bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Educational Interventions for Haemodialysis Patients in the Transplant Process: A Systematic Review
Authors: Oriol‐Vila Ester , Rota‐Musoll Laura , Molina‐Robles Esmeralda , Roure‐Pujol Carme , Chiverches‐Pérez Emilia
Published: December 2024

Aim

To systematically evaluate empirical studies investigating nursing educational interventions for patients with haemodialysis at the different stages of cadaveric kidney transplantation and synthesise these findings.

Design

A systematic review of clinical interventions.

Methods

On clinical trials published in Spanish and English, between January 2005 and July 2022, in the main databases. The number of studies identified is shown in the flowchart of the PRISMA review. For the critical assessment of the scientific quality of the studies, the CASPe checklist and the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool were applied.

Results

Eleven studies were obtained in which nursing educational interventions focused on posttransplantations and one that considered care from the person's admission to hospital were evaluated. The results obtained identified four themes: health education, empowerment, quality of life and holistic patient care with the help of different support methods, including individual and personalised support, group format and informational support via an educational brochure, telephone and website.

Conclusion

The reviewed studies suggest that after receiving educational interventions patient dialysis treatment and kidney transplant recipient, have better health outcomes.

Patient Contribution

Larger studies are needed to promote a comprehensive and continuous self‐care model throughout the kidney transplant process.

Implications for Nursing Health Education

Nursing educational interventions are necessary throughout the transplantation process for the patient dialysis and the family in a comprehensive and continuous manner. In the future, clinical trial studies are needed at the pretransplantation stage.
Decreased Postoperative Emesis and Opioid Use After Implementation of ERAS Protocol for Free Flap Surgery
Authors: Siegel Jesse K. , Gomez Kayeromi , Bier‐Laning Carol
Published: December 2024

Objective

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols are designed to improve postoperative outcomes. In this study, we compare outcomes for patients undergoing head and neck free flap surgery at a quaternary care institution before and after an ERAS protocol was implemented.

Study Design

Retrospective study.

Setting

Single quaternary care center.

Methods

Retrospective evaluation of outcomes from patients who underwent head and neck surgery with free flap reconstruction prior to ERAS (January 2018 to May 2022, baseline) with patient outcomes after implementation (June 2022 to September 2023, ERAS). Outcomes studied included length of stay (LOS), opioid utilization, postoperative emesis, readmission, and mortality.

Results

Patients in the ERAS group had significantly lower opioid utilization (206.84 ± 217 morphine milligram equivalent vs 415.53 ± 431, P < .01) and significantly lower rates of postoperative emesis (1.74% vs 28.27%, P < .01). This difference in emesis remained significant in the subgroup of patients who underwent total laryngectomy. The decreases in opioid use and emesis remained significant in multivariate analyses controlling for demographic factors and surgery type. We found no significant decrease in LOS or mortality.

Conclusion

In the year after implementing an ERAS protocol for head and neck free flap surgery, we found significantly lower opioid utilization and the unique finding of lower postoperative emesis overall, including in the laryngectomy subgroup for whom emesis‐induced fistula is most impactful. No difference was noted in LOS or mortality. To our knowledge, this is the first study of an ERAS protocol for head and neck surgery to show a decrease in postoperative emesis.
Development and Validation of a Shortened Severity Measurement Tool for Tinnitus
Authors: Mueller Lauren , Dear Emma R. , Turcois Juan , Frumkin Madelyn R. , Smith Harrison , Kallogjeri Dorina , Rodebaugh Thomas L. , Piccirillo Jay F.
Published: December 2024

Objective

There is a need to develop and validate a brief questionnaire to measure tinnitus severity that can meet the needs of clinicians and researchers. The objective of this study is to demonstrate the validity and reliability of the 9‐item Tinnitus Severity Short Form (TS‐SF).

Study Design

A cohort study of online survey respondents recruited in October 2020 from the American Tinnitus Association electronic mailing list with a 2‐week follow‐up time interval.

Setting

Online.

Methods

Face and content validity, factor analysis, internal consistency, convergent validity, reliability, and minimal clinically important difference (MCID) were analyzed.

Results

Of 1121 participants that started the survey, 325 (29%) completed the baseline TS‐SF. Through confirmatory factor analysis, the 9‐item survey demonstrated a bifactor model with a substantive distress factor and a method factor. The instrument had high internal consistency with Cronbach's α of .96. Convergent validity determined the TS‐SF score to be a predictor of tinnitus severity. Of 261 follow‐up respondents, the test‐retest reliability of r = 0.69 (95% confidence interval, 0.62‐0.75) was determined. The MCID was determined using a distribution approach to be a 12‐point change.

Conclusion

The TS‐SF demonstrates good internal consistency, validity, and reliability. This patient‐reported outcome measure for tinnitus can be used in tinnitus treatment trials and clinical practice. The 9‐item survey is less likely to result in respondent survey fatigue than longer surveys, and the 2‐week reference interval allows for monitoring of tinnitus severity change in an appropriate timeframe.
The Prevalence of Central Sleep Apnea in New Referrals to a Sleep Surgery Clinic
Authors: Rodin Julianna G. , Harkins Tice , Kent Erica , Phung Chau , Khan Rafa , Seay Everett , Keenan Brendan T. , Dedhia Raj C.
Published: December 2024

Objective

Surgical treatment of non‐obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) pathology poses the risk of inappropriate surgical indications. Herein, we sought to determine the prevalence of non‐OSA respiratory disorders, specifically central sleep apnea (CSA), in new referrals to a Sleep Surgery Clinic.

Study Design

Prospective observational review.

Setting

Tertiary care academic medical center.

Methods

In a sleep surgery clinic cohort, the presence of clinically significant CSA was defined as having >25% of the total apnea‐hypopnea index (AHI) being central and/or mixed events. Demographics, comorbid disorders, patient‐reported outcome measurements, and sleep study results were compared among patients using linear or logistic regression analysis, unadjusted and adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI).

Results

On average, the cohort (n = 295) was male (74%), middle‐aged (mean [±SD] 54.2 ± 13.9 years), and overweight (BMI 30.3 ± 5.4), with severe sleep apnea (AHI 30.6 ± 22.6 events/h). Twenty‐nine patients (9.8%) were found to have clinically significant CSA yet only 10% of these cases carried a diagnosis of CSA upon presentation. The remainder were identified by reviewing the pre‐visit sleep study tables (35%), raw data (17%), and tables and raw data of a repeat post‐visit study (38%). Patients with CSA were older and had evidence of more cardiac comorbidities.

Conclusion

The prevalence of CSA in new referrals to a Sleep Surgery Clinic was nearly 1 in 10 despite only 1% (3 of 295) with a known diagnosis upon presentation. Sleep surgeons must remain vigilant for patients with occult CSA, especially in older patients with a history of significant cardiovascular disease.
Machine Perfusion Technology for Reduction of the Risk of Non‐Anastomotic Biliary Stricture in Liver Transplantation
Authors: Zhang Jiayi , Li Yuexin , Mo Runbing , Wang Haoxuan , Chen Jianyu , Guo Zhiyong
Published: December 2024

In many countries, use of organs sourced by donation after circulatory death can effectively alleviate the present organ shortage. However, biliary complications, particularly non‐anastomotic biliary stricture, following transplantation of livers from donation after circulatory death donors significantly affects the prognosis of the recipient and limits organ utilization. Recent rapid advances in machine technology have improved post‐transplant graft function and been shown to protect against non‐anastomotic biliary stricture. This review summarizes the protective mechanisms and clinical outcomes of hypothermic oxygenated machine perfusion, normothermic machine perfusion, and normothermic regional perfusion for donation after circulatory death liver transplantation and discusses the prospects for further development of machine perfusion and ischemia‐free organ transplantation technology.
Identification of Chronic Hypertension in Pregnancy in Three Administrative Data Sources Among Medicaid‐Funded Births in California
Authors: Delker Erin , Baer Rebecca J. , Chambers Christina D. , Bandoli Gretchen
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Administrative data sources are used to describe the epidemiology of chronic hypertension in pregnancy and its consequences. Differences in identification across sources may affect research estimates. We compared identification of chronic hypertension in birth certificate records, hospital discharge records, and Medi‐Cal claims in the same individuals.

Methods

We used data from 820 140 2016–2020 California Medi‐Cal covered births. We identified chronic hypertension on birth certificates using the prepregnancy hypertension check box and in hospital discharge records and Medi‐Cal claims using ICD codes. We compared the prevalence of chronic hypertension and identified predictors of agreement. We also compared absolute and relative estimates of racial/ethnic disparities in chronic hypertension and associations with neonatal outcomes.

Results

The prevalence of chronic hypertension was 0.7% in birth records, 2.1% in hospital discharge records, and 3.9% in Medi‐Cal claims. There was low to fair agreement between birth certificate records and hospitalization records (kappa = 0.36) and Medi‐Cal claims (kappa = 0.25). Characteristics associated with the worst agreement were eligibility for Women Infant and Children benefits, US‐born, and normal body mass index. Estimates of the relative risk for racial/ethnic disparities and associations with preterm birth and SGA age at delivery were similar across sources. Estimates of risk differences were larger in hospitalization and Medi‐Cal claims data.

Conclusions

Reliance on birth certificate data may contribute to underestimated prevalence estimates and biased causal estimates. Epidemiologic research and public health surveillance of chronic hypertension and its consequences should incorporate data from multiple data sources to improve validity of estimates.
Generating Real‐World Evidence From the Excellence Network in Rheumatology
Authors: Beukelman Timothy , Mudano Amy , Stewart Patrick , Venkatachalam Shilpa , Xie Fenglong , George Michael , Busch Howard , Reddy Priya , Saag Kenneth G. , Su Yujie , Curtis Jeffrey R.
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The Excellence Network in RheumatoloGY (ENRGY) was founded in 2021 and encompasses data from more than 700 private practice rheumatology providers throughout the United States, forming a practice‐based research network (PBRN).

Methods

Electronic health record (EHR) data from participating practices are aggregated, including structured data (e.g., clinical assessments) and unstructured data from two different EHR platforms. Targeted data quality efforts ensure capture of high‐quality clinical data and reduce missingness. ENRGY network membership also provides participating sites access to technology services that enhance patient care. Centralized ethics approval and pre‐existing legal agreements along with electronic tools to curate data and contact eligible study participants improves efficiency of multi‐center prospective studies.

Results

The ENRGY data warehouse includes linked administrative claims data for commercial and government‐provided insurance (31% of patients linked to commercial claims) and patient‐generated health data from both in‐office and out‐of‐office settings via a smartphone app as well as biosensor data. ENRGY data and infrastructure can be employed to identify the highest yield sites for prospective studies; identify patients meeting study eligibility criteria; pre‐screen individual patient's willingness to participate in specific studies; centralize study data monitoring; and assist in the conduct of prospective studies.

Conclusion

ENRGY data have been used to generate a growing number of scientific publications and may serve as a model for PBRNs in other specialties seeking to harness the potential of data linkages, patient‐generated data capture, and centralized study infrastructure for observational and interventional research.
Amino acid sequence encodes protein abundance shaped by protein stability at reduced synthesis cost
Authors: Buric Filip , Viknander Sandra , Fu Xiaozhi , Lemke Oliver , Carmona Oriol Gracia , Zrimec Jan , Szyrwiel Lukasz , Mülleder Michael , Ralser Markus , Zelezniak Aleksej
Published: December 2024

Understanding what drives protein abundance is essential to biology, medicine, and biotechnology. Driven by evolutionary selection, an amino acid sequence is tailored to meet the required abundance of a proteome, underscoring the intricate relationship between sequence and functional demand. Yet, the specific role of amino acid sequences in determining proteome abundance remains elusive. Here we show that the amino acid sequence alone encodes over half of protein abundance variation across all domains of life, ranging from bacteria to mouse and human. With an attempt to go beyond predictions, we trained a manageable‐size Transformer model to interpret latent factors predictive of protein abundances. Intuitively, the model's attention focused on the protein's structural features linked to stability and metabolic costs related to protein synthesis. To probe these relationships, we introduce MGEM (Mutation Guided by an Embedded Manifold), a methodology for guiding protein abundance through sequence modifications. We find that mutations which increase predicted abundance have significantly altered protein polarity and hydrophobicity, underscoring a connection between protein structural features and abundance. Through molecular dynamics simulations we revealed that abundance‐enhancing mutations possibly contribute to protein thermostability by increasing rigidity, which occurs at a lower synthesis cost.
Ion mobility mass spectrometry unveils conformational effects of drug lead EPI‐001 on the intrinsically disordered N‐terminal domain of the androgen receptor
Authors: Ahmed Ikhlas M. M. , Rofe Adam , Henry Martyn C. , West Eric , Jamieson Craig , McEwan Iain J. , Beveridge Rebecca
Published: December 2024

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are important drug targets as they are key actors within cell signaling networks. However, the conformational plasticity of IDPs renders them challenging to characterize, which is a bottleneck in developing small molecule drugs that bind to IDPs and modulate their behavior. In relation to this, ion mobility mass spectrometry (IM‐MS) is a useful tool to investigate IDPs, as it can reveal their conformational preferences. It can also offer important insights in drug discovery, as it can measure binding stoichiometry and unveil conformational shifts of IDPs exerted by the binding of small drug‐like molecules. Herein, we have used IM‐MS to investigate the effect of drug lead EPI‐001 on the disordered N‐terminal domain of the androgen receptor (AR‐NTD). Despite structural heterogeneity rendering the NTD a challenging region of the protein to drug, this domain harbors most, if not all, of the transcriptional activity. We quantify the stoichiometry of EPI‐001 binding to various constructs corresponding to functional domains of AR‐NTD and show that it binds to separate constructs containing transactivation unit (TAU)‐1 and TAU‐5, respectively, and that 1–2 molecules bind to a larger construct containing both sequences. We also identify a conformational shift upon EPI‐001 binding to the TAU‐5, and to a much lesser extent with TAU‐1 containing constructs. This work provides novel insight on the interactions of EPI‐001 with the AR‐NTD, and the structural alterations that it exerts, and positions IM‐MS as an informative tool that will enhance the tractability of IDPs, potentially leading to better therapies.
Exploring the Enhanced Zinc Storage Performance of α‐MnSe Polyhedral Microspheres and H+/Zn2+ Co‐Insertion Mechanism
Authors: Zhou Ruyi , Zhong Wenping , Chen Wenhao , Hu Zhongliang , Xi Liujiang , Xie Yujia , Tang Ruiying , Shi Yunxi , Wang Meiyan , Wang Lei , Zhu Yirong
Published: December 2024

The newly emerged Mn‐based selenides as cathodes for aqueous Zn‐ion batteries (ZIBs) have drawn researchers’ interest because of their lower electronegativity and better electronic conductivity compared with the corresponding Mn‐based oxides. Nevertheless, the energy storage mechanism of Mn‐based selenides still needs to be further clarified. Herein, the MnSe/Se and MnSe polyhedral microspheres are reported as cathodes for ZIBs, and the MnSe cathode achieves significantly enhanced specific capacity, rate performance, and cycling stability. In‐depth kinetic analysis confirms that the MnSe cathode presents better kinetic behavior and density functional theory (DFT) calculations verify the fast diffusion kinetics of the MnSe cathode. More importantly, systematic ex situ characterizations reveal that the microstructured MnSe can exist stably during the charge‐discharge process and store energy with H+/Zn2+ co‐insertion mechanism, which is greatly different from the phase transformation of the nanostructured α‐MnSe reported in the literature. Additionally, it is verified that the different types of separators exhibit remarkably different zinc storage performance of the MnSe cathode. This study not only offers a good guidance for developing high‐performance ZIBs Mn‐based cathode materials and explores the effect of separators on the zinc storage performance, but also provides new insights into the energy storage mechanism of the MnSe cathode.
Flexible Sensors with Enhanced Sensitivity and Broadened Detection Range Through Conformal Printing and Space‐Confined Design
Authors: Han Ziyun , Mo Lixin , Han Shaobo , Sun Zhaoyong , Ma Weijuan , Hu Haixiang , Geng Mingtian , Liu Lantian , Xin Zhiqing , Hu Kun , Li Haomiao , Chen Xingze
Published: December 2024

Enhancing the sensitivity and extending the linear sensing range of flexible pressure sensors are crucial for their development and incorporation in wearable electronics. Conventional sensors face a trade‐off between sensitivity and linear sensing range, which is often limited by the monotonicity of materials and structural design. To address this challenge, a new piezoresistive flexible sensor is developed in this work, drawing inspiration from the intricate microstructure and pressure‐sensing capabilities of human skin. This advanced sensor is constructed with a dual‐layer resistive sensing design, which includes an external conductive layer comprising of MXene/Ag composite and an internal carbon nanomaterial conductive network. The design incorporated bionic micro‐spines and multilayer porous microstructures with microcapsules to optimize the overall performance. This scalable and economical approach yielded a sensor that surpassed human tactile resolution, and the sensor can adeptly monitor comprehensive human motions and respiratory rhythms and recognize spoken language. In addition, it exhibited reliable photothermal sterilization performance, making it suitable for long‐term health diagnostics and treatment. The proposed sensor demonstrated immense potential for applications in physical health monitoring, motion detection, electronic skin, and human–computer interactions.
Electric Field‐Induced Synergetic Enhancement of Local Hydroxyl Concentration and Photogenerated Carrier Density for Removal of COads in Electrocatalytic Formic Acid Oxidation
Authors: Du Tingting , Zhou Qiangqiang , Lu Wenhao , Cui Hao , Liu Jiaqing , Lin Xing , Yu Le , Zhang Xin , Yang Fengchun
Published: December 2024

Direct formic acid fuel cell (DFAFC) is an efficient power generation device, due to its high energy density, low fuel crossover and low emission. However, the anodic reaction of DFAFC, formic acid oxidation (FAOR), inevitably proceeds through an indirect pathway, adsorbing carbon monoxide intermediate (COads), resulting in a rapid decline of activity for FAOR. Therefore, effectively removing COads is the key to the development of DFAFC. In this work, Pd/CeO2 catalyst is synthesized by in situ growth of Pd nanoparticles on the hollow CeO2. Due to the difference of work function between Pd and CeO2, a built‐in electric field from Pd side to CeO2 side is formed, which induces a synergistic enhancement of the photogenerated carrier density and the local high hydroxyl concentration at the Pd/CeO2 interface, thus promoting the oxidative removal of COads and significantly improving the stability of FAOR. Therefore, in photo‐assisted electrocatalytic FAOR, Pd/CeO2 not only possessed high mass activity (4161.72 mA mg−1Pd), and its mass activity decreases by only 20.1% after 40000 s chronoamperometry test, which is superior to most Pd‐based catalysts. This work provides a new strategy for efficient removal of COads in FAOR through constructing built‐in electric fields, which promotes the DFAFC application.
Robust Topological Interface States in a Lateral Magnetic‐Topological Heterostructure
Authors: Niu Qun , Yao Jie , Song Quanchao , Akber Humaira , Zhou Qin , Zhai Xiaofang , Zhao Aidi
Published: December 2024

Introducing uniform magnetic order in two‐dimensional (2D) topological insulators by constructing heterostructures of TI and magnet is a promising way to realize the high‐temperature Quantum Anomalous Hall effect. However, the topological properties of 2D materials are susceptible to several factors that make them difficult to maintain, and whether topological interface states (TISs) can exist at magnetic‐topological heterostructure interfaces is largely unknown. Here, it is experimentally shown that TISs in a lateral heterostructure of CrTe2/Bi(110) are robust against disorder, defects, high magnetic fields (time‐reversal symmetry‐breaking perturbations), and elevated temperature (77 K). The lateral heterostructure is realized by lateral epitaxial growth of bilayer (BL) Bi to monolayer CrTe2 grown on graphite. Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and non‐contact Atomic Force Microscopy demonstrate a black phosphorus‐like structure with low atomic buckling (less than 0.1 Å) of the BL Bi(110), indicating the presence of its topological properties. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy and energy‐dependent dI/dV mapping further confirm the existence of topologically induced one‐dimensional in‐gap states localized at the interface. These results demonstrate the robustness of TISs in lateral magnetic‐topological heterostructures, which is competitive with those in vertically stacked magnetic‐topological heterostructures and provides a promising route for constructing planar high‐density non‐dissipative devices using TISs.
Nanoengineered Shape‐Memory Hemostat
Authors: Hargett Sarah E. , Lokhande Giriraj K. , Duran Joseph , Hirani Zanir , Jang Lindy K. , Foster Samantha , Deo Kaivalya A. , George Sasha , Javed Mahjabeen , Ware Taylor H. , Maitland Duncan J. , Gaharwar Akhilesh K.
Published: December 2024

Uncontrolled hemorrhage is the predominant cause of preventable combat deaths. Various biomaterials serve as hemostatic agents due to their procoagulant or absorptive activity. However, these biomaterials often lack expansion capabilities, which severely limits use in noncompressible wounds. This study combines a hemostatic nanocomposite with a shape‐memory polymer foam to design a composite material with both hemostatic and physical expansion properties. This composite is fabricated in two formulations: a foam externally coated in a highly concentrated nanocomposite (“coated composite”) and a foam containing a diluted nanocomposite infused throughout its pores (“infused composite”). Both formulations retain the shape‐memory foam's expansion property. Further, the coated composite shows improved fluid uptake (>2‐fold) versus infused composites or foam. The nanocomposite component dissociates from the foam under degradative conditions, with the foam remaining stable for 30 days. Hemostatic studies illustrate that the coated composite reduces the clotting time by ≈20%. Alternatively, the infused composite improves clotting over a larger distance (up to ≈2× distance from the composite). These results signify a modular hemostatic ability: the coated composite reduces clotting and improves fluid uptake, while the infused composite achieves diffuse clotting and maintains mechanical properties. Thus, these materials pose a strong potential for use in noncompressible wounds.
Catalyst‐Free Polymorphic β‐Ga2O3 Nanomaterials for Solar‐Blind Optoelectronic Devices: Applications in Imaging and Neural Communication
Authors: Luo Jiangshuai , Jiang Jili , Ding Ke , Ye Lijuan , Pang Di , Li Honglin , Zhang Hong , Tang Yan , Li Wanjun
Published: December 2024

The continuous advancements in ultraviolet‐C (UV‐C) optoelectronics are poised to meet the growing demand for efficient and innovative optoelectronic devices, particularly in image sensing and neural communication. This study proposes a low‐cost tube sealing and muffle calcination process for the catalyst‐free synthesis of polymorphic β‐Ga2O3 nanomaterials. These nanomaterials are synthesized via a vapor‐solid (VS) growth mechanism, enabling the formation of high‐quality nanowires (NWs), nanobelts (NBs), and nanosheets (NSs). UV‐C photodetectors (PDs) fabricated with β‐Ga2O3 nanobelts demonstrated exceptional performance, exhibiting a responsivity of 4.62 × 105 A W−1 and a specific detectivity of 4.78 × 1012 Jones under 254 nm light. This PD enabled high‐sensitivity and high‐contrast UV‐C imaging, effectively capturing the letters “CNU” and a “Panda” pattern. Additionally, the β‐Ga2O3 nanowire‐based optoelectronic synapse (OES) device displayed efficient light sensing and significant persistent photoconductivity, accurately mimicking synaptic behaviors such as short‐term to long‐term memory transitions and memory reinforcement. The OES device is successfully integrated into a wireless optical communication system, effectively simulating neural signal transmission by outputting the current waveform signal of “CNU 1954” and exhibiting notable UV‐C light sensing and learning abilities. This work not only introduces a method for synthesizing polymorphic β‐Ga2O3 nanomaterials but also underscores their potential in advanced UV‐C optoelectronic applications, including image sensing and neural communication.
Challenges and Opportunities of Uranium Extraction From Seawater: a Systematic Roadmap From Laboratory to Industry
Authors: Wang Tao , Tao Binbin , Zuo Bin , Yan Guoze , Liu Shaoqing , Wang Ruoyu , Zhao Zhongzhou , Chu Feifei , Li Zhengtong , Yamauchi Yusuke , Xu Xingtao
Published: December 2024

Uranium extraction from seawater (UES) is crucial for ensuring the sustainable development of nuclear power and has seen significant advancements in recent years. However, natural seawater is a highly complex biogeochemical system, characterized by an extremely low uranium (U) concentration (≈3.3 µg L−1), abundant competitive ions, and significant marine biological pollution, making UES a formidable challenge. This review addresses the challenges encountered in UES and explores potential methods for enhancing the industrial UES system, including membrane separation, electrochemistry, photocatalysis, and biosorption. Additionally, several representative marine tests are summarized and restrictive factors of large‐scale UES are analyzed. Finally, the further development of UES from laboratory to industry applications is promoted, with a focus on technological innovation. The goal is to stimulate innovative ideas and provide fresh insights for the future development of the UES system, bridging the gap between laboratory research and industrial implementation.
The Role of Catalysts in the Climate Adaptation Process
Authors: Solecki William , Orlove Ben , Bolgert Adrien
Published: December 2024

The need to accelerate the climate adaptation process has become increasingly evident as devastating climate impacts are more widely experienced, but climate action remains deficient. Climate adaptation is typically associated with three key types of enabling conditions whose presence is deemed necessary but not sufficient for climate action: governance capacity, access to finance, and relevant and appropriate knowledge. In this article, we present and examine another component of the adaptation process: catalysts. Catalysts are elements whose presence leads to an initiation or acceleration of climate action. Catalysts or catalyzing conditions can complement enabling conditions by overcoming conditions that block climate action or keep it at minimal levels. This article focuses on the presence and influence of catalysts within the adaptation process and presents four types of catalyzing conditions. Each type is documented with a case study that illustrates how climate action, generally and adaptation, specifically was advanced. The types and the associated cases include (1) a sense of urgency—the recent water crisis of Cape Town; (2) extreme events—Hurricane Sandy in New York City; (3) political innovators—Mayor Anne Hidalgo of Paris; and (4) climate litigation—legal action in the Netherlands. We examine the mechanisms through which these four types of catalysts link with ongoing adaptation processes. In particular, these catalyzing conditions mobilize resources, specifically political support, financing, and information, by making adaptation action a higher priority within political and civic agendas. Catalysts also can contribute to the building of networks and coalitions between organizations whose ties had previously been weak or absent. In the conclusion, recommendations for future research to further clarify how catalysts advance adaptation action are suggested.
Faking ZZZ vertices at the LHC
Authors: Cepedello Ricardo , Esser Fabian , Hirsch Martin , Sanz Veronica
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Searches for anomalous neutral triple gauge boson couplings (NTGCs) provide important tests for the gauge structure of the standard model. At the LHC, NTGCs are searched for via the process pp → ZZ → 4l, where the two Z-bosons are on-shell. In this paper, we discuss how the same process can occur through tree-level diagrams just adding a vector-like quark (VLQ) to the standard model. Since NTGCs are generated in standard model effective theory (SMEFT) only at 1-loop order, vector like quarks could be an important alternative interpretation to, and background for, NTGC searches. Here, we construct a simple example model, discuss low-energy constraints and estimate current and future sensitivities on the model parameters from pp → ZZ → 4l searches.
Fusing photons into diphoton resonances at Belle II and beyond
Authors: Acanfora Francesca , Franceschini Roberto , Mastroddi Alessio , Redigolo Diego
Published: December 2024

Abstract

We propose a new search for a diphoton resonance in the e+e− + γγ final state at Belle II where the full final state is reconstructed in the detector. This new channel improves the expected reach compared to the γ + γγ channel in most of the available mass range. For simplicity we show our results in the simple parameter space of an ALP coupled solely to Standard Model photons. In addition, we show how an extension of the forward coverage of Belle II, or another similar experiment at the high intensity frontier, could improve the reach in our channel. We show that such a forward extension can be advantageous even with a loss of a factor 100 in luminosity compared to Belle II.
A positive proportion of cubic fields are not monogenic yet have no local obstruction to being so
Authors: Alpöge Levent , Bhargava Manjul , Shnidman Ari
Published: December 2024

We show that a positive proportion of cubic fields are not monogenic, despite having no local obstruction to being monogenic. Our proof involves the comparison of 2-descent and 3-descent in a certain family of Mordell curves $$E_k :y^2 = x^3 + k$$

E
k

:

y
2

=

x
3

+
k

. As a by-product of our methods, we show that, for every $$r \ge 0$$

r
≥
0

, a positive proportion of curves $$E_k$$

E
k

have Tate–Shafarevich group with 3-rank at least r.
Genetic and functional analyses of SPTLC1 in juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Okubo So , Naruse Hiroya , Ishiura Hiroyuki , Sudo Atsushi , Esaki Kayoko , Mitsui Jun , Matsukawa Takashi , Satake Wataru , Greimel Peter , Shingai Nanoka , Oya Yasushi , Yoshikawa Takeo , Tsuji Shoji , Toda Tatsushi
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder of the motor system. Pathogenic variants in SPTLC1, encoding a subunit of serine palmitoyltransferase, cause hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type 1 (HSAN1), and have recently been associated with juvenile ALS. SPTLC1 variants associated with ALS cause elevated levels of sphinganines and ceramides. Reports on ALS associated with SPTLC1 remain limited. This study aimed to investigate the frequency of SPTLC1 variants in ALS and relevant clinical characteristics.

Methods

We analyzed whole-exome and whole-genome sequence data from 40 probands with familial ALS and 413 patients with sporadic ALS without previously identified causative variants. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) were used to assess splicing and mosaicism, respectively. Plasma sphingolipid levels were quantified to analyze biochemical consequences.

Results

The heterozygous c.58G>A, p.Ala20Thr variant was identified in a 21-year-old Japanese female patient presenting with symmetric weakness which slowly progressed over 15 years. RT-PCR analysis showed no splice defects. Plasma sphingolipid levels in the patient were significantly increased compared to her asymptomatic parents. ddPCR revealed that the asymptomatic father harbored a mosaic variant with 17% relative mutant allele abundance in peripheral blood leukocytes.

Conclusions

We identified a pathogenic c.58G>A, p.Ala20Thr SPTLC1 variant in a patient with juvenile ALS, likely inherited from an asymptomatic parent with mosaicism. Lipid analysis results are consistent with previous findings on SPTLC1-associated ALS. Further studies are necessary to determine the clinical effect of mosaic variants of SPTLC1.
Emerging drought sensitivity for large Norway spruce trees at high elevation in the High Tatras, Slovakia
Authors: Märker Frederik , Trouillier Mario , Basnet Saroj , Burger Andreas , Homolová Zuzana , Gazovic Michal , Wilmking Martin
Published: December 2024

Key message

Climate-growth correlations are non-stationary among all size classes, and large trees are becoming sensitive to August and September drought conditions in the year preceding growth during the last decades.

Understanding tree growth and forest dynamics under climate change is paramount to predict changes in carbon cycling, forest development, and ecosystem services. At temperature limited sites, such as alpine treelines, tree growth is often assumed to benefit from rising temperatures, while increased drought may offset potential benefits. Tree size is known to be related to climate sensitivity and drought induced mortality, with large trees generally suffering the most from drought. To assess the relationship of tree size and climate sensitivity for Norway spruce trees at treeline, we collected 158 tree cores at treeline and the adjacent closed canopy forest in the High Tatra Mountains in Slovakia. Size classes were established based on size class isolation of the total sample set, yielding artificial tree ring chronologies with a constant size over time. We ran moving-window correlation analyses to assess the temporal development of climate sensitivity. We found climate-growth correlations to be non-stationary and with similar trends among size classes. In general, trees are temperature limited during the growing season, but correlations have shifted from June to July in recent decades. Additionally, the largest trees show an increased and significant sensitivity to August and September drought conditions in the year preceding growth. These findings emphasize the increasing influence of drought constraints on tree growth, even at supposedly temperature limited treeline sites.
Effect of home-based exercise prehabilitation on postoperative outcomes in colorectal cancer surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Machado Pedro , Paixão André , Oliveiros Bárbara , Martins Raul A. , Cruz Joana
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Home-based exercise training may improve access to surgical prehabilitation in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, but its efficacy remains unclear. This study systematically investigated the effects of home-based exercise prehabilitation on postoperative exercise capacity, complications, length of hospital stay, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in CRC patients.

Methods

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing home-based exercise prehabilitation with control in CRC patients were eligible. We searched MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, PEDro, and SPORTDiscus from their inception to June 3, 2024. Methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale, and certainty of evidence was assessed using GRADE. Data were synthesized using random-effects meta-analyses, with sensitivity analysis on studies with good methodological quality (PEDro score ≥ 6).

Results

Eight RCTs involving 1092 participants were included. The primary analysis showed a significant improvement in postoperative 6-min walk distance following home-based exercise prehabilitation compared to control (mean difference (MD) = 30.62: 95% CI: [2.94; 57.79]; low-certainty evidence). However, sensitivity analysis revealed no significant between-group differences (MD = 22.60: 95% CI: [− 6.27; 51.46]). No significant effects of home-based exercise prehabilitation were found on postoperative complications (risk ratio = 1.00: 95% CI: [− 0.78; 1.29]; moderate‐certainty evidence), length of hospital stay (MD = − 0.20: 95% CI: [− 0.65; 0.23]; moderate‐certainty evidence), and HRQoL (physical functioning: MD = 2.62: 95% CI: [− 6.16; 11.39]; mental functioning: MD = 1.35: 95% CI: [− 6.95; 9.65]; low and very-low certainty evidence).

Conclusion

Home-based exercise prehabilitation does not reduce postoperative complications and length of hospital stay after CRC surgery. Its effects on postoperative exercise capacity and HRQoL remain uncertain due to low-quality evidence.
Egg retrieval in ground-nesting cuckoo hosts: can two species of buntings accurately identify and retrieve their own eggs?
Authors: Zhang Yuhan , Zhong Guo , Wang Longwu , Liang Wei
Published: December 2024

Egg retrieval in birds may help ensure the survival of eggs and improve reproductive success. However, with the risk of brood parasitism, for ground-nesting or cavity-nesting bird hosts, there is a significant reproductive cost and thus a reduction in fitness if the host wrongly retrieved the parasitic eggs. The south rock bunting (Emberiza yunnanensis) and yellow-throated bunting (E. elegans) are hosts for common cuckoos (Cuculus canorus), which coexist within the study area and breed sympatrically in ground nests. Previous studies have found that these two species exhibit strong egg recognition and egg rejection of non-mimetic eggs. In this study, red model eggs, budgerigar eggs, and the host’s own eggs were used to assess the recognition and retrieval behavior of two bunting hosts, particularly in response to different types of eggs placed at the nest edge. The results showed that both bunting hosts retrieved ca. 80% of own eggs and did not retrieve any red model eggs. This indicated that both species could distinguish non-mimetic model eggs from their own eggs and make appropriate decisions, which is consistent with their responses when encountering foreign eggs in the nest. However, both species simultaneously retrieved some (8.3% for the yellow-throated bunting and 19% for south rock bunting) of the highly mimetic budgerigar eggs, indicating that the degree of mimicry of foreign eggs affects their egg recognition and egg retrieval behavior. Factors such as parasitism risk, nest predation pressure, age differences, and experience of parent birds may combine to influence egg retrieval behavior of the host.
Fatigue Characterization of Composite Laminates with Interface Hybrid Toughening Using a Single-Step Joint Configuration
Authors: Wang Sheng , İnal Oğuzcan , Katnam Kali Babu , Zou Zhenmin , Potluri Prasad , Soutis Constantinos
Published: December 2024

This study investigates the effect of interface hybrid toughening on the fatigue performance of composite laminates by examining a single-step joint configuration with a bondline incorporating core-shell rubber (CSR) nanoparticles and thermoplastic micro-fiber polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) veils. Three types of bondlines for the single-step joint configuration are produced by resin infusion process: untoughened (i.e. Baseline), single-material toughened (i.e. 10 wt% CSR nanoparticles or 20 g/m2 PPS veils) and hybrid toughened (i.e. 10 wt% CSR particles and 20 g/m2 PPS veils). High-cycle tension fatigue tests with zero load ratio (i.e. R = 0) are conducted. Backface strain measurements and two-dimensional digital image correlation (2D DIC) are employed to evaluate the initiation and propagation of the crack developed at the untoughened and toughened bondlines. The results show that the hybrid interface toughening method increases the fatigue life (i.e. by ∼49% at low load level and ∼278% at high load level) and reduces crack growth rate, outperforming the untoughened as well as non-hybrid toughened fracture resistance.
Teachers and Students Envisioning Mixed Reality Remote Learning: A Qualitative Exploration on Fostering Academic Engagement
Authors: Goagoses Naska , Winschiers-Theophilus Heike , Auala Selma , Pope Nicolas , Rötkönen Erkki , Itenge Helvi , Suero Montero Calkin , Suovuo Tomi , Sutinen Erkki
Published: December 2024

Mixed reality (MR) provides new opportunities and affordances for fostering student engagement in remote learning. The current qualitative case study set out to (1) explore teachers’ perspective of academic engagement in traditional classrooms, (2) explore how teachers’ and students’ envision engaging lessons using MR for remote learning, and (3) extrapolate limitations and affordances for the further development of MR for remote learning. Eight students and four teachers from a primary school in Namibia participated. Each participant wore the HoloLens 2, interacting with others who were live streamed from another room. Group interviews with the teachers revealed core practices and strategies focused on the centrality of students, student-teacher relationships, rewards and evaluations, and the physical environment for creating engagement in traditional classrooms. Teachers and students participated in role-plays centered around fostering emotional, behavioral, and agentic engagement in imagined lessons that used MR for live streaming from different locations. The role-playing teachers mainly used verbal practices and strategies for fostering closeness, as well as giving feedback and evaluations. However, many strategies previously named or found in the literature were not enacted and symbolic MR boundaries were crossed. Based on our results, we derived affordances and future directions for the further design and development of MR for remote learning.
Use and Abuse of Instance Parameters in the Lean Mathematical Library
Authors: Baanen Anne
Published: December 2024

The Lean mathematical library Mathlib features extensive use of the typeclass pattern for organising mathematical structures, based on Lean’s mechanism of instance parameters. Related mechanisms for typeclasses are available in other provers including Agda, Coq and Isabelle with varying degrees of adoption. This paper analyses representative examples of design patterns involving instance parameters in the finalized Lean 3 version of Mathlib, focussing on complications arising at scale and how the Mathlib community deals with them.
Mapping for Mapping’s Sake? Ecosystems Services Maps and the Modes of (Ir)relevance of Ecological Knowledge for Nature Conservation
Authors: Brunet Lucas
Published: December 2024

In the face of enduring environmental decline, ecologists are continuously exploring new ways to improve the relevance of their research and address nature conservation issues. Hoping for more relevant solutions than former species-centered conservation, some ecologists have mapped ecosystems and the services they deliver to human societies. Maps offer crucial, but understudied, relevance-making tools. By proposing a relational conceptualisation of relevance, I demonstrate that maps can make issues simultaneously relevant and irrelevant for conservation. In two mapping projects conducted at the European Union level by the Working Group Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services and at the French regional scale by the Laboratoire d’Écologie Alpine, I investigate how the (ir)relevance of ecosystem services maps is enacted through different modes. I successively show that: ecologists employed maps to re-orient their research toward social issues, but were constrained by the available quantified data (mode A); they used maps to implement a biopolitical approach and decide which ecosystems to protect, yet grappled with the imprecision of maps (mode B); and they engaged stakeholders in map development, but had to make excessive adjustments to align with their demands (mode C). I conclude by arguing that ecosystem services maps exemplify an automation of relevance, where relevance is more conditioned by technical feasibility than by the conceptualisation of solutions to conservation issues. Ultimately, the article contributes to the relevance scholarship by advancing the concept of irrelevance, operationalising the study of modes of relevance, and demonstrating that relevance is an inherently relational process.