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In alignment with the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Global Compact’s Ten Principles, nations have established platforms for environmental sustainability through financial routes, spotlighting green finance and FinTech. While there have been tangible advancements, academic discourse on these topics remains dispersed and lacks cohesion. Observing the frequent overlap in the implementation of green finance and FinTech, this paper offers a bibliometric analysis of research concerning green finance and FinTech up to 2022. The primary objective of this study is to identify some of the most pertinent research in these fields. The results assist in delineating several future research directions, including a greater focus on the investment facet of green finance, the application facet of FinTech, the regulatory environment in some developing countries, and an emphasis on Green FinTech research based on information from the Web of Science database.

Viral infection during pregnancy has been correlated with increased frequency of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in offspring. This observation has been modeled in rodents subjected to maternal immune activation (MIA). The immune cell populations critical in the MIA model have not been identified. Using both genetic mutants and blocking antibodies in mice, we show that retinoic acid receptor–related orphan nuclear receptor gamma t (RORγt)–dependent effector T lymphocytes [for example, T helper 17 (TH17) cells] and the effector cytokine interleukin-17a (IL-17a) are required in mothers for MIA-induced behavioral abnormalities in offspring. We find that MIA induces an abnormal cortical phenotype, which is also dependent on maternal IL-17a, in the fetal brain. Our data suggest that therapeutic targeting of TH17 cells in susceptible pregnant mothers may reduce the likelihood of bearing children with inflammation-induced ASD-like phenotypes.

Building on the theory of circuit topology for intra-chain contacts in entangled proteins, we introduce tiles as a way to rigorously model local entanglements which are held in place by molecular forces. We develop operations that combine tiles so that entangled chains can be represented by algebraic expressions. Then we use our model to show that the only knot types that such entangled chains can have are 3 1 , 4 1 , 5 1 , 5 2 , 6 1 , 6 2 , 6 3 , 7 7 , 8 12 and connected sums of these knots. This includes all proteins knots that have thus far been identified.

Background Communication is important for patient safety in the operating room (OR). Several studies have assessed OR communications qualitatively or have focused on communication in crisis situations. This study used prospective, quantitative observation based on well-established communication theory to assess similarities and differences in communication patterns between open and laparoscopic surgery. Methods Based on communication theory, a standardized proforma was developed for assessment in the OR via real-time observation of communication types, their purpose, their content, and their initiators/recipients. Data were collected prospectively in real time in the OR for 20 open and 20 laparoscopic inguinal hernia repairs. Assessors were trained and calibrated, and their reliability was established statistically. Results During 1,884 min of operative time, 4,227 communications were observed and analyzed (2,043 laparoscopic vs 2,184 open communications). The mean operative duration (laparoscopic, 48 min vs open, 47 min), mean communication frequency (laparoscopic, 102 communications/procedure vs open, 109 communications/procedure), and mean communication rate (laparoscopic, 2.13 communications/min vs open, 2.23 communications/min) did not differ significantly across laparoscopic and open procedures. Communications were most likely to be initiated by surgeons (80–81 %), to be received by either other surgeons (46–50 %) or OR nurses (38–40 %), to be associated with equipment/procedural issues (39–47 %), and to provide direction for the OR team (38–46 %) in open and laparoscopic cases. Moreover, communications in laparoscopic cases were significantly more equipment related (laparoscopic, 47 % vs open, 39 %) and aimed significantly more at providing direction (laparoscopic, 46 % vs open, 38 %) and at consulting (laparoscopic, 17 % vs open, 12 %) than at sharing information (laparoscopic, 17 % vs open, 31 %) ( P  < 0.001 for all). Conclusions Numerous intraoperative communications were found in both laparoscopic and open cases during a relatively low-risk procedure (average, 2 communications/min). In the observed cases, surgeons actively directed and led OR teams in the intraoperative phase. The lack of communication between surgeons and anesthesiologists ought to be evaluated further. Simple, inexpensive interventions shown to streamline intraoperative communication and teamworking (preoperative briefing, surgeons’ mental practice) should be considered further.

Previous studies suggest that complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapy use in children with chronic illnesses is higher than in children in the general population. In this study, we investigated patterns of CAM therapy use in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD, n = 50) as compared to a control population of children with no ASD (n = 50). Over half of the parents in the ASD group reported using, or had used at least one CAM therapy for their child (52%) as compared to 28% of the control group (P = 0.024). Seventy percent of therapies used in the ASD group were biologically based therapies comprised of special diets or supplements, and parents felt that 75% of the therapies used were beneficial.

Background After the WHO issued the global alert for 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1), many national health agencies began to screen travelers on entry in airports, ports and border crossings to try to delay local transmission. Methods We reviewed entry screening policies adopted by different nations and ascertained dates of official report of the first laboratory-confirmed imported H1N1 case and the first laboratory-confirmed untraceable or 'local' H1N1 case. Results Implementation of entry screening policies was associated with on average additional 7-12 day delays in local transmission compared to nations that did not implement entry screening, with lower bounds of 95% confidence intervals consistent with no additional delays and upper bounds extending to 20-30 day additional delays. Conclusions Entry screening may lead to short-term delays in local transmission of a novel strain of influenza virus. The resources required for implementation should be balanced against the expected benefits of entry screening.

Background Breast cancer has been considered not highly immunogenic, and few patients benefit from current immunotherapies. However, new strategies are aimed at changing this paradigm. In the present study, we examined the in vivo activity of a humanized anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD-1) antibody against triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patient-derived xenograft (PDX) tumor models. Methods To circumvent some of the limitations posed by the lack of appropriate animal models in preclinical studies of immunotherapies, partially human leukocyte antigen-matched TNBC PDX tumor lines from our collection, as well as human melanoma cell lines, were engrafted in humanized nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency IL2R γ null (hNSG) mice obtained by intravenous injection of CD34 + hematopoietic stem cells into nonlethally irradiated 3–4-week-old mice. After both PDXs and melanoma cell xenografts reached ~ 150–200 mm 3 , animals were treated with humanized anti-PD-1 antibody or anti-CTLA-4 and evaluated for tumor growth, survival, and potential mechanism of action. Results Human CD45 + , CD20 + , CD3 + , CD8 + , CD56 + , CD68 + , and CD33 + cells were readily identified in blood, spleen, and bone marrow collected from hNSG, as well as human cytokines in blood and engrafted tumors. Engraftment of TNBC PDXs in hNSG was high (~ 85%), although they grew at a slightly slower pace and conserved their ability to generate lung metastasis. Human CD45 + cells were detectable in hNSG-harbored PDXs, and consistent with clinical observations, anti-PD-1 antibody therapy resulted in both a significant reduction in tumor growth and increased survival in some of the hNSG PDX tumor lines, whereas no such effects were observed in the corresponding non-hNSG models. Conclusions This study provides evidence associated with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy against TNBC tumors supporting the use of TNBC PDXs in humanized mice as a model to overcome some of the technical difficulties associated with the preclinical investigation of immune-based therapies.

Background and Objectives Effective communication is imperative to safe surgical practice. Previous studies have typically focused upon the operating theatre. This study aimed to explore the communication and information transfer failures across the entire surgical care pathway. Methods Using a qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 members of the multidisciplinary team (seven surgeons, five anaesthetists and six nurses) in an acute National Health Service trust. Participants' views regarding information transfer and communication failures at each phase of care, their causes, effects and potential interventions were explored. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and submitted to emergent theme analysis. Sampling ceased when categorical and theoretical saturation was achieved. Results Preoperatively, lack of communication between anaesthetists and surgeons was the most common problem (13/18 participants). Incomplete handover from the ward to theatre (12/18) and theatre to recovery (15/18) were other key problems. Work environment, lack of protocols and primitive forms of information transfer were reported as the most common cause of failures. Participants reported that these failures led to increased morbidity and mortality. Healthcare staff were strongly supportive of the view that standardisation and systematisation of communication processes was essential to improve patient safety. Conclusions This study suggests communication failures occur across the entire continuum of care and the participants opined that it could have a potentially serious impact on patient safety. This data can be used to plan interventions targeted at the entire surgical pathway so as to improve the quality of care at all stages of the patient's journey.

In this study, we respond to the criticism that the value-at-risk (VaR) measure fails during financial crises and is only applicable during periods without asset price bubbles. We propose a new dating mechanism that is based on the work of Phillips (2015) to date-stamp the origination and termination of the asset price bubbles. Our method relaxed the minimum bubble duration constraint in the original model, and the empirical application statistically identified the bubbles periods in nine stock markets (Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Spain, Hong Kong, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States). We choose the two most widely adopted VaR models (RiskMetrics and RiskMetrics 2006) to test the performance. Our results show that the RiskMetrics model fails in most periods, whereas the RiskMetrics 2006 performs efficiently in the periods with asset price bubbles. These results prove the criticism that all the VaR models fail during crises as invalid.

Bi 2 Fe 4 O 9 nanofibers were successfully synthesized by an electrospinning method combined with a sol–gel process. The as-spun nanofibers were annealed at different temperatures ranging from 500 to 700 °C and a pure orthorhombic phase was obtained at 700 °C. The thermo-decomposition behavior, structure, morphology, optical property, and the specific surface area of the nanofibers were characterized by thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and photoluminescene spectroscopy, and specific surface analyzer, respectively. The results indicated that the diameter and morphology of the fiber changed with different calcination temperatures. Moreover, the results of UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy revealed that the Bi 2 Fe 4 O 9 nanofiber could be a photocatalyst under a visible light irradiation and the bandgap value was determined to be 2.1 eV based on the Kubelka–Munk theory. The photocatalytic activity of the obtained nanofibers was evaluated by the degradation of methyl orange. A favorable degradation rate of 45 % was obtained for the sample annealed at 600 °C under the illumination of visible light for 3 h and an enhanced efficiency up to 70 % with recycling stability could be obtained with the aid of H 2 O 2 for the pure-phase sample annealed at 700 °C. These results demonstrated that the electrospun Bi 2 Fe 4 O 9 nanofibers could be a promising visible light photocatalyst.