bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
La réduction des méfaits en contexte carcéral québécois et canadien : tour d’horizon des pratiques connues
Authors: Plourde Chantal , Brochu Serge , White Noé Djawn , Couvrette Amélie
Published: May 2023

Bon nombre de consommateurs de substances psychoactives se retrouvent dans les institutions carcérales québécoises et canadiennes. Or, leur consommation ne s’arrête pas nécessairement avec l’incarcération. Les taux de prévalence de consommation en prison et en pénitencier en témoignent. Aux prises avec les méfaits qui y sont associés (propagation des maladies virales, intoxication, etc.), les autorités pénitentiaires et de santé publique sont priées de trouver une réponse appropriée. En communauté, les pratiques de réduction des méfaits ont déjà démontré des résultats positifs au-delà de l’amélioration des comportements à risque. Toutefois, est-il possible d’adopter, dans un contexte carcéral, une approche visant à atténuer les méfaits associés à la consommation de drogue plutôt que de prôner l’abstinence totale de toute drogue ? Cet article tente une réponse à cette question en se basant sur un bref survol international des mesures adoptées en prison, mais plus spécifiquement en analysant celles entérinées à l’intérieur des murs québécois et canadiens. Il en ressort qu’une concertation entre les différentes instances correctionnelles, judiciaires et de santé publique s’avère essentielle dans l’adoption de mesures de réduction des méfaits et que doivent s’arrimer les soins prépost et carcéraux
Sur l’historicité. À propos de Vanina Vanini de Stendhal
Authors: Bourdenet Xavier
Published: May 2023

L’article réfléchit à une définition opératoire de la notion d’historicité pour la sociocritique à partir d’un exemple concret : Vanina Vanini (1829), première nouvelle publiée par Stendhal. Il part des réticences de Claude Duchet, qui semble presque substituer à la notion d’historicité celle de cotexte, soit l’envisager comme une question de « représentations ». Nous suggérons qu’on gagne toutefois à ne pas réduire cette notion à un « problème de représentations ». L’argument se développe en trois temps. Nous montrons d’abord que l’historicité passe par le tissage des référents et des références, autrement dit la manière dont le texte présente sa situation historique : Vanina Vanini est lu cotextuellement comme un texte affichant un fort effet d’actualité tout en étant travaillé de références parfaitement inactuelles (La princesse de Clèves). L’historicisation du récit par cotextualisation découvre des temporalités multiples, non synchrones. Nous élargissons ensuite la notion d’historicité à une prise en compte de la manière dont le texte prend non seulement place mais sens dans l’Histoire, par l’articulation de son discours propre (sa « valeur » au sens sociocritique) aux enjeux historiques de son moment d’émergence : Vanina Vanini, texte du blocage historique, montre un Stendhal sceptique sur les chances d’évolution libérale, à court terme, de l’Italie. Nous suggérons enfin la nécessaire prise en compte des supports matériels de l’oeuvre comme composante essentielle de son historicité. À partir d’une macro-génétique de l’oeuvre stendhalienne, nous étudions les effets de sens induits par les supports et dispositifs médiatiques et éditoriaux de la nouvelle.
D’un sociogramme l’autre. De la France comme État à l’état de la France
Authors: Popovic Pierre
Published: May 2023

Après avoir mis en évidence les interactions entre le roman Colette Baudoche. Histoire d’une jeune fille de Metz (1909) de Maurice Barrès et l’imaginaire social des années 1870-1914-1918, après avoir pris appui sur un sociogramme de la France comme État proposé en 2005 par Claude Duchet, cette contribution dégage l’évolution d’un sociogramme de l’état de la France à partir de textes et de moments s’étageant de la Révolution française à nos jours. Les principales étapes en sont Waterloo et Hugo, Fantine et Hugo, Jeanne d’Arc et Michelet, Henri-Dominique Lacordaire et Marie-Madeleine, Colette Baudoche, Barrès et le revanchisme, Le silence de la mer (Vercors) et la Libération de Paris (vue par Charles de Gaulle), les « Trente Glorieuses » (Jean Fourastié), l’idéologème du grand remplacement (Renaud Camus) et la montée contemporaine de l’extrême droite (Le Pen, Zemmour et consorts).
ErbB signaling is a potential therapeutic target for vascular lesions with fibrous component
Authors: Jauhiainen Suvi , Ilmonen Henna , Vuola Pia , Rasinkangas Heta , Pulkkinen Heidi H , Keränen Sara , Kiema Miika , Liikkanen Jade J , Laham-Karam Nihay , Laidinen Svetlana , Beter Mustafa , Aavik Einari , Lappalainen Kimmo , Lohi Jouko , Aronniemi Johanna , Örd Tiit , Kaikkonen Minna U , Salminen Päivi , Tukiainen Erkki , Ylä-Herttuala Seppo , Laakkonen Johanna P
Published: May 2023

Background:

Sporadic venous malformation (VM) and angiomatosis of soft tissue (AST) are benign, congenital vascular anomalies affecting venous vasculature. Depending on the size and location of the lesion, symptoms vary from motility disturbances to pain and disfigurement. Due to the high recurrence of the lesions, more effective therapies are needed.

Methods:

As targeting stromal cells has been an emerging concept in anti-angiogenic therapies, here, by using VM/AST patient samples, RNA-sequencing, cell culture techniques, and a xenograft mouse model, we investigated the crosstalk of endothelial cells (EC) and fibroblasts and its effect on vascular lesion growth.

Results:

We report, for the first time, the expression and secretion of transforming growth factor A (TGFA) in ECs or intervascular stromal cells in AST and VM lesions. TGFA induced secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) in paracrine fashion, and regulated EC proliferation. Oncogenic PIK3CA variant in p.H1047R, a common somatic mutation found in these lesions, increased TGFA expression, enrichment of hallmark hypoxia, and in a mouse xenograft model, lesion size, and vascularization. Treatment with afatinib, a pan-ErbB tyrosine-kinase inhibitor, decreased vascularization and lesion size in a mouse xenograft model with ECs expressing oncogenic PIK3CA p.H1047R variant and fibroblasts.

Conclusions:

Based on the data, we suggest that targeting of both intervascular stromal cells and ECs is a potential treatment strategy for vascular lesions having a fibrous component.

Funding:

Academy of Finland, Ella and Georg Ehnrooth foundation, the ERC grants, Sigrid Jusélius Foundation, Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research, Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation, GeneCellNano Flagship program, and Department of Musculoskeletal and Plastic Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital.
What issues are data scientists talking about? Identification of current data science issues using semantic content analysis of Q&A communities
Authors: Gurcan Fatih
Published: May 2023

Background

Because of the growing involvement of communities from various disciplines, data science is constantly evolving and gaining popularity. The growing interest in data science-based services and applications presents numerous challenges for their development. Therefore, data scientists frequently turn to various forums, particularly domain-specific Q&A websites, to solve difficulties. These websites evolve into data science knowledge repositories over time. Analysis of such repositories can provide valuable insights into the applications, topics, trends, and challenges of data science.

Methods

In this article, we investigated what data scientists are asking by analyzing all posts to date on DSSE, a data science-focused Q&A website. To discover main topics embedded in data science discussions, we used latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA), a probabilistic approach for topic modeling.

Results

As a result of this analysis, 18 main topics were identified that demonstrate the current interests and issues in data science. We then examined the topics’ popularity and difficulty. In addition, we identified the most commonly used tasks, techniques, and tools in data science. As a result, “Model Training”, “Machine Learning”, and “Neural Networks” emerged as the most prominent topics. Also, “Data Manipulation”, “Coding Errors”, and “Tools” were identified as the most viewed (most popular) topics. On the other hand, the most difficult topics were identified as “Time Series”, “Computer Vision”, and “Recommendation Systems”. Our findings have significant implications for many data science stakeholders who are striving to advance data-driven architectures, concepts, tools, and techniques.
The Zoige pioneer plant Leymus secalinus has different endophytic bacterial community structures to adapt to environmental conditions
Authors: Xia Yue , He Ruipeng , Xu Wanru , Zhang Jie
Published: May 2023

Background

Leymus secalinus is a pioneer plant grown in the Zoige desertified alpine grassland and it is also one of the dominant plant species used for environmental remediation. L. secalinus plays a large role in vegetation reconstruction in sandy land, but the abundance and diversity of its endophytes have not yet been investigated.

Objectives

This study was performed to investigate the changes in the endophytic bacterial community structure of L. secalinus under different ecological environments and to analyze the effects of environmental changes and different plant tissues on the L. secalinus endophytic bacteria.

Methods

Leaf, stem, and root tissue samples of L. secalinus were collected from Zoige Glassland (Alpine sandy land) and an open field nursery (Control). DNA was extracted and the 16S ribosomal DNA was amplified. The sequence library was sequenced on an Illumina MiSeq platform and clustered by operational taxonomic units (OTUs). α-diversity and β-diversity analyses, species diversity analyses, functional prediction, and redundancy (RDA) analyses for the soil physicochemical properties were conducted.

Results

α-diversity and β-diversity analyses showed that the endophytic bacteria in L. secalinus varied in different areas and tissues. The abundance of Allorhizobium-Neorhizobium-Pararhizobium-Rhizobium, which is related to nitrogen fixation, increased significantly in the L. secalinus found in the Zoige Grassland.

Moreover, the abundance of nutrition metabolism and anti-stress abilities increased in functional prediction in the desert samples. The soil physicochemical properties had an insignificant influence on bacterial diversity.

Conclusion

The changes in the endophytic bacterial community structure in L. secalinus were significant and were caused by environmental alterations and plant choice. The endophytic bacteria in L. secalinus grown in alpine sandy land may have greater anti-stress properties and the ability to fix nitrogen, which has potential value in environmental remediation and agricultural production.
An Analysis of Constraints Faced by the Farmers and Intermediaries in Cultivation and Value Addition of Pineapple in Manipur State
Authors: Devi Haobam Dimashree , Mahendran K. , Kumar D. Suresh , Rohini A.
Published: May 2023

Aims: With many Manipur farmers depending on pineapple cultivation, it was essential to understand the constraints faced by the farmers in pineapple cultivation. Thus, the study aimed to identify the constraints on pineapple cultivation and value-addition activities in the State of Manipur.

Study Design: Manipur was purposively selected for the study. Totally three major pineapple growing districts of Manipur viz Senapati, Churachandpur, and Thoubal were considered, 120 pineapple farmers and 60 intermediaries were interviewed with the help of a well-structured questionnaire for collection of suitable information.

Methodology: The Garrett ranking technique was used to analyze the data.

Results: Lack of awareness on production technology, lack of seasonal labour, lack of physical facilities for processing, lack of training/awareness on pineapple processing, less government support, lack of cold storage and lack of metallic and link roads were the major constraints faced by the pineapple farmers and intermediaries of Manipur.
Typhoid Fever: Azithromycin vs. Ceftriaxone for the Treatment of Mild to Moderate Cases in Children
Authors: Yasmeen Onayza , Murad Tauhida , Sultana Afroza , Khan Zubaida , Nahar Sharmin
Published: May 2023

Background: Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection that can spread throughout the body, affecting many organs. Without prompt treatment, it can cause serious complications and can be fatal. It's caused by a bacterium called Salmonella typhi, In areas where there are few carriers of the typhoid bacterium, the disease is uncommon. It's also unusual to find places with sanitary water treatment and waste management systems. Nowadays both Azithromycin and Ceftriaxone are used for the treatment of mild to moderate cases in children.

Objective: To assess the outcome of treatment of Acute Typhoid Fever with Azithromycin vs Ceftriaxone in Children with no other complication.

Methods: This comparative study was carried out at tertiary hospital from January 2019 to January 2020. Where 200 patients coming to the hospital were initially screened in the outpatient department. During the study period, all children 5-18 years of age who, according to the outpatient department physician, had a diagnosis of typhoid fever were admitted to hospital. After admission to the ward, Among 200 patients, 100 patients treated with azithromycin (7 days of 10 mg/kg/day (maximum dose, 500 mg/day) and 100 patients treated with ceftriaxone were cured (P > .05).

Results: During the study, majority belong to 5-10 years age group and 45% live in semipucca building followed by 60% drink Supply water without boiling and 80% cases were accustomed to solely home made food and outside of food. Clinical characteristics of azithromycin and ceftriaxone recipients who had typhoid fever and for whom blood cultures were positive where in azithromycin group mean duration of hospital stay was 9.8 days followed by 100 cases showed salmonella typhi positive.

Whereas in Ceftriaxone group mean duration of hospital stay was 9.0 days followed by 100 cases showed positivity in salmonella typhi positive. In azithromycin group 90% were cured by day 7 followed by 86% were cured microbiologically, plus no relapse cases were found.

Whereas in ceftriaxone case 80% were cured by day 7 followed by 78% were cured microbiologically, plus 5 relapse cases were found.

Conclusion: Oral azithromycin given once daily appears to be beneficial in the treatment of uncomplicated typhoid fever in children. If these findings are verified, the agent could be a viable therapeutic option for typhoid fever, especially in developing nations where medical resources are limited.
Poverty and Its Problems in the Province of West Sumatra
Authors: Zaki  , Yolanda  , Ali Hendry , Astuti Pudji
Published: May 2023

Poverty is a problem that is difficult for many countries to overcome, so the United Nations (UN) created an SDGS agenda whose main goal is to end all forms of poverty in this world by 2030. To overcome this poverty, many countries are trying to see what factors cause poverty to occur. This research tries to look at the causes of poverty in terms of education, Human Development Index, Unemployment, Income Inequality, and Labor Force Participation Rate in Districts/Cities of West Sumatra Province from 2011-2019. The research analysis technique uses panel data regression with cross sections of 19 districts and cities and the 2011-2019 time series. Estimation of the relationship using the panel model regression method is the Common Effect Model, Fixed Effect Model and Random Effect Model. Selection of the best model is done by Chow tetst and Hausman tests is the Random Effect Model. Based on the research results, it was found that education and the Human Development Index can significantly reduce poverty and unemployment, and income inequality can significantly increase poverty, as well as the Labor Force Participation Rate. The results of this study provide recommendations to local governments to provide access to higher education and better health for the whole community as well as provide employment and reduce income inequality that occurs.
Polyoxometalate Intercalated M2+/Al (M2+=Ni, Mg) Layered Double Hydroxide for Degradation of Methylene Blue
Authors: Hanifah Yulizah , Mohadi Risfidian , Mardiyanto Mardiyanto , Ahmad Nur , Suheryanto Suheryanto , Lesbani Aldes
Published: May 2023

The synthesis and characterization of M2+/Al (M2+=Ni, Mg) layered double hydroxide (LDH) and intercalated polyoxometalate is presented. We have reported the growth of polyoxometalate on Ni/Mg layered double hydroxide for degradation methylene blue (MB). By considering variables such as pH of dye solution, dye concentration, and time as degradation variables, the efficiency of organic dye degradation and degradation parameters of M2+/Al (M2+ = Ni, Mg) LDH and both composite LDH-polyoxometalate has been identified. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and Ultra Violet Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (UV-DRS) spectroscopy confirmed the layered double hydroxide structure. XRD and FTIR analysis confirmed the single-phase of the as-made and polyoxometalate intercalated LDH. SEM images show the formation of aggregates of small various sizes. The material’s photodegradation was assessed through methylene blue (MB) degradation process. The result showed that NiAl-Si has a good degradation capacity for MB as compared to NiAl-Pw, MgAl-Si, and MgAl-PW. The result shows that LDH composite presents stability and has good photocatalytic activities toward the reduction of methylene blue. The FTIR measurement confirming the LDH composite structure reveals the materials used in the fifth regeneration. The activity of MB photodegradation pristine were NiAl (45%), MgAl (43%), NiAl-Pw (78%), NiAl-Si (85%), MgAl-Pw (58%), and MgAl-Si (75%), respectively. The LDH-polyoxometalate composite material’s capacity to successfully photodegrade, as measured by the percentage of degradation, revealed an increase in photodegradation catalysis and the ability of the LDH to regenerate. Copyright © 2023 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).
Quality indicators for quality optimization in hospital pharmacy / Indicadores de qualidade para otimização da qualidade em farmácia hospitalar
Authors: Cruz de Vasconcelos Jaqueline , Hamer Erica Ripoll
Published: May 2023

Objetivo: identificar, a partir de publicações científicas, indicadores de qualidade para a otimização da gestão em farmácia hospitalar. Método: revisão integrativa com levantamento bibliográfico nas bases de dados Scopus, We of Science e Medline, entre 2019 e 2023, utilizando os descritores Patient Safety, Quality Indicators e Pharmacy Service. Foram incluídos documentos em português, inglês e espanhol, com os resumos disponíveis nas bases de dados selecionadas e disponíveis na íntegra sem custos. Para análise dos documentos, aplicou-se a ferramenta CASP adaptada. Resultados: foram identificados 15 documentos na Web of Science, 24 na Scopus e dois na Medline com a temática abordada no tópico. Conclusão: as ferramentas de gestão da qualidade mais frequentemente reportadas foram as relacionadas com a definição da causa raiz. Os indicadores de qualidade utilizados para monitorar os resultados foram, principalmente, satisfação da equipe de trabalho, tempo gasto na execução das atividades e redução de erros e custos.
An Amphiphilic Entangled Network Design Toward Ultratough Hydrogels
Authors: Hou Xunan , Huang Binting , Zhou Lili , Liu Siqi , Kong Junhua , He Chaobin
Published: May 2023

Hydrogels find important roles in biomedicine, wearable electronics, and soft robotics, but their mechanical properties are often unsatisfactory. Conventional tough hydrogel designs are based on hydrophilic networks with sacrificial bonds, while the incorporation of hydrophobic polymers into hydrogels is less well understood. In this work, a hydrogel toughening strategy is demonstrated by introducing a hydrophobic polymer as reinforcement. Semicrystalline hydrophobic polymer chains are “woven” into a hydrophilic network via entropy‐driven miscibility. In‐situ‐formed sub‐micrometer crystallites stiffen the network, while entanglements between hydrophobic polymer and hydrophilic network enable large deformation before failure. The hydrogels are stiff, tough, and durable at high swelling ratios of 6–10, and the mechanical properties are tunable. Moreover, they can effectively encapsulate both hydrophobic and hydrophilic molecules.
All‐Day Multicyclic Atmospheric Water Harvesting Enabled by Polyelectrolyte Hydrogel with Hybrid Desorption Mode
Authors: Shan He , Poredoš Primož , Ye Zhanyu , Qu Hao , Zhang Yaoxin , Zhou Mengjuan , Wang Ruzhu , Tan Swee Ching
Published: May 2023

Sorption‐based atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) is a promising approach for mitigating worldwide water scarcity. However, reliable water supply driven by sustainable energy regardless of diurnal variation and weather remains a long‐standing challenge. To address this issue, a polyelectrolyte hydrogel sorbent with an optimal hybrid‐desorption multicyclic‐operation strategy is proposed, achieving all‐day AWH and a significant increase in daily water production. The polyelectrolyte hydrogel possesses a large interior osmotic pressure of 659 atm, which refreshes sorption sites by continuously migrating the sorbed water within its interior, and thus enhancing sorption kinetics. The charged polymeric chains coordinate with hygroscopic salt ions, anchoring the salts and preventing agglomeration and leakage, thereby enhancing cyclic stability. The hybrid desorption mode, which couples solar energy and simulated waste heat, introduces a uniform and adjustable sorbent temperature for achieving all‐day ultrafast water release. With rapid sorption–desorption kinetics, an optimization model suggests that eight moisture capture–release cycles are capable of achieving high water yield of 2410 mLwater kgsorbent−1 day−1, up to 3.5 times that of single‐cyclic non‐hybrid modes. The polyelectrolyte hydrogel sorbent and the coupling with sustainable energy driven desorption mode pave the way for the next‐generation AWH systems, significantly bringing freshwater on a multi‐kilogram scale closer.
Coherent Dynamics in Solutions of Colloidal Plexcitonic Nanohybrids at Room Temperature
Authors: Peruffo Nicola , Mancin Fabrizio , Collini Elisabetta
Published: May 2023

The increasing ability to prepare systems with nanoscale resolution and address their optical properties with ultrashort time precision is revealing quantum phenomena with tremendous potential in quantum nanotechnologies. Colloidal plexcitonic materials promise to play a pivotal role in this scenario. Plexcitons are hybrid states originating from the mixing of the plasmon resonances of metal nanostructures with molecular excitons. They allow nanoscale confinement of electromagnetic fields and the establishment of strong couplings between light and matter, potentially giving rise to controllable and tunable coherent phenomena. However, the characterization of the ultrafast coherent and incoherent dynamics of colloidal plexciton nanohybrids remains highly unexplored. Here, two dimensional electronic spectroscopy (2DES) is employed to study the quantum coherent interactions active after the photoexcitation of these systems. By comparing the response of the nanohybrids with the one of the uncoupled systems, the nonlinear photophysical processes at the base of the coherent dynamics are identified, allowing a step forward toward the effective understanding and exploitation of these nanomaterials.
Action‐ versus results‐based policy designs for agricultural climate change mitigation
Authors: Kreft Cordelia , Finger Robert , Huber Robert
Published: May 2023

Reducing agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is key to achieve overall climate policy goals. Effective and efficient policy instruments are needed to incentivize farmers' adoption of on‐farm climate change mitigation practices. We compare action‐ and results‐based policy designs for GHG reduction in agriculture and account for farmers' heterogeneous behavioral characteristics such as individual farming preferences, reluctance to change and social interactions. An agent‐based bio‐economic modeling approach is used to simulate total GHG reduction, overall governmental spending and farm‐level marginal abatement cost of Swiss dairy and beef cattle farms under both action‐ and results‐based policy designs. We find that total governmental spending associated with the compared policy designs depends on the cost and benefits of the considered measures as well as behavioral characteristics of farmers. More precisely, if farmers are reluctant to change, additional incentives are needed to increase adoption of a win‐win measure. In such a case, targeting the payment on the cost of that particular measure (action‐based design) instead of paying a uniform amount for abated emissions (results‐based design) can lower governmental spending for agricultural climate change mitigation. Farm‐level marginal cost of reducing GHG emissions are lower with results‐based payments independent of the cost of measures. Moreover, we find that farmers' individual preferences and reluctance to change substantially lower the adoption of mitigation measures and hence overall GHG reduction potential of farms.
Trends in price, spending, and utilization of omalizumab among Medicare beneficiaries
Authors: Dattilo Lillian W. , Rathi Vinay K. , Schlosser Rodney J. , Soler Zachary M. , Scangas George A. , Workman Alan D. , Gray Stacey T.
Published: May 2023

Key points

Between January 2005 and January 2023, the average selling price of omalizumab increased by nearly 60%.

Between 2016 and 2021, Medicare Part B and D spending on omalizumab totaled over $3.7 billion.

Between 2016 and 2021, Medicare Part B and D utilization of omalizumab increased by approximately 30%.
Pragmatic approaches to handling practice effects in longitudinal cognitive aging research
Authors: Chen Ruijia , Calmasini Camilla , Swinnerton Kaitlin , Wang Jingxuan , Haneuse Sebastien , Ackley Sarah F , Hirst Andrew K , Hayes‐Larson Eleanor , George Kristen M , Peterson Rachel , Soh Yenee , Barnes Lisa L , Mayeda Elizabeth Rose , Gilsanz Paola , Mungas Dan M , Whitmer Rachel A , Corrada Maria M , Glymour M. Maria
Published: May 2023

INTRODUCTION

The challenge of accounting for practice effects (PEs) when modeling cognitive change was amplified by the COVID‐19 pandemic, which introduced period and mode effects that may bias the estimation of cognitive trajectory.

METHODS

In three Kaiser Permanente Northern California prospective cohorts, we compared predicted cognitive trajectories and the association of grip strength with cognitive decline using three approaches: (1) no acknowledgment of PE, (2) inclusion of a wave indicator, and (3) constraining PE based on a preliminary model (APM) fit using a subset of the data.

RESULTS

APM‐based correction for PEs based on balanced, pre‐pandemic data, and with current age as the timescale produced the smallest discrepancy between within‐person and between‐person estimated age effects. Estimated associations between grip strength and cognitive decline were not sensitive to the approach used.

DISCUSSION

Constraining PEs based on a preliminary model is a flexible, pragmatic approach allowing for meaningful interpretation of cognitive change.

Highlights

The magnitude of practice effects (PEs) varied widely by study.

When PEs were present, the three PE approaches resulted in divergent estimated age‐related cognitive trajectories.

Estimated age‐related cognitive trajectories were sometimes implausible in models that did not account for PEs.

The associations between grip strength and cognitive decline did not differ by the PE approach used.

Constraining PEs based on estimates from a preliminary model allows for a meaningful interpretation of cognitive change.
Total Synthesis of Sculponin U through a Photoinduced Radical Cascade Cyclization
Authors: Cao Wei , Wang Zhen , Hao Yan , Wang Tianli , Fu Shaomin , Liu Bo
Published: May 2023

We have accomplished the total synthesis of sculponin U, a polycyclic C‐20‐oxygenated kaurane diterpenoid featuring a 7,20‐lactone‐hemiketal bridge, through a radical cascade cyclization triggered by photoinduced electron transfer (PET) of a silyl enolate to form the cyclohexanone‐fused bicyclo[3.2.1]octane skeleton. Other key points in our synthetic strategy encompass a Diels–Alder reaction to construct the middle six‐membered ring of sculponin U, and an intramolecular radical cyclization induced by iron‐catalyzed hydrogen atom transfer to close the western cyclohexane ring. Successful preparation of the enantiopure silyl enolate as the PET precursor enables the asymmetric total synthesis of sculponin U, opening a new avenue for divergent syntheses of structurally related C‐20‐oxygenated kaurane congeners and pharmaceutical derivatives thereof.
High expression of STAT3 within the tumour‐associated stroma predicts poor outcome in breast cancer patients
Authors: Morrow Elizabeth , Pennel Kathryn , Hatthakarnkul Phimmada , Leslie Holly , Mallon Elizabeth , Andersen Ditte , Jamieson Nigel , McMillan Donald , Roseweir Antonia , Edwards Joanne
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients have the poorest clinical outcomes compared to other molecular subtypes of breast cancer. IL6/JAK/STAT3 signalling is upregulated in breast cancer; however, there is limited evidence for its role in TNBC. This study aimed to assess the expression of IL6/JAK/STAT3 in TNBC as a prognostic biomarker.

Methods

Tissue microarrays consisting of breast cancer specimens from a retrospective cohort (n = 850) were stained for IL6R, JAK1, JAK2 and STAT3 via immunohistochemistry. Staining intensity was assessed by weighted histoscore and analysed for association with survival/clinical characteristics. In a subset of patients (n = 14) bulk transcriptional profiling was performed using TempO‐Seq. Nanostring GeoMx® digital spatial profiling was utilised to establish the differential spatial gene expression in high STAT3 tumours.

Results

In TNBC patients, high expression of stromal STAT3 was associated with reduced cancer‐specific survival (HR = 2.202, 95% CI: 1.148–4.224, log rank p = 0.018). TNBC patients with high stromal STAT3 had reduced CD4+ T‐cell infiltrates within the tumour (p = 0.001) and higher tumour budding (p = 0.003). Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) of bulk RNA sequencing showed high stromal STAT3 tumours were characterised by enrichment of IFNγ, upregulation of KRAS signalling and inflammatory signalling Hallmark pathways. GeoMx™ spatial profiling showed high stromal STAT3 samples. Pan cytokeratin (panCK)‐negative regions were enriched for CD27 (p < 0.001), CD3 (p < 0.05) and CD8 (p < 0.001). In panCK‐positive regions, high stromal STAT3 regions had higher expression of VEGFA (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

High expression of IL6/JAK/STAT3 proteins was associated with poor prognosis and characterised by distinct underlying biology in TNBC.
Treatment patterns and cost estimations of systemic chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer in Japan: A retrospective database study
Authors: Takumoto Yuki , Shibahara Ryotaro , Asami Hajime , Akazawa Manabu
Published: May 2023

Background

This study aimed to clarify the treatment patterns of pancreatic cancer patients receiving systemic chemotherapy in Japan and to estimate the direct medical costs in actual practice.

Research Design and Methods

This retrospective cohort study used electronic health record data between April 2008 and December 2018 in Japan. Participants had a confirmed pancreatic cancer diagnosis and received at least one systemic chemotherapy, including FOLFIRINOX, gemcitabine plus nab‐paclitaxel, gemcitabine, and S‐1. The outcomes were treatment patterns and monthly medical costs and the distribution of monthly medical costs across healthcare resource categories.

Results

Of the 4514 selected patients, 40.7%, 7.1%, 24.4%, and 21.3% used gemcitabine plus nab‐paclitaxel, FOLFIRINOX, gemcitabine, and S‐1 as first‐line chemotherapy, respectively. The median monthly medical costs were the highest in the first month, with gemcitabine plus nab‐paclitaxel ranking first (6813 USD), followed by FOLFIRINOX, gemcitabine, and S‐1. The health resource categories with the highest shares of monthly medical costs during the first‐line treatment period with gemcitabine plus nab‐paclitaxel and FOLFIRINOX were hospitalization costs (FOLFIRINOX: 41%–37%; gemcitabine plus nab‐paclitaxel: 40%–34%) and medicine costs (FOLFIRINOX: 51%–42%; gemcitabine plus nab‐paclitaxel: 49%–38%).

Conclusions

This study sheds light on the current treatment patterns and direct medical costs of systemic chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer in Japan.
Cyclization, Decyclization, and Metallacyclization of Pyridine‐Substituted Homopropargylic Alcohols on Ruthenium(II) and Osmium(II) Centers
Authors: Shek Hau‐Lam , Yeung Chi‐Fung , Chung Lai‐Hon , Tse Man‐Kit , Yiu Shek‐Man , Wong Chun‐Yuen
Published: May 2023

Systematic investigations on the reactions between cis‐[M(dppm)2Cl2] (M=Ru/Os; dppm=1,1‐bis(diphenylphosphino)methane) and pyridine/quinoline substituted homopropargylic alcohols uncovered the diverse Ru(II)/Os(II)‐induced alkyne activation pathways. The alkynes underwent cyclization on M via a “non‐vinylidene” pathway at lower temperatures, resulting in alkenyl intermediates which might further metallacyclize to give metallapyrroloindolizines. Conversely, reactions at higher temperatures induced alkyne cyclization on M via a “vinylidene” pathway, affording cyclic oxacarbene complexes. Additionally, a rare decyclization mechanism was observed during the transformation of a metallacyclization‐resistant alkenyl complex into a cyclic oxacarbene complex. DFT calculations were employed to validate the experimental findings. Overall, these results not only provide insights into controlling alkyne activation pathways, but also offer new strategies for preparing metalated heterocyclic and metallacyclic complexes.
Optimum energy efficient multi‐hop protocol for homogenous and heterogeneous 3D underwater acoustic sensor networks
Authors: Abdelhay Ehab H. , Morsy Nehad A. , Kishk Sherif S.
Published: May 2023

Information transmission is extremely challenging in underwater acoustic sensor networks (UASNs) because, in the acoustic channel, the packet loss is high compared to other channels due to low bandwidth and a long propagation delay. So, designing an efficient energy algorithm is a big challenge in the acoustic channel. In this paper, first, a cluster head (CH) election fitness function based on a hybrid particle swarm optimization and gravitational search algorithm (PSO‐GSA) is proposed for a three‐dimensional (3D) underwater sensor network (UASN). The proposed algorithm includes CH election, CH load, and neighbor CH distance for multi‐hop transmission (MH‐PSOGSA). Then, based on the proposed algorithm, a relay‐based traffic‐aware energy‐efficient routing protocol (R‐TAEERP) with a weight function is proposed to offload the heavy consumption of the CHs. MATLAB simulations were accomplished to compare the performance of MH‐PSOGSA and R‐TAEERP with the existing representative protocols. The heterogeneity in energy and traffic has been considered. The simulation results show better performance of the proposed algorithm than other existing representative protocols in terms of energy consumption, the performance of the stable region, and the lifetime of the network.
Sandpiper optimization algorithm with cosine similarity based cross‐layer routing protocol for smart agriculture in wireless sensor network assisted internet of things systems
Authors: Gupta Akanksha , Nahar Priyank
Published: May 2023

The Internet of Things (IoT) has recently attained a prominent role in enabling smooth and effective communication among various networks. Wireless sensor network (WSN) is utilized in IoT to collect peculiar data without interacting with humans in specific applications. Energy is a major problem in WSN‐assisted IoT applications, even though better data communication is achieved through cross‐layer models. This paper proposes a new cross‐layer‐based clustering and routing model to provide a scalable and energy‐efficient long data communication in WSN‐assisted IoT systems for smart agriculture. Initially, the fuzzy k‐medoids clustering approach is used to split the network into various clusters since the formation of clusters plays an important role in energy consumption. Then, a new swarm optimization known as enhanced sparrow search algorithm (ESSA), which is the combination of SSA and chameleon swarm algorithm (CSA), has been introduced for optimal cluster head (CH) selection to solve the energy‐hole problems in WSN. A cross‐layer strategy has been preferred to provide efficient data transmission. Each sensor node parameter of the physical layer, network layer and medium access control (MAC) is considered for processing routing. Finally, a new bio‐inspired algorithm is known as the sandpiper optimization algorithm (SOA), and cosine similarity (CS) has been employed to determine the optimal route for efficient data transmission and retransmission. The simulation of the proposed protocol is implemented by network simulator (NS2), and the simulation results are taken in terms of end‐to‐end delay, PDR, communication overhead, communication cost, average consumed energy, and network lifetime.
White matter microstructural metrics are sensitively associated with clinical staging in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Yang Yisu , Schilling Kurt , Shashikumar Niranjana , Jasodanand Varuna , Moore Elizabeth E. , Pechman Kimberly R. , Bilgel Murat , Beason‐Held Lori L. , An Yang , Shafer Andrea , Risacher Shannon L. , Landman Bennett A. , Jefferson Angela L. , Saykin Andrew J. , Resnick Susan M. , Hohman Timothy J. , Archer Derek B. ,   for the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: May 2023

Introduction

White matter microstructure may be abnormal along the Alzheimer's disease (AD) continuum.

Methods

Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) data from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI, n = 627), Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA, n = 684), and Vanderbilt Memory & Aging Project (VMAP, n = 296) cohorts were free‐water (FW) corrected and conventional, and FW‐corrected microstructural metrics were quantified within 48 white matter tracts. Microstructural values were subsequently harmonized using the Longitudinal ComBat technique and inputted as independent variables to predict diagnosis (cognitively unimpaired [CU], mild cognitive impairment [MCI], AD). Models were adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 carrier status, and APOE ε2 carrier status.

Results

Conventional dMRI metrics were associated globally with diagnostic status; following FW correction, the FW metric itself exhibited global associations with diagnostic status, but intracellular metric associations were diminished.

Discussion

White matter microstructure is altered along the AD continuum. FW correction may provide further understanding of the white matter neurodegenerative process in AD.

Highlights

Longitudinal ComBat successfully harmonized large‐scale diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) metrics.

Conventional dMRI metrics were globally sensitive to diagnostic status.

Free‐water (FW) correction mitigated intracellular associations with diagnostic status.

The FW metric itself was globally sensitive to diagnostic status.

Multivariate conventional and FW‐corrected models may provide complementary information.
Oxytocin system polymorphisms rs237887 and rs2740210 variants increase the risk of depression in pregnant women with early abuse
Authors: Olazábal Daniel Ernesto , Bertoni Bernardo , Grandi Graciela , Musetti Dora , Rey Grazzia , Sandberg Natalia , Fernández Lucia , Laporte Gabriela , Medici Florencia , Nicolaisen‐Sobesky Eliana
Published: May 2023

Prepartum depression is associated with early adversity, pregnancy complications, preterm delivery, postpartum depression, and long‐term effects on child neurodevelopment. The oxytocin (OXT) system is affected by early adverse experiences and has been associated with depression. In the current study, we investigated risk factors for prenatal depressive symptoms, mainly the effects of early childhood and adolescence trauma, in combination with the presence of certain variants of polymorphisms of OXT and OXT receptor (OXTR) genes. We hypothesized that early childhood and adolescence trauma has higher negative effects in carriers of genetic variants of the OXT/OXTR system, increasing their risk for depression. Early in pregnancy (8–14 weeks), 141 pregnant women from a Uruguayan population were asked to provide DNA samples and complete questionnaires that assessed their experience of child abuse, depression symptoms, and other variables that included demographic information. Our results showed that 23.5% of pregnant women had depressive symptoms. Several OXT and OXTR genetic variants were associated with higher risk of prepartum depression only in those pregnant women who suffered emotional abuse during infancy or adolescence. Logistic regression (Nagelkerke's R2 = .33) revealed that women who suffered early abuse and were carriers of the variants CC of rs2740210 (OXT) or AA of rs237887 (OXTR) had significantly higher risk of experiencing depressive symptoms. Antecedents of psychiatric disorders also contributed to the risk of depression. We conclude that emotional abuse contributes to the risk of depression in different ways in women carrying different OXT and OXTR genetic variants. Early detection and closer follow‐up of women with child abuse and certain OXT genetic variants, among other risk factors, could reduce the long‐term impact of prepartum depression.
Fine and gross motor skills in 7–10 years old Indian children exposed to a natural disaster during early development
Authors: Gomula Aleksandra , Nowak‐Szczepanska Natalia , Chakraborty Raja , Malina Robert M. , Ignasiak Zofia , Koziel Slawomir
Published: May 2023

Fetal life and infancy are extremely sensitive to adverse environmental conditions. This study aimed to assess the effect of exposure to a natural disaster (cyclone Aila) in utero or during infancy on fine and gross motor functions in preadolescent Indian children. The study was conducted in West Bengal, India, and included approximately 700 children (7–10 years old) who were prenatally or postnatally exposed to cyclone Aila and a nonaffected group. Anthropometric measures included height, weight, and birthweight. Socioeconomic status was based on parental education, family size, and income. Motor functions were assessed using the short form of Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT‐2). Statistical analyses included, for example, generalized linear models. There were no differences in motor functions relative to the timing of the exposure (trimester) during pregnancy. Compared to the controls, prenatal Aila exposure resulted in poorer performance in all BOT‐2 subtests, except for fine motor precision, strength, and balance (the last in boys), while postnatal Aila exposure, compared to the controls, resulted in poorer performance in manual dexterity, bilateral coordination, balance (girls only), and speed and agility. Early life exposure to a natural disaster has long‐term adverse effect on motor proficiency in children. By inference, the welfare of pregnant women and infants should be of particular concern for emergency and health services during an environmental cataclysm.
Multiple lines of evidence suggest the persistence of the Ivory‐billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) in Louisiana
Authors: Latta Steven C. , Michaels Mark A. , Michot Thomas C. , Shrum Peggy L. , Johnson Patricia , Tischendorf Jay , Weeks Michael , Trochet John , Scheifler Don , Ford Bob
Published: May 2023

The history of the decline of the Ivory‐billed Woodpecker is long and complex, but the status of the species since 1944, when the last widely accepted sighting in continental North America occurred, is particularly controversial. Reports of Ivory‐billed Woodpeckers have continued, but none has reached the threshold of quality for general acceptance by ornithologists or the birdwatching public. In 2021, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service opened for public comment a proposal to declare the species extinct. Here, we present evidence suggesting the presence of the Ivory‐billed Woodpecker at our study site, based on a variety of data collected over a 10‐year search period, 2012–2022. These data are drawn from visual observations, ~70,000 h of recordings by 80–100 acoustic recording units, ~472,550 camera‐hours by as many as 34 trail cameras, and ~1089 h of video drawn from ~3265 drone flights. Using multiple lines of evidence, the data suggest intermittent but repeated presence of multiple individual birds with field marks and behaviors consistent with those of Ivory‐billed Woodpeckers. Data indicate repeated reuse of foraging sites and core habitat. Our findings, and the inferences drawn from them, suggest that not all is lost for the Ivory‐billed Woodpecker, and that it is clearly premature for the species to be declared extinct.
Measuring the shape of mortality across animals and plants: Alternatives to H entropy metrics reveal hidden type IV survivorship curves and associations with parental care at macro‐ecological scales
Authors: Healy Kevin , Kelly Ruth , Carnevale Angela , Buckley Yvonne M.
Published: May 2023

The shape of mortality, or how mortality is spread across an organism's life course, is fundamental to a range of biological processes, with attempts to quantify it rooted in ecology, evolution, and demography. One approach to quantify the distribution of mortality over an organism's life is the use of entropy metrics whose values are interpreted within the classical framework of survivorship curves ranging from type I distributions, with mortality concentrated in late life stages, to type III survivorship curves associated with high early stage mortality. However, entropy metrics were originally developed using restricted taxonomic groups and the behavior of entropy metrics over larger scales of variation may make them unsuitable for wider‐ranging contemporary comparative studies. Here, we revisit the classic survivorship framework and, using a combination of simulations and comparative analysis of demography data spanning the animal and plant kingdoms, we show that commonly used entropy metrics cannot distinguish between the most extreme survivorship curves, which in turn can mask important macroecological patterns. We show how using H entropy masks a macroecological pattern of how parental care is associated with type I and type II species and for macroecological studies recommend the use of metrics, such as measures of area under the curve. Using frameworks and metrics that capture the full range of variation of survivorship curves will aid in our understanding of the links between the shape of mortality, population dynamics, and life history traits.