bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expansion Microscopy Application for Calcium Protein Clustering Imaging in Cells and Brain Tissues
Authors: Rakovskaya Anastasiya , Chigriai Margarita , Bezprozvanny Ilya , Pchitskaya Ekaterina
Published: June 2023

Many biological studies require high‐resolution imaging and subsequent analysis of cell organelles and molecules. Some membrane proteins form tight clusters, and this process is directly linked to their function. In most studies, these small protein clusters have been investigated by total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy, which enables imaging with high spatial resolution within 100 nm of the membrane surface. Recently developed expansion microscopy (ExM) makes it possible to achieve nanometer resolution using a conventional fluorescence microscope by physically expanding the sample. In this article, we describe implementation of ExM for imaging of protein clusters formed by the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) calcium sensor protein STIM1. This protein translocates during ER store depletion and forms clusters that support contact with plasma membrane (PM) calcium‐channel proteins. ER calcium channels such as the type 1 inositol triphosphate receptor (IP3R) also form clusters, but their investigation by TIRF microscopy is impossible due to the large distance from the PM. In this article, we demonstrate how to investigate IP3R clustering using ExM in hippocampal brain tissues. We compare IP3R clustering in the CA1 area of the hippocampus of wild‐type and 5xFAD Alzheimer's disease model mice. To facilitate future applications, we describe experimental protocols and image processing guidelines for application of ExM to membrane and ER protein clustering studies in cultured cells and brain tissues. © 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Basic Protocol 1: Expansion microscopy application for protein cluster visualization in cells

Alternate Protocol: Expansion microscopy application for protein cluster visualization in brain tissues

Basic Protocol 2: Protein cluster analysis of expansion microscopy images using ImageJ and Icy software
Social and political capabilities as nonmarket activities: What are they and how do firms develop them?
Authors: dos Passos Ana Paula Pereira , Lana Jeferson , Marcon Rosilene
Published: June 2023

Firms recognize the need for strategic efforts in the nonmarket environment to improve their performance. We seek to explore the different ways in which firms learn about nonmarket strategies (NMS), whether the social or the political dimension. We conducted a search of previous NMS studies and analyzed this literature to reflect on the process of development and evolution of political and social corporate capabilities. Based on the theoretical insights of resource dependency theory (RDT) and the resource‐based view (RBV) and its variants, we adopt an external perspective of how firms capture critical political and social knowledge in the nonmarket environment and an internal perspective of how firms develop nonmarket capabilities from this new knowledge. We argue that the new knowledge obtained from the observation of peer firms, from co‐opting and collaborating with nonmarket and market actors and from their own experiences is incorporated into the firm's knowledge system and allows for the development and evolution of capabilities to integrate and deploy resources for strategic purposes. We also point out that changes in the nonmarket environment require firms to constantly seek new social and political capabilities. They learn, unlearn and relearn.
Influence of Residual Water Traces on the Electrochemical Performance of Hydrophobic Ionic Liquids for Magnesium‐Containing Electrolytes
Authors: Elkhafif Omar W. , Hassan Hagar K. , Ceblin Maximilian U. , Farkas Attila , Jacob Timo
Published: June 2023

A trace amount of water is typically unavoidable as an impurity in ionic liquids, which is a huge challenge for their application in Mg‐ion batteries. Here, we employed molecular sieves of different pore diameters (3, 4, and 5 Å), to effectively remove the trace amounts of water from 1‐methyl‐1‐propylpiperidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (MPPip‐TFSI) and 1‐butyl‐1‐methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (BMP‐TFSI). Notably, after sieving (water content <1 mg ⋅ L−1), new anodic peaks arise that are attributed to the formation of different anion‐cation structures induced by minimizing the influence of hydrogen bonds. Furthermore, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) reveals that the electrolyte resistance decreases by ∼10 % for MPPip‐TFSI and by ∼28 % for BMP‐TFSI after sieving. The electrochemical Mg deposition/dissolution is investigated in MPPip‐TFSI/tetraglyme (1 : 1)+100 mM Mg(TFSI)2+10 mM Mg(BH4)2 using Ag/AgCl and Mg reference electrodes. The presence of a trace amount of water leads to a considerable shift of 0.9 V vs. Mg2+/Mg in the overpotential of Mg deposition. In contrast, drying of MPPip‐TFSI enhances the reversibility of Mg deposition/dissolution and suppresses the passivation of the Mg electrode.
Hepatocellular carcinoma presenting as a chest wall mass – An unusual case diagnosed on cytology with review of literature
Authors: Agnihotri Mona , Sathe Pragati , Singh Avanika , Kothari Kanchan , Asthana Ankita
Published: June 2023

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with an aggressive behavior and a strong tendency for extrahepatic metastasis. Although 5%–15% patients have metastases at diagnosis, presentation with symptoms exclusively related to extrahepatic metastases is rare. An 82‐year‐old male presented with an isolated left anterolateral chest wall swelling. Ultrasonography revealed a soft tissue mass involving the anterior chest wall with adjacent rib erosion. Serum protein electrophoresis showed increase in beta‐2 region. A clinical diagnosis of multiple myeloma was considered. Fine needle aspiration cytology from the swelling showed loosely cohesive clusters of polygonal cells with traversing blood vessels. Cells showed abundant vacuolated to granular cytoplasm, round nuclei with frequent intranuclear cytoplasmic inclusions. A differential of metastatic HCC and renal cell carcinoma was considered. Subsequent imaging showed a 12 cm mass in the liver. Biopsy from chest wall mass with immunohistochemistry confirmed the diagnosis. Lungs and lymph nodes are the commonest sites for metastatic HCC; presentation as chest wall metastasis is rarely reported. The classical cytomorphology of HCC proved useful in diagnosing metastasis at a rare site. Recent studies have shown that beta‐2‐globulin is a promising biomarker for early diagnosis of HCC in patients with chronic liver disease.
A study on the microbial biocorrosion behavior of API 5 L X65 carbon steel exposed to seawater
Authors: Pourmadadi Mehrab , Mirshafiei Mojdeh , Yazdian Fatemeh , Rasekh Behnam , Zamani Mahsa , Mansouri Ali , Rahdar Abbas , Pandey Sadanand
Published: June 2023

Despite much progress achieved, corrosion in oil and gas pipelines remains a concern due to industrial failures, and environmental and economic damages. Oil and gas pipeline failures are very common as a result of the natural degradation of carbon steel exposed to the marine environment. It has been reported that the presence of microorganisms in seawater contributes to the intensification of corrosion and subsequent biofilm formation on metal surfaces. Few scientific publications have investigated the effects of seawater containing natural microorganisms on the internal corrosion of pipelines, which is the motivation for this study. The present study aims to report the corrosion behavior of carbon steel American Petroleum Institute (API) 5 L X65 exposed to seawater collected from the Persian Gulf containing microorganisms such as sulfate‐reducing bacteria (SRB), iron‐reducing bacteria (IRB), and acid‐producing bacteria (APB). Microorganisms were detected, segregated, colonized, and finally injected into autoclaved seawater to investigate their effect on the corrosion behavior of carbon steel. Nondestructive electrochemical techniques were performed to study the corrosion behavior and field emission electron microscope images and energy dispersive x‐ray analysis (EDS) were also utilized to characterize the corrosion products. The results confirmed the amounts of oxygen and iron presented of FeO as the main corrosion product in abiotic conditions. Corrosion products and electrochemical properties of steel have been influenced by microbial activity. The variation of the open circuit potentials (OCP) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) demonstrated that SRB and APB could not only significantly harm an alloy, but also could alter its electrochemical behavior from uniform to local damage. The outcomes proved that biofilm formation and bacterial activity can cause serious degradation.
Performance of inherent damping models in inelastic seismic analysis for tall building subject to simultaneous horizontal and vertical seismic motion
Authors: Mogi Yoshihiro , Nakamura Naohiro , Nabeshima Kunihiko , Ota Akira
Published: June 2023

In recent seismic analyses, it is considered that the structural damping ratio should be treated as independent of frequency, for safety side estimation. Therefore, frequency‐insensitive damping is required for realistic seismic simulations. This paper investigates the performance of various sparse matrix damping models (extended Raleigh, capped viscous and uniform damping) in the inelastic seismic analysis of a 35‐story moment‐frame steel building. These sparse matrix damping models were compared with Rayleigh, tangent Rayleigh, and Wilson‐Penzien (modal) damping models to provide insight into damping models suitable for large‐scale inelastic response history analysis (RHA). First, the necessity of frequency‐insensitive damping in large‐scale analysis is illustrated via numerical simulations. Then, the vibration characteristics with simultaneous inputs of horizontal and vertical ground motion are analyzed using the abovementioned damping schemes, and their results are compared. The comparisons are analyzed by focusing on horizontal displacement/acceleration, story drift angle, beam‐end ductility factor, the amplitude due to beam vibration, and the associated vertical acceleration. Finally, the computation speeds are compared. As a result, it is shown that although these sparse matrix damping models are practically useful, they are not yet sufficient and present challenges.
MS‐ADS: Multistage Spectrogram image‐based Anomaly Detection System for IoT security
Authors: Ahmad Zeeshan , Khan Adnan Shahid , Zen Kartinah , Ahmad Farhan
Published: June 2023

The innovative computing idea of Internet‐of‐Things (IoT) architecture has gained tremendous popularity over the last decade, resulting in an exponential increase in the connected devices and the data processed in the IoT networks. Since IoT devices collect a massive amount of sensitive information exchanged over the traditional internet, security has become a prime concern due to the more frequent generation of network anomalies. A network‐based anomaly detection system can provide the much‐needed efficient security solution to the IoT network by detecting anomalies at the network entry points through constant traffic monitoring. Despite enormous efforts by researchers, these detection systems still suffer from lower detection accuracy in detecting anomalies and generate a high false alarm rate and false‐negative rate in classifying network traffic. To this end, this paper proposes an efficient Multistage Spectrogram image‐based network Anomaly Detection System (MS‐ADS) using a deep convolution neural network that utilizes a short‐time Fourier Transform to transform flow features into spectrogram images. The results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves high detection accuracy of 99.98% with a reduction in the false alarm rate to 0.006% in classifying network traffic. Also, the proposed scheme improves predicting the anomaly instances by 0.75% to 4.82%, comparing the benchmark methodologies to exhibit its efficiency for the IoT network. To minimize the computational and training cost for the model re‐training phase, the proposed solution demonstrates that only 40500 network flows from the dataset suffice to achieve a detection accuracy of 99.5%.
Do maternal power assertive discipline and warmth interact to influence toddlers' emotional reactivity and noncompliance?
Authors: Engel Kivilcim D. , Lunkenheimer Erika , Corapci Feyza
Published: June 2023

Emotional and behavioural self‐regulation emerges during infancy and toddlerhood and is heavily influenced by parenting. Parents facilitate toddlers' behavioural regulation (e.g., compliance) by using appropriate control with warmth and managing children's emotional reactivity during situational demands. In contrast, power assertive discipline may strain children's regulatory skills, for example by evoking toddlers' negative affect. However, we have more to learn about how discipline relates to toddlers' self‐regulation in the moment and whether concurrent displays of parental warmth may moderate these relations. Mother–toddler dyads (N = 74, Mage = 13.30 months) from low‐to‐middle income Turkish families participated in a 3‐min laboratory task, in which toddlers needed to delay playing with an attractive toy. Maternal discipline, warmth, toddler's emotional reactivity, and noncompliance were coded from observations. Results showed that higher power assertive discipline was associated with more frequent emotional reactivity in toddlers whose mothers' showed warmth during the <84% of the task duration. Maternal warmth was negatively associated with child noncompliance, but warmth did not interact with power assertive discipline in relation to noncompliance. Results suggest that observed power assertive discipline is meaningfully related to toddlers' emotional reactivity and higher levels of expressed maternal warmth attenuates these relations.
Star power as quality signal or marketing effect? A path analysis on China's motion‐picture industry
Authors: Kang Lili , Peng Fei
Published: June 2023

This study investigates the relationship between star power, artistic excellence, and the commercial success of Chinese movies from 2009 to 2018 based on a two‐path structural model. Artistic excellence was measured based on industry recognition; more specifically, the winners of seven major movie awards in the greater China region, which reflect the critical and popular evaluations of reviewers and consumers. The commercial success was measured by box office performance and the level of buzz among the audience. While the paths of artistic excellence and commercial movie success are essentially separable, as well as conceptually and empirically distinct, movie star power may influence both. Our findings indicate that star power had negative signal effects on critical and popular evaluation as well as industry recognition, but positive marketing effects on critical and popular buzz as well as box office performance. Indeed, star power has indirect positive effects that can outweigh its negative effects. Thus, star power is the key to success in these two seemingly unrelated paths in China. Moreover, these findings have several implications for international investors, producers, actors, and directors who are participating in the Chinese motion picture industry.
Using the candidacy framework to conceptualize systems and gaps when developing infant mental health (IMH) services: A qualitative study
Authors: Phang Fifi T. H. , Weaver Alicia , Blane David N. , Murphy Fionnghuala , Dawson Andrew , Hall Sophie , De Natale Anna , Minnis Helen , McFadyen Anne
Published: June 2023

The development of infant mental health (IMH) services globally is still in its early stages. This qualitative study aims to understand the challenges of setting up IMH services and explores the views and experiences of 14 multi‐disciplinary stakeholders who are part of the IMH implementation group in a large Scottish health board. Six major themes were identified through thematic analysis. This paper examines the most prominent theme “Systems” alongside the theme “Gaps in Current Service”. The theoretical framework of “candidacy” is found to be a valuable way to conceptualize the complex systemic layers of micro, meso, and macro factors that contribute to the challenges of setting up services. At the micro level, key themes included the view that services must be accessible, individualized, and involve families. At the meso level, in line with the aims of the service, multiagency integration, aspects of early intervention, and clear operating conditions were all seen as important. Finally, at the macro level, perhaps the biggest challenge perceived by stakeholders is delivering a service that is entirely infant‐focused. These findings will help inform policy makers about factors considered by professionals to be vital in the establishment of IMH services in Scotland and across the globe.
COVID‐19 among adults living with HIV: correlates of mortality among public sector healthcare users in Western Cape, South Africa
Authors: Kassanjee Reshma , Davies Mary‐Ann , Ngwenya Olina , Osei‐Yeboah Richard , Jacobs Theuns , Morden Erna , Timmerman Venessa , Britz Stefan , Mendelson Marc , Taljaard Jantjie , Riou Julien , Boulle Andrew , Tiffin Nicki , Zinyakatira Nesbert
Published: June 2023

Introduction

While a large proportion of people with HIV (PWH) have experienced SARS‐CoV‐2 infections, there is uncertainty about the role of HIV disease severity on COVID‐19 outcomes, especially in lower‐income settings. We studied the association of mortality with characteristics of HIV severity and management, and vaccination, among adult PWH.

Methods

We analysed observational cohort data on all PWH aged ≥15 years experiencing a diagnosed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection (until March 2022), who accessed public sector healthcare in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Logistic regression was used to study the association of mortality with evidence of antiretroviral therapy (ART) collection, time since first HIV evidence, CD4 cell count, viral load (among those with evidence of ART collection) and COVID‐19 vaccination, adjusting for demographic characteristics, comorbidities, admission pressure, location and time period.

Results

Mortality occurred in 5.7% (95% CI: 5.3,6.0) of 17,831 first‐diagnosed infections. Higher mortality was associated with lower recent CD4, no evidence of ART collection, high or unknown recent viral load and recent first HIV evidence, differentially by age. Vaccination was protective. The burden of comorbidities was high, and tuberculosis (especially more recent episodes of tuberculosis), chronic kidney disease, diabetes and hypertension were associated with higher mortality, more strongly in younger adults.

Conclusions

Mortality was strongly associated with suboptimal HIV control, and the prevalence of these risk factors increased in later COVID‐19 waves. It remains a public health priority to ensure PWH are on suppressive ART and vaccinated, and manage any disruptions in care that occurred during the pandemic. The diagnosis and management of comorbidities, including for tuberculosis, should be optimized.
Resilience and well‐being among expatriate entrepreneurs: Envisioning life after a global crisis
Authors: Abonil Mariam , Shrivastava Anita , Hyland Lynda
Published: June 2023

Expatriate entrepreneurs are exposed to greater risk than ‘local’ entrepreneurs, particularly during exogenous crises. Their psychological characteristics can influence how they view such threats and may inform resultant coping strategies. Reflecting on pre‐entrepreneurship experiences and envisioning life post‐crisis allows identification of 'what worked' for entrepreneurs throughout their career journeys. This exploratory study investigated the career reflections and future planning of 12 purposively sampled for‐profit expatriate entrepreneurs based in the United Arab Emirates, a country with a primarily expatriate workforce. Reflexive Thematic Analysis of semi‐structured interview data revealed two overarching themes, “resilience” and “valuing relationships.” These were evident in participants’ career development narratives, demonstrating the centrality of these positive psychology constructs throughout their career journeys in impacting business outcomes and well‐being. Despite facing significant challenges, participants were hopeful due to intrinsic (resilience) and extrinsic (relationship) factors, both of which may support psychological health and aid future career efforts. These findings are relevant to career counselors and entrepreneurship educators, who can promote the role of soft skills, including relationship‐building, and positive psychological constructs as buffers against future challenges.
Target‐mediated suppression of rolling circle amplification for label‐free detection of aflatoxin B1
Authors: Yao Lili , Cheng Yuqin , Dong Baolei , Yan Ling , Qu Hao , Mao Yu , Liu Changhong , Zheng Lei
Published: June 2023

Background

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) has been considered as a prevailing natural carcinogenic mycotoxin in various food and feedstuff products, posing serious endangers to human health. The quantitative and selective detection of AFB1 was significantly essential for food safety control.

Results

We developed a label‐free fluorescent aptasensor using a target‐binding aptamer probe as the rolling circle amplification (RCA) primer for AFB1 detection. In the presence of AFB1, the probe preferentially combined with AFB1 rather than binding to the circular template, inhibiting the initiation of RCA process. The detection limit of the proposed method was as low as 6.6 nM, and the linear dynamic response range was four orders of magnitude wide. Besides, it revealed excellent specificity for AFB1 and high‐quality detection performance in food samples.

Conclusion

The presented detection method was simple, rapid, and economical, which indicated a promising application in food safety monitoring.
Investigating the latent structure of the International Trauma Questionnaire to assess ICD‐11 posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD in an adult civilian sample during the Ukraine war
Authors: Ho Grace W. K. , Vang Maria Louison , Martsenkovskyi Dmytro , Karatzias Thanos , Ben‐Ezra Menachem , McElroy Eoin , Redican Enya , Cloitre Marylene , Lorberg Boris , Hyland Philip , Shevlin Mark
Published: June 2023

The symptom structure of ICD‐11 posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (CPTSD) and the validity of the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) are yet to be tested among civilians in an active war zone. The present investigation examined the factor structure of the ITQ, the internal consistency of observed scores, and their associations with demographic characteristics and war‐related experiences using a nationwide sample of 2,004 adults from the general population of Ukraine approximately 6 months after the full‐scale Russian invasion in 2022. Overall, rates of endorsement across all symptom clusters were high. The mean total number of war‐related stressors reported was 9.07 (SD = 4.35, range: 1–26). Internal reliability was good for all six ITQ subscales, Cronbach's αs = .73–.88, and the correlated six‐factor model was found to provide the best representation of the latent structure of the ITQ in the present sample based on fit indices. There was evidence of a dose–response relationship, with increasing scores on all symptom clusters associated with higher total reported war‐related stressors.
Assessment of neighborhood‐level disadvantage and pediatric obstructive sleep apnea severity
Authors: Kim Jenny , Kou Yann‐Fuu , Chorney Stephen R. , Mitchell Ron B. , Johnson Romaine F.
Published: June 2023

Objectives

To examine the relationship between neighborhood‐level advantage and severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children.

Methods

A retrospective case–control study was conducted on 249 children who underwent adenotonsillectomy and had full‐night polysomnography conducted within 6 months prior. Patients were divided into more or less socioeconomically disadvantaged groups using a validated measure, the area deprivation index (ADI). The primary outcomes were the relationship between the apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) and the presence of severe OSA, and the secondary outcome was residual moderate or greater OSA after tonsillectomy.

Results

Of the 249 children included in the study, 175 (70.3%) were socially disadvantaged (ADI > 50). The median (interquartile range [IQR]) age was 9.4 (7.3–12.3) years, 129 (51.8%) were male, and the majority were White (151, 60.9%), Black (51, 20.6%), and/or of Hispanic (155, 62.5%) ethnicity. A total of 140 (56.2%) children were obese. The median (IQR) AHI was 8.9 (3.9–20.2). There was no significant difference in the median AHI or the presence of severe OSA between the more and less disadvantaged groups. Severe OSA was found to be associated with obesity (odds ratio [OR] = 3.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.83–5.34), and residual moderate or greater OSA was associated with older age (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.05–1.38).

Conclusions

The ADI was not significantly associated with severe OSA or residual OSA in this cohort of children. Although more neighborhood‐level disadvantage may increase the risk of comorbidities associated with OSA, it was not an independent risk factor in this study.

Level of Evidence

Level 4.
Can we identify the prevalence of perinatal mental health using routinely collected health data?: A review of publicly available perinatal mental health data sources in England
Authors: Masefield Sarah , Willan Kathryn , Darwin Zoe , Blower Sarah , Nekitsing Chandani , Dickerson Josie
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Perinatal mental health (PMH) conditions affect around one in four women, and may be even higher in women from some ethnic minority groups and those living in low socioeconomic circumstances. Poor PMH causes significant distress and can have lifelong adverse impacts for some children. In England, current prevalence rates are estimated using mental health data of the general population and do not take sociodemographic variance of geographical areas into account. Services cannot plan their capacity and ensure appropriate and timely support using these estimates. Our aim was to see if PMH prevalence rates could be identified using existing publicly available sources of routine health data.

Methods

A review of data sources was completed by searching NHS Digital (now NHS England), Public Health England and other national PMH resources, performing keyword searches online, and research team knowledge of the field. The sources were screened for routine data that could be used to produce prevalence of PMH conditions by sociodemographic variation. Included sources were reviewed for their utility in accessibility, data relevance and technical specification relating to PMH and sociodemographic data items.

Results

We found a PMH data ‘blind spot’ with significant inadequacies in the utility of all identified data sources, making it impossible to provide information on the prevalence of PMH in England and understand variation by sociodemographic differences.

Conclusions

To enhance the utility of publicly available routine data to provide PMH prevalence rates requires improved mandatory PMH data capture in universal services, available publicly via one platform and including assessment outcomes and sociodemographic data.
Brauer groups and étale homotopy type
Authors: Moutand Mohammed
Published: June 2023

Extending a result of Schröer on a Grothendieck question in the context of complex analytic spaces, we prove that the surjectivity of the Brauer map for schemes depends on their étale homotopy type. We use properties of algebraic spaces to apply this to some classes of proper and smooth algebraic schemes. In particular, we recover a result of Hoobler and Berkovich for abelian varieties.
Coordination Stoichiometry Effects on the Binding Hierarchy of Histamine and Imidazole–M2+Complexes
Authors: Song Jake , Khare Eesha , Rao Li , Buehler Markus J , Holten‐Andersen Niels
Published: June 2023

Histidine–M2+coordination bonds are a recognized bond motif in biogenic materials with high hardness and extensibility, which has led to growing interest in their use in soft materials for mechanical function. However, the effect of different metal ions on the stability of the coordination complex remains poorly understood, complicating their implementation in metal‐coordinated polymer materials. Herein, rheology experiments and density functional theory calculations are used to characterize the stability of coordination complexes and establish the binding hierarchy of histamine and imidazole with Ni2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+. It is found that the binding hierarchy is driven by the specific affinity of the metal ions to different coordination states, which can be macroscopically tuned by changing the metal‐to‐ligand stoichiometry of the metal‐coordinated network. These findings facilitate the rational selection of metal ions for optimizing the mechanical properties of metal‐coordinated materials.
Spondylolysis in ancient Nubian skeletal populations
Authors: Tipper Samantha , Wilson Penelope , Roberts Charlotte A.
Published: June 2023

A comprehensive study of spinal health in ancient Nubia has not been achieved to date. This study is a component of a larger survey of spinal health. It presents a comparative analysis of spondylolysis, with the aim of providing an insight into the quality of life, environmental and socio‐political stresses faced by individuals in ancient Nubia. This study provides bioarchaeological data from 515 adult individuals with preserved lumbar vertebrae (where spondylolysis is most commonly observed) from five populations that date from the Meroitic to the Medieval period (350 BC–1500 AD). Contextual data from settlements and cemeteries were used to interpret the data. The results demonstrated an overall crude prevalence of 6.6% for spondylolysis (individuals affected with vertebrae preserved) and an overall true prevalence of 1.2% (number of lumbar vertebrae affected). The data also revealed a number of possible trends, for example, that males were most affected, that there was an increase in prevalence over time, with the highest prevalence rates observed in the Medieval period, and that there was a higher prevalence rate among the populations from Mis Island compared with the other populations. It is possible that activities such as farming, building or rowing as well as socio‐political changes could have contributed to the prevalence of spondylolysis seen in this study.
Pediatric renal malignancy diagnosis is associated with significant burden of care for families
Authors: Leraas Harold , Thompson Sam , Sandoe Emma , Robles Joanna , Wagner Lars , Scales Charles , Gow Kenneth W. , Ehrlich Peter F. , Greenup Rachel , Tracy Elisabeth
Published: June 2023

Background and objectives

New childhood cancer diagnoses require timely, complex care coordination and cause considerable logistic burden for families. We used renal tumors as a model to examine healthcare utilization and cost following new solid tumor diagnosis.

Methods

Children (ages 0–21) with International Classification of Disease (ICD) codes for renal malignancy and subsequent nephrectomy were identified from North Carolina Medicaid claims data (2014–2020). We stratified patients by duration of follow‐up, then quantified healthcare utilization and billing totals.

Results

Eighty‐one children met study criteria. Median age at diagnosis was 3 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 1–5). Median family monthly earned income was $0. One month following diagnosis, children cumulatively spent a median of 16 days receiving medical care (IQR: 10–20), 28 days at 3 months (IQR: 21–43), and 50.5 days at 1 year (IQR: 35–94.5). Children cumulatively spent a median 12 days as inpatients during the first 3 months (IQR: 7–17) and 13.5 days at 1 year (IQR: 8.5–37). Children cumulatively completed a median 12 outpatient encounters at 3 months (IQR: 7–17) and 26 at 1 year (IQR: 12–36). At 1 year, median Medicaid claim reimbursements for children with renal malignancy was $50,041 (IQR: $36,670–$80,734).

Conclusion

In examining healthcare utilization in children with renal tumor diagnoses, the substantial number of days spent in medical facilities greatly impacts the burden of care on families, especially for those with limited financial resources. Awareness of this logistic strain on families and careful planning to consolidate patient visits may improve the navigability of pediatric cancer regimens for families, particularly those with limited resources.
Outcomes following intolerance to calcineurin inhibitor‐based graft‐versus‐host disease prophylaxis in children after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation
Authors: Wu Diana , Li Ying , Bi Yu , Lannom Trevor M. , Ward Deborah A. , Qudeimat Amr , Madden Renee M. , Sharma Akshay , Epperly Rebecca , Mamcarz Ewelina , Talleur Aimee , Naik Swati , Selukar Subodh , Triplett Brandon , Srinivasan Ashok
Published: June 2023

Calcineurin inhibitors (CNI), cyclosporine and tacrolimus, are commonly used for pharmacologic prophylaxis of graft‐versus‐host disease after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Unfortunately, their use is associated with significant toxicities. While intolerance to CNI is well defined, there is very little information on how they impact outcomes after HCT in children. Our retrospective study in a cohort of 82 children shows a high intolerance rate of 39% in this population associated with lower event‐free survival and a higher transplant‐related mortality.
Identifying druggable targets from active constituents of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. for non‐small cell lung cancer using network pharmacology and validation through molecular docking
Authors: Nath Rajat , Baishya Somorita , Nath Deepa , Nahar Lutfun , Sarker Satyajit D. , Choudhury Manabendra Dutta , Talukdar Anupam Das
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Azadirachta indica A. Juss. is a well‐known medicinal plant that has been used traditionally to cure various ailments in every corner of the globe. There are many in vitro and in vivo experimental evidences in connection with the bioactivity of the extracts of this plant. Lung cancer is the deadliest form of cancer and contributes to the most cancer related deaths. The mode of action of anticancer components of this plant is still to be established explicitly.

Objective

The objective of this study is to identify druggable targets of active constituents of A. indica A. Juss. for non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using network pharmacology and validation of activity through molecular docking analysis.

Methodology

Targets of all the active phytochemicals from A. indica were predicted and genes related to NSCLC were retrieved. A protein–protein interaction (PPI) network of the overlapping genes were prepared. Various databases and servers were employed to analyse the disease pathway enrichment analysis of the clustered genes. Validation of the gene/protein activity was achieved by performing molecular docking, and ADMET profiling of selected phytocompounds was performed.

Result

Gene networking revealed three key target genes as EGFR, BRAF and PIK3CA against NSCLC by the active components of A. indica. Molecular docking and ADMET analysis further validated that desacetylnimbin, nimbandiol, nimbin, nimbinene, nimbolide, salannin and vepinin are the best suited anti‐ NSCLC among all the phytocompounds present in this plant.

Conclusion

The present study has provided a better understanding of the pharmacological effects of active components from A. indica and its potential therapeutic effect on NSCLC.
Susceptibility to polarization type potential induced degradation in commercial bifacial p‐PERC PV modules
Authors: Mahmood Farrukh ibne , Li Fang , Hacke Peter , Molto Cécile , Colvin Dylan , Seigneur Hubert , TamizhMani Govindasamy
Published: June 2023

Potential induced degradation (PID) is a reliability issue affecting photovoltaic (PV) modules, mainly when PV strings operate under high voltages in hot/humid conditions. Polarization‐type PID (PID‐p) has been known to decrease module performance quickly. PID‐p can be reduced or recovered under the light in some cases, but this effect, as expected, would be less pronounced on the rear side of bifacial PV modules receiving lower irradiance. As bifacial PV modules are projected to dominate the PV market within the next 10 years, it is crucial to understand the PID‐p issue in bifacial modules better. In this study, we performed indoor PID testing to induce PID‐p on 14 commercial bifacial p‐PERC modules with three different module constructions from three manufacturers. Four rounds (+ve and −ve polarities for front and rear sides) of PID testing are done at 25°C, 54% relative humidity (RH) for 168 h using the aluminum foil method. Each module side (front cell side and back cell side) is tested individually under both negative and positive voltage bias. The results show that the highest degradation of 32% in maximum power (Pmax) at standard test conditions (1000 W/m2) and 51% at low irradiance (200 W/m2) has been observed in some cases. Recovery under sunlight is also done, and outcomes show a near‐complete recovery in Pmax. This study presents an extensive experimental methodology and a detailed analysis to systematically and simultaneously/sequentially evaluate multiple construction types of bifacial modules to the PID‐p susceptibility and recovery.
Insight into the role of the Bateman domain at the molecular and physiological levels through engineered IMP dehydrogenases
Authors: Gedeon Antoine , Ayoub Nour , Brûlé Sébastien , Raynal Bertrand , Karimova Gouzel , Gelin Muriel , Mechaly Ariel , Haouz Ahmed , Labesse Gilles , Munier‐Lehmann Hélène
Published: June 2023

Inosine 5′‐monophosphate (IMP) dehydrogenase (IMPDH) is an ubiquitous enzyme that catalyzes the NAD+‐dependent oxidation of inosine 5′‐monophosphate into xanthosine 5′‐monophosphate. This enzyme is formed of two distinct domains, a core domain where the catalytic reaction occurs, and a less‐conserved Bateman domain. Our previous studies gave rise to the classification of bacterial IMPDHs into two classes, according to their oligomeric and kinetic properties. MgATP is a common effector but cause to different effects when it binds within the Bateman domain: it is either an allosteric activator for Class I IMPDHs or a modulator of the oligomeric state for Class II IMPDHs. To get insight into the role of the Bateman domain in the dissimilar properties of the two classes, deleted variants of the Bateman domain and chimeras issued from the interchange of the Bateman domain between the three selected IMPDHs have been generated and characterized using an integrative structural biology approach. Biochemical, biophysical, structural, and physiological studies of these variants unveil the Bateman domain as being the carrier of the molecular behaviors of both classes.
Vibration control of a thin rectangular plate subjected to moving masses using an adaptive sliding mode control method
Authors: Pi Yangjun , Yu Rui , Li Changjun , Yang Bo , Luo Jun
Published: June 2023

This study investigates the vibration control of a plate subjected to moving masses. The plate model reflects the dynamic behavior more accurately than the beam model which is usually used in the existing literature. However, the vibration control of plates subjected to moving masses is also more challenging as more degrees of freedom need to be taken into account. In addition, the measurement of system status and uncertainty problems in practical application is another nodus. In this paper, combining an adaptive sliding‐mode control (ASMC) strategy and a modal coordinate reconstruction (MCR) method, the MCR‐ASMC method is proposed. The MCR method is employed to capture the plate dynamic behavior for feedback to the ASMC. The ASMC strategy realizes vibration control through the adaptive updating of parameters. Numerical results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method and excellent control performance in vibration suppression of moving mass problems.
Novel predictions of invasive breast cancer risk in mammography screening cohorts
Authors: Strandberg Rickard , Czene Kamila , Hall Per , Humphreys Keith
Published: June 2023

Mammography screening programs are aimed at reducing mortality due to breast cancer by detecting tumors at an early stage. There is currently interest in moving away from the age‐based screening programs, and toward personalized screening based on individual risk factors. To accomplish this, risk prediction models for breast cancer are needed to determine who should be screened, and when. We develop a novel approach using a (random effects) continuous growth model, which we apply to a large population‐based, Swedish screening cohort. Unlike existing breast cancer prediction models, this approach explicitly incorporates each woman's individual screening visits in the prediction. It jointly models invasive breast cancer tumor onset, tumor growth rate, symptomatic detection rate, and screening sensitivity. In addition to predicting the overall risk of invasive breast cancer, this model can make separate predictions regarding specific tumor sizes, and the mode of detection (eg, detected at screening, or through symptoms between screenings). It can also predict how these risks change depending on whether or not a woman will attend her next screening. In our study, we predict, given a future diagnosis, that the probability of having a tumor less than (as opposed to greater than) 10‐mm diameter, at detection, will be, on average, 2.6 times higher if a woman in the cohort attends their next screening. This indicates that the model can be used to evaluate the short‐term benefit of screening attendance, at an individual level.
Interaction of home and host countries' institutional conditions: An analysis of greenfield projects by Latin American firms
Authors: Alcaraz Jorge , Mazé Dominique , Buitrago R. Ricardo E.
Published: June 2023

Studying firms from emerging economies has been receiving more attention in recent decades. However, the host‐ and home‐country perspectives have allowed understanding, to a significant extent, of the firms' expansion abroad. We argue the necessity of investigating the interaction of home and host‐country institutional conditions to advance the understanding of the internationalization strategies of firms from emerging economies. Employing a sample of 1387 firms from 17 Latin American countries, we examine how their operations expanded from 2003 to 2019 by undertaking 2636 cross‐border greenfield projects in 94 host countries. Results indicate that the interaction of home and host countries' weak institutional conditions drives the decision‐making process for the internationalization of Latin American firms.
Social research to understand farmer and agricultural stakeholder attitudes towards bovine tuberculosis vaccination of cattle
Authors: Maye Damian , Chivers Charlotte‐Anne , Enticott Gareth , Lenormand Théo , Tomlinson Sarah
Published: June 2023

Background

This social research study employed a behavioural insights framework, Easy, Attractive, Social, Timely (‘EAST’), to identify cues that may influence farmer and stakeholder attitudes towards the deployment of CattleBCG vaccine.

Methods

The EAST framework was employed to develop policy scenarios consisting of several cues likely to affect vaccine uptake. These scenarios consisted of a government‐led approach, an individual farmer‐led approach, and a third approach, also farmer‐led but organised collectively. The government approach was mandatory, while the farmer‐led approaches were both voluntary. The scenarios were tested during farmer participatory workshops (n = 8) and stakeholder interviews (n = 35).

Results

Overall, the EAST framework provided a useful approach for gathering behavioural insights around attitudes towards cattle vaccination. We found an overall receptiveness towards the idea of vaccinating cattle against bovine tuberculosis, particularly where clear, transparent messaging around the likely efficacy is mobilised, where clarity around potential implications for trading is provided, and where vaccine doses are provided free of charge and administered by veterinarians and veterinary technicians. In general, these factors were a pre‐requisite to a mandatory (government‐led) national approach, which was the preferred deployment mechanism among farmers and stakeholders. However, these conditions would also likely facilitate a voluntary vaccination programme.

Limitations

Trust in those involved in delivering a vaccine programme and trust in the vaccine itself represent a crucial aspect of farmer and stakeholder attitudes towards cattle vaccination; however, this aspect was not covered by the EAST framework.

Conclusion

EAST provided a novel framework for examining attitudes towards cattle vaccination with CattleBCG, although we recommend incorporating a ‘trust’ component in future iterations.
A unidirectional drug‐release Janus membrane based on hydrogen bonding barrier effect for preventing postoperative adhesion and promoting tissue repair
Authors: Wang Qian , He Min , Zhao Weifeng , Zhao Changsheng
Published: June 2023

Barrier membranes incorporated with anti‐adhesion drugs have been widely used for preventing postoperative adhesion. However, the bidirectional release of drugs may interfere with internal tissue healing. Herein, a unidirectional Janus membrane composed of two functional layers is prepared by sequential electrospinning. The outer layer is designed as random polycaprolactone fibers incorporated with tannic acid/Fe3+ particles to prevent tissue adhesion, while the inner layer is designed as oriented gelatin fibers to promote tissue repair. Hydrogen bonding was employed to act as a barrier for preventing the diffusion of the tannic acid to the inner side, and thus the release of tannic acid occurs in a unidirectional manner. As a result, asymmetric biological performances of the Janus membrane are achieved. The outer face can provide anti‐inflammatory capability to the membrane and inhibit the viability of fibroblasts, while the inner face can promote the proliferation and differentiation of tendon stem cells. Tendon injured model confirms the prominent inflammation modulation, adhesion prevention, and repair promotion capabilities of the Janus membrane in vivo. This study provides a new strategy to develop advanced functional barrier membranes for postoperative adhesion prevention and internal tissue repair promotion.