bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Organizational Factors in Clinical Data Sharing for Artificial Intelligence in Health Care
Authors: Youssef Alaa , Ng Madelena Y. , Long Jin , Hernandez-Boussard Tina , Shah Nigam , Miner Adam , Larson David , Langlotz Curtis P.
Published: December 2023

Importance

Limited sharing of data sets that accurately represent disease and patient diversity limits the generalizability of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms in health care.

Objective

To explore the factors associated with organizational motivation to share health data for AI development.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This qualitative study investigated organizational readiness for sharing health data across the academic, governmental, nonprofit, and private sectors. Using a multiple case studies approach, 27 semistructured interviews were conducted with leaders in data-sharing roles from August 29, 2022, to January 9, 2023. The interviews were conducted in the English language using a video conferencing platform. Using a purposive and nonprobabilistic sampling strategy, 78 individuals across 52 unique organizations were identified. Of these, 35 participants were enrolled. Participant recruitment concluded after 27 interviews, as theoretical saturation was reached and no additional themes emerged.

Main Outcome and Measure

Concepts defining organizational readiness for data sharing and the association between data-sharing factors and organizational behavior were mapped through iterative qualitative analysis to establish a framework defining organizational readiness for sharing clinical data for AI development.

Results

Interviews included 27 leaders from 18 organizations (academia: 10, government: 7, nonprofit: 8, and private: 2). Organizational readiness for data sharing centered around 2 main constructs: motivation and capabilities. Motivation related to the alignment of an organization’s values with data-sharing priorities and was associated with its engagement in data-sharing efforts. However, organizational motivation could be modulated by extrinsic incentives for financial or reputational gains. Organizational capabilities comprised infrastructure, people, expertise, and access to data. Cross-sector collaboration was a key strategy to mitigate barriers to access health data.

Conclusions and Relevance

This qualitative study identified sector-specific factors that may affect the data-sharing behaviors of health organizations. External incentives may bolster cross-sector collaborations by helping overcome barriers to accessing health data for AI development. The findings suggest that tailored incentives may boost organizational motivation and facilitate sustainable flow of health data for AI development.
Screening for Social Determinants of Health During Primary Care and Emergency Department Encounters
Authors: Vilendrer Stacie , Thomas Samuel C. , Belnap Tom , Burnisholz Kim , Song Nancy , Srivastava Raj , Singer Sara
Published: December 2023

This cross-sectional study explores characteristics of patients who are screened and who screen positive for social determinants of health (SDOH) needs in different clinical settings within a large integrated health system.
DAYWAKE implicates novel roles for circulating lipid‐binding proteins as extracerebral regulators of daytime wake–sleep behavior
Authors: Villegas Gabriel , Pereira Mathew T. , Love Cameron R. , Edery Isaac
Published: December 2023

Sleep during the midday, commonly referred to as siesta, is a common trait of animals that mainly sleep during the night. Work using Drosophila led to the identification of the daywake (dyw) gene, found to have anti‐siesta activity. Herein, we show that the DYW protein undergoes signal peptide‐dependent secretion, is present in the circulatory system, and accumulates in multiple organs, but, surprisingly, it is not detected in the brain where wake–sleep centers are located. The abundance of DYW in adult flies is regulated by age, sex, temperature, and the splicing efficiency of a nearby thermosensitive intron. We suggest that DYW regulates daytime wake–sleep balance in an indirect, extracerebral manner, via a multi‐organ network that interfaces with the circulatory system.
Laser Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing of Mo and TZM Exoskeleton with Cu Infiltration for New Heat Sinks Configuration
Authors: Ramakrishnan Tejas , Kumar Amit , Hudon Pierre , Brochu Mathieu
Published: December 2023

This study reports the fabrication and characterization of molybdenum (Mo) metal and titanium‐zirconium‐molybdenum (TZM) alloy exoskeletons with honeycomb cavity structures (HCS) that are infiltrated with oxygen‐free high conductivity (OFHC) Cu under an inert atmosphere as a potential replacement for Cu‐Mo‐Cu laminate in heat sink applications for power electronics semiconductors like GaAs. The thermal expansion behavior and the thermal loading of the starting Mo and TZM structures, and of the Cu‐infiltrated parts are evaluated. The fabricated Mo and TZM structures with density >99% and Mo‐based heat sinks with improved CTE (6.6 × 10−6 K−1) when compared to conventional Cu‐Mo‐Cu laminated heat sinks (CTE = 7.6 × 10−6 K−1). The new Mo and TZM structures promise superior performance due to their closer CTE to that of GaAs and similar semiconductors (CTE = 5.7 × 10−6 K−1). Exposure to temperatures up to 1073 K did not affect the Mo microstructure due to the inherent resistance to recrystallization, while exposure to 1373 K did reduce hardness. In contrast, TZM exoskeletons showed resistance to recrystallization even at 1373 K. The fabricated composite heat sinks showed thermal diffusivity (≈61 × 106 m2 s−1) that is within the upper limits of those reported for commercial laminated heat sinks (45 to 65 × 106 m2 s−1).
Single Atom Iridium Decorated Nickel Alloys Supported on Segregated MoO2 for Alkaline Water Electrolysis
Authors: Wang Bin , Li Jiangnan , Li Dongze , Xu Junyuan , Liu Shoujie , Jiang Qike , Zhang Yashi , Duan Zhiyao , Zhang Fuxiang
Published: December 2023

Hetero‐interface engineering has been widely employed to develop supported multicomponent catalysts for water electrolysis, but it still remains a substantial challenge for supported single atom alloys. Herein a conductive oxide MoO2 supported Ir1Ni single atom alloys (Ir1Ni@MoO2 SAAs) bifunctional electrocatalysts through surface segregation coupled with galvanic replacement reaction, where the Ir atoms are atomically anchored onto the surface of Ni nanoclusters via the Ir‐Ni coordination accompanied with electron transfer from Ni to Ir is reported. Benefiting from the unique structure, the Ir1Ni@MoO2 SAAs not only exhibit low overpotential of 48.6 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and Tafel slope of 19 mV dec−1 for hydrogen evolution reaction, but also show highly efficient alkaline water oxidation with overpotential of 280 mV at 10 mA cm−2. Their overall water electrolysis exhibits a low cell voltage of 1.52 V at 10 mA cm−2 and excellent durability. Experiments and theoretical calculations reveal that the Ir‐Ni interface effectively weakens hydrogen binding energy, and decoration of the Ir single atoms boost surface reconstruction of Ni species to enhance the coverage of intermediates (OH*) and switch the potential‐determining step. It is suggested that this approach opens up a promising avenue to design efficient and durable precious metal bifunctional electrocatalysts.
Personalized Cancer Nanomedicine: Overcoming Biological Barriers for Intracellular Delivery of Biopharmaceuticals
Authors: López‐Estévez Ana María , Lapuhs Philipp , Pineiro‐Alonso Laura , Alonso María José
Published: December 2023

The success of personalized medicine in oncology relies on using highly effective and precise therapeutic modalities such as small interfering RNA (siRNA) and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Unfortunately, the clinical exploitation of these biological drugs has encountered obstacles in overcoming intricate biological barriers. Drug delivery technologies represent a plausible strategy to overcome such barriers, ultimately facilitating the access to intracellular domains. Here, an overview of the current landscape on how nanotechnology has dealt with protein corona phenomena as a first and determinant biological barrier is presented. This continues with the analysis of strategies facilitating access to the tumor, along with conceivable methods for enhanced tumor penetration. As a final step, the cellular barriers that nanocarriers must confront in order for their biological cargo to reach their target are deeply analyzed. This review concludes with a critical analysis and future perspectives of the translational advances in personalized oncological nanomedicine.
Nanoscale Operando Characterization of Electrolyte‐Gated Organic Field‐Effect Transistors Reveals Charge Transport Bottlenecks
Authors: Tanwar Shubham , Millan‐Solsona Ruben , Ruiz‐Molina Sara , Mas‐Torrent Marta , Kyndiah Adrica , Gomila Gabriel
Published: December 2023

Charge transport in electrolyte‐gated organic field‐effect transistors (EGOFETs) is governed by the microstructural property of the semiconducting thin film that is in direct contact with the electrolyte. Therefore, a comprehensive nanoscale operando characterization of the active channel is crucial to pinpoint various charge transport bottlenecks for rational and targeted optimization of the devices. Here, the local electrical properties of EGOFETs are systematically probed by in‐liquid scanning dielectric microscopy (in‐liquid SDM) and a direct picture of their functional mechanism at the nanoscale is provided across all operational regimes, starting from subthreshold, linear to saturation, until the onset of pinch‐off. To this end, a robust interpretation framework of in‐liquid SDM is introduced that enables quantitative local electric potential mapping directly from raw experimental data without requiring calibration or numerical simulations. Based on this development, a straightforward nanoscale assessment of various charge transport bottlenecks is performed, like contact access resistances, inter‐ and intradomain charge transport, microstructural inhomogeneities, and conduction anisotropy, which have been inaccessible earlier. Present results contribute to the fundamental understanding of charge transport in electrolyte‐gated transistors and promote the development of direct structure–property–function relationships to guide future design rules.
High‐Performance Photodetector Based on Bi2Se3/GeSe Heterojunction with Band Alignment Evolution
Authors: Li Yahui , Che Mengqi , Zhang Nan , Zou Yuting , Zhao Xingyu , Lin Yucai , Lv Bingchen , Ma Xiaobao , Shi Yaru , Yang Jianjun , Sun Xiaojuan , Li Shaojuan , Li Dabing
Published: December 2023

Band alignment engineering in 2D van der Waals heterostructures is a promising method for manufacturing high‐speed, high‐responsivity, and high‐gain photodetectors. Here, a heterojunction photodetector with the band alignment transition from type I to type II under the bias voltage using narrow bandgap material n‐Bi2Se3 and polarization‐sensitive material p‐GeSe is designed and prepared. This photodetector possesses excellent performance of broadband detection (532‐1550 nm), high responsivity (5.86 × 103 A W−1), high detectivity (1.50 × 1013 Jones), significant external quantum efficiency (1.15 × 106%) and fast response time (97 µs). Compared with the conventional type II band alignment, an additional triangular potential barrier is generated in this type II band alignment evolved from type I. Notably, this triangular barrier will block photogenerated carriers in Bi2Se3, which leads to high external quantum efficiency; Furthermore, photogenerated holes can tunnel through this barrier, effectively shortening the response time. Meanwhile, the device can achieve polarization detection (anisotropic ratio = 1.74 at 808 nm) and polarization imaging, which is of great significance for reducing the bit error rate in complex environments.
Gene–Environment Interactions for Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Reynoso Alexandra , Torricelli Roberta , Jacobs Benjamin Meir , Shi Jingchunzi , Aslibekyan Stella , Norcliffe‐Kaufmann Lucy , Noyce Alastair J , Heilbron Karl
Published: December 2023

Objective

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with complex etiology. Multiple genetic and environmental factors have been associated with PD, but most PD risk remains unexplained. The aim of this study was to test for statistical interactions between PD‐related genetic and environmental exposures in the 23andMe, Inc. research dataset.

Methods

Using a validated PD polygenic risk score and common PD‐associated variants in the GBA gene, we explored interactions between genetic susceptibility factors and 7 lifestyle and environmental factors: body mass index (BMI), type 2 diabetes (T2D), tobacco use, caffeine consumption, pesticide exposure, head injury, and physical activity (PA).

Results

We observed that T2D, as well as higher BMI, caffeine consumption, and tobacco use, were associated with lower odds of PD, whereas head injury, pesticide exposure, GBA carrier status, and PD polygenic risk score were associated with higher odds. No significant association was observed between PA and PD. In interaction analyses, we found statistical evidence for an interaction between polygenic risk of PD and the following environmental/lifestyle factors: T2D (p = 6.502 × 10−8), PA (p = 8.745 × 10−5), BMI (p = 4.314 × 10−4), and tobacco use (p = 2.236 × 10−3). Although BMI and tobacco use were associated with lower odds of PD regardless of the extent of individual genetic liability, the direction of the relationship between odds of PD and T2D, as well as PD and PA, varied depending on polygenic risk score.

Interpretation

We provide preliminary evidence that associations between some environmental and lifestyle factors and PD may be modified by genotype. ANN NEUROL 2024;95:677–687
Dexterous green synthesis of Cu2O nanoparticles: An amenable catalyst for aqueous click reaction, antiproliferative, and wound healing applications
Authors: Nayak Manojna R. , Kamble Ravindra R. , Shettar Arun K. , Kodasi Barnabas , Hoolageri Swati R. , Hoskeri Joy H. , Keri Rangappa S.
Published: December 2023

The implementation of green chemistry principles to nanotechnology is one of the primary topics in the interdisciplinary area of nanoscience, which is a field of research that is perpetually expanding. A method for synthesizing Cu2O nanoparticles from copper(II) salts in an adroit and tactical way by employing solid jaggery as an economical and readily available source of reducing and stabilizing agent has been established. The explicitly synthesized nanoparticles were also discovered to be effective catalysts for the azide‐alkyne Huisgen cycloaddition (click reaction) in an aqueous media as green solvent. The substrate scope entails synthesis of 1,4‐disubstituted 1,2,3‐triazoles with good to excellent yields. The formation of Cu2O NPs was corroborated by various physicochemical methods like UV‐Visible (UV–Vis), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Zeta potential, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, and X‐ray diffraction analyses. The Cu2O NPs were substantiated by evaluation using HeLa, MCF‐7, and MDAMB‐231 (IC50: 72.66 μg ml−1, 47.31, 63.44 μg ml−1) cancer cell lines and unveiled eminent anticancer activities. This study also enabled us to elucidate the effects of Cu2O NPs on wound healing and cell migration.
Racial and ethnic differences in infant survival for hydrocephaly—Texas, 1999–2017
Authors: Ahmed Munir , Shumate Charles , Bojes Heidi , Patel Ketki , Agopian A. J. , Canfield Mark
Published: December 2023

Background

Congenital hydrocephaly, an abnormal accumulation of fluid within the ventricular spaces at birth, can cause disability or death if untreated. Limited information is available about survival of infants born with hydrocephaly in Texas. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to calculate survival estimates among infants born with hydrocephaly without spina bifida in Texas.

Methods

A cohort of live‐born infants delivered during 1999–2017 with congenital hydrocephaly without spina bifida was identified from the Texas Birth Defects Registry. Deaths within 1 year of delivery were identified using vital and medical records. One‐year infant survival estimates were generated for multiple descriptive characteristics using the Kaplan–Meier method. Crude hazard ratios (HRs) for one‐year survival among infants with congenital hydrocephaly by maternal and infant characteristics and adjusted HRs for maternal race and ethnicity were estimated using Cox proportional hazard models.

Results

Among 5709 infants born with congenital hydrocephaly without spina bifida, 4681 (82%) survived the first year. The following characteristics were associated with infant survival: maternal race and ethnicity, clinical classification (e.g., chromosomal or syndromic), preterm birth, birth weight, birth year, and maternal education. In the multivariable Cox proportional hazards model, differences in survival were observed by maternal race and ethnicity after adjustment for other maternal and infant characteristics. Infants of non‐Hispanic Black (HR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.04–1.58) and Hispanic (HR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.12–1.54) women had increased risk for mortality, compared with infants of non‐Hispanic White women.

Conclusions

This study showed infant survival among a Texas cohort differed by maternal race and ethnicity, clinical classification, gestational age, birth weight, birth year, and maternal education in infants with congenital hydrocephaly without spina bifida. Findings confirm that mortality continues to be common among infants with hydrocephaly without spina bifida. Additional research is needed to identify other risk factors of mortality risk.
Afferent and efferent connections of the secondary general visceral sensory nucleus in goldfish
Authors: Uezono Shiori , Kato Takeshi , Yamada Yuusuke , Yoshimoto Masami , Yamamoto Naoyuki
Published: December 2023

The secondary general visceral sensory nucleus (SVN) receives ascending fibers from the commissural nucleus of Cajal (NCC), or the primary general visceral sensoru in the medulla oblongata of teleosts. However, the full set of fiber connections of the SVN have been studied only in the Nile tilapia. We have investigated the connections of the SVN in goldfish by tracer injection experiments to the nucleus. We paid special attention to the possible presence of spinal afferents, since the spinal cord projects to the lateral parabrachial nucleus, or the presumed homologue of SVN, in mammals. We found that the SVN indeed receives spinal projections. Spinal terminals were restricted to a region ventrolaterally adjacent to the terminal zone of NCC fibers, suggesting that the SVN can be subdivided into two subnuclei: the commissural nucleus‐recipient (SVNc) and spinal‐recipient (SVNsp) subnuclei. Tracer injections to the SVNc and SVNsp as well as reciprocal injections to the diencephalon revealed that both subnuclei project directly to diencephalic structures, such as the posterior thalamic nucleus and nucleus of lateral recess, although diencephalic projections of the SVNsp were rather sparse. The SVNsp appears to send fibers to more wide‐spread targets in the preoptic area than the SVNc does. The SVNc projects to the telencephalon, while the SVNsp sends scarce or possibly no fibers to the telencephalon. Another notable difference was that the SVNsp gives rise to massive projections to the dorsal diencephalon (ventromedial thalamic, central posterior thalamic, and periventricular posterior tubercular nuclei). These differential connections of the subnuclei may reflect discrete functional significances of the general visceral sensory information mediated by the medulla oblongata and spinal cord.
Disentangling effects of habitat on salmonid abundance in thermal refuges while accounting for imperfect detection
Authors: Sullivan Christopher J. , Vokoun Jason C.
Published: December 2023

Thermal refuges provide critical habitat for cold‐water‐dependent salmonids in marginal riverscapes during extreme heat events globally. Studies of thermal refuge use by salmonids are complicated by short‐term changes in weather conditions during heat waves, intermittent fish use, and the use of different analytical endpoints. We passively surveyed cold‐water‐dependent brown, rainbow, and brook trout (hereafter “trout”) thermoregulating in several thermal refuges along the Housatonic River, Connecticut, USA, during a two‐week heatwave using underwater action cameras (UACs). Using these data, we assessed the influence of various short‐term riverscape conditions on the abundance of trout within thermal refuges using a zero‐inflated Poisson, time‐stratified N‐mixture model in a Bayesian framework that accounts for imperfect detection. We detected at least one trout per sampling occasion, and estimated abundances summed across all thermal refuges ranged from 63.99 (95% credible interval [CRI] = 55.0–79.0) to 182.04 (167.0–199.0). We estimated higher trout abundances in larger thermal refuges located in low‐gradient river sections, and refuges that were deeper and cooler than the Housatonic River during the sampling occasion (all β estimates >0.0 and did not overlap zero). We also found evidence that less variable and cooler temperature regimes in the nearby Housatonic River led to higher estimated trout abundances within thermal refuges (all β estimates <0.0 and did not overlap zero). Last, we found that trout detection probabilities within thermal refuges were moderate (range = 0.521–0.634) when using UAC surveys and that the video image brightness negatively influenced detection (αbright = −0.193, 95% CRI = −0.330 to −0.058). To aid in trout population persistence in dynamic, marginal riverscapes as the climate changes, focusing on modifiable refuge attributes (e.g., depth, cold‐water plume area), and strategically targeting refuges in riverscape segments beneficial to trout may be tactics that could enhance conservation strategies globally.
Energy, Exergy, and Emission Analysis of Biofuels in Compression Ignition Engine with Camphor Oil as Premixing Fuel
Authors: Gurusamy Manikandaraja , Ponnusamy Chandrasekaran , Varuvel Edwin Geo
Published: December 2023

This article aims to study the impact of camphor oil premixing with intake air on compression ignition (CI) engine characteristics powered with jatropha oil and cottonseed oil. The experiment is conducted on the direct injection compression engine attached to the premixing setup. The investigation reveals that premixing of camphor oil with cottonseed oil and jatropha oil escalates the thermal brake efficiency to 35.02% and 33.62% and brings down the brake‐specific energy consumption to 10.27 and 10.70 kJ kWh−1. At all loading conditions, the premixing of camphor oil and the rise of camphor oil in premixing proportions increase the volumetric efficiency and cut the exhaust gas temperature. 20% premixing of camphor oil with cottonseed oil and jatropha oil drops the smoke opacity emissions by 22.23% and 11.86% and NO emission by 23.27% and 14.59%, respectively, at full load conditions. Further, it shows a 27.60% and 21.14% hike in CO emissions and a 31.34% and 31.87% hike in HC emissions at full load conditions. The in‐cylinder pressure, heat release rate, and mean gas temperature increase with increasing the energy share of camphor oil in premixing. Overall, the premixing of camphor oil shows better CI engine attributes except HC and CO emissions.
The relevance of prothrombotic genetic variants in women who experienced pregnancy loss or embryo implantation failure: A retrospective analysis of 1922 cases
Authors: Cernera Gustavo , Liguori Renato , Bruzzese Dario , Castaldo Giuseppe , De Placido Giuseppe , Conforti Alessandro , Amato Felice , Alviggi Carlo , Comegna Marika
Published: December 2023

Objective

The aim of our study was that to assess the allelic and genotype frequencies of nine prothrombotic gene variants in patients with a history of pregnancy loss and recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Women who underwent assisted reproductive technology (ART) with ongoing pregnancy and those with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) were also included.

Methods

Nine prothrombotic gene variants were evaluated: factor V Leiden (FVL), factor V, H1299R variant (FVR2), factor II (FII) G20210A, methylene‐tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T and A1298C, beta‐fibrinogen ‐455G>A, factor XIII (FXIII) V34L, human platelet antigen‐1 (HPA‐1) L33P variants, and plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 (PAI‐1) 4G/5G. The following study groups were assessed: (1) women who experienced one (n = 334) or two (n = 264) episodes of pregnancy loss; (2) 468 women who experienced RPL; (3) 214 women who underwent ART followed by ongoing pregnancies; and (4) 282 women who experienced RIF after ART, that is, three or more consecutive implantation failures following high‐quality embryo transfers to the uterus with an appropriate endometrium. As control group, 430 subjects from the general population were enrolled.

Results

FVL, the ‐455G>A variant of beta‐fibrinogen, and PAI‐1 4G were associated with a higher risk of developing RPL compared with the general population. Furthermore, FVL, FVR2, FII G20210A and MTHFR C677T conferred a significantly higher risk of RIF in women who performed ART compared with the general population. No statistical differences between the general population and other study groups were observed.

Conclusions

Specific prothrombotic genetic variants are more frequently expressed in women with RPL and RIF, supporting their role in the development of polimicrothrombosis and impairing the invasion during embryo implantation.
“Embodying opposites”—A case illustration of Dance Movement Therapy as an additional intervention in the treatment of co‐morbid Borderline Personality Disorder and Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Authors: Harty Erin
Published: December 2023

Dance Movement Therapy is gradually becoming recognized as a treatment option in Mental Health Care. However, the working mechanisms can be difficult to comprehend without experiential knowledge of this therapy form. This article aims to offer insight into the clinical application of Dance Movement Therapy for Sanne, a woman with a history of interpersonal relationship difficulties, problems with self‐regulation, low self‐efficacy and diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder and co‐morbid Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This case illustration describes treatment interventions during two months of bi‐monthly Dance Movement Therapy as an additional treatment alongside weekly group therapy and bi‐monthly individual Psychotherapy. Post treatment, Sanne demonstrates improvements in self‐regulatory behavior, interpersonal relationships and self‐efficacy as well as an experience she describes as being whole. This article highlights the implications for practitioners of embodied forms of therapy as well as multidisciplinary teams who wish to better understand how the use of opposites within Dance Movement Therapy may be used as an additional intervention for people with Borderline Personality Disorder and co‐morbid complex Post Traumatic stress Disorder.
Assessment of temporal instability in the applied ecology and conservation evidence base
Authors: Brisco Elizabeth , Kulinskaya Elena , Koricheva Julia
Published: December 2023

Outcomes of meta‐analyses are increasingly used to inform evidence‐based decision making in various research fields. However, a number of recent studies have reported rapid temporal changes in magnitude and significance of the reported effects which could make policy‐relevant recommendations from meta‐analyses to quickly go out of date. We assessed the extent and patterns of temporal trends in magnitude and statistical significance of the cumulative effects in meta‐analyses in applied ecology and conservation published between 2004 and 2018. Of the 121 meta‐analyses analysed, 93% showed a temporal trend in cumulative effect magnitude or significance with 27% of the datasets exhibiting temporal trends in both. The most common trend was the early study effect when at least one of the first 5 years effect size estimates exhibited more than 50% magnitude difference to the subsequent estimate. The observed temporal trends persisted in majority of datasets once moderators were accounted for. Only 5 datasets showed significant changes in sample size over time which could potentially explain the observed temporal change in the cumulative effects. Year of publication of meta‐analysis had no significant effect on presence of temporal trends in cumulative effects. Our results show that temporal changes in magnitude and statistical significance in applied ecology are widespread and represent a serious potential threat to use of meta‐analyses for decision‐making in conservation and environmental management. We recommend use of cumulative meta‐analyses and call for more studies exploring the causes of the temporal effects.
The composition and nutritional quality of biorefined lucerne protein depend on precipitation method
Authors: Stødkilde Lene , Ingerslev Anne Krog , Ambye‐Jensen Morten , Jensen Søren Krogh
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND

Lucerne protein extract is a novel high‐quality protein source with excellent amino acid (AA) composition of interest for human consumption. In this study, protein from screw‐pressed lucerne juice was extracted by different precipitation methods to evaluate the effect on the chemical composition and nutritional quality of the extracted protein. Methods based on heat, acidification or fermentation were used for protein precipitation, and the nutritional value of protein was evaluated in a rat digestibility trial.

RESULTS

Heat precipitation at 85 °C produced a protein product with a crude protein (CP) content of 589 g kg−1 dry matter (DM), a balanced AA composition and a high standardized nitrogen (N) digestibility (82.8%). Precipitation by acidification, at a lower temperature (60 °C) or by fermentation, resulted in lower CP content (425–488 g kg−1 DM). Nitrogen digestibility for the pH‐adjusted precipitate was equal to the 85 °C heat‐precipitated protein, while the fermented and 60 °C precipitated proteins showed lower N digestibility (76.5% and 78.6%, respectively). By applying a two‐step heat precipitation method (60 °C followed by 80 °C), a protein content of 712 g kg−1 DM and an N digestibility of 93.6% was reached, which are comparable to high‐quality animal‐based protein sources such as milk, whey, casein, and eggs, covering the AA requirements for children >6 months.

CONCLUSION

High‐quality protein can be extracted from lucerne, but the future focus should be on increased yield as the current low yields of the refined product will challenge the environmental and economic sustainability of production. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Effects of pork sausage on intestinal microecology and metabolism in mice
Authors: Xiao Hailong , Yin Danhan , Du Lidan , Li Gaotian , Lin Jie , Fang Chenyu , Shen Shaolin , Xiao Gongnian , Fang Ruosi
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND

Processed meat, as an important part of the human diet, has been recognized as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Although numerous epidemiological reports supported the IARC's view, the relevant evidence of a direct association between processed meat and carcinogenicity has been insufficient and the mechanism has been unclear. This study aims to investigate the effects of pork sausage (as a representative example of processed meat) intake on gut microbial communities and metabolites of mice. Microbial communities and metabolites from all groups were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and Ultra performance liquid chromatography‐quadrupole‐time of flight‐mass spectrometer (UPLC‐Q‐TOF/MS), respectively.

RESULTS

The levels of Bacteroidetes, Bacteroides, Alloprevotella, Lactobacillus, Prevotella_9, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Alistipes, Blautia, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Allobaculum, Helicobacter, Desulfovibrio, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Ruminococcaceae_UCG‐014, Lachnospiraceae_UCG‐006 and Streptococcus (P < 0.05) were obviously altered in the mice fed a pork sausage diet. Twenty‐seven metabolites from intestinal content samples and fourteen matabolites from whole blood samples were identified as potential biomarkers from multivariate analysis, including Phosphatidic acid (PA), Sphingomyelin (SM), Lysophosphatidylcholine (LysoPC), Diglyceride (DG), D‐maltose, N‐acylamides and so forth. The significant changes in these biomarkers demonstrate metabonomic variations in pork sausage treated rats, especially carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism.

CONCLUSION

The present study provided evidence that a processed meat diet can increase the risk of colorectal cancer and other diseases significantly by altering the microbial community structure and disrupting the body's metabolic pathways. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
The distribution of depth, volume, and basin shape for lakes in the conterminous United States
Authors: Ganz Keenan J. , Glines Max R. , Rose Kevin C.
Published: December 2023

Depth regulates many attributes of aquatic ecosystems, but relatively few lakes are measured, and existing datasets are biased toward large lakes. To address this, we used a large dataset of maximum (Zmax; n = 16,831) and mean (Zmean; n = 5,881) depth observations to create new depth models, focusing on lakes < 1,000 ha. We then used the models to characterize patterns in lake basin shape and volume. We included terrain metrics, water temperature and reflectance, polygon attributes, and other predictors in a random forest model. Our final models generally outperformed existing models (Zmax ; root mean square error [RMSE] = 8.0 m and Zmean ; RMSE = 3.0 m). Our models show that lake depth followed a Pareto distribution, with 2.8 orders of magnitude fewer lakes for an order of magnitude increase in depth. In addition, despite orders of magnitude variation in surface area, most size classes had a modal maximum depth of ~ 5 m. Concave (bowl‐shaped) lake basins represented 79% of all lakes, but lakes were more convex (funnel‐shaped) as surface area increased. Across the conterminous United States, 9.8% of all lake water was within the top meter of the water column, and 48% in the top 10 m. Excluding the Laurentian Great Lakes, we estimate the total volume in the conterminous United States is 1,057–1,294 km3, depending on whether Zmax or Zmean was modeled. Lake volume also exhibited substantial geographic variation, with high volumes in the upper Midwest, Northeast, and Florida and low volumes in the southwestern United States.
O‐GlcNAcylation: cellular physiology and therapeutic target for human diseases
Authors: Ye Lin , Ding Wei , Xiao Dandan , Jia Yi , Zhao Zhonghao , Ao Xiang , Wang Jianxun
Published: December 2023

O‐linked‐β‐N‐acetylglucosamine (O‐GlcNAcylation) is a distinctive posttranslational protein modification involving the coordinated action of O‐GlcNAc transferase and O‐GlcNAcase, primarily targeting serine or threonine residues in various proteins. This modification impacts protein functionality, influencing stability, protein–protein interactions, and localization. Its interaction with other modifications such as phosphorylation and ubiquitination is becoming increasingly evident. Dysregulation of O‐GlcNAcylation is associated with numerous human diseases, including diabetes, nervous system degeneration, and cancers. This review extensively explores the regulatory mechanisms of O‐GlcNAcylation, its effects on cellular physiology, and its role in the pathogenesis of diseases. It examines the implications of aberrant O‐GlcNAcylation in diabetes and tumorigenesis, highlighting novel insights into its potential role in cardiovascular diseases. The review also discusses the interplay of O‐GlcNAcylation with other protein modifications and its impact on cell growth and metabolism. By synthesizing current research, this review elucidates the multifaceted roles of O‐GlcNAcylation, providing a comprehensive reference for future studies. It underscores the potential of targeting the O‐GlcNAcylation cycle in developing novel therapeutic strategies for various pathologies.
Range shifter contribution to neutron exposure of patients undergoing proton pencil beam scanning
Authors: Romero‐Expósito Maite , Liszka Malgorzata , Christou Athanasia , Toma‐Dasu Iuliana , Dasu Alexandru
Published: December 2023

Background

Superficial targets require the use of the lowest energies within the available energy range in proton pencil‐beam scanning (PBS) technique. However, the lower efficiency of the energy selection system at these energies and the requirement of a greater number of layers may represent disadvantages for this approach. The alternative is to use a range shifter (RS) at nozzle exit. However, one of the concerns of using this beamline element is that it becomes an additional source of neutrons that could irradiate organs situated far from the target.

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to assess the increase in neutron dose due to the RS in proton PBS technique. Additionally, an analytical model for the neutron production is tested.

Methods

Two clinical plans, designed to achieve identical target coverage, were created for an anthropomorphic phantom. These plans consisted of a lateral field delivering an absorbed dose of 60 Gy (RBE) to the target. One of the plans employed the RS. The MCNP code was used to simulate the plans, evaluating the distribution of neutron dose equivalent (Hn) and the equivalent dose in organ. In the plan with the RS plan, neutron production from both the patient and the RS were assessed separately. Hn values were also fitted versus the distance to field edge using a Gaussian function.

Results

Hn per prescription dose, in the plan using the RS, ranged between 1.4 and 3.7 mSv/Gy at the field edge, whereas doses at 40 cm from the edge ranged from 9.9 to 32 μSv/Gy. These values are 1.2 to 10 times higher compared to those obtained without the RS. Both this factor and the contribution of neutrons originating from the RS increases with the distance from field edge. A triple‐Gaussian function was able to reproduce the equivalent dose in organs within a factor of 2, although underestimating the values.

Conclusions

The dose deposited in the patient by the neutrons originating from the RS predominantly affects areas away from the target (beyond approximately 25 cm from field edge), resulting in a neutron dose equivalent of the order of mSv. This indicates an overall low neutron contribution from the use of RS in PBS.
SimLife®: A New Dynamic Model for Head and Neck Surgical Oncology Simulation
Authors: Rullière Anne , Danion Jérôme , Fieux Maxime , Tonnerre Denis , Faure Jean‐Pierre , Legré Margaux , Favier Valentin , Oriot Denis , Dufour Xavier , Carsuzaa Florent
Published: December 2023

The SimLife® model consists in a human cadaver dynamized by pulsatile vascularization. The objective was to evaluate the face, contents, and constructs validity of the SimLife® model in head and neck surgical oncology simulation. Head and neck surgical oncology simulation sessions on SimLife® models were organized with lateral neck dissection and total laryngectomy. Face and contents validity were addressed by questionnaires. Constructs validity was assessed by objective structured assessment of technical skills (OSATS) score. High realism was demonstrated for consistency of tissues (7.1 ± 1.4), color of arteries and veins (7.3 ± 1.9, 8.5 ± 1.1, respectively), and vein consistency (8.5 ± 1.2). The mean OSATS score was 19.7 ± 5.4 for residents and 32.7 ± 1.9 for senior surgeon (P = .0022). SimLife® is a hyperrealistic model for head and neck surgical oncology simulation and it might become a core component of the surgical resident curriculum.
Inclusion of ecosystem services in the management of municipal natural open space systems
Authors: Wessels Nadia , Sitas Nadia , O'Farrell Patrick , Esler Karen J.
Published: December 2023

Unprecedented urbanisation in the Global South is transforming natural urban landscapes, impacting on the ability of nature to provide essential ecosystem services.

Within the context of pressures facing many urban natural open spaces, particularly in Africa, we used a local municipality in South Africa as a case study to (i) identify local government priorities for a natural open space system; (ii) develop an understanding of whether, and how, ecosystem services are considered by local government, and the reasons thereof; and (iii) ascertain the extent of proactive planning regarding regulating and other ecosystem services, including the temporal and spatial scales, and implications. In‐depth qualitative interviews (n = 12) were undertaken with senior municipal officials representing departments whose work impacts the environment. Municipal decision‐support documents were also analysed for any direct and/or indirect references to ecosystem services.

Planning for, and management of, ecosystem services provided by natural open spaces is influenced by interwoven infrastructure, municipal service delivery and equity challenges, complex institutional constraints and poverty, with little focus on the socio‐economic opportunities and other benefits of natural open space systems. Values, perceptions and knowledge also influence the management of ecosystem services.

The study contributes to understanding the opportunities and challenges for the future governance of natural open space in the Global South, which require explicit consideration in municipal planning, management and budgeting processes.

Policy and management implications identified include prioritisation of the regulating functions provided by natural open space systems, pivotal to the urban resilience agenda; building on the inherent appreciation of nature features as city assets, while achieving socio‐economic upliftment; improved (on‐site) collaborative management of natural open spaces; and involvement of local government officials in the preparation and updating of environmental policies and decision‐support documents, to ensure skills and knowledge transfer and interest are entrenched in local government departments.

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The mechanical and heat aging properties of natural rubber latex modified by carbon nanodots
Authors: Chen Jing , Liao Lusheng , Zhang Fuquan , Gao Tianming , Yang Zinuo , Ma Yukun , Lin Qiuxin , Lin Yijiao , Xue Mingyue
Published: December 2023

Due to their unique structure and tuneable physical, optical, and electronic properties, carbon nanodots (CDs) become one of the perfect nano‐materials in many fields such as biomarkers, optical sensing, and catalysis. The application of CDs in modifying polymers has also attracted much interest. In this work, a simple process was employed for introducing CDs to modify natural rubber (NR) latex. Glucose was applied as the precursor to prepare CDs by hydrothermal method, subsequently, the crude CDs were directly added to NR latex at a very lower concentration to prepare NR/CDs films. The results of mechanical properties demonstrate that the 500% modulus, tensile and tear strength of NR composites are significantly improved by the introduction of CDs. When the theoretical loading of CDs is 2 phr, the tensile strength and tear strength of NR/CDs film reach to 33.1 MPa and 56.4 N/mm, and improve 17.8% and 29.4% than NR without CDs respectively. It is particularly noteworthy that when the amount of CDs is higher than 1.5 phr, the heat‐aging resistance of NR has been enhanced. It has been confirmed by crosslink density, dynamic mechanical analysis, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer analysis that CDs have a certain confinement effect on the mobility of rubber molecular segments through physical adsorption and chemical crosslinking. The Tube model theory was employed to calculate parameters of the network structure of NR/CDs films (based on the stress–strain curves), the results indicate that CDs give NR film more chemical crosslinking points and less entanglement network.

Highlights

The crude carbon nanodots are used to modify NR latex at a lower concentration

The mechanical properties of NR films are obliviously improved

The heat‐aging resistance of NR has been enhanced by adding carbon nanodots higher than 1.5 phr

The Tube model theory are employed to analysis the crosslink network

CDs give NR film more chemical crosslinking points and less entanglement network
Wavefronts Dislocations of Friedel Oscillations in Graphene: Trigonal Warping Effect
Authors: Yang Jin , Zhang Shu‐Hui , Yang Wen
Published: December 2023

The electron waves of a host system exhibit an oscillating response to an external impurity, namely Friedel oscillations (FOs), extensively studied in two‐dimensional materials. Recently, wavefront dislocations, a new feature of FOs, have been revealed in graphene. However, previous analytical works have been limited to the linear dispersion of graphene. Herein, the fate of wavefront dislocations is investigated numerically in FOs beyond the linear regime. The wavefront dislocations are robust against the trigonal warping effect, crucial for high doping graphene, due to the invariant winding number of the tight‐binding energy band. Furthermore, the opening of the gap, increasing the electronic Fermi wavelength, can highlight the wavefront dislocations blurred by intravalley scattering‐induced short‐range oscillations. These results should be observable using current experimental technology. Therefore, this study not only demonstrates the robust existence of wavefront dislocations in FOs over a wide range of energies but also deepens the understanding of intervalley scattering in graphene and other two‐dimensional valleytronic materials.
“On‐The‐Fly” Synthesis of Self‐Supported LDH Hollow Structures Through Controlled Microfluidic Reaction‐Diffusion Conditions
Authors: Mattera Michele , Sorrenti Alessandro , De Gregorio Perpiñá Lidia , Oestreicher Víctor , Sevim Semih , Arteaga Oriol , Chen Xiang‐Zhong , Pané Salvador , Abellán Gonzalo , Puigmartí‐Luis Josep
Published: December 2023

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are a class of functional materials that exhibit exceptional properties for diverse applications in areas such as heterogeneous catalysis, energy storage and conversion, and bio‐medical applications, among others. Efforts have been devoted to produce millimeter‐scale LDH structures for direct integration into functional devices. However, the controlled synthesis of self‐supported continuous LDH materials with hierarchical structuring up to the millimeter scale through a straightforward one‐pot reaction method remains unaddressed. Herein, it is shown that millimeter‐scale self‐supported LDH structures can be produced by means of a continuous flow microfluidic device in a rapid and reproducible one‐pot process. Additionally, the microfluidic approach not only allows for an “on‐the‐fly” formation of unprecedented LDH composite structures, but also for the seamless integration of millimeter‐scale LDH structures into functional devices. This method holds the potential to unlock the integrability of these materials, maintaining their performance and functionality, while diverging from conventional techniques like pelletization and densification that often compromise these aspects. This strategy will enable exciting advancements in LDH performance and functionality.