bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Burden of upper gastrointestinal cancers in the east of Golestan province (Golestan cohort study)
Authors: Jahani Mohammad‐Ali , Esmaeili Raziyeh , Abbasi Mahdi , Nikbakht Hossein‐Ali , Azarbakhsh Habibollah , Roshandel Gholamreza , Delavari Sahar , Shojaie Layla , Mahmoudi Ghahraman
Published: March 2024

Background

Cancers, especially Upper Gastrointestinal Cancers (UGCs), pose a substantial burden on society, particularly in developing nations. Golestan province, Iran, is known for its high UGC rates globally.

Aims

This study delves into the disease burden of UGCs in the eastern part of Golestan province.

Methods and Results

This study was conducted using the results of the Golestan cohort study. 2711 patients participating in this cohort, who visited Atrak Clinic during 2001–2020, participated in this study. After excluding patients with incomplete records, 2481 patients were included in the study. To compute the metrics of years of life lost (YLL), years of life lived with disability (YLD), and disability‐adjusted life years (DALY), we utilized the World Health Organization's standard life table, stratified by age and gender. The majority of UGC patients in our study were married (81.8%), had limited formal education (82.6%), and were predominantly male (61.1%). A substantial proportion resided in suburban areas (85.8%), and over half of the patients (52%) reported a history of drug addiction. The mean age at diagnosis for men was 65.76 years with a standard deviation of 11.34, while for women, it was 64.38 years with a standard deviation of 11.66. Regarding disease impact, YLL, YLD, and DALY for men were 21 240, 1956, and 23 196 (307.8 per 100 000), respectively. For women, these figures were 15 609 for YLL, 1367 for YLD, and 16 976 (223.1 per 100 000) for DALY.

Conclusion

After the increasing trend of the burden of UGCs in Golestan province in the early years of the study, this rate has been decreasing in recent years. Effective strategies necessitate collaborative efforts across various sectors to alleviate this burden, focusing on preventive measures, timely diagnosis, and well‐coordinated therapeutic interventions.
Improved L‐Asparaginase Properties and Reusability by Immobilization onto Functionalized Carbon Xerogels
Authors: Barros Rita A. M. , Cristóvão Raquel O. , Carneiro Inês. G. , Barros Maria A. , Pereira Matheus M. , Carabineiro Sónia A. C. , Freire Mara G. , Faria Joaquim L. , Santos‐Ebinuma Valéria C. , Tavares Ana P. M. , Silva Cláudia G.
Published: March 2024

Enzyme immobilization can offer a range of significant advantages, including reusability, and increased selectivity, stability, and activity. In this work, a central composite design (CCD) of experiments and response surface methodology (RSM) were used to study, for the first time, the L‐asparaginase (ASNase) immobilization onto functionalized carbon xerogels (CXs). The best results were achieved using CXs obtained by hydrothermal oxidation with nitric acid and subsequent heat treatment in a nitrogen flow at 600 °C (CX−OX‐600). Under the optimal conditions (81 min of contact time, pH 6.2 and 0.36 g/L of ASNase), an immobilization yield (IY) of 100 % and relative recovered activity (RRA) of 103 % were achieved. The kinetic parameters obtained also indicate a 1.25‐fold increase in the affinity of ASNase towards the substrate after immobilization. Moreover, the immobilized enzyme retained 97 % of its initial activity after 6 consecutive reaction cycles. All these outcomes confirm the promising properties of functionalized CXs as support for ASNase, bringing new insights into the development of an efficient and stable immobilization platform for use in the pharmaceutical industry, food industry, and biosensors.
Behaviors, hygiene habits, and sources of care among removable complete and partial dentures wearers: A multicenter cross‐sectional study
Authors: Algabri Radwan , Alqutaibi Ahmed Yaseen , Altayyar Sadeq , Mohammed Abdulkarem , Khoshafa Ghadeer , Alryashi Emad , Al‐Shaher Shaher , Hassan Baghdad , Hassan Gubran , Dammag Motaher , Al‐Aqab Sami , Al‐Shami Shaima , Al‐Barakani Abdulrhman
Published: March 2024

Objectives

There is a lack of data regarding the hygiene practices and sources of care among individuals in Yemen who wear removable complete and partial dentures. The purpose of this study was to explore the behaviors, hygiene habits, and sources of care information among patients who utilize complete and partial dentures in Yemen.

Materials and Methods

A descriptive cross‐sectional research design was utilized, and a sample of 217 consecutive participants who wore removable complete and/or partial dentures were enlisted. A questionnaire was employed to collect data on demographic information, educational attainment, denture habits, denture cleaning practices, and encountered difficulties. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS software, and significance was determined using chi‐square tests, with a significance level of .05.

Results

The data analysis revealed that a majority of the participants were male (72.4%) and had an average age of 65.14 years. Fifty‐three percent of the participants wore partial dentures, while 34.6% wore complete dentures. Only 6.5% of the participants wore both complete and partial dentures, and 6% wore overdentures. The majority of participants (88.47%) had dentures made of acrylic material. Additionally, 43% of participants wore dentures while sleeping, and 61.3% stored their dentures in dry places without a water‐filled container when not in use. The most commonly reported cleaning methods were water only (24.4%), followed by water and soap (19.4%). Furthermore, a large portion of the participants (59.4%) received denture care information from dentists. However, the majority (59%) did not visit a dentist for regular denture maintenance or any denture‐related issues. The data analysis did not reveal any significant association between age or education level and denture cleaning methods.

Conclusion

This cross‐sectional survey provides insight into the hygiene knowledge and practices of removable denture wearers in Yemen. The findings underscore the necessity for enhanced oral hygiene education and awareness within this population. The study offers valuable insights for oral health professionals to design targeted interventions and educational initiatives aimed at promoting proper denture care and maintenance. These efforts have the potential to enhance the oral health and overall well‐being of removable denture wearers.
Graphitic Carbon Nitride Quantum Dots (g‐C3N4 QDs): From Chemistry to Applications
Authors: Majdoub Mohammed , Sengottuvelu Dineshkumar , Nouranian Sasan , Al‐Ostaz Ahmed
Published: March 2024

Since their emergence in 2014, graphitic carbon nitride quantum dots (g‐C3N4 QDs) have attracted much interest from the scientific community due to their distinctive physicochemical features, including structural, morphological, electrochemical, and optoelectronic properties. Owing to their desirable characteristics, such as non‐zero band gap, ability to be chemically functionalized or doped, possessing tunable properties, outstanding dispersibility in different media, and biocompatibility, g‐C3N4 QDs have shown promise for photocatalysis, energy devices, sensing, bioimaging, solar cells, optoelectronics, among other applications. As these fields are rapidly evolving, it is very strenuous to pinpoint the emerging challenges of the g‐C3N4 QDs development and application during the last decade, mainly due to the lack of critical reviews of the innovations in the g‐C3N4 QDs synthesis pathways and domains of application. Herein, an extensive survey is conducted on the g‐C3N4 QDs synthesis, characterization, and applications. Scenarios for the future development of g‐C3N4 QDs and their potential applications are highlighted and discussed in detail. The provided critical section suggests a myriad of opportunities for g‐C3N4 QDs, especially for their synthesis and functionalization, where a combination of eco‐friendly/single step synthesis and chemical modification may be used to prepare g‐C3N4 QDs with, for example, enhanced photoluminescence and production yields.
Weldable, Reprocessable, and Water‐resistant Polybenzoxazine Vitrimer Crosslinked by Dynamic Imine Bonds
Authors: Zhang Sujuan , Yi Jianjun , Chen Jiming , Li Yong , Liu Baoliang , Lu Zaijun
Published: March 2024

Traditional polybenzoxazine thermosets cannot be reprocessed or recycled due to the permanent crosslinked networks. The dynamic exchangeable characteristics of imine bonds can impart the networks with reprocessabilities and recyclabilities. This study reported a weldable, reprocessable, and water‐resistant polybenzoxazine vitrimer (C‐ABZ) crosslinked by dynamic imine bonds. It was synthesized through a condensation reaction between an aldehyde‐containing benzoxazine oligomer (O‐ABZ) and 1,12‐dodecanediamine. The resulting C‐ABZ was able to be welded and reprocessed due to the dynamic exchange of imine bonds. The tensile strengths of the welded C‐ABZ and the reprocessed C‐ABZ after three cycles of hot‐pressing were 76.7, 81.3, 70.8, and 58.1 Mpa, with corresponding tensile strength recovery ratios of 74.1 %, 78.6 %, 68.4 %, and 56.1 %, respectively. Furthermore, the polybenzoxazine backbone significantly improved the water resistance of the imine bonds. After immersing in water for 30 days at room temperature, the weight gain of C‐ABZ was less than 1 % with corresponding tensile strength and tensile strength retention ratio of 59.5 Mpa and 57.5 %, respectively. Although the heat resistance of C‐ABZ decreased slightly with increased hot‐pressing cycles, a glass transition temperature (Tg, tanδ) of 150 °C was retained after the third hot‐pressing. Overall, these findings demonstrate that the C‐ABZ possesses excellent comprehensive performances.
Fully Bio‐Based 2,5‐Furandicarboxylic Acid Polyester toward Plastics with Mechanically Robust, Excellent Gas Barrier and Fast Degradation
Authors: Luan Qingyang , Li Jiayi , Hu Han , Jiang Xiaoyu , Zhu Hanxu , Wei Dong‐Qing , Wang Jinggang , Zhu Jin
Published: March 2024

Aliphatic‐aromatic copolyesters offer a promising solution to mitigate plastic pollution, but high content of aliphatic units (>40 %) often suffer from diminished comprehensive performances. Poly(butylene oxalate‐co‐furandicarboxylate) (PBOF) copolyesters were synthesized by precisely controlling the oxalic acid content from 10 % to 60 %. Compared with commercial PBAT, the barrier properties of PBOF for H2O and O2 increased by more than 6 and 26 times, respectively. The introduction of the oxalic acid units allowed the water contact angle to be reduced from 82.5° to 62.9°. Superior hydrophilicity gave PBOF an excellent degradation performance within a 35‐day hydrolysis. Interestingly, PBO20F and PBO30F also displayed obvious decrease of molecular weight during hydrolysis, with elastic modulus >1 GPa and tensile strength between 35–54 MPa. PBOF achieved the highest hydrolysis rates among the reported PBF‐based copolyesters. The hydrolytic mechanism was further explored based on Fukui function analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculation. Noncovalent analysis indicated that the water molecules formed hydrogen bonding interaction with adjacent ester groups and thus improved the reactivity of carbonyl carbon. PBOF not only meet the requirements of the high‐performance packaging market but can quickly degrade after the end of their usage cycles, providing a new choice for green and environmental protection.
Evaluation of the multiple‐deficit hypothesis among dyslexicArabic‐speaking children
Authors: Abu Rabia Salim , Darawshe Esraa
Published: March 2024

This study examined the multiple‐deficit hypothesis among Arabic‐speaking elementary school students. A total of 90 students, divided into three main groups based on their performance on an Arabic word‐reading task: dyslexic (n = 30), regular age‐matched (n = 30), and 3rd‐grade regular students, who were matched to the dyslexic group in regard to their reading proficiency level (n = 30). Participants underwent a nine‐domain Arabic reading experiment that measured accuracy and fluency to evaluate general reading proficiency. The performance of Arabic dyslexic students was significantly worse than age‐matched controls, but similar to young matched controls based on the reading level of each cognitive task. Moreover, dyslexic students showed deficits in three or more cognitive functions, depending on severity. This study adds to the limited empirical research on the double‐deficit hypothesis and its extension to the multiple‐domain model among young Arabic students.
Herbivorous fish feeding dynamics and energy expenditure on a coral reef: Insights from stereo‐video and AI‐driven 3D tracking
Authors: Lilkendey Julian , Barrelet Cyril , Zhang Jingjing , Meares Michael , Larbi Houssam , Subsol Gérard , Chaumont Marc , Sabetian Armagan
Published: March 2024

Unveiling the intricate relationships between animal movement ecology, feeding behavior, and internal energy budgeting is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of ecosystem functioning, especially on coral reefs under significant anthropogenic stress. Here, herbivorous fishes play a vital role as mediators between algae growth and coral recruitment. Our research examines the feeding preferences, bite rates, inter‐bite distances, and foraging energy expenditure of the Brown surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigrofuscus) and the Yellowtail tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum) within the fish community on a Red Sea coral reef. To this end, we used advanced methods such as remote underwater stereo‐video, AI‐driven object recognition, species classification, and 3D tracking. Despite their comparatively low biomass, the two surgeonfish species significantly influence grazing pressure on the studied coral reef. A. nigrofuscus exhibits specialized feeding preferences and Z. xanthurum a more generalist approach, highlighting niche differentiation and their importance in maintaining reef ecosystem balance. Despite these differences in their foraging strategies, on a population level, both species achieve a similar level of energy efficiency. This study highlights the transformative potential of cutting‐edge technologies in revealing the functional feeding traits and energy utilization of keystone species. It facilitates the detailed mapping of energy seascapes, guiding targeted conservation efforts to enhance ecosystem health and biodiversity.
Remote sensing and spectroscopy of lichens
Authors: Rautiainen Miina , Kuusinen Nea , Majasalmi Titta
Published: March 2024

Lichens are combinations of two symbiotic organisms, a green alga or cyanobacterium and a fungus. They grow in nearly all terrestrial ecosystems and survive in habitats, which are very dry or cold, or too poor in nutrients to maintain vegetation growth. Because lichens grow on visible surfaces and exhibit spectral properties, which are clearly different from, for example, vegetation, it is possible to distinguish them in remote sensing data. In this first systematic review article on remote sensing of lichens, we analyze and summarize which lichen species or genera, and in which habitats and geographical regions, have been remotely sensed, and which remote sensing or spectroscopic technologies have been used. We found that laboratory or in situ measured spectra of over 70 lichen species have been reported to date. We show that studies on remote sensing of lichens fall under seven broad themes: (1) collection of lichen spectra for quantification of lichen species or characteristics, (2) pollution monitoring with lichens as ecological indicators, (3) geological and lithological mapping, (4) desert and dryland monitoring, (5) animal habitat monitoring, (6) land cover or vegetation mapping, and (7) surface energy budget modeling.
Research on deformation characteristics and control technology of surrounding rock for gob‐side entry with small coal pillar in gently inclined coal seam
Authors: Wang Beifang , Zhou Duo , Zhang Jing
Published: March 2024

With the engineering background of the gob‐side entry of panel SA1104 in Heiyanquan Coal Mine, the deformation characteristics and control technology of the surrounding rock for gob‐side entry with small pillar in gently inclined coal seam have been studied by field observation, numerical simulation, and theoretical analysis. The study show that: (1) The surrounding rock has obvious asymmetric deformation characteristics, the roof subsidence on the solid coal side is larger than that on the small coal pillar side; the deformation of small coal pillar side rib is more significant than that of the solid coal side rib, which is concentrated in the middle and upper part, and slip deformation occurs at the upper sharp corner; the middle part of solid coal side rib exhibits prominent deformation; and floor heave is shifted to the small coal pillar side. (2) The stress concentration zone on the small coal pillar side is located 1.9 m from the high rib, while the stress concentration zone on the solid coal side is located 4.1 m from the low rib. The difference in the rib‐to‐rib peak stress is 4.2 MPa, and the stress concentration on the solid coal side is larger than that on the small coal pillar side. (3) Poor physical and mechanical properties of the surrounding rock, high in‐situ stress, and high deterioration degree of the surrounding rock structure are the main internal causes of the entry deformation; strong mining disturbance, arbitrary support parameters, and large section sizes are the main external causes of the entry deformation. (4) The asymmetric combined support program is proposed, featuring “non‐equidistant cable + inclined bolt on the roof, bolt extension + cable supplement on the small coal pillar side rib, and bolt encryption on the solid coal side rib”, and it had a positive on‐site application effect.
Effect of partial mutton meat substitution with Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) flour on physicochemical properties, lipid oxidation, and sensory acceptability of low‐fat patties
Authors: Ramatsetse Kgaogelo Edwin , Ramashia Shonisani Eugenia , Mashau Mpho Edward
Published: March 2024

Health concerns regarding fat consumption, as well as shifts in customer preference, have prompted substantial studies into low‐fat products. This study examined the nutritional, color, functional, and antioxidant properties of Bambara groundnut (BGN) flour varieties (cream, brown, and red‐coated) grains as well as their influence on the physicochemical properties, lipid oxidation, and sensory acceptability of low‐fat mutton patties. The patties were formulated with 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10% of BGN flour for each variety, and 100% mutton patties were used as a control. The BGN flours showed significant (p < .05) differences in their nutritional composition (except for ash content), color, functional (excluding emulsion stability), and antioxidant properties. The increase in the percentage of substitution of BGN flours significantly increased the fiber (0.00% to 0.79%), ash (1.16% to 1.99%), and carbohydrates (2.14% to 1.99%) contents of the formulated mutton patties. However, moisture and protein contents decreased. The cooking yield of the formulated patties significantly increased with the increase in the percentage substitution of BGN flours (2.5%–10%), with values ranging from 76.39% to 86.80%, but the diameter reduction was limited. The increase in the inclusion of BGN flours significantly increased the lightness, hue angle, color difference, and whiteness of patties. Nevertheless, the redness, yellowness, chroma, and yellowness index of the patties decreased. The hardness and resilience of formulated patties significantly increased, with values varying from 16.41 to 17.66 N, and from 0.35 to 0.48 J/J, respectively, whereas the springiness, cohesiveness, and chewiness decreased. The lipid oxidation of formulated mutton patties significantly increased from Days 7 to 21, but was still less than that of the control sample within storage days. The sensory properties of formulated patties were not significantly different from the control sample and were above the acceptable score of five. All BGN varieties had positive effects on the mutton patties, more especially red, followed by brown, and cream, respectively. The inclusion of a 10% red BGN flour variety is highly recommended due to its significant impact on mutton patties. Nevertheless, different types of BGN varieties can each be used as additives in mutton patties without having detrimental effects on the quality parameters of the patties.
Neuroscience meets behavior: A systematic literature review on magnetic resonance imaging of the brain combined with real‐world digital phenotyping
Authors: Triana Ana María , Saramäki Jari , Glerean Enrico , Hayward Nicholas Mark Edward Alexander
Published: March 2024

A primary goal of neuroscience is to understand the relationship between the brain and behavior. While magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examines brain structure and function under controlled conditions, digital phenotyping via portable automatic devices (PAD) quantifies behavior in real‐world settings. Combining these two technologies may bridge the gap between brain imaging, physiology, and real‐time behavior, enhancing the generalizability of laboratory and clinical findings. However, the use of MRI and data from PADs outside the MRI scanner remains underexplored. Herein, we present a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analysis systematic literature review that identifies and analyzes the current state of research on the integration of brain MRI and PADs. PubMed and Scopus were automatically searched using keywords covering various MRI techniques and PADs. Abstracts were screened to only include articles that collected MRI brain data and PAD data outside the laboratory environment. Full‐text screening was then conducted to ensure included articles combined quantitative data from MRI with data from PADs, yielding 94 selected papers for a total of N = 14,778 subjects. Results were reported as cross‐frequency tables between brain imaging and behavior sampling methods and patterns were identified through network analysis. Furthermore, brain maps reported in the studies were synthesized according to the measurement modalities that were used. Results demonstrate the feasibility of integrating MRI and PADs across various study designs, patient and control populations, and age groups. The majority of published literature combines functional, T1‐weighted, and diffusion weighted MRI with physical activity sensors, ecological momentary assessment via PADs, and sleep. The literature further highlights specific brain regions frequently correlated with distinct MRI‐PAD combinations. These combinations enable in‐depth studies on how physiology, brain function and behavior influence each other. Our review highlights the potential for constructing brain–behavior models that extend beyond the scanner and into real‐world contexts.
Motor mapping of the hand muscles using peripheral innervation‐based navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation to identify functional reorganization of primary motor regions in malignant tumors
Authors: Zhang Haosu , Zhang Wei , Ohlerth Ann‐Katrin , Schwendner Maximilian , Schröder Axel , Meyer Bernhard , Krieg Sandro M. , Ille Sebastian
Published: March 2024

Tumor‐related motor reorganization remains unclear. Navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS) can investigate plasticity non‐invasively. nTMS‐induced motor‐evoked potentials (MEPs) of different muscles are commonly used to measure the center of gravity (CoG), the location with the highest density of corticospinal neurons in the precentral gyrus. We hypothesized that a peripheral innervation‐based MEP analysis could outline the tumor‐induced motor reorganization with a higher clinical and oncological relevance. Then, 21 patients harboring tumors inside the left corticospinal tract (CST) or precentral gyrus were enrolled in group one (G1), and 24 patients with tumors outside the left CST or precentral gyrus were enrolled in Group 2 (G2). Median‐ and ulnar‐nerve‐based MEP analysis combined with diffusion tensor imaging fiber tracking was used to explore motor function distribution. There was no significant difference in CoGs or size of motor regions and underlying tracts between G1 and G2. However, G1 involved a sparser distribution of motor regions and more motor‐positive sites in the supramarginal gyrus—tumors inside motor areas induced motor reorganization. We propose an “anchor‐and‐ship theory” hypothesis for this process of motor reorganization: motor CoGs are stably located in the cortical projection area of the CST, like a seated anchor, as the core area for motor output. Primary motor regions can relocate to nearby gyri via synaptic plasticity and association fibers, like a ship moving around its anchor. This principle can anticipate functional reorganization and be used as a neuro‐oncological tool for local therapy, such as radiotherapy or surgery.
The impact of COVID‐19 and vaccination status on outcomes in veterans with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Johns James D. , Choe Erica J. , Chisolm Paul F. , Pothast Morgan J. , Randolph Jackson R. , Chou Jiling , Maxwell Jessica H.
Published: March 2024

Background

The impact of both COVID‐19 infection and vaccination status on patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains unknown.

Objective

To determine the impact of COVID‐19 infection and vaccination status on 60‐day mortality, cardiovascular, and respiratory complications in patients with a prior diagnosis of HNSCC.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study through the Veterans Affairs (VA) Corporate Data Warehouse of Veterans with HNSCC who were tested for COVID‐19 during any inpatient VA medical center admission. A cohort of patients was created of Veterans with a diagnosis of HNSCC of the oral cavity,oropharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, and nasopharynx based on International Classification of Disease (ICD) codes. Data collected included clinical/demographic data, vaccination status, and incidence of 60‐day mortality, 60‐day cardiovascular complication (including myocardial infarction, venous thromboembolism, cerebrovascular accident), and 60‐day respiratory complication (including acute respiratory failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and pneumonia). The interactions between COVID‐19 infection, vaccination status, morbidity and mortality were investigated.

Results

Of the 14 262 patients with HNSCC who were tested for COVID‐19 during inpatient admission, 4754 tested positive (33.3%), and 9508 (67.7%) tested negative. Patients who tested positive demonstrated increased 60‐day mortality (4.7% vs. 2.0%, respectively; p < 0.001), acute respiratory failure (ARF; 15.4% vs. 7.1%, p < 0.001), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS; 0.9% vs. 0.2%, p < 0.001), and pneumonia (PNA; 20.0% vs. 6.4%, p < 0.001) compared to those who never tested positive, respectively. Patients who received COVID‐19 vaccination between 2 weeks and 6 months prior to a positive test demonstrated decreased rates of ARF (13.2% vs. 16.0%, p = 0.034) and PNA (16.7% vs. 20.9%, p = 0.003) compared to the unvaccinated group. A logistic regression of patients with COVID‐19 infections who died within 60 days was performed, with no significant survival advantage among patients vaccinated between 2 weeks and 6 months prior to the positive test.

Conclusion

COVID‐19 infection may significantly increase rates of 60‐day mortality and respiratory complications in patients with HNSCC. COVID‐19 vaccination between 2 weeks and 6 months prior to infection may decrease severity of respiratory complications but did not show significant mortality benefits in this study. These data highlight the need for surveillance of respiratory infection and vaccination in this vulnerable population.
Evolution of the Manufacturing Route towards a Key Benzothiophen‐2‐yl‐Boronic Acid Building Block of Rogaratinib
Authors: Gries Jörg , Platzek Johannes , Paulsen Holger
Published: March 2024

The evolution of the synthesis of a benzothiophene‐2‐yl‐boronic acid ‐ a key building block for the anti‐cancer agent Rogaratinib ‐ is reported from multi‐gram scale to industrialization. The pitfalls and learnings during process development are outlined, describing the optimization of the initial research synthesis route, investigation of an alternative approach based on a palladium‐catalyzed Newman‐Kwart rearrangement and finally changing the synthetic strategy from thiophene‐construction to benzene‐ring formation. Although the initial route was utilized to deliver material on kg‐scale, the requirements for market‐supply triggered the decision to pursue a new synthetic route. Catalyst costs, high purity‐requirements, and not the least technical practicality caused the change to a synthesis with indeed higher step‐count. However, this could be mitigated by repeated application of a telescoping approach. The free boronic acid was finally selected and manufactured as a stable isolated intermediate after challenges like proto‐deboronation and trimerization to boroxine upon drying could be solved by an optimized crystallization procedure.
Thermal hydraulic performance of a tubular heat exchanger with in‐line perforated baffle with shutter type saw tooth turbulator
Authors: Rahman Md Atiqur
Published: March 2024

This experimental investigation aimed to analyze the impact of a unique design of swirl generator airflow on the performance of a tubular heat exchanger operating with axial flow. To conduct the experiment, we utilized a custom‐built apparatus containing eight sawtooth air deflectors with differing space height ratios (e/h). These deflectors were oriented in a uniform manner (shutter type) and positioned at various inclination angles. Circular baffle plates, housing these deflectors, were equidistantly spaced at different pitch ratios. The arrangement of tubes within the heat exchanger remained constant throughout the study, while the Reynolds number ranged from 16,000 to 30,000. In addition, a consistent heat flux condition was maintained on the surface of the tubes. The research outcomes indicated that incorporating a deflector baffle plate with an inclination angle of 30°, an e/h ratio of 0.4, and a pitch ratio of 1.2 led to an average increase of 1.36 in the thermal enhancement factor when compared to a heat exchanger lacking a baffle plate, tested under similar conditions.
Tracing water resources flows by complementary use of hydrological and water accounting models
Authors: Mohammadi Khouzani Najmeh , Ahmadi Azadeh , Yousefi Ali , Abbaspour Karim C.
Published: March 2024

Historically, there has been a dispute over water allocation between users and policymakers in Iran's Zayandeh‐Roud Basin (ZRB). In this study, we used the “System of Environmental‐Economic Accounting for Water” (SEEAW) framework in combination with the hydrologic model “Soil and Water Assessment Tool” (SWAT) to achieve the water balance in ZRB. We used SEEAW to combine a wide range of water‐related statistics across stakeholders and SWAT to evaluate the unknown agricultural water use. The SWAT model is calibrated based on the stream flows and crop yields in the basin. The model assess the renewable water of the basin into two components, about 363 and 70 mm as green and blue water, respectively. Also results from the physical water supply and water use tables demonstrates that the agricultural sector uses 78% of the total renewable freshwater, followed by the residential, 16%, and the industrial sector, 6%. The flows of water from source to services in ZRB are traced based on the water supply and water use tables. The flow diagram shows that 8 MCM of industrial reused water was transferred to the agricultural sector, and 137 MCM and 18 MCM of water from the wastewater treatment plants to the agricultural and industrial sectors, respectively. Furthermore, the results show that the index of the basin dependence on groundwater resources is high (61%), the value of water stress is high (0.88) and the dependence of the basin on transboundary water resources is 30%. Therefore, this method is highly beneficial for achieving a conceptual water balance in disputed basins without enough agricultural water uses data.
Spatial variability and forecast of soil water in the ultra‐deep loess profile across a south–north transect of the Chinese Loess Plateau
Authors: Gong Tiexiong , Zhu Yuanjun , Qiao Jiangbo , Shao Ming'an
Published: March 2024

Knowledge of the spatial variability and forecast of soil water in the ultra‐deep (>21 m) loess profile are important for understanding the chemical, physical, and biological processes in the CZ. In this study, we regularly monitor soil water content (SWC) in deep soil profile along regional transect on the Loess Plateau. Descriptive statistical analysis found that the coefficient of variation (CV) of mean SWC in Ansai and Shenmu were 16.036% and 13.606%, respectively, indicating moderate variability. The CV of mean SWC in Yangling, Changwu, and Fuxian were 4.111%, 7.951%, and 6.117%, respectively, showing low variability. Geo‐statistical analysis indicated that mean SWC showed strong spatial dependence. Wavelet analysis showed that the approximative trend of mean SWC in five sampling sites showed an increased trend along depth series. In addition, a good fit line equation (R2 = 0.329) was established by using observed values and ANN‐forecast of three sites (Yangling, Fuxian, and Shenmu). And the RMSE values of five sample sites, respectively, were 1.302, 4.546, 2.662, 6.231, and 4.293. This study fills the gap in research' ultra‐deep (>21 m) soil water changes and forecast, evidence from soil borehole data. At the same time, our research provides valuable information for the vegetation restoration and modelling of deep soil water.
How still? Parent–infant interaction during the still‐face and later infant attachment
Authors: Ahn Yeojin A. , Martin Katherine , Prince Emily B. , Chow Sy‐Miin , Cohn Jeffrey F. , Wang Jue , Simpson Elizabeth A. , Messinger Daniel S.
Published: March 2024

In the still‐face episode of the Face‐to‐Face/Still‐Face (FFSF), parents are asked to become unresponsive. However, infant–parent interaction may be irrepressible, and there is some evidence that interaction during the still‐face is associated with attachment outcome. To explore these questions, we independently coded the continuous affective valence (negative to positive) of seventy‐three 6‐month‐old infants (45 males; 36 Hispanic/Latinx; 38 White, 3 Black/African‐American, 2 Asian, 30 multiracial) and their parents (Mage = 36 years; 5 males; 30 Hispanic/Latinx; 65 White, 3 Black/African‐American, 2 Asian, 2 unknown) during the FFSF and assessed attachment at 15 months with the Strange Situation Procedure (n = 66). There was a mean positive correlation between moment‐to‐moment parent and infant affective valence, indicating synchronous affective interaction during the still‐face (d = 0.63). Higher levels of affect interaction during the still‐face episode were detected in infants later classified as disorganised compared to securely attached (d = 0.97). Findings underscore the importance of testing for still‐face interaction and suggest that this interaction may be an unappreciated predictor of infant attachment outcomes.
The impact of loss to follow‐up in the Dutch organised HPV‐based cervical cancer screening programme
Authors: Olthof E. M. G. , Aitken C. A. , Siebers A. G. , van Kemenade F. J. , de Kok I. M. C. M.
Published: March 2024

Loss to follow‐up (LTFU) within cervical screening programmes can result in missed clinically relevant lesions, potentially reducing programme effectiveness. To examine the health impact of losing women during the screening process, we determined the proportion of women LTFU per step of the Dutch hrHPV‐based screening programme. We then determined the probability of being LTFU by age, screening history and sampling method (self‐ or clinician‐sampled) using logistic regression analysis. Finally, we estimated the number of missed CIN2+/3+ lesions per LTFU moment by using the CIN‐risk in women compliant with follow‐up. Data from the Dutch nationwide pathology databank (Palga) was used. Women eligible for screening in 2017 and 2018 were included (N = 840,428). For clinician collected (CC) samples, the highest proportion LTFU was found following ‘referral advice for colposcopy’ (5.5% after indirect referral; 3.8% after direct referral). For self‐sampling, the highest proportions LTFU were found following the advice for repeat cytology (13.6%) and after referral advice for colposcopy (8.2% after indirect referral; 4.3% after direct referral). Self‐sampling users and women with no screening history had a higher LTFU‐risk (OR: 3.87, CI: 3.55–4.23; OR: 1.39, CI: 1.20–1.61) compared to women that used CC sampling and women that have been screened before, respectively. Of all women LTFU in 2017/18, the total number of potentially missed CIN2+ was 844 (21% of women LTFU). Most lesions were missed after ‘direct referral for colposcopy’ (N = 462, 11.5% of women LTFU). So, this indicates a gap between the screening programme and clinical care which requires further attention, by improving monitoring of patients after referral.
Micromesh reinforced strain sensor with high stretchability and stability for full‐range and periodic human motions monitoring
Authors: Liu Haidong , Liu Chang , Luo Jinan , Tang Hao , Li Yuanfang , Liu Houfang , Wu Jingzhi , Han Fei , Liu Zhiyuan , Guo Jianhe , Tan Rongwei , Ren Tian‐Ling , Qiao Yancong , Zhou Jianhua
Published: March 2024

The development of strain sensors with high stretchability and stability is an inevitable requirement for achieving full‐range and long‐term use of wearable electronic devices. Herein, a resistive micromesh reinforced strain sensor (MRSS) with high stretchability and stability is prepared, consisting of a laser‐scribed graphene (LSG) layer and two styrene‐block‐poly(ethylene‐ran‐butylene)‐block‐poly‐styrene micromesh layers embedded in Ecoflex. The micromesh reinforced structure endows the MRSS with combined characteristics of a high stretchability (120%), excellent stability (with a repetition error of 0.8% after 11 000 cycles), and outstanding sensitivity (gauge factor up to 2692 beyond 100%). Impressively, the MRSS can still be used continauously within the working range without damage, even if stretched to 300%. Furthermore, compared with different structure sensors, the mechanism of the MRSS with high stretchability and stability is elucidated. What's more, a multilayer finite element model, based on the layered structure of the LSG and the morphology of the cracks, is proposed to investigate the strain sensing behavior and failure mechanism of the MRSS. Finally, due to the outstanding performance, the MRSS not only performes well in monitoring full‐range human motions, but also achieves intelligent recognitions of various respiratory activities and gestures assisted by neural network algorithms (the accuracy up to 94.29% and 100%, respectively). This work provides a new approach for designing high‐performance resistive strain sensors and shows great potential in full‐range and long‐term intelligent health management and human–machine interactions applications.

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Multifaceted roles of PDCD6 both within and outside the cell
Authors: Zhu Yigao , Li Qingchao
Published: March 2024

Programmed cell death protein 6 (PDCD6) is an evolutionarily conserved Ca2+‐binding protein. PDCD6 is involved in regulating multifaceted and pleiotropic cellular processes in different cellular compartments. For instance, nuclear PDCD6 regulates apoptosis and alternative splicing. PDCD6 is required for coat protein complex II‐dependent endoplasmic reticulum‐to‐Golgi apparatus vesicular transport in the cytoplasm. Recent advances suggest that cytoplasmic PDCD6 is involved in the regulation of cytoskeletal dynamics and innate immune responses. Additionally, membranous PDCD6 participates in membrane repair through endosomal sorting complex required for transport complex‐dependent membrane budding. Interestingly, extracellular vesicles are rich in PDCD6. Moreover, abnormal expression of PDCD6 is closely associated with many diseases, especially cancer. PDCD6 is therefore a multifaceted but pivotal protein in vivo. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of PDCD6 functions and to focus and stimulate PDCD6 research, this review summarizes key developments in its role in different subcellular compartments, processes, and pathologies.
Novel method of image analysis that combines Radon and Fourier image transformations for the purpose of differentiating between malignant and benign colonic biopsies
Authors: Faibis Chen , Sabo Edmond , Mazareb Salam , Klorin Geula
Published: March 2024

Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer. It develops slowly as a polyp that can turn into a cancerous tumor. This study aimed to develop a decision‐making algorithm of microscopic images using texture analysis that is orientation free, to be used for automated classification of normal and neoplastic (malignant or premalignant) colonic biopsies. Forty‐nine colonic adenocarcinomas, 41 adenomas and a control group of adjacent normal colonic mucosa were included in the texture analysis. Radon transform followed by the Fast Fourier transform were applied to the images. Subsequently, the gray level co‐occurrence matrix (GLCM) transform was applied allowing the extraction of four textural variables (homogeneity, contrast, correlation, and entropy). For classification and prediction of the diagnosis, a statistical multivariate regression model and a neural network (NNET) model were used and compared. The statistical model provided a sensitivity of 71.3% and a specificity of 50% (Area under the ROC curve: 0.67) for classifying the neoplastic and the normal images, respectively. The NNET model was superior to the statistical model and produced a sensitivity of 97.9% and specificity of 88% (Area under the ROC curve: 0.92). To our knowledge, this is the first study that used a combination of Radon, FFT, and GLCM transformations in order to overcome the tissue orientation problem in texture analysis of microscopic images of colonic biopsies. The NNET classifier trained by the extracted textural features proved to be superior to the statistical classifier, thus predicting colonic neoplasia with high accuracy.

Research Highlights

We propose a novel decision‐making algorithm of orientation invariant image texture analysis, fast and easily implemented for automated differentiation between benign and neoplastic epithelial tumors of the colon. This method can reduce the turnaround time allowing to prioritize the biopsies during their examination and diagnosis by the pathologist.
Melatonin counteracts cadmium‐induced rat testicular toxicity via the mechanistic target rapamycin (mTOR) pathway
Authors: Rhouma Mariem B. , Venditti Massimo , Haddadi Asma , Knani Latifa , Chouchene Lina , Boughammoura Sana , Reiter Russel J. , Minucci Sergio , Messaoudi Imed
Published: March 2024

The protective action of melatonin (MLT) against the harmful effects of cadmium (Cd) on testicular activity in rats has been documented previously; however, the involved molecular mechanisms have yet to be elucidated. Herein, we investigate the involvement of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) on the ability of MLT to counteract the damage induced by Cd on the rat testicular activity. Our study confirmed that Cd has harmful effects on the testes of rats and the protective action exerted by MLT. We reported, for the first time, that the addition of rapamycin (Rapa), a specific mTOR inhibitor, to animals co‐treated with Cd and MLT completely abolished the beneficial effects exerted by MLT, indicating that the mTOR pathway partially modulates its helpful effects on Cd testicular toxicity. Interestingly, Rapa‐alone treatment, provoking mTOR inhibition, produced altered morphological parameters, increased autophagy of germ and somatic cells, and reduced serum testosterone concentration. In addition, mTOR inhibition also reduced protein levels of markers of steroidogenesis (3β‐Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase) and blood–testis barrier integrity (occludin and connexin 43). Finally, Rapa altered sperm parameters as well as the ability of mature spermatozoa to perform a proper acrosome reaction. Although further investigation is needed to better clarify the molecular pathway involved in MLT action, we confirm that MLT alleviating Cd effects can be used as a supplement to enhance testicular function and improve male gamete quality.
Blubber biopsy in common bottlenose dolphins using a novel biopsy puncher: Evaluation of the impact on living individuals and possibility of applications in cetacean research
Authors: Funasaka Noriko , Suzuki Miwa , Hosono Masayuki , Shindo Hideaki , Kawamura Keiko , Inamori Daiki , Yoshioka Motoi
Published: March 2024

Biopsy has recently become a preferred protocol for sampling the skin and blubber of many cetacean species, although it is desirable to collect as minimally invasive as possible. Here, the effect of biopsy sampling on the captive common bottlenose dolphins was evaluated by analyzing the process of wound healing and changes in hematological and blood biochemical parameters after biopsy using a puncher developed to collect up to the inner layer of the dolphin blubber. Results showed that the wounds caused by biopsy were closed in as early as 1 day and completely covered with the epidermis within 5–11 days. Blood fibrinogen, which generally increases due to a wound‐induced inflammatory response or activation of the coagulation system, was significantly elevated after the biopsy indicating ongoing tissue repair, while other parameters did not exhibit significant differences. Furthermore, histological observation and RNA extraction of samples were performed to investigate the versatility of this method to cetacean research. Histological examination revealed three distinct layers of the blubber in the biopsy samples. Moreover, total RNA extracted from biopsy samples exhibited sufficient quality and quantity for gene expression analyses. Overall, the puncher utilized in our study represents a valuable and minimally invasive tool for investigating various aspects of small cetacean studies.
Is there any association between celiac disease, myelodysplastic symdrome and primary sclerosing cholangitis?: A rare case report
Authors: Hamsho Suaad , Hariri Moudar Al , sleiay Bilal , alhussen Abdul hadi daher , Sleiay Mouhammed
Published: March 2024

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disease characterized by a specific serological and histological profile. Hematological findings are one of the most common presentations and can sometimes be the only manifestation of the disease. In patients with unexplained isolated hematological abnormalities, a high index of suspicion for CD is necessary. A 33‐year‐old woman was admitted to the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology because of abdominal pain and fatigue. She was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome. After many investigations, it is explained that she has CD. It is important to consider myelodysplastic syndrome as a hematological manifestation of CD. All patients with myelodysplasia should be investigated for CD and related conditions such as primary sclerosing cholangitis.
Orientations of graphs with maximum Wiener index
Authors: Li Zhenzhen , Wu Baoyindureng
Published: March 2024

In this paper, we study the Wiener index of the orientation of trees and theta‐graphs. An orientation of a tree is called no‐zig‐zag if there is no subpath in which edges change the orientation twice. Knor, Škrekovski, and Tepeh conjectured that every orientation of a tree achieving the maximum Wiener index is no‐zig‐zag. We disprove this conjecture by constructing a counterexample. Knor, Škrekovski, and Tepeh conjectured that among all orientations of the theta‐graph with and , the maximum Wiener index is achieved by the one in which the union of the paths between and forms a directed cycle of length , where and are the vertex of degree 3. We confirm the validity of the conjecture.