bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Renegotiations after procurement auctions: Coping with supply disruptions due to underestimating costs
Authors: Cai Dong , Guo Chunxiang , Lai Kee‐hung 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIt is common for suppliers to underestimate costs in procurement auctions, thereby decreasing the bid price and profit on completion of the supply, and potentially resulting in supply disruptions. We study the bidding decisions of suppliers that underestimate costs when the buyer uses first‐price or second‐price sealed‐bid procurement auctions. We study the effects of underestimating costs on the bid prices and performance decisions under different auction modes and propose renegotiations after procurement auctions to cope with supply disruptions. The results show that: (1) using first‐price or second‐price auctions, underestimating costs does not guarantee a positive profit on completion of the supply. When the winning supplier's degree of underestimation is high enough, underestimating costs may cause supply disruptions. (2) When the buyer faces supply disruptions, if the expected payment for re‐selecting another supplier is not less than a certain threshold value, the buyer can prevent supply disruptions through renegotiations after procurement auctions. (3) Compared to the situation where all suppliers' budgeted costs are accurate, underestimating costs always decreases the supplier's profit. For the buyer, when the supplier completes the supply under the original or renegotiated contract, underestimating costs can decrease the procurement costs. Finally, we show the main conclusions with numerical examples.
Development and therapeutic potential of GSPT1 molecular glue degraders: A medicinal chemistry perspective
Authors: Chang Xiujin , Qu Fangui , Li Chunxiao , Zhang Jingtian , Zhang Yanqing , Xie Yuanyuan , Fan Zhongpeng , Bian Jinlei , Wang Jubo , Li Zhiyu , Xu Xi 
Published: February 2024

AbstractUnprecedented therapeutic targeting of previously undruggable proteins has now been achieved by molecular‐glue‐mediated proximity‐induced degradation. As a small GTPase, G1 to S phase transition 1 (GSPT1) interacts with eRF1, the translation termination factor, to facilitate the process of translation termination. Studied demonstrated that GSPT1 plays a vital role in the acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and MYC‐driven lung cancer. Thus, molecular glue (MG) degraders targeting GSPT1 is a novel and promising approach for treating AML and MYC‐driven cancers. In this Perspective, we briefly summarize the structural and functional aspects of GSPT1, highlighting the latest advances and challenges in MG degraders, as well as some representative patents. The structure‐activity relationships, mechanism of action and pharmacokinetic features of MG degraders are emphasized to provide a comprehensive compendium on the rational design of GSPT1 MG degraders. We hope to provide an updated overview, and design guide for strategies targeting GSPT1 for the treatment of cancer.
A behavioral model for the linear variable gain amplifier
Authors: Li Hao , Jin Binjie , Wu Yunqiu , Yu Yiming , Liu Huihua 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIn this paper, a behavioral model for the variable gain amplifiers working in the liner region is proposed. An iterative least‐square algorithm for complex curve fitting is proposed to model the variable gain amplifiers as an infinite impulse response filter. The polynomial fittings are used to obtain the coefficient matrix for the gain response and phase response to the frequency at different control voltages. The relationship between gain and control voltage is fitted by a hyperbolic tangent function. The modeling flow is given in this paper. Comparing the frequency response of the behavioral model and circuit model, the simulation results are similar at the operating frequency. Finally, an application is given, which is used to compare the effect of the nonlinear phase system with two different band signals modulated by 4QAM. This application proves that the model can be used in the simulation of large‐scale systems.
Broadband circularly polarized filtering patch antenna based on metasurface
Authors: Ding Kang , Li Yujian , Wu Yanjie 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIn this paper, a single‐fed broadband circularly polarized (CP) filtering patch antenna based on metasurface is proposed. It consists of a corner‐truncated square patch, a nonuniform metasurface, and a U‐shaped strip. By placing the metasurface above the driven patch antenna, a radiation null is realized at the upper band, and an additional axial ratio (AR) minimum is simultaneously generated to enhance the CP bandwidth. Besides, two more radiation nulls are achieved at each side of the band edges by introducing a U‐shaped strip underneath the patch and embedding a shorting pin into the patch, which further improves the frequency selectivity and suppresses the radiation level. Measured results show that the designed antenna has a wide impedance bandwidth of 19.7% (4.8–5.85 GHz), a CP bandwidth of 19.9% (4.75–5.8 GHz), and an in‐band average gain of 7 dBic with suppression level of more than 18 dB at out of band.
Positive predictive value of myositis antibody line blot testing in patients with suspected idiopathic inflammatory myopathy
Authors: Chang Yiu‐Chia , Yang Liju , Budhram Adrian 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIntroduction/AimsLine blot (LB) is in widespread use for myositis antibody detection. Yet, studies of its positive predictive value (PPV) in patients with suspected idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM), which would be of particular relevance to neuromuscular clinicians, are lacking. We aimed to determine the PPV of myositis antibody LB testing in patients with suspected IIM, and examine whether PPV was significantly impacted by intensity of antibody positivity.MethodsThis was a retrospective study of patients who underwent myositis antibody LB testing for suspected IIM between March 2019 and August 2022.ResultsOf 70 patients who underwent testing for suspected IIM and had positive myositis antibody LB results, 43 (61%) were female and the median age was 61 years (range: 10–83 years). Forty‐four were classified as true‐positives, yielding a PPV of 63%. The PPV of patients with weak‐positive myositis antibody results (14/30, 47%) was significantly lower than the PPV of patients with moderate‐positive or strong‐positive myositis antibody results (30/40, 75%) (p = .02).DiscussionOur study found that myositis antibody LB testing in patients with suspected IIM had a modest PPV, underscoring the need for antibody interpretation in the context of all available clinical and ancillary test data to avoid misdiagnosis. The significantly lower PPV in patients with weak‐positive results emphasizes the particular importance of clinical correlation in such patients. Further study into the diagnostic performance of various LBs for myositis antibody detection is needed to inform their interpretation in clinical practice.
The effect of the COVID‐19 lockdown on women presenting with pelvic organ prolapse
Authors: Ghandour Rachan , Courtepatte Alexa , Plummer Melissa , Minassian Vatche A. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractPurposeTo determine whether there is a difference in pelvic organ prolapse (POP) stage at time of presentation after lifting coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) lockdown restrictions, as compared to before the lockdown. Enhancing our understanding of how healthcare utilization for pelvic floor disorders may be affected by limited accessibility, such as the COVID‐19 pandemic, could prove invaluable for similar future circumstances.MethodsThis is a retrospective study of women with POP at their initial visit. Patients were grouped into two cohorts based on their initial presentation time: pre‐COVID‐19 lockdown (before March 2020) and post‐COVID‐19 lockdown (after December 2020). The cohorts were compared using demographic, clinical, and surgical variables. A logistic regression controlling for confounders was used to evaluate the influence of the COVID‐19 lockdown on prolapse stage.ResultsThere were 656 (50.3%) patients in the pre‐COVID‐19 lockdown cohort and 648 (49.7%) in the post‐COVID‐19 lockdown cohort. All baseline characteristics were similar between both cohorts except for race (p = 0.015). Treatment choices differed with the post‐COVID‐19 lockdown cohort having a lower proportion (26.5%) opting for surgery and a higher proportion (50.5%) of patients opting for nonsurgical interventions compared to the pre‐COVID‐19 lockdown cohort (p = 0.0005). A higher proportion of women presented with stages I and II prolapse in the post‐COVID‐19 lockdown (70.4%) cohort as compared to the pre‐COVID‐19 lockdown (62.5%) cohort (p = 0.002).ConclusionsWomen in the post‐COVID‐19 lockdown cohort presented with early stage prolapse with preference for more conservative treatment options.
Adaptation and validation of a patient‐reported compassion measure in the Spanish population: The Spanish version of the Sinclair Compassion Questionnaire (SCQesp)
Authors: Soto‐Rubio Ana , Andreu Yolanda , Gil‐Juliá Beatriz , Picazo Carmen , Murgui Sergio , MacInnis Cara C. , Sinclair Shane 
Published: February 2024

AbstractInternational practice guidelines and policies recognize compassion as a fundamental dimension of quality care. A key element in enhancing compassion in healthcare settings is having reliable patient‐reported experience measures. In the Spanish context, there is a need for a valid Spanish patient‐reported compassion measure for use in both research and clinical practice. The Sinclair Compassion Questionnaire (SCQ) represents the gold standard for patient‐reported compassion measures in English‐speaking settings. The primary aim of this study is to culturally adapt and validate the SCQ in a Spanish population. A Spanish version of the SCQ (SCQesp) was used to collect data from 303 Spanish patients (in two contexts: hospitalized and medical visit). Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed a one‐factor solution in the 15‐item (SCQesp) and five‐item (SCQesp‐SF) short form version. The SCQesp showed excellent values of reliability: Cronbach'sα = 0.98; composite variance = 0.98 (0.905–0.854); and stratified variance = 0.78. The SCQesp‐SF showed similar values of reliability. The SCQesp has excellent psychometric properties, making it a valid and reliable measure for assessing compassion in healthcare research and clinical care. This scientifically rigorous and psychometrically robust compassion measure in Spanish could allow healthcare providers, researchers, and leaders to routinely assess compassion.
Adipose Tissue Analysis Toolkit (ATAT) for automated analysis of adipocyte size and extracellular matrix in white adipose tissue
Authors: Robino Jacob J. , Plekhanov Alexander P. , Zhu Qingzhang , Jensen Michael D. , Scherer Philipp E. , Roberts Charles T. , Varlamov Oleg 
Published: February 2024

AbstractObjectiveThe pathological expansion of white adipose tissue (WAT) in obesity involves adipocyte hypertrophy accompanied by expansion of the collagen‐rich pericellular extracellular matrix (ECM) and development of crown‐like structures (CLS). Traditionally, WAT morphology is assessed through immunohistochemical analysis of WAT sections. However, manual analysis of large histological sections is time‐consuming, and the available digital tools for analyzing adipocyte size and pericellular ECM are limited. To address this gap, the authors developed the Adipose Tissue Analysis Toolkit (ATAT), an ImageJ plugin facilitating analysis of adipocyte size, WAT ECM, and CLS.Methods and ResultsATAT utilizes local and image‐level differentials in pixel intensity to independently threshold image background, distinguishing adipocyte‐free tissue without user input. It accurately captures adipocytes in histological sections stained with common dyes and automates the analysis of adipocyte cross‐sectional area, total‐field, and localized region‐of‐interest ECM. ATAT allows fully automated batch analysis of histological images using default or user‐defined adipocyte detection parameters.ConclusionsATAT provides several advantages over existing WAT image analysis tools, enabling high‐throughput analyses of adipocyte‐specific parameters and facilitating the assessment of ECM changes associated with WAT remodeling due to weight changes and other pathophysiological alterations that affect WAT function.
Gender Differences in Adults With Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Scoping Review
Authors: Behnke John , Dundervill Caroline , Al‐Asadi Zayd , Shahid Michel , Ramadan Hassan H. , Makary Chadi A. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractObjectiveGender differences in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) have been demonstrated in many studies over the last 15 years. The purpose of this scoping review is to investigate the current knowledge on gender differences in CRS and to analyze the gaps in the literature.Data SourcesA systematic search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases was performed.Review MethodsThis scoping review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA‐ScR) guidelines. Studies that evaluated gender differences in CRS were included in the review.ResultsOf the 523 abstracts reviewed, a total of 23 studies met the criteria for inclusion. Articles consisted of retrospective and prospective cohort studies. They were divided into 3 categories based on whether they evaluated gender differences in (1) presentation and baseline quality of life, (2) pathophysiology, and/or (3) outcomes of treatment. Eleven studies addressed differences in presentation, 5 addressed differences in pathophysiology, and 10 dealt with differences in outcomes after surgical or medical management. Most of the studies showed worse baseline QoL secondary to CRS in women, with outcome of treatment being similar in both genders.ConclusionThe experience of CRS appears to vary between genders, with women experiencing a greater subjective burden of disease than men, though with similar outcomes after treatment. Further research is indicated, particularly involving the pathophysiology of CRS, to fully understand the underlying causes of these discrepancies.
Characterization of the Binding Properties of Ten Aptamers Using the Intrinsic Fluorescence of Oxytetracycline
Authors: Zhao Yichen , Gao Biwen , Liu Juewen 
Published: February 2024

AbstractTetracyclines are a class of commonly used four‐ringed antibiotics. A series of DNA aptamers were recently obtained using the capture‐SELEX (systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment) method to bind to oxytetracycline, and one of the aptamers can bind to a few other tetracycline antibiotics as well. Upon binding to the aptamers, the intrinsic fluorescence of tetracycline antibiotics can be enhanced. At least 10 different DNA aptamers were isolated from the previous selection experiment. In this work, a systematic characterization of these ten aptamers was performed. Each of these aptamers shows a different degree of fluorescence enhancement ranging from around 1‐fold to over 20‐fold. Fluorescence enhancement was boosted in the presence of Mg2+. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) studies were done and showed a great variety in dissociation constant (Kd) from 62 nM to 1.6 μM. Steady‐state fluorescence spectroscopy and fluorescence lifetime studies showed a correlation between fluorescence lifetime and degree of fluorescence enhancement. A few aptamers showed slow binding kinetics, although no correlation was found between the kinetics of fluorescence change and degree of fluorescence enhancement. This is the first study of ten different aptamers for the same target, providing fundamental insights into aptamer binding and bioanalytical applications.
Patterns and factors associated with the prescription of psychotropic medications after diagnosis of cancer in Chinese patients: A population‐based cohort study
Authors: Lam Chun Sing , Lee Chui Ping , Chan Joey Wing Yan , Cheung Yin Ting 
Published: February 2024

AbstractPurposePatients with cancer may be prescribed psychotropic medications to address their psychiatric symptoms and disorders. This study examined the patterns and factors associated with the prescription of psychotropics after cancer diagnosis using a population‐based database in Hong Kong.MethodsPatients who were diagnosed with malignant cancer and had no documented psychiatric diagnosis or psychotropic medications prior to cancer diagnosis, were included. Multivariable log‐binomial models were used to explore the associations between predictive factors and psychotropic medications use.ResultsAmong 9337 patients, 1868 patients (20.0%) were newly prescribed with psychotropic medications after cancer diagnoses, most commonly hypnotics (50.3%) and antidepressants (32.8%). About one‐third (31.4%) were prescribed chronic psychotropics (≥90 days). Approximately 48.3% of patients who were prescribed psychotropic medications received their prescriptions within 1 year after diagnosed with cancer. Only 18.6% of those prescribed psychotropic medications had a registered psychiatric diagnosis. Patients with multiple comorbidities (adjusted risk ratio[aRR] = 2.74; CI = 2.46–3.05) and diagnosed with oral (aRR = 1.89; CI = 1.52–2.35) or respiratory cancers (aRR = 1.62; CI = 1.36–1.93) were more likely to be prescribed psychotropics.ConclusionsThe use of psychotropic medication is common (20%) among patients with cancer. Our findings highlight the importance of identification and documentation of psychiatric needs among patients with cancer.
Modern pollen rain reveals differences across forests, open and mosaic landscapes in Madagascar
Authors: Razafimanantsoa Andriantsilavo Hery Isandratana , Razanatsoa Estelle 
Published: February 2024

Societal Impact StatementPalaeoecological investigations are crucial in understanding millennial to centennial land use and land cover change. By analysing the modern pollen rain from four main vegetation types across Madagascar, this research provides baselines for improving the interpretation of pollen records in palaeoecological studies. This study determines the modern pollen‐vegetation relationship in Madagascar and gives a better understanding of the island's landscapes. Despite some spatial limitations, this approach contributes to resolving the debated topic related to the origin of Madagascar's open ecosystems. Knowing the vegetation history prior to and after human settlement would help guide biodiversity management and its associated ecosystem services.Summary

Modern pollen rain contributes to calibrating and defining palaeo‐records relative to the current vegetation of diverse landscapes. Quantifying past vegetation change is important to better frame sustainable and resilient management methods of biodiversity considering human needs. In this paper, we aim to assess modern pollen assemblages in different vegetation types in Madagascar and inform how these could contribute to the interpretation of palaeo‐records.
We identified modern pollen assemblages from 21 samples across four major vegetation types in Madagascar, including seven (N = 7) newly generated samples from the tropical dry forest in the Northwest region and 14 datasets downloaded from the African Pollen Database website. The downloaded datasets are from core tops representing modern vegetation previously analysed in the tropical dry forests and spiny thickets, the wooded grassland–bushland mosaic and the littoral humid forest. We evaluated the frequency of different taxa in the samples and conducted multivariate analyses to evaluate the similarities and ecological affinities between samples.
Pollen rain reflected the main vegetation types across Madagascar and provided information on the current structure and state of the landscape. Regarding the interpretation of pollen records, pollen rain samples revealed that: (i) Open mosaic ecosystems should contain a percentage of at least 40% grass pollen, informing on the origin of the vegetation in older samples and the state of degradation in more recent vegetation reconstructions; and (ii) Anthropogenic vegetation such as plantations are marked by the abundance of pioneer taxa such as Pinus and/or Eucalyptus spp. with a frequency >20%.
Our findings improve the interpretations of pollen records and help differentiate past distribution of forest, open and mosaic vegetation, in Madagascar. It will contribute to further research on human practices, land use and into scenarios of conservation planning not only in Madagascar but also across the tropics.
Managing ergonomic risk assessment among assembly operators in the small‐scale fabrication sector
Authors: Mohd Nizan Nor Izliana , Ali Nina Fatma , Hussain Siti Aslina 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIn the small‐scale fabrication sector, employee health and safety are the most important aspects for improving productivity and quality. There is a lack of risk assessment and limited information on human handling and ergonomic approaches in the working environment of the small‐scale fabrication sector. This study aims to analyze the association of human handling risk factors with work‐related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD) symptoms among assembly operators and to evaluate the proposed ergonomic intervention for a high‐risk work task using ergonomic risk assessment tools such as Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) and Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA). A questionnaire survey and observation were conducted across seven work categories. The analysis using RULA and REBA revealed that cleaning, fitting, and assembling have a high‐risk level that requires ergonomic intervention. The virtual design of the proposed ergonomic workstation for high‐risk work tasks was created using CATIA software and evaluated using RULA and REBA analyses. Job and organizational factors were found to be the main contributors to WMSD, while individual factors, awareness levels, and ergonomic risk assessment had insignificant effects on WMSD. Based on RULA and REBA scores, the proposed ergonomic intervention significantly reduces risk by 30%–47%, improving overall health and safety for operators in diverse work activities.
Application of ultra‐low‐volume spray for the control of vegetable disease in greenhouse: Investigation of formulation performance and potential dermal exposure
Authors: Ma Jiayi , Xiang Sheng , Shi Yanxia , Xie Xuewen , Chai Ali , Li Lei , Li Baoju , Fan Tengfei 
Published: February 2024

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe use of pesticides in greenhouse vegetable cultivation is necessary and significant. However, traditional pesticide application methods such as the use of backpack sprayers with water‐diluted pesticides have certain drawbacks, e.g., uneven distribution, high labor intensity, and safety risks.RESULTSIn this work, fluazinam ultra‐low‐volume liquids (Flu‐ULVs) were prepared using oily solvents as carriers. The effects of different oils on the physical properties of the preparations were investigated. The Flu‐ULV can be sprayed directly using a hand‐held ultra‐low‐volume (ULV) sprayer without dilution with water. Compared with commercial water‐based suspension concentrates of fluazinam, the Flu‐ULV samples showed better wetting of tomato leaves, better atomization, and more uniform droplet distribution. At a dosage of 300 mL/ha, the coverage rate of tomato leaves ranged from 32.47% to 79.3%, with a droplet deposition density of 556 to 2017 droplets/cm2. Application of Flu‐ULVs provided 70.86% control efficacy against gray mold in tomatoes, which was higher than those achieved with reference products. Dermal exposure to Flu‐ULVs was also evaluated in greenhouse experiments. The coverage rates for all parts of the operator's body ranged from 0.02% to 0.07%, with deposition volumes of 2.23 to 12.26 μg/cm2.CONCLUSIONGround ULV spraying of fluazinam was proved to be an effective and safe management option for the control of tomato gray mold in greenhouses. This study laid a foundation for the use of ultra‐low volume spray to control vegetable diseases in greenhouse, especially those induced by high humidity environment. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.