bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Testosterone and estradiol reduce inflammation of human macrophages induced by anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 IgG
Authors: Allahverdiyeva Sona , Geyer Chiara E. , Veth Jennifer , de Vries Laura M. , de Taeye Steven W. , van Gils Marit J. , den Dunnen Jeroen , Chen Hung‐Jen
Published: September 2024

COVID‐19, the disease caused by SARS‐CoV‐2, particularly causes severe inflammatory disease in elderly, obese, and male patients. Since both aging and obesity are associated with decreased testosterone and estradiol expression, we hypothesized that decreased hormone levels contribute to excessive inflammation in the context of COVID‐19. Previously, we and others have shown that hyperinflammation in severe COVID‐19 patients is induced by the production of pathogenic anti‐spike IgG antibodies that activate alveolar macrophages. Therefore, we developed an in vitro assay in which we stimulated human macrophages with viral stimuli, anti‐spike IgG immune complexes, and different sex hormones. Treatment with levels of testosterone reflecting young adults led to a significant reduction in TNF and IFN‐γ production by human macrophages. In addition, estradiol significantly attenuated the production of a very broad panel of cytokines, including TNF, IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐10, and IFN‐γ. Both testosterone and estradiol reduced the expression of Fc gamma receptors IIa and III, the two main receptors responsible for anti‐spike IgG‐induced inflammation. Combined, these findings indicate that sex hormones reduce the inflammatory response of human alveolar macrophages to specific COVID‐19‐associated stimuli, thereby providing a potential immunological mechanism for the development of severe COVID‐19 in both older male and female patients.
Ligand‐Directed Assembly of Multimetallic Aluminum Complexes: Synthesis, Structure and ROP Catalysis
Authors: García‐López José‐David , García‐Álvarez Ana‐Cristina , Hernández‐Balderas Uvaldo , Gallardo‐Garibay Alfonso , Jancik Vojtech , Martínez‐Otero Diego , Moya‐Cabrera Mónica
Published: September 2024

Multinuclear aluminum complexes are useful catalysts for the ring opening polymerization (ROP) of ϵ‐caprolactone (ϵ‐CL), often outperforming monometallic analogues in the production of biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL). These complexes require control over metal‐metal distance, ligand structure, and substituents. Herein, we report on the preparation of mono‐, bi‐, and octametallic aluminum complexes through direct chelation of multidentate bis(phosphino)‐2,2‐dimethyl‐1,3‐diamino ligands Me2C[CH2NHR2P(O)]2; R=Ph(1), iPr(2), tBu(3). Ligands 1–3 yielded bimetallic complexes with two types of coordination pockets, as well as bimetallic systems with identical coordination environments. In addition to the diversity of structural patterns within the present series, the catalytic performances of [AlR2{κ2‐N,N’,–(Me2C{CH2NPh2P(O)}2}‐(κ2‐O,O’‐AlR2)] (R=Me(4), Et(5), iBu(6)) outperformed that of the monometallic [AlEt2{κ2‐O,O’‐(Me2C(CH2NtBu2P(O))2H} (10), showing controlled and immortal ROP of ϵ‐CL in the presence of BnOH as co‐initiator. DFT calculations suggest that the primary active site for 4–6 is the N−Al–N center. Gaining insight into the underlying principles that lead to high activity and controlled production of PCL in bimetallic systems can help design tailor‐made complexes with enhanced performance.
Vicinal Difunctionalization of Unactivated Alkenes Through Radical Addition/Remote (Hetero)Aryl Migration Cascade
Authors: Meyer Sébastien , Claraz Aurélie
Published: September 2024

Alkenes are ubiquitous in natural and synthetic molecules and constitute versatile building blocks. Remarkably, their radical 1,2‐difunctionalization offers a valuable synthetic tool for rapidly accessing multifunctional compounds through a step and atom‐ economy process. More particularly, the addition of (hetero)aromatic groups onto alkenes is of particular appeal given the numerous applications of aromatic compounds in various fields. However, such process becomes difficult when attempted on simple non‐conjugated aliphatic alkenes (unactivated alkenes). In this context, the (hetero)arylation of unactivated alkenes through the radical functionalization followed by remote (hetero)aryl migration has recently emerged as a powerful opportunity to address the lack of reactivity of such π systems. The advances in radical chemistry have led to a flood of synthetic methods to trigger the addition of a carbon‐ or heteroatom‐centered radical/(hetero)aryl migration sequence. Interestingly, the migration of the aromatic ring can take place from various atoms. This feature has spurred the design of several substrates allowing such a process to occur. This review intends to provide an overview of the contributions according to the type of substrates that have been employed. The reaction scope, limitations and mechanistic aspect will be discussed with the aim of stimulating efforts in this research area.
Energy analysis of standalone hybrid active solar room heating system
Authors: Shrivastava Amit , Gaur M. K.
Published: September 2024

In winter, offices use heat pumps, electric heaters, and blowers to stay warm, but these use traditional energy that is not sustainable or eco‐friendly. To meet the requirements of thermal comfort, an environmentally friendly and self‐sustainable system was developed at Madhav Institute of Technology and Science in Gwalior, India. This system includes a heat exchanger, a flat plate collector, an evacuated tube collector, and a pump. Two versions of the system were tested: one with a heat exchanger and an evacuated tube collector (HEWETC) and another with a heat exchanger and a flat plate collector (HEWFPC). The results showed that the HEWETC system is better at heating the room and has higher efficiency compared to the HEWFPC system. The HEWFPC system is 12% efficient, while the HEWETC system is 21% efficient. The room stayed at a constant temperature of 26.3°C all day. The HEWETC and HEWFPC systems provided 0.46 and 0.55 MJ of heat to the room, respectively. During the heating season, the solar heat collected was 8030.38 kWh, and electricity used was 5229.7 kWh. The HEWETC system proved to be effective and suitable for heating the building.
An air‐cooled cylindrical Li‐ion 5 × 5 battery module with a novel flow‐diverting arrangement and variable vent positions for electric vehicles: A numerical thermal analysis
Authors: Suryavanshi Shweta , Ghanegaonkar P. M. , Wankhede Sagar
Published: September 2024

Thermal management of lithium‐ion batteries has received a lot of interest in the automobile sector. In commercial electric motor vehicles, an efficient battery cooling arrangement, particularly active cooling approaches, has been chosen as an ideal option. When building battery cooling systems, the physical structure and arrangement of the battery pack (BP) are vital. The current study presents a revolutionary design of a BP that incorporates cylindrical cells in a square duct and an air‐cooling (AC) medium circulated in its surroundings with the help of variable vents for inlet and outlet. A forced‐AC system is used to test lithium‐ion battery cells grouped in a 5 × 5 configured battery module. To investigate the impact of heat generation on battery thermal performance, a complete thermal analysis was performed at different discharge rates of 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4 C. As compared with both inlet vents at an equidistance configuration with an inlet velocity of 12 m/s and a flow rate of 1.210(−2) kg/s, the results show that the proposed design minimizes heat accumulation by enhancing the heat transfer. As a result, the peak temperature and temperature disparity decreased by 6.76% and 85.32%, respectively. A flow‐dispersing disc of 30 mm in size enhances temperature uniformity in comparison to the other intake vent design, hence improving battery safety and longevity.
Analysis of transient heat conduction in tubes under convective boundary conditions
Authors: Camaraza‐Medina Yanan , Hernandez‐Guerrero Abel , Luviano‐Ortiz Jose L.
Published: September 2024

In this work, six analytical solutions are given to estimate the energy exchange by transient conduction in pipes with convection conditions. The developed models were adjusted for an interval from 0.2 to 0.8, dimensionless Fourier (Fo) and Biot (Bi) numbers, from 0.05 to 50 and 0.005 to 50, respectively. In each case, 616 tests of temperature distributions were computed using the Heisler approximate method (HAM) and the exact models proposed, for different combinations of . For the comparison made between the analytical solutions and the HAM, 3696 tests were used, detecting that the HAM correlates with the analytical method with an average deviation of and for 71.2%, and 90.4% of the different values of combinations evaluated. The best fit was found for Case 5, with a mean deviation of and for 81.1% and 92.3% of the data used, respectively, while the weaker fit was detected for Case 2, with a mean deviation of and for 67.9% and 88.2% of the available tests.
Reduction Accelerated Adaptive Step‐Size FISTA Based Smooth‐Lasso Regularization for Fluorescence Molecular Tomography Reconstruction
Authors: Luo Xiaoli , Jiao Renhao , Ma Tao , Liu Yunjie , Gao Zhu , Shen Xiuhong , Ren Qianqian , Zhang Heng , He Xiaowei
Published: September 2024

In this paper, a reduced accelerated adaptive fast iterative shrinkage threshold algorithm based on Smooth‐Lasso regularization (SL‐RAFISTA‐BB) is proposed for fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) 3D reconstruction. This method uses the Smooth‐Lasso regularization to fuse the group sparse prior information which can balance the relationship between the sparsity and smoothness of the solution, simplifying the process of calculation. In particular, the convergence speed of the FISTA is improved by introducing a reduction strategy and Barzilai‐Borwein variable step size factor, and constructing a continuation strategy to reduce computing costs and the number of iterations. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm not only accelerates the convergence speed of the iterative algorithm, but also improves the positioning accuracy of the tumor target, alleviates the over‐sparse or over‐smooth phenomenon of the reconstructed target, and clearly outlines the boundary information of the tumor target. We hope that this method can promote the development of optical molecular tomography.
Telehealth general case parent training for children at risk for autism
Authors: Shingleton‐Smith Claire , Koudys Julie , Azzano Alicia , Feldman Maurice
Published: September 2024

Parent‐mediated interventions for infants and young children with an increased likelihood of autism may help ameliorate developmental concerns; however, generalization of parents' teaching strategies to novel child target skills has not been consistently demonstrated. This study expanded our parent training program, Parent Intervention for Children at‐Risk for Autism (PICARA), by incorporating telehealth general case training (PICARA‐TGCT) to promote generalization of teaching skills. Five parent–child dyads participated. Child target skills were chosen from the categories of imitation, receptive language, and expressive language. A concurrent multiple‐baseline‐across‐participants design was used to evaluate the effect of training across two cohorts of parent–child dyads. Dependent variables included the percentage of correct parent teaching skills and the percentage of child correct responses. Parent teaching skills increased across all participants for both trained and untrained child target skills, as did child skills. This study provides support for PICARA‐TGCT as an efficacious and efficient early intervention model.
Temporal changes in tibiofemoral relationship following anterior cruciate ligament injury: Implications for rotational dynamics and clinical outcomes
Authors: Okimura Shinichiro , Suzuki Tomoyuki , Ikeda Yasutoshi , Shiwaku Kousuke , Hamaoka Kodai , Horita Kazushi , Teramoto Atsushi
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This study aims to elucidate changes in the tibiofemoral relationship over time following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, and investigate the correlation between the tibiofemoral relationship and patient‐related outcome measures (PROMs).

Methods

Overall, 203 primary ACL reconstructions were performed using autologous hamstring grafts. Medial and lateral anterior tibial translation (ATT) in the sagittal plane and tibial tubercle‐trochlear groove (TT‐TG) distance in the axial plane were measured using pre‐operative magnetic resonance imaging and post‐operative computed tomography. The difference between pre‐operative and post‐operative values for each parameter was calculated: ΔMesdial ATT, ΔLateral ATT and ΔTT‐TG distance. The correlation between each calculated value and the time elapsed since ACL injury, and the correlation between each calculated value and PROMs—evaluated using the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)—were assessed.

Results

Sixty‐four patients were enroled. Medial ATT, lateral ATT and TT‐TG distance were significantly different pre‐operatively compared to post‐operative values, with the tibia translating anteriorly and rotating internally relative to the femur. ΔMedial ATT, ΔLateral ATT and ΔTT‐TG distance were 1.6, 8.8 and −4.8 mm, respectively. A negative correlation was observed between the ΔTT‐TG distance and the time elapsed since the injury (r = −0.44, p < 0.01). No correlation was found between ΔMedial ATT and the time elapsed since the injury, nor between ΔLateral ATT and the time elapsed since the injury. Neither the ΔMedial ATT, ΔLateral ATT, nor ΔTT‐TG distance correlated with the pre‐operative or post‐operative KOOS subscale scores.

Conclusions

The tibia underwent internal rotation relative to the femur over time following ACL injury, highlighting the importance of assessing rotational changes in ACL‐injured knees.

Level of Evidence

Level Ⅲ.
Empagliflozin add‐on therapy is superior to metformin monotherapy in diabetic patients with NAFLD: An open‐label, single‐center, pilot clinical trial
Authors: Esmaeili Ayda , Pourahmad Azar Reza , Mohammad Hosseiniazar Mohammadreza , Hooshmand Gharabagh Laya
Published: September 2024

Background

The prevalence of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is characterized by hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and advanced fibrosis, is high among type‐2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Empagliflozin (EMPA), a sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2 inhibitor, has been well established to improve glycemic status in T2DM. However, evidence of the desirable effects of EMPA, when added to the standard treatment in diabetics with coexisting NAFLD, has yet to be determined.

Objective

The main objective of the current study is to explore the benefits of EMPA on hepatic fat content in patients with T2DM and NAFLD, who received metformin (MET) monotherapy.

Methods

In this open‐label clinical trial study, 60 patients with T2DM and NAFLD were assigned to either the MET + EMPA or MET group in an up‐titrated manner for 24 weeks. Anthropometric characteristics, blood glucose indices, lipid profile, liver enzymes, and steatosis grades were measured at baseline and 24 weeks after the intervention.

Results

The results showed that in patients with a mean age of 53.26 ± 7.64 who received MET+ EMPA, all the parameters had a greater decrease than the MET group. In addition, the reduction of FBS, BS, HbA1C, TG, and ALT had a statistically significant difference between the two groups after 24 weeks follow‐up (p < 0.05). Notably, in the MET+ EMPA group, there was a substantial improvement in steatosis grades based on the fibroscan and ultrasound modality results.

Conclusion

The EMPA add‐on therapeutic schedule in uncontrolled T2DM patients with NAFLD significantly ameliorated steatosis stages, liver function, anthropometric features, and biochemical parameters.
Determinants of polydoctoring among multimorbid older adults; a cross‐sectional study in an urban area of Japan
Authors: Ando Takayuki , Sasaki Takashi , Abe Yukiko , Nishimoto Yoshinori , Hirata Takumi , Haruta Junji , Arai Yasumichi
Published: September 2024

Background

Multimorbidity increases with age, leading to various adverse outcomes, including higher mortality, care dependency, hospitalizations, and healthcare costs. Polydoctoring, managing a patient with multimorbidity by multiple healthcare providers, can be a risk of fragmented care and increased healthcare expenditures. This study aims to identify patient‐related factors contributing to polydoctoring in older adults with multimorbidity.

Methods

This study is a cross‐sectional study using baseline data from the Kawasaki Aging and Wellbeing Project. Participants were residents of Kawasaki City aged 85–89 years, without disability in basic activities of daily living, and being able to visit study site. The regularly visited facilities (RVF) index was employed to quantify polydoctoring. Polydoctoring was defined as having two or more RVFs. Poisson regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between polydoctoring and patient demographics, including types of chronic conditions and socioeconomic factors.

Results

A total of, 968 participants with multimorbidity were analyzed. Increased RVF was significantly associated with eye diseases (rate ratio [RR] 1.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12–1.44), osteoporosis (RR 1.22, 95% CI 1.08–1.38), prostate diseases (RR 1.22, 95% CI 1.07–1.40), and osteoarthritis (RR 1.16, 95% CI 1.05–1.27). No significant correlation was found with educational status or financial hardship.

Conclusion

The study indicated that certain chronic conditions are linked to increased polydoctoring among multimorbid older adults in Japan. However, most of those conditions are considered to be within a scope of family medicine/general practice. Training general practitioners to manage these conditions could reduce healthcare costs and the treatment burden, indicating a direction for future healthcare policy and medical education.
Reconstructive evolutionary morphology: Tracing the historical process of modifications of complex systems driven by natural selection through changing ecological conditions
Authors: Homberger Dominique G.
Published: September 2024

There is general consensus among evolutionary biologists that natural selection drives phenotypic modifications within populations over generational time. How to reconstruct this historical process, however, has been discussed mostly in theoretical terms, and recommendations and explanations on how to translate such theoretical insights into practice are needed. The present study aims at providing a theory‐supported practical guide on how to reconstruct historical evolutionary processes by applying a morphology‐centered approach through a series of interdependent steps of descriptive morphology, functional analysis, ecological observation, integration of paleoecological data, and evolutionary synthesis. Special attention is given to the development of tests regarding the accuracy, closeness to reality, and plausibility of the hypotheses at every level of the reconstructive process. This morphology‐centered approach had its beginnings in the wake of the evolutionary synthesis and is part of the scientifically necessary process of reciprocal testing of hypotheses generated by different methods and data for the reconstruction of evolutionary history.
Antibody responses to common viruses according to COVID‐19 severity and postacute sequelae of COVID‐19
Authors: Karachaliou Marianna , Ranzani Otavio , Espinosa Ana , Iraola‐Guzmán Susana , Castaño‐Vinyals Gemma , Vidal Marta , Jiménez Alfons , Bañuls Marc , Nogués Eva Alonso , Aguilar Ruth , Garcia‐Aymerich Judith , de Cid Rafael , Dobaño Carlota , Moncunill Gemma , Kogevinas Manolis
Published: September 2024

Limited research suggests that certain viruses reactivate in severe‐acute‐respiratory‐syndrome‐coronavirus 2 infection, contributing to the development of postacute sequelae of COVID‐19 (PASC). We examined 1083 infected individuals from a population‐based cohort, and assessed differences in plasma immunoglobulin (Ig)G and immunoglobulin A levels against Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus, varicella zoster virus (VZV), BK polyomavirus, KI polyomavirus, WU polyomavirus (WUPyV), respiratory syncytial virus, and Adv‐36 according to the severity of previous COVID‐19 and PASC history. Individuals who had experienced severe COVID‐19 had higher antibody responses to latent viruses. Ever PASC, active persistent PASC, and PASC with neuropsychiatric symptoms were associated with higher immnoglobulin G to EBV early antigen‐diffuse, VZV, and WUPyV even among individuals without previous severe COVID‐19.
The association between erythema nodosum and pyoderma gangrenosum and pediatric inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Yousif Miranda L. , Ritchey Andrew , Mirea Lucia , Patel Ashish S. , Price Harper , O'Haver Judith , Rudo‐Stern Jenna , Montoya Lili , Gonzalez‐ Llanos Lucia , Smith Jamie , Zeblisky Kathy , Pasternak Brad
Published: September 2024

Objectives

The objectives of this study is to estimate rates and identify factors associated with erythema nodosum (EN) and pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods

This cohort study examined longitudinal visits of patients aged ≤ 21 years from the ImproveCareNow (ICN) registry. We evaluated the association of factors at the patient‐level (demographics and IBD diagnosis age) and visit‐level (IBD severity scores, markers and phenotypes, comorbidities, and treatment) with the presence of EN and PG, using longitudinal logistic regression models adjusted for time and within‐patient clustering.

Results

A total of 285,913 visits from 32,497 patients aged ≤ 21 years from the ICN registry were analyzed. The occurrence of EN was 1.57% (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.43%–1.71%) and the occurrence of PG was 0.90% (95% CI: 0.80%–1.00%). Co‐occurrence of EN and PG was reported in 0.30% (95% CI: 0.25%–0.37%) patients. Both EN and PG were associated (p < 0.0001) with worse intestinal disease, lower remission, higher inflammatory markers, and extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) arthritis and uveitis.

Conclusions

EN and PG were associated with increased disease severity and other noncutaneous EIMs (arthritis and uveitis). A small subset of patients had developed both EN and PG.
Lactobacillus johnsonii colonizing in mice intestine contributes to control the gut barrier function via regeneration of the crypt in DSS‐treated mice
Authors: Bai Yuying , Lyu Mengying , Satoh Takashi , Orihara Kanami , Miyanaga Kazuhiko , Adachi Takahiro , Yamamoto Naoyuki
Published: September 2024

Background

Unbalanced gut microbiota is considered to cause dysfunction of the gut barrier function. Lactobacillus johnsonii MG, isolated from mouse feces as gut associating lactobacilli, enhanced gut barrier function in Caco‐2 cells via interaction with JAM‐2 in tight junctions. In this study, the anti‐inflammatory effects of L. johnsonii MG were investigated in a colitis mouse model developed by treating mice with 3% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) for 9 days.

Results

MG treatment of colitis mice resulted in fast recovery of the body weight and showed significant improvement in the disease activity index and histopathological scores. The histomorphological score increased by DSS treatment was significantly improved in the MG‐treated group. In the intestine, the expression of Ocln, Zo1, Itga6, Lama3, and Jam2 genes, which are involved in tight junction functions, were significantly upregulated in MG‐treated colitis mice. In the microflora analysis, the abundance of Ruminococcaceae, Bacteroides, and Lachnospiraceae were reduced in DSS‐treated mice and recovered by MG treatment.

Conclusion

We reported the potential of L. johnsonii MG in the regeneration of crypts and integrity of matrix proteins in the gut of mice with colitis through its association with tight junctions. The experimental results provide new insights into the probiotic effect of tight junction associating L. johnsonii MG.
Allelopathic effects of Borreria latifolia on weed germination and identification of allelochemicals
Authors: Zhang Tai‐Jie , Guo Wenlei , Tian Xingshan , Lv Yin‐Zhi , Feng Kai‐Fan , Zhang Chun
Published: September 2024

BACKGROUND

Borreria latifolia (Aubl.) K. Schum (Rubiaceae) is an annual weed with a strong allelopathic inhibitory effect on malignant weeds in orchards in southern China. This study was carried out to investigate its allelopathic potential and to identify allelochemicals present in B. latifolia.

RESULTS

Aqueous extracts of B. latifolia inhibited the germination and radicle growth of Eleusine indica and the radicle growth of Bidens alba in a dose‐dependent manner. However, only the high‐concentration treatment at 50 mg mL−1 delayed the germination of B. alba and Digitaria sanguinalis. Among the root, stem, and leaf aqueous extracts of B. latifolia, the leaf extract had the strongest inhibitory effects on the germination and seedling growth of E. indica, followed by stem extract and then root extract. A total of 47 published allelochemicals, including coumarin, 4‐hydroxybenzoate, salicylic acid, 4‐hydroxycinnamic acid, and vanillic acid, were identified in the leaf extract. Among the five allelochemicals, coumarin was found to be present in the highest concentration in the leaf extract. Furthermore, coumarin exhibited a significantly greater inhibitory effect on E. indica (EC50 = 36.87 mg L−1) than did the other allelochemicals (EC50 = 100.87–156.30 mg L−1).

CONCLUSION

This study indicates that the leaf extracts of B. latifolia and their allelochemicals have excellent potential as bioherbicides and that coumarin is one of the key allelochemicals in B. latifolia. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Excellent results of restricted kinematic alignment total knee arthroplasty at a minimum of 10 years of follow‐up
Authors: Morcos Mina W. , Beckers Gautier , Salvi Andrea Giordano , Bennani Mourad , Massé Vincent , Vendittoli Pascal‐André
Published: September 2024

Purpose

While restricted kinematic alignment (rKA) total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with cemented implants has been shown to provide a similar survivorship rate to mechanical alignment (MA) in the short term, no studies have reported on the long‐term survivorship and function.

Methods

One hundred four consecutive cemented cruciate retaining TKAs implanted using computer navigation and following the rKA principles proposed by Vendittoli were reviewed at a minimum of 10 years after surgery. Implant revisions, reoperations and clinical outcomes were assessed using knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS), forgotten joint score (FJS), patients' satisfaction and joint perception questionnaires. Radiographs were analyzed to identify signs of osteolysis and implant loosening.

Results

Implant survivorship was 99.0% at a mean follow‐up of 11.3 years (range: 10.3–12.9) with one early revision for instability. Patients perceived their TKA as natural or artificial without limitation in 50.0% of cases, and 95.3% were satisfied or very satisfied with their TKA. The mean FJS was 67.6 (range: 0–100). The mean KOOS were as follows: pain 84.7 (range: 38–100), symptoms 85.5 (range: 46–100), function in daily activities 82.6 (range: 40–100), function in sport and recreation 35.2 (range: 0–100) and quality of life 79.1 (range: 0–100). No radiological evidence of implant aseptic loosening or osteolysis was identified.

Conclusion

Cemented TKA implanted with the rKA alignment protocol demonstrated excellent long‐term implant survivorship and is a safe alternative to MA to improve patient function and satisfaction.

Level of Evidence

Level IV, continuous case series with no comparison group.
Several factors predict the achievement of the patient acceptable symptom state and minimal clinically important difference for patient‐reported outcome measures following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A systematic review
Authors: Sun Bryan , Vivekanantha Prushoth , Khalik Hassaan Abdel , de SA Darren
Published: September 2024

Purpose

To summarize the predictors of the patient acceptable symptom state (PASS), minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and minimal important change (MIC) for patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs) following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR).

Methods

MEDLINE, PubMed and Embase were searched from inception to 5 January 2024. The authors adhered to PRISMA/R‐AMSTAR guidelines, and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Data on statistical associations between predictive factors and PROMs were extracted. Inverse odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (reverse group comparison) were calculated when appropriate to ensure comparative consistency.

Results

Thirteen studies comprising 21,235 patients (48.1% female) were included (mean age 29.3 years). Eight studies comprising 3857 patients identified predictors of PASS, including lateral extra‐articular tenodesis (LET) (OR = 11.08, p = 0.01), hamstring tendon (HT) autografts (OR range: 2.02–2.63, p ≤ 0.011), age over 30 (OR range: 1.37–2.28, p ≤ 0.02), male sex (OR range: 1.03–1.32, p ≤ 0.01) and higher pre‐operative PROMs (OR range: 1.04–1.21). Eight studies comprising 18,069 patients identified negative predictors of MCID or MIC, including female sex (OR = 0.93, p = 0.034), absence of HT autografts (OR = 0.70, p < 0.0001), higher pre‐operative PROMs (OR = 0.76‐0.84, p ≤ 0.01), meniscectomy (OR = 0.67, p = 0.014) and collision sports (OR = 0.02–0.60, p ≤ 0.05).

Conclusion

Higher pre‐operative PROMs, age over 30, male sex, LETs and HT autografts predicted PASS achievement. Lower pre‐operative PROMs, male sex, non‐collision sports, and lack of meniscectomies predicted MCID/MIC achievement. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of the predictors of clinically significant post‐ACLR outcomes, thus improving clinical decision‐making and the management of patient expectations.

Level of Evidence

Level IV.
Acoustic, aerodynamic, and vibrational effects of ventricular folds adduction in an ex vivo experiment
Authors: Xiao Zhixue , Kang Jing , Su Jinglin , Ge Pingjiang , Zhang Siyi
Published: September 2024

Objectives

The excessive adduction of ventricular folds has been observed in patients with dysphonia and professional singers. Whether these changes in the ventricular folds are the cause or just a result of disease progression remains unclear, and their potential pathological and physiological implications are yet to be determined. This study aimed to examine the impact of different degrees of ventricular adduction on acoustics, aerodynamics, and vocal fold vibration.

Methods

The excised models of mild and severe ventricular adduction were established. We recorded the vibration pattern of vocal folds and ventricular folds and measured acoustic metrics, including fundamental frequency (F0), Jitter, Shimmer, harmonic‐to‐noise ratio (HNR), and sound pressure level (SPL). Furthermore, we evaluated the aerodynamics index through phonation threshold pressure (PTP), phonation instability pressure (PIP), mean flow rate (MFR), phonation threshold flow (PTF), and phonation instability flow (PIF).

Results

Irregular vibrations of the ventricular fold were observed during ventricular adduction. Notably, mild and severe ventricular adduction conditions showed a significant increase in PTP, Shimmer, and Jitter, whereas MFR, PIF, and HNR decreased compared with the control condition.

Conclusions

Ventricular adduction leads to the deterioration of acoustic and aerodynamic parameters. The aperiodic and irregular vibration of the ventricular folds may be responsible for this phenomenon, although further experiments are warranted. Understanding the functioning of ventricular folds can be beneficial in directing the treatment of muscle tension dysphonia and improving voice training techniques.

Level of evidence: level 4.
Search for medical information for chronic rhinosinusitis through an artificial intelligence ChatBot
Authors: Yassa Arsany , Ayad Olivia , Cohen David Avery , Patel Aman M. , Vengsarkar Ved A. , Hegazin Michael S. , Filimonov Andrey , Hsueh Wayne D. , Eloy Jean Anderson
Published: September 2024

Objectives

Artificial intelligence is evolving and significantly impacting health care, promising to transform access to medical information. With the rise of medical misinformation and frequent internet searches for health‐related advice, there is a growing demand for reliable patient information. This study assesses the effectiveness of ChatGPT in providing information and treatment options for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).

Methods

Six inputs were entered into ChatGPT regarding the definition, prevalence, causes, symptoms, treatment options, and postoperative complications of CRS. International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology guidelines for Rhinosinusitis was the gold standard for evaluating the answers. The inputs were categorized into three categories and Flesch–Kincaid readability, ANOVA and trend analysis tests were used to assess them.

Results

Although some discrepancies were found regarding CRS, ChatGPT's answers were largely in line with existing literature. Mean Flesch Reading Ease, Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level and passive voice percentage were (40.7%, 12.15%, 22.5%) for basic information and prevalence category, (47.5%, 11.2%, 11.1%) for causes and symptoms category, (33.05%, 13.05%, 22.25%) for treatment and complications, and (40.42%, 12.13%, 18.62%) across all categories. ANOVA indicated no statistically significant differences in readability across the categories (p‐values: Flesch Reading Ease = 0.385, Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level = 0.555, Passive Sentences = 0.601). Trend analysis revealed readability varied slightly, with a general increase in complexity.

Conclusion

ChatGPT is a developing tool potentially useful for patients and medical professionals to access medical information. However, caution is advised as its answers may not be fully accurate compared to clinical guidelines or suitable for patients with varying educational backgrounds.

Level of evidence: 4.
Sediment dynamics shape macrofauna mobility traits and abundance on tidal flats
Authors: Zhou Zhengquan , Grandjean Tim J. , de Smit Jaco , van Belzen Jim , Fivash Gregory S. , Walles Brenda , Beauchard Olivier , van Dalen Jeroen , Blok Daniel B. , van IJzerloo Lennart , Ysebaert Tom , Bouma Tjeerd J.
Published: September 2024

Tidal flats are valuable ecosystems that depend on complex biogeomorphic processes between organisms and sediment transport. Climate change has led to a rise in extreme weather events, such as storms. This, in turn, has increased sediment dynamics and created risks for the benthic communities inhabiting tidal flats. However, replicating sediment disturbances caused by extreme weather is difficult. To overcome this, we used the plow rake to enhance the natural tidal currents and wave conditions to simulate intensified sediment dynamics. The raking disturbance was repeated on two intertidal zones with different inundation frequencies and wind fetch levels to simulate the increasing frequency of storm impact on sediments due to climate change. We compared the measurements of sediment dynamics and macrofauna between plots that were raked and the control plots that were only influenced by natural hydrodynamics. Results showed that tidal flat sediments experienced erosion by 10–20 mm after six times biweekly raking treatments, depending on the site‐specific hydrodynamic conditions. Sediment dynamics served as a helpful tool for monitoring the species distribution regarding mobility traits: the high dynamic exposed sites were inhabited by mobile species, while the low dynamic sheltered sites were characterized by less‐mobile species. Moreover, the raking treatment decreased the abundance of species with immobile traits, yet the species composition did not experience significant change. Overall, the present findings indicate that tidal flats with low sediment dynamics and immobile macrofauna are at higher risk of declining abundance under intensified sediment disturbances than areas with high sediment dynamics and mobile macrofauna.
Random and systematic uncertainty in ship‐based seawater carbonate chemistry observations
Authors: Carter Brendan R. , Sharp Jonathan D. , García‐Ibáñez Maribel I. , Woosley Ryan J. , Fong Michael B. , Álvarez Marta , Barbero Leticia , Clegg Simon L. , Easley Regina , Fassbender Andrea J. , Li Xinyu , Schockman Katelyn M. , Wang Zhaohui Aleck
Published: September 2024

Seawater carbonate chemistry observations are increasingly necessary to study a broad array of oceanographic challenges such as ocean acidification, carbon inventory tracking, and assessment of marine carbon dioxide removal strategies. The uncertainty in a seawater carbonate chemistry observation comes from unknown random variations and systematic offsets. Here, we estimate the magnitudes of these random and systematic components of uncertainty for the discrete open‐ocean carbonate chemistry measurements in the Global Ocean Data Analysis Project 2022 update (GLODAPv2.2022). We use both an uncertainty propagation approach and a carbonate chemistry measurement “inter‐consistency” approach that quantifies the disagreement between measured carbonate chemistry variables and calculations of the same variables from other carbonate chemistry measurements. Our inter‐consistency analysis reveals that the seawater carbonate chemistry measurement community has collected and released data with a random uncertainty that averages about 1.7 times the uncertainty estimated by propagating the desired “climate‐quality” random uncertainties. However, we obtain differing random uncertainty estimates for subsets of the available data, with some subsets seemingly meeting the climate‐quality criteria. We find that seawater pH measurements on the total scale do not meet the climate‐quality criteria, though the inter‐consistency of these measurements improves (by 38%) when limited to the subset of measurements made using purified indicator dyes. We show that GLODAPv2 adjustments improve inter‐consistency for some subsets of the measurements while worsening it for others. Finally, we provide general guidance for quantifying the random uncertainty that applies for common combinations of measured and calculated values.
Vertical van der Waals Integrated p‐W0.09Re0.91S2 /GaN Heterojunction for Ultra‐High Detectivity UV Image Sensing
Authors: Yang Yongkai , Lin Jinpei , Huang Yeying , Zhang Yating , Wang Min , Zhu Xi , Guo Jiachang , Fan Kangkai , Ao Jinping , Li Jingbo , Liu Xinke
Published: September 2024

The relentless advancement of van der Waals (vdW) heteroepitaxy technology has charted an expansive horizon for the integration and functionalization of heterogeneous materials. In this research, a 2D/3D vdW heterojunction photodetector based on p‐W0.09Re0.91S2/n‐GaN integrated on a Free‐standing (FS)‐GaN substrate, encompassing horizontal, quasi‐vertical, and vertical structures is have successfully fabricated. By incorporating a suite of performance enhancement strategies, including mixed‐dimensional stacking, p‐type doping, type‐II band alignment, and vertical structure design, the developed vertical structure photodetector has exhibited exceptional performance. Specifically, the detector achieves a high Responsivity of up to 497.60 A W−1, an impressive specific Detectivity of 8.41 × 1013 Jones, and a fast response speed (rise/decay time of 10 ms/20 ms). Additionally, the device is successfully applied in the realm of single‐pixel imaging, substantiating its potential for practical applications. The findings of this work not only signify notable strides in integration and optoelectronic performance within the optoelectronic device domain but also portend novel breakthroughs in imaging technology applications, bestowing renewed vigor and endless potential upon the evolution of this field.
Leveraging single‐cell RNA‐seq for uncovering naïve B cells associated with better prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Sun Qingjia , Gao Rui , Lin Yingxin , Zhou Xianchao , Wang Tao , He Jian
Published: September 2024

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a typical highly heterogeneous solid tumor with high morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in China; however, the immune microenvironment of HCC has not been clarified so far. Here, we employed single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) on diethylnitrosamine (DEN)‐induced mouse HCC model to dissect the immune cell dynamics during tumorigenesis. Our findings reveal distinct immune profiles in both precancerous and cancerous lesions, indicating early tumor‐associated immunological alterations. Notably, specific T and B cell subpopulations are preferentially enriched in the HCC tumor microenvironment (TME). Furthermore, we identified a subpopulation of naïve B cells with high CD83 expression, correlating with improved prognosis in human HCC. These signature genes were validated in The Cancer Genome Atlas HCC RNA‐seq dataset. Moreover, cell interaction analysis revealed that subpopulations of B cells in both mouse and human samples are activated and may potentially contribute to oncogenic processes. In summary, our study provides insights into the dynamic immune microenvironment and cellular networks in HCC pathogenesis, with a specific emphasis on naïve B cells. These findings emphasize the significance of targeting TME in HCC patients to prevent HCC pathological progression, which may give a new perspective on the therapeutics for HCC.
Breast tumor detection with TR‐DORT based on multilayered Green's function theory
Authors: Yousefnia Mehdi , Ebrahimzadeh Ataollah
Published: September 2024

Ultrawideband (UWB) time‐reversal techniques are widely used in microwave imaging systems to detect and localize breast tumors. Measuring the scattering electromagnetic fields from a breast phantom can be time‐reversed and back‐propagated to refocus on a tumor. In this study, a Debye model was applied to the breast phantom. Using the decomposition of the time‐reversal operator (TR‐DORT), images were obtained in the UWB frequency range of 3.1–10.6 GHz. The conventional TR imaging method employs the free‐space Green's function to refocus on the tumor, which degrades refocusing in a lossy and dispersive breast phantom. We propose the use of the cylindrical dyadic Green's function in a three‐layer medium for TR imaging. The excitation system consists of a circular array of spiral antennas. The imaging results of the proposed Green's function in TR‐DORT were subsequently calculated, indicating successful tumor detection in different application scenarios of the lossy and dispersive breast phantom.
Comparison of compartmental analytical Blood‐Oxygen‐Level‐Dependent functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging models against Monte Carlo simulations performed over cortical micro‐angiograms
Authors: Charest Jordan , Walsh Mathieu , Genois Élie , Sévigny Emmanuelle , Schwarz Pierre‐Olivier , Gagnon Louis , Desjardins Michèle
Published: September 2024

Blood oxygen level‐dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD fMRI) arises from a physiological and physical cascade of events taking place at the level of the cortical microvasculature which constitutes a medium with complex geometry. Several analytical models of the BOLD contrast have been developed, but these have not been compared directly against detailed bottom‐up modeling methods. Using a 3D modeling method based on experimentally measured images of mice microvasculature and Monte Carlo simulations, we quantified the accuracy of two analytical models to predict the amplitude of the BOLD response from 1.5 to 7 T, for different echo time (TE) and for both gradient echo and spin echo acquisition protocols. We also showed that accounting for the tridimensional structure of the microvasculature results in more accurate prediction of the BOLD amplitude, even if the values for SO2 were averaged across individual vascular compartments. A secondary finding is that modeling the venous compartment as two individual compartments results in more accurate prediction of the BOLD amplitude compared with standard homogenous venous modeling, arising from the bimodal distribution of venous SO2 across the microvasculature in our data.
Recent Advances in the Application of 2‐Aminobenzothiazole to the Multicomponent Synthesis of Heterocycles
Authors: Javahershenas Ramin , Han Jianlin , Kazemi Mosstafa , Jervis Peter J.
Published: September 2024

Heterocycles are a vital class of compounds in numerous fields, including drug discovery, agriculture, and materials science. Efficient methods for the synthesis of heterocycles remain critical for meeting the demands of these industries. Recent advances in multicomponent reactions (MCRs) utilizing 2‐aminobenzothiazole (ABT) have shown promising results for the formation of heterocycles. The versatility of 2‐aminobenzothiazole in this context has enabled the rapid and efficient construction of diverse heterocyclic structures. Various synthetic methodologies and reactions involving 2‐aminobenzothiazole are discussed, highlighting its importance as a valuable building block in the synthesis of complex heterocycles. The potential applications of these heterocycles in drug discovery and material science are also explored. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of research in the field and offers insights into the future directions of this promising area of study. We highlight the potential of ABT as a versatile and sustainable starting material in heterocyclic synthesis via MCRs, with significant implications for the chemical industry.
Mixed finite element implementation of plane crack problems within strain gradient elasticity
Authors: Chirkov Aleksandr Yu. , Nazarenko Lidiia , Altenbach Holm
Published: September 2024

An approach is proposed and applied to solve boundary value problems within the strain gradient elasticity theory. A mixed variation formulation of the finite element method is used, where stresses, strains, and displacements are considered as independent variables. This significantly simplifies the pre‐requirement for approximating functions and allows one to use the simplest triangular finite elements with a linear approximation of displacements. Global unknowns in a discrete problem are nodal displacements, while the strains and stresses in nodes are treated as local unknowns. This discrete problem is solved by a modified iteration procedure, where the global stiffness matrix for classical elasticity problems is treated as a preconditioning matrix with fictitious elastic moduli. The modeling plane crack problem (tension of a square plate with a central crack) is solved. The obtained solution agrees with the results available in the literature. Good convergence is achieved by refining the mesh for all scale parameters.
Material plasticity – Development of stiffness tetrads in fiber‐reinforced materials with large plastic deformations
Authors: Weber Martin , Glüge Rainer , Altenbach Holm
Published: September 2024

The main objective of this work is to follow the evolution of the stiffness tetrad during large plastic strains. For this purpose, the framework of a general theory of finite plasticity is developed. Some special cases are investigated and the case of a material plasticity theory is considered in more detail. Its main feature is that the elasticity law changes during plastic deformations, for which we develop an approach. We use three types of fiber‐reinforced composites as example materials. Finite element simulations of representative volume elements for uni‐, bi‐ and tri‐directionally reinforced materials with periodic boundary conditions are used for numerical experiments and verification of the model's predictions. From these, we extract the stiffness tetrads before and after large deformations of the material. We quantify the change in stiffness tetrads due to fiber reorientation. Finally, we propose an analytical evolution with three parameters that reproduces reasonably well the evolution of the stiffness tetrads.