bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interface‐Centric Strategies in Kesterite Solar Cells: Addressing Challenges, Solutions, and Future Directions for Efficient Solar‐Harvesting Technologies
Authors: Jagadish Kusuma , Rahane Ganesh K. , Kumar Boddeda Sai , Borkar Durgesh R. , Chordiya Kalyani , Kavanagh Seán R , Roy Anurag , Debnath Tushar , Kolekar Sadhu , Kahaly Mousumi Upadhyay , Mali Sawanta S. , Pal Shovon , Gasparini Nicola , Dubal Deepak P. , Rondiya Sachin R.
Published: September 2024

As reserves of non‐renewable energy sources decline, the search for sustainable alternatives becomes increasingly critical. Next‐generation energy materials play a key role in this quest by enabling the manipulation of properties for effective energy solutions and understanding interfaces to enhance energy yield. Studying these interfaces is essential for managing charge transport in optoelectronic devices, yet it presents significant challenges. This review emphasizes the critical role of interfaces in kesterite solar cells (KSCs), focusing on interfacial architecture, carrier losses, and non‐radiative recombination. This review highlights the importance of addressing interface issues and utilizing advanced characterization tools to reveal interface properties. Current interface problems are addressed, recent advancements in interface engineering are summarized, and perspectives on future challenges and prospects are offered. The goal is to illuminate the nature of interfaces and tackle interface losses, which are crucial for improving device design and performance. Despite their pivotal role in device operation, comprehensive reviews on interfaces are lacking, underscoring the relevance of the work for researchers in material interfaces and device engineering. It is hoped that this article will spark interest and inspire further research into interface studies and the mitigation of interface losses.
Amorphous Structure Benefits in MgV2O4/V2O3 Composites for Zinc‐Ion Storage: An Integration of Computational and Experimental Studies
Authors: Zhang Yu , Wang Zhiwen , Ye Hang , Wei Mengdong , Gu Yaoyu , Qu Shaojie , Wang Yang , Hu Kuan , Zhao Junqi , Liu Chunsheng , Jia Dianzeng , Lin He
Published: September 2024

This study investigates the electrochemical properties of MgV2O4/V2O3 composites for Aqueous Zinc‐Ion Batteries (AZIBs) using both Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations and experimental validation. DFT analysis reveals significant electron mobility and reactivity at the MgV2O4/V2O3 interface, enhancing Zn2+ storage capabilities. This theoretical prediction is confirmed experimentally by synthesizing a novel MgV2O4/V2O3 composite that demonstrates superior electrochemical performance compared to pristine phases. Notably, the transition of the MgV2O4/V2O3 composite into an amorphous structure during electrochemical cycling is pivotal, providing enhanced diffusion pathways and increased conductivity. The composite delivers a consistent specific capacity of 330.2 mAh g−1 over 50 cycles at 0.1 A g−1 and maintains 152.7 mAh g−1 at an elevated current density of 20 A g−1 after 2000 cycles, validating the synergy between DFT insights and experimental outcomes, and underscoring the potential of amorphous structures in enhancing battery performance.
Design and Optimization of Iron‐Based Superionic‐Like Conductor Anode for High‐Performance Lithium/Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Li Zihao , Meng Yuanze , Wang Liying , Yang Xijia , Yang Yue , Li Xuesong , Jiang Yi , Gao Yang , Lü Wei
Published: September 2024

Metal selenides have received extensive research attention as anode materials for batteries due to their high theoretical capacity. However, their significant volume expansion and slow ion migration rate result in poor cycling stability and suboptimal rate performance. To address these issues, the present work utilized multivalent iron ions to construct fast pathways similar to superionic conductors (Fe‐SSC) and introduced corresponding selenium vacancies to enhance its performance. Based on first‐principles calculations and molecular dynamics simulations, it is demonstrated that the addition of iron ions and the presence of selenium vacancies reduced the material's work function and adsorption energy, lowered migration barriers, and enhances the migration rate of Li+ and Na+. In Li‐ion half batteries, this composite material exhibites reversible capacity of 1048.3 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 after 100 cycles and 483.6 mAh g−1 at 5.0 A g−1 after 1000 cycles. In Na‐ion half batteries, it is 687.7 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 after 200 cycles and 325.9 mAh g−1 at 5.0 A g−1 after 1000 cycles. It is proven that materials based on Fe‐SSC and selenium vacancies have great applications in both Li‐ion batteries and Na‐ion batteries.
Manufacturing Cost Analysis of Single‐Junction Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Li Gaofeng , Chen Haining
Published: September 2024

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted widespread attention due to their low cost and high efficiency. So far, a variety of single‐junction PSCs have been successfully developed and considered for commercialization, including normal PSCs (N‐PSCs), inverted PSCs (I‐PSCs), and carbon‐based PSCs (C‐PSCs) without hole transporter. Herein, the material cost, equipment depreciation cost, and energy consumption of these three types of PSCs (1 m2) in detail are analyzed. As indicated, the total fabrication cost of the N‐PSCs ($86.49) and I‐PSCs ($81.31) is very close, but is significantly reduced to $41.16 for the C‐PSCs (49%–52% reduction) because carbon electrode is much cheaper than noble metal electrode and organic hole transporter. Besides, only a low‐cost slot‐die coating process with low energy consumption is needed for the deposition of carbon electrode, while the expensive physical vapor deposition and reactive plasma deposition processes with high energy consumption are needed for the deposition of the noble metal electrode and organic hole transporter.
Stimuli Behind SMEs' Export Decisions: Evidence From an Emerging Country During the COVID‐19 Pandemic
Authors: Mercan Murat Anil , Keskin Halit , Kalaycıoğlu Ozan , Başar Doğan
Published: September 2024

Executive Summary

In this study, we focus on small and medium enterprise management's motivations for exporting and the effects of the coronavirus disease‐19 (COVID‐19) pandemic on exports. Turkish firms registered as exporter companies in official export unions as of March 2022 were surveyed. A total of 17 questions were included in the survey: seven questions on proactive reasons, six questions on reactive reasons, and four questions regarding the pandemic. One‐way ANOVA was used for analyses. The results suggest that tax benefits are among the most important determinants of exporting for larger companies. Another important reason, according to managers, is that firms can achieve economies of scale through exporting. Additionally, our findings suggest that even if firms seek to take advantage of export opportunities created by the pandemic, exporting does not happen as expected. Our study makes several important contributions to the literature because it is the first to measure the effects of COVID‐19 on exporting from the perspective of managers. Additionally, we investigate the management's motivations for exporting using microdata from Türkiye.

Managerial Implications of the Study

This study shows the importance of the determinants of exports from a managerial perspective. Therefore, our study will be of great help to managers when they decide to start exporting. It also provides them with an opportunity to understand what other managers consider important in exports.

Originality/Value

This study provides information about the effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic on exporting from managers' perspectives and investigates management's motivations for exporting using microdata from Türkiye, which has not been previously studied.
Determining the optimal level and the effect of different zinc sources on performance, egg quality and the immune system of laying hens at the end of the production period
Authors: Alirezaei Shahraki Parva , Kheiri Farshid , Amanlou Hamid , Faghani Mostafa , Jalali Sayed Mohammad Ali
Published: September 2024

Background

Trace elements, such as zinc, magnesium and copper, are essential for improving the performance and health of broiler breeders and the development of chicken embryos. These elements are integral to various proteins involved in metabolism, hormone secretion and the immune system, necessitating their inclusion in small amounts in poultry diets.

Objectives

This study aimed to determine the optimal level and effect of different zinc sources on performance, egg quality and the immune system of laying hens at the end of the production period.

Methods

The experiment involved 520 Lohmann LSL laying hens, aged 80 weeks, divided into 13 treatments with 5 replications and 8 birds per replication. The hens were fed diets supplemented with 40, 60 and 80 mg/kg of zinc from various sources: mineral zinc oxide, mineral zinc sulphate, organic zinc chelated with glycine and organic zinc chelated with an organic acid. Key parameters measured included body weight, egg weight and immune response.

Results

The basal diet contained 63.58 mg/kg of zinc, with the requirement per the Lohmann LSL guideline being 80 mg/kg. Zinc supplementation significantly increased body weight in the second month, with 80 mg/kg being the optimal dose. Zinc oxide notably increased egg weight compared to the control. The hens utilized zinc from all sources, resulting in weight gain and improved parameters such as egg quality. Immune parameters were also positively influenced by zinc supplementation.

Conclusions

Zinc supplementation at appropriate levels enhances the performance and egg quality of laying hens, particularly at the end of the production period. It improves bioavailability, enriches eggs and mitigates age‐related declines in productivity.
Introduction
Authors: Seume Joerg R.
Published: September 2024

This volume on the results of the research of the Collaborative Research Center 871 (CRC 871) contains selected papers presented at the Final Symposium of the CRC 871, which took place from March 31 through April 1, 2022 at Leibniz University Hannover, Germany.
Impact of Mixing on the Signature of Combustor Defects
Authors: Ignatidis Panagiotis , von der Haar Henrik , Hennecke Christoph , Dinkelacker Friedrich
Published: September 2024

Defects in the combustion chamber can negatively influence the performance of an aircraft engine and increase component stress in the turbine. One aim of the Collaborative Research Center 871 is to provide early prediction about the condition of the engine by analysing the signature of the exhaust gas jet. This includes the usage of machine learning techniques and helps to optimise maintenance times and to reduce costs. This topic is linked to the question, how defects in the combustion chamber affect the flow field and how the defect signature is mixed out in the hot gas path. Examples are shown for a simplified ring burning chamber, where several experimental and numerical studies have been done. Additionally, one failure case is described in detail here, where the methodology is applied to a real size gas turbine burning chamber and its subsequent turbine. Furthermore the diffusion theory is generalized to situations with complex geometrical boundary conditions, for instance from the turbine passage channel geometry. This approach is applied on the investigated example case and shows complex thermal diffusion coefficients, being in the order of 10,000–100,000 times larger than the molecular diffusion coefficient. Even these large values allow the determination of burning chamber defects from the exhaust flow pattern.
The Laws on Administrative Procedures
Authors: Kagami Keisuke , Hashimoto Masashi
Published: September 2024

This chapter reviews the laws regulating administrative procedures in Japan. Through these laws, the government of Japan has established procedures for appropriate information management and the protection of the rights and interests of the public regarding administrative activities. We discuss the following major laws here: (1) the Public Records and Archives Management Act, (2) the Act on Access to Information Held by Administrative Organs, (3) the Act on the Protection of Personal Information, (4) the Administrative Procedure Act, and (5) the Administrative Complaint Review Act. We point out that these laws all entrust their operations to administrative organs and staff. This discretion has led to inappropriate acts by civil servants over recent years. Therefore, future reforms must focus on improving operations within administrative organs. This relates to having a functional management system and effective training methods, which belong to the realm of public administration. Therefore, although the practice and reform of these laws have traditionally been studied in administrative jurisprudence in Japan, we should develop relevant public administration-related literature as well.
Participatory Administration and Co-production
Authors: Yanagi Itaru
Published: September 2024

In Japan, the relationship between the government and citizens and civil society organisations (CSOs) is particularly close for local governments. The institutions of direct democracy used traditionally tend to be utilised by citizens and CSOs who have opinions different from those of local government chief executives and assemblies. However, in some institutions, citizens do not have the final authority to make decisions. Even in institutions where citizens have the final authority to decide, the requirements for triggering them are strict or the topics are limited. However, many CSOs participate in the service delivery phase and the government supplements its scarce administrative resources by partnering with them. Since the 1990s, against rising civic activism and financial difficulties, the government has introduced co-production that actively encourages participation in the design of policies and the service delivery phase. This chapter describes the use of institutions of direct democracy and the situation of co-production in recent years and outlines CSOs as essential partners in co-production. This chapter also touches on the issues of accountability, transparency, and representation of participants concerning co-production, as well as declining political and group participation among citizens.
Public Management Reforms in Japan: With and After NPM
Authors: Kazama Norio
Published: September 2024

In this chapter, I will verify public management reforms in Japan. From the second half of the 1990s until the beginning of the 2000s, at timing that was approximately ten years later than that of Anglo-Saxon countries, many reforms that were influenced by New Public Management (NPM) were conducted in Japan as well. I will describe the characteristics of Japan’s public administration by following the process by which central and local governments accepted the ideas that support NPM and the methods that have been developed by those ideas. In parallel with NPM, reforms based on different paradigms from NPM, such as the Neo-Weberian State (NWS) and New Public Governance (NPG), were also conducted. I would like to indicate the prospects for public management reforms in the post-NPM era by clarifying the fact that Japan’s public administration is forming a hybrid governance system in which different reform paradigms co-exist in multiple tiers.
Complementary Intergovernmental Relations in Educational Administration
Authors: Tokuhisa Kyoko
Published: September 2024

This chapter will provide historical clarification on how the Japanese education system developed complementary relationships among different levels of government administration, namely, the Ministry of Education, prefectural boards of education, and municipal boards of education. In the process of modernization, the financial vulnerability of municipalities made it difficult to provide homogeneous compulsory education, even though it was expected. To improve this situation, the central government attempted to establish a subsidy system, and the prefectures conducted inspections to provide guidance and advice to teachers. In other words, an “interfusion-type” of intergovernmental relationship was needed to implement universal compulsory education.

During the occupation, the GHQ intended educational reform to replace the education system that had been based on an interfused type of intergovernmental relationships with one based on separated type relationships. However, Japanese policymakers sought to maintain a complementary relationship by adding a Japanese interpretation of the American school board system. After the end of the occupation, various reforms were undertaken to standardize education under the division of roles and cooperative responsibilities between governments. As a result of these reforms, educational disparities based on geographical and socioeconomic factors were gradually eliminated as globally high standards of academic performance emerged.

In recent years, however, this system has come under pressure to reform. Resistance within the education system is expected to impede fundamental reforms. Nevertheless, partial dysfunction can be confirmed by the presence of educational disparities, and overcoming these issues has become a significant challenge.
Dimuons from neutrino-nucleus collisions in the semi-inclusive DIS approach
Authors: Helenius Ilkka , Paukkunen Hannu , Yrjänheikki Sami
Published: September 2024

Abstract

We present a next-to-leading order perturbative QCD calculation of dimuon production in neutrino-nucleus collisions. This process is typically calculated by assuming it to be proportional to inclusive charm production, which requires an effective acceptance correction to take the experimental cuts on the decay-muon kinematics into account. Here, we instead compute the dimuon production cross section directly as a convolution of semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering to produce charmed hadrons, and a decay function fitted to e+e− data to produce a muon from the charmed hadrons. The presented approach is in a good agreement with available experimental data and will serve as a starting point for higher-order QCD calculations without an external acceptance correction. The uncertainties arising from the decay function and scale dependence are sizeably smaller than those from the nuclear parton distribution functions. We also calculate the effective acceptances within our approach and compare them to those usually used in global fits of parton distribution functions, finding differences of the order of 10 %, depending on the kinematics, perturbative order, and applied parton distributions.
New asymptotically (anti)-de Sitter black holes in (super)gravity
Authors: Armas Jay , Nicosia Gianbattista-Piero
Published: September 2024

Abstract

We use the duality between gravitational dynamics and fluids living on dynamical surfaces carrying multiple charges, known as the blackfold approach, to perturbatively construct new asymptotically global (Anti)-de Sitter multi-spinning, non-extremal, multi-charged black holes in theories of higher-dimensional gravity minimally coupled to a dilaton and higher-form gauge fields in spacetime dimensions D ≥ 5, and new asymptotically AdSl × Sm black holes in type IIB and eleven-dimensional supergravity. These solutions include the generalisation of the Kerr-Newman solution to (A)dS carrying either electric or string charge, generalisations of black rings to higher-dimensions with 𝕊p × 𝕊n+1 horizon topology, static de Sitter solutions carrying arbitrary q-brane charge, as well as various asymptotically AdSl× Sm multi-charged and multi-spinning black hole solutions, some of which correspond to novel thermal states in $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 Super-Yang-Mills theory.
Noether’s theorem and Ward-Takahashi identities from homotopy algebras
Authors: Konosu Keisuke , Totsuka-Yoshinaka Jojiro
Published: September 2024

Abstract

We derive the new identity in homotopy algebras which directly corresponds to the Schwinger-Dyson equations in quantum field theory. As an application, we derive the Ward-Takahashi identities. We demonstrate that the Ward-Takahashi identities are reproduced in several examples. In general, our formula contains divergence. We mediate this problem by introducing stubs known in the context of string field theory. With the regularization, we can calculate the anomaly such as axial U(1) anomaly in vector-like U(1) gauge theory.
On universal splittings of tree-level particle and string scattering amplitudes
Authors: Cao Qu , Dong Jin , He Song , Shi Canxin , Zhu Fanky
Published: September 2024

Abstract

In this paper, we study the newly discovered universal splitting behavior for tree-level scattering amplitudes of particles and strings [1]: when a set of Mandelstam variables (and Lorentz products involving polarizations for gluons/gravitons) vanish, the n-point amplitude factorizes as the product of two lower-point currents with n+3 external legs in total. We refer to any such subspace of the kinematic space of n massless momenta as “2-split kinematics”, where the scattering potential for string amplitudes and the corresponding scattering equations for particle amplitudes nicely split into two parts. Based on these, we provide a systematic and detailed study of the splitting behavior for essentially all ingredients which appear as integrands for open- and closed-string amplitudes as well as Cachazo-He-Yuan (CHY) formulas, including Parke-Taylor factors, correlators in superstring and bosonic string theories, and CHY integrands for a variety of amplitudes of scalars, gluons and gravitons. These results then immediately lead to the splitting behavior of string and particle amplitudes in a wide range of theories, including bi-adjoint ϕ
3 (with string extension known as Z and J integrals), non-linear sigma model, Dirac-Born-Infeld, the special Galileon, etc., as well as Yang-Mills and Einstein gravity (with bosonic and superstring extensions). Our results imply and extend some other factorization behavior of tree amplitudes considered recently, including smooth splittings [2] and factorizations near zeros [3], to all these theories. A special case of splitting also yields soft theorems for gluons/gravitons as well as analogous soft behavior for Goldstone particles near their Adler zeros.
The phase space distance between collider events
Authors: Cai Tianji , Cheng Junyi , Craig Nathaniel , Koszegi Giacomo , Larkoski Andrew J.
Published: September 2024

Abstract

How can one fully harness the power of physics encoded in relativistic N-body phase space? Topologically, phase space is isomorphic to the product space of a simplex and a hypersphere and can be equipped with explicit coordinates and a Riemannian metric. This natural structure that scaffolds the space on which all collider physics events live opens up new directions for machine learning applications and implementation. Here we present a detailed construction of the phase space manifold and its differential line element, identifying particle ordering prescriptions that ensure that the metric satisfies necessary properties. We apply the phase space metric to several binary classification tasks, including discrimination of high-multiplicity resonance decays or boosted hadronic decays of electroweak bosons from QCD processes, and demonstrate powerful performance on simulated data. Our work demonstrates the many benefits of promoting phase space from merely a background on which calculations take place to being geometrically entwined with a theory’s dynamics.
Tomographic Fourier extension identities for submanifolds of $${\mathbb {R}}^n$$
Authors: Bennett Jonathan , Nakamura Shohei , Shiraki Shobu
Published: September 2024

We establish identities for the composition $$T_{k,n}(|\widehat{gd\sigma }|^2)$$

T

k
,
n

(
|

g
d
σ

^

|
2

)

, where $$g\mapsto \widehat{gd\sigma }$$

g
↦

g
d
σ

^

is the Fourier extension operator associated with a general smooth k-dimensional submanifold of $${\mathbb {R}}^n$$

R

n

, and $$T_{k,n}$$

T

k
,
n

is the k-plane transform. Several connections to problems in Fourier restriction theory are presented.
The state as a model for AI control and alignment
Authors: Elsner Micha
Published: September 2024

Debates about the development of artificial superintelligence and its potential threats to humanity tend to assume that such a system would be historically unprecedented, and that its behavior must be predicted from first principles. I argue that this is not true: we can analyze multiagent intelligent systems (the best candidates for practical superintelligence) by comparing them to states, which also unite heterogeneous intelligences to achieve superhuman goals. States provide a model for several problems discussed in the literature on superintelligence, such as principal-agent problems and Instrumental Convergence. Philosophical arguments about governance, therefore, provide possible solutions to these problems, or point out problems in previously suggested solutions. In particular, the liberal concept of checks and balances, and Hannah Arendt’s concept of legitimacy, describe how state behavior is constrained by the preferences of constituents that could also apply to artificial systems. However, they also point out ways in which present-day computational developments could destabilize the international order by reducing the number of decision-makers involved in state actions. Thus, interstate competition not only serves as a model for the behavior of dangerous computational intelligences but also as the impetus for their development.
Differences among the total electron content derived by radio occultation, global ionospheric maps and satellite altimetry
Authors: Wu M. J. , Guo P. , Ma X. , Xue J. C. , Liu M. , Hu X. G.
Published: September 2024

In recent years, significant progress has been in ionospheric modeling research through data ingestion and data assimilation from a variety of sources, including ground-based global navigation satellite systems, space-based radio occultation and satellite altimetry (SA). Given the diverse observing geometries, vertical data coverages and intermission biases among different measurements, it is imperative to evaluate their absolute accuracies and estimate systematic biases to determine reasonable weights and error covariances when constructing ionospheric models. This study specifically investigates the disparities among the vertical total electron content (VTEC) derived from SA data of the Jason and Sentinel missions, the integrated VTEC from the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate (COSMIC) and global ionospheric maps (GIMs). To mitigate the systematic bias resulting from differences in satellite altitudes, the vertical ranges of various VTECs are mapped to a standardized height. The results indicate that the intermission bias of SA-derived VTEC remains relatively stable, with Jason-1 serving as a benchmark for mapping other datasets. The mean bias between COSMIC and SA-derived VTEC is minimal, suggesting good agreement between these two space-based techniques. However, COSMIC and GIM VTEC exhibit remarkable seasonal discrepancies, influenced by the solar activity variations. Moreover, GIMs demonstrate noticeable hemispheric asymmetry and a degradation in accuracy ranging from 0.7 to 1.7 TECU in the ocean-dominant Southern Hemisphere. While space-based observations effectively illustrate phenomena such as the Weddell Sea anomaly and longitudinal ionospheric characteristics, GIMs tend to exhibit a more pronounced mid-latitude electron density enhancement structure.
Methodological steps forward in toxicological in vitro screening of mineral wools in primary rat alveolar macrophages and normal rat mesothelial NRM2 cells
Authors: Ziemann Christina , Schulz Florian , Koch Christoph , Solvang Mette , Bitsch Annette
Published: September 2024

Man-made vitreous fibers (MMVF) comprise diverse materials for thermal and acoustic insulation, including stone wool. Depending on dimension, durability, and dose, MMVF might induce adverse health effects. Therefore, early predictive in vitro (geno)toxicity screening of new MMVF is highly desired to ensure safety for exposed workers and consumers. Here, we investigated, as a starting point, critical in vitro screening determinants and pitfalls using primary rat alveolar macrophages (AM) and normal rat mesothelial cells (NRM2). A stone wool fiber (RIF56008) served as an exemplary MMVF (fibrous vs. ground to estimate impact of fiber shape) and long amosite (asbestos) as insoluble fiber reference. Materials were comprehensively characterized, and in vivo-relevant in vitro concentrations defined, based on different approaches (low to supposed overload: 0.5, 5 and 50 µg/cm2). After 4–48 h of incubation, certain readouts were analyzed and material uptake was investigated by light and fluorescence-coupled darkfield microscopy. DNA-strand break induction was not morphology-dependent and nearly absent in both cell types. However, NRM2 demonstrated material-, morphology- and concentration-dependent membrane damage, CINC-1 release, reduction in cell count, and induction of binucleated cells (asbestos > RIF56008 > RIF56008 ground). In contrast to NRM2, asbestos was nearly inactive in AM, with CINC-1 release solely induced by RIF56008. In conclusion, to define an MMVF-adapted, predictive in vitro (geno)toxicity screening tool, references, endpoints, and concentrations should be carefully chosen, based on in vivo relevance, and sensitivity and specificity of the chosen cell model. Next, further endpoints should be evaluated, ideally with validation by in vivo data regarding their predictivity.
Bar adsorptive microextraction and liquid chromatography-diode array detection of synthetic cannabinoids in oral fluid
Authors: Ahmad Samir M. , Neng Nuno R. , Queirós Cláudio R. , Gaspar Helena , Nogueira José Manuel F.
Published: September 2024

In recent years, synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) have become a major public health issue. For this reason, there is a need for innovative analytical methods that allow its monitoring in biological matrices. In this work, we propose a novel methodology to screen eight SCs (AM-694, cumyl-5F-PINACA, MAM-2201, 5F-UR-144, JWH-018, JWH-122, UR-144 and APINACA) in oral fluids. A bar adsorptive microextraction method followed by microliquid desorption combined with high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (BAµE-µLD/HPLC-DAD) was developed to monitor the target SCs. The main factors affecting the BAµE technology were fully optimized for oral fluid analysis. Under optimized experimental conditions, the proposed methodology showed good linear dynamic ranges from 20.0 to 2000.0 µg L−1 (r2 > 0.99, relative residuals < 15%), limits of detection between 2.0 and 5.0 µg L−1 and suitable average recovery yields (87.9–100.5%) for the eight studied SCs. The intra- and interday accuracies (bias ≤ ± 14.7%) and precisions (RSD ≤ 14.9%) were also evaluated at three spiking levels. The validated methodology was then assayed to oral fluid samples collected from several volunteers. The proposed analytical approach showed remarkable performance and could be an effective alternative for routine monitoring of the target compounds in oral fluid.

Graphical Abstract
Personalised PET imaging in oncology: an umbrella review of meta-analyses to guide the appropriate radiopharmaceutical choice and indication
Authors: Kirienko Margarita , Gelardi Fabrizia , Fiz Francesco , Bauckneht Matteo , Ninatti Gaia , Pini Cristiano , Briganti Alberto , Falconi Massimo , Oyen Wim J. G. , van der Graaf Winette T. A. , Sollini Martina
Published: September 2024

Purpose

For several years, oncological positron emission tomography (PET) has developed beyond 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose ([18F]FDG). This umbrella review of meta-analyses aims to provide up-to-date, comprehensive, high-level evidence to support appropriate referral for a specific radiopharmaceutical PET/computed tomography (CT) or PET/magnetic resonance (MR) in the diagnosis and staging of solid cancers other than brain malignancies.

Methods

We performed a systematic literature search on the PubMed/MEDLINE and EMBASE databases for meta-analyses assessing the accuracy of PET/CT and/or PET/MRI with [18F]FDG, somatostatin- receptor-targeting 68Ga-DOTA-peptides, 18F-labelled dihydroxyphenylalanine ([18F]DOPA), prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted radioligands, and fibroblast activation protein inhibitors (FAPI) in the diagnosis/disease characterisation and staging of solid cancers other than brain tumours.

Results

The literature search yielded 449 scientific articles. After screening titles and abstracts and applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, we selected 173 meta-analyses to assess the strength of evidence. One article was selected from references. Sixty-four meta-analyses were finally considered. The current evidence corroborates the role of [18F]FDG as the main player in molecular imaging; PSMA tracers are useful in staging and re-staging prostate cancer; somatostatin-targeting peptides (e.g. [68Ga]Ga- DOTA-TOC and -TATE) or [18F]DOPA are valuable in neuroendocrine tumours (NETs). FAPI has emerged in gastric cancer assessment. According to search and selection criteria, no satisfactory meta-analysis was selected for the diagnosis/detection of oesophageal cancer, the diagnosis/detection and N staging of small cell lung cancer and hepatic cell carcinoma, the diagnosis/detection and M staging of melanoma and Merkel cell carcinoma, cervical, vulvar and penis cancers, the N and M staging of lung and gastroenteropancreatic NET, testicular cancer, and chondrosarcoma, and the M staging of differentiated thyroid, bladder and anal cancers.

Conclusion

The comprehensive high-level evidence synthesised in the present umbrella review serves as a guiding compass for clinicians and imagers, aiding them in navigating the increasingly intricate seascape of PET examinations.
Trend, disparities, and projection analysis of public data on shoulder fractures in Sweden: a retrospective analysis of two hundred and sixty two thousand, four hundred and forty four fractures
Authors: Magnéli Martin , Axenhus Michael
Published: September 2024

Purpose

We aimed to identify temporal trends, seasonal changes and regional differences in shoulder fractures in Sweden during 2008–2022.

Methods

Data from the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare were used to assess incidence rates per 100,000 people, categorized by sex, age, and month.

Results

Results showed an average of 17,496 fractures annually, with a decline in 2020 followed by a resurgence in 2021–2022. Elderly women, especially those over 65, had higher rates. Winter months exhibited increased incidence.

Conclusions

Projection analysis indicated a gradual decrease in fractures over the next 15 years. Understanding these patterns can inform preventive strategies and resource allocation for shoulder fractures in Sweden.
HOXD12 defines an age-related aggressive subtype of oligodendroglioma
Authors: Nuechterlein Nicholas , Cimino Sadie , Shelbourn Allison , Ha Vinny , Arora Sonali , Rajan Sharika , Shapiro Linda G. , Holland Eric C. , Aldape Kenneth , McGranahan Tresa , Gilbert Mark R. , Cimino Patrick J.
Published: September 2024

Oligodendroglioma, IDH-mutant and 1p/19q-codeleted has highly variable outcomes that are strongly influenced by patient age. The distribution of oligodendroglioma age is non-Gaussian and reportedly bimodal, which motivated our investigation of age-associated molecular alterations that may drive poorer outcomes. We found that elevated HOXD12 expression was associated with both older patient age and shorter survival in the TCGA (FDR < 0.01, FDR = 1e−5) and the CGGA (p = 0.03, p < 1e−3). HOXD12 gene body hypermethylation was associated with older age, higher WHO grade, and shorter survival in the TCGA (p < 1e−6, p < 0.001, p < 1e−3) and with older age and higher WHO grade in Capper et al. (p < 0.002, p = 0.014). In the TCGA, HOXD12 gene body hypermethylation and elevated expression were independently prognostic of NOTCH1 and PIK3CA mutations, loss of 15q, MYC activation, and standard histopathological features. Single-nucleus RNA and ATAC sequencing data showed that HOXD12 activity was elevated in neoplastic tissue, particularly within cycling and OPC-like cells, and was associated with a stem-like phenotype. A pan-HOX DNA methylation analysis revealed an age and survival-associated HOX-high signature that was tightly associated with HOXD12 gene body methylation. Overall, HOXD12 expression and gene body hypermethylation were associated with an older, atypically aggressive subtype of oligodendroglioma.
Exploring the relationship between morphea and malignancy: a decade-long single-center study of 204 patients
Authors: Lyakhovitsky Keren , Damiani Giovanni , Mimouni Daniel , Aronovich Anna
Published: September 2024

The association between systemic scleroderma and malignancy is well-documented, but there is limited data on the relationship between morphea and malignancy. This study aims to assess the incidence and types of malignancies in morphea patients, comparing demographics, clinical characteristics, treatments, and outcomes between those with and without malignancy. We conducted a retrospective study of 204 morphea patients treated at Rabin Medical Center between 2012 and 2023. Data on demographics, clinical subtypes, comorbidities, treatments, and outcomes were collected. Patients were categorized based on malignancy status and the timing of malignancy relative to their morphea diagnosis. Among the 204 patients (154 women and 50 men, mean age 53.7 ± 20 years), 47 (23%) developed malignancies. In 29 patients (61.7%), malignancy occurred before the onset of morphea; in 23 patients (48.9%), it occurred after morphea. Five patients (10.6%) had malignancies both before and after the diagnosis of morphea. Patients with malignancy were significantly older than those without (64.7 ± 15.1 years vs. 50.3 ± 20 years, p < 0.0001). The all-cause mortality rate was higher in the malignancy group compared to those without malignancy (23.4% vs. 3.8%, p = 0.00002). Moreover, mortality was higher in patients whose malignancy occurred after morphea than in those whose malignancy preceded morphea (26% vs. 17.2%). The most common post-morphea malignancies in our cohort included non-melanoma skin cancer, cervical cancer, breast cancer, stomach cancer, and lung cancer. The most common pre-morphea malignancies included breast cancer, non-melanoma skin cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer. This study suggests potential associations between morphea and malignancies, influenced by patient age, sequence of diagnosis, and treatment regimens. Further control studies are needed to explore these relationships more definitively.
Profiles of muscle-specific oxygenation responses and thresholds during graded cycling incremental test
Authors: Sendra-Pérez Carlos , Encarnacion-Martinez Alberto , Salvador-Palmer Rosario , Murias Juan M. , Priego-Quesada Jose I.
Published: September 2024

Compared to the determination of exercise thresholds based on systemic changes in blood lactate concentrations or gas exchange data, the determination of breakpoints based on muscle oxygen saturation offers a valid alternative to provide specific information on muscle-derived thresholds. Our study explored the profiles and timing of the second muscle oxygenation threshold (MOT2) in different muscles. Twenty-six cyclists and triathletes (15 male: age = 23 ± 7 years, height = 178 ± 5 cm, body mass = 70.2 ± 5.3 kg; 11 female: age = 22 ± 4 years, height = 164 ± 4 cm, body mass = 58.3 ± 8.1 kg) performed a graded exercise test (GXT), on a cycle ergometer. Power output, blood lactate concentration, heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, skinfolds and muscle oxygen saturation were registered in five muscles (vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, gastrocnemius medialis, tibialis anterior and triceps brachii) and percentage at which MOT2 occurred for each muscle was determinated using the Exponential Dmax. The results of Statistical Parametric Mapping and ANOVA showed that, although muscle oxygenation displayed different profiles in each muscle during a GXT, MOT2 occurred at a similar percentage of the GXT in each muscle (77% biceps femoris, 75% tibalis anterior, 76% gastrocnemius medialis and 72% vastus lateralis) and it was similar that systemic threshold (73% of the GXT). In conclusion, this study showed different profiles of muscle oxygen saturation in different muscles, but without notable differences in the timing for MOT2 and concordance with systemic threshold. Finally, we suggest the analysis of the whole signal and not to simplify it to a breakpoint.
Phoenix criteria for sepsis: are these enough to guide a clinician?
Authors: Rodriguez Isadora , Deep Akash
Published: September 2024

Sepsis is the leading cause of mortality in children worldwide. There is a paucity of data on the criteria used to define sepsis and septic shock and predict mortality. Schlapbach et al. published Phoenix criteria to define sepsis in JAMA in 2024. Previously, paediatricians have used systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria, but these criteria lack sensitivity and specificity. This group recommends that sepsis in children be identified by a Phoenix Sepsis Score of at least 2 points in children with suspected infection, which indicates potentially life-threatening dysfunction of the respiratory, cardiovascular, coagulation, and/or neurological systems. Though included in the 8-point criteria, important criteria like renal and liver are missing from the main criteria. We remain worried about the way these criteria got excluded from the main criteria. Therefore, in this brief report, whilst commending the authors for this stelar task, we highlight the main pitfalls in these criteria especially the renal, neurologic, and liver criteria. These criteria have been shown to be independently associated with outcomes, and we recommend that in the future iterations of the criteria, renal and liver criteria should be defined according to latest definitions and the task force consider utilizing latest criteria for each organ system involved within the formulated criteria.

Conclusion: In conclusion, Phoenix criteria are a step in the right direction to define life-threatening organ dysfunction in sepsis, but clinicians need to be mindful that diagnosis/treatment of less severe sepsis should not be delayed if these criteria are not met. Therefore, local early detection and management tools for sepsis should be followed.

What is Known:• There has always been a quest for a definition for pediatric sepsis. There are limitations to the previous pediatric sepsis criteria which were published in 2005 by the International Pediatric Sepsis Consensus Conference (IPSCC). IPSCC defines sepsis as a suspected or confirmed infection in the presence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). These new Phoenix Pediatric Sepsis (PPS) criteria for sepsis and septic shock are intended to identify children with life-threatening organ dysfunction due to infection, and the score was developed based on a very large pediatric dataset.

What is New:• Though the intention of Phoenix criteria is to help identify children with life threatening organ dysfunction, unfortunately the crietria will miss signs of early sepis. In this manuscript, we point out some of the drawbacks of these criteria which need to be borne in mind while applying these criteria.
COVID-19 vaccines: anaphylaxis and anxiety
Authors: Teufelberger Andrea R. , Dan Andrada-Renata , Irmler Linda , Wolf Peter , Kränke Birger
Published: September 2024

Background

Vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was one crucial element to overcome the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Even though anaphylaxis to vaccines is rare, 47 patients came to the Allergy Unit at the University Hospital Graz, Austria, reporting immediate anaphylactoid symptoms after administration of COVID-19 vaccines. In addition, 29 patients with known drug-induced anaphylaxis wanted to be tested for a possible sensitization against COVID-19 vaccines or excipients, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate 80 (PS80) before the first COVID-19 vaccination. Skin prick tests and intradermal tests were performed in all 76 patients, mostly using PEG 2000, and/or PS80. Skin prick tests with COVID-19 vaccines were performed depending on availability.

Objective

Our aim was to characterize this patient cohort in terms of patients’ anaphylactoid responses, their willingness to future vaccinations against SARS-Cov‑2, and reasons for their decision.

Methods

We developed a questionnaire and analyzed 34 completed copies.

Results

Of the 47 patients with anaphylactoid reactions to COVID-19 vaccination, most were female (40 female/7 male). The skin tests, even when performed with the respective COVID-19 vaccine, were negative in all but one patient. Most patients who experienced anaphylactoid reactions after a COVID-19 vaccination, did not want another COVID-19 vaccination at the time of answering the questionnaire because of anxiety for another anaphylactoid response at the next shot. Premedication with antihistamines significantly lowered (n = 74 vaccinations) the severity of anaphylactoid responses after COVID-19 vaccinations.

Conclusion

Anxiety about another anaphylactoid episode hinders patients to be vaccinated against SARS-CoV‑2 again. Premedication with antihistamines and collaboration of allergologists with psychologists might lower the risk of an anaphylactic/anaphylactoid response as well anxiety in drug-induced anaphylactic patients.
Accuracy of non-invasive core temperature monitoring in infant and toddler patients: a prospective observational study
Authors: Fujii Tasuku , Takakura Masashi , Taniguchi Tomoya , Nishiwaki Kimitoshi
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Careful perioperative temperature management is important because it influences clinical outcomes. In pediatric patients, the esophageal temperature is the most accurate indicator of core temperature. However, it requires probe insertion into the body cavity, which is mildly invasive. Therefore, a non-invasive easily and continuously temperature monitor system is ideal. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of Temple Touch Pro™ (TTP), a non-invasive temperature monitoring using the heat flux technique, compared with esophageal (Tesoph) and rectal (Trect) temperature measurements in pediatric patients, especially in infants and toddlers.

Methods

This single-center prospective observational study included 40 pediatric patients (< 3 years old) who underwent elective non-cardiac surgery. The accuracy of TTP was analyzed using Bland–Altman analysis and compared with Tesoph or Trect temperature measurements. The error was within ± 0.5 °C and was considered clinically acceptable.

Results

The bias ± precision between TTP and Tesoph was 0.09 ± 0.28 °C, and 95% limits of agreement were  – 0.48 to 0.65 °C (error within ± 0.5 °C: 94.0%). The bias ± precision between TTP and Trect was 0.41 ± 0.38 °C and 95% limits of agreement were  – 0.35 to 1.17 °C (error within ± 0.5 °C: 68.5%). In infants, bias ± precision with 95% limits of agreement were 0.10 ± 0.30 °C with  – 0.50 to 0.69 °C (TTP vs. Tesoph) and 0.35 ± 0.29 °C with  – 0.23 to 0.92 °C (TTP vs. Trect).

Conclusion

Core temperature measurements using TTP in infants and toddlers were more accurate with Tesoph than with Trect. In the future, non-invasive TTP temperature monitoring will help perioperative temperature management in pediatric patients.