bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mastering the Copolymerization Behavior of Ethyl Cyanoacrylate as Gel Polymer Electrolyte for Lithium‐metal Battery Application
Authors: Min Weixing , Li Lengwan , Wang Mingli , Ma Shuaijiang , Feng Hao , Wang Weirong , Ding Hang , Cheng Tianhui , Li Zhenxi , Saito Tomonori , Yang Huabin , Cao Peng‐Fei
Published: January 2025

Polymers with strong electron‐withdrawing groups (e.g., cyano‐containing polymers) are attractive for a wide range of applications due to their high dielectric constant and outstanding electrochemical stability. However, the polymerization of such monomers is difficult to control with trace of water affording instant reactions, and copolymerization with other monomers without using strong acid is even more challenging. The present study demonstrates a facile approach enabling efficient and controllable copolymerization of ethyl cyanoacrylate (ECA) without adding undesired additives, achieving mechanically robust and high ion‐conduction gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) for safe and long cycle‐life lithium‐metal batteries (LMBs). The incorporated dual‐lithium salts, i.e., lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate (LiDFOB) and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulphonyl)imide (LiTFSI) not only facilitate radical polymerization of ECA monomers by suppressing their anionic polymerization, but also promote the formation of high‐ionic conducting GPE. The incorporated methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer accelerates the radical polymerization of ECA (confirmed by DFT calculations), achieving controlled copolymerization of ECA‐based copolymers. The mechanically robust polymer network made by the ECA copolymer enables LMBs with both LFP cathodes and high‐voltage LCO cathodes (4.5 V) operatable at different temperatures with ultra‐long cycle life at 1 C (capacity retention of 81.1 % and 83.8 %, respectively, over 1000 cycles).
Deciphering Polymer Interactions in Bioconjugates with Different Architectures by Structural Analysis via Time‐Resolved Limited Proteolysis Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Hamm Prisca , Driessen Marc D. , Hauptstein Niklas , Kehrein Josef , Worschech Rafael , Pouyan Paria , Haag Rainer , Schubert Ulrich S. , Müller Thomas D. , Meinel Lorenz , Lühmann Tessa
Published: January 2025

Therapeutic proteins are commonly conjugated with polymers to modulate their pharmacokinetics but often lack a description of the polymer‐protein interaction. We deployed limited proteolysis mass spectrometry (LiP‐MS) to reveal the interaction of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and PEG alternative polymers with interferon‐α2a (IFN). Target conjugates were digested with the specific protease trypsin and a “heavy” 15N‐IFN wild type (IFN‐WT) for time‐resolved quantification of the cleavage dynamics. Interactions between IFN‐α2a and its high‐affinity receptor were detailed by LiP‐MS. Then, 10 kDa polymers of PEG, linear polyglycerol (LPG), and poly(2‐oxazoline) (POX) with two different cyclooctyne linkers (BCN/DBCO) were used for site‐specific bioconjugation to azide functionalized IFN‐α2a. Tryptic events at each cleavage site and in different structural environments (loops/helices) were compared. PEG and LPG were similar, and POX showed a reduced interaction profile with the IFN‐α2a surface. All‐atom molecular dynamics simulations of IFN‐DBCO‐polymer conjugates revealed distinct and transient (below 50 ns) protein‐interaction profiles for PEG, LPG, and POX. Cleavage dynamics of IFN‐polymer conjugates from the BCN handle were homogeneous, pointing to a more conserved IFN structure than DBCO‐polymer conjugates. In summary, time‐resolved LiP‐MS for quantification of cleavage events enhances the structural understanding of transient IFN‐polymer interactions, which may be extended to other bioconjugate types.
Delocalized Nonbonding Orbitals of Thioxanthone in Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons for Reduced Energy Gap and Narrowband Emission
Authors: Yang Zhihai , Liu Denghui , Cheng Xiangyi , Wang Tong , Li Zhizhi , Yang Guo‐Xi , Chen Zijian , Hu Juntao , Fu Yu , Nie Xuewei , Ren Yongxia , Zeng Yitong , Chen Yuling , Liu Kunkun , Li Mengke , Su Shi‐Jian
Published: January 2025

Chalcogen‐containing carbonyls, specifically thioxanthone (TX), hold great potential in organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs). While the development of narrowband OLEDs with chalcogen‐containing carbonyls remains challenging due to difficulties in achieving both high device efficiency and narrow emission spectra. Herein, via a strategic incorporation of the TX moiety, two orange‐red narrowband emitters, 2TXBN and BNTXBN, are designed and synthesized for the first time. Both 2TXBN and BNTXBN exhibit bright orange‐red emissions with peaks at 582 and 585 nm, respectively, along with narrow full widths at half maxima of 30 and 32 nm. Notably, 2TXBN demonstrates delocalization of the nonbonding orbital within the TX segment, which raises the first triplet energy level and reduces the singlet‐triplet energy gap. This electronic structural adjustment effectively shortens the delayed fluorescence lifetime, leading to enhanced device performance. Accordingly, OLED employing 2TXBN as the emitter achieves remarkable performance, with a maximum external quantum efficiency of 31.0 %, a current efficiency of 69.0 cd A−1, and a power efficiency of 76.0 lm W−1, highlighting the efficacy of the nonbonding orbital delocalization strategy in achieving bathochromic‐shifted narrowband OLED materials.
Synthesis of Phosphorus‐Nitrogen Synergistic Flame Retardant Containing Pyrimidine Ring/Vanillin for Improving Flame Retardancy, Smoke Suppressing, and Mechanical Properties of Epoxy Resin
Authors: Xiao Hongbo , Huang Xin , Huang Wanyu , Peng Yufei
Published: January 2025

In order to improve the flame retardancy, smoke suppressing, and mechanical properties of epoxy resins (EP), while pursuing low toxicity, environmental protection, and sustainable development, a reactive biobased flame retardant (TVD) containing P/N was synthesized by the one‐pot method. The flame retardant, consisting of vanillin, 2,4,6‐triaminopyrimidine, and DOPO as reactants, contained reactive groups in its structure and was introduced as a co‐curing agent into the DDM‐cured EP system. EP/TVD10 (at a phosphorus content of 0.58 wt%) achieved a UL‐94 V‐0 rating with an increased limit oxygen index (LOI) value of 34.2% (26.5% for pure EP), and the cone calorimetric test (CCT) results showed a decrease in total heat release (THR) values of 33.8% and a decrease in total smoke production rate (TSP) of 21.1% compared to pure EP. In addition, the introduction of TVD improved the mechanical properties of the epoxy resin, with an increase in flexural strength and modulus of 8.7% and 6.5% and a slight increase in impact toughness for EP/TVD10. These results indicate that TVD is a multifunctional and efficient bio‐based flame retardant, which provides new ideas for the development of high‐performance modified epoxy resin materials.
Effects of Self‐Assembled β‐Crystal Nucleating Agents on Crystallization and Microcellular Foaming Behavior of Long‐Chain Branched Polypropylene
Authors: Liu Yaning , Liu Haiming , Wang Yaqiao , Sun Yibo , Chen Shihong , Wang Xiangdong
Published: January 2025

Long‐chain branched polypropylene (LCBPP) has become the material of choice for foaming due to its high melt strength and excellent strain hardening properties. In this work, different β‐crystal nucleating agents were melt‐blended with LCBPP. The morphology of the nucleating agents, melt strength, and melting crystallization behavior of the mixtures were characterized using POM, rotational rheometer, XRD, and DSC. After selecting the nucleating agent WBG‐II, high‐temperature self‐assembly was performed. The impact strength of the mixture containing 5 phr of the nucleating agent reached 5.36 kJ/m2, which is a 30% improvement compared to pure polypropylene samples. At a foaming temperature of 138°C, with scCO2 as the physical foaming agent, various microcellular LCBPP foams were prepared using the autoclave foaming method. When the content of the self‐assembled nucleating agent increased to 5 phr, the foam expansion ratio decreased from 25 times to about 2 times, the cell size was refined from 142 μm to about 7 μm, and the cell density increased from 2 × 107 to 3.8 × 109 cells/cm3. Simultaneously, the complex structure of the self‐assembled nucleating agent and the induced composite cells synergistically enhanced the compressive strength of the polymer foam.
Histopoly: A serious game for teaching histology to 1st year veterinary students
Authors: Marcos Ricardo , Gomes André , Santos Marta , Coelho António
Published: January 2025

Histology is a preclinical subject transversal in medical, dental, and veterinary curricula. Classical teaching approaches in histology are often undermined by lower motivation and engagement of students, which may be addressed by innovative learning environments. Herein, we developed a serious game approach and compared it with a classical teaching style. The students' feedback was evaluated by questionnaires, and their performance on quizzes and exam's scores were assessed. The serious game (Histopoly) consisted of a game‐based web application for the teacher/game master, a digital gaming application used by the students as a controller, and a projected digital board game. The board featured rows for the four fundamental tissues (epithelial, connective, muscular, and nervous) paired with question tiles and additional tiles with more demanding activities (e.g., drawing, presenting slides, and making a syllabus). Participants included all veterinary students enrolled in the first year. Paired laboratory sessions were split with four sections (n = 94 students) playing Histopoly at the end of all sessions and two sections (n = 28 students) completing small evaluations every three weeks at the beginning of sessions. According to the questionnaires, students that played the serious game were more motivated, engaged, and more interconnected with classmates. The activity was considered fun, and students enjoyed the classes more. No differences in the final examination scores were found, but the percentage of correct answers provided throughout the serious game was significantly higher. Overall, these findings argue for the inclusion of serious games in modern histology teaching to promote student engagement in learning.
Distinguishing the Bimodal Interaction of a Squaraine Dye with a Protein by a Functional Group Photodeprotection Strategy
Authors: Anees Palapuravan , Saranya Giridharan , Sreejith Sivaramapanicker , Ajayaghosh Ayyappanpillai
Published: January 2025

In this study, we present a protecting group photocleavage method to investigate both covalent and noncovalent interactions between a squaraine dye (PSq) and Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA). This approach allows for the photoinduced activation and deactivation of PSq fluorescence, providing valuable insights into the dual‐mode interaction of the dye with the protein.
Investigating Neurometabolite Changes in Response to Median Nerve Stimulation
Authors: Houlgreave Mairi S. , Dyke Katherine , Berrington Adam , Jackson Stephen R.
Published: January 2025

Background

Rhythmic median nerve stimulation (MNS) at 10 Hz has been shown to cause a substantial reduction in tic frequency in individuals with Tourette syndrome. The mechanism of action is currently unknown but is hypothesized to involve entrainment of oscillations within the sensorimotor cortex.

Objective

We used functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy (fMRS) to explore the dynamic effects of MNS on neurometabolite concentrations.

Methods

Here, we investigated the effects of rhythmic and arrhythmic 10 Hz MNS on glutamate (Glu) and GABA concentrations in the contralateral sensorimotor cortex in 15 healthy controls, using a blocked fMRS design. We used a Mescher–Garwood‐semi‐localized by adiabatic selective refocusing (MEGA‐sLASER) sequence at 7 T.

Results

Our results show no difference in the difference‐from‐baseline measures between the two stimulation conditions. Looking at the effect of MNS over both conditions there is a trend for an initial increase in Glu/tCr (total creatine) followed by a decrease over time, whereas GABA/tCr decreased during each stimulation block.

Conclusions

These results suggest that despite entrainment of oscillations during rhythmic MNS, there are no significant differences in the tonic neuromodulatory effects of rhythmic and arrhythmic stimulation. The reduction in Glu over the course of stimulation may reflect a decrease in the glutamatergic firing due to adaptation. This may make it less likely that an involuntary movement is generated during continuous stimulation.
Barnahus Is Coming: A Reflexive Thematic Analysis of How Child Sexual Abuse Services at a Dublin Hospital Adapt and Respond
Authors: Lacey Eimear , Collins Mary
Published: January 2025

The Barnahus Model, influencing how professionals across child protection, criminal justice and health come together to support families, has become the core model of response to concerns of child sexual abuse (CSA) in Europe and represents a significant social innovation currently being developed in Ireland. In 2019, Barnahus West in Galway, Ireland, was launched. Two additional services, Barnahus South and East, are in development. Nine senior professionals, across three internal services in a Dublin hospital and members of this organisations Barnahus steering group, participated in semistructured interviews on this topic. This reflexive thematic analysis, utilising the lenses of leadership, innovation and change, explores how already existing services based in this Dublin hospital may adapt and respond to facilitate this social innovation. Three themes were identified: Focus of Change Management, Barriers to Change and First Steps to Implementation. Recommendations include that a collective leadership approach is best suited to implementation of this change. The steering group would also benefit from utilising a formal change model to support their work. Small‐scale testing of an initial cross‐system response to CSA to inform wider implementation of systemic change is recommended.
Antimicrobial Potentials of Haliclona fibulata Derived Compounds for Combatting Drug‐Resistant Bacterial Infections in Zebrafish Model
Authors: Bajhal Sakshi , Seenivasan Boopathi , Arockiaraj Jesu , Sundaramurthy Anandhakumar
Published: January 2025

The rising threat of antimicrobial resistance among pathogens highlights the critical need for novel antimicrobial agents. This study explores the potential of natural products by investigating n‐hexane extracts from the marine sponge Haliclona fibulata (HF) for their antibacterial efficacy. The well diffusion method of HF extract showed significant antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus with inhibition zones of 20 ± 0.66, 27 ± 0.58, and 22 ± 0.33 mm, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy investigations confirmed the disruptive impact of the extracts on bacterial cell morphology. Further investigations using P. aeruginosa‐infected zebrafish model revealed that HF treatment improved survival rates in a dose‐dependent manner. Additionally, oxidative stress and apoptosis were significantly reduced in the 100 µg/mL (HF100) treatment group, alongside downregulation of inflammatory markers such as il‐1β, nf‐kβ, tnf‐α, and inos. Histological assessments showed reduced intestinal damage and fewer circulating macrophages in HF100‐treated zebrafish larvae. Identifying potent bioactive compounds within the extracts suggests that HF could be a valuable source of natural antimicrobials, warranting further exploration for developing treatments against pathogenic infections.
Ce[N(SiMe3)2]3(THF)3‐Catalyzed Hydroboration of CO2, Esters and Epoxides with Pinacolborane: Selective Synthesis of Methanol in Multigram Scale
Authors: Hossain Md Jabed , Shah Brij Kumar , Dash Soumya Ranjan , Kashish  , Vanka Kumar , Khan Shabana
Published: January 2025

In this work, we have reduced CO2 with HBpin to afford borylated methanol product selectively in ~99 % yield using Ce[N(SiMe3)2]3(THF)3 as a catalyst. This led to multigram scale isolation of methanol obtained from CO2 reduction via the hydrolysis of borylated methanol, this establishes the potential of Ce[N(SiMe3)2]3(THF)3 as an efficient homogeneous catalyst for the bulk scale methanol synthesis. A practical application of this catalytic system was also shown by reducing CO2‐containing motorbike exhaust efficiently and selectively. Further, C−O bond activation of esters and epoxides using HBpin and 1–2 mol % of Ce[N(SiMe3)2]3(THF)3 at 60 °C afforded the borylated alcohols in good to excellent yields, which can easily be hydrolysed to the eco‐friendly corresponding alcohol. The stoichiometric experiments were performed to prove the formation of in‐situ generated cerium hydride [Ce]‐H as an active catalyst.
Harnessing the Sulfur‐for‐Oxygen Shift: A Magic Bullet for Dynamic Photophysical and Anticancer Activities of Indole‐Barbituric Acid Construct
Authors: Tyagi Kartikay , Kumari Reena , Venkatesh V.
Published: January 2025

The development of small molecule‐based drugs emerged as a cornerstone of modern drug discovery. Structural activity relationship (SAR) studies in medicinal chemistry are crucial for lead optimization, where a subtle change in the substituent can significantly alter its binding affinity with the biological target. Herein, a highly efficient single‐atom substitution (SAS) approach has been developed, where sulfur for oxygen strategy is utilized as a powerful molecular editing technique to identify N‐vinyl Indole‐thiobarbituric acid (6 a) as a novel small molecule‐based scaffold with tunable photophysical and antiproliferative activities. A series of NIR‐emitting indole‐barbituric/thiobarbituric acid conjugates exhibiting aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) were prepared, where the replacement of oxygen for sulfur strategy emerged as a magic bullet. On the evaluation of photophysical properties and chemopreventive efficacies, a significant improvement in the absorption and emission profile, cellular uptake, and antiproliferative activity was noted for sulfur counterparts. From the pool of the molecules, the lead molecule 6 a unveils a 55 nm emission shift, 142‐fold increased anticancer profile, and ~4‐fold elevated cellular uptake. Furthermore, the colocalization experiment unravels the nuclear localization of 6 a, where it causes severe DNA damage, arrests the cell cycle in the G2/M phase, and leads to the activation of p53‐mediated apoptosis. Our experimental findings represent 6 a as a potential lead molecule possessing excellent anticancer potency in the HCT 116 cell line and HCT 116‐derived 3D spheroid model.
Mitigating Climate Policy Shocks Through Mergers and Acquisitions? An Empirical Investigation of International Oil and Gas Firms
Authors: Chen Yajie , Zhou Chengchen , Zhang Dayong , Xie Jun , Managi Shunsuke
Published: January 2025

Climate change and its related policies have significant impacts on energy industries, leading to a considerable number of stranded assets and poor financial performance. Using a global sample of 1147 listed oil and gas firms from 2000 to 2021, this paper investigates whether mergers and acquisitions (M&As) mitigate climate policy shocks, focusing on the consequential financial impacts. Taking the Paris Agreement as the major climate policy shock, we first confirm the negative impacts of climate policy on the financial performance of oil and gas firms, after which we demonstrate M&As can alleviate the adverse effects. Mechanism analysis reveals that the financial benefits of M&As are stronger in upstream firms, those with better corporate governance and sufficient cash flows. Firms in countries with high‐level economic development and carbon risk can benefit from M&As. Furthermore, conglomerate M&As increased following the Paris Agreement, indicating that these energy firms responded to climate policy shocks through diversification. These findings can help us understand the global impacts of climate policies and have important implications for how the energy sector should respond to policy shocks.
Nanopore adaptive sampling accurately detects nucleotide variants and improves the characterization of large‐scale rearrangement for the diagnosis of cancer predisposition
Authors: Chevrier Sandy , Richard Corentin , Mille Marie , Bertrand Denis , Boidot Romain
Published: January 2025

Background

Molecular diagnosis has become highly significant for patient management in oncology.

Methods

Here, 30 well‐characterized clinical germline samples were studied with adaptive sampling to enrich the full sequence of 152 cancer predisposition genes. Sequencing was performed on Oxford Nanopore (ONT) R10.4.1 MinION flowcells with the Q20+ chemistry.

Results

In our cohort, 11 samples had large‐scale rearrangements (LSR), which were all detected with ONT sequencing. In addition to perfectly detecting the locus of the LSR, we found a known MLPA amplification of exon 13 in the BRCA1 (NM_7294) gene corresponded to a duplication in tandem of both exons 12 and 13 of the reference NM_7300. Similarly, in another sample with a known total deletion of the BRCA1 gene, ONT sequencing highlighted this complete deletion was the consequence of a large deletion of almost 140 000 bp carrying over five different genes. ONT sequencing was also able to detect all pathogenic nucleotide variants present in 16 samples at low coverage. As we analyzed complete genes and more genes than with short‐read sequencing, we detected novel unknown variants. We randomly selected six new variants with a coverage larger than 10× and an average quality higher than 14, and confirmed all of them by Sanger sequencing, suggesting that variants detected with ONT (coverage >10× and quality score >14) could be considered as real variants.

Conclusions

We showed that ONT adaptive sampling sequencing is suitable for the analysis of germline alterations, improves characterization of LSR, and detects single nucleotide variations even at low coverage.

Key points

Adaptive sampling is suitable for the analysis of germline alterations.

Improves the characterization of Large Scale Rearrangement and detects SNV at a minimum coverage of 10x.

Allows flexibility of sequencing.
Gene Expression After Exercise Is Disrupted by Early‐Life Stress
Authors: Campbell Taylor S. , Donoghue Katelyn , Roth Tania L.
Published: January 2025

Exercise can be leveraged as an important tool to improve neural and psychological health, either on its own or to bolster the efficacy of evidence‐based treatment modalities. Research in both humans and animal models shows that positive experiences, such as exercise, promote neuroprotection while, in contrast, aversive experiences, particularly those in early development, are often neurologically and psychologically disruptive. In the current study, we employed a preclinical model to investigate the therapeutic benefits of exercise on gene expression in the brains of adult rats. Long Evans rats were exposed to maltreatment stress or nurturing care during infancy, with some rats later given voluntary running wheels as an aerobic exercise intervention from Postnatal Days 70 to 90. Our results showed that irisin gene expression, which promotes neuroprotection, was differentially affected by exercise and early exposure to stress. We add to a rapidly growing area of research on the neuroprotective benefits of exercise and shed light on important molecular mechanisms that may affect the efficacy of exercise in different individuals.
Carbon Storage Response to Land Use/Land Cover Changes and SSP‐RCP Scenarios Simulation: A Case Study in Yunnan Province, China
Authors: Liu Jing , Yang Kun , Zhang Shaohua , Zeng Wenxia , Yang Xiaofang , Rao Yan , Ma Yan , Bi Changyou
Published: January 2025

Changes in terrestrial ecosystem carbon storage (CS) affect the global carbon cycle, thereby influencing global climate change. Land use/land cover (LULC) shifts are key drivers of CS changes, making it crucial to predict their impact on CS for low‐carbon development. Most studies model future LULC by adjusting change proportions, leading to overly subjective simulations. We integrated the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade‐offs (InVEST) model, the Patch‐generating Land Use Simulation (PLUS) model, and the Land Use Harmonization 2 (LUH2) dataset to simulate future LULC in Yunnan under different SSP‐RCP scenarios of climate and economic development. Within the new PLUS‐InVEST‐LUH2 framework, we systematically analyzed LULC alterations and their effects on CS from 1980 to 2040. Results demonstrated that: (1) Forestland had the highest CS, whereas built‐up land and water showed minimal levels. Western areas boast higher CS, while the east has lower. From 1980 to 2020, CS continuously decreased by 29.55 Tg. In the wake of population increase and economic advancement, the area of built‐up land expanded by 2.75 times. Built‐up land encroaches on other land categories and is a key cause of the reduction in CS. (2) From 2020 to 2040, mainly due to an increase in forestland, CS rose to 3934.65 Tg under the SSP1‐2.6 scenario, whereas under the SSP2‐4.5 scenario, primarily due to a reduction in forestland and grassland areas, CS declined to 3800.86 Tg. (3) Forestland is the primary contributor to CS, whereas the ongoing enlargement of built‐up land is causing a sustained decline in CS. Scenario simulations indicate that future LULC changes under different scenarios will have a significant impact on CS in Yunnan. Under a green sustainable development pathway, Yunnan can exhibit significant carbon sink potential. Overall, this research offers a scientific reference for optimizing land management and sustainable development in Yunnan, aiding China's “double carbon” goals.
Ruthenium‐Zeolite Catalyzed Dehydrative N‐Benzylation of Amides for the Construction of Macrolactams Under Continuous Flow
Authors: Bandu Jamdade Akash , Bamayya Swami Gourishankar , Vishambar Sutar Dashrat , Nair Padmavathy V. K. , Gnanaprakasam Boopathy
Published: January 2025

Continuous‐flow synthesis of acyclic amides and macrolactams has been demonstrated successfully via N‐benzylation of amides using a highly reusable heterogeneous Ru‐Zeolite as a catalyst, which gives only water as the byproduct. N‐Benzylation of acyclic amides furnished 30 N‐benzylated amides whereas intramolecular N‐benzylation with alcohols was well tolerated with 15 examples of macrolactams bearing 11‐ to 15‐membered rings. Notably, the scalability of this flow process has been demonstrated from milligrams to gram scale using the Ru‐Zeolite heterogeneous catalyst. Moreover, the reusability of the catalyst is exemplified by the 16 reaction cycles carried out with one time‐packed heterogeneous catalyst in the reactor bed.
Followers’ Locomotion Mode Predicts Preferring Assertive Leaders: Regulatory Fit by Means of Valued Social Characteristics of Others
Authors: Beylat Magali , Woltin Karl‐Andrew , Barbedor Julien , Sassenberg Kai , Yzerbyt Vincent
Published: January 2025

Building on prior work on regulatory fit in leader–follower contexts, the present work investigated such fit regarding followers’ locomotion mode (the concern to move forward and maintain action flow) and leader assertiveness. In three studies, we recruited English‐speaking employees online (Ntotal = 948) and assessed their regulatory mode. In Study 1, we then measured participants’ preferences regarding characteristics their leaders ideally should have. In Study 2, participants reported perceived characteristics (ability/assertiveness/morality/friendliness) of their actual leader. In Study 3, we presented participants with a highly assertive versus highly able leader profile. Participants subsequently indicated their expected satisfaction with and motivation by these leaders. Across studies, the higher the followers’ locomotion mode, the more they valued their leader being assertive. These findings show that feelings of fit can also derive from an alignment with others’ characteristics and shed light on when leader assertiveness is appreciated.
Optimizations of Placenta Extracellular Matrix‐Loaded Silk Fibroin/Alginate 3D‐Printed Scaffolds Structurally and Functionally for Bone Tissue Engineering
Authors: Bashiri Zahra , Khosrowpour Zahra , Moghaddaszadeh Ali , Jafari Davod , Alizadeh Sanaz , Nasiri Hajar , Parsaei Houman , Keshtkaran Zahra , Abdollahpour‐Alitappeh Meghdad , Bargrizaneh Farshad , Rezaei Behzad , Simorgh Sara , Gholipourmalekabadi Mazaher
Published: January 2025

Recent interest has been focused on extracellular matrix (ECM)–based scaffolds totreat critical‐sized bone injuries. In this study, urea was used to decellularize and solubilize human placenta tissue. Then, different concentrations of ECM were composited with 8% alginate (Alg) and 12% silk fibroin (SF) for printing in order to produce a natural 3D construct that resembled bone tissue. The physical and biological features of the printed structures were evaluated entirely in vitro. Finally, a rat model was employed to examine the optimal 3D printed scaffold (5% ECM) as a bone transplant for the healing of cranial bone lesions. The present investigation demonstrated that decellularizing placental tissue fragments led to efficient removal of cell debris. In addition, a remarkable improvement in the printed scaffolds' mechanical and biological properties was observed by increasing the ECM concentration. The histology studies and real‐time PCR results demonstrated the acceleration of bone regeneration in the bone lesions treated with 5%ECM‐SF/Alg at 4 and 8 weeks after implantation. Overall, these results proved that the placental ECM‐printed scaffolds could potentially construct biomimetic grafts to reconstruct significant bone defects and now promise to proceed with clinical studies.
Fault Diagnosis Model via Vibration Signal Analysis With an Improved BKA‐VMD and CNN‐TELM Hybrid Framework
Authors: Yang Jingzong , Li Xuefeng , Mao Min
Published: January 2025

Rolling bearings are fundamental components of contemporary machinery, yet their prolonged usage frequently leads to wear, performance deterioration, and potential faults. In scenarios characterized by limited sample sizes and complex, noisy environments, traditional diagnostic methods often encounter difficulties achieving satisfactory fault identification results. To address these challenges, this study introduces an innovative approach for rolling bearing fault diagnosis. Initially, the black‐winged kite algorithm (BKA) is enhanced through the integration of a differential evolution strategy and an iterative search method, enabling the precise determination of optimal parameters for variational mode decomposition (VMD). Subsequently, a comprehensive index evaluation criterion is established to identify the optimal signal components, which are then subjected to a detailed analysis to extract diverse sensitive features, ultimately forming a hybrid feature set. To further improve the accuracy and efficiency of fault diagnosis, this study proposes an enhanced extreme learning machine model, termed twin extreme learning machine (TELM). Moreover, the TELM model is seamlessly integrated into the architecture of a convolutional neural network (CNN), specifically as a component of its output layer, resulting in a novel hybrid fault diagnosis model. Rigorous data validation performed on a rolling bearing testbed underscores that the proposed fault diagnosis model significantly surpasses conventional approaches, including SVM, KELM, ELM, LSTM, and softmax, in terms of accuracy, recall, and F1 score. Notably, the model maintains robust fault diagnosis capabilities even in environments with varying degrees of noise interference.
Seasonal Analysis of Pathogenic Escherichia coli Contamination in Vegetables, Washing Water, and Vendor Hygiene: Virulence Group Classification and Antibiotic Resistance
Authors: Ahmad Zahra Maftuha , Niaj Murshidi Golam , Das Moon Unmilita , Sultana Sumaiya , Haque Fahim Kabir Monjurul
Published: January 2025

This study, conducted between June 2022 and March 2023 in Dhaka, examined Escherichia coli prevalence in 874 samples from vegetables, vegetable wash water, and hand swabs from vendors during summer and winter. Of the total samples, 782 (89.50%) tested positive for E. coli , with 95.52% of samples in summer and 80.87% in winter. While overall E. coli prevalence showed no significant seasonal difference, pathotype prevalence was significantly higher in summer across all sample types, except for the CVD432 gene. E. coli isolated from spring onions had the highest prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 (19.23%) and the stx1 gene (30.76%), while capsicum isolates showed the highest prevalence of stx2 (40.00%), eaeA (20.00%), ipaH (35.00%), and eltB (20.00%) genes. In winter, coriander had the highest E. coli O157:H7 (14.28%), and cucumber isolates had the highest stx1 (19.04%) gene. Isolates from tomato and capsicum recorded elevated stx2 levels (16.00%). Carrot isolates exhibited the highest eaeA prevalence (11.42%), coriander isolates had the highest ipaH occurrence (14.28%), and tomato isolates had the highest eltB levels (16.00%). A significant seasonal difference was observed in only the stx1 gene, which was higher in summer for all vegetables. Antibiotic susceptibility testing of 1206 isolates revealed widespread resistance, particularly to ampicillin and erythromycin. Significant seasonal differences in resistance were noted in vegetable samples, but not in water and hand swab samples. Multidrug resistance was highest in isolates from spring onions (56.60% in summer) and carrots (71.87% in winter), with extensively drug‐resistant isolates highest in mint (2.17% in summer) and carrots (6.25% in winter).
Subtypes of Insomnia Disorder Identified by Cortical Morphometric Similarity Network
Authors: Zhang Haobo , Sun Haonan , Li Jiaqi , Lei Xu
Published: January 2025

Insomnia disorder (ID) is a highly heterogeneous psychiatric disease, and the use of neuroanatomical data to objectively define biological subtypes is essential. We aimed to examine the neuroanatomical subtypes of ID by morphometric similarity network (MSN) and the association between MSN changes and specific transcriptional expression patterns. We recruited 144 IDs and 124 healthy controls (HC). We performed heterogeneity through discriminant analysis (HYDRA) and identified subtypes within the MSN strength. Differences in MSN between subtypes and HC were compared, and clinical behavioral differences were compared between subtypes. In addition, we investigated the association between MSN changes and brain gene expression in different ID subtypes using partial least squares regression to assess genetic commonalities in psychiatric disorders and further performed functional enrichment analyses. Two distinct subtypes of ID were identified, each exhibiting different MSN changes compared to HC. Furthermore, subtype 1 is characterized by objective short sleep, impaired cognitive function, and some relationships with major depressive disorder and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In contrast, subtype 2 has normal objective sleep duration but subjectively reports poor sleep and is only related to ASD. The pathogenesis of subtype 1 may be related to genes that regulate sleep rhythms and sleep–wake cycles. In contrast, subtype 2 is more due to adverse emotion perception and regulation. Overall, these findings provide insights into the neuroanatomical subtypes of ID, elucidating the relationships between structural and molecular aspects of the relevant subtypes.
Trends in Investigations for Suspected Head and Neck Carcinoma of the Unknown Primary: A HNCIG and IFHNOS International Survey of Practice
Authors: Williamson Andrew , Nankivell Paul , Abou‐Foul Ahmad K. , Ahmed Mohamed , Mehanna Hisham ,   HNCIG and IFHNOS CUP programme
Published: January 2025

Background

The aim of this clinical survey was to assess variations in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma from an unknown primary (HNSCCUP) diagnostic practices across international centers.

Methods

Clinical practice survey of experts nominated by Head and Neck Cancer International Group (HNCIG) and International Federation of Head and Neck Oncologic Societies (IFHNOS).

Results

Responses were received from 48/49 (97.9%) participants. Outpatient laryngoscopy, CT, and 18‐FDG‐PETCT were used always or most of the time by 81.3%, 77.1%, and 79.2%, but only 50% regularly used MRI. Unilateral and bilateral tonsillectomy were frequently performed in 41.6% and 27.1% of unilateral nodal disease, and in 18.8% and 52.1% for bilateral disease. Ipsilateral Tongue Base Mucosectomy (TBM) was used always or most of the time in 12.5% of unilateral and 6.3% of bilateral HNSCCUP. Bilateral TBM was used in 10.4% for unilateral and 22.9% for bilateral cancers.

Conclusions

While there is broad agreement regarding examination and cross‐sectional imaging, there are considerable differences in the surgical strategies used to identify occult primaries.
Anomaly Detection System for Users and Devices Involved in Internet of Things Integrated Cloud Applications Using Machine Algorithms
Authors: Mirdula S. , Roopa M.
Published: January 2025

Recently, due to their application nature, devices in the Internet of Things (IoT) networks also need to be involved in the cloud. IoT devices generally work on top of the Internet, whereas today, the Internet is called a cloud because it provides an uncountable number of services to the public. Software, Platform, Infrastructure, and Service are the base classes of cloud services that support IoT devices. It is well known that the security level of the cloud is deficient because anyone can access it from anywhere at any strategy. Like the cloud, IoT networks also permit any device to join anytime from anywhere. This vulnerability of IoT networks is a cause for concern, and various conventional and optimisation methods have proposed multiple algorithms for increasing the IoT Cloud's security level, which have been developed for particular applications. This problem is solved by thoroughly examining the IoT devices, user information, and meta‐information to detect anomalies in the cloud applications, ensuring the validity and effectiveness of our proposed solution. The IoT network is analyzed using an NS2 simulator, and machine learning algorithms carry out the data analytics to select the best one that outperforms the others in anomaly detection. The machine learning algorithms were implemented in Python and experimented with it to check their efficiency.
Leveraging pharmacists' scope of practice to improve access to gender‐affirming care: A scoping review
Authors: Gillis Sophie , Walter Robyn , Wilby Kyle John
Published: January 2025

Background

Transgender and gender‐diverse (TGD) individuals experience health inequities at a substantially higher rate than their cisgender counterparts. Gender‐affirming care (GAC) is a lifesaving measure that encompasses a range of social, psychological, behavioral, and medical interventions designed to affirm an individual's gender identity. Access to GAC is limited worldwide and pharmacists may be optimally situated to bridge this gap.

Objectives

To determine strategies to improve access to GAC within community pharmacists' scope of practice for TGD patients.

Methods

This was a scoping review of published literature. Three databases (PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL) were searched and supplemented with a manual citation to yield 324 articles. Articles were included if they described or evaluated GAC services performed by pharmacists. Screening and extraction were conducted independently by two reviewers. Extracted data was mapped into six categories (prescribing, monitoring, patient education and counseling, healthcare advocacy, interprofessional and collaborative care, and non‐pharmacological), which were identified during the extraction process to represent GAC initiatives.

Results

Twenty‐one articles met the inclusion criteria from the 324 articles initially screened. Most articles were published in the United States (n = 17). More than half of the articles described prescribing (n = 12), monitoring (n = 15), and patient education and counseling (n = 17). Healthcare advocacy was mentioned in 9 articles, with interprofessional and collaborative care being mentioned in 8 articles. Non‐pharmacological care was the least mentioned among the six categories (n = 2).

Conclusions

Current literature shows that pharmacists' scope of practice can be leveraged to provide GAC through prescribing medications, monitoring therapy, educating and counseling patients, advocating for TGD individuals within the healthcare system, providing collaborative care, and through the provision of non‐pharmacological GAC options.
Chitosan/Alginate‐Based Hydrogel Loaded With VE‐Cadherin/FGF as Scaffolds for Wound Repair in Different Degrees of Skin Burns
Authors: Liu Sainan , Wei Lai , Huang Jinquan , Luo Jiayan , Weng Yajun , Chen Junying
Published: January 2025

Burns are complex traumatic injuries that lead to severe physical and psychological problems due to the prolonged healing period and resulting physical scars. Owing to their versatility, hydrogels can be loaded with various functional factors, making them promising wound dressings. However, many hydrogel dressings cannot support cell survival for a long time, thereby delaying the process of tissue repair. Herein, based on chitosan (CS)/alginate (SA)/poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA), a basic hydrogel with hemostasis and antibacterial properties was prepared, and loaded with vascular endothelial cadherin (VE‐cadherin) and fibroblast growth factors (FGF) to promote the co‐culture of various skin cells, suitable for treating various skin injury types: (1) Construct a three‐dimensional microenvironment conducive to the release of drugs and factors using natural biological macromolecules CS/SA. (2) Promote the cell growth by loading growth factors. (3) Establish skin burn models of different degrees and observe the repair process. From the results, the 3D microenvironment provided by hydrogel could support the active growth of cells for 12 days. Furthermore, deep burns with full‐thickness skin were substantially repaired within about 24 days. Collectively, CS/SA hydrogel containing VE‐cadherin and FGF can promote tissue healing in wounds with necrotic tissue, making it an ideal candidate for burn treatment.
Stem fixation techniques in revision total knee arthroplasty: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Onorato Francesco , Giai Via Riccardo , Bosco Francesco , Lavia Alessandro Dario , Barberis Luca , Capella Marcello , Massè Alessandro , Risitano Salvatore
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This systematic review and meta‐analysis aimed to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of patients undergoing revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) using uncemented press‐fit stems (hybrid fixation) versus cemented stems (cemented fixation). It is also examined whether cemented fixation offers any superiority over hybrid fixation regarding implant survival, clinical function, imaging analysis and complication rates.

Methods

Following the PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review and meta‐analysis were conducted on five databases (Pubmed, Scopus, Embase, Medline and Cochrane). Articles were evaluated according to levels of evidence (LoE). Retrospective studies were analysed with risk of bias in nonrandomised studies of interventions (Robins‐I) and randomised controlled trials with risk of bias 2 (RoB‐2). This review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews database. Meta‐analysis was performed using R software, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results

Data from 12 comparative studies with 1303 patients (1352 rTKAs) were analysed. Survival rates of hybrid and cemented fixations were comparable, with a significant trend favouring hybrid fixation (p = 0.04). Infection and aseptic loosening were the most common causes of failure. Radiographic failure rates showed no significant differences between fixation methods (p = 0.4). Meta‐analysis indicated better results with hybrid fixation, although not statistically significant (KSS functional p = 0.15; KSS clinical p = 0.5). High heterogeneity was observed due to variations in patient characteristics and surgical strategies.

Conclusion

Both hybrid and cemented fixation techniques achieve satisfactory clinical results in rTKA, with hybrid fixation demonstrating an overall lower failure rate. The choice of fixation method must be tailored to individual patient characteristics and surgical considerations. Further high‐quality randomised trials are needed to refine these results and optimise fixation strategies to improve patient outcomes.

Level of Evidence

Level IV.
Telocinobufagin suppresses malignant metastasis of undifferentiated thyroid carcinoma via modulation of the LARP1‐mTOR pathway
Authors: Qiang Li‐Zhi , Fang Shi‐Zhi
Published: January 2025

Metastasis is the trigger of death in anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) patients, yet the specific mechanisms at play are still largely enigmatic. While the involvement of LARP1 in the metastatic process of various cancers has been documented, there is a noticeable gap in the literature regarding its potential influence on ATC metastasis. Molecular studies probed LARP1 expression within ATC cells, with subsequent in vitro experiments examining the effects of LARP1 on ATC cell metastasis and the mTOR signaling cascade. A suite of assays, including colony formation, scratch wound healing, transwell invasion, and cell adhesion, was used to assess cell growth, movement, invasion, and attachment. Western Blot determined the expression levels of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers (E‐cadherin, Vimentin, N‐cadherin) and proteins implicated in metastasis (MMP‐2, MMP‐9), along with mTOR and p‐mTOR. The affinity of Telocinobufagin (TBG) from Yuanhua Toad Essence for LARP1 was investigated through molecular docking, with CETSA assays providing subsequent validation. Further cellular experiments substantiated the influence of TBG on ATC cell metastasis and modulation in the mTOR pathway. LARP1 levels were heightened in ATC cells, and its depletion effectively curbs their proliferative, migratory, invasive, and adhesive activities. With LARP1 knockdown, we also observed that the onset of EMT and metastatic processes was thwarted, as was the mTOR pathway. Subsequent research has uncovered that TBG formed a physical complex with LARP1, allowing it to target and suppress the mTOR pathway, thus preventing the metastasis of ATC. The simultaneous overexpression of LARP1, however, lessened the ability of TBG to inhibit ATC metastasis. This study highlights the importance of TBG binding to LARP1 in the mediation of the mTOR signaling pathway, a key process in the inhibition of ATC cell metastasis. This discovery introduces a new target for the diagnosis of ATC and enlightens the consideration of TBG as a treatment for ATC metastasis.