bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mortality in a cohort of vermiculite miners exposed to fibrous amphibole in Libby, Montana
Authors: McDonald J C , Harris J , Armstrong B 
Published: March 2004

Background:Fibrous tremolite is a widespread amphibole asbestiform mineral, airborne fibres of which constitute an environmental hazard in Libby, Montana, northern California, and elsewhere.Aims:To determine excess risk from lung cancer, mesothelioma, and all-cause mortality in a cohort of men exposed to tremolite, but no other form of asbestos.Methods:Mortality by certified cause and various measures of exposure to tremolite and related amphibole fibres was assessed in a cohort of 406 vermiculite mineworkers in Libby, Montana, employed before 1963 and followed until 1999.Results:Total deaths were: lung cancer 44 (SMR 2.40), non-malignant respiratory disease (NMRD) 51 (SMR 3.09), all causes 285 (SMR 1.27); included among the total were 12 deaths ascribed to mesothelioma (4.21% of all deaths). Adjusted linear increments in relative risks (per 100 f/ml.y), estimated by Poisson regression, were: lung cancer (0.36, 95% CI 0.03 to 1.20), NMRD (0.38, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.96), and all deaths (0.14, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.26).Conclusions:The all-cause linear model would imply a 14% increase in mortality for mine workers exposed occupationally to 100 f/ml.y or about 3.2% for a general population exposed for 50 years to an ambient concentration of 0.1 f/ml. Amphibole fibres, tremolite in particular, are likely to be disproportionately responsible for cancer mortality in persons exposed to commercial chrysotile, but to what extent cannot be readily assessed.
Reducing absenteeism in hospital cleaning staff: pilot of a theory based intervention
Authors: Michie S , Wren B , Williams S 
Published: March 2004

Aims:To develop, pilot, and evaluate a workplace intervention to reduce sickness absence, based on a demand-control-support model of job strain.Methods:Changes in the working arrangements of hospital cleaning staff were introduced with the aim of increasing their control over work and the support received at work. The study design was quasi-experimental, with 221 cleaning staff in the intervention group and 91 catering staff in the control group. The dependent variable was the difference in percentage monthly sickness absence between the 12 months preceding and following the intervention. Differences in sickness absence between staff groups for each month after the intervention were compared with differences between staff groups for the equivalent month one year prior to it.Results:There was a significant reduction in the difference in sickness absence rates between the intervention and control group of 2.3% in the six months after the intervention, compared to the six months before. The difference was not maintained at 12 months.Conclusions:These results suggest that a workplace intervention aimed at increasing control and support at work has a small effect on reducing sickness absence among hospital cleaning staff in the short term. Future research should seek to replicate this effect in larger, experimental studies, analyse postulated mediators of such theory based interventions, and develop interventions that maintain improvement.
ON THE MINIMAL POLYNOMIAL OF A MATRIX
Authors: HOANG THANH MINH , THIERAUF THOMAS 
Published: March 2004

We investigate the complexity of the degree and the constant term of the minimal polynomial of a matrix. We show that the degree of the minimal polynomial is computationally equivalent to the matrix rank. We compare the constant term of the minimal polynomial with the constant term of the characteristic polynomial. The latter is known to be computable in the logspace counting class GapL. We show that if this holds for the minimal polynomial as well, then the exact counting in logspace class C=L is closed under complement. Whether C=L is closed under complement is one of the main open problems in this area. As an application of our techniques we show that the problem of deciding whether a matrix is diagonalizable is complete for AC0(C=L), the AC0-closure ofC=L.
ECONOMIC SELECTION OF MEAN VALUE FOR A FILLING PROCESS UNDER QUADRATIC QUALITY LOSS
Authors: LEE MIN-KOO , KIM SANG-BOO , KWON HYUCK-MOO , HONG SUNG HOON 
Published: March 2004

Consider a filling process where containers are filled with an important ingredient in a character. All containers are inspected, and the containers satisfying to meet the predetermined specification limits are sold in a regular market for a fixed price, and failing to meet them are emptied and refilled by the same filling process after some reprocessing. We assume that reprocessing cost is proportional to the quantity of the ingredients in a container that is not changed after reprocessing. An economic model is constructed on the basis of the selling price and the costs of production, inspection, reprocessing, and quality. We assume that the quality cost function is a quadratic function of the deviation from target and the quantity of the ingredients in a container is normally distributed with a known variance. Method for finding the optimum process mean is presented and a numerical example is given.
The prevalence of rectal chlamydial infection amongst men who have sex with men attending the genitourinary medicine clinic in Edinburgh
Authors: Manavi K , McMillan A , Young H 
Published: March 2004

Little is known about the prevalence of rectal chlamydial infection amongst men who have sex with men (MSM). Previous studies using culture methods reported this to be between 4-6%. The emergence of nucleic acid amplification tests has significantly increased the sensitivity and specificity for chlamydial detection, making it possible to estimate the prevalence of rectal infection more accurately. A prospective cross sectional study involving 443 MSM who were screened for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) between May 1999 and January 2002. Rectal swabs for chlamydiae were obtained in addition to specimens for routine STI screening. Rectal chlamydiae were detected by ligase chain reaction (LCR) utilizing the Abbott LCX Amplicor with confirmation by COBASE amplicor for the majority of cases. Those with rectal chlamydial infection were treated with azithromycin. The characteristics of men with rectal chlamydial infection were compared with those who were not infected at this site. Rectal chlamydia was detected in 32 (7.2%) of 443 patients. Those with rectal chlamydial infection were more likely to have rectal symptoms (12/32) or having a partner with confirmed chlamydial (2/32) or gonococcal (3/32) urethritis than those MSM without rectal chlamydial infection. They were also more likely to have a history of receptive anal sex (25/32) in the previous three months compared to those MSM without rectal chlamydial infection (263/411). The most common symptoms of patients with rectal chlamydial infection were pruritus ani and peri-anal pain. Eight (25%) of those with rectal chlamydial infection were known to be HIV seropositive. Rectal chlamydial infection is common amongst MSM and is effectively diagnosed by LCR. The test should be included in the routine STI screening offered to MSM.
General practitioners and the National Strategy on Sexual Health and HIV
Authors: Rogstad K E , Henton L 
Published: March 2004

To determine general practitioners' knowledge of, and opinions on, the National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV and whether they intend to provide Level 1 and 2 HIV/STI services, a self-administered questionnaire was sent to one partner from 155 general practices in Sheffield and North Derbyshire in November 2001. Response rate was 57% (88). Forty-eight (55%) GPs aware of strategy but 53 (60%) had no knowledge of what it involved. LEVEL 1. Sixty-two (71%) felt confident in providing advice on STI prevention and 46 (52%) on HIV. Nine (10%) GPs provide HIV testing and 29 (33%) anticipate doing so but 24 (83%) require staff training and 20 (70%) increased funding. All Level 1 STI services are provided by 60 (68%) practices and 72 (82%) anticipate providing. LEVEL 2. Thirty-nine (45%) anticipate testing and treating STIs but only nine (10%) will undertake partner notification. Resources required are training, nine (60%) and funding, nine (60%). The main reasons for not offering in the future were too busy 58 (72%) and lack of demand 25 (31%). Many GPs are unaware of the strategy but most anticipate providing Level 1 STI services. Less than half anticipate offering HIV testing. Although 45% of GPs may provide Level 2 care, it is unlikely to include partner notification. Many GPs are too busy and require extra training and funding. These needs must be addressed if the Strategy is to be implemented.
Boosting the Efficiency of Quantum Dot‐Sensitized Solar Cells Over 17% via Sequential Deposition of Water‐ and Oil‐Soluble Quantum Dots
Authors: Zhang Zhengyan , Wang Wenran , Rao Huashang , Pan Zhenxiao , Zhong Xinhua 
Published: February 2025

AbstractHigh loading of quantum dots (QDs) on TiO2 photoanode is essential for high power conversion efficiency (PCE) for quantum dot‐sensitized solar cells (QDSCs). However, there remains a large portion (≈60%) of TiO2 substrate uncovered by QDs, which results in insufficient light harvesting and the undesired charge recombination, consequently suppressing the enhancement of performance in QDSCs. Herein, a convenient and effective method for improving QD loading is proposed, wherein a direct deposition (DA) mode is carried out after a chemical deposition of capping ligand‐induced self‐assembly (CLIS). It is found that the DA compared with CLIS modes leads to different adsorption behaviors and the interactions of QDs with TiO2 substrate, thus additional QDs can be successfully deposited. The elevated QD loading amount enhances the light‐harvesting capability and effectively inhibits undesired charge recombination at the photoanode/electrolyte interfaces. Consequently, the average PCE is boosted to 16.89% from the pristine 14.95%, and a champion PCE of 17.04% is achieved, which is the new record for liquid‐junction QDSCs.
Cholesterol Cocrystal Ferroelectrics Modulated by Solvent Effect
Authors: Sun Wenbo , Zhang Han‐Yue , Liu Xiaomeng , Xiong Ren‐Gen 
Published: February 2025

AbstractCholesterol (CHOL) is an inherently biodegradable material with multiple chiral centers, being an essential component for cell membranes. Considering the close relationship between chirality and ferroelectric feature, this compound with chiral‐polar structure is an intrinsic polar material. However, the ferroelectricity of CHOL crystals has never been found to date. Herein, a series of ferroelectric cocrystals of CHOL methanol (CHOL‐MeOH) and CHOL ethanol (CHOL‐EtOH) have been constructed through the solvent effect. It is found that the introduction of some solvent molecules containing hydroxyls such as methanol and ethanol can reduce the acceptor···donor length and thus form a 1D electroactive channel and further induce ferroelectricity in CHOL. Based on the density functional theory (DFT) calculation analyses represented by CHOL‐EtOH, the largely decreased maximum energy barrier for the polarization reversal of ≈50% suggests that the electric polarization of the cocrystal is much easier to be reoriented under the external electric field through the solvent effect. These ferroelectric materials show good biocompatibility and biodegradability through in vitro and in vivo evaluation. These attributes make these CHOL cocrystals good candidates for the application of next‐generation smart implantable electronic devices. This work sheds light on the chemical design of biodegradable ferroelectrics in biomaterials.
Organomolecular Ferroelectric Nanocatalyst Augments Tumor Immunotherapy by Inducing Apoptosis and Ferroptosis
Authors: Xu Huning , Qiao Xiaohui , Liang Jing , Qiu Luping , Xue Liyun , Fang Yan , Xiang Huijing , Li Xingguang , Chen Yu , Ding Hong 
Published: February 2025

AbstractImmunogenic programmed cell death effectively triggers acute inflammatory responses, thereby enhancing antitumor immunity. The advancement of biodegradable nonmetallic dual inducers represents a promising strategy. Herein, a biodegradable organomolecular ferroelectric nanoplatform (C60‐TCNQ, CT) is designed to facilitate effective ferroelectric catalysis, thereby augmenting tumor immunotherapy through apoptosis and ferroptosis. CT‐mediated ultrasound‐triggered ferroelectric catalysis promotes ferroelectric polarization and significantly increases the production of reactive oxygen species, leading to substantial tumor cell apoptosis. Moreover, the polycyano group of CT nanoparticles selectively reacts with cysteine under mild conditions, resulting in redox imbalances and the accumulation of lipid peroxides, which contribute to the induction of ferroptosis in tumor cells. Additionally, the apoptosis and ferroptosis induced by CT stimulate immunogenic cell death progression, eliciting robust immune responses. In vivo evaluation using a bilateral tumor model demonstrates the capacity of CT to sensitize anti‐PD‐L1 therapy under ultrasound irradiation, achieving an impressive antitumor response rate of 96.2% against malignant melanoma and an 80% inhibition of tumor metastasis. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that treatment with CT resulted in a downregulation of gene signatures associated with the immune‐related Jak‐Stat signaling pathway. This study opens a novel avenue to developing organomolecular ferroelectric nanomedicines for effective tumor immunotherapy.
Amyloid‐Templated Ceria Nanozyme Reinforced Microneedle for Diabetic Wound Treatments
Authors: Xuan Qize , Cai Jiazhe , Gao Yuan , Qiao Xinchi , Jin Tonghui , Peydayesh Mohammad , Zhou Jiangtao , Sun Qiyao , Zhan Lijian , Liu Bin , Wang Ping , Li Hui , Chen Chao , Mezzenga Raffaele 
Published: February 2025

AbstractAmyloid fibrils have emerged as excellent templates and building blocks for the development of ordered functional materials with considerable potential in biomedical applications. Here, lysozyme amyloid fibrils (Lys‐AFs) are employed as templates for the in situ synthesis of ceria nanozymes (Lys‐AFs‐Ceria) with ultrafine dimensions, an optimized Ce3+/Ce4+ ratio, and uniform distribution on the fibril surface, addressing the challenges of low catalytic efficiency and high susceptibility to aggregation typical of traditional methods. As a proof of concept, it is further applied Lys‐AFs‐Ceria to develop hydrogel/microneedle for treating bacteria‐infected diabetic wounds via non‐covalent interactions between polyphenols and amyloid fibrils incorporating glucose oxidase (GOX). The hydrogel/microneedle facilitates superoxide dismutase and catalase cascade catalysis by Lys‐AFs‐Ceria, and integrates GOX‐mediated glucose consumption, synergistically achieving glucose reduction, reactive oxygen species elimination, and hypoxia alleviation in the diabetic wound infection microenvironment. In addition to antibacterial properties and tissue regeneration promotion of Lys‐AFs scaffold, Lys‐AFs‐Ceria regulates macrophages polarization toward an anti‐inflammatory M2 state. Collectively, these attributes contribute to the enhanced efficacy of diabetic wound healing, with in vivo studies demonstrating increased healing efficiency following a single application, and more in general an effective strategy toward high‐catalytic and stable nanozymes.
Optimization of Zirconium Oxide Nanoparticle‐Enhanced Photocurable Resins for High‐Resolution 3D Printing Ceramic Parts
Authors: Trembecka‐Wójciga Klaudia , Jankowska Magdalena , Lepcio Petr , Sevriugina Veronika , Korčušková Martina , Czeppe Tomasz , Zubrzycka Paulina , Ortyl Joanna 
Published: February 2025

AbstractIn this study, photocurable acrylate resins with different concentrations of zirconium oxide (50% and 70% by weight) are polymerized according to a radical mechanism. The research focused on three main aspects: 1) the effect of ZrO₂ nanoparticles on the kinetics of photopolymerization, 2) the optimization of digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing conditions for nanoparticle‐filled and unfilled resins, and 3) the influence of nanoparticle addition on the thermomechanical properties of the 3D‐printed structures. Photopolymerization kinetics are examined using photo‐DSC and photo‐rheology to assess the impact of nanoparticles on polymerization rates, shrinkage, and induction times. Despite challenges related to limited light penetration in highly nanoparticle‐filled resins, optimal printing parameters are established, enabling the fabrication of high‐performance 3D‐printed materials. The inclusion of ZrO₂ nanoparticles significantly enhances the thermomechanical properties of the final products, demonstrating the potential for advanced applications in additive manufacturing.
Revolutionizing the Future of Smart Materials: A Review of 4D Printing, Design, Optimization, and Machine Learning Integration
Authors: Azher Kashif , Nazir Aamer , Farooq Muhammad Umar , Haq Muhammad Rizwan ul , Ali Zulfiqar , Dalaq Ahmed S. , Abubakar Abba Abdulhamid , Hussain Sajjad , Syed Mujahid Naqeebuddin , Ullah Abid , Laghari Rashid Ali , Khan Sikandar 
Published: February 2025

AbstractWith technological advancement and development, there is a tremendous increase in demand for different smart materials because of their stimulation from external sources. Moreover, the time‐dependent response of smart materials provides insight into the fabrication of these materials using 4D printing (4DP) techniques. Hence, this study presents a comprehensive review of the 4DP of smart materials. The review covers different aspects of smart material, from design and optimization to printing. Herein, smart materials have been discussed in detail based on the physical, biological, and chemical stimuli‐responsive and their subtype's behavior. For designing smart materials, different usage of tools such as new designing software, finite element analysis, and machine learning are also discussed. The design of smart materials is challenging because of the different responsive natures and complexity of design and mechanisms. Hence, a detailed review of present 3D printing techniques, the use of 4DP, and how future applications can be incorporated with smart material and 4DP is presented. With the help of machine learning, the fabrication of smart materials using 4DP is also discussed. The review provides future directions for fabricating smart materials using 4DP. The design and printing challenges of smart materials for future utilization have also been comprehensively covered.
Extreme‐Wideband Transmission/Shielding Switching in a Dual‐Polarized Reconfigurable Metasurface with High Incident Angle Tolerance
Authors: Shi Haoyang , Tian Jie , Wu Xiangming , He Chong , Zhu Weiren 
Published: February 2025

AbstractA thin screen with tunable transmission/shielding properties plays a pivotal role in various electromagnetic and communication systems. Despite extensive research efforts dedicated to investigating this type of metasurfaces, achieving an ultra‐wideband design remains a formidable challenge. This paper introduces a dual‐polarized reconfigurable metasurface capable of switchable transmission and shielding, highlighting features such as extremely wideband and high incident angle tolerance. The proposed metasurface primarily operates in four distinct modes: transmission or shielding for both TE and TM‐polarized waves, in addition to polarization‐selective transmission for either TE or TM waves. Simulation and experimental results have verified that the metasurface demonstrates an exceptionally wide bandwidth ranging from 0.1 to 4 GHz (with a relative bandwidth of 190%), with efficient switchable transmission and shielding functions. Furthermore, the ultra‐compact periodic structure endows the meta‐device with exceptional insensitivity to incident angles. Within the frequency range of 0.1–1.6 GHz, the metasurface consistently exhibits high levels of transmission and shielding for both TE and TM waves across incident angles up to 80°. The reconfigurable metasurface introduced in this paper possesses ultra‐wideband capabilities and high versatility, demonstrating significant potential across the fields of electromagnetic compatibility, interference suppression, and antenna design.
Magnetic Supramolecular Hydrogel in Situ Polymerization with Acrylated β‐Cyclodextrin for the Efficient Adsorption of Pollutants
Authors: An Wen‐Jin , Yu Xiao‐Yong , Liu Chu‐Han , Leng Yuan‐Li , Chen Yong , Liu Yu 
Published: February 2025

AbstractSupramolecular hydrogels have significant research implications for the environmental application of dyes and bisphenols wastewater. Herein, a magnetic Fe3O4‐P(AAm‐AMPS‐CDA) supramolecular hydrogel is reported, which is constructed by acrylamide, 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropane sulfonic acid, acrylated β‐cyclodextrin, and Fe3O4 nanoparticles via thermal polymerization, exhibiting good adsorption properties for cationic dyes and bisphenols. UV–vis spectra show that the adsorption efficiencies of the hydrogel reach 96% for crystal violet and 98% for methylene blue. Meanwhile, β‐CDA cavities can form an inclusion complex with bisphenols, achieving adsorption efficiencies of 88% for bisphenol A and 69% for bisphenol F, with no significant decrease in adsorption rates even after seven cycles. The adsorption kinetic experiments indicate that the adsorption process follows the pseudo‐second‐order kinetics model, and the Weber‐Morris intraparticle diffusion model reveals the diffusion mechanism. Additionally, in the presence of NaCl and humic acid, the hydrogel still maintains a high adsorption rate, and there is no significant decline in adsorption across different environmental water qualities, indicating that the hydrogel has great application potential. Importantly, the hydrogel exhibits ferromagnetic characteristics, allowing for separation with a magnet after adsorption is complete and facilitating rapid adsorption and separation of pollutants in wastewater.
Effect of Dietary Protein Levels on Growth, Body Composition, and Haematology of Tilapia in Biofloc Without Solid Management System
Authors: Debnath Sudip , Parvez Md. Shahin , Sadia Sayma , Hossain K. M. Rakibur , Ahsan Md. Nazmul 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTThis study investigated the effects of varying dietary protein levels on the performance of tilapia reared in biofloc culture system without solid management. Five experimental diets containing crude protein (CP) levels of 32, 28, 24, 20, and 16% were tested in a completely randomized design in triplicate. Tilapia fingerlings (mean initial weight of 40.82 ± 0.38 g) were randomly stocked in biofloc tanks (effective water volume of 300 L) at a stocking density of 65 fish m−3. After 13 weeks of feeding trial, significant differences were observed in final weight (g), daily growth (g day−1), feed conversion ratio, and yield (kg m−3) (p < 0.05). Water quality parameters remained unaffected by dietary treatments (p > 0.5). Notably, fish fed with diets containing 32%, 28%, and 24% CP demonstrated similar growth performance. Based on weight gain, a linear response plateau model estimated the minimal dietary CP level of 24.5%. Dietary CP levels altered visceral index (p < 0.05), but not visceral fat index, hepatosomatic index, or spleen somatic index (p > 0.05). Similarly, dietary CP levels did not significantly affect the fish composition (p > 0.05) and the haematological parameters of the experimental fish (p > 0.05). These results suggest that dietary protein in a small‐scale biofloc system can be reduced from 32% to 24.5% without compromising fish health. However, appropriate solid management in biofloc systems is recommended to ensure optimal growth of fish.