bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A descriptive assessment of trial‐based functional analysis research
Authors: Amador Jessica L. , DeBar Ruth M. , Deshais Meghan A. , Gardner Andrew W. , Sidener Tina M.
Published: April 2024

Since its inception, modifications to experimental functional analyses have been conducted to improve contextual fit. One variation, a trial‐based functional analysis (TBFA), naturally embeds conditions within the environment, has been used across diverse participants (e.g., neurotypical development, autism spectrum disorder [ASD], etc.) and settings. Although interest in TBFA has grown, few TBFA literature reviews have been conducted. Detailed participant characteristics, reliability measures across dependent and independent variables, social validity, and details of function‐based interventions have yet to be reported. Therefore, the purpose of the literature review was to replicate and extend past TBFA reviews by assessing publication characteristics (e.g., authors, year), participant characteristics, procedures (e.g., number of trials), validation across comparison FAs, function‐based interventions, reliability (interobserver agreement [IOA] and procedural integrity) measures, social validity, and intervention details (type. Implementer, setting, and outcomes. We identified 32 articles across 88 participants. Strengths of TBFA research include usability across a range of problem behaviors in natural settings (i.e., in classrooms or in homes) by teachers and direct service providers, IOA, and the inclusion of effective function‐based interventions. Most research included preschoolers with ASD and other disabilities. Limitations and areas for future research are discussed.
How to get away with (sexual) murder? Unraveling cold cases in sexual homicide using a hybrid modeling probabilistic approach
Authors: Chopin Julien , Beauregard Eric
Published: April 2024

This study examines Sexual Homicide (SH) cases, analyzing the transition to cold cases through a non‐discretionary lens. Utilizing the SH International Database, it explores the interplay between offender behavior, victim characteristics, and crime context. Advanced methodologies, including sequential logistic regression and Artificial Neural Networks, identify key predictors of case resolution. Results highlight the critical influence of victim intoxication, high‐risk activities, and the location of the victim's body on case solvability. The study also reveals the significant role of offender forensic awareness and the complexity of crime scenes in hindering case resolution. These findings underline the multifaceted nature of SH cases, emphasizing the importance of understanding the nuanced interplay between victim, offender, and contextual factors in solving these challenging cases.
Trends in colorectal cancer screening compliance and incidence among 60‐ to 74‐year‐olds in China
Authors: Zhang Mingqing , Zhang Yongdan , Guo Lu , Zhao Lizhong , Jing Haoren , Yang Xiao , Zhang Wen , Zhang Yong , Nie Zhenguo , Zhu Siwei , Zhang Shiwu , Zhang Xipeng
Published: April 2024

Background

Compliance with colonoscopy among elderly individuals participating in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programs is unsatisfactory, despite a high detection rate of bowel‐related diseases. In this study, our aim was to analyze the impact of risk factors on the trends of compliance and detection rates in colonoscopy among high‐risk individuals aged 60–74.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted on the high‐risk individuals aged 60–74 participating in the 2021 CRC screening program in Tianjin, China. Logistic regression analyses, including both univariate and multivariate analyses, were performed to explore the impact of different risk factors on colonoscopy compliance among the high‐risk individuals. Besides, the study investigated the influence of various risk factors on the detection rates of bowel‐related diseases among the high‐risk individuals who underwent colonoscopy.

Results

A total of 24,064 high‐risk individuals were included, and 5478 individuals received a free colonoscopy, with an overall compliance of 22.76%. Among them, the adenoma detection rate was 55.46%. Males and individuals with a positive FIT had high compliance and detection rates for CRC, advanced adenomas (AA), advanced colorectal neoplasia (ACN), and colorectal neoplasm (CN). Individuals aged 70–74 were associated with low compliance but high CRC, ACN, and CN detection rates. Individuals who reported a history of chronic constipation, bloody mucous, and CRC in first‐degree relative showed high compliance but no significantwere associated with the detection rates of CRC, AA, and CN.

Conclusion

This study reported several risk factors associated with the screening behaviors for CRC. Patterns and trends in CRC, AA, ACN, and CN compliance and detection rates correlate with risk factors.
Users, AI, or professional designers? The impacts of inspiration stimuli on customers' willingness to participate in user design
Authors: Qi Chenyue , Wang Xiaojing , Zhang Hao
Published: April 2024

This study aims to explore how different sources of inspiration (namely, users, artificial intelligence (AI), and professional designers) as external stimuli influence customers' willingness to participate in user design. Results from four experiments show that inspiration from users, AI, and professional designers all positively influence customers' willingness to participate in user design. Self‐competence is found to mediate such effects. Moreover, we further identify that the effects of inspiration stimuli on customers' willingness to participate in user design is moderated by customer knowledge and product type (hedonic vs. utilitarian). Customers with low level of knowledge are more likely to be inspired by user designs and AI‐generated designs than professional designer counterparts. For utilitarian products, customers are more likely to be inspired by user designs and AI‐generated designs. In contrast, for hedonic products, customers are more likely to draw inspiration from professional designers. Our finding suggests that open innovation communities should offer a variety of designs from users and AI to inspire their users, thus encouraging their participation in user design.
Expression and localization of apelin and apelin receptor protein in the oviduct of letrozole‐induced hyperandrogenized mice
Authors: Dutta Ayushmita , Anima Borgohain , Riba Preethi , Gurusubramanian Guruswami , Roy Vikas Kumar
Published: April 2024

Apelin and its receptor (APJ) are expressed in the reproductive organs of some mammalian females. The function of oviduct has also been suggested to be compromised in the hyperandrogenism condition. However, expression of apelin and APJ has not been shown in the oviduct of hyperandrogenized mice. Thus, the present study has investigated the localization and expression of apelin and APJ in the letrozole‐induced hyperandrogenized mice oviduct. Histomorphometric analysis showed decreased lumen of oviduct in the hyperandrogenized mice. Our results showed elevated expression of APJ and decreased abundance of apelin in the hyperandrogenized mice oviduct. This finding suggests impaired apelin signaling in the oviduct of hyperandrogenized mice. The expression of androgen receptor was upregulated while estrogen receptors were downregulated in the hyperandrogenized mice. The expression of HSP70 was also downregulated along with increased expression of active caspase 3 and BAX and decreased expression of BCL2 in hyperandrogenized mice. Furthermore, the phosphorylation of phospho‐Ser473‐Akt and phospho‐Thr308‐Akt also showed differential levels in the oviduct of hyperandrogenized mice. Whether this differential phosphorylation of Akt was solely due to impaired apelin signaling in the oviduct, remains unclear. Moreover, increased androgen signaling and suppressed estrogen signaling coincides with elevated apoptosis. In conclusion, hyperandrogenized conditions could also impair the gamete transport and fertilization process due to apoptosis in the oviduct. However, further study would be required to unravel the exact role of apelin signaling in the oviduct in relation to apoptosis.
Metal Phosphide Nanoparticles Generated via a Molecular Precursor Route for Hydrotreatment of Methyl Laurate
Authors: García‐Pérez Diana , Álvarez‐Galván M. Consuelo , Capel‐Sánchez M. Carmen , Campos‐Martín José M. , Habas Susan E.
Published: April 2024

Transition metal phosphide nanoparticles supported on silica were used as catalysts to investigate the hydrodeoxygenation of methyl laurate (used as a model compound for vegetable oils). Ni2P, Ni1Mo1P, and Ni1.6Mo0.4P were synthesized using a molecular precursor route. The nanoparticles were added to the silica support without any changes in their structure or particle size. As a reference and for comparison, MoP/SiO2 was also prepared by the phosphite method. The prepared catalysts were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and chemical analysis. A higher conversion is reached with the MoP/SiO2 monometallic catalyst, close to that with Ni1Mo1P/SiO2. However, this observation is misleading because the differences in dispersion obscure the result that the intrinsic activity (turnover frequency) of the bimetallic catalyst, prepared by a molecular precursor route, is significantly higher than that of the monometallic catalyst, prepared by the phosphite route, revealing a synergistic effect on the catalytic activity due to the formation of the bimetallic phosphide.
LaNi0.2Cu0.8O3‐δ Perovskites as Electrocatalysts for Electro‐synthesis of Ammonia from Nitrogen Oxyanion
Authors: Zhang Wenhao , Gao Chenchen , Zhang Peng , Feng Qiuxia , Zhang Liming , Zhang Xinjing , Zhu Xuefeng , Yang Weishen
Published: April 2024

Electrochemical nitrate reduction to ammonia (NO3RR) has become an attractive alternative way for sustainable ammonia synthesis. The development of electrocatalysts with high activity, stability and Faradaic efficiency is important but challenge due to the complex eight‐electron process. Herein, LaNi0.2Cu0.8O2.77 (LNC) and LaNi0.2Cu0.8O2.53 (LNC−Ar) are demonstrated as electrocatalysts towards NO3RR and the surface reconstruction of the two catalysts was found to have strong effect on the catalytic performance. LNC−Ar shows a superior performance than LNC, with a maximum NH4+ yield of 11.49±1.20 mg h−1 cm−2 and a Faradaic efficiency of 87.10±1.34 % in 0.5 M NO3−, besides, the LNC−Ar remains functionally stable along the long‐time electrolysis. DFT results reveals the reconstructed LaNi0.2Cu0.8O2 (LNCO2) has the best ability to adsorb *NO3, resulting in a better performance towards NO3RR. Further, the better performance on LNC−Ar with more LNCO2 can be well explained. This work opens a new sight on perovskites towards NO3RR and provides an option of active and stable electrocatalyst for sustainable ammonia synthesis.
Depolymerization of PET Fibers from Textile Blends and Recovery of Terephthalic Acid
Authors: Both Leonard , Paschetag Mandy , Eichert Carsten , Scholl Stephan
Published: April 2024

The hydrolytic depolymerization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibers with solid sodium hydroxide was investigated. The study presents an innovative recycling approach for the recovery of virgin‐quality terephthalic acid (TA) from textile blends consisting of PET and elastane fibers. PET fibers were depolymerized for 5 min at 140 °C. An internal mixer served as an investigation platform for the experiments. The quality of TA is quantified based on its color value. Both the hydrolytic depolymerization of polyester fibers and the quality of the recovered TA are not impaired by the presence of up to 15 % elastane fibers in textile blends.
From Research directly into School: Green Steel – direct Reduction with Ammonia
Authors: Heinzerling Peter
Published: April 2024

Im Zusammenhang mit der Diskussion um die Decarbonisierung stehen Industriesektoren mit hoher Kohlenstoffdioxid‐Emission im Focus der Forderungen der Politik und Teilen der Zivilgesellschaft. Die Industrie hat die Herausforderungen angenommen und bereitet im großen Stil den technologischen Wandel vor. In Schulbüchern steht beim Thema Stahl der mit Eisenerz und Koks betriebene Hochofen im Mittelpunkt. Diese Reaktoren wird es innerhalb der nächsten zwanzig Jahre vermutlich nicht mehr geben. Sie werden ersetzt durch Reaktoren vom MIDREX®‐Typ, die langfristig mit Wasserstoff als Reduktionsmittel betrieben werden. In dieser Publikation wird der kostengünstigere Weg über Ammoniak vorgestellt. Dazu wird ein einfaches Schulexperiment zur Herstellung von Ammoniak und zur Reduktion von Eisenoxid vorgestellt.
Towards a robust scale‐free network in internet of health things against multiple attacks using an inter‐core based reconnection strategy
Authors: Abbas Syed Minhal , Javaid Nadeem , Alrajeh Nabil , Bouk Safdar Hussain , Alhudaithy Soliman
Published: April 2024

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have attained a great attraction of researchers in the recent years. In these networks, many structures are considered that have different properties. This article offers a unique approach, the inter‐core based reconnection strategy (ICRS), which is intended to improve the robustness of Scale‐Free Networks (SFNs) in the setting of wireless sensor networks (WSNs), with a special emphasis on the Internet of Health Things (IoHT) network. SFNs' vulnerabilities to malicious assaults while remaining resilient to random attacks. The proposed ICRS overcomes this issue by offering a novel reconnection approach that employs separate edges between network centers. Destructive assaults that have a significant impact on network connectivity, emphasizing the importance of a robust network that can resist a variety of attacks. ICRS is positioned as a solution that optimizes the network via reconnection techniques, changing it into an onion‐like structure with increased robustness. The simulation results depict that ICRS outperforms the existing algorithms in terms of robustness enhancement. The results show that ICRS performs 48%, 29%, 22%, and 16% better than Barabasi Albert (BA), Hill Climbing (HC), Simulated Annealing (SA), Random Edge Swap Mechanism (RESM), and Robustness Strategy (ROSE), respectively.
Swarm Intelligence with a Chaotic Leader and a Salp algorithm: HDFS optimization for reduced latency and enhanced availability
Authors: Jagadish Kumar N. , Dhinakaran D. , Naresh Kumar A. , Kalpana A. V.
Published: April 2024

The Hadoop distributed file system (HDFS) effectively manages data by segmenting it into blocks distributed across DataNodes in its cluster. While default block sizes in Hadoop 2.x and 1.x are 128 and 64 MB, respectively, they can be customized for larger files. HDFS ensures data reliability by replicating blocks across multiple DataNodes, but this can introduce high latency in cloud storage during heavy network traffic, particularly in big data processing. To address this, we introduce swarm intelligence with a chaotic leader and a salp (SI‐CLS) optimization algorithm. This algorithm reduces network traffic between racks in HDFS by optimizing block distribution. The SI‐CLS algorithm calculates a fitness value for each block, aiming to increase data availability and reduce latency. Performance metrics, including latency, data availability, and load balancing, indicate the effectiveness of SI‐CLS. Adopting this algorithm enhances HDFS performance, ensuring better data availability and lower latency, resulting in improved system reliability.
Recreational marijuana: Ethical positions and consumption status in explaining attitudes, perceived law ethicalness, and perceived corporate social responsibility
Authors: Souiden Nizar
Published: April 2024

Drawing from the Ethics Position theory and the Theory of Planned Behavior, this study was conducted with a comprehensive four‐part goal. It seeks to explore the moderating influences of the consumption status and ethical positions in elucidating (i) individuals' attitude toward recreational marijuana consumption, (ii) individuals' perceived ethical stance regarding recreational marijuana legalization, (iii) individuals' CSR perception of firms operating within the marijuana industry often deemed as morally contentious, and (iv) the interrelationships among the aforementioned variables. Based on a sample of 411 Canadians and two grouping variables, ANOVA tests and a structural Equation Modeling were used to test the research hypotheses. The results show that individuals' attitudes toward the consumption of marijuana, perceived ethicalness of legalizing it, and perceived CSR significantly vary across the three groups of consumption status (i.e., non‐consumer, occasional, and regular) and the four groups of ethical positions (i.e., absolutism, exceptionism, situationism, and subjectivism). The SEM results, however, show that, except for a few cases, there were no notable variations in the model's path coefficients among the identified groups. This study has intriguing implications for academicians, practitioners, politicians, managers, social welfare activists, and other stakeholders.
High‐precision screening and sorting of double emulsion droplets
Authors: Zhuang Siyuan , Semenec Lucie , Nagy Stephanie S. , Cain Amy K. , Inglis David W.
Published: April 2024

Mounting evidence suggests that cell populations are extremely heterogeneous, with individual cells fulfilling different roles within the population. Flow cytometry (FC) is a high‐throughput tool for single‐cell analysis that works at high optical resolution. Sub‐populations with unique properties can be screened, isolated and sorted through fluorescence‐activated cell sorting (FACS), using intracellular fluorescent products or surface‐tagged fluorescent products of interest. However, traditional FC and FACS methods cannot identify or isolate cells that secrete extracellular products of interest. Double emulsion (DE) droplets are an innovative approach to retaining these extracellular products so cells producing them can be identified and isolated with FC and FACS. The water‐in‐oil‐in‐water structure makes DE droplets compatible with the sheath flow of flow cytometry. Single cells can be encapsulated with other reagents into DEs, which act as pico‐reactors. These droplets allow biological activities to take place while allowing for cell cultivation monitoring, rare mutant identification, and cellular events characterization. However, using DEs in FACS presents technical challenges, including rupture of DEs, poor accuracy and low sorting efficiency. This study presents high‐performance sorting using fluorescent beads (as simulants for cells). This study aims to guide researchers in the use of DE‐based flow cytometry, offering insights into how to resolve the technical difficulties associated with DE‐based screening and sorting using FC.
Reversal of the concreteness effect can be detected in the natural speech of older adults with amnestic, but not non‐amnestic, mild cognitive impairment
Authors: Cao Luwen , Han Kunmei , Lin Li , Hing Jiawen , Ooi Vincent , Huang Nick , Yu Junhong , Ng Ted Kheng Siang , Feng Lei , Mahendran Rathi , Kua Ee Heok , Bao Zhiming
Published: April 2024

INTRODUCTION

Patients with Alzheimer's disease present with difficulty in lexical retrieval and reversal of the concreteness effect in nouns. Little is known about the phenomena before the onset of symptoms. We anticipate early linguistic signs in the speech of people who suffer from amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Here, we report the results of a corpus‐linguistic approach to the early detection of cognitive impairment.

METHODS

One hundred forty‐eight English‐speaking Singaporeans provided natural speech data, on topics of their choice; 74 were diagnosed with single‐domain MCI (38 amnestic, 36 non‐amnestic), 74 cognitively healthy. The recordings yield 267,310 words, which are tagged for parts of speech. We calculate the per‐minute word counts and concreteness scores of all tagged words, nouns, and verbs in the dataset.

RESULTS

Compared to controls, subjects with amnestic MCI produce fewer but more abstract nouns. Verbs are not affected.

DISCUSSION

Slower retrieval of nouns and the reversal of the concreteness effect in nouns are manifested in natural speech and can be detected early through corpus‐based analysis.

Highlights

Reversal of the concreteness effect is manifested in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and semantic dementia.

The paper reports a corpus‐based analysis of natural speech by people with amnestic and non‐amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and cognitively healthy controls.

People with amnestic MCI produce fewer and more abstract nouns than people with non‐amnestic MCI and healthy controls. Verbs appear to be unaffected.

The imageability problem can be detected in natural everyday speech by people with amnestic MCI, which carries a higher risk of conversion to AD.
Incorporation of substrate blocks into mass transport deposits: Insights from subsurface and outcrop studies
Authors: Valdez Buso Victoria , Kneller Ben , da Silva Reis Assis Vanessa , Farias Vesely Fernando , Milana Juan Pablo
Published: April 2024

Mass movements are common on the continental slope, affecting not only the subsequent sea floor morphology but often substantially modifying the underlying deposits. Various styles of substrate interaction have been recognised, representing the various degrees of involvement of the underlying material and its incorporation into the mass movement. This work presents a new style of basal interaction not previously described. Based on the morphology of the basal surface of a mass transport deposit, this can be recognised both in seismic data and in an outcrop analogue. A subsurface example, from an ca 100 m thick mass transport deposit located in Santos Basin, offshore Brazil, displays a basal surface with spoon‐shaped scours or scoops. These scoops are of the order of tens up to 400 m in maximum dimension, where masses of underlying sediment have been removed and incorporated into the mass movement. Outcrops used for this work are located in La Rioja Province, Western Argentina, where the study involves a well‐exposed ca 200 m thick mass transport deposit that crops out continuously over 7 km. Its basal surface is incised irregularly into the underlying sandstones, incorporating the blocks of sandstone into the mass movement. The striking similarities observed between outcrop examples and the northern Santos Basin suggest that they can be effective analogues, facilitating a comprehensive understanding of mass transport deposit dynamics across diverse basin environments.
Is the diet cyclic phase‐dependent in boreal vole populations?
Authors: Neby Magne , Ims Rolf A. , Kamenova Stefaniya , Devineau Olivier , Soininen Eeva M.
Published: April 2024

Herbivorous rodents in boreal, alpine and arctic ecosystems are renowned for their multi‐annual population cycles. Researchers have hypothesised that these cycles may result from herbivore–plant interactions in various ways. For instance, if the biomass of preferred food plants is reduced after a peak phase of a cycle, rodent diets can be expected to become dominated by less preferred food plants, leading the population to a crash. It could also be expected that the taxonomic diversity of rodent diets increases from the peak to the crash phase of a cycle. The present study is the first to use DNA metabarcoding to quantify the diets of two functionally important boreal rodent species (bank vole and tundra vole) to assess whether their diet changed systematically in the expected cyclic phase‐dependent manner. We found the taxonomic diet spectrum broad in both vole species but with little interspecific overlap. There was no evidence of systematic shifts in diet diversity metrics between the phases of the population cycle in either species. While both species' diet composition changed moderately between cycle phases and seasons, these changes were small compared to other sources of diet variation—especially differences between individuals. Thus, the variation in diet that could be attributed to cyclic phases is marginal relative to the overall diet flexibility. Based on general consumer‐resource theory, we suggest that the broad diets with little interspecific overlap render it unlikely that herbivore–plant interactions generate their synchronous population cycles. We propose that determining dietary niche width should be the first step in scientific inquiries about the role of herbivore–plant interactions in cyclic vole populations.
Deep‐pelagic fishes: Demographic instability in a stable environment
Authors: Weber Max D. , Richards Travis M. , Sutton Tracey T. , Carter Joshua E. , Eytan Ron I.
Published: April 2024

Demographic histories are frequently a product of the environment, as populations expand or contract in response to major environmental changes, often driven by changes in climate. Meso‐ and bathy‐pelagic fishes inhabit some of the most temporally and spatially stable habitats on the planet. The stability of the deep‐pelagic could make deep‐pelagic fishes resistant to the demographic instability commonly reported in fish species inhabiting other marine habitats, however the demographic histories of deep‐pelagic fishes are unknown. We reconstructed the historical demography of 11 species of deep‐pelagic fishes using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence data. We uncovered widespread evidence of population expansions in our study species, a counterintuitive result based on the nature of deep‐pelagic ecosystems. Frequency‐based methods detected potential demographic changes in nine species of fishes, while extended Bayesian skyline plots identified population expansions in four species. These results suggest that despite the relatively stable nature of the deep‐pelagic environment, the fishes that reside here have likely been impacted by past changes in climate. Further investigation is necessary to better understand how deep‐pelagic fishes, by far Earth's most abundant vertebrates, will respond to future climatic changes.
Contrasting resistance and resilience trajectories of zooplankton communities in restored fishless alpine lakes
Authors: Stuparyk Blake R. , Vinebrooke Rolf D.
Published: April 2024

Catastrophic state changes often occur in ecosystems as consequences of shifts in the dominant life forms, such as in the case of sportfish introduction into naturally fishless mountain lakes. While the pronounced ecological displacement of native communities by these novel predators (i.e., weak resistance) is well documented, few studies have also examined the dynamics of their recovery rates (i.e., “engineering resilience”) following stressor removal. We addressed this knowledge gap by quantifying the taxonomic and species trait‐based ordination trajectories of crustacean zooplankton communities in stocked alpine lakes, which differed in how they were restored to a natural fishless state over a period of six decades. Resilience and resistance trajectories differed in each lake as the ecological importance of trait‐based species recolonization potential (e.g., asexual vs. sexual reproduction) replaced that of tolerance of size‐selective predation by fish (e.g., body size, pigmentation, motility). As a result, re‐establishment of large‐bodied zooplankton following the elimination of fish restored annual secondary production. In contrast, a more gradual unidirectional ordination trajectory toward smaller zooplankton body size and a decline in total zooplankton biomass occurred in a nearby alpine lake containing a protected native bull trout population. Although recovery trajectories returned via routes that differed from those of earlier resistance trajectories (i.e., hysteresis), we discovered that full taxonomic and functional recovery was realized in all the restored fishless lakes within three decades, regardless of the approach used to achieve ecosystem restoration.
Shifts in grasses diversity patterns between two contrasting 40‐year climate periods in tropical dry islands
Authors: Duarte Maria Cristina , Rocha Vanézia , Fernández‐Palacios José María , Gomes Isildo , Neto Carlos , Costa José C. , Branquinho Cristina , Romeiras Maria M.
Published: April 2024

Grasses are one of the most successful and dispersed plant families worldwide and their environmental and economic values are widely acknowledged. They dominate the landscape of Cabo Verde, the southernmost and driest archipelago of Macaronesia, and are relevant natural resources for local populations, but a comprehensive evaluation of their distribution patterns is still lacking. In this study, we aim to evaluate the potential effects of climate change using the long‐term data concerning grass distribution in Cabo Verde and the widely recognized climatic variability of this archipelago, which entails a huge irregularity in spatial and temporal rainfall. We identified two contrasting climatic periods (wet, from 1929 to 1968, and dry, from 1969 to 2007) and gathered all the information available from the bibliography, herbaria, and fieldwork concerning spontaneous grass species recorded in Cabo Verde during those two periods, which amounted to 107 taxa. This information was then used to disclose the patterns of grass diversity as related to climatic and topographic variables (altitude and windward vs. leeward aspects). Different altitudinal shifts in the distribution patterns of grass species assemblages and an assemblage specific to the wet period were revealed by comparing the two climatic periods. The role of exposure in delimiting the altitudinal distribution of the various assemblages was highlighted; the trade winds clearly determine the distribution of grass assemblages. We detected shifts in the distribution of grass assemblages according to the climatic periods (related to the macroclimate) and local topographic factors (associated with mesoclimates). Also, functional traits (i.e., annuals vs. perennials, C3 vs. C4 grasses, and tropical vs. temperate species) were found to vary between wet and dry periods, as well as with altitude and with slope aspect. Understanding species distributions and the role of the climatic variability of Cabo Verde is crucial to predicting how climate change will affect them and thus to support effective management and conservation actions.
Bioclogging effects on mass transport using volume averaging method in bioretention cell treating wastewater: Theories
Authors: Li Zhaolong , Wang Yajun , Jin Wenju
Published: April 2024

In bioretention cell (BRC) systems, internal clogging in the hydraulic field caused by microbial organisms growing in the nonuniform porous media can lead to the reduction of denitrification capacity. To investigate microbial effect processes, a multispecies biological field‐hydraulic coupling transport model in BRC was developed based on the average volume method (AVM) and traditional convection‐diffusion–reaction equation. This model provides a method to establish a connection between the microscale biofilm thickness and the macroscale measurement of pollutant concentration, which has been less frequently discussed in previous research. The present work differs from earlier works by explicitly smoothing the diversity and complexity of media structure by upscaling the physical quantities using the AVM. The results suggest that the model is derived for enhancing a more comprehensive understanding the relationship between the microscopic biofilm thickness and the measured concentration. It is also found that the infiltration description is required adding porosity parameter in order to have an accurate simulation of permeable phenomena under biologically growing condition.
Bee (Apis mellifera L. 1758) wax restores adipogenesis and lipid accumulation of 3T3‐L1 cells in cancer‐associated cachexia condition
Authors: Jang Hyun‐Jun , Kim Hyun‐Yong , Lyu Ji Hyo , Muthamil Subramanian , Shin Ung Cheol , Kim Hyo Seon , Jeong Jieun , Chang Suwhan , Lee Yun Kyung , Park Jun Hong
Published: April 2024

Cachexia is associated with various diseases, such as heart disease, infectious disease, and cancer. In particular, cancer‐associated cachexia (CAC) accounts for more than 20% of mortality in cancer patients worldwide. Adipose tissue in CAC is characterized by adipocyte atrophy, mainly due to excessively increased lipolysis and impairment of adipogenesis. CAC is well known for the loss of skeletal muscle mass and/or fat mass. CAC induces severe metabolic alterations, including protein, lipid, and carbohydrate metabolism. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of bee wax (Apis mellifera L. 1758) (BW) extract on adipogenesis, lipolysis, and mitochondrial oxygen consumption through white adipocytes, 3T3‐L1. To achieve this study, cancer‐associated cachexia condition was established by incubation of 3T3‐L1 with colon cancer cell line CT26 cultured media. BW extract recovered the reduced adipogenesis under cachectic conditions in CT26 media. Treatment of BW showed increasing lipid accumulation as well as adipogenic gene expression and its target gene during adipogenesis. The administration of BW to adipocytes could decrease lipolysis. Also, BW could significantly downregulated the mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation‐related genes, oxygen consumption rate, and extracellular acidification rate. Our results suggest that BW could improve metabolic disorders such as CAC through the activation of adipogenesis and inhibition of lipolysis in adipocytes, although we need further validation in vivo CAC model to check the effects of BW extract. Therefore, BW extract supplements could be useful as an alternative medicine to reverse energy imbalances.
Physicochemical stability of corn protein hydrolysate/tannic acid complex‐based β‐carotene nanoemulsion delivery system
Authors: Wang Yong‐Hui , He Sheng‐Hua , Huang Ji‐Hong , Guo Wei‐Yun , Gao Xue‐Li , Li Guang‐Hui
Published: April 2024

Moderate non‐covalent interaction of protein and polyphenols can improve the emulsifying property of protein itself. The corn protein hydrolysate (CPH) and tannic acid (TA) complex was successfully used to construct nanoemulsion for algal oil delivery. There has been no study on the feasibility of this nanoemulsion delivery system for other food functional components, for example, β‐carotene (β‐CE). CPH/TA complex‐based nanoemulsion system for β‐CE delivery was studied, focusing on the effect of β‐CE content on the physicochemical stability of the nanoemulsions. The nanoemulsion delivery systems (dia. 150 nm) with low viscosity and good liquidity were easily fabricated by two‐step emulsification. The nanoemulsions with high β‐CE content (>71.5 μg/mL) significantly increased (p < .05) the emulsion droplet size. However, there was no significant (p > .05) effect of β‐CE content on polydispersity index (PDI) and zeta potential of the nanoemulsions. The storage (30 days) experiment results demonstrated that the droplet size of the nanoemulsions with varying β‐CE content increased slightly during storage. However, the PDI values showed a slightly decreasing trend. Zeta potentials of the nanoemulsions showed no noticeable change during storage. Moreover, after storage of 30 days, the retention ratios of β‐CE were found to be up to 90%, which suggests an excellent protective effect for β‐CE by the nanoemulsion systems. The CPH/TA complex stabilized nanoemulsions could aggregate in gastric condition, but the β‐CE content did not have obvious effect on the digestive stability of the nanoemulsions. The CPH/TA complex could be employed as an emulsifier to construct a physicochemical stable nanoemulsion delivery system for lipophilic active components.
Negative learning emotions and learning goal orientation in teams: HRD implications
Authors: Chen Kuang‐Jung , Lin Chieh‐Peng , Liu Na‐Ting , Chen Pei‐Chun
Published: April 2024

Utilizing insights from team regulation theory and social cognitive theory, this research conducted empirical testing through a field survey involving engineering teams. This research is significant as it inspires teams to effectively harness their learning capacity, thereby enhancing collective motivation for future success. The results showed (1) collective learning efficacy mediated the negative relationship between negative learning emotions and team performance, (2) collective learning efficacy mediated the positive relationship between learning goal orientation and team performance, and (3) relationship conflict moderated the relationship between negative learning emotions and collective learning efficacy. Team leaders can employ strategies to reignite team workers' enthusiasm for enhancing learning goal orientation and to redirect their focus away from negative emotional states. These efforts can lead to enhanced collective learning efficacy and overall performance.
Apheresis practice variation during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Results of a survey
Authors: Tanhehco Yvette C. , Alsammak Mohamed , Chhibber Vishesh , Ibeh Nnaemeka , Li Yanhua , Stephens Laura D. , Noland Daniel K. , Wu Ding Wen , Zantek Nicole D. , DeChristopher Phillip J. , Martin Marisa Claudia Saint , Lu Wen , Wehrli Gay
Published: April 2024

Background

The COVID‐19 pandemic affected healthcare delivery across all specialties including apheresis. To describe the changes in apheresis service practices that occurred during the pandemic, the American Society for Apheresis (ASFA) Apheresis Medicine Attending Physician Subcommittee conducted a survey study.

Study Design and Methods

A 32‐question survey was designed and distributed to 400 ASFA physician members on September 7, 2022. Attending physicians responded to questions about whether and how apheresis service practices changed during the COVID‐19 pandemic compared with the time period prior to the pandemic in terms of: (1) procedure types and volumes, (2) patient consultation workflow, and (3) the use of telemedicine. Descriptive analyses were reported as number and frequency of responses.

Results

The survey response rate was 13.8% (55/400). Of these respondents, 96.4% (53/55) were attending physicians. The majority of respondents (42/53, 79.2%) indicated that the types of procedures performed during COVID‐19 compared to pre‐pandemic did not change. Most frequently for apheresis procedure volume, respondents reported: no change in their monthly inpatient volume (21/47, 44.7%) and a decrease in their monthly outpatient volume (28/46, 60.9%). Prior to COVID‐19, 75.0% (30/40) of respondents performed consultations at bedside for inpatients and 67.4% (29/43) performed consultations at bedside for outpatients. Bedside consultations decreased in both settings during the pandemic but were still most frequently performed by attending physicians. At the same time, the use of telemedicine increased for 15.4% of survey respondents during COVID‐19.

Conclusion

Some, but not all, respondents observed or made changes to their apheresis service during the COVID‐19 pandemic. A subset of changes, such as increased utilization of telemedicine, may persist.
Assessing the clinical efficacy of low‐volume therapeutic plasma exchange in achieving recovery from acute liver failure induced by yellow phosphorous poisoning
Authors: Ninan Ancy , Mohan Ganesh , Shanbhag Vishal , Chenna Deepika , Shastry Shamee , Rao Shwethapriya
Published: April 2024

Background

Acute liver failure (ALF) following yellow phosphorous (YP) ingestion is similar to acetaminophen‐induced ALF and it has become a public concern in our region. This study assessed low volume therapeutic plasma exchange (LV‐TPE) efficacy in improving the transplant free survival in YP poisoning.

Methods

Adult patients with toxicology reports of YP and ALF requiring critical care were included in the study. LV‐TPE was planned for three consecutive days and three more if required. Performed 1.3 to 1.5 plasma volume replacing with 0.9% normal saline, 5% human albumin solution, and fresh frozen plasma based on ASFA 2019 criteria. MELD score, laboratory parameters, LV‐TPE details were captured. The study end point was clinical outcome of the patients.

Results

Among 36 patients, 19 underwent LV‐TPE and 17 opted out of LV‐TPE and they were included as a control arm. The MELD score was 32.64 ± 8.05 and 37.83 ± 9.37 in both groups. There were 13 survivors in LV‐TPE group leading to a 68.42% reduction in mortality. The coagulation and biochemical parameters showed a significant percentage change after LV‐TPE. Refractory shock, delay in initiating procedure and acidosis were independent predictors of mortality.

Conclusion

A well‐timed LV‐TPE improves the survival of patients with ALF due to YP poisoning.
Suspected autoimmune encephalitis: A retrospective study of patients referred for therapeutic plasma exchange
Authors: Crowe Elizabeth P. , Diaz‐Arias Luisa A. , Habis Ralph , Vozniak Sonja O. , Geocadin Romergryko G. , Venkatesan Arun , Tobian Aaron A.R. , Probasco John C. , Bloch Evan M.
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Autoimmune encephalitis (AE) comprises a heterogeneous group of autoantibody‐mediated disorders targeting the brain parenchyma. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), one of several first‐line therapies for AE, is often initiated when AE is suspected, albeit prior to an established diagnosis. We sought to characterize the role of TPE in the treatment of suspected AE.

Methods

A single‐center, retrospective analysis was performed of adults (≥18 years) who underwent at least one TPE procedure for “suspected AE.” The following parameters were extracted and evaluated descriptively: clinicopathologic characteristics, treatment course, TPE‐related adverse events, outcomes (e.g., modified Rankin scale [mRS]), and diagnosis once investigation was complete.

Results

A total of 37 patients (median age 56 years, range 28–77 years, 62.2% male) were evaluated. Autoimmune antibody testing was positive in serum for 43.2% (n = 16) and cerebrospinal fluid for 29.7% (n = 11).

Patients underwent a median of five TPE procedures (range 3–16), with 97.3% (n = 36) via a central line and 21.6% (n = 8) requiring at least one unit of plasma as replacement fluid. Fifteen patients (40.5%) experienced at least one TPE‐related adverse event. Compared with mRS at admission, the mRS at discharge was improved in 21.6% (n = 8), unchanged in 59.5% (n = 22), or worse in 18.9% (n = 7). Final diagnosis of AE was determined to be definite in 48.6% (n = 18), probable in 8.1% (n = 3) and possible in 27.0% (n = 10). Six (16.2%) patients were ultimately determined to have an alternate etiology.

Conclusion

Empiric TPE for suspected AE is generally well‐tolerated. However, its efficacy remains uncertain in the absence of controlled trials, particularly in the setting of seronegative disease.
KLF13 promotes VSMCs phenotypic dedifferentiation by directly binding to the SM22α promoter
Authors: Yuan Xiaofan , Jiang Chuan , Xue Yuzhou , Guo Fuqiang , Luo Minghao , Guo Lei , Gao Yang , Yuan Tongling , Xu Hui , Chen Hong
Published: April 2024

Krüppel‐like factor 13 (KLF13), a zinc finger transcription factor, is considered as a potential regulator of cardiomyocyte differentiation and proliferation during heart morphogenesis. However, its precise role in the dedifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) during atherosclerosis and neointimal formation after injury remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the relationship between KLF13 and SM22α expression in normal and atherosclerotic plaques by bioanalysis, and observed a significant increase in KLF13 levels in the atherosclerotic plaques of both human patients and ApoE−/− mice. Knockdown of KLF13 was found to ameliorate intimal hyperplasia following carotid artery injury. Furthermore, we discovered that KLF13 directly binds to the SM22α promoter, leading to the phenotypic dedifferentiation of VSMCs. Remarkably, we observed a significant inhibition of platelet‐derived growth factor BB‐induced VSMCs dedifferentiation, proliferation, and migration when knocked down KLF13 in VSMCs. This inhibitory effect of KLF13 knockdown on VCMC function was, at least in part, mediated by the inactivation of p‐AKT signaling in VSMCs. Overall, our findings shed light on a potential therapeutic target for treating atherosclerotic lesions and restenosis after vascular injury.
Development of a three‐dimensional printed model from a digital impression of a real patient for aesthetic dentistry undergraduate teaching
Authors: Arroyo‐Bote Sebastiana , Bennasar‐Verger Catalina , Martínez‐Jover Andrés , Ferragut‐Pina Pablo , Riutot‐Sbert Pere , López‐González Ángel Arturo , Barkvol Pål
Published: April 2024

Introduction

The acquisition of skills and manual dexterity in aesthetic dentistry in undergraduate teaching requires preclinical practices with simulation that should approximate real clinical situations.

Objective

We will present a digital procedure for the creation of three‐dimensional (3D) resin models adapted to the practices of the Aesthetic Dentistry course.

Material and method

Stereolithography or Standard Tesellation Language (STL) files of a real patient were previously obtained with a 3‐shape intraoral scanner. Using the Exocad computer programme for dental prosthesis design, various modifications were made, such as incisor rotation, surface alterations imitating dysplasias or erosions, the creation of diastemas, or even changes in tooth size. The virtual model was printed in resin for use by students. Once the practices were finished, the students and the teachers evaluated the use of the 3D printed models.

Results

The result is the typodont model, in which seven laboratory sessions took place: 1‐Restoration of conoid tooth morphology, 2‐Cervical abrasion/ erosion restoration, 3‐Direct Composite Veneer, 4‐Aesthetic correction in a tooth with rotation, 5‐Diastem closure, 6‐Occlusal abrasions/ erosion, and 7‐Maryland bridge. 90.48% of the students evaluated the designed 3D model as the best method for laboratory practice compared to other methods, obtaining a general assessment of 8.3 out of 10.

Conclusion

The method used has provided a reproducible standard analog model for direct aesthetic dental restoration practice, with a good assessment by students and teachers.
Flexible list colorings: Maximizing the number of requests satisfied
Authors: Kaul Hemanshu , Mathew Rogers , Mudrock Jeffrey A. , Pelsmajer Michael J.
Published: April 2024

Flexible list coloring was introduced by Dvořák, Norin, and Postle in 2019. Suppose , is a graph, is a list assignment for , and is a function with nonempty domain such that for each ( is called a request of ). The triple is ‐satisfiable if there exists a proper ‐coloring of such that for at least vertices in . We say is ‐flexible if is ‐satisfiable whenever is a ‐assignment for and is a request of . It was shown by Dvořák et al. that if is prime, is a ‐degenerate graph, and is a request for with domain of size 1, then is 1‐satisfiable whenever is a ‐assignment. In this paper, we extend this result to all for bipartite ‐degenerate graphs.

The literature on flexible list coloring tends to focus on showing that for a fixed graph and there exists an such that is ‐flexible, but it is natural to try to find the largest possible for which is ‐flexible. In this vein, we improve a result of Dvořák et al., by showing ‐degenerate graphs are ‐flexible. In pursuit of the largest for which a graph is ‐flexible, we observe that a graph is not ‐flexible for any if and only if , where is the Hall ratio of , and we initiate the study of the list flexibility number of a graph , which is the smallest such that is ‐flexible. We study relationships and connections between the list flexibility number, list chromatic number, list packing number, and degeneracy of a graph.