bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Eating disorder symptoms and comorbid mental health risk among teens recruited to a digital intervention research study via two online approaches
Authors: Kasson Erin , Szlyk Hannah S. , Li Xiao , Constantino‐Pettit Anna , Smith Arielle C. , Vázquez Melissa M. , Wilfley Denise E. , Taylor C. Barr , Fitzsimmons‐Craft Ellen E. , Cavazos‐Rehg Patricia
Published: March 2024

Introduction

It is crucial to identify and evaluate feasible, proactive ways to reach teens with eating disorders (EDs) who may not otherwise have access to screening or treatment. This study aimed to explore the feasibility of recruiting teens with EDs to a digital intervention study via social media and a publicly available online ED screen, and to compare the characteristics of teens recruited by each approach in an exploratory fashion.

Method

Teens aged 14–17 years old who screened positive for a clinical/subclinical ED or at risk for an ED and who were not currently in ED treatment completed a baseline survey to assess current ED symptoms, mental health comorbidities, and barriers to treatment. Bivariate analyses were conducted to examine differences between participants recruited via social media and those recruited after completion of a widely available online EDs screen (i.e., National Eating Disorders Association [NEDA] screen).

Results

Recruitment of teens with EDs using the two online approaches was found to be feasible, with 934 screens completed and a total of 134 teens enrolled over 6 months: 77% (n = 103) via social media 23% (n = 31) via the NEDA screen. Mean age of participants (N = 134) was 16 years old, with 49% (n = 66) identifying as non‐White, and 70% (n = 94) identifying as a gender and/or sexual minority. Teens from NEDA reported higher ED psychopathology scores (medium effect size) and more frequent self‐induced vomiting and driven exercise (small effect sizes). Teens from NEDA also endorsed more barriers to treatment, including not feeling ready for treatment and not knowing where to find a counselor or other resources (small effect sizes).

Discussion

Online recruitment approaches in this study reached a large number of teens with an interest in a digital intervention to support ED recovery, demonstrating the feasibility of these outreach methods. Both approaches reached teens with similar demographic characteristics; however, teens recruited from NEDA reported higher ED symptom severity and barriers to treatment. Findings suggest that proactive assessment and intervention methods should be developed and tailored to meet the needs of each of these groups.

Public Significance

This study examined the feasibility of recruiting teens with EDs to a digital intervention research study via social media and NEDA's online screen, and demonstrated differences in ED symptoms among participants by recruitment approach.
Arboreal or terrestrial: Oviposition site of Zhangixalus frogs affects the thermal function of foam nests
Authors: Ichioka Yukio , Kajimura Hisashi
Published: March 2024

Temperature is essential for the survival and development of eggs. Some anurans have evolved and developed foam nesting traits, with thermal insulation considered to be among their functions. Foam‐nesting frogs tend to exhibit reproductive plasticity. For example, they oviposit on both trees and the ground. How such plasticity affects foam nest function is of major relevance and is likely related to the adaptation of foam nesting frogs. However, this has not been well studied. In this study, we examined the interaction between foam nest site, foam nest function, and egg fate using the Japanese green tree frog, Zhangixalus arboreus, and analysed how nest site differences (arboreal or terrestrial) affect the thermal function of foam nests. We compared the thermal functions of foam nests between arboreal and terrestrial oviposition sites of Z. arboreus. We artificially replaced half of the arboreal nests with terrestrial environments and recorded temperature in and outside of the experimental terrestrial nest and original arboreal nests. We also examined egg survival and hatching rates for all the nests. The results indicated superior heat insulation in terrestrial nests, with warmer temperatures inside than outside the nests, especially at night, which led to a high egg survival rate. Therefore, terrestrial ovipositing should be valid under cold weather conditions. This may be related to the evolutionary history of oviposition site plasticity of this genus, which originally had an arboreal oviposition trait but evolved into terrestrial site use owing to global cooling. Our novel insights into the evolution and adaptivity of foam nesting and oviposition site use in Z. arboreus make an important contribution to animal ecology.
TLR2 on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells promotes control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection
Authors: Reba Scott M. , Li Qing , Onwuzulike Sophia , Nagy Nancy , Fletcher Shane , Parker Kyle , Shaw Rachel J , Umphred‐Wilson Katharine , Shukla Supriya , Harding Clifford V. , Boom W. Henry , Rojas Roxana E.
Published: March 2024

Although a role for TLR2 on T cells has been indicated in prior studies, in vivo stimulation of TLR2 on T cells by Mtb and its impact on Mtb infection has not been tested. Furthermore, it is not known if the enhanced susceptibility to Mtb of Tlr2 gene knockout mice is due to its role in macrophages, T cells, or both. To address TLR2 on T cells, we generated Tlr2fl/flxCd4cre/cre mice, which lack expression of TLR2 on both CD4 and CD8 T cells, to study the in vivo role of TLR2 on T cells after aerosol infection with virulent Mtb. Deletion of TLR2 in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells reduces their ability to be co‐stimulated by TLR2 ligands for cytokine production. These include both pro‐ (IFN‐γ, TNF‐α) and anti‐inflammatory cytokines (IL‐10). Deletion of TLR2 in T cells affected control of Mtb in the lungs and spleens of infected mice. This suggests that T‐cell co‐stimulation by mycobacterial TLR2 ligands in vivo contributes to the control of Mtb infection in the lung and spleen.
ZSM‐5‐Promoted Co‐Based Light‐Assisted Thermocatalytic Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis Catalyst for Production of Liquid Fuel
Authors: Zhang Yichi , Hu Ruijue , Su Haiquan , Su Yue
Published: March 2024

Light‐assisted thermocatalytic Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) provides a more efficient and sustainable approach to synthesizing high‐value chemicals compared to the thermal‐driven FTS. However, producing liquid fuel via cobalt‐based light‐assisted thermocatalytic FTS catalyst poses a challenge since photogenerated electrons increase CO conversion simultaneously with a significant reduction in the selectivity of C5+ product. Herein, a cobalt‐based light‐assisted thermocatalytic FTS catalyst containing ZSM‐5 molecular sieve promoter is prepared by a unique wet chemical reduction method, and the constructed 15%Co/Ta3N5‐ZSM‐5 catalyst exhibits nearly 90% C5+ product selectivity and 63% CO conversion under photothermal condition. Further characterization indicates that the simultaneous increase in the number of active sites and the density of acidic sites in the catalyst is crucial to achieve a simultaneous increase in CO conversion and C5+ product selectivity, which enables the catalyst to produce liquid fuel via light‐assisted thermocatalytic FTS reaction. This work provides an approach to introduce solar energy into the process of liquid fuel production, which can improve the sustainability of the liquid fuel production process.
Economic enhancement and grid‐frequency control of a wind farm‐CAES‐fuel cell‐based hybrid system
Authors: Das Shreya Shree , Kumar Jayendra
Published: March 2024

In the present era, the electrical network faces difficulty owing to the restricted supply of conventional energy resources. Solar and wind power are supremely acceptable renewable energy around the globe due to their cheap availability, zero fuel costs, and environmental safety features. Maintaining power balance in a renewable combined day‐ahead power network becomes challenging owing to the uncertainty of renewable sources, resulting in economic instability. An energy‐storing device is essential for combining renewable sources with existing thermal power plants to control the energy supply and maintain system stability. Any government agency in the deregulated market does not set up energy pricing. The ISO (independent system operator) is the primary organization in the day‐ahead power network that is responsible for collecting energy bids from DISCOs (distribution companies), TRANSCOs (transmission companies), and GENCOs (generation companies). The energy pricing is set by the market regulator at a rate known as Location‐based marginal pricing (LBMP), which provides benefits to GENCOs, and DISCOs as well as the customers. In a deregulated market, the unpredictability of renewable sources affects system profit owing to the creation of instability cost (ISC), induced by mismatching the bidding power production from the renewable plant. To lessen these concerns, the presented approach has proposed an innovative model that employs ideal scheduling of the WF (wind‐farm)‐CAES (compressed‐air‐energy‐storage)‐fuel cell (FC) hybrid systems to enhance system economic profitability while keeping the grid frequency (GF) in the safe zone. The fuel cell acts as the energy‐storing device that can be utilized during high‐demand times on the grid, with the ultimate goal of maximizing profits for the overall system. The CAES system's energy level is separated into four dissimilar points, and this study presents an optimum approach for efficiently using it to maintain grid frequency. The new strategy outperformed the previous methods in all categories. The study was performed using the IEEE 30 bus test system.
Impact of diabetes mellitus on tuberculosis prevention, diagnosis, and treatment from an immunologic perspective
Authors: Ye Zhaoyang , Li Linsheng , Yang Ling , Zhuang Li , Aspatwar Ashok , Wang Liang , Gong Wenping
Published: March 2024

The coexistence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and tuberculosis (TB) presents a significant global burden, with DM being recognized as a major risk factor for TB. This review comprehensively analyzes the immunological aspects of DM‐TB comorbidity, shedding light on the impact of DM on TB pathogenesis and immune responses. It reveals that high blood glucose levels in TB patients contribute to reduced innate immune cell count, compromised phagocytic function, and delayed antigen presentation. These factors ultimately impair the clearance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and delay adaptive immune responses. With the interaction between TB and DM, there is an increase in inflammation and elevated secretion of pro‐inflammatory cytokines by immune cells. This exacerbates the inflammatory response and contributes to poor treatment outcomes in TB. Moreover, the review explores the effects of DM on TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. It highlights how poor glycemic control, insulin resistance (IR), DM complications, and genetic factors increase the risk of MTB infection in individuals with DM. Additionally, DM‐related immune suppression adversely affects the sensitivity of traditional diagnostic tests for TB, potentially resulting in underdiagnosis and delayed intervention. To mitigate the burden of TB in DM patients, the review emphasizes the need for further research on the mechanisms underlying DM reactivation in latent TB infection (LTBI). It shows how important it is to find and treat LTBI in DM patients as soon as possible and suggests looking into biomarkers that are specific to DM to make diagnosis more accurate.
Forecasting regional industrial production with novel high‐frequency electricity consumption data
Authors: Lehmann Robert , Möhrle Sascha
Published: March 2024

In this paper, we study the predictive power of electricity consumption data for regional economic activity. Using unique high‐frequency electricity consumption data from industrial firms for the second‐largest German state, the Free State of Bavaria, we conduct a pseudo out‐of‐sample forecasting experiment for the monthly growth rate of Bavarian industrial production. We find that electricity consumption is the best performing indicator in the nowcasting setup and has higher accuracy than other conventional indicators in a monthly forecasting experiment. Exploiting the high‐frequency nature of the data, we find that the weekly electricity consumption indicator also provides good predictions about industrial activity in the current month with only 2 weeks of information. Overall, our results indicate that regional electricity consumption is a promising avenue for measuring and forecasting regional economic activity.
Forecasting peak electric load: Robust support vector regression with smooth nonconvex ϵ‐insensitive loss
Authors: Nie Rujia , Che Jinxing , Yuan Fang , Zhao Weihua
Published: March 2024

Peak power load forecasting is a key part of the commercial operation of the energy industry. Although various load forecasting methods and technologies have been put forward and tested in practice, the growing subject of tolerance for abnormal accidents is to develop robust peak load forecasting models. In this paper, we propose a robust smooth non‐convex support vector regression method, which improves the robustness of the model by adjusting adaptive control loss values and adaptive robust parameters and by reducing the negative impact of outliers or noise on the decision function. A concave‐convex programming algorithm is used to solve the non‐convexity of the optimization problem. Good results are obtained in both linear regression model and nonlinear regression model and two real data sets. An experiment is carried out in a power company in Jiangxi Province, China, to evaluate the performance of the robust smooth non‐convex support vector regression model. The results show that the proposed method is superior to support vector regression and generalized quadratic non‐convex support vector regression in robustness and generalization ability.
Therapeutic potential of mangiferin in cancer: Unveiling regulatory pathways, mechanisms of action, and bioavailability enhancements – An updated review
Authors: Iqbal Humaira , Inam‐Ur‐Raheem Muhammad , Munir Seemal , Rabail Roshina , Kafeel Sadia , Shahid Arashi , Mousavi Khaneghah Amin , Aadil Rana Muhammad
Published: March 2024

Mangiferin (MGF) is a phenolic compound, which is a major source of MGF is the mango tree. MGF possesses some antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and cytoprotective properties, enabling it to play its role against various diseases such as diabetes, obesity, lung injuries, and cancer. The word “Cancer” depicts an uncontrolled and abnormal growth of cells. This review paper reveals MGF's therapeutic, curative and protective potential impact against lung, liver, ovarian, prostate, breast, stomach, and oral cancers. MGF is used in various types of research in the form of powder, liquid extract, intramuscular, intravenous, nanoparticles coated with gold, in the form of a solution, or in combination with other drugs to evaluate synergistic effects. Many studies showed that MGF is safe to use but has less bioavailability in the body and 0.111 mg/mL solubility in water. However, certain studies indicated that its bioavailability and retention time increased when taken in the form of nanoparticles and in combination with other drugs. MGF also increases the sensitivity of other drugs (i.e., cisplatin) resistant to tumors. MGF has different mechanisms of action for different cancers. It mainly targets enzymes, interleukins, tumor growth factors, signaling pathways, apoptotic proteins, and genes to inhibit the growth of tumors, volume, angiogenesis, cellular functionality, further progression, and movement to other areas of the body. Moreover, MGF increases apoptosis and body weight with no or fewer side effects on normal cells. MGF unveiled a novel gate toward the treatment of cancer. Further research and human trials are needed in this regard.
The role of baseline 2‐[18F]‐FDG‐PET/CT metrics and radiomics features in predicting primary gastric lymphoma diagnosis
Authors: Albano Domenico , Calabrò Anna , Dondi Francesco , Bagnasco Samuele , Tucci Alessandra , Bertagna Francesco
Published: March 2024

Diffuse Large B‐Cell Lymphomas (DLCBL) and mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) are the two most common primary gastric lymphomas (PGLs), but have strongly different features. DLBCL is more aggressive, is frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage and has a poorer prognosis. The aim of this retrospective study was to explore the role of fluorine‐18‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (2‐[18F]‐FDG‐PET/CT) and radiomics features (RFs) in predicting the final diagnosis of patients with PGLs. Ninety‐one patients with newly diagnosed PGLs who underwent pre‐treatment 2‐[18F]‐FDG‐PET/CT were included. PET images were qualitatively and semi‐quantitatively analyzed by deriving maximum standardized uptake value body weight (SUVbw), maximum standardized uptake value lean body mass (SUVlbm), maximum standardized uptake value body surface area (SUVbsa), lesion to liver SUVmax ratio (L‐L SUV R), lesion to blood‐pool SUVmax ratio (L‐BP SUV R), metabolic tumor volume (gMTV) and total lesion glycolysis of gastric lesion (gTLG), total MTV (tMTV), TLG, and first‐order RFs (histogram‐related and shape related). Receiver‐operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to determine the differential diagnostic values of PET parameters. The final diagnosis was DLBCL in 54 (59%) cases and MALT in 37 cases (41%). PGLs showed FDG avidity in 83 cases (90%), 54/54 of DLBCL and 29/37 of MALT. All PET/CT metabolic features, such as stage of disease and tumor size, were significantly higher in DLBCL than MALT; while the presence of H. Pylori infection was more common in MALT. At univariate analysis, all PET/CT metrics were significantly higher in DLBCL than MALT lymphomas, while among RFs only Shape volume_vx and Shape sphericity showed a significant difference between the two groups. In conclusion we demonstrated that 2‐[18F]‐FDG‐PET/CT parameters can potentially discriminate between DLBCL and MALT lymphomas with high accuracy. Among first‐order RFs, only Shape volume_vx and Shape sphericity helped in the differential diagnosis.
Human resource executives' relative pay and firm performance
Authors: Chadwick Clint , Guthrie James P. , Xing Xuejing , Yan Shan
Published: March 2024

To operationalize the extent to which firms place a strategic emphasis on human capital and human resource management (HRM), we draw on the strategy field's dominant logic theory and on the emerging literature on executive compensation for the heads of major firm functions, such as HRM. Specifically, we investigate whether the pay of human resource executives (HREs) relative to other members of top management teams (TMTs) is related to firm performance. After controlling for the endogeneity of HRE status as one of the highest paid executives on the TMT, we find in a comprehensive sample of the largest US firms that HRE relative pay is positively related to firm financial performance, specifically Tobin's Q. We also find that the relationship of HRE relative pay with Tobin's Q is stronger in relatively smaller and younger firms in our sample. The findings suggest that a strategic emphasis on human capital and HRM leads to higher firm value.
Targeted DNA sequencing of high‐grade serous ovarian carcinoma reveals association of TP53 mutations with platinum resistance when combined with gene expression
Authors: Holý Petr , Hlaváč Viktor , Šeborová Karolína , Šůsová Simona , Tesařová Tereza , Rob Lukáš , Hruda Martin , Bouda Jiří , Bartáková Alena , Mrhalová Marcela , Kopečková Kateřina , Al Obeed Allah Mohammad , Špaček Jiří , Sedláková Iva , Souček Pavel , Václavíková Radka
Published: March 2024

High‐grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSC) is the most common subtype of ovarian cancer and is among the most fatal gynecological malignancies worldwide, due to late diagnosis at advanced stages and frequent therapy resistance. In 47 HGSC patients, we assessed somatic and germline genetic variability of a custom panel of 144 known or suspected HGSC‐related genes by high‐coverage targeted DNA sequencing to identify the genetic determinants associated with resistance to platinum‐based therapy. In the germline, the most mutated genes were DNAH14 (17%), RAD51B (17%), CFTR (13%), BRCA1 (11%), and RAD51 (11%). Somatically, the most mutated gene was TP53 (98%), followed by CSMD1/2/3 (19/19/36%), and CFTR (23%). Results were compared with those from whole exome sequencing of a similar set of 35 HGSC patients. Somatic variants in TP53 were also validated using GENIE data of 1287 HGSC samples. Our approach showed increased prevalence of high impact somatic and germline mutations, especially those affecting splice sites of TP53, compared to validation datasets. Furthermore, nonsense TP53 somatic mutations were negatively associated with patient survival. Elevated TP53 transcript levels were associated with platinum resistance and presence of TP53 missense mutations, while decreased TP53 levels were found in tumors carrying mutations with predicted high impact, which was confirmed in The Cancer Genome Atlas data (n = 260). Targeted DNA sequencing of TP53 combined with transcript quantification may contribute to the concept of precision oncology of HGSC. Future studies should explore targeting the p53 pathway based on specific mutation types and co‐analyze the expression and mutational profiles of other key cancer genes.
Digital droplet PCR versus quantitative PCR for lipoprotein (a) kringle IV type 2 repeat polymorphism genetic characterization
Authors: Barbieri Giulia , Cassioli Giulia , Kura Ada , Orsi Rebecca , Magi Alberto , Berteotti Martina , Scaturro Giusi Maria , Lotti Elena , Gori Anna Maria , Marcucci Rossella , Giusti Betti , Sticchi Elena
Published: March 2024

Background

Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] level variability, related to atherothrombotic risk increase, is mainly attributed to LPA gene, encoding apolipoprotein(a), with kringle IV type 2 (KIV2) copy number variation (CNV) acting as the primary genetic determinant. Genetic characterization of Lp(a) is in continuous growth; nevertheless, the peculiar structural characteristics of this variant constitute a significant challenge to the development of effective detection methods. The aim of the study was to compare quantitative real‐time PCR (qPCR) and digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) in the evaluation of KIV2 repeat polymorphism.

Methods

We analysed 100 subjects tested for cardiovascular risk in which Lp(a) plasma levels were assessed.

Results

Correlation analysis between CNV values obtained with the two methods was slightly significant (R = 0.413, p = 0.00002), because of the wider data dispersion in qPCR compared with ddPCR. Internal controls C1, C2 and C3 measurements throughout different experimental sessions revealed the superior stability of ddPCR, which was supported by a reduced intra/inter‐assay coefficient of variation determined in this method compared to qPCR. A significant inverse correlation between Lp(a) levels and CNV values was confirmed for both techniques, but it was higher when evaluated by ddPCR than qPCR (R = −0.393, p = 0.000053 vs R = −0.220, p = 0.028, respectively). When dividing subjects into two groups according to 500 mg/L Lp(a) cut‐off value, a significantly lower number of KIV2 repeats emerged among subjects with greater Lp(a) levels, with stronger evidence in ddPCR than in qPCR (p = 0.000013 and p = 0.001, respectively).

Conclusions

Data obtained support a better performance of ddPCR in the evaluation of KIV2 repeat polymorphism.
The place of B‐mode ultrasonography, shear‐wave elastography, and superb microvascular imaging in the diagnosis of De Quervain tenosynovitis
Authors: Ten Barış , Asfuroğlu Zeynel Mert , Eskandari Metin Manouchehr , Temel Gülhan , Esen Kaan , Yüksek Hasan Hüsnü , Balcı Yüksel
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Superb microvascular imaging (SMI) and Shear wave elastography (SWE) are newly developed ultrasonographic diagnostic tools used to support the diagnosis of De Quervain tenosynovitis (DQT). The aim of this study was to examine the capacity to differentiate between the wrist with DQT and the healthy wrist, as well as the potential for predicting the disease's severity using B‐mode ultrasonography, SWE, and SMI.

Methods

A total of 19 cases with unilateral clinical DQT were included in the prospective study. The wrists of these cases without DQT clinic constituted the control group.

Results

The SWE parameters of m/s and kPa cutoff values were ≤5.225 and ≤ 77.65, respectively, in the wrists with DQT compared to the wrists not diagnosed with DQT (p < 0.001). Regarding SMI findings no microvascularity was determined in the abductor pollicis longus (APL) and extensor pollicis brevis (EPB) tendon sheaths of the wrists without DQT, and a significant increase was observed in the degree of microvascularity as the clinical severity of DQT increased.

Conclusion

SWE results can differentiate between the presence and absence of DQT. SMI grading of the APL and EPB tendon sheaths may be helpful to the clinician in deciding the clinical severity of DQT.
Visual interpretation of clinical images among dental students using eye‐tracking technology
Authors: MS Muthu , Cho Vanessa Y , FelsyPremila G , Nirmal Latha , Sujitha P , Bhavyaa R , King Nigel M , Anthonappa Robert P
Published: March 2024

Background

Tele‐consultations are increasingly used for screening and diagnosis. Only a few studies have assessed dental students’ visual attention to clinical images.

Aim

To (i) determine dental students’ gaze behavior, visual fixations, and diagnostic competence while viewing clinical images, and (ii) explore potential opportunities to strengthen the teaching–learning approaches.

Design

Tobii Pro Nano‐device captured the eye‐tracking data for 65 dental undergraduate students in this cross‐sectional study. The predetermined areas of interest (AOI) for all five clinical photographs were uploaded onto Tobii software. All participants used a think‐aloud protocol with no restrictions to view time.

Results

A total of 325 clinical pictures were analyzed, and the average view time was 189.25 ± 76.90 s. Most participants started at the center of the image (three frontal photos), spent a significant share of their view time on prominent findings, did not follow a systematic pattern, and exhibited diagnostic incompetence. Also, most participants followed a “Z” viewing pattern (oscillating movement from left to right) for the remaining two pictures.

Conclusions

Subjects frequently fixated on the prominent AOI, however, failed to make the correct diagnosis. Their view patterns revealed no sequential viewing. Therefore, emphasizing knowledge about common dental abnormalities and focusing on full coverage of clinical pictures can improve dental students’ diagnostic competence and view patterns.
Optimizing health resource allocation for improving timely HIV diagnosis in China
Authors: He Shihao , Dong Wei , Fairley Christopher K. , Li Zengbin , Wei Yudong , Lai Hao , Li Rui , Lu Pengyi , Shen Mingwang , Wu Zunyou , Zhang Lei
Published: March 2024

Introduction

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) updated the 95‐95‐95 targets for the HIV endgame in 2030. To achieve the first target in a timely manner, we investigate the optimized strategy of resource allocation to maximize timely HIV diagnosis in 14 populations in China.

Methods

We developed a mathematical model by integrating epidemiological, demographical and behavioural data from 12 high‐risk and two general populations to evaluate the impact of various resource allocation strategies of HIV testing on HIV incidence in China. We identified the optimized allocation strategy that maximizes the number of HIV diagnoses at an estimated total spending on HIV tests in China and calculated the per‐capita cost of new HIV case detection.

Results

We estimated that 144,795 new HIV cases may occur annually in 14 populations in China, with a total annual spending of US$2.8 billion on HIV testing. The largest proportion of spending was allocated to general males (44.0%), followed by general females (42.6%) and pregnant women (5.1%). Despite this allocation strategy, only 45.5% (65,867/144,795, timely diagnosis rate) of annual new infections were diagnosed within a year of acquisition, with a cost of $42,852 required for each new HIV case detection. By optimizing the allocation of HIV testing resources within the same spending amount, we found that general females received the highest proportion of spending allocation (45.1%), followed by low‐risk men who have sex with men (13.9%) and pregnant women (8.4%). In contrast, the proportion of spending allocation for the general males decreased to 0.2%. With this optimized strategy, we estimated that 120,755 (83.4%) of annual new infections would be diagnosed within a year of acquisition, with the cost required for one HIV case detection reduced to $23,364/case. Further spending increases could allow for significant increases in HIV testing among lower‐risk populations.

Conclusions

Optimizing resource allocation for HIV testing in high‐risk populations would improve HIV timely diagnosis rate of new infections and reduce cost per HIV case detection.
Quantifying Brain Myelin Water Fraction in a Guinea Pig Model of Spontaneous Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Authors: Sethi Simran , Friesen‐Waldner Lanette J. , Regnault Timothy R.H. , McKenzie Charles A.
Published: March 2024

Background

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is an obstetrical condition where a fetus has not achieved its genetic potential. A consequence of IUGR is a decrease in brain myelin content. Myelin water imaging (MWI) has been used to assess fetal myelin water fraction (MWF) and might potentially assess myelination changes associated with IUGR.

Purpose

To quantify and compare the MWF of non‐IUGR and IUGR fetal guinea pigs (GPs) in late gestation.

Study Type

Prospective animal model.

Animal Model

Dunkin‐Hartley GP model of spontaneous IUGR (mean ± SD: 60 ± 1.2 days gestation; 19 IUGR, 52 control).

Field Strength/Sequence

Eight spoiled gradient‐recalled (SPGR) gradient echo volumes (flip angles [α]: 2°–16°), and two sets of eight balanced steady‐state free precession (bSSFP) gradient echo volumes (α: 8° – 64°), at 0° and 180° phase increments, at 3.0 T.

Assessment

MWF maps were generated for each fetal GP brain using multicomponent driven equilibrium single pulse observation of T1/T2 (mcDESPOT). MWF was quantified in the fetal corpus callosum (CC), fornix (FOR), parasagittal white matter (PSW), and whole fetal brain.

Statistical Tests

Linear regression was performed between five fetal IUGR markers (body volume, body‐to‐pregnancy volume ratio, brain‐to‐liver volume ratio, brain‐to‐placenta volume ratio, and brain‐to‐body volume ratio) and MWF (coefficient of determination, R2). A t‐test with a linear mixed model compared the MWF of non‐IUGR and IUGR fetal GPs (significance was determined at α < 0.05).

Results

The MWF of the control fetuses are (mean ± SD): 0.23 ± 0.02 (CC), 0.31 ± 0.02 (FOR), 0.28 ± 0.02 (PSW), and 0.20 ± 0.01 (whole brain). The MWF of the IUGR fetuses are (mean ± SD): 0.19 ± 0.02 (CC), 0.27 ± 0.01 (FOR), 0.24 ± 0.03 (PSW), and 0.16 ± 0.01 (whole brain). Significant differences in MWF were found between the non‐IUGR and IUGR fetuses in every comparison.

Data Conclusion

The mean MWF of IUGR fetal GPs is significantly lower than non‐IUGR fetal GPs.

Evidence Level

2

Technical Efficacy

Stage 1
Spatial neurolipidomics—MALDI mass spectrometry imaging of lipids in brain pathologies
Authors: Jha Durga , Blennow Kaj , Zetterberg Henrik , Savas Jeffrey N. , Hanrieder Jörg
Published: March 2024

Given the complexity of nervous tissues, understanding neurochemical pathophysiology puts high demands on bioanalytical techniques with respect to specificity and sensitivity. Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) has evolved to become an important, biochemical imaging technology for spatial biology in biological and translational research. The technique facilitates comprehensive, sensitive elucidation of the spatial distribution patterns of drugs, lipids, peptides, and small proteins in situ. Matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI)‐based MSI is the dominating modality due to its broad applicability and fair compromise of selectivity, sensitivity price, throughput, and ease of use. This is particularly relevant for the analysis of spatial lipid patterns, where no other comparable spatial profiling tools are available. Understanding spatial lipid biology in nervous tissue is therefore a key and emerging application area of MSI research. The aim of this review is to give a concise guide through the MSI workflow for lipid imaging in central nervous system (CNS) tissues and essential parameters to consider while developing and optimizing MSI assays. Further, this review provides a broad overview of key developments and applications of MALDI MSI‐based spatial neurolipidomics to map lipid dynamics in neuronal structures, ultimately contributing to a better understanding of neurodegenerative disease pathology.
A superior heterologous prime‐boost vaccination strategy against COVID‐19: A bivalent vaccine based on yeast‐derived RBD proteins followed by a heterologous vaccine
Authors: Liu Yu , Li Miao , Cui Tingting , Chen Zhian , Xu Liangting , Li Wenjuan , Peng Qinhua , Li Xingxing , Zhao Danhua , Valencia C. Alexander , Dong Biao , Wang Zhongfang , Chow Hoi Yee , Li Yuhua
Published: March 2024

Various vaccines have been challenged by SARS‐CoV‐2 variants. Here, we reported a yeast‐derived recombinant bivalent vaccine (Bivalent wild‐type [Wt]+De) based on the wt and Delta receptor‐binding domain (RBD). Yeast derived RBD proteins based on the wt and Delta mutant were used as the prime vaccine. It was found that, in the presence of aluminium hydroxide (Alum) and unmethylated CpG‐oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG) adjuvants, more cross‐protective immunity against SARS‐CoV‐2 prototype and variants were elicited by bivalent vaccine than monovalent wtRBD or Delta RBD. Furthermore, a heterologous boosting strategy consisting of two doses of bivalent vaccines followed by one dose adenovirus vectored vaccine exhibited cross‐neutralization capacity and specific T cell responses against Delta and Omicron (BA.1 and BA.4/5) variants in mice, superior to a homologous vaccination strategy. This study suggested that heterologous prime‐boost vaccination with yeast‐derived bivalent protein vaccine could be a potential approach to address the challenge of emerging variants.
Trends of lightning flash density over India during different seasons
Authors: Prasanna Konatham , Gopalakrishnan Venkatachalam , Pawar Sunil D.
Published: March 2024

Lightning flash rate data measured by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) for the period 1996–2013 over India are analysed to study the spatial and temporal variation of lightning over India during different seasons. The convective available potential energy (CAPE) and other thermodynamic parameters data for the same period are taken for analysis. This study confirms a systematic increase in lightning flash rate density in India during the last two decades. The annual lightning flash rate density is high along the windward side of the Himalayan foothills with two peaks, one over northwestern parts of India (>50 flashes·km−2·year−1) and the other over northeastern parts of India (>40 flashes·km−2·year−1). The pre‐monsoon (March–May) (0.176 flasheskm−2·year−1) and monsoon (June–September) (0.159 flashes·km−2·year−1) lightning trends are the largest contributors in explaining the annual trend of 0.099 flashes·km−2·year−1. All seasons have shown more or less positive trends while post‐monsoon (October–December) has shown a negative trend (−0.013 flashes·km−2·year−1). The seasonal variations show that the lightning is increasing more over northwest India during the monsoon and northeast India during the pre‐monsoon. To further understand the connection between lightning and climate change, a few thermodynamic or microphysical properties are also analysed. This analysis suggests that the high CAPE values together with thermodynamics and cloud microphysical processes are necessary for organized convection and lightning over this region. Additionally, correlation analysis is adopted to identify the main influencing factors and regions contributing to lightning variability. The increase in lightning activity is found to be due to an increase in CAPE, low‐level moisture content and temperature. The increase in temperature and moisture is attributed to the land use land cover (LULC) changes in India. The impact of the above proxies on lightning varies from region to region and season to season. As several regions are undergoing rapid transformation due to human activity, this study provides insights into the need to understand land use related changes to local and regional lightning activity.
Applying strength‐based therapeutic recreation for dealing with job stress, work–family conflict, and family–work conflict
Authors: Jafari Forough , Ruch Willibald , Siadati Seyedehdorsa , Esmaili Somayeh
Published: March 2024

This research introduces strength‐based therapeutic recreation (STR) as an innovative approach to address job stress, work–family conflict, and family–work conflict among employees. STR involves personalized leisure activities tailored to individuals’ signature character strengths in daily life. The study, encompassing 82 married employees (70.73% female, mean age = 36.77 years), reveals significant reductions in job stress and both work–family and family–work conflicts within the experimental group undergoing a 10‐week STR workshop. By empowering employees to engage in strength‐based leisure activities, STR enhances the propensity to reduce job stress, work–family conflict, and family–work conflict. This approach holds practical potential for organizations seeking to improve employee mental health and productivity through tailored interventions.
Theabrownins in dark tea form complexes with tea polysaccharide conjugates
Authors: Chen Xiaoqiang , Wang Mengdie , Wang Zhiyuan , Liu Xiuling , Cao Wendan , Zhang Na , Qi Yonggang , Cheng Shuiyuang , Huang Wei , Liu Zhong
Published: March 2024

BACKGROUND

Theabrownins (TBs) are one of most important quality components in dark tea, but have not been produced industrially. In this study, the aqueous extract was obtained from Pu‐erh ripe tea, one kind of dark tea. Caffeine, theaflavin, catechin and saponin were removed by trichloromethane, ethyl acetate and n‐butanol in turn to obtain a TB isolate. The TB isolate was subjected to column chromatography using a macroporous resin HPD‐750 and eluted with a gradient of 0–700 g kg−1 ethanol aqueous solution. Four fractions were obtained, and named as TBs‐FC1, TBs‐FC2, TBs‐FC3 and TBs‐FC4.

RESULTS

These four fractions contained polysaccharides and no small molecules such as catechins, caffeine and theaflavins as well as average molecular weights of 123.000 kDa, 23.380 kDa, 89.870 kDa and 106.600 kDa. It was revealed that they were complexes of TBs and tea polysaccharide conjugates (TPCs). Ultraviolet‐visible (UV‐visible) and infrared (IR) spectra showed the properties of TBs and TPCs. Their zeta potentials ranged from −13.40 mV to −38.80 mV in aqueous solutions at pH 3.0–9.0.

CONCLUSION

This study reveals that TBs do not exist in free state but in combined state in dark tea, which provide the theoretical basis for the industrialization of TBs. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Ultrasound of the Ulnar Nerve: A Pictorial Review
Authors: Becciolini Marco , Pivec Christopher , Raspanti Andrea , Riegler Georg
Published: March 2024

This is the second part of a two‐part article in which we focus on the ultrasound (US) appearance of the pathological ulnar nerve (UN) and its main branches. Findings in a wide range of our pathological cases are presented with high‐resolution US images obtained with the latest‐generation US machines and transducers.
A theoretical investigation to understand the difference in reactivities of secondary and tertiary propargylic alcohols with 1,3,5‐trimethoxybenzene in presence of Brnøsted acid
Authors: Boruah Palash Jyoti , Debnath Moumita , Agarwal Ankita , Kalita Gitumoni , Chatterjee Paresh Nath , Paul Amit Kumar
Published: March 2024

The work presented here establishes the experimental findings of the reaction between secondary/tertiary propargylic alcohol (PA) and 1,3,5‐trimethoxybenzene (TMB) in the presence of acetonitrile solvent (MeCN) based on theoretical calculations. When secondary PA reacts, the reaction goes via SN2 pathway, where the reaction barrier is about 14.32 kcal/mol. On the other hand, tertiary PA reacts with TMB via SN2′ and SN1′ pathway, and the corresponding reaction barriers are 17.59 and 17.86 kcal/mol. Other possible pathways, namely, SN1, SN1′, etc. for secondary PA, and SN2, SN1 pathways for tertiary PA are also investigated and the associated barrier heights are found higher. Rates of those reactions are also calculated considering the rate‐determining steps only. Reaction of secondary PA with TMB is found to be much faster than the reaction of tertiary PA and the results are in accordance with the experimental findings.
Post‐trial responsibilities in pragmatic clinical trials: Fulfilling the promise of research to drive real‐world change
Authors: Morain Stephanie R. , O'Rourke P. Pearl , Ali Joseph , Rahimzadeh Vasiliki , Check Devon K. , Bosworth Hayden B. , Sugarman Jeremy
Published: March 2024

While considerable scholarship has explored responsibilities owed to research participants at the conclusion of explanatory clinical trials, no guidance exists regarding responsibilities owed at the conclusion of a pragmatic clinical trial (PCT). Yet post‐trial responsibilities in PCTs present distinct considerations from those emphasized in existing guidance and prior scholarship. Among these considerations include the responsibilities of the healthcare delivery systems in which PCTs are embedded, and decisions about implementation for interventions that demonstrate meaningful benefit following their integration into usual care settings—or deimplementation for those that fail to do so. In this article, we present an overview of prior scholarship and guidance on post‐trial responsibilities, and then identify challenges for post‐trial responsibilities for PCTs. We argue that, given one of the key rationales for PCTs is that they can facilitate uptake of their results by relevant decision‐makers, there should be a presumptive default that PCT study results be incorporated into future care delivery processes. Fulfilling this responsibility will require prospective planning by researchers, healthcare delivery system leaders, institutional review boards, and sponsors, so as to ensure that the knowledge gained from PCTs does, in fact, influence real‐world practice.
Corrosion behavior and passivation property of CoCrFeNi HEA in a simulated seawater environment containing CO32−/HCO3−
Authors: Xu Kexin , Zhu Min , Yuan Yongfeng , Guo Shaoyi
Published: March 2024

This work systematically studied the corrosion behavior and passivation property of CoCrFeNi high‐entropy alloys (HEAs) in a simulated seawater environment. The results reveal that the addition of CO32−/HCO3− results in the secondary passivation of the HEA in NaCl solution, and secondary passivation film possesses higher dissolution rate in comparison with primary passive film. H+ ions ionized by HCO3− facilitate the charge transfer process, thin the thickness of passive film, and increase the disordered degree of the film. Moreover, the presence of HCO3− promotes the nucleation and growth of metastable pits, and enhances the pitting sensitivity. Furthermore, an increase in CO32− concentration accelerates the dissolution of passive film, weakens the compactness and protective performance of the film, and increases the probability that metastable pitting evolves into stable pitting, as well aggravates the corrosion of the HEA. In addition, the corrosion resistance of the HEA is diminished due to the formation of microgalvanic corrosion cells between matrix and inclusion. The selective dissolution of elements occurred in the HEA.
Deciphering trust mechanisms in blockchain platforms: A multifaceted experimental exploration
Authors: Xu Cheng , Sun Yanqi
Published: March 2024

Blockchain technology, celebrated for its transparency and immutability, has emerged as a transformative force across various industries. However, the nuanced mechanisms by which these attributes cultivate user trust remain enigmatic. This study embarks on an empirical odyssey to elucidate the multifaceted relationship between transparency, immutability, and user trust within blockchain platforms, incorporating a gender perspective to enrich the exploration. Through a pre‐registered experimental procedure involving diverse participants, we manipulate the visibility of transaction history and the immutability of records but also the complexity. Our results unveil that both transparency and immutability significantly amplify user trust, with distinct effects observed based on gender. Additionally, we uncover the underlying mediating variables that affect these relationships, providing a textured understanding of the dynamics at play. The findings extend the theoretical frontier in blockchain‐related trust research and furnish valuable insights for practitioners in the design and regulation of blockchain platforms, thus contributing to a more profound comprehension of this burgeoning technology.
Okur‐Chung neurodevelopmental syndrome: Implications for phenotype and genotype expansion
Authors: Nan Haitian , Chu Min , Zhang Jing , Jiang Deming , Wang Yihao , Wu Liyong
Published: March 2024

Background

Okur‐Chung neurodevelopmental syndrome (OCNDS) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder caused by pathogenic variants in CSNK2A1. It is characterized by intellectual disability, developmental delay, and multisystemic abnormalities.

Methods

We performed the whole‐exome sequencing for a patient in a Chinese family. The co‐segregation study using the Sanger sequencing method was performed among family members. Reverse transcription and quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction were carried out using total RNA from blood samples of the proband and wild‐type control subjects. A review of patients with OCNDS harboring CSNK2A1 pathogenic variants was conducted through a comprehensive search of the PubMed database.

Results

We identified a novel CSNK2A1 frameshift variant p.Tyr323Leufs*16 in a Chinese family. The proband, a 31‐year‐old female, presented with abnormal eating habits, recurrent seizures, language impairment, and intellectual disability. Her mother exhibited postnatal hernias, splenomegaly, and a predisposition to infections, but showed no significant developmental impairments or intellectual disability. Genetic studies revealed the presence of this variant in CSNK2A1 in both the proband and her mother. Transcription analysis revealed this variant may lead to nonsense‐mediated mRNA decay, suggesting haploinsufficiency as a potential disease mechanism. We reviewed 47 previously reported OCNDS cases and discovered that individuals carrying CSNK2A1 null variants may exhibit a diminished frequency of symptoms linked to language deficits, dysmorphic facial features, or intellectual disability, consequently presenting an overall milder phenotype when compared to those with missense variants.

Conclusion

We report a novel frameshift variant, p.Tyr323Leufs*16, in an OCNDS family with a generally mild phenotype. This study may broaden the spectrum of clinical presentations associated with OCNDS and contribute novel insights into the genotype–phenotype correlation of this condition.