bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rational Design of an In‐Situ Polymer‐Inorganic Hybrid Solid Electrolyte Interphase for Realising Stable Zn Metal Anode under Harsh Conditions
Authors: Chen Ruwei , Zhang Wei , Guan Chaohong , Zhou Yundong , Gilmore Ian , Tang Hao , Zhang Zhenyu , Dong Haobo , Dai Yuhang , Du Zijuan , Gao Xuan , Zong Wei , Xu Yewei , Jiang Peie , Liu Jiyang , Zhao Fangjia , Li Jianwei , Wang Xiaohui , He Guanjie
Published: March 2024

The in‐depth understanding of the composition‐property‐performance relationship of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) is the basis of developing a reliable SEI to stablize the Zn anode‐electrolyte interface, but it remains unclear in rechargeable aqueous zinc ion batteries. Herein, a well‐designed electrolyte based on 2 M Zn(CF3SO3)2‐0.2 M acrylamide‐0.2 M ZnSO4 is proposed. A robust polymer (polyacrylamide)‐inorganic (Zn4SO4(OH)6.xH2O) hybrid SEI is in situ constructed on Zn anodes through controllable polymerization of acrylamide and coprecipitation of SO42− with Zn2+ and OH−. For the first time, the underlying SEI composition‐property‐performance relationship is systematically investigated and correlated. The results showed that the polymer‐inorganic hybrid SEI, which integrates the high modulus of the inorganic component with the high toughness of the polymer ingredient, can realize high reversibility and long‐term interfacial stability, even under ultrahigh areal current density and capacity (30 mA cm−2~30 mAh cm−2). The resultant Zn||NH4V4O10 cell also exhibits excellent cycling stability. This work will provide a guidance for the rational design of SEI layers in rechargeable aqueous zinc ion batteries.
Completely Non‐Fused Low‐Cost Acceptor Enables Organic Photovoltaic Cells with 17 % Efficiency
Authors: Yang Ni , Cui Yong , Xiao Yang , Chen Zhihao , Zhang Tao , Yu Yue , Ren Junzhen , Wang Wenxuan , Ma Lijiao , Hou Jianhui
Published: March 2024

To meet the industrial requirements of organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells, it is imperative to accelerate the development of cost‐effective materials. Thiophene‐benzene‐thiophene central unit‐based acceptors possess the advantage of low synthetic cost, while their power conversion efficiency (PCE) is relatively low. Here, by incorporating a para‐substituted benzene unit and 1st‐position branched alkoxy chains with large steric hindrance, a completely non‐fused non‐fullerene acceptor, TBT‐26, was designed and synthesized. The narrow band gap of 1.38 eV ensures the effective utilization of sunlight. The favorable phase separation morphology of TBT‐26‐based blend film facilitates the efficient exciton dissociation and charge transport in corresponding OPV cell. Therefore, the TBT‐26‐based small‐area cell achieves an impressive PCE of 17.0 %, which is the highest value of completely non‐fused OPV cells. Additionally, we successfully demonstrated the scalability of this design by fabricating a 28.8 cm2 module with a high PCE of 14.3 %. Overall, our work provides a practical molecular design strategy for developing high‐performance and low‐cost acceptors, paving the way for industrial applications of OPV technology.
Mechanically Tunable Circularly Polarized Luminescence of Liquid Crystal‐Templated Chiral Perovskite Quantum Dots
Authors: Zhang Xuan , Li Lin , Chen Yuanhao , Valenzuela Cristian , Liu Yuan , Yang Yanzhao , Feng Yufan , Wang Ling , Feng Wei
Published: March 2024

Endowing perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) with circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) offers great promise for innovative chiroptical applications, but the existing strategies are inefficient in acquiring stimuli‐responsive flexible chiral perovskite films with large, tunable dissymmetry factor (glum) and long‐term stability. Here, we report a strategy for the design and synthesis of luminescent cholesteric liquid crystal elastomer (Lumin‐CLCE) films with mechanically tunable CPL, which is enabled by liquid crystal‐templated chiral self‐assembly and in situ covalent cross‐linking of judiciously designed photopolymerizable CsPbX3 (X=Cl, Br, I) PQD nanomonomers into the elastic polymer networks. The resulting Lumin‐CLCE films showcase circularly polarized structural color in natural light and noticeable CPL with a maximum glum value of up to 1.5 under UV light. The manipulation of CPL intensity and rotation direction is achieved by controlling the self‐assembled helicoidal nanostructure and the handedness of soft helices. A significant breakthrough lies in the achievement of a reversible, mechanically tunable perovskite‐based CPL switch activated by biaxial stretching, which enables flexible, dynamic anti‐counterfeiting labels capable of decrypting preset information in specific polarization states. This work can provide new insights for the development of advanced chiral perovskite materials and their emerging applications in information encryption, flexible 3D displays, and beyond.
Manifestations of the ethics of hospitality at children's hospitality centres in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Almutairi Abdullah , Alothman Hanadi Fahad , Aldossari Abdulaziz Salem , Alfaifi Mousa S. , Alshuaibi Abdulrahman A. , Aseery Ahmad Yahya , Aseri Safana , Bashatah Lina
Published: March 2024

Early childhood education is an institutional introduction of children to the world, making it essential for policymakers, educators and society to find the best way to provide such an introduction. Following a new policy in Saudi Arabia, daycare centres have been renamed ‘hospitality centres’, bringing a set of duties and rights rooted deep in the ethics of hospitality. However, empirical research on nursery provision is generally lacking in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, this study examined the experiences of children and caregivers in two children's hospitality centres in the capital city of Riyadh. Through in‐depth, semi‐structured interviews and field observations, the authors observed and listened to the experiences of educators and children in two of the new hospitality centres. Open and focused coding of the interviews and structured observations helped to identify the way the ethics of hospitality manifested itself in the daily experiences of the caregivers/hosts and the children/guests. The results demonstrated the complexity of the situations in which the ethics of hospitality encountered reality.
Retrospective analysis of clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with carcinoma of unknown primary from three tertiary centers in Australia
Authors: Boys Emma L. , Gao Bo , Grimison Peter , Sutherland Sarah , MacKenzie Karen L. , Reddel Roger R. , Liu Jia
Published: March 2024

Background

Carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP) remains an important tumor entity and a disproportionate cause of cancer mortality. Little is known about the contemporary clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes of CUP patients based on updated international classification guidelines. We evaluated a contemporary CUP cohort to provide insight into current clinical practice and the impact of tissue of origin assignment, site‐specific and empirical therapy in a real‐world setting.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of CUP patients, as defined by the updated European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2023 guidelines, across three tertiary referral centers in Australia between 2015 and 2022. We analyzed clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and survival outcomes using the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression proportional hazard model between favorable and unfavorable risk groups.

Results

We identified a total of 123 CUP patients (n = 86 unfavorable, n = 37 favorable risk as per the 2023 ESMO guidelines). Sixty‐four patients (52%) were assigned a tissue of origin by the treating clinician. Median progression free survival (PFS) was 6.8 (95% confidence interval (CI) 5.1–12.1) months and overall survival (OS) 10.2 (95% CI 6.0–18.5) months. Unfavorable risk (hazard ratio [HR] 2.9, p = 0.006), poor performance status (HR 2.8, p < 0.001), and non‐squamous histology (HR 2.5, p < 0.05) were associated with poor survival outcome. A total of 70 patients (57%) proceeded to systemic therapy. In patients with non‐squamous histology and unfavorable risk, site‐specific therapy compared to empirical chemotherapy did not improve outcome (median OS 8.2 vs. 11.8 months, p = 0.7).

Conclusions

In this real‐world cohort, CUP presentations were heterogenous. Overall survival and rates of systemic treatment were poor. Poor performance status and unfavorable risk were associated with worse survival. For most patients, site‐specific therapy did not improve survival outcome. Improved and timely access to diagnostic tests and therapeutics for this group of patients is urgently required.
Prognostic significance of glucose‐lipid metabolic index in pancreatic cancer patients with diabetes mellitus
Authors: Wang Hailiang , Ruan Shiye , Wu Zelong , Yan Qian , Chen Yubin , Cui Jinwei , Zhang Zhongyan , Huang Shanzhou , Hou Baohua , Zhang Chuanzhao
Published: March 2024

Background

The incidence of pancreatic cancer (PC) is higher in diabetic patients due to disturbances in glucose and lipid metabolism caused by insulin resistance (IR). However, the effect of diabetes as well as IR on the prognosis of PC patients remains inconclusive. Our study aims to assess the impact of IR on the prognosis of PC patients with diabetes.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 172 PC patients with diabetes in our institute from 2015 to 2021. Prognostic assessment was performed using univariate/multifactorial analysis and survival analysis. The predictive efficacy of metabolic indices was compared using receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Results

One hundred twenty‐one of 172 patients died during follow‐up, with a median follow‐up of 477 days and a median overall survival (OS) of 270 days. Survival analysis showed a significant difference in OS by IR related parameters, which were triglyceride‐glucose index (TyG), triglyceride‐glucose index‐body mass index (TyG‐BMI), and triglyceride/high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (TG/HDL‐c). The ROC curve indicated that TyG, TyG‐BMI, and TG/HDL‐c had prognostic efficacy for PC with diabetes. We next optimized TyG‐BMI and obtained a new parameter, namely glucose‐lipid metabolism index (GLMI), and the patients were classified into GLMI low group and high group based on the calculated cutoff value. The GLMI high group had higher TyG, TyG‐BMI, TyG/HDL‐c, BMI, TG, total cholesterol (TC), TC/HDL‐c, fasting plasma glucose, CA199, and more advanced tumor stage compared to low group. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that GLMI was an independent prognostic factor. Furthermore, the patients of GLMI high group had worse OS compared to low group and the ROC curves showed GLMI had better predictive ability than TyG and TyG‐BMI.

Conclusions

IR is associated with the outcome of PC patients with diabetes and higher level of IR indicates worse prognosis. GLMI has a good predictive value for PC with diabetes.
A literature review of outcome and treatment options after acquired brain injury: Suggestions for adult offenders using knowledge from the general population
Authors: de Geus Esther Q. J. , Milders Maarten V. , van Horn Joan E. , Jonker Frank A. , Fassaert Thijs , Hutten Juliette C. , Kuipers Femke , Grimbergen Christel , Noordermeer Siri D. S.
Published: March 2024

Background

Acquired brain injury (ABI) is a major health problem, often with negative effects on behaviour and mental health as well as cognition. Prevalence of ABI is exceptionally high among offenders and increases their re‐offending risk. Information on risk factors for ABI and its outcomes among offenders that could guide effective treatment for them is, nevertheless, scarce and dispersed. However, there is a more substantial literature about the general population that could inform work with brain‐injured offenders, especially when selecting for samples or subgroups with similar relevant characteristics, such as lower socio‐economic status (SES), pre‐injury lower tested intelligence score (<85) and pre‐injury mental health problems.

Aims

To explore brain injury data from non‐offender samples of otherwise similar socio‐economic and mental health and ability characteristics to offenders then, first, to describe their untreated outcomes and, secondly, outcomes after frequently used interventions in these circumstances, noting factors associated with their effectiveness.

Method

Three databases were systematically searched for the years 2010–2022; first, using terms for brain injury or damage and cognitive (dys)function, mental health or quality of life. Second, in a separate search, we used these terms and terms for interventions and rehabilitation. In the second review, studies were selected for clear, distinguishable data on age, sex, SES and lifestyle factors to facilitate inferences for offenders. A narrative analytical approach was adopted for both reviews.

Results

Samples with characteristics that are typical in offender groups, including lower SES, lower pre‐injury intelligence quotient (<85), prior cognitive impairments and prior mental health problems, had poorer cognitive and behavioural outcomes following ABI than those without such additional problems, together with lower treatment adherence. With respect to treatment, adequate motivation and self‐awareness were associated with better cognitive and behavioural outcomes than when these were low or absent, regardless of the outcome measured.

Conclusions

More complex pre‐injury mental health problems and social disadvantages typical of offenders are associated with poorer post‐brain injury recovery. This paper adds to practical knowledge by bringing together work that follows specific outcome trajectories. Overall, succesful ABI‐interventions in the general population that aim at pre‐injury difficulties comparable to those seen among offenders, show that personalising injury‐specific treatments and taking account of these difficulties, maximised positive outcomes.
Nanoporous Au/Ag Catalyzed Benzylic sp3C−H Oxidation of 9H‐Fluorene Derivatives and Similar Molecules with TBHP
Authors: Thayssen Jan , Riedel Wiebke , Risse Thomas , Staubitz Anne , Wittstock Arne
Published: March 2024

Nanoporous gold (npAu) was tested as a catalyst for oxidations of various benzylic sp3‐carbon positions in 9H‐fluorene derivatives and similar hydrocarbons using tertbutyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as an oxidant. The silver content in the npAu catalyst had a major influence on the overall conversion: Lower silver amounts (0.53 mol%) led to higher conversions, whereas higher amounts of silver increasingly resulted in the disproportionation of TBHP as a competing reaction. Because residual silver from the bulk alloy was oxidized by TBHP and leached into the solution during the reaction, the Ag content diminished over time. Therefore, the recycling of the catalyst had a positive effect on the conversion after each use. Using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, the formation of radicals from TBHP by npAu was evidenced indicating a radical‐based reaction mechanism which was further elucidated by NMR spectroscopic and GC‐MS (trace) product analysis. Subsequent oxidations of benzylic sp3‐carbon positions gave good to excellent conversions and chemoselectivities featuring npAu as a suitable catalyst for such reactions.
A survey on lattice‐based security and authentication schemes for smart‐grid networks in the post‐quantum era
Authors: Shekhawat Hema , Gupta Daya Sagar
Published: March 2024

The present scenario witnesses “the second quantum revolution,” which has enabled the development of revolutionary novel quantum tools. Quantum computing endeavors to establish higher computing standards that can potentially solve complex structures. Post‐quantum cryptography (PQC) has emerged as one of the new domains of cryptography, which is resilient to quantum attacks owing to the revolution in quantum computing. To ensure quantum security, the lattice‐based cryptosystem (LB‐cryptosystem) is one of the promising tools of PQC to address quantum‐based threats. The traditional security algorithms, such as RSA and Diffie–Hellman (DH), are strong enough to resist present security threats. However, it has been predicted that quantum technologies have the capability to break the security of most traditional algorithms whose security is based on prime factorization and DH‐type hard problems. Therefore, research is currently focused on addressing the security and privacy threats by using LB‐cryptosystems to secure various applications, organizations' data, and information infrastructure in the quantum era. The purpose of this article is to investigate recent advances in LB‐cryptosystems that may allow the design of secure models for smart‐grid networks (SGNs) against existing and future quantum attacks. SGNs have been explored as the bi‐directional assimilation of communication in terms of electricity generation, transmission, allocation, and utilization. This survey provides a comprehensive overview of LB‐cryptosystems, as well as their potential applications in securing SGNs. Lastly, the article summarizes the various PQC primitives, NIST selected algorithms, open‐source tools along with their packages, and various PQC industrial initiatives, and also compares traditional cryptographic schemes with other PQC.
Theoretical Characterization of Germanene Doped with Main Group Elements
Authors: Denis Pablo A. , Laranjeira Jose A. S. , Sambrano Julio R.
Published: March 2024

Herein, using density functional calculations, we studied the substitutional doping in germanene with B, C, N, O, Al, Si, P, S, Ga, As, and Se. Nitrogen is the element that can be more easily incorporated into the germanene lattice, followed by silicon, carbon, and boron. Almost all dopants were efficient in opening a band‐gap. Yet, caution should be taken because this opening strongly depends on the dopant concentration. Carbon and sulfur were the most effective elements for band‐gap opening. C‐doping generates the lowest effective masses (me*/m0=mh*/m0=0.09). The equal me and mh values indicate an intrinsic semiconductor behavior, a characteristic shared by the chalcogenides‐doped systems. Additionally, we performed a detailed analysis of the preferred disposition of dopants in the germanene lattice. In contrast with the results obtained for graphene, when multiple atoms are introduced in the germanene framework, they do not prefer to be agglomerated, adopting a random disposition, except in the case of sulfur and nitrogen, which favored specific dopant arrangement. Two sulfur dopants showed a notorious preference for replacing a Ge−Ge bond but without forming an S−S linkage, thus adopting a thiophene‐like structure that may impart germanene exciting properties, as observed for S and N codoped graphene.
Modelling Photocatalytic N2 Reduction to Ammonia: Where We Stand and Where We Are Going
Authors: Žibert Taja , Likozar Blaž , Huš Matej
Published: March 2024

Artificial ammonia synthesis via the Haber‐Bosch process is environmentally problematic due to the high energy consumption and corresponding CO
emissions, produced during the reaction and before hand in hydrogen production upon methane steam reforming. Photocatalytic nitrogen fixation as a greener alternative to the conventional Haber‐Bosch process enables us to perform nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) under mild conditions, harnessing light as the energy source. Herein, we systematically review first‐principles calculations used to determine the electronic/optical properties of photocatalysts, N2 adsorption and to expound possible NRR mechanisms. The most commonly studied photocatalysts for nitrogen fixation are usually modified with dopants, defects, co‐catalysts and Z‐scheme heterojunctions to prevent charge carrier recombination, improve charge separation efficiency and adjust a band gap to for utilizing a broader light spectrum. Most studies at the atomistic level of modeling are grounded upon density functional theory (DFT) calculations, wholly foregoing excitation effects paramount in photocatalysis. Hence, there is a dire need to consider methods beyond DFT to study the excited state properties more accurately. Furthermore, a few studies have been examined, which include higher level kinetics and macroscale simulations. Ultimately, we show there is still ample room for improvement with regard to first principles calculations and their integration in multiscale models.
Multi‐Factor Coral Disease Risk: A new product for early warning and management
Authors: Caldwell Jamie M. , Liu Gang , Geiger Erick , Heron Scott F. , Eakin C. Mark , De La Cour Jacqueline , Greene Austin , Raymundo Laurie , Dryden Jen , Schlaff Audrey , Stella Jessica S. , Kindinger Tye L. , Couch Courtney S. , Fenner Douglas , Hoot Whitney , Manzello Derek , Donahue Megan J.
Published: March 2024

Ecological forecasts are becoming increasingly valuable tools for conservation and management. However, there are few examples of near‐real‐time forecasting systems that account for the wide range of ecological complexities. We developed a new coral disease ecological forecasting system that explores a suite of ecological relationships and their uncertainty and investigates how forecast skill changes with shorter lead times. The Multi‐Factor Coral Disease Risk product introduced here uses a combination of ecological and marine environmental conditions to predict the risk of white syndromes and growth anomalies across reefs in the central and western Pacific and along the east coast of Australia and is available through the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Coral Reef Watch program. This product produces weekly forecasts for a moving window of 6 months at a resolution of ~5 km based on quantile regression forests. The forecasts show superior skill at predicting disease risk on withheld survey data from 2012 to 2020 compared with predecessor forecast systems, with the biggest improvements shown for predicting disease risk at mid‐ to high‐disease levels. Most of the prediction uncertainty arises from model uncertainty, so prediction accuracy and precision do not improve substantially with shorter lead times. This result arises because many predictor variables cannot be accurately forecasted, which is a common challenge across ecosystems. Weekly forecasts and scenarios can be explored through an online decision support tool and data explorer, co‐developed with end‐user groups to improve use and understanding of ecological forecasts. The models provide near‐real‐time disease risk assessments and allow users to refine predictions and assess intervention scenarios. This work advances the field of ecological forecasting with real‐world complexities and, in doing so, better supports near‐term decision making for coral reef ecosystem managers and stakeholders. Secondarily, we identify clear needs and provide recommendations to further enhance our ability to forecast coral disease risk.
Advancing battery energy storage system: State‐of‐health aware state‐of‐charge balancing in multilevel inverters for electric transportation
Authors: Batool Dania , Majeed Faiz , Kim Jonghoon
Published: March 2024

This research presents an innovative methodology for enhancing battery energy storage systems for electrically powered transportation, utilizing a distinctive cascaded H‐bridge multilevel inverter design, termed P‐CHBMI. Central to this work is the development of a state‐of‐health aware state‐of‐charge (SoH‐aware‐SoC) balancing technique, which leverages an advanced algorithm integrated with a Proportional‐Integral (PI) controller technique to efficiently balance battery cells according to their state‐of health (SoH). This technique significantly improves operational efficiency and extends the lifespan of battery systems by intelligently optimizing cell discharge processes. Moreover, this research work delivers a wide range of simulations for the generation of a streamlined control algorithms for the development of the symmetric and asymmetric configuration of the P‐CHBMI. Similarly, recommended topology is proficient of equal voltage discharge across battery cells, which is an exclusive property of the conventional cascaded H‐bridge topology. The study includes extensive MATLAB/Simulink simulations to validate the superiority of the P‐CHBMI and the SoH‐aware‐SoC balancing method over conventional systems, highlighting substantial enhancements in switch count efficiency, operational flexibility, and battery durability. Further, the practical applicability of the proposed topology is evidenced through a hardware implementation of a symmetric 5‐level inverter. This study plays a significant role in the development of the inverter technology particularly in off‐grid scenarios such as electric vehicle and aircrafts, keeping the battery efficiency and reliability as a most important factor.
Agronomic and physiological characteristics of high yield and nitrogen use efficient varieties of rice: Comparison between two near‐isogenic lines
Authors: Li Guo‐hui , Zhang Yan , Zhou Cheng , Xu Ji‐wei , Zhu Chang‐jin , Ni Chen , Huo Zhong‐yang , Dai Qi‐gen , Xu Ke
Published: March 2024

Increasing the application of nitrogen fertilizer is the main approach to increase rice production, but it also brings problems of environmental pollution and increases agricultural production costs. Cultivating high‐yielding and high nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) rice varieties is an important approach to solving this problem. The rice varieties carrying dep1 (dense and erect panicle 1) have both high grain yield and high NUE. However, their plant traits have not been fully explored. In this study, two rice near‐isogenic lines carrying dep1 (NIL‐DEP1 and NIL‐dep1) were grown in paddy fields under 0, 120 and 270 kg N ha−1. We analyzed agronomic traits of panicle type, plant type, leaves and roots, and physiological traits of vascular bundles, photosynthetic rate and carbon and nitrogen transport. The results showed that the NIL‐dep1 exhibited higher grain yield and NUE than NIL‐DEP1, mainly due to the higher spikelet number per panicle, grain filling percentage and dry matter production. Compared with NIL‐DEP1, NIL‐dep1 had improved flag leaf morpho–physiological traits, including erect flag leaves, greater leaf thickness and specific leaf weight, higher root dry weight, root length, root volume and root surface area, and a better canopy structure, as reflected by a lower light interception percent and canopy extinction coefficient, leading to better photosynthetic performance and dry matter production. In addition, NIL‐dep1 exhibited better vascular bundle traits of peduncle and enhanced dry matter, stem carbon and nitrogen translocation during grain filling. In conclusion, NIL‐dep1 had high grain yield and NUE by improved agronomic and physiological traits and increasing carbon and nitrogen translocation during grain filling. These traits mentioned above could be used to select and breed high grain yield with high NUE rice varieties.
Lipid‐ and glucose‐lowering effects of Rhamnan sulphate from Monostroma nitidum with altered gut microbiota in mice
Authors: Shimada Yasuhito , Zang Liqing , Ishimaru Toshinari , Nishiura Kaoru , Matsuda Koichi , Uchida Ryota , Nakayama Hiroko , Matsuoka Izumi , Terasawa Masahiro , Nishimura Norihiro
Published: March 2024

Rhamnan sulphate (RS) is a sulphated polysaccharide found in green algae such as Monostroma nitidum that exhibits various biological functions, including anticoagulant, antitumour, antiviral, and anti‐obesity properties. In our previous clinical trial, we demonstrated that RS intake improves constipation. However, no specific bacteria showed a significant (p < .05) change. Notably, these results were obtained after a short RS inoculation period of only 2 weeks. In the present study, to evaluate the long‐term effects of RS on the gut microbiota, we orally administered RS to BALB/c mice for 11 weeks, analyzed their blood biochemical data, and performed 16s rRNA‐sequencing. Oral administration of RS increased body weight with increased food intake, whereas plasma total cholesterol and fasting plasma glucose levels decreased. RS‐fed mice showed lower fasting insulin levels (p < .1) and decreased homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR, p < .0001), suggesting that RS improved insulin resistance. In the feces of mice, the amounts of acetic and propionic acids increased. In the gut microbiota, predictive metagenomic profiling using the phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUSt2) revealed functional alterations in Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways in RS‐fed mice. Corresponding to the blood glucose‐lowering effect, the glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle pathways were activated. In addition, the Firmicutes/Bacteroides (F/B) ratio, which may be associated with various health outcomes, was also reduced. These results suggest that the blood glucose‐lowering effect, improvement in insulin resistance, and lipid‐lowering effect of RS may be due to changes in the intestinal microbiota.
Evaluation of black grape pomace, a fruit juice by‐product, in shalgam juice production: Effect on phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, resveratrol, tannin, and in vitro antioxidant activity
Authors: Akbulut Mehmet , Çoklar Hacer , Bulut Ayşe Nur , Hosseini Said Reza
Published: March 2024

The aims of this research were to investigate the usability of black grape pomace in the production of shalgam juice, which is a traditional fermented Turkish beverage, to transform the pomace into the high value‐added product and to enrich the shalgam juice with phenolic compounds. Black grape pomace and black carrot were used as the sources of polyphenols and five different formulations were obtained according to the amounts of black carrot and black grape pomace. During the fermentation, the samples were taken at different periods and analyzed for anthocyanins, phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, and tannin content. Gentisic, caffeic, ferulic, coumaric, and chlorogenic acids, catechin, glucosides of kaemferol and isorhamnetin, resveratrol, rutin, cyanidin‐3‐xylosylglucosylgalactoside, cyanidin‐3‐xylosylgalactoside, cyanidin‐3‐xylosylglucosylgalactoside acylated with sinapic acid, ferulic acid, or coumaric acid, and glucosides of cyanidin, petunidin, and malvidin were identified in the shalgam juices that contained both black grape pomace and black carrot in their formulation. Some of these polyphenols were not detected detect in the shalgam juices that were produced from only the black carrot or black grape pomace. During the fermentation, a decrease in the amount of anthocyanins originated from black carrots and an increase in the amount of anthocyanins orginated from black grape pomace were determined. Black grape pomace addition to the formulation before the fermentation caused an increase in the amount of tannin in the shalgam juice samples. Consequently, it is thought that black grape pomace can be fruitfully evaluated in shalgam juice production and can be enhanced by polyphenolic profile of shalgam juice.
Socioeconomic support, quality of life, and prognosis of frailty among the older adults
Authors: Wang Huai‐Yu , Huang Yuming , Zhou Meng‐Ru , Jiang Hao‐Yue , Zong Yu‐Han , Zhu Xi‐Huan , Sun Xiaojing
Published: March 2024

Background

Although socioeconomic support is recommended for frailty management, its association with the prognosis of frailty is unclear.

Methods

Using data from participants aged ≥65 years in the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (2008–2018), the associations between socioeconomic support (source of income, medical insurance, community support, living status), onset of prefrailty/frailty, and worsening of prefrailty, were analyzed using multinominal logistic regression models. The associations between self‐reported low quality of life (QoL) and reversion of prefrailty/frailty were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression models. Associations with mortality risk were analyzed using Cox proportional hazard regression models.

Results

A total of 13,859 participants (mean age: 85.8 ± 11.1 years) containing 2056 centenarians were included. Financial dependence was a risk factor for low QoL among prefrail/frail individuals, but not among robust individuals. Having commercial or other insurance, and receiving social support from the community were protective factors for low QoL among prefrail/frail individuals and for the worsening of prefrailty. Continuing to work was a risk factor for low QoL, but a protective factor for worsening of prefrailty. A negative association between continuing to work and mortality existed in prefrail individuals aged <85 years and ≥85 years. Living alone was a risk factor for low QoL, but was not significantly associated with frailty prognosis.

Conclusions

Prefrail and frail individuals were vulnerable to changes in socioeconomic support and more sensitive to it compared with robust individuals. Preferential policies regarding financial support, social support, and medical insurance should be developed for individuals with frailty.
Socioeconomic inequality in prostate cancer diagnostics, primary treatment, rehabilitation, and mortality in Sweden
Authors: Strömberg Ulf , Berglund Anders , Carlsson Stefan , Thellenberg Karlsson Camilla , Lambe Mats , Lissbrant Ingela Franck , Stattin Pär , Bratt Ola
Published: March 2024

We designed a nationwide study to investigate the association between socioeconomic factors (household income and education) and different aspects of prostate cancer care, considering both individual‐ and neighbourhood‐level variables. Data were obtained from Prostate Cancer data Base Sweden (PCBaSe), a research database with data from several national health care registers including clinical characteristics and treatments for nearly all men diagnosed with prostate cancer in Sweden. Four outcomes were analysed: use of pre‐biopsy magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 2018–2020 (n = 11,843), primary treatment of high‐risk non‐metastatic disease in 2016–2020 (n = 6633), rehabilitation (≥2 dispensed prescriptions for erectile dysfunction within 1 year from surgery in 2016–2020, n = 6505), and prostate cancer death in 7770 men with high‐risk non‐metastatic disease diagnosed in 2010–2016. Unadjusted and adjusted odds and hazard ratios (OR/HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Adjusted odds ratio (ORs) comparing low versus high individual education were 0.74 (95% CI 0.66–0.83) for pre‐biopsy MRI, 0.66 (0.54–0.81) for primary treatment, and 0.82 (0.69–0.97) for rehabilitation. HR gradients for prostate cancer death were significant on unadjusted analysis only (low vs. high individual education HR 1.41, 95% CI 1.17–1.70); co‐variate adjustments markedly attenuated the gradients (low vs. high individual education HR 1.10, 95% CI 0.90–1.35). Generally, neighbourhood‐level analyses showed weaker gradients over the socioeconomic strata, except for pre‐biopsy MRI. Socioeconomic factors influenced how men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in Sweden but had less influence on subsequent specialist care. Neighbourhood‐level socioeconomic data are more useful for evaluating inequality in diagnostics than in later specialist care.
Social isolation and post‐weaning environmental enrichment effects on rat emotional behavior and serotonergic system
Authors: da Silva Roxana Patrícia Bezerra , Pinheiro Isabeli Lins , da Silva Regina Katiuska Bezerra , Moretti Eduarda Correia , de Oliveira Neto Olavo Barbosa , Ferraz‐Pereira Kelli , Galindo Lígia Cristina Monteiro
Published: March 2024

Social isolation (SI) is related to adverse neurobehavioral effects and neurochemical changes when it occurs early in development. On the other hand, environmental enrichment (EE) is associated with a reduction in anxiety‐like and depression‐like behavior, as well as an increase in serotonin (5‐HT) levels in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus in rodents. This study systematically reviewed the effects of SI and EE on emotional behavior and serotonergic system components in rats after weaning. Primary experimental studies that used subgroups of rats subjected to SI, EE, and normal social conditions after weaning were considered eligible. Studies that used transgenic rodents, ex vivo studies, in vitro studies, human research, or in silico studies were ineligible. Two authors completed searches in Medline/PubMed, LILACS, Scopus, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Open Gray. The Kappa index was calculated to assess agreement between reviewers and assess study quality. The results showed that the animals exposed to EE showed better adaptation to a new environment. Furthermore, EE increased 5‐HT levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of rodents. Thus, it appears that an EE during the critical period of development may reduce anxiety/depression‐like behaviors, as well as increase long‐term neurotransmitter response.
Effect of pH and biopolymer ratio on phase behavior, rheology, and structural characteristics of pea protein isolate‐locust bean gum coacervates
Authors: Pavani Mekala , Singha Poonam , Singh Sushil Kumar
Published: March 2024

Background

Interaction between plant‐based proteins and polysaccharides depends on several factors.   This work reports the influence of pH and biopolymer ratios on the protein (pea protein isolate, PPI)‐polysaccharide (locust bean gum, LBG) coacervates. Electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bond between the biopolymers strongly influenced the formation of the coacervates.

Results

The optimum coacervate conditions were observed at pH 4.5 and PPI:LBG ratio of 5:1. The coacervates showed a honeycomb porous architecture having an amorphous nature. Complex coacervates showed a significant elevation of denaturation temperature as compared to biopolymers alone.

Conclusion

These results indicates that PPI‐LBG coacervates can be used as an effective biomaterial for encapsulating heat‐sensitive bioactive compounds and other multiple uses in food processing.
CircITGA7 regulates malignant phenotypes in bladder cancer cells via targeting miR‐330‐3p/KLF10 axis
Authors: Yang Xian‐Xu , Wang Chao
Published: March 2024

Bladder cancer (BCa) is one of the common malignancies. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play regulatory roles in cancer progression. CircITGA7 is a circRNA generated from several exons of ITGA7. The potential role of circITGA7 in BCa remains unknown and needs to be explored. Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) was used to assess circITGA7 and miR‐330‐3p expression in BCa tissues and cell lines. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to evaluate the overall survival of these BCa patients. The biological function of circITGA7 was examined by overexpression of circITGA7 using CCK‐8, EdU, wound‐healing, and Transwell assays. Xenograft assay was performed to further validate the in vitro results. To explore the mechanism of circITGA7, luciferase reporter, RNA pull‐down, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays were employed to examine the binding interaction among circITGA7, miR‐330‐3p and kruppel‐like factor 10 (KLF10). Western blot was used to study the protein levels of KLF10.CircITGA7 was downregulated in BCa tissues and cell lines and indicated longer overall survival. Moreover, circITGA7 restricted cell proliferation, migration and invasion of BCa through negatively regulating miR‐330‐3p. The in vivo model showed that circITGA7 influenced the tumor growth. Besides, the overexpression of miR‐330‐3p promoted cell progression by directly targeting KLF10. Mechanistically, circITGA7 inhibited BCa progression by activating KLF10 via targeting miR‐330‐3p.CircITGA7 alleviates BCa cell progression via circITGA7/hsa‐miR‐330‐3p/KLF10 axis, which may provide novel therapeutic targets for BCa.
Extranodal extension in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Patel Aman M. , Vedula Sudeepti , Shaari Ariana L. , Choudhry Hannaan S. , Filimonov Andrey
Published: March 2024

Objective

Although large retrospective database studies have associated extranodal extension (ENE) with worse survival in several head and neck cancers, the prognostic significance of ENE in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) remains unclear. Our study examines ENE and overall survival (OS) in LSCC.

Methods

The 2006–2017 National Cancer Database was queried for patients with LSCC undergoing surgical resection and neck dissection, with or without adjuvant therapy. Kaplan–Meier and multivariable Cox regression survival analyses were implemented to identify the independent impacts of pathologic nodal (pN) classification and ENE on OS.

Results

Of 4208 patients satisfying inclusion criteria, 2343 (55.7%) were pN0/ENE‐negative, 1059 (25.2%) were pN1‐2/ENE‐negative, and 806 (19.2%) were pN1‐2/ENE‐positive. The 5‐year OS of pN0/ENE‐negative, pN1‐2/ENE‐negative, and pN1‐2/ENE‐positive patients was 62.8%, 56.7%, and 32.9%, respectively (p < .001). Among pN1‐2/ENE‐positive patients undergoing no adjuvant therapy, adjuvant radiotherapy alone, and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy, 5‐year OS was 24.1%, 30.7%, and 36.7%, respectively (p < .001). After adjusting for patient demographics, clinicopathologic features, and adjuvant therapy, ENE‐positivity was associated with worse OS than ENE‐negativity (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.53–2.02, p < .001). pN1/ENE‐positivity (aHR 1.82, 95% CI 1.31–2.54) and pN2/ENE‐positivity (aHR 1.89, 95% CI 1.49–2.40) were associated with worse OS than pN1/ENE‐negativity (p < .001). Microscopic (aHR 1.83, 95% CI 1.54–2.18) and macroscopic ENE‐positivity (aHR 1.75, 95% 1.35–2.26) were associated with worse OS than ENE‐negativity (p < .001).

Conclusion

ENE‐positivity has prognostic significance in LSCC and is associated with worse OS than ENE‐negativity. pN classification did not have prognostic significance independent of ENE. ENE should be carefully considered when determining the prognosis of LSCC and selecting adjuvant therapy.

Level of Evidence

4.
A pseudo‐parabolic equation with logarithmic nonlinearity: Global existence and blowup of solutions
Authors: Jayachandran Sushmitha , Soundararajan Gnanavel
Published: March 2024

This article deals with a fourth‐order pseudo‐parabolic partial differential equation with logarithmic nonlinearity. We adopt the Faedo–Galerkin method to analyze the global existence of weak solutions and discuss the existence of a solution in subcritical and critical initial energy situations. Further, applying the concavity approach, we have shown that the solution blows up when the initial energy is subcritical, critical, and supercritical. Moreover, we have provided an upper and lower bound for blow‐up time and a decay estimate for the global solutions.
Cluster synchronization of fractional‐order complex networks via variable‐time impulsive control
Authors: Ding Xiaoshuai , Wang Xue , Li Jian , Cao Jinde , Wang Jinling
Published: March 2024

This paper investigates the cluster synchronization of fractional‐order complex networks. Considering that impulsive control can reduce the update of controller, and the appearance of impulse is always dependent on each node in the networks instead of appearing at fixed instant, thus we design a variable‐time impulsive controller to control the considered networks. Foremost, several assumptions are proposed to guarantee the every solution of coupled error networks intersect each discontinuous impulsive surface exactly once. In addition, by utilizing the B‐equivalence method and the theory of fractional calculus, the variable‐time impulsive fractional‐order system is reduced to a fixed‐time impulsive fractional‐order system, which can be regarded as the comparison system of the former. Next, under the framework of 1‐norm, some sufficient conditions are presented to ensure that fractional‐order system and target trajectory ultimately achieve cluster synchronization. In the end, a numerical example is designed to illustrate the validity and feasibility of theoretical results.
The steady states of antitone electric systems
Authors: Comănescu Dan
Published: March 2024

The steady states of an antitone electric system are described by an antitone function with respect to the componentwise order. When this function is bounded from below by a positive vector, it has only one fixed point. This fixed point is attractive for the fixed point iteration method. In the general case, we find existence and uniqueness results of fixed points using the set of
‐matrices.
Direct angiographic comparison of different velocity‐selective saturation, inversion, and DANTE labeling modules on cerebral arteries
Authors: Liu Dapeng , Zhu Dan , Qin Qin
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This study evaluated the velocity‐selective (VS) MRA with different VS labeling modules, including double refocused hyperbolic tangent, eight‐segment B1‐insensitive rotation, delay alternating with nutation for tailored excitation, Fourier transform–based VS saturation, and Fourier transform–based inversion.

Methods

These five VS labeling modules were evaluated first through Bloch simulations, and then using VSMRA directly on various cerebral arteries of healthy subjects. The relative signal ratios from arterial ROIs and surrounding tissues as well as relative arteria‐tissue contrast ratios of different methods were compared.

Results

Double refocused hyperbolic tangent and eight‐segment B1‐insensitive rotation showed very similar labeling effects. Delay alternating with nutation for tailored excitation yielded high arterial signal but with residual tissue signal due to the spatial banding effect. Fourier transform–based VS saturation with half the time of other techniques serves as an efficient nonsubtractive VSMRA method, but the remaining tissue signal still obscured some small distal arteries that were delineated by other subtraction‐based VSMRA, allowing more complete cancelation of static tissue. Fourier transform–based inversion produced the highest arterial signal in VSMRA with minimal tissue background.

Conclusion

This is the first study that angiographically compared five different VS labeling modules. Their labeling characteristics on arteries and tissue and implications for VSMRA and VS arterial spin labeling are discussed.
MR elastography–based slip interface imaging (SII) for functional assessment of myofascial interfaces: A feasibility study
Authors: Hojo Emi , Sui Yi , Shan Xiang , Zheng Keni , Rossman Phillip , Manduca Armando , Powell Garret M. , An Kai‐Nan , Zhao Kristin D. , Bauer Brent A. , Ehman Richard L. , Yin Ziying
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Abnormal adherence at functional myofascial interfaces is hypothesized as an important phenomenon in myofascial pain syndrome. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of MR elastography (MRE)–based slip interface imaging (SII) to visualize and assess myofascial mobility in healthy volunteers.

Methods

SII was used to assess local shear strain at functional myofascial interfaces in the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) and thighs. In the FDP, MRE was performed at 90 Hz vibration to each index, middle, ring, and little finger. Two thigh MRE scans were performed at 40 Hz with knees flexed and extended. The normalized octahedral shear strain (NOSS) maps were calculated to visualize myofascial slip interfaces. The entropy of the probability distribution of the gradient NOSS was computed for the two knee positions at the intermuscular interface between vastus lateralis and vastus intermedius, around rectus femoris, and between vastus intermedius and vastus medialis.

Results

NOSS map depicted distinct functional slip interfaces in the FDP for each finger. Compared to knee flexion, clearer slip interfaces and larger gradient NOSS entropy at the vastus lateralis–vastus intermedius interface were observed during knee extension, where the quadriceps are not passively stretched. This suggests the optimal position for using SII to visualize myofascial slip interface in skeletal muscles is when muscles are not subjected to any additional force.

Conclusion

The study demonstrated that MRE‐based SII can visualize and assess myofascial interface mobility in extremities. The results provide a foundation for investigating the hypothesis that myofascial pain syndrome is characterized by changes in the mobility of myofascial interfaces.