bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
One step beyond for CNSL‐based plasticizers for PVC: Use of cardol
Authors: Gartili Adélaïde , Caillol Sylvain , Briou Benoît , Lapinte Vincent 
Published: October 2024

AbstractPoly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) is a widely employed plastic across diverse industries and is often associated with plasticizers, additives that decrease the inherent rigidity and brittleness of the material. Conventional phthalate‐based plasticizers raise substantial toxicity concerns, encouraging the exploration of bio‐based alternatives. One such alternative is the inedible oil, cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL), mainly composed of cardanol and cardol. Recent efforts have focused on developing a cardanol‐based PVC plasticizers but the isolation of cardanol involves time‐consuming, energy‐intensive, and costly steps, limiting its market competitiveness. This study aims to assess for the first time, the efficiency of cardol esters, synthesized using acetic acid and different fatty acids (octanoic acid and myristic acid), in order to evaluate the influence of the alkyl chain on plasticizer properties. The chemical structures of these plasticizers were fully characterized by 1H NMR spectroscopy, and the mechanical properties and thermal behavior of PVC films plasticized with these additives were investigated. Finally, the endocrine activity was evaluated for cardol and cardanol acetates.
‘Side‐hustling’ in commercial agriculture among young university graduates in Ghana
Authors: Yeboah Thomas , Boafo James 
Published: October 2024

AbstractYouth unemployment and under‐employment in Ghana represent a major concern for policymakers and young people themselves. While the agriculture sector has been touted as having the potential to offer employment to the teaming youth, there is little research focusing on the steps and pathways with which young university graduates navigate to engage in commercial cashew production to build their livelihood. Drawing on qualitative research conducted with young university graduates in Nkoranza, a community in the Bono East Region of Ghana, we explore the steps and pathways with which they navigate engagement in commercial cashew production for the export market. A key finding of the study is that young university graduates engage in cashew production as a ‘side‐hustle’ to supplement their income from their primary occupations, with some important gender and generational dimensions. We also found that young university graduates rely on social relations and existing land market to access the needed resources including land, credit and labour to engage in cashew production. The findings also indicate that young university graduates view cashew farms as long‐term investments and have no plans to return to the city in future. Based on these findings, we argue that youth employment is not about a single job and that social relations continue to be a key resource in youth livelihood building. We further argue that despite the popular and existing policy narratives that young people are not interested in agriculture and/or rural areas, and that migration from rural to urban areas is the de facto option, investment and engagement in commercial agriculture as a side‐hustle in addition to family concerns, rising cost of living in the cities and children's education motivate young university graduates to remain in the rural economy.
Bidirectional Relationship Between Long Sleep Duration and Cardiac Autonomic Control in Community‐Dwelling Older Adults: The Yilan Study, Taiwan
Authors: Lin Ruei‐An , Liao Chia‐Ling , Pan Po‐Jung , Hsu Nai‐Wei , Chen Hsi‐Chung 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTObjectivesLong sleep duration predicts adverse health outcomes in older adults. Impaired cardiac autonomic control (CAC) is a potential pathomechanism that links this relationship; however, the causal relationship between long sleep duration and CAC remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the temporal relationship between long sleep duration and poor CAC.MethodsThis is a community‐based, fixed‐cohort, follow‐up study that recruited community‐dwelling older adults aged ≥ 65 years. Self‐reported sleep duration was categorized as short (≤ 5 h), mid‐range (6–7 h), and long (≥ 8 h). Participants with short or long sleep duration were defined as cases. CAC was measured using heart rate variability (HRV), and cases were classified using cutoffs defined by the lowest quintiles of four HRV parameters. Non‐case participants for sleep duration or CAC at baseline were followed. Binary and multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine baseline variables that predicted incident CAC decline and changes in sleep duration, respectively.ResultsA total of 772 individuals were recruited, with a mean follow‐up period of 5.8 ± 1.7 years. In multivariable analyses, long sleep duration at baseline predicted a higher risk of cardiac vagal control decline in the follow‐up visit (odds ratio: 1.86, 95% confidence interval: 1.00–3.44). Conversely, all HRV parameters at baseline failed to predict changes in sleep duration at the follow‐up visit.ConclusionsLong sleep duration seems to precede the decline in CAC in community‐dwelling older adults.
Reporting ethical approval in case reports and case series in 12 consecutive years: A systematic review
Authors: Tran Linh , Thanh Huan Vuong , Tai Luu Lam Thang , Safi Adnan , Ahmed Moustafa ElBadry , Algazar Mohamed Osman , Karimzadeh Sedighe , Khang Nguyen Vinh , Hai Nam Nguyen , Qureshi Zaheer Ahmad , Vuong Nguyen Lam , Huu Nhat Minh Le , Huy Nguyen Tien 
Published: October 2024

AbstractOur study describes the reported rate of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, declaration of Helsinki (DoH), and informed consent in the case reports and case series and investigates factors associated with the ethical approval report. We searched PubMed for case reports and case series from 2006 to 2017. Annually, we obtained the first 20 articles of a case report cluster from 20 distinct publications. This analysis initially contained at least 2400 papers, with 100 papers each study design and year. Only 26 (5.4%) of 480 included studies reported IRB approval, DoH approval, and participant informed consent; 58 (12.1%) reported two out of three ethical statements (DoH, informed consent, IRB); and 151 (31.5%) reported only one, leading to nearly 245 studies (51.0%) did not report any ethical approval item. Both clusters mentioned the DoH the least. Only years, ages, ethical item types, and cluster types were associated with ethical reporting practices. This study found the serious under‐reporting of ethical practices in both case reports and case series.
Scope of practice and opioid prescribing behavior of nurse practitioners serving Medicare beneficiaries
Authors: Shakya Shishir , Plemmons Alicia 
Published: October 2024

AbstractPolicymakers aiming to increase access to health care while simultaneously keeping costs low and quality high are considering expanding the practice authority and prescriptive authority of nurse practitioners in order to address primary care shortages. While we know this increases access, some researchers argue that the expansion of job autonomy of nurse practitioners can compromise the quality and safety of rendered medical services. This paper investigates quality and safety outcomes in prescribing behaviors of nurse practitioners who have prescribed opioids for Medicare Part D beneficiaries using a unique source of policy variation, nurse practitioners with the ability to prescribe medication who move to either states with or without physician supervision. We find that scope of practice expansions do not compromise quality and safety in terms of potential abuse or misuse of prescriptive authority.
Intraoperative Real‐Time Image‐Guided Fibular Harvest and Mandibular Reconstruction: A Feasibility Study on Cadaveric Specimens
Authors: Grzybowski Georgia , Stewart Molly Murray , Milner Thomas D. , Dinur Anat Bahat , McGee Orla M. , Pakdel Amir , Tran Khanh Linh , Fels Sidney S. , Hodgson Antony J. , Prisman Eitan 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTBackgroundThis study assesses the feasibility of real‐time surgical navigation to plan and guide sequential steps during mandible reconstruction on a series of cadaveric specimens.MethodsAn image‐guided surgical (IGS) system was designed including customized mandible and fibula fixation devices with navigation reference frames and an accompanied image‐guided software. The mandibular and fibular segmental osteotomies were performed using the IGS in all five cadaveric patients. Procedural time and cephalometric measurements were recorded.ResultsFive real‐time IGS mandibulectomy and fibular reconstruction were successfully performed. The mean Dice score and Hausdorff‐95 distance between the planned and actual mandible reconstructions was 0.8 ± 0.08 and 7.29 ± 4.81 mm, respectively. Intercoronoid width, interangle width, and mandible projection differences were 1.15 ± 1.17 mm, 0.9 ± 0.56 mm, and 1.47 ± 1.62 mm, respectively.ConclusionThis study presents the first demonstration of a comprehensive image‐guided workflow for mandibulectomy and fibular flap reconstruction on cadaveric specimens and resulted in adequate cephalometric accuracy.
Acceptability of innovative department community‐based health insurance in central Mali: A mixed methods study
Authors: Boivin Pauline , Ravalihasy Andrainolo , Diarra Dansiné , Sissoko Fodé , Diabaté Seydou , Diarra Yacouba , Touré Laurence , Ridde Valéry 
Published: October 2024

AbstractAs the Universal Health Insurance Plan (RAMU) is gradually being implemented in Mali, community‐based health insurance (CBHI) —considered one of the pillars of this programme— must innovate to meet the challenge of universal health coverage. An experimental CBHI was tested in central Mali between 2017 and 2021. This innovative CBHI professionalizes and organizes risk sharing on a larger scale than before, moving from municipalities to circles (departments). A mixed‐method study was carried out in the Mopti region to assess the acceptability of this innovation among CBHI elected representatives. In April 2021, 118 questionnaires were administered to CBHI elected representatives, followed by 43 qualitative interviews from the same sample in October 2021. Sekhon et al. (2017) developed an approach outlining seven dimensions of acceptability (attitude, burden, values, coherence, opportunity costs, perceived efficiency, and personal effectiveness), which was used as a conceptual model for data analysis. The results obtained by factor analysis indicate that more than half of individuals (58%) reported above‐average acceptability. Elected representatives feel well supported in their activities by the Technical Union of Malian Mutuality (TUM), the umbrella organisation of CBHI. They show some confidence in their ability to perform their duties effectively despite varying levels of commitment that often fall short of expectations and needs, which they justify by their volunteer status. Elected representatives note that the system is very effective despite the nonoptimal conditions linked to the prevailing insecurity. The new CBHI is highly advantageous for the population in terms of content, financial, and geographical access. Professionalisation is an unavoidable condition for the performance of the innovation, as well as the new community assembly. However, elected representatives are concerned about the sustainability of this CBHI and rely on the State and its partners to assume responsibility. The TUM will play an essential role in continuing its support and fulfiling its functions as a delegated management organisation within the framework of the RAMU.
Retail company voluntary arrangements: A dubious remedy?
Authors: Wiejak‐Roy Grazyna Aleksandra , Lamond Jessica 
Published: October 2024

AbstractDespite much debate on Company Voluntary Arrangements (CVA) among UK retailers, understanding of retail CVAs remains limited. There is continuing uncertainty about the uptake of CVAs, what aspects lead to successful outcomes and whether CVAs can be viewed as a remedy for struggling UK retailers. To address these questions, we developed and analysed a novel and detailed dataset of Companies House records for the population of retailers' CVAs between mid‐2012 and early 2021. We find that CVAs, despite detrimental impacts on other actors (landlords and suppliers), can be a useful tool for some retailers in adjusting to the new market conditions. The uptake of CVAs among retailers is stable, though not among large retailers. Retail CVAs help to avoid immediate business failure, but we found limited evidence of the success and efficient longer term outcome of the procedure, suggesting that alternative methods could be considered. The success and efficiency of CVA do not seem to depend on the size of the business, but there are variations in both the uptake and efficiency of CVAs across retail sub‐sectors. This suggests that a range of mechanisms are required to cater to the different needs across retail categories. Despite the market challenges, CVAs are not prolonged on average. However, longer duration CVAs seem to have a lower chance of succeeding and of being efficient implying that CVA cannot remedy fundamental business issues. Finally, we observed differences related to who oversees the procedure, suggesting that greater emphasis should be put on upskilling and selection of insolvency practitioners.
Tensions between sanctions and insolvency law: Searching for a model solution with a focus on the European Union and Poland
Authors: Paulus Christoph , Hrycaj Anna , Filipiak Patryk , Sierakowski Bartosz 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThis article explores the conflict between insolvency law and sanctions law, particularly in the context of European responses to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Historically, conflicts between legal systems have shaped laws, and modern insolvency law continues this struggle by determining creditor priorities in cases where debtors cannot fully satisfy them. The article highlights how recent sanctions, which freeze assets to restrict the economic activities of sanctioned individuals and entities, complicate insolvency proceedings. The European Union, along with Poland, has imposed unprecedented sanctions on Russia, including bans on transactions, asset freezes, and trade restrictions. These sanctions, while aimed at political objectives, often push businesses into insolvency by preventing access to resources. Case studies such as GoSport in Poland, Amsterdam Trade Bank in the Netherlands, and Fortenova in Croatia demonstrate the complexities that arise when businesses linked to sanctioned entities become insolvent. Key issues include the legal treatment of frozen assets, creditor satisfaction, and the potential for sanctioned entities to benefit from bankruptcy proceedings. Poland has revised its sanctions law, introducing provisions for the appointment of independent managers to oversee sanctioned companies, ensuring continued operations without benefiting sanctioned owners. However, uncertainty remains over the management and distribution of frozen assets, with no clear framework in place. The article concludes that insolvency and sanctions law, though often in conflict, must be applied flexibly to address individual cases. A balanced approach is needed to protect creditors while adhering to the political and legal objectives of sanctions.
Strategic facet engineering of bismuth‐based photocatalysts for the applications in solar‐to‐chemical conversion
Authors: Foo Joel Jie , Chiah Zi‐Jing , Ng Sue‐Faye , Ong Wee‐Jun 
Published: October 2024

AbstractSemiconductor photocatalysis is a promising tactic to simultaneously overcome global warming and the energy crisis as it can directly convert inexhaustible solar energy into clean fuels and valuable chemicals, hence being employed in various energy applications. However, the current performance of photocatalysis is largely impeded by the fast recombination of photogenerated charge carriers and insufficient light absorption. Among various materials, bismuth‐based photocatalysts have stood out as excellent candidates for efficient photocatalysis due to their unique controllable crystal structures and relatively narrow band gap. These features endow the selective exposure of active facets (facet engineering) and wide light absorption range, resulting in tunable photocatalytic activity, selectivity, and stability. Therefore, it is of great potential to use facet‐engineered bismuth‐based photocatalysts for efficient energy applications (e.g., water splitting, CO2 reduction, N2 fixation, and H2O2 production) to achieve sustainable development. Herein, the introduction provides the overview of this research, while the synthesis, modification strategy, and the latest progress of facet‐engineered bismuth‐based photocatalysts in energy application were summarized and highlighted in this review paper. Lastly, the conclusion and outlooks of this topic were concluded to give some insights into the direction and focus of future research.
Toxic Effects of 4‐Bromodiphenyl Ether (BDE‐3) on Antioxidant Enzymes, Cell Viability, Histology and Biomolecules in Zebrafish Embryo‐Larvae
Authors: Kumar Shiv , Chadha Pooja 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTPolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a class of flame retardants that are being used widely in industrial and consumers products such as plastics, electronics, furniture, textiles and so forth. They can undergo debromination process to form less brominated diphenyl ethers, which are bioaccumulative, more volatile and more toxic in nature. The current study was conducted to reveal the biochemical, apoptotic, histopathological, ultrastructural and biomolecular (ATR‐FTIR) toxicity of 4‐bromodiphenyl ether (BDE‐3) in zebrafish larvae. After the 96‐h LC50 determination, the zebrafish embryos were exposed to sublethal concentrations of BDE‐3, that is, 0.79 and 1.59 mg/L. The MDA content was found to be significantly increased in BDE‐3 exposed larvae whereas the FRAP activity was found to be decreased. The catalase (CAT), glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity were observed to be significantly increased, and a decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was reported after the BDE‐3 exposure in zebrafish larvae. The cell viability was reported to be decreased in zebrafish larvae after BDE‐3 exposure. Histopathological and ultrastructural alterations were also observed in the BDE‐3 exposed zebrafish larvae. The changes in the biomolecules such as DNA and protein were also revealed via ATR‐FTIR analysis. The present investigation will help to understand the toxic nature of less brominated diphenyl ethers and could be utilised to assess environmental risk.
Solvent screening for the purification of monoterpenoids by countercurrent and centrifugal partition chromatography
Authors: Vilas‐Boas Sérgio M , Coutinho João AP , Pinho Simão P , Ferreira Olga 
Published: October 2024

AbstractBACKGROUNDCountercurrent chromatography (CCC) and centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) are efficient techniques to purify terpenoids from essential oils. These methods require suitable solvent systems for the partition between the two immiscible liquid phases. In this study, using the analytical shake‐flask method, we measured the partition coefficients of three model monoterpenoids, namely carvone, eucalyptol and thymol, in 11 biphasic solvent systems, at 298.2 K. Moreover, the predictive COSMO‐RS model was applied to represent the partition coefficients of data measured in this work and retrieved from the literature, the liquid–liquid equilibrium (LLE) data of three solvent families suitable for CCC/CPC separations (i.e., Arizona, Modified Arizona and Green Arizona) and the solute's partition coefficients in the three solvent families.RESULTSThe partition coefficients obtained for thymol and eucalyptol are the first partition data available in the literature. The obtained root mean square deviations (RMSDs) between the experimental and predicted partition coefficients (log basis) varied between 0.28 and 0.49. For LLE, RMSDs of 0.040 and 0.048 were achieved for the Arizona and Green Arizona families, respectively.CONCLUSIONThe predictive COSMO‐RS model describes the monoterpenoid partition coefficients and the LLE data of the solvent families well. The most favorable solvent systems to perform the separations were identified, showing that systems with low and intermediate‐to‐low polarities are the most promising options for separating the selected monoterpenoids from their natural matrices by CCC/CPC techniques. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Neonatal birthweight prediction using two‐ and three‐dimensional estimated fetal weight among borderline small fetuses
Authors: LeMoine Felicia V. , Hill Hannah , Imbroane Marisa R. , Gautam Aishwarya A. , Van Dorn Chloe H. , Ranzini Angela C. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractPurposeThis study aimed (1) to determine the degree of correlation between 2D and 3D estimated fetal weight (EFW) and neonatal birth weight (BW) among borderline small fetuses and (2) to compare the accuracy and precision of 2D and 3D EFW in BW prediction.MethodsA retrospective cohort study evaluated fetuses who had an ultrasound performed between January 2017 and September 2021 at a tertiary maternal center. All singleton pregnancies with 3D EFW within 4 weeks of delivery were included. Fetuses with known structural or genetic abnormalities were excluded. Pearson's correlation coefficients were determined for both 2D and 3D EFW to BW then compared using Williams' test and Fisher r to z transformation, where applicable. Mean percent difference and standard deviation were used to assess the accuracy and precision, respectively, of 2D and 3D EFWs in BW prediction.ResultsTwo hundred forty‐eight pregnancies were included. Ultrasound studies were performed with a median interval of 2 weeks (IQR 1, 3) between ultrasound and delivery. Both 2D and 3D estimated fetal weights showed a significant correlation with birth weight (r = 0.74 and r = 0.73, respectively), indicating similar accuracy between the two techniques.ConclusionTwo‐dimensional and three‐dimensional EFWs performed similarly in the prediction of BW in borderline small fetuses.
Evaluating the potential effects of apigenin on memory, anxiety, and social interaction amelioration after social isolation stress
Authors: Mohammadkhanizadeh Ali , Hosseini Yasaman , Nikbakht Farnaz , Parvizi Mohammadreza , Khodabandehloo Fatemeh 
Published: October 2024

AbstractVigorous research confirmed the anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant, and antidementia effects of apigenin (Api). The present study evaluated the beneficial impacts of Api administration on behaviour, brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), Interleukin 6 (IL‐6), oxidative stress, and inflammation induced by social isolation (SI) stress in rats. For this purpose, rats underwent a 28‐day SI period followed by a 4‐week oral Api treatment (50 mg/kg/day, PO). On Day 56, behaviour tests were performed, including an elevated plus maze (EPM), Morris water maze (MWM), and three‐chamber social tests. The oxidative stress markers, IL‐6, and BDNF levels were measured in the hippocampus. Our results showed that SI stress caused an increase in anxiety and a decrease in spatial memory, sociability, and social preference index. In addition, SI stress increased hippocampal levels of IL‐6 and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, whereas it reduced the hippocampal BDNF level and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities. Our study indicated that Api attenuates anxiety and causes improvements in spatial memory and social interaction. These desirable effects of Api might be related to amelioration in the BDNF level, IL‐6, and oxidative stress biomarkers in the hippocampus.