bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accelerated approval drug labels often lack information for clinical decision‐making
Authors: Ballreich Jeromie , Socal Mariana , Bennett Charles L. , Xuan Andrew , Trujillo Antonio , Anderson Gerard
Published: March 2023

Study objective

We evaluated US Food and Drug Administration labels for drugs approved under the accelerated approval pathway and whether these labels contained in sufficient information regarding their accelerated approval.

Design

Retrospective, observational, cohort study.

Data source

Label information for drugs with an accelerated approved indication were ascertained from two online platforms: Drugs@FDA and FDA Drug Label Repository.

Intervention

Drugs with indications receiving accelerated approval after January 1, 1992, but had not received full approval by December 31, 2020.

Measurements

Outcomes include whether the drug label indicated the use of the accelerated approval pathway, identified the specific surrogate marker(s) that supported it, or described the clinical outcomes being evaluated in post‐approval commitment trials.

Results

253 clinical indications corresponding to 146 drugs received accelerated approval. We identified a total of 110 accelerated approval indications across 62 drugs that had not received full approval by December 31, 2020. A total of 13% of labels for accelerated approved indications lacked sufficient information that approval was via the accelerated approval or based on surrogate outcome measures: 7% did not mention accelerated approval but described surrogate markers, 4% did not mention accelerated approval nor describe surrogate markers, and 2% mentioned accelerated approval but did not describe surrogate markers. No label described the clinical outcomes being evaluated in post‐approval commitment trials.

Conclusion

Labels for accelerated approved clinical indications that do not yet have full approval should be revised to include the information required in the FDA guidance to help guide clinical decision‐making.
A gas phase fractionation acquisition scheme integrating ion mobility for rapid diaPASEF library generation
Authors: Penny Jack , Arefian Mohammad , Schroeder Gunnar N. , Bengoechea José A. , Collins Ben C.
Published: March 2023

Data independent acquisition (DIA/SWATH) MS is a primary strategy in quantitative proteomics. diaPASEF is a recent adaptation using trapped ion mobility spectrometry (TIMS) to improve selectivity/sensitivity. Complex DIA spectra are typically analyzed with reference to spectral libraries. The best‐established method for generating libraries uses offline fractionation to increase depth of coverage. More recently strategies for spectral library generation based on gas phase fractionation (GPF), where a representative sample is injected serially using narrow DIA windows that cover different mass ranges of the complete precursor space, have been introduced that performed comparably to deep offline fractionation‐based libraries. We investigated whether an analogous GPF‐based approach that accounts for the ion mobility (IM) dimension is useful for the analysis of diaPASEF data. We developed a rapid library generation approach using an IM‐GPF acquisition scheme in the m/z versus 1/K0 space requiring seven injections of a representative sample and compared this with libraries generated by direct deconvolution‐based analysis of diaPASEF data or by deep offline fractionation. We found that library generation by IM‐GPF outperformed direct library generation from diaPASEF and had performance approaching that of the deep library. This establishes the IM‐GPF scheme as a pragmatic approach to rapid library generation for analysis of diaPASEF data.
Erbium and Titanium Co‐Doped Hematite Nanorods: Structural, Optical, and Catalytic Properties for Enhanced Water Splitting
Authors: Talibawo Joan , Kyesmen Pannan I. , Cyulinyana Marie C. , Diale Mmantsae
Published: March 2023

Herein, hydrothermally synthesized hematite nanorods (NRs) co‐doped with erbium and titanium, using titanium tetrachloride and erbium(III) nitrate pentahydrate as the dopant sources, are presented. The effect of varied volumes of the erbium/titanium surface co‐dopants on the morphology, structural, optical, and photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties of hematite NRs is investigated. The pristine hematite, 40 ‐Er, and 40 ‐Er/20 ‐Ti‐doped NRs samples present a similar surface morphology of vertically aligned NRs. The NRs are randomly oriented with an increase in titanium dopant for the 40 ‐Er/30 ‐Ti‐doped NRs and later coalesced for the 40 ‐Er/40 ‐Ti‐doped NRs. The structural analysis based on X‐ray diffraction and Raman analysis present a uniform, pure hematite phase for all the prepared NRs. The samples exhibit high photon absorbance with peaks in the 400–450 nm wavelength range of the visible spectrum. The 40 ‐Er/40 ‐Ti‐doped NRs sample present the highest photocurrent density of 83.9 μA cm−2 at 1.4 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) and is attributed to the lowest flat band potential (−0.76 V vs RHE) that enhances charge mobility at the electrode–electrolyte interface. These results reveal the facile erbium/titanium doping of hematite NRs as a viable strategy for enhancing their PEC water‐splitting performance.
Revealing the Mechanism of Bilayer Heterogeneous Polyelectrolytes to Suppress the Self‐Discharge of Symmetric Supercapacitors
Authors: Liu Yanan , Dong Keyi , Lv Tian , Chen Zilin , Cao Shaokui , Lu Qinghua , Zheng Feng , Chen Tao
Published: March 2023

The electrochemical supercapacitors with high power density, long cycle life, and excellent safety represent one of the most promising energy storage devices for flexible and portable electronics, but their spontaneously rapid drop of open‐circuit voltage (self‐discharge) greatly limits their wide applications. Herein, a series of bilayer heterogeneous polyelectrolyts (BHPs) consisting of a polyanion complex and a polycation complex are designed, to regulate the self‐discharge performance of supercapacitors. The BHP‐based supercapacitors possess comparable energy storage properties with those of devices based on traditional homogeneous polymer electrolyte, but exhibit a unique and noteworthy suppressed effect on the self‐discharge performance of devices. The experimental results and theoretical simulation reveal that the zeta potential difference between the used polyanion/polycation complexes has effect on the self‐discharge rate of BHP‐based supercapacitor, and the electrostatic interaction between polyelectrolytes and the mobile counterions also greatly affects the self‐discharge performance of devices. Herein, the effect of molecular structures and their interaction of polyelectrolyte complexes in BHPs on the electrochemical performance of the resultant supercapacitors are systemmatically investigated, which provides a general strategy to design novel polymer electrolytes to build high‐performance flexible supercapacitors with long self‐discharge time.
Facile Synthesis of (C6F5)2BBr and (C6F5)2BX(OEt2) (X=Cl, Br) using Hydrogen Halides and Piers’ Borane
Authors: Wong Anthony , Alcántara Gustavo , Avalos Matthew , Wu Guang , Ménard Gabriel
Published: March 2023

We report the facile and efficient synthesis of common electrophilic haloboranes via a protonolysis reaction between Piers’ borane, HB(C6F5)2, and H−X (X=Cl, Br). This route benefits from fast reaction times, easy setup, and minimal workup to yield the analytically pure etherates, (C6F5)2BCl(OEt2) (1) and (C6F5)2BBr(OEt2) (2), as well as the ether‐free tri‐coordinate species, (C6F5)2BBr (3).
Praxisbeitrag: Kreative Feedbackmethoden zur Unterstützung von Prozessen und Veranstaltungen der Bürger:innen- und Öffentlichkeitsbeteiligung
Authors: Wollmann Eva , Birkenhäger Jacob
Published: March 2023

Verfahren der Bürger- und Öffentlichkeitsbeteiligung beziehen oftmals wissenschaftliches Wissen und konkrete Forschungserkenntnisse ein, sind im Rahmen der konkreten Fragestellung aber ergebnisoffen. Die Bürger:innen bzw. die beteiligten Akteur:innen (oftmals u. a. Wissenschaftler:innen) stehen im Mittelpunkt und definieren gemeinsam das Ergebnis, oder kommen je nach Verfahren auch zu unterschiedlichen Ergebnissen. Mit Blick auf die Ergebnisse ist für gute Verfahren der Öffentlichkeitsbeteiligung das Erwartungsmanagement wichtig: Welche Form sollen die Ergebnisse haben und welchen inhaltlichen Spielraum haben die beteiligten Akteure? Für einen optimalen Austausch mit den Bürger:innen in der Wissenschaftskommunikation und in Beteiligungsverfahren braucht es daher eine kontiinuierliche Weiterentwicklung von Prozessen und Methoden innerhalb der Verfahren selbst. Der Beitrag gibt einen Überblick über verschiedene Formen des Feedbacks und beleuchtet konkrete Feedbackmethoden anhand von Praxisbeispielen.
GMO analysis results from official food control laboratories in Germany from 2017 to 2021
Authors: Waiblinger Hans-Ulrich , Eichner Christine A. , Näumann Gabriele , Busch Ulrich
Published: March 2023

In Germany, genetically modified organisms (GMO) analysis of food samples collected within the official food control is performed by the laboratories of the Federal States. The present report shows GMO analysis results from food samples of the years 2017 to 2021, including contaminations by unauthorized GMO, as well as genetically modified (GM) plant events authorized in the European Union. In addition to previous publications, evaluation of the aggregated food samples analysed for GMO components is shown. During this timeframe, 1077 (7.1%) out of 15,145 samples contained genetic modification. In 43 samples, DNA sequences of unauthorized GM plants were found. Additionally, for food derived from soybean, evaluations according to different product categories and the agronomic production (conventional and organic farming) are shown. Whereas in products from organic farming and in conventional soybeans labelled “without genetic engineering” GM soybeans were detected in 6.1% and 8.9%, of all tested samples, respectively, nearly 30% of all conventional soy samples yielded positive results below 0.1%. However, only in 0.7% of the overall analysed 5424 soybean samples GMO percentages of more than 0.1% were obtained. Generally, authorized GM plants were only found at low contamination levels. The labelling threshold of 0.9% for GM ingredients was exceeded only in 0.2% (maize) and 0.1% (soybean) samples, respectively. For monitoring purposes and risk evaluation, the data collection shall be continued.
A sensitive LC–MS/MS method for the quantification of the plant toxins hypoglycin A and methylenecyclopropylglycine and their metabolites in cow’s milk and urine and application to farm milk samples from Germany
Authors: El-Khatib Ahmed H. , Lamp Julika , Weigel Stefan
Published: March 2023

Hypoglycin A (HGA) and its homologue methylenecyclopropylglycine (MCPrG) are present in ackee and lychee as well as seeds, leaves, and seedlings of some maple (Acer) species. They are toxic to some animal species and humans. The determination of HGA, MCPrG, and their glycine and carnitine metabolites in blood and urine is a useful tool for screening for potential exposure to these toxins. In addition, HGA, MCPrG, and/or their metabolites have been detected in milk. In this work, simple and sensitive ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) methods without derivatization were developed and validated for the quantification of HGA, MCPrG, and their metabolites in cow’s milk and urine. An extraction procedure from milk samples has been developed, whereas a dilute-and-shoot approach was implemented for urine samples. For quantification, the MS/MS analysis was performed in multiple reaction monitoring mode. The methods were validated according to the European Union guidelines using blank raw milk and urine as matrices. The limit of quantification presented here for HGA in milk (1.12 µg/L) is noticeably lower than the lowest published limit of detection (9 µg/L). Acceptable values for recovery (89–106% and 85–104% in milk and urine, respectively) and precision (≤ 20%) were obtained for all the quality control levels. The stability of HGA and MCPrG in frozen milk over a period of 40 weeks has been demonstrated. The method was applied to 68 milk samples from 35 commercial dairy farms and showed the absence of any quantifiable amounts of HGA, MCPrG, and their metabolites.

Graphical Abstract
Sterols, free fatty acids, and total fatty acid content in the massive Porites spp. corals cultured under different pCO2 and temperature treatments
Authors: von Xylander Nora S. H. , Young Simon A. , Cole Catherine , Smith Terry K. , Allison Nicola
Published: March 2023

Lipids may serve as energy reserves to support coral calcification, allow acclimation to higher temperatures, and are implicated in the control of CaCO3 precipitation. Here, we report the lipid composition of the soft tissues (including host and symbionts) of 7 massive Porites spp. coral colonies (4 × P. lutea and 3 × P. murrayensis), which were cultured under different pCO2 concentrations (180, 260, 400 and 750 µatm) and at two temperatures (25 ℃ and 28 ℃), below the thermal stress threshold. We report the fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), free fatty acid (FFA) to total fatty acid content, sterol and wax ester profiles, and identify two ketones (n-alkanone) and three long chain aldehyde (n-alkanal) derivatives. Increasing seawater temperature significantly increases the contributions of FFAs to the total lipids, of C18:2 and C20:0 to the total FFA pool, of C14:0 to total FAME, and of campesterol to total sterol. The temperature increase also reduces the contributions of unusual fatty acid derivatives to total lipids, of C14:0, C15:0, C16:0 and C17:0 saturated free fatty acids to total FFAs, and of C16:0 FA to total FAME. Fatty acids are implicated in the control of membrane structure fluidity and the observed changes may promote acclimation and thermostability as temperature varies. Seawater pCO2 has no significant effect on the composition of tissue lipids with the exception that the contribution of C14:0 FA to total lipid content is significantly lower at 180 µatm compared to 260 and 750 µatm. Decreased contribution of total sterols and unusual fatty acid derivatives and increased contribution of total FFAs to total lipids are observed in the fastest calcifying coral (a P. lutea specimen) compared to the other corals, under all pCO2 and temperature conditions. Although a rapid calcifier this genotype has been shown previously to exhibit pronounced abnormal changes in skeletal morphology in response to decreased seawater pCO2. Variations in tissue lipid composition between coral genotypes may influence their resilience to future climate change.
Future projection of the African easterly waves in a high-resolution atmospheric general circulation model
Authors: Raj Jerry , Bangalath Hamza Kunhu , Stenchikov Georgiy
Published: March 2023

Simulating the features of the African Easterly Waves (AEWs), such as their westward propagation off the east Atlantic coast, is challenging for coarse-resolution climate models. In this study, we use High-Resolution Atmospheric Model (HiRAM) to simulate AEWs and analyze their future projections by the end of the twenty first century. The simulations are performed globally at a horizontal resolution of $$\sim $$
∼
25 km. The model uses shallow convective parameterization for moist convection and stratiform cloudiness. Future projections are conducted using representative concentration pathway 8.5. The AEWs are separated with respect to their periods as 3–5- and 6–9-day period AEWs, and bandpass filtering is used to filter the waves from the mean flow. HiRAM simulates structure and propagation of the waves well; however, it tends to overestimate the associated precipitation. In the future, the AEW precipitation and intensity of the circulation will considerably increase. The northward extent of the AEW track also shows a significant increase in the future. Enhanced baroclinic overturning and eddy available potential energy generated due to diabatic heating is also observed in the future.
Reflection of plane waves from the stress-free boundary of a nonlocal elastic solid half-space containing double porosity
Authors: Kumar Davinder , Singh Dilbag , Tomar Sushil K. , Hirose Sohichi , Saitoh Takahiro , Furukawa Akira , Maruyama Taizo
Published: March 2023

Reflection phenomena of a set of coupled longitudinal waves/shear wave striking obliquely against the mechanically stress-free boundary surface of a uniform nonlocal elastic solid half-space with double porosity structure have been investigated. Employing the appropriate nonlocal stress-free boundary conditions at the surface, the formulae for reflection coefficients and their corresponding energy ratios have been derived for the dissipative and non-dissipative models. Their variations have been computed against the angle of incidence for a specific model. It is found that all the reflection coefficients depend upon the presence of the nonlocality, porosities of both types, frequency and angle of incidence. Their impact on various coefficients is also studied numerically and depicted graphically.
Low myoglobin concentration in skeletal muscle of elite cyclists is associated with low mRNA expression levels
Authors: Jacobs Nina , Mos Daniek , Bloemers Frank W. , van der Laarse Willem J. , Jaspers Richard T. , van der Zwaard Stephan
Published: March 2023

Myoglobin is essential for oxygen transport to the muscle fibers. However, measurements of myoglobin (Mb) protein concentrations within individual human muscle fibers are scarce. Recent observations have revealed surprisingly low Mb concentrations in elite cyclists, however it remains unclear whether this relates to Mb translation, transcription and/or myonuclear content. The aim was to compare Mb concentration, Mb messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels and myonuclear content within muscle fibers of these elite cyclists with those of physically-active controls. Muscle biopsies were obtained from m. vastus lateralis in 29 cyclists and 20 physically-active subjects. Mb concentration was determined by peroxidase staining for both type I and type II fibers, Mb mRNA expression level was determined by quantitative PCR and myonuclear domain size (MDS) was obtained by immunofluorescence staining. Average Mb concentrations (mean ± SD: 0.38 ± 0.04 mM vs. 0.48 ± 0.19 mM; P = 0.014) and Mb mRNA expression levels (0.067 ± 0.019 vs. 0.088 ± 0.027; P = 0.002) were lower in cyclists compared to controls. In contrast, MDS and total RNA per mg muscle were not different between groups. Interestingly, in cyclists compared to controls, Mb concentration was only lower for type I fibers (P < 0.001), but not for type II fibers (P > 0.05). In conclusion, the lower Mb concentration in muscle fibers of elite cyclists is partly explained by lower Mb mRNA expression levels per myonucleus and not by a lower myonuclear content. It remains to be determined whether cyclists may benefit from strategies that upregulate Mb mRNA expression levels, particularly in type I fibers, to enhance their oxygen supply.
Global survey on the surgical management of patients affected by colorectal cancer with synchronous liver metastases: impact of surgical specialty and geographic region
Authors: Sijberden Jasper Paul , Spinelli Antonino , Ferrero Alessandro , Chand Manish , Wexner Steven , Besselink Marc G. , Dagher Ibrahim , Zimmitti Giuseppe , Görgec Burak , de Lacy Antonio , Roy Mayank , Tanis Pieter , Tonti Carlo , Abu Hilal Mohammed
Published: March 2023

Background

Consensus on the best surgical strategy for the management of synchronous colorectal liver metastases (sCRLM) has not been achieved. This study aimed to assess the attitudes of surgeons involved in the treatment of sCRLM.

Methods

Surveys designed for colorectal, hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB), and general surgeons were disseminated through representative societies. Subgroup analyses were performed to compare responses between specialties and continents.

Results

Overall, 270 surgeons (57 colorectal, 100 HPB and 113 general surgeons) responded. Specialist surgeons more frequently utilized minimally invasive surgery (MIS) than general surgeons for colon (94.8% vs. 71.7%, p < 0.001), rectal (91.2% vs. 64.6%, p < 0.001), and liver resections (53% vs. 34.5%, p = 0.005). In patients with an asymptomatic primary, the liver-first two-stage approach was preferred in most respondents’ centres (59.3%), while the colorectal-first approach was preferred in Oceania (83.3%) and Asia (63.4%). A substantial proportion of the respondents (72.6%) had personal experience with minimally invasive simultaneous resections, and an expanding role for this procedure was foreseen (92.6%), while more evidence was desired (89.6%). Respondents were more reluctant to combine a hepatectomy with low anterior (76.3%) and abdominoperineal resections (73.3%), compared to right (94.4%) and left hemicolectomies (90.7%). Colorectal surgeons were less inclined to combine right or left hemicolectomies with a major hepatectomy than HPB and general surgeons (right: 22.8% vs. 50% and 44.2%, p = 0.008; left: 14% vs. 34% and 35.4%, p = 0.002, respectively).

Conclusion

The clinical practices and viewpoints on the management of sCRLM differ between continents, and between and within surgical specialties. However, there appears to be consensus on a growing role for MIS and a need for evidence-based input.

Graphical abstract
Internal drainage for interdisciplinary management of anastomotic leakage after pancreaticogastrostomy
Authors: Felsenstein Matthäus , Amini Ann-Christin , Dorfer Sophie , Hu Mengwen , Wang Ruonan , Timmermann Lea , Hillebrandt Karl Herbert , Benzing Christian , Fehrenbach Uli , Pelzer Uwe , Sauer Igor Maximillian , Pratschke Johann , Jürgensen Christian , Malinka Thomas
Published: March 2023

Background

Anastomotic leakage and postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) may occur after pancreatic head resection, also in the setting of pancreato-gastric reconstruction. For adequate complication management, a variety of non-standardized treatments are available. Still, data on clinical evaluation of endoscopic methods remain scarce. Based on our interdisciplinary experience on endoscopic treatment of retro-gastric fluid collections after left-sided pancreatectomies, we developed an innovative endoscopic concept with internal peri-anastomotic stent placement for patients with anastomotic leakage and/or peri-anastomotic fluid collection.

Methods

Over the period of 6 years (2015–2020) we retrospectively evaluated 531 patients after pancreatic head resections at the Department of Surgery, Charité–Unversitätsmedizin Berlin. Of these, 403 received reconstruction via pancreatogastrostomy. We identified 110 patients (27.3%) with anastomotic leakage and/or peri-anastomotic fluid collection and could define four treatment groups which received either conservative treatment (C), percutaneous drainage (PD), endoscopic drainage (ED), and/or re-operation (OP). Patients were grouped in a step-up approach for descriptive analyses and in a stratified, decision-based algorithm for comparative analyses. The study’s primary endpoints were hospitalization (length of hospital stay) and clinical success (treatment success rate, primary/secondary resolution).

Results

We characterized an institutional, post-operative cohort with heterogenous complication management following pancreato-gastric reconstruction. The majority of patients needed interventional treatments (n = 92, 83.6%). Of these, close to one-third (n = 32, 29.1%) were treated with endoscopy-guided, peri-anastomotic pigtail stents for internal drainage as either primary, secondary and/or tertiary treatment modality. Following a decision-based algorithm, we could discriminate superior primary—(77,8% vs 53.7%) and secondary success rates (85.7% vs 68.4%) as well as earlier primary resolutions (11.4 days, 95%CI (5.75–17.13) vs 37.4 days, 95%CI (27.2–47.5)] in patients receiving an endoscopic compared to percutaneous management.

Conclusion

This study underscores the importance of endoscopy-guided approaches for adequate treatment of anastomotic leakage and/or peri-anastomotic fluid collections after pancreatoduodenectomy. We herein report a novel, interdisciplinary concept for internal drainage in the setting of pancreato-gastric reconstruction.
Improving the colorectal cancer care pathway via e-health: a qualitative study among Dutch healthcare providers and managers
Authors: van Deursen Liza , van der Vaart Rosalie , Alblas Eva E. , Struijs Jeroen N. , Chavannes Niels H. , Aardoom Jiska J.
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This study aims to identify improvement opportunities within the colorectal cancer (CRC) care pathway using e-health and to examine how these opportunities would contribute to the Quadruple Aim.

Methods

In total, 17 semi-structured interviews were held (i.e., nine healthcare providers and eight managers involved in Dutch CRC care). The Quadruple Aim was used as a conceptual framework to gather and systematically structure the data. A directed content analysis approach was employed to code and analyze the data.

Results

Interviewees believe the available e-health technology could be better exploited in CRC care. Twelve different improvement opportunities were identified to enhance the CRC care pathway. Some opportunities could be applied in one specific phase of the pathway (e.g., digital applications to support patients in the prehabilitation program to enhance the program’s effects). Others could be deployed in multiple phases or extended outside the hospital care setting (e.g., digital consultation hours to increase care accessibility). Some opportunities could be easily implemented (e.g., digital communication to facilitate treatment preparation), whereas others require structural, systemic changes (e.g., increasing efficiency in patient data exchanges among healthcare professionals).

Conclusion

This study provides insights into how e-health could add value to CRC care and contribute to the Quadruple Aim. It shows that e-health has the potential to contribute to the challenges in cancer care. To take the next step forward, the perspectives of other stakeholders must be examined, the identified opportunities should be prioritized, and the requirements for successful implementation should be mapped out.
Multi-domain biopsychosocial postoperative recovery trajectories associate with patient outcomes following lumbar fusion
Authors: Halvorson Ryan T. , Torres-Espin Abel , Callahan Matthew , Tay Bobby , O’Neill Conor , Berven Sigurd , Lotz Jeffrey C. , Bailey Jeannie F.
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to describe and assess the impact of multi-domain biopsychosocial (BPS) recovery on outcomes following lumbar spine fusion. We hypothesized that discrete patterns of BPS recovery (e.g., clusters) would be identified, and then associated with postoperative outcomes and preoperative patient data.

Methods

Patient-reported outcomes for pain, disability, depression, anxiety, fatigue, and social roles were collected at multiple timepoints for patients undergoing lumbar fusion between baseline and one year. Multivariable latent class mixed models assessed composite recovery as a function of (1) pain, (2) pain and disability, and (3) pain, disability, and additional BPS factors. Patients were assigned to clusters based on their composite recovery trajectories over time.

Results

Using all BPS outcomes from 510 patients undergoing lumbar fusion, three multi-domain postoperative recovery clusters were identified: Gradual BPS Responders (11%), Rapid BPS Responders (36%), and Rebound Responders (53%). Modeling recovery from pain alone or pain and disability alone failed to generate meaningful or distinct recovery clusters. BPS recovery clusters were associated with number of levels fused and preoperative opioid use. Postoperative opioid use (p < 0.01) and hospital length of stay (p < 0.01) were associated with BPS recovery clusters even after adjusting for confounding factors.

Conclusion

This study describes distinct clusters of recovery following lumbar spine fusion derived from multiple BPS factors, which are related to patient-specific preoperative factors and postoperative outcomes. Understanding postoperative recovery trajectories across multiple health domains will advance our understanding of how BPS factors interact with surgical outcomes and could inform personalized care plans.
In situ enzymatic generation of Au/Pt nanoparticles as an analytical photometric system: proof of concept determination of tyramine
Authors: Camacho-Aguayo Javier , de Marcos Susana , Felices Carlos , Galbán Javier
Published: March 2023

In situ enzymatic generation of bimetallic nanoparticles, mainly Au/Pt, overcomes the drawbacks (continuous absorbance drift, modest LOQ, and long-time reaction) observed when AuNP alone are produced. In this study, Au/Pt nanoparticles have been characterized by EDS, XPS, and HRTEM images using the enzymatic determination of tyramine with tyramine oxidase (TAO) as a model. Under experimental conditions, the Au/Pt NPs show an absorption maximum at 580 nm which can be related to the concentration of tyramine in the range 1.0 × 10-6M to 2.5 × 10-4M with a RSD of 3.4% (n = 5, using 5 × 10-6M tyramine). The Au/Pt system enables low LOQ (1.0 × 10−6 M), high reduction of the absorbance drift, and a significant shortening of the reaction time (i.e., from 30 to 2 min for a [tyramine] = 1 × 10−4M); additionally, a better selectivity is also obtained. The method has been applied to tyramine determination in cured cheese and no significant differences were obtained compared to a reference method (HRP:TMB). The effect of Pt(II) seems to involve the previous reduction of Au(III) to Au(I) and NP generation from this oxidation state. Finally, a three-step (nucleation-growth-aggregation) kinetic model for the generation of NPs is proposed; this has enabled us to obtain a mathematical equation which explains the experimentally observed variation of the absorbance with time.

Graphical abstract
Modeling and scheduling of production systems by using max-plus algebra
Authors: Al Bermanei Hazem , Böling Jari M. , Högnäs Göran
Published: March 2023

Max-plus algebra provides mathematical methods for solving nonlinear problems by using linear equations. These kinds of the problems arise in areas such as manufacturing, transportation, allocation of resources, and information processing technology. In this paper, the scheduling of production systems consisting of many stages and different units is considered, where some of the units can be used for many stages. If a production unit is used for different stages cleaning is needed in between, while no cleaning is needed between stages of the same type. Cleaning of units takes a significant amount of time, which is considered in the scheduling. The goal is to minimize the total production time, and such problems are often solved by using numerical optimization. In this paper a max-plus formalism is used for the modeling and scheduling of such production systems. Structural decisions such as choosing one unit over another proved to be difficult in the latter case, but this can be viewed as a switching max-plus linear system. No switching (and thus no cleaning) is considered as a base case, but for larger production batches the durability constraints will require switches. Switching as seldom as possible is shown to be optimal. Scheduling of a small production system consisting of 6 stages and 6 units is used as a case study.
The independent woman—locus of control and female labor force participation
Authors: Hennecke Juliane
Published: March 2023

This paper contributes to the research on heterogeneity in labor force participation decisions between women. This is done by discussing the role of the personality trait locus of control (LOC), a measure of an individual’s belief about the causal relationship between behavior and life outcomes, for differences in participation probabilities. The association between LOC and participation decisions is tested using German survey data, finding that internal women are on average 13 percent more likely to participate in the labor force. These findings are also found to translate into higher employment probabilities at the extensive and intensive margin as well as in a lifetime perspective. Additional analyses identify a strong heterogeneity of the relationship with respect to underlying monetary constraints and social working norms. In line with the existing literature, an important role of LOC for independence preferences as well as subjective beliefs about returns to investments are proposed as theoretical explanations for the findings.
Advances in polishing of internal structures on parts made by laser-based powder bed fusion
Authors: Shen Mingyue , Fang Fengzhou
Published: March 2023

The internal structures of metallic products are important in realizing functional applications. Considering the manufacturing of inner structures, laser-based powder bed fusion (L-PBF) is an attractive approach because its layering principle enables the fabrication of parts with customized interior structures. However, the inferior surface quality of L-PBF components hinders its productization progress seriously. In this article, process, basic forms, and applications relevant to L-PBF internal structures are reviewed comprehensively. The causes of poor surface quality and differences in the microstructure and property of the surface features of L-PBF inner structures are presented to provide a perspective of their surface characteristics. Various polishing technologies for L-PBF components with inner structures are presented, whereas their strengths and weaknesses are summarized along with a discussion on the challenges and prospects for improving the interior surface quality of L-PBF parts.
Appraisal of the Pre-Emptive Effect of Lactoferrin Against Chromium-Induced Testicular Toxicity in Male Rats
Authors: Abd El-Rahman Sahar S. , Ashwish Nadia M. , Ali Merhan E.
Published: March 2023

Lactoferrin (LCF), a potent naturally occurring antioxidant, is a crucial component in preventing potassium dichromate (PDC) toxicity. The goal of the current work was to study the potential efficacy of LCF in preventing PDC(CrVI)-induced testicular toxicity and oxidative injury in rats. Six groups of male rats of Wistar stain were randomly categorized into: group 1, which served as the control; group 2 and 3 received LCF (200 and 300 mg/kg orally, respectively); group 4 received PDC (2 mg/kg i.p.); group 5 and 6 pretreated with LCF, followed by PDC as in group 4 with 90 min apart for 28 days. PDC-intoxicated rats showed a significantly altered spermogram with abnormal sperm morphology. PDC significantly upregulated serum FSH and downregulated testosterone levels. Additionally, PDC decreased the levels of testicular key antioxidant biomarkers (catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH)) with elevated lipid peroxidation marker (TBARS) and testicular chromium content. Moreover, it upregulated testicular proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α, induced histopathological changes in testes with significant immunohistochemical expression of FasL and moderate expression of Nrf2. Pretreatment with LCF significantly mitigated PDC-induced testicular toxicity by enhancing spermogram, improving hormonal levels, restoring testicular oxidant/antioxidant balance, and decreasing testicular IL-1, IL6, IL-10, and TNFα levels, and amending both FasL and Nrf2 immunohistochemical-expression. Additionally, LCF improved testicular histopathological picture and spermatogenesis. Our results highlight the importance of LCF as a superior protective modulator of PDC-induced testicular injury.
Telencephalon Organoids Derived from an Individual with ADHD Show Altered Neurodevelopment of Early Cortical Layer Structure
Authors: Zhang Danmeng , Eguchi Noriomi , Okazaki Satoshi , Sora Ichiro , Hishimoto Akitoyo
Published: March 2023

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that occurs in early childhood and can persist to adulthood. It can affect many aspects of a patient's daily life, so it is necessary to explore the mechanism and pathological alterations. For this purpose, we applied induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived telencephalon organoids to recapitulate the alterations occurring in the early cerebral cortex of ADHD patients. We found that telencephalon organoids of ADHD showed less growth of layer structures than control-derived organoids. On day 35 of differentiation, the thinner cortex layer structures of ADHD-derived organoids contained more neurons than those of control-derived organoids. Furthermore, ADHD-derived organoids showed a decrease in cell proliferation during development from day 35 to 56. On day 56 of differentiation, there was a significant difference in the proportion of symmetric and asymmetric cell division between the ADHD and control groups. In addition, we observed increased cell apoptosis in ADHD during early development. These results show alterations in the characteristics of neural stem cells and the formation of layer structures, which might indicate key roles in the pathogenesis of ADHD. Our organoids exhibit the cortical developmental alterations observed in neuroimaging studies, providing an experimental foundation for understanding the pathological mechanisms of ADHD.

Graphical Abstract
Accounting for Diversity in Robot Design, Testbeds, and Safety Standardization
Authors: Fosch-Villaronga Eduard , Drukarch Hadassah
Published: March 2023

Science has started highlighting the importance of integrating diversity considerations in medicine and healthcare. However, there is little research into how these considerations apply, affect, and should be integrated into concrete healthcare innovations such as rehabilitation robotics. Robot policy ecosystems are also oblivious to the vast landscape of gender identity understanding, often ignoring these considerations and failing to guide developers in integrating them to ensure they meet user needs. While this ignorance may be for the traditional heteronormative configuration of the medical, technical, and legal world, the ending result is the failure of roboticists to consider them in robot development. However, missing diversity, equity, and inclusion considerations can result in robotic systems that can compromise user safety, be discriminatory, and not respect their fundamental rights. This paper explores the impact of overlooking gender and sex considerations in robot design on users. We focus on the safety standard for personal care robots ISO 13482:2014 and zoom in on lower-limb exoskeletons. Our findings signal that ISO 13482:2014 has significant gaps concerning intersectional aspects like sex, gender, age, or health conditions and, because of that, developers are creating robot systems that, despite adherence to the standard, can still cause harm to users. In short, our observations show that robotic exoskeletons operate intimately with users’ bodies, thus exemplifying how gender and medical conditions might introduce dissimilarities in human–robot interaction that, as long as they remain ignored in regulations, may compromise user safety. We conclude the article by putting forward particular recommendations to update ISO 13482:2014 to reflect better the broad diversity of users of personal care robots.
Romanticizing decolonization and Asian epistemology: reflections on identity and space
Authors: Lee Jack T.
Published: March 2023

Recent calls for the decolonization of the academy demand recognition for diverse canons of knowledge . Asia’s economic ascent also imparts rising confidence among Asian scholars and institutions to promote indigenous knowledge. While these global calls for emancipation are invigorating, decolonial scholarship is prone to sterile theorization, historical fixity, and an overt romanticization of the Global South. Drawing on my lived experiences as an Asian academic, I reflect on decolonization and Asian epistemology from five different spaces in my life: (1) Northern Europe, (2) Toronto, (3) Southeast Asia, (4) Kazakhstan and (5) the United Kingdom. I analyze these spaces by using the concepts of intellectual captivity and decolonization from Syed Hussein Alatas and Kuan-Hsing Chen. Specifically, the tendency for decolonization movements to descend into nationalism, nativism, and civilizationalism provides provocative insights on epistemic justice (Chen, 2010). I demonstrate how epistemology as practice can reveal a colonial mindset even among academics who engage in social justice discourse and international work. I also highlight examples of indigenous knowledge that reinforce inequality based on race, gender, sexual orientation and religion. As more individuals with hybrid identities (race, culture, and nationality) enter academe and pursue careers that require international mobility, it is imperative that decolonization moves beyond reductive categories of identity that reproduce stereotypes. I conclude with reflections on the role of comparative and international education research in decolonization movements.
De-noising groundwater level modeling using data decomposition techniques in combination with artificial intelligence (case study Aspas aquifer)
Authors: Shahbazi Maryam , Zarei Heidar , Solgi Abazar
Published: March 2023

Considering the recent significant drop in the groundwater level (GWL) in most of world regions, the importance of an accurate method to estimate GWL (in order to obtain a better insight into groundwater conditions) has been emphasized by researchers. In this study, artificial neural network (ANN) and support vector regression (SVR) models were initially employed to model the GWL of the Aspas aquifer. Secondly, in order to improve the accuracy of the models, two preprocessing tools, wavelet transform (WT) and complementary ensemble empirical mode decomposition (CEEMD), were combined with former methods which generated four hybrid models including W-ANN, W-SVR, CEEMD-ANN, and CEEMD-SVR. After these methods were implemented, models outcomes were obtained and analyzed. Finally, the results of each model were compared with the unit hydrograph of Aspas aquifer groundwater based on different statistical indexes to assess which modeling technique provides more accurate GWL estimation. The evaluation of the models results indicated that the ANN model outperformed the SVR model. Moreover, it was found that combining these two models with the preprocessing tools WT and CEEMD improved their performances. Coefficient of determination (R2) which indicates model accuracy was increased from 0.927 in the ANN model to 0.938 and 0.998 in the W-ANN and CEEMD-ANN models, respectively. It was also improved from 0.919 in the SVR model to 0.949 and 0.948 in the W-SVR and CEEMD-SVR models, respectively. According to these results, the hybrid CEEMD-ANN model is found to be the most accurate method to predict the GWL in aquifers, especially the Aspas aquifer.
Optimal design and cost analysis of water distribution networks based on pressure-dependent leakage using NSGA-II
Authors: Ghobadian Rasool , Mohammadi Kamran
Published: March 2023

Leakage from water distribution networks (WDNs) is inevitable. Therefore, during design a WDN, engineers add a percentage of each nodal water demand as leakage discharge to total node demand. The amount of leakage depends on the pressure, which is not known at the design stage. Considering a constant percentage of node demand in lieu of its leakage makes the problem worse. In this study, the effect of leakage on the optimal WDN design was investigated by developing the matrix form of the gradient algorithm while accounting for leakage using the pressure-dependent model. Non-dominated genetic algorithm version II (NSGA-II) was used as the optimization engine with two objectives which includes minimizing the network construction cost and minimizing the total network pressure deficiency. Two well-known two- and three-loop WDNs in literature were studied. The results indicated that the pressure-dependent leakage varies between 12.9 and 29.44% of the node demand while the network construction cost stays the same if compared with the fixed percentage leakage model, and the construction cost would increase by 17–31%, if leakage is not accounted for. This is expected the optimized diameters and hydraulic characteristics of the networks being affected by the leakage calculation method.
Modeling the river-aquifer via a new exact model under a more general function of river water level variation
Authors: Saeedpanah Iraj , Golmohamadi Azar Ramin
Published: March 2023

The interaction between surface water and groundwater is a significant topic in groundwater-related problems. This study suggests an exact model based on Laplace transformation to calculate the groundwater flow in river-aquifer systems. Exact models play an important role in simulating the future behavior of river-aquifer systems. Therefore, investigation of the exact models for river-aquifer systems is a hot topic in the hydraulics of groundwater flow modeling. The objective of this research is to present new exact models for simulating the hydraulics of groundwater flow in river-aquifer systems with a more general function of river level variation under recharge by means of Laplace transform method. A general function is adopted to describe the river level variation, in which some situations such as linear, exponential and power of time variations in the river level can be treated as special cases. The effects of variations in aquifer parameters on groundwater hydraulic head are evaluated. It is shown that the groundwater hydraulic head grows slower in aquifers with a greater thickness or hydraulic conductivity. In addition, the effect of changes in specific storage is too little on the groundwater hydraulic head. The variations in hydraulic heads due to changes in recharge rate with different values of thickness, hydraulic conductivity, specific storage, and length are analyzed. It is observed that the groundwater hydraulic head in an aquifer with a lesser length, higher hydraulic conductivity or higher thickness is less sensitive to a change in the recharge rate than in an aquifer with a higher length, lesser hydraulic conductivity or lesser thickness. Furthermore, it is shown that the differences in hydraulic heads due to the increase in recharge rate are not significant for different values of specific storage. The results of the present new exact models are successfully verified by the results obtained from the analytical solution of Bansal and Das. Also, for more reliability, the results are compared with those results of MODFLOW. The results show that the presented new exact models are accurate, robust and efficient. One of the advantages of the solutions is to investigate the sensitivity analysis of aquifer parameters, which has been carried out in this paper. Furthermore, in the present research a more general function describing river level variation is considered, in which the linear, exponential and power of time variations are special cases.