bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel approach for inferring effects on pregnancy loss
Authors: Leung Michael , Rowland Sebastian T , Modest Anna M , Hacker Michele R , Papatheodorou Stefania , Wei Yaguang , Schwartz Joel , Coull Brent A , Wilson Ander , Kioumourtzoglou Marianthi-Anna , Weisskopf Marc G
Published: January 2025

Identifying the determinants of pregnancy loss is a critical public health concern. However, pregnancy loss is often not noticed, and even when it is, it is inconsistently recorded. Thus, past studies have been limited to medically-identified losses or small, highly selected cohorts, which can lead to biased or non-generalizable results. We show mathematically and through simulations a novel approach that overcomes this measurement challenge to infer effects about pregnancy loss by utilizing more available data: the number of conceptions that led to live births—i.e., live-birth-identified conceptions (LBICs). We simulated ten years of conceptions, pregnancies, losses, and births under several confounding patterns, and two NO2-pregnancy loss relationships (no effect, mid-gestation effect). We fitted distributed lag models (DLMs) adjusted for season, year, and temperature, and assessed model performance through bias and coverage. Our simulations showed that our models, across all scenarios, identified the two NO2-pregnancy loss relationships with appropriate coverage (>90% of confidence intervals captured the true effect) and low bias (never exceeded ±2%). In an applied example using NO2—a traffic emissions tracer—and live birth data from a large tertiary-care hospital in Massachusetts, USA, we found that higher prenatal NO2 was associated with more pregnancy losses. Our proposed approach based on LBICs provides an alternative way to study causes of pregnancy loss.
Energy Metric Prediction for Double Insertion Mutants via the RoseNet Deep Learning Framework
Authors: Coffland Sarah , Christensen Katie , Hutchinson Brian , Jagodzinski Filip
Published: January 2025

Studying the structural and functional implications of protein mutations is an important task in computational biology and bioinformatics. We leverage our previously proposed RoseNet neural network architecture to predict energy metrics of proteins with double amino acid insertions or deletions (InDels). We train models on previously generated benchmark datasets containing the exhaustive double InDel mutations for three proteins, as well as an additional three proteins for which ∼145k random mutants, each with two InDels, have been generated. We expand on our previous work by evaluating three additional proteins and analyzing domain features that impact the prediction capabilities of RoseNet. These features include InDels into secondary structures and the solvent accessible surface area (SASA) scores of the residues. We uncover further evidence to support that RoseNet has a higher proficiency of generalizing to unseen residue combinations than unseen insertion positions. We also observe that RoseNet produces higher quality predictions when inserting into a β-sheet over an α-helix. Additionally, when the insertions fall in an area of high SASA, RoseNet often displays better performance than inserting into areas of low SASA.
Deciduous and evergreen perennials have higher antioxidant levels and more reactive oxygen species-susceptible chlorophyll-binding proteins
Authors: Nisbett Kenyon J , Rostami Nicki , Failas Dhan A , Brown Jason C L
Published: January 2025

Perennials live longer than annuals, yet the underlying physiological mechanisms responsible are poorly understood. We gathered data from published reports to investigate two hypotheses based on the oxidative stress theory of ageing. The first hypothesis was that perennials maintain higher antioxidant levels to neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS) better, before they cause oxidative damage. Although carotenoid levels did not differ between annuals and perennials, we found that deciduous perennials had higher activity of the ascorbate–glutathione cycle, and evergreen perennials had higher activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1). The second hypothesis was that chlorophyll-binding proteins of perennials have a lower proportion of ROS-susceptible amino acids to protect chlorophyll better from oxidative damage. Contrary to our predictions, although LHCI, LHCII, CP26, and CP29 showed no difference in amino acid composition between annuals and perennials, D1 protein and CP24 had a higher proportion of ROS-susceptible amino acids in both deciduous and evergreen perennials. By being more susceptible to ROS attack, these proteins might minimize oxidative damage to chlorophyll and/or contain oxidative damage within the photosystems such that it does not spread to other cell regions.
Relationships among flight traits, genetic differentiation and habitats in two closely related species of the genus Synuchus (Coleoptera: Carabidae)
Authors: Shimizu Takashi , Kubota Kôhei , Ikeda Hiroshi
Published: January 2025

The degeneration of flight ability has contributed to the diversification of beetles, which are among the most diverse groups in the world. Over the course of flight ability degeneration, intraspecific polymorphisms in flight traits occur. The type of habitat in which degeneration of flight ability is likely to occur is an important issue for understanding the diversification process of beetles, but this topic has rarely been studied in detail. In this study, we examined two closely related species (one species with intraspecific polymorphisms in the hind wings and the other an apterous-monomorphic species) of the genus Synuchus to clarify this issue. Our study indicated that these two species were morphologically and genetically related, but they showed contrasting genetic differentiation patterns and inhabited different environmental conditions. In particular, the apterous-monomorphic species seemed to be isolated in mountainous environments with four major climatic and terrain characteristics (cool, heavy precipitation in winter, large temperature and precipitation differences, and low continuity among habitats), and this isolation might have contributed to their complete loss of flight ability and geographical genetic differentiation via further suppression of gene flows between populations.
Survival, not reproduction, drives population growth of a neotropical mammal (Philander quica) in a seasonal environment
Authors: Ferreira Mariana S , Zangrandi Priscilla L , Menezes Antonio A , Vieira Marcus V
Published: January 2025

Seasonality is a prevalent environmental feature in tropical forests and can shape the life history of organisms subjected to regular and periodic changes in temperature and rainfall. Tropical forest marsupials usually reproduce seasonally in response to limited productive periods. This seasonality in reproduction may have an impact on other vital rates and contribute differently to population growth rate (λ) in different seasons. Here, we employed a periodic matrix population model and elasticity analysis to assess the potential contribution of survival, maturation, and reproductive rates to λ in both dry and wet seasons for the marsupial Philander quica. Survival played a predominant role over reproduction in shaping population dynamics, with subadult and pouch young survival exhibiting critical roles in dry and wet seasons, respectively. Despite unpredictable environmental perturbations such as the La Niña phenomenon, the predominance of survival in driving population growth underscores the resilience of marsupial life histories and inherent constraints shaping evolutionary trajectories.
A Family of Transglutaminases Is Essential for the Development of Appressorium-Like Structures and Phytophthora infestans Virulence in Potato
Authors: Brus-Szkalej Maja , Dotson Bradley , Andersen Christian B. , Vetukuri Ramesh R. , Grenville-Briggs Laura J.
Published: January 2025

Transglutaminases (TGases) are enzymes highly conserved among prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, where their role is to catalyze protein cross-linking. One of the putative TGases of Phytophthora infestans has previously been shown to be localized to the cell wall. Based on sequence similarity we were able to identify six more genes annotated as putative TGases and show that these seven genes group together in phylogenetic analysis. These seven proteins are predicted to contain both a TGase domain and a MANSC domain, the latter of which was previously shown to play a role in protein stability. Chemical inhibition of transglutaminase activity and silencing of the entire family of the putative cell wall TGases are both lethal to P. infestans indicating the importance of these proteins in cell wall formation and stability. The intermediate phenotype obtained with lower drug concentrations and less efficient silencing displays a number of deformations to germ tubes and appressoria. Both chemically treated and silenced lines show lower virulence than the wild type in leaf infection assays. Finally, we show that appressoria of P. infestans possess the ability to build up turgor pressure and that this ability is decreased by chemical inhibition of TGases.
Psychosocial information sharing to improve equity in kidney transplant evaluation
Authors: Wilk Adam S. , Huml Anne M. , Urbanski Megan , Muench Dorothy , Fischer Kristen M.
Published: January 2025

Purpose of review

Increasing transplant access overall and particularly among historically underserved and marginalized patient groups is a shared goal nationwide. Patient challenges with psychosocial factors, such as social support and health literacy, are recognized as among the top reasons patients may not be referred, evaluated, or waitlisted, key steps along the pathway to transplantation. Yet referring providers’ (e.g., dialysis clinics’) and transplant centers’ processes for measuring, communicating about, and addressing patients’ psychosocial challenges are inconsistent, can emphasize measures more relevant to dialysis care than transplant care, and are highly susceptible to implicit bias.

Recent findings

In this article, we illuminate the opportunity to standardize the patient psychosocial information that dialysis clinics and other nephrology care providers share with the transplant center when referring a patient for transplant evaluation. We highlight potential benefits and trade-offs to this approach and describe how regional coalitions comprising patients, caregivers, and community members can support developing and implementing a standardized template for this purpose, as well as the objectives that the coalition's efforts should pursue to this end.

Standardized templates for psychosocial information sharing at referral represent a key opportunity to improve quality, efficiency, and equity in pretransplant care as well as transplant access outcomes broadly.
Factors Associated with Retention in HIV Care within 12 months Postpartum: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Dang Tran , Anderson Jean , Powell Anna M
Published: January 2025

Background:

Loss to follow-up to HIV care following delivery puts birthing parents with HIV at higher risk of loss of viral suppression, disease progression, and HIV partner transmission. This study assessed factors associated with retention in postpartum HIV care.

Methods:

This is a retrospective cohort study at a single academic medical center and included patients followed from January 2014 to December 2022. The primary outcome was retention in postpartum HIV care (any healthcare encounter discussing HIV medication adherence or viral load within 12 months postpartum). Data was analyzed using Chi-square and student T-test for discrete and continuous variables. Univariate and multivariable log regressions were used to measure independent associations on care retention and healthcare utilization outcomes.

Results:

Of the 111 patients with planned follow up at our facility, 93 (83.8%) of participants had ≥ 1 HIV care encounter within 12 months of delivery. Participants had a mean age of 31.2 (± 5.84), were predominantly Black (79.3%), non-Hispanic (91%), non-U.S. born (57.5%) with substantial exposure of prior IPV (29.6%). Participants retained in care were more likely to use ART during pregnancy (92/99% vs 16/94.2%, P=0.01) and have viral suppression at delivery (n= 83/90% vs 12/67%, P=.02). Retention in care was negatively associated with substance use during pregnancy (aOR 0.29, 95% CI 0.09-0.95) following adjustment for social health covariates.

Conclusion:

While almost 84% of participants were retained in HIV care within 12 months of delivery, substance use in pregnancy was a significant risk factor for HIV care attrition postpartum.
Neuropsychiatric Outcomes in Children and Adolescents with Perinatally Acquired HIV: A Systematic Review and Meta Analysis.
Authors: Horton Rebecca H , Mcintosh Amy , Ostinelli Edoardo G , Harriss Elinor , Fazel Mina
Published: January 2025

Objective:

The objective of this study is to define the neuropsychiatric challenges including developmental delay, cognitive impairment and psychiatric illness faced by children with perinatally acquired HIV.

Data Sources:

Nine databases were searched on 30/05/2023: MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO (all via Ovid SP); CINAHL and Child Development and Adolescent Studies (via EBSCO); the Web of Science Core Collection; Scopus; ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global; and WHO Global Index Medicus. No limits were applied. Search strategies incorporated keywords and thesaurus headings to describe children and adolescents aged 0-25 with perinatally acquired HIV and terms to describe the spectrum of neuropsychiatric impairment.

Study selection:

Entries were reviewed by two independent reviewers. Studies were included if they involved a population of children with perinatally acquired HIV and investigated a neurological or psychiatric outcome.

Main outcome measures:

Hypothesis that children with pHIV would have more neuropsychiatric challenges than children without pHIV was formulated before the study. Main outcome measures include incidence and severity of cognitive impairment, developmental delay and psychiatric illness in children with pHIV.

Results:

45 studies on cognitive impairment were included of which eight studies were included for meta-analysis and demonstrated a standardised mean difference of -0.508 where children without HIV had higher cognitive scores (95% CI -0.7903; -0.2272). 15 studies on developmental delay were included of which nine were included for meta-analysis and demonstrated, for motor delay, a standardised mean difference (SMD) of -0.794 where children without HIV achieved higher motor function scores (95% CI: -0.9986 to -0.590; ) and for cognitive delay a SMD of -0.697 where children without HIV achieved higher cognitive function scores (CI -0.976 to -0.417;). 39 studies on psychiatric illness were included with an odds ratio for anxiety and depression of 1.105, suggesting that children with HIV had slightly higher odds of developing anxiety or depression, however this result was not significant (CI: 0.778 – 1.571).

Conclusions:

Children with perinatally acquired HIV may have a greater cognitive impairment, motor and cognitive delay and would likely benefit from tailored approaches to improve their outcomes.
Tech facilitated fairness: examining the impact of technology on perceived fairness in interpersonal conflict resolution
Authors: Deshpande Amruta , Raut Rajesh , Kaul Natashaa , Mittal Amit
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Conflict resolution is crucial to nurturing workplace harmony and creating a positive environment. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between perceived fairness, choice of technology and conflict resolution in the case of full-time employees from various sectors. The scope is limited to examining the influence of perceived fairness (PF) and the impact of technology on interpersonal conflict resolution (ICR), with age and designation being control variables.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative research design was used, and data was collected through a questionnaire distributed to 450 respondents, with 420 participants’ responses included in the analysis. Structural equation modeling using the SmartPLS software was then applied.

Findings

The findings revealed that perceived fairness has a significant positive impact on interpersonal conflict resolution, as did the use of technology. Age significantly influenced the relationship, while designation did not show an important relationship.

Practical implications

The results suggest that organizations should prioritize perceived fairness in their policies and practices to create a conflict-resolving environment. Furthermore, they can leverage technology to enhance conflict resolution processes as the workplaces accept hybrid as a way of work. These findings can also guide practitioners in fostering positive workplace climates by effectively managing conflicts.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the existing literature by examining the relationship between perceived fairness, technology and conflict resolution. It expands understanding of the factors influencing conflict resolution and highlights the importance of fairness and technology. The findings have practical implications for organizations seeking to enhance conflict management strategies.
Exploring the impact of technostress on the work–life boundary of UK academics during the coronavirus pandemic
Authors: Mordi Chima , Akanji Babatunde , Ajonbadi Hakeem
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Given the debilitating ways the COVID-19 global crisis altered peoples’ work–life affairs, this paper explores the effect of technology-related stress that UK academics encountered working from home during the lockdown. Drawing on boundary management theory, the study uncovered how the extreme deluge of teleworking heightened technostress that made it challenging to either segment or integrate work–life boundaries as both domains became exceedingly blurry, which necessitated a novel experience conceptualised as boundary violations with negative outcomes ensuing.

Design/methodology/approach

The dataset consists of semi-structured interviews with 32 academics in the UK. We rely on the interpretative paradigm using a qualitative research method.

Findings

The results reveal how the proliferation of technostress paved the way for a rising loss of boundary identity between professional and private affairs, morbidity and techno-isolation, which reinforced work–family conflict. The study’s findings highlight the processes involved in boundary disruption, as both domains were eroded in the wake of the unprecedented level of telework, which resulted in boundary violations (conceived as instances in which actions, conditions or situations either breach or neglect desired boundary management practices).

Research limitations/implications

The challenges involved in teleworking have seldom been the focus of work-life studies using role boundary management constructs in relation to the coronavirus pandemic. Hence, our study provides novel contributions to the contextually limiting conditions that have thwarted the well-established segmentation and integration processes of boundary management by conceptualising the boundary violations orchestrated by the invasive tendencies of virtual working environments and rising technostress caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Originality/value

While research on teleworking has consistently established more positive outcomes for both employees and organisations, the novelty of the present study is its contributions to the negative implications of remote working during the coronavirus pandemic, one of which is technostress. The study further discusses work–life implications for future research on the factors that made remote working particularly challenging during the coronavirus crisis.
Optimization of the non-periodic inspection policy for a power supply system using genetic algorithm
Authors: Moakedi Hamid , Hajizadeh Ebrahimi Fazel
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to derive the optimal inspection policy for a power supply system which consists of two components: a capacitor bank and a transformer. The capacitor bank has two states: healthy and hidden failure. Its failure is detected only by inspection, and the delay in detection increases the cost of electricity consumption. The transformer has three states: healthy, defective and obvious failure. It continues to work after being defective, but if the defect is not detected and repaired in time, it becomes an obvious failure. The defect is detected only by inspection, but the obvious failure is self-announcing.

Design/methodology/approach

The expected total cost of the system over a limited time horizon for a given inspection schedule is first modeled mathematically, and then an efficient genetic algorithm is designed to find the nearly optimal non-periodic inspection policy such that the expected total cost of the system is minimized.

Findings

The results show that, firstly, the higher the failure rate of the system components, the non-periodic inspection policy is more economical than the periodic one. Secondly, the proposed genetic algorithm reaches the nearly optimal solution in a shorter time with less computational effort compared to the A-star search algorithm.

Originality/value

Using the proposed approach, the nearly optimal non-periodic inspection schedule over a finite time horizon can be easily obtained for the power supply system. As a result of the implementation of this policy, the inspection and maintenance costs have been reduced, and it can have a significant impact on energy price.
How and why companies adopt SDGs: evidence from top managers of Sri Lankan listed companies
Authors: Weerasinghe Thanya , Gunarathne Nuwan , Samudrage Dileepa
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Motivated by the dearth of studies examining how and why managers adopt sustainable development goals (SDGs), particularly in developing countries struggling with economic, environmental and social problems, this study aims to investigate the rationales and business management approaches for adopting and integrating SDGs in the Sri Lankan corporate context, which is gradually adopting sustainable practices and sustainability reporting.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative approach was adopted to provide deeper insights and an understanding of corporate engagement with SDGs, offering a richer analysis of rationales and business management approaches that quantitative methods may overlook. Top Management attached to the sustainability function of seven companies that had varying levels of SDG-related disclosures were interviewed based on Santos and Silva Bastos’s (2021) theoretical framework for understanding the rationale and the priority management level for SDG adoption.

Findings

The main motivation to adopt SDGs stems from contextual and ethical rationales, with the influence of the United Nations Global Compact serving as a notable contextual factor. The prioritized levels of management focus for integrating SDGs were strategic and operational focuses. SDGs enhance the existing strategic position established by the sustainability efforts of the companies. Even though strategic and operational management focuses were highlighted for integrating SDGs, the elements of sustainability were present across all the management levels (normative, strategic and operational), emphasizing that these focuses should interrelate to effectively integrate SDGs. Further analysis revealed that all three underlying rationales – ethical, contextual and economic – influence managers to integrate SDGs across different management focuses.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first few to contribute to the handful of studies holistically looking at the drivers and management approaches to engaging with SDGs from the perspective of a developing country. Furthermore, it extends the theoretical framework developed by Santos and Silva Bastos (2021) through the findings to show that all underlying rationales impact the integration of SDGs at different management focuses.
The consequences of expanded audit reports for small and risky companies
Authors: Gutierrez Elizabeth , Minutti‐Meza Miguel , Tatum Kay W. , Vulcheva Maria
Published: January 2025

The United Kingdom mandated expanded audit reports in two waves, starting in 2013 and 2017, respectively. Prior studies of the first wave, which included large and highly regulated companies, concluded that expanded reports have limited incremental value. We focus on the second wave, which included companies listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM). The AIM is characterized by emerging companies that are smaller, riskier, and subject to lighter regulatory requirements and to private monitoring. We examine whether investors and other stakeholders benefit from expanded reports in this setting. We document that AIM companies have shorter expanded reports and fewer key audit matters. Next, we demonstrate that these reports have negligible incremental information value for investors or consequences for the quality and cost of audits. Finally, although we find that some variations in the expanded reports' content are associated with investor reactions to the annual report and with audit fees, variations in external monitoring and company size do not play an incremental role. By focusing on a set of companies with weaker information environments, our findings help to extend the conclusions from prior studies about the limited incremental value of expanded reports.
Dosing optimisation of intravenous lidocaine in patients with class 1–3 obesity by population pharmacokinetic analysis
Authors: Tognolini Angela R. , Liu Xin , Pandey Saurabh , Roberts Jason A. , Wallis Steven C. , Jackson Dwane , Eley Victoria A.
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Evidence to support intra‐operative lidocaine infusion regimens in patients with obesity is lacking, risking underdosing or toxicity. We aimed to measure the plasma concentrations of lidocaine and its active metabolites to develop a pharmacokinetic model and optimised dosing regimen in patients with obesity.

Methods

A standardised weight‐based intravenous lidocaine regimen was administered to patients with a BMI ≥ 30 kg.m‐2 undergoing elective laparoscopic abdominal surgery. Using lean body weight, a 1.5 mg.kg‐1 loading dose over 10 min and infusion of 1.5 mg.kg‐1.h‐1 was administered intra‐operatively. Arterial blood was sampled during and after the infusion. The total and unbound plasma concentrations of lidocaine, monoethylglycinexylidide and glycinexylidide were measured using liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry. Monolix was used for population pharmacokinetic analysis. Dosing simulations were performed using Simulx to develop a regimen that best targeted a therapeutic plasma concentration between 2.5 and 5 μg.ml‐1.

Results

Thirty patients provided 221 plasma samples (median (IQR [range]) age 51 (44–61 [32–76]) y and 21 female). Median (IQR [range]) total body weight was 107.0 (91.8–132.5 [80.0–189.0]) kg and BMI was 37.7 (33.6–46.5 [30.2–58.4]) kg.m‐2. Using total and unbound plasma concentrations of lidocaine, monoethylglycinexylidide and glycinexylidide, a four‐compartment model was developed. Unbound lidocaine volume of distribution was 2.1 l.kg‐1 and clearance 1.7 l.kg‐1.h‐1. Simulations showed that doses used currently had a low probability of target attainment of 0%. A loading dose of 2 mg.kg‐1 over 20 min followed by an infusion of 3 mg.kg‐1.h‐1 based on lean body weight improved probability of target attainment to 18.6%. The infusion should be reduced to 2 mg.kg‐1.h‐1 after 80 min.

Discussion

Our simulated dosing regimen achieved therapeutic concentrations more successfully in patients with obesity. Further studies should evaluate the clinical safety and efficacy of this dosing regimen.
Marginal response of non‐structural carbohydrates and increased biomass in a dominant shrub (Dasiphora fruticosa) to water table decline in a minerotrophic peatland
Authors: Ge L. M. , Li T. , Zhai Z. F. , He P. , Zhao R. T. , Bu Z. J. , Wang S. Z. , Peng C. H. , Song H. X. , Wang M.
Published: January 2025

Assessing how dominant peatland species, such as Dasiphora fruticosa, adapt to water table decline is crucial to advance understanding of their growth and survival strategies. Currently, most studies have primarily focused on their growth and biomass, with limited knowledge on the response of non‐structural carbohydrates (NSCs) and physiological adaptations of these woody plants under long‐term drainage.

This study assessed the response of photosynthesis and transpiration rates, biomass, and NSC concentrations (including soluble sugars and starch) in the leaves, stems, and roots of D. fruticosa to long‐term drainage in a minerotrophic peatland. The aim was to elucidate the plant response and adaptation mechanisms to water table decline.

Dasiphora fruticosa effectively regulated carbon (C) demand and supply by significantly enhancing photosynthesis, transpiration, and biomass accumulation, thereby maintaining stable C storage as the water table declined. There was a notable reduction in soluble sugar concentration in leaves with increasing water table decline, while starch concentrations in all three organs remained relatively constant. Although the concentration of soluble sugars in leaves was consistently higher than that in roots and stems, the relative proportion of soluble sugars and starch gradually decreased in leaves and increased in roots and stems with water table decline.

Our findings reveal that D. fruticosa reduces NSC concentrations in leaves while increasing biomass to adapt to water table decline. This acclimation might significantly impact C dynamics in peatlands. Understanding these mechanisms is vital for predicting the dynamics of C sequestration and emission in peatland ecosystems under changing environmental conditions.
Internal chemical potential in mixed covalent-ionic photosensitive systems
Authors: Kot Małgorzata , Henkel Karsten , Schmeißer Dieter
Published: January 2025

The internal chemical potential Γ of mixed covalent-ionic systems represents the potential differences between the covalent and the ionic intrinsic defect states located within the ionic gap. It is the key parameter to control the carrier densities, the stability regimes, and the photosensitive properties of materials. In this work, we describe first the quantitative analysis of the carrier densities in dependence on the internal potential Nπ(Γ) based on the common features of the electronic structure of mixed covalent-ionic materials. Subsequently, this method is applied on two mixed covalent-ionic materials, i.e., formamidinium lead triiodide and gallium oxide, as representatives of the respective families of perovskites (halides) and transparent conducting oxide thin films. Based on this analysis, the carrier densities as well as the photosensitivity mechanisms and the related specific properties of these materials in dependence on their internal chemical potential are discussed.
Surface conduction and reduced electrical resistivity in ultrathin noncrystalline NbP semimetal
Authors: Khan Asir Intisar , Ramdas Akash , Lindgren Emily , Kim Hyun-Mi , Won Byoungjun , Wu Xiangjin , Saraswat Krishna , Chen Ching-Tzu , Suzuki Yuri , da Jornada Felipe H. , Oh Il-Kwon , Pop Eric
Published: January 2025

The electrical resistivity of conventional metals such as copper is known to increase in thin films as a result of electron-surface scattering, thus limiting the performance of metals in nanoscale electronics. Here, we find an unusual reduction of resistivity with decreasing film thickness in niobium phosphide (NbP) semimetal deposited at relatively low temperatures of 400°C. In films thinner than 5 nanometers, the room temperature resistivity (~34 microhm centimeters for 1.5-nanometer-thick NbP) is up to six times lower than the resistivity of our bulk NbP films, and lower than conventional metals at similar thickness (typically about 100 microhm centimeters). The NbP films are not crystalline but display local nanocrystalline, short-range order within an amorphous matrix. Our analysis suggests that the lower effective resistivity is caused by conduction through surface channels, together with high surface carrier density and sufficiently good mobility as the film thickness is reduced. These results and the fundamental insights obtained here could enable ultrathin, low-resistivity wires for nanoelectronics beyond the limitations of conventional metals.
Exploring adaptive health technology assessment for evaluating 10 cancer interventions: insights and lessons from a pilot study in India
Authors: Ghosh Srobana , Pramesh C S , Sengar Manju , Ranganathan Priya , Ruiz Francis , Wadasadawala Tabassum , Nayak Prakash , Thorat Jayashree , Ashok Apurva , Singh Malkeet , Mehndiratta Abha , Nemzoff Cassandra , Shah Hiral Anil
Published: January 2025

Background

Health technology assessment (HTA) is a valuable tool for informing the efficient allocation of resources in healthcare. However, the resource-intensive nature of HTA can limit its application, especially in low-resource settings. Adapting HTA processes by assessing the available international evidence offers a pragmatic approach to provide evidence for decision-making where resources are constrained.

Objective

This study piloted an adaptive HTA (aHTA) method to evaluate 10 cancer interventions.

Methods

We arranged a joint collaboration with the International Decision Support Initiative and the National Cancer Grid in India to form a working group of clinicians and health economists. We conducted a rapid review of HTA reports and economic evaluations for ten prioritised common cancer interventions for breast, lung, and head and neck cancers. We extracted data on cost-effectiveness, conducted a price benchmarking analysis, estimated treatment costs and calculated the treatment’s share of the national insurance family allowance. Finally, we determined through qualitative appraisal whether the intervention would likely to be considered cost-effective in the Indian context.

Results

Of the 10 interventions assessed, 9 had sufficient evidence to make determinations on the likely cost-effectiveness. Three were potentially cost-effective (one after a price discount and another by using the generic price), while five were not, and one was only cost-effective in a subgroup. One intervention required a full HTA due to remaining uncertainty. Information on the likely cost-effectiveness, clinical and safety benefits, and treatment costs was consistently found through publicly available evidence. Assessment methods were modified slightly across the 10 interventions, including expanding the data extraction criteria, updating the calculations and broadening the evidence retrieval.

Conclusion

The aHTA method is a feasible resource-sensitive alternative to traditional HTA for informing decision-making in resource-constrained settings when ample international data on cost-effectiveness for a given topic is available.
Influence of non-pharmaceutical COVID-19 interventions on speed-related and alcohol-related traffic injuries in five cities of the province of Québec, Canada
Authors: Nazif-Munoz José Ignacio , Batomen Brice , Brown Thomas Gordon , Corrêa Matias Pereira Camila , Giroux Claude , Mamri Asma , Najafi Moghaddam Gilani Vahid , Ouimet Marie Claude , Paquet Cynthia , Turmel Émilie , Vanlaar Ward
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Understanding the impact of non-pharmaceutical COVID-19 interventions (NPIs) on road safety has become increasingly important to uncover the unintended consequences of the pandemic. This study explores how NPIs influenced alcohol-related and speed-related traffic collisions, including fatalities and serious injuries, in five cities of the province of Québec, Canada: Montréal, Québec, Laval, Longueuil and Sherbrooke.

Methods

We performed Poisson interrupted time-series analyses using daily traffic fatality and injury data from 2015 to 2022, to assess the change in rate expressed per 10 000 population. A Québec COVID-19 NPIs Index was applied, incorporating 58 interventions enacted from March 2020 to March 2022 in these cities. We accounted for weather conditions and seasonal patterns and divided the pandemic period into four semesters to better understand changes over time.

Results

The analysis revealed a nuanced interaction between NPIs and road safety. Alcohol-related injuries decreased during stringent NPIs, particularly in Montréal, Québec city and Longueuil. In contrast, the effects on speed-related incidents were mixed, with Montréal and Laval, showing increases and the other three cities displaying no meaningful changes across the four semesters.

Conclusions

These findings highlight the necessity for ad hoc road safety strategies that address specific patterns of alcohol consumption and speeding risks during future pandemic-related disruptions.
Hemodynamic evaluation of symptomatic and asymptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis using cerebral angiographic images: an exploratory study
Authors: Li Jiayan , Wang Lijun , Zhang Yongxin , Zhu Xuan , Zhang Xiaoxi , Hua Weilong , Chen Rundong , Liu Hanchen , Yin Wen , Xiang Jianping , Xing Pengfei , Li Zifu , Zhao Rui , Zhang Yongwei , Liu Jianmin , Dai Dongwei , Zhang Lei , Yang Pengfei
Published: January 2025

Background

Previous studies suggest that it may be inappropriate to determine treatment strategies solely based on the degree of stenosis for patients with intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS). In order to better risk stratify patients with ICAS, we developed a novel non-invasive fractional flow (FF) calculation technique based on intracranial angiography (Angio-FF) to assess the hemodynamics for patients with ICAS. This study aims to investigate the difference in FF between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with ICAS and its potential optimal threshold.

Methods

A total of 124 patients with ICAS with severe intracranial stenosis who had undergone cerebral angiography were recruited. According to the time of onset, the patients were divided into a symptomatic ICAS group (n=78) and an asymptomatic ICAS group (n=46). The Angio-FF of each group was collected and compared. Receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was performed to assess the discriminative ability of Angio-FF to predict hemodynamics for ICAS.

Results

Compared with the asymptomatic ICAS group, the symptomatic ICAS group had a significantly lower Angio-FF (0.75 (0.66–0.85) vs 0.85 (0.77–0.89), P<0.001). The optimal cut-off value of Angio-FF for distinguishing symptomatic ICAS from asymptomatic ICAS was 0.785 (sensitivity 71.74%, specificity 57.69%).

Conclusions

Patients with Angio-FF <0.7853 may be more prone to intracranial ischemic events. Angio-FF of 0.7853 can serve as a boundary for whether patients with ICAS exhibit clinical symptoms.
Baseline nutrition risk as measured by SCREEN-8 predicts self-reported 12-month healthcare service use of older adults 3 years later
Authors: Keller Heather H. , Trinca Vanessa
Published: January 2025

This study investigated whether nutrition risk, as measured by SCREEN-8 at baseline, was associated with self-reported healthcare service use in the past 12 months among community-dwelling older adults who were interviewed 3 years later. Data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging were used. SCREEN-8 assessed nutrition risk among community-dwelling persons ages 55+. Multivariable logistic regression determined if baseline SCREEN-8 score was associated with the following healthcare services reported to occur in the 12 months preceding the 3-year follow-up period: (i) overnight hospital admission ( n = 13 623), (ii) emergency room visit ( n = 13 614), (iii) contacting a family doctor ( n = 13 616), (iv) visiting dental professional ( n = 13 288), and (v) visiting a doctor due to an infection ( n = 13 171) after adjusting for demographic and health variables. Those with higher SCREEN-8 scores (lower nutrition risk) had significantly lower odds of reporting: (i) an overnight hospital admission (χ2 (27, 13 587) = 10.59,   p < 0.001); (ii) visiting a hospital emergency room (χ2 (27, 13 578) = 9.64, p < 0.001); and (iii) visiting a doctor due to an infection (χ2 (27, 13 135) = 10.32, p < 0.001) at 3-year follow-up. Less nutrition risk was significantly associated with higher odds of reporting visiting a dental professional (χ2 (27, 13 252) = 17.88, p < 0.001). Baseline nutrition risk was not significantly associated with visiting a family doctor at the 3-year follow-up. SCREEN-8 predicted future self-reported 12-month healthcare service use among older adults in expected directions.
Urban Air Mobility Research Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Sengupta Raja , Bulusu Vishwanath , Mballo Chams Eddine , Onat Emin Burak , Cao Shangqing (Albert)
Published: January 2025

This article reviews the literature on urban air mobility (UAM), examining both the research challenges it presents and the transformative opportunities that make these challenges worth addressing. While UAM has historical precedents, the current iteration is born of novel aircraft technology, primarily electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) and electric short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft. These advances raise new questions in aerodynamics, control, and integration with urban infrastructure. We explore several key research areas, including aircraft design, vertiport development, network planning, and air traffic management. We also address the scalability challenges in air traffic management for high-density UAM operations and the potential of autonomous and remotely piloted systems. If new aircraft are to birth a new urbanism, they will do so by integrating aircraft engineering and computational intelligence in control, systems, robotics, and human factors.
TNF/TNFR Superfamily Members in Costimulation of T Cell Responses—Revisited
Authors: Watts Tania H. , Yeung Karen K.M. , Yu Tianning , Lee Seungwoo , Eshraghisamani Razieh
Published: January 2025

Prosurvival tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily (TNFRSF) members on T cells, including 4-1BB, CD27, GITR, and OX40, support T cell accumulation during clonal expansion, contributing to T cell memory. During viral infection, tumor necrosis factor superfamily (TNFSF) members on inflammatory monocyte-derived antigen-presenting cells (APCs) provide a postpriming signal (signal 4) for T cell accumulation, particularly in the tissues. Patients with loss-of-function mutations in TNFR/TNFSF members reveal a critical role for 4-1BB and CD27 in CD8 T cell control of Epstein-Barr virus and other childhood infections and of OX40 in CD4 T cell responses. Here, on the 20th anniversary of a previous Annual Review of Immunology article about TNFRSF signaling in T cells, we discuss the effects of endogenous TNFRSF signals in T cells upon recognition of TNFSF members on APCs; the role of TNFRSF members, including TNFR2, on regulatory T cells; and recent advances in the incorporation of TNFRSF signaling in T cells into immunotherapeutic strategies for cancer.
Low-Concentration Electrolyte Design for Wide-Temperature Operation in Sodium Metal Batteries
Authors: Zhang Qipeng , Wang Xin , Li Hao , Qiao Rui
Published: January 2025

Sodium metal batteries (SMBs) are cost-effective and environmentally sustainable alternative to lithium batteries. However, at present, limitations such as poor compatibility, low coulombic efficiency (CE), and high electrolyte cost hinder their widespread application. Herein, we propose a non-flammable, low-concentration electrolyte composed of 0.3 M NaPF6 in propylene carbonate (PC), fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC), and 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl ether (TTE). This low-concentration electrolyte not only reduces cost but also delivers rapid ion diffusion and superior wetting properties. While the Na||FePO4 system with this electrolyte demonstrates slightly reduced performance at room temperature compared to standard-concentration formulations (S-PFT), it excels at both high (55 °C) and low (−20 °C) temperatures, showcasing its balanced performance. At 0.5 C (charge)/1 C (discharge), capacity retention reaches 92.8% at room temperature and 98.5% at elevated temperature, with CE values surpassing 99% and 99.63%, respectively, and significant performance sustained at −20 °C at 0.2 C. This electrolyte development thus offers a well-rounded, economically viable path to high-performance SMBs for diverse environmental applications.
Understanding the Effects of Intermittent Currents in Liquid Alkaline Water Electrolysis
Authors: Marquez Raul A.
Published: January 2025

2024 ECS Edward G. Weston Research Fellowship – Summary Report
Survivin as a therapeutic target for neuroendocrine neoplasms
Authors: Hane Yuma , Tsuchikawa Takahiro , Nakamura Toru , Hatanaka Kanako C. , Sasaki Katsunori , Kawai Noriko , Takeuchi Shintaro , Tanaka Kimitaka , Nakanishi Yoshitsugu , Asano Toshimichi , Noji Takehiro , Shichinohe Toshiaki , Hatanaka Yutaka , Hirohshi Yoshihiko , Torigoe Toshihiko , Hirano Satoshi
Published: January 2025

Introduction: Although neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) have a good prognosis, distant metastasis remains a crucial prognostic factor. Survivin, a tumor-associated antigen, is overexpressed in several solid tumors, indicating poor prognosis. We aimed to evaluate the clinical significance and role of survivin as a therapeutic target for NEN. Methods: We assessed the cytotoxicity of Survivin-2B (a splicing variant of Survivin) 80-88 specific CTL clone with HLA-A24 restriction against NEN cell lines using intracellular staining for interferon γ and assessed the frequency of Survivin-2B 80-88 CTL precursors in nine HLA-A24 positive patients with NEN using tetramer staining and compared it before and after resection. Finally, we evaluated the association between survivin expression and prognosis in 74 patients with pancreatic NEN using immunohistochemistry. Results: Survivin-2B 80-88 CTL clone showed high cytotoxicity against QGP-1 (HLA-A24 positive) cocultured with the Survivin-2B 80-88 peptide. Only three patients were positive for tetramer staining; two showed decreased Survivin-2B 80-88 CTL precursor following resection. The nuclear survivin-low group had a significantly better prognosis than the nuclear survivin-high group. Conclusion: Survivin in NEN is antigenic and may induce cellular immunity via the Survivin-2B CTL precursor. Survivin-targeting immunotherapy can be used to treat NEN with highly expressed Survivin-2B.