bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
East Asian patients who received immunotherapy‐based therapy associated with improved survival benefit in advanced non‐small cell lung cancer: An updated meta‐analysis
Authors: Yao Yueyuan , Li Butuo , Xu Yiyue , Yang Linlin , Zou Bing , Wang Linlin
Published: March 2024

Background

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with chemotherapy have been recommended as the standard treatment for advanced NSCLC patients without driver‐gene mutations. However, there are different genetic characteristics and biological traits of tumors between non‐East Asian (nEA) and East Asian (EA) patients with NSCLC, which may contribute to differences in the efficacy of ICIs in different ethnic populations. Previous findings regarding differences in the efficacy of ICIs among ethnic groups have been inconsistent. Therefore, we performed a meta‐analysis by collecting published data to investigate the clinical outcomes of ICIs for EA NSCLC patients compared to nEA patients.

Methods

Overall survival (OS) and progression‐free survival (PFS) were used to access the difference in survival outcomes between the two populations. Subgroup analyses were performed based on the line of ICIs, the use of ICIs alone or in combination, and the type of ICIs.

Results

A total of 9826 NSCLC patients from 21 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 4064 EAs were included, which involved PD‐1, PD‐L1, and CTLA‐4 inhibitors. EA NSCLC patients who received ICIs‐based therapy were associated with significantly improved survival benefits in OS (p = 0.02) compared with nEA patients. Subgroup analysis indicated that EA patients receiving first‐line ICIs showed significantly superior OS compared with nEA patients (p = 0.007). Chemo‐ICIs treatment showed significant advantages in terms of OS (p = 0.002) and PFS (p = 0.02) among EA patients compared to nEA patients. In addition, PD‐1 inhibitors were associated with improved OS among both EA patients and nEA patients compared with PD‐L1 inhibitors.

Conclusion

EA NSCLC patients who received ICIs‐based therapy were associated with significantly improved survival benefits compared with nEA NSCLC patients. Earlier intervention with ICIs and combination treatment was more recommended for EA NSCLC patients. Moreover, PD‐1 inhibitors are associated with prolonged survival among both EA and nEA patients.
Exploring the Anti‐Cancer Potential of Hispidin: A Comprehensive in Silico and in Vitro Study on Human Osteosarcoma Saos2 Cells
Authors: Benarous Khedidja , Serseg Talia , Mermer Arif , Tahmasebifar Aydin , Boulebd Houssem , Linani Abderahmane
Published: March 2024

Hispidin was initially discovered in basidiomycete Inonotus hispidus (Bull.) P. Karst and this extraordinary compound possesses immense potency and can be extracted from the wild mushroom through specialized bioreactor cultivation techniques. In our study, we isolated it from Inonotus hispidus (Bull.) P. Karst., with a yield of 3.6 %. We identified and characterized hispidin through the implementation of spectroscopic techniques such as FTIR, NMR, and MS. Additionally, we utilized Thermogravimetric Analysis for thermal characterization of the compound. Computational studies based on DFT were performed to investigate the molecular structure, electronic properties, and chemical reactivity of hispidin. PASS analysis for hispidin demonstrated that 19 of them are anti‐neoplastic activities. The Pharmacology prediction of hispidin confirm that it is not toxic, non‐carcinogenesis with a good human intestinal absorption. The effect of hispidin on the viability of bone cancer cells was evaluated by MTT assay. The results showed that hispidin significantly reduced SaoS2 cell viability in a dose‐dependent manner. Molecular docking was carried out using five targets related to bone cancer to determine the interactions between hispidin and the studied proteins. The results demonstrate that hispidin is a good inhibitor for the five targets. Dynamic simulation shows a good stability of the complex hispidin‐protein.
Design, Synthesis and In vitro Antitubercular Effect of New Chalcone Derivatives Coupled with 1,2,3‐Triazoles: A Computational Docking Techniques
Authors: Sadineni Kumaraswamy , Reddy Basireddy Sravanthi , Rao Allaka Tejeswara , Yatam Satyanarayana , Bhoomandla Srinu , Muvvala Venkatanaryana , Babu Haridasyam Sharath
Published: March 2024

A very interesting foundation for this study is the creation of new methods for modifying compounds with a 1,2,3‐triazole and chalcone scaffolds, as these compounds are significant in organic synthesis, particularly in the synthesis of bioactive organic compounds. To contribute to the development of an efficient method for the conversion of antimicrobial and antituberculosis heterocyclics, a novel series of cyclohepta pyridinone fused 1,2,3‐triazolyl chalcones were designed and synthesized. All the newly prepared scaffolds were characterized by FT‐IR, NMR (1H & 13C) and mass spectrometry. Among the tested compounds, hybrids 8b, 8d, and 8f exhibited exceptional antibacterial susceptibilities with zone of inhibition 27.84±0.04, 32.27±0.02, and 38.26±0.01 mm against the tested E. faecalis bacteria, whereas 8d had better antitubercular potency against M. tuberculosis H37Rv strain with MIC value 5.25 μg/mL, compared to Streptomycin [MIC=5.01 μg/mL]. All the synthesized compounds were initially assessed in silico against the targeted protein i. e., DprE1 that indicated compound 8d, 8f and 8h along with several other 1,2,3‐triazole compounds as possible inhibitors. Based on docking results, 8d showed that the amino acids His74(A), Lys76(A), Cys332(A), Asp331(A), Val307(A), Tyr357(A), Met226(A), Gln276(A), Gly75(A), Peo58(A), Leu259(A), and Lys309(A) exhibited highly stable binding to DprE1 receptor of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (PDB: 4G3 U). Moreover, these scaffolds physicochemical characteristics, filtration molecular properties, assessment of toxicity, and bioactivity scores were assessed in relation to ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion).
OptoProfilin: A Single Component Biosensor of Applied Cellular Stress
Authors: Mann Noah , Hill Jahiem , Wang Kenneth , Hughes Robert M.
Published: March 2024

The actin cytoskeleton is a biosensor of cellular stress and a potential prognosticator of human disease. In particular, aberrant cytoskeletal structures such as stress granules formed in response to energetic and oxidative stress are closely linked to ageing, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and viral infection. Whether these cytoskeletal phenomena can be harnessed for the development of biosensors for cytoskeletal dysfunction and, by extension, disease progression, remains an open question. In this work, we describe the design and development of an optogenetic iteration of profilin, an actin monomer binding protein with critical functions in cytoskeletal dynamics. We demonstrate that this optically activated profilin (‘OptoProfilin’) can act as an optically triggered biosensor of applied cellular stress in select immortalized cell lines. Notably, OptoProfilin is a single component biosensor, likely increasing its utility for experimentalists. While a large body of preexisting work closely links profilin activity with cellular stress and neurodegenerative disease, this, to our knowledge, is the first example of profilin as an optogenetic biosensor of stress‐induced changes in the cytoskeleton.
Investigating the efficacy of peer tutoring to support Latinx students in Hispanic serving community colleges
Authors: Herrera Brooklyn Cole , Lanford Michael
Published: March 2024

Although open‐access Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) continue to expand across the United States, they are often under‐resourced and lack adequate institutional support services. This article presents findings from a qualitative case study of an asset‐based, peer support program for Latinx students in an open‐access HSI in the Southeast United States. The article's findings, informed by the theory of community cultural wealth, indicate that peer tutoring honors the linguistic capital of Latinx students, nurturesfamiliawithin the institution, enhances students’ navigational capital, and helps students navigate the nuances of social capital by encouraging the maintenance of their cultural integrity as they strengthen tutor‐tutee relationships and forge relationships across their institution. Therefore, this article argues that identity‐affirming peer support programs could efficiently and effectively ameliorate Latinx student challenges in under‐resourced MSIs, particularly at the community college level, thereby generating a more inclusive institutional environment conducive to student success.
Creating a culture of servingness for Latinx engineering students in Hispanic‐serving community colleges
Authors: Rodriguez Sarah L. , Berhane Bruk
Published: March 2024

This paper will describe the promise Hispanic‐serving Community Colleges (HSCCs) have for creating a culture of servingness, including curricular and co‐curricular supports, transfer infrastructure, engineering identity development, and other mechanisms that can positively impact Latinx engineering learners. We will outline current research and trends regarding Latinx engineering collegians at HSCCs. In addition, we will provide recommendations for how community college practitioners at HSCCs can promote a culture of servingness and encourage the development of Latinx engineering students.
Naphthalene diimide–Annulated Heterocyclic Acenes: Synthesis, Electrochemical and Semiconductor Properties and their Multifaceted Applications
Authors: Bhardwaj Abhishek , Mudasar Hussain Ch. , Dewangan Pratik , Mukhopadhyay Pritam
Published: March 2024

Acenes and Naphthalene Diimides (NDIs) stand as distinguished classes of organic compounds, each possessing unique and intriguing properties that have garnered significant attention across various scientific disciplines. Acenes, characterized by linearly fused aromatic rings, have captivated researchers due to their diverse electronic structures and promising applications in materials science. On the other hand, NDIs, known for their distinctive electron–accepting properties, exhibit remarkable versatility in fields ranging from organic electronics, supramolecular to spin chemistry. In this review, we navigate through the fascinating realms of both acenes and NDIs before converging our focus on the highly diverse and distinctive subgroup of NDI–annulated heterocyclic acenes. This potentially important subgroup, has emerged as a subject of intense investigation, encapsulating their fascinating synthesis, optical and electrochemical characteristics, and multifaceted applications that span the realms of chemistry, physics, and biology. Through the exploration of their synthetic strategies, unique properties, and diverse applications, this review aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of the pivotal role played by NDI‐based heterocyclic acenes in contemporary multidisciplinary research and technological innovation.
Enhanced process monitoring for industrial coking furnace using a dual‐channel pooling and homologous bilinear model‐based convolutional neural network
Authors: Hua Chunle , Cui Yuancun , Wu Feng , Zhang Ridong
Published: March 2024

This paper introduces a process monitoring method using a convolutional neural network (CNN) with dual‐channel pooling and homologous bilinear models (DCP‐HBM). This method aims to enhance the stability of industrial coking furnaces and reduce maintenance costs. It is significantly relevant for addressing challenges such as complexity, high dimensionality, and strong coupling, which are difficult to manage with traditional fault diagnosis methods. In this study, a deep feature extraction module is employed to gather feature information. To effectively reduce the impact of noise and strengthen the correlation between features, DCP is incorporated after deep feature extraction. Concurrently, a HBM is introduced for feature fusion, further refining the characteristics of each state. Faults are then accurately classified through a classification module. The method utilizes DCP to filter and focus input data, thus making the model more attentive to task‐relevant information. This enhances the model's understanding and representation of the input data. The introduction of the HBM further refines the features extracted by the network and increases the precision of feature extraction. This leads to improved recognition of faults with high similarity, thereby enhancing the accuracy of the overall process monitoring. Experimental results demonstrate that this method exhibits strong performance in the monitoring of industrial coking furnaces, indicating its wide‐ranging application prospects.
Effects of pharmacological interventions on mortality in patients with Takotsubo syndrome: a report from the SWEDEHEART registry
Authors: Petursson Petur , Oštarijaš Eduard , Redfors Björn , Råmunddal Truls , Angerås Oskar , Völz Sebastian , Rawshani Araz , Hambraeus Kristina , Koul Sasha , Alfredsson Joakim , Hagström Henrik , Loghman Henareh , Hofmann Robin , Fröbert Ole , Jernberg Tomas , James Stefan , Erlinge David , Omerovic Elmir
Published: March 2024

Aims

Takotsubo syndrome (TS) is a heart condition mimicking acute myocardial infarction. TS is characterized by a sudden weakening of the heart muscle, usually triggered by physical or emotional stress. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of pharmacological interventions on short‐ and long‐term mortality in patients with TS.

Methods and results

We analysed data from the SWEDEHEART (the Swedish Web System for Enhancement and Development of Evidence‐based care in Heart disease Evaluated According to Recommended Therapies) registry, which included patients who underwent coronary angiography between 2009 and 2016. In total, we identified 1724 patients with TS among 228 263 individuals in the registry. The average age was 66 ± 14 years, and 77% were female. Nearly half of the TS patients (49.4%) presented with non‐ST‐elevation acute coronary syndrome, and a quarter (25.9%) presented with ST‐elevation myocardial infarction. Most patients (79.1%) had non‐obstructive coronary artery disease on angiography, while 11.7% had a single‐vessel disease and 9.2% had a multivessel disease. All patients received at least one pharmacological intervention; most of them used beta‐blockers (77.8% orally and 8.3% intravenously) or antiplatelet agents [aspirin (66.7%) and P2Y12 inhibitors (43.6%)]. According to the Kaplan–Meier estimator, the probability of all‐cause mortality was 2.5% after 30 days and 16.6% after 6 years. The median follow‐up time was 877 days. Intravenous use of inotropes and diuretics was associated with increased 30 day mortality in TS [hazard ratio (HR) = 9.92 (P < 0.001) and HR = 3.22 (P = 0.001), respectively], while angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors and statins were associated with decreased long‐term mortality [HR = 0.60 (P = 0.025) and HR = 0.62 (P = 0.040), respectively]. Unfractionated and low‐molecular‐weight heparins were associated with reduced 30 day mortality [HR = 0.63 (P = 0.01)]. Angiotensin receptor blockers, oral anticoagulants, P2Y12 antagonists, aspirin, and beta‐blockers did not statistically correlate with mortality.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that some medications commonly used to treat TS are associated with higher mortality, while others have lower mortality. These results could inform clinical decision‐making and improve patient outcomes in TS. Further research is warranted to validate these findings and to identify optimal pharmacological interventions for patients with TS.
Loop diuretic down‐titration at discharge in patients hospitalized for acute heart failure
Authors: Croset François , Llàcer Pau , Núñez Julio , Campos Jorge , García Marina , Pérez Alberto , Fernández Cristina , Fabregate Martín , López Genoveva , Tello Susana , Fernández José María , Ruiz Raúl , Manzano Luis
Published: March 2024

Aims

The current literature provides limited guidance on the best diuretic strategy post‐hospitalization for acute heart failure (AHF). It is postulated that the efficacy and safety of the outpatient diuretic regimen may be significantly influenced by the degree of fluid overload (FO) encountered during hospitalization. We hypothesize that in patients with more pronounced FO, reducing their regular oral diuretic dosage might be associated with an elevated risk of unfavourable clinical outcomes.

Methods and results

It was a retrospective observational study of 410 patients hospitalized for AHF in which the dose of furosemide at admission and discharge was collected. Patients were categorized across diuretic dose status into two groups: (i) the down‐titration group and (ii) the stable/up‐titration group. FO status was evaluated by a clinical congestion score and circulating biomarkers. The endpoint of interest was the composite of time to all‐cause death and/or heart failure readmission. A multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression model was constructed to analyse the endpoints. The median age was 86 (78–92) years, 256 (62%) were women, and 80% had heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. After multivariate adjustment, the down‐titration furosemide equivalent dose remained not associated with the risk of the combined endpoint in the whole sample (hazard ratio 1.34, 95% confidence interval 0.86–2.06, P = 0.184). The risk of the combination of death and/or worsening heart failure associated with the diuretic strategy at discharge was significantly influenced by FO status, including clinical congestion scores and circulating proxies of FO like BNP and cancer antigen 125.

Conclusions

In patients hospitalized for AHF, furosemide down‐titration does not imply an increased risk of mortality and/or heart failure readmission. However, FO status modifies the effect of down‐titration on the outcome. In patients with severe congestion or residual congestion at discharge, down‐titration was associated with an increased risk of mortality and/or heart failure readmission.
Capillary electrophoresis–mass spectrometry for creatinine analysis in residual clinical plasma samples and comparison with gold standard assay
Authors: van Mever Marlien , He Bingshu , van Veen Mariam , Slaats Jeroen , Buijs Madelon M. , Wieringa Joanne E. , Hankemeier Thomas , de Winter Peter , Ramautar Rawi
Published: March 2024

When hospitalized, infants, particularly preterm, are often subjected to multiple painful needle procedures to collect sufficient blood for metabolic screening or diagnostic purposes using standard clinical tests. For example, at least 100 µL of whole blood is required to perform one creatinine plasma measurement with enzymatic colorimetric assays. As capillary electrophoresis–mass spectrometry (CE–MS) utilizing a sheathless porous tip interface only requires limited amounts of sample for in‐depth metabolic profiling studies, the aim of this work was to assess the utility of this method for the determination of creatinine in low amounts of plasma using residual blood samples from adults and infants. By using a starting amount of 5 µL of plasma and an injection volume of only 6.7 nL, a detection limit (S/N = 3) of 30 nM could be obtained for creatinine, and intra‐ and interday precisions (for peak area ratios) were below 3.2%. To shorten the electrophoretic separation time, a multi‐segment injection (MSI) strategy was employed to analyze up to seven samples in one electrophoretic run. The findings obtained by CE–MS for creatinine in pretreated plasma were compared with the values acquired by an enzymatic colorimetric assay typically used in clinical laboratories for this purpose. The comparison revealed that CE–MS could be used in a reliable way for the determination of creatinine in residual plasma samples from infants and adults. Nevertheless, to underscore the clinical efficacy of this method, a subsequent investigation employing an expanded pool of plasma samples is imperative. This will not only enhance the method's diagnostic utility but also contribute to minimizing both the amount and frequency of blood collection required for diagnostic purposes.
Rangeland afforestation is not a natural climate solution
Authors: Briske David D , Vetter Susanne , Coetsee Corli , Turner Matthew D
Published: March 2024

Large‐scale tree planting on global rangelands is promoted as a natural climate solution (NCS), but there is little scientific evidence to support this narrative. The presumed benefits of rangeland afforestation originate from five major misconceptions: (1) conflation between reforestation and afforestation, (2) overestimation of carbon (C) sequestration potential, (3) insufficient recognition of rangeland ecosystem services, (4) potential for adverse ecological outcomes, and (5) neocolonial tendencies of afforestation programs. Rangeland afforestation possesses minimal potential for additional C storage, but it has high potential to reduce vital rangeland ecosystem services that benefit rangeland residents and non‐residents alike. Conservation of existing C—most of which is stored belowground, where it is less vulnerable to loss—may prove to be the most appropriate NCS for extensively managed rangelands. Stewardship strategies promoting rangeland multifunctionality will not only contribute to climate‐change mitigation but also support biodiversity conservation and sustainable production of high‐protein foods for marginalized populations.
History, Life History, and Fate of a Salmonid Flagship Species: The Danube Salmon
Authors: Pinter Kurt , Ratschan Clemens , Unfer Günther , Weiss Steven , Jungwirth Mathias , Schmutz Stefan
Published: March 2024

The Danube Salmon Hucho hucho, endemic to the Danube River basin, is one of the largest members of the salmonid family. Here, we describe the distribution, ecology, and status of this flagship species in the upper Danube River basin. We model the historical distribution of Danube Salmon in the Austrian Danube River basin based on a review of the literature and species records. Fish sampling data over the past few decades illustrate the dramatic decline of the species and the population characteristics within the ecological niche that the species occupies. In conclusion, measures for the long-term conservation of Danube Salmon in the upper Danube River, as well as possibilities for sustainable management, are addressed and discussed.
A multicenter study of severity and prognosis of symptomatic COVID‐19 in end‐stage renal disease and non‐dialysis patients in East of Iran
Authors: Mohsenzadeh Tara , Ziaee Masood , Salehiniya Hamid , Mohsenzadeh Hossein , Mirsani Amin , Raeesi Vajehallah
Published: March 2024

Objectives

This study aimed to assess the severity and related factors of symptomatic COVID‐19 in end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) patients from several centers in Eastern Iran.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, after obtaining ethical approval, 410 patients diagnosed with COVID‐19 were included for analysis. Patients were categorized into two groups based on their dialysis status: the dialysis group (ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis) and the non‐dialysis group (those without chronic dialysis). Demographic information, clinical symptoms, laboratory tests at admission, length of hospitalization, ICU admission, need for mechanical ventilation, and mortality data were extracted from their medical records and entered into researcher‐developed checklists.

Results

In this multicenter study, 104 dialysis patients with a mean age of 64.81 ± 16.04 were compared to 316 non‐dialysis patients with a mean age of 60.92 ± 17.89. Patients were similar in terms of age and gender, but a higher percentage of the dialysis group was aged over 65 years (p = .008). Altered consciousness, dyspnea, headache, myalgia, anorexia, and cough were statistically significantly more common in the dialysis group when evaluating clinical symptoms (p < .05). The dialysis group had significantly higher levels of white blood cell (WBC), potassium, calcium, urea, creatinine, blood pH, INR, ALT, ESR, and CRP, and lower levels of red blood cell, Hb, platelets, sodium, and LDH compared to the non‐dialysis group. Profoundly altered consciousness was more common among deceased patients (p < .001), and this group had higher WBC counts, urea levels, AST, ALT (p < .05), and lower blood pH (p = .001).

Conclusion

Based on the results of this study, it is plausible to suggest a hypothesis of greater severity and worse prognosis of COVID‐19 in ESRD patients. Underlying comorbidities, such as liver disorders or more severe clinical symptoms like altered consciousness, may also be indicative of a worse prognosis in dialysis patients with COVID‐19.
Behavioral dynamics of neuroprotective macrophage polarization in neuropathic pain observed by GHz femtosecond laser two‐photon excitation microscopy
Authors: He Bin , Wang Wenlong , Wen Junpeng , Zhang Runsen , Lin Wei , Guo Yuankai , Xu Yue , Huser Thomas , Wei Xiaoming , Yang Zhongmin
Published: March 2024

Macrophage polarization in neurotoxic (M1) or neuroprotective (M2) phenotypes is known to play a significant role in neuropathic pain, but its behavioral dynamics and underlying mechanism remain largely unknown. Two‐photon excitation microscopy (2PEM) is a promising functional imaging tool for investigating the mechanism of cellular behavior, as using near‐infrared excitation wavelengths is less subjected to light scattering. However, the higher‐order photobleaching effect in 2PEM can seriously hamper its applications to long‐term live‐cell studies. Here, we demonstrate a GHz femtosecond (fs) 2PEM that enables hours‐long live‐cell imaging of macrophage behavior with reduced higher‐order photobleaching effect—by leveraging the repetition rate of fs pulses according to the fluorescence lifetime of fluorophores. Using this new functional 2PEM platform, we measure the polarization characteristics of macrophages, especially the long‐term cellular behavior in efferocytosis, unveiling the dynamic mechanism of neuroprotective macrophage polarization in neuropathic pain. These efforts can create new opportunities for understanding long‐term cellular dynamic behavior in neuropathic pain, as well as other neurobiological problems, and thus dissecting the underlying complex pathogenesis.
Association between blood markers and the progression of osseointegration in percutaneous prostheses patients—A pilot study
Authors: Miller Andrew , Jeyapalina Sujee , Agarwal Jayant P. , Beck James Peter
Published: March 2024

Patients implanted with osseointegrated (OI) prosthetic systems have reported vastly improved upper and lower extremity prosthetic function compared with their previous experience with socket‐suspension systems. However, OI systems have been associated with superficial and deep‐bone infections and implant loosening due, in part, to a failure of the osseointegration process. Although monitoring the osseointegration using circulating biomarkers has clinical relevance for understanding the progression of osseointegration with these devices, it has yet to be established. Ten patients were enrolled in this study. Blood samples were collected at pre‐selected times, starting before implantation surgery, and continuing to 12 months after the second surgery. Bone formation markers, bone resorption markers, and circulating amino acids were measured from blood samples. A linear mixed model was generated for each marker, incorporating patient ID and age with the normalized marker value as the response variable. Post hoc comparisons were made between 1 week before Stage 1 Surgery and all subsequent time points for each marker, followed by multiple testing corrections. Serial radiographic imaging of the residual limb containing the implant was obtained during follow‐up, and the cortical index (CI) was calculated for the bone at the porous region of the device. Two markers of bone formation, specifically bone‐specific alkaline phosphatase (Bone‐ALP) and amino‐terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP), exhibited significant increases when compared with the baseline levels of unloaded residual bone prior to the initial surgery, and they subsequently returned to their baseline levels by the 12‐month mark. Patients who experienced clinically robust osseointegration experienced increased cortical bone thickness at the porous coated region of the device. A medium correlation was observed between Bone‐ALP and the porous CI values up to PoS2‐M1 (p = .056), while no correlation was observed for PINP. An increase in bone formation markers and the lack of change observed in bone resorption markers likely reflect increased cortical bone formation induced by the end‐loading design of the Utah OI device used in this study. A more extensive study is required to validate the correlation observed between Bone‐ALP and porous CI values.
Evaluating novel biodegradable polymer matrix fertilizers for nitrogen‐efficient agriculture
Authors: Witt Torsten , Robinson Nicole , Palma Ana C. , Cernusak Lucas A. , Pratt Steven , Redding Matthew , Batstone Damien J. , Schmidt Susanne , Laycock Bronwyn
Published: March 2024

Enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs) can reduce nitrogen (N) losses in temperate agriculture but are less effective in the tropics. We aimed to design a new EEF and evaluate their performance in simple‐to‐complex tests with tropical soils and crops. We melt‐extruded urea at different loadings into biodegradable polymer matrix composites using biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) or polybutylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate (PBAT) polymers with urea distributed throughout the pellet. These contrast with commercially coated EEF that have a polymer‐coated urea core. We hypothesized that matrix fertilizers would have an intermediate N release rate compared to fast release from urea or slow release from coated EEF. Nitrogen release rates in water and sand–soil columns confirmed that the matrix fertilizer formulations had a more progressive N release than a coated EEF. A more complex picture emerged from testing sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] grown to maturity in large soil pots, as the different formulations resulted in minor differences in plant N accumulation and grain production. This confirms the need to consider soil interactions, microbial processes, crop physiology, and phenology for evaluating fertilizer performance. Promisingly, crop δ15N signatures emerged as an integrated measure of efficacy, tracking likely N conversions and losses. The three complementary evaluations combine the advantages of standardized high‐throughput screening and more resource‐intensive and realistic testing in a plant‐soil system. We conclude that melt‐blended biodegradable polymer matrix fertilizers show promise as EEF because they can be designed toward more abiotically or more microbially driven N release by selecting biopolymer type and N loading rate.
Prevalence of orthostatic intolerance in long covid clinic patients and healthy volunteers: A multicenter study
Authors: Lee Cassie , Greenwood Darren C. , Master Harsha , Balasundaram Kumaran , Williams Paul , Scott Janet T. , Wood Conor , Cooper Rowena , Darbyshire Julie L. , Gonzalez Ana Espinosa , Davies Helen E. , Osborne Thomas , Corrado Joanna , Iftekhar Nafi , Rogers Natalie , Delaney Brendan , Greenhalgh Trish , Sivan Manoj ,   the LOCOMOTION Consortium
Published: March 2024

Orthostatic intolerance (OI), including postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) and orthostatic hypotension (OH), are often reported in long covid, but published studies are small with inconsistent results. We sought to estimate the prevalence of objective OI in patients attending long covid clinics and healthy volunteers and associations with OI symptoms and comorbidities. Participants with a diagnosis of long covid were recruited from eight UK long covid clinics, and healthy volunteers from general population. All undertook standardized National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lean Test (NLT). Participants' history of typical OI symptoms (e.g., dizziness, palpitations) before and during the NLT were recorded. Two hundred seventy‐seven long covid patients and 50 frequency‐matched healthy volunteers were tested. Healthy volunteers had no history of OI symptoms or symptoms during NLT or PoTS, 10% had asymptomatic OH. One hundred thirty (47%) long covid patients had previous history of OI symptoms and 144 (52%) developed symptoms during the NLT. Forty‐one (15%) had an abnormal NLT, 20 (7%) met criteria for PoTS, and 21 (8%) had OH. Of patients with an abnormal NLT, 45% had no prior symptoms of OI. Relaxing the diagnostic thresholds for PoTS from two consecutive abnormal readings to one abnormal reading during the NLT, resulted in 11% of long covid participants (an additional 4%) meeting criteria for PoTS, but not in healthy volunteers. More than half of long covid patients experienced OI symptoms during NLT and more than one in 10 patients met the criteria for either PoTS or OH, half of whom did not report previous typical OI symptoms. We therefore recommend all patients attending long covid clinics are offered an NLT and appropriate management commenced.
An RGB‐Achromatic Aplanatic Metalens
Authors: Li Junhao , Liu Wenwei , Xu Haofei , Huang Zhaorui , Wang Jian , Wen Jing , Yang Jia , Guan Jianguo , Wang Shuming , Alù Andrea , Zhou Zhang‐Kai , Chen Shuqi , Chen Lin
Published: March 2024

Optical metalenses offer a compact approach for the development of nanoscale optical devices with various imaging functionalities. Realizing high‐quality images using metalenses with large numerical aperture (NA) requires eliminating unwanted optical aberrations. Existing strategies have largely focused only on correcting chromatic aberrations, and a metalens capable of simultaneously correcting chromatic and spherical aberrations has not yet been developed. Here, this issue is addresed by realizing an aplanatic phase profile for a red–green–blue (RGB) achromatic metalens, thereby demonstrating an RGB‐achromatic aplanatic metalens. This device consists of crystalline silicon nanostructures and it enables RGB‐achromatic aplanatic focusing with an NA of 0.635. The focal length of metalens remains unchanged at the three RGB wavelengths, whereas the associated focal spots are significantly smaller than those of an RGB‐achromatic metalens with spherical aberrations. An enhanced RGB imaging resolution is demonstrated, offering exciting opportunities to power up various imaging and display applications using flat metalenses.
Mode‐Interference‐Induced Chiral Exceptional Points in Momentum Space
Authors: Zhao Xi , Li Zhancheng , Geng Guangzhou , Liu Wenwei , Cheng Jiaqi , Cheng Hua , Chen Shuqi
Published: March 2024

Non‐Hermitian metasurfaces with chiral exceptional points (EPs) in their scattering matrices have garnered significant attention due to their potential for optical polarization manipulation and wavefront control. However, existing approaches predominantly operate under normal incidence conditions, limiting their application in the manipulation of chiral EPs in momentum space. Here, the wavelength‐fixed manipulation of the chiral EPs across a wide‐range momentum space using a polyatomic metasurface is realized, which is attributed to the effective modulation of the collective interference of guided‐mode resonances excited by oblique transverse magnetic (TM) and transverse electric (TE) illuminations. Further, both theoretical and experimental analyses are conducted to explore the potential applications of the proposed design in the wavevector‐ and spin‐selective manipulation of reflection intensity and optical encryption. This work provides a straightforward method to realize and manipulate chiral EPs in momentum space at a fixed operational wavelength, paving the way for designing polarization‐selective and wavevector‐selective devices.
Tailoring Sub‐Doppler Spectra of Thermal Atoms with a Dielectric Optical Metasurface Chip
Authors: Zhang Dengke , Qing Chen
Published: March 2024

Compact and robust structures to precisely control and acquire atomic spectra are increasingly important for the pursuit of widespread applications. Sub‐Doppler responses of thermal atoms are critical in constructing high‐precision devices and systems. In this study, a nanograting metasurface specifically is designed for atomic rubidium vapor and integrated it into a miniature vapor cell. Using the metasurface with built‐in multifunctional controls for light, pump‐probe atomic spectroscopy is established and sub‐Doppler responses are experimentally observed at low incident power. Moreover, the sub‐Doppler lineshape can be tailored by varying the incident polarization state. The spectrum transformation from absorption to transparency is observed. Using one of the sharp responses, laser stabilization with a stability of at 2 s can be achieved. This work reveals the effective control of atomic spectra with optical metasurface chips, which may have great potential for future developments in fundamental optics and novel optical applications.
Commercial Grade of P(3HB‐co‐3HHX) Final Properties Adjustment by the Modification of Cooling Conditions in the Injection Molding and Ageing Process
Authors: Ivorra‐Martinez Juan , Gomez‐Caturla Jaume , Peydro Miguel Angel , Selles Miguel Angel , Boronat Teodomiro
Published: March 2024

Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate) is a polymer obtained by bacterial fermentation that emerges as an alternative to polymers of petrochemical origin. The complex crystallization kinetics that occurs over 15 days after melting, known as ageing, limits its industrial application. During the aging process, there is a change of the degree of crystallinity, which has an effect on the chemical structure of the material. Additionally, changes in the mechanical properties, colorimetry, and dimensional shrinkage are observed. Different material properties are observed depending on the cooling conditions employed. For the ageing process, two different conditions are considered: ageing at room temperature and annealing at high temperature (60 °C).
Studying GPR's direct and reflected waves
Authors: Tokmaktsi Eleni , Diamanti Nectaria , Vargemezis Georgios , Giannopoulos Antonios , Annan A. Peter
Published: March 2024

As the transmitter and receiver (Tx and Rx, respectively) are located in close proximity during a typical ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) survey, the powerful signal generated by the Tx and which is then recorded by the Rx at various time delays, can be saturated at early times (i.e., this is the direct wave (DW) signal reaching the Rx). This often causes the masking of shallow targets, complicating data interpretation. In this study, our aim is to examine the spatial distribution of the electromagnetic signals around the Tx, attempting to locate areas where the DW becomes minimum, whereas the signal strength from subsurface targets (i.e., reflected wave – RW) remains ideally unchanged. The position of these local minima in the DW signal could give rise to advantageous Tx–Rx configurations, where clear reflections from subsurface targets lying at shallow depths can be obtained with the least possible involvement of the DW. To perform such a study, we carried out static field measurements over a flat lying reflector as well as numerical simulations in a reflection, common‐offset mode around a transmitting antenna. In the field, we also collected wide‐angle reflection–refraction data to determine the GPR wave velocity in the uppermost layer. GPR signals were recorded by the Rx around the Tx in three concentric circles of various radii (i.e., varying the Tx/Rx separation), using a specific angular step and varying the Tx/Rx polarization each time. The synthetic data were produced using a three‐dimensional finite‐difference time‐domain modelling tool. Field and numerically simulated data were analysed and compared to study the behaviour of both the DW and RW events around the Tx when changing the Tx/Rx distance, their respective angular position, as well as their relative polarization/orientation.
Leadership development in the Hong Kong Civil Service: Accessing social resources through guanxi networks
Authors: O’Neil Jennifer J. , McMillan Janice , Garavan Thomas
Published: March 2024

Drawing onguanxiand conservation of resources theory we explore how close personal ties between middle managers who participated in leadership development, constitutes an important social resource in an East Asian public sector context. We contribute to studies exploring the importance ofinformalleadership development opportunities and techniques, specifically utilised to overcome public sector structural barriers. We gathered qualitative data from 44 middle managers who had completed formal leadership development within the Hong Kong Civil Service. Our data revealed that high quality Superior‐to‐Subordinate Guanxi helped study participants to gain access to important development resources including further developmental opportunities, stretch assignments, developmental support and feedback. High quality Peer‐to‐Peer Guanxi helped them to gain access to peer tacit knowledge, participation in collaborative development projects and positive peer developmental feedback. Our findings inform future leadership development design and are relevant to East Asian public sector context's where guanxi ties are significant.
Suicide among national university graduate students in Japan from 2002 to 2021
Authors: Marutani Toshiyuki , Yasumi Katsuhiro , Saito Kenji , Ibaraki Takehiro , Takayama Jun‐ya
Published: March 2024

Aim

Graduate students are exposed to various types of stress. Thus, they are prone to mental health problems, and the most devastating result is suicide. The aim of this paper is to reveal the status of suicide among graduate students in Japan for 20 years.

Methods

We analyzed cumulative data on suicide among national university graduate students from annual surveys on causes of non‐graduation in Japan for the 2002–2003 through 2021–2022 academic years. We asked all national universities with graduate schools to complete the surveys, and the participation rate was 91.1%.

Results

The total number of students in the surveys was 2,383,858, and the number of deaths by suicide was 347 (292 males, 55 females). Chi‐squared test results showed significantly higher suicide mortality rates for the following groups: male (p < 0.001), temporary leave (p < 0.001), repeating the same year (p = 0.006), master's level (p = 0.005), and majoring in engineering (p < 0.001). Psychiatric diagnoses were detected among 44 students (12.7%). The largest distribution (27 cases) of International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD‐10) codes among those whose diagnoses were evident was F3, mood disorders. Estimated motives for suicide were reported for only 36 students (10.4%), of which the most prevalent was job search failure. The most prevalent suicide method was hanging (151 cases, 43.5%).

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that student support facilities should recognize higher‐risk groups for suicide among graduate students. Our study adds suggestions for suicide prevention on campus during future pandemics.
Social media addiction mediates the relationship between basic psychological needs satisfaction and academic procrastination
Authors: Kurker Fatma , Surucu Abdullah
Published: March 2024

Academic procrastination is the failure to perform academic tasks on time or not doing at all. It can cause undesirable consequences for students' academic development and mental health. It has a complex structure that includes cognitive and emotional components in addition to its behavioral dimension. This study seeks to answer whether social media addiction mediates the relationship between satisfaction of basic psychological needs and academic procrastination. The participants were 647 university students (70.6% female and 29.4% male) representative of all the programs in the College of Education at a public university in Turkey. We used two analytic approaches to test the mediation effect (regression with bootstrap and structural equation modeling) and arrived the same conclusion. Results showed that social media addiction partially mediated the relationship between university students' basic psychological needs and academic procrastination. While greater satisfaction of basic psychological needs was directly related to a reduction in academic procrastination, indirectly, it was associated with a further decrease in academic procrastination through social media addiction. Thus, we suggest that preventive and curative psychological services should focus on enhancing the satisfaction of basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) to help mitigate the development of social media addiction, which further reduces academic procrastination.
Glyphosate hormesis stimulates tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plant growth and enhances tolerance against environmental abiotic stress by triggering nonphotochemical quenching
Authors: Wang Yuru , Cui Yidi , Li Jing , Xu Nuo , Shi Taozhong , Sun Yang , Zhang Chao
Published: March 2024

Background

Glyphosate is the most widely applied herbicide in the world. Hormesis caused by low glyphosate doses has been widely documented in many plant species. However, the specific adaptative mechanism of plants responding to glyphosate hormesis stimulation remains unclear. This study focused on the biphasic relationship between glyphosate dose and tomato plant growth, and how glyphosate hormesis stimulates plant growth and enhances tolerance to environmental stress.

Results

We constructed a hormesis model to describe the biphasic relationship with a maximal stimulation (MAX) of 162% above control by glyphosate at 0.063 g ha−1. Low‐dose glyphosate increased photosynthetic pigment contents and improve photosynthetic efficiency, leading to plant growth stimulation. We also found that glyphosate hormesis enhanced plant tolerance to diuron (DCMU; a representative photosynthesis inhibitor) by triggering the nonphotochemical chlorophyll fluorescence quenching (NPQ) reaction to dissipate excess energy stress from photosystem II (PSII). Transcriptomic analysis and quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction results revealed that the photosynthesis–antenna proteins pathway was the most sensitive to glyphosate hormesis, and PsbS (encoding photosystem II subunit S), ZEP (encoding zeaxanthin epoxidase) and VDE (encoding violaxanthin de‐epoxidase) involved in NPQ played crucial roles in the plant response to glyphosate hormesis.

Conclusion

These results provide novel insights into the mechanisms of plant hormesis and is meaningful to the application of glyphosate hormesis in agriculture. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
When do startups scale? Large‐scale evidence from job postings
Authors: Lee Saerom (Ronnie) , Kim J. Daniel
Published: March 2024

Research Summary

Scaling at the right time is a crucial challenge for startups. Conceptualizing “scaling” as the entrepreneurial process of acquiring and committing resources to implement the core business idea and expand the customer base, this study examines how scaling early may decrease imitation risk at the expense of increasing commitment risk. As startups typically hire managers and sales personnel when they begin to scale, we propose that this timing can be empirically measured by when startups first post these jobs. Leveraging a dataset of job postings, we find that early scalers are more likely to fail, but no evidence of a countervailing benefit in terms of successful exit. Additional analyses suggest that the commitment risk in scaling early outweighs the benefit of reducing imitation risk.

Managerial Summary

In recent years, a few high‐growth startups (e.g., Facebook and Uber) that made their fortune by scaling early—an approach often referred to as “blitzscaling”—have received much interest among academics and practitioners. However, this study presents large‐sample evidence that scaling early is positively associated with a higher rate of firm failure, especially for platform companies. These findings imply that, despite its potential benefits of preventing imitation by competitors, scaling early can suppress startup performance by prematurely curtailing learning through experimentation and committing to a business idea that lacks product‐market fit. In sum, our work cautions startups against prioritizing scaling early before finding product‐market fit, and instead highlights the importance of spending sufficient time on experimentation before scaling.