bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Moderating role of policy incentive and perceived cost in relationship of environmental awareness and green consumption behavior
Authors: Liu Fang , Madni Ghulam Rasool
Published: February 2024

Over time, environmental concerns have gained much importance and main debatable issue. Green products are becoming popular due to their positive impact on environment and their role in the green economy. However, the significance of environmental awareness, perceived cost, face culture and policy incentives on green consumption behavior is not fully examined in prior research. This research aimed to analyze the various dimensions impacting behavior regarding green consumption in China. Moreover, the moderating impact of policy incentives, perceived cost, and face culture is also explored. An internet-based survey was undertaken and findings indicate that environmental awareness serves as foundation for eco-friendly consumption. The transition from awareness to action is influenced by various factors. Among these, the perceived cost by consumers represents a significant barrier to green consumption, while face culture has a significant impact in encouraging green consumption. Interestingly, policy incentives do not exhibit any notable direct effect or moderating influence on green consumption practices of consumers.
Association between age of respiratory syncytial virus infection hospitalization and childhood asthma: A systematic review
Authors: Shiroshita Akihiro , Gebretsadik Tebeb , Wu Pingsheng , Kubilay Nejla Zeynep , Hartert Tina V.
Published: February 2024

Identifying child age of RSV infection associated with increased risk of asthma is important for developing asthma prevention strategies. Our systematic review aimed to comprehensively summarize studies of the association between age of RSV infection and childhood asthma risk. The study protocol was pre-registered, and our study report adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). Inclusion criteria were prospective and retrospective cohort studies and case-control studies which assessed the association of age of RSV infection before age 2 years and risk of childhood asthma after age two years. Relevant studies were identified through MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane and International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) from study inception through May 5, 2023. Studies were evaluated with the Quality In Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool. From 149 studies screened, five studies (two prospective cohort studies and three retrospective cohort studies) were included in our systematic review, including 47,603 participants. Available studies only assessed age of severe RSV infection and asthma risk. The included studies used different age categories and outcome definitions, and were rated as having high risk of bias. Two studies had sample sizes of less than 300 and did not provide conclusive results related to age of RSV hospitalization and asthma risk. The other three studies reported RSV hospitalization between age 6 months and 23 months compared with age 0–6 months being associated with a higher odds ratio, hazard ratio, or incidence rate ratio of asthma diagnosis/hospitalization. Due to the heterogeneous epidemiological designs, including exposures and outcome ascertainments of the included studies, we could not perform a meta-analysis, or calculate weighted averages of the effect estimates. Our systematic review highlights a major gap in our knowledge about the relationship between age of RSV infection and asthma risk.
Biomechanical comparison of two surgical methods for Hallux Valgus deformity: Exploring the use of artificial neural networks as a decision-making tool for orthopedists
Authors: Kaczmarczyk Katarzyna , Zakynthinaki Maria , Barton Gabor , Baran Mateusz , Wit Andrzej
Published: February 2024

Hallux Valgus foot deformity affects gait performance. Common treatment options include distal oblique metatarsal osteotomy and chevron osteotomy. Nonetheless, the current process of selecting the appropriate osteotomy method poses potential biases and risks, due to its reliance on subjective human judgment and interpretation. The inherent variability among clinicians, the potential influence of individual clinical experiences, or inherent measurement limitations may contribute to inconsistent evaluations. To address this, incorporating objective tools like neural networks, renowned for effective classification and decision-making support, holds promise in identifying optimal surgical approaches. The objective of this cross-sectional study was twofold. Firstly, it aimed to investigate the feasibility of classifying patients based on the type of surgery. Secondly, it sought to explore the development of a decision-making tool to assist orthopedists in selecting the optimal surgical approach. To achieve this, gait parameters of twenty-three women with moderate to severe Hallux Valgus were analyzed. These patients underwent either distal oblique metatarsal osteotomy or chevron osteotomy. The parameters exhibiting differences in preoperative and postoperative values were identified through various statistical tests such as normalization, Shapiro-Wilk, non-parametric Wilcoxon, Student t, and paired difference tests. Two artificial neural networks were constructed for patient classification based on the type of surgery and to simulate an optimal surgery type considering postoperative walking speed. The results of the analysis demonstrated a strong correlation between surgery type and postoperative gait parameters, with the first neural network achieving a remarkable 100% accuracy in classification. Additionally, cases were identified where there was a mismatch with the surgeon’s decision. Our findings highlight the potential of artificial neural networks as a complementary tool for surgeons in making informed decisions. Addressing the study’s limitations, future research may investigate a wider range of orthopedic procedures, examine additional gait parameters and use more diverse and extensive datasets to enhance statistical robustness.
Inflammatory markers in world trade center workers with asthma: Associations with post traumatic stress disorder
Authors: Wisnivesky Juan P. , Agrawal Nikita , Ankam Jyoti , Gonzalez Adam , Federman Alex , Markowitz Steven B. , Birmingham Janette M. , Busse Paula J.
Published: February 2024

Background

Post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) is associated with worse asthma outcomes in individuals exposed to the World Trade Center (WTC) site.

Research question

Do WTC workers with coexisting PTSD and asthma have a specific inflammatory pattern that underlies the relationship with increased asthma morbidity?

Study design and methods

We collected data on a cohort of WTC workers with asthma recruited from the WTC Health Program. Diagnosis of PTSD was ascertained with a Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders) and the severity of PTSD symptoms was assessed with the PTSD Checklist 5. We obtained blood and sputum samples to measure cytokines levels in study participants.

Results

Of the 232 WTC workers with diagnosis of asthma in the study, 75 (32%) had PTSD. PTSD was significantly associated with worse asthma control (p = 0.002) and increased resource utilization (p = 0.0002). There was no significant association (p>0.05) between most blood or sputum cytokines with PTSD diagnosis or PCL-5 scores both in unadjusted and adjusted analyses.

Interpretation

Our results suggest that PTSD is not associated with blood and sputum inflammatory markers in WTC workers with asthma. These findings suggest that other mechanisms likely explain the association between PTSD and asthma control in WTC exposed individuals.
College preparation for a medical career in the United States
Authors: Malvitz Madelyn , Khan Noreen , Morgenstern Lewis B.
Published: February 2024

Purpose

A college degree is required to enter medical school in the United States. A remarkably high percentage of students entering college have pre-medical aspirations but relatively few end up as medical students. As an “applied science”, education about medicine is usually thought to be beyond the purview of a liberal arts curriculum. Students therefore receive little education about a medical career, or information about the many alternative careers in health science. Instead, they take courses for Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) preparation and medical school application prerequisites in biology, chemistry, physics, and math. These classes give them little insight into a real medical career. The current report considers this mismatch between student needs in health science and available resources in colleges across the United States.

Methods

A Collective Case Series framework was used to obtain qualitative data. Key informant interviews were requested from a convenience sample of representatives from 20 colleges, with six colleges providing extensive data. Three institutions collected data specifically on students who matriculated college interested in a career as a physician.

Results

At these schools, one-half to one-quarter of students who said they were interested in medicine at the beginning of college ended up not applying to medical school. At each of the six schools, we saw a wide range of generally sparse academic and professional advising involvement and a very limited number of classes that discussed concepts directly related to careers in health science.

Conclusions

Looking at this data, we provide a novel conceptual model as a potential testable solution to the problem of an underexposed and unprepared student population interested in medicine. This includes a brief series of courses intended to inform students about what a career in medicine would fully entail to help foster core competencies of empathy, compassion and resilience.
Unleashing the behavioral factors affecting the decision making of Chinese investors in stock markets
Authors: Xia Yuzhu , Madni Ghulam Rasool
Published: February 2024

This research paper delves into the behavioral factors that have impact on decision making of Chinese investors in stock markets. As one of the world’s most dynamic and rapidly evolving financial landscapes, stock markets of China have witnessed significant growth and transformation in recent years. However, the role of behavioral biases in shaping investment decisions remains a relatively understudied aspect. Drawing upon a detailed review of studies, psychological theories, and empirical studies, this research explores various behavioral factors affecting the decision of investors at Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen stock markets. Through a structured questionnaire and by collecting a sample of 521 respondents, this paper investigates that herding, overconfidence, prospect, market, gamble’s fallacy, and anchoring-ability bias often lead investors to deviate from rational decision-making and contribute to market inefficiencies. While herding, prospect, and heuristic affect the investment performance in stock markets of China. Moreover, the research underscores the need for investor education programs and regulatory interventions that acknowledge the presence of behavioral biases and encourage more informed decision-making. By shedding light on these dynamics, it provides valuable insights for policymakers, financial institutions, and investors seeking to navigate the intricacies of this rapidly growing financial landscape.
Can crop production intensification through irrigation be sustainable? An ex-ante impact study of the south-central coastal zone of Bangladesh
Authors: Khan Zahirul Haque , Islam Md Saiful , Akhter Shume , Hasib Md Raqubul , Sutradhar Asish , Timsina Jagadish , Krupnik Timothy J. , Schulthess Urs
Published: February 2024

In Bangladesh’s south-central coastal zone, there is considerable potential to intensify crop production by growing dry winter season ‘Boro’ rice, maize, wheat, pulses and oilseeds using irrigation from southward flowing and predominantly freshwater rivers. However, the impacts of surface water withdrawal for sustained irrigation and its safe operating space remain unclear. We used field measurements and simulation modeling to investigate the effects of irrigation water withdrawal for Boro rice–the most water-consumptive crop–on river water flow and salinity under different climate change and river flow scenarios. Under the baseline conditions, about 250,000 ha could potentially be irrigated with river water that has salinity levels below 2 dS/m. The impact on river water salinity would be minimal, and only between 0.71 to 1.12% of the cropland would shift from the 0–2 dS/m class to higher salinity levels. Similarly, for the moderate climate change scenario (RCP 4.5) that forecasts a sea level rise of 22 cm in 2050, there would be a minor change in water flow and salinity. Only under the extreme climate change scenario (RCP 8.5), resulting in a sea level rise of 43 cm by 2050 and low flow conditions that are exceeded in 90% of the cases, the 2 dS/m isohaline would move landward by 64 to 105 km in March and April for the Tentulia and Buriswar Rivers. This would expose an additional 36.6% of potentially irrigable cropland to salinity levels of 2 to 4 dS/m. However, Boro rice will already be well established by that time and can tolerate greater levels of salinity. We conclude that there is considerable scope to expand irrigated crop production without negatively exposing the cropland and rivers to detrimental salinization levels while preserving the ecosystem services of the rivers.
Centrality of Planck’s Elementary Quanta in the Foundations of Physics
Authors: Azhar Shariq
Published: February 2024

It is well known that at the foundations of contemporary physics there are quandaries that inhibit the inner workings of nature from being understood at a deeper level. These quandaries are manifested most evidently in quantum mechanics, particle physics, and gravitation and cosmology. Against that background, presented here is
photodynamics, a deterministic theoretical framework within which the many unanswered questions in foundational physics can be resolved comprehensively. Photodynamics is conceptualized via four core postulates: (i) all of space and matter is composed fundamentally of
photinos, indivisible primordial particles that are the source of inertial mass and energy, with a unit photino defined by the elementary quantum of action given by Planck’s constant
h; (ii) photinos are distributed spatially in the form of
cells, contiguous photino packets that are autonomous, elastic, and mobile; (iii) the universe evolves synchronously in discrete time steps; (iv) all dynamic activity in nature arises from the behaviors of physical systems induced by the innate elasticity of their cellular elements. These postulates are formulated into a systematic and coherent mathematical framework that is then applied to the full spectrum of physics from subatomic to cosmological, yielding remarkable results. Notably, Coulomb’s law of electrostatics, Bohr’s formula for the hydrogen spectrum, the Schrödinger equation, Newton’s law of gravity, Maxwell’s electrodynamics, and nuclear forces all emerge naturally as consequences of photodynamics, which also settles the measurement problem in quantum mechanics and offers insights into the dynamics of cosmic structures and the origins of dark matter and dark energy.
Designed for Play: Children’s Playgrounds and the Politics of Urban Space, 1840–2010
Authors: Winder Jon
Published: February 2024

Children’s playgrounds are commonly understood as the obvious place for children to play: safe, natural and out of the way. But these expectations hide a convoluted and overlooked history of children’s place in public space – one shaped by implicit social, political and environmental values, and by government intervention in spaces and lives across the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. This book is the first empirically grounded historical account of the modern playground, drawing on the archival materials of social reformers, park superintendents, equipment manufacturers and architects in Britain and beyond to chart the playground’s journey from marginal obscurity to popular ubiquity. In exploring the evolution of play space design, the book shows that the ideal playground has long represented a space where changing conceptions of nature, health, childhood, commerce and technology have all been played out. It covers the development of garden gymnasiums in the 1890s, the influence of Charles Wicksteed, increasing standardisation in the interwar period, the impact of progressive education, pioneering female designers and the adventure playground movement in the twentieth century, and more recent challenges to the playground’s status as a site of health, nature and safety. 'Designed for Play' is an original and accessible contribution to modern British history, urban and environmental history, and histories and geographies of childhood.
Patrones de crecimiento durante los primeros dos años de vida en niños con antecedentes de asfixia perinatal tratados con hipotermia terapéutica: estudio retrospectivo longitudinal
Authors: Hernández Real Miguel Angel , Sánchez Jesús María Magdalena , Muñoz-Ledo Rábago Patricia , Mandujano Valdés Mario António , Rodríguez Flores María
Published: February 2024

Introducción: La asfixia perinatal (AP) es una complicación obstétrica de alto riesgo para el desarrollo de alteraciones orgánicas y funcionales que pueden conllevar a estados de malnutrición infantil, con todos los efectos adversos que estos suponen sobre la salud y desarrollo humano. El objetivo del presente estudio fue describir los patrones de crecimiento físico presentados durante los primeros dos años de vida en una muestra de niños con antecedentes de AP.
Metodología: Estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo y longitudinal, en 52 casos de niños con antecedentes de AP que asistieron a un programa de seguimiento y cuidado integral durante los primeros 24 meses de edad. Las tendencias de crecimiento se determinaron con base en lo establecido por la OMS (2006), clasificando a los niños de acuerdo con los cambios observados en el puntaje z de los indicadores antropométricos. Todos los niños elegidos para el estudio fueron tratados con hipotermia terapéutica.   
Resultados: 38.5% de los casos presentaron trayectorias de desnutrición sin recuperación, siendo la desnutrición crónica la alteración predominante. El retraso en el crecimiento intrauterino (RP = 1.61, IC95%: 1.028 – 2.529), la razón peso-longitud para la edad gestacional menor al percentil 10 (RP= 1.37, IC95%: 1.021 – 1.849), el trabajo (RP = 1.59, IC95%: 1.119 – 2.265) y un menor nivel educativo de la madre (RP = 1.40, IC 95%: 1.041 – 1.899), se asociaron significativamente con la desnutrición infantil.       
Conclusiones: Las trayectorias de desnutrición representaron un problema frecuente en el grupo de estudio por lo que se considera importante continuar esta línea de investigación a fin de determinar la prevalencia de alteraciones del crecimiento en niños con esta y otras condiciones patológicas.
Terminology relating to nano-, micro- and macroporous polymer materials - an overview
Authors: Szewczykowski Piotr , Bieliński Marek
Published: February 2024

In the article, based on literature data, an attempt was made to systematize polymer porous materials in terms of pore size and technological aspects.
Examining school sector and mission in a landscape of parental choice
Authors: Dallavis Julie W.
Published: February 2024

Researchers have considered how school choice policies affect student achievement, but less inquiry explores how the organization of schools may change in the presence of choice. This descriptive and exploratory paper analyzes a state representative sample of school mission statements at two time points: before the enactment of choice policies in Indiana, namely the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program, and again six years into the policy. Using structural topic modeling, this paper examines whether and how school mission statements topics have changed over this period. Descriptive findings suggest mission statement topics differ significantly between sectors but show few changes over time. The most striking shift is that Catholic and other private religious schools appear to be clarifying the religious aspects of their mission in the presence of robust choice policies.
TLR7 activation by imiquimod worsens glycemic control in female FVB/N mice consuming a high‐fat diet
Authors: Kakalij Rahul M. , Dsouza Del L. , Ha LiGyeom , Boesen Erika I.
Published: February 2024

Toll‐like receptor‐7 (TLR7) activation promotes autoimmunity, and metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a common comorbidity in patients with autoimmune disease. We previously demonstrated hyperinsulinemia in TLR7 agonist imiquimod (IMQ)‐treated, high‐fat diet (HFD)‐fed female C57BL/6 mice. Since mouse strains differ in susceptibility to MetS and target organ damage, this study investigated whether 12 weeks of exposure to HFD and IMQ promoted MetS, autoimmunity, and target organ damage in female FVB/N mice. Supporting early‐stage autoimmunity, spleen‐to‐tibia ratio, and anti‐nuclear antibodies (ANA) were significantly increased by IMQ. No significant effect of IMQ on urinary albumin excretion or left ventricular hypertrophy was observed. HFD increased liver‐to‐tibia ratio, which was further exacerbated by IMQ. HFD increased fasting blood glucose levels at the end of 12 weeks, but there was no significant effect of IMQ treatment on fasting blood glucose levels at 6 or 12 weeks of treatment. However, oral glucose tolerance testing at 12 weeks revealed impaired glucose tolerance in HFD‐fed mice compared to control diet mice together with IMQ treatment exacerbating the impairment. Accordingly, these data suggest TLR7 activation also exacerbates HFD‐induced dysregulation of glucose handling FVB/N mice, supporting the possibility that endogenous TLR7 activation may contribute to dysglycemia in patients with autoimmune disease.
Prognostic value of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies: a systematic review
Authors: Mink Sylvia , Reimann Patrick , Fraunberger Peter
Published: February 2024

Objectives

Globally, over 772 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported. New variants of interest with corresponding spikes in case numbers continue to be identified. Vulnerable patients, including older adults or patients with severe comorbidities, continue to be at risk. A large body of evidence has been accumulated regarding anti-SARS-CoV-2-antibodies and COVID-19 but the usefulness of antibody measurements remains unclear. This systematic review aims to assess the prognostic value of anti-SARS-CoV-2-antibodies and their usefulness for guiding booster vaccinations.

Methods

Studies in English and published between January 2020 and October 2023 were included. Studies that relied on multiparameter-models or comprised fewer than 100 participants were excluded. PubMed and via the WHO COVID-19 research database, Embase and Medline databases were searched. Study selection and quality assessment was conducted independently by two researchers.

Results

After screening 1,160 studies, 33 studies comprising >30 million individuals were included. Anti-SARS-CoV-2-antibodies were strongly associated with reduced risk of SARS-CoV-2-infection and better outcomes, including mortality. Risk of infection and COVID-19 severity decreased with increasing antibody levels.

Conclusions

Anti-SARS-CoV-2-antibodies are useful for early identification of high-risk patients and timely adjustment of therapy. Protective thresholds may be applied to advise booster vaccinations but verification in separate cohorts is required.
Synthesis of hydroxyapatite matrix Ag and CNT particle reinforced hybrid biocomposites with improved mechanical and antibacterial properties
Authors: Özkaya Serdar , Çanakçi Aykut , Karabacak A. Hasan , Çelebi Müslim , Çanakçi Sabriye , Ceylan Esma
Published: February 2024

Hydroxyapatite is an important biomaterial for orthopaedic applications due to its high structural similarity to human bone. However, weak mechanical and antibacterial properties limit the use of hydroxyapatite compared to metallic implants such as Ti and 316L alloys for direct use in the human skeleton. To overcome these shortcomings, we have prepared hydroxyapatite matrix silver and carbon nanotube reinforced biocomposites. Silver particles have beneficial effects on biomaterials due to their effective antibacterial activity. In addition, CNT particles are known for their high strength and their ability to improve the mechanical properties of composite materials. To prepare the hydroxyapatite-based composites, the powder blends with different reinforcement types (Ag, CNT) and ratios were ground using a planetary ball mill. The biocomposite powders were then cold pressed under 500 MPa pressure to obtain green samples. The sintering process was carried out at 1200 °C for 4 h. The microstructural and structural investigations were carried out by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, respectively. In order to better evaluate the mechanical properties of the samples, hardness measurements, compression and fracture tests were carried out. Antibacterial tests were also carried out against various micro-organisms. Both types of reinforcement were found to be effective in improving the mechanical properties. In addition, it was observed that CNT reinforcement slightly increased the antibacterial resistance, but silver-reinforced samples provided excellent antibacterial resistance.
Ambivalent or beneficial? An ecological discourse analysis of news reports on the adventures of China’s wandering elephants
Authors: Zhang Jianxin , Cheng Lulu
Published: February 2024

Based on the ecosophy of “diversity and harmony, interaction and co-existence”, the present study analyzes the characteristics of the attitude system of news reports on the adventures of China’s wandering elephants in China Daily to investigate whether the reports belong to ambivalent or beneficial discourse from the perspective of ecological discourse analysis. The findings show that judgement and appreciation resources are more frequently used than affect resources; negative resources are fewer than positive ones but some negative resources also have positive functions; more attention has been paid to human protection measures than to animals; besides, beneficial discourse accounts for the highest proportion, which shows China’s concept of ecological civilization. Based on the above analysis, suggestions are proposed for news discourse in communicating China’s ecological civilization: showing personal rather than general emotional experience in animal protection to express Chinese people’s love and concern for animals, appreciating positive emotions and the mutual helping behaviour of animals to express ecological consciousness indirectly, and taking full advantage of the links between affect, judgement and appreciation to express the moral judgement.
Downregulation of carbonic anhydrase IX expression in mouse xenograft nasopharyngeal carcinoma model via doxorubicin nanobubble combined with ultrasound
Authors: Li Rong , Lu Liugui , Huang Zhaoxi , Gao Yong
Published: February 2024

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether doxorubicin nanobubbles (DOX-NB) combined with diagnostic ultrasound (DUS) irradiation could downregulate the expression of carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) in mouse xenograft nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) model. In this study, the prepared DOX-NB was round and well dispersed. The average diameter of DOX-NB was 250.9 ± 50.8 nm, with an average polydispersity of 0.321 ± 0.05. The cumulative release of DOX in the DOX-NB + DUS group was significantly higher compared with that of the DOX-NB group (p < 0.05). DOX-NB combined with DUS irradiation could significantly inhibit cell viability (p < 0.05). The expression of CAIX and microvessel density (MVD) in the xenografted tumors was the lowest in the DOX-NB + DUS group compared with that of other groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, DOX-NB combined with DUS irradiation could improve DOX-NB drug release and synergistically inhibit NPC cell activity. DOX-NB combined with DUS irradiation can downregulate the expression of CAIX in mouse xenograft NPC model. This may be due to the synergistic effect of DUS combined with DOX-NB in reducing MVD in NPC.
Recent advancements in polyoxometalate-functionalized fiber materials: A review
Authors: Liang Zhijie , Yao Yiqing , Wang Haifeng
Published: February 2024

The development of advanced composite materials based on polyoxometalates (POMs) and fibers has attracted significant attention due to their combination of the unique chemical reactivity of POMs and the flexible wearable properties of fiber materials. The exceptional properties exhibited by those resultant composites have been widely employed in catalysis and optical sensors. In this article, we aim to provide an overview of progress on POMs functionalized fiber materials involving the preparation methods, namely, electrostatic spinning and layer-by-layer self-assembly methods, as well as the developments in the fields of catalysis, photochromism, and photoluminescence. Current applications are critically assessed and promising future target systems are discussed.
Total chemical synthesis of PSMA-617: an API for prostate cancer endotherapeutic applications
Authors: Kumar Kalangattu Sundaran Ajish , Mathur Anupam
Published: February 2024

Synthesis of PSMA-617, a peptide based ligand used in the preparation of nuclear medicine, 177Lu-PSMA-617, for the treatment of prostate cancer, is demonstrated in 6 steps, starting from appropriately protected amino acid building blocks. A solution phase Boc-strategy was adopted for the synthesis of peptide, wherein deprotection of carbamate group using HCl (g), was employed as the key step. The synthesis furnished PSMA-617 in purity >99.5 % as confirmed by HPLC analysis. ESI-MS and NMR analysis supported the structural integrity of the compound. The synthesized ligand was radiolabelled using 177Lu to generate the desired radiopharmaceutical, 177Lu-PSMA-617, in radiochemical purity >98 %, as revealed by radio HPLC and TLC analysis. This establishes its potential as a nuclear medicine for therapeutic application.
Effect of superplasticizer in geopolymer and alkali-activated cement mortar/concrete: A review
Authors: Anudeep Potluri , Reddy M. Achyutha Kumar , Khed Veerendrakumar C. , Adamu Musa , Varalakshmi Mada , Ibrahim Yasser E. , Ahmed Omar Shabbir
Published: February 2024

The cement and construction industry creates around 10% of the global carbon footprint. Geopolymer and alkali-activated concrete provide a sustainable solution to conventional concrete. Due to its disadvantages, the practical usage of geopolymer and alkali-activated concrete is limited. Workability is one of the issues faced in developing geopolymer and alkali-activated concretes. Plenty of research was conducted to provide a solution to enhance the ability to use different superplasticizers (SPs). The present article extensively reviews the effects of SPs on geopolymer and alkali-activated concretes. The research articles published in the last 5 years in high-quality journals are considered for the chemical composition of the different SPs and analyses of their exact impact on geopolymer and alkali-activated cement mortar and concrete. Later, the impact of SPs on the normal consistency and setting times of cement mortar, workability, compressive strength, flexural strength, split tensile strength, microstructure, and water absorption of geopolymer and alkali-activated concrete was determined. SPs improve the geopolymer and alkali-activated concretes upon their use in desired dosages; more dosage leads to negative effects. Therefore, selecting the optimal superplasticizer is essential since it impacts the performance of the geopolymer and alkali-activated concrete.
Agricultural waste upcycling into improved production of triacyl glycerol acyl hydrolases
Authors: Majeed Hammad , Iftikhar Tehreema , Siddique Alia
Published: February 2024

Agricultural waste upcycling is crucial in the context of climate change. Utilizing seven agricultural by-products as basal substrates, coconut meal (Cocos nucifera) emerged as the most efficient, supporting the highest extracellular lipase (triacyl glycerol acyl hydrolases) yield i.e., 5.27 ± 1.75a U mL−1. This study explored the production of extracellular lipases through solid-state fermentation by using co-cultures of Aspergillus niger, wild and mutant strains. Optimization experiments revealed that 30 g of coconut meal resulted is optimal for supporting highest lipases activity of 6.16 ± 0.16a U mL−1. Incubation at 30 °C, 1 mL inoculum size, and distilled water as a diluent further enhanced lipolytic activity. The study identified sucrose as the preferred carbon source, with 4 % concentration demonstrating the highest activity at 13.66 ± 0.33a U mL−1. Supplementary sources like 1 % olive oil and nitrogen sources such as ammonium chloride and peptone significantly increased lipases production. Magnesium sulfate (0.25 %) among metal ions exhibited the highest lipolytic potential i.e., 19.98 ± 0.01a U mL−1. The crude lipases displayed optimal activity at pH 5.0 and 30 °C, with positive effects observed for Fe2+, Ca2+, and Mg2+, while Co2+, Na+, and Hg2+ had negative impacts on lipases activity. This research not only contributes to understanding the factors influencing lipase production and activity, but also serves as an agricultural waste upcycling technique.
Longer Ground Contact Time Is Related to a Superior Running Economy in Highly Trained Distance Runners
Authors: Tanji Fumiya , Ohnuma Hayato , Ando Ryosuke , Yamanaka Ryo , Ikeda Tatsuaki , Suzuki Yasuhiro
Published: February 2024

Tanji, F, Ohnuma, H, Ando, R, Yamanaka, R, Ikeda, T, and Suzuki, Y. Longer ground contact time is related to a superior running economy in highly trained distance runners. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000–000, 2023—Running economy is a key component of distance running performance and is associated with gait parameters. However, there is no consensus of the link between the running economy (RE), ground contact time, and footstrike patterns. Thus, this study aimed to clarify the relationship between RE, ground contact time, and thigh muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) in highly trained distance runners and to compare these parameters between 2 habitual footstrike patterns (midfoot vs. rearfoot). Seventeen male distance runners ran on a treadmill to measure RE and gait parameters. We collected the CSAs of the right thigh muscle using a magnetic resonance imaging scanner. The RE had a significant negative relationship with distance running performance (r = −0.50) and ground contact time (r = −0.51). The ground contact time had a significant negative relationship with the normalized CSAs of the vastus lateralis muscle (r = −0.60) and hamstrings (r = −0.54). No significant differences were found in RE, ground contact time, or normalized CSAs of muscles between midfoot (n = 10) and rearfoot (n = 7) strikers. These results suggest that large CSAs of knee extensor muscles results in short ground contact time and worse RE. The effects of the footstrike pattern on the RE appear insignificant, and the preferred footstrike pattern can be recommended for running in highly trained runners.
Proyecto Facil: Using the Integrated Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (i-PARIHS) as a Diagnostic Tool to Improve Access to Human Immunodeficiency Virus Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) via Telemedicine
Authors: Tapia Yara , Saleska Jessica , Gonzalez-Valentino Omar , Liashenko Joshua , Stafylis Chrysovalantis , Brown Brandon , Brooks Ronald , Klausner Jeffrey D.
Published: February 2024

Following the underutilization of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among Latinx men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women in Southern California and the growing use of the delivery of PrEP through telemedicine, the California Department of Public Health implemented a telemedicine component to their already existing assistance program. We used the integrated Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (i-PARIHS) framework to identify and characterize factors inhibiting the successful implementation of the telemedicine program through in-depth, online stakeholder interviews and online community focus groups with Latinx MSM and trans women in southern California. Obstacles reported by stakeholders were complicated enrollment process, preference for in-person care, more appealing private sector models of PrEP, while community members reported low awareness of the program, fear of complications due to immigration status, challenges to fulfill enrollment requirements. Findings can used for the future improvement of the ongoing program, as well as other similar PrEP telemedicine programs.
Knowledge of Pre- and Postexposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention Among Internal Medicine Residents in the United States
Authors: Li Lucy X. , Lin Jessica S. , Tackett Sean , Bertram Amanda , Sisson Stephen D. , Rastegar Darius , Berkenblit Gail
Published: February 2024

Prescription rates of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) have remained low among noninfectious disease providers in the United States despite almost a decade since their introduction. For future primary care doctors, residency is the optimal time to build practice patterns around HIV prevention. We assessed baseline knowledge of PrEP in specific pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis content areas among internal medicine trainees who completed the Physician Education and Assessment Center HIV learning module between 2013 to 2020 (N = 12,060). Resident baseline PrEP knowledge was universally low; despite rising awareness of antiretroviral therapy for PrEP in successive years following the nadir of 41% in 2014, still only 56% of residents affirmed this means of HIV prevention by 2020. Knowledge remained limited regardless of academic year, local HIV prevalence, or training program type. Online module completion increased competence across all content areas. There is still a deficit in HIV prevention knowledge across U.S. internal medicine residents, suggesting insufficient education and exposure to HIV-related care.
Liver cirrhosis: physiology, pathology, market analysis, treatments
Authors: Steward Noosha , Tawil Bill
Published: February 2024

Azadirachta indica A. Juss is known as the tree of life for its diverse pharmacological applications. This study evaluated the effect of the anxiolytic type of bark of A. indica and mechanisms of action on adult zebrafish. Initially, EtCNeem toxicity was detected against Artemia salina, eliminated with the saponification reaction. The antioxidant potential of the fractions was evaluated. The fraction with higher antioxidant potential was submitted to the preliminary chemical prospecting, FT-IR, and the phenol and flavonoid content was determined. The animals were treated with the most promising antioxidant fraction (1.0; 2.5 or 5.0 mg/mL, i.p.) and underwent acute toxicity, open field tests and Light & Dark Test, evaluating the participation of serotonergic and GABAergic systems in the anxiolytic test. As a result, we selected the fraction of ethyl acetate (F-EtOAc) rich in phenolic and flavonoid compounds with antioxidant potential, which had a sedative and anxiolytic effect on adult zebrafish through serotonergic and GABAergic systems. F-EtOAc prevented alcohol-induced chronic anxiety in adult zebrafish. The results suggest that F-EtOAc is an anxiolytic agent mediated via the GABAergic and serotonergic system
Agave cupreata fructans, encapsulation as pro and prebiotics
Authors: Álvarez Dolores Vargas , Valle-de la paz Mairel , Reyes Ríos Roxana , Perales Rosas Daniel
Published: February 2024

The agave or maguey belongs to the agaváceas family, with long and fibrous leaves, among this species is the Agave cupreata, endemic to the state of Guerrero, the agave has various properties, among them is the high content of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) derived from the hydrolysis of fructans. It has been shown that it possesses prebiotic properties, due to its β bonds it cannot be hydrolyzed by intestinal tract secretions. Therefore, they beneficially affect the host and stimulate the growth of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), which are colonizing the intestinal microbiota and preventing the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, the objective is to design a prebiotic and probiotic with agave fructans. With Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12 and L. acidophilus La5, encapsulate them and evaluate their antimicrobial effect against Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi. Materials and methods: an extraction of agave juice was carried out in a 1:1 ratio between grams of sample and water, in crude and cooked agave, later it was inoculated and fermented with LAB for 4 days, it was decided to encapsulate to evaluate the antimicrobial effect. against Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi. Results: the antibiogram indicated that E. coli is resistant to ampicillin, however the cooked and crude agave juice inhibited to E. coli, the same way cooked and crude agave juice, inhibited the growth of S. typhi, but it did not show resistance to antibiotic. Conclusion: the agave juice inoculated with (BAL) has an inhibitory action against Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi.
Postoperative tetanus in abdominal surgery: scope review
Authors: Gonçalves Giuliana Fulco , Miranda Italo Barros , Meneses do Rêgo Amália Cinthia , Araújo-Filho Irami
Published: February 2024

Postoperative tetanus is a rare, often forgotten, but potentially fatal complication of abdominal surgery. The purpose of this paper is to review the available literature on postoperative tetanus following abdominal surgery, including its incidence, risk factors, clinical features, management, and outcomes. A comprehensive search of the PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Lilacs, and Google Scholar databases was conducted using relevant keywords (“Tetanus,” “abdominal surgery,” “Postoperative”), and a total of 1.182 articles were identified for review, with 11 being selected. The incidence of postoperative tetanus following abdominal surgery is very low, with only a few case reports published in the literature. Most cases occurred in patients with risk factors such as chronic alcoholism, diabetes, and malnutrition. The clinical presentation of postoperative tetanus can be variable, ranging from mild symptoms such as muscle stiffness and spasm to severe features such as respiratory failure and cardiac arrest. The diagnosis of postoperative tetanus is primarily clinical and is based on characteristic symptoms and signs. Treatment involves prompt administration of tetanus immunoglobulin, wound debridement, and supportive care. In conclusion, postoperative tetanus following abdominal surgery is a rare but severe complication that requires immediate recognition and management. Clinicians should be aware of the risk factors for tetanus and take appropriate preventive measures, such as preoperative vaccination, in high-risk patients.
How to recognize a dying patient? Acute traumatic coagulopathy: experience in a level I trauma center
Authors: Bórquez Rogelio Zayas , Lozano Demian Trueba , Minero, Juan Carlos  Vázquez , García Dra. Adriana Hernández , Diaz Barrientos Dra. Cheryl Zilahy
Published: February 2024

Background: It is possible to detect abnormal clotting parameters in 25-35% of injured patients at their arrival to the hospital, which are proportional to the severity of the injuries and associate with higher morbimortality rates. Objectives: Therefore, it arises the question whether the results of conventional laboratory tests carried out while monitoring the injured patient may be used as early available predictors. Methods: We conducted a prospective, descriptive and observational multivariable study at the Central Hospital of the Mexican Red Cross to determine the correlation between the alterations in the results of clotting tests obtained at the time of hospital admission of the patient and the likelihood of emergency surgery necessity or death within the first 48 hours of hospital stay. Results: We included 327 patients, between 1-92 years old, 20.79% patients were admitted with ATC criteria, 40.36% required emergency surgery (54.41% in the context of ATC) and 18.65% died (10.39% of them during or after the surgical management, and 47.05% with ATC criteria). Conclusions: According with our results conventional clotting tests are quite sensitive tools for identifying patients at high risk of early death and good predictors of poor outcomes in the treatment.
Post intensive care syndrome. A review of a condition in need of attention
Authors: Martínez-Sedas Gastón Daniel
Published: February 2024

Post-intensive care syndrome is a clinical entity that includes three pathologies, which until some time ago were addressed individually in the patient who survived the Intensive Care Unit (ICU): depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress. With the advancement and improvement of care in the ICU, there are more and more survivors of critical care, so the appearance of this syndrome has become more and more frequent. Methodology: A review of the literature has been carried out in the PubMed database, in addition to search engines such as Clinical Key, Science direct and Springer link, making an analysis and providing conclusions based on the scientific evidence found. Conclusions: The first step to manage this syndrome is to know it, address it and be aware that its appearance has an impact on mortality, morbidity and clinical evolution of the patient who survives intensive care. Make the health professional aware that the physical and systemic impact is relevant, but also the impact on mental health.
Propagators for a particle in a time-dependent linear potential and a free particle
Authors: Pepore Surarit , Biswas R
Published: February 2024

In this paper, the propagators for a particle moving in a time-dependent linear potential and a free particle with linear damping are calculated by the application of the integrals of the motion of a quantum system. The propagator for a charged harmonic oscillator is derived from the Feynman path integrals and the propagator for a damped harmonic oscillator is evaluated by the Schwinger method. The relation between the integrals of the motion, Feynman path integrals, and Schwinger method are also described.