bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of hemoglobin A1c control among Medicare advantage patients not meeting non‐insulin diabetes medication adherence metric
Authors: Doles Mark , Caswell Benjamin , Conty Nicolas 
Published: October 2024

AbstractBackgroundClinical pharmacists are often tasked with improving medication‐related performance metrics such as medication adherence to diabetes medications (MAD). Although the primary goal in patient care is excellent clinical outcomes, it is unknown if poor diabetes disease state control correlates with nonadherence to diabetes medications per the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) MAD metric specifications. This retrospective study aimed to identify the degree of disease state control in patients identified as nonadherent to their diabetes medications among patients in value‐based Medicare Advantage payer‐provider reimbursement models and its impact on the clinical pharmacist.MethodsPatients attributed to a health system‐employed primary care provider group from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022 and identified as non‐adherent (percentage of days covered [PDC] <80%) for non‐insulin diabetic medications were included in the study.ResultsOf the 370 patients who met criteria for study inclusion, 256 (69%) had a controlled hemoglobin A1C of <7.5%; 305 patients also had a previous A1c available in the electronic medical record. Of those, 260 (85%) had an A1C that had improved or was unchanged between the two most recent readings. One hundred sixty (43%) patients had a reason listed for gaps within refill history including verbal dose change, adverse reaction, manufacturer‐supplied medications, fills from Veteran's Affairs pharmacy, provider samples, or nondiabetes diagnosis.ConclusionA large percentage of patients identified as non‐adherent had a high degree of disease state control suggesting an issue with the measurement of adherence rather than a true reflection of patients' adherence with prescribed drug regimens. Strategies to improve diabetes medication adherence based on PDC will likely need to look beyond disease state control.
Analysis of Diurnal Air Temperature Trends and Pattern Similarities in Highland and Lowland Stations of Italy and UK
Authors: Liyew Chalachew Muluken , Meo Rosa , Ferraris Stefano , Di Nardo Elvira 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTIn this study, an analysis of hourly air temperatures in four groups of 32 stations from the UK highland (5 stations), UK lowland (4 stations), Italian highland (11 stations), and Italian lowland (12 stations) at different altitudes was carried out over the period from 2002 to 2021. The study aimed to examine the trends of each hour of the day during this period, over different averaging time windows (10‐day, 30‐day, and 60‐day). The trends were computed using the Mann–Kendall trend test and Sen's slope estimator. The similarity of trends within and across the groups of stations was assessed using the hierarchical clustering with dynamic time warping technique. An additional analysis was conducted to show the correlation of trends among the group of stations using the correlation distance matrix. Hierarchical clustering and distance correlation analysis show trend similarities and correlations, also indicating dissimilarities among different groups. Using 30‐day averages, significant warming trends in specific months at the Italian stations are evident, especially in February, July, August, and December. The UK highland stations did not show statistically significant trends, but clear pattern similarities were found within the groups, especially in certain months. The ultimate goal of this article is to provide insights into temperature dynamics and climate change characteristics on regional and diurnal scales.
Heatwave Intensifications in Armenia: Evidence From Temporal and Spatial Analysis of Observational Data Over the Last Decades
Authors: Galstyan Hrachuhi , Kocharyan Hrachya , Khan Shamshad 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTIncreasing temperatures cause the weather to become more severe. Studying how heatwaves (HWs) impact individual heat exposure and susceptibility is vital for building climate change mitigation and adaptation measures. So, this study explores the impact of HWs on individual heat exposure and susceptibility. The assessment was based on the highly complex topographic region contribution to HWs in the Republic of Armenia (RA) using data from 16 meteorological stations for the extended warm season (May–September). We developed a regional HW catchment program to estimate the HW indices' responses to climatic change and to present them in terms of topography changes. The Mann–Kendall (MK) test was used to determine the statistical significance of the trends for 10 distinct HW indicators using linear and exponential trends along with graphical interpretations. This study reveals a large‐scale, significant increasing trend in annual maximum temperatures (T
max) and observed HWs over the period 1955–2019. The rising temperature is accompanied by an increase in HW indices, particularly at low altitudes up to 1250 m above sea level (ASL), where the main population centres and national crop production are concentrated. According to our classification, the above‐mentioned areas have faced extreme and severe increases in HW intensity, covering more than 60% of the country's territory. Moreover, not only the intensity and frequency have been identified but the HW period extension as well. This extreme increase has been found in the low‐lying highly populated and intensively cultivated areas, such as in the Ararat valley. These results have implications for future climate assessments, adaptation strategies, agriculture and public health in Armenia. The development of targeted mitigation measures and adaptation strategies informed by these findings is essential for addressing the escalating challenges posed by HWs in the region.
Helping hampered bidders—Do subsidy auctions work as intended?
Authors: Cho Sanghoon , Wooten Joel O. , Fry Timothy D. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe use of preference or discriminatory auctions, where one class of bidders is offered favored treatment over another class, has received mixed attention in the literature. Research has shown there is often an economic benefit of such policies in procurement auctions thanks to lower costs for buyers as incentives are offered to disadvantaged sellers. In this paper, we study one type of preferential procurement auction: the subsidy. Using a set of controlled experiments, we compare actual bidder behavior to what is predicted in equilibrium and find consistent (but overly aggressive) patterns overall. By testing a common bid strategy assumption, we also identify a behavioral framing bias that may trap sellers in these suboptimal strategies. Finally, we compare subsidies to another common discriminatory mechanism—the price preference—and find evidence that buyers interested in increasing the welfare of disadvantaged sellers should use subsidies instead of price preference auctions, thanks to a surprising difference in outcomes between preference types. Due to the wide use of bid preference auctions to support both policy and social aims, our findings have both financial and societal implications.
Variability in strawberry tunnels impacts fruit quality and limits melatonin effects
Authors: Arabia Alba , Pallarés Núria , Munné‐Bosch Sergi , Muñoz Paula 
Published: October 2024

AbstractBACKGROUNDFluctuations in environmental conditions within fields and crop plant performance can greatly affect production and quality standards. These factors are particularly relevant for producers, who require sustained optimal production to profit from small margins. Fluctuations might be exacerbated at the end of the crop season, where neither of the aforementioned factors are optimal. In the present integrated study, we assess strawberries' nutritional quality and the impact of harvest timing, tunnel conditions and inter‐individual variability in a Mediterranean production tunnel divided into blocks, where two harvests were performed 3 weeks apart. In addition, the effects of sprayed melatonin at the end of productive season were also evaluated.RESULTSEnd‐season harvesting negatively impacted fruit hydration, antioxidant capacity and ripening‐related hormones in strawberry fruits. Additionally, tunnel distribution influenced fruit nutritional quality, with light radiation being the main variable factor disturbing antioxidant contents. Nutrients exhibited high inter‐individual plant variability, accounting for 20% variation, and were strongly correlated with fruit hydration and ripening‐related phytohormones. Finally, melatonin applications affected neither fruit production, nor nutritional parameters, for which the effects were masked by the intrinsic strawberry variability. Overall, the results underline the limitations of this type of application for field implementation.CONCLUSIONFruit quality variation in strawberry fields is explained by environmental and inter‐individual variability. Likewise, the implementation of regulatory molecules such as melatonin in field applications relies on crop homogeneity and might have limited applicability in heterogeneous productive systems. Consequently, identifying and reducing microclimate variability in productive fields is paramount for advancing agricultural practices to uphold unwavering standards on fruit quality. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Impact of calcium‐reinforcement on stability, bioavailability, and bioactivity of quercetin‐loaded zein/alginate‐pectin nanoparticles
Authors: Li Wan , Zhu Xiaoqing , Zhou Yingchun , Jiang Yuan , Feng Jingying , McClements David Julian , Hu Kun 
Published: October 2024

AbstractBACKGROUNDCationic calcium ions can crosslink anionic alginate and pectin molecules. It was hypothesized that calcium crosslinking would improve the stability and functionality of biopolymer nanoparticles consisting of zein cores coated by alginate‐pectin shells. The effects of calcium ion addition on the structural, physicochemical, and gastrointestinal properties of quercetin‐loaded zein/alginate‐pectin nanoparticles were therefore investigated.RESULTSThe nanoparticles remained stable to aggregation at calcium ion concentrations of 9 mmol/L or less but aggregated and sedimented at higher concentrations. Calcium ion reinforcement increased the particle dispersion stability even at NaCl concentrations up to 1.4 molL‐1. The presence of the calcium ions also reduced quercetin release during the early stages of simulated gastrointestinal digestion but increased its release during the later stages. The relatively high release (56.1%) of quercetin from the calcium‐reinforced nanoparticles after digestion resulted in higher intracellular antioxidant activities. The pharmacokinetics of the encapsulated quercetin was measured after its oral administration to rats. The maximal concentration (Cmax) of quercetin in rat plasma for calcium‐reinforced nanoparticles was 6.1% higher than non‐reinforced nanoparticles; the half‐life (t1/2) increased by 17.5%, and the mean retention time (MRT) was 10.0% higher (P < 0.05).CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that calcium ion addition improved the performance and bioavailability of nutraceutical‐loaded biopolymer nanoparticles. This might find application in the food and beverage industry. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Joint modeling of longitudinal and survival data for the evaluation of the impact of irrigation systems on the time until the occurrence of phoma leaf spot in Arabica coffee plants
Authors: de Oliveira Gonçalves Daiane , da Silva Martins Fonseca Natalia , Martins Pereira Renata Cristina , Pozza Edson Ampélio , Cirillo Marcelo Ângelo 
Published: October 2024

AbstractBackgroundThe coffee crop is prominent in Brazilian agriculture, making the country a global power in this area. One of the main concerns in the coffee sector is disease, which can affect coffee productivity and quality. Thus, it is important to evaluate the factors that may affect coffee quality and thus enhance the development of strategies to reduce coffee losses and costs and optimize production. This study evaluated the influence of the type of irrigation (self‐propelled, drip, and center pivot) on the time until the occurrence of phoma leaf spot on Arabica coffee plants, considering the intensity of the disease. Additionally, the association between longitudinal incidence and the time until an event of interest was assessed based on the joint modeling of longitudinal and survival data.ResultsThe results of this study identify the effectiveness of drip irrigation system compared with other systems; the use of such systems was associated with an ~46.5% reduction in the risk of leaf spot disease compared with the use of a self‐propelled irrigation system. The use of a center pivot system increased the risk of disease progression compared with a self‐propelled system. An association between the longitudinal and survival processes was also observed.ConclusionThe findings demonstrate the superior performance of the drip irrigation system in controlling phoma leaf spot disease in Arabica coffee plants compared with self‐propelled and center pivot systems. This research highlights the potential of using drip irrigation to establish more effective agricultural practices in coffee cultivation, contributing to better disease management and improved crop quality. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
How do consumers discuss the texture of frozen blueberries? An investigation using word association, hedonic scales and rate‐all‐that‐apply
Authors: Moss Rachael , Stright Allison , Baxter Laura , McSweeney Matthew B 
Published: October 2024

AbstractBACKGROUNDFlavour, texture, and extended shelf life are key quality traits for blueberries. Studies have used trained panelists and texture analysers to evaluate frozen blueberries. However, more studies are needed to investigate consumer perception and acceptance of frozen blueberries' texture. This study used word association, hedonic scales, and rate‐all‐that‐apply to evaluate how consumers perceive the texture of frozen blueberries.RESULTSConsumers were interested in the firmness of frozen blueberries, as well as crunchiness, softness, juiciness, and smoothness. They also identified the textural descriptors mushy, tough, chewy, squishy, and mealy. The participants separated the wild blueberries from the cultivated blueberries when evaluating their liking. Textural attributes were correlated with the consumers' overall liking (juicy, firm, crunchy, smooth positively and mushy, tough, squishy negatively).CONCLUSIONThis study identified which textural attributes influence consumers' liking of frozen blueberries. Consumers preferred frozen blueberries that were firm, juicy and crunchy. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Enhancing optical output power efficiency in nitride‐based green micro light‐emitting diodes by sidewall ion implantation
Authors: Chang Yu‐Hsiang , Wang Yuan‐Chao , Huang Jian‐Jang 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThough micro‐LED (light‐emitting diode) displays are considered the emerging display technology, the micron‐scale LED chip size encounters severe efficiency degradation that may impact the power budget of the displays. This work proposes an ion implantation method to deliberately create a high‐resistivity sidewall in the InGaN/GaN green LED. Our study demonstrates that ion implantation suppresses reverse leakage current due to the mitigation of sidewall defects. For an LED mesa size of 10 × 10 μm2, optical output power density is improved by 36.2% compared to the device without implantation. Compared to a larger 100 × 100 μm2 device without implantation, we achieve only 21.3% degradation of output power density under 10 A/cm2 injection for a 10 × 10 μm2 LED with implantation. In addition, the ion implantation method can lower the wavelength shift by reducing light emission from the region near the sidewall (where the amount of Indium [In] clustering differs from the mesa region). The results show promise in addressing the efficiency challenges of micro‐LED displays by selective ion implantation.
Complement factor B inhibitor LNP023 mediates the effect and mechanism of AMPK/mTOR on autophagy and oxidative stress in lupus nephritis
Authors: Zhang Xi‐Mei , Qing Ming‐Jie , Liu Xin‐Kuo , Peng Liang 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThis study investigated the impact of LNP023 on the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway in lupus nephritis (LN) and its effects on autophagy and oxidative stress. A mouse model of LN was established, and renal injury was confirmed by assessing various LN markers, including antinuclear antibody, ds‐DNA, anti‐Sm antibody, and others. Mice were treated with LNP023, the AMPK activator AICAR, or the AMPK inhibitor dorsomorphin. Renal injury and fibrosis were evaluated using HE and Masson staining. Expression levels of AMPK, mTOR, LC3, Beclin1, and p62 were assessed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Oxidative stress and inflammatory markers were measured by polymerase chain reaction and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. LN mice exhibited low AMPK/p‐AMPK and high mTOR/p‐mTOR levels, alongside significant renal injury, fibrosis, reduced autophagy, and elevated oxidative stress. LNP023 treatment improved these parameters, with enhanced effects when combined with AICAR. Conversely, dorsomorphin reversed LNP023's therapeutic benefits. The complement factor B inhibitor LNP023 promotes kidney health in LN mice by mediating the AMPK/mTOR pathway, promoting autophagy, and attenuating oxidative stress.
Unethical favouritism and KH: The mediating role of organisational injustice
Authors: Inegbedion Henry , Asaleye Abiola , Sajuyigbe Ademola , Ediagbonya Kennedy , Okoye‐uzu Chinenye 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThis study examined unethical favouritism and knowledge hiding (KH) to ascertain the extent to which unethical favouritism influences KH as well as the extent to which organisational injustice mediates the relationship between unethical favouritism and KH. The study employed a cross‐sectional survey design of 305 randomly selected respondents from one public and four private universities in northcentral Nigeria. A structured questionnaire served as the research instrument. The study used the Content validity index and Cronbach alpha to test for the validity and reliability of the questionnaire. Structural equation modelling served as the data analysis technique. The results indicate that unethical favouritism significantly influences KH, and organisational injustice mediates the relationship between unethical favouritism and KH. The point of departure of this study from previous studies is the unveiling of the influence of favouritism on KH through the mediation of organisational injustice, which is a consequence of favouritism.
Effects of the coronavirus 2019 pandemic on medical publishing: The sacrifice of quality for quantity?
Authors: Becker Aliza 
Published: October 2024

AbstractFacing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic, medical publishers rose to the occasion, moving to make their full portfolio of COVID‐19–related research available to read for free and expediting peer review and production processes. With such a rapid transition from paper submission to publication, however, concerns also arose regarding whether the quality of the research publication process was being affected. This article seeks to document the transformation of medical publishers' practices in response to the COVID‐19 pandemic and briefly discuss where they may go from here. For this goal, a literature search was performed in PubMed at several points to identify papers that reported early trends in how medical publishers handled COVID‐19 research.
Highly Efficient Slow‐Light Mach–Zehnder Modulator Achieving 0.21 V cm Efficiency with Bandwidth Surpassing 110 GHz
Authors: Shen Jian , Zhang Yong , Zhang Lei , Li Jingchi , Feng Chenglong , Jiang Yongheng , Wang Hongwei , Li Xingfeng , He Yu , Ji Xingchen , Yin Guofeng , Tian Yonghui , Xiao Xi , Su Yikai 
Published: October 2024

AbstractHigh‐speed electro‐optic modulators are key components in modern communication networks and various applications that require chip‐scale modulation with large bandwidth, high modulation efficiency, and compact footprint. However, fundamental trade‐offs make it challenging to achieve these metrics simultaneously, and thus new methodologies must be explored. To this end, a Mach–Zehnder modulator harnessing slow‐light waveguides and capacitively loaded slow‐wave electrodes are presented on silicon‐nitride‐loaded lithium niobate on an insulator platform. The increased group index and reduced microwave loss significantly improve the modulation efficiency. With the 1‐mm‐length modulation section, a low half‐wave voltage length product Vπ·L of 0.21 V cm is obtained, which is one order of magnitude smaller than that of conventional thin film lithium niobate Mach–Zehnder modulators, and a modulation bandwidth of surpassing 110 GHz is achieved. The digital signal processor‐free non‐return‐to‐zero signal and eight‐level pulse amplitude modulation signal of up to 180 and 300 Gbps, respectively, are generated by the modulator, which provides ultra‐large bandwidth, ultra‐high efficiency, and a compact solution for next‐generation electro‐optic systems.
The translation‐to‐policy learning cycle to improve public health
Authors: Kilbourne Amy M. , Braganza Melissa Z. , Bravata Dawn M. , Tsai Jack , Nelson Richard E. , Meredith Alex , Myrie Kenute , Ramoni Rachel 
Published: October 2024

AbstractObjectiveLearning Health Systems (LHSs) have not directly informed evidence‐based policymaking. The Translation‐to‐Policy (T2P) Learning Cycle aligns scientists, end‐users, and policymakers to support a repeatable roadmap of innovation and quality improvement to optimize effective policies toward a common public health goal. We describe T2P learning cycle components and provide examples of their application.MethodsThe T2P Learning Cycle is based on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Research and Development and Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI), which supports research and quality improvement addressing national public health priorities to inform policy and ensure programs are evidence‐based and work for end‐users. Incorporating LHS infrastructure, the T2P Learning Cycle is responsive to the Foundations for Evidence‐based Policymaking Act, which requires U.S. government agencies to justify budgets using evidence.ResultsThe learning community (patients, providers, clinical/policy leaders, and investigators) drives the T2P Learning Cycle, working toward one or more specific, shared priority goals, and supports a repeatable cycle of evidence‐building and evaluation. Core T2P Learning Cycle functions observed in the examples from housing/economic security, precision oncology, and aging include governance and standard operating procedures to promote effective priority‐setting; complementary research and quality improvement initiatives, which inform ongoing data curation at the learning system level; and sustainment of continuous improvement and evidence‐based policymaking.ConclusionsThe T2P Learning Cycle integrates research translation with evidence‐based policymaking, ensuring that scientific innovations address public health priorities and serve end‐users through a repeatable process of research and quality improvement that ensures policies are scientifically based, effective, and sustainable.