bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Low Parental Empathy Predicts Callous‐Unemotional Traits in Children With Enhanced Autonomic Sensitivity to the Environment
Authors: Kofler Liat , Raine Adrian , Gao Yu
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Recent evidence suggests that autonomic nervous system functioning can reflect individual differences in sensitivity to the environment, which in turn moderates the effects of family context on psychopathic and antisocial behaviour. Although some preliminary research suggests that the coordination of the sympathetic (SNS) and parasympathetic (PNS) branches of the autonomic nervous system may reflect sensitivity to environmental influences, the majority of research to date has been limited in its focus on just one branch, and little is known about the effects of parental empathy on a child's psychopathic‐like traits. This study aimed to address this gap by examining if the SNS and PNS jointly moderate the prospective contribution of parental empathy to youth psychopathic‐like traits.

Methods

Male and female children (n = 340; age = 8–10 years) from the community completed an emotion regulation task during which their skin conductance level (SCL) and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) activity were recorded. Parental cognitive, affective, and somatic empathy were reported by the caregivers. The child's psychopathic‐like traits were reported by the caregiver and the child and were reassessed 1 year later.

Results

Hierarchical regression indicated that after controlling for child sex, age, and concurrent CU traits, low affective empathy in parents predicted higher CU traits 1 year later in youths who exhibited reciprocal sympathetic activation (i.e., SNS activation along with PNS withdrawal), reflecting their enhanced sensitivity to the environment. No such effects were found for other psychopathic‐like traits.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that reciprocal SNS reactivity may be a biological indicator for sensitivity to environmental influence and highlight the importance of examining the interactions among multiple systems to better understand the aetiology of psychopathic traits.
A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of the Efficacy and Safety of Combined Mechanical Circulatory Support in Acute Myocardial Infarction Related Cardiogenic Shock
Authors: Soh Bing Wei Thaddeus , Gracias Carlos Sebastian , Dean Afshan , Kumar Jathinder , Asgedom Solomon , Matiullah Sajjad , Owens Patrick
Published: December 2024

Background

Acute myocardial infarction‐related cardiogenic shock (AMICS) is a severe complication associated with exceedingly high mortality rates. While mechanical circulatory support (MCS) has emerged as a potential intervention, the evidence base for independent MCS use remains weak. In contrast, systematic reviews of observational studies have revealed significant mortality reduction when a combination of MCS was used: VA‐ECMO in conjunction with a left ventricular (LV) unloading device (Impella or IABP). The ongoing dilemma concerning the selection between two LV unloading devices (VA‐ECMO + Impella vs. VA‐ECMO + IABP) warrants further investigation and clarification.

Aim

This is the first systematic review and meta‐analysis assessing the short‐term efficacy and safety of VA‐ECMO + Impella versus VA‐ECMO + IABP in treatment of AMICS.

Methods

A systematic search was performed on the EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane databases. Studies reporting the short‐term (30‐day/inpatient) mortality and complications of adult patients with AMICS treated with VA‐ECMO + Impella and VA‐ECMO + IABP were included. Subgroup analysis was performed including studies with ACS predominant CS (CS etiology 100% by AMI).

Results

Four observational studies with 14,247 patients were included. There was no significant difference in mortality between VA‐ECMO + Impella and VA‐ECMO + IABP (56.5% vs. 66.5%; OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.79−1.02; p = 0.09). However, VA‐ECMO + Impella was associated with significantly lower mortality in patients with ACS predominant CS (53.2% vs. 67.7%; OR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.62−0.85; p < 0.0001). VA‐ECMO + Impella was concomitantly associated with a significantly higher risk of complications.

Conclusions

When comparing LV unloading devices in patients with AMICS requiring a combination of MCS, VA‐ECMO + Impella was superior in mortality reduction only in the cohort where 100% of CS was caused by AMI.
Searching and Using MobiDB Resource 6 to Explore Predictions and Annotations for Intrinsically Disordered Proteins
Authors: Aspromonte Maria Cristina , Quaglia Federica , Monzon Alexander Miguel , Clementel Damiano , Del Conte Alessio , Piovesan Damiano , Tosatto Silvio C. E.
Published: December 2024

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) make up around 30% of eukaryotic proteomes and play a crucial role in cellular processes and in pathological conditions such as neurodegenerative disorders and cancers. However, IDPs exhibit dynamic conformational ensembles and are often involved in the formation of biomolecular condensates. Understanding the function of IDPs is critical to research in many areas of science. MobiDB is a unique resource that serves as a comprehensive knowledgebase of IDPs and intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs), combining disorder annotations from experimental evidence and predictions for a broad range of protein sequences. Over the past decade, MobiDB has evolved with a focus on expanding annotation coverage, standardizing annotation provenance, and enhancing database accessibility. The latest MobiDB, version 6, released in July 2024, includes significant improvements, such as the integration of AlphaFoldDB predictions and a new homology transfer pipeline that has substantially increased the number of entries with high‐quality annotations. The user interface has also been updated, highlighting annotation features, clarifying the entry page, and providing an immediate overview of disorder, binding, and disorder functions information in the protein sequence. This protocol guides the user through applications of the MobiDB, including disorder prediction, curated data analysis, and exploration of interaction data. This guide covers how to perform a search in MobiDB annotations using the web interface and the MobiDB REST API for programmatic access. The protocols use a step‐by‐step walkthrough using the human growth hormone receptor to demonstrate MobiDB's functions for visualization and interpretation of protein disorder data. © 2024 The Author(s). Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Basic Protocol 1: Searching MobiDB query formats

Basic Protocol 2: Searching MobiDB selected datasets and selected proteomes

Basic Protocol 3: Performing a search on the Statistics page in MobiDB

Support Protocol: Programmatic access with MobiDB REST API

Basic Protocol 4: Visualizing and interpreting a MobiDB Entry: The GHR use case
An Improved Model Predictive Current Control of BLDC Motor With a Novel Adaptive Extended Kalman Filter–Based Back EMF Estimator and a New Commutation Duration Approach for Electrical Vehicle
Authors: Inan Remzi
Published: December 2024

As a result of the increasing use of electric vehicles, ensuring high‐performance speed and torque control of brushless direct current (BLDC) motors has become of great importance for energy efficiency. In order to prevent the torque ripple of the finite control set model predictive current control (FCS‐MPCC), commutation moments are detected by Hall effect sensors in conventional methods. However, this method cannot exhibit a long‐life structure because of physical strain damaging the sensors and electrical connections. In this study, commutation moments and durations are captured and determined with a new approach. Commutation moments are captured with zero crossing detectors and commutation durations are determined by using the position information obtained from the encoder. Moreover, three‐phase back electromotive forces (EMFs) of the BLDC motor applied to FCS‐MPCC to predict the stator phase currents are estimated with a novel adaptive extended Kalman filter (AEKF) which has the estimation capability without any speed sensor. Furthermore, another improvement is implemented in the calculation of the cost function of FCS‐MPCC by taking into account the difference between the predicted and the reference torque of the BLDC motor different from the conventional MPCC methods. The proposed drive system is tested under different scenarios at various speeds under load torque, stator resistance, and leakage inductance variations in simulation. It is proven by simulation results that phase commutations can be achieved stably with the proposed phase commutation determination method. In addition, the simulation results show that the proposed novel AEKF estimator and the FCS‐MPCC in which the cost function is calculated by regarding not only the current error but also the moment error have impressive prediction and control performance, respectively.
CARNet: An Efficient Cascaded and Attention‐Based RNN Architecture for Modulation Classification in Cognitive Radio Network Using Improved Kookaburra Optimization Strategy
Authors: N Venkateswara Rao , Krishna B. T.
Published: December 2024

In cognitive radio (CR) networks, the automatic modulation classification (AMC) is considered as the significant role in smart wireless communications. Due to the high growth of deep learning in the modern days, neural network‐aided automated modulation categorization tasks have become highly demanded. Nevertheless, an enormous amount of attributes and the neural network's complexity make them complex to adopt in various scenarios. Moreover, the receiver systems are limited by the latency and less storage resources. Additionally, the detection system of the signal modulation is mostly hampered by overfitting issues and insufficient information. Therefore, a robust AMC model based on adaptive deep learning is implemented to determine the type of modulation used at the transmitter by observing the received signal. Initially, the necessary raw data for the suggested model is garnered from benchmark dataset. Also, the optimal features from the raw data are selected with the help of the fitness‐revised position updating in Kookaburra optimization (FPUKO) for minimizing the computation time and enhancing the accuracy rates in the classification process. Moreover, this optimal feature selection makes the modulation selection process quick and efficient. Finally, the optimal features are fed to a cascaded and attention‐based recurrent neural network (CA‐RNN) in the modulation classification, which is designed to classify the type of modulation used on the transmitter side. Various experiments are conducted for the designed framework by comparing it with the existing models to view its efficiency.
Tea Tree Oil Delays Kiwifruit Ripening Through Regulating Energy Metabolism
Authors: Fu Changchun , Zhu Shiyan , Ni Ying , Chen Hangjun , Han Yanchao
Published: December 2024

Kiwifruit is easy to ripen and soften after harvest. Tea tree oil (TTO) has important application value in postharvest fruit preservation. However, the effect of TTO on kiwifruit fruit ripening, quality maintenance and energy metabolism, has not been studied. In this research, we found that TTO could delay ‘Xuxiang’ kiwifruit ripening, and keep good quality even after 18 days of storage. In three different concentrations of TTO treatments, 2.0 mL L−1 TTO has the best preservation effect on kiwifruit. TTO slowed down the softening and degreening, reduced the respiration intensity and delayed the peak of respiration. Moreover, TTO also delayed the decrease of total sugar, titratable acid (TA) and vitamin C (Vc). The fruit treated with TTO kept higher levels of ATP, ADP and energy charge (EC), and higher activities of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), cytochrome C oxidase (CCO) and ATPase. Correlation analysis results showed that kiwifruit ripening was closely related to nutritional quality and energy metabolism. To summarize, TTO could delay kiwifruit ripening and keep fruit quality by maintaining higher energy level and activities of energy metabolism‐related enzymes during the late storage. This study will provide theoretical and technical support for kiwifruit preservation.
Analysis of Volatile Substances Difference in Hazelnut Soy Sauce at Different Fermentation Stages Based on HS‐SMPE‐GC/MS
Authors: Fu Miao , Zou Chenyang , Lyu Chunmao , Tian Chuan , Wu Yanyan , Chen Le , Jiang Han
Published: December 2024

Hazelnut meal, as a by‐product of hazelnut oil extraction, is not only rich in protein but also has the potential to become a high‐quality plant protein source. In this study, we innovatively developed a novel hazelnut soy sauce product using hazelnut meal as the main raw material. The volatile components of hazelnut soy sauce in different fermentation stages were analysed by HS‐SPME‐GC/MS technique. The results of the analysis showed that 127 different volatile substances were identified in the samples tested, including alcohols, aldehydes, acids, esters, ketones, phenols, furans, pyrazines and other categories. In addition, we found that there were significant differences in the volatile components of hazelnuts soy sauce at different fermentation stages, and these differences were mainly driven by eight key volatile substances such as isoamyl acetate, phenylethanol, 1‐octene‐3‐ol, phenylacetaldehyde, benzaldehyde, ethyl acetate, isoamylaldehyde and 2,6‐dimethylpyrazine. This study not only provides a preliminary insight into the dynamic changes of volatile substances in hazelnut soy sauce during fermentation but also opens up a new way for high‐value utilisation of hazelnut meal.
Money Matters: Broad Divisia Money and the Recovery of the US Nominal GDP From the COVID‐19 Recession
Authors: Bordo Michael D. , Duca John V.
Published: December 2024

The rise of inflation in 2021 and 2022 surprised many macroeconomists who ignored the earlier surge in money growth because of past instability in the demand for simple‐sum monetary aggregates. We find that the demand for more theoretically based Divisia aggregates can be modeled and that these aggregates provide useful information about nominal GDP. Unlike M2 and Divisia‐M2, whose velocities do not internalize shifts in liabilities across commercial and shadow banks, the velocities of broader Divisia monetary aggregates are stable and can be empirically modeled through the Covid‐19 pandemic. In the long run, these velocities depend on regulation and mutual fund costs that affect the substitutability of money for other financial assets. In the short run, we control for swings in mortgage activity and use vaccination rates and the stringency of government pandemic restrictions to control for the unusual pandemic effects. The velocity of broad Divisia money declines during crises like the Great and COVID Recessions but later rebounds. In these recessions, monetary policy lowered short‐term interest rates to zero and engaged in quantitative easing of about $4 trillion. Nevertheless, broad money growth was more robust in the COVID Recession, reflecting a less impaired banking system that promoted rather than hindered deposit creation. Our framework implies that nominal GDP growth and inflation rebounded more quickly from the COVID Recession versus the Great Recession. Our different scenarios for future Divisia money growth and the unwinding of the pandemic have different implications for medium‐term nominal GDP growth and inflationary pressures.
Guidelines for establishing models of immunomodulatory in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Ouyang Boya
Published: December 2024

Caenorhabditis elegans is a popular model for studying the interaction between bacterial pathogens, viruses, fungi, and the innate immune system of metazoans. When exposed to a pathogenic organism, a clear response is elicited in the C. elegans which is characterized by specific alterations on the transcriptional and translational levels. In this guideline, we describe the current use of pathogens as media to infect C. elegans and study host immune regulation, and elaborate on how to accurately establish pathogenic models of innate immunity and host–pathogen interactions, which is conducive to researchers to establish corresponding models and effective killing methods according to their own research directions, and then conduct more in‐depth research on immune regulatory mechanisms at biological and molecular levels.
Alcohol and the Medical Community: A Cocktail for Exclusion
Authors: Ellythy Luqman M. , Michel Ian M. , Farkouh Elizabeth K. , Padela Aasim I.
Published: December 2024

Alcohol is a class 1 carcinogen, and its use, at any level, is not safe for health. Despite this, alcohol remains strongly mixed into medical culture and is often served free at medical‐community events. This presents numerous ethical concerns. First, the funding of alcohol‐centered events by the medical community reinforces alcohol consumption as a coping mechanism for stress, perpetuates the perceived need for alcohol for socialization, and falsely implies that it is a safe substance. Additionally, the medical community is increasingly diverse, including Muslims, Mormons, those in recovery from substance use disorders, pregnant individuals, and individuals from homes and communities damaged by alcohol. Due to their moral or safety concerns, these individuals may miss opportunities to network and engage in professional development when alcohol is present. Therefore, alcohol acts as a barrier to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and can result in pernicious downstream effects for minority patient populations.
The Insidious Foreseeability Revolution
Authors: Appel Jacob M.
Published: December 2024

The laws of medical malpractice have historically differed in significant ways from general liability laws. Until the mid‐twentieth century, physician liability in the United States was limited to cases in which the doctor and patient had an established professional relationship. In the 1970s, courts and legislatures began carving out exceptions when patients posed an imminent threat to identifiable third parties. Recently, a series of cases involving circumstances such as curbside consultation, threats of violence, and automotive accidents have led some state courts to abandon the requirement of a preexisting physician‐patient relationship. Instead, the courts now focus on whether foreseeable reliance is present. While these developments may significantly impact clinical practice, the connections between these cases have gone largely overlooked by both the medical and bioethics communities. This essay aims to highlight these parallel developments and to suggest that this evolution reflects a broader trend with implications far beyond the individual cases themselves.
Incentives, Health, and Retirement: Evidence From a Finnish Pension Reform
Authors: Ollonqvist Joonas , Kotakorpi Kaisa , Laaksonen Mikko , Martikainen Pekka , Pirttilä Jukka , Tarkiainen Lasse
Published: December 2024

This paper examines, using exogenous variation generated by a Finnish pension reform implemented in 2005, the interplay between health and financial incentives to postpone retirement. Based on detailed administrative data on individual health and retirement behavior, we focus on whether individual reactions to incentives vary according to health status and analyze whether individuals with ill health are also able to take advantage of the potential monetary benefits of delayed retirement created by the reform. We find that on average, individuals react to the financial incentives created by the reform as expected. This result holds for most of the health‐related subgroups we analyze. However, those with a long period of sickness absence are less likely to respond to changes in the financial incentives to postpone retirement.
Prevalence, Predictors, and Outcomes of HIV Care in HIV‐Positive Clients Entering HIV Care With Advanced HIV Disease in Sub‐Saharan Africa 2010–2022: Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Haumba Samson , Arora Shreya , Williams Victor , Maseko Thokozani , Mafukidze Arnold , Ojoo Sylvia
Published: December 2024

Background and Aims

Sub‐Saharan Africa drives global HIV‐related mortality, and patients continuously present with advanced HIV disease (AHD) at diagnosis. We describe prevalence, predictors, and treatment outcomes in HIV clients with AHD.

Methods

We systematically reviewed PUBMED, SCOPUS, Web of Science, JSTOR, and CINAHL for relevant studies conducted in Sub‐Saharan Africa from 2010 to 2022. We used a narrative synthesis to describe included studies and a random effect meta‐analysis to determine AHD pooled prevalence. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) checklist guided the reporting, while the Joanna Briggs Institute's quality assessment checklist assessed the quality of included articles. Cochrane's Q and the I2 tests assessed heterogeneity between included studies.

Results

We included 24 studies with a sample size of 322,676. Prevalence of AHD ranged from 11.0% to 89.7% with an overall pooled prevalence of 58.7% (95% CI: 51.3%, 66.0%): 66.1% (95% CI: 58.8%, 73.4%) between 2010 and 2016, and 51.2% (95% CI: 37.7%, 64.6%) from 2017 to 2022. Predictors of AHD include male sex, older age (≥ 35), widowed or divorced, unemployment, gap in care of ≥ 12 months before antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation, no history of HIV testing, and seeking care from a traditional healer before presenting for HIV care. Loss to follow‐up ranged from 6.7%–58.3%, while the proportion of death ranged from 1.8%–13.1%. Predictors of death were being male, advanced age (≥ 50 years), advanced clinical stages, late ART initiation, higher mean log viral load, CD4+ cell count < 50 cells/mm3 and severe anaemia.

Conclusions

The high baseline prevalence of AHD suggests the need for targeted, people‐centred HIV testing in Sub‐Saharan Africa. Country HIV programs should accelerate the implementation of comprehensive HIV services that identify clients at risk of AHD for early enrolment with systems for monitoring the WHO care package for preventing, diagnosing, and treating AHD and associated comorbid conditions.

PROSPERO number: 2022 CRD42022336487.
Cervical Cancer Screening Practice and Associated Factors Among School Teachers in Bahir Dar City, North West Ethiopia: A Cross‐Sectional Study
Authors: Nega Bezawit Getachew , Yadita Zemenu Shiferaw , Misker Agernesh Dereje , Ebrahim Ammar Bishaw , Asresie Melash Belachew
Published: December 2024

Background and Aims

Despite its prioritization by the World Health Organization, improving access to cervical cancer screening remains a challenge in Ethiopia. Educated individuals, particularly teachers, are viewed as key influencers in promoting healthy lifestyles among youth and can significantly contribute to cervical cancer prevention. However, there is a notable gap in research regarding cervical cancer screening practices among female educators in the studied region. This study aimed to assess the cervical cancer screening practices and associated factors among female school teachers in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, 2024.

Methods

A school‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted from May 27 to June 28, 2024, involving 561 female school teachers in Bahir Dar City, using a stratified multistage sampling method. Data were gathered through a pretested structured questionnaire, entered in Epi‐data version‐4.6, and analyzed with SPSS version‐23. Bi‐variable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were performed, considering variables with p values < 0.05 as statistically significant. Multicollinearity was assessed, and the Hosmer–Lemeshow test evaluated the model's fit.

Results

The proportion of female school teachers practicing cervical cancer screening was 14.6% (95% CI: 11.57%–17.66%). Significant factors associated with screening included having more than one lifetime sexual partner (AOR = 2.96, 95% CI: 1.48–4.92), a history of gynecological examinations (AOR = 2.59, 95% CI: 1.28–5.23), a fair understanding of cervical cancer (AOR = 2.16, 95% CI: 1.12–4.17), a positive attitude toward screening (AOR = 3.23, 95% CI: 1.65–6.33), and a high perceived susceptibility to cervical cancer (AOR = 2.57, 95% CI: 1.34–4.93).

Conclusions

Cervical cancer screening rates among female school teachers in Bahir Dar City fall short of the HSTP‐II target. Independent predictors of screening include having multiple sexual partners, a history of gynecological exams, knowledge of cervical cancer, attitudes toward screening, and perceived susceptibility. To improve these rates, initiatives should focus on raising awareness and fostering positive attitudes among teachers about cervical cancer and health‐seeking behavior.
Food Safety Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Associated Factors Among Adult Consumers in Bangladesh: Findings From a Nationwide Cross‐Sectional Survey
Authors: Roy Nitai , Aktarujjaman Mohammad , Siddiky Aysha , Mollick Kakali , Rosby Raphyel , Rogers Bryan T. , Hossain Ekhtear , Al Mamun Firoj , Mamun Mohammed A.
Published: December 2024

Aim

This study aimed to evaluate the food safety knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of Bangladeshi consumers and investigate their associations with various demographic factors.

Methods

This national cross‐sectional study utilized a face‐to‐face survey using a structured questionnaire to recruit 1400 adult consumers between September 2022 and November 2022. Multiple linear regression analysis was employed to determine the factors associated with the food safety KAP.

Results

The current findings revealed that consumers had moderate knowledge (overall correct response rate of 65.3% with a mean score of 13.06 ± 2.88 on a scale of 0 to 20), excellent attitudes (overall correct response rate for food safety knowledge was 81.8% with a mean score of 14.72 ± 2.72 on a scale of 0 to 18), and relatively poor practices (overall correct response rate was 51.7% with a mean score of 35.17 ± 11.2 on a scale of 0 to 68). Participants who were male, had higher education, were employed, were familiar with the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority, and residing outside the Mymensingh division, demonstrated greater food safety knowledge. However, participants from Barisal, Rangpur, and Dhaka, who were less educated, had fewer children, and only occasionally cooked, had negative attitudes about food safety. Additionally, individuals from all administrative divisions except Mymensingh and Chittagong, who were employed, had fewer children, had experienced food poisoning, and had inadequate food safety practices.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that the Bangladeshi government should intensify efforts to enhance consumer awareness regarding food safety.
Hybrid Drought Forecasting Framework for Water‐Scarce Regions Based on Support Vector Machine and Precipitation Index
Authors: Alsumaiei Abdullah A.
Published: December 2024

Drought is a natural event that slowly deteriorates water reserves. This study aims to develop a machine learning–based computational framework for monitoring drought status in water‐scarce regions. The proposed framework integrates the precipitation index (PI) with support vector machine models to forecast drought occurrences based on an autoregressive modelling scheme. Due to the suitability of the PI for drought analysis in arid climates, the developed hybrid model is appropriate in regions with limited rainfall. This study used a historical precipitation dataset from 1958 to 2020 at the Kuwait International Airport, Kuwait City. The study area is characterised by scarce rainfall and is vulnerable to severe water shortages owing to limited water resources. Initially, historical PI time‐series datasets were examined for stationarity to validate the utility of the autoregressive model. The autocorrelation function test was significantly associated with the PI time series at the 12‐ and 24‐month drought‐monitoring scales. Predictive drought forecasting models were constructed to predict drought occurrences up to 3 months in advance. Statistical evaluation metrics were used to assess model performance for the 12‐ and 24‐month drought‐monitoring scales. The results showed a strong association between the observed and predicted drought events, with coefficients of determination (R2) ranging between 0.865 and 0.925 for the 12‐ and 24‐month drought‐monitoring scales. The proposed computational framework aims to provide water managers in arid and water‐scarce regions with efficient and reliable drought‐monitoring tools to assist in preparing appropriate water management plans. This study provides guidance for improving water resource resilience under water shortage scenarios in the study area and other climatic regions by applying suitable drought indices in conjunction with robust data‐driven models. The results provide a baseline for water resource policymakers worldwide to establish sustainable water conservation strategies and provide crucial insights for drought disaster preparation.
ESG Ratings and Investment Returns at the Country Level: Does Higher Mean Better?
Authors: Asteriou Dimitrios , Pilbeam Keith , Litsios Ioannis , Pouliot William
Published: December 2024

We examine whether U.S. dollar‐based investors can do better investing in highly rated ESG countries than in medium and lower rated ESG countries using both cross sectional and panel data estimations. In general, we find evidence that investment in ESGLow scoring countries leads to better returns than investing in ESGHigh scoring countries which in turn provide better returns than investing in ESGMedium scoring countries. We also examine the issue of risk‐adjusted excess returns using a variety of country risk‐adjusted returns including the country‐level Sharpe ratio, Treynor ratio and Alpha. In general, we find that ESGLow countries still outperform ESGHigh countries who in turn outperform ESGMedium countries. We also find that countries that have improved their ESG scores over the period 2000–2021 have tended to provide the best returns for international investors and this group is mainly made up of ESGLow countries, although this is likely driven mainly by their higher economic growth rates. Finally, we examine the performance within the groups of ESGHigh, ESGMedium and ESGLow countries. In each case, we find that there is a positive relationship of returns with ESG scores within the group, and that GDP per capita in levels has a negative impact on returns using both the market exchange rate and purchasing power parity measures.
Assimilating vegetation indices and canopy cover derived from remote sensing into the AquaCrop model for estimating rice yield
Authors: Sayadi Fatemeh Jafari , Sefidkouhi Mohammad Ali Gholami , Pirdashti Hemmatollah , Khoshravesh Mojtaba
Published: December 2024

Accurate forecasting of rice yield using contemporary data is a paramount management tool. To achieve this objective, the AquaCrop, in conjunction with remote sensing (RS) data, was employed to predict yield in the paddy fields of SANRU. The required AquaCrop data, including ground (200 locations) and RS (Sentinel‐2, MODIS) data, were collected in two seasons, namely, 2020 and 2021. Leveraging Sentinel‐2 imagery, various vegetation indices (VIs) were computed, encompassing the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), rice growth vegetation index (RGVI) and soil adjusted vegetation index (SAVI). Additionally, MODIS and spatio‐temporal fusion algorithms (Spatial and Temporal Adaptive Reflectance Fusion Model [STARFM] and Enhanced Spatial and Temporal Adaptive Reflectance Fusion Model [ESTARFM]) were used to create a regular time pattern in satellite images taken on cloudy days. The results revealed that the yields observed for 2020 and 2021, on the basis of field data, were 4450 and 4370 kg/ha, respectively. Moreover, by leveraging the AquaCrop, the forecasted yield was ascertained both with and without the assimilation of RS data. Notably, the findings underscored that the incorporation of RS data significantly enhanced the model's predictive precision, particularly in estimating yield. The model's efficacy was demonstrated by its ability to forecast the end‐of‐season yield for the years 2020 and 2021, which yielded maximum RMSEs of 400 and 470 kg/ha, respectively.
Sevoflurane Alleviates Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by Targeting the circ_CDR1as/miR‐671‐5p/HMGA1 Axis
Authors: Zhang Zhengnan , Yang Xi , Feng Baihe , Huang Haibin
Published: December 2024

Sevoflurane (Sev) has a cardioprotective role in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MI/RI), but its mechanism has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate whether the circ_CDR1as/miR‐671‐5p/HMGA1 axis mediates the cardioprotective effect of Sev in MI/RI. Cardiomyocytes underwent hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) treatment was used to simulate MI/RI in vitro. H/R cardiomyocytes were then pretreated with Sev to explore the protective effect of Sev on H/R cells. The level of CDR1as/miR‐671‐5p/HMGA1 axis were detected by RT‐qPCR. The proliferation and apoptosis of cardiomyocytes were detected by CCK‐8 and flow cytometry. The levels of myocardial injury markers and inflammatory markers were detected by ELISA assay. Finally, the regulatory relationship between CDR1as and miR‐671‐5p/HMGA1 axis was verified by Dual‐luciferase reporting and RNA pull‐down assays. Sev Pretreatment can reduce the level of CDR1as and mitigate H/R‐induced damage to cardiomyocytes. This Pretreatment lowers the levels of myocardial injury markers, oxidative stress markers, and pro‐inflammatory factors in H/R‐affected cardiomyocytes. However, CDR1as overexpression inhibits Sev's protective effect on H/R cardiomyocytes. At the molecular mechanism, we found that CDR1as mediates Sev's protective effect through the CDR1as/miR‐671‐5p/HMGA1 axis. CDR1as increases HMGA1 levels by sponging miR‐671‐5p, while high HMGA1 levels diminish Sev's protective effect. Sev plays a cardioprotective role in MI/RI by inhibiting the circ_CDR1as/miR‐671‐5p/HMGA1 axis.
An Outbreak of Human Adenovirus Infection Among Children Post COVID‐19 Pandemic in Southern China
Authors: Wang Changbing , Yang Yujie , Wu Kaixuan , Wang Chenyang , Liu Wenkuan , Zhu Yuhui , Ye Lihua , Li Xiao , Zhou Rong , Zhu Bing , Tian Xingui
Published: December 2024

Human adenovirus (HAdV) is an important pathogen causing pediatric acute respiratory illness (ARI) before COVID‐19 pandemic. Since January 2023, China has reported ARI outbreaks attributed to Mycoplasma pneumoniae and other respiratory viruses. In this study, a total of 276 737 pediatric patients with ARI were enrolled from January 2023 to April 2024. HAdV‐positive samples were identified by real‐time PCR. The monthly frequency of HAdV infection remained below 0.9% through July 2023, with a gradual rise to 1.03% in November and 2.92% in December. A significant surge was observed in the early months of 2024, with HAdV‐positive rate spiking to 10.81% (3025/27992) in January and 10.75% (1393/12954) in February. The adenovirus outbreak peaked during the third to fifth week of 2024, with the highest recorded ratio of 23.86% (131/549) on January 29, 2024. Among the 600 samples that were typed, the predominant subtypes were HAdV‐B3 (96%) and HAdV‐C1 (2.67%). Phylogenetic analysis of two HAdV‐B3 strains revealed close genomic similarity to the strain BJ20170281, which was isolated in Beijing, China, in 2017. HAdV‐B3 has triggered an outbreak in Southern China in winter, an atypical epidemic season, following the COVID‐19 pandemic. Ongoing surveillance of circulating pathogens including HAdV is necessary to prevent ARI outbreaks.
Triphenyl‐Modified Mixed‐Mode Stationary Phases With and Without Embedded Ion‐Exchange Sites for High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography
Authors: Wolter Marc , Maalouf Mirna , Janek Mateusz , Knappe Cornelius , Kramer Markus , Lämmerhofer Michael
Published: December 2024

The present work reports on the preparation, characterization, and evaluation of a set of novel triphenyl‐modified silica‐based stationary phases without and with embedded ion‐exchange sites for mixed‐mode liquid chromatography. The three synthesized triphenyl phases differed in additionally incorporated ion‐exchange sites. In one embodiment, allyltriphenylsilane was bonded to thiol‐modified silica by thiol‐ene click reaction, leading to particles with no ion‐exchange sites. A second stationary phase was obtained by thiol‐yne click reaction of thiol silica with 2‐propinyl‐triphenylphosphonium bromide, yielding a strong anion‐exchanger (SAX). A third stationary phase was obtained from this SAX phase by the oxidation of residual thiols to sulfonic acid moieties, leading to a zwitterionic surface. All synthesized materials were subjected to elemental analysis, 13C and 29Si solid‐state cross‐polarization/magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (CP/MAS NMR) spectroscopy analysis, and pH‐dependent ζ‐potential determinations via electrophoretic light scattering. The prepared stationary phases were chromatographically evaluated under classical reversed‐phase, ion‐exchange, and hydrophilic interaction chromatography conditions and classified within a set of commercially available columns by principal component analysis of retention factors. Finally, the obtained stationary phases were applied for biomolecule separations (e.g., teicoplanin and siRNA patisiran). These LC tests proved the orthogonality of the three prepared stationary phases and indicated possible fields of application.
Narrative review of neoadjuvant therapy in patients with locally advanced colon cancer
Authors: Chuang Jen‐Pin , Chen Yen‐Chen , Wang Jaw‐Yuan
Published: December 2024

Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer‐related morbidity and mortality worldwide, with more than 1.9 million new cases reported in 2020, and is associated with major survival challenges, particularly in patients with locally advanced colon cancer (LACC). LACC often involves T4 invasion or extensive nodal involvement and requires a multidisciplinary approach for management. Radical surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy remains the primary treatment strategy for LACC. However, achieving complete tumor resection (R0) is challenging because locally advanced colon tumors typically infiltrate adjacent organs or nodes. Advancements in LACC treatment have involved neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT), and neoadjuvant immunotherapy (NAIT). Studies such as FOxTROT and PRODIGE 22 have demonstrated that NACT, particularly with FOLFOX or CAPOX, can lead to major tumor downstaging, improved survival rates, and increased R0 resection rates. Predictive biomarkers, such as mismatch repair (MMR) status and T stage, are crucial in identifying candidates who may benefit from NACT. NACRT has demonstrated promise in enhancing tumor regression, particularly in patients with rectal cancer, underscoring its potential for use with LACC. NAIT, particularly for deficient MMR tumors, has emerged as a novel approach, with studies such as NICHE‐2 and NICHE‐3 reporting excellent pathologic responses and pathologic complete responses. Integrating these therapies can enhance the surgical and survival outcomes of patients with LACC, highlighting the importance of personalized treatment strategies based on tumor characteristics and response to neoadjuvant interventions. This review discusses the evolving landscape of LACC management, focusing on optimizing treatment approaches for improved patient outcomes.
‘As of my last knowledge update’: How is content generated by ChatGPT infiltrating scientific papers published in premier journals?
Authors: Strzelecki Artur
Published: December 2024

The aim of this paper is to highlight the situation whereby content generated by the large language model ChatGPT is appearing in peer‐reviewed papers in journals by recognized publishers. The paper demonstrates how to identify sections that indicate that a text fragment was generated, that is, entirely created, by ChatGPT. To prepare an illustrative compilation of papers that appear in journals indexed in the Web of Science and Scopus databases and possessing Impact Factor and CiteScore indicators, the SPAR4SLR method was used, which is mainly applied in systematic literature reviews. Three main findings are presented: in highly regarded premier journals, articles appear that bear the hallmarks of the content generated by AI large language models, whose use was not declared by the authors (1); many of these identified papers are already receiving citations from other scientific works, also placed in journals found in scientific databases (2); and, most of the identified papers belong to the disciplines of medicine and computer science, but there are also articles that belong to disciplines such as environmental science, engineering, sociology, education, economics and management (3). This paper aims to continue and add to the recently initiated discussion on the use of large language models like ChatGPT in the creation of scholarly works.
GRAPE‐WEB: An automated computational redesign web server for improving protein thermostability
Authors: Sun Jinyuan , Shi Wenyu , Xing Zhihui , Fan Guomei , Sun Qinglan , Wu Linhuan , Ma Juncai , Cui Yinglu , Wu Bian
Published: December 2024

Impact statement

We have developed the GReedy Accumulated strategy for Protein Engineering (GRAPE) to improve enzyme stability across various applications, combining advanced computational methods with a unique clustering and greedy accumulation approach to efficiently explore epistatic effects with minimal experimental effort. To make this strategy accessible to nonexperts, we introduced GRAPE‐WEB, an automated, user‐friendly web server that allows the design, inspection, and combination of stabilizing mutations without requiring extensive bioinformatics knowledge. GRAPE‐WEB's robust performance and accessibility provide a comprehensive and adaptable approach to protein thermostability design, suitable for both newcomers and experienced practitioners in the field. The web server is accessible at https://grape.wulab.xyz.
Exponential Quasi‐Synchronization of Nonautonomous Complex Dynamical Networks With Conformable Fractional‐Order Derivatives
Authors: Bao Baizeng , Xu Liguang
Published: December 2024

This paper studies the exponential quasi‐synchronization of nonautonomous conformable fractional‐order complex dynamical networks (NCFCDNs) via means of the periodically intermittent pinning control (PIPC). First, a nonautonomous conformable fractional‐order error systems are established, which include stable and unstable subsystems. Second, for the cases where the existing results are invalid to handle switched nonautonomous terms, a new conformable fractional‐order Halanay inequality is obtained, which serves as a powerful tool in the analysis of quasi‐synchronization of NCFCDNs. Then, by virtue of the obtained Halanay inequality, Lyapunov method, and periodically intermittent controller, sufficient conditions of exponential quasi‐synchronization of NCFCDNs are derived. Our results allow nonautonomous terms to be switched during work time and rest time, which is more relaxing than the previous results. Finally, a simulation example is included to show the feasibility of the derived results.
Seasonal Stochasticity Drives Phytoplankton–Zooplankton Dynamics
Authors: Sk Nazmul , Roy Subarna , Tiwari Pankaj Kumar
Published: December 2024

In this study, we examine a deterministic model incorporating refuge, additional food sources, and toxins. The existence and stability of positive equilibria and the bifurcation analyses are discussed. Our numerical outcomes entail that increased zooplankton growth due to additional food leads to the disappearance of phytoplankton species, while a significant drop in nutrient levels results in zooplankton extinction within the ecosystem. Notably, the refuge by phytoplankton has a tendency to terminate the persistent oscillations and stabilize the system. As seasonal stochasticity significantly influences the dynamics of planktonic system, so we introduce seasonality into environmental noise and certain model parameters. In this case, we analyze both the regularity and the dichotomy between persistence and extinction. The numerical evidences demonstrate periodic solutions, strong/weak persistence, and plankton extinctions resulting from stochasticity and/or seasonality. Furthermore, the seasonally forced noise, intriguingly, has the capacity to exert control over hyperchaos, yielding a distinctive pattern in plankton populations.
What Factors Are Associated With Patients Being Active Partners in the Management Fibromyalgia? A Mixed Methods Systematic Review Protocol
Authors: Coggins Jessica , Ndosi Mwidimi , Pearson Jennifer
Published: December 2024

Background

Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is characterised by widespread and persistent pain, intrusive fatigue and cognitive issues, affecting approximately 5.4% of the UK population. Non‐pharmacological therapies and education are current management recommendations, but these approaches rely on patients having an active role in their healthcare management. It is therefore important to identify the factors associated with FMS patients being active partners, as this could influence person‐centred care provision.

Aim

The aim of this study is to explore the factors associated with patients being an active partner in the management of FMS.

Methods

This is a protocol for mixed methods systematic literature review with convergent integrated approach in accordance with JBI methodology. The databases AMED, MEDLINE, PsychINFO and CINAHL will be searched via EBSCOhost. Screening and selection will be conducted by two reviewers. Primary qualitative, observational and experimental studies from July 2005 to July 2024 will be included. Critical appraisal of eligible studies will be conducted using appropriate JBI tools. Data will be extracted, transformed where necessary and synthesised without meta‐analysis.

Discussion

This mixed methods systematic review will provide a comprehensive understanding of the factors associated with patients being active partners, offering not only the ‘what’ but also the ‘why’ behind patients taking an active role in their healthcare. This will help guide future research and practice in supporting patients to be active partners in FMS management.

Trial Registration:

This systematic review has been registered with PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42024575159)