bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Youth and Immigrant Rights
Authors: Mora Maria De Jesus
Published: September 2022

Youth across various legal statuses have emerged as key leaders and participants of the immigrant rights movement at the local and national levels of political life. During the spring of 2006, high school and university students across the United States initiated mobilization against the racialized policy of HR 4437– a congressional House Bill that would have made undocumented status a felony. In the early 2000s, immigrant youth began to organize around access to educational opportunities and financial aid. Youth activism was successful in passing legislation that allowed undocumented students to qualify for in‐state tuition across several states. For example, undocumented youth made efforts to expand their access to higher education and their activism led to the passage of State Assembly Bill 540 in California, which allows undocumented students to pay in‐state tuition and fees. Other youth pushed further, seeking work eligibility in order to gain employment with their college degree. Undocumented youth leaders in the immigrant rights movement have also mobilized for policies that permitted them to stay in school, as well as the right not to be deported. In the 2000s and 2010s, immigrant youth organized multiple social movement campaigns for the right of families to not be separated and against deportations. There have been instances where youth and allies blocked buses leaving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers. Young adults have also mobilized against ICE workplace and community raids, and other types of anti‐immigrant legislation. For instance, in October 2011, undocumented youth staged a sit‐in in the ICE office in downtown Los Angeles to demand the Obama Administration stop deporting undocumented migrant youth. This civil disobedience action was also coordinated to launch the National Education Not Deportation (END) Our Pain campaign led by a coalition of immigrant youth organizations and allies. More recently, youth have initiated mobilizations to protect the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Community Organizing For and Among the Formerly Incarcerated
Authors: Flores Edward Orozco
Published: September 2022

Community organizing for and among the formerly incarcerated refers to local social movements aiming to expand the social, economic, and political rights of persons with criminal records. In recent years, successful campaigns have grown in number, and included efforts to restore voting rights, to restore access to federal assistance, to regulate the use of employment records for job applications, or to reduce trial wait times (and jail population). Community organizing for and among the formerly incarcerated has its roots in progressive American religious traditions, and has been profoundly shaped by recent demographic changes and the shifting political landscape of the mass incarceration era.
Revolution in Sudan (2019)
Authors: Gizouli Magdi El
Published: September 2022

Sudan's climate is traditionally described as an alternation of dry and rainy seasons. The political translation of this duality in Sudan's postcolonial history is the cyclical alternation of brief parliamentary rule and lengthy dictatorships ushered in by popular uprisings and military coups respectively. A series of other dualities are often employed to explain Sudan's turbulent history, civilian and military, Arab and African, Muslim and Christian, Muslim and pagan, center and periphery. Indeed, the promise of each new regime is that it will put an end to this “vicious cycle.”
Workers' Movements (Neoliberal Nigeria)
Authors: Aye Baba
Published: September 2022

The Nigerian labor movement emerged in the 1930s under the whiplash of the Great Depression. Unions, Left groups, and cooperatives organized to defend living standards and resist colonial domination. In the first two decades after independence was won in 1960, workers' movements for improved wages and working conditions made substantial gains.
Women's Movements (Latin America)
Authors: Ewig Christina , Friedman Elisabeth Jay
Published: September 2022

Latin American women's movements have evolved substantially from their inception in mid‐nineteenth‐century elite activism, to twenty‐first‐century inclusive mass mobilization. Their evolution highlights several themes: they have defied assumptions of what constitutes “political opportunity” by mobilizing under the most inhospitable conditions and encountering setbacks in perceived liberatory contexts; motherhood has been a unifying identity, a key strategy,
and
has influenced the breadth of movement demands, which have been as much about distributive issues as about rights; transnational connections have been critical to the movements' strength; and social, economic, and racial and ethnic inclusivity has been a central challenge – and inspiration.
Solidarity and Volunteering in the COVID‐19 Pandemic
Authors: Carlsen Hjalmar Bang , Toubøl Jonas
Published: September 2022

When a crisis like the COVID‐19 pandemic strikes, society is simultaneously disorganized and reintegrated. Disorganized because crises upset the usual order of things and reintegrated because actors take on new tasks and abandon old tasks that have lost their importance in the crisis situation, and new actors emerge while others disappear, all in order to ensure functionality in the new circumstances. The COVID‐19 pandemic did not diverge from this pattern. Here civil society took center stage in the task of containing the spread of the disease and softening the consequences for those affected. While the importance of the solidarity, cooperation, and coordination of civil society in stopping the spread of the disease cannot be underestimated, this entry focuses on the role of voluntary civil society in providing the social support and help that was demanded because new needs related to COVID‐19 emerged and because formal welfare provisions were shut down in order to contain COVID‐19.
Volunteering, Humanitarian Support, and Social Movements
Authors: Carlsen Hjalmar Bang , Toubøl Jonas
Published: September 2022

Social movement activism typically denotes conflict, anger, and protest against those in power under the heading of contentious politics. Due to political conflict's obvious centrality to social and historical change, which is the principal reason for studying movements in the first place, social movement scholars have almost exclusively focused on the contentious dynamics and not paid much attention to humanitarian support and voluntary social work in the movements. Humanitarian support and voluntary action – denoting neutral altruism, sympathy, and direct action to relieve others of their suffering – have instead been allocated to the neighboring research field of voluntary studies. This implies that the studies of, on the one hand, social movements and, on the other hand, volunteering have, to a large extent, developed independently and have paid little attention to one another. Recently, however, several scholars have argued for an integration. For instance, Donatella della Porta argues that both social movement studies and the field of volunteering are interested in (i) voluntary participation in collective action, involving (ii) cooperative and conflictual relations, for (iii) causes defined, implicitly or explicitly, as the public good. Therefore, both fields stand to gain from greater integration.
Ruthenium‐Catalyzedortho‐CH Bond Arylation Reactions
Authors: Bruneau Christian , Gramage‐Doria Rafael
Published: September 2022

The highly selective ruthenium‐catalyzedortho‐CH bond arylations have met a level of maturity that makes them an attractive tool to achieve unique organic transformations. By means of the manifold mechanisms operating in the presence of different arylating agents and reaction conditions, these methodologies have succeeded in reducing the wastes/steps toward the desired molecules as well as enlarging the chemical space by affording molecules impossible to obtain otherwise. The key achievements in this area are discussed in this article.
Adaptive predefined‐time tracking control for high‐order strict‐feedback nonlinear systems with unknown mismatched disturbances
Authors: Jia Fanlin , Huang Jie , He Xiao
Published: September 2022

The problem of practical predefined‐time tracking control is con sidered for high‐order strict‐feedback nonlinear systems subject to unknown mismatched disturbances. The exact bound of the mismatched disturbances is unknown in this study. A novel adaptive predefined‐time tracking control strategy based on backstepping is proposed by applying a predefined time stability theory. Using the designed tracking controller, all signals are bounded, and a user‐defined bound on the tracking error is ensured in a predefined interval, independent of initial states. The estimation parameters associated with the upper bound of the disturbances are updated adaptively, making the system robust to the disturbances. Simulation studies are conducted to illustrate the performance of the proposed control strategy.
Controller design for nonlinear systems subject to both input saturation and asymmetry time‐varying state constraints: A novel network‐based approach
Authors: Li Na , Zhu Shan‐Liang , He Wen‐Jing , Han Yu‐Qun
Published: September 2022

In this article, the issues of asymmetric input saturation and asymmetric time‐varying state constraints are integrated into nonlinear systems for the first time, and a new adaptive tracking control strategy is proposed based on the multi‐dimensional Taylor network (MTN) method. Firstly, by introducing a continuous auxiliary function, the input saturation is transformed into a smooth model with bounded error. Secondly, MTNs are employed to estimate nonlinear functions, asymmetric barrier Lyapunov functions (ABLFs) are constructed to make all state variables meet asymmetric constraints, and then a novel control scheme with simple structure is developed via backstepping. Thirdly, according to the Lyapunov stability theory, it is proved that all signals in the closed‐loop systems are bounded, and all state variables do not violate the constraints. Finally, three examples show the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
Functional Coating from Amyloid Superwetting Films
Authors: Jin Tonghui , Peydayesh Mohammad , Li Mingqin , Yao Yang , Wu Di , Mezzenga Raffaele
Published: September 2022

Tailoring the hydrophilicity of solid surfaces with a strong affinity to water has been extensively explored in the last 20 years, but studies have been limited to the single function of wettability. Here, the multifunctional properties of tailored surface films are extended from exhibiting superwettability to facilitating biological activities. It is shown that amyloid fibrils can be universally coated onto various substrates, such as fabrics (non‐woven organic masks), metal meshes, polyethersulfone (PES), glass, and more, endowing the resulting surfaces with excellent performance in oil/water mixture and emulsion separation, antifouling, and antifogging. Moreover, the biocompatible crosslinked amyloid fibril coatings can serve as a platform for biocatalytic activities by immobilizing enzymes, as shown in the 2,2′‐azino‐bis (3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulphonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) oxidation and Reactive Black 5 (RB5) degradation by laccase from Trametes versicolor. The study provides a universal approach to modifying surface morphology and chemical properties via fibrous protein templates, opening the way to unexplored bio‐based applications and functionalities.
Gender differences in emergency medicine resident assessment: A scoping review
Authors: Menchetti Isabella , Eagles Debra , Ghanem Dana , Leppard Jennifer , Fournier Karine , Cheung Warren J.
Published: September 2022

Background

Growing literature within postgraduate medical education demonstrates that female resident physicians experience gender bias throughout their training and future careers. This scoping review aims to describe the current body of literature on gender differences in emergency medicine (EM) resident assessment.

Methods

We conducted a scoping review which adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. We included research involving resident physicians or fellows in EM (population and context), which focused on the impact of gender on assessments (concept). We searched seven databases from the databases' inception to April 4, 2022. Two reviewers independently screened citations, completed full‐text review, and abstracted data. A third reviewer resolved any discrepancies.

Results

A total of 667 unique citations were identified; 10 studies were included, and all were conducted within the United States. Four studies reported differences in EM resident assessments attributable to gender within workplace‐based assessments (qualitative comments and quantitative scores) by both attending physicians and nonphysicians. Six studies investigating clinical competency committee scores, procedural scores, and simulation‐based assessments did not report any significant differences attributable to gender.

Conclusions

This scoping review found that gender bias exists within EM resident assessment most notably at the level of narrative comments typically received via workplace‐based assessments. As female EM residents receive higher rates of negative or critical comments and discordant feedback documented on assessment, these findings raise concern about added barriers female EM residents may face while progressing through residency and the impact on their clinical and professional development.
Wheat yield and protein estimation with handheld‐ and UAV‐based reflectance measurements
Authors: Walsh Olga S. , Marshall Juliet , Jackson Chad , Nambi Eva , Shafian Sanaz , Jayawardena Dileepa M. , Lamichhane Ritika , Owusu Ansah Emmanuella , McClintick‐Chess Jordan R.
Published: September 2022

Precision agriculture provides efficient means of obtaining real‐time data to guide nitrogen (N) management based on predicted crop profitability. This study was conducted to assess the efficacy of using in‐season measurements (plant height, biomass weight, biomass N, soil plant analysis development [SPAD], GreenSeeker [GS] normalized difference vegetative index [NDVI], and unmanned aerial vehicle [UAV] NDVI) at Feekes 5 (tillering) and Feekes 10 (anthesis) to estimate wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) yield and protein. The secondary aim was to determine whether the accuracy of yield and protein prediction varies by wheat class and cultivar. Six cultivars—hard red spring (HRS) wheat ‘Jefferson’ and ‘SY Basalt’, hard white spring (HWS) wheat ‘Dayn’ and ‘UI Platinum’, and soft white spring (SWS) wheat ‘Seahawk’ and ‘UI Stone’—were planted at two locations in Idaho in 2018–2020. Plots were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications with each cultivar evaluated at seven N rates (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, and 300 kg N ha–1). The determination of the Pearson correlation coefficients revealed that all parameters were linearly correlated with yield except for SPAD at Feekes 5 and biomass weight at Feekes 10. Although estimation of in‐season grain protein remains a challenge, NDVI was strongly correlated with yield especially at Feekes 5. The accuracy of yield prediction was similar for all wheat classes. Comparable accuracy of yield estimation was achieved with GS NDVI and UAV NDVI. Both hand‐held and aerial‐based spectral measurements could be used to prescribe N rates to be applied during tiller formation when wheat yield can be optimized.
A turn in species conservation for hairpin banksias: demonstration of oversplitting leads to better management of diversity
Authors: Wilson Trevor C. , Rossetto Maurizio , Bain David , Yap Jia‐Yee S. , Wilson Peter D. , Stimpson Margaret L. , Weston Peter H. , Croft Larry
Published: September 2022

Premise

Understanding evolutionary history and classifying discrete units of organisms remain overwhelming tasks, and lags in this workload concomitantly impede an accurate documentation of biodiversity and conservation management. Rapid advances and improved accessibility of sensitive high‐throughput sequencing tools are fortunately quickening the resolution of morphological complexes and   thereby improving the estimation of species diversity. The recently described and critically endangered Banksia vincentia is morphologically similar to the hairpin banksia complex (B. spinulosa s.l.), a group of eastern Australian flowering shrubs whose continuum of morphological diversity has been responsible for taxonomic controversy and possibly questionable conservation initiatives.

Methods

To assist conservation while testing the current taxonomy of this group, we used high‐throughput sequencing to infer a population‐scale evolutionary scenario for a sample set that is comprehensive in its representation of morphological diversity and a 2500‐km distribution.

Results

Banksia spinulosa s.l. represents two clades, each with an internal genetic structure shaped through historical separation by biogeographic barriers. This structure conflicts with the existing taxonomy for the group. Corroboration between phylogeny and population statistics aligns with the hypothesis that B. collina, B. neoanglica, and B. vincentia should not be classified as species.

Conclusions

The pattern here supports how morphological diversity can be indicative of a locally expressed suite of traits rather than relationship. Oversplitting in the hairpin banksias is atypical since genomic analyses often reveal that species diversity is underestimated. However, we show that erring on overestimation can yield negative consequences, such as the disproportionate prioritization of a geographically anomalous population.
Georgia state spinal muscular atrophy newborn screening experience: Screening assay performance and early clinical outcomes
Authors: Elkins Kathryn , Wittenauer Angela , Hagar Arthur F. , Logan Rachel , Sekul Elizabeth , Xiang Yijin , Verma Sumit , Wilcox William R.
Published: September 2022

The purpose of this study is to provide the results of the newborn screening (NBS) program for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) in the state of Georgia to determine disease incidence, time to diagnosis and treatment, and early outcomes. NBS for SMA was performed using real time PCR assays from February 2019 through February 2020 in a pilot phase of screening. This method continued as part of our official state panel, and here we describe the pilot period as well as the first year of standard screening through February 2021. Medical records of infants with a positive NBS were reviewed for time to confirmation and neurologic evaluation, SMN2 copy number, clinical information, and treatment. Descriptive statistics were applied. Of the 301,418 samples screened, there were 15 true positive (eight males) and 24 false positive cases. One patient was missed due to human error early in the pilot phase and presented after symptom onset. The incidence of SMA in Georgia is approximately 1 in 18,840 births per year. After the pilot phase, the false positive rate was found to be so low that all patients who test positive were immediately referred to neurology for further care. Four patients died prior to intervention. Ten patients received intervention. Gene therapy was the preferred treatment. One patient was lost to follow‐up; another was clinically followed. In conclusion, trends for treated patients show improved or stable motor function. Long‐term follow‐up will help determine the durability of treatment.
Switchable Metal Sites in Metal–Organic Framework MFM‐300(Sc): Lewis Acid Catalysis Driven by Metal–Hemilabile Linker Bond Dynamics
Authors: Peralta Ricardo A. , Lyu Pengbo , López‐Olvera Alfredo , Obeso Juan L. , Leyva Carolina , Jeong Nak Cheon , Ibarra Ilich A. , Maurin Guillaume
Published: September 2022

Uncommon reversible guest‐induced metal‐hemilabile linker bond dynamics in MOF MFM‐300(Sc) was unraveled to switch on/switch off catalytic open metal sites. The catalytic activity of this MOF with non‐permanent open metal sites was demonstrated using a model Strecker hydrocyanation reaction as a proof‐of‐concept. Conclusively, the catalytic activity was evidenced to be fully reversible, preserving the conversion performance and structure integrity of MFM‐300(Sc) over multiple cycles. These experimental findings were corroborated by quantum‐calculations that revealed a reaction mechanism driven by the Sc‐open metal sites. This discovery paves the way towards the design of new effective and easily regenerable heterogeneous MOF catalysts integrating switchable metal sites.
Boosting Hydrogen Evolution Reaction by Phase Engineering and Phosphorus Doping on Ru/P‐TiO2
Authors: Zhou Shizheng , Jang Haeseong , Qin Qing , Hou Liqiang , Kim Min Gyu , Liu Shangguo , Liu Xien , Cho Jaephil
Published: September 2022

Synergistic optimization of the elementary steps of water dissociation and hydrogen desorption for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline media is a challenge. Herein, the Ru cluster anchored on a trace P‐doped defective TiO2substrate (Ru/P‐TiO2) was synthesized as an electrocatalyst for the HER; it exhibited a commercial Pt/C‐like geometric activity and an excellent mass activity of 9984.3 mA mgRu−1at −0.05 V vs. RHE, which is 34.3 and 18.7 times higher than that of Pt/C and Ru/TiO2, respectively. Experimental and theoretical studies indicated that using a rutile‐TiO2‐crystal‐phase substrate enhanced the HER activity more than the anatase phase. Rich surface oxygen vacancies on rutile‐TiO2facilitated the adsorption and dissociation of water, while the partial substitution of Ti4+with P5+enhanced H2generation by facilitating hydrogen spillover from the Ru site to the surface P site, synergistically enhancing the HER activity.
Clinical Issues—October 2022
Authors: Cahn Julie
Published: September 2022

THIS MONTH

Verifying patient identity before blood product administration

Key words: patient identification, patient verification, blood transfusion, blood management, wristband.

Surgical site infection risk with allogeneic blood administration

Key words: patient blood management, restrictive transfusion triggers, allogeneic blood products, intraoperative blood salvage, surgical site infection.

Information on topical thrombin

Key words: hemostatic agents, licensed biological product, hemostasis, bovine thrombin, human thrombin.

Safe use of topical thrombin

Key words: severe adverse events, hemostatic agents, accidental injection, accidental intravascular uptake, product labeling.
Activity and stability of castor oil‐based microemulsions with cellulose nanocrystals as a carrier for astaxanthin
Authors: Gunarto Chintya , Go Alchris Woo , Ju Yi‐Hsu , Angkawijaya Artik Elisa , Santoso Shella Permatasari , Ayucitra Aning , Soetaredjo Felycia E. , Ismadji Suryadi
Published: September 2022

Microemulsions (MEs) are explored for its use in various food and drug formulations and applications. It is an amphiphilic material, consisting of oil phase, surfactant mixture, and aqueous phase. Castor oil (CO), which has anti‐inflammatory and analgesic activities, was used as the oil‐phase in the ME formulations. Stability and activity of CO‐based ME were investigated along with the influence of encapsulating astaxanthin as lipophilic drug and the use of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) as pickering agent. Regression model for predicting hydrodynamic diameter of astaxanthin‐load (400 ppm) was explored with predictors being the weight fraction of CO, surfactant mixture, and CNC amount in the ME. Microemulation size is dependent on the oil‐phase and amount of drug loaded, with CNC potentially improving the stability of ME with high CO fraction. The concentration at IC50 was reduced from 494.47 to 52.25 μl/ml as the fraction of CO in ME formulation increased between 5 and 28 wt.% for free‐radical scavenging activity. The same phenomenon was observed for anti‐microbial assay, allowing 94.9% and 93.9% inhibition of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus growth, respectively. These results confirmed that CO‐based MEs are promising as the topical drug delivery, especially as the carrier for the hydrophobic compound.
Alkaline media‐sensitive nanocarrier based on carboxylated cyclodextrin for targeted delivery of anti‐colon drug
Authors: Chen Shuai , Zhu Fang‐Dao , Li Bi‐Lian , Yang Jian‐Mei , Yang Tong , Liu Xiao‐Qing , Zhang Jin , Zhao Yan
Published: September 2022

The pH‐responsive nanoparticles are a promising drug‐carrier because they always showed sensitivity and specificity to the pH changes caused by the surrounding environment. Most of the therapeutic drugs are generally absorbed in the stomach and small intestine due to the pH‐responsive nanoparticles always release the cargos at acidic media, making them difficult to reach the lower part of the large intestine, as well as inhibiting the therapeutic effects. Herein, an alkaline media‐sensitive supramolecular nanoparticle, regarded as SACD/PEI NPs, is prepared. SACD/PEI NPs exhibit assemble/disassemble state by changing the pH, which is used to encapsulate the anti‐colon drug CSL. CSL@SACD/PEI NPs showed a high release rate of 86.1% for the encapsulated CSL at pH = 8.5 (mimic the colon micro‐environment), while keeping stable at pH = 1.2 (mimic the gastric acid micro‐environment). Meanwhile, CSL@SACD/PEI NPs exhibited low hemolysis, indicating they possess good biocompatibility. In cell experiments, CSL@SACD/PEI NPs had a similar inhibitory effect on colon tumor cell SW480 and showed low cytotoxicity to normal cells compared with free CSL. Furthermore, both free CSL and CSL@SACD/PEI NPs showed excellent apoptosis effects on tumor cell SMMC‐7721. We hope that CSL@SACD/PEI NPs could be the valuable base‐answered drug delivery candidate, and have potential application for colon tumor therapy.
Recyclable shape memory polymers with independent honeycomb crosslinked polymer actuators and temperature response switches inspired by bow principle
Authors: Yang Ying , Wang Chune , Zhou Wenyan , Xiao Yu , Wang Lei , Liu Xiang , Zhou Shiyi , Li Dejiang , Liu Yang , Zhou Changlin
Published: September 2022

In order to realize high recovery stress and large recoverable compression strain, by drawing inspiration from the bow‐and‐bowstring principle, we designed the temperature switch and actuator separately to reduce the response temperature when the shape recovers, thereby improving the storage modulus of the actuator and recovery stress. Meanwhile, a self‐template method was used to synthesize shape memory polymer (SMP) which has an actuator with a honeycomb structure to further improve the recovery force. Compared with the loofah‐like interpenetrating network structure SMP (SMP‐L) obtained using the traditional method, the SMP with a honeycomb‐like actuator (SMP‐H) has three times higher recovery stress than SMP‐L. SMP‐H can lift loads more than 400 times its own weight and has three times higher recovery lifting stress than SMP‐L. SMP‐H also has self‐healing, reprocessing, and recyclable properties due to its special honeycomb‐like actuator. This new synthesis strategy could provide opportunities for the wider application of SMPs.
Emerging green light emission of Er3+‐activated single phased GdAlO3 phosphors for lighting applications
Authors: Kumar Pawan , Singh Devender , Gupta Isha , Singh Sitender , Kumar Vinod
Published: September 2022

An erbium ion (Er3+)‐activated gadolinium aluminate (GdAlO3) nanophosphor was synthesized by utilizing urea assisted gel‐combustion method. The crystal structure along with all other crystal parameters was determined by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) patterns. The selected samples are of orthorhombic phase with Pnma space group. The agglomerated particles within nanorange have been confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs. Elemental investigation was performed by energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX). Photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectrum reveals a strong excitation band corresponding to the gadolinium ion (Gd3+) (276 nm) and a band near ultraviolet (UV) absorption for Er3+ (377 nm). Strong excitation band of Gd3+ was evident for the energy transfer between Gd3+ and Er3+ ions. All the doped sampled are excited at 377 nm wavelength. The photoluminescence (PL) spectrum exhibits an intense band at 546 nm (4S3/2 → 4I15/2) which is responsible for the green emission in the processed samples. The color coordinate values define their color in the green region and correlated color temperature (CCT) values affirm their utility as a cold light source.
Environmental, social, and governance ratings and financial performance: Evidence from the European food industry
Authors: Sandberg Helene , Alnoor Alhamzah , Tiberius Victor
Published: September 2022

Long‐term value creation is expected not only to be concerned with maximizing shareholder value but also includes the impact on other stakeholders and the environment. Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues are therefore gaining increasing importance, in line with the growing demand for corporate sustainability. ESG ratings foster the comparison of companies with respect to their sustainable practices. This study aims to investigate how ESG ratings impact financial performance in the European food industry. Ordinary least squares regression is applied to analyze the relation between ESG ratings and financial performance over a 4‐year period from 2017 to 2020. The profitability measures Return on Assets (ROA) and Return on Equity (ROE) are employed as financial performance measures, while ESG ratings are obtained from the database CSRHub. Results show that higher ESG ratings are associated with better financial performance. Although the effect is modest in the present study, the findings support previous results that ESG ratings are positively related to financial performance. Nonetheless, they also highlight that ESG ratings strongly converge to the mean, which depicts the need to reassess whether ESG ratings are able to measure actual ESG behavior.
Breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer: A call for action in high‐income countries with low rates of breastfeeding
Authors: Stordal Britta
Published: September 2022

Women in the UK have a 15% lifetime risk of developing breast cancer. Like other high‐income countries, women in the UK are having children later in life which increases their risk. The risk of breast cancer is reduced by 4.3% for every 12 months of breastfeeding, this is in addition to the 7.0% decrease in risk observed for each birth. Breastfeeding reduces the risk of Triple‐Negative Breast Cancer (20%) and in carriers of BRCA1 mutations (22–55%). The mechanisms of reduced risk as a result of pregnancy are related to changes in RNA processing and cellular differentiation. The UK has a low rate of breastfeeding (81%) and this is contrasted to countries with higher (Sweden, Australia) and lower rates (Ireland). The low UK rate is in part due to a lack of experience in the population, todays grandmothers have less experience with breastfeeding (62%) than their daughters. An estimated 4.7% of breast cancer cases in the UK are caused by not breastfeeding. The UK only has 43% of maternity services with full Baby‐Friendly accreditation which promotes compliance with the WHO ‘Ten Steps to Successful Breast Feeding’. Legislation in the UK and Europe is far short of the WHO Guidance on restricting the advertising of formula milk. Expansion of the Baby‐Friendly Hospital Initiative, stricter laws on the advertising of formula milk and legislation to support nursing mothers in the workplace have the potential to increase breastfeeding in the UK. Women with a family history of breast cancer should particularly be supported to breastfeed as a way of reducing their risk.
Enhancement of bioactivity of collagen–hydroxyapatite nanocomposite on He+ ion implantation
Authors: Jogiya Bhoomika V. , Tank Kashmira P. , Joshi Mihir J.
Published: September 2022

This study focuses on the effect of He+ ion implantation on the structural, microstructural, and bioactivity of the collagen–hydroxyapatite (Cg/HAP) nanocomposite for orthopedics as well as vascular stent applications. The material is successfully synthesized by a surfactant‐mediated approach and has been investigated using X‐ray diffraction (XRD), energy‐dispersive spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, and bioactivity analysis techniques. The presence of the characteristic peaks of collagen in the Fourier transform infrared spectrum confirms the successful synthesis of Cg/HAP nanocomposite. Observation of a blueshift reduction in the intensity and broadening of the peaks corresponding to the asymmetric stretching mode of PO4−3 (1034–1083 cm−1) on the HAP addition indicates a strong interaction between the HAP nanoparticles and collagen. Energy‐dispersive spectroscopy analysis confirmed the phase of protein content within the sample. On ion implantation, a reduction in the crystalline size is observed from the XRD analysis. The enhancement in the bioactivity of implanted Cg/HAP composite is based on electronic loss. The electronic interaction through various processes makes the surface of the composites charged leading to more surface deposition activity from simulated body fluid studies, which is further confirmed by the higher surface roughness of the implanted samples.
Experimental and numerical analysis of biomechanical effects in cervical spine positioning rotation manipulation
Authors: Chang Lijun , Wang Huihao , Guo Yingfu , Cai Zhihua , Zhan Hongsheng
Published: September 2022

Unlocking the biomechanical effects of cervical spine positioning rotation manipulation in the treatment of patients with neck pain. In this paper, the safety of the cervical positioning rotation manipulation is analyzed by experimentally obtaining head kinematic data, importing them into a finite element model that has been developed and validated, and calculating and analyzing the angular displacements, disc pressures, and articular surface contact forces in the normal and pathological models. The results show that the cervical spine positioning rotation technique is more effective in adjusting the position and applying force to the cervical spine C5–C6 “tendon out of the groove and bone misalignment” pathological model. Also, the cervical positioning rotation manipulation is applied with less variation in disc nucleus pulposus pressure than in the non‐positioning situation. Thus, in patients with disc degeneration, cervical positioning rotational manipulation has a more direct mechanical effect and is safer than non‐positioning rotational manipulation. The cervical spine positioning rotation manipulation is a safe method that can effectively treat patients with neck pain. It has been well demonstrated in the computational analysis of the pathological model.
Modeling planar response of vascular tissues using quadratic functions of effective strain
Authors: He Xuehuan , Lu Jia
Published: September 2022

Simulation‐based studies of the cardiovascular structure such as aorta have become increasingly popular for many biomedical problems such as predictions of aneurysm rupture. A critical step in these simulations is the development of constitutive models that accurately describe the tissue's mechanical behavior. In this work, we present a new constitutive model, which explicitly accounts for the gradual recruitment of collagen fibers. The recruitment is considered using an effective stretch, which is a continuum‐scale kinematic variable measuring the uncrimped stretch of the tissue in an average sense. The strain energy of a fiber bundle is described by a quadratic function of the effective strain. Constitutive models formulated in this manner are applied to describe the responses of ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm and porcine thoracic aorta tissues. The heterogeneous properties of the ATAA tissue are extracted from bulge inflation test data, and then used in finite element analysis to simulate the inflation test. The descriptive and predictive capabilities are further assessed using planar testing data of porcine thoracic aortic tissues. It is found that the constitutive model can accurately describe the stress–strain relations. In particular, the finite element simulation replicates the displacement, strain, and stress distributions with excellent fidelity.
Acute myeloid leukemia secondary to acute B lymphoblastic leukemia treated with maintenance therapy in a child: A case report
Authors: Wang Xiaoning , Ding Ding , Liu Yalin
Published: September 2022

Background

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has the highest incidence among childhood hematologic cancers. Exposure to certain cytotoxic therapies for ALL is correlated with a higher risk of secondary malignancies.

Case

We report a rare case of a 6‐year‐old girl being diagnosed with secondary acute myeloid leukemia (AML) during her maintenance phase of treatment for ALL with TEL‐AML1 fusion gene, approximately 17 months after the primary diagnosis.

Conclusion

This case indicates that we should recognize the increased risk of secondary AML for pediatric ALL patients with TEL‐AML1 fusion gene if multiple alkylating drugs and inhibitors for topoisomerase II are included in induction chemotherapy.
Effects of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide precursors on measures of physical performance and physical frailty: A systematic review
Authors: Barker Fred J. , Hart Ashley , Sayer Avan A. , Witham Miles D.
Published: September 2022

Background

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a key molecule in muscle metabolism and energy production; skeletal muscle concentrations are low in older people with sarcopenia. Although preclinical data suggest beneficial effects of NAD precursor supplementation, the effects on skeletal muscle function and physical frailty in humans are unclear. This systematic review evaluated the effects of NAD precursor supplementation on measures of physical performance and physical frailty in humans.

Methods

We included randomized controlled trials assessing outcomes relevant to either physical performance or any of Fried's frailty phenotype domains: slowness, weakness, exhaustion, low physical activity and weight loss. All review stages were conducted independently by two separate authors. A systematic search strategy was used searching multiple databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, CENTRAL, ISRCTN, ClinicalTrials.gov, NHS e‐Library, and Google Scholar) to find appropriate trials. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk‐of‐Bias 2 tool. Results were grouped by intervention and phenotypic domain and were described through narrative synthesis. Sensitivity analyses were conducted for trials with a mean age >60 years and trials with low risk of bias.

Results

Twenty‐six trial populations across 23 studies met inclusion criteria; size ranged from 2 to 77 participants. No trials assessed frailty as a composite outcome, though at least one Fried frailty domain was assessed in almost all included trials. A range of interventions were investigated; niacin (n = 8) and nicotinamide riboside (n = 7) were the most commonly assessed. Most trials examined short‐term interventions of up to 6 months duration, with 13 out of 26 trials lasting 1 week or less. A total of 96 primary outcomes were assessed across trials, 10 of which were in favour of an NAD precursor whereas 1 was in favour of placebo; the remainder were not statistically significant in any clear direction. Methodological heterogeneity across trials precluded meta‐analysis for any outcome. Trial populations were heterogeneous and only four trials enrolled participants with a mean age ≥60 years. Risk of bias analysis found unclear or high risk of bias in all but one trial. There was no clear pattern as to whether NAD precursors improved any measure of physical performance or any domain of the frailty phenotype; the majority of trials reported neutral findings for most outcomes.

Conclusions

There is insufficient evidence to ascertain whether NAD precursor supplementation can improve physical performance or physical frailty measures in humans. Future trials need to be longer, larger, and target older people with skeletal muscle dysfunction.
Cobalt Phthalocyanine Cross‐Linked Polypyrrole for Efficient Electroreduction of Low Concentration CO2To CO
Authors: Chen Jin‐Mei , Xie Wen‐Jun , Yang Zhi‐Wen , He Liang‐Nian
Published: September 2022

Immobilizing cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) onto the electrode surface is a significant approach to performing efficient electrochemical CO2reduction reaction (ECO2RR). Herein, sulfylphenoxy decorated CoPc cross‐linked polypyrrole is prepared by in situ polymerization on the surface of carbon cloth. The synthesized N‐rich catalyst exhibits above 95 % Faradaic efficiency toward CO (FECO) at −0.9 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) at least for 10 h in aqueous solution and even enables direct electrolysis at low CO2concentrations, being potential for coupling ECO2RR with CO2capture. This facile in situ polymerization strategy would pave the way for developing efficient and practical electrocatalysis for ECO2RR.
Improved CO2 Capture and Catalytic Hydrogenation Using Amino Acid Based Ionic Liquids
Authors: Moazezbarabadi Ayeshe , Wei Duo , Junge Henrik , Beller Matthias
Published: September 2022

A series of alkyl ammonium (or imidazolium) based ionic liquids was tested as novel and potentially green absorbent for CO2 capture and utilization. By exploiting various amino acids as counter ions for ionic liquids, CO2 capture and hydrogenation to formate occur with high activity and excellent productivity utilizing arginine. The reaction was easily scalable without any significant drop in formate production, and the catalyst was reused for five consecutive runs leading to an overall TON of 12,741 for the formation of formate salt.
Increased mast cell activation in eosinophilic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Higham Andrew , Dungwa Josiah , Pham Tuyet‐Hang , McCrae Christopher , Singh Dave
Published: September 2022

Objectives

A subset of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients have increased numbers of airway eosinophils associated with elevated markers of T2 inflammation. This analysis focussed on mast cell counts and mast cell‐related gene expression in COPD patients with higher vs lower eosinophil counts.

Methods

We investigated gene expression of tryptase (TPSAB1), carboxypeptidase A3 (CPA3), chymase (CMA1) and two mast cell specific gene signatures; a bronchial biopsy signature (MCbb) and an IgE signature (MCIgE) using sputum cells and bronchial epithelial brushings. Gene expression analysis was conducted by RNA‐sequencing. We also examined bronchial biopsy mast cell numbers by immunohistochemistry.

Results

There was increased expression of TPSAB1, CPA3 and MCbb in eosinophilhigh than in eosinophillow COPD patients in sputum cells and bronchial epithelial brushings (fold change differences 1.21 and 1.28, respectively, P < 0.01). Mast cell gene expression was associated with markers of T2 and eosinophilic inflammation (IL13, CLCA1, CST1, CCL26, eosinophil counts in sputum and bronchial mucosa; rho = 0.4–0.8; P < 0.05). There was no difference in MCIgE gene expression between groups. There was no difference in the total number of bronchial biopsy mast cells between groups.

Conclusion

These results demonstrate that eosinophilic inflammation is associated with altered mast cell characteristics in COPD patients, implicating mast cells as a component of T2 inflammation present in a subset of COPD patients.
Flow cytometric kinetic assay of calcium mobilization in whole blood platelets of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)
Authors: Felipo‐Benavent Mar , Martínez‐Romero Alicia , Rubio‐Guerri Consuelo , Álvaro‐Álvarez Teresa , Gil Domingo , García‐Párraga Daniel , O'Connor José‐Enrique
Published: September 2022

Marine mammals may suffer alterations in platelet function and hemostasia due to multiple pathologies, environmental conditions (including stress) or exposure to different contaminants that induce platelet activation. Detecting early alterations in platelet function in these animals could be an especially relevant diagnostic tool in these species because they typically do not show signs of weakness or disease until the pathology is in advanced state, in order to avoid attracting predators in natural conditions. The study of early markers of platelet activation is relevant for the detection, monitoring and therapy of inflammation and hemostasis disorders. Flow cytometry provides a convenient method to evaluate platelet activation by following the kinetics of intracellular Ca2+, using sensitive fluorescent indicators that can be loaded into intact cells. In order to study intraplatelet Ca2+ mobilization in marine mammals, we have adapted a kinetic assay of human platelet activation to study platelet activation in whole‐blood samples of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) using the Ca2+‐sensitive dye Fluo‐4AM and a clone of the platelet‐specific antibody CD41‐PE that recognizes dolphin platelets. This no‐wash, no‐lyse protocol provides a simple and sensitive tool to assess in vitro the time course and intensity of signal‐transduction responses to platelet agonists under near‐physiological conditions. The adaptation of this technique to marine mammals represents a methodological advance for basic and clinical veterinary applications but also for general environmental studies on these species.
Comparative study between direct analysis in whole blood, oral fluid, and declaration of consumption for the prevalence of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs and acetaminophen in ultratrail runners
Authors: Mashal Mohammad Shafiq , Bevalot Fabien , Citterio‐Quentin Antony , Sallet Pierre , Nazari Qand Agha , Guitton Jérôme , Machon Christelle
Published: September 2022

Ultratrail running is a sport with growing number of adherents. To complete ultratrail despite physical issues such as joint and muscle pain, many runners use nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen. Studies asking participants about their consumption of drugs during ultratrail revealed a prevalence of NSAIDs and acetaminophen up to 70% and 25%, respectively. The aims of the present study were to determine the prevalence of NSAIDs and acetaminophen for 81 runners during the 2021 Ultratrail du Mont Blanc® (UTMB®) using direct analysis of dried blood spots (DBS) and oral fluid (OF) and to compare results with the declaration of consumption by runners; this is to identify the most relevant method to study the prevalence of drugs. Our results show a prevalence of NSAIDs of 46.6% using DBS, 18.5% using OF, and 13.8% based on a questionnaire. Prevalence of acetaminophen were 30.1%, 30.9%, and 22.5% using DBS, OF, and questionnaire, respectively. From this study, we conclude that the analysis of drugs directly in DBS is the most relevant tool to determine the prevalence in ultratrail events.