bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acoustic Properties of Breast Fat
Authors: Nasief Haidy Gerges , Rosado-Mendez Ivan M. , Zagzebski James A. , Hall Timothy J.
Published: October 2015

Objectives

The American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI‐RADS) atlas for ultrasound (US) qualitatively describes the echogenicity and attenuation of a mass, where fat lobules serve as a standard for comparison. This study aimed to estimate acoustic properties of breast fat under clinical imaging conditions to determine the degree to which properties vary among patients.

Methods

Twenty‐four women with solid breast masses scheduled for biopsy were scanned with a Siemens S2000 scanner and 18L6 linear array transducer (Siemens Medical Solutions, Malvern, PA). Offline analysis estimated the attenuation coefficient and backscatter coefficients (BSCs) from breast fat using the reference phantom method. The average BSC was calculated over 6 to 12 MHz to objectively quantify the BI‐RADS US echo pattern descriptor, and effective scatterer diameters were also estimated.

Results

A power law fit to the attenuation coefficient versus frequency yielded an attenuation coefficient of 1.28 dB·cm−1 MHz−0.73. The mean attenuation coefficient versus frequency slope ± SD at 7 MHz was 0.73 ± 0.23 dB·cm−1 MHz−1, in agreement with previously reported values. The BSC versus frequency showed close agreement among all patients, both in magnitude and frequency dependence, with a power law fit of (0.6 ± 0.25) ×10−4 sr−1 cm−1 MHz−2.49. The average backscatter in the 6–12‐MHz range was 0.004 ± 0.002 sr−1 cm−1. The mean effective scatterer diameter for fat was 60.2 ± 9.5 μm.

Conclusions

The agreement in parameter estimates for breast fat among these patients supports the use of fat as a standard for comparison with tumors. Results also suggest that objective quantification of these BI‐RADS US descriptors may reduce subjectivity when interpreting B‐mode image data.
Optimization of Region of Interest Drawing for Quantitative Analysis
Authors: Nakata Norio , Ohta Tomoyuki , Nishioka Makiko , Takeyama Hiroshi , Toriumi Yasuo , Kato Kumiko , Nogi Hiroko , Kamio Makiko , Fukuda Kunihiko
Published: October 2015

Objectives

This study was performed to evaluate the diagnostic utility of quantitative analysis of benign and malignant breast lesions using contrast‐enhanced sonography.

Methods

Contrast‐enhanced sonography using the perflubutane‐based contrast agent Sonazoid (Daiichi Sankyo, Tokyo, Japan) was performed in 94 pathologically proven palpable breast mass lesions, which could be depicted with B‐mode sonography. Quantitative analyses using the time‐intensity curve on contrast‐enhanced sonography were performed in 5 region of interest (ROI) types (manually traced ROI and circular ROIs of 5, 10, 15, and 20 mm in diameter). The peak signal intensity, initial slope, time to peak, positive enhancement integral, and wash‐out ratio were investigated in each ROI.

Results

There were significant differences between benign and malignant lesions in the time to peak (P < .05), initial slope (P < .001), and positive enhancement integral (P < .05) for the manual ROI. Significant differences were found between benign and malignant lesions in the time to peak (P < .05) for the 5‐mm ROI; the time to peak (P < .05) and initial slope (P< .05) for the 10‐mm ROI; absolute values of the peak signal intensity (P< .05), time to peak (P< .01), and initial slope (P< .005) for the 15‐mm ROI; and the time to peak (P < .05) and initial slope (P < .05) for the 20‐mm ROI. There were no statistically significant differences in any wash‐out ratio values for the 5 ROI types.

Conclusions

Kinetic analysis using contrast‐enhanced sonography is useful for differentiation between benign and malignant breast lesions.
Perisciatic Ultrasound‐Guided Infiltration for Treatment of Deep Gluteal Syndrome
Authors: Rosales Julio , García Nicolás , Rafols Claudio , Pérez Marcelo , Verdugo Marco A.
Published: October 2015

The objective of this study was to describe a perisciatic ultrasound‐guided infiltration technique for treatment of deep gluteal syndrome and to report its preliminary clinical results. A mixture of saline (20 mL), a local anesthetic (4 mL), and a corticosteroid solution (1 mL) was infiltrated in the perisciatic region between the gluteus maximus and pelvitrochanteric muscles. Relative pain relief was achieved in 73.7% of the patients, with average preprocedural and postprocedural visual analog scale scores of 8.3 and 2.8, respectively. Fifty percent of patients reported recurrence of discomfort, and the average duration of the therapeutic effect in these patients was 5.3 weeks.
Prenatal Diagnosis and Perinatal Outcomes of Congenital Megalourethra
Authors: Moaddab Amirhossein , Sananes Nicolas , Hernandez-Ruano Simone , Werneck Britto Ingrid Schwach , Blumenfeld Yair , Stoll François , Favre Romain , Ruano Rodrigo
Published: October 2015

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prenatal findings and postnatal outcomes in fetuses with congenital megalourethra.

Methods

This retrospective study reviewed our experience and the literature between 1989 and 2014. Prenatal findings were evaluated and compared with postnatal findings, including neonatal mortality and abnormal renal function (need for dialysis or renal transplantation).

Results

Fifty fetuses with congenital megalourethra were analyzed, including 6 cases diagnosed in our centers. Most cases (n = 43 [86.0%]) were diagnosed in the second trimester. Only 1 case was diagnosed in the first trimester, whereas 6 cases (12.0%) were diagnosed in the third trimester. Thirty‐five fetuses (70.0%) survived. Bilateral hydroureters were associated with perinatal death (P= .024). Among the survivors, 41.9% of the neonates had renal impairment. The following factors were associated with postnatal renal impairment: presence of severe oligohydramnios/anhydramnios (P = .033), bilateral hydronephrosis (P = .008), and earlier gestational age at delivery (P = .022).

Conclusions

In fetal megalourethra, bilateral hydroureters, bilateral hydronephrosis, and severe oligohydramnios/anhydramnios are associated with neonatal mortality and renal impairment.
Prenatal Sonographic Features of a Double Aortic Arch
Authors: Trobo Duna , Bravo Coral , Alvarez Teresa , Pérez Ricardo , Gámez Francisco , De León-Luis Juan
Published: October 2015

A double aortic arch is a relatively uncommon anomaly occasionally associated with congenital heart disease or the chromosome 22q11 deletion. We report a case of prenatal diagnosis of a double aortic arch in which the sonographic features in the 3‐vessel and trachea view are highlighted. A PubMed‐based search was made to retrieve all cases of prenatal diagnosis of double aortic arch. A total of 13 articles and 35 cases were found. The average gestational age at diagnosis was 29 weeks. Six cases had associated cardiac anomalies. Only 1 case had the 22q11 deletion, showing extracardiac anomalies without cardiac defect. The postnatal evolution was characterized by symptoms of tracheoesophageal compression in 72.4% of the cases. Detection of a double aortic arch should be followed by a thorough fetal scan and echocardiography, and a chromosomal study should be considered when the sonographic findings are consistent with the 22q11 deletion.
Quantitative Sonographic Texture Analysis in Preterm Neonates With White Matter Injury
Authors: You Sun Kyoung , Choi Young Hun , Park Sang Joon , Cheon Jung-Eun , Kim In-One , Kim Woo-Sun , Lee So Mi , Cho Hyun-Hae
Published: October 2015

Objectives

To analyze the texture features on cranial sonography in preterm neonates with white matter injury quantitatively and to correlate these features with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods

The study included 33 preterm neonates treated in our neonatal intensive care unit who underwent serial cranial sonography and brain MRI near term. Patients were subdivided into 3 groups according to the presence and severity of white matter injury as revealed by MRI: normal (group 1; n = 20), mild (group 2; n = 5), and severe (group 3; n = 8). The periventricular echogenicity on sonography was evaluated quantitatively with second‐order gray‐level statistics (gray‐level co‐occurrence matrix [GLCM] method). Four GLCM texture features representing homogeneity were extracted in 12 directions: (1) angular second moment (ASM), (2) inverse differential moment (IDM), (3) contrast, and (4) entropy.

Results

Thirty of 48 features showed a statistically significant difference between groups 1 and 3 (ASM in 9 directions, IDM in 6 directions, contrast in 3 directions, and entropy in all 12 directions). There were no significant differences observed between groups 1 and 2 or groups 2 and 3. The mean contrast and entropy values were generally lower in group 1 than group 3, whereas the mean ASM and IDM values were higher in group 1.

Conclusions

Severe white matter injury could be identified by using GLCM texture analysis, whereas mild white matter injury observed on MRI could not be evaluated by GLCM analysis. Quantitative texture analysis using the GLCM may serve as a complementary tool for quantitative assessment of periventricular echogenicity.
How Payers Can Improve Care After Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes
Authors: Garabedian Laura F. , Pace Lydia E. , Stuart Jennifer J.
Published: August 2024

This Viewpoint discusses the role of payers in monitoring patients for chronic health problems after an adverse pregnancy outcome.
Automated Measurement of Cerebral Hemorrhagic Contusions and Outcomes After Traumatic Brain Injury in the TRACK-TBI Study
Authors: Snider Samuel B. , Temkin Nancy R. , Sun Xiaoying , Stubbs Jacob L. , Rademaker Quinn J. , Markowitz Amy J. , Rosenthal Eric S. , Diaz-Arrastia Ramon , Fox Michael D. , Manley Geoffrey T. , Jain Sonia , Edlow Brian L. ,   TRACK-TBI Investigators
Published: August 2024

Importance

Because withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy based on perceived poor prognosis is the most common cause of death after moderate or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), the accuracy of clinical prognoses is directly associated with mortality. Although the location of brain injury is known to be important for determining recovery potential after TBI, the best available prognostic models, such as the International Mission for Prognosis and Analysis of Clinical Trials in TBI (IMPACT) score, do not currently incorporate brain injury location.

Objective

To test whether automated measurement of cerebral hemorrhagic contusion size and location is associated with improved prognostic performance of the IMPACT score.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This prognostic cohort study was performed in 18 US level 1 trauma centers between February 26, 2014, and August 8, 2018. Adult participants aged 17 years or older from the US-based Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in TBI (TRACK-TBI) study with moderate or severe TBI (Glasgow Coma Scale score 3-12) and contusions detected on brain computed tomography (CT) scans were included. The data analysis was performed between January 2023 and February 2024.

Exposures

Labeled contusions detected on CT scans using Brain Lesion Analysis and Segmentation Tool for Computed Tomography (BLAST-CT), a validated artificial intelligence algorithm.

Main Outcome and Measure

The primary outcome was a Glasgow Outcome Scale–Extended (GOSE) score of 4 or less at 6 months after injury. Whether frontal or temporal lobe contusion volumes improved the performance of the IMPACT score was tested using logistic regression and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve comparisons. Sparse canonical correlation analysis was used to generate a disability heat map to visualize the strongest brainwide associations with outcomes.

Results

The cohort included 291 patients with moderate or severe TBI and contusions (mean [SD] age, 42 [18] years; 221 [76%] male; median [IQR] emergency department arrival Glasgow Coma Scale score, 5 [3-10]). Only temporal contusion volumes improved the discrimination of the IMPACT score (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.86 vs 0.84; P = .03). The data-derived disability heat map of contusion locations showed that the strongest association with unfavorable outcomes was within the bilateral temporal and medial frontal lobes.

Conclusions and Relevance

These findings suggest that CT-based automated contusion measurement may be an immediately translatable strategy for improving TBI prognostic models.
Cellular prion protein acts as mediator of amyloid beta uptake by caveolin‐1 causing cellular dysfunctions in vitro and in vivo
Authors: da Silva Correia Angela , Schmitz Matthias , Fischer Anna‐Lisa , da Silva Correia Susana , Simonetti Franco L. , Saher Gesine , Goya‐Maldonado Roberto , Arora Amandeep Singh , Fischer Andre , Outeiro Tiago F. , Zerr Inga
Published: August 2024

INTRODUCTION

Cellular prion protein (PrPC) was implicated in amyloid beta (Aβ)‐induced toxicity in Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the precise molecular mechanisms involved in this process are unclear.

METHODS

Double transgenic mice were generated by crossing Prnp knockout (KO) with 5xFAD mice, and light‐sheet microscopy was used for whole brain tissue analyses. PrPC‐overexpressing cells were developed for in vitro studies, and microscopy was used to assess co‐localization of proteins of interest. Surface‐plasmon resonance (SPR) was used to investigate protein‐binding characteristics.

RESULTS

In vivo, PrPC levels correlated with reduced lifespan and cognitive and motor function, and its ablation disconnected behavior deficits from Aβ levels. Light‐sheet microscopy showed that PrPC influenced Aβ‐plaque burden but not the distribution of those plaques. Interestingly, caveolin‐1 (Cav‐1) KO neurons significantly reduced intracellular Aβ‐oligomer (Aβo) uptake when compared to wild‐type neurons.

DISCUSSION

The findings shed new light on the relevance of intracellular Aβo, suggesting that PrPC and Cav‐1 modulate intracellular Aβ levels and the Aβ‐plaque load.

Highlights

PrPC expression adversely affects lifespan and behavior in 5xFAD mice.

PrPC increases Aβ1‐40 and Aβ1‐42 levels and Aβ‐plaque load in 5xFAD mice.

Cav‐1 interacts with both PrPC and Aβ peptides.

Knocking out Cav‐1 leads to a significant reduction in intracellular Aβ levels.
Photo‐induced Intercalation of Cobalt(II) Tellurium Oxide as an Oxygen Evolution (Photo)electrocatalyst
Authors: Kriek Roelof J. , Oyetade Oluwaseun A. , Zingwe Nyengerai H. , Carleschi Emanuela , Doyle Bryan P. , Koch Jaco
Published: August 2024

Herein, we report on (a) the application of cobalt(II) tellurium oxide (Co3TeO6) as a photo‐electrocatalyst, to enhance the photo‐electrocatalytic (PEC) oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline media, compared to the electrocatalytic (EC) OER (in the absence of light), and (b) to store charge upon illumination and release charge upon the termination of illumination under OER potential bias conditions. These nanomaterials were synthesized employing the sol‐gel method and calcined at temperatures ranging from 400 to 1100 °C. They were physically characterized and tested for their capacity to (i) act as a catalyst towards the OER, under EC and PEC conditions, and (ii) to convert and store light‐energy as chemical‐energy. Under PEC conditions CTO‐900, which predominantly consisted of Co3TeO6, exhibited a five‐fold increase in activity compared to EC conditions as current density increased from 0.58 mA cm−2 (EC) to 3.10 mA cm−2 (PEC) at 1.8 V (vs. RHE). Additionally, CTO‐900 displayed the ability to not only store charge (upon illumination), but to also release this stored charge (after the termination of illumination), realising a current density of 2.07 mA cm−2 in the dark (under OER potential bias conditions). Photo‐induced charge storage is due to the intercalation of potassium ions into Co3TeO6.
Insights into the Single Atom and Support Interaction in Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Walter Carsten , Singh Ajit Kumar , Sontheimer Tobias , Indra Arindam , Menezes Prashanth W.
Published: August 2024

Electrochemical water oxidation with single atom catalysts (SACs) has garnered immense interest because of their high atom utilization, extraordinary activity, and elucidation of the reaction mechanism. In SACs, while the atomic sites offer active centers for substrate binding and reaction intermediates, their interaction with the solid support is crucial for the stabilization and enhancement of catalytic activity. Coordinated elements surrounding the atomic site create a ligand‐like environment that influences electrochemical properties. As a result, tuning the coordination environment of SACs allows for modulation of their oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity. In light of this, the question arises: What is the role of the support in stabilizing single atoms (SAs) and controlling their electrochemical activity during water oxidation? This review addresses this question using recent examples. Spectroscopic characterizations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations provide a direct answer: In SACs, the atomic centers exhibit strong interactions with the support via neighboring atoms, influencing OER activity.
Soluble Lead Redox Flow Batteries: Status and Challenges
Authors: Prakash Yadav Satya , Ravikumar M. K. , Patil S. , Shukla Ashok
Published: August 2024

Soluble lead redox flow battery (SLRFB) is an emergent energy storage technology appropriate for integrating solar and wind energy into the primary grid. It is an allied technology of conventional lead‐acid batteries. This appraisal compares lead‐acid batteries and SLRFB apropos their general characteristics. SLRFBs can overcome the inadequate cycle‐life of Lead‐Acid batteries as the electrodes of SLRFB do not participate in the reaction, which helps extending its durability. However, SLRFB has challenges of dendrite formation, oxygen evolution reaction, passivation of PbO2 and shunt current. These problems need to be resolved before SLRFBs can be projected for large‐scale energy storage applications. In this technical update, we have reviewed the recent studies pertinent to dendrite formation, mechanism of the lead electrode, and reversibility of the PbO2 electrode in the state‐of‐art of SLRFB along with progress in advances while developing a 12 V – 250 Wh 8‐cell SLRFB stack.
Nanoelectrochemical Platform for Elucidating the Reaction between a Solid Active Material and a Dissolved Redox Species for Mediated Redox‐Flow Batteries
Authors: Santana Santos Carla , Quast Thomas , Ventosa Edgar , Schuhmann Wolfgang
Published: August 2024

Mediated processes using a solid material, often called “solid booster”, have been proposed to increase the energy density in redox flow batteries (RFB). The strategy alters the energy storage in the dissolved redox species to a solid active material placed in a compartment of the device. Understanding the reaction kinetics of the dissolved redox mediator and the solid booster is crucial for proposing feasible pairs of solid boosters and dissolved redox mediators. We demonstrate a nanoelectrochemical methodology to monitor the reaction between the dissolved species in solution and the solid active material electrodeposited in recessed carbon nanoelectrodes. Our strategy overcomes issues inherent to standard methodologies, such as mass transport limitation, and evaluation of the intrinsic reactivity of the solid material. As a proof of concept, Prussian blue was electrodeposited in a recessed carbon nanoelectrode and used as a confined‐solid material platform to evaluate the reaction between the reduced form of Prussian blue and triiodide,
. A high conversion rate of the solid booster was observed in the presence of μM concentrations of the dissolved redox species. The proposed nanoelectrode was successfully employed as a potentiometric sensor to monitor the evolution of the reaction with the dissolved active species.
A new copula regression model for hierarchical data
Authors: Akpo Talagbe Gabin , Rivest Louis‐Paul
Published: August 2024

This article proposes multivariate copula models for hierarchical data. They account for two types of correlation: one is between variables measured on the same unit, and the other is a correlation between units in the same cluster. This model is used to carry out copula regression for hierarchical data that gives cluster‐specific prediction curves. In the simple case where a cluster contains two units and where two variables are measured on each one, the new model is constructed with a ‐vine. The proposed copula density is expressed in terms of three copula families. When the copula families and the marginal distributions are normal, the model is equivalent to a normal linear mixed model with random cluster‐specific intercepts. Methods to select the three copula families and to estimate their parameters are proposed. We perform Monte Carlo studies of the sampling properties of these estimators and of out‐of‐sample predictions. The new model is applied to a dataset on the marks of students in several schools.
Smart bridge bearing monitoring: Predicting seismic responses with a multi‐head attention‐based CNN‐LSTM network
Authors: Yazdanpanah Omid , Chang Minwoo , Park Minseok , Mangalathu Sujith
Published: August 2024

This paper introduces a novel method to spontaneously predict displacement time histories and hysteresis curves of bridge lead rubber bearings under seismic loads and axial forces. The method leverages a stacked convolutional‐bidirectional Cuda Long Short Term Memory network, enhanced with multi‐head attention, skip connections, exponential learning rate scheduler, and a hybrid activation function to improve performance. The framework utilizes the functional application programming interface provided by the Python Keras library to build a model that takes input features such as horizontal and vertical ground accelerations, actuator loads in both lateral and vertical directions, and the superstructure mass. The effectiveness of the deep learning model is evaluated using a considerable experimental dataset of 53 real‐time hybrid simulations, spanning various earthquake intensities and superstructure masses (Chi‐Chi: 15 scenarios, El Centro: 15 scenarios, Kobe: 13 scenarios, and Northridge: 10 scenarios). Initially, Northridge earthquake data serves as unseen data, while the rest is used for training and validation. In a subsequent trial, the unseen data is centered on Kobe earthquake scenarios. By employing a hybrid loss function merging mean square and mean absolute errors, the model exhibits a substantial correlation of over 83% between predicted displacement time series and empirical measurements for the unseen data. In summary, the proposed model offers miscellaneous benefits, including time and cost savings in experimental efforts by decreasing the need for additional tests. It further delivers a swift and precise insight into the bridge bearing performance and its energy dissipation, facilitating timely and accurate bridge design in different scenarios for engineers.
Eine botanische Expedition nach Kalimantan (Borneo) der Republik Indonesien
Authors: Tarnavschi Ion T.
Published: August 2024

Nach Darstellung der allgemeinen geographischen Lage und der Lebensweise in Indonesien beschreiben wir die Flora und Vegetation unserer Aufenthaltsorte auf dem Weg nach Kalimantan: Balik‐Papan, Samarinda und Tandjung‐Redeb und deren Umgebung.

Nach dem Norden von Kalimantan, wo zum ersten Mal botanisiert wurde, und in die langen, verzweigten Flußdeltas mit der dort verbreiteten Mangrove‐Flora sind wir mit. dem biologischen Forschungsschiff ”Sumadera“ gefahren.

In der letzten Ortschaft haben wir gelegentlich einer botanischen Expedition bei Long‐Lanuk (ein Dayaken‐Stamm) die Zusammensetzung eines tropischen Urwaldes (Dschungel) mit seinen Eigentümlichkeiten gesehen, die Pflanzen werden in unserer kurzen Abhandlung aufgezählt. Danach sind wir zurück nach Jakarta gefahren.
Wasserhaushalt der Wüsten‐ und Wüstensteppenpflanzen in der Nord‐ und der Trans‐Altai‐Gobi1)
Authors: Bobrovskaja N. I.
Published: August 2024

Die Untersuchungen des Wasserhaushalts der Dominanten von besonders typischen Pflanzengesellschaften der Nord‐ und Trans‐Altai‐Gobi zeigten, daß es Unterschiede im Charakter des Wasserhaushalts der Wüstensteppen‐(Steppen‐) und Wüstenarten gibt. Eine der kennzeichnenden Besonderheiten der Steppenpflanzen ist ein intensiver Wasserumsatz. In der Trockenzeit verdunsten die Steppenpflanzen (ausschließlich Allium‐Arten) pro Stunde eine fast l,5mal größere Wassermenge als ihre Pflanzenmasse beträgt. Der Blattwassergehalt ist relativ gering und kann stark schwanken. Das Wasserdefizit gleicht während ökologischer Streßzustände annähernd den kritischen Werten. Der Blattwassergehalt der Allium‐Arten ist hoch, ihre Transpirationsintensität ist niedriger, als die der Gräser und primitiven Zwerghalbsträucher, das Wasserdefizit ist gering. In Trockenzeiten ist aber die Differenz zwischen den maximalen aktuellen und subletalen Defizitwerten sehr gering. Diese weist deutlich daraufhin, daß sich hier die Allium‐, sowie die übrigen Steppenarten der Steppenwüstenzone an der Grenze ihrer Existenz befinden. Die Intensität des Wasserunisatzes der Wüstenarten ist generell wesentlich geringer als die der Steppenarten. Der Wassergehalt ist relativ hoch. Die Differenz zwischen dem maximalen aktuellen und dem subletalen Wasserdefizit weist einen beträchtlichen ”Vorrat an Dürreresistenz“ dieser Pflanzen nach.
Ulmus pumila L. und ihre Vergesellschaftung in der Nord‐Mongolei1)
Authors: Blažková Denisa
Published: August 2024

Das Studium der Ökologie und Zönologie von Ulmus pumila im Flußgebiet des unteren Orchon (Nord‐Mongolei) hat gezeigt, daß die Art auch in diesem Gebiet natürliche Bestände in Form verhältnismäßig lichter Wälder mit eigenem Artenbestand bildet, die wir als eine selbständige Ulmus‐Gesellschaft fassen können. Die Zönologie, die Struktur und der Lebenszyklus zeigen, daß Ulmus pumila von Natur aus keine ständig dichten Wälder bildet. Als Pionierart besiedelt die Ulme offene, freie, nährstoffarme Standorte, aber mit genügend Wasser in den tieferen Bodenschichten. Der Pioniercharakter der Art kommt auch durch Änderung der Lebensstrategie im Verlaufe der Entwicklung zum Ausdruck. Die Berücksichtigung dieser biologischen Eigenschaften kann für eine erfolgreichere Kultivierung dieses Gehölzes genutzt werden.
Oxidation of Cyclohexane to Cyclohexanol/Cyclohexanone Using Sol‐Gel‐Encapsulated Unspecific Peroxygenase from Agrocybe aegerita
Authors: Wu Yinqi , Hollmann Frank , Musa Musa M.
Published: August 2024

Unspecific peroxygenase from Agrocybe aegerite (AaeUPO) is a remarkable catalyst for the oxyfunctionalization of non‐activated C−H bonds under mild conditions. It exhibits comparable activity to P450 monooxygenase but offers the advantage of using H2O2 instead of a complex electron transport chain to reductively activate O2. Here, we demonstrate the successful oxidation of cyclohexane to cyclohexanol/cyclohexanone (KA‐oil) using sol‐gel encapsulated AaeUPO. Remarkably, cyclohexane serves both as a solvent and a substrate in this system, which simplifies product isolation. The ratio of cyclohexanone to cyclohexanol using this approach is remarkably higher compared to the oxidation using free AaeUPO in aqueous media using acetonitrile as a cosolvent. The utilization of sol‐gel encapsulated AaeUPO offers a promising approach for oxyfunctionalization reactions and improves the chances for this enzyme to be incorporated in the same pot with other chemical transformations.
Intercalation of Al3+ into Prussian Blue Analogues from Nonaqueous Electrolytes
Authors: Zheng Jiening , Yi Ke , Chang Chengkang
Published: August 2024

Nonaqueous aluminum‐ion batteries (AIBs) provide advantages, such as high energy density, enhanced safety, and reduced corrosion, making them ideal for advanced energy storage solutions. A key challenge faced by AIBs is the lack of suitable cathode materials for rapid Al‐ion insertion /extraction. Herein, K2Mn[Fe(CN)6] 2H2O (KMHCF) is innovatively chosen as a model to investigate the aluminum storage performance of Prussian blue analogues in nonaqueous AIBs. As anticipated, the KMHCF allows for reversible aluminum storage and exhibits characteristic charge/discharge plateaus. Furthermore, carbon combined highly crystalline KMHCF (HC‐KMHCF@C) is synthesized through a chelator‐assisted preparation method in combination with an in situ carbon compositing technique. With reduced [Fe(CN)6]4⁻ defects, lower interstitial water content, and enhanced conductivity, HC‐KMHCF@C exhibits a high aluminum storage capacity (146.2 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.5 A g⁻¹) and satisfactory cycling performance (maintaining 86.4 mAh g⁻¹ after 800 cycles). The electrochemical reaction mechanism of HC‐KMHCF@C is investigated in detail. During the initial charge, K⁺ ions are extracted, shifting the structure from monoclinic to cubic. In subsequent cycles, reversible Al3+ insertion and extraction cause the structure to alternate between monoclinic and cubic phases.
Digitalization in Preclinical Research: Advancements and Implications
Authors: Michalska-Falkowska Anna , Sargsyan Karine
Published: August 2024

Digital technologies are omnipresent and have influenced the entire continuum of preclinical research activities both in high-income countries and low-and middle-income countries. This chapter describes the many different aspects of preclinical research and how it is affected by digitization. These include the digital tools and technologies in preclinical research, the ways in which digitization enhances data management in preclinical research, as well as experimental design in preclinical research.
Governance and Regulation Specifics
Authors: Ferry Nicolas , Hofman Paul
Published: August 2024

Governance defines all the political and administrative aspects of an authority that manage a country’s affairs, according to the Committee of Experts on Public Administration (2006). This includes the different institutions, processes and methods used by citizens and groups of individuals to formulate their interests, exercise their legal rights, meet their obligations, and arbitrate their disputes. Thus, science governance usually describes a global organization with a well-defined structure aiming to facilitate a desirable feature set. Many people would probably align on which are the functions that are desirable, and that structure somehow shapes the functions, meaning that this system can be dynamically driven (Lubell 2021).
Future Developments of Digital Health and Considerations on Sustainability
Authors: Zamstein Noa , Nanyonga Sandra , Morel Estelle , Wayne Rachel , Nottebaum Sven , Kozlakidis Zisis
Published: August 2024

The transformation of future healthcare capacity through the digitisation of healthcare systems will enable these systems to respond to future emergencies, as well as increased population pressures. The realisation over the last few decades that technologically empowered solutions can be implemented and work well, including within LMICs, was further expanded through the recent pandemic. Current challenges pertain to the scaling up of digital healthcare technologies, and their sustainability post-introduction in the field. Solutions to these challenges have already emerged, such as synthetic data, which allows the use of high-quality datasets without compromising the security of the original datasets. Ultimately, health outcomes can potentially be improved within an active health-data ecosystem, where both patients and healthcare providers are active participants, i.e. both generating and ingesting healthcare data. However, for that to be achieved, the sustainability of digitalization of healthcare in LMICs needs to be considered through the lens of infrastructural, financial, ethical and regulatory concerns.
The Emergence and Growth of Digital Health in Saudi Arabia: A Success Story
Authors: AlWatban Noof , Othman Fatmah , Almosnid Nadin , AlKadi Khulud , Alajaji Mai , Aldeghaither Dalal
Published: August 2024

The development of Digital Health in Saudi Arabia has been evolving at a rapid pace, in alignment with the health sector’s 2030 Transformation Program. This chapter will cover the development of the digital health sector and outline some of the main technologies that serve it. As an introduction, the journey of digital health, specifically Electronic Health Records, among other technologies within the landscape of Saudi Arabia, have been outlined. Followed by an introduction of the digital health transformation, technologies and solutions that were introduced or enhanced in the existing digital market, including: Telemedicine, patient portals, mHealth, wearable health monitoring technologies, virtual reality and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, blockchains, and the Seha virtual hospital. The chapter will be explored through references to key players in the digital health ecosystem, such as the patients, providers, the Ministry of Health (MOH), other regulators and initiatives, including their contributions to digital health in the Kingdom. The chapter will conclude with implications and opportunities for investment in this field, specifically artificial intelligence (AI). Research, partnerships and changing healthcare reform are highlighted as driving improvements in Saudi Arabian digital health.
Needs of Healthcare and Medical Research Digitization in Developing Countries: Digital Health Infrastructure
Authors: Vandenberg Olivier , Kozlakidis Zisis
Published: August 2024

Digital health and digitization in healthcare have only accelerated by the recent COVID-19 pandemic. LMIC settings face a unique complexity of healthcare challenges, where digital health infrastructure is likely to ameliorate at least part of the existing pressures. However, persistent infrastructure challenges provide a barrier to implementation. Therefore, key considerations have to be taken into account for key structural needs: firstly, the likely greater impact of digitalization in LMICs on primary healthcare, and as such the design of systems to support smaller, inter-connected units; secondly, the tropicalization of equipment, that can bely opportunities for co-development of digitalization applications under a universal health coverage system; and thirdly, the greater availability of field performance studies in LMICs, that would eventually inform future funding and support models. The digitization of healthcare in LMICs will be context-driven, and as such different implementation models are likely to emerge. Taking the key considerations above into account, such models can be further optimized to respond to the national/regional healthcare needs and pressures.
Digitization of Healthcare in LMICs: Challenges and Opportunities in Data Governance and Data Infrastructure
Authors: Kozlakidis Zisis , Kealy Jennifer , Henderson Marianne K.
Published: August 2024

The increasing digitization of healthcare in LMICs is an ongoing process that occurs at different rates and with variable impacts on the patient populations of different countries. The healthcare data infrastructure has to overcome the local milieu of challenges, and while addressing those, any implementation effectiveness would depend on the different regulatory and legal frameworks extant at each location. The examples used in this chapter come primarily from the Americas (as a representative global snapshot), and highlight the relative lack of regulations specific to digital healthcare applications, as well as use of healthcare data. A major challenge includes the acute need for digital education of the professional and wider population. Despite the above, the COVID-19 pandemic has sharpened the national focus on healthcare digitization, interconnectivity of stakeholders and interoperability of available systems. It is hoped that these aspects, now that they have risen to the top of the agenda, will be addressed in a constructive and effective manner, taking into consideration tailor-made approaches, optimizing the resources deployed to enhance the countries’ digital ecosystems.
To Share or Not to Share: Randomized Controlled Study of Misinformation Warning Labels on Social Media
Authors: Gruzd Anatoliy , Mai Philip , Soares Felipe B.
Published: August 2024

Can warning labels on social media posts reduce the spread of misinformation online? This paper presents the results of an empirical study using ModSimulator, an open-source mock social media research tool, to test the effectiveness of soft moderation interventions aimed at limiting misinformation spread and informing users about post accuracy. Specifically, the study used ModSimulator to create a social media interface that mimics the experience of using Facebook and tested two common soft moderation interventions – a footnote warning label and a blur filter – to examine how users (n = 1500) respond to misinformation labels attached to false claims about the Russia-Ukraine war. Results indicate that both types of interventions decreased engagement with posts featuring false claims in a Facebook-like simulated interface, with neither demonstrating a significantly stronger effect than the other. In addition, the study finds that belief in pro-Kremlin claims and trust in partisan sources increase the likelihood of engagement, while trust in fact-checking organizations and frequent commenting on Facebook lowers it. These findings underscore the importance of not solely relying on soft moderation interventions, as other factors impact users’ decisions to engage with misinformation on social media.
Impact of international student mobility on international profile of jobs
Authors: Knutsen Tora Kjærnes , Wiborg Vegard Sjurseike , Wiers-Jenssen Jannecke
Published: August 2024

While the impact of international student mobility (ISM) on vertical labour market outcomes, such as wages and employment, has been widely studied, less is known about the impact of ISM on horizontal outcomes, such as job characteristics. We contribute to filling this gap by studying whether ISM experience is associated with having a job with an international profile, in terms of job content in the domestic labour market or working abroad. We analyse a large-scale Norwegian survey, enabling us to compare mobile to non-mobile master’s graduates 3 years after graduation while controlling for a rich set of demographic and educational characteristics. We find that graduates who pursued their entire degree abroad and graduates who undertook a part of their degree abroad are respectively 19–22 and 3–5 percentage points more likely to work abroad than their non-mobile peers. Moreover, both groups of mobile students have jobs with more internationally oriented features in the domestic labour market. In contrast to expectation, however, there were no significant differences between graduates with a full degree abroad and graduates with a shorter stay abroad regarding the latter aspect.
Sustainability and financial performance in the banking industry of the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Raza Ali , Alavi Ain Bemisal , Asif Laiba
Published: August 2024

Today's banking industry achieving sustainable profitability necessitates by integrating economic, environmental, and social factors due to pressing environmental concerns. This study investigates the impact of sustainability on financial performance in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) banking sector, using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) and Bootstrapping ARDL approaches on data from 2002 to 2022. The analysis revealed that economic sustainability, environmental and social sustainability exhibit a significant impact on financial performance in the short run and the long run at a (p < 0.05). 1% of economic sustainability activities increases Return on Assets (ROA) by 0.73 and Return on Equity (ROE) by 0.64. 1% of environmental sustainability activities decreases ROA by −0.28 and increases ROE by 0.35. 1% of social sustainability activities increases ROA by 0.47 and ROE by 0.42. To improve long-term profitability, this study emphasizes how crucial it is for the banking industry in the UAE to strategically integrate sustainability principles. These findings highlight the need to promote sustainability in the banking sector for environmental improvement, offering insights for UAE regulators and stimulating additional research.
Decision time: illuminating performance in India’s district courts
Authors: Aithala Varsha , Sachan Anushka , Sen Srijoni , Payal Himanshu , Bhattacharya Chiranjib
Published: August 2024

Studies on court administration in India have so far focused their attention largely on caseload management and judge strength of the higher judiciary. In-depth investigations of the performance of India’s lower courts, the primary loci of a citizen’s contact with the judiciary, are rarer, largely due to the lack of available data at scale. We conduct a quantitative analysis of a large dataset of more than 1700 Indian district courts between 2010 and 2018, to assess court performance through the measure of timeliness of case disposal. We use median days to decision—the median number of days it takes for a district court in India to decide a case. We aim to understand the impact of well-established factors—working strength and tenure of judges, case administration, age distribution of cases, and category or case type—against district courts’ performance. We find that court type and nature of cases are important predictors of a district court’s performance, and that the total number of judge working days and average bench strength are not good indicators of courts’ performance—the workload per judge being actually lower in low-performance district courts, compared to high-performing courts. Our study also reveals the strengths and weaknesses of the available judicial data platforms and points toward reforms in judicial administration to address these concerns.
Toward a trustworthy and inclusive data governance policy for the use of artificial intelligence in Africa
Authors: Effoduh Jake Okechukwu , Akpudo Ugochukwu Ejike , Kong Jude Dzevela
Published: August 2024

This article proposes five ideas that the design of data governance policies for the trustworthy use of artificial intelligence (AI) in Africa should consider. The first is for African states to assess their domestic strategic priorities, strengths, and weaknesses. The second is a human-centric approach to data governance, which involves data processing practices that protect the security of personal data and the privacy of data subjects; ensure that personal data are processed in a fair, lawful, and accountable manner; minimize the harmful effect of personal data misuse or abuse on data subjects and other victims; and promote a beneficial, trusted use of personal data. The third is for the data policy to be in alignment with supranational rights-respecting AI standards like the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, the AU Convention on Cybersecurity, and Personal Data Protection. The fourth is for states to be critical about the extent to which AI systems can be relied on in certain public sectors or departments. The fifth and final proposition is for the need to prioritize the use of representative and interoperable data and ensure a transparent procurement process for AI systems from abroad where no local options exist.
Decline of CO2 Release During the Evolution of the Thaw Slump on the Northern Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau
Authors: Mu Mei , Mu Cuicui , Liu Hebin , Zhang Chunling , Jia Yunjie , Lei Pengsi , Peng Xiaoqing
Published: August 2024

Abrupt permafrost thaw accelerates the decomposition of soil organic carbon and might double the warming caused by the carbon release. However, the influence of thaw slump evolution on carbon dioxide (CO2) emission rates and its drives remains unclear, which induces large uncertainties in the prediction of permafrost carbon‐climate feedback. Here we collected soil samples in the thaw slump landscapes that happened 1–23 years ago on the northern Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau (QTP) and measured the CO2 release rates using a 189‐day aerobic laboratory incubation in the dark. The incubation results showed that thaw slump occurred 23 years ago reduced soil CO2–C release by 57 ± 19% compared with the undisturbed area. The relative contribution of O‐alkyl C and microbial abundance decreases with the thaw slump initiation time lengthens. We illustrate that soil carbon quality and microbial communities uniquely explained 41% and 13% of the variation in CO2–C release, respectively. We preliminary estimate that the carbon release for thaw slump landscapes on the QTP may be overestimated by approximately 50% if the declining soil CO2–C release is without consideration. Our study highlights the CO2–C release would decrease with the stability of thaw slumps on the warming and wetting QTP, which may weaken the mountain permafrost carbon‐climate feedback.
Fetal exposure to toxic metals (mercury, cadmium, lead, and arsenic) via intrauterine blood transfusions
Authors: Al-Saleh Iman , Alnuwaysir Hissah , Al-Rouqi Reem , Aldhalaan Hesham , Tulbah Maha
Published: August 2024

Background

Intrauterine blood transfusions (IUBTs) are critical for treating fetal anemia but may expose fetuses to toxic metals. This study assessed mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As) levels in red blood cell (RBC) transfusion bags used during pregnancy, examined metal exposure in maternal and cord blood, and evaluated fetal health risks.

Methods

Thirty pregnant women who underwent intrauterine blood IUBTs were enrolled in this study. Metal concentrations were measured in one to nine transfusion bags for each participant. These bags contained 8–103 mL volumes and were administered between gestational weeks 18 and 35. We also tested the mothers’ blood for metal levels in the final stages of pregnancy and the umbilical cord blood at birth. The assessment utilized the intravenous reference dose (IVRfD) and the hazard index (HI) to evaluate the non-carcinogenic health risks these metals might pose to the fetus.

Results

Metals were detectable in almost all transfusion bags. The IVRfD was exceeded for Hg in 16 fetuses, Cd in 8 fetuses, Pb in 30 fetuses, and As in 1 fetus. Significant correlations were found between the concentrations of Hg, Cd, and As in transfused RBCs and cord blood. No correlations were observed between these concentrations and maternal blood levels, except for Cd. The influence of multiple IUBTs was positively associated only with Cd levels in the cord (ß = 0.529, 95% confidence intervals (CI) between 0.180 and 0.879). The HI exceeded 1, indicating significant health risks, predominantly from Pb, followed by Hg and Cd.

Conclusion

The findings of this study highlight the significant risk of fetal exposure to toxic metals, mainly Pb, through IUBTs. This underscores the critical need for prescreening blood donors for toxic metals to minimize the potential for long-term adverse effects on the fetus. The research stresses the necessity of balancing the immediate benefits of IUBTs against the risks of toxic metal exposure, underscoring the importance of safeguarding fetal health through improved screening practices.

Impact

This study highlights the risk of toxic metal exposure through IUBTs, a treatment for fetal anemia.

Hg, Cd, Pb, and As levels were measured in transfusion bags and linked to fetal exposure through maternal and umbilical cord blood analysis.

The HI indicates significant Pb exposure risks, underscoring the need for mandatory blood donor screening.

Recommendations include shifting toward safer practices in managing fetal anemia to protect fetal health.