bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mixed‐methods evaluation of a face‐to‐face educational intervention for health and social care professionals to deliver family‐centred cancer supportive care when a parent with dependent children is at end of life
Authors: Hanna Jeffrey R. , Semple Cherith J. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractObjectiveTo deliver and evaluate an educational intervention to equip health and social care professionals (professionals) on how best to support parents at end of life with cancer concerning their dependent children (<18).MethodsAn evidence‐based and theory‐driven face‐to‐face educational intervention was developed and evaluated using three levels of Kirkpatrick's Model of Evaluation. Pre‐test, post‐test surveys were completed immediately before‐and‐after the intervention using a validated self‐efficacy scale and single‐item questions evaluating perceived usefulness and relevance (levels one/two). Qualitative interviews ≥ 3‐months post‐intervention explored if, and how the intervention impacted professionals' practice (level three). Fourteen sessions were delivered at oncology settings to 347 professionals between 2021 and 2023. Two hundred seventy four professionals completed the pre‐test survey, with 239 completing the post‐test survey. Fourteen professionals were interviewed between three‐and 19‐months post‐intervention.ResultsQuantitative findings demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in self‐efficacy post‐educational intervention (p < 0.001). Qualitative data highlighted professionals gained new approaches to progress end of life conversations with parents, despite some familial resistance to sharing the reality of the situation with children. Positive intervention content shaping clinical practice included the bereaved parent's lived experience, communication framework and roleplay videos. Some professionals considered a booster session and opportunities to practice conversations necessary to further consolidate learning into practice.ConclusionsEvidence and theory‐driven education can positively impact professionals' provision of family‐centred cancer care. Future studies should explore the impact of this educational intervention on familial outcomes. Alongside a sustainable delivery of this intervention, advanced communication skills programmes should incorporate parent‐child end of life conversations.
Air pollution exposure during pregnancy and lung function in childhood: The LUIS study
Authors: Usemann Jakob , Mozun Rebeca , Kuehni Claudia E. , de Hoogh Kees , Flueckiger Benjamin , Singer Florian , Zwahlen Marcel , Moeller Alexander , Latzin Philipp ,   LUIS Study Group
Published: July 2024

AbstractBackgroundThe adverse effects of high air pollution levels on childhood lung function are well‐known. Limited evidence exists on the effects of moderate exposure levels during early life on childhood lung function. We investigated the association of exposure to moderate air pollution during pregnancy, infancy, and preschool time with lung function at school age in a Swiss population‐based study.MethodsFine‐scale spatiotemporal model estimates of particulate matter with a diameter <2.5 µm (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were linked with residential address histories. We compared air pollution exposures within different time windows (whole pregnancy, first, second, and third trimester of pregnancy, first year of life, preschool age) with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) measured cross‐sectionally using linear regression models adjusted for potential confounders.ResultsWe included 2182 children, ages 6−17 years. Prenatal air pollution exposure was associated with reduced lung function at school age. In children aged 12 years, per 10 µg·m−3 increase in PM2.5 during pregnancy, FEV1 was 55 mL lower (95% CI −84 to −25 mL) and FVC 62 mL lower (95% CI −96 to −28 mL). Associations were age‐dependent since they were stronger in younger and weaker in older children. PM2.5 exposure after birth was not associated with reduced lung function. There was no association between NO2 exposure and lung function.ConclusionIn utero lung development is most sensitive to air pollution exposure, since even modest PM2.5 exposure during the prenatal time was associated with reduced lung function, most prominent in younger children.
Unveiling winter survival strategies: physiological and metabolic responses to cold stress of Monochamus saltuarius larvae during overwintering
Authors: Shi Fengming , Xing Yu , Niu Yiming , Cheng Ling , Xu Yabei , Li Xinyu , Ren Lili , Zong Shixiang , Tao Jing 
Published: July 2024

AbstractBACKGROUNDMonochamus saltuarius is a destructive trunk‐borer of pine forest and an effective dispersal vector for pinewood nematode (PWN), a causative agent of pine wilt disease (PWD), which leads to major ecological disasters. Cold winter temperatures determine insect survival and distribution. However, little is known about the cold tolerance and potential physiological mechanisms of M. saltuarius.RESULTSWe demonstrated that dead Pinus koraiensis trunks do not provide larvae with insulation. The M. saltuarius larvae are freeze‐tolerant species. Unlike most other freeze‐tolerant insects, they can actively freeze extracellular fluid at higher subzero temperatures by increasing their supercooling points. The main energy sources for larvae overwintering are glycogen and the mid‐late switch to lipid. The water balance showed a decrease in free and an increase in bound water of small magnitude. Cold stress promoted lipid peroxidation, thus activating the antioxidant system to prevent cold‐induced oxidative damage. We found eight main pathways linked to cold stress and 39 important metabolites, ten of which are cryoprotectants, including maltose, UDP‐glucose, d‐fructose 6P, galactinol, dulcitol, inositol, sorbitol, l‐methionine, sarcosine, and d‐proline. The M. saltuarius larvae engage in a dual respiration process involving both anaerobic and aerobic pathways when their bodily fluids freeze. Cysteine and methionine metabolism, as well as alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism, are the most important pathways linked to antioxidation and energy production.CONCLUSIONSThe implications of our findings may help strengthen and supplement the management strategies for monitoring, quarantine, and control of this pest, thereby contributing to controlling the further spread of PWD. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Potency Assay Variability Estimation in Practice
Authors: Li Hang , Witkos Tomasz M. , Umlauf Scott , Thompson Christopher 
Published: July 2024

AbstractDuring the drug development process, testing potency plays an important role in the quality assessment required for the manufacturing and marketing of biologics. Due to multiple operational and biological factors, higher variability is usually observed in bioassays compared with physicochemical methods. In this paper, we discuss different sources of bioassay variability and how this variability can be statistically estimated. In addition, we propose an algorithm to estimate the variability of reportable results associated with different numbers of runs and their corresponding OOS rates under a given specification. Numerical experiments are conducted on multiple assay formats to elucidate the empirical distribution of bioassay variability.
Developmental perturbation in human embryos: Clinical and biological significance learned from time‐lapse images
Authors: Ezoe Kenji , Takahashi Tsubasa , Miki Tetsuya , Kato Keiichi 
Published: July 2024

AbstractBackgroundTime‐lapse technology (TLT) has gained widespread adoption worldwide. In addition to facilitating the undisturbed culture of embryos, TLT offers the unique capability of continuously monitoring embryos to detect spatiotemporal changes. Although these observed phenomena play a role in optimal embryo selection/deselection, the clinical advantages of introducing TLT remain unclear. However, manual annotation of embryo perturbation could facilitate a comprehensive assessment of developmental competence. This process requires a thorough understanding of embryo observation and the biological significance associated with developmental dogma and variation. This review elucidates the typical behavior and variation of each phenomenon, exploring their clinical significance and research perspectives.MethodsThe MEDLINE database was searched using PubMed for peer‐reviewed English‐language original articles concerning human embryo development.Main findingsTLT allows the observation of consecutive changes in embryo morphology, serving as potential biomarkers for embryo assessment. In assisted reproductive technology laboratories, several phenomena have not revealed their mechanism, posing difficulties such as fertilization deficiency and morula arrest.ConclusionA profound understanding of the biological mechanisms and significance of each phenomenon is crucial. Further collaborative efforts between the clinical and molecular fields following translational studies are required to advance embryonic outcomes and assessment.
Very severe oligozoospermia with AZFc microdeletion patients may affect intracytoplasmic sperm injection clinical outcomes: A propensity score matching analysis
Authors: Zhang Huan , Li Huanzhu , Ma Shujuan , Zhang Shuoping , Li Wen , Gu Yifan , Zhang Erchen , Hu Liang 
Published: July 2024

AbstractPurposeTo explore whether spermatozoa from AZFc microdeletion patients affect their outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).MethodsEighty‐five patients with AZFc microdeletion were recruited. A control group of one hundred and forty patients with severe oligozoospermia but without AZF microdeletion was selected using propensity score matching analysis with a 1:2 nearest neighbor algorithm ratio. The ICSI outcomes of the two groups were compared.ResultsAZFc microdeletion had lower rates of normal fertilization (73% vs. 80%, p = 0.17) and high‐quality embryos (44% vs. 58%, p = 0.07) than the control group. There was no significant difference in the clinical pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate, and live birth rate between the two groups. When the sperm concentration was <1 million/mL, the AZFc microdeletion group exhibited lower rates of fertilization (71% vs. 80%, p = 0.03), high‐quality embryo (44% vs. 58%, p = 0.02), clinical pregnancy (57% vs. 76%, p = 0.02), and live birth (49% vs. 72%, p = 0.01) than the control group. However, if sperm concentration was ≥1 million/mL, no significant differences were found.ConclusionIf the sperm concentration is <1 million/mL, AZFc microdeletion do have a detrimental effect on most outcomes of ICSI.
Liquid–Liquid Phase Separation Mediated Formation of Chiral 2D Crystalline Nanosheets of a Co‐Assembled System
Authors: Elizebath Drishya , Vedhanarayanan Balaraman , Raj Aparna , Sudarsanakumar C. , Lin Tsung‐Wu , Praveen Vakayil K. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe role of macromolecule‐macromolecule and macromolecule–H2O interactions and the resulting perturbation of the H‐bonded network of H2O in the liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) process of biopolymers are well‐known. However, the potential of the hydrated state of supramolecular structures (non‐covalent analogs of macromolecules) of synthetic molecules is not widely recognized for playing a similar role in the LLPS process. Herein, LLPS occurred during the co‐assembly of hydrated supramolecular vesicles (bolaamphiphile, BA1) with a net positive charge (zeta potential, ζ = +60 ± 2 mV) and a dianionic chiral molecule (disodium l‐[+]‐tartrate) is reported. As inferred from cryo‐transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the LLPS‐formed droplets serve as the nucleation precursors, dictating the structure and properties of the co‐assembly. The co‐assembled structure formed by LLPS effectively integrates the counter anion's asymmetry, resulting in the formation of ultrathin free‐standing, chiral 2D crystalline sheets. The significance of the hydrated state of supramolecular structures in influencing LLPS is unraveled through studies extended to a less hydrated supramolecular structure of a comparable system (BA2). The role of LLPS in modulating the hydrophobic interaction in water paves the way for the creation of advanced functional materials in an aqueous environment.
High‐Entropy Metal Nitride Embedded in Concave Porous Carbon Enabling Polysulfide Conversion in Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Wang Ruirui , Jiao Jihuang , Liu Da , He Yufei , Yang Yaxiong , Sun Dalin , Pan Honge , Fang Fang , Wu Renbing 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe practical implementation of lithium–sulfur batteries is severely hindered by the rapid capacity fading due to the solubility of the intermediate lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) and the sluggish redox kinetics. Herein, high‐entropy metal nitride nanocrystals (HEMN) embedded within nitrogen‐doped concave porous carbon (N‐CPC) polyhedra are rationally designed as a sulfur host via a facile zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF)‐driven adsorption‐nitridation process toward this challenge. The configuration of high‐entropy with incorporated metal manganese (Mn) and chromium (Cr) will optimize the d‐band center of active sites with more electrons occupied in antibonding orbitals, thus promoting the adsorption and catalytic conversion of LiPSs. While the concave porous carbon not only accommodates the volume change upon the cycling processes but also physically confines and exposes active sites for accelerated sulfur redox reactions. As a result, the resultant HEMN/N‐CPC composites‐based sulfur cathode can deliver a high specific capacity of 1274 mAh g−1 at 0.2 C and a low capacity decay rate of 0.044% after 1000 cycles at 1 C. Moreover, upon sulfur loading of 5.0 mg cm−2, the areal capacity of 5.0 mAh cm−2 can still be achieved. The present work may provide a new avenue for the design of high‐performance cathodes in Li–S batteries.
Dementia severity at incident diagnosis in a population representative sample of older Americans
Authors: Xu Shengjia , Fouladi‐Nashta Niloofar , Chen Yi , Zissimopoulos Julie 
Published: July 2024

AbstractINTRODUCTIONWe provide the first analysis of distribution of dementia severity at incident diagnosis for a population representative sample of older Americans.METHODSUsing data from the Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study (ADAMS), the Health Retirement Study (HRS), and traditional Medicare claims, we estimated the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale for ADAMS respondents and applied parameter estimates to predict dementia severity for HRS respondents with claims‐based incident dementia diagnosis.RESULTSSeventy percent of older adults received a dementia diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia (early stages). Fewer individuals were diagnosed at early stages in years 2000 to 2008 (65%) compared to years 2009 to 2016 (76%). About 72% of non‐Hispanic white persons were diagnosed at early stages, compared to 63% non‐Hispanic black and 59% Hispanic persons. More males than females were diagnosed at early stages (75% vs 67%).DISCUSSIONThese data linkages allow population surveillance of early and equitable dementia detection in the older US population to assess clinical and policy levers to improve detection.Highlights
For the US population 70 and older, 30% were diagnosed with dementia at a moderate or severe stage.
Fewer were diagnosed at early stages in years 2000 to 2008 compared to 2009 to 2016 (65% vs 76%).
A total of 72% of white persons were diagnosed at early stages, compared to 63% black and 59% Hispanic persons.
More males than females were diagnosed at early stages (75% vs 67%).
High wealth and education level were associated with diagnosis at early stages disease.
A Guide to Feature Importance Methods for Scientific Inference
Authors: Ewald Fiona Katharina , Bothmann Ludwig , Wright Marvin N. , Bischl Bernd , Casalicchio Giuseppe , König Gunnar 
Published: July 2024

AbstractWhile machine learning (ML) models are increasingly used due to their high predictive power, their use in understanding the data-generating process (DGP) is limited. Understanding the DGP requires insights into feature-target associations, which many ML models cannot directly provide due to their opaque internal mechanisms. Feature importance (FI) methods provide useful insights into the DGP under certain conditions. Since the results of different FI methods have different interpretations, selecting the correct FI method for a concrete use case is crucial and still requires expert knowledge. This paper serves as a comprehensive guide to help understand the different interpretations of global FI methods. Through an extensive review of FI methods and providing new proofs regarding their interpretation, we facilitate a thorough understanding of these methods and formulate concrete recommendations for scientific inference. We conclude by discussing options for FI uncertainty estimation and point to directions for future research aiming at full statistical inference from black-box ML models.
CountARFactuals – Generating Plausible Model-Agnostic Counterfactual Explanations with Adversarial Random Forests
Authors: Dandl Susanne , Blesch Kristin , Freiesleben Timo , König Gunnar , Kapar Jan , Bischl Bernd , Wright Marvin N. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractCounterfactual explanations elucidate algorithmic decisions by pointing to scenarios that would have led to an alternative, desired outcome. Giving insight into the model’s behavior, they hint users towards possible actions and give grounds for contesting decisions. As a crucial factor in achieving these goals, counterfactuals must be plausible, i.e., describing realistic alternative scenarios within the data manifold. This paper leverages a recently developed generative modeling technique – adversarial random forests (ARFs) – to efficiently generate plausible counterfactuals in a model-agnostic way. ARFs can serve as a plausibility measure or directly generate counterfactual explanations. Our ARF-based approach surpasses the limitations of existing methods that aim to generate plausible counterfactual explanations: It is easy to train and computationally highly efficient, handles continuous and categorical data naturally, and allows integrating additional desiderata such as sparsity in a straightforward manner.
D-terms in generalised complex geometry
Authors: Menet Vincent 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Generalised Complex Geometry provides a natural interpretation of the $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 1 supersymmetry conditions for warped solutions of type II supergravity as differential equations on polyforms on the internal manifold. Written in this language the supersymmetry conditions correspond to calibration conditions for probe D-branes: D-string, domain-wall or space-filling branes, depending on the directions they span in the non-compact four-dimensional space. The BPS condition corresponding to the calibration of space-filling D-branes has been reformulated by Tomasiello, eliminating the explicit dependence on the metric. We generalise this derivation to the case of non-supersymmetric backgrounds violating the domain-wall and D-string calibration conditions. We use this reformulation to derive constraints that the ten-dimensional solutions with BPS space-filling sources must respect in order to dimensionally reduce to solutions of four-dimensional $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 1 supergravity with non-vanishing F-terms and potentially non-vanishing D-terms. We give the equations of motion for the class of type II vacua satisfying these constraints in the language of pure spinors. We investigate how restrictive these constraints are for the class of type IIB SU(3) backgrounds with BPS space-filling O5-planes.
$$\varvec{S}$$-preclones and the Galois connection $$\varvec{{}^{S}{}\textrm{Pol}}$$–$$\varvec{{}^{S}{}\textrm{Inv}}$$, Part I
Authors: Jipsen Peter , Lehtonen Erkko , Pöschel Reinhard 
Published: July 2024

AbstractWe consider S-operations$$f :A^{n} \rightarrow A$$

f
:

A
n

→
A

in which each argument is assigned a signum$$s \in S$$

s
∈
S

representing a “property” such as being order-preserving or order-reversing with respect to a fixed partial order on A. The set S of such properties is assumed to have a monoid structure reflecting the behaviour of these properties under the composition of S-operations (e.g., order-reversing composed with order-reversing is order-preserving). The collection of all S-operations with prescribed properties for their signed arguments is not a clone (since it is not closed under arbitrary identification of arguments), but it is a preclone with special properties, which leads to the notion of S-preclone. We introduce S-relations$$\varrho = (\varrho _{s})_{s \in S}$$

ϱ
=

(

ϱ
s

)

s
∈
S

, S-relational clones, and a preservation property ("Equation missing"), and we consider the induced Galois connection $${}^{S}{}\textrm{Pol}$$

S

Pol

–$${}^{S}{}\textrm{Inv}$$

S

Inv

. The S-preclones and S-relational clones turn out to be exactly the closed sets of this Galois connection. We also establish some basic facts about the structure of the lattice of all S-preclones on A.
The Toxoplasma secreted effector TgWIP modulates dendritic cell motility by activating host tyrosine phosphatases Shp1 and Shp2
Authors: Morales Pavel , Brown Abbigale J. , Sangaré Lamba Omar , Yang Sheng , Kuihon Simon V.N.P. , Chen Baoyu , Saeij Jeroen P.J. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii causes life-threatening toxoplasmosis to immunocompromised individuals. The pathogenesis of Toxoplasma relies on its swift dissemination to the central nervous system through a ‘Trojan Horse’ mechanism using infected leukocytes as carriers. Previous work found TgWIP, a protein secreted from Toxoplasma, played a role in altering the actin cytoskeleton and promoting cell migration in infected dendritic cells (DCs). However, the mechanism behind these changes was unknown. Here, we report that TgWIP harbors two SH2-binding motifs that interact with tyrosine phosphatases Shp1 and Shp2, leading to phosphatase activation. DCs infected with Toxoplasma exhibited hypermigration, accompanying enhanced F-actin stress fibers and increased membrane protrusions such as filopodia and pseudopodia. By contrast, these phenotypes were abrogated in DCs infected with Toxoplasma expressing a mutant TgWIP lacking the SH2-binding motifs. We further demonstrated that the Rho-associated kinase (Rock) is involved in the induction of these phenotypes, in a TgWIP-Shp1/2 dependent manner. Collectively, the data uncover a molecular mechanism by which TgWIP modulates the migration dynamics of infected DCs in vitro.