bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Information seeking by experimentation: Trying something out to discover what happens
Authors: Hertzum Morten
Published: February 2023

Experimentation is the process of trying something out to discover what happens. It is a widespread information practice, yet often bypassed in information‐behavior research. This article argues that experimentation complements prior knowledge, documents, and people as an important fourth class of information sources. Relative to the other classes, the distinguishing characteristics of experimentation are that it is a personal—as opposed to interpersonal—source and that it provides “backtalk.” When the information seeker tries something out and then attends to the resulting situation, it is as though the materials of the situation talk back: They provide the information seeker with a situated and direct experience of the consequences of the tried‐out options. In this way, experimentation involves obtaining information by creating it. It also involves turning material and behavioral processes into information interactions. Thereby, information seeking by experimentation is important to practical information literacy and extends information‐behavior research with new insights on the interrelations between creating and seeking information.
Rational identification of a high catalytic efficiency leucine dehydrogenase and process development for efficient synthesis ofl‐phenylglycine
Authors: Meng Xiangqi , Liu Yan , Yang Lin , Li Rui , Wang Hualei , Shen Yaling , Wei Dongzhi
Published: February 2023

Enzymatic asymmetric synthesis of chiral amino acids has great industrial potential. However, the low catalytic efficiency of high‐concentration substrates limits their industrial application. Herein, using a combination of substrate catalytic efficiency prediction based on “open to closed” conformational change and substrate specificity prediction, a novel leucine dehydrogenase (TsLeuDH), with high substrate catalytic efficiency toward benzoylformic acid (BFA) for producingl‐phenylglycine (l‐Phg), was directly identified from 4695 putative leucine dehydrogenases in a public database. The specific activity ofTsLeuDH was determined to be as high as 4253.8 U mg−1. Through reaction process optimization, a high‐concentration substrate (0.7 m) was efficiently and completely converted within 90 min in a single batch, without any external coenzyme addition. Moreover, a continuous flow‐feeding approach was designed using gradient control of the feed rate to reduce substrate accumulation. Finally, the highest overall substrate concentration of up to 1.2 mBFA could be aminated tol‐Phg with conversion of >99% in 3 h, demonstrating that this new combination of enzyme process development is promising for large‐scale application ofl‐Phg.
Clinical value of second opinions in oncology: A retrospective review of changes in diagnosis and treatment recommendations
Authors: Lipitz‐Snyderman Allison , Chimonas Susan , Mailankody Sham , Kim Michelle , Silva Nicholas , Kriplani Anuja , Saltz Leonard B. , Sihag Smita , Tan Carlyn Rose , Widmar Maria , Zauderer Marjorie , Weingart Saul , Perchick Wendy , Roman Benjamin R.
Published: February 2023

Background

Data on the clinical value of second opinions in oncology are limited. We examined diagnostic and treatment changes resulting from second opinions and the expected impact on morbidity and prognosis.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included patients presenting in 2018 to a high‐volume cancer center for second opinions about newly diagnosed colorectal, head and neck, lung, and myeloma cancers or abnormal results. Two sub‐specialty physicians from each cancer type reviewed 30 medical records (120 total) using a process and detailed data collection guide meant to mitigate institutional bias. The primary outcome measure was the rate of treatment changes that were “clinically meaningful”, i.e., expected to impact morbidity and/or prognosis. Among those with treatment changes, another outcome measure was the rate of clinically meaningful diagnostic changes that led to treatment change.

Results

Of 120 cases, forty‐two had clinically meaningful changes in treatment with positive expected outcomes (7 colorectal, 17 head and neck, 11 lung, 7 myeloma; 23–57%). Two patients had negative expected outcomes from having sought a second opinion, with worse short‐term morbidity and unchanged long‐term morbidity and prognosis. All those with positive expected outcomes had improved expected morbidity (short‐ and/or long‐term); 11 (0–23%) also had improved expected prognosis. Nine involved a shift from treatment to observation; 21 involved eliminating or reducing the extent of surgery, compared to 6 adding surgery or increasing its extent. Of the 42 with treatment changes, 13 were due to clinically meaningful diagnostic changes (1 colorectal, 5 head and neck, 3 lung, 4 myeloma; 3%–17%) .

Conclusions

Second‐opinion consultations sometimes add clinical value by improving expected prognoses; more often, they offer treatment de‐escalations, with corresponding reductions in expected short‐ and/or long‐term morbidity. Future research could identify subgroups of patients most likely to benefit from second opinions.
Antimicrobial peptides derived from microalgae for combating antibiotic resistance: Current status and prospects
Authors: Ayswaria Reshma , Vijayan Jasna , Nathan Vinod Kumar
Published: February 2023

Microalgae are photosynthetic cell factories that produce a spectrum of bioactive compounds extensively used for various applications. Owing to the increase in antibiotic resistance among microbial pathogens, there is a significant thrust for identifying new treatment strategies, and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) generation is one such method. These AMPs have multiple roles and are active against bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Such peptides synthesized in microalgae have a significant role in medical application, managing aquaculture‐associated diseases, and the food industry. To increase their effectiveness and novel peptides, genetically modified microalgae are used as cell factories. With the advancement of new technologies like the CRISPR‐Cas system, new avenues are opened for developing novel AMPs using microalgae. This review gives us insight into the various AMPs produced by microalgae and multiple technologies involved in creating such therapeutically essential molecules.
Solventless Dimethylamine Borane Dehydrogenation in the Presence of Transition Metal(0) Nanoparticles Loaded on Cellulose
Authors: Ozhava Derya , Duman Sibel
Published: February 2023

Herein, the results of in‐situ synthesis of four different metal(0) nanoparticles (Pd, Cu, Ru, and Ni) loaded on the surface of cellulose (MNPs@Cellulose) separately and their catalytic use in the solventless dimethylamine‐borane (DMAB) dehydrogenation at 35.0±0.1 °C are reported. Based on the detailed kinetic studies on the solventless DMAB dehydrogenation catalyzed using MNPs@Cellulose, the following results were obtained: (i) Optimum metal loading percentage on the surface of cellulose was determined for Pd@Cellulose to be 4.0 wt.%Pd (152.39 h−1), Ni@Cellulose to be 3.0 wt.%Ni (59.09 h−1), Cu@Cellulose to be 3.0 wt.%Cu (55.45 h−1) and Ru@Cellulose to be 4.0 wt.%Ru (46.06 h−1) and by determining total turnover frequency values in average 10th minutes (TOF10), which provided the highest catalytic activity. (ii) The optimum amount of cellulose for each metal was found to be 50.0 mg for Pd, Cu, and Ru, and 40.0 mg for Ni. (iii) The Arrhenius activation energies were determined for each metal nanoparticles and calculated to be 69±2, 34±2, 35±2 and 42±2 kj.mol−1 for Pd@Cellulose, Ni@Cellulose, Cu@Cellulose, and Ru@Cellulose, respectively.
Emerging Trends in Closed‐Loop Recycling Polymers: Monomer Design and Catalytic Bulk Depolymerization
Authors: Liu Ye , Lu Xiao‐Bing
Published: February 2023

Plastics are indispensable materials in modern society; however, their extensive use has contributed to the depletion of finite natural resources and caused severe environmental issues. One end‐of‐use solution for plastics involves the chemical recycling of polymers back to monomers for repolymerization to virgin polymers without changing the material properties, allowing the establishment of a circular material economy. This concept focuses on the critical advantages of chemically recyclable polymers in terms of monomer design, material properties, and the feasibility of bulk depolymerization. The recyclability via bulk thermolysis of various polyesters, CO2‐based polycarbonates, and polyacetals produced via ring‐opening polymerization is highlighted through discussions regarding rational monomer design and efficient catalyst development. An outlook and perspective are provided to delineate the future challenges in the rational design of monomer and polymer structures that deliver the desired materials performance while being suitable for bulk thermolysis with high (de)polymerization activity and selectivity.
Antimicrobial Conjugated Oligoelectrolytes Containing Triphenylphosphonium Solubilizing Groups
Authors: Chan Samuel J. W. , Zhang Kaixi , Zhu Ji‐Yu , Bazan Guillermo C.
Published: February 2023

Conjugated oligoelectrolytes (COEs) are an emerging class of amphiphilic antimicrobial compounds with a modular molecular framework suitable for simple chemical derivatization. Here, a series of COE derivatives with a stilbene‐conjugated segment and triphenylphosphonium (TPP) pendant groups was designed and synthesized to understand how lipophilic cationic groups impact antimicrobial activity. In vitro evaluations against ESKAPE pathogens showed broad‐spectrum activity towards multi‐drug resistant (MDR) bacteria and mycobacteria, with TPP groups enhancing antimicrobial activity towards clinically relevant Gram‐negative strains compared to their ammonium analogues. We studied the interactions of DM6P, the most active TPP‐COE compound, with various membrane assays. Treatment of bacterial cells with DM6P showed enhanced permeability of cell membranes without inducing the development of significant bacterial resistance. Moreover, DM6P eliminated 99.99 % of methicillin‐resistant Staphyloccocus aureus (MRSA) in an in vivo wound model. These results represent a promising chemical strategy for increasing the activity spectrum of membrane‐active COE antibiotics to tackle challenging drug‐resistant targets.
An energy‐efficient method of resource allocation based on request prediction in multiple cloud data centers
Authors: Chen Hong , Wen Yiping , Wang Yuan
Published: February 2023

To meet the ever‐increasing requirements of the applications, cloud service providers have further built and managed multiple cloud data centers in multiple regions across geographies with many physical machines (PMs). However, most of the existing resource allocation algorithms are developed for a single cloud data center, which normally cannot efficiently handle the load burst occasions where a single cloud data center may not be enough to satisfy the demands burst of applications. Therefore, it is necessary to consider how to efficiently manage multiple cloud data centers while meeting application requirements and reducing energy consumption. This paper first systematically analyzes multiple cloud data centers and energy consumption models. Then, an energy‐efficient method of Resource Allocation based on Request Prediction in multiple cloud data centers (RARP) is proposed. The RARP method constructs a resource allocation framework based on request prediction in multiple cloud data centers, which anticipates the application request volume in advance. At the same time, the RARP method allocates VMs and PMs based on the principle of minimum remaining resources available to achieve minimum usage of PMs, thus minimizing energy consumption to complete application requests. Extensive experiments are conducted on the proposed RARP method through the simulation platform CloudSim. Finally, the experimental test results show that the accuracy of request detection and the energy consumption of cloud data centers are significantly better than those of the comparison algorithms.
Combining datasets to routinely predict fusarium head blight resistance in a wheat breeding program
Authors: Adeyemo Emmanuel , Conley Emily , Bernardo Rex , Bajgain Prabin , Anderson James A.
Published: February 2023

Fusarium head blight (FHB; Fusarium graminearum Schwabe) is a devastating fungal disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) that can significantly reduce yield and grain quality. Datasets from different stages of field evaluation can be combined into a training population to predict FHB resistance. Our objective was to determine if FHB resistance among F5 lines can be predicted accurately with historical lines, parental lines, and a subset of F5 lines. Lines at the F5 and preliminary yield trial (PYT) stages in the University of Minnesota wheat breeding program were evaluated in two locations from 2016 to 2020 and were genotyped with 3679 single nucleotide polymorphism markers. Historical datasets with 368 to 3015 lines had predictive abilities of −0.01 to 0.20, whereas F5 subsets had predictive abilities of 0.04–0.32. Adding subsets of F5 lines to the historical datasets led to incremental improvements in predictive abilities in most cases, especially when the subset was selected via the pedigree or k‐means approach. The most effective training populations were those that contained a subset of 200 F5 lines chosen via the k‐means method, the F5 parents, and the PYT lines tested in the same year, with predictive abilities that were usually higher than that of the F5 subset. We have started to use such combinations of datasets to routinely predict FHB resistance of F5 lines in our breeding program.
The drivers of sustainability disclosure practices in the airport industry: A legitimacy theory perspective
Authors: L'Abate Vitiana , Vitolla Filippo , Esposito Paolo , Raimo Nicola
Published: February 2023

In recent years, the airport industry is facing the effects of the growing pressure towards sustainability. In fact, airports have often been accused of having strong environmental and social impacts. This circumstance shed light on the need for airports to provide stakeholders with precise information about the social and environmental effects of their activities. The importance of sustainability disclosure in the airport industry is also attracting the interest of academics. However, studies are still limited and there is a lack of contributions aimed at identifying the drivers of sustainability disclosure in the airport industry. This work aims to fill this gap by analyzing, under the lens of legitimacy theory, the impact of business size, business complexity and corporate visibility on the level of sustainability information disseminated by airports. To this end, a manual content analysis is performed on a sample composed by 145 large European airports to measure the level of sustainability information disseminated. Furthermore, a multiple regression analysis is performed to examine the role played by business size, business complexity and corporate visibility on the level of sustainability disclosure. The results show that the number of passengers, the cargo quantity, the number of terminals and gates and the level of social media exposure represent positive drivers of the sustainability disclosure of the European airports. This study contributes to enriching the academic literature in several ways and offers important managerial implications.
Th1 bias of liver mucosal‐associated invariant T cells promotes hepatic gluconeogenesis in type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Tang Wenjuan , Ge Kang , Shen Lei , Wang Hongdong , Feng Wenhuan , Sun Xitai , Chu Xuehui , Zhu Dalong , Yin Hongli , Bi Yan
Published: February 2023

Aims

It is acknowledged that aberrant liver immunity contributes to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Mucosal‐associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, an innate‐like T‐cell subset, are enriched in the human liver. Nevertheless, the characterisation and potential role of hepatic MAIT cells in T2DM remain unclear.

Materials and methods

Fourteen newly diagnosed T2DM subjects and 15 controls received liver biopsy. The frequency and cytokine production of MAIT cells were analysed by flow cytometry. The expression of genes involved in glucose metabolism was determined in HepG2 cells co‐cultured with hepatic MAIT cells.

Results

Compared with controls, hepatic MAIT cell frequency was significantly increased in T2DM patients (24.66% vs. 14.61%, p = 0.001). There were more MAIT cells producing interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ, 60.49% vs. 33.33%, p = 0.021) and tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α, 46.84% vs. 5.91%, p = 0.021) in T2DM than in controls, whereas their production of interleukin 17 (IL‐17) was comparable (15.25% vs. 4.55%, p = 0.054). Notably, an IFN‐γ+TNF‐α+IL‐17+/−producing MAIT cell subset was focussed, which showed an elevated proportion in T2DM (42.66% vs. 5.85%, p = 0.021) and positively correlated with plasma glucose levels. A co‐culture experiment further indicated that hepatic MAIT cells from T2DM upregulated the gene expression of pyruvate carboxylase, a key molecule involved in gluconeogenesis, in HepG2 cells, and this response was blocked with neutralising antibodies against IFN‐γ and TNF‐α.

Conclusions

Our data implicate an increased Th1‐like MAIT cell subset in the liver of newly diagnosed T2DM subjects, which induces hyperglycaemia by promoting hepatic gluconeogenesis. It provides novel insights into the immune regulation of metabolic homoeostasis.

Clinical trial registration number

NCT03296605 (registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov on 12 October 2018).
Modifying an Open Science Online Grocery for parents of youth with anorexia nervosa: A proof‐of‐concept study
Authors: Makara Amanda , Howe Holly , Cooper Marita , Heckert Kerri , Weiss Samantha , Kellom Katherine , Scharf Danielle , Ubel Peter , Orloff Natalia , Timko C. Alix
Published: February 2023

Objective

For youth with anorexia nervosa (AN), remission requires high caloric goals to achieve weight restoration, consumption of a wide variety of calorically dense foods, and reintroduction of eliminated foods. Family‐based treatment (FBT), the gold‐standard treatment for youth with AN, empowers parents to renourish their child and restore them to health; yet, parents often report struggling with shifting meal planning and grocery shopping behaviors to focus on nutritional rehabilitation and weight restoration.

Methods

This proof‐of‐concept study aimed to modify a simulated grocery store (Open Science Online Grocery [OSOG]) for parents of youth with AN and explore the acceptability and feasibility of its use as part of standard care. Study staff collaborated with six parent research partners to modify the OSOG prior to piloting it with participants. Participants were 10 parents of youth undergoing a first‐time hospitalization for medical stabilization of AN or atypical AN. Parents completed a battery of measures and a semistructured interview assessing the acceptability and feasibility of OSOG.

Results

Parents described the tool as credible and acceptable. Qualitative feedback highlighted common themes of caregiver burden, nutrition education, and acceptability of the tool.

Discussion

Results point to the need for more work in supporting parents in Phase I of FBT.

Public Significance

Families are instrumental in supporting youth to recover from anorexia nervosa. During treatment, parents are charged with selecting and serving their adolescent's meals, often requiring them to change grocery shopping and food preparation habits to meet their child's high caloric needs. Parents reported feeling overwhelmed by this task and noted struggling with learning different approaches to nourish their adolescent during an already stressful time. Collaboratively with parents, we modified a tool to support parents in shifting thier shopping habits, which they reported as being a helpful springboard in the early phase of treatment.
A proposed trumping scheme for other specified feeding or eating disorder: Comment on Walsh et al., 2023
Authors: Thomas Jennifer J. , Gydus Julia E.
Published: February 2023

The recent systematic review by Walsh, Hagan, & Lockwood (Int J Eat Disord, 2022) highlights the importance of further distinguishing atypical anorexia nervosa (atypical AN) from other feeding and eating disorders. The lack of a trumping scheme within other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED) hinders intervention selection in the clinical context and reduces reliability of diagnostic classification in research samples. Thus, we propose a trumping scheme within OSFED that mirrors the existing diagnostic algorithm in the main DSM‐5‐TR feeding and eating disorders section. According to this scheme, a diagnosis of atypical AN would override all other OSFED subcategories. Subthreshold bulimia nervosa (BN) would trump subthreshold binge‐eating disorder (BED) and purging disorder; purging disorder would trump subthreshold BED and night eating syndrome; night eating syndrome would trump subthreshold BED; and subthreshold BED would trump subthreshold avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)—a novel presentation that we propose adding under the OSFED umbrella to parallel the existing subthreshold classifications for the main feeding and eating disorders. We hope this proposed OSFED trumping scheme will improve intervention selection and diagnostic reliability in clinical and research contexts, and serve as a catalyst for future research on these newly recognized—but common and impairing—feeding and eating disorder presentations.
Transgenerational plasticity in a zooplankton in response to elevated temperature and parasitism
Authors: Sun Syuan‐Jyun , Dziuba Marcin K. , Jaye Riley N. , Duffy Meghan A.
Published: February 2023

Organisms are increasingly facing multiple stressors, which can simultaneously interact to cause unpredictable impacts compared with a single stressor alone. Recent evidence suggests that phenotypic plasticity can allow for rapid responses to altered environments, including biotic and abiotic stressors, both within a generation and across generations (transgenerational plasticity). Parents can potentially “prime” their offspring to better cope with similar stressors or, alternatively, might produce offspring that are less fit because of energetic constraints. At present, it remains unclear exactly how biotic and abiotic stressors jointly mediate the responses of transgenerational plasticity and whether this plasticity is adaptive. Here, we test the effects of biotic and abiotic environmental changes on within‐ and transgenerational plasticity using a Daphnia–Metschnikowia zooplankton‐fungal parasite system. By exposing parents and their offspring consecutively to the single and combined effects of elevated temperature and parasite infection, we showed that transgenerational plasticity induced by temperature and parasite stress influenced host fecundity and lifespan; offsprings of mothers who were exposed to one of the stressors were better able to tolerate elevated temperature, compared with the offspring of mothers who were exposed to neither or both stressors. Yet, the negative effects caused by parasite infection were much stronger, and this greater reduction in host fitness was not mitigated by transgenerational plasticity. We also showed that elevated temperature led to a lower average immune response, and that the relationship between immune response and lifetime fecundity reversed under elevated temperature: the daughters of exposed mothers showed decreased fecundity with increased hemocyte production at ambient temperature but the opposite relationship at elevated temperature. Together, our results highlight the need to address questions at the interface of multiple stressors and transgenerational plasticity and the importance of considering multiple fitness‐associated traits when evaluating the adaptive value of transgenerational plasticity under changing environments.
Current patterns of care in low‐risk thyroid cancer—A national cross‐sectional survey of Australian thyroid clinicians
Authors: Widjaja Winy , Rowe Christopher W. , Oldmeadow Christopher , Cope Daron , Fradgley Elizabeth A. , Paul Christine , O'Neill Christine J.
Published: February 2023

Introduction

De‐escalated treatment of hemithyroidectomy without radioactive iodine (RAI) is now accepted for patients with low‐risk, well‐differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC). The benefit of long‐term follow‐up care remains controversial. This study aims to describe parameters associated with less than total thyroidectomy, and discharge from specialist follow‐up in patients with low‐risk WDTC in Australia.

Methods

An online survey was distributed to Australian members of Endocrine Society of Australia, Australian and New Zealand Endocrine Surgeons, and Australian Society of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. Clinicians completed a survey of management and follow‐up care preferences for four clinical vignettes (all low‐risk WDTC).

Results

119 clinicians (48% endocrinologists, 55% male) answered at least one question. The majority (59%) of respondents recommended less than total thyroidectomy and omission of RAI in patients with WDTC <2 cm. Most (62%) would discharge a patient with micropapillary thyroid cancer within 1 year following total thyroidectomy. In contrast, for WDTC 1–4 cm, >90% of clinicians would continue specialist follow‐up for at least 5 years. The majority of clinicians felt that patients experienced disproportionate fear of recurrence and were reassured by follow‐up. After multivariable analysis, clinicians who participated in multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) were more likely to choose de‐escalated care for both initial treatment (p = .005) and follow‐up care (>5 years, p = .05).

Conclusion

Clinician attitudes captured by this survey reflect recent changes in guidelines towards hemithyroidectomy for low‐risk WDTC, particularly amongst MDT attendees. There is a need to further examine the impact of de‐escalated care on fear of recurrence and quality of life in thyroid cancer survivors.
Serum potassium level and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist dose in a large cohort of chronic heart failure patients
Authors: Clephas Pascal R. D. , Radhoe Sumant P. , Linssen Gerard C. M. , Langerveld Jorina , Plomp Jacobus , Smits Jeroen P. P. , Nagelsmit Michiel J. , Rocca Hans‐Peter Brunner‐La , Brugts Jasper J.
Published: February 2023

Aims

Hyperkalaemia is observed frequently in heart failure (HF) patients and is associated with an impaired prognosis and underuse of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs). However, the effects of serum potassium on prescription of the full guideline recommended daily dose of 50 mg in real‐world daily practice are unknown. Therefore, we investigated serum potassium and its association with the prescribed MRA dose in a large cohort of chronic HF patients.

Methods and results

A total of 5346 patients with chronic HF with a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40% from 34 Dutch outpatient HF clinics between 2013 and 2016 were analysed on serum potassium and MRA (spironolactone and eplenerone) dose. Data were stratified by potassium as a serum potassium level <4.0, 4.0 to 5.0 or >5.0 mmol/L. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the association between serum potassium and MRA dose and to adjust for potential confounders. Mean serum potassium was 4.4 ± 0.5 mmol/L and hyperkalaemia (serum potassium >5.0 mmol/L) was present in 399 patients (7.5%). MRA was used in 3091 patients (58.1%). Patients with hyperkalaemia significantly less often received ≥100% of the target dose (50 mg) compared with patients with a serum potassium between 4.0–5.0 mmol/L and <4.0 mmol/L (7.7% vs. 9.5% vs. 13.6% respectively, P = 0.0078). In the multivariable regression analyses, patients with hyperkalaemia were significantly less likely to receive ≥100% of the target dose compared with patients with serum potassium 4.0–5.0 mmol/L (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.15–0.97, P = 0.044). Additionally, a one unit increase in serum potassium was significantly associated with a lower odds of receiving ≥100% of the target dose (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.49–0.98, P = 0.036).

Conclusions

In this large registry of real‐world chronic HF patients, both an increase in serum potassium and hyperkalaemia were associated with a lower odds of receiving the guideline‐recommended MRA dose.
Comparison of care and outcomes for myocardial infarction by heart failure status between United Kingdom and Japan
Authors: Nakao Kazuhiro , Dafaalla Mohamed , Nakao Yoko M. , Wu Jianhua , Nadarajah Ramesh , Rashid Muhammad , Mohammad Haris , Sumita Yoko , Nakai Michikazu , Iwanaga Yoshitaka , Miyamoto Yoshihiro , Noguchi Teruo , Yasuda Satoshi , Ogawa Hisao , Mamas Mamas A. , Gale Chris P.
Published: February 2023

Aims

Prognosis for ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is worse when heart failure is present on admission. Understanding clinical practice in different health systems can identify areas for quality improvement initiatives to improve outcomes. In the absence of international comparison studies, we aimed to compare treatments and in‐hospital outcomes of patients admitted with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) by heart failure status in two healthcare‐wide cohorts.

Methods and results

We used two nationwide databases to capture admissions with STEMI in the United Kingdom (Myocardial ischemia National Audit Project, MINAP) and Japan (Japanese Registry of All Cardiac and Vascular Diseases‐Diagnostic Procedure Combination, JROAD‐DPC) between 2012 and 2017. Participants were stratified using the HF Killip classification into three groups; Killip 1: no congestive heart failure, Killip 2–3: congestive heart failure, Killip 4: cardiogenic shock. We calculated crude rate and case mix standardized risk ratios (CSRR) for use of treatments and in‐hospital death. Patients were younger in the United Kingdom (65.4 [13.6] vs. 69.1 [13.0] years) and more likely to have co‐morbidities in the United Kingdom except for diabetes and hypertension. Japan had a higher percentage of heart failure and cardiogenic shock patients among STEMI during admission than that in the United Kingdom. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) rates were lower in the United Kingdom compared with Japan, especially for patients presenting with Killip 2–3 class heart failure (pPCI use in patients with Killip 1, 2–3, 4: Japan, 86.2%, 81.7%, 78.7%; United Kingdom, 79.6%, 58.2% and 79.9%). In contrast, beta‐blocker use was consistently lower in Japan than in the United Kingdom (61.4% vs. 90.2%) across Killip classifications and length of hospital stay longer (17.0 [9.7] vs. 5.0 [7.4] days). The crude rate of in‐hospital mortality increased with increasing Killip class group. Both the crude rate and CSRR was higher in the United Kingdom compared with Japan for Killip 2–3 (15.8% vs. 6.4%, CSRR 1.80 95% CI 1.73–1.87, P < 0.001), and similar for Killip 4 (36.9% vs. 36.3%, CSRR 1.11 95% CI 1.08–1.13, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Important differences in the care and outcomes for STEMI with heart failure exist between the United Kingdom and Japan. Specifically, in the United Kingdom, there was a lower rate of pPCI, and in Japan, fewer patients were prescribed beta blockers and hospital length of stay was longer. This international comparison can inform targeted quality improvement programmes to narrow the outcome gap between health systems.
A Durable Solid‐State Na–CO2 Battery with Solid Composite Electrolyte Na3.2Zr1.9Ca0.1Si2PO12–PVDF‐HFP
Authors: Yuan Hao , Lu Liang , Sun Chunwen
Published: February 2023

Na–CO2 batteries are important devices for immobilizing CO2 and storing renewable energy. However, the Na–CO2 batteries with liquid electrolytes have the issues of electrolyte volatilization and poor cyclability. Herein, a composite solid‐state electrolyte consisting of Ca‐doped Na3Zr2Si2PO12 and polyvinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene (PVDF‐HFP) is synthesized. The solid composite electrolyte Na3.2Zr1.9Ca0.1Si2PO12–PVDF‐HFP shows a high ionic conductivity of 1.32 × 10−4 S cm−1 at room temperature and a broad electrochemical window up to 5.15 V, as well as excellent durability. The assembled solid‐state Na–CO2 battery with this composite electrolyte delivers a high discharge‐specific capacity up to 3320 mA h g−1 and excellent cycling stability.
Seismic performance of gravity retaining walls
Authors: Yünkül Kaan , Gürbüz Ayhan
Published: February 2023

In the present study, the seismic performances of gravity retaining walls having both inclined back side and inclined backfill were investigated under sinusoidal acceleration excitations using series of shaking table tests on 750 mm height physical model. The effects of input peak ground acceleration (), inclination angle of backfill material (α) and inclination angle of back of the gravity retaining wall (β) on acceleration amplification factor (), maximum peak lateral relative () and maximum residual lateral displacement () of the wall, surface settlement () of the backfill material, inertial force () and horizontal dynamic active force () were assessed. It was observed that higher values of the were obtained from the experimental results as compared the ones from current seismic design codes. Moreover, the six results of shaking table tests revealed that the phase difference was appeared between the inertial force and dynamic earth pressures. Pseudo‐static limit equilibrium methods resulted in over conservative results and could not truly reflect the seismic behavior of gravity wall due to the inertial forces and phase difference not taken into consideration.
An online identification method for establishing a microgrid equivalent model based on the hybrid particle swarm optimization butterfly algorithm
Authors: Yong Shi , Yin Cheng , Jianhui Su , Meiqin Mao
Published: February 2023

The frequency response model of a microgrid system is an indispensable tool for designing secondary frequency controllers and analyzing system frequency stability. Owing to the complexity of a microgrid system structure, time‐varying operation state, and difficulty in obtaining the inverter parameters, it is difficult to model the microgrid system. To address the abovementioned problems, this study constructs the equivalent model of a microgrid system based on mechanism analysis and then identifies the equivalent model parameters using an online identification method based on a hybrid particle swarm optimization butterfly algorithm according to the sampled operation data to obtain the specific equivalent model of a microgrid for the controller. This modeling method has strong adaptability and can yield accurate identification modeling when the operational structure of the microgrid changes.
A machine learning‐based approach to the multiobjective optimization of CO2 injection and water production during CCS in a saline aquifer based on field data
Authors: Vaziri Pouya , Sedaee Behnam
Published: February 2023

The presence of carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects is important due to the growing production of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide (CO2). Our target functions have been chosen because of the importance of CO2 storage in CCS projects and the requirement for producing less water in projects requiring water production. As a proxy for reservoir simulations, support vector regression, artificial neural network (ANN), and multivariate adaptive regression spline (MARS) have been used. It was determined that MARS had higher accuracy based on examining these three data‐driven models with the available field data. It was, however, very close to the accuracy of the ANN. MARS gave root mean square of error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and R2 values of 2.78%, 1.95%, and 0.998, respectively, for predicting CO2 storage values in test data, yet 3.73%, 3.53%, and 0.995 for blind data. The RMSE, MAE, and R2 to evaluate the machine learning (ML) model for predicting water production were 3.58%, 2.81%, and 0.997, respectively, while the results for blind data were 3.94%, 2.83%, and 0.997, respectively. By reducing the amount of computational load and time taken to reproduce the simulation data by MARS, it will be beneficial for optimization. This study highlights the application of the ML approach to coupling with genetic algorithms and optimizing CO2 storage and water production. With the proposed frameworks, preprocessing, feature selection, two‐stage validation of the data‐driven model, and optimizer are performed in the aquifer and a repository containing a series of optimal solutions is developed to be used in projects.
The impact of the El Niño phenomenon on electricity prices in hydrologic‐based production systems: A switching regime semi‐nonparametric approach
Authors: Trespalacios Alfredo , Cortés Lina M. , Perote Javier
Published: February 2023

Electricity production in highly hydrological‐dependent systems is determined by different weather phenomena, which strongly impact spot prices. To account for such stylized facts, we propose a stochastic process with a mean reversion and switching regime component to represent the dynamics of the spot price. The short‐term movements are represented by semi‐nonparametric (SNP) distributions, in contrast to previous studies that traditionally assume Gaussian processes. We consider the Colombian electricity market as a study case, in which 68% of its electrical generation comes from water resources, and the El Niño phenomenon represents a critical source of risk for maintaining long‐term supply, sustainability of investments, and efficiency of prices. We show that under scarcity seasons, the spot price mean, variance, and some superior‐order moments of electricity price distribution increase, as does the risk level of the system. In particular, the switching regime model with SNP distributions for the random components outperforms traditional models, leading to accurate estimates and simulations, thus being a helpful tool for resource planning, risk management, and policy‐makers for electricity markets with high climatic dependency.
Elymus nepalensis (Poaceae, Triticeae): A rediscovery, lectotypification, and new geographic record from India
Authors: Yadav Rekha , Agnihotri Priyanka , Madhukar Virendra K. , Husain Tariq
Published: February 2023

Elymus nepalensis, which was described from Nepal in the year 1960 and was considered to be endemic to Nepal and known only by the Type collections, has been rediscovered from Dzoukou valley, situated at the border of Manipur and Nagaland, India. The same has been typified with detailed description, illustration, and distribution.
Paving the way towards future‐proofing our crops
Authors: Baekelandt Alexandra , Saltenis Vandasue L. R. , Nacry Philippe , Malyska Aleksandra , Cornelissen Marc , Nanda Amrit Kaur , Nair Abhishek , Rogowsky Peter , Pauwels Laurens , Muller Bertrand , Collén Jonas , Blomme Jonas , Pribil Mathias , Scharff Lars B. , Davies Jessica , Wilhelm Ralf , Rolland Norbert , Harbinson Jeremy , Boerjan Wout , Murchie Erik H. , Burgess Alexandra J. , Cohan Jean‐Pierre , Debaeke Philippe , Thomine Sébastien , Inzé Dirk , Lankhorst René Klein , Parry Martin A. J.
Published: February 2023

To meet the increasing global demand for food, feed, fibre and other plant‐derived products, a steep increase in crop productivity is a scientifically and technically challenging imperative. The CropBooster‐P project, a response to the H2020 call ‘Future proofing our plants’, is developing a roadmap for plant research to improve crops critical for the future of European agriculture by increasing crop yield, nutritional quality, value for non‐food applications and sustainability. However, if we want to efficiently improve crop production in Europe and prioritize methods for crop trait improvement in the coming years, we need to take into account future socio‐economic, technological and global developments, including numerous policy and socio‐economic challenges and constraints. Based on a wide range of possible global trends and key uncertainties, we developed four extreme future learning scenarios that depict complementary future developments. Here, we elaborate on how the scenarios could inform and direct future plant research, and we aim to highlight the crop improvement approaches that could be the most promising or appropriate within each of these four future world scenarios. Moreover, we discuss some key plant technology options that would need to be developed further to meet the needs of multiple future learning scenarios, such as improving methods for breeding and genetic engineering. In addition, other diverse platforms of food production may offer unrealized potential, such as underutilized terrestrial and aquatic species as alternative sources of nutrition and biomass production. We demonstrate that although several methods or traits could facilitate a more efficient crop production system in some of the scenarios, others may offer great potential in all four of the future learning scenarios. Altogether, this indicates that depending on which future we are heading toward, distinct plant research fields should be given priority if we are to meet our food, feed and non‐food biomass production needs in the coming decades.
Gryllus bimaculatus‐containing diets protect against dexamethasone‐induced muscle atrophy, but not high‐fat diet‐induced obesity
Authors: Kim Min Hee , Kim Su‐Jeong , Kim Si‐Hyun , Park Woo‐Jae , Han Jung‐Soon
Published: February 2023

Sarcopenia and obesity are emerging as major social problems. In this study, we examined whether Gryllus bimaculatus (GB), an edible insect, prevents dexamethasone‐induced muscle atrophy (sarcopenia) or high‐fat diet (HFD)‐induced obesity in mice. We generated a standard chow diet (SCD) + GB (85% SCD and 15% GB powder) and HFD + GB (85% HFD and 15% GB powder). SCD + GB feeding increased gains in body weight and white adipose tissue (WAT). Despite no difference in weight change between HFD + GB‐ and HFD‐fed mice, HFD + GB feeding aggravated insulin resistance compared with HFD feeding. SCD + GB or HFD + GB feeding did not change most gene expressions in the liver and WAT but did increase MyHC1 expression in the muscle, meaning that GB increased muscle generation. Therefore, we fed SCD + GB with dexamethasone, which induces muscle degeneration. As a result, muscle fiber size increased, as did grip strength compared with dexamethasone‐injected mice. In addition, SCD + GB reduced the expression of muscle degradation factors, such as atrogin1 and muscle RING‐finger protein 1 (MuRF1). Furthermore, SCD + GB feeding increased Akt, mTOR, and p70S6K phosphorylation and MyHC1 expression, meaning that it may have increased protein synthesis. In conclusion, GB has great potential for inhibiting dexamethasone‐induced muscle mass loss by increasing muscle protein synthesis and inhibiting muscle protein degradation.
Keeping an eye on cost: What can eye tracking tell us about attention to cost information in discrete choice experiments?
Authors: Genie Mesfin G. , Ryan Mandy , Krucien Nicolas
Published: February 2023

Concern has been expressed about including a cost attribute within discrete choice experiments (DCEs) when individuals do not have to pay at the point of consumption. We use eye tracking to investigate attention to cost when valuing publicly financed health care. One‐hundred and four individuals completed a DCE concerned with preferences for UK general practitioner appointments: 51 responded to a DCE with cost included and 53 to the same DCE without cost. Eye‐movements were tracked whilst respondents completed the DCE. We assessed if respondents pay attention to cost. We then compare fixation time (FT) on attributes, eye movement patterns and mental effort across the experimental groups. Results are encouraging for the inclusion of cost in DCEs valuing publicly provided healthcare. Most respondents gave visual attention to the cost attribute most of the time. Average FT on multi‐attribute tasks increased by 44% in the cost DCE, with attention to non‐monetary attributes increasing by 22%. Including cost led to more structured decision‐making and did not increase mental effort. Acceptability of the cost attribute and difficulty of choice tasks were predictors of cost information processing, highlighting the importance of both motivating the cost attribute and considering difficulty of the tasks when developing DCEs.
The perception and utilization of community care services by older persons in the new urban areas of Beijing, China: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Cheng Yang , Guang Ruiqing , Phillips David , Rosenberg Mark
Published: February 2023

Background and Aims

In recent years, Beijing, similar to many other large cities in China, has experienced rapid urbanization in many new areas. These have often been locations of population aging but have not had concomitant development of required community care services for older persons. This study aims to understand the perception and utilization of newly developed community care services by the older persons living in this region for providing knowledge to improve the services.

Methods

Applying Andersen's behavior model, this study used binary logistic regression of the factors influencing the perception and utilization of community care services and analyzed data collected by questionnaires to 301 older persons in the new urban areas of Beijing.

Results

Education, income, activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, mental health, and economic needs are statistically significant factors affecting older persons' perception of community care services. Age, perception of community care services, income, neighborhood relationships, mental health, and emotional needs are significant factors affecting older persons' utilization of community care services.

Conclusion

Demographic characteristics, health status, social support, and care needs were significant factors in the perception and utilization of community care services, after controlling for many variables. Improving older persons' perceptions of community care services is likely to promote their access to the services, which should help meet the challenges of rapid population aging in providing community care services to support aging in place in the new urban areas of Beijing, China.