bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Immunonutrition in major oncologic head and neck surgery: Analysis of complications, plasmatic equilibrium, and costs
Authors: Ascoli Alessandro , Missale Francesco , Giordano Giorgio‐Gregory , Vallin Alberto , Gradaschi Raffaella , Guiddo Erica , Schenone Guido , Sukkar Samir Giuseppe , Copello Francesco , Parrinello Giampiero , Iandelli Andrea , Peretti Giorgio , Marchi Filippo 
Published: December 2022

AbstractBackgroundMalnutrition, in patients with solid tumors, is associated with a worse clinical outcome and about 40% of patients affected by head and neck cancers (HNC) are malnourished at the time of cancer diagnosis. We investigated the potential benefit of a standardized immunonutritional protocol (INP) to patients with HNC receiving major ablative surgery.MethodsAn observational study was conducted enrolling 199 patients: 50 treated with the INP and 149 with standard enteral nutrition. Complication rates, need for medications, and costs were considered as outcomes.ResultsINP played a protective role in development of major surgical complications (OR 0.23, p = 0.023), albumin administration (RR 0.38, p = 0.018), and antibiotic duration (p < 0.001) and is cost‐effective in patients with moderate or severe malnutrition (−6083€ and −11 988€, p < 0.05).ConclusionsOur study supports the utility of INP, and accurate nutritional screening can help to identify malnourished patients who would receive the most benefits from this protocol.
Bidirectional regulation by “star forces”: Ionotropic astrocyte's optical stimulation suppresses synaptic plasticity, metabotropic one strikes back
Authors: Maltsev Alexander , Roshchin Matvey , Bezprozvanny Ilya , Smirnov Ivan , Vlasova Olga , Balaban Pavel , Borodinova Anastasia 
Published: December 2022

AbstractThe role of astrocytes in modulating synaptic plasticity is an important question that until recently was not addressed due to limitations of previously existing technology. In the present study, we took an advantage of optogenetics to specifically activate astrocytes in hippocampal slices in order to study effects on synaptic function. Using the AAV‐based delivery strategy, we expressed the ionotropic channelrhodopsin‐2 (ChR2) or the metabotropic Gq‐coupled Opto‐a1AR opsins specifically in hippocampal astrocytes to compare different modalities of astrocyte activation. In electrophysiological experiments, we observed a depression of basal field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) in the CA1 hippocampal layer following light stimulation of astrocytic ChR2. The ChR2‐mediated depression increased under simultaneous light and electrical theta‐burst stimulation (TBS). Application of the type 2 purinergic receptor antagonist suramin prevented depression of basal synaptic transmission, and switched the ChR2‐dependent depression into potentiation. The GABAB receptor antagonist, phaclofen, did not prevent the depression of basal fEPSPs, but switched the ChR2‐dependent depression into potentiation comparable to the values for TBS in control slices. In contrast, light stimulation of Opto‐a1AR expressed in astrocytes led to an increase in basal fEPSPs, as well as a potentiation of synaptic responses to TBS significantly. A specific blocker of the Gq protein downstream target, the phospholipase C, U73122, completely prevented the effects of Opto‐a1AR stimulation on basal fEPSPs or Opto + TBS responses. To understand molecular basis for the observed effects, we performed an analysis of gene expression in these slices using quantitative PCR approach. We observed a significant upregulation of “immediate‐early” gene expression in hippocampal slices after light activation of Opto‐a1AR‐expressing astrocytes alone (cRel, Arc, Fos, JunB, and Egr1) or paired with TBS (cRel, Fos, and Egr1). Activation of ChR2‐expressing hippocampal astrocytes was insufficient to affect expression of these genes in our experimental conditions. Thus, we concluded that optostimulation of astrocytes with ChR2 and Opto‐a1AR optogenetic tools enables bidirectional modulation of synaptic plasticity and gene expression in hippocampus.
The cost‐effectiveness of maternal and neonatal screening for congenital cytomegalovirus infection in Japan
Authors: Aoki Hirosato , Bitnun Ari , Kitano Taito 
Published: December 2022

AbstractCongenital cytomegalovirus infection is the most common congenital infection. Using a decision tree model, cost‐effectiveness of maternal screening with subsequent prenatal valacyclovir treatment and newborn screening with neonatal valganciclovir treatment was evaluated. The incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated for (1) universal maternal antibody screening with prenatal valacyclovir treatment compared to targeted newborn screening, and (2) universal newborn screening with postnatal valganciclovir treatment compared to targeted newborn screening. We performed a one‐way sensitivity analysis. Compared to targeted newborn screening, the ICERs for universal newborn screening and maternal screening were 2 966 296 Japanese Yen (JPY) (21 188 USD) and 1 026 984 JPY (7336 USD), respectively. In all scenarios in the one‐way sensitivity analysis, the ICERs of the maternal screening and the universal newborn screening strategies were less than three gross domestic product per capita compared with the targeted newborn screening strategy. Both maternal and universal newborn screening strategies may be cost‐effective than a targeted newborn screening program. The potential utility of the maternal screening with valacyclovir treatment strategy, while potentially cost effective in regions with lower baseline seroprevalence rates, requires further study as the modeling was based on limited evidence.
Rill erosion on an unpaved loess road surface: Effects and control
Authors: Kou Pinglang , Xu Qiang , Jin Zhao , Tao Yuxiang , Yunus Ali P. , Xia Ying , Zhang Shuo , Pu Chuanhao 
Published: December 2022

AbstractRill erosion on unpaved roads is widespread and highly destructive on the Loess Plateau of China, but the exploration of its evolution mechanism is scarce. In this study, a multiphase runoff scour experiment was performed on an abandoned field road in the Loess Plateau, China. Using a terrestrial laser scanner (TLS), scour experiments are used to evaluate the dynamic evolution of rill erosion and fill. The results show that soil erosion decreases significantly after the initial surge. During the first scouring, the depths of erosion and fill reached their maximum, which were 5.49 ± 7.62 mm and 5.72 ± 16.37 mm, respectively, and the fourth erosion and fill rates are only 24% and 35% of the first. Unlike the upstream and midstream, which are dominated by erosion, the downstream is mainly characterized by fill, and the downstream fill depth is 1.46 times the erosion depth; however, this ratio is 0.52 and 0.74 in the upstream and midstream, respectively. A comparison of the erosion raster with slope change revealed that rapid slope change due to erosion was mainly concentrated at 10–15°. In addition, a comparison of the fill raster with the slope found that slopes greater than 30° during the second scouring tended to flatten out most by filling, as the hydrodynamic forces of steep slopes were easily dissipated. The relationship between slope, erosion, and fill is complex and variable for each scouring. Orthophotos revealed that the U‐shaped bottom topography was conducive to concentrated overland flow, which significantly worsens the rill erosion on the road surface. This indicates that even if the slope is very gentle, the terrain easy to collect water will cause considerable erosion damage. Prevention of rill erosion on the unpaved loess road surface, therefore, requires focused drainage development. This study provides important further scientific insights into the evolution of loess road rill erosion and road erosion damage to inform erosion hazard management in the context of fragile loess landscapes.
Long COVID: The latest manifestations, mechanisms, and potential therapeutic interventions
Authors: He Shi‐ting , Wu Kexin , Cheng Zixuan , He Mengjie , Hu Ruolan , Fan Ning , Shen Lin , Li Qirui , Fan Huahao , Tong Yigang 
Published: December 2022

AbstractCOVID‐19 caused by SARS‐CoV‐2 infection affects humans not only during the acute phase of the infection, but also several weeks to 2 years after the recovery. SARS‐CoV‐2 infects a variety of cells in the human body, including lung cells, intestinal cells, vascular endothelial cells, olfactory epithelial cells, etc. The damages caused by the infections of these cells and enduring immune response are the basis of long COVID. Notably, the changes in gene expression caused by viral infection can also indirectly contribute to long COVID. We summarized the occurrences of both common and uncommon long COVID, including damages to lung and respiratory system, olfactory and taste deficiency, damages to myocardial, renal, muscle, and enduring inflammation. Moreover, we provided potential treatments for long COVID symptoms manifested in different organs and systems, which were based on the pathogenesis and the associations between symptoms in different organs. Importantly, we compared the differences in symptoms and frequency of long COVID caused by breakthrough infection after vaccination and infection with different variants of concern, in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of the characteristics of long COVID and propose improvement for tackling COVID‐19.
Sufficient conditions for regularity, positive recurrence, and absorption in level‐dependent QBD processes and related block‐structured Markov chains
Authors: Gómez‐Corral Antonio , Langwade Joshua , López‐García Martín , Molina‐París Carmen 
Published: December 2022

This paper is concerned with level‐dependent quasi‐birth‐death (LD‐QBD) processes, i.e., multi‐variate Markov chains with a block‐tridiagonal
‐matrix, and a more general class of block‐structured Markov chains, which can be seen as LD‐QBD processes with total catastrophes. Arguments from univariate birth‐death processes are combined with existing matrix‐analytic formulations to obtain sufficient conditions for these block‐structured processes to be regular, positive recurrent, and absorbed with certainty in a finite mean time. Specifically, it is our purpose to show that, as is the case for competition processes, these sufficient conditions are inherently linked to a suitably defined birth‐death process. Our results are exemplified with two Markov chain models: a study of target cells and viral dynamics and one of kinetic proof‐reading in T cell receptor signal transduction.
TopasOpt: An open‐source library for optimization with Topas Monte Carlo
Authors: Whelan Brendan , Loo Billy W. , Wang Jinghui , Keall Paul 
Published: December 2022

AbstractPurposeTo describe and test TopasOpt: a free, open‐source and extensible library for performing mathematical optimization of Monte Carlo simulations in Topas.MethodsTopasOpt enables any Topas model to be transformed into an optimization problem, and any parameter within the model to be treated as an optimization variable. Three case studies are presented. The starting model consists of a 10 MeV electron beam striking a tungsten target. The resulting bremsstrahlung X‐ray spectrum is collimated by a primary and secondary collimator before being scored in a water tank. In the first case study (electron phase space optimization), five parameters describing the electron beam were treated as optimization variables and assigned a random starting value. An objective function was defined based on differences of depth‐dose and profiles in water between the original (ground truth) model and a given model generated by TopasOpt. The problem was solved using Bayesian Optimization and the Nelder‐Mead method. One hundred iterations were run in each case. In the second case study, (collimator geometry optimization), this process was repeated, but three geometric parameters defining the secondary collimator were treated as optimization variables and assigned random starting values, and forty iterations were run. In the third case study, the optimization was repeated with different number of primary particles to study the effect of noise on convergence.ResultsFor case 1 (phase space optimization), both optimization algorithms successfully minimized the objective function, with absolute mean differences in profile dose of 0.4% (Bayesian) and 0.3% (Nelder‐Mead) and 0.2% in depth‐dose for both algorithms. The beam energy was recovered to within 1%, however some parameters had relative errors of up to 171% – a result consistent with the known X‐ray dose is insensitivity to many electron beam parameters. For case 2 (geometry optimization), absolute mean differences in profile dose were 0.6% (Bayesian) and 0.9% (Nelder‐Mead), and 0.5% and 0.9% in depth‐dose. The maximum percentage error in any parameter was 9% with Bayesian Optimization and 28% with Nelder‐Mead. Finally, the Bayesian Optimization algorithm was demonstrated to be robust to moderate levels of noise; when the standard deviation of the objective function was 16% of the mean, the maximum error in any parameter value was 16%, and the absolute mean difference in dose was 0.9% (profile) and 0.8% (depth‐dose).ConclusionsAn open‐source library for optimization with Topas Monte Carlo has been developed, tested, and released. This tool will improve accuracy and efficiency in any situation in which the optimal value of a parameter in a Monte Carlo simulation is unknown. Applications for this tool include (1) The design of new components (2) Reverse engineering of models based on limited experimental or published data, and (3) Tuning of Monte Carlo “hyper parameters” such as variance reduction, physics settings, or scoring parameters.
A meta‐analysis on the relationship between posttraumatic growth and resilience in people with breast cancer
Authors: Wan Xiao , Huang Haitao , Peng Qianwen , Yu Nancy Xiaonan , Zhang Yingming , Ding Yueming , Wu Huifang , Hao Jiwei , Lu Guangli , Chen Chaoran 
Published: December 2022

AbstractAimTo quantitatively synthesize the correlation between posttraumatic growth and resilience among breast cancer patients and explore the potential moderators affecting the relation.DesignA meta‐analysis of cross‐sectional studies.MethodsThis meta‐analysis followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta‐Analyses 2020 guidelines. This meta‐analysis was carried out by searching Chinese and English databases of China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WANFANG DATA, Chongqing VIP Information Co., Ltd., PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and PsycINFO from inception to February 25, 2022. Pooled Pearson's correlation coefficients between posttraumatic growth and resilience was calculated by the Stata software (version 17.0) using the random effects model.ResultsSeventeen studies including 4156 breast cancer patients were identified. A high positive correlation was found between posttraumatic growth and resilience (r = 0.448, 95% CI: 0.370–0.519, p < 0.001), and region and publication type significantly moderated the relation.
Chinese version of the stressor scale for emergency nurse: A methodological study design
Authors: Yinghao Zhou , Dan Zhou , Ao Feng , Lin Zhao 
Published: December 2022

AbstractAimThe aim of this study was to modify and test the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the stressor scale for emergency nurses.DesignThe methodological design was carried out in two phases: (a) form the Chinese version by Delphi method and (b) test the psychometric properties by cross‐sectional survey.MethodsThe translated scale was administered to 420 nurses in Qingdao. Validity was assessed in terms of content validity, calibration correlation validity and construct validity using exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. Internal consistency was estimated using Cronbach α coefficients.ResultsThe Chinese version of the SSEN retains 27 items, four common factors were extracted by exploratory factor analysis, and the factor cumulative variance contribution rate was 78.463%. The fitting indexes of the four‐factor model of CFA were all in the acceptable range[χ2 = 711.30, df = 312, p < 0.001, χ2/df = 2.280, CFI = 0.933, TLI = 0.924, IFI = 0.933, RMSEA = 0.079 (90% confidence interval = 0.071–0.086)].The item‐level content validity index of the Chinese SSEN is 0.89 ~ 1.00; the scale‐level content validity index is 0.98; the Cronbach α coefficient of the total table is 0.971 and the split‐half reliability is 0.877.Patient or Public ContributionThe C‐SSEN can be used to help nursing managers accurately formulate management measures to improve the stress coping ability of nurses in the ED, stabilize the nursing team and ensure nursing safety.
Aligned carbon nanotube composite belts stitching of laminated composites for enhanced fracture toughness and enriched functionalities
Authors: Li Huigai , Xu Xiaokui , Yu Yanyan , Qu Shuxuan , Chen Ting , Yao Mu , Lyu Weibang 
Published: December 2022

AbstractRealizing the full potential of advanced fiber reinforced polymeric composites has been impeded by their weak interlaminar performance. Herein, a whole‐through‐thickness stitching strategy was proposed to address this key challenge by using ultrathin, high performance aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) composite belts as stitching sutures. During the fabrication of aligned CNT composite belts, the as‐made CNT belts that consist of randomly orientated CNTs were firstly stretched before resin infiltration. It has been found that the tensile strength and modulus of aligned CNT composite belts reached 1126.9 MPa and 56.2 GPa, with an improvement of 227.9% and 726.5% than those of unstretched composite belts, respectively. After stitching, the Mode I interlaminar fracture toughness and through‐thickness electrical conductivity of carbon fiber reinforced laminated composites was enhanced by 138.7% and 426.7%, respectively, which was mainly due to the bridging effect of strong and conducting CNT belts. In addition, the interlaminar crack propagations can be in situ monitored by tracking the resistance variation of the stitched laminates under loading. Thus, this stitching strategy provides an effective approach to not only enhance the structural performance of fiber reinforced polymeric composites, but also enrich their functionalities.
Effective cell penetration of negatively‐charged proline‐rich SAP(E) peptides with cysteine mutation
Authors: Lim Sewon , Park Jinhyuk , Chong Seung‐Eun , Kim Sungwhan , Choi Yoonhwa , Nam So Hee , Lee Yan 
Published: December 2022

AbstractMost of cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) are rich in positively‐charged amino acids but the cationic property may provoke possible problems in practical applications. In this study, we carefully substituted the hydrophobic amino acids in the SAP(E) sequence, a rare example of negatively‐charged proline‐rich CPP, with cysteine for enhancement of cell penetrating activity as well as reversible conjugation of cargo molecules. Most substituents showed almost negligible cell penetrating activity, but a cysteine substituent on the 7th valine (SAP(E)‐7C) showed more improved cell penetrating activity than SAP(E). When treated to cells, the negatively‐charged SAP(E)‐7C exhibited much lower degree of co‐localization with acidic endosomes or lysosomes compared to positively‐charged TAT. SAP(E)‐7C could significantly enhance the PTX efficacy on MDA‐MB‐231 cells by non‐covalent complexation with PTX. As a proof‐of‐concept for covalent conjugation of cargo drugs, mercaptoethanol, a model drug, was conjugated to the cysteine residue of SAP(E)‐7C via a disulfide bond, and the glutathione‐dependent release from the conjugate was confirmed. The negatively‐charged SAP(E)‐7C with a cysteine handle can be a useful molecular module for the development of CPP‐based drug delivery carrier.
Nonresponse bias in survey‐based entrepreneurship research: A review, investigation, and recommendations
Authors: Scheaf David J. , Loignon Andrew C. , Webb Justin W. , Heggestad Eric D. 
Published: December 2022

AbstractResearch SummaryEntrepreneurship researchers commonly use survey‐based research designs. However, surveying entrepreneurs poses unique challenges. A principal concern for survey‐based research is nonresponse bias, which occurs when survey respondents systematically differ from those who were sampled but did not participate in the study. To address this concern, we conducted a systematic review of the literature to determine what practices are currently being used to address nonresponse bias (142 articles, 180 surveying efforts) and conducted multiple studies to determine the extent to which nonresponse bias can affect statistical results. Based on these efforts, we present a series of techniques and a checklist that entrepreneurship scholars and reviewers and editors can consider to mitigate the risk of nonresponse bias prior to, and following, their data collection efforts.Managerial SummaryIn an average survey of entrepreneurs, approximately 40% of the people contacted will respond. This raises an important question: Can we make conclusions about the entrepreneurs who did not respond? Answering this question requires one to consider nonresponse bias (i.e., if respondents differ from nonrespondents). We conducted a systematic review of survey‐based studies in entrepreneurship and conducted three field studies. Our results show that nonresponse bias can manifest in different ways across studies, but it is rarely discussed in the literature. We also show that response rates are poor proxies of nonresponse bias. Based on these efforts, we present several techniques for scholars, reviewers, and editors to consider in the hopes of mitigating the risk of nonresponse bias in their studies.
White Light Emitting Gadolinium Oxide Nanoclusters for In‐vitro Bio‐imaging
Authors: Kumar Verma Vivek , Srivastava Prachi , Sabbarwal Shivesh , Singh Mamata , Koch Biplob , Kumar Manoj 
Published: December 2022

AbstractFluorescent probes are highly desirable for accurate diagnosis and play a crucial role in the optical imaging modality. Here, ultrafine (1.2 nm) nanoclusters of undoped gadolinium oxide were synthesized via a simple, one‐pot technique using water as the reaction medium. Prepared nanoclusters exhibit strong tuneable emission spanning from 400‐620 nm (extended visible region) with broad full width at half maximum of (FWHM) ∼140 nm, resulting in white light emission (WLE). Cytotoxicity studies revealed nearly 100 % cell viability encouraging its application in cell imaging. These nanoclusters possessed distinctive properties such as wide‐range pH stability, ionic tolerability, durable photostability, and anomalous colloidal stability (more than 24 months). This brief report uses white light‐emitting gadolinium oxide (Gd2O3) nanoclusters as an optical probe for in‐vitro fluorescence imaging.