bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diversity, equity, and inclusion in gastrointestinal endoscopy: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Position Statement
Authors: Pellisé Maria , Ebigbo Alanna , van Herwaarden Yasmijn J. , van Malenstein Hannah , Papanikolaou Ioannis S. , Pawlak Katarzyna M. , Voiosu Andrei M. , Afify Shimaa , Alkandari Asma , Araujo Isis K. , Awadelkarim Bidour , Benjaminov Fabiana , García Campos Maria , Sundaram Sridhar , Triantafyllou Konstantinos , Vlad Andreea , Arvanitakis Marianna , Bisschops Raf , Hassan Cesare , Messmann Helmut , Gralnek Ian M.
Published: September 2024

Statements

1 The European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) adheres to the overarching principles of equality of opportunity, fair treatment, nondiscrimination, and diversity of health care professionals.

2 ESGE strongly supports the creation of collaborations within and between national and international endoscopy societies to disseminate the principles of diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) in the field of gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy.

3 ESGE aims to reflect the diversity of its membership in all its scientific and educational activities.

4 ESGE supports the fostering of collaborative work settings that empower all members of the endoscopy team to reach their full potential.

5 ESGE supports international and national endoscopy societies in promoting equitable access to high quality endoscopy training.

6 ESGE recommends the implementation of ergonomic principles in endoscopy units to prevent injuries and to provide adapted workplace conditions for personnel with disabilities and/or special needs.

7 ESGE recommends comprehensive mentorship, that includes diverse backgrounds, and equitable sponsorship for professional development, training, and academic excellence.

8 ESGE recommends that endoscopists actively identify, discuss, and attempt to accommodate reasonable patient preferences and expectations regarding endoscopy procedures.

9 ESGE advocates for educational and awareness campaigns targeting both health care professionals and patients, as well as the adoption of cost-effective health care strategies to address disparities and enhance equity in endoscopy care.

10 ESGE is committed to increasing support for underrepresented scholars and minorities pursuing research in endoscopy.

11 ESGE identifies mentorship and sponsorship as factors that may mitigate the barriers to academic careers for underrepresented endoscopy scholars.

12 ESGE recognizes the need to increase awareness of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the field of endoscopy and supports publications on these topics.
Recent Synthetic Applications of the Birch Reduction
Authors: Linker Torsten
Published: September 2024

The Birch reduction has found a renaissance during the last two decades. In this Synpacts article a short summary of selected recent synthetic applications will be provided. 1,4-Cyclohexadienes, which are formed by Birch reduction in one step, are suitable precursors for radical reactions and are used as surrogates for difficult-to-handle substances. Their rearomatization under acidic conditions offers easy access to selectively alkylated arenes. Additionally, the Birch reduction of benzoic acids and subsequent trapping afford spiro compounds in high yields. Very recently, it was shown that 1,3-cyclohexadienes are directly available by Birch reduction in a one-pot reaction as well.

1 Introduction

2 Rearomatizations

3 Synthesis of Spiro Compounds

4 Synthesis of 1,3-Cyclohexadienes

5 Conclusion
The Gastroscopy RAte of Cleanliness Evaluation (GRACE) Scale: an international reliability and validation study
Authors: Esposito Gianluca , Dilaghi Emanuele , Costa-Santos Cristina , Ligato Irene , Annibale Bruno , Dinis-Ribeiro Mário , Areia Miguel ,   GRACE Investigators
Published: September 2024

Background Mucosal visualization during upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopy can be impaired by the presence of foam, bubbles, and mucus. Some UGI endoscopy visibility scales have been proposed but have not undergone multicenter validation. This study aimed to develop and validate the Gastroscopy RAte of Cleanliness Evaluation (GRACE) scale.

Methods A multicenter, international, cross-sectional study was conducted. The GRACE scale is based on a score from 0 (worst) to 3 (excellent) for esophagus, stomach, and duodenum, for a total ranging from 0 to 9. In phase 1, four expert endoscopists evaluated 60 images twice, with a 2-week interval between rounds; in phase 2, the same 60 images were scored twice by one expert and one nonexpert endoscopist from 27 endoscopy departments worldwide. For reproducibility assessment and real-time validation, the scale was applied to consecutive patients undergoing gastroscopy at each center.

Results On internal validation, interobserver agreement was 0.81 (95 %CI 0.73–0.87) and 0.80 (95 %CI 0.72–0.86), with reliability of 0.73 (95 %CI 0.63–0.82) and 0.72 (95 %CI 0.63–0.81), in the two rounds, respectively. On external validation, overall interobserver agreement was 0.85 (95 %CI 0.82–0.88) and reliability was 0.79 (95 %CI 0.73–0.84). In real-time evaluation, the overall proportion of correct classifications was 0.80 (95 %CI 0.77–0.82).

Conclusions The GRACE scale showed good interobserver agreement, reliability, and validity. The widespread use of this scale could enhance quality and standardize the assessment of mucosal cleanliness during UGI endoscopy, pushing endoscopists to strive for excellent visibility and reducing the risk of missed lesions.
Mechanochemistry: A Resurgent Force in Chemical Synthesis
Authors: Mukherjee Nirmalya
Published: September 2024

Mechanochemistry, a solvent-free approach that harnesses mechanical energy, is emerging as a transformative technique in modern chemistry. It has emerged from a niche technique to a versatile tool with broad applications. By inducing physical and chemical transformations, it enables the synthesis of complex molecules and nanostructured materials. Recent advancements have extended its applications beyond simple physical transformations to encompass catalytic processes, unlocking new possibilities for selective synthesis and product design. This account delves into the fundamentals of mechanochemistry and its applications in organic synthesis, also beyond traditional synthetic routes. Mechanochemistry offers new avenues for molecular and materials discovery, expanding the scope of accessible chemical space.

1 Introduction

2 Organic Synthesis in Ball Mills

3 Combination with Different Energy Sources

4 Advantages of Mechanochemistry

5 Future of Mechanochemistry

6 Conclusion
Lewis Acid Catalyzed Domino Ring-Opening Cyclization of Azetidines with Alkynes: Synthesis of Tetrahydropyridines
Authors: Ghorai Manas K. , Shukla Dipti , Singh Shishir , Sharma Amit Kumar , Singh Bharat , Bhattacharyya Aditya , Talukdar Ranadeep
Published: September 2024

A simple strategy for the synthesis of a variety of tetrahydropyridines in good to excellent yields via a Cu(OTf)2 catalyzed quaternary ammonium salt mediated ring-opening of activated azetidines followed by cyclization with alkynes in a domino ring-opening cyclization (DROC) is described. The formation of the products has been explained by an SN2-type ring-opening of azetidines with alkynes.
Sodium Metabisulfite Mediated Synthesis of Bis(pyrazolo[1,5-a] pyrimidin-3-yl)methanes from Pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines with Dimethyl Sulfoxide as a C1 Synthon
Authors: Saha Samiran , Keerthana Hariharasubramanian Sai , Naresh Ainala , Chatterjee Tanmay , Pattanayak Paramita , Satyanarayana Appanapalli N. V. , Girase Yogesh K.
Published: September 2024

We report an unprecedented synthesis of bis(pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-3-yl)methanes, a new class of di(hetaryl)methanes, from pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines by using DMSO as a C1 synthon (methylene source). The transformation is mediated by sodium metabisulfite (Na2S2O5), which plays a crucial role in the presence of acetic acid as a promoter. A wide variety of bis(pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-3-yl)methanes were synthesized in moderate to good yields of up to 90%. Mechanistic studies suggested that the reaction follows an ionic pathway, probably involving a methyl(methylene)sulfonium ion as an active electrophilic species formed in situ by the reaction of DMSO with Na2S2O5.
Medical Costs of Patients Undergoing Esophageal Atresia Repair are Mainly Influenced by Associated Malformations
Authors: Pardey Nicolas , Zeidler Jan , Blaser Jochen , Becker Nastassja , Dingemann Jens , Ure Benno , Schukfeh Nagoud
Published: September 2024

Background Esophageal atresia (EA) is a rare disease requiring surgical repair, usually within the first days of life. Patients with EA require intensive postoperative care and often have comorbidities. There is a lack of data on the costs incurred by patients with EA during the first year of life.

Methods Anonymized claims data were provided by the Techniker Krankenkasse (∼10.8 million clients). Data were extracted for patients who had an inpatient diagnosis of EA (International Classification of Diseases [ICD]: Q39.0 or Q39.1) and a reconstruction of the esophageal passage in case of atresia (Operationen-und Prozedurenschlüssel [German version of ICPM, International Classification of Procedures in Medicine; OPS] 5–428.0 to 5–428.7, 5–316.1 or 5–431.0) during their first hospital stay. All patients were in their first year of life at initial hospitalization (2016–2020) and were followed up for 1 year. Costs, length of hospital stay, and duration of mechanical ventilation and differentiated OPS services were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the determinants of hospital costs.

Results A total of 119 patients with EA were included (55.5% male). The mean cost of the 1-year observation period was €89,736 ± 97,419 (range €12,755–640,154). The increasing costs of the initial hospitalization led to a disproportionate increase in the costs of the 1-year observation period. The presence of an associated malformation combined with surgical complications was associated with almost five-fold higher costs than in patients without an associated malformation and an uncomplicated course (€193,103 ± 157,507 vs. €39,846 ± 33,473). The mean duration of mechanical ventilation was 23.2 ± 43.1 days and the mean length of hospital stay was 80.3 ± 77.2 days.

Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the costs of EA patients in the first year of life. The presence of an associated malformation combined with surgical complications was associated with almost five-fold higher costs than in patients without an associated malformation and an uncomplicated course.
Recyclable Pd(OAc)2/2P(3-tol)3/PEG-400 System for Regio- and Stereoselective Addition of Boronic Acids to Ynamides
Authors: Cai Mingzhong , Wei Li , Liu Rong
Published: September 2024

Pd(OAc)2/2P(3-tol)3 in poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-400) is shown to be a highly efficient catalyst for the regio- and stereoselective addition of boronic acids to ynamides. The reaction proceeds smoothly at 70 °C with Na2CO3 as base, delivering a variety of (Z)-α,β-disubstituted enamides in good to excellent yields with high regio- and stereoselectivity. The isolation of the crude products can be facilely performed by extraction with diethyl ether and more importantly, the Pd(OAc)2/2P(3-tol)3/PEG-400 system could be readily recycled and reused more than six times without any significant loss of its catalytic efficiency.
An Unusual Case of Cerebellar Tonsillar Descent till C7 Vertebrae in a Case of Chiari Malformation with Meningomyelocele
Authors: Acharya Abhijit , Mahapatra A. K. , Tripathy Soubhagya , Panigrahi Souvagya , Deo Rama Chandra , Senapati Satya Bhusan , Begum Mehnaj
Published: September 2024

Arnold–Chiari or Chiari malformations are a group of posterior fossa malformations that include the pons, medulla, and cerebellum. This group of disorders may consist of associated abnormalities like myelomeningocele and encephalocele. Chiari malformation has been classified majorly into four categories. Chiari I malformation has been defined as tonsillar descent more than 5 mm below the level of the foramen magnum. The maximum descent of tonsillar herniation reported is 27 mm below the foramen magnum around the C2 vertebrae. In this study, we report the case of a 4-month-old infant with swelling over the lumbosacral (LS) spine since birth with a gradually progressive increase in head size since the age of 2 months. The infant had occasional stridor with respiratory distress for 2 months. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and spine revealed gross hydrocephalous with myelomeningocele at the L1–L5 level with associated Chiari malformation. The tonsillar descent was almost at the level of C7, which was unusual in his patient. The infant underwent a right ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement and myelomeningocele repair. It was decided that the malformation would be managed in the second sitting. The postoperative period was uneventful and the respiratory distress improved. Cases of tonsillar descent (Chiari I malformation) to the C7 vertebral level are very rare.
Osteotomía de la tuberosidad anterior de la tibia en inestabilidad patelar: No hay diferencias en resultados clínicos funcionales o consolidación entre una fijación con 1 tornillo de 6,5 mm y 2 tornillos de 4 mm
Authors: Vaisman Alex , Guiloff Rodrigo , Schmidt-Hebbel Andrés , Arellano Sergio , Calvo Rafael , Figueroa David
Published: September 2024

Introducción Osteotomías de la tuberosidad anterior de la tibia (TAT) pueden fijarse con uno o más tornillos; no obstante, existe limitada evidencia sobre el número idóneo de tornillos.

Objetivo Comparar los resultados funcionales, radiológicos y las complicaciones de pacientes sometidos a osteotomías de la TAT fijadas con 1 tornillo de 6,5 mm y con 2 tornillos de 4 mm. Nuestra hipótesis es la de que, con la fijación de la TAT con 2 tornillos de 4 mm, se logran mejores resultados funcionales y radiológicos y menos complicaciones.

Materiales y Métodos Estudio retrospectivo, multicéntrico, con 30 pacientes sometidos a osteotomía de la TAT fijada con 1 tornillo de esponjosa de 6,5 mm (grupo 1; n = 15) o 2 tornillos de esponjosa de 4 mm (grupo 2; n = 15), con mínimo de 2 años de seguimiento. Se excluyeron pacientes sometidos a reconstrucción del ligamento patelofemoral medial, y aquellos con enfermedad inflamatoria o degenerativa avanzada de rodilla. Se registraron datos clínicos, radiológicos y complicaciones. Se utilizaron las escalas de Lysholm y de Kujala para la evaluación funcional, y la de Cornu, para la consolidación. En el análisis estadístico, valores de p < 0,05 fueron considerados significativos, y se consideró grado 1 en la escala de Cornu como parámetro de consolidación ósea.

Resultados Respecto a los resultados funcionales, en la escala de Lysholm, la mediana del puntaje en el grupo 1 fue de 78 (rango: 23–95), y en el grupo 2, de 81 (rango: 25–100) (p = 0,632); y en la escala de Kujala, la mediana en el grupo 1 fue de 79 (rango: 38–97) puntos, y en el grupo 2, de 80 (rango: 39–100) puntos (p = 0,819). La mediana del tiempo hasta la consolidación ósea en ambos grupos fue de 2 meses (p = 0,694). Respecto a las complicaciones, se observó un caso de retraso de unión y un caso de retirada sintomãtica del dispositivo en cada grupo.

Conclusión No se encontraron diferencias clínicas ni radiológicas significativas entre fijar las osteotomías de la TAT con 1 tornillo de 6,5 mm o 2 tornillos de 4 mm.

Nivel de Evidencia IV.
Artroplastía total de rodilla en desejes coronales >15°: Comparación de resultados a corto plazo entre el uso de componentes primarios versus semiconstreñidos
Authors: Vaisman Alex , Anastasiadis Zoy , Guiloff Rodrigo , Valderrama Carlos , Arellano Sergio , Edwards Diego
Published: September 2024

Objetivo Comparar los resultados clínicos e imagenológicos de pacientes con desejes coronales en varo o valgo sometidos a prótesis de rodilla estabilizada posterior (EP) versus implantes semiconstreñidos (SC).

Métodos Estudio retrospectivo de pacientes con alineamiento mecánico (AM) > 15°, sometidos a prótesis EP o SC. Todos los procedimientos fueron realizados en el mismo centro entre 2004 y 2018. La decisión fue determinada por parámetros clínicos, radiológicos e intraoperatorios. Pacientes con seguimiento incompleto o menor a 1 año fueron excluidos. Datos demográficos, deformidad pre y postoperatoria, complicaciones y resultados funcionales fueron evaluados a través de ficha clínica.

Resultados 39 cumplieron criterios de selección. Grupo EP: 27 pacientes, edad promedio 69 años [49-82]; 59,3% varo y 40,7% valgo. Grupo SC: 12 pacientes, edad promedio 69.3 años [41-89]; 33,3% varo y 66,7% valgo. Sin estadística significativa respecto a datos demográficos ni AM. Seguimiento promedio PS = 49,1 meses / SC= 22 meses. Escala de KOOS fue 74,1 para EP y 85,2 para SC (p > 0,05). Escala de WOMAC fue significativamente mejor en grupo SC. El RM promedio postoperatorio fue EP= activo: 1,9°-101°; pasivo: 1,6°- 108,4° /SC= activo: 2,5-110°, pasivo: 1,9-117°. Se encontró diferencia estadística significativa para flexión activa (p = 0.03) y pasiva (p = 0.04) en SC. Corrección de la AM fue EP= 14,9 [3°-31°] / SC = 19° [13°-28°] (p = 0.09). No se reportaron complicaciones tromboembólicas ni infecciosas.

Conclusión Prótesis de rodilla EP y SC son opciones válidas para pacientes con desejes coronales >15°. La escala de WOMAC y flexión muestra resultados significativamente mejores con prótesis SC a casi dos años de seguimiento.

Nivel de Evidencia IV.
Osteochondroma of the Tentorium Cerebelli: Report of the First Case and Review of Literature
Authors: Dharanipathy Sundarakrishnan , Sharma Rajeev , Sharma Mehar Chand
Published: September 2024

Osteochondromas are tumors composed of both bony and cartilaginous elements. These slow-growing lesions commonly occur in the appendicular skeleton. Intracranial presentation is extremely rare with very isolated case reports in the literature. We present here the first case of an osteochondroma arising from the tentorium cerebelli with a nonsystematic review of all cases of intracranial osteochondromas reported in the English literature till now. A literature search was performed by two authors independently using PubMed and Google Scholar search engines. Osteochondromas in the intracranial compartment were included. Baseline parameters like age, sex, site, radiological findings, treatment outcomes, and complications were analyzed. Thirty-two cases were included in the review. The mean age of presentation was 33 years and males were affected more than females. The skull base was the most common site of origin followed by the convexity and falcine dura. Gross total excision was achieved in all cases involving the supratentorial compartment (n = 14). Skull base osteochondroma excision can lead to serious complications due to iatrogenic injury to critical neurovascular structures. Surgery is the primary modality of treatment and there is no role for radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Multiple sections of the tumor should be subjected to histopathological examination to avoid missing low-grade chondrosarcomas.
DiGeorge Syndrome: Prenatal Diagnosis and Outcome in a Tertiary Care Fetal Medicine Center
Authors: Mahajan Rahul , Elayedatt Rinshi , Krishnan Vivek
Published: September 2024

Introduction DiGeorge syndrome (DGS), caused by defects during embryonic development, is primarily sporadic and detectable via prenatal ultrasound, which reveals features like cardiovascular abnormalities and thymic hypoplasia. Early diagnosis of deletion 22q11.2 aids in effective prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal care management.

Objectives The aim of this series was to delineate the common and unusual sonographic abnormalities as well as outcomes of prenatally diagnosed DiGeorge fetuses from a single tertiary care center.

Methods This is a single center retrospective study of eight fetuses detected in the mid trimester between 2012 and 2020. They were evaluated extensively for anatomic anomalies on ultrasound and diagnosed deletion 22q11.2 using fluorescence in situ hybridization or microarray based comparative genomic hybridization.

Results Congenital heart disease (CHD) was the primary indication for evaluation in six of eight fetuses, while one had a strong family history of DGS. The mean maternal age and gestational age were 33 years 4 months and 19 weeks 3 days, respectively. The majority (5 of 8) had conotruncal heart defects. Three of eight fetuses had extracardiac findings in varying combinations. Hypoplasia of the thymus and small for gestational age were common findings in three of eight fetuses. Lesser known associations like congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV), choroid plexus (CP) cysts, and clenched fists with pointing index finger were noted in one fetus each, thereby expanding the fetal phenotypic spectrum. Four of eight of the families decided to terminate the pregnancy. Two of eight babies expired and the two surviving infants are doing well with near normal developmental milestones.

Conclusion Though conotruncal CHD is the most consistent finding in DGS prenatally, CTEV, polyhydramnios, clenched fists with pointing index finger, and CP cyst in association with other subtle fetal markers in the absence of CHD should raise a high index of suspicion of DGS prenatally. Early and prompt diagnosis is imperative for counseling families, enabling them in decision making, and to garner knowledge about anticipatory postnatal care.
Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of FGFR Gene-Altered Solid Tumors
Authors: Xu Chunwei , Lian Bin , Ou Juanjuan , Wang Qian , Wang Wenxian , Wang Ke , Wang Dong , Song Zhengbo , Liu Aijun , Yu Jinpu , Zhong Wenzhao , Wang Zhijie , Zhang Yongchang , Liu Jingjing , Zhang Shirong , Cai Xiuyu , Liu Anwen , Li Wen , Mao Lili , Zhan Ping , Liu Hongbing , Lv Tangfeng , Miao Liyun , Min Lingfeng , Chen Yu , Yuan Jingping , Wang Feng , Jiang Zhansheng , Lin Gen , Huang Long , Pu Xingxiang , Lin Rongbo , Liu Weifeng , Rao Chuangzhou , Lv Dongqing , Yu Zongyang , Li Xiaoyan , Tang Chuanhao , Zhou Chengzhi , Zhang Junping , Xue Junli , Guo Hui , Chu Qian , Meng Rui , Wu Jingxun , Zhang Rui , Zhou Jin , Zhu Zhengfei , Li Yongheng , Qiu Hong , Xia Fan , Lu Yuanyuan , Chen Xiaofeng , Ge Rui , Dai Enyong , Han Yu , Pan Weiwei , Pang Fei , Huang Jintao , Wang Kai , Wu Fan , Xu Bingwei , Wang Liping , Zhu Youcai , Lin Li , Xie Yanru , Lin Xinqing , Cai Jing , Xu Ling , Li Jisheng , Jiao Xiaodong , Li Kainan , Wei Jia , Feng Huijing , Wang Lin , Du Yingying , Yao Wang , Shi Xuefei , Niu Xiaomin , Yuan Dongmei , Yao Yanwen , Huang Jianhui , Feng Yue , Zhang Yinbin , Sun Pingli , Wang Hong , Ye Mingxiang , Wang Zhaofeng , Hao Yue , Wang Zhen , Wan Bin , Lv Donglai , Zhai Zhanqiang , Yang Shengjie , Kang Jing , Zhang Jiatao , Zhang Chao , Shi Lin , Wang Yina , Li Bihui , Zhang Zhang , Li Zhongwu , Liu Zhefeng , Yang Nong , Wu Lin , Wang Huijuan , Jin Gu , Wang Guansong , Wang Jiandong , Fang Meiyu , Fang Yong , Li Yuan , Wang Xiaojia , Chen Jing , Zhang Yiping , Zhu Xixu , Shen Yi , Ma Shenglin , Wang Biyun , Si Lu , Lu Yuanzhi , Li Ziming , Fang Wenfeng , Song Yong
Published: September 2024

The fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) is a crucial receptor tyrosine kinase involved in essential biological processes, including growth, development, and tissue repair. However, FGFR gene mutations, including amplification, fusion, and mutation, can disrupt epigenetics, transcriptional regulation, and tumor microenvironment interactions, leading to cancer development. Targeting these kinase mutations with small molecule drugs or antibodies has shown clinical benefits. For example, erdafitinib is approved for treating locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer patients with FGFR2/FGFR3 mutations, and pemigatinib is approved for treating cholangiocarcinoma with FGFR2 fusion/rearrangement. Effective screening of FGFR variant patients is crucial for the clinical application of FGFR inhibitors. Various detection methods, such as polymerase chain reaction, next-generation sequencing, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry, are available, and their selection should be based on diagnostic and treatment decision-making needs. Our developed expert consensus aims to standardize the diagnosis and treatment process for FGFR gene mutations and facilitate the practical application of FGFR inhibitors in clinical practice.
Emergency Department Applications of Inflammatory Markers: A Narrative Review
Authors: Özdemir Serdar
Published: September 2024

This is a narrative review of the role and applications of inflammatory markers in emergency departments, emphasizing their significance in rapid and accurate assessment of patients with urgent health concerns. The markers discussed include C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), procalcitonin, and serum amyloid A (SAA). Each of these markers has certain physiological roles. CRP serves as a crucial acute-phase reactant in response to inflammatory signals, while white blood cell count plays a vital role in immune response. ESR acts as a nonspecific marker of inflammation, with procalcitonin being elevated in bacterial infections, whereas SAA responds to inflammation and infection. These markers have several roles in the emergency departments. CRP plays a key role as an infection marker and is used in monitoring inflammatory conditions and tissue damage. White blood cell count is highlighted for its utility in evaluating various conditions, including infections, inflammations, autoimmune diseases, and sepsis. ESR is a diagnostic tool in emergency settings for assessing and monitoring inflammatory conditions. Procalcitonin's diagnostic specificity for bacterial infections is underscored, aiding in prompt and accurate diagnosis in emergency situations. SAA, as an acute-phase protein, has a role in inflammation and, infection responses, with applications in evaluating infections, monitoring inflammatory diseases, diagnosing and monitoring sepsis, and assessing other inflammation-related conditions. In conclusion, SAA has diverse applications in emergency departments, offering valuable insights into infection detection, monitoring chronic inflammatory diseases, diagnosing sepsis, evaluating inflammation-related conditions, and providing rapid insights in emergency scenarios. The importance of these inflammatory markers in enhancing diagnostic accuracy, guiding treatment decisions, and optimizing patient care in critical situations is emphasized throughout the review.
Mechanism of Genome Editing Tools and Their Application on Genetic Inheritance Disorders
Authors: Oh Dae Hwan
Published: September 2024

In the fields of medicine and bioscience, gene editing is increasingly recognized as a promising therapeutic approach for treating pathogenic variants in humans and other living organisms. With advancements in technology and knowledge, it is now understood that most genetic defects are caused by single-base pair variants. The ability to substitute genes using genome editing tools enables scientists and doctors to cure genetic diseases and disorders. Starting with CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/Cas, the technology has evolved to become more efficient and safer, leading to the development of base and prime editors. Furthermore, various approaches are used to treat genetic disorders such as hemophilia, cystic fibrosis, and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. As previously mentioned, most genetic defects leading to specific diseases are caused by single-base pair variants, which can occur at many locations in corresponding gene, potentially causing the same disease. This means that, even when using the same genome editing tool, results in terms of editing efficiency or treatment effectiveness may differ. Therefore, different approaches may need to be applied to different types of diseases. Prevalently, due to the safety of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors in gene therapy, most clinical trials of gene therapy are based on AAV delivery methods. However, despite their safety and nonintegration into the host genome, their limitations, such as confined capacity, dosage-dependent viral toxicity, and immunogenicity, necessitate the development of new approaches to enhance treatment effects. This review provides the structure and function of each CRISPR-based gene editing tool and focuses on introducing new approaches in gene therapy associated with improving treatment efficiency.
Self-rectifying memristor boosts positive current to push neural network benchmarks
Authors: Liebendorfer Adam
Published: September 2024

A synergistic interplay between the resistive layer and insulating layer show path forward for memristors that can scale up while maintaining high accuracy in synaptic weighting.
Nonlinear rheology of stress-controlled rheometers: Large amplitude oscillatory shear
Authors: Choi Jehyeok , Kim Min Chan , Hyun Kyu , Cho Kwang Soo
Published: September 2024

Although stress-controlled rheometers are more popular than strain-controlled rheometers, the latter is preferred to the former. This is because stress-controlled rheometers are apt to suffer from inertia effects. This work demonstrates that stress-controlled rheometers can also be used in the same manner as strain-controlled rheometers to study large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS). We demonstrate that the inertia effect can be detoured by employing a sufficiently long conditioning time and that the stress decomposition theory remains valid for stress-controlled LAOS data even when strain is not sinusoidal. However, the decomposed stresses are hard to say elastic and viscous because non-sinusoidal strain and its time derivative do not satisfy γ2(t)+ω−2(dγ/dt)2=γo2, where γo is a positive constant. We are certain that cost-effective stress-controlled rheometers can be used if the purpose of LAOS utilization is to identify the fingerprint of rheologically complex materials.
Multifold degenerated phonon points in the cubic Nb3Bi compound
Authors: MSL Manasa , T. Aiswarya , Ptok Andrzej , Vaitheeswaran G.
Published: September 2024

Topological materials are receiving significant attention for their distinctive properties and practical applications. Topological states featuring multi-fold band degeneracy are not restricted to electronic systems but also extend to phonon systems. In this investigation, we delved into the higher-order symmetry-constrained topological attributes of Nb3Bi, an intermetallic compound with a A15 crystal structure. Through the first-principles computations and symmetry evaluation, we tried to describe the topological phonon modes safeguarded by nonsymmorphic symmetries. Our scrutiny revealed that Nb3Bi possesses notable degeneracy in the phonon dispersion relation, particularly highlighted by a sixfold degenerate point situated at the R point of the Brillouin zone. In addition, we also identified cubic contact Dirac points and quadratic contact triple points at the R and Γ points, respectively. The computed phonon surface states considering two distinct terminations on the (001) and (11¯0) planes reveal a distinct twofold rotational symmetry arrangement. The present results offer valuable insights into the distinctive phonon attributes and surface characteristics of Nb3Bi, emphasizing its importance in the field of phonon topology.
A multi-decadal analysis of U.S. and Canadian wind and solar energy droughts
Authors: Wilczak James M. , Akish Elena , Capotondi Antonietta , Compo Gilbert P. , Hoell Andrew
Published: September 2024

The spatial and temporal characteristics of wind and solar energy droughts across the contiguous U.S. and most of Canada for the period 1959–2022 are investigated using bias-corrected values of daily wind and solar power generation derived from the ERA5 meteorological reanalysis. The analysis domain has been divided into regions that correspond to four major interconnects and nine sub-regions. Droughts are examined for wind alone, solar alone, or a mix of wind and solar in which each provides 50% of the long-term mean energy produced, for durations of 1–90 days. Wind and solar energy droughts and floods are characterized on a regional basis through intensity–duration–frequency curves. Wind and solar generation are shown to be weakly anti-correlated over most of the analysis domain, with the exception of the southwest U.S. The intensities of wind and solar droughts are found to be strongly dependent on region. In addition, the wind resource in the central U.S. and the solar resource in the southwestern U.S. are sufficiently good that over-weighting capacity in those areas would help mitigate droughts that span the contiguous United States for most duration lengths. The correlation of droughts for the 50%–50% mix of wind and solar generation with temperature shows that the most intense droughts occur when temperatures exhibit relatively moderate values, not when energy demand will be largest. Finally, for all regions except the southeast U.S., winter droughts will have a larger impact on balancing the electric grid than summer droughts.
What can be integrated on the silicon photonics platform and how?
Authors: Zhang Yong , Guo Xuhan , Ji Xingchen , Shen Jian , He An , Su Yikai
Published: September 2024

We review the integration techniques for incorporating various materials into silicon-based devices. We discuss on-chip light sources with gain materials, linear electro-optic modulators using electro-optic materials, low-power piezoelectric tuning devices with piezoelectric materials, highly absorbing materials for on-chip photodetectors, and ultra-low-loss optical waveguides. Methodologies for integrating these materials with silicon are reviewed, alongside the technical challenges and evolving trends in silicon hybrid and heterogeneously integrated devices. In addition, potential research directions are proposed. With the advancement of integration processes for thin-film materials, significant breakthroughs are anticipated, leading to the realization of optoelectronic monolithic integration featuring on-chip lasers.
Ultrabroadband chromaticity-programmable random lasing based on waveguide-assisted pumping strategy
Authors: Bian Yaoxing , Yuan Hongyu , Liu Jiayao , Liu Dahe , Wang Zhaona
Published: September 2024

Chromaticity-tunable random lasers (RLs) have wide applications in laser display and imaging. However, the achievable chromaticity range poses challenges due to their inherent randomness and the inevitable loss. Here, an ultrabroadband chromaticity-programmable RL has been demonstrated via waveguide-assisted pumping strategy. The unique configuration with destroyed waveguide supplies an excellent platform for achieving full color random lasing through the cascade pumping process. Random lasing with tunable wavelengths spanning the entire visible range is achieved via side-pumping schemes. The eight acceptor RLs can be simultaneously pumped to obtain chromaticity-programmable random lasing, showcasing a Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) color map with 155% more perceptible colors than the standard red-green-blue space. This opens the possibilities for programmable RLs with potential applications in biological imaging and smart sensing.
Comprehensive analysis of chemical composition, electronic, luminescent, and electrical properties of amorphous graphite-silicon carbide thin films: A comparative study of as-deposited and post-annealed states
Authors: Herir Hadjer , Guezzoul M’hamed , Mokadem Azzeddine , Larbah Youssef , Bouslama M'hammed
Published: September 2024

Graphite/SiC (GSC) thin films were synthesized on silicon substrates via a spray method, depositing a Si-graphite solution on preheated silicon samples at 350 °C, followed by annealing at 800 °C for 4 h. A systematic approach was employed to ensure the effective incorporation of graphite into the SiC material during solution preparation. Various analytical techniques, including XPS, UPS, Reflection Energy Electron Loss Spectroscopy (REELS), PL, AFM, and Hall effect measurements, were employed for comparative analysis of the chemical composition, morphological, electrical, and optoelectronic properties of as-deposited and annealed GSC films. XPS analysis revealed the presence of Si—C and graphitic bonds in the as-deposited GSC, with a significant compositional shift to oxygen-rich graphite oxide/oxycarbides after annealing. REELS demonstrated increased bandgap and bulk plasmon energy due to surface oxidation, while UPS highlighted a high electronic density in the as-deposited film, diminishing after annealing. AFM revealed a tendency of as-deposited GSC grains to form smaller, sharper structures after annealing, resulting in smoother and more homogeneous surface morphology. Phase AFM confirmed graphite incorporation at grain boundaries and within the bulk, forming a composite structure. PL spectra of the as-deposited film exhibited a broad visible emission with distinct sub-peaks linked to SiC bandgap transitions and carbon-rich defects. Chromaticity diagrams indicated suitability for white LED applications. Hall effect measurements showed excellent electrical properties of the as-deposited GSC film, with high carrier density and mobility, which reduced significantly after annealing, transitioning the material to a more insulating state. These findings collectively provide a comprehensive understanding of GSC thin films’ properties and their potential applications.
Early-time resonances in the three-dimensional wall-bounded axisymmetric Euler and related equations
Authors: Venkata Kolluru Sai Swetha , Pandit Rahul
Published: September 2024

We investigate the complex-time analytic structure of solutions of the three-dimensional (3D)-axisymmetric, wall-bounded, incompressible Euler equations, by starting with the initial data proposed in Luo and Hou [“Potentially singular solutions of the 3D axisymmetric Euler equations,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 111(36), 12968–12973 (2014)], to study a possible finite-time singularity. We use our pseudospectral Fourier–Chebyshev method [Kolluru et al., “Insights from a pseudospectral study of a potentially singular solution of the three-dimensional axisymmetric incompressible Euler equation,” Phys. Rev. E 105(6), 065107 (2022)], with quadruple-precision arithmetic, to compute the time-Taylor-series coefficients of the flow fields, up to a high order. We show that the resulting approximations display early-time resonances; the initial spatial location of these structures is different from that for the tygers, which we have obtained in Kolluru et al. [“Insights from a pseudospectral study of a potentially singular solution of the three-dimensional axisymmetric incompressible Euler equation,” Phys. Rev. E 105(6), 065107 (2022)]. We then perform asymptotic analysis of the Taylor-series coefficients, by using generalized ratio methods, to extract the location and nature of the convergence-limiting singularities and demonstrate that these singularities are distributed around the origin, in the complex-t2 plane, along two curves that resemble the shape of an eye. We obtain similar results for the one-dimensional (1D) wall-approximation (of the full 3D-axisymmetric Euler equation) called the 1D Hou–Luo model, for which we use Fourier-pseudospectral methods to compute the time-Taylor-series coefficients of the flow fields. Our work examines the link between tygers, in Galerkin-truncated pseudospectral studies, and early-time resonances, in truncated time-Taylor expansions of solutions of partial differential equations, such as those we consider.
Does the upstream gate control scheme threaten the safety of extra-long pressurized water diversion tunnel: Gas–liquid evolution characteristics of the filling process
Authors: Ouyang Chenxi , Zhao Zhigao , Liu ChengPeng , Zhao Zhanpeng , Yin Xiuxing , Yang Jiandong
Published: September 2024

With the promotion of China's “National Water Networks” strategy, extra-long pressurized water diversion tunnels are increasingly implemented in trans-regional and trans-basin water diversion projects. Existing projects commonly employ middle or downstream gate control schemes, but setting the control gate at the upstream offers a new approach to mitigate the adverse effects of flow pattern changes and hydraulic inertia caused by gate operations. However, there is no precedent for a 200 km-extra-long pressurized water diversion tunnel worldwide, it is not clear whether deviating from established norms will create new problems, and how to illustrate the hydraulic evolution characteristics under this scheme is the primary challenge. Therefore, this study takes a follow-up project for China's South-to-North Water Diversion Project as the research object: (1) Modeling: establish a mathematical model of an extra-long pressurized water diversion tunnel based on the movement of gas–liquid interface; and (2) Simulating: analyze the transient process of two arrangement schemes (single-slope and variable-slope) under various operating conditions. The study reveals the characteristics of pressure distribution, flow rates, and water level variations along the tunnel, conducting a comparative analysis of different arrangement schemes. The findings demonstrate that, even under the most unfavorable assumption, the key indicators during the water filling process remain within the acceptable range specified by engineering design. Therefore, the adoption of the upstream gate control scheme for the extra-long water diversion tunnel is considered feasible. This research provides specific theoretical basis and technical support for the construction and operation of water diversion projects.
Droplet impact characteristics on hydrophobic surfaces with partial electrowetting effects
Authors: Kumar Ajit , Pathak Manabendra
Published: September 2024

Droplet impact on surfaces integrated with the electrowetting effect has been recently explored to control droplet spreading and recoiling behavior on hydrophobic surfaces. With the integration of electrowetting, the spreading of the impacting droplet on hydrophobic surfaces increases, whereas the rebound tendency is suppressed. The present work numerically investigates the droplet impact on hydrophobic surfaces under partial electrowetting (EW) effects. In partial EW, the electrowetting effect is immediately cut off once the droplet attains the maximum spreading diameter. In addition, based on the energy conservation principle, a mathematical model is developed to predict the maximum spreading diameter of the droplet and its kinetic energy during bouncing for different parameters. The partial EW technique enhances the maximum spreading diameter and reduces the recoiling time compared to full EW and no EW effect. The recoiling time decreases with the increase in voltage amplitude, frequency, Weber number, and surface wettability.
A numerical model for solitary wave breaking based on the phase-field lattice Boltzmann method
Authors: Zhou Jiahe , Zhang Qinghe , Liu Guangwei , Zhang Jinfeng , Xing Enbo
Published: September 2024

This study presents a numerical investigation of a solitary wave breaking over a slope by using the phase-field lattice Boltzmann method. The incompressible two-phase flow equations are solved by using a velocity-based formulation of the two-phase lattice Boltzmann method with a central-moment collision model to accurately simulate wave breaking problems. For interface capture, a phase-field lattice Boltzmann method that ensures mass conservation is employed. The validity of the proposed method is confirmed through solitary wave propagation and transformation problems, and the obtained results are in good agreement with the experimental and calculated results. The proposed method is then employed to analyze wave breaking on a slope, demonstrating strong concordance with experimental data and existing computational findings. By analyzing the instantaneous flow characteristics and the temporal evolution of the variation in kinetic, potential, and total energy from deep to shallow water, the model can reveal the macroscopic characteristics of solitary wave breaking. Because the phase-field model effectively simulates wave breaking and air entrainment, it can depict wave energy dissipation more accurately than the single-phase lattice Boltzmann method with free surface tracking.
Non-Hermitian excitations in nonlinear topological lattice
Authors: Simonyan Vlad , Smirnova Daria A. , Gorlach Maxim A.
Published: September 2024

Nonlinear effects and non-Hermitian phenomena unveil additional intricate facets in topological matter physics. They can naturally intertwine to enable advanced functionalities in topolectrical circuits and photonic structures. Here, we illustrate the subtle interplay between nonlinearity and non-Hermiticity by examining the characteristics of small wave perturbations on the background of the self-induced topological edge state in the nonlinear Su–Schrieffer–Heeger model. We demonstrate that their underlying physics is captured by the non-Hermitian effective Hamiltonian, which features nonreciprocal coupling terms and entails unconventional time-dependent field localization.
Photoluminescence decay of mobile carriers influenced by imperfect quenching at particle surfaces with subdiffusive spread
Authors: Katoh Ryuzi , Seki Kazuhiko
Published: September 2024

We recently presented a quantitative model to explain the particle-size dependence of photoluminescence (PL) quantum yields and revealed that exciton quenching is not diffusion controlled, but limited by surface reactions. However, the exciton decay kinetics has not been analyzed yet using our theoretical model. Here, we study kinetic aspects of the model and show that it should be extended to take into account subdiffusion rather than normal diffusion to maintain consistency with the observed complex decay kinetics; we also show that the PL decay kinetics is nonexponential even when the PL quenching is limited by surface reactions under subdiffusion. Our theoretical analysis of the PL quantum yield and the PL decay kinetics provides a comprehensive picture of mobile charge carriers, immobile polarons, and self-trapped excitons.
Elucidating the link between binding statistics and Shannon information in biological networks
Authors: Banerjee Kinshuk , Das Biswajit
Published: September 2024

The response of a biological network to ligand binding is of crucial importance for regulatory control in various cellular biophysical processes that is achieved with information transmission through the different ligand-bound states of such networks. In this work, we address a vital issue regarding the link between the information content of such network states and the experimentally measurable binding statistics. Several fundamental networks of cooperative ligand binding, with the bound states being adjacent in time only and in both space and time, are considered for this purpose using the chemical master equation approach. To express the binding characteristics in the language of information, a quantity denoted as differential information index is employed based on the Shannon information. The index, determined for the whole network, follows a linear relationship with (logarithmic) ligand concentration with a slope equal to the size of the system. On the other hand, the variation of Shannon information associated with the individual network states and the logarithmic sensitivity of its slope are shown to have generic forms related to the average binding number and variance, respectively, the latter yielding the Hill slope, the phenomenological measure of cooperativity. Furthermore, the variation of Shannon information entropy, the average of Shannon information, is also shown to be related to the average binding.