bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Association between endogenous estradiol, testosterone, and long‐term mortality in adults with prediabetes and diabetes: Evidence from NHANES database
Authors: Feng Ye , Jin Xi , Zhu Jing , Yuan Meng , Zhu Liang , Ye Dan , Shen Yuqing 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTAim and IntroductionDiabetes and prediabetes pose significant global public health challenges. Sex steroids, particularly testosterone and estradiol, play crucial roles in various metabolic processes. This study investigates the relationship between sex hormone levels and long‐term mortality in adults with prediabetes and diabetes, as well as those without glucose intolerance.Material and MethodsThis retrospective cohort study utilized data from the NHANES 2013–2016, including adults aged 50–79 across prediabetic, diabetic, and non‐diabetic groups. Serum testosterone, estradiol, and their ratios (T/E) were analyzed. The primary outcomes were all‐cause mortality and CVD mortality tracked until December 2019. Cox regression models estimated the associations between hormone levels and mortality risks.ResultsThe study included 3,665 participants (male: 2,140; female: 1,775). In males with prediabetes, higher estradiol (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 0.17, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.07–0.43) or testosterone (aHR = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.31–0.50) was significantly associated with lower risk of all‐cause mortality. Higher estradiol (aHR = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.04–0.32) or testosterone (aHR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.27–0.48) was significantly associated with lower CVD mortality risk. In females with diabetes, there was a significant association between higher estradiol levels (aHR = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.06–0.83) or T/E ratio (aHR = 0.18, 95% CI: 0.04–0.73) with a reduced all‐cause mortality risk.ConclusionsThis study identifies some novel associations between estradiol, testosterone, and their ratios with long‐term mortality in men and women across different glycemic statuses. These findings suggest a potential protective role of sex hormones in individuals with altered glucose metabolism, with gender difference, warranting further investigation.
A Novel Swirling Flow Fluidized Bed Microwave Drying Process
Authors: Köse Mert , Küçük Haydar , Midilli Adnan 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTThis study aims to develop a novel microwave integrated‐swirling flow‐fluidized bed drying system. In this regard, for better understanding the drying performance and energy consumption of this novel system and its effect on the product quality parameters, the experiments were performed by using green tea leaves. Also, mathematical modeling and energy analysis was performed for this novel system. Drying experiments were carried out for 100, 300, 600, and 800 W microwave powers and some critical drying parameters such as dimensionless moisture ratio, moisture content, and drying rate were computed. Moreover, specific energy consumption (SEC), specific moisture extraction rate, and thermal efficiency of the system were estimated. Accordingly, the best drying curve equation was obtained as Improved Midilli‐Kucuk model for all microwave powers. Moreover, the highest water extract, the maximum caffeine, and the minimum total ash of the product were determined to be 43.83%, 2.2%, and 5.94%, respectively, at 800 W power. Minimum SEC, maximum specific moisture extraction rate, and maximum energy efficiency of the system were estimated as 11.4 KWh kg−1, 0.088 kg KWh−1, and 23.7% at 800 W, respectively.
Effect of Nursing Practice Environment, Nurse Staffing, Overtime and Hand Hygiene on Hospital‐Acquired Infections in a Tertiary Teaching Hospital
Authors: Al‐Ghraiybah Tamer , Lago Luise , Fernandez Ritin , Molloy Luke , Sim Jenny 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTAimsTo investigate the impact of the nursing practice environment, nurse staffing, working overtime and compliance with hand hygiene standards on hospital‐acquired infections.DesignA multi‐source quantitative study.MethodsNursing data were collected from selected wards in one hospital between 18 January 2021 and 15 March 2021. Hand hygiene compliance data were obtained retrospectively from Hand Hygiene Australia Audits between July 2018 and June 2021. Patient data were gathered from July 2018 to June 2021. Data from the three sources were linked together at the episode of care level. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise participant characteristics, and multiple logistic regression was employed to assess associations between the nursing practice environment, nurse staffing, overtime and hand hygiene with hospital‐acquired infections.ResultsA total of 361 nurses participated in the nursing survey. There were 13,440 hand hygiene moments assessed, and 10,924 (81.3%) correct practices were observed. There were 71,257 patient care episodes, including 2037 with hospital‐acquired infections. The odds of hospital‐acquired infections decreased by 19% for every 10% increase in nurses' compliance with hand hygiene and decreased by 7% for each one standard deviation increase in the nursing practice environment scale. Each additional patient per nurse was associated with a 42% increase in the odds of a hospital‐acquired infection.ConclusionThis study found evidence that a favourable nursing practice environment, reduced nurse workload and compliance with hand hygiene are linked to a lower risk of hospital‐acquired infections.Impact

A favourable nursing practice environment contributes to fewer hospital‐acquired infections.

Monitoring of hand hygiene compliance provides important local information to support improvements in practice.

Findings from this study can be used to support the implementation of safe nurse staffing policies that guide implementation of nurse‐to‐patient ratios.

Reporting MethodRECORD Checklist.Patient or Public ContributionNo Patient/Public Contribution.
Development and Validation of a Nomogram for Predicting Frailty Risk Among Older Patients With Ischaemic Stroke
Authors: Shen Dongdong , Li Jingjie , Teng Shuang , Li Mei , Tang Xianping 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTAimTo investigate the risk factors associated with frailty in older patients with ischaemic stroke, develop a nomogram and apply it clinically.DesignA cross‐sectional study.MethodsAltogether, 567 patients who experienced ischaemic strokes between March and December 2023 were temporally divided into training (n = 452) and validation (n = 115) sets and dichotomised into frail and non‐frail groups using the Tilburg Frailty Indicator scale. In the training set, feature selection was performed using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression and random forest recursive feature elimination, followed by nomogram construction using binary logistic regression. Internal validation was performed through bootstrap re‐sampling and the validation set was used to assess model generalisability. The receiver operating characteristic curve, Hosmer–Lemeshow test, Brier score, calibration curve, decision curve analysis and clinical impact curve were used to evaluate nomogram performance.ResultsThe prevalence of frailty was 58.6%. Marital status, smoking, history of falls (in the preceding year), physical exercise, polypharmacy, albumin levels, activities of daily living, dysphagia and cognitive impairment were predictors in the nomogram. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated outstanding discrimination of the nomogram. The Hosmer–Lemeshow test, calibration curve and Brier score results confirmed good model consistency and predictive accuracy. The clinical decision and impact curve demonstrated notable clinical utility. This free, dynamic nomogram, created for interactive use and promotion, is available at: https://dongdongshen.shinyapps.io/DynNomapp/.ConclusionThis nomogram may serve as an effective tool for assessing frailty risk in older patients with ischaemic stroke.Relevance to Clinical PracticeThe nomogram in this study may assist healthcare professionals in identifying high‐risk patients with frailty and understanding related factors, thereby providing more personalised risk management.Reporting MethodTRIPOD checklist.Patient or Public ContributionNo patient or public contribution.
COVID‐19: An unplanned experiment to assess the effect of tourism on ungulates in a world heritage site
Authors: Ontiveros Y. , Cappa F. M. , Borghi C. E. , Andino N. , Campos C. M. , Giannoni S. M. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractNature‐based tourism in protected areas can benefit millions of people, generating significant economic income. However, tourism can also have negative impacts on the environment and wildlife. The emergence of the COVID‐19 pandemic led to the closure of cities and towns, bringing substantial disruption to various human activities and providing an opportunity to assess the impact of reduced tourism activity from the general level. In this study, we assessed the association between tourism and guanaco (Lama guanicoe) activity patterns in Ischigualasto Provincial Park across two contrasting periods: pre‐pandemic and pandemic during the COVID‐19 outbreak. The different roads in the area were used as a proxy of tourism activity, and comparisons of activity patterns of guanaco between the roads were made, taking into account both periods. Based on camera‐trapping data, we analyzed the daily activity patterns of the species, as well as whether there was a change in activity toward night hours. We found that guanacos changed their activity patterns in response to human tourism activities and increased their nocturnal activity in places with high tourist activity in pre‐pandemic periods; however, we found no such effects during the pandemic when tourist pressure was low. These results are vital for the area's management aimed at conserving the species since, currently, after the pandemic, tourism activities have been resumed, and the number of visitors to Ischigualasto Provincial Park has grown exponentially.
Family Policies in Low Fertility Countries: Evidence and Reflections
Authors: Gauthier Anne H. , Gietel‐Basten Stuart 
Published: December 2024

AbstractFamily policies, defined as measures designed to support families with children, are part of modern welfare states. They range from punctual measures provided at the birth of a child to measures aimed at making it easier for parents to combine work and family responsibilities. The actual goal of these measures varies largely, being explicitly pronatalist in some cases while embracing a more equalitarian principle in others. Despite the variations in the nature of these policies and their stated goal, they are nonetheless all generally assumed to have a positive effect on fertility. The aim of this paper is threefold. First, the aim is to summarize the main findings from the literature on the impact of family policies on fertility. This is done by adopting a historical perspective, including the review of the early studies in this field of research and by distinguishing different methodologies. Second, the aim is to reflect on these findings, including the role of national context and the framing of policies. Third, the aim is also to reflect on the limited impact of policy interventions on fertility, stressing that their “success” should instead be measured in terms of their ability to support families holistically including their work‐life balance.
Antioxidant activity and comparative RNA‐seq analysis support mitigating effects of an algae‐based biostimulant on drought stress in tomato plants
Authors: Cerruti Paolo , Campobenedetto Cristina , Montrucchio Elisa , Agliassa Chiara , Contartese Valeria , Acquadro Alberto , Bertea Cinzia Margherita 
Published: December 2024

AbstractDrought is a significant global environmental stress. Biostimulants offer a sustainable solution to enhance crop tolerance and mitigate productivity losses. This study assessed the impact of foliar application of ERANTHIS®, a biostimulant derived from the algae Ascophyllum nodosum and Laminaria digitata and yeast extracts, on tomato plants under mild water stress. Evaluations were conducted at 5 and 24 hours after the third treatment. Under optimal water conditions, the biostimulant showed a priming effect, with an early increase of stress markers and a timing‐specific modulation of ROS non enzymatic and enzymatic ROS scavenging activities. Under drought stress, the biostimulant later decreased stress markers, by aligning the majority of analyzed ROS scavengers closer to levels in well‐irrigated plants. Transcriptome analysis using RNA‐seq data revealed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and multivariate data highlighted groups of co‐regulated genes (k‐means clustering). Genes involved in water channel activity, transcription regulator activity, and oxidoreductase activity were significantly modulated. Cluster analysis identified distinct gene clusters influenced by the biostimulant under optimal conditions, including early responses (cell wall modification, hormone signaling) and late responses (RNA modification, nutrient uptake process). Under water stress, early responses involved actin filament organization and MAPK signaling, while late responses were related to plasma membrane components and cell wall organization. This study, integrating biochemical and transcriptomic data, provides a comprehensive understanding of how a biostimulant primes plants under optimal conditions and mitigates water stress effects, offering valuable insights for sustainable agriculture.
Metabolomic analysis of plant‐derived nanovesicles and extracellular vesicles from Pinellia ternata: insights into a temporary immersion bioreactor system
Authors: Shu Fuxing , Sarsaiya Surendra , Ren Lili , Jin Leilei , Hu Yuhe , Qiao Ling , Xu Xiaoqing , Chen Guoguang , Chen Jishuang 
Published: December 2024

AbstractPlant‐derived nanovesicles (PDNVs) and extracellular vesicles (EVs) represent a promising area of research due to their unique properties and potential therapeutic applications. Pinellia ternata (P. ternata) is well‐known for its pharmacological properties but the PDNVs and EVs derived from it have been largely understudied. Previous studies have shown that a Temporary Immersion Bioreactor System (TIBS) plays an important role in controlling plant growth in order to obtain reproducible EVs and PDNVs. PDNVs were isolated from P. ternata plants and EVs were collected in the TIBS medium via ultra‐high‐speed differential centrifugation. Particle size, Zeta potentials and particle concentrations were assessed for PDNVs and EVs. Furthermore, non‐targeted metabolomics was used to assess metabolic compositional differences between EVs and PDNVs, enabling the evaluation of the TIBS's quality control efficacy. Metabolomic profiling revealed 1072 metabolites in PDNVs and EVs, including 426 differential metabolites (DMs) distinguishing PDNVs from EVs: 362 DMs were positively correlated with PDNVs and 64 DMs were positively correlated with EVs; they were enriched across 17 KEGG pathways. PCA, PLS‐DA, and metabolite sample correlation analyses showed high consistency between the replicates (PDNVs >0.87, EVs >0.93). This study demonstrated that TIBS is a performant system allowing consistency in generating PDNVs and EVs from P. ternata. We also highlighted the metabolic differences between PDNVs and EVs, guiding researchers in finding the bet system to produce efficient nanodrugs containing P. ternata pharmacological compounds.
Jewish Divination in the Greco–Roman Era
Authors: Tervanotko Hanna 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTThis article analyzes the divinatory methods the Jews used to address their questions in the Greco–Roman era. Scholars have previously examined how authors of the Hebrew Bible are aware of numerous divinatory techniques. The texts of the Greco–Roman era, especially the Dead Sea Scrolls, preserve even more references illuminating the ancients' interest in divination. In this article, I first address how the texts of the Greco–Roman era present people inquiring about the divine will through inspiration, the lot oracle, astrology, physiognomy, and death oracle. I argue that it was not indifferent which method an individual chose for their inquiry but that each technique served purposes that the ancients knew. As people could typically not access all methods, both the technique and its accessibility were considered when individuals decided how to inquire about their questions.
A risk‐based unmanned aerial vehicle path planning scheme for complex air–ground environments
Authors: Zhou Kai , Wang Kai , Wang Yuhao , Qu Xiaobo 
Published: December 2024

AbstractMultifarious applications of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are thriving in extensive fields and facilitating our lives. However, the potential third‐party risks (TPRs) on the ground are neglected by developers and companies, which limits large‐scale commercialization. Risk assessment is an efficacious method for mitigating TPRs before undertaking flight tasks. This article incorporates the probability of UAV crashing into the TPR assessment model and employs an A* path‐planning algorithm to optimize the trade‐off between operational TPR cost and economic cost, thereby maximizing overall benefits. Experiments demonstrate the algorithm outperforms both the best‐first‐search algorithm and Dijkstra's algorithm. In comparison with the path with the least distance, initially, the trade‐off results in a increase in distance while achieving an reduction in TPR. As the trade‐off progresses, this relationship shifts, leading to a reduction in the distance with only a negligible increase in TPR by 0.0001, matching the TPR‐cost‐based algorithm. Furthermore, we conduct simulations on the configuration of UAV path networks in five major cities in China based on real‐world travel data and building data. Results reveal that the networks consist of one‐way paths that are staggered in height. Moreover, in coastal cities particularly, the networks tend to extend over the sea, where the TPR cost is trivial.
A measure of information value for risk
Authors: Targoutzidis Antonis 
Published: December 2024

AbstractInformation is crucial for risk management; however, no quantified measure to evaluate risk information exists to date. The standard measure of value of factual information is information entropy—that is, the negative logarithm of probability. Despite its applications in various fields, this measure is insufficient for the evaluation of risk information; there are three reasons. First, it requires precise probabilities, which are generally absent in the context of risks. Second, it does not consider the effect of the consequences, which is essential for risks. Third, it does not account for human preferences and subjectivity. This study proposes a quantified measure for the evaluation of factual risk information—that is, observations of occurrence, particularly for binary, unambiguous, and rare phenomena. To develop such a measure, precise probabilities are replaced with updated probabilities, based on the Prospective Reference Theory. Additionally, utility is included as a proxy for the size of consequences. The third challenge—human preferences and subjectivity—is partly addressed by the application of updated perceived probabilities and utility as a measure of human preferences. Such a conventional, quantified measure facilitates the comparison of the potential impact of different messages for a new observation of occurrence for a risk, as well as of messages for different risks. Moreover, it clarifies the factors that systematically affect this impact. More particularly, it indicates the major effects of the perceived number of past occurrences.
Constructive (in)visibility and the trafficking industrial complex: Leveraging borders for exploitation
Authors: Lumley‐Sapanski Audrey , Schwarz Katarina 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThis paper explores the heterogeneity of migrant visibility across space and time, analysing where and how Eritrean forced migrants travelling along the Central Mediterranean Route are made visible or disappeared at various scales and how their (in)visibility is mobilised by other actors for profit. We point to three heterogeneous forms of (in)visibility—hypervisibility, invisibilisation and selective visibility—that frame, justify and help perpetuate a system of migrant exploitation, extortion and human trafficking. Drawing from three tranches of interviews with human trafficking survivors and migrants from Eritrea, government officials, suprastate actors, CSO employees and other stakeholders in Sudan, Libya and Ethiopia conducted between March 2021 and April 2022, we explore the dynamic interplay between representation and policy in the experiences of vulnerable migrants. We develop the term constructive (in)visibility to describe the ways in which migration governance visibilises Eritrean migrants in aggregate as threats, commodities and victims, while simultaneously invisibilising them as individuals and rights bearers. Policy responses to the hypervisibility of the ‘crime’ and ‘magnitude’ of irregular migration leave migrants vulnerable to a chain of predatory actors who see and know irregular migratory routes. Selectively deployed and leveraged borders allow profiteers to benefit from the restrictions on mobility and limitations on protections of irregular migrants, while international investments in restrictionist, externalised migration policies finance actors involved or complicit in migrant smuggling and human trafficking. The mutually reinforcing cycle of constructive (in)visibilisation and repressive policy thus facilitates the establishment of what we define as a trafficking industrial complex—a necrocapitalist market in migrants—that profits from their abandonment, exposing them to abduction, extortion and death.
Improving the Discharge Characteristics of Nonaqueous Lithium-Oxygen Batteries by Constructing Microchannels
Authors: Tang Jiaxing , Gao Yanan , Zhou Wenning , Dou Ruifeng , Fang Juan , Liu Xunliang 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Non-aqueous lithium-oxygen batteries (NALOBs) are a brand-new variety of recyclable batteries. Its theoretical energy density is very high, and it has enormous potential for use in a variety of industries. However, its cycle performance and discharge capacity still fall short of the scope of its application. Its low performance is mostly a result of the oxygen (O2) transport issues brought on by the cathode microstructure and insoluble discharge products. In response to the challenge of diffusing O2 to the cathode separator side, this work presents a new air cathode structure with microchannels. Experimental testing reveals that electrodes with microchannel structures can enhance specific capacity by around 16.9%, showing the feasibility of this method in enhancing electrode discharge. The material diffusion and discharge processes are simulated using the mesoscale multiphysical field coupling mathematical model using the lattice Boltzmann method after geometric reconstruction of the cathode. According to the study's findings, the construction of microchannels reduces the cathode's diffusion resistance while increasing its O2 concentration during the discharge process. In addition, the study also discusses the influence of the radius, morphology, number, and distribution of microchannels in the electrode on the O2 transport performance in different regions of the electrode.