bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Morphologically and Compositionally Controlled Cs2SbBr6 by Bi and Ag Substitution
Authors: Frebel Alexander , Yoon Songhak , Neguse Samuel Meles , Jöckel Dennis Michael , Widenmeyer Marc , Ebbinghaus Stefan G. , Balke‐Grünewald Benjamin , Weidenkaff Anke
Published: September 2024

Morphology‐controlled Cs2SbBr6 crystals are synthesized by Bi‐ and Ag‐substitution of the precursor solution. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) together with Raman spectroscopy confirms the lattice tilting and symmetry changes with the dominant appearance of higher index facets by Bi substitution. Ag substitution does not induce crystal symmetry changes in the Cs2BBr6 (B = Sb or Bi) phase, but results in highly defective structures hindering the formation of a smooth surface during the crystal growth. Successful substitution of Bi and limited substitution of Ag into Cs2SbBr6 is also confirmed by energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX). This research provides design principles and practical examples of how to control the morphology of Cs2SbBr6 crystals with structural defects and multiphase formation.
Copper Intercalation Effect on Thermoelectric Performance of Pristine Tin Selenide
Authors: Bharthaniya Satendrasinh , Chaudhari Mahesh , Agarwal Ajay , Chaudhari Kailash , Chaki Sunil
Published: September 2024

Pristine tin selenide (SnSe) and copper (Cu) doped SnSe single crystals are grown by direct vapour transport technique. The energy dispersive X‐ray, X‐ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopic analysis of grown crystals show preferred stoichiometry having a single phase othorhombic SnSe. The electrical conductivity of SnSe and Cu doped SnSe are 24.24 and 106.06 S m−1 at 310 K respectively which increase as temperature increases. Carrier concentration of grown single crystals are evaluated by the Hall effect. Lattice thermal conductivity of pristine SnSe is 0.61 W mK−1, that decreased by copper doping to 0.44 W mK−1 at 310 K and for both the crystals it shows decrement as temperature increases to 483 K. Seebeck coefficient of the grown SnSe and Cu doped SnSe are positive and obtained values are 536.44 and 492.90 µV K−1 respectively at 310 K that confirm the p‐type semiconducting nature. Power factor, Figure of merit and thermoelectric compatibility factor of grown pristine SnSe is 0.25 × 108 µV mK−2, 0.005 and 0.02 Volt−1 respectively and shows improvement in Cu doped SnSe, i.e., 0.08 × 108 µV mK−2, 0.017 and 0.07 Volt−1 respectively at 310 K. This shows Cu doping in SnSe makes it an effective thermoelectric device contender.
Harnessing Near‐Infrared Light for Highly Efficient Photocatalysis
Authors: Chen Yukai , Wang Ruizhe , Wang Dan , Fang Jiaojiao , Dong Rulin , Dai Baoying
Published: September 2024

Near‐infrared (NIR) light, accounting for approximately 50 % of solar light, cannot directly excite photocatalytic reactions due to its lower energy, which severely restricts the photocatalytic solar energy conversion efficiency and hinders the application of photocatalysis. To overcome this dilemma, some viable strategies have been proposed to harness NIR light for enhancing photocatalytic performance based on material structure, composition, and function designs, and obvious progresses have been witnessed. In this review, the basic principles and representative advances in photocatalyst heterojunction designs (including p‐n junctions, S‐scheme, Z‐scheme, and type‐ІІ heterojunctions), photocatalyst composition and function designs (such as preparing rare earth element doped upconversion photocatalysts, rare earth upconversion photocatalytic hybrids and triplet‐triplet annihilation upconversion photocatalytic composites), and photothermal‐photocatalytic bifunction designs for NIR light utilization are exclusively scrutinized. Meanwhile, the applications of the above‐mentioned NIR responsive photocatalyst composites in energy and environmental fields are summarized. Importantly, the challenges and outlooks in the field of NIR light harnessing for efficient photocatalysis are proposed, which may provide theoretical and experimental guidance to those working in solar energy conversion and utilization and other related fields.
Role of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology in Paratesticular Neoplasms—A Case Reports‐Based Systematic Review
Authors: Nigam Jitendra Singh , Bharti Jyotsna Naresh , Pradeep Immanuel , Rath Ashutosh
Published: September 2024

Introduction

The cytology features of neoplastic paratesticular lesions are mostly documented as case reports. Thus, we conducted a case report‐based literature review to identify the characteristics of paratesticular neoplasms and tried to determine the significance of FNAC in these tumors.

Methods and Materials

The studies were searched using PubMed and Scopus. The quality assessment was done using the JBI critical appraisal checklist for case reports. The articles that received an overall rating of “Include” underwent data extraction. The data were extracted from the articles and analyzed.

Results

We included 34 case reports from 33 published articles. The mean age of patients was 44.74 (13–85) years, and the most common clinical manifestation was scrotal swelling (70.59%, 24/34). Lesions were commonly observed on the right side (65.63%, 21/32), and the most common tumor site was epididymis (35.29%, 12/34). A total of 38.24% (13/34) cases were nonmalignant, and 61.76% (21/34) were malignant on the cytological diagnosis. The adenomatoid tumor (53.85, 7/13) was the most common nonmalignant tumor. Other entities were schwannoma, benign spindle cell neoplasm with atypia, nerve sheath tumor, lipoma, undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, epithelioid sarcoma, liposarcoma, malignant rhabdoid tumor, pigmented neuroectodermal tumor of infancy and mesothelioma. Considering the malignant and nonmalignant groups, the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of cytology were 95.00%, 84.62%, and 90.91%, respectively.

Conclusion

Cytopathologists should be familiar with the cytological features of various malignant and nonmalignant paratesticular tumors to prevent unnecessarily invasive surgical management. The current systematic review emphasizes usefulness of FNAC in the preoperative cytological identification of paratesticular tumors.
BMP signaling pathway member expression is enriched in enteric neural progenitors and required for zebrafish enteric nervous system development
Authors: Moore Joshua A. , Moreno‐Campos Rodrigo , Noah Arielle S. , Singleton Eileen W. , Uribe Rosa A.
Published: September 2024

Background

The vertebrate enteric nervous system (ENS) consists of a series of interconnected ganglia within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, formed during development following migration of enteric neural crest cells (ENCCs) into the primitive gut tube. Much work has been done to unravel the complex nature of extrinsic and intrinsic factors that regulate processes that direct migration, proliferation, and differentiation of ENCCs. However, ENS development is a complex process, and we still have much to learn regarding the signaling factors that regulate ENCC development.

Results

Here in zebrafish, through transcriptomic, in situ transcript expression, immunohistochemical analysis, and chemical attenuation, we identified a time‐dependent role for bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) in the maintenance of Phox2bb+ enteric progenitor numbers and/or time of differentiation of the progenitor pool. In support of our in silico transcriptomic analysis, we identified expression of a novel ENS ligand‐encoding transcript, bmp5, within developmental regions of ENCCs. Through generation of a novel mutant bmp5wmr2 and bmp5 crispants, we identified a functional role for BMP5 in proper GI tract colonization, whereby phox2bb+ enteric progenitor numbers were reduced.

Conclusion

Altogether, this work identified time‐dependent roles for BMP signaling and a novel extrinsic factor, BMP5, that is necessary for vertebrate ENS formation.
Stage‐by‐stage exploration of normal embryonic development in the Arabian killifish, Aphanius dispar
Authors: Alsakran Amena , Minhas Rashid , Hamied Atyaf S. , Wilson Rod W. , Ramsdale Mark , Kudoh Tetsuhiro
Published: September 2024

Background

Arabian killifish, Aphanius dispar, lives in marine coastal areas of the Middle East, as well as in streams that experience a wide range of salinities and temperatures. It has been used as a mosquito control agent and for studying the toxicities of environmental pollutants. A. dispar's eggshell (chorion) and embryos are highly transparent and are suitable for high resolution microscopic observations, offering excellent visibility of live tissues.

Results

In this study, the staging of normal embryonic development of A. dispar was described and investigated at different temperatures. Embryonic development was then examined under different thermal environments from 26 to 34°C. Our data suggest that temperature has a significant effect on embryonic development, with accelerated development at higher temperatures.

Conclusion

A. dispar exhibits broad thermal tolerance and extended independent feeding capabilities, making it a promising model organism for toxicology and pathogenesis studies conducted over an extended period of time (12 days post‐fertilization).
The influence of forest types including native and non‐native tree species on soil macrofauna depends on site conditions
Authors: Wenglein Ronja , Lu Jing‐Zhong , Scheu Stefan
Published: September 2024

The ongoing climate change calls for managing forest ecosystems in temperate regions toward more drought‐resistant and climate‐resilient stands. Yet ecological consequences of management options such as planting non‐native tree species and mixing coniferous and deciduous tree species have been little studied, especially on soil animal communities, key in litter decomposition and pest control. Here, we investigated the taxonomic and trophic structure of soil macrofauna communities in five forest types including native European beech (Fagus sylvatica), range‐expanding Norway spruce (Picea abies) and non‐native Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) as well as conifer‐beech mixtures across loamy and sandy sites in northern Germany. Abundance of primary decomposers (feeding predominantly on litter) was high in Douglas fir and beech forests, benefiting from less acidic soil and more favorable litter resources compared to spruce forests, while secondary decomposers (feeding predominantly on microorganisms and microbial residues) reached highest densities in spruce forests. Differences in abundance and species richness among forest types generally varied between regions and were most pronounced in Douglas fir of the sandy region. However, trophic guilds differed more between regions than between forest types, indicating that environmental factors outweigh the importance of forest type on soil macrofauna communities. The analysis of stable isotopes (δ15N and δ13C values) supported the general robustness in trophic position of macrofauna trophic guilds against variations in forest types and regions, but indicated reduced detrital shifts and food‐chain lengths in coniferous compared to European beech forests with mixtures mitigating these effects. Overall, for evaluating consequences of future forest management practices on the structure and functioning of soil animal communities, regional factors need to be considered, but in particular at loamy sites the taxonomic and trophic structure of soil macrofauna communities are resistant against changes in forest types.
Is mating failure caused by cryptic male choice in the seed bugLygaeus simulans?
Authors: Balfour Vicki L. , Armand Mélissa , Shuker David M.
Published: September 2024

One yet unresolved question in the study of mating system evolution is the occurrence of mating failure, when individuals go through their lives without successfully mating. This includes the failure to produce offspring even following copulation, for instance due to insemination or fertilisation failure. Copulations are costly in a variety of ways, but also a fundamental route to fitness in sexual species, and so we should expect that engaging in copulations that generate no offspring should be strongly selected against. Nonetheless, it has become apparent that mating failure is quite common in nature. Here we consider post‐copulatory sexual selection inLygaeus simulansseed bugs to test the hypothesis that the high levels of mating failure found in this species (approximately 40%–60%) are caused by cryptic male choice (i.e. males choosing not to inseminate a female during copulation). In our first experiment, we found that mating failure depended on female size, but not male size, with smaller females experiencing mating failure more frequently. Mechanistically this is likely to be due to copulation duration, as shorter copulations were more likely to lead to mating failure. Likewise, copulations with smaller females were shorter. In our second and third experiments, rates of mating failure decreased when pairs were allowed to repeatedly interact with the same partner over longer durations (hours through to days), implying that mating failure is not primarily caused by infertility or chronic mechanical failure. Instead, our results strongly suggest cryptic male choice as the cause of mating failure in this species.
The role of cardiac acoustic biomarkers in monitoring patients with heart failure: A systematic literature review
Authors: Butler Javed , Brown Malcolm , Prokocimer Philippe , Humphries Ashley C. , Pope Sophie , Wright Olivia , Su Jun , Elnawasany Osama , Muresan Bogdan
Published: September 2024

Heart failure (HF) creates a considerable clinical, humanistic and economic burden on patients and caregivers as well as on healthcare systems. To attenuate the significant burden of HF, there is a need for enhanced management of patients with HF. The use of digital tools for remote non‐invasive monitoring of heart parameters is gaining traction, and cardiac acoustic biomarkers (CABs) have been proposed as a complementary set of measures to assess heart function alongside traditional methods such as electrocardiogram and echocardiography. We conducted a systematic literature review to evaluate associations between CABs and HF outcomes. Embase and MEDLINE databases were searched for recent studies published between 2013 and 2023 that evaluated CABs in patients with HF. Additional grey literature (i.e., conference, congress and pre‐print publications from January 2021 to May 2023) searches were included. Two reviewers independently examined all articles; a third resolved conflicts. Data were extracted from articles meeting inclusion criteria. Extracted studies underwent quality and bias assessments using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools. In total, 3074 records were screened, 73 full‐text articles were assessed for eligibility and 27 publications were included. Third heart sound (S3) and electromechanical activation time (EMAT) were the CABs most often reported in the literature for monitoring HF. Fifteen publications discussed changes in S3 characteristics and its role in HF detection or outcomes: six studies highlighted S3 assessment among various groups of patients with HF; four studies evaluated the strength or amplitude of S3 with clinical outcomes; five studies assessed the relationship between S3 presence and clinical outcomes; and one study assessed both S3 presence and amplitude in relation to HF clinical outcomes. Eleven publications reported on EMAT and its derivatives: five studies on the relationship between EMAT and HF and six studies on the association of EMAT and HF clinical outcomes. Studies reporting the first and fourth heart sound, left ventricular ejection time and systolic dysfunction index were limited. Published literature supported S3 and EMAT as robust CAB measures in HF that may have value in remote clinical monitoring and management of patients with HF. Additional studies designed to test the predictive power of these CABs, and others less well‐characterized, are needed. This work was funded by Astellas Pharma Inc.
Thermodynamic Sustainability Assessment of Turkish Cash and Feed Crops: Evaluations and Recommendations
Authors: Kursun Berrin
Published: September 2024

This work analyzes the sustainability status of cash crops (rice, wheat, and sunflower) and feed crops (silage and clover) cultivation in Turkey through thermodynamic sustainability assessment technique, emergy analysis (EA). EA offers insights into agricultural system's dependence on external resources, environmental loading, and renewability by classifying the resources that drive agricultural production as renewable, nonrenewable, and purchased. Data belonging to 17 agricultural systems evaluated in this work are gathered through survey method by interviewing the farmers. EA results reveal that production of cash crops is essentially unsustainable due to high dependence on externally purchased inputs fertilizer, diesel, and nonrenewable input water. Of cash crops, rice production has the lowest system renewability and the highest environmental loading. In feed crops, silage production is mainly unsustainable and clover production is in transition state in terms of sustainability. Feed crop production creates less environmental loading than cash crop production mainly due to being partially integrated with husbandry. Coinciding with this, the level of organic fertilization is found to be the determining factor in the sustainability status of the feed crop systems. Transforming these systems to sustainable ones requires increasing system's self‐sufficiency through enhanced circularity (increased nutrient recycling) and functioning of natural processes. Consequently, we recommend growing crops in polycultures rather than monocultures to benefit from sister plant and predator–prey relations, integrating crop production with animal rearing (natural fertilization) and utilizing waste‐origin bioenergy. For resource efficiency, we suggest adopting methods such as drip irrigation and utilization of biodegradable polymer‐coated fertilizer grains to prevent fertilizer runoffs.
A volume‐of‐solid implicit volume penalty method for moving‐body flows
Authors: Tsetoglou Iason , Cailler Mélody , Bénard Pierre , Lartigue Ghislain , Moureau Vincent , Réveillon Julien
Published: September 2024

An original Immersed Boundary Method for solving moving body flows is proposed. This method couples (i) a Lagrangian Volume‐of‐Solid description of the solid object avoiding conservation issues and (ii) a robust implicit volume penalty forcing embedded in a low‐Mach number projection method to account for the solid's impact on the fluid dynamics. A new composite velocity field is introduced to describe both solid and fluid domains in a single set of governing equations. The accuracy of the method has been assessed on several academic cases, involving stationary or moving bodies and with different mesh resolutions. The predicted forces on the solid are in excellent agreement with body‐fitted reference cases. The system of equations is also proven to be fully mass conservative. Application of the method on a two‐dimensional vertical axis turbine case shows a reduction in computational cost compared to a body‐fitted method.
Phytochemical composition, hypnotic activity, and antinociceptive properties of cumin essential oil collected from various geographical regions
Authors: Nouri Abdorahim , Mofasseri Mansour , Jahani Reza , Ghodrati Masood , Emam Seyed Mohammad Mahdi , Ebadi Mohammad‐Taghi
Published: September 2024

The quantity and quality of the active components of plants are strongly influenced by environmental factors. In this regard, dried cumin seeds were collected from four different locations (SaadatShahr (P1) and Sarvestan (P2) from Fars Province and Kashmar (P3) and Sabzevar (P4) from Khorasan), and their essential oils were isolated by Clevenger apparatus and evaluated using GC and GC–MS. In addition, the hypnotic and antinociceptive activities of the cumin EO sample, which had the highest yield and quality, respectively, were assessed via the pentobarbital‐induced loss of righting test and acetic acid‐induced writhing test. Our results showed that the highest amount of EO was present in sample P4 (3.63%), followed by P3 (2.92%), P2 (2.69%), and P1 (2.31%). GC–MS analysis revealed cuminaldehyde (21.31–33.60%), γ‐terpinene (13.68–23.29%), p‐mentha‐1,4‐dien‐7‐al (14.44–20.84%), p‐mentha‐1,3‐dien‐7‐al (10.06–14.02%), β‐pinene (9.32–11.46%), and p‐cymene (3.16–7.89%) were the major constituents in all the populations. Generally, the results showed that the seeds harvested from areas with hotter and drier climates (P3 and P4) had higher EO yields and cuminaldehyde concentrations but had moderate amounts of γ‐terpinene, β‐pinene, and p‐cymene. In addition, the hypnotic (100 and 200 mg/kg) and antinociceptive (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) effects of cumin EO were proven in animal models.
Effect of age‐related premium readjustment on health insurance cancellation in Brazil: Regression discontinuity approach
Authors: de Souza Aline , Andrade Mônica Viegas , Noronha Kenya Valéria Micaela de Souza , Souza Igor Viveiros Melo
Published: September 2024

Age is one of the most relevant observable risk attributes in determining the value of health insurance premiums. Empirical evidence indicates that the cost of health insurance is the leading cause of contract switching, which can compromise access to healthcare services and potentially result in treatment discontinuities. Using data from a Health Maintenance Organization in the Southern region of Brazil, we examined the effect of health plan price readjustment resulting from changes in the beneficiary's age group on disenrollment or switches to a more limited coverage plan. The estimates were obtained using the method of regression discontinuity. The main findings indicate that for age group transitions at 59 years old, the price readjustment effect led to an increase in contract cancellations and switching to cheaper plans. These findings highlight that an important consequence of the difference in premium sensitivity among age groups is that the exit of individuals from the health insurance sector is selective in age. The results of this paper can support policymaking to improve access to health insurance.
Perceptual training with implicit and explicit learning improves the prediction of ball direction in soccer penalty kicks
Authors: Faquin Bruno Secco , Teixeira Luis Augusto , Candido Cristiane Regina Coelho , Arias Rafael Lucien Bahr , Okazaki Victor Hugo Alves
Published: September 2024

Perceptual training enhances the ability to anticipate crucial information for decision‐making, for example, a soccer goalkeeper predicting penalty kick direction. However, it remains unclear whether perceptual practice alone (implicit method) is sufficient for optimal decision‐making improvement, or whether emphasising pertinent details during practice (explicit method) could yield better results. This study compared implicit and explicit methods of learning ball direction prediction during soccer penalties, involving both goalkeepers and non‐soccer players (novices). Participants engaged in a single training session, either through the explicit method (watching videos highlighting relevant information) or implicit method (watching regular videos). Specialised software was used to display penalty kick videos, mimicking the goalkeeper's viewpoint up to 200 ms before ball contact, and measuring reaction time and response choice. Both implicit and explicit training led to consistent performance gains for goalkeepers and novices alike, notably enhancing ball direction prediction accuracy. Reaction time was unaffected by training. This suggests that both explicit and implicit training methods exhibit similar effectiveness, applicable to soccer goalkeepers and novices.
A Hybrid Convolutional Neural Network Model for the Classification of Multi‐Class Skin Cancer
Authors: Toprak Ahmet Nusret , Aruk Ibrahim
Published: September 2024

Skin cancer is a significant public health issue, making accurate and early diagnosis crucial. This study proposes a novel and efficient hybrid deep‐learning model for accurate skin cancer diagnosis. The model first employs DeepLabV3+ for precise segmentation of skin lesions in dermoscopic images. Feature extraction is then carried out using three pretrained models: MobileNetV2, EfficientNetB0, and DenseNet201 to ensure balanced performance and robust feature learning. These extracted features are then concatenated, and the ReliefF algorithm is employed to select the most relevant features. Finally, obtained features are classified into eight categories: actinic keratosis, basal cell carcinoma, benign keratosis, dermatofibroma, melanoma, melanocytic nevus, squamous cell carcinoma, and vascular lesion using the kNN algorithm. The proposed model achieves an F1 score of 93.49% and an accuracy of 94.42% on the ISIC‐2019 dataset, surpassing the best individual model, EfficientNetB0, by 1.20%. Furthermore, the evaluation of the PH2 dataset yielded an F1 score of 94.43% and an accuracy of 94.44%, confirming its generalizability. These findings signify the potential of the proposed model as an expedient, accurate, and valuable tool for early skin cancer detection. They also indicate combining different CNN models achieves superior results over the results obtained from individual models.
Deciphering the Complexities of COVID‐19‐Related Cardiac Complications: Enhancing Classification Accuracy With an Advanced Deep Learning Framework
Authors: Benameur Narjes , Sassi Ameni , Ouarda Wael , Mahmoudi Ramzi , Arous Younes , Mohammed Mazin Abed , Amar Chokri ben , Labidi Salam , Mahjoubi Halima
Published: September 2024

The literature has widely described the interaction between cardiac complications and COVID‐19. However, the diagnosis of cardiac complications caused by COVID‐19 using Computed Tomography (CT) images remains a challenge due to the diverse clinical manifestations. To address this issue, this study proposes a novel configuration of Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) for detecting cardiac complications derived from COVID‐19 using CT images. The main contribution of this work lies in the use of CNN techniques in combination with Long Short‐Term Memory (LSTM) for cardiac complication detection. To explore two‐class classification (COVID‐19 without cardiac complications vs. COVID‐19 with cardiac complications), 10 650 CT images were collected from COVID‐19 patients with and without myocardial infarction, myocarditis, and arrhythmia. The information was annotated by two radiology specialists. A total of 0.926 was found to be the accuracy, 0.84 was the recall, 0.82 was the precision, 0.82 was the F1‐score, and 0.830 was the g‐mean of the suggested model. These results show that the suggested approach can identify cardiac problems from COVID‐19 in CT scans. Patients with COVID‐19 may benefit from the proposed LSTM‐CNN architecture's enhanced ability to identify cardiac problems.
Differential effects of macrophage subtype‐specific cytokines on fibroblast proliferation and endothelial cell function in co‐culture system
Authors: Isali Ilaha , McClellan Phillip , Wong Thomas R. , Hijaz Sara , Fletcher David R. , Liu Guiming , Bonfield Tracey L. , Anderson James M. , Hijaz Adonis , Akkus Ozan
Published: September 2024

Macrophages are involved in several critical activities associated with tissue repair and regeneration. Current approaches in regenerative medicine are focusing on leveraging the innate immune response to accelerate tissue regeneration and improve long‐term healing outcomes. Of particular interest in this regard are the currently known, four main M2 macrophage subtypes: M2interleukin (IL)‐4,IL‐13, M2IC, M2IL‐10, M2non‐selective adenosine receptor agonists (NECA) (M2IL‐4,IL‐13 → M2NECA). In this study, rat bone marrow‐derived macrophages (M0) were polarized to each of the four subtypes M2IL‐4,IL‐13 → M2NECA and cultured for 72 h in vitro. Luminex assay results highlighted increased production of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases‐1 (TIMP‐1) for M2IL‐4,IL‐13, higher amounts of transforming growth factor‐beta 1 (TGF‐β1) for M2IL‐10, and elevated vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF‐A) from M2NECA. Co‐culture experiments performed with M2IL‐10 macrophages and L929 fibroblasts highlighted the increased production of soluble collagen within the media as well as higher amounts of collagen in the extracellular matrix. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were co‐cultured with M2NECA macrophages, which demonstrated an increase in intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM), as well as increased formation of endothelial tubes. The findings of this study emphasize a critical demand for further characterization and analyses of distinct M2 subtypes and careful selection of specific macrophage populations for regeneration of specific tissue types. The current, broad classification of “M2” may be sufficient in many general tissue engineering applications, but, as conditions are constantly in flux within the microenvironment in vivo, a higher degree of specificity and control over the initial M2 subtype could result in more consistent long‐term outcomes where macrophages are utilized as part of an overall regenerative strategy.
Polycaprolactone Hybrid Scaffold Loaded With N,O‐Carboxymethyl Chitosan/Aldehyde Hyaluronic Acid/Hydroxyapatite Hydrogel for Bone Regeneration
Authors: Vu Binh Thanh , Tran Thai Hoang , Ly Khanh Loan , Trinh Khanh Phan‐Ngoc , Nguyen My Ngoc‐Hoang , Doan Hoan Ngoc , Duong Thanh‐Tu , Hua Ha Thi‐Ngoc , Le Hung Thanh , Le Thanh Dinh , Dang Nhi Ngoc‐Thao , Nguyen Hiep Thi
Published: September 2024

Hydrogels have emerged as potential materials for bone grafting, thanks to their biocompatibility, biodegradation, and flexibility in filling irregular bone defects. In this study, we fabricated a novel NAH hydrogel system, composed of N,O‐carboxymethyl chitosan (NOCC), aldehyde hyaluronic acid (AHA), and hydroxyapatite (HAp). To improve the mechanical strength of the fabricated hydrogel, a porous polycaprolactone (PCL) matrix was synthesized and used as a three‐dimensional (3D) support template for NAH hydrogel loading, forming a novel PCL/NAH hybrid scaffold. A mixture of monosodium glutamate (M) and sucrose (S) at varied weight ratios (5M:5S, 7M:3S, and 9M:1S) was used for the fabrication of 3D PCL matrices. The morphology, interconnectivity, and water resistance of the porous PCL scaffolds were investigated for optimal hydrogel loading efficiency. The results demonstrated that PCL scaffolds with porogen ratios of 7M:3S and 9M:1S possessed better interconnectivity than 5M:5S ratio. The compressive strength of the PCL/NAH hybrid scaffolds with 9M:1S (561.6 ± 6.1 kPa) and 7M:3S (623.8 ± 6.8 kPa) ratios are similar to cancellous bone and all hybrid scaffolds were biocompatible. Rabbit models with tibial defects were implanted with the PCL/NAH scaffolds to assess the wound healing capability. The results suggest that the PCL/NAH hybrid scaffolds, specifically those with porogen ratio of 7M:3S, exhibit promising bone healing effects.
The development of point‐of‐care ultrasound (POCUS): Worldwide contributions and publication trends
Authors: Yazici Mümin Murat , Yavaşi Özcan
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Point‐of‐care ultrasound (POCUS) concept is widely used in both emergency medicine (EM) and intensive care medicine (ICM). This study aimed to analyze the scientific articles on POCUS published by statistical methods and to evaluate the subject holistically.

Methods

This study is bibliographical, descriptive, and analytical in nature. POCUS‐related publications published were downloaded from the Web of Science (WoS) database and analyzed using statistical methods. Network visualization maps were used to identify trending topics.

Results

The literature search revealed 5714 publications on POCUS in the WoS database. According to the WoS categorization of publications, the most common categories were emergency medicine (1751; 30.6%). The topics studied in recent years were deep learning, artificial intelligence, COVID‐19, acute kidney injury, heart failure, and telemedicine.

Conclusion

This study on POCUS, we summarized 5714 publications published. According to our results, the trending topics in POCUS research in recent years include deep learning, artificial intelligence, COVID‐19, acute kidney injury, heart failure and telemedicine. Our study can be a valuable resource for clinicians and scientists who are working on POCUS or will be working on POCUS in the future.
Organocatalytic[3 + 2]Cycloaddition: Synthesis of Quinazoline Containing Sulfonyl 1,2,3‐Triazoles as Potent EGFR Targeting Anti‐Breast Cancer Agents
Authors: Dodlapati Venkat Reddy , Ramya Sucharitha E. , Palabindela Rambabu , Kapavarapu Ravikumar , Kavela Sridhar , Narsimha Sirassu
Published: September 2024

A general strategy was developed for the synthesis of new fully decorated 1,2,3‐triazoles (4a–4m and 5a–5g) containing quinazolines from 1‐(4‐nitrophenyl)‐2‐(quinazolin‐8‐ylsulfonyl) ethan‐1‐one and several azides using Ramachary organocatalytic azide‐ketone cycloaddition method. This reaction is reported for the synthesis of fully substituted sulfonyl‐1,2,3‐triazolyl quinazolins at a temperature of 100°C and the yields of the products produced are satisfactory to excellent. In vitro anticancer activity of all these derivatives demonstrated that six compounds, 4d, 4f, 4i, 4j, 5d, and 5e, were effective against two human breast cancer cell lines, MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB‐231. Compounds 4f, 4j, and 5d had more action against both cell lines than Erlotinib. Later, the findings of inhibitory assays of potent compounds 4d, 4f, 4i, 4j, 5d, and 5e against the tyrosine kinase EGFR revealed that compound 5d proved more potent than the reference erlotinib, while 4f and 4j had comparable efficacy. In silico molecular docking studies were also performed on six strong medicines to identify interactions with the EGFR receptor, and the energy estimations were shown to be comparable with the observed IC50 values. Ultimately, using SWISS/ADME and pkCSM, the in silico pharmacokinetic profile of potent compounds 4d, 4f, 4i, 4j, 5d, and 5e was predicted. All of the compounds precisely followed the principles established by Lipinski, Veber, Egan, and Muegge.
Courier delivery of antiretroviral therapy: a cohort study of a South African private‐sector HIV programme
Authors: Ruffieux Yann , Folb Naomi , Grimsrud Anna , Hislop Michael , Dunn Liezl , Rohner Eliane , Namubiru Anne Maria , Chinogurei Chido , Cornell Morna , Davies Mary‐Ann , Egger Matthias , Maartens Gary , Haas Andreas D.
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Courier delivery has become a popular antiretroviral therapy (ART) distribution method in some HIV care settings, yet data on ART courier delivery and how it relates to ART outcomes are scarce. We studied the differences in viral suppression rates between individuals from a South African private sector HIV programme receiving ART by courier delivery and those receiving ART through traditional retail dispensing.

Methods

Individuals aged 15 years or older who were actively enrolled in the Aid for AIDS programme between January 2011 and July 2022 were eligible for the analysis. The outcome of interest was viral suppression defined as a viral load (VL) <400 copies per ml. We calculated adjusted odds ratios (OR) for the association between the ART distribution method and viral suppression, comparing those receiving refills through courier pharmacies versus retail dispensing at the time of the VL testing. We used generalized estimating equations to account for repeated VL testing of the same individual. The models were adjusted for age, sex, calendar year, ART regimen, history of mental illness and medical insurance scheme. We computed adjusted ORs for the calendar periods 2011−2013, 2014−2016, 2017−2019, 2020−2022 and overall.

Results

We extracted 442,619 VL measurements from 68,720 eligible individuals, 39,406 (57.3%) were women. The median number of VL measurements per individual was 6 (IQR 3−10). VL suppression was detected in 398,901 (90.1%) tests, and 185,701 (42.0%) of the tests were taken while the individual was receiving ART by courier delivery. Overall, courier delivery was associated with 5% higher odds of viral suppression than retail dispensing (adjusted OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.02−1.08). The strength and direction of this association varied by calendar period, with an adjusted OR of 1.37 (95% CI 1.27−1.48) in 2011−2013 and 1.02 (95% CI 0.97−1.07) in 2020−2022.

Conclusions

Courier delivery of ART is a viable alternative to retail dispensing in the South African private sector, as it was associated with higher viral suppression until 2016 and similar suppression rates in recent years. Further research is needed to investigate the potential benefits and drawbacks of courier delivery of ART in both private and public healthcare settings.
The Significance of the Morphological Appearance of Peritoneal Lesions on Imaging in Patients With Peritoneal Malignancies—A Report From Phase 1 of the PRECINCT Study
Authors: Bhatt Aditi , Rousset Pascal , Moran Brendan J. , Kazi Mufaddal , Baratti Dario , Souadka Amine , Deraco Marcello , Sammartino Paolo , Sardi Armando , Glehen Olivier ,   PRECINCT Study Group
Published: September 2024

Background and Aim

This is a report from Phase 1 of the prospective, observational, PRECINCT (Pattern of peritoneal dissemination and REsponse to systemic Chemotherapy IN Common and uncommon peritoneal Tumours) study, in which we studied the incidence of disease at pathological evaluation in different morphological appearances of peritoneal malignancies (PM) on imaging.

Methods

Radiological findings were captured in a specific format that included a description of the morphological appearance of PM and a correlation performed with pathological findings.

Results

In 630 patients enroled at seven centres (September 2022–December 2023), 24 morphological terms were used. Among prespecified terms (N = 8 used in 6350 [92.2%] regions), scalloping was pathologically positive in 93.5%, confluent disease in 78.8%, tumour nodules in 69.6%, thickening in 66.1%, infiltration in 56.3%. Among unspecified appearances (N = 16) for 540 (7.8%) regions, ‘enhancement’ was positive in 41.5%, micronodules in 65.3% and nodularity in 60.2%. Hierarchal clustering placed gastric cancer and rare tumours together and colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer and peritoneal mesothelioma in one cluster.

Conclusions

The incidence of disease at pathological evaluation for most morphological appearances was high (> 50%). Morphological description should be provided in routine radiology reports. A set of standardized terms with their description should be developed by a consensus among experienced radiologists.
Barriers to Offering Organ Preservation for Rectal Cancer in a Predominantly Hispanic Safety Net Hospital
Authors: Nasim Bilal W. , Murphy Samantha , Yracheta Jaclyn , Clark Austen Lee , Veluri Shriya L. , Katabathina Venkata , Parikh Alexander , Campi Haisar Dao , Feferman Yael , Russell Tara A. , Arora Sukeshi P. , Newman Neil , Logue Alicia J. , Court Colin M.
Published: September 2024

Background

Total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) has shown promise in achieving pathologic complete response (pCR) and enabling organ preservation through watch‐and‐wait (WW) strategies. However, implementation of WW protocols in diverse patient populations and safety‐net hospitals faces unique challenges. The objective of this study is to evaluate TNT outcomes and identify barriers to WW implementation in a predominantly Hispanic safety‐net hospital in South Texas.

Methods

A retrospective review was conducted of 40 LARC patients treated with TNT at an academic tertiary referral center in South Texas between 2018 and 2023. Patient demographics, disease characteristics, and pCR rates were analyzed. A survey of multidisciplinary providers assessed perceived institutional and patient‐related barriers to WW implementation.

Results

The cohort was 70% Hispanic, with a median age of 54 years. Most patients had advanced disease at diagnosis (57.5% T4, 65% N2). The pCR rate was 18.5% (5/27) among patients undergoing surgery. Re‐review of MRIs for pCR patients revealed that 2/5 had minimal residual disease. The provider survey identified MRI quality variability, lack of dedicated treatment coordinators, and concerns about patient compliance and financial barriers as key obstacles to WW implementation.

Conclusions

Despite advanced disease presentation in a predominantly Hispanic population, TNT achieved pCR rates comparable to international trials. Institutional and patient‐level barriers to WW were identified, informing the development of a tailored WW protocol for this unique patient population.
Decomposition of CH3NH2${\rm CH}_3{\rm NH}_2$: Implications for CHx/NHy${\rm CH}_{\rm {\it x}}/{\rm NH}_{\rm {\it y}}$ radical–radical reactions
Authors: Glarborg Peter , Alzueta Maria U.
Published: September 2024

Experiments on methylamine () decomposition in shock tubes, flow reactors, and batch reactors have been re‐examined to improve the understanding of hydrocarbon/amine interactions and constrain rate constants for + reactions. In high‐temperature shock tube experiments, the rapid thermal dissociation of provides a fairly clean source of and radicals, allowing an assessment of reactions of with and NH. At the lower temperatures in batch and flow reactors, is mostly consumed by reaction with H to form + ; these results are useful in determining the fate of the radical. Interpretation of these data, along with flow reactor data for the /H system at lower temperature, indicates that at temperatures up to about 1400 K at atmospheric pressure and above 2000 K at 100 atm, the + reaction forms mainly methylamine. At sufficiently high temperature, H‐abstraction to form + NH and addition–elimination to form + H become competitive. The + NH reaction, with a rate constant close to collision frequency, forms + H, also leading into the hydrocarbon amine pool. Thus, methylamine can be expected to be an important intermediate in co‐combustion of natural gas and ammonia, and more work on the chemistry of is desirable.
JAK‐inhibitor Tofacitinib in Severe Laryngeal Sarcoidosis: A Case Report
Authors: Demir Meryem , Kouranos Vasileios , Stoenchev Kostadin , Durham Stephen R , Scadding Guy W , Morar Nilesh , Al Yaghchi Chadwan , Sandhu Guri S , Saleh Hesham
Published: September 2024

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory, non‐caseating granulomatous multisystem disease associated with JAK‐STAT (Janus kinases‐signal transducer and activator of transcription proteins) pathway activation. We present a patient with severe multi‐systemic sarcoidosis who showed marked improvement with tofacitinib with regards to pulmonary, cutaneous, nasal and laryngeal disease. Tofacitinib prevented critical laryngeal stenosis from progressing to tracheostomy, induced regression of cutaneous lesions and improved pulmonary function in this steroid‐resistant and immunosuppressive intolerant case. This case report supports further the role of JAK‐inhibitors in the treatment of systemic sarcoidosis. Laryngoscope, 135:829–832, 2025
Organic–Inorganic Fertilization Shifts Dissolved Organic Matter Chemodiversity in Runoff From Tropical Cropland: Roles of Soil Nutrient Stoichiometry
Authors: Wu Dongming , Wu Xiaoyan , Zhang Wen , Zhao Xiongwei , Leng Youfeng , Fang Changhua , Li Qinfen , Cai Huifeng , Chen Miao
Published: September 2024

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a crucial quality indicator for water health. However, it remains unknown how organic–inorganic fertilization differently shifts the DOM chemodiversity in cropland‐impacted runoff, especially the roles of terrestrial nutrient stoichiometry. Here, a field experiment subjected to 7‐year history of four fertilization regimes, that is, unfertilized (CK), chemical fertilization (NPK), straw return (SR), and NPK + SR, was conducted to examine the quantity and chemodiversity of runoff DOM in tropical China. Moreover, the ecological relationships between runoff DOM properties and soil C:N:P stoichiometry were evaluated. Relative to the control treatment, the carbon content (DOC) of runoff DOM increased by 29.20% and 48.82% under SR and NPK + SR treatments, but remained unchanged in NPK treatment. Conversely, the DOM nitrogen content (TDN) only elevated in NPK treatment (262.58%). For DOM chemodiversity, SR treatment was rich in methyl carbon and protein‐like substances, but lacked fulvic‐/humic‐like compounds. NPK treatment increased the hydrophilic compounds like amino acids and polysaccharides, while reducing aromaticity. NPK + SR treatment enhanced DOM's aromaticity, molecular weight and humification due to the enrichment of quinone, ketone and fulvic‐like substances, possibly shaping an oligotrophic aquatic microbial community. Further study revealed that the occurrence of aromatic DOM was positively correlated with soil moisture content, TK (total potassium), total organic carbon and stoichiometric N:P ratio, indicating the contribution of terrestrial straw‐decomposed products. Inversely, the accumulation of hydrophilic substances (e.g., TDN) correlated positively with soil NO3‐N and C:P ratio, indicating the contribution of endogenous DOM.
Variation of parameters and initial time difference Lipschitz stability of impulsive differential equations
Authors: Demirbüken Saliha , Yakar Coşkun
Published: September 2024

In this paper, we investigate the Lipschitz stability of a perturbed impulsive differential system concerning the unperturbed system. We employ the variation of parameters or the constant of variation for impulsive differential systems with an initial time difference.
Wideband circularly polarized patch array antenna with shared patches
Authors: Li Zhengting , Wu Yanjie , Ding Kang
Published: September 2024

In this paper, a novel wideband circularly polarized (CP) array antenna is proposed. The array element is composed of four driven patches, four parasitic patches, and a loop feeding structure. On the basis of the array element structure, 1 × 2 and 2 × 2 arrays with shared patches are formed separately. Compared with the traditional structure, the volume of the 1 × 2 array antenna which only shares the patches in the x direction is reduced by 15%, and the volume of the 2 × 2 array antenna which shares the patches in the x and y directions is further reduced by 28%. The cleverness of this method is that it can keep the impedance bandwidth almost unchanged. To validate the simulated results, antenna prototypes are fabricated and measured. The results of the measurements demonstrate that the impedance bandwidths of the 1 × 2 and 2 × 2 array antennas are 27.2% (5.40–7.10 GHz) and 35.7% (5.22–7.49 GHz), respectively, and the 3 dB axial ratio (AR) bandwidths are 22.7% (5.31–6.67 GHz) and 25.4% (5.47–7.06 GHz), respectively. In addition, the measured data show that the 1 × 2 array exhibits a peak gain of 11.1 dBic, and the 2 × 2 array achieves a peak gain of 12.6 dBic. Both of them achieve a flat gain with a maximum ripple of less than 1.3 dB over the whole operating band.
A low‐profile four‐degrees of freedom antenna by collocating a ±45°‐polarized dipole and a dual‐polarized microstrip antenna with broadside radiations
Authors: Wang Buyun , Chen Juan , Yan Sen
Published: September 2024

This letter proposes a novel four‐degrees of freedom (4‐DOFs) antenna for 5.8 GHz wireless local area network band communications. The proposed antenna realizes 4‐DOFs with a low profile (0.11λ), which is composed of ±45°‐polarized dipole (DP), an artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) reflector, and a dual‐polarized slot‐loaded microstrip antenna (MA). The whole size of the proposed antenna is 83 mm × 83 mm × 5.9 mm (1.6λ × 1.6λ × 0.11λ). The DP is printed on the substrate with the wideband characteristic, and the MA operates at TM50 mode. The AMC reflector operating for the DP is designed for the low profile, causing the low isolations between the DP and the MA. The broadside radiation with 4‐DOFs is first reported. The envelope correlation coefficients are lower than 0.07, and the DOFs are 3.75. The measured results are in accord with the simulated results.