bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scaling up sustainable innovation: Stakeholder ties, eco‐product innovation, and new product performance
Authors: Adomako Samuel , Tran Mai Dong
Published: July 2023

Deriving insights from the stakeholder theory, this article investigates the impact of industry stakeholders on product innovation through eco‐innovation. It further examines the moderating role of environmental R&D expenditure on this relationship. Using data from 212 firms, the results from this article reveal that (1) both intra and extra‐stakeholder ties predict eco‐innovation, (2) eco‐innovation mediates the relationship between industry stakeholder ties and new product performance, and (3) environmental R&D expenditure has a positive moderating effect on the linkage between intra and extra‐industry stakeholder ties and new product performance through eco‐innovation. These findings contribute to our understanding of the role of industry stakeholders in the context of emerging markets by being a driver of new product outcomes. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
Computational‐Guided Design of Photoelectrode Active Materials for Light‐Assisted Energy Storage
Authors: Qian Chengfei , Wang Ronghao , Shen Hao , Xia Jingjie , Cui Dingyu , Sun Kaiwen , Liu He , Guo Cong , Yu Feng , Li Jingfa , Bao Weizhai
Published: July 2023

The design of a novel photoelectric integrated system is considered to be an efficient way to utilize and store inexhaustible solar energy. However, the mechanism of photoelectrode under illuminate conditions is still unclear. Density functional theory (DFT) provides standardized analysis and becomes a powerful way to explain the photoelectrochemical mechanism. Herein, the feasibility of four metal oxide configurations as photoelectrode materials by using a high throughput calculation method based on DFT are investigated. According to the photoelectrochemical properties, band structure and density of states are calculated, and the intercalate/deintercalate simulation is performed with adsorption configuration. The calculation indicates that the band gap of Fe2CoO4 (2.404 eV) is narrower than that of Co3O4 (2.553 eV), as well as stronger adsorption energy (−3.293 eV). The relationship between the electronic structure and the photoelectrochemical performance is analyzed and verified according to the predicted DFT results by subsequent experiments. Results show that the Fe2CoO4 photoelectrode samples exhibit higher coulombic efficiency (97.4%) than that under dark conditions (94.9%), which is consistent with the DFT results. This work provides a general method for the design of integrated photoelectrode materials and is expected to be enlightening for the adjustment of light‐assisted properties of multifunctional materials.
Cal Poly's multi‐year journey to overhaul course offerings and boost student graduations
Authors: D’Orio Wayne
Published: July 2023

Cem Sunata was feeling helpless. As the University Registrar at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo he could see which high demand classes ran out of seats quickly. He could discern the patterns and inefficiencies at the 22,000‐student school that kept people from graduating, but he felt powerless to make the needed changes.
Understanding the benefits and challenges of creating customized flex‐path degrees
Authors: Sutton Halley
Published: July 2023

CHICAGO — Creating customized degrees is a way to serve the needs of your local marketplace, by providing both skilled workers and adult learners a chance to pursue something directly in line with their own career goals and interests. But scaling these programs — making it possible to have a wide range of options for your students without competing internally with your own programs — can prove to be a challenge.
A Regulatory Science Perspective on Performance Assessment of Machine Learning Algorithms in Imaging
Authors: Chen Weijie , Krainak Daniel , Sahiner Berkman , Petrick Nicholas
Published: July 2023

This chapter presents a regulatory science perspective on the assessment of machine learning algorithms in diagnostic imaging applications. Most of the topics are generally applicable to many medical imaging applications, while brain disease-specific examples are provided when possible. The chapter begins with an overview of US FDA’s regulatory framework followed by assessment methodologies related to ML devices in medical imaging. Rationale, methods, and issues are discussed for the study design and data collection, the algorithm documentation, and the reference standard. Finally, study design and statistical analysis methods are overviewed for the assessment of standalone performance of ML algorithms as well as their impact on clinicians (i.e., reader studies). We believe that assessment methodologies and regulatory science play a critical role in fully realizing the great potential of ML in medical imaging, in facilitating ML device innovation, and in accelerating the translation of these technologies from bench to bedside to the benefit of patients.
Post-Secular Negotiations in Pastoral Care: Models in a Danish Podcast Series
Authors: Christoffersen Mikkel Gabriel , Andersen Aida Hougaard
Published: July 2023

This article explores the theoretical and practical importance of post-secular negotiations in intercultural pastoral care. Post-secular negotiations are negotiations between secular and religious discourses within specific activities such as pastoral care. While intercultural pastoral care has established a focus on the encounter between religious others in pastoral care, this article focuses on the encounter between Christian and secular discourses. Analyzing 10 Danish pastoral care conversations, the authors find that such post-secular negotiations occur in a variety of ways (explicit and implicit, initiated by pastor and care seeker), in a variety of settings (not only secular settings such as hospitals but also in ecclesial settings) and with various results (reception, rejection, misunderstanding, and circumvention). Drawing upon psychotherapeutic literature, the authors argue that explicit and respectful post-secular negotiations initiated by the pastor at the beginning of the conversation, either formalized or contextualized, might create better conditions for pastoral care conversations in the post-secular world.
Online motion planning of mobile cable-driven parallel robots for autonomous navigation in uncertain environments
Authors: Xu Jiajun , Kim Byeong-Geon , Feng Xiguang , Park Kyoung-Su
Published: July 2023

Mobile cable-driven parallel robots (MCDPRs) offer expanded motion capabilities and workspace compared to traditional cable-driven parallel robots (CDPRs) by incorporating mobile bases. However, additional mobile bases introduce more degree-of-freedom (DoF) and various constraints to make their motion planning a challenging problem. Despite several motion planning methods for MCDPRs being developed in the literature, they are only applicable to known environments, and autonomous navigation in unknown environments with obstacles remains a challenging issue. The ability to navigate autonomously is essential for MCDPRs, as it opens up possibilities for the robot to perform a broad range of tasks in real-world scenarios. To address this limitation, this study proposes an online motion planning method for MCDPRs based on the pipeline of rapidly exploring random tree (RRT). The presented approach explores unknown environments efficiently to produce high-quality collision-free trajectories for MCDPRs. To ensure the optimal execution of the planned trajectories, the study introduces two indicators specifically designed for the mobile bases and the end-effector. These indicators take into account various performance metrics, including trajectory quality and kinematic performance, enabling the determination of the final following trajectory that best aligns with the desired objectives of the robot. Moreover, to effectively handle unknown environments, a vision-based system utilizing an RGB-D camera is developed, allowing for precise MCDPR localization and obstacle detection, ultimately enhancing the autonomy and adaptability of the MCDPR. Finally, the extensive simulations conducted using dynamic simulation software (CoppeliaSim) and the on-board real-world experiments with a self-built MCDPR prototype demonstrate the practical applicability and effectiveness of the proposed method.
Using a Randomised Controlled Trial to Test the Effectiveness of a Simplified Notice of Police Bail
Authors: Gyani Alex , Chappell Nathan , Tebbutt Lance , Williams Simon
Published: July 2023

Purpose

To test whether a simplified notice of police bail can increase court attendance in New Zealand by increasing defendant awareness of upcoming court hearings.

Methods

We designed a simplified notice of police bail using principles from behavioural science. The simplified notice reduced the required reading age of the front page by 2 years and included a clear call to action and simplified information. We rolled the notice out across six police stations in New Zealand and tested the impact with a cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT) (n = 1542, with clustering by custody officer). We also conducted interviews with defendants and staff, and conducted a survey with staff, to gain additional insights into the barriers to court attendance.

Results

Our results suggest the simplified notice increased court attendance by 3.6 percentage points (p < 0.1). If scaled throughout New Zealand, this would translate to around 1400 more defendants attending court each year due to the new notice. Our qualitative findings highlight a number of barriers to attendance not addressed by the simplified notice, including transport barriers, childcare barriers, and waiting times at court.

Conclusions

A simplified notice of police bail can increase court attendance by increasing defendants’ awareness of their court requirements. There are a range of additional barriers to attendance not overcome by our intervention which future interventions could address.

Trial Registration

AEARCTR-0007018.
Temporal communication dynamics in the aftermath of large-scale upheavals: do digital footprints reveal a stage model?
Authors: Flores Pablo M. , Hilbert Martin
Published: July 2023

It has long been theorized that the exchange of information in the aftermath of large-scale upheavals ensues dynamics that follow a stage model, which would be a societal equivalent of individuals’ psychological processing of traumatic events. Nowadays, a relevant portion of this informational exchange occurs on social media platforms. In this study, we use the digital footprint of three independent earthquakes to analyze their communication dynamics. We find empirical evidence of a stage model previously proposed by Pennebaker (Pennebaker in Handbook of mental control, Prentice-Hall Inc., Hoboken, 1993) in the aftermath of the earthquakes. In addition, we further explore the role of emotions within the model stages through time using natural language processing tools. Our results show that emotions with low activation levels, such as interest and sadness, are expressed in higher proportions and are the most useful for predicting the expression of emotions with higher activation levels. Employing newly available computational methods like digital trace data, natural language processing, clustering, and causal analysis, this study extends Pennebaker’s model from offline to online social communication.
The state of quantum computing applications in health and medicine
Authors: Flöther Frederik F.
Published: July 2023

Quantum computing hardware and software have made enormous strides over the last years1. Questions around quantum computing’s impact on research and society have changed from “if” to “when/how”. The 2020s have been described as the “quantum decade”, and the first production solutions that drive scientific and business value are expected to become available over the next years. Medicine, including fields in healthcare and life sciences, has seen a flurry of quantum-related activities and experiments in the last few years (although medicine and quantum theory have arguably been entangled ever since Schrödinger’s cat2). The initial focus was on biochemical and computational biology problems3,4,5,6,7,8; recently, however, clinical and medical quantum solutions have drawn increasing interest. The rapid emergence of quantum computing in health and medicine necessitates a mapping of the landscape.

In this review, clinical and medical proof-of-concept quantum computing applications are outlined and put into perspective. These consist of over 40 experimental and theoretical studies from the last few years. The use case areas span genomics, clinical research and discovery, diagnostics, and treatments and interventions. Quantum machine learning (QML) in particular has rapidly evolved and shown to be competitive with classical benchmarks in recent medical research. Near-term QML algorithms, for instance, quantum support vector classifiers and quantum neural networks, have been trained with diverse clinical and real-world data sets. This includes studies in generating new molecular entities as drug candidates, diagnosing based on medical image classification, predicting patient persistence, forecasting treatment effectiveness, and tailoring radiotherapy. The use cases and the applied algorithms are summarized.

In addition, this review provides an outlook on medicine in the quantum era. There has been much discussion about healthcare’s journey towards precision medicine and the quadruple aim (better health, lower costs, enhanced patient experiences, and improved healthcare practitioner work lives)9. While a range of technical and ethical challenges remain, quantum computing is poised to become a key enabler for advancing towards the holy grail: keeping people healthy through proactive medical care and guidance at the level of an individual.
Attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination of healthcare workers in Israel and vaccination rates during vaccine rollout
Authors: Halevi Assaf , Shkalim Zemer Vered , Embar Tami , Jacobson Eyal , Reichenberg Yael , Yosef Noga , Shlomi Dekel
Published: July 2023

A new COVID-19 vaccine was introduced in a remarkably short period of time. Public and healthcare workers (HCWs) were concerned about the safety of the vaccine, especially in light of the use of new technologies. A review regarding attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination found a 22.5% hesitancy rate among HCWs. Online anonymous questionnaires were delivered using a web-based surveying platform to community HCWs in a central district in Israel from 3 to 19 January 2021. The real COVID-19 vaccination data were collected between the beginning of the vaccination rollout and the end of the month after the survey as well as the real vaccination rate among the general population. Of the 3,172 HCWs, 549 (17%) responded to the questionnaire. The highest positive attitude towards the vaccine was among physicians (95%), while nurses showed the highest level of hesitation (14%) for a specific sector (P < 0.05). However, the real vaccination rates were similar among physicians (63%) and nurses (62%). Surprisingly, the total vaccination rate of HCWs was substantially lower (52%) than that of the general population (71%). The main vaccination motivators were the social and economic effects of the COVID-19 epidemic. Focused strategies to reduce the level of hesitancy among HCWs are needed.
The Foreign Language Effect on Tolerance of Ambiguity
Authors: Purpuri Silvia , Vasta Nicola , Filippi Roberto , Wei Li , Mulatti Claudio
Published: July 2023

Previous research has shown that bilingual speakers may be more tolerant to ambiguity, they might perceive situations of ambiguity more interesting, challenging and desirable (e.g., Dewaele & Li, 2013). To our knowledge, no data are available addressing the question whether the language in use can have an effect on the personality trait of tolerance of ambiguity (ToA). This study investigated whether and how reading statements in a second language (L2), as opposed to the native language (L1), affects ToA. 387 Italian–English bilingual adults completed a questionnaire measuring levels of ToA either in English or Italian. Results revealed that processing information in L2 promoted higher scores of ToA overall and in sentences that were related to challenging perspectives and change. Age, gender and L2 proficiency were significant predictors of higher ToA scores. This study offers new evidence that processing information in a L2 can affect tolerance of ambiguous situations.
Pflegeentwicklung – So viel mehr als ein Fortbildungskatalog
Authors: Auerbach Thomas , Brüchmann Sabine
Published: July 2023

Was ist zu diesem Thema bereits bekannt?

In einer Studie „Personalentwicklung und Qualifizierung“ (Göpfert-Divivier & Ahr, 2003) wurde aufgezeigt, dass Interventionen und Modelle zur Wissensvermittlung mögliche Mittel für Personalbindung und -gewinnung sind.

Wie wird eine neue Perspektive eingebracht?

Durch Vermittlung von kollegialem Fachwissen, durch die Bearbeitung von Praxisbeispielen durch Studierende und durch pflegefachliche Einarbeitungsmodule für neue Pflegende, öffnen wir neue Perspektiven in der Pflege- und Personalentwicklung.

Was sind die Auswirkungen für die Praxis?

Mit der Einführung von drei Best Practice-Ideen wird ein breiter Fachwissenstransfer, eine Verbesserung des professionsübergreifenden Verständnisses und eine strukturierte Einarbeitung angeboten. Damit verbunden ist eine Verbesserung der Arbeitszufriedenheit und eine bessere Personalbindung.
Ketamine and rapid antidepressant action: new treatments and novel synaptic signaling mechanisms
Authors: Krystal John H. , Kavalali Ege T. , Monteggia Lisa M.
Published: July 2023

Ketamine is an open channel blocker of ionotropic glutamatergic N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) receptors. The discovery of its rapid antidepressant effects in patients with depression and treatment-resistant depression fostered novel effective treatments for mood disorders. This discovery not only provided new insight into the neurobiology of mood disorders but also uncovered fundamental synaptic plasticity mechanisms that underlie its treatment. In this review, we discuss key clinical aspects of ketamine’s effect as a rapidly acting antidepressant, synaptic and circuit mechanisms underlying its action, as well as how these novel perspectives in clinical practice and synapse biology form a road map for future studies aimed at more effective treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders.
Characterization of the central nervous system penetrant and selective purine P2X7 receptor antagonist JNJ-54175446 in patients with major depressive disorder
Authors: Recourt Kasper , de Boer Peter , van der Ark Peter , Benes Heike , van Gerven Joop M. A. , Ceusters Marc , van Nueten Luc , Drevets Wayne C. , Bhatacharya Anindya , Browning Michael , Jacobs Gabriel E.
Published: July 2023

JNJ-54175446 is a selective purine P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) antagonist that attenuates microglial IL-1β/IL-18 release. In healthy volunteers, JNJ-54175446 suppressed peripheral interleukin (IL)-1β release, and attenuated dexamphetamine-induced improvements of mood and (visuo)motor performance in a human dexamphetamine-challenge paradigm. In depression, P2X7R inhibition may dampen immune-related dysregulation of mood. These results suggest that the impact of P2X7R inhibition is most prominent in situations where mood regulation is disrupted. Total sleep deprivation (TSD) results in an acute emotional perturbation, which yields a transient antidepressant effect. In the current study, TSD was applied as a behavioral challenge to investigate whether such effects could be modulated by JNJ-54175446. This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study to assess the safety and pharmacokinetics of JNJ-54175446 and explore its effects in patients with single episode and recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD) (N = 69) and baseline total Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Clinician Rated (IDS-C) > 30. Patients were randomized to receive JNJ-54175446 throughout the 10-day treatment period, placebo for days 1–3 followed by JNJ-54175446 or placebo throughout. All patients underwent 36 h of TSD starting on day three until the evening of day four. The early start group was hypothesized to experience a reduced effect from TSD whilst the late starting group was hypothesized to experience prolonged effects from the TSD. JNJ-54175446 was well-tolerated and adverse events were mild to moderate. JNJ-54175446 reduced IL-1β release by LPS-stimulated peripheral white blood cells in the presence of the P2X receptor agonist benzyl adenosine triphosphate (BzATP). JNJ-54175446 did not have a significant effect on mood as assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, 17 items (HDRS17) and the Self-rated Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms (QIDS-SR). However, JNJ-54175446 blunted an acute reduction of anhedonia that occurred as a result of TSD, assessed by the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) and the Probabilistic Instrumental Learning Task (PILT).
The emergence of RAS mutations in patients with RAS wild-type mCRC receiving cetuximab as first-line treatment: a noninterventional, uncontrolled multicenter study
Authors: Tsai Hsiang-Lin , Lin Chun-Chi , Sung Yung-Chung , Chen Shang-Hung , Chen Li-Tzong , Jiang Jeng-Kai , Wang Jaw-Yuan
Published: July 2023

Absrtact

Background

Patients treated with anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (anti-EGFR) will ultimately develop acquired resistance promoted by clonal selection, mainly the emergence of mutations in the MAPK pathway (mostly RAS mutations). Baseline assessment of RAS mutations in the blood of patients correlates well with RAS tumour tissue testing and is currently an alternative option in routine clinical practice to guide first-line therapy. The aim of this study was the prevalence of acquired genomic alterations detected in the auxiliary tool of ctDNA testing and investigated the role of RAS ctDNA status for detecting tumour response and predicting benefit to anti-EGFR therapy.

Methods

Only patients with concordant wild-type formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumour tissue and baseline ctDNA RAS wild-type were included. RAS mutations in plasma were evaluated using MassARRAY platform. Blood samples were collected at baseline, every 3 months during first-line treatment, and at disease progression. The primary endpoint was the detection rate of RAS mutations during cetuximab treatment. The correlation between response and survival outcomes and the emergence of circulating RAS mutations was also analysed.

Results

The detection rate of RAS mutations during treatment was 9.3% (10/108). RAS mutations detection occurred a median of 3 months prior to radiologic documentation. The subgroup of patients with RAS mutations exhibited significantly inferior progression-free survival and overall survival (P = 0.002 and 0.027, respectively) but the baseline characteristics, response rates, disease control rates, and metastatectomy were not significant (all P > 0.05).

Conclusions

We demonstrated that RAS ctDNA status might be a valuable biomarker for detecting early tumour response and predicting benefit to anti-EGFR therapy.

Clinical Trial Registration: NCT03401957 (January 17, 2018).
CRISPR/Cas9-mediated inactivation of miR-34a and miR-34b/c in HCT116 colorectal cancer cells: comprehensive characterization after exposure to 5-FU reveals EMT and autophagy as key processes regulated by miR-34
Authors: Huang Zekai , Kaller Markus , Hermeking Heiko
Published: July 2023

The miR-34a and miR-34b/c encoding genes represent direct targets of the p53 transcription factor, and presumably mediate part of the tumor suppressive effects of p53. Here, we sought to determine their functional relevance by inactivating miR-34a and/or miR-34b/c using a CRISPR/Cas9 approach in the colorectal cancer (CRC) cell line HCT116. Concomitant deletion of miR-34a and miR-34b/c resulted in significantly reduced suppression of proliferation after p53 activation, enhanced migration, invasion and EMT, as well as reduced sensitivity to chemotherapeutics, increased stress-induced autophagic flux, decreased apoptosis and upregulation of autophagy-related genes after 5-FU treatment. However, inactivation of singular miR-34a or miR-34b/c had little effects on the aforementioned processes. RNA-Seq analysis revealed that concomitant deletion of miR-34a/b/c caused EMT signature enrichment, impaired gene repression by the p53-DREAM pathway and elevated autophagy after 5-FU treatment. A gene signature comprised of mRNAs significantly upregulated after combined inactivation of miR-34a and miR-34b/c showed a significant association with the invasive colon cancer subtype CMS4 and poor overall survival in two CRC patient cohorts, and with 5-FU resistance in CRC cell lines. In miR-34a/b/c-deficient cells the upregulated miR-34 target FOXM1 directly induced p62 and ATG9A, which increased autophagy and consequently attenuated apoptosis and rendered the miR-34a/b/c-KO cells more resistant to 5-FU. Inhibition of autophagy by depletion of ATG9A or chloroquine re-sensitized miR-34a/b/c-deficient HCT116 cells to 5-FU. In summary, our findings show a complementary role of miR-34a and miR-34b/c in the regulation of EMT and autophagy which may be relevant for CRC therapy in the future.
A burns and COVID-19 shared stress responding gene network deciphers CD1C-CD141- DCs as the key cellular components in septic prognosis
Authors: Liang Qiao , Wang Lei , Xu Jing , Lin Anqi , Wu Yongzheng , Tao Qing , Zhang Bin , Min Haiyan , Song Shiyu , Gao Qian
Published: July 2023

Differential body responses to various stresses, infectious or noninfectious, govern clinical outcomes ranging from asymptoma to death. However, the common molecular and cellular nature of the stress responsome across different stimuli is not described. In this study, we compared the expression behaviors between burns and COVID-19 infection by choosing the transcriptome of peripheral blood from related patients as the analytic target since the blood cells reflect the systemic landscape of immune status. To this end, we identified an immune co-stimulator (CD86)-centered network, named stress-response core (SRC), which was robustly co-expressed in burns and COVID-19. The enhancement of SRC genes (SRCs) expression indicated favorable prognosis and less severity in both conditions. An independent whole blood single-cell RNA sequencing of COVID-19 patients demonstrated that the monocyte-dendritic cell (Mono-DC) wing was the major cellular source of SRC, among which the higher expression of the SRCs in the monocyte was associated with the asymptomatic COVID-19 patients, while the quantity-restricted and function-defected CD1C-CD141-DCs were recognized as the key signature which linked to bad consequences. Specifically, the proportion of the CD1C-CD141-DCs and their SRCs expression were step-wise reduced along with worse clinic conditions while the subcluster of CD1C-CD141-DCs from the critical COVID-19 patients was characterized of IFN signaling quiescence, high mitochondrial metabolism and immune-communication inactivation. Thus, our study identified an expression-synchronized and function-focused gene network in Mono-DC population whose expression status was prognosis-related and might serve as a new target of diagnosis and therapy.
Prevalence of iodine deficiency among vegan compared to vegetarian and omnivore children in the Czech Republic: cross-sectional study
Authors: Světnička Martin , Heniková Marina , Selinger Eliška , Ouřadová Anna , Potočková Jana , Kuhn Tilman , Gojda Jan , El-Lababidi Eva
Published: July 2023

Background

The intake and homeostasis of iodine, an essential micronutrient that plays a vital role in thyroid physiology, is of particular concern with the increasing popularity of vegetarian (VG) and vegan (VN) diets. Children on these restrictive diets may be at risk of possible adverse effects on growth and development, but there is currently a lack of recent epidemiological studies on this topic.

Methods

We gathered clinical, anthropometric, and blood/urine data on iodine status and thyroid function from children aged 0–18 years who followed either a VG diet (n = 91), VN diet (n = 75), or omnivore diet (OM, n = 52). Cross-sectional comparison of the groups and linear regression was used. Stratified analyses were performed based on age (according to WHO): 0–5 years and 6–18 years.

Results

Our study revealed no significant differences in levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (fT3), thyroglobulin (TG) or anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (ATPOc) between the VG, VN, and OM groups. However, thyroxine (fT4) levels were found to be higher in the VN group compared to the OM group (15.00 ± 1.73 vs. 16.17 ± 1.82 pmol/l, p < 0.001). The presence of anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (AhTGc) was notably more common in the VG (18.2%)/VN (35.0%) groups than in the OM group (2.1%) (p < 0.001). Regarding iodine status, the concentration of iodine in spot urine (UIC) was found to be highest in the OM group (197.28 ± 105.35 vs. VG: 177.95 ± 155.88 vs. VN: 162.97 ± 164.51 µg/l, p < 0.001). Notably, the lowest (5.99 µg/l) and highest (991.80 µg/l) levels were measured in the VN group. Of the participants, 31 VN, 31 VG and 10 OM children met the criteria for iodine deficiency (i.e., UIC < 100 µg/l). We found that children with regular iodine supplementation had higher UIC (p < 0.001). Importantly, the median UIC was above 100 µg/l in all three groups, through the recommended intake (RDI) of iodine was rarely met throughout the groups.

Conclusion

We have observed a trend to lower UIC values in VN as compared to OM. This trend is also reflected in the median UIC values, even though the median UIC values were above the WHO cut-off (e.g., 100 µg/l) for iodine deficiency in all dietary groups. These results suggest that VN and VG children may be more at higher risk of iodine deficiency, this theory is also supported by higher prevalence of AhTGc positivity. Further research is needed to investigate the long-term impact of these dietary patterns on iodine status and thyroid function in children. Given our findings, it may also be necessary to consider new guidelines for supplementing children following VG and VN diets to ensure their iodine needs are met.
The anti-Alzheimer potential of novel spiroindolin-1,2-diazepine derivatives as targeted cholinesterase inhibitors with modified substituents
Authors: Pourtaher Hormoz , Hasaninejad Alireza , Zare Shahrokh , Tanideh Nader , Iraji Aida
Published: July 2023

In this study, a new series of spiro indolin-1,2-diazepine were designed, synthesized, and screened for their cholinesterase inhibitory activities. A novel, green, high-yielding approach was constructed to synthesize spiro indolin-1,2-diazepine derivatives through a cascade reaction of different isatins, malononitrile and 1,1-enediamines (EDAMs) via sequential four-component reactions to produce the target compounds with good to excellent yields. Next the inhibitory potencies of all derivatives were determined spectroscopically at 415 nm using the modified Ellman method. The results of the in vitro screening indicated that 5l with spiroindolin-1,2-diazepine core bearing 5-NO2 at R1 and 4-OH at R2 was the most potent and selective AChE inhibitor with an IC50 value of 3.98 ± 1.07 µM with no significant inhibition against BChE while 5j was the most active analog against both AChE and BChE enzymes. The structure–activity relationships suggested the variation in the inhibitory activities of derivatives was affected by different substitutions on the indolinone ring as well as the phenyl moiety. The enzyme kinetic studies of the most potent compound 5l at five different concentrations and acetylthiocholine substrate (0.1–1 mM) by Ellman's method revealed that it inhibited AChE in a mixed mode with a Ki of 0.044 μM. A molecular docking study was performed via induced fit docking protocol to predict the putative binding interaction. It was shown that the moieties used in the initial structure design play a fundamental role in interacting with the enzyme's binding site. Further, molecular dynamics simulations with the Schrödinger package were performed for 5l in a complex with AChE and revealed that compound 5l formed the stable complex with the enzyme. The MTT toxicity assessments against the neuroblastoma cell line were executed, and no toxicity was seen for 5l under the tested concentrations.
Managing retreat for sandy beach areas under sea level rise
Authors: Setter Renee O. , Han Rachael X. , Tavares Kammie-Dominique , Newfield Conrad , Terry Alice , Roberson Isabella M. , Tarui Nori , Coffman Makena
Published: July 2023

Sea level rise (SLR) is projected to impact approximately one billion people by 2100. For many coastal communities, retreat is the most viable long-term option due to exposure risk under SLR and increased coastal hazards. Our research analyzes the costs of retreating coastal development at an iconic beach in Hawaiʻi that is experiencing severe erosion. We assess three retreat approaches: all-at-once, threshold-based, and reactive. Utilizing detailed SLR modeling projected to the year 2100, we estimate the public and private costs of retreat approaches and the amount of increased beach area. We find an all-at-once approach is most costly but maintains the largest beach area over time. In contrast, a reactive approach has the lowest direct costs but offers the least beach area gained over time and incurs the greatest public safety and environmental risk. The threshold-based approach largely mitigates public safety and environmental risks while providing more beach area over time than the reactive approach with similar direct costs. We find that a threshold-based approach should be further explored as a SLR response for coastal communities to maintain their sandy beach areas. Our study informs coastal adaptation research and identifies a new framework to explore the financial costs alongside social and ecological values.
Acoustic and optoacoustic stimulations in auditory brainstem response test in salicylate induced tinnitus
Authors: Montazeri Katayoon , Farhadi Mohammad , Akbarnejad Zeinab , Asadpour Abdoreza , Majdabadi Abbas , Fekrazad Reza , Mahmoudian Saeid
Published: July 2023

As a common debilitating disorder worldwide, tinnitus requires objective assessment. In the auditory brainstem response (ABR) test, auditory potentials can be evoked by acoustic or optoacoustic (induced by laser light) stimulations. In order to use the ABR test in the objective assessment of tinnitus, in this study, acoustic ABR (aABR) and optoacoustic ABR (oABR) were compared in the control and tinnitus groups to determine the changes caused by sodium salicylate (SS)-induced tinnitus in rat. In both aABR and oABR, wave II was the most prominent waveform, and the amplitude of wave II evoked by oABR was significantly higher than that of aABR. Brainstem transmission time (BTT), which represents the time required for a neural stimulation to progress from the auditory nerve ending to the inferior colliculus, was significantly shorter in oABR. In the tinnitus group, there was a significant increase in the threshold of both ABRs and a significant decrease in the amplitude of wave II only in the oABR. Based on our findings, the ABR test has the potential to be used in the assessment of SS-induced tinnitus, but oABR has the advantages of producing more prominent waveforms and significantly reducing the amplitude of wave II in tinnitus.
Insights into modeling refractive index of ionic liquids using chemical structure-based machine learning methods
Authors: Esmaeili Ali , Hekmatmehr Hesamedin , Atashrouz Saeid , Madani Seyed Ali , Pourmahdi Maryam , Nedeljkovic Dragutin , Hemmati-Sarapardeh Abdolhossein , Mohaddespour Ahmad
Published: July 2023

Ionic liquids (ILs) have drawn much attention due to their extensive applications and environment-friendly nature. Refractive index prediction is valuable for ILs quality control and property characterization. This paper aims to predict refractive indices of pure ILs and identify factors influencing refractive index changes. Six chemical structure-based machine learning models called eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM), Categorical Boosting (CatBoost), Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), Adaptive Boosting-Decision Tree (Ada-DT), and Adaptive Boosting-Support Vector Machine (Ada-SVM) were developed to achieve this goal. An enormous dataset containing 6098 data points of 483 different ILs was exploited to train the machine learning models. Each data point’s chemical substructures, temperature, and wavelength were considered for the models’ inputs. Including wavelength as input is unprecedented among predictions done by machine learning methods. The results show that the best model was CatBoost, followed by XGBoost, LightGBM, Ada-DT, CNN, and Ada-SVM. The R2 and average absolute percent relative error (AAPRE) of the best model were 0.9973 and 0.0545, respectively. Comparing this study’s models with the literature shows two advantages regarding the dataset’s abundance and prediction accuracy. This study also reveals that the presence of the –F substructure in an ionic liquid has the most influence on its refractive index among all inputs. It was also found that the refractive index of imidazolium-based ILs increases with increasing alkyl chain length. In conclusion, chemical structure-based machine learning methods provide promising insights into predicting the refractive index of ILs in terms of accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Association between obesity and mortality in critically ill COVID-19 patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation: a multicenter retrospective observational study
Authors: Shimoyama Keiichiro , Endo Akira , Shimazui Takashi , Tagami Takashi , Yamakawa Kazuma , Hayakawa Mineji , Ogura Takayuki , Hirayama Atsushi , Yasunaga Hideo , Oda Jun
Published: July 2023

This study aimed to determine whether obesity and disease outcomes are associated in patients with critically-ill coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). This retrospective observational study using Japanese multicenter registry data included COVID-19 patients who required IMV and were discharged between January and September 2020. The patients were divided into the obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 25 kg/m2) and nonobese (BMI < 25 kg/m2) groups. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between obesity and disease outcomes. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality; the secondary outcome was venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) implementation. Altogether, 477 patients were enrolled (obese, n = 235, median BMI, 28.2 kg/m2; nonobese, n = 242, median BMI, 22.4 kg/m2). Obesity was significantly associated with lower in-hospital mortality in the unadjusted logistic regression model (odds ratio 0.63; 95% confidence interval, 0.42–0.97; p = 0.033), but not with mortality in the adjusted logistic regression model using age, sex, and Charlson Comorbidity Index as covariates (p = 0.564). Obesity was not associated with VV-ECMO implementation in both unadjusted and adjusted models (unadjusted, p = 0.074; adjusted, p = 0.695). Obesity was not associated with outcomes in COVID-19 patients requiring IMV. Obesity may not be a risk factor for poor outcomes in these patients.
Interval timing relative to response inhibition in the differential reinforcement of low-rate responding in normally developing young adults
Authors: Yang Tsung-Han , Liao Ruey-Ming , Su Chung-I. , Chien Chun-Yi , Ng Chan-Tat , Yen Nai-Shing
Published: July 2023

With recent proposal suggesting the multifaceted nature of impulsivity, researchers have been intrigued by the question of whether the impulsive behaviour measured in the traditionally psychological paradigms is unitary. One such paradigm, the differential reinforcement of low-rate responding (DRL), has been used to assess response inhibition, but its underlying mechanism has still been debated. In present research, we examined and differentiated the effects of both response inhibition and interval timing on a multisession DRL-10 s (DRL-10 s) in a large sample of normally developing young adults, as well as with three other measures including the stop-signal reaction task (SSRT), time production task-10 s (TPT-10 s), and the Barrett impulsivity scale-11 (BIS-11). The results showed that behavioural changes existed in DRL. As the task sessions progressed, there was an increase in both reinforcement probability and peak time, but a decrease in burst responses. Most importantly, both principal component analysis and generalized multilevel modeling yielded consistent results that as the task progressed, there was an increasing involvement of the TPT in the late sessions of DRL. However, none of the effect of SSRT was found. In sum, the differential degrees of involvement of the timing process, relative to response inhibition, were observed in DRL.
A gelatin hydrogel nonwoven fabric improves outcomes of subcutaneous islet transplantation
Authors: Kanai Norifumi , Inagaki Akiko , Nakamura Yasuhiro , Imura Takehiro , Mitsugashira Hiroaki , Saito Ryusuke , Miyagi Shigehito , Watanabe Kimiko , Kamei Takashi , Unno Michiaki , Tabata Yasuhiko , Goto Masafumi
Published: July 2023

Subcutaneous islet transplantation is a promising treatment for severe diabetes; however, poor engraftment hinders its prevalence. We previously reported that a recombinant peptide (RCP) enhances subcutaneous islet engraftment. However, it is impractical for clinical use because RCP must be removed when transplanting islets. We herein investigated whether a novel bioabsorbable gelatin hydrogel nonwoven fabric (GHNF) could improve subcutaneous islet engraftment. A silicon spacer with or without GHNF was implanted into the subcutaneous space of diabetic mice. Syngeneic islets were transplanted into the pretreated space or intraportally (Ipo group). Blood glucose, intraperitoneal glucose tolerance, immunohistochemistry, CT angiography and gene expression were evaluated. The cure rate and glucose tolerance of the GHNF group were significantly better than in the control and Ipo groups (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, respectively). In the GHNF group, a limited increase of vWF-positive vessels was detected in the islet capsule, whereas laminin (p < 0.05), collagen III and IV were considerably enhanced. TaqMan arrays revealed a significant upregulation of 19 target genes (including insulin-like growth factor-2) in the pretreated space. GHNF markedly improved the subcutaneous islet transplantation outcomes, likely due to ECM compensation and protection of islet function by various growth factors, rather than enhanced neovascularization.
Fast time-domain diffuse correlation spectroscopy with superconducting nanowire single-photon detector: system validation and in vivo results
Authors: Parfentyeva Veronika , Colombo Lorenzo , Lanka Pranav , Pagliazzi Marco , Brodu Annalisa , Noordzij Niels , Kolarczik Mirco , Dalla Mora Alberto , Re Rebecca , Contini Davide , Torricelli Alessandro , Durduran Turgut , Pifferi Antonio
Published: July 2023

Time-domain diffuse correlation spectroscopy (TD-DCS) has been introduced as an advancement of the “classical” continuous wave DCS (CW-DCS) allowing one to not only to measure depth-resolved blood flow index (BFI) but also to extract optical properties of the measured medium without using any additional diffuse optics technique. However, this method is a photon-starved technique, specially when considering only the late photons that are of primary interest which has limited its in vivo application. In this work, we present a TD-DCS system based on a superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD) with a high quantum efficiency, a narrow timing response, and a negligibly low dark count noise. We compared it to the typically used single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) detector. In addition, this system allowed us to conduct fast in vivo measurements and obtain gated pulsatile BFI on the adult human forehead.
Flood susceptibility mapping utilizing the integration of geospatial and multivariate statistical analysis, Erbil area in Northern Iraq as a case study
Authors: Ahmed Alaa , Al Maliki Ali , Hashim Bassim , Alshamsi Dalal , Arman Hasan , Gad Ahmed
Published: July 2023

Climate extreme events such as floods and droughts in any area have a significant impact on human life, infrastructure, agriculture, and the economy. In the last two years, flash floods caused by heavy rainstorms have become frequent and destructive in many catchments in Northern Iraq. The present study aims to examine flash floods in the Erbil region, Northern Iraq using Remote sensing (RS), Geographic Information System (GIS), and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) for geomorphic data. PCA results revealed that 12 geomorphic parameters exhibited a significant correlation with two different statistical components. To facilitate practical application, ranks are assigned based on the calculated parameters for flood susceptibility mapping. Out of the 24 basins in the current study, three basins (16, 3, and 14) have the highest geomorphometric values (36–39), indicating the zone most susceptible to flash floods and making up a maximum area of 38.58% of the studied region. Six basins (4, 8, 9, 10, 12, and 15), which have geomorphometric values between 30 and 35 and cover a land area of 27.86%, are the most moderately vulnerable to floods. The remaining basins, which make up 33.47% of the research, are occasionally subject to floods and have geomorphometric scores below 30. The precision of the flood susceptibility mapping was validated using the bifurcation ratio and drainage density relationship as well as past flood damages, such as economic losses and human casualties. Most of the recorded injuries and fatalities took place in areas that were particularly prone to severe past flooding. Additionally, the investigation revealed that 44.56% of all populated areas are located in extremely vulnerable basins. The findings demonstrate a notable correlation between the identified flood-susceptible areas and the occurrence of past flood damage.