bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mesoporous Carbon for High‐Performance Near‐Neutral Zinc–Air Batteries
Authors: Wang Fengmei , Qiu Ke , Zhang Wei , Zhu Kerun , Chen Jiawei , Liao Mochou , Dong Xiaoli , Wang Fei
Published: August 2023

Near‐neutral zinc–air batteries (ZABs) have garnered significant research interest due to their high energy density, exceptional electrochemical reversibility, and adaptability to ambient air. However, these batteries suffer from substantial electrochemical polarization, low energy efficiency, and poor rate performance. In this study, a mesoporous carbon (meso‐C) with a high specific surface area (1081 m2 g−1) and abundant porous structure for the cathode of near‐neutral ZABs using a scalable synthesis method is prepared. The meso‐C‐based cathode is endowed with stable hydrophobicity and abundant electrochemical active sites, which considerably improve the energy efficiency, rate performance, and cycle life of the battery compare to commercial carbon black‐based cathode when applied to near‐neutral ZABs with 1 mol kg−1 (1 m) zinc acetate and 1 m zinc trifluoromethanesulfonate electrolytes. Additionally, the mesopores of meso‐C facilitate the construction of better three‐phase reaction interfaces and contribute to better electrochemical reversibility. The work presents a general and scalable approach for carbon materials in the cathode of near‐neutral ZABs.
Competitive Formation Mechanism for Bidentate Passivation of Halogen Vacancies in Perovskite Based on 6‐Chloropurine
Authors: He Jingshan , He Jingwen , Ma Dun , Sheng Jie , Shao Wu , Ding Tian , Wu Wenjun
Published: August 2023

For metal halide perovskite solar cells, bidentate passivation (BP) is highly effective, but currently, only passivation sites rather than molecular environments are being considered. Here, the authors report an effective approach for high‐performance fully printable mesoscopic perovskite solar cells (FP‐PSCs) through the BP strategy using the multidentate molecule 6‐chloropurine (6‐CP). By utilizing density functional theory (DFT) calculations, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) characterizations, the competition mechanism is identified of BP between the chlorine atom and neighboring nitrogen atom of the imidazole and pyrimidine rings. Through BP between the chlorine atom and adjacent nitrogen atom in imidazole, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the pristine samples is significantly enhanced from 16.25% to 17.63% with 6‐CP. The formation of BP enhances interfacial hole selectivity and charge transfer, and suppresses nonradiative recombination, improving device stability under high humidity conditions. The competition mechanism of BP between two aromatic cycles provides a path for designing molecular passivants and selecting passivation pathways to approach theoretical limits.
Pyrolysis of Al‐Based Metal–Organic Frameworks to Carbon Dot‐Porous Al2O3 Composites With Time‐Dependent Phosphorescence Colors for Advanced Information Encryption
Authors: Zhang Longyue , Chen Xipao , Hu Yaoping
Published: August 2023

Phosphorescent materials with time‐dependent phosphorescence colors (TDPCs) have great potential in advanced optical applications. Synthesis of such materials is attractive but challenging. Here, a series of carbon dot‐porous Al2O3 composites exhibiting distinctive TDPC characteristics is prepared by high‐temperature pyrolysis of Al‐based metal–organic frameworks NH2‐MIL‐101(Al). The composite synthesized at 700 °C (CDs@Al2O3‐700) shows an obvious change in phosphorescence color from blue to green after removing the excitation light of 280 nm. Photophysical analysis reveals that two emission centers in CDs, namely carbon core and surface states, are responsible for the short‐lived blue phosphorescence (96 ms) and long‐lived green phosphorescence (911 ms), respectively. The combination of blue and green phosphorescence with different decay rates triggering the interesting TDPC phenomenon. CDs@Al2O3‐700 has a significantly high phosphorescence quantum yield of up to 41.7% and possesses an excellent optical stability against water, organic solvents, and strong oxidants, which benefits from the multi‐confinement of CDs by the porous Al2O3 matrix through rigid network, strong space constraint, and stable covalent bonding. Based on the TDPC property, multilevel coding patterns composed of CDs@Al2O3 are successfully fabricated for advanced dynamic information encryption.
Strongly Localized Moiré Exciton in Twisted Homobilayers
Authors: Qian Wenqi , Qi Pengfei , Dai Yuchen , Shi Beibei , Tao Guangyi , Liu Haiyi , Zhang Xubin , Xiang Dong , Fang Zheyu , Liu Weiwei
Published: August 2023

Artificially molding exciton flux is the cornerstone for developing promising excitonic devices. In the emerging hetero/homobilayers, the spatial separated charges prolong exciton lifetimes and create out‐plane dipoles, facilitating electrically control exciton flux on a large scale, and the nanoscale periodic moiré potentials arising from twist‐angle or/and lattice mismatch can substantially alter exciton dynamics, which are mainly proved in the heterostructures. However, the spatially indirect excitons dynamics in homobilayers without lattice mismatch remain elusive. Here the nonequilibrium dynamics of indirect exciton in homobilayers are systematically investigated. The homobilayers with slightly twist‐angle can induce a deep moiré potential (>50 meV) in the energy landscape of indirect excitons, resulting in a strongly localized moiré excitons insulating the transport dynamics from phonons and disorder. These findings provide insights into the exciton dynamics and many‐body physics in moiré superlattices modulated energy landscape, with implications for designing excitonic devices operating at room temperature.
A Novel Ion Species‐ and Ion Concentration‐Dependent Anti‐Counterfeiting Based on Ratiometric Fluorescence Sensing of CDs@MOF‐Nanofibrous Films
Authors: Zhao Kaitian , Liu Fan , Sun Hongcan , Xia Pengfei , Qu Junfeng , Lu Changgui , Zong Shenfei , Zhang Rong , Xu Shuhong , Wang Chunlei
Published: August 2023

Traditional fluorescent anti‐counterfeiting labels based on “on‐off” fluorescence can be easily cloned. It is important to explore advanced anti‐counterfeiting fluorescent labels with high‐level security. Here, a pioneering ion species‐ and ion concentration‐dependent anti‐counterfeiting technique is developed. By successive loading Cu2+‐sensitive yellow emitted carbon dots (Y‐CDs) and Cu2+ non‐sensitive blue emitted carbon dots (B‐CDs) into metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) and followed by electrospinning, the B&Y‐CDs@MOF‐nanofibrous films are prepared. The results show that the use of MOF not only avoids the fluorescence quenching of CDs but also improves the fluorescence stability. The fluorescence Cu2+‐sensitivity of the CDs@MOF‐nanofibrous films can be regulated by polymer coating or lamination. The fluorescent label consisting of different Cu2+‐sensitivity films will show Cu2+ concentration‐dependent decryption information. Only at a specific ion species and concentration (Cu2+ solution of 40–90 µm), the true information can be read out. Less or more concentration (<40 or >90 µm) will lead to false information. The identification of the real information depends on both the species and the concentration. After Cu2+ treatment, the fluorescence of the label can be recovered by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium (EDTA‐2Na) for further recycling. This work will open up a new door for designing high‐level fluorescent anti‐counterfeiting labels.
Enhancing Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution by Synergistic Benefits of MXene Cocatalysis and Homo‐Interface Engineering
Authors: Ruan Xiaowen , Meng Depeng , Huang Chengxiang , Xu Minghua , Wen Xin , Ba Kaikai , Singh David J. , Zhang Haiyan , Zhang Lei , Xie Tengfeng , Zhang Wei , Zheng Weitao , Ravi Sai Kishore , Cui Xiaoqiang
Published: August 2023

Photocatalytic water splitting holds great promise as a sustainable and cost‐effectiveness alternative for the production of hydrogen. Nevertheless, the practical implementation of this strategy is hindered by suboptimal visible light utilization and sluggish charge carrier dynamics, leading to low yield. MXene is a promising cocatalyst due to its high conductivity, abundance of active sites, tunable terminal functional groups, and great specific surface area. Homo‐interface has perfect lattice matching and uniform composition, which are more conducive to photogenerated carriers’ separation and migration. In this study, a novel ternary heterogeneous photocatalyst, a‐TiO2/H‐TiO2/Ti3C2 MXene (MXTi), is presented using an electrostatic self‐assembly method. Compared to commercial P25, pristine anatase, and rutile TiO2, as‐prepared MXTi exhibit exceptional photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance, achieving a rate of 0.387 mmol h−1. The significant improvement is attributable to the synergistic effect of homo‐interface engineering and Ti3C2 MXene, which leads to widened light absorption and efficient carrier transportation. The findings highlight the potential of interface engineering and MXene cocatalyst loading as a proactive approach to enhance the performance of photocatalytic water splitting, paving the way for more sustainable and efficient hydrogen production.
A review on the effects of cracking and crack width on corrosion of reinforcement in concrete
Authors: Kanavaris Fragkoulis , Coelho Mário , Ferreira Nuno , Azenha Miguel , Andrade Carmen
Published: August 2023

It is widely known that corrosion is one of the main problems that reinforced concrete structures may endure during their life‐cycle. This problem is usually tackled in a prescriptive manner, by limiting the crack width allowed to occur during structures' service life. In an attempt to better understand the effect that cracking and crack width can have on the corrosion process, as well as systematize the existing work in the field, this paper presents a summary of an in‐depth literature review on the topic of reinforcement corrosion in concrete. The main focus is devoted to chloride‐induced corrosion since that is the most widely studied corrosion mechanism, even though carbonation‐induced corrosion is also relatively briefly discussed. The paper also presents an overview of the existing guidelines that have been used in the past to analyze and support decision‐making regarding corrosion in reinforced concrete structures.
“They Are our Future”: Professional Pride in Language Teachers across the Globe
Authors: Mairitsch Astrid , Sulis Giulia , Mercer Sarah , Shin Sun , Mairi Salam
Published: August 2023

While the emotion of pride has received increasing attention in general psychology, it has gone largely overlooked in the field of education generally, and language education specifically. This study explores the sources of pride reported by 140 English language teachers from various contexts across the globe. Data were generated through an online survey using a series of open‐ended items addressing various dimensions of participants' professional pride. The results revealed two main orientations in terms of the sources of professional pride experienced by participants, namely, self‐ and other‐oriented. Furthermore, data showed that participants in this study reported only on authentic pride as opposed to hubristic pride. The data indicated how these teachers' sense of pride is socially determined and interconnected with key psychological constructs such as motivation, self‐esteem, sense of meaning, agency, and well‐being. The concluding section of the paper considers how pride can be conceptualized in the domain of language education, how it can potentially be leveraged to boost teacher well‐being, and what pathways this study opens up for further research.
Effect of amino acids on biomineralization of lead ions by Aspergillus niger
Authors: Zhang Junman , Hao Ruixia , Shan Bing , Ye Yubo , Li Jiani , Lu Anhuai
Published: August 2023

This study investigates the biomineralization of lead ions by Aspergillus niger from aqueous environments, focusing on the dynamic effects of fungal metabolism and biological components. Three biomolecules (glutamate, methionine, and lysine) were used to induce lead oxalate mineralization under lead stress. Comparative experiments were conducted to analyze the growth characteristics and Pb (II) removal ability of A. niger, as well as the morphological and structural properties of the resulting lead oxalate minerals using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, X‐ray powder diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive spectroscopy techniques. The findings reveal that A. niger plays a crucial role in controlling the mineralization process of Pb (II), with biomineralization experiments demonstrating the specific morphogenesis of lead oxalate over time. Additionally, the inclusion of the three biomolecules in the system indirectly influenced the rate of Pb (II) removal and mineral morphology. These results contribute to a better understanding of A. niger‐mediated biomineralization process of lead oxalate and suggest its potential application in the removal of Pb (II) from aqueous environments, particularly in combination with amino acids for enhanced immobilization and mineral recovery.

Practitioner Points

Fungal activity and amino acids play a crucial role in shaping lead oxalate crystals during water treatment processes.

Specific amino acids can effectively delay lead oxalate recrystallization, enhancing the stability and removal efficiency of the crystals.

Biomineralization mediated by fungi offers a promising and eco‐friendly approach for lead removal and recovery in wastewater treatment.

Exploring the influence of organic additives and fungal metabolism on crystal growth provides valuable insights for developing efficient remediation strategies.

Further research on the utilization of fungi and amino acids can help with innovative and sustainable wastewater treatment technologies.
“Money Can’t Buy Me Love”: Remittances, Return Migration, and Family Relations in Serbia (1960s–2000s)
Authors: Bajić-Hajduković Ivana , Bernard Sara
Published: August 2023

While there is abundant literature that documents the flow of remittances, less research exists on the modalities of remitting, the dynamics between sender and recipient, and how both change over time. This contribution draws on an interdisciplinary collaboration between history and anthropology to offer fresh insights into the problem. This study spans an almost five-decade period and explores a major social transformation, namely the fall of communism in Yugoslavia and the emergence of neoliberal capitalism in the twenty-first century. It compares remittance practices among both rural and urban families during this period. Relying on ethnographic fieldwork but also archival sources, press analyses, and statistical data, it unearths the complexities of the long-term impact of remittances on family dynamics. The specific focus is on Yugoslavia’s largest republic, Serbia. Exploring family roles across the prism of gender, generation, and class, it argues that migration and remittance practices had a profound and sometimes traumatic impact on family relations.
Final Thoughts
Authors: Ashworth Rosalie , Fyvel Sue , Hill Alyson , Maddocks Chris , Qureshi Masood , Ross David , Hay Stuart , Robertson Martin , Gilder Willy , Henry Winnie , Lamont Myra , Houston Agnes , Wilson Fred S.
Published: August 2023

This chapter brings together key messages from the book, hopes for the future, and final reflections from the group. We provide information about how to become a Partner in Research or learn more about the Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network.
National Trends in Racial and Ethnic Residential Segregation
Authors: Crowell Amber R. , Fossett Mark A.
Published: August 2023

In this first chapter of empirical findings, we provide an overview of trends and patterns in the residential segregation of households by race and ethnicity from 1990 to 2010 across metropolitan areas, micropolitan areas, and noncore counties. These three community types give our analysis wide geographic coverage across the United States. We examine segregation between White, Black, Asian, and Latino households across all areas over the two decades bracketed by the three decennial census years of 1990, 2000, and 2010. What distinguishes the analyses in this chapter from previous studies is that we apply new methods for measuring residential segregation which include correcting for index bias, using a measure that is better suited for distinguishing between different patterns of uneven distribution, and measuring residential segregation of households rather than persons. These adjustments allow us to expand the scope of our analysis to include more communities beyond the largest metropolitan areas while measuring residential segregation at the block-level, which is necessary for measuring segregation in less densely populated areas. While our findings at times reflect what past studies have found, it is more often the case that we reveal different levels and patterns of segregation, especially when focusing on White-Latino and White-Asian segregation where patterns of uneven distribution are more dispersed than previously understood. This first empirical chapter sets new benchmarks for residential segregation measurement and analysis in U.S. communities.
The Micro-Level Dynamics of Racial and Ethnic Residential Segregation
Authors: Crowell Amber R. , Fossett Mark A.
Published: August 2023

Segregation is often viewed and studied as a macro-level phenomenon, described in terms of aggregate patterns across areas. Empirical analyses of segregation are typically conducted at the macro-level as well, explaining changes and variations in segregation through contextual-level factors such as population size, region, or percent White. However, there is an established body of literature that recognizes segregation as an outcome of micro-level processes of locational attainments and residential mobility that considers the role of household characteristics like income, education, and nativity. This work is fundamentally important for testing the dominant theoretical frameworks employed in segregation research, which largely emphasize that segregation is driven by micro-level characteristics and processes and center the barriers and opportunities in residential mobility. Additionally, the locational attainments approach can be linked with outcomes that are essentially consequences of segregation such as educational disparities, health disparities, and unequal exposure to crime. While both levels of analyses are important, a fundamental link between them has been missing which could explicate how locational attainments directly produce residential segregation patterns. In this final empirical chapter, we draw on Fossett’s (2017) difference-of-means approach to calculating segregation indices to establish a direct quantitative link between predicted outcomes from household-level locational attainment models and overall residential segregation outcomes at the community level. This approach opens up a new toolbox of methods that are popular in inequality studies, including regression standardization and decomposition, which allow us to analyze residential segregation as a stratification outcome. We perform this analysis on 25 metropolitan areas with a focus on White-Black, White-Latino, and White-Asian residential segregation in 2010. We find that White-Black segregation is largely attributable to differences in rates of return on resources relevant for locational attainments, while White-Latino and White-Asian segregation can be explained more by group differences in characteristics and resources such as income and nativity.
Der Kulturreihenansatz als Weg zum Kern Technischer Allgemeinbildung
Authors: Möllers Thomas-Hugo
Published: August 2023

Nachdem wir nun das ganze Spektrum der technischen Allgemeinbildung entworfen haben, fragt sich der kritische Leser, warum in der Überschrift nur ein „Kern“ Technischer Allgemeinbildung angesprochen wird. Technische Bildung ist in Deutschland in den Lehrplänen und Stundentafeln der allgemeinbildenden Schulen nur marginal vertreten. Deshalb begründen  wir hier einen Kulturreihenansatz als Weg zu diesem Kern Technischer Allgemeinbildung.
Atypisches hämolytisch urämisches Syndrom (aHUS)
Authors: Engelhardt Monika , Mertelsmann Roland , Duyster Justus
Published: August 2023

Das Kapitel 10 beinhaltet eine Zusammenstellung der am Universitätsklinikum Freiburg verwendeten Tumortherapie- und ggf. Studien-Protokolle der Entität Atypisches hämolytisch-urämisches Syndrom (aHUS). Der Kapitelinhalt orientiert sich an aktuellen Leitlinien und Therapieempfehlungen und spiegelt detailliert die Therapieabläufe inkl. Supportivtherapie der Freiburger Praxis wider.

Beim Erwerb von Einzelkapiteln muss folgendes beachtet werden:

Protokolle, die bei mehreren Entitäten angewandt werden können, sind aus technischen Gründen nur in jeweils einem Kapitel enthalten. Deshalb muss unter Umständen das Gesamtwerk konsultiert werden.

Erläuterungen zum praktischen Gebrauch der Protokollsammlung inkl. Dosismodifikationstabellen befinden sich im Kapitel 1 (Einleitung).
Hauttumoren
Authors: Engelhardt Monika , Mertelsmann Roland , Duyster Justus
Published: August 2023

Das Kapitel 18 beinhaltet eine Zusammenstellung der am Universitätsklinikum Freiburg verwendeten Tumortherapie- und ggf. Studien-Protokolle der Entität Hauttumoren. Dieses ist in die Unterkapitel Melanom, Basalzellkarzinom, Merkelzellkarzinom (MCC) und Plattenepithelkarzinom gegliedert. Der Kapitelinhalt orientiert sich an aktuellen Leitlinien und Therapieempfehlungen und spiegelt detailliert die Therapieabläufe inkl. Supportivtherapie der Freiburger Praxis wider.

Beim Erwerb von Einzelkapiteln muss folgendes beachtet werden:

Protokolle, die bei mehreren Entitäten angewandt werden können, sind aus technischen Gründen nur in jeweils einem Kapitel enthalten. Deshalb muss unter Umständen das Gesamtwerk konsultiert werden.

Erläuterungen zum praktischen Gebrauch der Protokollsammlung inkl. Dosismodifikationstabellen befinden sich im Kapitel 1 (Einleitung).
Sarkome
Authors: Engelhardt Monika , Mertelsmann Roland , Duyster Justus
Published: August 2023

Das Kapitel 19 beinhaltet eine Zusammenstellung der am Universitätsklinikum Freiburg verwendeten Tumortherapie- und ggf. Studien-Protokolle der Entität Sarkome. Dieses ist in die Unterkapitel Weichteilsarkom, Ewing-Sarkom und Osteosarkom gegliedert. Der Kapitelinhalt orientiert sich an aktuellen Leitlinien und Therapieempfehlungen und spiegelt detailliert die Therapieabläufe inkl. Supportivtherapie der Freiburger Praxis wider.

Beim Erwerb von Einzelkapiteln muss folgendes beachtet werden:

Protokolle, die bei mehreren Entitäten angewandt werden können, sind aus technischen Gründen nur in jeweils einem Kapitel enthalten. Deshalb muss unter Umständen das Gesamtwerk konsultiert werden.

Erläuterungen zum praktischen Gebrauch der Protokollsammlung inkl. Dosismodifikationstabellen befinden sich im Kapitel 1 (Einleitung).
RTx: Gynäkologische Tumoren
Authors: Engelhardt Monika , Mertelsmann Roland , Duyster Justus
Published: August 2023

Das Kapitel 24 beinhaltet eine Zusammenstellung der am Universitätsklinikum Freiburg verwendeten Tumortherapie- und ggf. Studien-Protokolle der Entität Radio-Chemotherapie (RTx): Gynäkologische Tumoren. Dieses ist in die Unterkapitel RTx: Vulvakarzinom, RTx: Endometriumkarzinom und RTx: Zervixkarzinom gegliedert. Der Kapitelinhalt orientiert sich an aktuellen Leitlinien und Therapieempfehlungen und spiegelt detailliert die Therapieabläufe inkl. Supportivtherapie der Freiburger Praxis wider.

Beim Erwerb von Einzelkapiteln muss folgendes beachtet werden:

Protokolle, die bei mehreren Entitäten angewandt werden können, sind aus technischen Gründen nur in jeweils einem Kapitel enthalten. Deshalb muss unter Umständen das Gesamtwerk konsultiert werden.

Erläuterungen zum praktischen Gebrauch der Protokollsammlung inkl. Dosismodifikationstabellen befinden sich im Kapitel 1 (Einleitung).
Mobilisierungschemotherapien
Authors: Engelhardt Monika , Mertelsmann Roland , Duyster Justus
Published: August 2023

Das Kapitel 30 beinhaltet eine Zusammenstellung der am Universitätsklinikum Freiburg verwendeten Chemotherapie- und ggf. Studien-Protokolle zur Stammzellmobilisierung. Der Kapitelinhalt orientiert sich an aktuellen Leitlinien und Therapieempfehlungen und spiegelt detailliert die Therapieabläufe inkl. Supportivtherapie der Freiburger Praxis wider.

Beim Erwerb von Einzelkapiteln muss folgendes beachtet werden:

Protokolle, die bei mehreren Entitäten angewandt werden können, sind aus technischen Gründen nur in jeweils einem Kapitel enthalten. Deshalb muss unter Umständen das Gesamtwerk konsultiert werden.

Erläuterungen zum praktischen Gebrauch der Protokollsammlung inkl. Dosismodifikationstabellen befinden sich im Kapitel 1 (Einleitung).
Konditionierung SZT
Authors: Engelhardt Monika , Mertelsmann Roland , Duyster Justus
Published: August 2023

Das Kapitel 32 beinhaltet eine Zusammenstellung der am Universitätsklinikum Freiburg verwendeten Chemotherapie- und ggf. Studien-Protokolle zur Konditionierung für die allogene Stammzelltransplantation. Der Kapitelinhalt orientiert sich an aktuellen Leitlinien und Therapieempfehlungen und spiegelt detailliert die Therapieabläufe inkl. Supportivtherapie der Freiburger Praxis wider.

Beim Erwerb von Einzelkapiteln muss folgendes beachtet werden:

Protokolle, die bei mehreren Entitäten angewandt werden können, sind aus technischen Gründen nur in jeweils einem Kapitel enthalten. Deshalb muss unter Umständen das Gesamtwerk konsultiert werden.

Erläuterungen zum praktischen Gebrauch der Protokollsammlung inkl. Dosismodifikationstabellen befinden sich im Kapitel 1 (Einleitung).
Paroxysmale nächtliche Hämoglobinurie (PNH)
Authors: Engelhardt Monika , Mertelsmann Roland , Duyster Justus
Published: August 2023

Das Kapitel 9 beinhaltet eine Zusammenstellung der am Universitätsklinikum Freiburg verwendeten Tumortherapie- und ggf. Studien-Protokolle der Entität Paroxysmale nächtliche Hämoglobinurie. Der Kapitelinhalt orientiert sich an aktuellen Leitlinien und Therapieempfehlungen und spiegelt detailliert die Therapieabläufe inkl. Supportivtherapie der Freiburger Praxis wider.

Beim Erwerb von Einzelkapiteln muss folgendes beachtet werden:

Protokolle, die bei mehreren Entitäten angewandt werden können, sind aus technischen Gründen nur in jeweils einem Kapitel enthalten. Deshalb muss unter Umständen das Gesamtwerk konsultiert werden.

Erläuterungen zum praktischen Gebrauch der Protokollsammlung inkl. Dosismodifikationstabellen befinden sich im Kapitel 1 (Einleitung).
Overview of Radiocesium Dynamics in Forests: First Decade and Future Perspectives
Authors: Hashimoto Shoji
Published: August 2023

About 70% of contaminated areas are covered with forests. After the occurrence of accidents, the radiocesium deposited at the time of the accident has migrated within forests, which has been well captured by many studies. Additionally, air dose rates have dropped mainly due to the decay of 134Cs. Herein, the overall radiocesium dynamics were reviewed and shown with the collated datasets. Furthermore, future perspectives of forest radiocesium were discussed with predictions and insights from modeling studies.
Global Fallout: Radioactive Materials from Atmospheric Nuclear Tests That Fell Half a Century Ago and Where to Find Them
Authors: Ito Eriko , Miura Satoru , Aoyama Michio , Shichi Koji
Published: August 2023

The entire world was exposed to a global fallout of cesium-137 (137Cs-GFO) produced from the atmospheric nuclear weapon tests examined mainly in the 1950s and 1960s. Clarifying the residual status of 137Cs-GFO for an extended period (~50 years) after the fallout in Japan will provide strong evidence to predict the future of 137Cs emitted by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident.

Based on research conducted after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident, the FDNPP-generated 137Cs fallout has been predicted to accumulate in the surface mineral soil and remain there for a long time. We questioned whether this insight could be applied to the FDNPP-generated 137Cs falling on forest soils in Japan. This is because the geographical features of forests in Japan are characterized by steep terrain and heavy rainfall, different from forests in the Northern European continent.

To confirm the prediction, that is, the long-term persistence of 137Cs in forest soil, we explored the consequences of 137Cs-GFO in forested areas across Japan after half a century from the fallout deposition. We determined the amount of residual 137Cs-GFO in surface soils (0–30 cm depth) using the forest soil sample archives collected shortly before the FDNPP accident.

The residual 137Cs-GFO in forest soils was not significantly different from the cumulative 137Cs-GFO obtained at observatories. We confirmed that most of the 137Cs-GFO remained within 30 cm of the soil surface even half a century after the fallout. However, the spatially heterogeneous 137Cs-GFO inventory within the forest was found to correspond to various vertical distribution patterns of 137Cs-GFO. The correspondence between the 137Cs-GFO inventory and the vertical distribution pattern indicates that the vertical distribution patterns resulted from active 137Cs-GFO-contaminated sediment migration in the forest over the past half-century and not due to differences in the vertical infiltration rate of 137Cs-GFO.

Although most of the 137Cs-GFO was assumed to remain within the forest surface soil, the 137Cs-GFO inventory was considerably smaller than the cumulative deposition of 137Cs-GFO (79%). Regarding the destination of the missing 137Cs-GFO, in addition to sediment discharge into the water system, this study indicates the possibility of local storage of 137Cs-GFO in soils deeper than 30 cm in the forest.

Forest management that reduces sediment redistribution on the forest floor would help prevent the FDNPP-generated 137Cs from flowing out of the forest.
Structure, Composition, and Physicochemical Properties of Radiocesium-Bearing Microparticles Emitted by the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident
Authors: Okumura Taiga , Yamaguchi Noriko , Kogure Toshihiro
Published: August 2023

During the accident at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, radiocesium-bearing microparticles (CsMPs) were released from damaged reactors into the environment. These micron-sized spherical particles with high specific radioactivity have not been reported in previous nuclear accidents. Herein, the current understanding of the structure, composition, and physicochemical properties of CsMPs is summarized. Electron microscopy revealed that the CsMP matrix is composed of silicate glass containing Na, Cl, K, Fe, Zn, Rb, Sn, and Cs as major constituents. These elements are often inhomogeneously distributed, depending on the particle radius, and Cs was concentrated around the outer side of the particles. In addition, nanocrystals including Cr-rich oxides and chalcogenides were frequently found inside CsMPs. The average valence state of Fe in the CsMP glass matrix was almost Fe2+, indicating formation under a reducing atmosphere through condensation from the gas phase. Radiocesium diffused away from the CsMPs when heated to >600 °C. Accordingly, CsMPs may lose their high specific radioactivity when related radiation-contaminated waste is incinerated at sufficiently high temperatures. Although CsMP solubility is low, they cannot be regarded as “insoluble” materials owing to their small size. CsMP dissolution rates depend on the pH and dissolved species in the solution, and their dissolution behavior is comparable to that of silica-rich glass. Based on these dissolution properties, a method for estimating CsMP abundance and spatial distribution in the environment was proposed. The findings detailed herein contribute to the comprehensive elucidation of CsMP environmental dynamics.
Verification of Effects on Crops and Surrounding Environment in Agriculture Using Radioactively Contaminated Grass Silage Compost Made by Aerobic Ultrahigh Temperature Fermentation
Authors: Yoshii Takahiro , Furui Yoshihiro , Oshima Tairo , Manabe Noboru
Published: August 2023

The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (Tokyo Electric Power Co. Ltd.) accident caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake (11 March 2011) contaminated farmland, grassland, and grass silage in the Tohoku region of Japan with radioactive cesium. In previous studies, we have converted contaminated pasture grasses to compost by employing aerobic ultrahigh temperature fermentation and this showed below acceptable levels of radioactivity. In the present study, we verified whether the decontaminated compost could be safely applied to grassland. A 1200 m2 pastureland (average 320 Bq/kg) in Kurihara-city, Miyagi-prefecture, Japan, was divided into 6 plots, of which 4 plots were treated with 2, 5, 10, and 30 kg of grass silage compost (297 Bq/kg) per m2. In the control plot, chemical fertilizers or nonradioactive cattle manure were applied. After those plots were plowed, orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata) was sown and grown for about 2 months. No significant changes in soil radiocesium concentrations or air dose rates were observed in the pastures during and after the cultivation period. The water quality of the river in the vicinity of the pasture was also not affected. The radiocesium levels in the grass harvested from all plots, including the test plot with 30 kg per m2 of application, were below the detection limit (below 20 Bq/kg), less than one-fifth of the provisional value (100 Bq/kg) for forage. These results demonstrate that radioactive contaminated grass silage compost can be safely applied to actual pastures.
Meeting the Challenge of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)
Authors: d’Abbs Peter , Hewlett Nicole
Published: August 2023

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders(FASD) is a major source of neurodevelopmental impairment among both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians. Its effects are experienced not only by families directly affected, but also in health, education, child protection, youthyoung peopleand criminal justicesystems. Nationally, the prevalenceof FASD is poorly documented and services for prevention, diagnosis and treatment are inadequately resourced. In the case of remote Aboriginal communities, the challenges inherent in diagnosingFASD are compounded by the costs of delivering specialist services to remote settings. In recent decades, several Aboriginal communities have taken the initiative and developed community-led programs for assessing the prevalence ofFASD, creating culturally appropriateeducation and support services, and developing capacity to diagnose FASD in primary health care settings. This chapter describes these initiatives and considers the implications for other communities and policy-makers.
The beneficial use of nitric oxide during cardiopulmonary bypass on postoperative outcomes in children and adult patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 2897 patients
Authors: Abouzid Mohamed , Roshdy Yara , Daniel John Magdy , Rzk Fayed Mohamed , Ismeal Ali Ahmed Ali , Hendawy Mohamed , Tanashat Mohammad , Elnagar Marwa , Daoud Nada , Ramadan Alaa
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Investigate inhaled nitric oxide’s influence on mortality rates, mechanical ventilation and cardiopulmonary bypass duration, and length of stay in the intensive care unit and hospital when administered during cardiopulmonary bypass.

Methods

Following the PRISMA guidelines, we searched four electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science) up to 4th March 2023. The protocol was registered in the PROSPERO database with ID: CRD42023423007. Using Review Manager software, we reported outcomes as risk ratios (RRs) or mean difference (MD) and confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

The meta-analysis included a total of 17 studies with 2897 patients. Overall, there were no significant differences in using nitric oxide over control concerning mortality (RR = 1.03, 95% CI 0.73 to 1.45; P = 0.88) or cardiopulmonary bypass duration (MD = −0.14, 95% CI − 0.96 to 0.69; P = 0.74). The intensive care unit days were significantly lower in the nitric oxide group than control (MD = −0.80, 95% CI − 1.31 to −0.29; P = 0.002). Difference results were obtained in terms of the length of stay in the hospital according to sensitivity analysis (without sensitivity [MD = −0.41, 95% CI − 0.79 to −0.02; P = 0.04] vs. with sensitivity [MD = −0.31, 95% CI − 0.69 to 0.07; P = 0.11]. Subgroup analysis shows that, in children, nitric oxide was favored over control in significantly reducing the duration of mechanical ventilation (MD = −4.58, 95% CI − 5.63 to −3.53; P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Using inhaled nitric oxide during cardiopulmonary bypass reduces the length of stay in the intensive care unit, and for children, it reduces the duration of mechanical ventilation.
Experience with abatacept in refractory lupus nephritis
Authors: Calatayud Emma , Montomoli Marco , Ávila Ana , Sancho Calabuig Asunción , Alegre-Sancho Juan José
Published: August 2023

Lupus nephritis is a major cause of morbidity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Responsiveness to treatment is crucial to avoid chronic kidney disease. New molecules have been developed in recent years to improve renal survival rates. Biological therapies as coadjutant to conventional induction treatment have been tested in randomized clinical trials with heterogeneous results. Like many others biologic therapies, Abatacept has not shown a clear benefit in the context of clinical trials. We present two cases of lupus nephritis patients in whom addition of abatacept resulted in complete remission of the renal disease. The first case described a 49-year-old male with class IV lupus nephritis with nephrotic range proteinuria and high immunological activity refractory to conventional treatment with cyclophosphamide and corticosteroids and multitarget therapy with tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil and prednisone. Several biological therapies (rituximab, belimumab and tocilizumab) were unsuccessfully tried, so that abatacept was added to his background multitarget therapy showing complete clinical response. The second case described a 52-year-old female with class IV lupus nephritis treated initially with conventional treatment with partial response. In successive renal flares with nephrotic proteinuria, she showed intolerance to rituximab and refractoriness to voclosporin. Finally, abatacept was added to her background therapy with MMF and PDN showing complete and maintained remission of the disease. In no case the use of abatacept was associated with serious adverse events. Based on our experience, abatacept should be considered as a safe rescue therapy in patients with refractory lupus nephritis and proteinuria with nephrotic range. In addition to this case, we reviewed the use of abatacept in lupus nephritis in the literature.
An isogeometric analysis framework for ventricular cardiac mechanics
Authors: Willems Robin , Janssens Koen L. P. M. , Bovendeerd Peter H. M. , Verhoosel Clemens V. , van der Sluis Olaf
Published: August 2023

The finite element method (FEM) is commonly used in computational cardiac simulations. For this method, a mesh is constructed to represent the geometry and, subsequently, to approximate the solution. To accurately capture curved geometrical features many elements may be required, possibly leading to unnecessarily large computation costs. Without loss of accuracy, a reduction in computation cost can be achieved by integrating geometry representation and solution approximation into a single framework using the isogeometric analysis (IGA) paradigm. In this study, we propose an IGA framework suitable for echocardiogram data of cardiac mechanics, where we show the advantageous properties of smooth splines through the development of a multi-patch anatomical model. A nonlinear cardiac model is discretized following the IGA paradigm, meaning that the spline geometry parametrization is directly used for the discretization of the physical fields. The IGA model is benchmarked with a state-of-the-art biomechanics model based on traditional FEM. For this benchmark, the hemodynamic response predicted by the high-fidelity FEM model is accurately captured by an IGA model with only 320 elements and 4700 degrees of freedom. The study is concluded by a brief anatomy-variation analysis, which illustrates the geometric flexibility of the framework. The IGA framework can be used as a first step toward an efficient workflow for an improved understanding of, and clinical decision support for, the treatment of cardiac diseases like heart rhythm disorders.
Effect of surgery on the long-term use of opioids in patients with degenerative back disorders: a retrospective register-based study
Authors: Iachina M. , Wod M. , Garvik O. S. , Schiøttz-Christensen B.
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This study based exclusively on register-data provides a scientific basis for further research on the use of opioids in patients with degenerative back disorder. The main objective of this study is to investigate whether surgically treated back pain patients have the same risk of being long-term opioid users as back pain patients who did not have surgery.

Methods

We performed a retrospective register-based cohort study based on all patients diagnosed with a degenerative back disorder at the Spine Center of Southern Denmark from 2011 to 2017. The primary outcome of the study was the use of opioids two years after the patient's first hospital contact with a degenerative back condition. Fisher exact tests were used for descriptive analyses. The effect of the surgery was estimated using adjusted logistic regression analyses.

Results

For patients who used opioids before the first hospital contact, the ratio for long-term opioid use for surgically treated patients is significantly lower than for non-surgically treated patients (OR = 0.75, 95%CI (0.66; 0.86)). For patients who did not use opioids before, the ratio for long-term opioid use for surgically treated patients does not differ from that of non-surgically treated patients (OR = 1.01, 95%CI (0.84; 1.22)).

Conclusions

Patients with a degenerative back disorder who used opioids before their first visit to a specialized spine center have a lower risk of becoming long-term opioid users if they were surgically treated. Whereas for patients who did not use opioids before the first visit, surgical treatment does not influence the risk of becoming long-term opioid users.
Piranha-etched titanium nanostructure reduces biofilm formation in vitro
Authors: Mukaddam Khaled , Astasov-Frauenhoffer Monika , Fasler-Kan Elizaveta , Ruggiero Sabrina , Alhawasli Farah , Kisiel Marcin , Meyer Ernst , Köser Jochen , Bornstein Michael M. , Wagner Raphael S. , Kühl Sebastian
Published: August 2023

Objectives

Nano-modified surfaces for dental implants may improve gingival fibroblast adhesion and antibacterial characteristics through cell-surface interactions. The present study investigated how a nanocavity titanium surface impacts the viability and adhesion of human gingival fibroblasts (HGF-1) and compared its response to Porphyromonas gingivalis with those of marketed implant surfaces.

Material and methods

Commercial titanium and zirconia disks, namely, sandblasted and acid-etched titanium (SLA), sandblasted and acid-etched zirconia (ZLA), polished titanium (PT) and polished zirconia (ZrP), and nanostructured disks (NTDs) were tested. Polished titanium disks were etched with a 1:1 combination of 98% H2SO4 and 30% H2O2 (piranha etching) for 5 h at room temperature to produce the NTDs. Atomic force microscopy was used to measure the surface topography, roughness, adhesion force, and work of adhesion. MTT assays and immunofluorescence staining were used to examine cell viability and adhesion after incubation of HGF-1 cells on the disk surfaces. After incubation with P. gingivalis, conventional culture, live/dead staining, and SEM were used to determine the antibacterial properties of NTD, SLA, ZLA, PT, and ZrP.

Results

Etching created nanocavities with 10–20-nm edge-to-edge diameters. Chemical etching increased the average surface roughness and decreased the surface adherence, while polishing and flattening of ZrP increased adhesion. However, only the NTDs inhibited biofilm formation and bacterial adherence. The NTDs showed antibacterial effects and P. gingivalis vitality reductions. The HGF-1 cells demonstrated greater viability on the NTDs compared to the controls.

Conclusion

Nanocavities with 10–20-nm edge-to-edge diameters on titanium disks hindered P. gingivalis adhesion and supported the adhesion of gingival fibroblasts when compared to the surfaces of currently marketed titanium or zirconia dental implants.

Clinical relevance

This study prepared an effective antibacterial nanoporous surface, assessed its effects against oral pathogens, and demonstrated that surface characteristics on a nanoscale level influenced oral pathogens and gingival fibroblasts.

Clinical trial registration: not applicable
Diagnostic delay in patients with giant cell arteritis: results of a fast-track clinic
Authors: van Nieuwland Marieke , Colin Edgar M. , Boumans Dennis , Vermeer Marloes , Brouwer Elisabeth , Alves Celina
Published: August 2023

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) can lead to severe complications if left untreated. The aim of this study was to describe time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis and treatment in GCA suspected patients in a fast-track clinic (FTC), and secondarily to assess the influence of GCA symptoms on this time. A retrospective cohort consisting of suspected GCA patients who visited the FTC between January 2017 and October 2019 was used. Time between symptom onset, first general practitioner visit, FTC referral, first FTC visit, and treatment initiation was analysed. Furthermore, this was stratified for subtypes of GCA and GCA symptoms. Of 205 patients referred with suspected GCA, 61 patients received a final diagnosis of GCA (GCA+) and 144 patients had no GCA (GCA−). Median time after onset of symptoms to first FTC visit was 31.0 days (IQR 13.0–108.8) in all referred patients. Time between onset of symptoms and first GP visit was 10.5 (4.0–36.3) days, and time between first GP visit and FTC referral was 10.0 (1.0–47.5) days. Patients were generally seen at the FTC within 1 day after referral. For patients with isolated cranial GCA (n = 41), median delay from onset of symptoms to treatment initiation was 21.0 days (11.0–73.5), while this was 57.0 days (33.0–105.0) in patients with extracranial large-vessel involvement (n = 20) (p = 0.02). Our results indicate considerable delay between symptom onset and FTC referral in patients suspected of GCA. Suspected patients were examined and GCA+ patients were treated instantly after referral.

Key Points

• GCA can cause severe complications with delayed treatment, but non-specific symptoms make diagnosis challenging.• Diagnostic delay still occurs despite introducing a successful fast-track clinic resulting from delay between start of symptoms and FTC referral.• Patients who presented with constitutional symptoms had longer delay than patients who presented with isolated cranial symptoms.