bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Audit of the Hepatitis B Vaccination Status of Staff in General Dental Practices in Lancashire
Authors: Whittle J Gary
Published: October 2003

Purpose of the study

To audit compliance, by general dental practitioners working in two health authorities in Lancashire, with the British Dental Association recommendations on vaccination against hepatitis B.

Basic procedure

A postal questionnaire to dental practices.

Main findings

Replies were received from 85% of practices. The respondents consisted of 187 dentists, 270 dental nurses and 132 non-clinical staff. Totals of 98.9% of dentists, 96.7% of nurses and 72.7% of the non-clinicians reported that they had been vaccinated but fewer had undergone a blood test in the past five years. The poorest compliance was in having written evidence of immune status, with only 46.5% of dentists, 51.0% of nurses and 62.5% of non-clinical staff having this.

Principal conclusions

Greater publicity about the BDA recommendations is needed to improve compliance. An extension of the occupational health services currently being set up for general medical practitioners and their staff to dental practices would also help.
Lifelong Learning
Authors: Brigden David N , Grieveson Brian
Published: October 2003

This article looks at the theory behind lifelong learning as a concept and applies it to many aspects of the dentist's professional life.
Attentional difficulties in children: Weakness in executive function or problems in coping with difficult tasks?
Authors: Wilding John M.
Published: October 2003

Two groups of children, one with good attention and one with poor attention, as rated by teachers, carried out a computerized visual search task. There were no differences between groups on an easy search for a single target, but when the task was made more difficult by including foils very similar to the targets or requiring alternating search for two different targets, the poor attention group made significantly more errors than the good attention group. The nature of these increases in errors was examined to discover whether they were due to errors specifically on the foils similar to the targets and errors due to failure to alternate. It was found that as well as making more errors of these types, the children with poor attention also showed a greater increase in other types of error (shape confusions, repetitions etc.) from the simple task to the more difficult ones. It is concluded that these findings do not support an explanation of poor attention solely in terms of weaknesses in specific executive functions, but suggest that supplementary or alternative explanations are needed, for example reduced processing capacity or problems in motivation or arousal when coping with difficult tasks.
Stereotypes and crossed‐category evaluations: The case of gender and science education
Authors: Breakwell Glynis M. , Vignoles Vivian L. , Robertson Toby
Published: October 2003

A sample of UK adolescents (n = 1140), grouped by sex and liking of science, evaluated themselves, and girl and boy targets who did or did not like science, on masculine, feminine and gender non‐specific traits. Contrary to sociological concerns about the masculine image and appeal of science, those who liked science more rated themselves more positively on feminine and gender non‐specific—but not masculine—traits. The girl target was rated lower on feminine traits if she liked science, but the boy was rated higher on feminine traits if he liked science. Target ratings also showed in‐group enhancement based on liking of science, and a ‘black sheep’ effect: those who liked science less discriminated against the same‐sex target who liked science, especially on gender in‐group relevant traits. We argue that gender differences in science education should be attributed partly to subjective group dynamics and not solely to images of science.
Reassessing the dimensionality of the moral emotions
Authors: Harris Nathan
Published: October 2003

The dimensionality of the moral emotions was tested to examine whether theoretical distinctions between specific emotions were empirically supported. A total of 720 drink‐driving offenders indicated the degree to which they experienced feelings associated with the moral emotions, in an interview conducted after attending court or a restorative justice conference. Expected distinctions between shame and guilt were not found. Instead the principal components analysis identified three factors: shame‐guilt, embarrassment‐exposure, and unresolved shame. The results also show that shame‐guilt was related to higher feelings of empathy and lower feelings of anger/hostility. It is concluded that differences between shame and guilt may be overstated. Furthermore, it is suggested that the relationship between situational experiences of shame and the disposition to feel it may be more complicated than initially thought.
Adults' versus children's performance on the Stroop task: Interference and facilitation
Authors: Wright Barlow C. , Wanley Amanda
Published: October 2003

Stroop tasks (Stroop, 1935) present stimuli having two dimensions, and participants respond to one dimension whilst ignoring the other. The two dimensions are made congruent, incongruent or neutral with respect to one another. Many claim that ‘Stroop interference’ is higher in children than in adults. However, taking interference as the difference between the incongruent condition and the neutral condition, with interference within the congruent condition itself termed the ‘incongruity effect’ then surprisingly few studies directly address this issue. Also, there is recent debate as to whether the ‘facilitation effect’ (the contrast between the congruent and neutral conditions) is just the opposite of interference. The present investigation (N = 31) concerned a direct comparison between children and adults. Although the incongruity effect reduced with age, interference did not. However, facilitation was far higher in children than in adults. The groups' opposite facilitation/interference asymmetry was used to examine the recent claim that these derive from inadvertent word‐reading and suppression of semantic activation, respectively; rather than solely from the latter.
Can we correctly perceive the reaching range of others?
Authors: Fischer Martin H.
Published: October 2003

Little is known about our ability to predict the motor capacities of other people. This study explored how observers perceive the reaching range of another person by asking them to judge the reachability of a moving object. Experiments 1 and 2 found that observers overestimated the reaching ranges of both short and tall people. Estimates were larger when objects moved towards rather than away from the person. Experiment 3 showed that perceived reaching range depended on the observer's viewing perspective. Compared with previous findings, these results suggest that observers use different cognitive operations to mentally simulate actions for themselves vs. others. They also inform the current debate about motor imagery and action understanding.
Measurement of body size and shape perception in eating‐disordered and control observers using body‐shape software
Authors: Tovée Martin J. , Benson Philip J. , Emery Joanne L. , Mason Suzanne M. , Cohen‐Tovée Esther M.
Published: October 2003

A disturbance in the perception of personal body size and shape is a key feature of both anorexia and bulimia nervosa, but it has proved difficult to quantify. Previous attempts have used methods like the distorting video technique (DVT), which alters an image by stretching the figure in either the X‐ or Y‐axis. This is a poor representation of the way fat is added to or lost from the body, and the pattern of distortion provides a host of cues to the degree to which the image has been altered. To overcome these problems we have used a specially designed software system that uses biometric data based on real body shapes, instead of simply stretching or compressing images of bodies. This technique also allows individual body parts to be altered separately, so we can determine whether a specific body part is overestimated relative to others. We can also calculate the apparent body mass index (BMI) of our modified pictures, using the perimeter‐area ratio (PAR). This allows us to compare an observer's actual BMI with that calculated for their estimated and ideal bodies. We tested 30 anorexic, 30 bulimic and 137 control observers. Our results show that all three observer groups tend to overestimate their body size, but not significantly so. Both the control and bulimic observers prefer an ideal body with a BMI of 20, which is at the lower end of the ‘normal’ BMI range. However, the anorexics ideal BMI is 15, which is on the border between the emaciated and underweight BMI categories.
Semantic priming in the name retrieval of objects and famous faces
Authors: Damian Markus F. , Abdel Rahman Rasha
Published: October 2003

Researchers interested in face processing have recently debated whether access to the name of a known person occurs in parallel with retrieval of semantic‐biographical codes, rather than in a sequential fashion. Recently, Schweinberger, Burton, and Kelly (2001) took a failure to obtain a semantic context effect in a manual syllable judgment task on names of famous faces as support for this position. In two experiments, we compared the effects of visually presented categorically related prime words with either objects (e.g. prime: animal; target: dog) or faces of celebrities (e.g. prime: actor; target: Bruce Willis) as targets. Targets were either manually categorized with regard to the number of syllables (as in Schweinberger et al.), or they were overtly named. For neither objects nor faces was semantic priming obtained in syllable decisions; crucially, however, priming was obtained when objects and faces were overtly named. These results suggest that both face and object naming are susceptible to semantic context effects.
The social context of musical success: A developmental account
Authors: Moore Derek G. , Burland Karen , Davidson Jane W.
Published: October 2003

This paper brings together extensive data from 257 children to explore the relative importance of social‐environmental factors during critical periods of children's musical development. The paper also presents preliminary findings from a follow‐up of 20 of the most musically successful children 8 years later to determine which childhood factors predict differences in success as adult performers. Those children who continued to play an instrument started at an early age, had higher parental support in lessons, and had first teachers who were friendly but not too technically able. However, these factors alone were not sufficient to predict relative success in childhood. Successful childhood musicians also appear to need teachers who are ‘not too relaxed’ and also ‘not too pushy’ and they also need to do substantial amounts of practice. The follow‐up study suggested, though, that successful adult performers were not those who did the most practice; rather, the successful adults were those who took part in more concert activities in childhood, did more improvisation, and who had mothers at home in their early years. The results are discussed in relation to theories of musical development and the changing influences of parents, teachers and peers.
Intelligence and class mobility in the British population
Authors: Nettle Daniel
Published: October 2003

Performance on intelligence tests is known to be associated with class mobility, with high scorers tending to move up the socio‐economic hierarchy, and low scorers tending to move down. However, much remains unknown about the association. It is possible that the importance of intelligence varies across different occupational areas, or that there is friction acting against mobility, such that a person from an underprivileged background would have to be more intelligent in order to reach a given position than someone who had had greater social advantage. Data from a longitudinal study of a broad, socially representative cohort of the British population (the NCDS) are used to investigate these questions. The results show that intelligence test scores in childhood are associated with class mobility in adulthood uniformly across all social classes. There is no evidence that those from underprivileged backgrounds have to be disproportionately able in order to reach the professional classes. The study reveals an apparently high level of social mobility and meritocracy in contemporary Britain.
Emotion‐related primary and secondary appraisals, adjustment and coping: Associations in women awaiting breast disease diagnosis
Authors: Lowe Rob , Vedhara Kav , Bennett Paul , Brookes Emily , Gale Lone , Munnoch Kathy , Schreiber‐Kounine Christa , Fowler Clare , Rayter Zen , Sammon Alistair , Farndon John
Published: October 2003

Objective: Different emotions are to some extent associated with different ways of coping. Cognitive processes involved in determining emotional reactions may influence coping (perhaps through directing attention or generating salient information). This study explored possible appraisal‐coping associations by examining whether a set of appraisal components identified in emotion theory were also associated with coping.

Design: The study examined concurrent associations between appraisal components, emotional adjustment, and coping in 148 women with suspected breast disease.

Method: Questionnaire measures of primary and secondary appraisal components identified in emotion theory, anxiety, depression, and coping were sent to women during the waiting period between GP referral and attendance at a ‘one‐stop’ breast‐disease diagnosis clinic.

Results: Consistent with expectations, appraisal components were associated with both emotions and coping. Elevated anxiety was associated with appraisals of low emotion‐focused coping potential; avoidance coping was associated with motivational incongruence, self‐accountability, and pessimistic appraisal of emotion‐focused coping potential; acceptance/resignation coping was associated with self‐accountability and pessimistic appraisals of both future expectancy and emotion‐focused coping potential.

Conclusion: This study presents a theoretically driven approach to exploring associations between emotions and adjustment efforts. In keeping with expectations, a number of appraisal components identified in emotion theory were found to be associated with both emotion and coping.
Abnormal illness behaviour and locus of control in patients with functional bowel disorders
Authors: Hobbis I. C. A. , Turpin G. , Read N. W.
Published: October 2003

Objectives: Psychosocial factors have been examined in functional bowel disorders (FBD), including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC). Abnormal illness behaviour (AIB) has been investigated in IBS patients as evidence of underlying psychological distress and as influencing health‐care‐seeking behaviour. Health locus of control may also contribute to health‐care‐seeking behaviour, as possession of an external locus of control places responsibility for health status onto professionals. Thus, external locus of control may also be more prominent in FBD patients. This study examined whether FBD patients displayed more AIB and an external health locus of control compared with organic disease and non‐patient controls.

Design: A cross‐sectional comparison group design was employed.

Method: Fifty‐three CIC patients were compared with matched control groups of 50 IBS patients, 51 Crohn's disease patients and 53 non‐patient participants. Questionnaire measures included the Illness Behaviour Questionnaire, the Multi‐dimensional Health Locus of Control, the GHQ, and the SCL‐90R.

Results: FBD patients did not differ from Crohn's disease patients on measures of AIB, but all three patient groups differed from non‐patient participants. Crohn's disease patients possessed a higher external locus of control compared with FBD patients and non‐patient controls. There was a general association between AIB and psychopathology.

Conclusions: FBD patients did not report more AIB or a higher external locus of control regarding their health status, compared with organic disease controls, but did differ from non‐patients. The presentation of AIB was related to increased psychopathology, suggesting that AIB may be related to psychological distress, irrespective of patient status.
Measuring Sense of Coherence with only three items: A useful tool for population surveys
Authors: Schumann Anja , Hapke Ulfert , Meyer Christian , Rumpf Hans‐Jürgen , John Ulrich
Published: October 2003

Objectives: Sense of Coherence is the core construct of Antonovsky's salutogenetic model. To measure Sense of Coherence, a 29‐item‐questionnaire (SOC‐29), a shortened 13‐item version, and a simplified measure of only three items (SOC‐3) are available. In our study, the last was tested in terms of the psychometric properties and compared with an alternative short form derived from the SOC‐29.

Methods: Data with respect to the original SOC‐29‐scale, the SOC‐3, and additional other health measures were collected in a representative general population survey, the German study ‘Transitions in Alcohol Consumption and Smoking’ (TACOS). Analyses of the factor structures, reliability and validity correlations are reported.

Results: The reliability and validity results of the SOC‐3 were not encouraging. Subsequent item analyses revealed that three items taken out of the SOC‐29 outperformed the SOC‐3 in measuring Sense of Coherence in a simplified way. This newly developed instrument is presented as the Brief Assessment of Sense of Coherence (BASOC).

Conclusion: The BASOC is a superior short form compared with the SOC‐3 and is recommended for large surveys with limited space for questions.
Selective processing of threat‐related cues in day surgery patients and prediction of post‐operative pain
Authors: Munafò Marcus R. , Stevenson Jim
Published: October 2003

Objective: To investigate the use of a measure of selective processing bias associated with anxiety as a predictor of post‐operative pain independently of self‐report measures of anxiety.

Methods: Forty‐seven women admitted for minor gynaecological surgical procedures completed a selective processing task (modified Stroop) and the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory immediately prior to surgery. Following surgery they completed the McGill Short‐Form Pain Questionnaire. Intraoperative analgesia consumption was also recorded.

Results: Participants demonstrated significantly slower colour‐naming times for physical threat cues than control cues. This was not due to an emotionality effect, as colour‐naming times for neutral and positive cues were not significantly different. This bias was congruent with the participants’ current concerns, as colour‐naming times were significantly slower for physical threat words than for social threat words. This index of selective processing bias significantly predicted post‐operative pain independently of self‐reported state and trait anxiety.

Conclusions: The advantages of measures of psychological constructs that are not reliant on self‐reporting are discussed.
Adolescence and the diet‐dieting disparity: Healthy food choice or risky health behaviour?
Authors: Lattimore Paul J. , Halford Jason C. G.
Published: October 2003

Objectives: Food choice in schoolchildren was examined in relation to dieting and measures of eating psychopathology. It was predicted that dieters would make healthier food choices compared to non‐dieters and that measures of eating psychopathology would be associated with food choice.

Design: A cross‐sectional questionnaire design incorporating an established adapted recall method was used to assess patterns of food consumption.

Methods: Questionnaires were administered in 13 state secondary schools. Measures included a food frequency questionnaire, the Children's Eating Attitudes Test (CHEAT), body satisfaction ratings, dietary restraint, and questions about dieting status. The sample consisted of 574 females and 445 males aged 11‐16 years.

Results: Females made significantly more healthy food choices compared to males. Females reported dieting more than males (35% vs. 18%, respectively), and female dieters made more healthy food choices than female non‐dieters. Almost a fifth (19%) of the entire sample reported skipping breakfast, with female dieters being three times more likely to do so than non‐dieters. There were small but significant associations between reported food consumption and measures of eating attitudes, body dissatisfaction and restraint. For females who scored in the at‐risk range on the CHEAT (8.7%), these associations were more substantial.

Conclusions: Female dieters appear to make more healthy food choices than non‐dieters and so may be tuning into healthy eating messages more effectively. Vulnerable females may use ‘healthy eating’ to hide risky weight reduction behaviours. Further studies are required to examine the nutritional impact of moderate and extreme dieting in this age group.
Self‐management training for people with chronic disease: An exploratory study
Authors: Wright C. C. , Barlow J. H. , Turner A. P. , Bancroft G. V.
Published: October 2003

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of a community‐based Chronic Disease Self‐management Course (CDC) for UK participants with a range of chronic diseases.

Design: The study was a multiple baseline, pre‐test post test design with a sample of 185 participants who attended a CDC delivered in community settings by lay tutors, in the UK.

Method: Data were collected by self‐completed questionnaires before attendance and at four‐month follow‐up.

Results: The sample comprised 72% women (mean age = 53 years, mean disease duration = 16 years). The main chronic diseases included endometriosis, depression, diabetes, myalgic encephalomyelitis, osteoporosis and polio. Adjusting for baseline values and gender, small to moderate increases were found on cognitive symptom management, self‐efficacy (disease and symptoms) and communication with physician. A similar sized decrease was found on fatigue, and small decreases were evident on anxious and depressed moods, and health distress. There were no changes in the use of health care resources, or on self‐reported exercise behaviour.

Conclusion: The results of this exploratory study suggest that self‐management training for people with chronic diseases can offer benefits in terms of enhanced self‐efficacy, greater use of cognitive behavioural techniques, and improvement in some aspects of physical and psychological well‐being.
Exercise behaviour change in 40 to 65‐year‐old women: The SWEAT Study (Sedentary Women Exercise Adherence Trial)
Authors: Cox K. L. , Gorely T. J. , Puddey I. B. , Burke V. , Beilin L. J.
Published: October 2003

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the relation between self‐reported psychological processes and changes in exercise behaviour in an 18‐month longitudinal stage‐based intervention trial in 115 initially sedentary women aged 40‐65 years.

Design: A two‐way factorial design was used.

Methods: Participants were assigned randomly to either moderate or vigorous and either home or centre‐based exercise. After six months, all participants exercised at home. Participants completed questionnaires at baseline, six, 12 and 18 months which assessed stage of exercise behaviour, self‐efficacy, decisional balance and processes of change.

Results: 28 patterns of stage change were identified across the 18 months with 6.1% remaining sedentary and 45% demonstrating linear movement from contemplation to action to maintenance to continued maintenance. Two interpretable clusters were identified within both the contemplation (at baseline) and action (at six months) stages. Cluster membership, however, did not influence behaviour change. For participants demonstrating a linear pattern of change, self‐efficacy for overcoming barriers and behavioural processes increased from contemplation to action. Self‐efficacy for exercise competence increased from contemplation to action but was more pronounced for the vigorous exercise groups. Decisional balance showed a three‐way interaction and there was no change for experimental processes. There was no change in any variable from action to maintenance.

Conclusions: The intervention was seen to be effective regardless of location or intensity of exercise. The relevance of substages is questionable in stage‐based interventions as women with a profile suggesting less readiness to change or sustain change were just as likely to adopt or maintain exercise.
Four-Year Progression of Myopic Maculopathy in Children and Adolescents With High Myopia
Authors: Jiang Feng , Wang Decai , Xiao Ou , Guo Xinxing , Yin Qiuxia , Luo Lixia , He Mingguang , Li Zhixi
Published: January 2024

Importance

Individuals with high myopia younger than 18 years are at relatively high risk of progressively worsening myopic maculopathy. Additional studies are needed to investigate the progression of myopic maculopathy in this age group, as well as the risk factors associated with progression.

Objective

To investigate the 4-year progression of myopic maculopathy in children and adolescents with high myopia, and to explore potential risk factors.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This hospital-based observational study with 4-year follow-up included a total of 548 high myopic eyes (spherical power −6.00 or less diopters) of 274 participants aged 7 to 17 years. Participants underwent comprehensive ophthalmic examination at baseline and 4-year follow-up. Myopic maculopathy was accessed by the International Photographic Classification and Grading System. The data analysis was performed from August 1 to 15, 2023.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The progression of myopic maculopathy progression over 4 years and associated risk factors.

Results

The 4-year progression of myopic maculopathy was found in 67 of 548 eyes (12.2%) of 274 participants (138 girls [50.4%] at baseline and 4-year follow-up) with 88 lesion changes, including new signs of the tessellated fundus in 16 eyes (18.2%), diffuse atrophy in 12 eyes (13.6%), patchy atrophy in 2 eyes (2.3%), lacquer cracks in 9 eyes (10.2%), and enlargement of diffuse atrophy in 49 eyes (55.7%). By multivariable analysis, worse best-corrected visual acuity (odds ratio [OR], 6.68; 95% CI, 1.15-38.99; P = .04), longer axial length (AL) (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.34-2.24; P < .001), faster AL elongation (OR, 302.83; 95% CI, 28.61-3205.64; P < .001), and more severe myopic maculopathy (diffuse atrophy; OR, 4.52; 95% CI, 1.98-10.30; P < .001 and patchy atrophy; OR, 3.82; 95% CI, 1.66-8.80; P = .002) were associated with myopic maculopathy progression.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this observational study, the progression of myopic maculopathy was observed in approximately 12% of pediatric high myopes for 4 years. The major type of progression was the enlargement of diffuse atrophy. Risk factors for myopic maculopathy progression were worse best-corrected visual acuity, longer AL, faster AL elongation, and more severe myopic maculopathy. These findings support consideration of follow-up in these individuals and trying to identify those at higher risk for progression.
Extent of Surgery for Medullary Thyroid Cancer and Prevalence of Occult Contralateral Foci
Authors: Mao Yifan V. , Hughes Elena G. , Steinmetz David , Troob Samantha , Kim Jiyoon , Tseng Chi-Hong , Fishbein Gregory A. , Sajed Dipti P. , Livhits Masha J. , Yeh Michael W. , Lee Denise , Angell Trevor E. , Wu James X.
Published: January 2024

Importance

Standard treatment for patients with medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) consists of total thyroidectomy with central neck dissection, but the rationale for bilateral surgery in patients with unilateral disease on ultrasonography remains unclear.

Objective

To determine the presence of occult contralateral disease (lesions not seen on preoperative ultrasonography) in patients with MTC as a rationale for total thyroidectomy.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This multi-institutional, retrospective cohort study was conducted from September 1998 to April 2022 in academic medical centers and included patients with MTC who underwent thyroidectomy with preoperative imaging.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary end point was the prevalence of sonographically occult foci of MTC in the contralateral lobe among patients with sporadic MTC.

Results

The cohort comprised 176 patients with a median age at diagnosis of 55 years (range, 2-87 years), 69 (57.6%) of whom were female. Genetic testing was performed in 109 patients (61.9%), 48 (27.5%) of whom carried germline RET variants. Initial surgical management consisted of total thyroidectomy (161 [91.0%]), lobectomy followed by completion thyroidectomy (7 [4.0%]), and lobectomy alone (8 [4.5%]). Central and lateral neck dissections were performed as part of initial therapy for 146 patients (83.1%). In the entire cohort of 176 patients, 46 (26.0%) had contralateral foci disease and 9 (5.1%) had occult contralateral foci that were not identified on preoperative ultrasonography. Among 109 patients who underwent genetic testing, 38 (34.9%) had contralateral disease, 8 (7.3%) of whom had occult contralateral disease not seen on preoperative ultrasonography. Patients with sporadic MTC experienced a 95.7% reduction in the odds of having a focus of MTC in the contralateral lobe compared with patients with a germline RET variant (odds ratio, 0.043; 95% CI, 0.013-0.123). When adjusting for age, sex, tumor size, and lymph node involvement, the odds ratio of having contralateral MTC in patients with sporadic disease was 0.034 (95% CI, 0.007-0.116). Among patients who underwent lobectomy alone with postoperative calcitonin levels, 5 of 12 (41.7%) achieved undetectable calcitonin levels (<2.0 pg/mL; to convert to pmol/L, multiply by 0.292).

Conclusions and Relevance

The results of this cohort study suggest that a staged approach involving initial thyroid lobectomy could be considered in patients with sporadic MTC and no contralateral ultrasonography findings, with no further surgery if calcitonin levels became undetectable. Further work using prospective randomized clinical trials to evaluate lobectomy as a biochemical cure in patients presenting with unilateral disease is warranted.
Profiling research on PFAS in wildlife: Systematic evidence map and bibliometric analysis
Authors: Vendl Catharina , Taylor Matthew D. , Bräunig Jennifer , Ricolfi Lorenzo , Ahmed Radiah , Chin Maegan , Gibson Matthew J. , Hesselson Daniel , Neely G. Gregory , Lagisz Malgorzata , Nakagawa Shinichi
Published: January 2024

Per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of synthetic chemicals that have been in use for over 70 years. Their ubiquitous distribution and harmful effects pose a threat to wildlife worldwide. To provide a comprehensive synopsis and show the gaps and gluts of existing research on PFAS exposure in wildlife, we created a systematic map and bibliographic analysis of the literature.

We followed our protocol to conduct a systematic literature search on Scopus, Web of Science and five other databases. In two steps (title/abstract/keywords and full‐text), we screened peer‐reviewed empirical articles, preprints and theses in English that studied the concentration of at least one of 34 PFAS compounds in free‐ranging wildlife or their parts/products. Following the protocol, we extracted data and performed a critical appraisal.

We included 581 publications. From the first and only paper in 2001, there was a linear annual increase to 54 papers in 2021. While PFOS (97% of studies), PFOA (91%) and long‐chain PFAS in general were the most measured, few studies investigated new‐generation PFAS (e.g. GenX and ADONA). Across the studied 1042 species from 26 taxonomic classes, the most frequent were the common carp (Cyprinus carpio, 8%), polar bear (Ursus maritimus, 6%) and European perch (Perca fluviatilis, 5%).

Most sampling took place in the United States (17%), Norway (13%), Canada (12%) and China (10%), which were also the main publishing countries. Polar regions attracted significant research interest from countries all around the globe. Aquatic habitats (marine: 31%, freshwater: 28%) of temperate zones were the most common locations for sample collection.

We encourage researchers to work towards closing the following gaps: investigating new‐generation PFAS, assessing PFAS in mid‐ and low‐income countries and performing more long‐term studies, especially on invertebrates. We note the recent rise in studies on the physiological consequences of PFAS exposure and encourage further work on this crucial topic. Furthermore, we recommend that the statement of potential and actual conflicts of interest, and the provision of raw data and analysis code should be made compulsory by all journals and routinely enforced. This practice will mitigate conflict of interest and ensure reproducibility.
Utilization of Biologic Disease‐Modifying Antirheumatic Therapy in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Recently Diagnosed Breast Cancer
Authors: Ruiz Juan I. , Lei Xiudong , Wu Chi‐Fang , Zhao Hui , Giordano Sharon H. , Rajan Suja S. , Suarez‐Almazor Maria E.
Published: January 2024

Objective

Biologic disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) are immunosuppressants, and there have been concerns that they might impact tumor immunity in patients with cancer with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The purpose of this study was to describe the utilization trends of bDMARD in patients with RA after breast cancer (BC) diagnosis.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study of adults with RA and BC (2008 onward) from Optum's de‐identified Clinformatics® Data Mart Database (CDM); the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) Medicare; and the Texas Cancer Registry (TCR) Medicare databases. We evaluated bDMARD utilization trends during the first three years after BC. We conducted multivariable logistic regression to evaluate the association of utilization with patient characteristics.

Results

A total 1,412 patients were identified in CDM and 1,439 patients in SEER/TCR‐Medicare. During the three months before BC diagnosis, 28.2% (CDM) and 26.9% (SEER/TCR‐Medicare) patients had received bDMARDs. Within the first three years after diagnosis, 24.1% (CDM) and 26.4% (SEER/TCR‐Medicare) were receiving bDMARDs. About 70% of the patients in the two cohorts received glucocorticoids with no significant time trend increases. The largest predictor of bDMARD utilization was prior use before BC (CDM: odds ratio [OR] 27.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] 19.29–38.19; SEER/TCR: OR 18.98, 95% CI 13.72–26.26). Regional and distant BC compared to in situ or localized were also associated with lower bDMARDs utilization in SEER/TCR‐Medicare (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.36–0.82; OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.13–0.77, respectively).

Conclusion

The utilization of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors and other bDMARDs in patients with RA and recent BC has not increased since 2008. Glucocorticoids utilization remained high. The largest predictor of bDMARD utilization was prior use before BC.

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Study on Hot Deformation Behavior and Processing Maps of Cobalt‐Based Superalloy GH5188
Authors: Liu Dahai , Lai Xuechi , Huang Zengxin , Yang Liang , Zhou Kai
Published: January 2024

True stress–strain data are obtained through the thermal compression test of the cobalt‐based superalloy GH5188 at the temperature range of 1080–1180 °C and the strain rate of 0.1–10 s−1, and the Arrhenius constitutive equation considering the effects of temperature, strain rate, and strain is established. The microscopic deformation mechanism and the appropriate process range are proposed based on the analysis of the dynamic material model and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD). The results show that the established constitutive equation exhibits predictive ability, and the calculated thermal activation energy Q value is 446.1054 KJ mol−1; when the strain is 0.7, the GH5188 superalloy undergoes dynamic recrystallization (DRX) at 1130 °C in the form of discontinuous DRX; when the temperature is 1180 °C, the degree of DRX is significantly improved, and evenly distributed equiaxed grains are obtained; when the strain is 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6, DRX is mainly affected by the degree of deformation, and its occurrence is accompanied by the generation of Σ3. Combined with the analysis of the processing maps and EBSD diagrams, the optimal thermal deformation parameters of GH5188 alloy are determined as follows: the strain is 0.7, the deformation temperature is about 1180 °C, and the strain rate is about 1 s−1.
Design and Fabrication of Microarchitected Thermoelectric Generators: Prospects and Challenges
Authors: Asadikouhanjani Saeed , Zolfagharian Ali , Bodaghi Mahdi
Published: January 2024

Solid‐state devices called thermoelectric generators (TEGs) can convert waste heat from production into electrical power. For emerging devices like thermally integrated energy‐autonomous devices, medicinal equipment, and Internet of Things, μ‐TEGs are essential because they can produce power even from minor temperature gradients. A review of the history and state‐of‐the‐art of μ‐TEGs is provided in this article. In addition, it concentrates on highly effective approaches for achieving high‐performance miniature vertical thermoelectric (TE) devices. Design and optimizing methodologies for vertical μ‐TEGs are also investigated since their output power, efficiency, and integrity are critical to the architecture. Improving electrical and mechanical performance may be achieved via optimization methods, including multiobjective and finite‐dimensional optimization in three dimensions (3D). Additionally, the idea and latest advancements of employing the 3D microadditive manufacturing (micro‐AM) technique for producing μ‐TEGs are discussed, along with their advantages and disadvantages. The concept of “microarchitected TEGs” as opposed to “μ‐TEGs” is provided by the new paradigm of digital AM and architected material concept, which also broadens the scope of material adaptability and innovative structural design. The difficulties experienced are summed up when increasing the output power of μ‐TEG and the prediction of future trends is the final step.
Highly Compact Zinc Metal Anode and Wide‐Temperature Aqueous Electrolyte Enabled by Acetamide Additives for Deep Cycling Zn Batteries
Authors: Qiu Kaiyue , Ma Guoqiang , Wang Yuanyuan , Liu Mengyu , Zhang Mengyuan , Li Xiaotong , Qu Xinghan , Yuan Wentao , Nie Xueyu , Zhang Ning
Published: January 2024

Rechargeable aqueous zinc (Zn) batteries are a promising candidate for large‐scale energy storage, but the noncompact and dendritic Zn deposition, water‐induced parasitic reaction, and narrow operating temperature range severely hinder their practical application. Here, it is demonstrated that these challenges can be conquered by introducing low‐cost acetamide (Ace) into aqueous electrolytes. The non‐sacrificial Ace molecules with both donor and acceptor groups can disrupt the original H‐bonded network of water, replace the solvating‐H2O in Zn2+‐solvation sheath, form dynamic adsorption on Zn, and create an H2O‐poor electrical double‐layer. Consequently, the presence of Ace suppresses water erosion on Zn, homogenizes Zn nucleation/growth, reduces water reactivity, and depresses the freezing point of electrolyte. The formulated Ace‐containing electrolyte features a wide temperature range from −20 to 60 °C and enables highly compact and dendrite‐free Zn electrodeposition even at 25 mAh cm−2 using a non‐pressure electrolytic cell. Moreover, the Ace‐containing electrolyte allows Zn electrodes to achieve a long‐term lifespan across −20–60 °C and excellent deep cycling stability under 85.3% depth‐of‐discharge (25 mAh cm−2) with over 400 h, and supports the stable operation of Zn–Iodine full batteries under harsh conditions.
Super‐Wide Temperature Lasers Spanning from −180 to 240 °C Based on Fully‐Polymerized Blue Phase Superstructures
Authors: Chen Yujie , Zheng Chenglin , Yang Wenjie , Li Jing , Jin Feng , Shi Lei , Wang Jingxia , Jiang Lei
Published: January 2024

Blue phase liquid crystal (BPLC) lasers have potential applications in displays, sensors, and anti‐counterfeiting fields owing to their outstanding optical properties. However, there remain challenges on lasing below 0 °C, which significantly limits the potential application of BPLC lasers in low‐temperature environments. In this work, BPLC lasing below 0 °C is realized for the first time in a super‐wide temperature range of −180–240 °C using a well‐designed fully‐polymerized BPLC system with a narrow line width of 0.0881 nm and a low lasing threshold of 37 nJ pulse−1. This fully‐polymerized BPLC both effectively avoids low‐temperature random crystallization and has excellent compatibility with dye molecules that significantly widen the lasing temperature range below 0 °C. Besides, the variations of laser peak and threshold are also revealed below 0 °C, that is, redshifted laser wavelength and increased threshold value with decreasing temperature, which contribute to a blue‐shifted laser signal and a U‐shaped lasing threshold in −180–240 °C. These unique laser behaviors can be ascribed to the temperature‐dependent anisotropically microstructural deformation of the BP lattice. This work not only opens a door to the development of low‐temperature BPLC lasers but also sets out important insights in the design of novel organic optical devices.
Atomic Diffusion Engineered PtSnCu Nanoframes with High‐Index Facets Boost Ethanol Oxidation
Authors: Tang Min , Sun Mingzi , Chen Wen , Ding Yutian , Fan Xiaokun , Wu Xiaoyu , Fu Xian‐Zhu , Huang Bolong , Luo Shuiping , Luo Jing‐Li
Published: January 2024

Electrochemical ethanol oxidation is crucial to directly convert a biorenewable liquid fuel with high energy density into electrical energy, but it remains an inefficient reaction even with the best catalysts. To boost ethanol oxidation, developing multimetallic nanoalloy has emerged as one of the most effective strategies, yet faces a challenge in the rational engineering of multimetallic active‐site ensembles at atomic‐level. Herein, starting from typical PtCu nanocrystals, an atomic Sn diffusion strategy is developed to construct well‐defined Pt47Sn12Cu41 octopod nanoframes, which is enclosed by high‐index facets of n (111)‐(111), such as {331} and {221}. Pt47Sn12Cu41 achieves a high mass activity of 3.10 A mg−1Pt and promotes the C‐C bond breaking and oxidation of poisonous CO intermediate, representing a state‐of‐the‐art electrocatalyst toward ethanol oxidation in acidic electrolyte. Density functional theory （DFT） calculations have confirmed that the introduction of Sn improves the electroactivity by uplifting the d‐band center through the s‐p‐d coupling. Meanwhile, the strong binding of ethanol and the reduced energy barrier of CO oxidation guarantee a highly efficient ethanol oxidation process with improved Faradic efficiency of C1 products. This work offers a promising strategy for constructing novel multimetallic nanoalloys tailored by atomic metal sites as the efficient electrocatalysts.
Selective Electrocatalytic Conversion of Nitric Oxide to High Value‐Added Chemicals
Authors: Wang Dongdong , Lu Xue Feng , Luan Deyan , Lou Xiong Wen (David)
Published: January 2024

The artificial disturbance in the nitrogen cycle has necessitated an urgent need for nitric oxide (NO) removal. Electrochemical technologies for NO conversion have gained increasing attention in recent years. This comprehensive review presents the recent advancements in selective electrocatalytic conversion of NO to high value‐added chemicals, with specific emphasis on catalyst design, electrolyte composition, mass diffusion, and adsorption energies of key intermediate species. Furthermore, the review explores the synergistic electrochemical co‐electrolysis of NO with specific carbon source molecules, enabling the synthesis of a range of valuable chemicals with C─N bonds. It also provides in‐depth insights into the intricate reaction pathways and underlying mechanisms, offering valuable perspectives on the challenges and prospects of selective NO electrolysis. By advancing comprehension and fostering awareness of nitrogen cycle balance, this review contributes to the development of efficient and sustainable electrocatalytic systems for the selective synthesis of valuable chemicals from NO.
Colloidal Chiral Carbon Dots: An Emerging System for Chiroptical Applications
Authors: Zhao Yuwan , Xie Juan , Tian Yongzhi , Mourdikoudis Stefanos , Fiuza‐Maneiro Nadesh , Du Yanli , Polavarapu Lakshminarayana , Zheng Guangchao
Published: January 2024

Chiral CDots (c‐CDots) not only inherit those merits from CDots but also exhibit chiral effects in optical, electric, and bio‐properties. Therefore, c‐CDots have received significant interest from a wide range of research communities including chemistry, physics, biology, and device engineers. They have already made decent progress in terms of synthesis, together with the exploration of their optical properties and applications. In this review, the chiroptical properties and chirality origin in extinction circular dichroism (ECD) and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) of c‐CDots is briefly discussed. Then, the synthetic strategies of c‐CDots is summarized, including one‐pot synthesis, post‐functionalization of CDots with chiral ligands, and assembly of CDots into chiral architectures with soft chiral templates. Afterward, the chiral effects on the applications of c‐CDots are elaborated. Research domains such as drug delivery, bio‐ or chemical sensing, regulation of enzyme‐like catalysis, and others are covered. Finally, the perspective on the challenges associated with the synthetic strategies, understanding the origin of chirality, and potential applications is provided. This review not only discusses the latest developments of c‐CDots but also helps toward a better understanding of the structure‐property relationship along with their respective applications.
Rational Identification of Novel Antibody‐Drug Conjugate with High Bystander Killing Effect against Heterogeneous Tumors
Authors: Guo Yu , Shen Zheyuan , Zhao Wenbin , Lu Jialiang , Song Yi , Shen Liteng , Lu Yang , Wu Mingfei , Shi Qiuqiu , Zhuang Weihao , Qiu Yueping , Sheng Jianpeng , Zhou Zhan , Fang Luo , Che Jinxin , Dong Xiaowu
Published: January 2024

Bystander‐killing payloads can significantly overcome the tumor heterogeneity issue and enhance the clinical potential of antibody‐drug conjugates (ADC), but the rational design and identification of effective bystander warheads constrain the broader implementation of this strategy. Here, graph attention networks (GAT) are constructed for a rational bystander killing scoring model and ADC construction workflow for the first time. To generate efficient bystander‐killing payloads, this model is utilized for score‐directed exatecan derivatives design. Among them, Ed9, the most potent payload with satisfactory permeability and bioactivity, is further used to construct ADC. Through linker optimization and conjugation, novel ADCs are constructed that perform excellent anti‐tumor efficacy and bystander‐killing effect in vivo and in vitro. The optimal conjugate T‐VEd9 exhibited therapeutic efficacy superior to DS‐8201 against heterogeneous tumors. These results demonstrate that the effective scoring approach can pave the way for the discovery of novel ADC with promising bystander payloads to combat tumor heterogeneity.