bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intravesical Interferon Therapy vs Hyaluronic Acid for Pain Among Female Individuals With Interstitial Cystitis
Authors: Shen Si-hong , Peng Liao , Zeng Xiao , Zhang Jie , Shen Hong , Luo De-yi
Published: April 2024

Importance

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a debilitating condition. Although viral infection is a potential etiological cause, few studies have detected the effect of antiviral treatment.

Objective

To determine the efficacy and safety of intravesical interferon instillation compared with hyaluronic acid in female patients with IC.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This double-masked, randomized phase 2/3 clinical trial with parallel group design was implemented from October 2022 to April 2023 and had a 6-month follow-up period. The study was conducted at a single center. Eligible participants were female patients aged 18 to 70 years with a diagnosis of IC for more than 6 months. The last visit took place in October 2023. Data were analyzed between October and November 2023.

Intervention

Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive either intravesical instillation of interferon or hyaluronic acid.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary end point was change in visual analog scale pain score. Secondary end points included changes in voiding frequency, functional bladder capacity, symptom index, and global response assessment. Adverse events were closely monitored.

Results

Among the 52 patients, the mean (SD) age was 50.0 (14.1) years and they were randomized to either the interferon group (26 [50%]) or hyaluronic acid (26 [50%]). The visual analog pain score showed the interferon group decreased more significantly than hyaluronic acid (−1.3; 95% CI, −2.3 to −0.3; P = .02) at month 6, with 20 patients (77%) exhibiting a 30% or higher reduction in pain compared with baseline. Secondary end points of voiding frequency, functional bladder capacity, and nocturia episodes showed no significant difference between 2 therapies. However, interferon showed a significantly higher reduction in the Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index (−3.0; 95% CI, −5.3 to −0.7; P = .01) and the Problem Index (−2.5; 95% CI, −4.5 to −0.4; P = .02) at month 6, with 22 patients (85%) presenting as moderately or markedly improved. The frequencies of adverse events were similar between 2 groups. Only 1 patient discontinued hyaluronic acid because of poor effectiveness.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this randomized clinical trial, female patients with IC could benefit from intravesical interferon therapy, without serious adverse events. These results offered hope for antiviral approaches in IC, but larger-scale, multicenter trials and long-term follow-up should be considered.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05912946
Long-Term Symptoms Associated With SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Blood Donors
Authors: Shah Melisa M. , Spencer Bryan R. , James-Gist Jade , Haynes James M. , Feldstein Leora R. , Stramer Susan L. , Jones Jefferson M. , Saydah Sharon H.
Published: April 2024

Importance

Long-term symptoms, lasting more than 4 consecutive weeks after acute COVID-19 disease, are an important consequence of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Many prior studies have lacked a non–SARS-CoV-2–infected control population to distinguish background prevalence of symptoms from the direct impact of COVID-19 disease.

Objective

To examine the prevalence of long-term physical and mental health symptoms associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in a large population of blood donors based on self-report and serologic test results.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cross-sectional study included American Red Cross blood donors (aged ≥18 years) who were surveyed between February 22 and April 21, 2022, about new long-term symptoms arising after March 2020 and their SARS-CoV-2 infection status. All participants underwent at least 1 serologic test for antinucleocapsid antibodies between June 15, 2020, and December 31, 2021.

Exposures

SARS-CoV-2 infection as defined by a self-reported, confirmed acute infection or antinucleocapsid antibody positivity.

Main Outcomes and Measures

New long-term symptoms since March 2020, including 5 symptom categories (neurologic, gastrointestinal, respiratory and cardiac, mental health, and other).

Results

Among 818 361 individuals who received the survey, 272 965 (33.4%) responded, with 238 828 meeting the inclusion criteria (138 576 [58.0%] female; median [IQR] age, 59.0 [47.0-67.0] years). Of the 83 015 individuals with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection, 43.3% reported new long-term symptoms compared with 22.1% of those without a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection. After controlling for age, sex, race and ethnicity, and number of underlying conditions, those with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection had an increased odds of new long-term symptoms compared with those without (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 2.55; 95% CI, 2.51-2.61). Female sex and a history of chronic conditions were associated with new long-term symptoms. Long-term symptoms in the other category (AOR, 4.14; 95% CI, 4.03-4.25), which included changes in taste or smell, and the respiratory and cardiac symptom categories (AOR, 3.21; 95% CI, 3.12-3.31) were most associated with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Mental health long-term symptoms were also associated with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection (AOR, 1.05; 95%, CI, 1.02-1.08).

Conclusions and Relevance

This study’s findings suggest that long-term symptoms lasting more than 4 weeks are common in the adult population, but there is a significantly higher prevalence among those with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Continued efforts to define and track long-term sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 using a control group without infection and serologic information to include those who had asymptomatic or unidentified infections are needed.
Large Language Model Performance on Practice Epilepsy Board Examinations
Authors: Habib Sara , Butt Haroon , Goldenholz Shira R. , Chang Chi Yuan , Goldenholz Daniel M.
Published: April 2024

This diagnostic study examines whether large language models are able to pass practice licensing examinations for epilepsy.
Optimal Molecular Configuration of Electrolyte Additives Enabling Stabilization of Zinc Anodes
Authors: Yang Yong , Li Yanze , Zhu Qizhen , Xu Bin
Published: April 2024

For the development of electrolyte additives as an effective strategy to improve the performance of zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs), most researchers focus on the functional groups but overlook the crucial molecular configuration. Herein, six stereoisomers of 2,3,4,5‐tetrahydroxyvaleraldehyde with identical groups but various spatial arrangements are studied as the electrolyte additive in ZIBs. Based on the experimental analysis and theoretical calculations, the adsorption with Zn (002) plane is found to be an important dominant for the stereoisomer to enhance the Zn anode performance. Among these stereoisomers, D‐Arabinose with preferential and strongest chemisorption effect modifies the anode/electrolyte interface most effectively, leading to the highest stability and reversibility of the Zn anode. The adsorbed D‐Arabinose shows multifunctional effects at the interface, which not only regulates the Zn2+ solvation structure and reconfigures the hydrogen bond framework, but also facilitates uniform Zn2+ deposition by promoting 3D Zn2+ diffusion and homogenizing the electric field. Therefore, with the D‐Arabinose additive in ZnSO4 electrolyte, the undesired Zn dendrite growth and side reactions including hydrogen evolution reaction, corrosion, and passivation are significantly limited during the Zn plating/stripping processes. This work proposes a new insight toward the optimal molecular configuration of additive designing for electrolyte engineering in stable ZIBs.
High‐Performance Bi2Te3‐Based Thermoelectrics Enabled by ≈1 nm Metal Chalcogenide Clusters with Size‐Dependent Electron and Phonon Structures
Authors: Xu Pengfei , Jin Kangpeng , Yu Yuan , Huang Ming , Yan Zhenhua , Li Xiang , Gao Xiao , Fu Liangwei , Xu Biao
Published: April 2024

The untapped potential of sub‐nanometric materials (SNMs) in constructing high‐performance thermoelectrics (TE) presents a promising yet unexplored avenue. This study investigates the utilization of supertetrahedral CdS clusters, representing SNMs, in conjunction with state‐of‐the‐art Bi2Te3‐based systems. The CdS cluster with size‐dependent electronic structure enables selective interface scattering of carriers, while its 1 nm size and size‐dependent phonon density of states (DOS) contribute to significant interfacial thermal resistance. Furthermore, interfacial dislocations and significant grain refinement induced by the incorporation of the CdS cluster boost the mechanical properties. Consequently, a remarkable peak figure of merit (ZT) value of 1.47 at 350 K and a record‐high Vickers hardness of 1.08 GPa is achieved in the Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3/0.1 wt% CdS cluster composite. The robust TE module achieves an excellent conversion efficiency of about 6.1% under a ΔT of 241 K. This work opens up exciting possibilities for utilizing 1 nm clusters in thermoelectrics and even inspires other fields involving size‐dependent electrical and thermal transport behaviors.
Development of a Novel Formulation of Bioactive Glass Based Calcium Phosphate Cement for Bone Grafting
Authors: D'Onofrio Alessia , Hill Robert G. , Kent Niall W. , Rawlinson Simon C.F. , Shahdad Shakeel A.
Published: April 2024

Particulate bone grafting material can travel from the implantation site and diminish the magnitude of required bone formation response and hence its effectiveness. An easily prepared moldable graft that rapidly sets rigid in situ would alleviate this problem and in this study, such an injectable bone graft material is presented. By combining calcium phosphate (CP) salts with a bioactive glass (BG) mixed with a 2.5% Na2HPO4 solution a novel BG‐based calcium phosphate cement (CPC) is produced. Immersion in Tris buffer and simulated body fluid (SBF) solutions result in the rapid generation of octacalcium phosphate (OCP) and hydroxyapatite (HA) phases – a pre‐requisite for “bioactivity”. Cement‐conditioned media does not result in any cytotoxic potential with respect to MTT activity, DNA content, or alkaline phosphatase activity with an osteoblastic cell line. Application of the cement into standardized surgical defects in the minipig mandible results in short‐term, moderate irritation at 3 and 6 weeks and complete replacement of cement with new bone at 12 weeks.
Synaptic Plasticity and Visual Memory in a Neuromorphic 2D Memitter Based on WS2 Monolayers
Authors: Ferrarese Lupi Federico , Milano Gianluca , Angelini Angelo , Rosero‐Realpe Mateo , Torre Bruno , Kozma Erika , Martella Christian , Grazianetti Carlo
Published: April 2024

Neuromorphic computing aims to leverage physical phenomena of adaptive materials for emulating information processing capabilities and effectiveness of biological neuronal circuits. In this framework, memristors (resistors with memory) based on 2D materials are demonstrated for the hardware implementation of highly integrated artificial neural networks. All the works reported thus far exploited electrical properties of 2D materials to emulate neuromorphic functionalities. Here, a 2D memitter (emitter with memory) is reported on that exploits the stimuli‐responsive photoluminescence of a monolayer WS2 for neuromorphic‐type of data processing. A combined experimental and modeling approach reveals that photoluminescent dynamics triggered by optical stimulation emulates Short‐Term synaptic Plasticity and Visual Short‐Term Memory typical of biological systems. While spatio‐temporal processing capabilities of input signals can be used for information processing in the context of reservoir computing, the capability of the 2D memitter of sensing, processing, and memorizing‐forgetting optical inputs in the same physical substrate can be utilized for in‐sensor computing.
Large‐Scale Ultrastable 2D Inorganic Molecular Crystal BiBr3 and Heterostructures with Superior Photoluminescence Enhancement
Authors: He Xiaoyu , Wu Yu , Liu Shenghong , He Wenke , Li Shaohua , Huo Gaohang , Jiang Letian , Kapitonov Yury , Xing Guichuan , Zhao Yinghe , Li Yuan , Zhai Tianyou
Published: April 2024

In contrast to conventional atomic crystals, two‐dimensional inorganic molecular crystals (2DIMCs) possess a unique crystal structure composed of small molecules held together by van der Waals force. Such distinctive structure grants them specific chemical and physical properties highly suitable for electronic and optoelectronic applications. However, the synthesis of 2DIMCs has posed significant challenges due to the inherent issues such as uncontrollable growth orientation stemming from their natural crystalline isotropy and poor stability resulting from the weak intermolecular connections. Addressing these obstacles, the preparation of large‐scale and highly‐stable 2DIMC BiBr3, and its heterostructure are reported here by developing crystallization orientation engineering strategies. This approach has successfully yielded centimeter‐scale 2DIMC BiBr3 with a clean and dense surface, showcasing exceptional long‐term air‐stability exceeding 80 days. Furthermore, the universal growth of large‐scale 2DIMC BiBr3 is demonstrated on diverse substrates, including SiO2, Al2O3, and MoS2 monolayers. Notably, the resultant 2D BiBr3/MoS2 heterostructure exhibits remarkable photoluminescence enhancement. This contribution paves a universal avenue for the mature synthesis of large‐scale 2DIMCs with superior stability, holding great promise for prompting their integration in practical electronic and optoelectronic devices.
Ultra‐Strong and Tough Bio‐Based Polyester Elastomer with Excellent Photothermal Shape Memory Effect and Degradation Performance
Authors: Sun Danting , Mo Jianbin , Liu Weifeng , Yan Ning , Qiu Xueqing
Published: April 2024

The exploitation of bio‐based materials derived from renewable resources represents a pivotal strategic approach in addressing environmental pollution and alleviating the scarcity of fossil resources. 2,5‐Furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is the most potential substitute for terephthalic acid. Lignin is the most abundant aromatic biomass resource. However, the preparation of high‐performance lignin/FDCA‐based bio‐polyesters remains a formidable challenge. Herein, a multifunctional lignin‐modified polyester elastomer (LFPEe) is designed using FDCA‐based polyester oligomer (PPeF) and lignin (AOH) as building blocks. The LFPEe exhibits superior mechanical properties with the optimum tensile strength, fracture strain, and elastic recovery ratio up to 58.9 MPa, 610% and 88.9%, respectively, attributing to the formation of dual cross‐linking network with nanophase separation structure. Furthermore, leveraging the inherent characteristics of lignin, the LFPEe demonstrates excellent light‐controlled shape memory and excellent UV shielding performance. This innovative work not only breaks the performance dependence of FDCA‐based polyester on high molecular weight but also highlights a novel paradigm for value‐added utilization of lignin in sustainable bio‐polyesters.
Aerosol‐Synthesized Surfactant‐Free Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotube‐Based NO2 Sensors: Unprecedentedly High Sensitivity and Fast Recovery
Authors: Kim Sihyeok , Han Jiye , Choi Jin‐Myung , Nam Jeong‐Seok , Lee Il Hyun , Lee Yeounggyu , Novikov Ilya V. , Kauppinen Esko I. , Lee Keekeun , Jeon Il
Published: April 2024

This study pioneers a chemical sensor based on surfactant‐free aerosol‐synthesized single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) films for detecting nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Unlike conventional CNTs, the SWCNTs used in this study exhibit one of the highest surface‐to‐volume ratios. They show minimal bundling without the need for surfactants and have the lowest number of defects among reported CNTs. Furthermore, the dry‐transferrable and facile one‐step lamination results in promising industrial viability. When applied to devices, the sensor shows excellent sensitivity (41.6% at 500 ppb), rapid response/recovery time (14.2/120.8 s), a remarkably low limit of detection (below ≈0.161 ppb), minimal noise, repeatability for more than 50 cycles without fluctuation, and long‐term stability for longer than 6 months. This is the best performance reported for a pure CNT‐based sensor. In addition, the aerosol SWCNTs demonstrate consistent gas‐sensing performance even after 5000 bending cycles, indicating their suitability for wearable applications. Based on experimental and theoretical analyses, the proposed aerosol CNTs are expected to overcome the limitations associated with conventional CNT‐based sensors, thereby offering a promising avenue for various sensor applications.
Water‐Stable High‐Entropy Metal‐Organic Framework Nanosheets for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production
Authors: Qi Shengliang , Zhu Kaixin , Xu Ting , Zhang Hefeng , Guo Xiangyang , Wang Junhui , Zhang Fuxiang , Zong Xu
Published: April 2024

Metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as promising platforms for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) due to their fascinating physiochemical properties. Rationally engineering the compositions and structures of MOFs can provide abundant opportunities for their optimization. In recent years, high‐entropy materials (HEMs) have demonstrated great potential in the energy and environment fields. However, there is still no report on the development of high‐entropy MOFs (HE‐MOFs) for photocatalytic HER in aqueous solution. Herein, the authors report the synthesis of a novel p‐type HE‐MOFs single crystal (HE‐MOF‐SC) and the corresponding HE‐MOFs nanosheets (HE‐MOF‐NS) capable of realizing visible‐light‐driven photocatalytic HER. Both HE‐MOF‐SC and HE‐MOF‐NS exhibit higher photocatalytic HER activity than all the single‐metal MOFs, which are supposed to be ascribed to the interplay between the different metal nodes in the HE‐MOFs that enables more efficient charge transfer. Moreover, impressively, the HE‐MOF‐NS demonstrates much higher photocatalytic activity than the HE‐MOF‐SC due to its thin thickness and enhanced surface area. At optimum conditions, the rate of H2 evolution on the HE‐MOF‐NS is ≈13.24 mmol h−1 g−1, which is among the highest values reported for water‐stable MOF photocatalysts. This work highlights the importance of developing advanced high‐entropy materials toward enhanced photocatalysis.
Recent Progress in Intelligent Packaging for Seafood and Meat Quality Monitoring
Authors: Nami Mohammad , Taheri Mahtab , Siddiqui Junaid , Deen Imran A. , Packirisamy Muthukumaran , Deen M. Jamal
Published: April 2024

Food waste plays a crucial role in environmental and human health issues. To address these issues, intelligent packaging systems are proposed for the accurate assessment of the quality of food products. Intelligent packaging is a technology that integrates sensing systems with conventional packaging to provide smart sensing communication functions for real‐time food quality monitoring. The most important parts of this technology are generally classified as quantitative sensors (sensors) and qualitative sensors (indicators). Since seafood and meat products can spoil easily if not stored properly, applying intelligent packaging for real‐time monitoring of the safety of these products is beneficial. In this review, the spoiling process and essential performance characteristics are indicators of the quality of these food products are first discussed. Then, The characteristics and importance of various sensors and indicators that can be used for seafood and meat quality monitoring are presented. While discussing these topics, an updated review of recent scientific studies, preconditions, materials, advantages, and limitations are provided. Furthermore, the future need for improvements in intelligent packaging systems for real‐time quality and safety monitoring of food products is discussed. Finally, several important research examples of the challenges and perspectives of intelligent packaging applications for meat and seafood quality monitoring are presented.
Measuring and Simulating the Transient Packing Density During Ultrasound Directed Self‐Assembly and Vat Polymerization Manufacturing of Engineered Materials
Authors: Noparast Soheyl , Guevara Vasquez Fernando , Francoeur Mathieu , Raeymaekers Bart
Published: April 2024

Ultrasound‐directed self‐assembly (DSA) uses ultrasound waves to organize and orient particles dispersed in a fluid medium into specific patterns. Combining ultrasound DSA with vat photopolymerization (VP) enables manufacturing materials layer‐by‐layer, wherein each layer the organization and orientation of particles in the photopolymer is controlled, which enables tailoring the properties of the resulting composite materials. However, the particle packing density changes with time and location as particles organize into specific patterns. Hence, relating the ultrasound DSA process parameters to the transient local particle packing density is important to tailor the properties of the composite material, and to determine the maximum speed of the layer‐by‐layer VP process. This paper theoretically derives and experimentally validates a 3D ultrasound DSA model and evaluates the local particle packing density at locations where particles assemble as a function of time and ultrasound DSA process parameters. The particle packing density increases with increasing particle volume fraction, decreasing particle size, and decreasing fluid medium viscosity is determined. Increasing the particle size and decreasing the fluid medium viscosity decreases the time to reach steady‐state. This work contributes to using ultrasound DSA and VP as a materials manufacturing process.
Environmentally Driven Intelligent Textiles That Reversibly Actuate to Provide Large Change in Porosity, Loft, Shape, or Their Combination
Authors: Göktepe Fatma , Göktepe Özer , Baughman Ray H. , Zhang Mengmeng , Oh Jiyoung
Published: April 2024

Textiles that intelligently respond to changes in the environment by reversibly providing dramatic changes in structure for comfort, safety, or appearance are widely sought. In order to facilitate applications development, here novel intelligent textile structures are described and developed by using polymer artificial muscles and examples of structures and mechanisms are provided that can be used in the future. These actuating textiles, which deploy a host of muscle yarn and fiber types, can change their porosity with or without any change in fabric lateral dimension or can change their loft or can either bend or fold upon temperature change. The presented intelligent textiles provide a porosity increase up to 38.3% from room temperature to 40 °C, while they exhibit a decrease in porosity up to 26.1% from room temperature to −5 °C. Textiles that can bend at an angle of 60° at 40 °C, while exhibiting a complete roll‐up at 70 °C, are also presented. An important way to change the direction of actuation produced by environmental exposure is to transition from homochiral fibers to heterochiral fibers. Other more complicated yarn types can usefully deploy chirality effects, such as yarns that are twisted and coiled, or yarns that are twisted, coiled, and then plied.
A Hybrid Neural Network‐Based Improved PSO Algorithm for Gas Turbine Emissions Prediction
Authors: Yousif Samar Taha , Ismail Firas Basim , Al‐Bazi Ammar
Published: April 2024

In gas‐fired power plants, emissions may reduce turbine blade rotation, thus decreasing power output. This study proposes a hybrid model integrating the Feed forward Neural Network (FFNN) model and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm to predict gas emissions from natural gas power plants. The FFNN predicts gas turbine nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions, while the PSO optimizes FFNN weights, improving prediction accuracy. The PSO adopts a unique random number selection strategy, incorporating the K‐Nearest Neighbor (KNN) algorithm to reduce prediction errors. Neighbor Component Analysis (NCA) selects parameters most correlated with CO and NOx emissions. The hybrid model is constructed, trained, and testedusing publicly available datasets, evaluating performance with statistical metrics like Mean Square Error (MSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). Results show significant improvement in FFNN training with the PSO algorithm, boosting CO and NOx prediction accuracy by 99.18% and 82.11%, respectively. The model achieves the lowest MSE, MAE, and RMSE values for CO and NOx emissions. Overall, the hybrid model achieves high prediction accuracy, particularly with optimized PSO parameter selection using seed random generators.
Supply chain risk in grain trading: Inventories as real options for shipping grain
Authors: Wilson William W. , Klebe Jesse
Published: April 2024

Integrating trading and logistics is an important challenge in commodity trading. Trading and logistics are strategic decisions and are integral to most commodities including grain shipping by rail, in addition to other modes (barges, ocean shipping). There are substantial risks, such as the ordering and placement of rail cars. The other risk is having sufficient grain stocks to load rail cars. Alternatives for managing these risks include holding grain inventories and the strategic use of shipping options. The purpose of this study is to develop a model for determining an optimal grain inventory strategy for shippers. The real option methodology is used to value uncertainty in rail car velocity and determine optimal purchases and inventories. The results show the importance of integrating trading and logistics decisions and illustrate that inventories can be interpreted and valued as real options that are affected by uncertainties. Taken together, the real options indicate how much extra inventory shippers should maintain to mitigate risks and maximize profits.
Phase behavior of sodium and potassium salts in their aqueous solutions: Experiment and computational thermodynamics
Authors: Kang Hongwei , Li Guoxuan , Lei Zhigang
Published: April 2024

With the rapid development of the semiconductor industry, the demand for ultraclean and high‐purity electronic chemicals, especially ultrapure water as a general solvent for cleaning semiconductor chips, has increased dramatically. The distillation process is a good choice for large‐scale production of ultrapure water that can be used to clean semiconductor chips, but there is a lack of basic thermodynamic theory for removing ionic impurities. In this work, the temperature and vapor–liquid phase composition of sodium and potassium salts aqueous solutions at vapor–liquid equilibrium (VLE) were investigated by experiments. The microstructure of each inorganic salt aqueous solution was explored by molecular dynamics simulation and quantum chemical calculation, and the interaction between each ion and water molecule was analyzed. A volatilization mechanism of inorganic salts was proposed, and it was found that the volatilization of inorganic salts in an aqueous solution was affected by the strength of interaction between the dissociated anions and cations and water molecules. Finally, the conductor‐like screening model segment activity coefficient (COSMO‐SAC) model predicted the VLE values of inorganic salt aqueous solutions. The prediction at low concentrations (xs < 0.06) was in good agreement with the experimental data.
Strategies of hepatitis C virus elimination for people who inject drugs receiving opioid agonist therapy in the era of direct‐acting antivirals
Authors: Sou Fai‐Meng , Chen Chien‐Hung , Huang Pao‐Yuan , Tsai Ming‐Chao , Yen Yi‐Hao , Lu Sheng‐Nan , Hung Chao‐Hung , Kuo Yuan‐Hung
Published: April 2024

Increased uptake of hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment among people who inject drugs (PWID) is critical to achieve HCV elimination goals. This study attempted to observe the influence of different referral strategies among HCV‐infected PWID for direct‐acting antivirals (DAA). From January 2019 to November 2020, approximately 190 PWID regularly received opioid agonist therapies (OAT) in the drug addiction rehabilitation clinic of our institute. Among these, those with positive anti‐HCV were further referred to our hepatology clinics for HCV viremia screening and treatment. According to physician involvement, referral strategies were divided into three models including patient self‐intention referral (SR); intensive referral (IR) where patients were referred by clinicians; and fast‐intensive referral (FIR) where patients were referred by clinicians with a fast‐screening and easy‐treatment program. A total of 121 HCV‐infected PWID were enrolled and 71 (58.7%) of them received the referrals: 16 (22.5%) in the SR model, 36 (50.7%) in the IR model, and 19 (26.8%) in the FIR model. Monthly average referred patient number was 2.7 people in the SR model, 2.8 people in the IR model, and 4.8 people in the FIR model, respectively. Among the 71 referred patients, 64 (90.1%) had detectable HCV viremia with genotype distributions being genotype 1a (G1a) in 23 patients (35.9%), G1b in 10 (15.6%), G2 in 5 (7.8%), G3 in 6 (9.4%), and G6 in 20 (31.3%). Except for three patients who refused treatment, 61 patients underwent and completed DAA treatment including 35 patients for Maviret, 15 for Epclusa, 9 for Harvoni, and 2 for Zepatier. Excluding three patients who were lost to follow‐up and one becoming reinfected, 57 (93.4%) eventually achieved a sustained virologic response. Although HCV treatment uptake among PWID in this hospital‐based setting remained suboptimal, the FIR model with a quick‐to‐screen and easy‐to‐treat program was proven practicable in the hospital setting. Further innovative strategies are required to reach all HCV‐infected PWID receiving OAT.
Enhancing and Decoding the Performance of Muscle Actuators with Flexures
Authors: Lynch Naomi , Castro Nicolas , Sheehan Tara , Rosado Laura , Rios Brandon , Culpepper Martin , Raman Ritu
Published: April 2024

Leveraging living muscle as an efficient and adaptive actuator for soft robots has been of increasing interest over the past decade, with a focus on proof‐of‐concept demonstrations of function. Reproducible design and scalable manufacturing of biohybrid machines requires methods to increase the stroke output of strain‐limited muscle actuators and enable accurate and precise quality control and performance monitoring. Compliant mechanical elements, termed flexures, are designed to enhance muscle contractile stroke to ≈5× previously reported values and decode contraction dynamics with high spatiotemporal resolution. Combining rigid and flexible elements within a linear elastic flexure enables us to outperform the sensitivity of gold standard elastomeric beam‐based measurements of muscle contraction at both low‐ and high‐frequency stimulations. Flexures are leveraged to make quantitative comparisons of force, work, and power outputs in muscle actuators, driving us to discover a new observation of frequency‐dependent fatigue in muscle, and also develop a novel method for tuning muscle contractile dynamics in a frequency‐independent manner. By enhancing the contractile stroke of muscle actuators and precisely tuning contractile dynamics and endurance with unprecedented precision, this study sets the stage for leveraging flexures to improve robust, reproducible, and predictive design and manufacturing of next‐generation biohybrid robots.
What do recently housed young people imagine for the future of third places? Using game‐based inquiry to (re)imagine affirming, youth‐centered third places
Authors: Littman Danielle Maude , Milligan Tara , Berry Rebecca , Holloway Brendon , Scott Marquisha Lawrence
Published: April 2024

Third places—public and community settings like parks and libraries—are theorized to serve as sources of social connection, community, and play. Yet, young people who hold marginalized identities, such as those experiencing homelessness and housing instability, often endure discrimination in third place settings. This study used game‐based inquiry to partner with recently housed young people who have experienced chronic housing instability (N = 21) to understand how they would (re)imagine future third places. We then analyzed transcripts from these game sessions through qualitative thematic analysis. Participants suggested that certain tenets must be present in third places: they must offer opportunities for agency and individualization; they must meet everyday needs; and they must be explicitly inclusive. To actualize these tenets, participants imagined places that meet many needs and do many things; portable and adaptable physical spaces; freedom to choose how to play; attending to and subverting oppressive social hierarchies; providing choice for privacy or connection; knowing people will be around; and free amenities. These findings have implications for theoretical development, practices in present and future third places, and methodological development of games in research.
Modular Design of Highly Stable Semiconducting Porous Coordination Polymer for Efficient Electrosynthesis of Ammonia
Authors: Xue Ziqian , Yao Ming‐Shui , Otake Ken‐ichi , Nishiyama Yusuke , Aoyama Yoshitaka , Zheng Jia‐Jia , Zhang Siquan , Kajiwara Takashi , Horike Satoshi , Kitagawa Susumu
Published: April 2024

Developing highly stable porous coordination polymers (PCPs) with integrated electrical conductivity is crucial for advancing our understanding of electrocatalytic mechanisms and the structure–activity relationship of electrocatalysts. However, achieving this goal remains a formidable challenge because of the electrochemical instability observed in most PCPs. Herein, we develop a “modular design” strategy to construct electrochemically stable semiconducting PCP, namely, Fe‐pyNDI, which incorporates a chain‐type Fe‐pyrazole metal cluster and π‐stacking column with effective synergistic effects. The three‐dimensional electron diffraction (3D ED) technique resolves the precise structure. Both theoretical and experimental investigation confirms that the π‐stacking column in Fe‐pyNDI can provide an efficient electron transport path and enhance the structural stability of the material. As a result, Fe‐pyNDI can serve as an efficient model electrocatalyst for nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) to ammonia with a superior ammonia yield of 339.2 μmol h−1 cm−2 (14677 μg h−1 mgcat.−1) and a faradaic efficiency of 87 % at neutral electrolyte, which is comparable to state‐of‐the‐art electrocatalysts. The in‐situ X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) reveals that during the reaction, the structure of Fe‐pyNDI can be kept, while part of the Fe3+ in Fe‐pyNDI was reduced in situ to Fe2+, which serves as the potential active species for NO3RR.
Three‐dimensional cooperative guidance for simultaneous attack with specified impact time based on fixed‐time convergence
Authors: Zhu Guoliang , Zhang Da , Liu Kexin , Li Guofei , Lü Jinhu
Published: April 2024

In this paper, distributed three‐dimensional (3D) cooperative guidance laws are designed for leader–follower multiple missiles to achieve simultaneous attack at a specified time. The guidance laws are derived from the biased proportional navigation guidance (PNG) law. Two fixed‐time distributed algorithms with time‐varying coefficients are proposed to track the state of the leader under undirected and directed topologies, respectively. The upper bounds of convergence times for the tracking algorithms are obtained. The biased guidance terms of followers are designed to track the leader with the proposed algorithms and the biased guidance term of the leader is designed to achieve specified impact time. Then, an auxiliary function is included into the biased guidance terms to meet the field‐of‐view (FOV) constraints. The leading angles' properties and convergence times under the proposed guidance laws are further analyzed. Numerical simulations are given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed cooperative guidance laws.
Ultrafine Iron Boride as a Highly Efficient Nanocatalyst Expedites Sulfur Redox Electrochemistry for High‐Performance Lithium‐Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Chen Guxian , Li Hongyang , Wang Yuqi , Ding Yingrui , Qian Pengsen , Zhang Kailong , Zeng Haibo , Li Gaoran
Published: April 2024

Lithium‐sulfur (Li−S) batteries have garnered significant interest as a strong contender for future energy storage, characterized by their remarkable energy density and cost‐effectiveness. However, the sluggish conversion kinetics of the polysulfide intermediates, compounded with their shuttling behaviors, pose considerable challenges in sulfur electrochemistry. Herein, we develop a novel iron monoboride (FeB) electrocatalyst for boosting sulfur reactions and enhancing Li−S battery performance. The ultrafine powdery FeB affords abundant and fully exposed active interfaces for host‐guest interactions. Meanwhile, the intrinsic high conductivity of FeB, combined with its strong adsorption and catalytic activity to polysulfides, enables substantial inhibition of the shuttle effect and enhancement of conversion kinetics. As a result, sulfur electrodes equipped with the FeB nanocatalyst realize excellent cyclability with a minimal capacity fading of 0.04 % per cycle over 500 cycles, as well as favorable rate capability up to 7 C. Moreover, decent areal capacity and cycling stability can be also achieved under high‐loading (5.1 mg cm−2) and limited‐electrolyte (7.0 mL g−1) configurations. This study presents a facile approach and insightful perspective on nanostructured metal boride for highly efficient sulfur electrocatalysis, holding good promise for the advancement of high‐performance Li−S batteries.
A Flexible One‐Dimensional Woven Supercapacitor for Low‐Power Smart Electronic Textiles
Authors: Tandon Abhinav , Rani Shalu , Sharma Yogesh
Published: April 2024

Flexible energy storage devices are attracting a great attention nowadays in the rapidly growing area of implantable/wearable electronics. This bloom has generated great demands on flexible wire‐shaped supercapacitors (WSC) as power sources in wearable electronic systems that can offer tunable sizes, shapes, and versatile designs. Herein, a flexible WSC is fabricated using MgMn2O4 nanofibers (MMO‐NFs) over a flexible carbon yarn substrate via the electrophoretic deposition method in the first report. The binder‐free deposition of highly porous and one‐dimensionally aligned MMO‐NFs over carbon yarn offers excellent ionic/charge transport into the fabricated device. The assembled WSC device at 0.1 mA/cm current rate shows capacitances of 386 mF/cm2 and 45.5 mF/cm. A capacitance retention of 88 % for a WSC device after 10,000 cycles indicates its good cyclability. Further, the WSC exhibits good flexibility, retaining 94 % of capacitance at 0.5 mA/cm after 2000 bending cycles. Furthermore, the flexible WSC device shows power and energy density of 744 μW/cm and 14.2 μWh/cm, respectively. Additionally, WSC devices demonstrate their practical energy storage capabilities in a video that shows three similar devices being knitted into a wearable glove and glowing a red light‐emitting diode (LED) for more than five minutes in various bending positions.
Die Robert‐Rössle‐Straße in Berlin‐Pankow. Zum Streit um die ehrende Erinnerung an einen „relativ belasteten“ Pathologen in der NS‐Zeit
Authors: Beddies Thomas
Published: April 2024

For some years now, there has been a dispute in Berlin Pankow about renaming the “Robert‐Rössle‐Straße.” The pathologist is accused of an opportunistic attitude regarding his behaviour and his scientific work under National Socialism. In his research, especially that on a “pathology of the family,” Robert Rössle is said to have followed the racial‐hygienic paradigm of the Nazi era. He is to have used questionable methods and is subject to the reproach of having profited from his adaptation to the system scientifically and as a private citizen. The dispute over the naming of the street can be described as “dissonant memory,” impeding a harmonious culture of remembrance. It is suggested that this dispute – regardless of whether the street is renamed or not – be used productively in the sense of a reflexive historical consciousness to get on Rössle's track and illuminate the factual and personal entanglements of his network from different perspectives.
18F‐FDG PET/CT findings of paratesticular alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma
Authors: Chen Xueqi , Shou Jiayin , Li Shanshi , Fan Yan , Zhang Jianhua
Published: April 2024

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) originates from primitive mesenchymal cells and is the most common soft tissue tumor in childhood. 18F‐fluoro‐deoxyglucose (18F‐FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) has been reported to be valuable in RMS staging and risk stratification. Paratesticular RMS is a relatively uncommon form of RMS, most of which are of the embryonal histologic type. Paratesticular alveolar RMS is associated with aggressive behavior, high metastatic potential, and poor outcomes. To the best of our knowledge, 18F‐FDG PET/CT imaging findings of paratesticular alveolar RMS have never been described. Here, we report on a 16‐year‐old boy's rare paratesticular alveolar RMS with multiple metastases and its findings on 18F‐FDG PET/CT. This case also demonstrates the potential value of 18F‐FDG PET/CT in RMS staging and treatment decisions, and may aid in the differential diagnosis.
Phyto‐Fabrication of Moringa Oleifera Peel‐Sourced Silver Nanoparticles: A Promising Approach for Combating Hepatic Cancer by Targeting Proinflammatory Cytokines and Mitigating Cytokine Storms
Authors: Sameem Shahnawaz , Dwivedi Vivek , Kumar Vikas , Dwivedi Ashish R. , Pathak Prateek , Singh Bhupendra , Bhat Mashooq Ahmad , Verma Amita
Published: April 2024

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) arises from precancerous nodules, leading to liver damage and inflammation, which triggers the release of proinflammatory cytokines. Dysregulation of these cytokines can escalate into a cytokine storm, causing severe organ damage. Interestingly, Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) fruit peel, previously discarded as waste, contains an abundance of essential biomolecules and high nutritional value. This study focuses on the eco‐friendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles infused with M. oleifera peel extract biomolecules and their impact on regulating proinflammatory cytokines, as well as their potential anticancer effects against Wistar rats. The freshly synthesized nanoformulation underwent comprehensive characterization, followed by antihepatic cancer evaluation using a diethyl nitrosamine‐induced model (at a dose of 200 mg kg−1 BW). The study demonstrates a significant reduction in proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐6, interleukin‐1β, and nuclear factor kappa beta (NF‐κB). Furthermore, it confirms that the newly biosynthesized silver nanoparticles exhibit additional potential against hepatic cancer due to their capped biomolecules.
Anesthetic management of a patient with Sturge–Weber syndrome in sagittal split ramus osteotomy surgery
Authors: Oda Aya , Yoshida Mitsuhiro , Imamura Serika , Takahashi Tamayo , Oue Kana , Doi Mitsuru , Shimizu Yoshitaka , Ono Shigehiro , Nakagawa Takayuki , Koizumi Koichi , Aikawa Tomonao
Published: April 2024

Key Clinical Message

Sturge–Weber syndrome (SWS) is a neurocutaneous syndrome characterized by angiomas. This report presents airway management using submental intubation in sagittal split ramus osteotomy under general anesthesia and aimed to explore better anesthetic management for avoiding the rupture of angiomas in a patient with SWS.
P and O Co‐Doped Pt−Co Octahedral Nanocrystals as Highly Active and Stable Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Authors: Tian Si‐Yi , Hu Sheng‐Nan , Shen Jun‐Fei , Tian Na , Xu Wei‐Cheng , Yang Shuang‐Li , Li Meng‐Ying , Jin Yan‐Qi , Chen Su‐Min , Chen Ming‐Shu , Zhou Zhi‐You , Sun Shi‐Gang
Published: April 2024

The development of high active and stable Pt−M (M=transition metals) electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is crucial for the commercialization of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The main challenge of Pt−M electrocatalysts is their instability, mainly due to the leaching of M. In this study, we report the design of P and O co‐doped octahedral PtCo alloy on Ketjen carbon black (Px‐Oct PtCo/C) through a seed‐mediated synthesis. In‐situ FTIR spectroscopy revealed that P0.61‐Oct PtCo/C has the lowest d‐band center, thereby enhancing the catalytic activity. The strong interaction formed by chemical bond between O and Co in Px‐Oct PtCo/C, observed by EXAFS spectra effectively inhibited the dissolution of Co and improved the ORR stability. The mass activity and specific activity of P0.61‐Oct PtCo/C can reach 0.61 A mgPt−1 and 2.4 mA cm−2, respectively, which is 4.1 times and 10.9 times higher than that of commercial Pt/C. After 50,000 potential cycles, the loss of mass activity is only 25 %, surpassing the DOE 2025 target of less than 40 % loss after 30,000 cycles. This study offers an alternative approach to enhancing the activity and durability of Pt−M electrocatalysts for the ORR.
Cobalt/Photoredox Cooperative Catalysis‐Enabled Cycloaddition Reactions of 1,6‐Diynes and Related Compounds
Authors: Yasui Takeshi , Yamamoto Yoshihiko
Published: April 2024

Cobalt catalysts have recently gained considerable attention as alternatives to catalysts based on precious transition metals such as Rh and Ir. Recently, Co/photoredox cooperative catalysis has emerged as a powerful tool that enables versatile transformations, including cycloaddition reactions of unsaturated compounds. In particular, 1,6‐diyne derivatives are fascinating substrates for these reactions because the corresponding exocyclic 1,3‐diene products can be further transformed into sp3‐rich carbocycles and heterocycles via functionalization of the diene moiety. The dual catalytic system can facilitate not only the cycloaddition based on the activation of the π‐bond only, such as alkyne cyclotrimerization, but also the cycloaddition involving σ‐bond activation. This Concept highlights the recent advances in Co/photoredox cooperative‐catalysis‐enabled cycloaddition reactions, focusing on the reactions of 1,6‐diyne substrates, which are difficult to perform when well‐defined cationic CoI catalysis is employed.
Development of calcium sulfoaluminate cements from rich‐alumina bauxite and marble wastes: Physicochemical and microstructural characterization
Authors: Yanze Gaëlle Annick Nyonda , Nana Achile , Lemougna Patrick Ninla , Kaze Rodrigue Cyriaque , Tome Sylvain , Rahier Hubert , Kamseu Elie , Chinje Florence Uphie
Published: April 2024

This work discusses the effect of rich alumina bauxite on the mineralogical composition of calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) clinker cement on their performances. After preparation of different local raw materials (rich alumina bauxite and marble), they were mixed with 15 wt% of commercial gypsum and pressed at 2 MPa. The obtained pellets were thermally treated at 1200°C to produce clinker, which is use to synthesize the CSA cements. The raw materials as well as products were characterized by many analyses, such as FT‐IR, X‐ray fluorescence, X‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)/thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), isothermal calorimetry (ICC), scanning electron microscope, and physico‐mechanical tests. ICC analysis of the powder of clinker cement showed that the reactions are strongly affected by gypsum content. XRD results revealed that clinker and cement present a strong intensity of ye'elimite as main mineral phase. Moreover, the hydrated cement exhibited ettringite and monosulfate as the new phases formed. The compressive strength of hydrated cement reached ∼21 and 28 MPa after 1 and 28 days of curing, respectively. From the aforementioned results, this local rich alumina bauxite can be used to produce high‐strength cement for self‐leveling materials, which allow their use in engineering and building applications.