bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Paleoecology provides context for conserving culturally and ecologically important pine forest and barrens communities
Authors: Booth Robert K. , Schuurman Gregor W. , Lynch Elizabeth A. , Huff Matthew G. , Bebout Julia A. , Montano Nisogaabokwe Melonee
Published: June 2023

In fire‐prone ecosystems, knowledge of vegetation–fire–climate relationships and the history of fire suppression and Indigenous cultural burning can inform discussions of how to use fire as a management tool, particularly as climate continues to change rapidly. On Wiisaakodewan‐minis/Stockton Island in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore of Wisconsin, USA, structural changes in a pine‐dominated natural area containing a globally rare barrens community occurred after the cessation of cultural burning by the Indigenous Ojibwe people and the imposition of fire‐suppression policies, leading to questions about the historical role of fire in this culturally and ecologically important area. To help understand better the ecological context needed to steward these pine forest and barrens communities, we developed palaeoecological records of vegetation, fire, and hydrological change using pollen, charcoal, and testate amoebae preserved in peat and sediment cores collected from bog and lagoon sediments within the pine‐dominated landscape. Results indicated that fire has been an integral part of Stockton Island ecology for at least 6000 years. Logging in the early 1900s led to persistent changes in island vegetation, and post‐logging fires of the 1920s and 1930s were anomalous in the context of the past millennium, likely reflecting more severe and/or extensive burning than in the past. Before that, the composition and structure of pine forest and barrens had changed little, perhaps due to regular low‐severity surface fires, which may have occurred with a frequency consistent with Indigenous oral histories (~4–8 years). Higher severity fire episodes, indicated by large charcoal peaks above background levels in the records, occurred predominantly during droughts, suggesting that more frequent or more intense droughts in the future may increase fire frequency and severity. The persistence of pine forest and barrens vegetation through past periods of climatic change indicates considerable ecological resistance and resilience. Future persistence in the face of climate changes outside this historical range of variability may depend in part on returning fire to these systems.
Accelerating the African continental free trade area through optimization of digital supply chains
Authors: Malatji Masike
Published: June 2023

The integration of e‐commerce into supply chain management (SCM) and logistics operations has greatly impacted the way these processes are executed. The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has disrupted traditional SCM and logistics business processes, making digitalization a crucial element for differentiation and competitiveness. The objective of this article was to investigate how the adoption of appropriate digital technologies could accelerate intra‐African trade in goods and services through the AfCFTA Agreement. The author employed a content analysis of the primary source documents, specifically the Protocol on Trade in Goods, available on the AfCFTA's website. The nine Annexes of the Protocol on Trade in Goods were evaluated against a digital supply chain (DSC) model adopted in this article. The results of the analysis showed that the supply chain and logistics processes of the AfCFTA's Protocol on Trade in Goods could be effectively identified and mapped to potential digital technologies through the adopted DSC framework. The practical implications of this study suggest that the AfCFTA could adopt a DSC framework as a guide in concluding negotiations on the Protocol on Digital Trade to harness the benefits of digital technologies. As the main contribution, this article provides a DSC framework that could be utilized to accelerate intra‐African trade through optimization of supply chain and logistics processes of the AfCFTA.
Research on irradiated food status and consumer acceptance: A Chinese perspective
Authors: Wang Ke , Pang Xinxin , Zeng Zhengkui , Xiong Houhua , Du Jifu , Li Gang , Baidoo Isaac Kwasi
Published: June 2023

China is currently the world's largest producer of food irradiation. Despite the long‐standing (about 100 years) evidence supporting the safety of food irradiation, consumers’ acceptance of irradiated foods remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the development of food irradiation in China and identify the barriers that keep consumers away from irradiated foods. This was accomplished by exploring the relevant policies of food irradiation, the size and distribution of irradiation facilities in China, and analyzing their relationships between consumer characteristics and the acceptance of irradiated food. To achieve these objectives, we conducted an online survey of participants from Hubei, China (N = 264). The results reveal that irradiation facilities are mainly distributed in large coastal cities such as the Bohai Bay, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Greater Bay Area. Furthermore, the study identified that consumer’ acceptance of irradiated food is directly related to their level of understanding. Approximately 22% of the sampled consumers reported that they would not accept that they have consumed irradiated food and most of them (41%) stated that they would not purchase irradiated food if they were aware of buying irradiated food. Specifically, consumers expressed discomfort with consuming irradiated food under unknown circumstances. This trend is more prevalent among female, low‐educated, and older consumers, with 40% of the sampled population indicating that they would not buy irradiated food. Given the strong correlation between knowledge and acceptance of irradiated foods, the study suggests that policy reform should prioritize enhancing the understanding of irradiated food, particularly among female, low‐educated, and older consumers.
Safety and efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade in patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer and brain metastasis
Authors: Tsakonas Georgios , Ekman Simon , Koulouris Andreas , Adderley Helen , Ackermann Christoph Jakob , Califano Raffaele
Published: June 2023

The presence of brain metastases (BM) is a negative prognostic factor for patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Their incidence seems to be higher in patients with oncogene‐driven tumours, especially those with EGFR‐mutated or ALK‐rearranged tumours. Although targeted treatments demonstrate significant efficacy regarding BM, they only apply to a minority of NSCLC patients. On the other hand, systemic therapies for nononcogenic‐driven NSCLC with BM have shown limited clinical benefit. In recent years, immunotherapy alone or combined with chemotherapy has been adopted as a new standard of care in first‐line therapy. This approach seems to be beneficial to patients with BM in terms of efficacy and toxicity. Combined immune checkpoint inhibition as well as the combination of immunotherapy and radiation therapy show promising results with significant, but overall acceptable toxicity. A pragmatic approach of allowing enrolment of patients with untreated or symptomatic BM in randomised trials evaluating immune checkpoint inhibitors strategies, possibly coupled with central nervous system‐related endpoints may be needed to generate data to refine treatment for this patient population.
A call to action: Drawing a red line to end conflict‐related sexual violence
Authors: Mukwege Denis , Conry Jeanne A.
Published: June 2023

Synopsis

This article calls on health professionals to speak out and join the campaign to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war.
The association between family adversity and youth mental health outcomes
Authors: Somefun Oluwaseyi , Theron Linda , Ungar Michael
Published: June 2023

Background

The association between family adversity and young people's mental health outcomes in communities that experience economic instability has not been well explored in the South African context. Furthermore, the overtime interaction between resilience factors, family adversity, and young people's psychological functioning in African settings, like South Africa, is under‐investigated.

Purpose

This study investigates the relationship between family adversity and conduct problems and depression at two‐time points in a sample of youths in two South African communities stressed by their dependency on economically volatile oil and gas industries.

Method

This article draws on longitudinal data generated by the Resilient Youth in Stressed Environments (RYSE) study in South Africa, which included 914 and 528 (wave 1 and 3) adolescents and emerging adults (14–27‐year‐olds; M age = 18.36 years) living in Secunda/eMbalenhle and Sasolburg/Zamdela. Participants were sampled at baseline (wave 1) and 18–24 months later (wave 3). They self‐reported experience of community violence, family adversity, resilience‐enabling resources, conduct difficulties, and depression symptoms. Regression analyses were used to examine the unadjusted and adjusted association of family adversity on conduct problem and depression.

Results

About 60% of participants reported high family adversity. Regressions, however, revealed no association between family adversity and conduct problems and depression cross‐sectionally and over time. Individual resilience, biological sex, and experience of victimization in the community, however, were associated with conduct difficulty while all three resilience factors were associated with decreased depression among participants.

Conclusion

Our study sheds light on the risk and protective factors for mental health outcomes of adolescents and youths who reside in volatile, turbulent communities and experience ongoing familial challenges. To effectively support the mental well‐being of young individuals in such contexts, interventions must consider the potential ambivalence of the resilience factors they aim to strengthen.
Repatriation tax and dividend policy
Authors: Douidar Shaddy , Sutton Ninon
Published: June 2023

This paper examines the impact of the repatriation tax provision of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) on firms’ dividend policy. Our findings show that the firms most affected by the repatriation tax provision, that is, those with high foreign sales, reward shareholders by substantially increasing dividends per share, but maintain aggregate dollar dividends. Dividend per share (DPS) increasing firms repurchase at significantly higher magnitudes than non‐dividend per share increasing firms, suggesting that DPS increasing firms partially utilize repurchases to avoid substantial increases in their long‐term aggregate dividend commitments. We also investigate whether managers reap the rewards of dividend increases, finding that firms with high levels of executive ownership and foreign sales are more likely to increase their dividends per share after the TCJA was enforced. Overall, our results highlight the importance of the interconnection between dividends and repurchases in examining the response of firm payout policy to external shocks.
The selection of control variables in capital structure research with machine learning
Authors: Bilgin Rumeysa
Published: June 2023

The previous literature on capital structure has produced plenty of potential determinants of leverage over the last decades. However, their research models usually cover only a restricted number of explanatory variables, and many suffer from omitted variable bias. This study contributes to the literature by advocating a sound approach to selecting the control variables for empirical capital structure studies. We applied linear LASSO inference approaches to evaluate the marginal contributions of three proposed determinants; cash holdings, non‐debt tax shield, and current ratio. While some studies did not use these variables in their models, others obtained contradictory results. Our findings have revealed that cash holdings, current ratio, and non‐debt tax shield are crucial factors that substantially affect the leverage decisions of firms and should be controlled in empirical capital structure studies.
Unveiling the atomic‐electronegativity‐dependent ESIPT behavior for 4′‐dimethylamino‐flavonol chemosensor
Authors: Li Xiaoxiao , Wang Xiao , Zhao Jinfeng , Jin Bing , Yang Yunfan
Published: June 2023

Objective

A theoretical atomic‐electronegativity‐controlled photo‐induced hydrogen bonding interactions and intramolecular proton transfer mechanism is presented for 4’‐dimethylamino‐flavonol derivatives.

Methods

Density functional theory and time‐dependent density functional theory are applied to explore all the electronic properties coupling with B3LYP functional as well as TZVP basis set.

Results

Photo‐induced hydrogen bonding enhancing promotes the ESIPT behavior for 4’‐dimethylamino‐flavonol derivatives, which could be affected by atomic electronegativity.

Conclusion

Hydrogen bonding strengthening coupling with intramolecular charge transfer reveal the ESIPT tendency, which could be regulated by substituted atomic electronegativities for 4DF derivatives.
Distinguishing metal halide molecular clusters from perovskite magic sized clusters in the synthesis of metal halide perovskite nanostructures
Authors: Zeitz David C. , Win Allison A. , Zhang Jin Z.
Published: June 2023

Background

Research into perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) has uncovered interesting properties compared to their bulk counterparts, including tunable optical properties due to size‐dependent quantum confinement effect (QCE). More recently, smaller PNCs with even stronger QCE have been discovered, such as perovskite magic sized clusters (PMSCs) and ligand passivated PbX2 metal halide molecular clusters (MHMCs) analogous to perovskites.

Objective

This review aims to present recent data comparing and contrasting the optical and structural properties of PQDs, PMSCs, and MHMCs, where CsPbBr3 PQDs have first excitonic absorption around 520 nm, the corresponding PMSCS have absorption around 420 nm, and ligand passivated MHMCs absorb around 400 nm.

Results

Compared to normal perovskite quantum dots (PQDs), these clusters exhibit both a much bluer optical absorption and emission and larger surface‐to‐volume (S/V) ratio. Due to their larger S/V ratio, the clusters tend to have more surface defects that require more effective passivation for stability.

Conclusion

Recent study of novel clusters has led to better understanding of their properties. The sharper optical bands of clusters indicate relatively narrow or single size distribution, which, in conjunction with their blue absorption and emission, makes them potentially attractive for applications in fields such as blue single photon emission.
SARS‐CoV‐2 spike codon mutations and risk of hospitalization after antispike monoclonal antibody therapy in solid organ transplant recipients
Authors: Yetmar Zachary A. , Yao Joseph D. , Razonable Raymund R.
Published: June 2023

Neutralizing antispike monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapies were highly efficacious in preventing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) hospitalization. While severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) variants may harbor spike protein mutations conferring reduced in vitro susceptibility to these antibodies, the effect of these mutations on clinical outcomes is not well characterized. We conducted a case–control study of solid organ transplant recipients who received an antispike mAb for treatment of mild‐to‐moderate COVID‐19 and had an available sample from initial COVID‐19 diagnosis for genotypic sequencing. Patients whose SARS‐CoV‐2 isolate had at least one spike codon mutation conferring at least fivefold decreased in vitro susceptibility were classified as resistant. Overall, 9 of 41 patients (22%) had at least one spike codon mutation that confers reduced susceptibility to the antispike mAb used for treatment. Specifically, 9 of 12 patients who received sotrovimab had S371L mutation that was predicted to confer a 9.7‐fold reduced susceptibility. However, among 22 patients who required hospitalization, 5 had virus with resistance mutation. In contrast, among 19 control patients who did not require hospitalization, 4 also had virus‐containing resistance mutations (p > 0.99). In conclusion, spike codon mutations were common, though mutations that conferred a 9.7‐fold reduced susceptibility did not predict subsequent hospitalization after treatment with antispike mAb.
ER‐phagy in neurodegeneration
Authors: Hill Melissa A. , Sykes Alex M. , Mellick George D.
Published: June 2023

There are many cellular mechanisms implicated in the initiation and progression of neurodegenerative disorders. However, age and the accumulation of unwanted cellular products are a common theme underlying many neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Niemann–Pick type C. Autophagy has been studied extensively in these diseases and various genetic risk factors have implicated disruption in autophagy homoeostasis as a major pathogenic mechanism. Autophagy is essential in the maintenance of neuronal homeostasis, as their postmitotic nature makes them particularly susceptible to the damage caused by accumulation of defective or misfolded proteins, disease‐prone aggregates, and damaged organelles. Recently, autophagy of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER‐phagy) has been identified as a novel cellular mechanism for regulating ER morphology and response to cellular stress. As neurodegenerative diseases are generally precipitated by cellular stressors such as protein accumulation and environmental toxin exposure the role of ER‐phagy has begun to be investigated. In this review we discuss the current research in ER‐phagy and its involvement in neurodegenerative diseases.
Hydroxyapatite: An antibiotic recruiting moiety for local treatment and prevention of bone infections
Authors: Sebastian Sujeesh , Huang Jintian , Liu Yang , Tandberg Felix , Collin Mattias , Puthia Manoj , Raina Deepak Bushan
Published: June 2023

Treatment of chronic osteomyelitis by radical debridement and filling of the dead space with antibiotic containing calcium sulfate/hydroxyapatite (CaS/HA) bone substitute has shown excellent long‐term outcomes. However, in extensive infections, sessile bacteria may remain in bone cells or soft tissues protected by biofilm leading to recurrences. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate if systemically administrated tetracycline (TET) could bind to pre‐implanted HA particles and impart an antibacterial effect locally. In vitro studies indicated that the binding of TET to nano‐ and micro‐sized HA particles was rapid and plateaued already at 1 h. Since protein passivation of HA after in‐vivo implantation could affect HA–TET interaction, we investigated the effect of serum exposure on HA–TET binding in an antibacterial assay. Although, serum exposure reduced the zone of inhibition (ZOI) of Staphylococcus aureus, a significant ZOI could still be observed after pre‐incubation of HA with serum. We could in addition show that zoledronic acid (ZA) competes for the same binding sites as TET and that exposure to high doses of ZA led to reduced TET–HA binding. In an in‐vivo setting, we then confirmed that systemically administered TET seeks HA particles that were pre‐implanted in muscle and subcutaneous pouches in rats and mice respectively, preventing HA particles from being colonized by S. aureus. Clinical Significance: This study describes a new drug delivery method that could prevent bacterial colonization of a HA biomaterial and reduce recurrences in bone infection.
Altered expression of MZB1 in periodontitis: A possible link to disease pathogenesis
Authors: Sunnetci‐Akkoyunlu Deniz , Guzeldemir‐Akcakanat Esra , Alkan Begum , Gurel Busra , Balta‐Uysal V. Merve , Akgun Emel , Baykal Ahmet Tarik , Olgac Vakur
Published: June 2023

Background

Our previous study explored the molecular signatures of generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP) using gingival tissues through omics‐based‐whole‐genome transcriptomic analysis. This continuation study aimed to investigate the whole protein profiling of these gingival samples through liquid chromatography‐mass spectroscopy/mass spectroscopy (LC‐MS/MS) analysis and to validate the identified proteins through immunohistochemistry to provide further evidence for the quality of the results.

Methods

In previous study, gene expression patterns were identified in gingival tissues from 23 GAgP and 25 control individuals. In the current study, comparative proteomic analysis was performed on isolated proteins from the same study groups using LC‐MS/MS analysis. The data from the transcriptomics study published before and the proteomics data were integrated to reveal any common genes and proteins. Additionally, immunohistochemical analysis was conducted to further investigate the findings.

Results

The most upregulated proteins in patients compared to controls were ITGAM, AZU1, MMP9, BPI, UGGG1, MZB1, TRFL, PDIA6, PRDX4, and PLG. The top six pathways associated with these proteins were involved in innate immune system, post‐translational protein phosphorylation, interleukin‐4 and ‐13 signaling, toll‐like receptors cascades, and extracellular matrix organization. Based on the integration and validation analysis of transcriptomics and proteomics data, as well as immunohistochemical analysis, MZB1 was identified as a shared gene and protein that were upregulated in the patients.

Conclusions

MZB1 is a protein that is involved in the development of B cells and the production of antibodies. Its upregulation in periodontitis suggests that there may be a dysregulation of the immune response in this condition, and MZB1 may be a potent biomarker for periodontitis.
Role of POU1F1 promoting the properties of stemness of gastric carcinoma through ENO1‐mediated glycolysis reprogramming
Authors: Tang Cheng , Zhang Hui , Deng Wen‐Sheng , Xiong Ling‐Qiang , Zhou Li‐Qiang
Published: June 2023

Cancer stem cells (CSCs), a rare subset of tumor cells, have been recognized as promotive role on tumor initiation and propagation. Among, aerobic glycolysis, widely clarified in multiple tumor cells, is the key for maintaining cancer stemness. Regrettably, it is largely unknown about the connection of cellular metabolic reprogramming and stemness in gastric carcinoma (GC). Two GC parental cells lines PAMC‐82 and SNU‐16 and their spheroids were obtained to determine the expression status of POU1F1 using quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) and western blotting analysis, respectively. Gain or loss‐of‐function assay was employed to assess its biological effects. Sphere formation and transwell assays were performed to evaluate the stem cell‐like traits, including self‐renewal capacity, migration and invasion. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and luciferase reporter assays were conducted for determining the binding relationship of POU1F1 on ENO1 promoter region. Herein, aberrantly upregulated POU1F1 was observed in spheroids, compared with the parental PAMC‐82 and SNU‐16 cells, which promoted stem cell‐like traits, as representing increasing sphere formation, enhanced cell migration and invasion. Additionally, POU1F1 expression was positively with glycolytic signaling, as displaying increasing glucose consumption, lactic acid production, and extracellular acid ratio (ECAR). Furthermore, POU1F1 was identified to be a transcriptional activator of ENO1, of which overexpression remarkably abolished POU1F1 knockdown‐mediated blocking effects. Taken together, we draw a conclusion that POU1F1 facilitated the stem cell‐like properties of GC cells through transcriptionally augmenting ENO1 to enhance glycolysis.
Evaluating the Need for Intensive Care Admission After Supraglottoplasty for Severe Laryngomalacia
Authors: Gagnon Carolanne , Bérubé Simon , Sauthier Michaël , Rouillard‐Bazinet Noémie , Bergeron Mathieu
Published: June 2023

Objective

Postoperative airway concerns persist despite a low rate of post‐supraglottoplasty complications for children with laryngomalacia. The objective of this study is to determine the factors associated with the need for intensive care unit (ICU) admission following supraglottoplasty.

Methods

A 7‐year retrospective cohort analysis was conducted between 2014 and 2021. A patient requiring ICU level of care was defined as the use of respiratory support such as intubation, positive pressure ventilation, high‐flow nasal cannula, or multiple doses of nebulized epinephrine.

Results

About 134 medical charts were reviewed; 12 patients were excluded because of concurrent surgery. Age at the time of surgery was 2.8 (4.3) months (median [interquartile range]). About 33 (27.0%) ultimately required ICU‐level care. Prematurity (odds ratio [OR] 13.8), neurological condition (OR ∞), American Society of Anesthesiology class 3–4 (OR 6.5), and younger age (OR 1.8) were more likely to require ICU admission. No patient above 10 months of age needed ICU monitoring. The use of respiratory support justifying ICU was known within the first 4 h after surgery for almost all (32/33, 97%) of these patients. 4/33 (12.1%) were kept intubated and the remaining needed non‐invasive ventilation. Only one patient (1/122, 0.8%) was reintubated 12 h after surgery for progressive respiratory distress.

Conclusion

Approximately a quarter of patients required ICU‐level care after supraglottoplasty. For nearly all patients without comorbidities requiring ICU, this can be safely predicted within the first 4 h after surgery. Our data suggest that selected patients undergoing supraglottoplasty may be safely monitored outside of an ICU setting after an observation period in the post‐anesthesia care unit.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 134:466–470, 2024
Positive solutions for a class semipositone quasilinear problem with Orlicz–Sobolev critical growth
Authors: Santos J. Abrantes , Alves C. O. , Zhou J.
Published: June 2023

In this work, we study the existence of positive solutions for the following class of semipositone quasilinear problems:
where is a bounded domain, , are parameters, is a Caractheodory function, and has a critical growth with relation to the Orlicz–Sobolev space . The main tools used are variational methods, a concentration compactness theorem for Orlicz–Sobolev space and some priori estimates.
Novel Silver Nanocomposites as Effective Antitumor Agents
Authors: Gorbunova M. N. , Beloglazova Yu. A.
Published: June 2023

Novel silver nanocomposites based on copolymers of N,N‐diallyl‐N'‐acylhydrazines and diallylaminophosphonium salts with N‐vinylpyrrolidone and sulfur dioxide have been developed. There have been conducted studies of the cytotoxicity of the synthesized copolymers and nanocomposites toward lung carcinoma A549, rhabdomyosarcoma RD TE32, melanoma MS, and non‐cancerous embryonic kidney HEK 293. The nanocomposites have a significant cytotoxic activity against tumor RD TE32 and MS cell lines. There is the absence of a cytotoxic effect with respect to non‐cancerous HEK293 cell line. This indicates a high selectivity of silver nanocomposites with respect to RD TE32 and MS cell lines. The mechanism of cytotoxic effect of nanocomposites is determined. The nanocomposites cause apoptotic death of tumor cells with chromatin condensation and the reduction of mitochondrial fluorescence. The newly developed nanocomposites may be considered as promising for developing drugs to treat malignant cancer tumors.
Extracted Silk Fibroin‐Cellulose Acetate Nanofibrous Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Applications
Authors: Nundloll Akash , Goonoo Nowsheen , Bhaw‐Luximon Archana
Published: June 2023

The extracellular matrix of cells consists of polysaccharides and proteins which provide support for cell attachment, movement, and proliferation thus regulating cellular activities. After a wound, cells require similar support to rebuild tissues with original characteristics. Silk fibroin and cellulose have thus been used to engineer nanofibrous mats through electrospinning process for tissue engineering applications. Silk fibroin (SF) is extracted from B. mori cocoons and cellulose acetate (CA) is obtained from textile‐based yarn. The resulting SF:CA nanofibrous mats have fiber diameters in the range of 0.26 µm (SF:CA 40:60) to 0.81 µm (SF:CA 10:90), tensile modulus in the range of 74.5 MPa (100% CA) to 458 MPa (SF:CA 80:20) and showed good material miscibility as evidenced through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. In vitro, nanofibrous mats with high silk fibroin content maintained murine macrophages in the non‐inflammatory stage and encouraged the movement of fibroblasts cells.
Anodic Aluminum Oxide Membrane Assisted Extrusion of Polymer Solutions for Hydrogel Formation
Authors: Schulte Anna , Alhusaini Qasim , Awan Aysha , Schönherr Holger
Published: June 2023

The potential of polymeric nanostructures obtained by extruding polymer solutions through reusable anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) nanopores for the fabrication of nanostructures is investigated systematically to be able to unveil the potential impact of structure on cell culturing. Thus, nanostructured Na‐alginate and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) polymers as well as blended alginate/PVA hydrogels are fabricated. Na‐alginate and PVA fibers with different dimensions can be obtained. By extruding Na‐alginate solutions into a non‐solvent also networks of uniform nanofibers (diameter <20 nm) are generated. PVA forms agglomerations of nanofibers and nanoparticles with diameter >100 nm. In addition, cell line‐dependent behavior of the cross‐linked PVA/alginate nanofibers is observed, which is characterized by reduced cell adhesion and cluster formation of PaTu 8988t cells on these blend nanofibers compared to normal cell adhesive behavior of NIH 3T3 cells.
Survey explores kindness, MH issues among LGBTQ+ youth
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: June 2023

LGBTQ+ youth are seeking kind communities, both online and in‐person, and mental health resources amidst today's climate in response to the COVID‐19 pandemic and youth mental health crisis, according to a new study released June 14 as the first part of a long‐term “Kind Communities” research collaboration between the Benenson Strategy Group and Born This Way Foundation.
Time‐lapse monitoring: An adjunct tool to select embryos for preimplantation genetic testing
Authors: Braga Daniela P. de Almeida Ferreira , Setti Amanda S. , Guilherme Patricia , Morishima Christina , Iaconelli Assumpto , Borges Edson
Published: June 2023

The goal for the present study was to investigate the effect of aneuploidy on embryo morphokinetics events in a time‐lapse imaging (TLI) system incubator. This retrospective cohort study was performed in a private university‐affiliated in vitro fertilization center, between 2019 March and December 2020. Kinetic data were analyzed in 935 embryos, derived from 316 patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycle with preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) for aneuploidy, individually cultured in a TLI incubator until Day 5 of development. Timing of morphokinetic variables, the incidences of multinucleation, and Known Implantation Data Score (KIDScore)‐Day 5 were compared between euploid (n = 352) and aneuploid embryos (n = 583). Aneuploid embryos showed significantly longer timing to complete specific morphokinetic parameters compared to euploidy embryos. Euploidy embryos also showed a significantly higher KIDScore when compared with the aneuploidy ones. Our evidence suggests that TLI monitoring may be an adjunct approach to select embryos for PGT; however, cautious investigation is still needed.
Optimization of acquisition parameters for cortical inhomogeneous magnetization transfer (ihMT) imaging using a rapid gradient echo readout
Authors: Rowley Christopher D. , Campbell Jennifer S. W. , Leppert Ilana R. , Nelson Mark C. , Pike G. Bruce , Tardif Christine L.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Imaging biomarkers with increased myelin specificity are needed to better understand the complex progression of neurological disorders. Inhomogeneous magnetization transfer (ihMT) imaging is an emergent technique that has a high degree of specificity for myelin content but suffers from low signal to‐noise ratio (SNR). This study used simulations to determine optimal sequence parameters for ihMT imaging for use in high‐resolution cortical mapping.

Methods

MT‐weighted cortical image intensity and ihMT SNR were simulated using modified Bloch equations for a range of sequence parameters. The acquisition time was limited to 4.5 min/volume. A custom MT‐weighted RAGE sequence with center‐out k‐space encoding was used to enhance SNR at 3 T. Pulsed MT imaging was studied over a range of saturation parameters, and the impact of the turbo factor on the effective ihMT resolution was investigated. 1 mm isotropic ihMTsat maps were generated in 25 healthy adults.

Results

Greater SNR was observed for larger number of bursts consisting of 6–8 saturation pulses each, combined with a high readout turbo factor. However, that protocol suffered from a point spread function that was more than twice the nominal resolution. For high‐resolution cortical imaging, we selected a protocol with a higher effective resolution at the cost of a lower SNR. We present the first group‐average ihMTsat whole‐brain map at 1 mm isotropic resolution.

Conclusion

This study presents the impact of saturation and excitation parameters on ihMTsat SNR and resolution. We demonstrate the feasibility of high‐resolution cortical myelin imaging using ihMTsat in less than 20 min.
Experimental‐based study of gear vibration characteristics incorporating the fractal topography of tooth surface
Authors: Lei Qi'ao , Yuan Lei , Yu Xin , Sun Yunyun , Li Hongguang
Published: June 2023

Microscopic roughness is inevitable on the gear meshing surface, which is also a key parameter affecting the dynamic response. The surface roughness exhibits self‐affine characteristics across multiscales. To explore the influence of surface fractal topography on the vibration amplitude of the gear system under different rotational speeds and loads, an experimental setup of spur gear transmission is devised. The fractal dimension and fractal roughness of the meshing surface are calculated by the power spectral density method. The relationships between gear response and fractal parameters are revealed experimentally. Results indicate that a rougher tooth surface, that is, a smaller fractal dimension or larger fractal roughness, corresponds to an intense vibration amplitude. The sensitivity of dynamic response to the tooth surface topography varies at different rotational speeds and loads. Under low speed and light load conditions, the fractal dimension and fractal roughness have a more obvious influence on the dynamic response of the gear transmission system. With the increase of speed and load, the macroworking conditions gradually become the main factor attributed to vibration amplitude.
3D printing‐based frugal manufacturing of glass pipettes for minimally invasive delivery of therapeutics to the brain
Authors: Qiao Guanda , Gulisashvili David , Jablonska Anna , Zhao Guiling , Janowski Miroslaw , Walczak Piotr , Liang Yajie
Published: June 2023

Objective

Intracerebral delivery of agents in liquid form is usually achieved through commercially available and durable metal needles. However, their size and texture may contribute to mechanical brain damage. Glass pipettes with a thin tip may significantly reduce injection‐associated brain damage but require access to prohibitively expensive programmable pipette pullers. This study is to remove the economic barrier to the application of minimally invasive delivery of therapeutics to the brain, such as chemical compounds, viral vectors, and cells.

Methods

We took advantage of the rapid development of free educational online resources and emerging low‐cost 3D printers by designing an affordable pipette puller (APP) to remove the cost obstacle.

Results

We showed that our APP could produce glass pipettes with a sharp tip opening down to 20 μm or less, which is sufficiently thin for the delivery of therapeutics into the brain. A pipeline from pipette pulling to brain injection using low‐cost and open‐source equipment was established to facilitate the application of the APP.

Conclusion

In the spirit of frugal science, our device may democratize glass pipette‐puling and substantially promote the application of minimally invasive and precisely controlled delivery of therapeutics to the brain for finding more effective therapies of brain diseases.
The work status of nurses in long‐term care institutions in elderly care: A qualitative descriptive study
Authors: Jiang Menglin , Zeng Jing , Liao Mingshu , Li Quanlei
Published: June 2023

Aim

To understand the work status of nurses in long‐term care institutions in China for elderly care to provide a reference for further formulating management strategies and promoting the development of long‐term care teams.

Methods

Using qualitative descriptive research methods, 31 nurses from three long‐term care institutions were selected through purposive sampling for in‐depth interviews, and a three‐week participatory observation was conducted on the daily work of nurses in the above three long‐term care institutions. Content analysis was used to analyse data.

Results

In our sample, nurses in long‐term care institutions had insufficient manpower, generally had low academic qualifications, and lacked professional ability. Their work enthusiasm and initiative need to be further improved. Long‐term care nurses were moderately paid, and their salary satisfaction was lower than in other trades. At the same time, the social understanding of the long‐term care industry was insufficient, and the social identity of nurses in long‐term care institutions was low.

Conclusion

The development of long‐term care requires the joint efforts of nurses, medical institutions, and society. By improving the system, cultivating talents and building a harmonious atmosphere, we aim to enhance the work enthusiasm of long‐term care nurses and promote the stable and orderly development of the long‐term care team.

Implications for nursing management

Nurses in long‐term care institutions are at the core of the ageing age and play a vital role in coping with the ageing problem, meeting long‐term care needs, improving the quality of life of old people and reducing the cost of long‐term care. The training and management of nurses in long‐term care institutions and the construction of the entire long‐term care system should be based on China's national conditions and actual needs.
The effect of trauma advanced practice nurse programme at a Level I regional trauma centre in mainland China
Authors: Sa Wang , Shuihong Chen , Jingfen Jin , Mao Zhang , Zhiting Guo , Danping Yan , Chang Huang , Yuwei Wang
Published: June 2023

Aims

Trauma is the fifth‐leading cause of death in China. Despite the establishment of the Chinese Regional Trauma Care System (CRTCS) in 2016, advanced trauma nurse practice has not been incorporated. This study aimed to identify the roles and responsibilities of trauma advanced practice nurse (APN), and to investigate the impact on patient outcomes in a Level I regional trauma centre in mainland China.

Design

A single‐centre pre‐ and post‐control design was used.

Methods

The trauma APN programme was established based on multidisciplinary experts' consultation. A retrospective study was conducted on all Level I trauma patients over a period of 5 years, spanning from January 2017 to December 2021, with a sample size of 2420. The data were divided into two comparison groups: a pre‐APN programme (January 2017–December 2018; n = 1112) and post‐APN programme (January 2020–December 2021; n = 1308). A comparison analysis was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of trauma APN who were integrated into the trauma care team, with a focus on patient outcomes and time‐efficiency indicators.

Results

The certification of the regional Level I trauma centre resulted in a 17.63% increase in the number of trauma patients. The integration of advanced practice nurses (APN) into the trauma care system led to significant improvements in time‐efficiency indicators, with the exception of advanced airway establishment time (p < 0.05). The average emergency department length of stay (LOS) decreased 21%, from 168 to 132 min (p < 0.001); additionally, the mean intensive care unit LOS decreased by nearly 1 day (p = 0.028). Trauma patients who were treated by trauma APN had a higher likelihood of survival, with an odds ratio of 1.816 (95%CI: 1.041, 3.167; p = 0.033), compared to patients who received care prior to the implementation of the trauma APN program.

Conclusion

A trauma APN programme has the potential to enhance the quality of trauma care in the CRTCS.

Impact

This study elucidates the roles and responsibilities of trauma advanced practice nurses (APN) in a Level I regional trauma centre in mainland China. Trauma care quality was significantly improved after the application of a trauma APN programme. In regions with inadequate medical resources, the utilization of advanced practice trauma nurses can enhance the quality of trauma care. In addition, trauma APN can provide a trauma nursing education programme within the regional centres as a strategy to augment the proficiency of regional trauma nursing.

No patient or public contribution, the research data all from trauma data bank.
The impact of the control function on the effectiveness of policy implementation
Authors: Anderson Rick
Published: June 2023

This contribution concerns a study that aims to trace factors that determine the effectiveness of policy implementation. To this end, a case study was conducted in two municipalities. In both municipalities, a random sample was drawn of 100 activities in the cultural field carried out in the year 2021. Based on this, the effectiveness of the implementation of subsidy provision was examined for both municipalities. This effectiveness has been operationalised to the percentage of correct non‐applications, the percentage of rightly approved subsidy applications and the percentage of rightly rejected subsidy applications. A comparison between these municipalities, based on an analysis of the documents and 22 interviews, then provided an opportunity to explain differences in effectiveness. It turns out, that the control function provides the decisive explanation for the difference in effectiveness. This control function is not only about monitoring and controlling the implementation, but also about facilitating and optimising the process of providing subsidies. Although previous research highlights the importance of an adequate monitoring and control for implementation, the control function can be defined in a broader way. Besides overseeing proper implementation, the control function in this broader view also plays a facilitating role towards the implementers. This broader control function specifically has not often been the explicit object of implementation research. It should be noted, however, that this study is based on only two municipalities, which only examined the subsidisation of cultural activities. Therefore, no general conclusions can be drawn on this basis.
Influence of active, nano, and functionalized zinc oxide particles on the mechanical, cytotoxicity, and thermal stability of carbon black filled SBR/NR blends
Authors: Sreethu T. K. , Jana Sudipta , Jana Nihar Ranjan , Naskar Kinsuk
Published: June 2023

This study examines the viability of functionalized, nano, and active zinc oxide (ZnO) as an alternative activator in styrene butadiene rubber–natural rubber (SBR–NR) blends filled with carbon black. Concerns about the environmental impact and toxicity of Zn leaching into aquatic organisms necessitate reducing the amount of ZnO in rubber compounding. The mechanical properties, crosslink density, and thermal and morphological qualities of the SBR/NR blends made with these ZnO (F2BB, N2BB, and A2BB) were studied and compared to conventional ZnO loaded blend (C5BB). Thermal stability was evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis and temperature scanning stress relaxation. A2BB showed the highest thermal stability, while F2BB exhibited a 35% increase in tensile strength and a 28% increase in elongation at break due to polysulfide linkages. N2BB and A2BB increased tensile strength by 28 and 16% compared to C5BB. Cytotoxicity of various ZnO concentrations on HT‐22 hippocampal cells was investigated, and active and nano ZnO were found to be less toxic. Using active and nano ZnO can improve the mechanical and thermal properties of the blend while reducing environmental toxicity, allowing for a 60% reduction in ZnO concentration in rubber compounds and resulting in cost savings and a sustainable alternative to conventional ZnO.
Convergent behavior of extended stalk regions from staphylococcal surface proteins with widely divergent sequence patterns
Authors: Yarawsky Alexander E. , Ori Andrea L. , English Lance R. , Whitten Steven T. , Herr Andrew B.
Published: June 2023

Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus are highly problematic bacteria in hospital settings. A major challenge is their ability to form biofilms on abiotic or biotic surfaces. Biofilms are well‐organized, multicellular bacterial aggregates that resist antibiotic treatment and often lead to recurrent infections. Bacterial cell wall‐anchored (CWA) proteins are important players in biofilm formation and infection. Many have putative stalk‐like regions or regions of low complexity near the cell wall‐anchoring motif. Recent work demonstrated the strong propensity of the stalk region of S. epidermidis accumulation‐associated protein (Aap) to remain highly extended under solution conditions that typically induce compaction. This behavior is consistent with the expected function of a stalk‐like region that is covalently attached to the cell wall peptidoglycan and projects the adhesive domains of Aap away from the cell surface. In this study, we evaluate whether the ability to resist compaction is a common theme among stalk regions from various staphylococcal CWA proteins. Circular dichroism spectroscopy was used to examine secondary structure changes as a function of temperature and cosolvents along with sedimentation velocity analytical ultracentrifugation, size‐exclusion chromatography, and SAXS to characterize structural characteristics in solution. All stalk regions tested are intrinsically disordered, lacking secondary structure beyond random coil and polyproline type II helix, and they all sample highly extended conformations. Remarkably, the Ser‐Asp dipeptide repeat region of SdrC exhibited nearly identical behavior in solution when compared to the Aap Pro/Gly‐rich region, despite highly divergent sequence patterns, indicating conservation of function by various distinct staphylococcal CWA protein stalk regions.
The School Transition Estimation and Projection (STEP) model: A flexible framework for analysing and projecting school enrolments
Authors: Xiang Lili , Raymer James , Gray Edith
Published: June 2023

Accurate school‐level enrolment predictions are critical for local government and planners to allocate education‐related resources and ensure necessary school infrastructure is provided. Although individual‐level school census data are increasingly available for education departments, there is little evidence that these data are being used to improve school enrolment projections. This paper fills this methodological void by developing a School Transition Estimation and Projection (STEP) modelling framework. The STEP model simultaneously projects all schools in a city or region by all academic levels (e.g., Preschool to Year 12) and across three school sectors (Public, Catholic and Independent) using cohort information on the sources of enrolment change (i.e., Preschool entries, within district transfers, in‐migration, out‐migration, Year 12 graduates) and their trends over time. In this paper, we present the model and its application to schools in the Australian Capital Territory. We also show how the model greatly increases the capacity to understand and predict enrolment change, while increasing efficiency and reducing bias.