bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Single‐Atom Anchored Curved Carbon Surface for Efficient CO2 Electro‐Reduction with Nearly 100% CO Selectivity and Industrially‐Relevant Current Density
Authors: Wang Tianfu , Wang Jianghao , Lu Chenbao , Jiang Kaiyue , Yang Sen , Ren Zhouhong , Zhang Jichao , Liu Xi , Chen Liwei , Zhuang Xiaodong , Fu Jie
Published: June 2023

Although single metal atoms on porous carbons (PCs) are widely used in electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction, these systems have long relied on flat graphene‐based models, which are far beyond reality because of abundant curved structures in PCs; the effect of curved surfaces has long been ignored. In addition, the selectivity generally decreases under high current density, which severely limits practical application. Herein, theoretical calculations reveal that a single‐Ni‐atom on a curved surface can simultaneously enhance the total density of states around Fermi level and decrease the energy barrier for *COOH formation, thereby enhancing catalytic activity. This work reports a rational molten salt approach for preparing PCs with ultra‐high specific surface area of up to 2635 m2 g−1. As determined by cutting‐edge techniques, a single Ni atom on a curved carbon surface is obtained and used as a catalyst for electrochemical CO2 reduction. The CO selectivity reaches up to 99.8% under industrial‐level current density of 400 mA cm−2, outperforming state‐of‐the‐art PC‐based catalysts. This work not only offers a new method for the rational synthesis of single atom catalysts with strained geometry to host rich active sites, but also provides in‐depth insights for the origin of catalytic activity of curved structure‐enriched PC‐based catalysts.
Large‐Area Gold‐Coated Polyamide Nanopillar Arrays Consisting of Secondary Lamellar Structures and Sub‐10‐nm Gaps for Ultrasensitive SERS Detection
Authors: Lin Yongxing , Qi Pengfei , Liu Jincheng , Zhuo Yizhi , Cai Cheng , Zhang Haibao , Li Xiangyang , Liu Xianglan , Chen Lin , Luo Sihai , Tian Xingyou
Published: June 2023

Large‐area gold‐coated polyamide 66 (PA66) nanopillar (PA66NP@Au) arrays consisting of secondary lamellar structures and sub‐10–nm gaps are fabricated for surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) using ultrathin anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) template, solution‐phase growth of PA66 lamellae, and Au sputtering. Such closely packed PA66NP@Au arrays with high density of electromagnetic field enhancement (“hot spots”) on large area exhibit high SERS sensitivity for detection of rhodamine 6g (R6G) molecules with concentration down to 10−14 m and a large Raman analytical enhancement factor (AEF) of ≈1010. Furthermore, the as‐fabricated PA66NP@Au arrays provide highly sensitive Raman signals in detection of a commonly pesticide residue, carbendazim with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.05 mg L−1 (0.05 ppm), which is lower than that of maximum residue limit of 0.2 ppm allowed in Europe Union. The as‐fabricated PA66NP@Au arrays are promising for highly sensitive and uniform SERS detection.
Rational Design and Fabrication Method for Bioinspired Directional Droplet Sliding Surfaces
Authors: Kang Seong Min , An Joon Hyung
Published: June 2023

A rational design and fabrication method is proposed for fabricating polymeric directional droplet sliding surfaces inspired by butterfly wing microline arrays. The bioinspired structures are fabricated using a simple and well‐designed process that combines the conventional micro‐electromechanical system process with subsequent soft lithography. Three criteria to avoid fabrication errors during silicon mold production are suggested. The fabricated silicon master serves as a reliable and robust semi‐permanent mold for polymeric replication, resulting in bioinspired surfaces with high fidelity. The successfully fabricated bioinspired fabricated structure surface has a re‐entrant shape line structure and exhibits directional omniphobic properties while maintaining transparency. The fabricated surface is found to transport droplets in the direction where microlines are formed without wetting by various droplets, including water and oil. The results show that this surface can be applied to various fields. This study has implications for the development of artificial surfaces inspired by nature for various fields, including microfluidics, biotechnology, and energy‐harvesting devices.
Beyond diversity and inclusion: Developing a research agenda for anti‐racism in emergency medicine education
Authors: Ordonez Edgardo , Bradby Cassandra , Carey Jennifer , Gupta Sanjey , Hiller Katherine M. , Miller Danielle , Pierce Ava , Wiesendanger Kathryn , Moffett Shannon
Published: June 2023

Background

Addressing racism in emergency medicine education is vital for providing optimal training and assessment of physicians in the specialty, developing physicians with the skills necessary to advocate for their patients, and recruiting and retaining a diverse group of physicians. To form a prioritized research agenda, the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) conducted a consensus conference at the annual meeting in May 2022 on addressing racism in emergency medicine, which included a subgroup on education.

Methods

The education workgroup worked on summarizing the current literature on addressing racism in emergency medicine education, identifying critical knowledge gaps, and creating a consensus‐driven research agenda for addressing racism in emergency medicine education. We used a nominal group technique and modified Delphi to develop priority questions for research. We then distributed a pre‐conference survey to conference registrants to rate priority areas for research. During the consensus conference, group leaders provided an overview and background describing the rationale for the preliminary research question list. Attendees were then involved in discussions to help modify and develop research questions.

Results

Nineteen questions were initially selected by the education workgroup as potential areas for research. The education workgroup's next round of consensus building resulted in a consensus of ten questions to be included in the pre‐conference survey. No questions in the pre‐conference survey reached consensus. After robust discussion and voting by workgroup members and attendees at the consensus conference, six questions were determined to be priority research areas.

Conclusions

We believe recognizing and addressing racism in emergency medicine education is imperative. Critical gaps in curriculum design, assessment, bias training, allyship, and the learning environment negatively impact training programs. These gaps must be prioritized for research as they can have adverse effects on recruitment, the ability to promote a safe learning environment, patient care, and patient outcomes.
Reconceptualizing the emergency medicine resident scholarly requirement: Proposed framework and rubric
Authors: Pillow M. Tyson , Gottlieb Michael , Messman Anne , Hartman Nicholas D. , Tsyrulnik Alina , Barnes David , Lall Michelle D. , Sule Harsh
Published: June 2023

Background

The completion of a scholarly project is a common program requirement by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) for all residency training programs. However, the implementation can vary significantly between programs. Lack of generalizable standards for scholarly projects required of all trainees within ACGME‐accredited residencies has led to a large range of quality and effort put forth to complete these projects. Our goal is to introduce a framework and propose a corresponding rubric for application to resident scholarship to quantify and qualify the components of scholarship to better measure resident scholarly output across the graduate medical education (GME) continuum.

Methods

Eight experienced educators and members of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Education Committee were selected to explore the current scholarly project guidelines and propose a definition that can be universally applied to diverse training programs. Following a review of the current literature, the authors engaged in iterative, divergent, and convergent discussions via meetings and asynchronous dialogue to develop a framework and associated rubric.

Results

The group proposes that emergency medicine (EM) resident scholarship should (1) involve a structured process, (2) generate outcomes, (3) be disseminated, and (4) be peer reviewed. These components of resident scholarly activity are achieved whether this is a single project encompassing all four domains, or multiple smaller projects that sum to the whole. To assist residency programs in assessing a given individual resident's achievement of the standards set forth, a rubric is proposed.

Conclusion

Based on current literature and consensus, we propose a framework and rubric for tracking of resident scholarly project achievement in an effort to elevate and advance EM scholarship. Future work should explore the optimal application of this framework and define minimal scholarship goals for EM resident scholarship.
The spectrum of hereditary neuromuscular disorders in the Pakistani population
Authors: Akbar Fizza , Saleem Shafaq Muhammad , Khalid Ehtesham , Ibrahim Shahnaz , Afroze Bushra , Kirmani Salman , Khan Sara
Published: June 2023

Hereditary neuromuscular disorders (NMDs) are a broad group of clinically heterogeneous disorders with varying inheritance patterns, that are associated with over 500 implicated genes. In the context of a highly consanguineous Pakistani population, we expect that autosomal recessive NMDs may have a higher prevalence compared with patients of European descent. This is the first study to offer a detailed description of the spectrum of genes causing hereditary NMDs in the Pakistani population using NGS testing. To study the clinical and genetic profiles of patients presenting for evaluation of a hereditary neuromuscular disorder. This is a retrospective chart review of patients seen in the Neuromuscular Disorders Clinic and referred to the Genetics Clinic with a suspected hereditary neuromuscular disorder, between 2016 and 2020 at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi and Mukhtiar A. Sheikh Hospital, Multan, Pakistan. The genetic testing for these patients included NGS‐based single gene sequencing, NGS‐based multi‐gene panel and whole exome sequencing. In a total of 112 patients studied, 35 (31.3%) were female. The mean age of onset in all patients was 14.6 years (SD ±12.1 years), with the average age at presentation to the clinic of 22.4 years (SD ±14.10 years). Forty‐seven (41.9%) patients had a positive genetic test result, 53 (47.3%) had one or more variants of uncertain significance (VUS), and 12 (10.7%) had a negative result. Upon further genotype–phenotype correlation and family segregation analysis, the diagnostic yield improved, with 59 (52.7%) patients reaching a diagnosis of a hereditary NMD. We also report probable founder variants in COL6A2, FKTN, GNE, and SGCB, previously reported in populations that have possible shared ancestry with the Pakistani population. Our findings reemphasizes that the rate of VUSs can be reduced by clinical correlation and family segregation studies.
Local cytokine levels associate with SNOT‐22 and UPSIT scores in chronic rhinosinusitis
Authors: Yu Sophie E. , Chiang Simon , Olonisakin Tolani F. , Moore John A. , Bergmark Regan W. , Maxfield Alice Z. , Roditi Rachel E. , Buchheit Kathleen M. , Lundberg Marie , Mitchell Margaret B. , Lee Stella E.
Published: June 2023

Key points

Elevated IL‐5, IL‐13, IL‐33, and CCL2 correlate with lower UPSIT scores in CRS and AERD patients.

Elevated IL‐5, IL‐13, TNF‐α, CCL2, and CXCL‐8 correlate with higher SNOT‐22 scores in CRS and AERD patients.
Exploring the anticancer potential of thiadiazole derivatives of substituted thiosemicarbazones formed via copper‐mediated cyclization
Authors: Vadakkedathu Palakkeezhillam Vishnunarayanan Namboothiri , Haribabu Jebiti , Suresh Kumar Vaishnu , Manakkadan Vipin , Rasin Puthiyavalappil , Bhuvanesh Nattamai , Echeverria Cesar , Santibanez Juan F. , Sreekanth Anandaram
Published: June 2023

A couple of N‐(4)‐morpholine/pyrrolidine‐substituted thiosemicarbazones (TSCs) of fluorene‐2‐carboxaldehyde (FM and FP), and their corresponding thiadiazoles (TDZs) (CFM and CFP), were synthesized and characterized (elemental analysis, ultraviolet–visible [UV–Visible], Fourier transform infrared [FT‐IR], nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR; 1H & 13C], high‐resolution mass spectrometry [HRMS], and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction [SCXRD]) for the evaluation of their anticancer potential. The TDZs were obtained unexpectedly and are possibly formed via single‐step metal (copper)‐mediated oxidative cyclizations of the TSCs. The synthesized compounds are fairly stable in phosphate buffer at the biological pH of 7.4. The density functional theory [DFT] studies were performed to predict the optimized structures and physicochemical properties of these compounds. The compounds were further subjected to computational and experimental biomolecular investigations in order to evaluate their anticancer activity in detail. CFM had the most potent activity against human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF‐7) and human urinary bladder (T24) cancer cells, with IC50 values of 12.00 and 24.80 μM, respectively. In contrast, CFM had negligible cytotoxicity (IC50 = 98.70 μM) against kidney epithelial cells extracted from an African green monkey (Vero) normal cells. This outcome was preferable to that of the widely used medicine Cisplatin. Molecular docking studies were performed with the breast cancer protein “cytochrome P450 1A1” (CYP1A1) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) to predict how effectively the compounds bind to the receptor. The ADMET findings suggest that these compounds have considerable drug‐likeness and oral bioavailability. These insights may open the door for additional medical research into the bioactivities of TSCs and TDZs produced from bioactive carbonyl compounds.
Israeli medical faculties' response to the COVID‐19 crisis vis‐à‐vis anatomical education: The cultivation of future academic leadership—A national mixed‐methods study
Authors: Mesner Fireizen Shanee , Finkelstein Adi , Tsybulsky Dina , Yakov Gila , Marom Assaf
Published: June 2023

The COVID‐19 crisis created unprecedented conditions for the medical academic system that enable it to showcase the real value of learning approaches in anatomical education. In parallel, the ongoing reassessment of the role of dissection in medical training, given the huge advances in imaging technology and science education, continued. The present study investigates the response of the six Israeli medical faculties to the pandemic vis‐à‐vis anatomical education. We reached out to medical students studying anatomy at the time of the crisis (N = 311), advanced medical students working as anatomy instructors (N = 55), and deans and heads of anatomy departments (N = 6). Applying a mixed‐method approach, we used Likert scale questionnaires and held in‐depth interviews with faculty members. Our results indicate that Israeli medical faculties were committed to a dissection‐based anatomy curriculum and made substantial efforts to maintain it in the face of health restrictions. Students appreciated these efforts as this was their preferred learning method. Through a phenomenological analysis of interviews, we demonstrate how the crisis opened up a unique prism through which new insights into the debated role of dissection may be gleaned. Our analysis also reveals that anatomy instructors played a pivotal role in the crisis, not only because they carried out faculty policy, but especially because it gave them the opportunity to determine policy and show leadership. The crisis additionally enabled faculties to cultivate their leadership skills. Our research confirms donor body dissection as a mainstay of anatomical education and emphasizes its immeasurable value to the curriculum and future physicians.
A Bayesian record linkage model incorporating relational data
Authors: Sosa Juan , Rodríguez Abel
Published: June 2023

In this article, we introduce a novel Bayesian approach for linking multiple social networks in order to discover the same real world person having different accounts across networks. In particular, we develop a latent model that allows us to jointly characterize the network and linkage structures relying on both relational and profile data. In contrast to other existing approaches in the machine learning literature, our Bayesian implementation naturally provides uncertainty quantification via posterior probabilities for the linkage structure itself or any function of it. Our findings clearly suggest that our methodology can produce accurate point estimates of the linkage structure even in the absence of profile information, and also, in an identity resolution setting, our results confirm that including relational data into the matching process improves the linkage accuracy. We illustrate our methodology using real data from popular social networks such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
Identification and analysis of autism spectrum disorder via large‐scale dynamic functional network connectivity
Authors: Zhuang Wenwen , Jia Hai , Liu Yunhong , Cong Jing , Chen Kai , Yao Dezhong , Kang Xiaodong , Xu Peng , Zhang Tao
Published: June 2023

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder with severe cognitive impairment. Several studies have reported that brain functional network connectivity (FNC) has great potential for identifying ASD from healthy control (HC) and revealing the relationships between the brain and behaviors of ASD. However, few studies have explored dynamic large‐scale FNC as a feature to identify individuals with ASD. This study used a time‐sliding window method to study the dynamic FNC (dFNC) on the resting‐state fMRI. To avoid arbitrarily determining the window length, we set a window length range of 10–75 TRs (TR = 2 s). We constructed linear support vector machine classifiers for all window length conditions. Using a nested 10‐fold cross‐validation framework, we obtained a grand average accuracy of 94.88% across window length conditions, which is higher than those reported in previous studies. In addition, we determined the optimal window length using the highest classification accuracy of 97.77%. Based on the optimal window length, we found that the dFNCs were located mainly in dorsal and ventral attention networks (DAN and VAN) and exhibited the highest weight in classification. Specifically, we found that the dFNC between DAN and temporal orbitofrontal network (TOFN) was significantly negatively correlated with social scores of ASD. Finally, using the dFNCs with high classification weights as features, we construct a model to predict the clinical score of ASD. Overall, our findings demonstrated that the dFNC could be a potential biomarker to identify ASD and provide new perspectives to detect cognitive changes in ASD.
Mechanical properties of the brain: Focus on the essential role of Piezo1‐mediated mechanotransduction in the CNS
Authors: Zheng Qingcui , Liu Hailin , Yu Wen , Dong Yao , Zhou Lanqian , Deng Wenze , Hua Fuzhou
Published: June 2023

Background

The brain is a highly mechanosensitive organ, and changes in the mechanical properties of brain tissue influence many physiological and pathological processes. Piezo type mechanosensitive ion channel component 1 (Piezo1), a protein found in metazoans, is highly expressed in the brain and involved in sensing changes of the mechanical microenvironment. Numerous studies have shown that Piezo1‐mediated mechanotransduction is closely related to glial cell activation and neuronal function. However, the precise role of Piezo1 in the brain requires further elucidation.

Objective

This review first discusses the roles of Piezo1‐mediated mechanotransduction in regulating the functions of a variety of brain cells, and then briefly assesses the impact of Piezo1‐mediated mechanotransduction on the progression of brain dysfunctional disorders.

Conclusions

Mechanical signaling contributes significantly to brain function. Piezo1‐mediated mechanotransduction regulates processes such as neuronal differentiation, cell migration, axon guidance, neural regeneration, and oligodendrocyte axon myelination. Additionally, Piezo1‐mediated mechanotransduction plays significant roles in normal aging and brain injury, as well as the development of various brain diseases, including demyelinating diseases, Alzheimer's disease, and brain tumors. Investigating the pathophysiological mechanisms through which Piezo1‐mediated mechanotransduction affects brain function will give us a novel entry point for the diagnosis and treatment of numerous brain diseases.
Techniques for navigating postsurgical adhesions: Insights into mechanisms and future directions
Authors: Chen Jiahui , Tang Xiaoqi , Wang Ziyu , Perez Arielle , Yao Benjamin , Huang Ke , Zhang Yang , King Martin W.
Published: June 2023

Postsurgical adhesions are a common complication of surgical procedures that can lead to postoperative pain, bowel obstruction, infertility, as well as complications with future procedures. Several agents have been developed to prevent adhesion formation, such as barriers, anti‐inflammatory and fibrinolytic agents. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of physical barrier agents, but they have been associated with conflicting clinical studies and controversy in the clinical utilization of anti‐adhesion barriers. In this review, we summarize the human anatomy of the peritoneum, the pathophysiology of adhesion formation, the current prevention agents, as well as the current research progress on adhesion prevention. The early cellular events starting with injured mesothelial cells and incorporating macrophage response have recently been found to be associated with adhesion formation. This may provide the key component for developing future adhesion prevention methods. The current use of physical barriers to separate tissues, such as Seprafilm®, composed of hyaluronic acid and carboxymethylcellulose, can only reduce the risk of adhesion formation at the end stage. Other anti‐inflammatory or fibrinolytic agents for preventing adhesions have only been studied within the context of current research models, which is limited by the lack of in‐vitro model systems as well as in‐depth study of in‐vivo models to evaluate the efficiency of anti‐adhesion agents. In addition, we explore emerging therapies, such as gene therapy and stem cell‐based approaches, that may offer new strategies for preventing adhesion formation. In conclusion, anti‐adhesion agents represent a promising approach for reducing the burden of adhesion‐related complications in surgical patients. Further research is needed to optimize their use and develop new therapies for this challenging clinical problem.
Two Decarestrictine Analogs from the Soil‐Derived Fungus Penicillium sp. YUD18003 Associated with Gastrodia elata
Authors: Xie Fei , Xia Dan‐Dan , Duan Hao‐Jie , Sun Yue , Zi Zhi‐Feng , Wan Dai‐Yu , Zhou Hao , Ding Zhong‐Tao
Published: June 2023

Two new decarestrictine analogs decarestrictine P and penicitone, together with eight known homologous compounds were isolated from the soil fungus from the rhizosphere of Penicillium sp. YUD18003 related to Gastrodia elata. Their different structures include a decanolides decartestridine P and a long‐chain polyhydroxyketone penicitone. The structures of new compounds were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic analysis and high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR‐ESI‐MS), while their absolute configurations were determined by spectroscopic methods, DP4+ probability analysis, modified Snatzke's method and electron circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. All compounds were evaluated for antimicrobial activities.
Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of New Urushiol Derivatives as Potent Class I Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
Authors: Zhou Hao , Qi Zhiwen , Liu Danyang , Xue Xingyin , Wang Chengzhang
Published: June 2023

In the present study, a novel series of 11 urushiol‐based hydroxamic acid histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors was designed, synthesized, and biologically evaluated. Compounds 1–11 exhibited good to excellent inhibitory activities against HDAC1/2/3 (IC50: 42.09–240.17 nM) and HDAC8 (IC50: 16.11–41.15 nM) in vitro, with negligible activity against HDAC6 (>1409.59 nM). Considering HDAC8, docking experiments revealed some important features contributing to inhibitory activity. According to Western blot analysis, select compounds could notably enhance the acetylation of histone H3 and SMC3 but not‐tubulin, indicating their privileged structure is appropriate for targeting class I HDACs. Furthermore, antiproliferation assays revealed that six compounds exerted greater in vitro antiproliferative activity against four human cancer cell lines (A2780, HT‐29, MDA‐MB‐231, and HepG2, with IC50 values ranging from 2.31–5.13 μM) than suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid; administration of these compounds induced marked apoptosis in MDA‐MB‐231 cells, with cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. Collectively, specific synthesized compounds could be further optimized and biologically explored as antitumor agents.
A rare case of concurrent mitral and aortic valve aneurysms in the setting of infective endocarditis
Authors: Alhuarrat Majd Al Deen , Pargaonkar Sumant , Kharawala Amrin , Thachil Rosy , Tiwari Nidhish
Published: June 2023

Key Clinical Message

Mitral valve aneurysm is a rare imaging finding most caused by infective endocarditis. The concurrent presence of an aortic valve aneurysm is unique and foretells a severe presentation that would require valve replacement during the same admission.

A 42‐year‐old male patient presented with intermittent fever, night sweats, and weight loss for 2 months. TEE showed a rare finding of concurrent mitral and aortic valve aneurysms, and blood cultures grew streptococcus mutans. His infective endocarditis was successfully treated with antibiotics and placement of mechanical mitral and aortic valves.
Free fatty acids in sunflower oil soap stock progressed the sophorolipid production by Candida catenulata
Authors: Amiri Fariba , Habibi Alireza
Published: June 2023

Sophorolipids are a group of surface‐active glycolipid compounds that can be synthesized by several yeasts, especially the Candida genera. Soap stock is a by‐product of vegetable oils refinery that enriches mono‐unsaturated fatty acids, and its application is interesting as a low‐cost industrial residue in sophorolipid production. In this study, the sophorolipid production was evaluated by Candida catenulate KP324968, using sunflower oil soap stock and glucose as the hydrophobic and hydrophilic carbon sources, respectively. The results indicated the ratio of hydrophobic to a hydrophilic carbon source, initial pH, and type of nitrogen source had significant roles in the performance of the cells. The highest specific biomass growth rate was about 0.0447 ± 0.0013 h−1 and a sophorolipid production rate of 49.96 ± 0.33 mg L−1 h−1 was obtained at a soap stock‐to‐glucose ratio of 1, initial pH of 5.5, and temperature of 30°C. The addition of organic nitrogen sources such as yeast extract and urea obtained a higher sophorolipid production in comparison with ammonium nitrate and potassium nitrate as the mineral nitrogen sources. Usage of both yeast extract and urea increased the sophorolipid production rate by 4.4% and 6.9%, in comparison with separate usage of yeast extract and urea, respectively. The characterization of the sophorolipid confirmed an emulsification index of about 30 ± 2.9% for diesel‐in‐water and 50 ± 3.5% for sunflower oil‐in‐water systems. The critical micelle concentration was determined at 280 mg L−1. The produced sophorolipid at a concentration of 500 mg L−1 showed an antibacterial capacity about of 95.4 ± 1.1%, and 44.7 ± 0.8% against Bacillus subtilis (Gram‐positive) and Escherichia coli (Gram‐negative) bacteria, respectively.
New method of whiteness calibration of spectrophotometers
Authors: Brill Michael H. , Xu Zhiling
Published: June 2023

A method is described for determining and calibrating the CIE Whiteness Index (WI) of an OBA‐treated specimen without incorporating into the measurement system a mechanically adjustable UV filter. The method requires spectrophotometric measurement of the specimen under two lights: UV‐excluded to infer the reflectance r(λ) and UV to infer the fluorescence profile f(λ). Also required is a stored illuminant spectrum Iin(λ) that covers at least the whole visible wavelengths. Only one scalar value k is then needed to mathematically characterize the total spectral radiance factor (TSRF) of the same specimen under Iin(λ). Calibration uses a reference specimen with known WI, and adjusts k until the computed WI matches the reference WI value. If Iin(λ) is the illuminant chosen from ASTM E313 to define the WI, the k adjustment reduces to solving a single quadratic equation for k that involves the reference WI. In general, relative to directly measuring a specimen's TSRF, it is more instrument‐independent to use the current method to characterize TSRF. Therefore, if a fluorescent specimen is measured using UV and UV‐excluded illuminants, a complete, instrument‐stable characterization of the specimen's TSRF can be derived by adjusting k, which can be done through a closed‐form relation of k to the WI.
Predicting Treatment Effects of a New‐to‐Market Drug in Clinical Practice Based on Phase III Randomized Trial Results
Authors: Shin HoJin , Wang Shirley V. , Kim Dae Hyun , Alt Ethan , Mahesri Mufaddal , Bessette Lily G. , Schneeweiss Sebastian , Najafzadeh Mehdi
Published: June 2023

Trial results may not be generalizable to target populations treated in clinical practice with different distributions of baseline characteristics that modify the treatment effect. We used outcome models developed with trial data to predict treatment effects in Medicare populations. We used data from the Randomized Evaluation of Long‐Term Anticoagulation Therapy trial (RE‐LY), which investigated the effect of dabigatran vs. warfarin on stroke or systemic embolism (stroke/SE) among patients with atrial fibrillation. We developed outcome models by fitting proportional hazards models in trial data. Target populations were trial‐eligible Medicare beneficiaries who initiated dabigatran or warfarin in 2010–2011 (“early”) and 2010–2017 (“extended”). We predicted 2‐year risk ratios (RRs) and risk differences (RDs) for stroke/SE, major bleeding, and all‐cause death in the Medicare populations using the observed baseline characteristics. The trial and early target populations had similar mean (SD) CHADS2scores (2.15 (SD 1.13) vs. 2.15 (SD 0.91)) but different mean ages (71 vs. 79 years). Compared with RE‐LY, the early Medicare population had similar predicted benefit of dabigatran vs. warfarin for stroke/SE (trial RR = 0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.50 to 0.76 and RD = −1.37%, −1.96% to −0.77%, Medicare RR = 0.73, 0.65 to 0.82 and RD = −0.92%, −1.26% to −0.59%) and risks for major bleeding and all‐cause death. The time‐extended target population showed similar results. Outcome model‐based prediction facilitates estimating the average treatment effects of a drug in different target populations when treatment and outcome data are unreliable or unavailable. The predicted effects may inform payers' coverage decisions for patients, especially shortly after a drug's launch when observational data are scarce.
Covalent Triazine Framework Films through In‐Situ Growth for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Guo Yantong , Hu Xunliang , Sun Ruixue , Wang Xiaoyan , Tan Bien
Published: June 2023

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution through water splitting offers a promising way to convert solar energy into chemical energy. Covalent triazine frameworks (CTFs) are ideal photocatalysts owing to its exceptional in‐plane π‐conjugation, high chemical stability, and sturdy framework structure. However, CTF‐based photocatalysts are typically in powder form, which presents challenges in catalyst recycling and scale‐up applications. To overcome this limitation, we present a strategy for producing CTF films with excellent hydrogen evolution rate that are more suitable for large‐scale water splitting due to their ease of separation and recyclability. We developed a simple and robust technique for producing CTF films on glass substrates via in‐situ growth polycondensation, with thicknesses adjustable from 800 nm to 27 μm. These CTF films exhibit exceptional photocatalytic activity, with the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance reaching as high as 77.8 mmol h−1 g−1 and 213.3 mmol m−2 h−1 with co‐catalyst Pt under visible light (≥420 nm). Additionally, they demonstrate good stability and recyclability, further highlighting their potential in green energy conversion and photocatalytic devices. Overall, our work presents a promising approach for producing CTF films suitable for a range of applications and paves the way for further developments in this field.
A quasi‐two‐switch power factor correction converter for on‐board battery chargers
Authors: Anand Nidumolu Vijaya , Praneeth A. V. J. S. , Yalla Naveen , Sood Vijay Kumar
Published: June 2023

This paper describes a quasi‐two‐switch buck‐boost power factor correction (PFC) converter for use in on‐board battery chargers to create a variable output voltage that is less than or greater than the peak input voltage. A two‐stage converter links the input grid power to the battery pack both in battery‐operated electric cars (BEVs) and plug‐in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), with battery pack voltages ranging from 100 to 500 V depending on vehicle size and capacity. A universal charger that can manage such a wide range of battery pack voltages is appropriate for all vehicle designs. This requirement is met by supplying a changeable DC link voltage at the input of the DC/DC converter, which is a major obstacle in battery chargers when it comes to achieving universal output voltages. The major contribution of this research is the analysis and design of a dual‐control technique for a cascaded buck‐boost converter suited for a power factor correction (PFC) rectifier. The control loop is designed to allow a seamless transition from buck‐boost operation while putting less stress on the devices. The converter's power loss and small‐signal model are also investigated. From an economic standpoint, this concept allows the automobile industry to manufacture a single power converter, which is flexible and capable of charging numerous vehicle variants. Results have been verified both with a PSIM (11.0) simulation model and an experimental setup for a 1‐kW PFC converter suitable for universal input voltages of 85–265 Vrms and broad output voltages.
Turtle body size evolution is determined by lineage‐specific specializations rather than global trends
Authors: Farina Bruna M. , Godoy Pedro L. , Benson Roger B. J. , Langer Max C. , Ferreira Gabriel S.
Published: June 2023

Organisms display a considerable variety of body sizes and shapes, and macroevolutionary investigations help to understand the evolutionary dynamics behind such variations. Turtles (Testudinata) show great body size disparity, especially when their rich fossil record is accounted for. We explored body size evolution in turtles, testing which factors might influence the observed patterns and evaluating the existence of long‐term directional trends. We constructed the most comprehensive body size dataset for the group to date, tested for correlation with paleotemperature, estimated ancestral body sizes, and performed macroevolutionary model‐fitting analyses. We found no evidence for directional body size evolution, even when using very flexible models, thereby rejecting the occurrence of Cope's rule. We also found no significant effect of paleotemperature on overall through‐time body size patterns. In contrast, we found a significant influence of habitat preference on turtle body size. Freshwater turtles display a rather homogeneous body size distribution through time. In contrast, terrestrial and marine turtles show more pronounced variation, with terrestrial forms being restricted to larger body sizes, up to the origin of testudinids in the Cenozoic, and marine turtles undergoing a reduction in body size disparity after the extinctions of many groups in the mid‐Cenozoic. Our results, therefore, suggest that long‐term, generalized patterns are probably explained by factors specific to certain groups and related at least partly to habitat use.
A systematic review with meta‐analysis on prophylactic negative pressure wound therapy versus standard dressing for obese women after caesarean section
Authors: Tian Yali , Li Ka , Zeng Ling
Published: June 2023

Aims

The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of prophylactic negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in obese women undergoing caesarean section.

Design

An updated review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, Medline, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched from inception up to March 2022 without restriction in language. We chose surgical site infection as the primary outcome.

Results

NPWT resulted in a lower surgical site infection rate compared with conventional dressing (risk ratio [RR] = 0.76). The infection rate after low transverse incision was lower comparing the NPWT group with the control group ([RR] = 0.76). No statistically significant difference was detected in blistering([RR] = 2.91). The trial sequential analysis did not support the 20% relative decrease in surgical site infection in the NPWT group. (type II error of 20%).
Pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of single and multiple doses of zuranolone in Japanese and White healthy subjects: A phase 1 clinical trial
Authors: Sonoyama Takuhiro , Shimizu Ryosuke , Kubota Ryuji , Matsuo Yumiko , Okutsu Daiki , Yamanaka Hideki , Takasu Keiko , Ogawa Koichi , Motomiya Tomoko
Published: June 2023

Aim

This phase 1 study assessed the pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of zuranolone in Japanese and White healthy adults, and Japanese healthy elderly subjects.

Methods

This single‐center study consisted of three parts. In Part A (randomized, double‐blind), the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of single dose and 7‐day consecutive multiple doses of zuranolone 10, 20, and 30 mg and placebo were assessed in 36 Japanese adults, 24 White adults, and 12 Japanese elderly (aged 65–75 years) subjects. In Part B (randomized, open‐label, crossover), the effect of food intake on the pharmacokinetics and safety of single‐dose zuranolone 30 mg was evaluated in 12 Japanese adults. In Part C (randomized, double‐blind, crossover), the effects of single‐dose zuranolone 10 and 30 mg and placebo on electroencephalography parameters were evaluated in eight Japanese adults.

Results

Single and multiple doses of zuranolone were safe and well tolerated in all subjects. Linear pharmacokinetics were observed in the studied dose range. Time to steady‐state plasma concentration was within 72 h for Japanese and White adults. Pharmacokinetic profiles were comparable between Japanese and White adults and between Japanese adults and Japanese elderly subjects. Plasma exposures of zuranolone were greater in the fed versus fasted state. Single‐dose zuranolone 30 mg increased low‐beta electroencephalography power.

Conclusion

In healthy Japanese subjects, zuranolone was well tolerated; pharmacokinetic profile was unaffected by ethnicity or age; plasma exposures were greater in the fed state. The increased low‐beta electroencephalography power with the 30‐mg dose is consistent with γ‐aminobutyric acid receptor type A activation by zuranolone.
Hydroxyapatite/hyperbranched polyitaconic acid/chitosan composite scaffold for bone tissue engineering
Authors: Kandil Heba , Ekram Basma , Abo‐Zeid Mona A. M. , Abd El‐Hady Bothaina M. , Amin Amal
Published: June 2023

In this study, a promising modified composite scaffold (hydroxyapatite/hyperbranched polyitaconic acid/chitosan) was synthesized for bone tissue engineering. Novel hyperbranched polyitaconic acid was prepared through the polymerization of itaconic acid using reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer using a macro‐RAFT agent. The chemical structure of the prepared hyperbranched polyitaconic acid was characterized by FTIR and 1HNMR and was subsequently embedded into hydroxyapatite/chitosan composite. The obtained modified composite scaffold was evaluated by characterizing its porosity, mechanical properties, bioactivity and cytotoxicity. The results showed that the modified composite scaffold had higher mechanical strength (i.e., 0.56 ± 0.03 MPa) in comparison to chitosan/hydroxyapatite scaffold only (i.e., 0.31 ± 0.01 MPa) and also showed higher bioactivity. In addition, the modified composite scaffold (HAP/HBP‐RAFT‐PI/CS) showed anticancer properties and enhanced human skin fibroblasts proliferation.
Baseline susceptibility of Haemaphysalis longicornis to organophosphate, carbamate, and pyrethroid acaricides
Authors: Bickerton Matthew , González Julia , Egizi Andrea , Toledo Alvaro
Published: June 2023

BACKGROUND

The Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, continues to expand its range in North America, and synthetic acaricides are likely to play an increasing role in managing this species. Acaricide resistance is common in some tick species that infest livestock. However, baseline acaricide susceptibility has not previously been examined in this invasive tick.

RESULTS

We used a standard larval packet test to evaluate the susceptibility of the Asian longhorned tick to acaricides currently or formerly used in tick control: propoxur, carbaryl, bifenthrin, permethrin, and coumaphos. Discriminating concentrations were estimated at 6.5, 27.9, 988, 2242, and 808 ppm, respectively. The half‐maximal lethal concentration (LC50) values for propoxur, carbaryl, permethrin and coumaphos were compared with data available for other tick species and showed that H. longicornis was more susceptible to propoxur, carbaryl and coumaphos, and had a similar susceptibility to permethrin.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that resistance to these acaricides is not currently a concern for H. longicornis in the United States. However, responsible integrated management and early detection of resistance can help ensure the long‐term efficacy of products used for controlling this tick species. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
On safe offshore energy exploration in the Gulf of Eilat
Authors: Sun Jiayao , Gaidai Oleg , Xing Yihan , Wang Fang , Liu Zirui
Published: June 2023

Gulf of Eilat is rich with energy resources, however any industrial natural resource development requires additional safety, as local eco‐system has to be preserved. In contrast to bivariate reliability approaches, known to their accurate predictions of extreme response and load levels for two‐dimensional dynamic systems, this study suggests and validates novel structural reliability method, which is being appropriate method for high‐dimensional dynamic systems. Conventional reliability methods do not have an advantage of dealing easily with high‐dimensional nonlinear dynamic systems, especially with non‐linear cross‐correlations between different system components. Advocated approach does not have limitations on the system's number of degrees of freedom, and it can accurately assess dynamic system's failure risks. Main purpose of this study was to benchmark state‐of‐the‐art reliability methodology, while utilizing available dataset efficiently. Note that advocated approach is not limited to offshore engineering example, studied here, and it has wide range of potential engineering and design applications.
Residential photovoltaic and energy storage systems for sustainable development: An economic analysis applied to incentive mechanisms
Authors: D'Adamo Idiano , Dell'Aguzzo Alessandro , Pruckner Marco
Published: June 2023

The photovoltaic (PV) system has a very significant growing global trend and its role is essential in combating climate change. However, its intermittent nature requires integration with a battery energy storage system (BES). This work proposes an economic analysis based on net present value (NPV) for an integrated PV + BES system in a mature market (Italy). The analyses are applied to different policy (used for both PV and BES) and market (purchase price, selling price) contexts. Results show that the NPV(PV) ranges from 1061 to 7426 €/kW. The work identifies the conditions under which BES is affordable. The required increase in self‐consumption varies in the 14%–35% range. The purchase price and the percentage of energy‐self‐consumption play a crucial role in the profitability assessment of a PV + BES system. Incentive policies based on subsidized tax deductions and subsidies for energy produced and self‐consumed can enable a more sustainable energy future in the residential sector. This work suggests a mix of policy choices: (i) a subsidized tax deduction larger than 50% and a bonus for energy produced and self‐consumed for PV plants; (ii) subsidized tax deduction also for BESs but at a lower value than for PV plants; and (iii) encouraging a recycling industry.
A Coupled 3d Morphological Reconstruction Approach for Surface Microcrack in Si3n4 Ceramic Bearing Roller Based on Adaptive Nano Feature Extraction & Multiscale Depth Fusion
Authors: Liao Dahai , Hu Kun , Li Bin , Zheng Qi , Hu Weiwen , Wu Nanxing
Published: June 2023

To extract the fuzzy contour features, tiny depth features of surface microcracks in the Si3N4 ceramic bearings roller. An adaptive nano feature extraction and multiscale deep fusion coupling method is proposed, to sufficiently reconstruct the three‐dimensional morphology characteristics of surface microcracks. Construct an adaptive nano feature extraction method, form the surface microcrack image scale space and the Gaussian difference pyramid function equation, realize the detection and matching of global feature points. The sparse point cloud is obtained. Through polar‐line correction, depth estimation, and fusion of feature points on the surface microcracks image, a multiscale depth fusion matching cost pixel function is established to realize a dense point cloud reconstruction of surface microcracks. The reconstruction results show that the highest value of the local convex surface reconstructed by the dense point cloud reaches 1183 nm, and the lowest local concave surface is accurate to 296 nm. Compared with the measurement results of the confocal platform, the relative error of the reconstruction result is 24.6%. The overall feature‐matching rate of the reconstruction reaches 93.3%. It provides a theoretical basis for the study of surface microcrack propagation mechanism and the prediction of bearing life.
Structure recovery and trend estimation for dynamic network analysis
Authors: Jiang Xiwen , Margarita Livas Selena , Yin Fan , Banerjee Sayantan , Butts Carter T. , Shen Weining
Published: June 2023

Low‐dimensional parametric models for network dynamics have been successful as inferentially efficient and interpretable tools for modelling network evolution but have difficulty in settings with strong time inhomogeneity (particularly when sharp variation in parameters is possible and covariates are limited). Here, we propose to address this problem via a novel family of block‐structured dynamic exponential‐family random graph models (ERGMs), where the time domain is divided into consecutive blocks and the network parameters are assumed to evolve smoothly within each block. In particular, we let the latent ERGM parameters follow a piecewise polynomial model with an unknown block structure (e.g., change points). We propose an iterative estimation procedure that involves estimating the block structure using trend filtering and fitting ERGMs for networks belonging to the same time block. We demonstrate the utility of the proposed approach using simulation studies and applications to interbank transaction networks and citations among political blogs over the course of an electoral cycle.