bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unraveling the role of M1 macrophage and CXCL9 in predicting immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy through multicohort analysis and single‐cell RNA sequencing
Authors: Yu Yunfang , Chen Haizhu , Ouyang Wenhao , Zeng Jin , Huang Hong , Mao Luhui , Jia Xueyuan , Guan Taihua , Wang Zehua , Lin Ruichong , Huang Zhenjun , Yin Hanqi , Yao Herui , Zhang Kang
Published: March 2024

The exact function of M1 macrophages and CXCL9 in forecasting the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is still not thoroughly investigated. We investigated the potential of M1 macrophage and C‐X‐C Motif Chemokine Ligand 9 (CXCL9) as predictive markers for ICI efficacy, employing a comprehensive approach integrating multicohort analysis and single‐cell RNA sequencing. A significant correlation between high M1 macrophage and improved overall survival (OS) and objective response rate (ORR) was found. M1 macrophage expression was most pronounced in the immune‐inflamed phenotype, aligning with increased expression of immune checkpoints. Furthermore, CXCL9 was identified as a key marker gene that positively correlated with M1 macrophage and response to ICIs, while also exhibiting associations with immune‐related pathways and immune cell infiltration. Additionally, through exploring RNA epigenetic modifications, we identified Apolipoprotein B MRNA Editing Enzyme Catalytic Subunit 3G (APOBEC3G) as linked to ICI response, with high expression correlating with improved OS and immune‐related pathways. Moreover, a novel model based on M1 macrophage, CXCL9, and APOBEC3G‐related genes was developed using multi‐level attention graph neural network, which showed promising predictive ability for ORR. This study illuminates the pivotal contributions of M1 macrophages and CXCL9 in shaping an immune‐active microenvironment, correlating with enhanced ICI efficacy. The combination of M1 macrophage, CXCL9, and APOBEC3G provides a novel model for predicting clinical outcomes of ICI therapy, facilitating personalized immunotherapy.
Host‐country terrorism and outward foreign direct investment location choice of Chinese multinational firms: The moderating roles of state ownership and immigrant influence
Authors: Su Dongwei , Zhan Yun
Published: March 2024

This study employs a novel approach based on real options theory to explore how host‐country terrorism influences the location decisions of companies seeking to invest overseas. Using data for publicly listed firms in China that engaged in outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) between 2008 and 2020, this paper reveals that the severity of host‐country terrorism negatively affects the flow of OFDI from Chinese firms to that specific country. Notably, this adverse impact of host‐country terrorism on OFDI is less pronounced for state‐owned enterprises (SOEs) compared to non‐SOEs. Furthermore, the extent of immigrant presence in the host country acts as a mitigating factor against the negative influence of host‐country terrorism on firms' OFDI decisions. A significant contribution of this article is its pioneering examination of the intricate connection between extreme risks such as host‐country terrorism and the firm‐level OFDI location choices. The insights derived from this study can play a crucial role in assisting companies in bolstering their strategies for risk mitigation and security when venturing into foreign markets. Beyond its practical implications, the findings also hold theoretical value, offering a deeper understanding of how a country can maintain a resilient and diversified international economic order, fostering stable trade relationships, and facilitating high‐level engagement with the global economy.
Design and analysis of a freeform surface lens coupler applied in hollow‐core photonic crystal fiber resonant optic gyros
Authors: Fan Wen , Bi Ran , Shen Heliang , She Xuan , Chen Kan , Chen Xingfan , Shu Xiaowu
Published: March 2024

In this study, a novel freeform surface lens coupler is designed to realize the coupling functions in the hollow‐core photonic crystal fiber (HCPCF) resonator optical gyroscope. One surface of the lens is an ellipsoid. Coupling of the two HCPCF loop's ports can be directly accomplished via reflection on the ellipsoid surface. The other surface of the lens is the Biconic Zernike surface. Transmitting through the above two surfaces, the coupling between the intracavity and extracavity is completed. In this paper, simulations were performed based on two types of HCPCFs, a hollow‐core photonic bandgap fiber of HC19‐1550 and a state‐of‐the‐art nested antiresonant nodeless fiber. The volume of the lens coupler is calculated to be approximately 4 × 2 × 4 mm3. The simulation results show that the intracavity coupling loss can be as low as 0.011 dB, and the coupling loss between the intracavity and extracavity can be as low as 0.4 dB. Compared with the traditional fusion scheme between hollow‐core fiber and polarization‐maintaining fiber, the freeform surface lens coupler in this paper can achieve lower coupling loss and higher resonance fineness. Compared with other spatial coupling schemes, it has lower coupling loss and fewer coupling components.
Cardiac atrial pathology in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Authors: Greiner Eleanor , Breaux Andrea , Kasten Jennifer , Seo JangDong , Ollberding Nicholas J. , Spar David , Ryan Thomas D. , Lang Sean M. , Tian Cuixia , Sawnani Hemant , Villa Chet R.
Published: March 2024

Introduction/Aims

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is characterized by fibrofatty replacement of muscle. This has been documented in the ventricular myocardium of DMD patients, but there is limited description of atrial involvement. The purpose of this study is to examine the arrhythmia and ectopy burden in patients with DMD and non‐DMD dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and to characterize the cardiac histopathologic changes in DMD patients across the disease spectrum.

Methods

This was a retrospective analysis of age‐matched patients with DMD and non‐DMD DCM who received a Holter monitor and cardiac imaging within 100 days of each other between 2010 and 2020. Twenty‐four‐hour Holter monitors were classified based on the most recent left ventricular ejection fraction at the time of monitoring. Cardiac histopathologic specimens from whole‐heart examinations at the time of autopsy from three DMD patients and one DCM patient were reviewed.

Results

A total of 367 patients with 1299 Holter monitor recordings were included over the study period, with 94% representing DMD patients and 6% non‐DMD DCM. Patients with DMD had more atrial ectopy across the cardiac function spectrum (p < 0.05). There was no difference in ventricular ectopy. Four DMD patients developed symptomatic atrial arrhythmias. Autopsy specimens from DMD patients demonstrated fibrofatty infiltration of both atrial and ventricular myocardium.

Discussion

The atrial myocardium in patients with DMD is unique. Autopsy specimens reveal fibofatty replacement of the atrial myocardium, which may be a nidus for both ectopy and arrhythmias in DMD patients.
Prevalence, factors and early outcomes of frailty among hospitalized older patients with valvular heart disease: A prospective observational cohort study
Authors: Shen Zhiyun , Zhang Yuan , Zhou Daxin , Lv Jiaying , Huang Chenxu , Chen Yihong , Zhang Yuxia , Lin Ying
Published: March 2024

Aim

The aim was to investigate the prevalence of, and factors related to frailty, together with early clinical outcomes, in hospitalized older patients with valvular heart disease (VHD) in China.

Design

A prospective observational cohort study was conducted.

Methods

A validated prospective survey was conducted to assess the prevalence of frailty, factors associated with it, and early clinical outcomes in hospitalized older patients with VHD, utilizing Fried's criterion. A total of 207 consecutive participants aged 65 years and older who underwent cardiac surgery were included in the study, spanning from September 2021 to December 2021.

Results

Frailty was detected in 78 patients (37.7%). Patients with multimorbidity, a New York Heart Association (NYHA) class of III/IV, or masticatory dysfunction had a greater incidence of frailty (p < 0.05). Patients with a normal albumin level and a higher frequency of exercise had a lower incidence of frailty (p < 0.05). Patients with frailty had longer hospital and intensive care unit stays and greater hospitalization costs than did those without frailty (p < 0.05). The 30‐day adverse event rate of the frail group was also greater (11.5% vs. 3.1%). Therefore, early screening for conditions such as multimorbidity, cardiac dysfunction, and hypoalbuminemia is urgently needed to effectively address frailty, as it has been linked to unfavourable early outcomes. Moreover, promoting exercise and improving masticatory function and nutrition are crucial for preventing and managing frailty in older patients with VHD.
Provisioning services decline for both people and Critically Endangered wildlife in a rainforest transformation landscape
Authors: Kling Katherine J. , Eppley Timothy M. , Markham A. Catherine , Wright Patricia C. , Razafindrapaoly Be Noel , Delox Rajaona , Rasolofoniaina Be Jean Rodolph , Randriamanetsy Jeanne Mathilde , Elison Pascal , Andriamahaihavana McAntonin , Gibson Dean , Rasamisoa Delaïd Claudin , Razafindramanana Josia , Vasey Natalie , Daniels Carter W. , Borgerson Cortni
Published: March 2024

The loss and degradation of forests and other ecosystems worldwide threaten both global biodiversity and the livelihoods of people who use natural resources. Understanding how natural resource use impacts landscape provisioning services for both people and wildlife is thus critical for designing comprehensive resource management strategies.

We used data from community focus groups, botanical plots and an inventory of plant species consumed by the Critically Endangered red‐ruffed lemur (Varecia rubra) to assess the availability of key provisioning services for people and endemic wildlife on the Masoala Peninsula, a rainforest transformation landscape, in northeastern Madagascar (Masoala National Park and 13 surrounding communities).

We constructed Poisson regression mixed models to evaluate the impact of community factors (i.e. community population size, plot distance to community) and changes over time on the count and species richness of timber trees, medicinal plants and red‐ruffed lemur food trees within botanical plots.

Over three‐quarters of all plant species could be used for at least one purpose by local communities (n = 238 species). Of the 59 V. rubra food tree species, only 15% had no reported human use.

Timber and ruffed lemur food tree availability declined both with community population size and time and were predicted to be lower outside of Masoala National Park. In contrast, medicinal plant availability was not strongly predicted by any tested factors. Provisioning service availability also differed strongly across sites, suggesting that additional, untested proxies of human pressure likely also have an effect.

Our results highlight the importance of evaluating natural resource availability from a community‐based perspective and by resource purpose to inform forest landscape restoration efforts that can support both people and wildlife.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Patient experiences with prenatal cell‐free DNA screening in a safety net setting
Authors: Riggan Kirsten A. , Barwise Amelia , Yap Jane Q. , Condon Niamh , Allyse Megan A.
Published: March 2024

Objectives

Thirty‐five states, including Florida, now cover cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) screening of fetuses for all pregnant patients enrolled in state public insurance programs. We interviewed Black and Hispanic obstetric patients at a safety net clinic in Florida shortly after the state rolled out cfDNA as a first‐tier screening method for publicly insured patients.

Methods

Black and Hispanic patients receiving prenatal care from a prenatal or maternal fetal medicine clinic at a federally qualified health center in Jacksonville, FL were invited to participate in a qualitative interview in English or Spanish to explore experiences and perceptions of prenatal cfDNA screening. Participants were recruited following their first prenatal visit when cfDNA is typically introduced. Interview transcripts were qualitatively analyzed for iterative themes based on principles of grounded theory.

Results

One hundred Black and Hispanic patients (n = 51 non‐Hispanic Black, n = 43 Hispanic, n = 3 Hispanic Black, n = 3 Not Reported/Other) completed an interview. Participants described minimal opportunity for pre‐screening counseling and limited health literacy about cfDNA or its uses. Some believed that cfDNA could positively impact pregnancy health. Many were unsure if they had received cfDNA even though they were aware of the information provided by it. Most participants expressed an interest in cfDNA as a means for early detection of fetal sex and as an additional indication of general fetal health.

Conclusions

Patient experiences indicate limited informed consent and decision‐making for cfDNA, discordant with professional guidelines on pre‐screen counseling. Our findings suggest that there should be additional investment in implementing cfDNA in safety net settings to ensure that patients and providers receive the support necessary for effective patient counseling and follow‐on care for the ethical implementation of cfDNA.
Mediators of change in psychological interventions for adult offenders with personality disorders: A scoping review of the literature
Authors: Short Roxanna , Jolliffe Darrick , Carter Ben , Campbell Colin
Published: March 2024

Offenders with personality disorder cause disproportionate harm to society and pose significant challenges for those responsible for their care and rehabilitation. Personality disorders are heterogeneous in terms of symptoms, as well as their pathways to offending behaviour. Thus, there is limited evidence regarding effective interventions. One solution might be to focus on how interventions are delivered as well as what is delivered. Within the non‐offender personality disorder literature, the identification of potential mediators of change has enabled interventions to focus on ‘how’ they are delivered (e.g., therapeutic alliance) rather than the intervention itself. We explore the evidence and present a scoping review of the available literature on the mechanisms of change in psychological treatments for offenders with personality disorder. Only one study was found in the scoping review, highlighting a significant gap in the evidence base. We discuss the implications of this finding and potential future directions.
Screening and functional validation of the core detoxification genes conferring broad‐spectrum response to insecticides in Spodoptera frugiperda
Authors: Lu Zhihui , Lu Kai , Li Yahong , Xiao Tianxiang , Zhou Zhonglin , Chen Yaping , Liu Jianhui , Sun Zhongxiang , Gui Furong
Published: March 2024

Background

Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, a formidable agricultural pest, has developed resistance to various synthetic insecticides. However, how S. frugiperda utilizes its limited energy and resources to deal with various insecticides remains largely unexplored.

Results

We utilized transcriptome sequencing to decipher the broad‐spectrum adaptation mechanism of S. frugiperda to eight insecticides with distinct modes‐of‐action. Analysis of the Venn diagram revealed that 1014 upregulated genes and 778 downregulated genes were present in S. frugiperda treated with at least five different insecticides, compared to the control group. Exposure to various insecticides led to the significant upregulation of eight cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s), four UDP glucosyltransferases (UGTs), two glutathione‐S‐transferases (GSTs) and two ATP‐binding cassette transporters (ABCs). Among them, the sfCYP340AD3 and sfCYP4G74 genes were demonstrated to respond to stress from six different insecticides in S. frugiperda, as evidenced by RNA interference and toxicity bioassays. Furthermore, homology modeling and molecular docking analyses showed that sfCYP340AD3 and sfCYP4G74 possess strong binding affinities to a variety of insecticides.

Conclusion

Collectively, these findings showed that S. frugiperda utilizes a battery of core detoxification genes to cope with the exposure of synthetic insecticides. This study also sheds light on the identification of efficient insecticidal targets gene and the development of resistance management strategies in S. frugiperda, thereby facilitating the sustainable control of this serious pest. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Copula‐based Bayesian reliability assessment for series systems
Authors: Octavina  , Lin Shi‐Woei , Yeh Ruey Huei
Published: March 2024

Bayesian reliability assessment plays an integral role in determining the success of product development and deployment into the market, especially when limited information is available to estimate the reliability of products. Nevertheless, the Bayesian reliability approach has untapped research potential when it is used to evaluate systems consisting of dependent components, that is, a situation that reflects real‐world conditions. This study addresses the research gap by applying a copula to encode the dependency structure between the failure rates of the components, particularly for the simple series systems. Unfortunately, this study found that Bayesian aggregation error still occurs when information is used at different levels. By employing Monte Carlo simulation and classification tree learning, this study also investigates the key factors affecting such error over a wide range of possible scenarios and derives useful guidelines for reliability practitioners so that they can choose a more suitable analysis under certain circumstances.
Effectiveness of Sequential Lines of Biologic and Targeted Small Molecule Drugs in Psoriasis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Gollins Charlotte E. , Vincent Rosie , Fahy Caoimhe , McHugh Neil , Tillett William
Published: March 2024

To assess current evidence of effectiveness of sequential lines of biologic and targeted small molecule drugs for psoriasis beyond first line. A systematic search of the literature (Medline, Embase and bibliographic) was undertaken in October and December 2022 to find all studies assessing effectiveness of biologics and targeted small molecules when used beyond first-line in adults with psoriasis (PROSPERO CRD42022365298). Data extraction and a bias assessment (Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies—of Interventions/Cochrane RoB2) were undertaken for all included studies. A random effects proportional meta-analysis was undertaken for PASI75/90/100 at 12–16 weeks for each line of treatment (1st to 4th). Of 2666 abstracts identified, a full text review was undertaken of 177 studies; 20 manuscripts met eligibility criteria. Twenty studies were included in the analysis: 19 observational studies and one sub analysis of a RCT; n = 6495 (average age 49.7 years, female 35.1%). Eleven studies assessed second line biologic, nine assessed third + line. A meta-analysis of PASI75 at 12–16 weeks found pooled effect percentage achieving PASI75 of 61%, 56%, 79% and 61% in 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th line biologics respectively. Meta-analyses of PASI90/100 also found no evidence of diminished effectiveness with sequential lines (PASI90 46.1%, 39.9%, 55.8% and 33.7% and PASI100 36.7%, 30.3%, 46.7% and 30.4% in 1st to 4th line respectively). Available evidence for effectiveness of biologics beyond first line in psoriasis is predominantly observational, at high risk of bias and of low quality. There is very limited data for effectiveness beyond second line. Evidence indicates that biologics can be effective to fourth-line.
Modulating H‐bond Strength to Enhance Reactivity for Efficient Synthesis of Cyclic Carbonates with Tetrabutylammonium Iodide‐based Deep Eutectic Solvents
Authors: Lu Bo , Chu Fuhao , Zhao Guiyi , Zhu Zhiguo , Su Ting , Yang Kaixuan , Chen Chen , Lü Hongying
Published: March 2024

Developing a highly efficient and environmentally friendly catalytic system for CO2 cycloaddition reactions is an attractive way to achieve carbon neutrality. In this work, tetrabutylammonium iodide (TBAI) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) were used to produce novel deep eutectic solvents (DESs), which could serve as both solvents and catalysts, displaying excellent activity to synthesis styrene carbonates from CO2 and styrene oxide under metal‐free, cocatalyst‐free, solvent‐free and mild conditions. A detailed study was undertaken on the effects of reaction parameters, recyclability, and substrate scope. Additionally, the H‐bond interaction between the substrate and TBAI/PEG200 was thoroughly investigated using FT‐IR and 1H NMR techniques. The synergistic interaction between the two components of the DES, TBAI, and PEG200, may be the key to the high catalytic activity of this system. The tetrabutylammonium iodide‐based system is an innovative strategy for the CO2 cycloaddition with epoxides, achieved by elaborately devising the H‐bonds of DESs to enhance reactivity. This provides a novel green strategy for potential industrial applications.
Novel High‐Performance Glyoxylate Derivative‐Based Photoinitiators for Free Radical Photopolymerization and 3D Printing with Visible LED
Authors: Gao Tong , Zhang Yijun , Morlet‐Savary Fabrice , Graff Bernadette , Zhang Jing , Xiao Pu , Dumur Frédéric , Lalevée Jacques
Published: March 2024

Investigations concerning the glyoxylate moiety as a photocleavable functional group for visible light photoinitiators, particularly in the initiation of free radical photopolymerization remain limited. This study introduces nine innovative carbazole‐based ethyl glyoxylate derivatives (CEGs), which are synthesized and found to exhibit excellent photoinitiation abilities as monocomponent photoinitiating systems. Notably, these structures demonstrate robust absorption in the near‐UV/visible range, surpassing the commercial photoinitiators. Moreover, the newly developed glyoxylate derivatives show higher acrylate function conversions compared to a benchmark photoinitiator (MBF) in free radical photopolymerization. Elucidation of the photoinitiation mechanism of CEGs is achieved through a comprehensive analysis involving the decarboxylation reaction and electron spin resonance spin trapping. Furthermore, their practical utility is confirmed during direct laser writing and 3D printing processes, enabling the successful fabrication of 3D printed objects. This study introduces pioneering concepts and effective strategies in the molecular design of novel photoinitiators, showcasing their potential for highly advantageous applications in 3D printing.
Pathogen‐binding nanoparticles to inhibit host cell infection by heparan sulfate and sialic acid dependent viruses and protozoan parasites
Authors: Najer Adrian
Published: March 2024

Global health faces an immense burden from infectious diseases caused by viruses and intracellular protozoan parasites such as the coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) and malaria, respectively. These pathogens propagate through the infection of human host cells. The first stage of this host cell infection mechanism is cell attachment, which typically involves interactions between the infectious agent and surface components on the host cell membranes, specifically heparan sulfate (HS) and/or sialic acid (SA). Hence, nanoparticles (NPs) which contain or mimic HS/SA that can directly bind to the pathogen surface and inhibit cell infection are emerging as potential candidates for an alternative anti‐infection therapeutic strategy. These NPs can be prepared from metals, soft matter (lipid, polymer, and dendrimer), DNA, and carbon‐based materials among others and can be designed to include aspects of multivalency, broad‐spectrum activity, biocidal mechanisms, and multifunctionality. This review provides an overview of such anti‐pathogen nanomedicines beyond drug delivery. Nanoscale inhibitors acting against viruses and obligate intracellular protozoan parasites are discussed. In the future, the availability of broadly applicable nanotherapeutics would allow early tackling of existing and upcoming viral diseases. Invasion inhibitory NPs could also provide urgently needed effective treatments for protozoan parasitic infections.
NanoLocz: Image Analysis Platform for AFM, High‐Speed AFM, and Localization AFM
Authors: Heath George R. , Micklethwaite Emily , Storer Tabitha M.
Published: March 2024

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), High‐Speed AFM (HS‐AFM) simulation AFM, and Localization AFM (LAFM) enable the study of molecules and surfaces with increasingly higher spatiotemporal resolution. However, effective and rapid analysis of the images and movies produced by these techniques can be challenging, often requiring the use of multiple image processing software applications and scripts. Here, NanoLocz, an open‐source solution that offers advanced analysis capabilities for the AFM community, is presented. Integration and continued development of AFM analysis tools is essential to improve access to data, increase throughput, and open new analysis opportunities. NanoLocz efficiently leverages the rich data AFM has to offer by incorporating and combining existing and newly developed analysis methods for AFM, HS‐AFM, simulation AFM, and LAFM seamlessly. It facilitates and streamlines AFM analysis workflows from import of raw data, through to various analysis workflows. Here, the study demonstrates the capabilities of NanoLocz and the new methods it enables including single‐molecule LAFM, time‐resolved LAFM, and simulation LAFM.
Ultrafast Solid‐State Electrochemical Imprinting Utilizing Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Stamps for Static/Dynamic Structural Coloration and Letter Encryption
Authors: Yamazaki Katsuma , Tsuji Atsuki , Takizawa Masaru , Murata Junji
Published: March 2024

Micro and nanopatterned surfaces hold potential for various applications, such as wettability control, antibiofouling, and optical components. However, conventional patterning processes are characterized by complexity, high costs, and environmental burdens because of the use of resists. Therefore, this paper proposes facile and ultrafast electrochemical imprinting employing a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) stamp for achieving micro and nanoscale patterning on Si surfaces. The solid‐state electrochemical process efficiently generates oxide and hydrated oxide (Si–OH) patterns within several seconds at room temperature in a dry ambient environment. The formed oxide pattern can be employed as an etching mask to prepare diffraction gratings with diverse high‐resolution (≈100 nm) patterns utilizing the dry PEM stamp. The resulting oxide pattern on the Si surface exhibits instantaneous structural coloration upon exposure to humid air, attributable to the formation of a water microdroplet array on the oxide pattern. The oxide pattern is successfully applied for dynamic diffraction grating and letter encryption. The proposed solid‐state electrochemical oxidation scheme based on a PEM stamp, which eliminates the need for liquid electrolyte and resist, represents a simple and ultrafast process with a time cost of a few seconds, characterized by low processing costs and environmental impact.
Ultrasound Effect on the Hydrogen Peroxide Oxidation of Corn Starch, Molecular Structure, and Functional Properties of Obtained Starch Derivatives
Authors: Pietrzyk Sławomir , Dziadoń Magdalena , Królikowska Karolina , Pająk Paulina , Červenka Libor , Bulánek Roman
Published: March 2024

This study aims to determine the effect of ultrasound on the oxidation process of starch, molecular structure, and its functional properties. Corn starch is oxidized by hydrogen peroxide (with Cu(II) or Fe(II) ions as catalysts) in the ultrasound field. Changes in starch structure are identified based on determinations of the carboxyl, carbonyl groups, copper, iron content, molecular characterization by GPC, crystallinity, gelatinization characteristics, and surface area. Functional properties are determined based on analysis of color parameters, water binding capacity, solubility in water, and pasting characteristics. It is found that the effectiveness of the starch oxidation under ultrasound is affected by the presence and type of catalysts. The content of metal incorporated into starch during oxidation is approximately 15% lower when an ultrasound treatment is applied. When starch oxidation is assisted with ultrasound, the metal incorporation preferentially occurs in the pores and holes of the grain. Starches oxidized in the presence of Fe(II) and Cu(II) catalysts can be successfully used not only as thickeners in food industry but also as metal carriers in many industries.
Empowering mentor teachers for supervision through an online mentor training program
Authors: Mutlu‐Gülbak Gizem , Akcan Sumru
Published: March 2024

The study focused on the improvement of supervisory skills among mentor teachers in K‐12 who work with student teachers in an English language teaching program of an English‐medium state university in Istanbul, Turkey. The researchers explored how the mentor teachers' supervisory skills, namely observation and giving feedback, were improved after participating in an online mentor training program. The training program was designed based on Morrison et al.'s (2013) instructional design model and implemented for seven mentors during the practicum period. The program included mentoring tasks that asked mentor teachers to organize reciprocal observation sessions with the student teachers, followed by mutual feedback discussions. The researchers investigated the influence of the tasks through thematic analysis of the mentor teachers' reflection reports. The data showed that the tasks improved mentor teachers' understanding and practice of the supervision process and increased their awareness of their own teaching practices by promoting personal and professional growth. The results suggest that an online mentor training program may have the potential to empower mentor teachers both for their supervisory roles and ongoing professional development.
Decolonizing English in Higher Education: Global Englishes and TESOL as Opportunities or Barriers
Authors: Baker Will , Morán Panero Sonia , Álvarez Valencia José Aldemar , Alhasnawi Sami , Boonsuk Yusop , Ngo Phuong Le Hoang , Martínez‐Sánchez Maritza M. , Miranda Norbella , Ronzón‐Montiel Gloria J.
Published: March 2024

English is core to HE (higher education) globally, with both HE and English seen as pathways to success for students. Yet, access to English is unequal and colonial ideologies associate English with Anglophone settings. Much of the research on English in HE has focused on elite institutions and students, while the majority of the world's HE students remain comparatively under‐researched. This paper reports on a mixed‐methods study of TESOL in five linguistically and socioculturally diverse HE settings in Colombia, Mexico, Iraq, Thailand, and Vietnam. The aims were to explore the roles and perceptions of English, TESOL, and other languages in policy and practice, (including multilingualism and Global Englishes) and how these related to processes of dis/empowerment and de/colonialization of HE. We sought to uncover the extent to which TESOL and English allowed or restricted access to opportunities of empowerment for different groups of students on their way to and through HE, and how English intersected with a range of dimensions of potential marginalization or privilege, particularly socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and rurality. We present findings from students through a questionnaire (n = 1820) and interviews with students, teachers, and administrators at each of the sites (n = 150).
Comprehensive text for raptor enthusiasts
Authors: Dutton Thomas
Published: March 2024

Reviewed by Thomas Dutton, an RCVS‐recognised Specialist in avian medicine.
Sustainable Soil Management and Soil Carbon Sequestration
Authors: Hannam Ian
Published: March 2024

Globally, food systems are associated with many unsustainable land use practices that lead to environmental damage such as greenhouse gas emissions, land degradation and biodiversity loss. Social issues, such as poor labour conditions, receive ever greater attention as farming has often been associated with practices that harm humans and society. From an economic standpoint, food systems need to be viable and resilient in order to allow operators in the food chain to make a living from their work. The importance of a global shift towards sustainable land use and food production has been commonly accepted for some time and there is an increasing interest by enterprises in the food and agriculture sector in assessing their sustainability performance. As the world has become increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of changing climate so too has the urgency to establish national and international guidelines and rules to acknowledge carbon management in agricultural supply chains and to improve the policy, strategic and legislative systems to manage soil carbon sequestration. An essential aspect of improved carbon management is legislation which has the ability to enable the development and implementation of soil organic carbon land management practices as sustainable soil standards.
Multimedia Conversations: Love and Lovesickness in Sixteenth-century Italian Single-sheet Prints
Authors: Kocsis Alexandra
Published: March 2024

Engaging in a conversation with sixteenth-century prints, this chapter explores how particular Italian prints were designed to generate everyday conversations about love and lovesickness with the audience observing them. Through a close analysis of the images, but also the texts added to the pictures, the chapter shows the ways in which an envisioned narrator dissected the themes in classical allegories intended for display in private homes. Kocsis demonstrates how prints focusing on love engaged in a multisensorial conversation with the viewer.
Strategien des Entlassmanagements in deutschen Allgemeinkrankenhäusern
Authors: Marsall Matthias , Weigl Matthias , Schmiedhofer Martina , Blum Karl , Rösner Hannah , Strametz Reinhard , Gambashidze Nikoloz
Published: March 2024

Hintergrund

Sektorenübergreifende Übergänge aus der stationären Versorgung sind mit Risiken für die Patientensicherheit verbunden. Im Jahr 2017 wurde der Rahmenvertrag über das Entlassmanagement rechtlich verankert. Zur Umsetzung von Maßnahmen zur Gewährleistung sicherer Übergänge von Patient:innen nach stationärer Behandlung fehlen in Deutschland bisher empirische Daten. Ziel dieser Studie ist ein Überblick über die von deutschen Allgemeinkrankenhäusern umgesetzten Strategien des Entlassmanagements.

Methode

Zwischen März und Mai 2022 wurden in einer deutschlandweiten Befragung konkrete Strategien des Entlassmanagements sowie strukturelle und organisationsbezogene Merkmale von 401 Allgemeinkrankenhäusern erfasst und im Anschluss deskriptive Statistiken und Gruppenvergleiche durchgeführt.

Ergebnisse

7 von 9 erfragten Strategien wurden in > 95 % der Häuser umgesetzt. Die Evaluation der Entlassungsplanung wurde nur in 61 % der Häuser umgesetzt, die systematische Dokumentation, Analyse und Evaluation der Wiederaufnahme in 54 %. Häuser mit einer höheren Anzahl Planbetten berichteten signifikant seltener über „frühzeitige Kontaktaufnahme mit Nachversorgenden“ und „Organisation des nahtlosen Übergangs in die Anschlussversorgung“.

Diskussion

Ein Großteil der Strategien im Entlassmanagement aus der stationären Behandlung wird in deutschen Allgemeinkrankenhäusern umgesetzt. Allerdings werden Maßnahmen zur Evaluation und systematischen Analyse von Entlassungsprozessen sowie Wiederaufnahmen von Patient:innen nur teilweise umgesetzt. Diese sind jedoch notwendig, um Entlassungsprozesse und Verbesserungspotenziale systematisch zu bewerten.
Digitale Mediennutzung und psychische Gesundheit bei Adoleszenten – eine narrative Übersicht
Authors: Paschke Kerstin , Thomasius Rainer
Published: March 2024

Chancen und Gefahren digitaler Medien, vor allem im Hinblick auf Kinder und Jugendliche, sind gegenwärtig häufiger Gegenstand von familiären, schulischen und gesellschaftlichen Debatten.

Digitale Plattformen können die Bewältigung adoleszenter Entwicklungsaufgaben durch Spiele, sozialen Austausch, Kommunikation, Kontaktförderung, Lernen und Gesundheitsförderung unterstützen sowie zur Unterhaltung dienen. In Deutschland verfügen nahezu alle Jugendlichen über ein eigenes Smartphone. Während der COVID-19-Pandemie wurde eine Intensivierung der Nutzung digitaler Spiele, sozialer Medien und Streaming-Angebote durch Adoleszente beobachtet. Der Kontakt mit altersunzensierten Inhalten wie die Darstellung von Gewalt, extremen politischen Ansichten und Verschwörungstheorien, aber auch persönliche Angriffe durch Cybermobbing, ungefilterte Kontaktanbahnungen, inkl. Cybergrooming, dysfunktionale Rollenvorbilder und suchtfördernde Aspekte gehen mit Gefahren für die psychische Gesundheit einher.

Von Cybermobbing sind ca. 5 % der Kinder und Jugendlichen in Deutschland betroffen. Ein bidirektionaler Zusammenhang mit psychischer Gesundheit konnte gezeigt werden. Mit der Computerspielstörung ist die erste Digitale-Medien-Nutzungsstörung (DMNS) in die elfte Revision der Internationalen Klassifikation der Krankheiten (ICD-11) aufgenommen und damit als psychische Erkrankung international anerkannt worden. Adoleszente sind überproportional häufig betroffen und erfahren Beeinträchtigungen ihrer psychischen Entwicklung und ihres Funktionsniveaus.

Zur Förderung adoleszenter gesunder Mediennutzung stehen Angebote zur Verfügung, deren Ausbau, strukturierte Anwendung und Evaluierung erforderlich sind. Evidenzbasierte Präventions- und Behandlungsoptionen von DMNS fehlen derzeit weitgehend. Ihre Entwicklung, Überprüfung und Verbreitung sollten weiter gefördert werden.
Blind search and flexible product visions: the sociotechnical shaping of generative music engines
Authors: Bown Oliver
Published: March 2024

Amidst the surge in AI-oriented commercial ventures, music is a site of intensive efforts to innovate. A number of companies are seeking to apply AI to music production and consumption, and amongst them several are seeking to reinvent the music listening experience as adaptive, interactive, functional and infinitely generative. These are bold objectives, having no clear roadmap for what designs, technologies and use cases, if any, will be successful. Thus each company relies on speculative product visions. Through four case studies of such companies, I consider how product visions must carefully provide a clear plan for developers and investors, whilst also remaining open to agile user-centred product development strategies, which I discuss in terms of the ‘blind search’ nature of innovation. I suggest that innovation in this area needs to be understood in terms of technological emergence, which is neither technologically determinist nor driven entirely by the visions of founders, but through a complex of interacting forces. I also consider, through these cases, how, through the accumulation of residual value, all such start-up work risks being exapted for more familiar extractive capitalist agendas under the general process that Doctorow calls “enshittification”. Lastly, I consider a number of other more specific ways in which these projects, if their growth is achieved, could influence music culture more broadly.
Deep learning for robust forecasting of hot metal silicon content in a blast furnace
Authors: Giannetti Cinzia , Borghini Eugenio , Carr Alex , Raleigh James , Rackham Ben
Published: March 2024

The hot metal silicon content is a key indicator of the thermal state in the blast furnace and it needs to be kept within a pre-defined range in order to ensure efficient operations. Effective monitoring of silicon content is challenging due to the harsh environment in the furnace and irregularly sampled measurements. Data-driven approaches have been proposed in the literature to predict silicon content using process data and overcome the sparsity of silicon content measurements. However, these approaches rely on the selection of hand-crafted features and ad hoc interpolation methods to deal with irregular sampling of the process variables, adding complexity to model training and optimisation, and requiring significant effort when tuning the model over time to keep it to the required level of accuracy. This paper proposes an improved framework for the prediction of silicon content using a novel deep learning approach based on Phased LSTM. The model has been trained using 3 years of data and validated over a 1-year period using a robust walk-forward validation method, therefore providing confidence in the model performance over time. The Phased LSTM model outperforms competing approaches due to its in-built ability to learn from event-based sequences and scalability for real-world deployments. This is the first time that Phased LSTM has been applied to real-world datasets and results suggest that the ability to learn from event-based data can be beneficial for the process industry where event-driven signals from multiple sensors are common.
Oral manifestations in women using hormonal contraceptive methods: a systematic review
Authors: Rojo Marta García , Lloret Miguel Ramón Pecci , Gironés Julia Guerrero
Published: March 2024

Objectives

To investigate the oral manifestations in women of reproductive age using hormonal contraceptive methods.

Materials and methods

This review is based on the PRISMA statement. A literature search incorporated observational studies from the last 21 years. An investigative question was formulated using the PICO model, studies were selected, and a quality analysis was performed using the modified STROBE guidelines. A bibliometric analysis was performed, and the data were examined.

Results

Thirteen articles were included, with the majority evaluating periodontal status. Others analyzed factors such as the presence of alveolar osteitis, oral candidiasis, and salivary microbiome dysbiosis. Ten articles were deemed to have a low risk of bias.

Conclusions

Hormonal contraceptives may increase the risk of alveolar osteitis following tooth extraction and increase the presence of the Candida species in the oral cavity. They also affect the periodontium, such as the frequent development of gingivitis, but do not lead to changes in the salivary microbiome.

Clinical relevance

The increasing number of women using hormonal contraceptives and the knowledge that these contraceptives can produce oral cavity alterations underscore the need to evaluate the oral manifestations found in these women.
Strategies to Close the PrEP Uptake Gap Among Transgender People and Men Who Have Sex with Men in Tshwane, South Africa: Perspectives from the Community
Authors: Perez-Urbano India , Dilraj Athmanundh , Pitsi Annah , Hlongwane Naomi , Abdelatif Nada , Dietrich Janan , Ahmed Khatija
Published: March 2024

HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake among transgender (TG) people and gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM) remains low, despite South Africa being the first African country to approve PrEP. This mixed-methods study used a two-phase explanatory sequential design: (1) quantitative analysis of cross-sectional surveys followed by (2) qualitative in-depth interviews. This study explored facilitators and barriers to PrEP uptake to identify strategies to increase utilization in these key populations. We conducted 202 cross-sectional surveys and 20 in-depth interviews between July 2021 and March 2022 in Soshanguve, Tshwane, Gauteng. Quantitative data were analyzed using univariate logistic regression; thematic analysis was performed for qualitative data. Findings show high willingness to use PrEP but low PrEP uptake. We outline strategies to facilitate PrEP use: (1) demystify daily PrEP by deploying community-engaged PrEP education campaigns; (2) capitalize on existing peer networks; and (3) expand accessible and culturally responsive PrEP service delivery models. We provide feasible recommendations to close the PrEP uptake gap in these key populations in South Africa.
Cost-sensitive learning for imbalanced medical data: a review
Authors: Araf Imane , Idri Ali , Chairi Ikram
Published: March 2024

Integrating Machine Learning (ML) in medicine has unlocked many opportunities to harness complex medical data, enhancing patient outcomes and advancing the field. However, the inherent imbalanced distribution of medical data poses a significant challenge, resulting in biased ML models that perform poorly on minority classes. Mitigating the impact of class imbalance has prompted researchers to explore various strategies, wherein Cost-Sensitive Learning (CSL) arises as a promising approach to improve the accuracy and reliability of ML models. This paper presents the first review of CSL for imbalanced medical data. A comprehensive exploration of the existing literature encompassed papers published from January 2010 to December 2022 and sourced from five major digital libraries. A total of 173 papers were selected, analysed, and classified based on key criteria, including publication years, channels and sources, research types, empirical types, medical sub-fields, medical tasks, CSL approaches, strengths and weaknesses of CSL, frequently used datasets and data types, evaluation metrics, and development tools. The results indicate a noteworthy publication rise, particularly since 2020, and a strong preference for CSL direct approaches. Data type analysis unveiled diverse modalities, with medical images prevailing. The underutilisation of cost-related metrics and the prevalence of Python as the primary programming tool are highlighted. The strengths and weaknesses analysis covered three aspects: CSL strategy, CSL approaches, and relevant works. This study serves as a valuable resource for researchers seeking to explore the current state of research, identify strengths and gaps in the existing literature and advance CSL’s application for imbalanced medical data.
An evidential linguistic ELECTRE method for selection of emergency shelter sites
Authors: Fei Liguo , Liu Xiaoyu , Zhang Changping
Published: March 2024

In many circumstances, decisions are based on subjective experience. However, some views can be vague, meaning that policymakers do not know exactly how they should express their opinions. Therefore, it is necessary for researchers to provide scientific decision frameworks, among which the multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) method in the linguistic environment is gradually favored by scholars. A large body of literature reports relevant approaches with regard to linguistic term sets, but existing approaches are insufficient to express the subjective thoughts of policymakers in a complex and uncertain environment. In this paper, we address this problem by introducing the concept of evidential linguistic term set (ELTS). ELTS generalizes many other uncertainty representations under linguistic context, such as fuzzy sets, probabilities, or possibility distributions. Measures on ELTS, such as uncertainty measure, dissimilarity measure and expectation function, provide general frameworks to handle uncertain information. Modeling and reasoning of information expressed by ELTSs are realized by the proposed aggregation operators. Subsequently, this paper presents a novel MCDM approach called evidential linguistic ELECTRE method, and applies it to the case of selection of emergency shelter sites. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method for MCDM problems under linguistic context and highlight the significance of the developed ELTS.