bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adolescent brain development in girls with Turner syndrome
Authors: Lozano Wun Vanessa , Foland‐Ross Lara C. , Jo Booil , Green Tamar , Hong David , Ross Judith L. , Reiss Allan L.
Published: May 2023

Turner syndrome (TS) is a common sex chromosome aneuploidy in females associated with various physical, cognitive, and socio‐emotional phenotypes. However, few studies have examined TS‐associated alterations in the development of cortical gray matter volume and the two components that comprise this measure—surface area and thickness. Moreover, the longitudinal direct (i.e., genetic) and indirect (i.e., hormonal) effects of X‐monosomy on the brain are unclear. Brain structure was assessed in 61 girls with TS (11.3 ± 2.8 years) and 55 typically developing girls (10.8 ± 2.3 years) for up to 4 timepoints. Surface‐based analyses of cortical gray matter volume, thickness, and surface area were conducted to examine the direct effects of X‐monosomy present before pubertal onset and indirect hormonal effects of estrogen deficiency/X‐monosomy emerging after pubertal onset. Longitudinal analyses revealed that, whereas typically developing girls exhibited normative declines in gray matter structure during adolescence, this pattern was reduced or inverted in TS. Further, girls with TS demonstrated smaller total surface area and larger average cortical thickness overall. Regionally, the TS group exhibited decreased volume and surface area in the pericalcarine, postcentral, and parietal regions relative to typically developing girls, as well as larger volume in the caudate, amygdala, and temporal lobe regions and increased thickness in parietal and temporal regions. Surface area alterations were predominant by age 8, while maturational differences in thickness emerged by age 10 or later. Taken together, these results suggest the involvement of both direct and indirect effects of X‐chromosome haploinsufficiency on brain development in TS.
Clinical characteristics and pathogen analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in elderly patients with community‐acquired pneumonia
Authors: Guo Rui‐Nan , Dan Zhang , Fan Zhu , Jin Jing‐Jing , Li Cai‐Hong , Liu Bai‐Yi , Li Xue‐Juan , Huang Yan
Published: April 2023

Objective

To analyze the clinical characteristics and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid pathogens in elderly patients with community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP).

Methods

This was a retrospective observational epidemiological study using that elderly cases diagnosed with community‐acquired pneumonia receiving treatment at the Affiliated Hospital of North China University of Technology, Tangshan Hongci Hospital and Tangshan Fengnan District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. A total of 92 cases were divided into two groups according to age. There were 44 patients over 75‐year‐old and 48 patients between 65 and 74‐year‐old.

Results

Compared with the elderly 65 to 74‐year‐old, the elderly over 75‐year‐old with diabetes are more likely to suffer from CAP (35.42% vs. 63.64%, p = 0.007) and are more likely to have mixed infections (6.25% vs. 22.73%, p = 0.023) or larger lesions (45.83% vs. 68.18%, p = 0.031). Their hospital stays will also be extended (39.58% vs. 63.64%, p = 0.020), and the albumin level (37.51 ± 8.92 vs. 30.93 ± 6.58, p = 0.000), the neutrophils level (9.09(6.26–10.63) vs. 7.18(5.35–9.17),p = 0.026) is significantly lower and the d‐dimer (505.42 ± 197.12 vs. 611.82 ± 195.85, p = 0.011), PCT (0.08 ± 0.04 vs. 0.12 ± 0.07, p = 0.001) levels are significantly higher.

Conclusion

The clinical symptoms and signs of elderly CAP patients are not so typical, and the infection is more serious. Attention should therefore be paid to elderly patients. Hypoalbuminemia and high d‐dimer can predict the prognosis of patients.
A Laplace–Hamming Binarization Approach for Second‐Generation HR‐pQCT Rescues Fine Feature Segmentation
Authors: Sadoughi Saghi , Subramanian Aditya , Ramil Gabby , Burghardt Andrew J , Kazakia Galateia J
Published: April 2023

Although second‐generation high‐resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (XCTII) provides the highest‐resolution in vivo bone microstructure assessment, the manufacturer's standard image processing protocol omits fine features in both trabecular and cortical compartments. To optimize fine structure segmentation, we implemented a binarization approach based on a Laplace–Hamming (LH) segmentation and documented the reproducibility and accuracy of XCTII structure segmentation using both the standard Gaussian‐based binarization and the proposed LH segmentation approach. To evaluate reproducibility, 20 volunteers (9 women, 11 men; aged 23–75 years) were recruited, and three repeat scans of the radii and tibias were acquired using the manufacturer's standard in vivo protocol. To evaluate accuracy, cadaveric structure phantoms (14 radii, 6 tibias) were scanned on XCTII using the same standard in vivo protocol and on μCT at 24.5 μm resolution. XCTII images were analyzed twice—first, with the manufacturer's standard patient evaluation protocol and, second, with the proposed LH segmentation approach. The LH approach rescued fine features evident in the grayscale images but omitted or overrepresented (thickened) by the standard approach. The LH approach significantly reduced error in trabecular volume fraction (BV/TV) and thickness (Tb.Th) compared with the standard approach; however, higher error was introduced for trabecular separation (Tb.Sp). The LH approach improved the correlation between XCTII and μCT for cortical porosity (Ct.Po) and significantly reduced error in cortical pore diameter (Ct.Po.Dm) compared with the standard approach. The LH approach resulted in improved precision compared with the standard approach for BV/TV, Tb.Th, Ct.Po, and Ct.Po.Dm at the radius and for Ct.Po at the tibia. Our results suggest that the proposed LH approach produces substantially improved binary masks, reduces proportional bias, and provides greater accuracy and reproducibility in important outcome metrics, all due to more accurate segmentation of the fine features in both trabecular and cortical compartments. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Autophagy‐dependent regulation of MHC‐I molecule presentation
Authors: Gestal‐Mato Uxia , Herhaus Lina
Published: May 2023

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules present peptide antigens to MHC class I‐restricted CD8+ T lymphocytes to elicit an effective immune response. The conventional antigen‐processing pathway for MHC‐I presentation depends on proteasome‐mediated peptide generation and peptide loading in the endoplasmic reticulum by members of the peptide loading complex. Recent discoveries in this field highlight the role of alternative MHC‐I peptide loading and presentation pathways, one of them being autophagy. Autophagy is a cell‐intrinsic degradative pathway that ensures cellular homoeostasis and plays critical roles in cellular immunity. In this review article, we discuss the role of autophagy in MHC class I‐restricted antigen presentation, elucidating new findings on the crosstalk of autophagy and ER‐mediated MHC‐I peptide presentation, dendritic cell‐mediated cross‐presentation and also mechanisms governing immune evasion. A detailed molecular understanding of the key drivers of autophagy‐mediated MHC‐I modulation holds promising targets to devise effective measures to improve T cell immunotherapies.
Population Pharmacokinetic Modeling Using Polymyxin B Free Plasma Concentrations From Published Reports and Evaluation of Dosage Regimens Based on Monte Carlo Simulation in Critically Ill Patients
Authors: Zheng You , Xu Baohua , Chen Shengyang , Liu Maobai , Huang Huiping , Wang Jingting , Wu Xuemei
Published: May 2023

A population pharmacokinetic (pop PK) model of polymyxin B was developed using nonlinear mixed‐effects (NONMEM) modeling based on free plasma concentrations to determine whether dose adjustment is required in critically ill patients. One thousand pharmacokinetic profiles for virtual patients with a body weight of 70 kg were simulated using Monte Carlo simulation at different dose scenarios, and area under the concentration–time curve of free drug (fAUC) was computed. The probability of target attainment (PTA) at each minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was calculated using fAUC/MIC as a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) index. The final population PK model was a 2‐compartment model. PTA showed that 3.5 mg/kg/day regimens of polymyxin B effectively achieved the fAUC/MIC target of 10 (one log10 kill) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains with MIC of 1 mg/L or less (PTA,  90.7% or greater), while the dose regimen were ineffective against strains with an MIC of 2 mg/L or greater (PTA, 56.9% or less). For Klebsiella pneumoniae, the fAUC/MIC target of 17.4 (one log10 kill) was achieved in more than 90.4% of cases for MIC of 0.5 mg/L or less with 3 mg/kg/day regimens. However, the PTA decreased dramatically as MICs increased above 1 mg/L (PTA, 56.1% or less). The polymyxin B dosage regimen of 3.5 mg/kg/day and 3 mg/kg/day are sufficient to treat P. aeruginosa infections with an MIC of 1 mg/L or less and K. pneumoniae infections with an MIC of 0.5 mg/L or less, respectively. The current recommended dose (1.5–3 mg/kg/day) of polymyxin B appears inadequate to attain the PK/PD target for therapeutic efficacy against infections caused by P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae isolates when MIC is above the values.
Perspectives on peak liquid manure temperature with implications for methane emissions
Authors: Hung Chih‐Yu , Koc Efe Kemal , Grant Brian , Smith Ward , VanderZaag Andrew
Published: April 2023

Methane emissions from liquid manure storage are currently estimated with a methane conversion factor (MCF) based on manure temperature inputs or air temperatures as a substitute in the 2019 IPCC Tier 2 method. However, differences between peak manure temperature and peak air temperature (Tdiff) in warm seasons are likely to occur and result in poor estimates of MCF and methane emissions. To address this concern, this study aims to investigate the relationship between the Tdiff and ratio of manure surface area to manure volume (Rs:v) using a mechanistic model and by analyzing farm‐scale measurement studies across Canada. Positive correlations between Tdiff and Rs:v were found using a modeling approach and from farm‐scale results (r = 0.55, p = 0.06). Tdiff ranged from –2.2 to 2.6°C in farm‐scale results mainly collected from eastern Canada. We suggest that manure volume and surface area, in addition to removal frequency, could be used to estimate Tdiff and be part of the criteria for improving manure temperature estimates, which could lead to improved estimates of MCF.
Tutorial on adult enteral tube feeding: Indications, placement, removal, complications, and ethics
Authors: Ley Dana , Austin Kerstin , Wilson Kelley Anastasia , Saha Sumona
Published: May 2023

Enteral nutrition, generally preferred to parenteral nutrition, is indicated when patients cannot meet their energy and metabolic demands. Gastrostomy tubes are placed directly into the stomach (either endoscopically, surgically, or radiologically) through the abdominal wall. Routine gastrostomy tube care is important to maintain well‐functioning tubes. Postpyloric feeding tubes are preferable to gastric feeding tubes if patients have a history of aspiration, gastroesophageal reflux, severe gastroparesis, and/or recurrent nausea and vomiting. Feeding jejunostomy tubes are placed surgically and are indicated if gastric feeding is unsafe or impossible. Dual‐lumen gastrojejunostomy tubes are used when both gastric decompression and feeding are desired. The general risks of enteral tube feeding include diarrhea, metabolic derangements, and aspiration. Additional complications for gastrostomy tubes, which can arise at any time, include tube dysfunction (clogging or deterioration), infection, bleeding, peristomal leakage, ulceration, gastric outlet obstruction, and accidental removal. After percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy placement, there are also early or late complications that may occur. Multiple factors should be considered in the decision‐making process for feeding tube placement. It is important to be realistic about the patient's prognosis and goals and to discuss the risks and benefits ahead of time. Consultation with palliative care or clinical ethics specialists should be considered in certain clinical scenarios.
Ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography‐Quadrupole‐Exactive‐Orbitrap‐tandem mass spectrometry‐based putative identification for Eucommiae Folium (Duzhongye) and its quality‐marker candidate for pharmacopeia
Authors: Liu Shuqin , Li Xican , Cai Rongxin , Chen Ban , Zeng Jingyuan , Li Chunhou , Zhou Xianxi , Li Yueying
Published: April 2023

Eucommiae Folium (Duzhongye) is a traditional Chinese medicine with a long history of use in China. However, its quality‐marker in Chinese Pharmacopoeia is poorly defined nowadays. The study, therefore, conducted an ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with hybrid quadrupole‐orbitrap tandem mass spectrometry analysis to obtain accurate data. The obtained data were then compared with the authentic standards library using Xcalibur 4.1 software package and TraceFinder General Quan. Through the comparison, the study has putatively identified 26 bioactive compounds, which include 17 flavonoid derivatives (catechin, quercetin 3‐gentiobioside, quercetin 3‐O‐β‐D‐glucose‐7‐O‐β‐D‐gentiobioside, taxifolin, myricetin 3‐O‐galactoside, myricitrin, hyperoside, rutin, isoquercitrin, quercetin 3‐O‐β‐xylopyranoside, quercitrin, isorhamnetin 3‐O‐β‐D‐glucoside, quercetin, kaempferol, S‐eriodictyol, S‐naringenin, and phloridzin), four caffeoylquinic acids (neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid A, and isochlorogenic acid C), two alkaloids (vincamine and jervine), one lignan (pinoresinol), one xanthone (cowaxanthone B), and one steroid (cholesteryl acetate). Of these, flavonoid isoquercitrin is recommended as the new and additional pharmacopeia quality‐marker candidate, which can not only overcome the unreliability of old quality‐marker but also recognize the possible counterfeit.
The dependency‐autonomy paradox: A core‐periphery analysis of tourism development in Mediterranean archipelagos
Authors: Agius Karl , Chaperon Samantha
Published: May 2023

Debates on island tourism have challenged the inevitability of underdevelopment in peripheral islands. A paradox of geopolitical dependency but optimal autonomy has been proposed where tourism can create a ‘virtuous periphery syndrome’. This study used a dependency theory lens and a core‐periphery framework to analyse stakeholders' perspectives on this, in two Mediterranean archipelagos. The most peripheral islands experienced the highest levels of environmental protection and lowest levels of development, which can be favourable for the development of tourism, but this was perceived as being constrained by dependent relationships. Problematic core‐periphery relations dominated tourism development in both archipelagos. Tourism can provide opportunities for island empowerment but local understanding of this must be developed for optimal autonomy through tourism to be achieved.
A systematic review of isotretinoin dosing in acne vulgaris
Authors: Daly Aoife U. , Baptista Gonçalves Rui , Lau Eva , Bowers Joanne , Hussaini Naayema , Charalambides Maria , Coumbe Jack , Flohr Carsten , Layton Alison M.
Published: April 2023

How does low‐dose oral isotretinoin compare with recommended and high‐dose oral isotretinoin in terms of efficacy, adverse effect profile, duration of remission, economic profile and rate and severity of relapse? A systematic literature search of EMBASE, MEDLINE, PubMed and The Cochrane Library from 1983 to July 2022 was conducted to identify randomised control trials (RCTs), cohort studies and cross‐sectional studies investigating the treatment of acne vulgaris with oral isotretinoin. This systematic review of the literature sought to explore and compare the use of different isotretinoin dosing regimens. Primary outcomes were efficacy, relapse, and safety profiles of oral isotretinoin of varying doses. Secondary outcomes included adverse events and economic considerations. The quality of studies, including risk of bias was assessed using GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations). A total of 32 studies were included. Severe acne responds better to conventional or high fixed daily doses of isotretinoin. In cases of mild to moderate acne, where oral isotretinoin was prescribed, clearance rates were comparable with low, conventional or high dosage regimens. Despite this, relapse was more frequent in those treated with a lower dose. The severity of mucocutaneous adverse effects worsens as the dose of isotretinoin is increased. Comparison between studies was challenging due to differing methods of assessment, outcome measures and duration of follow‐up. This review highlights the need for an adequately powered RCT comparing low, conventional and high doses of oral isotretinoin to establish optimal dosing for treatment and prevention of relapse in acne vulgaris.
A meta‐analysis on the effects of product scarcity
Authors: Ladeira Wagner Junior , Lim Weng Marc , de Oliveira Santini Fernando , Rasul Tareq , Perin Marcelo G. , Altinay Levent
Published: April 2023

Product scarcity can influence purchase decisions, but this relationship is multifaceted due to the influence of various cues. This study aims to integrate knowledge of this subject through a meta‐analysis. The findings suggest that the likelihood of purchasing a scarce product is greater under (i) scarcity conditions of excessive demand (rather than restricted supply) and variety (rather than a category), but not urgency (limited quantity and limited time) scarcity, and (ii) product conditions of enduring luxuries (as opposed to transitory luxuries) and the presence (rather than absence) of social signaling and seasonality. From a theoretical standpoint, this study offers a typology of product and scarcity cues and employs a meta‐analysis to enhance our understanding of the relationships between product scarcity, product and scarcity cues, and purchase decisions, resulting in the establishment of a heterogeneous theory of product scarcity. From a managerial standpoint, the study suggests that product scarcity can affect purchase decisions and can be ethically utilized as a marketing strategy.
Cournot–Bertrand comparisons under double managerial delegation contracts with sales and environmental incentives
Authors: Xu Lili , Lee Sang‐Ho
Published: April 2023

This study investigates the effect of consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for green products on double managerial delegation contracts with sales and environmental incentives. We illustrate that Cournot firms set higher sales and lower environmental incentives than Bertrand firms, yielding higher profits and better environmental performance under Cournot. We also examine an endogenous competition mode and discover that Cournot is an equilibrium when consumers' WTP is low, while the welfare‐inferior Bertrand appears unless consumers' WTP or product substitutability is high. Our finding suggests that antitrust authorities should monitor welfare‐distorting coordination when firms reformulate their strategies for emission‐reduction activities under double managerial delegation contracts.
The tumor microenvironment in the postsurgical liver: Mechanisms and potential targets of postoperative recurrence in human hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Wu Junyu , Chan Yau‐Tuen , Lu Yuanjun , Wang Ning , Feng Yibin
Published: April 2023

Surgery remains to be the mainstay of treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Nonetheless, its therapeutic efficacy is significantly impaired by postoperative recurrence, which occurs in more than half of cases as a result of intrahepatic metastasis or de novo tumorigenesis. For decades, most therapeutic strategies on inhibiting postoperative HCC recurrence have been focused on the residual tumor cells but satisfying therapeutic outcomes are barely observed in the clinic. In recent years, a better understanding of tumor biology allows us to shift our focus from tumor cells toward the postoperative tumor microenvironment (TME), which is gradually identified to play a pivotal role in tumor recurrence. In this review, we describe various surgical stress and surgical perturbation on postoperative TME. Besides, we discuss how such alternations in TME give rise to postoperative recurrence of HCC. Based on its clinical significance, we additionally highlight the potential of the postoperative TME as a target for postoperative adjuvant therapeutics.
Prevention of Glutamate‐Induced Neurodegeneration by Piceatannol via Mitochondrial Rescue In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Koh Yen‐Chun , Chok Dickson , Chang Chun‐Han , Wei Chia‐Cheng , Wu Chia‐Tung , Cheng Ko‐Chun , Nagabhushanam Kalyanam , Ho Chi‐Tang , Pan Min‐Hsiung
Published: May 2023

Scope

Parkinson's disease is one of the neurodegenerative diseases that have no cure. Excitotoxicity induced by excess glutamate is known to be a hallmark of these diseases. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the preventive effect of piceatannol on glutamate‐induced neurodegeneration via mitochondrial rescue.

Methods and results

The PC12 cell line and three Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) strains are employed to achieve the aim. In the in vitro study, the results show that piceatannol can prevent glutamate‐induced apoptosis. Piceatannol also reduces mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation by activating the antioxidant system. Moreover, piceatannol can also promote mitochondrial biogenesis and induced mitochondrial fusion‐related genes to preserve mitochondrial functionality. In the C. elegans model, piceatannol can prevent mitochondrial fragmentation induced by glutamate. More importantly, piceatannol effectively protects dopaminergic neurons from degradation and preserves the responses controlled by these neurons.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that piceatannol can be a more effective and potent candidate for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, compared to resveratrol. It is capable of preventing neurodegeneration induced by excess glutamate, possibly via mitochondrial rescue. It is recommended that piceatannol be developed into a neuroprotective agent.
Elimination of interference and cross talk from a face‐to‐face‐antennas system by a metasurface absorber
Authors: Jang Sambong , Kim Yongjune , Lee Jeong‐Hae
Published: April 2023

In this letter, a design and an experimental verification of a face‐to‐face‐antennas system combined with a metasurface absorber are presented, from which interference and cross talk are eliminated. First, the metasurface absorber unit cell composed of square copper pixels is optimally designed with the far‐field‐incidence condition utilizing the genetic algorithm to satisfy the −10 dB reflectance from 5.75 to 5.83 GHz with the minimum reflectance −13.90 dB at 5.8 GHz. Then, the metasurface absorber is integrated into a pair of 2 × 1 array antennas, of which the resonance frequency is 5.8 GHz. The two array antennas are set to face each other to enable short‐distance wireless‐data transmission between two antennas aligned in a line of sight. By absorbing undesired reflected waves using the metasurface absorber, interference induced on the transmitted spectrum along the vertical direction and cross talk along the horizontal and diagonal directions can be eliminated at the same time. They are confirmed by the simulation results calculated for various distances between the pair of array antennas. The measurements are well matched to the simulations, verifying the accuracy of the proposed design.
Intensive care unit nurses' perceptions and practices regarding clinical alarms: A descriptive study
Authors: Wang Lei , He Wei , Chen Yulu , Wu Qiuping , Du Xin , Li Qin , Song Caiping
Published: April 2023

Aim

To describe the frequencies of physiologic monitor clinical alarms and to investigate nurses' perceptions and practices regarding clinical alarms in ICUs.

Design

A descriptive study.

Methods

A 24‐h continuous nonparticipant observation study was conducted in ICU. Observers observed and recorded the occurrence time, detail information when electrocardiogram monitor alarms triggered. And a cross‐sectional study was conducted among ICU nurses by convenience sampling, using the general information questionnaire and the Chinese version of clinical alarms survey questionnaire for medical devices. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 23.

Results

A total of 13,829 physiologic monitor clinical alarms were recorded in 14‐day observation and 1191 ICU nurses responded to the survey. Most nurses agreed or strongly agreed the sensitivity to alarms and responded quickly (81.28%), smart alarm systems (74.56%), alarm notification systems (72.04%) and set up alarm administrators (59.45%) were useful to improve alarm management, while frequent nuisance alarms disrupted patients care (62.47%) and reduced nurses' trust in alarms (49.03%), environmental noise interfered with nurses' recognition of the alarms (49.12%) and not everyone received education of alarm systems (64.65%).

Conclusions

Physiological monitor alarms occur frequently in ICU, and it is necessary to formulate or further optimize alarm management measures. It is recommended to use smart medical devices and alarm notification systems, formulate and implement standardized alarm management policies and norms, and strengthen alarm management education and training, so as to improve the nursing quality and patient safety.

Patient or Public Contribution

The patients in the observation study included all patients admitted to the ICU during the observation period. The nurses in the survey study were conveniently selected through an online survey.
Phonons of electronic crystals in two‐dimensional semiconductor moiré patterns
Authors: Yu Hongyi , Zhou Jiyong
Published: May 2023

We theoretically studied the phonon properties of the triangular‐, stripe‐, and honeycomb‐type electronic crystals recently found in two‐dimensional semiconductor moiré patterns. By analyzing the phonon dispersions, we found the interaction induced lattice deformation in the zigzag‐stripe crystal results in a much higher dynamical stability than in the linear‐stripe crystal. Moreover, chiral phonons with finite magnetizations and large Berry curvatures can emerge in triangular and honeycomb crystals under time‐reversal or inversion symmetry breaking. The small effective mass of the electrons allows the selective and efficient generation of chiral phonons from the optical activity of zone‐center phonons combined with the anharmonicity, facilitating the realization of the phonon Hall effect. These findings point to an exciting new platform for exploring chiral phonons and related topological phononic devices.

Key points

The phonons of the electronic crystals in semiconductor moiré systems are systematically analyzed, which can lead to the infrared absorption, Raman scattering, and Hall effect of chiral phonons.

The small effective mass of the electrons as compared to their ionic counterparts facilitates tuning the chiral phonons through external fields, which may stimulate further studies about elementary excitations of the intriguing correlated insulators in moiré systems.

Our study connects the two active research fields of strongly correlated physics and chiral phonons.
Designing novel semi‐aromatic polyesters with dimethyl 3,3′‐bibenzoate
Authors: Heifferon Katherine V , Weyhrich Cody W , Mondschein Ryan J , Long Timothy E
Published: May 2023

Melt polycondensation of dimethyl 3,3′‐bibenzoate (3,3'BB) with various linear and cycloaliphatic diols enabled the synthesis of a series of semi‐aromatic polyesters. Size exclusion chromatography analysis confirmed high molecular weight (Mn > 20 kg mol−1). Compression molding resulted in ductile films and further established molecular weights desirable for mechanical performance. 1H NMR spectroscopy confirmed polymer structure and retainment of the cis/trans ratios for the cyclohexyldimethylene‐based polyesters before and after polymerization. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed high onset of weight loss temperatures for the novel semi‐aromatic polymers (Td,5% > 380 °C). Differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis were used to determine glass transition temperatures and melting temperatures. Further evaluation of these thermal transitions against previously synthesized 4,4'BB, 3,4'BB, and isophthalate‐based polymers elucidated the structure–property relationships of these systems. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry.
Front Cover Image
Authors: Yang Jing , Zheng Lixia , Liao Yonglin , Fu Yueguan , Zeng Dongqiang , Chen Wensheng , Wu Weijian
Published: May 2023

The cover image is based on the Research Article HCN‐induced embryo arrest: passion fruit as an ecological trap for fruit flies by Jing Yang et al., https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.7396

image
Strain Tune Suspended MoS2 for Polarization Photodetection
Authors: Liu Yu , Jiang Yutong , Tan Chao , Li Youren , Chen Yu , Li Zhengyang , Gao Liangjuan , Yang Lei , Wang Zegao
Published: April 2023

In situ modulation of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) structure and breaking its isotopic optical property are crucial for fabricating high‐performance multidimensional photodetectors. However, achieving this remains a challenge. Herein, by introducing a cavity in the channel, the strain tunable suspended MoS2 phototransistor is fabricated. By pumping the environment, a pressure difference between the environment and cavity is generated, inducing strain in the MoS2. Simulation reveals the strain can be tuned up to 0.598% by changing environment pressure. The electrical and photoelectrical properties exhibit significant tuning in response to pressure. During this experiment, the conductance of MoS2 under different pressures shows considerable differentiation between 50 and 100 kPa. As light wavelength decreases, the trend of photocurrent increasing under different pressure becomes more apparent. The differential conductance–voltage curve of different wavelengths at 10 Pa is more dispersed than that at 101 kPa. Those results demonstrate the coupling effect between light and strain. Interestingly, the symmetric photoelectrical property of MoS2 can be broken, resulting in polarization detection. At a pressure of 60 kPa, the dichroic ratio reaches 1.38, similar to intrinsic anisotropic two‐dimensional materials. This can be attributed to the breaking of symmetric structure caused by strain.
Maternal use of hormonal contraception and rare cancer types in children: A nationwide PECH cohort study
Authors: Hemmingsen Caroline H. , Kjaer Susanne K. , Winther Jeanette F. , Schmiegelow Kjeld , Mørch Lina S. , Hargreave Marie
Published: April 2023

Background

Maternal hormonal contraception use has been associated with an increased risk of leukaemia and central nervous system (CNS) tumours in children. However, little is known about the association with other, less common childhood cancer types. We assessed associations between maternal hormonal contraceptive use and all main types of childhood cancer, excluding leukaemia and CNS tumours.

Methods

In this nationwide PECH cohort study, we followed all Danish children liveborn in 1996–2014 (n = 1 185 063) from birth until 2018. Registry information was extracted on maternal filled prescriptions of hormonal contraception and childhood cancer diagnoses (age at diagnosis <20 years). The exposure of interest was maternal ‘recent use’ of hormonal contraception (use ≤3 months before or during pregnancy, except for injections, implants and intrauterine devices with a different timeframe), compared to no use. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for childhood cancer according to any use, regiment (combined/progestin‐only) and administration route (oral/non‐oral).

Results

During 15 335 990 person‐years of follow‐up, 1384 children were diagnosed with a rare cancer type. Compared to children of mothers with no use of hormonal contraception, maternal recent use of hormonal contraception was not statistically significantly associated with any of the childhood cancers assessed. Except for maternal recent use of non‐oral hormonal contraception, where a hazard ratio (HR) of 6.90 (95% CI: 1.31, 36.47) for hepatic tumours was found. However, this finding was based on a small number of children and if causal, this would result in one additional case per about 99 500 person‐years of follow‐up.

Conclusions

Maternal use of hormonal contraception up to or during pregnancy was not associated with nearly every rare childhood cancer type assessed, compared to no use.
Data‐based analysis of iterative learning control for MIMO nonaffine nonlinear systems with multiple nonrepetitive uncertainties
Authors: Hui Yu , Chi Ronghu , Liu Yang
Published: May 2023

Two challenging problems are addressed in this work for the convergence analysis of iterative learning control (ILC), that is, the rigorous assumption on repetitive conditions and the severe dependence on linear or nonlinear parametric models. Consequently, a data‐based analysis method of ILC is presented for a general multi‐input multi‐output nonaffine nonlinear system in the existence of multiple nonrepetitive uncertainties in initial states, external disturbances, reference trajectories, and plant models. An extended iterative dynamic relationship is constructed to extract the linear relationship of I/O dynamics for a nonaffine nonlinear system between two different iterations. The data‐based double dynamics analysis method is developed for analyzing that the tracking error is convergent and the I/O sequence is bounded. The tracking error is shown to converge to a finite bound related to nonrepetitive uncertainties and achieve a perfect convergence if nonrepetitive uncertainties are also iteratively convergent to zero. Notably, the presented analysis method merely uses the I/O data without relying on the plant model. Simulations validate the effectiveness of our theoretical results.
DH5α Outer Membrane‐Coated Biomimetic Nanocapsules Deliver Drugs to Brain Metastases but not Normal Brain Cells via Targeting GRP94
Authors: Zhou Mengyuan , Chen Haiyan , Zeng Yuteng , Lv Ziyan , Hu Xiaoxiao , Tong Yang , Wang Pan , Zhao Mei , Mu Rui , Yu Ju , Chen Yanming , Wei Lin , Gu Jiang , Lan Qing , Zhen Xuechu , Han Liang
Published: April 2023

Receptor‐mediated vesicular transport has been extensively developed to penetrate the blood‐brain barrier (BBB) and has emerged as a class of powerful brain‐targeting delivery technologies. However, commonly used BBB receptors such as transferrin receptor and low‐density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein 1, are also expressed in normal brain parenchymal cells and can cause drug distribution in normal brain tissues and subsequent neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment. Here, the endoplasmic reticulum residing protein GRP94 is found upregulated and relocated to the cell membrane of both BBB endothelial cells and brain metastatic breast cancer cells (BMBCCs) by preclinical and clinical investigations. Inspired by that Escherichia coli penetrates the BBB via the binding of its outer membrane proteins with GRP94, avirulent DH5α outer membrane protein‐coated nanocapsules (Omp@NCs) are developed to cross the BBB, avert normal brain cells, and target BMBCCs via recognizing GRP94. Embelin (EMB)‐loaded Omp@EMB specifically reduce neuroserpin in BMBCCs, which inhibits vascular cooption growth and induces apoptosis of BMBCCs by restoring plasmin. Omp@EMB plus anti‐angiogenic therapy prolongs the survival of mice with brain metastases. This platform holds the translational potential to maximize therapeutic effects on GRP94‐positive brain diseases.
Deep Learning‐Enabled Multiplexed Point‐of‐Care Sensor using a Paper‐Based Fluorescence Vertical Flow Assay
Authors: Goncharov Artem , Joung Hyou‐Arm , Ghosh Rajesh , Han Gyeo‐Re , Ballard Zachary S. , Maloney Quinn , Bell Alexandra , Aung Chew Tin Zar , Garner Omai B. , Carlo Dino Di , Ozcan Aydogan
Published: April 2023

Multiplexed computational sensing with a point‐of‐care serodiagnosis assay to simultaneously quantify three biomarkers of acute cardiac injury is demonstrated. This point‐of‐care sensor includes a paper‐based fluorescence vertical flow assay (fxVFA) processed by a low‐cost mobile reader, which quantifies the target biomarkers through trained neural networks, all within <15 min of test time using 50 µL of serum sample per patient. This fxVFA platform is validated using human serum samples to quantify three cardiac biomarkers, i.e., myoglobin, creatine kinase‐MB, and heart‐type fatty acid binding protein, achieving less than 0.52 ng mL−1 limit‐of‐detection for all three biomarkers with minimal cross‐reactivity. Biomarker concentration quantification using the fxVFA that is coupled to neural network‐based inference is blindly tested using 46 individually activated cartridges, which shows a high correlation with the ground truth concentrations for all three biomarkers achieving >0.9 linearity and <15% coefficient of variation. The competitive performance of this multiplexed computational fxVFA along with its inexpensive paper‐based design and handheld footprint makes it a promising point‐of‐care sensor platform that can expand access to diagnostics in resource‐limited settings.
Single‐Atom Engineering of Covalent Organic Framework for Photocatalytic H2 Production Coupled with Benzylamine Oxidation
Authors: Xia Yang , Zhu Bicheng , Li Liuyi , Ho Wingkei , Wu Jinsong , Chen Haoming , Yu Jiaguo
Published: April 2023

In photocatalysis, reducing the exciton binding energy and boosting the conversion of excitons into free charge carriers are vital to enhance photocatalytic activity. This work presents a facile strategy of engineering Pt single atoms on a 2D hydrazone‐based covalent organic framework (TCOF) to promote H2 production coupled with selective oxidation of benzylamine. The optimised TCOF‐Pt SA photocatalyst with 3 wt% Pt single atom exhibited superior performance to TCOF and TCOF‐supported Pt nanoparticle catalysts. The production rates of H2 and N‐benzylidenebenzylamine over TCOF‐Pt SA3 are 12.6 and 10.9 times higher than those over TCOF, respectively. Empirical characterisation and theoretical simulation showed that the atomically dispersed Pt is stabilised on the TCOF support through the coordinated N1‐Pt‐C2 sites, thereby induing the local polarization and improving the dielectric constant to reach the low exciton binding energy. These phenomena led to the promotion of exciton dissociation into electrons and holes and the acceleration of the separation and transport of photoexcited charge carriers from bulk to the surface. This work provides new insights into the regulation of exciton effect for the design of advanced polymer photocatalysts.
Revealing active Cu nanograins for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction through operando studies
Authors: Li Junjun , Sun Yajing , Zhang Zhicheng
Published: April 2023

Copper (Cu) has been regarded as a highly efficient electrocatalyst for the conversion of CO2 into a multicarbon product. However, the catalytic mechanism and the active sites of Cu catalysts under operating conditions still remain elusive. Yang's team applied systematic operando characterization techniques to provide a quantitative analysis of the valence states and the chemical environment of Cu nanocatalysts under electrochemical reaction conditions, which clearly reveal the evolution of Cu nanocatalysts before and after the entire electrochemical CO2 reduction.
Reduction Kinetics of Cold‐Bonded Briquette Prepared from Return Fines of Sinter with Carbon Monoxide and Coke
Authors: Li Ying , Ren Jie , Wei Han , Khan Inam Ullah , Omran Mamdouh , Fabritius Timo , Shu Qifeng , Wang Chuan , Zang Yonggang , Yu Yaowei
Published: April 2023

The reduction kinetics of cold‐bonded briquette prepared from return fines of sinter is studied. The results reveal that cold‐bonded briquettes with coke (CBBC) have a higher reduction velocity index (RVI) value than cold‐bonded briquettes without coke (CBB). Interfacial chemical reaction controls the early stages of the CBB reduction process at 900 and 950 °C, followed by both interfacial chemical reaction and internal diffusion. At 1000, 1050, and 1100 °C, the early and final stages of the CBB reduction process are controlled by interfacial chemical reaction and internal diffusion, respectively, while both interfacial chemical reaction and internal diffusion control middle stage. The apparent activation energies of the different stages are 46.20, 56.74, 38.24, and 40.74 kJ mol−1, respectively. The gasification of carbon reaction controls the reduction process of CBBC, and the apparent activation energy is 32.42 kJ mol−1. According to the Friedman method, the apparent activation energy of CBB and CBBC is reasonable. Coke promotes the phase transformation in CBBC. Scanning electron microscopy results show that the CBBC sample is more fully reduced than the CBB sample and that it has smoother corners and edges of the iron‐bearing phase or the metallic iron phase than the CBB sample.
Performance Optimization and Efficient Application of Highly Reactive Iron Coke: Research Progress and Future Trend
Authors: Wang Jie , Wang Wei , Bao Junfang , Chen Xuheng , Duan Linfeng , Xu Runsheng
Published: April 2023

Iron coke has emerged as a promising raw material for low‐carbon ironmaking. However, the structure and properties of iron coke are still obstacles to practical application in blast furnaces, especially the strength of iron coke. Herein, investigations on the preparation and properties of iron coke are reviewed and an integrated system for the performance optimization and efficient utilization of iron coke is proposed. First, the characteristics of different preparation processes for iron coke are compared; then the advantages and limitations of the three processes are summarized. Afterward, the evolution mechanism of iron coke strength and the catalytic mechanism of Fe on the gasification reaction of iron coke are explored in depth. In addition, the coupling mechanism of iron coke gasification and iron ore reduction is analyzed and discussed. The influence of iron coke on the melting–dropping properties of blast furnace charge and the mathematical simulation of using iron coke in the blast furnace are analyzed and summarized. Finally, a comprehensive strategy for the performance optimization of iron coke and its efficient application in the blast furnace is proposed, in which the sequence slicing 3D reconstruction method is applied to analyze the relationship between microstructure and performance of iron coke.
Babassu Mesocarp: A Sustainable Source for Obtaining Starch and New Products
Authors: Borges Lara Aguiar , Ramos Kazumi Kawasaki , Felisberto Mária Herminia Ferrari , Franciosi Eduardo Roxo Nobre , Efraim Priscilla
Published: April 2023

Babassu mesocarp is a product generated during the processing of babassu fruit. That material is a valuable source of starch, which exhibits distinct properties. This review addresses the extraction methods, chemical composition, structure, morphology, properties, and potential uses of babassu mesocarp starch (BMS). In addition, comparisons with other conventional and nonconventional starch sources are also presented. Significant variations in the chemical composition of BMS are found by some authors. Morphological studies demonstrate that starch granules come in a variety of sizes, but the shape is mostly oval. Additionally, authors have observed C‐type crystallinity of babassu starches by X‐ray diffraction. Although native BMS has techno‐functional limitations and food applications have been poorly explored, their characteristics are like those of corn. This review provides the latest useful references about BMS and its usability in the food and nonfood industries and shows potential remarks to direct future research on BMS.
PM2.5 promotes pulmonary fibrosis by mitochondrial dysfunction
Authors: Chang En‐Ming , Chao Chia‐Chia , Wang Mei‐Ting , Hsu Chia‐Lang , Chen Po‐Chun
Published: May 2023

Pulmonary fibrosis is known as an incurable lung disorder with irreversible progression of chronic injury, myofibroblast proliferation, extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation, and tissue scarring. Atmospheric particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) is implicated as a risk factor of several diseases, especially lung diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis. The molecular mechanism which participates PM2.5‐induced pulmonary fibrosis in type II alveolar cells (AEII) has yet to be determined. Our results proved that short‐ and long‐term exposure to PM2.5 significantly stimulated epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) activity in AEII cells, according to, changes in gene signature analyzed by RNA‐seq and cell morphology. Furthermore, Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis also suggested that mitochondrial dysfunction was related to progression of pulmonary fibrosis in AEII after PM2.5 exposure. We observed a marked decline in mitochondria membrane potential (MMP), as well as fragmented mitochondria, in AEII cells exposed to PM2.5, which suggests that energy metabolism is suppressed after PM2.5 exposure. We also confirmed that PM2.5 exposure could influence the expression levels of Mfn1, Mfn2, and Drp1 in AEII. Pretreatment of mitochondrial fusion promoter M1 was able to reverse mitochondrial dysfunction as well as EMT in AEII. These data suggested the key role of mitochondrial fragmentation in AEII, which was induced by PM2.5 exposure, and participated pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. Finally, we investigated the response of lung tissue exposed to PM2.5 in vivo. The data indicated that the lung tissue exposed to PM2.5 obviously induced collagen accumulation. Moreover, IHC results revealed that PM2.5 enhanced Drp1 expression but suppressed Mfn1 and Mfn2 expression in lung tissue. The current study provides novel insight of pulmonary fibrosis caused by PM2.5 exposure.
Flame‐retardant, flexible, and breathable smart humidity sensing fabrics based on hydrogels for respiratory monitoring and non‐contact sensing
Authors: Yang Jinglan , Rong Limin , Huang Wenxi , Wu Zixuan , Ding Qiongling , Zhang He , Lin Yuanqing , Li Fan , Li Chunwei , Yang Bo‐Ru , Tao Kai , Wu Jin
Published: May 2023

Smart sensing fabrics are becoming increasingly attractive in the emerging wearable areas of medical and military so far. Here, for the first time, we present a smart humidity sensing fabric (SHSF) based on a moisture‐sensitive polyacrylamide hydrogel for respiratory monitoring and non‐contact sensing. Fabricated by in situ cross‐linking of the hydrogel precursors on the fibers of the fabric, the flexible SHSF shows excellent sensitivity, outstanding flame retardance, air permeability, water retention capacity, and stability after treatment with lithium bromide solution. Specifically, its conductance increases more than 311 times as humidity increased from 11% to 98%. Besides, the humidity sensor features good repeatability and the ability to work normally under folding due to its flexible nature. As a clothing material, hydrogel–fabric composite exhibits 4.3 times the burning time compared to cotton fabric, illustrating better flame retardance. The SHSF is used to monitor human breathing and non‐contact finger approaching in real time, demonstrating its flexibility in practical applications. This work provides strategies for preparing high‐performance, flame‐retardant SHSF for emerging wearable electronic devices.