bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rationally Improved Surface Charge Density of Triboelectric Nanogenerator with TiO2‐MXene/Polystyrene Nanofiber Charge Trapping Layer for Biomechanical Sensing and Wound Healing Application
Authors: Venkatesan Manikandan , Chandrasekar Jayashree , Hsu Yung‐Chi , Sun Ting‐Wang , Li Po‐Yu , King Xuan‐Ting , Chung Ming‐An , Chung Ren‐Jei , Lee Wen‐Ya , Zhou Ye , Lin Ja‐Hon , Kuo Chi‐Ching
Published: July 2024

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have become reliable green energy harvesters by converting biomechanical motions into electricity. However, the inevitable charge leakage and poor electric field (EF) of conventional TENG result in inferior tribo‐charge density on the active layer. In this paper, TiO2‐MXene incorporated polystyrene (PS) nanofiber membrane (PTMx NFM) charge trapping interlayer is introduced into single electrode mode TENG (S‐TENG) to prevent electron loss at the electrode interface. Surprisingly, this charge‐trapping mechanism augments the surface charge density and electric output performance of TENGs. Polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) mixed polyurethane (PU) NFM is used as tribo‐active layer, which improves the crystallinity and mechanical property of PVDF to prevent delamination during long cycle tests. Herein, the effect of this double‐layer capacitive model is explained experimentally and theoretically. With optimization of the PTMx interlayer thickness, S‐TENG exhibits a maximum open‐circuit voltage of (280 V), short‐circuit current of (20 µA) transfer charge of (120 nC), and power density of (25.2 µW cm−2). Then, this energy is utilized to charge electrical appliances. In addition, the influence of AC/DC EF simulation in wound healing management (vitro L929 cell migration, vivo tissue regeneration) is also investigated by changing the polarity of trans‐epithelial potential (TEP) distribution in the wounded area.
Selective CO2 Photoreduction into CH4 Triggered by the Synergy between Oxygen Vacancy and Ru Substitution under Near‐Infrared Light Irradiation
Authors: Li Jun , Liu Xinglong , Wu Xi , Liu Zhongyi , Zhao Zaiwang , Liu Yifeng , Dou Shixue , Xiao Yao
Published: July 2024

Near‐infrared (NIR) light powdered CO2 photoreduction reaction is generally restricted to the separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers and the supply of active hydrogen (*H). Herein, the study reports a retrofitting hydrogenated MoO3‐x (H‐MoO3‐x) nanosheet photocatalysts with Ru single atom substitution (Ru@H‐MoO3‐x) fabricated by one‐step solvothermal method. Experiments together with theoretical calculations demonstrate that the synergistic effect of Ru substitution and oxygen vacancy can not only inhibit the recombination of photogenerated carriers, but also facilitate the CO2 adsorption/activation as well as the supply of *H. Compared with H‐MoO3‐x, the Ru@H‐MoO3‐x exhibit more favorable formation of *CHO in the process of *CO conversion due to the fast *H generation on electron‐rich Ru sites and transfer to *CO intermediates, leading to the preferential photoreduction of CO2 to CH4 with high selectivity. The optimized Ru@H‐MoO3‐x exhibits a superior CO2 photoreduction activity with CH4 evolution rate of 111.6 and 39.0 µmol gcatalyst−1 under full spectrum and NIR light irradiation, respectively, which is 8.8 and 15.0 times much higher than that of H‐MoO3‐x. This work provides an in‐depth understanding at the atomic level on the design of NIR responsive photocatalyst for achieving the goal of carbon neutrality.
Solar‐Driven Photoelectrochemical Upcycling of Polyimide Plastic Waste with Safe Green Hydrogen Generation
Authors: Zhao Hu , Zhao Xin , Zhang Jiajia , Anandita Shafira , Liu Wen , Koh See Wee , Yu Shuyan , Li Congju , Chen Zhong , Xu Rong , Zou Zhigang , Tu Wenguang , Li Hong
Published: July 2024

Arbitrary disposal of plastic waste into landfills and oceans can disturb the ecological system and even challenge human survival. Centralized plastic recycling process only works for selected types of plastics (e.g., polyethylene) with limited contribution (<10%), because of high infrastructure requirement. Comparatively, photoreforming of plastic waste for commodity and fuels production is much more facile and decentralizable, and thus holds great potential to mitigate the plastic waste challenge. To this end, a fully solar powered photoelectrochemical system is developed to selectively upgrade polyimide waste (often appears in electronic waste) into valuable commodity chemicals, including succinic acid, acetic acid, and formic acid, and cogenerating green hydrogen fuels. It is also demonstrated that one of the key monomer, pyromellitic acid, and the precious metals (in electronic waste) can be fully recycled. This proof‐of‐concept demonstration provides a new viewpoint for designing decentralized photoelectrochemical system for simultaneous plastic waste upcycling and renewable fuel synthesis, critical for a sustainable plastic economy. Selective cleavage of benzene ring also opens a green route for other benzene ring‐containing waste upgrading.
The careful selection of zwitterionic nanoparticle coating results in rapid and efficient cell labeling for imaging‐based cell tracking
Authors: Calvert Nicholas D. , Yu Luciana , Sehl Olivia C. , Gevaert Julia J. , Knier Natasha N. , Rivera‐Rodriguez Angelie , Goulet Clara S. , Fernando Nitara , Flood Samantha , Rinaldi‐Ramos Carlos M. , Foster Paula J. , Shuhendler Adam J.
Published: July 2024

The increased clinical application of cell‐based therapies has resulted in a parallel increase in the need for non‐invasive imaging‐based approaches for cell tracking, often through labeling with nanoparticles. An ideal nanoparticle for such applications must be biologically compatible as well as readily internalized by cells to ensure adequate and stable cell loading. Surface coatings have been used to make nanoparticle trackers suitable for these purposes, but those currently employed tend to have cytotoxic effects. Zwitterionic ligands are known to be biocompatible and antifouling; however, head‐to‐head evaluation of specific zwitterionic ligands for cell loading has not yet been explored. Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) detects superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) using time‐varying magnetic fields. Because MPI can produce high‐contrast, real‐time images with no tissue depth limitation, it is an ideal candidate for in vivo cell tracking. In this work, we have conjugated hard (permanently charged) and soft (pKa‐dependently charged) biomimetic zwitterionic ligands to SPIONs and characterized how these ligands changed SPION physicochemical properties. We have evaluated cellular uptake and subcellular localization between zwitterions, how the improvement in cell uptake generated stronger MPI signal for smaller numbers of cells, and how these cells can be tracked in an animal model with greater sensitivity for longer periods of time. Our best‐performing surface coating afforded high cell loading within 4 h, with full signal retention in vivo over 7 days.
What is known about cardiovascular diseases among seafarers: A systematic scoping review and quality assessment
Authors: Dohrmann Solveig Boeggild , Heiberg Regina Fromsejer , Krenzen Line Wang , Petersen Sofie Ronja , Adams Jordan Thomas , Skov Jane
Published: July 2024

Background

Seafarers are at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), potentially due to a stressful working environment and behavioral risk factors. To develop better prevention strategies, it is important to elucidate the extent of this risk. Therefore, we conducted a systematic literature review on CVD in seafarers.

Method

We conducted systematic searches in five databases. All studies investigating CVDs among occupational seafarers, published in articles or conference papers, were eligible for inclusion. The identified records were screened and reviewed by two independent researchers, who also evaluated the methodological quality of the included studies.

Results

Three thousand nine hundred and seventeen records qualified for screening, and 55 were eligible for inclusion. Most of the studies were observational, including cohort, frequency, incidence or prevalence studies, and review of case records. Around half were assessed at risk of biased findings. Participants in the studies were primarily from North America or the European continent and work onboard transportation vessels. Many studies investigated CVDs as a cause of death, focusing on conditions such as CVD, ischemic heart disease, and myocardial infarction. Frequency of CVD conditions varied but indicate that seafarers face a greater risk compared to the reference populations or control groups. Environmental factors were mainly investigated as risk factors.

Conclusion

Our results indicate a higher risk of CVDs among seafarers compared to reference or control groups. However, due to the variable quality of the evidence, well‐designed studies are needed to establish the causes of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in seafarers and to investigate behavioral aspects of cardiovascular risk.
Intramolecular Electrostatic Interactions Regulate Reactivity of Zwitterionic Functionalities in Amphiphilic Assemblies
Authors: Das Ritam , Dutta Ranit , Yi Jun , Qiu Jingyi , Krishna Jithu , Tzafriri Gideon , Lin Zhou , Thayumanavan S.
Published: July 2024

The consequences of intramolecular ionic interactions in determining the reactivity of functional groups are of interest because they provide insights into how nature deploys seemingly reactive functionalities to be rather ubiquitous. Of specific interest are the quaternary ammonium ions in lipids. In this work, we investigate the effect of intramolecular electrostatic interactions in zwitterionic functionalities by judiciously incorporating them as leaving groups at the α‐position of α,β‐unsaturated ester‐based lipid head groups. We find that electrostatic stabilization indeed plays a critical role in both the reaction kinetics with nucleophiles and the thermodynamics of lipid formation. We further leverage these findings to fabricate both triggerable assembly and disassembly of liposomal supramolecular assemblies in the presence of nucleophiles.
Revisiting the Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy of Porous Electrodes in Li‐ion Batteries by Employing Reference Electrode
Authors: Xu Lei , Xiao Ye , Yu Zhi‐Xian , Yang Yi , Yan Chong , Huang Jia‐Qi
Published: July 2024

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), characterized by its non‐destructive and in situ nature, plays a crucial role in comprehending the thermodynamic and kinetic processes occurring within Li‐ion batteries. However, there is a lack of consistent and coherent physical interpretations for the EIS of porous electrodes. Therefore, it is imperative to conduct thorough investigations into the underlying physical mechanisms of EIS. Herein, by employing reference electrode in batteries, we revisit the associated physical interpretation of EIS at different frequencies. Combining different battery configurations, temperature‐dependent experiments, and elaborated distribution of relaxation time analysis, we find that the ion transport in porous electrode channels and pseudo‐capacitance behavior dominate the high‐frequency and mid‐frequency impedance arcs, respectively. This work offers a perspective for the physical interpretation of EIS and also sheds light on the understanding of EIS characteristics in other advanced energy storage systems.
Dissoziative Elektronenanlagerungsdynamik eines vielversprechenden Krebsmedikaments zeigt sein Potential als Radiosensitizer
Authors: Izadi Farhad , Luxford Thomas F. M. , Sedmidubská Barbora , Arthur‐Baidoo Eugene , Kočišek Jaroslav , Ončák Milan , Denifl Stephan
Published: July 2024

2‐Bromo‐1‐(3,3‐dinitroazetidin‐1‐yl)ethan‐1‐on (RRx‐001) ist ein Chemotherapeutikum für sauerstoffarme Tumore und zeigte bereits Synergieeffekte in Kombination mit Strahlentherapie. Die Wechselwirkung des Moleküls mit niederenergetischen Sekundärelektronen, die in großer Zahl in der physikalisch‐chemischen Phase der Bestrahlung gebildet werden, könnten für diesen Synergieeffekt verantwortlich sein. Die vorliegende Studie konzentriert sich auf die ersten Schritte in der Wechselwirkung von RRx‐001 mit niederenergetischen Elektronen, in denen das temporäre negative Ion gebildet wird und rasch fragmentiert. Die Kombination von Resultaten zweier Versuchsaufbauten erlaubt es uns, den Zerfall des RRx‐001 Anions auf verschiedenen Zeitskalen zu entflechten. Die alleinige Anwesenheit des eingefangenen Elektrons führt zu einer raschen Abspaltung von NO2 und HNO2, während NO2− und Br− Anionen direkt beziehungsweise über andere Zwischenprodukte gebildet werden. Auf Basis quantenchemischer Rechnungen schlagen wir einen bidirektionalen Wechsel zwischen π*(NO2) und σ*(C−Br) Zuständen vor, welcher die experimentellen Spektren erklärt. Die beobachtete schnelle Dynamik lässt auch Schlussfolgerungen für die Chemie des Anions in der kondensierten Phase zu.
Polyacrylate epoxide oligomers with robust photo‐crosslinked and thermomechanical properties enabled by controlling copolymerizing molecular weight distribution
Authors: Lian Keyu , Yang Shengdu , Tang Wei , Zhang Junhua
Published: July 2024

Photo‐triggering curing coatings have advantages of improving production efficiency, reducing pollution emissions, and contributing to green environmental protection. However, making the trade‐off between appropriate viscosity and UV‐curing properties in a high‐performing polymer system remains a formidable challenge. In this paper, firstly, a series of acrylate copolymer oligomers (named as PAAR) were synthesized using methyl methacrylate (MMA), butyl acrylate (BA), and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), then methacrylic acid (MAA) was grafted utilizing the reaction between carboxyl group in MAA with epoxy group in oligomer to introduce double bonds. By adjusting the oligomer molecular weight to control the viscosity and changing the GMA ratio to obtain suitable double bonds content. As a result, the number molecular weight (Mn) of the thus‐obtained PAAR oligomers were less than 3000 Da, and the polymer dispersity indexes (PDI) were lower than 1.8. Photo‐polymerization kinetics revealed that the coating prepared using the oligomers could be fully cross‐linked by UV light triggering within 60 s, achieving a high transparency of 90% along with favorable thermal and mechanical properties. Furthermore, it was confirmed that the water resistance on the surface of the cured films and hydrophobicity were more influenced by the presence of hydroxyl groups.
Fine and combinatorial regulation of key metabolic pathway for enhanced β‐alanine biosynthesis with non‐inducible Escherichia coli
Authors: Zhou Hai‐Yan , Ding Wen‐Qing , Zhang Xi , Zhang Hong‐Yu , Hu Zhong‐Ce , Liu Zhi‐Qiang , Zheng Yu‐Guo
Published: July 2024

β‐Alanine is the only β‐amino acid in nature and one of the most important three‐carbon chemicals. This work was aimed to construct a non‐inducible β‐alanine producer with enhanced metabolic flux towards β‐alanine biosynthesis in Escherichia coli. First of all, the assembled E. coli endogenous promoters and 5′‐untranslated regions (PUTR) were screened to finely regulate the combinatorial expression of genes panDBS and aspBCG for an optimal flux match between two key pathways. Subsequently, additional copies of key genes (panDBSK104S and ppc) were chromosomally introduced into the host A1. On these bases, dynamical regulation of the gene thrA was performed to reduce the carbon flux directed in the competitive pathway. Finally, the β‐alanine titer reached 10.25 g/L by strain A14‐R15, 361.7% higher than that of the original strain. Under fed‐batch fermentation in a 5‐L fermentor, a titer of 57.13 g/L β‐alanine was achieved at 80 h. This is the highest titer of β‐alanine production ever reported using non‐inducible engineered E. coli. This metabolic modification strategy for optimal carbon flux distribution developed in this work could also be used for the production of various metabolic products.
Trametinib restores the central conducting lymphatic flow in a premature infant with Noonan syndrome
Authors: Leenders Erika K. S. M. , Kleimeier Lotte E. R. , Weeke Lauren C. , Coppens Catelijne H. , Klein Willemijn M. , Draaisma Jos M.T.
Published: July 2024

Key Clinical Message

We describe a premature hydropic infant with Noonan syndrome and a therapy refractory chylothorax. This was shown to be due to a central conducting lymphatic anomaly. After therapy with a MEK‐inhibitor the infant recovered clinically and radiologically completely, possibly by restoring lymphatic valve function.
A Heterogeneous Acid‐Base Organocatalyst For Cascade Deacetalisation‐Knoevenagel Condensations
Authors: Chhetri Ashis , Maibam Ashakiran , Maniam Subashani , Babarao Ravichandar , Wilson Karen , Lee Adam F. , Mitra Joyee
Published: July 2024

Multifunctional heterogeneous catalysts are an effective strategy to drive chemical cascades, with attendant time, resource and cost efficiencies by eliminating unit operations arising in normal multistep processes. Despite advances in the design of such catalysts, the fabrication of proximate, chemically antagonistic active sites remains a challenge for inorganic materials science. Hydrogen‐bonded organocatalysts offer new opportunities for the molecular level design of multifunctional structures capable of stabilising antagonistic active sites. We report the catalytic application of a charge‐assisted, hydrogen‐bonded crystalline material, bis(melaminium)adipate (BMA), synthesised from melamine and adipic acid, which possesses proximate acid‐base sites. BMA exhibits high activity for the cascade deacetalisation‐Knoevenagel condensation of dimethyl acetals to form benzylidenemalononitriles under mild conditions in water; BMA is amenable to large‐scale manufacture and recycling with minimal deactivation. Computational modelling of the melaminium cation in protonated BMA explains the observed catalytic reactivity, and identifies the first demethoxylation step as rate‐limiting, which is in good agreement with time‐dependent 1H NMR and kinetic experiments. A broad substrate scope for the cascade transformation of aromatic dimethyl acetals is demonstrated.
Deep learning for predicting rehospitalization in acute heart failure: Model foundation and external validation
Authors: Kim Mi‐Na , Lee Yong Seok , Park Youngmin , Jung Ayoung , So Hanjee , Park Joonwoong , Park Jin‐Joo , Choi Dong‐Joo , Kim So‐Ree , Park Seong‐Mi
Published: July 2024

Aims

Assessing the risk for HF rehospitalization is important for managing and treating patients with HF. To address this need, various risk prediction models have been developed. However, none of them used deep learning methods with real‐world data. This study aimed to develop a deep learning‐based prediction model for HF rehospitalization within 30, 90, and 365 days after acute HF (AHF) discharge.

Methods and results

We analysed the data of patients admitted due to AHF between January 2014 and January 2019 in a tertiary hospital. In performing deep learning‐based predictive algorithms for HF rehospitalization, we use hyperbolic tangent activation layers followed by recurrent layers with gated recurrent units. To assess the readmission prediction, we used the AUC, precision, recall, specificity, and F1 measure. We applied the Shapley value to identify which features contributed to HF readmission. Twenty‐two prognostic features exhibiting statistically significant associations with HF rehospitalization were identified, consisting of 6 time‐independent and 16 time‐dependent features. The AUC value shows moderate discrimination for predicting readmission within 30, 90, and 365 days of follow‐up (FU) (AUC:0.63, 0.74, and 0.76, respectively). The features during the FU have a relatively higher contribution to HF rehospitalization than features from other time points.

Conclusions

Our deep learning‐based model using real‐world data could provide valid predictions of HF rehospitalization in 1 year follow‐up. It can be easily utilized to guide appropriate interventions or care strategies for patients with HF. The closed monitoring and blood test in daily clinics are important for assessing the risk of HF rehospitalization.
Prognoses and risk stratification of thrombus‐associated events in heart failure patients without atrial fibrillation
Authors: Li Yanxuan , Li Zihan , Si Daoyuan , Yang Ping
Published: July 2024

Aims

We aim to assess the risk of thrombus‐associated events (TAE) in patients with heart failure (HF) without atrial fibrillation (AF) and develop an effective scoring system for a risk stratification model.

Methods and results

This retrospective study included 450 patients (median age 64.0 years, interquartile range [55.0, 75.0]; 31.6% women) hospitalized for HF without AF and atrial flutter, but with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 55% and New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class of III–IV. A median follow‐up of 47 months was conducted. In the present study, TAE during follow‐up was independently associated with both all‐cause death [hazard ratio (HR) 1.756, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.324–2.328, P < 0.001] and readmission for HF (HR 1.574, 95% CI 1.122–2.208, P = 0.009) after adjustment for covariates. Hypertension (HR 1.573, 95% CI 1.018–2.429, P = 0.041), atrial arrhythmia excluding AF (AAexAF) (HR 2.041, 95% CI 1.066–3.908, P = 0.031), previous ischaemic stroke (HR 2.469, 95% CI 1.576–3.869, P < 0.001), and vascular disease (HR 1.658, 95% CI 1.074–2.562, P = 0.023) were independently associated with TAE. Age (HR 1.021, 95% CI 1.008–1.033, P = 0.001), previous ischaemic stroke (HR 1.685, 95% CI 1.248–2.274, P = 0.001), LVEF ([10, 25] vs. [40, 55]) HR 1.925, 95% CI 1.311–2.826, P = 0.001; (25, 40] vs. (40, 55] HR 1.084, 95% CI 0.825–1.424, P = 0.563), and creatinine clearance rate (Ccr) (HR 0.991, 95% CI 0.986–0.996, P = 0.001) were independently associated with composite events of TAE and death (TAE‐D). CHA2DS2VASc modestly predicted 5‐year TAE [area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) 0.660, P < 0.001 compared with 0.5] and TAE‐D (AUC 0.639, P < 0.001 compared with 0.5). (C)ACE, formed by incorporating AAexAF, LVEF, and Ccr into CHA2DS2VASc, had higher AUC for predicting 5‐year TAE (0.694 vs. 0.660, P = 0.018) and TAE‐D (0.708 vs. 0.639, P < 0.001) compared with CHA2DS2VASc. In patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), (C)ACE and (C)ACEN [formed by incorporating NYHA into (C)ACE] had higher AUC compared with CHA2DS2VASc in predicting 5‐year TAE (0.700 and 0.707 vs. 0.649, P = 0.013 and 0.030, respectively) and TAE‐D (0.712 and 0.713 vs. 0.622, P < 0.001 and <0.001, respectively). The AUC did not improve statistically from (C)ACE to (C)ACEN (0.700 vs. 0.707, P = 0.600 for TAE; 0.712 vs. 0.713, P = 0.917 for TAE‐D).

Conclusions

In HF without AF, TAE during follow‐up was associated with adverse prognoses. The independent risk factors of TAE or TAE‐D improved CHA2DS2‐VASc predictive ability, especially in patients with HFrEF. Our findings provide new evidence for TAE risk stratification in HF without AF, potentially guiding prophylactic anticoagulation.
Optimal path calculation method of optical network under complex constraints
Authors: Zhu Peng , Sun Hong , Xiang Qian , Zhang Zhenming
Published: July 2024

To address the optimal solution problem of loop‐free paths in software‐defined optical networks with multiple complex logical relationships, a unified constraint expression is utilized to describe the constraints. The logical relationships of complex constraints are dissected and simplified, differentiating between “AND” and “OR” constraints. An optimal path calculation method is proposed, involving the transformation of the network topology based on various constraints. This transformation includes layering the topology, removing specific links, and adding necessary links to portray the different complex constraints onto the original network structure. Following the topology transformation, an enhanced K‐shortest path algorithm is employed to compute the route satisfying the combination of multiple complex constraints, resulting in the global optimal solution. Experimental results demonstrate that this method can determine the optimal path under intricate constraints in a single computational iteration without requiring prior knowledge of the optimal constraint sequence. Therefore, it offers significant practical value compared to existing algorithms.
Salt reduction strategies and enhanced saltiness perception mechanisms for prepared dishes: A review
Authors: Lan Haijing , Chen Lei
Published: July 2024

Healthy prepared dishes are receiving increasing attention, with high salt content being their prominent feature, and a long‐term high sodium diet may lead to various diseases. At present, replacing NaCl with non‐sodium salts has become the main salt reduction method, but these substitutes will bring adverse flavors to the product, and excessive use of KCl will also affect health. Therefore, the study of flavor peptides combined with new green technologies is a potentially effective strategy to reduce salt without reducing saltiness. This article reviews the current salt reduction strategies, the effects of food matrix, basic amino acids, other tastes and odors on saltiness, and the relationship between saltiness and receptor structure and transduction mechanism. In addition, the saltiness assessment methods were introduced, and the current challenges faced by the strategy of reducing salt without reducing saltiness were discussed. The preparation of salty peptides and salty enhancing peptides from natural foods and the combination of them with new green technologies may be an effective method for salt reduction in the food industry. This review can provide theoretical reference for the prepared dishes industry to reduce salt without reducing saltiness.
Effects of soil spatial variability on the behaviour of the embankment supported with a combined retaining structure
Authors: Bian Xiaoya , Chen Baotong , Liu Hui , Chen Jiawei
Published: July 2024

In this study, the effects of soil spatial variability on the behaviour of the embankment supported with a combined retaining structure (CRS) were investigated. The numerical model of the CRS embankment was established and validated with the field data. An application programming interface (API) was developed to deal with the data exchanging issue between the numerical model and the spatial variability characterization model. Based on the verified numerical model and the API, the probabilistic analysis with 500 Monte Carlo simulations was automatically computed. Three influencing factors of the retained soil (the mean of the friction angle, the variation of the friction angle and the vertical correlation length of the random field) are analysed by parametric analysis. The results show that the vertical correlation length of the random field is most important in the earth pressure calculation process, while the mean of the friction angle is the factor with least impact. On the whole, the spatial variability of soil properties has minimal impact on the distribution and magnitude of earth pressure behind the retaining structure.
Numerical investigation of slip effects on heat and mass transfer in a vertical channel with immiscible micropolar and viscous fluids of variable viscosity
Authors: Gosty Vanaja , Srinivas Gosukonda , Suresh Babu Baluguri
Published: July 2024

This study investigates the fluid flow, heat, and mass transfer phenomena within a vertical channel containing two immiscible fluids, with a particular focus on slip effects. These effects include no slip, velocity slip, thermal slip, and multiple slips, each analyzed with appropriate boundary conditions. The study thoroughly examines key characteristics, such as variations in thermal conductivity and viscosity. Using a sixth‐order Runge–Kutta numerical method implemented using Mathematica, the study achieves precise solutions for complex scenarios. The detailed results show how the various slip mechanisms and relevant parameters interact with each other in complex ways. These findings are useful for both theoretical understanding and application in real‐life engineering situations. This study also gives important information about how fluid flow, heat transfer, and mass transfer change under different slip effects. It looks at these effects and shows how they change visually. It also carefully calculates and analyzes engineering parameters like the Nusselt number, shear stress, and Sherwood number using bar charts, showing how they affect and behave. The study resulted in velocity slip having a minimal impact on temperature, whereas thermal slip resulted in higher temperatures. Both velocity and thermal slip conditions simultaneously result in the lowest temperatures.
Unsteady MHD‐radiative thin film flow with heat transfer over a stretching surface in porous media
Authors: Gomathy G. , Rushi Kumar B.
Published: July 2024

This study conducts a computational analysis to explore how magnetic fields, radiation, heat, and mass transfer collectively influence a horizontal stretching sheet within a porous medium. The research focuses on elucidating the dynamics of thin film flow through the formulation of time‐dependent equations and subsequent transformation of fluid flow equations into ordinary differential equations via similarity transformation. The numerical solution is attained employing the Runge–Kutta fourth‐order method coupled with a shooting technique. MATLAB software is utilized to generate graphs and numerical values, offering a detailed representation of engineering‐relevant physical quantities in tabular form. The investigation revealed notable trends associated with varying parameters. Increasing unsteadiness parameters lead to a reduction in velocity, temperature, and concentration fields, while the temperature distribution demonstrates a positive correlation with radiation parameters. Moreover, elevated Prandtl numbers and unsteadiness parameters correspond to augmented heat and mass flux, respectively. Of particular significance is the observed heightened heat transfer rate during the transition from a Prandtl number of 1 (representing air) to 2 (representing oil), alongside an increased mass transfer rate with the escalation in Schmidt number from 0.62 (representing hydrogen) to 0.78 (representing ammonia). A comparative analysis of the numerical findings with existing literature demonstrates excellent agreement, affirming the validity and relevance of the present study. These insights offer valuable implications for understanding and optimizing heat and mass transfer processes in porous media, with potential applications in various engineering and scientific domains.
Ocular microbiota types and longitudinal microbiota alterations in patients with chronic dacryocystitis with and without antibiotic pretreatment
Authors: Wu Shengru , Zhu Limin , Wang Tingting , Zhang Chenguang , Lin Jiaqi , He Yanjin , Yao Junhu , Lin Tingting , Du Juan
Published: July 2024

Antibiotic pretreatment is routine for chronic dacryocystitis (DC) patients. Herein, the longitudinal effects of antibiotic pretreatment before dacryocystorhinostomy for DC patients were evaluated. Conjunctival and nasal swabs were collected longitudinally from 33 DC patients with and without antibiotic pretreatment, both before dacryocystorhinostomy and at 1, 2, and 4 weeks postdacryocystorhinostomy. Additionally, conjunctival sac swabs were collected from 46 healthy volunteers and 14 other ocular diseases patients. Comparisons focused on ocular/nasal microbiota and recovery outcomes. Compared to healthy participants, DC patients without antibiotic pretreatment exhibited greater ocular microbiota diversity before dacryocystorhinostomy. Although clinical recovery rates were comparable, our results suggest that, after antibiotic pretreatment, the ocular microbiota richness and diversity, and the composition alteration tendency, significantly changed 4 weeks after surgery. This implies that the ocular microbiota was more disturbed in patients who underwent antibiotic pretreatment compared to those without such treatment. Furthermore, two types of ocular microbiota and three types of nasal microbiota were identified in ocular diseases. This study provides comprehensive data on the ocular and nasal microbiota in DC patients with and without antibiotic pretreatment, along with other ocular diseases. This finding suggested that antibiotic pretreatment may not be necessary before dacryocystorhinostomy for DC patients, especially for nonsevere cases.
Making Design Moves: Exploring the Relationship Between Gender, Self‐Efficacy, and Design Moves in Collaborative Ideation
Authors: Powell Alexandra , Mann Abbey K. , Rossmann Jenn S. , Prabhu Rohan
Published: July 2024

As more women enter engineering, the climate of engineering teams must be improved to ensure that women feel included and inspired to design innovative solutions. Prior research suggests that women in STEM often report lower levels of self‐efficacy, which could limit their engagement in collaborative design tasks. Unfortunately, little research has explored how designers' gender and self‐efficacy play a role in collaborative ideation and we aim to explore this research gap. We conducted an observational study with nominal—that is, non‐interacting—and balanced four‐member design teams, involving a collaborative ideation task. From the results, we see that the mean frequency of new ideas proposed by men was greater than those proposed by women. This result suggests that men may emphasize creating new ideas rather than acknowledging others' ideas. Furthermore, we see that men with higher self‐efficacy provided more compliments and criticisms, and these relationships were relatively weaker or the opposite for women. These results suggest that participants with different gender identities may make different design moves in collaboration ideation, and these differences are further influenced by their self‐efficacy. These results call for further exploration into the role of self‐efficacy in creating inclusive collaborative design environments, especially for designers belonging to historically underrepresented identities.
Water Versus Electrolyte Rehydration on Vocal Fold Osmotic and Oxidative Stress Gene Expression
Authors: Bailey Taylor W. , Venkatraman Anumitha , Cannes do Nascimento Naila , Cox Abigail , Sivasankar M. Preeti
Published: July 2024

Objectives

Systemic dehydration may induce osmotic and oxidative stress in the vocal folds, but our knowledge of the biology and mitigation with rehydration is limited. The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate whether systemic dehydration induces vocal fold oxidative and osmotic stress and to compare the impact of rehydration by water intake versus electrolyte intake on osmotic and oxidative stress‐related gene expression.

Methods

Four‐month‐old male Sprague–Dawley rats (N = 32) underwent water restriction. Rehydration was achieved with ad libitum access to water or electrolytes for 24 hours. Rats were divided into four groups: euhydration control, dehydration‐only, dehydration followed by either water or electrolyte rehydration (n = 8/group). Gene expression was assessed via RT2 Gene Expression Profiler arrays.

Results

With respect to oxidative stress, 10 genes were upregulated and 2 were downregulated after vocal fold dehydration compared with the euhydrated control. Concerning osmotic stress, six genes were upregulated with dehydration only, six genes were upregulated following rehydration with water, whereas a single gene was upregulated with electrolyte rehydration. All genes with significantly different expression between the rehydration groups showed lower expression with electrolytes compared with water.

Conclusions

The results support a potential role of oxidative and osmotic stresses in vocal folds related to systemic dehydration. The differences in stress‐related gene expression in vocal fold tissue between rehydration with electrolytes or water, albeit modest, suggest that both rehydration options offer clinical utility to subjects experiencing vocal fold dehydration with preliminary evidence that electrolytes may be more effective than water in resolving osmotic stress.

Level of Evidence

NA (prospective animal study) Laryngoscope, 134:4636–4641, 2024
Synthesis and Polymerization of the Bio‐Benzoxazine Derived from Resveratrol and Thiophenemethylamine and Properties of its Polymer
Authors: Zhong Min , Yin Ren , Sun Zichao , Jiang Tianjia , Sheng Weichen , Zhang Kan
Published: July 2024

Resveratrol and 2‐thiophenemethylamine have been employed in the synthesis of a novel tri‐functional benzoxazine (RES‐th) to develop the bio‐benzoxazine monomer. The chemical structure of the synthesized monomer is confirmed by various characterization technics. The polymerization behavior is monitored by in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The in situ FTIR results reveal distinct reaction mechanisms for the three oxazine rings presented in RES‐th, with both ether and phenolic Mannich bridge structures observed in the products. The activation energy values of RES‐th are calculated to be 119.05, 120.97, and 119.44 kJ mol−1 by Kissinger, Ozawa, and Starink methods, respectively, which are all based on the heat flow curves at various heating temperatures. The thermal stability and flame retardancy of the resulting polybenzoxazine (poly(RES‐th)) are investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and microscale combustion calorimeter (MCC). The values of Td5 and Td10 of polybenzoxazine are found to be 356 °C and 399 °C, respectively, with a char yield of 66.3% at 800 °C. The prepared polybenzoxazine also demonstrates nonflammability characteristics with the values of heat release capacity (HRC) and total heat release rate (THR) of 18.65 J (g K)−1 and 2.69 kJ g−1, respectively. These findings suggest that the thermoset, poly(RES‐th), is a promising candidate for fire‐resistant applications.
γ‐Tocotrienol enhances autophagy of gastric cancer cells by the regulation of GSK3β/β‐Catenin pathway
Authors: Zhu Hao , Wang Fa‐Lin , Zhang Shuang , Xue Li , Gao Guang‐Qiang , Dong Hong‐Wei , Wang Qi , Sun Wen‐Guang , Liu Jia‐Ren
Published: July 2024

γ‐Tocotrienol (γ‐T3) is a major subtype of vitamin E, mainly extracted from palm trees, barley, walnuts, and other plants. γ‐T3 has effects on anti‐inflammation, anti‐oxidation, and potential chemoprevention against malignancies. It is still uncompleted to understand the effect of γ‐T3 on the inhibitory mechanism of cancer. This study aimed to investigate whether γ‐T3 enhanced autophagy in gastric cancer and the underlying molecular mechanism. The results showed that γ‐T3 (0–90 μmol/L) inhibited the proliferation of gastric cancer MKN45 cells and AGS cells, and arrested the cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase in a dose‐dependent manner. Autophagy was increased in MKN45 cells treated with γ‐T3 (0–45 μmol/L), especially at a dose of 30 μmol/L for 24 h. These effects were reversed by 3‐methyladenine pretreatment. Furthermore, γ‐T3 (30 μmol/L) also significantly downregulated the expression of pGSK‐3β (ser9) and β‐catenin protein in MKN45 cells, and γ‐T3 (20 mg/kg b.w.) effectively decreased the growth of MKN45 cell xenografts in BABL/c mice. GSK‐3β inhibitor‐CHIR‐99021 reversed the negative regulation of GSK‐3β/β‐Catenin signaling and autophagy. Our findings indicated that γ‐T3 enhances autophagy in gastric cancer cells mediated by GSK‐3β/β‐Catenin signaling, which provides new insights into the role of γ‐T3 enhancing autophagy in gastric cancer.
Forty years of practice against gastric cancer in Linqu County, a high‐risk area of gastric cancer in China
Authors: Pan Kai‐Feng , Li Wen‐Qing , You Wei‐Cheng
Published: July 2024

Gastric cancer (GC) is a global public health burden, with nearly one million new cases diagnosed each year worldwide. To investigate the risk factors and the prevention strategies for GC, in the past 40 years, a series of epidemiological studies have been carried out in Linqu County, Shandong Province, a high‐risk area of GC in China. Here, we briefly review the major efforts of 40‐year practices against GC in Linqu County, particularly highlighting a case‐control study to identify GC risk factors, a cohort study to determine the associations between the risk factors and the progression of gastric lesions, and an intervention trial to prevent GC development.
Efficient estimation procedure for failure probability function by an augmented directional sampling
Authors: Ye Nan , Lu Zhenzhou , Feng Kaixuan , Zhang Xiaobo
Published: July 2024

Failure probability function (FPF) can reflect quantitative effects of random input distribution parameter (DP) on failure probability, and it is significant for decoupling reliability‐based design optimization (RBDO). But the FPF estimation is time‐consuming since it generally requires repeated reliability analyses at different DPs. For efficiently estimating FPF, an augmented directional sampling (A‐DS) is proposed in this paper. By using the property that the limit state surface (LSS) in physical input space is independent of DP, the A‐DS establishes transformation of LSS samples in standard normal spaces corresponding to different DPs. By the established transformation in different standard normal spaces, the LSS samples obtained by DS at a given DP can be transformed to those at other DPs. After simple interpolation post‐processing on those transformed samples, the failure probability at other DPs can be estimated by DS simultaneously. The main novelty of A‐DS is that a strategy of sharing DS samples is designed for estimating the failure probability at different DPs. The A‐DS avoids repeated reliability analyses and inherits merit of DS suitable for solving problems with multiple failure modes and small failure probability. Compared with other FPF estimation methods, the examples sufficiently verify the accuracy and efficiency of A‐DS.
Preparation and characterization of high load‐bearing needled composite preform based on novel ordered short fiber network needling method
Authors: Li Jiao , Xin Shiji , Chen Li , Yang Wei , Chen Xiaoming
Published: July 2024

Needled preform and its composite using felt and base cloth stacked needled have small fiber volume fraction and relatively weak mechanical properties, which are difficult to meet the service requirements of structural and functional integrated components of high‐speed aircraft. Responding to this issue, this paper proposed a new method for preparing high load‐bearing needled composite preform based on ordered short fiber network needling. The high load‐bearing needled preforms were prepared by designing different structural parameters of ordered short fiber network and forming process parameters, and then preform structure was characterized and mechanical properties were tested. The results showed that using ordered short fiber network as carrier of the short fibers, the formed needled fiber bundles were longer and denser, volume content of needled fiber bundles and mechanical properties of needled preform were greatly improved, and needled fiber bundles volume content of ordered short fiber network reinforced needled preform was 1.5 times and 46.3 times that of half‐cut cloth and felt respectively. Compared with traditional felt needled preform and half‐cut cloth needled preform, the interlaminar peeling strength of the ordered short fiber network reinforced needled preform increased by up to 246.4% and 49.2%, respectively. The tensile strength of ordered short fiber network reinforced needled preform was 12.9% higher than that of half‐cut cloth in X‐axis direction. In addition, the effects of ordered short fiber network structure, short fiber length, areal density and needling density on the needled preform structure and properties were also revealed.

Highlights

High load‐bearing needled composite preform was prepared based on novel ordered short fiber network needling method.

The needled fiber bundles formed by using ordered short fiber network were longer and denser, and their volume content was 46.3 times that of felt needled preform.

The interlaminar peeling strength of the ordered short fiber network reinforced needled preform increased by up to 246.4%.

The tensile strength of ordered short fiber network reinforced needled preform was 12.9% greater than half‐cut cloth in the X‐axis direction.
Mixed‐methods evaluation of a face‐to‐face educational intervention for health and social care professionals to deliver family‐centred cancer supportive care when a parent with dependent children is at end of life
Authors: Hanna Jeffrey R. , Semple Cherith J.
Published: July 2024

Objective

To deliver and evaluate an educational intervention to equip health and social care professionals (professionals) on how best to support parents at end of life with cancer concerning their dependent children (<18).

Methods

An evidence‐based and theory‐driven face‐to‐face educational intervention was developed and evaluated using three levels of Kirkpatrick's Model of Evaluation. Pre‐test, post‐test surveys were completed immediately before‐and‐after the intervention using a validated self‐efficacy scale and single‐item questions evaluating perceived usefulness and relevance (levels one/two). Qualitative interviews ≥ 3‐months post‐intervention explored if, and how the intervention impacted professionals' practice (level three). Fourteen sessions were delivered at oncology settings to 347 professionals between 2021 and 2023. Two hundred seventy four professionals completed the pre‐test survey, with 239 completing the post‐test survey. Fourteen professionals were interviewed between three‐and 19‐months post‐intervention.

Results

Quantitative findings demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in self‐efficacy post‐educational intervention (p < 0.001). Qualitative data highlighted professionals gained new approaches to progress end of life conversations with parents, despite some familial resistance to sharing the reality of the situation with children. Positive intervention content shaping clinical practice included the bereaved parent's lived experience, communication framework and roleplay videos. Some professionals considered a booster session and opportunities to practice conversations necessary to further consolidate learning into practice.

Conclusions

Evidence and theory‐driven education can positively impact professionals' provision of family‐centred cancer care. Future studies should explore the impact of this educational intervention on familial outcomes. Alongside a sustainable delivery of this intervention, advanced communication skills programmes should incorporate parent‐child end of life conversations.