bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative Effect of Free Vanillin and Vanillin‐Loaded Nanoemulsion in Airways of Rodents
Authors: Silva Bismarques Augusto Oliveira da , Menezes Pedro Modesto Nascimento , Silva David Souza , Brito Mariana Coelho , Ribeiro Tiago Feitosa , Macêdo Cicero André Ferreira , Filho Luiz Antonio Miranda de Souza Duarte , Moura Marigilson Pontes de Siqueira , Ribeiro Luciano Augusto de Araújo , Silva Fabrício Souza
Published: February 2025

Vanillin (4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxybenzaldehyde) is a phenolic aldehyde compound found in the plants of the genus Vanilla. This substance is widely used as a flavouring in the world, used in the food even pharmaceutical industries. Some studies have reported pharmacological activities such as antitumor, antinociceptive, anti‐inflammatory and neuroprotective activities. This study aimed to investigate the spasmolytic, antitussive, expectorant and anti‐asthmatic effects of vanillin in rodents. The spasmolytic activity of vanillin was assayed in isolated rat tracheas that were contracted with carbachol or KCl. The in vivo effects were evaluated in mouse models of citric acid‐induced cough, phenol red dosage in bronchoalveolar lavage and ovalbumin‐induced asthma. The maximal relaxing effect promoted by vanillin in isolated rat trachea was greater in contractions induced by KCl 60 mM than by carbachol (10 μM). In calcium‐free media, this effect was significantly reduced during CCh‐induced contractions. Vanillin at doses of 10, 30 or 100 mg/kg reduced the number of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage and the number of coughs in mice after treatment. The effect of vanillin may be related to the opioid receptor, as the antitussive effect was abolished in the presence of 0, 4 mg/kg naloxone. The vanillin‐loaded nanoemulsions exhibited expectorant activity. The present study showed that vanillin may be responsible for these anti‐asthmatic, antitussive and spasmolytic effects.
Structure, Properties, and Biomedical Activity of Natural Sweeteners Steviosides: An Update
Authors: Wang Aoyi , Hu Huiqin , Yuan Yadan , Mei Shiran , Zhu Guoxue , Yue Qiaoyan , Zhang Yanliang , Jiang Shujun
Published: February 2025

Stevioside is a natural sweetener with the characteristics of low calorie and high sweetness. It comprises a diverse range of monomers that play crucial roles in numerous biological processes. Due to these attributes, it has gained widespread application in agriculture, food, and pharmaceutical industries. As a substitute for sugar, stevioside also shows good pharmacological activities on glucose metabolism, bodyweight keeping, blood pressure maintenance, and shows anti‐inflammatory, anti‐oxidation, anti‐tumor, antibacterial, and immune regulation activities. This review summarized the update on the food safety, sweet structure–activity relationship, pharmacological activity of stevia glycosides recently, and discussed the limitations of its application in food and medicine.
The Influence of Self‐Efficacy, Trust, Perceived Costs and Healthcare‐Environment on Compliance With the Data Protection and Privacy Act by Health Workers in Uganda
Authors: Kayondo Barbara N. , Kyobe Michael
Published: February 2025

Despite existing regulations, compliance with Uganda's Data Protection and Privacy Act (DPPA) remains challenging, as studies focus only on technical and organizational aspects, neglecting behavioral and contextual factors. Furthermore, the limited number of health workers, low awareness of the DPPA, high costs of compliance, and a lack of trust within hospitals exacerbate these challenges. This study investigates the influence of self‐efficacy, trust, perceived costs, and the healthcare‐environment on DPPA compliance among healthcare workers in Uganda. It also explores the moderating effects of gender and work experience on the relationship between self‐efficacy and compliance. Using quantitative methods, data were collected from 309 healthcare workers across three hospitals through a self‐administered questionnaire. Regression analysis revealed that perceived costs (β = 0.240, p < 0.0001) were the strongest predictor of compliance, followed by trust (β = 0.193, p < 0.0001), healthcare environment (β = 0.178, p < 0.0001) and self‐efficacy (β = 0.121, p = 0.022) was positively associated with compliance. Gender (β = 0.119, p = 0.024) significantly moderated the self‐efficacy‐compliance relationship, with women exhibiting higher adherence to protocols, while work experience did not exhibit a significant moderating effect. The findings suggest that healthcare institutions in Uganda should invest in gender‐specific training programs to enhance self‐efficacy, build organizational trust, and reduce perceived compliance costs. Establishing supportive healthcare environments with clear policies and dedicated privacy officers is critical for promoting DPPA compliance. This study is among the first quantitative and empirical study to assess self‐efficacy, trust, costs of compliance and healthcare‐environment on DPPA compliance in Ugandan health context using social cognitive theory, theory of planned behavior, rational choice theory and institutional theory, a multi‐theoretical approach offering valuable insights for healthcare policy and management in resource‐constrained settings.
Tax Avoidance by Non‐Zombie Firms: Evidence From Japan Following the Lehman Shock
Authors: Ishiguro Takehide
Published: February 2025

Non‐zombie firms have an incentive to raise funds because zombie firms are prioritized for management resource allocation to prevent them from going bankrupt. Moreover, preferential loans to zombie firms are likely to hinder non‐zombie firms from raising external funds through debt. Therefore, non‐zombie firms attempt to increase internal financing through tax avoidance. This study examines whether non‐zombie firms avoid taxes, focusing on firms listed in the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (now TSE Prime) from 2008 to 2019. The results confirm that non‐zombie firms engage in tax avoidance. Given that zombie firms deter non‐zombie firms from seeking external financing, it is imperative that such firms be regulated and at the same time, the issues of zombie firms be addressed to mitigate tax avoidance behavior by non‐zombie firms. These findings indicate the need to consider the influence of other firms, such as zombie firms, in controlling tax avoidance.
Comparison of Urinary Red Blood Cell Distribution (URD) and Dysmorphic Red Blood Cells for Detecting Glomerular Hematuria: A Multicenter Study
Authors: Lee A‐Jin , Bang Hae In , Lee Sun Min , Won Dongil , Kang Myung Seo , Choi Hyun‐ji , Lee In Hee , Jeon Chang‐Ho
Published: February 2025

Background

The clinical utility of urinary red blood cell (RBC) distribution (URD) remains limited. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of URD and dysmorphic RBC (dRBC) in a multicenter study.

Methods

This study enrolled 703 patients who visited four tertiary medical centers in Korea. Patients were classified into glomerular diseases with biopsy (N = 169), renal diseases including chronic kidney disease (N = 194), nephrotic syndrome (NS; N = 88), tubulointerstitial diseases (N = 36), acute kidney injury (N = 32), others (N = 10), and extrarenal diseases (N = 174). Renal parameters, urine microscopic examination, urinalysis, and URD assessments were conducted. The diagnostic performances of dRBC and URD were evaluated.

Results

Median values of both dRBC and URD were significantly elevated in patients with glomerular diseases. URD exhibited a significant correlation with dRBC (r = 0.536) and albumin creatinine ratio (r = 0.186), while no significant correlation was observed with specific gravity (r = −0.03). Among renal diseases, dRBC and URD values were notably higher in patients with NS. The agreement rate between dRBC and URD results was 78.3% (112/143), with 31 instances showing discrepancies. ROC curve analysis comparing glomerular and extrarenal diseases yielded cutoff values of 18% for dRBC and 31.9% for URD, resulting in corresponding areas under the curve (AUC) of 0.79 and 0.83, respectively.

Conclusions

URD exhibited a comparable diagnostic performance, as indicated by a similar AUC value to that of dRBC, while offering the added advantage of providing objective and standardizable results. This attribute enhances its utility as a parameter for distinguishing between patients with glomerular hematuria (GH) and those with non‐GH.
The Effect of Exercise on Spexin and Follistatin in Elderly Individuals
Authors: Ayaz Elif Yıldırım , Dincer Berna , Cinbaz Gülser , Karacan Esra , Benli Reyhan Kaygusuz , Mete Emel , Bilgiç Hilal , Mesci Banu
Published: February 2025

Background

In adipose tissue–muscle crosstalk mechanisms, the interaction of adipokines and myokines is known to be critical for maintaining the body's metabolic balance in age‐related metabolic disorders. The aim of the study investigate the effects of 12 weeks of aerobic and resistance exercise training on spexin and follistatin and their relationship with each other.

Methods

This study was a multicentre, randomized controlled study conducted at two assisted living facilities with participants aged ≥ 65. Among the 66 subjects, 33 were allocated to the exercise group (E) and 33 to the control group (C). The exercise group was administered 50 min of exercise by expert physiotherapists 1 day a week for 12 weeks. Participants in the intervention groups performed exercise assignments two extra days a week, tailored to their specific circumstances and supervised by the institution's physiotherapists. Spexin, follistatin and measurements of metabolic syndrome parameters were performed at the beginning and after 12 weeks.

Results

The mean age of the 62 participants who completed the study (E n = 31, C n = 31) was 73.25 ± 6.44 years, and 62.9% were female. While spexin (E = 1090.94 ± 533.66, C = 1142.91 ± 550.68 pg/mL, p > 0.05) and follistatin (E = 50.52 ± 24.35, C = 50.00 ± 23.52 ng/mL, p > 0.05) values were similar in the two groups at baseline, the values of spexin (E = 1311.32 ± 513.66, C = 1033.27 ± 486.48, p < 0.0001; η2 = 0.387) and follistatin (E = 64.79 ± 32.35, C = 48.16 ± 26.27, p < 0.0001; η2 = 0.267) in the exercise group were higher than in the control group at week 12. At the 12th week, neck circumference (38.32 ± 3.41, 37.16 ± 3.15, p = 0.002), waist circumference (102.64 ± 13.38, 98.54 ± 14.47, p < 0.0001), hip circumference (105.70 ± 15.43, 102.93 ± 13.48, p < 0.0001), body fat mass (22.69 ± 7.39, 20.45 ± 6.22, p < 0.0001) and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (137.19 ± 13.80, 124.9 ± 15.18, p = 0.0001, 77.38 ± 12.10, 72.61 ± 9.26, p = 0.043) decreased, and body muscle mass (46.32 ± 8.43, 49.03 ± 8.58, p < 0.0001) increased in the exercise group compared to baseline. A correlation was observed between the change in follistatin level and the change in spexin level (r = 0.438, p = 0.001). A negative correlation was found between the amount of decrease in body fat mass and the decrease in spexin level (r = −0.380, p = 0.005). A positive correlation was found between the increase in body muscle mass and the increase in spexin and follistatin (r = 0.431, p = 0.001; r = 0.490, p < 0.0001, respectively).

Conclusions

It was found that spexin, which provides metabolic homeostasis, and follistatin, which expresses the increase in muscle mass, increased with the implementation of a 12‐week aerobic and resistance exercise program in elderly individuals, and these increases were found to be associated with each other.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05251597
PathoCoder: Rethinking the Flaws of Patch‐Based Learning for Multi‐Class Classification in Computational Pathology
Authors: Idlahcen Ferdaous , Mboukou Pierjos Francis Colere , Idri Ali , El Attar Hicham
Published: February 2025

Pathology‐based decision support systems in clinical settings have faced impediments from data preparation beforehand, large‐scale manual annotations, and poor domain generalization. We report a unified hybrid framework with only raw, slide‐level label images. The method, which we termed PathoCoder, comprises core feature extractors, a feature combiner/reduction, and a supervised classifier. It is trained (through 5‐fold cross‐validation) on 2452 SurePath cervical liquid‐based whole‐slide captures, provided from Mendeley repository. Tests resulted in 98.37%, 98.37%, 98.41%, and 98.37% in accuracy, precision, recall, and F1, respectively. Extensive experiments validate the proposed scheme and versatility enough to accommodate epithelial ovarian tumor histotypes. Our method paves the way for more accelerated advancements in pathology AI by reducing patch/pixel‐based annotation and good tissue quality dependency. Its applicability spans diverse classification tasks with varying tissue content and holds potential for real‐world implementation.
Visualization of Unhatched Brine Shrimp Eggs in Zebrafish Intestines Using Synchrotron Radiation Phase‐Contrast CT
Authors: Tang Rongbiao , Wang Feixiang , Li Ke , Chen Yi , Fu Yanan , Chen Ke‐Min
Published: February 2025

Brine shrimp are an ideal bait for zebrafish with high protein content. In laboratory settings, brine shrimp eggs (BSEs) are commonly used to hatch for acquiring brine shrimp. However, not all BSEs are able to successfully hatch into brine shrimp. Actually, some unhatched BSEs (UBSEs) retain and are collected along with the brine shrimp as bait. The digestibility of UBSEs and their potential impact on the digestive system of zebrafish have not been demonstrated. In this study, high‐resolution synchrotron radiation phase‐contrast CT (PCCT) was used to show the internal structures of UBSEs. Morphological changes of UBSEs were investigated after digestion in zebrafish intestines. The visualization of shell rupturing, collapsing, and shattering of UBSEs reveals that zebrafish intestines exerted much extra useless effort to digest the UBSEs. The results indicate that UBSEs should be completely discarded from the bait of brine shrimp before feeding zebrafish.
Medical debt in America, Part II: Financial support for the most vulnerable
Authors: Shultz Blake N. , Ahmed Ahmed M. , Messac Luke
Published: February 2025

In this second part of a series on medical debt and the costs of care, we examine the past and present financial protections for low‐income patients at nonprofit hospitals. Born of almshouses and religious orders, nonprofit hospitals were devoted at their founding to the care of the poor. However, over the course of the twentieth century, they became more focused on high‐priced care for paying patients. Federal regulations surrounding tax exemption and charity care have been loosened to allow hospitals to spend relatively little on financial assistance, contributing to inequitable and inadequate financial protections for low‐income patients.
Carbon‐Based Nanomaterials Alter the Behavior and Gene Expression Patterns of Bacteria
Authors: Afrasiabi Shima , Partoazar Alireza , Goudarzi Ramin , Dehpour Ahmad Reza
Published: February 2025

One of the most dangerous characteristics of bacteria is their propensity to form biofilms and their resistance to the drugs used in clinical practice today. The total number of genes that can be categorized as virulence genes ranges from a few hundred to more than a thousand. The bacteria employ a variety of mechanisms to regulate the expression of these genes in a coordinated manner during infection. The search for new agents with anti‐virulence capacity is therefore crucial. Nanotechnology provides safe platforms for targeted therapies to combat a broad spectrum of microbial infections. As a new class of innovative materials, carbon‐based nanomaterials (CBNs), which include carbon dots, carbon nanotubes, graphene, and fullerenes can have strong antibacterial activity. Exposure to CBNs has been shown to affect bacterial gene expression patterns. This study investigated the effect of CBNs on the repression of specific genes related to bacterial virulence/pathogenicity.
Stress‐Induced Response and Adaptation Mechanisms in Bacillus licheniformis PSKA1 Exposed With Abiotic and Antibiotic Stresses
Authors: Kadapure Arihant Jayawant , Dalbanjan Nagarjuna Prakash , S.K. Praveen Kumar
Published: February 2025

Soil ecosystems consist of diverse microbial communities with great potential for ecological and biotechnological applications. These communities encounter various abiotic stresses, which expedite the activation of transient overexpression of heat shock proteins (HSPs). In the present study, a soil bacterium was isolated and identified as Bacillus licheniformis strain PSK.A1, and its growth parameters were optimized before exposing it to heat, salt, pH, and antibiotic stress conditions. Comparative protein expression was analyzed using SDS‐PAGE, protein stabilization via protein aggregation assays, and survival through single spot dilution and colony‐counting methods under various stress conditions. The pre‐treatment of short stress dosage showed endured overall tolerance of bacterium to lethal conditions, as evidenced by moderately enhanced total soluble intracellular protein content, better protein stabilization, comparatively over‐expressed HSPs, and relatively enhanced cell survival. The findings highlighted that cells grown under optimal conditions were more susceptible to lethal environments than stressed cells, with their enhanced tolerance linked to the overexpression of 20 distinct HSPs of 17–91 kD. These insights offer the potential for developing strategies to enhance microbial resilience for various applications including bacterial bioprocessing, bio‐remediation, and infectious disease management.
Obstacles to meeting nutritional recommendations in a tertiary pediatric intensive care unit
Authors: Morice Claire , Chaparro Corinne Jotterand , Polito Angelo , Rimensberger Peter , McLin Valérie Anne
Published: February 2025

Objectives

Optimal nutrition is associated with positive outcomes in critically ill children. In 2017, the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) and the American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) updated guidelines for nutritional support for this population. However, implementation of these guidelines may be delayed due to clinical barriers. We aimed to assess our practice against the recommendations of the ASPEN guidelines, hypothesizing that caregiver bias and clinical factors may hinder their implementation in our pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

Methods

We focused on two ASPEN recommendations: (1) feeding within 48 h (48H) of admission and (2) meeting two thirds of estimated caloric requirements after seven calendar days. All children aged 1 month to 16 years admitted to our PICU from July 2017 to January 2020 were eligible. Using a retrospective chart review, nutritional and clinical data were collected at the time of admission, at 48H, and 7 calendar days after admission.

Results

A total of 533 patients were included. After 48H of admission to the PICU, 402 out of 533 (75.4%) patients received feeding. The following factors were associated with not reaching nutritional goals at 48H: invasive ventilation support, inotropic and vasoactive support, and extracorporeal life support. After 7 days, 95 out of 118 (80.5%) received two thirds of caloric needs. At 7 days, the main obstacle to meeting caloric goals was invasive ventilation.

Conclusion

In a representative tertiary PICU, barriers to meeting ASPEN nutritional recommendations included hemodynamic instability or invasive ventilator support, especially within the first 48H of admission.
Improving predictability of post‐operative knee joint line obliquity in high tibial osteotomy: A new radiographic parameter correcting for foot position
Authors: Mertens M. , van Beek N. , Claes T. , Vleugels W. J. , Nys Y. , Claes S. , Bartholomeeusen S.
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Joint line obliquity is crucial for the long‐term success of a high tibial osteotomy (HTO), particularly when large corrections are made. The relationship between the size of correction and changes in joint line obliquity (KJLO) is complex, often leading to the preference for a double‐level osteotomy to manage significant post‐operative obliquity. We aim to improve the prediction of knee joint line orientation changes and correction size by examining the influence of foot position. The goal is to develop a linear model to predict post‐operative KJLO, which could assist in determining whether a single‐ or double‐level osteotomy is necessary to prevent excessive post‐operative joint line obliquity.

Methods

A retrospective radiographic analysis was conducted on patients who underwent HTO surgery between April 2016 and April 2017. Ninety‐one patients were randomly selected for radiographic measurements on long‐leg radiographs pre‐ and 3‐month post‐operative. A novel radiographic parameter was introduced to realign the foot of the operated side to the midline. The foot position relative to the midline was assessed by determining the angle formed when rotating the natural foot position onto the midline using the centre of the hip as a rotation point. The angle obtained by subtracting this from the KJLO results in a corrected KJLO for midline foot position (aKJLO).

Results

Predictive model of differences between pre‐ and post‐operative values of MPTA (ΔMPTA [medial proximal tibial angle]) and KJLO (ΔKJLO) was less predictive (0.185 [p < 0.001]) than ΔMPTA and ΔKJLO corrected for foot position, namely ΔaKJLO (0.688 [p < 0.001]). Adding more parameters did not significantly improve the linear model's predictions.

Conclusion

Predictability of aKJLO could be significantly enhanced. With this new parameter, inter‐ and intra‐variability of foot position is bypassed. A safe MPTA position of 91° can be presumed; however, inter‐individual variability in limb adaptation following correction remains uncertain.

Level of Evidence

Level IV.
Robotic‐assisted partial knee surgery performances: A 10‐year follow‐up retrospective study
Authors: Perazzini Piergiuseppe , Sembenini Paolo , Alberton Francesco , Cochetti Andrea , Innocenti Bernardo , Bori Edoardo
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Robotic surgery has emerged as an advanced technique for facilitating knee prosthesis implantation, especially in cases requiring high precision. However, due to the recent introduction and implementation of this approach, long‐term data on its outcomes remain limited in the literature. This study aims to assess implant survival, complications and reoperation rates resulting from robotic arm‐assisted partial knee arthroplasties, with a long‐term follow‐up period.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 236 patients who underwent robotic arm‐assisted partial knee arthroplasty, with a minimum follow‐up of 10 years. Clinical outcomes were evaluated, focusing on implant survival, complications, reoperation rates, and overall patient satisfaction. The study primarily examined medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA), with Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Knee Society Score (KSS) Part 1 and KSS Function scores assessed preoperatively and at the last follow‐up.

Results

Among the 236 patients, 212 were available at the last follow‐up; satisfaction rates were overall positive, with 210 patients reporting being ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’. Both WOMAC score and KSS showed statistically significant improvement postoperatively, both globally and in UKA patients specifically.

Conclusions

The study demonstrates excellent long‐term satisfaction rates, improved clinical outcomes and implant survival with minimal surgical morbidity. These findings offer valuable insights into the effectiveness of robotic arm‐assisted knee arthroplasty.

Level of Evidence

Level III, retrospective comparative study.
Evaluation of Mean Performance and Stability of Lentil Genotypes According to Combination of Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interaction, and Best Linear Unbiased Prediction Methods
Authors: Pezeshkpour Payam , Naseri Bita , Amiri Reza , Mirzaei Amir , Shobeiri Seyedeh Soudabeh , Karami Iraj
Published: February 2025

This research (2020–2022) aimed to evaluate the interaction of genotype × environment with seed yield and stability of performance for 19 lentil genotypes and cultivars using additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) and best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) in a rainfed, semi‐temperate region. Results of the likelihood ratio test (LRT) showed significant effects of genotype and genotype × environment interaction on seed yield, suggesting the best BLUP for datasets. Based on the AMMI stability value (ASV), Genotypes 8, 2, 12, 10, and 5 were stable in performance. According to two principal components of AMMI, Genotypes 10, 11, and 2 were stable in performance. Mosaic graph indicated that genotype and genotype × environment interaction explained 15.45% and 84.55% of total variance, respectively. The weighted average of mean performance (WAASBY) index according to BLUP showed high‐yielding and performance stability of Genotypes 6, 12, and 15. Therefore, the WAASBY index was determined to be the best index to evawluate stable lentil genotypes across different environments.
Dynamic Plasmonic Full‐Color Generation via Machine Learning and Liquid Crystals
Authors: Li Kexin , Yuan Shuangxiu , Zhang Jialing , Tian Yuan , Li Jinhong , You Bin , Zhu Xiaolong
Published: February 2025

Miniaturized color pixels are crucial for the infrastructure of modern printing and display. In this study, plasmonic colors are generated by via polarization excitations within nanostructures composed of naturally abundant aluminum. We utilized the excitation and detection polarizations of light to achieve vibrant plasmonic colors and dramatically expand the range of the available colors by hybridize plasmonic resonances. Plasmonic full‐color pixels and real‐life artwork are produced using genetic algorithms based on a polarization‐dependent color space. Furthermore, dynamically tuned plasmonic color pixels are demonstrated by triggering electroresponsive liquid crystals. The plasmonic color technologies are expected to facilitate color applications ranging from surface decoration, digital displays, and optical security devices to durable optical data storage.
Kurtosis as a Decisive Topographic Parameter for Pitting Attack of AISI 304L Stainless Steel
Authors: Kalhor Alireza , Sohrabi Mohammad Javad , Mobasheri Mohammad , Rodak Kinga , Dehghanian Changiz , Mirzadeh Hamed
Published: February 2025

The effects of the centerline average (Ra), kurtosis (Rku), and Cr concentration at the surface on the pitting corrosion resistance of AISI 304L stainless steel were studied based on the modification of the corroding surface by mechanical polishing and electropolishing routes. The values of EP − Ecorr, EP − Erp, and iP were devised as the quantitative measures of pitting resistance, where EP is the pitting potential, Erp is the repassivation potential, Ecorr is the corrosion potential, and iP is the passive current density. Preliminary, the improved resistance against pitting corrosion was associated with the reduced Ra and the elevated Cr concentration on the surface. However, more intense analysis revealed that the samples with Rku < ~3 (platykurtic distribution) exhibited a good resistance to pitting attack, irrespective of the values of Ra and Cr content. Accordingly, the importance of the Rku as a decisive topographic parameter for pitting attack was established.
Urea‐Modified Lignin‐Derived Nitrogen‐Doped Porous Carbon Materials: Synthesis and CO2 Adsorption Properties
Authors: Bao Siriguleng , Bao Yong Sheng , Bao Agula
Published: February 2025

Lignin has a high carbon content, but the production of porous carbon materials from it is challenging because of its complex structure and stable physicochemical properties. In this study, nitrogen‐doped porous carbon materials are prepared by impregnating lignin with urea, using potassium hydroxide (KOH) as an activator. The physicochemical properties of the samples are investigated using various characterization methods. The results showed that the CO2 adsorption capacity of the sample LUN‐10‐7, which has a urea solution concentration of 10% and an immersion time of 7 days, is 3.80 mmol g−1 at 1 bar and 298 K. The characterization results indicated that the abundant pore structure and excellent surface chemistry enhanced the sample's CO2 adsorption performance. Additionally, the sample demonstrated high CO2/N2 selectivity and cyclic stability, making it suitable for practical applications as an adsorbent.
Nanochitin From Crab Shells: Production, Chemical Modification, Composite Materials, and Physiological Functions
Authors: Ifuku Shinsuke , Kaminaka Hironori , Shams Md. Iftekhar
Published: February 2025

Large quantities of crab shells are generated in food‐processing plants. In this review, the authors summarize a series of research findings on the production of nanochitin, its physical properties, chemical modifications, and functions, which have not been fully addressed in existing literature. Nanochitin, which has a width of 10 nm, is derived from chitin, the main component of crab shells, using a technology similar to that used to produce nanocellulose from wood. Unlike conventional chitin, nanochitin is well dispersed in water, making it easy to mold and process into various products for different applications. They can also be modified for specific uses through processes such as acylation and etherification to enhance their physical properties and add functionality. Nanochitin, which are known for their exceptional mechanical strength, can be blended with resins to create composite films with improved strength and elasticity. These films maintain the transparency of the resin, reduce its thermal expansion, and offer reinforcement. Chitin and its derivative chitosan are used as wound dressings, hemostatic agents, and health foods. Nanochitin and its deacetyl derivatives have diverse functions such as topical medicine for the skin, ingestion as a health food, and use as pesticides or fertilizers for plants.
Synthesis of Alternating Copolymers with Substituents Containing Heteroatoms and the Regulation of Nontraditional Intrinsic Luminescence
Authors: Leng Haitao , Bai Hongyuan , Wang Xuefei , Yan Hong , Chen Siwei , Yu Feiyang , Han Li , Ma Hongwei
Published: February 2025

Compared with other sequence structure polymers, alternating polymers usually have several unique properties, but their properties are more sensitive to changes in structure. By investigating the relationship between the structure and properties of alternating polymer chains, polymers with desired properties can likely be synthesized. In this study, a series of alternating copolymers of 1,1‐diphenylethylene (DPE) derivatives and styrene derivatives, which exhibit nontraditional intrinsic luminescence (NTIL), are synthesized using living anionic polymerization. By changing the bridge plane structure of the DPE derivatives and the substituent groups of the styrene derivatives, the rigid chain structure of the alternating copolymers containing styrene derivative with a large steric hindrance is altered, and this change is observed by the altered fluorescence properties. Based on the results from experimental tests and theoretical simulations, copolymers with bridge plane structures have higher fluorescence emission intensities; moreover, a balance is observed between the electronic and steric hindrance effects of substituents on the fluorescence intensities, and polymer chains that are too rigid cause a decrease in the fluorescence intensities. Thus, the influence of the chain structure on the fluorescence properties of NTIL polymers cannot be disregarded.
Environmental Certification, Consumer Greenness, and Greenwashing
Authors: Wittreich Theresa
Published: February 2025

This paper investigates the welfare effects of imperfect environmental certification and its efficacy as an environmental policy tool within a partially covered product market and price competition among firms. Using a game‐theoretic model, I find that a truth‐revealing certification mechanism – that emerges for a sufficiently precise certification mechanism or high certification fee – can enhance welfare while consistently outperforming a pooling mechanism. While greenwashing cannot benefit the economy in price competition, it may have different implications in quantity competition. The study highlights that a truth‐revealing certification mechanism is crucial for effectively reducing environmental damage, offering valuable insights for policymakers.
A Quantitative Maintenance Policy Development Framework for a Fleet of Self‐Service Systems
Authors: Wei Yian , Cheng Yao , Liao Haitao
Published: February 2025

Self‐service systems, such as electric vehicle charging piles (EVCPs), are commonly deployed in fleets without on‐site personnel. To handle service failures, frequent and thorough maintenance can be conducted to ensure a high service level, but it may also result in significant maintenance costs. Apparently, balancing the service level (and consequently, the revenue) with maintenance costs is essential for operators aiming to maximize their profit. However, achieving this balance is challenging and underexplored due to the inherent and unique characteristics of self‐service systems. In this paper, we present a quantitative maintenance policy development framework to maximize the long‐term profit rate of a fleet of self‐service systems. First, we introduce a novel three‐dimensional maintenance policy that optimizes the timing and level of maintenance actions. Next, we develop a triple‐layer model to characterize the fleet's state transition, considering the fleet's behavior within demand arrival cycles, across demand arrival cycles, and across maintenance epochs. We also define important metrics and study their properties for assessing the service level and profit rate of the fleet. To facilitate policy optimization, we develop a Kriging‐based optimization algorithm capable of efficiently solving the associated mixed‐integer nonlinear optimization problem with a vast search space. Finally, we offer several managerial implications for identifying applicable scenarios for the proposed maintenance policy and assessing the impact of crucial parameters on both maintenance policy and profit. A fleet of eight EVCPs in Hong Kong is studied to illustrate how the proposed quantitative framework and these managerial implications assist the operator in enhancing their profitability.
Exact and Heuristic Solution Approaches for the Cluster Deletion Problem on General Graphs
Authors: Ambrosio Giuseppe , Cerulli Raffaele , Serra Domenico , Sorgente Carmine , Vaccaro Ugo
Published: February 2025

A cluster graph is a disjoint union of cliques, obtained by clustering the nodes of a given network and then removing the edges between nodes assigned to different clusters. The Cluster Deletion problem asks for the smallest subset of edges to be removed from a network in order to produce a cluster graph, which is equivalent to determining the largest subset of edges to be preserved. The problem finds application in many fields, including computational biology, bioinformatics, and wireless sensor networks, and it is known to be ‐hard on general graphs. In this work, we formulate the problem as an integer linear program, and we devise a heuristic approach based on edge contraction operations. We test the proposed approaches on both artificial instances and benchmark biological networks.
Association Between Frailty and Mortality, Falls and Hospitalisation Among Patients Undergoing Dialysis: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: He Wan‐Qiao , Zhang Xiao‐Ming , Zhang Yi‐Zhen , Gai Wei , Wu Xin‐Juan , Tao Yan‐Ling
Published: February 2025

Aim

Frailty is a risk factor for adverse events in older individuals; however, it has not been fully verified in patients undergoing dialysis. Our aim was to verify the association between frailty and adverse outcomes consisting of mortality, falls and hospitalisation among patients undergoing dialysis by a systematic review and meta‐analysis.

Design

Systematic review and meta‐analysis.

Methods

Multiple internet databases, were searched from the establishment of each database to April 2022, including the PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane, CNKI, WanFang and China Science and Technology Journal (VIP) databases. Cohort studies exploring the association between frailty and adverse outcomes among patients undergoing dialysis were analysed. The Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to assess the risk of bias in the included studies. A random effects model was used to pool the effect size, and comprehensive analyses consisting of subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis and publication bias were assessed.

Results

The search initially identified 2744 studies from six databases. After the screening, 26 studies including 14,089 patients with dialysis aged 44.95–78.10 years were included in the final analysis, all of which were observational cohort studies. The pooled results showed that frailty was a powerful predictor of adverse outcomes (mortality, falls and hospitalisation) among the patients. Therefore, dialysis patients should be screened for early frailty and appropriate interventions should be implemented to improve adverse outcomes.
Thinking with Amazonian Indigenous Peoples to expand ideas on domestication
Authors: Cassino Mariana Franco , Henriques Soares Guilherme , Mendes dos Santos Gilton , Gouveia Jonilda Hauwer , Barreto João Paulo Lima , Azevedo Dagoberto Lima , Maia Gabriel Sodré , Lins Juliana , Ramos Clarinda Maria , Shock Myrtle Pearl , Madella Marco , Clement Charles Roland
Published: February 2025

Indigenous knowledges are being increasingly recognized as fundamental for environmental governance, ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation. However, they tend to be recognized by Western science only when they converge with Western scientific knowledge, while ontological differences are generally treated as irrelevant or unreasonable beliefs. Given this scenario, embracing difference as a productive and fundamental aspect to truly understand these epistemologies is crucial to advance fair and symmetrical epistemological dialogues.

Current domestication models are key to interpreting human‐plant‐animal‐landscape entanglements. However, they have been criticized in the Amazonian context for remaining steeped in the Western logic of human control over nature and for neglecting local worldviews, which do not assume a dichotomy between nature and culture. In light of this, we propose a thought‐provoking exercise that aims to broaden ideas on domestication as inspired by Indigenous worldviews. We integrate insights derived from Amazonian Indigenous knowledge systems to construct a conceptual model of domestication. We then engage the synthesis resulting from this approach with concepts and theories from ecology and anthropology.

In our model, plants, animals, supernatural beings and humans care for, manage and cultivate their domains. Since, according to Indigenous ontologies, all these beings have agency, intentionality, and human qualities, they all share the status of domesticators in our model. The outcome of the combined actions of these beings is an entirely socialized forest, formed by a mosaic of domūs of both humans and non‐humans. Thus, in our model, the forest is fully domesticated by the action of a multiplicity of beings, who possess symmetrical agencies and are constantly interacting socially.

By following the reflective path constructed in our approach, we invite the reader to ‘think with’ Indigenous Peoples. Instigated by this framework, we suggest directions to broaden conventional ecological approaches used for studying socio‐ecological systems and promote conservation. We hope to inspire the creativity of current ecological research dynamics to design investigations that go beyond the anthropocentric perspective and the nature/culture dichotomy.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Hydroxyurea Therapy and Sleep‐Disordered Breathing in Children With Sickle Cell Disease
Authors: Abramson Zachary , Olanrewaju Ayobami , Kang Guolian , Olufadi Yunusa , Chen Pei‐Lin , Rai Parul , Heitzer Andrew M. , Takemoto Clifford M. , Bashir Ahsan , Akil Nour , Hankins Jane S.
Published: February 2025

Bidirectional relationships exist among sickle cell disease (SCD), sleep‐disordered breathing (SDB), and hydroxyurea therapy, and this complex interplay poses challenges to research attempting to elucidate causal mechanisms and determine therapeutic targets. We therefore set out to study all three components of this clinical triad simultaneously (SCD, SDB, and hydroxyurea therapy), documenting correlations and suggesting underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Hydroxyurea therapy was associated with improved SDB and with decreased inflammation, implicating the anti‐inflammation effects of hydroxyurea as a plausible mechanism driving these correlations. These results underscore the need for longitudinal studies to elucidate causal relationships.
Shared Priorities for Sibling Psychosocial Support in Pediatric Cancer Care: A Value‐Weighting Study
Authors: Davis Kathryn A. , Lai Samuel , Alderfer Melissa A. , Long Kristin A.
Published: February 2025

Background

Although psychosocial support for siblings of youth with cancer is a standard of care, what sibling supportive services should entail remains unclear. Given limited resources for sibling care, establishing clinical and research priorities may guide resource allocation toward supports perceived as holding the greatest potential benefit. The current study used a two‐round, value‐weighting approach to identify priorities for sibling support services.

Procedure

Participants were recruited from a group of sibling experts (clinicians, researchers, community program leaders, and adults who had a sibling with childhood cancer) invited to attend an international sibling summit. In Round 1, 27 participants provided feedback on a list of potential priorities for sibling psychosocial support. In Round 2, 30 participants completed a web‐based value‐weighting questionnaire indicating how they would allocate 100 units of hypothetical funding among various priorities and qualitatively described the rationale for their decisions.

Results

Funding allocations generally averaged out across participants, highlighting the need for investments across all domains of sibling support. Participants allocated the greatest proportion of hypothetical funding to community‐based sibling supports, which they perceived as more accessible to siblings than hospital‐based supports. Participants allocated a particularly high level of funding to sibling supports in local schools. Within sibling subpopulations, bereaved siblings, siblings during active cancer treatment, and siblings with more adverse social determinants of health were allocated the largest proportion of funds.

Conclusions

Sibling‐focused researchers, clinicians, program leaders, and adult siblings endorse broad investments in sibling support. Investments in community‐based supports particularly may improve access to sibling support services.
Sandwich‐structured light‐transmitting composites based on waste textiles: Fabrication, optical properties, and bending failure behavior
Authors: Ren Tianxiang , Fang Taorong , Xu Yudong , Zhan Haihua , Chen Lifeng , Shen Wei , Zhao Defang , Shao Yuanyi , Zhang Xiaolin
Published: February 2025

Currently, glass fiber‐reinforced resin composites, as an advanced optically transparent material, have garnered widespread attention and research. In the context of new‐era developments, there is a growing demand and expectation for the visual artistic expression of light‐transmitting composites. In this study, glass fiber fabric, silk fabric, and recycled polyester jacquard fabric were used as reinforcement materials, while epoxy resin was selected as the matrix material. A green decorative light‐transmitting composite with uniform light diffusion and soft light effects was prepared using the vacuum bag molding process. By altering the woven structure (plain weave, twill weave, satin weave), yarn density, and yarn twist of the silk fabric, the optical properties of the composites can be regulated. The unique triangular cross‐section, woven structure, and large folds of the plain‐woven silk fabric were particularly conducive to the reflection and refraction of light within the composite, thereby significantly enhancing the uniform light diffusion and soft light properties of the material. Furthermore, the bending failure behavior of the composites was investigated through three‐point bending tests, acoustic emission (AE) test, and micro‐computed tomography (Micro‐CT) scanning. The laminate specimens reinforced with plain‐woven silk fabric exhibited the best bending performance, with bending strength and modulus reaching 434.4 MPa and 19.0 GPa, respectively. The combination of AE and micro‐CT scanning techniques successfully established the correlation between AE signals and damage modes. This study identified the main failure modes for plain woven, twill woven, and satin woven silk reinforced composites as fiber breakage, interlayer delamination, and fiber/resin debonding, respectively.

Highlights

Waste textiles were recycled for use in transparent composites.

Silk fabric's weave structure affected composites' optical properties.

Fiber breakage was the main failure in bending of plain woven composites.

Plain woven composites exhibited optimal diffuse light, superior flexural performance.
Remifentanil Ameliorates Lipopolysaccharide‐Induced Neuroinflammation by Regulating the Phosphatidylinositol 3‐Kinase/Serine–Threonine Protein Kinase/Hypoxia‐Inducible Factor 1 Alpha Pathway
Authors: Özcan Mustafa Soner , Aşcı Halil , Karabacak Pınar , Özden Eyyüp Sabri , İmeci Orhan Berk , Özmen Özlem
Published: February 2025

There has been scarce research on the potential neuroprotective effects of remifentanil (REM) in septic individuals. We aimed to investigate the role and underlying mechanism of REM in LPS‐induced neuroinflammation. Thirty‐two rats were randomly divided to control, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), LPS + REM, and REM groups. Depending on the group, 4 h after intraperitoneal administration of LPS or saline, REM or saline was infused intravenously for 40 min. Following the sacrification, blood samples and brain tissues were collected for analysis. Brain tissues (prefrontal cortex, cerebellum, and hippocampus) were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, caspase‐3 (Cas‐3), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α). Quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction analysis was used to detect claudin‐5 (CLDN5), zonula occludens‐1 (ZO‐1), phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K), serine–threonine protein kinase (AKT), and hypoxia‐inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF‐1α) gene expression levels. Histopathologic and immunohistochemical analyses showed that REM treatment improved LPS‐induced histological changes. REM does not reduce TOS and OSI levels or increase TAS levels, suggesting that it is ineffective through oxidative stress. LPS‐induced changes in gene expression levels (PI3K, AKT, HIF‐1α, and CLDN5) were also reversed by REM. REM was found to prevent neuroinflammation, and apoptosis by restoring blood–brain barrier, and regulating the PI3K/AKT/HIF‐1α pathway. These findings suggest that REM is protective against neuroinflammation.