bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rapid identification of chemical compositions from three species of Siegesbeckiae Herba by ultra‐performance liquid chromatography‐electrospray ionization‐quadrupole time of flight‐mass spectrometry in combination with deoxyribonucleic acid barcoding
Authors: Tao Guanqi , Li Qin , Xu Shifang , Song Wenying , Yang Zonghan , Zhou Yinjuan , Gao Lijuan , Huang Wenkang , Li Xiaoyu , Ye Yiping
Published: June 2023

Siegesbeckiae Herba, a traditional Chinese medicine, originates from Siegesbeckia orientalis, S. glabrescens, and S. pubescens in the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China. However, accurate identification of decoction pieces from the three plants remains a challenge. In this study, 26 batches of Siegesbeckiae Herba were identified by deoxyribonucleic acid barcoding, and their chemical compositions were determined using ultra‐performance liquid chromatography‐electrospray ionization‐quadrupole time of flight‐mass spectrometry. The results showed that the internal transcribed spacer 2 and internal transcribed spacer 1–5.8 S‐ internal transcribed spacer 2 sequences could distinguish three species. In total, 48 compounds were identified including 12 marker compounds screened for three species using the partial least square discriminant analysis. Among these, two diterpenoids 16‐O‐malonylkirenol and 15‐O‐malonylkirenol, and a novel diterpenoid 15,16‐di‐O‐malonylkirenol were isolated and identified. A convenient method for the identification of Siegesbeckiae Herba was established using kirenol and 16‐O‐acetlydarutoside as control standards by thin‐layer chromatography. Unexpectedly, none of the batches of S. orientalis contained kirenol, which did not meet the quality standards of Siegesbeckiae Herba, suggesting that the rationality of kirenol as a quality marker for S. orientalis should be further investigated. The results of this study will contribute to the quality control of Siegesbeckiae Herba.
Training Requirements in Point‐of‐Care Ultrasonography of the Upper Airway: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Karakosta Agathi , Pantazi Danai , Margariti Persefoni , Micha Georgia , Samara Evangelia , Tzimas Petros
Published: June 2023

Objectives

Point‐of‐care ultrasonography of the upper airway can be a useful supplement to conventional pre‐anesthetic clinical evaluations. However, the reliability of such examinations is highly operator‐dependent and proper training in sonoanatomy and ultrasound operational skills are required. The objective of this study aims to assess the minimum training requirements for applying a predefined upper airway scanning protocol in healthy volunteers by anesthesia trainees.

Methods

Twenty‐two healthy volunteer members of the Operating Room staff participated in the study. A predefined scanning protocol that included the identification of specific structures (hyoid bone, vocal cords, thyrohyoid membrane/epiglottis/pre‐epiglottic space, cricothyroid membrane, and thyroid gland), as well as the performance of specific measurements (distance from the hyoid bone to skin, anterior commissure to skin, epiglottis to skin, and thyroid isthmus to skin) was taught in a single‐day training course. The trainees' competence was assessed after multiple scanning repetitions performed over a week. Mixed effects regression models were applied for the trainee–instructor differences in all ultrasound measurements.

Results

Cricothyroid membrane visualization had the lowest success rate (88%). Trainee–instructor differences were statistically significant for hyoid bone‐to‐skin (P < .001) and epiglottis‐to‐skin distances (P = .016). Measurement of the distance from the epiglottis to the skin required more scanning repetitions to achieve minimum deviance compared with other measurements. Ten or fewer scanning repetitions were sufficient to achieve minimum deviance for all four measurements.

Conclusions

At least 10 scanning repetitions of a pre‐defined upper airway scanning protocol can be used as the minimum standard for training.
Beyond Early Development: Observing Zebrafish over 6 Weeks with Hybrid Optical and Optoacoustic Imaging
Authors: Vetschera Paul , Koberstein‐Schwarz Benno , Schmitt‐Manderbach Tobias , Dietrich Christian , Hellmich Wibke , Chekkoury Andrei , Symvoulidis Panagiotis , Reber Josefine , Westmeyer Gil , López‐Schier Hernán , Omar Murad , Ntziachristos Vasilis
Published: June 2023

Zebrafish are common model organisms in developmental biology, but have recently emerged as imaging targets of research in cancer, tissue regeneration, metabolic disorders, functional genomics, and phenotype‐based drug discovery. Conventionally, zebrafish are studied during the first few days of development using optical microscopy methods. However, optical methods are not suited for imaging at later stages, since the fish become opaque. To address needs to visualize beyond the first days of development, a novel multimodality system for observing zebrafish from larval stage to adulthood is developed. Using a hybrid platform for concurrent selective plane illumination microscopy (SPIM) and optoacoustic mesoscopy, fish (ex vivo) at stages of development up to 47 days at a similar object size‐to‐resolution ratio are imaged. Using multiple wavelength illumination over the visible and short‐wavelength infrared regions, it is demonstrated that the optoacoustic method can follow GFP‐based contrast used in SPIM, enabling molecular imaging interrogation in adult fish. Moreover, the optoacoustic modality reveals zebrafish features based on optical contrast absent in SPIM, including contrast from endogenous blood, water, and lipids. It is discussed how the hybrid system method can enable the study of zebrafish in a wider range of applications and over time‐scales not possible currently when using optical microscopy.
Beam Self‐Cleaning of 1.5 μ$\umu$m High Peak‐Power Spatiotemporal Mode‐Locked Lasers Enabled By Nonlinear Compression and Disorder
Authors: Fu Guohao , Qi Tiancheng , Yu Weilong , Wang Lele , Wu Yulun , Pan Xiuyuan , Xiao Qirong , Li Dan , Gong Mali , Yan Ping
Published: June 2023

The realization of beam self‐cleaning in a cavity is more challenging than in the outside cavity. The peak power of intracavity pulses needs to be high to reach the threshold of beam self‐cleaning, which usually relies on additional diffraction grating to compress pulses in a positive‐dispersion cavity. Here, it is first experimentally and numerically demonstrated that self‐cleaning can be observed in an all‐fiber high peak‐power Er‐doped spatiotemporal mode‐locked (STML) laser at all‐negative‐dispersion. Through the nonlinear compression of graded‐index multimode fiber, the pulses are compressed along with the emergence of beam self‐cleaning. Besides, the inherent disorder of multimode fiber accelerates the self‐cleaning process. The intracavity pulse energy of ≈13 nJ with a pulse duration of 734.5 fs is derived under a highly multimode excitation, with an output pulse energy of 2.33 nJ. The pulse energy is a nearly fourfold improvement over the previous report in all‐fiber STML at 1.5 m. Temporal‐dependent characteristics and nonlinear polarization dynamics of beam self‐cleaning are also experimentally uncovered. It is demonstrated that the STML fiber laser will enable new insights into nonlinear pulse propagation in cavities and related applications.
The Role of Mechanical Properties and Structure of Type I Collagen Hydrogels on Colorectal Cancer Cell Migration
Authors: Castro‐Abril Hector , Heras Jónathan , del Barrio Jesús , Paz Laura , Alcaine Clara , Aliácar Marina Pérez , Garzón‐Alvarado Diego , Doblaré Manuel , Ochoa Ignacio
Published: June 2023

Mechanical interactions between cells and their microenvironment play an important role in determining cell fate, which is particularly relevant in metastasis, a process where cells invade tissue matrices with different mechanical properties. In vitro, type I collagen hydrogels have been commonly used for modeling the microenvironment due to its ubiquity in the human body. In this work, the combined influence of the stiffness of these hydrogels and their ultrastructure on the migration patterns of HCT‐116 and HT‐29 spheroids are analyzed. For this, six different types of pure type I collagen hydrogels by changing the collagen concentration and the gelation temperature are prepared. The stiffness of each sample is measured and its ultrastructure is characterized. Cell migration studies are then performed by seeding the spheroids in three different spatial conditions. It is shown that changes in the aforementioned parameters lead to differences in the mechanical stiffness of the matrices as well as the ultrastructure. These differences, in turn, lead to distinct cell migration patterns of HCT‐116 and HT‐29 spheroids in either of the spatial conditions tested. Based on these results, it is concluded that the stiffness and the ultrastructural organization of the matrix can actively modulate cell migration behavior in colorectal cancer spheroids.
Modulation of Biophysical Cues in Nature Inspired Patterning of Porous Silk Fibroin Scaffold for Replenishable Controlled Drug Delivery
Authors: Mukhopadhyay Anurup , Gope Ayan , Choudhury Kabita , Chatterjee Jyotirmoy , Mukherjee Rabibrata
Published: June 2023

While a sticking plasteris enough for healing of most of the minor cuts they may get routinely, critical situations like surgical, gunshot, accidental or diabetic wounds;lacarations and other cutaneous deep cuts may require implants and simultaneous medications for healing. From the biophysical standpoint, an internal force‐based physical surface stimulusis crucial for cellular sensing during wound repair. In this paper, the authors report the fabrication of a porous, biomimmetically patterned silk fibroin scaffold loaded with ampicillin, which exhibits controlled release of the drug along with possible replenishment of the same. In vitro swelling study reveals that the scaffolds with hierarchical surface patterns exhibit lower swelling and degradation than other types of scaffolds. The scaffolds, that show remarkable broad–spectrum antibacterial efficacy, exhibit Korsemeyer–Peppas model for the ampicillin release patterns due to the structural hydrophobicity imparted by the patterns. Four distinct cell‐matrix adhesion regimes are investigated for the fibroblasts to eventually form cell sheets all over the hierarchical surface structures. 4',6–diamidino–2–phenylindole (DAPI) and Fluorescein Diacetate (FDA) fluorescent staining clearly demonstrate the superiority of patterned surface over its other variants. A comparative immunofluorescence study among collagen I, vinculin, and vimentin expressions substantiated the patterned surface to be superior to others.
Change in company leadership, subordinate executive team restructuring, and investment efficiency
Authors: Li Yaoyao , Wang Tianmei
Published: June 2023

Under the Chinese corporate governance model, the change of “leader” is one of the most significant occurrences for a company, and there is a strong relationship between “leaders”(chairman and CEO) and the executive team under them. Using data from listed A‐share businesses in China from 2007 to 2018, this study evaluates the effects of leaders' changes on investment efficiency and the effects of subordinate executive team restructuring caused by “leadership” change on investment efficiency. The findings reveal that the change of “leaders” significantly reduces company's investment efficiency, and the greater the degree of restructuring of subordinate executives caused by the change of “leaders”, the greater the negative impact on the company's investment efficiency. Nevertheless, the successor leader with a financial background can well mitigate the negative impact of the subordinate executive team restructuring on investment efficiency. In further analysis, we discover that the subordinate executive reorganization results in both overinvestment and underinvestment. However, state‐owned enterprises are more resilient to the damaging impacts of organizational shocks. Additionally, a good internal and external regulatory mechanism can mitigate the negative impact of the subordinate executive teams restructuring on investment efficiency. In conclusion, this study provides scientific support for improving executive team management and optimizing investment decisions for companies.
KFF survey finds gaps remain in implementing crisis services
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: June 2023

State Medicaid programs, considered the single largest payer of behavioral health services in the country, are taking steps to help implement and fund crisis services, though gaps remain, according to a new Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) survey examining the development, implementation and coverage of crisis services.
A mathematical design strategy for highly dispersive resonator systems
Authors: Alexopoulos Konstantinos , Davies Bryn
Published: June 2023

Designing devices composed of many small resonators is a challenging problem that can easily incur significant computational cost. Can asymptotic techniques be used to overcome this often limiting factor? Integral methods and asymptotic techniques have been used to derive concise characterizations for scattering by resonators, but can these be generalized to systems of many dispersive resonators whose material parameters have highly non‐linear frequency dependence? In this paper, we study halide perovskite resonators as a demonstrative example. We extend previous work to show how a finite number of coupled resonators can be modeled concisely in the limit of small radius. We also show how these results can be used as the basis for an inverse design strategy, to design resonator systems that resonate at specific frequencies.
Mathematical analysis on a diffusion model describing the compatibility between two types of tumor cells
Authors: Jia Yunfeng , Wang Jingjing
Published: June 2023

Cancer caused by malignant tumor is a very common and serious disease which can lead to people towards death. However, sometimes, cancer may be controlled if the cancer cells can be infected and split by particular virus with weak pathogenicity. To give a better understanding on tumor dynamics, in this paper, we deal with a reaction–diffusion tumor model, which comes from the process of tumor therapy with oncolytic virus. Our main objective is to analyze the biological compatibility of uninfected and infected tumor cells. In addition, we are concerned with the long‐time behavior, stability, and a priori estimates for the model. The compatibility conditions show that under certain range of parameters control, the infected tumor cells can coexist with normal tumor cells or be eliminated by oncolytic virus as time goes on; in the elimination case, it implies that the organism's complete recovery is highly possible as a result of the attack of oncolytic virus. An indirect idea in calculating fixed point index is proposed; correspondingly, a new condition on coexistence is presented.
Development and validation of models predicting treatment patterns in women with urinary urgency and/or urgency incontinence: A Symptoms of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction Research Network observational cohort study
Authors: Bretschneider Carol Emi , Liu Qian , Smith Abigail R. , Mansfield Sarah A. , Kirkali Ziya , Amundsen Cindy L. , Lai Hing Hung Henry , Geynisman‐Tan Julia , Kirby Anna , Jelovsek John Eric ,   the Symptoms of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction Research Network (LURN) Study Group
Published: June 2023

Purpose

To develop a tool to predict a woman's treatment pattern for bothersome urinary urgency (UU) and/or UU incontinence over 1 year after presenting for care at urology or urogynecology clinics.

Methods

The Symptoms of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction Research Network observational cohort study enrolled adult women with bothersome UU and/or UU incontinence using the lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) Tool who were seeking care for LUTS. Treatments for UU and/or urgency incontinence were ordered from least to most invasive. Ordinal logistic and Cox proportional hazard regression models were fit to predict the most invasive level of treatment during follow‐up and overactive bladder (OAB) medication discontinuation, respectively. Binary logistic regression was performed to predict sling treatment during the study follow‐up. Clinical tools were then created using the models listed above to predict treatment pattern over 12 months.

Results

Among 349 women, 281 reported UU incontinence, and 68 reported UU at baseline. The highest level of treatment during the study was as follows: 20% no treatment, 24% behavioral treatments, 23% physical therapy, 26% OAB medication, 1% percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation, 3% onabotulinumtoxin A, and 3% sacral neuromodulation. Slings were placed in 10% (n = 36) of participants before baseline and in 11% (n = 40) during study follow‐up. Baseline factors associated with predicting the most invasive level of treatment included baseline level of treatment, hypertension, UU incontinence severity, stress urinary incontinence (SUI) severity, and anticholinergic burden score. Less severe baseline depression and less severe UU incontinence were associated with OAB medication discontinuation. UU and SUI severity were associated with sling placement during the study period. Three tools are available to predict: (1) highest level of treatment; (2) OAB medication discontinuation; and (3) sling placement.

Conclusions

OAB treatment prediction tools developed in this study can help providers individualize treatment plans and identify not only patients at risk for treatment discontinuation but also patients who may not be escalated to potentially beneficial OAB treatments, with the goal to improve clinical outcomes for patients suffering from this chronic and often debilitating condition.
Management of pharmacovigilance during the COVID‐19 pandemic crisis by the safety department of an academic sponsor: Lessons learnt and challenges from the EU DisCoVeRy clinical trial
Authors: Mercier Noémie , Belhadi Drifa , DeChanet Aline , Delmas Christelle , Saillard Juliette , Dumousseaux Marina , Le Mestre Soizic , Fougerou‐Leurent Claire , Ferrane Assia , Burdet Charles , Espérou Hélène , Ader Florence , Hites Maya , Peiffer‐Smadja Nathan , Poissy Julien , Andrejak Claire , Paiva José Artur , Tacconelli Evelina , Staub Thérèse , Greil Richard , Costagliola Dominique , Mentre France , Yazdanpanah Yazdan , Diallo Alpha ,   the DisCoVeRy Safety Working group
Published: June 2023

The current COVID‐19 pandemic was an exceptional health situation, including for drug use. As there was no known effective drug for COVID‐19 at the beginning of the pandemic, different drug candidates were proposed. In this article, we present the challenges for an academic Safety Department to manage the global safety of a European trial during the pandemic. The National Institute for Health and Medical Research (Inserm) conducted a European multicenter, open‐label, randomized, controlled trial involving three repurposed and one‐in development drugs (lopinavir/ritonavir, IFN‐β1a, hydroxychloroquine, and remdesivir) in adults hospitalized with COVID‐19. From 25 March 2020 to 29 May 2020, the Inserm Safety Department had to manage 585 Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) initial notification and 396 follow‐up reports. The Inserm Safety Department's staff was mobilized to manage these SAEs and to report Expedited safety reports to the competent authorities within the legal timeframes. More than 500 queries were sent to the investigators due to a lack of or incoherent information on SAE forms. At the same time, the investigators were overwhelmed by the management of patients suffering from COVID‐19 infection. These particular conditions of missing data and lack of accurate description of adverse events made evaluation of the SAEs very difficult, particularly the assessment of the causal role of each investigational medicinal product. In parallel, working difficulties were accentuated by the national lockdown, frequent IT tool dysfunctions, delayed implementation of monitoring and the absence of automatic alerts for SAE form modification. Although COVID‐19 is a confounding factor per se, the delay in and quality of SAE form completion and the real‐time medical analysis by the Inserm Safety Department were major issues in the quick identification of potential safety signals. To conduct a high‐quality clinical trial and ensure patient safety, all stakeholders must take their roles and responsibilities.
Enhancement of Thermoelectric Performance by Doping to Reduce Degeneracy
Authors: Shi Yunji , Wan Rundong , Zhang Zhengfu , Tian Guocai
Published: June 2023

Increasing valley degeneracy via doping is one approach to enhance thermoelectric performance. Herein, it is shown that reducing degeneracy can also have a positive impact on performance, particularly for materials with high degeneracy around their undoped band edges. Specifically, doping NbFeSb with Zr or Hf atoms split the valence band edge, resulting in a 1.33 reduction in hole concentration, compared with the experimental carrier concentrations. The reduction increases Seebeck coefficients and overall thermoelectric performance to better agreement with the experimental ones. Notably, for potentially effective thermoelectric materials with high degeneracy, if the doped atom has significantly lower (higher) electronegativity, it is expected to produce a high‐performance p‐type (n‐type) thermoelectric material.
On the non‐recursive dynamic control for uncertain nonlinear systems
Authors: Wang Peng , Liang Xiaoling , Yong Kenan , Chen Mou
Published: June 2023

This paper presents a non‐recursive tracking control for systems under the presence of mismatched disturbances. Firstly, through integrating a series of extended state observers (ESO) for the dynamics at each order, the uncertainties and their corresponding order derivatives can be estimated accurately within finite time. Then through utilizing all the estimations of ESOs and taking advantages of the homogeneous system theory, a non‐recursive control works to guarantee the finite‐time stability in a concise manner. This kind of non‐recursive design framework is conducive to cost‐saving and promoting practical implementations, detached from the determination of a series of virtual controllers. Additionally, to employ the time‐varying scaling gain for better tracking performance, two kinds of forms, namely the adaptive tuning and implicit‐Lyapunov‐function (ILF)‐based tuning laws, have been proposed to speed up the convergence rate and increase the tracking accuracy. Finally, numerical example results are presented to illustrate the performance of the proposed control scheme.
In Vivo and Network Pharmacological Studies of Natural Bear Bile Powder Against Hyperlipidemia
Authors: Wang Xi , Qin Xiaoyan , Tian Maoying , Dong Zhaowei , Wang Chao , Guo Guangpeng , Huang Qinwan , Wang Jin
Published: June 2023

Natural bear bile powder (NBBP), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been clinically used to treat liver dysfunction, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Recently it has been proved that NBBP has a good effect on regulating lipid disorders. However, the active ingredients and the anti‐hyperlipidemic effects are unclear. The high‐fat diet (HFD) induced hyperlipidemic model rats were treated with NBBP for 4 weeks and were examined for, lipid profile, liver function parameters, hepatic antioxidant status and histopathology of liver, epididymal adipose tissues. The NBBP treatment effectively improved serum lipid levels and normalized antioxidant status. A total of 16 constituents of NBBP were charactered via UHPLC‐Q‐TOF‐HRMS. We screened eight potentially active compounds and corresponded to 75 anti‐hyperlipidemic target proteins. PPI analysis showed that ALB, TNF, EGFE, PPARG, and PPARA are core proteins. Pathway enrichment analysis showed that NBBP might treat hyperlipidemia (HLP) by regulating a series of signaling pathways involving immune system, inflammatory response, and metabolism. Molecular docking revealed that gene had high affinities to NBBP compounds. In conclusion, UHPLC‐Q‐TOF‐HRMS analysis, network pharmacology, and in vivo experiments in this study provided essential references for revealing the potential mechanism of NBBP in the prevention and treatment of HLP.
Osmotically Delaminated Silicate Nanosheet‐Coated NCM for Ultra‐Stable Li+ Storage and Chemical Stability Toward Long‐Term Air Exposure
Authors: Stevenson Max , Weiß Sebastian , Cha Gihoon , Schamel Maximilian , Jahn Leonard , Friedrich Daniel , Danzer Michael A. , Cheong Jun Young , Breu Josef
Published: June 2023

To ensure the safety and performance of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs), a rational design and optimization of suitable cathode materials are crucial. Lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxides (NCM) represent one of the most popular cathode materials for commercial LIBs. However, they are limited by several critical issues, such as transition metal dissolution, formation of an unstable cathode‐electrolyte interphase (CEI) layer, chemical instability upon air exposure, and mechanical instability. In this work, coating fabricated by self‐assembly of osmotically delaminated sodium fluorohectorite (Hec) nanosheets onto NCM (Hec‐NCM) in a simple and technically benign aqueous wet‐coating process is reported first. Complete wrapping of NCM by high aspect ratio (>10 000) nanosheets is enabled through an electrostatic attraction between Hec nanosheets and NCM as well as by the superior mechanical flexibility of Hec nanosheets. The coating significantly suppresses mechanical degradation while forming a multi‐functional CEI layer. Consequently, Hec‐NCM delivers outstanding capacity retention for 300 cycles. Furthermore, due to the exceptional gas barrier properties of the few‐layer Hec‐coating, the electrochemical performance of Hec‐NCM is maintained even after 6 months of exposure to the ambient atmosphere. These findings suggest a new direction of significantly improving the long‐term stability and activity of cathode materials by creating an artificial CEI layer.
Ceo2/Cus Nanoplates Electroreduce Co2 to Ethanol with Stabilized Cu+ Species
Authors: Yang Zi , Ji Deguang , Li Zhi , He Zidong , Hu Yang , Yin Jie , Hou Yichao , Xi Pinxian , Yan Chun‐Hua
Published: June 2023

Copper‐based electrocatalysts effectively produce multicarbon (C2+) compounds during the electrochemical CO2 reduction (CO2RR). However, big challenges still remain because of the chemically unstable active sites. Here, cerium is used as a self‐sacrificing agent to stabilize the Cu+ of CuS, due to the facile Ce3+/Ce4+ redox. CeO2‐modified CuS nanoplates achieve high ethanol selectivity, with FE up to 54% and FEC2+ ≈ 75% in a flow cell. Moreover, in situ Raman spectroscopy and in situ Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy indicate that the stable Cu+ species promote CC coupling step under CO2RR. Density functional theory calculations further reveal that the stronger *CO adsorption and lower CC coupling energy, which is conducive to the selective generation of ethanol products. This work provides a facile strategy to convert CO2 into ethanol by retaining Cu+ species.
Interfacial Chemistry Effects in the Electrochemical Performance of Silicon Electrodes under Lithium‐Ion Battery Conditions
Authors: Xu Xiangdong , Martín‐Yerga Daniel , Grant Nicholas E. , West Geoff , Pain Sophie L. , Kang Minkyung , Walker Marc , Murphy John D. , Unwin Patrick R.
Published: June 2023

Understanding the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation and (de)lithiation phenomena at silicon (Si) electrodes is key to improving the performance and lifetime of Si‐based lithium‐ion batteries. However, these processes remain somewhat elusive, and, in particular, the role of Si surface termination merits further consideration. Here, scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM) is used in a glovebox, followed by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) at identical locations to study the local electrochemical behavior and associated SEI formation, comparing Si (100) with a native oxide layer (SiOx/Si) and etched with hydrofluoric acid (HF‐Si). HF‐Si shows greater spatial electrochemical heterogeneity and inferior lithiation reversibility than SiOx/Si. This is attributed to a weakly passivating SEI and irreversible lithium trapping at the Si surface. Combinatorial screening of charge/discharge cycling by SECCM with co‐located SIMS reveals SEI chemistry as a function of depth. While the SEI thickness is relatively independent of the cycle number, the chemistry – particularly in the intermediate layers – depends on the number of cycles, revealing the SEI to be dynamic during cycling. This work serves as a foundation for the use of correlative SECCM/SIMS as a powerful approach to gain fundamental insights on complex battery processes at the nano‐ and microscales.
Exploring the Magnetic Properties of Individual Barcode Nanowires using Wide‐Field Diamond Microscopy
Authors: Yoon Jungbae , Moon Jun Hwan , Chung Jugyeong , Kim Yu Jin , Kim Kihwan , Kang Hee Seong , Jeon Yoo Sang , Oh Eunsoo , Lee Sun Hwa , Han Kihoon , Lee Dongmin , Lee Chul‐Ho , Kim Young Keun , Lee Donghun
Published: June 2023

A barcode magnetic nanowire typically comprises a multilayer magnetic structure in a single body with more than one segment type. Interestingly, due to selective functionalization and novel interactions between the layers, it has attracted significant attention, particularly in bioengineering. However, analyzing the magnetic properties at the individual nanowire level remains challenging. Herein, the characterization of a single magnetic nanowire is investigated at room temperature under ambient conditions based on magnetic images obtained via wide‐field quantum microscopy with nitrogen‐vacancy centers in diamond. Consequently, critical magnetic properties of a single nanowire can be extracted, such as saturation magnetization and coercivity, by comparing the experimental result with that of micromagnetic simulation. This study opens up the possibility for a versatile in situ characterization method suited to individual magnetic nanowires.
Numerical Simulation of CO2 Used for Slag Splashing Process in Converter
Authors: Zhang Han , Yuan Zhang-fu , Zhao Hong-xin , Xu Bing-sheng , Liu Ke , Mei Lu , Ma Bo-wen
Published: June 2023

Utilizing CO2 for the slag splashing process presents a novel approach that enhances CO2 utilization in the steel industry and promotes efficient slag splashing. Herein, numerical simulation is employed to investigate the kinetic feasibility of this technique on a 100 t converter. The volume of fluid (VOF) model is utilized to trace the gas–slag interface, while the standard k–ε model is selected to describe the turbulent flow of each phase. Initially, the model is validated via isentropic theory and experimental data. Subsequently, the effects of gas and oxygen lance replacement are evaluated. The results indicate that employing CO2 solely instead of N2 leads to a reduction in jet velocity and slag mass flow rates at different positions. However, the utilization of the innovative oxygen lance slows down the jet decay and increases the slag mass flow rate at various heights and sidewalls, except for the lower cone, resulting in a satisfactory slag splashing performance. The present study verifies the feasibility of this new technology and its potential to contribute to CO2 reduction in the industry positively.
Typification of the scientific names of the common almond Prunus dulcis and its wild relative P. webbii (Rosaceae, Prunoideae)
Authors: Ferrer‐Gallego P. Pablo , Wajer Jacek , Benítez Guillermo
Published: June 2023

The typifications of the scientific names of the common almond Amygdalus dulcis (≡ Prunus dulcis; Rosaceae, Prunoideae) and the Mediterranean almond tree A. webbii (≡ P. webbii), a wild relative of the common almond, are discussed. Amygdalus dulcis is neotypified on a specimen at VAL recently collected from a living tree of the variety of almond most similar to the original description. Amygdalus webbii is lectotypified on a specimen preserved at P collected by Pierre Martin Rémi Aucher‐Éloy.
Ultrasound‐guided saphenous and sciatic nerve block with ropivacaine in an adult goat undergoing trochlear sulcoplasty for lateral patellar luxation
Authors: Herrera‐Linares Manuel E. , Bolt David M. , Meeson Richard , Sanchis‐Mora Sandra
Published: June 2023

A 75 kg, 4‐year‐old, male, neutered, Saanen‐cross, pet‐owned, adult goat presented for left trochlear sulcoplasty for treatment of lateral patellar luxation. Premedication consisted of intravenous butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg), and midazolam (0.5 mg/kg, intravenous), followed by ketamine (2 mg/kg, intravenous) and propofol (2 mg/kg, intravenous) for induction of anaesthesia. Anaesthesia was maintained using isoflurane in oxygen (100%) and mechanical ventilation was started. An ultrasound‐guided saphenous and sciatic nerve block with 0.1 mL/kg of ropivacaine 0.75% and 0.25%, respectively, was performed. Anaesthesia was uneventful, except for a transient period of hypotension and a nociceptive reaction during skin suture. Recovery was uneventful. No motor block was observed using this combination of ropivacaine concentrations. Buprenorphine (0.01 mg/kg, intravenous) was initiated (twice daily first day; once daily second and third day) 6.5 hours after the nerve block due to discomfort. Meloxicam (0.5 mg/kg, intravenous) was administered once daily for 5 days, after which the patient was fully ambulatory.
Activity-dependent regulation of the BAX/BCL-2 pathway protects cortical neurons from apoptotic death during early development
Authors: Schroer Jonas , Warm Davide , De Rosa Federico , Luhmann Heiko J. , Sinning Anne
Published: June 2023

During early brain development, homeostatic removal of cortical neurons is crucial and requires multiple control mechanisms. We investigated in the cerebral cortex of mice whether the BAX/BCL-2 pathway, an important regulator of apoptosis, is part of this machinery and how electrical activity might serve as a set point of regulation. Activity is known to be a pro-survival factor; however, how this effect is translated into enhanced survival chances on a neuronal level is not fully understood. In this study, we show that caspase activity is highest at the neonatal stage, while developmental cell death peaks at the end of the first postnatal week. During the first postnatal week, upregulation of BAX is accompanied by downregulation of BCL-2 protein, resulting in a high BAX/BCL-2 ratio when neuronal death rates are high. In cultured neurons, pharmacological blockade of activity leads to an acute upregulation of Bax, while elevated activity results in a lasting increase of BCL-2 expression. Spontaneously active neurons not only exhibit lower Bax levels than inactive neurons but also show almost exclusively BCL-2 expression. Disinhibition of network activity prevents the death of neurons overexpressing activated CASP3. This neuroprotective effect is not the result of reduced caspase activity but is associated with a downregulation of the BAX/BCL-2 ratio. Notably, increasing neuronal activity has a similar, non-additive effect as the blockade of BAX. Conclusively, high electrical activity modulates BAX/BCL-2 expression and leads to higher tolerance to CASP3 activity, increases survival, and presumably promotes non-apoptotic CASP3 functions in developing neurons.
Systematic lateral retinacular release does not reduce anterior knee pain after total knee arthroplasty with patellar resurfacing
Authors: Goicoechea Nerea , Hinarejos Pedro , Gasol Berta , Torres‐Claramunt Raul , Sánchez‐Soler Juan , Perelli Simone , Monllau Joan Carles
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of systematic lateral retinacular release (LRR) on anterior knee pain (AKP), as well as its impact on the functional and radiological outcomes after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with patellar resurfacing.

Methods

A prospective randomized study was designed. It included patients scheduled for a TKA procedure with patellar resurfacing, who were recruited and randomized into either the LRR group or the non‐release group. 198 patients were included in the final analysis. The pressure pain threshold (PPT) assessed by pressure algometry (PA), the visual analogue scale (VAS), Feller's patellar score, the Knee Society Score (KSS), patellar height, and patellar tilt were recorded both preoperatively and at the 1‐year follow‐up. The Mann–Whitney U test was performed to determine comparisons between both groups as well as to determine differences’ intragroup.

Results

Relative to the clinical variables and scores, no difference was detected between the two groups at the 1‐year follow‐up (p = n.s.). However, there was a slight difference in patellar tilt (0.1º vs. 1.4º, p = 0.044), with higher tilt values in the non‐release group. There was no difference in terms of improvement in the clinical and radiological scores and variables recorded between the two groups (p = n.s.).

Conclusion

LRR in primary TKA with patellar resurfacing does not show an improvement in AKP and functional outcomes over patellar resurfacing without release.

Level of evidence

I.
Initiation and growth of edge cracks after shear cutting of dual-phase steel
Authors: Khalilabad Mahdi Masoumi , Perdahcıoğlu Semih , Atzema Eisso , Boogaard Ton van den
Published: June 2023

Dual-phase steels suffer from low edge ductility, which limits their formability. In this study, an in-plane bending test is used to investigate the initiation and evolution of edge cracks. The edges of samples were prepared by shear cutting and afterwards further deformed by the in-plane bending test. Void distribution and non-uniform plastic deformation were explored with the help of scanning electron microscope (SEM) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis and microhardness measurement in different regions of the material edge. The extent of micro-cracks was revealed by microcomputed tomography (µCT) scan. The result shows that the blanking process creates inhomogeneous void distribution in the thickness direction. As the deformation increases during the subsequent in-plane bending test, the micro-cracks initiate at the burr region and grow towards the rollover region. Once they entirely pass the thickness of the material, they grow further, away from the edge. High roughness, plastic deformation, and void volume fraction were observed at the burr region, triggering crack initiation. The in-plane bending test successfully distinguished the dominant mechanism behind edge cracking.
Metal matrix composite fabricated from electrospun PAN, EGNS/PAN nanofibers and AL 5049 alloy by using friction stir processing
Authors: Abdelhady Saleh S. , Elbadawi Rehab E. , Zoalfakar Said H.
Published: June 2023

This work is an attempt to fabricate aluminum (AA 5049) matrix composites (AMCs) reinforced with electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers and consisting of exfoliated graphite nanosheets (EGNS/PAN) by utilizing friction stir processing (FSP) to improve the mechanical characteristics of AA 5049. The electrospinning method was used for fabricating PAN and EGNS/PAN nanofibers. The average diameter of the electrospun PAN nanofibers is 195 ± 57 nm, and after EGNS incorporation is 180 ± 68 nm. Dynamic recrystallization was the main process in the microstructure evolution of the stir zone during the FSP with PAN and EGNS/PAN nanofibers. According to PAN and EGNS/PAN nanofibers were used in the FSP procedure, the grain size reduced as a result of the pinning effects. PAN and EGNS/PAN nanofiber reinforcement enhanced the hardness to 89 and 98 Hv, respectively. Also, the ultimate tensile strength was raised to 291 MPa and 344 MPa, respectively. Tensile strength and hardness of the stir zone increased during the FSP with PAN and EGNS/PAN nanofibers due to the higher density of the strengthening mechanisms of grain boundaries and dislocations. The mechanical characteristics of AA5049 can be enhanced by the procedure of incorporating nanofibers, making them an ideal choice for applications in the automotive and aerospace industries.
Outcomes of Patients with an Intermediate‐Risk Group According to the Japanese Risk Classification of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Horiuchi Kiyomi , Fujimoto Mikiko , Hidenori Kamio , Yoshida Yusaku , Noguchi Eiichiro , Omi Yoko , Okamoto Takahiro
Published: June 2023

Background

The management of intermediate‐risk group of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is still vague, particularly regarding whether or not total thyroidectomy, postoperative radioactive iodine ablation (RAI‐a), and postoperative TSH suppression are mandatory.

Methods

This retrospective study evaluated 680 PTC patients from 2010 to 2017, who were classified into the three risk groups as low, intermediate, and high‐risk groups according to the criteria of the Japanese Association of Endocrine Surgeons (JAES) 2010 and underwent surgery according to the JAES guidelines. We retrospectively collected patient data for analyses of disease‐free survivals in the intermediate‐risk group patients.

Results

We performed surgery on 680 PTC patients from 2010 to 2017. Of them, 297 were classified as the intermediate‐risk group. DFS was not statistically significantly different in patients with/without total thyroidectomy and postoperative TSH suppression therapy. For RAI‐a, DFS (95% confidence interval) at 3, 5, and 8 years were 93.2% (84.6 ~ 97.2), 81.6% (68,3 ~ 90.2), and 70.7% (51.4 ~ 84.6) in patients with postoperative RAI‐a and 100%, 100%, and 100% in patients without postoperative RAI‐a after total thyroidectomy, respectively. DFS of patients without RAI‐a was superior to those with RAI‐a (P < 0.0004). Multivariable analysis by stepwise selection method revealed that postoperative RAI‐a was a risk factor with a hazard ratio of 5.69. (95% CI 1.998–16.21) (P = 0.001131).

Conclusions

Our study did not show the efficacy of RAI‐a in patients with intermediate‐risk PTC. This study implies that judging the efficacy of adjuvant therapy such as RAI or TSh suppression in intermediate‐risk patients is difficult.
Yeast of Eden: microbial resistance to glyphosate from a yeast perspective
Authors: Patriarcheas Dionysios , Momtareen Taizina , Gallagher Jennifer E. G.
Published: June 2023

First marketed as RoundUp, glyphosate is history’s most popular herbicide because of its low acute toxicity to metazoans and broad-spectrum effectiveness across plant species. The development of glyphosate-resistant crops has led to increased glyphosate use and consequences from the use of glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH). Glyphosate has entered the food supply, spurred glyphosate-resistant weeds, and exposed non-target organisms to glyphosate. Glyphosate targets EPSPS/AroA/Aro1 (orthologs across plants, bacteria, and fungi), the rate-limiting step in the production of aromatic amino acids from the shikimate pathway. Metazoans lacking this pathway are spared from acute toxicity and acquire their aromatic amino acids from their diet. However, glyphosate resistance is increasing in non-target organisms. Mutations and natural genetic variation discovered in Saccharomyces cerevisiae illustrate similar types of glyphosate resistance mechanisms in fungi, plants, and bacteria, in addition to known resistance mechanisms such as mutations in Aro1 that block glyphosate binding (target-site resistance (TSR)) and mutations in efflux drug transporters non-target-site resistance (NTSR). Recently, genetic variation and mutations in an amino transporter affecting glyphosate resistance have uncovered potential off-target effects of glyphosate in fungi and bacteria. While glyphosate is a glycine analog, it is transported into cells using an aspartic/glutamic acid (D/E) transporter. The size, shape, and charge distribution of glyphosate closely resembles D/E, and, therefore, glyphosate is a D/E amino acid mimic. The mitochondria use D/E in several pathways and mRNA-encoding mitochondrial proteins are differentially expressed during glyphosate exposure. Mutants downstream of Aro1 are not only sensitive to glyphosate but also a broad range of other chemicals that cannot be rescued by exogenous supplementation of aromatic amino acids. Glyphosate also decreases the pH when unbuffered and many studies do not consider the differences in pH that affect toxicity and resistance mechanisms.
The influence of distribution, severity and volume of posttraumatic bone bruise on functional outcome after ACL reconstruction for isolated ACL injuries
Authors: Mester Bastian , Kröpil Patric , Ohmann Tobias , Schleich Christoph , Güthoff Claas , Praetorius Arthur , Dudda Marcel , Schoepp Christian
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Posttraumatic MRI of ACL tears show a high prevalence of bone bruise (BB) without macroscopic proof of chondral damage. Controversial results are described concerning the association between BB and outcome after ACL tear. Aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of distribution, severity and volume of BB in isolated ACL injuries on function, quality of life and muscle strength following ACL reconstruction (ACLR).

Materials and Methods

MRI of n = 122 patients treated by ACLR without concomitant pathologies were evaluated. BB was differentiated by four localizations: medial/lateral femoral condyle (MFC/LFC) and medial/lateral tibial plateau (MTP/LTP). Severity was graded according to Costa-Paz. BB volumes of n = 46 patients were quantified (software-assisted volumetry). Outcome was measured by Lysholm Score (LS), Tegner Activity Scale (TAS), IKDC, isokinetics and SF-36. Measurements were conducted preoperatively (t0), 6 weeks (t1), 26 weeks (t2) and 52 weeks (t3) after ACLR.

Results

The prevalence of BB was 91.8%. LTP was present in 91.8%, LFC 64.8%, MTP 49.2% and MFC 28.7%. 18.9% were classified Costa-Paz I, 58.2% II and 14.8% III. Total BB volume was 21.84 ± 15.27 cm3, the highest value for LTP (14.31 ± 9.93 cm3). LS/TAS/IKDC/SF-36/isokinetics improved significantly between t0–t3 (p < 0.001). Distribution, severity and volume had no influence on LS/TAS/IKDC/SF-36/isokinetics (n.s.).

Conclusions

No impact of BB after ACLR on function, quality of life and objective muscle strength was shown, unaffected by concomitant pathologies. Previous data regarding prevalence and distribution is confirmed. These results help surgeons counselling patients regarding the interpretation of extensive BB findings. Long-time follow-up studies are mandatory to evaluate an impact of BB on knee function due to secondary arthritis.