bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluating traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Jie Geng and Huang Qi combination on reducing surgical site infections in colorectal cancer surgeries: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Chen Shiwang , Tian Xudong , Li Shengcai , Wu Zhengquan , Li Yanlong , Liao Ting , Liao Zhifeng 
Published: February 2024

AbstractPostoperative wound infections (PWIs) pose a significant challenge in colorectal cancer surgeries, leading to prolonged hospital stays and increased morbidity. This systematic review and meta‐analysis evaluated the efficacy of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) combination of Jie Geng and Huang Qi in reducing PWIs following colorectal cancer surgeries. Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, we focused on seven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 1256 patients, examining the incidence of PWIs within 30 days post‐surgery, alongside secondary outcomes such as length of hospital stay and antibiotic use. The analysis revealed a significant reduction in PWI incidence in the TCM‐treated group compared to controls, with a Risk Ratio of 0.21 (95% CI: 0.14 to 0.30, p < 0.01), a notable decrease in hospital stay (Mean Difference: 1.2 days, 95% CI: 0.15 to 1.28 days, p < 0.01) and a significant reduction in antibiotic use (Risk Ratio: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.16 to 0.36, p < 0.01). These findings suggest that Jie Geng and Huang Qi in TCM could be an effective adjunct in postoperative care for colorectal cancer surgeries, underscoring the need for further high‐quality RCTs to substantiate these results and explore the underlying mechanisms.
Developing an entrepreneurial mindset in supply chain managers: Exposing a powerful potential
Authors: Goldsby Thomas J. , Kuratko Donald F. , Goldsby Michael G. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractEntrepreneurship and supply chain management (SCM), respectively, have enjoyed meteoric rises in business practice and scholarly attention over the past three decades. Further, each of the two disciplines has much to offer the other. Yet, we have not witnessed sustained, meaningful integration of principles, practices, and influences despite powerful potential. This paper explores this potential by featuring prospects for entrepreneurship to influence SCM, and vice versa, bringing an entrepreneurial mindset to SCM and supply chain orientation (SCO) to entrepreneurial activities. In particular, we illustrate a validated assessment and diagnostic tool, the Corporate Entrepreneurship Assessment Instrument (CEAI), adapted for supply chain managers with the intent of instilling corporate entrepreneurial activity among supply chain professionals. Granted, supply chain managers are typically tasked with meeting expectations toward customer service effectiveness, efficiency, asset utilization, and safety. Yet, we believe that forming an organizational environment conducive to entrepreneurial thinking could be extremely valuable in the supply chain realm, enhancing capabilities like agility, plasticity, and responsiveness such that innovation and business growth are achieved alongside traditional SCM expectations. Further, we feature several avenues for future research at the interface of entrepreneurship and SCM.
Targeting type H vessels in bone‐related diseases
Authors: Xu Juan , He Shuang‐jian , Xia Ting‐ting , Shan Yu , Wang Liang 
Published: February 2024

AbstractBlood vessels are essential for bone development and metabolism. Type H vessels in bone, named after their high expression of CD31 and Endomucin (Emcn), have recently been reported to locate mainly in the metaphysis, exhibit different molecular properties and couple osteogenesis and angiogenesis. A strong correlation between type H vessels and bone metabolism is now well‐recognized. The crosstalk between type H vessels and osteoprogenitor cells is also involved in bone metabolism‐related diseases such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, fracture healing and bone defects. Targeting the type H vessel formation may become a new approach for managing a variety of bone diseases. This review highlighted the roles of type H vessels in bone‐related diseases and summarized the research attempts to develop targeted intervention, which will help us gain a better understanding of their potential value in clinical application.
Differential phase contrast (DPC) mapping electric fields: Optimising experimental conditions
Authors: Li Chen , Mu Xiaoke , Korytov Maxim , Alexandrou Ioannis , Bosch Eric G. T. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractDPC in Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM) is a valuable method for mapping the electric fields in semiconductor materials. However, optimising the experimental conditions can be challenging. In this paper, we test and compare critical experimental parameters, including the convergence angle, camera length, acceleration voltage, sample configuration, and orientation using a four‐quadrant segmented detector and a Si specimen containing layers of different As concentrations. The DPC measurements show a roughly linear correlation with the estimated electric fields, until the field gets close to the detection limitation, which is ∼0.5 mV/nm with a sample thickness of ∼145 nm. These results can help inform which technique to use for different user cases: When the electric field at a planar junction is above ∼0.5 mV/nm, DPC with a segmented detector is practical for electric field mapping. With a planar junction, the DPC signal‐to‐noise ratio can be increased by increasing the specimen thickness. However, for semiconductor devices with electric fields smaller than ∼0.5 mV/nm, or for devices containing curved junctions, DPC is unreliable and techniques with higher sensitivity will need to be explored, such as 4D STEM using a pixelated detector.
Out‐of‐school time use in Pakistan: A qualitative study featuring youth's voices
Authors: Kerai Salima , Ibrahim Marium , Molyneux Tonje M. , Hussain Uzma , Gadermann Anne , Kassam Rosemin , Pardhan Almina , Oberle Eva 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe current study addresses the lack of out‐of‐school time (OST) research in low‐ and middle‐income countries by exploring OST use in the context of Pakistan and incorporating youth's voices. Using a qualitative descriptive design with focus‐group discussions, we conducted a study in three middle schools set in low‐ to middle‐income neighborhoods in urban and rural areas of Karachi, Pakistan. We engaged 86 youth (50% girls; aged 10–15 years) that were purposefully selected from grade six (31.4%), seven (44.2%) and eight (24.4%) classrooms, balancing gender and locality. In each focus group, we asked participants to describe their afterschool activity routine on a typical weekday afternoon until bedtime. Digital recordings of discussions were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using content analysis. Based on sixteen focus groups with five to six participants in each group, we identified eight distinct categories: religious activities, schoolwork, screentime, helping adult family members, family time, outdoor play, indoor leisure activities, and hanging out with friends. We found that structured activities (e.g., religious activities and schoolwork supervised by an adult) were reported more frequently than unstructured activities (e.g., outdoor play and family time). Participation in activities varied by gender and location (i.e., urban vs. rural), highlighting disparities associated with the sociocultural context that marginalized youth face. Our findings provide a glimpse into the everyday lives of Pakistani youth outside of school. Additionally, they elucidate how economic resources, sociocultural norms regarding gender, and community safety shape youth's time use and socialization patterns. Findings from this study can inform the development of OST activities and initiatives aimed at promoting the positive development of Pakistani youth.
Performance of continuous controlled attenuation parameter and liver stiffness measurement by the novel SmartExam in metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease
Authors: Song Sherlot J. , Nogami Asako , Liang Lilian Y. , Yoneda Masato , Leung Howard H.W. , Nakajima Atsushi , Lai Jimmy C.T. , Wong Grace L.H. , Shu Sally S.T. , Wong Vincent W.S. , Yip Terry C.F. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractBackground & AimsFibroScan® Expert 630 and FibroScan® Mini+430 are novel vibration‐controlled transient elastography devices equipped with the same SmartExam software, which allows continuous measurement of controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) during the entire examination. This study aims to compare the CAP variabilities and the quantification for liver fibrosis and steatosis between the conventional FibroScan and the SmartExam‐equipped machines in patients with metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).MethodsThis retrospective study included 118 patients with biopsy‐proven MASLD who underwent liver biopsy at two tertiary centres between 2021 and 2023. Liver stiffness and steatosis measurements were performed using both FibroScan machines and M and XL probes for each individual. Liver histology was used as the reference standard for liver fibrosis and steatosis staging.ResultsStandard deviations of continuous CAP (cCAP) were significantly lower than those of CAP for all probes (p < .0001). CAP variability was significantly associated with body mass index (p < .01), probe selection (p < .001) as well as the random effect of centre. Only the effect of probe selection (p < .001) was significantly associated with cCAP variability. No significant difference was found in the performance of staging liver fibrosis and steatosis between two types of machines at the same cut‐offs.ConclusionsThe SmartExam‐based VCTE reduces the variability of CAP measurement and achieves a similar accuracy as the FibroScan 502 device for the estimation of both hepatic steatosis and fibrosis. Future studies should determine if cCAP is a better tool to monitor changes in steatosis than the original CAP.
Links between gut microbiome, metabolome, clinical variables and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease severity in bariatric patients
Authors: Schwenger Katherine J. P. , Sharma Divya , Ghorbani Yasaman , Xu Wei , Lou Wendy , Comelli Elena M. , Fischer Sandra E. , Jackson Timothy D. , Okrainec Allan , Allard Johane P. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractBackground and AimsBacterial species and microbial pathways along with metabolites and clinical parameters may interact to contribute to non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and disease severity. We used integrated machine learning models and a cross‐validation approach to assess this interaction in bariatric patients.Methods113 patients undergoing bariatric surgery had clinical and biochemical parameters, blood and stool metabolite measurements as well as faecal shotgun metagenome sequencing to profile the intestinal microbiome. Liver histology was classified as normal liver obese (NLO; n = 30), simple steatosis (SS; n = 41) or non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH; n = 42); fibrosis was graded F0 to F4.ResultsWe found that those with NASH versus NLO had an increase in potentially harmful E. coli, a reduction of potentially beneficial Alistipes putredinis and an increase in ALT and AST. There was higher serum glucose, faecal 3‐(3‐hydroxyphenyl)‐3‐hydroxypropionic acid and faecal cholic acid and lower serum glycerophospholipids. In NAFLD, those with severe fibrosis (F3–F4) versus F0 had lower abundance of anti‐inflammatory species (Eubacterium ventriosum, Alistipes finegoldii and Bacteroides dorei) and higher AST, serum glucose, faecal acylcarnitines, serum isoleucine and homocysteine as well as lower serum glycerophospholipids. Pathways involved with amino acid biosynthesis and degradation were significantly more represented in those with NASH compared to NLO, with severe fibrosis having an overall stronger significant association with Superpathway of menaquinol‐10 biosynthesis and Peptidoglycan biosynthesis IV.ConclusionsIn bariatric patients, NASH and severe fibrosis were associated with specific bacterial species, metabolic pathways and metabolites that may contribute to NAFLD pathogenesis and disease severity.
The secreted feruloyl esterase of Verticillium dahliae modulates host immunity via degradation of GhDFR
Authors: Wang Yajuan , Liao Xiwen , Shang Wenjing , Qin Jun , Xu Xiangming , Hu Xiaoping 
Published: February 2024

AbstractFeruloyl esterase (ferulic acid esterase, FAE) is an essential component of many biological processes in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. This research aimed to investigate the role of FAE and its regulation mechanism in plant immunity. We identified a secreted feruloyl esterase VdFAE from the hemibiotrophic plant pathogen Verticillium dahliae. VdFAE acted as an important virulence factor during V. dahliae infection, and triggered plant defence responses, including cell death in Nicotiana benthamiana. Deletion of VdFAE led to a decrease in the degradation of ethyl ferulate. VdFAE interacted with Gossypium hirsutum protein dihydroflavanol 4‐reductase (GhDFR), a positive regulator in plant innate immunity, and promoted the degradation of GhDFR. Furthermore, silencing of GhDFR led to reduced resistance of cotton plants against V. dahliae. The results suggested a fungal virulence strategy in which a fungal pathogen secretes FAE to interact with host DFR and interfere with plant immunity, thereby promoting infection.
A meta‐analytic review of the implementation characteristics in parenting interventions to promote early child development
Authors: Ahun Marilyn N. , Ali Nazia Binte , Hentschel Elizabeth , Jeong Joshua , Franchett Emily , Yousafzai Aisha K. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThis review summarizes the implementation characteristics of parenting interventions to promote early child development (ECD) outcomes from birth to 3 years. We included 134 articles representing 123 parenting trials (PROSPERO record CRD42022285998). Studies were conducted across high‐income (62%) and low‐and‐middle‐income (38%) countries. The most frequently used interventions were Reach Up and Learn, Nurse Family Partnership, and Head Start. Half of the interventions were delivered as home visits. The other half used mixed settings and modalities (27%), clinic visits (12%), and community‐based group sessions (11%). Due to the lack of data, we were only able to test the moderating role of a few implementation characteristics in intervention impacts on parenting and cognitive outcomes (by country income level) in the meta‐analysis. None of the implementation characteristics moderated intervention impacts on cognitive or parenting outcomes in low‐ and middle‐income or high‐income countries. There is a significant need in the field of parenting interventions for ECD to consistently collect and report data on key implementation characteristics. These data are needed to advance our understanding of how parenting interventions are implemented and how implementation factors impact outcomes to help inform the scale‐up of effective interventions to improve child development.
Systemic neurophysiological signals of auditory predictive coding
Authors: Muñoz‐Caracuel Manuel , Muñoz Vanesa , Ruiz‐Martínez Francisco J. , Vázquez Morejón Antonio J. , Gómez Carlos M. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractPredictive coding framework posits that our brain continuously monitors changes in the environment and updates its predictive models, minimizing prediction errors to efficiently adapt to environmental demands. However, the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms of these predictive phenomena remain unclear. The present study aimed to explore the systemic neurophysiological correlates of predictive coding processes during passive and active auditory processing. Electroencephalography (EEG), functional near‐infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), and autonomic nervous system (ANS) measures were analyzed using an auditory pattern‐based novelty oddball paradigm. A sample of 32 healthy subjects was recruited. The results showed shared slow evoked potentials between passive and active conditions that could be interpreted as automatic predictive processes of anticipation and updating, independent of conscious attentional effort. A dissociated topography of the cortical hemodynamic activity and distinctive evoked potentials upon auditory pattern violation were also found between both conditions, whereas only conscious perception leading to imperative responses was accompanied by phasic ANS responses. These results suggest a systemic‐level hierarchical reallocation of predictive coding neural resources as a function of contextual demands in the face of sensory stimulation. Principal component analysis permitted to associate the variability of some of the recorded signals.
The Limits of Interest: Moral economy and public engagement in the regulation of derivatives in the United States
Authors: Ziegler J. Nicholas , Posch Konrad , Nath Thomas 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThis article analyzes the public comments submitted to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), 2010–2014, in response to proposed rules for implementing the Dodd‐Frank reforms. By addressing a fine‐grained typology of commenting organizations to a topic model of the combined comments, we illuminate a new pattern of public engagement in financial regulation. Contrary to the economic concept of regulatory capture, our data show no sharp divide between the suppliers of complex derivatives (the dealer banks) and their customers in other parts of the finance industry. In keeping with the general concept of financialization—but contrary to its strongest versions—our data show distinctly delimited evidence of a convergence between the banks and other sectors. Instead of either capture or all‐embracing financialization, the comments submitted to the CFTC display an overriding opposition in the justifications used by commenters to explain their preferences. Commenters from the financial services and allied sectors consistently adopt a language of technical legitimation. Commenters in agriculture, livestock, retail energy, and many nonmarket organizations adopt a language of moral justification. The clarity of the divide between these two idioms indicates that the underlying purposes of new financial instruments are now being questioned. Even in the realm of esoteric financial instruments such as derivatives, the moral economy of market competition is once again subject to debate among market participants as well as observers.
Evaluation of a compounding phospholipid base for the percutaneous absorption of high molecular weight drugs using the Franz finite dose model
Authors: Banov Daniel , Song Guiyun , Carvalho Maria , Bassani August S. , Valdez Benigno C. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractBackgroundPermeation‐enhancing compounding bases are aimed to facilitate the penetration of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) across the skin barrier.ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the percutaneous absorption of radiolabeled human insulin (14C‐isototpe) when incorporated in a proprietary phospholipid base designed to deliver APIs with high molecular weights (HMW). The aim was not to claim the transdermal delivery of insulin with potential therapeutic applications in diabetes but, instead, to evaluate the ability of the compounding phospholipid base to deliver HMW drugs.MethodsThe percutaneous absorption of 14C‐insulin was determined using human torso skin and the Franz skin finite dose model. Two topical test formulations were prepared for in vitro evaluation: insulin 1% in phospholipid base (standard) and insulin 1% in phospholipid base HMW. The rate of percutaneous absorption (mean flux) and the distribution of 14C‐insulin through the skin were evaluated for both topical test formulations. A two‐way ANOVA was used to determine statistical differences.ResultsThe 14C‐insulin was distributed into the stratum corneum, epidermis and dermis. Mean flux values showed a rapid penetration upon application and the maximum flux was achieved at 30 min, followed by a slow decline. Subsequently, a slower decline was observed for the topical test formulation including the phospholipid base HMW.ConclusionThe phospholipid base HMW facilitates the percutaneous absorption of HMW drugs across human cadaver skin and, therefore, it may potentially be a useful option for compounding pharmacists and practitioners when considering the skin for the percutaneous delivery of large drugs.
Defining sepsis in small animals
Authors: Cortellini Stefano , DeClue Amy E. , Giunti Massimo , Goggs Robert , Hopper Kate , Menard Julie M. , Rabelo Rodrigo C. , Rozanski Elizabeth A. , Sharp Claire R. , Silverstein Deborah C. , Sinnott‐Stutzman Virginia , Stanzani Giacomo 
Published: February 2024

AbstractObjectiveTo discuss the definitions of sepsis in human and veterinary medicine.DesignInternational, multicenter position statement on the need for consensus definitions of sepsis in veterinary medicine.SettingVeterinary private practice and university teaching hospitals.AnimalsDogs and cats.InterventionsNone.Measurements and Main ResultsSepsis is a life‐threatening condition associated with the body's response to an infection. In human medicine, sepsis has been defined by consensus on 3 occasions, most recently in 2016. In veterinary medicine, there is little uniformity in how sepsis is defined and no consensus on how to identify it clinically. Most publications rely on modified criteria derived from the 1991 and 2001 human consensus definitions. There is a divergence between the human and veterinary descriptions of sepsis and no consensus on how to diagnose the syndrome. This impedes research, hampers the translation of pathophysiology insights to the clinic, and limits our abilities to optimize patient care. It may be time to formally define sepsis in veterinary medicine to help the field move forward. In this narrative review, we present a synopsis of prior attempts to define sepsis in human and veterinary medicine, discuss developments in our understanding, and highlight some criticisms and shortcomings of existing schemes.ConclusionsThis review is intended to serve as the foundation of current efforts to establish a consensus definition for sepsis in small animals and ultimately generate evidence‐based criteria for its recognition in veterinary clinical practice.
One‐sided sharp thresholds for homology of random flag complexes
Authors: Newman Andrew 
Published: February 2024

AbstractWe prove that the random flag complex has a probability regime where the probability of nonvanishing homology is asymptotically bounded away from zero and away from one. Related to this main result, we also establish new bounds on a sharp threshold for the fundamental group of a random flag complex to be a free group. In doing so, we show that there is an intermediate probability regime in which the random flag complex has fundamental group that is neither free nor has Kazhdan's property (T).
Methodology for the Development of a Closed 2-Channel Impeller With Low Susceptibility to Clogging
Authors: Beck David , Thamsen Paul Uwe 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Wastewater pumps are increasingly clogged by solids containing fibers. Closed 2-channel impellers in particular are often highly susceptible to clogging due to their geometric properties, even though they have among the highest clear water efficiencies compared to other wastewater impellers. With the help of a clogging test rig, a prototype that can accommodate different closed 2-channel geometries, the use of three-dimensional simulation as well as an optical access for high-speed recordings, a methodology is to be created, whereby this impeller type can be effectively optimized. In this paper, the first impeller modification is calculated, manufactured, simulated, and tested with this methodology.