bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of organic mulching on moisture and temperature of soil in greenhouse production of tomato under unheated greenhouse cultivation in the cold zone of China
Authors: Zhang Pengfei , Zhang Zhaorui , Xiao Menglin , Chao Jinlong , Dai Yanyan , Liu Geng , Senge Masateru
Published: June 2023

In the cold zone of China, winter is cold and long and has a short duration of sunshine. Unheated earthen‐wall solar greenhouses are used for tomato production in winter in this region. This was an experimental investigation of different organic mulching materials (newspaper, bran, and grass) on the soil temperature, soil moisture, tomato yield, fruit quality, and water use efficiency. Organic mulching variously improved soil temperature, soil moisture, water use efficiency, and tomato yield, which is very important for greenhouse winter cultivation in this cold zone. Organic mulching regulated the soil temperature, with daily soil temperature ranges of bran, newspaper, and grass treatments being 1.6, 1.9, and 2.1°C lower than for bare land, respectively. Compared to bare land, newspaper mulching had little effect on soil temperature and fruit quality, but increased soil moisture (14.1%) and water use efficiency (WUE: WUEb, 31.3%; WUEy, 30.6%), and greatly increased yield (81.8%) and biomass (82.7%); bran mulching greatly increased soil temperature, moisture (16%), and WUE (WUEb, 60.1%; WUEy, 44.3%) and increased biomass (30.2%) and yield (17.3%); grass mulching greatly increased soil temperature and moisture (20.9%) and increased biomass (17.9%), yield (11.2%), and WUE (WUEb, 20.5%; WUEy, 13.6%). In addition, organic mulching had a good water retention effect on soil layer above 30 cm. The total soil water consumption during tomato growth was in the following order: newspaper (103 mm) > bare (74 mm) > grass (73 mm) > bran (60 mm). Soil water consumption mainly occurred in the 0‐ to 10‐cm soil layers.
The antioxidant activity, preliminary phytochemical screening of Zingiber zerumbet and antimicrobial efficacy against selective endodontic bacteria
Authors: Assiry Ali A. , Ahmed Naveed , Almuaddi Abdulmajeed , Saif Ahmed , Alshahrani Mohammed Abdulrahman , Mohamed Roshan Noor , Karobari Mohmed Isaqali
Published: June 2023

Antibiotic resistance is rising across the world. For a very long time, bitter ginger (Zingiber zerumbet) has been used as one of the most popular herbal remedies to treat a wide range of common diseases. Ginger has been shown to have antioxidant and antibacterial activity. It has various bioactive chemicals that might be utilized as an alternative treatment option for many infectious diseases. The present study aimed to examine the biochemical profile of ginger, antioxidant, and antibacterial activity against selective endodontic microbes. Antioxidant was measured using DPPH and antibacterial activity was performed using disk diffusion tests. Streptococcus mutants, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus spp., and Lactobacillus spp. were tested for antibacterial activity. Before evaluating the dried extracts, all solvents were eliminated using rotary evaporation. The obtained IC50 value revealed that ethanol extract had the greatest antioxidant activity. Concerning each bacterium, the plant extracts demonstrated considerable antibacterial activity (p = .001). Ethanol extracts showed the strongest antibacterial activity against the studied microorganisms. This study highlights that the Zingiber zerumbet (Z. zerumbet) is a strong antibacterial herb against multidrug‐resistant (MDR) gram‐positive bacteria. It may also be employed as a possible natural antioxidant source.
Curcumin protects against bisphenol A‐induced hepatic steatosis by inhibiting cholesterol absorption and synthesis in CD‐1 mice
Authors: Hong Ting , Zou Jun , Yang Jie , Liu Hao , Cao Zhuo , He Youming , Feng Dan
Published: June 2023

Curcumin is a polyphenol extracted from the rhizome of turmeric, and our previous research showed that curcumin inhibited cholesterol absorption and had cholesterol‐lowering effect. Bisphenol A (BPA), a common plasticizer, is widely used in the manufacture of food packaging and is associated with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We hypothesized that curcumin could protect against BPA‐induced hepatic steatosis by inhibiting cholesterol absorption and synthesis. Male CD‐1 mice fed BPA‐contaminated diet with or without curcumin for 24 weeks were used to test our hypothesis. We found that chronic low‐dose BPA exposure significantly increased the levels of serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and the contents of liver TG and TC, resulting in liver fat accumulation and hepatic steatosis while curcumin supplementation could alleviate BPA‐induced dyslipidemia and hepatic steatosis. Moreover, the anti‐steatosis and cholesterol‐lowering effects of curcumin against BPA coincided with a significant reduction in intestinal cholesterol absorption and liver cholesterol synthesis, which was modulated by suppressing the expression of sterol regulatory element‐binding protein‐2 (SREBP‐2), Niemann–Pick C1‐like 1 (NPC1L1), and 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) in the small intestine and liver. In addition, the expression levels of liver lipogenic genes such as liver X receptor alpha (LXRα), SREBP‐1c, acetyl‐CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1), and ACC2 were also markedly down‐regulated by curcumin. Overall, our findings indicated that curcumin inhibited BPA‐induced intestinal cholesterol absorption and liver cholesterol synthesis by suppressing SREBP‐2, NPC1L1, and HMGCR expression, subsequently reducing liver cholesterol accumulation and fat synthesis, thereby preventing hepatic steatosis and NAFLD.
Supporting Grid Infrastructure Through Data‐Driven Analytics
Authors: Smilowitz Daniel , Tiwari Ashish
Published: June 2023

In general, utilities are consistently investing in their electric systems to deliver power with increased reliability, safety, and an improved customer experience. A resilient and high‐performing electric system remains the backbone of our society and economic prosperity. While attempting to maintain reliability, improve safety, and also manage costs, distribution utilities find themselves working to meet decarbonation goals mandated by executive branches at both the state and federal level, congress and state legislatures, and regulators. In order to meet these goals efficiently and effectively, which can often be in conflict with one another, utilities are investing in technologies to digitize their enterprise and create a digital experience for employees and customers. Severe weather events are the most common cause of prolonged power outages and electric infrastructure disruptions. Between 2000 and 2001, approximately 83 percent of reported major outages in the US were attributed to weather‐related events. The average annual number of weather‐related power outages increased by roughly 78 percent during 2011–2021, compared to 2000–2010.
Managing Peak Load in the Past, Present, and Future: Challenges and Opportunities for a Flexible Energy Future
Authors: Van Orden Eric , Simović Uroš
Published: June 2023

Taken at face value, peak load management involves controlling or influencing the time of day when electricity is used in homes, businesses, and public facilities. The desire to reduce peak electricity use has been based on the availability of generation resources and their associated costs. During periods of high electricity demand, retail energy providers, including distribution utilities, purchase power from generation sources that are less efficient than baseload generation resources such as hydro, nuclear, or coal. Operating the electrical grid has never been simple, but today the balance of supply and demand is getting more complex. On the supply side, the increasing penetration of renewable and distributed energy sources, such as solar and wind power, makes peak load management more complex. These sources are inherently intermittent, meaning that power generation cannot always be scheduled to meet demand. Additionally, electrification of the buildings and transportation sectors is changing the load profiles of customers and the regions of a distribution utility's service area. Yet, the rise of distributed energy resources (DERs), such as rooftop solar and battery storage, has created both opportunities and challenges for grid operators. Peak load management is rapidly evolving from past practices, with new use cases, economic drivers, hardware and software, and information technologies playing an increasingly important role. A cleaner energy future, while critical to our society and the environment, is not without increasing cost pressures, economic risks, and reliability challenges from extreme weather events. While we know where we are going, it is not exactly clear how we will get there. Nonetheless, the emphasis on peak load management will only increase in scale and sophistication. To better predict and prepare for the rapidly changing energy landscape, this editorial discusses the past and present state of peak load management and how it might be evolving into more flexible load management.
With Methane Emissions, Solutions Can Be as Tricky to Pin Down as the Problem Itself
Authors: Smead Richard G.
Published: June 2023

Previously in this column I have focused on the critical need for the oil and natural gas industry to succeed in reducing methane emissions if the industry is to secure a long‐term place in the climate‐friendly energy economy. By now, everyone in or around the oil and natural gas industry is aware of—and has been affected by—ongoing efforts to do so. However, that does not mean that everyone within the industry is on the same page.
New horizons in emotional well‐being and brain aging: Potential lessons from cross‐species research
Authors: Lin Feng Vankee , Zuo Yi , Conwell Yeates , Wang Kuan Hong
Published: June 2023

Key points

Emotional wellbeing (EWB) is a multi‐faceted concept of immediate relevance to human health.

NEW Brain Aging Center focuses on mechanistic understanding of EWB in relation to brain aging.

A reactivity and reappraisal model can serve the understanding of EWB and its age‐related changes.
The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on nasopharyngeal carcinoma extent at FDG PET/MR staging: The NPCOVIPET study
Authors: Cao Caineng , Xu Yuanfan , Qiang Mengyun , Tao Changjuan , Huang Shuang , Wang Lei , Chen Xiaozhong
Published: June 2023

Background

To evaluate the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic on disease extent in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) using 18 fuorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included biopsy‐proven, newly diagnosed NPC patients using whole‐body FDG PET/MR staging in two selected intervals: 1 May 2017 to 31 January 2020 (Group A, the pre‐COVID‐19 period), and 1 February 2020 to 30 June 2021 (Group B, the COVID‐19 period).

Results

Three‐hundred and ninety patients were included. No significant difference was observed in terms of T classification, N classification, overall stage, N stations, and M stations between the two groups (p > 0.05). For the involved neck node levels, more patients had developed level Vc metastasis in the group B (p = 0.044).

Conclusion

Although the overall stage was not affected, more patients with NPC had developed level Vc metastasis in the era of COVID‐19.
Early granulocyte colony stimulating factor administration increases the risk of cytokine release syndrome in acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients receiving anti‐CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T‐cell therapy
Authors: Cao Manxiong , Han Shi , Qiu Yingqi , Zhou Lijuan , Su Yongzhong , Tu Sanfang , Li Yuhua
Published: June 2023

Cytokine release syndrome (CRS), immune effector cell‐associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) and neutropenia are common toxicities associated with chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR‐T) cell therapy. The role of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF) in CAR‐T‐cell‐treated patients remains unclear. To explore the efficacy and safety of early G‐CSF administration in patients with relapsed/refractory B‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (R/R B‐ALL) who were receiving autologous anti‐CD19 CAR‐T cells, we retrospectively collected and summarized clinical data to compare patients receiving G‐CSF within 14 days (early G‐CSF group) to patients receiving later or no G‐CSF (control group) after their CART infusion. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the incidence and duration of neutropenia between the early G‐CSF group and the control group (77% vs. 63%, p = 0.65; 8 vs. 4 days, p = 0.37, respectively). However, the incidence and duration of CRS were significantly higher in the early G‐CSF group than in the control group (81% vs. 38%, p = 0.03; 3 vs. 0 days, p = 0.004, respectively). Moreover, early G‐CSF application had no significant effect on the expansion and efficacy of CAR‐T cells. In conclusion, our study suggested that early G‐CSF administration did not reduce the incidence and duration of neutropenia but rather increased the incidence and duration of CRS.
Pharmacies' income and its effective factors in Iran: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Bayati Mohsen , Gholami Ahmad , Emadi Mehrnoosh , Goudarzi Zahra , Keshavarz Khosro
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Financial assessment of pharmacies and the factors affecting it is an important issue in health system and pharmaceutical industry. The present study aimed to analyze the revenue of pharmacies in Iran and the factors affecting it.

Methods

In the present study revenue data of all active pharmacies in Shiraz in 2018 (n = 298) were gathered using a checklist. Descriptive statistics, mean difference test, correlation, and regression analysis were performed for statistical evaluation. Heteroskedasticity and multicollinearity also were checked. Stata 15 was used for statistical analysis.

Results

Average monthly income of the pharmacies was $82,879 USD (SD = 30,635). The monthly revenue of 24 h pharmacies was about $6560 higher than that of the daily pharmacies. The pharmacies founded by non‐pharmacists made about $44,038 more than others, and the pharmacies located on main streets earned over $84,247 more than the ones located on side streets. Besides, the pharmacies inside or near hospitals, clinics, or physician buildings made more money than others. Correlation analysis also showed that the pharmacies' working years, the number of adjacent pharmacies, the number of OTC prescriptions, and the number of staff working at the cosmetics counters had a positive relationship with the pharmacies' income.

Conclusions

Final findings indicated that 24 h pharmacies, pharmacies located on main streets, the ones located in hospitals or private clinics and physician buildings, pharmacies with more OTC prescriptions, and the ones with a larger number of employees in the cosmetics departments had higher monthly revenues.
Deubiquitinase USP9X loss sensitizes renal cancer cells to mTOR inhibition
Authors: Roldán‐Romero Juan M. , Valdivia Carlos , Santos Maria , Lanillos Javier , Maroto Pablo , Anguera Georgia , Calsina Bruna , Martinez‐Montes Angel , Monteagudo María , Mellid Sara , Leandro‐García Luis J. , Montero‐Conde Cristina , Cascón Alberto , Roncador Giovanna , Coloma Javier , Robledo Mercedes , Rodriguez‐Antona Cristina
Published: June 2023

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a central regulator of mammalian metabolism and physiology. Aberrant hyperactivation of the mTOR pathway promotes tumor growth and metastasis, and can also promote tumor resistance to chemotherapy and cancer drugs; this makes mTOR an attractive cancer therapeutic target. mTOR inhibitors have been approved to treat cancer; however, the mechanisms underlying drug sensitivity remain poorly understood. Here, whole exome sequencing of three chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (chRCC) patients with exceptional mTOR inhibitor sensitivity revealed that all three patients shared somatic mutations in the deubiquitinase gene USP9X. The clonal characteristics of the mutations, which were amassed by studying multiple patients' primary and metastatic samples from various years, together with the low USP9X mutation rate in unselected chRCC series, reinforced a causal link between USP9X and mTOR inhibitor sensitivity. Rapamycin treatment of USP9X‐depleted HeLa and renal cancer 786‐O cells, along with the pharmacological inhibition of USP9X, confirmed that this protein plays a role in patients' sensitivity to mTOR inhibitors. USP9X was not found to exert a direct effect on mTORC1, but subsequent ubiquitylome analyses identified p62 as a direct USP9X target. Increased p62 ubiquitination and the augmented rapamycin effect upon bortezomib treatment, together with the results of p62 and LC3 immunofluorescence assays, suggested that dysregulated autophagy in USP9X‐depleted cells can have a synergistic effect with mTOR inhibitors. In summary, we show that USP9X constitutes a potential novel marker of sensitivity to mTOR inhibitors in chRCC patients, and represents a clinical strategy for increasing the sensitivity to these drugs.
Neurosurgical morbidity in pediatric supratentorial midline low‐grade glioma: Results from the German LGG studies
Authors: Weiß Sarah , Thomale Ulrich‐Wilhelm , Schulz Matthias , Kandels Daniela , Schuhmann Martin U. , El Damaty Ahmed , Krauss Juergen , Driever Pablo Hernáiz , Witt Olaf , Bison Brigitte , Pietsch Torsten , Gnekow Astrid , Simon Michèle
Published: June 2023

Surgical resection is a mainstay of treatment for pediatric low‐grade glioma (LGG) within all current therapy algorithms, yet associated morbidity is scarcely reported. As supratentorial midline (SML) interventions are particularly challenging, we investigated the frequency of neurosurgical complications/new impairments aiming to identify their risk factors. Records were retrospectively analyzed from 318 patients with SML‐LGG from successive German multicenter LGG studies, undergoing surgery between May 1998 and June 2020. Exactly 537 operations (230 resections, 167 biopsies, 140 nontumor procedures) were performed in 318 patients (54% male, median age: 7.6 years at diagnosis, 9.5 years at operation, 11% NF1, 42.5% optic pathway glioma). Surgical mortality rate was 0.93%. Applying the Drake classification, postoperative surgical morbidity was observed following 254/537 (47.3%) and medical morbidity following 97/537 (18.1%) patients with a 40.1% 30‐day persistence rate for newly developed neurological deficits (65/162). Neuroendocrine impairment affected 53/318 patients (16.7%), visual deterioration 34/318 (10.7%). Postsurgical morbidity was associated with patient age <3 years at operation, tumor volume ≥80 cm3, presence of hydrocephalus, complete resection, surgery in centers with less than median reported tumor‐related procedures and during the earlier study period between 1998 and 2006, while the neurosurgical approach, tumor location, NF1 status or previous nonsurgical treatment were not. Neurosurgery‐associated morbidity was frequent in pediatric patients with SML‐LGG undergoing surgery in the German LGG‐studies. We identified patient‐ and institution‐associated factors that may increase the risk for complications. We advocate that local multidisciplinary teams consider the planned extent of resection and surgical skills.
Applying machine learning to screen for acute myocardial infarction‐related biomarkers and immune infiltration features and validate it clinically and experimentally
Authors: Zhan Zhenrun , Han Pengyong , Tang Xu , Yang Jinpeng , Bi Xiaodan , Zhao Tingting
Published: June 2023

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been responsible for 8.5 million deaths worldwide each year over the past decade and is the leading cause of death. It is a severe illness worldwide and can happen in multiple age categories. Despite the significant progress in fundamental and clinical studies of AMI, biomarkers for AMI development have not been adequately investigated. The present research aimed to characterize potential new biomarkers of AMI by comprehensive analysis and to explore the immune infiltration characteristics of this pathophysiological process. In this study, we identified 68 DEGs and performed gene set enrichment analysis, GO, disease oncology, and KEGG analysis, and the results suggested that several functional signaling pathways and essential genes were strongly related to the onset and progression of AMI. In addition, combining multiple algorithms, FCER1G, CLEC4D, SRGN, and SLC11A1 were determined to be prospective biomarkers of AMI and showed good diagnostic value. Immuno‐infiltration analysis suggested that neutrophils, CD8+ T cells, monocytes, and M0 macrophages might be involved in the onset and progress of AMI. In conclusion, a combined approach was employed to select biomarkers associated with AMI and to probe the critical function of immune cells in the progression of AMI. In addition, clinical studies were applied to analyze the correlation between the occurrence of AMI and lipid dysregulation.
NIR and THz spectroscopy: An experimental investigation toward nicotine‐related devices
Authors: Bratu Ana‐Maria , Bojan Mihaela , Banita Stefan , Petrus Mioara , Popa Cristina
Published: June 2023

This study examined the content of nicotine‐delivery products using terahertz time‐domain spectroscopy (THz‐TDS) and breath ethylene investigated with CO2 laser photoacoustic spectroscopy (CO2 LPAS) system as a biomarker of oxidative stress after smoking. The THz‐TDS method provided valuable information on the transmission spectra of tobacco and nicotine in smoking products. From the CO2 LPAS data it was observed that in cigarette (TC) smoking the mean breath ethylene was 687 parts per billion (ppb), while in electronic cigarettes and tobacco heating devices smoking the mean ethylene was 56 ppb and 48 ppb, respectively. The main finding was that TC showed higher transmission in the THz region producing a higher oxidative stress on the body.
The mitochondrial‐related effect of the 905 nm photobiomodulation therapy on 50B11 sensory neurons
Authors: Zupin Luisa , Crovella Sergio , Milena Cadenaro , Barbi Egidio , Celsi Fulvio
Published: June 2023

Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) is known as a complementary tool to alleviate pain sensation in patients, nevertheless, there is still a gap of knowledge on its mechanism of action, thus limiting its clinical employment. In this study, a possible molecular mechanism of the 905 nm PBMT (0.25 W/cm2; 3, 6, 12, and 18 J/cm2, 5 Hz) analgesic effect was tested on 50B11 cells, by investigating its impact on mitochondria. A decrement of adenosine triphosphate was detected, moreover, an increment of total reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial superoxide anion was found after PBMT with all protocols tested. PBMT at 18 J diminished the mitochondrial membrane potential, and influenced mitochondrial respiration, decreasing the oxygen consumption rate. Finally, a decrement of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2 phosphorylation was observed with the protocol using 12 J. Taken together these findings highlighted the intracellular effects, mainly correlated to mitochondrial, induced by 905 nm PBMT in sensory neurons, indicating the central role of this organelle in the cellular response to 905 nm near‐infrared laser light.
Machine learning models to predict outcomes at 30‐days using Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition combinations with and without muscle mass in people with cancer
Authors: Kiss Nicole , Steer Belinda , de van der Schueren Marian , Loeliger Jenelle , Alizadehsani Roohallah , Edbrooke Lara , Deftereos Irene , Laing Erin , Khosravi Abbas
Published: June 2023

Background

Equipment to assess muscle mass is not available in all health services. Yet we have limited understanding of whether applying the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria without an assessment of muscle mass affects the ability to predict adverse outcomes. This study used machine learning to determine which combinations of GLIM phenotypic and etiologic criteria are most important for the prediction of 30‐day mortality and unplanned admission using combinations including and excluding low muscle mass.

Methods

In a cohort of 2801 participants from two cancer malnutrition point prevalence studies, we applied the GLIM criteria with and without muscle mass. Phenotypic criteria were assessed using ≥5% unintentional weight loss, body mass index, subjective assessment of muscle stores from the PG‐SGA. Aetiologic criteria included self‐reported reduced food intake and inflammation (metastatic disease). Machine learning approaches were applied to predict 30‐day mortality and unplanned admission using models with and without muscle mass.

Results

Participants with missing data were excluded, leaving 2494 for analysis [49.6% male, mean (SD) age: 62.3 (14.2) years]. Malnutrition prevalence was 19.5% and 17.5% when muscle mass was included and excluded, respectively. However, 48 (10%) of malnourished participants were missed if muscle mass was excluded. For the nine GLIM combinations that excluded low muscle mass the most important combinations to predict mortality were (1) weight loss and inflammation and (2) weight loss and reduced food intake. Machine learning metrics were similar in models excluding or including muscle mass to predict mortality (average accuracy: 84% vs. 88%; average sensitivity: 41% vs. 38%; average specificity: 85% vs. 89%). Weight loss and reduced food intake was the most important combination to predict unplanned hospital admission. Machine learning metrics were almost identical in models excluding or including muscle mass to predict unplanned hospital admission, with small differences observed only if reported to one decimal place (average accuracy: 77% vs. 77%; average sensitivity: 29% vs. 29%; average specificity: 84% vs. 84%).

Conclusions

Our results indicate predictive ability is maintained, although the ability to identify all malnourished patients is compromised, when muscle mass is excluded from the GLIM diagnosis. This has important implications for assessment in health services where equipment to assess muscle mass is not available. Our findings support the robustness of the GLIM approach and an ability to apply some flexibility in excluding certain phenotypic or aetiologic components if necessary, although some cases will be missed.
Association between the dynamic movement of hyperechoic foci and patients'/sonographic outcomes among pediatric patients with portal venous gas following a cardiac event
Authors: Hosokawa Takahiro , Tanami Yutaka , Sato Yumiko , Nomura Koji , Oguma Eiji
Published: June 2023

Objectives

To demonstrate the association between the dynamic movements of hyperechoic foci in portal venous gas (PVG) and patients'/sonographic outcomes after congenital heart disease or cardiac events.

Methods

Thirty‐one pediatric patients requiring management of congenital heart diseases or cardiac events who had PVG on ultrasound were included in this retrospective study. The patient outcome was prognosis: dead or alive. The sonographic outcome was recovery from PVG, measured as days from PVG detection to when it diminished on ultrasound. The following sonographic findings of hyperechoic foci in PVG were compared between patients: detection within the mesenteric vein, having to‐and‐fro movements within the intrahepatic portal vein, distribution (left segment or both left and right segments) and shape (line or punctate) in the liver, and detection within the portal and hepatic veins. Comparisons were made using Fisher's exact/Mann–Whitney U test.

Results

Four patients died without having recovered from PVG. A significant difference was observed in terms of the to‐and‐fro movement (with/without to‐and‐fro movement in dead vs. alive patients: 3/1 vs. 1/26, respectively; P = 0.003). Furthermore, a significant difference in sonographic outcomes was observed regarding patients with/without hyperechoic foci within the mesenteric vein (days with vs. without this finding: 2.0 ± 1.24(1–5) vs.1 ± 0(1), respectively; P = 0.011).

Conclusions

In our small limited cohort, when PVG was visualized on ultrasound, close evaluation of the dynamic movement of hyperechoic foci, especially their to‐and‐fro movement within the intrahepatic portal vein and detection of hyperechoic foci within the mesenteric vein, were useful in predicting patients' outcomes and the time to PVG diminishment.
Early diagnosis of sinusoidal obstruction syndrome after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, with modified diagnostic criteria including refractory thrombocytopenia
Authors: Ichikawa Hiroya , Yakushijin Kimikazu , Miyata Yoshiharu , Kanehira Hirofumi , Joyce Miki , Hirakawa Yuri , Matsumoto Sakuya , Nagao Shigeki , Sakai Rina , Kurata Keiji , Kitao Akihito , Saito Yasuyuki , Kawamoto Shinichiro , Yamamoto Katsuya , Ito Mitsuhiro , Murayama Tohru , Matsuoka Hiroshi , Minami Hironobu
Published: June 2023

Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) is a fatal complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Early diagnosis for SOS can improve clinical outcomes significantly. Here, we performed a retrospective study to investigate the Cairo diagnostic criteria, in which SOS was defined as the development of two or more in seven events, including transfusion‐refractory thrombocytopenia. Among 154 cases of allogeneic HSCT, 10 cases of SOS using the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation criteria (EBMT16) as the reference standard were identified. The original Cairo criteria could diagnose SOS 5 days earlier than any other established criteria, with some false‐positive results (sensitivity = 100.0%; specificity = 72.2%). When the cutoff was set to three events for the Cairo criteria, the diagnosis of SOS could be made 3 days earlier than that using the EBMT16 criteria, with comparable precision (specificity = 86.1%). The accuracy of the Cairo criteria improved further when the cutoff point was set to four (specificity = 93.8%). The fulfillment of the Cairo criteria was associated with high mortality. Based on our results, the Cairo criteria were also considered clinically useful, especially at three or four cutoff points. Further studies are required to validate and refine the criteria.
Who benefits from the procurement financed by Multilateral Development Banks?
Authors: Martínez‐Galán Enrique , Proença Isabel
Published: June 2023

We use a gravity model to inquire about the factors that influence the amount of public procurement awarded by developing countries with funding from Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), based on 169 000 contracts. We reach four main conclusions. First, procurement disproportionately benefits firms of low‐ and middle‐income countries and not those of MDBs' larger shareholders. Second, firms of upper‐middle‐income countries can compete successfully with those of developed countries. These two conclusions are in line with MDBs' development mandate. However, we also find that certain MDBs favour domestic firms and that having good diplomatic relations matters when awarding contracts.
サイトメガロウイルス感染症の診断に苦慮したことにより血栓性微小血管症で死亡した1例(A case of thrombotic microangiopathy who died due to difficulty in diagnosing cytomegalovirus infection)
Authors: 亮輔 土屋 , 義孝 大谷 , 秀平 宮田 , 智子 足立 , 博史 坂本 , 博史 小川 , 学 根本
Published: June 2023

原因不明の血栓性微小血管症で死亡し，病理解剖でサイトメガロウイルス感染症と診断された1例を報告する。71歳の女性。意識障害で当院に搬送された。来院時より意識障害，ショックが遷延しており，多量の暗赤色水様便を認めた。体幹部CTで右鼠径部リンパ節腫脹，小腸の造影増強が見られたが診断に至らなかった。第2病日に破砕赤血球，血小板減少，肝機能障害，腎機能障害が出現し，原因不明の血栓性微小血管症と診断した。対症療法として持続的腎代替療法および輸血，抗菌薬を継続したが暗赤色水様便は持続した。サイトメガロウイルス抗原は陰性であった。第27病日に腸炎の精査目的に施行した大腸内視鏡検査で回盲部から上行結腸にかけてびらんと白苔が見られたが病理組織でも確定診断に至らず，第48病日に死亡退院した。死後の病理解剖で肺と胃，上行結腸，膵臓にサイトメガロウイルス感染症の所見が判明し，サイトメガロウイルス感染症に伴う血栓性微小血管症および多臓器不全と診断した。原因不明の消化器症状を呈した場合には，サイトメガロウイルス胃腸炎を常に鑑別に挙げ，抗原だけではなくPCRや病理組織の提出が必須である。また，免疫不全状態ではない患者に発症する可能性を念頭に置くべきである。
ワルファリンによる抗凝固薬関連腎症の1例(A case of anticoagulant–related nephropathy by warfarin)
Authors: 啓太 箕輪 , 達也 野田頭 , 有矢 吉村 , 英史 近藤 , 朋美 後村 , 仁志 森
Published: June 2023

症例は86歳の女性。心房細動に対してワルファリン内服後に血尿を呈して前医を受診し，ワルファリンによる凝固障害と急性腎障害と診断された。ワルファリン休薬後2日目に心窩部痛を主訴に当院に救急搬送された。当院搬入時も凝固障害があり，胆道内出血と厚生労働省急性膵炎重症度判定基準で予後因子3点以上かつ造影CT grade 2の重症急性膵炎を合併していた。ワルファリン拮抗薬としてメナテトレノン製剤20mgを使用した。急性膵炎に対して輸液，胆道ドレナージや抗菌薬投与を行い，急性腎障害に関しては腎代替療法を行った。くも膜下出血を合併したが，病状は安定し，第17病日に透析を離脱した。凝固障害の改善後の第33病日に腎生検を施行した結果，赤血球円柱による尿細管の閉塞，尿細管上皮細胞傷害の所見を認め，ワルファリン腎症と診断された。その後，第52病日にエドキサバンの内服を開始し，第67病日に胆道ドレーンを抜去し，第77病日にリハビリ目的に転院した。抗凝固薬内服中に凝固障害かつ腎機能障害を呈した場合には抗凝固薬関連腎症も考慮し，迅速な凝固障害の正常化と確定診断のために腎生検を考慮すべきである。
急速に進行した気道閉塞に対して予防的に気管挿管を行ったCOVID–19合併外傷性咽頭後間隙血腫症例(A case of traumatic retropharyngeal hematoma in a patient with COVID–19 who underwent prophylactic tracheal intubation for rapidly progressing airway obstruction)
Authors: 俊宏 中井 , 英介 加古 , ももこ 杉山 , 哲也 田村 , 友紀 服部 , 寛 笹野 , 和哉 祖父江
Published: June 2023

症例は45歳の男性。作業中に8mの高さから転落し，救急搬送された。全身CT検査で，第6，7頸椎棘突起骨折，第2–4胸椎棘突起骨折，第4，5胸椎破裂骨折，両側多発肋骨骨折が見られ，さらに偶発的にSARS–CoV–2抗原陽性が見つかった。神経損傷評価目的に受傷6時間後に行ったMRI検査で，第1–5頸椎椎体前面に血腫があり，咽頭後間隙血腫と判断した。呼吸困難はないものの，来院時のCT検査では見られなかった血腫が短時間で出現したことから，気道確保が必要と考えた。血腫による気道狭窄と頸椎保護が必要であることから気道確保困難が予測されたが，CT画像とMRI画像を基に気道を詳細に評価し，気管挿管可能と判断した。エアロゾル飛散に留意し，ビデオ喉頭鏡を用いた迅速導入で気管挿管を行った。1度の手技で気管挿管は成功した。その後，集中治療，胸椎破裂骨折に対する胸椎後方固定術，リハビリテーションを経て，独歩退院した。新型コロナウイルス感染症（以下，COVID–19）流行以降，エアロゾルに配慮した気道確保戦略が必要となっており，気道管理に対するリスクはより高まっている。本症例のようなCOVID–19を合併した気道確保困難症例では，患者の安全と医療者のエアロゾル暴露回避を両立させるため，感染防止策を十分に講じたうえで，気道確保困難に対する事前の気道評価と準備，症例に応じた的確な対応が必要である。
Development of a Silk Fibroin‐Small Intestinal Submucosa Small‐Diameter Vascular Graft with Sequential VEGF and TGF‐β1 Inhibitor Delivery for In Situ Tissue Engineering
Authors: Liu Zhengni , Rütten Stephan , Buhl Eva Miriam , Zhang Minjun , Liu Jiajie , Rojas‐González Diana M. , Mela Petra
Published: June 2023

Proper endothelialization and limited collagen deposition on the luminal surface after graft implantation plays a crucial role to prevent the occurrence of stenosis. To achieve these conditions, a biodegradable graft with adequate mechanical properties and the ability to sequentially deliver therapeutic agents isfabricated. In this study, a dual‐release system is constructed through coaxial electrospinning by incorporating recombinant human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‐β1) inhibitor into silk fibroin (SF) nanofibers to form a bioactive membrane. The functionalized SF membrane as the inner layer of the graft is characterized by the release profile, cell proliferation and protein expression. It presents excellent biocompatibility and biodegradation, facilitating cell attachment, proliferation, and infiltration. The core‐shell structure enables rapid VEGF release within 10 days and sustained plasmid delivery for 21 days. A 2.0‐mm‐diameter vascular graft is fabricated by integrating the SF membrane with decellularized porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS), aiming to facilitate the integration process under a stable extracellular matrix structure. The bioengineered graft is functionalized with the sequential administration of VEGF and TGF‐β1, and with the reinforced and compatible mechanical properties, thereby offers an orchestrated solution for stenosis with potential for in situ vascular tissue engineering applications.
NFT luxury brand marketing in the metaverse: Leveraging blockchain‐certified NFTs to drive consumer behavior
Authors: Sung Eunyoung (Christine) , Kwon Ohbyung , Sohn Kwonsang
Published: June 2023

Industry 4.0 technology enables luxury fashion brands in the virtual market to quantify the value of digital items in the metaverse; thus, brands can maintain their reputations, ensure consistent and integrated luxury brand marketing, and attract new consumers in the virtual market. Understanding consumer behavior toward buying digital assets (i.e., nonfungible tokens [NFTs]) is important. By using blockchain‐based NFTs as a way to verify the authenticity of digital assets in the virtual market, luxury brands can maintain their reputations and help consumers protect their digital assets. Thus, developing global marketing strategies supported by this technology is important for the success of luxury fashion brands in the metaverse. We conducted analyses to explore consumer behavior in the metaverse with regard to blockchain‐based luxury NFTs. The findings reveal the psychological evaluation process as a mechanism that drives consumer behavior toward NFT luxury brand fashion items in global virtual markets. The empirical findings also extend the application of game theory and prospect theory by revealing the psychological evaluation of risks associated with (not) buying luxury fashion NFTs as another mechanism driving consumer behavior in the metaverse.
Deimos: A novel automated methodology for optimal grouping. Application to nanoinformatics case studies
Authors: Varsou Dimitra‐Danai , Sarimveis Haralambos
Published: June 2023

In this study we present deimos, a computational methodology for optimal grouping, applied on the read‐across prediction of engineered nanomaterials’ (ENMs) toxicity‐related properties. The method is based on the formulation and the solution of a mixed‐integer optimization program (MILP) problem that automatically and simultaneously performs feature selection, defines the grouping boundaries according to the response variable and develops linear regression models in each group. For each group/region, the characteristic centroid is defined in order to allocate untested ENMs to the groups. The deimos MILP problem is integrated in a broader optimization workflow that selects the best performing methodology between the standard multiple linear regression (MLR), the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) models and the proposed deimos multiple‐region model. The performance of the suggested methodology is demonstrated through the application to benchmark ENMs datasets and comparison with other predictive modelling approaches. However, the proposed method can be applied to property prediction of other than ENM chemical entities and it is not limited to ENMs toxicity prediction.
Nonexistence results for a sequential fractional differential problem
Authors: Kassim Mohammed D. , Alqahtani Mubarak , Tatar Nasser‐Eddine , Laadhari Aymen
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we study a class of sequential fractional differential inequalities involving Caputo fractional derivatives with different orders. The nonexistence of nontrivial global solutions is investigated in a suitable space via the test function technique and some properties of fractional integrals. Our results are supported by numerical examples.
Wideband and low profile multipolarization reconfigurable antenna based on metasurface
Authors: Li Long , Wu Zhao , Liang Jia‐Jun , Su Mei‐Li
Published: June 2023

In this letter, a wideband and low‐profile multipolarization reconfigurable antenna based on metasurface (MTS) is proposed. The antenna mainly contains two parts, an upper layer of MTS and a bottom layer of circular slot antenna. The MTS acts as a polarization controller, by mechanically rotating the MTS layer at a proper angle while keeping the circular slot antenna remain stationary, the polarization mode of the antenna can be switched to linear polarization (LP), left‐hand circular polarization (LHCP), and right‐hand circular polarization (RHCP). The experimented −10 dB impedance bandwidth of 37.8% and 54% for LP and circular polarization (CP) modes, respectively. The measured overlapped 3‐dB AR bandwidth is 22.2% for both CP modes, covering from 3.2 to 4 GHz. Moreover, the measured peak gain of the presented antenna reaches 9 dBi and 8 dBic for LP and CP modes, with a lower profile of 0.05 λ0.
Precapture of CO2 and Hydrogenation into Methanol on Heterogenized Ruthenium and Amine‐Rich Catalytic Systems
Authors: Szego Anthony E. , Church Tamara L. , Bacsik Zoltán , Jaworski Aleksander , Ullah Latif , Hedin Niklas
Published: June 2023

A heterogenized alternative to the homogeneous precapture of CO2 with amines and subsequent hydrogenation to MeOH was developed using aminated silica and a Ru‐MACHOTM catalyst. Commercial mesoporous silica was modified with three different amino‐silane monomers and used as support for the Ru catalyst. These composites were studied by TEM and solid‐state NMR spectroscopy before and after the catalytic reaction. These catalytic reactions were conducted at 155 °C at a H2 and CO2 pressures of 75 and 2 bar, respectively, with the heterogeneous system (gas‐solid) being probed with gas‐phase infrared spectroscopy used to quantify the resulting products. High turnover number (TON) values were observed for the samples aminated with secondary amines.
Treatment of Laryngeal Verrucous Carcinoma: 28‐Year Retrospective Cohort Study and Literature Review
Authors: Amanian Ameen , Anderson Donald W. , Durham James Scott , Prisman Eitan , Ng Tony , Hu Amanda
Published: June 2023

Objective

Laryngeal verrucous carcinoma (LVC) comprises 1% to 4% of all laryngeal tumors. Although controversial, surgery has been the mainstay of treatment, due to concern about anaplastic transformation with radiotherapy. We aimed to study LVC patients to identify treatment patterns for primary and recurrent diseases.

Study Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Tertiary referral center.

Methods

Patients with a pathological diagnosis of LVC treated over a 28‐year period were included. Baseline demographics, and treatment outcome measures including 5‐year laryngeal preservation rates (LPR), overall survival (OS), and recurrence‐free survival (RFS) were included. A literature review of published studies within the same study period was also completed.

Results

Thirty‐two patients were included in the analysis (median age 61.5 years, 93.8% [30/32] male). Twenty‐three patients had T1 disease, and 9 had T2 disease with no evidence of regional or metastatic disease. The most common presenting symptom was hoarseness (93.8%) and the majority within the glottis 81.3% (26/32). Twenty‐nine patients underwent primary surgery only (28 local excisions, 1 vertical partial laryngectomy) meanwhile 3 underwent local excision with postoperative radiotherapy. LPR, OS, and RFS at 5 years were 95.8%, 90.1%, and 80.6%, respectively. Our literature review identified 23 previous studies, mostly single‐institution retrospective case series. Our study was the largest Canadian study in the literature to date.

Conclusion

All LVC patients were treated with primary surgery, consistent with the current literature with excellent 5‐year OS and LPR. There was no consensus on the treatment of recurrent disease. Future prospective multicenter studies are warranted to further study this rare disease population.
Variance estimation of the risk difference when using propensity‐score matching and weighting with time‐to‐event outcomes
Authors: Cafri Guy , Austin Peter C.
Published: June 2023

Observational studies are increasingly being used in medicine to estimate the effects of treatments or exposures on outcomes. To minimize the potential for confounding when estimating treatment effects, propensity score methods are frequently implemented. Often outcomes are the time to event. While it is common to report the treatment effect as a relative effect, such as the hazard ratio, reporting the effect using an absolute measure of effect is also important. One commonly used absolute measure of effect is the risk difference or difference in probability of the occurrence of an event within a specified duration of follow‐up between a treatment and comparison group. We first describe methods for point and variance estimation of the risk difference when using weighting or matching based on the propensity score when outcomes are time‐to‐event. Next, we conducted Monte Carlo simulations to compare the relative performance of these methods with respect to bias of the point estimate, accuracy of variance estimates, and coverage of estimated confidence intervals. The results of the simulation generally support the use of weighting methods (untrimmed ATT weights and IPTW) or caliper matching when the prevalence of treatment is low for point estimation. For standard error estimation the simulation results support the use of weighted robust standard errors, bootstrap methods, or matching with a naïve standard error (i.e., Greenwood method). The methods considered in the article are illustrated using a real‐world example in which we estimate the effect of discharge prescribing of statins on patients hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction.
Garcinone E suppresses breast cancer growth and metastasis by modulating tumor‐associated macrophages polarization via STAT6 signaling
Authors: Nie Xin , Fu Li , Cheng Yanfen , Wu Xiaoping , Lv Kongpeng , Li Renkai , Wu Yihan , Leung George Pak‐Heng , Fu Chaomei , Lee Simon Ming‐Yuen , Seto Sai‐Wang , Zhang Jinming , Li Jingjing
Published: June 2023

Cancer metastasis remains the most common cause of death in breast cancer patients. Tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs) are a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Despite the good anti‐cancer activity of garcinone E (GE), there are no reports on its therapeutic effects on breast cancer metastasis. The objective of this study was to examine the anti‐cancer effects of GE on metastatic breast cancer. RAW 264.7 and THP‐1 cells were polarized to M2 macrophages by IL‐4/IL‐13 in vitro. A 4T1 mouse breast cancer model and the tail vein breast cancer metastasis model were used to explore the effect of GE on breast cancer growth and metastasis in vivo. In vitro studies showed that GE dose‐dependently suppressed IL‐4 + IL‐13‐induced expression of CD206 in both RAW 264.7 cells and differentiated THP‐1 macrophages. However, GE did not affect the LPS + IFN‐γ‐induced polarization to the M1‐like macrophages in vitro. GE inhibited the expression of the M2 macrophage specific genes in RAW 264.7 cells, and simultaneously impaired M2 macrophage‐induced breast cancer cell proliferation and migration, and angiogenesis. In animal studies, GE significantly suppressed tumor growth, angiogenesis, and lung metastasis in 4T1 tumor‐bearing mice, without causing toxicity. In both tumor and lung tissues, the proportion of M2‐like TAMs was significantly decreased while the proportion of M1‐like TAMs was markedly increased by GE treatment. Mechanistically, GE inhibited phosphorylation of STAT6 in vitro and in vivo. Our results demonstrate for the first time that GE suppresses breast cancer growth and pulmonary metastasis by modulating M2‐like macrophage polarization through the STAT6 signaling pathway.
Review of packaging for improving storage quality of fresh edible mushrooms
Authors: Feng Yao , Xu Heran , Sun Yong , Xia Rongrong , Hou Zhenshan , Li Yunting , Wang Yafei , Pan Song , Fan Yiming , Zhu Jiayi , Xin Guang
Published: June 2023

Edible mushrooms are favoured by people for their rich nutrition, medicinal value and unique flavour. The quality of postharvest mushroom decreased sharply because of its special tissue structure and physiological characteristics. Compared with other preservation technologies, packaging has been widely used in the preservation of mushrooms because of its strong preservation effect, green and convenient characteristic. This review discussed the quality deterioration of fresh mushrooms and its influencing factors, and summarised the research advances and preservation mechanism of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), active packaging (ACP), biodegradable film packaging (BFP) and nanocomposite packaging (NCP) used to cope with the quality deterioration of fresh mushrooms. The packaging mainly maintains the quality of mushrooms and extends their shelf life by exerting antibacterial, antiviral and antioxidant, and by regulating respiration and energy metabolism, cell wall metabolism and membrane lipid metabolism. Currently, the combined packaging based on nano, active and biodegradable is getting more attention, but there is a lack of in‐depth genetic research on its preservation mechanism. Nanoemulsion‐based packaging was used in many foods; however, there is little research on the preservation of mushrooms. Based on the above packaging, the next step is to explore the intelligent packaging for edible mushrooms. This review can provide reference for further research and application of packaging preservation in mushrooms, to improve the quality of postharvest mushrooms.