bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transmission Electron Microscopy of Coral Tissue
Authors: Papke Erin , Kennedy Grace E. , Elliott Elizabeth , Taylor Alison , Tolar Bradley B. , Ushijima Blake
Published: October 2024

Coral reefs are invaluable ecosystems that are under threat from various anthropogenic stressors. There has been a recent increase in the diagnostic tools utilized to understand how these threats impact coral reef health. Unfortunately, the application of diagnostic tools like transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is not as standardized or developed in coral research as in other research fields. Utilizing TEM in conjunction with other diagnostic methods can aid in understanding the impact of these stressors on the cellular level because TEM offers valuable insight into the structures and microsymbionts associated with coral tissue that cannot be obtained with a conventional light microscope. Additionally, a significant amount of coral tissue ultrastructure has not yet been extensively described, causing a considerable gap in our understanding of cellular structures that could relate to the immune response, cellular function, or symbioses. Moreover, additional standardization is needed for TEM in coral research to increase comparability and reproducibility of findings across studies. Here, we present standardized TEM sample fixation, embedding, and sectioning techniques for coral studies that ensure consistent ultrastructural preservation and minimize artifacts, enhancing the reliability and accuracy of TEM observations. We also demonstrate that these TEM protocols allow for the observation and quantification of bacterial and viral‐like particles within the coral tissue as well as the endosymbiotic microalgae, potentially providing insight into their interactions within coral cells and how they relate to overall coral health and resilience. © 2024 The Author(s). Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Basic Protocol 1: Primary fixation

Basic Protocol 2: Decalcification

Basic Protocol 3: Sample dissection, secondary fixation, dehydration, and embedding

Basic Protocol 4: Sectioning and grid staining

Basic Protocol 5: Imaging
Design of a Series of Inverse Continuous Modes Power Amplifier Based on Bandpass Filter
Authors: Wang Kun , Cheng Zhiqun , Jia Minshi , Zhu Zheming , Zhong Baoquan , Yang Zhenghao , Li Bingxin
Published: October 2024

In this paper, a broadband high‐efficiency power amplifier (PA) with filtering characteristics is proposed. This PA is designed using a series of inverse continuous modes (SICMs) and adds a novel coupled microstrip line filter structure. The terminal of this structure is composed of microstrip lines cascaded to improve the out‐of‐band suppression effect. This filter can achieve low in‐band insertion loss, high passband selectivity, as well as deep stopband rejection performance simultaneously. A PA was designed and implemented using a 10 W GaN HEMT device, verifying its wideband characteristics. The measurement result shows that the 39.6–41.6 dBm output power (Pout), 61.6%–73.7% drain efficiency (DE), and 8.6–10.8 dB gain are achieved at 2.2–2.9 GHz.
How to create your own space: Montgomery College's Shinta Hernandez is Embracing New Challenges
Authors: Arnett Autumn A.
Published: October 2024

In even a very short conversation with the new Dean of MC Online and Academic Support at Montgomery College MD, it is immediately clear that Shinta Hernandez isn't the type to consider what she can't do.
A case of primary duodenal Brunner's gland hamartoma that gradually underwent morphological changes over a period of 10 years
Authors: Sunada Yusuke , Yamane Hiromichi , Ochi Nobuaki , Kirishi Hirohito , Saitou Takako , Miura Masafumi , Nakanishi Hidekazu , Fujiwara Hideyo , Takigawa Nagio
Published: October 2024

Brunner's gland hamartoma (BGH) is a benign tumor occurring in the duodenal bulb. BGH is typically asymptomatic, but it has been shown to occasionally cause anemia.

The patient was a 76‐year‐old male. In October 2011, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer with multiple bone metastases and was referred to us for the treatment and examination of anemia. Hormonal therapy with androgen receptor antagonists and bisphosphonate administration following orchiectomy improved his symptoms. In August 2012, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) was performed due to stomach discomfort, revealing a 5 mm semi‐pedunculated polyp in the duodenal bulb, Yamada‐Fukutomi classification type II. Over the next 5 years, the prostate cancer treatment proceeded smoothly, and no endoscopic follow‐up was conducted. In January 2017, during a health checkup, EGD revealed that the polyp in the duodenum bulb had changed morphologically with a distinct stalk measuring 10 mm. As there were no symptoms and only minimal tumor growth, a watchful waiting approach was adopted. In April 2022, due to the rapid progression of anemia, EGD was performed again, showing that the pedunculated polyp had enlarged to 20 mm in maximum diameter with an eroded surface and a stalk extending to 40 mm. Given the tumor enlargement and further examination of anemia, an endoscopic polypectomy was performed in May 2022. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of BGH. We observed a case of primary duodenal BGH during treatment for advanced prostate cancer, with endoscopic monitoring over 10 years. The morphological changes of BGH were clearly documented via EGD.
Direct observation of an exposed blood vessel in a colonic diverticulum using ultrathin endoscopy
Authors: Suzuki Kensuke , Kikuchi Daisuke , Yamashita Satoshi
Published: October 2024

In recent years, cases of diverticular bleeding have become more common. Although identifying the bleeding diverticulum is difficult, it is even more difficult to identify the exposed blood vessels in the bleeding diverticulum. We experienced a case in which we succeeded in directly observing the exposed blood vessels of a sigmoid colon diverticulum using the ultrathin endoscope. The patient was a 71‐year‐old man who experienced rebleeding after hemostasis in the sigmoid colon by endoscopic band ligation. In the case of diverticular bleeding in the sigmoid colon, we showed that identifying exposed blood vessels by observing the diverticulum under direct vision using the ultrathin endoscope may be useful for hemostasis.
The in‐hospital administration of sacubitril/valsartan in acute myocardial infarction: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Di Pietro Gianluca , Improta Riccardo , Severino Paolo , D'Amato Andrea , Birtolo Lucia Ilaria , De Filippo Ovidio , Lattanzio Antonio , De Cristofaro Raffaele , Galardo Giacchino , D'Ascenzo Fabrizio , Badagliacca Roberto , Sardella Gennaro , Volterrani Maurizio , Fedele Francesco , Vizza Carmine Dario , Mancone Massimo
Published: October 2024

There is a need to address the evidence gap regarding the in‐hospital administration of sacubitril/valsartan in acute myocardial infarction patients. After searching MEDLINE, Google Scholars and Scopus, a random‐effects meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing the in‐hospital administration of the angiotensin receptor‐neprilysin inhibitors (ARNis) versus the standard therapy in patients with reduced heart failure due to myocardial infarction was performed. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events. All‐cause mortality, cardiac death, rehospitalization for heart failure, non‐fatal myocardial infarction (MI), changes in left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular volumes, N terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide and adverse events were the secondary endpoints. Nine studies (eight randomized controlled trials and one echo‐substudy) with a total 6597 individuals (angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker: 3300 patients vs. ARNis: 3297 patients) were included for quantitative analysis. Median follow‐up was 6 months. Patients receiving an in‐hospital coadministration of ARNi had a lower risk of major cardiovascular event [odds ratio (OR) 0.45, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.32–0.63, P < 0.0001] and lower rate of repeat rehospitalization for heart failure (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.26–0.62, P < 0.0001), compared with a standard regimen. Additionally, left ventricle volumes were significantly lower in the ARNi group [left ventricular end‐diastolic volume, mean difference (MD) 11.48 mL, 95% CI 6.10–16.85, P < 0.0001; left ventricular end‐systolic volume, MD 7.09 mL, 95% CI 2.89–11.29, P = 0.0009] with a significant change in left ventricular ejection fraction (MD 3.07, 95% CI 1.61–4.53, P < 0.0001), compared with standard therapy. No significant differences were observed in terms of cardiac death, all cause of mortality, non‐fatal myocardial infarction and N terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide. Higher rates of iatrogenic hypotensive events were observed in the ARNi group compared with the standard therapy (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.26–1.60, P value < 0.00001). In patients with acute myocardial infarction related heart failure, the in‐hospital administration of ARNis was associated with a reduced risk of major cardiovascular events and re‐hospitalization for heart failure, as well as cardiac remodelling, but higher rates of hypotensive events compared with standard therapy.
Left atrial function in uraemic patients: Four‐dimensional automatic left atrial quantitative technology study
Authors: Li Bing , Chen Meihua , Huang Xuning
Published: October 2024

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the utility of left atrial volume and function in uraemic patients using four‐dimensional automatic left atrial quantification (4D auto LAQ) technology.

Methods

Thirty‐four undialysed uraemic patients (U‐ND group), 60 dialysed uraemic patients (U‐D group), and 32 healthy volunteers (N group) were enrolled in our current study. Conventional echocardiographic parameters were recorded, and left atrial volume and strain parameters were analysed to determine statistical differences among the three groups. The Pearson correlation coefficient was employed to assess the relationships between left atrial ejection fraction and left atrial strain parameters.

Results

Compared to the N group, uraemic patients often displayed left atrial enlargement and left ventricular hypertrophy. Significant increases were noted in left atrial diameter, interventricular septum thickness, left ventricular posterior wall thickness, E/e′, diastolic blood pressure, systolic blood pressure, left atrial minimum volume, left atrial maximum volume, left atrial pre‐atrial contraction volume, left atrial emptying volume and left atrial maximum volume index (P < 0.05). Conversely, the e′, E/A ratio and left atrial reservoir longitudinal strain were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were observed in the aforementioned parameters between the U‐ND and U‐D groups. The absolute values of left atrial conduit longitudinal strain and left atrial conduit circumferential strain, as well as left atrial passive ejection fraction, were notably lower in the U‐D group compared to the N and U‐ND groups, with statistically significant differences identified among the three groups (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Uraemic patients exhibit marked left atrial enlargement and left ventricular hypertrophy, coupled with altered atrial function, particularly ductal dysfunction in the U‐D group. The 4D auto LAQ technology proves advantageous in detecting these alterations, offering a promising tool for thorough cardiac assessment in this patient cohort.
Heterogenization of a Sandwich [(PW9O34)2Co4(H2O)2]10− in PCN‐222/PCN‐222(M): Exploring the Electron Transfer for Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction
Authors: Shu Lei , Li Can , Peng Meng‐Ting , Liu Meng‐Jie , Teng Yun‐Lei , Dong Bao‐Xia
Published: October 2024

In this study, we designed and prepared polyoxometalate@metal‐organic framework (POM@MOF) composite catalysts through the anchoring of a sandwich POM [(PW9O34)2Co4(H2O)2]10− (shortened as P2W18Co4) to the hexagonal channel of the PCN‐222 (metal‐free) or PCN‐222(M) (M=Fe, Co) frameworks. The composite materials were applied to the electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 reaction (CO2RR) to analyse the effect of incorporating P2W18Co4 on catalytic activity. The P2W18Co4@PCN‐222 composite exhibited enhanced activity across a wide potential range (−0.60~−0.85 V vs. RHE) and an optimal FECO of 72 % at −0.75 V vs. RHE, which was more than double that of PCN‐222 (FECO=33 %). The current density surpassed that of the PCN‐222 precursors by over sixteen times at the same potential. In contrast, the P2W18Co4@PCN‐222(M) composite demonstrated decreased current density, minimal enhancement in CO2RR activity, and a competing HER behaviour. Density functional theory calculations were conducted on simplified models of P2W18Co4@H2‐TCPP and P2W18Co4@M‐TCPP to elucidate the divergent catalytic performances. The findings revealed that while both configurations exhibited the same rate‐limiting step (formation of the *COOH intermediate), a significantly reduced reaction barrier was only observed in the P2W18Co4@H2‐TCPP setup, explaining its substantial activity improvement.
Cage Architecture and Reactivity are Preserved in Cysteine‐Mutated Ferritin
Authors: Cosottini Lucrezia , Buzzigoli Jacopo , Turano Paola
Published: October 2024

The role of solvent‐exposed cysteines as reactive sites for bioconjugation with a variety of metal drugs or fluorescent probes is emerging in the use of human H‐ferritin (HuHf) as a nanocarrier for targeting various tumor cell lines. Here, we have investigated the role of these residues in controlling the structural stability and ferroxidase activity by analyzing the properties of three variants: C90A, C90AC102A, and C130A. Protein folding and cage assembly were unchanged. Ferroxidase activity was also unaffected, indicating that these cysteines are not involved in either the catalytic activity or the overall iron(II) uptake process. For comparison, activity measurements were also performed on two derivatives involving the solvent‐exposed cysteine residues.
Copper‐Mediated Decarboxylative Trifluoromethylselenolation of Alkynyl Carboxylic Acids with [Me4N][SeCF3]
Authors: Ding Xue , Yao Yu‐Fei , Li Jiang‐Yu , Zhang Cheng‐Pan
Published: October 2024

The synthesis of alkynyl trifluoromethyl selenoethers from copper‐mediated aerobic decarboxylative trifluoromethylselenolation of alkynyl carboxylic acids with [Me4N][SeCF3] is reported. The reaction proceeded smoothly under mild conditions and enabled the facile conversion of both aryl and alkyl alkynyl carboxylic acids to the corresponding trifluoromethyl selenoethers in good yields, demonstrating that decarboxylative trifluoromethylselenolation of alkynyl carboxylic acids with the nucleophilic [Me4N][SeCF3] reagent is feasible at ambient temperature without irradiation. Advantages of the method include the use of bench‐stable and non‐volatile alkynyl carboxylic acids as starting materials, readily accessible SeCF3 reagent, excellent functional group tolerance, and the avoidance of harsh reaction conditions. This copper‐mediated reaction represents the first decarboxylative trifluoromethylselenolation of alkynyl carboxylic acids with a SeCF3 source.
Diazo‐Based Construction of Heterocyclic Systems Via a X−H Insertion/Cyclization Cascade
Authors: Malkova Ksenia , Dar'in Dmitry
Published: October 2024

The X−H insertion reaction (X=heteroatom) of diazo compounds has emerged as an eminent and reliant approach for the construction of C−X bonds. By merging X−H insertion with the sequential ring‐closing transformations, diverse heterocyclic systems can be obtained in a step‐economical manner. In recent years, the X−H insertion/cyclization cascades and one‐pot transformations attract more research attention, especially in the area of asymmetric synthesis. Concentrating on the assembly of N,O,S‐heterocycles, this Concept elucidates the various combinations of X−H insertion reactions with cyclization via an addition to multiple bonds. The ring‐forming strategies reviewed comprise of Michael‐type and Conia‐ene reactions, aldol condensation, and Mannich reaction.
Syntheses and Properties of Two Isomeric Phenanthroacephenanthrylene Derivatives
Authors: Sharma Priyank Kumar , Babbar Akanksha , Sahewal Sakshi , Das Soumyajit
Published: October 2024

Cyclopenta‐annulated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (CP‐PAHs) are of significant interest due to their unique optoelectronic properties and applications in organic electronic devices. Phenanthroacephenanthrylene (PAP) isomers are CP‐PAHs that have been rarely investigated, and only the [9,10‐e]PAP isomer was explored to date. Herein, we report the syntheses, crystal structure and optoelectronic properties of two PAP isomers, 7‐ethoxy[2,1‐e]PAP 1 and 9‐ethoxy[1,2‐e]PAP 2. The structural isomers were synthesized in multi‐steps, and structural elucidations were performed using NMR, mass, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analyses, revealing planar backbone of the isomers. UV‐visible absorption and fluorescence spectra of compound 1 were red‐shifted than that of 2, suggesting smaller HOMO–LUMO energy gap which is further validated by DFT calculations that suggested the lowering of HOMO–LUMO spacing could be attributed to the greater destabilization of HOMO for 1.
Entropy‐Based Assessment of Biodiversity, With Application to Ants' Nests Data
Authors: Altieri L. , Cocchi D. , Ventrucci M.
Published: October 2024

The present work takes an innovative point of view in the study of a marked point pattern dataset of two ants' species, over an irregular region with a spatial covariate. The approach, based on entropy measures, brings new insights to the interpretation of the behavior of such ants' nesting habits, which can be exploited in the general area of biodiversity evaluation. We make proper use of descriptive entropy measures and inferential approaches, performing a comparative study of their uncertainty and interpretability in the context of biodiversity. For the first time in the study of these ants' nests data, all the available information is fully exploited, and interpretation guidelines are given for assessing both the observed and the latent biodiversity of the system, with a simultaneous consideration of spatial structures, covariate and interpoint interaction effects. Computations are supported by the new release of our R package SpatEntropy.
The causal relationship of DTI phenotypes and epilepsy: A two sample mendelian randomization study
Authors: Feng Shang , Huang Shaobin , Lin Zhiguo
Published: October 2024

Objective

Clinical studies indicated a link between DTI imaging characteristics and epilepsy, but the causality of this connection had not been established. Therefore, we employed the Mendelian randomization analysis method to determine the causal relationship between DTI imaging characteristics and epilepsy.

Method

We used Mendelian randomization analysis to identify the causal relationship between brain structure and the risk of epilepsy. GWAS data of DTI phenotypes, focal epilepsy, and genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE) were utilized in the analysis.

Results

Our study found that DTI imaging phenotypes had a causal risk relationship with epilepsy. These phenotypes had a statistical impact on the risk of epilepsy seizures. There were differences in DTI phenotype causality between GGE and focal epilepsy, which were associated with the clinical phenotype differences of the two types of epilepsy.

Significance

Our study demonstrated that the diagnosis of subtypes could be assisted by comparing the differences in DTI phenotypes of specific brain regions. This meant that by studying the changes in brain regions before the onset of epilepsy, we might be able to intervene in epilepsy at an earlier stage.

Plain Language Summary

Our study used Mendelian randomization to explore the causal relationship between brain structure, as seen in DTI imaging, and epilepsy. We found that specific DTI phenotypes are linked to an increased risk of epilepsy seizures, with notable differences between genetic generalized epilepsy and focal epilepsy. This suggested that analyzing DTI phenotypes could help in diagnosing and potentially intervening in epilepsy earlier by finding brain changes before seizures begin.
Fatty acid amide hydrolase gene inactivation induces hetero‐cellular potentiation of microglial function in the 5xFAD mouse model of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Arnanz María Andrea , Ferrer María , Grande María Teresa , de Martín Esteban Samuel Ruiz , Ruiz‐Pérez Gonzalo , Cravatt Benjamin F. , Mostany Ricardo , Lobo Víctor Javier Sánchez‐Arévalo , Romero Julián , Martínez‐Relimpio Ana María
Published: October 2024

Neuroinflammation has recently emerged as a crucial factor in Alzheimer's disease (AD) etiopathogenesis. Microglial cells play an important function in the inflammatory response; specifically, the emergence of disease‐associated microglia (DAM) has offered new insights into the conflicting perspectives on the detrimental or beneficial roles of microglia. We previously showed that modulating the endocannabinoid tone by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inactivation renders beneficial effects in an amyloidosis context, paradoxically accompanied by an exacerbated neuroinflammatory response and the enrichment of DAM population. Here, we aim to elucidate the role of microglial cells in FAAH‐lacking mice in the 5xFAD mouse model of AD by using RNA‐sequencing analysis, molecular determinations, and morphological studies by using in vivo multiphoton microscopy. FAAH‐lacking AD mice displayed upregulated inflammatory genes and exhibited a DAM genetic profile. Conversely, genes linked to AD were downregulated. Depleting microglia using PLX5622 revealed that plaque‐associated microglia in FAAH‐deficient AD mice had a more stable, ramified morphology and increased Aβ uptake, leading to reduced plaque growth compared to control mice. Importantly, FAAH expression was negligible in microglial cells, thus suggesting a role for FAAH in the cellular interplay in the central nervous system. Our findings show that Faah gene inactivation triggers a hetero‐cellular enhancement of microglial function that was paradoxically paralleled by an exacerbated inflammatory response. Taken together, the present data highlight FAAH as a potential therapeutic target in AD.
PCSK9 Inhibitors: The Evolving Future
Authors: Jeswani Bijay Mukesh , Sharma Shubhangi , Rathore Sawai Singh , Nazir Abubakar , Bhatheja Rohit , Kapoor Kapil
Published: October 2024

Introduction

PCSK9 inhibitors are a novel class of medications that lower LDL cholesterol (LDL‐C) by increasing LDL receptor activity, promoting clearance of LDL‐C from the bloodstream. Over the years, PCSK9 inhibitors have been explored as adjunct therapies to statins or as monotherapy in high‐risk cardiovascular patients.

Aim

This review aims to provide an updated perspective on PCSK9 inhibitors, assessing their clinical efficacy, safety, and significance, especially in light of recent clinical trials.

Methods

The review examines the role of PCSK9 in cholesterol regulation and summarizes the results of major cardiovascular trials, including FOURIER, SPIRE‐1, SPIRE‐2, and ODYSSEY Outcomes. It also discusses emerging treatments like small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapies and evaluates PCSK9 inhibitor effects on LDL‐C and lipoprotein(a) levels.

Results

Clinical trials have shown PCSK9 inhibitors reduce LDL‐C by up to 60%. In the FOURIER trial, evolocumab reduced LDL‐C by 59% and major cardiovascular events by 15%–20%. The SPIRE‐2 trial, despite early termination, showed a 21% risk reduction in the primary composite endpoint with bococizumab. The ODYSSEY Outcomes trial reported a 57% LDL‐C reduction with alirocumab, alongside a 15% reduction in adverse events. Emerging treatments like Inclisiran offer long‐term LDL‐C control with fewer doses. PCSK9 inhibitors are generally well‐tolerated, with the most common side effect being injection site reactions.

Conclusion

PCSK9 inhibitors significantly lower LDL‐C and reduce cardiovascular events, offering promising therapies for high‐risk patients, including those with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and those who cannot tolerate statins. Future research will focus on optimizing these inhibitors, integrating complementary therapies, and exploring gene‐editing technologies to improve patient outcomes.
Engineered exosomes in service of tumor immunotherapy: From optimizing tumor‐derived exosomes to delivering CRISPR/Cas9 system
Authors: Jiang Mingyang , Zhang Ke , Meng Jinfeng , Xu Linhua , Liu Ying , Wei Ruqiong
Published: October 2024

Exosomes can be modified and designed for various therapeutic goals because of their unique physical and chemical characteristics. Researchers have identified tumor‐derived exosomes (TEXs) as significant players in cancer by influencing tumor growth, immune response evasion, angiogeneis, and drug resistance. TEXs promote the production of specific proteins important for cancer progression. Due to their easy accessibility, TEXs are being modified through genetic, drug delivery, membrane, immune system, and chemical alterations to be repurposed as vehicles for delivering drugs to improve cancer treatment outcomes. In the complex in vivo environment, the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR‐associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) system encounters challenges from degradation, neutralization, and immune responses, emphasizing the need for strategic distribution strategies for effective genome editing. Engineered exosomes present a promising avenue for delivering CRISPR/Cas9 in vivo. In this review, we will explore different techniques for enhancing TEXs using various engineering strategies. Additionally, we will discuss how these exosomes can be incorporated into advanced genetic engineering systems like CRISPR/Cas9 for possible therapeutic uses.
The Quantitative In Vivo Assessment of Diabetic and Non‐Diabetic Skin Wound Healing Using Phasor‐FLIM Approach
Authors: Zuhayri Hala , Lepekhina Tatiana B. , Nikolaev Viktor V. , Baalbaki Houssain , Knyazkova Anastasia I. , Borisov Alexey V. , Krivova Natalya A. , Kistenev Yury V.
Published: October 2024

A quantitative assessment of wound status in a murine model was developed using phasor plot presentation of fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) data. The quantitative assessment is based on calculating Bhattacharyya distance between g coordinates of FLIM data phasor plot density distributions of wound and healthy skin. The approach was validated for both diabetic and non‐diabetic mice wounds, including during low‐dose photodynamic therapy (LDPDT). Analysis revealed a shift in the FLIM data phasor plot g coordinates, suggesting altered metabolic processes involved in wound healing. Bhattacharyya distances in the LDPDT groups were closer to zero compared to the control group, which was not treated by LDPDT. Bhattacharyya distances in the non‐diabetic LDPDT groups were closer to zero compared to the diabetic LDPDT groups that is consistent with the literature regarding the positive role of LDPDT in accelerating wound healing and the role of diabetes mellitus in impairing wound healing.
An In Vitro Study of 355‐nm Laser Ablation of Atherosclerotic Lesions Model
Authors: Wei Fangying , He Jiajun , Zhao Shiyong , Lei Peng , Zhang Qingjie , Li Guangxi , Li Xiaopeng , Ding Xin , Yao Jianquan
Published: October 2024

A study of 355 nm laser with high pulse energy across various types of atherosclerotic lesion models is presented. The 355 nm laser pulses (10 ns) are delivered via a single fiber (600 μm diameter), and the ablation of calcified tissue, lipid tissue, and thrombus‐like tissue are studied under varied laser fluence (40–70 mJ/mm2) and repetition rate (5–30 Hz). The contact and noncontact ablation processes of chicken tibia samples (calcified tissue) are compared at 60 mJ/mm2 and 30 Hz, and the size of ablation particles is in the range of 0.1–1 μm. At the same repetition rate, the advancement rate of tricalcium phosphate samples reaches 150 μm/s at 70 mJ/mm2. Calcified and lipid models demonstrate predictable increases in ablation with higher laser fluence and repetition rate. The fresh porcine blood clot samples exhibit high‐quality ablation with good channel effect at 50 mJ/mm2 and 30 Hz.
Tin Silver Alloy as a Biomaterial: Corrosion Characteristics and Cellular Behavior
Authors: Goodwin Charley M. , Mace Annsley O. , Gilbert Jeremy L.
Published: October 2024

Tin‐silver (Sn‐Ag) has been used as a permanently implanted biomaterial within the Essure female sterilization device and in dental amalgams; however, little data exist for Sn‐Ag's corrosion characteristics and/or cellular interactions. In this study, to assess its suitability as a degradable metallic biomaterial, 95–5 wt% Sn‐Ag solder was subjected to corrosion testing including open circuit potential (OCP), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and anodic potentiodynamic polarization in phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) and cell culture media (with serum proteins) at room temperature (25°C) and body temperature (37°C). Cell culture studies were also performed. Mouse pre‐osteoblast cells (MC3T3‐E1) were cultured in media on Sn‐Ag discs and monitored over 24 h at potentials below, around, or above Sn‐Ag's breakdown potential, fixed, and then viewed using SEM. Separately, cells on tissue culture plastic were subjected to increasing concentrations of SnCl2 in media for 24 h before a live‐dead imaging at each concentration to determine cell viability and area fraction covered when compared with a control well. The results show both passive (in PBS), with a breakdown potential of −250 mV versus Ag/AgCl and active polarization behavior (in AMEM with proteins). EIS results showed polarization resistance (R

p
) in the 105 Ωcm2 range but decreased generally with increasing temperature (p < 0.05). Cells were well attached on Sn‐Ag surfaces at OCP and below the breakdown potential, but when anodically polarized, cells reduced their spread area and became more spherical, indicating less viability. SnCl2 exhibited a dose‐dependent killing effect on MC3T3 cells with a lethal dose for 50% of about 0.5 mM. The results of these experiments show that Sn‐Ag alloys can be considered as degradable metallic biomaterials.
Stable, aromatic, and electrophilic azepinium ions: Design using quantum chemical methods
Authors: Patra Nabajyoti , Gupta Astha , Bharatam Prasad V.
Published: October 2024

Cyclic nitrenium ions containing five‐membered and six‐membered rings are available, however, the seven‐membered cyclic nitrenium ions (azepinium ions) are rare. The chemistry of these species is related to their stability originating from the aromaticity due to 6π electrons. Very few theoretical and experimental studies have been conducted on the azepinium ions. Related clozapine and olanzapine cations (diazepinium ions) were observed during drug metabolism studies. In this work, quantum chemical analysis has been carried out to estimate the stability, aromaticity, and electrophilicity of several derivatives of azepinium ions. A few of the designed azepinium ions carry ΔES‐T values in the range of 50 kcal/mol favoring singlet state; π donating groups at the 2nd position increase the singlet‐triplet energy differences. Most of the substituents reduce the NICS(1) values compared to the parent system. Ring fusion with heterocyclic five‐membered rings generally increases the aromaticity and the stability of the azepinium ion ring systems. The electrophilicity parameters estimated in terms of HIA, FIA, and ω values indicate that it is possible to fine‐tune the chemical properties of azepinium ions with appropriate modulation.
Electrochemical Applications Reveal Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance of TiO2‐Doped ZnS Nanocomposites
Authors: Synthiya S. , Thilagavathi T. , Uthrakumar R. , Renuka R. , Inmozhi C. , Kaviyarasu K.
Published: October 2024

The titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles were prepared by hydrothermal methods at ambient temperature. Based on XRD analysis, the average crystallite size of pure TiO2 nanoparticles and those doped with ZnS was calculated to be 58 and 54 nm, respectively. At an angle of 25.4°, the prominent peak observed at the (101) plane of TiO2 was confirmed. As can be seen from the collection of peaks, the TiO2 formed has an anatase‐type tetragonal crystal structure. A strain of −6.4541 × 10−4 and a grain size of 33 nm can be seen in the W–H plot for TiO2 nanoparticles. For doped ZnS nanoparticles, on the other hand, the values are 1.9448 × 10−4 and 47 nm. In our study, we found that doped nanoparticles were average grain size 134 nm, while pure nanoparticles were average grain size 146 nm. Doping reduces the size of the nanomaterial, which means that the TiO2 molecules form nanoclusters on their surfaces, which can lead to a larger grain size for a pure nanoparticle than for a doped nanoparticle. A wide range of functional groups and their associated bonds were investigated using FTIR spectra in synthesized nanomaterials. TiOTi bonds are subjected to a strong stretching vibration, which is confirmed by the absorption peaks from 450 cm−1 to 800 cm−1. The PL spectra for pure TiO2‐ and ZnS‐doped TiO2 containing nanocomposites of ZnS emit ultraviolet light at wavelengths of 362 and 379 nm in the UV region. Pure and doped samples with optical bandgap energies of ~3.04 and ~3.8 eV corresponding to anatase phases were near ~3.18 eV in Tauc plots. Since the TiO2‐doped ZnS heterojunction migrates photoexcited holes toward the interface, while electrons migrate toward the bulk, this results in photoexcited holes migrating toward the interface. To calculate the specific capacitance of the synthesized materials, cyclic voltammetry with pure ZnS and those with ZnS‐doped had specific capacitance values of 144.91 F/g and 120.11 F/g, respectively. The catalysts used were ZnS nanocomposite doped with TiO2 in addition to pure TiO2 nanoparticles. The degradation of dye within 80 min after sunlight exposure was monitored with a UV–Vis spectrophotometer at 20‐min intervals. ZnS nanoparticles doped with TiO2 display 87.8% greater efficiency than pure nanoparticles. Doped TiO2 nanocomposite degrades at an 87.8% rate, whereas pure TiO2 degrades at ~54%, indicating that the dopants enhance photocatalysis.
Mechanisms of extracellular vesicle uptake and implications for the design of cancer therapeutics
Authors: Jackson Cullison Stephanie R. , Flemming Joseph P. , Karagoz Kubra , Wermuth Peter J. , Mahoney Mỹ G.
Published: October 2024

The translation of pre‐clinical anti‐cancer therapies to regulatory approval has been promising, but slower than hoped. While innovative and effective treatments continue to achieve or seek approval, setbacks are often attributed to a lack of efficacy, failure to achieve clinical endpoints, and dose‐limiting toxicities. Successful efforts have been characterized by the development of therapeutics designed to specifically deliver optimal and effective dosing to tumour cells while minimizing off‐target toxicity. Much effort has been devoted to the rational design and application of synthetic nanoparticles to serve as targeted therapeutic delivery vehicles. Several challenges to the successful application of this modality as delivery vehicles include the induction of a protracted immune response that results in their rapid systemic clearance, manufacturing cost, lack of stability, and their biocompatibility. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a heterogeneous class of endogenous biologically produced lipid bilayer nanoparticles that mediate intercellular communication by carrying bioactive macromolecules capable of modifying cellular phenotypes to local and distant cells. By genetic, chemical, or metabolic methods, extracellular vesicles (EVs) can be engineered to display targeting moieties on their surface while transporting specific cargo to modulate pathological processes following uptake by target cell populations. This review will survey the types of EVs, their composition and cargoes, strategies employed to increase their targeting, uptake, and cargo release, and their potential as targeted anti‐cancer therapeutic delivery vehicles.
Short‐ and long‐term outcomes of liver resection with hepatic vein reconstruction for liver tumors: A nationwide multicenter survey
Authors: Sadamori Hiroshi , Hasegawa Kiyoshi , Oba Atsushi , Kato Yutaro , Soejima Yuji , Monden Kazuteru , Umeda Yuzo , Abe Yuta , Ko Saiho , Saiura Akio , Ohtsuka Masayuki , Kubo Shoji , Shirabe Ken , Nagano Hiroaki , Fujiwara Toshiyoshi , Nakamura Masafumi , Endo Itaru
Published: October 2024

Background/Purpose

This study clarifies the short‐ and long‐term outcomes of liver resection with hepatic vein (HV) reconstruction for liver tumors and identifies the risk factors for poor outcome.

Methods

We contacted 263 specialized centers in Japan and collected data on this surgical procedure. Patient characteristics, surgical procedures, and outcomes were then analyzed.

Results

A total of 187 patients were enrolled from 36 institutions. Grade C post‐hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) and in‐hospital mortality were 3.2% and 1.6%, respectively. The median overall survival (OS) and recurrence‐free survival (RFS) were 49.9 and 9.8 months, respectively. Surgical outcomes, OS and RFS did not differ among three types of liver tumors, colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) (n = 127), hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 27), and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (n = 27). Patients with CRLM and seven or more courses of preoperative chemotherapy had significantly worse OS. Compared with HV reconstruction for securing liver remnant (LR) function (n = 148), reconstruction of the only main HV remaining in the LR (n = 39) had significantly worse short‐term outcomes, but did not result in increased mortality, and showed equivalent OS and RFS.

Conclusions

Liver resection with HV reconstruction can be achieved safely and contributes to a relatively good long‐term outcome for patients with advanced liver malignancies.
Reducing the Uncertainty in the Tropical Precipitation through a Multi‐Criteria Decision‐Making Approach
Authors: Majhi Archana , Dhanya C. T. , Pattanayak Sonali , Chakma Sumedha
Published: October 2024

The inherent model uncertainty in precipitation projections is found to be more dominant over tropical regions thereby reducing the reliability of using them in climate change impact assessment studies. To address such issues, a subset of well performing global climate models (GCMs) can provide narrow range of possible future outcomes, which can be helpful in formulating mitigation and adaptation strategies that are more targeted and efficient. In this study, climate models are selected based on their performance in simulating relative humidity and vertical velocity since these variables play an important role in precipitation simulation and significantly contribute toward the intermodel spread. The models are evaluated by using various statistical performance measures and ranked using multi‐criteria decision‐making approaches. Finally, based on Jenks natural breaks optimization algorithm, subset of GCMs consisting of ACCESS1.0, ACCESS1.3 and INM‐CM4 models, are considered as the best possible subset for precipitation simulation over tropical land regions. Two observational precipitation datasets are further considered to investigate the effectiveness of the proposed framework. The proposed methodology is validated to be effective in identifying the best climate models since the resulting subset is capable of both capturing observed precipitation and minimizing the uncertainty in future projections. Hence, this methodology can be utilized further for performance evaluation of GCMs focusing different geography and climatic drivers.
Advanced Intelligent Anti‐Counterfeiting in a Memory Storage Phosphor Through Response of Charge Carriers to Temperature
Authors: Zhang Xiangyu , Wang Zhigang , Xu Chunlong , Gao Dangli , Pang Qing , Xu Jie , Wang Xiaojun
Published: October 2024

Persistent phosphor as a printing anti‐counterfeiting material has attracted strong attention owing to its inherent luminescent decay process and multi‐mode luminescence characteristics under external field stimulation. However, the dynamic persistent luminescence (PersL) pattern of a single material is only manifested in color changes and still faces the problem of being easily decrypted. Herein, a multi‐color luminescent material with a wide range distribution of traps is developed, which can emit strong white PersL. In addition, the phosphors show an intelligent response of thermo‐stimulated luminescence to ambient temperature via recalling the charging temperature of the traps. The PersL mechanism is proposed based on electron transfer between PbO6 and TbO6 octahedrons through the O bridging. Based on the intelligent response of thermo‐stimulated luminescence to temperature, high‐throughput multi‐channel luminescence anti‐counterfeiting can be achieved on a single phosphor recording layer. This study not only provides further insights into the PersL mechanism, but also opens a new door for constructing intelligent responsive anti‐counterfeiting materials.
The Application of Biomaterial‐Based Spinal Cord Tissue Engineering
Authors: Ma Liang , Zhang Zhen , Mu Yulei , Liu Bangheng , Zhou Huiqun , Wang Dong‐An
Published: October 2024

Advancements in biomaterial‐based spinal cord tissue engineering technology have profoundly influenced regenerative medicine, providing innovative solutions for both spinal cord organoid development and engineered spinal cord injury (SCI) repair. In spinal cord organoids, biomaterials offer a supportive microenvironment that mimics the natural extracellular matrix, facilitating cell differentiation and organization and advancing the understanding of spinal cord development and pathophysiology. Furthermore, biomaterials are essential in constructing engineered spinal cords for SCI repair. The incorporation of biomaterials with growth factors, fabrication of ordered scaffold structures, and artificial spinal cord assemblies are critical insights for SCI to ensure structural integrity, enhance cell viability, and promote neural regeneration in transplantation. In summary, this review summarizes the contribution of biomaterials to the spinal cord organoids progression and discusses strategies for biomaterial‐based spinal cord engineering in SCI therapy. These achievements underscore the transformative potential of biomaterials to improve treatment options for SCI and accelerate future clinical applications.
Disjoint p$p$‐convergent operators and their adjoints
Authors: Botelho Geraldo , Garcia Luis Alberto , Miranda Vinícius C. C.
Published: October 2024

First, we give conditions on a Banach lattice so that an operator from to any Banach space is disjoint ‐convergent if and only if is almost Dunford–Pettis. Then, we study when adjoints of positive operators between Banach lattices are disjoint ‐convergent. For instance, we prove that the following conditions are equivalent for all Banach lattices and : (i) a positive operator is almost weak ‐convergent if and only if is disjoint ‐convergent; (ii) has order continuous norm or has the positive Schur property of order . Very recent results are improved, examples are given and applications of the main results are provided.
Evaluation of forecasted wind speed at turbine hub height and wind ramps by five NWP models with observations from 262 wind farms over China
Authors: Jin Chenxi , Yang Yang , Han Chao , Lei Ting , Li Chen , Lu Bing
Published: October 2024

Accurate wind speed forecasts are essential for optimizing the efficiency of wind energy operations. Currently, there is limited research on nationwide assessment of predictive performance in multiple numerical weather prediction (NWP) models for wind speed at turbine hub height over China, especially concerning wind ramp events. Utilizing observed measurements from 262 wind farms, this study evaluated the performance of five NWP models in forecasting the mean state and spatiotemporal variations of wind speed as well as wind ramps. The results indicated that the European Center for Medium‐Range Weather Forecast Integrated Forecasting System (ECMWF–IFS) performed the best in forecasting climatological wind speed with a temporal correlation coefficient (TCC) of 0.74 and root mean square error (RMSE) of 2.34 m s−1. Although not widely utilized in China, the model from Meteo‐France (MF–ARPEGE) showed promising potential for wind energy forecasting with a TCC of 0.72 and RMSE of 2.45 m s−1. In terms of temporal variations of wind speed, all the models could reasonably predict the seasonal variations of wind speed, whereas only three NWP models were able to capture the characteristics of the observed diurnal variation. An error decomposition analysis further revealed that the primary source of predicted error for wind speed was the sequence error component (SEQU), indicating the model errors were mainly attributed from the temporal inconsistency between forecasts and observations. Furthermore, the occurrences of wind ramps were generally underestimated by NWP models, while this shortcoming can be partly overcome by improving the time resolution of NWP models.
Electromagnetic Response of a Uniformly Moving Resistive Sheet
Authors: Marvasti Mohammad , Boutayeb Halim
Published: October 2024

By using the finite‐difference time‐domain (FDTD) method and a two‐port network model, this letter investigates the response of a uniformly moving resistive sheet to illuminating electromagnetic plane waves, at normal incidence. The numerical Doppler frequency shifts and scattering matrix are matched with curve‐fitting expressions. The effects of motion on the impedance matrix, the chain matrix, and the continuity equations are analyzed. Moreover, the total energy of the transferred and reflected waves are studied for the cases of a resistive sheet moving toward or away from the plane wave source.
Diffusion network with spatial channel attention infusion and frequency spatial attention for brain tumor segmentation
Authors: Mi Jiaqi , Zhang Xindong
Published: October 2024

Background

Accurate segmentation of gliomas is crucial for diagnosis, treatment planning, and evaluating therapeutic efficacy. Physicians typically analyze and delineate tumor regions in brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images based on personal experience, which is often time‐consuming and subject to individual interpretation. Despite advancements in deep learning technology for image segmentation, current techniques still face challenges in clearly defining tumor boundary contours and enhancing segmentation accuracy.

Purpose

To address these issues, this paper proposes a conditional diffusion network (SF‐Diff) with a spatial channel attention infusion (SCAI) module and a frequency spatial attention (FSA) mechanism to achieve accurate segmentation of the whole tumor (WT) region in brain tumors.

Methods

SF‐Diff initially extracts multiscale information from multimodal MRI images and subsequently employs a diffusion model to restore boundaries and details, thereby enabling accurate brain tumor segmentation (BraTS). Specifically, a SCAI module is developed to capture multiscale information within and between encoder layers. A dual‐channel upsampling block (DUB) is designed to assist in detail recovery during upsampling. A FSA mechanism is introduced to better match the conditional features with the diffusion probability distribution information. Furthermore, a cross‐model loss function has been implemented to supervise the feature extraction of the conditional model and the noise distribution of the diffusion model.

Results

The dataset used in this paper is publicly available and includes 369 patient cases from the Multimodal BraTS Challenge 2020 (BraTS2020). The conducted experiments on BraTS2020 demonstrate that SF‐Diff performs better than other state‐of‐the‐art models. The method achieved a Dice score of 91.87%, a Hausdorff 95 of 5.47 mm, an IoU of 84.96%, a sensitivity of 92.29%, and a specificity of 99.95% on BraTS2020.

Conclusions

The proposed SF‐Diff performs well in identifying the WT region of the brain tumors compared to other state‐of‐the‐art models, especially in terms of boundary contours and non‐contiguous lesion regions, which is clinically significant. In the future, we will further develop this method for brain tumor three‐class segmentation task.