bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seeing oneself as an unattractive loser: Similar interpretation and memory biases in adolescents with anorexia nervosa and adolescents with depression or anxiety
Authors: Lukas Linda , Nuding Laura , Schulte‐Körne Gerd , Platt Belinda , Sfärlea Anca
Published: April 2024

Objective

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is characterised by dysfunctional cognitive biases but these have rarely been investigated in adolescents with AN. The present study systematically assessed cognitive biases in adolescents with AN and addressed the questions of content‐specificity (i.e., do biases occur only for eating disorder‐related information?) and disorder‐specificity (i.e., are biases unique to individuals with AN?).

Methods

Cognitive biases on three information processing levels (attention, interpretation, memory) and for two types of information content (eating disorder‐related, non‐eating disorder‐related) were assessed within a single experimental paradigm based on the Scrambled Sentences Task. 12‐18‐year‐old adolescents with AN (n = 40) were compared to a healthy (HC; n = 40) and a clinical (girls with depression and/or anxiety disorders; CC; n = 34) control group.

Results

Both clinical groups (AN and CC) showed pronounced negative interpretation and memory biases compared to the HC group, for both disorder‐related and non‐disorder‐related information. Attention biases could not be analysed.

Conclusion

The results support the hypothesis that adolescents with AN show negative cognitive biases but these were not limited to disorder‐related information. Adolescents with depression and/or anxiety disorders showed similar biases, suggesting them to be transdiagnostic phenomena. Important implications for cognitive‐behavioural theories of AN, subsequent cognitive bias modification studies in AN, as well as clinical practice are discussed.
Sediment Toxicity Tests: A Critical Review of Their use in Environmental Regulations
Authors: Leppanen Matti T. , Sourisseau Sandrine , Burgess Robert M. , Simpson Stuart L. , Sibley Paul , Jonker Michiel T.O.
Published: April 2024

Sediments are an integral component of aquatic systems, linking multiple water uses, functions, and services. Contamination of sediments by chemicals is a worldwide problem, with many jurisdictions trying to prevent future pollution (prospective) and manage existing contamination (retrospective). The present review assesses the implementation of sediment toxicity testing in environmental regulations globally. Currently, the incorporation of sediment toxicity testing in regulations is most common in the European Union (EU), North America, and Australasian regions, with some expansion in Asia and non-EU Europe. Employing sediment toxicity testing in prospective assessments (i.e., before chemicals are allowed on the market) is most advanced and harmonized with pesticides. In the retrospective assessment of environmental risks (i.e., chemicals already contaminating sediments), regulatory sediment toxicity testing practices are applied inconsistently on the global scale. International harmonization of sediment toxicity tests is considered an asset and has been successful through the widespread adoption and deployment of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development guidelines. On the other hand, retrospective sediment assessments benefit from incorporating regional species and protocols. Currently used toxicity testing species are diverse, with temperate species being applied most often, whereas test protocols are insufficiently flexible to appropriately address the range of environmental contaminants, including nanomaterials, highly hydrophobic contaminants, and ionized chemicals. The ever-increasing and -changing pressures placed on aquatic resources are a challenge for protection and management efforts, calling for continuous sediment toxicity test method improvement to insure effective use in regulatory frameworks. Future developments should focus on including more subtle and specific toxicity endpoints (e.g., incorporating bioavailability-based in vitro tests) and genomic techniques, extending sediment toxicity testing from single to multispecies approaches, and providing a better link with ecological protection goals. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1697–1716. © 2024 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
Evaluation of chemical components and quality in Xinhui Chenpi (Citrus reticulata ‘Chachi’) with two different storage times by GC–MS and UPLC
Authors: Shi Junjie , Peng Lihua , Chen Weixuan , Qiao Weilin , Wang Kui , Xu Yueyang , Cheng Jinle
Published: April 2024

Xinhui Chenpi (XHCP) is a well‐known type of Chenpi (CP) widely used as both a Chinese herb and a food ingredient. While previous studies have explored how the quality of CP changes over time, there has been limited research specifically on XHCP. This study aims to assess the chemical components and quality of XHCP based on total flavonoid content (TF), antioxidant activity (AA), and color value (CV) at two stages: freshly harvested (XHCP‐0Y) and after 3 years of storage (XHCP‐3Y). Thirty‐eight common volatile compounds were identified, and the content of 17 compounds among them, nine nonvolatile compounds, which included one alkaloid (synephrine), three phenolic acids (PA, protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid, and ferulic acid), and five flavonoids (narirutin, hesperidin, sinensetin, nobiletin, and tangeretin), were firstly detected by the newly developed gas chromatograph–mass spectrometer (GC–MS) and ultra‐performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) methods. Compared to XHCP‐0Y, the content of 17 volatile compounds and synephrine decreased in XHCP‐3Y to varying degrees, while the content of PA, five flavonoids, TF, AA, and CV increased. The reduction of dryness caused by volatile compounds and the enhancement of efficacy related to PA, flavonoids, and AA suggested improved quality of XHCP after 3 years of storage. The methods developed in this study show promise for evaluating the quality of XHCP during the aging process.
The osteocutaneous radial forearm free flap: A pictorial essay
Authors: McCrary Hilary C. , Farlow Janice L. , Alexander John , Haring Catherine T. , Kang Stephen Y. , Old Matthew O. , Seim Nolan B.
Published: April 2024

The osteocutaneous radial forearm free flap (OCRFFF) is a versatile flap with the ability to reconstruct complex defects. We detail the techniques necessary to harvest an OCRFFF, including an outline on making 90‐degree osteotomies to maximize bone harvest. In this pictorial essay, we provide illustrations of the anatomy and surgical techniques necessary for OCRFFF harvest. Detailed discussion is provided on how to protect the perforators to the bone and the approach to making osteotomies in a 90‐degree fashion. The approach for prophylactic plating of the radius to prevent radius fractures is outlined. A case presentation on the real‐life utilization of this flap is included. The OCRFFF is an excellent head and neck reconstructive option. While there are limitations to its use for patients requiring dental rehabilitation or long/anterior mandibular defects, for the right patient and indication it has shown great success in reconstructive efforts.
p16 overexpression identifies oncogenic high‐risk HPV infection in non‐oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
Authors: Becker Anne‐Sophie , Merkel Jenny , Bozkurt Inci , Strüder Daniel Fabian , Maletzki Claudia , Hühns Maja , Zimpfer Annette Helene
Published: April 2024

Background

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an increasing risk factor for cancer. HPV‐associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is associated with a favorable outcome. Blockstaining for p16 is a surrogate marker for HPV+ OPSCC. In oral and laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC/LSCC), the relevance of p16 immunohistochemistry, alone or in combination with other cell cycle‐related proteins, to identify HPV‐driven non‐OPSCC is less well understood.

Methods

We stained for p16, pRb, cyclin D1, and p53 in 327 HNSCC. In 310 OPSCC, HPV‐status was assessed by HPV DNA PCR. In 119 non‐OPSCC, RNA in situ hybridization was additionally performed. HPV‐status was correlated with staining patterns, p53 and clinical data.

Results

The OPSCC showed blockstaining for p16 in 36%, 8% were equivocal. Of these, HPV‐testing was performed in 57%, and 53% were positive for HPV DNA. HPV‐association correlated with absence of pRb and cyclin D1 and favorable outcome. In non‐OPSCC, 18% showed p16‐blockstaining, and 13% showed E6/E7 RNA. Six of seven HPV+ OSCC and 8/8 LSCC lost pRb and cyclin D1. Compared to HPV‐negative counterparts, patients with HPV+ cancers had lower rates of alcohol consumption and keratinizing morphology. HPV‐positive OSCC had a longer overall survival (p < 0.05). HPV subtype 16 was the most common.

Conclusions

We conclude that HPV‐positive non‐OPSCC are associated with p16 overexpression and low levels of pRb and cyclin D1. High expression of pRb and cyclin D1 indicates HPV‐negativity.
Prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy in dMMR&MSS colorectal cancer patients and an MSI status predicting model
Authors: Fu Xinhui , Huang Jinglin , Zhu Junling , Fan Xinjuan , Wang Chao , Deng Weihao , Tan Xiaoli , Chen Zhiting , Cai Yacheng , Lin Hanjie , Wang Guannan , Zhang Ning , Zhu Yongmin , Chen Ji , Zhan Huanmiao , Huang Shuhui , Fang Yongzhen , Li Yuhua , Huang Yan
Published: April 2024

The inconsistency between mismatch repair (MMR) protein immunohistochemistry (IHC) and microsatellite instability PCR (MSI‐PCR) methods has been widely reported. We aim to investigate the prognosis and the effect of immunotherapy in dMMR by IHC but MSS by MSI‐PCR (dMMR&MSS) colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. A microsatellite instability (MSI) predicting model was established to help find dMMR&MSS patients. MMR and MSI states were detected by the IHC and MSI‐PCR in 1622 CRC patients (ZS6Y‐1 cohort). Logistic regression analysis was used to screen clinical features to construct an MSI‐predicting nomogram. We propose a new nomogram‐based assay to find patients with dMMR&MSS, in which the MSI‐PCR assay only detects dMMR patients with MSS predictive results. We applied the new strategy to a random cohort of 248 CRC patients (ZS6Y‐2 cohort). The consistency of MMR IHC and MSI‐PCR in the ZS6Y‐1 cohort was 95.7% (1553/1622). Both pMMR&MSS and dMMR&MSS groups experienced significantly shorter overall survival (OS) than those in dMMR by IHC and MSI‐H by MSI‐PCR (dMMR&MSI‐H) group (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.429, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.89–3.116, p < .01; HR = 21.96, 95% CI: 7.24–66.61, p < .01). The dMMR&MSS group experienced shorter OS than the pMMR&MSS group, but the difference did not reach significance (log rank test, p = .0686). In the immunotherapy group, the progression‐free survival of dMMR&MSS patients was significantly shorter than that of dMMR&MSI‐H patients (HR = 13.83, 95% CI: 1.508–126.8, p < .05). The ZS6Y‐MSI‐Pre nomogram (C‐index = 0.816, 95% CI: 0.792–0.841, already online) found 66% (2/3) dMMR&MSS patients in the ZS6Y‐2 cohort. There are significant differences in OS and immunotherapy effect between dMMR&MSI‐H and dMMR&MSS patients. Our prediction model provides an economical way to screen dMMR&MSS patients.
Rubber plantation size and global rubber price are linked to forest loss and degradation in Jambi, Sumatra
Authors: Jayathilake H. Manjari , Wei Cheng Zhi , Tan Gerald , de la Porte Côme , Carrasco L. Roman
Published: April 2024

Natural rubber cultivation is one of the main drivers of tropical deforestation and biodiversity loss. This study examines regulatory and socio‐economic conditions that increase the susceptibility of rubber plantations to deforestation and degradation, aiming to support zero‐deforestation pledges and sustainability commitments made by the natural rubber industry. By combining bottom‐up socio‐economic survey data from rubber smallholder farmers in Indonesia with top‐down spatial datasets on forest loss and degradation, this study identifies factors associated with deforestation, tree cover loss, and degradation of high‐risk plantations. In Jambi Province, Indonesia, from 1991 to 2018, the overall tree cover loss in areas adjacent to rubber plantations was positively correlated to plantation size, remoteness (travel time to cities), and distance to the nearest protected areas, indicating that larger, remotely located plantations likely expanded more into forests between 2000 and 2018. Similarly, tropical forest degradation was positively associated with plantation size, travel time to cities, and distance to protected areas. A higher rubber price in the preceding year correlated with increased annual deforestation and forest degradation, whereas lower prices had the opposite effect. These results suggest that monitoring price changes and identifying plantations that are near non‐protected forest frontiers could enable early detection and potential mitigation of deforestation threats.
Extended hydrological prediction (EHP) sub‐seasonal forecast for water resources planning and management
Authors: Vohra Kushvinder , Srivastava Rishi , Bisht Sandeep
Published: April 2024

The Extended Hydrologic Prediction (EHP) project is a forecasting system development and deployment project for three major basins of India—Yamuna, Cauvery and Narmada. The forecasts will be produced at four key locations in each basin using a 4‐week horizon. Forecasts are hydrologic naturalized (deregulated) flows. Regulated forecasts will require the addition of an operations model to account for management decisions and interventions. Forecasting streamflow over a multi‐week horizon has a range of benefits to improve water resources planning for flood mitigation via reservoir pre‐positioning, drought planning for shortage allocation, power maximization and many other benefits demonstrated globally. EHP is a challenging project from the research side, where there are limited deployed systems across the world at this horizon, which is a chance for EHP to make a significant contribution to the forecasting community, which will bring benefits to the stakeholders of these basins, and will be a model for future similar forecasting systems in India and around the world.
Does corporate governance affect investment efficiency of Indian firms? Panel evidence from new governance indices
Authors: Yadav Akash Singh , Yadav Inder Sekhar
Published: April 2024

This study examines the effects of corporate governance (CG) on investment inefficiency for 506 Indian listed firms. Using new stipulations of CG and globally recognized governance practices, an overall corporate governance index (CGI) and five sub‐indices such as board index (BINDEX), audit index (AINDEX), ownership index (OINDEX), nomination and remuneration index (NRINDEX), and disclosure index (DINDEX) were constructed. Employing newly developed governance indices along with firm‐specific control variables, several pooled regression models were estimated. Robustness checks were conducted using two‐step system GMM and an alternate measure of managerial investment efficiency. The pooled estimated coefficient of CGI and sub‐indices (except OINDEX) on investment inefficiency, overinvestment and underinvest is found to be negative and significant suggesting that effective/robust governance at firm level reduces investment inefficiencies (improves investment efficiency) through effective supervision and monitoring thereby reducing the opportunistic behavior of managers.
The graduate school guide: How to prepare for the qualifying exam and assemble a thesis/graduate committee
Authors: Rogers Crystal D. , Kirabo Annet , McReynolds Melanie , Sweetwyne Mariya T. , Wanjalla Celestine , Benjamin Jazmine , Williams Edith M. , Gaddy Jennifer A. , Williams Clintoria R. , Damo Steven M. , Murray Sandra A. , Hinton Antentor
Published: April 2024

Qualifying exams and thesis committees are crucial components of a PhD candidate's journey. However, many candidates have trouble navigating these milestones and knowing what to expect. This article provides advice on meeting the requirements of the qualifying exam, understanding its format and components, choosing effective preparation strategies, retaking the qualifying exam, if necessary, and selecting a thesis committee, all while maintaining one's mental health. This comprehensive guide addresses components of the graduate school process that are often neglected.
Diagnostic challenges in primary ovarian carcinoid: Insights from radiological imaging—A case study
Authors: Bayani Leila , Shahbazkhani Amir Hossein , Seifollahy Akram , Kashany Ladan , Torabi Sarah
Published: April 2024

Primary ovarian carcinoid (POC) is a very rare subset of ovarian tumors, presenting diagnostic challenges due to its inconclusive radiological imaging. In this case study, we present a 30‐year‐old nulliparous female with subfertility complaints and irregular menstrual cycles, who was initially misdiagnosed with an ovarian cyst. Subsequent comprehensive imaging, including Color Doppler, revealed high vascularity, and prompting suspicion of malignancy. Surgical resection and histopathological evaluation ultimately confirmed the presence of a rare Carcinoid tumor, insular type. This case emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach to the early detection and accurate diagnosis of POCs.
Extracellular vesicles derived from M2‐like macrophages alleviate acute lung injury in a miR‐709‐mediated manner
Authors: Yang Jie , Huang Xiaofang , Yu Qing , Wang Shibo , Wen Xuehuan , Bai Songjie , Cao Lanxin , Zhang Kai , Zhang Shufang , Wang Xingang , Chen Zhanghui , Cai Zhijian , Zhang Gensheng
Published: April 2024

Acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) is characterised by an uncontrolled inflammatory response, and current treatment strategies have limited efficacy. Although the protective effect of M2‐like macrophages (M2φ) and their extracellular vesicles (EVs) has been well‐documented in other inflammatory diseases, the role of M2φ‐derived EVs (M2φ‐EVs) in the pathogenesis of ALI/ARDS remains poorly understood. The present study utilised a mouse model of lipopolysaccharide‐induced ALI to first demonstrate a decrease in endogenous M2‐like alveolar macrophage‐derived EVs. And then, intratracheal instillation of exogenous M2φ‐EVs from the mouse alveolar macrophage cell line (MH‐S) primarily led to a take up by alveolar macrophages, resulting in reduced lung inflammation and injury. Mechanistically, the M2φ‐EVs effectively suppressed the pyroptosis of alveolar macrophages and inhibited the release of excessive cytokines such as IL‐6, TNF‐α and IL‐1β both in vivo and in vitro, which were closely related to NF‐κB/NLRP3 signalling pathway inhibition. Of note, the protective effect of M2φ‐EVs was partly mediated by miR‐709, as evidenced by the inhibition of miR‐709 expression in M2φ‐EVs mitigated their protective effect against lipopolysaccharide‐induced ALI in mice. In addition, we found that the expression of miR‐709 in EVs derived from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was correlated negatively with disease severity in ARDS patients, indicating its potential as a marker for ARDS severity. Altogether, our study revealed that M2φ‐EVs played a protective role in the pathogenesis of ALI/ARDS, partly mediated by miR‐709, offering a potential strategy for assessing disease severity and treating ALI/ARDS.
Counseling in a different language: An analysis of experiences and resources in multilingual genetic counseling
Authors: Franca Karina , Swenson Kathleen B. , Wang Catharine
Published: April 2024

This study set out to investigate the experiences of bilingual/multilingual genetic counselors in the United States and Canada who have counseled in a non‐English language and characterize their training experiences to identify potential areas for improvement. A total of 32 bilingual and/or multilingual genetic counselors completed online surveys. Approximately 83% of participants typically counsel patients in languages for which they believe their proficiency is at least good without the participation of an interpreter. Challenges to providing language‐concordant care include insufficient patient‐facing translation tools/resources, with roughly half reporting they have created their own resources out of necessity. For training programs, there was a strong desire for more supervision in bilingual/multilingual genetic counseling students' non‐English language during training to help foster genetics‐related language skills development.
The efficacy of the Self‐Administered Interview: A systematic review
Authors: Bird Emily , Wiener Jan , Huang Ching‐Yu , Attard‐Johnson Janice
Published: April 2024

Obtaining accurate information from eyewitnesses is a crucial element in criminal investigations. Interview strategies such as the Cognitive Interview (CI) and the Self‐Administered Interview (SAI) have been developed and implemented to minimise inaccuracies and enhance the recall and reliability of eyewitness evidence. The SAI is a recent development within forensic psychology. However, a question remains as to the effectiveness of the SAI as an investigative interview tool. A systematic review of published studies employing the SAI was conducted (n = 22), and all were considered in relation to three variables (estimator, system and methodological). As the number of studies within the evidence base was relatively small, we could not ascertain whether the SAI is an effective investigative interviewing tool. However, the results demonstrate a number of positive benefits of the SAI. We discuss the implications of these findings for policy and directions for future research.
Gadolinium Contrast Agent Deposition in Children
Authors: Ouyang Minglei , Bao Li
Published: April 2024

Over the past few years, a large number of studies have evidenced increased signal intensity in the deep brain nuclei on unenhanced T1‐MRI images achieved by the application of gadolinium‐based contrast agents (GBCAs). The deposition of gadolinium in the brain, bone, and other tissues following administration of GBCAs has also been confirmed in histological studies in rodents and in necropsy studies in adults and children. Given the distinct physiological characteristics of children, this review focuses on examining the current research on gadolinium deposition in children, particularly studies utilizing novel methods and technologies. Furthermore, the article compares safety research findings of linear GBCAs and macrocyclic GBCAs in children, with the aim of offering clinicians practical guidance based on the most recent research outcomes.

Level of Evidence

5

Technical Efficacy

Stage 2
Using UNSEEN approach to attribute regional UK winter rainfall extremes
Authors: Cotterill Daniel F. , Mitchell Dann , Stott Peter A. , Bates Paul
Published: April 2024

Three out of the five highest daily winter rainfall totals on record over Northern England have occurred from 2015 onwards. Heavy rainfall events in the winters of 2013–2014, 2015–2016 and 2019–2020 led to more than 2.8‐billion‐pounds of insurance losses from flooding in the UK. Has the frequency of these events been influenced by human‐induced climate change? Winter rainfall in the UK is extremely variable year‐to‐year, which makes the attribution of rainfall extremes particularly challenging. To tackle this problem, we introduce an UNprecedented Simulated Extreme Ensemble (UNSEEN) approach for the attribution of such extremes, thereby increasing the data available, and apply this approach to five recent flooding events on a regional scale. Using this method, for all five events we found a significant climate signal in the extreme regional rainfall totals immediately preceding the flooding. Results were fairly similar for each—with the events being found to become from 1.4 to 2.6 times more likely. An alternative attribution method that uses a different model with substantially less data did not find significant increases, reinforcing the need for very large amounts of data to detect significant changes in extreme rainfall against a noisy background of natural variability. We also examine how extreme rainfall is changing more broadly across English regions in winter, finding that 1‐in‐10 to 1‐in‐90‐year winter rainfall totals have changed significantly in Northern England. The high volume of data using UNSEEN has enabled us to examine the dynamics of these events, showing that daily extremes in winter are likely to have increased across all the circulation patterns responsible for high rainfall in English regions.
Developing a hybrid model with multiview learning for acoustic classification of Atlantic herring schools
Authors: Zhang Yawen , Wall Carrie C. , Jech J. Michael , Lv Qin
Published: April 2024

Advances in active acoustic technology have outpaced the ability to process and analyze the data in a timely manner. Currently, scientists rely on manual scrutiny or limited automation to translate acoustic backscatter to biologically meaningful metrics useful for fisheries and ecosystem management. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Northeast Fisheries Science Center has monitored the Atlantic herring population in the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank since 1999 due to the stocks' important economic and ecological role for the commercial lobster industry. Manual scrutinization to identify Atlantic herring schools from the water column sonar data is time‐consuming and impractical for large‐scale studies. To automate this process, a hybrid model with multiview learning was proposed for automatic Atlantic herring school detection, which consists of two steps: (1) region‐of‐interest (ROI) detection and (2) ROI classification. The ROI detection step was designed to detect school‐like objects, and the ROI classification step was designed to distinguish Atlantic herring schools from other objects. The co‐training algorithm was employed for multiview learning as well as semi‐supervised learning. Within this framework, single‐view vs. multiview learning and supervised vs. semi‐supervised learning were evaluated and compared. Our results showed that multiview learning can improve the performance of the hybrid model in Atlantic herring school detection, and the utilization of unlabeled data is also helpful when the training set is small. The best‐performed model achieved an F1‐score of 0.804. This new framework provides an efficient and effective tool for automatic Atlantic herring school detection.
Developing a self‐healing anticorrosion coating for steel protection in marine tidal zone
Authors: Atazadeh Navid , Nogorani Farhad Shahriari
Published: April 2024

A self‐healing anticorrosion protective was developed for steel st‐37 exposed to the marine tidal zone, which is composed of a multi‐layer polymer coating. The coating includes zinc‐rich epoxy primer, self‐healing microencapsulated embedded epoxy, and a top coat consisting of polyurethane incorporated with silica nanoparticles. The size of microcapsules decreased with increasing agitation during encapsulation, which varies from 4 to 43 µm. Good performance was observed for producing the encapsulated particles with a size of up to 5 µm and more than 90% loading of the embedded healing agent, in which a 1680 rpm agitation along with a pH of 3 for the synthesis environment and a 130 min for the synthesis duration is set. The optimal amount of microcapsules and silica nanoparticles was 10 and 1.5 wt%, respectively. Also, the promised self‐healing anticorrosion coating leads the damaged areas to be fully healed in almost 12 h in the face of harsh conditions. In contrast to the non‐self‐healing one, the healing ability of the developed self‐healing coating shows good barrier properties and leads to a lesser loss of interface adhesion.
Carbon reduction policy and firms' executive‐employee pay gap: Evidence from low‐carbon city pilot policy
Authors: Xie Qiaoxin , Miu Wenjing , Zhang Yu
Published: April 2024

Taking the low‐carbon city pilot policy as a quasi‐natural experiment and using the data of Chinese listed companies, this paper examines the impact and mechanism of low‐carbon city pilot policy on the firms' executive‐employee pay gap. The results show that the implementation of low‐carbon city pilot policy significantly promotes the executive‐employee pay gap. Mechanism analysis results show that the low‐carbon city pilot policy promotes the executive‐employee pay gap mainly by enhancing the risks of enterprises' environmental violations and increasing management complexity. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the promoting effects of the pilot policy are more obvious in state‐owned enterprises, large‐scale enterprises, high‐carbon emission enterprises, and enterprises in labor‐intensive industries. The paper provides a decision‐making reference for coordinating common prosperity progress and corporate high‐quality development in the context of carbon reduction transformation.
Spreading speeds in an asymptotic autonomous system with application to an epidemic model
Authors: He Yuan , Lin Guo , Zhang Shuo
Published: April 2024

This article studies the initial value problem in an asymptotic autonomous reaction–diffusion system. Namely, when the time goes to infinity, these parameters converge to constants. The system may be nonmonotonic. With different decaying initial conditions, the leftward and rightward spreading speeds are estimated by constructing auxiliary functions and systems. As an application, we present the propagation properties in a diffusive epidemic model with different decaying initial values, which does not satisfy the classical comparison principle of mixed quasimonotone systems.
Recommendations for quantitative cerebral perfusion MRI using multi‐timepoint arterial spin labeling: Acquisition, quantification, and clinical applications
Authors: Woods Joseph G. , Achten Eric , Asllani Iris , Bolar Divya S. , Dai Weiying , Detre John A. , Fan Audrey P. , Fernández‐Seara María A. , Golay Xavier , Günther Matthias , Guo Jia , Hernandez‐Garcia Luis , Ho Mai‐Lan , Juttukonda Meher R. , Lu Hanzhang , MacIntosh Bradley J. , Madhuranthakam Ananth J. , Mutsaerts Henk‐Jan , Okell Thomas W. , Parkes Laura M. , Pinter Nandor , Pinto Joana , Qin Qin , Smits Marion , Suzuki Yuriko , Thomas David L. , Van Osch Matthias J. P. , Wang Danny J. J. , Warnert Esther A. H. , Zaharchuk Greg , Zelaya Fernando , Zhao Moss , Chappell Michael A. ,   the ISMRM Perfusion Study Group
Published: April 2024

Accurate assessment of cerebral perfusion is vital for understanding the hemodynamic processes involved in various neurological disorders and guiding clinical decision‐making. This guidelines article provides a comprehensive overview of quantitative perfusion imaging of the brain using multi‐timepoint arterial spin labeling (ASL), along with recommendations for its acquisition and quantification. A major benefit of acquiring ASL data with multiple label durations and/or post‐labeling delays (PLDs) is being able to account for the effect of variable arterial transit time (ATT) on quantitative perfusion values and additionally visualize the spatial pattern of ATT itself, providing valuable clinical insights. Although multi‐timepoint data can be acquired in the same scan time as single‐PLD data with comparable perfusion measurement precision, its acquisition and postprocessing presents challenges beyond single‐PLD ASL, impeding widespread adoption. Building upon the 2015 ASL consensus article, this work highlights the protocol distinctions specific to multi‐timepoint ASL and provides robust recommendations for acquiring high‐quality data. Additionally, we propose an extended quantification model based on the 2015 consensus model and discuss relevant postprocessing options to enhance the analysis of multi‐timepoint ASL data. Furthermore, we review the potential clinical applications where multi‐timepoint ASL is expected to offer significant benefits. This article is part of a series published by the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) Perfusion Study Group, aiming to guide and inspire the advancement and utilization of ASL beyond the scope of the 2015 consensus article.
Co‐administration of probiotic and vitamin D significantly improves cognitive function in schizophrenic patients: A double‐blinded randomized controlled trial
Authors: Mohammadi Aida , Sadighi Gita , Nazeri Astaneh Ali , Tajabadi‐Ebrahimi Maryam , Dejam Tahereh
Published: April 2024

Aim

Manipulation of the intestinal microbiome and supplying vitamin D can attenuate psychiatric symptoms in schizophrenic patients. The current study tried to evaluate the effects of probiotic/vitamin D supplementation on the cognitive function and disease severity of schizophrenic patients.

Methods

In the present study, 70 patients (aged 18–65) with schizophrenia were recruited. Participants were randomly allocated to the placebo (n = 35) and intervention (probiotic supplements+400 IU vitamin D, n = 35) groups. Severity of disease and cognitive function (primary outcomes) were evaluated by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) tests, respectively. Moreover, lipid profile, body mass index (BMI), gastrointestinal (GI) problems, serum C‐reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were evaluated as secondary outcomes.

Results

A total of 69 patients completed the study. The MoCA score was increased by 1.96 units in the probiotic‐containing supplement group compared to the placebo (p = 0.004). Also, the percentage of subjects with MoCA score ≥ 26 rose significantly in the intervention group (p = 0.031). Moreover, TC (p = 0.011), FBS (p = 0.009), and CRP (p < 0.001) significantly decreased in the supplement group compared to the placebo. Although the probiotic supplement reduced PANSS score by 2.82 units, the difference between the study groups was not statistically significant (p = 0.247).

Conclusion

Co‐administration of probiotics and vitamin D has beneficial effects on the improvement of cognitive function in schizophrenic patients.
A systematic investigation of the transfer of polyphosphate/inorganic silicate flame retardants from epoxy resins to layered glass fiber‐reinforced composites and their post‐furnace flexural properties
Authors: Sunder Sruthi , Jauregui Rozo Maria , Inasu Sneha , Schartel Bernhard , Ruckdäschel Holger
Published: April 2024

The systematic transfer of solvent‐free, additive flame retardant (FR) formulations from epoxy resins to glass fiber‐reinforced epoxy composites (GFRECs) through prepregs is difficult. Additionally, obtaining data on their post‐fire mechanics is often challenging. Utilizing melamine polyphosphate (MPP), ammonium polyphosphate (APP), and silane‐coated ammonium polyphosphate (SiAPP) FRs with low‐melting inorganic silicates (InSi) in an 8:2 proportion and 10% loading by weight in a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) resin, a systematic investigation of the processing properties, room‐temperature mechanics, and temperature‐based mechanics of the systems was performed. The resin was cured with a dicyandiamide hardener (DICY) and a urone accelerator. The results revealed no substantial impact of these FRs at the current loading on the resin's glass transition temperature or processability. However, the fire residues from cone calorimetry tests of the composites containing FRs were found to be only 15‐20% of the thickness of the resins, implying a suppression of intumescence upon transfer. At room temperature, the decrease in the flexural modulus for the composites containing FRs was negligible. Exposure of the composites in a furnace at 400°C as a preliminary study before ignition tests was shown to cause significant flexural moduli reductions after 2.5 min of exposure and complete delamination after 3 min making further testing unviable. This study emphasizes the need for future research on recovering modes of action upon transfer of FR formulations from resins to composites. Based on the challenges outlined in this investigation, sample adaptation methods for post‐fire analysis will be developed in a future study.

Highlights

Processibility of resins for prepreg production unaffected by polyphosphate/inorganic silicate flame retardants (FRs).

FR formulations had a negligible effect on the mechanics of the composites.

15%–25% increase in the fracture toughness of the DGEBA‐based resin matrix with FRs.

Suppression of intumescent behavior in the composites verified quantitatively.

Significant reduction in flexural moduli of the composites post‐400°C exposure in a furnace.
Iota‐carrageenan (𝑖C) hydrogel oscillations under constant electric field and stability diagrams
Authors: Sudjaiboon Parita , Thummarungsan Natlita , Rotjanasuworapong Kornkanok , Lerdwijitjarud Wanchai , Sirivat Anuvat
Published: April 2024

Soft actuators belong to a type of actuators made of soft materials which are capable of converting applied energy to mechanical motion. They have been utilized in several fields due to their flexibility, low weight, inexpensiveness and simple fabrication. In this work, iota‐carrageenan (𝑖C) was chosen as the starting material for a hydrogel‐based actuator. The 𝑖C hydrogels were fabricated via a simple solvent‐casting technique at various concentrations: 2.4% (v/v), 2.8% (v/v) and 3.2% (v/v). All 𝑖C hydrogels were characterized for their chemical, thermal, rheological and morphological properties as well as the actuation performances under applied electric field. The 𝑖C hydrogels showed monotonic increases in the static bending distance and dielectrophoretic force with increasing electric field strength. Above the critical electrical field strengths, the ribbon‐like 𝑖C hydrogels oscillated back and forth due to the competition between the dielectrophoresis force, the resisting elastic force, the weight and the inertia force. Stability diagrams were constructed for the first time separating static bending from oscillation behavior under constant applied electric fields. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
The role of storm‐track dynamics in the intraseasonal variability of the winter ENSO teleconnection to the North Atlantic
Authors: O'Reilly Christopher H. , Drouard Marie , Ayarzagüena Blanca , Ambaum Maarten H. P. , Methven John
Published: April 2024

The response of the North Atlantic large‐scale circulation to El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) exhibits distinct differences between early (November–December) and late (January–February) winter. However, the reasons for this are unclear, particularly regarding the early winter response. Here we examine the role of storm‐track dynamics in influencing the intraseasonal variability of the ENSO teleconnection to the North Atlantic. During late winter there a broad weakening of the eddy heat flux upstream of the North Atlantic storm track during the El Niño phase, which is associated with a broad southward jet shift across North America and the North Atlantic. The late winter response is reinforced by synoptic eddies through enhanced cyclonic wave breaking, consistent with previous studies. However, a stronger teleconnection occurs during early winter. There are modest changes in the North Atlantic eddy heat flux, but strong changes in the upper‐level storm track associated with ENSO, with increased anticyclonic wave breaking during El Niño reinforcing the jet across the central North Atlantic. During early winter there are less frequent northern eddy‐driven jet occurrences in El Niño years and more frequent northern eddy‐driven jet occurrences in La Niña years. These poleward North Atlantic jet excursions typically follow peaks in the eddy heat flux; however, in El Niño years this relationship breaks down and the jet does not transition to the northern position as frequently, despite no clear changes in the upstream eddy heat flux. Composite analysis reveals that precursor storm‐track anomalies upstream over the eastern North Pacific/North America are important in suppressing the poleward jet excursions. These precursors map onto the seasonal mean North Pacific storm‐track anomalies during El Niño. Measured across all years, there is a clear relationship between the mean early winter eastern North Pacific storm‐track activity and eastern North Atlantic eddy‐driven jet, which can explain the early winter ENSO teleconnection to the North Atlantic.
Modelling flow regulation effects on vegetation recruitment and survival on alternate bars in channelized rivers
Authors: Serlet Alyssa , Gurnell Angela , Zolezzi Guido
Published: April 2024

Many river reaches have transitioned to heavily vegetated systems following the regulation of their flow regime. Vegetation recruitment and survival are key to these transformations. We propose a novel predictive approach to detect how changes in the flow regime may affect conditions for successful vegetation recruitment and survival in channelized rivers with alternate bars. Our approach combines elements of existing vegetation recruitment models (Recruitment Box and Window of Opportunity) with simplified morphodynamic predictions of alternate bar migration. The approach is illustrated by applying it to a reach of the regulated Isère river, SE France, which has transitioned from migrating, unvegetated to steady, vegetated alternate bars over two decades following flow regulation associated with hydropower development. Our modelling approach identifies a strong impact of modified summer flows on vegetation recruitment since 1950 when major flow regulation began. An increase of up to 1 cm year−1 (after 1990) has occurred in the vertical extent of vegetation recruitment bands on the bars. This has been accompanied by an almost 20 m total increase (since 1950) in the horizontal extent of the recruitment bands, and a 1.5 times reduction in the frequency of high flows capable of promoting bar migration. Our modelling also suggests viable flow restoration options to limit widespread vegetation colonisation. Comparing outcomes from our modelling approach with those from the Bertagni et al. (2018) model suggests that the Isère may have been highly prone to vegetation colonisation even before flow regulation and close to some threshold for a shift from an unvegetated to a vegetated state.
Transfer learning under the Cox model with interval‐censored data
Authors: Xie Mengqi , Hu Tao , Zhou Jie
Published: April 2024

Transfer learning, focusing on information borrowing to address limited sample size issues, has gained increasing attention in recent years. Our method aims to utilize data from other population groups as a complement to enhance risk factor discernment and failure time prediction among underrepresented subgroups. However, a literature gap exists in effective knowledge transfer from the source to the target for risk assessment with interval‐censored data while accommodating population incomparability and privacy constraints. Our objective is to bridge this gap by developing a transfer learning approach under the Cox proportional hazards model. We introduce the tuning‐free Trans‐Cox‐MIC algorithm, enabling adaptable information sharing in regression coefficients and baseline hazards, while ensuring computational efficiency. Our approach accommodates covariate distribution shifts, coefficient variations, and baseline hazard discrepancies. Extensive simulations showcase the method's accuracy, robustness, and efficiency. Application to the prostate cancer screening data demonstrates enhanced risk estimation precision and predictive performance in the African American population.
CG‐FlexBeamOpt: Advanced solution methodology for high throughput GEO satellite beam laydown and resource allocation
Authors: Li Ryan , Gaudry Angus , Mak‐Hau Vicky
Published: April 2024

Modern satellite communication systems are designed to serve dispersed users with changing operational requirements. Allocating resources to meet these requirements becomes highly complex when the size, location, and allocated frequency of satellite beams are flexible. We developed solution techniques that generate feasible beam patterns and frequency allocations to maximize the total demand met across all users. In our approach, an integer program selects an optimal set of beams from a heuristically generated pool of feasible candidate beams. The challenge is in how to efficiently build a pool of good quality candidate beams from exponentially many possible solutions. An innovative column generation‐style heuristic to generate mathematically justifiable beams is presented to address this challenge. We also derived two other heuristic candidate beam generation algorithms to compare and contrast performance and robustness characteristics of different algorithmic choices. We tested the performance of our three new approaches on 12 operational instances that vary in user distribution, user numbers, and demand distribution. While the methods performed differently under varying operational scenarios, the column generation‐based methods provided the best trade‐off between computation time and solution quality in most cases. We further tested our two best performing algorithms for scalability. Our column generation‐based methods were able to provide good quality solutions with up to 400 beams and 5,000 users. Our work provides valuable insights for real‐life implementation: an end‐user of our system can select the solution approach based on their business need, computational (time) budget, and the desired solution quality.
A Bayesian platform trial design with hybrid control based on multisource exchangeability modelling
Authors: Wei Wei , Blaha Ondrej , Esserman Denise , Zelterman Daniel , Kane Michael , Liu Rachael , Lin Jianchang
Published: April 2024

Enrolling patients to the standard of care (SOC) arm in randomized clinical trials, especially for rare diseases, can be very challenging due to the lack of resources, restricted patient population availability, and ethical considerations. As the therapeutic effect for the SOC is often well documented in historical trials, we propose a Bayesian platform trial design with hybrid control based on the multisource exchangeability modelling (MEM) framework to harness historical control data. The MEM approach provides a computationally efficient method to formally evaluate the exchangeability of study outcomes between different data sources and allows us to make better informed data borrowing decisions based on the exchangeability between historical and concurrent data. We conduct extensive simulation studies to evaluate the proposed hybrid design. We demonstrate the proposed design leads to significant sample size reduction for the internal control arm and borrows more information compared to competing Bayesian approaches when historical and internal data are compatible.