bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Hebridean Blackhouse on the Isle of Barra
Authors: BRANIGAN KEITH , MERRONY COLIN
Published: September 2010

The Hebridean blackhouse is a well-known part of the eighteenth and nineteenth century landscape of the Western Isles, described by numerous early travellers and preserved for posterity at Arnol in Lewis. Survey and excavation of blackhouses on the Isle of Barra, however, suggests that here at least, the majority of blackhouses did not conform to the 'norm' of a long building with accommodation shared by animals and humans. Despite the large families of the Catholic population of Barra, the houses are shorter and provide less internal space than blackhouses further north in the island chain. Animals were more often housed in separate byres. Similarly, the human use of space in the Barra blackhouses shows some variations from the pattern described by nineteenth century sources. As to the origins of the blackhouse, unexcavated sites on Barra suggest two possible future routes of enquiry.
A Radiocarbon-dated Collared Urn from Oban
Authors: LOWE CHRISTOPHER , MacSWEEN ANN , McSWEENEY KATHLEEN
Published: September 2010

A collared urn was found during the course of a watching-brief on the raised beach on the north side of Oban bay. Post-excavation analysis has succeeded in throwing some further light on the chronology of this type of urn and possibly on some elements of the funerary ritual associated with its burial. The same watching-brief also revealed the site of a truncated pit of medieval date, filled with fire-cracked stones.
The Ancient Bridge of Stirling: Investigations 1988–2000
Authors: PAGE RONALD
Published: September 2010

The Ancient Bridge of Stirling was destroyed in 1297 after the Battle of Stirling Bridge. Unlike the Old Bridge, which still stands, the remains of the Ancient Bridge are below water in the River Forth. This paper describes the investigations since 1988 of those remains. Two masonry piers reported in 1905, one under water in the tidal river and the other under a sandbank, were re-located and their positions surveyed. Two additional piers were located by probing under the sandbank. Divers made some under water investigations. The four piers lie in a straight line diagonally across the River Forth. It is argued that these represent some of the eight piers shown on the Old Common Seal of the Burgh of Stirling. Excavation on the S bank revealed masonry coated with mortar, which might be part of a bridge abutment, but nothing similar was found on the N bank, in spite of extensive excavation which produced interesting evidence of relatively modern flood defences. Efforts were made to obtain dating material from one of the piers, but success proved to be beyond present capabilities. The lessons learned should assist future work, and possible solutions of the difficulties are discussed.
Prospective Evaluation of Clinical and Ultrasound Findings in Ankle Disease in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Importance of Ankle Ultrasound
Authors: PASCOLI LAURA , WRIGHT STEPHEN , McALLISTER CATHERINE , ROONEY MADELEINE
Published: September 2010

Objective.

To prospectively compare clinical examination of the ankle structures with ultrasound (US) findings.

Methods.

In 42 children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA; 25 girls, 17 boys, mean age 11.3 yrs, range 2.3–22.3 yrs), a total of 61 swollen/painful ankles were assessed clinically and ultrasonographically. Accurate clinical examination of the entire ankle joint was performed, focusing especially on 3 regions — tibiotalar joint and medial and lateral tendons. Clinical and US findings were both scored 0–3 (normal-severe).

Results.

US demonstrated no signs of tibiotalar joint effusion in 14 out of 43 ankles considered clinically involved. For the medial tendons, US showed tenosynovitis in 13 ankles out of 31 thought to be clinically normal; and for the lateral tendons, of the 19 deemed to be clinically involved, less than 50% had involvement on US. Very poor agreement was observed comparing the clinical and US scores for the 3 regions: tibiotalar joint, kappa = 0.3; medial tendons, kappa = 0.24; lateral tendons, kappa = 0.25. With regard to other ankle structures, only 39% of the subtalar (talocalcaneal) joints considered clinically involved were deemed abnormal on US. Finally, of the 10 ankles with talonavicular US effusion, only 2 were considered clinically involved.

Conclusion.

Using US findings as the “gold standard,” clinical examination of the ankle in children with JIA was found to be inadequate in identifying the structures involved. US assessment prior to any glucocorticoid injection should be considered to improve the outcome. A prospective study comparing the outcome following clinical- versus US-guided ankle joint injection should be undertaken, to confirm our findings.
Flexible Dosed Duloxetine in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial
Authors: ARNOLD LESLEY M. , CLAUW DANIEL , WANG FUJUN , AHL JONNA , GAYNOR PAULA J. , WOHLREICH MADELAINE M.
Published: September 2010

Objective.

To investigate the efficacy of flexible dose duloxetine 60–120 mg/day on changes in fibromyalgia (FM) symptoms assessed by the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) scale.

Methods.

Outpatients ≥ 18 years of age who met American College of Rheumatology criteria for FM, and had ≥ 4 score on the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) average pain item, were randomized to duloxetine (n = 263) or placebo (n = 267) for 24 week double-blind treatment (primary endpoint at Week 12). Key secondary measures included BPI average pain severity, patient-rated scales assessing mood, anxiety, pain, sleep, and stiffness, Clinical Global Impression of Severity (CGI-S), Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, Cognitive and Physical Functioning Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Medical Outcome Study Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36).

Results.

At Week 12, duloxetine-treated patients reported significantly greater global improvement with mean PGI-I scores of 2.8 compared to 3.4 in the placebo group (p < 0.001). Significantly more duloxetine- versus placebo-treated patients (57% vs 32%; p < 0.001) reported feeling “much” or “very much better” (PGI-I score ≤ 2). There was significantly greater improvement with duloxetine versus placebo treatment in BPI average pain severity, mood (including BDI total), anxiety (patient-rated only), stiffness, CGI-S, fatigue, all SF-36 domains (except role-physical and physical component summary), and being less bothered by pain or sleep difficulties. Treatment-emergent adverse events occurring significantly more frequently with duloxetine included: nausea, headache, constipation, dry mouth, dizziness, diarrhea, and hyperhidrosis.

Conclusion.

Treatment with duloxetine 60, 90, and 120 mg/day was associated with feeling much better, pain reduction, being less bothered by sleep difficulties, and improvement in mood, stiffness, fatigue and functioning. (Clinical trial registryNCT00673452).
The Hawthorne Effect, Sponsored Trials, and the Overestimation of Treatment Effectiveness
Authors: WOLFE FREDERICK , MICHAUD KALEB
Published: September 2010

Objective.

To determine if the results of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) clinical trials are upwardly biased by the Hawthorne effect.

Methods.

We studied 264 patients with RA who completed a commercially sponsored 3-month, open-label, phase 4 trial of a US Food and Drug Administration approved RA treatment. We evaluated changes in the Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index (HAQ) and visual analog scales for pain, patient global, and fatigue during 3 periods: pretreatment in the trial, on treatment at the close of the trial, and by a trial-unrelated survey 8 months after the close of the trial, but while the patients were receiving the same treatment.

Results.

The HAQ score (0–3) improved by 41.3% during the trial, but only by 16.5% when the endpoint was the post-trial result. Similar results for the other variables were patient global (0–10) 51.9% and 34.6%, pain (0–10) 51.7% and 39.7%, fatigue (0–10) 45.6% and 24.6%. Worsening between the trial end and the first survey assessment was HAQ 0.29 units, pain 0.8 units, patient global 0.8 units, and fatigue 1.1 units.

Conclusion.

Almost half the improvement noted in the clinical trial HAQ score disappeared on entry to a non-sponsored followup study, and from 23% to 44% of improvements in pain, patient global, and fatigue also disappeared. These changes can be attributed to the Hawthorne effect. Based on these data, we hypothesize that the absolute values of RA outcome variables in clinical trials are upwardly biased, and that the treatment effect is less than observed.
Arguments for Using Population Models in Incidental Take Assessments for Endangered Species
Authors: McGowan Conor P. , Ryan Mark R.
Published: September 2010

Population models can be useful tools for evaluating management strategies and risks for a given species. A major, but often overlooked, component of endangered or threatened species management and recovery is the incidental take allowance of many endangered species laws. In the United States population models are seldom applied to address specific incidental take scenarios. We believe it is prudent for wildlife management agencies like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to embrace explicit predictive tools to assess the possible effects of incidental take actions and to set standards for what constitutes unacceptable levels of incidental take in terms of predicted effect on population viability, recovery, and extinction. We briefly give recommendations for incorporating simulation models into jeopardy evaluations in ways that would dovetail with legislative language and provide a simple example model. Using explicit predictive models to support jeopardy determinations and incidental take decision-making would lead to transparent decisions rooted in measurable quantities such as changes in extinction probability or abundance projections.
Combined holographic subsurface radar and infrared thermography for diagnosis of the conditions of historical structures and artworks
Authors: Capineri L. , Falorni P. , Ivashov S. , Zhuravlev A. , Vasiliev I. , Razevig V. , Bechtel T. , Stankiewicz G.
Published: September 2010

This paper describes a new application of holographic radar for non‐destructive testing applied to cultural heritage items. A holographic radar, called RASCAN, operates in continuous wave multi‐frequency mode at 4 GHz range and produces images with high in‐plane resolution (about 2 cm). Marble items and other stones have been investigated to validate the method to search for subtle cracks, moisture or to unveil details of structures at shallow depth (up to 2 wavelengths). Other important materials are aged wood items that are investigated for tunnels made by insects. Then the holographic radar imaging has been experimentally compared with infrared thermography to understand the advantages and disadvantages of these methods and to derive indications for solving the problem common in all geophysics of inherent non‐uniqueness.
Use of a sub‐array statistical approach for the detection of a buried object
Authors: Meschino Simone , Pajewski Lara , Schettini Giuseppe
Published: September 2010

A hybrid electromagnetic‐statistic approach for the detection and localization of a perfectly‐conducting circular cylinder, buried in a lossless half‐space, is presented. We use the results of a cylindrical wave approach forward solver as input data for our detection procedure. We use a sub‐array processing structure and apply several algorithms for the direction of arrival estimation. By triangulating the found directions of arrival, a set of crossings, condensed around the object locations, is obtained. To process the crossing pattern, we developed a statistical model for the crossings distribution and employed hypothesis testing procedures to identify a collection of small windows containing the target. By defining a suitable threshold from a desired false alarm rate and dividing the region in small windows it is possible to ascribe each window to the ground or to the object. Numerical results are presented for a cylinder in a vacuum and in a dielectric half‐space, both in a central and in a peripheral position with respect to the array centre. Different values of the cylinder radius and of the distance from the array are considered.
CO445 corn inbred line
Authors: Reid L M , Zhu X.
Published: September 2010

CO445 is a short season corn (Zea mays L.) inbred line with excellent combining ability and lodging resistance in hybrids. This inbred performed well as a parent with both stiff stalk and non-stiff stalk inbreds. Excellent yields were achieved with the stiff stalk commercial inbreds TR2040 and MBS1236 and the non-stiff stalk commercial inbred LH176.Key words: Corn, maize, Zea mays, cultivar description
CDC Buteo hard red winter wheat
Authors: Fowler D. B.
Published: September 2010

CDC Buteo is a hard red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar that is eligible for grades of the Canada Western Red Winter Wheat class. It is an intermediate height cultivar with moderate stem and leaf rust resistance and good winter hardiness and grain yield potential. It is adapted to the western Canadian prairies where its agronomic and disease package combined with an excellent grain quality profile has resulted in wide commercial acceptance in Saskatchewan. CDC Buteo was made the wheat quality standard for the Central Winter Wheat Co-operative Registration Trials in 2008.Key words: Triticum aestivum L., cultivar description, wheat (winter)
Adaptation of oilseed crops across Saskatchewan
Authors: May W E , Brandt S A , Gan Y. , Kutcher H R , Holzapfel C B , Lafond G P
Published: September 2010

Differences in response to nitrogen (N) fertilizer will affect the production economics of field crops. Currently, there is limited information comparing the agronomic and economic performance of juncea canola (Brassica juncea L.) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) to napus canola (Brassica napus L.) and flax (Linum ustitatissimum L.) in Saskatchewan under no-till practices. A study of these species was carried out at five Saskatchewan locations over 3 yr and included eight nitrogen rates. All four species had a curvilinear increase in grain yield as N rate increased with the largest yield response observed in napus canola to as much as 200 kg N ha-1. The majority of the increase in flax grain yield occurred as the N rate increased from 10 to 90 kg ha-1, while most of the increase in grain yield of juncea canola and sunflower occurred as N increased from 10 to 70 kg ha-1. Biplot analysis indicated that grain yield variation was reduced at and above 50 kg N ha-1 in flax, napus canola and juncea canola, but not in sunflower. Analysis indicated that a wide range of N rates would provide a similar adjusted gross return within each crop with the exact N range being determined by crop price and nitrogen cost. The N rate affected the kernel weight of sunflower but not the kernel weight of other crops. The protein concentration of all the species increased as N rate increased. Seed oil concentration tended to decrease as the N rate increased, but this was not consistent. In conclusion, higher yielding cultivars of sunflower and juncea canola are needed before they will replace a large acreage of flax or napus canola; however, in the drier regions of the Saskatchewan there is potential to expand sunflower production.Key words: Brassica juncea, Helianthus annuus, Brassica napus, Linum usitatissimum, nitrogen, economic analysis
Linear, bilinear, and linear-bilinear fixed and mixed models for analyzing genotype × environment interaction in plant breeding and agronomy
Authors: Crossa J. , Vargas M. , Joshi A K
Published: September 2010

The purpose of this manuscript is to review various statistical models for analyzing genotype × environment interaction (GE). The objective is to present parsimonious approaches other than the standard analysis of variance of the two-way effect model. Some fixed effects linear-bilinear models such as the sites regression model (SREG) are discussed, and a mixed effects counterpart such as the factorial analytic (FA) model is explained. The role of these linear-bilinear models for assessing crossover interaction (COI) is explained. One class of linear models, namely factorial regression (FR) models, and one class of bilinear models, namely partial least squares (PLS) regression, allows incorporating external environmental and genotypic covariables directly into the model. Examples illustrating the use of various statistical models for analyzing GE in the context of plant breeding and agronomy are given. Key words: Least squares, singular value decomposition, environmental and genotypic covariables
Nitrogen dynamics of chickpea: Effects of cultivar choice, N fertilization, Rhizobium inoculation, and cropping systems
Authors: Gan Y. , Johnston A M , Knight J D , McDonald C. , Stevenson C.
Published: September 2010

Understanding N dynamics in relation to cultural practices may help optimize N management in annual legume crops. This study was conducted at six environsites (location × year combinations) in southern Saskatchewan, 2004-2006, to quantify N uptake, N2 fixation, and N balance in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in relation to cultivar choice, cropping systems, rhizobial inoculation, and soil N fertility. The cultivars Amit, CDC Anna, CDC Frontier, and CDC Xena were grown at N fertilizer rates of 0, 28, 56, 84, and 112 kg N ha-1 with no Rhizobium and at 0, 28, and 84 kg N ha-1 combined with Rhizobium inoculation, evaluated in both conventional tilled-fallow and continuously cropped no-till systems. Flax was used as a non-N-fixing reference crop. The cultivar CDC Xena had the lowest yield (1.57 Mg ha-1) and seed N uptake (54.4 kg N ha-1), with N use efficiency (NUE, 13.2 kg seed N kg-1) being 17% less than the average of the other cultivars. Consequently, N balance (N input via fertilizer and N-fixation minus N exported) was -32.4 kg N ha-1 for CDC Xena and less negative than the average of the other cultivars (-39.8 kg N ha-1). Inoculated chickpea took up 10 kg ha-1 more N into the seed and 5 kg ha-1 more N into the straw than chickpea that was not inoculated. The amount of N fixed as a percentage of total N uptake was 15% for non-inoculated chickpea and 29% for inoculated chickpea, resulting in negative N balance regardless of cropping system. Increasing N fertilizer rates decreased NUE, with the rate of decrease being greater for non-inoculated chickpea compared with inoculated chickpea. We conclude that optimum productivity of chickpea can be achieved with application of effective Rhizobium inoculants, and that best N management practices must be adopted in the succeeding crops due to a large negative N balance after a chickpea crop.Key words: Chickpea, Cicer arietinum, N fertilizer, N2 fixation, Rhizobium inoculants, N balance, nitrogen use efficiency, N uptake
Perceived Frequency and Impact of Missing Information at Pediatric Emergency and General Ambulatory Encounters
Authors: Crane Lori , Kempe Allison , Main Deborah , Sills Marion , Davidson Arthur , Schilling Lisa
Published: September 2010

Objective: To document the perceived frequency, type, and impact of unavailable (“missing”) clinical information during pediatric emergency and general ambulatory encounters.

Methods: This prospective cohort set in the Emergency Department and General Ambulatory Pediatric Clinic at The Children’s Hospital, Aurora, CO, assessed pediatric attending physician perceptions regarding missing information at emergency and general ambulatory encounters. The main outcome measures were the frequency of perceived missing information; its presumed location; time spent seeking; and the perceived effects on resource utilization and overall quality of care.

Results: Pediatric physicians reported missing information for 2% of emergency and 22% of general ambulatory encounters. Types of missing information at general ambulatory visits included immunization (34% of types), general past medical (29%), and disease or visit specific histories (13%). Missing information at ambulatory visits was sought 20% of the time, obtained 4% of the time, and rated “somewhat or very important for today’s care” (73% of the time) and “somewhat or very important for future care” (84% of the time). For encounters with unattained missing information, physicians reported adverse affects on the efficiency of the visit (64%), physician’s confidence in care (33%), patient/family satisfaction (17%), disposition decisions (8%), and recommended additional treatment (38%), laboratory studies (16%), and imaging (12%). For 57% of encounters with missing information, physicians perceived an adverse effect on overall quality of care. Missing information was associated with not having a primary care visit at TCH within 12 months of the encounter, (OR 2.8; 95% CI, 1.7, 4.5).

Conclusion: Pediatric physicians more commonly experience missing information at general ambulatory visits than emergency visits and report that missing information adversely impacts quality, efficiency, their confidence in care, patient and family satisfaction, and leads to potentially redundant resource utilization.
Plunging Ranula: A Case Report
Authors: Gupta Ambika , Karjodkar F. R.
Published: September 2010

Plunging ranulas, also known as deep, diving, cervical or deep plunging ranula, usually appear in conjunction with oral ranula. Rarely, these ranulas may arise independent of oral swelling. A rare case of plunging ranula without oral swelling is discussed along with review of literature.
Use of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems and Age of Asthma Onset Among US Adults and Youths
Authors: Pérez Adriana , Valencia Sarah , Jani Pushan P. , Harrell Melissa B.
Published: May 2024

Importance

The association of use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) with the age of asthma onset is unknown.

Objective

To explore the association of past 30-day ENDS use with the age of asthma onset in adults and youths who did not have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and never used cigarettes.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study was a secondary analysis of waves 1 to 6 of the US nationally representative Population of Tobacco and Health Study (2013-2021). Eligible participants included adults (≥18 years) and youths (12-17 years) who did not have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at the first wave of participation. Data analysis was conducted from September 2022 to April 2024.

Exposure

Past 30-day ENDS use at the first wave of participation in the study preceding the onset of asthma.

Main outcome and measures

Lower and upper age limits were estimated using the age reported at the first wave of participation and the number of weeks between follow-up waves until asthma was first reported or censored. The association of past 30-day ENDS use with the age of asthma onset was estimated using weighted interval-censoring Cox regression. The cumulative hazard function for the age of asthma onset was estimated using interval-censoring survival analysis.

Results

A total of 24 789 participants were included, with 7766 adults (4461 female [weighted percentage, 59.11%] and 3305 male [weighted percentage, 40.89%]), representing 80.0 million adults, and 17 023 youths (8514 female [weighted percentage, 50.60%] and 8496 male [weighted percentage 49.32%]), representing 33.9 million youths. By age 27 years, 6.2 per 1000 adults reported asthma incidence (hazard ratio [HR], 0.62%; 95% CI, 0.46%-0.75%). While controlling for covariates, there was a 252% increased risk of the onset of asthma at earlier ages for adults who used ENDS in the past 30 days vs adults who did not (adjusted HR, 3.52; 95% CI, 1.24-10.02). For youths, there was no association of ENDS use in the past 30 days with age of asthma onset (adjusted HR, 1.79; 95% CI, 0.67-4.77), which could be due to a lack of statistical power.

Conclusion and relevance

In this cohort study, past 30-day ENDS use among adults was associated with earlier ages of asthma onset. These findings suggest that prevention and cessation programs directed to adults who use ENDS are needed to educate the public, protect public health, prevent adverse health outcomes, and motivate users to stop. Furthermore, modifying symptom-screening asthma guidelines, resulting in earlier asthma detection and treatment, may reduce morbidity and mortality due to asthma.
Intelligent Magnetic Microrobots with Fluorescent Internal Memory for Monitoring Intragastric Acidity
Authors: Senthilnathan N. , Oral Cagatay M. , Novobilsky Adam , Pumera Martin
Published: May 2024

This study investigates the dynamic fluctuations of pH caused by gastric acid secretion, a process of both biological and clinical significance, with microrobots. Abnormal patterns of acidity often indicate gastrointestinal diseases, underlying the importance of precise intragastric pH monitoring. Traditional methods using fluorescent probes face challenges due to their faint solid‐state fluorescence, limited target specificity, and accuracy. To overcome these obstacles, pH‐responsive fluorescent organic microparticles decorated with magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles are engineered. These microrobots exhibit a unique fluorescence switching capability at a critical pH, enabling the monitoring of gastric acidity. The magnetic part of these microrobots ensures magnetic maneuverability to enable targeted navigation. The microrobots’ fluorescence switching mechanism is elucidated through comprehensive spectroscopy, microscopy, and X‐ray diffraction analyses, revealing molecular‐level structural transformations upon interaction with gastric acid and antacids. These transformations, specifically protonation and deprotonation of the microrobots’ fluorescent components, prompt a distinct fluorescence response correlating with pH shifts. In vitro and ex vivo experiments, simulating stomach conditions, confirm the microrobots’ efficacy in pH‐responsive imaging. The results showcase the promising diagnostic potential of microrobots for gastrointestinal tract diseases, marking a significant advancement in imaging‐based medical diagnostics at targeted locations.
Surface Engineering on Bacteria for Tumor Immunotherapy: Strategies and Perspectives
Authors: Fu Lijun , He Qing , Lu Xiaoyang , Hu Lin , Qian Haisheng , Pei Pei
Published: May 2024

Bacteria have garnered significant attention in tumor immunotherapy recently years, owing to their immune‐activating properties, ease of genetic manipulation, and colonization abilities. In order to further enhance the safety, efficacy, and clinical translation potential of bacterial therapy, and to endow bacteria with additional functions, modifications or engineering of bacterial surfaces have emerged as a current research hotspot. This review systematically summarizes the primary methods and strategies for bacterial surface modification and engineering, including chemical alteration, physical modification, and bio‐modification. Subsequently, it is delve into the roles of these techniques in enhancing bacterial tumor immunotherapy, such as improving immunotherapeutic efficacy and reducing toxic side effects, and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Finally, the current challenges faced in this field are deeply explored, and potential solutions for the future are presented. This work offers a comprehensive overview of the advancements in the new generation of bacterial surface modification techniques and their implications in bacterial‐based tumor immunotherapy.
Sensitivity‐Adjustable Flexible Conductors Based on Liquid Metals via Magnetic Printing
Authors: Wang Keqiang , Lu Guoqiang , Dong Shiyu , Yuan Hengda , Tang Ruifen , Nie Jun , Zhu Xiaoqun
Published: May 2024

The ability to shape and pattern conductors has been indispensable for manufacturing functional devices. Herein, a series of patterned liquid metals–based flexible electronics are fabricated via magnetic printing. The combination of highly conductive liquid metals and flexible photosensitive resins endows the as‐prepared devices with excellent electrical and mechanical properties, such as high electric conductivity (8 × 104 S m−1), low detection hysteresis, good durability, and environmental stability. What's more, strain‐insensitive flexible electronics can be achieved by designing the structure of liquid metal‐based conductors, and the resistance is only increased 0.13 Ω at 100% strain. Therefore, the as‐prepared liquid metals‐based flexible electronics have promising applications in stretchable conductors.
Advanced Neuromorphic Applications Enabled by Synaptic Ion‐Gating Vertical Transistors
Authors: Merces Leandro , Ferro Letícia Mariê Minatogau , Nawaz Ali , Sonar Prashant
Published: May 2024

Bioinspired synaptic devices have shown great potential in artificial intelligence and neuromorphic electronics. Low energy consumption, multi‐modal sensing and recording, and multifunctional integration are critical aspects limiting their applications. Recently, a new synaptic device architecture, the ion‐gating vertical transistor (IGVT), has been successfully realized and timely applied to perform brain‐like perception, such as artificial vision, touch, taste, and hearing. In this short time, IGVTs have already achieved faster data processing speeds and more promising memory capabilities than many conventional neuromorphic devices, even while operating at lower voltages and consuming less power. This work focuses on the cutting‐edge progress of IGVT technology, from outstanding fabrication strategies to the design and realization of low‐voltage multi‐sensing IGVTs for artificial‐synapse applications. The fundamental concepts of artificial synaptic IGVTs, such as signal processing, transduction, plasticity, and multi‐stimulus perception are discussed comprehensively. The contribution draws special attention to the development and optimization of multi‐modal flexible sensor technologies and presents a roadmap for future high‐end theoretical and experimental advancements in neuromorphic research that are mostly achievable by the synaptic IGVTs.
Excellent Persistent Near‐Infrared Room Temperature Phosphorescence from Highly Efficient Host–Guest Systems
Authors: Li Shuhui , Gu Juqing , Wang Jiaqiang , Yuan Wentao , Ye Guigui , Yuan Likai , Liao Qiuyan , Wang Le , Li Zhen , Li Qianqian
Published: May 2024

Organic near‐infrared (NIR) room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) materials become a hot topic in bioimaging and biosensing for the large penetration depth and high signal‐to‐background ratio (SBR). However, it is challenging to achieve persistent NIR phosphorescence for severe nonradiative transitions by energy‐gap law. Herein, a universal system with persistent NIR RTP is built by visible (host) and NIR phosphorescence (guest) materials, which can efficiently suppress the nonradiative transitions by rigid environment of crystalline host materials with good matching, and further promote phosphorescence emission by the additional phosphorescence resonance energy transfer (≈100%) between them. The persistent NIR phosphorescence with ten‐folds enhancement of RTP lifetimes, compared to those of guest luminogens, can be achieved by modulation of aggregated structures of host–guest systems. This work provides a convenient way to largely prolong the phosphorescence lifetimes of various NIR luminogens, promoting their application in afterglow imaging with deeper penetration and higher SBRs.
Building a framework to decolonize global emergency medicine
Authors: Muchatuta Monalisa , Patel Shama , Gonzalez Marquez Catalina , Thilakasiri Kaushila , Manian Sreenidhi Vanyaa , Chan Jennifer , Mssika Ngassa , Clark Taryn , Burkholder Taylor , Turgeon Nikkole , Kampalath Vinay N. , Poola Nivedita , Offorjebe O. Agatha , Dozois Adeline , Hyuha Gimbo , Vaughan‐Ogunlusi Oluwarotimi , McCammon Carol , Wells Katie , Rybarczk Megan , Castillo Maria Paula , Adeyeye Adebisi Anthonia , Rees Chris A. , Dutta Sanjukta , Garbern Stephanie Chow
Published: May 2024

Background

Global emergency medicine (GEM) is situated at the intersection of global health and emergency medicine (EM), which is built upon a history of colonial systems and institutions that continue to reinforce inequities between high‐income countries (HICs) and low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) today. These power imbalances yield disparities in GEM practice, research, and education.

Approach

The Global Emergency Medicine Academy (GEMA) of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine formed the Decolonizing GEM Working Group in 2020, which now includes over 100 worldwide members. The mission is to address colonial legacies in GEM and catalyze sustainable changes and recommendations toward decolonization at individual and institutional levels. To develop recommendations to decolonize GEM, the group conducted a nonsystematic review of existing literature on decolonizing global health, followed by in‐depth discussions between academics from LMICs and HICs to explore implications and challenges specific to GEM. We then synthesized actionable solutions to provide recommendations on decolonizing GEM.

Results

Despite the rapidly expanding body of literature on decolonizing global health, there is little guidance specific to the relatively new field of GEM. By applying decolonizing principles to GEM, we suggest key priorities for improving equity in academic GEM: (1) reframing partnerships to place LMIC academics in positions of expertise and power, (2) redirecting research funding toward LMIC‐driven projects and investigators, (3) creating more equitable practices in establishing authorship, and (4) upholding principles of decolonization in the education of EM trainees from LMICs and HICs.

Conclusions

Understanding the colonial roots of GEM will allow us to look more critically at current health disparities and identify inequitable institutionalized practices within our profession that continue to uphold these misguided concepts. A decolonized future of GEM depends on our recognition and rectification of colonial‐era practices that shape structural determinants of health care delivery and scientific advancement.
Current gaps in emergency medicine core content education for oncologic emergencies: A targeted needs assessment
Authors: Wattana Monica K. , Lindsay Angela , Davenport Moira , Pettit Nicholas R. , Menendez Jazmin R. , Li Ziyi , Lipe Demis N. , Qdaisat Aiham , Bischof Jason J.
Published: May 2024

Objective

The core content of emergency medicine (EM) residency training includes the management of oncologic emergencies; however, documented knowledge gaps continue to exist in this subtopic. This study represents a targeted needs assessment as indicated by Step 2 of Kern's curriculum design to determine the specific training gaps to be addressed within the oncologic EM curriculum.

Methods

A multi‐institutional cross‐sectional survey of oncologists (surgical and medical) and emergency physicians (attendings and residents) was conducted during 2023 at five institutions. The voluntary survey consisted of general and specialty‐specific questions exploring gaps in oncologic emergency–specific training/education topics. Descriptive statistics reported responses as frequencies and percentages.

Results

Of the 833 surveys sent across the five sites, 302 (36.3%) were accessed by link; of these, 271 (89.7%) surveys were completed. There were no differences in the responses between early and later respondents and no differences in the characteristics of respondents between sites. A vast majority of the oncologist and EM groups (91.2% and 83.0%, respectively) reported a belief that emergency physicians would benefit from additional oncologic emergency training. Our survey identified 16 important topics for inclusion in an oncologic EM curriculum, including five topics not present on the 2022 Model of Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine.

Conclusions

Based on this needs assessment, an oncologic EM curriculum should include the topics listed under oncologic emergencies in the 2022 Model of the Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine along with our respondent‐identified topics of radiation therapy adverse effects, stem cell transplant complications, and the management of cancer‐specific postsurgical complications, pain, and common diseases in patients with cancer.
Short‐term effects of Kernza and alfalfa on microbial communities
Authors: Udawatta Ranjith P. , Gurmessa Biyensa , Gonzalez Miguel Salceda , Mendis Sidath S. , Lovell Sarah T.
Published: May 2024

Continuous land disturbance could negatively impact microbial community, but perennial crops can potentially reverse this negativity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Kernza (Thinopyrum intermedium) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) on soil microbial structure and stress condition using the phospholipid fatty acid profiling. The study was conducted at the Ross Jones Research Farm, University of Missouri and consisted of four treatments: Kernza fertilized, Kernza unfertilized, Kernza and alfalfa intercrop, and alfalfa monocrop with four replications. Treatments were established in September 2021 on 18.3 m × 18.3 m plots. Soils from 0‐ to 5‐cm and 5‐ to 15‐cm depths were sampled in September 2021 (before treatments were placed) and 2022 and analyzed for microbial communities. All microbial communities increased after 1 year with the perennial crops. Since differences were not significant among treatments in 2022, this may lead to positive impacts of perennial crops on microbial communities, irrespective of the crop species and management. Moreover, community structure modifications were also observed with the perennial crops, irrespective of the species and management, as evidenced with changes in bacterial community indices in 2022. While fungi/bacteria ratio increased, Gram‐positive/Gram‐negative bacteria ratio decreased in 2022, suggesting a reduction in microbial stress, which can be attributed to ecological functions of the perennial crops. The study showed improvements in soil microbial biomass and modifications in microbial community structure after 1 year of Kernza and alfalfa. As the system matures, relative benefits of management (fertilization and intercropping) and plant species may be realized.
Prolonged soybean absence in the field selects for rhizobia that accumulate more polyhydroxybutyrate during symbiosis
Authors: Muller Katherine E. , Denison R. Ford
Published: May 2024

During symbiosis, C that rhizobia respire to power N fixation can be stored as polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), shown to support rhizobia survival under laboratory starvation. We collected soil in 2015 from four replicate plots per treatment in two long‐term experiments at Waseca, MN. Treatments differed in the intervals between soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] hosts. We measured PHB accumulation in eight nodules per plant from four soybean (cv. MN0095) trap plants per soil sample. Trap plants were arranged in a greenhouse, common‐garden experiment, and PHB accumulation was measured using flow cytometry. Treatments sampled after long intervals without soybean (greater than 2 years) showed a greater relative abundance of high‐PHB strains. Treatments sampled after the first year of soybean following 5 years of a non‐host crop showed a decreased relative abundance of high‐PHB strains, compared to treatments sampled after long intervals without soybean. The latter result is consistent with the hypothesis (not tested directly here) that some high‐PHB strains were “sanctioned” by plants as less beneficial. Our results suggest that rhizobia strains with the tendency to allocate more C to N fixation at the expense of PHB accumulation may be less likely to persist where soybean is grown infrequently or where soil conditions make PHB particularly valuable. However, with typical 2‐year rotations in Minnesota, differences in PHB storage are unlikely to have a major effect on the relative survival of strains.
The effect of local habitat and spatial connectivity on urban seed predation
Authors: Gaytán Álvaro , van Dijk Laura J. A. , Faticov Maria , Barr Anna E. , Tack Ayco J. M.
Published: May 2024

Premise

During the last centuries, the area covered by urban landscapes is increasing all over the world. Urbanization can change local habitats and decrease connectivity among these habitats, with important consequences for species interactions. While several studies have found a major imprint of urbanization on plant–insect interactions, the effects of urbanization on seed predation remain largely unexplored.

Methods

We investigated the relative impact of sunlight exposure, leaf litter, and spatial connectivity on predation by moth and weevil larvae on acorns of the pedunculate oak across an urban landscape during 2018 and 2020. We also examined whether infestations by moths and weevils were independent of each other.

Results

While seed predation varied strongly among trees, seed predation was not related to differences in sunlight exposure, leaf litter, or spatial connectivity. Seed predation by moths and weevils was negatively correlated at the level of individual acorns in 2018, but positively correlated at the acorn and the tree level in 2020.

Conclusions

Our study sets the baseline expectation that urban seed predators are unaffected by differences in sunlight exposure, leaf litter, and spatial connectivity. Overall, our findings suggest that the impact of local and spatial factors on insects within an urban context may depend on the species guild. Understanding the impact of local and spatial factors on biodiversity, food web structure, and ecosystem functioning can provide valuable insights for urban planning and management strategies aimed at promoting urban insect diversity.
Novel self‐doped Pd/Cu bimetals in CMC/PANI composites: Efficient heterogeneous catalyst for cooperative Sonogashira and Sonogashira‐cyclization tandem reactions
Authors: Huang Yuling , Lin Dongtao , Qi Yumei , Deng Hanhui , Li Yiqun
Published: May 2024

A new Pd/Cu bimetal catalyst supported on carboxymethylcellulose/polyaniline (CMC/PANI) composites (Pd/Cu@CMC/PANI) was fabricated to investigate the cooperative effect between Pd/Cu bimetals in Sonogashira reactions. This approach involves the self‐organization of aniline on CMC via H‐bond, enabling in situ oxidative polymerization using Pd(II) and Cu(II) ions as co‐oxidants. Subsequently, Pd and Cu are self‐deposited on the resulting CMC/PANI composites through the interaction of coordination and metathesis. The morphological and compositional analysis of the prepared catalyst was performed using various analytical tools such as ICP‐AES, FT‐IR, XPS, SEM, TEM, EDS, elemental mapping, and TGA. The Pd/Cu@CMC/PANI composite as a cooperative catalyst for the Sonogashira couplings exhibited high catalytic activity with relatively low Pd loading over its monometallic Pd counterpart, demonstrating the cooperative effect between Pd and Cu. Then, this bimetallic catalyst was successfully adapted for Sonogashira‐cyclization tandem reaction for the synthesis of benzofuran with excellent yields. Significantly, the Pd/Cu@CMC/PANI catalyst exhibited thermal stability under the reaction conditions and could be easily retrieved and reused repeatedly for five runs in the model reaction without significant discernible performance degradation.
Modified metal–organic frameworks for sonophotocatalytic elimination of wastewater pollutants
Authors: Guo Zhifen , Jiao Wenmei , Du Pan , Yang Hui , Liu Xin , Chen Dashu , Xing Hongzhu
Published: May 2024

In recent decades, people have witnessed a rapid development of society, accompanied by the increase sharply of numerous organic/inorganic contaminants from industrial effluents. The high toxicity of pollutants has led to long‐term risk to human health. To connect with environment‐friendly green chemistry and sustainable development, photocatalysis technology has emerged. Metal–organic framework (MOF)‐based photocatalysts performed high efficiency for the elimination of wastewater pollutants. Nevertheless, the large band gap energy and high recombination rate of photogenerated electron–hole pair decrease the catalytic efficiency. Sonochemistry is regarded as a safe, highly efficient, clean, and eco‐friendly technology, which has aroused a lot of interest in the treatment of wastewater. The cavitation effect induced by ultrasonic waves promotes the generation of additional active radicals. The ultrasonic oscillation facilitates cleaning the surface of catalysts, dispersing catalyst particles, and increasing proton transport. Therefore, photocatalysis coupling with ultrasonic waves, known as sonophotocatalysis (SPC), is a promising means for enhancing the overall performance of wastewater treatments. This review discusses the recent advancements of hybrid MOF‐based photocatalysts driving the wastewater treatments in SPC system. The catalytic performance of hybrid MOF is discussed in the SPC process. The inner properties of phases in hybrid MOF such as the location of redox potential and transfer direction of electrons and energy after hybridization are elucidated. Additionally, the review discusses the existing challenges and obstacles of MOF‐based SPC system and proposes feasible improvements to meet the future requirements of practical applications.
Palladium complexes of N,O‐bidentate ligands bearing N‐oxide units as simple and efficient catalysts for Suzuki–Miyaura reaction of aryl halides with arylboronic acids
Authors: Jia Xuefeng , Huang Xianqiang
Published: May 2024

Palladium‐catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura reaction is an important synthetic strategy for the synthesis of biaryl compounds. This work describes that palladium complexes with N,O‐bidentate ligands bearing N‐oxide units from cyclic secondary amines were used as highly efficient catalysts for Suzuki–Miyaura reactions of aryl halides with arylboronic acids. The reaction exhibited good functional group compatibility, high yields, and mild conditions. More importantly, these N,O‐coordinated palladium complexes could be easily prepared and displayed excellent catalytic performance for this classic Csp2–Csp2 coupling reaction in very short time.
Tuning the mechanical and thermoelectric properties of self‐standing stretchable PEDOT:PSS/SDBS films
Authors: Hossain Shafayat , Yamamoto Yuya , Kishi Naoki
Published: May 2024

Poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) has recently attracted significant attention as a potential candidate for small‐scale thermoelectric conversion because of its ease of doping, and solution processability. This study addressed the fabrication of self‐standing PEDOT:PSS films modified with sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) surfactant, presuming different annealing temperatures. According to the investigation, optimizing the annealing temperature improves crystal quality and increases the efficiency of PEDOT:PSS films. The resulting PEDOT:PSS films showed the highest electrical conductivity of about 623.68 Scm−1 and maximum power factor of 25.87 μWm−1 K−2. In addition to confirming thermoelectric properties; SDBS surfactants are being investigated to plasticize PEDOT:PSS films at different concentrations and annealing temperatures. With an optimization in annealing temperature, the elongation at break value similarly improves; and the highest elongation at break was observed at 0.94 wt% SDBS concentration, reaching 32%. To completely understand the underlying reasons for this dependence, higher‐order structures and electronic states of polymer films have been examined using electronic reflectance spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction analysis. Overall, the outcomes of this work show how important surfactants and their annealing temperature are for improving the mechanical and thermoelectric characteristics of self‐standing PEDOT:PSS films.