bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The relationship between cognitive and affective control and adolescent mental health
Authors: Minihan Savannah , Kumle Levi , Maston Kate , Bal Debopriyo , Werner‐Seidler Aliza , Christensen Helen , Schweizer Susanne
Published: November 2023

Background

Cognitive control problems have been implicated in the etiology and maintenance of mental health problems, including depression, in adults. Studies in adolescents have been more equivocal, with some showing changes in cognitive control in adolescents with mental health problems, whereas others fail to show an association. This study examines whether adolescent mental health is associated with affective control, the application of cognitive control in affective contexts, which shows more protracted development than cognitive control.

Methods

The present study investigated the association of cognitive and affective control with depressive symptomatology and self‐reported diagnostic history of mental health problems in adolescents. The study included 1929 participants (Mage = 13.89) from the Future Proofing Study (N = 6,388, 11–16 years), who completed affective (incl., affective stimuli) and/or cognitive (incl., neutral stimuli) versions of a working memory (backward digit‐span) and/or shifting (card‐sorting) task at least once within 3 weeks of assessing mental health.

Results

Poorer working memory was associated with greater depressive symptomatology in adolescents (β = −0.06, p = .004), similarly across cognitive and affective control conditions (β = −0.02, p = .269). Adolescents with self‐reported diagnostic history of mental health problems had significantly poorer shifting ability in affective compared to cognitive control conditions (b = 0.05, p = .010), whereas for adolescents with no self‐reported diagnoses, shifting ability did not differ between conditions (b = −0.00, p = .649).

Conclusions

The present analyses suggest that working memory difficulties, in particular, may be associated with the experience of current depressed mood in adolescents. Problems with affective shifting may be implicated in a range of mental health problems in adolescents. Given the ubiquitous need for efficient cognitive functioning in daily life, enhancing cognitive and affective control in adolescents may be a promising means of improving functioning across a range of domains, including affective functioning, and by extension, adolescent mental health.
Impacts of storage practices on the physical, culinary and sensory quality of Kponan yam (Dioscorea cayenensis‐rotundata) from Côte d'Ivoire during storage
Authors: Kouassi Kouakou Nestor , Kouadio Yapo Hypolithe , Kouassi Kouadio Benal , N'Dri Yao Denis , Amani N'Guessan Georges
Published: November 2023

BACKGROUND

Kponan is the most popular yam (Dioscorea cayenensis‐rotundata) variety in Côte d'Ivoire. Unfortunately, losses due to rotting during storage do not ensure a regular supply to markets. This study aimed to identify the impacts of cultivation and storage practices in the main production areas on physical, cooking and sensory characteristics of Kponan. To this end, yams grown in Bondoukou were stored in straw huts, those grown in Bouna in pits and those grown in Kouassi‐Kouassikro in the open air, according to the practices of each producer.

RESULTS

Findings showed that yams grown in Kouassi‐Kouassikro and stored in the open air recorded the highest rot rate (58.09%) compared to the rot rate of yams grown and stored in pits in Bouna (26.67%) and those grown and stored in straw huts in Bondoukou (53.34%). However, the weight losses were respectively 10.47% (Bouna), 28.57% (Kouassi‐Kouassikro) and 36.19% (Bondoukou). Loss rates varied significantly from 43.80% (pits) to 100% (huts and open air). Furthermore, the browning indices were higher for yams grown in Kouassi‐Kouassikro and freshly harvested (26.09) compared to the browning index recorded for yams grown and freshly harvested in Bouna (23.43) and in Bondoukou (24.73). Concerning the hardness of yams, it decreased during storage for yams grown and stored in pits in Bouna (38.94 to 25.20 N) and for those grown and stored in straw huts in Bondoukou (39. 39 to 26.42 N).

CONCLUSION

The shelf life and culinary and sensory characteristics of Kponan depend on the cultivation and storage practices of each producer. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Thermosensitive polymer‐assisted extraction and purification of fungal laccase from citrus pulp wash effluent
Authors: Santana Carlos E. M. , Barros Gabriela P. , Canuto Nathalia S. , dos Santos Tairan E. , Bharagava Ram N. , Liu Jiayang , Ferreira Luiz F. R. , Souza Ranyere L.
Published: November 2023

BACKGROUND

This study explores the use of liquid–liquid extraction with thermosensitive polymers for producing laccase (Lac) from Pleurotus sajor‐caju. This process leverages liquid waste from the citrus industry, specifically pulp wash. The research delves into extractive fermentation and thermoseparation, both processes being facilitated by a polymer exhibiting a lower critical solution temperature transition.

RESULTS

Key factors considered include the choice of polymer, its concentration, pH, separation temperature, and the behavior of the polymer‐rich phase post‐extractive fermentation concerning the lower critical solution temperature. Notably, under conditions of 45% by weight of Pluronic L‐61 and pH 5.0 at 25 °C, the Lac resulted in an enhancement in the purification factor of 28.4‐fold, compared with the Lac obtained directly from the fermentation process on the eighth day. There was an 83.6% recovery of the Lac enzyme in the bottom phase of the system. Additionally, the unique properties of Pluronic L‐61, which can induce phase separation and also allow for thermoseparation, led to a secondary fraction (aqueous solution) of Lac with purification factor of 2.1 ± 0.1‐fold (at 32 ± 0.9 °C and 30 ± 0.3 min without stirring) from the polymeric phase (top phase). Fourier‐transform infrared analysis validated the separation data, particularly highlighting the α‐helix content in the amide I region (1600–1700 cm−1).

CONCLUSION

In summary, the insights from this study pave the way for broader industrial applications of these techniques, underscoring benefits like streamlined process integration, heightened selectivity, and superior separation efficacy. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Highly reliable a‐Si:H gate driver on array with complementary double‐sided noise‐eliminating and dual voltage levels for TFT‐LCD applications
Authors: Zheng Guang‐Ting , Liu Po‐Tsun , Chen Jo‐Lin , Li Cheng‐Hao
Published: November 2023

In this work, we present a high‐reliability gate driver on array (GOA) for a 10.7‐in. HD (1,280 × RGB × 720) TFT‐LCD panel, featuring an alternatively double‐sided noise‐eliminating function. The gate driver circuit is designed with 12‐phase clock signals that exhibit 75% signal overlapping, threshold voltage recovering, and double‐sided driving schemes. The double‐sided driving scheme reduces the number of mental wires and TFTs in the gate driver circuit, resulting in a smaller layout area for GOA. By utilizing dual levels of voltage, we implemented a negative gate bias method to mitigate threshold voltage shifts for the noise‐eliminating and driving TFTs. This prevents the noises from clock signals effectively. The reliability test of the proposed GOA with 720 stages passed a strict testing condition (90°C and −40°C) for simulation and exhibited good performance over 800 hours at 90°C for measurement.
Noninvasive multichannel urodynamic system: Obtaining cutaneous electrical signals from the human urinary bladder
Authors: Kurniawan Jonas F. , Lee Sanghee , Le Hoang‐Kim , Nguyen Andrew K. L. , Sit Nathan L. J. , Pham Timothy , Tjhia Boris , Gottlieb Ryan , Li Carleen , Shin Andrew J. , Garcia Hassler Bueno , Wu Vincent M. , Mendoza Tris R , DiPina Thomas , Ornelas Gladys , Chiang George , Jamieson Christina A. M. , Santiago‐Lastra Yahir , Coleman Todd P.
Published: November 2023

We developed a high‐resolution and noninvasive multichannel urodynamic system combined with a novel signal‐processing algorithm tailored to extract electromyographic (EMG) activity from the urinary bladder. We utilized a flexible noninvasive biopotential recording system to collect an array of EMG signals from the urinary bladder of human subjects. This study also presents the use of an existing artifact rejection methodology to autonomously extract an EMG signal from an environment prone to motion artifacts.
Small microplastic particles in Lake Superior: A preliminary study coupling Nile red staining, flow cytometry and pyrolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
Authors: Minor Elizabeth C. , Gomes Uttam D. , Schreiner Kathryn M. , Poulton Nicole J. , Hendrickson Erik , Maurer‐Jones Melissa A.
Published: November 2023

Microplastic particles (< 5 mm) are now found throughout earth's ecosystems, with smaller microplastics often showing greater impacts on organismal health than larger ones. Unfortunately, there are no readily available analytical approaches that can couple microplastics enumeration and polymer determination for smaller microplastics (< 10 μm), and 1–20 μm particles are difficult to quantify with existing techniques. This study presents a method using Nile red (NR) staining and flow cytometry (FCM) to quantify and isolate small microplastic particles for subsequent identification by pyrolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (pyGCMS). Results using standard plastic particles showed that FCM sorting can provide sufficient material for pyGCMS analyses; the polymer composition remains identifiable after the processing steps. The post‐sorting concentration step yielded recovery of 58%–83% of the original plastic polymer mass. Analysis of a mixed plastic standard solution showed no significant difference in plastic counts obtained by microscopy and FCM, although blank correction reduces the FCM counts to 62% of the microscopy counts. The applicability of NR staining and FCM was demonstrated through analysis of small microplastic particles (5–45 μm) from Lake Superior surface water samples, which showed particle abundances two to three orders of magnitude higher than particles > 100 μm that were counted using FTIR microscopy. PyGCMS analysis of a test lake sample showed the presence of polyethylene in this small size fraction. Careful attention to blanks and longer FCM sorting times (> 2 h) are recommended for successful analysis of natural aquatic samples processed by this approach.
Multiple large shareholders, agency problem, and firm innovation
Authors: Li Chen , Yan Caiyu , Li Juan , Xia Chuanwen , Xiao Yigui , Zheng Ling
Published: November 2023

This paper, in the context of agency problem, examines the impacts of multiple large shareholders on firm innovation. A dataset of non‐financial listed firms in China was established from 2007 to 2019. Innovation is divided into innovative quantity and innovative quality. The results demonstrate that multiple large shareholders can trigger innovative quantity and improve innovative quality. Multiple large shareholders restrict excessive earnings management and optimize pay gap by top manager to support innovation. It also finds that multiple large shareholders have a positive impact on firm's innovation through reducing share pledge and tunneling action of controlling shareholders. Moreover, it is also confirmed that better information environment and legal framework contribute to the positive effect of multiple large shareholders in corporate governance, along with firm innovation superior.
Frequency of Hereditary and GBA1‐Related Parkinsonism in Latin America: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Saffie Awad Paula , Teixeira‐dos‐Santos Daniel , Santos‐Lobato Bruno Lopes , Camargos Sarah , Cornejo‐Olivas Mario , de Mello Rieder Carlos Roberto , Mata Ignacio F. , Chaná‐Cuevas Pedro , Klein Christine , Schumacher Schuh Artur F.
Published: November 2023

Background

Identifying hereditary parkinsonism is valuable for diagnosis, genetic counseling, patient prioritization in trials, and studying the disease for personalized therapies. However, most studies were conducted in Europeans, and limited data exist on admixed populations like those from Latin America.

Objectives

This study aims to assess the frequency and distribution of genetic parkinsonism in Latin America.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis of the frequency of parkinsonian syndromes associated with genetic pathogenic variants in Latin America. We defined hereditary parkinsonism as those caused by the genes outlined by the MDS Nomenclature of Genetic Movement Disorders and heterozygous carriers of GBA1 pathogenic variants. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and LILACS in August 2022. Researchers reviewed titles and abstracts, and disagreements were resolved by a third researcher. After this screening, five researchers reanalyzed the selection criteria and extracted information based on the full paper. The frequency for each parkinsonism‐related gene was determined by the presence of pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants among screened patients. Cochran's Q and I2 tests were used to quantify heterogeneity. Meta‐regression, publication bias tests, and sensitivity analysis regarding study quality were also used for LRRK2‐, PRKN‐, and GBA1‐related papers.

Results

We included 73 studies involving 3014 screened studies from 16 countries. Among 7668 Latin American patients, pathogenic variants were found in 19 different genes. The frequency of the pathogenic variants in LRRK2 was 1.38% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.52–2.57), PRKN was 1.16% (95% CI: 0.08–3.05), and GBA1 was 4.17% (95% CI: 2.57–6.08). For all meta‐analysis, heterogeneity was high and publication bias tests were negative, except for PRKN, which was contradictory. Information on the number of pathogenic variants in the other genes is further presented in the text.

Conclusions

This study provides insights into hereditary and GBA1‐related parkinsonism in Latin America. Lower GBA1 frequencies compared to European/North American cohorts may result from limited access to gene sequencing. Further research is vital for regional prevalence understanding, enabling personalized care and therapies. © 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
On the Schnakenberg model with crucial reversible reactions
Authors: Xu Ying , Ren Jingli , Li Xueping , Zhu Dandan
Published: November 2023

This paper is devoted to the Schnakenberg model with crucial reversible reactions, under Neumann boundary conditions. Existence and uniqueness of the strong solution are obtained on basis of semigroup theory. It is found that the proposed system admits four possible positive constant steady states, and explicit conditions of the stability, Turing instability, steady‐state bifurcation, and Hopf bifurcation are determined. Besides, numerical simulations are given to show the theoretical results and depict the spatiotemporal patterns.
Corrigendum: Multiple solutions for asymptotically q‐linear (p,q)‐Laplacian problems
Authors: Colasuonno Francesca
Published: November 2023

A mistake in the assumptions of case
in Theorem 1.1 is corrected. This requires a slight refinement of Lemma 3.6 leading to the multiplicity result.
Estimation using a summation integral operator of exponential type with a weight derived from the α‐Baskakov basis function
Authors: Rahman Shagufta , Ansari Khursheed J.
Published: November 2023

With the weight of
‐Baskakov basis function, this article considers the approximation properties of the integral modification of exponential type operators. The moments are estimated, and the Voronovskaja‐type result is established in simultaneous approximation. Additionally, the power series method is used for estimating convergence and error estimation. For some functions, the convergence of these operators has also been graphically illustrated.
On the global well‐posedness and striated regularity of the 2D Boussinesq‐MHD system
Authors: Niu Dongjuan , Peng Jiao , Wang Lu
Published: November 2023

In this paper, we investigate the global existence and uniqueness of strong solutions to the two‐dimensional Boussinesq‐MHD equations without the temperature diffusion for general initial data in
with
. As an application, we shall prove the propagation of the
regularity of the interface between fluids with different temperatures.
Spectroscopic detection of radiocarbon dioxide based on optical feedback linear cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy
Authors: Jiao Kang , Gao Jian , Yang Jiaqi , Zhao Gang , Shi Zhe , Wang Xinping , Zhu Di , He Huaiyu , Qing Jing , Yan Xiaojuan , Ma Weiguang , Jia Suotang
Published: November 2023

Spectroscopic detection of radiocarbon dioxide (14CO2) offers several advantages, including real‐time detection, on‐site measurement capability, and ease of operation. Here, we propose a novel 14CO2 detection technique that utilizes optical feedback linear cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy. The feedback phase is actively compensated by adjusting the light path length. The combination of cavity‐based technique and optical feedback enables the recording of stable and enhanced 14CO2 spectra. Through Allan deviation analysis, a minimal detectable 14CO2 concentration of 3.5 parts‐per‐trillion is achieved. This technique has the potential to contribute to the monitoring of the radiocarbon emissions in the air of nuclear power plants.
Efficient image reconstruction for a small animal PET system with dual‐layer‐offset detector design
Authors: Cheng Li , Lyu Zhenlei , Liu Hui , Wu Jing , Jia Chao , Wu Yuanguang , Ji Yingcai , Jiang Nianming , Ma Tianyu , Liu Yaqiang
Published: November 2023

Background

A compact PET/SPECT/CT system Inliview‐3000B has been developed to provide multi‐modality information on small animals for biomedical research. Its PET subsystem employed a dual‐layer‐offset detector design for depth‐of‐interaction capability and higher detection efficiency, but the irregular design caused some difficulties in calculating the normalization factors and the sensitivity map. Besides, the relatively larger (2 mm) crystal cross‐section size also posed a challenge to high‐resolution image reconstruction.

Purpose

We present an efficient image reconstruction method to achieve high imaging performance for the PET subsystem of Inliview‐3000B.

Methods

List mode reconstruction with efficient system modeling was used for the PET imaging. We adopt an on‐the‐fly multi‐ray tracing method with random crystal sampling to model the solid angle, crystal penetration and object attenuation effect, and modify the system response model during each iteration to improve the reconstruction performance and computational efficiency. We estimate crystal efficiency with a novel iterative approach that combines measured cylinder phantom data with simulated line‐of‐response (LOR)‐based factors for normalization correction before reconstruction. Since it is necessary to calculate normalization factors and the sensitivity map, we stack the two crystal layers together and extend the conventional data organization method here to index all useful LORs. Simulations and experiments were performed to demonstrate the feasibility and advantage of the proposed method.

Results

Simulation results showed that the iterative algorithm for crystal efficiency estimation could achieve good accuracy. NEMA image quality phantom studies have demonstrated the superiority of random sampling, which is able to achieve good imaging performance with much less computation than traditional uniform sampling. In the spatial resolution evaluation based on the mini‐Derenzo phantom, 1.1 mm hot rods could be identified with the proposed reconstruction method. Reconstruction of double mice and a rat showed good spatial resolution and a high signal‐to‐noise ratio, and organs with higher uptake could be recognized well.

Conclusion

The results validated the superiority of introducing randomness into reconstruction, and demonstrated its reliability for high‐performance imaging. The Inliview‐3000B PET subsystem with the proposed image reconstruction can provide rich and detailed information on small animals for preclinical research.
Preparation and sound insulation of honeycomb composite structures filled with glass fiber
Authors: Ge Yinmei , Xue Jieyu , Liu Liping , Yang Yong
Published: November 2023

Honeycomb composite with excellent mechanical–physical properties had attracted extensive attention. To achieve outstanding sound insulation while maximizing the high‐performance of honeycomb composite, this article reported a honeycomb composite structure filled with glass fiber (HFG) based on a paper‐making process and the corresponding sandwich structure. Pulping parameters, mechanical property, air permeability and sound insulation of HFG were analyzed. The results showed that the hanging index and settling height of glass fiber slurry were inversely proportional to the beating degree, which was beneficial for reducing the coefficient of variation (CV) of HFG with value of 4%–6%. The maximum improvement in tensile strength and bursting strength of HFG were 70% and 53%, respectively. In addition, sound transmission loss (STL) of HFG was proportional to cell size, density, filling amount and thickness of the honeycomb. Compared to HFG, sandwich structure consisting of HFG and glass fiber/hot melt fiber panels effectively improved STL, especially at low‐mid frequencies. It was also found that designing holes on the surface of sandwich structure could further improve STL in certain frequency bands. The structure offered a lightweight and high‐performance response for construction, transportation and infrastructure.

Highlights

This article designs a new type of honeycomb filled glass fiber via paper‐making process, aiming to improve the comprehensive performance of honeycomb.

By the design of embedded structure, the maximum improvement in tensile strength and bursting strength of honeycomb were 70% and 53%, respectively.

By designing perforated, embedded and laminated structures, sound insulation has been improved, while reducing material quality.
Heat transfer prediction during curing of thick part of unsaturated polyester resin containing nanoparticles of graphene oxide and modified graphene oxide
Authors: Yavari Neda , Bashipour Fatemeh , Poorabdollah Mehdi
Published: November 2023

In this study, the challenges of using nanoparticles such as graphene oxide (GO) and modified graphene oxide (MGO) in the production of thick parts were investigated. In addition, using various kinetic models, the trend of temperature increases in pure unsaturated polyester resin (UPR), and UPR containing GO and MGO were investigated. The heat transfer equations were solved using programming code in MATLAB software. In the following, the role of the variation in density, convection heat transfer coefficient, and thermal conductivity coefficient on the prediction of temperature at different points of the parts is evaluated. The findings indicated that the choice of the kinetic model can play an effective role in predicting the temperature in the parts. An increased temperature causes a decrease in the structural regularity of the resin network and intensifies phonon scattering to decrease, and will eventually cause a decrease in the thermal conductivity coefficient.

Highlights

The mathematical modeling was developed on the curing of unsaturated polyester nanocomposite.

The cure kinetic models and thermal properties had important roles in the model accuracy.

The best prediction of temperature changes was provided by Vyazovkin's model.

The results of developed model satisfactorily matched the experimental data.
Postsynthetic amine modification of porous organic polymers for CO2 capture and separation
Authors: Shi Tianhui , Wu Zheng , Wu Zhongqi , Zhang Qian‐Feng , Strømme Maria , Xu Chao
Published: November 2023

Porous organic polymers (POPs) constitute an important class of sorbents studied in various adsorption and separation processes. Their unique properties, including high surface areas, adjustable pore sizes, and surface chemistries make them ideal candidates for CO2 capture. To achieve a high CO2 adsorption capacity and selectivity, particularly at the low partition pressures required for post‐combustion CO2 capture or direct capture of CO2 from the atmosphere, incorporating amines onto the polymer frameworks or within the pores has shown much promise. This review provides a comprehensive summary of recent studies on the synthesis and CO2 capture performance of amine‐functionalized POPs. The review also provides a detailed discussion of structure‐performance relationships, focusing on how the loading amount and amine type influence CO2 capture capacity, CO2/N2 selectivity, heat of adsorption, sorption kinetics, and recyclability of POPs. Additionally, the authors offer their perspective on the challenges associated with the practical implementation of amine‐modified POPs for CO2 capture.
Design and Fabrication of Carbon Dots/Semiconductor Photocatalysts with Superior Photocatalytic Activity: A Review
Authors: Zhang Yao , Yan Fanyong , Wang Xiule , Tong Runze
Published: November 2023

Semiconductor photocatalysts are being recognized as innovative materials for enhancing water quality and environmental optimization. Nevertheless, the limited activity and quick electron–hole pair recombination under visible light have hindered their widespread use in photocatalysis. Nanomaterials based on carbon dots (CDs) show promising applications due to their excellent light absorption ability. Notably, CDs/semiconductor photocatalysts have emerged as advanced photocatalytic materials. This review summarizes strategies to improve the performance of conventional semiconductor photocatalysts by incorporating CDs. These include TiO2, g‐C3N4, Bi‐based, Cu2O, and ZnO photocatalysts. Various effective synthesis routes for composites are discussed, including morphology optimization, heteroatom doping, heterojunction building, and creation of polymeric hybrids. Ultimately, the challenges and future prospects of CDs/semiconductor photocatalysts are discussed.
Binder melt: Composite propellants with RDX**
Authors: Nagendra Kumar , Ramakrishna P. A. , Sangtyani Rekha , Kumar Arvind
Published: November 2023

The binder melt on the surface of aluminized composite propellants with RDX has been quantified using experimental and computational approaches. A scanning electron microscope in conjunction with energy dispersive spectroscopy was used to analyze the surface of unburnt and extinguished propellant samples. Rapid depressurization technique was used to obtain the extinguished propellants. Five propellants were prepared, keeping the aluminum and binder fraction constant at 4 % and 16 %, respectively. The RDX fraction in the propellants was varied from 3 % to 12 %. It was found that the melt on the surface of the propellant increased from 36.7 % to 43.9 % when the RDX fraction was changed from 3 % to 12 % in the propellant. For propellants containing 3 % to 9 % RDX, a region of plateau burning was observed in the pressure range of 5–7 MPa, while propellants containing 12 % RDX showed plateau burning between 7–10 MPa.
A case report of adult type 2 familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis
Authors: Li Ding‐Ding , Hong‐Zhang  , Zhu Hao‐Jin , Zhang Sheng‐Mei , Jiang Shu‐Jun , Zhang Yan‐Liang
Published: November 2023

Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL) is a fatal autosomal recessive disorder that often occurs in infants and young children, and rarely reported in adults. In this paper, we retrospectively reported an elderly woman with recurrent fever, this patient was diagnosed with familial hemophagocytic syndrome by perfecting relevant examinations after admission, improvement was observed after standard chemotherapy. In order to further determine the possible underlying genetic causes, we performed gene mutation analysis and found that there were compound heterozygous missense mutations c.133G > A (p.Gly45Arg) and c.147C > A (p.Asp49Glu) on the exon2 of PRF1 gene in this patient. According to the clinical manifestations and test results, the patient was further confirmed as late‐onset FHL‐2 type. Without a suitable donor, the patient did not perform hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Therefore, the relevant genetic examination should be performed as early as possible in young patients with a family history of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, and it can provide a basis for etiological diagnosis and radical treatment by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. It is essential to further study the molecular mechanism and clinical application value for late‐onset elderly FHL patients without appropriate donors.
Pooled analysis of three pharmacokinetic studies comparing biosimilar MB02 and reference bevacizumab
Authors: Miguel‐Lillo B. , Sánchez‐Vidaurre Sara , Pérez Díaz L. , Paravisini A.
Published: November 2023

Aim

The aim of this study was to add robustness and provide further evidence on the bioequivalence, safety and immunogenicity between MB02 and reference bevacizumab. No similar study has been performed before with a biosimilar monoclonal antibody.

Methods

Population analysis by pooling data from three independent pharmacokinetic (PK) studies was performed. The studies had a single‐dose, double‐blind, three‐arm, parallel‐group design and two studies, MB02‐A‐02‐17 and MB02‐A‐05‐18, compared MB02 to EU‐ and US‐bevacizumab in Caucasian subjects, while study MB02‐A‐04‐18 compared MB02 and EU‐bevacizumab in Japanese participants. Primary endpoints included maximum observed serum concentration (Cmax), area under the serum concentration–time curve (AUC) from time zero and extrapolated to infinity (AUC0–∞) and AUC from time zero to the time of last quantifiable concentration (AUC0–t). Secondary endpoints included other PK parameters, safety and immunogenicity. A sensitivity analysis using actual protein concentration as a correction factor was applied to primary PK parameters.

Results

Point estimates and 90% confidence intervals for the geometric mean ratios of primary PK parameters for MB02, EU‐ and US‐bevacizumab were all contained within the predefined bioequivalence margins (80%–125%) for all pairwise comparisons. The same results for all pairwise comparisons were observed when protein‐corrected primary PK parameters were analyzed. Safety and immunogenicity were similar between MB02 and the EU‐ and US‐reference bevacizumab in healthy subjects.

Conclusions

This pooled analysis of three comparable PK studies further supports the bioequivalence of biosimilar MB02 to EU‐ and US‐reference bevacizumab. No clinically meaningful differences in safety or immunogenicity were observed.
Refining Photothermal Deflection Spectroscopy: Incorporating Reflectance for Enhanced Accuracy in Light‐Absorption Measurements
Authors: Asami Meita , Kampwerth Henner , Pollard Michael , Hao Xiaojing , Komaba Shintaro , Ikari Tetsuo , Fukuyama Atsuhiko , Watanabe Kentaroh , Nakano Yoshiaki , Sugiyama Masakazu
Published: November 2023

A method for measuring light absorption using photothermal deflection spectroscopy (PDS) is investigated. Typical reflectance and transmittance (R & T) absorption measurements have low spectral resolution (SR) with standard setups. It is believed that absorption measurements using PDS solve this problem because of its high sensitivity, even at a high SR. However, accurate absorption measurements have not been obtained using conventional PDS. The reflectance of the sample must be considered in the absorptance calculations. Various absorption measurement methods are compared and a novel calculation method for accurate PDS absorption measurements is proposed. A sample with quantum structures is fabricated and PDS measurements are performed. Exciton absorption peaks are also observed. The high SR of PDS is demonstrated and the measured exciton absorption peaks are confirmed using piezoelectric photothermal measurements. Furthermore, it is confirmed that the absolute values of absorptance derived from the R & T and PDS measurements agree well. The new PDS absorption measurement technique enables to obtain accurate absorption characteristics, which are indispensable for designing and optimizing optoelectronic devices.
Distance based molecular characterization and QSPR modeling of properties of triazine based dendrimer
Authors: Xavier D. Antony , Nair A Theertha , Varghese Eddith Sarah , Baby Annmaria
Published: November 2023

In the current era of technological advancement, dendrimers have been in high demand as the fundamental component in the field of drug design. For better efficacy, scientists have been working intensely to produce potentially beneficial dendrimer molecules. Mathematical chemistry has a lot to offer with effective tools like molecular descriptors and functions that can forecast compound molecular features. Topological descriptors, being numerical invariants associated with a chemical compound, have the potential to correlate chemical structure with different physical attributes, chemical reactivity, or biological activity. By incorporating these descriptors in QSAR and QSPR modeling, it is possible to predict a variety of physicochemical attributes and bioactivities. Hence, the main objective of the study is to obtain the distance‐based molecular descriptors of triazine‐based dendrimer and subsequently generate linear models for their chemical properties using regression analysis. This linear model can predict the properties of succeeding generations, avoiding the necessity for time‐consuming laboratory experimental trials.
A theory study based on DFT/TD‐DFT for a series of Ir(III) complexes with the low‐efficiency roll‐off and the high‐inter‐system crossover rate properties
Authors: Song Ming‐Xing , Guo Xi‐Lian , Ji Ye , Yang Jia‐Yu , Zhang Yun‐Kai , Pan Zi‐Cong , Wang Mei‐Qi , Qin Zheng‐Kun
Published: November 2023

This study employs density functional theory (DFT) and time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) to investigate a series of cyclometallated Ir(III) complexes for their application as OLED light‐emitting materials, including (dtp)2Ir(dpm), (mmpyp)2Ir(dpm), (dtp)2Ir(tpip), (mmpyp)2Ir(tpip), (dtp)2Ir(pic), and (mmpyp)2Ir(pic). Their geometries, frontier molecular orbital properties, ionization potential, electron affinity, absorption and emission spectra, and spin‐orbit coupling properties have been analyzed respectively. Through comparison, we have identified complexes with reduced efficiency roll‐off and enhanced kISC.
Gender gaps in the impact of the pandemic on the use of ICT in higher education
Authors: Vergara Diego , Antón‐Sancho Álvaro , Fernández‐Arias Pablo
Published: November 2023

The COVID‐19 pandemic has led to a process of digitalisation of higher education that has forced a change in the habits of use of information and communication technologies (ICT) among professors. The literature analyses this impact from different perspectives, but the gender gaps that may have occurred in this regard have not been studied so far. The main purpose is to analyse the gender gap in the self‐concept of digital competence of Latin American professors and the impact that the pandemic has had on the habits of use of ICT among them. For this purpose, this paper conducts quantitative research. A questionnaire designed by the authors has been answered by a sample of 1062 professors, and the responses have been statistically analysed. The results prove that the self‐concept of digital competence influences males more than females in terms of their assessment of the didactic use of ICT. The pandemic has caused the frequencies of ICT use in different teaching activities to homogenise. Females have increased their use of ICT more than males—a certain correction of the digital gender gap occurs in the region after the pandemic, within faculty. The use of ICT among faculty has increased after the pandemic more among females than males, but insufficient digital competence hinders full digitalisation in both cases. It is recommended that universities develop digital training plans aimed at facilitating an egalitarian process of ICT integration.
Realizing sustainable development goals in sub‐Saharan Africa: The role of industrialization on consumption‐based carbon emission
Authors: Wang Jian , Zhang Yuzhen , Twum Angelina Kissiwaa , Agyemang Andrew Osei
Published: November 2023

The study analyzed the linkage among industrialization, trade openness, and consumption‐based carbon emissions in Sub‐Sahara Africa (SSA) to establish how Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 8 and 9 can be achieved without negatively affecting the climate—SDG 13. Based on insights drawn from the environmental governance and economic integration theories, we developed a model that connects industrialization, trade openness and consumption‐based carbon emission in SSA, as the region strives to balance development with climate protection. We used purposive sampling to select 30 out of 46 countries in SSA with readily available data on the International Energy Agency and the World Development Indicators databases from 2000 to 2021. The study utilized the dynamic common correlated effect and the pooled mean group estimators for the empirical analysis. The results revealed that industry growth has an affirmative link with consumption‐based carbon emissions. Similarly, urban growth recorded a positive association with carbon emission. Moreover, trade openness positively moderates the link between industry growth and carbon emissions. The findings affirm the need for strengthening policies and regulations to promote industry growth (SDG 9), while ensuring climate protection in SSA to achieve SDG 13.
Do green finance, green technology innovation, and institutional quality help achieve environmental sustainability? Evidence from the developing economies
Authors: Sethi Litu , Behera Biswanath , Sethi Narayan
Published: November 2023

One possible way to achieve sustainable economic growth is by limiting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The developing countries, in particular, which significantly contribute to global carbon dioxide emissions, need a paradigm shift towards sustainable production and consumption to achieve economic growth while ensuring environmental sustainability. This study thus analyzes the role of green technology innovation, green finance, renewable energy use, institutional quality, and agricultural value added in attaining environmental sustainability by abating CO2 emissions for 25 select developing countries from 1998 to 2019. This study uses the Driscoll‐Kraay and two‐step SGMM estimators to assess the impact of independent variables on the response variable, acknowledging the endogeneity problem in the model. The empirical findings reveal that green finance, green technology innovation, and institutional quality induce CO2 emissions, whereas agricultural value‐added and renewable energy use are observed to have detrimental effects on CO2 emissions. Moreover, the moderation effect of green technology innovation and institutional quality with green finance is observed to have a weak and insignificant impact on CO2 emissions. The study thus recommends that developing countries enforce policies to promote investments and innovation in the clean energy sector to attain sustainable development goals by mitigating carbon emissions.
Impact of spirituality, culture, behaviour on sustainable consumption intentions
Authors: Saxena Noopur , Sharma Ruchika
Published: November 2023

Sustainable consumption is a growing area of research due to the climate change and environmental degradation. The present study examines a conceptual model by integrating spirituality with cultural values from Hofstede cultural dimensions theory and constructs from Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to determine sustainable consumption intention. The paper also examines the moderating role of gender. The data was gathered from 726 customers. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the main variables influencing sustainable consumption intentions. Spirituality, collectivism and long‐term orientation were found to have a positive impact on attitudes that leads to sustainable consumption intention. Thus, this study helps to improve the predictive ability of the Theory of Planned Behaviour by incorporating spirituality as a behavioural belief and collectivism and long‐term orientation as cultural dimensions. The findings show that gender has no moderating effect. The study outlines the process for converting a person's cultural values, norms, and beliefs into a purchase intention. As a result, the research offers practitioners and decision‐makers insight into how to boost intention towards sustainable consumption.
Import competition and sustainable development of global value chains: Evidence from China
Authors: Feng Zhenzhen , Tang Huimin
Published: November 2023

As the largest developing country and the second largest importer, China provides meaningful research on import competition and the global value chain (GVC). This article uses theoretical models and empirical tests to explore whether and how import competition affects the sustainable development of Chinese firms' GVCs. Moreover, we utilize China's entry into the WTO as a quasi‐natural experiment for import competition to further test the robustness of our findings. Ultimately, we find that import competition reduces the sustainable development of GVCs by decreasing the quality of imported intermediate inputs, which inhibits technology spillover, and by increasing the substitution of foreign inputs for domestic materials. Heterogeneous analyses show that import competition negatively affects ordinary trade and mixed trade firms while having no significant impact on processing trade firms. Moreover, this negative effect is especially significant for firms in eastern and central regions.
Hierarchically Porous, N, P‐Co‐Doped Carbon Structures with Embedded Pt Particles as Effective Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Authors: Zhang Yixing , Zhao Jinyu , Lian Jie , Guo Siwen , Zhao Zhenxin , Wang Xiaomin
Published: November 2023

The proton exchange membrane fuel cell now ranks as one of the best alternatives to fossil fuels. Two optimization techniques that have stirred up a lot of controversy include reducing the amount of precious metal Pt catalysts and boosting the kinetics of the cathodic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Herein, “template‐etching” method is used to create N−P co‐doped low‐Pt catalysts with hierarchical porous carbon nanospheres (Pt/NPC). The P atoms′ valence electrons, which serve to attach the Pt to the equally disseminated N atoms, further disperse the Pt inside the carbon nanospheres. As a result, the Pt is able to modify the electronic structure and alter the d‐band center, which raises the intrinsic ORR activity. The hierarchical porous structure of the carbon nanospheres, created by the phytic acid activation of the pores, can expose more active sites and efficiently enhance the transfer of oxygen and electrons, increasing the catalytic efficiency. The catalysts synthesized using this method had great stability, 9.87 wt % Pt concentration, and half‐wave potential of 0.832 V for acidic intermediates and 0.855 V for alkaline intermediates. Because of its entire pH ORR catalytic capabilities, this catalyst exhibits tremendous application potential for replacing conventional Pt/C catalysts.
Exploring the Potential of Vortioxetine Derivatives as Inhibitors of SARS‐CoV‐2 Main Protease: A Computational Study
Authors: Zhou Aizhen , Wang Li , Zou Jie , Ma Shuwei , Zhou Yahong , Wang Juan , Li Na , Cheng Bin
Published: November 2023

In recent years, Vortioxetine derivatives have attracted much attention as main protease inhibitors of SARS‐CoV‐2. In this study, the structure‐activity relationship of 32 Vortioxetine derivatives was studied by CoMFA and CoMSIA models. The results show that CoMFA (q2=0.522, r2=0.996) and CoMSIA (q2=0.562, r2=0.934) have good estimation stability and prediction ability. Subsequently, through the analysis of 3D‐QSAR model, we designed four novel compounds, and verified that the pharmacokinetic properties of the new molecules were superior to compound 28 by ADMET, and verified the key amino acid action sites of the new molecule by molecular docking. Finally, the new molecules was compared with compound 28 by molecular dynamics simulation and MMPBSA, which further verified the efficacy of the new molecules, wherein the binding free energy N1 (ΔG=−161.38 kJ/mol)>N4 (ΔG=−154.19 kJ/mol)>C28 (ΔG=−129.13 kJ/mol), indicating that the newly designed drug molecules are more suitable for subsequent experimental verification. The findings presented herein can offer valuable guidance for the design and development of efficacious and innovative inhibitors targeting the SARS‐CoV‐2 main protease.
Designed Nanomaterials‐Assisted Proteomics and Metabolomics Analysis for In Vitro Diagnosis
Authors: Wang Yanhui , Li Rongxin , Shu Weikang , Chen Xiaonan , Lin Yingying , Wan Jingjing
Published: November 2023

In vitro diagnosis (IVD) is pivotal in modern medicine, enabling early disease detection and treatment optimization. Omics technologies, particularly proteomics and metabolomics, offer profound insights into IVD. Despite its significance, omics analyses for IVD face challenges, including low analyte concentrations and the complexity of biological environments. In addition, the direct omics analysis by mass spectrometry (MS) is often hampered by issues like large sample volume requirements and poor ionization efficiency. Through manipulating their size, surface charge, and functionalization, as well as the nanoparticle‐fluid incubation conditions, nanomaterials have emerged as a promising solution to extract biomolecules and enhance the desorption/ionization efficiency in MS detection. This review delves into the last five years of nanomaterial applications in omics, focusing on their role in the enrichment, separation, and ionization analysis of proteins and metabolites for IVD. It aims to provide a comprehensive update on nanomaterial design and application in omics, highlighting their potential to revolutionize IVD.
Fatigue behavior of deep concrete beams with critical shear cracks
Authors: Fathalla Eissa , Mihaylov Boyan
Published: November 2023

Reinforced concrete deep beams in bridges and other critical infrastructure are subjected to millions of load cycles during their service life. At the same time, they typically work with high shear and develop critical diagonal cracks. The cyclic loading across the cracks results in fatigue damage of the shear‐resisting mechanisms, which needs to be taken into account in the assessment of existing structures, and in particular in members with small amount of shear reinforcement built according to early design codes. To aid the development of advanced assessment approaches for such structures, this paper presents five large‐scale fatigue tests of deep beams with a stirrup ratio of 0.134%. The beams are preloaded to develop complete diagonal cracks, and then are subjected to cycles with different minimum and maximum load. The focus is placed on detailed crack measurements, needed for the development of crack‐based assessment approaches. The crack data is analyzed with the help of the two‐parameter kinematic theory to quantify important deformations. It is shown that the fatigue across the shear cracks is associated mainly with degradation of aggregate interlock and progressive damage in the critical loading zones. It is also shown that as the maximum load is decreased, the fatigue life increases, and the failure mode can switch from shear to flexure.