bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microwave‐sintered mullite structural ceramics based on low‐grade bauxite applied for fracturing proppants
Authors: Li Xiaogang , Xiong Junya , Yang Zhaozhong , Zhu Jinyi , Li Weizhe
Published: July 2024

This study aimed to assess the feasibility of manufacturing fracturing proppants by microwave sintering and using low‐grade bauxite as raw material. The effects of microwave hotspot SiC and sintering additive MnO2 content on the performance of the mullite‐based structural materials were studied, respectively. The optimum sintering condition was determined by single‐factor experiments. The sintering process and mechanism were explored based on the analysis of physicochemical properties, phase transitions, and microstructure. The results showed that (1) mullite ceramic composites could be successfully prepared only with SiC added and with poor interparticle bonding microstructure. (2) With the addition of MnO2 and CaO, the granular‐shaped mullite crystals transformed into rod‐like mullite crystals, forming a net structure. (3) As the input power increased, the overfast sintering rate would reduce proppants' mechanical properties, and it was also necessary to select a reasonable sintering time to avoid overburning. (4) When the mass ratio of MnO2:CaO:SiC:bauxite was 2:1.5:12:84.5 and under the sintering condition of 1000 W, 2 h, the performance (breakage ratio of 8.5% under 28 MPa closed pressure, apparent density of 2.58 g/cm3, turbidity of 52 FTU, and acid solubility of 6.77%) could meet the requirements of the Chinese Petroleum and Gas Industry Standard (SY/T 5108–2014). This study provides a powerful way for reducing the fracturing cost, which not only improves the low‐grade bauxite utilization scale within the ceramic industry, but also expands the application of microwave sintering technology in mullite structural materials for the petroleum and gas industry.
A policy option towards improving efficiencies in Victorian public oral healthcare
Authors: Nguyen Tan Minh , Hall Martin
Published: July 2024

Background

International oral health policy directions led by the World Health Organisation call for the inclusion of oral health within universal health coverage. The aim of this study is to perform a budget impact analysis of a policy option for a more cost‐efficient oral health workforce skill‐mix (dentists and oral health therapists) to provide public oral healthcare in Victoria, Australia.

Methods

Two hypothetical standard care pathways were developed. A dynamic population Markov model in TreeAge software, with a time horizon of 6 years. Two scenarios were modelled to determine: (1) base‐case scenario: the threshold the dentist workforce could reduce per year, while achieving the same service delivery outputs, and (2) alternative scenario: the potential cost‐savings for utilising an optimally cost‐efficient oral health workforce skill‐mix.

Results

The threshold analysis showed a minimum reduction of 13% of the dentist workforce being replaced with oral health therapists can occur without having any impact on the same service delivery outputs. Under the alternative scenario, the potential cost‐savings would be AUD$1,425,037 (standard deviation 58,954).

Conclusions

Governments and policy‐decision makers should consider strategies in training, attracting, and retaining oral health therapists to achieve an optimally cost‐efficient oral health workforce skill‐mix when delivering public oral healthcare.
Healthcare quality improvement: It's time to update the Donabedian approach with a complex systems perspective
Authors: Geary Una
Published: July 2024

There is broad consensus that healthcare systems are complex systems, which as a result, face complex problems. From this perspective, quality of care can be conceptualised as an emergent outcome of the healthcare system, that is more than the sum of individual components of care (in terms of inputs and processes), and quality improvement as a complex systems problem. However, traditional approaches, such as Donabedian's structure/process/outcome framework, are rooted in a linear, reductionist perspective, that fails to recognise that quality of care is created in the context of complex healthcare systems, and the many interactions and uncertainties at play that shape quality of care and health outcomes. A paradigm shift is needed from a reductionist to a systems thinking approach if we are to better understand and improve quality of care. Such a shift begins with asking different research questions, situated within the system context, that focus on identifying how interventions may contribute to system improvement, as opposed to seeking to directly link interventions with quality of care outcomes. In contrast to traditional healthcare quality measures focusing on single components of the system in isolation, research needs to explicitly consider quality of care as an emergent system outcome and identify new indicators and methods of assessment that provide insight into how the healthcare system functions as an interconnected whole. It is an opportune moment to harness the energy of the international healthcare quality movement to drive the innovation needed in research and practice to adopt a systems thinking approach.
Sustainability assessment of denim fabric made of PET fiber and recycled fiber from postconsumer PET bottles using LCA and LCC approach with the EDAS method
Authors: Fidan Fatma Şener , Aydoğan Emel Kızılkaya , Uzal Niğmet
Published: July 2024

The textile industry is under pressure to adopt sustainable production methods because its contribution to global warming is expected to rise by 50% by 2030. One solution is to increase the use of recycled raw material. The use of recycled raw material must be considered holistically, including its environmental and economic impacts. This study examined eight scenarios for sustainable denim fabric made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fiber, conventional PET fiber, and cotton fiber. The evaluation based on the distance from average solution (EDAS) multicriteria decision-making method was used to rank scenarios according to their environmental and economic impacts, which are assessed using life cycle assessment and life cycle costing. Allocation, a crucial part of evaluating the environmental impact of recycled products, was done using cut-off and waste value. Life cycle assessments reveal that recycled PET fiber has lower freshwater ecotoxicity and fewer eutrophication and acidification impacts. Cotton outperformed PET fibers in human toxicity. Only the cut-off method reduces potential global warming with recycled PET. These findings indicated that recycled raw-material life cycle assessment requires allocation. Life cycle cost analysis revealed that conventional PET is less economically damaging than cotton and recycled PET. The scenarios were ranked by environmental and economic impacts using EDAS. This ranking demonstrated that sustainable denim fabric production must consider both economic and environmental impacts. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:2347–2365. © 2024 The Author(s). Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Key Points

This study investigated denim fabrics produced using recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fiber instead of virgin cotton and conventional PET fiber in eight scenarios. The life cycle cost (LCC), life cycle assessment (LCA), and evaluation based on distance from average solution methodologies were used to analyze, and a sensitivity analysis was performed to assess LCA uncertainty. Using recycled PET with the cut-off method instead of cotton resulted in positive environmental outcomes across most categories, indicating a significant reduction in impacts such as global warming, stratospheric ozone depletion, and ionizing radiation. Using recycled PET with the waste valuation method often leads to more negative outcomes than the cut-off method, suggesting that the allocation method plays a crucial role in determining the environmental benefits of recycled materials.
HCN: Hybrid Capsule Network for Fetal Plane Classification in Ultrasound Images
Authors: Tanwar Sourav Kumar , Choudhary Prakash , Priyanka  , Agrawal Tarun
Published: July 2024

Classifying fetal ultrasound images into different anatomical categories, such as the abdomen, brain, femur, thorax, and so forth can contribute to the early identification of potential anomalies or dangers during prenatal care. Ignoring major abnormalities that might lead to fetal death or permanent disability. This article proposes a novel hybrid capsule network architecture‐based method for identifying fetal ultrasound images. The proposed architecture increases the precision of fetal image categorization by combining the benefits of a capsule network with a convolutional neural network. The proposed hybrid model surpasses conventional convolutional network‐based techniques with an overall accuracy of 0.989 when tested on a publicly accessible dataset of prenatal ultrasound images. The results indicate that the proposed hybrid architecture is a promising approach for precisely and consistently classifying fetal ultrasound images, with potential uses in clinical settings.
Hepatic enzyme induction and its potential effect on thyroid hormone metabolism in the metamorphosing tadpole of Xenopus laevis (African clawed frog)
Authors: Wada Kohei , Yamaguchi Takafumi , Tanaka Hitoshi , Fujisawa Takuo
Published: July 2024

Hepatic enzyme induction, an inherent defense system against xenobiotics, is known to simultaneously affect endocrine system functions in mammals under specific conditions, particularly thyroid hormone (TH) regulation. While this phenomenon has been studied extensively, the pathway leading to this indirect thyroid effect in mammals has unclear applicability to amphibians, despite the importance of amphibian species in assessing thyroid‐disruptive chemicals. Here, we investigated the effects of three well‐known mammalian enzyme inducers—β‐naphthoflavone (BNF), pregnenolone carbonitrile (PCN), and sodium phenobarbital (NaPB)—on the gene expression of phase‐I and phase‐II metabolizing enzymes in Xenopus laevis tadpoles. Waterborne exposure to BNF and PCN significantly induced the expression of both phase‐I (cytochrome P450, CYP) and phase‐II enzymes (UDP‐glucuronosyltransferase, UGT and sulfotransferase, SULT), but in different patterns, while NaPB exposure induced CYP2B expression without affecting phase‐II enzymes in tadpoles, in contrast to mammals. Furthermore, an ex vivo hepatic enzyme activity assay confirmed that BNF treatment significantly increased phase‐II metabolic activity (glucuronidation and sulfation) toward TH. These results suggest the potential for certain mammalian enzyme inducers to influence TH clearance in X. laevis tadpoles. Our findings provide insights into the profiles of xenosensing activity and enzyme induction in amphibians, which can facilitate a better understanding of the mechanisms of indirect effects on the thyroid system via hepatic enzyme induction in nonmammalian species.
Unraveling the structure–property relationship of novel thiophene and furan‐fused cyclopentadienyl chromophores for nonlinear optical applications
Authors: Sun Hejing
Published: July 2024

Development of organic nonlinear optical materials has become progressively more important due to their emerging applications in new‐generation photonic devices. A novel series of chromophores based on innovative thiophene and furan‐fused cyclopentadienyl bridge with various powerful donor and acceptor moieties were designed and theoretically investigated for applications in nonlinear optics. To unravel the structure–property relationship between this new push‐pull conjugated systems and their nonlinear optical property, multiple methods, including density of states analysis, coupled perturbed Kohn–Sham (CPKS) method, sum‐over‐states (SOS) model, the two‐level model (TSM), hyperpolarizability density analysis, and the (hyper)polarizability contribution decomposition, were performed to comprehensively investigated the nonlinear optical and electronic properties of this new π‐system. Due to excellent charge transfer ability of new bridge and distinctive structure of donor and acceptor, the designed chromophores exhibit deep HOMO levels, low excitation energy, high dipole moment difference and large hyperpolarizability, indicating the appealing air‐stable property and remarkable electrooptic performance of them. Importantly, THQ‐CS‐A3 and PA‐CS‐A3 shows outstanding NLO response properties with βtot value of 6953.9 × 10−30 and 5066.0 × 10−30 esu in AN, respectively. The influence of the push‐pull strength, the heterocycle and the π‐conjugation of new bridge on the nonlinear optical properties of this novel powerful systems are clarified. This new series of chromophores exhibit remarkable electro‐optical Pockels and optical rectification effect. More interestingly, PA‐CS‐A3 and THQ‐CS‐A2 also show appealing SHG effect. This study will help people understand the nature of nonlinear optical properties of innovative heteroarene‐fused based cyclopentadienyl chromophores and offer guidance for the rational design of chromophores with outstanding electrooptic (EO) performance in the future.
Synthesis and Preclinical Evaluation of [18F]AlF‐NOTA‐Asp2‐PEG2‐Folate as a Novel Folate‐Receptor‐Targeted Tracer for PET Imaging
Authors: Liang Haoran , Chen Zihao , Mo Chunwei , Tang Ganghua
Published: July 2024

Recently, the folate receptor (FR) has become an exciting target for the diagnosis of FR‐positive malignancies. Nevertheless, suboptimal in vivo pharmacokinetic properties, particularly high uptake in the renal and hepatobiliary systems, are important limiting factors for the clinical translation of most FR‐based radiotracers. In this study, we developed a novel 18F‐labeled FR‐targeted positron emission tomography (PET) tracer [18F]AlF‐NOTA‐Asp2‐PEG2‐Folate modified with a hydrophilic linker (−Asp2‐PEG2) to optimize its pharmacokinetic properties and conducted a comprehensive preclinical assessment. The [18F]AlF‐NOTA‐Asp2‐PEG2‐Folate was manually synthesized within 30 min with a non‐decay‐corrected radiochemical yield of 16.3 ± 2.0% (n = 5). Among KB cells, [18F]AlF‐NOTA‐Asp2‐PEG2‐Folate exhibited high specificity and affinity for FR. PET/CT imaging and biodistribution experiments in KB tumor‐bearing mice showed decent tumor uptake (1.7 ± 0.3% ID/g) and significantly decreased uptake in kidneys and liver (22.2 ± 2.1 and 0.3 ± 0.1% ID/g at 60 min p.i., respectively) of [18F]AlF‐NOTA‐Asp2‐PEG2‐Folate, compared to the known tracer [18F]AlF‐NOTA‐Folate (78.6 ± 5.1 and 5.3 ± 0.5 % ID/g at 90 min p.i., respectively). The favorable properties of [18F]AlF‐NOTA‐Asp2‐PEG2‐Folate, including its efficient synthesis, decent tumor uptake, relatively low renal uptake, and rapid clearance from most normal organs, portray it as a promising PET tracer for FR‐positive tumors.
Tracheal Anastomosis Leaks Across Suture Techniques and Tensions: A Biomechanical Ex Vivo Study
Authors: Hu Alex , Awad Nour , Lee Joonsue , Patel Rahul , Cohen Ohad , Bensoussan Yael , Oren Liran , Friedman Aaron D. , Dion Gregory R.
Published: July 2024

Background

Anastomotic leak after tracheal resection may occur while coughing in the early postoperative period. We investigated the varying effects of suturing technique, stretch, and tension on anastomotic leaks during simulated coughs.

Methods

End‐to‐end anastomoses were performed using continuous or interrupted sutures on excised porcine larynges. Tracheas were secured to a pressurized system simulating cough forces, submerged in a water bath, and stretched to 1, 2, and 3 cm above baseline. Peak pressure, incomplete cough generation, and observed leakages were recorded. Parameters were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), multiple linear regression, and logistic regression modeling.

Results

Peak tension (B = −0.660, p < 0.001) and stretch lengths (B = −0.329, p = 0.006) were associated with variance in peak pressure (R2 = 0.77, F(3,294) = 8.182, p < 0.001). Incomplete coughs increased with higher peak tension (odds ratio [OR] = 15.627, p < 0.001) and stretching to 3 cm above baseline (OR = 4.335, p < 0.007). Similarly, leak occurrences, primarily from the posterior tracheal wall, increased with higher peak tension (OR = 1.787, p < 0.001) and stretching to 3 cm (OR = 2.613, p = 0.017). No significance was identified with suturing technique.

Conclusion

Interrupted and continuous suture techniques do not differ in anastomotic strength during simulated coughs. Increased peak tracheal tension is associated with a weaker anastomosis, and tracheal stretch to 3 cm was associated with a weaker anastomosis. Our study supports the commonly held clinical belief that, to create a stronger anastomosis, tension should be minimized, and particular attention should be placed at the posterior tracheal wall during closure.

Level of Evidence

NA, Benchtop study Laryngoscope, 134:4998–5005, 2024
Microplastics affect ecosystem multifunctionality: Increasing evidence from soil enzyme activities
Authors: Wang Fayuan , Pei Lei , Zhang Shuwu , Sun Jiao , Han Lanfang
Published: July 2024

Microplastics (MPs) as emerging contaminants have a global occurrence, including both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Soil enzymes contribute to maintaining ecosystem multifunctionality, for example, nutrient cycling, organic material decomposition, and carbon and climate regulation. Our present review highlights the impacts of MPs on soil enzyme activities, influencing factors, and the underlying mechanisms. Increasing findings confirm that MPs can change the activities of a range of soil enzymes involved in the biogeochemical cycling of C and N. However, current results are highly controversial. The effects of MPs highly vary from significant to nonsignificant and are dependent on polymer type, biodegradability, dosage, size, shape, and aging degree of MPs, and exposure conditions. Compared to traditional MPs, biodegradable MPs generally show more pronounced effects. MPs can change soil enzyme activities via different pathways. On one hand, MPs can directly change soil enzyme structure, leading to alterations in enzyme activity. On the other hand, MPs can create unique habitats, provide carbon sources for specific functional microbes producing enzymes, and release plastic additives and pollutants disturbing the production of these enzymes. Furthermore, MPs can alter soil physicochemical and biological properties, the availability of substrates, plants and soil fauna, regulating soil enzymes and their functions. In conclusion, MPs can regulate soil enzyme activities and pose a profound impact on ecosystem multifunctionality.
Polyurethane‐Type Poly[3]rotaxanes Synthesized from Cyclodextrin‐Based [3]Rotaxane Diol and Diisocyanates
Authors: Akae Yosuke , Theato Patrick
Published: July 2024

Synthesis of polyurethane‐type poly[3]rotaxanes is achieved by polyaddition between a cyclodextrin (CD)‐based [3]rotaxane diol and various diisocyanate species, which provide a more defined structure compared to conventional polyrotaxane syntheses. In this study, hydroxyl groups on CDs of [3]rotaxane diol are initially acetylated, and deprotected after the polyaddition to introduce polyurethane backbone structure into polyrotaxane framework. Despite a relatively complicated chemical structure, [3]rotaxane diol monomer is successfully synthesized in a high yield (overall 67%) without any taxing purification process, which is beneficial for practical applications. The polymerization itself proceeds well under a standard polyaddition reaction condition to afford corresponding polyurethanes around 80% yield with Mn > 30 kDa. The poly[3]rotaxanes show different aggregation behavior or optical properties, whether or not acetyl groups are present, and are analyzed by XRD, SEM, and fluorescence measurements.
A‐prori layer height determination for wire arc additive manufacturing based on weld geometry
Authors: Mäde K. , Kellerwessel P. J. , Sharma R. , Reisgen U.
Published: July 2024

The application of wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) for the production of large size components is currently limited, due to strong distortion and unprecise filling behavior. The resulting geometric and metallurgical irregularities pose a challenge to the process. The current approach of a layered structure cannot be adopted without adjustments when using wire arc additive manufacturing. Reasons include incompleteness, material accumulation and deformation. The combination of experimental weld geometry‐determination and its numerical estimation is presented here as solution to this challenge. The procedure is based on the measurement of a weld bead cross‐section‐area. By convolution of a path matrix with a weld‐geometry‐function, the planned path is filled with the seam geometry. Subsequent summation of multiple matrices results in a height profile showing discontinuities and accumulations. Further validation tests show a good agreement between the method and experimentally determined problem areas. The presented optimisation procedure can be extended with material parameters. A local compensation for deformation can be achieved.
Glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency as a cause for nonimmune hydrops fetalis and severe fetal anemia: A systematic review
Authors: Iyer Neel S. , Mossayebi Matthew H. , Gao Tracy J. , Haizler‐Cohen Lylach , Di Mascio Daniele , McLaren Rodney A. , Al‐Kouatly Huda B.
Published: July 2024

Background

Glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is an X‐linked recessive disorder that predisposes individuals to hemolysis due to an inborn error of metabolism. We performed a systematic literature review to evaluate G6PD deficiency as a possible etiology of nonimmune hydrops fetalis (NIHF) and severe fetal anemia.

Methods

PubMed, OVID Medline, Scopus, and clinicaltrials.gov were queried from inception until 31 April 2023 for all published cases of NIHF and severe fetal anemia caused by G6PD deficiency. Keywords included “fetal edema,” “hydrops fetalis,” “glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency,” and “fetal anemia.” Cases with workup presuming G6PD deficiency as an etiology for NIHF and severe fetal anemia were included. PRISMA guidelines were followed.

Results

Five cases of G6PD‐related NIHF and one case of severe fetal anemia were identified. Four fetuses (4/6, 66.7%) were male and two fetuses (2/6, 33.3%) were female. Mean gestational age at diagnosis of NIHF/anemia and delivery was 32.2 ± 4.9 and 35.7 ± 2.4 weeks, respectively. Four cases (66.7%) required a cordocentesis for fetal transfusion, and two cases (33.3%) received blood transfusions immediately following delivery. Among the four multigravida cases, two (50%) noted previous pregnancies complicated by neonatal anemia. When reported, the maternal cases included two G6PD deficiency carrier patients and two G6PD‐deficient patients. Exposures to substances known to cause G6PD deficiency‐related hemolysis occurred in 3/6 (50%) cases.

Conclusion

Six cases of NIHF/severe fetal anemia were associated with G6PD deficiency. While G6PD deficiency is an X‐linked recessive condition, female fetuses can be affected. Fetal G6PD deficiency testing can be considered if parental history indicates, particularly if the standard workup for NIHF is negative.
A Generalized Lightweight Intrusion Detection Model With Unified Feature Selection for Internet of Things Networks
Authors: Nath N Renya , Nath Hiran V.
Published: July 2024

The applicability of the Internet of Things (IoT) cutting across different domains has resulted in newer “things” acquiring IP connectivity. These things, technically known as IoT devices, are vulnerable to diverse security threats. Consequently, there has been an exponential increase in IoT malware over the past 5 years, and securing IoT devices from such attacks is a pressing concern in the current era. However, the traditional peripheral security measures do not comply with the lightweight security requirements of the IoT ecosystem. Considering this, we propose a lightweight intrusion detection model for IoT networks (LIDM‐IoT) that demonstrates similar efficiency in exposing malicious activities compared with the existing computationally expensive methods. The crux of the proposed model is that it provides efficient attack detection with lower computational requirements in IoT networks. LIDM‐IoT achieves the feat through a novel unified feature selection strategy that unifies filter‐based and embedded feature selection methods. The proposed feature selection strategy reduces the feature space by 94%. Also, we use only the records of a single attack type to build the model using the XGBoost algorithm. We have tested LIDM‐IoT with unseen attack types to ensure its generalized behavior. The results indicate that the proposed model exhibits efficient attack detection, with a reduced feature set, in IoT networks compared with the state‐of‐the‐art models.
Evaluating the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Activity of Colloidally Prepared PtSe2 and PtTe2 Catalysts in an Alkaline Medium
Authors: Mxakaza Lineo F. , Mashindi Victor , Linganiso Cebisa E. , Moloto Nosipho , Tetana Zikhona N.
Published: July 2024

The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline electrolytes using transition metal dichalcogenides is a research area that is not tapped into. Alkaline HER (
) is harder to achieve relative to acidic HER (
), this is attributed to the additional water dissociation step that occurs in basic HER to generate H+ ions. In fact, for most catalysts, their HER activity decreases tremendously when the electrolyte is changed from acidic to basic conditions. Platinum dichalcogenides, PtX2 (X=S, Se, Te), are an interesting member of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) as these show an immense hybridization of the Pt d orbitals and chalcogen p orbitals because of closely correlated orbital energies. The trend in electronic properties of these materials changes drastically as the chalcogen is changed, with PtS2 reported to exhibit semi‐conductor properties, PtSe2 is semi‐metallic or semi‐conductive, depending on the number of layers, while PtTe2 is metallic. The effect of varying the chalcogen atom on the HER activity of Pt dichalcogenides will be studied. Pt dichalcogenides have previously been prepared by direct high‐temperature chalcogen deposition of Pt substrate and evaluated as electrocatalysts for HER in H2SO4. The previously employed synthesis procedures for PtX2 limit these compounds′ mass production and post‐synthesis treatment. In this study, we demonstrated, for the first time the preparation of PtSe2 and PtTe2 by colloidal synthesis. Colloidal synthesis offers the possibility of large‐scale synthesis of materials and affords the employment of the colloids at various concentrations in ink formulation. The electrochemical HER results acquired in 1 M KOH indicate that PtTe2 has a superior HER catalytic activity to PtSe2. A potential of 108 mV for PtTe2 and 161 mV for PtSe2 is required to produce a current density of −10 mA cm−2 from these catalysts. PtTe2 has a low Tafel slope of 79 mVdec−1, indicating faster HER kinetics on PtTe2. Nonetheless, the stability of these catalysts in an alkaline medium needs to be improved to render them excellent HER electrocatalysts.
Preparation of surfactant‐assisted polycaprolactone/κ‐carrageenan nanofibres
Authors: Kumari Vandana , Roy Sukumar , Ali Wazed , Mukhopadhyay Samrat , Gupta Bhuvanesh
Published: July 2024

The objective of this work was to fabricate nanofibres composed of polycaprolactone (PCL) and κ‐carrageenan (kC) by employing an anionic surfactant, sodium bis(2‐ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT). This study examined the role of the surfactant in PCL/kC/AOT (hybrid) nanofibre preparation using SEM, AFM, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, XRD and DSC. The wettability and water uptake percentage of the nanofibres were investigated. An antimicrobial study was conducted against bacterial strains using a colony‐counting assay, and changes in bacterial morphology were monitored using TEM. The results demonstrated that the hybrid nanofibres had a uniform and smooth structure, which might be attributed to the improved compatibility between polymers in the presence of the surfactant. The incorporation of AOT in the matrix resulted in a reduction in the mean fibre diameter and surface roughness. The hybrid nanofibres increased water absorbency is evidence of their high hydrophilicity, which can be explained by the simultaneous impact of kC and AOT. The hybrid nanofibres exhibited effective activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Efficacy of Web‐Based Interventions on Depression and Anxiety in Cancer Caregivers: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Kim Myoungsuk , Tan Kelly R. , Coombs Lorinda A.
Published: July 2024

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of web‐based interventions in depression and anxiety among informal caregivers of patients with cancer.

Methods

Databases such as PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycINFO were systematically searched from inception to April 15, 2024. Eligible studies encompassed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) focusing on web‐based interventions tailored to informal caregivers of patients with cancer. The effect size was calculated as the standardized mean difference (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) utilizing a random effects model. The risk of bias was assessed independently utilizing Cochrane's Risk of Bias Tool (version 2.0) for RCTs.

Results

A total of 12 RCTs were incorporated into this meta‐analysis. Web‐based interventions demonstrated a significant effect in ameliorating depression among informal caregivers of patients with cancer compared to the control group (SMD = −0.21, 95% CI = −0.36 to −0.05, p < 0.01, I2 = 15%). Additionally, a significant effect was also observed in alleviating anxiety (SMD = −0.20, 95% CI = −0.36 to −0.05, p = 0.77, I2 = 0%).

Conclusions

Web‐based interventions might be effective in reducing depression and anxiety among informal caregivers of patients with cancer. Nevertheless, several studies with an overall high risk of bias were included. As a result of the limited number and heterogeneity of the studies included in the subgroup analysis, deriving definitive conclusions on the most effective intervention components was challenging. Therefore, further studies incorporating high‐quality research are warranted.
Differences in carbonyl groups and boron acceptors in MR‐TADF and full‐color emission merging strategies: A theoretical study
Authors: Huang Shengyao , Zhang Kunsheng , Tang Limei , Chen Ling , Luo Yujiao , Li Yuman , Shen Wei
Published: July 2024

Multi‐resonant thermally activated delayed fluorescent (MR‐TADF) materials, which combine large oscillator strengths, small singlet‐triplet energy gaps, high photoluminescence quantum yields, and color purity, have attracted great interest in both experimental and theoretical research in recent years. However, the differences between two classes of MR‐TADF, utilizing carbonyl groups and boron atoms as acceptors respectively, have not been clearly delineated, and the implementation of strategies combining both is extremely limited. This limitation hampers the diversity in composition and structure of MR‐TADF. In this study, we employed boron as the central acceptor and carbonyl groups as peripheral acceptors, designing and investigating 7 merged systems of MR‐TADF molecules. Calculations revealed that, in contrast to the strong acceptor characteristics of boron atoms, carbonyl groups do not exhibit absolute acceptor features, and their resonance effects depend on the surrounding environment. This unique resonance effect induces LRCT features to varying degrees, enabling the emission coverage of these molecules across almost the entire visible spectrum (theoretical emission wavelengths covering 452–751 nm). We gained an understanding of the differences between boron acceptors and carbonyl groups, achieving full‐color emission by adjusting only the MR cores. This provides insights into the rational design of complex‐component full‐color MR‐TADF emitters.
Hydrogenation of hexene catalyzed by a ruthenium (II) complex with N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands
Authors: Achour Sofiene , Hosni Zied , Tangour Bahoueddine
Published: July 2024

In this study, we investigated the mechanism of the inactivated hexene hydrogenation reaction catalyzed by a ruthenium (II) complex containing “N‐heterocyclic carbene” (NHC) ligands, specifically SIMes and CBA, using DFT calculations. Our focus was on RuH(OSO2CF3)(CO)(SIMes)(CBA), which exhibits excellent catalytic behavior. We tested the B3LYP‐D3, cam‐B3LYP, and TPSSh functionals. The hydrogenation reaction is initiated by the release of SIMes rather than CBA due to the lower associated dissociation energy. Our findings indicate a reaction mechanism consisting of two consecutive steps, each involving one hydrogen atom migration. The first step, considered as the kinetically limiting transition state, exhibits a Gibbs free activation barrier of 12.9 kcal mol−1. This step involves two asynchronous processes. The first one describes the migration of the ruthenium hydride to the internal carbon of the olefine function, transitioning from π to σ coordination mode, which promotes the formation of a bond between ruthenium and the terminal olefinic carbon. The second process involves the oxidation of ruthenium from Ru(II) to Ru(IV). This oxidation is crucial as it enables the decomposition of the H2 molecule into two hydrogen atoms bonded to the ruthenium atom. The geometrical structures of the Hidden Reaction Intermediate Ru(II) complex and the quasi‐transition state of the second process have been determined by means of the RIRC technique. The second step entails the migration of one of the newly formed hydrides of the Ru(IV) complex to the terminal olefinic carbon, resulting in the release of hexane with a weak activation Gibbs free energy of .8 kcal mol−1. Lastly, we explored the use of dichloromethane as a solvent, considering the PCM model. The presence of the solvent significantly decreases the energy dissociation of SIMes from 17.9 to 9.0 kcal mol−1, providing notable benefits.
A rare case of allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis complicating pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma
Authors: Okada Yoshihiro , Sakaguchi Kazuhiro , Tanimura Kazuya , Horimoto Kazuhide , Kawaguchi Takeshi , Hamaji Masatsugu , Takeda Maiko , Hontsu Shigeto , Muro Shigeo
Published: July 2024

A 72‐year‐old man with productive cough and wheezing was referred to our institution for a growing mass shadow and central bronchiectasis in the right lower lobe on computed tomography. Based on the symptoms, elevated Aspergillus‐specific immunoglobulin E levels, and radiological findings, allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis (ABPM) was suspected according to the Japanese clinical diagnostic criteria. The patient refused bronchoscopic examination, and oral prednisolone (0.5 mg/kg/day) improved the symptoms; however, the mass shadow continued to grow. Subsequently, bronchoscopy revealed mucus plugs and an endobronchial tumour with a whitish surface. The tumour was surgically resected, and the pathological diagnosis was a coexistence of ABPM and pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of ABPM developing at the site of pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma. Careful bronchoscopic examinations and histopathological evaluations of the surgical specimen led to a prompt and accurate diagnosis.
A random forest machine learning model to detect fluvial hazards
Authors: Gava Marco , Biron Pascale M. , Buffin‐Bélanger Thomas
Published: July 2024

Fluvial hazards of river mobility and flooding are often problematic for road infrastructure and need to be considered in the planning process. The extent of river and road infrastructure networks and their tendency to be close to each other creates a need to be able to identify the most dangerous areas quickly and cost‐effectively. In this study, we propose a novel methodology using random forest (RF) machine learning methods to provide easily interpretable fine‐scale fluvial hazard predictions for large river systems. The tools developed provide predictions for three models: presence of flooding (PFM), presence of mobility (PMM) and type of erosion model (TEM, lateral migration, or incision) at reference points every 100 m along the fluvial network of three watersheds within the province of Quebec, Canada. The RF models use variables focused on river conditions and hydrogeomorphological processes such as confinement, sinuosity, and upstream slope. Training/validation data included field observations, results from hydraulic and erosion models, government infrastructure databases, and hydro‐ geomorphological assessments using 1‐m DEM and satellite/historical imagery. A total of 1807 reference points were classified for flooding, 1542 for mobility, and 847 for the type of erosion out of the 11,452 reference points for the 1145 km of rivers included in the study. These were divided into training (75%) and validation (25%) datasets, with the training dataset used to train supervised RF models. The validation dataset indicated the models were capable of accurately predicting the potential for fluvial hazards to occur, with precision results for the three models ranging from 83% to 94% of points accurately predicted. The results of this study suggest that RF models are a cost‐effective tool to quickly evaluate the potential for fluvial hazards to occur at the watershed scale.
Conversion of coastal marsh to aquaculture ponds altered soil ammonia oxidiser community and decreased ammonia oxidation potential
Authors: Ye Guiping , Tang Kam W. , Lin Xiao , Yang Ping , Tong Chuan , He Zi‐Yang , Feng Mengmeng , Deng Milin , Lin Yongxin
Published: July 2024

Introduction

As a crucial component of the nitrogen cycle, ammonia oxidation in soil can be driven by canonical ammonia‐oxidising archaea (AOA) and bacteria, as well as complete ammonia oxidiser (CMX Nitrospira). Land use change can disrupt and alter the soil microbial community and the nitrogen cycle.

Materials & Methods

We compared the soil ammonia‐oxidising microorganisms and ammonia oxidation potentials in a coastal marsh and nearby reclaimed aquaculture ponds, monthly over a 10‐month period in southeastern China. The abundance of ammonia oxidisers was assessed by real‐time quantitative PCR and the community structure of CMX Nitrospira was evaluated by high‐throughput sequencing.

Results

The ammonia oxidiser community was dominated by AOA in the marsh (91%) and was made up of similar proportions of AOA and CMX Nitrospira in the aquaculture ponds (46%–47%). The CMX Nitrospira community structure changed significantly between habitat types, mainly driven by opposite change in relative abundance of clade B versus clades A.2 and A.3. Aquaculture reclamation decreased the soil potential ammonia oxidation rate (PAO) by an order of magnitude, and AOA was the only significant predictor of PAO among all ammonia oxidiser groups.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that aquaculture reclamation from coastal marshes would significantly alter the soil ammonia oxidiser community and decrease ammonia oxidation rate, and CMX Nitrospira appear to play a relative larger role in nitrogen cycling in aquaculture ponds.
Assessing decadal soil redistribution rates using 239+240Pu across diverse lithologies in Southeast Alaska
Authors: Portes Raquel , Spinola Diogo , Ketterer Michael E. , Egli Markus , Lybrand Rebecca A. , Fedenko Jennifer , Biles Frances , Trainor Thomas P. , Dere Ashlee , D'Amore David V.
Published: July 2024

Quantifying soil redistribution rates, including both erosion and deposition, is critical for understanding erosion processes, landscape evolution, land management strategies, and the carbon cycle. In the Northeast Pacific coastal temperate rainforest, the interaction of perhumid climate and dense coniferous forest tends to form Spodosols which are soils characterized by a subsurface accumulation of organic matter and iron and aluminum oxides, across a range of contrasting lithologies. Deep Spodosols are frequently found on steep backslopes (up to 60%) of colluvial deposits, where shallower soils would typically be expected. We hypothesized that deep Spodosols in Southeast Alaska indicate slope stability, exhibiting negligible soil redistribution rates and stable surfaces regardless of the lithology. Our objective was to quantify soil redistribution rates for Spodosols formed on steep slopes across a range of lithologies in hilly and mountainous areas of Juneau, AK. We used 239+240Pu isotopes to quantify soil erosion and deposition rates in Spodosols formed on colluvial deposits from tonalite, slate, metavolcanic rock, and phyllite. 239+240Pu measurements revealed negligible soil redistribution rates for all studied pedons, ranging from erosion rates of 0.51 t/ha/year to deposition rates up to 0.43 t/ha/year. No difference was detected between the hill and mountain landforms, further supporting the idea that Spodosols could indicate slope stability over decadal timescales across the region. Understanding the resilience of Spodosols to erosion processes in varied lithologies and landforms on steep slopes is paramount for making informed decisions regarding sustainable land use, landslide risk mitigation, and effective carbon sequestration strategies.
Albumen‐Based Foam Protein Porous Carbon for Supercapacitor Applications
Authors: Zhao Ni , Ma Zhen , Deng Wenyu , Lu Yanjun , Qi Lijun , Wang Qiang , Cui Weibin
Published: July 2024

A multistage pore‐structured porous carbon (AFPC) was created by employing protein as a widely available carbon source and a simple pretreatment, carbonization, and KOH activation procedure. Based on the physical denaturation of protein, foam protein porous carbon with self‐doped nitrogen from the biomass was successfully created by adding air to the protein precursor. The AFPC‐600 exhibited a BET surface area of 443.52 m2 g−1 and an average pore diameter of 35 nm. The material demonstrated a high electrical capacitance of 798.5 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1 in a three‐electrode system test, with 86 % capacitance retention after 4000 charge‐discharge cycles. This paper highlights the promise of improved porous carbon materials, taking advantage of the special qualities of abundant biomass found in nature, for energy storage.
Covalent Organic Framework Based Nanocomposite for Low Temperature Photothermal Therapy
Authors: Chen Zhongkai , Zhan Qinghua , Yan Yifan , Cai Yanfei , Yang Zhaoqi
Published: July 2024

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents a highly aggressive variant of breast cancer characterized by elevated rates of recurrence and mortality. Chemotherapy's application as a main cancer therapy is restricted due to its harmful side effects and resistance to medication. In this study, we utilized a covalent organic framework (COF) to apply indocyanine green (ICG), a photothermal agent, and gambogic acid (GA), an inhibitor of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), to treat triple negative breast cancer. MTT results showed that the viability of tumor cells decreased more under laser irradiation conditions after the addition of GA than in the COF@ICG group. In addition, protein blotting results showed that under the action of GA, the blank group exhibited significantly higher HSP90 expression levels than the experimental group. The above results indicate that COF@ICG@GA enhances the therapeutic effect of PTT on cancer by inhibiting the expression of HSP90 in triple negative breast cancer cells and enhancing the sensitivity of tumor cells to temperature.
Polyphenol‐Based Bicontinuous Porous Spheres Via Amine‐Mediated Polymerization‐Induced Fusion Assembly
Authors: Liu Zhiqing , Li Wei , Sheng Wenbo , Liu Shiyu , Li Rui , Huang Chao , Xiong Youpeng , Han Lu , Zhen Weijun , Li Yongsheng , Jia Xin
Published: July 2024

Bicontinuous porous materials, which possess 3D interconnected network and pore channels facilitating the mass diffusion to the interior of materials, have demonstrated their promising potentials in a large variety of research fields. However, facile construction of such complex and delicate structures is still challenging. Here, an amine‐mediated polymerization‐induced fusion assembly strategy is reported for synthesizing polyphenol‐based bicontinuous porous spheres with various pore structures. Specifically, the fusion of pore‐generating template observed by TEM promotes the development of bicontinuous porous networks that are confirmed by 3D reconstruction. Furthermore, the resultant bicontinuous porous carbon particles after pyrolysis, with a diameter of ≈600 nm, a high accessible surface area of 359 m2 g−1, and a large pore size of 40–150 nm manifest enhanced performance toward the catalytic degradation of sulfamethazine in water decontamination. The present study expands the toolbox of interfacial tension‐solvent‐dependent porous spheres while providing new insight into their structure‐property relationships.
Responsive Hydrogel‐Based Modular Microrobots for Multi‐Functional Micromanipulation
Authors: Tan Liyuan , Cappelleri David J.
Published: July 2024

Microrobots show great potential in biomedical applications such as drug delivery and cell manipulations. However, current microrobots are mostly fabricated as a single entity and type and the tasks they can perform are limited. In this paper, modular microrobots, with an overall size of 120 µm × 200 µm, are proposed with responsive mating components, made from stimuli‐responsive hydrogels, and application specific end‐effectors for microassembly tasks. The modular microrobots are fabricated based on photolithography and two‐photon polymerization together or separately. Two types of modular microrobots are created based on the location of the responsive mating component. The first type of modular microrobot has a mating component that can shrink upon stimulation, while the second type has a double bilayer structure that can realize an open and close motion. The exchange of end‐effectors with an identical actuation base is demonstrated for both types of microrobots. Finally, different manipulation tasks are performed with different types of end‐effectors.
Revisiting the connection between state Medicaid expansions and adult mortality
Authors: Koumpias Antonios M. , Courtemanche Charles , Jones Jordan W. , Zapata Daniela
Published: July 2024

This paper examines the impact of Medicaid expansions to parents and childless adults on adult mortality. Specifically, we evaluate the long‐run effects of eight state Medicaid expansions from 1994 through 2005 on all‐cause, healthcare‐amenable, non‐healthcare‐amenable, and HIV‐related mortality rates using state‐level data. We utilize the synthetic control method to estimate effects for each treated state separately and the generalized synthetic control method to estimate average effects across all treated states. Using a 5% significance level, we find no evidence that Medicaid expansions affect any of the outcomes in any of the treated states or all of them combined. Moreover, there is no clear pattern in the signs of the estimated treatment effects. These findings imply that evidence that pre‐ACA Medicaid expansions to adults saved lives is not as clear as previously suggested.