bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mushrooms and Algae– ‘Microorganisms as source Superfoods’: A Review
Authors:   Department of Zoology, Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi-110019, India, Bala Kiran , Bala Negi Kiran , Singh Ajaib , Lata Pushp , Kumar Gaurav , Sengar Manisha , Malhotra Jaya
Published: July 2023

Mushrooms and algae have been consumed since ancient times because of their culinary and gastronomic attributes. Both are important dietary sources of bioactive compounds including essential minerals, vitamins, complete profile of amino acids and are valuable source of dietary fibres. They are low in calorie content because of negligible amount of fats and carbohydrates. Beyond the excellent nutrition profile of these superfoods, they also belong to the category of nutraceuticals which provide medicinal benefits along with meeting daily dietary requirements. Bioactive compounds present in them are an interest of research because of anti-cancerous, antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant, hypoglycemic and immunomodulatory activities. These microorganisms are easy to grow on varied substrates therefore cost effective and eco-friendly that gives a great advantage over synthetic super foods obtained from animal origin. The current review focusses on the nutritional and medicinal value with importance of mushrooms and algae as a super food. Review also discusses about the toxicity associated with mushrooms along with the current status in trends of production, cultivation and consumption of fungi and algae based foods in different countries and offers thoughts on course.
SESQUILINEAR FORMS AND THE ORTHOGONALITY PRESERVING PROPERTY
Authors:   Hakim Sabzevari University Department of Mathematics and Computer Sciences P.O. Box 397, Sabzevar, Iran, NABAVI SALES S. M. S.
Published: July 2023

We consider the orthogonality preserving property to study sesquilinear forms. We state some characterizations for Hermitian sesquilinear forms through this kind of approach. We, then, state a Wigner type equation and present some results in this regard.
A Textbook of Plantation Crops
Authors: Naik Bhimasen
Published: July 2023

"The book Textbook of Plantation Crops gives an overview of plantation crops, and production technology of coconut, arecanut, oil palm, palmyrah palm, date palm, cashewnut, coffee, tea, cocoa and rubber. Simple and lucid language has been followed for clear and easy understanding of the beginners. The book is illustrated with photographs and diagrams. Questions are set at the end of each chapter under Outcomes Assessment to assess the understanding of the students. "
Agricultural Statistics, Mathematics And Computer Applications
Authors: Kalpana M. , Parimalarangan R. , Sivasankari B. , Arulanandu U.
Published: July 2023

"The inclusive book on Agricultural Statistics, Mathematics, and Computer applications explains theoretical aspects and gives in-depth information on various concepts in a sequenced manner. This book consists of Agricultural Statistics, Mathematics and Computer Applications, and agricultural Economics. This book has also brought out multiple Choice Questions in each unit. Unit I â€“ Agricultural Statistics deal with Definition, Frequency distribution Measures of central tendency- Mean, Median, Mode, Geometric mean, Harmonic mean, Measures of dispersion, Range, Quartile deviation, Mean deviation, Standard deviation, Variance, Probability, Conditional probability, Theorem of probability, Bayes theorem, Discrete probability distribution Continuous probability distribution, Distribution- Binomial distribution, Poison distribution, Normal distribution, Sampling methods, Theory of testing hypothesis, Correlation, Regression, Analysis of variance, Design of Experiment Unit II â€“ Mathematics deals with Real and Complex Numbers, Set Theory, Matrices, Eigen values and Eigen vectors, Vectors, Differential Calculus, Integral Calculus, Beta and Gamma Functions, Double Integral, Ordinary Differential Equations, and Interpolation Unit III â€“ Computer Applications deal with Input Devices, Output Devices, Memory, Hardware Software, Classification, Booting, computer Virus, Operating system, DOS commands, and Types of files Windows, MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Access, Computer Programming, Algorithm, Programming language, BASIC, FORTRAN, C language, and Bioinformatics. Unit IV â€“ Agricultural Economics consists of principles of economics, Law of demand, factors of production, supply, Factor-Product relationship, Factor-Factor relationship, Product-Product relationship, Law of Equi-Marginal Returns, Cost concepts, Balance sheet, Type and Systems of farming, Farm budgeting, and Depreciation, Agricultural Marketing, market Classification, Marketed surplus, Price spread, market integration, Agricultural Finance includes Classification of credit, Nationalisation of Banks, Regional Rural Banks (RRB)"
Basic Agriculture Economics
Authors: Gowri Uma
Published: July 2023

"This basic book Basic Agricultural Economics is a scholars' guide, written for those who want to understand the theory, concepts, principles on which economy revolves. It is intended for students who are taking their first course as well as in their higher studies and preparation for various competitive examinations in agricultural social science discipline. It introduces economic principles in a succinct and reader-friendly format, providing students and instructors with a clear, up-to-date, and straightforward approach to learning how a market-based economy functions. It explains the general principles underlying different economic systems, divisions and so on. It has covered all the topics such as basic concepts in economics, theory of consumer behaviour, Indifference curve, demand and supply, elasticity, laws of returns and capital formation in readable language. With clear explanations of the entire field, from demand of single consumer to public finance of the nation, this is the best book for anyone who wishes to understand how the economy functions. Hope this book will be very expedient to the undergraduate and post graduate students preparing for competitive examinations as a quick referral book."
Maximum entropy summary trees to display higher classifications
Authors: Page Roderic
Published: July 2023

How to cite:

Page, R. (2021). Maximum entropy summary trees to display higher classifications https://doi.org/10.59350/af01t-6sw74

A challenge in working with large taxonomic classifications is how you display them to the user, especially if the user probably doesn't want all the gory details.
The Biodiversity Heritage Library meets Wikidata via Wikispecies: adding author identifiers to BioStor
Authors: Page Roderic
Published: July 2023

I've added an experimental feature to BioStor that uses data from Wikidata and Wikispecies to augment what information BioStor displays on authors.
Da crítica à clínica: a política em Kafka por Deleuze e Guattari
Authors: Schwantz Josimara Wikboldt , Nunes Gustavo De Oliveira , Margarites Ana Paula Freitas
Published: July 2023

Diante da questão: como funciona a política em Kafka?, tentamos demonstrar que seus procedimentos de escrita literária atestam uma política. A metodologia se deu a partir do estudo do livro Kafka: por uma literatura menor de Deleuze e Guattari, conectado a conceitos ali dispostos e articulados em diferentes matérias expressivas que auxiliassem na compreensão do problema. Temos o entendimento de que, para além de uma crítica, há uma clínica em Kafka, desde uma experimentação com a escrita. O resultado desta experiência é a constituição de uma máquina de expressão composta por cartas, novelas e romances. Cada gênero apresenta um procedimento político, desencadeado no encontro entre personagens e situações. Destes encontros entendemos que emerge uma literatura menor, que funciona como exercício de forças. Isso faz de Kafka o autor que professa um mundo por meio da maquinaria literária que adianta seu funcionamento através da constituição das relações engendradas em diferentes contextos (social, econômico, judiciário), enunciando, coletivamente, um povo subsumido nas engrenagens da máquina social. Da crítica dos filósofos à psicanálise, passa-se à clínica do social, ao evidenciar uma política da experimentação. Assim, os procedimentos do pacto diabólico, do devir animal e da desmontagem funcionam juntos, dando forma e força a uma literatura menor.
Novel FeCoNiCuMn High Entropy Alloys As Binders For TiCN based Cermets
Authors: Pötschke Johannes , von Spalden Mathias , Vornberger Anne
Published: July 2023

Cermets and hardmetals are made conventionally from carbide hard phases like WC, TiC or TiCN and binder phases consisting of single elements or simple mixtures of Co, Ni or Fe. To limit the use of Co and Ni, alternative binders systems have to be investigated. Within our study, novel high entropy alloy (HEA) compositions of FeCoNiCuMn which do not contain (strong) carbide forming elements were investigated for the fabrication of TiCN based cermets. Adjustments in regard to carbon and copper content were made to successfully design a composition with just a single FCC binder phase. The developed TiCN based HEA cermets show conventional two phase microstructures and mechanical properties comparable to conventional CoNi binder based TiCN cermets.
Experiências com o nariz vermelho - saúde e o corpo que envelhece
Authors: Kronbauer Gláucia Andreza , Filus Cristina Andrade , Machado Caroline Muchoz , Silva Elizandra Garcia da
Published: July 2023

O texto que aqui se inicia trata das experiências com a figura do palhaço em oficinas realizadas pelo projeto Circo em Contextos, junto à Universidade Aberta da Terceira Idade (UATI), no ano de 2022. Tem como objetivo relatar e discutir a pedagogia do palhaço e suas relações com a saúde e a Educação Física em um grupo de mulheres idosas, a partir do compartilhamento de memórias e das experiências corporais com os jogos de palhaçaria. Participaram dos encontros semanais 18 mulheres integrantes da UATI, de idade entre 55 e 90 anos. Foram realizadas 13 aulas de 45 minutos cada, abordando-se conhecimentos sobre palhaço e jogos expressivos com ênfase na palhaçaria. Tendo em vista que o palhaço constrói com aquilo que é ridículo, inusitado, com as imperfeições inerentes à condição humana, o trabalho realizado possibilitou às mulheres participantes uma nova atitude frente ao corpo que envelhece, encarando suas fragilidades, reelaborando-as como potência.
Provocation of verbal interaction of dolphins via a hydro-acoustic channel on the basis of cognitive empathy
Authors: Ivanov M. P. , Rodionov A. A. , Leonova L. E. , Grishina T. V. , Rimskaya-Korsakova L. K.
Published: July 2023

The provocation of the hydroacoustic communication interaction of Tursiops truncatus dolphins based on cognitive empathy showed that they use packets of ultrashort pulses (USPs) in the process of “dialogue”. The duration of bursts varies from 40 ms to 3000 ms with modulation of the interval between USPs from ~1 to ~120 ms and pauses between bursts. The interval modulation pattern is structured using various modulation laws. The communication signals were obtained in an experiment with theparticipation of three animals, who knew the main task of sequential acoustic differentiation of two objective stimuli. The impetus for hydroacoustic interaction is the resolution of uncertainty when teaching the respondent the inverse differentiation problem. This generates emotional empathy in observers and provokes vocalization between individuals. The advantages and disadvantages of methodological methods of provoking hydroacoustic interaction are considered in detail, starting the process of cognitive empathy. In the method under consideration, echolocation and communication signals are spaced apart in time and space, which allows them to be uniquely identified.
Non-self-adjoint model statement of boundary problem of acoustics. Part 1
Authors: Kasatkin B. A. , Zlobina N. V. , Statsenko L. G. , Kasatkin S. B.
Published: July 2023

Based on the mathematical definition of a non-self-adjoint operator and the physical meaning of a specific boundary value problem, a non-self-adjoint model statement of boundary value problems in acoustics is formulated. As an example, boundary value problems for the reflection of a plane wave and a spherical wave at the interface between two liquid media are considered. A new definition of the reflection coefficient of a spherical wave is introduced. In the region of subcritical angles of incidence, the new definition takes into account the appearance in the total sound field of converging recoil waves corresponding to the eigenfunctions of the adjoint operator. In the region of supercritical angles of incidence, the participation of the eigenfunctions of two conjugate operators in the total sound field forms a nonzero power flux through the interface and its transformation into the vortex component of the intensity vector at the total internal reflection horizon. The definition of the total internal reflection horizon is given. Experimental data are presented that confirm the new definition of the reflection coefficient and the physical correctness of the non-self-adjoint model statement.
Design and implementation of a closed-loop mobile manipulator control system
Authors: Aboul-Enein Omar , Li-Baboud Ya-Shian , Bostelman Roger , Virts Ann
Published: July 2023

Mobile manipulators, which integrate a robotic manipulator with an automatic-autonomous mobile base, have the potential to augment automation by combining the capability of navigation with complex manipulation to support unstructured and dynamic environments. Targeted applications include manufacturing large-scale parts commonly encountered in the aerospace, energy, shipbuilding, and transportation sectors. While autonomous mobility no longer restricts the robotic manipulator to working at a single, rigidly fixtured workstation or work-piece, the increased flexibility introduces new sources of position and orientation uncertainty, and manufacturing processes of large-scale parts with complex, curved surfaces require high repeatability and accuracy. A standardized measurement methodology, including a configurable measurement artifact to simulate dynamic manufacturing operations, is being developed to identify and evaluate these sources of performance uncertainty. As part of this methodology and associated test methods development, this work details the design and prototype implementation of a closed-loop mobile manipulator control system that integrates feedback from an optical tracking system. Development of the control system presents a new test implementation to demonstrate the performance evaluation of mobile manipulation performance in application scenarios where the workstation or work-piece is physically disturbed during operation or where rapid registration between distant locations along the same work-piece is required. This work will promote advances in control scheme development by providing a standardized, reproducible test method for evaluation in a variety of simulated application spaces.
Giovani con background migratorio. Percorsi di multiculturalità nella scuola italiana
Authors: Afferni Raffaella
Published: July 2023

Young People with Migrant Background: Multicultural Paths in Italian School. Migration is an import field of geographical analysis. The article focuses on the paths of multiculturalism within the Italian educational model. In particular, the author will propose some considerations about children with a migrant background (both nationals and non-nationals) distribution among the different degrees of education. These issues provide an overview of the presence of pupils across the country and the characteristics of the families of origin. Finally, the document explores opportunities and constraints associated with current dynamics and shows the difficulties in learning that migrant children face in school and highlights how influences the integration of a significant and structural component of the population can take place.
Studenti internazionali e immigrati di seconda generazione nel sistema universitario italiano
Authors: Ferrario Carla
Published: July 2023

International Students and Second-Generation Immigrants in the Italian University System. Foreign students have been little studied as a mobile population, despite their increasing importance among human flows in the contemporary globalizing world. This paper article aims to reflect on the international migratory presents in Italian Universities. This important phenomenon due to the globalization has grown the interchanges of foreign students in our educational system and it has inserted students with migratory background. The study explores the strengths and challenges of the presence of these two types of youth. Within this framework and thanks to the collection, storage and processing of data, the article offers an overview of the relationships among the Italian University, international students and students with foreign background.
Online ELT during the Covid-19 Pandemic. A Case Study on Students’ Perspectives
Authors: Iori Ilaria
Published: July 2023

The Covid-19 pandemic has raised interest within many interdisciplinary fields. Researchers in the field of education were particularly interested in reporting teachers’ and students’ experiences (e.g., Hoti, Dragusha, and Ndou 2022) during the period of Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) (Hodges et al. 2020) and Sustained Remote Teaching (SRT) (Stewart, Baek, and Lowenthal 2022). This article aims to provide a further contribution to education studies by exploring students’ experiences in an English language course organised by an Italian University Language Centre during the 2020/21 academic year. More specifically, it focuses on how interactions were accomplished in foreign language virtual classrooms and whether students’ perceptions on online teaching have changed with SRT. Results showed that although students still preferred face-to-face lessons, they highly appreciated specific tools of online teaching (e.g., recordings) and wished they could be implemented in traditional lessons. The data also confirmed the importance of interactions in modern foreign language virtual classrooms and found that most students who had an overall negative experience with online teaching were also students who had more difficulties in interacting during classes.
Objective assessment of visual attention in toddlerhood
Authors: Braithwaite E. , Kyriakopoulou V. , Mason L. , Davidson A. , Tusor N. , Harper N. , Earl M. , Datoo-Partridge S. , Young A. , Chew A. , Falconer S. , Hajnal Joseph V , Johnson M.H. , Nosarti C. , Edwards A.D. , Jones E.J.H.
Published: July 2023

Visual attention is an important mechanism through which children learn about their environment, and individual differences could substantially shape later development. Eyetracking provides a sensitive and scalable tool for assessing visual attention that has potential for objective assessment of child development, but to date the majority of studies are small and replication attempts are rare. This study investigates the feasibility of a comprehensive eye-tracking assessment of visual attention and introduces a shared data resource for the scientific community. Data from eight eyetracking tasks were collected from 350 term-born (166 females) 18-month-olds recruited as neonates http://www.developingconnectome.org/). Analyses showed expected condition effects for seven of eight tasks (
p
-values from <.001 to .04), an important indication of replicability. Consistent with some theoretical models of visual attention, structural equation modelling indicated participants’ performance could be explained by two factors representing social and non-social attention. Comprehensive eye-tracking batteries can objectively measure individual differences in core components of visual attention in large-scale toddlerhood studies. This is the first large-scale comprehensive study to present high-quality normative eye-tracking data from a large task battery in toddlers and make them freely available to the scientific community.
Mechanical activation of TWIK-related potassium channel by nanoscopic movement and rapid second messenger signaling
Authors: Petersen E. Nicholas , Pavel Mahmud Arif , Hansen Samuel S. , Gudheti Manasa , Wang Hao , Yuan Zixuan , Murphy Keith R. , Ja William W. , Ferris Heather A , Jorgensen Erik M. , Hansen Scott B.
Published: July 2023

Rapid transduction of force into a biological signal allows living cells to respond to mechanical changes in their environment. Force is thought to first act on the plasma membrane and alter membrane associated proteins. The enzyme phospholipase D2 (PLD2) is mechanosensitive and associates with the membrane through a covalently attached palmitate lipid (palmitoylation) and its affinity for a structured membrane-lipid site comprised of cholesterol and saturated ganglioside (GM1). Here we show stretch activation of TWIK-related K
+
channel (TREK-1) is mechanically activated by movement from ordered GM1 clusters to 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP
2
) clusters. First, force (shear or stretch) deforms the ordered GM1 lipids and lowers cholesterol in the membrane. Second the deformation disrupts the interaction of palmitate with the ordered GM1 lipids allowing a complex of TREK-1 and PLD2 to move to PIP
2
clusters where the enzyme produces the second messenger phosphatidic acid (PA) that helps gate the channel. Co-expression of catalytically dead PLD2, devoid of PA production, inhibits TREK-1 stretch currents in the cell membrane. Loading cultured cells with cholesterol clusters TREK-1 with GM1 lipids and inhibits the channel and depletion of cholesterol in astrocytes moves TREK-1 away from GM1. Reduction or elimination of PLD2 expression in flies results in hypersensitivity to mechanical force—decreased thresholds. We conclude the ordered lipids sense force and PLD2 combines with TREK-1 to elicit a mechanical response. The hypersensitivity of PLD2 deficient flies suggests an
in vivo
role for PA lipid signaling in setting mechanosensitivity and pain thresholds.Shear thinning activates TREK-1 through a second messenger.
Metabolic cost of walking with electromechanical ankle exoskeletons under proportional myoelectric control on a treadmill and outdoors
Authors: Hybart Rachel , Villancio-Wolter K. Siena , Ferris Daniel Perry
Published: July 2023

Lower limb robotic exoskeletons are often studied in the context of steady state treadmill walking in a laboratory environment. However, the end goal for exoskeletons is to be used in real world, complex environments. To reach the point that exoskeletons are openly adopted into our everyday lives, we need to understand how the human and robot interact outside of a laboratory. Metabolic cost is often viewed as a gold standard metric for measuring exoskeleton performance but is rarely used to evaluate performance at non steady state walking outside of a laboratory. In this study, we tested the effects of robotic ankle exoskeletons under proportional myoelectric control on the cost of transport of walking both inside on a treadmill and outside overground. We hypothesized that walking with the exoskeletons would lead to a lower cost of transport compared to walking without them both on a treadmill and outside. We saw no significant increases or decreases in cost of transport or exoskeleton mechanics when walking with the exoskeletons compared to walking without them both on a treadmill and outside. We saw a strong negative correlation between walking speed and cost of transport when walking with and without the exoskeletons. In the future, research should consider how performing more difficult tasks, such as incline and loaded walking, affects the cost of transport while walking with and without robotic ankle exoskeletons. The value of this study to the literature is that it emphasizes the importance of both hardware dynamics and controller design towards reducing metabolic cost of transport with robotic ankle exoskeletons. When comparing our results to other studies using the same hardware with different controllers or very similar controllers with different hardware, there are a wide range of outcomes as to metabolic benefit.
Healthcare Delivery in Nigeria: Traditional Medicine Practitioners Perspectives to Universal Health Coverage and Traditional Medicine Integration with Conventional Medicine
Authors: Ibrahim Jemilat Aliyu , Fatokun Omolola Temitope , Jegede Ibikunle Adeola , Egharevba Henry Omoregie , Hamzat Omotayo Tirimidhi , Adigwe Obi Peter
Published: July 2023

Introduction: The knowledge, attitude, and practice of Traditional Medicine Practitioners (TMPs) are key to achieving effective and sustainable integration of all forms of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) and health services towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC). In this study, the operational and psychological readiness of Traditional Medicine Practitioners towards integration with the conventional health system was examined by critically considering the various factors central to traditional medicine integration as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Traditional Medicine strategy (2014–2023).

Methods: Paper based questionnaires were administered to Traditional medicine practitioners from three geo-political zones in Nigeria along with Key Informant Interviews. Qualitative – thematic and content analysis using both iterative and interpretative processes, and quantitative –descriptive and inferential analysis were done using statistical package for social sciences version 25.

Results: A total of 337 respondents participated in the study ranging from 21-61 years of age. More than half (61.7%) were males. Most respondents 310 (92%) had one form of formal education out of which those with secondary education constitute over one-thirds, 121 (35.9%). Over three-quarter of the respondents, 290 (86.1%) were into general practice and over half of the respondents had between 11 – 20 years of experience as traditional medicine practitioners.  About two-thirds, 216 (64.1%) of study participants had no knowledge of what integration nor Universal Health Coverage 256, (76%) meant. However, many of the respondents (76.3%) had a good attitude towards integration. More than two-thirds of respondents, 241 (71.5%) claimed to keep patient records but only 157 (46.6%) kept written records.

Conclusion: Traditional Medicine Practitioners in Nigeria have a positive outlook towards integration. Salient knowledge and practice gaps among them have been revealed. The study shows that regulatory and policy actions should be centred around the support, capacity building through trainings and conferences to disseminate information on scientific/technological advancements to improve their practice, and also to improve on existing policies and government activities.
The Increasing Adoption of Out-of-Pocket Cost Caps
Authors: Wharam J. Frank , Rosenthal Meredith B.
Published: July 2023

This Viewpoint discusses potential benefits and unintended consequences of out-of-pocket cost caps in Medicare and the employer-sponsored health insurance market and provides suggested policy opportunities to address shortcomings.
Examination of HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis Need, Availability, and Potential Pharmacy Integration in the Southeastern US
Authors: Harrington Kristin R. V. , Chandra Christina , Alohan Daniel I. , Cruz Diego , Young Henry N. , Siegler Aaron J. , Crawford Natalie D.
Published: July 2023

Importance

Daily preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use can prevent up to 99% of HIV infections; however, PrEP uptake is low due to poor access to PrEP-prescribing locations for populations at increased risk for HIV, especially in the southeastern US. Pharmacies are a feasible option to increase PrEP access, but little is known about how they could complement current PrEP-prescribing locations.

Objective

To examine geographic distributions of current PrEP-prescribing locations compared with pharmacies and the facility to need ratios (PFNRs) according to HIV risk in the Southeast and describe the potential reach of pharmacies to expand PrEP access.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Data for this cross-sectional study of PrEP-prescribing locations and pharmacies were compiled from January 1 to December 31, 2021. States or specific counties in the Southeast included in this study were jurisdictions identified as high-priority areas for the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the US (EHE) initiative.

Exposure

Expansion of HIV prevention services to pharmacies.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Choropleth maps of 5-year HIV risk per 100 000 persons were developed for EHE jurisdictions in the southeastern US. PrEP-prescribing locations (obtained from a national database of PrEP prescribers) and pharmacies (obtained from state pharmacy boards) were overlayed on HIV risk maps. The PFNRs by state were calculated as number of facilities (PrEP-prescribing locations or pharmacies) divided by 5-year HIV risk per 100 000 persons. Lower PFNRs indicated lower geographic availability of locations to meet the needs of the population at risk for HIV. The PFNRs for current PrEP-prescribing locations vs pharmacies were compared.

Results

Among the 2 southeastern states and 13 counties in 4 southeastern states included, PrEP-prescribing locations were unequally distributed across EHE areas, with substantially fewer in areas at high risk for HIV. Pharmacies were evenly dispersed across areas regardless of HIV risk. The mean PFNR across all states for current PrEP-prescribing locations was 0.008 (median, 0.000 [IQR, 0.000-0.003]); for pharmacies, it was 0.7 (median, 0.3 [IQR, 0.01-0.1]). The PFNRs were at least 20.3 times higher for pharmacies compared with PrEP-prescribing locations. States with the greatest potential increase in PFNRs with expansion to pharmacies included Kentucky, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Conclusions and Relevance

The findings of this cross-sectional study suggest that expanding HIV prevention services to pharmacies in EHE areas in the Southeast could significantly increase capacity to reach individuals at increased risk of HIV transmission. Legislation aimed at allowing pharmacists to prescribe PrEP and provide HIV prevention services may be an important next step in ending the HIV epidemic.
Association of Wildfire Exposure While Recovering From Lung Cancer Surgery With Overall Survival
Authors: Zhang Danlu , Xi Yuzhi , Boffa Daniel J. , Liu Yang , Nogueira Leticia M.
Published: July 2023

Importance

With a changing climate, wildfire activity in the US has increased dramatically, presenting multifaceted and compounding health hazards. Individuals discharged from the hospital following surgical resection of non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are potentially at higher risk from wildfires’ health hazards.

Objective

To assess the association between wildfire exposure and postoperative long-term overall survival among patients with lung cancer in the US.

Design, Setting, and Participants

In this cohort study, individuals who underwent curative-intent NSCLC resection between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2019, were selected from the National Cancer Database. Daily wildfire information was aggregated at the zip code level from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Fire Information for Resource Management System. The data analysis was performed between July 19, 2022, and April 14, 2023.

Exposure

An active wildfire detected at the zip code of residence between 0 and 3, 4 and 6, or 7 and 12 months after NSCLC surgery.

Main Outcome

Overall survival was defined as the interval between age at hospital discharge and age at death, last contact, or study end, whichever came first. Cox proportional hazards were used for estimating hazard ratios (HRs) adjusted for sex, region, metropolitan category, health insurance type, comorbidities, tumor size, lymph node involvement, era, and facility type.

Results

A total of 466 912 individuals included in the study (249 303 female and [53.4] and 217 609 male [46.6%]; mean [SD] age at diagnosis, 67.3 [9.9] years), with 48 582 (10.4%) first exposed to a wildfire between 0 and 3 months, 48 328 (10.6%) between 4 and 6 months, and 71 735 (15.3%) between 7 and 12 months following NSCLC surgery. Individuals exposed to a wildfire within 3 months (adjusted HR [AHR], 1.43; 95% CI, 1.41-1.45), between 4 and 6 months (AHR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.37-1.41), and between 7 and 12 months (AHR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.15-1.19) after discharge from the hospital following stage I to III NSCLC resection had worse overall survival than unexposed individuals.

Conclusions

In this cohort study, wildfire exposure was associated with worse overall survival following NSCLC surgical resection, suggesting that patients with lung cancer are at greater risk from the health hazards of wildfires and need to be prioritized in climate adaptation efforts.
Gender Equality in Facial Plastic Surgery—A Female President’s Perspective
Authors: Loyo Myriam , Kontis Theda
Published: July 2023

This Viewpoint reviews the history, obstacles, and progress in equity for women in facial plastic surgery with the goal of promoting continued progress.
Rubber‐Like Elasticity
Authors: Sakumichi Naoyuki , Sakai Takamasa
Published: July 2023

Rubber‐like elasticity, which is a property to sustain very large deformations without rupture up to about 10 times from the original length followed by complete recovery, is manifested in polymeric materials with a three‐dimensional network structure consisting of long, flexible polymer chains. Rubber‐like elasticity originates from the decrease in entropy of the chains between cross‐linking points resulting from the elongation. In addition, there is an internal energetic component to the elasticity, which can be extracted from thermoelastic experiments. This is related to conformational energy changes of the polymer chains and, in polymer gels containing large amounts of solvent, to energy changes in solvent‐polymer interactions. Because the network structures of polymeric materials cannot be directly observed, the theoretical models for predicting the correlation between the structure and physical properties are uncertain. However, estimating structures by combining existing models with measured physical properties is important for guiding material design. This article overviews experimental and theoretical aspects of rubber‐like elasticity.
Electroactive Polymer Actuators
Authors: Ismail Yahya A. , Shabeeba Aranhikundan , Sidheekha Madari Palliyalil , Rajan Lijin
Published: July 2023

Electroactive polymers (EAPs) have emerged as feasible materials to emulate biological muscles due to their ability to undergo significant changes in shape or size in response to electrical stimulation. They have received immense consideration in various fields of applications such as robotics, biomimetics, wearable electronics, prosthetics, optical devices, and so on owing to their mechanical flexibility, easy processing, light weight, low density, fracture tolerance, pliability, and the ability to induce large actuation strains than other conventional mechanically responsive polymers. Electronic EAPs including dielectric elastomers, ferroelectric polymers, liquid crystal elastomers, and electrostrictive graft polymers are driven by electric fields or Coulomb forces and require high voltage for activation. While ionic EAPs such as ionic polymer metal composites, ionic gels, conducting polymers, carbon nanotubes, and electrorheological fluids are driven by the drifting or diffusion of ions and operate at lower voltages. The emphasis in this article is on the studies of key materials used in the field of electroactive polymer actuators, reviewing the mechanism that drives the actuation, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages, and discussing their applications.
Inhibition of p53 and ATRX increases telomeric recombination in primary fibroblasts
Authors: Udroiu Ion , Marinaccio Jessica , Sgura Antonella
Published: July 2023

Telomere length can be maintained either by the telomerase enzyme or by alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT), which is based on telomeric recombination. However, both mechanisms are inactive in most human somatic cells. ATRX has been previously identified as an ALT repressor gene. Nonetheless, TP53 is also deficient in most ALT cell lines, and previous works showed that it is an inhibitor of homologous recombination (HR). Despite this, the role of p53 as an ALT repressor has not been previously examined. Therefore, we investigated the effects of p53 and ATRX inhibition on normal human fibroblasts (devoid of any mutation), in the presence or absence of X‐ray‐induced telomeric damage. Performing immunofluorescence with antibodies for RAD51, H2AX, and TRF1 (for studying HR‐mediated DNA damage repair) and CO‐FISH (for telomeric sister chromatid exchanges), we observed that HR is a normal mechanism for the repair of telomeric damage, present also in noncancer cells. Moreover, we discovered that telomeric HR, as for HR in general, is significantly inhibited by p53. Indeed, we observed that inhibition of p53 drastically increases telomeric sister chromatid exchanges. We also confirmed that ATRX inhibition increases telomeric recombination. In particular, we observed an increase in crossover products, but a much higher increase in noncrossover products.
Self‐Shaping Monolithic Reticular Materials: Ingredients for Success
Authors: Albacete Pablo , Asgari Mehrdad , Yang Yue , Al‐Shanks Ali N. , Fairen‐Jimenez David
Published: July 2023

Reticular materials are one of the more promising tools that humankind has developed to address the required energy transition. Despite their great potential showcased in the last decade, their use is so far mainly confined to the laboratory bench due to drawbacks derived from their powdery morphology. Unlike zeolites and activated carbons, the challenges in shaping and densification of reticular materials hamper their full implementation in the industry. Hence, strategies for shaping and integrating these materials need to be prioritized. Most of the existing strategies rely on applying mechanical pressure and adding chemical binders, but these approaches, although useful for shaping, diminish their final adsorption capacities and do not bring their theoretical, predicted performance. On the other hand, obtaining self‐shaped, dense bodies—so‐called monoliths—arises as a very promising and scalable alternative. Sol–gel monoliths are still scarce in the scientific literature despite their outstanding performance, particularly in terms of volumetric adsorption capacity. This review intends to help expand this scope by offering a rational guide on the self‐shaping of dense monoliths for reticular materials, as well as a complete revision of the state‐of‐the‐art in the field.
A Versatile Glycopeptide Hydrogel Promotes Chronic Refractory Wound Healing Through Bacterial Elimination, Sustained Oxygenation, Immunoregulation, and Neovascularization
Authors: Wu Ye , Wang Yu , Zheng Cheng , Hu Cheng , Yang Li , Kong Qingquan , Zhang Hui , Wang Yunbing
Published: July 2023

Chronic refractory wounds have become a severe threat to public health and are characterized by repeated bacterial infections, persistent hypoxia, abnormal immune regulation, and obstruction of angiogenesis. However, current treatment strategies usually perform only one or two therapeutic functions and cannot satisfy the dynamic and complex demands of chronic wound healing. Herein, a versatile dynamic Schiff base and borate ester cross‐linked glycopeptide hydrogel is prepared from phenylboronic acid‐grafted ε‐polylysine (EPBA), epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG), and oxidized alginate. Customized polydopamine‐coated honeycomb MnO2 nanoparticles loaded with herb‐derived salvianolic acid B (PHMS) are embedded into the hydrogel before gelation. Under the distinct acidic and oxidative microenvironment of chronic refractory wounds, the hydrogel gradually dissociates, and the released EPBA effectively eliminates bacteria, while the released EGCG and PHMS eradicates reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, promotes M2 polarization of macrophages, and continuously generates oxygen. Then PHMS further disintegrates, and the released salvianolic acid B promotes angiogenesis through the PI3K/Akt pathway. The versatile glycopeptide hydrogel accelerates Staphylococcus aureus‐infected diabetic cutaneous wound repair in vivo and is a promising candidate dressing for chronic refractory wound healing.
Enzyme‐Responsive Nanoparticles for Dexamethasone Targeted Delivery to Treat Inflammation in Diabetes
Authors: Schiffmann Nathan , Liang Yifei , Nemcovsky Carlos E. , Almogy Michal , Halperin‐Sternfeld Michal , Gianneschi Nathan C. , Adler‐Abramovich Lihi , Rosen Eyal
Published: July 2023

Diabetes is a global epidemic accompanied by impaired wound healing and increased risk of persistent infections and resistance to standard treatments. Therefore, there is an immense need to develop novel methods to specifically target therapeutics to affected tissues and improve treatment efficacy. This study aims to use enzyme‐responsive nanoparticles for the targeted delivery of an anti‐inflammatory drug, dexamethasone, to treat inflammation in diabetes. These nanoparticles are assembled from fluorescently‐labeled, dexamethasone‐loaded peptide‐polymer amphiphiles. The nanoparticles are injected in vivo, adjacent to labeled collagen membranes sub‐periosteally implanted on the calvaria of diabetic rats. Following their implantation, collagen membrane resorption is linked to inflammation, especially in hyperglycemic individuals. The nanoparticles show strong and prolonged accumulation in inflamed tissue after undergoing a morphological switch into microscale aggregates. Significantly higher remaining collagen membrane area and less inflammatory cell infiltration are observed in responsive nanoparticles‐treated rats, compared to control groups injected with free dexamethasone and non‐responsive nanoparticles. These factors indicate improved therapeutic efficacy in inflammation reduction. These results demonstrate the potential use of enzyme‐responsive nanoparticles as targeted delivery vehicles for the treatment of diabetic and other inflammatory wounds.
A New In Vitro Blood Flow Model for the Realistic Evaluation of Antimicrobial Surfaces
Authors: Valtin Juliane , Behrens Stephan , Ruland André , Schmieder Florian , Sonntag Frank , Renner Lars D. , Maitz Manfred F. , Werner Carsten
Published: July 2023

Device‐associated bloodstream infections can cause serious medical problems and cost‐intensive postinfection management, defining a need for more effective antimicrobial coatings. Newly developed coatings often show reduced bacterial colonization and high hemocompatibility in established in vitro tests, but fail in animal studies or clinical trials. The poor predictive power of these models is attributed to inadequate representation of in vivo conditions. Herein, a new single‐pass blood flow model, with simultaneous incubation of the test surface with bacteria and freshly‐drawn human blood, is presented. The flow model is validated by comparative analysis of a recently developed set of antiadhesive and contact‐killing polymer coatings, and the corresponding uncoated polycarbonate surfaces. The results confirm the model's ability to differentiate the antimicrobial activities of the studied surfaces. Blood activation data correlate with bacterial surface coverage: low bacterial adhesion is associated with low inflammation and hemostasis. Shear stress correlates inversely with bacterial colonization, especially on antiadhesive surfaces. The introduced model is concluded to enable the evaluation of novel antimicrobial materials under in vivo‐like conditions, capturing interactions between bacteria and biomaterials surfaces in the presence of key components of the ex vivo host response.
Advances in the Development of Granular Microporous Injectable Hydrogels with Non‐spherical Microgels and Their Applications in Tissue Regeneration
Authors: Li Haiyan , Iyer Keerthi Subramanian , Bao Lei , Zhai Jiali , Li Jiao Jiao
Published: July 2023

Granular microporous hydrogels are emerging as effective biomaterial scaffolds for tissue engineering due to their improved characteristics compared to traditional nanoporous hydrogels, which better promote cell viability, cell migration, cellular/tissue infiltration, and tissue regeneration. Recent advances have resulted in the development of granular hydrogels made of non‐spherical microgels, which compared to those made of spherical microgels have higher macroporosity, more stable mechanical properties, and better ability to guide the alignment and differentiation of cells in anisotropic tissue. The development of these hydrogels as an emerging research area is attracting increasing interest in regenerative medicine. This review first summarizes the fabrication techniques available for non‐spherical microgels with different aspect‐ratios. Then, it introduces the development of granular microporous hydrogels made of non‐spherical microgels, their physicochemical characteristics, and their applications in tissue regeneration. The limitations and future outlook of research on microporous granular hydrogels are also critically discussed.
Bidirectional Venturi Flowmeter Based on Capacitive Sensors for Spirometry
Authors: Becerra Laura L. , Rafeedi Tarek , Ramanarayanan Sankaran , Frankel Ian , Miller Juliana , Chen Alexander X. , Qie Yi , Lipomi Darren J. , Garudadri Harinath , Ng Tse Nga
Published: July 2023

In this work, a portable venturi tube capable of measuring bidirectional respiratory flow is developed and correlated the measurements to pulmonary function. Pressure signals are transduced using flexible and compressible capacitive foam sensors embedded into the wall of the device. In this configuration, the sensors are able to provide differential pressure readings, from which the airflow rate passing through the tube could be extrapolated. Utilizing the venturi effect, the geometry of the spirometer tube is designed through finite element analysis to measure respiratory airflow during inhalation and exhalation. The device tube is 3D‐printed and used to measure tidal breathing and deep breathing, along with peak expiratory flow rates, on a healthy individual. This spirometer design allows for easy‐to‐use point‐of‐care diagnoses and has the potential to improve the care of respiratory illnesses.
High‐Performance Te‐Doped PbSe Film Heterojunction Photodetector with Current Rectification Effect and Broadband Detection Capability
Authors: Peng Silu , Zhang Chaoyi , Han Jiayue , Li Chunyu , Zhou Hongxi , Yu He , Chen Chao , Gou Jun , Wang Jun
Published: July 2023

PbSe has attracted wide attention owing to its fascinating physical and chemical properties. It has important technical significance for infrared detectors. However, due to the inherent bandgap, low carrier mobility, and dielectric constant of PbSe, it is a significant challenge to realize fast response and mid‐infrared (MID) photodetection. Chemical doping is an efficient method to regulate the band structure and carrier mobility of materials. Nevertheless, the doped film detector cannot satisfy the demands of high‐performance photodetectors. In this paper, different composition ratios powders are synthesized by a solid‐state method. The PbSe0.5Te0.5 alloy film displays narrower bandgap, higher carrier mobility, excellent photo‐response, and broadband detection capacity. By utilizing the above superiority of PbSe0.5Te0.5 and fast charge transfer in MoSe2, a PbSe0.5Te0.5/MoSe2 p‐n heterostructure device is successfully fabricated that has significant rectifying effect (103) and extremely low dark current density (720 µA cm−2). The photodetector has a maximum responsivity (R) and specific detectivity (D*) of 17.5 A W−1 and 3.08 × 1013 Jones at 780 nm. In addition, the detector displays superior photodetection performance with broadband photodetection (405–5000 nm), high switch ratios (Ion/Ioff = 105), and fast response speed. The above outstanding properties indicate that the PbSe0.5Te0.5/MoSe2 heterostructure provides a promising and efficient strategy for achieving a miniaturized, broadband, and high‐performance photodetector.