bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Independent female directors and integrated reporting quality: The moderating role of family ownership
Authors: Ghaleb Belal Ali , Qaderi Sumaia Ayesh , Al‐Qadasi Adel Ali
Published: February 2024

Female directors can affect corporate reporting through their monitoring functions. However, it is unclear whether independent female directors (IFDs) are preferred to gain a higher quality of integrated reporting (IRQ) in a context such as Malaysia, where family ownership is dominated. This study examines the relationship between IFDs and IRQ, as well as the influence of family ownership on the IFDs‐IRQ nexus. Using all Malaysian public listed companies that have voluntarily adopted IR strategy over the 2017–2021 period, the current study uses different regression models to analyze the data and provide robust results. The results find that IFDs are positively associated with IRQ. Additionally, there is a significant negative correlation between family ownership and IRQ. Furthermore, family ownership negatively moderates the positive IFDs‐IRQ relationship. The results of the subsample analysis indicate that the relationship between IFDs and IRQ is positive in companies that do not have family ownership, but negative in those that do have family ownership. This finding supports the main conclusion regarding the moderating impact of family ownership. The additional analyses support the primary findings that highlight the crucial function of IFDs in enhancing IRQ and the influence of family ownership in attenuating the favorable impact of IFDs. This research extends the existing body of literature on IR by examining the significance of female independence beyond female representation and exploring the potential impact of family ownership on this advantageous characteristic.
Aerial intelligent reflecting surface for improving the secrecy performance of wireless systems with hardware impairments
Authors: Van Vinh Nguyen
Published: February 2024

It has been confirmed that the aerial intelligent reflecting surface (AIRS) can dramatically improve the coverage and quality of service of wireless communication systems. This paper proposes to exploit an AIRS to enhance the physical layer security (PLS) of wireless communication systems. In particular, the AIRS flies at convenient positions for enhancing legitimate channel gain and reducing eavesdropping channel gain. Moreover, the worst‐case security is determined where the legitimate user is affected by hardware impairments (HIs) while the eavesdropper hardware is ideal (ID). The analytical expression of secrecy outage probability (SOP) of the considered systems (referred to as the AIRS‐HI systems) is derived over realistic Nakagami‐
channels recommended for application in the fifth and beyond generations (5G & B5G). To clarify the behaviors of the considered systems, the asymptotic expressions of signal‐to‐distortion‐plus‐noise ratio (SDNR) at the legitimate user, signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) at the eavesdropper, and SOP are also provided. Monte‐Carlo simulations are employed to confirm the accuracy of the derived theorem. Numerical results confirm that the SOP of the AIRS‐HI systems is dramatically higher than the SOP of the AIRS‐ID systems. In other words, a strong effect of HIs on the SOP of the AIRS‐HI systems is clearly indicated. Consequently, utilizing the high transmit power is not an effective solution to improve the secrecy performance of the AIRS‐HI systems. In contrast, it is essential to employ an appropriate transmit power tailored to the specific system parameters. Furthermore, the considerable advantages of incorporating AIRS are demonstrated through a comparison between the SOPs of AIRS‐HI systems and HI systems lacking AIRS. Additionally, a comprehensive examination of AIRS‐HI system behaviors is conducted by varying various system parameters, including the predefined secrecy rate, HI level, the number of reflecting elements (REs) in AIRS, WiFi network frequency, AIRS altitude, bandwidth, and channel fading order. These observations lead to the identification of numerous recommended solutions for enhancing the SOP performance of the considered AIRS‐HI systems.
Diagnosis and treatment of diabetic foot ulcer complicated with lower extremity vasculopathy: Consensus recommendation from the Chinese Medical Association (CMA), Chinese Medical Doctor Association (CMDA)
Authors: Wang Kejia , Wang Yunchuan , Shi Wenlong , Shen Kuo , Tao Ke , Ling Rui , Huang Yuesheng , Fu Xiaobing , Hu Dahai
Published: February 2024

Diabetic foot ulcer complicated with lower extremity vasculopathy is highly prevalent, slow healing and have a poor prognosis. The final progression leads to amputation, or may even be life‐threatening, seriously affecting patients' quality of life. The treatment of lower extremity vasculopathy is the focus of clinical practice and is vital to improving the healing process of diabetic foot ulcers. Recently, a number of clinical trials on diabetic foot ulcers with lower extremity vasculopathy have been reported. A joint group of Chinese Medical Association (CMA) and Chinese Medical Doctor Association (CMDA) expert representatives reviewed and reached a consensus on the guidelines for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of this kind of disease. These guidelines are based on evidence from the literature and cover the pathogenesis of diabetic foot ulcers complicated with lower extremity vasculopathy and the application of new treatment approaches. These guidelines have been put forward to guide practitioners on the best approaches for screening, diagnosing and treating diabetic foot ulcers with lower extremity vasculopathy, with the aim of providing optimal, evidence‐based management for medical personnel working with diabetic foot wound repair and treatment.
Gene doping detection in the era of genomics
Authors: Li Ruihong , Su Peipei , Shi Yi , Shi Hui , Ding Shengqian , Su Xianbin , Chen Peijie , Wu Die
Published: February 2024

Recent progress in gene editing has enabled development of gene therapies for many genetic diseases, but also made gene doping an emerging risk in sports and competitions. By delivery of exogenous transgenes into human body, gene doping not only challenges competition fairness but also places health risk on athletes. World Anti‐Doping Agency (WADA) has clearly inhibited the use of gene and cell doping in sports, and many techniques have been developed for gene doping detection. In this review, we will summarize the main tools for gene doping detection at present, highlight the main challenges for current tools, and elaborate future utilizations of high‐throughput sequencing for unbiased, sensitive, economic and large‐scale gene doping detections. Quantitative real‐time PCR assays are the widely used detection methods at present, which are useful for detection of known targets but are vulnerable to codon optimization at exon–exon junction sites of the transgenes. High‐throughput sequencing has become a powerful tool for various applications in life and health research, and the era of genomics has made it possible for sensitive and large‐scale gene doping detections. Non‐biased genomic profiling could efficiently detect new doping targets, and low‐input genomics amplification and long‐read third‐generation sequencing also have application potentials for more efficient and straightforward gene doping detection. By closely monitoring scientific advancements in gene editing and sport genetics, high‐throughput sequencing could play a more and more important role in gene detection and hopefully contribute to doping‐free sports in the future.
Herbivory through the lens of ecological processes across Pacific coral reefs
Authors: Kindinger Tye L. , Adam Thomas C. , Baum Julia K. , Dimoff Sean A. , Hoey Andrew S. , Williams Ivor D.
Published: February 2024

Coral reefs are in global decline primarily due to climate change. Herbivory is often viewed as key to maintaining coral‐dominated reefs, and herbivore management is gaining traction as a possible strategy for promoting reef resilience. The functional impact of herbivorous fishes has typically been inferred from total biomass, but robust estimates of ecological processes are needed to better inform management targets. Here, we provide a framework to calculate rates of herbivory across Pacific reefs. We synthesized available observations of foraging metrics in relation to fish body size and found considerable variation, even among closely related species. We then applied these allometric functions to survey data and calculated rates of herbivory for acanthurids and scarines, which make up the vast majority of herbivorous fish biomass in the Pacific. Estimated rates of algal consumption, area scraped, and bioerosion varied across islands, with noticeable differences that may align with the relative influence of human population density among underlying herbivore functional groups. We found no evidence of compensatory relationships among herbivore processes whereby decreasing rates in one type of herbivory is offset by increasing rates in another. We observed nonlinear, positive relationships between fish biomass and rates of herbivory. Yet, for a given biomass, the corresponding rates of herbivory varied among regions, and we observed instances where islands with the greatest biomass did not also have the highest rates of herbivory. Islands with the largest size classes of herbivores did not consistently exhibit greater rates of herbivory, and we did not find a clear, consistent pattern between the number of fish species and corresponding rates of herbivore processes. Cropping Acanthurus spp. provided the greatest proportion of algal consumption at every island, yet no single species accounted for the majority of this process, whereas we identified parrotfish species that provided >75% of scraping or bioerosion at certain islands. Our results emphasize the importance of considering the species and size composition of herbivore assemblages when estimating processes, rather than relying on total biomass alone. Lastly, we highlight gaps in foraging observations and additional work needed to further broaden our ability to quantify the ecological processes of herbivores.
Mind the gap! The role of health policy capacity and vaccination acceptance in European Covid‐19 mortality differences
Authors: Farkas Beáta , Rácz Tamás Attila
Published: February 2024

Two years of the Covid‐19 pandemic caused significantly different death tolls in European countries. Nine of the 30 countries with the highest accumulated fatalities belong to Central and Eastern Europe, although the solidarity of the European Union (EU) provided vaccines for all member states. Using correlation and cluster analysis, this paper identifies the demographic, social, and political factors which can explain the differences. As generally accepted in the literature, the death toll is measured by the number of excess deaths. The examination separates the prevaccination and vaccination periods. While the impact of other factors is also present, vaccination coverage has a salient explanatory role in the excess deaths of the second period. The experiences of the Covid‐19 pandemic simultaneously highlight the importance and sociopolitical constraints of health policy at the European level. The analysis confirms that complementary competences between the European and national levels are adequate for the EU health policy.
Factors associated with prospective changes in weight control intentions among adolescents
Authors: Lucibello Kristen M. , Gohari Mahmood R. , Leatherdale Scott T. , Patte Karen A.
Published: February 2024

Introduction

The present study examined predictors of negative changes in weight control intentions from before to during the COVID‐19 pandemic among adolescents.

Methods

Participants were Canadian secondary school students enrolled in the COMPASS study and had completed self‐report surveys before (T1; 2018/2019 and/or 2019/2020 school year) and during (T2; 2020/2021 and/or 2021/2022) the COVID‐19 pandemic (N = 11,869, Mage ± SD = 13.79 years old ± 1.15, 52.89% girls, 45.30% boys, 1.81% gender diverse). Demographic, interpersonal, behavioral, and psychological predictors of weight control intention change from T1 (stay the same weight, not doing anything about weight) to T2 (lose weight, gain weight) were tested using multilevel logistic regressions.

Results

Over one‐third (37.0%) of adolescents who reported wanting to stay the same weight at T1 changed their intention to lose or gain weight at T2, as did 28.5% of adolescents who reported not wanting to do anything about their weight at T1. Changing weight control intention from “not doing anything about weight” at T1 to weight gain/loss at T2 was associated with resistance training, emotion dysregulation, bullying, social media use, and gender. Changing weight control intention from “stay the same weight” at T1 to weight gain/loss at T2 was associated with gender, perceived financial comfort, social media use, and flourishing.

Conclusions

Results highlight the prevalence of maladaptive weight control intention changes among adolescents, and elucidate related behavioral, interpersonal, demographic, and psychological factors. Findings can inform targeted intervention and prevention strategies to disrupt maladaptive changes in weight control intentions among high‐risk subgroups.
Testing the reciprocal relationship between depressive symptoms and insomnia
Authors: Zhou Robert J. , Bailey Brooklynn , Strunk Daniel R.
Published: February 2024

Background

Although the importance of sleep difficulties in emotional disorders has long been acknowledged, the nature of the potential reciprocal relationship between sleep and depressive symptoms is not yet well understood. The coronavirus disease 19 pandemic provided a unique opportunity to study the interrelation of these symptoms over a period marked by increases in sleep and psychological difficulties.

Methods

Using online data collection, we followed 1200 adults (59% male) through 1 year of the pandemic. Measures of sleep disturbance and depressive symptoms were assessed at eight time points. Factor analysis of the items from these two measures suggested separate insomnia and depressive symptom factors. A random intercept cross‐lagged panel model was used to assess within‐person relationships between factor analysis‐informed subscales of insomnia and depressive symptoms.

Results

Depressive symptoms predicted subsequent changes in insomnia symptoms; however, insomnia did not predict changes in depressive symptoms.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest the impact of depressive symptoms on insomnia is evident, but the reverse is not. Implications of this finding along with the need for research addressing depressive symptoms and insomnia as treatment targets are discussed.
Non‐coding RNA LINC01010 regulates macrophage polarization and innate immune functions by modulating NFκB signaling pathway
Authors: Valverde Araceli , Naqvi Raza Ali , Naqvi Afsar R.
Published: February 2024

Innate immune response is regulated by tissue resident or infiltrating immune cells such as macrophages (Mφ) that play critical role in tissue development, homeostasis, and repair of damaged tissue. However, the epigenetic mechanisms that regulate Mφ plasticity and innate immune functions are not well understood. Long non‐coding RNA (lncRNA) are among the most abundant class of transcriptome but their function in myeloid cell biology is less explored. In this study, we deciphered the regulatory role of previously uncharacterized lncRNAs in Mφ polarization and innate immune responses. Two lncRNAs showed notable changes in their levels during M1 and M2 Mφ differentiation. Our findings indicate that LINC01010 expression increased and AC007032 expression decreased significantly. LINC01010 exhibit myeloid cell‐specificity, while AC007032.1 is ubiquitous and expressed in both myeloid and lymphoid (T cells, B cells and NK cells) cells. Expression of these lncRNAs is dysregulated in periodontal disease (PD), a microbial biofilm‐induced immune disease, and responsive to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from different oral and non‐oral bacteria. Knockdown of LINC01010 but not AC007032.1 reduced the surface expression of Mφ differentiation markers CD206 and CD68, and M1Mφ polarization markers MHCII and CD32. Furthermore, LINC01010 RNAi attenuated bacterial phagocytosis, antigen processing and cytokine secretion suggesting its key function in innate immunity. Mechanistically, LINC01010 knockdown Mφ treated with Escherichia coli LPS exhibit significantly reduced expression of multiple nuclear factor kappa B pathway genes. Together, our data highlight functional role of a PD‐associated lncRNA LINC01010 in shaping macrophage differentiation, polarization, and innate immune activation.
Classic human astrovirus 4, 8, MLB‐3, and likely new genotype 5 sublineage in stool samples of children in Nigeria
Authors: Ijeomah Ifeorah M. , Temitope Faleye O. C. , Lander De Coninck , Sheriff Agbaje T. , Uwem George E. , Bernard Onoja A. , Oluseyi Olayinka A. , Elijah Oni I. , Toluwani Ajileye G. , Arthur Oragwa O. , Toluwanimi Akinleye E. , Bolutife Popoola O. , Damilola Osasona G. , Titilola Olayinka O. , Oluwadamilola George A. , Muhammad Ahmed I. , Omotosho Komolafe I. , Johnson Adeniji A. , Jelle Matthijnssens , Olubusuyi Adewumi M.
Published: February 2024

Human astrovirus (HAstV) is a nonenveloped RNA virus and has been implicated in acute gastroenteritis among children and elderly. However, there exists a substantial dearth of information on HAstV strains circulating in Nigeria. Viral‐like particles were purified from archived 254 stool samples of children with acute flaccid paralysis between January and December 2020 from five states in Nigeria, using the NetoVIR protocol. Extracted viral RNA and DNA were subjected to a reverse transcription step and subsequent random polymerase chain reaction amplification. Library preparation and Illumina sequencing were performed. Using the virome paired‐end reads pipeline, raw reads were processed into genomic contigs. Phylogenetic and pairwise identity analysis of the recovered HAstV genomes was performed. Six near‐complete genome sequences of HAstV were identified and classified as HAstV4 (n = 1), HAstV5 (n = 1), HAstV8 (n = 1), and MLB‐3 (n = 3). The HAstV5 belonged to a yet unclassified sublineage, which we tentatively named HAstV‐5d. Phylogenetic analysis of open reading frames 1a, 1b, and 2 suggested recombination events inside the MAstV1 species. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis implied a geographic linkage between the HAstV5 strain from this study with two strains from Cameroon across all the genomic regions. We report for the first time the circulation of HAstV genotypes 4, 8, and MLB‐3 in Nigeria and present data suggestive for the existence of a new sublineage of HAstV5. To further understand the burden, diversity, and evolution of HAstV, increased research interest as well as robust HAstV surveillance in Nigeria is essential.
Analytical evaluation of the automated genotyping system (GenPlex) compared to a traditional real‐time PCR assay for the detection of high‐risk human papillomaviruses
Authors: Zhang Lijuan , Ju Yan , Hu Haixu , Ma Chunhui , Yu Yanju , Huang Yan , Gong Lili , Zhao Wei , Liu Yujia , Liu Yi , Bian Lihong
Published: February 2024

The detection of high‐risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) is crucial for early screening and preventing cervical cancer. However, the substantial workload in high‐level hospitals or the limited resources in primary‐level hospitals hinder widespread testing. To address this issue, we explored a sample‐to‐answer genotyping system and assessed its performance by comparing it with the traditional real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method conducted manually. Samples randomly selected from those undergoing routine real‐time PCR detection were re‐analyzed using the fully automatic GenPlex® system. This system identifies 24 types of HPV through a combination of ordinary PCR and microarray‐based reverse hybridization. Inconsistent results were confirmed by repeated testing with both methods, and the κ concordance test was employed to evaluate differences between the two methods. A total of 365 samples were randomly selected from 7259 women. According to real‐time PCR results, 76 were high‐risk HPV negative, and 289 were positive. The GenPlex® system achieved a κ value greater than 0.9 (ranging from 0.920 to 1.000, p < 0.0001) for 14 types of high‐risk HPV, except HPV 51 (κ = 0.697, p < 0.0001). However, the inconsistent results in high‐risk HPV 51 were revealed to be false positive in real‐time PCR by other method. When counting by samples without discriminating the high‐risk HPV type, the results of both methods were entirely consistent (κ = 1.000, p < 0.0001). Notably, the GenPlex® system identified more positive cases, with 73 having an HPV type not covered by real‐time PCR, and 20 potentially due to low DNA concentration undetectable by the latter. Compared with the routinely used real‐time PCR assay, the GenPlex® system demonstrated high consistency. Importantly, the system's advantages in automatic operation and a sealed lab‐on‐chip format respectively reduce manual work and prevent aerosol pollution. For widespread use of GenPlex® system, formal clinical validation following international criteria should be warranted.
STEMming the tide: New perspectives on careers and turnover
Authors: Kiazad Kohyar , Restubog Simon Lloyd D. , Hom Peter W. , Capezio Alessandra , Holtom Brooks , Lee Thomas
Published: February 2024

The question of why so many people leave science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) jobs continues to echo through social science research and Government policy. This is not surprising given the considerable investments into uptake and quality of STEM education and that STEM workers have a pivotal role to play in addressing current and future grand challenges. Yet, too many individuals with tertiary degrees in STEM—disproportionately women, racial minorities, and the underprivileged—leave or pursue careers in non‐STEM fields. While demand for employment in STEM continues to grow, such persistent STEM defections present a significant challenge. We offer an integrative special issue of eight empirical articles capturing current thinking and evidence on employee retention and turnover, both within and beyond the realm of STEM. Our thematic analysis of the articles reveals overarching themes around the fundamental question of why people choose to stay in their jobs and why they leave. From this, we provide a future research agenda recognizing the myriad work and nonwork factors influencing the desire and ability to stay in one's chosen profession, particularly in critical sectors where gender and minority attrition rates prevail.
Depth of Invasion Assessment in Laryngeal Glottic Carcinoma: A Preoperative Imaging Approach for Prognostication
Authors: Filauro Marta , Caprioli Simone , Lovino Camerino Paola , Sampieri Claudio , Conforti Cristina , Iandelli Andrea , Benzi Pietro , Gabella Giulia , bellini Elisa , Mora Francesco , Cittadini Giuseppe , Peretti Giorgio , Marchi Filippo
Published: February 2024

Objective

The prognostic value of depth of invasion (DOI) in oral squamous cell cancer carcinoma and cutaneous melanoma is well established, while there is a lack of reports investigating the role of DOI in laryngeal cancer. This study aims to explore the association of glottic cancer DOI with other established pathological risk factors and nodal metastasis and evaluate the feasibility of measuring DOI preoperatively using tomographic imaging.

Methods

The medical records of glottic cancer patients treated between 2015 and 2020 in a single tertiary referral center were screened retrospectively. Pathologically measured DOI (pDOI) value was also reviewed and registered. Preoperative computer tomography (CT) was used to obtain the radiological DOI (rDOI) measured by two dedicated radiologists. Their inter‐rated agreement was assessed and the correlation between pDOI and rDOI was calculated. pDOI association with the main pathology report features was assessed with univariable analysis. Cox univariable and multivariable models were used to explore the role of pDOI on survival.

Results

Ninety‐one patients had pDOI data available, of which 59 also had rDOI data. A strong concordance between the two radiologists was found (concordance correlation coefficient = 0.96); rDOI and pDOI were highly and significantly correlated (R = 0.85; p < 0.001). pDOI was significantly higher in patients with perineural invasion (PNI; p < 0.001), lymphovascular invasion (LVI; p < 0.001), and nodal metastasis (p < 0.001). pDOI was associated with disease‐free survival at univariable analysis (p = 0.04) while it did not show a significant impact (p = 0.10) at multivariable analysis.

Conclusion

Glottic carcinoma DOI correlates with PNI, LVI, and nodal metastasis and it can be reliably assessed in a preoperative setting using CT imaging.

Level of Evidence

3 Laryngoscope, 134:3230–3237, 2024
Ergonomic‐Centric Holography: Optimizing Realism, Immersion, and Comfort for Holographic Display
Authors: Shi Liang , Ryu DongHun , Matusik Wojciech
Published: February 2024

Ergonomic‐centric holography is introduced, an algorithmic framework that simultaneously optimizes for realistic incoherent defocus, unrestricted pupil movements in the eye box, and high‐order diffractions for filtering‐free holography. The proposed method outperforms prior algorithms on holographic display prototypes operating in unfiltered and pupil‐mimicking modes, offering the potential to enhance next‐generation virtual and augmented reality experiences.
Toward Sustainable Fiber‐Reinforced Polymer Composites
Authors: Elser Iris , Buchmeiser Michael R.
Published: February 2024

Fiber‐reinforced polymer composites (FRPCs) are versatile materials with applications in diverse fields such as transportation, construction, and electronics. With the composites market expected to reach 15.5 Mt by 2026, increasing the sustainability of FRPCs is imperative. The main factors driving the sustainability of FRPCs, namely end‐of‐life management and recyclability, the use of natural, bio‐based, and sustainable materials, as well as biodegradability and product simplification are presented and discussed.
Neuroenergetic Changes in Patients with X‐Linked Dystonia‐Parkinsonism and Female Carriers
Authors: Prasuhn Jannik , Henkel Julia , Algodon Shela Marie , Uter Jan , Rosales Raymond L. , Klein Christine , Steinhardt Julia , Diesta Cid C. , Brüggemann Norbert
Published: February 2024

Background

X‐linked dystonia‐parkinsonism (XDP) is a rare movement disorder characterized by profound neurodegeneration in the basal ganglia. The molecular consequences and the bioenergetic state of affected individuals remain largely unexplored.

Objectives

To investigate the bioenergetic state in male patients with XDP and female carriers using 31phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging and to correlate these findings with clinical manifestations.

Methods

We examined the levels of high‐energy phosphorus‐containing metabolites (HEP) in the basal ganglia and cerebellum of five male patients with XDP, 10 asymptomatic female heterozygous carriers, and 10 SVA‐insertion‐free controls.

Results

HEP levels were reduced in the basal ganglia of patients with XDP (PwXDP) compared to controls, but increased in the cerebellum of both male patients and female carriers.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest a potential compensatory mechanism in the cerebellum of female carriers regardless of sex. Our study highlights alterations in HEP levels in PwXDP patients and female carriers.
Primary study of the relative and compound biological effectiveness model for boron neutron capture therapy based on nanodosimetry
Authors: Mao Haijun , Zhang Hui , Luo Ying , Yang Jingfen , Liu Yinuo , Zhang Shichao , Chen Weiqiang , Li Qiang , Dai Zhongying
Published: February 2024

Background

The current radiobiological model employed for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) treatment planning, which relies on microdosimetry, fails to provide an accurate representation the biological effects of BNCT. The precision in calculating the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) and compound biological effectiveness (CBE) plays a pivotal role in determining the therapeutic efficacy of BNCT. Therefore, this study focuses on how to improve the accuracy of the biological effects of BNCT.

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to propose new radiation biology models based on nanodosimetry to accurately assess RBE and CBE for BNCT.

Methods

Nanodosimetry, rooted in ionization cluster size distributions (ICSD), introduces a novel approach to characterize radiation quality by effectively delineating RBE through the ion track structure at the nanoscale. In the context of prior research, this study presents a computational model for the nanoscale assessment of RBE and CBE. We establish a simplified model of DNA chromatin fiber using the Monte Carlo code TOPAS‐nBio to evaluate the applicability of ICSD to BNCT and compute nanodosimetric parameters.

Results

Our investigation reveals that both homogeneous and heterogeneous nanodosimetric parameters, as well as the corresponding biological model coefficients α and β, along with RBE values, exhibit variations in response to varying intracellular 10B concentrations. Notably, the nanodosimetric parameter effectively captures the fluctuations in model coefficients α and RBE.

Conclusion

Our model facilitates a nanoscale analysis of BNCT, enabling predictions of nanodosimetric quantities for secondary ions as well as RBE, CBE, and other essential biological metrics related to the distribution of boron. This contribution significantly enhances the precision of RBE calculations and holds substantial promise for future applications in treatment planning.
Perceived usefulness of the nurse–patient therapeutic relationship in the rehabilitation journey of people with urinary incontinence: A mixed‐method study
Authors: Terzoni Stefano , Mora Cristina , Vahr Lauridssen Susanne , N'Guessan Serge , Sighinolfi Maria Chiara , Gaia Giorgia , Rocco Bernardo , Afonina Margarita , Maruccia Serena , Pinna Barbara , Parozzi Mauro , Ferrara Paolo , Destrebecq Anne , Marley Jerome
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Despite various studies on the impact of incontinence on patients' lives, the existing literature has not investigated the contribution of nursing care during rehabilitation in terms of quality of life. Fewer data, therefore, exist on the characteristics and perceived impact of the therapeutic relationship as part of the rehabilitation program.

Aims

To investigate the characteristics of the nurse–patient therapeutic relationship and its impact throughout the rehabilitation program; to describe the levels of patient burden on everyday activities.

Materials and Methods

A monocentric, retrospective, multimethod descriptive study was conducted in the nurse‐led continence clinic of a major teaching hospital in Northern Italy. A phenomenological approach with semistructured interviews was adopted after 6 weeks of rehabilitation, following the method of phenomenological enquiry by Giorgi. The short form 12 questionnaire was administered upon admission of patients to the clinic, after 6 weeks, and during the last consultation to investigate the impact of urinary incontinence (UI) on daily activities and physical and psychological quality of life.

Results

Ninety‐one adult patients of both genders presenting for nonneurogenic nonpostpartum UI were consecutively enrolled. Physical scores (PCS‐12) and MCS‐12 scores significantly increased over time. Psychological scores showed great variability upon admission, which was reduced halfway through the rehabilitation program. The thematic analysis highlighted four categories based on data saturation: the impact of UI on daily activities, strategies to face the problem, feelings, and the role of nurses.

Conclusions

This mixed‐method investigation suggests the importance of therapeutic nursing relationships, clinical expertise, and rehabilitative skills. Quality of life is arguably related to the positive results of the rehabilitation program but also to the environment, patients perceive in terms of support, honesty, and trust.
Influence of vinyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane with different functionalities and cage structures on the mechanical properties and ablation resistance of EPDM composites
Authors: Wang Shumeng , Ma Xutao , Ma Xiaoyan , Wang Jian , Zhang Zongwu , Niu Zhaoqi , Xu Peidong , Hou Xiao
Published: February 2024

Four vinyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) with different functionalities and cage structures, monovinyl‐POSS (monov‐POSS), divinyl‐POSS (div‐POSS), trivinyl‐POSS (triv‐POSS), and tetravinyl‐POSS (tetrav‐POSS) were prepared and blended into fiber‐reinforced ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM—EPDM/AF) in the form of chemical cross‐linking to obtain four modified composites with various cross‐linked network structures and cage structures to investigate the influences and improvement of cross‐linking network and cage structures on the mechanical, thermal stability and ablation resistance of EPDM/AF. The results showed that the POSS of multi‐functionality with small steric hindrance, such as tetrafunctional tetrav‐POSS, can most significantly improve mechanical properties of EPDM/AF by forming denser crosslinking network structures, and the tensile strength and elongation at break of EPDM/AF/tetrav‐POSS can be increased 73.3% and 42.1% compared with EPDM/AF, respectively. POSS that has a complete cage structure and enables the modified composites to obtain a relatively dense cross‐linked network structure, such as difunctional div‐POSS can more substantially enhance the thermal stability and ablative resistance of EPDM/AF with the LAR and MAR of EPDM/AF/div‐POSS reduced by 25.2% and 10.5% compared to EPDM/AF, respectively. High‐temperature thermal transition of four modified composites at gradient temperatures was investigated to explain the relationship between the structure of POSS and ablation properties.

Highlights

Four POSS with different functionalities and cage structures were designed.

Mechanical and ablative properties were reinforced by four vinyl POSS.

Multifunctional POSS can most significantly improve mechanical properties.

Functionality and cage structure together influence ablative property.

High‐temperature thermal transition of modified composites was investigated
Missed opportunities in postpartum contraception: Bridging the gaps for patients who deliver at Catholic hospitals in Illinois
Authors: Boulware Angel , Wascher Jocelyn , Wong Zarina , Hasselbacher Lee , Chen Jessica , Freedman Lori , Stulberg Debra
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Catholic hospitals' religious restrictions limit postpartum contraceptive care and reproductive counselling. This qualitative study explores opportunities for patients and providers to ensure access to desired postpartum contraception care.

Methods

We interviewed people who had obstetric experiences in Illinois Catholic hospitals: 21 patients and 23 providers, including clinicians, doulas, nurses, and maternal health home visitors. We transcribed interviews and coded transcripts then used a thematic content approach for analysis. To guide future interventions, we sought interviewees' perspectives on opportunities to improve postpartum contraceptive care for patients affected by these restrictions.

Results

Patients delivered in Catholic hospitals for varied reasons unrelated to religious affiliation and were generally unaware of limits on access to contraception. Some providers offered referrals or workarounds for some contraceptive methods. The majority of providers described the importance of initiating contraceptive counselling during the prenatal period, but few patients reported receiving comprehensive contraceptive counselling during this time. Patients who received contraceptive counselling often had these experiences with doulas and maternal health home visitors who were not affiliated with religious health centres.

Conclusion

Contraceptive counselling in the prenatal period can be a particularly helpful tool for patients delivering in hospitals that limit access to postpartum contraception, particularly in Catholic hospitals. Prenatal counselling can support advance planning if a patient needs to transfer or seek care outside their preferred health system. Where counselling and referrals are prohibited by religious restrictions, doulas and other maternal health home visitors can bridge gaps and support patient decision‐making and navigation to receive postpartum contraceptive care.
A hierarchical, multi‐sensor framework for peatland sub‐class and vegetation mapping throughout the Canadian boreal forest
Authors: Pontone Nicholas , Millard Koreen , Thompson Dan K. , Guindon Luc , Beaudoin André
Published: February 2024

Peatlands in the Canadian boreal forest are being negatively impacted by anthropogenic climate change, the effects of which are expected to worsen. Peatland types and sub‐classes vary in their ecohydrological characteristics and are expected to have different responses to climate change. Large‐scale modelling frameworks such as the Canadian Model for Peatlands, the Canadian Fire Behaviour Prediction System and the Canadian Land Data Assimilation System require peatland maps including information on sub‐types and vegetation as critical inputs. Additionally, peatland class and vegetation height are critical variables for wildlife habitat management and are related to the carbon cycle and wildfire fuel loading. This research aimed to create a map of peatland sub‐classes (bog, poor fen, rich fen permafrost peat complex) for the Canadian boreal forest and create an inventory of peatland vegetation height characteristics using ICESat‐2. A three‐stage hierarchical classification framework was developed to map peatland sub‐classes within the Canadian boreal forest circa 2020. Training and validation data consisted of peatland locations derived from various sources (field data, aerial photo interpretation, measurements documented in literature). A combination of multispectral data, L‐band SAR backscatter and C‐Band interferometric SAR coherence, forest structure and ancillary variables was used as model predictors. Ancillary data were used to mask agricultural areas and urban regions and account for regions that may exhibit permafrost. In the first stage of the classification, wetlands, uplands and water were classified with 86.5% accuracy. In the second stage, within the wetland areas only, peatland and mineral wetlands were differentiated with 93.3% accuracy. In the third stage, constrained to only the peatland areas, bogs, rich fens, poor fens and permafrost peat complexes were classified with 71.5% accuracy. Then, ICESat‐2 ATL08 spaceborne lidar data were used to describe regional variations in peatland vegetation height characteristics and regional and class‐wise variations based on a boreal forest wide sample. This research introduced a comprehensive large‐scale peatland sub‐class mapping framework for the Canadian boreal forest, presenting the first moderate resolution map of its kind.
Aggregated time‐series features boost species‐specific differentiation of true and false positives in passive acoustic monitoring of bird assemblages
Authors: Singer David , Hagge Jonas , Kamp Johannes , Hondong Hermann , Schuldt Andreas
Published: February 2024

Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) has gained increasing popularity to study behaviour, habitat preferences, distribution and community assembly of birds and other animals. Automated species classification algorithms like ‘BirdNET’ are capable of detecting and classifying avian vocalizations within extensive audio data, covering entire species assemblages. PAM reveals substantial potential for biodiversity monitoring that informs evidence‐based conservation. Nevertheless, fully realizing this potential remains challenging, especially due to the issue of false‐positive species detections. Here, we introduce an optimized thresholding framework, which incorporates contextual information extracted from the time‐series of automated species detections (i.e. covariates on quality and quantity of species' detections measured at varying time intervals) to improve the differentiation of true and false positives. We verified a sample of BirdNET detections per species and modelled species‐specific thresholds using conditional inference trees. These thresholds were designed to minimize false‐positive detections while maximizing the preservation of true positives in the dataset. We tested this framework for a large dataset of BirdNET detections (5760 h of audio data, 60 sites) recorded over an entire breeding season. Our results revealed considerable interspecific variability of precision (percentage of true positives) within raw BirdNET data. Our optimized thresholding approach achieved high precision (≥0.9) for 70% of the 61 detected species, while species‐specific thresholds solely relying on the BirdNET confidence scores achieved high precision for only 31% of the species. Conservative universal thresholds (not species‐specific) reached high precision for 48% of the species. Our thresholding approach outperformed previous thresholding approaches and enhanced interspecific comparability for bird community analyses. By incorporating contextual information from the time‐series of species detections, the differentiation of true and false positives was substantially improved. Our approach may enhance a straightforward application of PAM in biodiversity research, landscape planning and evidence‐based conservation.
Visual evaluation of soil structure is a reliable method to detect changes in the soil quality of Colombian Amazon pasturelands
Authors: Mora‐Motta Dúber , Llanos‐Cabrera Maria P. , Chavarro‐Bermeo Juan P. , Ortíz‐Morea Fausto A. , Silva‐Olaya Adriana M.
Published: February 2024

The visual evaluation of soil structure (VESS) is an affordable and easy‐to‐use method for assessing soil quality that could help in the early detection of soil quality changes in pasturelands of less developed countries where ranchers cannot afford quantitative soil studies. Here, we assessed the soil quality of three pasture areas in the Colombian Amazon region using the VESS method and tested its suitability through a correlation analysis with key physical and biochemical soil indicators of quality measured at the same study locations. Moreover, by integrating all assessed soil indicators, we determined a soil quality index (SQI) to correlate with VESS scores. A forest area was used as a reference to evaluate changes in soil indicators and soil quality due to pasture use for >25 years. Our results revealed high VESS scores, indicating poor soil quality in pasture areas and suggesting a compaction process that starts at 6.5 cm soil depth, corroborated by increases in soil bulk density, soil resistance to penetration, and reduction in soil porosity. Soil C and N contents were 35% and 33% lower in pasture than forest. This same pattern was observed in the geometric mean of the enzymatic activity. The VESS scores were significantly correlated with most of physical and biochemical soil indicators and with the overall SQI, demonstrating the ability of VESS to integrate and reflect attributes related to the essential physical, chemical, and biological functioning of soils from the Colombian Amazon region, becoming a useful tool for detecting signs of soil quality degradation in pasturelands.
Influence of woodchip size and nitrogen fertilization on carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide emissions from soils amended with orchard biomass
Authors: Gao Suduan , Hendratna Aileen , Thao Touyee , Culumber Catherine Mae , Poret‐Peterson Amisha T. , Zuber Cameron A. T. , Holtz Brent A.
Published: February 2024

Incorporating large amounts of woody biomass into soil, such as in whole orchard recycling (WOR), can promote carbon sequestration, nutrient recycling, and ecosystem health in agricultural fields. Yet uncertainty regarding the effects of WOR on soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics influences management decisions. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of woodchip (WC) size and interaction with N fertilization on carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. An 8‐month incubation experiment incorporating WC (4% w/w, equivalent to ∼40 tons per acre) in four sieved sizes (0.2–1.6, 1.6–3.2, 3.2–6.4, and 6.4–12.7 mm) with and without N applications was conducted. All treatments with WC showed that CO2 emission peaked within the first week, then decreased drastically afterward. The CO2 peak delayed as the peak value decreased (WC size increased). The finest WC (<1.6 mm) yielded the lowest total CO2 emissions and resulted in the greatest increase in soil C at the end of incubation. Nitrogen application reduced total CO2 emissions by 1% in the smallest WC size and by 8%–9% for those larger than 1.6 mm. The N2O emissions spiked following each fertilizer application with lowest total emissions from the smallest WC size, suggesting substantial N immobilization. The results imply that larger WC sizes can delay C mineralization and reduce initial N immobilization risks, but the smallest WC size may have stabilized and increased soil organic carbon. This research increased our understanding on WC mineralization that can be used in WOR management.
Diversifying computer science: An examination of the potential influences of women‐in‐computing groups
Authors: Wu Jue , Uttal David H.
Published: February 2024

The gender imbalance in computer science (CS) is one of the most challenging issues in American education. CS is the only science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) field in which women's representation has steadily declined in recent decades. In this study, we explored one potential approach that could be effective in increasing college women's participation in CS: participation in Women‐in‐Computing (WiC) groups. Through participant observation and individual interviews in a WiC group at a major research university, we investigated how students engage in WiC, the impacts of the WiC on identity and belonging, and the challenge of sustainability. The results were coded using a hybrid of grounded and deductive coding and indicate that WiC groups offer various programs and events that enable women in CS to fully participate, learn, and grow. WiC represents an identity, a community, a safe space, and a journey. The results also suggest that the WiC has had positive impacts on students' identity and belonging, as evidenced by increased self‐efficacy, reduced imposter syndrome, and enhanced sense of belonging and community. Furthermore, we outline three strategies employed by the WiC to ensure the group's sustainability. Our study sheds light on how WiC can encourage women to enter and persist in CS, and on some of the characteristics of a successful WiC. We demonstrate that WiC may be potentially effective in diversifying CS through identity‐based participation. Moreover, student leaders design both the structure of the group and the leadership continuity process to ensure sustainability.