bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Creating Hydrophobic Foils From Biopolymer Blends Using Mechanical Microimprinting
Authors: Liu Hang , Zagler Michaela , Nase Michael , Weber Katharina , Albrecht Joachim
Published: July 2023

The surface topography of biodegradable polymer foils is modified by mechanical imprinting on a submillimeter length scale. The created patterns strongly influence the wetting behavior and allow the preparation of hydrophobic surfaces with controlled solid‐liquid interaction. A detailed analysis of anisotropic surface patterns reveals that the observed effect arises from a combination of topographical and compositional changes that are introduced to the surface. As a main result it is found that an individual combination of material and structure is required for the production of water‐repellent biopolymer foils that are highly attractive for packaging applications.
Advanced Thermoelectric Textiles for Power Generation: Principles, Design, and Manufacturing
Authors: Chen Xinyi , Yang Xiaona , Han Xue , Ruan Zuping , Xu Jinchuan , Huang Fuli , Zhang Kun
Published: July 2023

Self‐powered wearable thermoelectric (TE) devices significantly reduce the inconvenience caused to users, especially in daily use of portable devices and monitoring personal health. The textile‐based TE devices (TETs) exhibit the excellent flexibility, deformability, and light weight, which fulfill demands of long‐term wearing for the human body. In comparison to traditional TE devices with their longstanding research history, TETs are still in an initial stage of growth. In recent years, TETs to provide electricity for low‐power wearable electronics have attracted increasing attention. This review summarizes the recent progress of TETs from the points of selecting TE materials, scalable fabrication methods of TE fibers/yarns and TETs, structure design of TETs and reported high‐performance TETs. The key points to develop TETs with outstanding TE properties and mechanical performance and better than available optimization strategies are discussed. Furthermore, remaining challenges and perspectives of TETs are also proposed to suggest practical applications for heat harvesting from human body.
Numerical Study of a Thrombus Migration Risk in Aneurysm After Coil Embolization in Patient Cases: FSI Modelling
Authors: Paz C. , Suárez E. , Cabarcos A. , Pinto S. I. S.
Published: July 2023

Purpose

There are still many challenges for modelling a thrombus migration process in aneurysms. The main novelty of the present research lies in the modelling of aneurysm clot migration process in a realistic cerebral aneurysm, and the analysis of forces suffered by clots inside an aneurysm, through transient FSI simulations.

Methods

The blood flow has been modelled using a Womersley velocity profile, and following the Carreau viscosity model. Hyperelastic Ogden model has been used for clot and isotropic linear elastic model for the artery walls. The FSI coupled model was implemented in ANSYS® software. The hemodynamic forces suffered by the clot have been quantified using eight different clot sizes and positions inside a real aneurysm.

Results

The obtained results have shown that it is almost impossible for clots adjacent to aneurysm walls, to leave the aneurysm. Nevertheless, in clots positioned in the centre of the aneurysm, there is a real risk of clot migration. The risk of migration of a typical post-coiling intervention clot in an aneurysm, in contact with the wall and occupying a significant percentage of its volume is very low in the case studied, even in the presence of abnormally intense events, associated with sneezes or impacts.

Conclusions

The proposed methodology allows evaluating the clot migration risk, vital for evaluating the progress after endovascular interventions, it is a step forward in the personalized medicine, patient follow-up, and helping the medical team deciding the optimal treatment.

Graphical Abstract
Estimation of flow trajectories in a multi-lines transportation network
Authors: Guex Guillaume , Loup Romain , Bavaud François
Published: July 2023

Characterizing a public transportation network, such as an urban network with multiple lines, requires the origin–destination trip counts during a given period. Yet, if automatic counting makes the embarkment (boarding) and disembarkment (alighting) counts in vehicles known, it often happens that pedestrian transfers between lines are harder to track, and require costly and invasive devices (e.g., facial recognition system) to be estimated. In this contribution, we propose a method, based on maximum entropy and involving an iterative fitting procedure, which estimates the passenger flow between origins and destinations solely based on embarkment and disembarkment counts. Moreover, this method is flexible enough to provide an adaptable framework in case additional data is known, such as attraction poles between certain nodes in the network, or percentages of transferring passengers between some lines. This method is tested on toy examples, as well as with the data of the public transportation network of the city of Lausanne provided by its Transportation Agency (tl), and gives arguably convincing estimations of the transportation flow.
Hiring High-Skilled Labor Through Mergers and Acquisitions
Authors: Chen Jun , Hshieh Shenje , Zhang Feng
Published: July 2023

Using random H-1B visa lotteries as a natural experiment, we find that firms respond to shortages of high-skilled workers by acquiring firms that employ such workers. The effect is stronger among firms with high human capital and more senior workforces, firms facing tight labor markets and legal barriers to poaching workers, and firms lacking foreign affiliates. The acquired workers are highly educated, sharing skills and occupations similar to those of the acquirer’s existing workers. Our findings suggest skilled labor is an important driver of acquisitions and acquiring is an effective means of obtaining skilled labor.
On the Relationship Between Reliability Diagrams and the “Signal‐To‐Noise Paradox”
Authors: Strommen Kristian , MacRae Molly , Christensen Hannah
Published: July 2023

The “signal‐to‐noise paradox” for seasonal forecasts of the winter North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) is often described as an “underconfident” forecast and measured using the ratio‐of‐predictable components (RPCs) metric. However, comparison of RPC with other measures of forecast confidence, such as spread‐error ratios, can give conflicting impressions, challenging this informal description. We show, using a linear statistical model, that the “paradox” is equivalent to a situation where the reliability diagram of any percentile forecast has a slope exceeding 1. The relationship with spread‐error ratios is shown to be far less direct. We furthermore compute reliability diagrams of winter NAO forecasts using seasonal hindcasts from the European Centre for Medium‐range Weather Forecasts and the UK Meteorological Office. While these broadly exhibit slopes exceeding 1, there is evidence of asymmetry between upper and lower terciles, indicating a potential violation of linearity/Gaussianity. The limitations and benefits of reliability diagrams as a diagnostic tool are discussed.
Decadal Changes in the Linkage Between Autumn Sea Ice and the Winter Eurasian Temperature in the 20th Century
Authors: He Xulong , Zhang Ruonan , Ding Shuoyi , You Qinglong , Cai Ziyi
Published: July 2023

The Warm Arctic‐Cold Eurasia pattern in recent decades has attracted extensive attention and has been partly attributed to rapid sea‐ice loss; however, such a link has been unstable over the past century. Here, we use centennial reanalyzes to investigate the multi‐decadal changes in the linkage between autumn Barents‐Kara sea‐ice and winter Eurasian temperature during the 20th century. Results show a negative Arctic‐Eurasian connection in 1901–1945 (P1), an inconspicuous connection in 1946–1985 (P2), and a significantly positive correlation in 1986–2013 (P3), with distinct stratospheric and tropospheric pathways mechanisms. The contrasting relationships between P1 and P3 are likely due to the different magnitudes of sea‐ice loss and the predominant roles of the atmosphere or sea‐ice in driving different Eurasian temperature effects. As further verification, the best group of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project simulations, which captured the realistic stratospheric pathway in recent decades, can reproduce the historical decadal changes in the Arctic‐Eurasian linkage.
Growing Threats From Swings Between Hot and Wet Extremes in a Warmer World
Authors: You Jiewen , Wang Shuo , Zhang Boen , Raymond Colin , Matthews Tom
Published: July 2023

The abrupt alternation between hot and wet extremes can lead to more severe societal impacts than isolated extremes. However, despite an understanding of hot and wet extremes separately, their temporally compounding characteristics are not well examined yet. Our study presents a comprehensive assessment of successive heat‐pluvial and pluvial‐heat events globally. We find that these successive extremes within a week occur every 6–7 years on average within warm seasons during 1956–2015, about 15% more often than would be expected by chance, and that they have a significant increase in frequency of about 22% per decade due to warming. We further investigate the role of vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and find that heat‐pluvial (pluvial‐heat) events are linked to negative (positive) VPD anomalies. Our results are statistically significant based on moving‐blocks bootstrap resampling and field significance tests, highlighting these methods' importance in robustly identifying compound events under autocorrelation and multiple‐testing conditions.
Hypoxia-induced mitochondrial stress granules
Authors: Sun Chun-Ling , Van Gilst Marc , Crowder C. Michael
Published: July 2023

Perturbations of mitochondrial proteostasis have been associated with aging, neurodegenerative diseases, and recently with hypoxic injury. While examining hypoxia-induced mitochondrial protein aggregation in C. elegans, we found that sublethal hypoxia, sodium azide, or heat shock-induced abundant ethidium bromide staining mitochondrial granules that preceded evidence of protein aggregation. Genetic manipulations that reduce cellular and organismal hypoxic death block the formation of these mitochondrial stress granules (mitoSG). Knockdown of mitochondrial nucleoid proteins also blocked the formation of mitoSG by a mechanism distinct from the mitochondrial unfolded protein response. Lack of the major mitochondrial matrix protease LONP-1 resulted in the constitutive formation of mitoSG without external stress. Ethidium bromide-staining RNA-containing mitochondrial granules were also observed in rat cardiomyocytes treated with sodium azide, a hypoxia mimetic. Mitochondrial stress granules are an early mitochondrial pathology controlled by LONP and the nucleoid, preceding hypoxia-induced protein aggregation.
Differential network interactions between psychosocial factors, mental health, and health-related quality of life in women and men
Authors: Weiß Martin , Gründahl Marthe , Deckert Jürgen , Eichner Felizitas A. , Kohls Mirjam , Störk Stefan , Heuschmann Peter U. , Hein Grit ,   the STAAB-COVID Study Group, Gelbrich Götz , Weißbrich Benedikt , Dölken Lars , Kurzai Oliver , Ertl Georg , Barth Maria , Morbach Caroline
Published: July 2023

Psychosocial factors affect mental health and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in a complex manner, yet gender differences in these interactions remain poorly understood. We investigated whether psychosocial factors such as social support and personal and work-related concerns impact mental health and HRQL differentially in women and men during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Between June and October 2020, the first part of a COVID-19-specific program was conducted within the “Characteristics and Course of Heart Failure Stages A-B and Determinants of Progression (STAAB)” cohort study, a representative age- and gender-stratified sample of the general population of Würzburg, Germany. Using psychometric networks, we first established the complex relations between personal social support, personal and work-related concerns, and their interactions with anxiety, depression, and HRQL. Second, we tested for gender differences by comparing expected influence, edge weight differences, and stability of the networks. The network comparison revealed a significant difference in the overall network structure. The male (N = 1370) but not the female network (N = 1520) showed a positive link between work-related concern and anxiety. In both networks, anxiety was the most central variable. These findings provide further evidence that the complex interplay of psychosocial factors with mental health and HRQL decisively depends on gender. Our results are relevant for the development of gender-specific interventions to increase resilience in times of pandemic crisis.
Three-dimensional ordering of water molecules reflecting hydroxyl groups on sapphire (001) and α-quartz (100) surfaces
Authors: Nagai Sho , Urata Shingo , Suga Kent , Fukuma Takeshi , Hayashi Yasuo , Miyazawa Keisuke
Published: July 2023

Atomic-scale hydration structures affected by the surface OH groups on sapphire (001) and α-quartz (100) were visualized using three-dimensional atomic force microscopy (3D-AFM).
Dynamical behavior analysis of the Van der Pol oscillator with sine nonlinearity subjected to non-sinusoidal periodic excitations by the bifurcation structures
Authors: Fonkou R F , Kengne Romanic , Kamgang H C Fotsing , Talla P K
Published: July 2023

The present work studies the dynamical behavior of the Van der Pol oscillator with sine nonlinearity subjected to the effects of non-sinusoidal excitations through the analysis of bifurcation structures. In this work, the classical Van der Pol oscillator is modified by replacing the linear term

x

with the nonlinear term

sin

n

x

.

The idea is to see the impact of the strength of this function on the appearance of chaotic dynamics for small and large values of the nonlinear dissipation term ε. To do this, studies using numerical simulation and analogue simulation are proposed. Firstly, using nonlinear analysis tools, a similarity in the bifurcation sequences is observed despite a difference in the ranks at which the particular behaviours and bifurcation points are obtained. This study is confirmed by their respective maximum Lyapunov exponents. Secondly, a real implementation using microcontroller technology, motivated by the use of an artificial pacemaker, is carried out. For a more practical case, the excitation signal is generated by another microcontroller. The study shows a similarity with the results obtained numerically. Thirdly, in order to show that the model can be derived from mathematical modelling, an electronic simulation using OrCAD-Pspice software is also proposed. The results obtained are in qualitative agreement.
Cellulose Acetate Membrane Synthesis of Banana Peel
Authors: Hasri  , Pratiwi Diana Eka , Muharram  , Syahrir Muhammad , Putri Fauzia Nurul Nadwi
Published: July 2023

The membranes can be synthesized from organic and inorganic materials. One of the based organic materials used was a cellulose acetate membrane from banana peel. Banana peel comprised 65% cellulose, and therefore it had the potential to be processed into a membrane. Cellulose acetate membranes are synthesized using a mixture of cellulose acetate from a banana skin with 55% acetone and 27% dimethylformamide using a phase inversion technique. SEM results pictured porous membranes with a pore size of about 5 μm. The results demonstrate the flux capability of a synthesized cellulose acetate membrane of 0.440 L / m2.h with a rejection coefficient of 97.6%. It was concluded that banana peel waste could be used as raw material to manufacture cellulose acetate membranes.
Synthesis of Rice Husk Nanosilica using the Hydrothermal Method
Authors: Hasri  , Putri Suriati Eka , Anwar Muhammad , Askar Muhammad
Published: July 2023

Synthesis of rice husk nanosilica was carried out using hydrothermal methods at various temperatures and times and their characteristics. The stages of synthesis include sample preparation, nanosilica synthesis, and characteristics. The reaction temperature variations used are 120°C, 150°C, and 180°C, and the reaction time is 2 hours, 4 hours, and 6 hours then titrated using sulfuric acid until it reaches pH 7-8. XRF analysis results showed silica (SiO2) content of rice husk ash at 98.31%. Synthesized nanosilica has the largest particle size of 27.44 nm at a temperature of 180°C for 6 hours and the smallest size of 15.40 nm at a reaction temperature of 120°C and a reaction time of 6 hours. The nanosilica produced is multiphase, which is cristobalite, quartz, and coesite phases.
Relating Sour Taste Level and Lactic Acid Levels in Fermented Products of Cassava Roots and Purple Sweet Potatoes Mixture
Authors: Muhiddin Nurhayani H. , Ramlawati  , Yanti Nur Arfa , Alim Muhammad Harisah
Published: July 2023

This study aimed to analyze the level of sour taste and the lactic acid level of fermented products in various cassava roots and purple sweet potatoes mixtures using local “Ragi Tape.” This type of research is an experiment with the method of solid substrate fermentation. Substrate mixture of cassava roots and purple sweet potatoes made with a concentration variation of 1 : 0; 1: 1; 1: 3; 3: 1, and 0: 1. The ragi tape used was obtained from the traditional Bone Regency market of South Sulawesi province, which resulted from the selection in a previous study. Evaluation of the level of sour taste using the Hedonic test with a numerical scale range of “6” to assess fermented products’ nature. Analysis of lactic acid levels in products using the titration method. Data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially using the variance analysis (ANOVA) and Pearson regression test. The study of variance showed that the panelists’ assessment of the sour taste level of fermented products in all variations of substrate concentrations was significantly different. The Pearson Correlation Coefficients analysis showed a relationship or significant correlation between the variable sour taste level and lactic acid levels of fermented in the variation of cassava root mixtures and purple sweet potatoes. The lowest lactic acid levels in cassava root treatment without purple sweet potato (K) is 0.32%, and the highest in purple sweet potato without Cassava (J) is 1.09%. The regression test concluded a linear relationship between sour taste and the lactic acid level of fermented products in a variation of cassava roots and purple sweet potato mixtures, with a regression equation Y = 2.120 +2.863.
Application for Image Processing in a Receiver Operating Character-Based Testing Review
Authors: Basri  , Tamin Rosmawati , Harli  , Indrabayu  , Areni Intan Sari
Published: July 2023

The image processing technology is currently developing quite rapidly. Implementation of technology based on artificial intelligence systems has entered various sectors and platforms, mostly in the health and agriculture sectors. There are challenges in developing image processing applications, especially on mobile platforms, including processing a large amount of data that involves millions of pixels that must be recognized. To measure the quality of the results of the process certainly requires a reliable framework. In testing the quality of training data in the database and case studies, many image processing techniques utilize the Receiver Operating Character (ROC) approach’s reliability. In some cases, this ROC approach is very different depending on the data model, output, and algorithm used. This study aims to review ROC’s use as an approach used in testing systems on developed mobile applications. The case studies used in this research are image processing in agriculture cases for pests and disease recognition in cocoa fruits and chili leaves, which is then implemented in a mobile application. Testing entities in the ROC approach are analyzed based on actual and predicted conditions. The measurement results show that the ROC approach is applied in both test cases. It can only produce accuracy measurements on the value of accuracy, sensitivity, and precision. The values on chili leaves are accuracy 60%, sensitivity 60%, and precision 100%. The accuracy is 66.7% for cacao fruit objects, sensitivity 66.7%, and precision 100%.
Nursing Interventions for Patients With Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction Arising From Complete Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Ramos André Aparecido , Martins Gomes De Oliveira Thaís , Da Silva Ana Lúcia , Martins Gisele , Kamada Ivone , Ribeiro Cunha Regina , De Sousa João Batista , Roque Mazoni Simone
Published: July 2023

PURPOSE:

We mapped key concepts and identified 4 fundamental nursing interventions for patients with neurogenic bowel dysfunction due to complete spinal cord injury (SCI).

METHODS:

A scoping review was conducted according to the recommendations of the Joanna Briggs Institute.

SEARCH STRATEGY:

Searches were performed in PubMed, LILACS, CINAHL, COCHRANE, and SCOPUS electronic databases. We use searched the gray literature using the Google Scholar search engine. We formulated a question to guide the search, based on the participants, concept, and context format: “What are the key manual nursing interventions performed in patients with neurogenic bowel dysfunction resulting from complete spinal cord injury?” We included nursing intervention strategies that may be performed by health professionals, patients, or caregivers. Two reviewers independently participated in the selection; disagreements were resolved by a third reviewer and 5 experts.

FINDINGS:

Thirteen studies conducted between 1998 and 2019 were selected; 5 were randomized clinical trials. Four main interventions were identified for conservative management of neurogenic bowel dysfunction in patients with complete SCI. They were digital-anal stimulation, manual extraction of feces, abdominal massage, and strategies used to stimulate the gastrocolic reflex.

CONCLUSIONS:

Research suggests that each of these interventions, administered alone or in combination, supports bowel evacuation in patients with a complete SCI. Each of these interventions may be performed by a nurse, and taught to the patient and/or lay caregiver.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:

An individualized bowel management program for patients with neurogenic bowel dysfunction due to SCI is necessary to ensure regular bowel evacuation, preserve fecal continence, and support dignity and health-related quality of life. The conservative interventions identified in this scoping review should be incorporated in protocols or guidelines for management of neurogenic bowel dysfunction in this vulnerable population.
Investigating the effects of corporate social responsibility on sustainable consumer purchase behavior
Authors: Ramtiyal Bharti , Garg Paras , Johari Shubha , Rathore Ajay Pal Singh , Thakrey Abhilash
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Sustainable manufacturing practices are excessively being practised in the industry today. The impact on sustainability is ever more visible to the stakeholders because of faster and more efficient communication due to social media and the internet. This paper aims to study the impact of greenwashing by corporations and the stakeholders’ environmental concerns on consumers’ sustainable purchase behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

The relationships between the impression of “greenwash”, sustainable purchasing behaviour, green word-of-mouth and green brand loyalty were investigated in this quantitative study. Participants who made up a representative sample filled out written surveys. The variables of interest were evaluated using scales that have undergone validation. Structural equation modelling was used in mediation analysis to investigate the mediating impacts of green word-of-mouth and green brand loyalty. The goal of the study was to offer empirical proof of how these factors affected consumers’ choices for sustainable products.

Findings

Analysis of the mediating relationship of perceived customer effectiveness in the relationship between environmental concern and sustainable purchase behaviour has been studied.

Research limitations/implications

This study implicates that a company that primarily markets basic green and sustainable products or services must invest in informing people about environmental concerns and that by proper practices, a lot of the harm to the environment can be reduced.

Originality/value

Corporate greenwashing, also called false greening, has received much public attention recently. The unethical practices by the corporations, which previously majorly went unnoticed, have also recently gained a lot of visibility. This paper is one of the early attempts towards establishing the effect of corporate greenwashing on sustainable consumer behaviour.
Analyzing Persian Wikipedia's citations to discover the effectiveness of Persian scientific papers: applied web mining techniques
Authors: Rahimi Forough , Danesh Farshid
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of Persian Scientific Papers (PSPs) on Persian Wikipedia by studying Wikipedia's citations to these papers.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study is applied research, which has been performed by the web-mining method, such as downloading web pages, extracting information (references), identifying papers, detecting peer-review journals and calculating the frequency rates. The statistical population included 10,000 Persian Wikipedia Pages (PWPs) that were analyzed in two rounds with a six-month interval.

Findings

The number of pages containing the Persian references section was 3,994 and 4,063 out of the 10,000 pages extracted in the first and second rounds. The ratio of pages that cited scientific sources (58 and 67 pages) to the pages extracted from the PWP was equal to 0.58 and 0.67%. The ratio of pages that cited scientific sources to pages with Persian references in each round was equal to 1.45 and 1.64%. The number of references extracted from the PWP in each round equaled 30,441 and 35,891. Eight titles from reputable Persian journals had received at least three citations from Wikipedia.

Originality/value

The present study has determined the extent of interaction between science and society (knowledge flow) in the form of citations from Wikipedia articles to articles in peer-reviewed journals. The study of this issue in Persian Wikipedia in more than 2000 Persian peer-reviewed journals shows the originality of the present paper. Studying citation reliability in a collaborative and openly editable platform is another originality of the work.
Netnography: A novel methodology for nursing research
Authors: Smith Susan E. , Sivertsen Nina , Lines Lauren , De Bellis Anita
Published: July 2023

Aim

The aim of this paper is to critically reflect on our team's experience of using netnography to explore vaccine‐hesitant parents and pregnant women, a group who have traditionally been difficult to recruit to research studies and a methodology that is underutilized in nursing research.

Design

This paper takes the form of a discussion paper that will utilize data obtained from a qualitative netnographic study. Relevant literature was searched including 2015–2023.

Method

This paper utilized data obtained from a qualitative study that used netnography as methodology and an online minable data source. Netnography is a relatively new methodology that uses the online environment to explore digital cultures and study networked society. It pays particular attention to cultural insights and conditions that impact the human experience. This methodology is particularly relevant to nursing research which is often humanistic and always conducted to ensure optimal patient outcomes.

Results

Using netnography for the first time has resulted in four main insights. These include the adaptability of the process; the creativity involved in designing the site; the ready acceptance of the site by participants and the co‐creation knowledge that resulted.

Conclusions

Netnography is a creative methodology that was successful in accessing and engaging the vaccine‐hesitant community, a group who are often marginalized. Netnography has the advantage of using a platform that is familiar and safe for many people and provides access to an extensive minable data source.
Ciprofloxacin‐resistantST198SalmonellaKentucky in a hospitalized American black bear (Ursus americanus), with evidence of subsequent nosocomial transmission
Authors: Cummings Kevin J. , Siler Julie D. , Goodman Laura B. , Childs‐Sanford Sara E.
Published: July 2023

Global emergence of ciprofloxacin‐resistant ST198SalmonellaKentucky poses an important public health threat. While conductingSalmonellasurveillance among wildlife patients admitted to our veterinary medical teaching hospital in central New York, we isolated multidrug‐resistant (MDR) ST198SalmonellaKentucky from an American black bear (Ursus americanus) in September 2020. The isolate was phenotypically resistant to numerous antimicrobial agents, including ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin, and several antimicrobial resistance genes and mutational resistance determinants were detected. Between April and July 2021, the same strain of MDR ST198SalmonellaKentucky was also isolated from seven other wildlife patients and multiple hospital environmental locations, suggesting nosocomial transmission. Ciprofloxacin resistance is conferred by triple point mutations in the quinolone resistance‐determining regions (QRDRs), a genotypic profile indicative of Clade ST198.2. To our knowledge, this is the first report of this ciprofloxacin‐resistant clade being identified in animals or animal products in the United States. Timely resolution of the outbreak was achieved following efforts to further enhance environmental disinfection protocols and biosecurity measures at the hospital, with no known cases or positive environmental samples after July 2021.
Macrophage fusion event as one prerequisite for inorganic nanoparticle-induced antitumor response
Authors: Chen Siyu , Xing Zhengyi , Geng Mengyu , Zhao Rui , Yang Xiao , Zhu Xiangdong , Anderson James M. , Zhang Xingdong
Published: July 2023

While most nanomaterials are designed to assist tumor therapy, some inorganic nanoparticles have been reported to impede cancer development. We assume that the immune response elicited by these foreign nanoparticles might be associated with the remodeling of immune landscape in the tumor microenvironment (TME). We studied representative inorganic nanoparticles widely used in the biomedical field and first demonstrated that needle-shaped hydroxyapatite (n-nHA), granule-shaped hydroxyapatite, and silicon dioxide can effectively impair tumor progression in vivo. Substantial multinucleated giant cells (MNGCs) were formed around these antitumor nanoparticles, while the ratio of monocytes and macrophages was decreased in the TME. We found that high expression of the STXBP6 protein induced by n-nHA–treated macrophages triggers autophagy, which markedly promotes macrophage fusion into MNGCs. In this way, extensive depletion of tumor-associated macrophages in the TME was achieved, which suppressed tumor growth and metastasis. This intrinsic antitumor immunity of inorganic nanoparticles should not be neglected when designing future nanomedicines to treat cancer.
Ultrafast van der Waals diode using graphene quantum capacitance and Fermi-level depinning
Authors: Hong Sungjae , Hong Chang-Ui , Lee Sol , Jang Myeongjin , Jang Chorom , Lee Yangjin , Widiapradja Livia Janice , Park Sam , Kim Kwanpyo , Son Young-Woo , Yook Jong-Gwan , Im Seongil
Published: July 2023

Graphene, with superior electrical tunabilities, has arisen as a multifunctional insertion layer in vertically stacked devices. Although the role of graphene inserted in metal-semiconductor junctions has been well investigated in quasi-static charge transport regime, the implication of graphene insertion at ultrahigh frequencies has rarely been considered. Here, we demonstrate the diode operation of vertical Pt/n-MoSe2/graphene/Au assemblies at ~200-GHz cutoff frequency (fC). The electric charge modulation by the inserted graphene becomes essentially frozen above a few GHz frequencies due to graphene quantum capacitance–induced delay, so that the Ohmic graphene/MoSe2junction may be transformed to a pinning-free Schottky junction. Our diodes exhibit much lower total capacitance than devices without graphene insertion, deriving an order of magnitude higher fC, which clearly demonstrates the merit of graphene at high frequencies.
A single-center retrospective study of the COCO technique in the treatment of chronic internal carotid artery occlusion
Authors: Chen Liuwei , Xu Yi , Li Lei , Ji Tao , Wang Yongpeng , Zhu Wenyu , Wang Feng , Zhang Quanbin
Published: July 2023

Objective

To introduce a novel endovascular recanalization method and to investigate its success rate, periprocedural complications, and early outcomes in patients with chronic internal carotid artery occlusion (CICAO). As this novel technique was designed to treatCICAOwith a fullcoaxial system, we named it the COCO technique.

Methods

Data from consecutive patients with symptomatic CICAO who underwent endovascular recanalization in our institution were retrospectively reviewed. The COCO technique allows extracranial angioplasty and stenting with occasional intracranial angioplasty and stenting as needed to be performed in a coaxial fashion. Patients’ demographic and clinical information, morphologic characteristics, procedural results, complications, and follow-up outcomes were recorded.

Results

Forty-nine patients were enrolled in this study. The technical success rate was 89.8% (44/49). Four patients experienced intraoperative complications, two patients had a slight subarachnoid hemorrhage, and two patients had asymptomatic dissection. Distal embolization or carotid-cavernous arteriovenous fistula was not detected. In addition, three patients developed hemorrhagic complications and three developed postoperative ischemic complications. All these patients improved after conservative treatment and subsequent rehabilitation. During the median 6 (3–6) months of follow-up, one patient died of severe pneumonia and two patients experienced recurrent ischemic events. In patients with successful recanalization, modified Rankin Scale scores were lower at the 3-month follow-up than at baseline (1 (0–2) vs 2 (1–2), P=0.04). Restenosis was observed in six (15.8%) patients.

Conclusions

Our study showed that the COCO technique is effective and safe for endovascular recanalization in patients with CICAO and has low periprocedural complications and favorable functional outcomes.
IPOs and SPACs: Recent Developments
Authors: Huang Rongbing , Ritter Jay R. , Zhang Donghang
Published: July 2023

After two decades of low initial public offering (IPO) activity and a number of regulatory changes, the number of IPOs of both operating companies and special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) boomed in the United States in 2021 before collapsing in 2022. In recent years, surging valuations have resulted in many private companies achieving “unicorn” status, a valuation of $1 billion or more, partly fueled by investments from mutual funds. Many of the unicorns that have gone public have done so with dual-class share structures. We compare three alternative mechanisms for going public, including traditional IPOs, mergers with SPACs, and direct listings. The most common exit for successful venture capital–backed companies, however, continues to be by merging with a larger company.
Floral Calendar of Honeybee Plants in Kellem and West Wollega Zone, Western Ethiopia
Authors: Tesfaye Ofijan , Mekonnen Etenesh
Published: July 2023

Beekeeping has significantly contributed to environmental conservation and the preservation of natural resources. Although the quality and quantity of flora available play a major role in the success of the sector, the botanical makeup of natural vegetation varies greatly. This study was conducted targeting the identification and documentation of major honeybee floras and their flowering calendar. Midland and lowland agroecologies were purposively selected. Continuous field plant registration was performed. Melissopalynological analysis from bee pollen and honey were used to identify floral origin. Field observations identified 59 and 63 plants in the midland and lowlands, respectively. Season 1 had the highest pollen yields, ranging from 11051.8 ± 56.4 g (midlands) to 878.3 ± 18.3 g (lowlands), while season 4 ranged from 16.8 ± 6.3 g (midlands) to 15.6 ± 7.4 g (lowlands) and had the lowest pollen yield. In both regions, February, March, July, and August are the months when pollen is not brought into the hive and could be used as starvation periods. A total of 1430.8 ± 75.4 and 1291.8 ± 71.4 g of bee pollen/hive were collected throughout the year in midland and lowland, respectively, and Asteraceae was the richest family accounting around 90% of pollen weight. In both agroecologies, honey is harvested three times a year. In the midland, monofloral honey, namely, Guizotia spp (64.42%) and Croton macrostychus (47.42%), was harvested in November and May, respectively, while honey harvested in February was multifloral type. Similarly, in the lowlands, monofloral honey of Guizotia spp (51.85%), Coffee arabica (55.22%), and Croton macrostychus (50.42%) was harvested in December, March, and June, respectively. Based on the results, Bidens prestinaria, Bidens pilosa, Guizotia spp, C. macrostachyus, Eucalyptus spp, Lepidium sativum, Zea mays, Hypostes trifolia, Vernonia spp, Trifolium spp, Helianthus annuus, C. arabica, Brassica abyssinica, Andropogon abyssinicus, Sorghum bicolor, Cordia africana, Syzygium guineense, and Terminalia spp are major bee plants. It is found that the study area is rich in bee plant diversity and hence has a potential for honey production.
The Effect of Land Cover Protection on Preventing Crime: The Case Study of the State of New York, USA
Authors: Akıner Muhammed Ernur , Akıner Nurdan , Akıner İlknur
Published: July 2023

The settlements’ traditional character and architectural texture will strengthen people’s sense of belonging and prevent migration, while local urban identity will be the most significant impediment to crime. The study investigates the relationship between the environmental and criminal conditions in New York, the world’s most diverse demographic. In New York, not every county has the same settlement or vegetation homogeneity level. To avoid the immigrant factor, the location where the offenders committed the crime was considered; crime data were statistically analyzed to assess the vegetation-crime relationship. With an interdisciplinary approach, the research also draws attention to the mean-world syndrome regarding crime and urbanization in the current cultural environment in the context of the media-violence relationship. Under the crime index category, the crimes committed were divided into major groups, and statistical analyses were performed on all the groups. The study also touches on proactive policing used in the United States. According to our findings, the keyword of sustainable development, equity, has been successfully realized in the United States. As a result, the classic scenario of income distribution disparities in the state driving citizens to crime does not apply to New York.
Data from Mitochondrial uncoupling inhibits reductive carboxylation in cancer cells
Authors: Jiang Haowen , He Clifford Jiajun , Li Albert M. , He Bo , Li Yang , Zhou Meng-Ning , Ye Jiangbin
Published: July 2023

Abstract
When the electron transport chain (ETC) function is impaired, cancer cells rely on reductive carboxylation (RC) to convert α-ketoglutarate (αKG) to citrate for macromolecular synthesis, thereby promoting tumor growth. Currently, there is no viable therapy to inhibit RC for cancer treatment. In this study, we demonstrate that the mitochondrial uncoupler treatment effectively inhibits RC in cancer cells. Mitochondrial uncoupler treatment activates the ETC and increases the NAD+/NADH ratio. Using U-13C-glutamine and 1-13C-glutamine tracers, we show that mitochondrial uncoupling accelerates the oxidative TCA cycle and blocks RC under hypoxia, in von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor-deficient kidney cancer cells, or under anchorage-independent growth condition. Together, these data demonstrate that mitochondrial uncoupling redirects α-KG from RC back to the oxidative TCA cycle, highlighting that the NAD+/NADH ratio is one key switch that determines the metabolic fate of α-KG. Inhibiting RC could be a key mechanism by which mitochondrial uncouplers inhibit tumor growth.
Data from Allele-specific gene regulation, phenotypes, and therapeutic vulnerabilities in estrogen receptor alpha mutant endometrial cancer
Authors: Blanchard Zannel , Rush Craig M. , Arnesen Spencer , Vahrenkamp Jeffery M. , Rodriguez Adriana C. , Jarboe Elke A. , Brown Callie , Chang Matthew E.K. , Flory Mark R. , Mohammed Hisham , Modzelewska Katarzyna , Lum David H. , Gertz Jason
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Activating estrogen receptor alpha (ER) mutations are present in primary endometrial and metastatic breast cancers, promoting estrogen-independent activation of the receptor. Functional characterizations in breast cancer have established unique molecular and phenotypic consequences of the receptor, yet the impact of ER mutations in endometrial cancer has not been fully explored. In this study, we used CRISPR-Cas9 to model the clinically prevalent ER-Y537S mutation and compared results to ER-D538G to discover allele-specific differences between ER mutations in endometrial cancer. We found that constitutive activity of mutant ER resulted in changes in the expression of thousands of genes, stemming from combined alterations to ER binding and chromatin accessibility. The unique gene expression programs resulted in ER mutant cells developing increased cancer associated phenotypes, including migration, invasion, anchorage independent growth, and growth in vivo. To uncover potential treatment strategies, we identified ER associated proteins via Rapid Immunoprecipitation and Mass Spectrometry of Endogenous Proteins (RIME) and interrogated two candidates, CDK9 and NCOA3. Inhibition of these regulatory proteins resulted in decreased growth and migration, representing potential novel treatment strategies for ER mutant endometrial cancer.

Implications: This study provides insight into mutant ER activity in endometrial cancer and identifies potential therapies for women with ER mutant endometrial cancer.
Data from LncRNA-encoded Micropeptide ACLY‍-‍BP drives lipid deposition and cell proliferation in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma via maintenance of ACLY acetylation
Authors: Zhang Shenghua , Zhang Zheng , Liu Xiaolong , Deng Yibin , Zheng Jian , Deng Jieqiong , Wang Yirong , Guo Binbin , Li Fanrong , Chen Xiaoyue , Pan Yacheng , Wang Jieyu , Lu Jiachun , Wu Siqi , Guo Qiang , Zhou Yifeng
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common subtype of lethal kidney cancer. Reprogramming of fatty acid and glucose metabolism resulting in the accumulation of lipids and glycogen in the cytoplasm is a hallmark of ccRCC. Here, we identified a micropeptide ACLY-BP encoded by the GATA3-suppressed LINC00887, which regulated lipid metabolism and promoted cell proliferation and tumor growth in ccRCC. Mechanistically, the ACLY-BP stabilizes the ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) by maintaining ACLY acetylation and preventing ACLY from ubiquitylation and degradation, thereby leading to lipid deposition in ccRCC and promoting cell proliferation. Our results may offer a new clue for the therapeutic approaches and the diagnostic assessment for ccRCC.
Implications: This study identifies ACLY-BP encoded by LINC00887 as a lipid-related micropeptide that stabilizes ACLY to generate acetyl-CoA, driving lipid deposition and promoting cell proliferation in ccRCC.
Left Ventricular Dysfunction Associated With Brain Death: Results From the Donor Heart Study
Authors: Khush Kiran K. , Malinoski Darren , Luikart Helen , Wayda Brian , Groat Tahnee , Nguyen John , Belcher John , Nieto Javier , Neidlinger Nikole , Salehi Ahmad , Geraghty P.J. , Nicely Bruce , Jendrisak Martin , Pearson Thomas , Patrick Wood R. , Zhang Shiqi , Weng Yingjie , Zaroff Jonathan
Published: July 2023

BACKGROUND:

Left ventricular dysfunction in potential donors meeting brain death criteria often results in nonuse of donor hearts for transplantation, yet little is known about its incidence or pathophysiology. Resolving these unknowns was a primary aim of the DHS (Donor Heart Study), a multisite prospective cohort study.

METHODS:

The DHS enrolled potential donors by neurologic determination of death (n=4333) at 8 organ procurement organizations across the United States between February 2015 and May 2020. Data included medications administered, serial diagnostic tests, and transthoracic echocardiograms (TTEs) performed: (1) within 48 hours after brain death was formally diagnosed; and (2) 24±6 hours later if left ventricular (LV) dysfunction was initially present. LV dysfunction was defined as an LV ejection fraction <50% and was considered reversible if LV ejection fraction was >50% on the second TTE. TTEs were also examined for presence of LV regional wall motion abnormalities and their reversibility. We assessed associations between LV dysfunction, donor heart acceptance for transplantation, and recipient 1-year survival.

RESULTS:

An initial TTE was interpreted for 3794 of the 4333 potential donors by neurologic determination of death. A total of 493 (13%) of these TTEs showed LV dysfunction. Among those donors with an initial TTE, LV dysfunction was associated with younger age, underweight, and higher NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) and troponin levels. A second TTE was performed within 24±6 hours for a subset of donors (n=224) with initial LV dysfunction; within this subset, 130 (58%) demonstrated reversibility. Sixty percent of donor hearts with normal LV function were accepted for transplant compared with 56% of hearts with reversible LV dysfunction and 24% of hearts with nonreversible LV dysfunction. Donor LV dysfunction, whether reversible or not, was not associated with recipient 1-year survival.

CONCLUSIONS:

LV dysfunction associated with brain death occurs in many potential heart donors and is sometimes reversible. These findings can inform decisions made during donor evaluation and help guide donor heart acceptance for transplantation.