bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of sunflower protein isolate emulsion‐based edible composite films with the addition of potato starch: Barrier, mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties
Authors: Dhaigude Harshad , Saini Charanjiv Singh , Sheikh Mohd Aaqib
Published: August 2024

Edible composite films from sunflower protein isolate emulsion (SPIE) and potato starch were prepared at different ratios by the casting method. The effect of starch addition on the barrier, mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties were investigated. The maximum tensile strength and minimum water vapor permeability was observed for composite film developed at 50:50 (SPIE:PS) ratio. Transparency of sunflower protein isolate emulsion film was observed to be lower as compared to all other composite films. Total color difference values increased with increase in the concentration of starch. X‐ray diffraction of SPI emulsion film and composite films indicated amorphous structure of films. SPI emulsion film exhibited high degree of porosity. With the addition of starch, porosity of films decreased, and compactness increased. Differential scanning calorimetry curves of all films indicated melting temperature in the range of 87.22–157.21°C and enthalpy in the range of 39.86–110.94 J/g. Overall, composite films were compact, nonporous and smooth as compared to film prepared from native SPI emulsion.
Papillomavirus infection and male infertility: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Garolla Andrea , Mereu Silvia , Pizzol Damiano , Yon Dong Keon , Rahmati Masoud , Soysal Pinar , Ilie Petre Cristian , Bertoldo Alessandro , Trott Mike , Smith Lee
Published: August 2024

Background and Aims

Increasing attention is being paid to the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in men and specifically reproduction. Growing evidence suggests an association between HPV infection with many adverse effects including the impairment of semen parameters, the increase of blastocyst apoptosis, the reduction of endometrial implantation of trophoblastic cells, as well as the increase rate of miscarriages and spontaneous preterm birth.

Methods

We systematically searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, CINHAL, PsycINFO, and ERIC from inception to 2nd of July 2024, for studies that investigated the association between HPV infection with sperm parameters and fertility outcomes. The meta‐analysis was conducted on mean data and standard deviations.

Results

We included 25 studies with a total of 6942 patients. Sperm morphology was lower in HPV positive groups versus HPV negative control groups (SMD = ‐0.52 95% CI −0.84; −0.21; p = 0.001). Sperm motility was also significantly lower in HPV positive groups when compared to HPV negative controls (SMD = −0.82 95% CI −1.07; −0.57; p = <0.001). Sperm volume, concentration, and pH were not significantly different between the two groups. The other 15 studies included in the systematic review for which it was not possible to conduct a meta‐analysis showed strong associations between HPV infection and impairment of sperm parameters, reduced couple fertility and increased risk of pregnancy loss.

Conclusions

The current evidence highlights the link between HPV infection and sperm parameters, male fertility and reproductive outcomes, which has the potential to lead to a decreased couple fertility, increased risk of pregnancy loss, re‐infection and increased treatment costs.
Orchidaceae cubanae novae III. Octomeria ventii H. Dietrich, sp. nov.
Authors: Dietrich Helga
Published: August 2024

Innerhalb der laufenden Untersuchungen an cubanischen Orchideen wird aus dem kritischen Formenkreis der Pleurothallidinae eine neue Octomerta‐Art, O. ventii, beschrieben.
Einige Ergebnisse der Merkmalsanalyse au Arten der Gattung Strychnos L. (Loganiaceae) in Vietnam
Authors: Khánh Trân Công
Published: August 2024

Die vorliegende Arbeit behandelt die Merkmalsuntersuchungen der bisher registrierten Strychnos‐Arten in der Flora Vietnams. Es wurden 345 Exsikkate von 15 Arten morphologisch und anatomisch untersucht. Die Evolutionstendenzen der verschiedenen Merkmale wie die Sproßdornen und ‐ranken, die Gefäßbündel im Blattstiel, der Aufbau der Fruchtblätter, der Staubblätter und der Blüten wurden in Abbildungen dokumentiert. Zum Schluß werden die Verwandtschaft sbeziehungen zwischen den Arten diskutiert. Es wird eine neue Gliederung der Sektion Strychnos vorgeschlagen, davon gibt es eine neue Sektion und zwei neue Subsektionen, nämlich sect. Angustiflorac T. C. Khánh, subsect. Nitidae T. C. Khánh und subsect. Wallichianae T. C. Khánh.
Ökologische Mechanismen der Allelopathie und ihre Rolle bei der Entwicklung der Pflanzengesellschaften
Authors: Grodzinskij A. M.
Published: August 2024

Die Allelopathie wird als Kreislauf physiologisch aktiver Stoffe oder Koline verstanden, die auf die Wechselbeziehungen der Pflanzen untereinander und auf ihre Umwelt in der Pflanzengesellschaft und ggf. deren Veränderung wirken. In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden die dabei wirkenden ökologischen Mechanismen betrachtet. — Physiologisch aktive Stoffe, die oft allelopathiache Bodenmüdigkeit verursachen und manchmal eine Veränderung physikalischer Bodeneigensehaften hervorrufen, können auf verschiedenen Wegen von den Pflanzen direkt freigesetzt und wirksam werden. — Die Ausscheidung von Kolinen durch Wurzeln und ihr Austausch über die Wurzeln zwischen benachbarten Pflanzen bedeutet einen Austausch chemischer Information als Ursache für eine häufig verlangsamte ontogenetische Entwicklung vieler Pflanzen in der Pflanzengesellschaft im Gegensatz zur erheblich beschleunigten Entwicklung im Experiment bei Ausschalten der Einwirkung von Nachbarpflanzen. — Außer durch Wurzelausscheidungen können Koline durch Auslaugen von Blättern durch Niederschlagswasser, durch Zersetzung von Wurzelresten und Pflanzenstreu im und auf dem Boden freigesetzt werden und durch ihre toxische Wirkung u. a. den nachfolgenden Pflanzenwuchs unterdrücken. — Indirekt‐allelopathische Mechanismen vollziehen sich bei Teilnahme von Mikroorganismen und Tieren. — Koline können die Bodeninikroflora selbst zur Ausscheidung weiterer physiologisch aktiver Stoffe veranlassen, durch deren Beeinflussung Nitrat mangel hervorrufen usw. Durch ausgiebige organische Düngung bei reichlicher Bewässerung können anaerobe Bedingungen geschaffen und die organischen Stoffe zu toxischen Substanzen umgewandelt werden. — Tote Pflanzenreste im Boden werden von Pilzen befallen, die für höhere Pflanzen toxische Stoffe ausscheiden. — Toxische Wirkungen der durch Tiere erzeugten Exometaboliten und die Wirkung von Flechten auf Pflanzen werden beschrieben. — Die ”Konkurrenz“ in einer Pflanzengesellschaft ist nicht allein ein Wettbewerb um Lebensfaktoren. In einer Biozönose erhalten die im Boden zahlreich befindlichen Samen, Knollen, Zwiebeln und Rhizome von den dominierenden adulteri Pflanzen wahrscheinlich allelopathische und bioelektrische Signale, die sie zu einem Wachstumsstopp veranlassen. Sie sind fähig, lange Zeit im Ruhezustand zu überdauern, ohne abzusterben, und nach Vernichtung der dominierenden adulten Pflanzen die freien Räume rasch einzunehmen.
Zur Verwandtschaft von Carya Nutt. und Platycarya Sieb. & Zucc. (Juglandaceae) und zur natürlichen Gliederung der Familie
Authors: Schaarschmidt Horst
Published: August 2024

Morphologische, anatomische, palynologische und chorologische Daten bilden die Basis für die Erkenntnis, daß Carya Nutt. und Platycarya Sieb. & Zucc. (Juglandaceae) ein eigenes Taxon bilden. Beide Gattungen besaßen wahrscheinlich eine gemeinsame Ausgangssippe, worauf verschiedene Ähnlichkeiten und Entsprechungen hinweisen. Es wird vorgeschlagen, Carya und Platycarya in einer Tribus (Platycaryeae) zusammenzufassen.

Daraus — sowie aus der engeren Relation dieser Tribus zu den Gattungen Engelhardia Lesch. ex Blume, Oreomunnea Örst. und Alfaroa Standl. (im Gegensatz zu Juglans L., Pterocarya Kunth und Cyclocarya Iljinsk.) — resultiert eine Neugliederung der Familie: subfam. Platycaryoideae (Örsted) Manning — tribus Engelhardieae Örst. und tribus Platycaryeae Örst. — und subfam. Juglandoideae.
The vegetation of the Sant valley in South Khangai1)
Authors: Pacyna Anna
Published: August 2024

The floristic and phytosociological relations in the Sant valley are representative for medium‐size mountains situated in catehment area of Tsagan‐Turutuin‐gol (south‐facing slope of Central Khangai). An analysis of the flora of Sant valley provided evidence that it occupies an intermediate position between the flora of the South Siberian montains and that of Central Asia (The Gobi Altai).

The highly differentiated plant communities form three large groups:

dry steppes,

a mountain meadow steppe with Helictotrichon schellianum and Carex pediformis, larch forest (with Larix Sibirica), and Kobresin high mountain grassland,

meadows.
First report of Morchella galilaea, an autumn species from Pakistan, based on multilocus DNA sequences, light microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy analyses
Authors: Nisa Surat Un , Badshah Hussain , Shah Sayed Afzal , Mumtaz Abdul Samad
Published: August 2024

Morchella is highly prized for its distinct and delicious taste, making it one of the most sought‐after and valuable macrofungi. Despite Pakistan exporting morels to various European countries, Morchella's diversity in this South Asian country has not been cataloged using multilocus DNA sequence data. Realizing the need for their scientific identity, various collections were commissioned, including those from the low and high altitudinal zones of the Charsadda, Swat, and Poonch districts of Pakistan during autumn of 2015 through 2019. Specimens were identified by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and portions of the RNA polymerase II largest subunit (RPB1), second largest subunit (RPB2), and translation elongation factor 1‐α (TEF1) loci. Multigene molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed the autumnal collections were Morchella galilaea Masaphy & Clowez. The species was previously documented in the United States, China, Israel, and Turkey. A detailed taxonomic description, light and scanning electron microscopy, and multigene molecular phylogenetic analyses of the species are reported here for the first time from Pakistan. The study underscores the necessity for further surveys of unexplored areas of Pakistan and systematics of Morchella to augment species diversity and their geographic distribution.

Research Highlights

Specimens of Morchella were collected from low and high altitudinal zones in Pakistan during the autumn.

Specimens were assessed using multigene (ITS, RPB1, RPB2, and TEF1) molecular phylogenetic analyses for the first time in Pakistan.

The specimens were identified as Morchella galilaea based on multigene molecular phylogenetic analysis.

Updated taxonomic descriptions of macro‐ and microanatomical characters were provided for clarity and precision.

Hitherto‐unreported shapes of paraphyses and acroparaphyses are observed and thoroughly reported.

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of an ascospore is provided.
Enzyme‐Responsive Micelles with High Drug‐Loading Capacity for Antitumor Therapy
Authors: Wan Dong , Wu Yanan , Zhang Yuying , Liu Yonghui , Pan Jie
Published: August 2024

To overcome the poor targeting of conventional chemotherapeutic drugs and the defects of low drug‐loading capacity of conventional drug delivery systems, novel drug delivery systems with high drug‐loading capacity are developed. Herein, the high drug‐loaded mPEG79‐GFLGDDD‐DOX copolymer is first synthesized via an amide reaction, which can bond multiplex DOX. After PEGylation, the drug can resist the adsorption of proteins in the plasma in blood circulation, avoid being rapidly cleared out of the body, and prolong the circulation time of the drug in the blood, which is conducive to the enrichment of micelles in tumor tissues through the EPR effect. In tumor tissues, the peptide Glycine‐ Phenylalanine‐ Leucine‐ Glycine (GFLG) is recognized and sheared by overexpressed cathepsin B, which stripped the outer layer of methoxy polyethylene glycol (mPEG) and made it more readily available for uptake by tumor cells. After entering the tumor cells, the bonded DOX and the physically encapsulated DOX in the micelles played a synergistic role, realizing the killing of tumor cells, thus effectively enhancing the therapeutic effect on tumors. The findings in this work suggest that a high drug‐loading drug delivery system has great potential in the clinical treatment of tumors.
Goethes psychochemisches Gleichnis
Authors: Hintzsche Ekkehard
Published: August 2024

Am 28. August jährt sich zum 275. Mal der Geburtstag Johann Wolfgang von Goethes. Sein Roman „Die Wahlverwandtschaften“ von 1809 ist nicht nur ein Meilenstein seines literarischen Schaffens: Neben Goethes Fähigkeit zur tieferen zwischenmenschlichen Analyse zeigt sich darin auch sein vielseitiges Gespür für die Chemie.
Cremige Kreationen: Konsistenz ist Kunst
Authors: Leusmann Eliza
Published: August 2024

Sich vegan zu ernähren resultiert oft aus dem Wunsch, Tiere zu schützen und der Umwelt weniger schaden zu wollen als mit tierischen Lebensmitteln. Dabei ist es nicht nötig, auf gewohnte Geschmäcker und Mundgefühle zu verzichten.
Jedes Böhnchen gibt kein Tönchen
Authors: Rautenstrauch Hanne
Published: August 2024

In vielen Hülsenfrüchte stecken Oligosaccharide, die für den Menschen unverdaulich sind und somit Blähungen verursachen. Rezeptfreie Tabletten sollen helfen: Sie enthalten ein Enzym, das die Zucker spaltet. Wie sie wirken, lässt sich im Schulunterricht mit Dünnschichtchromatographie untersuchen.
Case series of patients with early psychosis presenting hypoperfusion in angular gyrus and self‐disturbance: Implication for the sense of agency and schizophrenia
Authors: Yoshikawa Akane , Obata Youhei , Kakiuchi Chihiro , Nakanishi Atsushi , Kimura Satoshi , Aoki Shigeki , Kato Tadafumi
Published: August 2024

Background

Self‐disturbance has been considered as a core symptomatology of schizophrenia and its emergence from the prodromal phase makes it a crucial target for early detection and intervention in schizophrenia. Currently, the clinical assessment of self‐disturbance relies on the self‐report of patients, and clinicians have no diagnostic tools in clinical practice. Identifying the neural substrate of self‐disturbance would be of great clinical value by shedding light on the core dimension of schizophrenia.

Case Presentation

We first introduce an adolescent patient who initially presented self‐disturbance, and clinically detectable hypoperfusion in angular gyrus (AG) was observed when early psychosis was suspected. Interestingly, the hypoperfusion in AG may correspond to improvement and exacerbation of self‐disturbance. This clinical observation led us to pursue the relationship between the decreased blood flow in the AG and self‐disturbance. Among 15 cases with suspected early psychosis in which single photon emission computed tomography was performed to exclude organic factors, we found additional 5 cases, including one prodromal patient, showing hypoperfusion in the AG and self‐disturbance with significant correlation (r = 0.79, p = 0.00025).

Discussion

The self‐disturbance has been interpreted as a reflection of disturbance of the “Sense of Agency”, the ability to attribute their action and/or thoughts to themselves. AG has been shown to play a pivotal role in the sense of agency. These cases suggest that the hypoperfusion in AG associated with the disruption in the sense of agency would be an early clinical sign of schizophrenia. Further longitudinal studies are needed to test this hypothesis.
Bilateral Vocal Fold Motion Impairment Associated With Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis
Authors: Razura Diego E. , Shuman Elizabeth A. , Johns Michael M. , O'Dell Karla
Published: August 2024

Objective

To describe the clinical courses and interventions of symptomatic patients with bilateral vocal fold motion impairment (BVFMI) attributed to diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH).

Study Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Single Institution Academic Health Center.

Methods

Retrospective chart review of patients ≥18 years old evaluated and treated for symptomatic BVFMI secondary to DISH between February 2021 and March 2023. A literature review was conducted.

Results

A total of 4 cases were identified. All patients were male and had symptomatic BVFMI attributed to cervical spine DISH, as seen on imaging. Symptoms ranged from life‐threatening dyspnea to breathy dysphonia in addition to dysphagia. Each patient was offered surgery for DISH. Two patients underwent osteophyte removal at the C5‐C6 level with improved vocal fold (VF) mobility, breathing, and voice quality. Two patients elected serial observation as voice, swallow, and airway symptoms were manageable. The literature review showed a male‐dominant (100%) presentation with an average of 70 years of age. Hypertension (45%) and diabetes mellitus (36%) were the most common comorbidities. Most patients were treated surgically (55%).

Conclusion

Both surgical and conservative interventions may be considered for symptomatic relief and improvement in VF mobility on a patient‐to‐patient basis. Further study is warranted to investigate the etiology and treatment outcomes in these cases.
Hazard Ratios and Alternative Effect Measures: An Applied Illustration
Authors: Latour Chase D. , Su I‐Hsuan , Delgado Megan , Pate Virginia , Poole Charles , Edwards Jessie K. , Stürmer Til , Lund Jennifer L. , Funk Michele Jonsson
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Although the limitations of hazard ratios (HRs) for quantifying treatment effects in right‐censored data have been widely discussed, HRs are still preferentially reported over other, more interpretable effect measures. This may stem from the fact that there are few applied examples that directly contrast the HR and its interpretation with alternative effect measures.

Methods

We analyzed data from two randomized clinical trials comparing panitumumab plus standard‐of‐care chemotherapy (SOCC) with SOCC alone as first‐ and second‐line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer. We report the effect of treatment with panitumumab on progression‐free survival (PFS) using a Cox proportional hazards model to estimate the HR and the Kaplan‐Meier estimator of cumulative incidence (risk). Further analyses included examining the cumulative incidence curves; kernel‐smoothed, non‐parametric hazards curves; fitting the Cox model with a continuous time variable; and estimating restricted mean survival as well as median survival.

Results

The HR was 0.82 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.71, 0.93), while the risk ratio (or relative risk [i.e., ratio of the cumulative incidence among the treated versus comparator]) was 0.99 (95% CI: 0.96, 1.02). These two measures suggest apparently different conclusions: either a treatment benefit or no effect. Through subsequent analyses, we demonstrated that, while the cumulative incidence of the outcome was similar by the end of follow‐up regardless of treatment, the panitumumab treated group experienced longer PFS than those randomized to SOCC. Substantial nonproportional hazards were evident with panitumumab treatment reducing the hazard of progression/mortality during the first ~1.75 years but associated with an increased hazard of progress/mortality thereafter.

Discussion

This example underscores the difficulties in interpreting HRs, particularly in the setting of qualitative violations of proportional hazards, and the value of quantifying treatment effects via multiple effect measures.
Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults With Multimorbidity in Taiwan
Authors: Chang Betty Chia‐Chen , Lai I‐Hua , Ng Yee‐Yung , Wu Shiao‐Chi
Published: August 2024

Background

Medication‐related problem is a concerning issue in older adults with multimorbidity due to complexity of disease conditions and polypharmacy, and may lead to increase in risk for adverse health outcomes. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of potentially inappropriate medication use among the growing population of older adults with multimorbidity in Taiwan.

Method

The study population was composed of patients who were aged 65 years or older with multimorbidity (two or more chronic diseases) and had at least one outpatient clinic visit with drug prescription in 2018 identified from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Potentially inappropriate medication use was defined using the 2019 Beers criteria for drugs to be avoided for older adults. Multiple logistic regression model was conducted to examine patient‐related and prescriber‐related factors associated with PIM use.

Results

A total of 2 432 416 patients (69.7% of the entire older adult population) had multimorbidity and received at least one drug prescription at the outpatient clinic in Taiwan in 2018. The prevalence of having at least one PIM in this population was found to be 85.6%. Patient‐related factors (age, sex, specific chronic diseases, frequency of outpatient visits) and prescriber‐related factors (physician characteristics, healthcare setting, total number of medications, prior PIM use) were found to be associated with use of PIM.

Conclusion

High prevalence of PIM use was found in older patients with multimorbidity in Taiwan. Both patient‐related and prescriber‐related factors had been found to be predictors of PIM use, and should be addressed when trying to improve the medication quality in this population.
Probe substrates assay estimates the effect of polyphyllin H on the activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes in human liver microsomes
Authors: Wang Erhao , Wang Mengxi , Gao Ming
Published: August 2024

Cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs) play a crucial role in phase I metabolic reactions. The activity of CYPs would affect therapeutic efficacy and may even induce toxicity. Given the complex components of traditional Chinese medicine, it is important to understand the effect of active ingredients on CYPs activity to guide their prescription. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of polyphyllin H on the activity of CYPs major isoforms providing a reference for the clinical prescription of polyphyllin H and its source herbs. The effects of polyphyllin H were evaluated in pooled human liver microsomes using probe substrates of CYP1A2, 2A6, 2C8, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, and 3A4 to determine their activities. The Lineweaver‐Burk was used to model the inhibition, and a time‐dependent inhibition experiment was performed to understand the characteristics of the inhibition. Polyphyllin H significantly suppressed the activity of CYP1A2, 2D6, and 3A4 with IC50 values of 6.44, 13.88, and 4.52 μM, respectively. The inhibition of CYP1A2 and 2D6 was best fitted with a competitive model, yielding the inhibition constant (Ki) values of 3.18 and 6.77 μM, respectively. The inhibition of CYP3A4 was fitted with the non‐competitive model with the Ki value of 2.38 μM. Moreover, the inhibition of CYP3A4 was revealed to be time‐dependent with the inhibition parameters inhibition constant (KI) and inactivation rate constant (Kinact) values of 2.26 μM−1 and 0.045 min−1. Polyphyllin H acted as a competitive inhibitor of CYP1A2 and 2D6 and a non‐competitive and time‐dependent inhibitor of CYP3A4.
Systematic Review of the Efficacy and Safety of RSV‐Specific Monoclonal Antibodies and Antivirals in Development
Authors: Sevendal Andrea T. K. , Hurley Siobhan , Bartlett Adam W. , Rawlinson William , Walker Gregory J.
Published: August 2024

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute respiratory infection amongst all ages, causing a significant global health burden. Preventative and therapeutic options for RSV infection have long been under development, and recently, several widely‐publicised vaccines targeting older adult and maternal populations have become available. Promising monoclonal antibody (mAb) and antiviral (AV) therapies are also progressing in clinical trials, with the prophylactic mAb nirsevimab recently approved for clinical use in infant populations. A systematic review on current progress in this area is lacking. We performed a systematic literature search (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov, EudraCT, ANZCTR—searched Nov 29th, 2023) to identify studies on all RSV‐specific mAbs and AV therapies that has undergone human clinical trials since year 2000. Data extraction focused on outcomes related to the therapeutic efficacy and safety of the intervention on trial, and all studies were graded against the OCEBM Levels of Evidence Table. Results from 59 studies were extracted, covering efficacy and safety data on six mAbs (motavizumab, motavizumab‐YTE, nirsevimab, ALX‐0171, suptavumab, clesrovimab) and 12 AV therapies (ALN‐RSV01, RSV604, presatovir, MDT‐637, lumicitabine, IFN‐α1b, rilematovir, enzaplatovir, AK0529, sisunatovir, PC786, EDP‐938). Of the mAbs reviewed, nirsevimab and clesrovimab hold considerable promise. The timeline for RSV‐specific AV availability is less advanced, although EDP‐938 and AK0529 have reported promising phase 2 efficacy and safety data. Moving forward, passive immunisation and treatment options for RSV infection will play a significant role in reducing the health burden of RSV, complementing recent advancements in vaccine development.

Trial Registration

PROSPERO registration: CRD42022376633
Natural Lipase Inhibitors in Recent Years: A Review
Authors: Bülbül Metin , Çokdinleyen Selin
Published: August 2024

Obesity is a condition caused by abnormal fat accumulation. The prevalence of obesity and related diseases is increasing globally, and efforts to find solutions are ongoing. In addition to diet, exercise, and surgery, drug therapy is recommended for individuals seeking a solution. Current anti‐obesity drugs target central and peripheral pathways. However, drugs targeting the central nervous system have serious side effects. Therefore, one of the approaches in the treatment of obesity is to inhibit pancreatic lipase (PL), which acts on peripheral pathways. Currently, the only clinically approved PL inhibitor is Orlistat, but this semi‐synthetic drug has also been associated with unwanted side effects. Recently, there has been extensive research on natural sources and natural products derived from these sources as potential lipase inhibitors with fewer side effects. This article reviews recent in vitro studies on inhibiting the PL enzyme by extracts from plants, fungi, and algae, as well as natural products derived from these extracts. In addition, the review presents recent molecular docking and in vivo studies demonstrating potential natural PL inhibitors.
A Synthetic Tetra‐Amide Macrocycle for Anion Recognition at Molecular Level
Authors: Singh Surajit , Shit Ananda , Gumtya Milan , Haldar Debasish
Published: August 2024

An engineered tetra‐amide macrocycle is presented, and its conformation and anion recognition properties are investigated. The tetra‐amide macrocycle 1, containing the m‐amino benzoic acid, 1,3‐benzenedicarboxylic acid and m‐xylenedinediamine adopts an envelope‐like conformation in solid‐state, where the m‐xylenedinediamine ring is perpendicular with the molecular plain. The tetra‐amide macrocycle 1 is able to bind anions such as halides, sulphate and phosphate in DMSO (dimethyl sulphoxide) solution. The stabilities of the fluoride (2.6×103 M−1) and chloride (5.6×102 M−1) complexes of 1 in DMSO is higher than that of bromide (66 M−1) and iodide (52 M−1). SO42− complexes of 1 in DMSO is more stable than the HSO4−, NO3− and H2PO4− complexes. Using this information, a quantitative evaluation of the stability of the 1 : 1 complex of 1, for which overall binding energy in the order −123.98 kcal/mol for SO42−was calculated. The strong binding affinity of the tetra‐amide macrocycle 1 toward the SO42− ion can be explained on the basis of non‐covalant interaction like ion−dipole interaction, hydrogen bonding interaction and size selectivity.
The Fabrication of Supramolecular Gel Based on Cholesterol‐Substituted Azobenzene and its Multiple Applications
Authors: Zhao Yanan , Ma Liang , Wang Fengxia , Zhang Mingfang , Song Yuxin , Xing Huan , Yang Guang
Published: August 2024

A supramolecular low molecular weight organogelator (CNAZO) containing azobenzene and cholesterol units was synthesized, and its applications have been studied. The CNAZO gelator displays excellent gelation ability in six kinds of organic solvents with satisfactory transparency and lower critical gelation concentrations. Meanwhile, the chirality can be transferred from the cholesterol unit to the azobenzene group, which can be reversibly modulated through 365 nm UV light irradiation and heating‐cooling treatment. Compared with D‐limonene, CNAZO can form a stable organogel and exhibits obvious CD signals in the mixed solvent that containing L‐limonene, which can be used for chiral recognition of limonene. Owing to the phase‐selective ability and porous network structure, CNAZO can also be chosen for the separation and recovery of petrol from water and be utilized for rhodamine B (RhB) adsorption with removal efficiency (Re) of 99 %. These interesting insights indicated that the CNAZO gelator could be selected in the design of sensors and in environmental remediation fields.
Sequential Responsive Multifunctional Nanomicelle Effectuates Collective Elimination of Breast Cancer and Cancer Stem Cells
Authors: Wang Xing , Tang Yuqi , Yang Li , Wang Xiaohan , Qi Zhengjian
Published: August 2024

Designing effective multifunctional nanodrugs to achieve multimodal treatment of tumors is an ideal choice to improve the poor clinical outcomes of current anti‐tumor therapies. Here, a multifunctional nanomicelle DC@H loaded with sarcoma kinase and cyclooxygenase‐2 protein dual target inhibitor DI02 is designed and prepared, which is sequentially catalyzed by carboxylesterase and glutathione for reduction, and strengthens the inhibition of cancer stem cell (CSC) related protein STAT3. The camptothecin carried by the DC@H ensures the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Ultimately, DC@H precisely releases and achieves effective inhibition of xenograft tumors based on the combination of chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and chemodynamic therapy, with a tumor inhibition rate of up to 90.89% in BALB/c nude mice. Research on lung metastasis proves that the CSC inhibitory characteristic of DC@H is a direct cause of the elimination of tumor metastatic nodules. There is no doubt that the multifunctional nano drug DC@H, which effectuates the collective elimination of breast cancer and cancer stem cells, provides a promising direction for achieving complete tumor cure in clinical practice.
Leveraging Non‐Radiative Transitions in Asphaltenes‐Derived Carbon Dots for Cancer Photothermal Therapy
Authors: Akakuru Ozioma Udochukwu , Xing Jie , Huang Shuqi , Iqbal Zubair M. , Bryant Steven , Wu Aiguo , Trifkovic Milana
Published: August 2024

Cancer photothermal therapy leverages the capability of photothermal agents to convert light to heat for cancer cell ablation and necrosis. However, most conventional photothermal agents (Au, CuS, Pd, mesoporous silica nanoparticles, and indocyanine green dye) either face scalability challenges or photobleached upon prolonged irradiation which jeopardizes practical applications. Here, asphaltenes‐derived carbon dots (ACDs, 5 nm) are rationally engineered as a low‐cost and photostable photothermal agent with negligible in vivo cytotoxicity. The abundant water‐solvating functional groups on the ACDs surface endows them with excellent water re‐dispersibility that outperforms those of most commercial nanomaterials. Photothermal therapeutic property of the ACDs is mechanistically described by non‐radiative transitions of excited electrons at 808 nm via internal conversions and vibrational relaxations. Consequently, the ACDs offer cancer photothermal therapy in mice within 15 days post‐exposure to one‐time near infrared irradiation. This pioneering study showcases the first utilization of asphaltenes‐based materials for cancer therapy and is expected to arouse further utilization of such materials in various cancer theranostics.
Releasing Au Electrons to Mo Site for Weakened Mo─H Bond of Mo2C MXene Cocatalyst Toward Improved Photocatalytic H2 Production
Authors: Ke Xiaochun , Wang Ping , Wang Xuefei , Chen Feng , Yu Huogen
Published: August 2024

Mo2C MXene (Mo2CTx) is one of the most promising noble‐metal‐free cocatalysts for photocatalytic H2 production because of its excellent electron transport capacity and abundant Mo sites. However, Mo2CTx typically exhibits a strong Mo─Hads bond, resulting in that the produced H2 difficultly desorbs from the Mo surface for the limited activity. To effectively weaken the Mo─Hads bond, in this paper, a regulation strategy of electron donor Au releasing electrons to the d‐orbitals of Mo sites in Mo2CTx is proposed. Herein, the Mo2CTx‐Au/CdS photocatalysts are prepared through a two‐step process, including the initial loading of Au nanoparticles on the Mo2CTx surface and the subsequent in situ growth of CdS onto the Mo2CTx‐Au surface. Photocatalytic measurements indicate that the maximal H2‐production rate of Mo2CTx‐Au/CdS reaches up to 2799.44 µmol g−1 h−1, which is 30.99 and 3.60 times higher than that of CdS and Mo2CTx/CdS, respectively. Experimental and theoretical data corroborate that metallic Au can transfer free electrons to Mo2CTx to generate electron‐enriched Moδ‐ sites, thus causing the increased antibonding‐orbital occupancy state and the weakened Mo─Hads bond for the boosted H2‐production efficiency. This research provides a promising approach for designing Mo2CTx‐based cocatalysts by regulating the antibonding‐orbital occupancy of Mo sites for improved photocatalytic performance.
Hollow Structure Derived Phosphide Nanosheets for Water Oxidation
Authors: Dong Ying , Jiao Jixiang , Wang Yadong , Yu Jun , Mu Shichun
Published: August 2024

Avoiding the stacking of active sites in catalyst structural design is a promising route for realizing active oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, using a CoFe Prussian blue analoge cube with hollow structure (C‐CoFe PBA) as a derived support, a highly effective Ni2P‐FeP4‐Co2P catalyst with a larger specific surface area is reported. Benefiting from the abundant active sites and fast charge transfer capability of the phosphide nanosheets, the Ni2P‐FeP4‐Co2P catalyst in 1 m KOH requires only overpotentials of 248 and 277 mV to reach current density of 10 and 50 mA cm−2 and outperforms the commercial catalyst RuO2 and most reported non‐noble metal OER catalysts. In addition, the two‐electrode system consisting of Ni2P‐FeP4‐Co2P and Pt/C is able to achieve a current density of 10 and 50 mA cm−2 at 1.529 and 1.65 V. This work provides more ideas and directions for synthesizing transition metal catalysts for efficient OER performance.
Digitalization of Healthcare in Low-and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs): An Overview
Authors: Kozlakidis Zisis , Sargsyan Karine
Published: August 2024

The digitalization of healthcare- considered as the collective outcome of individual digitization attempts- is an ongoing global trend, which has accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. It occurs at a different rate and follows different implementation pathways across the world. However, there is still little published information relating to this process in Low-and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), a knowledge gap which this good addresses head on. In this first chapter we present an overview of the main themes of the current book, the rationale behind the choice of terminologies and also the aims of this book. The latter are to highlight the many yet disconnected success stories from LMICs, to identify challenges and opportunities, and to maintain the spotlight on the dynamic nature of the healthcare digitalization process.
Digital Health: Needs, Trends, Applications
Authors: Kozlakidis Zisis , Wootton Tracy , Sargsyan Karine
Published: August 2024

Digital health and the digitalization of healthcare are universal trends, supported by the increasing use of technology, increasing development of relevant infrastructure, reducing accessibility costs and technological advancements. The term digital health is a blanket term that covers a wide range of themes and applications. In this chapter, the term digital health is further reviewed, as different facets of it are accommodated within the different chapters of the book. Additionally, the main differences between digitization of healthcare between high-income and low-and medium-income countries (LMICs) are highlighted. Furthermore, there is particular attention given to the differences between digital application innovation versus diffusion. Taken together, this chapter provides a concise overview on the background and common understanding that should be used when reading this book, and the particular angles used to investigate the digitization of healthcare in LMICs.
Universal Internet Access Supporting Healthcare Provision: The Example of Indonesia
Authors: Aisyah Dewi Nur , Naman Maryan , Adisasmito Wiku , Kozlakidis Zisis
Published: August 2024

Indonesia formulates a particularly interesting example in terms of internet connectivity, accessibility to healthcare services and diseases surveillance, in relation to digitization of healthcare. As an upper-middle-income country, Indonesia introduced universal health care across the country in 2018, and exhibits a highly developed rate of digitization observed. The recent introduction of digital pandemic surveillance and reporting technologies, represents the single-largest introduction of digital technologies within Indonesian healthcare. Significantly, almost all of those technologies resulted from the collaboration of government bodies with private providers at a national and/or subnational scale, along with higher education institutions and research institutions. Therefore, the experiences from Indonesia provide a tangible example for introducing digital healthcare technologies at a national scale, that can be used as a blueprint for other LMIC settings. Furthermore, the integration of these technologies within healthcare demonstrated the potential benefit for digital technologies to inform public health policy at scale and during health emergencies.
Prescriptive analytics systems revised: a systematic literature review from an information systems perspective
Authors: Wissuchek Christopher , Zschech Patrick
Published: August 2024

Prescriptive Analytics Systems (PAS) represent the most mature iteration of business analytics, significantly enhancing organizational decision-making. Recently, research has gained traction, with various technological innovations, including machine learning and artificial intelligence, significantly influencing the design of PAS. Although recent studies highlight these developments, the rising trend focuses on broader implications, such as the synergies and delegation between systems and users in organizational decision-making environments. Against this backdrop, we utilized a systematic literature review of 262 articles to build on this evolving perspective. Guided by general systems theory and socio-technical thinking, the concept of an information systems artifact directed this review. Our first objective was to clarify the essential subsystems, identifying 23 constituent components of PAS. Subsequently, we delved into the meta-level design of PAS, emphasizing the synergy and delegation between the human decision-maker and prescriptive analytics in supporting organizational decisions. From this exploration, four distinct system archetypes emerged: advisory, executive, adaptive, and self-governing PAS. Lastly, we engaged with affordance theory, illuminating the action potential of PAS. Our study advances the perspective on PAS, specifically from a broader socio-technical and information systems viewpoint, highlighting six distinct research directions, acting as a launchpad for future research in the domain.
Do people reach 100 by surviving, delaying, or avoiding diseases? A life course comparison of centenarians and non-centenarians from the same birth cohorts
Authors: Zhang Yuge , Murata Shunsuke , Schmidt-Mende Katharina , Ebeling Marcus , Modig Karin
Published: August 2024

Centenarians are perceived as pioneers of longevity, possessing the secrets to surpassing age 100. It remains unclear whether they achieve this by surviving, delaying, or avoiding diseases to a greater extent than their shorter-lived peers. This register-based study encompassed all individuals aged 60 and older, born between 1912 and 1922 in Stockholm County, Sweden (N = 170,787). Using historical data, individuals were prospectively followed from 1972 to 2022 and stratified by their age at death. Age-specific incidence rates and remaining lifetime risk from age 60 were calculated for stroke, myocardial infarction, hip fracture, and various cancers (including colorectal, breast, and prostate), and compared between those who survived to age 100 and their shorter-lived counterparts. Centenarians had lower age-specific incidence rates for almost all diseases and ages. Despite longer life spans, their lifetime risks for all diseases except hip fracture were lower than those of non-centenarians. This suggests that centenarians delay, and even avoid, many of the major age-related diseases rather than surviving them to a higher extent. The findings that centenarians not only exhibit lower disease rates at younger ages compared to their shorter-lived peers but throughout their lives challenge the notion that longer life span inevitably leads to higher disease rates or a simple shift of diseases to older ages.
Effect of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment on Cardiovascular Outcomes in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Authors: Balcan Baran , Peker Yuksel
Published: August 2024

Purpose of Review

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder with significant cardiovascular implications, affecting a broad adult demographic. This review explores OSA’s link to cardiovascular diseases and assesses Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy’s role in managing these conditions.

Recent Findings

OSA is associated with coronary heart disease, heart failure, hypertension, arrhythmias, and pulmonary hypertension, due to intermittent hypoxia, inflammation, and sympathetic activation. CPAP therapy, known for enhancing sleep and reducing daytime fatigue, has varying impacts on cardiovascular health.

While results on coronary heart disease are mixed, CPAP shows promise in improving heart failure outcomes, reducing hypertension, and managing arrhythmias, with potential benefits for pulmonary hypertension through improved hemodynamics. This underscores CPAP’s value in OSA’s holistic management, highlighting its beyond-respiratory benefits. However, adherence challenges persist, calling for more research on CPAP’s long-term cardiovascular effects. This advocates a multidisciplinary approach to OSA, considering its extensive health consequences.
Cross-cultural differences in the effects of the ambient scent on in-store behavior: the role of companionship
Authors: Chatterjee Shuvam , Bryla Pawel , Saleh Mahmoud Ibraheam
Published: August 2024

While previous studies have examined the influence of store atmospherics and social factors independently, limited research has investigated their synergistic impacts across cultures. In particular, the interactions between ambient scents, companionship influences, and cross-cultural shopping customs remain underexplored. Therefore, this study investigates how ambient scents influence retail shopping behaviors with a companion across cultures. Data were collected via surveys administered to customers in Polish and Indian shopping malls (N = 579), examining the impact of detected fragrances on time spent, money spent, purchase decisions, cognitive responses, and attitudes. Shopping with a companion in a scented environment has a more positive influence on time spent, money spent and impulse purchases in India than in Poland. There is no difference between these two cultures regarding cognitive responses to a scented retail environment, but there are significant differences for attitudinal responses and repurchase intentions. We found a positive association between the consumer rating of the shopping environment in terms of the ambient scent and the amount of money spent in India, but not in Poland. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed for optimizing atmospheric design according to cultural customs around shopping companionships.
Assessment of Machine Learning Algorithms for Land Cover Classification in a Complex Mountainous Landscape
Authors: Amin Gomal , Imtiaz Iqra , Haroon Ehsan , Saqib Najum us , Shahzad Muhammad Imran , Nazeer Majid
Published: August 2024

Mapping land cover (LC) in mountainous regions, such as the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) area of Pakistan, presents significant challenges due to complex terrain, limited data availability, and accessibility constraints. This study addresses these challenges by developing a robust, data-driven approach to classify LC using high-resolution Sentinel-2 (S-2) satellite imagery from 2019 within Google Earth Engine (GEE). The research evaluated the performance of various machine learning (ML) algorithms, including classification and regression tree (CART), maximum entropy (gmoMaxEnt), minimum distance (minDistance), support vector machine (SVM), and random forest (RF), without extensive hyperparameter tuning. Additionally, ten different scenarios based on various band combinations of S-2 data were used as input for running the ML models. The LC classification was performed using 2759 sample points, with 70% for training and 30% for validation. The results indicate that the RF algorithm outperformed all other classifiers under scenario S1 (using 10 bands), achieving an overall accuracy (OA) of 0.79 and a kappa coefficient of 0.76. The final RF-based LC mapping shows the following percentage distribution: barren land (46.7%), snow cover (22.9%), glacier (7.9%), grasses (7.2%), water (4.7%), wetland (2.9%), built-up (2.7%), agriculture (1.9%), and forest (1.2%). It is suggested that the best identified RF classifier within the GEE environment should be used for advanced multi-source data image classification with hyperparameter tuning to increase OA. Additionally, it is suggested to build the capacity of various stakeholders in GB for better monitoring of LC changes and resource management using geospatial big data.
Consumers’ perceptions on indigenous fruit value-added products in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, South Africa
Authors: Maluleke Mdungazi K. , Mathibe Noluvuko , Mthombeni Danisile Leonah
Published: August 2024

Most rural communities use indigenous fruits as an integral part of their diets by processing them into value-added products such as alcoholic beverages, jam, juice, and nuts/dried fruits. Despite the claim that these products are rich in vitamins and energy, they are still relatively underutilised due to their low availability at mainstream retailers. The data was collected from 384 participants in Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga Province and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse the consumers’ perceptions on indigenous fruit value-added products. Principal component analysis was applied, and the study results revealed that consumers preferred buying indigenous fruit value-added products over exotic fruit value-added products. Data on indigenous fruit value-added products’ market availability and accessibility was extracted and the data showed that they were perceived as important variables by consumers. Furthermore, consumers (96.4%) indicated that they would purchase marula fruit value-added products instead of other products (wild sour plum, orange monkey and wild medlar). Regarding access to indigenous value-added products, 24.7% of the participants strongly agreed and 27.6% agreed that they do have access. Therefore, it is recommended that interventions to create awareness and promote the sale and consumption of the indigenous fruit value-added products should be prioritised at events such as indigenous festivals, as well as at local retailers.