bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geographic Access to Pediatric Cancer Care in the US
Authors: Liu Xiaohui , Fluchel Mark N. , Kirchhoff Anne C. , Zhu Haojie , Onega Tracy
Published: January 2023

Importance

Although access to pediatric cancer care has implications for use of such care and patient outcomes, little is known about the geographic accessibility of pediatric cancer care and how it may vary by population characteristics across the continental US.

Objective

To estimate the travel time to pediatric cancer care settings in the continental US, identify potential disparities among subgroups of children and adolescents and young adults (AYAs), and identify areas needing improved access to pediatric cancer care.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cross-sectional study collected data from August 1 to December 1, 2021. Pediatric oncologists’ service locations in 2021 served as the pediatric cancer care settings, data for which were scraped from 2 websites containing information about health professionals. Demographic characteristics for younger children and AYAs aged 0 to 21 years were obtained from the 2015 to 2019 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Data were analyzed from January 1 to April 31, 2022.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The main outcome was the travel time from geographic centroids of zip code tabulation areas to the nearest pediatric oncologist. The median (IQR) travel times for each demographic subgroup were estimated. Per capita pediatric oncologist supply was calculated by dividing the total number of pediatric oncologists for each state or US Census division by its population.

Results

Of the 90 498 890 children and AYAs included in the study, 63.6% were estimated to travel less than 30 minutes and 19.7% to travel between 30 and 60 minutes (for a total of 83.3%) to the nearest pediatric oncologist. Median (IQR) travel times were longest for the American Indian or Alaska Native pediatric population (46 [16-104] minutes) and residents of rural areas (95 [68-135] minutes), areas with high deprivation levels (36 [13-72] minutes), and the South (24 [13-47] minutes) and Midwest (22 [11-51] minutes) compared with the general population of children and AYAs. The pediatric oncologist supply was lowest in Wyoming (0 oncologists per 100 000 pediatric population) and highest in Washington, DC (53.3 oncologists per 100 000 pediatric population). Pediatric oncologist supply across Census divisions was lowest in the Mountain division (3.3 oncologists per 100 000 pediatric population) and highest in the New England division (8.1 oncologists per 100 000 pediatric population).

Conclusions and Relevance

Results of this study showed that most children and AYAs in the continental US had adequate access to pediatric cancer care, although disparities existed among racial and ethnic groups and residents in rural areas, areas with high deprivation levels, and some Southern and Midwestern states. Reducing these disparities may require innovative approaches, such as expanding the capabilities of local facilities and creating partnerships with adult oncology centers and primary care physicians.
DigiFuehr 2.0: Novel insights for digital leadership
Authors: Claassen Kevin , Rodil Dos Anjos Dominique , Kettschau Jan Patrick , Wrede Sammy Joelle Shirley , Broding Horst Christoph
Published: January 2023

Objectives

Against the background of e-government, it is discussed whether self-organization represents an independent component of digital leadership. Addressing this research question, the instrument “DigiFuehr” is being expanded to include the aspects of self-determination and coordination. The aim is to test the model quality of three adapted scales against the already established support-focusing version.

Methods

Based on an online survey of n = 422 employees at visual display unit workstations in German municipal administrations in April 2022, the original version of DigiFuehr as well as one reduced and two extended versions were validated considering their local and global model fit.

Results

All four scales show a good local fit with regard to internal consistency (Cronbach’s α), discriminatory power, and dimensionality. Only the scale extended by two items also offers a sufficient global fit and is thus most suitable as a predictor for psychological stress, work satisfaction, and satisfaction with the professional exchange during homeworking.

Conclusions

With “DigiFuehr 2.0”, an improved version of the original scale is available. Self-organization is not a component independent of the support dimension, but a further important indicator of a latent digital leadership culture. Neither should come at the expense of the other.
Building bridges for inspired action: On landscape restoration and social alliances
Authors: Gutierrez Victoria , Ploeg Pieter , Bajraktari Florentina , Thomson Giles , Visseren‐Hamakers Ingrid , Roth Dietmar
Published: January 2023

Participatory approaches are linked to landscape restoration (LR) success, but not all participatory approaches are created equal. Engagement approaches that invest in transformative stakeholder and governance processes can create the right conditions for long‐term LR commitment.

A large‐scale LR initiative in Spain, namely AlVelAl, illustrates how collective action can be activated through inspiration, trust and hope, which, in turn, can be cultivated through the application of social schemes designed to support inclusive stakeholder engagement processes and programmes.

Collective agency and inspiration matter for activating and sustaining LR actions and outcomes. Multi‐stakeholder partnerships that speak to human agency, inclusivity and trust between actors can help create a deeper shared meaning, a place‐based sense of belonging that encourages cohesive landscape stewardship.
Direct Growth of Uniform Bimetallic Core‐Shell or Intermetallic Nanoparticles on Carbon via a Surface‐Confinement Strategy for Electrochemical Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Hu Mingzhen , Cai Zengjian , Yang Shitu , Wang Zhe , Shen Fengyi , Liang Xinhu , Sun Guodong , Ren Hao , Cao Yanan , Hu Botao , Liu Shoujie , Tan Haiyan , Zhou Kebin
Published: January 2023

Due to the surface inhomogeneity of the solid supports, direct growth of uniform bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) with controllable structure and size thereon is particularly challenging. Herein, a surface‐confinement strategy is reported to directly prepare ultrafine bimetallic PtM NPs (MFe, Cu, and Co) with structure of core‐shell or intermetallic compounds on an N functionalized carbon support (NC). It is found that the N species of NC support can atomically disperse metal cations of precursors, which largely renders uniform nucleation and growth of bimetallic NPs and fine structure modulation of them. In another regard, metal transfer is confined to a narrow region on NC via N‐mediation, hence greatly favoring localized particle growth and formation of ultrafine bimetallic NPs. Remarkably, the ultrafine 3.1 ± 0.7 nm intermetallic Pt3Fe NPs on NC displayed excellent catalytic activity and durability toward electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction.
Amphiphilic Dendrimer Doping Enhanced pH‐Sensitivity of Liposomal Vesicle for Effective Co‐delivery toward Synergistic Ferroptosis–Apoptosis Therapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Su Yanhong , Zhang Zhao , Lee Leo Tsz On , Peng Ling , Lu Ligong , He Xu , Zhang Xuanjun
Published: January 2023

Ferroptosis, characterized by the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxides, has emerged as an attractive strategy to reverse drug resistance. Of particular interest is the ferroptosis–apoptosis combination therapy for cancer treatment. Herein, a nanoplatform is reported for effective co‐delivery of the anticancer drug sorafenib (S) and the ferroptosis inducer hemin (H), toward synergistic ferroptosis–apoptosis therapy of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as a proof‐of‐concept study. Liposome is an excellent delivery system; however, it is not sufficiently responsive to the acidic tumor microenvironment (TME) for tumor‐targeted drug delivery. The pH‐sensitive vesicles are therefore developed (SH‐AD‐L) by incorporating amphiphilic dendrimers (AD) into liposomes for controlled and pH‐stimulated release of sorafenib and hemin in the acidic TME, thanks to the protonation of numerous amine functionalities in AD. Importantly, SH‐AD‐L not only blocked glutathione synthesis to disrupt the antioxidant system, but also increased intracellular Fe2+ and ·OH concentrations to amplify oxidative stress, both of which contribute to enhanced ferroptosis. Remarkably, high levels of ·OH also augmented sorafenib‐mediated apoptosis in tumor cells. This study demonstrates the efficacy of ferroptosis–apoptosis combination therapy, as well as the promise of the AD‐doped TME‐responsive vesicles for drug delivery in combination therapy to treat advanced HCC.
A Physiologically Responsive Nanocomposite Hydrogel for Treatment of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma via Proteolysis‐Targeting Chimeras Enhanced Immunotherapy
Authors: Wu Yaping , Chang Xiaowei , Yang Guizhu , Chen Li , Wu Qi , Gao Jiamin , Tian Ran , Mu Wenyun , Gooding John Justin , Chen Xin , Sun Shuyang
Published: January 2023

Although immunotherapy has revolutionized oncotherapy, only ≈15% of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients benefit from the current therapies. An immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and dysregulation of the polycomb ring finger oncogene BMI1 are potential reasons for the failure. Herein, to promote immunotherapeutic efficacy against HNSCC, an injectable nanocomposite hydrogel is developed with a polymer framework (PLGA‐PEG‐PLGA) that is loaded with both imiquimod encapsulated CaCO3 nanoparticles (RC) and cancer cell membrane (CCM)‐coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles containing a peptide‐based proteolysis‐targeting chimeras (PROTAC) for BMI1 and paclitaxel (PepM@PacC). Upon injection, this nanocomposite hydrogel undergoes in situ gelation, after which it degrades in the TME over time, releasing RC and PepM@PacC nanoparticles to respectively perform immunotherapy and chemotherapy. Specifically, the RC particles selectively manipulate tumor‐associated macrophages and dendritic cells to activate a T‐cell immune response, while CCM‐mediated homologous targeting and endocytosis delivers the PepM@PacC particles into cancer cells, where endogenous glutathione promotes disulfide bond cleavage to release the PROTAC peptide for BMI1 degradation and frees the paclitaxel from the particle pores to elicit apoptosis meanwhile enhance immunotherapy. Thus, the nanocomposite hydrogel, which is designed to exploit multiple known vulnerabilities of HNSCC, succeeds in suppressing both growth and metastasis of HNSCC.
Lithium Batteries and the Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI)—Progress and Outlook
Authors: Adenusi Henry , Chass Gregory A. , Passerini Stefano , Tian Kun V. , Chen Guanhua
Published: January 2023

Interfacial dynamics within chemical systems such as electron and ion transport processes have relevance in the rational optimization of electrochemical energy storage materials and devices. Evolving the understanding of fundamental electrochemistry at interfaces would also help in the understanding of relevant phenomena in biological, microbial, pharmaceutical, electronic, and photonic systems. In lithium‐ion batteries, the electrochemical instability of the electrolyte and its ensuing reactive decomposition proceeds at the anode surface within the Helmholtz double layer resulting in a buildup of the reductive products, forming the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). This review summarizes relevant aspects of the SEI including formation, composition, dynamic structure, and reaction mechanisms, focusing primarily on the graphite anode with insights into the lithium metal anode. Furthermore, the influence of the electrolyte and electrode materials on SEI structure and properties is discussed. An update is also presented on state‐of‐the‐art approaches to quantitatively characterize the structure and changing properties of the SEI. Lastly, a framework evaluating the standing problems and future research directions including feasible computational, machine learning, and experimental approaches are outlined.
Impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on epidemiology, treatment, and outcome of major trauma in Japan in 2020: a retrospective observational nationwide registry‐based study
Authors: Ojima Masahiro , Ishida Kenichiro , Katayama Yusuke , Hirose Tomoya , Nakao Shunichiro , Tachino Jotaro , Noda Tomohiro , Umemura Yutaka , Kiguchi Takeyuki , Kiyohara Kosuke , Matsuyama Tasuku , Kitamura Tetsuhisa , Oda Jun , Ohnishi Mitsuo
Published: January 2023

Aim

The nationwide impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) pandemic on major trauma in Japan is unknown. The nationwide registry‐based data of the Japanese Trauma Data Bank were analyzed to elucidate the impact of COVID‐19 on the epidemiology, treatment, and outcomes of major trauma patients.

Methods

Among patients transported directly from the injury site by ambulance with an Injury Severity Score of ≥16, we compared patients managed from April to December in 2019 to those managed from April to December in 2020.

Results

In total, 9792 patients were included in this study (2019, n = 5194; 2020, n = 4598). There were no significant differences in age or sex, but there were significant differences between 2019 and 2020 in the rates of “self‐injury (suicide)”, “motor vehicle accident”, “fall from height”, “fall down”, and “fall to the ground”, which are factors associated with patient age. Injury severity in 2019 and 2020 did not differ to a statistically significant extent, but the rate of major spinal injury increased. The time of prehospital care significantly increased in 2020 compared to 2019. There was no noticeable change in hospital treatment or in‐hospital mortality between 2019 and 2020.

Conclusion

This study suggests that the COVID‐19 pandemic might have altered the injuries of major trauma; however, medical services for major trauma were well supplied in Japan in 2020.
Alcoholic liver disease in relation to cancer incidence and mortality: Findings from a large, matched cohort study in South Korea
Authors: Tran Thi Phuong Thao , Han Minji , Luu Ngoc Minh , Oh Jin‐Kyoung
Published: January 2023

Aim

To estimate the risk of cancer incidence and mortality among patients with alcoholic liver disease in South Korea.

Methods

A matched cohort study was conducted, including 1,042,185 men (alcoholic liver disease cases: 208,437; controls: 833,748) and 100,400 women (alcoholic liver disease cases: 20,080; controls: 80,320), matched for sex, age, smoking, alcohol consumption, and body mass index at a 1:4 ratio. The risk of cancer incidence and mortality in the alcoholic liver disease group was assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression models.

Results

Both men and women with alcoholic liver disease had an elevated risk of all‐cancer and liver cancer incidence and mortality in comparison with the control group. In men, alcoholic liver disease was associated with a significantly higher risk of development of 10 cancer types, including lip, oral cavity, and pharynx; esophagus; liver; gallbladder and biliary tract; pancreas; larynx; lung; kidney; thyroid gland; and leukemia. Subgroup analysis by hepatitis B and C infection showed increased hazard ratios of all cancer incidences and mortality in the alcoholic liver disease group, regardless of hepatitis B or C infection status. In both sexes, a higher number and more years of hospital or clinic visits for alcoholic liver disease were associated with an increased risk of incidence and mortality from all cancers and liver cancer. A more profound dose–response relationship between alcoholic liver disease and alcohol consumption was observed in women than in men.

Conclusions

Our findings emphasize the need for a clinical surveillance program and the early detection of cancer in patients with alcoholic liver disease.
Corporate social responsibility and behavioral intentions: A mediating mechanism of Brand Recognition
Authors: Singh Varsha , Kathuria Sakshi , Puri Deepika , Kapoor Bharat
Published: January 2023

In recent years, corporate social responsibility (CSR) has attracted a lot of attention from academics and businesspeople as an essential part of any company's ability to thrive. Many research papers had published focusing on CSR. However, very few studies examine CSR's multidimensions (economic, philanthropic, environmental, and ethical) on behavioral intentions with the mediating impact of brand recognition. To explore customer's hotel experiences, the proposed hypotheses were tested with a Structural equation model. Results show that all forms of CSR (ethical, economic, environmental, philanthropic) positively relate to the hotel's brand recognition and behavioral intentions (revisit intention, making recommendations, willingness to pay more). The link between CSR and behavioral intention is found to be significantly mediated by brand recognition. Because of this, the current study has developed a theoretical framework to explain the interplay among CSR factors, brand recognition, and consumer behavioral intention. By checking CSR activities' impact as a focal factor in enhancing hospitality industry facilities, this study offers empirical implications for hotels.
Museum specimens of a landlocked pinniped reveal recent loss of genetic diversity and unexpected population connections
Authors: Heino Matti T. , Nyman Tommi , Palo Jukka U. , Harmoinen Jenni , Valtonen Mia , Pilot Małgorzata , Översti Sanni , Salmela Elina , Kunnasranta Mervi , Väinölä Risto , Hoelzel A. Rus , Aspi Jouni
Published: January 2023

The Saimaa ringed seal (Pusa hispida saimensis) is endemic to Lake Saimaa in Finland. The subspecies is thought to have originated when parts of the ringed seal population of the Baltic region were trapped in lakes emerging due to postglacial bedrock rebound around 9000 years ago. During the 20th century, the population experienced a drastic human‐induced bottleneck. Today encompassing a little over 400 seals with extremely low genetic diversity, it is classified as endangered. We sequenced sections of the mitochondrial control region from 60 up to 125‐years‐old museum specimens of the Saimaa ringed seal. The generated dataset was combined with publicly available sequences. We studied how genetic variation has changed through time in this subspecies and how it is phylogenetically related to other ringed seal populations from the Baltic Sea, Lake Ladoga, North America, Svalbard, and the White Sea. We observed temporal fluctuations in haplotype frequencies and loss of haplotypes accompanied by a recent reduction in female effective population size. In apparent contrast with the traditionally held view of the Baltic origin of the population, the Saimaa ringed seal mtDNA variation also shows affinities to North American ringed seals. Our results suggest that the Saimaa ringed seal has experienced recent genetic drift associated with small population size. The results further suggest that extant Baltic ringed seal is not representative of the ancestral population of the Saimaa ringed seal, which calls for re‐evaluation of the deep history of this subspecies.
Evaluate your credentials to assess whether skills are useful in the workplace, valuable to students
Authors: Sutton Halley
Published: January 2023

CHICAGO — Can students actually demonstrate the skills they learn from your programs in a way that will better their life outcomes? And do employers understand the competencies students gain when they graduate from your institution? It's a question on the minds of many who work in higher education, and it has an impact for your institution in terms of showing students the value of their degree. The landscape of college credentials is growing, sowing further confusion as each institution often has its own language for discussing similar skills or competencies.
Investigation on quenching characteristics of parallel narrow channels for deflagration flames
Authors: Lu Yawei , Guo Pinkun , Wang Zhirong , Wang Xiangwen , Yan Chen
Published: January 2023

A set of experimental equipment for quenching the deflagration flame in linked vessels with parallel narrow channels was proposed. The quenching effects of the deflagration flame in the linked vessels were investigated, the influence law and mechanism of parallel narrow channels on the deflagration flame was analyzed. The results showed that the Pmax and the (dP/dt)max at each position were both lower than without parallel narrow channels, which indicated that the propagation of flame was inhibited by parallel narrow channels effectively, and the explosion intensity was also reduced. The pressure oscillation phenomenon inside the linked vessels disappeared due to the inclusion of parallel narrow channels. The deflagration flame was successfully quenched when the channel gaps were 0.5, 1.5, and 3 mm, but failed to be quenched when the channel gap was 6 mm. The quenching distance and the average propagation velocity of the deflagration flame in parallel narrow channels increased with the increase of the channel gap. When the channel gap was 6 mm, the deflagration flame completely passed through parallel narrow channels, and the average propagation velocity of deflagration flame was significantly greater than that when the deflagration flame was successfully quenched.
Synthesis of novel thiazole, imidazole, benzimidazole, and benzothiazole derivatives incorporating 2‐phenoxy‐N‐arylacetamide unit as novel hybrid molecules
Authors: Diab Hadeer M. , Mohamed Dina Mamdouh , Darweesh Ahmed F. , Abdelhamid Ismail A. , Elwahy Ahmed H. M.
Published: January 2023

Novel 2‐phenoxy‐N‐phenylacetamide hybrids with heterocyclic scaffolds such as thiazoles, imidazoles, benzimidazoles, and benzothiazoles were synthesized efficiently in this study. The reaction of the appropriate α‐haloketone with the corresponding thioamide derivatives in EtOH/DMF at reflux in the presence of a few drops of TEA produced good yields of 2‐aryl‐ or heteroarylthiazoles. A one‐pot three‐component reaction of 1,2‐diketone with aldehydes and ammonium acetate in methanol at reflux yielded imidazole derivatives. It was also feasible to synthesize benzimidazoles, benzothiazoles, or imidazo[4,5‐b]pyridines by employing the reactions of the appropriate aldehydes with o‐phenylenediamine, 2‐aminothiophenol, or 2,3‐diaminopyridine, respectively, in ethanol at reflux in the presence of NaHSO3. The new compounds' structures were validated using spectrum data and elemental analyses.
Extranodal Extension Improves AJCC‐8 Accuracy in HPV+ Oropharyngeal Cancer in a High‐Risk Population
Authors: Burruss Clayton Prakash , Sharrer Christine , Porterfield James Zachary , Kejner Alexandra Eva
Published: January 2023

Objectives

The American Joint Committee on Cancer's 8th edition (AJCC‐8) separates oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCCs) into human papillomavirus‐positive (HPV+) tumors and HPV‐negative tumors. Although AJCC‐8 improves prognostic prediction for survival for the majority of HPV+ OPSCC, outliers are still encountered. The goal of this manuscript is to validate the AJCC‐8 as a better metric of survivability than the AJCC‐7 in an historically under‐served rural population with confounding variables, such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and poor health care access and to analyze the role of extranodal extension (ENE) in this population.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Results

Compared to AJCC‐7, AJCC‐8 had a higher odds ratio (OR) for predicting mortality of stage IV HPV+ OPSCCs versus stages I–III. On multivariate analysis, HPV+ OPSCCs with ENE had a higher OR of mortality compared to ENE‐ OPSCCs. In addition, HPV+ OPSCC patients with a Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) > 3 had a higher OR of mortality compared to those with a CCI ≤ 3. Patients with Medicaid/self‐pay status had a higher OR of mortality compared to those with private insurance/Medicare. Finally, patients from rural populations had a higher OR of presenting with stage IV disease, a CCI > 3, and Medicaid/self‐pay status.

Conclusions

Despite not being a discrete part of the AJCC‐8 staging rubric, ENE was found to have a significant impact on mortality among this population, whereas tobacco use had no effect. Rural patients were more likely to present with stage IV disease, CCI > 3, and Medicaid/self‐pay status. Stage IV disease was also associated with a higher OR of mortality.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 133:2621–2626, 2023
Efficient Transfection via an Unexpected Mechanism by Near Neutral Polypiperazines with Tailored Response to Endosomal pH
Authors: Hausig‐Punke Franziska , Dekevic Gregor , Sobotta Fabian H. , Solomun Jana I. , Richter Friederike , Salzig Denise , Traeger Anja , Brendel Johannes C.
Published: January 2023

Cationic pH‐responsive polymers promise to overcome critical challenges in cellular delivery. Ideally, the polymers become selectively charged along the endosomal pathway disturbing only the local membrane and avoiding unintended interactions or cytotoxic side effects at physiological conditions. Polypiperazines represent a novel, hydrophilic class of pH‐responsive polymers whose response can be tuned within the relevant pH range (5–7.4). The authors discovered that the polypiperazines are effectively binding plasmid DNA (pDNA) and demonstrate high efficiency in transfection. By design of experiments (DoE), a wide parameter space (pDNA and polymer concentration) is screened to identify the range of effective concentrations for transfection. An isopropyl modified polypiperazine is highly efficient over a wide range of concentrations outperforming linear polyethylenimine (l‐PEI, 25 kDa) in regions of low N*/P ratios. A quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) surprisingly revealed that the pDNA within the piperazine‐based polyplexes can be amplified in contrast to polyplexes based on l‐PEI. The pDNA must therefore be more accessible and bound differently than for other known transfection polymers. Considering the various opportunities to further optimize their structure, polypiperazines represent a promising platform for designing effective soluble polymeric vectors, which are charge‐neutral at physiological conditions.
Dopamine Agonist Cotreatment Alters Neuroplasticity and Pharmacology of Levodopa‐Induced Dyskinesia
Authors: Espa Elena , Song Lu , Skovgård Katrine , Fanni Silvia , Cenci M. Angela
Published: January 2023

Background

Current models of levodopa (L‐dopa)‐induced dyskinesia (LID) are obtained by treating dopamine‐depleted animals with L‐dopa. However, patients with LID receive combination therapies that often include dopamine agonists.

Objective

Using 6‐hydroxydopamine‐lesioned rats as a model, we aimed to establish whether an adjunct treatment with the D2/3 agonist ropinirole impacts on patterns of LID‐related neuroplasticity and drug responses.

Methods

Different regimens of L‐dopa monotreatment and L‐dopa‐ropinirole cotreatment were compared using measures of hypokinesia and dyskinesia. Striatal expression of ∆FosB and angiogenesis markers were studied immunohistochemically. Antidyskinetic effects of different drug categories were investigated in parallel groups of rats receiving either L‐dopa monotreatment or L‐dopa combined with ropinirole.

Results

We defined chronic regimens of L‐dopa monotreatment and L‐dopa‐ropinirole cotreatment inducing overall similar abnormal involuntary movement scores. Compared with the monotreatment group, animals receiving the L‐dopa‐ropinirole combination exhibited an overall lower striatal expression of ∆FosB with a distinctive compartmental distribution. The expression of angiogenesis markers and blood–brain barrier hyperpermeability was markedly reduced after L‐dopa‐ropinirole cotreatment compared with L‐dopa monotreatment. Moreover, significant group differences were detected upon examining the response to candidate antidyskinetic drugs. In particular, compounds modulating D1 receptor signaling had a stronger effect in the L‐dopa‐only group, whereas both amantadine and the selective NMDA antagonist MK801 produced a markedly larger antidyskinetic effect in L‐dopa‐ropinirole cotreated animals.

Conclusions

Cotreatment with ropinirole altered LID‐related neuroplasticity and pharmacological response profiles. The impact of adjuvant dopamine agonist treatment should be taken into consideration when investigating LID mechanisms and candidate interventions in both clinical and experimental settings. © 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Harmonizing bifactor models of psychopathology between distinct assessment instruments: Reliability, measurement invariance, and authenticity
Authors: Hoffmann Maurício Scopel , Moore Tyler Maxwell , Axelrud Luiza Kvitko , Tottenham Nim , Rohde Luis Augusto , Milham Michael Peter , Satterthwaite Theodore Daniel , Salum Giovanni Abrahão
Published: January 2023

Objectives

Model configuration is important for mental health data harmonization. We provide a method to investigate the performance of different bifactor model configurations to harmonize different instruments.

Methods

We used data from six samples from the Reproducible Brain Charts initiative (N = 8,606, ages 5–22 years, 41.0% females). We harmonized items from two psychopathology instruments, Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and GOASSESS, based on semantic content. We estimated bifactor models using confirmatory factor analysis, and calculated their model fit, factor reliability, between‐instrument invariance, and authenticity (i.e., the correlation and factor score difference between the harmonized and original models).

Results

Five out of 12 model configurations presented acceptable fit and were instrument‐invariant. Correlations between the harmonized factor scores and the original full‐item models were high for the p‐factor (>0.89) and small to moderate (0.12–0.81) for the specific factors. 6.3%–50.9% of participants presented factor score differences between harmonized and original models higher than 0.5 z‐score.

Conclusions

The CBCL‐GOASSESS harmonization indicates that few models provide reliable specific factors and are instrument‐invariant. Moreover, authenticity was high for the p‐factor and moderate for specific factors. Future studies can use this framework to examine the impact of harmonizing instruments in psychiatric research.
A case of musical hallucinations induced by tramadol
Authors: Hase Tatsu , Yasui‐Furukori Norio , Yamaguchi Shigeki , Shimoda Kazutaka
Published: January 2023

Aim

Although tramadol has been suggested to have a higher risk of producing hallucinations than other opioids, reports of musical hallucinations are extremely rare.

Case Presentation

A 72‐year‐old woman came to our department complaining of auditory hallucinations. She had been diagnosed with lumbar spinal canal stenosis associated with herniated and slipped disks. Due to persistent back pain, tramadol was started, and the dose was increased to 300 mg/day. The next day, she began to hear nursery rhymes, songs of the Ministry of Education, and folk songs. The musical auditory hallucinations disappeared with the use of antipsychotics and the discontinuation of tramadol. No relapse of musical auditory hallucinations was observed after the discontinuation of antipsychotics.

Conclusion

Based on the clinical course, we concluded that the auditory hallucinations were musical hallucinations induced by tramadol.
A processing fluency perspective on overhead aversion: How much is too much?
Authors: Allred Anthony T. , Amos Clinton
Published: January 2023

Overhead aversion has afflicted the nonprofit sector in recent decades. Yet, questions remain regarding how high is too high from a donor perspective and at what level overhead expenses just “feel right.” Using processing fluency as a theoretical foundation, the central purpose of this research was to investigate whether a nonprofit overhead ratio fluency level exists that significantly reduces both donation likelihood and nonprofit perceptions. Results from two studies show that a 25% overhead ratio appears to be the proximate ceiling regarding what fluently fits within a potential donor's schema for acceptance. Overhead ratios exceeding this threshold tended to decrease donation likelihood and nonprofit perceptions in a relatively stable manner. Moreover, the 25% threshold seems most relevant to human and animal causes and not as relevant to arts and cultural nonprofits such as museums. The results suggest that donors have a preconceived overhead ratio limit. Nonprofits that exceed that threshold are in danger of deterring donors. If nonprofit overhead ratios exceed the donor fluency threshold, nonprofit managers should consider distinct promotional strategies that entice donors and diminish overhead aversion effects.
Photovoltaic integration in curved parts: Mechanical limits and key parameters from a theoretical point of view
Authors: Charpentier Jean‐Baptiste , Duigou Tatiana , Chambion Bertrand , Voarino Philippe , Chabuel Fabien
Published: January 2023

Photovoltaic cells are produced as thin flat layers. They behave as a brittle and elastic material that fails at a given level of stress. Conforming cells into curved geometries will a priori induce both flexure and membrane stresses. In the present work, an analytical model is derived to predict both stress distributions and intensities in a mono‐crystalline pseudo‐square cell. Furthermore, a second model is derived to find the main stresses within fractions of cells. For conventional cell dimensions, solutions predict a transition from flexure to membrane dominated stresses for most conformations as curvature increases. As a consequence, near failure stresses are mainly determined by cells size and aspect ratio. In contrast, flexion is the main contribution in a small subset of the curvature space or for small curvatures. In the corresponding cases, stresses scale in proportion to cells thickness. As a consequence, cell size and/or shape is the main parameter to reduce internal stresses in most cases. In particular, the use of fractions of cells can substantially decrease membrane stresses and thus increase the maximum curvature. For instance, in a case study with M0 cells and curvature radii of a few meters, the highest predicted tensile stress is 45
. In such a case, the larger M12 format gives a prediction of
. In contrast, thirds of cells give predictions of 25 and
, respectively.
Residual activity of spinosad applied as a soil drench to tomato seedlings for control of Tuta absoluta
Authors: Erasmus Reynardt , van den Berg Johnnie , van Rensburg Peet Jansen , du Plessis Hannalene
Published: January 2023

BACKGROUND

Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is difficult to control by means of foliar insecticides, partly because of the endophytic feeding behavior of its larvae. The biopesticide spinosad is applied as a foliar spray for control of T. absoluta and has systemic properties when applied as a soil drench to the growing medium of tomato plants. The aims of this study were to determine the: (i) instar‐dependent tolerance of larvae to spinosad; (ii) efficacy of spinosad drench application for the control of larvae; (iii) residual period of systemic activity of spinosad in leaves and fruit after drenching; and (iv) effect of spinosad drenching on tomato plant growth parameters.

RESULTS

The estimated LC50 value (Lethal Concentration at which 50% of the larvae died) differed between instars. The LC50 for second‐instar larvae (0.41 ppm) to spinosad was significantly lower than that for third‐ (0.64 ppm) and fourth‐instar (0.63 ppm) larvae. The LC80 value (Concentration at which 80% of the larvae died) for fourth‐instar larvae (2.48 ppm) was 2.6‐ and 1.7‐fold higher than that for the second‐ and third‐instar larvae, respectively. The spinosad concentration recorded in leaves at 25 days after treatment (DAT; 0.26 μg g−1) was significantly lower than that in leaves sampled at 3, 10 and 15 DAT. High larval mortalities were, however, recorded for the duration of the experiment, which lasted 25 days (equivalent to one T. absoluta generation).

CONCLUSION

Systemic spinosad effectively controlled T. absoluta larvae over a prolonged period. However, drenching this insecticide violates the recommendation of the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee to avoid treating consecutive insect generations with the same mode of action and can therefore result in the evolution of insecticide resistance. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Global survey of consumer organizations advocating for safer nicotine products
Authors: Jerzyński Tomasz , Harding Jessica , Stimson Gerry V.
Published: January 2023

Introduction

The study investigated the role and activities of organizations that advocate for the adoption of and access to safer nicotine products (SNPs), such as nicotine vaping products (e‐cigarettes), Swedish‐style snus, nontobacco nicotine pouches, and heated tobacco products, as safer alternatives to combustible cigarettes and other high‐risk tobacco products, following a harm reduction approach. The aim was to map the number and locations of nicotine consumer organizations globally and describe their history, legal status, membership, structure, objectives, working methods and activities, and funding.

Methods

We identified active organizations through the use of existing networks and referrals. All identified organizations were contacted and asked to fill in an online self‐completion survey through the representatives of the organizations. The data collected were cleaned and anonymized. Categorization and analysis of variable distributions were carried out. Responses to open–ended questions were analyzed qualitatively.

Results

A total of 52 active organizations were identified: 13 in Latin America, 8 in Africa, 24 in Europe, 5 in the Asia‐Pacific region, and 2 in North America. Most were established from 2016 onward, and 39 were legally incorporated. Their reported objectives were to raise awareness about SNP, promote rights to access SNP, and advocate for a legal and regulatory environment in which SNPs are available. They are small organizations: Most are operated with volunteers, with only 7 having any contracted or paid staff, and only 13 persons globally with a paid position. A total of 31 organizations had not received any funding support. The total global funding for all organizations was US$ 309,810. None reported receiving funding from tobacco or pharmaceutical companies. All pointed to important achievements in the public debate about SNP and tobacco harm reduction.

Conclusion

The organizations are run by enthusiastic individuals, most of whom have successfully quit smoking with the help of SNP. Organizations depend on the input of a small number of core workers, all organizations are under‐resourced and potentially fragile, and yet, they report significant activity and success. The challenge for these groups is to gain recognition at national and international level as legitimate stakeholders in the development of tobacco control policy with respect to safer alternatives to smoking.
An exploratory study of local social innovation initiatives for sustainable poverty reduction in Nigeria
Authors: Ipinnaiye Olubunmi , Olaniyan Femi
Published: January 2023

The eradication of extreme poverty remains an intractable global challenge. This paper explores social innovation (SI) as a strategy for fostering sustainable poverty reduction in a developing country, Nigeria. Analysis is based on semi‐structured interviews with founders of SI initiatives. Findings indicate SI as a sustainable poverty reduction strategy because it addresses: (i) some underlying causes of poverty such as poor nutrition and lack of access to education; (ii) different dimensions of sustainability (i.e., economic, social and environmental). The study also identifies socially innovative cultural practices such as traditional rotational saving/credit and apprenticeship schemes which help eradicate poverty by ensuring improved access to finance and encouraging entrepreneurship. Furthermore, results indicate local SI initiatives in Nigeria are largely private sector‐led, while a weak institutional environment hampers expansion. The study highlights the need for policy aimed at identifying, strengthening and scaling up innovative local practices, and creating favourable framework conditions for SI.
XPS study of the thermal stability of passivated NiCrFeCoMo multi‐principal element alloy surfaces
Authors: Wang Xueying , Mercier Dimitri , Zanna Sandrine , Seyeux Antoine , Perriere Loïc , Laurent‐Brocq Mathilde , Guillot Ivan , Maurice Vincent , Marcus Philippe
Published: January 2023

X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis was applied to investigate the thermal stability under ultra‐high vacuum environment of the surface oxide film formed by electrochemical passivation of a newly designed Cr15Fe10Co5Ni60Mo10 (at.%) multi‐principal element alloy and providing the alloy superior localized corrosion resistance compared to conventional stainless steels and alloys. A spectral decomposition methodology involving the subtraction of Auger peaks overlapping the Fe 2p and Co 2p core level regions was applied for quantification of the oxide film composition and thickness. The results show that, at 100°C, the passive oxide film is mainly dehydrated and dehydroxylated. Obvious loss of Ni hydroxide and conversion of Mo (VI) to Mo (IV) species are observed at 200°C, with further reduction of Mo species to Mo (III) observed at 300°C. In this temperature range, the total cation quantity in the oxide film remains stable despite the compositional alteration. At 400°C, Cr (III) oxide forms at the expense of Fe and Mo oxides, resulting in an oxide film essentially consisting of chromium oxide. At 500°C, Cr (III) oxide is eliminated, making the passive film unstable at this temperature. Possible Cr oxide removal mechanisms are discussed.
Impact of transport and storage practices on the microbiological quality of drinking water in Godomey district (Abomey‐Calavi municipality) in the Republic of Benin
Authors: Ekpe Sévérin , Nougbode Yéwêgnon Alima Esther Irma , Labite Hervé E. , Daouda Mama
Published: January 2023

The aim of this study was to assess the risk of drinking water contamination during transportation and storage at the household level of Godomey district in Benin. A survey carried out in 175 households was followed by a microbial analysis of water samples at the point of supply and after transport and storage in households over a period of 4 days. The results of the surveys showed that households obtain their supplies in water mostly from the network of the National Water Company of Benin (SONEB). In addition, they used private boreholes and wells as source of the drinking water. People who did not have direct access to water sources traveled a few meters with different materials (cans, plastics, basins) to obtain water and store it in households for their daily needs. This water was used for several days (1–7) before the renewal of the storage. The microbiological results revealed an increase in microbial contamination, specifically total germs and total coliforms, after transport and storage when compared with the point of supply, and as time passed. The fecal contamination was expressed by the presence of Escherichia coli. According to the study, 17% of well samples are polluted on the first and second days and are classified as dangerous quality. After 4 days, this pollution had spread to 50% of well samples. In addition, 17% of borehole water samples were found to be of poor quality, and none of the SONEB samples were contaminated with E. coli.
The inflated Chern-Simons number in spectator chromo-natural inflation
Authors: Bagherian Hengameh , Reece Matthew , Xu Weishuang Linda
Published: January 2023

Abstract

The chromo-natural inflation (CNI) scenario predicts a potentially detectable chiral gravitational wave signal, generated by a Chern-Simons coupling between a rolling scalar axion field and an SU(2) gauge field with an isotropy-preserving classical background during inflation. However, the generation of this signal requires a very large integer Chern-Simons level, which can be challenging to explain or embed in a UV-complete model. We show that this challenge persists in the phenomenologically viable spectator field CNI (S-CNI) model. Furthermore, we show that a clockwork scenario giving rise to a large integer as a product of small integers can never produce a Chern-Simons level large enough to have successful S-CNI phenomenology. We briefly discuss other constraints on the model, both in effective field theory based on partial-wave unitarity bounds and in quantum gravity based on the Weak Gravity Conjecture, which may be relevant for further explorations of alternative UV completions.
The molecular mechanisms of remodeling in asthma, COPD and IPF with a special emphasis on the complex role of Wnt5A
Authors: Singla Abhinav , Reuter Sebastian , Taube Christian , Peters Marcus , Peters Karin
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Chronic inflammatory lung diseases are a common cause of suffering and death. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the reason for 6% of all deaths worldwide. A total of 262 million people are affected by asthma and 461,000 people died in 2019. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is diagnosed in 3 million people worldwide, with an onset over the age of 50 with a mean survival of only 24–30 months﻿. These three diseases have in common that remodeling of the lung tissue takes place, which is responsible for an irreversible decline of lung function. Pathological lung remodeling is mediated by a complex interaction of different, often misguided, repair processes regulated by a variety of mediators. One group of these, as has recently become known, are the Wnt ligands. In addition to their well-characterized role in embryogenesis, this group of glycoproteins is also involved in immunological and structural repair processes. Depending on the combination of the Wnt ligand with its receptors and co-receptors, canonical and noncanonical signaling cascades can be induced.
Wnt5A is a mediator that is described mainly in noncanonical Wnt signaling and has been shown to play an important role in different inflammatory diseases and malignancies.

Objectives

In this review, we summarize the literature available regarding the role of Wnt5A as an immune modulator and its role in the development of asthma, COPD and IPF. We will focus specifically on what is known about Wnt5A concerning its role in the remodeling processes involved in the chronification of the diseases.

Conclusion

Wnt5A has been shown to be involved in all three inflammatory lung diseases. Since the ligand affects both structural and immunological processes, it is an interesting target for the treatment of lung diseases whose pathology involves a restructuring of the lung tissue triggered in part by an inflammatory immune response.