bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Calculating the excited state reactivity of a manganese(IV)‐oxo species with a negatively charged ligand
Authors: Ng Maggie , Cho Kyung‐Bin
Published: March 2023

It was previously found that MnIVO species with neutral ligands perform C‐H activation reactions through an “excited state reactivity” (ESR), where a valence electron in the MnIVO moiety is spontaneously excited to a higher orbital to create a more potent reactant. We extend this to a MnIVO compound with a negatively charged ligand ([MnIV(O)(DPAQ)]+), which we investigate with density functional theory. It is found that ESR are indeed preferable even in this case, and that the ligand charge may only have an indirect effect on ESR. Instead, ligand rigidity is proposed to affect the ESR rate more directly. In addition, an example of a new β‐electron transfer pathway was found, where three key orbitals mix to deliver the incoming electron to its final orbital position. This study supports the notion that ESR may be more common in C–H activation reactions of MnIVO compounds than what is so far known.
Lymphovascular or perineural invasion is associated with lymph node metastasis and survival outcomes in patients with gastric cancer
Authors: Zhang Fengxiang , Chen Huaxian , Luo Dandong , Xiong Zhizhong , Li Xianzhe , Yin Shi , Jin Longyang , Chen Shi , Peng Junsheng , Lian Lei
Published: March 2023

Background

Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and perineural invasion (PNI) are associated with poorer prognosis in several human malignancies, but their significance in gastric cancer (GC) remains to be clearly defined. Our study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of LVI/PNI in patients with curative resected GC.

Methods

Records of 1488 patients with stage I‐–III GC and 3327 patients with stage I–III colorectal cancer (CRC) were reviewed retrospectively, and difference in the incidence of LVI/PNI between GC and CRC was compared. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate whether LVI/PNI was an independent risk factor for lymph node metastasis (LNM) and overall survival (OS) in GC.

Results

Patients with stage I–III GC had a significantly higher incidence of LVI/PNI than patients with stage I–III CRC (50.54% vs. 21.91%, p  < 0.001). LVI/PNI was significantly associated with higher CEA, higher CA199, deeper tumor invasion, more lymph node metastasis, and advanced TNM stage in GC ( p  < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified LVI/PNI (OR = 2.64, 95%CI: 2.05–3.40, p  < 0.001) as an independent risk factor for LNM in GC. The OS rate was significantly lower in the LVI/PNI‐positive GC group than that in the LVI/PNI‐negative GC group ( p  < 0.001). On multivariate Cox regression analysis, LVI/PNI (HR = 1.34, 95%CI: 1.04–1.71, p  = 0.023) was an independent prognostic factor for OS in GC.

Conclusion

GC has a high incidence of LVI/PNI, which was closely associated with disease progression. LVI/PNI could serve as an independent risk factor for LNM and the prognosis of patients with curative resected GC. These findings will be helpful in predicting survival outcomes more accurately and establishing individualized treatment plans.
Prognostic value of esophageal cancer immune prognostic index in advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients with anti‐programmed cell death‐1 therapy
Authors: Lu Jiangyue , Du Lehui , Lei Xiao , Zhang Zhibo
Published: March 2023

Background

This study aimed to determine whether the immune prognostic index (ECIPI), based on hemoglobin (Hb) and neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR), could predict the prognosis in patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) receiving programmed cell death‐1 (PD‐1) inhibitor treatment.

Methods

Advanced ESCC patients who had been treated with PD‐1 inhibitors from Jan 2016 to Oct 2021 were included. Kaplan–Meier method and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to analyze progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The overall response rate (ORR) was the percentage of complete and partial responses. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used for estimating hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Patients were grouped by ECIPI (good: Hb > 105 g/L and NLR ≤ 4.3; intermediate: Hb ≤ 105 g/L and NLR ≤ 4.3, or Hb > 105 g/L and NLR < 4.3; poor: Hb ≤ 105 g/L and NLR > 4.3). Variables for the multivariate model were selected if the p‐value was below 0.05 in the univariate analysis. All statistical comparisons were two‐way, and a p‐value below 0.05 was set as statistical significance.

Results

Totally, of 123 ESCC patients with stage III or IV were included in the study. Efficacy evaluation showed that patients with pretreatment ECIPI good had the best ORR compared with those with ECIPI intermediate and ECIPI poor (53% vs. 22% vs. 8%, p < 0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that ECIPI was an independent influential factor for PFS (p = 0.004) and OS (p < 0.001). Kaplan–Meier curves demonstrated that patients with ECIPI good had the longest PFS (median: 11.6 vs. 3.5 vs. 1.7 months, p < 0.0001) and OS (median: 23.6 vs. 16.7 vs. 4.0 months, p < 0.0001) compared with those with ECIPI intermediate and ECIPI poor. Subgroup analysis indicated that ECIPI good was associated with improved PFS and OS in patients with ECOG 0–1, PD‐1 inhibitor plus chemotherapy, first‐line treatment, and smoke (all p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Pretreatment ECIPI was associated with the prognosis in advanced ESCC patients with anti‐PD‐1 therapy, suggesting that ECIPI may be a useful tool to identify patients likely sensitive to PD‐1 inhibitors.
Postponing colonoscopy for 6 months in high‐risk population increases colorectal cancer detection in China
Authors: Zhang Mingqing , Zhang Yongdan , Zhang Wen , Zhao Lizhong , Jing Haoren , Wu Xiaojing , Guo Lu , Zhang Haixiang , Zhang Yong , Zhu Siwei , Zhang Shiwu , Zhang Xipeng
Published: March 2023

Background and Aims

Colonoscopy is an important colorectal cancer (CRC) screening modality; however, not all high‐risk groups identified by fecal immunochemical test (FIT) and/or high‐risk factor questionnaire (HRFQ) undergo colonoscopy in time. The impact of delays in colonoscopy on CRC detection among high‐risk populations remains poorly understood, warranting further clarification.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted among CRC high‐risk population identified by Tianjin CRC screening program. According to the colonoscopy results after HRFQ and FIT, patients were classified into CRC, advanced adenoma, non‐advanced adenoma, and normal groups. The time interval between CRC screening and colonoscopy was investigated and its relationship with colonoscopy results. Logistic regression was performed to explore the risk factors of CRC detection.

Results

Among the high‐risk population without a history of CRC or polyps, 49,810 underwent HRFQ, FIT, and colonoscopy, and a time interval of fewer than 6 months was found for 79.56% of patients (n = 39,630). People with positive FIT were more likely to undergo colonoscopy within 6 months, and detection rates of CRC and/or advanced adenoma were positively related to time intervals. Similar results were found in people with a negative FIT but positive HRFQ. A time interval longer than 6 months was a significant predictor of CRC detection in high‐risk populations.

Conclusion

For high‐risk people identified by CRC screening, especially those with a positive FIT, a time interval of 6 months was associated with an increased probability of CRC detection. Our findings emphasize that populations at high risk should undergo colonoscopy at least within 6 months.
Ti–N–C Bonded Close‐Coupled TiO2/g‐C3N4 for Rapid Degradation of Cationic Dyes from a Multi‐Dye System by Persulfate Activation
Authors: Shalini Viswanathan , Dhanashyam Muraleedharan , Dipinkrishna Meleppurakkal , Vanisree Geetha Sivan , Vishnu Viswam Abhiram , Sooraj Pazhayikalarikkal Santhosh , Aparna Kallingal
Published: March 2023

A novel Z‐Scheme photocatalyst (TCN) was prepared with TiO2 and graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) and utilized to study the degradation efficiency of a binary dye mixture consisting of 5 ppm Rhodamine B (RhB) and 5 ppm Crystal Violet (CV) solutions by persulfate activation. Derivative spectrometric analysis was adopted to find the degradation efficiencies of the individual dyes in the mixture. The results indicate that in the presence of persulfate ions 0.6 TCN gives 100 % degradation in 60 min and 30 min for Rh B and CV, respectively. Hydroxyl radicals, superoxide radicals, and sulfate radicals were found to be the active species involved in photocatalytic degradation. From the results of radical scavenging experiments and band potentials of the semiconductors, a plausible mechanism of photocatalytic degradation of the model pollutants is proposed.
Enantioselective voltammetric sensor based on mesoporous graphitized carbon black Carbopack X and fulvene derivative
Authors: Yarkaeva Yulia , Nazyrov Marat , Abdullin Yaroslav , Kovyazin Pavel , Maistrenko Valery
Published: March 2023

For medicine and pharmaceuticals, the problem of determining and recognizing the enantiomers of biologically active compounds is an actual issue because the enantiomers of the same substance can have different effects on living organisms. This paper describes the development of an enantioselective voltammetric sensor (EVS) based on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with mesoporous graphitized carbon black Carbopack X (CpX) and a fulvene derivative (1S,4R)‐2‐cyclopenta‐2,4‐dien‐1‐ylidene‐1‐isopropyl‐4‐methylcyclohexane (CpIPMC) for recognition and determination of tryptophan (Trp) enantiomers. Synthesized CpIPMC was characterized by 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), chromatography–mass spectrometry, and polarimetry. The proposed sensor platform was studied by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Using the square‐wave voltammetry (SWV), it was established that the developed sensor is an effective chiral platform for the quantitative determination of Trp enantiomers, including in a mixture and in biological fluids like urine and blood plasma, with adequate precision and recovery ranged from 96% to 101%.
The impact of immunosuppressive agents on immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy in patients with advanced melanoma: A real‐world, multicenter, retrospective study
Authors: Lev‐Ari Shaked , Serzan Michael , Wu Tianmin , Ip Andrew , Pascual Lauren , Sinclaire Brittany , Adams Shari , Marafelias Michael , Ayyagari Lakshmi , Gill Sarvarinder K. , Ma Barbara , Zaemes Jacob P. , Della Pia Alexandra , Alaoui Adil , Madhavan Subha , Belouali Anas , Pecora Andrew , Ahn Jaeil , Atkins Michael B. , Shah Neil J.
Published: March 2023

Background

Immune‐related adverse events (irAEs) associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are often managed via immunosuppressive agents (ISAs); however, their impact on ICI efficacy is not well studied. The impact of the use of ISAs on ICI efficacy in patients with advanced melanoma was therefore investigated.

Methods

This is a real‐world, multicenter, retrospective cohort study of patients with advanced melanoma who received ICIs (n = 370). Overall survival (OS) and time to treatment failure (TTF) from the time of ICI initiation were compared among patients in subgroups of interest by unadjusted and 12‐week landmark sensitivity‐adjusted analyses. The association of irAEs and their management with OS and TTF were evaluated using univariate and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models.

Results

Overall, irAEs of any grade and of grade ≥3 occurred in 57% and 23% of patients, respectively. Thirty‐seven percent of patients received steroids, and 3% received other ISAs. Median OS was longest among patients receiving both (not reached [NR]), shorter among those receiving only systemic steroids (SSs) (84.2 months; 95% CI, 40.2 months to NR), and shortest among those who did not experience irAEs (10.3 months; 95% CI, 6–20.1 months) (p < .001). Longer OS was significantly associated with the occurrence of irAEs and the use of SSs with or without ISAs upon multivariable‐adjusted analysis (p < .001). Similar results were noted with anti–programmed death 1 (PD‐1) monotherapy and combination anti–PD‐1 plus anti–cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA‐4) therapy, and with 12‐week landmark sensitivity analysis (p = .01).

Conclusions

These findings in patients with melanoma who were treated with ICIs suggest that the use of SSs or ISAs for the management of irAEs is not associated with inferior disease outcomes, which supports the use of these agents when necessary.
Nodal positivity and systemic therapy among patients with clinical T1–T2N0 human epidermal growth factor receptor‐positive breast cancer: Results from two international cohorts
Authors: Weiss Anna , Martínez‐Sáez Olga , Waks Adrienne G. , Laws Alison , McGrath Monica , Tarantino Paolo , Portnow Leah , Winer Eric , Rey María , Tapia Marta , Prat Aleix , Partridge Ann H. , Tolaney Sara M. , Cejalvo Juan M. , Mittendorf Elizabeth A. , King Tari A.
Published: March 2023

Background

The optimal treatment strategy for patients with small human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)‐positive tumors is based on nodal status. The authors’ objective was to evaluate pathologic nodal disease (pathologic lymph node‐positive [pN‐positive] and pathologic lymph node‐positive after preoperative systemic therapy [ypN‐positive]) rates in patients who had clinical T1–T2 (cT1–cT2)N0M0, HER2‐positive breast cancer treated with upfront surgery or neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).

Methods

Two databases were queried for patients who had cT1–cT2N0M0, HER2‐positive breast cancer: (1) the Dana‐Farber Brigham Cancer Center (DF/BCC) from February 2015 to October 2020 and (2) the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona and the Hospital Clinico of Valencia (HCB/HCV) from January 2012 to September 2021. The pN‐positive/ypN‐positive and axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) rates were compared between patients who underwent upfront surgery versus those who received NAC.

Results

Among 579 patients from the DF/BCC database, 368 underwent upfront surgery, and 211 received NAC; the rates of nodal positivity were 19.8% and 12.8%, respectively (p = .021). The pN‐positive rates increased by tumor size (p < .001), reaching 25% for those with cT1c tumors. The ypN‐positive rates did not correlate with tumor size. NAC was associated with decreased nodal positivity (odds ratio, 0.411; 95% confidence interval, 0.202–0.838), but the ALND rates were similar (22 of 368 patients [6.0%] who underwent upfront surgery vs. 18 of 211 patients [8.5%] who received NAC; p = .173). Among 292 patients from the HCB/HCV database, 119 underwent upfront surgery, and 173 received NAC; the rates of nodal positivity were 21% and 10.4%, respectively (p = .012). The pN‐positive rates increased with tumor size (p = .011). The ALND rates were equivalent by treatment strategy (23 of 119 patients [19.3%] who underwent upfront surgery vs. 24 of 173 patients [13.9%] who received NAC; p = .213).

Conclusions

Among patients who had cT1–cT2N0M0, HER2‐positive breast cancer, approximately 20% who underwent upfront surgery were pN‐positive, and the rate reached 25% for those with cT1c tumors. Given the opportunity for tailored therapy among lymph node‐positive, HER2‐positive patients, these data provide rationale for future analyses investigating the utility of routine axillary imaging in patients with HER2‐positive breast cancer.
Factors impacting the height of the interproximal papilla: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Khaireddine Hamdane , Mohamed Tlili , Arij Rmida , Faten Khanfir , Faten Ben Amor
Published: March 2023

Objectives

To determine the relationship between different parameters (age, periodontal phenotype, contact point height, and crown shape) and the height of the interproximal papilla around the teeth of/in the maxillary anterior sector.

Material and Methods

A total of 45 subjects were involved in this study, with 315 interproximal papillae of the maxillary anterior sector. The interproximal papillae were clinically classified according to the Norland and Tarnow classification. The periodontal phenotype was assessed by periodontal probe transparency through the marginal gingiva. The height of the papilla, the height of the contact points, and the width/length ratio of the crown were also measured using the periodontal probe. The relationship between the variables was studied using Pearson's correlation. Statistical significance was set at a value of p < .05.

Results

A positive correlation was found between age and the papilla score. However, a negative correlation was noted between age and papilla height, with statistically significant values. A negative correlation was found between the papilla score and the rest of the studied clinical parameters. However, this correlation was not found with regard to the height of the papilla with the same parameters, except for the height of the contact points.

Conclusions

A statistically significant relationship was noted between the appearance of the interproximal papillae and all the parameters studied.
Geographic distribution, conservation, and genomic resources of cacao Theobroma cacao L
Authors: Nieves‐Orduña Helmuth E. , Krutovsky Konstantin V. , Gailing Oliver
Published: March 2023

The cacao tree, Theobroma cacao L., is cultivated in the tropics, mainly in agroforestry systems, to produce seeds, the valuable raw material for the chocolate industry. Thus, the conservation and use of cacao genetic resources in breeding programs to increase yield and improve quality and disease resistance are vital for the global cacao economy. We review three important topics of cacao genetics essential for sustainable production and crop improvement: (1) geographic distribution of wild cacao populations and geographic patterns of their genetic variation in Amazonia; (2) conservation, availability, and use of cacao genetic resources in cultivar development; (3) genetic basis of agronomic traits, available molecular genetic markers, and genomic resources and their application for cacao improvement. We also highlight critical research areas needed to achieve sustainable cacao cultivation.
Efficiency optimization for LCC‐LC compensated inductive coupling power transfer system with load‐independent zero‐phase‐angle and constant voltage output
Authors: Ma Hongbo , Pan Yu , Du Juan , Sun Wenzan , Yi Junhong , Li Xiaobin , Xie Meng
Published: March 2023

High‐order compensation for the inductive coupling power transfer (ICPT) system is preferred due to its high design freedom and excellent coil current harmonics suppression capability. Especially, the good harmonics suppression capability is helpful to implement the synchronous wireless transfer of energy and data with a pair of data communication coils integrated into the energy transfer coils. Thus, on basis of THD1 and THD2 comparison for different high‐order compensation topologies, the LCC‐LC compensated ICPT system with load‐independent zero phase angle (ZPA) and constant voltage output is discussed in this paper. Compared with other high‐order compensation topologies with constant voltage output such as LC‐LC, LC‐LCC, and LCC‐LCC, the LCC‐LC has the advantages of ZPA operation with zero voltage switching and less secondary‐side components. For a given magnetic coupler, infinite feasible combinations of compensation parameters can make the system accomplish ZPA and the same output characteristics. Thus, efficiency optimization of the LCC‐LC compensated ICPT system can be investigated by configuring the optimal compensation parameters. To validate the theoretical analysis, especially the efficiency improvement, the experimental platform with 270 V input and 270 V/3 kW output is designed and built. The comparative experimental results for three different the compensation parameters show the optimized system can improve greatly conversion efficiency over the entire load range, especially under light load.
Rational Biocatalyst Design for a Cyanide‐Free Synthesis of Long‐Chain Fatty Nitriles from Their Aldoximes
Authors: Yavuzer Hilmi , Yang Jianing , Gröger Harald
Published: March 2023

Recently, the capability of the aldoxime dehydratase from Bacillus sp. (OxdB) for the transformation of fatty aldoximes into fatty nitriles with impressive substrate loadings is reported. However, the substrate scope of this biocatalyst turned out to be limited in terms of the chain length with decanal oxime being the substrate with the longest well tolerated n‐alkyl chain. Besides the increased bulkiness of the long‐chain aldoximes, their strongly decreased water solubility represents a further hurdle for an efficient biotransformation. Addressing this challenge of an expanded substrate spectrum comprising long‐chain fatty aldoximes, this work investigates the substrate solubility and enzyme kinetics in combination with molecular modeling in order to find an enzyme mutant being suitable for C12‐ to C16‐aldoximes. Both, fatty aldoxime solubility in water and the active site of the wild‐type enzyme OxdB are identified as critical issues for an efficient biotransformation of these substrates. The activity issue is addressed by a rational design of a mutant using a homology modeling as well as a molecular modeling software suitable for enzymes. With the resulting double mutant OxdB‐F289A/L293A, this report can achieve successful biotransformations with the C12‐ to C16‐aldoximes at substrate concentrations of 250 × 10−3 to 1000 × 10−3 m. For example, an excellent conversion of >99% is obtained with tetradecanal oxime.

Practical applications: Fatty nitriles with a prolonged chain length of C12 or more are of high interest in industry due to their use for the production of fatty amines on large technical scale. As an alternative route, fatty nitriles can be generated from their aldoximes by means of an aldoxime dehydratase (Oxd) as biocatalyst. The conversion of long‐chain fatty aldoximes, however, remained a challenge up to now. This work describes the optimization of the aldoxime dehydratase OxdB from Bacillus sp. for the dehydration of nonsoluble bulky fatty aldoximes. The created variant can convert long chain fatty aldoximes toward the corresponding nitrile as demonstrated for C12‐ to C16‐nitriles. In addition, high conversion (of up to >99%) is achieved when operating at high substrate concentrations of up to 1000 × 10−3 m, thus making this approach interesting for industrial applications.
Gullies and badlands of India: Genesis, geomorphology and land management
Authors: Majhi Anindya , Harris Angela , Evans Martin , Shuttleworth Emma
Published: March 2023

Gully erosion is a formidable land degradation process globally. It is omnipresent across India, wherein two of the largest badlands regions in the world also exist. However, despite being affected by widespread gullying, gully erosion research in India has been rather limited, with key aspects of gully formation, morphologies and dynamics remaining unknown. Through this comprehensive systematic review, we synthesise previous studies on gully erosion in India and in turn highlight pivotal knowledge gaps. The review starts with a discussion of the causal factors of gullying in India, which underlines how gully initiation in several regions was an aftermath of deforestation and overgrazing. Contrastingly, the badlands of Central and Western India have mainly developed in response to natural triggers like neotectonics and Holocene climate change. The section on mapping highlights how mapping methodologies have not only been dictated by the availability of imagery and/or means of data processing, but also the mapping purpose—that is, individual gully channels or entire badlands. Although a few studies applying concepts of fractal geometry to characterise badlands’ geomorphology are innovative and unique, the most striking research gaps we have identified also pertain to understanding and quantification of gully geomorphology and erosion dynamics in different regions of India. Our review reveals that gullies of peninsular India have been the least studied, followed by those of the Himalayan and Sub‐Himalayan region. Although the literature provides interesting examples of linkages between badlands development and the wider geomorphic evolution of the landscape, better chronological understanding is required to disentangle the relative importance of natural and anthropogenic drivers of landscape change in India's badlands. Large‐scale mapping of gully characteristics, quantification of gully morphologies, gully erosion rates and its share in catchment sediment budget across various physiographic regions or river basins of the country also constitute important areas for future research.
Late Miocene–early Pliocene tectonic to erosional exhumation in the northwest of the Arabia–Eurasia collision zone
Authors: Madanipour Saeed
Published: March 2023

The exhumation of actively deforming orogenic systems is commonly due to the incision of river systems in response to tectonically driven surface uplift. However, a regional base level and/or climatic variations can also cause erosional exhumation. The temporal and spatial distinction of the dominant mechanism during the topographic evolution of orogens is challenging. Using detailed morphological analyses and thermal modelling of an intrusive body through triple dating (zircon U–Pb, ZHe, and AHe), combined with the previously published structural, detrital, and bedrock low‐temperature thermochronometry (apatite fission track and apatite helium) analysis, the transition from early Oligocene (~27 Ma) and middle Miocene (~12 Ma) tectonic exhumation to late Miocene–early Pliocene (~7–5 Ma) river incision and erosional exhumation in the Talesh Mountains in the NW of the Arabia–Eurasia collision zone was documented. The late Miocene‐early Pliocene incision and the contemporaneous rapid exhumation documented in the Talesh Mountains are related to the base‐level fall of the Caspian Sea due to its isolation from the Paratethys domain. The effect of this base‐level fall then migrated to the margin of the Iranian Plateau and captured the overspilled basins (~4 Ma).
Beam tracking in phased array antenna based on the trajectory classification
Authors: Shirzadian Gilan Mahsa , Paranjape Raman
Published: March 2023

One of the major new concepts in 5G cellular communications is a shift in the way services are delivered to users. In the new 5G protocol, individual users are recognized and tracked through beams, which are targeted and specific to individual users. The millimeter‐wave (mmWave) communications impose a directionality which results in a significant challenge in serving mobile terminals and unmanned aerial vehicles. This challenge can be relieved in mmWave systems using analog beamforming. Based on the identification of the patterns in the reference signal received power (RSRP) measurements, some classifications are employed. Some trajectories are defined for different users in Hallways. Therefore, the angle of arrival (AoA) would be the same for the users following the same trajectory. The users based on the received RSRP values are clustered by K‐means and I‐Kmeans algorithms. To this end, our algorithms to find the beamforming coefficient are employed for only one user in each cluster and the complexity of the algorithms can be lower. The proposed algorithms are spatial frequency‐based beam tracking and angular domain beam tracking algorithms. Simulation results show that tracking the sine function of AoA achieves better performance compared to tracking the AoA. Moreover, the optimal number of clusters is obtained by using the Elbow method.
Preventative and therapeutic potential of animal milk components against COVID‐19: A comprehensive review
Authors: Singh Parminder , Hernandez‐Rauda Roberto , Peña‐Rodas Oscar
Published: March 2023

The global pandemic of COVID‐19 is considered one of the most catastrophic events on earth. During the pandemic, food ingredients may play crucial roles in preventing infectious diseases and sustaining people's general health and well‐being. Animal milk acts as a super food since it has the capacity to minimize the occurrence of viral infections due to inherent antiviral properties of its ingredients. SARS‐CoV‐2 virus infection can be prevented by immune‐enhancing and antiviral properties of caseins, α‐lactalbumin, β‐lactoglobulin, mucin, lactoferrin, lysozyme, lactoperoxidase, oligosaccharides, glycosaminoglycans, and glycerol monolaurate. Some of the milk proteins (i.e., lactoferrin) may work synergistically with antiviral medications (e.g., remdesivir), and enhance the effectiveness of treatment in this disease. Cytokine storm during COVID‐19 can be managed by casein hydrolyzates, lactoferrin, lysozyme, and lactoperoxidase. Thrombus formation can be prevented by casoplatelins as these can inhibit human platelet aggregation. Milk vitamins (i.e., A, D, E, and B complexes) and minerals (i.e., Ca, P, Mg, Zn, and Se) can have significantly positive effects on boosting the immunity and health status of individuals. In addition, certain vitamins and minerals can also act as antioxidants, anti‐inflammatory, and antivirals. Thus, the overall effect of milk might be a result of synergistic antiviral effects and host immunomodulator activities from multiple components. Due to multiple overlapping functions of milk ingredients, they can play vital and synergistic roles in prevention as well as supportive agents during principle therapy of COVID‐19.
The outcome of COVID‐19 patients in the intensive care unit in Sudan: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Ali Mohammed A. O. , Abdalrahman Noon A. , Shanab Elaf A. I. , Mohammed Mozan M. A. , Ibrahim Malaz M. , Abdalrahman Ihab B.
Published: March 2023

Background and Aim

A major outbreak of coronavirus spread all over the world and gave rise to high mortality rate and high admission rate to intensive care unit (ICU). This cohort study aims to assess the outcome of COVID‐19 patients in ICU and to investigate the factors associated with mortality.

Method

This is a multicentered retrospective cohort study that was conducted among confirmed cases of COVID‐19 patients, who were admitted to ICU in Sudan during March 2021. The data collection was done manually from the medical records of patients. Mortality rate and association and prediction of factors associated with mortality were obtained using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software (SPSS) version 22.

Results

The mortality rate among patients in this study was 70%. Using the chi‐square test we found that age, needing intubation, developing Systemic inflammatory response syndrome, neurological complications, hematological complications, and cardiac complications have a significant association with the outcome.

Conclusion

Majority of COVID‐19 patients who were admitted to the ICU died. 55.8% of patients developed at least one complication during their stay in ICU. The age, the need for intubation, and developing of systematic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) are the factors that predict the mortality.
Sexual and reproductive health teaching in undergraduate medical education: A narrative review
Authors: French Valerie , Steinauer Jody
Published: March 2023

Objective

Contraception use, undesired pregnancy, and abortion care are common medical experiences that most physicians will encounter for their patients. Future physicians should therefore have some formal education on these topics. In this narrative review, we focused on how medical education approaches these sometimes polarizing yet fundamental topics.

Methods

We assessed the published literature on sexual and reproductive health education in undergraduate medical education from 2000 to 2021, screening 868 articles and including 52 articles. We included articles that discussed contraception, emergency contraception, pregnancy options counseling, abortion, and ethics related to sexual and reproductive health.

Results

Included studies came from 14 countries and described both preclinical and clinical education. Studies assessed medical student knowledge, the effectiveness of educational interventions and medical school faculty perspectives on sexual and reproductive health curricula. Medical educators have employed a variety of approaches to teach sexual and reproductive health including simulation, objective structured clinical examinations, team‐based learning, narrative medicine, online modules, and flipped classrooms.

Conclusion

Students generally received sexual and reproductive health education favorably, demonstrating increased knowledge and comfort with these topics after an education session. Studies also identified curricular gaps and deficiencies in student knowledge, which may indicate a need for improved and consistent medical school education on contraception and abortion.
Facial expression generation based on variational AutoEncoder network and cloud computing
Authors: Liu Zhibao
Published: March 2023

With the rapid development of portable terminal devices, such as smartphones, the development of expression generation technology makes the emotional communication between people in social networks more rich and diverse. However, there are still great challenges in deploying deep networks on mobile phones with limited resources. Moreover, the muscle movement of the face produces different facial expressions. To this end, this paper proposes an efficient emotion image generation framework based on Transformer and variational auto‐encoders (VAE) on the cloud platform. Specifically, we collect human face which is further transferred to the service. To exploit connections between muscles and expressions, we introduce the multi‐head attention mechanism to construct Transformer. To generate different emotional images, we design a novel emotion generation model named Transformer‐embedded VAE (TEVAE). All the experimental results show that the proposed TEVAE obtains higher performance in emotion image generation tasks compared to VAE.
The Year 2022 in biomaterials research: A perspective from the editors of six leading journals
Authors: Stegemann Jan P. , Wagner William R. , Göbel Uta , Perets Ekaterina , Leong Kam W. , Leach J. Kent , Gilbert Jeremy
Published: March 2023

The field of biomaterials science is highly active, with a steadily increasing number of publications and new journals being founded. This article brings together contributions from the editors of six leading journals in the area of biomaterials science and engineering. Each contributor highlights specific advances, topics, and trends that have emerged through the publications in their respective journal in the calendar year 2022. It presents a global perspective on a wide range of material types, functionalities, and applications. The highlighted topics include a diversity of biomaterials; from proteins, polysaccharides, and lipids to ceramics, metals, advanced composites, and a variety of new forms of these materials. Important advances in dynamically functional materials are presented, including a range of fabrication techniques such as bioassembly, 3D bioprinting and microgel formation. Similarly, several applications are highlighted in drug and gene delivery, biological sensing, cell guidance, immunoengineering, electroconductivity, wound healing, infection resistance, tissue engineering, and treatment of cancer. The goal of this paper is to provide the reader with both a broad view of recent biomaterials research, as well as expert commentary on some of the key advances that will shape the future of biomaterials science and engineering.
Melt electrowriting of a biocompatible photo‐crosslinkable poly(D,L‐lactic acid)/poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐based material with tunable mechanical and functionalization properties
Authors: Darroch Conor , Asaro Giuseppe A. , Gréant Coralie , Suku Meenakshi , Pien Nele , van Vlierberghe Sandra , Monaghan Michael G.
Published: March 2023

The use of polymeric biomaterials to create tissue scaffolds using additive manufacturing techniques is a well‐established practice, owing to the incredible rapidity and complexity in design that modern 3D printing methods can provide. One frontier approach is melt electrowriting (MEW), a technique that takes advantage of electrohydrodynamic phenomena to produce fibers on the scale of 10's of microns with designs capable of high resolution and accuracy. Poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) is a material that is commonly used in MEW due to its favorable thermal properties, high stability, and biocompatibility. However, one of the drawbacks of this material is that it lacks the necessary chemical groups which allow covalent crosslinking of additional elements onto its structure. Attempts to functionalise PCL structures therefore often rely on the functional units to be applied externally via coatings or integrally mixed elements. Both can be extremely useful depending on their applications, but can add extra difficulties into the use of the resulting structures. Coatings require careful design and application to prevent rapid degradation, while elements mixed into the polymer melt must deal with the possibilities of phase separation and changes to MEW properties of the unadulterated polymer. With this in mind, this study sought to imbibe functionality to MEW‐printed scaffolds using the approach of adding functional units directly, via covalent bonding of functional groups to the polymer itself. To this end, this study employs a recently developed class of polymers called acrylate‐endcapped urethane‐based polymers (AUPs). The polymer backbone of the specific AUP used consists of a poly(D,L‐lactic acid) (PDLLA)/PCL copolymer chain, which is functionalized with 6 acrylate groups, 3 at either end. Through blending of the AUP with PCL, various concentrations of this mixture were used with MEW to produce scaffolds that possessed acrylate groups on their surface. Using UV crosslinking, these groups were tagged with Fluorescein‐o‐Acrylate to verify that PDLLA/PCL AUP/PCL blends facilitate the direct covalent bonding of external agents directly onto the MEW material. Blending of the AUP with PCL increases the scaffold's stiffness and ultimate strength. Finally, blends were proven to be highly biocompatible, with cells attaching and proliferating readily at day 3 and 7 post seeding. Through this work, PDLLA/PCL AUP/PCL blends clearly demonstrated as a biocompatible material that can be processed using MEW to create functionalised tissue scaffolds.
Poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) surface chemistry and modulus differentially modulate neutrophils and lens epithelial cells—possible implications in cellular responses to intraocular lenses
Authors: Pernari J. , Wells L. A.
Published: March 2023

During cataract surgery, diseased lenses in the eye are surgically removed and replaced with polymeric artificial intraocular lenses (IOLs). Patients can experience a complication called posterior capsular opacification (PCO) that is corrected through the removal of part of the posterior capsule using a neodymium: yttrium‐aluminum‐garnet (Nd‐YAG) laser to restore the optical path. These interventions have increased costs and can damage the retina and the IOL. PCO develops when lens epithelial cells (LECs) proliferate, migrate, and undergo epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition. Neutrophils involved in the immune response triggered during implantation impact LEC behavior and produce damaging neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). In this research, poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) ‐based disks were synthesized with varying amounts of comonomer (HEMA with 0, 2, and 12 mol% MMA) and functionalized with carboxyl and amine groups, yielding nine different hydrogels. Material and chemical properties of the disks were characterized, and neutrophil‐like HL60 cells and B3 LECs were incubated with the disks. HL60 cell behavior was more strongly influenced by chemical functionalization than by mechanical properties with increases in adherence and NET accumulation. Conversely, the behavior and viability of B3 LECs were more strongly influenced by mechanical properties with increases in cell adhesion and α‐SMA expression with increasing compressive moduli. Interestingly, B3 LECs had decreased viability and increased α‐SMA expression when cultured on PHEMA2 disks pretreated with isolated NETs. Critical to the understanding of PCO and its prevention are both surface chemistry and mechanics as well as the inflammatory response.
Catalytic reduction of 4‐nitrophenol using synthesized and characterized CoS@MorphcdtH/CoS@4‐MPipzcdtH nanoparticles
Authors: Chauhan Gunjan , Chauhan Suvarcha , Soni Surbhi , Kumar Anand , Negi Devendra Singh , Bahadur Indra
Published: March 2023

CoS@MorphcdtH NPs and CoS@4‐MPipzcdtH NPs were synthesized by precipitation method involving three mechanisms: inclusion, occlusion, and adsorption. The synthesized NPs were characterized with the help of UV‐Vis spectroscopy, FESEM‐EDAX, powder x‐ray diffraction, TEM, ESIMS, TG/DSC analysis. The morphology of the CoS@MorphcdtH NPs and CoS@4‐MPipzcdtH NPs were hexagonal and rectangular, and the particles were in the range 7–12 nm. UV–visible spectral measurements showed surface plasmon resonance at 320 nm–340 nm with band gap of 3.65 eV–3.86 eV. The catalytically active CoSNPs called were investigated for the reduction of 4‐nitrophenol (4‐NP) via hydrogenation using sodium borohydride (NaBH4) as a reducing agent. Both the CoS NPs successfully reduced 4‐NP to 4‐ aminophenol (4‐AP) in a short time, catalytic performances are almost unchanged for the first five cycles. Herein, we report the preparation and characterizations of efficient active CoS NPs consisting carbodithioic acid framework as a support/capping material, along with catalytic property.
Willingness to use and preferences for long‐acting injectable PrEP among sexual and gender minority populations in the southern United States, 2021–2022: cross‐sectional study
Authors: Schoenberg Paige , Edwards O. Winslow , Merrill Leland , Martinez Cristian Acero , Stephenson Rob , Sullivan Patrick S. , Jones Jeb
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Long‐acting injectable (LAI) pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2021. LAI PrEP is more effective than oral PrEP. However, it is not clear whether the groups most at risk of HIV in the United States will use LAI PrEP. Willingness to use LAI PrEP and preference for LAI versus oral PrEP has not been reported for sexual and gender minority (SGM) people in the southern United States, where the HIV epidemic is concentrated. Our goal was to assess willingness to use LAI PrEP and preference for oral versus LAI PrEP among SGM people in the southern United States and to assess differences in willingness by demographics and sexual behaviour.

Methods

We conducted an online, cross‐sectional survey of SGM people aged 15–34 years in the southern United States (n = 583). Participants reported willingness to use LAI PrEP and preferences for LAI PrEP versus daily oral PrEP. We assessed bivariate associations and adjusted prevalence ratios for the LAI‐PrEP‐related outcomes and key demographic and behavioural characteristics.

Results

Overall, 68% of all participants (n = 393) reported being willing to use LAI PrEP that provides protection against HIV for 3 months. Of those, most (n = 320, 81%) indicated a preference for using LAI PrEP, compared to a daily oral pill or no preference. Willingness to use LAI PrEP was more common among transgender and non‐binary participants and participants who engaged in condomless anal intercourse in the last 6 months. Hispanic participants were more likely and non‐Hispanic Black participants were less likely to report willingness to use LAI PrEP compared to non‐Hispanic White participants.

Conclusions

Willingness to use LAI PrEP was high among SGM people in the southern United States, although there were some important differences in willingness based on demographic characteristics. Decreased willingness to use LAI PrEP among groups who are disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic, such as non‐Hispanic Black SGM people, could exacerbate existing disparities in HIV incidence. LAI PrEP is an acceptable option among SGM populations in the southern United States, but strategies will be needed to ensure equitable implementation.
Mining revenues and quality of public goods in sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Bertinelli Luisito , Bourgain Arnaud
Published: March 2023

In this paper, we investigate the impact of public mining revenues on perception indicators of public goods quality in five mining countries that have recently experienced a boom in their government revenues: Burkina Faso, Ghana, D.R. Congo, Tanzania and Zambia. The effect of the tax revenue boom is identified using a difference‐in‐differences estimation. Our estimations indicate that people living in mining regions have a sense of structural disadvantage in terms of the provision of public goods; however, this perception is pro‐cyclical in the presence of revenue booms/busts. Our results hold even after taking into account the possible endogeneity of our measure of resource revenue.
Grape pomace's potential on semi‐arid soil health enhances performance of maize, wheat, and grape crops
Authors: Mpanga Isaac K. , Neumann Günter , Brown Judith K. , Blankinship Joseph , Tronstad Russell , Idowu Omololu
Published: March 2023

Background

Grape pomace (GP) is a by‐product of wineries after filtering the grape juice for wine production. GP contains seeds, pulp, skin, and stalks with acidic properties, and it is normally composted before using as a soil amendment. However, composting GP requires more time, labor, and equipment; furthermore, composting loses some of the desirable organic acids for arid soils. The acidic properties of these organic acids and the plant nutrients in GP make it a desirable amendment for arid soils in both non‐composted and composted forms.

Aim

This study investigates the potential of directly applying GP as a soil amendment and its impact on arid soil health and plant performance.

Methods

To test the potential of non‐composted GP as a soil amendment, greenhouse and field studies were conducted by combining GP with existing management practices (manure application for soil used in the greenhouse study and fertigation for the field study) to assess the effects of GP on soil health and crop (maize, wheat, and grape) performance.

Results

Adding 5% GP to an alkaline soil significantly increased maize and wheat growth and shoot nutrient concentrations in the greenhouse and grapes in the field (48% yield increase). The significance of GP on maize, wheat, and grapes was associated with soil nutrient enhancements (i.e., nutrients supplied, increase in organic matter and microbial biomass increase, reduction in pH, and better nutrient mobilization).

Conclusion

GP has the potential for direct use as a soil amendment for soil and crop health improvement, especially in arid soils with high pH and limited soil organic matter.