bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Balancing the Crystallinity and Film Formation of Metal–Organic Framework Membranes through In Situ Modulation for Efficient Gas Separation
Authors: Liu Yutao , Chen Hui , Li Tong , Ren Yongheng , Wang Hui , Song Zhengxuan , Li Jianhui , Zhao Qiang , Li Jinping , Li Libo 
Published: July 2023

AbstractPolycrystalline metal–organic framework (MOF) layers hold great promise as molecular sieve membranes for efficient gas separation. Nevertheless, the high crystallinity tends to cause inter‐crystalline defects/cracks in the nearby crystals, which makes crystalline porous materials face a great challenge in the fabrication of defect‐free membranes. Herein, for the first time, we demonstrate the balance between crystallinity and film formation of MOF membrane through a facile in situ modulation strategy. Monocarboxylic acid was introduced as a modulator to regulate the crystallinity via competitive complexation and thus concomitantly control the film‐forming state during membrane growth. Through adjusting the ratio of modulator acid/linker acid, an appropriate balance between this structural “trade‐off” was achieved. The resulting MOF membrane with moderate crystallinity and coherent morphology exhibits molecular sieving for H2/CO2 separation with selectivity up to 82.5.
Chemical and biological conjugation strategies for the development of multivalent protein vaccine nanoparticles
Authors: Park Jaeyoung , Pho Thomas , Champion Julie A. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThe development of subunit vaccine platforms has been of considerable interest due to their good safety profile and ability to be adapted to new antigens, compared to other vaccine typess. Nevertheless, subunit vaccines often lack sufficient immunogenicity to fully protect against infectious diseases. A wide variety of subunit vaccines have been developed to enhance antigen immunogenicity by increasing antigen multivalency, as well as stability and delivery properties, via presentation of antigens on protein nanoparticles. Increasing multivalency can be an effective approach to provide a potent humoral immune response by more strongly engaging and clustering B cell receptors (BCRs) to induce activation, as well as increased uptake by antigen presenting cells and their subsequent T cell activation. Proper orientation of antigen on protein nanoparticles is also considered a crucial factor for enhanced BCR engagement and subsequent immune responses. Therefore, various strategies have been reported to decorate highly repetitive surfaces of protein nanoparticle scaffolds with multiple copies of antigens, arrange antigens in proper orientation, or combinations thereof. In this review, we describe different chemical bioconjugation methods, approaches for genetic fusion of recombinant antigens, biological affinity tags, and enzymatic conjugation methods to effectively present antigens on the surface of protein nanoparticle vaccine scaffolds.
Is it the mere female directors or their attributes that matter for the quality of corporate sustainability disclosures?
Authors: Rahman Haseeb Ur , Zahid Muhammad , Jan Amin , Al‐Faryan Mamdouh Abdulaziz Saleh , Hussainey Khaled 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThis study aims to inquire whether it is the mere female directors or their certain attributes that improve the quality of corporate sustainability disclosures (QCSD). Annual and sustainability reports are used to obtain data for 300 non‐financial Pakistani listed companies selected through stratified random sampling for the period 2012–2021. The study employed ordinary least squares with panel‐corrected standard errors to test research hypotheses. The findings that neither support “tokenism” nor “critical mass” assumptions revealed that firms with female directors on the board, regardless of how many, have better QCSD than others. Similarly, the proportion of female directors on the board and audit committee also showed a positive association with QCSD. The positive role of independent female directors and their experience was slightly more pronounced than the executive female directors and their experience in improving QCSD. Likewise, the positive effect of female directors' business‐related education was marginally higher than their non‐business education in improving QCSD. Furthermore, female directors' master's or above level of education had a significant positive, while their bachelor's or below level of education had no significant association with QCSD. The study offers several theoretical and practical implications.
What decides my purchase of non‐fungible tokens?
Authors: V Vishnu Prasad , Murthy Meta Dev Prasad , Joseph Joshy , Adhikari Atanu 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThis pioneering study wishes to advance our knowledge regarding consumers' motivating, inhibiting, and trust factors influencing their purchase of non‐fungible tokens (NFTs). Employing an extended valence framework (EVF), the authors investigate the role of the marketplace trust, marketplace reputation, and perceived regulatory support in addition to the benefits and risks of the new NFT technology; in eliciting a purchase intention for NFTs. A survey of 358 NFT enthusiasts is conducted to empirically test the EVF using the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique (study 1). Further, an experimental inquiry using a 3 × 3 between‐subjects design (study 2) is performed on actual NFT consumers to investigate the relative effectiveness of the focused benefits (value appreciation vs. exclusivity vs. enjoyment) and the brand extension (original product vs. near‐extension product vs. far‐extension product) in leading to positive outcomes like purchase intention and the price willing to pay for the NFTs. In addition to suggesting a comprehensive and useful framework for examining the psychological determinants of an individual's purchase intention for NFTs (study 1), the study 2 outcomes contribute significantly to future scholars and marketers by guiding them in designing effective benefits message appeals to the buyers in promoting their NFTs for original as well as brand extension products. The results recommend that NFT marketers focus on the exclusivity benefits of the NFTs for higher willingness to pay among the users while signaling value appreciation benefits shall evoke the highest purchase intention among the three benefit message appeals.
Concise Total Syntheses of (+)‐Brefeldin A, Diastereomers and Analogs and Their Biological Activity
Authors: Klychnikov Mikhail K. , Pohl Radek , Císařová Ivana , Hájek Miroslav , Jahn Ullrich 
Published: July 2023

AbstractBrefeldin A is an important natural product and biochemical tool with cell‐modulating and other diverse biological activities. To explore its chemical space, a generally applicable strategy for total syntheses of naturally occurring (+)‐brefeldin A (BFA), 2‐epi‐BFA, their diastereomers and analogs with varying macrocyclic ring size is reported. The five‐membered ring fragment was constructed by a short three‐step sequence consisting of tandem nucleophilic epoxide opening/Brook rearrangement/radical oxygenation and subsequent thermal radical cyclization based on the persistent radical effect. Further key steps are asymmetric aldehyde vinylation, which enables control of the absolute configuration at the allylic hydroxy group of BFA, cross‐metatheses reactions for attachment of the northern and southern side chains to the cyclopentane unit and final Shiina macrolactonization. The cytotoxic activity of all compounds was determined, and several analogs proved to be similarly active as BFA, providing insight about regions of the skeleton that can be varied or have to be conserved with respect to their biological activities. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that BFA and some non‐natural analogs disassemble the Golgi apparatus in cells with large variation of the disassembly and subsequent reassembly times.
Impact of wearing Comfiknit Atopic Eczema® T‐shirts on patients with atopic dermatitis: An open‐label pilot study
Authors: Hattori Naoko , Morisaki Hitomi , Matsumoto Mai , Takenaka Motoi , Lau Kenneth , Oniwa Yasuhiko , Murota Hiroyuki 
Published: July 2023

AbstractObjectivesAtopic dermatitis (AD) is aggravated by various factors, including perspiration and heat. Thus, it is recommended that AD patients wear breathable clothing to maintain disease remission. Japan has four seasons, so the ideal clothing for individuals with AD may differ throughout the year. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of wearing a newly developed performance fabric, named the Comfiknit Atopic Eczema® T‐shirt, which absorbs excess perspiration from the skin surface and retains moisture within the fabric. We evaluated the effects of the T‐shirts on the clinical characteristics of AD and compared the effects in summer and winter.MethodsTen adult outpatients with AD took part in an open‐label pilot study for 4 weeks during the summer and for 4 weeks during the winter. The Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI), the Patient‐Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM), the itch Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the stratum corneum water content (SCWC), skin pH, and skin bacterial cultures were evaluated. A Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication‐9 (TSQM‐9) was filled out only after the intervention.ResultsThe mean EASI, POEM, and itch VAS scores in both summer and winter fell after wearing the Comfiknit Atopic Eczema® T‐shirts, whereas the SCWC increased. There was no significant difference in the skin surface pH or bacterial cultures before and after the intervention.ConclusionsWearing Comfiknit Atopic Eczema® T‐shirts helped to prevent exacerbation of AD in summer and winter. Thus, wearing T‐shirts made from performance fabric may help to maintain skin homeostasis.
Pharmacokinetic Comparison Between a Fixed‐Dose Combination of Empagliflozin L‐Proline/Metformin and Empagliflozin/Metformin in Healthy Korean Subjects
Authors: Lee HyunJoon , Chung Jae‐Yong , Yu Kyung‐Sang , Park Shin‐Jung , Lee Soyoung 
Published: July 2023

AbstractEmpagliflozin and metformin are oral antidiabetic drugs commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus as a combination therapy. This study aimed to compare the pharmacokinetics and safety of a newly developed fixed‐dose combination of 5‐mg empagliflozin L‐proline and 1000‐mg metformin with the reference drug. A randomized, open‐label, single‐dose, 2‐period, 2‐treatment, crossover study was conducted in healthy Korean subjects. The subjects received a single oral dose of reference drug or test drug at each period. The pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters were calculated using a noncompartmental method. The geometric mean ratios and 90% confidence intervals of the plasma maximum concentration (Cmax) and area under the concentration–time curve from time zero to the last quantifiable concentration (AUClast) were calculated. A total of 27 healthy subjects were included in the PK analysis. For empagliflozin, the geometric mean ratios (90% confidence intervals) of the test to reference drug for Cmax and AUClast were 1.03 (0.99–1.08) and 1.03 (1.00–1.06), respectively. For metformin, the corresponding values for Cmax and AUClast were 0.99 (0.92–1.06) and 1.00 (0.94–1.06), respectively. In conclusion, a fixed‐dose combination of empagliflozin L‐proline and metformin showed similar PK characteristics to the reference drug, and both drugs were safe in healthy subjects.
Prevalence and risk factors of diabetic peripheral neuropathy: A population‐based cross‐sectional study in China
Authors: Wang Weimin , Ji Qiuhe , Ran Xinwu , Li Chenxi , Kuang Hongyu , Yu Xuefeng , Fang Hui , Yang Jing , Liu Jing , Xue Yaoming , Feng Bo , Lei Minxiang , Zhu Dalong 
Published: July 2023

AbstractAimsTo assess the prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and its risk factors in the type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) population.MethodsThis cross‐sectional study enroled patients with T2DM between July and December 2017 from 24 provinces in China. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy and its severity were assessed by the Toronto clinical scoring system, neuropathy symptoms score (NSS) and neuropathy disability score. The prevalence of DPN and its risk factors were analysed.ResultsA total of 14,908 patients with T2DM were enroled. The prevalence of DPN was 67.6%. Among 10,084 patients with DPN, 4808 (47.7%), 3325 (33.0%), and 1951 (19.3%) had mild, moderate, and severe DPN, respectively. The prevalence of DPN in females was higher than in males (69.0% vs. 66.6%, P = 0.002). The prevalence of DPN increased with age and course of diabetes and decreased with body mass index (BMI) and education level (all P for trend <0.05). The comorbidities and complications in patients with DPN were higher than in those without DPN, including hypertension, myocardial infarction, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic nephropathy (all P < 0.001). Age, hypertension, duration of diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy, glycated haemoglobin, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate were positively associated with DPN, while BMI, education level, fasting C‐peptide, and uric acid were negatively associated with DPN.ConclusionsAmong patients with T2DM in China, the prevalence of DPN is high, especially in the elderly, low‐income, and undereducated patients.
Switching away from smoking at 12 months among adult JUUL users varying in recent history of quit attempts made with and without smoking cessation medication
Authors: Shiffman Saul , Hannon Michael J. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractSome smokers switch away from smoking using e‐cigarettes, but guidelines recommend trying approved medications first. We analyzed switching in adult smokers using JUUL by their recent history of quit attempts and use of smoking cessation medications. Participants were 8511 adult (21+) established smokers (at baseline), in which 50.3% are daily smokers, in a longitudinal observational study who completed a survey 12 months after first purchasing a JUUL Starter Kit. At baseline, participants reported attempts to quit smoking in the prior year and use of pharmacotherapy (nicotine replacement therapy [NRT] or prescription medication) in their most recent attempt. The outcomes were switching (self‐reported no past‐30‐day smoking) and 50%+ reductions in cigarette consumption. Multivariable analyses were adjusted for baseline covariates. Two thirds of the participants had made a quit attempt in the year before purchasing JUUL. Overall, 59% [58%, 60%] had switched at 12 months. Switching was more likely in those who had used NRT and who attempted quitting without medication versus those who used prescription medications or made no quit attempt. In adjusted multivariable analyses, only making a past‐year quit attempt (vs. not) was associated with higher odds of switching (OR = 1.15 [1.04, 1.28]). Over 60% of dual users reduced cigarette consumption by ≥50%. These associations were largely similar in daily smokers. Twelve months after purchasing JUUL, almost all smokers reported either switching or reducing their smoking by 50%+, including those who had recently failed to quit smoking with approved pharmacotherapies. E‐cigarettes provide an alternative route to abstinence from smoking for smokers with a history of cessation and cessation treatment failure.
The impact of gender and frailty on the outcome of older patients with functional mitral regurgitation
Authors: Bruno Raphael Romano , Uzel Robert , Spieker Maximilian , Datz Christian , Oehler Daniel , Bönner Florian , Kelm Malte , Hoppichler Friedrich , Jung Christian , Wernly Bernhard 
Published: July 2023

AbstractAimsFunctional mitral regurgitation (MR) is the second most common valvular heart disease worldwide and is increasing with age. The present study investigates the gender distribution and 1 year prognosis of older patients (≥65 years) with pharmacologically treated MR in a real‐world population with moderate to severe functional MR.Methods and resultsThis a single‐centre retrospective observational cohort study and included 243 medically treated patients with moderate to severe MR from 2014 to 2020. Echocardiography was performed at baseline. The combined endpoint was hospitalization due to heart failure and all‐cause death. There were more female than male patients (42% vs. 58%) without differences regarding age (81 ± 7 years in males vs. 82 ± 8 years in females, P = 0.24). Heart failure symptoms were distributed equally in both groups. Almost half of the patients evidenced a high EuroSCORE II (41%/42%). Atrial fibrillation was frequent, affecting 65% male and 64% female patients (P = 0.89). There were no differences regarding medical treatment. In both genders, two‐thirds of the patients displayed MR grade II° (71% (72), and 69% (97)), and one‐third showed MR grade III° (29% (30) vs. 31% (44), respectively, P = 0.76). Although males had larger left ventricular end‐diastolic diameter, lower ejection fraction (39% (16) vs. 48% (14), P < 0.001), and more dilated left atria. After 1 year, genders did not differ regarding the combined primary endpoint of hospitalization due to heart failure and all‐cause mortality (32% (33) for males vs. 29% (41) for females, P = 0.61). One‐year mortality was low and equal in both cohorts (11% in males and 9% in females, P = 0.69). In univariate Cox regression proportion hazard model, being female was not associated with the primary endpoint (hazard ratio 0.87 (95% confidence interval 0.55 to 1.37), P = 0.54). Multivariable adjustment for EuroSCORE II and frailty did not result in a significant change regarding the impact of the female gender.ConclusionsDespite better left ventricular systolic function, mortality in medically treated older female patients suffering from functional mitral regurgitation is not lower than in males. In this real‐world cohort, frailty was a stronger predictor of clinical outcome than gender.
Invariant natural killer T cells drive hepatic homeostasis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease via sustained IL‐10 expression in CD170+ Kupffer cells
Authors: Han Mutian , Geng Jinke , Zhang Shuangshuang , Rao Jia , Zhu Yansong , Xu Shaodong , Wang Fei , Ma Fang , Zhou Meng , Zhou Hong 
Published: July 2023

AbstractKupffer cells (KCs) are liver‐resident macrophages involved in hepatic inflammatory responses, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) development. However, the contribution of KC subsets to liver inflammation remains unclear. Here, using high‐dimensional single‐cell RNA sequencing, we characterized murine embryo‐derived KCs and identified two KC populations with different gene expression profiles: KC‐1 and KC‐2. KC‐1 expressed CD170, exhibiting immunoreactivity and immune‐regulatory abilities, while KC‐2 highly expressed lipid metabolism‐associated genes. In a high‐fat diet–induced NAFLD model, KC‐1 cells differentiated into pro‐inflammatory phenotypes and initiated more frequent communications with invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells. In KC‐1, interleukin (IL)‐10 expression was unaffected by the high‐fat diet but impaired by iNKT cell ablation and upregulated by iNKT cell adoptive transfer in vivo. Moreover, in a cellular co‐culture system, primary hepatic iNKT cells promoted IL‐10 expression in RAW264.7 and primary KC‐1 cells. CD206 signal blocking in KC‐1 or CD206 knockdown in RAW264.7 cells significantly reduced IL‐10 expression. In conclusion, we identified two embryo‐derived KC subpopulations with distinct transcriptional profiles. The CD206‐mediated crosstalk between iNKT and KC‐1 cells maintains IL‐10 expression in KC‐1 cells, affecting hepatic immune balance. Therefore, KC‐based therapeutic strategies must consider cellular heterogeneity and the local immune microenvironment for enhanced specificity and efficiency.
Hybrid TH precoding with subarray connection for multi‐user mmWave MIMO systems
Authors: Du Ruiyan , Guan Zhiqing , Feng Tian , Liu Fulai 
Published: July 2023

AbstractExisting linear algorithms based on subarray connection (SC) structures may cause noise enhancement and performance degradation. To solve this problem, this paper presents a nonlinear hybrid Tomlinson‐Harashima precoding (THP) algorithm based on SC structure, named as THP‐SC algorithm. In the proposed algorithm, the sum‐rate optimization problem can be transformed into two equivalent optimization subproblems including the transmitter optimization subproblem and the receiver optimization subproblem. These two subproblems are easy to solve. Furthermore, the analog precoding and combining matrices of the optimization subproblem are solved by a new improved successive interference cancelation (SIC) algorithm based on the singular value threshold shrinkage (SVS), which can effectively reduce the computational complexity while eliminating the interference. In the end, the digital precoding and combining matrices are obtained by TH method. Through the joint optimization of the transmitter and receiver matrices in the system, the optimal solution is obtained by alternate iteration of the matrices. In this paper, a more realistic line‐of‐sight (LOS) and non‐line‐of‐sight (NLOS) channel system is also considered. Simulations verify that the proposed algorithm can improve the spectral efficiency and energy efficiency to some extent with a comparable complexity compared to the previous works.
Methyl jasmonate‐dependent hydrogen sulfide mediates melatonin‐induced aphid resistance of watermelon
Authors: Su Zhuangzhuang , Lan Zhixiang , Gao Yufan , Liu Yunfei , Shen Jian , Guo Yanliang , Ma Jianxiang , Zhang Yong , Luan Feishi , Zhang Xian , Li Hao 
Published: July 2023

AbstractAs one of the most destructive pests, aphids cause significant damage on various agricultural and horticultural crops. Recently, melatonin has been shown to enhance plant resistance to aphids; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, our results showed that melatonin, MeJA, and H2S enhanced aphid resistance of watermelon in a dose‐dependent manner, accompanied by increases in the defense‐related enzyme activities and lignin accumulation. On the plants pretreated with 100 μM melatonin, 100 μM MeJA, and 50 μM NaHS, the numbers of aphids were 86.0%, 59.6%, and 47.9% lower than that on control plants, respectively, after aphid infestation for 7 days. Melatonin application induced MeJA and H2S accumulation in response to aphid infestation, while inhibition of MeJA and H2S accumulation attenuated or abolished melatonin‐induced defense response and aphid resistance, suggestive of the involvement of MeJA and H2S in melatonin‐induced aphid resistance. MeJA also increased H2S accumulation, but inhibition of MeJA biosynthesis prevented melatonin‐enhanced H2S accumulation, suggesting that MeJA mediates melatonin‐induced H2S accumulation. Furthermore, inhibition of H2S production attenuated MeJA‐induced defense response and aphid resistance. Taken together, the current study reveals a novel mechanism in which MeJA‐dependent H2S signaling is involved in melatonin‐induced defense response and subsequent aphid resistance. The increasing concern to minimize the use of pesticides and to switch onto sustainable and natural control strategies indicates the great exploitation of such a mechanism in combating aphids.