bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An evaluation of the genotoxicity and 90‐day repeated‐dose toxicity of a CBD‐rich hemp oil
Authors: Clewell Amy , Glávits Róbert , Endres John R. , Murbach Timothy S. , Báldi Péter Tamás , Renkecz Tibor , Hirka Gábor , Vértesi Adél , Béres Erzsébet , Szakonyiné Ilona Pasics
Published: July 2023

Currently, there is much interest in the sales and study of consumable Cannabis sativa L. products that contain relatively high levels of cannabidiol (CBD) and low levels of Δ‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol. While there are published safety evaluations for extracts containing low concentrations of CBD, toxicological assessments for those with higher concentrations are still scant in the public domain. In this paper, genotoxicity tests and a 90‐day repeated‐dose toxicity study of an ethanolic extract of C. sativa containing ~85% CBD were performed following relevant OECD guidelines. No increased gene mutations were observed in a bacterial reverse mutation assay compared to controls up to the maximum recommended concentration of the guideline. An in vitro chromosomal aberration assay showed no positive findings in the short‐term (3 h) treatment assays. Long‐term treatment (20 h) showed an increased number of cells containing aberrations at the highest dose of 2 μg/mL, which was outside of historical control levels, but not statistically significantly different from the controls. An in vivo micronucleus study showed no genotoxic potential of the test item in mice. A 90‐day repeated‐dose gavage study using 0, 75, 125, and 175 mg/kg bw/day showed several slight findings that were considered likely to be related to an adaptive response to consumption of the extract by the animals but were not considered toxicologically relevant. These included increases in liver and adrenal weights compared to controls. The NOAEL was determined as 175 mg/kg bw/day, the highest dose tested (equivalent to approximately 150 mg/kg bw/day of CBD).
MindMiner: Uncovering linguistic markers of mind perception as a new lens to understand consumer–smart object relationships
Authors: Hartmann Jochen , Bergner Anouk , Hildebrand Christian
Published: July 2023

Prior research revealed a striking heterogeneity of how consumers view smart objects, from seeing them as helpful partners to merely a useful tool. We draw on mind perception theory to assess whether the attribution of mental states to smart objects reveals differences in consumer–smart object relationships and device usage. We train a language model to unobtrusively predict mind perception in smart objects from consumer‐generated text. We provide a rich set of interpretable linguistic markers for mind perception, drawing on a diverse collection of text‐mining techniques, and demonstrate that greater mind perception is associated with expressing a more communal (vs. instrumental) relationship with the device and using it more expansively. We find converging evidence for these associations using over 20,000 real‐world customer reviews and also provide causal evidence that inducing a more communal (vs. instrumental) relationship with a smart object enhances mind perception and in turn increases the number of tasks consumers engage in with the device. These findings have important implications for the role of mind perception as a novel lens to study consumer–smart object relationships. We offer an easy‐to‐use web interface to access our language model using researchers own data or to fine‐tune the model to entirely new domains.
Association of malignant ascites with systemic inflammation and muscle loss after treatment in advanced‐stage ovarian cancer
Authors: Weng Chia‐Sui , Huang Wan‐Chun , Chang Chih‐Long , Jan Ya‐Ting , Chen Tze‐Chien , Lee Jie
Published: July 2023

Background

Malignant ascites is prevalent in advanced‐stage ovarian cancer and may facilitate identification of the drivers of muscle loss. This study aimed to evaluate the association of ascites with changes in systemic inflammation and muscle after treatment of advanced‐stage ovarian cancer.

Methods

We evaluated 307 patients with advanced‐stage (III/IVA) ovarian cancer who underwent primary debulking surgery and adjuvant platinum‐based chemotherapy between 2010 and 2019. The changes in skeletal muscle index (SMI) and radiodensity (SMD) were measured using pre‐surgery and post‐chemotherapy portal‐venous phase contrast‐enhanced computed tomography scans at L3. Systemic inflammation was measured using albumin levels, prognostic nutritional index (PNI), neutrophil‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet‐lymphocyte ratio (PLR). Primary endpoint was the changes in SMI and SMD after treatment. Linear regression analysis was used to test associations between muscle change and other covariates. Mediation analysis was used to determine the mediator.

Results

The median (range) age was 53 (23–83) years. The median duration (range) of follow‐up was 5.2 (1.1–11.3) years. Overall, 187 (60.9%) patients had ascites. The changes in muscle and systemic inflammatory markers after treatment were significantly different between patients with and without ascites (SMI: −3.9% vs. 2.2%, P < 0.001; SMD: −4.0% vs. −0.4%, P < 0.001; albumin: −4.4% vs. 2.1%, P < 0.001; PNI: −8.4% vs. −0.1%, P < 0.001; NLR: 20.6% vs. −29.4%, P < 0.001; and PLR: 1.7% vs. −19.4%, P < 0.001). The changes in SMI and SMD were correlated with the changes in albumin, PNI, NLR, and PLR (all P < 0.001). In multiple linear regression, ascites and NLR changes were negatively while albumin change was positively correlated with SMI change (ascites: β = −3.19, P < 0.001; NLR change: β = −0.02, P = 0.003; albumin change: β = 0.37, P < 0.001). Ascites and NLR changes were negatively while PNI change was positively correlated with SMD change (ascites: β = −1.28, P = 0.02; NLR change: β = −0.02, P < 0.001; PNI change: β = 0.11, P = 0.04). In mediation analysis, ascites had a direct effect on SMI change (P < 0.001) and an indirect effect mediated by NLR change (indirect effects = −1.61, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −2.22 to −1.08) and albumin change (indirect effects = −2.92, 95% CI: −4.01 to −1.94). Ascites had a direct effect on SMD change (P < 0.001) and an indirect effect mediated by NLR change (indirect effects = −1.76, 95% CI: −2.34 to −1.22) and PNI change (indirect effects = −2.00, 95% CI: −2.79 to −1.36).

Conclusions

Malignant ascites was associated with enhanced systemic inflammation and muscle loss after primary debulking surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy in advanced‐stage ovarian cancer. The association between ascites and muscle loss may be mediated by systemic inflammation.
An economical pyrrhotite‐loaded sludge carbon composite effectively activated persulfate to sterilize Escherichia coli
Authors: Chen Jun , Yang Xiaohong , Xia Shangqing , Li Xue , Wang Yutong , Zhan Zongsheng , Du Mingxia , Shao Dongliang
Published: July 2023

BACKGROUND

Persulfate (PS) has the capability to yield free radicals via activators, thereby shaping an advanced oxidation process that can significantly contribute to effective sterilization. Central to this technology is the pursuit of appropriate activators.

RESULTS

In our research, we successfully synthesized an economical and efficient PS activator, namely a pyrrhotite‐loaded sludge carbon (Pyr‐SC) composite. This was achieved via a straightforward procedure utilizing two environmentally friendly and cost‐efficient raw materials: pyrite and sludge. Pyr‐SC exhibited a specific surface area of 60.4 m2 g−1 and rich functional groups such as carbon–sulfur and sulfur–oxygen. The magnetic and graphitic carbon structures were formed at high temperatures during the preparation process, and the sludge carbon (SC) exhibited porous defects, which allowed the effective insertion of iron/sulfur into SC to form the stable Pyr‐SC structure. Pyr‐SC activated PS, which further sterilized Escherichia coli in the wastewater at a sterilization rate of 7.00 lg E. coli at 107 cfu mL−1 in 80 min. The sterilization rate was less affected by temperature and pH. We verified sulfate, hydroxyl and oxygen free radicals produced by the Pyr‐SC‐activated PS. The Pyr‐SC composite, thanks to its expedited electron transfer, could activate PS to engender free radicals. Furthermore, the oscillatory transformation of iron ions caused by the monosulfide ion on the Pyr‐SC surface augmented the production of free radicals. An assessment of Pyr‐SC's stability was conducted, adhering to the principles of magnetic separation. After five cycles in the Pyr‐SC/PS reaction system, the sterilization rate reached 3.29 lg, whereas the leaching rate of iron in Pyr‐SC decreased. The Pyr‐SC/PS reaction system also had a broad spectrum of wastewater.

CONCLUSION

The economically prepared Pyr‐SC composite provided an effective technology for activating PS and sterilizing microorganisms in wastewater. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Comparing CT‐Like Images Based on Ultra‐Short Echo Time and Gradient Echo T1‐Weighted MRI Sequences for the Assessment of Vertebral Disorders Using Histology and True CT as the Reference Standard
Authors: Gassert Florian T. , Kufner Alexander , Renz Martin , Gassert Felix G. , Bollwein Christine , Kronthaler Sophia , Feuerriegel Georg C. , Kirschke Jan S. , Ganter Carl , Makowski Marcus R. , Braun Christian , Schwaiger Benedikt J. , Woertler Klaus , Karampinos Dimitrios C. , Gersing Alexandra S.
Published: July 2023

Background

Several magnetic resonance (MR) techniques have been suggested for radiation‐free imaging of osseous structures.

Purpose

To compare the diagnostic value of ultra‐short echo time and gradient echo T1‐weighted MRI for the assessment of vertebral pathologies using histology and computed tomography (CT) as the reference standard.

Study Type

Prospective.

Subjects

Fifty‐nine lumbar vertebral bodies harvested from 20 human cadavers (donor age 73 ± 13 years; 9 male).

Field Strength/Sequence

Ultra‐short echo time sequence optimized for both bone (UTEb) and cartilage (UTEc) imaging and 3D T1‐weighted gradient‐echo sequence (T1GRE) at 3 T; susceptibility‐weighted imaging (SWI) gradient echo sequence at 1.5 T. CT was performed on a dual‐layer dual‐energy CT scanner using a routine clinical protocol.

Assessment

Histopathology and conventional CT were acquired as standard of reference. Semi‐quantitative and quantitative morphological features of degenerative changes of the spines were evaluated by four radiologists independently on CT and MR images independently and blinded to all other information. Features assessed were osteophytes, endplate sclerosis, visualization of cartilaginous endplate, facet joint degeneration, presence of Schmorl's nodes, and vertebral dimensions. Vertebral disorders were assessed by a pathologist on histology.

Statistical Tests

Agreement between T1GRE, SWI, UTEc, and UTEb sequences and CT imaging and histology as standard of reference were assessed using Fleiss' κ and intra‐class correlation coefficients, respectively.

Results

For the morphological assessment of osteophytes and endplate sclerosis, the overall agreement between SWI, T1GRE, UTEb, and UTEc with the reference standard (histology combined with CT) was moderate to almost perfect for all readers (osteophytes: SWI, κ range: 0.68–0.76; T1GRE: 0.92–1.00; UTEb: 0.92–1.00; UTEc: 0.77–0.85; sclerosis: SWI, κ range: 0.60–0.70; T1GRE: 0.77–0.82; UTEb: 0.81–0.92; UTEc: 0.61–0.71). For the visualization of the cartilaginous endplate, UTEc showed the overall best agreement with the reference standard (histology) for all readers (κ range: 0.85–0.93).

Data Conclusions

Morphological assessment of vertebral pathologies was feasible and accurate using the MR‐based bone imaging sequences compared to CT and histopathology. T1GRE showed the overall best performance for osseous changes and UTEc for the visualization of the cartilaginous endplate.

Level of Evidence

1

Technical Efficacy

Stage 2
A method for LPI radar signals recognition based on complex convolutional neural network
Authors: Liu Zhilin , Wang Jindong , Wu Tong , He Tianzhang , Yang Bo , Feng Yuntian
Published: July 2023

For the low probability of intercept (LPI) radar signal recognition problem, recognition algorithms based on deep learning usually use time‐frequency analysis to convert the signal into a two‐dimensional feature image for classification and recognition. However, these methods often have problems with large network size, high computational complexity, and huge memory consumption, making them difficult to apply on small devices with limited computational power and storage space. This paper proposes an LPI radar signal recognition method based on a lightweight complex convolutional neural network, named CV‐LPINet. It uses a complex convolutional module to complete data fusion of IQ sampled signals, uses a deep separable convolutional module to extract features and reduce dimensions, and introduces residual structures to improve network training. Experiments show that the average recognition accuracy of this method is 91.76% with a signal to noise ratio in the range of −6 to 10 dB, and its recognition accuracy is similar to that of typical algorithms. However, the network size is significantly reduced and the computational complexity is low, making it suitable for small intelligent devices.
An asymmetric relationship between Tibetan Plateau surface temperature regimes and oceanic–atmospheric circulations
Authors: Bafitlhile Thabo Michael , Liu Yuanbo
Published: July 2023

As a high‐altitude region, the Tibetan Plateau (TP) is sensitive to climate change. Since the 1960s, the TP has experienced significant spatial‐variant warming, vital to changing the region's terrestrial ecosystem. To understand surface air temperature (SAT) regimes over the TP, we investigated their link with teleconnections using observational and reanalysis datasets from 1982 to 2019. We employed wavelet analysis, empirical orthogonal teleconnection (EOT), partial regression, canonical correlation analysis and t test. Our results indicate an asymmetrical connection between teleconnections and SAT, with Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) predominant over the northern TP. In contrast, the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is more prevalent in the southern part. The spatial variance was potentially related to windspeed, total cloud cover (TCC), net longwave radiation (NLWR), net shortwave radiation (NSWR), cloud‐forcing net longwave flux (CF‐NLWF) and cloud‐forcing net shortwave flux (CF‐NLWF) anomalies. ENSO and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) modulate cloud cover variation in the southern TP, mainly the southwest, via the monsoon and subtropical westerlies. In the north, cloud cover variation is related to the moisture transported by the AMO‐induced prevailing westerlies. The study examined the complex interplay between teleconnections, SAT and cloud radiative forcing by examining the cloud cover and radiation balance relationship. These findings contribute to understanding climate change impacts on the TP, informing climate projections and guiding adaptation strategies by elucidating the relationship between TP temperature variation and oceanic–atmospheric oscillation patterns.
Why purchase generic medicine? A theory of planned behavior perspective
Authors: Malathi A. , Mohamed Jasim K.
Published: July 2023

The use of generic drugs reduces healthcare expenditures, especially for those of lower socio‐economic status. This research employs a descriptive research design and utilizes a cross‐sectional survey to investigate the behavioral intention of patients toward generic medicines, supported by the theory of planned behavior. A structured instrument was used to gather data from 410 respondents who were aware of and consuming generic medicines. A structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis was performed with the semopy library in Python programming. The results demonstrate that all the constructs, namely, attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control in relation to buying generic medicines, have a significant relationship with behavioral intention to purchase generic medicines. Among all three constructs, perceived behavioral control has the strongest link with behavioral intention. Furthermore, family monthly medical expenses moderate the relationship between all three constructs of planned behavior and behavioral intention. This study could help healthcare professionals and policymakers to understand consumer intention and design information and educational programs accordingly to increase the awareness and usage of generic medicines. The outcome indicates that consumers prefer to purchase generic medicines due to the similar active ingredients, dosage, side effects, and effectiveness, as well as the low cost compared to branded ones.
Estimating pairwise overlap in umbrella reviews: Considerations for using the corrected covered area (CCA) index methodology
Authors: Kirvalidze Mariam , Abbadi Ahmad , Dahlberg Lena , Sacco Lawrence B. , Calderón‐Larrañaga Amaia , Morin Lucas
Published: July 2023

Umbrella reviews (reviews of systematic reviews) are increasingly used to synthesize findings from systematic reviews. One important challenge when pooling data from several systematic reviews is publication overlap, that is, the same primary publications being included in multiple reviews. Pieper et al. have proposed using the corrected covered area (CCA) index to quantify the degree of overlap between systematic reviews to be pooled in an umbrella review. Recently, this methodology has been integrated in Excel‐ or R‐based tools for easier use. In this short letter, we highlight an important consideration for using the CCA methodology for pairwise overlap assessment, especially when reviews include varying numbers of primary publications, and we urge researchers to fine‐tune this method and exercise caution when review exclusion decisions are based on its output.
Deep‐Subwavelength Resonant Meta‐Optics Enabled by Ultra‐High Index Topological Insulators
Authors: Singh Danveer , Nandi Sukanta , Fleger Yafit , Cohen Shany Z. , Lewi Tomer
Published: July 2023

In nanophotonics, small mode volumes, high‐quality factor resonances, and large field enhancements without metals fundamentally scale with the refractive index and are key for many implementations involving light‐matter interactions. Topological insulators (TIs) are a class of insulating materials that host topologically protected surface states, some of which exhibit extraordinarily high permittivity values. Here, the optical properties of TI bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) single crystals are studied. It is found that both the bulk and surface states contribute to the extremely large optical constants, with the real part of the refractive index peaking at n ≈ 11. Utilizing these ultra‐high index values, it is demonstrated that Bi2Te3 metasurfaces are capable of squeezing light in deep‐subwavelength structures, with the fundamental magnetic dipole (MD) resonance confined in unit cell sizes smaller than λ/10. It is further shown that dense ultrathin metasurface arrays can simultaneously provide large magnetic and electric field enhancements arising from the high index of the bulk and the surface metallic states. These findings demonstrate the potential of chalcogenide TIs as a platform leveraging the unique combination of ultra‐high‐index dielectric response with surface metallic states for metamaterial design and nanophotonic applications in sensing, non‐linear generation, and quantum information.
A singular Liouville equation on planar domains
Authors: Figueiredo Giovany M. , Montenegro Marcelo , Stapenhorst Matheus F.
Published: July 2023

We show the existence of a solution for an equation where the nonlinearity is logarithmically singular at the origin, namely, in with Dirichlet boundary condition. The function f has exponential growth, which can be subcritical or critical with respect to the Trudinger–Moser inequality. We study the energy functional corresponding to the perturbed equation , where is well defined at 0 and approximates . We show that has a critical point in , which converges to a legitimate nontrivial nonnegative solution of the original problem as . We also investigate the problem with replaced by , when the parameter is sufficiently large.
Experimental and numerical study of the influence of inclusion size on the drying shrinkage cracking in cementitious composites
Authors: Jin Yudan , Wang Meng , Shi Hailing , Jia Yun , Wu Qier , Burlion Nicolas , Shao Jianfu
Published: July 2023

This study investigates the effect of inclusion size on drying shrinkage cracking in cementitious materials. A series of laboratory desiccation tests on concrete with different size of inclusions are conducted. Nondestructive X‐ray micro‐tomography images were used to reconstruct the drying‐induced shrinkage cracks of samples in desiccation tests. To better understand the mechanism of shrinkage cracking, a fully coupled hydro‐mechanical bond‐based Peridynamic model was developed that takes into account the interactions among deformation, cracking, and permeability evolution. The efficiency of the proposed model was verified through two benchmark problems. The influence of inclusion size on shrinkage cracks was numerically analyzed by reproducing experimental results and conducting a parametric study. The results indicate that, as the size of the inclusion increases, the quantity of drying induced cracks increases while the length of the cracks decreases and the average width of the cracks increases. However, the distribution of cracks appears to be unaffected by the size of the inclusion.
The role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the management of metastatic central nervous system germinoma: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Abu‐Arja Mohammad H. , Shatara Margaret S. , Okcu M. Fatih , McGovern Susan L. , Su Jack M. , Abdelbaki Mohamed S.
Published: July 2023

Background

The role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in treating patients with metastatic central nervous system (CNS) germinoma is controversial.

Methods

We compared the relapse‐free survival (RFS) of different treatment modalities by performing a meta‐analysis using published data. We summarized all data using standard descriptive statistics. We used the Kaplan–Meier method to estimate RFS and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We used the log‐rank test for the comparison of survival functions.

Results

We identified 97 patients with a median age at presentation of 15 years (range: 7–38). Sites of metastasis were cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) disease only (n = 12), brain parenchyma (n = 18), spinal cord (n = 9), ventricular and CSF (n = 10), ventricular only (n = 31), and other (n = 17). The 3‐year RFS among patients who received any form of radiotherapy was 89% (95% CI: 83–96) compared with 0% for patients who received a chemotherapy‐only regimen (p = .001). Five‐year RFS among patients who received craniospinal irradiation (CSI) was 92% (95% CI: 84–100) compared with 76.4% (95% CI: 63–90) in the non‐CSI group (with or without neoadjuvant chemotherapy) (p = .014). Five‐year RFS of patients who received CSI less than 24 Gy with neoadjuvant chemotherapy was 100% compared with 92% (95% CI: 83–100) CSI dose greater than or equal to 24 Gy alone (p = .3).

Conclusions

Our analysis does not support avoiding spinal irradiation among patients with radiographic metastatic CNS germinoma. Future studies are needed to confirm whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy will allow a reduction of irradiation dose without compromising survival.
Combining parallelized emulsion formation and sequential droplet splitting for large‐scale polymer microgel production
Authors: Vigogne Michelle , Neuendorf Talika A. , Bernhardt Ricardo , Thiele Julian
Published: July 2023

With the rise of particle‐based material systems in life and materials sciences over the past years, high‐throughput microfluidics has gained tremendous interest as a simple fabrication method for large quantities of tailored emulsions and microparticles. Here, we present the fabrication of microfluidic systems that combine parallelized droplet formation with sequential droplet splitting by 3D printing via projection‐microstereolithography for large‐scale production of water‐in‐oil emulsions and polymer microparticles. The process of droplet splitting is investigated in a 3D‐printed single‐channel, flow‐focusing device and then integrated into a microfluidic system with N = 3 × 20 parallelized channels with individual channel cross‐sections of 60 μm. The arrangement of the integrated functional microfluidic elements is evaluated for different orientations to the 3D printing direction. Furthermore, emulsion droplet size adjustment for flow‐focused and parallelized microfluidic systems is studied. For a proof‐of‐concept, the 3D‐printed microfluidic system is used to fabricate water‐in‐oil emulsions and fluorescently labeled, thermally crosslinked poly(acrylamide) microparticles. With that, our platform provides a straightforward and time‐efficient path toward microgel production in the size range of 140–170 μm on a milliliter‐per‐hour scale combining droplet formation parallelization and three integrated droplet splitting stages.
Insecticidal toxicity of ω‐Atypitoxin‐Cs1a and its inhibitory effects on insect voltage‐gated calcium channels
Authors: Yu Na , Yan Yangyang , Han Qianqian , Zhang Lingchun , Liu Zewen
Published: July 2023

BACKGROUND

Excessive use of chemical insecticides raises concerns about insecticide resistance, urging the development of novel insecticides. Peptide neurotoxins from spider venom are an incredibly rich source of ion channel modulators with potent insecticidal activity. A neurotoxin U1‐Atypitoxin‐Cs1a from the spider Calommata signata was annotated previously. It was of interest to investigate its insecticidal activity and potential molecular targets.

RESULTS

Cs1a was heterologously expressed, purified and pharmacologically characterized here. The recombinant neurotoxin inhibited high‐voltage‐activated calcium channel currents with an median inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 0.182 ± 0.026 μm on cockroach DUM neurons and thus was designated as ω‐Atypitoxin‐Cs1a. The recombinant Cs1a was toxic to three insect pests of agricultural importance, Nilaparvata lugens, Spodoptera frugiperda and Plutella xylostella with median lethal concentration (LD50) values of 0.121, 0.172 and 0.356 nmol g−1, respectively, at 24 h postinjection. Cs1a was equivalently toxic to both insecticide‐susceptible and ‐resistant insects. Cs1a exhibited low toxicity to Danio rerio with an LD50 of 2.316 nmol g−1.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that ω‐Atypitoxin‐Cs1a is a potent CaV channel inhibitor and an attractive candidate reagent for pest control and resistance management. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Potentially inappropriate medications in the elderly
Authors: Lam Y. W. Francis
Published: July 2023

Potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) are those for which the risk of adverse drug reaction outweighs the clinical benefit. These are a major concern in elderly individuals with various medical conditions. Polypharmacy and the resultant increased potential for drug‐drug interaction (DDI) in this population further compounds the problem, leading to increased risk of morbidity and mortality, reflecting age‐related altered physiological and functional states that affect drugs’ pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
On the integration of decision trees with mixture cure model
Authors: Aselisewine Wisdom , Pal Suvra
Published: July 2023

The mixture cure model is widely used to analyze survival data in the presence of a cured subgroup. Standard logistic regression‐based approaches to model the incidence may lead to poor predictive accuracy of cure, specifically when the covariate effect is non‐linear. Supervised machine learning techniques can be used as a better classifier than the logistic regression due to their ability to capture non‐linear patterns in the data. However, the problem of interpret‐ability hangs in the balance due to the trade‐off between interpret‐ability and predictive accuracy. We propose a new mixture cure model where the incidence part is modeled using a decision tree‐based classifier and the proportional hazards structure for the latency part is preserved. The proposed model is very easy to interpret, closely mimics the human decision‐making process, and provides flexibility to gauge both linear and non‐linear covariate effects. For the estimation of model parameters, we develop an expectation maximization algorithm. A detailed simulation study shows that the proposed model outperforms the logistic regression‐based and spline regression‐based mixture cure models, both in terms of model fitting and evaluating predictive accuracy. An illustrative example with data from a leukemia study is presented to further support our conclusion.
Boosting Sensitivity and Durability of Pressure Sensors Based on Compressible Cu Sponges by Strengthening Adhesion of “Rigid‐Soft” Interfaces
Authors: Wang Haoran , Dou Xiaoqiang , Wang Zheng , Liu Zihan , Ye Qian , Guo Ruisheng , Zhou Feng
Published: July 2023

The interface adhesion plays a key role between rigid metal and elastomer in compressible and stretchable conductors. However, the poor interfacial adhesion hinders their wide applications. To strengthen the interface adhesion, herein, a combination strategy of structure interlocking and polymer bridging is designed by introducing a method of subsurface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (sSI‐ATRP). This method can make polymer brush root in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) subsurface, on this basis, metals further grow from subsurface to surface of PDMS via electroless deposition. As a result, the adhesive strength (≈2.5 MPa) between metal layer and PDMS elastomer is 4 times higher than that made by common polymer modification. As a demonstration, pressure sensor is constructed by using as‐prepared compressible 3D Cu sponge as a top electrode and paper‐based interdigited metal electrode as a bottom electrode. The device sensitivity can reach up to 961.2 kPa−1 and the durability can arrive at 3 000 cycles without degradation. Thus, this proposed interface‐enhancement strategy for rigid‐soft materials can significantly promote the performance of piezoresistive pressure sensors based on 3D conductive sponge. In the future, it would also be expanded to the fabrication of stretchable conductors and extensively applied in other flexible and wearable electronics.
Artificial Post‐Cycled Structure Modulation Towards Highly Stable Li‐Rich Layered Cathode
Authors: Han Xiao , Liu Ailin , Wang Shihao , Liu Yuanyuan , Li Saichao , Zhang Yinggan , Zheng Hongfei , Sa Baisheng , Wang Laisen , Lin Jie , Qu Baihua , Xie Qingshui , Peng Dong‐Liang
Published: July 2023

High‐capacity Li‐rich layered oxides (LLOs) suffer from severe structure degradation due to the utilization of hybrid anion‐ and cation‐redox activity. The native post‐cycled structure, composed of progressively densified defective spinel layer (DSL) and intrinsic cations mixing, is deemed as the hindrance of the rapid and reversible de/intercalation of Li+. Herein, the artificial post‐cycled structure consisting of artificial DSL and inner cations mixing is in situ constructed, which would act as a shield against the irreversible oxygen emission and undesirable transition metal migration by suppressing anion redox activity and modulating cation mixing. Eventually, the modified DSL‐2% Li‐rich cathode demonstrates remarkable electrochemical properties with a high discharge capacity of 187 mAh g−1 after 500 cycles at 2 C, and improved voltage stability. Even under harsh operating conditions of 50 °C, DSL‐2% can provide a high discharge capacity of 168 mAh g−1 after 250 cycles at 2 C, which is much higher than that of pristine LLO (92 mAh g−1). Furthermore, the artificial post‐cycled structure provides a novel perspective on the role of native post‐cycled structure in sustaining the lattice structure of the lithium‐depleted region and also provides an insightful universal design principle for highly stable intercalated materials with anionic redox activity.
Applications of Metal Oxide Charge Transport Layers in Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Liu Jiale , Li Sheng , Mei Anyi , Han Hongwei
Published: July 2023

Metal oxide (MO) charge transport layers (CTLs) are widely used for fabricating highly efficient and stable perovskite solar cells (PSCs) due to their superior stability, material and preparation cost, light transmission, and charge selection. However, the complex surface states, unbalanced carrier mobility, and variable energy band structure determined by MOs can lead to additional interfacial charge recombination and transport losses within the device, which limit further improvements in device performance. Extensive research has been conducted to address these challenges. In this review, an overview of current popular MO‐CTLs and their preparation methods for PSCs are provided. Interface regulation strategies, such as passivating interface defects, modulating interface energy level alignment, and improving interface contact are also discussed, which can enhance the performance of PSCs. Meanwhile, the commonly used dopants and doping strategies for optimizing the charge transport properties of CTLs are also discussed.
Enhanced pH‐Universal Hydrogen Evolution Reactions on the Ru/a–Ni–MoO3 Electrocatalysts
Authors: Peng Lingyi , Zhang Ding , Ma Zhipeng , Chu Dewei , Cazorla Claudio , Amal Rose , Han Zhaojun
Published: July 2023

Green hydrogen production through the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a promising solution for transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. To enable the use of a variety of electrolytes with different pH values, HER catalysts with pH universality are highly desirable but their performance remains mediocre. Herein, a pH‐universal HER catalyst composed of ruthenium nanoparticles decorated on amorphous Ni‐doped MoO3 (a–Ni–MoO3) nanowire support is reported, that is, Ru/a–Ni–MoO3, which achieves enhanced performance as compared to the commercial Ru/C catalyst. Electron transfer from Ru to a–Ni–MoO3 is identified by spectroscopic techniques, which results in a modified electronic structure of the Ru active sites with a reduced electron density of 4d states near the Fermi level. Density functional theory calculations further reveal that the modulated electronic structure weakens the interactions between the Ru active sites and the reaction intermediates, which facilitates the HER reaction steps including H intermediate desorption and water dissociation. Experimental and theoretical findings provide insight into enhancing pH‐universal HER performance through modulation of electrocatalyst electronic structure.
Isolation and Characterization of Colon Targeting Starch from the Non‐Conventional Source of Jharkhand, India
Authors: Roy Dipan , Kumar Kuradi Jayaram
Published: July 2023

Staple foods are generally the conventional sources of starch. The exploration of non‐conventional and cheap sources of starch has gained momentum. In the present study, starch from mankanda (Alocaisa macrrorhizos) tubers is isolated by using base, NaOH 0.05%, w/w sodium hydroxide extracted starch (NAS) and acidic (citric acid 0.03%; Citric acid extracted starch (CAS) media and evaluated for its physicochemical, structural, thermal, rheological, and release profile. The %yield of NAS and CAS starch is found to be 8.14% and 7.28%, with neutral pH, high water holding capacity, moisture content, amylose content, low ash values, restricted swelling, and excellent flow. The granules of the starches are irregular, with a diameter ranging from 1.34 to 16.12 µm. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis reveals the combination of type A and B crystal. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT‐IR) spectra of both starch samples are almost found to be similar in nature. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning colorimetric (DSC) analysis indicate good thermal stability. Both starches exhibit shear thinning behavior. In vitro drug release studies reflect that the extracted native starch from mankanda tubers has an immense potential for the development of sustained release formulations to target the lower gastrointestinal region like the colon by protecting the drug from the physiological environment of the stomach and small intestine.
Challenges in implementing sustainable construction
Authors: Cramer Jacqueline
Published: July 2023

In response to the alarming environmental problems, there is a pressing need for a fundamental shift towards sustainable construction. However, limited attention has been given in the literature to the governance of this transformative change. The paper aims to address this research gap by investigating how the transition to sustainable construction can be realized despite the barriers encountered. The analysis focuses on the Dutch Building Agreement Steel as an illustrative case. By examining the governance structure of the Agreement and evaluating its results thus far, the study concludes that a collaborative network of partners has effectively developed a roadmap and performed accompanying activities to achieve the intended objectives. Nonetheless, a key challenge lies in mobilizing the entire construction steel chain and the government during the upcoming scale‐up phase to actively adhere to the Agreement. This new form of network governance, facilitated by an independent intermediary, does not replace traditional public governance; rather, it complements it. The approach tested in the Netherlands holds potential for application in other contexts as well.
What makes anglers happy: A sentiment analysis of Walleye angler forums in the United States
Authors: Vacura Kirsten , Camp Edward , Venturelli Paul
Published: July 2023

Objective

We hypothesized online text can provide insight into the satisfaction of anglers who post on online forums.

Methods

We applied sentiment analysis to almost 3 years of management-related posts on online angling forums to estimate the long-term satisfaction of Walleye Sander vitreus anglers in nine U.S. states.

Result

Sentiment varied fourfold among states. Consistent with the literature, our random forest model found that sentiment increased with angler density, bag limit, and season length. Relatively unimportant factors were fishing license cost, the frequency of special Walleye regulations, the degree to which management agencies communicated with anglers through social media, and the importance of angling to the state economy.

Conclusion

Our results support the hypothesis that online text can provide insight into the satisfaction of anglers who post on online forums. This work contributes to a growing interest in exploring and validating the use of online data within systems of harvest management and governance.
3D Analysis on Distribution of Pulsed Current in Electromagnetic Launcher Considering Contact State and Movement
Authors: Zhang Jiawei , Lu Junyong , Tan Sai , Li Bai , Hu Xinkai
Published: July 2023

In electromagnetic launcher, the pulsed current is concentrated by contact state, current skin effect (CSE) and velocity skin effect (VSE), and heat the material locally. It will lead to melt or degradation, reducing stability and service life of the launcher. In order to study the current distribution with all these various influences, a 3D transient current analysis model with dynamic conductivity assignment and contact layer is proposed in this paper. It is found that the short contact length in armature moving direction can make two peaks overlap caused by CSE and VSE, and VSE can disturb the current distribution in horizontal direction. When designing armatures, it is recommended that the contact length in the moving direction should be long enough during the entire launch process, so to isolate the two peaks, and that the central length of the armature tail should be longer than the lateral length, so to prevent the current from concentrating more at the lateral edge. These conclusions help the optimization of the launcher structure to reduce local damage caused by current concentration and extend service life. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Smoking and colorectal neoplasia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: Dose‐effect relationship
Authors: Wijnands Anouk M. , Elias Sjoerd G. , Dekker Evelien , Fidder Herma H. , Hoentjen Frank , ten Hove Joren R. , Maljaars P. W. Jeroen , van der Meulen‐de Jong Andrea E. , Mooiweer Erik , Ouwehand Renske J. , Penning de Vries Bas B. L. , Ponsioen Cyriel Y. , van Schaik Fiona D. M. , Oldenburg Bas ,   Dutch Initiative on Crohn's and Colitis (ICC)
Published: July 2023

Background and Aims

Prior studies on the effect of smoking on the risk of colitis‐associated colorectal neoplasia (CRN) have reported conflicting results. We aimed to further elucidate the association between smoking, including possible dose‐effects, and the development of colorectal neoplasia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods

We performed a prospective multicenter cohort study including patients with colonic IBD enrolled in a surveillance program in four academic hospitals between 2011 and 2021. The effects of smoking status and pack‐years at study entry on subsequent recurrent events of CRN (including indefinite, low‐ and high‐grade dysplasia, and colorectal cancer [CRC]) were evaluated using uni‐ and multivariable Prentice, Williams, and Peterson total‐time Cox proportional hazard models. Adjustment was performed for extensive disease, prior/index dysplasia, sex, age, first‐degree relative with CRC, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and endoscopic inflammation.

Results

In 501 of the enrolled 576 patients, at least one follow‐up surveillance was performed after the study index (median follow‐up 5 years). CRN occurred at least once in 105 patients. Ever smoking was not associated with recurrent CRN risk (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.75–1.44), but an increasing number of pack‐years was associated with an increased risk of recurrent CRN (aHR per 10 pack‐years 1.17, 95% CI 1.03–1.32; p < 0.05). Separate analyses per IBD type did not reveal differences.

Conclusions

This study found that an increase in pack‐years is associated with a higher risk of recurrent CRN in patients with IBD, independent of established CRN risk factors (NCT01464151).
Dog owners’ awareness of and motivations towards pet cadaver donation
Authors: Tracey Kira , Aktan Ílknur
Published: July 2023

Background

Animal cadavers still play an essential role in veterinary education. Many veterinary schools would like to participate in pet cadaver donation schemes for many reasons, including ethical resourcing of cadavers, but finding owners willing to donate their pet is challenging. The aim of this study was to investigate dog owners’ awareness of pet cadaver donation.

Methods

The study was conducted using Jisc online surveys with the survey being distributed via social media. In total, 708 people answered a 10‐question online questionnaire.

Results

The most common reason given for why a dog owner might donate was to assist in the education of future veterinarians (n = 396, 56%). When asked to rank the options given to them upon the passing of their pet, single animal cremation was overwhelmingly the participants' favoured option (n = 483, 68.2%).

Limitations

Factors that might affect the findings, such as religion, financial status and cultural differences, were not explored in this study.

Conclusions

The only incentive shown to increase the likelihood of pet owners donating to a pet cadaver scheme was the return their pet's ashes to them after the cadaver had served its purpose. This study revealed that dog owners currently have very little knowledge of pet cadaver donation.
Morphological and histological study of the third eyelid in hedgehogs
Authors: Shakibapour Erfan , Paryani Mohammadreza
Published: July 2023

Background

The third eyelid in animals plays an important role in maintaining eye health. Like other organs of the body, the third eyelid can be afflicted with minor or deep injuries, inflammations or even tumours in different species.

Objective

The current study investigates the morphological and histological characteristics of the third eyelid in hedgehogs.

Methods

Eight healthy adult hedgehogs (male and female) weighing 500–700 g were included in this study. Deceased animals were used for this study. Few incisions were applied around the eye and eye socket. The eye was removed, and the samples were fixated in 10% formalin solution to prepare for the histological study. To evaluate the morphological characteristics, the third eyelid was placed in 2% and 4% formalin solutions.

Results

The histological study revealed that the third eyelid cartilage is an elastic cartilage and includes chondroblasts and chondrocytes. The cells of this cartilage were either distributed individually or in isogenic groups. The bulbar and palpebral surfaces of the eyelids were devoid of any glands and were covered with a non‐keratinized stratified squamous epithelium. The anatomical examination also showed that the third eyelid had an oval‐shaped cartilage.

Conclusions

Comparing the results of this study with reports on other rodents showed that the morphological and histological structure of the cartilage in the hedgehog's third eyelid is mostly like the structure of this tissue in Indian mongoose (Herpestes javanicus).
Evaluation of synthetic data generation for intelligent climate control in greenhouses
Authors: Morales-García Juan , Bueno-Crespo Andrés , Terroso-Sáenz Fernando , Arcas-Túnez Francisco , Martínez-España Raquel , Cecilia José M.
Published: July 2023

We are witnessing the digitalization era, where artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) models are mandatory to transform this data deluge into actionable information. However, these models require large, high-quality datasets to predict high reliability/accuracy. Even with the maturity of Internet of Things (IoT) systems, there are still numerous scenarios where there is not enough quantity and quality of data to successfully develop AI/ML-based applications that can meet market expectations. One such scenario is precision agriculture, where operational data generation is costly and unreliable due to the extreme and remote conditions of numerous crops. In this paper, we investigated the generation of synthetic data as a method to improve predictions of AI/ML models in precision agriculture. We used generative adversarial networks (GANs) to generate synthetic temperature data for a greenhouse located in Murcia (Spain). The results reveal that the use of synthetic data significantly improves the accuracy of the AI/ML models targeted compared to using only ground truth data.