bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
El gasto social y la pobreza multidimensional en Ecuador
Authors: García-Vélez Diego , Núñez-Velázquez José Javier
Published: November 2023

Uno de los principales instrumentos de política para el combate a la pobreza, principalmente en los países en vías de desarrollo, es el gasto social destinado a servicios como la educación, la salud y el bienestar social. En Ecuador, el monto total destinado a estos tres servicios ha experimentado una tendencia creciente a partir de 2008. En consecuencia, nuestro objetivo es identificar el efecto del gasto social sobre la pobreza multidimensional en Ecuador, para lo cual aplicamos un índice de pobreza multidimensional con base en la teoría de conjuntos difusos, abordándola como un grado de privación en lugar de un atributo de presencia o ausencia, construimos un perfil de pobreza y estimamos un modelo probit multinomial con un pool de datos provinciales para el periodo 2009-2017. Nuestros principales resultados indican que la pobreza se reduce en el periodo de estudio, pero que no todos los grupos poblacionales se han beneficiado en la misma medida, además que el gasto en bienestar social tiene efectos significativos sobre la pobreza multidimensional, pero que el gasto en educación y en salud no son significativos. Esto sugiere que las políticas públicas deben aplicarse en dos vías, una para combatir la pobreza y otra para cerrar las brechas, lo cual conlleva a la ejecución de más y mejor gasto social en los servicios de bienestar social.
A Comprehensive Study on the Use of Blockchain Technology in Healthcare
Authors: Miah Muhammed
Published: November 2023

Blockchain technology has emerged as a potential solution to improve healthcare services by offering secure, transparent and efficient management of healthcare data. The paper presents an overview of the applications, benefits, challenges and recommendations for using Blockchain technology in healthcare. A systematic literature review has been conducted to identify relevant articles published in recent years, using the PRISMA framework to ensure methodological rigor. The review has revealed that Blockchain technology can be used in various healthcare applications, including data management, drug supply chain management, clinical trials, medical record keeping, and telemedicine. Blockchain technology offers several benefits in healthcare, such as secure and efficient data sharing, real-time access to patient data, improved patient outcomes, and lower costs. However, the adoption of Blockchain technology in healthcare also presents some challenges, such as regulatory barriers, interoperability issues, data privacy and security concerns, and technical limitations. To overcome these challenges, recommendations are provided, including developing a regulatory framework, addressing interoperability issues, implementing robust data privacy and security measures, and investing in Blockchain technology research and development.
Simulation of displacement damage induced by protons incident on AlxGa1–xN materials
Authors: He Huan , Bai Yu-Rong , Tian Shang , Liu Fang , Zang Hang , Liu Wen-Bo , Li Pei , He Chao-Hui ,   School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China,   School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100084, China
Published: November 2023

Gallium nitride materials, due to their excellent electrical properties and irradiation resistance, are expected to be used in future space electronics systems where electronic devices are composed of different amounts of AlxGa1–xN materials. However, most of their displacement damage studies currently focus on GaN materials, and less on AlxGa1–xN materials themselves. The mechanism of displacement damage induced by 10-keV to 300-MeV protons incident on AlxGa1–xN materials with different Al content is investigated by binary collision approximation method. The results show that the non-ionization energy loss of AlxGa1–xN material decreases with proton energy increasing. When the proton energy is lower than 40 MeV, the non-ionization energy loss becomes larger with the increase of Al content, while the trend is reversed when the proton energy increases. Analyzing the primary knock-on atoms and non-ionizing energy deposition caused by protons, it is found that the primary knock-on atoms’ spectra of different AlxGa1–xN materials are similar, but the higher the content of Al, the higher the proportion of the self primary knock-on atoms generated by elastic collisions is. For the non-ionizing energy deposition produced by protons at different depths, the energy deposition due to elastic collisions is largest at the end of the trajectory, while the energy deposition due to inelastic collisions is uniformly distributed in the front of the trajectory but decreases at the end of the trajectory. This study provides a good insight into the applications of GaN materials and devices in space radiation environment.
Mathematics of Big Data
Authors: Kepner Jeremy , Jananthan Hayden
Published: November 2023

The first book to present the common mathematical foundations of big data analysis across a range of applications and technologies.

Today, the volume, velocity, and variety of data are increasing rapidly across a range of fields, including Internet search, healthcare, finance, social media, wireless devices, and cybersecurity. Indeed, these data are growing at a rate beyond our capacity to analyze them. The tools—including spreadsheets, databases, matrices, and graphs—developed to address this challenge all reflect the need to store and operate on data as whole sets rather than as individual elements. This book presents the common mathematical foundations of these data sets that apply across many applications and technologies. Associative arrays unify and simplify data, allowing readers to look past the differences among the various tools and leverage their mathematical similarities in order to solve the hardest big data challenges.

The book first introduces the concept of the associative array in practical terms, presents the associative array manipulation system D4M (Dynamic Distributed Dimensional Data Model), and describes the application of associative arrays to graph analysis and machine learning. It provides a mathematically rigorous definition of associative arrays and describes the properties of associative arrays that arise from this definition. Finally, the book shows how concepts of linearity can be extended to encompass associative arrays. Mathematics of Big Data can be used as a textbook or reference by engineers, scientists, mathematicians, computer scientists, and software engineers who analyze big data.
Scaling between cell cycle duration and wing growth is regulated by Fat-Dachsous signaling in Drosophila
Authors: Liu Andrew , O’Connell Jessica , Wall Farley , Carthew Richard W
Published: November 2023

The atypical cadherins Fat and Dachsous (Ds) signal through the Hippo pathway to regulate growth of numerous organs, including the Drosophila wing. Here, we find that Ds-Fat signaling tunes a unique feature of cell proliferation found to control the rate of wing growth during the third instar larval phase. The duration of the cell cycle increases in direct proportion to the size of the wing, leading to linear-like growth during the third instar. Ds-Fat signaling enhances the rate at which the cell cycle lengthens with wing size, thus diminishing the rate of wing growth. We show that this results in a complex but stereotyped relative scaling of wing growth with body growth in Drosophila. Finally, we examine the dynamics of Fat and Ds protein distribution in the wing, observing graded distributions that change during growth. However, the significance of these dynamics is unclear since perturbations in expression have negligible impact on wing growth.
Itaconate stabilizes CPT1a to enhance lipid utilization during inflammation
Authors: Mainali Rabina , Buechler Nancy , Otero Cristian , Edwards Laken , Key Chia-Chi , Furdui Cristina , Quinn Matthew A.
Published: November 2023

One primary metabolic manifestation of inflammation is the diversion of cis-aconitate within the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle to synthesize the immunometabolite itaconate. Itaconate is well established to possess immunomodulatory and metabolic effects within myeloid cells and lymphocytes, however, its effects in other organ systems during sepsis remain less clear. Utilizing
Irg1
knockout mice that are deficient in synthesizing itaconate, we aimed at understanding the metabolic role of itaconate in the liver and systemically during sepsis. We find itaconate aids in lipid metabolism during sepsis. Specifically,
Irg1
KO mice develop a heightened level of hepatic steatosis when induced with polymicrobial sepsis. Proteomics analysis reveal enhanced expression of enzymes involved in fatty acid oxidation in following 4-ocytl itaconate (4-OI) treatment
in vitro
. Downstream analysis reveals itaconate stabilizes the expression of the mitochondrial fatty acid uptake enzyme CPT1a, mediated by its hypoubiquitination. Chemoproteomic analysis revealed itaconate interacts with proteins involved in protein ubiquitination as a potential mechanism underlying its stabilizing effect on CPT1a. From a systemic perspective, we find itaconate deficiency triggers a hypothermic response following endotoxin stimulation, potentially mediated by brown adipose tissue (BAT) dysfunction. Finally, by use of metabolic cage studies, we demonstrate
Irg1
KO mice rely more heavily on carbohydrates versus fatty acid sources for systemic fuel utilization in response to endotoxin treatment. Our data reveal a novel metabolic role of itaconate in modulating fatty acid oxidation during polymicrobial sepsis.
Can You Joke about Anything? Freedom of Speech, Entitlement and Context in Humour
Authors: Liliequist Christian
Published: November 2023

In this article, humour about sensitive and taboo subjects is analyzed from three perspectives: freedom of speech, entitlement, and context. Freedom of speech, in the form of the right to joke about anything, can be seen as an important principle in humour discourses. In debates about humour, it is common to refer to freedom of speech in defense of what has been criticized. In my empirical material, however, a principle of entitlement is also articulated that concerns what kind of jokes you have the right to tell depending on who you are. The principle of entitlement contravenes the principle of freedom of speech. Finally, the context of a joke is also important for what you can joke about. When a comical expression is recorded and spread through social media and/or streaming services to another audience than that it was originally meant for, there is a risk that some individuals and/or groups in society will interpret it in another way and perceive it as offensive.
Determinants of using AI-powered discovery services
Authors: Gasparini Andrea Alessandro , Kautonen Heli
Published: November 2023

In 2023 the scholarly communities are witnessing a spring of Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered tools for scientific work. Scholars are tempted to integrate various time-saving AI applications in their workflow, from data analysis to disseminating research results. Among these novel “research assistants”, several enhanced discovery services apply machine learning to identify the most relevant results for the information seeker and visualize them to the user in innovative ways.
The rapid emergence of these tools has raised concerns about the impact of AI technology on scientific research and led to requirements of transparency, accountability, and explainability of the new AI tools. 
From the systems viewpoint, responsibility for the impact of technology extends beyond developers to the broader society. The user communities, including librarians providing services for academia, are considered counterparts in the effects of AI technology systems. Individuals decide how they behave with the new information technology, for example, whether they trust the system and its outcome. Thus, an individual user is also part of the socio-technical evolution of building transparent, accountable, and explainable AI.
In this study, we explore the challenges of adopting AI tools in scientific research on the level of an individual librarian working for academia. We aim to detect poorly addressed mindsets around explainability, fairness, and privacy, named “blind spots” in AI ethics (Hagendorff, 2022). The goal is to understand the “determinants” of librarians’ information behavior with novel AI tools. We focus on two AI-powered visual discovery services: openknowledgemaps.org and www.litmaps.com. These tools help users to navigate and analyze research articles as concept graphs.
In this poster, our primary research question is: What are the determinants of librarians’ intentions when they adopt/use new AI-powered tools?
We conducted an expert evaluation (Tessmer, 1993) on these two discovery services using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as a theoretical framework that explains human behavior through three individual beliefs: attitudes, norms, and control. This framework helped us detect new “blind spots” in the behavioral determinants that have remained unnoticed in the recent discourses about AI ethics in libraries.
Our study indicated a lack in the area of normative beliefs, a “blind spot”: The social pressure to quickly adopt the newest technology and the lack of library-specific norms for using AI in academia may become a handicap for an individual librarian who contemplates whether or not to use an AI tool.
State of Open Data 2023
Authors: Oefelein Timon
Published: November 2023

The annual State of Open Data survey is a global and collaborative initiative aimed at understanding the dynamics of open data within the research community across different disciplines and regions. It seeks to uncover researchers' perspectives, behaviours, and the impact of data management on their work, ultimately contributing to the development of more effective data sharing practices that align with the evolving needs of the research community.

Now in its eighth year, the 2023 survey findings, presented in this poster, shed light on the evolving landscape of research data sharing and emphasise the critical need for adaptable, nuanced approaches.

This poster will give a preview of the 2023 results, pulling out some of the main findings and analysis of year-on-year trends, with key regional differences highlighted.

One main theme to emerge is that a one size fits all approach for research data management does not work, rather there should be a move to a more nuanced strategy. Researchers across different disciplines and regions have unique needs, and their approaches to research data management vary significantly. This underscores the necessity of moving towards a more adaptable and nuanced data management strategies tailored to specific research contexts.

The State of Open Data survey is conducted in partnership with Springer Nature, Figshare and Digital Science, enhancing the survey’s reach and impact and allowing for a more comprehensive analysis of the research data landscape.
Frailty assessed by the electronic frailty index and its impact on health outcomes in older adults with chronic diseases: a systematic review
Authors: Shin Jung-Wook , Yu Min-Young , Son Youn-Jung
Published: November 2023

Purpose: The electronic frailty index (eFI), which is derived from electronic health records, has been recommended as screening tool for frailty due to its accessibility and ease of use. The objective of this systematic review was to identify the prevalence of frailty assessed by the eFI and its influence on health outcomes in older adults with chronic diseases. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, SCOPUS, Cochrane, Google search, and nursing journals in Korean from January 2016 to December 2022. Results: Twelve studies were analyzed. The eFI score, based on routine clinical data, was associated with adverse health outcomes. The most frequent outcome studied was mortality, and the eFI was associated with increased mortality in nine studies. Other outcomes studied included hospitalization, length of stay, readmission, and institutionalization in relation to hospital care usage, and cardiovascular events, stroke, GI bleeding, falls, and instrumental activities of daily life as health conditions. Conclusion: Early identification of frailty in older adults with chronic diseases can decrease the burden of disease and adverse health outcomes. The eFI has a good discriminative capacity to identify frail older adults with chronic diseases.
Anxiety in hospitalized patients with infectious diseases placed in isolation: a concept analysis
Authors: Moon Chan-Mi , Im Ye-seul
Published: November 2023

Purpose: This study conducted a concept analysis to clarify the meaning of anxiety in hospitalized patients with infectious diseases who have been placed in isolation. Methods: This study used Walker and Avant’s process of concept analysis. Results: Anxiety in hospitalized patients with infectious diseases who have been placed in isolation can be defined by the following attributes: 1) fear, 2) guilt, 3) isolation, 4) discrimination, 5) frustration, 6) shame, and 7) uncertainty. The antecedents of anxiety were as follows: 1) a lack of information about infectious diseases, 2) restrictions of movement, 3) blockage of the social support system, 4) helplessness, and 5) negative biases. The consequences of anxiety were 1) internalized stigma, 2) loss of confidence, 3) lack of social activities and avoidance, 4) insomnia, 5) poor quality of life. Conclusion: The definition and attributes of anxiety identified in this study can be applied to enhance the understanding of anxiety in hospitalized patients with infectious diseases who have been placed in isolation. Systematic suppose should also be provided to reduce anxiety in these patients.
Adherence to antiretroviral therapy and associated factors among HIV-positive adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review
Authors: Gudisa Gebre Gelana , Jun Sangeun
Published: November 2023

Purpose: Although long-term viral suppression and antiretroviral therapy (ART) success depend on sustained adherence, adolescents’ adherence rates are suboptimal. Optimal adherence is influenced by various factors. Since Sub-Saharan Africa is home to over 80% of adolescents living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and considering their unique characteristics and susceptibility to poor adherence, it is crucial to provide updated knowledge on adherence rates and their determinants among this population. This review aims to present up-to-date data on adherence rates and associated factors among HIV-positive adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa.Methods: A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. The PubMed and Scopus databases were used to identify documents corresponding to the study's objectives. Eleven studies were included in this review after being selected from among all studies that were found online from 2017 to 2023. Results: The reported adherence rates ranged from 55% to 86%. In total, 32 factors were found to be related to adherence among HIV-positive adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa. These included 12 adherence-facilitating factors and 20 adherence-inhibiting factors. The most often mentioned factors affecting adherence were advanced World Health Organization clinical stage (i.e., stage IV), ART dose and regimens, a lack of support, and violence victimization. Conclusion: Our findings can help healthcare providers collaborate with HIV-positive adolescents to improve ART adherence and ensure the best possible health outcomes.
Managing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome using Neurodynamics: A Narrative Review
Authors: Bhat Bhoomika , Srivastava Saumya
Published: November 2023

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is one of the preeminent types of peripheral neuropathies of the upper limb, where the median nerve is injured in the carpal tunnel, leading to a cascade of symptoms. CTS can cause pain, substantial motor function and sensory impairment, and a weakened ability to perform skilled work. Utilising the Neurodynamic Technique (NDT), a hands-on manual therapy approach can effectively address CTS. This technique focuses on manipulating neural tissues and the adjacent non-neural structures related to the nervous system, to alter pain physiology. The current narrative review aimed to ascertain the effectiveness of NDT in the management of CTS so that it can guide the practitioners in effectively managing and understanding CTS and also help in adding the literature to the existing evidence. The review evaluated outcome measures such as pain intensity, motor issues, physical function, and nerve conduction investigations. The review was done to demonstrate that NDT can offer significant therapeutic advantages and can serve as a practical approach to managing CTS.
Assessment of Haptoglobin Gene Polymorphism in cryptogenic Ischemic Stroke in West African Patients
Authors: Djite Moustapha , Cisse Ousmane , Barry Néné Oumou Kesso , Kandji Pape Matar , Diamilatou B. A.  , Mbacke Mame Ndoumbé , Diop Jean Pascal Demba , Gaye Ndiaga Matar , Thioune Ndèye Marème , Coly-Gueye Najah Fatou , Diouf Niokhor Ndane , Ndour El Hadji Malick , Gueye-Tall Fatou , Doupa Dominique , Ndiaye-Diallo Rokhaya , Sall Philomène Lopez , Cisse Aynina , Diop Pape Amadou , Diop Amadou Gallo , Gueye Papa Madieye
Published: November 2023

Introduction: For a long time, it was assumed that stroke only affected people aged over 60, but recent studies have shown that it can occur in younger people. In the latter group, molecular factors and inter-individual differences in susceptibility are being increasingly incriminated. The aim of our study was therefore to evaluate the haptoglobin gene polymorphism in subjects with cryptogenic ischemic stroke.

Methodology: This was a prospective case-control study and included subjects with cryptogenic ischemic stroke followed at the neurology department of FANN hospital in Senegal. Healthy controls were recruited and matched with the cases according to sex and age ±2 years. The Hp gene polymorphism was determined using conventional PCR without enzymatic digestion and biochemical parameters were assayed using the Architect ci4100 system (Abott, USA).

Results: Our study included 35 patients with cryptogenic stroke. The mean age of the patients was 45±11 years and the sex ratio was 1:1. Assessment of cardiovascular risk factors showed a high frequency of hypertension (46.57%) followed by dyslipidemia (21.42%) and diabetes (10.71%). Drug use was found in 7.14% of subjects. With regard to haptoglobin genotypes, Hp2-2 was much more prevalent in stroke patients (21.42%) than in control subjects (14.28%). In contrast, the Hp1-1 genotype was more prevalent in control subjects, with a rate of 57.14%, compared with 39.28% for cryptogenic strokes.

Conclusion: Our results seem to show that the Hp2-2 genotype is involved in the occurrence of cryptogenic ischemic stroke. However, the impact of these parameters must be assessed in conjunction with other associated cardiovascular risk factors.
Industry-Scale Application of Full-Width Digital Camera Inspection during Effective Printing on Plastic Foil at the Company "Flexograf"
Authors: Mustafa Ragmi , Mustafa Kujtim , Ramadani Refik
Published: November 2023

The company printing plastic sheets with eight-color machines has sought help from the Faculty of Computer Science to reduce wastage of raw materials. During the study and research in this matter, it was found that the losses in raw materials are caused by the impossibility of controlling the printing through the current adequate technology that the "Flexograf" company had at its disposal. The printing on the plastic film was supervised with a digital camera with the possibility of control at a dimension of 15 [cm]. On the other hand, the width of the printed plastic film is consistently 130[cm]. Therefore, the digital control camera for control is moved along the x-axis nine times to control the printing width of 130[cm] of the plastic film. After each displacement, the digital camera was stopped for a duration of three seconds. Wherever there was a printing defect in the part that was not monitored by the digital camera and given the printing speed of the machine for a length of 400 meters of plastic sheet per minute, it caused a significant loss of raw material if there were printing defects or lack of color. This problem has been solved by replacing the 15[cm] wide inspection digital camera with a 130[cm] wide full inspection digital camera. The effect of changing the full inspections digital camera achieved the goal and reduced the raw material losses to the minimum very close to zero.
The production of a glass toggle
Authors: Ellis Clare , Bertini Martina , Sykes Dan
Published: November 2023

A glass toggle was found among the ashes of a domestic hearth during the excavation of an unenclosed Iron Age settlement at Kilninian, Isle of Mull, Argyll, Scotland. The hearth was radiocarbon dated to 168 cal bc–cal ad 3 (SUERC-46765). The toggle was covered with a black residue that was stuck to its surface and it looked hastily made, using low-quality aqua cullet. Chemical analyses, using LA-ICP-MS, indicate the glass used was a natron-based glass. The trace element composition suggested the glass was produced in the east Mediterranean area using coastal sands and had subsequently been recycled. The morphological examination using extended depth of field microscopy and micro-computed tomography revealed the toggle was shaped at low temperatures using contaminated glass. The black sooty residue found on the surface of the toggle was found to extend within the toggle and was fused with the object. This could only have happened during manufacture, when the glass was still hot enough to be malleable and stick to the contamination. The uncleaned residues on the surface and the presence of the unpolished pontil scar suggest the toggle may have fallen in the hearth during manufacture and was lost to its maker. Analyses of other glass toggles found in Scotland and Ireland confirmed that natron-based glass had also been used and the toggles were made in the same way as that from Kilninian.

Canmore ID 148437
Professor Johannes Diderik van der Waals HonFSAScot
Authors: Fokkens Harry
Published: November 2023

Professor Diderik van der Waals was born in Amsterdam in 1925. He grew up in a family with four brothers and sisters in the big city, but the weekends they often spent in Boeschoten, a farming estate on the Veluwe in the central Netherlands owned by his grandfather and later by his mother, C E van der Waals-Nachenius. His mother inspired the family with a love of nature and landscape, but also with interest in and support for other people, for instance the farming families on the estate.
The Preacher Stone in the Bathgate Hills
Authors: Small Alastair , Small Carola
Published: November 2023

The Preacher Stone is a natural boulder in the Bathgate Hills which is inscribed with a text recording a sermon preached on 14 January 1738 by ‘the worthy Mr Hunter’. This was an event of some significance in the early development of the Secession Church. The stone has not hitherto been the subject of a detailed study, and the various published references to it are incorrect or defective in some respect. In this article we give an accurate account of the stone and its environs, we comment on the letterforms which were intended to add dignity to the inscription, and we explain the importance of John Hunter in the context of the newly developing Secession. We draw on the unpublished Minutes of the Associate Presbytery and of the Session of the Craigmailen congregation to correct some of the misunderstandings that have arisen about the place and date of the event it records, and maintain the veracity of the inscribed text.

Canmore ID 47987
Asking for forgiveness as an aspect of crusade
Authors: Reynolds Gordon M
Published: November 2023

Analyses of medieval crusade have highlighted the ways in which participants expressed multifaceted martial, ecclesiastical, regional and gendered expressions of identity. Much of contemporaries’ consideration and display of ‘crusading identity’ took place far away from the battlefield. This paper examines an element of crusading identity manifest in the Kingdom of Scotland – a region that produced numerous crusaders and benefactors of the Military Orders, and yet has seldom featured as a centre-point for crusade studies. This article focuses on crusaders’ practice of settling disputes and displaying their magnanimity within their community, ahead of their departure. Using Earl Patrick II of Dunbar (d 1248) and Robert de Brus (d 1295) as case studies, the article argues that their preparations for holy war are indicative of a strong awareness of the subtleties of wider Latin Christian crusading culture among Scotland’s nobility.
The origin of the Portuguese Drummonds
Authors: Sykes Jonathan J F
Published: November 2023

This paper explores the origin of the Drummond surname in the Portuguese archipelago of Madeira. Used by Portuguese subjects from the early 16th century, the name is claimed to derive from João Escórcio (‘John the Scot’ or ‘Scottish John’), a settler of the 15th century. The first aim of this paper is to provide an initial analysis of Escórcio’s existence in the record of the Council of Funchal, between 1470 and 1486, to contextualise his emergence in Portugal’s first Atlantic colony. As part of this approach, the historiography of Scottish migration is engaged with drawing upon examples of Scots overseas.

The secondary purpose of this paper is to present the correspondence between Escórcio’s descendants, the Chiefs of the Clan Drummond and their kinsmen in Scotland, spanning the 16th to 18th centuries, to complement the chronology of Escórcio in Madeira. This same correspondence reconciles his identity with that of John Drummond, considered a son of Sir John Drummond of Stobhall and Cargill and Lady Elizabeth Sinclair, and reveals a tie of kinship between the Portuguese Drummonds and their Scottish namesakes. Through the research presented, currently Escórcio could be considered the earliest known example of a Scottish settler in Portuguese history, written into the historical record of the Clan Drummond. As a result, this paper may be considered a contribution to the study of Scottish migration within the Iberian world during the late medieval period, a field that is largely unknown.
Skin-to-Skin Contact at Birth for Very Preterm Infants and Mother-Infant Interaction Quality at 4 Months
Authors: Lilliesköld Siri , Lode-Kolz Karoline , Rettedal Siren , Lindstedt Johanna , Linnér Agnes , Markhus Pike Hanne , Ahlqvist-Björkroth Sari , Ådén Ulrika , Jonas Wibke
Published: November 2023

Importance

Good-quality parent-infant interactions have protective effects on infant socio-emotional and behavioral development. These interactions are especially critical for very preterm infants at risk of vulnerabilities related to immaturity. Skin-to-skin contact (SSC) has been found to improve mother–preterm infant interaction behaviors, but few studies exist regarding its benefits when initiated immediately after birth.

Objective

To determine the effect of immediate SSC at birth for very preterm infants on mother-infant interaction quality at 4 months of corrected age.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This secondary analysis used data from the Immediate Parent-Infant Skin-to-Skin Study (IPISTOSS), a randomized clinical trial conducted between April 1, 2018, and June 30, 2021, at 3 neonatal units in Sweden and Norway. Participants included very preterm infants (28-33 gestational weeks of age) and their parents. Four-month follow-up was concluded in December 2021. Data analyses were performed on March 16 and September 18, 2023.

Intervention

Infants were allocated to standard incubator care or SSC with either parent initiated at birth and continued throughout the first 6 hours after birth.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was mother-infant interaction quality as measured with the Parent–Child Early Relational Assessment (PCERA), based on video recordings of a 5-minute free-play situation with mother-infant dyads at 4 months of corrected age. A multilevel regression analysis was performed.

Results

This analysis included 71 infants (31 twins [44%]) and 56 mothers. Infants had a mean (SD) gestational age of 31 weeks 3 (1.3) days, and more than half were male (42 [59%]); mothers had a mean (SD) age of 32 (4.9) years. There were 37 infants allocated to standard care and 34 to SSC with either parent after birth. During the first 6 hours after birth, fathers provided more SSC than mothers, with a median (IQR) of 3.25 (2.25-4.5) and 0.75 (0-2.5) hours, respectively. A statistically significant difference in 1 of 5 PCERA subscales (subscale 3: infant positive affect, communicative and social skills) was observed, with higher-quality mother-infant interaction in the SSC group at 4 months (Cohen d = 0.67 [95% CI, 0.17 to 1.17]; P = .01). This effect remained significant when adjusting for primiparity, child sex, and observation setting.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this study of the effect of immediate parent-infant SSC after very preterm birth, SSC was beneficial for the mother-infant relationship. These findings suggest that immediate SSC should be supported in the clinical setting.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03521310
KRAS Sequence Variation as Prognostic Marker in Patients With Young- vs Late-Onset Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Aljehani Mayada A. , Bien Jeffrey , Lee Jerry S. H. , Fisher George A. , Lin Albert Y.
Published: November 2023

Importance

The understanding of the association between KRAS sequence variation status and clinical outcomes in colorectal cancer (CRC) has evolved over time.

Objective

To characterize the association of age at onset, tumor sidedness, and KRAS sequence variation with survival among patients diagnosed with CRC.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cross-sectional study used data extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Patients diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum from 2010 through 2015 were included and were classified as having young-onset (YO) cancer if diagnosed between ages 20 to 49 years and late-onset (LO) cancer if diagnosed at age 50 years or older. Data were analyzed from April 2021 through August 2023.

Main Outcomes and Measures

CRC cause-specific survival (CSS) was summarized using Fine and Gray cumulative incidence and Kaplan-Meier curves. Estimation of subdistribution hazard ratios (sHRs) for the association of KRAS status, age at onset, and tumor location with CRC CSS was conducted using the Fine and Gray competing risk model. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate and compare HRs.

Results

Among 21 661 patients with KRAS sequence variation status (mean [SD] age at diagnosis, 62.50 [13.78] years; 9784 females [45.2%]), 3842 patients had YO CRC, including 1546 patients with KRAS variants, and 17 819 patients had LO CRC, including 7311 patients with KRAS variants. There was a significant difference in median CSS time between patients with variant vs wild-type KRAS (YO: 3.0 years [95% CI, 2.8-3.3 years] vs 3.5 years [95% CI, 3.3-3.9 years]; P = .02; LO: 2.5 years [95% CI, 2.4-2.7 years] vs 3.4 years [95% CI, 3.3-3.6 years]; P < .001). Tumors with variant compared with wild-type KRAS were associated with higher risk of CRC-related death (YO: sHR, 1.09 [95% CI, 1.01-1.18]; P = .03; LO: sHR, 1.06 [95% CI, 1.02-1.09]; P = .002). Among patients with YO cancer, mortality hazards increased by location, from right (sHR, 1.02 [95% CI, 0.88-1.17) to left (sHR, 1.15 [95% CI, 1.02-1.29) and rectum (sHR, 1.16 [95% CI, 0.99-1.36), but no trend by tumor location was seen for LO cancer.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this study of patients diagnosed with CRC, KRAS sequence variation was associated with increased mortality among patients with YO and LO tumors. In YO cancer, variant KRAS–associated mortality risk was higher in distal tumors than proximal tumors.
Rapid Synthesis of AxWO3 (A = H, Na, K) Tungsten Bronze Materials with Strong Near‐Infrared Absorption and Enhanced Photoelectric Anticorrosion Properties
Authors: Liu Zi-Xiang , Zhou Dan , Tian Jing-Jing , Liu Jin-Ku
Published: November 2023

The intrinsic reduction method is extended for the synthesis of tungsten bronzes (TBs), and monoclinic phase hydrotungsten bronze (HWO), tetragonal phase sodium tungsten bronze (NaWO) and hexagonal phase potassium tungsten bronze (KWO) are obtained. The introduction of cations brought a large number of localized state free electrons, which endowed TBs with strong near‐infrared (NIR) absorption and achieved light energy utilization covering almost the entire solar spectrum in the form of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and small polariton transfer. The strong NIR absorption enhanced the corrosion protection performance of tungsten bronze coatings, especially the HWO coating, which had an increased impedance value of 859.5% compared to the pure epoxy resin. The excellent corrosion resistance of TBs inhibitors can be derived from the strong NIR absorption enhanced photocathodic protection and local magnetic field, which improved the charge transfer resistance of the coating by nearly two orders of magnitude and greatly inhibited the charge movement in the electrochemical corrosion reaction. This study discovered the contribution of oxygen vacancy‐enhanced NIR absorption to the electrochemical anticorrosion properties, expanding the application area of TBs and making an important contribution to innovative anticorrosion strategies.
Anisotropic Wettability Induced by Femtosecond Laser Ablation
Authors: Shojaeian Mostafa , Yetisen Ali K. , Tasoglu Savas
Published: November 2023

Laser ablation has been utilized for locally and selectively modifying the surface wettability of materials in situ and enabling on‐demand microfabrication. The anisotropic wettability has been observed on chemical and/or topographical patterns, such as an array of laser‐inscribed strips with spacings, created on surfaces during the fabrication process. Herein, the effectiveness of the femtosecond laser ablation is evaluated in selectively modifying surface wettability. The areas processed by laser ablation exhibit anisotropic wetting behavior, even after the laser strips are overlapped. The laser‐induced anisotropic surface wettability is present in space governed by laser scanning speed, scan/strip overlap, laser fluence, scan repetition, and bidirectional scanning angle. Moreover, the femtosecond laser ablation process is optimized to enhance the conventional laser inscription, leading to a modified and consistent methodology to achieve cost‐effective fabrication.
Study on the Dependence between Surface Topography and Icephobic Behavior of Ni–Cu–P Ternary Coatings
Authors: Wang Jie , Wang Shuang , Hou Xianghui
Published: November 2023

Unpredictable ice accretion and accumulation phenomena could lead to serious problems and even disastrous accidents. Applying icephobic coatings onto the engineering surfaces could be an effective ice protection method. The icephobicity could be mainly affected by several material strategies, such as wettability, surface topography and surface toughness, etc. Herein, several topographical surfaces (Ni–Cu–P coatings prepared on 304 stainless steel using electroless deposition) are critically investigated to understand the role of surface topography in affecting icephobic performances, including anti‐icing and deicing aspects. The freezing delay tests show that rougher surfaces contribute to longer icing delay in anti‐icing. The ice adhesion strength results indicate that rougher surfaces lead to a more mechanical interlock ice and increase the ice adhesion strength between the ice–solid interfaces. The electrothermal deicing tests indicate that the rough voids introduce large thermal resistance and impede heat conduction, resulting in the increase in detachment duration and energy input in deicing. The rough asperity could introduce air pockets at the surface interfaces, which leads to the difficulty of droplet phase transition. The rough structure also increases the mechanical interlock as well as the thermal resistance and impedes the heat conduction, which deteriorates the deicing ability.
Radical‐Mediated 1,2‐Difunctionalization of Alkenes with Nucleophiles and Acetonitrile through C(sp3)−H Bond Cleavage
Authors: Zhu Fengxiang , Yang Yifan , Shi Shanshan
Published: November 2023

A cobalt‐catalyzed intermolecular 1,2‐difunctionalization of alkenes with anilines/indoles and acetonitrile has been developed. This protocol provides an access to functionalized cyano‐containing molecules. In this transformation, employing di‐tert‐butyl peroxide as a radical initiator, a variety of commercialized nucleophiles and electronically diverse arenes were well tolerated. In addition, we also studied the kinetic isotope effect.
[3+2] Cycloaddition of Rationally Designed Trisubstituted Cyclic α‐Chloroamide: an Alternative Strategy for Accessing Spirocyclic γ‐Lactam Architecture
Authors: Li Yang , Zuo Wei‐Fang , Chen Jian‐Hua , Li Wei , Zheng Jinfeng , Han Bo , Li Xiang , Huang Wei
Published: November 2023

Here we present a [3+2] cycloaddition of rationally designed trisubstituted cyclic α‐chloroamides, primarily those incorporating pharmacological pyrazolone cores, as potent synthons for synthesizing valuable spirocyclic γ‐lactam architectures. This protocol exhibits 52–96% yields, impressive substrate compatibility, and scale‐up capacity. Importantly, this study also represents one of the rare examples that harness enaminone C−N bond cleavage to engineer relevant spirocyclic γ‐lactam skeletons of biological interest. Moreover, we propose a plausible mechanistic explanation to elucidate the outstanding chemical outcomes observed, thereby enriching the synthetic toolbox for pyrazolone chemistry and α‐haloamide‐mediated reactions.
Quantitative Pharmacokinetics Reveal Impact of Lipid Composition on Microbubble and Nanoprogeny Shell Fate
Authors: Rajora Maneesha A. , Dhaliwal Alexander , Zheng Mark , Choi Victor , Overchuk Marta , Lou Jenny W. H. , Pellow Carly , Goertz David , Chen Juan , Zheng Gang
Published: November 2023

Microbubble‐enabled focused ultrasound (MB‐FUS) has revolutionized nano and molecular drug delivery capabilities. Yet, the absence of longitudinal, systematic, quantitative studies of microbubble shell pharmacokinetics hinders progress within the MB‐FUS field. Microbubble radiolabeling challenges contribute to this void. This barrier is overcome by developing a one‐pot, purification‐free copper chelation protocol able to stably radiolabel diverse porphyrin‐lipid‐containing Definity® analogues (pDefs) with >95% efficiency while maintaining microbubble physicochemical properties. Five tri‐modal (ultrasound‐, positron emission tomography (PET)‐, and fluorescent‐active) [64Cu]Cu‐pDefs are created with varying lipid acyl chain length and charge, representing the most prevalently studied microbubble compositions. In vitro, C16 chain length microbubbles yield 2–3x smaller nanoprogeny than C18 microbubbles post FUS. In vivo, [64Cu]Cu‐pDefs are tracked in healthy and 4T1 tumor‐bearing mice ± FUS over 48 h qualitatively through fluorescence imaging (to characterize particle disruption) and quantitatively through PET and γ‐counting. These studies reveal the impact of microbubble composition and FUS on microbubble dissolution rates, shell circulation, off‐target tissue retention (predominantly the liver and spleen), and FUS enhancement of tumor delivery. These findings yield pharmacokinetic microbubble structure‐activity relationships that disrupt conventional knowledge, the implications of which on MB‐FUS platform design, safety, and nanomedicine delivery are discussed.
Hydrogel Encapsulating Wormwood Essential Oil with Broad‐spectrum Antibacterial and Immunomodulatory Properties for Infected Diabetic Wound Healing
Authors: Wang Feng , Sun Qi , Li Yang , Xu Ruijun , Li Renjie , Wu Dingcai , Huang Rongkang , Yang Zifeng , Li Yong
Published: November 2023

The integration of hydrogels with bio‐friendly functional components through simple and efficient strategies to construct wound dressings with broad‐spectrum antibacterial and immunomodulatory properties to promote the healing of infected diabetic wounds is highly desirable but remains a major challenge. Here, wormwood essential oil (WEO) is effectively encapsulated in the hydrogel via an O/W‐Pickering emulsion during the polymerization of methacrylic anhydride gelatin (GelMA), acrylamide (AM), and acrylic acid N‐hydroxysuccinimide ester (AAc‐NHS) to form a multifunctional hydrogel dressing (HD‐WEO). Compared with conventional emulsions, Pickering emulsions not only improve the encapsulation stability of the WEO, but also enhance the tensile and swelling properties of hydrogel. The synergistic interaction of WEO's diverse bioactive components provides a broad‐spectrum antibacterial activity against S. aureus, E. coli, and MRSA. In addition, the HD‐WEO can induce the polarization of macrophages from M1 to M2 phenotype. With these advantages, the broad‐spectrum antibacterial and immunomodulatory HD‐WEO effectively promotes the collagen deposition and neovascularization, thereby accelerating the healing of MRSA‐infected diabetic wounds.
Fluorescence‐Quenching Lateral Flow Immunoassay for “Turn‐On” and Sensitive Detection of Anti‐SARS‐Cov‐2 Neutralizing Antibodies in Human Serum
Authors: Bian Lun , Fu Qiangqiang , Gan Zhuoheng , Wu Ze , Song Yuchen , Xiong Yufeng , Hu Fang , Zheng Lei
Published: November 2023

The titer of anti‐severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) in the human body is an essential reference for evaluating the acquired protective immunity and resistance to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. In this study, a fluorescence‐quenching lateral flow immunoassay (FQ‐LFIA) is established for quantitative detection of anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 NAbs in the sera of individuals who are vaccinated or infected within 10 min. The ultrabright aggregation‐induced emission properties encapsulated in nanoparticles, AIE490NP, are applied in the established FQ‐LFIA with gold nanoparticles to achieve a fluorescence “turn‐on” competitive immunoassay. Under optimized conditions, the FQ‐LFIA quantitatively detected 103 positive and 50 negative human serum samples with a limit of detection (LoD) of 1.29 IU mL−1. A strong correlation is present with the conventional pseudovirus‐based virus neutralization test (R2 = 0.9796, P < 0.0001). In contrast, the traditional LFIA with a “turn‐off” mode can only achieve a LoD of 11.06 IU mL−1. The FQ‐LFIA showed excellent sensitivity to anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 NAbs. The intra‐ and inter‐assay precisions of the established method are below 15%. The established FQ‐LFIA has promising potential as a rapid and quantitative method for detecting anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 NAbs. FQ‐LFIA can also be used to detect various biomarkers.