bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preparation of Au/MoS2‐CNT@CNF Composite Electrocatalyst for High‐Efficiency Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: He Miao‐miao , Wang Dan , Liu Chang‐hai , Wang Wen‐chang , Shan Xue‐ling , Chen Zhi‐dong
Published: September 2022

By virtue of excellent ion storage and fast ion‐diffusion rates, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has been regarded as a promising electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). however, it is inherently inert to HER, its electrochemical activity is usually improved by enhancing electrical conductivity or increasing exposed active sites. To improve the conductivity and adsorption of MoS2, we prepared the MoS4‐Ppy intermediate by oxidative polymerization. Taking advantage of the adsorption properties of MoS4‐Ppy to combine with Au(III), Au(III) was simultaneously reduced to Au nanoparticles(Au NPs). Combining the Au/MoS4‐Ppy with BC and converting it into a catalyst Au/MoS2‐CNT@CNF by calcination, the catalyst activity was improved by optimizing the concentration of Au(III). Combining MoS2 with Polypyrrole (Ppy) and Bacterial cellulose (BC) not only improves the conductivity of MoS2, but also increases the exposed active sites. Notably, the obtained 50 ppm Au/MoS2‐CNT@CNFs exhibited good HER catalytic performance in an acidic electrolyte (0.5 M H2SO4) with a low overpotential of only 108 mV at a current density of 10 mA ⋅ cm−2, a low Tafel slope of 52.1 mV ⋅ dec−1, and along with outstanding stability. The improvement of electrocatalytic activity is mainly attributed to the larger electrochemical specific surface area of the composites after adsorption of Au(III) and loaded BC. The low load Au NPs can provide dense active sites. Moreover, and synergistic effect among Au NPs, MoS2, and Ppy can greatly enhance the charge transfer efficiency and lead to excellent electron transfer ability, thus significantly improving the HER performance.
An efficient and secure data sharing scheme for cloud data using hash based quadraplet wavelet permuted cryptography approach
Authors: Lakshmanan Selvam , Manimozhi Braveen , Ramachandran Venkatesan
Published: September 2022

Ensuring the reliable and secure data transmission in cloud systems is very essential and demanding task in the recent decades. For that purpose, various security frameworks have been deployed in the existing works, which are mainly focusing the improving the privacy and confidentiality of cloud data against the unauthenticated users. Yet, it facing the major problems of inefficient accessing, increased time consumption, computational complexity, storage complexity, and memory utilization rate. Hence, this research work intends to develop an advanced and efficient cryptography model, named as, hash based quadraplet wavelet permuted cryptography (HQWPC) for the secured cloud data storage and retrieval operations. Here, the bilinear mapping and group hash function generation processes are performed to generate the keys used for cryptographic operations. Also, the zig‐zag scanning, wavelet coefficients extraction, and permutation processes are accomplished for data encryption. Consequently, the inverse of these operations is performed while decrypting the data. In addition to that, an integrated signature control policy authentication mechanism is employed for validating the authenticity of the cloud data users. This kind of signature verification process could efficiently increase the security level of cloud data. For validating the performance of the proposed security framework, various evaluation metrics have been utilized during analysis. Then, the obtained results are compared with the recent state‐of‐the‐art models for proving the efficiency of the proposed technique over the other techniques.
Changes in Sertraline Plasma Concentrations Across Pregnancy and Postpartum
Authors: Stika Catherine S. , Wisner Katherine L. , George Alfred L. , Avram Michael J. , Zumpf Katelyn , Rasmussen‐Torvik Laura J. , Mesches Gabrielle A. , Caritis Steve N. , Venkataramanan Raman , Costantine Maged M. , West Holly A. , Clark Shannon , Ciolino Jody D.
Published: September 2022

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common disorder in pregnancy. Although sertraline is the most frequently prescribed antidepressant for pregnant people in the United States, limited information about its pharmacokinetics in pregnancy is available. Our objectives were to characterize plasma sertraline concentration to dose (C/D) ratios across pregnancy and postpartum and investigate the effect of pharmacogenetic variability on sertraline elimination. We performed a prospective observational cohort study in people with a singleton pregnancy ≤ 18 weeks gestation and a lifetime diagnosis of MDD at the 3 Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)‐funded Obstetrical‐Fetal Pharmacology Research Center sites. Subjects (N = 47) were receiving maintenance sertraline therapy and chose to continue it during pregnancy. Blood samples were obtained 24‐hours postdose every 4 weeks across pregnancy and twice postpartum for measurement of plasma concentrations of sertraline and desmethylsertraline. Overall mean sertraline C/D ratios were decreased at study onset and remained consistently low until after delivery. During the last 4 weeks of pregnancy the mean sertraline C/D ratio (95% confidence interval (CI)), 0.25 (95% CI, 0.19, 0.3) ng/mL/dose (mg/day), was smaller than the mean ratio at ≥ 8 weeks after delivery, 0.32 (95% CI, 0.27, 0.37) ng/mL/dose (mg/day), a 22% difference. Mean sertraline/desmethylsertraline ratios were highest after birth, which confirmed increased sertraline elimination during pregnancy. Sertraline C/D ratios in participants with functional CYP2C19 activity did not change significantly during pregnancy, whereas ratios in participants with poor or intermediate CYP2C19 activity decreased by 51%. Exploratory pharmacogenomic analysis indicated that pregnant people with poor or intermediate CYP2C19 activity are at risk for subtherapeutic sertraline concentrations during pregnancy.
Dot‐Blotting: A Quick Method for Expression Analysis of Recombinant Proteins
Authors: Mishra Vibhor
Published: September 2022

Expressing recombinant proteins in heterologous host cells is a prerequisite for purification and other downstream processes. Cell cultures require a protein expression test to optimize incubation time, temperature, and additives (like chemical inducers) to identify the best growth conditions with maximum recombinant protein yield. However, running SDS‐PAGE followed by western blotting is cumbersome and results are not quick. Here, I describe a simple protocol to quickly check the presence of recombinant protein in cell cultures using a dot‐blot experiment. The cells can be rapidly lysed and directly spotted on the nitrocellulose membrane. Then, the membrane is incubated with a horseradish peroxidase (HRP) conjugated antibody raised against the affinity tag present on the recombinant protein to confirm the protein expression by chemiluminescence. It takes less than an hour to get results. This method rapidly investigates recombinant protein expression in different cell lines and tests other variables. © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Basic Protocol 1: Protein expression analysis for eukaryotic systems

Basic Protocol 2: Protein expression analysis for bacterial systems
Executives' overseas background and corporate green innovation
Authors: Chen Wen , Zhu Yufeng , Wang Chenyu
Published: September 2022

This study examines the impact of executives' overseas background on corporate green innovation and the possible adverse selection problem in attracting overseas‐returned executives to high‐polluted cities. Based on the data from Chinese listed companies between 2002 and 2018, we empirically find that executives' overseas background has a significantly positive impact on corporate green innovation. In addition, it is found that air pollution results in the loss of overseas‐returned executives, while the effect of executives' overseas background in stimulating corporate green innovation is more prominent in high‐polluted cities, indicating that high‐polluted cities should make more efforts to attract returnees. Therefore, we further explore the policy influence of executives' excess compensation and find that excess compensation in high‐polluted cities weakens the positive impact of executives' overseas background, although it increases the effectiveness of importing overseas‐returned executives, which means that the adverse selection caused by excess compensation in high‐polluted cities is non‐negligible.
Sodium Dual‐Ion Batteries with Concentrated Electrolytes
Authors: Guo Zhenyu , Cheng Gang , Xu Zhen , Xie Fei , Hu Yong‐Sheng , Mattevi Cecilia , Titirici Maria‐Magdalena , Crespo Ribadeneyra Maria
Published: September 2022

Na‐based dual‐ion batteries (DIBs) are a class of post‐lithium technology with advantages including extremely fast charging, cost‐effectiveness, and high natural abundance of raw materials. Operating up to high voltages (≈5.0 V), the decomposition of classic carbonate‐based electrolyte formulations and the subsequent fade of capacity continues to be a major drawback in the development of these systems. Here, the performance of a Na‐DIB was investigated in different commonly employed electrolyte system, and a highly concentrated (3 m NaPF6) and fluorine‐rich carbonate‐based formulation was optimized to achieve a good performance when compared with literature (based on energy and power density, calculated at coin cell and only using the active mass of active materials).
Partner with Admissions to address student concerns
Authors: Hamblet Elizabeth C.
Published: September 2022

Over the past year, I've revised my book for parents, high school educators, and other related professionals on how to prepare students with disabilities for successful college transition (Seven Steps to College Success: A Pathway for Students with Disabilities, 3rd Edition will be released in February of 2023). Throughout that process, and in two years running an online community for parents focused on transition issues, as well as more than a decade of making presentations around the country, I've seen how much families don't know, misunderstand, or have been misinformed about the postsecondary environment. In my next three columns, I'll discuss what I've learned and suggest ways for you to provide information so that everyone has a better experience with the transition process.
Retaliation
Authors: Lyerly Eric
Published: September 2022

An overview of the key topics faced by disability services providers with citations to noteworthy cases, statutes, regulations, and additional sources.
Assessing limits of detection in qualitative methods: A simple implementation of logistic regression in a web‐based R Shiny application environment and its potential in toxicology and doping control
Authors: Garrido Bruno Carius , de Albuquerque Cavalcanti Gustavo , Vinícius da Silva Gomes Marcio , Scofano Barrabin Juliana , Padilha Monica Costa , Gualberto Pereira Henrique Marcelo
Published: September 2022

The estimation of limits of detection (LOD) for solely qualitative methods in analytical chemistry may prove challenging because all the approaches with which chemists are familiar require some type of numeric data input. The best model to describe the binary response in these methods (detected/not detected) is a logistic model; however, these models are not easily handled by most of the laboratories and generally demand expensive statistical software packages. In this work, the advantages of applying this approach are discussed and its implementation using commercial spreadsheet software is demonstrated. A free online application based on the R environment using shinyapps was developed and its application was validated and discussed with a dataset of 57 different target compounds analyzed in urine according to the requirements of the World Anti‐Doping Agency (WADA). This tool allows free, extremely quick, and easy determinations of LOD in qualitative analyses as well as the determination of the probabilities of detection in any given concentration.
Divergence in digestive and metabolic strategies matches habitat differentiation in juvenile salmonids
Authors: Monnet Gauthier , Rosenfeld Jordan S. , Richards Jeffrey G.
Published: September 2022

Divergent energy acquisition and processing strategies associated with using different microhabitats may allow phenotypes to specialize and coexist at small spatial scales. To understand how ecological specialization affects differentiation in energy acquisition and processing strategies, we examined relationships among digestive physiology, growth, and energetics by performing captive experiments on juveniles of wild coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and steelhead trout (O. mykiss) that exploit adjacent habitats along natural low‐to‐high energy flux gradients (i.e., pools versus riffles) in coastal streams. We predicted that: (i) the specialization of steelhead trout to high‐velocity, high‐energy habitats would result in elevated food intake and growth at the cost of lower growth efficiency relative to coho salmon; (ii) the two species would differentiate along a rate‐maximizing (steelhead trout) versus efficiency‐maximizing (coho salmon) axis of digestive strategies matching their ecological lifestyle; and (iii) the higher postprandial metabolic demand (i.e., specific dynamic action, SDA) associated with elevated food intake would occupy a greater fraction of the steelhead trout aerobic budget. Relative to coho salmon, steelhead trout presented a pattern of faster growth and higher food intake but lower growth efficiency, supporting the existence of a major growth versus growth efficiency trade‐off between species. After accounting for differences in ration size between species, steelhead trout also presented higher SDA than coho salmon, but similar intestinal transit time and lower assimilation efficiency. Both species presented similar aerobic budgets since the elevated SDA of steelhead trout was largely compensated by their higher aerobic scope relative to coho salmon. Our results illustrate the key contribution of digestive physiology to the adaptive differentiation of juvenile growth, energetics, and overall performance of taxa with divergent habitat specializations along a natural productivity gradient.
Maternal testosterone affects offspring telomerase activity in a long‐lived seabird
Authors: Noguera Jose C. , Velando Alberto
Published: September 2022

Androgens are a group of steroid hormones that have long been proposed as a mechanism underpinning intergenerational plasticity. In birds, maternally allocated egg testosterone, one of the main androgens in vertebrates, affects a wide variety of offspring phenotypic traits but the mechanisms underlying this form of intergenerational plasticity are not yet well understood. Recent in vitro and animal model studies have shown that telomerase expression and activity are important targets of androgen signaling. The telomerase enzyme is known for its repair function on telomeres, the DNA–protein complexes at the ends of chromosomes that are involved in genomic integrity and cell aging. However, the role of maternal testosterone in influencing offspring telomerase levels in natural populations and its consequences on telomere length and potentially on offspring development is still unknown. Here, by experimentally modifying the level of egg testosterone in a natural population of yellow‐legged gull (Larus michahellis), we show that chicks hatched from testosterone‐treated eggs had higher average levels of telomerase and faster growth than controls during the first week of life. While testosterone‐treated chicks also tended to have longer telomeres than controls at hatching this difference disappeared by day 6 of age. Overall, our results suggest that maternal testosterone may have a potential adaptive value by promoting offspring growth and presumably telomerase levels, as this enzyme plays other important physiological functions (e.g., stress resistance, cell signaling, or tissue genesis) besides telomere lengthening. Nonetheless, our knowledge of the potential adaptive function of telomerase in natural populations is scarce and so the potential pathways linking maternal hormones, offspring telomerase, and fitness should be further investigated.
Predicting range shifts of the giant pandas under future climate and land use scenarios
Authors: Liu Zhenjun , Zhao Xuzhe , Wei Wei , Hong Mingsheng , Zhou Hong , Tang Junfeng , Zhang Zejun
Published: September 2022

Understanding and predicting how species will respond to global environmental change (i.e., climate and land use change) is essential to efficiently inform conservation and management strategies for authorities and managers. Here, we assessed the combined effect of future climate and land use change on the potential range shifts of the giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in Sichuan Province, China. We used species distribution models (SDMs) to forecast range shifts of the giant pandas by the 2050s and 2070s under four combined climate and land use change scenarios. We also compared the differences in distributional changes of giant pandas among the five mountains in the study area. Our SDMs exhibited good model performance and were not overfitted, with a mean Boyce index of 0.960 0.015 and a mean omission rate of 0.002 0.003, and suggested that precipitation seasonality, annual mean temperature, the proportion of forest cover, and total annual precipitation are the most important factors in shaping the current distribution pattern of the giant pandas. Our projections of future species distribution also suggested a range expansion under an optimistic greenhouse gas emission, while suggesting a range contraction under a pessimistic greenhouse gas emission. Moreover, we found that there is considerable variation in the projected range change patterns among the five mountains in the study area. Especially, the suitable habitat of the giant panda is predicted to increase under all scenarios in the Minshan mountains, while is predicted to decrease under all scenarios in Daxiangling and Liangshan mountains, indicating the vulnerability of the giant pandas at low latitudes. Our findings highlight the importance of an integrated approach that combines climate and land use change to predict the future species distribution and the need for a spatial explicit consideration of the projected range change patterns of target species for guiding conservation and management strategies.
How to promote multifunctionality of vegetated strips in arable farming: A qualitative approach for Germany
Authors: Schütz Lukas , Wenzel Bettina , Rottstock Tanja , Dachbrodt‐Saaydeh Silke , Golla Burkhard , Kehlenbeck Hella
Published: September 2022

Vegetated strips are in the focus of many stakeholders of agroecosystems and are part of several agri‐environmental schemes in Germany. Stakeholders have different expectations and demands on the functionality and services of vegetated strips. In our review, we focused on biodiversity and the ecosystem services pollination, conservation biocontrol, landscape aesthetics, buffer function, and biomass production and their associated functions. We assessed factors that are crucial to support service provision and reviewed trade‐offs between the ecosystem (dis)services. We identified five characteristics that are important for the provision of the assessed ecosystem services: age of vegetated strips, flower cover, size or width of the strip, management, and type of adjacent habitat. We conclude that adjusting the target of subsidies with respect to the analyzed factors for biodiversity can help to promote the multifunctionality of vegetated strips in arable farming.
Elevated plasma WIF‐1 levels are associated with worse prognosis in heart failure with pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Kania Kriss , Ahmed Abdulla , Ahmed Salaheldin , Rådegran Göran
Published: September 2022

Aims

Heart failure (HF) is a progressive condition that is becoming more prevalent in the ageing population. Pulmonary hypertension is a common complicating factor in HF and negatively impacts survival. Plasma biomarkers are a potential method for determining the prognosis of patients with left heart failure with pulmonary hypertension (LHF‐PH). We aimed to analyse the prognostic capability of 33 proteins related to, among other pathways, inflammation, coagulation, and Wnt signalling in LHF‐PH.

Methods

Plasma levels of 33 proteins were analysed using proximity extension assay from the plasma of 20 controls and 67 LHF‐PH patients, whereof 19 underwent heart transplantation (HT). Haemodynamics in the patients were assessed using right heart catheterization.

Results

Eleven proteins had elevated plasma levels in LHF‐PH compared with controls (P < 0.01), which decreased towards the controls' levels after HT (P < 0.01). Survival analysis of these proteins showed that elevated plasma levels of growth hormone, programmed cell death 1 ligand 2, tissue factor pathway inhibitor 2, and Wnt inhibitory factor 1 (WIF‐1) were associated with worse transplantation‐free survival in LHF‐PH (P < 0.05). When adjusted for age, sex and N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) levels using multivariable cox regressions, only WIF‐1 remained prognostic [hazard ratio (95% confidence interval)] [1.013 (1.001–1.024)]. WIF‐1 levels in LHF‐PH patients also correlated with the mean right atrial pressure (rs = 0.42; P < 0.01), stroke volume index (rs = 0.41; P < 0.01), cardiac index (rs = −0.42; P < 0.01), left ventricular stroke work index (rs = −0.41; P < 0.01), and NT‐proBNP (rs = 0.63; P < 0.01).

Conclusions

The present study demonstrated that LHF‐PH patients have higher plasma WIF‐1 levels than healthy controls, suggesting that plasma WIF‐1 may be a potential future prognostic biomarker in LHF‐PH. Its prognostic capability could be further refined by including it in a multi‐marker panel. Further studies are needed to establish the potential role of WIF‐1 in LHF‐PH pathophysiology in larger cohorts to determine its clinical applicability.
Ligand‐Free Pd‐Catalyzed Reductive Mizoroki‐Heck Reaction Strategy for the One‐Pot Synthesis of Functionalized Oxygen Heterocycles in Deep Eutectic Solvents
Authors: Dilauro Giuseppe , Cicco Luciana , Vitale Paola , Perna Filippo Maria , Capriati Vito
Published: September 2022

A Deep Eutectic Solvent, choline chloride/glycerol (1 : 2 mol mol−1), proved to be an effective and sustainable reaction medium to promote telescoped, one‐pot Mizoroki‐Heck cross‐coupling/reduction processes between 2,3‐dihydrofuran or 3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐pyran and several (hetero)aryl halides to easily access valuable 2‐(hetero)aryl tetrahydrofuran (THF) or tetrahydropyran derivatives in up to 95 % yield. Notably, the whole transformation takes place under aerobic conditions, in the absence of additional ligands, and with a good substrate scope. The practicability of the method is also exemplified by the sustainable synthesis of two key THF derivatives, which are side chains of pharmacologically relevant inhibitors of Kv1.2 channel.
Aluminium‐Catalyzed Selective Reduction of Heteroallenes Through Hydroboration: Amide/Thioamide/Selenoamide Bond Construction and C=X (X=O, S, Se) Bond Activation**
Authors: Sarkar Nabin , Sahoo Rajata Kumar , Nembenna Sharanappa
Published: September 2022

An unprecedented conjugated bis‐guanidinate (CBG) stabilized aluminium dihydride, [LAlH2; (L={(ArNH)(ArN)−C=N−C=(NAr)(NHAr)}; Ar=2,6‐Et2‐C6H3)] (I) catalyzed chemoselective hydroboration of heteroallenes such as carbodiimide (CDI)s, isocyanates, isothiocyanates, and isoselenocyanates is reported. A wide range of heteroallenes, including electron‐donating and withdrawing groups, experience hydroboration to obtain selectively N‐boryl amide, N‐borylaminal, and N‐boryl methyl amine products. More importantly, a single sustainable molecular aluminium‐based catalyst effectively catalyzes CDIs, isocyanates, isothiocyanates, and isoselenocyanates into formamidines, formamides, thioformamides, and selenoformamides, respectively. Further, heteroallene substrates undergo hydrodeoxygenation (HDO), hydrodesulfurization (HDS), and hydrodeselenization (HDSe) reactions leading to N‐boryl methyl amines. In addition, a series of control and kinetic experiments indicate that the aluminium hydride species are essential for all partial and complete reduction steps and breaking the C=X (X=O, S, and Se) bonds in heteroallenes.
Evaluating the challenges to Life Cycle Assessment using Best‐Worst Method and Decision‐Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory
Authors: Karuppiah Koppiahraj , Sankaranarayanan Bathrinath , Ali Syed Mithun
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Over the past few decades, the industrial sectors have been widely criticized for their adverse environmental impacts and uncontrolled resources consumption. Further, stringent environmental norms and growing environmental awareness has pushed industrial sectors to adopt sustainable industrial practice. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), an industrial performance assessment tool, has several limitations and hence, it is difficult to measure the performance of industrial sectors in terms of sustainability. The present study aims to identify and evaluate the challenges to LCA.

Methods

Combining literature review and industrial interactions has identified 20 challenges to LCA under five‐category comparability, data, resource requirements, organizational structure, and uncertainty communication. An integrated Multi‐Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) technique comprising of Best‐Worst Method (BWM) and Decision‐Making Trial and Evaluation of Laboratory (DEMATEL) is used to evaluate the challenges to LCA. BWM is used to prioritize the challenges to LCA, and DEMATEL is used to reveal interrelationships among the challenges.

Results

Outcomes of BWM indicates problems with the quality of data, lack of inventory data, difficulty in comparison, absence of dedicated LCA method, and scale‐up issues as the top five critical challenges to LCA adoption. According to DEMATEL result, seven challenges come under cause category and the remaining 13 challenges come under effect category.

Conclusions

Challenges to LCA have been evaluated using an integrated approach comprising of BWM‐DEMATEL. Outcome of the integrated approach helps in prioritizing the challenges and also in exposing the interrelationships among the challenges. The study's outcome would assist industrial management and practitioners in identifying the critical challenges to LCA. In addition, the findings may help the research community in developing a robust and reliable LCA tools.
Punica granatum peel supplementation attenuates cognitive deficits and brain injury in rat by targeting the Nrf2‐HO‐1 pathway
Authors: Akbarian Mahsan , Hosseini Mahmoud , Mirzavi Farshad , Amirahmadi Sabiheh , Arab Fahimeh Lavi , Rajabian Arezoo
Published: September 2022

The critical role of nutrition to prevent neurodegenerative disorders is well documented. Punica granatum fruit is identified as a highly nutritional food for alleviating various ailments. The ameliorating properties of P. granatum peel on memory dysfunction and the possible roles of oxidative stress, acetylcholinesterase (AchE), and nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2)‐heme oxygenase (HO)‐1 pathway in the scopolamine‐treated rats were assessed. The hydroethanolic extract was standardized using high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The animal groups were as follows: Control, scopolamine (2 mg/kg), and treatment groups (the extract at doses of 200–800 mg/kg). The behavioral performance was evaluated using the Morris water maze (MWM) and passive avoidance equipment. Various biochemical parameters were then measured. Rats received the extract properly found on the platform location, indicated by a shorter traveling time and distance during 5 days of learning MWM. Moreover, the extract increased the delay and light time, while decreasing dark time and the frequency of entries to the dark in the passive avoidance test. The extract also exerted a significant increase in superoxide dismutase activity and thiol content, while decreasing AchE activity and lipid peroxidation in the brain of scopolamine‐injured rats. Our results demonstrated the neuroprotective effects of P. granatum peel in minimizing scopolamine injury possibly through targeting the Nrf2‐HO‐1 pathway.
Industry variance risk premium, cross‐industry correlation, and expected returns
Authors: Zhu Yabei , Luo Xingguo , Xu Qi
Published: September 2022

We investigate the variance risk premium (VRP) and implied correlation (IC) at the industry level. Using the index and sector exchange‐traded fund options, we construct‐sector VRPs and cross‐sector IC measures. Sector VRPs predict sector returns, and adding the average sector VRP with IC improves predictability. Combining the average sector VRP and IC outperforms the market VRP in predicting market returns both in‐sample and out‐of‐sample and generates sizeable economic values. We document a strong spillover effect from sector VRPs to the market VRP. The average sector VRP and cross‐sector IC contain information beyond the market VRP and cross‐stock IC.
Brain age vector: A measure of brain aging with enhanced neurodegenerative disorder specificity
Authors: Ran Chen , Yang Yanwu , Ye Chenfei , Lv Haiyan , Ma Ting
Published: September 2022

Neuroimaging‐driven brain age estimation has become popular in measuring brain aging and identifying neurodegenerations. However, the single estimated brain age (gap) compromises regional variations of brain aging, losing spatial specificity across diseases which is valuable for early screening. In this study, we combined brain age modeling with Shapley Additive Explanations to measure brain aging as a feature contribution vector underlying spatial pathological aging mechanism. Specifically, we regressed age with volumetric brain features using machine learning to construct the brain age model, and model‐agnostic Shapley values were calculated to attribute regional brain aging for each subject's age estimation, forming the brain age vector. Spatial specificity of the brain age vector was evaluated among groups of normal aging, prodromal Parkinson disease (PD), stable mild cognitive impairment (sMCI), and progressive mild cognitive impairment (pMCI). Machine learning methods were adopted to examine the discriminability of the brain age vector in early disease screening, compared with the other two brain aging metrics (single brain age gap, regional brain age gaps) and brain volumes. Results showed that the proposed brain age vector accurately reflected disorder‐specific abnormal aging patterns related to the medial temporal and the striatum for prodromal AD (sMCI vs. pMCI) and PD (healthy controls [HC] vs. prodromal PD), respectively, and demonstrated outstanding performance in early disease screening, with area under the curves of 83.39% and 72.28% in detecting pMCI and prodromal PD, respectively. In conclusion, the proposed brain age vector effectively improves spatial specificity of brain aging measurement and enables individual screening of neurodegenerative diseases.
A scoping review of statistical methods for trial‐based economic evaluations: The current state of play
Authors: El Alili Mohamed , van Dongen Johanna M. , Esser Jonas L. , Heymans Martijn W. , van Tulder Maurits W. , Bosmans Judith E.
Published: September 2022

The statistical quality of trial‐based economic evaluations is often suboptimal, while a comprehensive overview of available statistical methods is lacking. Therefore, this review summarized and critically appraised available statistical methods for trial‐based economic evaluations. A literature search was performed to identify studies on statistical methods for dealing with baseline imbalances, skewed costs and/or effects, correlated costs and effects, clustered data, longitudinal data, missing data and censoring in trial‐based economic evaluations. Data was extracted on the statistical methods described, their advantages, disadvantages, relative performance and recommendations of the study. Sixty‐eight studies were included. Of them, 27 (40%) assessed methods for baseline imbalances, 39 (57%) assessed methods for skewed costs and/or effects, 27 (40%) assessed methods for correlated costs and effects, 18 (26%) assessed methods for clustered data, 7 (10%) assessed methods for longitudinal data, 26 (38%) assessed methods for missing data and 10 (15%) assessed methods for censoring. All identified methods were narratively described. This review provides a comprehensive overview of available statistical methods for dealing with the most common statistical complexities in trial‐based economic evaluations. Herewith, it can provide valuable input for researchers when deciding which statistical methods to use in a trial‐based economic evaluation.
Efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplant in irritable bowel syndrome: An update based on meta‐analysis of randomized control trials
Authors: Abdelghafar Yomna Ali , AbdelQadir Yossef Hassan , Motawea Karam R. , Nasr Sara Amr , Omran Hoda Aly Mohamed , Belal Mohamed Mohamed , Elhashash Mohamed Mahdy , AbdelAzim Ahmed Alaa , Shah Jaffer
Published: September 2022

Background and Aims

Fecal microbiota transfer (FMT) is a potential treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Several randomized trials have tested FMT effects using different routes of administration, doses, and sample sizes. We aim to assess the overall efficacy of FMT for IBS patients and the safety of the intervention.

Methods

We systematically searched four databases for randomized control trials that studied the efficacy and safety of FMT in IBS patients.

Results

We included 8 randomized trials (472 patients) that compared FMT with placebo in IBS patients. Pooled results showed no statistically significant difference between FMT and control groups in the overall change in IBS symptom severity (IBS‐SSS) at 1 month (p = 0.94), 3/4 months (p = 0.82), and at the end of trials (p = 0.67). No significant difference in the total number of respondents between the FMT and control groups (risk ratios = 1.84, [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.82–2.65], p = 0.19). Although the oral route of administration showed a significant difference in the number of respondents (p = 0.004), there was no statistically significant difference in the IBS‐SSS when subgrouping the oral route of administration (mean difference = 47.57, [95% CI = −8.74–103.87], p = 0.10).

Conclusion

FMT is not an effective treatment to relieve all the symptoms of IBS. Even in the groups that showed relatively significant improvement after FMT, the effect was proven to wear off over time and the re‐administration carries a low success rate. Future research should consider different bacterial‐based interventions such as probiotics or specific antibiotics.
Ultra‐processed food consumption and the risk of pancreatic cancer in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial
Authors: Zhong Guo‐Chao , Zhu Qian , Cai Dong , Hu Jie‐Jun , Dai Xin , Gong Jian‐Ping , Sun Wei‐Ping
Published: September 2022

Whether ultra‐processed food consumption is associated with the risk of pancreatic cancer has not been determined. We performed a prospective study to fill this gap. A population‐based cohort of 98 265 American adults was identified from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. Ultra‐processed foods were defined by the NOVA classification. Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for pancreatic cancer incidence. Subgroup analysis was performed to identify the potential effect modifiers. During a mean follow‐up of 8.86 years, 387 pancreatic cancer cases occurred. High consumption of ultra‐processed foods was found to be associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer (fully adjusted HRquartile 4 vs 1:1.49; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07‐2.07; Ptrend = .021) in a linear dose‐response manner (Pnonlinearity = .075). Subgroup analysis further found that the positive association of ultra‐processed food consumption with the risk of pancreatic cancer was more pronounced in subjects aged <65 years (HRquartile 4 vs 1:2.17; 95% CI: 1.14‐4.15) than in those aged ≥65 years (HRquartile 4 vs 1:1.32; 95% CI: 0.88‐1.94), though the interaction test failed to achieve the statistical significance (Pinteraction = .061). These findings suggest that reducing ultra‐processed food consumption may be beneficial in decreasing pancreatic cancer incidence.
Identifying risk factors for placental abruption in subsequent pregnancy without a history of placental abruption
Authors: Goldbart Adi , Pariente Gali , Sheiner Eyal , Wainstock Tamar
Published: September 2022

Objective

To identify first pregnancy risk factors for placental abruption in subsequent pregnancy.

Methods

In a population‐based nested case–control study, cases were defined as women with placental abruption in their second pregnancy, and controls as women without abruption. A total of 43 328 women were included in the study, 0.4% (n = 186) of second pregnancies had placental abruption. Multivariable logistic models were used to study the association between first pregnancy complications and placental abruption in subsequent pregnancy.

Results

Having either small for gestational age, preterm delivery, pre‐eclampsia or cesarean delivery during first pregnancy were independently associated with increased risk for placental abruption, and the risk was higher with any additional complication (age adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.00, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.46–2.74; aOR 3.61, 95% CI 2.23–5.86; and aOR 3.86, 95% CI 1.56–9.56, for one, two, and three or more complications, respectively).

Conclusion

First pregnancy may serve as a window of opportunity to identify women at risk for future placental abruption.
School‐based interventions to improve emotional regulation skills in adolescent students: A systematic review
Authors: Pedrini Laura , Meloni Serena , Lanfredi Mariangela , Rossi Roberta
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Emotional regulation (ER) is a core variable involved in the onset and maintenance of mental health disorders; therefore, interventions targeting ER in adolescence represent a promising preventive action. The current systematic review provides a synthesis of the evidence on school‐based interventions on ER in adolescent students.

Methods

Six electronic databases (Medline, Psychology Database, Embase, Scopus, Psychinfo, and Web of Science) were searched. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed by the Methodological Index for Nonrandomized Studies.

Results

A total of 36 studies were identified. The interventions were based on different theoretic frameworks and focused on different components of ER. There were universal interventions that addressed the entire class, as well as interventions for a selected population of at‐risk students. Only one‐third of the studies were based on manualized programs. Small to moderate effect sizes were found for mental health and ER skills. Only a few studies assessed risky behaviors, and these studies showed a reduction with moderate to large effect size. Studies conducted on high‐risk populations showed medium‐high effect sizes on ER skills. In contrast, studies conducted on unselected samples of students showed greater variability in the outcome estimates. Acceptability analysis and attendance rates suggested that the interventions were well received by students. The lack of follow‐up assessments and the absence of sample‐size calculation were the most frequent methodological weaknesses.

Conclusions

The content of the present review could be useful for professionals involved in the planning of school psychological services. Overall, the findings of the current review support the applicability and beneficial effect of school‐based intervention for adolescents. Moreover, the results clearly point out the utility of a multitiered model to structure coordinated and integrated preventive interventions and to optimize resources.
Long-Term Selenium-Yeast Supplementation Does Not Affect Bone Turnover Markers: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial
Authors: Perri Giorgia , Hill Tom R , Mathers John C , Walsh Jennifer S , Gossiel Fatma , Winther Kristian , Frölich Jacob , Folkestad Lars , Cold Søren , Eastell Richard
Published: September 2022

Higher selenium status has been associated with lower bone turnover markers (BTM) in epidemiological studies. However, the long-term impact of selenium supplementation on BTMs has not been studied. We investigated the effects of selenium supplementation on BTMs including osteocalcin (OC), procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide (PINP), collagen type I cross-linked C-telopeptide (CTX), and bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) in the short (6 months) and long term (5 years). A total of 481 Danish men and women (60–74 years) were randomized to receive placebo-yeast versus 100, 200, or 300 μg selenium as selenium-enriched yeast daily for 5 years. Plasma selenium concentration was measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and BTMs were measured in nonfasted samples at baseline, 6 months, and 5 years. Data were analyzed by ANCOVA to investigate the shape of the dose-response relationships. Covariates included age, body mass index, baseline selenium status, baseline BTM, smoking, alcohol, supplement use, and medication. Plasma selenium concentration (mean 86.5 μg/d at baseline) increased significantly with increasing selenium supplementation to 152.6, 209.1, and 253.7 μg/L after 6 months and remained elevated at 5 years (158.4, 222.4, and 275.9 μg/L for 100, 200, and 300 μg supplemental selenium/d, respectively (p < 0.001)). There was no change in plasma selenium concentration in the placebo-treated group. There was no significant effect of selenium supplementation on OC (6 months p = 0.37; 5 years p = 0.63), PINP (6 months p = 0.37; 5 years p = 0.79), CTX (6 months p = 0.91; 5 years p = 0.58) or BALP (6 months p = 0.17; 5 years p = 0.53). The relatively replete baseline selenium status in the study participants may explain this lack of effect. Testing in more deficient populations may provide further insights into the impact of selenium supplementation on bone health. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Plasma microRNA expression and immunoregulatory cytokines in an Indian population occupationally exposed to cadmium
Authors: Mitra Prasenjit , Goyal Taru , Sharma Praveen , Sai Kiran Gangam , Rana Shweta , Sharma Shailja
Published: September 2022

Following its accumulation in the body, cadmium (Cd) exposure is associated with devastating effects on multiple organ system of the human body. The immune system is one of the sensitive targets for Cd‐induced toxicity. Recently, studies have demonstrated a significant role of Cd in inducing epigenetic alterations. With this background, the present study was planned to study the changes in candidate microRNA (miRNA) expression associated with immune regulation in occupationally Cd‐exposed workers. One hundred individuals involved in welding and metal handicraft manufacturing, while 80 apparently healthy subjects without any prior history of occupational exposure were recruited for the study. Blood Cd level was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Serum cytokine levels were measured using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and serum miRNA expression of candidate miRNAs (miR‐146a, miR‐210, and miR‐222) were determined by real‐time polymerase chain reaction. The median Cd level (2.40 μg/L) in the occupationally exposed workers was significantly higher than the nonexposed subjects (0.90 μg/L). Among the cytokines, interleukin‐4 (IL‐4), and tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) were significantly higher while IL‐2 and IL‐10 were significantly lower in the exposed. The expression level of miR‐146a and miR‐222 were significantly different between the groups with the former showing downregulation and later showing upregulation. Correlation analysis revealed a positive and negative association of miR‐222 and miR‐146a with blood cadmium level, IL‐17 as well as TNF‐α, respectively. Furthermore, the in‐silico analysis revealed a significant role of the studied miRNAs in various cellular and genetic pathways. The findings of the present study demonstrate significant involvement of Cd‐induced alteration in miRNAs in varied immune regulatory changes in exposed individuals.
Associations between HIV stigma, gender, and depression among people living with HIV in Hyderabad, India
Authors: Azhar Sameena , Jokhakar Vaidehi , Vaudrey Jason , Gandham Sabitha , Oruganti Ganesh , Yeldandi Vijay
Published: September 2022

The goal of this study was to explore the association between HIV stigma and depression and whether gender moderated this relationship. The theoretical framework for the study combined an adapted version of Goffman's conceptualization of stigma with gender role theory. We surveyed 150 individuals living with HIV in Hyderabad, India (51 cisgender women, 49 cisgender men, and 50 third gender people) on their experiences with HIV stigma. While third gender people had statistically higher scores for HIV stigma over their cisgender counterparts, the association between each of three different forms of stigma (internalized stigma, perceived stigma, and experienced stigma) on depression was negatively moderated by third gender status. This demonstrates that third gender research participants who experienced certain forms of HIV stigma were less likely to be depressed than cisgender participants. These findings indicate resilience amongst third gender people living with HIV and can be used to better tailor social policies and gender‐affirming HIV care programs in south India.
Psychological empowerment and future orientation among adolescents in a youth participatory action research program
Authors: Szoko Nicholas , Dwarakanath Namita , Miller Elizabeth , Chugani Carla D. , Culyba Alison J.
Published: September 2022

Youth participatory action research (YPAR) empowers youth to address challenges in their environment. Empowerment is associated with prosocial behaviors; however, understanding of how empowerment may serve as a protective factor and promote emotional health remains limited. We sought to characterize protective factors (future orientation and resilience) and emotional health (difficulties regulating emotion and psychological distress) among youth engaged in YPAR and examine associations with psychological empowerment. We administered cross‐sectional surveys to 63 youth in YPAR programming. Multivariable linear regression examined relationships between psychological empowerment, protective factors, and emotional health. Participants had high future orientation and resilience with high psychological distress. Empowerment was significantly associated with higher future orientation. There was no significant relationship between empowerment and measures of emotional health. We demonstrate the importance of evaluating protective factors and emotional health constructs in empowerment frameworks, calling for strategies that incorporate such protective factors and more directly address emotional health.