bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Addressing Gaps in Research to Reduce Disparities and Advance Health Equity
Authors: Mangione Carol M. , Nicholson Wanda , Davidson Karina W.
Published: October 2022

This Viewpoint reviews the evidence gaps reported to Congress by the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) in 2021 on improving health inequities in prevention and uses the 3 taxonomies provided by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) to classify these gaps.
Single protonation of the reduced quinone in respiratory complex I drives four‐proton pumping
Authors: Stuchebrukhov Alexei A. , Hayashi Tomoyuki
Published: October 2022

Complex I is a key proton‐pumping enzyme in bacterial and mitochondrial respiratory electron transport chains. Using quantum chemistry and electrostatic calculations, we have examined the pKa of the reduced quinone QH−/QH2 in the catalytic cavity of complex I. We find that pKa (QH−/QH2) is very high, above 20. This means that the energy of a single protonation reaction of the doubly reduced quinone (i.e. the reduced semiquinone QH−) is sufficient to drive four protons across the membrane with a potential of 180 mV. Based on these calculations, we propose a possible scheme of redox‐linked proton pumping by complex I. The model explains how the energy of the protonation reaction can be divided equally among four pumping units of the pump, and how a single proton can drive translocation of four additional protons in multiple pumping blocks.
Identification of an ALK‐2 Inhibitor as an Agonist for Intercellular Exchange and Tumor Delivery of Nanomaterial
Authors: Wu Xian , Guo Hong , Zhao Jiaqi , Wei Yushuang , Li Yue‐Xuan , Pang Hong‐Bo
Published: October 2022

Inefficient extravasation and penetration in solid tissues hinder the clinical outcome of nanoparticles (NPs). Recent studies have shown the extravasation and penetration of NPs in solid tumor are mostly achieved via an active transcellular route. Numerous efforts are devoted to elucidate the endocytosis and subcellular trafficking of NPs. However, how they exit from one cell and re‐enter into neighboring ones (termed intercellular exchange) remains poorly understood. The previous study showed that a significant portion of NPs are transferred inside extracellular vesicles (EVs). Inhibition of EV biogenesis significantly reduces tumor accumulation and vascular penetration of various NPs in vivo. Here, a manual chemical screen is performed with this assay, which identifies that LDN‐214117 (an inhibitor for activin receptor‐like kinase‐2, ALK‐2) as an agonist of NP intercellular exchange. LDN‐214117 is showed to regulate the intercellular exchange by increasing the EV biogenesis via bone morphogenetic protein–mitogen‐activated protein kinase (BMP–MAPK) signaling pathway. LDN‐214117 treatment further enhances tumor accumulation and vascular penetration of a variety of NPs in multiple tumor models, which improves their antitumor efficacy. Overall, the identification of a novel chemical compound with intercellular exchange assay is showcase to modulate EV‐mediated transport, thus boosting the delivery and therapeutic efficacy of nanomaterials.
Nitrogen accumulation and partitioning in field‐grown heirloom tomato cultivar Brandywine
Authors: Lazicki Patricia , Geisseler Daniel , Smith Evie , Lloyd Margaret
Published: October 2022

Heirloom tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) are a high‐value crop for organic vegetable growers. Tomato plants have a high N requirement and are adversely affected by insufficient, excessive, and poorly timed N fertilization. However, little information is available about N dynamics in heirloom tomato and whether their nutritional needs differ from those of hybrid fresh‐market (HFM) tomato. The project's goals were to (a) develop seasonal N accumulation curves for the popular heirloom tomato cultivar Brandywine, (b) measure the N removed with the harvested fruits, and (c) determine whether N concentrations from recently matured leaves from adequately and underfertilized fields as well as N accumulation and partitioning fell within published thresholds for HFM tomato plants. We tracked the leaf N concentrations, growth, yields and N accumulation of organically grown Brandywine tomato in a 2‐yr replicated field trial under low‐ and high‐N availability treatments. We also collected leaf and fruit samples from fertilized and unfertilized plots on local commercial organic fields. Total N accumulation ranged between 25 to 45 g N per linear bed meter and did not differ with N treatment. The N removed with the harvested fruit averaged 1.14 kg Mg−1 fresh fruit across all sites and years and differed by site but not N fertility. On average, 70–80% of tomato N demand occurred between full bloom and early harvest. The observed N accumulation per unit yield, seasonal N accumulation pattern, and leaf sufficiency thresholds for Brandywine tomato were within the ranges published for HFM tomato varieties.
Impact of adherence to hydroxyurea on health outcomes among patients with sickle cell disease
Authors: Kang Hyeun Ah , Barner Jamie C. , Lawson Kenneth A. , Rascati Karen , Mignacca Robert C.
Published: October 2022

Although new pharmaceutical therapy options have recently become available, hydroxyurea is still the most commonly used and affordable treatment option for sickle cell disease (SCD). This study aimed to update the evidence on hydroxyurea adherence and its association with clinical and economic outcomes among individuals with SCD. This retrospective study used Texas Medicaid claims data from 09/2011–08/2016. Individuals were included if they had ≥1 inpatient or ≥2 outpatient SCD diagnoses, had ≥1 hydroxyurea prescription, were 2–63 years of age, and were continuously enrolled in Texas Medicaid between 6 months before and 1 year after the first hydroxyurea prescription fill date (index date). Hydroxyurea adherence (Medication Possession Ratio; MPR), vaso‐occlusive crisis (VOC)‐related outcomes, healthcare utilization and expenditures (SCD‐related and all‐cause) during the 1 year following the index date were measured. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were used to address the study objectives. Among 1035 included individuals (age: 18.8 ± 12.5 years, female: 52.1%), 20.9% were adherent to hydroxyurea (defined as MPR≥0.8). After adjustment for demographic and clinical characteristics, compared to being non‐adherent, adhering to hydroxyurea was significantly associated with: a lower risk (Odds Ratio [OR] = 0.480, p = .0007) and hazard rate (Hazard Ratio [HR] = 0.748, p = .0005) of a VOC event, fewer VOC events (Incidence Rate Ratio [IRR] = 0.767, p = .0009), fewer VOC‐related hospital days (IRR = 0.593, p = .0003), fewer all‐cause and SCD‐related hospitalizations (IRR = 0.712, p = .0008; IRR = 0.707, p = .0008, respectively) and emergency department visits (IRR = 0.768, p = .0037; IRR = 0.746, p = .0041, respectively), and lower SCD‐related total healthcare expenditures (IRR = 0.796, p = .0266). Efforts to increase adherence to hydroxyurea could improve clinical and economic outcomes among individuals with SCD.
Health‐related quality of life in reduced‐intensity hematopoietic cell transplantation based on donor availability in patients aged 50–75 with advanced myelodysplastic syndrome: BMT CTN 1102
Authors: Cusatis Rachel , Martens Michael J. , Nakamura Ryotaro , Cutler Corey S. , Saber Wael , Lee Stephanie J. , Logan Brent R. , Shaw Bronwen E. , Gregory Alyssa , D'Souza Anita , Hamilton Betty K. , Horowitz Mary M. , Flynn Kathryn E.
Published: October 2022

For myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) is the only available curative therapy. The Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network study 1102 (BMT CTN 1102, NCT02016781) was a multicenter, biologic assignment trial based on matched donor availability in adults aged 50–75 with higher risk de novo MDS who were candidates for reduced‐intensity conditioning (RIC) alloHCT. The primary analysis showed that those who received alloHCT had a survival benefit, but whether this is at the cost of worse quality of life (QOL) has not been described in detail. English‐ and Spanish‐speaking trial participants completed the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—General (FACT‐G), the SF‐36, and the EQ‐5D, at enrollment, every 6 months until 24 months, and 36 months. We compared patient‐reported outcome (PRO) scores between study arms using an inverse probability weighted‐independent estimating equation (IPW‐IEE) model. Between January 2014 and November 2018, 384 subjects (median age 66.7 years, range: 50.1–75.3) enrolled at 34 centers. PRO completion rates were generally high at 65%–78%. The PRO trajectories for both arms were similar, with most decreasing or stable from baseline to 6 months and improving thereafter. Baseline PRO scores were the most consistent independent predictors of subsequent QOL outcomes and survival, even after controlling for clinical and patient‐level factors. For older adults with MDS, the survival advantage associated with donor availability and alloHCT did not come at the cost of worse QOL. These results should reassure older patients and clinicians who prefer a curative approach to treating MDS.
Enhancement of thermal conductivity for epoxy laminated composites by constructing hetero‐structured GF/BN networks
Authors: Li Chenglin , Du Qingyuan , Liu Changhao , An Yi , Liu Ying , Zheng Xiuting , Ru Yue , Gao Dali , Wu Daming , Sun Jingyao
Published: October 2022

Due to the rapid development of multifunctional and miniaturized electronic devices, the demand for polymer composites with mechanical properties, high‐thermal conductivity, and dielectric properties is increasing. Therefore, the heat dissipation capacity of the composite must be improved. To solve this problem, we report a glass fabric (GF)/boron nitride (BN) network with a highly thermally conductive hetero‐structured formed using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as an adhesive. The GF and BN are furtherly modified by (3‐aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) for better thermal conductivity enhancement. When the BN content is 30%, the thermal diffusion coefficient and thermal conductivity of obtained PVA‐mBN@mGF (PBG) are 2.843 mm2/s and 1.394 W/(m K), respectively. Epoxy (EP) resin is then introduced to prepare PBG/mBN/EP laminated composites via the hot pressing method as applied as thermal conductive composites. A highest thermal conductivity of 0.67 W/(m K) of PBG/mBN/EP laminated composites is obtained, three times higher than that of pure EP. In addition, the PBG/mBN/EP laminated composites also present favorable mechanical, electrically insulating, and dielectric properties.
Nurses' perspectives on the application of humanistic anatomical knowledge in clinical practice
Authors: Huang Chiung‐Yu , Lai Kuen‐Cherng , Lai Hui‐Ling
Published: October 2022

Knowledge of human anatomy is vital for nurses. Medical educators use a variety of educational pedagogies, including the use of cadavers, to cultivate nursing students into competent and professional care providers and to help them gain authentic experience and knowledge before entering the workplace. Studies have provided numerous examples of students with positive learning experiences in human‐centric (humanistic) anatomy courses; however, whether these positive experiences translate into effective clinical practice remains largely unknown. This study explored nurses' perspectives on the effects of a humanistic anatomy program on their nursing practice. Focus groups with semi‐structured interview guidelines were conducted to collect data. Twenty‐one nurses working in hospitals in Taiwan participated and divided themselves into four groups on the basis of willingness to participate and availability. The interviews were recorded using smartphones, and the recordings were transcribed using a computer. The transcriptions were then checked word by word artificially and analyzed by hand. Three main themes emerged during the analysis: adapting to the professional journey, managing time when providing humanistic care, and cultivating professionalism. The results demonstrate educators' expectations that humanistic anatomy education for nursing students expands students' professional knowledge and helps them develop humanistic competencies as professional nurses.
Industrielle modulare Konstruktion mit niedrigem CO2‐Fußabdruck – EDGE Suedkreuz Berlin
Authors: Elze Martin , Müller Sabine , Günther Veronica
Published: October 2022

EDGE Suedkreuz ist eines der größten in modularer Holz‐Hybridbauweise geplanten Gebäudeensembles in Deutschland. Es erstreckt sich über zwei Bürogebäude mit je sieben Stockwerken und einer verbindenden Tiefgarage, die vollständig mit Ladestationen für E‐Fahrzeuge ausgestattet ist. Vattenfall Deutschland wird hier sein Hauptquartier haben. Von Beginn an wurde ein Fokus auf die Nachhaltigkeit der Gebäude gelegt. Es galt sowohl den CO2‐Fußabdruck des Gebäudes zu reduzieren, nachhaltige und gesunde Materialien zu verwenden als auch das Wohlbefinden der künftigen Nutzer:innen zu berücksichtigen. Die modulare Holz‐Hybridbauweise ist ein wichtiger Bestandteil, um diesen Anspruch zu erreichen, und musste in das Engineering‐Konzept integriert werden. Dazu wurde Buro Happold mit einem multidisziplinären Team beauftragt und lieferte ein ganzheitliches Konzept aus Tragwerksplanung, technischer Gebäudeausrüstung, BIM‐Management und Nachhaltigkeitsberatung. Der Beitrag geht darauf ein, wie es den Ingenieur:innen gelang, die innovative Holz‐Hybridbauweise von CREE in dem Tragwerks‐ und TGA‐Konzept umzusetzen und erläutert Sonderkonstruktionen wie u. a. das ETFE‐Dach des Atriums.
Social motives in children: Greed and fear in a social bargaining game
Authors: Zhen Shanshan , Yu Rongjun
Published: October 2022

Cooperation often coexists with defection in social interactions. Individuals may choose non‐cooperation in social dilemmas either out of fear (fear of being exploited by a non‐cooperative player) or out of greed (the desire to increase private payoff by defecting from a cooperative player). However, the developmental trajectories of such motives in social interactions remain unclear. In order to find out how fear and greed influence children's cooperative behaviors differentially, children aged 7 to 11 were tested in Study 1 using a modified repeated one‐shot prisoner's dilemma game (PDG) in which the incentives to be greedy or fearful were parametrically and independently manipulated. Results showed that children were sensitive to the greed effect at age 7 and their sensitivity was stable across middle childhood, while only 11‐year‐old children were significantly affected by fear when the greed level was low. These findings suggest that in the context of PDG, sensitivity to social threat increases with age across middle childhood especially under low temptation to exploit others, and the greed motive may be less influenced by age in this period. By continuing to use the same experiment with young adults, Study 2 revealed that young adults also demonstrated a diminished fear motive when the greed level was low in the PDG. Moreover, the sensitivity to social motives of 11‐year‐olds was comparable to the levels of young adults. Together, the present findings confirm that two different social motives underlie the development of cooperation in middle childhood.
Timing is everything: Transcriptional repression is not the default mode for regulating Hedgehog signaling
Authors: Lex Rachel K. , Vokes Steven A.
Published: October 2022

Hedgehog (HH) signaling is a conserved pathway that drives developmental growth and is essential for the formation of most organs. The expression of HH target genes is regulated by a dual switch mechanism where GLI proteins function as bifunctional transcriptional activators (in the presence of HH signaling) and transcriptional repressors (in the absence of HH signaling). This results in a tight control of GLI target gene expression during rapidly changing levels of pathway activity. It has long been presumed that GLI proteins also repress target genes prior to the initial expression of HH in a given tissue. This idea forms the basis for the limb bud pre‐patterning model for regulating digit number. Recent findings indicate that GLI repressor proteins are indeed present prior to HH signaling but contrary to this model, GLI proteins are inert as they do not regulate transcriptional responses or enhancer chromatin modifications at this time. These findings suggest that GLI transcriptional repressor activity is not a default state as assumed, but is itself regulated in an unknown fashion. We discuss these findings and their implications for understanding pre‐patterning, digit regulation, and HH‐driven disease.
Greeting skills: A systematic review of the literature
Authors: Hickey Carleana R. , Reeve Sharon A. , Reeve Kenneth F. , Deshais Meghan A.
Published: October 2022

Individuals with disabilities often demonstrate difficulty in social communication skills such as greetings. Studies have shown that deficits in greetings may negatively affect social interactions and vocational opportunities. Therefore, previous research has evaluated a variety of teaching procedures to increase greetings for individuals with disabilities with varying efficacy. This review of the literature provides an overview of studies to date in which greetings were taught to individuals with intellectual disabilities. A variety of teaching procedures were identified, and implications of those procedures are discussed. Results suggest that multiple teaching procedures may be effective; however, component analyses, further replication, and modified generalization procedures are necessary. Implications for future researchers include identifying a technological definition of greetings and evaluating effective teaching procedures and generalization strategies. Implications for practitioners include teaching one greeting type at a time, limiting the number of social skills taught simultaneously, identification of effective teaching procedures and generalization considerations.
Authentication of Cyathulae Radix and Cyathulae Capitatae Radix based on the strength of the characteristic component achybidensaponin I
Authors: Ma Yanhong , Gao Bixing , Qi Jingliang , Gou Yan , Li Zhi , Chen Yingxin , Li Min , Zhou Juan , Zhong Lian , Cai Xiaoyang
Published: October 2022

Because of the immense difficulty in identifying Cyathulae Capitatae Radix adulteration in Cyathulae Radix, this research aims at fortifying the quality control of Cyathulae Radix and its decoction pieces to guarantee the effectiveness and safety of its clinical use in terms of source material. A method was devised to identify Cyathulae Capitatae Radix adulteration in Cyathulae Radix and its decoction pieces. This research takes achybidensaponin I, that is, the characteristic component of Cyathulae Capitatae Radix, as reference substance and adopts HPLC for detection. The results revealed that, among all samples collected, no trace of achybidensaponin I was found in the 21 batches of Cyathulae Radix, whereas achybidensaponin I was found in all the 14 batches of Cyathulae Capitatae Radix. The research sets 5% as the adulteration limit, that is, 1.45 mg/g Cyathulae Capitatae Radix was detected in 57.14% of the 49 batches of market samples collected and the ratio was 51.02% in the case of 5% adulteration limit. The method is not only precise and reliable but can also be used as a supplement for provisions regarding quality control of Cyathulae Radix and its decoction pieces in Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, to effectively crack down on Cyathulae Capitatae Radix adulteration in the market.
A high‐dimensional inverse norm sign test for two‐sample location problems
Authors: Huang Xifen , Liu Binghui , Zhou Qin , Feng Long
Published: October 2022

In this article, we focus on the two‐sample location testing problem for high‐dimensional data, where the data dimension is potentially much larger than the sample sizes. First, we construct a general class of weighted spatial sign tests for the two‐sample location problem, which can include some existing high‐dimensional nonparametric tests. Then, in this article, we find a locally most powerful test by choosing the inverse norm weight function, named the two‐sample inverse norm sign test (tINST). The proposed test can be viewed as an extension of the inverse norm sign test devised for the one‐sample problem. We establish the asymptotic properties of the proposed test, which indicate that it is consistent and has greater power than competing tests that belong to the proposed class of weighted spatial sign tests for two‐sample location problems. Finally, a large number of numerical investigations and a practical biomedical example demonstrate the power and robustness advantages of the proposed test.
Effect of a High‐Fat Meal on Single‐Dose Rencofilstat (CRV431) Oral Bioavailability in Healthy Human Subjects
Authors: Remenchik Ellen , Mayo Patrick R. , Hobbs Todd M. , Greytok Jill A. , Foster Erin P. , Zhao Caroline , Ure Daren , Trepanier Daniel J. , Foster Robert T.
Published: October 2022

Rencofilstat (RCF) is a novel cyclophilin inhibitor under development for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma. This phase 1, randomized, open‐label study in healthy participants assessed the relative bioavailability of a single dose of RCF 225‐mg soft gelatin capsules in both fasted and high‐fat conditions. Forty‐four participants were enrolled to either the fasted (n = 24) or the high‐fat fed (n = 20) arm. Noncompartmental pharmacokinetics were evaluated following a single 225‐mg oral dose. Administration of RCF with a high‐fat meal led to increases in maximum concentration, area under the concentration–time curve (AUC) from time 0 to 24 hours, and AUC from time 0 to infinity fed‐to‐fasted geometric mean ratios of 102.2%, 114.5%, and 132.9%, respectively. All AUC geometric mean ratios were outside of the 80% to 125% range, suggesting that a high‐fat meal can increase the extent of RCF exposure. Time to maximum concentration increased from 1.5 to 1.8 hours in the fasted and high‐fat groups, respectively, suggesting slightly delayed absorption. High fat intake may delay gastric emptying while increasing the absorption and bioavailability of RCF. No treatment‐emergent adverse events were observed in the fasted group, and 1 treatment‐emergent adverse event occurred in the high‐fat meal group. The differences in observed whole‐blood concentrations are unlikely to have clinically relevant effects given the wide therapeutic index of RCF demonstrated in previous phase 1 studies.
SIMCard: Toward better connected electronic health record visualization
Authors: Sassi Salma , Chbeir Richard
Published: October 2022

Recently, several healthcare organizations use decision‐making systems based on electronic health record (EHR) data in order to guarantee patient's safety and improve the quality of healthcare. In essence, the evolutions of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies have been of great help for implementing an integrated and interoperable decision‐making system based on EHR and medical devices (MDs). Those IoT‐based systems allow Clinicians collecting real‐time health data and provide accurate patient's monitoring. Nevertheless, several studies have shown that it is hard to improve the quality of healthcare using the current EHR IoT‐based systems since they do not allow to easily express clinician needs. Interactive visualization tools have been proposed to improve the efficacy and utility of these EHR based systems. However, there is no framework that provides a visual summary of patient data to clinician for planning specific clinical tasks, subsequently evaluating clinician responses, visually exploring EHR data and MDs data, gaining insights, supporting dynamic coordination processes care, and forming and validating hypotheses and risks. This article addresses this problem and introduces SIMCard, an aggregation‐based connected EHR visualization framework for patient monitoring, interpreting and predicting with MDs. The proposed framework aims to synthesize patient's clinical data into a single aggregating model for both EHR and MD conforming to health standard and terminologies. It also allows to link the aggregating model to the relevant medical knowledge in order to provide a connected and dynamic care and preventive plan. Last but not least, it provides an aggregated visualization model capable of displaying graphically a patient's personal data from databases, healthcare devices and sensors to reduce cognitive barriers related to the complexity of medical information and interpretation of health data. To demonstrate the refinement and design of our system and to observe user's actual practice of visualizing and analyzing real‐world dataset, we evaluated our system and compare to existing ones.
Optimal transmit antenna selection for non‐orthogonal multiple access with improved lion algorithm
Authors: Jadhav Kishor , Vidyarthi Abhay
Published: October 2022

In the realm of 5G mobile wireless communication, cognitive radio (CR) plays an important role in improving radio spectrum efficiency by overcoming challenges such as spectrum shortage versus under‐utilization associated with the traditional fixed frequency assignment. “Interweave CR, underlay CR, and overlay CR” are the three primary paradigmatics in general. The present study focuses on the overlay CR paradigm, wherein secondary users (SUs) have all been expected to be provided with superior “encoding and signal processing techniques” to improve primary users' (PUs') communication. Furthermore, to address concerns associated with inefficient spectrum usage, multiplexing methods like “non‐orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) and spatial modulation (SM)” have been implemented. NOMA makes use of the power domain to maximize spectrum usage, whereas SM makes use of the spatial domain. Multiple antennas, on the other hand, are expensive in terms of energy, magnitude, and equipment. Antenna selection is a low‐cost, low‐complexity method of capturing many of the NOMA system's advantages. As a consequence, this study offers the fitness familiarized lion algorithm (FFLA), a novel methodology for selecting the best antennas. Furthermore, the selection procedure involves identifying the stated objectives, which include energy usage and error minimization. Indeed, the suggested technique is an enhanced version of the lion algorithm (LA). Ultimately, the suggested work's performance is compared to and proven against other traditional models.
Human dense avoidance based on a coverage control through robots
Authors: Morita Shu , Okura Yuki , Kojima Chiaki
Published: October 2022

In this paper, we propose an efficient method for human dense avoidance based on a coverage control. Our motivation is to avoid crowding in public facilities such as stations and government offices, and human dense in the current situation of COVID‐19 from system and control theory. In this paper, humans and robots are modeled as heterogeneous and homogeneous agents, respectively, which make decisions based on their local information. We suppose a dense situation caused by the rendezvous among humans due to their own inherent dynamics. As a main result, we propose a coverage control for a distributed movement of multiple humans. We also characterize the stationary point analytically in terms of the gains that describe a strength of the interconnection of the agents, and the centers of the Voronoi regions related to the agents. Moreover, we verify the meaning of the characterization from an engineering viewpoint of the dense avoidance. Finally, we show the efficiency of the method based on a numerical simulation.
Soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction across the risk spectrum
Authors: Butler Javed , Usman Muhammad Shariq , Anstrom Kevin J. , Blaustein Robert O. , Bonaca Marc P. , Ezekowitz Justin A. , Freitas Cecilia , Lam Carolyn S.P. , Lewis Eldrin F. , Lindenfeld JoAnn , McMullan Ciaran J. , Mentz Robert J. , O'Connor Christopher , Rosano Giuseppe M.C. , Saldarriaga Clara Inés , Senni Michele , Udelson James , Voors Adriaan A. , Zannad Faiez
Published: October 2022

Patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) have a high residual risk of adverse outcomes, even when treated with optimal guideline‐directed medical therapy and in a clinically stable state. Soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulators have the potential to lower this risk by modifying the nitric oxide–sGC–cyclic guanosine monophosphate cascade – a pathophysiological pathway that has been targeted with limited success in HFrEF previously. Vericiguat, an sGC stimulator, was shown to improve outcomes in patients with HFrEF in the VICTORIA (Vericiguat Global Study in Subjects with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction) trial. However, this trial included patients with recently worsening disease. In this brief review, we discuss the rationale of evaluating sGC stimulators in lower‐risk HFrEF patients. First, all key HFrEF medications have been evaluated in both higher‐ and lower‐risk populations, and the treatment effect is not always consistent across the risk spectrum. Second, pre‐clinical studies and post‐hoc studies of the VICTORIA trial have suggested that sGC stimulators may have cardioprotective effects – these effects may be more apparent when the medication is initiated earlier in the disease process. Third, the effect of vericiguat on cardiovascular mortality remains uncertain and a trial with a longer follow‐up in a lower‐risk population may allow better assessment of its effect on cardiovascular mortality. Therefore, there is a pertinent need to investigate the effects of vericiguat in optimally treated, low‐risk HFrEF patients (i.e. those without recently worsening heart failure).
Change in Oil Composition and the Major Fatty Acids and Triacylglycerol Biosynthesis Genes in Drupe of Selected Olive Cultivars during Growing Season; A Two Years Study
Authors: Razeghi‐Jahromi Fateme , Zarei Abdolkarim , Parvini Farshid , Hosseini‐Mazinani Mehdi
Published: October 2022

Uncovering the relationships between the content and compositions of olive oil, environmental factor, and developmental stages can lead to the effective cultivation choices and maximizing productivity. Fatty acid contents of 4 olive cultivars are screened at 5 developmental stages during 2 cropping seasons. Moreover, the transcript abundance of 4 fatty acids and triacylglycerol biosynthesis genes are evaluated in 2 cultivars displaying distinct oil content and composition. Thought, all studied cultivars display a rise in oil content and a decline in oleic/linoleic acid as maturity advances, the fatty acid content, however changes in a cultivar‐dependent manner. In contrast to other cultivars, “Mari” shows an increasing trend for oleic acid and fruit RH, and steady state pattern for linoleic acid during fruit development. All these characteristics result in a unique oil quality in “Mari”. Accordingly, there are slight differences in the oil related‐attributes in 2 cropping years at different sampling dates which are also cultivar dependent. The expression patterns of oil biosynthesis genes are well‐paralleled with oil accumulation and compositions in the studied olive cultivars; as OeSAD2 and OeDGAT2 experience a significant higher expression in “Mari”, while “Shengeh” has higher levels for OeFAD2‐2 and OeDGAT1 during most sampling times.

Practical Applications: According to these data, the lower expression of OeFAD2‐2, as well as, substantially higher expression of OeSAD2 and OeDGAT2 are suggested as the major players for higher oil and oleic acid production in “Mari”. Results obtained from this study improve knowledge about oil biosynthesis in olive drupe in relation to fruit ripening and environmental factors. These data are useful for both growers and experts enabling them to make more appropriate planting and harvest decisions, as well as, to design suitable breeding programs to achieve olive improvement objectives.
Forecasting and trading Bitcoin with machine learning techniques and a hybrid volatility/sentiment leverage
Authors: Wei Mingzhe , Sermpinis Georgios , Stasinakis Charalampos
Published: October 2022

This paper explores the use of machine learning algorithms and narrative sentiments when applied to the task of forecasting and trading Bitcoin. The forecasting framework starts from the selection among 295 individual prediction models. Three machine learning approaches, namely, neural networks, support vector machines, and gradient boosting approach, are used to further improve the forecasting performance of individual models. By taking data‐snooping bias into account, three different metrics are applied to examine the forecasting ability of each model. Our results suggest that the machine learning techniques always outperform the best individual model whereas the gradient boosting framework has the best performance among all the models. Finally, a time‐varying leverage trading strategy combined with narrative sentiments and volatility is proposed to enhance trading performance. This suggests that the hybrid leverage strategy provides the highest Bitcoin profits consistently among all trading exercises.
Prevention of quality characteristic decline in freeze‐thawed cultured large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) using flammulina velutipes polysaccharide
Authors: Shi Yuzhuo , Zheng Yao , Li Baoguo , Yang Xu , Guo Quanyou , Liu Anqi
Published: October 2022

To investigate the cryoprotective effect of flammulina velutipes polysaccharide (FVP) on the quality characteristics in freeze‐thawed cultured large yellow croaker, 0.050%, 0.075%, and 0.100% FVP was used before freezing and the quality after thawing was compared with water soaking (WS) and commercial cryoprotectant (CC) treatment. Quality attributes were comprehensively determined instrumentally and organoleptically after thawing at 4°C. Results showed that FVP effectively reduces the quality deterioration of body color and water‐holding capacity, while no obvious effects were observed in texture and flavor. As for body color, both FVP and CC treatment could maintain the b* value to a large extent. Among them, 0.075% FVP shows the highest value in two sample points, with 55.2% and 21.0% increases seen in the values in WS. FVP‐dose‐dependent trends were found in water‐holding capacity, where a reduction of 28.26% and 14.38% in thawing loss and cooking loss was observed in the 0.100% FVP group. Low‐field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF‐NMR) also revealed that immobilized water and free water were more tightly retained in the muscle tissue with FVP addition. The results of the sensory evaluation are essentially in line with the above observations. These findings indicate that FVP has the potential to partially replace commercial cryoprotectants in aquatic products during frozen storage.
Unsteady MHD natural convection flow past an infinite vertical porous plate with radiation absorption effects
Authors: Hamad Najiba Hasan
Published: October 2022

In this paper, we have explored the unsteady hydromagnetic free convective flow over an infinite perpendicular porous plate with temperature resource and/or radiation absorption. The prevailing equations are subsequently resolved systematically by utilizing perturbation methodology. The velocity, temperatures as well as concentrations sketches are shown in graphics. The impacts in the flow area for dissimilar leading parameters have been explored. Also, the skin friction, Nusselt quantity along with Sherwood quantity are computed with different parameters and mentioned in the tables. The velocity diminishes with escalating in the chemically reacting parameter as well as improves with an increment in temperature resource parameters. The temperature field reduces with an augment in the Prandtl number, whereas it enlarges with an augment in temperature absorption parameters. The concentrations field is enhanced by an amplifying in chemically reacting variable, whereas it lessens with an amplifying Schmidt number.
Discharge and floods projected to increase more than precipitation extremes
Authors: Quintero Felipe , Villarini Gabriele , Prein Andreas F. , Zhang Wei , Krajewski Witold F.
Published: October 2022

Floods claim a high toll in fatalities and economic impacts. Despite their societal relevance, there is much more to learn about the projected changes in discharge and flooding. Here we force an operational hydrologic model over the state of Iowa with high‐resolution convection‐permitting climate‐model precipitation to evaluate the response of 140 watersheds to climate change. At the end of the century, under the most aggressive scenario in terms of fossil fuel use, we show that the transition from snow to rainfall and approximately 30% increase in extreme precipitation rates lead to a doubling of maximum discharge during the spring and extending the flood season into the fall. Total discharge volumes are also expected to increase. Our results suggest that flood projections based on extreme precipitation increases alone substantially underestimate future risk due to the non‐linearity of the hydrologic response explained by long‐term soil moisture memory and its feedbacks with precipitation. This study is one of the first to show floods are increasing due to the prevalence of rain‐on‐snow events, and indeed that discharge might increase more than precipitation.
Quantifying subsurface parameter and transport uncertainty using surrogate modelling and environmental tracers
Authors: Thiros Nicholas E. , Gardner W. Payton , Maneta Marco P. , Brinkerhoff Douglas J.
Published: October 2022

We combine physics‐based groundwater reactive transport modelling with machine‐learning techniques to quantify hydrogeological model and solute transport predictive uncertainties. We train an artificial neural network (ANN) on a dataset of groundwater hydraulic heads and 3H concentrations generated using a high‐fidelity groundwater reactive transport model. Using the trained ANN as a surrogate model to reproduce the input–output response of the high‐fidelity reactive transport model, we quantify the posterior distributions of hydrogeological parameters and hydraulic forcing conditions using Markov chain Monte Carlo calibration against field observations of groundwater hydraulic heads and 3H concentrations. We demonstrate the methodology with a model application that predicts Chlorofluorocarbon‐12 (CFC‐12) solute transport at a contaminated field site in Wyoming, United States. Our results show that including 3H observations in the calibration dataset reduced the uncertainty in the estimated permeability field and infiltration rates, compared to calibration against hydraulic heads alone. However, predictive uncertainty quantification shows that CFC‐12 transport predictions conditioned to the parameter posterior distributions cannot reproduce the field measurements. We found that calibrating the model to hydraulic head and 3H observations results in groundwater mean ages that are too large to explain the observed CFC‐12 concentrations. The coupling of the physics‐based reactive transport model with the machine‐learning surrogate model allows us to efficiently quantify model parameter and predictive uncertainties, which is typically computationally intractable using reactive transport models alone.
Alternative interpretation of the pressure front displacement pulse for pumping tests in confined aquifers
Authors: Neville Christopher J.
Published: October 2022

Chesnaux (2018) distinguished between the pressure front displacement pulse and the groundwater displacement during a pumping test in a confined aquifer. The physical interpretation of the expression that Chesnaux adopted for the radial distance travelled by the pressure front is explored. It is shown that the expression adopted by Chesnaux is an implicit statement regarding the magnitude of the head change caused by pumping. The statement is consistent with the integrated effect of a continuous sequence of pulses. Alternative expressions for the migration of the pressure front and celerity are derived that are consistent with the conception of the migration of a pulse.
The effects of financial constraints on the market value of cash in a mandatory dividend context
Authors: Manoel Aviner Augusto Silva , Moraes Marcelo Botelho da Costa , de Araujo Juliano Augusto Orsi
Published: October 2022

This article aims to shed light on the effects of financial constraints on the value shareholders attribute to cash holdings in firms listed on the Brazilian stock exchange, where corporate law determines that publicly listed companies set aside part of their annual profits for dividend payments. While prior empirical literature provides evidence that cash holdings are more valuable for financially constrained companies than for their unconstrained counterparts, we cannot support the hypothesis that the market value of cash increases as obtaining access to external funds becomes more difficult. Our analysis also reveals that constrained companies do not hold significantly higher cash savings than their unconstrained peers. This last result, in turn, is not in line with the precautionary motive for having cash. Moreover, although the principal argument for adopting mandatory dividend rules in Brazil was to increase the protection of minority shareholders, we observe that the contribution of cash holdings to firm value is still small in Brazil, especially in dual‐class companies, because investors expect cash holdings to be partly consumed as private benefits due to the presence of significant agency problems. This research is relevant because it serves as an additional step in understanding how a legal mechanism established by a government to protect investors affects the contribution of cash holdings to firm value. Governments that intend to adopt mandatory dividend rules to safeguard the cash‐flow rights of minority shareholders can use our findings to make better decisions regarding whether to enforce compulsory dividend payments.
A framework to understand the role of IS artifact in ICT4D
Authors: Dini Alfatika Aunuriella , Hatakka Mathias , Sæbø Øystein , Thapa Devinder
Published: October 2022

In this paper we propose a framework to explain the possibilities of ICT in ICT4D. The PAR (Possibility, Action, Result) framework is based on the theoretical concepts of IS artifacts, affordances, and the capability approach, and is further refined by findings from an eGovernment project in Indonesia aiming to develop a digital platform to facilitate inclusive public debate for the citizens. The framework describes the process by which IS artifacts enable various action possibilities and choices. Furthermore, the framework shows how actors may realize their possibilities and choices, which in turn enhances their functioning. Our analysis also revealed the role of conversion factors, such as personal commitment and digital literacy, that hindered the actors' ability to actualize the possibilities of ICT. We make three main contributions. First, the PAR framework explains the process by which ICT can enhance individual and collective capabilities. Second, the concept of IS artifacts describes the perception of ICT possibilities and choices in the ICT4D context. Third, the process of feedback explains how an outcome of an action can lead to perception of new affordances.
Internal medicine pharmacy residency programs: Residents' pursuit of post‐residency positions and job market perceptions
Authors: Flurie Rachel W. , Szwak Jennifer Austin , Beck Tina , Herink Megan C. , Wdowiarz Katie , Hong Lisa , Hellwig Thaddaus , Nemecek Branden , Tran Emmeline , Mohammad Rima A.
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Postgraduate year 2 (PGY2) internal medicine (IM) pharmacy residency programs have significantly grown over the past several years, and there is a perception that the IM clinical pharmacist job market is saturated. Thus, there is a need to confirm that the job market can support these graduates.

Objectives

To characterize PGY2 IM pharmacy residency programs and PGY2 IM residents' pursuit of post‐residency positions.

Methods

A cross‐sectional, online, anonymous, and voluntary survey was developed, pilot‐tested, and sent to PGY2 IM pharmacy residency graduates from 2015 to 2019 across the United States. Specific aims were to identify and characterize initial jobs PGY2 IM‐trained clinical pharmacists obtained post‐residency and to describe residents' perceptions of the job market and how it influenced the positions they applied for.

Results

Of the 96 PGY2 IM pharmacy residency graduates who received the survey, 62 residents completed the survey (64.6% response rate). All residents accepted a job within 3 months post‐residency. Additionally, 82% of residents agreed that their initial job matched the skills learned during their PGY2 IM pharmacy residency program. Almost half of the residents perceived that the IM clinical pharmacist market had equal supply and demand. Thirty‐nine residents (62%) disagreed or strongly disagreed that overall, they had difficulty finding a job. The top four areas of focus for PGY2 IM pharmacy residency programs were academia, infectious disease, cardiology, and critical care. The areas of focus during residency influenced initial job applications for more than half of the residents.

Conclusion

Among a cohort of PGY2 IM pharmacy residency graduates from 2015 to 2019, most were successful in finding employment in a job that matched the skills obtained during residency. Residents perceived that job market supply and demand were equal.
Therapeutic plasma exchange in adolescent and adult patients with autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections
Authors: Prus Kristina , Weidner Krystol , Alquist Caroline
Published: October 2022

Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal (PANDAS) infections and pediatric acute‐onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) are typically diagnosed in childhood. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) has been recommended to remove relevant antibodies and treat symptomatic presentations in children and adolescents, but there are no studies that evaluate the use of TPE in patients who are diagnosed later in life. It is therefore unclear if using an accepted treatment for pediatric PANS/PANDAS patients would be beneficial in adults with prolonged PANDAS/PANS symptomatic histories. This study investigated 16 late adolescent and adult PANDAS/PANS patients' responses to TPE. Improvement was noted in over half of the patients with available follow‐up information.
Made by her vs. him: Gender influences in product preferences and the role of individual action efficacy in restoring social equalities
Authors: Schnurr Benedikt , Halkias Georgios
Published: October 2022

In response to the growing standardization and impersonalization of the market—side effects of new technology and business automation—consumers increasingly seek more personized purchase experiences, such as buying products directly from the producer. While extant literature has documented the positive effects of personizing market offerings, there is surprisingly little insight about whether knowing who made a product influences consumers' product preferences. We aim to fill this gap by focusing on the critical role of the producer's gender. In 13 studies, including field and online experiments (ntotal = 2978), we observe a general preference for products made by women over products made by men, with female consumers consistently showing a strong preference for products made by women and male consumers showing no systematic preference for either product. We find that this difference between female and male consumers' product preferences occurs because female consumers, in relation to male consumers, hold stronger action efficacy beliefs—beliefs that their individual purchase choices can contribute to restoring gender equalities in business.