bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does intrinsic motivation or extrinsic pressure matter more? An exploratory study of small businesses going green and innovation
Authors: Nguyen Bach , Vu Nhung
Published: January 2024

Small firms may go green because of intrinsic motivation (to realise their green values) or extrinsic pressure (to satisfy the requirements of stakeholders). While the impacts of these two motivations on firms' green behaviours have been discussed in the literature, their influences on economic behaviours such as innovation remain unclear. This paper aims to investigate the relationship between going green due to intrinsic versus extrinsic motivations and their impact on firms' innovation. We examine a dataset of almost 21,000 small businesses in 39 countries, primarily less developed, from 2018 to 2020. We find that firms going green tend to be more innovative than those that do not. Also, firms going green due to extrinsic pressure are equally innovative as those that do so for intrinsic motivation. In some cases, it is even found that extrinsic pressure exerts a stronger effect on innovation than intrinsic motivation. Moreover, we examine the moderating effects of market competition on the relationship between green motivation and innovation. We find that while competition exerts no effect on the relationship between intrinsic motivation to go green and firm innovation, it strengthens the relationship between extrinsic motivation to go green and firm innovation. Our findings are robust in different empirical settings that control for endogeneity, model specifications and estimators.
Environmental pressure and board gender diversity: Evidence from the European Union Emission Trading System
Authors: Dutordoir Marie , Schoubben Frederiek , Struyfs Kristof , Torsin Wouter
Published: January 2024

We examine how environmental pressure influences board gender diversity. Drawing from resource dependence, strategic adaptation, and gender socialization theories, we develop and test the prediction that firms with worse environmental performance have a higher likelihood of increasing their board gender diversity following a rise in environmental pressure. Focusing on the third phase (2013–2019) of the European Union Emission Trading System (EU ETS), we exploit the unexpected increase in emission prices after the European Council's (EC) intervention in 2017 as a quasi‐natural experiment bringing heightened environmental pressure to firms. Our baseline sample consists of 182 polluting firms in 20 different EU ETS‐covered countries. In line with our main hypothesis, we find that board gender diversity increases with firms' industry‐adjusted levels of pollution in the post‐EC intervention period, with the effect being particularly pronounced for firms with a higher exposure to emission prices and lower diversity levels. Inconsistent with a window dressing explanation, highly polluting firms replace incumbent male board members with highly qualified women. Our findings, which survive several robustness tests, suggest that more stringent environmental regulation drives social and governance changes at top corporate levels.
Examining the impact of head‐mounted augmented reality on learning engineering drawings: A case study for three‐view drawing
Authors: Yuan Qingshu , Shou Kailiang , Xu Jin , Yao Zhengwei , Pan Zhigeng
Published: January 2024

As the cornerstone of spatial geometry and engineering drawings, three‐view drawing lays the necessary foundation for students to learn geography, graphics, industrial design, geographic information science, and so forth. However, teaching three‐view drawing can be challenging due to its abstraction. Currently, desktop and handheld augmented reality (AR) systems are widely applied to three‐view teaching. However, existing systems suffer from visuo‐tactile inconsistency and contain unfriendly interactions, resulting in a poor learning experience. In this paper, head‐mounted AR is introduced for the first time in the teaching of three‐view drawing. A system was designed for learning three‐view drawing to facilitate students' free exploration and learning in lessons. Additionally, a comparative experiment was designed and conducted to investigate whether multimodal interaction and head‐mounted AR help students to better understand the relationship between concrete three‐dimensional (3D) objects and abstract two‐dimensional planes and the impact on subjective perceptions. The results demonstrated that the proposed system significantly improved learning performance. Furthermore, the proposed system heightened students' interest in learning, made reproducing 3D structures more intuitive, and students were more willing to use such systems in their future studies.
Neurocognitive and psychosocial outcomes in survivors of childhood leukemia with Down syndrome
Authors: Gandy Kellen , Hall Lacey , Krull Kevin R. , Esbensen Anna J. , Rubnitz Jeffrey , Jacola Lisa M.
Published: January 2024

Objective

The primary aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of a developmentally tailored neurocognitive assessment in survivors of childhood acute leukemia with Down syndrome (DS‐leukemia). A secondary aim was to compare outcomes in the DS‐leukemia group to a historical comparison group of individuals with DS and no history of childhood cancer.

Methods

Survivors of DS‐leukemia (n = 43; 56% male, mean [SD] age at diagnosis = 4.3 [4.5] years; age at evaluation = 15 [7.9] years) completed a neurocognitive assessment battery that included direct measures of attention, executive function, and processing speed, and proxy ratings of attention problems and executive dysfunction. Direct assessment outcomes were compared to a historical comparison cohort of individuals with DS and no history of childhood cancer (DS‐control; n = 117; 56% male, mean [SD] age at evaluation = 12.7 [3.4] years).

Results

Rates of valid task completion ranged from 54% to 95%, suggesting feasibility for most direct assessment measures. Compared to the DS‐control group, the DS‐leukemia group had significantly lower completion rates on measures of executive function (p = 0.008) and processing speed (p = 0.018) compared to the DS‐control group. There were no other significant group differences in completion rates. Compared to the DS‐control group, the DS‐leukemia group had significantly more accurate performance on two measures of executive function (p = 0.032; p = 0.005). Compared to the DS‐control group, the DS‐leukemia group had significantly more problems with executive function as identified on proxy ratings (6.5% vs. 32.6%, p = <0.001).

Conclusion

Children with Down syndrome (DS) are at increased risk for developing acute leukemia compared to the general population but are systematically excluded from neurocognitive outcome studies among leukemia survivors. This study demonstrated the feasibility of evaluating neurocognitive late effects in leukemia survivors with DS using novel measures appropriate for populations with intellectual developmental disorder.
The dynamic nature of brand authenticity for a new brand: Creating and maintaining perceptions through iconic, indexical, and existential cues
Authors: Joo Soyoung , Guèvremont Amélie
Published: January 2024

Although brand authenticity has been studied across multiple domains, the developmentandmaintenance of brand authenticity in new brands has never been explored. This study provides the first evidence of the evolving nature of brand authenticity (i.e., the creation and maintenance phases) through the interplay of iconic (impression‐based brand characteristics), indexical (evidence‐based brand characteristics), and existential (self‐referential brand characteristics) cues for a new brand. Sixteen season ticket holders for a new sports team brand were interviewed two times each (during and after the team's inaugural season). The analysis shows the interplay of authenticity cues in the development and maintenance of authenticity perceptions, such that indexical and existential cues replace iconic cues as the consumer‐brand relationship evolves. The results reveal the critical roles of existential cues in creating a self‐relevant relationship with consumers as well as the underlying dimensions (i.e., virtuousness, proximity, and transparency) and outcomes (e.g., brand attitude and emotional brand attachment) of authenticity for a new brand. This study provides evidence that new brands can benefit from authenticity perceptions and offers insights into the underlying process in terms of antecedents and outcomes, contributing to authenticity and branding literature.
Investigation of Phytochemical, Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Potentials of Scabiosa L. (Caprifoliaceae) Species with Chemometric Methods
Authors: Albayrak Sevil , Aksoy Ahmet , Yilmaz Mustafa Abdullah , Beyzi Erman
Published: January 2024

In this research, the total phenolic and flavonoid amounts, phenolic compositions, in vitro antioxidant, antibacterial and antidiabetic properties of the methanol extracts obtained from Scabiosa L. (Caprifoliaceae) species distributed in the flora of Türkiye were investigated using chemometric methods. For this purpose, principal component (PCA) and agglomerative hierarchical clustering analysis were performed as chemometric methods. Chlorogenic acid, quinic acid and cyranoside were determined in the extracts. According to chemometric analysis, S. columbaria subsp. ochroleuca var. ochroleuca and S. triniifolia species were found to be valuable in terms of methanol extract yields, total phenolic and flavonoid contents, antioxidant and antidiabetic activities while S. columbaria subsp. ochroleuca var. webbiana species were found to be valuable in terms of phenolic composition. The methanol extracts of Scabiosa species showed high antioxidant activity, with high phenolic and flavonoid contents. Among the tested 13 bacteria, Scabiosa extracts showed only low activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The extracts showed high α‐amylase and α‐glucosidase inhibitory activity. The results show that Scabiosa methanol extracts may be a source of alternative antioxidants that may be beneficial in slowing or preventing the progression of various oxidative stress‐related diseases.
Eco‐Friendly Bio‐Based Solvents for the Acetylation of the Amino Group of Amino Acids
Authors: Cazzaniga Giulia , Tresoldi Andrea , Gelain Arianna , Meneghetti Fiorella , Mori Matteo , Villa Stefania
Published: January 2024

Nature‐derived products, like juices and peel extracts of fruits and vegetables, have emerged in recent years as interesting and sustainable alternatives to traditional solvents in several synthetic applications. Herein, we present a green and fast method for the N‐acetylation of amino acids, using several bio‐based solvents (vinegar, tomato/kiwi/apple peel extracts, lemon juice, etc.). The high reactivity of the amino group is often a limitation in synthetic processes, making its protection a necessary step to achieve pure products and limit side reactions. Therefore, versatile, time‐efficient procedures, minimal purification efforts, and good yields are desirable features for these transformations. Our new method meets all these criteria, offering a valuable and eco‐friendly alternative to traditional approaches. In detail, we managed to obtain comparable yields to established setups, while improving safety and reducing the environmental impact of the overall process. Most notably, the milder conditions made it possible to avoid the use of running water (saving about 250 L/reaction) and electric‐powered cooling devices.
Electrochemical Behavior of Quinones Classically Used for Bioenergetical Applications: Considerations and Insights about the Anodic Side
Authors: Longatte Guillaume , Buriez Olivier , Labbé Eric , Guille‐Collignon Manon , Lemaître Frédéric
Published: January 2024

Quinones are electrochemical probes which are used for a large range of applications including bioenergetics. One electrochemical feature of quinones is their possible slow electron transfer kinetics. In this article we compared several quinones towards electron transfer kinetics and the ability of anodic pretreatment to increase electron transfer rate constant. Rotating disk electrode and chronoamperometry measurements were used to revisit their electrochemical behavior. Additionally, the number of electrons exchanged as a function of the characteristic time was used as a proxy to investigate kinetic limitations. A model was suggested to rationalize our results. Beyond a classification of quinones regarding the kinetic and thermodynamic ability of the hydroquinone form to be re‐oxidized, some intrinsic physicochemical properties were identified from our model (such as a time dependency of the exchanged number of electrons) to characterize such important redox mediators.
Graphene oxide nanosheets enhancing the photothermal response of a cellular barrier exposed to near infrared light
Authors: Lu Chao , Tang Howyn , Zhang Jin
Published: January 2024

Recent developments in targeted photothermal therapy focus on integrating near‐infrared (NIR) light and biocompatible nanostructures. It is yet unclear if graphene oxide nanosheets (GO) can assist in the photothermal response of cellular barriers under NIR irradiation. Herein, this study investigates the photothermal response of a cellular barrier treated with different concentrations of GO under the irradiation of NIR light. The synthesized GO nanosheets show good stability in aqueous media. No toxic effects are imposed onto human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) when the cells are treated with GO up to 20 μg/mL for 1 day. In addition, the in vitro cellular barrier model with intercellular tight junctions is formed by using HUVECs, which have a high transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) value of 89.3 Ω · cm2. Under the irradiation of NIR light (980 nm), the photothermal response on the cellular barrier is enhanced by introducing GO, which has been verified by the decrease of TEER value and the increase in the transport of dextran. The results indicate that the thermal response of a cellular barrier exposed to NIR light is non‐linearly enhanced with increasing concentration of GO.
QRS fragmentation does not predict mortality in survivors of acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Allescher Julia , Sinnecker Daniel , von Goeldel Bernhard , Barthel Petra , Müller Alexander , Hapfelmeier Alexander , Martens Eimo , Laugwitz Karl‐Ludwig , Schmidt Georg , Steger Alexander
Published: January 2024

Background

Despite advances in coronary revascularization and in heart failure management, myocardial infarction survivors remain at substantially increased mortality risk. Precise risk assessment and risk‐adapted follow‐up care are crucial to improve their outcomes. Recently, the fragmented QRS complex, i.e. the presence of additional spikes within the QRS complexes on a 12‐lead electrocardiogram, has been discussed as a potential non‐invasive risk predictor in cardiac patients.

Hypothesis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic meaning of the fragmented QRS complex in myocardial infarction survivors.

Methods

609 patients with narrow QRS complexes <120 ms were included in a prospective cohort study while hospitalized for myocardial infarction and followed for 5 years.

Results

The prevalence of the fragmented QRS complex in these patients amounted to 46.8% (285 patients). These patients had no increased hazard of all‐cause death (HR 0.84, 95%–CI 0.45–1.57, p = 0.582) with a mortality rate of 6.0% compared to 7.1% in patients without QRS fragmentations. Furthermore, the risks of cardiac death (HR 1.28, 95%–CI 0.49–3.31, p = 0.613) and of non‐cardiac death (HR 0.6, 95%–CI 0.26–1.43, p = 0.25) were not significantly different in patients with QRS fragmentations. However, patients with QRS fragmentations had increased serum creatine kinase concentrations (1438U/l vs. 1160U/l, p = 0.039) and reduced left ventricular ejection fractions (52% vs. 54%, p = 0.011).

Conclusions

The hypothesis that QRS fragmentation might be a prognostic parameter in survivors of myocardial infarction was not confirmed. But those with QRS fragmentation had larger myocardial infarctions, as measured by creatine kinase and left ventricular ejection fraction.
Synthesis, characterization of novel N‐(4‐cyano‐1,3‐oxazol‐5‐yl)sulfonamide derivatives and in vitro screening their activity against NCI‐60 cancer cell lines
Authors: Severin Oleksandr , Pilyo Stepan , Kachaeva Maryna , Zhirnov Victor , Hodyna Diana , Bahrieieva Oksana , Brovarets Volodymyr
Published: January 2024

A novel series of N‐(4‐cyano‐1,3‐oxazol‐5‐yl)sulfonamides have been synthesized and characterized by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and chromato‐mass‐spectrometry. The anticancer activities of all newly synthesized compounds were evaluated via a single high‐dose assay (10 μM) against 60 cancer cell lines by the National Cancer Institute (USA) according to its screening protocol. Among them, compounds 2 and 10 exhibited the highest activity against the 60 cancer cell lines panel in the one‐dose assay. Compounds 2 and 10 showed inhibitory activity within the GI50 parameter and in five dose analyses. However, their cytostatic activity was only observed against some cancer cell lines, and cytotoxic concentration was outside the maximum used, i. e., >100 μM. The COMPARE analysis showed that the average graphs of the tested compounds have a moderate positive correlation with compounds with the L‐cysteine analog and vinblastine (GI50) as well as paclitaxel (TGI), which target microtubules. Therefore, disruption of microtubule formation may be one of the mechanisms of the anticancer activity of the tested compounds, especially since among tubulin inhibitors with antitumor activity, compounds with an oxazole motif are widely represented. Therefore, N‐(4‐cyano‐1,3‐oxazol‐5‐yl)sulfonamides may be promising for further functionalization to obtain more active compounds.
Evaluation and comparison of patient satisfaction with VertexThermosens and conventional acrylic complete dentures
Authors: Alidema Sebahate H. , Halili Rajmonda
Published: January 2024

Objectives

Patient perception and satisfaction with dentures are important indicators in prosthodontic treatment. This study aimed to compare patients' satisfaction with VertexThermosens dentures versus conventional acrylic dentures during a 12‐month study period.

Material and Methods

This randomized study involved 60 participants aged between 45 and 80 with representation of both sexes. The patients were divided into two groups: The first group (experimental group), which had complete dentures from VertexThermosens base material included 30 participants. The second group (control group), which had complete dentures from convectional rigid acrylic base material, included 30 participants. Patient satisfaction with the dentures was assessed in each of the two Vertex/Acrylic groups through a specially created questionnaire of five questions with a five‐point Likert scale of possible answers (0 = never; 1 = rarely; 2 = occasionally; 3 = often; and 4 = very often).

Results

After 12 months, intergroup comparison with Mann–Whitney U Test related to Q2 (p = 0.193), Q3 (p = 0.960), Q4 (p = 0.317), Q5 (p = 1.000) patient satisfactions indicated that there was no significant difference between the two groups (Vertex/Acrylic), except  Q1 (p = 0.010) question, Vertex group was more satisfied. The results regarding the patients of both groups (Vertex/Acrylic) showed that after 12 months of wearing the denture, the satisfaction level regarding to all questions increased, except Q5‐question for Vertex group, where the difference was not significant due to the already achieved maximum satisfaction at zero time.

Conclusion

Based on the findings of this clinical study, it can be concluded that higher satisfaction is seen in patients rehabilitated with VertexThermosens dentures than with conventional rigid acrylic dentures.
Development and validation of the Iranian version of the Children's Experiences of Dental Anxiety Measure (CEDAM)
Authors: Enshaei Zahra , Kaji Kimia Sadeghi , Saied‐Moallemi Zahra
Published: January 2024

Objective

The aim of this study was to develop the Iranian version of the Children's Experiences of Dental Anxiety Measure (CEDAM) and evaluate its validity and reliability in assessing dental anxiety in children aged 9‒16.

Methods

The CEDAM was translated into Persian following the guidelines of the IQOLA project. A ‎sample of children completed the measure in a clinical setting, with a subgroup completing it ‎again to assess test–retest reliability. Concurrent criterion validity was evaluated by having all ‎participants complete the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale (MCDAS) alongside the ‎CEDAM. Construct validity was examined using exploratory and confirmatory factor ‎analyses.‎

Results

The study included 275 children between the ages of 9 and 16. The Iranian version of CEDAM ‎exhibited excellent internal consistency with a Cronbach's ⍺ coefficient of 0.83. Test–retest ‎reliability was also high, with an intraclass correlation coefficient value of 0.96. Furthermore, there was a significant and ‎positive correlation between CEDAM and MCDAS scores (ρ = 0.72, p < .01). Exploratory ‎factor analysis identified two factors, and confirmatory factor analysis confirmed that the ‎instrument aligned well with the factor structure obtained from the exploratory analysis.‎

Conclusion

This study provides evidence supporting the validity and reliability of the Iranian version of ‎CEDAM as a valuable tool for evaluating dental anxiety in Persian‐speaking children between ‎the ages of 9 and 16.‎
Digital versus conventional surgical guide fabrication: A randomized crossover study on operator preference, difficulty, effectiveness, and operating time
Authors: Donker Vincent J. J. , Heijs Karel H. , Pol Christiaan W. P. , Meijer Henny J. A.
Published: January 2024

Aim

If surgical guide fabrication is introduced in a dental education program, a digital and conventional workflow can be used. This study evaluated operator preference, perceived difficulty and effectiveness and operating time of both fabrication methods.

Materials and Methods

Forty participants in a university setting (students, n = 20; dentists, n = 20) with varying levels of dental experience, but no experience in surgical guide fabrication, were randomly assigned to consecutively fabricate surgical guides on a standardized training model, with either the digital or conventional workflow first. The operating time was measured, and operator preference and the perception of difficulty and effectiveness were assessed with a questionnaire. T tests were used for statistical analysis (α = .05).

Result

Of the students, 95% preferred the digital workflow and of the dentists 70%. The perceived difficulty of the digital workflow was significantly lower than the conventional workflow in the student group. Both groups perceived the digital workflow to be more effective. The mean operating time (mm:ss) amounted 12:34 ± 2:24 (students) and 18:07 ± 6:03 (dentists) for the digital, and 22:20 ± 3:59 (students) and 20:16 ± 4:03 (dentists) for the conventional workflow.

Conclusion

Both students and dentists prefer the digital workflow for surgical guide fabrication. Students perceive the digital workflow as less difficult and more effective than the conventional workflow. The operating time for surgical guide fabrication is shorter with a digital workflow. This study indicates that digital fabrication techniques for surgical guides are preferred to be incorporated into the dental curriculum to teach students about treatment planning in implant dentistry.
Tapping the Full Potential of Infrared Spectroscopy for the Analysis of Technical Lignins
Authors: Sumerskii Ivan , Böhmdorfer Stefan , Tsetsgee Otgontuul , Sulaeva Irina , Khaliliyan Hajar , Musl Oliver , Dorninger Katharina , Tischer Alexander , Potthast Karin , Rosenau Thomas , Brereton Richard G. , Potthast Antje
Published: January 2024

We present an approach to overcome the challenges associated with the increasing demand of high‐throughput characterization of technical lignins, a key resource in emerging bioeconomies. Our approach offers a resort from the lack of direct, simple, and low‐cost analytical techniques for lignin characterization by employing multivariate calibration models based on infrared (IR) spectroscopy to predict structural properties of lignins (i. e., functionality, molar mass). By leveraging a comprehensive database of over 500 well‐characterized technical lignin samples – a factor of 10 larger than previously used sets – our chemometric models achieved high levels of quality and statistical confidence for the determination of different functional group contents (RMSEPs of 4–16 %). However, the statistical moments of the molar mass distribution are still best determined by size‐exclusion chromatography. Analyses of over 500 technical lignins offered also a great opportunity to provide information on the general variability in kraft lignins and lignosulfonates (from different origins). Overall, the effected savings in analysis time (>7 h), resources, and required sample mass combined with non‐destructiveness of the measurement satisfy key demands for efficient high‐throughput lignin analyses. Finally, we discuss the advantages, disadvantages, and limitations of our approach, along with critical insights into the associated chemical‐analytical and spectroscopic challenges.
Current feedback operational amplifier‐based fully orthogonal universal and multifunction filters
Authors: Dogan Mehmet , Minayi Elham , Yuce Erkan , Minaei Shahram
Published: January 2024

This paper introduces a second‐order voltage‐mode (VM) multiple‐input single‐output (MISO) universal filter and a second‐order current‐mode (CM) single‐input multiple‐output (SIMO) multifunction filter. The introduced VM MISO universal filter includes a single current feedback operational amplifier (CFOA) and a single voltage follower as active elements, while the introduced CM SIMO multifunction filter contains two CFOAs. Both introduced circuits are orthogonally controllable. In other words, the quality factors can be controlled through a single resistor without affecting the resonance frequencies. Both circuits have low sensitivities and no passive element‐matching conditions. The introduced VM MISO universal filter has a low output impedance. Moreover, to extract the output currents of the proposed CM SIMO from high impedance terminals, second‐generation current conveyor‐based version of the circuit is introduced. Simulations are made through the PSPICE program, where 0.13‐μm IBM CMOS technology parameters are utilized. DC supply voltages are selected as ±0.9 V. In the experiments, AD844s are used, and DC supply voltages are chosen as ±7.5 V.
Novel six‐phase ring voltage controlled oscillator with wide frequency tuning range
Authors: Hemmati Mohammad Jafar , Dehghani Rasoul
Published: January 2024

This paper presents more compatible three‐stage inverter‐based ring voltage controlled oscillators (VCOs) by modifying the current‐starved delay cell to oscillate with high tuning range. Unlike some ring structures in which extra transistors are used as current boosting to enhance the frequency tuning range, no extra elements are used in the proposed three‐stage VCOs for increasing the tuning range. Besides, a new method is introduced to couple two proposed ring VCOs for designing a six‐phase ring VCO. The coupling method can be generalized to some other ring VCOs to generate multiphase signals. The proposed circuits have wide frequency tuning ranges and show good noise performances. The proposed six‐phase VCO can oscillate from 1.62 GHz to 3.45 GHz, which illustrates 72.2% tuning range. The phase noise of the proposed VCO is −97.5 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset frequency. The circuit figure of merit is −181.5 dBc/Hz. The post‐layout simulation results of the proposed six‐phase VCO are provided based on the TSMC 0.18 μm CMOS process.
The Ethics of Using News Stories concerning Minors as Empirical Material in Health Research: Reflections on a Swedish Case
Authors: Stjernswärd Sigrid , Tilgmann Carola , Glasdam Stinne
Published: January 2024

In 2021, we were designing a research study in Sweden in which we planned to use newspaper articles focusing on children and adolescents under the age of eighteen during the Covid‐19 pandemic as empirical material. As we developed this study, an ethical question arose: do studies using journalistic articles that may contain health information about individuals as empirical material have to be approved by an ethics review committee? Sweden, in contrast to other countries, requires the approval of an ethics review committee for the use of publicly available material in research when such material might include sensitive personal data such as health‐related information. This case study calls for harmonized laws and policies that support global research by clarifying what kinds of empirical material and what types of research must be assessed by national ethics review committees, including with consideration for children's safety and rights.
Minisci‐Type Carbamoylation of Azauracils with Oxamic Acids
Authors: Pan Changduo , Chen Dongdong , Zeng Miao , Tian Haoyang , Yu Jin‐Tao
Published: January 2024

A Minisci‐type carbamoylation of azauracils was developed to afford 6‐carbamoyl azauracils in yields up to 94 %. In this transformation, oxamic acids were employed as the carbamoyl radical sources under metal‐free conditions. It features high atom economy, good functional group compatibility and convenient operation.
Rose‐Bengal‐Photocatalyzed Cross‐Dehydrogenative Coupling Reactions under Visible Light
Authors: Patel Divyani P. , Kumar Singh Satish
Published: January 2024

Over the past few years, organic chemistry has used the organic dye rose bengal‘s ability to absorb visible light. In present‐day research, the innovation of environmentally friendly processes for carbon‐carbon/carbon‐heteroatoms (Nitrogen, Oxygen, Sulphur, and Phosphorus) bond formation has great importance. The photocatalyzed cross‐dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) reactions using rose bengal (RB) is a promising technique for creating carbon‐carbon/carbon‐heteroatom bonds directly from readily available compounds. Our review focuses on the current advancement in rose bengal that uses photocatalyzed carbon‐carbon/carbon‐heteroatom bond‐making reactions to synthesize various important organic molecules via CDC reactions.
Transition‐Metal‐Catalysed Transfer Hydrogenation Reactions with Glycerol and Carbohydrates as Hydrogen Donors
Authors: Ansari Mohd Farhan , Anshika  , Sortais Jean‐Baptiste , Elangovan Saravanakumar
Published: January 2024

Catalytic transfer hydrogenation is a practical approach for reduction of various unsaturated compounds and an alternative to pressurised hydrogenation and traditional metal hydride reagents. Among the various hydrogen donors, biomass such as glycerol and carbohydrates received considerable attention for the reduction reactions due to their non‐toxic, eco‐friendly and renewable nature. The present review addresses the development of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts for the transfer hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds, alkenes, alkynes, nitro compounds, CO2 etc. using glycerol and carbohydrates as potential hydrogen donors.
A High‐Voltage Mechanical Energy Harvester Using Crank‐Shaft Mechanism for Applications in Toll Stations on Expressways
Authors: Bano Shehar , Kong Lingji , Li Yingjie , Liu Weizhen , Zeng Lei , Zhang Zutao , Abid Malik Muneeb
Published: January 2024

Due to the continuous increase of expressways and toll stations, there is a high potential for energy harvesting for sideway electronic devices. This article proposes a novel road energy harvester (REH) based on a crank‐shaft mechanism using bidirectional to unidirectional phenomenon to be installed on expressway toll stations. The REH contains four main components: the oscillation input from the suspension, the transfer unit, the generator unit, and the energy storage unit. The REH uses a crank‐shaft with spur gears as a mechanical motion rectifier and one‐way bearings, which can convert the oscillatory vibration into unidirectional generator rotation. In the energy storage module, electrical energy is being stored in supercapacitors. This study covers the design, modeling, and simulation of a crank‐shaft‐based energy harvester for harvesting suspension vibration energy. The energy harvester's dynamic modeling is used to assess the damping features. Simulated tests are conducted to demonstrate the proposed energy harvester's efficacy. Experiments are conducted, and the highest output voltage of 6.9 V peak is recorded for 5 mm/s with an efficiency of 53.66% which is enough for self‐powered applications at expressway toll booths such as traffic lights, caution lights, LED displays, sensors, etc.
Healthcare professionals' acceptance of COVID‐19 vaccination for their children: A cross‐sectional study at a tertiary care hospital in Western India
Authors: Vaghela Gladson , Shukla Apexa , Dave Darshan J , Lamichhane Aashish
Published: January 2024

Background and Aims

Establishing a transparent and forthright dialog between healthcare professionals (HCPs) and the public is paramount in promoting the effective acceptance of COVID‐19 vaccination for children. Hence, this study aimed to assess the COVID‐19 vaccine acceptance, knowledge, and perception among HCPs for their children.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was conducted among HCPs at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Western India. A structured questionnaire was designed and validated to collect data. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis.

Results

The study found that more than 80% of HCPs had good knowledge about COVID‐19 vaccines, and 92.74% of them were willing to accept the vaccine for their children. Doctors were more likely to vaccinate their children, and 73% of HCPs had a favorable attitude toward immunizing their children if a new COVID‐19 vaccine was available. Academic/peer‐reviewed publications were considered the most reliable source of information for COVID‐19 vaccination, followed by government sources.

Conclusion

This study found that parental vaccine hesitancy was significantly lower among the HCP group. The majority of HCPs were in favor of vaccinating their children against COVID‐19, indicating that they can serve as an effective channel for promoting parental acceptance of COVID‐19 vaccines in the community.
Menarche age and the risk of diabetes: A cross‐sectional study in South‐Eastern Iran
Authors: Khazaeian Somayyeh , Shahraki‐Sanavi Fariba , Ansarimoghaddam Alireza
Published: January 2024

Background and Aims

Diabetes is a major public health problem worldwide. This study aimed to determine the relationship between menarche age and overt diabetes in southeast Iran.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study was conducted on 6094 eligible women between the ages of 35 and 70 participating in the Zahedan Adult Cohort Study. Demographic and background data, fertility, anthropometry, and disease history were collected based on a questionnaire. Menarche age was classified into five categories (under 12 years, 12, 13, 14, 15 years and more). Diabetes is defined as a blood sugar of 126 or more according to the definition by the American Diabetes Association. Data analysis was done using SPSS 26 software. Descriptive analysis was performed with frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation; and analytical analysis using chi‐square and logistic regression tests. The significance level in this study was p < 0.05.

Results

The participants' mean age was 49.41 ± 8.88, and the mean age at menarche was 13 ± 1.49. 22.8% (1389 women) of participants with diabetes and 77.2% (4705 women) did not have diabetes. The findings showed that the chance of developing diabetes in women with a menarche age <12 years was significantly higher than in women with a menarche age of 13 years (reference) (OR = 1.23, 95% CI: 0.96, 1.51). This relationship was significant after adjusting variables such as body mass index, education level, fertility factors, history of diabetes, and reproductive diabetes (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 0.90, 1.44, p = 0.04).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that young age at menarche may be a risk factor for diabetes in adulthood. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm our findings. However, it is suggested to pay attention to it in diabetes screening so that, if possible, by identifying people at risk and implementing prevention programs, the adverse consequences of diabetes can be reduced.
Metformin inhibits high glucose‐induced apoptosis of renal podocyte through regulating miR‐34a/SIRT1 axis
Authors: Zhuang Xudong , Sun Zhuye , Du Huasheng , Zhou Tianhui , Zou Jing , Fu Wei
Published: January 2024

Background

Previous studies have reported SIRT1 was inversely modulated by miR‐34a, However, mechanism of metformin (MFN)'s renal podocyte protection under high glucose (HG) conditions and the connection between miR‐34a and SIRT1 expression in diabetic nephropathy (DN) remain unclear.

Method

We aimed to further elucidate the role of miR‐34a in HG‐treated podocytes in DN. A conditionally immortalized human podocyte cell line was cultivated in d‐glucose (30 mM).

Results

Microarray and RT‐qPCR revealed that miR‐34a was downregulated in HG‐treated podocytes. Additionally, miR‐34a levels increased in MFN‐treated HG‐induced podocytes. CCK‐8 assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometry, and Western blot detection showed that HG treatment reduced cell viability and promoted via HG treatment, and MFN treatment reversed this phenotypic change. MiR‐34a upregulation caused restored cell viability and suppressed cell apoptosis in HG‐treated podocytes, and miR‐34a downregulation led to damaged cell survival and induced apoptosis in MFN‐administered and HG‐treated podocytes. The dual luciferase reporter assay showed that SIRT1 3′‐UTR was a direct miR‐34a target. Further studies demonstrated an elevation in SIRT1 levels in HG‐exposed podocytes, whereas MFN treatment decreased SIRT1 levels. In addition, miR‐34a upregulation led to reduced SIRT1 expression, whereas miR‐34a inhibition increased SIRT1 levels in cells. MFN‐induced miR‐34a suppresses podocyte apoptosis under HG conditions by acting on SIRT1.

Conclusion

This study proposes a promising approach to interpret the mechanisms of action of the MFN‐miR‐34a axis involved in DN.
Alleviating effect of Nexrutine on mucosal inflammation in mice with ulcerative colitis: Involvement of the RELA suppression
Authors: Xu Hongyun , Wu Chunyu , Wang Danning , Wang Haiqiang
Published: January 2024

Background

Nexrutine is an herbal extract derived from Phellodendron amurense, known for its anti‐inflammatory, antidiarrheal, and hemostatic properties. However, its effect on ulcerative colitis (UC) remains unclear.

Methods

A mouse model of UC was induced by 3% dextran sulfate sodium, while human colonic epithelial cells NCM‐460 were exposed to lipopolysaccharide. Both models were treated with Nexrutine at 300 or 600 mg/kg, with Mesalazine applied as a positive control regimen. The disease activity index (DAI) of mice was calculated, and the pathological injury scores were assessed through hematoxylin and eosin staining. The viability of NCM‐460 cells was determined using the CCK‐8 method. Inflammatory cytokines were detected using ELISA kits. Expression of mucin 3 (MUC3), Claudin‐1, and tight junction protein (ZO‐1) was detected to analyze mucosal barrier integrity. Target genes of Nexrutine were predicted using bioinformatics tools. Expression of RELA proto‐oncogene (RELA) was analyzed using qPCR and western blot assays.

Results

The Nexrutine treatments significantly alleviated DAI of mice, mitigated pathological changes in their colon tissues, decreased the production of pro‐inflammatory cytokines, enhanced the barrier integrity‐related proteins, and increased NCM‐460 cell viability in vitro. RELA, identified as a target gene of Nexrutine, showed elevated levels in UC models but was substantially suppressed by Nexrutine treatment. Adenovirus‐mediated RELA upregulation in mice or the overexpression plasmid of RELA in cells counteracted the effects of Nexrutine treatments, exacerbating UC‐related symptoms.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that Nexrutine alleviates inflammatory mucosal barrier damage in UC by suppressing RELA transcription.
Clinical performance of AMA‐M2, anti‐gp210 and anti‐sp100 antibody levels in primary biliary cholangitis: When detected by multiplex bead‐based flow fluorescent immunoassay
Authors: Wang Zhan , Li Yongxin , Ren Lisheng , Li Yujie , Xu Tiantian , Li Wenshuai , Gao Weize , Sun Guirong , Liu Mingjun
Published: January 2024

Background and Aim

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic autoimmune cholangiopathy, characterized by the presence of some autoantibodies in the serum. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of AMA‐M2, anti‐gp210 and anti‐sp100 antibody levels detected by multiplex bead‐based flow fluorescent immunoassay (MBFFI) in PBC.

Methods

This study cohort included 238 PBC patients, 81 autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) patients, 62 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, and 118 healthy controls. Serum AMA‐M2, anti‐gp210 and anti‐sp100 antibody were detected by MBFFI and immunoblotting assay (IBT). The relationship between three antibody levels and cirrhosis, liver function, cholestasis markers and therapeutic effect to ursodesoxycholic acid (UDCA) was evaluated in PBC.

Results

MBFFI were presented good coincidence rate (87.39%–95.38%) with IBT. The level of AMA‐M2, anti‐gp210 and anti‐sp100 antibodies in PBC patients were higher than other disease group and healthy controls (p ＜ .01). When compared with the healthy controls group, the AUC of AMA‐M2, anti‐gp210 and anti‐sp100 antibodies were 0.9245, 0.7619, and 0.6789, respectively. In addition, gp210 antibody levels have diagnostic value in patients with liver cirrhosis (AUC: 0.7567). We found that when combine detect these three antibodies, the sensitivity was higher than individually detection. High level of serum anti‐gp210 antibody could be related to worse liver function and more severe cholestasis in PBC patients. Moreover, serum antibody levels may decrease or remained flat in patients who responded well to UDCA.

Conclusion

The detection of AMA‐M2, anti‐gp210 and anti‐sp100 antibody levels by MBFFI showed good performance in the diagnosis of PBC. Serum anti‐gp210 antibody level is related to cirrhosis, poor liver function and severe cholestasis in PBC.
An improved semantic segmentation for breast lesion from dynamic contrast enhanced MRI images using deep learning
Authors: Star C. Sahaya Pushpa Sarmila , Milton A. , Inbamalar T. M.
Published: January 2024

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that approximately 2.3 million breast cancer cases are diagnosed each year. Early detection is key to tackling this issue, and Dynamic Contrast Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DCE‐MRI) is a preferred method for detecting tumors. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) can accurately segment images without human assistance. The objective of this study is to develop a computer‐aided diagnosis system that can segment breast lesions from DCE‐MRI images. A 92‐layer deep CNN, called DCNN‐92, and a 94‐layer deep CNN, called DCNN‐94, have been designed to identify lesions. The proposed methods have been validated using images from The Cancer Image Archive (TCIA) database. The proposed DCNN‐92 model segments the tumor pixels effectively, but it exhibits some misclassifications where certain background pixels are incorrectly labeled as tumor and tumor pixels are identified as background. To segment the tumor pixels more accurately, two grouped convolution layers are added to the DCNN‐92 model. The model with 94 layers, that is, DCNN‐94, segments most of the tumor pixels correctly, thereby enhancing the segmentation performance. When compared to DCNN‐92, the DCNN‐94 model exhibits enhanced performance across standard metrics such as sensitivity, dice coefficient, Jaccard coefficient, and area under the curve (AUC). It was found that the training time for DCNN‐94 is shorter. The DCNN‐94 model with dilation factor and group convolution is concluded to be an effective method for lesion segmentation from breast DCE‐MRI images compared to existing methods.
Further evidence of renewal in automatically maintained behavior
Authors: Falligant John Michael , Kranak Michael P. , Piersma Drew E. , Benson Ryan , Schmidt Jonathan D. , Frank‐Crawford Michelle A.
Published: January 2024

Renewal is a relapse phenomenon that refers to the recurrence of a previously reduced behavior following a change in stimulus conditions. Muething et al. (2022) examined the phenomenology of renewal among individuals with automatically maintained challenging behavior treated at an outpatient clinic. We replicated their findings by retrospectively examining renewal across various topographies of automatically maintained behavior treated at an inpatient hospital, and we extended their work by also examining differences across subtypes of automatically maintained self‐injurious behavior. The prevalence of renewal was comparable to that observed by Muething et al., supporting the notion that automatically maintained challenging behavior is susceptible to relapse phenomena. Furthermore, renewal was twice as likely to occur for individuals with Subtype 2 versus Subtype 1 self‐injurious behavior, providing additional evidence of behavioral differentiation between subtypes. Our findings suggest that even after apparent stability in treatment, practitioners should remain vigilant for the recurrence of automatically maintained behavior during generalization.
In silico analysis of alpha‐synuclein protein variants and posttranslational modifications related to Parkinson's disease
Authors: da Silva Aloma N. R. , Pereira Gabriel R. C. , Bonet Luiz Felippe Sarmento , Outeiro Tiago Fleming , De Mesquita Joelma F.
Published: January 2024

Parkinson's disease (PD) is among the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders, affecting over 10 million people worldwide. The protein encoded by the SNCA gene, alpha‐synuclein (ASYN), is the major component of Lewy body (LB) aggregates, a histopathological hallmark of PD. Mutations and posttranslational modifications (PTMs) in ASYN are known to influence protein aggregation and LB formation, possibly playing a crucial role in PD pathogenesis. In this work, we applied computational methods to characterize the effects of missense mutations and PTMs on the structure and function of ASYN. Missense mutations in ASYN were compiled from the literature/databases and underwent a comprehensive predictive analysis. Phosphorylation and SUMOylation sites of ASYN were retrieved from databases and predicted by algorithms. ConSurf was used to estimate the evolutionary conservation of ASYN amino acids. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of ASYN wild‐type and variants A30G, A30P, A53T, and G51D were performed using the GROMACS package. Seventy‐seven missense mutations in ASYN were compiled. Although most mutations were not predicted to affect ASYN stability, aggregation propensity, amyloid formation, and chaperone binding, the analyzed mutations received relatively high rates of deleterious predictions and predominantly occurred at evolutionarily conserved sites within the protein. Moreover, our predictive analyses suggested that the following mutations may be possibly harmful to ASYN and, consequently, potential targets for future investigation: K6N, T22I, K34E, G36R, G36S, V37F, L38P, G41D, and K102E. The MD analyses pointed to remarkable flexibility and essential dynamics alterations at nearly all domains of the studied variants, which could lead to impaired contact between NAC and the C‐terminal domain triggering protein aggregation. These alterations may have functional implications for ASYN and provide important insight into the molecular mechanism of PD, supporting the design of future biomedical research and improvements in existing therapies for the disease.