bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Orofacial features and dental management of a pediatric patient with moyamoya disease—A one year follow up
Authors: Alharbi Salma G. , Bhadila Ghalia Y. , Almushayt Abdullah
Published: October 2024

Key Clinical Message

Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a chronic cerebrovascular disorder increasing stroke risk. This study presents a four‐year‐old MMD patient, discussing her multidisciplinary care plan including dental, behavioral, and medical management. It emphasizes the need for awareness among oral physicians and suggests further research due to the rising prevalence of MMD.

Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a chronic cerebrovascular disorder that narrows major blood vessels in the brain, reduces blood flow, and increases the risk of stroke. The purposes of this study were to: (1) present the case of a four‐year‐old patient diagnosed with MMD; (2) discuss important aspects of her multidisciplinary care plan involving dental, behavioral, and medical management; and (3) suggest approaches and recommendations for health care providers. A four‐year‐old Middle Eastern female diagnosed with MMD, neurogenic bladder, chronic constipation, hyperactivity, and delayed milestones presented to the dental clinic with her parents seeking dental care. The child was referred by a pediatric neurologist for dental care. In the present case, there were no specific oral manifestations. However, oral physicians should be aware of possible behavioral management modalities when providing dental care to pediatric patients, including those diagnosed with MMD.
Whole‐body‐electro‐myostimulation for the care of inclusion body myositis—A case report
Authors: Freitag Nils , Dragutinovic Boris , Notbohm Hannah L. , Filipovic Andre , Schiffer Thorsten , Bloch Wilhelm , Schumann Moritz
Published: October 2024

Key Clinical Message

External muscle stimulation, possibly combined with active muscle contraction, could improve physical functioning and performance in inclusion body myositis.

Inclusion body myositis (IBM) is a chronic, progressive inflammatory muscle disease with largely unknown causes. It typically affects men more than women, usually beginning in the latter half of life. IBM leads to muscle weakness and wasting, especially in the arms and legs, which significantly impairs daily functioning and complicates participation in exercise training. Few studies have examined the impact of physical training on fitness, inflammation markers, and quality of life in IBM patients. The patient, a Caucasian male (78.3 kg, 174.0 cm, born October 1948), was diagnosed with IBM in October 2011. From October 2017 to September 2019, he underwent exercise training focused on external muscle stimulation combined with active muscle contractions. Regular assessments included cardiopulmonary exercise testing, functional tests (6‐min walking test, modified timed up and go test, modified chair rise test), lung function exams, blood parameters, body composition, and quality of life questionnaires. The decline in physical fitness may have been slowed during the intervention period, as indicated by some improvements like peak oxygen uptake and the functional test results while other parameters remained unchanged or declined like peak power output, fat‐free mass or lung functioning. However, a recurrence of his prostate cancer after treatment with androgen deprivation therapy may have led to further declines and thus increased muscle wasting. The data may suggest that supportive exercise programs focusing on external muscle stimulation, possibly combined with active muscle contraction, might improve physical functioning, exercise performance, and quality of life in IBM management.
Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Chemoselective Olefin Transfer Hydrogenation of alpha, beta‐Unsaturated Carbonyl Systems By Using EtOH as Hydrogen Source
Authors: Beaufils Alicia , Albrecht Martin
Published: October 2024

The use of EtOH as hydrogen donor is remarkably under explored in transfer hydrogenation reactions, even though EtOH represents an appealing hydrogen source. With the cationic ruthenium complex [Ru(PYA)(cymene)]+, 1, containing a N,N‐bidentate amino‐functionalized pyridinium amidate (PYA) ligand as catalyst precursor, we here demonstrate the first example of chemoselective room temperature transfer hydrogenation of the C═C bond in α,β‐unsaturated ketones using EtOH as benign hydrogen source to yield a variety of functionalized ketones. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions with K2CO3 as base and conventiently at room temperature. A broad substrate scope, including various functionalized α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl groups, demonstrates the general applicability of this method. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest the formation of an alkoxide complex [1]–OEt as an initially formed species, and the requirement for EtOH to induce hydride transfer, suggesting a protic activation of the catalyst.
PVDF and PEO Catholytes in Solid‐State Cathodes Made by Conventional Slurry Casting
Authors: Howell Benjamin R. , Gallaway Joshua W.
Published: October 2024

All‐solid‐state Li batteries are desired for better safety and energy density than Li‐ion batteries. However, the lack of a penetrating liquid electrolyte requires a much different approach to the design of cathodes. The solid catholyte must enable good Li+ conduction, form good interfaces with active material particles, and have the strength to bind the cathode together during repeated volume changes. Catholyte formulation is often simply adapted from Li‐ion design principles, adding a Li salt to the PVDF binder. Here we show that such a PVDF binder at 10 wt % loading is a starved catholyte condition that compromises cell performance. By substituting a 70 : 30 blend of PVDF:PEO, performance is improved while maintaining nearly the same areal loading of LFP active material. Increasing the catholyte fraction to 16 % can also improve performance, but in this case the benefit of including PEO is lessened, with PVDF alone being an adequate catholyte. EIS analysis shows that PEO helps to form charge transfer interfaces at 10 % catholyte, but that its inclusion can degrade interfaces when there is ample catholyte at 16 %. It is also shown that catholyte agglomeration can impede bulk Li conduction, indicating that microstructural factors are of critical importance.
Non‐alternant Benzodifluoranthene Tetraimides from 7,8,9,10‐Fluoranthene Diimides: Synthesis, Structure, and Optical‐Limiting Properties
Authors: Qin Hanwen , Zhao Lingli , Zheng Liping , Ma Zhipeng , Liao Miaoli , Sun Jibin , Sun Chenghua , Chen Huajie
Published: October 2024

A novel tetraimide‐functionalized non‐alternant π‐conjugated system, namely, benzodifluoranthene tetraimides (BDFTI), has been designed and synthesized through highly efficient UV‐photocyclization of a vinyl‐bridged fluoranthene diimide dimer (i. e., FDI−V). The synthesis of FDI−V starts from a straightforward three‐step route to produce novel 7,8,9,10‐fluoranthene diimide (FDIs) building‐blocks, followed by nearly complete bromination and then Stille‐coupling reaction to give the desired dimer. The analysis by X‐ray crystallography confirms a near‐coplanar geometry for FDIs, while BDFTI shows a U‐shaped and distorted backbone configuration proven by theoretical optimizations. The tetraimide BDFTI exhibits several advantages over the FDI cores, including an extended absorption band and a red‐shift in photoluminescence spectra. This enhancement can be attributed to the presence of additional electron‐deficient imide units, which promotes increased intramolecular charge transfer and improved electron affinity. All the imides show a local aromatic characteristic owing to the incorporation of pentagon rings in the π‐frameworks. The fully fused BDFTI exhibits nonlinear optical properties as analyzed by the open‐aperture Z‐scan technique, demonstrating superior optical‐limiting performance compared to vinyl‐bridged FDI−V. The versatile UV‐photocyclization chemistries provide a pathway for developing complex and unique multiimide‐functionalized π‐conjugated systems, paving the way for creating high‐performance optical‐limiting materials.
Highly Efficient and Selective Synthesis of Renewable Isoprene Over Mo‐Fe‐O and MgO/Mg(OH)2 Composite Catalysts
Authors: Xu Lulu , Liu Shuo , Li Shikun , Wang Lei , Meng Xiangju , Xiao Feng‐Shou , De Baerdemaeker Trees , Parvulescu Andrei‐Nicolae , Zhang Weiping
Published: October 2024

Synthesis of renewable isoprene continues to attract significant interest, yet catalysts still need improvement for industrial applications. We report herein an efficient and novel Prins tandem approach for highly selective production of isoprene from bio‐based methanol and isobutene over Mo‐Fe−O and MgO/Mg(OH)2 acid‐base bifunctional catalysts. Hydration decreases the number of strong basic sites O2− ions and increases OH groups over MgO, thus improving the isoprene selectivity. Basic OH on Mg(OH)2 promotes the Prins condensation of formaldehyde and isobutene, while acidic OH promotes dehydration of isoprenol to isoprene. Suitable contents and proportions of basic and acidic OH groups over Mg(OH)2 increase isoprene selectivity and methanol conversion to 90 and 92 % on the Mo‐Fe−O+Mg(OH)2 composite catalysts, respectively. It exhibits good recycling stability, with isoprene selectivity remaining 90 % after five successive regenerations. DFT calculations reveal OH groups formed after hydration reduce the energy barrier of the H transfer step, thereby promoting the overall reaction.
We can do better: Risk‐based screening adherence in childhood cancer survivors
Authors: Friedman Danielle Novetsky , Ehrhardt Matthew J.
Published: October 2024

Carotid ultrasound screening is under used in at‐risk childhood cancer survivors who meet criteria for surveillance. Novel methods are needed to improve guideline‐concordant care among this high‐risk population.
Harmonic Migration Algorithm for Virtual Machine Migration and Switching Strategy in Cloud Computing
Authors: Siruvoru Vahini , Aparna Shivampeta
Published: October 2024

Nowadays, cloud computing (CC) has been utilized broadly owing to the services it provides which can be received from any location at any time on the basis of the customer's requirements. A huge amount of data transmission is made from both user to host as well as host to the customer in the cloud environment, but here placing the virtual machine (VM) on a suitable host and data transferring is a challenging task. In this research, a harmonic migration algorithm (HMA) is developed by combining both the migration algorithm (MA) and the harmonic analysis (HA) for migrating a VM from an overloaded to an under‐loaded physical machine (PM) and enabling or disabling the VM through switching strategies in CC. The tasks are allocated to the corresponding VM in a round‐robin (RR) manner and subsequently, the load of the VM is predicted through the gated recurrent unit (GRU). The HMA technique migrates the VM when the predicted load is higher than the value of threshold and also, it enables or disables the VM when necessary. Thus, the performance of the developed HMA is improved over the other previous schemes at tasks 100, 200, 300, and 400 by varying the iterations. Therefore, the predicted load, makespan, and resource utilization of the developed HMA are 0.148, 0.327 s, and 0.482% for task 100 at iteration 100.
A Revocable Certificateless Encryption Scheme for Multi‐User
Authors: Mou Yiming , Deng Lunzhi , Ruan Yu
Published: October 2024

Certificateless cryptography, which solves the key escrow problem and avoids the complexity of certificate management, is an important part of public key cryptography. In the multi‐user scenarios, broadcast encryption can improve computational efficiency and reduce communication cost. Moreover, there may be some malicious users in the above scenarios, and the decryption permissions of these users need an effective mechanism to revoke them. In this paper, a revocable certificateless encryption scheme for multi‐user (RCLE‐MU) is proposed to address this issue. In the scheme, the Cloud Server Provider (CSP) utilizes the master time key to periodically generate time keys for legitimate users. For illegitimate users, their decryption privileges are revoked since they are unable to obtain the time keys. Then this new scheme is proved to be ciphertext indistinguishable under selected identity and chosen‐ciphertext attacks (sID‐CCAs). Finally, compared with several other schemes, the new scheme has more efficiency advantage. So it is suitable for multi‐user scenarios.
Impact of Replicas and Simulation Length on In Silico Behaviors of a Protein Domain
Authors: Biswas Arumay , Eisert‐Sasse Riley K. , Okafor C. Denise
Published: October 2024

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are immensely valuable for studying protein structure, function and dynamics. Their ability to capture atomic‐level behavior of molecules and describe their evolution over time makes it a powerful synergistic tool for biochemistry, structural biology and other life sciences. To advance research and knowledge on reasonable timescales, researchers must optimize the amount of useful information extracted from simulation data while often frugally managing computational resources. Often, this involves balancing the length of MD trajectories with the number of replicas of a given system, with the aim of maximizing sampling of the conformational landscape. However, identifying this balance is not always intuitive, and the lack of standards among researchers can produce large variability in results and predictions from MD measurements. Here, we investigate the variability in MD results when simulation length and replica numbers are varied. Using a 231‐amino acid domain, we compare measurements from independent trajectories to a benchmark trajectory of 3, 1000‐ns replicates. We perform these simulations on 27 protein‐ligand complexes, allowing us to compare ligand‐specific rankings of complexes across independent replicas. Our results reveal that some MD measurements are accurately ranked by single trajectories, while others are not. We uncover similar variability in the effects of trajectory lengths on measurements. Our findings suggest that a one‐size‐fits‐all approach to MD simulations is not necessarily the best approach, and depending on the intended measurements and research question, it may be advantageous sometimes to prioritize longer trajectories over multiple replicas. This work provides important considerations for researchers while designing simulation studies.
Optimizing CAR‐NK Cell Transduction and Expansion: Leveraging Cytokine Modulation for Enhanced Performance
Authors: Ingegnere Tiziano , Segain Benjamin , Cozzani Adeline , Carlsten Mattias , Mitra Suman , Gaggero Silvia
Published: October 2024

Cellular immunotherapy has emerged as one of the most potent approaches to treating cancer patients. Adoptive transfer of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells as well as the use of haploidentical natural killer (NK) cells can induce remission in patients with lymphoma and leukemia. Although the use of CAR T cells has been established, this approach is currently limited for wider use by the risk of severe adverse events, including cytokine release syndrome and immune effector cell‐associated neurotoxicity syndrome. Moreover, the risk of triggering graft vs host reactions in settings of allogeneic T cell infusion limits the use to autologous CAR T cells if advanced CRISPR engineering is not applied. In contrast, NK cell‐based cancer immunotherapy has emerged as a safe approach even in allogeneic settings. However, efficient transduction of primary blood NK cells with vesicular stomatitis virus G glycoprotein (VSV‐G) pseudotyped lentivirus commonly used for T cell modification remains challenging. This article presents a detailed method that significantly enhances the transduction efficiency of NK cells by utilizing a short‐term culture in cytokine‐supplemented medium. It also encompasses the preparation of high‐titer and high‐quality lentiviral particles for optimal NK cell transduction. Overall, this protocol details the step‐by‐step culture of NK cells in cytokine‐supplemented medium, their transduction with VSV‐G lentiviral vectors, and subsequent expansion for functional assays. © 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Basic Protocol 1: Isolation of NK cells from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)

Basic Protocol 2: NK cell expansion and transduction with lentivirus for generating CAR‐NK cells

Support Protocol 1: Plasmid amplification

Support Protocol 2: Lentivirus preparation

Support Protocol 3: Lentivirus titration
Can Carbon be Used as an Anode for Water Splitting?
Authors: Sun Jiali , Dang Yuying , Sun Xiaoyan , Heumann Saskia , Ding Yuxiao
Published: October 2024

Carbon materials, whose structural and electronic properties can be fine‐tuned, are promising material solutions for many energy‐related systems. However, due to the lack of fundamental understanding of the carbon surface chemistry, especially when they are used in electrolytes, the rapid development of carbon as electrodes has led to many widely accepted misunderstandings. Focusing on the case of carbon‐based electrode for water splitting, this Viewpoint tries to highlight the main problems of the area and demonstrates/presents the dynamic carbon surface chemistry in the application. The role of carbon as an anode for water splitting is revealed and if it can be practically used in water splitting is discussed.
Towards Practical Antenna Selection Based on Multilabel CNN for Large‐Scale MIMO System in an Indoor Scenario
Authors: Bouchibane Fatima Zohra , Tayakout Hakim , Boutellaa Elhocine
Published: October 2024

Large‐scale multiple input multiple output (MIMO), also known as massive MIMO, serves as a transformative technology that effectively addresses the surging need for data‐intensive applications in the realm of 5G mobile networks and beyond. With a multitude of antennas at its disposal, a large‐scale MIMO base station possesses the capability to concurrently improve by orders of magnitude system spectral and energy efficiencies. Nevertheless, hardware cost and power consumption arise as serious challenge. To circumvent this latter, we investigate the potential of multilabel convolutional neural network (ML‐CNN) to develop an antenna selection (AS) model that based on the available channel state information (CSI) at the transmitter, it dynamically selects the optimal subset of antennas in real‐time. We evaluate the model performance using real indoor channel measurements under three different antenna array configurations. The obtained results demonstrate that the proposed ML‐CNN approach performs similarly to the convex relaxation‐based method, a mathematical technique often used for AS problems that provides optimal solutions with high computation cost, with the advantage of significantly reduced computation time. Moreover, it exhibits strong resilience across various antenna array configurations. Additionally, assessing the ML‐CNN's performance in scenario with imperfect channel estimation confirms its robustness.
Tridiagonal Weighting‐Based Interference Cancellation Method in High‐Mobility OFDM Systems
Authors: Ma Yunzhe , Wen Jiangang , Wang Anding , Zou Yuanping , Hua Jingyu
Published: October 2024

In orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems, the time‐selective fading channel causes the signal Doppler expansion in high‐mobility scenarios, leading to intercarrier interference (ICI) in the received signals. People had employed a full‐dimensional weighting matrix method to reduce the Doppler‐assisted ICI, though it required a high implementation complexity. In order to reduce the ICI and produce lower complexities, this paper proposes to exploit the tridiagonal weighting matrix to suppress ICIs, in which an optimization problem is constructed to design the tridiagonal weighting matrix, and the nonzero coefficients within the tridiagonal matrix denote optimization variables. Moreover, the optimization objective exploits the system bit error rate (BER) instead of the conventional signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR), which results in a highly nonlinear optimization problem. Therefore, an iterative solving approach is proposed according to the successive convex approximation (SCA). Simulations show that the proposed method can achieve a good balance between the complexity and BER degradation, especially in the scenario with moderate Doppler spreads.
Lessons from Founding a College: A Personal Perspective
Authors: Fatzinger Jim B.
Published: October 2024

“Higher education is in a critical period with a potential for rebalancing of internal and external relations of authority, power and responsibility in higher education governance. An important element in this transition has been a growing policy focus on the contributions of higher education institutions are expected to make to economic growth, job creation and innovation.”

‐ Peter Maassen, “A New Social Contract for Higher Education?”
Developmental Changes in Locomotion and Sensorimotor Reflexes Following Spinal Cord Transection
Authors: Martes Alleyna C. , Bozeman Aimee L. , Doell Julie , Weedn Katie , Collins Nicholas , Campbell Taylor , Roth Tania L. , Brumley Michele R.
Published: October 2024

The developmental trajectory of weight‐bearing locomotion and sensorimotor reflexes following a spinal cord injury, as well as the mechanisms for plasticity, remain unclear. In rats, the second postnatal week is a critical period for the development and recovery of spinal sensorimotor function. The purpose of the present study was to characterize developmental changes during this time frame to provide a basis for potential interventions and future research. Rats underwent a complete low‐thoracic (T8–T10) spinal cord transection surgery, or sham procedure, on postnatal day (P)1. Spontaneous locomotion and sensorimotor reflexes (surface righting, hindlimb placing, and crossed‐extensor reflex) were tested on P7, P14, or P21. Results show that spinal‐transected and sham rats exhibited the same amount of spontaneous locomotion, but the degree of relative weight bearing on the hindlimbs was different between groups and changed over time. Reflex findings showed that throughout the neonatal period, the isolated lumbar spinal cord can respond to sensory input and execute coordinated motor output following spinal cord transection. These insights contribute to understanding the developmental trajectory of spinal cord function after injury and provide a foundation for interventions to enhance recovery outcomes.
Early Supraspinal Influences on Human Embryonic Posture
Authors: Plasschaert Sophie , Mulders Annemarie , Frudiger Anne , Koning Anton , Steegers‐Theunissen Regine , de Vries Johanna , Steegers Eric , Rousian Melek
Published: October 2024

Knowledge of embryonic body posture as a reflection of neurodevelopment is limited. Here, we investigate embryonic body posture, preference, symmetry, and lateralization during periods of rest using virtual reality (VR) and four‐dimensional (4D) ultrasound techniques to enhance our knowledge of neurodevelopment. It is hypothesized that lateralization and asymmetry in embryonic posture are absent. Embryos from low‐risk pregnancies at 9 weeks gestational age (GA) were analyzed using a 30‐min 4D ultrasound and VR techniques. In the middle of an embryonic resting period, the total body posture was determined by combining joint positions. Interindividual and intraindividual postures were analyzed over time to identify posture preferences, asymmetry, and lateralization. Sixteen embryos (N = 210 middle frames out of 210 resting periods) displayed 27 different embryonic body postures. Interindividual and intraindividual variations in postures were seen. Asymmetry was noted in upper extremities, whereas lateralization of the head and spine was observed in nine embryos. Intraindividual and interindividual variation in embryonic posture at 9 weeks’ GA is seen, suggesting the presence of supraspinal influences on body posture this early. Future interdisciplinary longitudinal studies on embryonic posture may provide further insights into embryonic central nervous system development, contributing to our understanding of embryonic health.
Eating Problems Among Adolescent Boys and Girls Before and During the Covid‐19 Pandemic
Authors: Pettersen Johanne H. , Hegemann Laura , Gustavson Kristin , Lund Ingunn Olea , Jensen Pia , Bulik Cynthia M. , Andreassen Ole A. , Havdahl Alexandra , Brandlistuen Ragnhild E. , Hannigan Laurie , Ask Helga
Published: October 2024

Objective

Studies suggest that adolescents reported more eating problems during the pandemic. Using a population‐based sample, we compared eating problems—and how they associate with a range of personal characteristics and genetic factors—among adolescents before (June 2017–April 2020) versus during (April 2020–December 2022) the pandemic.

Method

Based on a preregistered analysis plan, we used cross‐sectional data collected from 22,706 14–16‐year‐olds over 6 years (55% during the pandemic) in the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort. We used measurement invariance analyses to compare the level of eating restraint and body concern before and during the pandemic, and multi‐group structural equation models to estimate pre‐pandemic and pandemic patterns of associations.

Results

Pandemic responders generally reported more eating problems than pre‐pandemic responders, specifically on dieting and body dissatisfaction. However, after adjusting for a general linear increase in eating problems across all 6 years of data collection, the pandemic itself seems to be associated with more eating problems only among girls, reporting more eating restraints (meanΔ = 0.14 [CI: 0.07, 0.20]) and body concern (meanΔ = 0.17 [CI: 0.11, 0.23]). Associations between eating problems and a range of other characteristics did not differ across the pandemic and pre‐pandemic groups.

Conclusions

There was a general increase in eating problems among 14–16‐year‐olds over time. Adjusting for this trend, the pandemic seems to exacerbate problems among girls. Although the mechanisms are unclear, our results point to factors susceptible to change that could have been intensified during the pandemic (e.g., screen time, mental distress). Our results highlight the importance of recognizing sex‐specific differences in eating problems.
Loss of Coral Trait Diversity and Impacts on Reef Fish Assemblages on Recovering Reefs
Authors: Huang Lintao , McWilliam Mike , Liu Chengyue , Yu Xiaolei , Jiang Lei , Zhang Chen , Luo Yong , Yang Jianhui , Yuan Xiangcheng , Lian Jiansheng , Huang Hui
Published: October 2024

Understanding patterns of biodiversity change is essential as coral reefs experience recurrent cycles of disturbance and recovery. Shifts in the total cover and species composition of habitat‐forming corals can have far‐reaching consequences, including shifts in coral functional traits and impacts on local fish assemblages. We surveyed coral and fish assemblages along the southern coast of Hainan Island near Sanya, China, in 2006, 2010, and 2018, during a period with repeated mass bleaching events. We showed that coral biodiversity in this region is in a state of flux, with losses and gains in coral cover and an increase in species richness over time. Despite increasing species diversity, the region suffered a loss of coral trait diversity by 2010, with an incomplete recovery by 2018, owing to declines in species with key habitat‐forming traits (e.g., high surface areas and fractal structure) such as corymbose corals. Concurrently, there was an increase in functional redundancy due to the proliferation of the dominant encrusting and massive corals. Coral cover was positively associated with the abundance of reef fish, indicating that the changes observed in coral abundance can impact reef‐associated species. These results demonstrate that the slow recovery of coral biodiversity in southern Hainan Island has been hampered by the loss of specific coral traits and highlight the importance of protecting vulnerable coral traits in conservation and management strategies.
Vulnerability, climate laws, and adaptation in the Middle East and North Africa
Authors: Maboudi Tofigh , D'Amico Elisa
Published: October 2024

Laws aimed at tackling climate change problems have grown significantly in the last two decades. Following this global trend and under pressure from international institutions and lenders, both rich, oil exporting (i.e., major greenhouse gas [GHG] emitters) and poor, non‐oil rich (i.e., mostly vulnerable nations with lower shares of emission) states in the Middle East and North Africa have hastened to adopt new laws and regulations to mitigate and/or adapt to climate change. The question remains, however, does the adoption of these laws have any measurable impact on these nations' climate change performance? That is, to what degree do these laws have an impact on greenhouse gas emissions or adaptation capacity and readiness? Utilizing a panel data of 660 country‐year observations (22 countries over 30 years), our cross‐national statistical analysis shows that while climate change laws seem to have an impact on GHG emissions, they have so far failed to boost these nations' adaptation capacity. Our case study shows that oil politics and basic development objectives seem to be the key to this failure.
Association of BMI with adherence and outcome in heart failure patients treated with wearable cardioverter defibrillator
Authors: Abumayyaleh Mohammad , Koepsel Katharina , Erath Julia W. , Kuntz Thomas , Klein Norbert , Kovacs Boldizsar , Duru Firat , Saguner Ardan M. , Blockhaus Christian , Shin Dong‐In , Kreimer Fabienne , Gotzmann Michael , Lapp Hendrik , Beiert Thomas , Aweimer Assem , Mügge Andreas , Weiß Christel , El‐Battrawy Ibrahim , Akin Ibrahim
Published: October 2024

Background

Obesity is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), yet an ‘obesity paradox’ has been observed in various CVD contexts. The impact of obesity on heart failure (HF) patients treated with a wearable cardioverter‐defibrillator (WCD) remains underexplored.

Methods

In a multicentre international registry, we retrospectively collected data from a consecutive series of 1003 patients. These patients were divided into three body mass index (BMI) groups: <25 kg/m2 (n = 348), 25–30 kg/m2 (n = 383), and >30 kg/m2 (n = 272), with BMI > 30 kg/m2 defined as the reference category. Demographics, indications, adherence, WCD shocks, arrhythmic events, rehospitalization due to cardiovascular causes, and mortality were analysed.

Results

At 3 month follow‐up, patients with a BMI > 30 showed the greatest improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at 51.4%, significantly higher than the 41.4% in those with a BMI < 25 (P = 0.017) and comparable with the 49.4% in the BMI 25–30 group (P = 0.635). WCD wearing time and adherence were similar across all BMI groups. The incidence of WCD shock was similar across BMI groups. Rates of ventricular tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation and non‐sustained VT (ns‐VT) were comparable across BMI groups. The rate of implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) implantation was 40.3% across all patients, with a slightly lower rate in the BMI > 30 group (36.8%) compared with others, although not significantly. Rehospitalization due to cardiovascular causes was significantly lower in the BMI > 30 group (55.4%) compared with the BMI 25–30 group (70.9%; P = 0.048), but similar to the BMI < 25 group (54.9%; P = 0.957). At 2 year follow‐up, mortality was lower in the BMI > 30 group (5.9%) compared with the BMI < 25 (7.5%; P = 0.029) and BMI 25–30 groups (7%; P = 0.681). In multivariable analysis, LVEF at long term was significantly associated with a reduction in mortality.

Conclusions

Obese patients exhibited significantly greater improvement in LVEF, which was associated with reduced mortality. Adherence to WCD therapy was excellent across all BMI groups. ICD implantation occurred in 40.3% of patients, with similar WCD shock rates and arrhythmic events across BMI groups. An obesity paradox was observed, with obese patients demonstrating significantly lower rehospitalization rates due to cardiovascular causes and reduced mortality at follow‐up.
Synthetic Approaches for the Construction of Chiral Aziridines
Authors: Liu Qing‐Hui , Liu Jiaxuan , Han Ya‐Ping , Liang Yong‐Min , Peng Li‐Zeng
Published: October 2024

Optically active aziridines represent a pivotal class of rigid three‐membered nitrogen‐heterocyclic compounds found in natural products, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and functional motifs, which have demonstrated outstanding practicability as therapeutic molecular frameworks, versatile synthetic endpoints, and functional materials in both academic and industrial communities. Recent years have witnessed a broad spectrum of prominent breakthroughs in the field of chiral aziridines due to the aziridine‐based rigid and three‐dimensional pharmacophores, which have resulted in streamlining the drug discovery process. Over the past few decades, particular attention has been directed towards the strategically efficient, versatile, and practical assembly of optically active aziridines. These synthesis approaches have demonstrated great potential in the context of the construction of pharmaceutical molecules, biologically and pharmacologically relevant natural products, and functional materials. In this review, several synthetic strategies for the assembly of chiral aziridines are summarized, which could be divided into five categories: (1) Introduction; (2) Construction of optically active aziridines via reactions of olefines with nitrene sources; (3) Construction of optically active aziridines via reactions of imines with carbenes; (4) Construction of optically active aziridines via reaction of azirines; (5) Construction of optically active aziridines via intramolecular cyclization of amine derivatives.
Pay Your Taxes! Stay Behind the Yellow Line!: Testing the Normative Appraisal Scale
Authors: Beramendi Maite Regina , Oceja Luis , Salgado Sergio
Published: October 2024

Our attention is constantly drawn by messages that propose to us what should (not) be done in a specific place. According to the Evaluative Model of Normative Appeals (EMNA), we perceive them through a process (normative appraisal) that is structured in three dimensions, and assesses the degree to which the proposal (a) comes from an institution that ensures compliance, (b) avoids physical or psychological damage, and (c) affords the performance of the main intended action. We review the theoretical underpinnings related to these three dimensions, create a scale to measure them (Normative Appraisal Scale, NAS), and validate it in two studies. Specifically, 2376 citizens in eight countries completed the NAS regarding the norms of paying taxes and not drinking on the street (Study 1), and 1544 subway users completed it regarding two transport norms (Study 2). The analyses supported the three‐dimensional structure of the NAS. Furthermore, the NAS increased the prediction when included along with other predictors: sociological variables; social axioms and values (Study 1); and descriptive norm, injunctive norm, personal control, and formal sanction (Study 2). We suggest that the NAS is useful to assess the actual perception of specific normative appeals and anticipate their effectiveness in influencing peoples’ decisions.
Recent Research Advancements in Carbon Fiber‐Based Anode Materials for Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Akter Mahmuda , Hossain Ibrahim , Howlader Maitree , Shahriar Fahim , Saima Umme Habiba
Published: October 2024

Energy consumption is a critical element in human evolution, and rapid advances in science and technology necessitate adequate energy. As human society evades, the advancement of energy storage components has become critical in addressing societal challenges. Lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) are promising candidates for future extensive use as optimal energy storage devices. However, the current limitations of LIBs pose a challenge to their continued dominance. Researchers are constantly exploring new materials to enhance the performance of LIBs, and carbon fiber (CF) is a dominant contender in this pursuit. The high electrical conductivity of carbon‐based materials benefits the battery system by facilitating efficient electron transfer and improving overall performance. CF‐based materials provide enhanced energy storage capacity and cycling stability in LIBs. Progress in carbon‐based materials has resulted in electrodes with increased surface areas, enabling greater rates of charging and discharging. In addition, the exceptional corrosion resistance of CF ensures the durability and robustness of LIBs. A comprehensive review is carried out on the correlation between the material's structure and its electrochemical performance, with a special emphasis on the uses of pure carbon fibers, transition metal oxides, sulfides, and MXene carbon‐based transition metal compounds in LIBs.
Settling model to predict microplastics removal efficiency in wastewater treatments
Authors: Li Fangtian , Zhang Xin , Ji Yun
Published: October 2024

Microplastics (MPs) are plastic particles less than 5 mm and become a good carrier and vectors for contaminants in the environment. Current wastewater treatment technologies, including preliminary treatment, primary treatment, secondary treatment, and tertiary treatment, have a certain removal efficiency for MPs or nano‐scale plastic particles. The settling treatment is employed in several wastewater treatment processes. This work built a settling model based on the Reynolds number, drag coefficient, and settling mechanism to predict the microplastics removal efficiency. Microplastics with larger density difference with wastewater, larger size, and CSF closer to 1 are easily captured and have a higher removal efficiency. The calculated removal efficiency according to density, size distribution, different shapes, and the surface loading rate in the operation of wastewater treatment is in a reasonable removal efficiency range. The removal efficiency increases when the surface loading rate decreases.
Association Between Organizational Context and Resident Pain in Assisted Living: A Repeated Cross‐Sectional Study
Authors: Hoben Matthias , Shrestha Shovana , Dampf Hana , Hogan David B. , McGrail Kimberlyn , Knopp‐Sihota Jennifer , Maxwell Colleen J.
Published: October 2024

Objectives

Resident pain has been a common quality challenge in congregate care for older adults, and organizational context may explain variations in resident pain beyond resident‐level factors. Most studies have focused on nursing homes (NHs), largely neglecting assisted living (AL). AL residents are at similar risk for pain as NH resident, but with AL providing fewer services and staffing resources. Our objective was to examine whether organizational context in AL was associated with resident pain during the first two waves of the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Methods

This repeated cross‐sectional study linked AL home surveys, collected in COVID‐19 waves 1 (March–June 2020) and 2 (October 2020–February 2021) from a key contact, to administrative Resident Assessment Instrument‐Home Care (RAI‐HC) records in these homes. Surveys assessed preparedness for COVID‐19 outbreaks, availability of a registered nurse or nurse practitioner, direct care staff shortages, decreased staff morale, COVID‐19 outbreaks, confinement of residents to their rooms, supporting video calls with physicians, facilitating caregiver involvement. The dependent variable (moderate daily pain or pain of a severe intensity) and resident covariates came from the RAI‐HC. Using general estimating equations, adjusted for repeated resident assessments and covariates, we assessed whether AL organizational context was associated with resident pain during the pandemic.

Results

We included 985 residents in 41 facilities (wave 1), and 1134 residents in 42 facilities (wave 2). Pain prevalence [95% confidence interval] decreased non‐significantly from 20.6% [18.6%–23.2%] (March–June 2019) to 19.1% [16.9%–21.6%] (October 2020–February 2021). Better preparedness (odds ratio = 1.383 [1.025–1.866]), confinement of residents to their rooms (OR = 1.616 [1.212–2.155]), availability of a nurse practitioner (OR = 0.761 [0.591–0.981]), and staff shortages (OR = 0.684 [0.527–0.888]) were associated with resident pain.

Conclusions

AL organizational context factors were associated with resident pain. Policy and management interventions can and must address such factors, providing potentially powerful levers for improving AL resident quality of care.
Impact of Neuropsychological Assessment on Subjective Memory Complaints in Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Anjos Ricardo , Madruga Nuno , Cardoso Sandra , Schmand Ben , Guerreiro Manuela , de Mendonça Alexandre , Ribeiro Filipa
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), namely at an initial stage like amnestic cognitive impairment (aMCI), typically present with memory complaints. They also have difficulties regarding self‐knowledge about their cognitive deficits. In clinical practice, a formal neuropsychological assessment is often done. The present study aimed to understand whether patients with aMCI retain the ability to monitor the success or failure in their performance during the neuropsychological assessment and adjust the report of memory complaints accordingly, as compared to healthy controls.

Methods

Participants were patients with aMCI and healthy controls who were questioned about their own memory abilities using the Subjective Memory Complaints (SMC) scale, applied before and after the neuropsychological assessment protocol. A repeated measures General Linear Model was performed to analyze changes in SMC (within‐subjects effects) after the neuropsychological assessment, in patients with aMCI and healthy controls (between‐subjects effects).

Results

Eighty volunteers, 40 patients with aMCI and 40 healthy controls, participated in the study. Patients with aMCI showed lower MMSE scores, more depressive symptoms, and deficits in memory and learning, language and executive domains. Patients with aMCI had higher SMC scores [9.4(3.6)] than healthy controls [4.4(2.3)] before the neuropsychological assessment. A statistically significant interaction was found between the SMC and the diagnostic group, meaning that healthy controls decreased SMC [3.4(1.9)] after the neuropsychological assessment, whereas patients with aMCI kept high levels of SMC [9.6(3.9)]. In patients with aMCI, an inverse correlation between logical memory and the change in SMC was found, so that patients with lower scores in the logical memory test tended to increase their memory complaints after the assessment.

Conclusions

Both patients with aMCI and healthy controls can monitor and update the impression about their memory abilities following a formal neuropsychological assessment. Patients with aMCI maintain a high SMC level, which is inversely associated with their memory performance. In practical terms, SMC should be measured consistently at a particular moment in time, preferably preceding the objective neuropsychological assessment.
ARP2/3 complex affects myofibroblast differentiation and migration in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Sun Yifeng , Qiao Yina , Niu Yiqi , Madhavan Bindhu Kollivayal , Fang Chao , Hu Jingxiong , Schuck Kathleen , Traub Benno , Friess Helmut , Herr Ingrid , Michalski Christoph W. , Kong Bo
Published: October 2024

The ARP2/3 complex, which orchestrates actin cytoskeleton organization and lamellipodia formation, has been implicated in the initiation of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This study aims to clarify its impact on the activity of cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs), key players in PDAC progression, and patient outcomes. Early pancreatic carcinogenesis was modeled in p48Cre; LSL‐KrasG12D mice with caerulein‐induced pancreatitis, complemented by in vitro studies on human immortalized pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) and primary PDAC‐derived CAFs. Data were gained from microarray analysis, RNA sequencing (RNA‐seq), and single‐cell RNA sequencing (sc‐RNA‐seq), with subsequent bioinformatics analysis. We uncovered a specific transcriptional signature associated with fibroblast migration in early pancreatic carcinogenesis and linked it to poor survival in patients with PDAC. A pivotal role of the ARP2/3 complex in CAF migration was identified. Inhibition of the ARP2/3 complex markedly decreased CAF motility and induced significant morphological changes in vitro. Furthermore, its inhibition also hindered TGFβ1‐mediated myofibroblastic CAF differentiation but had no effect on IL‐1‐mediated inflammatory CAF differentiation. Our findings position the ARP2/3 complex as central to the migration and differentiation of myofibroblastic CAF. Targeting this complex presents a promising new therapeutic avenue for PDAC treatment.
ESG Meets DeFi: Exploring Time‐Varying Linkages and Portfolio Implications
Authors: Ali Shoaib , Youssef Manel , Umar Muhammad , Naeem Muhammad Abubakr
Published: October 2024

This study delves into the connection between Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) indices and emerging Decentralised Finance (DeFi) assets. Specifically, it explores the ever‐changing, frequency‐based linkage between these ESG indices and innovative DeFi assets. Employing the wavelet coherence technique, we analyse a broad range of ESG indices, spanning emerging, developed and US indices, alongside various DeFi assets. This examination covers a period encompassing the COVID‐19 pandemic and the Russian‐Ukrainian conflict to assess market linkages during extreme events. We then calculate optimal weights and hedge ratios for ESG‐DeFi asset pairs to evaluate portfolio implications. Wavelet analysis results frequently show no connection between ESG indices and DeFi assets, underscoring the diversification benefits of adding DeFi to an ESG portfolio. However, this relationship notably strengthens at the pandemic crisis's onset, indicating DeFi assets lose diversification potential during turbulent times. Portfolio allocation should mainly favour ESG indices during normal periods, with minimal variations in optimal weights pre‐ and post‐COVID. Meanwhile, hedge ratio analysis suggests DeFi assets make sound investments during crises, although hedging costs increase during turbulent periods. These findings hold relevance for investors, portfolio managers and policymakers.