bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Towards ultra‐low‐cost smartphone microscopy
Authors: Zhang Haoran , Zhang Weiyi , Zuo Zirui , Yang Jianlong
Published: February 2024

The outbreak of COVID‐19 exposed the inadequacy of our technical tools for home health surveillance, and recent studies have shown the potential of smartphones as a universal optical microscopic imaging platform for such applications. However, most of them use laboratory‐grade optomechanical components and transmitted illuminations to ensure focus tuning capability and imaging quality, which keeps the cost of the equipment high. Here, we propose an ultra‐low‐cost solution for smartphone microscopy. To realize focus tunability, we designed a seesaw‐like structure capable of converting large displacements on one side into small displacements on the other (reduced to ∼9.1%), which leverages the intrinsic flexibility of 3D printing materials. We achieved a focus‐tuning accuracy of ∼5 𝜇m, which is 40 times higher than the machining accuracy of the 3D‐printed lens holder itself. For microscopic imaging, we used an off‐the‐shelf smartphone camera lens as the objective and the built‐in flashlight as the illumination. To compensate for the resulting image quality degradation, we developed a learning‐based image enhancement method. We used the CycleGAN architecture to establish the mapping from smartphone microscope images to benchtop microscope images without pairing. We verified the imaging performance on different biomedical samples. Except for the smartphone, we kept the full costs of the device under 4 USD. We think these efforts to lower the costs of smartphone microscopes will benefit their applications in various scenarios, such as point‐of‐care testing, on‐site diagnosis, and home health surveillance.

Research Highlights

We propose a solution for ultra‐low‐cost smartphone microscopy.

Utilizing the flexibility of 3D‐printed material, we can achieve focusing accuracy of ∼5 𝜇m.

Such a low‐cost device will benefit point‐of‐care diagnosis and home health surveillance.
Diurnal variation in methane emission from a rice paddy due to ebullition
Authors: Kajiura Masako , Tokida Takeshi
Published: February 2024

Diurnal fluctuations in methane (CH4) emission are frequently observed in rice paddy fields, yet the driving mechanisms behind these variations are not fully understood. We posited that the observed diurnal patterns are predominantly due to temperature‐dependent bubbling emissions (ebullition). To investigate this hypothesis, we conducted measurements of CH4 emission in a Japanese rice paddy using static chambers coupled with a high‐time‐resolution CH4 analyzer that allowed us to partition the total flux into its two principal components: plant‐mediated transport and ebullition. Diurnal variation in the total flux was minimal during the early parts of reproductive growth (panicle formation and booting stages), when plant‐mediated emission was dominant. At a later stage (heading period), ebullition accounted for 43%–70% of the total emission, and CH4 emission via both pathways varied diurnally; however, the diurnal range was much greater for bubbling emission (ratio of maximum to minimum = 3.5) than for plant‐mediated emission (ratio of maximum to minimum = 1.4). The magnitude of emissions due to ebullition depended on the temperature, but was greater during the flux‐increasing phase in the morning than the flux‐decreasing phase in the afternoon even at the same temperature, forming a hysteresis in the flux versus temperature relationship. These findings support our hypothesis and indicate that abiotic processes, such as a change in the solubility of gases and the temperature dependence of the gas‐phase volume (Charles's law), may play a central role in shaping the diurnal pattern of the CH4 ebullition.
Association of Intrauterine Device Malposition With Previous Cesarean Delivery and Related Uterine Anatomical Changes
Authors: Doulaveris Georgios , Jou Jessica , Leung Wendy K. , Bircaj Emnonila , Orfanelli Theofano , Atrio Jessica , Dar Pe'er , Rotenberg Ohad
Published: February 2024

Objectives

We sought to determine the association between intrauterine device (IUD) malposition and previous cesarean delivery (CD) and related uterine anatomical changes.

Methods

A retrospective cohort of all persons with an IUD presenting for two‐ and three‐dimensional pelvic ultrasonography over 2 years, for any gynecologic indication, was compiled. IUD malposition was defined as IUD partially or completely positioned outside the endometrial cavity. Uterine position, uterine flexion, and cesarean scar defect (CSD) size were assessed. Patient characteristics and sonographic findings were compared between those with normally positioned and malpositioned IUD. Primary outcome was the rate of IUD malposition in persons with and without a history of CD. Logistic regression analysis was used to control for potential confounders.

Results

Two hundred ninety‐six persons with an IUD had a pelvic ultrasound, 240 (81.1%) had a normally positioned IUD, and 56 (18.9%) had a malpositioned IUD. The most common location of IUD malposition was low uterine segment and cervix (67.9%). Malpositioned IUD was associated with referral for evaluation of pelvic pain (P = .001). Prior CD was significantly associated with a malpositioned IUD, after adjusting for confounders (aOR 3.50, 95% CI 1.31–9.35, P = .01). Among persons with prior CD, uterine retroflexion and a large CSD were independent risk factors for IUD malposition (aOR 4.1, 95% CI 1.1–15.9, P = .04 and aOR 5.4, 95% CI 1.4–20.9, P = .01, respectively).

Conclusions

Prior CD is associated with significantly increased risk of IUD malposition. Among persons with previous CD, those with a retroflexed uterus and a large CSD are more likely to have a malpositioned IUD.
The better health club: A model for global, interdisciplinary learning in lifestyle medicine
Authors: Paddon Lawrence , Storoschuk Kristi L. , Acuna Vivienne , Ariaye Arian , Brandon Olivia , Leo Nicolas Di , Gharios Ryan , Zapanta Kaylie , Wood Thomas R. , Horner David
Published: February 2024

Contemporary students increasingly benefit from non‐hierarchical education, including peer‐led work, which moves beyond more ridged traditional educational structures. Such approaches encourage engagement, two‐way communication, diversity of thought and collaboration. This piece shares the stories and experiences of students with a shared interest in health promotion and lifestyle medicine who took part in a peer‐led, internationally based online student group. The forum aimed to provide a space for students to explore and discuss diverse topics within the health sphere in an attempt to bridge the gap between areas of expertise and education. The group capitalised on the normalisation of remote video meetings following the COVID‐19 pandemic to bring together a small group of diverse students from across the globe on a weekly basis for journal clubs, presentations, debates and guest lectures. Group member feedback was obtained and highlighted key gaps in much traditional education, which the group addressed. These included moving beyond educational and research silos, the importance of preventative health approaches and the need for more judgement‐free and inclusive learning environments. Alignment with the current health landscape and potential for scaling the group format more widely is discussed. The article concludes by emphasising the advantages of this approach in fostering a network of learners prepared to tackle future health challenges.
Automated monitoring of early life‐stage development in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) embryos exposed to a reference toxicant
Authors: Williamson David R. , Togunov Ron R. , Davies Emlyn J. , Ludvigsen Martin , Hansen Bjørn Henrik
Published: February 2024

Early life stages of fish are widely used for regulatory toxicity testing, and marine fish display high sensitivity to pollutant exposure. Exposure to pollutants during embryogenesis causes acute effects on embryonic development and survival, but also sub‐lethal impacts manifested as maldeveloped larvae. Acquiring time‐ and exposure‐dependent responses to pollutant exposure and other stressors in small organisms is labor intensive and often subjective. This leads to studies obtaining small sample sizes, with measurements often made infrequently during development. Automated monitoring methods can maintain consistency between measurements and allow many more measurements to be made, improving the quantity and quality of such data. We exposed Atlantic cod embryos to 3,4‐dichloroaniline, a reference chemical widely used as a positive control agent in regulatory fish embryo toxicity testing. We monitored their growth through daily imaging with an automated flow‐through imaging system. Biologically relevant sublethal endpoints were estimated from these images with a neural network and traditional machine vision methods. We demonstrate the automated capture and analysis of tens of thousands of images, producing detailed morphometric data from hundreds of fish over a 10‐d study period, and assess the effectiveness of the automated system. The automated method presented allows measurements to be made frequently without sacrificing the sampled organisms, making detailed time series of development obtainable. We show dose‐dependent effects of the toxicant on development and capture nonlinear responses that would not be attainable under a conventional manual sampling regime.
Dynamic game evolution complexity of new energy and fuel vehicle manufacturers under carbon cap‐and‐trade policy
Authors: Ma Junhai , Bao Binshuo , Liu Lixia , Wang Xiaoyan
Published: February 2024

Considering customers' preferences for low‐carbon products, the paper delves into the short‐run and long‐run repetitive game involving three oligopolistic manufacturers engaged in the production of new energy vehicles (hybrid electric vehicles [HEV] and battery electric vehicles [BEV]) and conventional fuel vehicles (FV) within the framework of a carbon cap‐and‐trade policy (CaT). In the short‐run game model, this study explores the optimal decision of oligarchic manufacturers and analyzes the efficiency of the supply chain in the context of cooperation and non‐cooperation. In the long‐run repetitive scenario, the article examines the optimal decision of the manufacturer, assuming rational economic behavior aimed at maximizing individual profits within a non‐cooperation game strategy. Finally, the paper investigates the elements that influence the efficiency of the supply chain. The results reveal that (1) fuel vehicles possess greater flexibility in adjusting parameters compared to the other vehicle types; a judicious increase in manufacturers' price adjustment parameters in the stability domain is beneficial to their respective profits and enhances the overall supply chain profitability. (2) Maintaining customers' preference for low‐carbon products within a reasonable range is crucial for the mutual benefit of all manufacturers. (3) The government needs to allocate more carbon emission limits to fuel vehicle manufacturers in order to improve supply chain efficiency.
The τ‐symmetries and Lie algebra structure of the Blaszak–Marciniak lattice equation
Authors: Zhang Jian‐bing , Chen Qi
Published: February 2024

A general approach is developed for discriminating strong and hereditary symmetric operators. The recursion operator of the Blaszak–Marciniak (BM) equation hierarchy is proved to be strong and hereditary symmetric. As an example of discrete soliton equations related to
matrix spectral problems, the
‐symmetries and Lie algebra structure of the BM equation are built firstly.
Cost effective and efficient technique for removing per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water
Authors: Mai Steven
Published: February 2024

Per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals, which can leak into the surrounding environment, such as water and soil, from water‐resistant manufactured products where they remain highly persistent due to their strong chemical bonds. PFAS have been found in human blood and can cause thyroid disease, increased cholesterol levels, liver damage, kidney cancer, and testicular cancer in humans. The goal of this study is to test the effectiveness of sorption and degradation removal methods on PFAS. The sorption method involves the use of biochar. Biochar can hold the PFAS in a concentrated area through electrostatic and hydrophobic properties. The degradation method involves using powerful ultraviolet (UV) light, in which free radicals will be produced and help break down PFAS molecules into simpler ones such as carbon and fluorine. The sorption experiment tested various modified corn biochar and the effect on perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS). It was found that biochar did have a positive removal effect on PFBS, and the biochar with the most modifications had the highest removal rate. The degradation experiment tested the effect of UV light and other modifications on PFBS. It was found that UV light did have a positive removal effect on PFBS, and the UV light combined with other modifications had a higher removal effect.
Effect of vaccine recommendations on consumer and firm behavior
Authors: Churchill Brandyn F. , Henkhaus Laura E. , Lawler Emily C.
Published: February 2024

We provide novel evidence on how firms and patients respond to vaccine recommendations. In 2014, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended that elderly adults receive the pneumococcal vaccine Prevnar 13. Using a difference‐in‐differences strategy, we first show that, following the recommendation, the manufacturer (Pfizer) increased direct‐to‐consumer advertising. We then document increased Prevnar 13–related information‐seeking behavior, and we show that targeted adults were more likely to have received a pneumococcal vaccine and were more connected to the health care system. Overall, the recommendation increased both Medicare Part B drug expenditures and Pfizer sales by approximately $1 billion annually, with little to no observable health benefits.
Exposure of Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana) to humans reduces behavioural responses to potential threats
Authors: Zukerman Yuval , Berger‐Tal Oded
Published: February 2024

The spatial expansion of human populations has increased the overlap between humans and wildlife, leading to the greater tolerance of many wildlife species to humans. However, our current understanding of the consequences of such tolerance is limited. In particular, we lack information on whether reduced behavioural responses to humans are indicative of reduced responses to other potential threats.

We made use of a unique natural system comprising geographically adjacent, but nevertheless separate, populations of the threatened Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana) that are exposed to different levels of human disturbance to test the effects of exposure to humans on ibex behavioural responses to other stimuli.

We measured flight initiation distance (FID) and alert distance (AD) in males approached by four different stimuli: a human, a human with a dog, a novel object, and a leopard model.

Both FID and AD decreased for all stimuli as the human exposure level increased. Ibex in areas that are highly exposed to humans reduced their behavioural responses to humans more strongly compared to other stimuli. These findings suggest that tolerance for humans may be the product of several complementary behavioural mechanisms (such as habituation and non‐random dispersal).

Policy implications. Our findings align with the concern that animals highly exposed to human beings may be less capable of surviving in the wild. Our results also emphasize that the interactions between people and wild animals (such as feeding them) determine the behavioural responses of wild animals, shaping patterns of human–wildlife conflict and co‐existence.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the parotid and submandibular glands in children and young adults: A population‐based study
Authors: Phillips Alisa L. , Li Cai , Liang Jia , Sheyn Anthony , Rastatter Jeffrey C. , Chelius Daniel C. , Orbach Daniel , Richard Celine
Published: February 2024

Objectives

This study aims to analyze the behavior and treatment of adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC) in the pediatric and young adult population and to identify factors affecting overall survival (OS).

Materials and methods

The study analyzed salivary gland malignancies in patients aged 0–21 with AdCC histology using the National Cancer Database from 2004 to 2018.

Results

A total of 72 patients (59.7% parotid, 36.1% submandibular, 1.4% sublingual, 2.8% unspecified) met criteria. Median age was 18 years [range: 0–21]. High‐grade dysplasia was present in 67% of cases. Therapy consisted of primary surgery for all cases, regional lymph node dissection (LND) (74%), radiotherapy (71%), chemotherapy (8%), and chemoradiation (7%). The 5‐year OS rate was 93.2% [95% confidence interval (CI): 86.9%–99.9%], respectively. Patients who underwent associated LND had improved OS (p = .0083, log‐rank test) with a 5‐year OS at 82.4% [95% CI: 66.1%–100%] versus 97.6% [95% CI: 93.0%–100%]. A significant difference in OS was found with unfavorable outcomes after positive marginal status: 5‐year OS 84.1% [95% CI: 71.0%–99.7%] versus 100% [95% CI: 100%]; p < .001. Adjuvant therapy did not seem to impact the outcome.

Conclusion

This study confirms that AdCC in children and young adults has an overall good prognosis despite frequent high grade. It suggests that cervical LND may be of importance, but the value of systematic adjuvant therapy is not confirmed. These findings emphasize the importance and relevance of population‐based studies in shaping clinical practice and informing the design of future prospective investigations.
Quasi‐static and high‐rate in‐plane shear tests on aramid and carbon fiber woven composites featuring a nanoparticle‐enriched high‐density polyethylene matrix
Authors: Pereira Iaci Miranda , Hahn Philipp , Jung Markus , Imbert Mathieu , May Michael
Published: February 2024

Nanoparticles are known to enable the modification of the properties of the material they are integrated into. In the context of ballistic protection, previous works have demonstrated that graphene and Montmorillonite (MMT) particles included in high‐density polyethylene (HD‐PE) and used as a matrix enable an increase in the ballistic performance, of consolidated woven aramid fabrics. Furthermore, the ballistic performance has been reported to be influenced by the in‐plane shear properties of the impacted materials. In this context, quasi‐static and high‐rate in‐plane shear tests have been conducted on two types of reinforcements, aramid, and carbon woven fabrics, consolidated by a high‐density polyethylene matrix enriched by graphene, MMT and a mix of graphene and MMT nanoparticles. The conducted investigations provide for the first time in the literature the results of high‐rate in‐plane shear tests on aramid woven reinforcement consolidated with nanoparticle‐enriched and not enriched high‐density polyethylene composites. Despite the use of the same reinforcement and enriched matrix material as in previous works of literature, no significant differences in terms of in‐plane shear behavior have been observed for any of the different types of nanoparticles integrated into the matrix. Nevertheless, the obtained results demonstrate a clear strain rate sensitivity of the tested materials.

Highlights

Aramid and carbon fabrics were consolidated with nanoparticle‐enriched HD‐PE

Quasi‐static and high‐rate in‐plane shear tests were conducted

No influence of the nanoparticles could be identified

A clear strain‐rate sensitivity could be identified for both composites
Simple surface modification of barium sulfate for improving the interface of polymer composites and its x‐ray shielding properties
Authors: Tokonami Ryoma , Osanai Minoru , Hosoda Masahiro , Tokonami Shinji , Takahashi Tatsuhiro
Published: February 2024

Radiation shielding materials have been researched using Pb and metal oxide particles, and composites of resin and barium sulfate (BaSO4) have been reported. In addition, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have often been used as a nanomaterial to improve the mechanical strength of resin–BaSO4 composites. The literature includes no examples of these two materials—BaSO4 and MWCNTs—being used at the interface of composites. We effectively modified the surface of BaSO4 by a simple process involving strong electrostatic interaction between positively charged barium and negatively charged functional groups on the MWCNT surface. The process is simple and can form large amounts of MWCNTs that coat BaSO4 surfaces. As a result, MWCNTs remained on the BaSO4 surface even after the MWCNT‐coated BaSO4 was washed with a solvent and subjected to melt mixing. The physical anchoring of MWCNTs onto the BaSO4 surface improved the interfacial adhesion and mechanical properties of the resultant composites. The originality of this research is that MWCNTs can be coated onto the surface by only electrostatic interaction without using a polymer adhesive. In addition, the x‐ray shielding performance of the MWCNT‐containing composites was the same as that of composites prepared without the MWCNTs.

Highlights

MWCNTs were coated onto the surface of BaSO4 by electrostatic interaction.

Interfacial adhesion of PS composites was improved by coating MWCNTs.

The MWCNTs did not affect the x‐ray shielding performance.
Staging and clean room: Constructs designed to facilitate transparency and reduce bias in comparative analyses of real‐world data
Authors: Muntner Paul , Hernandez Rohini K. , Kent Shia T. , Browning James E. , Gilbertson David T. , Hurwitz Kathleen E. , Jick Susan S. , Lai Edward C. , Lash Timothy L. , Monda Keri L. , Rothman Kenneth J. , Bradbury Brian D. , Brookhart M. Alan
Published: February 2024

Purpose

We describe constructs designed to protect the integrity of the results from comparative analyses using real‐world data (RWD): staging and clean room.

Methods

Staging involves performing sequential preliminary analyses and evaluating the population size available and potential bias before conducting comparative analyses. A clean room involves restricted access to data and preliminary results, policies governing exploratory analyses and protocol deviations, and audit trail. These constructs are intended to allow decisions about protocol deviations, such as changes to design or model specification, to be made without knowledge of how they might affect subsequent analyses. We describe an example for implementing staging with a clean room.

Results

Stage 1 may involve selecting a data source, developing and registering a protocol, establishing a clean room, and applying inclusion/exclusion criteria. Stage 2 may involve attempting to achieve covariate balance, often through propensity score models. Stage 3 may involve evaluating the presence of residual confounding using negative control outcomes. After each stage, check points may be implemented when a team of statisticians, epidemiologists and clinicians masked to how their decisions may affect study outcomes, reviews the results. This review team may be tasked with making recommendations for protocol deviations to address study precision or bias. They may recommend proceeding to the next stage, conducting additional analyses to address bias, or terminating the study. Stage 4 may involve conducting the comparative analyses.

Conclusions

The staging and clean room constructs are intended to protect the integrity and enhance confidence in the results of analyses of RWD.
Prolonged exposure to dexamethasone alters the proteome and cellular phenotype of human testicular peritubular cells
Authors: Stepanov Youli K. , Herrmann Carola , Stöckl Jan B. , Köhn Frank‐Michael , Pickl Ulrich , Trottmann Mathias , Fröhlich Thomas , Mayerhofer Artur , Welter Harald
Published: February 2024

Human testicular peritubular cells (HTPCs) are smooth muscle cells, which in the testis form a small compartment surrounding the seminiferous tubules. Contractions of HTPCs are responsible for sperm transport, HTPCs contribute to spermatogenesis, have immunological roles and are a site of glucocorticoid receptor expression. Importantly, HTPCs maintain their characteristics in vitro, and thus can serve as an experimental window into the male gonad. Previously we reported consequences of 3‐day treatment with Dexamethasone (Dex), a synthetic glucocorticoid and multi‐purpose anti‐inflammatory drug. However, as glucocorticoid therapies in man often last longer, we now studied consequences of a prolonged 7‐day exposure to 1 µM Dex. Combining live cell imaging with quantative proteomics of samples taken from men, we confirmed our recent findings but more importantly, found numerous novel proteomic alterations induced by prolonged Dex treatment. The comparison of the 7‐day treatment with the 3‐day treatment dataset revealed that extracellular matrix‐ and focal adhesion‐related proteins become more prominent after 7 days of treatment. In contrast, extended stimulation is, for example, associated with a decrease of proteins related to cholesterol and steroid metabolism. Our dataset, which describes phenotypic and proteomic alterations, is a valuable resource for further research projects investigating effects of Dex on human testicular cells.
Lymphocytopenia following adjuvant radiotherapy for breast cancer
Authors: Takeda Kazuya , Umezawa Rei , Yamamoto Takaya , Takahashi Noriyoshi , Suzuki Yu , Kishida Keita , Omata So , Jingu Keiichi
Published: February 2024

Objective

We retrospectively analyzed breast cancer patients who received adjuvant radiotherapy to determine the incidence of lymphocytopenia and its risk factors.

Methods

We reviewed 812 patients with breast cancer who received postoperative radiotherapy. Patients were divided into two groups based on the use of chemotherapy, and a generalized linear regression model was used to explore predictive factors for grade 2 or higher lymphocytopenia. We also examined the effect of lymphocytopenia on overall survival.

Results

Grade 2 or higher lymphocytopenia was observed in 19.4% of patients who did not receive chemotherapy and 45.1% of patients who received chemotherapy. In multivariate analysis, bilateral disease, regional lymph node irradiation, and baseline lymphocytopenia were associated with lymphocytopenia in patients who did not receive cytotoxic chemotherapy. Regional lymph node irradiation, baseline lymphocytopenia, use of antimetabolites, and use of molecular‐targeted agents were associated with lymphocytopenia in patients treated with chemotherapy. In the survival analysis, lymphocytopenia was associated with worse overall survival only in patients treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy (p = 0.039), and not in patients who did not receive chemotherapy (p = 0.77).

Conclusion

The analysis revealed the incidence and risk factors of lymphocytopenia after postoperative radiotherapy in patients with breast cancer.
Gain Coefficient Comparison between Silicon and InP Laser Diode Substrate
Authors: Periyanayagam Gandhi Kallarasan , Shimomura Kazuhiko
Published: February 2024

The article presents the study on the comparison of gain coefficient of laser diode on silicon and InP substrate. Fabry–Perot GaInAsP bulk laser diode on InP/Si substrate is successfully obtained to study the optical gain coefficient of laser diode. The influences of temperature, threshold current comparison, and optical gain achievements between bulk InP/Si laser diode substrate and InP laser diode substrate are also analyzed using the same growth structure. A new approach is found by the research group which involves bonding of 1 μm InP semiconductor crystal and a low‐cost silicon crystal prior to epitaxial laser structure growth. With the help of metal–organic vapor‐phase epitaxy technique, GaInAsP double‐heterostructure laser is epitaxially deposited on the well‐bonded InP/Si crystal. Fabry–Perot lasing under pulsed condition is achieved, and the lasing characteristics of InP/Si substrate are compared with that of InP laser device to study the gain coefficient.
Impact of Chinese herbal medicine on sarcopenia in enhancing muscle mass, strength, and function: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Zhang Yujie , Liu Kaoqiang , Zhan Yunfan , Zhao Ye , Chai Yongli , Ning Jiawei , Pan Hui , Kong Lingjun , Yuan Wei'an
Published: February 2024

Sarcopenia has become important to the public health with the increase in the aging population in society. However, the therapeutic effects of conventional approaches, including pharmacotherapy, exercise, and nutritional intervention, are far from satisfactory. Chinese herbal medicine is a new treatment format with interesting possibilities in sarcopenia has been widely practiced. The study aims to explore the effectiveness of Chinese herbal medicine in sarcopenia. We comprehensively searched the following electronic databases: Medline, EMBASE, APA PsycInfo, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PubMed, and Chinese database from the establishment of the database to December 2022 (no language restrictions). Randomized controlled clinical studies on the use of Chinese herbal medicine in sarcopenia were selected in compliance with PRISMA guidelines. Review Manager and Stata were used for statistical analysis and the mean difference and standardized mean difference were adopted. Of 277 identified studies, 17 were eligible and included in our analysis (N = 1440 participants). The results showed that Chinese herbal medicine can improve total efficiency (RR = 1.29, 95% CI [1.21, 1.36], p < 0.00001) in sarcopenia and enhance muscle mass (SMD = 1.02, 95% CI [0.55, 1.50], p < 0.0001), and muscle strength measured by grip strength (SMD = 0.66, 95% CI [0.36, 0.96], p < 0.0001), measured by 60°/s knee extension peak TQ (MD = 5.63, 95% CI [−0.30, 11.57], p = 0.06) and muscle function measured by 6‐meter walking speed (SMD = 1.34, 95% CI [0.60, 2.08], p = 0.0004), measured by the short physical performance battery of 1.50%, 95% CI (1.05, 1.95), measured by the EuroQoL 5‐dimension of (SMD = 0.27, 95% CI [−0.10, 0.65], p = 0.16), suggesting that Chinese herbal medicine alone or combined with conventional treatment has ameliorating effect on sarcopenia. Chinese herbal medicine is a potential therapeutic strategy in sarcopenia. The funnel plot and Egger's test indicated publication bias. To confirm our conclusions, further high‐quality studies should be conducted.
Therapeutic effects of resveratrol on epigenetic mechanisms in age‐related diseases: A comprehensive review
Authors: Zhang Sale , Kiarasi Farzam
Published: February 2024

Recently, various studies have shown that epigenetic changes are associated with aging and age‐related diseases. Both animal and human models have revealed that epigenetic processes are involved in aging mechanisms. These processes happen at multiple levels and include histone modification, DNA methylation, and changes in noncoding RNA expression. Consequently, changes in the organization of chromatin and DNA accessibility lead to the regulation of gene expression. With increasing awareness of the pivotal function of epigenetics in the aging process, researchers' attention has been drawn to how these epigenetic changes can be modified to prevent, stop, or reverse aging, senescence, and age‐related diseases. Among various agents that can affect epigenetic, polyphenols are well‐known phytochemicals found in fruits, vegetables, and plants. Polyphenols are found to modify epigenetic‐related mechanisms in various diseases and conditions, such as metabolic disorders, obesity, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. Resveratrol (RSV) is a member of the stilbene subgroup of polyphenols which is derived from various plants, such as grapes, apples, and blueberries. Therefore, herein, we aim to summarize how RSV affects different epigenetic processes to change aging‐related mechanisms. Furthermore, we discuss its roles in age‐related diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular diseases.
Proportional integral observer‐based robust fault‐tolerant consensus for nonlinear two‐time‐scale‐agent systems with heterogeneous sensor faults
Authors: Yang Wu , Chen Jia‐Rui , Wang Yan‐Wu
Published: February 2024

This article studies the fault‐tolerant consensus issue of a class of nonlinear two‐time‐scale‐agent systems with heterogeneous sensor faults and external disturbances. First, the decentralized proportional integral (PI) observer for each agent is constructed to estimate the states and sensor faults simultaneously. Then, a distributed adaptive protocol based on the decentralized PI observer is designed to guarantee the consensus of the underlying systems. Some sufficient existence conditions are given in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) for the decentralized PI observer and the fault tolerant consensus protocol. Note that performance index is employed to attenuate the influence of sensor faults and disturbances on state estimation and the consensus of the underlying systems. Finally, the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method are demonstrated by an application example and a numerical example.
Analysis of soil erosion changes and influencing factors based on the CSLE model and GeoDector in Dongjiang River Basin of China
Authors: Li Shuhao , Kang Junfeng , Ye Junliang , He Yang , Wang Hong
Published: February 2024

Soil and water conservation and protection are of great importance to China, as the source of the Pearl and Xiang Rivers, and the main rare earth mining area, the ecology of Dongjiang River Basin, is very fragile. In this paper, the Chinese soil loss equation and the Geodetector method are used to analyze the spatial and temporal patterns and the impact factors of soil erosion in this area from 2016 to 2020. The results show that (1) Soil erosion intensity in the Dongjiang River Basin from 2016 to 2020 is mainly mild, with the soil erosion intensity in the Dongjiang River Basin in 2016 being the largest in five years. (2) The erosion modulus shows an increasing trend with the increase of slope. In terms of vegetation, when the vegetation cover is <30%, the soil erosion modulus is the largest, which is easy to induce soil erosion. When the vegetation cover is >60%, the soil erosion modulus is the smallest, which effectively slows down the occurrence of soil erosion. Rainfall is proportional to the soil erosion modulus and soil erosion. (3) The results of Geodetector indicate that the single factor sizes are land use > vegetation > slope > precipitation, and interaction factors all show a nonlinear enhancement. (4) The proper allocation of land use types, the prohibition of steep slopes for cultivation, and the restoration of forestry can effectively prevent and control soil erosion in the area.
Inference under superspreading: Determinants of SARS‐CoV‐2 transmission in Germany
Authors: Schmidt Patrick W.
Published: February 2024

Superspreading, under‐reporting, reporting delay, and confounding complicate statistical inference on determinants of disease transmission. A model that accounts for these factors within a Bayesian framework is estimated using German Covid‐19 surveillance data. Compartments based on date of symptom onset, location, and age group allow to identify age‐specific changes in transmission, adjusting for weather, reported prevalence, and testing and tracing. Several factors were associated with a reduction in transmission: public awareness rising, information on local prevalence, testing and tracing, high temperature, stay‐at‐home orders, and restaurant closures. However, substantial uncertainty remains for other interventions including school closures and mandatory face coverings. The challenge of disentangling the effects of different determinants is discussed and examined through a simulation study. On a broader perspective, the study illustrates the potential of surveillance data with demographic information and date of symptom onset to improve inference in the presence of under‐reporting and reporting delay.
Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms to Anti-Tuberculosis Therapy: A Retrospective Review of Inpatients at an Academic Medical Centre in the United States
Authors: Gutierrez Rodrigo A. , Kazmi Maha , Fox Lindy , Shinkai Kanade , Arakaki Ryan , Dobry Allison , Haemel Anna
Published: February 2024

This retrospective cohort study analyzes the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment outcomes of patients who developed drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) to tuberculosis (TB) therapy in a TB non-endemic region. Anti-TB agents represented 7.5% of all antimicrobial-induced DRESS cases, and rifampin was the most commonly implicated agent among drugs used to treat TB.
Gender gap in STEM entrepreneurship: Effects of the Affordable Care Act reform
Authors: Bao Jiayi
Published: February 2024

Research Summary

This article examines whether the Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance reform reduced the gender gap in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) entrepreneurship. I argue that the ACA mitigated mobility constraints imposed by employer‐provided health insurance and encouraged entrepreneurship with important contingencies: effects were limited to women because of gender differences in supply‐side cost reduction and demand‐side health insurance needs and were specific to women in STEM (vs. non‐STEM) entrepreneurship because of the human and financial capital needed to navigate insurance markets. Leveraging the ACA quasi‐experiment, I find consistent evidence of a reduced gender gap in STEM entrepreneurship. Surprisingly, the effects were driven by increased STEM entrepreneurship for married women founding unincorporated businesses. Qualitative interview insights and empirical findings provide explanations for these patterns.

Managerial Summary

This study examines whether the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) entrepreneurial gender gap can be reduced by institutional factors mitigating labor market mobility constraints imposed by employer‐provided work benefits. Through the lens of the US ACA reform, I find that broadened access to more affordable health insurance in the alternative individual insurance markets disproportionately encouraged female (vs. male) STEM (vs. non‐STEM) entrepreneurship, thus reducing the STEM entrepreneurial gender gap. Contrary to common assumptions, this effect is driven by married (vs. unmarried) women and is in unincorporated (vs. incorporated) self‐employment. The findings help discern which groups benefit from policy efforts to promote diversity in STEM entrepreneurship and imply that the effectiveness of employer‐provided work benefits as retention tools is dependent on various worker characteristics.
A facile Immunoregulatory Constructional Design by Proanthocyanidin Optimizing Directional Chitosan Microchannel
Authors: Li Xing , Wang Yuxiang , Zhao Chengkun , Tong Lei , Wang Peilei , Liang Jie , Jiang Qing , Fan Yujiang , Zhang Xingdong , Sun Yong
Published: February 2024

Improving the interconnected structure and bioregulatory function of natural chitosan is beneficial for optimizing its performance in bone regeneration. Here, a facile immunoregulatory constructional design is proposed for developing instructive chitosan by directional freezing and alkaline salting out. The molecular dynamics simulation confirmed the assembly kinetics and structural features of various polyphenols and chitosan molecules. Along with the in vitro anti‐inflammatory, antioxidative, promoting bone mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) adhesion and proliferation performance, proanthocyanidin optimizing chitosan (ChiO) scaffold presented an optimal immunoregulatory structure with the directional microchannel. Transcriptome analysis in vitro further revealed the cytoskeleton‐ and immune‐regulation effect of ChiO are the key mechanism of action on BMSC. The rabbit cranial defect model (Φ = 10 mm) after 12 weeks of implantation confirmed the significantly enhanced bone reconstitution. This facile immunoregulatory directional microchannel design provides effective guidance for developing inducible chitosan scaffolds.
Atomic‐Scale Cryo‐TEM Studies of the Electrochemistry of Redox Mediator in Li–O2 Batteries
Authors: Gao Zhiying , Yao Jingming , Yan Jitong , Sun Jun , Du Congcong , Dai Qiushi , Su Yong , Zhao Jun , Chen Jingzhao , Li Xiaomei , Li Hui , Zhang Pan , Ma Jun , Qiu Hailong , Zhang Liqiang , Tang Yongfu , Huang Jianyu
Published: February 2024

Rechargeable aprotic lithium (Li)‐oxygen battery (LOB) is a potential next‐generation energy storage technology because of its high theoretical specific energy. However, the role of redox mediator on the oxide electrochemistry remains unclear. This is partly due to the intrinsic complexity of the battery chemistry and the lack of in‐depth studies of oxygen electrodes at the atomic level by reliable techniques. Herein, cryo‐transmission electron microscopy (cryo‐TEM) is used to study how the redox mediator LiI affects the oxygen electrochemistry in LOBs. It is revealed that with or without LiI in the electrolyte, the discharge products are plate‐like LiOH or toroidal Li2O2, respectively. The I2 assists the decomposition of LiOH via the formation of LiIO3 in the charge process. In addition, a LiI protective layer is formed on the Li anode surface by the shuttle of I3−, which inhibits the parasitic Li/electrolyte reaction and improves the cycle performance of the LOBs. The LOBs returned to 2e− oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) to produce Li2O2 after the LiI in the electrolyte is consumed. This work provides new insight on the role of redox mediator on the complex electrochemistry in LOBs which may aid the design LOBs for practical applications.
MFLion‐DMN: Mayfly Lion‐optimized deep maxout network for prediction of software development effort
Authors: R. Swapna , Polala Niranjan
Published: February 2024

The precise evaluation of predicting software development effort is a serious process in software engineering. The underestimates require more time, which seems to be the negotiation of complete efficient design and complete software testing. Thus, this paper devises a novel model for inspecting the effort taken for the design of software. The Mayfly Lion Optimization (MFLion) algorithm is devised, which ensembles the Mayfly Algorithm (MA) with the Lion Optimization Algorithm (LOA) for precise estimation. The deep maxout network (DMN) is adapted wherein the different weights are produced out of which the most suitable is infused considering the MFLion during model training. The optimal features are selected using recursive feature elimination (RFE) wherein the best features are selected and the remaining irrelevant features are eliminated from the list. The proposed MFLion obtained better performance with the smallest mean magnitude of relative error (MMRE) of 5.909 and the smallest root mean square error (RMSE) of 75.505, respectively. Each technique is produced using a separate database generated using the Promise software engineering repository. The outcomes produced from the assessment of the accuracies of models suggested that the MFLion‐DMN is a substitute to forecast software effort, which is extensively devised in engineering platforms.
Metal Nanoparticles Assisted Ultrafast Laser Plasmonic Microwelding of Oxide–Semiconductor Interconnects
Authors: Hu Yifan , Lin Luchan , Xu Jiayi , Hu Siyuan , Ji Junde , Wu Weiqing , Zuo Xinde , Zhang Qianyi , Li Zhuguo
Published: February 2024

Integration of wafer‐scale oxide and semiconductor materials meets the difficulties of residual stress and materials incompatibility. In this work, Ag NPs thin film is contributed as an energy confinement layer between oxide (Sapphire) and semiconductor (Si) wafers to localize the materials interaction during ultrafast laser irradiation. Due to the plasmonic effects generated within constructed dielectric–metal–dielectric structures (i.e., Sapphire–Ag–Si), thermal diffusion and chemical reaction between Ag and its neighboring materials facilitate the microwelding of Sapphire and Si wafers. Ag NPs can be totally sintered within the junction area to bridge oxide and semiconductor, while Al─O─Ag bond and Ag─Si bond are formed at Ag–Sapphire and Ag─Si interfaces, respectively. As‐received heterogeneous joint exhibits a high shear strength up to 5.4 MPa, with the fracture occurring inside Si wafer. Meanwhile, insertion of metal nanolayer can greatly relieve the residual stress‐induced microcracking inside the brittle materials. Such wafer‐scale Sapphire and Si interconnects thus show robust strength and excellent impermeability even after thermal shocking (−40 °C to 120 °C) for 200 cycles. This metal NPs layer‐assisted plasmonic microwelding technology can extend to broad materials integration, which is promising for high‐performance microdevices development in MEMS, MOEMS, or microfluidics.
Ultralong Stability of Ti3C2Tx‐MXene Dispersion Through Synergistic Regulation of Storage Environment and Defect Capping with Tris‐HCl Buffering
Authors: Tan Jiayi , Fan Baomin , Zhang Peng , Wei Yi , Soomro Razium A. , Zhao Xiaoqi , Kumar Jai , Qiao Ning , Xu Bin
Published: February 2024

Aqueous MXene dispersion suffers from a bottleneck issue of oxidation, leading to its gradual deterioration and ultimately compromised physicochemical characteristics. Herein, Tris‐HCl buffer is employed to stabilize the diluted Ti3C2Tx‐MXene dispersion (0.05 mg mL−1) through the synergy of its potent pH‐regulation capability and capping effect toward oxidation‐susceptible defects/edges. Tris‐HCl functionalized Ti3C2Tx maintained its original morphology, structure, and favorable dispersity even after 150 days of aging under naturally aerated conditions. The pH‐regulation nature of Tris‐HCl is elucidated through solution monitoring of Ti3C2Tx dispersion, while the adsorption of Tris‐HCl onto defects/edges is revealed by spectral analysis and multi‐scale simulations. Tris‐HCl at the neutral pH can bind to the negatively charged basal plane of Ti3C2Tx via +HTris moiety, while the other moiety (Tris) interacts with the exposed edge‐based Ti atoms and/or intrinsic defects, forming a Ti─N bond that prevents MXene from attack by H2O and O2. Besides, Tris‐HCl stabilized Ti3C2Tx exhibited nearly identical capacitive characteristics to its freshly‐etched counterpart, indicating the minimal impact of Tris‐HCl on electrochemical performance of Ti3C2Tx during long‐term storage. This study provides practical guidance for stabilizing MXene in their native aqueous dispersion without compromising the inherent properties.
Structural flexibility identification from impact test data through a subband estimation method
Authors: Xue Ming‐Sheng , Qu Chun‐Xu , Yi Ting‐Hua , Li Hong‐Nan
Published: February 2024

Flexibility is an important parameter reflecting bridge load‐carrying capacity. Dynamic testing is a fast and effective method to obtain the structural modal flexibility of small‐ and medium‐span bridges. The Deterministic‐stochastic subspace identification (DSI) algorithm is a well‐established structure identification method in the time domain. However, the estimation of damping, especially the modal scaling factor, is not always reliable due to inevitable measurement noise, which directly affects the identification accuracy of flexibility. This paper proposes a maximum likelihood estimation method in subbands (SMLE), which can be regarded as an add‐on method of the DSI algorithm because the initial parameters are obtained from the DSI algorithm. The processing of frequency band division is implemented first, and the frequency response function curve in each subband of the whole frequency range is fit separately. Then, subband cyclic iteration is proposed to improve the identification accuracy in a closely spaced mode system. The proposed SMLE method maintains the advantages of the DSI algorithm while improving the accuracy of parameter estimation and flexibility identification. Two lumped mass models are used to verify that the proposed method can effectively improve estimates to obtain a precise flexibility matrix and predict the displacement of the structure under static loading. Experimental example of a continuous girder bridge is considered to verify the availability and effectiveness of the proposed method in practice.