bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A multicenter study of severity and prognosis of symptomatic COVID‐19 in end‐stage renal disease and non‐dialysis patients in East of Iran
Authors: Mohsenzadeh Tara , Ziaee Masood , Salehiniya Hamid , Mohsenzadeh Hossein , Mirsani Amin , Raeesi Vajehallah 
Published: March 2024

AbstractObjectivesThis study aimed to assess the severity and related factors of symptomatic COVID‐19 in end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) patients from several centers in Eastern Iran.MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, after obtaining ethical approval, 410 patients diagnosed with COVID‐19 were included for analysis. Patients were categorized into two groups based on their dialysis status: the dialysis group (ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis) and the non‐dialysis group (those without chronic dialysis). Demographic information, clinical symptoms, laboratory tests at admission, length of hospitalization, ICU admission, need for mechanical ventilation, and mortality data were extracted from their medical records and entered into researcher‐developed checklists.ResultsIn this multicenter study, 104 dialysis patients with a mean age of 64.81 ± 16.04 were compared to 316 non‐dialysis patients with a mean age of 60.92 ± 17.89. Patients were similar in terms of age and gender, but a higher percentage of the dialysis group was aged over 65 years (p = .008). Altered consciousness, dyspnea, headache, myalgia, anorexia, and cough were statistically significantly more common in the dialysis group when evaluating clinical symptoms (p < .05). The dialysis group had significantly higher levels of white blood cell (WBC), potassium, calcium, urea, creatinine, blood pH, INR, ALT, ESR, and CRP, and lower levels of red blood cell, Hb, platelets, sodium, and LDH compared to the non‐dialysis group. Profoundly altered consciousness was more common among deceased patients (p < .001), and this group had higher WBC counts, urea levels, AST, ALT (p < .05), and lower blood pH (p = .001).ConclusionBased on the results of this study, it is plausible to suggest a hypothesis of greater severity and worse prognosis of COVID‐19 in ESRD patients. Underlying comorbidities, such as liver disorders or more severe clinical symptoms like altered consciousness, may also be indicative of a worse prognosis in dialysis patients with COVID‐19.
Behavioral dynamics of neuroprotective macrophage polarization in neuropathic pain observed by GHz femtosecond laser two‐photon excitation microscopy
Authors: He Bin , Wang Wenlong , Wen Junpeng , Zhang Runsen , Lin Wei , Guo Yuankai , Xu Yue , Huser Thomas , Wei Xiaoming , Yang Zhongmin 
Published: March 2024

AbstractMacrophage polarization in neurotoxic (M1) or neuroprotective (M2) phenotypes is known to play a significant role in neuropathic pain, but its behavioral dynamics and underlying mechanism remain largely unknown. Two‐photon excitation microscopy (2PEM) is a promising functional imaging tool for investigating the mechanism of cellular behavior, as using near‐infrared excitation wavelengths is less subjected to light scattering. However, the higher‐order photobleaching effect in 2PEM can seriously hamper its applications to long‐term live‐cell studies. Here, we demonstrate a GHz femtosecond (fs) 2PEM that enables hours‐long live‐cell imaging of macrophage behavior with reduced higher‐order photobleaching effect—by leveraging the repetition rate of fs pulses according to the fluorescence lifetime of fluorophores. Using this new functional 2PEM platform, we measure the polarization characteristics of macrophages, especially the long‐term cellular behavior in efferocytosis, unveiling the dynamic mechanism of neuroprotective macrophage polarization in neuropathic pain. These efforts can create new opportunities for understanding long‐term cellular dynamic behavior in neuropathic pain, as well as other neurobiological problems, and thus dissecting the underlying complex pathogenesis.
Association between blood markers and the progression of osseointegration in percutaneous prostheses patients—A pilot study
Authors: Miller Andrew , Jeyapalina Sujee , Agarwal Jayant P. , Beck James Peter 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPatients implanted with osseointegrated (OI) prosthetic systems have reported vastly improved upper and lower extremity prosthetic function compared with their previous experience with socket‐suspension systems. However, OI systems have been associated with superficial and deep‐bone infections and implant loosening due, in part, to a failure of the osseointegration process. Although monitoring the osseointegration using circulating biomarkers has clinical relevance for understanding the progression of osseointegration with these devices, it has yet to be established. Ten patients were enrolled in this study. Blood samples were collected at pre‐selected times, starting before implantation surgery, and continuing to 12 months after the second surgery. Bone formation markers, bone resorption markers, and circulating amino acids were measured from blood samples. A linear mixed model was generated for each marker, incorporating patient ID and age with the normalized marker value as the response variable. Post hoc comparisons were made between 1 week before Stage 1 Surgery and all subsequent time points for each marker, followed by multiple testing corrections. Serial radiographic imaging of the residual limb containing the implant was obtained during follow‐up, and the cortical index (CI) was calculated for the bone at the porous region of the device. Two markers of bone formation, specifically bone‐specific alkaline phosphatase (Bone‐ALP) and amino‐terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP), exhibited significant increases when compared with the baseline levels of unloaded residual bone prior to the initial surgery, and they subsequently returned to their baseline levels by the 12‐month mark. Patients who experienced clinically robust osseointegration experienced increased cortical bone thickness at the porous coated region of the device. A medium correlation was observed between Bone‐ALP and the porous CI values up to PoS2‐M1 (p = .056), while no correlation was observed for PINP. An increase in bone formation markers and the lack of change observed in bone resorption markers likely reflect increased cortical bone formation induced by the end‐loading design of the Utah OI device used in this study. A more extensive study is required to validate the correlation observed between Bone‐ALP and porous CI values.
Evaluating novel biodegradable polymer matrix fertilizers for nitrogen‐efficient agriculture
Authors: Witt Torsten , Robinson Nicole , Palma Ana C. , Cernusak Lucas A. , Pratt Steven , Redding Matthew , Batstone Damien J. , Schmidt Susanne , Laycock Bronwyn 
Published: March 2024

AbstractEnhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs) can reduce nitrogen (N) losses in temperate agriculture but are less effective in the tropics. We aimed to design a new EEF and evaluate their performance in simple‐to‐complex tests with tropical soils and crops. We melt‐extruded urea at different loadings into biodegradable polymer matrix composites using biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) or polybutylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate (PBAT) polymers with urea distributed throughout the pellet. These contrast with commercially coated EEF that have a polymer‐coated urea core. We hypothesized that matrix fertilizers would have an intermediate N release rate compared to fast release from urea or slow release from coated EEF. Nitrogen release rates in water and sand–soil columns confirmed that the matrix fertilizer formulations had a more progressive N release than a coated EEF. A more complex picture emerged from testing sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] grown to maturity in large soil pots, as the different formulations resulted in minor differences in plant N accumulation and grain production. This confirms the need to consider soil interactions, microbial processes, crop physiology, and phenology for evaluating fertilizer performance. Promisingly, crop δ15N signatures emerged as an integrated measure of efficacy, tracking likely N conversions and losses. The three complementary evaluations combine the advantages of standardized high‐throughput screening and more resource‐intensive and realistic testing in a plant‐soil system. We conclude that melt‐blended biodegradable polymer matrix fertilizers show promise as EEF because they can be designed toward more abiotically or more microbially driven N release by selecting biopolymer type and N loading rate.
Prevalence of orthostatic intolerance in long covid clinic patients and healthy volunteers: A multicenter study
Authors: Lee Cassie , Greenwood Darren C. , Master Harsha , Balasundaram Kumaran , Williams Paul , Scott Janet T. , Wood Conor , Cooper Rowena , Darbyshire Julie L. , Gonzalez Ana Espinosa , Davies Helen E. , Osborne Thomas , Corrado Joanna , Iftekhar Nafi , Rogers Natalie , Delaney Brendan , Greenhalgh Trish , Sivan Manoj ,   the LOCOMOTION Consortium
Published: March 2024

AbstractOrthostatic intolerance (OI), including postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) and orthostatic hypotension (OH), are often reported in long covid, but published studies are small with inconsistent results. We sought to estimate the prevalence of objective OI in patients attending long covid clinics and healthy volunteers and associations with OI symptoms and comorbidities. Participants with a diagnosis of long covid were recruited from eight UK long covid clinics, and healthy volunteers from general population. All undertook standardized National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lean Test (NLT). Participants' history of typical OI symptoms (e.g., dizziness, palpitations) before and during the NLT were recorded. Two hundred seventy‐seven long covid patients and 50 frequency‐matched healthy volunteers were tested. Healthy volunteers had no history of OI symptoms or symptoms during NLT or PoTS, 10% had asymptomatic OH. One hundred thirty (47%) long covid patients had previous history of OI symptoms and 144 (52%) developed symptoms during the NLT. Forty‐one (15%) had an abnormal NLT, 20 (7%) met criteria for PoTS, and 21 (8%) had OH. Of patients with an abnormal NLT, 45% had no prior symptoms of OI. Relaxing the diagnostic thresholds for PoTS from two consecutive abnormal readings to one abnormal reading during the NLT, resulted in 11% of long covid participants (an additional 4%) meeting criteria for PoTS, but not in healthy volunteers. More than half of long covid patients experienced OI symptoms during NLT and more than one in 10 patients met the criteria for either PoTS or OH, half of whom did not report previous typical OI symptoms. We therefore recommend all patients attending long covid clinics are offered an NLT and appropriate management commenced.
An RGB‐Achromatic Aplanatic Metalens
Authors: Li Junhao , Liu Wenwei , Xu Haofei , Huang Zhaorui , Wang Jian , Wen Jing , Yang Jia , Guan Jianguo , Wang Shuming , Alù Andrea , Zhou Zhang‐Kai , Chen Shuqi , Chen Lin 
Published: March 2024

AbstractOptical metalenses offer a compact approach for the development of nanoscale optical devices with various imaging functionalities. Realizing high‐quality images using metalenses with large numerical aperture (NA) requires eliminating unwanted optical aberrations. Existing strategies have largely focused only on correcting chromatic aberrations, and a metalens capable of simultaneously correcting chromatic and spherical aberrations has not yet been developed. Here, this issue is addresed by realizing an aplanatic phase profile for a red–green–blue (RGB) achromatic metalens, thereby demonstrating an RGB‐achromatic aplanatic metalens. This device consists of crystalline silicon nanostructures and it enables RGB‐achromatic aplanatic focusing with an NA of 0.635. The focal length of metalens remains unchanged at the three RGB wavelengths, whereas the associated focal spots are significantly smaller than those of an RGB‐achromatic metalens with spherical aberrations. An enhanced RGB imaging resolution is demonstrated, offering exciting opportunities to power up various imaging and display applications using flat metalenses.
Mode‐Interference‐Induced Chiral Exceptional Points in Momentum Space
Authors: Zhao Xi , Li Zhancheng , Geng Guangzhou , Liu Wenwei , Cheng Jiaqi , Cheng Hua , Chen Shuqi 
Published: March 2024

AbstractNon‐Hermitian metasurfaces with chiral exceptional points (EPs) in their scattering matrices have garnered significant attention due to their potential for optical polarization manipulation and wavefront control. However, existing approaches predominantly operate under normal incidence conditions, limiting their application in the manipulation of chiral EPs in momentum space. Here, the wavelength‐fixed manipulation of the chiral EPs across a wide‐range momentum space using a polyatomic metasurface is realized, which is attributed to the effective modulation of the collective interference of guided‐mode resonances excited by oblique transverse magnetic (TM) and transverse electric (TE) illuminations. Further, both theoretical and experimental analyses are conducted to explore the potential applications of the proposed design in the wavevector‐ and spin‐selective manipulation of reflection intensity and optical encryption. This work provides a straightforward method to realize and manipulate chiral EPs in momentum space at a fixed operational wavelength, paving the way for designing polarization‐selective and wavevector‐selective devices.
Tailoring Sub‐Doppler Spectra of Thermal Atoms with a Dielectric Optical Metasurface Chip
Authors: Zhang Dengke , Qing Chen 
Published: March 2024

AbstractCompact and robust structures to precisely control and acquire atomic spectra are increasingly important for the pursuit of widespread applications. Sub‐Doppler responses of thermal atoms are critical in constructing high‐precision devices and systems. In this study, a nanograting metasurface specifically is designed for atomic rubidium vapor and integrated it into a miniature vapor cell. Using the metasurface with built‐in multifunctional controls for light, pump‐probe atomic spectroscopy is established and sub‐Doppler responses are experimentally observed at low incident power. Moreover, the sub‐Doppler lineshape can be tailored by varying the incident polarization state. The spectrum transformation from absorption to transparency is observed. Using one of the sharp responses, laser stabilization with a stability of at 2 s can be achieved. This work reveals the effective control of atomic spectra with optical metasurface chips, which may have great potential for future developments in fundamental optics and novel optical applications.
Commercial Grade of P(3HB‐co‐3HHX) Final Properties Adjustment by the Modification of Cooling Conditions in the Injection Molding and Ageing Process
Authors: Ivorra‐Martinez Juan , Gomez‐Caturla Jaume , Peydro Miguel Angel , Selles Miguel Angel , Boronat Teodomiro 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPoly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate) is a polymer obtained by bacterial fermentation that emerges as an alternative to polymers of petrochemical origin. The complex crystallization kinetics that occurs over 15 days after melting, known as ageing, limits its industrial application. During the aging process, there is a change of the degree of crystallinity, which has an effect on the chemical structure of the material. Additionally, changes in the mechanical properties, colorimetry, and dimensional shrinkage are observed. Different material properties are observed depending on the cooling conditions employed. For the ageing process, two different conditions are considered: ageing at room temperature and annealing at high temperature (60 °C).
Studying GPR's direct and reflected waves
Authors: Tokmaktsi Eleni , Diamanti Nectaria , Vargemezis Georgios , Giannopoulos Antonios , Annan A. Peter 
Published: March 2024

AbstractAs the transmitter and receiver (Tx and Rx, respectively) are located in close proximity during a typical ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) survey, the powerful signal generated by the Tx and which is then recorded by the Rx at various time delays, can be saturated at early times (i.e., this is the direct wave (DW) signal reaching the Rx). This often causes the masking of shallow targets, complicating data interpretation. In this study, our aim is to examine the spatial distribution of the electromagnetic signals around the Tx, attempting to locate areas where the DW becomes minimum, whereas the signal strength from subsurface targets (i.e., reflected wave – RW) remains ideally unchanged. The position of these local minima in the DW signal could give rise to advantageous Tx–Rx configurations, where clear reflections from subsurface targets lying at shallow depths can be obtained with the least possible involvement of the DW. To perform such a study, we carried out static field measurements over a flat lying reflector as well as numerical simulations in a reflection, common‐offset mode around a transmitting antenna. In the field, we also collected wide‐angle reflection–refraction data to determine the GPR wave velocity in the uppermost layer. GPR signals were recorded by the Rx around the Tx in three concentric circles of various radii (i.e., varying the Tx/Rx separation), using a specific angular step and varying the Tx/Rx polarization each time. The synthetic data were produced using a three‐dimensional finite‐difference time‐domain modelling tool. Field and numerically simulated data were analysed and compared to study the behaviour of both the DW and RW events around the Tx when changing the Tx/Rx distance, their respective angular position, as well as their relative polarization/orientation.
Leadership development in the Hong Kong Civil Service: Accessing social resources through guanxi networks
Authors: O’Neil Jennifer J. , McMillan Janice , Garavan Thomas 
Published: March 2024

AbstractDrawing onguanxiand conservation of resources theory we explore how close personal ties between middle managers who participated in leadership development, constitutes an important social resource in an East Asian public sector context. We contribute to studies exploring the importance ofinformalleadership development opportunities and techniques, specifically utilised to overcome public sector structural barriers. We gathered qualitative data from 44 middle managers who had completed formal leadership development within the Hong Kong Civil Service. Our data revealed that high quality Superior‐to‐Subordinate Guanxi helped study participants to gain access to important development resources including further developmental opportunities, stretch assignments, developmental support and feedback. High quality Peer‐to‐Peer Guanxi helped them to gain access to peer tacit knowledge, participation in collaborative development projects and positive peer developmental feedback. Our findings inform future leadership development design and are relevant to East Asian public sector context's where guanxi ties are significant.
Suicide among national university graduate students in Japan from 2002 to 2021
Authors: Marutani Toshiyuki , Yasumi Katsuhiro , Saito Kenji , Ibaraki Takehiro , Takayama Jun‐ya 
Published: March 2024

AbstractAimGraduate students are exposed to various types of stress. Thus, they are prone to mental health problems, and the most devastating result is suicide. The aim of this paper is to reveal the status of suicide among graduate students in Japan for 20 years.MethodsWe analyzed cumulative data on suicide among national university graduate students from annual surveys on causes of non‐graduation in Japan for the 2002–2003 through 2021–2022 academic years. We asked all national universities with graduate schools to complete the surveys, and the participation rate was 91.1%.ResultsThe total number of students in the surveys was 2,383,858, and the number of deaths by suicide was 347 (292 males, 55 females). Chi‐squared test results showed significantly higher suicide mortality rates for the following groups: male (p < 0.001), temporary leave (p < 0.001), repeating the same year (p = 0.006), master's level (p = 0.005), and majoring in engineering (p < 0.001). Psychiatric diagnoses were detected among 44 students (12.7%). The largest distribution (27 cases) of International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD‐10) codes among those whose diagnoses were evident was F3, mood disorders. Estimated motives for suicide were reported for only 36 students (10.4%), of which the most prevalent was job search failure. The most prevalent suicide method was hanging (151 cases, 43.5%).ConclusionOur findings indicate that student support facilities should recognize higher‐risk groups for suicide among graduate students. Our study adds suggestions for suicide prevention on campus during future pandemics.
Social media addiction mediates the relationship between basic psychological needs satisfaction and academic procrastination
Authors: Kurker Fatma , Surucu Abdullah 
Published: March 2024

AbstractAcademic procrastination is the failure to perform academic tasks on time or not doing at all. It can cause undesirable consequences for students' academic development and mental health. It has a complex structure that includes cognitive and emotional components in addition to its behavioral dimension. This study seeks to answer whether social media addiction mediates the relationship between satisfaction of basic psychological needs and academic procrastination. The participants were 647 university students (70.6% female and 29.4% male) representative of all the programs in the College of Education at a public university in Turkey. We used two analytic approaches to test the mediation effect (regression with bootstrap and structural equation modeling) and arrived the same conclusion. Results showed that social media addiction partially mediated the relationship between university students' basic psychological needs and academic procrastination. While greater satisfaction of basic psychological needs was directly related to a reduction in academic procrastination, indirectly, it was associated with a further decrease in academic procrastination through social media addiction. Thus, we suggest that preventive and curative psychological services should focus on enhancing the satisfaction of basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) to help mitigate the development of social media addiction, which further reduces academic procrastination.