bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Knowledge of Sexually Transmitted Infections and Risk Perception among Undergraduates of University of Ibadan, Ibadan, South West, Nigeria
Authors: Omeneki Faith Odion , Ipingbemi Aduke Elizabeth , Abonyi Emmanuel Ebuka
Published: May 2023

Background: Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) among young adults have continued to be on the increase and serious remain public health concern. The study assessed the knowledge and risk perception of STIs among undergraduate students in the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Methods: A total of 1085 students were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics, perceived risk and knowledge on STIs.  Data was entered into IBM-SPSS version 23 and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test was used to evaluate categorical variables, p < 0.05 considered significant.

Results: Out of 1085 questionnaires distributed, 1050 were returned giving a response rate of 96.8%. Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) was the most frequently mentioned STI (898, 86.3%). Majority (967, 94.0%) agreed that some STIs manifest with symptoms. The most identified symptom was abnormal vaginal/penis discharge (731, 78.0%). Majority (1006, 97.4%) indicated that STI treatment should be sought first from hospital. Majority (1007, 96.5%) recognized sexually active persons with multiple sex partners are at high risk of STI acquisition, 522 (51.1%) recognized oral sex as a risky behavior. The mean knowledge score of the participants was 8.8±2.7.

Conclusion: Participants identify sexual risky behaviors and practices as predisposal to STIs. There is a knowledge gap of STIs among participants which may be improved by reviewing the educational curriculum of a mandatory course which was participants’ main source of education on STI.
Update on Mpox
Authors: Walter Kristin , Malani Preeti N.
Published: May 2023

This JAMA Patient Page describes mpox signs and symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention measures.
Education case report: CAMPEP Medical Physics PhD education program within Engineering
Authors: Pogue Brian W. , Gladstone David J. , Zhang Rongxiao
Published: May 2023

Medical physics doctoral programs have large variations in organization, administration and financing. Blending a medical physics stream into an engineering graduate program has advantages of pre‐existing financial and educational infrastructures.

A case study of the accredited program at Dartmouth was carried out, analyzing operational, financial, educational and outcome features.

The support structures provided by each institutional partner were outlined, including engineering school, graduate school, and radiation oncology. The initiatives undertaken by founding faculty were reviewed, along with allocated resources, financial model, and peripheral entrepreneurship activities, each with quantitative outcome metrics.

Currently 14 PhD students are enrolled, supported by 22 faculty across both engineering and clinical departments. The total peer‐reviewed publications are ≈75/year, while the conventional medical physics fraction of this is about 14/year. Following program formation, a significant rise was seen in jointly published papers between engineering and medical physics faculty, up from 5.6 to 13.3 papers/year, with students publishing an average of 11.3/person with 5.7/person as first author. Student support was predominantly via federal grants, with a stable $5.5million/year, using about $610K/year supporting student stipends and tuition. First year funding, recruiting and staff support were via engineering school. Faculty teaching effort was supported by agreement with each home department, and student services were provided by engineering and graduate schools. Student outcomes were exceptional, with high numbers of presentations, awards, and residency placements at research universities.

The lack of financial and student support in medical physics can be mitigated by this hybrid design of blending medical physics doctoral students into an engineering graduate program, providing complementary strengths. Future growth in medical physics programs might consider following this pathway, strengthening research collaborations for clinical physics and engineering faculty, as long as there is vested commitment to teach by the faculty and department leadership.
Constructing High‐Efficiency Orange‐Red Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Polymers by Excited State Energy Levels Regulation via Backbone Engineering
Authors: Hua Lei , Liu Yuchao , Zhao Haisong , Chen Shangyun , Zhang Yuzhuo , Yan Shouke , Ren Zhongjie
Published: May 2023

Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials have attracted extensive attention because of their 100% theoretical exciton utilization. Solution‐processable orange‐red TADF polymers are one of indispensable participants. Herein, a series of orange‐red TADF polymers with dibenzothiophene (DBT) and carbazole (Cz) units as joint backbones are synthesized. Their performance can be successfully optimized by regulating the connection positions of DBT units through backbone engineering. It is found that the pNAI37 series with DBT units embedded in the polymeric backbones at the 3, 7 sites display a better performance than those connected at the 2, 8 sites. The optimal polymer, pNAI3705, exhibits a better excited state nature, leading to the photoluminescence quantum yield of 60%. Consequently, pNAI3705 based organic light‐emitting diodes reach a maximum external quantum efficiency of 20.16%, and maintain 10.61% at 500 cd m−2, which is in first tier among orange‐red polymers. These results unambiguously suggest the potential application of the combined DBT and Cz backbones in TADF polymers. This design strategy may provide a versatile approach for optimizing the properties of TADF polymers through backbone engineering.
Selective Detection of Intracellular Drug Metabolism by Metal‐Organic Framework‐Coated Plasmonic Nanowire
Authors: Zhang Qiang , Murasugi Taku , Watanabe Kotomi , Wen Han , Tian Ya , Ricci Monica , Rocha Susana , Inose Tomoko , Kasai Hitoshi , Taemaitree Farsai , Uji‐i Hiroshi , Hirai Kenji , Fortuni Beatrice
Published: May 2023

Unveiling intracellular drug metabolism is crucial for improving drug development, which requires real‐time detection with molecular selectivity in the intracellular environment. Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) with metal nanoparticles enables the detection of molecules in living cells, but after entering the cells, most nanoparticles are captured into vesicles, limiting the SERS detection inside these compartments. Moreover, the identification of the target signal in the complex intracellular environment is challenging due to Raman fingerprints from endogenous material interfering with the drug signal. To overcome these issues, here the coating of a silver nanowire with zeolitic imidazolate framework‐8 (ZIF‐8) as a novel endoscopic probe with molecular selectivity to investigate the location and metabolism in cells of a common anticancer drug, irinotecan, is reported. Irinotecan in cells is metabolized by carboxylesterase to form SN‐38, which inhibits topoisomerase I and DNA synthesis. Thanks to the molecular selectivity of ZIF‐8, the endoscopic probe selectively adsorbs and detects SERS signal of SN‐38 over irinotecan. This selectivity enables monitoring of the conversion of irinotecan into SN‐38 and following its intracellular location over time. This work clearly shows the potential of metal‐organic framework‐coated nanowire endoscopy to specifically track drug molecules and explore their metabolism in cells.
Ultrasound‐Induced Luminescence from Cr3+‐Doped ZnGa2O4 Glass–Ceramic Composites
Authors: Cao Jiangkun , Ding Yicong , Sun Minghui , Sajzew Roman , Langenhorst Falko , Wondraczek Lothar
Published: May 2023

An intense ultrasound‐induced luminescence (USL) from Cr3+‐activated glass–ceramic composites, obtained by direct precipitation of nanoscale ZnGa2O4 from silicate melts upon cooling, is reported. The USL band overlaps with the first near‐infrared transmission window of biological tissue and spans further into the visible red spectral range, generating interest for visible data encryption and labeling as well as for photophysical stimulation with a remote, non‐optical energy source. Time‐resolved observations of luminescence build‐up and decay, US heating, and persistent luminescence reveal thermal de‐trapping as the origin of the observed US sensitivity. The spectroscopic performance is very similar to that of phase‐pure ZnGa2O4, the fabrication process leads to a robust, dense, and biocompatible composite without requiring secondary encapsulation.
Mesenchymal Migration on Adhesive–Nonadhesive Alternate Surfaces in Macrophages
Authors: Xing Fulin , Dong Hao , Yang Jianyu , Fan Chunhui , Hou Mengdi , Zhang Ping , Hu Fen , Zhou Jun , Chen Liangyi , Pan Leiting , Xu Jingjun
Published: May 2023

Mesenchymal migration usually happens on adhesive substrates, while cells adopt amoeboid migration on low/nonadhesive surfaces. Protein‐repelling reagents, e.g., poly(ethylene) glycol (PEG), are routinely employed to resist cell adhering and migrating. Contrary to these perceptions, this work discovers a unique locomotion of macrophages on adhesive–nonadhesive alternate substrates in vitro that they can overcome nonadhesive PEG gaps to reach adhesive regions in the mesenchymal mode. Adhering to extracellular matrix regions is a prerequisite for macrophages to perform further locomotion on the PEG regions. Podosomes are found highly enriched on the PEG region in macrophages and support their migration across the nonadhesive regions. Increasing podosome density through myosin IIA inhibition facilitates cell motility on adhesive–nonadhesive alternate substrates. Moreover, a developed cellular Potts model reproduces this mesenchymal migration. These findings together uncover a new migratory behavior on adhesive–nonadhesive alternate substrates in macrophages.
Effect of Hole Transport Materials and Their Dopants on the Stability and Recoverability of Perovskite Solar Cells on Very Thin Substrates after 7 MeV Proton Irradiation
Authors: Tang Shi , Peracchi Stefania , Pastuovic Zeljko , Liao Chwenhaw , Xu Alan , Bing Jueming , Zheng Jianghui , Mahmud Md Arafat , Wang Guoliang , Townsend‐Medlock Edward Dominic , Wilson Gregory J. , Lakhwani Girish , Brenner Ceri , McKenzie David R. , Ho‐Baillie Anita W. Y.
Published: May 2023

The drastic reduction in launch and manufacturing costs of space hardware has facilitated the emergence of "commercial" space. Radiation‐hard organometal halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with low‐cost and high‐efficiency potentials are promising for space applications.High‐efficiency PSCs are tested with different hole transport materials (HTMs) and dopants on 175µm sapphire substrates under 7MeV‐proton‐irradiation‐tests at accumulated fluences of 1011, 1012, and 1013 protons cm−2. While all cells retain >90% of their initial power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) after 1011 protons cm−2 irradiation, PSCs that have tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane (TPFB) as the HTM dopant and poly[bis(4‐phenyl)(2,5,6‐trimethylphenyl) amine (PTAA) or PTAA:C8BTBT (C8BTBT = 2,7‐Dioctyl[1]benzothieno[3,2‐b][1]benzothiophene) as the HTM are more tolerant to higher‐fluence radiation than their counterparts with the lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) dopant and the 2,2′,7,7′‐Tetrakis[N,N‐di(4‐methoxyphenyl)amino]‐9,9′‐spirobifluorene (Spiro‐OMeTAD) HTM. Radiation induces fluorine diffusion from the LiTFSI dopant toward the perovskite absorber (confirmed by depth‐resolved X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy) introducing defects. Radiation‐induced defects in cells with the TPFB dopant instead are different and can be “annealed out” by thermal vacuum resulting in PCE recovery. This is the first report using thermal admittance spectroscopy and deep‐level transient spectroscopy for defect analyses on proton‐irradiated and thermal‐vacuum‐recovered PSCs. The insights generated are expected to contribute to efforts in developing low‐cost light‐weight solar cells for space applications.
Brain health and mental health: Common vascular risk factors and practical implications
Authors: Hachinski Vladimir , Krishnamoorthy Ennapadam , Kuey Levent , Kirmayer Laurence J.
Published: May 2023

The pandemic dramatized the close links among cognitive, mental, and social health; a change in one reflects others. This realization offers the opportunity to bridge the artificial separation of brain and mental health, as brain disorders have behavioral consequences and behavioral disorders affect the brain. The leading causes of mortality and disability, namely stroke, heart disease, and dementia, share the same risk and protective factors. It is emerging that bipolar disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders, and some depressions share these risk factors, allowing their joint prevention through a holistic life span approach. We need to learn to focus on the whole patient, not simply on a dysfunctional organ or behavior to mitigate or prevent the major neurological and mental disorders by fostering an integrated approach to brain and mental health and addressing the common, treatable risk factors.
Weight loss and risk of dementia in individuals with versus without obesity
Authors: Kim Keun You , Ha Junghee , Lee Jun‐Young , Kim Eosu
Published: May 2023

INTRODUCTION

Using nationwide cohort data, we aimed to elucidate whether baseline obesity altered the relationship between loss in body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference (WC) and risk of dementia.

METHODS

Among 9689 participants whose BMIs and WCs were repeatedly measured over 1 year, 1:1 propensity score matching was conducted between participants with and without obesity (n = 2976 per group, mean age 70.9). For each group, we explored the association between loss in BMI, or WC, and incidence of dementia during an approximately 4‐year follow‐up period.

RESULTS

BMI loss was associated with an increased risk of all‐cause dementia and Alzheimer's disease in participants without obesity; however, this association was absent in participants with obesity. WC loss was associated with decreased Alzheimer's disease risk only in participants with obesity.

DISCUSSION

Only unfavorable loss (loss from non‐obese state) in BMI, not WC, can be a metabolic biomarker of prodromal dementia.
Simultaneous modeling of multivariate heterogeneous responses and heteroskedasticity via a two‐stage composite likelihood
Authors: Ting Bryan W. , Wright Fred A. , Zhou Yi‐Hui
Published: May 2023

Multivariate heterogeneous responses and heteroskedasticity have attracted increasing attention in recent years. In genome‐wide association studies, effective simultaneous modeling of multiple phenotypes would improve statistical power and interpretability. However, a flexible common modeling system for heterogeneous data types can pose computational difficulties. Here we build upon a previous method for multivariate probit estimation using a two‐stage composite likelihood that exhibits favorable computational time while retaining attractive parameter estimation properties. We extend this approach to incorporate multivariate responses of heterogeneous data types (binary and continuous), and possible heteroskedasticity. Although the approach has wide applications, it would be particularly useful for genomics, precision medicine, or individual biomedical prediction. Using a genomics example, we explore statistical power and confirm that the approach performs well for hypothesis testing and coverage percentages under a wide variety of settings. The approach has the potential to better leverage genomics data and provide interpretable inference for pleiotropy, in which a locus is associated with multiple traits.
Multiple primary malignancies in 788 Chinese patients with diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma
Authors: Zhang Xuchang , Tang Hanning , Miao Yi , Xia Yi , Zhu Huayuan , Wang Li , Fan Lei , Xu Wei , Li Jianyong
Published: May 2023

Background

Diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common histological subtype of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma worldwide. The emergence of multiple primary malignancies (MPMs) has been described as a new prognostic factor in many types of tumors.

Methods

To investigate the morbidity, incidence, and survival of MPM in DLBCL, we retrospectively reviewed the characteristics of 788 patients with DLBCL.

Results

Forty‐two patients were diagnosed with MPM, and 22 of them were diagnosed with subsequent primary malignancies (SPM) by pathologic biopsy. The incidence of SPM was associated with older age. Germinal center B‐cell‐like (GCB) subtype and earlier Ann Arbor stage DLBCL patients were more prone to SPM. MPM, age, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS), Hans classification, and international prognostic index (IPI) score were prognostic risk factors for overall survival (OS).

Conclusion

These data provide a comprehensive view of MPM in DLBCL. MPM was an independent prognostic factor of DLBCL in univariate analysis.
Effects of particle concentration and size on the dissipation rate and turbulent kinetic energy of oil
Authors: Chen Bin , Ge Liu
Published: May 2023

The presence of particles in oil can change the quasi‐sequence structure of the turbulent flow of the oil, and it is extremely important to explore the turbulent energy dissipation rate of the particulate‐containing oil and ensure the safe and stable operation of the oil‐using equipment. Thus, the flow field of the oil containing particles in the pipeline was experimentally studied by a particle image velocimeter (PIV); the turbulent kinetic energy of the oil was calculated using the transient velocity vector field measured by the PIV; and the dissipation rate distribution was calculated using the large eddy PIV method. The influence of different particle sizes and particle concentrations on the normal distribution of the turbulent kinetic energy and dissipation rate was analyzed. The results show that the distribution of the turbulent kinetic energy in the normal direction is non‐unidirectional and in a parabolic shape. The 25 μm particle size has a great influence on the turbulence kinetic energy and the dissipation rate of the oil; with increasing particle concentration, the flow field distribution of the turbulent kinetic energy increases in the region near the wall, and gradually decreases in the central region. The turbulent kinetic energy distribution of the oil is in the shape of a quasi‐cosine; the flow field of the dissipation rate is larger in the near‐wall region and the central region and shows an inverted ‘W’ shape. This provides a theoretical basis for improving the efficiency of oil transportation, discussing the monitoring of particulate matter in oil, and reducing oil pollution.
Efficient Coupling of Complex Fluorooligosaccharides to Phenolic Peptide Mediated by Calcium Iodide
Authors: Liu Pei , Quan Xing , Wei Fangyu , Deng Xianjun , Shen Jie , Cheng Jiansong
Published: May 2023

Comprehensive Summary

Besides serving as therapeutic agents and building blocks for glycoprotein synthesis, homogeneous synthetic glycopeptides also benefit understanding function of specific glycoform. However, the selectivity coupling of oligosaccharides to a given peptide remains challenging despite the fact that the synthesis of structure‐defined complex oligosaccharides has been greatly facilitated by chemo‐enzymatic based approaches. Herein, a Ca2+‐promoted glycosylation approach was developed to exclusively modify phenolic peptide using a panel of biologically important glycans.
Structure‐Property Relationship of Conjugated Polymers Utilizing Isomerized Fused Benzothiadiazole‐Based Building Blocks†
Authors: Liu Jingyu , Li Wenhao , Xian Kaihu , Liu Zhongwei , Li Yanru , Yao Xiang , Ye Long , Zhao Yan , Fei Zhuping
Published: May 2023

Comprehensive Summary

Only a few fused benzothiadizole (BTz) based conjugated polymers have been applied in organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs), and their performances were low, mainly due to the lack of available building blocks and in‐depth study of the relationship between structure and performance. Herein, we report two isomeric fused BTz‐based building blocks (M1 and M2) and their copolymers PBTzVBTz‐T and PBTzVBTz‐TT, PTVT‐T and PTVT‐TT. DFT study showed all polymers had nearly planar backbone geometries, and PBTzVBTz‐TT exhibited the most linear backbone. PTVT‐T and PTVT‐TT exhibited red‐shift absorption spectra and deeper LUMO level than those of PBTzVBTz‐T and PBTzVBTz‐TT. Thin film microstructure study demonstrated PBTzVBTz‐TT and PTVT‐TT had edge‐on molecular orientation, while the others had the mixed molecular orientation of edge‐on and face‐on. Furthermore, PBTzVBTz‐TT had the longest coherence length in thin film. All these features of PBTzVBTz‐TT resulted in its highest carrier mobility of 0.1 cm2·V–1·s–1 among these polymers.
Cholinergic projections to the preBötzinger complex
Authors: Biancardi Vivian , Yang Xiaqiu , Ding Xiuqing , Passi Dhruv , Funk Gregory D. , Pagliardini Silvia
Published: May 2023

Rhythmic inspiratory activity is generated in the preBötzinger complex (preBötC), a neuronal network located bilaterally in the ventrolateral medulla. Cholinergic neurotransmission affects respiratory rhythmogenic neurons and inhibitory glycinergic neurons in the preBötC. Acetylcholine has been extensively investigated given that cholinergic fibers and receptors are present and functional in the preBötC, are important in sleep/wake cycling, and modulate inspiratory frequency through its action on preBötC neurons. Despite its role in modulating inspiratory rhythm, the source of acetylcholine input to the preBötC is not known. In the present study, we used retrograde and anterograde viral tracing approaches in transgenic mice expressing Cre‐recombinase driven by the choline acetyltransferase promoter to identify the source of cholinergic inputs to the preBötC. Surprisingly, we observed very few, if any, cholinergic projections originating from the laterodorsal and pedunculopontine tegmental nuclei (LDT/PPT), two main cholinergic, state‐dependent systems long hypothesized as the main source of cholinergic inputs to the preBötC. On the contrary, we identified glutamatergic and GABAergic/glycinergic neurons in the PPT/LDT that send projections to the preBötC. Although these neurons contribute minimally to the direct cholinergic modulation of preBötC neurons, they could be involved in state‐dependent regulation of breathing. Our data also suggest that the source of cholinergic inputs to the preBötC appears to originate from cholinergic neurons in neighboring regions of the medulla, the intermediate reticular formation, the lateral paragigantocellularis, and the nucleus of the solitary tract.
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and subsequent risk of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias
Authors: Schliep Karen C. , Shaaban C. Elizabeth , Meeks Huong , Fraser Alison , Smith Ken R. , Majersik Jennifer J. , Foster Norman L. , Wactawski‐Wende Jean , Østbye Truls , Tschanz JoAnn , Padbury James F. , Sharma Surrendra , Zhang Yue , Facelli Julio C. , Abdelrahman C. Samir , Theilen Lauren , Varner Michael W.
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Whether HDP is also associated with later‐life dementia has not been fully explored.

Methods

Using the Utah Population Database, we performed an 80‐year retrospective cohort study of 59,668 parous women.

Results

Women with, versus without, HDP, had a 1.37 higher risk of all‐cause dementia (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.26, 1.50) after adjustment for maternal age at index birth, birth year, and parity. HDP was associated with a 1.64 higher risk of vascular dementia (95% CI: 1.19, 2.26) and 1.49 higher risk of other dementia (95% CI: 1.34, 1.65) but not Alzheimer's disease dementia (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.04; 95% CI: 0.87, 1.24). Gestational hypertension and preeclampsia/eclampsia showed similar increased dementia risk. Nine mid‐life cardiometabolic and mental health conditions explained 61% of HDP's effect on subsequent dementia risk.

Discussion

Improved HDP and mid‐life care could reduce the risk of dementia.
The effect of physiographic and hydrologic complexities and their alterations on the distribution of obligate freshwater dolphins
Authors: Rai Anu , Bashir Tawqir , Lagunes–Díaz Elio Guarionex , Shrestha Bibek
Published: May 2023

Physiographic and hydrologic complexities play major role in determining the habitat suitability for river dolphins. However, dams and other water development structures alter hydrologic regimes that degrade habitat conditions. For the three extant species of obligate freshwater dolphins, namely: Amazon dolphin (Inia geoffrensis), Ganges dolphin (Platanista gangetica), and Indus dolphin (Platanista minor), the threat is high as dams and water‐based infrastructure dotted throughout their distribution range impact dolphin populations by restricting their movement. But there is also evidence of localized increase in dolphin population in certain segments of habitats affected by such hydrologic alterations. Hence, the impacts of hydrologic alterations on dolphin distribution are not as binary as it seems. We aimed to ascertain the role of hydrologic and physiographic complexities in determining the distribution of the dolphins in their geographic ranges using density plot analysis and also to understand how hydrologic alterations in the rivers affect their distribution using a combination of density plot analysis and review of literature. The influence of some of the study variables such as distance to confluence and sinuosity was similar across species—for instance, all three dolphin species preferred slightly sinuous river segments and habitats near confluences. However, varying influences across species were observed for some other variables such as river order and river discharge. We assessed 147 cases of impacts of hydrological alterations on dolphin distribution by categorizing the reported impacts in nine broad types out of which habitat fragmentation accounted for the majority of the impacts (35%) followed by habitat reduction (24%). These endangered species of freshwater megafauna will experience further intensified pressures as more large‐scale hydrologic modifications such as damming and diversion of rivers are underway. In this context, basin‐scale water‐based infrastructural development planning should take into consideration the salient ecological requirements of these species to ensure their long‐term survival.
Metabarcoding analysis identifies high diversity of harmful algal bloom species in the coastal waters of the Beibu Gulf
Authors: He Liyan , Yu Zhiming , Xu Xin , Zhu Jianan , Yuan Yongquan , Cao Xihua , Song Xiuxian
Published: May 2023

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) have occurred more frequently in recent years. In this study, to investigate their potential impact in the Beibu Gulf, short‐read and long‐read metabarcoding analyses were combined for annual marine phytoplankton community and HAB species identification. Short‐read metabarcoding showed a high level of phytoplankton biodiversity in this area, with Dinophyceae dominating, especially Gymnodiniales. Multiple small phytoplankton, including Prymnesiophyceae and Prasinophyceae, were also identified, which complements the previous lack of identifying small phytoplankton and those unstable after fixation. Of the top 20 phytoplankton genera identified, 15 were HAB‐forming genera, which accounted for 47.3%–71.5% of the relative abundance of phytoplankton. Based on long‐read metabarcoding, a total of 147 OTUs (PID > 97%) belonging to phytoplankton were identified at the species level, including 118 species. Among them, 37 species belonged to HAB‐forming species, and 98 species were reported for the first time in the Beibu Gulf. Contrasting the two metabarcoding approaches at the class level, they both showed a predominance of Dinophyceae, and both included high abundances of Bacillariophyceae, Prasinophyceae, and Prymnesiophyceae, but the relative contents of the classes varied. Notably, the results of the two metabarcoding approaches were quite different below the genus level. The high abundance and diversity of HAB species were probably due to their special life history and multiple nutritional modes. Annual HAB species variation revealed in this study provided a basis for evaluating their potential impact on aquaculture and even nuclear power plant safety in the Beibu Gulf.
Polypyrrole‐boosted photothermal energy storage in MOF‐based phase change materials
Authors: Liu Panpan , Huang Mengke , Chen Xiao , Gao Yan , Li Yang , Dong Cheng , Wang Ge
Published: May 2023

Infiltrating phase change materials (PCMs) into nanoporous metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) is accepted as a cutting‐edge thermal energy storage concept. However, weak photon capture capability of pristine MOF‐based composite PCMs is a stumbling block in solar energy utilization. Towards this goal, we prepared advanced high‐performance pristine MOF‐based photothermal composite PCMs by simultaneously integrating photon absorber guest (polypyrrole [PPy]) and thermal storage guest (1‐octadecanol [ODA]) into an MOF host (Cr‐MIL‐101‐NH2). The coated PPy layer on the surface of ODA@MOF not only serves as a photon harvester, but also serves as a phonon enhancer. Resultantly, ODA@MOF/PPy composite PCMs exhibit intense and broadband light absorption characteristic in the ultraviolet–visible–near‐infrared region, and higher heat transfer ability than ODA@MOF. Importantly, the photothermal conversion and storage efficiency of ODA@MOF/PPy‐6% is up to 88.3%. Additionally, our developed MOF‐based photothermal composite PCMs also exhibit long‐standing antileakage stability, energy storage stability, and photothermal conversion stability. The proposed coating strategy and in‐depth understanding mechanism are expected to facilitate the development of high‐efficiency MOF‐based photothermal composite PCMs in solar energy utilization.
ERβ promoted invadopodia formation‐mediated non‐small cell lung cancer metastasis via the ICAM1/p‐Src/p‐Cortactin signaling pathway
Authors: Wang Yangwei , Qiu Wenlin , Chen Jiaping , Meng Wangyang , Zhao Rong , Lin Wei , Mei Peiyuan , Diao Mingxin , Xiao Han , Liao Yongde
Published: May 2023

In a previous study, our research group observed that estrogen promotes the metastasis of non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) through the estrogen receptor β (ERβ). Invadopodia are key structures involved in tumor metastasis. However, it is unclear whether ERβ is involved in the promotion of NSCLC metastasis through invadopodia. In our study, we used scanning electron microscopy to observe the formation of invadopodia following the overexpression of ERβ and treatment with E2. In vitro experiments using multiple NSCLC cell lines demonstrated that ERβ can increase the formation of invadopodia and cell invasion. Mechanistic studies revealed that ERβ can upregulate the expression of ICAM1 by directly binding to estrogen‐responsive elements (EREs) located on the ICAM1 promoter, which in turn can enhance the phosphorylation of Src/cortactin. We also confirmed these findings in vivo using an orthotopic lung transplantation mouse model, which validated the results obtained from the in vitro experiments. Finally, we examined the expressions of ERβ and ICAM1 using immunohistochemistry in both NSCLC tissue and paired metastatic lymph nodes. The results confirmed that ERβ promotes the formation of invadopodia in NSCLC cells through the ICAM1/p‐Src/p‐Cortactin signaling pathway.
Deep CNN‐based classification of motor imagery tasks from EEG signals using 2D wavelet transformed images of adaptively reconstructed signals from MVMD decomposed modes
Authors: Alizadeh N. , Afrakhteh S. , Mosavi M. R.
Published: May 2023

Brain–computer interfaces (BCI) have begun to revolutionize many aspects of human life, ranging from health to smart living and communication devices. Therefore, BCI technologies require accurate recognition and classification systems of the brain responses to a variety of motor imagery (MI) movements through electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. Nowadays, deep learning models have received a lot of interest for learning features and classifying numerous kinds of data. However, it has not been thoroughly investigated for EEG signal classification. In this study, to reach an improved performance in MI‐EEG signal classification, we proposed a new strategy based on continuous wavelet transform (CWT)‐based time‐frequency maps to generate two‐dimensional (2D) EEG images of adaptively reconstructed signals from the extracted multivariate mode decomposition (MVMD) modes. In the next step, the extracted signals are projected in the new space using the proposed multiclass common spatial pattern (MCCSP) filtering. The resulting images are then fed to the convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures (AlexNet and LeNet). The proposed framework has the benefit of achieving high classification accuracy to be attained even with a significant amount of input data. LeNet and AlexNet reach the best average accuracy rates of 95.33% and 93.66% on dataset 1 from BCI competition IV and the results on dataset 2a from competition IV are more promising than the current state of the arts. Our results depict that MI‐EEG task recognition using image classification approaches, along with CNNs, is as comparable or even superior to other existing traditional approaches and provides high potential for upcoming research.
Gender gap in perspectives of the impacts of degradation and restoration on ecosystem services in Ethiopia
Authors: Mponela Powell , Aynekulu Ermias , Ebrahim Mohammed , Abate Tsion , Abera Wuletawu , Zaremba Haley , Elias Marlène , Tamene Lulseged
Published: May 2023

The importance of land restoration has garnered increasing attention on the global stage through large‐scale initiatives such as the Bonn Challenge. However, policies and strategies are often gender‐blind and designed in compliance with entrenched social hierarchies, exacerbating pre‐existing social inequalities that affect restoration initiatives. The challenge of developing gender‐responsive policies and initiatives is accentuated by a persistent lack of sex‐disaggregated data concerning men's and women's differing perceptions and experiences. This study aims to help fill this gap by capturing the differences in men and women's perceptions of ecosystem services before and after restoration interventions in Ethiopia. Towards that end, in October 2021, we collected data from fifty‐nine (59) paired husband‐wife households and six gender‐segregated focus group discussions in two regions of Ethiopia: Amhara and Southern Nations, and Nationalities and Peoples (SNNP). Kendall's concordance analysis established a strong degree of disagreement between men's and women's ratings of restoration outcomes for most indicators. Men attributed degradation to landscape conditions and natural forces, while women considered the lack of appropriate restoration strategies as a precursor for accelerated degradation. The study also reveals that men tended to benefit more than women from enhanced ecosystem services post‐restoration, with increased labour and land management burdens often falling on the shoulders of women. Based on these findings, we argue that including men's and women's perspectives from the earliest planning phases of restoration initiatives is essential to ensure greater equity in benefit‐sharing, mitigate trade‐offs for women, and build more nuanced, just and successful approaches to restoration.
Implementation of a knowledge‐based decision support system for treatment plan auditing through automation
Authors: Liu Shi , Chapman Katherine L. , Berry Sean L. , Bertini Julian , Ma Rongtao , Fu Yabo , Yang Deshan , Moran Jean M. , Della‐Biancia Cesar
Published: May 2023

Background

Independent auditing is a necessary component of a comprehensive quality assurance (QA) program and can also be utilized for continuous quality improvement (QI) in various radiotherapy processes. Two senior physicists at our institution have been performing a time intensive manual audit of cross‐campus treatment plans annually, with the aim of further standardizing our planning procedures, updating policies and guidelines, and providing training opportunities of all staff members.

Purpose

A knowledge‐based automated anomaly‐detection algorithm to provide decision support and strengthen our manual retrospective plan auditing process was developed. This standardized and improved the efficiency of the assessment of our external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) treatment planning across all eight campuses of our institution.

Methods

A total of 843 external beam radiotherapy plans for 721 lung patients from January 2020 to March 2021 were automatically acquired from our clinical treatment planning and management systems. From each plan, 44 parameters were automatically extracted and pre‐processed. A knowledge‐based anomaly detection algorithm, namely, “isolation forest” (iForest), was then applied to the plan dataset. An anomaly score was determined for each plan using recursive partitioning mechanism. Top 20 plans ranked with the highest anomaly scores for each treatment technique (2D/3D/IMRT/VMAT/SBRT) including auto‐populated parameters were used to guide the manual auditing process and validated by two plan auditors.

Results

The two auditors verified that 75.6% plans with the highest iForest anomaly scores have similar concerning qualities that may lead to actionable recommendations for our planning procedures and staff training materials. The time to audit a chart was approximately 20.8 min on average when done manually and 14.0 min when done with the iForest guidance. Approximately 6.8 min were saved per chart with the iForest method. For our typical internal audit review of 250 charts annually, the total time savings are approximately 30 hr per year.

Conclusion

iForest effectively detects anomalous plans and strengthens our cross‐campus manual plan auditing procedure by adding decision support and further improve standardization. Due to the use of automation, this method was efficient and will be used to establish a standard plan auditing procedure, which could occur more frequently.
Psychosocial well‐being during the COVID‐19 pandemic among women with and without breast cancer
Authors: Pinheiro Laura C. , Fasano Genevieve A. , An Anjile , Mount Lauren , Bayard Solange , Rosenberg Shoshana , Taiwo Evelyn , Loeb‐Zeitlin Susan , Marti Jennifer , Ashamalla Hani , Balogun Onyi , Smith Michael , Siegel Beth , Astrow Alan , Newman Lisa , Malik Manmeet , Bea Vivian , Tamimi Rulla M.
Published: May 2023

Objective

Treatment delays in combination with general social distancing practices to reduce transmission may have negative impacts on the mental health of women with breast cancer who may need more social and emotional support. We sought to elucidate the psychosocial effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic among women with and without breast cancer in New York City.

Methods

We conducted a prospective cohort study among women aged 18+ across the spectrum of breast health care at New York Presbyterian (NYP)‐Weill Cornell, NYP‐Brooklyn Methodist Hospital and NYP‐Queens. Women were contacted between June and October 2021 to assess their self‐reported depression, stress, and anxiety during the COVID‐19 pandemic. We compared women who were recently diagnosed, those with a history of breast cancer, and women without cancer whose other health visits were delayed during the pandemic.

Results

There were 85 women who completed the survey. Breast cancer survivors (42%) were the least likely to report a delay in care due to COVID compared to breast cancer patients who were recently diagnosed (67%) and women without cancer (67%). Compared to women without cancer and breast cancer survivors, women recently diagnosed with breast cancer reported higher levels of anxiety and depression with a statistically significant difference in perceived stress.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight the need to identify and risk‐stratify patients facing a new breast cancer diagnosis in and around the COVID‐19 pandemic who may benefit from additional resources to mitigate the adverse impacts of the pandemic and a breast cancer diagnosis on psychosocial health.
The heart of the matter: Right heart imaging indicators for treatment escalation in pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Forfia Paul , Benza Raymond , D'Alto Michele , De Marco Teresa , Elwing Jean M. , Frantz Robert , Haddad Francois , Oudiz Ronald , Preston Ioana R. , Rosenkranz Stephan , Ryan John , Schilz Robert , Shlobin Oksana A. , Vachiery Jean‐Luc , Vizza Carmine Dario , Vonk Noordegraaf Anton , Sketch Margaret R. , Broderick Meredith , McLaughlin Vallerie
Published: May 2023

Right heart (RH) structure and function are major determinants of symptoms and prognosis in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). RH imaging provides detailed information, but evidence and guidelines on the use of RH imaging in treatment decisions are limited. We conducted a Delphi study to gather expert opinion on the role of RH imaging in decision‐making for treatment escalation in PAH. A panel of 17 physicians with expertise in PAH and RH imaging used three surveys in a modified Delphi process to reach consensus on the role of RH imaging in PAH. Survey 1 used open‐ended questions to gather information. Survey 2 contained Likert scale and other questions intended to identify consensus on topics identified in Survey 1. Survey 3 contained Likert scale questions derived from Survey 2 and summary information on the results of Survey 2. The Delphi panel reached consensus that RH imaging is likely to improve the current risk stratification algorithms and help differentiate risk levels in patients at intermediate risk. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, right ventricular fractional area change, right atrial area, tricuspid regurgitation, inferior venae cavae diameter, and pericardial effusion should be part of routine echocardiography in PAH. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is valuable but limited by cost and access. A pattern of abnormal RH imaging results should prompt consideration of hemodynamic evaluation and possible treatment escalation. RH imaging is an important tool for decisions about treatment escalation in PAH, but systematically collected evidence is needed to clarify its role.
Early Twentieth-Century Self-Harm: Cut Throats, General and Mental Medicine
Authors: Millard Chris
Published: May 2023

At some point before five P.M. on 25 June 1914, in the small coastal town of Lowestoft, Suffolk, 59-year old Louisa Ashby cuts her own throat with a razor and lies down on her bed. Her eight-year-old granddaughter, Dora, discovers her covered in blood, and runs back downstairs to inform her mother that ‘grandmother had cut her finger’.1 Ashby is rushed to the nearby Lowestoft and North Suffolk Hospital, where, according to the East Suffolk Police:

The [hospital] matron then requested that an officer should stay and take the sole charge and responsibility of the patient. I told her we could not do that, and that two of her sons were present [for this purpose], she said, ‘They are no good, you brought her here and must take the sole charge of her, or take her away’.2
Pre-selection in cointegration-based pairs trading
Authors: Brunetti Marianna , De Luca Roberta
Published: May 2023

The paper compares the final profitability of a cointegration-based pairs trading strategy when pairs of stocks are pre-selected by means of seven different measures. Some of the measures considered have been extensively used in the pairs trading literature, while others represent a novelty in this type of application. We find that pre-selection matters, since the excess returns remarkably vary, in terms of both average and variability, depending on the metrics used. Differences in profitability by pre-selection metrics are retrieved even after considering commissions and cut rules, market impact, a stricter definition of the Spread reversion to the equilibrium and alternative cointegration tests. Besides, the pairs trading profitability is found to be heterogeneous across the different pre-selection metrics also in terms of exposure to the systematic stock-market risk factors.
Bioleaching metal-bearing wastes and by-products for resource recovery: a review
Authors: Tezyapar Kara I. , Kremser K. , Wagland S. T. , Coulon F.
Published: May 2023

The global transition to a circular economy calls for research and development on technologies facilitating sustainable resource recovery from wastes and by-products. Metal-bearing materials, including electronic wastes, tailings, and metallurgical by-products, are increasingly viewed as valuable resources, with some possessing comparable or superior quality to natural ores. Bioleaching, an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to conventional hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical methods, uses microorganisms and their metabolites to extract metals from unwanted metal-bearing materials. The performance of bioleaching is influenced by pH, solid concentration, energy source, agitation rate, irrigation rate, aeration rate, and inoculum concentration. Optimizing these parameters improves yields and encourages the wider application of bioleaching. Here, we review the microbial diversity and specific mechanisms of bioleaching for metal recovery. We describe the current operations and approaches of bioleaching at various scales and summarise the influence of a broad range of operational parameters. Finally, we address the primary challenges in scaling up bioleaching applications and propose an optimisation strategy for future bioleaching research.
Functional capacity and inflammatory biomarkers as predictors for right atrial volume index in COPD patients
Authors: Khedr Lamiaa , Khedr Naglaa F. , Werida Rehab H.
Published: May 2023

Objective

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of mortality and right-heart complications. So, this study aimed to evaluate the role of right atrial volume index (RAVI), inflammatory biomarkers and functional capacity in predicting poor outcomes for patients with COPD, classified by COPD assessment test (CAT) questionnaire, as early predictors of right heart diseases.

Methods

151 patients with COPD with ejection fraction (LVEF) > 55% were enrolled and classified according to CAT questionnaire into CAT ≥ 10 (group I) and CAT < 10 (group II). RAVI was calculated using Echocardiography. Assessment of RV systolic function was done by Doppler imaging. Functional capacity parameters were assessed by modified medical research council dyspnea scale (mMRC). IL-1β, adiponectin, hs-CRP and neopterin were evaluated by ELSA kits.

Results

Group I (CAT ≥ 10) had higher RAVI (73.92 ± 21.20 ml/m2 vs 22.73 ± 6.24 ml/m2, p < 0.001), lower S`tri (0.05 ± 0.01 vs 0.13 ± 0.03 m/s, p < 0.001), lower tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) (1.20 ± 0.17 cm vs 2.17 ± 0.48 cm, p < 0.001), higher RVSP (54.88 ± 7.97 vs 26.79 ± 9.84 mmHg, p < 0.001) compared with group II (CAT < 10). RAVI was good predictor of CAT (r = 0.954, p < 0.001) and strongly correlated with tricuspid S`tri, RVSP, tricuspid E/e′ and Mitral E/e′ (r = −0.737, r = 0.753, r = 0.817 and r = 0.515, respectively, p < 0.001). RAVI was correlated with TAPSE (r = −0.673, p < 0.001) and with tricuspid E/A ratio & LVEF (r = 0.628, r = −0.407, respectively, p < 0.001). Hs-CRP: 2.50 ± 1.43 vs 2.03 ± 1.19, IL-1β: 37.96 ± 14.35 vs 27.57 ± 8.06, neopterin: 91.37 ± 17.30 vs 76.90 ± 16.75, p < 0.05) were significantly higher besides lower adiponectin levels (3.19 ± 1.98 vs 5.32 ± 1.33 p < 0.05) in group I as compared to group II.

Conclusion

Functional capacity might be useful predictor for right heart diseases in COPD patients. Inflammatory biomarkers, low adiponectin and high Hs-CRP, IL-1β and neopterin levels, might not only be useful to monitor treatment response but may also help to discriminate patients with a worsen prognosis.