bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coorscreen: A Low-Cost, on-Site Mammography Screening Program
Authors: Greenwood Mary , Henritze Joanne
Published: December 2011

Setting.

Coors Brewing Company is a self-insured corporation of 10,600 employees located in Golden, Colorado. Management has long believed in the value of a healthy workforce and has instituted ongoing health and wellness programming since 1981.

Program design.

Coorscreen was started in September 1985 to create an ongoing awareness of breast cancer screening and prevention for all female employees, spouses, and retirees and to lower the health care costs for the company through early detection of breast cancer.

Program impact.

From 1985 through 1993, 12,210 mammograms were completed on 3729 employees, spouses, and retirees. The participation rate was 83%. Forty-seven malignant conditions were confirmed during the first 8 years. Pathology reports confirmed 43 early detections (10 employees) and four late detections (two employees). The 10 cases of malignant disease detected early among employees cost an average of $12,388 in terms of direct medical costs, short-term disability, temporary replacement, and ongoing benefits. The two cases detected late among employees cost an average of $143,398. Among spouses, cases of malignant disease detected late have cost an average of $69,230 more than cases detected early. On the basis of early detection for 10 employees and 26 spouses, the total savings are estimated to be $3,110,000.

Discussion.

The Coorscreen program cost savings for the first 8 years were $3,110,080 because of the lower cost of early versus late detection. Total screening and procedural costs to the company have equaled $668,690. Thus the company has realized a total cost savings of $2,441,190.
The Shape up Challenge: A Community-Based Worksite Exercise Competition
Authors: Blake Susan M. , Caspersen Carl J. , Finnegan John , Crow Richard A. , Mittlemark Maurice B. , Ringhofer Kevin R.
Published: December 2011

Purpose.

To assess organizational and employee participation during three community-wide worksite exercise competitions in two communities.

Design.

A one-group, posttest-only design was used. Lack of controls, exercise baseline, and the short-term nature of the interventions were limitations.

Setting.

The Minnesota Heart Health Program conducted annual exercise campaigns between 1982 and 1989 within three intervention communities to reduce behavioral risk for cardiovascular disease. The Shape Up Challenge was a worksite exercise competition designed, in conjunction with other campaign activities, to increase levels of physical activity.

Subjects.

A total of 119 participating companies in two Minnesota communities, and 17,626 employees within these worksites, composed the subjects in this study.

Intervention.

Eligible worksites were invited to participate in a month-long competition during which employees recorded minutes spent daily in aerobic activities. Incentives were established to promote intragroup cooperation and intergroup competition. Companies competed for awards that were based on average minutes of exercise per employee versus per participant.

Measures.

Numbers of companies recruited and participating, campaign activities, minutes of exercise, and costs were recorded on implementation logs. Companies completed surveys describing business type, number and sex of employees, existing health promotion programs, and perceived benefits of participation.

Results.

Of the 365 companies invited to participate, 33 % participated (range 15 % to 50%). Participating companies were more likely than nonparticipating companies to offer other health promotion programs and perceived greater benefits from participation. Women and smaller companies had significantly greater participation rates than men and larger companies. Average employee participation rates ranged from as high as 84% in smaller organizations to as low as 16% as organization size increased.

Conclusions.

Community-based worksite exercise competitions appear to be a viable strategy for promoting employee exercise, particularly in smaller companies. Group-based contingencies applied in natural work units may facilitate employee participation. Further research is needed to assess the relative efficacy of this approach, compare alternative incentives, and identify strategies to enhance exercise maintenance after the intervention has ceased.
The Health Effects of Worksite HIV/AIDS Interventions: A Review of the Research Literature
Authors: Wilson Mark G. , Jorgensen Cynthia , Cole Galen
Published: December 2011

Purpose.

To examine the individual and organizational health effects of HIV/AIDS interventions conducted at the worksite.

Search Methods.

This review is part of a series of reviews that used search methods described in an introductory article. To supplement these methods, HIV/AIDS-specific periodicals were searched to include journals that might not be incorporated in the computerized databases. Twelve of the 20 articles identified through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and our own subsequent searches met the criteria and were included in this review.

Findings.

Ten of the 12 studies reviewed reported positive effects of employee education programs on knowledge or attitudes. Nine of the studies involved health care workers or employees with potential occupational exposure to HIV, and nine lacked a comparison or control group. None of the studies however, examined the effects of policies, manager training, or family education on the organization or person.

Conclusions.

Methodologic weaknesses in many of the studies reviewed, coupled with the small number of studies, led us to conclude that the research literature on worksite HIV/AIDS interventions is weak. Impact is, however, plausible. Future research should be directed toward developing valid measures of key variables, controlling for confounding factors, and ultimately examining the impact of organizational factors.
Relationship of Trait, Type A Behavior, and Physical Fitness Variables to Cardiovascular Reactivity and Coronary Heart Disease Risk Potential
Authors: Hendrix William H. , Hughes Richard L.
Published: December 2011

Purpose.

This research investigated the effects of individual characteristics on cardiovascular reactivity, and in turn on the potential for developing coronary heart disease.

Design.

Path analysis was performed using LISREL, a structural equation modeling program providing maximum likelihood estimators and goodness-of-fit measures.

Setting.

Data were collected during a health assessment program, from participants attending a Department of Defense senior service school.

Subjects.

Participants were 134 senior-ranking male military and civilian employee volunteers, representing approximately 84 % of all students in training.

Measures.

Five individual characteristics, four measures of cardiovascular reactivity, and one coronary heart disease risk potential variable were investigated. These included Physical Fitness, Type A behavior, Trait Anger and Trait Anxiety, Diastolic and Systolic Blood Pressure measures, and Coronary Heart Disease Risk.

Results.

Significant path coefficients (critical ratios > 2) indicated that the mean diastolic blood pressure under a video stress condition was predictive of increased potential of developing coronary heart disease (.51), while hard driving Type A behavior was a cardiovascular reactivity antecedent associated with an increase in coronary heart disease risk directly (.14) and indirectly (.39). Physical fitness, on the other hand, had a positive affect in that increased fitness was related to lower cardiovascular reactivity when participants were stressed (−.58).

Conclusions.

Physical fitness is indirectly beneficial in reducing coronary heart disease risk potential by reducing an individual's diastolic blood pressure response, while scoring high as a Type A Hard Driving personality increases cardiovascular reactivity and coronary heart disease risk. This study is limited to middle-aged males who were generally healthy and displayed concern for their health.
A Review of Health-Related Outcomes of Multi-Component Worksite Health Promotion Programs
Authors: Heaney Catherine A. , Goetzel Ron Z.
Published: December 2011

Purpose.

The purpose of this article is to critically review evaluation studies of the health-related effects (i.e., health risk modification and reduction in worker absenteeism) of multi-component worksite health promotion programs.

Search method.

A comprehensive literature search conducted under the auspices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified 36 articles that examined health-related outcomes of multi-component programs. The authors identified 11 additional articles through manual searches of recent journal issues and through personal contacts with worksite health promotion researchers. Forty-seven studies describing the results of 35 worksite health promotion programs were reviewed.

Important findings.

The worksite health promotion programs reviewed for this article varied tremendously in the comprehensiveness, intensity, and duration of the intervention activities. All of the programs provided health education to employees. In a majority of the programs, opportunities to learn and practice new skills were also offered. A smaller number of programs incorporated modifications in organizational policy or the physical work environment. Results from well-conducted randomized trials suggest that providing opportunities for individual risk reduction counseling for high risk employees within the context of comprehensive programming may be the critical component of an effective worksite health promotion program. Just offering low intensity, short duration programs aimed at increasing awareness of health issues for the entire employee population may not be sufficient to achieve desired outcomes.

Major conclusions.

The results of the studies reviewed provide both cautious optimism about the effectiveness of these worksite programs and some general guidance as to the critical components and characteristics of successful programs. Overall, the evidence suggests that a rating of indicative/acceptable may best characterize this literature.
Smoking Behavior among Adolescents in the City, Suburbs, and Rural Areas of Shanghai
Authors: Sun Wei Yue , Ling Tan
Published: December 2011

Purpose.

The study was designed to investigate differences in predisposing factors, enabling factors, reinforcing factors, and smoking behavior among middle school students living in the city, suburbs, and rural areas of Shanghai.

Design.

A one-time cross-sectional survey design was applied in this study.

Setting.

The study was conducted in 11 schools in three areas.

Subjects.

A total number of 1116 students from these three areas participated in this study. The response rates were 92, 88, and 84% for city, suburbs, and rural areas, respectively.

Measure.

A PRECEDE instrument including predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing factors was employed to collect data. A Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) and Multiple Regression Analysis were used to analyze the data.

Results.

Smoking was reported by 39.8% of boys and 5.14% of girls. Students in the city of Shanghai had the best (against smoking) predisposing factors, but students in rural areas had the best (against smoking) enabling and reinforcing factors and consumed the fewest cigarettes.

Conclusion.

Results indicated that smoking behavior in students was affected strongly by enabling factors and reinforcing factors that were related to socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental influences in China.
Recruiting Worksites to Participate in a Health Promotion Research Study
Authors: Thompson Beti , van Leynseele June , Beresford Shirley A. A.
Published: December 2011

Purpose.

In this study, the type and size of participating and nonparticipating worksites in a health promotion research trial were examined.

Design.

In-person and telephone contacts were made with representatives from a random sample of eligible worksites recruited to participate in a research trial to increase fruit and vegetable consumption.

Setting.

Worksites that had 250 to 2000 employees and a worksite cafeteria were recruited.

Subjects.

Eighty-one worksites were contacted.

Measures.

A census of eligible worksites (N = 109) formed the recruitment base, and a random selection of worksites (N = 81) was personally contacted and asked to participate in the research. Information on size, type of worksite, and a worksite representative was obtained from a privately compiled list covering the greater Puget Sound area. Eligibility for the project included the presence of an onsite cafeteria at the worksite as assessed by a brief telephone call.

Results.

Thirty-six of the contacted worksites (44.5%) agreed to participate. There were no significant differences in participation by type or size of worksite.

Discussion.

Worksites can be recruited to participate in research trials. No particular type or size of worksite is more likely to participate. Instituting pre-randomization participation conditions may reduce post-randomization dropout by ascertaining compliance with research requirements before randomization.
Evaluation of a Supermarket Intervention to Increase Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables
Authors: Kristal Alan R. , Goldenhar Linda , Muldoon Joann , Morton Roscoe F.
Published: December 2011

Purpose.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a supermarket point-of-purchase intervention could increase shoppers' consumption of fruits and vegetables.

Methods.

Eight supermarkets in rural Iowa were randomized to receive either an 8-month intervention or no intervention. The intervention consisted of (1) one-page supermarket flyers that identified fruits and vegetables on sale, gave recipes and menu ideas for using sale foods, and gave a store coupon worth 50 cents toward the purchase of any fruit or vegetable; (2) store signage to identify fruits and vegetables featured on the flyer; and (3) consciousness raising activities such as food demonstrations and nutrition related signage. Evaluation was based on exit interviews and take-home surveys, completed by random samples of 120 shoppers from each store at baseline and approximately 1-year post randomization.

Results.

At follow-up, 42.9% of intervention store shoppers and 6.5% of control shoppers recalled seeing the intervention flyer. Thirty-six percent of intervention shoppers had used a 50-cent coupon and 18% had used a recipe. Approximately 70% of all shoppers had purchased fruits or vegetables on the day they were interviewed, which did not differ between intervention and control stores. Compared to change in control shoppers, there was a borderline statistically significant 8.4 percentage point increase (p <.07) in the percentage of intervention store shoppers in the action or maintenance stages of dietary change, but there was no corresponding increase in fruit and vegetable consumption.

Discussion.

Studies to test point-of-purchase interventions are difficult to design, implement, and evaluate. More powerful interventions are probably necessary to induce shoppers to purchase and consume more fruits and vegetables.
Emulation of a complex global aerosol model to quantify sensitivity to uncertain parameters
Authors: Lee L. A. , Carslaw K. S. , Pringle K. J. , Mann G. W. , Spracklen D. V.
Published: December 2011

Abstract. Sensitivity analysis of atmospheric models is necessary to identify the processes that lead to uncertainty in model predictions, to help understand model diversity through comparison of driving processes, and to prioritise research. Assessing the effect of parameter uncertainty in complex models is challenging and often limited by CPU constraints. Here we present a cost-effective application of variance-based sensitivity analysis to quantify the sensitivity of a 3-D global aerosol model to uncertain parameters. A Gaussian process emulator is used to estimate the model output across multi-dimensional parameter space, using information from a small number of model runs at points chosen using a Latin hypercube space-filling design. Gaussian process emulation is a Bayesian approach that uses information from the model runs along with some prior assumptions about the model behaviour to predict model output everywhere in the uncertainty space. We use the Gaussian process emulator to calculate the percentage of expected output variance explained by uncertainty in global aerosol model parameters and their interactions. To demonstrate the technique, we show examples of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) sensitivity to 8 model parameters in polluted and remote marine environments as a function of altitude. In the polluted environment 95 % of the variance of CCN concentration is described by uncertainty in the 8 parameters (excluding their interaction effects) and is dominated by the uncertainty in the sulphur emissions, which explains 80 % of the variance. However, in the remote region parameter interaction effects become important, accounting for up to 40 % of the total variance. Some parameters are shown to have a negligible individual effect but a substantial interaction effect. Such sensitivities would not be detected in the commonly used single parameter perturbation experiments, which would therefore underpredict total uncertainty. Gaussian process emulation is shown to be an efficient and useful technique for quantifying parameter sensitivity in complex global atmospheric models.
Ozone zonal asymmetry and planetary waves characterization during Antarctic spring
Authors: Ialongo I. , Sofieva V. , Kalakoski N. , Tamminen J. , Kyrölä E.
Published: December 2011

Abstract. A large zonal asymmetry of ozone has been observed over Antarctica during winter-spring, when the ozone hole develops. It is caused by a planetary wave-driven displacement of the polar vortex. The total ozone data by OMI (Ozone Monitoring Instrument) and ozone profiles by MLS (Microwave Limb Sounder) and GOMOS (Global Ozone Monitoring by Occultation of Stars) were analysed to characterize the ozone zonal asymmetry and the wave activity during Antarctic spring. Both total ozone and profile data have shown a persistent zonal asymmetry over the last years, which is usually observed from September to mid-December. The largest amplitudes of planetary waves at 65° S (the perturbations can achieve up to 50% of zonal mean) is observed in October. The wave activity is dominated by the quasi-stationary wave 1 component, while the wave 2 is mainly a travelling wave. Wave numbers 1 and 2 generally explain more than the 90% of the ozone longitudinal variations. Both GOMOS and MLS ozone profile data showed that ozone zonal asymmetry covers the whole stratosphere and extends up to the altitudes of 60–65 km. The wave amplitudes in ozone mixing ratio decay with altitude, with maxima (up to 50%) below 30 km. Also the spatio-temporal distributions of the ozone anomaly and the interannual variations were analysed. The characterization of the ozone zonal asymmetry has become important in the climate research. The inclusion of the polar zonal asymmetry in the climate models is essential for an accurate estimation of the future temperature trends. This information might also be important for retrieval algorithms that rely on ozone a priori information.
Middle atmospheric water vapor and ozone anomalies during the 2010 major sudden stratospheric warming
Authors: Scheiben D. , Straub C. , Hocke K. , Forkman P. , Kämpfer N.
Published: December 2011

Abstract. A major sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) occurred in the Northern Hemisphere in January 2010. The warming started on 26 January 2010, was most pronounced by the end of January and was accompanied by a polar vortex shift towards Europe. After the warming, the polar vortex split into two weaker vortices. The zonal mean temperature in the polar upper stratosphere (35–45 km) increased by approximately 25 K in a few days, while there was a decrease in temperature in the lower stratosphere and mesosphere. Local temperature maxima were around 325 K in the upper stratosphere and minima around 175 and 155 K in the lower stratosphere and mesosphere, respectively. In this study, we present middle atmospheric water vapor and ozone measurements obtained by a meridional chain of European ground-based microwave radiometers in Bern (47° N), Onsala (57° N) and Sodankylä (67° N). The instruments in Bern and Onsala are part of the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (NDACC). Effects of the SSW were observed at all three locations and we perform a combined analysis in order to reveal transport processes in the middle atmosphere above Europe during the SSW event. Further we investigate the chemical and dynamical influences of the SSW event. We find that the anomalies during the warming in water vapor and ozone were different for each location. A few days before the beginning of the major SSW, we observed a decrease in mesospheric water vapor above Bern, which we attribute to movement of the mesospheric polar vortex towards Central Europe. The most prominent H2O anomaly observed in Bern was an increase in stratospheric water vapor during the warming. In Onsala and Sodankylä, mesospheric water vapor increased within a few days during the warming and slowly decreased afterwards. Upper stratospheric ozone decreased during the warming over Bern by approximately 30% and by approximately 20% over Onsala. Over Sodankylä, a decrease in ozone below 30 km altitude was observed. This decrease is assumed to be caused by heterogeneous chemistry on polar stratospheric clouds. After the SSW, stratospheric ozone increased to higher levels than before at all three locations. The observed anomalies are explained by a trajectory analysis with reanalysis data from the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). Most of the observed anomalies in water vapor and ozone during the warming are attributed to the location of the polar vortex, depending on whether a measurement site was inside or outside the polar vortex. The observed increase in mesospheric water vapor at high latitudes is explained by advection of relatively moist air from lower latitudes, whereas the observed increase in stratospheric water vapor at midlatitudes is explained by advection from high latitudes, i.e. from the moist stratospheric polar vortex.
Remote sensing of size structure of phytoplankton communities using optical properties of the Chukchi and Bering Sea shelf region
Authors: Fujiwara A. , Hirawake T. , Suzuki K. , Saitoh S.-I.
Published: December 2011

Abstract. Recent ocean warming and subsequent sea ice decline resulting from climate change could affect the northward shift of the ecosystem structure in the Chukchi Sea and Bering Sea shelf region (Grebmeier et al., 2006b). The size structure of phytoplankton communities provides an index of trophic levels that is crucial to understanding the mechanisms underlying such ecosystem changes and their implications for the future. This study proposes a new ocean color algorithm for deriving this characteristic by using the region's optical properties. The size derivation model (SDM) estimates the phytoplankton size index FL on the basis of size-fractionated chlorophyll-a (chl-a) using the light absorption coefficient of phytoplankton, aph(λ), and the backscattering coefficient of suspended particles including algae, bbp(λ). FL was defined as the ratio of algal biomass attributed to cells larger than 5 μm to the total. It was expressed by a multiple regression model using the aph(λ) ratio, aph(488)/aph(555), which varies with phytoplankton pigment composition, and the spectral slope of bbp(λ), γ, which is an index of the mean suspended particle size. A validation study demonstrated that 69% of unknown data are correctly derived within FL range of ±20%. The spatial distributions of FL for the cold August of 2006 and the warm August of 2007 were compared to examine application of the SDM to satellite remote sensing. The results suggested that phytoplankton size was responsive to changes in sea surface temperature. Further analysis of satellite-derived FL values and other environmental factors can advance our understanding of ecosystem structure changes in the shelf region of the Chukchi and Bering Seas.
MODELING AND OPTIMIZING PROPERTIES OF NANOCLAY–NITRILE RUBBER COMPOSITES USING BOX–BEHNKEN DESIGN
Authors: Balachandran Meera , Bhagawan S. S. , Muraleekrishnan R.
Published: December 2011

The mechanical behavior of acrylonitrile butadiene copolymer (NBR)–organomodified layered silicate (nanoclay) was modeled using design of experiments approach. A Box–Behnken design with three factors and three levels was used to model the relationship between properties of NBR nanocomposites and the ingredients. The factors considered in the design were silica content, nanoclay loading, and dicumyl peroxide content. The nanocomposites were evaluated for tensile strength, modulus, elongation at break, oxygen permeation rate, and effect of oil and heat aging on mechanical properties. Regression equations were generated to model the properties of interest and generate response surfaces and contour plots. The predicted properties of the nanocomposites were in good agreement with the experimental results. The contour plots were overlaid within the applied constraints to identify the combination of factor ranges that gives the optimal performance of the nanocomposites for application as control system bladders in satellite launch vehicles.
Aspects of Area Deprivation Index in Relation to Hippocampal Volume Among Children
Authors: Ku Benson S. , Aberizk Katrina , Feurer Cope , Yuan Qingyue , Druss Benjamin G. , Jeste Dilip V. , Walker Elaine F.
Published: June 2024

Importance

Area deprivation index (ADI) has been shown to be associated with reduced hippocampal volume (HV) among youths. The social environment may interact with the association between ADI and HV.

Objective

To investigate which aspects of ADI are uniquely associated with bilateral HV and whether school and family environments have moderating interactions in associations between ADI and HV.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cross-sectional study used data from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. Participants aged 9 and 10 years were recruited from 21 sites in the US between September 2016 and August 2018. Data analysis was performed between March 2023 and April 2024.

Exposures

ADI aspects were derived from participant primary home addresses provided by parents or guardians.

Main Outcomes and Measures

HV was automatically segmented from structural brain images ascertained from magnetic resonance imaging. Multiple generalized linear mixed modeling tested associations between 9 indices of ADI and bilateral HV, with family groups and recruitment sites as random effects. After stepwise backward selection, models were adjusted for individual-level covariates, including age, sex, race and ethnicity, parental education, household income, and estimated intracranial volume.

Results

This study included 10 114 participants aged 9 and 10 years (median [IQR] age, 9.92 [9.33-10.48] years; 5294 male [52.3%]; 200 Asian [2.0%], 1411 Black [14.0%], and 6655 White [65.8%]; 1959 Hispanic [19.4%]). After stepwise backward selection and adjusting for covariates, only the percentage of neighborhood-level single-parent households was associated with right HV (adjusted β per 1-SD increase in single-parent households, −0.03; 95% CI, −0.06 to −0.01; P = .01). School environment interacted with neighborhood-level single-parent households in its association with right HV (adjusted β per 1-SD increase in score, 0.02; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.03; P = .003), such that there was an inverse association only among those at a school with the mean environment score (adjusted β per 1% increase in single-parent households, −0.03; 95% CI, −0.05 to −0.01; P = .02) and worse (−1 SD score) school environment score (adjusted β per 1% increase in single-parent households, −0.05; 95% CI, −0.09 to −0.01; P < .001) but not among those at better (+1 SD score) school environments.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this study, an increased percentage of neighborhood-level single-parent households was associated with reduced right HV among children in schools with the mean or worse but not better environment score. These findings suggest that longitudinal research concerning the association of neighborhood-level characteristics and school environments with hippocampal development may be warranted to better understand complex interactions between various social factors and child neurodevelopment and mental health outcomes.
Roles That Psychiatrists Can Play in International Negotiations to Reduce Conflict
Authors: Aggarwal Neil Krishan
Published: June 2024

This Viewpoint discusses how mental health professionals can encourage dialog to reduce the possibility of military conflict.
Surgical Approach and Long-Term Recurrence After Ventral Hernia Repair
Authors: Fry Brian T. , Howard Ryan A. , Thumma Jyothi R. , Norton Edward C. , Dimick Justin B. , Sheetz Kyle H.
Published: June 2024

Importance

The prevalence of robotic-assisted anterior abdominal wall (ventral) hernia repair has increased dramatically in recent years, despite conflicting evidence of patient benefit. Whether long-term hernia recurrence rates following robotic-assisted repairs are lower than rates following more established laparoscopic or open approaches remains unclear.

Objective

To evaluate the association between robotic-assisted, laparoscopic, and open approaches to ventral hernia repair and long-term operative hernia recurrence.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Secondary retrospective cohort analysis using Medicare claims data examining adults 18 years and older who underwent elective inpatient ventral, incisional, or umbilical hernia repair from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2020. Data analysis was performed from January 2023 through March 2024.

Exposure

Operative approach to ventral hernia repair, which included robotic-assisted, laparoscopic, and open approaches.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was operative hernia recurrence for up to 10 years after initial hernia repair. To help account for potential bias from unmeasured patient factors (eg, hernia size), an instrumental variable analysis was performed using regional variation in the adoption of robotic-assisted hernia repair over time as the instrument. Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to estimate the risk-adjusted cumulative incidence of operative recurrence up to 10 years after the initial procedure, controlling for factors such as patient age, sex, race and ethnicity, comorbidities, and hernia subtype (ventral/incisional or umbilical).

Results

A total of 161 415 patients were included in the study; mean (SD) patient age was 69 (10.8) years and 67 592 patients (41.9%) were male. From 2010 to 2020, the proportion of robotic-assisted procedures increased from 2.1% (415 of 20 184) to 21.9% (1737 of 7945), while the proportion of laparoscopic procedures decreased from 23.8% (4799 of 20 184) to 11.9% (946 of 7945) and of open procedures decreased from 74.2% (14 970 of 20 184) to 66.2% (5262 of 7945). Patients undergoing robotic-assisted hernia repair had a higher 10-year risk-adjusted cumulative incidence of operative recurrence (13.43%; 95% CI, 13.36%-13.50%) compared with both laparoscopic (12.33%; 95% CI, 12.30%-12.37%; HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.62-0.94) and open (12.74%; 95% CI, 12.71%-12.78%; HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.64-0.97) approaches. These trends were directionally consistent regardless of surgeon procedure volume.

Conclusions and Relevance

This study found that the rate of long-term operative recurrence was higher for patients undergoing robotic-assisted ventral hernia repair compared with laparoscopic and open approaches. This suggests that narrowing clinical applications and evaluating the specific advantages and disadvantages of each approach may improve patient outcomes following ventral hernia repairs.
Synchronization analysis of fuzzy inertial neural networks with time‐varying delays via non‐reduced order method
Authors: Liu Zhenjiang , Pu Yi‐Fei
Published: June 2024

In this article, the asymptotic synchronization of a class of fuzzy inertial neural networks (FINNs) with time‐varying delays is investigated. First, the direct analysis approach is applied to replace the accustomed variable transformation and the reduced‐order method for addressing the inertial term. Second, a suitable Lyapunov function and control scheme are devised to obtain several new sufficient conditions to guarantee the asymptotic synchronization of the class of FINNs with time‐varying delays. It turns out that the obtained criteria are simpler and more effective. Meanwhile, some numerical examples demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed strategies and verify the theoretical results.
A Single‐Cell Transcriptome Profiling of Triptolide‐Induced Nephrotoxicity in Mice
Authors: Wu Jiangpeng , Guo Jinan , Xia Siyu , Chen Jiayun , Cao Min , Xie Lulin , Yang Chuanbin , Qiu Feng , Wang Jigang
Published: June 2024

Triptolide (TP), an active component isolated from the traditional Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TWHF), shows great promise for treating inflammation‐related diseases. However, its potential nephrotoxic effects remain concerning. The mechanism underlying TP‐induced nephrotoxicity is inadequately elucidated, particularly at single‐cell resolution. Hence, single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) of kidney tissues from control and TP‐treated mice is performed to generate a thorough description of the renal cell atlas upon TP treatment. Heterogeneous responses of nephron epithelial cells are observed after TP exposure, attributing differential susceptibility of cell subtypes to excessive reactive oxygen species and increased inflammatory responses. Moreover, TP disrupts vascular function by activating endothelial cell immunity and damaging fibroblasts. Severe immune cell damage and the activation of pro‐inflammatory Macro_C1 cells are also observed with TP treatment. Additionally, ligand‐receptor crosstalk analysis reveals that the SPP1 (osteopontin) signaling pathway targeting Macro_C1 cells is triggered by TP treatment, which may promote the infiltration of Macro_C1 cells to exacerbate renal toxicity. Overall, this study provides comprehensive information on the transcriptomic profiles and cellular composition of TP‐associated nephrotoxicity at single‐cell resolution, which can strengthen the understanding of the pathogenesis of TP‐induced nephrotoxicity and provide valuable clues for the discovery of new therapeutic targets to ameliorate TP‐associated nephrotoxicity.
Effects of Different Configurations on Compression Responses of Honeycomb‐Filled Circular Tube via Selective Laser Melting
Authors: Wang Chengjian , Li Zhenhua , He Yuanhuai , Wang Cheng , Yang Wuxin
Published: June 2024

In this study, a honeycomb‐filled circular tube (HFCT) is introduced and produced by selective laser melting of 316 L. Different wall thicknesses and cell side lengths’ HFCTs are tested to see how they affect the structures’ mechanical and energy absorption (EA) properties. In the results, it is shown that the initial peak force (IPF), the EA, and the specific EA (SEA) of the sample are all related positively to the thickness of the wall and negatively to the length of the cell side. With an increase in cell side length, the aforementioned indicators gradually decrease and tend to converge. The specific strength of the sample can be divided into different data clusters according to the wall thickness. T4‐L3 achieves the optimal balance between the IPF, specific strength, and SEA and is the optimal solution among lightweight, load‐bearing performance, and EA performance. In the present study, initial empirical equations that are tailored to different size ranges with the aim of predicting both IPF and EA in the context of engineering design are successfully developed. At the same time, it provides guidance for the design requirements of different performances.
Machine‐Learning‐Enabled Multi‐Frequency Synthesis of Space‐Time‐Coding Digital Metasurfaces
Authors: Rossi Marco , Zhang Lei , Chen Xiao Qing , Liu Che , Castaldi Giuseppe , Cui Tie Jun , Galdi Vincenzo
Published: June 2024

Digital metasurfaces based on space‐time coding have established themselves as a powerful and versatile platform for joint spatial/spectral control of electromagnetic waves. However, their advanced design remains a largely open problem with significant computational challenges. This study introduces a novel approach, based on deep neural networks, to address this challenge. The proposed technique enables the simultaneous and independent multi‐frequency synthesis of scattering patterns, allowing precise tailoring of the harmonic equivalent currents (both in magnitude and phase), and enhancing spectral efficiency. These results, experimentally validated at X‐band microwave frequencies, substantially broaden the capabilities of space‐time coding digital metasurfaces, paving the way for advanced applications in wireless communications, sensing, and imaging.
On‐Surface Covalent Synthesis of Carbon Nanomaterials by Harnessing Carbon gem‐Polyhalides
Authors: Urgel José I. , Sánchez‐Grande Ana , Vicent Diego J. , Jelínek Pavel , Martín Nazario , Écija David
Published: June 2024

The design of innovative carbon‐based nanostructures stands at the forefront of both chemistry and materials science. In this context, π‐conjugated compounds are of great interest due to their impact in a variety of fields, including optoelectronics, spintronics, energy storage, sensing and catalysis. Despite extensive research efforts, substantial knowledge gaps persist in the synthesis and characterization of new π‐conjugated compounds with potential implications for science and technology. On‐surface synthesis has emerged as a powerful discipline to overcome limitations associated with conventional solution chemistry methods, offering advanced tools to characterize the resulting nanomaterials. This review specifically highlights recent achievements in the utilization of molecular precursors incorporating carbon geminal (gem)‐polyhalides as functional groups to guide the formation of π‐conjugated 0D species, as well as 1D, quasi‐1D π‐conjugated polymers, and 2D nanoarchitectures. By delving into reaction pathways, novel structural designs, and the electronic, magnetic, and topological features of the resulting products, the review provides fundamental insights for a new generation of π‐conjugated materials.
Multicolor Electrochromic Metamaterials Based on Mie Scatterer Nanospheres
Authors: Zhao Yanlong , Jiang Qinyuan , Wu Xueke , Gao Di , Zhu Ping , Li Yunrui , Wang Fei , Huang Ya , Li Run , Zhao Siming , Zhao Zhuojing , Xi Aike , Wang Baoshun , Zhang Rufan
Published: June 2024

Electrochromic materials (ECMs), the colors of which can be electrically modulated by small driving voltages with a unique open‐circuit memory effect, are in great demand in various application fields. However, traditional ECMs exhibit a narrow modulation range of color gamut under the electric stimulus, owing to the monotonous chemical coloration in an absorption manner. Multicolor ECMs with optical nanostructures can greatly extend the color gamut by incorporating complex optical interactions such as interference and diffraction. Mie scatterer nanospheres (MSNSs) are a kind of nanospheres with unique optical structures that can simply exhibit and change vivid structural colors by adjusting their diameters. Herein, this work reports multicolor ECMs based on MSNSs with polymer shells of poly‐3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT) and poly‐pyrrole (PPY). They possess a superior optical modulation capability with a wide color gamut, a fast response rate, a visible‐angle‐independence, etc. Additionally, a nano‐dispersion strategy is used to prepare mixed electrochromic pigments with a nanoscale uniformity, further broadening the color gamut tunability. Simulations in wave optics and Mie scattering theory are conducted to unveil the multicolor modulation mechanism, demonstrating the interactions of MSNSs with incident lights. This work provides a feasible approach for fabricating multicolor ECMs with more application potential.
Recent Advances in the Enantioselective Construction of gem‐Difluorinated Carbonyl Moieties
Authors: Li Xin , Song Qiuling
Published: June 2024

The enantioselective introduction of gem‐difluorinated carbonyl (i. e. α,α‐difluoro carbonyl) moieties into organic structures is a synthetically valuable but highly challenging approach. During the past decades, continuous efforts have been made for the developments of synthetic strategies for constructing C(sp3)−CF2COR chiral centers with high levels of enantioselectivities. This review summarizes and discusses the recent advance in the enantioselective construction of gem‐difluorinated carbonyl moieties, which are organized according to the reaction categories.
Minimal‐Invasive 3D Laser Printing of Microimplants in Organismo
Authors: Afting Cassian , Mainik Philipp , Vazquez‐Martel Clara , Abele Tobias , Kaul Verena , Kale Girish , Göpfrich Kerstin , Lemke Steffen , Blasco Eva , Wittbrodt Joachim
Published: June 2024

Multi‐photon 3D laser printing has gathered much attention in recent years as a means of manufacturing biocompatible scaffolds that can modify and guide cellular behavior in vitro. However, in vivo tissue engineering efforts have been limited so far to the implantation of beforehand 3D printed biocompatible scaffolds and in vivo bioprinting of tissue constructs from bioinks containing cells, biomolecules, and printable hydrogel formulations. Thus, a comprehensive 3D laser printing platform for in vivo and in situ manufacturing of microimplants raised from synthetic polymer‐based inks is currently missing. Here, a platform for minimal‐invasive manufacturing of microimplants directly in the organism is presented by one‐photon photopolymerization and multi‐photon 3D laser printing. Employing a commercially available elastomeric ink giving rise to biocompatible synthetic polymer‐based microimplants, first applicational examples of biological responses to in situ printed microimplants are demonstrated in the teleost fish Oryzias latipes and in embryos of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. This provides a framework for future studies addressing the suitability of inks for in vivo 3D manufacturing. The platform bears great potential for the direct engineering of the intricate microarchitectures in a variety of tissues in model organisms and beyond.
Lattice Symmetry‐Guided Charge Transport in 2D Supramolecular Polymers Promotes Triplet Formation
Authors: Emmanuele Ruggero , Sai Hiroaki , Chen Jia‐Shiang , Morrow Darien J. , Đorđević Luka , Gosztola David J. , Hla Saw Wai , Stupp Samuel I. , Ma Xuedan
Published: June 2024

Singlet‐to‐triplet intersystem crossing (ISC) in organic molecules is intimately connected with their geometries: by modifying the molecular shape, symmetry selection rules pertaining to spin‐orbit coupling can be partially relieved, leading to extra matrix elements for increased ISC. As an analog to this molecular design concept, the study finds that the lattice symmetry of supramolecular polymers also defines their triplet formation efficiencies. A supramolecular polymer self‐assembled from weakly interacting molecules is considered. Its 2D oblique unit cell effectively renders it as a coplanar array of 1D molecular columns weakly bound to each other. Using momentum‐resolved photoluminescence imaging in combination with Monte Carlo simulations, the study found that photogenerated charge carriers in the supramolecular polymer predominantly recombine as spin‐uncorrelated carrier pairs through inter‐column charge transfer states. This lattice‐defined recombination pathway leads to a substantial triplet formation efficiency (≈60%) in the supramolecular polymer. These findings suggest that lattice symmetry of micro‐/macroscopic structures relying on intermolecular interactions can be strategized for controlled triplet formation.
Effective Charging of Commercial Lithium Cell by Triboelectric Nanogenerator with Ultrahigh Voltage Energy Management
Authors: Dai Yiming , Liu Guoxu , Cao Jie , Fan Beibei , Zhou Weilin , Li Yongbo , Yang Jun , Li Ming , Zeng Jianhua , Chen Yuanfen , Wang Zhong Lin , Zhang Chi
Published: June 2024

It is an increasingly mature application solution that triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) supplies power to electronic devices through its power management system (PMS). However, the previous PMS is able to manage a limited voltage magnitude and the energy storage elements are limited to capacitors. This work proposes an ultrahigh voltage PMS (UV‐PMS) to realize the charging of commercial lithium cells (LCs) by TENG. The design of UV‐PMS enables energy management of TENGs with ultrahigh open‐circuit voltages up to 3500 V and boosts the peak charging current from 30.9 µA to 2.77 mA, an increase of 89.64 times. With the introduction of UV‐PMS, the effective charging capacity of LC charged by a TENG at a working frequency of 1.5 Hz for 1 h comes to 429.7 µAh, making a 75.3 times enhancement compared to charging by TENG directly. The maximum charging power comes to 1.56 mW. The energy storage efficiency is above 97% and the overall charge efficiency can be maintained at 81.2%. This work provides a reliable strategy for TENG to store energy in LC, and has promising applications in energy storage, LC's life, and self‐powered systems.
Reductive C−N Bond Formation of Nitroarenes Using Pd@rGO‐CuFe2O4 Magnetic Nanoparticles in Water towards the Synthesis of N‐Aryl Formamide and Azole Derivatives
Authors: Patel Chandresh K. , Kant Kamal , Teli Yaqoob A. , Banerjee Sourav , Naik Priyadarshini , Sharma Vishal , Keremane Kavya S. , Al‐Sadoon Mohammad K. , Singh Virender , Malakar Chandi C.
Published: June 2024

.Reductive C−N bond generation strategies of nitroarenes to form N‐arylformamide and azole derivatives were developed under the influences of magnetically separable Pd@rGO‐CuFe2O4 nanoparticle‐catalyzed reaction conditions. These reactions proceed at a very low catalyst loading in H2O as the solvent, which leads to a higher percentage of yields (up to 96 %) of the products. The catalyst is recovered from the reaction medium by using an external magnet and recycled for four consecutive reaction cycles with a less amounts of leaching.
The endocast morphology of LES1, Homo naledi
Authors: Hurst Shawn D. , Holloway Ralph L. , Balzeau Antoine , Garvin Heather M. , Vanti William B. , Berger Lee R. , Hawks John
Published: June 2024

Objectives

Homo naledi is near the extreme of small brain size within Homo but is easily recognized as Homo in other aspects of endocast morphology. This study adds new evidence of the endocast morphology of H. naledi by describing the Lesedi Hominin 1 (LES1) endocranium from the Lesedi Chamber and compares it to the previously known H. naledi individual Dinaledi Hominin 3 (DH3) as well as other hominin taxa.

Materials and Methods

We examined interlandmark distances with both univariate and multivariate methods in multiple hominin taxa and both species of Pan. For each distance, we compared groups using adjusted Z‐scores (Azs). Our multivariate analyses included both principal component analyses (PCA) and linear discriminant analyses (LDA).

Results

DH3 and LES1 each have absolute third frontal convolution measures that enter the upper half of the variation for Homo sapiens, Homo erectus, and Homo neanderthalensis. Examined relative to the cube root of endocranial volume, H. naledi ranks among the highest values in these samples of Homo. Both absolute and relative values for H. naledi specimens are far above Pan, Australopithecus, and Paranthropus, suggesting an expanded Broca's area.

Conclusions

Both qualitative and quantitative analyses show consistency between LES1 and other H. naledi endocasts and confirm the shared morphology of H. naledi with H. sapiens, H. neanderthalensis, and some specimens of H. erectus.