bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conversion Mechanism of Organic Matter While Cleaning Oil‐Based Drilling Cuttings Using Surfactant‐Free Microemulsions
Authors: Li Jing , Yue Hong , Wen Ming , Zhao Liang , Jiang Guobin , Yu Jinlei , Wang Hongjuan , Meng Tian , Yin Xiaoyun , Chen Xinglong
Published: November 2023

Surfactant‐free microemulsions (SFMEs) cleaning technology can effectively separate and recover petroleum pollutants from oil‐based drilling cuttings (OBDCs). The identification of the molecular composition of OBDCs is helpful to accurately grasp the conversion mechanism of organic matter. Therefore, the understanding of the mechanism of petroleum removal at the microscopic molecular level in the cleaning process needs to be further studied. The conversion mechanism of organic matter during the use of SFMEs to clean OBDCs was investigated by positive ion atmospheric pressure photoionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (+APPI FT‐ICR MS). The results show that the SFMEs cleaning technology can separate and recover CH and CHO organic matter in OBDCs, but there is still a small amount of organic matter with high molecular weight and unsaturated degree in OBDCs that has not been separated. The majority of this organic matter is CH, accounting for 91 %, and it is mainly polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. A total of 255 kinds of organic matter in 110# industrial white oil were detected in the recovered oil after treatment, accounting for more than 99 % of the total, which has a certain recoverable value. This study can provide a theoretical reference for the efficient degradation of OBDCs.
Enhancing the Electrochemical Properties of LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 with ZrO2 Surface Coating
Authors: Hu Jiawei , Zhang Yang , Zhou Xiang , Liu Jie
Published: November 2023

Ni‐rich transition metal oxides have high energy density and are promising cathode materials for lithium‐ion batteries. However, the capacity of Li‐ion batteries decays rapidly due to side reactions at the electrode‐electrolyte interface with electrolyte erosion of the material. Surface modification can be used to alleviate these conditions. Here, we report the cathode material modified by ZrO2 coating, which prevents the active material from being corroded by the electrolyte and thus can significantly inhibit the interfacial side reactions between the cathode and the electrolyte. Leveraging these advantages, ZrO2‐coated LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 achieves 85.8 % capacity retention at 1 C rate after 100 cycles. This modification method is an important advance and is expected to be used in the research of high‐performance cathode materials.
Investigating the Chemical Reactivity of Kahalalides: A Promising Source of Therapeutic Peptides from Marine Natural Products Using Conceptual Density Functional Theory
Authors: Flores‐Holguín Norma , Frau Juan , Glossman‐Mitnik Daniel
Published: November 2023

Marine organisms have been found to produce compounds that have the potential to serve as templates for novel therapeutics. Among these compounds, peptides are of particular interest due to their intermediate size between amino acids and proteins. Kahalalides are a family of structurally complex cyclic peptides with potent cytotoxic and antitumor activities, making them promising candidates for cancer therapy. In this study, we investigate the chemical reactivity of Kahalalides A–F using Conceptual Density Functional Theory to gain insight into their bioactivity from a molecular perspective. Our investigation includes characterizing and isolating the peptides, determining their local and global properties and predicting the active reaction sites. We also calculate Bioactivity Scores to predict their biological targets. Overall, this study contributes to the discovery of new therapeutic peptides from natural sources by providing insights into their chemical reactivity and potential biological targets.
Impact of Surface Ligand on the Biocompatibility of InP/ZnS Quantum Dots with Platelets
Authors: Gil Hélio M. , Booth Zoe , Price Thomas W. , Lee Jessica , Naylor‐Adamson Leigh , Avery Michelle , Muravitskaya Alina , Hondow Nicole , Allsup David , Schneider Jürgen E. , Naseem Khalid , Adawi Ali M. , Bouillard Jean‐Sebastien G. , Chamberlain Thomas W. , Calaminus Simon D. J. , Stasiuk Graeme J.
Published: November 2023

InP/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) have received a large focus in recent years as a safer alternative to heavy metal‐based QDs. Given their intrinsic fluorescent imaging capabilities, these QDs can be potentially relevant for in vivo platelet imaging. The InP/ZnS QDs are synthesized and their biocompatibility investigated through the use of different phase transfer agents. Analysis of platelet function indicates that platelet‐QD interaction can occur at all concentrations and for all QD permutations tested. However, as the QD concentration increases, platelet aggregation is induced by QDs alone independent of natural platelet agonists. This study helps to define a range of concentrations and coatings (thioglycolic acid and penicillamine) that are biocompatible with platelet function. With this information, the platelet‐QD interaction can be identified using multiple methods. Fluorescent lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) and confocal studies have shown QDs localize on the surface of the platelet toward the center while showing evidence of energy transfer within the QD population. It is believed that these findings are an important stepping point for the development of fluorescent probes for platelet imaging.
Aerosol Jet Printing Conductive 3D Microstructures from Graphene Without Post‐Processing
Authors: Smith Brittany N. , Ballentine Peter , Doherty James L. , Wence Ryan , Hobbie Hansel Alex , Williams Nicholas X. , Franklin Aaron D.
Published: November 2023

Three‐dimensional (3D) graphene microstructures have the potential to boost performance in high‐capacity batteries and ultrasensitive sensors. Numerous techniques have been developed to create such structures; however, the methods typically rely on structural supports, and/or lengthy post‐print processing, increasing cost and complexity. Additive manufacturing techniques, such as printing, show promise in overcoming these challenges. This study employs aerosol jet printing for creating 3D graphene microstructures using water as the only solvent and without any post‐print processing required. The graphene pillars exhibit conductivity immediately after printing, requiring no high‐temperature annealing. Furthermore, these pillars are successfully printed in freestanding configurations at angles below 45° relative to the substrate, showcasing their adaptability for tailored applications. When graphene pillars are added to humidity sensors, the additional surface area does not yield a corresponding increase in sensor performance. However, graphene trusses, which add a parallel conduction path to the sensing surface, are found to improve sensitivity nearly 2×, highlighting the advantages of a topologically suspended circuit construction when adding 3D microstructures to sensing electrodes. Overall, incorporating 3D graphene microstructures to sensor electrodes can provide added sensitivity, and aerosol jet printing is a viable path to realizing these conductive microstructures without any post‐print processing.
High Performance Thermoelectric Power of Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3Through Synergistic Cu2GeSe3and Se Incorporations
Authors: Pang Kaikai , Yuan Minhui , Zhang Qiang , Li Yanan , Zhang Yuyou , Zhou Wenjie , Wu Gang , Tan Xiaojian , Noudem Jacques G. , Cui Chen , Hu Haoyang , Wu Jiehua , Sun Peng , Liu Guo‐Qiang , Jiang Jun
Published: November 2023

Bi2Te3‐based alloys are the benchmark for commercial thermoelectric (TE) materials, the widespread demand for low‐grade waste heat recovery and solid‐state refrigeration makes it imperative to enhance the figure‐of‐merits. In this study, high‐performance Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3(BST) is realized by incorporating Cu2GeSe3and Se. Concretely, the diffusion of Cu and Ge atoms optimizes the hole concentration and raises the density‐of‐states effective mass (md*), compensating for the loss of “donor‐like effect” exacerbated by ball milling. The subsequent Se addition further increasesmd*, enabling a total 28% improvement of room‐temperature power factor (S2σ), reaching 43.6 µW cm−1 K−2compared to the matrix. Simultaneously, the lattice thermal conductivity is also significantly suppressed by multiscale scattering sources represented by Cu‐rich nanoparticles and dislocation arrays. The synergistic effects yield a peakZTof 1.41 at 350 K and an averageZTof 1.23 (300–500 K) in the Bi0.5Sb1.5Te2.94Se0.06+ 0.11 wt.% Cu2GeSe3sample. More importantly, the integrated 17‐pair TE module achieves a conversion efficiency of 6.4%, 80% higher than the commercial one at ΔT = 200 K. These results validate that the facile composition optimization of the BST/Cu2GeSe3/Se is a promising strategy to improve the application of BST‐based TE modules.
Regulating Li Nucleation and Growth Heterogeneities via Near‐Surface Lithium‐Ion Irrigation for Stable Anode‐Less Lithium Metal Batteries
Authors: Xie Chuyi , Zhao Chen , Jeong Heonjae , Liu Qiang , Li Tianyi , Xu Wenqian , Cheng Lei , Xu Gui‐Liang , Amine Khalil , Chen Guohua
Published: November 2023

The inhomogeneous nucleation and growth of Li dendrite combined with the spontaneous side reactions with the electrolytes dramatically challenge the stability and safety of Li metal anode (LMA). Despite tremendous endeavors, current success relies on the use of significant excess of Li to compensate the loss of active Li during cycling. Herein, a near‐surface Li+ irrigation strategy is developed to regulate the inhomogeneous Li deposition behavior and suppress the consequent side reactions under limited Li excess condition. The conformal polypyrrole (PPy) coating layer on Cu surface via oxidative chemical vapor deposition technique can induce the migration of Li+ to the interregional space between PPy and Cu, creating a near‐surface Li+‐rich region to smooth diffusion of ion flux and uniform the deposition. Moreover, as evidenced by multiscale characterizations including synchrotron high‐energy X‐ray diffraction scanning, a robust N‐rich solid‐electrolyte interface (SEI) is formed on the PPy skeleton to effectively suppress the undesired SEI formation/dissolution process. Strikingly, stable Li metal cycling performance under a high areal capacity of 10 mAh cm−2 at 2.0 mA cm−2 with merely 0.5 × Li excess is achieved. The findings not only resolve the long‐standing poor LMA stability/safety issues, but also deepen the mechanism understanding of Li deposition process.
Ultralow‐Overpotential Acidic Oxygen Evolution Reaction Over Bismuth Telluride–Carbon Nanotube Heterostructure with Organic Framework
Authors: Arbab Alvira Ayoub , Cho Sehyeon , Jung Euibeen , Han Hyun Soo , Park Sangwook , Lee Hyoungsoon
Published: November 2023

The state‐of‐the‐art iridium and ruthenium oxides‐based materials are best known for high efficiency and stability in acidic oxygen evolution reaction (OER). However, the development of economically feasible catalysts for water‐splitting technologies is challenging by the requirements of low overpotential, high stability, and resistance of catalysts to dissolution during the acidic oxygen evolution reaction . Herein, an organometallic core–shell heterostructure composed of a carbon nanotube core (CNT) and bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) shell (denoted as nC–Bi2Te3) is designed and use it as a catalyst for the acidic OER. The proposed catalyst achieves an ultralow overpotential of 160 mV at 10 mA cm−2 (geometrical), thereby outperforming most of the state‐of‐the‐art precious‐metal‐based catalysts. The low Tafel slope of 30 mV dec−1 and charge transfer resistance (RCT) of 1.5 Ω demonstrate its excellent electrocatalytic activity. The morphological and chemical compositions of nC–Bi2Te3 enable the generation of ─OH functional group in the Bi─Te sections formed via a ligand support, which enhances the absorption capacity of H+ ions and increases the intrinsic catalytic activity. The presented insights regarding the material composition–structure relationship can help expand the application scope of high‐performance catalysts.
Chiral‐Achiral Cations Intercalation Induced Lead‐Free Chiral‐Polar Hybrid Perovskites Enable Self‐Powered X‐Ray and Ultraviolet–Visible–Near‐Infrared Photo Detection
Authors: Zhu Zeng‐Kui , Zhu Tingting , You Shihai , Yu Panpan , Wu Jianbo , Zeng Ying , Guan Qianwen , Li Zhou , Qu Chang , Zhong Haiqing , Li Lina , Luo Junhua
Published: November 2023

Lead halide hybrid perovskites have made great progress in direct X‐ray detection and broadband photodetection, but the existence of toxic Pb and the demand for external operating voltage have severely limited their further applications and operational stability improvements. Therefore, exploring “green” lead‐free hybrid perovskite that can both achieve X‐ray detection and broadband photodetection without external voltage is of great importance, but remains severely challenging. Herein, using centrosymmetric (BZA)3BiI6 (1, BZA = benzylamine) as a template, a pair of chiral‐polar lead‐free perovskites, (BZA)2(R/S‐PPA)BiI6 (2‐R/S, R/S‐PPA = (R/S)‐1‐Phenylpropylamine) are successfully obtained by introducing chiral aryl cations of (R/S)‐1‐Phenylpropylamine. Compared to 1, chiral‐polar 2‐R presents a significant irradiation‐responsive bulk photovoltaic effect (BPVE) with an open circuit photovoltage of 0.4 V, which enables it with self‐powered X‐ray, UV–vis‐NIR broadband photodetection. Specifically, 2‐R device exhibits an ultralow detection limit of 18.5 nGy s−1 and excellent operational stability. Furthermore, 2‐R as the first lead‐free perovskite achieves significant broad‐spectrum (377–940 nm) photodetection via light‐induced pyroelectric effect. This work sheds light on the rational crystal reconstruction engineering and design of “green” hybrid perovskite toward high‐demanded self‐powered radiation detection and broadband photodetection.
Structural Engineering of Co‐Metal–Organic Frameworks via Ce Incorporation for Improved Oxygen Evolution
Authors: Liao Yuanyuan , Xiao Yue , Li Zhiquan , Zhou Xiaoqing , Liu Jiahao , Guo Feng , Li Jing , Li Yongxiu
Published: November 2023

The rational design of metal–organic framework (MOF)‐based electrocatalysts plays a key role in achieving high‐efficiency oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, a synergetic morphology and electronic structure engineering strategy are proposed to design a Co‐MOF nanoflower grown on carbon paper via rare‐earth cerium doping (CoCe‐MOF/CP). Compared with Co‐MOF/CP, the developed CoCe‐MOF/CP exhibited superior OER performance with a low overpotential of 267 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and outstanding long‐term stability over 100 h. Theoretical calculations show that the unique 4f valence electron structure of Ce induced charge redistribution of the Co‐MOF surface through the strong Co 3d‐O 2p‐Ce 4f orbital electronic coupling below the Fermi level. Ce‐doped plays a key role in the engineering of the electronic states of the Co sites to endow them with the optimal free energy landscape for enhanced OER catalytic activity. This work provides new insights into comprehending the RE‐enhanced mechanism of electrocatalysis and provides an effective strategy for the design of MOF‐based electrocatalysts.
Modulating the Distribution of Formamidinium Iodide by Ultrahigh Humidity Treatment Strategy for High‐Quality Sequential Vapor Deposited Perovskite
Authors: Lin Dongxu , Fang Jun , Yang Xiaoxin , Wang Xin , Li Sibo , Wang Daozeng , Xie Guanshui , Li Huan , Wang Xiao , Qiu Longbin
Published: November 2023

The quality of two‐step processed perovskites is significantly influenced by the distribution of organic amine salts. Especially, modulating the distribution of organic amine salts remains a grand challenge for sequential vapor‐deposited perovskites due to the blocking effect of bottom compact PbI2. Herein, an ultrahigh humidity treatment strategy is developed to facilitate the diffusion of formamidinium iodide (FAI) from the top surface to the buried bottom interface on the sequential vapor‐deposited bilayer structure. Both experimental and theoretical investigations elucidate the mechanism that moisture helps to i) create FAI diffusion channels by inducing a phase transition from α‐ to δ‐phase in the perovskite, and ii) enhance the diffusivity of FAI by forming hydrogen bonds. This ultrahigh humidity treatment strategy enables the formation of a desired homogeneous and high‐quality α‐phase after annealing. As a result, a champion efficiency of 22.0% is achieved and 97.5% of its initial performance is maintained after aging for 1050 h under ambient air with a relative humidity of up to 80%. This FAI diffusion strategy provides new insights into the reproducible, scalable, and high‐performance sequential vapor‐deposited perovskite solar cells.
Manipulating the Host−Guest Chemistry of Cucurbituril to Propel Highly Reversible Zinc Metal Anodes
Authors: Zhao Yiming , Wei Mengying , Tan Li‐Li , Luo Zhixuan , Peng Jiahui , Wei Chunguang , Kang Feiyu , Wang Jian‐Gan
Published: November 2023

Rechargeable aqueous zinc‐ion batteries are practically plagued by the short lifespan and low Coulombic efficiency (CE) of Zn anodes resulting from random dendrite deposition and parasitic reactions. Herein, the host−guest chemistry of cucurbituril additive with Zn2+ to achieve longstanding Zn anodes is manipulated. The macrocyclic molecule of cucurbit[5]uril (CB[5]) is delicately designed to reconstruct both the CB[5]‐adsorbed electric‐double layer (EDL) structure at the Zn interface and the hydrated sheath of Zn2+ ions. Especially benefiting from the desirable carbonyl rims and suitable hydrophobic cavities, the CB[5] has a strong host−guest interaction with Zn2+ ions, which exclusively permits rapid Zn2+ flux across the EDL interface but retards the H2O radicals and SO42−. Accordingly, such a unique particle redistributor warrants long‐lasting dendrite‐free deposition by homogenizing Zn nucleation/growth and significantly improved CE by inhibiting side reactions. The Zn anode can deliver superior reversibility in CB[5]‐containing electrolyte with a ninefold increase of cycle lifetime and an elevated CE of 99.7% under harsh test conditions (10 mA cm−2/10 mA h cm−2). The work opens a new avenue from the perspective of host−guest chemistry to propel the development of rechargeable Zn metal batteries and beyond.
Electrolyte Engineering Empowers Li||CFx Batteries to Achieve High Energy Density and Low Self‐Discharge at Harsh Conditions
Authors: Xiao Yukang , Chen Xunxin , Jian Junhua , Cheng Yong , Zou Yue , Su Yu , Wu Qilong , Tang Chao , Zhang Zhongru , Wang Ming‐Sheng , Zheng Jianming , Yang Yong
Published: November 2023

Given its exceptional theoretical energy density (over 2000 Wh kg−1), lithium||carbon fluoride (Li||CFx) battery has garnered global attention. N‐methylpyrrolidone (NMP)‐based electrolyte is regarded as one promising candidate for tremendously enhancing the energy density of Li||CFx battery, provided self‐discharge challenges can be resolved. This study successfully achieves a low self‐discharge (LSD) and desirable electrochemical performance in Li||CFx batteries at high temperatures by utilizing NMP as the solvent and incorporating additional ingredients, including vinylene carbonate additive, as well as the dual‐salt systems formed by LiBF4 with three different Li salts, namely lithium bis(oxalato)borate, lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate, and LiNO3. The experimental results unfold that the proposed methods not only minimize aluminum current collector corrosion, but also effectively passivate the Li metal anode. Among them, LiNO3 exhibits the most pronounced effect that achieves an energy density of ≈2400 Wh kg−1 at a current density of 10 mA g−1 at 30 °C, nearly 0% capacity‐fade rate after 300 h of storage at 60 °C, and the capability to maintain a stable open‐circuit voltage over 4000 h. This work provides a distinctive perspective on how to realize both high energy density and LSD rates at high temperature of Li||CFx battery.
Defect Compensation and Lattice Stabilization Enables High Voltage Output in Tin Halide Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Wang Shurong , Wu Cheng , Yao Huanhuan , Xie Lisha , Xiao Yu , Ding Liming , Hao Feng
Published: November 2023

Tin halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are regarded as the most promising lead‐free alternatives for photovoltaic applications. However, they still suffer from uncompetitive photovoltaic performance because of the facile Sn2+ oxidation and Sn‐related defects. Herein, a defect and carrier management strategy by using diaminopyridine (DP) and 4‐bromo‐2,6‐diaminopyridine (4BrDP) as multifunctional additives for tin halide perovskites is reported. Both DP and 4BrDP induced strong interaction with tin perovskites by coordinate bonding and N─H···I hydrogen bonding, which greatly suppresses the micro‐strain and Urbach energy of tin halide perovskite films. The strong hydrogen bonding inhibits the formation of I3− and related defect density. Meanwhile, the electron‐donor species of halogen bond in 4BrDP provides higher reactivity of 2 and 6 sites, which indicates stronger passivation ability with tin halide perovskites. These advances enable a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 13.40% in 4BrDP‐processed devices with remarkable improvement in both open‐circuit voltage (Voc) of 881 mV and fill factor (FF) of 71.26%. The 4BrDP devices retain 91% and 82% of the pristine PCE after 2000 h storage in N2 atmosphere and 1000 h under 85 °C, respectively. Therefore, this work provides new insight into molecular design for high‐performance and stable lead‐free optoelectronics.
A MEMS All‐SiC Accelerometer and its Application in Vibration Test of Aero‐Engine†
Authors: Zhai Yanxin , Xu Tiantong , Xu Guoqiang , Wang Hengyi , Cao Xiaoda , Li Haiwang
Published: November 2023

This paper reports a MEMS accelerometer based on bulk SiC. The fabrication and packaging scheme were designed, an efficient signal processing circuit was built, and the output performance of the sensor was tested. The test results show that the resistivity of the piezoresistive material is 194.40 Ω μm, the sensor's output sensitivity is 0.21 mV/g, the linearity is 99.8%, and the resonance frequency is 1636 Hz. Finally, the accelerometer was applied to the two ground vibration tests of aero‐engine, and the vibration signal of the turbine components and the test bed was successfully extracted. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
A closed form solution for uniformly loaded rectangular plates with adjacent edges clamped and the two others simply supported (CCSS)
Authors: Jin Ming
Published: November 2023

In this paper, a closed form solution is proposed on bending of uniformly loaded rectangular plates with adjacent edges clamped and the two others simply supported (CCSS). Deflection surface can be expressed by a double sine series referred to as Navier solution. Numerical results of deflection, bending moments agree with existing solutions including solutions of finite element model (FEM).
Bootstrap, Markov Chain Monte Carlo, and LP/SDP hierarchy for the lattice Ising model
Authors: Cho Minjae , Sun Xin
Published: November 2023

Abstract

Bootstrap is an idea that imposing consistency conditions on a physical system may lead to rigorous and nontrivial statements about its physical observables. In this work, we discuss the bootstrap problem for the invariant measure of the stochastic Ising model defined as a Markov chain where probability bounds and invariance equations are imposed. It is described by a linear programming (LP) hierarchy whose asymptotic convergence is shown by explicitly constructing the invariant measure from the convergent sequence of moments. We also discuss the relation between the LP hierarchy for the invariant measure and a recently introduced semidefinite programming (SDP) hierarchy for the Gibbs measure of the statistical Ising model based on reflection positivity and spin-flip equations.
Oncologic treatment support via a dedicated mobile app: a prospective feasibility evaluation (OPTIMISE-1)
Authors: Schunn Fabian A. , El Shafie Rami A. , Kronsteiner Dorothea , Sauer Lukas D. , Kudak Andreas , Bougatf Nina , Oetzel Dieter , Krämer Anna , Regnery Sebastian , Machmer Timo , Debus Jürgen , Nicolay Nils Henrik
Published: November 2023

Background

Mobile health (mhealth) is gaining interest, with mobile devices and apps being ever more available among medical facilities and patients. However, in the field of radiation oncology, the medical benefits of mhealth apps are still underexplored. As an additional approach to patient care during radiotherapy, we designed a mobile treatment surveillance app based on patient-reported outcomes.

Objective

We aimed to examine the feasibility of app-based treatment surveillance in patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT). Alongside technical practicability and acceptance, we assessed patient satisfaction and quality of life during treatment.

Methods

This prospective single-center study was performed at Heidelberg University Hospital between August 2018 and January 2020. During RT we measured patients’ quality of life, symptoms, and treatment satisfaction. Respective questionnaires (EORTC QLQ-C30 with diagnosis-specific modules, RAND PSQ-18) were presented to patients via a mobile app running on a designated tablet device. The primary endpoint was determined by the fraction of patients who completed at least 80% of the items. Secondary endpoints were disease-related quality of life and patient satisfaction.

Results

A total of 49 cancer patients (14 breast, 13 pelvic, 12 lung, 10 prostate) were eligible for analysis. 79.6% (95% confidence interval: 66.4–88.5%; n = 39) of all patients completed at least 80% of the items received by the mobile app. A mean of 227.5 ± 48.25 questions were answered per patient. Breast cancer patients showed the highest rate of answered questions, with 92.9% (n = 13) completing at least 80% of the items.

Conclusion

Patients showed high acceptance, with 79.6% (n = 39) completing at least 80% of the given items. The use of a mobile app for reporting symptoms and quality of life during RT is feasible and well accepted by patients. It may allow for resource-efficient, detailed feedback to the medical staff and assist in the assessment of side effects over time.
Selective determination of 2-aminobenzothiazole in environmental water and organic extracts from fish and dust samples
Authors: Moral Alberto , Borrull Francesc , Furton Kenneth G. , Kabir Abuzar , Fontanals Núria , Marcé Rosa Maria
Published: November 2023

In the present study, a homemade mixed-mode ion-exchange sorbent based on silica with embedded graphene microparticles is applied for the selective extraction of 2-aminobenzothiazole (NH2BT) followed by determination through liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry. The sorbent was evaluated for the solid-phase extraction of NH2BT from environmental water samples (river, effluent wastewater, and influent wastewater), and NH2BT was strongly retained through the selective cation-exchange interactions. Therefore, the inclusion of a clean-up step of 7 mL of methanol provided good selectivity for the extraction of NH2BT. The apparent recoveries obtained for environmental water samples ranged from 62 to 69% and the matrix effect from −1 to −14%. The sorbent was also evaluated in the clean-up step of the organic extract for the extraction of NH2BT from organic extracts of indoor dust samples (10 mL of ethyl acetate from pressurized liquid extraction) and fish (10 mL of acetonitrile from QuEChERS extraction). The organic extracts were acidified (adding a 0.1% of formic acid) to promote the cation-exchange interactions between the sorbent and the analyte. The apparent recoveries for fish samples ranged from 22 to 36% depending on the species. In the case of indoor dust samples, the recovery was 41%. It should be highlighted the low matrix effect encountered in such complex samples, with values ranging from −7 to 5% for fish and dust samples. Finally, various samples were analyzed. The concentration in river samples ranged from 31 to 136 ng/L; in effluent wastewater samples, from 55 to 191 ng/L; in influent wastewater samples, from 131 to 549 ng/L; in fish samples, from 14 to 57 ng/g dried weight; and in indoor dust samples, from <MQL to 114 ng/g.
Effects of heat and personal protective equipment on thermal strain in healthcare workers: part B—application of wearable sensors to observe heat strain among healthcare workers under controlled conditions
Authors: Wibowo Razan , Do Viet , Quartucci Caroline , Koller Daniela , Daanen Hein A. M. , Nowak Dennis , Bose-O’Reilly Stephan , Rakete Stefan
Published: November 2023

Purpose

As climate change accelerates, healthcare workers (HCW) are expected to be more frequently exposed to heat at work. Heat stress can be exacerbated by physical activity and unfavorable working requirements, such as wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). Thus, understanding its potential negative effects on HCW´s health and working performance is becoming crucial. Using wearable sensors, this study investigated the physiological effects of heat stress due to HCW-related activities.

Methods

Eighteen participants performed four experimental sessions in a controlled climatic environment following a standardized protocol. The conditions were (a) 22 °C, (b) 22 °C and PPE, (c) 27 °C and (d) 27 °C and PPE. An ear sensor (body temperature, heart rate) and a skin sensor (skin temperature) were used to record the participants´ physiological parameters.

Results

Heat and PPE had a significant effect on the measured physiological parameters. When wearing PPE, the median participants’ body temperature was 0.1 °C higher compared to not wearing PPE. At 27 °C, the median body temperature was 0.5 °C higher than at 22 °C. For median skin temperature, wearing PPE resulted in a 0.4 °C increase and higher temperatures in a 1.0 °C increase. An increase in median heart rate was also observed for PPE (+ 2/min) and heat (+ 3/min).

Conclusion

Long-term health and productivity risks can be further aggravated by the predicted temperature rise due to climate change. Further physiological studies with a well-designed intervention are needed to strengthen the evidence for developing comprehensive policies to protect workers in the healthcare sector.
A self-supervised classification model for endometrial diseases
Authors: Fang Yun , Wei Yanmin , Liu Xiaoying , Qin Liufeng , Gao Yunxia , Yu Zhengjun , Xu Xia , Cha Guofen , Zhu Xuehua , Wang Xue , Xu Lijuan , Cao Lulu , Chen Xiangrui , Jiang Haixia , Zhang Chaozhen , Zhou Yuwang , Zhu Jinqi
Published: November 2023

Purpose

Ultrasound imaging is the preferred method for the early diagnosis of endometrial diseases because of its non-invasive nature, low cost, and real-time imaging features. However, the accurate evaluation of ultrasound images relies heavily on the experience of radiologist. Therefore, a stable and objective computer-aided diagnostic model is crucial to assist radiologists in diagnosing endometrial lesions.

Methods

Transvaginal ultrasound images were collected from multiple hospitals in Quzhou city, Zhejiang province. The dataset comprised 1875 images from 734 patients, including cases of endometrial polyps, hyperplasia, and cancer. Here, we proposed a based self-supervised endometrial disease classification model (BSEM) that learns a joint unified task (raw and self-supervised tasks) and applies self-distillation techniques and ensemble strategies to aid doctors in diagnosing endometrial diseases.

Results

The performance of BSEM was evaluated using fivefold cross-validation. The experimental results indicated that the BSEM model achieved satisfactory performance across indicators, with scores of 75.1%, 87.3%, 76.5%, 73.4%, and 74.1% for accuracy, area under the curve, precision, recall, and F1 score, respectively. Furthermore, compared to the baseline models ResNet, DenseNet, VGGNet, ConvNeXt, VIT, and CMT, the BSEM model enhanced accuracy, area under the curve, precision, recall, and F1 score in 3.3–7.9%, 3.2–7.3%, 3.9–8.5%, 3.1–8.5%, and 3.3–9.0%, respectively.

Conclusion

The BSEM model is an auxiliary diagnostic tool for the early detection of endometrial diseases revealed by ultrasound and helps radiologists to be accurate and efficient while screening for precancerous endometrial lesions.
Long-term follow-up of comparative study of open and endoscopic lymphadenectomy in patients with penile carcinoma
Authors: Zhou Xue-Lu
Published: November 2023

Background

Penile carcinoma is an uncommon cancer that develops in the penis tissue. The standard surgical method to manage regional lymph nodes after local excision is radical inguinal lymphadenectomy, but it has a high rate of complications. The objective of this retrospective study was to compare the long-term outcomes of endoscopic inguinal lymphadenectomy and open inguinal lymphadenectomy in patients with penile carcinoma.

Methods

The study included patients diagnosed with penile carcinoma who underwent open inguinal lymphadenectomy (n = 23) or endoscopic inguinal lymphadenectomy (n = 27) at a single hospital between January 2013 and January 2021. Operation time, blood loss, drainage, hospital stay, postoperative complications, and survival rates were assessed and compared between the two groups.

Results

The two groups were comparable in terms of age, tumor size and stage, inguinal lymph nodes, and follow-up. The endoscopic group had significantly lower blood loss (27.1 ± 1.5 ml vs 55.0 ± 2.7 ml, P < 0.05), shorter drainage time and hospital stay (4.7 ± 1.1 days vs 8.1 ± 2.2 days, and 13.4 ± 1.0 days vs 19 ± 2.0 days, respectively, P < 0.05), and longer operation time compared to the open group (82.2 ± 4.3 min in endoscopic group vs 53.1 ± 2.2 min in open group, P < 0.05). There were significant differences in the incidence of incisional infection, necrosis, and lymphorrhagia in both groups (4 vs 0, 4 vs 0, and 2 vs 0, respectively, P < 0.05). The inguinal lymph node harvested was comparable between the two groups. The mean follow-up time was similar for both groups (60.4 ± 7.7 m vs 59.8 ± 7.3 m), and the recurrence mortality rates were not significantly different.

Conclusions

The study shows that both open and endoscopic methods work well for controlling penile carcinoma in the long term. But the endoscopic approach is better because it has fewer severe complications. So, the choice of surgery method might depend on factors like the surgeon’s experience, what they like, and what resources are available.
Assessing the impact of climate change on future extreme temperature events in major South African cities
Authors: Mengistu Achamyeleh G. , Woyessa Yali E. , Tesfuhuney Weldemichael A. , Steyn Abraham S. , Lee Sang Soo
Published: November 2023

In this era of climate change, extreme weather events are expected to become more intense and frequent. This study analysed the long-term future climate data from the mean of five climate model intercomparison project phase 6 (CMIP6) global climate models (GCMs) to examine the impacts of climate change on extreme temperature in four major South African cities. The bias correction was successfully conducted using the CMhyd software program. The analysis of extreme temperatures was conducted using indices developed by the World Meteorological Organization’s Expert Team on Sector-specific Climate Indices (ET-SCI) and calculated using the R-based Climpact2 software. All statistical metrics (mean, R2 and RMSE) show that bias correction was fairly good, and further analysis and conclusions could also be drawn using the adjusted dataset. The overall result shows that annual trends of all temperature indices analysed in this study are significantly increasing for both scenarios (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5) except for some lower extreme temperature indices (i.e., number of cool days, cold nights and cold spells). In the historical time scale, however, some indices showed no trend for some stations. The study also found that coastal cities had a slower increase in higher extreme weather indices as compared to inland cities. However, for lower extreme indices (such as number of cool days, cold nights, cool day’s temperature and cold spells), the opposite was true. This information is important for policymakers, development agents and disaster prevention workers to make informed decisions about adapting to and mitigating extreme weather events.
Unter Beschuss mitten am Spielplatz in Kharkiw
Authors: Zipper-Weber Viktoriya
Published: November 2023

„Wir wollten einfach wieder draußen spielen können, am Spielplatz … Statt tagelang im Keller vor Raketen und Bomben eingeschlossen zu sein. Und dann ist es passiert. Sie wissen schon. Wir wurden von Russen beschossen, mitten am Spielplatz.“

Die vorliegende Einzelfallstudie deskriptiver und interpretativer Natur beschreibt und analysiert den Verlauf einer psychotherapeutischen Behandlung eines kriegstraumatisierten 8‑jährigen Buben, der sowohl schwere körperliche Verletzungen erlitt als auch psychische Folgen davontrug. Es handelt sich dabei um eine interkulturelle, muttersprachliche Psychotherapie zur Behandlung von Traumafolgeerscheinungen. Zusätzlich wird der Einsatz der Spielpsychotherapie geschildert. Die Datensammlung umfasst die psychotherapeutische Dokumentation der Therapeutin.

Die Fallstudie stellt nicht nur die Eckdaten, wie den Rahmen, das Setting, Personendaten und familiäre Faktoren, vor, sondern schildert auch den Prozessverlauf und den Beziehungsaufbau. Themen, Schlüsselmomente und Besonderheiten runden die Interpretation ab.

Schließlich wurden die Limitationen kritisch reflektiert sowie Implikationen für weiterführende Forschung und Handlungsempfehlungen formuliert.
Defining young people’s mental health self-care: a systematic review and co-development approach
Authors: Truscott Alex , Hayes Daniel , Bardsley Tom , Choksi Disha , Edbrooke-Childs Julian
Published: November 2023

Self-care is among the emerging types of mental health support which operate outside traditional services, although the meaning and practice of self-care for young people with mental health difficulties are currently unclear. This systematic review was pre-registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021282510) and investigated conceptualizations of self-care in academic publications which investigated or discussed self-care for young people’s mental health or wellbeing. A Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) workshop facilitated young people with experience of mental health difficulties to respond to the identified concepts and co-develop a definition of self-care. Searches in PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL Plus, Scopus, Cochrane Library of Systematic Reviews, and gray literature sources resulted in 90 included publications. Content analysis indicated little conceptual consistency, with health and wellness promotion most commonly used to define self-care. The PPI workshop co-developed a definition of mental health self-care, which attendees felt should emphasize an individual process of self-awareness, self-compassion, and specific strategies to work toward emotional balance. This study highlights the gap between current academic understandings of young people’s mental health self-care and young people’s experience. The presented definition will enable future research to begin from an understanding of self-care which is relevant to young people with experience of mental health difficulties.
Galileo high accuracy service performance and anomaly mitigation capabilities
Authors: Martini Ilaria , Susi Melania , Cucchi Luca , Fernandez-Hernandez Ignacio
Published: November 2023

Precise point positioning (PPP) and real-time kinematic techniques are interesting in several sectors, especially for autonomous applications. These users have high accuracy needs coupled with stringent requirements on continuity, availability, integrity, and convergence time, whose satisfaction can be challenging in harsh environments. Galileo launched on January 2023 the initial high accuracy service (HAS), a European free-of-charge PPP service with a worldwide coverage transmitted on E6 signals and provided through an internet connection. This paper characterizes the Galileo HAS product performance, including orbital errors, clock errors, code biases, and overall signal in space error (SISE), with live signals transmitted since HAS service declaration. The paper also presents the behavior of HAS SIS in the case of four satellite anomalies between September 2021 and August 2022, occurring for Galileo and GPS. Finally, the paper presents the results of HAS performance in both static open sky and road scenarios, showing a few-decimeter accuracy even in environments with degraded visibility. The paper shows the improvements in terms of robustness to satellite anomaly thanks to the Galileo HAS characteristics.
Predicting donations and profiling donors in a blood collection center: a Bayesian approach
Authors: Epifani Ilenia , Lanzarone Ettore , Guglielmi Alessandra
Published: November 2023

Donor profiling and donation prediction are two key tasks that any blood collection center must face. Profiling is important to target promotion campaigns, recruiting donors who will guarantee a high production of blood units over time. Predicting the future arrivals of donors allows to size the collection center properly and to provide reliable information on the future production of blood units. Both tasks can be addressed through a statistical prediction model for the intensity function of the donation event. We propose a Bayesian model, which describes this intensity as a function of individual donor’s random frailties and their fixed-time and time-dependent covariates. Our model explains donors’ behaviors from their first donation based on their individual characteristics. We apply it to data of recurrent donors provided by the Milan department of theAssociazione Volontari Italiani del Sanguein Italy. Our method proved to fit those data, but it can also be easily applied to other blood collection centers. The method also allows general indications to be drawn, supported by quantitative analyses, to be provided to staff.
Is it Black and White? Testing racial framing effects of public reactions to newspaper vignettes of fatal officer-involved shootings
Authors: Navarro John C. , Hansen Michael A.
Published: November 2023

Objectives

To investigate how race shapes public perceptions of a fatal officer-involved shooting of an armed male citizen depicted in a scenario without racial identifiers, intraracial, and interracial.

Methods

We distributed an online survey whereby respondents indicated justification, measured by four questions about the fatal officer-involved shooting, after being randomly assigned to three conditions that differed by the racial composition of the officer and armed male citizen. The control condition omitted racial identifiers, and two conditions depicted an interracial and intraracial deadly encounter between a White officer and a White or Black citizen.

Results

White and non-White respondents similarly perceived the intraracial shooting, but White respondents perceived the control condition and the interracial shooting as more justified than non-White respondents.

Conclusions

An identical news article of a fatal officer-involved shooting can be perceived differently when altering the race of the officer and armed male citizen.
Catchment area, fate, and environmental risks investigation of micropollutants in Danish wastewater
Authors: Kilpinen Kristoffer , Devers Jason , Castro Mafalda , Tisler Selina , Jørgensen Mathias B. , Mortensen Peter , Christensen Jan H.
Published: November 2023

This study aimed to investigate the spatial distribution of micropollutants in wastewater related to catchment area, and their environmental risks and fate. About 24-h flow proportional effluent (n = 26) wastewater samples were collected from eight WWTPs across Denmark. From five of these WWTPs corresponding influent samples (n = 20) were collected. Samples were enriched by multi-layer solid phase and analysed by liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry detection. We detected and quantified 79 micropollutants from a list of 291 micropollutants in at least one influent or effluent wastewater sample. From this we found that 54 micropollutants decreased in concentrations during wastewater treatment, while O-desmethylvenlafaxine, carbamazepine, amitriptyline, benzothiazole, terbutryn, and citalopram increased in concentrations through the WWTP.

The toxicity of effluent wastewater samples was assessed by EC50 using Raphidocelis subcapitata (R. subcapitata) and LC50 using the crustacean Daphnia magna (D. Magna), for which six micropollutants were detected above the predicted no-effect concentration. Our study demonstrates that catchment area influences the micropollutant composition of wastewater. Out of 19 pharmaceuticals, the measured concentration in influent wastewater was predicted within a factor of 10 from sale numbers and human excretion, which demonstrates the strong influence of catchment area on micropollutant composition.
Leachate management in medium- and small-sized sanitary landfills: a Greek case study
Authors: Koutsou Olga P. , Mandylas Christoforos , Fountoulakis Michail S. , Stasinakis Athanasios S.
Published: November 2023

The sustainable management of landfill leachates remains a matter of important concern in many countries. We used as case study a medium-sized Greek landfill, and we initially investigated the performance of the existing secondary leachate treatment system. The activated sludge process removed chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), NH4-N, and PO4-P by 55%, 84%, 94%, and 14%, respectively, but the effluents did not meet the legislation requirements for discharge or reuse. Afterwards, different management options of these effluents (co-treatment with sewage in the centralized treatment plant, onsite tertiary treatment with reverse osmosis, granular activated carbon (GAC), ozonation, photo-Fenton, or constructed wetlands) were evaluated regarding their operational costs and environmental footprint. The use of constructed wetlands presented the lower operational cost, energy requirements, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, not exceeding 21.5 kg CO2eq/day. On the other hand, the power consumption and the GHG emissions of the other on-site technologies ranged from 0.37 kWh/m3 and 5.56 kg CO2eq/day (use of GAC) to 39.19 kWh/m3 and 588.6 kg CO2eq/day (use of ozonation), respectively. The co-treatment of the leachates with municipal wastewater required 0.6 kWh/m3 and emitted 30.18 kg CO2eq/day. For achieving zero-discharge of the treated leachates, a system consisting of constructed wetlands and evaporation ponds in series was designed.