bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical Issues — January 2024
Authors: Cahn Julie
Published: December 2023

THIS MONTH

Off‐label medication use and prescribing practices

Key words: off‐label, licensed prescriber, approved, unapproved, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Prophylactic, therapeutic, and empiric use of antimicrobial agents

Key words: prophylactic, therapeutic, empiric, infection, antimicrobial.

Perioperative RN administration of antineoplastic agents

Key words: antineoplastic medication, chemotherapy, hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), instillation device, perfusionist.

Minimum efficiency reporting values, parameters, and testing for air filters in heating, ventilation, and air‐conditioning systems

Key words: heating, ventilation, and air‐conditioning (HVAC); minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV); particle size removal efficiency; air filter; filtration.
Study on mechanical properties and fire resistance of porous ceramic silicone rubber
Authors: Min Yuanyuan , Hu Jin , Jin Sha , Hong Ling
Published: December 2023

Porous ceramic silicone rubber (PCSR) has an excellent ablative resistance because of its strong carbon layer structure after burning. However, as a marine sealant material, it also needs to have better mechanical properties for better application. In this study, PCSR composites were prepared by compounding with different additives and different viscosity base adhesives, and their fire resistance, tensile properties, and bond strength of multiple substrates at different temperatures were investigated and compared. When the ratio of 20,000 to 80,000 viscosity matrix adhesive is 3:7, the material prepared by adding deketoxime crosslinker and silane coupling agent containing amino and epoxy groups together can reach more than 1.4 MPa tensile shear strength at 150°C. Sintering experiments have shown that PCSR composites can still maintain the strength and integrity of the carbon layer structure, and the results of the A‐60 standard fire resistance test for cable and pipe penetration devices have shown that marine PCSR sealants can effectively prevent flame propagation.
Effects of a liquid metal co‐filler on the properties of epoxy/binary filler composites
Authors: Kim Suyeon , Song Chimin , Kim Suji , Kang Seongeun , Menge Habtamu Gebeyehu , Park Yong Tae , Lee Joohyung
Published: December 2023

Liquid metals (LMs) with high fluidity and high thermal conductivity (TC) are receiving considerable attention in the research on thermal management polymer composites as alternatives to conventional rigid solid fillers or as co‐fillers to overcome the trade‐off between TC and composite processability at high filler loads. While most previous studies have investigated the effects of LM fillers in soft elastomeric matrices, their effects on the composite properties with rigid matrices, such as epoxy‐based polymers, have not been discussed extensively. Herein, we investigated the effects of LM eutectic Ga‐In (EGaIn) as a co‐filler on the properties of rigid epoxy‐based composites with a binary filler (Al2O3/EGaIn) system. The increase in the volume fraction of LM fillers significantly improves the processability of uncured precursor composites but markedly decreases the mechanical strength of the cured composites at their high loads—the latter effects have rarely been examined in previous studies. However, with adequate LM loads, the composites exhibited superior mechanical properties compared with the all‐solid‐filler system, withstanding a surprisingly high compressive load (~100 kN) under which the all‐solid‐filler system fractured. Furthermore, the epoxy/binary filler composites exhibited reasonably high TC values (~1 W/mK) comparable to that of commercial epoxy molding compounds, suggesting their potential applicability for electronic packaging.
Limits of mitochondrial genes in delimiting species within a Carbula species complex (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)
Authors: Zhou Jiayue , Wang Shujing , Yu Shengjie , Li Yanfei , Qiao Mu , Zhao Qing , Hughes Edward , Liu Huaxi , Bu Wenjun
Published: December 2023

Molecular data has become a powerful tool for species delimitation, particularly among those that present limited morphological differences; while the mitochondrial genome, with its moderate length, low cost of sequencing and fast lineage sorting, has emerged as a practical data set. Due to the limited morphological differences among the closely related species of Carbula Stål 1865, the species boundaries between Carbula abbreviata (Motschulsky, 1866), Carbula humerigera (Uhler, 1860), and Carbula putoni (Jakovlev, 1876) have remained particularly unclear. In this study, we applied two phylogenetic reconstruction methods to two data sets (mitogenome and COI) to assess the phylogeny of Carbula distributed in Asia, and five species delimitation methods to determine the boundaries between East Asian Carbula species. Our phylogenetic analyses showed Carbula to be paraphyletic; the seven known species distributed within East Asia to form a single monophyletic group, and within this, C. abbreviata, C. humerigera, C. putoni and middle‐type to comprise a C. humerigera species complex. Our results show that mitogenome data alone, while effective in the differentiation of more distantly related Carbula species, is not sufficient to accurately delimit the species within this newly described complex.
Identification and characteristic analysis of an extracellular signal‐regulated kinase from Ostrinia furnacalis Guenée
Authors: Li Shuzhong , Xu Fuqiang , Zhang Yiqiang , Gao Zupeng , Han Zhaoyang , Feng Congjing
Published: December 2023

The extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) pathway, a critical genetic determinant, controls diverse physiological functions, including innate immunity, development, and stress response. In the current study, a full‐length cDNA (1592bp) encoding the ERK gene (OfERK) was cloned from Ostrinia furnacalis Guenée (GenBank accession number: MF797866). The open reading frame of the OfERK gene encoded 364 amino acids and shared 96.43%–98.08% amino acid identities with other insect mitogen‐activated protein kinases. For spatiotemporal analysis of the expression pattern, OfERK exhibited a significant peak expression on the 3rd day of the pupa stage and showed the highest expression in hemocytes specifically. Indirect immunofluorescence assays and immuno‐electron microscopy revealed a wide distribution of the OfERK protein in hemocytes and epidermis. Moreover, the results demonstrated that the Bt Cry1Ab‐activated toxin significantly induces the expression of OfERK. Other genes related to immune response, development, and stress response exhibited dynamic changes in expression after Cry1Ab oral treatment. The expression of OfERK was downregulated through RNA interference, and the correlation of its expression with other related genes was verified using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Our study provides valuable insights into the regulatory mechanism of ERK in insects for future studies.
Synthesis of novel pyrimido[4,5‐b]quinoline derivatives as dual EGFR/HER2 inhibitors as anticancer agents
Authors: Ibrahim Nahla Said M. , Kadry Hanan H. , Zaher Ashraf F. , Mohamed Khaled O.
Published: December 2023

A series of novel N‐aryl‐5‐aryl‐6,7,8,9‐tetrahydropyrimido[4,5‐b]quinolin‐4‐amines 4a–4l was synthesized as potential anticancer agents through Dimroth rearrangement reaction of intermediates 3a–3c. Pyrimido[4,5‐b]quinolines 4a–4l showed promising activity against the Michigan Cancer Foundation‐7 (MCF‐7) cell line, compared with lapatinib as the reference drug. Compounds 4d, 4h, 4i, and 4l demonstrated higher cytotoxic activity than lapatinib, with IC50 values of 2.67, 6.82, 4.31, and 1.62 µM, respectively. Compounds 4d, 4i, and 4l showed promising epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibition with IC50 values of 0.065, 0.116, and 0.052 µM, respectively. These compounds were subjected to human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) inhibition and showed IC50 values of 0.09, 0.164, and 0.055 µM, respectively. Compounds 4d, 4i, and 4l are good candidates as dual EGFR/HER2 inhibitors. The most active compound, 4l, was subjected to cell‐cycle analysis and induced cell‐cycle arrest at the S phase. Compound 4l induced apoptosis 60‐fold compared with control untreated MCF‐7 cells. 4l can inhibit cancer metastasis. It reduced MCF‐7 cell infiltration and metastasis by 45% compared with control untreated cells.
Microwave‐induced one‐pot synthesis of 3‐imidazolyl indole clubbed 1,2,3‐triazole hybrids as antiproliferative agents and density functional theory study
Authors: Chudasama Dipakkumar D. , Rajput Chetan V. , Patel Manan S. , Parekh Jaydeepkumar N. , Patel Harsh C. , Chikhaliya Navin P. , Puerta Adrián , Padrón José M. , Ram Kesur R.
Published: December 2023

Herein, we outline a highly efficient PEG‐4000‐mediated one‐pot three‐component reaction for the synthesis of 3‐imidazolyl indole clubbed 1,2,3‐triazole derivatives (5a–r) at up to 96% yield as antiproliferative agents. This three‐component protocol offers the advantages of an environmentally benign reaction, excellent yield, quick response time, and operational simplicity triggered by the copper catalyst under microwave irradiation. All the synthesized compounds were tested for antiproliferative activity against six human solid tumor cell lines, that is, A549 and SW1573 (nonsmall cell lung), HBL100 and T‐47D (breast), HeLa (cervix), and WiDr (colon). Among them, six compounds, 5g–j, 5m, and 5p, demonstrated effective antiproliferative action with GI50 values under 10 μM. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed for all the synthesized molecules through geometry optimizations, frontier molecular orbital approach, and molecular electrostatic potential (MESP). The theoretical DFT calculation was performed using the DFT/B3LYP/6‐31+G (d,p) basis set. Moreover, the biological reactivity of all the representative synthesized molecules was compared with the theoretically calculated quantum chemical descriptors and MESP 3D plots. We also investigated the drug‐likeness characteristic and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) prediction. In general, our approach enables environmentally friendly access to 3‐imidazolyl indole clubbed 1,2,3‐triazole derivatives as prospective antiproliferative agents.
The Recent Advances in Iron‐Catalyzed C(sp3)−H Functionalization
Authors: Bhavyesh Desai , Soliya Sudha , Konakanchi Ramaiah , Begari Eeshwaraiah , Ashalu Kashamalla Chinna , Naveen Togati
Published: December 2023

The use of iron as a core metal in catalysis has become a research topic of interest over the last few decades. The reasons are clear. Iron is the most abundant transition metal on Earth's crust and it is widely distributed across the world. It has been extracted and processed since the dawn of civilization. All these features render iron a noncontaminant, biocompatible, nontoxic, and inexpensive metal and therefore it constitutes the perfect candidate to replace noble metals (rhodium, palladium, platinum, iridium, etc.). Moreover, direct C−H functionalization is one of the most efficient strategies by which to introduce new functional groups into small organic molecules. The majority of organic compounds contain C(sp3)−H bonds. Given the enormous importance of organic molecules in so many aspects of existence, the utilization and bioactivity of C(sp3)−H bonds are of the utmost importance. This review sheds light on the substrate scope, selectivity, benefits, and limitations of iron catalysts for direct C(sp3)−H bond activations. An overview of the use of iron catalysis in C(sp3)−H activation protocols is summarized herein up to 2022.
H∞bumpless transfer control of switched systems with time‐varying delays
Authors: Liu Chao , Yang Hongyu , Liu Xiaoyang , Huang Xianying , Huang Junjian
Published: December 2023

This paper investigates the bumpless transfer control (HBTC) problem of switched systems with time‐varying delays. A novel smooth switching state feedback controller is designed to eliminate the bumps existing in the classical switched state feedback control strategy. By the use of average dwell time (ADT) and multiple Lyapunov–Krasovskii functionals, some solvability conditions for the HBTC problem are derived. The control gain matrices can be calculated by solving linear matrix inequalities(LMIs). A numerical example is employed to show the validity of the proposed results.
The effects of a minimal length on the Kerr metric
Authors: Maghlaoui L. , Hess P. O.
Published: December 2023

The effects of a minimal length on the Kerr metric are studied within the pseudo‐complex General Relativity (pcGR), which has a minimal length parameter and also depends on a ‐dependent metric, allowing for the accumulation of dark energy around a star. The relevant parameters are the rotational Kerr parameter , the mass of a black hole, and a parameter measuring the amount of dark energy accumulated. It is found that the metric is modified by a factor, depending on , resulting in a maximal acceleration. This factor shows several singularities. For small black holes, the corresponding effective potentials exhibit potential barriers, avoiding the increase of the black hole's mass. It is found that the effects of a minimal length are only of importance for very small mass black holes and vanish for macroscopic black holes.
An accretion‐jet model for 3C 84: Interpreting the spectral energy distribution and Faraday rotation measure
Authors: Feng Jianchao , Wang Xiaowen , Jing Rui
Published: December 2023

3C 84 is a well‐known supermassive black hole that can be used to explore jet and accretion physics. In this work, we model the multiwavelength spectral energy distribution (SED) of the 3C 84, and find that the SED is difficult to fit with pure advection dominated accretion flow (ADAF) or pure jet model. Using a coupled ADAF‐jet model to fit the SED of 3C 84, it is found that the radio emission and the millimeter emission can be naturally reproduced by the synchrotron radiation of nonthermal electrons in the jet, and that the X‐ray emission may predominantly come from inverse Compton radiation from electrons in ADAF. According to the Rotation Measure (RM) obtained by the polarization observation, we consider the possible location of the polarizing source and found that the calculated RM in the jet is roughly consistent with the observational constraints. These results will help us better understand jets produced by black holes.
Sustainable board governance and environmental performance: European evidence
Authors: Velte Patrick
Published: December 2023

The ambitious EU Green Deal project is linked to extensive regulations on sustainability reporting, sustainable finance, and sustainable corporate governance. With increasing awareness of the impact of sustainable board governance on corporate environmental performance, our paper includes an innovative sustainable board governance score, reflecting significant board attributes. The question arises whether the combined effect of sustainable board measures, based on (1) sustainability board committees, (2) a critical mass of female board members, and (3) sustainability‐related executive compensation, influences environmental performance and its main sub‐pillars according to the EU Taxonomy Regulation. Based on stakeholder and critical mass theories, our study empirically addresses the impact of sustainable board governance on environmental performance and five sub‐pillars (carbon, emissions, biodiversity, resource use, and water performance). Using a sample of 2630 firm‐year observations from 2014 to 21, we find that sustainable board governance significantly improves environmental performance and the related sub‐pillars, except for biodiversity and water performance. Our findings are robust to robustness analyses and endogeneity checks. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to rely on the combined effect of sustainable board attributes and its impact of environmental performance and its major sub‐pillars. Thus, this study provides new insight into the relationship between corporate governance and environmental performance in the EU capital market to guide researchers, business practice, and regulatory bodies.
Improved outcomes of localized diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma at the Waldeyer ring in comparison to the sinonasal area in the rituximab era
Authors: Ma Wei‐Li , Hong Ruey‐long , Lou Pei‐Jen , Yao Ming , Wu Shang‐Ju , Lin Chung‐Wu , Wang Chun‐Wei , Chang Chin‐Hao , Cheng Ann‐Lii , Kuo Sung‐Hsin
Published: December 2023

Background

Diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) of the head‐and‐neck area primarily involves the Waldeyer ring (WR) and sinonasal area (SN). However, the differential clinical outcomes between patients with WR‐DLBCL and those with SN‐DLBCL in the rituximab era remain unclear.

Methods

To avoid confounding factors contributed by advanced DLBCL with WR and SN involvement, we assessed the clinical outcomes of patients with stage I/II WR‐DLBCL and SN‐DLBCL and compared them with those having corresponding stages of DLBCL in the lymph nodes but without other extranodal involvement (LN‐DLBCL) in the same period. We compared the patients' clinical characteristics, treatment modalities, event‐free survival (EFS), and overall survival (OS) among the three subgroups.

Results

We analyzed 67, 15, and 106 patients with WR‐DLBCL, SN‐DLBCL, and LN‐DLBCL, respectively, between January 2000 and December 2019. All patients received front‐line rituximab‐based regimens, and > 80% received rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone‐based regimens. More patients with SN‐DLBCL had revised International Prognostic Index (R‐IPI) score 3 (27%) when compared with those with WR‐DLBCL (7%) and those with LN‐DLBCL (10%, p = 0.181). Patients with WR‐DLBCL, LN‐DLBCL, and SN‐DLBCL had 5‐year EFS and OS rates of 80.7%, 59.5%, and 41.9% (p = 0.021) and 83.7%, 70.8%, and 55.8% (p = 0.032), respectively. Compared to patients with LN‐DLBCL, those with WR‐DLBCL also had a significantly favorable 5‐year EFS rate (p = 0.021) and 5‐year OS rate (p = 0.023). Three of the 15 patients with SN‐DLBCL experienced lymphoma recurrence in the brain after front‐line treatment. In multivariate analyses, R‐IPI scores of 1–2 and 3 served as significantly poor prognostic factors for patients with poor EFS and OS.

Conclusions

Compared to patients with LN‐DLBCL, patients with WR‐DLBCL receiving front‐line rituximab‐based treatments had favorable clinical outcomes; however, patients with SN‐DLBCL had worse clinical outcomes. Further studies on molecular prognostic factors and treatment strategies for SN‐DLBCL are warranted.
Prediction of early‐onset colorectal cancer mortality rates in the United States using machine learning
Authors: Ali Hassam , Patel Pratik , Dahiya Dushyant Singh , Gangwani Manesh Kumar , Basuli Debargha , Mohan Babu Pappu
Published: December 2023

Introduction

The current study, focusing on a significant US (United States) colorectal cancer (CRC) burden, employs machine learning for predicting future rates among young population.

Methods

CDC WONDER data from 1999 to 2022 was analyzed for CRC‐related mortality in patients younger than 56 years. Temporal trends in age‐adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) were assessed via Joinpoint software. Future mortality rates were forecasted using an optimal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model.

Results

From 1999 to 2022, we observed 150,908 deaths with CRC listed as the underlying cause, predominantly in males, with an upward trend in AAMR. The ARIMA model projects an increase in CRC mortality by 2035, estimating an average annual percent change (AAPC) of 1.3% overall, 1% for females, and 1.5% for males.

Conclusion

Our study findings emphasize the need for more robust preventive measures to reduce future CRC mortality among younger population. These results have significant implications for public health policies, particularly for males under 56, and underscore the importance of early screening and lifestyle modifications.
Harvesting of Atmospheric Water Using Polymer‐Based Hybrid Hydrogels
Authors: Abdulbakee Muhammed Haruna , Shahadat Mohammad , Tweib Saleh Ali , Sa'ad Abdullahi Shehu , Amir Qureshi Mohammad , Abdulrazaq Yahaya , Birniwa Abdullahi Haruna , Wani Ajaz Ahmad , Jagaba Ahmad Hussaini , Adam Mohammad Rania Edrees , Razali Mohd R. , Alaswad Saleh O.
Published: December 2023

Atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) is an important parallel or supplemental freshwater production technique to liquid water resource‐based technologies due to the availability of moisture resources regardless of location and the possibility of realizing decentralized applications. Recent developments to regulate the characteristic features and nanostructures of moisture‐harvesting materials demonstrate new opportunities to improve device efficiency. Focusing on the design of water harvesting materials and the optimization of the overall system, this review sums up the most recent developments in this area and presents prospects for the future development of AWH. An overview of the processes involved in water sorption by various sorbents and the characteristics and functionality of the polyaniline‐based hydrogels developed for AWH is given. Newly reported hydrogel sorbents used for AWH are evaluated, focusing on their benefits, drawbacks, and design methodologies. Several AWH‐specific water harvesters are described and the impact of the system's mass and heat transfer on its operational effectiveness is explored. Finally, potential roadmaps for the development of this technology are detailed and the challenges in this subject from both a basic research and practical application perspective are discussed.
Hydrophilic or Hydrophobic? Optimizing the Catalyst Microenvironment for Gas‐Involving Electrocatalysis
Authors: Shi Kaige , Ren Zhuanghe , Meng Zhen , Feng Xiaofeng
Published: December 2023

Electrocatalysis plays a key role in the development of renewable energy technologies. Along with the design of electrocatalysts, the microenvironment around catalytic sites has received increasing attention because it affects the distribution and mass transport of reaction species and impacts the reaction kinetics. In this Concept article, we highlight some mechanistic insights into the effect of microenvironment on gas‐involving electrocatalytic reactions, including CO2 reduction, 2‐electron oxygen reduction, and hydrazine oxidation, demonstrating their sensitivity to the wetting properties of microenvironment. For reactions with a gaseous reactant, a moderately hydrophobic microenvironment can greatly enhance the mass transport of gaseous species to accelerate the reaction kinetics while improving the stability of gas‐diffusion electrodes. In contrast, for reactions with a liquid reactant and gaseous product, a hydrophilic microenvironment improves the exposure of catalytic sites to the reactant, while a hydrophobic microenvironment benefits the reaction on the other end by accelerating the diffusion and detachment of generated gas bubbles, which would otherwise block the catalytic sites from the reactant. These understandings and insights can provide important guidelines on the control and optimization of catalyst microenvironment for the development of efficient electrolyzers.
Base‐Ionizable Anionic NHC Ligands in Pd‐catalyzed Reactions of Aryl Chlorides
Authors: Chernenko Andrey Yu. , Baydikova Victoria A. , Kutyrev Vadim V. , Astakhov Alexander V. , Minyaev Mikhail E. , Chernyshev Victor M. , Ananikov Valentine P.
Published: December 2023

Aryl chlorides, due to their affordability and accessibility, are preferred reagents in Pd‐catalyzed arylation reactions. However, the reactivity of aryl chlorides is often lower than that of aryl bromides and iodides due to the significantly higher barriers of the oxidative addition stage. This research introduces a novel design for NHC ligands, which notably enhances the efficiency of Pd/NHC catalytic systems in reactions where the oxidative addition of aryl chloride is the rate‐limiting step. This design leverages the synergy between specific steric characteristics and the anionic nature of the newly fashioned 1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐ylidene ligands. These ligands, inspired by Nitron‐type designs, can be ionized under basic conditions due to their NH‐acidic aryl(alkyl)amino groups. Detailed experimental and DFT studies revealed that the deprotonation of these NHCs promotes electron donation to the metal center, promoting the oxidative addition of aryl chloride. The specially optimized ATPr ligand, featuring 2,6‐diisopropylphenyl groups, displayed remarkable catalytic efficacy in the Suzuki‐Miyaura reaction and improved outcomes in ketone α‐arylation and Buchwald‐Hartwig reactions with unactivated aryl chlorides. The insights and strategies established in this study provide rational considerations for further advancements in NHC designs and their applications in metal‐catalyzed reactions.
Anthraquinone‐Modified Silica Nanoparticles as Heterogeneous Photocatalyst for the Oxidative Hydroxylation of Arylboronic Acids
Authors: Guadalupe Martin María , Lázaro‐Martínez Juan Manuel , Martín Sandra Elizabeth , Uberman Paula Marina , Budén María Eugenia
Published: December 2023

In this work, the synthesis and characterization of a heterogeneous photocatalyst based on spherical silica nanoparticles superficially modified with anthraquinone 2‐carboxylic acid (AQ−COOH) are presented. The nanomaterial was characterized by TEM, SEM, FT‐IR, diffuse reflectance, fluorescence, NMR, DLS, XRD and XPS. These analyses confirm the covalent linking of AQ−COOH with the NH2 functionality in the nanomaterial and, more importantly, the photocatalyst retains its photophysical properties once bound. The heterogeneous photocatalyst was successfully employed in the aerobic hydroxylation of arylboronic acids to phenols under sustainable reaction conditions. Phenols were obtained in high yields (up to 100 %) with low catalyst loading (3.5 mol %), reaching TOF values of 3.7 h−1. Using 2‐propanol as solvent at room temperature, the visible light photocatalysis produced H2O2 as a key intermediate to promote the aerobic hydroxylation of arylboronic acids. The heterogeneous photocatalyst was reused at least 5 times, without modification of the nanomaterial structure and morphology. This simple heterogeneous system showed great catalytic activity under sustainable reaction conditions.
A novel hypoglycemia alarm framework for type 2 diabetes with high glycemic variability
Authors: Wang Xinzhuo , Yang Zi , Ma Ning , Sun Xiaoyu , Li Hongru , Zhou Jian , Yu Xia
Published: December 2023

In patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), accurate prediction of hypoglycemic events is crucial for maintaining glycemic control and reducing their frequency. However, individuals with high blood glucose variability experience significant fluctuations over time, posing a challenge for early warning models that rely on static features. This article proposes a novel hypoglycemia early alarm framework based on dynamic feature selection. The framework incorporates domain knowledge and introduces multi‐scale blood glucose features, including predicted values, essential for early warnings. To address the complexity of the feature matrix, a dynamic feature selection mechanism (Relief‐SVM‐RFE) is designed to effectively eliminate redundancy. Furthermore, the framework employs online updates for the random forest model, enhancing the learning of more relevant features. The effectiveness of the framework was evaluated using a clinical dataset. For T2D patients with a high coefficient of variation (CV), the framework achieved a sensitivity of 81.15% and specificity of 98.14%, accurately predicting most hypoglycemic events. Notably, the proposed method outperformed other existing approaches. These results indicate the feasibility of anticipating hypoglycemic events in T2D patients with high CV using this innovative framework.
Prevalence and prognosis of PIK3CA mutations in Bulgarian patients with metastatic breast cancer receiving endocrine therapy in first‐line setting
Authors: Gencheva R. , Petrova M. , Kraleva P. , Hadjidekova S. , Radanova M. , Conev N. , Stoyanov D. , Arabadjiev J. , Tazimova E. , Bachurska S. , Eneva M. , Tsvetkova M. , Zhbantov G. , Karanikolova T. , Manov D. , Ivanova A. , Taushanova‐Hadjieva M. , Staneva R. , Dimitrova E. , Donev I.
Published: December 2023

Background and aims

In approximately 40% of patients with HER2‐negative/HR‐positive breast cancer tumors, the PIK3CA gene is mutated. Despite this, clinical outcomes vary between studies in this cohort. We aimed to ascertain the prevalence of PIK3CA mutations in patients with metastatic HR+/HER2– breast in Bulgaria, as well the evaluation and comparison of progression free survival (PFS) between wild‐type (WT) and mutation‐positive groups in the real‐world setting.

Methods

Three oncology centers in Bulgaria collected 250 tissue samples between 2016 and 2022 for this multicentric retrospective study. PIK3CA mutations were identified using Real‐Time qPCR. The median follow‐up period was 35 months.

Results

The mean age of the mutant cohort was 57.6 ± 11.6 years, compared to 56.5 ± 12.2 years for the WT cohort (p = .52). The percentage of patients with visceral metastasis was 58.8% (n = 147). Approximately 84.3% (n = 210) of the patients had reached postmenopause. 29.2% (n = 73) of the patients had PIK3CA mutations. The predominant mutation was present in exon 20, H1047R (46.5%). We found a significant correlation only between the presence of a mutation and the metastatic diseases at diagnosis (p = .002). As first‐line therapy, 67.1% of patients received endocrine therapy (ET) plus cyclin dependent kinase (CDK4/6) inhibitor, while the remainder received ET alone. The median PFS of patients in the group with the mutation was 32 months (95%, CI: 22–40) compared to 24 months in the WT cohort ((95%, CI: 21–36) (p = .45)); HR = 0.86 (95%, CI: 0.5–1.3) (p = .46). We corroborated our conclusion using propensity matching score analysis, (36 months [95% CI: 20–40] vs. 26 months [95% CI: 21–38], [p = .69]).

Conclusions

We found that the prevalence of PIK3CA mutations in our patients was comparable to what has been reported in other nations. Our results suggest that PIK3CA mutational status has no bearing to ET efficacy in first‐line setting.
Cancer incidence in Iran in 2016: A study based on the Iranian National Cancer Registry
Authors: Hadavandsiri Fatemeh , Allahqoli Leila , Rahimi Yekta , Salehiniya Hamid , Ghazanfari Savadkoohi Ehsan , Akbari Mohammad Esmaeil
Published: December 2023

Background

Cancer poses an escalating public health challenge, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of cancer incidence to formulate effective control strategies.

Aims

This study aims to present a comprehensive overview of cancer incidence in Iran, utilizing data from the Iranian National Population‐based Cancer Registry (INPCR) for the year 2016.

Methods

The study employed INPCR data to compute crude and age‐standardized incidence rates (ASR) per 100 000 for the most common cancers among men and women across Iran's 31 provinces. Data analysis utilized Excel (2019) and STATA 14.

Results

In 2016, 124 833 new cancer cases were registered, with 65 495 (52.90%) occurring in men and 58 312 (47.10%) in women. ASRs for all cancers in the total population were 177.48, with specific rates for men and women at 192.96 and 162.33, respectively. The five most common cancers in men were prostate (23.25), stomach (21.56), colon (19.30), bladder (16.20), and lung (13.15). Among women, the leading cancers were breast (40.60), colon (14.64), thyroid (10.84), stomach (10.25), and lung (5.63). West Azarbaijan had the highest incidence among men, while Yazd topped the list for women. Age‐specific incidence rates revealed peaks in the 67–74 age group for men and the 40–50 age group for women.

Conclusion

This study affirms that while Iran exhibits a lower cancer incidence compared to global averages, there has been a temporal increase. Disparities in ASR exist across sexes and provinces, with shifts in the ranking of common cancers by sex compared to previous reports.
Controlled Supramolecular Assemblies of Chiral Cyclometalated Gold (III) Amphiphiles in Aqueous Media
Authors: Chan Aries Kwok‐Heung , Chau Ming‐Hin , Ren Yikun , Jiang Jia‐Jun , Wong Man‐Kin , Leung Franco King‐Chi
Published: December 2023

Invited for this month's cover are the collaborating groups of Prof. Man‐Kin Wong and Dr. Franco King‐Chi Leung from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The cover picture illustrates chiral gold (III) amphiphiles assemble into tubular supramolecular structures in aqueous media through counterion controlled pathway. The nanostructures were further demonstrated with good cytocompatibility in aqueous media. More information can be found in the Research Article by Man‐Kin Wong, Franco King‐Chi Leung, and co‐workers.
Fault‐resilient control of parallel PV inverters using multi‐agent twin‐delayed deep deterministic policy gradient approach
Authors: Malik Azra , Haque Ahteshamul , Kurukuru V. S. Bharath , Mekhilef Saad
Published: December 2023

Grid‐tied photovoltaic system (GTPS) are widely favored due to their inherent benefits. The interface of parallel power electronic converters in these systems is rapidly increasing. The inverter in GTPS has a very important role in power conversion, transfer, and control. However, their challenging working conditions contribute to susceptibility to power switching device failures. Traditional fault diagnosis and tolerant approaches exhibit limitations in control efficiency, model dependency, and slow recovery from fault. This study proposes a multi‐agent twin delayed deep deterministic policy gradient (MATD3PG) configuration for intelligent parallel inverter control, fault diagnosis, and fault‐tolerant operation in GTPS structure. By leveraging the multi‐agent reinforcement learning (RL) framework, an optimal control of the parallel inverter can be achieved, encompassing fault‐tolerant operation using MATLAB Simulink/PLECS. The major advantage the given technique offers is that it carries out optimum fault‐tolerant operation without causing the system derating. Experimental findings demonstrate that the proposed fault‐tolerant model based on RL traditional methods is able to ensure continuous supply to the connected loads even during fault events. Further, the transition time from fault occurrence to recovery is found to be 6 ms, which is quite less compared with the fault‐tolerant techniques presented in literature. Through real‐time fault diagnosis‐based results, the proposed approach ensures precise tracking of reference currents, quicker response times, uninterrupted supply, and smooth transition to the post‐fault operation mode.
Correlation induced out‐of‐phase plasmon in an electron liquid
Authors: Kalman Gabor J. , Golden Kenneth I. , Silvestri Luciano G.
Published: December 2023

We derive from first principles the existence of a low‐frequency plasmon in a strongly coupled three‐dimensional homogeneous electron gas (HEG). From its dispersion and its satisfaction of the third frequency sum rule we identify it with the conjectured magnetic excitation in the HEG. This excitation is maintained by the out‐of‐phase oscillations of the spin‐up and spin‐down densities of the electron liquid, but governed solely by the Coulomb interaction between the particles. The frequency square of this mode is proportional to the overlap (r = 0) (absolute) value of the spin‐up/spin‐down correlation function, and thus slightly affected by, but not contingent upon the degree of polarization of the electron liquid. We estimate the spectral weight of the mode: it is expected to be governed by electron–electron collision induced spin drag. The spectral weight is manifest in the partial spin‐resolved dynamical structure functions and it is proportional to the product of the densities of the two spin components. An independent derivation based on a generalized Feynman Ansatz corroborates our result. The relationship to the recently identified “spin plasmon” excitation is discussed.
Forecasting global spread of invasive pests and pathogens through international trade
Authors: Montgomery Kellyn , Walden‐Schreiner Chelsey , Saffer Ariel , Jones Chris , Seliger Benjamin J. , Worm Thom , Tateosian Laura , Shukunobe Makiko , Kumar Sunil , Meentemeyer Ross K.
Published: December 2023

Non‐native plant pests and pathogens threaten biodiversity, ecosystem function, food security, and economic livelihoods. As new invasive populations establish, often as an unintended consequence of international trade, they can become additional sources of introductions, accelerating global spread through bridgehead effects. While the study of non‐native pest spread has used computational models to provide insights into drivers and dynamics of biological invasions and inform management, efforts have focused on local or regional scales and are challenged by complex transmission networks arising from bridgehead population establishment. This paper presents a flexible spatiotemporal stochastic network model called PoPS (Pest or Pathogen Spread) Global that couples international trade networks with core drivers of biological invasions—climate suitability, host availability, and propagule pressure—quantified through open, globally available databases to forecast the spread of non‐native plant pests. The modular design of the framework makes it adaptable for various pests capable of dispersing via human‐mediated pathways, supports proactive responses to emerging pests when limited data are available, and enables forecasts at different spatial and temporal resolutions. We demonstrate the framework using a case study of the invasive planthopper spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula). The model was calibrated with historical, known spotted lanternfly introductions to identify potential bridgehead populations that may contribute to global spread. This global view of phytosanitary pandemics provides crucial information for anticipating biological invasions, quantifying transport pathways risk levels, and allocating resources to safeguard plant health, agriculture, and natural resources.
Organocatalytic Asymmetric Reduction of δ‐Nitro Dienes: a Viable Entry to Functionalized Amines and Highly Substituted Enantioenriched Cyclopentanes
Authors: Faverio Chiara , Franco Francesca , Taini Giulia , Raimondi Laura , Benaglia Maurizio
Published: December 2023

δ‐nitro dienes were successfully synthesized and converted to δ‐nitro alkenes with complete chemo and regioselectivity. The enantioselective organocatalytic reduction was also accomplished and afforded the product in up to 97 % e.e. The chiral nitro alkene was further elaborated and employed as starting material in a stereoselective cyclization reaction that led to an almost enantiomerically pure highly functionalised cyclopentane featuring 5 contiguous stereocenters.
Past glaciation of temperate‐continental mountains: A model for a debris‐charged plateau icefield/cirque glacier landsystem in the Southern Carpathians, Romania
Authors: Balaban Cristina I. , Roberts David H. , Evans David J. A. , Jamieson Stewart S. R.
Published: December 2023

Reconstructing the extent, style, timing and drivers of past mountain glaciation is crucial in both understanding past atmospheric circulation and predicting future climate change. Unlike in high‐elevation mountains situated in maritime and continental climates, less is known of past glaciation in mid‐altitude mountains, located in transitional climates, such as the Southern Carpathians of Romania. Despite these mountains harbouring a rich glacial geomorphology, this has never been systematically mapped according to well‐established morphological criteria, nor confidently related to former styles of glaciation. Therefore, filling this gap is important for not only accurately identifying glacial extents but also for establishing past glaciation styles and relating them to past ice dynamics and climate. Here, we devise the first glacial landsystem model for the Southern Carpathians, to enhance our understanding of the glaciation style and dynamics of past mountain glaciers in temperate‐continental climates. We present a geomorphological map, from which we infer the spatial and temporal evolution of glacial, periglacial and paraglacial landforms. We then assess the links between the mountain geomorphology and glaciation style and dynamics to construct a glacial landsystem model for debris‐charged plateau icefields and cirque glaciers in temperate‐continental mountain settings.
Polymorphisms of the PD‐L1 gene 3′‐untranslated region are associated with the expression of PD‐L1 in non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Ohhara Yoshihito , Tomaru Utano , Kinoshita Ichiro , Hatanaka Kanako C. , Noguchi Takuro , Hatanaka Yutaka , Amono Toraji , Matsuno Yoshihiro , Dosaka‐Akita Hirotoshi
Published: December 2023

Recent results show that polymorphisms of programmed death ligand 1 (PD‐L1, also known as CD274 or B7‐H1) might be used as a possible marker for effectiveness of chemotherapy and cancer risk. However, the effect of PD‐L1 gene variations on PD‐L1 expression remain unclear. Given the post‐transcriptional machinery in tumor PD‐L1 expression, we investigated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 3′‐untranslated region (3′‐UTR) of the PD‐L1 gene, rs4143815 and rs4742098, using formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded sections of 154 patients with non‐small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). In rs4143815, the GG genotype showed significant association with PD‐L1 expression (P = 0.032). In rs4742098, the AA genotype was significantly associated with histology and PD‐L1 expression (P = 0.022 and P = 0.008, respectively). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the AA genotype in rs4742098 was correlated with PD‐L1 expression (odds ratio 0.408, P = 0.048). Interestingly, approximately 10% of the NSCLC cases showed somatic mutation when we compared genotypes of these SNPs between NSCLC tissues and non‐tumor tissues from the same patients. In addition, cases with somatic mutation showed higher levels of PD‐L1 expression than cases with germline mutation in rs4143815 GG. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the rs4143815 and rs4742098 SNPs in the 3′‐UTR of PD‐L1 were associated with tumor PD‐L1 expression in NSCLCs.
COVID‐19 vaccine wastage in Africa: A case of Nigeria
Authors: Musa Muhammad Kabir , Abdulsalam Abdullateef , Haruna Usman Abubakar , Zakariya Farida , Salisu Sanusi Muhammad , Onajin‐Obembe Bisola , Idris Suleman Hadejia , Eliseo Lucero‐Prisno Don
Published: December 2023

The World Health Organization has launched campaigns to boost immunisation rates to 70 percent globally by the middle of 2022. However, despite the global success of about 64% COVID‐19 vaccination coverage, there is a big gap in Nigeria. To date, only 13.8% of the population has received the recommended dose. This demonstrates a significant disparity between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated. Amidst the wide gap in vaccination, COVID‐19 vaccine wastage still occurs in Nigeria. At the end of 2021, it was estimated that over a million doses of the COVID‐19 vaccine had been wasted. It is anticipated that there will be more COVID‐19 vaccine wastage in Nigeria, because of the combined factors that threaten vaccination uptake including vaccine accessibility, lack of appropriate storage facilities, poor electricity supply, insecurity challenges, and inadequate health promotion. This results in concomitant financial and opportunity losses. In this paper, we discuss COVID‐19 vaccine wastage in Nigeria including causes, and solutions that can be applied to mitigate this wastage.
Proteinuria in predicting adverse outcomes in women with severe features of pre‐eclampsia from a developing country: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Murali Akshaya , Rengaraj Sasirekha , Priyamvada P. S. , Sivanandan Sindhu , Udayakumar Karthik R.
Published: December 2023

Objective

To study the adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes in women with severe pre‐eclampsia (SPE) among different ranges of proteinuria.

Methods

This prospective cohort study was conducted in Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, India. After obtaining informed written consent, the 202 singleton women fulfilling the criteria of severe features of pre‐eclampsia were stratified based on the value of urine protein‐creatinine ratio (UPCR) as mild, moderate, severe, and massive proteinuria during pregnancy. Clinical outcomes were assessed and patients were followed up until 12 weeks postpartum to identify persistent proteinuria and hypertension.

Results

Of the 202 women with SPE, adverse maternal outcomes were seen in 34.65% (n = 70) and adverse perinatal outcomes in 75.74% (n = 153). The demographic and clinical factors were similar among women with increasing severity of proteinuria, except for mean systolic blood pressure, serum creatinine and total serum protein. UPCR was found to have a significant correlation with composite adverse perinatal outcome (P < 0.001) and individual outcomes of neonatal intensive care unit admission for >48 h (P = 0.01) and neonatal sepsis (P = 0.02) but not adverse maternal outcomes (P = 0.201). The optimum UPCR cutoff for adverse perinatal outcomes was 1.6 (sensitivity, 73.2%; specificity, 52.7%). In addition, 14.85% of the women had a persistently elevated UPCR and 3.96% had hypertension at 3 months postpartum.

Conclusion

In women with SPE, severe and massive proteinuria were related to composite adverse perinatal outcome but not composite adverse maternal outcome. Moreover, antenatal 24‐h proteinuria was significantly associated with persistent proteinuria. Significant proteinuria in women with SPE poses a risk for chronic renal dysfunction, requiring follow‐up.
Detection of serum major histocompatibility complex I (HLA‐1) and β2‐microglobulin (β2M) in pre‐eclampsia using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)
Authors: Shi Xu‐Feng , Zhang Jing‐Li , Liu Kan , Wang Li , Wang Huan‐Ping , Wu Hai‐Ying
Published: December 2023

Objective

The purpose of this preliminary investigation into the pathogenesis of pre‐eclampsia was to screen the differential proteins in the serum of pregnant women with normal pregnancy and early‐onset pre‐eclampsia using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ), so as to identify serum biomarkers for the early diagnosis of pre‐eclampsia.

Methods

We examined the peripheral serum of 58 normal pregnant women and 42 pregnant women with early‐onset pre‐eclampsia using iTRAQ; the differentially expressed proteins were screened for bioinformatics analysis; and the expression of candidate proteins human leukocyte antigen‐1 (HLA‐1) and β2‐microglobulin (β2M) in placental tissues was detected using western blot.

Results

We identified a total of 63 differential proteins in the serum of patients from the normal control group and the pre‐eclampsia group, and this included 24 up‐regulated proteins and 39 down‐regulated proteins. The western blot results of placental tissue showed reduced HLA‐1 expression (1.12 ± 0.23) in the placenta in the pre‐eclampsia group as compared with the normal control group (1.34 ± 0.22). Consistent with the results observed in the serum, β2M in the placenta in the pre‐eclampsia group was significantly elevated (1.05 ± 0.47) in comparison with the normal group (0.75 ± 0.33) (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

In this study, we found that iTRAQ technology was useful for identifying differentially expressed proteins in the peripheral serum of pregnant women with pre‐eclampsia, and that HLA‐1 and β2M, which may be involved in the occurrence of pre‐eclampsia, show promise as predictive markers of pre‐eclampsia.
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Authors: Zhao Jingyue , Li Zulin , Lv Shiwen , Wang Manxi , Li Chuanping , Li Xuan , Chen Hongyang , Li Manxian , Chen Xiaochuan , Wang Feifeng , Fan Weiwei , Wu Junxiong , Wang Ziqiang , Li Xiaoyan , Chen Yuming
Published: December 2023

Electrospun nanofibers show remarkable potential as TEM nanoreactors for studying material properties, formation mechanisms and electrochemical behaviors.

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