bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Retrospective matched cohort study of incidence rates and excess length of hospital stay owing to pressure injuries in an Asian setting
Authors: Graves Nicholas , Maiti Raju , Aloweni Fazila Abu Bakar , Yi Zhen Ng , Yuh Ang Shin , Bishnoi Priya , Chong Tze Tec , Carmody David , Harding Keith
Published: March 2023

Background

Little is known about stage 1 and 2 pressure injuries that are health care‐acquired. We report incidence rates of health care‐acquired stage 1 and stage 2 pressure injuries, and, estimate the excess length of stay using four competing analytic methods. We discuss the merits of the different approaches.

Methods

We calculated monthly incidence rates for stage 1 and 2 health care‐acquired pressure injuries occurring in a large Singapore acute care hospital. To estimate excess stay, we conducted unadjusted comparisons with a control cohort, performed linear regression and then generalized linear regression with a gamma distribution. Finally, we fitted a simple state‐based model. The design for the cost attribution work was a retrospective matched cohort study.

Results

Incidence rates in 2016 were 0.553% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.55, 0.557) and 0.469% (95% CI 0.466, 0.472) in 2017. For data censored at 60 days’ maximum stay, the unadjusted comparisons showed the highest excess stay at 17.68 (16.43‐18.93) days and multi‐state models showed the lowest at 1.22 (0.19, 2.23) days.

Conclusions

Poor‐quality methods for attribution of excess length of stay to pressure injury generate inflated estimates that could mislead decision makers. The findings from the multi‐state model, which is an appropriate method, are plausible and illustrate the likely bed‐days saved from lowering the risk of these events. Stage 1 and 2 pressure injuries are common and increase costs by prolonging the length of stay. There will be economic value investing in prevention. Using biased estimates of excess length of stay will overstate the potential value of prevention.
Volatility forecasting with Hybrid‐long short‐term memory models: Evidence from the COVID‐19 period
Authors: Yang Ao , Ye Qing , Zhai Jia
Published: March 2023

Volatility forecasting, a central issue in financial risk modelling and management, has attracted increasing attention after several major financial market crises. In this article, we draw upon the literature on volatility forecasting and hybrid models to construct the Hybrid‐long short‐term memory (LSTM) models to forecast the intraday realized volatility in three major US stock indexes. We construct the hybrid models by combining one or multiple traditional time series models with the LSTM model, and incorporating either the estimated parameters, or the predicted volatility, or both from the statistical models as additional input values into the LSTM model. We perform the out‐of‐sample test of our Hybrid‐LSTM models in volatility forecasting during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) period. Empirical results show that the Hybrid‐LSTM models can still significantly improve the volatility forecasting performance of the LSTM model during the COVID‐19 period. By analysing how the construction methods may influence the forecasting performance of the Hybrid‐LSTM models, we provide some suggestions on their design. Finally, we identify the optimal Hybrid‐LSTM model for each stock index and compare its performance with the LSTM model on each day during our sample period. We find that the Hybrid‐LSTM models' great capability of capturing market dynamics explains their good performance in forecasting.
Evaluation of AquaCrop for potato yield and biomass simulation under different water amounts in drip and furrow irrigation methods
Authors: Izadi Zohre , Nasrolahi Ali Heidar , Borujeni Bijan Haghighati
Published: March 2023

Potato is one of the most important crops for meeting food needs worldwide. The water requirement of this crop is high, and its yield is sensitive to the amount of irrigation water. Studying different amounts of irrigation water in irrigation methods is not only expensive but also time‐consuming, so it is necessary to use water‐driven crop models such as AquaCrop. This research aims to evaluate the accuracy of AquaCrop for simulating potato yield and biomass in Iran at three irrigation levels (full irrigation [FI] stands for 100%, I80 for 80% and I65 for 65% of the crop water requirement) via two irrigation methods (furrow irrigation and drip irrigation). For furrow irrigation, the normalized root mean square error values in the FI, I80 and I65 treatments varied between 17% and 28% for yield and 12% and 17% for biomass. These results for drip irrigation were 17%–22% (yield) and 9%–18% (biomass). For furrow irrigation, the average root mean square error values for potato biomass and yield were 0.89 and 0.68 t ha−1, respectively. The corresponding results for drip irrigation were 0.79 and 0.64 t ha−1, respectively. Based on all the results, the accuracy of AquaCrop was good for both irrigation methods, even though its accuracy under severe water stress conditions (I65) for the drip irrigation method was better than that for furrow irrigation.
Characterization of drug‐related problems and evaluation of pharmacist interventions in the cardiovascular intensive care settings in Thailand
Authors: Wattanaruengchai Phannita , Kongwatcharapong Junporn , Nathisuwan Surakit
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Data regarding drug‐related problems (DRPs) and pharmacist's role in the cardiovascular intensive care units (CICU) from low‐ to middle‐income countries (LMIC) are limited.

Objective

The study aimed to characterize the DRP and interventions provided by clinical pharmacists in the CICU settings.

Method

A retrospective, cross‐sectional study was conducted in patients admitted to CICU of a tertiary‐care hospital in Thailand during January 2021 to March 2022 was performed. Data were collected from patient's medical records and pharmacy service records. DRPs were categorized according to the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe classification. Two board‐certified pharmacotherapy specialists, pharmacy residents, and trained clinical pharmacists staffed the units 5 days a week. The pharmacist team conducted a medication review and provided interventions to the cardiology team either verbally during the ward round or in writing, as appropriate. Pharmacist interventions were categorized into two groups including retrospective intervention (interventions made to resolve DRPs after an order was made) and prospective interventions (interventions made prior to ordering process). Outcome measures were (1) number of DRPs identified; (2) category of DRPs; (3) number interventions; and (4) acceptance rate of interventions by the medical team.

Results

Among 576 patients admitted to the CICU, 345 DRPs were identified in 203 patients. The pharmacist team provided a total of 790 interventions including 345 retrospective interventions to resolve DRPs and 445 prospective interventions to guide medication use prior to the ordering process. The most frequent intervention was related to dosage adjustment, drug administration, adding drugs for existing conditions, and suggesting laboratory monitoring. The acceptance rate of the pharmacist intervention was 97.4%, most of which led to changes in drug therapy.

Conclusion

DRPs in CICU settings are common. Trained clinical pharmacists can effectively resolve DRPs and provide recommendations to improve quality of care through both clinical and distribution functions.
Whole exome and transcript profiling of liver following aflatoxin B1 exposure in rats
Authors: Foley Julie F. , Elgart Brian , Phadke Dhiral , Mav Deepak , Tripodi Ignacio , Clausen Nicholas , Weick Madeleine , Gladwell Wes , Gerrish Kevin , Shah Ruchir , Merrick B. Alex
Published: March 2023

We recently developed a rat whole exome sequencing (WES) panel and used it to evaluate early somatic mutations in archival liver tissues from F344/N rats exposed to the hepatocarcinogen, Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a widely studied, potent mutagen and hepatocarcinogen associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Rats were exposed to 1‐ppm AFB1 in feed for 14, 90, and 90 days plus a recovery 60‐day, non‐exposure period (150‐day) timepoint. Isolated liver DNA was exome sequenced. We identified 172 sequence variants across all timepoints, of which 101 were non‐synonymous variants. Well‐annotated genes carried a diverse set of 29 non‐synonymous mutations at 14 days, increasing to 39 mutations at 90 days and then decreasing to 33 mutations following the 60‐day recovery. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis conducted on previously reported, available RNA expression data of the same exome sequenced archival samples identified altered transcripts in pathways associated with malignant transformation. These included HALLMARK gene sets associated with cell proliferation (MYC Targets Version 1 and Version 2, E2F targets), cell cycle (G2M checkpoint, mitotic spindle), cell death (apoptosis), and DNA damage (DNA repair, UV response Up, Reactive oxygen species) pathways. DriverNet Impact analysis integrated exome‐seq and expression data to reveal somatic mutations in Mcm8, Bdp1, and Cct6a that may drive cancer formation. Connectivity with transcript expression changes identified these genes as the top‐ranked candidate driver genes associated with hepatocellular transformation. In conclusion, exome sequencing revealed early somatic mutations that may play a role in cancer cell transformation that are translatable to aflatoxin‐induced HCC.
Managerial sentiment and predicted and opportunistic special items
Authors: Askarzadeh Alireza , Yung Kenneth , Najand Mohammad
Published: March 2023

Prior studies suggest that firm managers misclassify core expenses as special items to influence investors’ perception of firm performance. In this investigation, we find that managerial decisions regarding misclassification of expenses are affected by managerial sentiment. Managerial sentiment has a negative relation with special‐item reporting because optimistic (pessimistic) managers pursue a misclassification that is lower (higher) than what is justified by the information available to the manager. By decomposing special items into predicted (PREDSI) and opportunistic (OPSI) components, we find that the effect of managerial sentiment is pronounced among opportunistic special items. Our results show that PREDSI (OPSI) has a non‐negative (negative) relation with future firm performance, and special items associated with managerial sentiment adversely affect future firm performance. We also find results that suggest that financial constraints serve as a channel that reinforces the negative association between managerial sentiment and special items. Specifically, financial constraints impose a limit on how frequently sentiment‐driven managers can misclassify core expenses because misclassifications obscure firm transparency and harm the credit supply. Our results remain consistent after a battery of robustness tests.
σ‐Hole intermolecular interactions between carbon oxides and dihalogens: Ab‐initio investigations
Authors: Rahali Emna , Oussama Zouaghi Mohamed , Sanz Javier Fernandez , Raouafi Noureddine , Arfaoui Youssef
Published: March 2023

Recently, halogen bonding (XB) has received increased attention as a new type of non‐covalent interaction widely present in nature. In this work, quantum chemical calculations at DFT level have been carried out to investigate halogen bonding interactions between COn(n = 1 or 2) and dihalogen molecules XY (X = F, Cl, Br, I and Y = Cl, Br, I). Highly accurate all‐electron data, estimated by CCSD(T) calculations, were used to benchmark the different levels of computational methods with the objective of finding the best accuracy/computational cost. Molecular electrostatic potential, interaction energy values, charge transfer, UV spectra, and natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis were determined to better understand the nature of the XB interaction. Density of states (DOS) and projected DOS were also computed. Hence, according to these results, the magnitude of the halogen bonding is affected by the halogen polarizability and electronegativity, where for the more polarizable and less electronegative halogen atoms, the σ‐hole is bigger. Furthermore, for the halogen‐bonded complexes involving CO and XY, the OC∙∙∙XY interaction is stronger than the CO∙∙∙XY interaction. Thus, the results presented here can establish fundamental characteristics of halogen bonding in media, which would be very helpful for applying this noncovalent interaction for the sustainable capture of carbon oxides.
Adsorption of Cu(II) in aqueous solution by sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate‐modified montmorillonite
Authors: Wang Danqi , Wang Ruicong , Peng Wencai , Wang Yi , Zhang Na , Duan Yanan , Wang Shiqin , Liu Linye
Published: March 2023

The pristine montmorillonite (P‐Mt) was modified with sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) to form SDBS montmorillonite (SDBS‐Mt) for the purpose of enhancing the removal performance of Cu(II) from aqueous solution. The materials were characterized by means of XRD, SEM‐EDS, BET, and FTIR to analyze the surface morphology and structure. SDBS‐Mt displayed a higher adsorption capacity than P‐Mt. The adsorption kinetic model and the adsorption isotherm model are depicted by the pseudo‐second‐order kinetic equation and the Langmuir equation, respectively. The adsorption of Cu(II) on SDBS‐Mt is a spontaneous and endothermic process. The order of influence of coexisting cations on the adsorption of Cu(II) is Ni(II) > Co(II) > Zn(II). In addition, the adsorbent has great regeneration performance after five cycles of regeneration. The main mechanisms of Cu(II) adsorption by SDBS‐Mt may include electrostatic attraction, ion exchange, and complexation of sulfonate groups. In brief, SDBS‐Mt may be a promising, simple, and low‐cost adsorbent for the treatment of Cu(II) in aqueoussolutions.
Competing aspects of the rural Arab mothers' bereavement experience
Authors: Ismail Akhlas , Dekel Rachel
Published: March 2023

The study applied relational dialectics theory to explore competing discourses in bereaved Arab mothers' talk about their bereavement experience in a collective space in rural areas of Israel, and to understand how the interaction between these discourses gives meaning to their experience. Fifteen bereaved mothers were interviewed. The mothers, aged 28–46 years, had children (aged 1–6 years) who died between 2 and 7 years previously. Analysis of the interviews revealed three main discursive struggles that characterize mothers' bereavement experience: (a) moving closer versus keeping one's distance; (b) social harmony versus personal needs; and (c) criticism of ongoing grief versus criticism of returning to routine functioning. The advantage of being part of a close‐knit social network is that it provides emotional cushioning to the bereaved. This cushioning, however, does not preclude the struggle to attain normalcy after the tragedy within the parameters of the contradictory societal expectations and needs of the mourner.
Biocathode electrochemical activity and reduction characteristics of Cr(VI) system in microbial fuel cells
Authors: Zhang Wusheng , Zhao Yu , Wang Xiaxia , Ma Xuli , Jin Lie , Wang Haicheng , Li Hui , Yan Jinbin , Pan Weibin , Chen Shuwei
Published: March 2023

BACKGROUND

The biocathode of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) offers a simple method for the reductive treatment of Cr(VI), and Cr(VI) is an electron acceptor in cathodes in MFCs. In this study, MFCs with different Cr(VI) contents (7.07–35.35 mg L−1) were considered to evaluate the overall performance of MFCs.

RESULTS

The results of electrochemical analysis confirmed that the MFC‐2 biocathode exhibited a higher effective reaction surface, stronger conductivity, and smaller charge transfer resistance (53.63 Ω) than the others. In addition, Cr(VI) had a power output of 75.6 mW m−2 in MFC‐2 and a Cr(VI) cathodic coulombic efficiency of 103.8%. With 14.14 mg L−1 Cr(VI) content, the cathode microbe had the best activity. Cr(VI) reduction followed a pseudo‐first‐order kinetic model, with the rate constant being 0.0139 h−1. Meanwhile, this study analyzed the Cr(VI) reduction in MFCs and the release and acceptance of electrons and protons. Electrically active bacteria such as Proteobacteria were highly enriched on the anode and cathode biofilm, while the Cr(VI)‐reducing bacteria Gammaproteobacteria increased in the biofilm of the cathode.

CONCLUSION

This study helps in the selection of Cr(VI) concentration for the cathode, guaranteeing microbial activity and power generation performance. Microbes have the best electrochemical activity in MFC‐2 (14.14 mg L−1). Meanwhile, the change in anode microbial activity was affected by cathode performance. The microbial community was significantly influenced by Cr(VI). © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Sleep parameters and problems in adolescents with and without ADHD: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Marten Finja , Keuppens Lena , Baeyens Dieter , Boyer Bianca E. , Danckaerts Marina , Cortese Samuele , Van der Oord Saskia
Published: March 2023

Background

Adolescence is characterized by an increase in the rate of sleep problems, which might be even more pronounced in adolescents with ADHD. This systematic review with meta‐analysis aimed to compare sleep in adolescents with and without ADHD, including sleep parameters, both subjectively and objectively measured, sleep problems and sleep hygiene.

Methods

Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, EMBASE, ERIC, Web of Science, and PubMed databases were searched for studies with case‐control designs (published between 1980 and 2022) directly comparing sleep in adolescents (12–25 years) with ADHD to typically developing controls. Standardized mean differences were calculated and a random‐effects model was implemented using RevMan.

Results

Overall, 6974 titles/abstracts and 205 full texts were screened, resulting in 13 eligible studies. The sample sizes range from 35 to 9846 with in total 2465 adolescents with ADHD and 18,417 controls. The data suggests that adolescents with ADHD report significantly more disturbed subjective sleep parameters (e.g., total sleep time; n = 7, SMD = 0.47, p < .001) and experience more sleep problems compared to typically developing peers (e.g., daytime sleepiness; n = 5, SMD = 0.54, p = .01). Only few studies objectively measured sleep and no significant differences were found between both groups (n = 3) in any parameter. Differences in sleep hygiene could not be examined due to a limited number of studies.

Conclusions

Adolescents with ADHD report significantly worsened subjectively sleep parameters and more sleep problems compared to controls. These findings are still preliminary as a limited number of studies was identified. Nevertheless, it is advised to routinely include sleep assessment in the ADHD diagnostic process. More research is needed with a focus on objective measurement and sleep hygiene in ADHD.
Perceived social support: A study of genetic counseling graduate students in the United States (US) and Canada
Authors: Clark Sierra , Kennel Victoria , McBrien Sarah , Samson Kaeli , Zimmerman Holly
Published: March 2023

Social support is described as having positive psychological and physical outcomes and offers some protective benefits against mental illness. However, research has not addressed social support for genetic counseling graduate students, although this population is prone to elevated levels of stress in addition to field‐specific phenomena like compassion fatigue and burnout. Therefore, an online survey was distributed to genetic counseling students in accredited programs in the United States and Canada to synthesize information about (1) demographic information, (2) self‐identified sources of support, and (3) the availability of a strong support network. In total, 238 responses were included in the analysis, yielding a mean social support score of 3.84 on a 5‐point scale, where higher scores indicate increased social support. The identification of friends or classmates as forms of social support significantly increased social support scores (p < 0.001; p = 0.006, respectively). There was also a positive correlation between increased social support scores and the number of social support outlets (p = 0.01). Subgroup analysis focused on potential differences in social support for racially/ethnically underrepresented participants (comprising less than 22% of respondents), revealing that this population identified friends as a form of social support significantly less often than their White counterparts; and mean social support scores were also significantly lower. Our study underscores the importance of classmates as a source of social support for genetic counseling graduate students while uncovering discrepancies that exist in social support sources between White and underrepresented students. Ultimately, stakeholders in genetic counseling student success should foster a community and culture of support within a training program (whether traditionally in‐person or online) to encourage success among all students.
Home enteral nutrition: A descriptive study
Authors: Mundi Manpreet S. , Mohamed Elfadil Osman , Olson Danelle A. , Pattinson Adele K. , Epp Lisa M. , Miller Lisa D. , Seegmiller Sara L. , Schneckloth Jill M. , Baker Margaret R. , Abdelmagid Marwa G. , Patel Ankitaben , Wescott Bethaney A. , Elder Lindsey S. , Hagenbrock Martha C. , Sefried Lindsey E. , Hurt Ryan T.
Published: March 2023

Background

With data demonstrating benefit, the prevalence of home enteral nutrition (HEN) has increased significantly over the last few decades. Despite this increase, there remains a paucity of data regarding real‐world use of HEN including clinical outcomes and complications.

Methods

Descriptive analysis of prospectively maintained database of our specialized HEN program was undertaken. Patients who received care in our program with HEN initiation date between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2020, were included in the analysis. Data regarding demographic information, anthropometrics, enteral nutrition (EN) regimen, electrolytes, and nutrition therapy history were included and tracked until July 31, 2021.

Results

During the study period, 1600 patients initiated HEN treatment under our care. Majority of the study population needed EN therapy due to malignancy and its complications, including malignant dysphagia or mechanical obstruction (60.6%) followed by neurodegenerative diseases (7.5%). By the end of the study period, a majority of the patients (82%) stopped HEN treatment. Of these, 44.2% achieved EN goals and/or oral autonomy. Patients continued HEN treatment for a median of 100 (interquartile range, 32–301) days. Overall, 53.2% of patients experienced/reported at least one HEN‐related complication that was clinically managed by the HEN team. Complications included tube‐related, enteral feeding intolerance (EFI), and electrolyte shifts.

Conclusion

In our study population, HEN was most utilized to manage malignancy‐related complications, including dysphagia. Unfortunately, complications, including EFI and tube‐related complications, remained quite prevalent. Further evaluation regarding risk factors for complications and preventive mechanisms, such as increased education, is indicated.
Genetic‐environment interactions and climatic variables effect on bean physical characteristics and chemical composition of Coffea arabica
Authors: Sarzynski Thuan , Bertrand Benoît , Rigal Clément , Marraccini Pierre , Vaast Philippe , Georget Frédéric , Campa Claudine , Abdallah Cécile , Nguyen Chang Thi Quynh , Nguyen Hung Phi , Nguyen Hai Thi Thanh , Ngoc Quyen Luu , Ngan Giang Khong , Viet Thang Vu , Navarini Luciano , Lonzarich Valentina , Bossolasco Laurent , Etienne Hervé
Published: March 2023

BACKGROUND

The effects of the environment and genotype in the coffee bean chemical composition were studied using nine trials covering an altitudinal gradient [600–1100 m above sea level (a.s.l.)] with three genotypes of Coffea arabica in the northwest mountainous region of Vietnam. The impacts of the climatic conditions on bean physical characteristics and chemical composition were assessed.

RESULTS

We showed that the environment had a significant effect on the bean density and on all bean chemical compounds. The environment effect was stronger than the genotype and genotype‐environment interaction effects for cafestol, kahweol, arachidic (C20:0), behenic acid (C22:0), 2,3‐butanediol, 2‐methyl‐2‐buten‐1‐ol, benzaldehyde, benzene ethanol, butyrolactone, decane, dodecane, ethanol, pentanoic acid, and phenylacetaldehyde bean content. A 2 °C increase in temperature had more influence on bean chemical compounds than a 100 mm increase in soil water content. Temperature was positively correlated with lipids and volatile compounds. With an innovative method using iterative moving averages, we showed that correlation of temperature, vapour pressure deficit (VPD) and rainfall with lipids and volatiles was higher between the 10th and 20th weeks after flowering highlighting this period as crucial for the synthesis of these chemicals. Genotype specific responses were evidenced and could be considered in future breeding programmes to maintain coffee beverage quality in the midst of climate change.

CONCLUSION

This first study of the effect of the genotype–environment interactions on chemical compounds enhances our understanding of the sensitivity of coffee quality to genotype environment interactions during bean development. This work addresses the growing concern of the effect of climate change on speciality crops and more specifically coffee. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Synthesis of hydrophilic glyceryl monocaffeate with economical catalyst cation‐exchange resin Amberlyst‐35
Authors: Li Dami , Wang Xinying , Hou Xuebei , Sun Shangde , Chen Xiaowei , Zhang Hao
Published: March 2023

BACKGROUND

Caffeic acid (CA) has anti‐oxidation and anti‐inflammatory. However, the poor hydrophilicity of CA limits its biological activities. In this work, hydrophilic glyceryl monocaffeate (GMC) was synthesized by esterification using different caffeoyl donors (deep eutectic solvent and solid CA). Cation‐exchange resins were used as the catalysts. The effects of reaction conditions were also investigated.

RESULTS

The mass transfer limitation of esterification was eliminated using deep eutectic solvent. Compared with the previous catalysts (immobilized lipase Novozym 435), an economic cation‐exchange resin, Amberlyst‐35 (A‐35), showed good catalytic performance for GMC preparation. The activation energies of GMC synthesis and CA conversion were 43.71 kJ mol−1 and 43.07 kJ mol−1, respectively. The optimal reaction conditions were a temperature reaction of 90 °C, catalyst load of 7%, glycerol/CA molar ratio of 5:1 (mol mol−1), and reaction time of 24 h, which resulted in a maximum GMC yield and CA conversion of 69.75 ± 1.03% and 82.23 ± 2.02%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The results of the work showed a promising alternative for the synthesis of GMC. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Ultrasound‐assisted ascorbic acid solution pretreated hot‐air drying improves drying characteristics and quality of jujube slices
Authors: Bao Tao , Karim Naymul , Mo Jianling , Chen Wei
Published: March 2023

BACKGROUND

The effective hot‐air drying of foods such as jujube requires an effective green pretreatment alternative to chemical pretreatments. Jujube slices were pretreated using 5 and 10 mg mL−1 ultrasound‐assisted vitamin C (UVC) for 10, 20, and 30 min, followed by hot‐air drying.

RESULTS

Ultrasound‐assisted vitamin C pretreatment for 10, 20, and 30 min modulated the characteristics of fresh jujube slices such as water loss (from −28.25% to −25.52% after 30 min of UVC pretreatment), solid gain (from −31.68% to −26.82% after 30 min of UVC pretreatment), loss of total and reducing sugars (from 200.25 mg and 34.88 mg to 287.14 mg and 4.71 mg, respectively, after 30 min of UVC pretreatment), total soluble solids (from 76.32 oBrix to 82.08 oBrix), and water diffusivity (from 9.01 × 10−10 m2 s−1 to 6.71 × 10−10 m2 s−1). These characteristics were associated with altered surface morphology and improved drying characteristics. The UVC pretreatment preserved an acceptable reddish‐yellow or orange‐like color during hot‐air drying and reduced the browning index from 26.3 optical density (OD)/g DM to 23.25 OD/g dry mass basis (DM), which was connected with reduced 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content. On the other hand, the proportions of bioactive components such as vitamin C increased from 1.05 mg g−1 DM to 9.02 mg g−1 DM, phenolics increased from 12.8 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g DM to 17.5 mg GAE/g DM, flavonoids increased from 4.0 mg rutin equivalent (RE)/g DM to 4.4 mg RE/g DM, and procyanidin content increased from 2.0 mg catechin equivalents (CE)/g DM to 2.9 mg CE/g DM in UVC pretreated jujube slices, which had a positive association with increased antioxidant activity – for example, 2,2'‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid (ABTS) increased from IC50 22.5 mg DM/mL to 8.0 mg DM/mL, 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) changed from IC50 36.5 mg DM/mL to 9.5 mg DM/mL, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) increased from 2.0 mg vitamin C equivalent (VCE)/g DM to 11.9 mg VCE/g DM).

CONCLUSION

The data indicated that UVC can be used as a promising pretreatment method for improving the hot‐air drying characteristics and the quality of jujube slices. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Preoperative acute pancreatitis and hyperenzymemia are associated with poor prognosis in patients with nonfunctional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors
Authors: Song Haiyu , Tan Qingquan , Yuan Yuan , Liu Xubao , Chen Yonghua , Wang Xing
Published: March 2023

Background

We aimed to investigate the prevalence of acute pancreatitis (AP) and hyperenzymemia as well as their clinical impact on postoperative survival outcomes in patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs).

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of 218 patients who underwent radical surgical resection for nonfunctional PNETs (NF‐PNETs) was conducted. Multivariate survival analysis was performed by the Cox proportional hazard model, with results expressed as hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results

Of the 151 patients who met the inclusion criteria, the incidences of preoperative AP and hyperenzymemia were 7.9% (12/152) and 23.2% (35/151), respectively. The mean recurrence‐free survival (RFS, 95% CI) for patients in control, AP, and hyperenzymemia groups was 136 (127–144), 88 (74–103), and 90 (61–122) months, with a 5‐year RFS rate of 86.5%, 58.3%, and 68.9%, respectively. In the multivariable‐adjusted Cox hazard model that included tumor grade and lymph node status, the adjusted HR of AP and hyperenzymemia for recurrence was 2.58 (95% CI: 1.47–7.86, p = 0.008) and 2.43 (95% CI: 1.08–7.06, p = 0.040).

Conclusion

Preoperative AP and hyperenzymemia are associated with poor RFS following radical surgical resection in NF‐PNETs patients.
A comparison of the efficacy and safety of natural orifice specimen extraction and conventional laparoscopic surgery in patients with sigmoid colon/high rectal cancer
Authors: He Qiang , Huang Jing , Niu Liyun , Zhai Chunbao
Published: March 2023

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of natural orifice specimen extraction surgery (NOSES) compared to conventional laparoscopic radical resection in the treatment of patients with sigmoid colon/high rectal cancer.

Methods

The control group (n = 62) underwent traditional laparoscopic radical resection, and the observation group (n = 62) underwent transanal NOSES laparoscopic radical resection. The operation length; amount of bleeding; number of lymph node dissections and days of hospitalization after surgery; visual pain scores on the first and third days after surgery; first leaving bed, anal exhaust, eating a liquid diet, and effective sleep times; and the postoperative complications (abdominal or incision infection or anastomotic fistula) of the two groups of patients were compared and analyzed.

Results

The effective sleep time of the observation group on the first day after the operation was 12.3 ± 2.9 h, which was longer than that of the control group (10.6 ± 3.2 h), and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The pain degree of the two groups on the third day after the operation was lower than that on the first day, and the pain score of the observation group was lower than that of the control group (2.0 ± 1.0 vs. 3.2 ± 1.2, p < 0.001). The postoperative hospital stay in the observation group was significantly shorter than that in the control group (9.7 ± 2.3 vs. 11.2 ± 2.6, p < 0.001). The incidence of postoperative complications in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (3.2% vs. 12.9%, p = 0.048). In addition, it was found that the first leaving bed, anal exhaust and liquid diet times in the observation group were significantly shorter than those in the control group (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Laparoscopic radical resection NOSES in patients with sigmoid colon cancer or high rectal cancer leads to lower postoperative pain and longer sleep time than in patients who undergo traditional laparoscopic radical surgery. The complication rate of this procedure is low, and the curative effect is safe and positive.
Discovery of the potential neuraminidase inhibitors from Polygonum cuspidatum by ultrafiltration combined with mass spectrometry guided by molecular docking
Authors: Wang Liqing , Chen Menghan , Sun Qihui , Yang Yong , Rong Rong
Published: March 2023

Neuraminidase is an important target in the treatment of the influenza A virus. Screening natural neuraminidase inhibitors from medicinal plants is crucial for drug research. This study proposed a rapid strategy for identifying neuraminidase inhibitors from different crude extracts (Polygonum cuspidatum, Cortex Fraxini, and Herba Siegesbeckiae) using ultrafiltration combined with mass spectrometry guided by molecular docking. Firstly, the main component library of the three herbs was established, followed by molecular docking between the components and neuraminidase. Only the crude extracts with numbers of potential neuraminidase inhibitors identified by molecular docking were selected for ultrafiltration. This guided approach reduced experimental blindness and improved efficiency. The results of molecular docking indicated that the compounds in Polygonum cuspidatum demonstrated good binding affinity with neuraminidase. Subsequently, ultrafiltration‐mass spectrometry was employed to screen for neuraminidase inhibitors in Polygonum cuspidatum. A total of five compounds were fished out, and they were identified as trans‐polydatin, cis‐polydatin, emodin‐1‐O‐β‐D‐glucoside, emodin‐8‐O‐β‐D‐glucoside, and emodin. The enzyme inhibitory assay showed that they all had neuraminidase inhibitory effects. In addition, the key residues of the interaction between neuraminidase and fished compounds were predicted. In all, this study could provide a strategy for the rapid screening of the potential enzyme inhibitors from medicinal herbs.
Generalized purpuric lichen nitidus treated successfully with narrowband UVB therapy
Authors: Turjanmaa Elli , Huotari‐Orava Riitta , Korhonen Niina
Published: March 2023

A 66‐year‐old Finnish man suffered from asymptomatic, purpuric skin lesions extending from his ankles and dorsal feet to the trunk and forearms. Based on a skin punch biopsy and the clinical picture, the diagnosis of generalized purpuric lichen nitidus, which is an exceedingly rare form of lichen nitidus, was made. The condition responded well to narrowband UVB phototherapy.
‘Cracks’ in the scholarly communications system: Insights from a longitudinal international study of early career researchers
Authors: Nicholas David , Boukacem‐Zeghmouri Cherifa , Rodríguez‐Bravo Blanca , Herman Eti , Abrizah Abdullah , Clark David , Serbina Galina , Sims David , Świgoń Marzena , Xu Jie , Watkinson Anthony , Jamali Hamid R. , Tenopir Carol , Allard Suzie
Published: March 2023

Key points

170 early career researchers interviewed three times over 2 years, have uniquely contributed towards a stress test of scholarly communications and cracks have been identified.

The perfect storm created by the convergence of millennial values and the pandemic appears to have fast‐forwarded the cracking process, perhaps, for the good.

The cracks in question are: (1) peer review; (2) reputational assessment; (3) unethical/questionable practices; (4) collaboration; (5) networking.
Consumer engagement, stress, and conservation of resources theory: A review, conceptual development, and future research agenda
Authors: Hollebeek Linda D. , Hammedi Wafa , Sprott David E.
Published: March 2023

While scholarly acumen of consumer engagement, defined as a consumer's resource investment in his/her brand interactions, is burgeoning, its theoretical interface with consumer stress remains tenuous, exposing an important literature‐based gap. Specifically, consumers' engagement with brands, or brand‐related elements (e.g., online brand communities, frontline staff, service robots, social media pages, etc.), may either induce, or ensue from, individuals' consumption‐related stress (e.g., through perceived resource depletion, brand‐related performance anxiety, choice overload, pandemics, climate change, supply shortages, etc.). Addressing this gap, we develop a conservation of resources theory‐informed framework of the consumer engagement/stress interface that identifies consumer engagement as either (i) a consumer stressor (e.g., by placing demands on consumers, including in self‐service or coproduction tasks), or (ii) a stress‐reducing coping mechanism (e.g., by facilitating the development of brand‐related learning, skills, or resilience). We, then, introduce the articles contained in this section, which are also linked to the proposed framework. We conclude by outlining avenues for further research in the integrative area of consumer engagement/stress.
Disembedded consumption increases perceived justice
Authors: Li Lulu , Qian Yue , Sun Yixia
Published: March 2023

The traditional theorizing of social justice analyzed people's perceived justice in a bounded society or institution. This conceptualization, however, has limitations in interpreting justice in a boundaryless society with high mobility of people and commodities, which is the reality of contemporary lives. We, therefore, introduce a new concept, “disembedded consumption” (i.e., one's consumption is not constrained by its grounding in the local context of a restricted time and space), to reinterpret social justice. Across five studies, we demonstrate that either human mobility or product mobility can predict disembedded consumption which increases people's perceived justice through heightened resource accessibility. Moreover, we provide further evidence that human mobility and product mobility can be compensated with each other to have a positive effect on disembedded consumption and consequently on perceived justice. The current research for the first time introduces “disembedded consumption” as a consequence of human mobility and product mobility and contributes to the literature on social justice.
Vertebral Chemistry Distinguishes Nursery Habitats of Juvenile Shortfin Mako in the Eastern North Pacific Ocean
Authors: LaFreniere Benjamin R. , Sosa-Nishizaki Oscar , Herzka Sharon Z. , Snodgrass Owyn , Dewar Heidi , Miller Nathan , Wells R.J. David , Mohan John A.
Published: March 2023

Shortfin Mako Isurus oxyrinchus are ecologically and economically important apex predators throughout the global oceans. The eastern North Pacific Ocean contains several coastal nurseries for this species, where juveniles can forage and grow until venturing into offshore pelagic habitats, where seasonal migration and reproduction occurs. Opportunistically sampled vertebrae from both male and female juvenile Shortfin Mako (65.5–134.4 cm total length, neonate to age 2) were sourced from two distinct nurseries in the eastern North Pacific: the Southern California Bight (n = 12), USA, and Bahía Sebastián Vizcaíno (n = 11), Mexico. Mineralized vertebral cartilage was analyzed to determine concentrations of selected elements (Li, Mg, Mn, Zn, Sr, Ba, standardized to Ca) using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, targeting growth bands at specific life stages, including postparturition at the birth band and the recent life history of the individual at the vertebral edge. The elemental variation exhibited by these individuals over ~1 month of life before capture was explored by comparing recent vertebral concentrations, with Zn:Ca, Sr:Ca, and Ba:Ca concentrations significantly different between nurseries (Southern California Bight versus Bahía Sebastián Vizcaíno). Element variability through ontogeny was detected, as Li:Ca, Mg:Ca, and Zn:Ca concentrations were significantly different between individual past and recent vertebral bands. These findings suggest that vertebral chemistry approaches may enhance understanding of nursery habitat sources of migratory sharks.
Variant curation and interpretation in hereditary cancer genes: An institutional experience in Latin America
Authors: Manotas María Carolina , Rivera Ana Lucia , Sanabria‐Salas María Carolina
Published: March 2023

Background

Variant curation refers to the application of evidence‐based methods for the interpretation of genetic variants. Significant variability in this process among laboratories affects clinical practice. For admixed Hispanic/Latino populations, underrepresented in genomic databases, the interpretation of genetic variants for cancer risk is challenging.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated 601 sequence variants detected in patients participating in the largest Institutional Hereditary Cancer Program in Colombia. VarSome and PathoMAN were used for automated curation, and ACMG/AMP and Sherloc criteria were applied for manual curation.

Results

Regarding the automated curation, 11% of the variants (64/601) were reclassified, 59% (354/601) had no changes in its interpretation, and the other 30% (183/601) presented conflicting interpretations. With respect to manual curation, of the 183 variants with conflicting interpretations, 17% (N = 31) were reclassified, 66% (N = 120) had no changes in their initial interpretation, and 17% (N = 32) remained with conflicting interpretation status. Overall, 91% of the VUS were downgraded and 9% were upgraded.

Conclusions

Most VUS were reclassified as benign/likely benign. Since false‐positive and ‐negative results can be obtained with automated tools, manual curation should also be used as a complement. Our results contribute to improving cancer risk assessment and management for a broad range of hereditary cancer syndromes in Hispanic/Latino populations.
Fatty acids in cancer: Metabolic functions and potential treatment
Authors: Du Ao , Wang Zhen , Huang Tengda , Xue Shuai , Jiang Chuang , Qiu Guoteng , Yuan Kefei
Published: March 2023

Lipid metabolic reprogramming is one of the important metabolic characteristics of cancer cells. As major components of lipids, fatty acids provide energy and material basis for cancer cell survival. Abnormal fatty acid metabolism has been found in many cancers. Fatty acid uptake, transport, and synthesis are closely related to the pathogenesis of cancer. Meanwhile, fatty acid changes in the membrane structure of cancer cells and signal transduction mediated by signaling lipids are also helping cancer cells survive in the changing microenvironment. Some of these enzymes and metabolites involved in fatty acid metabolism are emerging as unique cancer biomarkers. Multiple studies have shown that disordered fatty acids can regulate tumor cell proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance. Therefore, targeting fatty acid metabolism has become a promising treatment strategy. Here, we mainly present metabolic alterations of fatty acids, the basic components of lipids, in cancer. We discuss the cancer treatment based on fatty acid and fatty acid metabolism. These may provide a basis for a better understanding of lipid metabolic reprogramming in cancer, and also provide new ideas for cancer biomarker search, drug development, and combination therapy.
Mutually communicated model based on multi‐parametric MRI for automated segmentation and classification of prostate cancer
Authors: Liu Kewen , Li Piqiang , Otikovs Martins , Ning Xinzhou , Xia Liyang , Wang Xiangyu , Yang Lian , Pan Feng , Zhang Zhi , Wu Guangyao , Xie Han , Bao Qingjia , Zhou Xin , Liu Chaoyang
Published: March 2023

Background

Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mp‐MRI) is introduced and established as a noninvasive alternative for prostate cancer (PCa) detection and characterization.

Purpose

To develop and evaluate a mutually communicated deep learning segmentation and classification network (MC‐DSCN) based on mp‐MRI for prostate segmentation and PCa diagnosis.

Methods

The proposed MC‐DSCN can transfer mutual information between segmentation and classification components and facilitate each other in a bootstrapping way. For classification task, the MC‐DSCN can transfer the masks produced by the coarse segmentation component to the classification component to exclude irrelevant regions and facilitate classification. For segmentation task, this model can transfer the high‐quality localization information learned by the classification component to the fine segmentation component to mitigate the impact of inaccurate localization on segmentation results. Consecutive MRI exams of patients were retrospectively collected from two medical centers (referred to as center A and B). Two experienced radiologists segmented the prostate regions, and the ground truth of the classification refers to the prostate biopsy results. MC‐DSCN was designed, trained, and validated using different combinations of distinct MRI sequences as input (e.g., T2‐weighted and apparent diffusion coefficient) and the effect of different architectures on the network's performance was tested and discussed. Data from center A were used for training, validation, and internal testing, while another center's data were used for external testing. The statistical analysis is performed to evaluate the performance of the MC‐DSCN. The DeLong test and paired t‐test were used to assess the performance of classification and segmentation, respectively.

Results

In total, 134 patients were included. The proposed MC‐DSCN outperforms the networks that were designed solely for segmentation or classification. Regarding the segmentation task, the classification localization information helped to improve the IOU in center A: from 84.5% to 87.8% (p < 0.01) and in center B: from 83.8% to 87.1% (p < 0.01), while the area under curve (AUC) of PCa classification was improved in center A: from 0.946 to 0.991 (p < 0.02) and in center B: from 0.926 to 0.955 (p < 0.01) as a result of the additional information provided by the prostate segmentation.

Conclusion

The proposed architecture could effectively transfer mutual information between segmentation and classification components and facilitate each other in a bootstrapping way, thus outperforming the networks designed to perform only one task.