bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Short‐term multivariate airworthiness forecasting based on decomposition and deep prediction models
Authors: Tatli Ali , Filik Tansu , Bocu Erdogan , Karakoc Hikmet Tahir
Published: August 2024

This study introduces a model for predicting airworthiness in terms of meteorology information within the viewpoint of not only formal regulations but also informal rules based on acquired indicators from flight training organization experience (AIs‐FTOE). The case study is carried out in the Hasan Polatkan Airport which is used by the Department of Flight Training of Eskişehir Technical University (ESTU‐P), which is also recognized as a flight training organization. Within the study, the constraints (derived from regulations and AIs‐FTOE) and the data set used in models are explained. Also, the models are introduced based on the gated recurrent unit (GRU) and long short‐term memory (LSTM) with the use of empirical mode decomposition (EMD) and variational mode decomposition (VMD). Finally, a model‐selective mechanism (MSM) is proposed to use the models in common. The findings show that the models presented in the study produce successful results that can be used in flight training organization's (FTO) planning studies. The MSM uses GRU and LSTM together with decomposition techniques to provide more advanced prediction capabilities. When the literature is examined, it is observed that although meteorological conditions are of vital importance in the efficiency of FTOs, there are not enough studies on airworthiness based on meteorology. So, a model that will assist in scheduling plans is presented for FTOs. Airworthiness analysis of forecasting can provide a comprehensive reference to support planning efficiency in FTOs. To the authors' knowledge, this study will be the first in the literature on airworthiness that presents the MSM using a hybrid deep learning algorithm and decomposition of time series models in concurrent.
Fortification of milk powder with cashew apple juice using maltodextrin as a carrier material: A novel dairy recipe
Authors: Sithu Rameshbabu Vinoth Kannan , Rangarajan Vivek , Manjare Sampatrao Dagu
Published: August 2024

Food preservation and fortification pose significant challenges in the fruit and dairy sectors, particularly in developing regions with limited infrastructure and rising production volumes. Cashew apples, rich in antioxidants such as vitamin C and polyphenolic compounds, often go to waste due to their high perishability. In Goa, India, these discarded fruits are used to produce “Feni,” an alcoholic beverage, but broader utilization strategies are still needed. This study introduces a novel approach to extend the shelf life of dairy products like milk powder and enhance their nutritional content by fortifying it with cashew apple juice (CAJ) through spray drying. In order to reduce moisture content during spray drying and to obtain a free‐flowing powder of the final product, maltodextrin was added. Maltodextrin alters the adhesive properties of the fruit juice droplets on surfaces and facilitates the formulation of free‐flowing powder. The key parameters including solubility, bulk density, and glass transition temperature, along with structural analyses such as X‐ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscope, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, were evaluated to compare the fortified CAJ milk powder with its commercial counterparts. Experiments determined optimal spray‐drying conditions, achieving a free‐flowing powder at inlet and outlet temperatures of 140 and 60°C, respectively, with a 7% maltodextrin concentration (18 DE). The resulting milk powder displayed a Tg value of 76.7 ± 2.3°C, falling within the acceptable range of 65 to 98°C, demonstrating the feasibility of this fortification method based on the spray‐drying process parameters.
Unveiling the distinctive geochemical signature of fine ware through Sr–Nd–Pb isotopes: A site‐specific perspective from the site of Cales (South Italy)
Authors: Verde Maria , De Bonis Alberto , D'Antonio Massimo , Renson Virginie , Czujko Stephen , Tomeo Antonella , Morra Vincenzo
Published: August 2024

This study explores the use of three isotopic systematics—Sr, Nd, and Pb— combined together for the first time to trace the origins of ancient pottery. This approach strengthens our ability to relate raw materials to the final products. The materials selected for the analysis are from a well‐documented data set, previously subjected to a thorough mineralogical–petrographic and chemical characterization. Seventeen ceramic specimens represented by black‐glazed pottery, Terra sigillata, and fine common ware as well as production indicators such as black‐glazed pottery wasters and spacers were examined via isotope analyses. These samples were discovered in the archaeological site of Cales, presently Calvi Risorta, in South Italy. CaO‐rich clay raw materials from the area of interest were also analyzed as comparative references for the investigated ceramics. The comparison of the archaeometric data of the ceramic samples with the clay raw materials showed an affinity between the ceramics studied and local clay raw materials belonging to Mio‐Pliocene marine sediments from the Campania Apennine Mountain area. This affinity was more accurately defined through the Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopes, which show coinciding signatures among ceramic samples, production indicators, and raw materials. The method yields promising outcomes that reinforce prior experimental investigations and amplify its reliability. The multi‐isotopic methodology highlights the significance of combining geochemical data to pinpoint the origins of raw materials used for ancient ceramic production.
Formulation of a CITE metric for evaluating the clinical implications of medical studies and their originating hospitals in China
Authors: Jianchao Gao , Xiaoyuan Chen , Chenyan Gao
Published: August 2024

Background

The number of medical research publications by Chinese clinical investigators has risen substantially, contributing to 14.63% of the global total in 2019; however, their tangible impact on clinical decision‐making remains limited. Various evaluation methods have been developed to measure hospital research competence in China, such as Fudan University's China hospital ranking and Science and Technology Evaluation Metrics (STEM) ranking, which predominantly focuses on factors such as academic reputation, volume of publications and patents, and research resources. However, composite indices may not fully capture the actual clinical value generated by medical research. To address this gap, we introduced the “Clinical Influence and Timeliness Evaluation (CITE)” metric to assess both the clinical importance of a given medical research study and the clinical influence of the hospital where it originated. The methodology used relies on the premise that influential medical research would be referenced in clinical guidelines, which serve as critical resources for clinicians.

Methods

The CITE metric was applied for 78,636 medical studies concerning chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) published between 2000 and 2020 and referenced in both Chinese and international clinical guidelines for COPD. Specific indexes and formulas were derived to quantify the clinical weight of a medical research study (W) and its timeliness (T), enabling a dynamic assessment of the clinical value of each study and the overall contribution of a particular hospital.

Results

In this analysis, we incorporated 499 hospitals in China and quantitatively identified their dynamic clinical influence in COPD from 2000 to 2020. Our findings offer objective and targeted evaluation metrics by focusing on clinical relevance and recognizing the collaborative nature of medical research.

Conclusion

The CITE metric provides an innovative method to gauge the true impact of medical research in China, with potential applications across different medical specialties. CITE can serve as a useful tool for understanding the relationship between research input and practical clinical outcomes, ultimately promoting more clinically relevant research endeavors.
Effects of diabetes‐related foot ulcer depth on healing days, cost, and quality of life: A prospective observational study
Authors: Oe Makoto , Jais Suriadi , Sari Nurmila , Sanada Hiromi , Sasongko Agung , Haryanto Haryanto
Published: August 2024

Key points

The relationship between the depth of the diabetes‐related foot ulcers, and the healing days, cost, and QOL was examined.

Depth 4 and 5 ulcers, namely beyond the tendons, exhibited significantly longer healing days and higher costs than Depth 2 and 3 ulcers. As for QOL, there were no significant differences in utility values between the depth categories.

Results on healing time and cost reiterate the importance of early consultation, especially before the depth becomes deeper than the tendon.
Retrospective, observational study of different medication regimens and outcome in children with cough variant asthma
Authors: Lou Nannan , Ma Xiang , Luo Qingxin , Wei Xiaoling , Zhang Yun , Guo Jing , Wang Jing , Gai Zhongtao
Published: August 2024

Objective

This retrospective longitudinal cohort study aimed to explore the best therapeutic regimen and treatment duration of cough variant asthma (CVA) in children.

Methods

A total of 314 children with CVA were divided into receive inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) combined with long‐acting beta2‐agonist (LABA) group, ICS combined with leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRA) group, ICS monotherapy group and LTRA monotherapy group. All clinical data were statistically analyzed. Logistic regression model was used to compare the advantages and disadvantages of different treatment schemes at each follow‐up time point and the best treatment scheme. The Cox proportional hazard regression model based on inverse probability weighting was used to compare the effects of different medication regimens on adverse outcomes with asthma recurrence or progression as the end point.

Results

(1) After comprehensive analysis, ICS + LABA group was the preferred control regimen for CVA within 8 weeks. After 8 weeks of diagnosis, the efficacy of ICS group or LTRA group was comparable to that of ICS + LABA group and ICS + LTRA group. (2) The ICS + LABA group showed a significant improvement in cough at an early stage, particularly at 4 weeks; the symptoms of ICS + LTRA and ICS groups were significantly improved at 36 weeks. The LTRA group alone showed significant improvement at 20 weeks.

Conclusion

ICS + LABA, ICS + LTRA, ICS alone and LTRA alone can effectively treat CVA. ICS + LABA could improve the symptoms most quickly within 8 weeks after CVA diagnosis, followed by ICS + LATR group. After 8 weeks, it can be reduced to ICS alone to control CVA for at least 36 weeks based on the remission of symptoms in children.
Basketball detection and trajectory prediction using IoT for assisting physical training
Authors: Liang Xianhui
Published: August 2024

With the development of the Internet of Things (IoTs) and 5G technologies, more and more smart applications are emerging. This paper designs an IoTs‐based college basketball teaching system which can automatically detect basketball and predict its trajectory for auxiliary teaching. The difficulties include low‐latency video processing and a smart algorithm for automatic basketball detection and its trajectory prediction. For the former issue, the basketball videos are collected using a 5G camera and transmitted to the Jetson TX2 platform through a 5G network. For the latter issue, an end‐to‐end deep learning framework is proposed and deployed on the Jetson TX2 platform. First, a pre‐trained YOLOv5 is used to obtain high‐confidence candidate regions; then, the local dependencies are disclosed using a spatial graph convolutional layer; lastly, a multi‐head self‐attention (MSA) mechanism is used to improve the modeling of long‐distance dependencies. The proposed system is evaluated on a self‐built basketball dataset and the results show its effectiveness for basketball detection and trajectory prediction.
Structural breaks and GARCH models of exchange rate volatility: Re‐examination and extension
Authors: Hasanov Akram Shavkatovich , Brooks Robert , Abrorov Sirojiddin , Burkhanov Aktam Usmanovich
Published: August 2024

We examine the empirical significance of structural changes concerning generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) models of exchange rate volatility using out‐of‐sample tests by replicating and carrying out robustness checks on the volatility forecasting study by Rapach and Strauss (Journal of Applied Econometrics, 2008; 23, 65–90). We employ the same econometric models but incorporate recent US dollar daily exchange rates data while also using different software, a relatively recent forecast accuracy test and loss metrics. Our objective is to attain scientific replication in a broad sense. Our analysis verifies and broadly aligns with the results obtained in the original study. In particular, we find strong evidence that the models incorporating structural breaks demonstrate superior performance across all loss functions and forecast horizons compared with those models that ignore instabilities.
Self‐assessment of professional competence and influential factors among dental students
Authors: Ghaemi‐Amiri Maryam , Mirzapour Abouzar , Gholinia Hemmatollah , Sistani Mohammad Mehdi Naghibi
Published: August 2024

Background and objective

Competency‐based education is recognized for evaluating dental students' knowledge and skills. However, practical management training, which is the hands‐on education and experience in managing operations and patient interactions, does not align fully with this framework. This study aims to assess professional competence and related factors among dental students using self‐assessment, contributing to dental education literature, and identifying areas for improvement.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study included 50 total senior dental students from a top‐ranked dental school. With a response rate of 100%, data were collected using a structured questionnaire with three sections: personal information, self‐assessment of professional competency, and factors influencing competency. Statistical analysis, including descriptive statistics and tests like Chi‐square and ANOVA, analyzed the data.

Results

The average self‐reported professional competence score was 71.15 with a standard deviation of 3.05. Associations between age, gender, grade point average (GPA), and self‐reported professional competence were assessed, with no significant links found (p > 0.05). Influential factors included interaction with clinical instructors (69.24%) and interest in dentistry (67.03%). No significant differences in self‐reported professional competence were observed among students residing on‐campus versus off‐campus.

Conclusion

Age, gender, and GPA do not significantly impact dental students’ self‐reported professional competence. Positive interaction with instructors and interest in dentistry contribute to skill development. Practical experience and effective educational relationships are crucial. Dental education institutions should improve clinical competence by fostering strong student‐instructor relationships, increasing hands‐on clinical training, and fostering student interest in dentistry.
Strong arc decompositions of split digraphs
Authors: Bang‐Jensen Jørgen , Wang Yun
Published: August 2024

A strong arc decomposition of a digraph is a partition of its arc set into two sets such that the digraph is strong for . Bang‐Jensen and Yeo conjectured that there is some such that every ‐arc‐strong digraph has a strong arc decomposition. They also proved that with one exception on four vertices every 2‐arc‐strong semicomplete digraph has a strong arc decomposition. Bang‐Jensen and Huang extended this result to locally semicomplete digraphs by proving that every 2‐arc‐strong locally semicomplete digraph which is not the square of an even cycle has a strong arc decomposition. This implies that every 3‐arc‐strong locally semicomplete digraph has a strong arc decomposition. A split digraph is a digraph whose underlying undirected graph is a split graph, meaning that its vertices can be partitioned into a clique and an independent set. Equivalently, a split digraph is any digraph which can be obtained from a semicomplete digraph by adding a new set of vertices and some arcs between and . In this paper, we prove that every 3‐arc‐strong split digraph has a strong arc decomposition which can be found in polynomial time and we provide infinite classes of 2‐strong split digraphs with no strong arc decomposition. We also pose a number of open problems on split digraphs.
Histopathological Patterns of Otosclerosis Progression: Exploring Otic Capsule and Round Window Involvement
Authors: Shimura Tomotaka , Keskin Yilmaz Nevra , Koerig Schuster Artur , Song Grace , Cureoglu Emre Abdullah , Kobayashi Sei , Rajan Dilshan , da Costa Monsanto Rafael
Published: August 2024

Objectives

Obliteration of the round window (RW) in cases of otosclerosis presents a significant clinical challenge due to its association with more severe hearing loss and a poorer prognosis for functional recovery after stapes surgery. The objective is to assess and characterize the occurrence of RW involvement in otosclerosis cases and to identify patterns of disease progression that may indicate a potential for RW obliteration.

Methods

We selected archival temporal bones from donors with otosclerosis. We evaluated the degree of RW obliteration using a semi‐quantitative scale and the location of the foci within the temporal bone, and whether the foci were continuous or isolated.

Results

Most of the foci were located anteriorly to the oval window (89.2%), while RW area involvement was seen in 26.9% of the ears. In cases with fenestral foci, 68.1% directly involved and/or fixed the footplate. Among donors with bilateral otosclerosis, foci affected both ears in a similar pattern in 64.2%. Among donors with RW involvement, ones with continuous, large lesions that extended from the oval window associated with complete RW obliteration, while ones with smaller degrees of obliteration had solitary foci scattered within the otic capsule.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate a high rate of RW involvement in cases of otosclerosis. Ears with continuous lesions extending from the oval window region to the RW area were more likely to present with complete RW obliteration. These results provide insights that could lead to better prognostic assessment of patients with otosclerosis in the future.

Level of Evidence

N/A Laryngoscope, 2024
Does polymixis complicate prediction of high‐frequency dissolved oxygen in lakes and reservoirs?
Authors: Robbins Caleb J. , Sadler Jeffrey M. , Trolle Dennis , Nielsen Anders , Wagner Nicole D. , Scott J. Thad
Published: August 2024

As lake and reservoir ecosystems transition across major environmental regimes (e.g., mixing regime) resulting from anthropogenic change, setting predictive expectations is imperative. We tested the hypothesis that (dissolved) oxygen is more predictable in monomictic reservoirs that thermally stratify throughout the summer (warm) season compared to polymictic reservoirs that stratify intermittently. Using two‐hourly vertical profiles of oxygen, we compared daily‐aggregated errors of oxygen predictions from random forests across and within two monomictic and two polymictic reservoirs in the south‐central (subtropical) USA. Although one monomictic reservoir was typically more predictable than the polymictic reservoirs, the hypereutrophic, small monomictic reservoir had less predictable oxygen patterns potentially related to rapid oxygen cycling and intrusions of oxygenated waters in the hypolimnion without mixing. Daily mixing did not relate strongly to model errors. Water temperature, depth, and wind were the most important predictors, but were not clearly related to season or mixing. Lastly, we compared multiple model types (regression, neural network, and process‐based) in one polymictic reservoir to test how our interpretations of oxygen predictability were sensitive to model type, finding that the models generally agreed; however, the process‐based model poorly predicted oxygen in the middle of the vertical profiles (5 m) where most models performed poorly due to a temporally unstable, vacillating metalimnion. Our results suggest predicting reservoir oxygen dynamics may be easier in stratified reservoirs, but eutrophication and complex hydrodynamics may cause forecasting surprises especially for those who use or manage water resources in mono‐ or dimictic reservoirs.
TFE Terpolymers: Once Promising – Are There Still Perspectives in the 21st Century: Synthesis, Characterization, and Properties‐Part I
Authors: Ok Salim , Steinhart Martin , Scheler Ulrich , Améduri Bruno
Published: August 2024

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) exhibits outstanding properties such as high‐temperature stability, low surface tension, and chemical resistance against most solvents, strong acids, and bases. However, these traits make it challenging to subject PTFE to standard polymer processing procedures, such as thermoforming and hot incremental forming. While polymer processing at temperatures above the melting point of PTFE is already demanding, the typically large molar mass of PTFE results in extremely high melt viscosities, complicating the processing of PTFE. Also, PTFE tends to decompose at temperatures close to its melting point. Therefore, fluoropolymers obtained by copolymerizing tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) with various co‐monomers are studied as alternatives to PTFE (e.g., fluorinated ethylene‐propylene (FEP)), combining its advantages with better processability. TFE terpolymers have emerged as desirable PTFE alternatives. This review provides an overview of the synthesis with various comonomers and microstructural analysis of PTFE terpolymers and the relationships between the microstructures of TFE terpolymers and their properties.
Complex Sequence‐Defined Heteropolymers Enable Controlled Film Growth in Layer‐By‐Layer Assembly
Authors: Barman Ranajit , Tschopp Michel , Charles Laurence , Decher Gero , Felix Olivier , Lutz Jean‐François
Published: August 2024

Digitally‐encoded poly(phosphodiesters) (d‐PPDE) with highly complex primary structures are evaluated for layer‐by‐layer (LbL) assembly. To be easily decoded by mass spectrometry (MS), these digital polymers contain many different monomers: 2 coding units allowing binary encryption, 1 cleavable spacer allowing controlled MS fragmentation, and 3 mass tags allowing fragment identification. These complex heteropolymers are therefore composed of 6 different motifs. Despite this strong sequence heterogeneity, it is found that they enable a highly controlled LbL film formation. For instance, a regular growth is observed when alternating the deposition of negatively‐charged d‐PPDE and positively‐charged poly(allyl amine hydrochloride) (PAH). Yet, in this approach, the interdistance between consecutive coded d‐PPDE layers remains relatively small, which may be an issue for data storage applications, especially for the selective decoding of the stored information. Using poly(sodium 4‐styrene sulfonate) (PSS) as an intermediate non‐coded polyanion, it is shown that a controlled interdistance between d‐PPDE layers can be easily achieved, while still maintaining a regular LbL growth. Last but not least, it is found in this work that d‐PPDE of relatively small molecular weight (i.e., significantly smaller than those of PAH and PSS) still enables a controlled LbL assembly.
Potential of Benchtop NMR for the Determination of Polymer Molar Masses, Molar Mass Distributions, and Chemical Composition Profiles by Means of Diffusion‐Ordered Spectroscopy, DOSY
Authors: Tratz Johanna , Gaborieau Marianne , Matz Markus , Pollard Michael , Wilhelm Manfred
Published: August 2024

The determination of molar masses and their distributions is crucial in polymer synthesis and design. This work presents the current performance and limitations of diffusion‐ordered spectroscopy (DOSY) on a low‐field (benchtop) NMR spectrometer (at 90 MHz) as an alternative to size exclusion chromatography (SEC) for determining diffusion coefficient distributions (DCDs) and molar mass distributions (MMDs). After optimization for narrowly distributed homopolymers, MMDs obtained with inverse Laplace transformation (ILT) and log‐normal distribution are compared with average molar masses obtained with mono‐ and bi‐exponential fits, as well as MMDs obtained from SEC. This approach enables ILT to determine DCDs and MMDs even for bimodal homopolymers with fully spectrally overlapping signals and block copolymers with various chemical compositions, for which chemical composition profiles are determined. The feasibility of low‐field diffusion NMR with samples dissolved in non‐deuterated solvents is further demonstrated and methods for solvent suppression are discussed.
Effect of SiC dominated with ZrB2 particles on the ablation and mechanical properties of carbon/novolac‐epoxy (EPN1180) composite at 3000°C
Authors: Kasmaei Mahdi Pour‐Jafari , Alaei Mohammad Hossein , Jam Jafar Eskandari , Soltani Seyed Ali Khalife
Published: August 2024

This study investigates the mechanical properties and erosion resistance of high temperature–pressure carbon‐epoxy novolac insulation reinforced with ZrB2/SiC particles. For this reason, at first, five samples were fabricated using the hot press, which included resin epoxy novolac EPN1180 base without reinforcement and four samples containing resin with 20:80, 30:70, 40:60, and 50:50 of SiC: ZrB2 particles respectively. After manufacturing of the samples, the mechanical properties were evaluated through bending and tensile testing, followed by erosion resistance properties by the use of oxyacetylene flame erosion tests. Chemical composition and surface morphology analysis of the composites were conducted using energy‐dispersive spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and x‐ray diffraction analysis. Results indicate that the addition of ceramic particles enhances both mechanical properties and erosion resistance of the composite. The pure resin sample exhibited the highest weight loss and thickness reduction, while the sample containing 40% SiC and 60% ZrB2 demonstrated the least weight loss and thickness reduction about 55% and 83% respectively compared to pure sample. Additionally, the sample with 30% SiC and 70% ZrB2 had the lowest backside temperature. Furthermore, the sample with 20% SiC and 80% ZrB2 exhibited the highest mechanical properties, with a tensile strength of 422.5 MPa and flexural strength of 587.11 MPa. Morphological analysis revealed the presence of phases such as SiO2, ZrO2, and ZrSiO4 attributable to the ZrB2/SiC particles, contributing to the enhancement of erosion resistance.

Highlights

Examines volume ratios of ZrB2/SiC.

Discovers the best particle ratio (20%SiC, 80%ZrB2) for mechanical properties.

Identifies the best particle ratio (30% SiC, 70% ZrB2) for erosion resistance.

Reveals key phases enhancing erosion resistance with advanced analysis methods.

Linear and mass ablation rate improved by 83% and 55% (best formation).
Monocentric Study on the Performance of Noninvasive Prenatal Testing on Cell‐Free DNA for the Detection of Monosomy X
Authors: Steinfort Kelly , Fransen Erik , Blaumeiser Bettina , Janssens Katrien
Published: August 2024

Objective

Increasing the PPV of monosomy X detected by the non‐invasive prenatal test (NIPT) by discriminating a (mosaic) monosomy X genotype of fetal versus maternal origin.

Methods

Out of 30,700 women referred for NIPT between January 2014 and December 2021, 79 had a high risk result for 45,X. Discrimination between fetal and maternal 45,X was made based on the values for ffX, ffY and SeqFF. Follow‐up was provided through analysis of amniotic fluid, maternal blood, umbilical cord blood, neonatal blood and/or placental biopsies.

Results

Follow‐up data were available for 70/79 women; after exclusion of one twin pregnancy, 69 pregnancies were evaluated (87.3%). Forty one of those were correctly predicted as being maternal or fetal, for an overall PPV of 59.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 47%–71%). Of the 33 predicted fetal cases with follow‐up, 11 were indeed of fetal origin, equating to a PPV of 33.3% (95% CI 18%–52%); three additional cases turned out to be placental in origin, six were maternal and for 13, no explanation could be found. The PPV of maternal cases was 88.2% (30/34 cases with follow‐up correctly predicted; 95% CI 73%–97%). One case turned out to be fetal; for the other three, follow‐up studies failed to prove the presence of monosomy X. Two cases for which no prediction on the origin of the monosomy X could be made (inconclusive high‐risk NIPT result) turned out to have confined placental mosaicism.

Conclusion

Although the PPV for fetal monosomy X remains lower than for the common trisomies, the total PPV for 45,X screening with NIPT can be improved by discerning fetal from (mosaic) maternal 45,X genotype. Thorough follow‐up to determine the origin of the aberrant NIPT result is advised, so that women can be adequately counseled on the risk in their current and future pregnancies and, in case of maternal mosaic monosomy X, of their own prospects.
[BMIM]Cl‐AgNPs Immobilized on Eggshell Membrane as an Adsorbent for Solid Phase Extraction of Sulfamethoxazole in Lake and Tap Water
Authors: Mhd Wahi Nur Azila , Fadzil Faris Darwish , Mohamad Sharifah , Mohd Jamil Arniza Khairani
Published: August 2024

An alternative solid phase extraction (SPE) material, 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride–silver nanoparticles/eggshell membrane ([BMIM]Cl‐AgNPs/ESM), is developed by synthesizing [BMIM]Cl‐AgNPs using a simple reduction method and immobilizing directly on ESM. The newly developed material is successfully applied for extraction and detection of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) in environmental aqueous samples via a high‐performance liquid chromatography‐diode array detector (HPLC‐DAD). Characterization is accomplished by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and field emission scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X‐ray (FESEM/EDX), confirming the presence of [BMIM]Cl‐AgNPs on ESM. The optimization of [BMIM]Cl‐AgNPs/ESM‐based SPE method is studied by the one variable at a time (OVAT) approach. Method validation shows good linearity (R2 = 0.9995) in the range of 10–500 µg L−1, with the detection and quantification limits determined to be 3.07 and 9.31 µg L−1 respectively. Additionally, a reusability study shows the developed material can extract SMX up for three cycles without significant reduction in its efficiency. Excellent recoveries (90.07–104.08%) in spiked tap and lake water demonstrate the potential of [BMIM]Cl‐AgNPs/ESM for trace‐level detection of pollutants.
Analysis of thermal stability for slow burning propellant based on isothermal testing: Self‐accelerating decomposition temperature (SADT) calculation and validation
Authors: Luo Yi‐min , Xia Yu , Wang Jun‐hong , Ma Teng , Feng Zhang‐qi , Xu Sen , Wu Xing‐liang
Published: August 2024

Burning rate suppressants (BRSs) refer to a series of additives that reduce the burning rate of propellants, crucial for achieving sustained and stable thrust. This research focuses on assessing the impact of ammonium sulfate and ammonium oxalate on thermal stability and their potential as BRSs. Due to the stronger inhibitory effect of ammonium sulfate on the AP proton transfer process, the activation energy of propellant's first decomposition can be increased from 94.71 kJ mol−1 to 129.69 kJ mol−1 at a 3 % addition level. Based on Semenov model, the self‐accelerated decomposition temperatures (TSADT) were calculated and validated through 7‐day isothermal test. Introducing ammonium sulfate and ammonium oxalate raised the TSADT from 197.31 °C to 220.90 °C and 215.06 °C, respectively, deviating less than 4 % from experimental results. Among the propellants tested, those with ammonium sulfate showed prolonged response delay times (44.43–33.60 h), lower superheating temperatures (222.8–445.5 °C), and reduced mass loss rates (33.0–71.4 %) after 7 days of isothermal storage at 220–240 °C. The consistency between thermal analysis and isothermal test underscores the significant impact of activation energy on thermal stability.
Preparation and characteristics of boron‐based composite micro‐units encapsulated by potassium perchlorate
Authors: Qin Yang , Liu Jie , Zeng Jiangbao , Zou Jinbin , Song Ye , Li Fengsheng
Published: August 2024

To improve the ignition and combustion performance of boron (B), the B@ potassium perchlorate (KP) composite micro‐units are successfully prepared by recrystallization of solvent evaporation. The morphology and structural composition show that B@KP composite micro‐units are formed by the gentle recrystallization of KP at the heterogeneous interface between B particles and solvents. It is shown by thermal analysis that the initial thermal decomposition temperature of KP is reduced by 49 °C due to the reduction of particle size. In addition, the heat of 420 J/g released by the thermal decomposition of KP is beneficial to the evaporation of the oxide boron (B2O3) film on the surface of B, which reduces the initial oxidation temperature of B by 185 °C and improves the ignition performance of B. Interestingly, the oxygen (O2) released by the thermal decomposition of KP quickly reacts with B to release heat of 3608 J/g, which improves the combustion performance of B. The optimal mass ratio of B to KP is 1: 5, which results in the ignition delay time of 641 ms, a reduction of 19 ms compared to the physical mixed sample. The ignition delay times of other samples are 724 ms, 680 ms and 650 ms respectively, and B could not be ignited successfully. In the combustion process, all samples emit a bright green flame of B combustion, and even a fierce combustion flame like a mushroom cloud appears. In a word, the B@KP composite micro‐units have great potential for application in solid propellants.
Heteroepitaxial α‐Ga2O3 Thin Film‐Based X‐Ray Detector with Metal–Semiconductor–Metal Structure
Authors: Kim Minje , Kim Sunjae , Park Ji‐Hyeon , Cho Hyeon Gu , Gihm Se Hoon , Jeon Dae‐Woo , Hwang Wan Sik
Published: August 2024

This study explores the potential of 700‐nm‐thick heteroepitaxial α‐Ga2O3 thin films on c‐plane sapphire substrates for X‐ray detector applications. The crystal quality and optical bandgap of the heteroepitaxial α‐Ga2O3 thin films are comparable to those of high‐quality α‐Ga2O3 thin films. The α‐Ga2O3 thin film X‐ray detector with a metal–semiconductor–metal structure exhibits a charge neutral point shift, resulting in a short‐circuit current density of 9.07 nA cm−2 and an open‐circuit voltage of –1.2 V. The detector achieves the highest signal‐to‐noise ratio of 973 at 0 V, while the maximum sensitivity (14.7 μC Gyair−1 cm−2) occurs at 10 V. The proposed X‐ray detector demonstrates a reliable transient response and long‐term robustness, suggesting the promise of heteroepitaxial α‐Ga2O3 for low‐cost, high‐quality, large‐area X‐ray detectors.
Asynchronous nonfragile guaranteed performance control for singular switched positive systems: An event‐triggered mechanism
Authors: Wang Jinling , Li Qiang , Li Shuo , Zhang Linzhong
Published: August 2024

This paper addresses the guaranteed performance control problem for a class of singular switched positive systems, where the switching signal is subject to a state‐dependent process. Firstly, the causality, regularity, positivity, and asymptotical stability of the considered systems are discussed. In order to prevent the occurrence of data collisions and reduce the consumption of communication resources, the event‐triggered (E‐T) mechanism is applied. This is one of the initial attempts to introduce the E‐T scheme for such special systems. Besides, an asynchronous nonfragile controller under the E‐T scheduling scheme is designed to make certain that the resulting closed‐loop systems are causal, regular, positive, asymptotically stable, and have a guaranteed performance value . Through the application of the co‐positive Lyapunov function method and the min‐projection strategy, the corresponding sufficient conditions are given in the form of linear programming (LP). Finally, the effectiveness of the controller proposed in this paper is verified via two simulation examples.
Aggregation‐Induced Emissive Feringa‐Type Motor: Toward the Dual‐Functional Motor in a Single Molecular Aggregation System
Authors: Jiang Ziwei , Qin Yunan , Liao Guohong , Liu Li , Luo Yanling , Li Quan , Guo Kun
Published: August 2024

Aggregation‐induced emission (AIE)allows tunable photoluminescence via the simple regulation of molecular aggregation. The research spurt along this vein has also offered tremendous opportunities for light‐responsive artificial molecular machines that are to be fully explored for performing versatile functions. Herein, the study reports a light‐driven Feringa‐type motor, when in the appropriate aggregation state, not only demonstrates the light‐activated rotary motion but emits photons with good quantum yield. A semi‐quantitative TD‐DFT calculation is also conducted to aid the understanding of the competitive photoluminescence and photoisomerization processes of the motor. Cytotoxicity test shows this motor possesses good biocompatibility, laying a solid foundation for applying it in the bio‐environment. The results demonstrated that the engagement of the aggregation‐induced emission concept and light‐driven Feringa‐motor can lead to the discovery of the novel motorized AIEgen, which will further stimulate the rise of more advanced molecular motors capable of executing multi‐functionalities.
Highly Anisotropic Thermally Conductive Dielectric Polymer/Boron Nitride Nanotube Composites for Directional Heat Dissipation
Authors: Zandieh Azadeh , Buahom Piyapong , Baradaran Shokouhi Elnaz , Mark Lun Howe , Rahmati Reza , Aghababaei Tafreshi Omid , Hamidinejad Mahdi , Mandelis Andreas , Kim Keun Su , Park Chul B.
Published: August 2024

An ideal dielectric material for microelectronic devices requires a combination of high anisotropic thermal conductivity and low dielectric constant (ɛ′) and loss (tan δ). Polymer composites of boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs), which offer excellent thermal and dielectric properties, show promise for developing these dielectric polymer composites. Herein, a simple method for fabricating polymer/BNNT composites with high directional thermal conductivity and excellent dielectric properties is presented. The nanocomposites with directionally aligned BNNTs are fabricated through melt‐compounding and in situ fibrillation, followed by sintering the fibrous nanocomposites. The fabricated nanocomposites show a significant enhancement in thermal properties, with an in‐plane thermal conductivity (K‖) of 1.8 Wm−1K−1—a 450% increase—yielding a high anisotropy ratio (K‖/K⊥) of 36, a 1700% improvement over isotropic samples containing only 7.2 vol% BNNT. These samples exhibit a 120% faster in‐plane heat dissipation compared to the through‐plane within 2 s. Additionally, they display low ɛ′ of ≈3.2 and extremely low tan δ of ≈0.014 at 1 kHz. These results indicate that this method provides a new avenue for designing and creating polymer composites with enhanced directional heat dissipation properties along with high K‖, suitable for thermal management applications in electronic packaging, thermal interface materials, and passive cooling systems.
Intercepting Dendrite Growth With a Heterogeneous Solid Electrolyte for Long‐Life All‐Solid‐State Lithium Metal Batteries
Authors: Yu Tao , Liu Yuankai , Liu Yiwen , Li Haoyu , Ning Wenjie , Feng Yinhui , Zuo Daxian , Zhou Haoshen , Guo Shaohua
Published: August 2024

The application of lithium metal anode in all‐solid‐state batteries has the potential to achieve both high energy density and safety performance. However, the presence of serious dendrite issues hinders this potential. Here, the ion transport pathways and orientation of dendrite growth are regulated by utilizing the differences of ionic conductivity in heterogeneous electrolytes. The in situ formed Li–Ge alloy phases from the spontaneous reaction between Li10GeP2S12 and the attracted dendrites greatly enhance the ability to resist dendrite growth. As an outcome, the heterogeneous electrolyte achieves a high critical current density of 2.1 mA cm−2 and long‐term stable symmetrical battery operation (0.3 mA cm−2 for 17 000 h and 1.0 mA cm−2 for 2000 h). Besides, due to the superior interfacial stability and low interface impedance between the heterogeneous electrolyte and lithium anode, the Li||LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 full battery exhibits great cycling stability (80.5% after 500 cycles at 1.0 mA cm−2) and rate performance (125.4 mAh g at 2.0 mA cm−2). This work provides a unique strategy of interface regulation via heterogeneous electrolytes design, offering insights into the development of state‐of the‐art all‐solid‐state batteries.
POCUS use in the critical care areas: The use of posterior view for heart assessment
Authors: Cheong Issac , Merlo Pablo Martín , Tamagnone Francisco Marcelo
Published: August 2024

Echocardiography can be quickly deployed for bedside management of critically ill patients, using parasternal, apical, and subxiphoid windows. However, lung air can obstruct these views. As left pleural effusion can cause pulmonary atelectasis, it creates a liquid space that improves ultrasonic transmission when using a postero‐lateral approach. This unconventional view uses a phased array transducer positioned at the posterior axillary line between the fourth and fifth intercostal spaces, enabling four‐chamber heart visualization. Although limited without pleural effusion, this method becomes valuable in the presence of a left‐sided effusion and when conventional views are inadequate.
Chemometrics‐Empowered Optimization of a Reliable Reversed Phase–High Performance Liquid Chromatography Method for the Simultaneous Estimation of Erythromycin and Adapalene in Pharmaceutical Nanoformulation
Authors: Shirkoli Nisha , Mastiholimath Vinayak
Published: August 2024

An innovative, simple, economical, and sensitive reversed phase–high performance liquid chromatography (RP–HPLC) chromatographic method for simultaneous analysis of erythromycin (ERY) and adapalene (ADP) in bulk and pharmaceutical nanoformulation was developed by analytical quality‐by‐design (AQbD) avenue. According to published research, there is no strategy that integrates RP–HPLC with AQbD for estimating ERY and ADP. The analysis was carried out with Box–Behnken design, which reduced trial runs and design points. Acetonitrile: orthophosphoric acid (OPA) (0.1% triethanolamine) in pH 6.2 water was used as the mobile phase. The ratio was set to 35:65 (v/v) at 0.8 mL/min flow rate to detect the analytes at 231 nm. As per the guidelines in International Conference on Harmonization Q1A (R2), the developed approach was validated. ERY and ADP regression coefficients (r2) were found to be 0.9998 and 0.9999, respectively, over 5–25 µg/mL range. Validation parameters comprising linearity, sensitivity, system suitability, precision, robustness, and accuracy were performed. To assess stability, the drugs were subjected to stress conditions (hydrolytic, oxidative, thermal, and photolytic), and drugs were most vulnerable to degrade in alkaline and oxidative conditions. A new technique successfully analyzed novel drug carriers loaded with ERY and ADP.
Pooling Alzheimer's disease clinical trial data to develop personalized medicine approaches is easier said than done: A proof‐of‐principle study and call to action
Authors: Dubbelman Mark A. , Vromen Eleonora M. , Tijms Betty M. , Berkhof Johannes , Ottenhoff Lois , Vijverberg Everard G. B. , Prins Niels D. , van der Flier Wiesje M. , Sikkes Sietske A. M.
Published: August 2024

With the advent of the first generation of disease‐modifying treatments for Alzheimer's disease, it is clearer now more than ever that the field needs to move toward personalized medicine. Pooling data from past trials may help identify subgroups most likely to benefit from specific treatments and thus inform future trial design. In this perspective, we report on our effort to pool data from past Alzheimer's disease trials to identify patients most likely to respond to different treatments. We delineate challenges and hurdles, from our proof‐of‐principle study, for which we requested access to trial datasets from various pharmaceutical companies and encountered obstacles in the process of arranging data‐sharing agreements through legal departments. Six phase I–III trials from three sponsors provided access to their data (total n = 3170), which included demographic information, vital signs, primary and secondary endpoints, and in a small subset, cerebrospinal fluid amyloid (n = 165, 5.2%) and tau (n = 212, 6.7%). Data could be analyzed only within specific data access platforms, limiting potential harmonization with data provided through other platforms. Limited overlap in terms of outcome measures, clinical and biological information hindered analyses. Thus, while it is a commendable advancement that (some) trials now allow researchers to study their data, we conclude that gaining access to past trial datasets is complicated, frustrating the field's communal effort to find the best treatments for the right individuals. We provide a plea to promote harmonization and open access to data, by urging trial sponsors and the academic research community alike to remove barriers to data access and improve collaboration through practicing open science and harmonizing outcome measures, to allow investigators to learn all there is to learn from past failures and successes.

HIGHLIGHTS

Pooling data from past Alzheimer's disease clinical trials may help identify subgroups most likely to benefit from specific treatments and may help inform future trial design.

Accessing past trial datasets is complicated, frustrating the field's communal effort to find the best treatments for the right individuals.

We urge trial sponsors and the academic research community to remove data access barriers and improve collaboration through practicing open science and harmonizing outcome measures.
Formation of pulmonary vein stump thrombus after anatomical lung resection and anticoagulant therapy
Authors: Okami Jiro , Higashiyama Masahiko , Tokunaga Toshiteru , Susaki Yoshiyuki , Kusu Takashi , Nakagiri Tomoyuki , Oe Hiroshi , Nakanishi Katsuyuki
Published: August 2024

Objective

It has recently been suggested that the formation of pulmonary vein stump thrombus (PVST) after anatomical lung resection is an underlying cause of arterial thromboembolism including cerebrovascular infarction. This study aimed to investigate the incidence and risk factors of PVST and to evaluate the efficacy and safety of anticoagulant therapy for PVST.

Methods

Patients who underwent anatomical lung resection for malignant lung tumors were eligible for inclusion in this study. Chest contrast‐enhanced (CE) computed tomography (CT) was performed after surgery to detect PVST. If PVST was observed, patients received anticoagulant therapy. The size of the PVST was followed‐up by repeated chest CE‐CT.

Results

In total, 176 patients were enrolled in this study. Chest CE‐CT was performed on postoperative day 1–13 (median, postoperative day 6). PVST was detected in 22 (12.5%) patients. The median size of PVST was 9.5 (4.1–33.4) mm. Thrombus was most commonly observed in patients who underwent left upper lobectomy (9/36, 25.0%). Hypertension, dyslipidemia, arteriosclerosis, and arrhythmia were not associated with PVST formation. Anticoagulant therapy was administered to all 22 patients with PVST until the PVST disappeared. The median duration between the detection and disappearance of PVST was 77 days (range: 6–146 days). During the period between the detection and disappearance of PVST, cerebrovascular infarction or arterial thromboembolic events were not observed.

Conclusions

Postoperative PVST is commonly observed, especially in patients who undergo left upper lobectomy. Anticoagulant therapy for PVST was safely introduced and was efficient to improve PVST without subsequent arterial thromboembolic events.