bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In spite of patriarchy: Pathways from school to wage work and careers among adolescent girls in Bihar
Authors: Ruthven Orlanda , Sharma Anupam , Mukherjee Bishwajit , Das Shamayita , Gogoi Aparajita , Joshi Madhu , Paul Sohini
Published: June 2024

Background

In the context of rural Bihar where few women work outside the home, what scope do adolescent girls and young women have to transition into wage work and careers? While the mobility of girls is still widely restricted to secure their marriageability, the spread of higher schooling and the internet has inflated aspirations and levelled them out across boys, girls and social classes.

Methods

The present study drew on 45 focus group discussions and 73 in‐depth interviews among adolescent girls and young women and related stakeholders to develop 32 cases of transitioning girls across four districts of rural Bihar in India. The qualitative data were collected in 2022 and analysed using a combination of thematic and comparative narrative analyses.

Results

The analysis identified some common features of transitioning girls and their pathways. Many girls had been forced by circumstance—household shocks or chronic poverty—to earn money, thereby building their skills and self‐efficacy. Others were from families where progressive values ensured their mobility and exposure. Yet others transitioned “by stealth.” But all girls had the backing of at least one parent and all had to learn to navigate public space while safeguarding their reputations. By researching actual pathways (rather than distant dreams), the study identifies a variety of transition outcomes, including “good” jobs as teachers, nurses, and police officers, “low entry” jobs in factories and new services, and full‐time businesses built from scratch.

Conclusion

The paper suggests that interventions be designed separately for these distinct outcomes and that efforts are best directed towards girls already “self‐transitioning” and demonstrating the requisite resolve and self‐efficacy.
Fetal ductal constriction caused by SSRI: A case report
Authors: Vassileva Zornitsa , Pavlova Elena , Marinov Roumen , Ibryam Ibryam , Radulova Petya
Published: June 2024

A 31‐week fetus was diagnosed with premature ductal constriction due to maternal treatment with sertraline. An emergent Cesarean section was performed at 32 gestational weeks. The baby was born in a severely depressed condition, with supra‐systemic pulmonary hypertension, requiring intubation, mechanical ventilation, and milrinone infusion. The patient's condition improved rapidly, allowing weaning from the ventilator and the inodilator therapy. The baby was discharged home at 38 weeks postmenstrual age, in good general condition, without any signs of pulmonary hypertension, requiring no respiratory support. The echo examinations on the first and third months after birth were normal.
Amniotic fluid stem cell‐derived extracellular vesicles educate type 2 conventional dendritic cells to rescue autoimmune disorders in a multiple sclerosis mouse model
Authors: Manni Giorgia , Gargaro Marco , Ricciuti Doriana , Fontana Simona , Padiglioni Eleonora , Cipolloni Marco , Mazza Tommaso , Rosati Jessica , di Veroli Alessandra , Mencarelli Giulia , Pieroni Benedetta , Silva Barcelos Estevão Carlos , Scalisi Giulia , Sarnari Francesco , di Michele Alessandro , Pascucci Luisa , de Franco Francesca , Zelante Teresa , Antognelli Cinzia , Cruciani Gabriele , Talesa Vincenzo Nicola , Romani Rita , Fallarino Francesca
Published: June 2024

Dendritic cells (DCs) are essential orchestrators of immune responses and represent potential targets for immunomodulation in autoimmune diseases. Human amniotic fluid secretome is abundant in immunoregulatory factors, with extracellular vesicles (EVs) being a significant component. However, the impact of these EVs on dendritic cells subsets remain unexplored. In this study, we investigated the interaction between highly purified dendritic cell subsets and EVs derived from amniotic fluid stem cell lines (HAFSC‐EVs). Our results suggest that HAFSC‐EVs are preferentially taken up by conventional dendritic cell type 2 (cDC2) through CD29 receptor‐mediated internalization, resulting in a tolerogenic DC phenotype characterized by reduced expression and production of pro‐inflammatory mediators. Furthermore, treatment of cDC2 cells with HAFSC‐EVs in coculture systems resulted in a higher proportion of T cells expressing the regulatory T cell marker Foxp3 compared to vehicle‐treated control cells. Moreover, transfer of HAFSC‐EV‐treated cDC2s into an EAE mouse model resulted in the suppression of autoimmune responses and clinical improvement. These results suggest that HAFSC‐EVs may serve as a promising tool for reprogramming inflammatory cDC2s towards a tolerogenic phenotype and for controlling autoimmune responses in the central nervous system, representing a potential platform for the study of the effects of EVs in DC subsets.
Effective treatment of relapsed/refractory CD19‐positive B/T‐type mixed‐phenotype acute leukemia with blinatumomab: A case report
Authors: Aoki Masanori , Ishikawa Maho , Sato Tsugumi , Taji Yoshitada , Kayano Hidekazu , Takahashi Naoki , Ebihara Yasuhiro
Published: June 2024

A 26‐year‐old man was diagnosed with B/T‐type mixed‐phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL‐B/T) based on blasts being positive for CD19, cytoplasmic CD3, and cyCD79a, but negative for myeloperoxidase. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia‐based chemotherapy was started, but the leukemia was refractory. He underwent cord blood transplantation with the conditioning regimen of total body irradiation plus cyclophosphamide and cytarabine with granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor priming. Prophylaxis for graft versus host disease was performed with short‐term methotrexate and cyclosporin. The leukemia relapsed in bone marrow 20 months later. At that time, he was treated with inotuzumab ozogamicin because the blasts expressed CD22 (75.4%), but this was ineffective. He was next administered blinatumomab with dexamethasone pretreatment, resulting in a complete remission (CR). He subsequently underwent human leukocyte antigen‐haploidentical peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. He has still maintained a CR for 12 months. Blinatumomab might be a promising treatment and a bridge to stem cell transplantation even in relapsed/refractory CD19‐expressing MPAL‐B/T.
Preoperative risk factors for skeletal muscle mass loss in patients with biliary tract cancer
Authors: Sugiura Ryo , Kuwatani Masaki , Kawakubo Kazumichi , Kishi Kazuma , Yonemura Hiroki , Nozawa Shunichiro , Ohara Masatsugu , Noji Takehiro , Hirano Satoshi , Sakamoto Naoya
Published: June 2024

Background

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC)‐related procedures, usually performed before biliary tract cancer (BTC) surgery, are associated with increased risk for various complications, which can cause sarcopenia. No study has previously elucidated the relationship between preoperative ERC‐related procedures and sarcopenia/skeletal muscle mass loss.

Methods

Patients with BTC who underwent radical surgical resection following ERC‐related procedures were included. Skeletal muscle mass was evaluated using the psoas muscle mass index (PMI), which was determined using computed tomography images, and the change in PMI before the initial pre‐ERC and surgery (ΔPMI) was calculated. Risk factors for advanced skeletal muscle mass loss, defined as a large ΔPMI, were evaluated.

Results

The study cohort included 90 patients with a median age of 72 (interquartile range, 65–75) years. The median PMI pre‐ERC and surgery was 4.40 and 4.15 cm2/m2, respectively (p < .01). The median ΔPMI was −6.2% (interquartile range, −10.9% to 0.5%). By multivariate analysis, post‐ERC pancreatitis and cholangitis before surgery were independent predictive factors for large PMI loss (odds ratio, 4.57 and 3.18, respectively; p = .03 and p = .02, respectively).

Conclusions

Skeletal muscle mass decreases preoperatively in most patients with BTC undergoing ERC. Post‐ERC pancreatitis and cholangitis before surgery were independent risk factors for large skeletal muscle mass loss.
Intra‐ and interlaboratory reproducibility evaluation toward international validation status of the AmpFire assay
Authors: Chung Pui Yan Jenny , Dhillon Sharonjit K. , Baraquin Alice , Tkachenka Yuliya , Jacquot Killian , Prétet Jean‐Luc , Broeck Davy Vanden , Arbyn Marc
Published: June 2024

To meet the screening goal of WHO's 90‐70‐90 strategy aimed at eliminating cervical cancer (CC) by 2030, clinical validation of human papillomavirus (HPV) assays is essential to provide accurate and valid results through fulfilling three criteria of the international validation guidelines (IVGs). Previously, the clinical accuracy of the AmpFire® HPV Screening 16/18/HR assay (AmpFire assay) was reported but reproducibility data are lacking. Here, we aim to evaluate the intra‐ and inter‐laboratory reproducibility of the AmpFire assay. The reproducibility of the isothermal AmpFire assay was assessed using 556 cervical cell samples collected from women attending CC screening and biobanked in a Belgian HPV national reference center. This assay detects HPV16, HPV18, and 12 other high‐risk HPV (hrHPV) types (31/33/35/39/45/51/52/56/58/59/66/68) in aggregate. Lower 95% confidence interval bound around the assay's reproducibility should exceed 87%, with κ ≥ 0.50. Additionally, a literature review of the assay's clinical performance was performed. The AmpFire assay showed an excellent intralaboratory (96.4%, 95% CI:94.5–97.8%, κ = 0.920) and interlaboratory (95.3%, 95% CI:93.2–96.9%, κ = 0.897) reproducibility. One study demonstrated noninferior sensitivity of a prototype AmpFire assay targeting 15 hrHPV types (including HPV53) to detect CIN2+. However, clinical specificity became similar to the comparator after removing HPV53 from analyses. The low‐cost and easy‐to‐use AmpFire assay presents excellent reproducibility and—after removing HPV53 from the targeted types—fulfills also clinical accuracy requirements. Inclusion of HPV53, which is not recognized as carcinogenic, comprises clinical specificity of screening assays.
Early‐life and chronic exposure to high‐fat diet alters noradrenergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission in the male rat amygdala and hippocampus under cognitive challenges
Authors: Osorio‐Gómez Daniel , Perez Claudia I. , Salcedo‐Tello Pamela , Hernández‐Matias Arturo , Hernández‐Ramírez Susana , Arroyo Benjamin , Pacheco‐López Gustavo , Gutierrez Ranier , Bermúdez‐Rattoni Federico , Guzmán‐Ramos Kioko ,   OBETEEN Consortium
Published: June 2024

Childhood obesity increases the risk of health and cognitive disorders in adulthood. Consuming high‐fat diets (HFD) during critical neurodevelopmental periods, like childhood, impairs cognition and memory in humans and animals, affecting the function and connectivity of brain structures related to emotional memory. However, the underlying mechanisms of such phenomena need to be better understood. This study aimed to investigate the neurochemical profile of the amygdala and hippocampus, brain structures involved in emotional memory, during the acquisition of conditioned odor aversion in male rats that consumed a HFD from weaning to adulthood. The rats gained weight, experienced metabolic changes, and reduced insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance. Rats showed enhanced odor aversion memory, contrary to the expected cognitive impairments. This memory enhancement was accompanied by increased noradrenergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission in the amygdala and hippocampus. Importantly, this upregulation was specific to stimuli exposure, as basal neurotransmitter levels remained unaltered by the HFD. Our results suggest that HFD modifies cognitive function by altering neurochemical signaling, in this case, upregulating neurotransmitter levels rendering a stronger memory trace, demonstrating that metabolic dysfunctions do not only trigger exclusively detrimental plasticity processes but also render enhanced plastic effects depending on the type of information.
Early diet and the risk of coeliac disease. An update 2024 position paper by the ESPGHAN special interest group on coeliac disease
Authors: Szajewska Hania , Shamir Raanan , Auricchio Renata , Chmielewska Anna , Dolinsek Jernej , Kivelä Laura , Koletzko Sibylle , Korponay‐Szabo Ilma R. , Af Segerstad Elin M Hård , Mearin M. Luisa , Meijer‐Boekel Caroline , Konickx Carmen Ribes , Rodriguez‐Herrera Alfonso , Stordal Ketil , Troncone Riccardo , Wessels Margreet
Published: June 2024

This position paper by the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) Special Interest Group on Coeliac Disease (SIG‐CD) presents an update to the 2016 recommendations concerning early diet and the risk of coeliac disease (CD). This update adheres to the policy that mandates reviewing guidelines every 5 years, particularly when new data emerge. The 2024 statements and recommendations are essentially similar to the 2016 recommendations. Breastfeeding, whether any amount, exclusive, or of any duration, does not reduce the risk of developing CD. Introducing gluten into an infant's diet at any time between completed 4 months (≥17 weeks) and 12 months of age does not affect the cumulative incidence of CD, although earlier introduction may lead to earlier seroconversion and CD. In observational studies involving cohorts with a known risk for CD, consuming a high amount of gluten compared to a low amount during weaning and in the subsequent childhood years—specifically the first 2–3 years, and even up to 5 years in some studies—was associated with an increased risk for CD. However, the specific optimal amounts of gluten consumption remain undetermined due to insufficient evidence on safe thresholds, and the impact of restricting gluten in the diet of healthy children of unknown risk for CD is unknown. Thus, any recommendation on the gluten amount is currently unjustifiable for the general population and infants with known HLA risk types. There is no specific guidance on the type of gluten‐containing foods to be introduced at weaning.
Expression of CD28, FAS, PD1, and CTLA4 molecules in the blood of women with triple‐negative breast cancer
Authors: Salgado Marcelo Ramos Tejo , Sobral Denise Viana , Martins Mario R. , Salgado Eduardo Forte M. T. , Salgado Amanda Forte M. T. , Silva Kamylla Ramos da , Soares Fernando Augusto , Torres Leuridan C.
Published: June 2024

Background

Locally advanced triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents a public health problem in Brazil. Its standard treatment consists of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).

Methods

This was a longitudinal study with follow‐up performed between the years 2015 and 2017. Thirty women with locally advanced TNBC submitted to NAC, and 30 healthy were included. Peripheral blood samples were collected before NAC (Pre‐NAC) and after NAC (Post‐NAC).

Results

Patients with TNBC had elevated levels of CD28+ T, FAS+ T, CTLA4+ T, PD1+ T, CD28+CD4+ T, PD1+CD4+ T and CD8+ T and PD1+ CD8+ T cells compared to controls (p < 0.05). Patients with pathological complete response (pCR) had low FAS+ T cells, FAS+CD4+ T cells, and PD1+CD8+ T cells compared to the non‐pCR (p < 0.05). Significant differences were observed in the levels of CD28+ T cells, FAS+ T and PD1+ T, CD4+ T, CD28+CD4+ T, FAS+CD4+ T, PD1+CD4+ T, CD8+ T, and PD1+CD8+ T cells between Pre‐NAC and Post‐NAC groups (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Alterations in the circulating FAS+CD4+ T and PD1+CD8+ T cell levels Pre‐NAC are associated with pCR, suggesting potential predictive biomarkers of NAC response in TNBC. The largest changes in the cellular immune response profile Post‐NAC showed that chemotherapy treatment can modulate the immune response and that it is associated with prognosis in TNBC.
Ewing Sarcoma of the Larynx with Thyroid Cartilage Destruction: A Case Report
Authors: Lerant Gergely , Torok Balint , Toth Erika , Pinter Tamas , Godeny Maria
Published: June 2024

Ewing sarcoma of the larynx is extremely rare, only a few number of cases have been reported. In this report, we describe a case of extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma of the larynx with thyroid cartilage destruction. Laryngoscope, 134:4577–4581, 2024
Outcomes following cochlear implantation with eluting electrodes: A systematic review
Authors: Fleet Alex , Nikookam Yasmin , Radotra Anshul , Gowrishankar Shravan , Metcalfe Christopher , Muzaffar Jameel , Smith Matthew E. , Monksfield Peter , Bance Manohar
Published: June 2024

Objectives

To establish audiological and other outcomes following cochlear implantation in humans and animals with eluting electrodes.

Methods

Systematic review and narrative synthesis. Databases searched (April 2023): MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Web of Science. Studies reporting outcomes in either humans or animals following cochlear implantation with a drug‐eluting electrode were included. No limits were placed on language or year of publication. Risk of bias assessment was performed on all included studies using either the Brazzelli or Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory animal Experimentation (SYRCLE) assessment tools. The review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 statement.

Results

Searches identified 146 abstracts and 108 full texts. Of these, 18 studies met the inclusion criteria, reporting outcomes in 523 animals (17 studies) and 24 humans (1 study). Eluting electrodes included dexamethasone (16 studies), aracytine (1 study), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (1 study), the growth factors insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF1) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) (1 study), and neurotrophin‐3 (1 study). All included studies compare outcomes following implantation with an eluting electrode with a control non‐eluting electrode. In the majority of studies, audiological outcomes (e.g., auditory brainstem response threshold) were superior following implantation with an eluting electrode compared with a standard electrode. Most studies which investigated post‐implantation impedance reported lower impedance following implantation with an eluting electrode. The influence of eluting electrodes on other reported outcomes (including post‐implantation cochlear fibrosis and the survival of hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons) was more varied across the included studies.

Conclusions

Eluting electrodes have shown promise in animal studies in preserving residual hearing following cochlear implantation and in reducing impedance, though data from human studies remain lacking. Further in‐human studies will be required to determine the clinical usefulness of drug‐eluting cochlear implants as a future treatment for sensorineural hearing loss.
Pre‐tactical convection prediction for air traffic flow management using LSTM neural network
Authors: Jardines Aniel , Soler Manuel , García‐Heras Javier , Ponzano Matteo , Raynaud Laure
Published: June 2024

This paper aims to explore machine learning techniques for post‐processing high‐resolution Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) products for the early detection of convection. Data from the Arome Ensemble Prediction System and satellite observations from the Rapidly Developing Thunderstorm (RDT) product by Météo‐France are used to train a recurrent neural network model to predict areas of total convection and moderate convection. The learning task is formulated as a binary classification problem using a long short‐term memory (LSTM) network architecture. Results from the LSTM model are compared with an object‐based probabilistic approach to forecast convection using metrics such as a receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve, the Brier score and reliability. Results indicate that the LSTM model performs similarly to the object‐based probabilistic benchmark when classifying moderate convection areas and shows improved skill when classifying areas of total convective. Finally, the LSTM model results are presented within an air traffic management context to showcase the potential use of machine learning models within an operational application.
Water‐avoidance stress aggravates prostatic inflammation in a murine model of chronic prostatitis
Authors: Ni Jianshu , Ren Siyuan , Hu Yi , Ma Dongni , Kuang Yifang , Yoshimura Naoki
Published: June 2024

Objectives

To date, few studies have considered the influence of psychological factors on chronic prostatitis (PRO) models. Here, we aimed to refine a murine PRO model combining chemically induced prostatitis with psychological stress.

Methods

A total of 40 mice were randomly divided into four groups: normal control (NC) group, PRO group, water avoidance stress (WAS) group, and PRO + WAS group. Ten mice were assigned to each group: five for cystometrograms (CMGs) and five for von Frey testing and histological analysis. PRO was induced through a prostatic injection of 10% paraformaldehyde. The WAS mice were placed on the middle platform for 1 h per day for 10 consecutive days.

Results

The results of the von Frey test demonstrated that both WAS and PRO induced bladder hyperalgesia in mice, and the WAS + PRO group showed significant pelvic pain symptoms either. The CMG results suggested that the PRO group, the WAS group, and the PRO + WAS group all exhibited bladder overactivity, presented as a shortened micturition interval and decreased threshold pressure evoking bladder contraction. The symptoms of the PRO group and the PRO + WAS group were more severe than those of the WAS group. The tissue staining results indicated that WAS itself caused only mild prostatic inflammation but could significantly aggravate chemical‐induced prostatic inflammation, as well as the total number of mast cells and proportion of activated mast cells.

Conclusions

Our refined murine PRO model could manifest persistent bladder overactivity, pelvic hyperalgesia and prostatic inflammation. WAS could induce mild prostatic inflammation and aggravate primary prostatic inflammation.
Nonprofit talent recruitment: An online experiment on new ways of working and leadership development opportunities
Authors: Geib Nils , Boenigk Silke
Published: June 2024

Recruiting talented employees is challenging for nonprofit organizations. This study examines the effects of two possible human resource recruitment practices—offering new ways of working and leadership development opportunities—on the intention of talent to apply for a position at a nonprofit organization. Building on the self‐determination theory, the authors conducted an online survey experiment (n = 389) with aspiring employees in Germany. The results show that, of the offered practices, only “new ways of working” significantly increase individuals' intention to apply. Regarding work sector preferences, nonprofits are in a war for talent, as only 13.6% prefer the nonprofit sector, with most participants (47.8%) preferring to find a job with a for‐profit company or in the public sector (38.6%). As a key nonprofit management implication, recruiters should develop and implement new ways of working to attract talented employees to the nonprofit sector.
Study on mechanical properties and molecular simulation of nano‐SiO2‐modified hybrid fiber reinforced polymer bar under the dry and alkaline environment
Authors: Guan Zhongzhi , Xu Yongli , Zhang Guangzhu , Mao Jize , Wang Hongguang
Published: June 2024

Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) bars have received extensive promotion and application in the structural engineering. However, due to the limitations inherent in using single material, FRP reinforced concrete structures often encounter issues, such as brittle failure and inadequate energy dissipation, particularly in complex natural environments and under various loading conditions. In this study, the preparation of nano‐SiO2‐modified carbon/basalt hybrid FRP bars was carried out using the pultrusion‐winding process and ultrasonic treatment. The objective was to investigate the influence of the fiber volume ratio and mass fraction of nano‐SiO2 on the mechanical properties of FRP bars under drying and alkaline conditions. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed to construct interface models between fibers and epoxy resin in order to elucidate the toughening mechanism of nano‐SiO2 and the degradation mechanism in alkaline conditions. The research results show that elevating the substitution rate of carbon fibers and incorporating nano‐SiO2 doping bring about alterations in the brittle fracture characteristics of BFRP bars and enhance the post‐yield performance and interlaminar shear properties of hybrid FRP bars, concurrently mitigating the degradation of mechanical properties induced by exposure to alkaline solutions. MD simulations indicate that the addition of nano‐SiO2 improves the binding rate of hydrogen bonds between BF and epoxy resin, resulting in a higher interfacial energy between BF/epoxy resin compared to CF/epoxy resin. Moreover, nano‐SiO2 effectively mitigates the impact of alkaline solutions on the formation of interfacial hydrogen bonds. The findings of this study serve as a valuable reference for the design and application of FRP reinforced concrete structures.

Highlights

Nano‐SiO2 modified B/CFRP bars made via extrusion‐winding & ultrasonic treatment.

Improved mechanical properties and plastic deformation in Nano‐SiO2 modified B/C FRP bars.

Nano‐SiO2 inhibits B/CFRP bars degradation in alkaline solution.

Nano‐SiO2 bind more at BF/epoxy than CF/epoxy interface.

Nano‐SiO2 reduces alkaline solution effect on interfacial H‐bonding.
Self‐compassion defuses the aggression triggered by social exclusion
Authors: Wang Ting , Xiao Qianguo , Wang Han , Hu Yuanyan , Xiang Jinhui
Published: June 2024

Social exclusion is a pervasive phenomenon that can have profound psychological consequences, including increased aggression. Self‐compassion can promote psychological resilience, which helps individuals cope with challenges and may help mitigate the aggression triggered by social exclusion. This study aims to explore the relationship between self‐compassion and aggression in the context of social exclusion from both state and trait perspectives. First, a cross‐sectional study (Study 1) was conducted; the findings revealed that social exclusion is associated with higher levels of aggression, while self‐compassion is linked to lower levels of social exclusion and aggression. Further division of self‐compassion into its constituent components (self‐kindness, mindfulness, and common humanity) revealed additional insights into the specific roles played by these factors. Self‐kindness and mindfulness were found to moderate the relationship between social exclusion and aggression, while common humanity was observed to mediate this relationship. To determine the causal relationships among variables in further detail, an experimental study (Study 2) was designed. This study utilized a recall writing task to induce feelings of social exclusion and employed self‐compassion writing tasks to elicit self‐compassionate responses from participants. The results of this experiment indicated that self‐compassion can significantly reduce the aggression triggered by social exclusion, thus suggesting that self‐compassion may help alleviate the distress caused by individuals' experiences of social exclusion. The findings of this research have important implications for the development of clinical interventions aimed at reducing the adverse effects of social exclusion.
Development of pH response film based on potato starch/polyvinyl alcohol using Kyoho grape skin extract to monitor pork freshness
Authors: Wang Shihui , Zhao Biao , Hao Yanling , He Qixiang
Published: June 2024

In this study, the optimal ratio of starch and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was successfully selected by response surface method. The novel packaging films were fabricated by immobilizing Kyoho skin extract (KSE) within starch/PVA composite film by the casting method. The mechanical property, PH sensitivity, and other properties of films with different KSE content (1–5 mL) were studied. The starch/PVA film with 3 mL KSE (SPK3.0 film) showed more uniform structure than the starch/PVA film in microscope. At the same time, the film has strong mechanical properties and low water barrier capacity. Infrared analysis of the film further revealed hydrogen bond interaction between film matrix and KSE. The smart packaging film displayed distinguishable changes of color from purple to green in pH (1–13). Furthermore, the smart films possessed excellent antioxidant. Therefore, the SPK films had the potential application potential in the field of packaging.

Highlights

Barrier properties and antioxidant activity were enhanced significantly by the addition of KSE.

The film components are connected by hydrogen bonds so that they have good compatibility.

The functional film shows different colors in the range of pH 1–13.
In Silico Structural Modeling and Analysis of Physicochemical Properties of Antitumoral QS‐13 Peptide and Its Derivatives in Water and Dimethyl Sulfoxide
Authors: Paturel Vivien , Baud Stéphanie , Schneider Christophe , Brassart‐Pasco Sylvie
Published: June 2024

The NC1 domain of the alpha 4 chain of type IV collagen was previously reported to exert anti‐tumor properties in a melanoma model and to inhibit angiogenesis. The minimal active sequence identified to date comprises 13 amino acids: QKISRCQVCVKYS. Unfortunately, this sequence is not soluble in aqueous media and requires prior dissolution in DMSO. The disulfide bridge (DB) that spontaneously forms in solution between two cysteine residues is crucial for its biological activity. The aim of this article was to study the impact of DMSO on the physicochemical properties of the QS‐13 peptide and to replace hydrophobic amino acids to enhance its water solubility. Using bioinformatics (GROMACS, VMD, and ProtParam) and programming (Python and RStudio) software programs, we demonstrated that DMSO could promote the formation of DBs, but it is not strictly necessary. Among the QS‐13 substituted peptides, some were demonstrated to display similar characteristics to the original peptide. Improved water solubility will make the peptide easier to use in biological studies and facilitate its administration for potential therapeutic applications.
24.2% efficient POLO back junction solar cell with an AlOx/SiNy dielectric stack from an industrial‐scale direct plasma‐enhanced chemical vapor deposition system
Authors: Min Byungsul , Mertens Verena , Larionova Yevgeniya , Pernau Thomas , Haverkamp Helge , Dullweber Thorsten , Peibst Robby , Brendel Rolf
Published: June 2024

An aluminum oxide (AlOx)/silicon nitride (SiNy) dielectric stack was developed using an industrial plasma‐enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) system with low‐frequency (LF) plasma source for the surface passivation of undiffused textured p‐type crystalline silicon. The median recombination current density is 4.3 fA cm−2 as determined from photoconductance decay lifetime measurements and numerical device modeling. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time to present a high‐quality LF‐PECVD AlOx/SiNy passivation stack on undiffused textured p‐type crystalline silicon wafers, which are cleaned with industrial processes using HF, HCl, and O3. The simulation agrees well with the measured effective carrier lifetime if the velocity parameters of 5.6 cm s−1 for holes and 803 cm s−1 for electrons are applied with a fixed negative charge density of −3 × 1012 cm−2. The process integration of developed AlOx/SiNy dielectric stack is successfully demonstrated by fabricating p‐type back junction solar cells featuring a poly‐Si‐based passivating contact at the cell rear side. As the best cell efficiency, we achieve 24.2% with an open‐circuit voltage of 725 mV on a M2‐sized Ga‐doped p‐type Czochralski‐grown Si wafer as independently confirmed by ISFH CalTeC.
Development of self‐cleaning and antibacterial properties on cotton fabric using silver nanoparticles and PFOTS
Authors: Khan Mahnoor , Saeed Muhammad Adnan , Ullah Sultan , Repon Md. Reazuddin , Pranta Arnob Dhar , Yunusov Nurzod , Hossain Md Monir
Published: June 2024

The demand for superhydrophobic fabric with self‐cleaning and antibacterial features as potential practical applications has been rising steadily with the passage of time. In this research work, the wet chemical method is used to manufacture cotton with a superhydrophobic coating. Thus, Nanoparticles of silver were produced by using an in situ method. Afterward, the fabric is treated with a solution of perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane to make it superhydrophobic. The cotton fabric performs remarkably with exceptional hydrophobicity as it had a contact angle of 157 ± 1° and less than 10° in sliding angle. Water droplet's dynamic behavior is also studied so that the superhydrophobic fabric development can be proven. The fabric shows excellent chemical durability by performing chemical tests. The antimicrobial and self‐cleaning properties are greatly enhanced by the superhydrophobic coating on cotton. Particle density on the superhydrophobic cotton before and after self‐cleaning was found 5.1 and 0.4 mg/cm2. In addition, the treated cotton fabric also exhibited superior antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli bacteria. Therefore, the developed multifunctional cotton fabric can be used in real‐life applications.

Highlights

Cotton fabric enables to repelling of dirt, oil, and water‐based stains more effectively.

Silver nanoparticles possess potent antibacterial properties.

Incorporation of PFOTS controls the release of silver into the environment.

Versatile applications from healthcare and hospitality to outdoor and athletic apparel.
A color morph‐specific salivary carotenoid desaturase enhances plant photosynthesis and facilitates phloem feeding of Myzus persicae (Sulzer)
Authors: Ge Panpan , Guo Huijuan , Li Danyang , Zhu‐Salzman Keyan , Sun Yucheng
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND

Body‐color polymorphisms in insects are often explained by environmental selective advantages. Differential fitness related to body coloration has been demonstrated in Myzus persicae (Sulzer): performance of the red morph is in general better than that of the green morph on tobacco plants. However, the molecular mechanism involved is largely unclear.

RESULTS

Here we showed that the red morph of M. persicae had higher expression of a carotenoid desaturase CarD763 in the whole body, salivary gland and saliva relative to the green morph. Also, 18% individuals displayed faded red body color 5 days post dsCarD763 treatment. Furthermore, knockdown of CarD763 in the red morph significantly prolonged the time needed to locate phloem and shortened the duration of phloem feeding. Honeydew production and survival rate decreased as well. In contrast, overexpression of CarD763 in tobacco leaves facilitated aphid feeding, enhanced honeydew production and improved the survival rate of aphids. Compared with those fed by dsGFP aphids, plants infested by dsCarD763‐treated aphids had higher ROS accumulation, lower lycopene content and photosynthetic rate, and maximum photon quantum yield. The reverse was true when plants overexpressed CarD763.

CONCLUSION

These findings demonstrated that CarD763, a red morph‐specific salivary protein, could enhance aphid feeding and early colonization by promoting plant photosynthesis. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Daidzin and its de‐glycosylated constituent daidzein as a potential therapeutic for cardiovascular diseases: A review from bench to bed
Authors: Akhlaghipour Iman , Nasimi Shad Arya , Askari Vahid Reza , Baradaran Rahimi Vafa
Published: June 2024

Continuing research is being conducted on novel preventive and therapeutic drugs for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Daidzein has shown potential beneficial effects regarding various CVDs and risk factors. However, data in this regard are inconsistent, and there is an urge to accumulate. Therefore, we reviewed the effects of daidzein and daidzin on CVDs. We conducted a search through Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science from inception up to October 2023 to find studies with the primary intention of assessing the impacts of daidzein and daidzin on cardiovascular disease in various in vitro, animal, and clinical settings. In vitro and animal studies showed that daidzein and daidzin are effective in terms of reducing inflammation, oxidative stress, hyperlipidemia, myocardial infarction, thromboembolism, hypertension, and aneurysms. However, clinical studies only confirmed a relatively small portion of the previous findings of the in vitro and animal investigations, including anti‐hyperlipidemic effects. In conclusion, in vitro and animal studies have reported potential therapeutic effects for daidzein and daidzin regarding CVDs. However, most of the clinical studies were unable to exhibit the same results. Hence, further clinical studies are required to determine the outcomes of administering daidzein and its derivatives for an extended period and in various doses.
Proper choice of location cumulative sum control charts for different environments
Authors: Nazir Hafiz Zafar , Ikram Muhammad , Amir Muhammad Wasim , Akhtar Noureen , Abbas Zameer , Riaz Muhammad
Published: June 2024

In the field of quality control, statistical process control (SPC) has its significance. The control charts are important tools of the SPC to observe the outputs of the production process. The cumulative sum (CUSUM) charting structure is one such technique that is designed to identify the medium and slight changes in the process parameters. In the literature, the assumption of normality is considered ideal for the control chart but in practice, many quality characteristics do not follow the assumption of normality. The current study proposes a class of CUSUM control charts for the location parameter of the process and investigates the performance of said location charts based on ranked set sampling (RSS) for quality characteristics having different environments. Different point estimators of location are considered in this study to develop the location control charts under normal, and a variety of non‐normal environments. The numerical results show that the newly designed schemes perform uniformly well than their competitors. A real‐life example linked with the manufacturing process is also provided for the practical implementation of the proposed scheme.
A penalized integrative deep neural network for variable selection among multiple omics datasets
Authors: Li Yang , Ren Xiaonan , Yu Haochen , Sun Tao , Ma Shuangge
Published: June 2024

Deep learning has been increasingly popular in omics data analysis. Recent works incorporating variable selection into deep learning have greatly enhanced the model’s interpretability. However, because deep learning desires a large sample size, the existing methods may result in uncertain findings when the dataset has a small sample size, commonly seen in omics data analysis. With the explosion and availability of omics data from multiple populations/studies, the existing methods naively pool them into one dataset to enhance the sample size while ignoring that variable structures can differ across datasets, which might lead to inaccurate variable selection results. We propose a penalized integrative deep neural network (PIN) to simultaneously select important variables from multiple datasets. PIN directly aggregates multiple datasets as input and considers both homogeneity and heterogeneity situations among multiple datasets in an integrative analysis framework. Results from extensive simulation studies and applications of PIN to gene expression datasets from elders with different cognitive statuses or ovarian cancer patients at different stages demonstrate that PIN outperforms existing methods with considerably improved performance among multiple datasets. The source code is freely available on Github (rucliyang/PINFunc). We speculate that the proposed PIN method will promote the identification of disease‐related important variables based on multiple studies/datasets from diverse origins.
Association between children's feeding practices and the nutritional status of children 6–23 months in Lao PDR: Evidence from the Provincial Household Survey 2022
Authors: Taylor Kyle , Sananikhom Pany , Thiengthepvongsa Ousavanh , Blomberg Janneke Hartvig , Dakurah Prosper , Viphongxay Vilon
Published: June 2024

Purpose

To investigate the association between children's feeding practices and the nutritional status of children 6–23 months in Lao PDR.

Method

The study is based on the latest Provincial Household Survey 2022 (PHS 2022). The WHO's guidelines were used to define nutritional status. If height‐for‐age (HAZ), weight‐for‐height (WHZ) and weight‐for‐age (WAZ) z‐scores were below −2, children were considered stunted, wasted and underweight, respectively. Minimum meal frequency (MMF) was considered if breastfeeding children consumed soft foods two times per day for infants 6–8 months and three times for children 9–23 months, and that nonbreastfeeding children consumed solid, semisolid, soft foods or milk feeds four times for children aged 6–23 months the previous day. A child was regarded to have a minimum dietary diversity (MDD) if they had consumed foods from at least five of the eight main groups the previous day. Minimum acceptable diet (MAD) was considered if children aged 6–23 months had at least the MMF and the MDD indicators in the previous 24 h.

Results

There was a significant (p < 0.05) positive relationship between MAD and stunting among children aged 6–23 months. Regarding the predictors of MMF, MDD and MAD, the probability of MDD and MAD increased with the child's age, whereas MMF decreased. We found that the higher the mother's education, the probability of their children attaining MDD, MMF and MAD increased. A significant negative relationship was observed among children living in rural areas with MMF, MDD and MAD. Our analysis also found that children who were not currently breastfed were less likely to meet MMF, MDD and MAD compared with children who were currently breastfed.

Conclusion

Interventions for infant and young child feeding (IYFC) in Lao PDR, with a particular emphasis on rural households, mothers with little to no education, and new parents, should be targeted for future nutrition interventions to increase optimal feeding practices among the children.
Event‐triggered model‐free adaptive SMC for nonlinear NCSs with deception attacks
Authors: Zhang Ning , Niu Yugang , Lv Xinyu
Published: June 2024

This work presents an event‐triggered model‐free adaptive sliding mode control (MFASMC) strategy for nonlinear networked control systems (NCSs) without and with deception attacks. First, a time‐varying pseudo‐partial derivative is introduced to transform the nonlinear NCSs into a linearized model. In the secure environment without attacks, an event‐triggered MFASMC law is proposed based on the designed sliding surface. Then, considering that the transmitted signal is vulnerable to deception attacks, it assumes that the attacker injects false data into the output signal in a probabilistic manner. Under this case, the above event‐triggered MFASMC scheme is implemented by means of attacked output signals. And the network burden can be reduced while ensuring the reachability of the specified sliding surface and the output tracking performance. The key feature of the proposed MFASMC algorithm is that secure tracking control can be achieved using only input/output data without relying on any model information. Finally, the proposed control strategy is verified via the steam‐water heat exchanger.
Signal‐to‐noise ratio estimation for broadband satellite‐to‐ground communication based on time‐domain channel impulse response reconstruction
Authors: Zhao Yuanfan , Ju Cheng , Wang Dongdong , Liu Na , Guan Luyang , Xie Peng
Published: June 2024

Signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) estimation is crucial for spectrum management and data transmission. However, the existing classical methods in satellite‐to‐ground (SG) communication links, particularly for broadband transmission and under ultra‐low SNR conditions, often encounter substantial estimation errors. In this paper, a novel SNR estimation method based on time‐domain channel impulse response (CIR) reconstruction is proposed. Least square (LS) algorithm in frequency domain and inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) with a rectangular window are employed to reconstructed CIR. The noise energy is calculated by computing the average energy outside the window. The signal power is obtained by subtracting the noise energy from the total energy inside the window. In addition, a numerical simulation with a signal bandwidth of 400 MHz is performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm in real SG communication scenarios. The simulation results show that compared with existing classical methods, even under ultra‐low SNR conditions, the proposed algorithm exhibits more accurate estimation ability and stronger resistance to frequency offset interference in nonterrestrial network (NTN) channels.
Does sustainable recruitment enhance motivation? A cross‐country analysis on the role of person‐organization fit
Authors: Carballo‐Penela Adolfo , Ruzo‐Sanmartín Emilio , García‐Chas Romina , Troilo Fernando
Published: June 2024

This paper analyses the extent to which implementing sustainable recruitment practices (SRP) relates to person‐organization (P‐O) fit and motivation. We also examined the extent to which the collectivism and masculinity dimensions of national culture moderate the relationship between SRP and P‐O fit. Drawing on the attraction‐selection‐attrition framework, social identity theory and stakeholder theory, the proposed hypotheses were tested in a sample of 534 prospective employees from four countries with different cultural contexts. An experimental design was used to test the proposed relationships. The obtained findings highlight the mediating role of P‐O fit in the relationship between SRP and motivation. Collectivism and masculinity moderate the relationship between SRP and P‐O fit. We contribute to prior research by demonstrating a link between perceptions of environmental and social sustainability and motivation, and the consideration of different countries allowed us to underline the role of national context when examining the impact of SRP.
A Bifunctional Novel Bipyridine Bridged Dicobaloxime Complex for Electrochemical Proton Reduction and Toxic Metanil Yellow Dye Detection
Authors: Sundaresan Sumi , Sowmya Subramanian , Vijaikanth Vijendran
Published: June 2024

A new bipyridine bridged dicobaloxime complex BrCo(dpgh)2(4,4’‐bipyridine)Co(dpgH)2Br was synthesized and characterized by standard spectroscopic techniques. The synthesized complex was employed as an electrocatalyst for the proton reduction in the presence of acetic acid as an acid source. The catalytic efficiency was calculated to be 0.379. Subsequently the nanocomposite of the complex was prepared with g‐C3N4 nanosheet by hydrothermal method and the composite material was characterized by standard physical characterization techniques. When the nanocomposite was employed as a catalyst for electrochemical sensing of toxic food color Metanil yellow dye using gold electrode, the LOD value was found to be 0.09 nM. These studies show that the dicobaloxime acts as a bifunctional catalyst towards electrochemical proton reduction and for the detection of Metanil yellow dye.