bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The influence of board interlocks and sustainability experience on transparent sustainability disclosure
Authors: Lu Jing , Yu Dongning , Mahmoudian Fereshteh , Nazari Jamal A. , Herremans Irene M. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractWe investigate board interlocks and their relationship to the transparency of sustainability disclosure, drawing on the theoretical perspectives of resource dependence theory and agency theory. We ascertain that board members who gain sustainability experience by serving on another board will influence the transparency of sustainability disclosure for the focal firm. The study analyzes data from S&P 1500 firms in the U.S. from 2009 to 2018, using ordinary least squares regressions. Our findings demonstrate that the focal firms' sustainability disclosure will be more transparent if their boards have interlocking directors with experience gained from other boards in current or prior years. Furthermore, we find that the sustainability experience of interlocked firms interacts with both gender diversity and board independence, leading to an enhancement in the transparency of sustainability disclosure. In addition, we conduct robustness tests such as performing propensity score matching, controlling for firm fixed effects, and applying entropy matching. These additional tests provide consistent results to confirm and strengthen our findings.
Fostering computer programming and digital skills development: An experimental approach
Authors: Omeh Christian B. , Olelewe Chijioke J. , Nwangwu Emmanuel C. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractAvailable records of computer programming results from the universities in southeast Nigeria for the period under review (2016–2020) show that 70% of the students marginally passed the course. This, therefore, raises a concern to re‐examine the instructional strategy used in the teaching and learning process, hence the adoption of innovative pedagogy that involved the use of digital tools like Google Classroom and Google Meet in their instructional delivery process of a computer programming course. This study adopted quasi‐experimental research design involving intact classes with a nonequivalent group. Total population sampling technique was used to select all the 152 second‐year computer education students made up of 60 males and 92 females drawn from the three private universities in Southeast Nigeria that offer computer programming. Data was collected using computer achievement test, digital skill development scale and engagement level scale. The findings of the study showed that students' academic achievement and level of engagement increased significantly in a computer programming course. Also, digital skills development and self‐efficacy in the experimental group were higher than in the control group. Implementing innovative teaching strategies helped to facilitate the timely development of digital skills required by students to attain sufficient learner engagement in the learning process. It was recommended that computer educators should be encouraged to adopt innovative teaching techniques that blend with Classroom, Google Meet and MS Teams, among others to influence students' active engagement in the learning process.
“Delaying Rot Emergence in Persian Lime (Citrus×latifolia) Through Antifungal Hybrid Films Containing Litsea glaucescens Essential Oil”
Authors: Villa‐Ruano Nemesio , Evangelista‐Castro Juan Daniel , Coyotl‐Pérez Wendy Abril , Pacheco‐Hernández Yesenia , Lozoya‐Gloria Edmundo , Varela‐Caselis Jenaro Leocadio , Mosso‐González Clemente , Ramírez‐García Sergio A. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractHerein we describe the in situ inhibitory activity of three hybrid films (FL1, FL2, and FL3) against two wild strains of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Penicillium digitatum as causal agents of rot in Persian limes. The films FL2 and FL3 contained 1.0 and 1.3 % weight/volume Litsea glaucescens essential oil (LgEO) and significantly (p<0.05) delayed rot emergence in Persian limes caused by both pathogens up to 10 days. The physicochemical properties of LgEO and hybrid films were obtained, whereas detailed HPLC profiling revealed that fruit covered with these films significantly (p<0.01) preserved reducing sugars (sucrose, fructose, and glucose), organic acids (citric acid, ascorbic acid, malic acid, and oxalic acid), and flavonoids with nutraceutical activity (hesperidin, eriocitrin, naruritin, neohesperidin, diosmin, vitexin, rutin, and quercetin). This evidence sustains that the composites generated in this investigation improve the shelf life of Persian limes and conserve their nutraceutical content.
Two Omics Methods Expose Anti‐Depression Mechanism of Raw and Vinegar‐Baked Bupleurum Scorzonerifolium Willd
Authors: Qu Zhongyuan , Zheng Yan , Wu Shuang , Bing Yifan , Sun Zhiwei , Zhu Shiru , Li Wenlan , Zou Xiang 
Published: January 2024

AbstractBupleurum scorzonerifolium willd. (BS) and its vinegar‐baked product (VBS) has been frequently utilized for depression management in clinical Chinese medicine. This paper aims to elucidate the antidepressant mechanism of BS and VBS from the perspectives of metabonomics and gut microbiota. A rat model of depression was established by CUMS combined with feeding alone to evaluate the antidepressant effects of BS and VBS. UPLC‐Q‐TOF‐MS/MS‐based metabolomics and 16S rRNA sequencing of rat feces were applied and the correlation of differential metabolic markers and intestinal floras was analyzed. The result revealed that BS and VBS significantly improved depression‐like behaviors and the levels of monoamine neurotransmitters in CUMS rats. There were 27 differential endogenous metabolites between CUMS and normal rats, which were involved in 8 metabolic pathways. Whereas, BS and VBS could regulate 18 and 20 metabolites respectively, wherein fifteen of them were shared metabolites. On the genus level, BS and VBS could regulate twenty‐five kinds of intestinal floras in CUMS rats, that is, they increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria and decreased the abundance of harmful bacteria. In conclusion, both BS and VBS exert excellent antidepressant effects by regulating various metabolic pathways and ameliorating intestinal microflora dysfunction.
Flowmicro In‐Line Analysis‐Driven Design of Reactions Mediated by Unstable Intermediates: Flash Monitoring Approach
Authors: Ashikari Yosuke , Yoshioka Rikako , Yonekura Yuya , Yoo Dong‐eun , Okamoto Kazuhiro , Nagaki Aiichiro 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe direct observation of reactive intermediates is an important issue for organic synthesis. However, intermediates with an extreme instability are hard to be monitored by common spectroscopic methods such as FTIR. We have developed synthetic method utilizing flow microreactors, which enables a generation and reactions of unstable intermediates. Herein we report that, based on our flowmicro techniques, we developed an in‐line analysis method for reactive intermediates in increments of milliseconds. We demonstrated the direct observation of the living and dead species of the anionic polymerization of alkyl methacrylates. The direct information of the living species enabled the anionic polymerization and copolymerization of oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylates, which is the important but difficult reaction in the conventional method.
Is Simultaneous Binding to DNA and Gyrase Important for the Antibacterial Activity of Cystobactamids?
Authors: Solga Danny , Wieske Lianne H. E. , Wilcox Scott , Zeilinger Carsten , Jansen‐Olliges Linda , Cirnski Katarina , Herrmann Jennifer , Müller Rolf , Erdelyi Mate , Kirschning Andreas 
Published: January 2024

AbstractCystobactamids are aromatic oligoamides that exert their natural antibacterial properties by inhibition of bacterial gyrases. Such aromatic oligoamides were proposed to inhibit α‐helix‐mediated protein‐protein interactions and may serve for specific recognition of DNA. Based on this suggestion, we designed new derivatives that have duplicated cystobactamid triarene units as model systems to decipher the specific binding mode of cystobactamids to double stranded DNA. Solution NMR analyses revealed that natural cystobactamids as well as their elongated analogues show an overall bent shape at their central aliphatic unit, with an average CX‐CY‐CZ angle of ~110 degrees. Our finding is corroborated by the target‐bound structure of close analogues, as established by cryo‐EM very recently. Cystobactamid CN‐861‐2 binds directly to the bacterial gyrase with an affinity of 9 μM, and also exhibits DNA‐binding properties with specificity for AT‐rich DNA. Elongation/dimerization of the triarene subunit of native cystobactamids is demonstrated to lead to an increase in DNA binding affinity. This implies that cystobactamids’ gyrase inhibitory activity necessitates not just interaction with the gyrase itself, but also with DNA via their triarene unit.
Enhancing the Catalytic Efficiency of D‐lactonohydrolase through the Synergy of Tunnel Engineering, Evolutionary Analysis, and Force‐Field Calculations
Authors: Sun Ruobin , Zheng Pu , Chen Pengcheng , Wu Dan , Zheng Jiangmei , Liu Xueyu , Hu Yunxiang 
Published: January 2024

AbstractComputational design advances enzyme evolution and their use in biocatalysis in a faster and more efficient manner. In this study, a synergistic approach integrating tunnel engineering, evolutionary analysis, and force‐field calculations has been employed to enhance the catalytic activity of D‐lactonohydrolase (D‐Lac), which is a pivotal enzyme involved in the resolution of racemic pantolactone during the production of vitamin B5. The best mutant, N96S/A271E/F274Y/F308G (M3), was obtained and its catalytic efficiency (kcat/KM) was nearly 23‐fold higher than that of the wild‐type. The M3 whole‐cell converted 20 % of DL‐pantolactone into D‐pantoic acid (D‐PA, >99 % e.e.) with a conversion rate of 47 % and space‐time yield of 107.1 g L−1 h−1, demonstrating its great potential for industrial‐scale D‐pantothenic acid production. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations revealed that the reduction in the steric hindrance within the substrate tunnel and conformational reconstruction of the distal loop resulted in a more favourable“catalytic” conformation, making it easier for the substrate and enzyme to enter their pre‐reaction state. This study illustrates the potential of the distal residue on the pivotal loop at the entrance of the D‐Lac substrate tunnel as a novel modification hotspot capable of reshaping energy patterns and consequently influencing the enzymatic activity.
Novel quantitative immunohistochemistry method using histone H3, family 3B as the internal reference standard for measuring human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 expression in breast cancer
Authors: Wang Jie , Xia Ye‐Chen , Tian Bao‐Xing , Li Ju‐Tang , Li Heng‐Yu , Dong Hui , Li Xiao‐Guang , Yu Hua , Zhu Yu‐Yao , Ma Jun , Jiang Ying‐Jie , Jin Guang‐Zhi 
Published: January 2024

AbstractBackgroundImmunohistochemistry (IHC) is an essential technique in surgical and clinical pathology for detecting diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers for personalized cancer therapy. However, the lack of standardization and reference controls results in poor reproducibility, and a reliable tool for IHC quantification is urgently required. The objective of this study was to describe a novel approach in which H3F3B (histone H3, family 3B) can be used as an internal reference standard to quantify protein expression levels using IHC.MethodsThe authors enrolled 89 patients who had human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)‐positive breast cancer (BC). They used a novel IHC‐based assay to measure protein expression using H3F3B as the internal reference standard. H3F3B was uniformly expressed at the protein level in all tumor regions in cancer tissues. HER2 expression levels were measured with the H‐score using HALO software.ResultsKaplan–Meier analysis indicated that, among patients who had HER2‐positive BC in The Cancer Genome Atlas data set and the authors' data set, the subgroup with low HER2 expression had a significantly better prognosis than the subgroup with high HER2 expression. Furthermore, the authors observed that HER2 expression levels were precisely evaluated using the proposed method, which can classify patients who are at higher risk of HER2‐positive BC to receive trastuzumab‐based adjuvant therapy. Dual‐color IHC with H3F3B is an excellent tool for internal and external quality control of HER2 expression assays.ConclusionsThe proposed IHC‐based quantification method accurately assesses HER2 expression levels and provides insights for predicting clinical prognosis in patients with HER2‐positive BC who receive trastuzumab‐based adjuvant therapy.
Determination of Optimal Phage Load and Administration Time for Antibacterial Treatment
Authors: Plunder Steffen , Burkard Markus , Helling Thomas , Lauer Ulrich M. , Hoelzle Ludwig E. , Marongiu Luigi 
Published: January 2024

AbstractUsing phages as antibacterials is becoming a customary practice in Western countries. Nonetheless, successful treatments must consider the growth rate of the bacterial host and the degradation of the virions. Therefore, successful treatments require administering the right amount of phage (viral load, Vφ) at the right moment (administration time, Tφ). The present protocols implement a machine learning approach to determine the best combination of Vφ and Tφ to obtain the elimination of the target bacterium from a system. © 2024 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.Basic Protocol 1: One bacterium, one phageAlternate Protocol 1: One bacterium, one phage (wrapping function)Alternate Protocol 2: One bacterium, one phage (wrapping function, alternative growing model)Basic Protocol 2: Two bacteria, one phageAlternate Protocol 3: Two bacteria, one phage (launch from terminal)
Design and practical implementation of non‐fragile controller for non‐isolated on‐board battery charger for electric vehicle
Authors: Kumar Bonela Anil , Sarkar Mrinal Kanti , Kumar Kundan 
Published: January 2024

SummaryThis paper proposes a non‐fragile control approach for a non‐isolated two‐switch buck‐boost converter used as an on‐board charger for electric vehicles. The control scheme is based on a cascaded two‐loop configuration with non‐fragile Proportional Integral controllers in the inner current and the outer voltage loop. The control approach is based on designing a control law that can stabilize the closed‐loop system subject to uncertainties in the controller parameters while satisfying the H∞ norm bound constraint on disturbance attenuation. The proposed control technique helps to deal with inevitable uncertainties during the implementation of any control scheme. The proposed control technique is compared with the conventional approach and validated through experimental results. The experimental results are obtained from a 1‐kW laboratory prototype of a TSBB converter with an output voltage range of 150–400 V. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach effectively achieves good robustness against controller parameter variations and disturbances under various operating conditions.
On‐board charger applications: A new hybrid control strategy for bidirectional CLLC resonant converter
Authors: Shi Zhe , Tang Yu , Davari Pooya 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThis paper proposes a new hybrid control strategy to solve the problem of bidirectional wide voltage range regulation in CLLC converters. On the (LLC) side (G2V direction), the SSSA control method is employed for voltage boost, combined with bus voltage and burst control to achieve wide voltage regulation. On the (C) side (V2G direction), the SSSA and full/half‐bridge mode switching control are used to achieve V2G direction wide voltage regulation. This hybrid control strategy also enables high conversion efficiency in both directions without the need for additional components to reduce the converter power density. This is particularly suitable for OBC applications with strict requirements for converter volume and weight. A detailed analysis with mathematical derivation, hybrid control strategy, and converter operation principles is introduced in this paper. The following subchapters supplement the converter voltage gain, soft switching implementation conditions, and design considerations. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed control strategy was verified through an experimental prototype with an input voltage ranging from 340 to 430 V to an output voltage ranging from 225 to 450 V and bidirectional rated power of 6.6/3.3 kW. This prototype achieved a maximum conversion efficiency of 97.7% in the G2V direction and 97.1% in the V2G direction.
Biomechanics in anthropology
Authors: Berthaume Michael , Elton Sarah 
Published: January 2024

AbstractBiomechanics is the set of tools that explain organismal movement and mechanical behavior and links the organism to the physicality of the world. As such, biomechanics can relate behaviors and culture to the physicality of the organism. Scale is critical to biomechanical analyses, as the constitutive equations that matter differ depending on the scale of the question. Within anthropology, biomechanics has had a wide range of applications, from understanding how we and other primates evolved to understanding the effects of technologies, such as the atlatl, and the relationship between identity, society, culture, and medical interventions, such as prosthetics. Like any other model, there is great utility in biomechanical models, but models should be used primarily for hypothesis testing and not data generation except in the rare case where models can be robustly validated. The application of biomechanics within anthropology has been extensive, and holds great potential for the future.
Self‐ignition of forest soil samples demonstrated through hot storage tests
Authors: Piechnik Kira , Hofmann Anja , Klippel Andrea 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe increasing threat of forest fires on a global scale is not only a matter of concern due to the potential harm they may cause to both human and animal life but also due to their significant role in exacerbating climate change. In light of these circumstances, one might inquire as to whether forest soil can self‐ignite and, if so, under what conditions and at what temperatures this phenomenon may occur. This question is being addressed in the German pilot “Fire science of wildfires and safety measures” of the EU project TREEADS, and the first results are presented below. The importance of basic research into the self‐ignition of forest soil cannot be underestimated, as it provides crucial knowledge to prevent forest fires and protect human and animal health. Furthermore, mitigating the occurrence of forest fires can also play a role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to global efforts to combat climate change. The procedure of the hot storage test is an effective means of determining whether a material can self‐ignite. During the investigation of six soil samples, it was found that five of them were indeed capable of self‐ignition. In addition to determining whether the material ignites, the modified hot storage test also analyzed the resulting smoke gases and measured their concentration. The research question of whether regional forest soil is capable of self‐ignition can be answered with yes based on these initial tests. Further experiments are needed to determine if self‐ignition causes forest fires.
The risk of developing dementia in the COVID‐19 pandemic; a cohort study
Authors: Baron Daniel Hendrik , Coulthard Elizabeth , David Carslake , Sinclair Lindsey Isla 
Published: January 2024

AbstractObjectivesThe effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic on cognitive decline are not fully understood. Higher social activity and relationships have been associated with decreased risk of dementia. We hypothesised that risk of transition to dementia would increase after the start of the first national lockdown.MethodsWe obtained data from the Brains for Dementia (BDR) cohort, which has collected roughly annual data on 3726 older adults with and without dementia since 2008. Data continued to be collected during the lockdowns, although by telephone and/or video call instead of in person. Individuals diagnosed with dementia at study entry were excluded from this study as were individuals with only one visit. Cognitive status was classified using the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) global score. Poisson regression with cubic splines to account for differences in age was used to compare the incidence of dementia before and after March 1st 2020.ResultsOut of 2242 individuals, 208 individuals developed dementia before and 50 developed dementia after 01/03/20. The incidence rate ratio of developing dementia after 01/03/20 was 0.847 (0.538–1.335) p = 0.570. In our secondary analysis we found that the positive association between mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia incidence decreased after 1/3/20 (interaction effect p = 0.031).ConclusionThe incidence of dementia as defined using the CDR global score did not change significantly after the first lockdown began, but we found evidence that lockdown decreased the positive association between MCI and dementia incidence. This may reflect that individuals were progressing to dementia more rapidly and thus missing the MCI stage or that assessing patients over the phone made diagnosing MCI more challenging.
An investigation of endometrial vascularity in normally menstruating women and those in other physiological states using 3D ultrasound imaging
Authors: Khan Ammar Ahmed , Al‐Motawa Aisha , Halabi Najeeb , Ahmed Badreldeen , Rafii Jeremie Arash , Konje Justin C. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractObjectivesThis study aimed to determine the normal vasculature indices of the endometrium and to correlate them with those in various physiological states.MethodsWomen undergoing ultrasound at the Feto‐Maternal Center, Qatar in 2020–2021 as part of their gynecologic evaluation were enrolled into the study. They were divided into those with normal menses and no additional pathology, those following spontaneous miscarriage, postpartum and menopausal. Three‐dimensional (3D) evaluation of the endometrial vasculature was done and the parameters quantified included vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI), vascularization flow index (VFI), endometrial thickness, endometrial volume and uterine volume. JASP, an open‐source statistical analysis software, was used for analysis and an independent t‐test to compare the vascularity indices. A multivariate regression analysis was also done to look at the factors affecting the endometrial vascular indices within the luteal phase.ResultsA total of 461 women were studied: 122 in the follicular phase, 199 in the luteal phase, 90 after a spontaneous miscarriage, 29 postpartum, and 16 menopausal. The vascularity indices were highest after miscarriage and lowest postnatally. There were no significant effects of age, gravida, para, or abortions on VI and VFI. However, there was a significant positive effect of age on FI (P = 0.019) There was a significant increase in endometrial volume and thickness in the luteal phase as compared to follicular phase (P < 0.01), but there was no difference in the vascularity indices. The uterine and endometrial volume in the postnatal group were nearly double that of the luteal group (P value <0.01 and 0.014, respectively). There was a significant decrease in flow index in the postnatal group compared to the luteal group (P < 0.01), suggesting low flow intensity in the postnatal group.ConclusionsEndometrial vascular indices measured using 3D Doppler can be used to determine normal vascular indices and vary with physiological states such as after miscarriages, postnatally and in the menopausal states.