bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study of molecular interactions by nonequilibrium capillary electrophoresis of equilibrium mixtures: Originations, developments, and applications
Authors: Deng Li , Fu Qifeng , Zhang Yujie , Shui Fan , Tang Jia , Wu Jianming , Zeng Jing
Published: August 2023

Molecular interactions play a vital role in regulating various physiological and biochemical processes in vivo. Kinetic capillary electrophoresis (KCE) is an analytical platform that offers significant advantages in studying the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of molecular interactions. It enables the simultaneous analysis of these parameters within an interaction pattern and facilitates the screening of binding ligands with predetermined kinetic parameters. Nonequilibrium capillary electrophoresis of equilibrium mixtures (NECEEM) was the first proposed KCE method, and it has found widespread use in studying molecular interactions involving proteins/aptamers, proteins/small molecules, and peptides/small molecules. The successful applications of NECEEM have demonstrated its promising potential for further development and broader application. However, there has been a dearth of recent reviews on NECEEM. To address this gap, our study provides a comprehensive description of NECEEM, encompassing its origins, development, and applications from 2015 to 2022. The primary focus of the applications section is on aptamer selection and screening of small‐molecule ligands. Furthermore, we discuss important considerations in NECEEM experimental design, such as buffer suitability, detector selection, and protein adsorption. By offering this thorough review, we aim to contribute to the understanding, advancement, and wider utilization of NECEEM as a valuable tool for studying molecular interactions and facilitating the identification of potential ligands and targets.
Dependence evaluation of factors influencing coal spontaneous ignition
Authors: Wu Kuan , Yao Qi , Chen Yong , Zhao Pengtao , Xi Chaozhuang , Zhao Yun , Wang Qiao
Published: August 2023

Coal spontaneous combustion is determined by a variety of factors. Testing can describe the changes incoal spontaneous combustion with various factors, however, the dependence of spontaneous combustion on various factors is unclear. Therefore, reliability theory was used to deduce the functional relationship of the dependence of coal spontaneous combustion on various factors, and construct a model algorithm for predicting the probability of occurrence of coal spontaneous combustion, which is adopted to evaluate and rank the degree of influence of various factors on coal spontaneous combustion. Effective prevention methods are proposed by strengthening the role of the most important factors. The results show that, by taking the duration of coal heating to 150°C as the measurement standard of coal spontaneous combustion, the duration of the initial stage of coal heating increases linearly with the increase of specific heat capacity, thermal conductivity, and moisture content of coal. With the increase of oxygen concentration, oxidation rate, and initial temperature of the coal, the duration of the initial stage of coal heating decreases exponentially. With the increase of gas flow seepage velocity in the coal body, the duration of the initial heating stage changes in a parabolic manner. At the same time, the probability of spontaneous combustion decreases exponentially with the increase of specific heat capacity and moisture content of the coal. The probability of coal spontaneous combustion increases linearly with the increase of coal thermal conductivity, oxygen concentration, gas seepage velocity, and rate of oxidation. The dependence of coal spontaneous combustion probability on different factors can be expressed as follows: coal temperature > gas seepage velocity > specific heat capacity > oxidation rate > oxygen concentration > moisture content > thermal conductivity.
A system dynamic model for natural gas safety supply and demand balance mechanism
Authors: Hong Zhong , Sha He , Qian Sun
Published: August 2023

The security of natural gas supply and demand has always been an important topic, and as a result, analyzing and predicting the supply and demand of natural gas has received considerable attention from researchers. Numerous studies have extensively researched the supply and demand of natural gas. The main purpose of this study is to explore the supply‐demand balance mechanism for natural gas security. A system dynamics model is constructed to assess the supply and demand of natural gas in Sichuan Province, China. A new system dynamics model based on domestic gas, production gas, ecological environment and natural gas supply is proposed. The study considers four scenarios: natural development, economic priority development, environmental priority development and coordinated development. The results show that the rapid economic development has led to an excessive environmental carrying capacity, a larger gap between natural gas supply and demand, a decline in the quality of life of residents, and even affected the energy security of Sichuan Province and China. The findings also show that people's overprotection of the environment can lead to slow economic development, which prevents it from achieving its desired goals. The coordinated development scenario in this paper not only ensures the production of natural gas and the quality of life of residents, but also is an optimal scheme with low energy consumption and pollution. According to the research conclusions, considering the overall situation of China's energy security and the situation in Sichuan Province, the author proposes reforms from the supply and demand sides of natural gas.
Correlation between nurses' attitude and practice toward communication with patients of decreased level of consciousness and its relationship with ethical care in ICU: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Pooyanfard Fatemeh , Razban Farideh , Asadi Neda , Haji‐Maghsoudi Saiedeh
Published: August 2023

Background and Aims

Communication between intensive care unit (ICU) nurses and patients with decreased Level of Consciousness (DLOC) is now regarded as a difficult task. Proper communication is regarded as a crucial component of care and stems from the attitude and practice of nurses. Intensive care nurses are responsible for providing care to patients with DLOC in accordance with ethical principles because care and ethics cannot be separated. To better understand ICU nurses' attitudes and practice toward communicating with patients who have decreased levels of consciousness and how this affects the provision of ethical care, the current study was conducted.

Methods

This is a cross‐sectional study. Two hundred ICU nurses from southeast Iran took part in this study. Three questioners, including attitude and practice toward communicating with patients who decreased Levels of consciousness, and ethical Care were used as data collection tools.

Results

The mean score for ICU nurses' attitude, practice, and ethical care towards communicating with patients with DLOC were, respectively, 4.02 ± 0.45,2.91 ± 0.49. The findings demonstrated a very weak correlation between the ICU nurses' attitude score and communication practice for DLOC patients (p = 0.04; r = 0.14).

Conclusion

Nurses who had a more positive attitude toward communicating with DLOC patients performed better in this area. It is suggested that nurses employed in ICUs should be monitored and judged based on how well they communicate with DLOC patients through workshops and conferences. By doing this, they would become more cognizant of the necessity for and effective methods of communication with these patients as well as the repercussions of their poor communication practice.
Ramifications of groundwater model in WRF/Noah‐MP coupled system: Effects on soil‐moisture and regional climate simulation
Authors: Huggannavar Vinayak , Indu J.
Published: August 2023

Soil moisture is a key variable that contributes for flux partitioning into sensible and latent heat components. There is a pressing need to study the impacts of shallow groundwater table dynamics on antecedent soil moisture and corresponding feedbacks to atmosphere. In this study, we evaluate WRF‐NoahMP simulated soil moisture using two experimental configurations: one with the default, free drainage approach (CTL) and with Miguez‐Macho groundwater scheme (GW). Results are presented for the study conducted over Ganga River basin, India between the years 2008 and 2014 for all the three seasons (pre‐monsoon, monsoon, post‐monsoon). It was observed that the GW model runs, improve soil moisture in topmost and bottom‐most layers. We discovered that the simulations improved temporal negative bias of seasonal accumulation during monsoon by around 91 mm. In addition, the average negative bias in latent heat flux improved by around 28 W/m2. Compared to CTL, GW was found to contribute additional atmospheric moisture content ranging between 3% and 5%. Comparison with in‐situ ground water showed that model overestimates the ground water table depth. This can be attributed to the ability of the model to only simulate natural occurring variabilities and lack of inclusion of anthropogenic factors such as ground water pumping in the model. The groundwater trend in Ganga is declining at alarming rate. In addition, if over exploitation of groundwater is not monitored properly, water and food scarcity is an imminent threat to the country's economy. To the best of authors knowledge, this is the first study of its kind to be implemented over Ganga basin, which evaluates the role of shallow ground water table on regional climate using coupled atmosphere‐land surface‐groundwater model. In summary, we highlight that the groundwater component along with WRF‐NoahMP coupled model improves soil moisture and precipitation representation over the Ganga basin.
Microfluidic droplet encapsulation‐guided organoid growth promotes parental tumor phenotype recapitulation
Authors: Zhang Weijie , Jin He , Lou Shitong , Yang Haowei , Dai Xiaoyong , Ma Shaohua
Published: August 2023

Patient‐derived organoids are gaining incremental popularity in both basic sciences and translational applications toward precision medicine and revolutionized drug discovery. However, for tumor organoids, challenges remain in low rates of organoid growth and tumor cell purity, that is, recapitulation of tumor phenotypes in constructed organoids. Here, we report a method of microfluidic droplet encapsulation that provides structural guidance for tumor cell growth and organization, where they develop into tumor organoids with high purity and high rates of modeling success, as compared to the classical organoid modeling method, that is, non‐engineered organoids. The modeling efficacy and organoid quality are examined in patient‐derived samples, covering esophagus, lung and colorectal cancer tissues, all proving significance in droplet‐engineered organoids, as demonstrated by histological examinations.
US partisan polarization and households' portfolio decisions
Authors: Apergis Nicholas
Published: August 2023

This paper uses a panel survey (micro‐level) dataset to explore the impact of US partisan polarization on households' portfolio decisions. The results document that households significantly reduce their market investments in risky assets due to stronger partisan polarization conditions. The findings survive certain robustness checks, while they clearly illustrate the rising effect of political uncertainty on such decisions. Such results could carry substantial implications since they suggest that partisan polarization uncertainty acts as a negative externality in this type of portfolio choice decisions.
Analysis and suggestions on the complications in 2000 cases of transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery: Can it be a conventional surgery?
Authors: Hou Qiannan , Li Xin , Li Yan , Zhang Qiang , Liu Tianjiao , Huang Lu , Gong Zhaolin , Feng Dan , Gu Dingqian , Lin Yonghong , He Li
Published: August 2023

Objective

To reflect on the complications of transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES), identify the corresponding risk factors, and provide caution to surgeons when performing this novel surgery.

Methods

A retrospective study was carried out among 2000 patients in our hospital who underwent vNOTES between May 2019 and May 2022. Perioperative complications were stratified in chronological order and divided into those developed while establishing the vNOTES approach, during surgery, postoperatively, and 1 month after discharge. The complications were classified based on the Modified Clavien‐Dindo classifications. The causes of each type III/IV complication were analyzed.

Results

Of the 2000 patients, 88 (4.4%) experienced complications, which is not higher than that reported in laparoendoscopic surgery in previous studies. Grade I, II, III, IV, and V complications developed in 19 (0.95%), 57 (2.85%), 11 (0.55%), 1 (0.05%), and 0 (0%) patients, respectively. Complications were developed while establishing the approach platform, during the surgery, postoperatively, and within 1 month after discharge in 5 (0.25%), 30 (1.50%), 50 (2.50%), and 3 (0.15%) patients, respectively. Eight patients (0.4%) underwent conversion, including five cases of rectal injury repair.

Conclusion

The summarized suggestions were divided into three levels. Considering the security and effectiveness of vNOTES, it can be routinely used in various gynecologic operations. However, surgeons should focus on preoperative evaluation, strictly conduct preoperative disinfection, conform to prompt conversion during surgery, call for the presence of experienced doctors, and have routine use of antibiotics to prevent postoperative infections.

Trial Registration

ChiCTR2100053483.
Partial penectomy for severe penile ulceration caused by cholesterol crystal embolization
Authors: Matsushima Toshiki , Mitsunari Kensuke , Maekawa Nobuhide , Yamada Shota , Ito Hidenori , Kurata Hiroki , Nakamura Yuichiro , Matsuo Tomohiro , Ohba Kojiro , Imamura Ryoichi
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Cholesterol crystal embolism is a rare microembolic disease caused by cholesterol crystals that can present with various symptoms after vascular surgery, catheterization, or anticoagulation therapy. We report a case of penile ulceration caused by cholesterol crystal embolism.

Case presentation

A 72‐year‐old man undergoing maintenance dialysis for end‐stage renal failure presented with penile pain and a black glans ulcer. Despite low‐density lipoprotein apheresis, he was referred to our hospital because of lack of improvement. Based on his medical history and clinical presentation, including artificial vascular replacement and right toe amputation, cholesterol crystal embolism was suspected and partial penectomy was performed, thus confirming the diagnosis. Penile pain resolved after surgery, and he was discharged on Day 10. Unfortunately, he died after small bowel perforation developed 2 months after surgery.

Conclusion

Penile ulcers caused by cholesterol crystal embolism may indicate the severity and progression of disease and typically require surgical intervention.
RSA based consensus algorithm for resource‐constrained distributed devices
Authors: Gupta Nishant , Jain Ankit Kumar
Published: August 2023

With the proliferation of resource‐constrained distributed devices, such as Internet of Things devices, there is a growing need for efficient consensus algorithms to enable secure and reliable communication among these devices. This paper proposes an RSA‐based consensus algorithm explicitly designed for resource‐constrained distributed devices. The algorithm leverages the RSA (Rivest‐Shamir‐Adleman) cryptography scheme to achieve secure communication and consensus among the devices. To evaluate the performance of the RSA‐based consensus algorithm, a simulation is conducted in the Python programming language. The simulation considers a network with a fixed number of participants and miner nodes. The average execution time of the algorithm is measured over multiple iterations to assess its efficiency. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm reduces latency in block validation, and the algorithm's low computational requirement reduces energy consumption for each transaction.
Specimen plane orientation determination for analysis based on scanning electron microscope: Comparing top‐down and side‐view approaches
Authors: Li Chunfei , Craig Joshua , Dubovi Josiah
Published: August 2023

Many attachments to a scanning electron microscope (SEM), such as energy dispersive x‐ray spectroscopy, extend its function significantly. Typically, the application of such attachments requires that the specimen has a planar surface at a specific orientation. It is a challenge to make the plane of a microscale specimen satisfy the orientation requirement since they are visible only in an SEM. An in‐situ procedure is needed to adjust specimen orientation by using stage rotation and tilting functions, in the process of which the key is to determine the initial orientation. This study proposed and tested top‐down and side‐view approaches to determine the orientation of a planar surface inside an SEM. In the top‐down one, the projected area is monitored on SEM images as stage rotation and tilt angles are adjusted. When the surface normal is along the electron beam direction, the area has a maximum value. In the side‐view approach, the stage is adjusted so that the projection appears to be a straight horizontal line on the SEM image. Once the orientation of the specimen for top‐down or side‐view observation is determined, the original can be calculated, and a desired orientation can be realized by manipulating the stage. The procedures have been tested by analyzing planar surfaces of spherical particles in Al‐Cu‐Fe alloy in the form of facets. The measured angles between two surfaces are consistent with those expected from crystallographic consideration within 2.7° and 1.7° for the top‐down and side‐view approaches, respectively.

Research Highlights

Top‐down and side‐view approaches have been proposed and tested for in‐situ determination of specimen planar surface orientation in a Scanning Electron Microscope.

The measured angles between two surfaces are consistent with those expected from crystallographic consideration within 2.7° and 1.7° for the top‐down and side‐view approaches, respectively.
The real‐world use and efficacy of pomalidomide for relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma in the era of CD38 antibodies
Authors: Szabo Agoston Gyula , Thorsen Jonathan , Iversen Katrine Fladeland , Levring Mette Bøegh , Helleberg Carsten , Hermansen Emil , Bønløkke Søren Thorgaard , Nielsen Katrine , Teodorescu Elena Manuela , Kurt Eva , Strandholdt Casper Nørgaard , Vangsted Annette Juul
Published: August 2023

Pomalidomide‐dexamethasone (Pd) has been a standard care treatment for relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma since 2013. However, the outcomes of Pd after exposure to CD38 antibodies are not known. Here we describe the real‐world use and efficacy of pomalidomide in a Danish, nationwide cohort of daratumumab‐exposed patients. We identified 328 patients that were treated with pomalidomide. Of these, 137 received Pd, 65 daratumumab‐pomalidomide‐dexamethasone (DPd), 43 pomalidomide‐cyclophosphamide‐dexamethasone (PCd), 19 carfilzomib‐pomalidomide‐dexamethasone (KPD), 11 pomalidomide‐bortezomib‐dexamethasone (PVd), and 52 pomalidomide in other combinations. Patients treated with Pd in this cohort had a partial response or better (≥ PR) rate of 35.8% and median time to next treatment (mTNT) of 4.9 months, almost identical to the results of previous prospective clinical trials. Although treatment with the various pomalidomide‐containing triplet regimens resulted in higher ≥ PR rates (PCd: 46.5%, PVd: 63.6%, DPd: 55.4%, KPd: 63.2%), the mTNT achieved was not significantly better than with Pd in most cases (PCD: 5.4, PVD: 5.3, DPD: 4.7 months). The exception to this was KPd (mTNT 7.4 months), but this regimen was mainly used earlier in the course of the disease (median time from diagnosis 2.3 years vs. 3.7–4.3 years). The most important predictor of outcomes was not the choice of index regimen (p = 0.72), but prior exposure (p = 0.0116). Compared to CD38 antibody‐naïve patients, triple‐class‐exposed patients achieved reduced ≥ PR rate (38.0% vs. 47.3%), shorter mTNT (4.0 vs. 5.9 months), and shorter median overall survival (12.4 vs. 24.2 months) with pomalidomide treatment.
Vaccinia virus induces EMT‐like transformation and RhoA‐mediated mesenchymal migration
Authors: Liu Wei , Lu Jia‐Yin , Wang Ya‐Jun , Xu Xin‐Xin , Chen Yu‐Chen , Yu Sai‐Xi , Xiang Xiao‐Wei , Chen Xue‐Zhu , Jiu Yaming , Gao Hai , Sheng Mengyao , Chen Zheng‐Jun , Hu Xinyao , Li Dong , Maiuri Paolo , Huang Xinxin , Ying Tianlei , Xu Guo‐Liang , Pang Dai‐Wen , Zhang Zhi‐Ling , Liu Baohong , Liu Yan‐Jun
Published: August 2023

The emerging outbreak of monkeypox is closely associated with the viral infection and spreading, threatening global public health. Virus‐induced cell migration facilitates viral transmission. However, the mechanism underlying this type of cell migration remains unclear. Here we investigate the motility of cells infected by vaccinia virus (VACV), a close relative of monkeypox, through combining multi‐omics analyses and high‐resolution live‐cell imaging. We find that, upon VACV infection, the epithelial cells undergo epithelial–mesenchymal transition‐like transformation, during which they lose intercellular junctions and acquire the migratory capacity to promote viral spreading. After transformation, VACV‐hijacked RhoA signaling significantly alters cellular morphology and rearranges the actin cytoskeleton involving the depolymerization of robust actin stress fibers, leading‐edge protrusion formation, and the rear‐edge recontraction, which coordinates VACV‐induced cell migration. Our study reveals how poxviruses alter the epithelial phenotype and regulate RhoA signaling to induce fast migration, providing a unique perspective to understand the pathogenesis of poxviruses.
Single‐layer thin‐film transistor analysis and design
Authors: Wager John F.
Published: August 2023

A set of direct current (DC) analytical equations is formulated for the analysis and design of a single‐layer thin‐film transistor (TFT). For a specified TFT structure, drain current is calculated as a function of drain and gate voltage (taking the source as ground) according to the Enz, Krummenacher, Vittoz (EKV) compact model. One model parameter function is required to implement this EKV‐based equation, that is, drift mobility as a function of gate voltage. Drift mobility is evaluated as a consequence of accumulation layer electrostatics assessment of the TFT structure specified. In order to implement the model, three semiconductor properties (low‐frequency (static) relative dielectric constant, free electron concentration, and maximum (no trapping) mobility), two structure properties (insulator capacitance density and TFT width‐to‐length ratio), and one physical operating parameter (temperature) must be specified. Optimal TFT mobility performance is achieved when the thickness of the semiconductor channel layer is constrained to be less than 2.22 times the channel layer Debye length such that “short‐base” TFT operation obtains. Additionally, higher mobility TFT performance is obtained by selecting a channel layer with a small electron effective mass, reducing channel layer trap density, reducing channel layer thickness, reducing the free electron concentration, and/or increasing gate capacitance density.
Floquet Topological Phases in a Photonic Simple Lattice upon On‐Site Drives
Authors: Wang Zhaoyuan , Huang Xiaoqin , Kang Qianqian , Li Jiaxin , Gong Zeyu , Hu Yi , Chen Zhigang , Xu Jingjun
Published: August 2023

Floquet engineering provides an amazing way to reshape materials from topologically trivial to non‐trivial phases by exerting periodic drives. Among its vast investigations spanning various physical systems, the toolkit via driving on‐site potentials only is rarely employed. Here, a Floquet protocol that switches a simple lattice into a non‐trivial topological phase merely by driving its on‐site potentials is proposed. Non‐trivial topology arises from unpaired Floquet drives. Topological zero‐quasienergy states are found at boundaries between non‐trivial and trivial structures, being protected by sublattice symmetry. These states are experimentally demonstrated in a photonic platform. This approach can be extended to unveil more novel topological phenomena as well as to endow non‐trivial properties to a host of materials.
Creating a merger option to strategically prevent a merger among suppliers or customers
Authors: Wu Lezhen , Gu Dingwei , Yao Zhiyong , Zhou Wen
Published: August 2023

It is well‐established in the literature that a horizontal merger in a supply chain is profitable (or beneficial to firms at another tier) if the merger synergy exceeds some threshold referred to as the profitable (or beneficial) threshold. Our paper goes one step further by finding that the profitable threshold is always lower than the beneficial threshold, which implies that a firm may have an incentive to prevent a horizontal merger between its suppliers or customers, but never wants to precipitate one. Moreover, we propose a strategy to achieve the preventive goal—a firm can develop an instrumental merger option with another rival firm, which can help prevent the target merger in one of two ways. First, if the synergy of the instrumental merger is high relative to the synergy of the target merger, the firm can carry out the instrumental merger—even an unprofitable one—preemptively to make the target merger unprofitable. Second, if the synergy of the target merger is not too high and the synergy of the instrumental merger is moderate, that is, the instrumental merger is profitable and will inflict severe harm on the firms in the target merger, the firm can reserve the instrumental merger option as a deterrent and the profitable target merger is deterred. An interesting implication of the deterrent role of the instrumental merger option is that when the firm has two candidate merger partners, it may choose the partner with a lower synergy for the deterrence purpose.
Fog computing out of the box: Dynamic deployment of fog service containers with TOSCA
Authors: Basak Suvam , Srirama Satish Narayana
Published: August 2023

The conventional cloud‐centric Internet of Things (IoT) application fails to meet the latency requirement of time‐critical applications. The idea of edge and fog computing arrived to distribute workloads across the fog devices located in the local area. However, achieving seamless interoperability, platform independence, and automatic deployment of services becomes the major challenge over heterogeneous fog devices. This paper proposes an integrated and standards‐based fog computing federation framework, FogDEFT, that adapts OASIS–Topology and Orchestration Specification for Cloud Applications (TOSCA) for service deployment in fog. The framework standardizes the distributed application design with TOSCA Service Template to deploy Docker Containers in Swarm mode and manages interoperability over heterogeneous fog devices. The framework uses a lightweight TOSCA compliant orchestrator to dynamically deploy various fog applications (user‐developed services) on the fly.
COVID‐19 in the Clinic: Trial of an Aerosol Containment Mask for Endoscopic Clinic Procedures
Authors: Ference Elisabeth H. , Kim Wihan , Oghalai John S. , Walker Clayton B. , Badash Ido , Gallagher Tyler , Ma Harrison J. , Applegate Brian E.
Published: August 2023

Objective

Create an aerosol containment mask (ACM) for common otolaryngologic endoscopic procedures which also provides nanoparticle‐level protection to patients.

Study Design

Prospective feasibility study.

Setting

In‐person testing with a novel ACM.

Methods

The mask was designed in Solidworks and 3‐dimensional printed. Measurements were made on 100 consecutive clinic patients who underwent medically necessarily endoscopy, 50 rigid nasal and 50 flexible, by 9 surgeons.

Results

Of the 50 patients who underwent rigid nasal endoscopy with the ACM, 0 of 25 patients with the suction off and 0 of 25 patients with the suction on had evidence of leakage of 0.3 μm particles. Of the 50 patients who underwent flexible endoscopy with the ACM, 0 of 25 patients with the suction off and 0 of 25 patients with the suction on had evidence of leakage of 0.3 μm particles. In terms of comfort, 73% of patients found the ACM somewhat or very comfortable without suction, compared to 86% with the suction on. Surgeons were able to visualize all necessary anatomic areas in 98% of procedures. In 97% of procedures, the masks were able to be placed easily.

Conclusion

ACM can accommodate rigid nasal and flexible endoscopes and may prevent leakage of patient‐generated aerosols, thus avoiding contamination of the room and protecting health care workers from airborne contagions.

Level of Evidence

The level of evidence is 2.
Development and Validation of the Parosmia Olfactory Dysfunction Outcomes Rating (DisODOR)
Authors: Ioerger Patrick , Kallogjeri Dorina , Roland Lauren , Schneider John S. , Piccirillo Jay F. , Farrell Nyssa Fox
Published: August 2023

Objective

Develop and validate a quality‐of‐life (QoL) outcome measure for patients with dysosmia.

Study Design

Cross‐sectional survey study.

Setting

Otolaryngology clinics, research registries, and Facebook support groups.

Methods

A 59‐item pilot survey with questions addressing parosmia concerns was developed using input from subjects with parosmia and clinical expertise from Otolaryngologists. After item reduction, the Parosmia Olfactory Dysfunction Outcomes Rating (DisODOR) was reduced to its final 29 items. DisODOR maximum score is 116 (each item score 0‐4) with higher scores indicating a higher degree of dysfunction from smell distortion. DisODOR was validated using participants with parosmia persisting >3 months after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (cases) and healthy controls. Reliability, face and content validity, internal consistency, convergent validity, discriminative validity, sensitivity to change, and the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) were assessed.

Results

A total of 134 cases and 20 controls completed DisODOR. The mean (SD) age was 45.9 (12.2) for cases and 29.6 (8.9) for controls. The mean score difference between cases and controls was 45.0 (95% confidence interval, 40.5‐49.5) displaying good discriminative validity. DisODOR showed strong test–retest reliability (r = .942) with high internal consistency (Cronbach's α = .971). DisODOR had a moderate correlation with SNOT‐22 scores (r = .619) indicating good convergent validity. There is an excellent association with the global impression of severity categories (η2 = 0.447). Based on the distribution method, the MCID is 15.

Conclusion

DisODOR is a valid, reliable QoL instrument for parosmia that can be used to measure the functional impact and QoL impairment for parosmia patients. DisODOR is sensitive to change and thus can be used in studies investigating treatments for parosmia.
Speech Discrimination Outcomes in Adult Cochlear Implant Recipients by Primary Language and Bilingual Hispanic Patients
Authors: Velandia Sandra , Martinez Diane , Peña Stefanie , Misztal Carly , Goncalves Stefania , Ma Ruixuan , Angeli Simon , Telischi Fred , Holcomb Meredith , Dinh Christine T.
Published: August 2023

Objective

Compare cochlear implant (CI) outcomes in English speakers, Spanish speakers, and bilingual Hispanics.

Study Design

Retrospective review.

Setting

Academic tertiary care center.

Methods

Eighty‐five postlingually deafened adults unilaterally implanted between January 2014 and December 2018 were stratified by primary language. Primary outcomes were: (1) English consonant‐nucleus‐consonant and Spanish bisyllables word tests in quiet, and (2) English AzBio and Latin American Hearing In Noise Test (LA‐HINT) sentence tests in quiet and in noise at multiple time‐intervals postactivation.

Results

In the respective languages, primary Spanish speakers (n = 24), and English speakers (n = 61) experienced the greatest increases in average scores for word and sentence tests in quiet during the first 6 months postactivation, with gradual increases in average scores over time. English speakers performed significantly worse on AzBio tests in noise, compared to quiet, while the addition of noise did not significantly affect average LA‐HINT scores in Spanish speakers across multiple time intervals. An early ceiling effect was also demonstrated for LA‐HINT. Although not significant, bilingual Hispanics (n = 12) had lower average AzBio in quiet scores than English speakers and higher average LA‐HINT in quiet scores than the Spanish speakers across multiple time intervals.

Conclusion

English and Spanish CI users experienced the greatest increases in speech understanding in quiet the first few months after implant activation. An early ceiling effect is demonstrated with LA‐HINT, indicating LA‐HINT is not appropriate for evaluating longitudinal CI outcomes in Spanish speakers. Bilingual Hispanics represent a unique group, and further investigations are necessary to understand speech perception patterns in both languages and develop the best CI test strategies for these individuals.
Identifying Predictors of Treatment Response in Meniere's Disease: A Clinical Severity Staging System
Authors: Miller Brevin J. , Kallogjeri Dorina , Shew Matthew A. , Piccirillo Jay F.
Published: August 2023

Objective

Identify clinically important factors associated with conservative treatment response in Meniere's disease and incorporate these factors into a composite clinical severity staging system.

Study Design

Retrospective cohort.

Setting

Tertiary academic medical center.

Methods

Adult patients newly diagnosed with Meniere's disease between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2019 were eligible. Patients with previous treatment for Meniere's disease, prior otologic surgery, or a lack of follow‐up data were excluded. Treatment‐responsive patients were managed with only conservative therapies (eg, dietary modifications, diuretics) and unresponsive patients underwent more intensive therapies (eg, intratympanic procedures, surgical interventions).

Results

Of 78 patients included in the study, 49 (63%) were responsive to conservative therapies and 29 (37%) were not. Responsive patients had higher proportions of no or mild vertigo (24%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.1%–45.8%) and none or mild comorbidity (27%, 95% CI: 9.2%–44.7%) and a lower proportion of hearing loss (19%, 95% CI: 5.6%–32.4%) compared to unresponsive patients. Conjunctive consolidation of these 3 factors was performed to develop a three‐stage system with a treatment response gradient ranging from 100% to 64% to 18% for stage 1 (n = 11), stage 2 (n = 56), and stage 3 (n = 11), respectively.

Conclusions

This study identified decreased vertigo severity, reduced comorbidity burden, and absence of hearing loss as factors associated with conservative treatment response in Meniere's disease. A composite clinical severity staging system including these 3 factors can be used to optimize treatment selection and promote patient‐centered management of Meniere's disease.
Adverse Events Associated With Tracheostomy: A MAUDE Database Analysis
Authors: Narwani Vishal , Dacey Sydney , Lerner Michael Z.
Published: August 2023

Objective

Tracheotomy is one of the most common procedures. Although tracheostomy complications have been extensively studied, literature related to device complications is scarce. The objective of this study is to describe complications associated with tracheostomies utilizing the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database.

Study Design

Retrospective cross‐sectional study.

Setting

The US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MAUDE database (2015‐2020).

Methods

The FDA's MAUDE database was queried for all reports on adverse events related to tracheostomy from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2020.

Results

A total of 3086 adverse events related to open tracheostomy and 52 related to percutaneous tracheostomy were identified. For open tracheostomy, 2872 (93%), were related to device malfunction, and 214 (7%) consisted of patient‐related factors. The most frequently reported device‐related adverse event was cuff malfunction, with 1834 (59%) reported events, which includes cuff deflation, pilot balloon malfunction, and cuff inflation line malfunction. The most frequently reported patient‐related adverse events were tracheostomy tube obstruction with 67 events (2%). For percutaneous tracheostomy, 38 (73%) events were related to device malfunction, and 14 (27%) were related to patient injury. The most frequently reported adverse events were cuff malfunction (29%), safety ridge malfunction (17%), and bleeding (10%).

Conclusion

The MAUDE database is a useful tool that can be utilized to complement existing literature in identifying common and rare adverse events associated with tracheostomy device‐related failures, which are mostly reliant on isolated, published case reports.
Association Between Speech Reception Threshold in Noise and Multimorbidity: The UK Biobank Study
Authors: Yévenes‐Briones Humberto , Caballero Francisco Félix , Struijk Ellen A. , Arias‐Fernández Lucía , Lana Alberto , Rey‐Martinez Jorge , Rodríguez‐Artalejo Fernando , Lopez‐Garcia Esther
Published: August 2023

Objective

To investigate the association between hearing function, as approached with the functional auditory capacity, and multimorbidity.

Study Design

Cross‐sectional study.

Setting

The UK Biobank was established from 2006 to 2010 in the United Kingdom. This cross‐sectional analysis included 165,524 participants who provided baseline information on hearing function.

Methods

Functional auditory capacity was measured with a digit triplet test. Three categories were defined according to the speech reception threshold in noise (SRTn): normal (SRTn < −5.5 dB signal‐to‐noise ratio [SNR]), insufficient (SRTn ≥ −5.5 to ≤ −3.5 dB SNR) and poor hearing function (SRTn > −3.5 dB SNR). To define multimorbidity, 9 chronic diseases were considered, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dementia, Parkinson's disease, stroke, cancer, depression, osteoarthritis, coronary heart disease, and diabetes; multimorbidity was defined as the coexistence of 2 or more in the same individual. Analyses were conducted using logistic models adjusted for relevant confounders.

Results

Among the study participants, 54.5% were women, and the mean (range) age was 56.7 (39‐72) years. The prevalence of insufficient and poor hearing function and multimorbidity was 13% and 13.2%, respectively. In comparison with having a normal SRTn, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of multimorbidity associated with insufficient SRTn was 1.13 (1.08‐1.18), and with poor SRTn was 1.25 (1.14‐1.37).

Conclusion

Insufficient and poor hearing function was associated with multimorbidity. This association suggests common biological pathways for many of the considered morbidities.
Impact of soft magnetic α‐Fe in hard Nd2Fe14B magnetic materials: A micromagnetic study
Authors: Reichel Maximilian , Groche Peter , Gutfleisch Oliver , Schröder Jörg
Published: August 2023

The striving for the independence of fossil energy sources by further development of renewable energies as well as the change in mobility act as a driving force on technological innovations. Magnetic materials with improved magnetic efficiency help to push the limits for optimized, low‐loss power conversion applications and electrification. Besides improving the chemical composition, that is, gaining better performance using alloys reduced or free of heavy rare earth elements, microstructure optimization has proven to be a crucial field of research. In order to better control the grain size, phase distribution and texture of the polycrystalline material, new process routes, such as severe plastic deformation, need to be investigated and explored in addition to the state‐of‐the‐art method – sintering. Here, attention must be paid to the possible formation of soft magnetic α‐Fe after the casting process prior to the actual deformation step, as these secondary phases negatively affect the hysteretic behavior of the magnet. Assistance in the analysis of the underlying magnetic mechanisms is provided by micromagnetic theory. Besides the reliable prediction of the magnetization distribution on micron‐scale, especially in a multi‐phase microstructure, it also allows for the analysis of the magnetic hysteresis behavior. This work provides a micromagnetic simulation frame work based on a finite element scheme. Relying on this framework the effective hysteresis behavior of two different heterogeneous microstructures (Nd2Fe14B and Nd2Fe14B/α‐Fe) are analyzed and compared.
Concrete failure based on a localizing gradient‐enhanced damage formulation coupled with plasticity
Authors: Zhao Dong , Yin Bo , Kaliske Michael
Published: August 2023

Investigations of the mechanical behavior of concrete, including plastic deformability and failure mechanisms, have always been of vital importance. In this work, a modified yield criterion with three surfaces is proposed to capture the plastic yielding behavior under different loading conditions. The failure, that is, the gradual degradation and the final loss of material integrity, can be described through a damage concept. For the purpose of robust finite element (FE) implementations as well as the failure description at an appropriate scale, a localizing gradient‐enhanced damage model has been adopted. As such, one obtains mesh‐insensitive material responses, while ruling out the unphysical damage broadening observed in conventional gradient‐enhanced damage models with a constant regularization length. Following a consistent derivation, the plasticity‐damage coupled model is implemented into an in‐house FE framework, based on which an experiment‐inspired example is simulated to illustrate the capability of the proposed description in concrete modeling, especially the mixed‐mode failure. Lastly, the conclusion provides some final insights.
Impact of Mendong fiber–epoxy composite interface properties on electric field frequency exposure
Authors: Suryanto Heru , Irawan Yudi Surya , Soenoko Rudy , Binoj Joseph Selvi , Osman Azlin Fazlina , Osman Hakimah , Maulana Jibril , Ali Alamry
Published: August 2023

This research investigates the effects of the frequency of the external electric field during the curing process on the interfacial properties of epoxy composites reinforced by Mendong fiber. Epoxy was used as a matrix with cycloaliphatic amine as a curing agent. The AC electric field by frequencies of 1, 2, and 3 kHz and strength of 750 V/cm were applied during the curing process. The functional groups, structure, interface properties, and morphology of treated epoxy were observed using Fourier‐transform infrared, x‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and pull‐out test, respectively. The result indicates that after treatment with an electric field of 1 kHz, new peaks were observed in the epoxy diffractogram at the angle of 6.2° and 12.3°, change in morphology, the wettability properties of epoxy were increased and interface shear strength was improved. Increasing the frequency of electric fields results in more damage to the interface and subsequently reduces the shear strength at the interface.

Highlights

Interface properties of the composite after curing in an electric field characterized.

Exposure to electric field frequency during curing changed epoxy properties.

Shear strength of Mendong fiber/epoxy varied post‐exposure to the electric field.
A chemically modified MWCNT/PEEK multiscale thermoplastic composites: Forming, mechanical performance, and application
Authors: Jin Ziang , Sun Shouzheng , Joshi Sunil Chandrakant , Han Zhenyu , Fu Hongya
Published: August 2023

Carbon nanotubes can be used to enhance interlaminar mechanical performance of polymer composites due to its physicochemical properties. In this article, a novel method for preparing multi‐walled carbon nanotubes/polyether ether ketone (MWCNT/PEEK) thermoplastic composite film is proposed. The microstructure and interfacial bonding performance of chemically modified and unmodified composites films are analyzed by molecular dynamics simulation and experiment. The composite films are used in CF/PEEK laminates. The results show that MWCNT significantly improve the crystallinity of PEEK resin. Compared with the MWCNT/PEEK composites without chemical modification, the MWCNT‐COOH/PEEK‐OH composite film has a denser structure, and the tensile strength and elastic modulus are increased by 94.5% and 15%, respectively. Furthermore, the interlaminar shear strength of the CF/PEEK laminates doped with MWCNT/PEEK and MWCNT‐COOH/PEEK‐OH composite films increased by 8.3% and 12.7%, respectively.

Highlights

The interfacial bonding performance between MWCNT and PEEK is obtained by molecular dynamics simulation.

A novel method for preparing BP/PEEK composite film is proposed.

MWCNT/PEEK composite films can effectively enhance the interlaminar performance of CF/PEEK high performance thermoplastic composites.
Heterostructured rGO/MoS2 to improve friction and wear performance of epoxy resins
Authors: Song Yun , Rong Chengjun , Feng Xing , Liu Yujian , Zhang Yan
Published: August 2023

In order to improve friction and wear performance of epoxy resins, the heterostructure of rGO/MoS2 was synthesized by homogeneously growing molybdenum disulfide on the surface of in‐situ reduced graphene oxide (rGO) via the hydrothermal method. The effect of additive type on the microstructure of rGO/MoS2 was discussed. And the obtained rGO/MoS2 exhibits uniform heterostructure with 100–200 nm flower‐like MoS2 nanoparticles scattering evenly on the surface of rGO when using PVP as the surfactant. Owing to robust hybrid structures and synergetic effects of rGO and MoS2, the friction interface temperature of rGO/MoS2/EP has dropped 37.2°C. And the average friction coefficient and specific wear rate of the composites with 0.60 wt% rGO/MoS2 are just 0.55 and 7.6 × 10−6 mm3 N−1 m−1, decreasing by 19.1% and 92.8% than those of epoxy resin.

Highlights

Flower‐like MoS2 particles scatter evenly on the surface of in‐situ reduced GO.

MoS2 and rGO construct robust hybrid structure and form synergetic effects.

The transfer film of hybrid rGO/MoS2 reduces interactions between two surfaces.

The friction interface temperature of rGO/MoS2/EP drops 37.2°C.

The μ and ws of 0.60 wt%rGO/MoS2/EP are reduced by 19.1% and 92.8%.