bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wearable Humidity Sensor for Continuous Sweat Rate Monitoring
Authors: Aggarwal Ashwin , Dautta Manik , Ayala‐Cardona Luis Fernando , Wudaru Aalaya , Javey Ali
Published: June 2023

The rapid advancements in wearable technologies are allowing for personal and tailored monitoring systems for core bodily metrics. Modern smartwatches accurately and frequently stream physical signals such as heart rate and respiratory rate. However, smartwatches have yet to track a multitude of physiological parameters, including sweat rate. This work presents a new wearable device that tracks sweat rate, the body's most important thermoregulatory function. The device is tape‐free and utilizes an off‐the‐shelf humidity sensor, with the potential to be integrated with existing smartwatch bands. It features a 3D‐printed chamber with a humidity sensor and microheater, and it interfaces the skin with a malleable and concave sweat collector. Through various experiments and trials, the authors seek to understand the relationship between sweat‐induced humidity within the chamber and the amount of sweat secreted when worn. Compared to existing sweat rate sensing devices, this hygrometer‐based device can be worn for extensive periods of time without overfilling. The device's reusability and compactness make it a good candidate for use alongside modern, microfluidic‐based sweat rate devices.
White Lasing and White Fluorescence from the Simplified Two‐Dyes Organic System
Authors: Szukalska Alina , Szukalski Adam , Adaszynski Marek , Mysliwiec Jaroslaw
Published: June 2023

The invention of lasers, which took place a few decades ago, marks a milestone in the past, present, and future technologies in optoelectronics. In particular, the colorful and white tones produced by lasers are appealing from a utilization standpoint and align well with human eye perception. In this paper, an idea for a white laser based on the attractive perylene family of luminescent dyes is introduced. This concept provides multicolor emission and brilliant photostability upon external optical pumping. The main advantage of the approach is the construction of a fully organic and two‐component white laser. The versatility of the system is demonstrated by assembling multicolor, tunable, and efficient fluorescent systems using a liquid crystalline matrix, which is supported by comprehensive experimental studies. Additionally, by utilizing laser spectroscopy techniques, it is able to narrow the emission bandwidth and enhance the light in a typical synthetic polymeric matrix. This leads to the realization of white lasing emission with just two luminescent dyes: perylene blue and perylene orange.
High‐Throughput Tailorable Fabrication of Long‐Range Ordered Plasmonic Coaxial Multi‐Circular Nano‐Slit Arrays Down to 2 nm for SERS Detection
Authors: Yan Sisi , Zhu Chuhong , Wang Anyang , Sun Jiacheng , Hang Yingjie , Chen Bin , Wang Xiujuan , Wu Nianqiang , Tang Haibin , Wen Liaoyong , Meng Guowen
Published: June 2023

Plasmonic patterns with gaps of less than 10 nm have wide applications for various optoelectronic devices, for example, the surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) detection of toxic pesticide contaminants that pose a serious threat to human health. Here, a cost‐effective and highly controllable approach for such ultrafine patterns by combining the characteristic strengths of two techniques, the tunable and ordered porous structure of the anodic aluminum oxide template technique and the conformal atomic layer‐by‐layer growth feature of the atomic layer deposition technique, is reported. This novel nanofabrication approach can tailor the geometry and dimension of the inner‐pillar/outer‐ring or inner‐ring/outer‐ring nano‐arrays at the nanometer scale with high reproducibility. As a result, multiple large‐area (cm2 scale) ordered and high‐density coaxial circular nano‐slit arrays with adjustable slit width down to 2 nm are produced. Such narrow metallic nano‐slits can generate strong “hot spots” where huge signal enhancement happens, leading to a SERS enhancement factor of up to 4 × 108. This enables the detection of rhodamine 6G at an ultra‐low concentration of 10 fm, as well as toxic pesticide contaminants such as chlorpyrifos and thiram in lake water, with limits of detection of 0.25 ppm and 1.8 ppb, respectively.
Application of 2D Polyoxometalate Clusterphene in a High‐Performance Photoelectrochemical Photodetector
Authors: Zhang Xinyi , Khan Karim , Tareen Ayesha Khan , Zhang Ye
Published: June 2023

Exploration of novel two–dimensional (2D) nanomaterials with desired properties using a controlled approach remains one of the major challenges ahead. Clusterphene, the newly emerged 2D formation of self‐assembled clusters, exhibits a comparable structure to graphene with intriguing physicochemical features, which are applied in several scientific disciplines. Herein, it is demonstrated that polyoxometalate clusterphene (POMCene) is a promising 2D nanomaterial for photoelectrochemical (PEC) photodetection. The photodetection performance of POMCene can be subtly tuned by adjusting external conditions like bias voltage, electrolyte, and incident wavelength. A photocurrent of 1.88 µA cm‒2, a responsivity of 2.26 µA W‒1, a detectivity of 5.65 × 109 Jones, and a fast response speed of 0.02 s along with good long‐term stability can be achieved. It is believed that this research can pave a new direction for the future development of 2D POMCene in high‐performance optoelectronic devices.
Local Rigidity by Flexibility: Unusual Design for Organic THz‐Device Materials
Authors: Kim Dong‐Joo , Yu In Cheol , Jazbinsek Mojca , Kim Chaeyoon , Yoon Woojin , Yun Hoseop , Kim Sang‐Wook , Kim Dongwook , Rotermund Fabian , Kwon O‐Pil
Published: June 2023

Terahertz (THz) waves interact with molecular phonon vibrations of organic matter. When designing organic THz‐device materials, conformational flexible groups (CFGs) are in most cases avoided. CFGs create many low‐energy conformers with high conformational entropy, which results in large and many phonon vibration modes that lead to undesired self‐absorption of THz waves. Here, nonpolar CFGs only having weak intermolecular interaction capability are unusually introduced into organic THz‐device materials, utilized for efficient THz wave generation. Newly designed THz‐source crystals possess nonpolar methylene (CH2)n units having high conformational flexibility. Compared to previously reported benchmark crystals without methylene CFGs, introducing methylene CFGs significantly reduces void volume in newly designed crystals. This leads to the suppression of molecular phonon vibrations below 2.0 THz (i.e., introducing flexibility results in local rigidity). At infrared pump wavelengths, new CFG‐contained crystals generate a strong THz electric field that is one order of magnitude stronger than that generated in inorganic ZnTe crystals. CFG‐contained crystals exhibit a flatter spectral shape of the generated THz wave than benchmark crystals without methylene CFGs. Therefore, the introduction of CFGs is a very intriguing design strategy for organic THz‐device materials to reduce the limitations caused by phonon vibrations.
Magnetic and Electric Properties and Their Regulation of the Intrinsic Half‐Metallic Multiferroic Monolayers AV2S4
Authors: Wang Yang , Wang Lian‐Yan , Hu Lin‐Lin , Huang Cheng‐Cai , Li Deng‐Feng , Liu Jun
Published: June 2023

2D half‐metallic multiferroic materials have attracted great interest due to their rich novel performances and wide application prospect in nanoelectronics and nanodevices. Three intrinsic half‐metallic multiferroic monolayers AV2S4 (A = Na, K, and Rb) are predicted based on the first‐principles calculations. From the calculations, their ground states are all ferromagnetic and are completely spin‐polarized at the Fermi level. Their total magnetic moments are always 3.00 μB per primitive cell, which origin mainly from V‐ions. The two‐center electronic structure t2g6↑t2g4↓eg1↑ of V‐ions is proposed from the perspective of the crystal field theory to explain successfully the calculated magnetic moments. Interestingly, the alkali‐metal ions are non‐magnetic, but they may cause important influence on the magnetic coupling between transition ions, and then the half‐metallicity of these monolayers. Their electric and magnetic properties may be tuned by their charge states and strains. Especially, their half‐metallic stability may be evidently improved by the tensile strains. The half‐metallic gaps of these monolayers may be increased by about 67.4%, 50.8%, and 32.4% for NaV2S4, KV2S4, and RbV2S4 by the tensile strain 2.0%, respectively.
Progress and Perspective of CRISPR‐Cas9 Technology in Translational Medicine
Authors: Zheng Ruixuan , Zhang Lexiang , Parvin Rokshana , Su Lihuang , Chi Junjie , Shi Keqing , Ye Fangfu , Huang Xiaoying
Published: June 2023

Translational medicine aims to improve human health by exploring potential treatment methods developed during basic scientific research and applying them to the treatment of patients in clinical settings. The advanced perceptions of gene functions have remarkably revolutionized clinical treatment strategies for target agents. However, the progress in gene editing therapy has been hindered due to the severe off‐target effects and limited editing sites. Fortunately, the development in the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats associated protein 9 (CRISPR‐Cas9) system has renewed hope for gene therapy field. The CRISPR‐Cas9 system can fulfill various simple or complex purposes, including gene knockout, knock‐in, activation, interference, base editing, and sequence detection. Accordingly, the CRISPR‐Cas9 system is adaptable to translational medicine, which calls for the alteration of genomic sequences. This review aims to present the latest CRISPR‐Cas9 technology achievements and prospect to translational medicine advances. The principle and characterization of the CRISPR‐Cas9 system are firstly introduced. The authors then focus on recent pre‐clinical and clinical research directions, including the construction of disease models, disease‐related gene screening and regulation, and disease treatment and diagnosis for multiple refractory diseases. Finally, some clinical challenges including off‐target effects, in vivo vectors, and ethical problems, and future perspective are also discussed.
Redox‐Responsive Dendrimer Nanogels Enable Ultrasound‐Enhanced Chemoimmunotherapy of Pancreatic Cancer via Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Amplification and Macrophage Polarization
Authors: Zhang Guizhi , Zhan Mengsi , Zhang Changchang , Wang Zhiqiang , Sun Huxiao , Tao Yuchen , Shi Qiusheng , He Meijuan , Wang Han , Rodrigues João , Shen Mingwu , Shi Xiangyang
Published: June 2023

Developing a multifunctional nanoplatform to achieve efficient theranostics of tumors through multi‐pronged strategies remains to be challenging. Here, the design of the intelligent redox‐responsive generation 3 (G3) poly(amidoamine) dendrimer nanogels (NGs) loaded with gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) and chemotherapeutic drug toyocamycin (Au/Toy@G3 NGs) for ultrasound‐enhanced cancer theranostics is showcased. The constructed hybrid NGs with a size of 193 nm possess good colloidal stability under physiological conditions, and can be dissociated to release Au NPs and Toy in the reductive glutathione‐rich tumor microenvironment (TME). The released Toy can promote the apoptosis of cancer cells through endoplasmic reticulum stress amplification and cause immunogenic cell death to maturate dendritic cells. The loaded Au NPs can induce the conversion of tumor‐associated macrophages from M2‐type to antitumor M1‐type to remodulate the immunosuppressive TME. Combined with antibody‐mediated immune checkpoint blockade, effective chemoimmunotherapy of a pancreatic tumor mouse model can be realized, and the chemoimmunotherapy effect can be further ultrasound enhanced due to the sonoporation‐improved tumor permeability of NGs. The developed Au/Toy@G3 NGs also enable Au‐mediated computed tomography imaging of tumors. The constructed responsive dendrimeric NGs tackle tumors through a multi‐pronged chemoimmunotherapy strategy targeting both cancer cells and immune cells, which hold a promising potential for clinical translations.
A General Strategy for Rapidly Optimizing Wearable Resistive Pressure Sensors
Authors: Wen Lei , Nie Meng , Fan Jinwen , Chen Pengfan , Li Bowei , Chen Shuning , Xiong Yuwei , Zhang Qian , Yin Kuibo , Sun Litao
Published: June 2023

Due to the complicated relationship between wearable electronics performance and various parameters, months even years are needed to obtain a desired sensor by random and time‐consuming trial‐and‐error methods. Herein, a general analytic model based on the micro‐element division and equivalent circuit is presented to guide a rapid optimizing strategy for wearable resistive pressure sensors, which is like the method always used in the traditional design of the metal‐oxide‐semiconductor field‐effect transistor for integrated circuits. The quantitative relationship between the sensitivity and related parameters is declared in the presented model, and the optimized parameters are achieved to design a sensor. The demanded ultra‐highly sensitive pressure sensor is successfully designed and optimized in minutes based on the built model, and the fabricated sensor is applied in a voice real‐time recognition system to obtain 100% recognition accuracy. The on‐demand and agile development strategy paves a promising way to greatly accelerate the transition from random and time‐consuming to the controllable design of wearable electronics.
CMOS AlN and ScAlN Pyroelectric Detectors with Optical Enhancement for Detection of CO2 and CH4 Gases
Authors: Ng Doris Keh Ting , Xu Linfang , Fu Yuan Hsing , Chen Weiguo , Ho Chong Pei , Goh Jia Sheng , Chung Wing Wai , Jaafar Norhanani , Zhang Qingxin , Lee Lennon Yao Ting
Published: June 2023

Gas sensors are useful for monitoring of greenhouse gases. As the move toward complementary metal‐oxide‐semiconductor (CMOS) compatible pyroelectric room temperature detectors is gaining traction due to its scalability to 8‐in./12‐in. wafer area and integrable with CMOS electronics, CMOS compatible aluminum nitride (AlN)‐ and scandium aluminum nitride (ScAlN)‐based pyroelectric detectors are developed for sensing of CO2and CH4gases, which are two of the greenhouse gases that contribute significantly to global warming. Leveraging gas absorption at respective mid‐infrared (IR) wavelengths, CO2 and CH4 gases are detected at various concentrations with fast response time ≈1 s. A compound parabolic collector (CPC) is designed and integrated into the gas sensor to enhance the optical flux received by the detector, which demonstrates ≈10× signal improvement in its presence. Further factors such as the effect of sensing area reduction and response to random gas concentrations are also tested on AlN‐ and ScAlN‐based pyroelectric detectors respectively to observe the gas sensing behaviors of both detectors. The results obtained provide further understanding of the behavior of CMOS AlN‐ and ScAlN‐based pyroelectric detectors as IR gas sensors, which can potentially inspire new design and design selection for various gas sensing applications.
Roadmap for Competitive Production of Solid‐State Batteries: How to Convert a Promise into Reality
Authors: Pacios Roberto , Villaverde Aitor , Martínez‐Ibañez María , Casas‐Cabanas Montse , Aguesse Frederic , Kvasha Andriy
Published: June 2023

This work describes the most logical approach to address the imminent scale up and mass industrial manufacturing of solid‐state batteries (SSBs) attending to material, product and production requirements. All the currently used technologies, starting from small lab scale and going to initial prototyping and industrial attempts, are evaluated against exclusion criteria focused on achieving a low‐cost, high throughput, reliable and easily scalable manufacturing process that is in addition environmentally friendly and minimizes risk related to human health and work safety. Batteries that rely on raw materials which are readily available and are ethically produced. Batteries that are manufactured using energy that leaves no carbon footprint and are efficiently reused and recycled, resulting in minimal impact on the earth’s resources and climate. Batteries that do not exist today but will certainly exist tomorrow. The resulting roadmap is used as the benchmark to compare the manufacturing strategies of the main industrial players attempting mass fabrication of SSBs in the next 5–10 years
Factors affecting recent food price inflation in the United States
Authors: Adjemian Michael K. , Arita Shawn , Meyer Seth , Salin Delmy
Published: June 2023

Beginning in mid‐2021, U.S. food prices surged at the fastest pace in decades, due to pandemic‐related supply chain and labor shortages, rising transportation costs and wages, food commodity and fertilizer shocks resulting from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and perhaps demand‐side effects of recent monetary and fiscal stimulus. We decompose the path of domestic food prices into explanatory factors, grouped by supply or demand orientation. Our findings indicate that although supply‐side factors explain most of the observed price changes, the demand‐side factors we studied—particularly the money supply—have a stronger correlation with recent food price increases than they have, historically.
Early detection of the herbicidal effect of glyphosate and glufosinate by using hyperspectral imaging
Authors: Nehurai Omer , Atsmon Guy , Kizel Fadi , Kamber Eran , Bar Noam , Eizenberg Hanan , Lati Ran Nisim
Published: June 2023

Early detection of non‐optimal weed control is now a priority to ensure herbicide efficacy. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) for early detection of the effects of glyphosate and glufosinate on weeds. Specific features (bands and vegetation indices [VIs]) were extracted as indicators for glyphosate and glufosinate efficacy. Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.) was used as the model weed and treated with glyphosate or glufosinate at the fourth‐leaf stage. Plants were imaged in the laboratory at 6, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours after treatment (HAT) with a 204‐wavelength (400–1000 nm) hyperspectral camera. The impact of the herbicide treatments on the spectral reflectance values was analyzed using the two‐sided Mann–Whitney U test, followed by classification with a machine learning (ML) model applied on the full spectrum and on 12 VIs. In addition, the contribution of the different wavelengths (features) to classification accuracy was assessed using a feature selection process. For glufosinate, 95% classification accuracy was observed as early as 6 HAT, with four features from the green region required. For glyphosate, four features from the red, red‐edge, and green regions were used to achieve 88% classification accuracy at 24 HAT. The accuracy of VIs‐based classification was generally lower than that of the full spectrum classification accuracy. Above 85% classification accuracy was achieved only at later imaging campaigns, starting at 48 HAT. This study thus demonstrates that non‐optimal application of glyphosate and glufosinate can indeed be detected using spectral imaging.
Flexible Förster resonance energy transfer‐assisted optical waveguide based on elastic mixed molecular crystals
Authors: Matsuo Takumi , Ikeda Koki , Hayashi Shotaro
Published: June 2023

Flexible molecular crystal waveguides based on elastic molecular crystals (EMCs) are essential in flexible and compact optical materials. An increased loss coefficient α due to self‐absorption is often a problem in optical waveguides (OWGs) of fluorescent chemical materials waveguiding photons in active mode. Herein, the development of anthracene‐based elastic mixed molecular crystals (EMMCs) is reported for Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)‐assisted OWG. To yield a FRET crystal system based on elastic molecular crystals, 1%–5% acceptor doping for fluorescent molecular crystals of 9,10‐dibromoanthracene 1 was successful by selecting the same regioisomer having electron‐withdrawing group, 9,10‐diformylanthracene 2, as a dopant. In addition to conversion to the mixed system, there is a difference in the elastic modulus and hardness in EMC C1 and EMMC C2@1. However, the elastic behaviour was also shown in a few percent doping of the acceptor. The α value of this EMMC, composed of 1 including 1% of 2 (0.0077 dB/μm), is much lower than that of EMC composed of 1 (0.1258 dB/μm) because of reducing self‐absorption in the FRET system. An efficient and flexible OWG was successfully developed by selecting an appropriate acceptor molecule and its low doping rate for mixed crystal construction. This method is a practical approach in various functional and flexible crystal systems.
A comparison of FELS and Tanner‐Whitehouse II skeletal ages in male youth soccer players from the Middle East
Authors: Lolli Lorenzo , Di Salvo Valter , Monaco Mauricio , Johnson Amanda , Gregson Warren
Published: June 2023

Objectives

To assess measurement agreement between FELS and Tanner‐Whitehouse (TW) II skeletal ages in male youth soccer players from the Middle East.

Methods

We examined agreement between FELS and TW‐II skeletal ages using data collected between‐ and within‐subjects (n = 1057 observations) for 409 male, full‐time, academy student‐athletes recruited as part of the Qatar Football Association national soccer development programme (chronological age range, 9.8 to 18 years; annual screening range, one to seven visits). The Bland–Altman method for repeated measurements estimated the limits of agreement describing the expected range of differences for 95% of pairs of future FELS and TW‐II skeletal ages determined on similar individuals from the reference population.

Results

The mean difference for TW‐II versus FELS protocols was 0.02 years (95% confidence interval, −0.04 to 0.08 years) with lower and upper limits of agreement ranging from −1.39 years (95% confidence interval, −1.48 to −1.30 years) to 1.43 years (95% confidence interval, 1.34 to 1.52 years).

Conclusion

Differences for 95% of pairs of future skeletal ages determined with FELS and TW‐II methods in this population could be as high as ~3 years for some people that suggested protocols may not be interchangeable in youth Middle Eastern athletes. Justification of skeletal age protocol selection rests on knowledge of measurement bias and variability of expected growth estimations for rationalized application to a population of interest.
Demographically‐adjusted normative data among Latinos for the version 3 of the Alzheimer's Disease Centers’ Neuropsychological Test Battery in the Uniform Data Set
Authors: Marquine María J. , Parks Adam , Perales‐Puchalt Jaime , González David A. , Rosado‐Bruno Mónica , North Rebecca , Pieper Carl , Werry Amy E. , Kiselica Andrew , Chapman Silvia , Dodge Hiroko , Gauthreaux Kathryn , Kukull Walter A. , Rascovsky Katya
Published: June 2023

INTRODUCTION

We developed demographically‐adjusted normative data for Spanish‐ and English‐speaking Latinos on the Version 3.0 of the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set Neuropsychological Battery (UDS3‐NB).

METHODS

Healthy Latino adults (N = 437) age 50–94 (191 Spanish‐ and 246 English‐speaking) enrolled in Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers completed the UDS3‐NB in their preferred language. Normative data were developed via multiple linear regression models on UDS3‐NB raw scores stratified by language group with terms for demographic characteristics (age, years of formal education, and sex).

RESULTS

Younger age and more years of education were associated with better performance on most tests in both language groups, with education being particularly influential on raw scores among Spanish‐speakers. Sex effects varied across tests and language groups.

DISCUSSION

These normative data are a crucial step toward improving diagnostic accuracy of the UDS3‐NB for neurocognitive disorders among Latinos in the United States and addressing disparities in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

Highlights

We developed normative data on the UDS3‐NB for Latinos in the US ages 50–94.

Younger age and more years of education were linked to better raw scores in several cognitive tests.

Education was particularly influential on raw scores among Spanish‐speakers.

Sex effects varied across tests and between English‐ and Spanish‐speaking Latinos.

These normative data might improve diagnostic accuracy of the UDS3‐NB among Latinos.
Can Gram staining be a guiding tool for optimizing initial antimicrobial agents in bacterial infections?
Authors: Yoshimura Jumpei , Ogura Hiroshi , Oda Jun
Published: June 2023

The emergence of multidrug‐resistant organisms poses a significant threat to global public health, making the optimization of antimicrobial use crucial. Antimicrobial therapy is often initiated in emergency rooms (ERs) and intensive care units (ICUs), where patients are at high risk of infection. Prompt antimicrobial selection is essential in these facilities, and point‐of‐care testing can guide the appropriate initial antimicrobial therapy. Gram staining, a quick and inexpensive method, was previously used for point‐of‐care testing by physicians in the 1980s but was discontinued in 1988 in the United States. However, in Japan, the clinical practice of Gram stain‐based antimicrobial therapy by physicians has continued in a limited number of hospitals. Several studies undertaken in Japan have shown that Gram staining carried out by trained physicians can reduce the overuse of broad‐spectrum antimicrobial agents in ERs and ICUs without worsening patients' outcomes. Gram stain‐based antimicrobial therapy reduced unnecessary use of carbapenems in the ER. Furthermore, Gram staining has been shown to significantly reduce the overuse of broad‐spectrum antimicrobials without worsening clinical cure and mortality for patients with ventilator‐associated pneumonia in the ICU. The classic technique of Gram staining has regained its usefulness through persistent clinical practice in Japan. It is hoped that Japanese researchers in this field will demonstrate to the world the efficacy of the classic technique of Gram staining in addressing this critical problem. Gram staining carried out by trained physicians could serve as a valuable means of optimizing antimicrobial treatment in ERs and ICUs.
Etiology and clinical characteristics of patients with severely impaired consciousness in prehospital settings: A retrospective study
Authors: Mizu Daisuke , Matsuoka Yoshinori , Nishida Haruka , Sakatani Tomoko , Teramoto Shoki , Ariyoshi Koichi
Published: June 2023

Aim

To examine the causes of patients with severely impaired consciousness and the clinical characteristics in prehospital settings that are useful for differential diagnosis, especially stroke.

Methods

We retrospectively examined patients aged ≥16 years with Japan Coma Scale III‐digit codes during paramedic contact and transported to our hospital between January 2018 and December 2018. Furthermore, we examined background and physical findings of patients at final diagnosis, and also examined factors associated with stroke.

Results

Overall, 227 patients were included in this study. One hundred and twelve patients (49.3%) were male, and the median age was 71 years (interquartile range, 50–83 years). Stroke was the most common cause (30%). Intoxication and psychiatric disorders were significantly more common in younger patients (p < 0.01). Systolic blood pressure was the highest in patients with stroke. Mortality was the highest in stroke (55.9%). Systolic blood pressure, airway compromise, and ocular abnormalities were factors associated with stroke, with odds ratios of 1.03 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02–1.04), 6.88 (95% CI, 3.02–15.64), and 3.86 (95% CI, 1.61–9.27), respectively.

Conclusion

Stroke was the most common cause of severely impaired consciousness. Age could be a useful indicator to consider intoxication and psychiatric disorders. Systolic blood pressure, airway compromise, and ocular abnormalities were factors associated with stroke in the prehospital setting.
Impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic on the operational efficiency of emergency medical services and its association with out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest survival rates: A population‐based cohort study in Kobe, Japan
Authors: Sugiyama Jun , Inoue Shigeaki , Inada Masami , Miyazaki Yusuke , Nakanishi Nobuto , Fujinami Yoshihisa , Saito Masafumi , Ono Yuko , Toyama Kazushige , Toda Futoshi , Shirotsuki Tohru , Shiotani Soushi , Kotani Joji
Published: June 2023

Aim

To identify whether the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic affects the operational efficiency of emergency medical services (EMS) and the survival rate of out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in prehospital settings.

Methods

We conducted a population‐based cohort study in Kobe, Japan, between March 1, 2020, and September 31, 2022. In study 1, the operational efficiency of EMS, such as the total out‐of‐service time for ambulances, the daily occupancy rate of EMS, and response time, was compared between the pandemic and nonpandemic periods. In study 2, the impacts of the changes in EMS operational efficiency were investigated among patients with OHCA, with 1‐month survival as the primary outcome and return of spontaneous circulation, 24‐h survival, 1‐week survival, and favorable neurological outcomes as the secondary outcomes. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the factors associated with survival among patients with OHCA.

Results

The total out‐of‐service time, occupancy rate, and response time significantly increased during the pandemic period (p < 0.001). The response time during the pandemic period increased significantly per pandemic wave. Regarding OHCA outcomes, 1‐month survival rates during the pandemic period significantly decreased compared with those during the nonpandemic period (pandemic 3.7% vs. nonpandemic 5.7%; p < 0.01). Similarly, 24‐h survival (9.9% vs. 12.8%), and favorable neurological outcomes significantly decreased during the pandemic period. In the logistic regression analysis, response time was associated with lower OHCA survival in all outcomes (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The COVID‐19 pandemic has been associated with reduced operational efficiency of EMS and decreased OHCA survival rates. Further research is required to improve the efficiency of EMS and OHCA survival rates.
Agarose‐based hydrogels with tunable, charge‐selective permeability properties
Authors: Zhao Jing , Marczynski Matthias , Henkel Manuel , Lieleg Oliver
Published: June 2023

Physiologically, a hallmark of biological hydrogels is their ability to selectively trap diffusing molecules and particles. And indeed, there is now increasing interest in using selective hydrogel barriers for applications in biomedicine and medical engineering. However, when employing synthetic polymers to create hydrogels with selective permeabilities, controlling the type and strength of the ensuing filtration process is difficult. Here, we generate hybrid gels with adjustable selectivity profiles by mixing a series of (bio‐)macromolecules with agarose. Depending on the type and concentration of the incorporated macromolecules, those hybrid gels achieve a selective retardation of the diffusive translocation of either positively or negatively charged dextrans at both, acidic and neutral pH. Furthermore, we demonstrate three strategies that provide hydrogels with sequestered patches of both, cationic and anionic binding sites, thus creating symmetric charge (i.e., electrostatic bandpass) filters which still allow neutral molecules to pass. Moreover, such agarose matrices offer a high level of versatility as their permeability profiles can be tailored at will by integrating macromolecules with desired physico‐chemical properties. Thus, those agarose‐based hybrid gels may serve as a powerful platform to engineer adjustable and versatile materials for a broad range of future applications in the field of biomedical engineering.
In situ biosynthetic BC/zeolite hybrid hemostat for quick clot
Authors: Wang Yang , Li Zhuquan , Liao Shiqin , Kong Yan , Wang Qingqing , Wei Qufu
Published: June 2023

Zeolite‐based hemostatic agents are considered as an outstanding material to achieve rapid and definitive hemostasis in pre‐hospital management. However, developing a safer zeolitic hemostat that avoids the potential thrombotic risk caused by tiny zeolite residue in bleeding wounds remains a critical challenge. In this research, we employ an in situ biosynthesis process to fabricate a sandwich‐like structured bacterial cellulose/zeolite (BC/zeolite) hybrid hemostat. Zeolite particles were firmly bonded into the BC membranes with <1% leaching after 24 soaking. This hemostat displays effective hemostatic performance after calcium ion‐exchange process. The BC/zeolite‐Ca hemostat can significantly decrease in vitro blood clotting time from 7.5 ± 0.3 min to 2.2 ± 0.3 min. This work achieves a low‐cost, eco‐friendly, and low‐risk approach through in situ biosynthesis in the preparation of BC‐ and zeolite‐based hybrid for pre‐hospital hemostasis applications.
Development of new water‐based anticaking agents for NPK fertilizers using response surface methodology
Authors: Surachaitanawat Nantaporn , Yulianto Dian , Wirasate Supa , Sirisinha Chakrit , Raibhu Soranat , Jariyaboon Manthana
Published: June 2023

Caking remains a problem for the fertilizer industry in Thailand, especially for NPK fertilizers (15‐7‐18 and 18‐4‐5), leading to difficulty in application. In this work, we developed new water‐based anticaking agents to obtain high anticaking performance using response surface methodology (RSM) with Box–Behnken Design (BBD). Nineteen chemical substances were screened and effects of three independent variables (polymer, surfactant, and solvent contents) were investigated. The practicability of the model validated through analysis of variance (ANOVA) and experiments were compared. Anticaking performance of the coatings was validated using our designed‐accelerated caking method, expressed as the percentage of decrease in caking (%DC). Crushing strength and SEM/EDS analysis were used to evaluate the mechanical property and elemental composition of the coated fertilizers, respectively. The results suggested that different optimal compositions were required for different fertilizer formulas. In addition, only surfactant had a positive effect on caking prevention. The optimized anticaking coatings for 15‐7‐18 and 18‐4‐5 showed excellent performance with 92.0 %DC and 98.8 %DC, respectively.
Ultrasound versus videos: A comparative study on the effectiveness of musculoskeletal anatomy education and student cognition
Authors: Vandenbossche Vicky , Valcke Martin , Steyaert Adelheid , Verstraete Koenraad , Audenaert Emmanuel , Willaert Wouter
Published: June 2023

Ultrasound imaging is a dynamic imaging technique that uses high‐frequency sound waves to capture live images of the structures beneath the skin. In addition to its growing use in diagnosis and interventions, ultrasound imaging has the potential to reinforce concepts in the undergraduate medical curriculum. However, research assessing the impact of ultrasound on anatomy learning and student cognition is scarce. The purpose of this study was to compare the impact of ultrasound‐based instruction versus narrated videos on students' understanding of anatomical relationships, as well as the role of intrinsic motivation, self‐efficacy beliefs, and students' attitudes in this process. A booster course on anterior leg and wrist anatomy was offered to second‐year medical students. A randomized controlled trial with a cross‐over design allocated students to either an ultrasound‐based teaching condition (cohort A) or a narrated anatomy video condition (cohort B). Next, participants were crossed to the alternative intervention. At the start of the study (T0), baseline anatomy knowledge, intrinsic motivation, self‐efficacy beliefs, and spatial ability were measured. After the first intervention (T1) and at the end of the study (T2), both cohorts were administered an anatomy test, an intrinsic motivation scale, and a self‐efficacy scale. In addition, each student was asked to fill out a perception survey after the ultrasound intervention. Finally, building on the cross‐over design, the most optimal sequence of interventions was examined. A total of 181 students participated (cohort A: n = 82, cohort B: n = 99). Both cohorts performed comparably on the baseline anatomy knowledge test, spatial ability test, intrinsic motivation, and self‐efficacy scale. At T1, cohort B outperformed cohort A on the anatomy test (p = 0.019), although only a small effect size could be detected (Cohen's d = 0.34). Intrinsic motivation and self‐efficacy of both cohorts were similar at T1. At T2, the anatomy test, intrinsic motivation, and self‐efficacy scale did not reflect an effect after studying either sequence of the interventions. Students reported favorably about the ultrasound experience, but also mentioned a steep learning curve. Medical students found the hands‐on ultrasound sessions to be valuable, increasing their interest in musculoskeletal anatomy and ultrasound imaging. However, the addition of ultrasound did not result in superior spatial anatomy understanding compared to watching anatomy videos. In addition, ultrasound teaching did not have a major effect on student cognition. Ultrasound‐based teaching of musculoskeletal anatomy is regarded as difficult to learn, and therefore it is hypothesized that too high levels of cognitive load might explain the presented results.
High Entropy Alloy CoCrFeNiMo Reinforced Electrocatalytic Performance for High‐Efficient Electrocatalytic Water Splitting
Authors: Huo Xiaoran , Zuo Xiaojiao , Wang Xin , Xing Bowei , Zhang Nannan
Published: June 2023

The development of efficient, durable, and affordable electrocatalysts is critical for the advancement of a hydrogen economy, particularly in alkaline media. In this study, we propose CoCrFeNi and CoCrFeNiMo high entropy alloys (HEAs) powders as bifunctional electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). While there is a performance gap compared to Pt/C, the prepared samples exhibit relatively good electrocatalytic activity with overpotentials of 156.7 mV and 160.5 mV for HER at 10 mA cm−2 in a 1.0 M KOH solution, respectively. Notably, the CoCrFeNiMo catalyst demonstrates significantly higher OER activity than commercial RuO2 with an overpotential of 390 mV at 50 mA cm−2, and delivers a cell voltage of 1.86 V at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 for water splitting.
A randomized cross‐over trial investigating the neurocognitive effects of acute exercise on face recognition in children with autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Ludyga Sebastian , Gerber Markus , Bruggisser Fabienne , Leuenberger Rahel , Brotzmann Mark , Trescher Sarah , Förster Markus , Zou Liye , Herbrecht Evelyn , Hanke Manuel
Published: June 2023

Difficulties in face recognition contribute to social‐cognitive problems in autistic children. Evidence on behavioral interventions targeting this cognitive domain is limited. In non‐autistic individuals, a single exercise session is known to elicit temporary benefits for several cognitive functions. Our study investigates whether acute aerobic exercise influences face recognition in autistic children. In a randomized order, 29 participants completed a 20‐min moderately‐intense cycling bout on an ergometer and a control condition. Before and after each condition, participants categorized Mooney faces and instruments during a computerized cognitive task. Simultaneously, the N170 component of event‐related potentials and pupil size were recorded using electroencephalography and eyetracking, respectively. As indicated by a greater increase of reaction time in the exercise compared to the control condition, the results revealed impaired face recognition following aerobic exercise. This effect was accompanied by a lower decrease of the positive N170 amplitude and a trend towards a greater constriction of the pupil size in the exercise compared to the control condition. Our findings highlight the interplay of the physiological state and face recognition in autistic children. Exercise‐induced impairments in this social‐cognitive ability may be due to an interference with the learning effect that is typically seen for the structural encoding of faces.
Robotic bilateral nephrectomy for large polycystic kidney disease
Authors: Masterson John M. , Zhao Hanson , Taich Lior , Naser‐Tavakolian Aurash , Johnson Hayley , Najjar Reiad , Kim Irene K. , Gupta Amit
Published: June 2023

Objective

This study aims to describe our technique and review our experience with synchronous robotic bilateral nephrectomy for large kidneys in ADPKD with the da Vinci XI and da Vinci Single Port platforms (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA).

Materials and Methods

We performed a retrospective review of all robotic bilateral nephrectomy cases from January 2020 to present at a high‐volume robotic single centre. Demographic data and perioperative details including preoperative CT scans, indication for nephrectomy and renal function were collected. We also collected post‐op course data and final specimen data details.

Results

Fourteen cases were included. Patient demographics, indications for surgery and specimen data are outlined in Table 1. The largest kidney removed has a measurement of 32 cm in the largest dimension on preoperative imaging. Median operating time from incision to closure was 299 min (IQR 260, 339). Median estimated blood loss was 75 cc (IQR 50, 187.5). Two patients were transfused intraoperatively. Median pre‐ and post‐operative Hgb was 11.0 and 9.6, respectively. Median length of stay was 3 days (IQR 2, 3.5). There were no intraoperative complications and no open conversions. Post‐operative complications included one incisional hematoma and one superficial wound infection. One patient was admitted to the surgical ICU post operatively for ventilatory support. Two patients were readmitted within 30 days of surgery.

Conclusion

The robotic approach to bilateral native nephrectomy for ADPKD should be considered when native nephrectomies are indicated. The operative times and outcomes are favourable compared with prior series, and this technique works even for very large kidneys.
Verkehrsmonitoring an einer Autobahnbrücke – Datenerfassung zur lokalen Verkehrscharakteristik als Grundlage für objektspezifische Verkehrslastmodelle
Authors: Nowak Marcel , Fischer Oliver , Tepho Thibault , Willberg Uwe
Published: June 2023

Die Entwicklung objektspezifischer Verkehrslastmodelle auf Grundlage lokaler Verkehrsdaten stellt für einzelne Brückentragwerke mit verbleibenden rechnerischen Defiziten bei Nachrechnung gemäß aktuellen Regelwerken (Nachrechnungsrichtlinie) ein potenziell wirksames Werkzeug dar. Eine robuste Datengrundlage zur Abbildung der lokalen Verkehrscharakteristik ist hierfür unerlässlich. Dieser Beitrag präsentiert Untersuchungen, die im Zuge einer langfristen Monitoringkampagne zur umfassenden Beschreibung der Verkehrsbeanspruchung an einem ausgewählten Brückenbauwerk an der Bundesautobahn A 92 über einen Zeitraum von einem Jahr durchgeführt wurden. Im Zuge der Messkampagne kommen eine Messeinheit aus Laserscanner und Webcam sowie ein Strukturmonitoring mit Anwendung von Bridge Weigh‐in‐Motion (BWIM) zum Einsatz. Durch geeignete Strategien und Konzepte zur Erfassung, Aufbereitung und Auswertung aller verfügbaren Messdaten gelingt eine Erfassung aller für die Verkehrslastmodellierung relevanten Parameter und somit die Bereitstellung einer Datengrundlage zur detaillierten sowie realitätsnahen Abbildung der lokalen Verkehrscharakteristik. Erste Auswertungen der Monitoringdaten für ausgewählte Parameter und der Abgleich mit sonst – bei fehlenden Parameterinformationen – typischen Annahmen aus der Literatur zeigen teils signifikante Unterschiede zu der den Normenlastmodellen zugrunde liegenden extremen Verkehrscharakteristik.
Broad H3K4me3 domains: Maintaining cellular identity and their implication in super‐enhancer hijacking
Authors: Kent Daniel , Marchetti Letizia , Mikulasova Aneta , Russell Lisa J. , Rico Daniel
Published: June 2023

The human and mouse genomes are complex from a genomic standpoint. Each cell has the same genomic sequence, yet a wide array of cell types exists due to the presence of a plethora of regulatory elements in the non‐coding genome. Recent advances in epigenomic profiling have uncovered non‐coding gene proximal promoters and distal enhancers of transcription genome‐wide. Extension of promoter‐associated H3K4me3 histone mark across the gene body, known as a broad H3K4me3 domain (H3K4me3‐BD), is a signature of constitutive expression of cell‐type‐specific regulation and of tumour suppressor genes in healthy cells. Recently, it has been discovered that the presence of H3K4me3‐BDs over oncogenes is a cancer‐specific feature associated with their dysregulated gene expression and tumourigenesis. Moreover, it has been shown that the hijacking of clusters of enhancers, known as super‐enhancers (SE), by proto‐oncogenes results in the presence of H3K4me3‐BDs over the gene body. Therefore, H3K4me3‐BDs and SE crosstalk in healthy and cancer cells therefore represents an important mechanism to identify future treatments for patients with SE driven cancers.
Decitabine in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes: A multi‐center, open‐label, dose comparison trial
Authors: Liu Hui , Jiang Hao , Tong Hongyan , Xia Ruixiang , Yang Linhua , Zhao Hongguo , Ouyang Jian , Bai Hai , Sun Hui , Hou Li , Jiang Ming , Zeng Yun , Liu Zhuogang , Liang Aibin , Xie Yinghua , Yu Kang , Zhai Zhimin , Liu Li , Jia Jinsong , Fu Rong , Shao Zonghong
Published: June 2023

Background

The hypomethylating agent decitabine is the standard therapy for intermediate or high risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

Methods

In this trial, 191 adult patients with intermediate/high risk MDS (IPSS score ≥ 0.5) randomly received decitabine using a standard regimen (20 mg/m2/day for 5 consecutive days; n = 94) or an extended regimen with lower daily dose (12 mg/m2/day for 8 consecutive days; n = 97) every 4 weeks, for a total of 4 cycles.

Results

The median follow‐up was 14 months (range 2–36). The primary end point of overall response rate in the intent‐to‐treat analysis was 41.5% and 38.1% in the standard and extended dosing arms, respectively (p = 0.660). Complete remission and marrow complete remission also did not differ between the two arms. Cytopenia was the most frequent adverse event (76.4%). The median duration of neutropenia per cycle did not differ between the two arms during the first two cycles, but significantly shorter in the extended dosing arm in the third cycle (8.5 vs. 15.5 days, p = 0.049) and in the fourth cycle (8 vs. 14 days, p = 0.294).

Conclusion

The 5‐day 20‐mg/m2/day and 8‐day 12‐mg/m2/day decitabine regimens have similar efficacy and safety in patients with intermediate or high risk MDS.