk in patients with schizophrenia, a topic that has not been comprehensively explored in previous studies. Methods: We selected 39,432 patients with schizophrenia aged between 15 and 65 years from Taiwan's Psychiatric Inpatient Medical Claims database for the period 2000–2012. The case group comprised patients with severe sepsis after their first psychiatric admission (n = 1382). The case and control groups were randomly matched (1:4) by age, sex and first psychiatric admission (year) and finally comprised 1382 and 5528 individuals, respectively. We employed multivariable conditional logistic regression to identify (1) risk factors (physical illnesses and nonpsychiatric medications) and (2) antipsychotic–severe sepsis associations. Results: Higher numbers of psychiatric admissions and physical illnesses such as delirium, cerebrovascular disease and cancer were significantly associated with a higher risk of severe sepsis. Furthermore, severe sepsis was associated with the use of antithrombotic agents, systemic corticosteroids and agents targeting the renin–angiotensin system. Clozapine (adjusted risk ratio = 1.65) and quetiapine (adjusted risk ratio = 1.59) use were associated with an increased risk of severe sepsis. The use of more than one antipsychotic drug could further increase this risk. Conclusion: Several physical illnesses and nonpsychiatric medications increase the risk of severe sepsis in patients with schizophrenia. Specifically, clozapine or quetiapine use significantly increased the risk of severe sepsis in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intermetallic nanocrystals are emerging materials for energy, catalysis, and biomedical applications, but combining two or more metals at the nanoscale remains challenging. The amalgamation reaction represents a convenient method for hundreds of intermetallic compositions, as it relies on fast and efficient alloying of liquid metals into presynthesized metallic seeds. Here, Pd–Zn nanocrystals, prepared via Zn amide thermolysis on the surface of Pd nanocrystals and subsequent amalgamation alloying, are investigated. Size‐uniform nanocrystals and control over a wide range of Pd–Zn compositions are achieved. This allows deriving a phase diagram at the nanoscale, in which miscibility gaps and three phases with broad solid solutions are detected. Furthermore, the formation of homogeneous ZnO shells for Pd–Zn compositions extending beyond phase solubility limits is observed. Full chemistry control for Pd–Zn nanocrystals enables a rational choice of materials for selected energy applications, achieveing an extended lifetime of Zn‐ion batteries for Zn‐rich PdZn2 stoichiometry, superior electrocatalytic properties for nearly stoichiometric PdZn halite phase, and the stability and efficiency of high‐voltage cathodes benefiting from ZnO shell protection around Pd3Zn10 nanocrystals are reported. This paper exemplifies the multifunctionality of intermetallics Pd–Zn nanocrystals, while this methodology can be extended to many other bimetallic nanomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consider the problem of finding a point furthest from x for each point x in a metric space ([ n ] , d) , where [ n ] = { 1 , 2 , ... , n }. We prove this problem to have a deterministic O (n) -time 1 / 3 -approximation algorithm. As a corollary, the maximum spanning tree problem in metric spaces has a deterministic O (n) -time 1 / 3 -approximation algorithm. We also give a Monte Carlo O (n 1. 5 log n) -time algorithm outputting, for each x ∈ [ n ] , a point y x ∈ [ n ] satisfying d (x , y x) ≥ Δ / 2 , where Δ ≡ max x , y ∈ [ n ] d (x , y). As a corollary, we have a Monte Carlo O (n 1. 5 log n) -time algorithm for finding a spanning tree of weight at least (1 / 2 − o (1)) Δ n in ([ n ] , d). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between molecular structure and water dynamics is a fundamental yet often neglected subject in the field of hydrogels for drug delivery, bioprinting, as well as biomaterial science and tissue engineering & regenerative medicine (TE&RM). Water is a fundamental constituent of hydrogel systems and engages via hydrogen bonding with the macromolecular network. The methods and techniques to measure and reveal the phenomena and dynamics of water within hydrogels are still limited. In this work, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used as a quantitative method to analyze freezable (including free and freezable bound) and non-freezable bound water within gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogels. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a complementary method for the study of water behavior and can be used to measure the spin-relaxation of water hydrogen nuclei, which is related to water dynamics. In this research, nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometry was employed to investigate the molecular state of water in GelMA hydrogels using spin–lattice (T1) and spin–spin (T2) spin-relaxation time constants. The data displays a trend of increasing bound water content with increasing GelMA concentration. In addition, T2 values were further applied to calculate microviscosity and translational diffusion coefficients. Water relaxation under various chemical environments, including different media, temperatures, gelatin sources, as well as crosslinking effects, were also examined. These comprehensive physical data sets offer fundamental insight into biomolecule transport within the GelMA hydrogel system, which ultimately are important for drug delivery, bioprinting, as well as biomaterial science and TE&RM communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shifting from the typical 4e– pathway to H2O in electrochemical oxygen reduction to the 2e– pathway to H2O2 is increasingly recognized as an environmentally friendly approach for producing H2O2. However, the competitive 4e− pathway is a significant obstacle to the production of H2O2 since H2O is the thermodynamically favored product. Here, a series of Pt, Pd, and Rh active atoms diluted within inert‐Au matrices with precisely controlled atomic arrangements and coordination environments are synthesized via facet engineering for O2‐to‐H2O2 production. Surprisingly, individually dispersed Pt atoms within the Au surface enclosed by the square atomic arrangements exhibit superior H2O2 selectivity and achieve a maximum selectivity of 90% at 0.36 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode. Operando synchrotron ambient pressure X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy identifies the presence of *OOH key intermediates on these isolated Pt active sites. Grand canonical density‐functional theory also reveals that the kinetic energy barrier for the 2e− pathway (0.08 eV; OOH* + H+ + e− → H2O2) on the isolated Pt sites is significantly lower than the 4e− pathway (0.29 eV; OOH* + H+ + e− → O* + H2O). This work enables atomic‐scale control in dilute binary alloy surfaces with specific configurations of isolated active atoms and provides essential guidance for catalyst design to boost O2‐to‐H2O2 production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood–plastic composites (WPCs), abbreviated as WPCs, are typically composite materials made by mixing wood flour and thermoplastic resins, and then shaped through processes such as extrusion or compression. They have emerged as a viable and advanced alternative to traditional wood and plastic materials, offering an amalgamation of the best properties of both. This study utilized discarded milk bottles as the polymer matrix (mainly composed of high-density polyethylene, HDPE) and added wood flour, recycled protective clothing (Tyvek®), and diatomite recycled from brewery waste as reinforcement. Additionally, pre-treated aluminum hydroxide powder from waste artificial marble was added. The results indicated that the optimal processing temperature for the WPCs was 175 °C. The mechanical properties of the material increased with the addition of recycled protective clothing and pre-treated aluminum hydroxide powder. The increase in tensile strength can reach up to 28%. The thermal conductivity of the WPCs also significantly increased with the addition of pre-treated aluminum hydroxide powder. Furthermore, sunlight analysis showed that the surface temperature of the WPCs decreased by approximately 8.5 °C, which corresponds to a reduction of 13% after adding pre-treated aluminum hydroxide powder. Therefore, they can be applied to outdoor cool WPCs to reduce the risk of foot burns or used as roof heat-insulating layers to reduce indoor air conditioning usage, achieving energy-saving and carbon reduction. This study demonstrates that high-performance and high-value green plastics made from various recycled materials can contribute to the goals of a circular economy and sustainable carbon reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ample evidence has indicated shifts in distribution of fish populations in response to environmental stress. However, most studies focused at the whole population scale. This neglects the spatial dynamics between groups of different body size (body size groups), that fundamentally shapes the spatial structure of a population. Here, we explored the mechanisms that modulate spatial dynamics of body size groups, and applied our analyses to three North Sea fish populations which experienced severe declines in biomass from 1977 to 2019: Atlantic cod Gadus morhua, haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus and whiting Merlangius merlangius. All three populations exhibited strong declines in the overlapped area between body size groups in winter over 43 years, yet their mechanisms differed. These declines were either due to 1) different magnitudes of contraction of the distribution area of body size groups; and/or 2) different speeds and directions of spatial shift among various body size groups, both increasing spatial segregation within populations. These patterns were either associated with ocean warming, and/or declining population biomass, and such associations often varied according to distinct body size groups. Increasing spatial segregation between size groups of a population likely hampers life‐cycle connectivity and stability to local perturbations. Our analytical approach provides a powerful tool for identifying vulnerable populations under environmental stress and can be generalized to study a variety of size/age structured populations at various ecosystem types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors investigate the role of the physical store in today's multichannel environment. They posit that one benefit of the store to the retailer is to enhance customer value by providing the physical engagement needed to purchase deep products—products that require ample inspection for customers to make an informed decision. Using a multimethod approach involving a hidden Markov model of transaction data and two experiments, the authors find that buying deep products in the physical store transitions customers to the high-value state more than other product/channel combinations. Findings confirm the hypotheses derived from experiential learning theory. A moderated serial mediation test supports the experiential learning theory–based mechanism for translating physical engagement into customer value: Customers purchase a deep product from the physical store. They reflect on this physical engagement experience, and because it is tangible, concrete, and multisensory, it enables them to develop strong learning about the retailer. This experiential knowledge precipitates repatronage and generalizes to future online purchases in the same category and in adjacent categories, thus contributing to higher customer value. This research suggests that multichannel retailers use a combination of right-channel and right-product strategies for customer development and provides implications for experiential retail designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates a wind speed oscillation event that occurred near the coastline of central Taiwan in the afternoon of 17 February 2018, using data from observations and numerical simulations. The observed wind speeds at 100-m altitude displayed a fast-oscillating pattern of about 6 cycles between strong winds of approximately 21 m s−1 and weak winds of around 2 m s−1, with periods of about 10 min. The pressure anomalies fluctuated in antiphase with the wind speed anomalies. The synoptic analysis revealed the influence of a continental high pressure system, resulting in a cold-air outbreak over Taiwan. The cold north-northeasterly winds split into two branches upon encountering Taiwan's topography, with ridging off the east coast and a lee trough off the west coast of Taiwan. Wind oscillations were detected in the low-level cold air offshore the west coast of Taiwan, depicted by wavelike structures in wind speeds, sea level pressure, and potential temperature. The perturbations were identified as Kelvin-Helmholtz billows characterized by regions of strong wind speeds, warm and dry air, sinking motions, and low pressure collocated with each other, while regions of weaker wind speeds, cooler and moister air, ascending motions, and high pressure were associated with each other. With terrain contributing to favorable conditions, the large vertical and horizontal wind shears resulted from the southward acceleration of low-level cold air and the northward movement of the lee trough played an important role in initiating the wind oscillations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural by-products have long hinder farmers, and subsequently, the food supply chain. Making use of their natural by-products will both reduce waste and increase industrial production. In particular, pineapple leaf fibers (PALF) can be extensively studied. Here, the curing kinetics of chemically modified PALF/epoxy resin crosslinked by an anhydride hardener was investigated by non-isothermal and isothermal methods with the differential scanning calorimetry technique. In this study, the Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose and Flynn-Wall-Ozawa methods, as well as Kamal's model, were employed to analyze the curing behavior of epoxy in non-isothermal and isothermal processes, respectively. The highest activation energies for pure epoxy and PALF/epoxy composite calculated differ when using the methods. Additionally, a decreasing trend in the activation energy values during the late stages of epoxy curing was observed. The results from Kamal's model indicate that the k1 values of the PALF/epoxy composite are only greater than those of pure epoxy at 100°C and 110°C. However, all the k2 values of PALF/epoxy are greater than those of pure epoxy. Additionally, the m value of the PALF/epoxy composite is lower than that of pure epoxy only at 100°C, while the n and m+n values of the PALF/epoxy composite are all greater than those of pure epoxy. Moreover, the results reveal that the Cure Index of the PALF/epoxy composite was larger than ΔH* and smaller than ΔT*. With PALF, it was found that the epoxy resin's curing rate was increased and the activation energy was reduced. Meanwhile, the degree of crosslinks was less than that of the virgin resin. It is speculated that the hydroxyl groups on the plant fibers and the amine groups on the coupling agent-modified fibers can promote the cross-linking reaction. However, the curing reaction of the composite is affected by steric obstacles and high viscosity resulting from the addition of PALFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical cyclones (TCs), as natural extreme weather events, alter plankton and hydrological environments, affecting the stability of biological processes in freshwater ecosystems, and such TC effects vary with water depths. Previous studies have found increased phytoplankton biomass resulting from TC effects has been observed, leading to potential strong grazing of zooplankton and enhanced plankton trophic‐level relationships. However, this remains understudied, particularly under in situ conditions.Using a zooplankton to phytoplankton (ZB/PB) ratio to represent the plankton trophic‐level relationship, we estimated the ZB/PB ratios at various depth intervals, including surface (2 m depth) and euphotic (depths between 0 and 20 m) depths and depth layer 0–50 m (depths between 0 and 50 m), in a subtropical deep oligotrophic freshwater ecosystem from 2012 to 2015 to understand how TC effects would influence changes in the ZB/PB ratio variations.TCs affected the surface and euphotic ZB/PB ratios but not those at the depth layer 0–50 m. The TC durations had an initially negative and then positive impact on the surface ZB/PB ratio, indicating that slow‐moving TCs might restructure surface plankton trophic‐level relationships. The water temperature and nutrient dynamics during the TC weeks showed the highest correlations with the ZB/PB ratios at the surface and euphotic depths. The combined environmental effects influenced the ZB/PB ratios at the surface and euphotic depths during the TC weeks, with 65.1% and 72.2% of the total variations explained in the multivariate regressions, respectively.There were greater impacts of TCs in shallow water (surface and euphotic depth) than in deep water. Aquatic food chains may be unexpectedly vulnerable to natural extreme weather events, such as TCs, and continuous assessments of food chain dynamics are necessary to better manage potential risks from natural extreme weather events in freshwater ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abrupt changes in system states and dynamical behaviors are often observed in natural systems; such phenomena, named regime shifts, are explained as transitions between alternative steady states (more generally, attractors). Various methods have been proposed to detect regime shifts from time series data, but a generic detection method with theoretical linkage to underlying dynamics is lacking. Here, we provide a novel method named Nested-Library Analysis (NLA) to retrospectively detect regime shifts using empirical dynamic modeling (EDM) rooted in theory of attractor reconstruction. Specifically, NLA determines the time of regime shift as the cutting point at which sequential reduction of the library set (i.e., the time series data used to reconstruct the attractor for forecasting) optimizes the forecast skill of EDM. We illustrate this method on a chaotic model of which changing parameters present a critical transition. Our analysis shows that NLA detects the change point in the model system and outperforms existing approaches based on statistical characteristics. In addition, NLA empirically detected a real-world regime shift event revealing an abrupt change of Pacific Decadal Oscillation index around the mid-1970s. Importantly, our method can be easily generalized to various systems because NLA is equation-free and requires only a single time series. Author summary: Abrupt shifts in system dynamics, referred to as regime shifts, are common in natural systems and pose significant challenges for system management and risk assessment. Accurately detecting the change point that separates pre- and post-regime shift periods is crucial, as the data collected after regime shift can be more informative to forecast future system states. While numerous methods have been proposed to tackle this issue, identifying change points in chaotic systems remains difficult, in which regime shift signals can be concealed by chaotic dynamics. To address this issue, we propose Nested-Library Analysis (NLA), a machine learning method rooted in a data-driven, nonparametric framework for nonlinear dynamical systems, known as Empirical Dynamic Modeling (EDM). NLA effectively identifies the change points from time series data, even when the shifts in dynamics are nearly imperceptible due to chaotic behavior, surpassing the existing change point detection methods. As such, our method offers a generic solution for revealing the timing of regime shifts in a various type of dynamical system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable and renewable energy technologies have attracted significant attention for reducing greenhouse emissions in the shift from fossil fuels. The production of green hydrogen from water electrolysis is considered an environmentally friendly strategy for a decarbonized economy. We examine the activities of the hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER and OER) using spin-coated thin-film electrodes with Pt/C and IrO2 nano-electrocatalysts under acidic conditions. The nano-electrocatalysts are characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The electrocatalytic activities of nanoscale Pt/C and IrO2 are close to those of commercial Pt/C and superior to commercial IrO2, resulting in improved overall water splitting performance. Furthermore, the OER kinetics analysis using the IrO2 electrode is conducted using EIS measurements with distribution of relaxation time (DRT) analysis, resulting in a comparable exchange current density to that from the Tafel slope method (6.7 × 10−2 mA/cm2 versus 5.1 × 10−2 mA/cm2), demonstrating the validity of the kinetics analysis. This work provides a general strategy for preparing novel and highly active OER electrode materials for water electrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Combination therapy with antiseizure medications (ASMs) is a rational strategy if monotherapy cannot effectively control seizures, thereby aiming to improve tolerance and treatment persistence. Objectives: To compare the efficacy of different ASM combinations among patients. Design: Patients with epilepsy on monotherapy who had a second ASM added as concomitant two-drug therapy from January 2009 to May 2019 in the Chang Gung Research Database, Taiwan, were included in the analysis. Methods: ASM combinations were compared based on their primary mechanism of action (MoA) which are as follows: gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor (G), sodium channel blocker (SC), synaptic vesicle protein 2A (SV2), calcium channel blocker (C), and multiple mechanisms (M). Treatment persistence was compared, and the predictors of persistence were analyzed. Results: In total, 3033 patients were enrolled in this study. Combined ASMs with different MoAs had significantly longer treatment persistence than ASMs with similar MoAs, specifically SC and M combinations. Patients receiving combined ASMs with different MoAs were less likely to discontinue treatment [adjusted hazards ratio: 0.83 (95% CI: 0.75–0.93), p < 0.001]. Among all combinations, the SC + SV2 combination had the longest treatment persistence (mean ± SD: 912.7 ± 841.6 days). Meanwhile, patients receiving the G combination had a higher risk of treatment discontinuation than those receiving the SC + SV2 combination. Underlying malignancies were associated with an increased risk of treatment discontinuation across all MoA categories. Male patients receiving the SC, SV2, and M combinations were more likely to discontinue treatment than female patients. Moreover, patients with renal disease were more likely to discontinue treatment with the SV2 combinations. Conclusion: ASM combinations with different MoAs had superior efficacy and tolerability to ASM combinations with similar MoAs, particularly SC and M combinations. In our cohort, factors associated with treatment discontinuation included underlying malignancy, male sex, and renal disease. These findings may provide valuable insights into the use of ASM combinations if monotherapy cannot adequately control seizures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are considered an alternative to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), but in the era of extensive use of preventive therapies and percutaneous coronary intervention, this has not been adequately evaluated in Asians. Methods: This retrospective cohort study used data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. In total, 52,620 patients initially hospitalized due to AMI between 2002 and 2015 were assessed. Results: After propensity score matching, 14,993 patients each were assigned to ACEI and ARB groups. Patients who received ARBs had significantly lower all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 0.82; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.75–0.90) and hospitalization for heart failure (aHR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.85–0.99) compared with those who received ACEIs at 18 month follow-up. No significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of major adverse cardiovascular events (aHR: 098; 95% CI: 0.90–1.07), cardiovascular death (aHR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.68–1.00), ischemia stroke (aHR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.77–1.11), and nonfatal myocardial infarction (aHR: 1.04; 95% CI: 0.93–1.17). ARBs showed benefits in many subgroups in terms of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular death. Conclusions: Real-world data demonstrate that ARBs might be associated with lower all-cause mortality and hospitalization for heart failure compared with ACEIs among patients with AMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-entropy materials have attracted extensive attention as emerging electrode materials in various energy applications due to their flexible tunability, unusual outstanding activities, and cost-effectiveness using multiple earth-abundant elements. We introduce a novel high-entropy composite oxide with the five elements of Cu, Ni, Co, Fe, and Cr (HEO-3CNF) for use in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in electrocatalytic water splitting. HEO-3CNF is composed of two phases with a non-equimolar, deficient high-entropy spinel oxide of (Cu0.2−xNi0.2Co0.2Fe0.2Cr0.2)3O4 and monoclinic copper oxide (CuO). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) with distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analysis validates that the HEO-3CNF-based electrode exhibits faster charge transfer than benchmark CuO. It results in improved OER performance with a lower overpotential at 10 mA/cm2 and a Tafel slope than CuO (518.1 mV and 119.7 mV/dec versus 615.9 mV and 131.7 mV/dec, respectively) in alkaline conditions. This work may provide a general strategy for preparing novel, cost-effective, high-entropy electrodes for water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Approximately 10% to 20% of myasthenia gravis (MG) patients have experienced a myasthenic crisis (MC), which contributes to morbidity and mortality. MC triggered by infection is associated with poor outcomes. However, there is a lack of prognostic factors that clinicians can utilize to target interventions for preventing recurrent infection-triggered MC. This study aimed to characterize clinical manifestations, comorbidities, and biochemical profiles associated with recurrent infection-triggered MC in MG patients. Methods: This retrospective study included 272 MG patients hospitalized with an infection requiring at least 3 days of antibiotics from January 2001 to December 2019. Patients were further stratified into non-recurrent or recurrent infection groups. Clinical features such as gender, age, concomitant diseases, acetylcholine receptor antibodies and biochemical data (including electrolytes and coagulants), muscle strength of pelvic and shoulder girdle, bulbar and respiratory function, management with an endotracheal tube, Foley catheter, or plasmapheresis, duration of hospitalization, and culture pathogens were recorded. Results: The recurrent infection group was significantly older than the non-recurrent group (median age, 58.5 versus 52.0 years). Pneumonia was the most common infection and Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most common pathogen. The presence of concomitant diabetes mellitus, activated partial thromboplastin time prolongation, the duration of hospitalization, and hypomagnesaemia were independently associated with recurrent infection. The presence of deep vein thrombosis, thymic cancer, and electrolyte imbalances i.e., hypokalemia, and hypoalbuminemia were significantly associated with a risk for infection. The influence of endotracheal intubation, anemia, and plasmapheresis during hospitalization were inconsistent. Conclusions: The independent risk factors for recurrent infections in MG patients identified in this study include the presence of concomitant diabetes mellitus, hypomagnesaemia, activated partial thromboplastin time prolongation, and longer duration of hospitalization, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to prevent recurrent infections in this population. Further research and prospective studies are warranted to validate these findings and refine interventions for optimizing patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The presence of single-node metastasis (Ns) sometimes could be encountered in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The survival outcome for different Ns should be worthy of discussion. Methods: Patients diagnosed with OSCC at the National Taiwan University Hospital between January 2007 and December 2018 were reviewed. All patients with Ns were classified into two groups: with and without extranodal extension (ENE). Results: We analyzed 311 OSCC patients with Ns: 77 (24.76%) with and 234 (75.24%) without ENE. Lymph node (LN) >3 cm was the only significant factor associated with ENE (odds ratio 17.21, p < 0.001). The 5-year, disease-free survival of N1/N2A and N3B patients was 60.5% and 49.4%, respectively (p = 0.04), and the 5-year overall survival was 63.1% and 33.6%, respectively (p = 0.0001). Four fifths of Ns patients with LN >3 cm were upgraded to N3B category as ENE+. Postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) could provide significant benefit in regional control for Ns patients with (p = 0.03) and without (p = 0.0004) other adverse features. After multivariant Cox analysis, ENE+ was a modest and significant risk factor for disease-free (p = 0.08) and overall survival (p = 0.001). By contrast, the LN>3cm and N2A category were not significant risk factors for disease-free and overall survival. Conclusions: For OSCC patients with Ns, the survival outcome between N3B category and N1/N2A category was significantly different. After ENE+ upgrades (>80%), there were fewer N2A patients, and these patients became more comparable to N1 patients. PORT could significantly improve regional control for Ns patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cobalt‐mediated radical polymerization (CMRP) has enabled the polymerization of a wide range of monomers with predictable molecular parameters and well‐defined compositions and architectures. However, the synthesis of hydrophilic polymers by CMRP directly in the aqueous phase is still challenging. Herein, a handy cobalt complex was developed to perform CMRP of N‐vinylpyrrolidone (NVP), 2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA), and N,N‐dimethylacrylamide (DMA) with linearly increased molecular weight, low polydispersity values, and smoothly shifted gel permeation chromatography (GPC) traces. The chain extensions of NVP, HEA, and DMA revealed the well chain‐end fidelity for the synthesis of block copolymers. Moreover, the poly(N‐vinylpyrrolidone)‐block‐poly(vinyl acetate) (PVP‐b‐PVAc) amphiphilic block copolymer colloidal solution was achieved directly in aqueous phase by cobalt‐mediated radical polymerization‐induced self‐assembly (CMR‐PISA), forming the nanoparticles consisting of a hydrophilic PVP corona and a hydrophobic PVAc core. This new mediator opens the opportunity for the synthesis of various hydrophilic (co)polymers in an environmentally friendly manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased oxidative stress and neuroinflammation play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). In this study, the expression levels of 52 genes related to oxidative stress and inflammation were measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the discovery cohort including 48 PD patients and 25 healthy controls. Four genes, including ALDH1A, APAF1, CR1, and CSF1R, were found to be upregulated in PD patients. The expression patterns of these genes were validated in a second cohort of 101 PD patients and 61 healthy controls. The results confirmed the upregulation of APAF1 (PD: 0.34 ± 0.18, control: 0.26 ± 0.11, p < 0.001) and CSF1R (PD: 0.38 ± 0.12, control: 0.33 ± 0.10, p = 0.005) in PD patients. The expression level of APAF1 was correlated with the scores of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS, r = 0.235, p = 0.018) and 39-item PD questionnaire (PDQ-39, r = 0.250, p = 0.012). The expression level of CSF1R was negatively correlated with the scores of the mini-mental status examination (MMSE, r = −0.200, p = 0.047) and Montréal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA, r = −0.226, p = 0.023). These results highly suggest that oxidative stress biomarkers in peripheral blood may be useful in monitoring the progression of motor disabilities and cognitive decline in PD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) may not achieve seizure freedom despite optimal treatment with antiseizure medications (ASMs). The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and social features of patients with JME, and to determine the factors associated with outcomes. We retrospectively identified 49 patients with JME (25 females, mean age 27.6 ± 8.9 years) who were assessed at the Epilepsy Centre of Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan. The patients were divided into two groups, those who were seizure-free and those with ongoing seizures according to their seizure outcome at the last follow-up for one year. Clinical features and social status were compared between these two groups. Twenty-four (49%) of the JME patients were seizure-free for at least one year, while 51% continued to experience seizures despite being treated with multiple ASMs. The presence of epileptiform discharges in the last electroencephalogram and seizures during sleep were significantly associated with worse seizure outcomes (p < 0.05). The patients who were seizure-free had a higher employment rate compared to those who continued to experience seizures (75% vs. 32%, p = 0.004). Despite receiving ASM treatment, a considerable proportion of the patients with JME continued to have seizures. Moreover, poor seizure control was associated with a lower employment rate, which may lead to negative socioeconomic consequences related to JME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oral cancer causes significant morbidity and mortality. Chemoprevention utilizes medication or natural compounds to reverse oral premalignant lesions and to prevent second primary tumors. Methods: A comprehensive PubMed database and Cochrane Library search from 1980 to 2021 was performed using the keywords "leukoplakia," "oral premalignant lesion," and "chemoprevention." Results: Chemopreventive agents included retinoids, carotenoids, cyclooxygenase inhibitor, herbal extracts, bleomycin, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, metformin, and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Although some agents demonstrated effect in reducing premalignant lesions and preventing second primary tumors, the results among different studies were highly variable. Conclusions: The results of different trials, albeit inconsistent, provided substantial information for future studies. In the era of personalized medicine, future studies will focus on identifying specific biomarkers and molecular profile to monitor and to prevent malignant transformation. Larger trials are warranted to validate the effect of chemopreventive agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study found that biochar made from grapevines (GVC), an agricultural waste product, can be used as a nucleating agent to promote the crystallization of polylactic acid (PLA). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis of GVC/PLA composites showed that different particle sizes (200 and 100 mesh size) and amounts (1 wt%, 10 wt%) of biochar affect the re-crystallization of PLA, with 200 mesh GVC in the amount of 10 wt% being the most significant. In addition, it was found that there were two peaks related to imperfect and perfect crystals in the Tm part for GVC/PLA composites. TGA analysis showed that adding GVC tends to lower the maximum decomposition temperature of PLA, revealing that GVC may accelerate the degradation reaction of PLA. This research also studied the effects of GVC in various particle sizes and amounts on the mechanical properties and degradation of PLA. The results revealed that the tensile and impact strengths of GVC/PLA composite could reach 79.79 MPa and 22.67 J/m, respectively, and the increments were 41.4% and 32.1%, greater than those of pristine PLA. Moreover, the molecular weight of PLA decreased as the amount of GVC increased. Therefore, GVC particles can be used as reinforcing fillers for PLA to improve its mechanical properties and adjust its molecular weight. These agricultural-waste-reinforced biocomposites can reduce both greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the cost of biodegradable polymers and achieve the goals of a circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo has recently become a key material in green engineering. However, measuring its transverse elastic modulus (ET) is difficult due to the inherent structural properties of bamboo culm. In this study, two micromechanical analytical models, the Chamis model and Reuss model, and a finite element (FE) inverse numerical method were used to calculate the elastic modulus perpendicular to the bamboo grain by using a specially designed strip-reinforced polymer specimen. A bamboo veneer microtensile test was used to verify these approaches. The effect of the specimen geometry on measurement accuracy was also determined. This novel approach was also used to determine the ET of two bamboo species. The Chamis model had the best performance because its assumptions regarding the fiber section geometry were consistent with the actual specimen; the Reuss model had the worst results. The result of the FE method was slightly distorted due to the high sensitivity of parameters. A parametric study revealed that the micromechanics and FE descriptions of the modulus of the resin–fiber combination differed. The fiber volume fraction affected the prediction accuracy, but not the width or spacing of the bamboo strips. The strain and stress distribution of composite repeating units were studied. The results of ET measurements for the two bamboo species were reasonable. In conclusion, a novel, verified, simple, and accurate method was developed for determining the ET of bamboo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Natural Fibers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: To study whether oral presentation (OP) assessment could reflect the novice learners’ interpretation skills and reading behaviour on brain computed tomography (CT) reading. Methods: Eighty fifth-year medical students were recruited, received a 2-hour interactive workshop on how to read brain CT, and were assigned to read two brain CT images before and after instruction. We evaluated their image reading behaviour in terms of overall OP post-test rating, the lesion identification, and competency in systematic image reading after instruction. Students’ reading behaviour in searching for the target lesions were recorded by the eye-tracking technique and were used to validate the accuracy of lesion reports. Statistical analyses, including lag sequential analysis (LSA), linear mixed models, and transition entropy (TE) were conducted to reveal temporal relations and spatial complexity of systematic image reading from the eye movement perspective. Results: The overall OP ratings [pre-test vs. post-test: 0 vs. 1 in case 1, 0 vs. 1 in case 2, p < 0.001] improved after instruction. Both the scores of systematic OP ratings [0 vs.1 in both cases, p < 0.001] and eye-tracking studies (Case 1: 3.42 ± 0.62 and 3.67 ± 0.37 in TE, p = 0.001; Case 2: 3.42 ± 0.76 and 3.75 ± 0.37 in TE, p = 0.002) showed that the image reading behaviour changed before and after instruction. The results of linear mixed models suggested a significant interaction between instruction and area of interests for case 1 (p < 0.001) and case 2 (p = 0.004). Visual attention to the target lesions in the case 1 assessed by dwell time were 506.50 ± 509.06 and 374.38 ± 464.68 milliseconds before and after instruction (p = 0.02). However, the dwell times in the case 2, the fixation counts and the frequencies of accurate lesion diagnoses in both cases did not change after instruction. Conclusion: Our results showed OP performance may change concurrently with the medical students’ reading behaviour on brain CT after a structured instruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/Aims: A model for predicting responsiveness to immunotherapy in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) has not been well established. We aimed to establish a new classifier for CIDP patients based on clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, and electrophysiological features. Methods: The clinical, laboratory, and electrophysiological features of 172 treatment‐naïve patients with CIDP between 2003 and 2019 were analyzed using an unsupervised hierarchical clustering. The identified pivotal features were used to establish simple classifications using a tree‐based model. Results: Three clusters were identified: 1, n = 65; 2, n = 70; and 3, n = 37. Patients in Cluster 1 scored lower on the disability assessment score before treatment. More patients in Clusters 2 (90.0%) fulfilled demyelinating criteria than patients in Cluster 1 (30.8%, p <.001). Cluster 3 had more patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) (27.0%) and hypoalbuminemia (3.40 g/dL) than did Cluster 2 (CKD: 0%, p <.001; hypoalbuminemia: 4.09 g/dL, p <.001). The responsiveness to pulse steroid therapy was higher in Cluster 2 (70.0%) than in Clusters 1 (31.8%; p =.043) and 3 (25.0%; p =.014). A tree‐based model with four pivotal features classified patients in our cohort into new clusters with high accuracy (89.5%). Discussion: The established hierarchical clustering with the tree‐based model identified key features contributing to differences in disease severity and response to pulse steroid therapy. This classification system could assist clinicians in the selection of treatments and could also help researchers by clustering patients for clinical treatment trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-infectious cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is an uncommon type of cerebrovascular disease that usually affects young patients. It occurs frequently in female patients, probably due to the association of sex-specific risk factors for coagulopathies. Currently, the prognostic factors of CVT remain unclear. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical characteristics among 260 CVT patients, including 147 females and 113 males. A favorable clinical outcome was defined by the scores of the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) ≤ 2 at hospital discharge, while a poor clinical outcome was defined by an mRS score of 3 to 6. A headache (28.5%) was the most frequent presentation. The most commonly affected sinus was the transverse-sigmoid sinus (59.6%). Most of the cases (78.5%) were treated with anticoagulants. One hundred and fifty-seven patients (60.4%) were discharged with favorable clinical outcomes. Consciousness disturbance (odds ratio: 5.01, p < 0.001) was associated with a poor clinical outcome. Patients with poor clinical outcomes demonstrated higher D-dimer levels on admission (4137.76 ± 3317.07 vs. 2476.74 ± 2330.87 ng/mL FEU, p = 0.029) and longer hospitalization days (31.81 ± 26.29 vs. 13.96 ± 8.82 days, p < 0.001) compared with favorable clinical outcomes. These findings provide important information of clinical characteristics and prognosis for CVT. Aggressive monitoring and treatment should be considered in CVT patients with poor prognostic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Untangling causal links and feedbacks among biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and environmental factors is challenging due to their complex and context-dependent interactions (e.g., a nutrient-dependent relationship between diversity and biomass). Consequently, studies that only consider separable, unidirectional effects can produce divergent conclusions and equivocal ecological implications. To address this complexity, we use empirical dynamic modeling to assemble causal networks for 19 natural aquatic ecosystems (N24◦~N58◦) and quantified strengths of feedbacks among phytoplankton diversity, phytoplankton biomass, and environmental factors. Through a cross-system comparison, we identify macroecological patterns; in more diverse, oligotrophic ecosystems, biodiversity effects are more important than environmental effects (nutrients and temperature) as drivers of biomass. Furthermore, feedback strengths vary with productivity. In warm, productive systems, strong nitrate-mediated feedbacks usually prevail, whereas there are strong, phosphate-mediated feedbacks in cold, less productive systems. Our findings, based on recovered feedbacks, highlight the importance of a network view in future ecosystem management. Disentangling causal interactions among biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and environmental factors is key to understanding how ecosystems respond to changing environment. This study presents a global scale analysis quantifying causal interactions and feedbacks among phytoplankton diversity, biomass and nutrients along environmental gradients of aquatic ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Untangling causal links and feedbacks among biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and environmental factors is challenging due to their complex and context-dependent interactions (e.g., a nutrient-dependent relationship between diversity and biomass). Consequently, studies that only consider separable, unidirectional effects can produce divergent conclusions and equivocal ecological implications. To address this complexity, we use empirical dynamic modeling to assemble causal networks for 19 natural aquatic ecosystems (N24◦~N58◦) and quantified strengths of feedbacks among phytoplankton diversity, phytoplankton biomass, and environmental factors. Through a cross-system comparison, we identify macroecological patterns; in more diverse, oligotrophic ecosystems, biodiversity effects are more important than environmental effects (nutrients and temperature) as drivers of biomass. Furthermore, feedback strengths vary with productivity. In warm, productive systems, strong nitrate-mediated feedbacks usually prevail, whereas there are strong, phosphate-mediated feedbacks in cold, less productive systems. Our findings, based on recovered feedbacks, highlight the importance of a network view in future ecosystem management. Disentangling causal interactions among biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and environmental factors is key to understanding how ecosystems respond to changing environment. This study presents a global scale analysis quantifying causal interactions and feedbacks among phytoplankton diversity, biomass and nutrients along environmental gradients of aquatic ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drowsiness is a major risk factor for road safety, contributing to serious injury, death, and economic loss on the road. Driving performance decreases because of increased drowsiness. In several different applications, such as facial movement analysis and driver safety, blink detection is an essential requirement that is used. The extremely rapid blink rate, on the other hand, makes automatic blink detection an extremely challenging task. This research paper presents a technique for identifying eye blinks in a video series recorded by a car dashboard camera in real time. The suggested technique determines the facial landmark positions for each video frame and then extracts the vertical distance between the eyelids from the facial landmark positions. The algorithm that has been proposed estimates the facial landmark positions, extracts a single scalar quantity by making use of Eye Aspect Ratio (EAR), and identifies the eye closeness in each frame. In the end, blinks are recognized by employing the modified EAR threshold value in conjunction with a pattern of EAR values in a relatively short period of time. Experimental evidence indicates that the greater the EAR threshold, the worse the AUC's accuracy and performance. Further, 0.18 was determined to be the optimum EAR threshold in our research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, a nanocrystalline Ni-Fe matrix with reinforced TiO2 nanoparticles as a functional nanocomposite material was fabricated by pulsed current electroforming in UV-LIGA (lithography, electroplating, and molding). The influences of TiO2 nanoparticles on the Ni-Fe nanocomposite deposition were also investigated using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and in vitro cytotoxicity assay. It was found that the Ni-Fe nanocomposite with 5 wt.% TiO2 nanoparticles showed a smooth surface and better dispersion property. When the Ni-Fe nanocomposite is combined with 20 wt.% TiO2, it resulted in congeries of TiO2 nanoparticles. In addition, TiO2 nanoparticles possessed better dispersion properties as performed in pulse current electrodeposition. The microstructure of the electrodeposited Ni-Fe-TiO2 nanocomposite was a FeNi3 phase containing anatase nano-TiO2. Moreover, the electrodeposited Ni-Fe-5 wt.% TiO2 nanocomposite exhibited a smooth surface and structural integrity. Cytotoxicity assay results also proved that the Ni-Fe nanocomposite with different concentrations of TiO2 nanoparticles had good biocompatibility. Therefore, the optimization of pulse current electroforming parameters was successfully applied to fabricate the Ni-Fe-TiO2 nanocomposite, and thus could be used as an endodontic file material for dental applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With Pd as an example, a set of quantitative analyses is designed to shed light on the bromide‐mediated reduction kinetics and oxidative etching in determining the twin structure and facet of Pd nanocrystals. The success of this work relies on the kinetic measurements of Pd(II) precursor reduction and the close examinations of resultant Pd seeds and nanocrystals at different stages of synthesis. We observe there is a clear trend where low, moderate, and high initial Pd(II) reduction rates regulated by Br− ions correspond to the formation of Pd seeds with singly‐twinned, multiply‐twinned, and single‐crystal structures in the nucleation stage, respectively. Our quantitative analyses also suggest the oxidative etching induced by oxygen/Br− pair can selectively remove the multiply‐twinned Pd seeds from the products in the growth stage while leaving behind singly‐twinned or single‐crystal Pd seeds for the evolution into Pd nanocrystals with well‐defined facets in high purity. The mechanistic insights obtained in this work can be extended to the synthesis of Pd@Pd−Pt core−shell nanocubes with high‐index facets, which can be used as excellent electrocatalysts and photocatalysts for hydrogen generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood has important engineering applications. However, some important parameters required in numerical simulations or engineering calculations, including the true longitudinal bending elasticity EL and shear modulus GLT and GLR, remain difficult to measure accurately. According to Timoshenko's beam theory, the total deflection of a beam under conventional center loading is affected by both bending moment and shear force. Therefore, E calculated from the total deflection is an apparent value. In addition, the measurement of G is difficult, and previously used methods may be insufficient. This study proposed a method that can measure E and G directly and accurately using a strain gauge and dial gauge simultaneously under a fixed span/depth ratio. The measured E and G values were compared with those obtained indirectly by adjusting the span/depth ratio and those measured using a four-point loading test. As a result, this method could be used to measure E and G accurately for wood in a standard bending test with standard specimens with span/depth ratio equal to 14. Other factors such as local indentation caused by the loading point, regression deviation caused by a change in span range, and influence of the selection of strain levels were also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specifically, following McCracken et al.[5], Yang et al.[1] used correlation difference (X cross-map Y - Y cross-map X) as the definition of CCM causation (Fig. Author contributions C.-W.C., S.B.M., and C.-H.H. conceived the research idea; C.-W.C. designed the models and analyzed data; C.-W.C., S.B.M., and C.-H.H. wrote the manuscript. The correct definition of causation under CCM is improvement of cross-mapping skill with increasing time series length (i.e., convergence). In summary, the probability of detecting spurious causation in paired short white noise was very low; this was opposite to conclusions of Yang et al.[1] based on the incorrect definition of CCM. [Extracted from the article]

Untangling causal links and feedbacks among biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and environmental factors is challenging due to their complex and context-dependent interactions (e.g., a nutrient-dependent relationship between diversity and biomass). Consequently, studies that only consider separable, unidirectional effects can produce divergent conclusions and equivocal ecological implications. To address this complexity, we use empirical dynamic modeling to assemble causal networks for 19 natural aquatic ecosystems (N24◦~N58◦) and quantified strengths of feedbacks among phytoplankton diversity, phytoplankton biomass, and environmental factors. Through a cross-system comparison, we identify macroecological patterns; in more diverse, oligotrophic ecosystems, biodiversity effects are more important than environmental effects (nutrients and temperature) as drivers of biomass. Furthermore, feedback strengths vary with productivity. In warm, productive systems, strong nitrate-mediated feedbacks usually prevail, whereas there are strong, phosphate-mediated feedbacks in cold, less productive systems. Our findings, based on recovered feedbacks, highlight the importance of a network view in future ecosystem management. Disentangling causal interactions among biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and environmental factors is key to understanding how ecosystems respond to changing environment. This study presents a global scale analysis quantifying causal interactions and feedbacks among phytoplankton diversity, biomass and nutrients along environmental gradients of aquatic ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is a primary generalized epilepsy which is closely related to the sleep-wake cycle. This study aimed to investigate whether sleep disturbance is more common among patients with JME and the impact this may have on their quality of life (QOL). Thirty-four patients with JME and age- and gender-matched controls were recruited into this case control study, and assessed using validated sleep questionnaires including the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS). QOL was assessed using the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory (QOLIE-31). The patients had a significantly higher PSQI score and higher proportion of abnormal PSQI scores than the controls. They also had higher ESS and SSS scores, but without statistical significance. The patients with poor sleep quality had significantly lower overall QOL, emotional well-being, and energy/fatigue subscale scores. The use of a higher number of antiseizure medications, dosage of levetiracetam, and usage of antiseizure medication polytherapy were associated with sleep disorders. Our results showed that sleep disturbance is common in patients with JME, and also that it has an impact on their QOL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reconstructing interactions from observational data is a critical need for investigating natural biological networks, wherein network dimensionality is usually high. However, these pose a challenge to existing methods that can quantify only small interaction networks. Here, we proposed a novel approach to reconstruct high‐dimensional interaction Jacobian networks using empirical time series without specific model assumptions. This method, named "multiview distance regularised S‐map," generalised the state space reconstruction to accommodate high dimensionality and overcome difficulties in quantifying massive interactions with limited data. When evaluating this method using time series generated from theoretical models involving hundreds of interacting species, estimated strengths of interaction Jacobians were in good agreement with theoretical expectations. Applying this method to a natural bacterial community helped identify important species from the interaction network and revealed mechanisms governing the dynamical stability of a bacterial community. The proposed method overcame the challenge of high dimensionality in large natural dynamical systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two series of rod‐shaped dipolar organic compounds are synthesized, each of which contains an electron donor (D), an electron acceptor (A), and a rigid hydrocarbon spacer (S). The first series of S compounds belong to the derivatives of oligo‐norbornyl (NB3 and NB4); and the second series of S the derivatives of a cage‐shaped heptacyclic tetradecane (HT2a,b and HT4a,b). The absorption/emission spectra and the oxidation/reduction potentials of D's and A's are measured, and the free energy of the photo‐excited electron transfer (PET) process is estimated according to the Marcus relationship. The degree of fluorescence quenching is found to be proportional to the corresponding free energy. The symmetry correlation between the frontier molecular orbitals of D and A is believed to play a significant role in the PET processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, BaTi1-mZrmO3-4.5 mol.% Gd2O3-2.0 mol.% SiO2 ceramics with different Zr/Ti ratios and MgO contents were prepared via solid-state reaction. The MgO addition decreased the densification temperatures of the ceramics and increased the second phase Ba2GdZrO5.5 content. The temperature coefficient of capacitance curves of the ceramics had an almost linear variation with temperature, with negative temperature coefficients. With the increase of the Zr4+/Ti4+ ratio and MgO content, the temperature coefficient of capacitance rotated counter clockwise due to the lower Tm temperature, and a smaller tan δ and a higher electrical resistance were obtained at room temperature. The Zr4+ ion replacement and MgO addition reduced the Ti Ti ′ concentrations, and therefore, lessened the hopping conduction between Ti4+ and Ti3+ ions, while excess MgO produced V O ∙ ∙ and had an opposing effect. Additionally, larger amounts of MgO led to smaller grain sizes, and thus, more insulating grain boundaries. The change in the dielectric constant with the bias field, a typical nonlinear dielectric behavior, decreased with increasing MgO content and Zr4+/Ti4+ ratio. For BaTi0.70Zr0.30O3 ceramics with additives of 6 mol.% MgO, 4.5 mol.% Gd2O3, and 2 mol.% SiO2, the dielectric constant changed by a minimum value of 0.37% under a bias of 2.5 kV/mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although tremendous efforts have been made for the efficient preparation of sialosides, controlling the stereochemical outcome of sialylation reaction still remains one of the most challenging tasks due to the unique chemical structure of sialic acid. We developed a new strategy to statistically analyze the stereoselectivity of sialylation reactions on six types of p‐tolyl thiosialosides in NIS/TfOH system using Relative Reactivity Value (RRV) as the indicator. Analysis of the reaction mechanism showed the formation of the relatively stable glycosyl bromide and glycosyl chloride intermediates from halide‐ and triflate‐containing promotors in the absence of an acceptor. We found that the α/β‐stereoselectivity, yields, and intermediate changes were associated with their donor reactivity. These findings enable to tailor the most suitable building blocks for stereo‐controlled sialylation reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]