bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of coupled system of q‐fractional Langevin differential equations with q‐fractional integral conditions
Authors: Zhang Keyu , Khalid Khansa Hina , Zada Akbar , Popa Ioan‐Lucian , Xu Jiafa , Kallekh Afef
Published: April 2024

In this dissertation, we study the coupled system of
‐fractional Langevin differential equations involving
‐Caputo derivative having
‐fractional integral conditions. With the help of some adequate conditions, we investigate the uniqueness and existence of mild solution of the aforementioned system. We also analyze various kinds of Ulam's stability. Banach fixed point theorem and Leray–Schauder of cone type are used to illustrate the existence and uniqueness results. We also used non‐linear functional analysis methods to explore variety of stability types. An example is provided to clearly demonstrate our theoretical outcomes.
Identifying nutrition risk in emergency patients: What is the most appropriate screening tool?
Authors: dos Santos Johnny Galhano , Saueressig Camila , Wolf Renata , dos Santos Jéssica Correa , Silva Flávia Moraes , Franzosi Oellen Stuani , Alba Valesca Dall'
Published: April 2024

Background

The emergency department (ED) is the most frequent access route to the hospital. Nutrition risk (NR) screening allows the early identification of patients at risk of malnutrition. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and predictive validity of five different tools in EDs: Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS‐2002), Nutritional Risk Emergency 2017 (NRE‐2017), Royal Free Hospital‐Nutritional Prioritizing Tool (RFH‐NPT), Malnutrition Universal Screening (MUST), and Malnutrition Screening Tool (MST).

Methods

Patients with scores ≥3 according to the NRS‐2002, ≥1.5 according to the NRE‐2017, and ≥2 according to the MUST, RFH‐NPT, or MST were classified with NR. Prolonged length of stay (LOS) and 1‐year mortality were evaluated.

Results

431 patients were evaluated (57.31 ± 15.6 years of age; 54.4% women) in a public hospital in southern Brazil. The prevalence of NR was: 35% according to the NRS‐2002, 43% according to the MST, 45% according to the NRE‐2017 and MUST, and 49% according to the RFH‐NPT. Patients with NR, had a greater risk of prolonged LOS (P < 0.001). The presence of NR was associated with an increased risk of 1‐year mortality according to the NRS‐2002 (hazard ratio [HR]: 4.04; 95% CI, 2.513–6.503), MST (HR: 2.60; 95% CI, 1.701–3.996), NRE‐2017 (HR: 4.82; 95% CI, 2.753–8.443), MUST (HR: 4.00; 95% CI, 2.385–6.710), and RFH‐NPT (HR: 5.43; 95% CI, 2.984–9.907).

Conclusions

NRE‐2017 does not require objective data and presented predictive validity for all outcomes assessed, regardless of the severity of the disease, and thus appears to be the most appropriate tool for carrying out NR screening in the ED.
Noninvasive Bolus Transit Detection in Cervical Esophagus Utilizing Ultrasound Characteristics
Authors: Wilcox Andrew S. , Jackson William D. , Heller‐Stark Amanda C. , Lanza Elizabeth L. , Ellerston Julia K.
Published: April 2024

This pilot study aims to identify characteristic A‐mode ultrasound features relevant to noninvasive detection of esophageal bolus transit in the proximal esophagus. Ultrasound signals at a lateral neck site were obtained via a single‐element ultrasonic transducer with synchronous videofluoroscopic swallowing studies images of swallows of differing viscosities in 21 adult dysphagia outpatients. Characteristic ultrasound features were extracted to differentiate a bolus‐filled from a collapsed esophagus. From 21 subjects, 412 swallows exhibited 4 reproducible waveform patterns associated with bolus transit as displayed in a heatmap: (1) Strong Reflectors; (2) Echo Shifts; (3) Distal Acoustic Enhancement; and (4) Speckling: One or more of these features were observed in the swallow series for all 21 subjects. Distinct acoustic waveform features acquired by single‐element ultrasonic transducers can identify bolus transit through the cervical esophagus.
Agroecosystem services: From general assessment to policy implications
Authors: Satama‐Bermeo Maritza , Rudolf Max , Olschewski Roland
Published: April 2024

Agricultural ecosystems managed by farmers provide and receive multiple ecosystem services that are essential to sustain human well‐being. Understanding how agricultural production systems generate agroecosystem services is as important as gaining deeper insights into how farmers perceive and value them to ensure the adoption and implementation of sustainable agricultural practices.

We conducted a comprehensive review and in‐depth analysis of existing valuation studies on agroecosystem services to identify potential future research directions.

We found two broad research strands of articles: one focusing on ‘General assessment of agroecosystem services’ and the other on ‘Implications for policy making’.

The first strand focuses more on individual preferences and monetary values, which might limit a comprehensive assessment. The second strand emphasizes participatory and deliberative techniques to reflect the plurality of values and to provide empirical evidence for policymaking.

We recommend to move beyond monetary valuation techniques, and to develop methods that bridge the two strands as a promising avenue for future inter‐ and transdisciplinary research.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Comprehensive study of antimicrobial polycaprolactone/clay nanocomposite films: Preparation, characterization, properties and degradation in simulated body fluid
Authors: Holešová Sylva , Čech Barabaszová Karla , Hundáková Marianna , Kratošová Gabriela , Kaloč Václav , Joszko Kamil , Gzik‐Zroska Bożena
Published: April 2024

Even though the biodegradability of polycaprolactone (PCL) and its nanocomposites is lower compared to other biodegradable polyesters, this property and good biocompatibility are used for development of materials for drug delivery with a long‐term effect. We prepared novel PCL/clay nanocomposite films with antimicrobials chlorhexidine (CH) or octenidine (OCT) combined with ZnO anchored on vermiculite (VER). The intercalation of CH and OCT into the interlayer of VER/ZnOVER was confirmed by XRD, FTIR and SEM. The organically modified nanofillers compared to VER (−46.0 mV) or ZnOVER (−34.9 mV) showed a positive ζ‐potential (+30.7 mV (VER_CH), +21.9 mV (VER_OCT), +24.6 mV (ZnOVER_CH)) indicating a relatively stable materials, except ZnOVER_OCT (+8.6 mV), which strongly agglomerated.

Thin PCL/clay films were prepared by solvent casting method and the effect of used nanofillers on structural, thermal, mechanical and antimicrobial properties followed by degradation under hydrolytic conditions was studied. The results showed that presence of ZnO significantly decreases thermal and mechanical stability. The nanofillers with the higher hydrophilic character are responsible for the fastest degradation of PCL matrix. Films possessed high antimicrobial efficiency in long time intervals, hence these nanocomposites open new avenues for the possible application of such materials for the drug delivery with a long‐term effect.

Highlights

Antimicrobial active PCL/clay nanocomposites were prepared.

Nanofillers influenced the structure and properties of prepared thin PCL films.

ZnO caused lower thermal stability and worse mechanical properties of PCL films.

PCL/clay nanocomposite films degraded slowly by a hydrolytic mechanism.

High potential as medical materials with long‐lasting antimicrobial efficacy.
Self‐assembly imprinting fabrication of shell‐crosslinking fluorescent nanoparticles for the detection of sialic acid
Authors: Yan Liu , Liu Qin , Xu Lan
Published: April 2024

A new strategy for preparing sialic acid (SA)‐quenching fluorescent nanoparticles by macromolecular self‐assembly and molecular imprinting technique is suggested. An amphiphilic block copolymer polystyrene‐b‐poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PS‐b‐PGMA) was designed and synthesized. After functionalization, PS‐b‐PGMA was co‐assembled with the template molecule SA to prepare SA‐imprinted fluorescent nanoparticles, named as nano‐FMIPs. In this process, the shell layers of nanoparticles were photo‐crosslinked upon 365 nm UV light to stabilize the recognition site. The size of the crosslinked shell was found to be increased to 420 ± 5 nm by TEM and DLS measurements. After extraction of SA, recognition cavities complementary in shape, size, and chemical function toward the template SA were left on the surface of nano‐FMIPs, which can selectively rebind the target SA in a mixture of structurally similar compounds. It is found that SA can significantly quench the fluorescence intensity of nano‐FMIPs linearly within a concentration range of 1 × 10−2 ~ 2 × 10−6 mol L−1 and a detection limit of 1.55 × 10−6 mol L−1. This strategy provides a new approach for preparing surface‐imprinted nano‐FMIPs for the quantitative detection of SA, and the nano‐FMIPs may have great potential for biomedical application.
p95HER2 expression in HER2‐positive breast cancer with primary resistance
Authors: Goh Chih Wan , Yang Benlong , Chi Yayun , Wu Jiong
Published: April 2024

p95HER2 isoform is a truncated form of HER2 that retains the C terminal domain but lacks an N terminal trastuzumab binding site. From 2014 to 2016, we assessed the expression of p95HER2 expression in 59 HER2‐positive breast cancer patients from FUSCC. The median follow‐up was 54 months. In our study, 19 patients (32.2%) were p95HER2 positive. p95HER2‐positive expression rate is higher in premenopausal patients than in postmenopausal patients (68.4% vs. 31.6%, P = .026). p95HER2 positive was found more in premenopausal patients and was associated with worse DFS (hazard ratio, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.06–4.61; P = .034), indicating that p95HER2 expression tends to be a more aggressive isoform type of HER2‐positive breast cancer.
Front Cover Image
Authors: Coston Duncan J , Clark Suzanne J , Breeze Tom D , Field Linda M , Potts Simon G , Cook Samantha M
Published: April 2024

The cover image is based on the Research Article Quantifying the impact of Psylliodes chrysocephala injury on the productivity of oilseed rape by Duncan J Coston et al., https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.7860.

image
Energy‐Level Alignment and Electronic Structure of Dual‐State Luminogens Thin Films
Authors: Zhou Wenjie , Li Yingying , Xie Fulin , Wang Chengyuan , Yang Jiaxiang , Wang Qi , Duhm Steffen
Published: April 2024

Organic dual‐state emitters show high quantum yields of luminescence in both solution and the aggregated state. Alkyl side chains are frequently used to engineer solid‐state structures and prominent examples are naphthalimide‐functionalized cyanostilbene derivatives (NICS‐X), where H‐aggregation takes place for ethoxyl substitution (NICS‐E), while methoxyl and butoxyl substitution (NICS‐M and NICS‐B) lead to the quasi‐isolated Q‐type structure. While this takes place for powder samples, vacuum‐sublimed thin films are used, and it is shown by photoluminescence (PL) measurements that H‐aggregation takes place for all three NICS derivatives. In contrast, the energy‐level alignment of NICS‐X films on graphite exhibits disparities as shown by photoelectron spectroscopy: pronounced disorder in NICS‐B films leads to energy‐level bending, while the energy levels of NICS‐M and NICS‐E films remain flat. In such a way, it is demonstrated that side‐chain engineering of luminogens affects the short‐range order (responsible for the PL) and the long‐range order (responsible for the energy‐level alignment) in different ways. Furthermore, the importance of a substrate (thin films vs powder) on the solid‐state aggregation is highlighted.
The efficacy of curcumin in relieving osteoarthritis: A meta‐analysis of meta‐analyses
Authors: Bideshki Mohammad Vesal , Jourabchi‐Ghadim Neda , Radkhah Nima , Behzadi Mehrdad , Asemani Sanaz , Jamilian Parmida , Zarezadeh Meysam
Published: April 2024

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most prevalent degenerative joint diseases. Several meta‐analyses have shown that curcumin could improve the function of the knee and alleviate pain in OA, while some meta‐analyses demonstrate controversial results. Hence, we assessed curcumin's effects on knee OA in an umbrella meta‐analysis. PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases were employed to find English‐language meta‐analyses of randomized controlled trials investigating the effect of curcumin supplementation on OA outcomes up to September 2023. The visual analog scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) pain, function, and stiffness scales were analyzed. Effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals were utilized to obtain the overall effect size. A random‐effects model was applied to perform the meta‐analysis. Heterogeneity was determined by I2 statistics and the Cochrane Q‐test. The pooled effect of the 11 included meta‐analyses showed that curcumin could significantly decrease the VAS score (weighted mean difference [WMD] and standardized mean difference [SMD]), WOMAC‐total (SMD and WMD), WOMAC‐Function (SMD and WMD), WOMAC‐Pain (SMD), and WOMAC‐Stiffness scores (SMD) (p ≤ 0.001, ≤0.001, ≤0.001, 0.007, ≤0.001, 0.002, ≤0.001, ≤0.001, respectively). The results strongly support curcuminoid supplementation in relieving pain, improving joint mobility and stiffness, and shortening medication usage of OA patients.
The influence of biopsy site and pregnancy on stable isotope ratios in humpback whale skin
Authors: Fraleigh Devin C. , Pallin Logan J. , Friedlaender Ari S. , Barlow Jay , Henry Annette E. , Waples Danielle M. , Oglesby Teris , Fleming Alyson H.
Published: April 2024

Rationale

Stable isotope analysis (SIA) of free‐swimming mysticetes using biopsies is often limited in sample size and uses only one sample per individual, failing to capture both intra‐individual variability and the influence of demographic and physiological factors on isotope ratios.

Methods

We applied SIA of δ13C and δ15N to humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) biopsies taken during the foraging season along the western Antarctic Peninsula to quantify intra‐individual variation from repeatedly sampled individuals, as well as to determine the effect of biopsy collection site, sex, and pregnancy on isotope ratios.

Results

There was substantial variability in δ13C from multiple biopsies taken from the same individuals, though δ15N was much more consistent. Side of the body (left versus right) and biopsy location (dorsal, anterior, ventral, and posterior) did marginally affect the isotopic composition of δ15N but not δ13C. Pregnancy had a significant effect on both δ13C and δ15N, where pregnant females were depleted in both when compared to non‐pregnant females and males.

Conclusions

These results indicate that isotopic signatures are influenced by multiple endogenous and exogenous factors and emphasize value in accounting for intra‐individual variability and pregnancy status within a sampled population. Placed within an ecological context, the endogenous variability in δ13C observed here may be informative for future isotopic analyses.
Event‐triggered cooperative robust output regulation of minimum‐phase linear uncertain multi‐agent systems
Authors: Wu Jieshuai , Lu Maobin , Deng Fang , Chen Jie
Published: April 2024

In this article, we investigate the event‐triggered cooperative robust output regulation problem of a class of minimum‐phase linear uncertain multi‐agent systems. In particular, we first propose a dynamic event‐triggered mechanism and an event‐triggered distributed output feedback control law. Then, by the internal model, the event‐triggered cooperative robust output regulation problem is converted into the event‐triggered cooperative robust stabilization problem of an augmented system composed of the distributed internal model and the original multi‐agent system. Next, we show that the event‐triggered cooperative robust stabilization problem can be solved by the proposed event‐triggered distributed output feedback control law together with a dynamic event‐triggered mechanism, and thus the event‐triggered cooperative robust output regulation problem is solved exactly in the sense that the tracking error of each subsystem converges to zero asymptotically while preventing the Zeno behavior from happening. Finally, we provide an example to illustrate the proposed control approach.
Event‐triggered adaptive estimated inverse neural network control of uncertain nonlinear systems with unknown hysteresis effects
Authors: Zhou Ning , Yao Jianyong , Deng Wenxiang
Published: April 2024

This article investigates an event‐triggered adaptive estimated inverse control scheme for uncertain nonlinear systems with hysteresis effects, parametric uncertainties, and unknown disturbances. An online estimated inverse hysteresis compensation mechanism is developed, in which an adaptive technique is designed to obtain the value of unknown hysteresis parameters. Compared with common approaches, its biggest advantage lies in the fact that it eliminates the need for experimental determination of hysteresis parameters, thereby reducing time‐consuming offline identification work and enhance the compatibility of the proposed method. Additionally, an adaptive radial basis functions neural network is applied to approximate the unknown disturbances, and its weight coefficients, along with unknown system parameters, are estimated by means of the adaptive method. Furthermore, the introduction of relative threshold event‐triggered control significantly reduces communication costs resulting from the hysteresis compensation. Through Lyapunov analysis, the proposed controller guarantees all signals are bounded and the errors are convergent. Numerical simulation results demonstrate the superiority of the developed controller.
Flexible PVA/Mn Ferrite/(MoS2)x Nanocomposites With Electromagnetic Wave Absorption Performance for Light Dependent Resistances
Authors: Gholipur Reza , Tofangchi Kamran
Published: April 2024

The presence of electromagnetic pollution not only poses a threat to human health but also disrupts the proper functioning of large‐scale machinery. In light of this, a novel method involving sol–gel techniques was utilized to synthesize PVA/Mn Ferrite/(MoS2)x nanocomposites, which exhibit remarkable electromagnetic wave absorption properties. By intelligently combining MoS2 with PVA/Mn Ferrite, the composite's electromagnetic parameters were optimized, leading to enhanced impedance matching. As a result, the PVA/Mn Ferrite/(MoS2)x nanocomposites showcased an exceptional minimum reflection loss of −15.971 dB at a thickness of 1 mm. The remarkable capability of absorbing substances can primarily be attributed to the outstanding synergistic interaction between PVA/Mn Ferrite and MoS2. Additionally, MoS2 also plays a significant role in generating dielectric loss and achieving ideal impedance matching. As a result, the potential applications of PVA/Mn Ferrite/(MoS2)x nanocomposites extend to serving as both absorption materials and light dependent resistance (LDR) sensors. These nanocomposites exhibit not only high efficiency but also possess the added advantages of flexibility and lightweight properties, further enhancing their desirability.
Enhancing Energy Storage Capacity of 3D Carbon Electrodes Using Soft Landing of Molecular Redox Mediators
Authors: Das Arya , Samayoa‐Oviedo Hugo Y. , Mohapatra Mamata , Basu Suddhasatwa , Laskin Julia
Published: April 2024

The incorporation of redox‐active species into the electric double layer is a powerful strategy for enhancing the energy density of supercapacitors. Polyoxometalates (POM) are a class of stable, redox‐active species with multielectron activity, which is often used to tailor the properties of electrochemical interfaces. Traditional synthetic methods often result in interfaces containing a mixture of POM anions, unreactive counter ions, and neutral species. This leads to degradation in electrochemical performance due to aggregation and increased interfacial resistance. Another significant challenge is achieving the uniform and stable anchoring of POM anions on substrates to ensure the long‐term stability of the electrochemical interface. These challenges are addressed by developing a mass spectrometry‐based subambient deposition strategy for the selective deposition of POM anions onto engineered 3D porous carbon electrodes. Furthermore, positively charged functional groups are introduced on the electrode surface for efficient trapping of POM anions. This approach enables the deposition of purified POM anions uniformly through the pores of the 3D porous carbon electrode, resulting in unprecedented increase in the energy storage capacity of the electrodes. The study highlights the critical role of well‐defined electrochemical interfaces in energy storage applications and offers a powerful method to achieve this through selective ion deposition.
New Directions for Thermoelectrics: A Roadmap from High‐Throughput Materials Discovery to Advanced Device Manufacturing
Authors: Song Kaidong , Tanvir Ali Newaz Mohammad , Bappy Md Omarsany , Zhang Yanliang
Published: April 2024

Thermoelectric materials, which can convert waste heat into electricity or act as solid‐state Peltier coolers, are emerging as key technologies to address global energy shortages and environmental sustainability. However, discovering materials with high thermoelectric conversion efficiency is a complex and slow process. The emerging field of high‐throughput material discovery demonstrates its potential to accelerate the development of new thermoelectric materials combining high efficiency and low cost. The synergistic integration of high‐throughput material processing and characterization techniques with machine learning algorithms can form an efficient closed‐loop process to generate and analyze broad datasets to discover new thermoelectric materials with unprecedented performances. Meanwhile, the recent development of advanced manufacturing methods provides exciting opportunities to realize scalable, low‐cost, and energy‐efficient fabrication of thermoelectric devices. This review provides an overview of recent advances in discovering thermoelectric materials using high‐throughput methods, including processing, characterization, and screening. Advanced manufacturing methods of thermoelectric devices are also introduced to realize the broad impacts of thermoelectric materials in power generation and solid‐state cooling. In the end, this article also discusses the future research prospects and directions.
Anderson Localization of Phonons in Thermally Superinsulating Graphene Aerogels with Metal‐Like Electrical Conductivity
Authors: Šilhavík Martin , Kumar Prabhat , Levinský Petr , Zafar Zahid Ali , Hejtmánek Jiří , Červenka Jiří
Published: April 2024

In the quest to improve energy efficiency and design better thermal insulators, various engineering strategies have been extensively investigated to minimize heat transfer through a material. Yet, the suppression of thermal transport in a material remains elusive because heat can be transferred by multiple energy carriers. Here, the realization of Anderson localization of phonons in a random 3D elastic network of graphene is reported. It is shown that thermal conductivity in a cellular graphene aerogel can be drastically reduced to 0.9 mW m−1 K−1 by the application of compressive strain while keeping a high metal‐like electrical conductivity of 120 S m−1 and ampacity of 0.9 A. The experiments reveal that the strain can cause phonon localization over a broad compression range. The remaining heat flow in the material is dominated by charge transport. Conversely, electrical conductivity exhibits a gradual increase with increasing compressive strain, opposite to the thermal conductivity. These results imply that strain engineering provides the ability to independently tune charge and heat transport, establishing a new paradigm for controlling phonon and charge conduction in solids. This approach will enable the development of a new type of high‐performance insulation solutions and thermally superinsulating materials with metal‐like electrical conductivity.
Intranasal Delivery of Curcumin Nanoparticles Improves Neuroinflammation and Neurological Deficits in Mice with Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Authors: Duan Zhongxin , Zhou Wenjie , He Shi , Wang Wanyu , Huang Hongyi , Yi Linbin , Zhang Rui , Chen Junli , Zan Xin , You Chao , Gao Xiang
Published: April 2024

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) represents one of the most severe subtypes of stroke. Due to the complexity of the brain injury mechanisms following ICH, there are currently no effective treatments to significantly improve patient functional outcomes. Curcumin, as a potential therapeutic agent for ICH, is limited by its poor water solubility and oral bioavailability. In this study, mPEG‐PCL is used to encapsulate curcumin, forming curcumin nanoparticles, and utilized the intranasal administration route to directly deliver curcumin nanoparticles from the nasal cavity to the brain. By inhibiting pro‐inflammatory neuroinflammation of microglia following ICH in mice, reprogramming pro‐inflammatory microglia toward an anti‐inflammatory function, and consequently reducing neuronal inflammatory death and hematoma volume, this approach improved blood‐brain barrier damage in ICH mice and promoted the recovery of neurological function post‐stroke. This study offers a promising therapeutic strategy for ICH to mediate neuroinflammatory microenvironments.
Green Material Chlorin e6 Passivation Improves the Efficiency of Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Shen Bo , Meng Xiangxin , Sun Qing , Zhou Qingqing , Lv Jiekai , Hu Die , Duan Shaocong , Liu Gang , Kang Bonan , Silva S. Ravi P.
Published: April 2024

Functional passivation agents have been shown to effectively optimize the crystallization process and passivate defects on the surface and grain boundaries. People have conducted extensive research on the passivation mechanisms of various passivation agents to obtain more effective passivation agents. Researchers are gradually focusing on natural ingredients in the search for suitable passivation agents due to the wide variety, green color, and ease of production. As a result, the natural chlorophyll component chlorin e6 (CE‐6) is first combined with perovskite solar cells (PSCs) to improve their performance. Following the incorporation of CE‐6 into the perovskite layer, various functional groups of CE‐6 are used to effectively reduce traps on the perovskite surface, suppress charge recombination at the interface, improve carrier transfer rate and carrier extraction efficiency, and ultimately improve efficiency. The optimal device achieves a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 21.14% and maintains its initial PCE of 84% after being stored in a room‐temperature air environment for 500 h. Furthermore, semitransparent PSC (ST‐PSC) is made with 13.33% PCE and 5.53% average visible light transmittance. The findings show that natural material CE‐6 performs well in the perovskite layer and confirms the promising prospects for optimizing ST‐PSC.
Comprehensive Study of Carrier Recombination in High‐Efficiency CdTe Solar Cells Using Transient Photovoltage
Authors: Abudulimu Abasi , Carter Steven , Phillips Adam B. , Li Deng‐Bing , Neupane Sabin , Brau Tyler , Friedl Jared , Bastola Ebin , Jamarkattel Manoj K. , Heben Michael J. , Yan Yanfa , Ellingson Randy J.
Published: April 2024

Cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar cells represent a commercially successful photovoltaic technology, with an annual production capacity approaching 20 GW. However, improving the open‐circuit voltage (VOC) remains challenging. This study aims to deepen the understanding of charge carrier recombination in CdTe solar cells and to explore alternative dynamical characterization methods that address the limitations found in conventionally used time‐resolved photoluminescence for CdTe solar cells. Transient photovoltage and transient photocurrent techniques are utilized to investigate charge carrier dynamics under conditions resembling real‐world solar cell operation. The results reveal that an effective nonradiative recombination lifetime of 580 ns dominates the charge dynamics at VOC values below 850 mV. Above this threshold, radiative recombination becomes significant, with a radiative recombination coefficient of 1.1 × 10−9 cm3 s−1. Additionally, the stationary charge carrier density at 1 sun is determined to be around 1 × 1014 cm−3. By accurately determining both radiative and nonradiative recombination, this work provides a comprehensive understanding of carrier dynamics in high‐performing CdTe devices and paves the way for improving the VOC and performance of CdTe solar cells.
Effect of Ce on Inclusions and Precipitates in 10Cr5MoV Steel and the Microscopic Behavior of Solid Solution Ce in Steel
Authors: Shi Xiaoxia , Ren Huiping , Li Xiao , Liu Xiangjun , Zhan Fei , Yang Changqiao
Published: April 2024

In this article, the effects of Ce (0–120 ppm) on inclusions and precipitates in industrially produced CO2/H2S‐resistant 10Cr5MoVCe special oil well pipe steel and the microscopic behavior of Ce solid solution in steel were systematically studied by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, electrolysis separation of nonaqueous mixed solutions, and first‐principles calculations. After adding Ce to 10Cr5MoV steel the inclusions changed from chain‐like Al2O3 inclusions to polygonal Ce–O–S–Al–Ca complex inclusions and spheroidal Ce2O3, CeAlO3, Ce2O2S, and CeS inclusions. When the total Ce content was 25–120 ppm, the solid solution Ce content was maintained at about 20% of the total Ce content. The Ce had no significant influences on the types of chromium carbide precipitates, and the chromium carbide precipitates of all tested steels were Cr23C7 and Cr7C3. However, with the increase of Ce, the content of Cr23C7 and Cr7C3 precipitates decreased slightly, from 1.27% without Ce to 1.18% when Ce was 120 ppm. The first‐principles calculation results show that there was strong interaction between Fe, Ce, and Cr. Ce enhanced the interaction force between the Fe and Cr atoms, and improved the stability of the system, which facilitated the solid solution of Cr in the Fe–Cr system.
Long‐term outcomes of endoscopic ultrasound‐guided hepaticogastrostomy in patients with malignant biliary obstruction
Authors: Hedjoudje Abdellah , Pokossy Epée Johanna , Perez‐Cuadrado‐Robles Enrique , Alric Hadrien , Rivallin Paul , Vuitton Lucine , Koch Stephane , Prat Frédéric
Published: April 2024

Background

Hepaticogastrostomy drainage through endoscopic ultrasound (EUS‐HGS) has emerged in the 2010s as a new technique for biliary decompression in cases of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) failure for malignant biliary obstruction (MBO). Substantial technical and procedural progress in performing EUS‐HGS has been achieved, allowing high technical and clinical success and an acceptable risk of adverse events in studies mainly focusing on short‐term outcomes. However, the long‐term effects of EUS‐HGS and the risk of recurrent biliary obstruction (RBO) have not been fully evaluated.

Objectives

To evaluate the long‐term effects of EUS‐HGS and the risk of RBO.

Methods

Data from 211 patients undergoing technically successful EUS‐HGS in three academic centers were retrospectively collected. Clinical success, adverse events, RBO, and reinterventions were evaluated.

Results

In total, 198 patients underwent technically successful EUS‐HGS for MBO. The median overall survival was 144 days [108, 2011] after the procedure. Mean patient age was 69.39 (12.91) years. The cause of MBO was pancreatic cancer (n = 98, 49.5%) followed by cholangiocarcinoma (n = 29, 14.6%). The location of MBO was distal in 27.6% of cases and proximal in 68.4%. Adverse events were observed during the follow‐up in 65 patients (33%). On multivariate analysis, the use of partially covered self‐expandable metal stents (PCSEMS) was associated with a lower risk of RBO (HR = 0.47 [0.24–0.95], p = 0.034). Additionally, patients with distal stenoses had a trend toward better stent patency (HR = 0.06[0—0.77], p = 0.031). RBO developed in 38 cases (19.1%) mainly due tumor ingrowth (36.8%) with a high success rate of endoscopic management.

Conclusions

While RBO occurred in a notable proportion of patients, the primary cause of mortality was progression of the underlying malignancy rather than stent dysfunction. The efficiency of stents, particularly PCSEMS, and the high success rate of endoscopic management for RBO underscore the effectiveness and reliability of these treatments in managing biliary complications.
Ultrasonographic findings of fluid accumulation and hyperechogenic spots suggestive of surgical site infection following laparotomy for colic in horses
Authors: Pilati Nicola , Pressanto Maria Chiara , Beccati Francesca , Pepe Marco , Venditti Rossella , Gialletti Rodolfo
Published: April 2024

Background

The aim of this study was to compare ultrasonographic findings of the ventral midline incision after exploratory laparotomy for colic in horses with and without surgical site infection (SSI).

Methods

Ultrasonographic examination of the surgical wound was performed on postoperative day 5 (D5) and day 10 (D10) to assess the presence of fluid accumulation, suture sinus formation, hyperechogenic spots and fistulous path. Clinical evaluation of the wound was used to classify horses with and without SSI. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values of the ultrasonographic findings were then calculated. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed with SSI as a dependent variable and age, sex, breed and ultrasonographic findings as independent variables after univariate and collinearity analyses.

Results

Twenty‐nine of the 84 horses examined had an SSI. Detection of fluid accumulation and hyperechogenic spots increased the odds for SSI at D5 (odds ratio [OR]: 4.99, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.53–16.33, p = 0.008; OR: 10.78, 95% CI: 1.75–26.59, p = 0.01, respectively) and D10 (OR: 11.51, 95% CI: 2.39–55.47, p = 0.002; OR: 12.34, 95% CI: 3.45–44.15, p < 0.001, respectively).

Limitation

Ultrasonographic images were taken only on the longitudinal section.

Conclusion

Ultrasonographic examination is helpful in evaluating the surgical incision after laparotomy, with the detection of fluid accumulation and hyperechogenic spots surrounding the sutures being strongly related to SSI.
Equine skeletal scintigraphy: Comparing lesion detection ability of methylene diphosphonate and hydroxymethylene diphosphonate in the caudal cervical and proximal metacarpal/metatarsal regions
Authors: Sielaff Sahra , Gerlach Kerstin , Brunk Jan , Sill Volker , Jahn Werner , Pelli Anna C.
Published: April 2024

Background

Data regarding the lesion detection ability of different radiotracers are lacking in equine bone scintigraphy.

Methods

In this prospective study, hydroxymethylene diphosphonate (HMDP) and methylene diphosphonate (MDP) were compared in horses with increased radiopharmaceutical uptake either in the caudal cervical region (CS group) or in the proximal metacarpal/metatarsal region (PMR group). Region of interest analysis was used to determine normal bone‐to‐soft tissue ratios, lesion‐to‐normal bone ratios and lesion‐to‐soft tissue ratios. Qualitative scoring and total count rates were recorded for each image.

Results

A total of 213 scintigrams were included. Within the PMR group, there were significantly higher lesion‐to‐normal bone ratios for MDP compared with HMDP (p = 0.02). In the CS group, normal bone‐to‐soft tissue ratios were significantly higher for HMDP (p = 0.01). The interobserver agreement with regard to the qualitative assessment of the scintigrams was poor.

Limitation

Paired studies, comparing the different radiotracers in the same patient, were not feasible.

Conclusion

This study revealed minor differences between the two radiotracers, although these have no practical implications. Both radiopharmaceuticals are well suited for detecting lesions at the investigated sites using equine bone scintigraphy.
RNA base editors: The emerging approach of RNA therapeutics
Authors: Song Jinghui , Luo Nan , Dong Liting , Peng Jinying , Yi Chengqi
Published: April 2024

RNA‐based therapeutics offer a flexible and reversible approach for treating genetic disorders, such as antisense oligonucleotides, RNA interference, aptamers, mRNA vaccines, and RNA editing. In recent years, significant advancements have been made in RNA base editing to correct disease‐relevant point mutations. These achievements have significantly influenced the fields of biotechnology, biomedical research and therapeutics development. In this article, we provide a comprehensive overview of the design and performance of contemporary RNA base editors, including A‐to‐I, C‐to‐U, A‐to‐m6A, and U‐to‐Ψ. We compare recent innovative developments and highlight their applications in disease‐relevant contexts. Lastly, we discuss the limitations and future prospects of utilizing RNA base editing for therapeutic purposes.

This article is categorized under:

RNA Processing > RNA Editing and Modification

RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Development
Anti‐plane stress analysis for V‐notch in a piezomagnetic half space under SH wave
Authors: Zhang Xi‐Meng , Qi Hui
Published: April 2024

In this paper, the anti‐plane stress analysis of a V‐notch with complex boundary conditions in a piezomagnetic half space is studied. Firstly, SH wave is considered as an external load acting on piezomagnetic half space, on the basis of repeated image superposition, the analytical expression of scattering wave is conducted, which satisfies the boundary conditions on the boundary of the half space. Then, the analytical expression of standing wave is established, which satisfies the stress free and magnetic insulation conditions on the boundaries of V‐notch by the fractional Bessel function expansion method and Graf addition theorem. Finally, Green's function method is applied, the half space is divided into two parts along the vertical interface, a pair of in‐plane magnetic field and out‐plane forces are applied on the vertical interface, and the first kind of Fredholm integral equations are set up and solved by applying orthogonal function expansion technique and effective truncation. Results clarified the influence on the dynamic stress concentration factor and magnetic field intensity concentration factor under proper conditions. Besides, the analytical solutions are compared with the finite element solutions to verify the accuracy of the conclusions in this article.
Invariant-based Program Repair
Authors: Al-Bataineh Omar I.
Published: April 2024

This paper describes a formal general-purpose automated program repair (APR) framework based on the concept of program invariants. In the presented repair framework, the execution traces of a defected program are dynamically analyzed to infer specifications $$\varphi _{correct}$$

φ

correct

and $$\varphi _{violated}$$

φ

violated

, where $$\varphi _{correct}$$

φ

correct

represents the set of likely invariants (good patterns) required for a run to be successful and $$\varphi _{violated}$$

φ

violated

represents the set of likely suspicious invariants (bad patterns) that result in the bug in the defected program. These specifications are then refined using rigorous program analysis techniques, which are also used to drive the repair process towards feasible patches and assess the correctness of generated patches. We demonstrate the usefulness of leveraging invariants in APR by developing an invariant-based repair system for performance bugs. The initial analysis shows the effectiveness of invariant-based APR in handling performance bugs by producing patches that ensure program’s efficiency increase without adversely impacting its functionality.
Multi-matrix correlators and localization
Authors: Holguin Adolfo , Wang Shannon , Wang Zi-Yue
Published: April 2024

Abstract

We study generating functions of $$ \frac{1}{4} $$

1
4

-BPS states in $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 super Yang-Mills at finite N by attempting to generalize the Harish-Chandra-Itzykson-Zuber integral to multiple commuting matrices. This allows us to compute the overlaps of two or more generating functions; such calculations arise in the computation of two-point correlators in the free-field limit. We discuss the four-matrix HCIZ integral in the U(2) context and lay out a prescription for finding a more general formula for N > 2. We then discuss its connections with the restricted Schur polynomial operator basis. Our results generalize readily to arbitrary numbers of matrices, opening up the opportunity to study more generic BPS operators.
Identification of a novel marker and its associated laccase gene for regulating ear length in tropical and subtropical maize lines
Authors: Bi Yaqi , Jiang Fuyan , Zhang Yudong , Li Ziwei , Kuang Tianhui , Shaw Ranjan K. , Adnan Muhammad , Li Kunzhi , Fan Xingming
Published: April 2024

Key message

This study revealed the identification of a novel gene, Zm00001d042906, that regulates maize ear length by modulating lignin synthesis and reported a molecular marker for selecting maize lines with elongated ears.

Maize ear length has garnered considerable attention due to its high correlation with yield. In this study, six maize inbred lines of significant importance in maize breeding were used as parents. The temperate maize inbred line Ye107, characterized by a short ear, was crossed with five tropical or subtropical inbred lines featuring longer ears, creating a multi-parent population displaying significant variations in ear length. Through genome-wide association studies and mutation analysis, the A/G variation at SNP_183573532 on chromosome 3 was identified as an effective site for discriminating long-ear maize. Furthermore, the associated gene Zm00001d042906 was found to correlate with maize ear length. Zm00001d042906 was functionally annotated as a laccase (Lac4), which showed activity and influenced lignin synthesis in the midsection cells of the cob, thereby regulating maize ear length. This study further reports a novel molecular marker and a new gene that can assist maize breeding programs in selecting varieties with elongated ears.
Some practical and theoretical issues related to the quantile estimators
Authors: Dudek Dagmara , Kuczmaszewska Anna
Published: April 2024

The paper contains the comparative analysis of the efficiency of different qunatile estimators for various distributions. Additionally, we show strong consistency of different quantile estimators and we study the Bahadur representation for each of the quantile estimators, when the sample is taken from NA, $$\varphi $$
φ
, $$\rho ^*$$

ρ
∗

, $$\rho $$
ρ
-mixing population.
Meningokokken-Impfung
Authors: Dornbusch Hans Jürgen , Förster Holger , Prieler Albrecht , Sprung-Markes Michael , Kerbl Reinhold
Published: April 2024

In Österreich sind Meningokokken-Impfungen für unterschiedliche Altersgruppen empfohlen, jedoch wird nur jene gegen die Serogruppen ACWY im Jugendalter erstattet. Vor diesem Hintergrund stagnieren die Durchimpfungsraten – insbesondere bei Kindern aus einkommensschwachen Familien. Dies entspricht einer sozialen und ökonomischen Ungleichheit, welche für die betroffenen Familien und ihre behandelnden Ärzte eine große Belastung darstellt. Auf Basis einer Analyse der rezenten Meningokokken-Epidemiologie, von Impfempfehlungen, Impfprogrammen und sozioökonomischen Aspekten werden Hürden für eine Erweiterung des kostenfreien Impfprogramms gegen Meningokokken definiert und Maßnahmen vorgeschlagen, die einen umfassenden Impfschutz gegen invasive Meningokokkenerkrankungen (IME) gewährleisten könnten. Die Aufnahme aller Impfungen gegen Meningokokken ins kostenfreie Kinderimpfprogramm würde die Durchimpfungsrate gegen diese schwere Infektionskrankheit mit großer Wahrscheinlichkeit erhöhen und die tägliche Arbeit von Pädiatern und Allgemeinmedizinern hinsichtlich der erforderlichen Impfaufklärungsgespräche maßgeblich erleichtern.
Investigation of the efficiency of wind-assisted systems using model-based design approach
Authors: Guzelbulut Cem , Sugimoto Tomohiro , Fujita Yasuaki , Suzuki Katsuyuki
Published: April 2024

To achieve the goal of a 50% reduction of CO2 emission in the maritime industry by 2050, different systems and solutions were proposed by researchers. Rigid wind sails, rotor sails, suction wings, and kites were developed to contribute to cleaner and environment-friendly transportation by reducing total fuel and energy consumption. In the present study, a ship dynamics model of KVLCC2 consisting of hull, rudder, propeller, and sailing system was built considering the effects of wind and wave. Firstly, the amount of energy consumption reduction of both systems was examined under different wind directions and wind speeds. It was found that a single sailing system can reduce total energy consumption by up to 10%. Then, the effects of the ship speed, the position of the sailing system, and the number of sails on the reduction of energy consumption were examined. It was found that the amount of overall energy reduction reaches around 23% and 16% when the number of sails was increased to 10 rigid wind sails and 10 rotor sails, respectively. The effects of waves were also investigated, and it was revealed that wave forces decrease the percent energy reduction more when environmental conditions become more severe, starting from the Beaufort scale of 7.
Clinical and radiological features of intracranial ancient schwannomas: a single-institution, retrospective analysis
Authors: Tsuchiya Takahiro , Ikemura Masako , Miyawaki Satoru , Teranishi Yu , Ohara Kenta , Ushiku Tetsuo , Saito Nobuhito
Published: April 2024

Ancient schwannoma (AS) is a subtype of schwannoma characterized by slow progression despite degenerative changes in pathology. Although it is considered a benign tumor, most previous reports have focused on extracranial AS; therefore, the clinical characteristics of intracranial AS is not clear. We included 174 patients who underwent surgery for sporadic intracranial schwannoma, and 13 patients (7.5%) were diagnosed with AS. Cysts were significantly more common in patients with AS than conventional schwannomas (92.3% vs. 44.7%, p < 0.001), as was bleeding (38.5% vs. 6.9%, p = 0.003) and calcification (15.4% vs. 1.3%, p = 0.029). The maximum tumor diameter was also larger in patients with AS (35 mm vs. 29 mm, p = 0.017). The median duration from symptom onset to surgery (7.0 vs. 12.5 months, p = 0.740) did not significantly differ between groups, nor did the probability of postoperative recurrence (p = 0.949). Intracranial AS was strongly associated with cyst formation and exhibited a benign clinical course with a lower rate of recurrence and need for salvage treatment. Extracranial AS is reportedly characterized by a slow progression through a long-term clinical course, whereas intracranial AS did not progress slowly in our study and exhibited different clinical features to those reported for extracranial AS.
Preoperative optimization in hernia surgery: are we really helping or are we just stalling?
Authors: Fafaj A. , de Figueiredo S. M. P. , Rosen M. J. , Petro C. C.
Published: April 2024

Background

Managing patients with abdominal wall hernias and multiple comorbidities can be challenging because these patients are at increased risk for postoperative complications. Preoperative optimization has been used to identify and intervene upon modifiable risk factors to improve hernia repair outcomes, however, waiting to achieve optimization may cause unnecessary delays.

Methods

We describe our approach to preoperative optimization in hernia and we review the current evidence for preoperative optimization.

Conclusion

Modifying risk factors before undergoing elective hernia repair can improve the overall health of patients with multiple comorbidities. However, when considering the hernia-specific data, prolonging waiting times for patients to achieve full optimization is not justified. Surgeons should take a nuanced approach to balance achieving patient optimization without unnecessarily delaying surgical care.