bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Satisfaction with service delivery among HIV treatment clients enrolled in differentiated and conventional models of care in South Africa: a baseline survey
Authors: Mokhele Idah , Huber Amy , Rosen Sydney , Kaiser Jeanette L. , Lekodeba Nkgomeleng , Ntjikelane Vinolia , Hendrickson Cheryl , Scott Nancy , Pascoe Sophie
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Differentiated service delivery (DSD) models aim to increase the responsiveness of HIV treatment programmes to the individual needs of antiretroviral therapy (ART) clients to improve treatment outcomes and quality of life. Little is known about how DSD client experiences differ from conventional care.

Methods

From May to November 2021, we interviewed adult (≥18) ART clients at 21 primary clinics in four districts of South Africa. Participants were enrolled consecutively at routine visits and stratified into four groups: conventional care‐not eligible for DSD (conventional‐not‐eligible); conventional care eligible for but not enrolled in DSD (conventional‐not‐enrolled); facility pickup point DSD model; and external pickup point DSD model. Satisfaction was assessed using questions with 5‐point Likert‐scale responses. Mean scores were categorized as not satisfied (score ≤3) or satisfied (>3). We used logistic regression to assess differences and report crude and adjusted odds ratios (aORs). Qualitative themes were identified through content analysis.

Results

Eight hundred and sixty‐seven participants (70% female, median age 39) were surveyed: 24% facility pick‐up points; 27% external pick‐up points; 25% conventional‐not‐eligible; and 24% conventional‐not‐enrolled. Seventy‐four percent of all study participants expressed satisfaction with their HIV care. Those enrolled in DSD models were more likely to be satisfied, with an aOR of 6.24 (95% CI [3.18–12.24]) for external pick‐up point versus conventional‐not‐eligible and an aOR of 3.30 (1.95–5.58) for facility pick‐up point versus conventional‐not‐eligible. Conventional‐not‐enrolled clients were slightly but not significantly more satisfied than conventional‐not‐eligible clients (1.29, 0.85–1.96). Those seeking outside healthcare (crude OR 0.57, 0.41–0.81) or reporting more annual clinic visits (0.52, 0.29–0.93) were less likely to be satisfied. Conventional care participants reporting satisfaction with their current model of care perceived providers as helpful, respectful, and friendly and were satisfied with care despite long queues. DSD model participants emphasized ease and convenience, particularly not having to queue.

Conclusions

Most adult ART clients in South Africa were satisfied with their care, but those enrolled in DSD models expressed slightly greater satisfaction than those remaining in conventional care. Efforts should focus on enrolling more eligible patients into DSD models, expanding eligibility criteria to cover a wider client base, and further improving the models’ desirable characteristics.
Intra‐operative duplex ultrasound scanning in renal transplantation: protocol and service requirements
Authors: Thebridge Linda , Fisher Charles , Puttaswamy Vikram , Pollock Carol , Clarke Jillian
Published: March 2024

Intra‐operative duplex ultrasound in renal transplantation was first described in 1998 and whilst reported in problematic cases, there are few reports of its routine use and no current published protocols. Since 2013, we have used intra‐operative ultrasound in all renal transplants. The formal protocol used since August 2020 is presented as a reference document for other transplant centres. A Canon Aplio 800 ultrasound system with an i22LH8 hockey‐stick transducer is used to image the renal cortex and major vessels, and an i8CX1 matrix transducer to image the graft during and after fascial closure. These transducers are fully sterilised with Sterrad and no sheathing of transducers is required. The transplant surgeon scans within the sterile field with the sonographer guiding imaging and adjusting machine settings. Ultrasound findings are discussed between team members including any requirement for interventions. Ultrasound is performed at three stages of the operation: Stage 1: after clamp release identifying issues of graft vascularity including otherwise unrecognised major vessel and anastomotic abnormalities. Stage 2: following ureteric implantation identifying compromised perfusion due to graft rotation or vessel kinking. Stage 3: after fascial closure identifying compromised perfusion due to external compression. Post‐operative scanning, including assessment of the collecting system and bladder, is performed routinely on days 1, 3, 7 and 30. The intervention is effective with no early graft losses or peri‐operative vascular thromboses. The requirements for service provision are significant including the availability of additional transducers, and sonographers with expertise in intra‐operative scanning able to attend after‐hours for extended periods.
Precursory signals of summer precipitation over southern Central Asia: Combined effect of April soil moisture and sea surface temperature
Authors: Wei Xinchen , Liu Ge , Nan Sulan , Zhang Ting , Mao Xin , Feng Yuhan , Zhou Yuwei
Published: March 2024

This study investigates the interannual variability of summer precipitation over Central Asia and explores its precursory signals through soil moisture (SM) and sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies. The results reveal that southern Central Asia (SCA) is a crucial SM‐precipitation coupling region where summer precipitation is significantly linked to the preceding April SM in the Turan Plain, between the Caspian Sea and the Tibetan Plateau. The preceding Turan Plain SM (TPSM) anomaly can reflect the ensuing summer SM anomalies in the SCA region due to the persistence of SM. The higher TPSM can stimulate anomalous convective ascent and associated negative geopotential height anomalies over the SCA region, which is favourable for more SCA precipitation (SCAP) during summer. Additionally, Indian and Pacific Ocean SST (IPOS) anomalies can regulate the summer SCAP through ocean and land relay effects. The preceding April can reflect the subsequent summer SST anomalies across the northern Indian Ocean and South China Sea, which trigger a Matsuno‐Gill response and induce anomalous water vapour transport into the SCA region, providing favourable moisture conditions for more SCAP during summer. Apart from such an ocean relay effect, the preceding IPOS can modulate the April TPSM first and then affect the summer SCAP through the land relay effect caused by persistent SM anomalies from April to summer. The combined effect of the preceding TPSM and IPOS on the summer SCAP is more pronounced than the respective effect of either TPSM or IPOS. Incorporating the TPSM signal as a supplementary precursor can enhance the predictive skill of summer SCAP. These findings may provide valuable insights into the reasons and prediction of the variability of summer SCAP.
The utility of performance review systems: A total quality management perspective
Authors: Liao Ying Ying , Soltani Ebrahim , Iqbal Abdullah , van der Meer Robert
Published: March 2024

Scholars and practitioners alike have argued that performance review is prone to destructive effects and negative outcomes in progressive work organizations with a total quality management (TQM) orientation. Despite its pervasive use and significant consequences at individual, team, and organizational levels across contemporary workplaces, it has remained inadequately explored for its current operational systems and their role in helping employees achieve job mastery and enabling organizations to attain desired quality outcomes. To address this lacuna, this study aims to explore how performance review systems can align with continuous quality improvement in contemporary workplaces that espouse a culture of continuous learning and quality improvement. Given the exploratory and broad scope of the research, it adopts a multiple case study design which offers benefits both in terms of process and outcomes. The findings are indicative of two different performance review systems with very different implications for managing employees and achieving quality outcomes in line with TQM: tactical system with a focus on employee obedience to rigid top‐down control system for achieving conformance quality measures, and a dynamic system with a focus on employee ownership of the quality process for achieving desired quality.
Removal of chromium using rhamnolipid biosurfactant, ferrous sulfate and cationic tannin‐based flocculant in a dissolved air floating system using a central composite design (CCD)
Authors: Santos Olga Silva , Lima Frederico Alves , Cardoso Vicelma Luiz , de Resende Miriam Maria
Published: March 2024

This research studied the wastewater chromium removal efficiency by dissolved air flotation (DAF) using a rhamnolipid (RL) biosurfactant as a collector. An experimental flotation DAF apparatus with 6 vessels of 2 L containing a coupled saturator injecting compressed air at 5.88 kPa in the vessels was used. The total RL concentration of the broth resulting from fermentation was 9 ± 1.0 g/L. This broth was used in nature in the DAF experiments. A central composite design (CCD) was used to optimize removal of Cr(VI) and total Cr with regards to two independent variables, pH (3.17–8.83) and iron concentration of the medium (0–225.0 mg/L), with a three assays performed at the conditions of the central point of the design. The experimental conditions for DAF were an initial hexavalent Cr concentration of 100 mg/L; RL broth volume of 500 mL; saturated with oxygen water volume of 200 mL; and a rapid mixing time of 6 min through stirring at 120 rpm. The results showed that under acidic pH conditions and with high iron concentrations, both the Cr(VI) and total Cr removal rates were highest. The optimal removal region determination was at a pH of 3.5 and iron concentration of 180 mg/L. Subsequently, cationic tannin‐based flocculant was also evaluated as a collector, and ferrous sulfate was used as a coagulant during Cr(III) removal. The best Cr(III) removal percentage was obtained at cationic polymer concentrations of 300 mg/L with Cr(III) removal of 50.8% and a pH of 5.5.
The antioxidant, antimicrobial and antibiofilm potential of biosurfactants derived from Enterococcus faecalisBHT‐2
Authors: Kaundal Tamanna , Sharma Anjali , Batra Navneet
Published: March 2024

Biosurfactants are amphiphilic molecules containing one hydrophilic and one hydrophobic moiety. They are synthesized by microorganisms either on the cell surface or secreted extracellularly which serve as natural surfactant substitutes with a wide range of applications in different sectors. The present study aims to assess the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antibiofilm properties of biosurfactants derived from Enterococcus faecalis BHT‐2 against different microorganisms (E. clocae, P. aeruginosa, M. luteus, S. aureus, C. albicans, and E. coli). Derived biosurfactants showed antimicrobial activity against test microorganisms in the range between 0.6 and 3 mg/mL. It displayed potent antibiofilm ability by inhibiting the bacterial attachment to surfaces, leading to the disruption of biofilm formation by altering the integrity of microbial biofilms when observed on coverslips by SEM and fluorescence microscopy. The treatment of microbial biofilms by biosurfactants greatly reduced the exopolysaccharide biomass, that is, carbohydrate and protein content. Thus, in vitro assessment of antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties of biosurfactants derived from E. faecalis BHT‐2 indicated that it act as a better alternative antimicrobial agents.
Impacts of the attributes of patches and the surrounding matrix on the phylogenetic diversity of tree species in urban remnant forests
Authors: Yang Jingyi , Wu Feng
Published: March 2024

Urbanization is a major cause of biotic homogenization and evolutionary poverty. Urban remnant forests are biodiversity hotspots in cities but are prone to phylogenetic homogenization. However, how urbanization‐driven changes in patch attributes and landscape heterogeneity levels of the surrounding matrix affect plant phylogenetic diversity in urban remnant forests remains unclear. We quantified tree phylogenetic diversity and structure in 30 remnant forest patches in Guiyang, China, using chloroplast genome data and analyzed the effects of patch attributes and the surrounding matrix on tree phylogenetic diversity and structure in the forests while considering tree species stage. The phylogenetic diversity of saplings/seedlings was lower than that of adult trees. Small patches contributed more than large patches to the overall phylogenetic diversity of remnant forest ecosystems. Additionally, tree phylogenetic diversity was positively associated with configurational heterogeneity of the surrounding matrix, while phylogenetic diversity and relatedness were negatively related to the percentage of surrounding impervious surfaces and patch size. Accordingly, we suggest maintaining configurational heterogeneity and controlling the speed of urban expansion in the surrounding matrix to better conserve urban remnant forests. Furthermore, the preservation of small forest remnants and tree species in the sapling/seedling stage should be prioritized.
Systemic Symptoms in Huntington's Disease: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Mehanna Raja , Jankovic Joseph
Published: March 2024

Background

Although Huntington's disease (HD) is usually thought of as a triad of motor, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms, there is growing appreciation of HD as a systemic illness affecting the entire body.

Objectives

This review aims to draw attention to these systemic non‐motor symptoms in HD.

Methods

We identified relevant studies published in English by searching MEDLINE (from 1966 to September 2023), using the following subject headings: Huntington disease, autonomic, systemic, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, urinary, sexual and cutaneous, and additional specific symptoms.

Results

Data from 123 articles were critically reviewed with focus on systemic features associated with HD, such as cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, urinary, sexual and sweating.

Conclusion

This systematic review draws attention to a variety of systemic and autonomic co‐morbidities in patients with HD. Not all of them correlate with the severity of the primary HD symptoms or CAG repeats. More research is needed to better understand the pathophysiology and treatment of systemic and autonomic dysfunction in HD.
Recycling investment strategies in two‐sided competition with diverse vertical structures
Authors: Liu Jing , Li Kai , Zhang Liming , Xu Shuling
Published: March 2024

The supply chain consisting of an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and a downstream retailer encounters vertical competition along with two‐sided competition from a third party remanufacturer (3PR). The two‐sided competition refers to competition in both recycling and sales. We investigate the recycling investments by the OEM and retailer in diverse vertical structures. Our findings indicate that cooperative investment is optimal when either the OEM or retailer is the Stackelberg leader, but neither party is willing to invest in recycling when they are in vertical Nash. The experiments reveal that the OEM, acting as the Stackelberg leader, and implementing the cooperative investment strategy, yields better economic and environmental benefits.
PO‐AKID‐teller: An interpretable machine learning tool for predicting acute kidney injury requiring dialysis after acute type A aortic dissection surgery
Authors: Chen Qiuying , Fu Biao , Yang Jue , Jin Zhe , Zhang Lu , Fan Ruixin , Zhang Bin , Zhang Shuixing
Published: March 2024

Postoperative acute kidney injury requiring dialysis (PO‐AKID) is a serious adverse event that not only affects acute morbidity and mortality, but also long‐term prognosis. Here, we developed a practical and explainable web‐based calculator (PO‐AKID‐teller) to detect patients who might experience PO‐AKID after acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) surgery. This retrospective study reviewed 549 patients undergoing ATAAD surgery from October 2016 to June 2021. PO‐AKID frequency was 19.7% (108 of 549 patients). The initial dataset was split into an 80% training cohort (n = 439) and a 20% test cohort (n = 110). There were seven predictors that could indicate PO‐AKID, including prior cardiovascular surgery, platelet, serum creatinine, the terminal site of dissection involvement, right coronary artery involvement, estimated blood loss, and urine output. Among six machine learning classifiers, the random forest model exhibited the best predictive performance, with an area under the curve of 0.863 in the training cohort and 0.763 in the test cohort. This model was translated into a web‐based risk calculator PO‐AKID‐teller to estimate an individual's probability of PO‐AKID. The PO‐AKID‐teller can accurately estimate an individual's risk for PO‐AKID in an interpretable manner, which may aid in informed decision‐making, patient counseling, perioperative optimization, and longer‐term care provision.
O‐glycosylation in viruses: A sweet tango
Authors: Ming Annan , Zhao Jianxin , Liu Yihan , Wang Yibo , Wang Xiaohui , Li Jing , Zhang Leiliang
Published: March 2024

O‐glycosylation is an ancient yet underappreciated protein posttranslational modification, on which many bacteria and viruses heavily rely to perform critical biological functions involved in numerous infectious diseases or even cancer. But due to the innate complexity of O‐glycosylation, research techniques have been limited to study its exact role in viral attachment and entry, assembly and exit, spreading in the host cells, and the innate and adaptive immunity of the host. Recently, the advent of many newly developed methodologies (e.g., mass spectrometry, chemical biology tools, and molecular dynamics simulations) has renewed and rekindled the interest in viral‐related O‐glycosylation in both viral proteins and host cells, which is further fueled by the COVID‐19 pandemic. In this review, we summarize recent advances in viral‐related O‐glycosylation, with a particular emphasis on the mucin‐type O‐linked α‐N‐acetylgalactosamine (O‐GalNAc) on viral proteins and the intracellular O‐linked β‐N‐acetylglucosamine (O‐GlcNAc) modifications on host proteins. We hope to provide valuable insights into the development of antiviral reagents or vaccines for better prevention or treatment of infectious diseases.
Protective Mechanism of Polysaccharide ORP‐1 Isolated from Oudemansiella raphanipes against Age‐Related Cognitive Decline through the Microbiota‐Gut‐Brain Axis
Authors: Ren Yu‐Ru , Cui Wen‐Ting , Jiang Kai‐Li , He Kai‐Qi , Lu Yong‐Ming , Chen Yan , Pan Wen‐Juan
Published: March 2024

Age‐related cognitive decline is primarily attributed to the progressive weakening of synaptic function and loss of synapses, while age‐related gut microbial dysbiosis is known to impair synaptic plasticity and cognitive behavior by metabolic alterations. To improve the health of the elderly, the protective mechanisms of Oudemansiella raphanipes polysaccharide (ORP‐1) against age‐related cognitive decline are investigated. The results demonstrate that ORP‐1 and its gut microbiota‐derived metabolites SCFAs restore a healthy gut microbial population to handle age‐related gut microbiota dysbiosis mainly by increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria Dubosiella, Clostridiales, and Prevotellaceae and reducing the abundance of harmful bacteria Desulfovibrio, strengthen intestinal barrier integrity by abolishing age‐related alterations of tight junction (TJ) and mucin 2 (MUC2) proteins expression, diminish age‐dependent increase in circulating inflammatory factors, ameliorate cognitive decline by reversing memory‐ and synaptic plasticity‐related proteins levels, and restrain hyperactivation of microglia‐mediated synapse engulfment and neuroinflammation. These findings expand the understanding of prebiotic–microbiota–host interactions.
Botulinum toxin injections for the treatment of neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome: A systematic review
Authors: Woodworth Tyler T. , Le Austin , Miller Campbell , Conger Aaron , Mahan Mark A. , Cushman Daniel M.
Published: March 2024

Botulinum toxin (BTX) injections into the musculature surrounding the brachial plexus have been examined as a potential treatment for neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (nTOS). This systematic review identified 15 publications, of which one was a randomized controlled trial. BTX injections performed with ultrasound or electromyographic guidance, and with the inclusion of the pectoralis minor muscle, in addition to the anterior and/or middle scalenes, tended to provide greater symptom improvement and may predict response to first rib resection. Importantly, most studies were of low quality; thus, the results should be interpreted with caution. Further high‐quality studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Neurocognitive factors predicting BMI changes from adolescence to young adulthood
Authors: Reyes Sussanne , Peirano Patricio , Gahagan Sheila , Blanco Estela , Algarín Cecilia
Published: March 2024

Objective

The objective of this study was to assess whether inhibitory task performance in adolescence could be prospectively related to weight gain in young adulthood. We proposed that this association would differ according to the BMI group in adolescence.

Methods

A total of 318 adolescents performed the anti‐saccade task, and 530 completed the Stroop test. Accuracy and reaction time were assessed for each incentive type (neutral, loss, and reward) in the anti‐saccade task and for each trial type (control and incongruent trials) in the Stroop test. Changes in the BMI z score (∆BMI z score) from adolescence to young adulthood were calculated.

Results

The relationship between the BMI z score and the anti‐saccade task accuracy showed an effect on the ∆BMI z score (β = −0.002, p < 0.05). The neutral and loss accuracies were related to ∆BMI z score in the groups with overweight (all β = −0.004, p = 0.05) and obesity (β = −0.006 and β = −0.005, p < 0.01). The interaction between adolescents' BMI z score with control (β = −0.312, p < 0.001) and incongruent (β = −0.384, p < 0.001) trial reaction times showed an effect on the ∆BMI z score. Control (β = 0.730, p = 0.036) and incongruent (β = 0.535, p = 0.033) trial reaction times were related to ∆BMI z score in the group with overweight.

Conclusions

Our findings support the hypothesis that cognitive vulnerability could predict the BMI gain from adolescence to young adulthood.
Policy approaches to stimulate exports: The case of Georgia
Authors: Klasen Andreas , Lomitashvili Tengiz , Rosbach Kristian , Taniguchi Kiyoshi
Published: March 2024

This report examines exporters’ challenges and possible solutions for public intervention to promote foreign trade. Based on fieldwork conducted in Georgia, we explore which policy approaches can help to stimulate Georgian exports further. Our outcomes show that exporters face substantial barriers such as navigating complex trade regulations, lack of knowledge about target markets, trade finance gaps, as well as new export promotion programs (EPPs) in competitor countries. Other upper‐middle‐income countries can learn from our results that exporters can significantly benefit from a comprehensive export promotion strategy combined with an ecosystem‐based “team” approach. EPPs related to awareness and capacity building in Georgia should be part of this strategy, focusing on challenges such as a lack of knowledge about trade practices and international business skills. Other EPPs must help to mitigate related market failures, as information gathering is costly, and firms have no incentive to share this information with competitors. Furthermore, targeted marketing support and customer matchmaking can answer Georgian exporters’ challenges, such as lack of market access and low sector visibility. Our results also show that public intervention through financial support and risk mitigation is essential for firms with an international orientation. The high‐quality, rich outcomes provide significant value for other upper‐middle‐income countries by exploring the example of Georgia’s contemporary circumstances in an in‐depth manner based on extensive interviews and document analysis. Limitations include that our work primarily relies on qualitative data and further research could involve a quantitative study with a diverse range of sectors.
Private land conservation towards large landscape goals: Role of relational values, property rights orientations and perceived efficacy in ranchers' actions
Authors: Wardropper Chloe B. , Graves Rose A. , Brandt Jodi , Burnham Morey , Carter Neil , Hale Rebecca L. , Hillis Vicken , Williamson Matthew A.
Published: March 2024

Many of the world's iconic, endangered and endemic species rely on large, contiguous landscapes for their survival.

In the US West, working ranches are integral to large landscape conservation goals and there are numerous influences on ranchers' conservation actions, including their relational values, perceived self‐efficacy and property rights concerns.

Using survey data from 681 ranchers in eastern Idaho and western Montana, we sought to answer the question: How do relational values, property rights orientations, perceived efficacy and public lands dependence affect reported conservation actions on private ranch lands?

Conservation adoption varied widely by action, with invasive plant removal having the highest (92%) and conifer removal the lowest (21%) rates of adoption.

Conservation adoption was higher among ranchers who believe they are responsible for conserving nature, believe their land should be used to provide environmental benefits to the region, have higher perceived self‐efficacy, lower property rights concerns and higher incomes.

Programmes encouraging the adoption of conservation on private lands could benefit from message framing that resonates with the worldviews of landowners and land managers.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
3D woven tubular composites with bamboo‐structures for enhanced energy absorption: Designing, manufacturing and performance analysis
Authors: Wen Fangfang , Qian Yongfang , Gao Yuan , Zhou Xinghai , Lyu Lihua
Published: March 2024

3D woven tubular composites (3D‐WTC), known for their lightweight and high‐strength characteristics, are widely used in various energy‐absorbing components. To enhance the energy absorption capacity of 3D‐WTC, this study conducted a mechanical analysis of bamboo tube structures and proposed concentric circular nested biomimetic structures with “single tube + double ribs” and “double tubes + double ribs.” 3D woven tubular composites with bamboo‐structures (3DWTC‐Bamboo) were fabricated using the vacuum‐assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process. Axial compression tests were conducted using a universal testing machine to reveal and discuss the energy absorption capacity and failure modes of 3DWTC‐Bamboo. The results showed that 3DWTC‐Bamboo with a “double tube + double ribs” concentric circular nested biomimetic structures performed exceptionally, with a peak load of 28.93KN and specific energy absorption of 7.74 J·g−1. The failure mode was a hybrid of “rib folding + tube wall buckling.” Finally, finite element analysis of the stress distribution during the compression of 3DWTC‐Bamboo was conducted using ABAQUS, which validated the experimental results. In summary, this work provides a reference for structural innovation in 3D‐WTC and further expands its application in the field of energy absorption.

Highlights

Propose “single tube + double ribs” and “double tubes + double ribs” structures.

Introducing the “rib” structures to enhance the local strength/stiffness.

Test results show that 3DWTC‐Bamboo has great potential in energy absorption.

The “ribs” can increase the local strength/stiffness of the tube structures.
Bio‐based PA56/GO nanocomposite fiber with 1.2 GPa strength via in situ precipitation and solvent‐free polymerization
Authors: Wang Zhongjiang , Zhu Hao , Fan Pengmin , Wu Jian , Chu Liangyong , Bao Ningzhong
Published: March 2024

Toward high‐strength bio‐based polyamide 56 (PA56) fiber, we first in situ precipitate graphene oxide (GO), adipic acid and 1,5‐pentanodiamine together by reaction crystallization in ethanal to obtain PA56 salt/GO particles with well dispersed GO, then prepare PA56/GO nanocomposite with PA56 salt/GO via solvent‐free polymerization including solid‐state prepolycondensation and melt polycondensation. Finally, PA56/GO nanocomposite fiber is prepared by extrusion drawing. With 0.2 wt% GO, the tensile strength of PA56/GO fiber reaches 1050 MPa, which is 3.3 times that of pure PA56 fiber. Furtherly, we add PA56/GO with high GO content to commercial PA56 to prepare the hybrid fiber, of which the tensile strength reaches 1248 MPa. The great improvement is mainly due to the good dispersion of GO in the whole process, which increases the heterogeneous nucleation in favor of higher and oriented PA56 crystallization.

Highlights

Bio‐based PA56/GO nanocomposite fiber with 1.2 GPa strength has been prepared.

PA56 salt/GO particles with well‐dispersed GO are in situ precipitated.

Solvent‐free polymerization is used instead of solution melt polymerization.

Well‐dispersed GO results in high and oriented crystallinity of PA56/GO fiber.

Tensile strength of PA56/GO fiber is 2.3 times that of commercial PA56 fiber.
Short beam shear performance of spread‐tow woven stitched composite with anti‐sandwich structure
Authors: Jiang Qian , Lian Xiang , Liu Ao , Chen Li , Wu Liwei
Published: March 2024

Spread‐tow woven fabrics (STW) have attracted considerable attention because of their ultrathin structure and low porosity, which benefit the design and application of STW composites. Little is known about how the thickness relationship between the middle and surface layers affect the mechanical properties of sandwich structures. Therefore, this study developed an anti‐sandwich stitched composite with STW in the center and a nonwoven felt/STW hybrid on both sides. The interlayer shear behavior and damage mode transformation of STW composites with different middle‐layer thicknesses were studied using short‐beam shear tests, digital image correlation (DIC) full‐field strain nephograms and micro‐computed tomography (micro‐CT). The results showed that the anti‐sandwich structure improved the shear strength, particularly when the middle layer thickness was four times that of the surface layer. As the middle layer thickness ratio decreased, the synergistic effect of the anti‐sandwich structure was weakened, and the damage mode changed from ductile to brittle. Furthermore, the hybrid ratio of the STW/nonwoven fabric in the surface layer had little effect on the performance because of the good interfacial adhesion between the STW and nonwoven fabric. The anti‐sandwich structure that can improve the properties and stability of STW composites provides a reference for the structural design of STW composites in engineering applications.

Highlights

An anti‐sandwich composite was developed by spread tow woven fabrics.

Nine types of anti‐sandwich composite were designed and fabricated.

The thickness of the middle layer affected the synergistic mechanisms.

The optimal anti‐sandwich structure has a 4.59% increase in shear strength.

The specific shear strength is 14.86% higher over pure spread tow laminates.
Construction of core–shell‐structured halloysite nanotubes with TiO2 nanoparticles for ultra‐high‐molecular‐weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) nanocomposites with improved wear resistance
Authors: Wu Wei , Tang Weizhong , Li Jiangbo , Tang Zijian , Wang Zhen , Zhao Hui , Cao Xianwu , Yi Xiaohong
Published: March 2024

A hybrid of halloysite nanotubes decorated with titanium dioxide nanoparticles (HNTs@TiO2) was synthesized by the sol–gel method and then mixed with ultra‐high molecular polyethylene (UHMWPE) by melt compounding to enhance its wear resistance properties. The incorporation of HNTs@TiO2 increased the crystallinity as well as the hardness of UHMWPE nanocomposites, which benefited less prone to plastic deformation during the friction process. In addition, the UHMWPE/HNTs@TiO2 maintained a high ductility character with a slight decrease in tensile strength compared to pure UHMWPE. With the addition of 3 wt% HNTs@TiO2, the UHMWPE nanocomposite achieved a remarkably low friction coefficient of 0.073 and a reduced wear rate of 6.67 × 10−6 mm3/N·m. These values represented a 32.4% decrease in friction coefficient and a 43.9% decrease in wear rate compared to pure UHMWPE. The improvement in wear resistance was due to the dislodged TiO2 and HNTs had good synergistic rolling effects at the counterface. Furthermore, the wear scan morphology observation revealed that the transferred HNTs@TiO2‐based materials could help to improve the quality of the tribofilms, which alleviated the abrasive wear from the metallic counterpart. This work offers a feasible way to enhance the wear resistance of UHMWPE nanocomposite without sacrificing the high ductility for expanding its engineering applications.

Highlights

TiO2‐decorated halloysite nanotubes were synthesized by the sol–gel method.

The addition of HNTs@TiO2 maintained the high ductility character of UHMWPE.

The UHMWPE composite with 3 wt% HNTs@TiO2 had the best wear resistance.
CD44 and CD133 protein expression might serve as a prognostic factor for early occurrence castration‐resistant prostate cancer
Authors: Dwina Yayi , Zaid Litta Septina Mahmelia , Saraswati Meilania , Rachmadi Lisnawati , Kekalih Aria , Rahadiani Nur , Louisa Melva , Agustina Hasrayati , Mochtar Chaidir Arif , Hamid Agus Rizal Ardy Hariandy
Published: March 2024

Background

The occurrence of castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) varies in patients with advanced prostate cancer (PCa) undergoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). The rate of occurrence of CRPC may be related to the presence of prostate cancer stem cells (CSC). Thus, this study aims to evaluate the presence of CSC markers (CD44 and CD133) in histopathology tissue at the time of diagnosis and their correlation with the occurrence of CRPC in patients with advanced PCa within 2 years of ADT.

Method

A retrospective case‐control study was conducted to evaluate the incidence of CRPC within 2 years. The inclusion criteria were patients with PCa who had received treatment with ADT and a first‐generation anti‐androgen (AA) for 2 years. We classified patients based on whether they developed CRPC within 2 years (CRPC) of the therapy or did not experience CRPC within 2 years (non‐CRPC) of the therapy. We performed immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for CD44 and CD133 on the prostate biopsy tissue samples.

Results

Data were collected from records spanning 2011–2019. We analyzed a total of 65 samples, including 22 patients with CRPC and 43 patients with non‐CRPC who had received treatment with LHRH agonists and AA for up to 2 years. Our findings showed a significant H‐score difference in CD44 protein expression between CRPC prostate adenocarcinoma samples 869 (200–1329) and non‐CRPC 524 (154–1166) (p = 0.033). There was no significant difference in CD133 protein expression between the two groups (p = 0.554). However, there was a significant difference in the nonoccurrence of CRPC between the high expressions of both CD44 and CD133 groups with other expressions of CD44/CD133 groups (25% vs. 75%; p = 0.011; odds ratio = 4.29; 95% confidence interval [1.34, 13.76]).

Conclusion

This study found a low expression of at least one CD44/CD133 protein in the patients without early occurrence of CRPC. This result might suggest that CD44/CD133 may function as a potential prognostic marker for PCa, especially in a low expression, to identify patients who have a better prognosis regarding the occurrence of early CRPC.
Identification of non‐canonical antagonistic bacteria via interspecies contact‐dependent killing
Authors: Lin Long , Tao Min , He Wei‐Mei , Wu Qian‐Hua , Huang Hao‐Kai , Murero Aprodisia Kavutu , Shao Xiao‐Long , Wang Li‐Min , Qian Guo‐Liang
Published: March 2024

BACKGROUND

Canonical biocontrol bacteria were considered to inhibit pathogenic bacteria mainly by secreting antibiotic metabolites or enzymes. Recent studies revealed that some biocontrol bacteria can inhibit pathogenic bacteria through contact‐dependent killing (CDK) mediated by contact‐dependent secretion systems. The CDK was independent of antibiotic metabolites and often ignored in normal biocontrol activity assay.

RESULTS

In this study, we aimed to use a pathogen enrichment strategy to isolate non‐canonical bacteria with CDK ability. Rhizosphere soil samples from Chinese cabbage showing soft rot symptom were collected and Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (Pcc), the pathogen of cabbage soft rot, were added into these samples to enrich bacteria which attached on Pcc cells. By co‐culture with Pcc, four bacteria strains (named as PcE1, PcE8, PcE12 and PcE13) showing antibacterial activity were isolated from Chinese cabbage rhizosphere. These four bacteria strains showed CDK abilities to different pathogenic bacteria of horticultural plants. Among them, PcE1 was identified as Chryseobacterium cucumeris. Genome sequencing showed that PcE1 genome encoded a type VI secretion system (T6SS) gene cluster. By heterologous expression, four predicted T6SS effectors of PcE1 showed antibacterial activity to Escherichia coli.

CONCLUSION

Overall, this study isolated four bacteria strains with CDK activity to various horticultural plant pathogens, and revealed possible involvement of T6SS of Chryseobacterium cucumeris in antibacterial activity. These results provide valuable insight for potential application of CDK activity in biocontrol bacteria. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Another step on the transgene‐facilitated herbicide treadmill
Authors: Mortensen David A , Ryan Matthew R , Smith Richard G
Published: March 2024

Transgenic, dicamba‐resistant soybean and cotton were developed to enable farmers to combat weeds that had evolved resistance to the herbicide glyphosate. The dramatic increases in dicamba use these crops facilitated have led to serious problems, including the evolution of dicamba‐resistant weeds and widespread damage to susceptible crops and farming communities. Disturbingly, this pattern of dicamba use has unfolded while the total herbicide applied to soybean has nearly doubled since 2006. Without substantive changes to agricultural policy and decision making, the next ‘silver‐bullet’ agrotechnology will likely be no more than another step on the transgene‐facilitated herbicide treadmill. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
IMPAHCT: A randomized phase 2b/3 study of inhaled imatinib for pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Gillies Hunter , Chakinala Murali M. , Dake Benjamin T. , Feldman Jeremy P. , Hoeper Marius M. , Humbert Marc , Jing Zhi‐Cheng , Langley Jonathan , McLaughlin Vallerie V. , Niven Ralph W. , Rosenkranz Stephan , Zhang Xiaosha , Hill Nicholas S.
Published: March 2024

AV‐101 (imatinib) powder for inhalation, an investigational dry powder inhaled formulation of imatinib designed to target the underlying pathobiology of pulmonary arterial hypertension, was generally well tolerated in healthy adults in a phase 1 single and multiple ascending dose study. Inhaled Imatinib Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Clinical Trial (IMPAHCT; NCT05036135) is a phase 2b/3, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, dose‐ranging, and confirmatory study. IMPAHCT is designed to identify an optimal AV‐101 dose (phase 2b primary endpoint: pulmonary vascular resistance) and assess the efficacy (phase 3 primary endpoint: 6‐min walk distance), safety, and tolerability of AV‐101 dose levels in subjects with pulmonary arterial hypertension using background therapies. The study has an operationally seamless, adaptive design allowing for continuous recruitment. It includes three parts; subjects enrolled in Part 1 (phase 2b dose–response portion) or Part 2 (phase 3 intermediate portion) will be randomized 1:1:1:1 to 10, 35, 70 mg AV‐101, or placebo (twice daily), respectively. Subjects enrolled in Part 3 (phase 3 optimal dose portion) will be randomized 1:1 to the optimal dose of AV‐101 and placebo (twice daily), respectively. All study parts include a screening period, a 24‐week treatment period, and a 30‐day safety follow‐up period; the total duration is ∼32 weeks. Participation is possible in only one study part. IMPAHCT has the potential to advance therapies for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension by assessing the efficacy and safety of a novel investigational drug‐device combination (AV‐101) using an improved study design that has the potential to save 6‐12 months of development time. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05036135.
All‐sky assimilation of FY‐4A AGRI water vapor channels: An observing system experiment study for south Asian monsoon prediction
Authors: Niu Zeyi , Tang Fei , Wang Liwen
Published: March 2024

In this study, a month‐long parallel experiment is conducted to assess the assimilation effects of all‐sky radiance (ASR) versus clear‐sky radiance (CSR) in the single and multiple water vapor (WV) channels provided by the Advanced Geostationary Radiation Imager (AGRI) onboard the Fengyun‐4A (FY‐4A) satellite. The Weather Research and Forecasting model data assimilation system (WRFDA) is utilized for assimilating the FY‐4A AGRI WV observations. Compared with the CSR, the assimilated data of the ASR increases by ~1.7 times in WV channel 9 and around 2.4 times in the multiple WV channels (channels 9 and 10). Both the CSR and ASR assimilation results demonstrate that the simulated brightness temperature (TB) from the WRF analyses is closer to the TB observations from Sondeur Atmospherique du Profil d'Humidite Intertropicale par Radiometrie (SAPHIR) channels 1–2 and Microwave Humidity Sounder (MHS) channel 3, as compared with the control experiment where only conventional data are assimilated. Furthermore, a larger improvement is noted in assimilation of multiple WV channel against assimilation of a single WV channel for both CSR and ASR runs. Overall, the analyses and forecasts generated from the ASR run exhibit superior performance compared with the CSR run when verified against SAPHIR and MHS measurements, as well as the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Global Data Assimilation System (GDAS) analyses. The verification of the rainfall predicted by the WRF against the Global Satellite Mapping of Precipitation (GSMaP) products over India indicates that the assimilation of the ASR in multiple WV channels has the largest impact on rainfall prediction. Moreover, the ASR run demonstrates an accurate prediction of heavy rainfall events that are missed in the control experiment and underestimated in the CSR run.
Bronchial artery embolization for the treatment of delayed massive hemoptysis due to a retained bullet
Authors: Siddiqui Atif Saleem
Published: March 2024

Bronchial artery embolization is a feasible option for treating hemoptysis caused by foreign objects in patients who are not candidates for surgery.
Controller synthesis against omega‐regular specifications: A funnel‐based control approach
Authors: Jagtap Pushpak , Dimarogonas Dimos V.
Published: March 2024

The paper focuses on the problem of formal synthesis of controllers for control‐affine nonlinear systems against complex properties. Our goal is to design a closed‐form control policy that guarantees the satisfaction of complex properties that are expressed using ()‐regular languages and equivalently recognized by nondeterministic Büchi automata (NBA). We propose leveraging a funnel‐based control approach to provide a closed‐form solution to the problem. Our approach decomposes the specification represented by NBA into a sequence of reachability problems, which we solve using a funnel‐based control approach. Controllers associated with each reachability problem are then combined to design a hybrid control policy enforcing the desired ()‐regular property. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed results on room temperature control and mobile robot motion control case studies.
Fish assemblage structure and habitat relationships of a large floodplain river in western North America
Authors: Williams Joshua Everett , Gregory Stan , Wildman Randall
Published: March 2024

Understanding complex river floodplains is critical to conserve species of fish and their ecological functions. In 2011 through 2013, longitudinal gradients in fish assemblage were investigated in the Willamette River in western United States. Of 36,586 individual fish collected, 93% were native and 7% non‐native. The best predictors of fishes collected with a boat electrofisher were percent embeddedness, macrophytes, longitudinal river distance, average depth, and velocity. Habitat type (mainstem or slough) was also a significant predictor. The best predictor of fishes collected in nearshore habitats with a backpack electrofisher were longitudinal river distance, velocity, and percent embeddedness. Fish communities differed significantly between mainstem and slough habitat. Overall, 25 of 40 species had high fidelities to mainstem or slough habitats. Native species showed a high fidelity to both mainstem and slough habitats while non‐native species were significantly related only to slough habitats. Environmental characteristics strongly influenced fish assemblage structure in this large floodplain river. Maintaining and restoring mainstem and off‐channel habitats are critical for maximizing native species resilience in the face of non‐native species encroachment and a changing environment. Restoring the natural flow regime to the degree possible is needed to increase connectivity between the floodplain and mainstem and provide thermal and flood refuges for native fishes. Understanding habitat relationships provides essential context for fish conservation and management by resource agencies and landowners.
Estimating generalized propensity scores with survey and attrition weighted data
Authors: McCaffrey Daniel F. , Griffin Beth Ann , Robbins Michael , Chakraborti Yajnaseni , Coffman Donna L. , Vegetabile Brian
Published: March 2024

Prior work in causal inference has shown that using survey sampling weights in the propensity score estimation stage and the outcome model stage for binary treatments can result in a more robust estimator of the effect of the binary treatment being analyzed. However, to date, extending this work to continuous treatments and exposures has not been explored nor has consideration been given for how to handle attrition weights in the propensity score model. Nonetheless, generalized propensity score (GPS) analyses are being used for estimating continuous treatment effects on outcomes when researchers have observational data, and those data sets often have survey or attrition weights that need to be accounted for in the analysis. Here, we extend prior work and show with analytic results that using survey sampling or attrition weights in the GPS estimation stage and the outcome model stage for continuous treatments can result in a more robust estimator than one that does not. Simulation study results show that, although using weights in both estimation stages is sufficient for robust estimation, it is not necessary and unbiased estimation is possible in some cases under various approaches to using weights in estimation. Analysts do not know if the conditions of our simulation studies hold, so use of weights in both estimation stages might provide insurance for reducing potential bias. We discuss the implications of our results in the context of an empirical example.