bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic analysis and biological characterization of H10N3 influenza A viruses isolated in China from 2014 to 2021
Authors: Zhang Yuancheng , Shi Jianzhong , Cui Pengfei , Zhang Yaping , Chen Yuan , Hou Yujie , Liu Liling , Jiang Yongping , Guan Yuntao , Chen Hualan , Kong Huihui , Deng Guohua
Published: January 2023

The H10 subtypes of avian influenza viruses pose a continual threat to the poultry industry and human health. The sporadic spillover of H10 subtypes viruses from poultry to humans is represented by the H10N8 human cases in 2013 and the recent H10N3 human infection in 2021. However, the genesis and characteristics of the recent reassortment H10N3 viruses have not been systemically investigated. In this study, we characterized 20 H10N3 viruses isolated in live poultry markets during routine nationwide surveillance in China from 2014 to 2021. The viruses in the recent reassortant genotype acquired their hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes from the duck H10 viruses and H7N3 viruses, respectively, whereas the internal genes were derived from chicken H9N2 viruses as early as 2019. Receptor‐binding analysis indicated that two of the tested H10N3 viruses had a higher affinity for human‐type receptors than for avian‐type receptors, highlighting the potential risk of avian‐to‐human transmission. Animal studies showed that only viruses belonging to the recent reassortant genotype were pathogenic in mice; two tested viruses transmitted via direct contact and one virus transmitted by respiratory droplets in guinea pigs, though with limited efficiency. These findings emphasize the need for enhanced surveillance of H10N3 viruses.
The pattern of cytokines expression and dynamic changes of renal function at 6 months in patients with Omicron COVID‐19
Authors: Teng Lanbo , Song Xinyuan , Zhang Miaomiao , Han Yingying , Chang Ge , Chang Wenxiu , Shen Zhongyang
Published: January 2023

To analyze the dynamic changes of renal function longitudinally and investigate the cytokine profiles at 6 months in patients with Omicron COVID‐19. Forty‐seven patients with a proven diagnosis of Omicron COVID‐19 from January to February 2022 attended a 6‐month follow‐up after discharge at Tianjin First Central Hospital. The demographic parameters, clinical features, and laboratory indexes were collected during hospitalization and 6 months after discharge. The serum cytokine levels at 6 months were also assessed. Patients were grouped according to with or without kidney involvement at admission. The levels of serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were all normal both in the hospital and at follow‐up. Whereas, compared with renal function in the hospital, serum creatinine levels at 6 months increased remarkably; meanwhile, eGFR decreased significantly in all patients. The serum levels of interleukin (IL)‐2, IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐6, IL‐10, and TNF‐α and IFN‐γ significantly decreased and TGF‐β remarkably increased in the kidney involvement group. The serum levels of IL‐2 and IL‐5 were positively correlated with age; contrarily, TGF‐β showed a negative correlation with aging. The younger was an independent risk factor of the higher TGF‐β levels. Omicron patients showed a decline in renal function at follow‐up, reflecting the trend of CKD. Serum cytokine profiles were characterized with the majority of cytokines decreased and TGF‐β increased in the kidney involvement group; the latter may be used as a sign of CKD. The tendency of CKD is one of the manifestations of long COVID and deserves attention.
Upregulation of PD‐L1 by SARS‐CoV‐2 promotes immune evasion
Authors: Huang Hsiang‐Chi , Wang Shih‐Han , Fang Guo‐Chen , Chou Wen‐Cheng , Liao Chun‐Che , Sun Cheng‐Pu , Jan Jia‐Tsrong , Ma Hsiu‐Hua , Ko Hui‐Ying , Ko Yi‐An , Chiang Ming‐Tsai , Liang Jian‐Jong , Kuo Chun‐Tse , Lee Te‐An , Morales‐Scheihing Diego , Shen Chen‐Yang , Chen Shih‐Yu , McCullough Louise D. , Cui Lu , Wernig Gerlinde , Tao Mi‐Hua , Lin Yi‐Ling , Chang Yao‐Ming , Wang Shu‐Ping , Lai Yun‐Ju , Li Chia‐Wei
Published: January 2023

Patients with severe COVID‐19 often suffer from lymphopenia, which is linked to T‐cell sequestration, cytokine storm, and mortality. However, it remains largely unknown how severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) induces lymphopenia. Here, we studied the transcriptomic profile and epigenomic alterations involved in cytokine production by SARS‐CoV‐2‐infected cells. We adopted a reverse time‐order gene coexpression network approach to analyze time‐series RNA‐sequencing data, revealing epigenetic modifications at the late stage of viral egress. Furthermore, we identified SARS‐CoV‐2‐activated nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) and interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1) pathways contributing to viral infection and COVID‐19 severity through epigenetic analysis of H3K4me3 chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing. Cross‐referencing our transcriptomic and epigenomic data sets revealed that coupling NF‐κB and IRF1 pathways mediate programmed death ligand‐1 (PD‐L1) immunosuppressive programs. Interestingly, we observed higher PD‐L1 expression in Omicron‐infected cells than SARS‐CoV‐2 infected cells. Blocking PD‐L1 at an early stage of virally‐infected AAV‐hACE2 mice significantly recovered lymphocyte counts and lowered inflammatory cytokine levels. Our findings indicate that targeting the SARS‐CoV‐2‐mediated NF‐κB and IRF1‐PD‐L1 axis may represent an alternative strategy to reduce COVID‐19 severity.
Rapid detection of monkeypox virus by multiple cross displacement amplification combined with nanoparticle‐based biosensor platform
Authors: Zhou Juan , Xiao Fei , Fu Jin , Jia Nan , Huang Xiaolan , Sun Chunrong , Liu Chunyan , Huan Hui , Wang Yi
Published: January 2023

The current outbreak of monkeypox virus (MPXV) has become a public health emergency of international concern that highlights the need for rapid, sensitive MPXV diagnostic assays. Here, we combined isothermal multiple cross displacement amplification (MCDA) with nanoparticle‐based lateral flow biosensor (LFB) to devise a diagnostic test for the diagnosis of MPXV infection (called MPXV‐MCDA‐LFB) and differentiation of West and Central African MPXV isolates. The MPXV‐MCDA‐LFB protocol conducts isothermal MCDA reaction for DNA templates followed by LFB detection of preamplification target sequences. Two MCDA primer sets were designed targeting the D41L and ATI genes of Central and West African MPXV isolates, respectively, and the optimal condition of two MCDA reactions was 64°C for 30 min. The two MCDA reactions were decoded by LFB, which was devised for detecting three targets, including two amplicons yielded from two MCDA reactions and a chromatography control. Thus, the MPXV‐MCDA‐LFB assay could be completed within 50 min including rapid template preparation (15 min), MCDA reaction (30 min) and reporting of result (<5 min). The MPXV‐MCDA‐LFB method is very sensitive and can detect the target genes (D14L and ATI) with as low as five copies of plasmid template per reaction and 12.5 copies of pseudotyped virus in human blood samples. The MPXV‐MCDA‐LFB assay does not cross‐react with non‐MPXV templates, validating its specificity. Therefore, the MPXV‐MCDA‐LFB assay developed here is a useful tool for rapid and reliable diagnosis of MPXV infection.
Single‐cell transcriptomics dissects epithelial heterogeneity in HPV+ cervical adenocarcinoma
Authors: Wang Cong , Li Lei , Wang Fuhao , Li Xia , Sun Jujie , Li Xiaohui , Lei Tianyu , Huang Qingyu , Zhang Guangyu , Wang Hongqing , Li Dapeng , Jia Jue , Li Chunyan , Geng Feng , Yue Jinbo , Liu Chao
Published: January 2023

The intra‐ and intertumoral heterogeneity of epithelial cells in human papillomavirus (HPV+) cervical adenocarcinoma (CEAD) remains largely unknown. To investigate this issue, we performed single‐cell RNA sequencing on 19 229 epithelial cells sorted from three tumor samples of three patients with HPV+ CEAD. Six epithelial subclusters (Epi1–Epi6) were identified that showed distinct gene expression. Among these, Epi1 and Epi4 had apparent tumor hallmarks and metabolic activities. Epi1 was highly enriched in hallmarks of hypoxia, IL2/STAT5 signaling, retinol metabolism, glycolysis, and arachidonic acid metabolism, while Epi4 was highly enriched in hallmarks of G2M checkpoint, E2F targets, DNA repair, PI3K/AKT/MTOR signaling, glycolysis, fatty acid degradation, TCA cycle, and glutathione metabolism. We also investigated intertumoral epithelial heterogeneity and found that Patient 1 was highly enriched for KRAS signaling and angiogenesis, while Patient 2 was highly enriched for epithelial–mesenchymal transition and TGF‐β signaling, and Patient 3 was highly enriched for hypoxia, DNA repair, G2M checkpoint, and E2F targets. Using single‐cell RNA sequencing, we revealed the intra‐ and intertumoral heterogeneity of epithelial cells in HPV+ CEAD, providing insights into the importance of personalized treatment for patients with HPV+ CEAD.
Risk stratification for cervical precancer and cancer by DH3‐HPV partial genotyping and cytology in women attending cervical screening: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Fu Yunfeng , Li Ying , Li Xiao , Wang Xinyu , Lü Weiguo
Published: January 2023

To evaluate the effect of DH3‐human papillomavirus (HPV) partial genotyping for risk stratification in cervical cancer screening, we conducted a post hoc analysis within a retrospective cohort of 7263 Chinese women aged 21–71 years who participated in population‐based screening. The residual cytological samples at baseline were retested with DH3‐HPV and Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2) assay after 3‐year follow‐up. Risk values with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 3/2 or worse (CIN3+/CIN2+) were estimated based on HPV and cytology results. The report complies with the STROBE statement. Across every cytological result, risk estimates obtained from DH3‐HPV and HC2 were similar or almost identical. By DH3‐HPV partial genotyping, risks of CIN3+/CIN2+ were invariably higher for HPV16/18 than other high‐risk HPV (hrHPV). Among women with normal cytology, immediate CIN3+ risks were 8.16% (95% CI = 4.19%–15.28%) for HPV16/18 positive and 0.48% (95% CI = 0.13%–1.73%) for other hrHPV positive. Among women with any abnormal cytology, immediate CIN3+ risks were 33.33% (95% CI = 22.24%–46.64%) for HPV16/18, and 13.33% (95% CI = 8.37%–20.56%) for other hrHPV. Among 5840 women completed 3‐year follow‐up, the cumulative CIN3+ risk was 25.56% (95% CI = 18.91%–33.59%) for HPV16/18 and 8.22% (95% CI = 6.02%–11.13%) for other hrHPV. Women with an HPV‐negative result with DH3‐HPV or HC2 test had very low cumulative 3‐year CIN3+ risk (0.06%, 95% CI = 0.02%–0.17%), which was about one‐tenth of women with normal cytology at baseline (0.62%, 95% CI = 0.45%–0.86%). Similar patterns were observed for the endpoint of CIN2+. These findings suggest that partial genotyping of DH3‐HPV performs well in risk stratification, which can better balance the benefits and harms of cervical cancer screening.
Composite of two‐dimensional vanadium carbide MXene and cellulose nanocrystals for detection of analytes
Authors: Limaye Mukta V. , Pramanik Monidipa , Moza Anirudh , Singh Shashi B.
Published: January 2023

A new family of two‐dimensional (2D) materials called MXenes has gained attention recently owing to their fascinating physical and chemical properties. Herein, 2D vanadium carbide (V2C) MXene was mixed with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) to produce an environmentally friendly V2C/CNC composite. The V2C/CNC composite exhibited surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activity for the methylene blue (MB) dye with an enhancement factor of ~9 × 105. Here, we have proposed that along with electromagnetic enhancement, the charge transfer process plays a vital role in the SERS enhancement. We believe that this work would open a new way to fabricate sustainable and renewable MXene and CNC composite solution‐based SERS platforms for analyte detection.
Assessment of the anharmonic phonon decay, Fröhlich interactions, and phonon lifetime in Zn0.98Mn0.02S thin films through temperature‐dependent Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Ganesha Krishna V S , Mahesha M G
Published: January 2023

This report accounts for the occurrence of the temperature‐induced variation in the phonon properties and the spatial variation in the Raman spectra for the spray‐deposited Zn0.98Mn0.02S thin films. The study of the temperature dependence of the Raman line position, line width, and the phonon lifetime using the theoretical models that consider the thermal expansion and three‐ and four‐phonon anharmonic effects is the novelty of this work. The lifetime of the LO phonon in Zn0.98Mn0.02S thin film was as low as 0.234 ps, indicating material suitability for optical limiting applications. The intensity ratio I2LO/I1LO ranges within 0.5 at most of the (x, y) positions in the Raman mapping data, indicating the nanocrystalline nature of Zn0.98Mn0.02S.
Constitutive and conditional gene knockout mice for the study of intervertebral disc degeneration: Current status, decision considerations, and future possibilities
Authors: Lu Ze‐Yu , Chen Peng‐Bo , Xu Qing‐Yin , Li Bo , Jiang Sheng‐Dan , Jiang Lei‐Sheng , Zheng Xin‐Feng
Published: January 2023

There have been an increasing number of patients with degenerative disc diseases due to the aging population. In light of this, studies on the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration have become a hot topic, and gene knockout mice have become a valuable tool in this field of research. With the development of science and technology, constitutive gene knockout mice can be constructed using homologous recombination, zinc finger nuclease, transcription activator‐like effector nuclease technology and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/Cas9 (CRISPR/Cas9) system, and conditional gene knockout mice can be constructed using the Cre/LoxP system. The gene‐edited mice using these techniques have been widely used in the studies on disc degeneration. This paper reviews the development process and principles of these technologies, functions of the edited genes in disc degeneration, advantages, and disadvantages of different methods and possible targets of the specific Cre recombinase in intervertebral discs. Recommendations for the choice of suitable gene‐edited model mice are presented. At the same time, possible technological improvements in the future are also discussed.
Building heritage brand equity through social media sales promotion: The role of Power Distance
Authors: Crespo‐Almendros Esmeralda , Prados‐Peña Ma Belén , Porcu Lucia , Alcántara Pilar Juan Miguel
Published: January 2023

This paper aims to look into the moderating effect of individual's cultural characteristics—Power Distance—on the relationship between the use of discounts and gifts and the formation of the brand equity of a heritage tourist site is assessed. The results of a quasi‐experimental 2×2 factorial design among Internet users from two countries and using two different promotional stimuli showed: a positive effect of sales promotions on social media on the formation of brand equity of a heritage tourist site; a lesser effect of online price discounts than free gifts; the moderating role of Power Distance on the formation of brand equity.
Manipulation of Scattering Spectra with Topology of Light and Matter
Authors: Barati Sedeh Hooman , Pires Danilo G. , Chandra Nitish , Gao Jiannan , Tsvetkov Dmitrii , Terekhov Pavel , Kravchenko Ivan , Litchinitser Natalia
Published: January 2023

Structured lights, including beams carrying spin and orbital angular momenta, radially and azimuthally polarized vector beams, as well as spatiotemporal optical vortices, have attracted significant interest due to their unique amplitude, phase front, polarization, and temporal structures, enabling a variety of applications in optical and quantum communications, micromanipulation, and super‐resolution imaging. In parallel, structured optical materials, metamaterials, and metasurfaces consisting of engineered unit cells—meta‐atoms, opened new avenues for manipulating the flow of light and optical sensing. While several studies explored structured light effects on the individual meta‐atoms, their shapes are largely limited to simple spherical geometries. However, the synergy of the structured light and complex‐shaped meta‐atoms has not been fully explored. In this paper, the role of the helical wavefront of Laguerre–Gaussian beams in the excitation and suppression of higher‐order resonant modes inside all‐dielectric meta‐atoms of various shapes, aspect ratios, and orientations, is demonstrated and the excitation of various multipolar moments that are not accessible via unstructured light illumination is predicted. The presented study elucidates the role of the complex phase distribution of the incident light in shape‐dependent resonant scattering, which is of utmost importance in a wide spectrum of applications ranging from remote sensing to spectroscopy.
Meta‐Structured Silicon Nanophotonic Polarization Beam Splitter with an Optical Bandwidth of 415 nm
Authors: Xu Hongnan , Qin Yue , Hu Gaolei , Tsang Hon Ki
Published: January 2023

The polarization beam splitter (PBS) is a pivotal element in the polarization management of free‐space optical instruments and systems. Photonic integrated circuits for sensing, imaging, communications, and quantum‐information processing also have needs for monolithically integrated PBSs with an ultra‐broad optical bandwidth. In this paper, a novel silicon nanophotonic PBS inspired by the crystalline Glan–Thompson prism but implemented with silicon subwavelength‐grating (SWG) metamaterials is presented. Due to the tailored artificial anisotropy of SWGs, the meta‐prism functions like a thin‐film reflector or a waveguide crossing for different polarizations. Thus, the incident light can be steered with strong polarization selectivity and negligible wavelength dependence. Unlike conventional PBS designs, the routing of polarized light is enabled by the wavelength‐independent total internal reflection in anisotropy‐engineered effective media, thereby breaking the bandwidth limit. The device footprint is as small as ≈15 × 7 µm2. Low insertion losses of 0.6–1.7 dB and high extinction ratios of 20–30 dB are experimentally achieved spanning a record broad bandwidth of over 415 nm, ranging from 1.26 to 1.675 µm wavelength. These results represent, to the best of their knowledge, the most broadband integrated PBS ever demonstrated to date.
Cr3+‐Facilitated Ultra‐Sensitive Luminescence Ratiometric Thermometry at Cryogenic Temperature
Authors: Li Rui , Wei Guohui , Wang Zhijun , Wang Ye , Li Jiehong , He Shaoxuan , Li Leipeng , Suo Hao , Ding Wenge , Li Panlai
Published: January 2023

Non‐contact ratiometric luminescence thermometry continues to gain popularity over decades due to its fascinating features of high accuracy, fast response, and simplicity. In this regard, rational design of optical thermometers with ultrahigh relative sensitivity and low temperature resolution has become a cutting‐edge topic. Herein, a luminescence intensity ratio thermometric method depending on the emission line at 698 nm (peak 1) and the emission bands at 713 and 721 nm (peaks 2 and 3) of Li1.97Zn1.0292Ge3O8:0.08%Cr3+ is proposed. As temperature elevates from 50 to 300 K, the 698 nm emission line undergoes an 84‐fold increase while the 713 and 721 nm emission bands show the opposite decline trend. This fascinating feature enables high relative sensitivity of 13.09% K−1 and low temperature resolution of 0.032 K, which are superior to most of the reported optical thermometers. This work is expected to provide more insights for designing excellent and reliable optical thermometers by employing Cr3+ activated luminescent materials.
Manipulating Crystallization Dynamics for Efficient and Spectrally Stable Blue Perovskite Light‐Emitting Diodes
Authors: Cao Longxue , Shen Yang , Lei Bing , Zhou Wei , Li Shuhong , Liu Yunlong , Lu Yu , Zhang Kai , Ren Hao , Li Yan‐Qing , Tang Jian‐Xin , Wang Wenjun
Published: January 2023

Reduced‐dimensional perovskite light‐emitting diodes (PeLEDs) have shown great potential in solution‐processed high‐definition displays. However, the inferior electroluminescent (EL) performance of blue PeLEDs has become a huge challenge for their commercialization. The inefficient domain control [number of PbX6− layers (n)] and deleterious phase segregation make the blue PeLEDs suffer from low EL efficiency and poor spectral stability. Here, a rational strategy for perovskite crystallization control by adjusting the precursor concentration is proposed for improving phase distribution and suppressing ion migration in reduced‐dimensional mixed‐halide blue perovskite films. Based on this method, efficient sky‐blue PeLEDs exhibit a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 8.5% with stable EL spectra at 482 nm. Additionally, spectrally stable pure‐blue PeLEDs at 474 and 468 nm are further obtained with maximum EQEs of 4.0% and 2.4%, respectively. These findings may provide an alternative scheme for manipulating perovskite crystallization dynamics toward efficient and stable PeLEDs.
Zwitterionic Polysulfobetaine Coating and Antiplatelet Liposomes Reduce Fouling in Artificial Lung Circuits
Authors: Amoako Kagya , Kaufman Rikki , Haddad Waad A. M. , Pusey Romario , Saniesetty Venkata H. K. , Sun Hao , Skoog David , Cook Keith
Published: January 2023

The artificial lung has provided life‐saving support for pulmonary disease patients and recently afforded patients with severe cases of COVID‐19 better prognostic outcomes. While it addresses a critical medical need, reducing the risk of clotting inside the device remains challenging. Herein, a two‐step surface coating process of the lung circuit using Zwitterionic polysulfobetaine methacrylate is evaluated for its nonspecific protein antifouling activity. It is hypothesized that similarly applied coatings on materials integrated (IT) or nonintegrated (NIT) into the circuit will yield similar antifouling activity. The effects of human plasma preconditioned with nitric oxide‐loaded liposome on platelet (plt) fouling are also evaluated. Fibrinogen antifouling activities in coated fibers are similar in the IT and NIT groups. It however decreases in coated polycarbonate (PC) in the IT group. Also, plt antifouling activity in coated fibers is similar in the IT and NIT groups and is lower in coated PC and Tygon in the IT group compared to the NIT group. Coating process optimization in the IT lung circuit may help address difference in the coating appearance of outer and inner fiber bundle fibers, and the NO‐liposome significantly reduces (86%) plt fouling on fibers indicating its potential use for blood anticoagulation.
Oxidation Responsive PEGylated Polyamino Acid Bearing Thioether Pendants for Enhanced Anticancer Drug Delivery
Authors: Sun Yitao , Zhang Yu , Guo Xin , Wang Yanping , He Pan , Xiao Chunsheng
Published: January 2023

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) in biological tissues are in a state of dynamic balance. However, many diseases such as cancer and inflammation, are accompanied by a long‐term increase in ROS. This situation inspires researchers to use ROS‐sensitive nanocarriers for a site‐specific release of cargo in pathological areas. Polyamino acid materials with good biodegradability, biocompatibility, and regular secondary structure are widely used in the biomedical field. Herein, a new oxidation responsive PEGylated polyamino acid is synthesised for anticancer drug delivery by ring‐opening polymerisation of N‐carboxyanhydrides bearing thioether pendants. The obtained block copolymer mPEG‐b‐PMLG self‐assembles into spherical nanoparticles (NPs) in water with diameter ≈68.3 nm. NMR measurement demonstrated that the hydrophobic thioether pendants in the NPs can be selectively oxidised to hydrophilic sulfoxide groups by H2O2, which will lead to the disassociation of NPs. In vitro drug release results indicated that the encapsulated Nile red is selectively released in the trigger of 10 mM H2O2 in PBS. Finally, anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) is encapsulated to the NPs, and the obtained NPs/DOX exhibits an improved antitumor efficacy in 4T1 tumour‐bearing mice and lower cardiotoxicity than free DOX. These results indicates that the mPEG‐b‐PMLG NPs are promising for anticancer drug delivery.
Oxidation of Monoterpenes to Form Diols and Triols: A Versatile Toolbox for Polymer Synthesis
Authors: Fowler Harriet R. , O'Brien Dara M. , Keddie Daniel J. , Alexander Cameron , Irvine Derek J. , Stockman Robert A. , Howdle Steven M. , Taresco Vincenzo
Published: January 2023

Polyols and polyacrylates have a wide range of applications in polymer synthesis as monomers, initiators, or building blocks in a variety of polymerization reaction types. With an ever‐growing need to reduce the global dependency on fossil fuels, finding bio‐based/renewable sources for these compounds is now critical. Herein, the alkene moieties of common, abundant terpenes are functionalized via oxidation to expand the “toolbox” of bio‐based diols and triols. These polyol compounds are readily converted into the corresponding terpene‐derived diacrylates using mild conditions. As a proof of concept, it is demonstrated that these monomers can be used in aza‐Michael polymerizations, forming new (bio)degradable poly‐β‐amino esters.
Vanishing of higher order Alexander‐type invariants of plane curves
Authors: Cogolludo‐Agustín José I. , Elduque Eva
Published: January 2023

The higher order degrees are Alexander‐type invariants of complements to an affine plane curve. In this paper, we characterize the vanishing of such invariants for a curve C given as a transversal union of plane curves and in terms of the finiteness and the vanishing properties of the invariants of and , and whether or not they are irreducible. As a consequence, we prove that the multivariable Alexander polynomial is a power of , and we characterize when in terms of the defining equations of and . Our results impose obstructions on the class of groups that can be realized as fundamental groups of complements of a transversal union of curves.
The customer is often wrong: Investigating the influence of customer failures and apologies on frontline service employee well‐being
Authors: Robertson Nichola , Rotman Jeffrey , McQuilken Lisa , Ringer Allison
Published: January 2023

A well‐established research area is service failure and recovery. Nevertheless, the considerable service failures generated by customers, or customer failures, surprisingly remain relatively underexplored. Specifically, customer failures have a detrimental effect on frontline service employee well‐being, which has not been investigated. We advance that a customer apology can alleviate this by customers taking the blame for their failures. We present three studies that investigate this phenomenon. In Study 1, applying the critical incident technique, we develop a taxonomy of customer failures and find evidence of their negative influence on (frontline) service employee well‐being, which can be offset by customer apologies and perceived supervisor support. In Studies 2 and 3, using a scenario‐based experiment, we triangulate the Study 1 results by testing the relationship between customer apology (Study 2) and its interacting relationship with perceived supervisor support (Study 3) on service employee well‐being following a customer failure. While customer apologies have a positive impact on well‐being, interestingly, when perceived supervisor support is lacking, this washes out the positive effect of a customer apology and similarly, perceived supervisor support nullifies the negative effect of the customer not apologizing for their failure. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.
Gifting digital versus physical gift cards: How and why givers and recipients have different preferences for a gift card's mode of delivery
Authors: Reshadi Farnoush , Givi Julian , Das Gopal
Published: January 2023

We explore the psychology involved with giving and receiving gift cards by studying givers' and recipients' preferences for digital versus physical gift cards. Across five studies, we demonstrate that givers are less likely to choose digital (vs. physical) gift cards than recipients are to prefer to receive them. The data suggest that this asymmetry occurs, in part, because givers overestimate the extent to which recipients see digital (vs. physical) gift cards as violating the social norms of gift‐giving. Indeed, givers' aversion to digital gift cards attenuates when they are less likely to perceive digital (vs. physical) gift cards as violating gift‐giving norms and when they are less attentive to such norms. This research adds to the gift‐giving literature by offering an initial foray into the tradeoff between digital and physical gifts, demonstrating a new instance in which givers' and recipients' preferences diverge, and documenting an underlying cause and boundary conditions of this asymmetry.
Value‐added service decision and coordination under fresh produce e‐commerce considering order cancelation
Authors: Tan Yuyang , Guo Chunxiang , Cai Dong
Published: January 2023

This paper proposes an analytic model under fresh produce e‐commerce considering value‐added service and order cancelation behavior. We first examine the optimal prices, value‐added service decisions, and profits in the centralized and decentralized channels. Then, the revenue‐cost‐sharing contract is designed to eliminate the double marginal effect in the decentralized channel. The main findings are threefold. First, with the improvement of product quality, the optimal value‐added service may increase and then decrease in both centralized and decentralized channels. Second, compared with the centralized channel, the decentralized channel prefers a lower retail price only when both salvage value coefficient and product quality are high. Besides, the proposed revenue‐cost‐sharing contract performs well in improving the value‐added service and profits in the decentralized channel.
Incommensurate multi‐term fractional differential equations with variable coefficients with respect to functions
Authors: Emin Sedef , Fernandez Arran
Published: January 2023

Linear fractional differential equations with variable coefficients and various types of fractional derivatives can be solved explicitly, using either fixed‐point theorems and successive approximations or Green's functions. In this paper, we consider a multi‐term fractional differential equation with continuous variable coefficients and incommensurate fractional orders, and we construct an explicit solution by a direct method of successive approximations, which is made rigorous by checking the solution function explicitly via substitution. The results are obtained for the most general initial value problem of an inhomogeneous equation with inhomogeneous initial conditions, the first time that an explicit analytical solution has been found for this general problem. Special cases are provided to illustrate the main results, and connections are discussed with previous results in the literature.
Wave interactions in pressureless Cargo–LeRoux model with flux perturbation
Authors: Sahoo Sueet Millon , Raja Sekhar Tungala , Raja Sekhar G. P.
Published: January 2023

In this article, we discuss the wave interactions in pressureless Cargo–LeRoux model with flux perturbation. The corresponding Riemann solution in terms of a one‐parameter family of curves is presented. We prove the existence and uniqueness of the solution to the Riemann problem and construct estimates for the components of the solution. Relevant amplitudes are determined while presenting the interactions of weak discontinuity with contact discontinuity and shock waves. Further, we discuss the interaction of weak shocks in detail. Finally, some test cases are treated to understand the effect of initial data and strength of the shock on the transmitted, reflected amplitudes, and jump in the acceleration of the shock.
A pseudo‐operational collocation method for variable‐order time‐space fractional KdV–Burgers–Kuramoto equation
Authors: Sadri Khadijeh , Hosseini Kamyar , Hinçal Evren , Baleanu Dumitru , Salahshour Soheil
Published: January 2023

The idea of this work is to provide a pseudo‐operational collocation scheme to deal with the solution of the variable‐order time‐space fractional KdV–Burgers–Kuramoto equation (VOSTFKBKE). Such the fractional partial differential equation (FPDE) has three characteristics of dissipation, dispersion, and instability, which make this equation is used to model many phenomena in diverse fields of physics. Numerical solutions are sought in a linear combination of two‐dimensional Jacobi polynomials as basis functions. In order to approximate unknown functions in terms of the basis vector, pseudo‐operational matrices are constructed to avoid integration. An error bound of the residual function is estimated in a Jacobi‐weighted space in the
norms. Numerical results are compared with exact ones and those reported by other researchers to demonstrate the effectiveness of the recommended method.
Optimization of proton pencil beam positioning in collimated fields
Authors: Behrends Carina , Bäumer Christian , Verbeek Nico Gerd , Wulff Jörg , Timmermann Beate
Published: January 2023

Background

The addition of static or dynamic collimator systems to the pencil beam scanning delivery technique increases the number of options for lateral field shaping. The collimator shape needs to be optimized together with the intensity modulation of spots.

Purpose

To minimize the proton field's lateral penumbra by investigating the fundamental relations between spot and collimating aperture edge position.

Methods

Analytical approaches describing the effect of spot position on the resulting spot profile are presented. The theoretical description is then compared with Monte Carlo simulations in TOPAS and in the RayStation treatment planning system, as well as with radiochromic film measurements at a clinical proton therapy facility. In the model, one single spot profile is analyzed for various spot positions in air. Further, irradiation setups in water with different energies, the combination with a range shifter, and two‐dimensional proton fields were investigated in silico.

Results

The further the single spot is placed beyond the collimating aperture edge (‘overscanning'), the sharper the relative lateral dose fall‐off and thus the lateral penumbra. Overscanning up to reduced the lateral penumbra by about 20% on average after a propagation of in air. This benefit from overscanning is first predicted by the analytical proofs and later verified by simulations and measurements. Corresponding analyses in water confirm the benefit in lateral penumbra with spot position optimization as observed theoretically and in air. The combination of spot overscanning with fluence modulation facilitated an additional improvement.

Conclusions

The lateral penumbra of single spots in collimated scanned proton fields can be improved by the method of spot overscanning. This suggests a better sparing of proximal organs at risk in smaller water depths at higher energies, especially in the plateau of the depth dose distribution. All in all, spot overscanning in collimated scanned proton fields offers particular potential in combination with techniques such as fluence modulation or dynamic collimation for optimizing the lateral penumbra to spare normal tissue.
TrEnD: A transformer‐based encoder‐decoder model with adaptive patch embedding for mass segmentation in mammograms
Authors: Liu Dongdong , Wu Bo , Li Changbo , Sun Zheng , Zhang Nan
Published: January 2023

Background

Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent malignancies diagnosed in women. Mammogram inspection in the search and delineation of breast tumors is an essential prerequisite for a reliable diagnosis. However, analyzing mammograms by radiologists is time‐consuming and prone to errors. Therefore, the development of computer‐aided diagnostic (CAD) systems to automate the mass segmentation procedure is greatly expected.

Purpose

Accurate breast mass segmentation in mammograms remains challenging in CAD systems due to the low contrast, various shapes, and fuzzy boundaries of masses. In this paper, we propose a fully automatic and effective mass segmentation model based on deep learning for improving segmentation performance.

Methods

We propose an effective transformer‐based encoder‐decoder model (TrEnD). Firstly, we introduce a lightweight method for adaptive patch embedding (APE) of the transformer, which utilizes superpixels to adaptively adjust the size and position of each patch. Secondly, we introduce a hierarchical transformer‐encoder and attention‐gated‐decoder structure, which is beneficial for progressively suppressing interference feature activations in irrelevant background areas. Thirdly, a dual‐branch design is employed to extract and fuse globally coarse and locally fine features in parallel, which could capture the global contextual information and ensure the relevance and integrity of local information. The model is evaluated on two public datasets CBIS‐DDSM and INbreast. To further demonstrate the robustness of TrEnD, different cropping strategies are applied to these datasets, termed tight, loose, maximal, and mix‐frame. Finally, ablation analysis is performed to assess the individual contribution of each module to the model performance.

Results

The proposed segmentation model provides a high Dice coefficient and Intersection over Union (IoU) of 92.20% and 85.81% on the mix‐frame CBIS‐DDSM, while 91.83% and 85.29% for the mix‐frame INbreast, respectively. The segmentation performance outperforms the current state‐of‐the‐art approaches. By adding the APE and attention‐gated module, the Dice and IoU have improved by 6.54% and 10.07%.

Conclusion

According to extensive qualitative and quantitative assessments, the proposed network is effective for automatic breast mass segmentation, and has adequate potential to offer technical assistance for subsequent clinical diagnoses.
Facial synthesis of colloidal stable magnetic nanoparticles coated with high hydrophilic negative charged poly(4‐styrenesulfonic acid co‐maleic acid) sodium for water remediation
Authors: Lim Chuan Chuan , Ng Qi Hwa , Hoo Peng Yong , Enche Ab Rahim Siti Kartini , Jamalludin Mohd Riduan , Nasib Amira Mohd , Wicaksono Sigit Tri , Pramata Azzah Dyah , Zullaikah Siti
Published: January 2023

The enhancement of the colloidal stability of magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) for environmental‐related fields has greatly attracted researchers' attention. This study used a high hydrophilic negatively charged polyelectrolyte, poly(4‐styrenesulfonic acid co‐maleic acid) sodium (PSAAS), to enhance the colloidal stability of MNPs. Coating of the naked MNPs with PSAAS polyelectrolyte is a simple and rapid method to obtain colloidally stable MNPs while sustaining the chemical reactivity of MNPs in water purification. The prepared PSAAS‐coated MNPs were characterized by scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive X‐ray, Fourier transform infrared, zeta potential analysis, transmission electron microscope and X‐ray diffraction. Moreover, the colloidal stability and adsorption performance tests of these naked MNPs and PSAAS‐coated MNPs (with different concentrations of PSAAS coated) were investigated and compared. PSAAS‐coated MNPs with 0.001 g/ml PSAAS coating possessed the best colloidal stability and the highest methylene blue (MB) dye removal efficiency (94.53 ± 0.69%). The adsorption isotherm and kinetic studies for the adsorption of MB onto PSAAS‐coated MNPs were well‐described by the Langmuir model and pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model. These magnetic adsorbents, with high separation efficiency, simple and low production cost and recyclable property, are promising as practicable adsorbents in water treatment.
A new landscape in illness uncertainty: A systematic review and thematic synthesis of the experience of uncertainty in patients with advanced cancer receiving immunotherapy or targeted therapy
Authors: Langmuir Tori , Chu Alanna , Sehabi Ghizlène , Giguère Lauriane , Lamarche Jani , Boudjatat Wassim , Lebel Sophie
Published: January 2023

Objective

Over the past 20 years, immunotherapy and targeted therapy (TT) have been extending the life expectancy and providing hope for a growing number of patients with advanced and metastatic cancer. However, the efficacy, side effects, and overall prognosis of these treatments are highly unpredictable. Recent research suggests that these patients may be experiencing significant uncertainty which impacts their functioning. This study reviewed the literature on the experiences of uncertainty for individuals with advanced or metastatic cancer patients who are receiving immunotherapy or TT.

Method

A systematic literature review was conducted. Data was extracted from studies by pairs of reviewers. Literature quality was appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program checklist. Following data extraction, thematic synthesis was used to summarize findings across studies and generate overarching themes.

Results

Fifteen qualitative studies were included. Findings highlighted impacts of various sources of uncertainty (financial, emotional, social), unmet needs related to uncertainty (practical, informational, communication), and recommendations for the management of uncertainty. Clinical implications and study limitations were indicated.

Conclusions

Findings were situated within Mishel's Uncertainty in Illness Theory and the literature on supportive care for advanced cancer populations. Recommendations related to improving healthcare provider communication and balancing hope and expectations for treatment outcomes were highlighted. Further research is needed to investigate experiences of uncertainty in this population. Tailored interventions for uncertainty may be warranted.
Examining the effectiveness and implementation of patient treatment decision‐aid tools for men with localised prostate cancer: A systematic review
Authors: Todio Elizabeth , Sharp Jessica , Morrow April , Taylor Natalie , Schofield Penelope , Mazariego Carolyn
Published: January 2023

Objective

Men diagnosed with localised prostate cancer (LPC) often face a difficult process deciding on a treatment choice that suits their personal preferences. This systematic review examines the impact of patient treatment decision‐aids (DAs) on decisional outcomes and treatment choice for men diagnosed with LPC. Our secondary aim was to examine how DAs have been implemented into routine clinical practice.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted up to June 2022 using the following databases: Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science. Articles were included if they evaluated the effectiveness of treatment DAs for LPC patients on various decisional outcomes and treatment choice. The Mixed‐Method Appraisal Tool was used to assess methodological quality and risk of bias. Data on implementation outcomes were also extracted if reported.

Results

Twenty‐four articles were included for the analysis (seven non‐randomised studies, 16 randomised control trials, and one qualitative study). Results showed DAs have the potential to improve patient knowledge but revealed no effects on decisional regret or preparedness in decision‐making. Due to the variability in methodology among studies, results varied widely for treatment choice, decision‐making involvement, decisional conflict, and treatment decision satisfaction. At least one implementation outcome was reported in 11 of the included studies, with the most commonly assessed outcomes being acceptability and appropriateness.

Conclusions

While DAs appear to improve knowledge, further qualitative evaluations and standardised assessments are needed to better understand men's experiences using DAs and to determine advantages and optimal ways to implement DAs into the treatment decision‐making pathway.
Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage in a pediatric patient with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Hamrick Lucas , Deskins Seth J. , Al‐Qatarneh Saif
Published: January 2023

A 15‐year‐old female patient was initially transferred due to symptomatic anemia following months of menorrhagia, fatigue, dyspnea, and weight loss. Early during her hospital course, pulmonary complications occurred with the development of respiratory failure secondary to bilateral pleural effusions. She was managed with bi‐level pressure support ventilation alternating with a high‐flow nasal cannula. An extensive workup resulted in a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus: C3 level was 9 mg/dl (81−157 mg/dl) and her C4 level was 2 mg/dl (12−39 mg/dl); ANA titer was 1:5120 in a homogenous pattern. Scl‐70 was qualitatively positive, quantitative anti‐dsDNA level was 1044 IU/ml (<150 IU/ml), hemoglobin at presentation was 6.3 g/dl (11.8−15.7 g/dl), and her albumin level was 2.8 g/dl (3.5−5.0 g/dl). The patient was started on prednisone 60 mg daily and then transitioned to cyclophosphamide. Her symptoms improved initially; however, several days into admission she developed acute respiratory decompensation with blood‐tinged sputum. Her hemoglobin levels, which had stabilized, began decreasing from 9.5 to 7.4 g/dl. Chest radiography showed new bilateral hazy infiltrates, and computerized tomography of the chest showed bilateral pleural effusions and parenchymal disease. A bronchoscopy confirmed a diagnosis of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. The patient was treated with plasma exchange therapy and her corticosteroids were restarted. She completed a course of steroids and at initial pulmonology follow‐up and showed stable pulmonary status with an improvement of her symptoms.
Clinical management of pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis and autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Pasley Kimberly , Krivchenia Katelyn , Dell Mary Lynn , McCoy Karen S. , Paul Grace R.
Published: January 2023

Background

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are life‐long conditions with intense treatment burdens for patients and families. Patients with a concurrent diagnosis (CF‐ASD) experience unique obstacles to CF care. This study describes the experiences of our multidisciplinary CF team in caring for patients with CF‐ASD and provides insight into provider and parental perspectives on clinical management.

Methods

This is a three‐part qualitative study involving (1) retrospective chart review of patients with CF‐ASD, (2) surveys with multidisciplinary care team members, and (3) semistructured interviews with caregivers of patients with CF‐ASD. Challenges in clinical management of this specific cohort were compiled using data from chart review and care team surveys. Strategies to address these concerns were identified and rated by individual families based on relevance and practicality.

Results

Within our CF center, 12 patients have an official diagnosis of ASD. Median age of patients with CF‐ASD was 8.5 years (range 3–20 years), 67% were male, and 83% were on highly effective modulator therapy. Clinical barriers included sensory processing issues, environmental overstimulation, intolerance to procedures and to disrupted routines. Potentially impactful strategies include patient‐specific coping plans, guided behavioral interventions, parental advocacy, and improved communication between the family and multidisciplinary team.

Conclusion

Children with CF‐ASD face extraordinary challenges beyond the experience of neurotypical children with CF. Increased awareness of this complex dual diagnosis will help providers be sensitive to the unique needs of these patients, help build consistent and trustworthy relationships with their families and deliver effective clinical care despite limitations.