bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inherent Behavior of Electrode Materials of Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Safaeipour Sepideh , Shahpouri Elham , Kalantarian Mohammad Mahdi , Mustarelli Piercarlo
Published: May 2024

For independency from the fossil fuels and to save environment, we need to move toward the green energies, which requires better energy storage devices, especially for usage in electric vehicles. Li‐ion and beyond‐lithium insertion batteries are promising to this aim. However, they suffer from some inherent limitations which must be understood to allow their development and pave the way to find suitable energy storage alternatives. It is found that each positive or negative electrode material (cathode or anode) of the intercalation batteries has its own behavioral (charge‐discharge) properties. The modification of preparation parameters (composition, loading density, porosity, particle size, etc.) may improve some aspects of the electrode performance, but cannot change the intrinsic property of the electrode itself. Accordingly, these properties are called as the “inherent behavior characteristics” of the active material. It is concluded that the behavior of a specific electrode substance, even following different preparation routes, depends only on diffusion mechanisms. This work shows that the inherent electrode properties can be visualized by representation of current density vs. capacity.
Effect of Sustainable and Confined Media on the Photoinduced [6π]‐Electrocyclization Reaction of Diphenyl and N‐Methyldiphenylamines.
Authors: Salum María L. , Protti Stefano , Mella Mariella , Bonesi Sergio M.
Published: May 2024

A systematic investigation of the photoinduced [6π]‐electrocyclization reaction of diphenylamine and N‐methyldiphenylamine has been carried out under steady‐state and time‐resolved conditions in homogeneous (cyclohexane, acetonitrile and methanol) and micellar solutions (sodium dodecyl sulfate ‐SDS, cetyltrimethylammonium chloride‐CTAC and polyethylene glycol monododecyl ether‐Brij P35). The photolysis of such compounds in both homogeneous and micro‐heterogeneous media afforded the corresponding carbazoles in almost quantitative yield under oxidative conditions. Furthermore, the relative rate of formation of the photoproducts increases when moving from homogeneous media to micellar solution, due to the environmental confined and hydrophobic micellar core as highlighted by 1D and 2D NMR (NOESY and DOSY) spectroscopic analyses.
Experimental verification of isolation power circuit for transformer‐less AC fed electric vehicles
Authors: Fukuda Tenko , Funaki Tsuyoshi
Published: May 2024

This study aimed to develop a power supply system without a traction transformer for weight reduction and downsizing. Transformer‐less power supply is expected to realize step‐down, rectification, isolation, and motor drive using a high‐voltage silicon carbide power device. The primary challenge of this study was developing a novel circuit that isolates the motor drive circuit from the AC line without using the traction transformer. Accordingly, we devised a flying capacitor circuit to solve the existing problems and achieve capacitive isolation. Subsequently, we devised a nesting capacitor as a short‐circuit prevention measure. In this study, the operation of the isolated circuit was verified by numerical simulation, complemented by experimental verification of the proposed circuit.
Natural history and clinical outcomes of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy from thin filament mutations
Authors: Saul Tatiana , Bui Quan M. , Argiro Alessia , Keyt Lucas , Olivotto Iacopo , Adler Eric
Published: May 2024

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) due to thick filament variants is more common; however, HCM due to thin filament variants (HCM‐Thin) may be associated with a more malignant phenotype with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. The aim of this study was to review all the published cases of HCM‐Thin to better understand the natural history and clinical outcomes of this disease. A literature review of HCM‐Thin identified 21 studies with a total of 177 patients that were suitable for analysis. There were three outcomes of interest, which included a heart failure composite, a ventricular arrhythmia composite and a heart failure and arrhythmia composite outcome. Kaplan–Meier (KM) survival analyses for freedom from each of the abovementioned composite outcomes were completed for the entire cohort and stratified by age of onset and sarcomeric variant. The heart failure composite occurred in 24 (13.6%) patients, the ventricular arrhythmia composite occurred in 30 patients (16.9%) and the combined heart failure and arrhythmia composite occurred in 50 patients (28.2%). In regard to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), the majority of patients were preserved (LVEF > 50%) compared with mildly reduced (LVEF 41%–50%) and reduced (LVEF ≤ 40%) (respectively 26.6% vs. 0.6% vs. 3.4%). The median maximal left ventricular wall thickness (LVWT) was 19.0 mm [interquartile range (IQR) 5.3]. Only 10.7% of the cohort had evidence of left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction. Those with paediatric‐onset HCM had earlier onset and were at higher risk for each endpoint than their adult counterparts. When stratified by genetic variant, patients with TNNI3 and TPM1 were at a higher risk of the heart failure composite endpoint and the combined heart failure and arrhythmia composite endpoint in comparison with those with the other genetic variants. HCM‐Thin is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, with a high arrhythmia burden despite low rates of cardiac obstruction and mild hypertrophy. The paediatric onset of disease and certain sarcomeric variants appear to be associated with a worse prognosis than their adult‐onset and other sarcomeric variant counterparts. HCM‐Thin seems to have a distinct phenotype, which may require a different management approach.
Pressure‐Induced Encapsulation of Cs+ Cations within an 18‐Crown‐6 Cavity: Insights from X‐ray Diffraction, Raman Spectroscopy, and DFT Calculations
Authors: Rusanov Eduard B. , Wörle Michael D. , Kovalenko Maksym V. , Domasevitch Kostiantyn V. , Rusanova Julia A.
Published: May 2024

This study utilizes single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction in a diamond anvil cell (DAC) to explore the structural response of [Cs(18‐Crown‐6)][SbCl6] under high pressure (HP). Notably, the pressure drives large Cs atoms closer to the center of the crown ether cavity, ultimately requiring pressures of 3 GPa for its complete encapsulation. Remarkably, the absence of short contacts in the crystal classifies the material as a “loose crystal” offering a unique model for understanding compression mechanisms. The crystal exhibits highly anisotropic compression behavior with an impressive volume reduction and non‐linear pressure – unit‐cell parameters relationships facilitated by the absence of short CH⋅⋅⋅Cl contacts up to 0.9 GPa. Beyond this pressure, steric repulsion due to shortening H⋅⋅⋅Cl and H⋅⋅⋅H interactions hinders further effective compression, so pressure dependence on unit cell parameters and volume becomes more linear. The behavior of [Cs(18‐Crown‐6)][SbCl6] at different conditions was studied using Raman spectroscopy and supplemented by DFT calculations.
Evaluation of tauroursodeoxycholic acid in liver cells’ cultures by MEKC: Initial hints to comprehend its role in diabetes mellitus of obese individuals
Authors: Simões Bruna Eduarda Santos , Muniz Mariana Roberta Rodrigues , Araujo Thiago dosReis , Magalhães Carneiro Everardo , Simionato Ana Valéria Colnaghi
Published: May 2024

Genetic factors, diet, lifestyle, and other factors lead to various complications in the body, such as obesity and other chronic diseases. The inflammatory state caused by excessive accumulation of body fat affects the pathways related to the control of glycemic homeostasis, leading to a high demand for insulin, to subsequent failure of stressed β cells, and development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The study of new endocrine signalers, such as bile acids (BAs), becomes necessary as it allows the development of alternatives for T2DM treatment. In this work, a methodology was developed to quantify tauroursodeoxycholic BA (TUDCA) in liver cells of the HepG2 strain treated in hyperlipidic medium. This BA helps to improve insulin clearance by increasing the expression of the insulin‐degrading enzyme, restoring sensitivity to this hormone, and making it viable for treating T2DM. Herein, a targeted metabolomic method for TUDCA determination in extracellular medium of hepatocyte matrices by micellar electrokinetic chromatography‐UV was optimized, validated, and applied. The optimized background electrolyte was composed of 40 mmol/L sodium cholate and 30 mmol/L sodium tetraborate at pH 9.0. The following figures of merit were evaluated: linearity, limit of quantification, limit of detection, accuracy, and precision. Data obtained with the validated electrophoretic method showed a self‐stimulation of TUDCA production in media supplemented only with BA. On the other hand, TUDCA concentration was reduced in the hyperlipidic medium. This suggests that, in these media, the effect of TUDCA is reduced, such as self‐stimulated production and consequent regulation of glycemic homeostasis. Therefore, the results reinforce the need for investigating TUDCA as a potential T2DM biomarker as well as its use to treat several comorbidities, such as obesity and diabetes mellitus.
Succession changes of microbial community for inferring the time since deposition of saliva
Authors: Jin Xiaoye , Tian Shunyi , Zhang Hongling , Ren Zheng , Wang Qiyan , Liu Yubo , Zheng Hao , Yang Meiqing , Huang Jiang
Published: May 2024

Saliva is a common biological examination material at crime scenes and has high application value in forensic case investigations. It can reflect the suspect's time of crime at the scene and provide evidence of the suspect's criminal facts. Even though many researchers have proposed their experimental protocols for estimating the time since deposition (TsD) of saliva, there is still a relative lack of research on the use of microorganisms to estimate TsD. In the current study, the succession change of microbial community in saliva with different TsD values was explored to discern the microbial markers related to TsD of saliva. We gathered saliva samples from six unrelated healthy Han individuals living in Guizhou, China and exposed these samples to indoor conditions at six time points (0, 1, 3, 7, 15, and 28 days). Temporal changes of microbial compositions in these samples were investigated by 16S rRNA sequencing (V3–V4 regions). By assessing temporal variation patterns of microbial abundance at the genus level, four bacteria (Brucella, Prevotella, Pseudomonas, and Fusobacterium) were observed to show good time dependence in these samples. In addition, the hierarchical clustering and principal co‐ordinates analysis results revealed that these saliva samples could be classified into t‐short (≤7 days) and t‐long (>7 days) groups. In the end, the random forest model was developed to predict the TsD of these samples. For the model, the root mean square error, R2, and mean absolute error between predicted and actual TsD values were 1.5213, 0.9851, and 1.1969, respectively. To sum up, we identified TsD‐related microbial markers in saliva samples, which could be viewed as valuable markers for inferring the TsD of saliva.
Economic policy uncertainty and credit risk in microfinance: A cross‐country analysis
Authors: Xie Mufang
Published: May 2024

Using a cross‐country data set of 670 microfinance institutions (MFIs) in nine countries from 1999 to 2018, this study examines the impact of economic policy uncertainty (EPU) on the credit risk of MFIs. The empirical results show that EPU significantly increases the credit risk of MFIs. Our findings are valid in a series of robustness checks. The moderating effects reveal that group lending can mitigate the impact of EPU on the credit risk of MFIs and that EPU has a weaker impact on nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and cooperatives and credit unions (Coop/CUs). We explore potential channels through which credit risk is influenced by EPU from the perspectives of earnings volatility and cost. We find that EPU increases the credit risk of MFIs not only by reducing profitability and leverage levels and increasing earnings volatility but also by raising financing costs.
“You go in heavy and you come out light”: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of reflective practice experiences in an Irish infant mental health setting
Authors: Tobin Mary , O'Sullivan Nicola , Rogers Elaine
Published: May 2024

Reflective practice (RP) is a core component of infant mental health (IMH); however, there is limited published empirical research on IMH practitioner experiences of RP. This two‐stage, qualitative, multimodal study explored Irish IMH practitioners’ experiences of RP spaces. Visual and verbal data from seven individual interviews and a participatory arts‐based focus group with seven participants (eight participants in total, all white Irish females) were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Five group experiential themes (Just get on with it; What should I be bringing to this space?; Who are my “hands”?; Taking a step back; and You go in heavy and you come out light) were generated by the analysis. These were used to construct a developmental and experiential model of learning in an RP space. The themes portray how a practitioner's RP experience can change over time: influenced by prior experiences and practice development stage, practitioners move from initial uncertainty, anxiety, and perceived pressure in a busy workload to developing the trust and ability to be vulnerable in an RP space. Through relationships (supervisor/facilitator or group members), a shared safe space can be created, which addresses practitioners’ needs for containment, allowing for experiential learning through a process of transformational moments.
News or animal spirits? Consumer confidence and economic activity: Redux
Authors: Choi Sangyup , Jeong Jaehun , Park Dohyeon , Yoo Donghoon
Published: May 2024

Barsky and Sims (2012, AER) demonstrated, via indirect inference, that confidence innovations can be viewed as noisy signals about medium‐term economic growth. They highlighted that the connection between confidence and subsequent activity, such as consumption and output, is primarily driven by news shocks about the future. We expand upon their research by incorporating the Great Recession and ZLB episodes, during which animal spirits have a greater potential to influence economic activity. Nevertheless, we confirm the main finding of Barsky and Sims (2012) that this relationship is predominantly driven by news about the future rather than animal spirits.
Ononin: A comprehensive review of anticancer potential of natural isoflavone glycoside
Authors: Sharma Ujjawal , Sharma Bunty , Mishra Ambrish , Sahu Anidrisha , Mathkor Darin M. , Haque Shafiul , Raina Deepika , Ramniwas Seema , Gupta Madhu , Tuli Hardeep S.
Published: May 2024

Cancer is one of the major causes of death worldwide, with more than 10 million deaths annually. Despite tremendous advances in the health sciences, cancer continues to be a substantial global contributor to mortality. The current treatment methods demand a paradigm shift that not only improves therapeutic efficacy but also minimizes the side effects of conventional medications. Recently, an increased interest in the potential of natural bioactive compounds in the treatment of several types of cancer has been observed. Ononin, also referred to as formononetin‐7‐O‐β‐d‐glucoside, is a natural isoflavone glycoside, derived from the roots, stems, and rhizomes of various plants. It exhibits a variety of pharmacological effects, including Antiangiogenic, anti‐inflammatory, antiproliferative, proapoptotic, and antimetastatic activities. The current review presents a thorough overview of sources, chemistry, pharmacokinetics, and the role of ononin in affecting various mechanisms involved in cancer. The review also discusses potential synergistic interactions with other compounds and therapies. The combined synergistic effect of ononin with other compounds increased the efficacy of treatment methods. Finally, the safety studies, comprising both in vitro and in vivo assessments of ononin's anticancer activities, are described.
Impact of varying maternal dietary folate intake on cerebellar cortex histomorphology and cell density in offspring rats
Authors: Mwachaka Philip Maseghe , Gichangi Peter , Abdelmalek Adel , Odula Paul , Ogeng'o Julius
Published: May 2024

The cerebellum has a long, protracted developmental period that spans from the embryonic to postnatal periods; as a result, it is more sensitive to intrauterine and postnatal insults like nutritional deficiencies. Folate is crucial for foetal and early postnatal brain development; however, its effects on cerebellar growth and development are unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of maternal folate intake on the histomorphology and cell density of the developing cerebellum. Twelve adult female rats (rattus norvegicus) were randomly assigned to one of four premixed diet groups: standard (2 mg/kg), folate‐deficient (0 mg/kg), folate‐supplemented (8 mg/kg) or folate supra‐supplemented (40 mg/kg). The rats started their diets 14 days before mating and consumed them throughout pregnancy and lactation. On postnatal days 1, 7, 21 and 35, five pups from each group were sacrificed, and their brains were processed for light microscopic analysis. Histomorphology and cell density of the external granule, molecular, Purkinje and internal granule layers were obtained. The folate‐deficient diet group had smaller, dysmorphic cells and significantly lower densities of external granule, molecular, Purkinje and internal granule cells. Although the folate‐enriched groups had greater cell densities than the controls, the folate‐supplemented group had considerably higher cell densities than the supra‐supplemented group. The folate supra‐supplemented group had ectopic Purkinje cells in the internal granule cell layer. These findings imply that a folate‐deficient diet impairs cellular growth and reduces cell density in the cerebellar cortex. On the other hand, folate supplementation increases cell densities, but there appears to be an optimal dose of supplementation since excessive folate levels may be detrimental.
Exploring free amino acid profiles in Crimean‐Congo hemorrhagic fever patients: Implications for disease progression
Authors: Büyüktuna Seyit Ali , Yerlitaş Serra İlayda , Zararsız Gözde Ertük , Doğan Kübra , Kablan Demet , Bağcı Gökhan , Özer Selda , Baysal Cihad , Çakır Yasemin , Cephe Ahu , Koçhan Necla , Zararız Gökmen , Doğan Halef Okan
Published: May 2024

This study investigated the intricate interplay between Crimean‐Congo hemorrhagic fever virus infection and alterations in amino acid metabolism. The primary aim is to elucidate the impact of Crimean‐Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) on specific amino acid concentrations and identify potential metabolic markers associated with viral infection. One hundred ninety individuals participated in this study, comprising 115 CCHF patients, 30 CCHF negative patients, and 45 healthy controls. Liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry techniques were employed to quantify amino acid concentrations. The amino acid metabolic profiles in CCHF patients exhibit substantial distinctions from those in the control group. Patients highlight distinct metabolic reprogramming, notably characterized by arginine, histidine, taurine, glutamic acid, and glutamine metabolism shifts. These changes have been associated with the underlying molecular mechanisms of the disease. Exploring novel therapeutic and diagnostic strategies addressing specific amino acids may offer potential means to mitigate the severity of the disease.
Rotavirus trends and distribution of genotypes before and during COVID‐19 pandemic era: Bangladesh, 2017–2021
Authors: Haque Warda , Talha Muhammad , Rahman Sezanur , Hasan Mehedi , Alam Shaheen , Hassan Zahid , Moni Sayra , Khan Sadia H. , Hossain Mohammad E. , Faruque Abu S. G. , Hasan S. M. Tafsir , Khan Soroar H. , Ahmed Tahmeed , Zaman Khalequz , Rahman Mustafizur
Published: May 2024

Rotavirus gastroenteritis is accountable for an estimated 128 500 deaths among children younger than 5 years worldwide, and the majority occur in low‐income countries. Although the clinical trials of rotavirus vaccines in Bangladesh revealed a significant reduction of severe rotavirus disease by around 50%, the vaccines are not yet included in the routine immunization program. The present study was designed to provide data on rotavirus diarrhea with clinical profiles and genotypes before (2017–2019) and during the COVID‐19 pandemic period (2020–2021). Fecal samples were collected from 2% of the diarrheal patients at icddr,b Dhaka hospital of all ages between January 2017 and December 2021 and were tested for VP6 rotavirus antigen using ELISA. The clinical manifestations such as fever, duration of diarrhea and hospitalization, number of stools, and dehydration and so on were collected from the surveillance database (n = 3127). Of the positive samples, 10% were randomly selected for genotyping using Sanger sequencing method. A total of 12 705 fecal samples were screened for rotavirus A antigen by enzyme immunoassay. Overall, 3369 (27%) were rotavirus antigen‐positive, of whom children <2 years had the highest prevalence (88.6%). The risk of rotavirus A infection was 4.2 times higher in winter than in summer. Overall, G3P[8] was the most prominent genotype (45.3%), followed by G1P[8] (32.1%), G9P[8] (6.8%), and G2P[4] (6.1%). The other unusual combinations, such as G1P[4], G1P[6], G2P[6], G3P[4], G3P[6], and G9P[6], were also present. Genetic analysis on Bangladeshi strains revealed that the selection pressure (dN/dS) was estimated as <1. The number of hospital visits showed a 37% drop during the COVID‐19 pandemic relative to the years before the pandemic. Conversely, there was a notable increase in the rate of rotavirus positivity during the pandemic (34%, p < 0.00) compared to the period before COVID‐19 (23%). Among the various clinical symptoms, only the occurrence of watery stool significantly increased during the pandemic. The G2P[4] strain showed a sudden rise (19%) in 2020, which then declined in 2021. In the same year, G1P[8] was more prevalent than G3P[8] (40% vs. 38%, respectively). The remaining genotypes were negligible and did not exhibit much fluctuation. This study reveals that the rotavirus burden remained high during the COVID‐19 prepandemic and pandemic in Bangladesh. Considering the lack of antigenic variations between the circulating and vaccine‐targeted strains, integrating the vaccine into the national immunization program could reduce the prevalence of the disease, the number of hospitalizations, and the severity of cases.
Unveiling the role of KSHV‐infected human mesenchymal stem cells in Kaposi's sarcoma initiation
Authors: Lacunza Ezequiel , Ahuja Anuj , Coso Omar A. , Abba Martin , Ramos Juan Carlos , Cesarman Ethel , Mesri Enrique A. , Naipauer Julian
Published: May 2024

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) may derive from Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV)‐infected human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) that migrate to sites characterized by inflammation and angiogenesis, promoting the initiation of KS. By analyzing the RNA sequences of KSHV‐infected primary hMSCs, we have identified specific cell subpopulations, mechanisms, and conditions involved in the initial stages of KSHV‐induced transformation and reprogramming of hMSCs into KS progenitor cells. Under proangiogenic environmental conditions, KSHV can reprogram hMSCs to exhibit gene expression profiles more similar to KS tumors, activating cell cycle progression, cytokine signaling pathways, endothelial differentiation, and upregulating KSHV oncogenes indicating the involvement of KSHV infection in inducing the mesenchymal‐to‐endothelial (MEndT) transition of hMSCs. This finding underscores the significance of this condition in facilitating KSHV‐induced proliferation and reprogramming of hMSCs towards MEndT and closer to KS gene expression profiles, providing further evidence of these cell subpopulations as precursors of KS cells that thrive in a proangiogenic environment.
A pharmacokinetic model for hyperpolarized 13C‐pyruvate MRI when using metabolite‐specific bSSFP sequences
Authors: Sahin Sule , Garnæs Marie Frederikke , Bennett Anna , Dwork Nicholas , Tang Shuyu , Liu Xiaoxi , Vaidya Manushka , Wang Zhen Jane , Larson Peder E. Z.
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Metabolite‐specific balanced SSFP (MS‐bSSFP) sequences are increasingly used in hyperpolarized [1‐13C]Pyruvate (HP 13C) MRI studies as they improve SNR by refocusing the magnetization each TR. Currently, pharmacokinetic models used to fit conversion rate constants, kPL and kPB, and rate constant maps do not account for differences in the signal evolution of MS‐bSSFP acquisitions.

Methods

In this work, a flexible MS‐bSSFP model was built that can be used to fit conversion rate constants for these experiments. The model was validated in vivo using paired animal (healthy rat kidneys n = 8, transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate n = 3) and human renal cell carcinoma (n = 3) datasets. Gradient echo (GRE) acquisitions were used with a previous GRE model to compare to the results of the proposed GRE‐bSSFP model.

Results

Within simulations, the proposed GRE‐bSSFP model fits the simulated data well, whereas a GRE model shows bias because of model mismatch. For the in vivo datasets, the estimated conversion rate constants using the proposed GRE‐bSSFP model are consistent with a previous GRE model. Jointly fitting the lactate T2 with kPL resulted in less precise kPL estimates.

Conclusion

The proposed GRE‐bSSFP model provides a method to estimate conversion rate constants, kPL and kPB, for MS‐bSSFP HP 13C experiments. This model may also be modified and used for other applications, for example, estimating rate constants with other hyperpolarized reagents or multi‐echo bSSFP.
Investigating the emigration intention of health care workers: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Badru Oluwaseun Abdulganiyu , Alabi Tunde Adeyemo , Okerinde Samuel Sijibomi , Kabir Muhammad Auwal , Abdulrazaq Aisha , Adeagbo Oluwafemi Atanda , Badru Fatai Adesina
Published: May 2024

Aims

To (1) explore the intramigration experience of HCWs within Nigeria, (2) explore the migration intention of health care workers (HCWs) in Nigeria and (3) identify the predictors of migration intention among HCWs in Nigeria.

Design

Cross‐sectional study.

Methods

The online survey was used to collect data from 513 HCWs in Nigeria between May and June 2023. Crude and adjusted logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with emigration intention. Analyses were performed on SPSS version 26 at a 95% confidence interval.

Results

The study found that 34.4% had intramigration experience, and the rate of intention to emigrate to work in another country was 80.1%. The United Kingdom was the most preferred destination (109 HCWs), followed by Canada (92 HCWs) and the United States (82 HCWs). At the multivariate level, emigration intention was associated with the experience of burnout and duration of practice as a HCW. Nurses had higher emigration intentions than medical doctors.

Conclusions

Many HCWs in Nigeria appear to have emigration intent, and nurses are more likely to be willing to migrate than doctors. The Nigerian government may want to explore strategies to reverse the emigration intent of the HCWs in Nigeria.
Exploring New Pipelines to Fill the Nursing Shortage
Authors: Elfman Lois
Published: May 2024

A veteran nursing educator, Dr. Patty Knecht now uses her position in the corporate world to address the imminent nursing shortage. In an article published at The Hill last fall, she wrote that by 2025 the United States will have a six‐figure shortfall in the number of nurses needed for direct patient care. With approximately 100,000 nurses having left the profession due to pandemic burnout, a significant influx of new nurses entering the healthcare workforce is needed.
Hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma of the base of tongue: A case report with distant metastasis
Authors: Hiraga Chiho , Ishikawa Saki , Hashimoto Kazuhiko , Suzuki Taiki , Sato Kazumichi , Nomura Takeshi
Published: May 2024

Background

Hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma (HCCC) is a rare, typically low‐grade malignant salivary gland tumor. We present a case of HCCC with multiple metastasis.

Case Presentation

The patient was a 34‐year‐old woman with a tumor at the base of tongue. HCCC was diagnosed by FISH analysis for EWSR1‐ATF1 rearrangement after surgery. Systematic metastasis was identified at a three‐year follow‐up. Signs of Rouviere lymph metastasis and distant metastases (i.e., pleura, mediastinum, and gluteus maximus) were identified. The patient died because her condition deteriorated with multiple metastases.

Conclusion

The potential for aggressive HCCC should be considered while offering treatment.
Hesperidin reduces systolic blood pressure in diabetic patients and has no effect on blood pressure in healthy individuals: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Gao Haifeng , Chen Fang , Wang Shuo
Published: May 2024

In recent years, there have been a number of studies where hesperidin was administered to modify arterial blood pressure, but the conclusions of each study are contradictory. In order to investigate the effect of hesperidin on blood pressure, we searched the CNKI, Wanfang Database, the VIP database, Sinomed database, Pubmed, Embase and The Cochrane Library databases, and searched the literature on hesperidin and blood pressure published in Chinese and English journals, mainly focusing on patients' systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. The search time frame was from the inception of the databases until December 2023. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used to assess the overall quality and used Cohen's kappa coefficient (κ) to measure agreement. We did preliminary screening of the retrieved literature through Notexpress, 14 articles with a total of 656 patients were included. Cochrance data conversion tool was used for data conversion, and RevMan 5.3 was used for meta‐analysis, and finally Stata was used to make the Egger's test for the included study. The results of total population blood pressure showed that hesperidin had no antihypertensive effect on the population, but the conclusions changed when the population was divided into groups. The results of different populations showed that hesperidin had no effect on systolic blood pressure (weighted mean difference [WMD] = −0.50, 95% CI: −3.25 ~ 2.26, Z = 0.35, p = 0.72) and diastolic blood pressure (WMD = −0.51, 95% CI: −2.53 ~ 1.51, Z = 0.50, p = 0.62) in healthy individuals. However, hesperidin reduced systolic blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes (WMD = −4.32, 95% CI: − 7.77 ~ − 0.87, Z = 2.45, p = 0.01), and had a tendency to reduce diastolic blood pressure in diabetic patients (WMD = −3.72, 95% CI: −7.63 ~ 0.18, Z = 1.87, p = 0.06). The results in patients with type 2 diabetes needed to be further supported by future research focusing on individuals with diabetes.
Synergetic Electrostatic and Steric Effects in α‐FAPbI3 Single Crystals For X‐Ray Detection and Imaging
Authors: Jiang Wei , Li Haibin , Liu Dan , Ren Jiwei , Zhao Yingying , Wu Jiarui , Chen Jun , Zhou Linsen , Wang Feng , Zhao Yiying
Published: May 2024

It is still challenging to stabilize α‐FAPbI3 perovskite for high performance optoelectrical devices. Herein, a novel strategy is proposed utilizing the synergetic electrostatic and steric effect to stabilize the α‐FAPbI3 phase and suppress the ion migration. Dimethylamine (DMA+) cations are chosen as the dopant to fabricate FA0.96DMA0.04PbI3 single crystals (SCs). DFT calculations reveal that DMA+ cations can improve the stability of α‐FAPbI3 phase in both thermodynamics (lower Gibbs free energy) and kinetics (higher defect formation and migration energy). The resulting SCs exhibit an environmental stability over 100 days and an extraordinary low dark current drift of 3.7 × 10−7 nA cm−1 s−1 V−1, comparable to 2D perovskite SCs. The X‐ray detectors have also achieved the‐state‐of‐the‐art performance in X‐ray detection and imaging. This work demonstrates the significance of electrostatic and steric effects in improving the phase and operational stability of perovskites.
Facilitator Meg Bolger says we can all hone this skill
Authors: May Rachel
Published: May 2024

Facilitator Meg Bolger helps people move through difficult conversations and has been training professional facilitators for the past 10 years. She's in her element in moments most of us might try to avoid, but notes that we are likely doing this work without realizing it. Anyone who leads a meeting, teaches a class, or supervises people is a facilitator, and can hone those skills to deepen engagement within the group.
A journey from nuclear engineer to higher education: A conversation with Pingchien Neo
Authors: Allarakhia Hawa
Published: May 2024

Pingchien Neo is the director of international engineering programs at the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering at the University of Florida. Previously, she taught nuclear engineering courses as a lecturer at UF. Neo discusses what inspired her to pursue nuclear engineering and how that led her toward higher education.
Versorgung und Krankheitskosten der Urtikaria bei Kindern in Deutschland
Authors: Staubach Petra , Mann Caroline , Hagenström Kristina , Augustin Matthias
Published: May 2024

Hintergrund

Daten zu den Verlaufsformen der Urtikaria bei Kindern existieren, es mangelt jedoch an fundierten Daten, um eine qualitativ hochwertige Versorgung zu gewährleisten.

Methode

Es erfolgte eine retrospektive Sekundärdatenanalyse bei Kindern mit Urtikaria in den Routinedaten einer deutschen Krankenversicherung (DAK-Gesundheit). Eingeschlossen wurden Versicherte unter 18 Jahren, die 2010 bis 2015 ambulant oder stationär mit Urtikariadiagnose (gemäß ICD-10-Klassifikation) behandelt wurden. Statistische Vergleiche wurden nach Adjustierung von Alter und Geschlecht gegenüber Personen ohne Urtikariadiagnose vorgenommen.

Ergebnisse

Im Jahr 2015 wiesen unter 151.248 minderjährigen Versicherten 1904 (1,3 %) eine Urtikariadiagnose auf; 70,9 % der Kinder mit Urtikaria besuchten mindestens einen ambulanten Arzt, von diesen Visiten fanden 70,9 % beim Kinderarzt, 52,5 % beim Allgemeinmediziner und 33,0 % beim Dermatologen statt; 11 % wurden stationär behandelt; 72,9 % der Kinder und Jugendlichen mit Urtikaria vs. 28,9 % ohne wurden topisch oder systemisch behandelt, darunter 10,5 % vs. 2,6 % mit topischen Therapien und 70,0 % vs. 27,5 % mit Systemtherapien. Die am häufigsten eingesetzten oralen Medikamente bei Urtikaria waren Cetirizin (44,2 %), Prednisolon (9,8 %) und Dimetinden (2,0 %). Topisch wurde am häufigsten Methylprednisolonaceponat (49,8 %) verordnet. Die Therapiekosten für systemische Arzneimittel betrugen 24,00 € pro Patient, die für topische 1,58 € pro Patient.

Diskussion

Die Versorgung der chronischen Urtikaria im Kindes- und Jugendalter wird im Wesentlichen durch Kinder‑, Haus- und Hautärzte getragen. Systemische und topische Arzneimittel sowie stationäre Leistungen stellen die wichtigsten Kostenfaktoren dar.
A visual foreign object detection system for wireless charging of electric vehicles
Authors: Shahbaz Nejad Bijan , Roch Peter , Handte Marcus , Marrón Pedro José
Published: May 2024

Wireless charging of electric vehicles can be achieved by installing a transmitter coil into the ground and a receiver coil at the underbody of a vehicle. In order to charge efficiently, accurate alignment of the charging components must be accomplished, which can be achieved with a camera-based positioning system. Due to an air gap between both charging components, foreign objects can interfere with the charging process and pose potential hazards to the environment. Various foreign object detection systems have been developed with the motivation to increase the safety of wireless charging. In this paper, we propose a foreign object detection technique that utilizes the integrated camera of an embedded positioning system. Due to operation in an outdoor environment, we cannot determine the types of objects that may occur in advance. Accordingly, our approach achieves object-type independence by learning the features of the charging surface, to then classify anomalous regions as foreign objects. To examine the capability of detecting foreign objects, we evaluate our approach by conducting experiments with images depicting known and unknown object types. For the experiments, we use an image dataset recorded by a positioning camera of an operating wireless charging station in an outdoor environment, which we published alongside our research. As a benchmark system, we employ YOLOv8 (Jocher et al. in Ultralytics YOLO, 2023), a state-of-the-art neural network that has been used in various contexts for foreign object detection. While we acknowledge the performance of YOLOv8 for known object types, our approach achieves up to 18% higher precision and 46% higher detection success for unknown objects.
Perceived responsibility in AI-supported medicine
Authors: Krügel S. , Ammeling J. , Aubreville M. , Fritz A. , Kießig A. , Uhl Matthias
Published: May 2024

In a representative vignette study in Germany with 1,653 respondents, we investigated laypeople’s attribution of moral responsibility in collaborative medical diagnosis. Specifically, we compare people’s judgments in a setting in which physicians are supported by an AI-based recommender system to a setting in which they are supported by a human colleague. It turns out that people tend to attribute moral responsibility to the artificial agent, although this is traditionally considered a category mistake in normative ethics. This tendency is stronger when people believe that AI may become conscious at some point. In consequence, less responsibility is attributed to human agents in settings with hybrid diagnostic teams than in settings with human-only diagnostic teams. Our findings may have implications for behavior exhibited in contexts of collaborative medical decision making with AI-based as opposed to human recommenders because less responsibility is attributed to agents who have the mental capacity to care about outcomes.
Polymer 3D printing in perspective: Assessing challenges and opportunities in industrial translation against the metal benchmark
Authors: Paxton Naomi C. , Zhao Jiachen , Sauret Emilie
Published: May 2024

Additive manufacturing is swiftly transitioning from a prototyping tool to a useful technology for industrial-scale manufacturing. As global industries seek to harness its potential, several 3D printing technologies have been successfully integrated into mainstream manufacturing workflows, based on the range of processable materials, fabrication mechanisms and integration into regulated environments. While metal 3D printing has established a significant niche in the context of aerospace and automotive manufacturing, the upscaled translation of polymer 3D printing lags, limited by several critical challenges, both in the materials domain, as well as the technical fabrication mechanisms. This article seeks to juxtapose the growth, challenges and opportunities of metal and polymer additive manufacturing, emphasizing the latter’s potential for future growth in sectors such as polymer waste recycling and point-of-care medical device manufacturing. By dissecting the complexities surrounding feedstocks, manufacturing and post-processing workflows and the advances in simulations and quality control, this review provides comprehensive insights into the progression of 3D printed technologies for industrial-scale additive manufacturing into the future.
Preoperative risk factors for early postoperative bleeding after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Santos-Sousa Hugo , Amorim-Cruz Filipe , Nogueiro Jorge , Silva Alexandre , Amorim-Cruz Inês , Ferreira-Santos Rui , Bouça-Machado Raquel , Pereira André , Resende Fernando , Costa-Pinho André , Preto John , Lima-da-Costa Eduardo , Barbosa Elisabete , Carneiro Silvestre , Sousa-Pinto Bernardo
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Although bariatric surgery is an effective intervention for obesity, it comes with risks such as early postoperative bleeding (EPB). Identifying preoperative risk factors for this complication can help patients’ risk stratification and optimization. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to find predictors for early postoperative bleeding after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB).

Methods

We conducted a systematic review, searching PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science until November 2023. We performed a random-effects meta-analysis to explore preoperative risk factors associated with early postoperative bleeding after RYGB. Sources of heterogeneity were explored by leave-one-out analyses.

Results

23 studies were included, comprising 232,488 patients. Male gender (meta-analytical RR = 1.42, 95%CI = 1.21–1.66, I2 = 18%, Q Cochran test p-value = 0.29) and revisional surgery (meta-analytical RR = 1.35, 95%CI = 1.12–1.62, I2 = 22%, Q Cochran test p = 0.21) were associated with higher risk of EPB. On average, patients with EPB were older than the remainder (MD for the mean age = 2.82 years, 95%CI = 0.97–4.67, I2 = 0.00%, Q Cochran test p = 0.46). Except for hypertension (meta-analytical RR = 1.33, 95%CI = 1.02–1.73, I2 = 66%, Q Cochran test p < 0.0001), comorbidities were not associated with a higher risk of EPB.

Conclusion

Preoperative risk factors, including age, gender, hypertension, and revisional bariatric surgery, are associated with early postoperative bleeding after RYGB. Further primary studies, with higher methodological quality, are required to detail more risk factors.
Managing recurrent parvovirus B19-associated anemia after a pediatric kidney transplant
Authors: Sabanci Mehmet , Taşdemir Mehmet , Öksüz Burcu , Altuner Torun Yasemin , Sütçü Murat , Özkaya Ozan
Published: May 2024

A 13-year-old girl who had a kidney transplant four weeks prior presented with a 10-day history of fatigue, paleness, and headache. On physical examination, tachycardia and paleness were noted. Laboratory testing was notable for severe anemia and mild leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) were negative and for parvovirus B19 (PVB19) was positive. Despite lower immunosuppression and administration of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) it persisted for 15 months, and frequent red blood cell transfusions were needed. PVB19 is a less common but significant complication. The patient's clinical course demonstrates the importance of this complication and the challenges in its management. A notable void exists in the literature regarding standardized treatment protocols for PVB19-induced recurrent anemia after kidney transplant. This case indicates the need for further research and consensus to guide effective clinical interventions in similar cases.
CT-derived skeletal muscle change before immunotherapy predicts survival of advanced gastric cancer: associations with inflammatory markers and liver lipid metabolism
Authors: Hayano Koichi , Ohira Gaku , Matsumoto Yasunori , Kurata Yoshihiro , Otsuka Ryota , Hirata Atsushi , Toyozumi Takeshi , Murakami Kentaro , Uesato Masaya , Matsubara Hisahiro
Published: May 2024

Background

Skeletal muscle (SM) is a key factor in cancer treatment. However, it is unclear whether pretreatment SM change affects the outcome of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy in gastric cancer (GC).

Methods

Advanced GCs treated with ICIs were retrospectively investigated. SM evaluated by psoas muscle area at the third lumbar vertebra was measured on CT acquired within 1 month from the start of ICIs therapy (CT-1), and on CT acquired 2.8 ± 0.84 months before CT-1. Monthly change rate of SM (MCR-SM) was defined as the change rate of SMs between those two CTs divided by the period between those CTs (month). Monthly change rate of body weight (MCR-BW) during the same period was also calculated. They were compared with disease-specific survival (DSS) and progression-free survival (PFS). MCR-SM was compared with pretreatment markers including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and liver-to-spleen CT attenuation ratio (LSR) as a marker of liver lipid metabolism.

Results

This study enrolled eighty-three GC patients. MCR-SM significantly correlated with DSS and PFS (P < 0.0001, 0.001, respectively), whereas MCR-BW did not. Kaplan–Meier analyses demonstrated that higher MCR-SM (MCR-SM ≥ −0.7185%) significantly associated with better DSS and PFS (P = 0.0002, 0.03, respectively). Patients with positive MCR-SM showed significantly lower NLR, MLR, and CRP than those with negative (P = 0.01, 0.006, 0.003, respectively). MCR-SM showed a significant positive correlation with LSR (P = 0.007, R = 0.30).

Conclusions

Pretreatment SM loss, associated with high systemic inflammation and hepatic fat accumulation, related to poor outcome of ICIs therapy in GC.
Strict certainty preference in the predictive brain: a new perspective on financial innovations and their role in the real economy
Authors: Siddiqi Hammad
Published: May 2024

The dominant paradigm in neuroscience considers the brain to be a prediction engine. The brain generates predictions first, which are then contrasted with information to generate error signals. Finite brain resources are subsequently spent in selectively processing the error signals based on their relative value with higher value signals getting a priority. In this way, the brain can be thought of as optimizing on its own internal resources before seeking to optimize on the resources available in the external world. We show that such considerations change the cost–benefit calculations of certain vs uncertain outcomes in the brain, giving rise to, what can be termed as, a strict certainty preference. A new perspective on prominent financial innovations (such as securitization, interest rate swaps, and credit default swaps) emerges, with a dark side that potentially leads to a misallocation of resources towards low NPV projects.
Deep learning implementation of image segmentation in agricultural applications: a comprehensive review
Authors: Lei Lian , Yang Qiliang , Yang Ling , Shen Tao , Wang Ruoxi , Fu Chengbiao
Published: May 2024

Image segmentation is a crucial task in computer vision, which divides a digital image into multiple segments and objects. In agriculture, image segmentation is extensively used for crop and soil monitoring, predicting the best times to sow, fertilize, and harvest, estimating crop yield, and detecting plant diseases. However, image segmentation faces difficulties in agriculture, such as the challenges of disease staging recognition, labeling inconsistency, and changes in plant morphology with the environment. Consequently, we have conducted a comprehensive review of image segmentation techniques based on deep learning, exploring the development and prospects of image segmentation in agriculture. Deep learning-based image segmentation solutions widely used in agriculture are categorized into eight main groups: encoder-decoder structures, multi-scale and pyramid-based methods, dilated convolutional networks, visual attention models, generative adversarial networks, graph neural networks, instance segmentation networks, and transformer-based models. In addition, the applications of image segmentation methods in agriculture are presented, such as plant disease detection, weed identification, crop growth monitoring, crop yield estimation, and counting. Furthermore, a collection of publicly available plant image segmentation datasets has been reviewed, and the evaluation and comparison of performance for image segmentation algorithms have been conducted on benchmark datasets. Finally, there is a discussion of the challenges and future prospects of image segmentation in agriculture.