bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of phonics skills intervention on early reading comprehension in an adolescent with autism: A longitudinal study
Authors: Nicolosi Michael , Dillenburger Karola
Published: March 2024

Reading comprehension requires phonics skills, described as “blending phonemes in a word”. Adolescents diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often experience poor reading comprehension. The aim of the present study was to explore if it is possible for an adolescent with ASD and intellectual disability to learn reading comprehension skills even without direct teaching, when the focus of the intervention is on teaching phonics skills. An adolescent with ASD, profound intellectual disability and limited behavioral repertoire participated in the study. The participant received intensive ABA‐based interventions according to University of California at Los Angeles‐Young Autism Project (UCLA‐YAP) model and intensive phonics training. Intervention data show emergence of early reading comprehension skills in terms of words/pictures matching and responding to written instructions. It is suggested that implementation of similar interventions could change the opportunities for people with autism who have limited behavioral repertoire and who did not begin an ABA‐based interventions until their adolescence.
Business strategies for achieving carbon neutrality goals in collaborative ecosystems: Bridging gaps in achieving operational status
Authors: Luqman Adeel , Zhang Qingyu , Sharma Veenu , Gugnani Ritika , Walsh Steven T.
Published: March 2024

This study delves into the pressing challenge of achieving carbon neutrality (CN) operational status among firms, with a specific focus on the moderating impact of emission scopes. We use mixed methods and ambidexterity and resource dependence theories to examine the relationships between four cooperation kinds (exploration‐focused, exploitation‐focused, resonance‐based, and governance‐centric) and firms' CN operating status. We also examine how three emission scopes affect cooperation and CN operating status. Our comprehensive research, based on primary and secondary data from 267 organizations, enhances our knowledge of how cooperation helps CNs achieve operational status. We find that stakeholder collaboration improves CN objectives. We found subtle correlations between collaboration types and emission scopes. Governance‐centric cooperation has a substantial interaction effect on scope 1 emissions, demonstrating its effectiveness in controlling emissions from owned or regulated sources. As the two emissions interact, the resonance‐based cooperation emphasizes the necessity of common values and beliefs between enterprises and stakeholders. With scope 3 emissions, exploitation‐focused cooperation emphasizes resource usage in emission management across the value chain and transportation. Exploration‐focused collaboration interacts with CN operational status for all three emission scopes, highlighting the importance of collaboration with research institutions, startups, and stakeholders in exploring emerging technologies and driving systemic changes for emission mitigation. Our study shows that stakeholder participation is crucial to CN operating status, especially for varied emission scopes. This research sheds light on collaborative strategy development and its importance in tackling varied emission scopes. Our research provides important contributions to the field, but future studies should understand its limits and examine the complexities of CN operational status and cooperation in other situations to increase knowledge.
Research progresses on metal‐organic frameworks for sodium/potassium‐ion batteries
Authors: Xin Ben‐Jian , Wu Xing‐Long
Published: March 2024

Metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs), as a new type of functional material, have received much attention in recent years. High ionic conductivity, large specific surface area, controllable pore structure and geometry make it possible to be used as electrode materials. Meanwhile, different types of MOF derivatives can be prepared by adjusting the metal central element, which provides options for finding electrode materials for high‐performance batteries. This paper reviews the recent research progress of pristine MOFs for sodium/potassium‐ion batteries. In addition, this paper describes the working principle, advantages, and challenges of MOFs in sodium/potassium‐ion batteries, strategies to improve the electrochemical performance, as well as future prospects and directions.
Flavonoid Compounds in Hippophae rhamnoides L. Protect Endothelial Cells from Oxidative Damage Through the PI3K/AKT‐eNOS Pathway
Authors: Wang Mengyuan , Zhang Xingfang , Zhang Zonghao , Tong Li , Yu Song , Liu Yue , Yang Fang
Published: March 2024

Sea buckthorn, a traditional medicinal plant, has been used for several years in China for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, a practice closely associated with its significant antioxidant activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of sea buckthorn flavonoids on vascular endothelial cells in an oxidative stress environment. We isolated and extracted active compounds from sea buckthorn and investigated their impact on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity through the PI3K/AKT‐eNOS signaling pathway through a combination of network pharmacology and cellular experiments, elucidating the regulatory effects of these compounds on endothelial cell functions. Three flavonoids, named Fr.4‐2‐1, Fr.4‐2‐2 and Fr.4‐2‐3, were obtained from sea buckthorn. The results of network pharmacology indicated that they might exert their effects by regulating the PI3K‐AKT signaling pathway. In vitro results showed that all three flavonoids were effective in alleviating the degree of oxidative stress in cells, among which Fr.4‐2‐1 exerted its antioxidant effects by modulating the PI3K/AKT‐eNOS pathway. Flavonoids in sea buckthorn can effectively inhibit oxidative stress‐induced cellular damage, preserving the integrity and functionality of endothelial cells, which is crucial for maintaining vascular health and function.
Ohne Sicherheit keine Freiheit
Authors: Gandert Etwina
Published: March 2024

Sicherheit gewährleistet Gesundheit, Schutz von Mensch, Umwelt und auch von Produkten und Produktionsanlagen.
Wenn Explosionsschutz auf Maschinensicherheit trifft
Authors: Lumme Rainer
Published: March 2024

Sicherheitsschaltgeräte, die unter Ex‐Schutz‐Bedingungen zum Einsatz kommen, müssen gleich zwei komplexe Regelwerke erfüllen, die Explosionsschutz‐ und die Maschinenrichtlinie. Der Konstrukteur hat auch die Wahl zwischen verschiedenen Bauarten und Wirkprinzipien. Das gilt sowohl für Heavy‐duty‐Anwendungen als auch für Maschinen, die z. B. (staub)explosionsgefährdete Lebensmittel verarbeiten oder verpacken.
Lastschutz für eine unterbrechungsfreie Anlagenverfügbarkeit
Authors: Bindner Michael
Published: March 2024

Für die Automatisierung chemischer Prozessanlagen steigen die Anforderungen an eine zuverlässige Stromversorgung. Mit Stromverteilungsmodulen kann die Anlagenverfügbarkeit signifikant erhöht und die Anlage komfortabel überwacht werden. Ein intelligenter Lastschutz sorgt für den sicheren und unterbrechungsfreien Betrieb der Anlage.
Sicher mit dem Smartphone unterwegs
Authors: Uhl Christian
Published: March 2024

Mit der zunehmenden Automatisierung und Digitalisierung wird das Aufgabenspektrum der Beschäftigten in der Verfahrenstechnik immer komplexer und vielfältiger. Gleichzeitig gilt es Anlagenausfälle, die Kosten in Milliardenhöhe verursachen, durch vorausschauende Wartung um jeden Preis zu hindern. Dabei verraten intelligent analysierte und aggregierte Echtzeit‐Anlagendaten, wann etwa ein Bauteil ausgetauscht werden muss, um die Leistungsfähigkeit der Anlage zu jedem Zeitpunkt aufrecht zu erhalten.
Kleben statt schweißen
Authors: Wegmann Anton
Published: March 2024

Vibratoren oder Klopfer lösen Produktstauungen und unterstützen das Entleeren von Schüttgutbehältern. Das Nachzurüsten solcher Geräte ist insbesondere in explosionsgefährdeten Bereichen mit dem Einsatz von Schweißtechnik nur im Anlagenstillstand möglich. Hingegen reduziert der Einsatz von Klebetechnik die Stillstandzeit der Anlage und hat Vorteile beim Anbringen an dünnwandigen Behältern.
Adsorption Capacity of Carbon‐Silica Composites Towards Diclofenac in Poly(acrylic acid) Containing Systems: A Crucial Study on Common Wastewater Contaminants
Authors: Medykowska Magdalena , Wiśniewska Małgorzata , Szewczuk‐Karpisz Katarzyna , Galaburda Mariia
Published: March 2024

Diclofenac is one of the most popular over‐the‐counter non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug and poly(acrylic acid) is a frequently used as thickener, filler or stabilizer. For these reasons, they are common organic contaminants in raw wastewater. The purpose of the presented studies was to compare the adsorption capacity of three carbon‐silica composites – metal‐free C/SiO2, iron‐enriched C/Fe/SiO2 and manganese‐enriched C/Mn/SiO2 towards diclofenac. The studies were carried out in single, and mixed systems in the presence of poly(acrylic acid) polymer. Adsorption, desorption and kinetics of the adsorption process were investigated. The concentration of diclofenac in the supernatants was determined using high‐performance liquid chromatography. The solids were also characterized with an ASAP apparatus using low‐temperature nitrogen desorption adsorption isotherms at liquid nitrogen temperature. In addition, potentiometric titrations and electrophoretic mobility measurements, as well as stability tests of the studied suspensions were carried out. The most efficient composite among investigated ones proved to be C/Fe/SiO2 removing diclofenac at the level of 46.68 mg/g for its initial concentration of 90 ppm. The results obtained clearly demonstrated that the carbon‐silica composites are effective in separation of drugs from aqueous solutions and can be successfully used in the future for the removal of organic pollutants from water environment.
Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling to Investigate the Disease‐Drug–Drug Interactions between Voriconazole and Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir in COVID‐19 Patients with CYP2C19 Phenotypes
Authors: Wang Peile , Liu Shuaibing , Yang Jing
Published: March 2024

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19)‐associated pulmonary aspergillosis superinfection with cytokine storm is associated with increased mortality. This study aimed to establish a physiologically‐based pharmacokinetic (PK) model to investigate the disease‐drug–drug interactions between voriconazole and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in patients with COVID‐19 with elevated interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) levels carrying various CYP2C19 phenotypes. The model was constructed and validated using PK data on voriconazole, ritonavir, and IL‐6, and was subsequently verified against clinical data from 78 patients with COVID‐19. As a result, the model predicted voriconazole, ritonavir, and IL‐6 PK parameters and drug–drug interaction‐related fold changes in healthy subjects and patients with COVID‐19 with acceptable prediction error, demonstrating its predictive capability. Simulations indicated ritonavir could increase voriconazole exposure to CYP2C19 intermediate and poor metabolizers rather than decrease it, in contrast to what is indicated in the drug package insert. However, the predicted ritonavir exposures were comparable across subjects. In patients with COVID‐19, both ritonavir and IL‐6 increased voriconazole trough concentrations, which may lead to CYP2C19 phenotype‐dependent overexposure. In conclusion, COVID‐19‐induced IL‐6 elevation and ritonavir increased voriconazole exposure, and the magnitude of interactions was influenced by CYP2C19 phenotype. Thus, caution is warranted when prescribing voriconazole concomitantly with Paxlovid in patients with COVID‐19.
The Impact of Regulatory Reforms in China on Drug Lag: The Role of Clinical Development Strategies
Authors: Han Yue , Jiang Rong , Li Jinlian , Wang Yifei , Shao Rong , Xie Jinping
Published: March 2024

In recent years, there has been significant focus on China's new drug lag, but relevant research is limited. This study explores the reasons for drug lag by assessing the impact of reforms in China's drug review system, particularly focusing on the influence of clinical development strategies. This study selected drugs first launched in the United States between 2017 and 2022, examining absolute and relative lag between China and the first‐launch country (including submission and review lag). These delays with drugs approved in the European Union and Japan during the same period were compared with uncover the roots of delays in China, further identifying potential factors that could reduce these delays. The results indicate that the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has a longer relative lag compared with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA). The submission lag time of the NMPA significantly surpasses that of the EMA and PMDA, whereas the review lag time of the NMPA exceeds that of the PMDA but falls short of the EMA. Focusing on clinical trial strategies, bridging trials and multiregional clinical trials (MRCTs) are typically required by the NMPA in East Asia, resulting in longer clinical delay time. Whereas the EMA and PMDA primarily require international MRCTs in Europe and America, with a clinical delay of < 5 months. It is evident that there is a significant gap in clinical trial durations between China and other countries. Further optimization of clinical trial management is necessary to address the lag for new drugs in China.
MicroRNA‐20a in extracellular vesicles derived from duodenal fluid is a possible biomarker for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Taniguchi Takashi , Ideno Noboru , Araki Tomoyuki , Miura Shun , Yamamoto Masahiro , Nakafusa Tomoki , Higashijima Nobuhiro , Yamamoto Takeo , Tamura Koji , Nakamura So , Abe Toshiya , Ikenaga Naoki , Nakata Kohei , Ohuchida Kenoki , Oda Yoshinao , Ohtsuka Takao , Nakamura Masafumi
Published: March 2024

Background

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a high mortality rate owing to its late diagnosis and aggression. In addition, there are relatively few minimally invasive screening methods for the early detection of PDAC, making the identification of biomarkers for this disease a critical priority. Recent studies have reported that microRNAs in extracellular vesicles (EV‐miRs) from bodily fluids can be useful for the diagnosis of PDACs. Given this, we designed this study to evaluate the utility of cancer EVs extracted from duodenal fluid (DF) and their resident EV‐miRs as potential biomarkers for the detection of PDAC.

Methods

EV‐miRs were evaluated and identified in the supernatants of various pancreatic cancer cell lines (Panc‐1, SUIT2, and MIAPaca2), human pancreatic duct epithelial cells, and the DF from patients with PDAC and healthy controls. EVs were extracted using ultracentrifugation and the relative expression of EV‐miR‐20a was quantified.

Results

We collected a total of 34 DF samples (27 PDAC patients and seven controls) for evaluation and our data suggest that the relative expression levels of EV‐miR‐20a were significantly higher in patients with PDAC than in controls (p = 0.0025). In addition, EV‐miR‐20a expression could discriminate PDAC from control patients regardless of the location of the tumor with an area under the curve values of 0.88 and 0.88, respectively.

Conclusions

We confirmed the presence of EVs in the DF and suggest that the expression of EV‐miR‐20a in these samples may act as a potential diagnostic biomarker for PDAC.
Decoding the potential role of regulatory T cells in sepsis‐induced immunosuppression
Authors: Huang Siyuan , Liu Di , Han Lei , Deng Jin , Wang Zhen , Jiang Jianxin , Zeng Ling
Published: March 2024

Sepsis, a multiorgan dysfunction with high incidence and mortality, is caused by an imbalanced host‐to‐infection immune response. Organ‐support therapy improves the early survival rate of sepsis patients. In the long term, those who survive the “cytokine storm” and its secondary damage usually show higher susceptibility to secondary infections and sepsis‐induced immunosuppression, in which regulatory T cells (Tregs) are evidenced to play an essential role. However, the potential role and mechanism of Tregs in sepsis‐induced immunosuppression remains elusive. In this review, we elucidate the role of different functional subpopulations of Tregs during sepsis and then review the mechanism of sepsis‐induced immunosuppression from the aspects of regulatory characteristics, epigenetic modification, and immunometabolism of Tregs. Thoroughly understanding how Tregs impact the immune system during sepsis may shed light on preclinical research and help improve the translational value of sepsis immunotherapy.
Retinoic acid‐loaded liposomes induce human mucosal CD103+ dendritic cells that inhibit Th17 cells and drive regulatory T‐cell development in vitro
Authors: Nagy Noémi Anna , Hafkamp Florianne M. J. , Sparrius Rinske , Bas Rico , Lozano Vigario Fernando , van Capel Toni M. M. , van Ree Ronald , Geijtenbeek Teunis B. H. , Slütter Bram , Tas Sander W. , de Jong Esther C.
Published: March 2024

The active vitamin A metabolite, all‐trans‐retinoic acid (RA), primes precursor dendritic cells (DCs) into a mucosal phenotype with tolerogenic properties characterized by the expression of integrin CD103. CD103+ DCs can counteract pathogenic Th1 and Th17 in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or celiac disease (CD). Tolerogenic manipulation of DCs using nanoparticles carrying tolerogenic adjuvants and disease‐specific antigens is a valuable treatment strategy to induce antigen‐specific mucosal tolerance in vivo. Here, we investigated the effects of RA‐loaded liposomes on human DC phenotype and function, including DC‐driven T‐cell development, both during the generation of monocyte‐derived DCs (moDCs) as well as by priming immature moDCs. RA liposomes drove CD103+ DC differentiation as well as ALDH1A2 expression in DCs. Neutrophil‐dependent Th17 cell development was reduced by RA‐liposome‐differentiated and RA‐liposome‐primed DCs. Moreover, RA liposome treatment shifted T‐cell development toward a Th2 cell profile. Importantly, RA liposomes induced the development of IL‐10‐producing and FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) of various Treg subsets, including ICOS+ Tregs, that were potent inhibitors of bystander memory T‐cell proliferation. Taken together, RA‐loaded liposomes could be a novel treatment avenue for IBD or CD patients.
Influence of storage temperature and natural antioxidants addition on chia oil nutraceutical blends shelf life
Authors: Spotti María Laura , Acosta Carolina Anabella , Carrara Carlos Roberto , Fioramonti Silvana Alejandra
Published: March 2024

This study focuses on the influence of storage temperature and addition of commercial natural antioxidant‐rich sources on the shelf life of chia oil (CO) nutraceutical blends. CO is a valuable product for consumers due to its high ω‐3 content, but its susceptibility to oxidation comprises challenges for its shelf life and quality. Thereby, different chia oil‐antioxidant blends were prepared and stored at 4°C and 25°C to evaluate alternative shelf‐life conditions. Commercial antioxidant‐rich sources containing astaxanthin (ASX), β‐carotene (BC) and vitamin E (VE) were added either alone or combined to CO. To monitor blends oxidative stability during storage, primary and secondary oxidation compounds were assessed weekly using peroxide value (PV) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) as indicators. Results showed that storage temperature played a significant role on oxidative stability of CO. When stored under refrigeration at 4°C, the oil exhibited low and stable oxidation indicators over time, regardless of the antioxidants used. However, at room temperature (25°C), the use of antioxidants and some particular combinations of them became crucial to prevent oil oxidative deterioration. Nutraceutical blends of CO/BC and CO/ASX were the best options to preserve CO from oxidation after 8 weeks storage at room temperature (PV < 2 meq O2/kg oil).

Practical Applications: This work provides evidence on enhancing oxidative stability of chia oil through addition of natural antioxidants and proper storage. We focused primarily on designing blends from edible ingredients that are currently available in the market, with the aim of ensuring easy accessibility and affordability. Our findings offer valuable insights for the development of chia oil and antioxidant‐enriched blends, that could potentially serve as nutraceuticals or pharmacy‐compounded supplements to manage specific chronic inflammatory diseases. Our study highlights the importance of considering storage temperature and antioxidant selection to enhance shelf life and quality. These results have significant implications for the food industry, nutrition, and health, by providing valuable information for the creation of healthier and more sustainable food products. Furthermore, this work underscores the need for companies and retailers handling and storing vegetable oils with high omega‐3 content to adopt improved storage practices to ensure the quality and longevity of their products.
Development and verification of real‐time hybrid simulation with deep learning‐based nonlinear numerical substructure
Authors: Chen Pei‐Ching , Hsu Shang‐Chi , Ma Chung‐Chun
Published: March 2024

Real‐time hybrid simulation (RTHS) provides an effective approach for assessing structural responses under dynamic excitation. However, performing RTHS with a complex nonlinear numerical substructure is challenging, as computations must be completed within predefined time steps. In this study, a RTHS framework which contains a rate‐dependent experimental substructure and a nonlinear numerical substructure has been proposed and verified. An OpenSees model was constructed to simulate a three‐story, one‐bay steel building with viscous dampers at each floor and was used to generate the training dataset through a large number of nonlinear time‐history analyses. A Recursive Long Short–Term Memory (LSTM) neural network model was trained to predict the nonlinear structural responses using ground acceleration and time‐delayed damper force located at the first story. Hence, the Recursive‐LSTM model served as a surrogate model for the numerical substructure, implicitly incorporating delay compensation for the experimental substructure. After the training was completed, offline testing was performed to realize the stability of the RTHS framework. Then, online RTHS with a virtual damper taken as the experimental substructure was conducted to further confirm the feasibility and accuracy. Afterwards, a nonlinear rotary fluid viscous damper (RFVD) was fabricated as the actual experimental substructure, whose dynamic response was not considered in training the Recursive‐LSTM model. Finally, RTHS with the RFVD was completed successfully and stably, demonstrating the capability of a well‐trained Recursive‐LSTM model to serve as a nonlinear numerical substructure incorporating constant delay compensation for RTHS. The potential of the proposed RTHS framework is worth further studies in the future.
Long‐term fracture conductivity in tight reservoirs
Authors: Yan Chuanliang , Zhang Penghui , Dong Leifeng , Zhang Chuang , Cheng Yuanfang
Published: March 2024

Reservoir stimulation using hydraulic fracturing technology is one of the most common stimulation measures to develop tight oil and gas reservoirs, and the conductivity of fractures after fracturing is the key to the stimulation effect of oil fields. In this paper, the laboratory simulation system of fracture conductivity is used to study the long‐term fracture conductivity under the displacement of formation water and fracturing fluid. The experimental results show that the fracture conductivity decreases with the increase of displacement time under the displacement of formation water and fracturing fluid, and the decrease of fracture conductivity under the displacement of fracturing fluid with time is greater than that of formation water displacement because of the plugging effect of fracturing fluid residue on pore channels. The use of formation water and fracturing fluid circulation displacement can delay the decline rate of conductivity with time. The conductivity increases with the increase of sand concentration, proppant particle size, and elastic modulus, and decreases with the increase of closure pressure. In addition, by studying the influence of elastic modulus on fracture width, it is found that the smaller the elastic modulus is, the more serious the embedding phenomenon of proppant is, and the smaller the fracture width is.
Review of tunnels and tunnelling under unfavourable geological conditions
Authors: Zhang Wengang , Tang Xuecheng , Yang Wenyu , Jiang Jiaqi , Zhang Haotian , Li Peixing
Published: March 2024

Considering the rapid expansion of the economy and the increasing demand for infrastructure development, the scale of the tunnelling is expanding, and tunnel is inevitably excavated under unfavourable geological conditions. Consequently, this brings multitude of risks and challenges to tunnels and tunnelling. This paper summarizes the engineering issues associated with five unfavourable geological conditions: soft soil strata, soft and hard composite strata, spatially variable strata, karst strata and subsea conditions. Various analysis methods for deformation problem of tunnel and tunnelling under these unfavourable geological conditions are discussed. The mechanisms of the progressive failure of tunnel faces and collapses of caves in karst tunnels are also presented, as well as the risk assessments and prevention strategies for karst tunnel and water inrush occurrences of subsea tunnel. Furthermore, the analysis of the response of subsea tunnels to dynamic loads such as wave forces and earthquakes is summarized. Additionally, the analysis and prevention techniques for constructing subsea tunnels in fault zones are also considered. Finally, this paper offers a glimpse into potential research directions for future analysis relevant to the topic discussed, aiming to provide guidance for secure construction and maintenance tunnels under unfavourable geological conditions.
Variability in Alzheimer’s disease mortality from European vital statistics, 2012–2020
Authors: Zuin Marco , Brombo Gloria , Polastri Michele , Romagnoli Tommaso , Cervellati Carlo , Zuliani Giovanni
Published: March 2024

Objective

Data regarding the trends in Alzheimer's disease (AD) mortality in the modern European Union (EU‐27) member states are lacking. We assess the sex‐ and age‐specific trends in AD mortality in the EU‐27 member states between years 2012 and 2020.

Methods

Data on cause‐specific deaths and population numbers by sex for each country of the EU‐27 were retrieved through publicly available European Statistical Office (EUROSTAT) dataset from 2012 to 2020. AD‐related deaths were ascertained when the ICD‐10 code G30 was listed as the primary cause of death in the medical death certificate. To calculate annual trends, we assessed the average annual percent change (AAPC) with relative 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using Joinpoint regression.

Results

During the study period, 751,493 deaths (1.7%, 233,271 males and 518,222 females) occurred in the EU‐27 because of AD. Trends in the proportion of AD‐related deaths per 1000 total deaths slightly increased from 16.8% to 17.5% (p for trend <0.001). The age‐adjusted mortality rate was higher in women over the entire study period. Joinpoint regression analysis revealed a stagnation in age‐adjusted AD‐related mortality from 2012 to 2020 among EU‐27 Member States (AAMR: −0.1% [95% CI: −1.8–1.79], p = 0.94). Stratification by Country showed relevant regional disparities, especially in the Northern and Eastern EU‐27 member states.

Conclusions

Over the last decade, the age‐adjusted AD‐related mortality rate has plateaued in EU‐27. Important disparities still exist between Western and Eastern European countries.
The effect of carbon nanoparticles vs. immune colloidal gold technique test strips on parathyroid protection in total thyroidectomy: A randomized clinical trial study
Authors: Wang Bochun , Zhu Yiyuan , Zhou Shiguo , Lu Cheng , Zhang Aobo , Tian Jun , Li Wanxin , Ren Shuling , Dong Yanbo , Liu Liangfa
Published: March 2024

Background

The long‐term effect of intraoperative usage of carbon nanoparticles (CN) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) test strip using immune colloidal gold technique (ICGT) is unclear. This study aims to compare the effect of intraoperative usage of CN and ICGT test strips on PG function.

Methods

This randomized clinical study involved adult patients who underwent total thyroidectomy. They were randomly allocated into three groups (control, CN, and ICGT group). Clinical data were analyzed.

Results

Each group involved 98 patients. Serum calcium and PTH concentrations at 24 h postoperatively (PTH24h) were higher in CN group. The parathyroid function recovered quicker in CN group. Use of CN increased in situ PG preservation and PTH24h. Mediation analysis indicated that 23.05% of the total effect of CN on PTH24h was attributed to PGRIS.

Conclusion

CN holds promise to improve in situ PG preservation and protect PG vasculature, thereby reducing the incidence of early hypoparathyroidism. The value of ICGT test strips for PG protection is dubious.
DeepCG: A cell graph model for predicting prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Zhang Baoyi , Li Chenyang , Wu Jia , Zhang Jianjun , Cheng Chao
Published: March 2024

Lung cancer is the first leading cause of cancer‐related death in the United States, with lung adenocarcinoma as the major subtype accounting for 40% of all cases. To improve patient survival, image‐based prognostic models were developed due to the ready availability of pathological images at diagnosis. However, the application of these models is hampered by two main challenges: the lack of publicly available image datasets with high‐quality survival information and the poor interpretability of conventional convolutional neural network models. Here, we integrated matched transcriptomic and H&E staining data from TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) to develop an image‐based prognostic model, termed Deep‐learning based Cell Graph (DeepCG) model. Instead of survival data, we used a gene signature to predict patient prognostic risks, which was then used as labels for training DeepCG. Importantly, by employing graph structures to capture cell patterns, DeepCG can provide cell‐level interpretation, which was more biologically relevant than previous region‐level insights. We validated the prognostic values of DeepCG in independent datasets and demonstrated its ability to identify prognostically informative cells in images.
A flexible stochastic production frontier model with panel data
Authors: Wang Taining , Yao Feng , Kumbhakar Subal C.
Published: March 2024

We propose a flexible stochastic production frontier model with fixed effects for the panel data in which the semiparametric frontier is additive with bivariate interactions. To avoid potential misspecification and/or “wrong skew problem” due to distributional assumptions, we model the conditional mean of the inefficiency to depend on environmental variables and to be known up to a vector of parameters. We propose a difference‐based estimator for parameters characterizing the conditional mean of the inefficiency term, a profile series estimator, and a kernel‐based one‐step backfitting estimator for the frontier to facilitate inference. We establish their asymptotic properties and show that each component in the frontier estimated by the kernel‐based backfitting has the same asymptotic distribution as the one estimated with the true knowledge on the other components in the frontier (i.e., the oracle property). Through a Monte Carlo study, we demonstrate that the proposed estimators perform well in finite samples. Utilizing a panel of Chinese firm‐level data in 2000–2006, we apply our method to estimate the frontier and efficiency scores and conclude that export plays a significant role in reducing the efficiency of firms.
Doomscrolling and mental well‐being in social media users: A serial mediation through mindfulness and secondary traumatic stress
Authors: Taskin Sumeyye , Yildirim Kurtulus Hacer , Satici Seydi Ahmet , Deniz M. Engin
Published: March 2024

Considering that large‐scale events such as natural disasters, epidemics, and wars affect people all over the world through online news channels, it is inevitable to investigate the impact of following or avoiding negative news on well‐being. This study investigated the effect of doomscrolling on mental well‐being and the mediating role of mindfulness and secondary traumatic stress in social media users. A total of 400 Turkish adults completed scales to assess doomscrolling, mental well‐being, mindfulness, and secondary traumatic stress. The average age of the participants was 29.42 (SD = 8.38; ranged = 18−65). Structural equation modeling was conducted to examine the mediating roles of mindfulness and secondary traumatic stress in the relationship between doomscrolling and mental well‐being. Mindfulness and secondary traumatic stress fully mediated the relationship between doomscrolling and mental well‐being. The results are discussed in light of existing knowledge of doomscrolling, mental well‐being, mindfulness, and secondary traumatic stress. High levels of doomscrolling, which is related to an individual's mental well‐being, can predict the individual's distraction from the here and now and fixation on negative news. This situation, in which mindfulness is low, is related to the individual's indirect traumatization and increased secondary traumatic stress symptoms in the face of the negative news he/she follows.
Light microscopical and parasitological analyses revealed the beneficial effects of silver nanoparticles and various myrrh extracts against Trichinella spiralis infection in mice
Authors: Elossily Nahed A. , Abd‐ELrahman Salwa M. , Khedr Abeer A. , Dyab Ahmed K. , Mahmoud Abeer E. , Mohamed Shaymaa M. , Abd Elrahman Ahmed M. , Alsharif Fahd M. , Alsaadawy Reem M. , Sayed Ramy K. A. , Khalifa Mervat M.
Published: March 2024

Trichinella spiralis infection is a food‐borne zoonotic disease caused by nematodes that dwell in the tissues, presenting a significant public health concern. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of different treatments including silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), myrrh biosynthesized AgNPs “AgNPs synthesized using plant‐based green technologies”, myrrh extract, and myrrh essential oil, as alternative treatments against T. spiralis infection. Parasitological, histopathological, and cytotoxicity assessments were conducted to investigate the effects of various concentrations of these treatments in reducing the populations of adult worms and larvae during both the intestinal and muscular phases of T. spiralis‐infected mice. The results showed that the highest antihelminthic efficacy against the intestinal phase of T. spiralis was achieved by myrrh extract (86.66%), followed closely by AgNPs (84.96%) and myrrh AgNPs (82.51%) at higher concentrations (800 mg/kg for myrrh extract, 40 μg/mL for AgNPs, and 40 μg/mL for myrrh AgNPs). While the group treated with myrrh essential oil showed the lowest percentage of adult reduction (78.14%). However, all treatments demonstrated comparable effects in reducing the larvae population in the muscle phase. Histopathological examination of the tissues revealed compelling evidence of the effectiveness of AgNPs, particularly when prepared with myrrh. Additionally, a comprehensive assessment of the cytotoxicity of AgNPs indicated low toxicity levels. This study supports that AgNPs synthesized using plant‐based green technologies hold therapeutic potential for the treatment of T. spiralis infection. These findings present a promising avenue for the development of novel antiparasitic drugs that are both effective and safe.

Research Highlights

Myrrh extract has the highest antihelminthic efficacy against the intestinal phase of T. spiralis.

Histopathological examination of the tissues revealed compelling evidence of the effectiveness of AgNPs, particularly when prepared with myrrh.

During intestinal phase of T. spiralis, varying levels of nanoparticle precipitation were detected in the liver, brain, lung, and intestine. During the muscular phase, the highest amount of AgNPs precipitation was detected in the liver, followed by the brain, and lung.
A clinical consensus paper on jejunal tube feeding in children
Authors: McGrath Kathleen H. , Collins Tanya , Comerford Annabel , McCallum Zoe , Comito Michaela , Herbison Kim , Cochrane Olivia Rose , Burgess Deirdre Mary , Kane Sarah , Coster Keryn , Cooper Michele , Jesson Kathryn
Published: March 2024

Background

Feeding problems are common in children with complex medical problems or acute critical illness and enteral nutrition may be required. In certain situations, gastric tube feeding is poorly tolerated or may not be feasible. When feed intolerance persists despite appropriate adjustments to oral and gastric enteral regimens, jejunal tube feeding can be considered as an option for nutrition support.

Methods

A multidisciplinary expert working group of the Australasian Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition was convened. They identified topic questions and five key areas of jejunal tube feeding in children. Literatures searches were undertaken on Pubmed, Embase, and Medline for all relevant studies, between January 2000 and September 2022 (n = 103). Studies were assessed using National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines to generate statements, which were discussed as a group, followed by voting on statements using a modified Delphi process to determine consensus.

Results

A total of 24 consensus statements were created for five key areas: patient selection, type and selection of feeding tube, complications, clinical use of jejunal tubes, follow‐up, and reassessment.

Conclusion

Jejunal tube feeding is a safe and effective means of providing nutrition in a select group of pediatric patients with complex medical needs, who are unable to be fed by gastric tube feeding. Appropriate patient selection is important as complications associated with jejunal tube feeding are not uncommon, and although mostly minor, can be significant or require tube reinsertion. All children receiving jejunal tube feeding should have multidisciplinary team assessment and follow‐up.
Grazing strategies determine the size composition of phytoplankton in eutrophic lakes
Authors: To Sze‐Wing , Acevedo‐Trejos Esteban , Chakraborty Subhendu , Pomati Francesco , Merico Agostino
Published: March 2024

Although the general impacts of zooplankton grazing on phytoplankton communities are clear, we know comparatively less about how specific grazing strategies interact with environmental conditions to shape the size structure of phytoplankton communities. Here, we present a new data‐driven, size‐based model that describes changes in the size composition of lake phytoplankton under various environmental constraints. The model includes an ecological trade‐off emerging from observed allometric relationships between (1) phytoplankton cell size and phytoplankton growth and (2) phytoplankton cell size and zooplankton grazing. In our model, phytoplankton growth is nutrient‐dependent and zooplankton grazing varies according to specific grazing strategies, namely, specialists (targeting a narrow range of the size‐feeding spectrum) vs. generalists (targeting a wide range of the size‐feeding spectrum). Our results indicate that grazing strategies shape the size composition of the phytoplankton community in nutrient‐rich conditions, whereas inorganic nutrient concentrations govern phytoplankton biomass. Under oligotrophic regimes, the phytoplankton community is dominated by small cell sizes and the grazers have little to no impact. Under eutrophic regimes, dominating specialist grazers push phytoplankton towards small cells, whereas dominating generalist grazers push phytoplankton towards large cells. Our work highlights that trait‐based modeling, based on realistic eco‐physiological trade‐offs, represents a valuable tool for disentangling the interactive roles played by nutrient regimes and grazing strategies in determining the size compositions of lake phytoplankton. Ultimately, our study offers a quantitative basis for understanding how communities of lake phytoplankton may reorganize in the future in response to changes in nutrient levels and zooplankton grazing strategies.
Marketing experts are always right…aren't they? Disentangling the effects of expertise and decision‐making processes
Authors: Montecchi Matteo , Gvirtz Andrés , Plangger Kirk , Prendergast Gerard , West Douglas
Published: March 2024

Marketing experts are tasked with making important decisions that influence firms' performance. Some decision tasks are decomposable and can be broken down into smaller parts (e.g., pricing new products). Others are non‐decomposable and are challenging to break down (e.g., selecting creative work for advertising campaigns). The literature remains divided on whether expertise aids decision‐makers in addressing these different decision tasks, as well as how different decision‐making processes (critical analysis, intuition, introspection) improve decision‐makers' performance when they face these tasks. Using experiments with comparative samples of senior marketing managers (experts) and general public participants (non‐experts), we test whether expertise provides advantages when making decisions. Our results suggest that experts perform better than the general public with decomposable decision tasks, though not with non‐decomposable decision tasks. Furthermore, decision‐makers who rely on critical analysis perform better compared to intuition when addressing decomposable decision tasks, but the decision process is less important with non‐decomposable decision tasks. These findings provide insight into the conceptual boundaries of marketing professionals' expertise. Managers could apply these insights to potentially save resources (e.g., time, finances) by delegating decisions to more junior staff or even by leveraging external counsel through crowdsourcing.
The effect of migration on the transmission of HIV/AIDS using a fractional model: Local and global dynamics and numerical simulations
Authors: Alla Hamou A. , Azroul E. , L'Kima S.
Published: March 2024

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a serious disease that threatens and affects capital stock, population composition, and economic growth. This research paper aims to study the mathematical modeling and disease dynamics of HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) with memory effect. We propose two fractional models in the Caputo sense for HIV/AIDS with and without migration. First, we prove the existence and positivity of both models and calculate the basic reproduction number
using the next generation method. Then, we study the local and global stability of the obtained equilibria. In addition, numerical simulations are provided for different values of the fractional order
using the Adams–Bashforth–Moulton fractional scheme, to verify the theoretical results. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis of the parameters for the model with migration is carried out.
Boundary estimation and cascade control for a Lorenz‐like system
Authors: Li Yin , Zang Aibin
Published: March 2024

In this paper, we devoted to investigate a hyperelliptic estimate of the ultimate bound and positively invariant set for the new system via the Lyapunov function method. Furthermore, we obtained the global exponential attractive set
, which is an exponential decay rate. The rate of the trajectories of the system going from the exterior to the interior of the set
. Numerical simulations are presented to show the effectiveness and the feasibility. The theoretical results obtained will find wide applications in cascade control and chaos synchronization.
Targets of tumor microenvironment for potential drug development
Authors: Zhang Ling , Wang Ziruoyu , Liu Kailu , Liu Yihang , Wang Shuai , Jiang Wei , Lu Fanghui , Dang Yongjun
Published: March 2024

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is the ecosystem surrounding a tumor, which usually consists of nontumoral cells or components, and molecules they produce and release. The frequent and continuous interplay between tumor cells and the TME strongly affects tumor development, disease progression, metastasis, and responses to therapeutic interventions. As a hub of potential therapeutic targets, the TME has gained appreciable momentum in cancer research. Here we systematically review the progress in targeting the TME as a strategy to develop novel antitumor drugs from the immunological, stromal and extracellular matrix components of the TME, shedding light on its complex synergies with tumor cells. This exploration highlights the transformative potential these elements hold in refining cancer treatment approaches. This thorough examination not only accentuates the TME's multifaceted nature but also positions it as a formidable avenue for propelling forward the paradigms of cancer therapy. This review aims to foster a deeper understanding of the TME's role in oncogenesis and its potential exploitation in advancing targeted, efficacious cancer treatments, marking a significant stride in the realm of cancer research.
Effects of behavioral bias regarding demand forecasting in a competitive market
Authors: Li Juan , Zhao Xuan , Zheng Yini
Published: March 2024

Considerable human judgment is involved in demand forecasting. When managers judge demands under uncertainty, they inevitably use signals to update their demand information. These signals are seldom perfect; hence, managers hold behavioral bias about the signal fidelity, that is, over‐ or under‐estimating the signal fidelity. This article models managers' behavioral bias about signal fidelity in Bayesian demand forecasting and explores its impact on competitive firms. We find that no matter whether the competitor's manager is unbiased or biased, a firm can benefit from its manager's slight overestimation, but the competitor can benefit from the firm's manager's underestimation. However, when one firm's manager is biased, improving the signal fidelity may not constantly improve firms' profits, revealing the potential risk of behavioral bias on the efficiency of the forecasting systems. We further consider the diversity of biased managers and the information asymmetry regarding the bias. Except that the benefits of behavioral bias exist, we additionally find that managers' heterogeneous behavioral bias can form a hedge effect and bring a win‐win situation. Under asymmetric information, managers' inference bias on the competitor's type may benefit firms by easing the negative impact of managers' behavioral bias about signal fidelity. We finally analyze the social welfare and consumer surplus, check the robustness of the main results and deliver additional findings by considering competing firms, different signal fidelity measures, and the signal‐dependent behavioral bias.