bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Heart failure outcomes captured by adverse event reporting in participants with type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: Observations from the VERTIS CV trial
Authors: Pandey Ambarish , Kolkailah Ahmed A. , McGuire Darren K. , Frederich Robert C. , Cater Nilo B. , Cosentino Francesco , Pratley Richard E. , Dagogo‐Jack Samuel , Cherney David Z.I. , Wynant Willy , Gantz Ira , Mancuso James P. , Masiukiewicz Urszula , Cannon Christopher P.
Published: January 2025

Aims

In VERTIS CV, ertugliflozin was associated with a 30% risk reduction for adjudication‐confirmed, first and total hospitalizations for heart failure (HHF) in participants with type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. We evaluated the impact of ertugliflozin on the broader spectrum of all reported heart failure (HF) events independent of adjudication confirmation.

Methods and results

Data from participants who received ertugliflozin (5 or 15 mg) were pooled and compared versus placebo. HF events included all investigator‐reported HF adverse events (AEs) and serious AEs (SAEs) based on the narrow standardized Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) query ‘cardiac failure’. Terms for orthopnoea, dyspnoea, and peripheral oedema were evaluated separately. The effect of ertugliflozin on the first HF event was assessed by Cox proportional hazard models. Total HF events were assessed by Andersen–Gill models to account for first and recurrent events. A total of 8238 participants received ≥1 dose of ertugliflozin or placebo (mean follow‐up 3.5 years). Investigator‐reported HF events and AE capture yielded 420 first and 627 total HF events (vs. 238 and 345 adjudication‐confirmed HHF events, respectively, in the primary analyses). Ertugliflozin reduced the risk for first (hazard ratio [HR] 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.57–0.84; p < 0.001) and total HF AEs (HR 0.66; 95% CI 0.57–0.78; p < 0.001), with similar results for first and total HF SAEs. Additionally, ertugliflozin reduced oedema risk, but not orthopnoea/dyspnoea.

Conclusion

The effect of ertugliflozin was consistent across the spectrum of total investigator‐reported HF AEs and was similar in magnitude to adjudicated HHF events.
Considering Cumulative Damage in URM Buildings for Clustered Seismicity Risk Assessment
Authors: Inarritu Pablo Garcia de Quevedo , Kohrangi Mohsen , Cattari Serena , Lagomarsino Sergio , Bazzurro Paolo
Published: January 2025

Unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings are highly susceptible to cumulative damage, as demonstrated by the damage observations collected during and after numerous earthquake sequences. However, most previous numerical studies assessing cumulative damage in URM buildings have failed to fully capture the extent of the phenomenon observed in real events. This article aims to address this gap by applying a newly developed methodology for modeling the accumulation of damage in URM buildings in risk assessment case studies. This methodology quantifies the cumulative damage using an energy‐ and displacement‐based damage index (DI) within a component‐based framework. The methodology is validated using data from the URM school building in Visso that sustained severe, progressive damage during the 2016 Central Italy earthquake sequence. Additionally, this DI is employed to develop hazard‐consistent, damage‐state‐dependent fragility curves for five case‐study URM buildings through consecutive nonlinear dynamic analyses. The fragility analysis results align with real‐world observations, indicating a significant reduction in structural capacity due to cumulative damage. These set of fragility curves are then utilized in a risk assessment exercise. The last part of this study compares the impact on risk estimates when incorporating damage accumulation and earthquake sequences using the proposed methodology versus the conventional approach, which assumes only independent mainshocks affecting buildings in their intact state. The results reveal that the conventional approach underestimates the average annual losses for these five URM buildings in Central Italy by 45%–85%. Although the level of underestimation may vary for other URM buildings in other regions, it is undeniable that the conventional approach consistently underestimates the risk for URM structures by a significant margin.
Who Will Govern Cybersecurity in Spain by 2035? Results From a Delphi Study
Authors: Del‐Real Cristina , Díaz‐Fernández Antonio M.
Published: January 2025

This study explores the future of cybersecurity governance in Spain by 2035, focusing on the roles of public and private actors. Using a two‐round Delphi method, we collected insights from experts to evaluate the probability, desirability, and impact of 20 projections for Spain's cybersecurity landscape. The findings suggest a consolidation of multi‐stakeholder forms of governance, with public agencies like INCIBE and CCN guiding policy and oversight while private entities deliver essential services. Experts foresee continued collaboration between national and EU institutions, with the EU playing a key role in regulatory coordination. Three governance scenarios emerged: public‐centric cybersecurity governance, state‐driven cybersecurity assurance, and private monopolistic provision. These scenarios underscore a complex multistakeholder model shaped by collaboration and tension between public and private actors, particularly in light of fragmented ownership over cyberspace resources. This study highlights the need for adaptable governance frameworks that balance regulatory oversight with private sector efficiency, providing insights for stakeholders as they prepare for evolving cyber threats.
Enhancing the quality of pear candies via jaggery‐based osmotic dehydration: Optimization and analysis
Authors: Dhillion Gurpreet , Kour Amardeep , Gupta Navjot , Atreya Padma Nath
Published: January 2025

Pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) is a healthy fruit; however, its availability is limited in certain seasons due to short shelf life. To overcome this limitation, a cost‐effective dehydration‐based preservation involving osmotic dehydration process with jaggery as a pretreatment, followed by drying in a cabinet dryer was explored. The Box–Behnken design was used to optimize the key factors: immersion time (hour), temperature (°C), and jaggery concentration (°Brix) which were employed with the aim to maximize water loss (WL) and overall acceptability (OA) while minimizing solute gain (SG) and achieving the ideal hardness in the resulting pear candy with an OA score. After optimization, immersing the pear for 3 h, maintaining the osmotic solution at 45°C, and using a jaggery concentration of 52°Brix resulted in a WL of 40%, with an SG of 9.5%. The hardness of the resulting pear candy was 3.20 N with an OA score of 7.65. Pear slices were processed using the optimized osmotic dehydration conditions, followed by conventional drying with an air convective dryer at 50°C. Further characterized, the jaggery‐osmosed pear candy was compared with traditional sucrose‐based pear candy. Our findings suggest that using jaggery as an osmotic agent improved the candy's mineral profile and improved consumer acceptability, making it a suitable alternative to the standard production method.
Can Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage Survive the Voluntary Financing Structure?
Authors: South David W. , Alpay Savas
Published: January 2025

The Baku Climate Change Conference (referred to hereafter as COP29) was held in Baku, Azerbaijan in November (2024).1 It was billed as the “Climate Finance COP” since, among other goals, it was to agree on an updated spending target: the New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance (NCQG). The NCQG would replace the current goal for developed countries to mobilize $100 billion per year to aid developing countries between 2020 and 2025.
Transformation of the Algorithm for Prioritising Clinical Trial Development in Kazakhstan Based on Practical Significance
Authors: Nurgozhin Talgat , Kulkayeva Gulnara , Graf Margarita , Tarasova Valentina , Tabarov Adlet
Published: January 2025

The research relevance is determined by the need for rational use of limited resources in the healthcare sector and the importance of implementing the results of scientific research into medical practice to improve the quality of medical care. The study aims to identify key criteria and develop a system for evaluating clinical trials to prioritise the most promising areas based on their practical applicability in healthcare. The expert evaluation method of 17 research projects in the field of clinical medicine funded by government grants, involving 37 experts, was used to achieve the objective. The experts conducted the assessment using a multi‐criteria system, including 4 categories and about 20 individual indicators. The results showed that 58.8% of the projects required a change in the composition of the teams, and in 70.6% of cases, third‐party organisations were involved for methodological support. About 41.2% of applications had a solid scientific basis, but the demand for the results of 17.6% of projects decreased due to the COVID‐19 pandemic. For 23.5% of projects, the proposed topics were of low public demand. Only 47.1% of the projects demonstrated interest in addressing national health issues. In 17.2% of fundamental projects, assessing the economic efficiency was difficult. In 23.5% of cases, projects could have been financed from other sources. The timeframe of 3 years was assessed as insufficient for 76.5% of highly specialised projects. Based on the analysis, recommendations for improving processes to increase the practical significance of research are formulated. The study contributes to developing an evaluation methodology and improving the efficiency of grant funding in medicine.
Coordination Effect of Oligopolists' Multimarket Contact
Authors: Yu Zuo , Luo Tianyu
Published: January 2025

In this article, we examine the coordination effect of oligopolists' multimarket contact with asymmetric cost. We extend a model of infinitely repeated multimarket contact games with “symmetric advantage” in the seminal paper of Bernheim and Whinston (The RAND Journal of Economics 1990; 21(1): 1–26). We consider Stackelberg and Cournot competition as the stage game while Bernheim and Whinston consider Bertrand competition. Different from Bernheim and Whinston, we show that collusive sustainability under multimarket contact is the same to single‐market if the stage games are Stackelberg competition. Our research has policy implications for the antimonopoly review of the merger and detecting cartels.
Lightweight Solution for English Course Quality Evaluation Supported by Edge Intelligence
Authors: Weng Shihua
Published: January 2025

With the development of artificial intelligence and computer vision technologies, smart education supported by artificial intelligence and computer vision has gradually replaced the traditional classroom teaching mode, such as English courses. However, the existing studies about smart education mainly focus on student classroom behavior recognition and neglect quality evaluation of teaching and learning in the classroom. On the other hand, it still lacks a lightweight solution for smart education in the network environment with limited resources. This paper establishes a lightweight English course quality evaluation scheme to tackle the above issues. First, a camera is used to collect the information of class; then, a lightweight network, which consists of a MobileNet v4 Small and a YOLO network, is deployed in the edge computing device to automatically process the information from the camera for attendance rate estimation and students' behavior recognition; lastly, the server in the remote control room collects all the information from classrooms to implement course quality evaluation. The experimental and simulated results show that student detection and student behavior recognition can meet the requirements in the real application.
Cut‐Off Points for Low Relative 30‐s Sit‐to‐Stand Power and Their Associations With Adverse Health Conditions
Authors: Garcia‐Aguirre Mikel , Baltasar‐Fernandez Ivan , Alcazar Julian , Losa‐Reyna Jose , Alfaro‐Acha Ana , Ara Ignacio , Rodriguez‐Mañas Leocadio , Alegre Luis M. , Garcia‐Garcia Francisco J.
Published: January 2025

Background

Despite muscle power derived from the 5‐rep sit‐to‐stand (STS) test having been demonstrated to be a valuable biomarker in older individuals, there is limited information regarding muscle power derived from the 30‐s STS test, a widely used test in the clinical setting. This study aimed (i) to compare relative 30‐s STS power values between older men and women, (ii) to identify cut‐off points for low relative 30‐s STS power, (iii) to compare the prevalence of low relative STS power between sexes and (iv) to evaluate the association of low relative 30‐s STS power with adverse conditions in older people.

Methods

A total of 1475 community‐dwelling older adults (65–98 years; 45% men) from the Toledo Study for Healthy Aging were included. Relative STS power was assessed using the 30‐s STS test and the Alcazar's equation. Adverse health conditions considered encompassed frailty, depression, disability in basic (BADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), cognitive impairment and low habitual gait speed (HGS).

Results

Relative STS power decreased linearly at an average rate of 1.0% year−1 in men and 1.5% year−1 in women. The cut‐off points for low relative STS power were 2.53 and 2.01 W·kg−1 for men and women, respectively. The prevalence of low relative STS power was significantly lower in older men compared with older women (43.5% vs. 50.0%, respectively; p = 0.005). In men, low relative STS power was associated with frailty (OR [95% CI] = 4.4 [2.4–8.0]), cognitive impairment (OR [95% CI] = 1.7 [1.0–2.7]), disability in BADL (OR [95% CI] = 4.5 [1.5–13.8]) and low HGS (OR [95% CI] = 3.4 [1.9–5.9]). In women, low relative STS power was associated with frailty (OR [95% CI] = 5.2 [3.5–7.7]), disability in BADL (OR [95% CI] = 4.3 [1.8–9.9]) and IADL (OR [95% CI] = 3.1 [2.2–4.3]) and low HGS (OR [95% CI] = 6.1 [2.8–13.1]). No associations were found between low relative STS power and disability in IADL or depression in men, nor between low relative STS power and cognitive impairment or depression in women.

Conclusion

Relative STS power decreased with increasing age in both men and women. The provided sex‐specific cut‐off points for low relative STS power using the 30‐s STS test adequately identified older people with frailty and were associated with an increased risk of experiencing adverse conditions.
Reference Values of Handgrip and Lower Extremity Strength for Vietnamese Men and Women: The Vietnam Osteoporosis Study
Authors: Do Kiet T. , Hoang Duy K. , Luong Quan N. , Nguyen Huy G. , Do An T. , Ho‐Pham Lan T. , Nguyen Tuan V.
Published: January 2025

Background

Falls and sarcopenia are significant public health issues in Vietnam. Despite muscle strength being a critical predictor for these conditions, reference data on muscle strength within the Vietnamese population are lacking.

Purpose

To establish the reference ranges for muscle strength among Vietnamese individuals.

Methods

The study involved 4096 individuals, including 1419 men and 2677 women aged 18 years and above, from the Vietnam Osteoporosis Study. Muscle strength was assessed using a Baseline hand dynamometer for handgrip strength and a Back‐Leg‐Chest dynamometer for leg strength. We calculated mean values, standard deviations, interquartile ranges, and peak muscle strength (pMS) for both handgrip and leg strength across various ages. Reference curves were created with the Generalised Additive Model for Location Scale and Shape, and polynomial regression models were employed to analyse the relationship between muscle strength and age.

Results

Advancing age was significantly associated with lower muscle strength. Peak muscle strength typically occurred between ages 30 and 40, with earlier peaks in women, especially in leg strength. Men consistently showed higher muscle strength than women, with variations depending on the measurement site. Specifically, average handgrip strength was 36.4 kg ± 8.4 (mean ± SD) for men and 23.2 kg ± 6.0 for women (p < 0.001). Leg strength averaged 63.9 kg ± 27.2 for men and 29.5 kg ± 13.9 for women (p < 0.001). Additionally, we produced a percentile chart illustrating muscle weakness ranges based on the 25th percentile of muscle strength and the appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) for the Vietnamese population.

Conclusion

These data provide reference ranges for evaluating muscle strength in the Vietnamese population, offering crucial insights for identifying individuals at risk of falls or sarcopenia in clinical settings.
Demonstration of autonomous fixed‐wing drone delivery of prescribed medications in remote islands in Japan
Authors: Miyata Jun , Tsuchiya Hironobu , Nonaka Fumiaki , Aso Yuji , Sugahara Masanori , Maeda Takahiro
Published: January 2025

Background

In rural areas, physicians and dentists often dispense medications without pharmacists. Technology that can safely and promptly deliver medications is required so that pharmacists, even those at a distance, can dispense them in a timely manner.

Methods

We demonstrated a combination of online medication counseling and drone delivery of medications dispensed by pharmacists in two rural clinics located far from pharmacies on remote islands in Japan. After being prescribed by physicians, dispensed by pharmacists, and online medication counseling, the medications were transported by autonomous fixed‐wing drones, dropped, and picked up by the staff. Following Japanese regulations, our drones could only fly over the sea and drop medications on the shore. After the demonstration, we administered a questionnaire.

Results

A total of 62 patients participated in the demonstration, which was successful except for two patients whose drone deliveries were canceled because of strong winds. Most patients received their medications after more than an hour. Individual home delivery costs were involved because the delivery spot was restricted to the shore. More than 80% of the patients were satisfied with online medication counseling, but a few expressed the desire to receive their medication at the clinic.

Conclusions

Prescribed medication delivery using drones was technically feasible. This project will contribute to separating the prescribing and dispensing functions, promote pharmacist participation in rural areas, and expand patient treatment options. Methods for checking and monitoring the delivery spot, ensuring successful delivery, and covering the cost of drone delivery need further exploration.
Practice Opportunities in Peace Leadership Education
Authors: Gott Trisha
Published: January 2025

The complexities in leadership challenges have evolved as have human conceptions of leadership. Advancing from a deepened understanding of human systems, leadership work pushes beyond a leader‐centric model and to a new horizon that disrupts the leader–follower‐dyad to focus on practice. A practice orientation—fully adopted by educators—can impact leadership work on peace, a pervasive, ongoing human challenge. Educators may lean on pedagogy from the scholarship of teaching and learning to pull from established practices for learning. Peace Leadership and Leadership‐As‐Practice (L‐A‐P) direct leadership educators toward practice work, offering practice as an approach to leadership work in the classroom.
Semi‐Supervised Learning Allows for Improved Segmentation With Reduced Annotations of Brain Metastases Using Multicenter MRI Data
Authors: Ottesen Jon André , Tong Elizabeth , Emblem Kyrre Eeg , Latysheva Anna , Zaharchuk Greg , Bjørnerud Atle , Grøvik Endre
Published: January 2025

Background

Deep learning‐based segmentation of brain metastases relies on large amounts of fully annotated data by domain experts. Semi‐supervised learning offers potential efficient methods to improve model performance without excessive annotation burden.

Purpose

This work tests the viability of semi‐supervision for brain metastases segmentation.

Study Type

Retrospective.

Subjects

There were 156, 65, 324, and 200 labeled scans from four institutions and 519 unlabeled scans from a single institution. All subjects included in the study had diagnosed with brain metastases.

Field Strength/Sequences

1.5 T and 3 T, 2D and 3D T1‐weighted pre‐ and post‐contrast, and fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR).

Assessment

Three semi‐supervision methods (mean teacher, cross‐pseudo supervision, and interpolation consistency training) were adapted with the U‐Net architecture. The three semi‐supervised methods were compared to their respective supervised baseline on the full and half‐sized training.

Statistical Tests

Evaluation was performed on a multinational test set from four different institutions using 5‐fold cross‐validation. Method performance was evaluated by the following: the number of false‐positive predictions, the number of true positive predictions, the 95th Hausdorff distance, and the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC). Significance was tested using a paired samples t test for a single fold, and across all folds within a given cohort.

Results

Semi‐supervision outperformed the supervised baseline for all sites with the best‐performing semi‐supervised method achieved an on average DSC improvement of 6.3% ± 1.6%, 8.2% ± 3.8%, 8.6% ± 2.6%, and 15.4% ± 1.4%, when trained on half the dataset and 3.6% ± 0.7%, 2.0% ± 1.5%, 1.8% ± 5.7%, and 4.7% ± 1.7%, compared to the supervised baseline on four test cohorts. In addition, in three of four datasets, the semi‐supervised training produced equal or better results than the supervised models trained on twice the labeled data.

Data Conclusion

Semi‐supervised learning allows for improved segmentation performance over the supervised baseline, and the improvement was particularly notable for independent external test sets when trained on small amounts of labeled data.

Plain Language Summary

Artificial intelligence requires extensive datasets with large amounts of annotated data from medical experts which can be difficult to acquire due to the large workload. To compensate for this, it is possible to utilize large amounts of un‐annotated clinical data in addition to annotated data. However, this method has not been widely tested for the most common intracranial brain tumor, brain metastases. This study shows that this approach allows for data efficient deep learning models across multiple institutions with different clinical protocols and scanners.

Level of Evidence

3

Technical Efficacy

Stage 2
Longitudinal Analysis of Creative and Entrepreneurial Self‐Efficacy in Undergraduates
Authors: Álvarez‐Huerta Paula , Muela Alexander , Larrea Inaki
Published: January 2025

Creativity and entrepreneurship are fundamental to the personal and professional development of new generations and for social progress in general. The primary aim of this study was to analyze changes in the creative and entrepreneurial self‐efficacy of undergraduates as they progress through university, and to examine whether these trajectories are influenced by gender. We also explored the impact of engagement on students' creative and entrepreneurial self‐efficacy. The sample comprised 200 undergraduates attending a Spanish university, all of whom completed various measures in Years 1 and 4 of their degree program. Results showed an increase in creative self‐efficacy over time, but no change in entrepreneurial self‐efficacy. Gender had no effect on these trajectories. Two dimensions of student engagement were found to be associated with an increase in both creative and entrepreneurial self‐efficacy by the end of undergraduate study. From a practical point of view, the findings suggest the need to promote learning experiences involving participation in high‐impact practices and reflective and integrative learning.
Exploring the Self‐Employment Outcomes of Black Individuals With Disabilities During the COVID‐19 Pandemic
Authors: Peterson Gemarco J. , Weller Bridget Elizabeth
Published: January 2025

The sudden Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) outbreak exacerbated employment challenges for Black people with disabilities. As a counter, many pivoted from the traditional work environment to self‐employment. Therefore, this study first analyzed select phases of the Household Pulse Survey (HPS) descriptively and then utilized probit models to assess the relationship between specific disabilities (audio, visual, and mobility) and self‐employment, focusing on gender difference. The results indicated that Black older adults (median age 55 years old) with disabilities, Black men with disabilities, and Black individuals with hearing and visual impairments were more likely to engage in self‐employment during the COVID‐19 pandemic when compared to their respective groups. Moreover, these results underscore the role of age, gender, and disability type in shaping self‐employment outcomes. The study's findings have implications for career counseling, policies, and services addressing employment disparities for Black individuals with and without disabilities.
Dynamic Multicolor Display with Wide Color Gamut Enabled by Vanadium Oxide‐Based Fabry–Pérot Electrochromic Nanocavities
Authors: Li Huiying , Cao Sheng , Bao Longqiang , Liu Yuwei , Chen Junyao , Qin Shihua , Huang Lin , Wan Lingyu
Published: January 2025

Inorganic electrochromic (EC) devices with vibrant multicolor variations are at the forefront of EC technology and play a crucial role in display applications. Expanding the dynamic color gamut of a single EC device has long been a subject of investigation. Herein, a design is presented that employs vanadium oxide (VOx) as the EC layer and tungsten (W) as the reflective layer to construct an asymmetric Fabry–Pérot (F–P) nanocavity, enabling wide color gamut EC displays. By leveraging the different thicknesses of VOx, this design allows for a range of color changes from yellow and orange to magenta, purple, blue, cyan, and green through dynamic EC modulation. Notably, a typical single W‐VOx (150 nm) F–P nanocavity demonstrates an impressive modulation range of 110 nm, exceeding the capabilities of existing F–P nanocavities. In‐depth structural analysis reveals that the insertion and extraction of Li+ ions significantly influence the microstructure and optical properties of VOx film, allowing for greater refractive index adjustment than WO3. This facilitates precise control and expansion of the nanocavity's color range through interference effects. This study provides a new perspective for developing dynamically adjustable wide color gamut EC displays and highlights their potential applications in flexible display technologies.
Concentration and Cavitation in the Riemann Solutions for the Triple‐Pressure Euler Equations Involving a Source Term
Authors: Tian Yuan , Shen Chun
Published: January 2025

The exact solutions for the Riemann problem concerning the one‐dimensional triple‐pressure Euler equations with the Coulomb‐type frictional term are displayed in perfectly explicit forms, where both the rarefaction and shock waves are presented in parabolic shapes with equal curvature under the action of the Coulomb‐type frictional term. Specifically, the curved delta shock wave is formed by sending the limit of Riemann solution comprised of double shock waves, and the vacuum state is also grown up by taking the limit of Riemann solution comprised of double rarefaction waves when all the three perturbation parameters are dropped to zero, where the remarkable concentration and cavitation phenomena can be closely observed and explored. Besides, the numerical simulations in correspondence are also offered to validate our results.
Subordinators and Generalized Heat Kernels: Random Time Change and Long Time Dynamics
Authors: Aljaber Noha , Alshehri Aisha , Altamimi Haya , Majdoub Mohamed , Mliki Ezzedine
Published: January 2025

This paper focuses on studying the long‐time dynamics of the subordination process for a range of linear evolution equations, with a special emphasis on the fractional heat equation. By treating inverse subordinators as random time variables and employing the subordination principle to solve forward Kolmogorov equations, we explore the behavior of the solutions over extended periods. We provide a detailed description of the specific classes of subordinators suitable for conducting asymptotic analysis. Our findings not only extend existing research but also refine the results outlined in prior studies.
Equitable Decision‐Making in Community Foundations
Authors: Azevedo Lauren , Bell Andrew
Published: January 2025

Community foundations can strengthen their localities by connecting philanthropists with areas of greatest need. This article seeks to examine if equitable practices constitute more equitable decision‐making in the structure and processes of the foundation. To this end, we explore decision‐making in terms of the processes involved in funding allocation and grantmaking of discretionary funds in foundation boardrooms, where these decisions typically begin or take place. Through an inductive approach, we formulate a theoretical framework and test our framework through surveys to community foundation leaders. Findings reveal that cultivating diversity and inclusive practices in decision‐making, organizing decisions by mission and strategic goals, and an organizational commitment to equity can strengthen perceived equitable decision‐making. This research has substantial implications in nonprofit spaces by exploring informal and nontraditional prescriptions for better engaging with communities they are serving and creating a more inclusive society. Theoretical and practical contributions are made for advancing equity through decision‐making in spaces where important community‐based decisions are made.
Co‐Expression of Tardive Dyskinesia and Drug‐Induced Parkinsonism in Rats Chronically Treated With Haloperidol
Authors: Kinoshita Iku , Nishijima Haruo , Nakamura Takashi , Kon Tomoya , Shimoyama Shuji , Hikichi Hiroki , Suzuki Chieko , Tomiyama Masahiko
Published: January 2025

Aim

We aimed to create a rat model of drug‐induced parkinsonism and tardive dyskinesia by chronic administration of haloperidol and examine the expression of direct and indirect pathway markers in the striatum of the model rats.

Methods

We treated 21 rats, 14 with haloperidol decanoate and 7 with placebo. The number of vacuous chewing movements per 2 min was counted, and haloperidol‐treated rats were classified into two groups: mild and severe tardive dyskinesia. Other behavioral analyses were also conducted. After a 6‐month treatment period, rat brains were removed, and protein expression was evaluated by Western blotting.

Results

All haloperidol‐treated rats exhibited vacuous chewing movements. The frequency of exploratory behavior and rotarod test performance was lower in the mild and severe tardive dyskinesia groups. The number of vacuous chewing movements and frequency of exploratory behavior were positively correlated in haloperidol‐treated rats. The expression of dynorphin, a direct pathway marker, decreased in the severe tardive dyskinesia group. The expression of enkephalin, an indirect pathway marker, decreased both in the mild and severe tardive dyskinesia groups. The expression of dopamine D1 and D2 receptors also decreased with haloperidol treatment.

Conclusion

Both direct and indirect pathways are involved in haloperidol‐induced movement disorders.
Surface‐modified chitin micro‐nanofibers endow polylactic acid‐based composites with good mechanical performance and thermal stability
Authors: Ma Jieru , Du Xiaoyu , Li Hang , Liu Shuo , Jin Yongcan , Xu Zhaoyang , Chen Chuchu
Published: January 2025

Despite biodegradability, the weak mechanical properties and poor thermal stability remain the main challenges for polylactic acid (PLA). The addition of biofibers is an approach to enhance the PLA materials while unpromising interfacial compatibility hinders their further development. Herein, we report a facile method to fabricate fiber‐reinforced‐PLA composites with improved tensile performance and thermal stability. The modified chitin micro‐nanofibers (KCHs) were mixed with PLA and processed via co‐extrusion to prepare KCH/PLA composites. Specifically, the interfacial compatibility between chitin and PLA was significantly increased due to the surface modification of KCH, thus contributing to the enhanced properties. As a result, compared with PLA (tensile strength: ~17.36 MPa, Young's modulus: ~1230.9 MPa), the developed KCH/PLA composites were endowed with good mechanical performance (tensile strength: ~36.07 MPa, Young's modulus: ~1647.6 MPa) and reduced thermal expansion coefficient (~134.4 × 10−6/K). Moreover, the KCH/PLA could be molded into tableware such as forks and knives. So, it has great potential as a biodegradable candidate to replace petroleum‐based plastics in packaging applications.

Highlights

Polylactic acid (PLA)‐based composites were reinforced by the modified chitin micro‐nano fibers.

Chitin micro‐nanofiber (KCH)/PLA composites combined improved tensile properties and thermal stability.

The interfacial compatibility was improved by the hydrophobic modification.

Biodegradable KCH/PLA was molded into packaging products (fork and knife).

KCH/PLA are promising candidates for replacing non‐biodegradable plastics.
Nutritional strategies for childhood obesity treatment and prevention without counting calories—A narrative review
Authors: Kuźbicka Karolina
Published: January 2025

Treating obesity in children is a significant challenge for modern medicine and a delicate matter at the same time. Although obesity treatment typically involves lifestyle modifications; in particular implementation of a detailed menu and calorie restrictions, when it comes to children, imposing a specific menu can be tough and consequently counterproductive. Therefore, it is advisable to introduce some small single steps and simple rules to lower the risk of obesity without causing unnecessary pressure. This article includes practical advice on how to treat and prevent excessive body weight in children. While primarily aimed at professionals working with children and their parents or guardians—such as teachers, dietitians, and pediatricians—these recommendations can also be adapted for parents and caregivers in various formats to effectively reach and benefit this target group.
The Omics‐Driven Machine Learning Path to Cost‐Effective Precision Medicine in Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Lopes Marta B. , Coletti Roberta , Duranton Flore , Glorieux Griet , Jaimes Campos Mayra Alejandra , Klein Julie , Ley Matthias , Perco Paul , Sampri Alexia , Tur‐Sinai Aviad
Published: January 2025

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) poses a significant and growing global health challenge, making early detection and slowing disease progression essential for improving patient outcomes. Traditional diagnostic methods such as glomerular filtration rate and proteinuria are insufficient to capture the complexity of CKD. In contrast, omics technologies have shed light on the molecular mechanisms of CKD, helping to identify biomarkers for disease assessment and management. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) could transform CKD care, enabling biomarker discovery for early diagnosis and risk prediction, and personalized treatment. By integrating multi‐omics datasets, AI can provide real‐time, patient‐specific insights, improve decision support, and optimize cost efficiency by early detection and avoidance of unnecessary treatments. Multidisciplinary collaborations and sophisticated ML methods are essential to advance diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in CKD. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the pipeline for translating CKD omics data into personalized treatment, covering recent advances in omics research, the role of ML in CKD, and the critical need for clinical validation of AI‐driven discoveries to ensure their efficacy, relevance, and cost‐effectiveness in patient care.
Physical function and perceived pain following inpatient intensive interdisciplinary pain treatment for children and adolescents
Authors: Seth Mayank , Vieni Kate , Hottinger Kathryn , Bentley Katherine
Published: January 2025

Background

Chronic pain among children and adolescents negatively impacts overall functioning and quality of life. Although Intensive Interdisciplinary Pain Treatment (IIPT) programs aim to reduce functional impairment and perceived pain, overall evidence is limited and restricted by small sample sizes and limited diversity in pain diagnoses.

Objective

To determine whether children and adolescents with chronic pain participating in an inpatient IIPT program experience improvements in their physical function and perceived pain.

Design

Cross‐sectional, secondary analysis.

Setting

Inpatient acute rehabilitation.

Participants

Children and adolescents with chronic pain (n = 258; females/males = 204/54; age = 16.5 ± 2.6) admitted to a 4‐week inpatient IIPT program from November 2011 to January 2023.

Intervention

Participants attended individual and group sessions involving physical therapy, occupational therapy, aquatic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, school‐related tasks, and meditation. The sessions focused on improving strength, endurance, and function, while helping participants modify physical sensations, catastrophic thinking, and maladaptive behaviors.

Main Outcome Measures

Collected at admission and discharge: pain intensity (Numerical Pain Rating Scale; scale: 0–10), lower extremity function (Lower Extremity Functional Scale [LEFS]; scale: 0–80), upper extremity function (Upper Extremity Functional Index [UEFI]; scale: 0–80), motor proficiency (Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition short form [BOT‐2 SF]; scale: 0–70), and occupational performance and satisfaction (Canadian Occupational Performance Measure [COPM]; scale: 0–10 for both).

Results

Overall, participants reported significant improvements (p < .05) in median LEFS (median change [MC] = +30.5; 25th, 75th percentile range [PR] = 19, 42), UEFI (MC = +21; PR = 12.8, 31), BOT‐2 SF (MC = +9; PR = 5, 15), COPM performance (MC = +4; PR = 2.8, 5.4), and COPM satisfaction (MC = +5.6; PR = 3.8, 7.2). Moreover, participants reported significant reduction (p < .05) in median pain intensity (MC = −3; PR = 1, 5). For a majority of participants, MC surpassed previously reported minimally clinical important difference thresholds.

Conclusions

Findings highlight the relevance of inpatient IIPT programs in enhancing physical function and reducing perceived pain in children and adolescents with chronic pain.
Berberine Inhibits the Disruption of the Blood–Brain Barrier and Glial Cell Activation in a Rat Model of Acute Hepatic Encephalopathy
Authors: Ali Syed Afroz , Datusalia Ashok Kumar
Published: January 2025

Background and aim: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a complex neurological disorder in individuals with liver diseases, necessitating effective neuroprotective interventions to alleviate its adverse outcomes. Berberine (BBR), a natural compound with well‐established anti‐fibrotic and neuroprotective properties, has not been extensively studied in the context of glial activation under hyperammonaemic conditions. This study evaluates the neuroprotective potential of BBR in a thioacetamide (TAA)‐induced HE rat model, focusing on its effects on glial activation and NLRP3 inflammasome signalling. Methods: Neurological impairments were assessed using open field tests and sensory analysis. Western blotting was performed to evaluate the expression of glial and neuronal markers, tight junction proteins and NLRP3 inflammasome components in the cortex and hippocampus. Histopathological and molecular changes were further examined using H&E, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining. Key Results: BBR treatment significantly improved behavioural abnormalities and reduced systemic ammonia levels in TAA‐exposed rats. It restored blood–brain barrier integrity, as evidenced by reduced tight junction protein degradation. BBR inhibited the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome markers, including caspase‐1, IL‐1β, ASC, and NF‐κB, while reducing glial cell activation (IBA‐1 and GFAP). Notably, BBR diminished NLRP3 expression in glial cells, indicating its potent anti‐inflammatory effects. Additionally, BBR preserved neuronal integrity, as demonstrated by the maintained expression of MAP‐2 and NeuN and reduced cleaved Gasdermin D levels. Conclusions: These findings suggest that BBR alleviates behavioural and molecular abnormalities in HE through NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic agent for managing HE.
Bootstrap‐Based Control Chart for Percentiles of the Generalized Lognormal Distribution With Reliability Applications
Authors: Panda Shantayan , Wang Min
Published: January 2025

The generalized lognormal (GLN) distribution, which extends the lognormal distribution by incorporating the Box–Cox transformation, is commonly used for modeling datasets that exhibit right‐skewed behavior. However, statistical control charts related to GLN percentiles, which are essential indicators of product quality for certain products, have not been explored in the existing literature. Additionally, the Shewhart‐type control chart may not be suitable for monitoring GLN percentiles, as the sampling distributions of percentile estimators are often unknown or not bell‐shaped, particularly when dealing with relatively small sample sizes. In this paper, we propose a bootstrap‐based control chart to monitor GLN percentiles and also establish the Shewhart‐type control chart using normality approximations. We conduct extensive Monte Carlo simulations to compare the finite‐sample performance of the two proposed control charts. Numerical results show that the proposed bootstrap control chart generally outperforms the Shewhart‐type control chart in terms of the average run length and the standard deviation of run length. A real‐data application is also provided for illustrative purposes.
Systematic Characterization of the Chemical Constituents of in Vitro and in Vivo of Astragali Radix‐Salvia miltiorrhiza Herb Pair by Ultra‐High‐Performance‐Liquid Chromatography‐Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Shu Lexin , Zhang Shumin , Qian Jun , Liu Sitong , Qiu Huixin , Zhao Qiduo , Deng Yanru , Li Yubo
Published: January 2025

Rationale

Astragali radix‐Salvia miltiorrhiza (AR‐SM) is an herb pair with good therapeutic effects and is widely used. In this study, the in vitro and in vivo components of AR‐SM were quickly classified and identified based on UHPLC‐orbital mass spectrometry. This provided a basis for clarifying the bioactive substances after compatibility of AR and SM.

Methods

Firstly, the related literature of AR and SM were searched through PubMed and CNKI databases, and the molecular formula, retention time, mass spectrum fragments, and other information of its chemical components were sorted out to establish a component database. Extract, blank plasma and drug‐containing plasma were analyzed by UHPLC orbital mass spectrometry technology, and then the data were processed by Xcalibur software. Combined with databases and literature, the in vivo and in vitro components of AR‐SM were comprehensively analyzed.

Results

A total of 142 components were identified in the extract of AR‐SM. The cleavage patterns of flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolic acids, organic acids, saponins, and phenylpropanoids were summarized. Meanwhile, 89 compounds were tentatively identified in rat plasma, including 73 prototypes and 16 metabolites. The main metabolic pathways included oxidation, reduction, methylation, glucuronidation, and sulfation.
Memory‐Based Adaptive Event‐Triggered Filter Subject to Hybrid Cyber Attacks and Input Limitation
Authors: Zhi Ya‐Li , Liu Bing , Liao Suyin , He Shuping
Published: January 2025

This article focuses on the design of a secure memory‐based adaptive event‐triggered filter for networked systems subject to hybrid cyber attacks and input limitations. First, a hybrid attack model incorporating denial‐of‐service (DoS) attacks, deception attacks, and replay attacks is established for filter design. Second, a novel memory‐based adaptive event‐triggered strategy sensitive to cyber attacks is introduced into the filter design to save network resources, optimize network channel utilization, and prevent network congestion. Subsequently, a novel event‐triggered filtering error model is established under hybrid cyber attacks and input limitations. Utilizing Lyapunov–Krasovskii functionals and linear matrix inequality (LMI) techniques, sufficient conditions can be concluded to prove the exponential mean‐square stability of the filtering error model with a given performance index. Finally, the effectiveness and the practicality of the obtained conclusions are demonstrated by a numerical simulation and tunnel diode circuit.
Snap‐through instability in mechanical metamaterials
Authors: Yan Sen , Wu Lingling , Wen Yongzheng , Sun Jingbo , Zhou Ji
Published: January 2025

Snap‐through instability, a rapid transition between equilibrium states, has emerged as a crucial mechanism for designing mechanical metamaterials with novel functionalities, including fast motion, energy modulation, and bistable deformation. Metamaterials with snap‐through instability, known as snapping metamaterials, have enabled diverse applications, such as robotics, sensing, energy absorption, shape reconfiguration, and mechanical intelligence. Given the importance of these advancements, a comprehensive review of this field is highly desired. This paper provides an overview of recent research on snapping metamaterials, focusing on their design strategies and applications. Here, we summarized snapping metamaterials in several respects, including beam‐based structures, shell‐based structures, and origami/kirigami designs, according to their basic elements, alongside a brief discussion of their unique deformation mechanisms. Furthermore, the potential applications of snapping metamaterials are presented in terms of motion, energy, and deformation. To conclude, perspectives on the challenges and opportunities in this emerging field are highlighted, offering insights into the future research and development of snapping metamaterials.
How Solar, Wind, and Biomass Energy Create Sustainable Pathways Towards Green Economic Growth? Insights From the Top Five Global Renewable Energy Economies
Authors: Liao Xiaoli , Bresciani Stefano , Troise Ciro , Bukhari Waqar Ali Ather , Bukhari Azaz Ali Ather
Published: January 2025

The global transition towards cleaner energy such as solar, wind and biomass play a crucial role in mitigating environmental damage and fostering green economic growth. This study explores the impact of solar, wind and biomass energy on green economic growth in the top five renewable energy‐consuming economies, namely China, United States, Germany, India and Brazil based on data from 1995 to 2022. To empirically analyze the results and the robustness of our findings, we employ the fully modified least squares (FMOLS) and dynamic least squares (DOLS) methods respectively. We find that solar, wind and biomass energy significantly contribute to green economic growth. Furthermore, it emerges that solar energy has the highest positive and statistically significant effect on green economic growth, followed by wind and biomass energy. The policy recommendations are to establish an integrated energy network, increase energy investments in research and development and focus on international cooperation for efficient utilization of renewable energy resources. This research presents recommendations for policymakers on how they can support the green economy for the achievement of sustainable development goals.