bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extended-Spectrum Beta-lactamase and Metallo-beta-lactamase Production among Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae Strains from Urine of Pregnant Women in Afikpo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Authors: Uzochukwu Olugbue Victor , Ijeoma Okonkwo Evelyn , Segun Ogundapo Solomon , Jeff. Nkama Onochie , Odochi Uchendu Damian , Nwadimkpa Eze Blessing
Published: July 2023

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) and Metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL) among Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains from pregnant women attending Mater Misericordia Hospital Afikpo, Ebonyi state, Nigeria.

Study Design: This is a laboratory based prospective study carried out on pregnant women suspected of having urinary tract infection and was requested to undergo diagnosis at microbiology laboratory of the hospital.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, Afikpo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria from October, 2022 to January, 2023.

Methodology: Clean-catch midstream urine samples were collected from 206 pregnant women suspected of having urinary tract infection and were requested to undergo medical diagnosis at microbiology laboratory of the hospital. The urine samples were processed following standard microbiological procedure. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was determined using the disc diffusion method, while ESBL phenotypes were determine by the Double-Disc Synergy Test (DDST). Disc potentiation test was performed to check for MBL production.

Results: Out of the 206 urine samples processed, 24 (11.7 %) E. coli and 12 (5.8 %) K. pneumoniae were isolated. The antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates recorded a 100 % resistance with Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid and Cotrimoxazole.  The Gram-negative isolates showed a high sensitivity of 100 % to Netilmicin, Meropenem and Ofloxacin. Overall, 35 (97.2 %) multidrug resistance (MDR) was observed of the bacteria isolates. A total of 9 (37.5 %) E. coli and 4 (33.3 %) K. pneumoniae was found positive for ESBL production whereas, 5 (20.8 %) E. coli and 2 (16.7 %) K. pneumoniae were MBL positive.

Conclusion: The level of drug resistance in this study underscores the need for regular surveillance for effective management of urinary tract infection in pregnancy.
Pivotal Role of Microbes in Solid Waste Management
Authors: Meena S. , Manimekalan A. , Jose Shiny
Published: July 2023

LLactic acid bacteria (LAB) are used widely in food microbiology as probiotics and biopreservatives to extend shelf life of food items. Lactic acid produced by LAB strains are precursor of polylactic acid(PLA) that has growing demand as bioplastics that are biodegradable in nature replacing traditional plastics. LAB have the potential to utilize polysaccharides from various sources and produce lactic acid. The aim of this study is to identify lactic acid producing strains of lactic acid bacteria(LAB) that have efficiency in utilizing biodegradable fragment of domestic solid waste collected from residential areas of Coimbatore municipality for three days. The main objective of this study is to convert the biodegradable solid waste into lactic acid, a precursor of Poly lactic acid- PLA used as bioplastic. Important chemical parameters of the solid waste like phosphate estimation, nitrate estimation, Total organic carbon estimation were done following Indian standard analytical methods. Glucose consumption efficiency of Lacto bacillus sp.in solid waste substrate was analyzed in UV spectrometer at620nm by Anthrone method. Estimation of lactic acid produced was done in UV spectrometric analysis at 390nm using iron lactate formation. In this study, lactic acid bacteria were isolated from samples of milk, curd, idli batter and screened for lactic acid production. Three isolates were chosen for the study each one from milk, curd, idli batter and from biochemical tests and morphology confirmed as Lacto bacillus sp. Solid waste collected was pretreated with dilute acid heating and hydrolysate obtained was used as substrate for lactic acid production under optimized parameters. Three different substrates were chosen for lactic acid production and the results were compared. The three isolates of Lacto bacillus sp.were good producers of lactic acid and utilized biodegradable solid waste in an effective manner. 3-5 gm/lit of lactic acid was produced by the three strains of Lacto bacillus sp .Segregation of domestic solid waste collected, comprised of 40% biodegradable fragment, 40% nondegradable plastic, 20%miscellaneous waste. Lactic acid production from biodegradable portion is a preliminary step experimented in this study progressing in polylactic acid PLA pathway indirectly reducing plastic pollution. In a similar manner, nonbiodegradable plastic waste can be minimized using Exopolysaccharide pathway by Xanthomonas sp.that is reviewed in this study. Disposal of solid waste in an economical and greener way is a smart method of saving environment. Bioconversion of plastic into pseudoplastic xanthan gum by Xanthomonas sp.(through exopolysaccharide pathway) are greener techniques to crush down the accumulated plastic mountains to ground level.
Residual Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management in Kharif Maize (Zea mays L.) on Growth and Yield of Toria (Brassica campestris L. var. Toria) during Rabi Season in Odisha, India
Authors: Dalei Bibhuti Bhusan , Rath Bama Sankar , Mohapatra Ashok Kumar , Patnaik Girija Prasad , Phonglosa Amit , Sahoo Sabyasachi , Baliarsingh Anupama , Panda Narayan , Senapati Niranjan
Published: July 2023

A field experiment was carried out at Regional Research and Technology Transfer Station (OUAT), Semiliguda of Koraput district under Eastern Ghat High Land zone of Odisha in acidic soil during two consecutive rabi seasons of 2016-17 and 2017-18 to study the residual effect of integrated nutrient management in maize on succeeding toria crop. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications consisting of twelve treatments. The present investigation revealed that application of soil test based fertilizer with green leaf manure (cowpea), FYM @ 5 t ha-1 and biofertilizer (Azotobacter + Azospirillum + PSB @ 4 kg ha-1 each) to maize crop registered maximum residual effect thereby resulted significantly highest seed yield (6.3 q ha-1) and stover yield (11.1 q ha-1) of toria with a net monetary return of Rs. 7025 ha-1 and benefit cost ratio of 1.38.
Development of Rice Yield Forecasting Model Using Linear Regression for Imphal West District, Manipur, India
Authors: Wangkheimayum Neha , Paliwal H. B.
Published: July 2023

Rice is a staple food crop and India’s principal food grain. It is generally grown under completely flooded conditions and any changes in weather parameters might affect the rice productivity thereby impacting the food security of the ever-increasing population Prevailing weather conditions during the crop growth period determine the yield of Rice. Hence, the crop yield forecasting models based on weather parameters will be an appropriate option for policymakers and researchers to develop sustainable cropping strategies. The present study examines the application of stepwise multiple linear regression for rice yield prediction using long-term weather data. Analysis was carried out by fixing data from 1998-99 to 2016-17 for calibration and the remaining 2017-18 to 2020-21 data for validation. The accuracy of these models was estimated by R2 (coefficient of determination) and the performance by Mean Square error (MSE), Root mean square error (RMSE), and Normalised root mean square error (NRMSE). The R2 of the developed models ranged from 0.27 – 0.95. The best-performing model was the 5th model with R2 (0.95) with MSE (0.03%), RMSE (0.17%), and NRMSE (0.05%) during validation.
Uncovering the Impact of Erosion Conservation Techiques on Soil Attributes in Shivaliks of Lower Himalayas of Jammu, India
Authors: Arya Vivak M. , Yadav Meena , Sharma Vikas , Bharat Rajeev , Bhat M. Iqbal Jeelani , Hussain Altaf , Shabir Haziq
Published: July 2023

The present study uncovering the impact of erosion conservation techniques on soil attributes in Shivaliks of lower Himalayas of Jammu. Soil erosion is considered as the main cause of land degradation in hilly areas espially in outer Himalayas. Although the problem persisted on the earth for a longer period, it has become severe in recent times due to increased man-environment interactions. The study was conducted in 2021 at the Merth village of Jammu and Kashmir, India, which is situated in the Kathua district. The catchment area investigated had a clay loam texture and a slope gradient of 3-6%, with a total area of 24.8 acres. The result shows that mean value of bulk density under various erosion control techniques was highest in overgrazing prevention (1.40g cm-3) followed by perimeter runoff control, terrace farming and contour plowing and was lowest in cover crop (1.33g cm-3). The carbon content also increased with the and was highest under cover crop. Carbon act as bridge between nutrient, water and soil. The study strongly recommends adoption of resource conservation techniques for reducing soil erosion & water conservation in submontane Shivaliks.
Effects of Bacteriocin Extracted from Lactobacillus rhamnosus on Cutaneous Wound Healing in Mice
Authors: Nwajiobi F. O. , Anyamene C. O. , Abana C. C.
Published: July 2023

Aim: This study evaluates the effects of bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus rhamnosus on cutaneous wound healing in mice.

Study Design: Randomized experimental design was employed in the study.

Methodology: Probiotic L. rhamnosus was isolated from nono milk using MRS agar media and identified based on morphological and biochemical characteristics. The potent bacterium was subjected to bacteriocin production. Antimicrobial activity of the bacteriocin was carried out against wound pathogenic bacteria and wound healing effects of the bacteriocins were assessed on mice. 2 mm cutaneous wound was induced on the mice and crude bacteriocin was topically applied on the wounds. White blood cell count was carried out after days 3, 5, 9, and 14. Histopathological analyses were performed after day 14.

Results: Crude bacteriocin was effective against wound pathogenic bacteria such as S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and E. coli. Topical application of bacteriocin showed a faster and better wound healing when compared to positive control groups in P. aeruginosa infected wound model. Histology examination revealed an increase wound healing time in L. rhamnosus bacteriocin treated mice. The crude bacteriocins demonstrated excellent wound-healing activity in skin excision albino mice model.

Conclusion: L. rhamnosus bacteriocin had various beneficial actions on wounds. It improved wound healing, inhibited wound pathogens and increase wound healing time.
Design and Optimisation of Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine Blades Using Biomimicry of Whale Tubercles
Authors: Yirijor John , Siaw-Mensah Nana Asabere
Published: July 2023

Wind speed is the major factor in generating power in a wind turbine. However, due to the non-optimum and redundant design of wind turbine blades, not nearly enough wind is captured for utilization. In the present study, modifications were done on the leading edge of the HAWT blade using tubercles showing their effects on aerodynamic performances. From this research, the following results found concerning the performances of HAWT with leading-edge tubercles were that; blades with tubercles on the leading edge will have superior performance in the post-stall regime by 27%,  tubercles with a smaller amplitude and lower wavelength will produce higher lift and lower drag in the low wind speed condition, and tubercle blade will have a stable and smooth performance in varying wind speed conditions, producing higher torque and power at low wind speed. Using a small wind turbine model, SolidWorks Motion Analysis Simulation was used for dynamic modeling to evaluate and determine the force and torque of the mechanical structure. These results were compared and examined using standard wind turbine blades which showed an improvement of 30% in efficiency.
Naturopathy Module in Management of Obesity (Class-3): A Case Study
Authors: Chauhan Ripudamansingh , Chauhan Shweta , Tank Roshani , Yadav Umesh
Published: July 2023

Obesity is a complex condition with global prevalence reaching almost one-third of the world's population. It affects all ages, genders, and backgrounds, although older individuals and women tend to be more affected. In this case, a 36-year-old male business person leading a sedentary lifestyle presented with severe obesity (Class-3), hypertension, low back pain, fatigue and umbilical hernia for the past few years. The individual received 30-days of naturopathy treatments and diet intervention program. The treatment was provided through a personalized and customized protocol at Ipcowala naturopathy and yoga center (INYC) a residential naturopathy facility located in Vadodara, Gujarat. The findings indicated a significant reduction in body weight (from 130.74 kg to 116.60 kg), Body Mass Index (BMI) (from 41.76 to 37.25), Blood Pressure (from 140/100 to 130/86), as well as a notable decrease in back pain related disability and fatigue levels on scale. The patient experienced an overall improvement in functional health and reported an enhanced sense of well-being. Notably, the individual exhibited improvements across all domains of the WHO Quality of Life Bref scale. This case study strongly suggests that the naturopathy treatment, a tailored diet plan and fasting can serve as a beneficial intervention for reducing obesity and associated comorbidities. Further large scale studies are needed for observing effect of individual naturopathy therapies.
Possible Ameliorative and Preventive Effect of Leaf Extract of Andrographis paniculata on Atherosclerosis: An Experience with Isoproterenol Induced Wistar Rats
Authors: Onwubuya E. I. , Oladejo A. A. , Kalu O. A. , Ndubueze I. K.
Published: July 2023

Atherosclerosis has been regarded as one of the leading causes of death in modern-day man worldwide. The use of medicinal plants especially Andrographis paniculata in the treatment of chronic diseases, particularly atherosclerotic disorder is becoming popular. This study aimed to evaluate the possible ameliorative and preventive effect of leaf extract of Andrographis paniculata on atherosclerosis in isoproterenol-induced Wistar rats. Thirty animals were randomly divided into five groups (A-E) of six animals per group, per cage. Groups A, B and C served as the treatment groups and were orally pre-treated with 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight extract of A. paniculata for fourteen days, group D served as the positive control group and was administered 10 mg atorvastatin while group E served as the negative control and was administered distilled water. On the fifteenth and sixteenth day, 150 mg/kg isoproterenol was administered intraperitoneal at 24 h intervals to all the animals and were subsequently sacrificed. The sera obtained were used for a bioassay study. Analysis of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) were carried out using standard methods. The result obtained revealed a significant decrease (p>0.05) in the serum total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL in the extract treated groups in a dose dependent manner when compared with the untreated control while there was a significant increase in the serum HDL level of extract treated group compared to the untreated control; thereby supporting the protective effect of A. paniculata against atherosclerotic disorder.
The Bio-utilization of Used and Unused car Lubricants by Autochthonous Microorganisms
Authors: Akubuenyi F. C. , Tarh J. B. , Idoko J. D.
Published: July 2023

The determination of the bio-utilization of used and unused car lubricants; engine oil, hydraulic and transition oil were analyzed using viable counts and spectrophotometric analysis. The oil samples were collected with 10 sterile containers from different mechanic workshops in Calabar; Unical workshop, designated as UNICAL Workshop (A), Akim (B), Mount Zion (C), Etta Agbor (D), and Ekpo Abasi (E). The spectrophotometric analysis revealed absorbance ranging from 2.16 to 2.69nm for engine oil, 0.57 to 1.21nm for hydraulic oil and 1.96 to 2.40nm for transition oil. The total heterotrophic counts of the used engine oil ranged from 1.2x1010 CFU/ml to 4.0x1010 CFU/ml; hydraulic oil ranged from 1.0x1010 CFU/ml to 2.2x1010 CFU/ml; Transition oil ranged from 1.0x1010 CFU/ml to 2.5x1010 CFU/ml. The THB counts of the unused oils had an average count of 1.0x10110 CFU/ml. The enumeration of the total fungal showed lower counts ranging from 1.0x1010 CFU/ml to 2.2x1010 CFU/ml for engine oil; 1.0x1010 CFU/ml to 1.5x1010 CFU/ml for hydraulic oil and 1.0x1010CFU/ml to 1.4x1010 CFU/ml for transition oil. The unused oil had very much lower fungal counts. The identification processes revealed the presence of Pseudomonas spp. (6.5%), Bacillus spp. (13%), Streptobacilli (21.7%), Micrococcus spp. (21.7%), Actinomyces spp. (8.6%), Nocardia spp. (4.3%), Staphylococcus spp. (10.8%), Listeria spp. (8.6%), Serratia spp. (2.1%) and Lactobacillus (2.1%). While the fungal isolates were identified as Aspergillus niger (75%), Aspergillus flavus (13.8%), Aspergillus lentulus (5.52%), Candida spp. (2.7%) and Curvularia spp. (2.7%). This result suggests that these isolated organisms from used and unused car lubricants can use oil lubricants as a source of carbon and energy, and could be explored for environmental biodegradation of hydrocarbons and bioremediation of polluted sites by these oils. Due to the medical importance of the identified organisms, care should be taken while working with the organisms, to avoid opportunistic infections.
Sex- and Age-Based Disparities in Public Access Defibrillation, Bystander Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, and Neurological Outcome in Cardiac Arrest
Authors: Ishii Masanobu , Tsujita Kenichi , Seki Tomohisa , Okada Masafumi , Kubota Kazumi , Matsushita Kenichi , Kaikita Koichi , Yonemoto Naohiro , Tahara Yoshio , Ikeda Takanori ,   Japanese Circulation Society with Resuscitation Science Study (JCS-ReSS) Investigators
Published: July 2023

Importance

Younger females with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in public locations have less likelihood to receive public access defibrillation and bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). However, the association between age- and sex-based disparities and neurological outcomes remains underexamined.

Objective

To investigate the association between sex and age and the rate of receiving bystander CPR, automated external defibrillator defibrillation, and neurological outcomes in patients with OHCA.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study used the All-Japan Utstein Registry, a prospective, population-based, nationwide database in Japan containing data on 1 930 273 patients with OHCA between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2020. The cohort comprised patients with OHCA of cardiac origin that was witnessed by citizens and treated by emergency medical service personnel. The data were analyzed from September 3, 2022, to May 5, 2023.

Exposure

Sex and age.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was favorable neurological outcome at 30 days after an OHCA. Favorable neurological outcome was defined as a Cerebral Performance Category score of 1 (indicating good cerebral performance) or 2 (indicating moderate cerebral disability). The secondary outcomes were the rates of receiving public access defibrillation and bystander CPR.

Results

The 354 409 included patients who experienced bystander-witnessed OHCA of cardiac origin had a median (IQR) age of 78 (67-86) years and 136 520 were females (38.5%). The rate of receiving public access defibrillation was higher in males than females (3.2% vs 1.5%; P < .001). Stratified by age, age- and sex-based disparities in prehospital lifesaving interventions by bystanders and in neurological outcomes were observed. Although younger females had a lower rate of receiving public access defibrillation and bystander CPR than males, younger females had a higher favorable neurological outcome compared with males of the same age (odds ratio [OR], 1.19; 95% CI, 1.08-1.31). In younger females with OHCA that was witnessed by nonfamily bystanders, receiving public access defibrillation (OR, 3.51; 95% CI, 2.34-5.27) or bystander CPR (OR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.20-2.22) was associated with a favorable neurological outcome.

Conclusions and Relevance

Results of this study suggest a pattern of significant sex- and age-based differences in bystander CPR, public access defibrillation, and neurological outcomes in Japan. Improvement in neurological outcomes in patients with OHCA, especially younger females, was associated with increased use of public access defibrillation and bystander CPR.
Marketing and US Food and Drug Administration Clearance of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Enabled Software in and as Medical Devices
Authors: Clark Phoebe , Kim Jayne , Aphinyanaphongs Yindalon
Published: July 2023

Importance

The marketing of health care devices enabled for use with artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) is regulated in the US by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is responsible for approving and regulating medical devices. Currently, there are no uniform guidelines set by the FDA to regulate AI- or ML-enabled medical devices, and discrepancies between FDA-approved indications for use and device marketing require articulation.

Objective

To explore any discrepancy between marketing and 510(k) clearance of AI- or ML-enabled medical devices.

Evidence Review

This systematic review was a manually conducted survey of 510(k) approval summaries and accompanying marketing materials of devices approved between November 2021 and March 2022, conducted between March and November 2022, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) reporting guideline. Analysis focused on the prevalence of discrepancies between marketing and certification material for AI/ML enabled medical devices.

Findings

A total of 119 FDA 510(k) clearance summaries were analyzed in tandem with their respective marketing materials. The devices were taxonomized into 3 individual categories of adherent, contentious, and discrepant devices. A total of 15 devices (12.61%) were considered discrepant, 8 devices (6.72%) were considered contentious, and 96 devices (84.03%) were consistent between marketing and FDA 510(k) clearance summaries. Most devices were from the radiological approval committees (75 devices [82.35%]), with 62 of these devices (82.67%) adherent, 3 (4.00%) contentious, and 10 (13.33%) discrepant; followed by the cardiovascular device approval committee (23 devices [19.33%]), with 19 of these devices (82.61%) considered adherent, 2 contentious (8.70%) and 2 discrepant (8.70%). The difference between these 3 categories in cardiovascular and radiological devices was statistically significant (P < .001).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this systematic review, low adherence rates within committees were observed most often in committees with few AI- or ML-enabled devices. and discrepancies between clearance documentation and marketing material were present in one-fifth of devices surveyed.
Incarceration of Youths in an Adult Correctional Facility and Risk of Premature Death
Authors: Silver Ian A. , Semenza Daniel C. , Nedelec Joseph L.
Published: July 2023

Importance

Youths incarcerated in adult correctional facilities are exposed to a variety of adverse circumstances that could diminish psychological and physical health, potentially leading to early mortality.

Objective

To evaluate whether being incarcerated in an adult correctional facility as a youth was associated with mortality between 18 and 39 years of age.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study relied on longitudinal data collected from 1997 to 2019 as part of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth–1997, a nationally representative sample of 8984 individuals born in the United States between January 1, 1980, and December 1, 1984. The data analyzed for the current study were derived from annual interviews between 1997 and 2011 and interviews every other year from 2013 to 2019 (19 interviews in total). Participants were limited to respondents aged 17 years or younger during the 1997 interview and alive during their 18th birthday (8951 individuals; >99% of the original sample). Statistical analysis was performed from November 2022 to May 2023.

Intervention

Incarceration in an adult correctional facility before the age of 18 years compared with being arrested before the age of 18 years or never arrested or incarcerated before the age of 18 years.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The main outcome for the study was age at mortality between 18 and 39 years of age.

Results

The sample of 8951 individuals included 4582 male participants (51%), 61 American Indian or Alaska Native participants (1%), 157 Asian participants (2%), 2438 Black participants (27%), 1895 Hispanic participants (21%), 1065 participants of other race (12%), and 5233 White participants (59%). A total of 225 participants (3%) died during the study period, with a mean (SD) age at death of 27.7 (5.9) years. Incarceration in an adult correctional facility before the age of 18 years was associated with an increased risk of earlier mortality between 18 and 39 years of age compared with individuals who were never arrested or incarcerated before the age of 18 years (time ratio, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.47-0.95). Being arrested before the age of 18 years was associated with an increased risk of earlier mortality between 18 and 39 years of age when compared with individuals who were never arrested or incarcerated before the age of 18 years (time ratio, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.73-0.93).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study of 8951 youths, the survival model suggested that being incarcerated in an adult correctional facility may be associated with an increased risk of early mortality between 18 and 39 years of age.
Cannabis Use Disorder and Perioperative Complications
Authors: Potnuru Paul P. , Jonna Srikar , Williams George W.
Published: July 2023

Importance

Cannabis use is growing in the US and is increasingly perceived as harmless. However, the perioperative impact of cannabis use remains uncertain.

Objective

To assess whether cannabis use disorder is associated with increased morbidity and mortality after major elective, inpatient, noncardiac surgery.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This retrospective, population-based, matched cohort study used data from the National Inpatient Sample for adult patients aged 18 to 65 years who underwent major elective inpatient surgery (including cholecystectomy, colectomy, inguinal hernia repair, femoral hernia repair, mastectomy, lumpectomy, hip arthroplasty, knee arthroplasty, hysterectomy, spinal fusion, and vertebral discectomy) from January 2016 to December 2019. Data were analyzed from February to August 2022.

Exposure

Cannabis use disorder, as defined by the presence of specific International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) diagnostic codes.

Main Outcome and Measures

The primary composite outcome was in-hospital mortality and 7 major perioperative complications (myocardial ischemia, acute kidney injury, stroke, respiratory failure, venous thromboembolism, hospital-acquired infection, and surgical procedure–related complications) based on ICD-10 discharge diagnosis codes. Propensity score matching was performed to create a 1:1 matched cohort that was well balanced with respect to covariates, which included patient comorbidities, sociodemographic factors, and procedure type.

Results

Among 12 422 hospitalizations, a cohort of 6211 patients with cannabis use disorder (median age, 53 years [IQR, 44-59 years]; 3498 [56.32%] male) were matched with 6211 patients without cannabis use disorder for analysis. Cannabis use disorder was associated with an increased risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality compared with hospitalizations without cannabis use disorder in adjusted analysis (adjusted odds ratio, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.04-1.37; P = .01). The outcome occurred more frequently in the group with cannabis use disorder (480 [7.73%]) compared with the unexposed group (408 [6.57%]).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study, cannabis use disorder was associated with a modest increased risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality after major elective, inpatient, noncardiac surgery. In the context of increasing cannabis use rates, our findings support preoperative screening for cannabis use disorder as a component of perioperative risk stratification. However, further research is needed to quantify the perioperative impact of cannabis use by route and dosage and to inform recommendations for preoperative cannabis cessation.
A generalized proportional‐integral observer for fault detection: An approximate input disturbance decoupling approach
Authors: Hu Yuxiang , Dai Xuewu , Cui Dongliang , Jia Zhian , Liu Qiang , Zhou Ping
Published: July 2023

This article proposes a generalized PI observer with approximate disturbance decoupling (ADD‐GPIO) for detecting incipient actuator faults of a system subject to periodic input disturbances. Robustness to disturbances and sensitivity to faults is achieved through dynamic configuration of the disturbance transmission zeros and pole‐optimization respectively. By incorporating the ‐gap metric with index, a novel interpretable fault sensitivity optimization objective function is proposed. It is the first time in the fault detection observer design that the difference between the transfer function matrices (TFMs) relating fault detection residual to the disturbances and faults is quantified by the proposed ‐gap metric, which allows a more differentiated treatment of the disturbance and fault signals for better fault detection. Then, the optimal design of the ADD‐GPIO is modeled as a mixed‐integer optimization problem and the Lagrangian relaxation is adopted to find the near‐optimal parameters of the ADD‐GPIO at less computation costs in real application. Finally, both simulation and lab experiments of a two‐wheeled self‐balancing robot are carried out to validate the improved performance of the proposed method.
Structure‐Performance Relationship of Aromatic Polymer Binder for Silicon Anode in Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Kim Junho , Kim Gyuri , Park You Kyung , Lim Gayoung , Kim Seung Tae , Jung In Hwan , Kim Hansu
Published: July 2023

Polymer binders are essential for Silicon (Si) anode‐based lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). However, the synthetic guidance for aromatic polymer binder is relatively less explored compared to aliphatic polymer binders. In this study, polyimide‐based aromatic polymer binders are developed that have strong binding affinity with Si particles, a conductive agent and copper (Cu) current collector, and they show an improved initial discharge capacity of 2663 mAh g−1, which is 29% higher than that of Kapton‐based one (2071 mAh g−1). The copolymerization between “hard” and “soft” segments is crucial to achieve reversible volume expansion/contraction during the repeated charging/discharging process, resulting in the best cycle performance. The new binder ensures both excellent volume retention after full‐delithiation and allowed volume expansion at least to some extent upon full‐lithiation. This Study finds a power‐law relationship between the capacity of Si anode and the mechanical properties of the binder, i.e., the tensile stress (σ) and strain (ɛ). The initial discharge capacity is proportional to σn · ɛ (n = 2.3–2.7). Such an understanding of the relationships between polymer structure, mechanical properties of the polymer and binder performance clearly revealed the importance of the soft‐hard polymer structure for aromatic binders used in Si‐based high‐capacity lithium storage materials.
High Q‐Factor and Low Threshold Continuous‐Wave Near‐Infrared Lasing with Quasi‐2D Perovskites
Authors: Gu Lianghui , Li Mengmeng , Lai Jingya , Qian Dongmin , Wen Kaichuan , Xu Lei , Wang Gang , Guan Shuzhen , Zhang Yuyang , Huang Xinyu , Zhao Jingjing , Xing Guichuan , Wang Nana , Zhu Lin , Peng Qiming , Huang Wei , Wang Jianpu
Published: July 2023

Quasi‐2D perovskites have shown great potential in achieving solution‐processed electrically pumped laser diodes due to their multiple‐quantum‐well structure, which induces a carrier cascade process that can significantly enhance population inversion. However, continuous‐wave (CW) optically pumped lasing has yet to be achieved with near‐infrared (NIR) quasi‐2D perovskites due to the challenges in obtaining high‐quality quasi‐2D films with suitable phase distribution and morphology. This study regulates the crystallization of a NIR quasi‐2D perovskite ((NMA)2FAn−1PbnI3n+1) using an 18‐crown‐6 additive, resulting in a compact and smooth film with a largely improved carrier cascade efficiency. The amplified spontaneous emission threshold of the film is reduced from 47.2 to 35.9 µJ cm−2. Furthermore, by combining the film with a high‐quality distributed feedback grating, this study successfully realizes a CW NIR laser of 809 nm at 110 K, with a high Q‐factor of 4794 and a low threshold of 911.6 W cm−2. These findings provide an important foundation for achieving electrically pumped laser diodes based on the unique quasi‐2D perovskites.
Surface Control and Electrical Tuning of MXene Electrode for Flexible Self‐Powered Human–Machine Interaction
Authors: Cai Xu , Xiao Yu , Zhang Bingwen , Yang Yanhui , Wang Jun , Chen Huamin , Shen Guozhen
Published: July 2023

MXene materials emerge as promising candidates for energy harvesting and storage application. In this study, the effect of the surface chemistry on the work function of MXenes, which determines the performance of MXene‐based triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), is elucidated. First‐principles calculations reveal that the surface functional group greatly influences MXene work function: OH termination reduces the work function with respect to that of bare surface, while F and Cl increase it. Then, work functions are experimentally determined by Kelvin probe force microscopy. The MXene prepared by gentle etching at 40 °C for 48 h (GE40/48) has the largest work function. Furthermore, an electron‐cloud potential‐well model is established to explain the mechanism of electron emission‐dominated charge transfer and assemble a triboelectric device to verify experimentally its conclusions. It is found that GE40/48 has the best performance with a 281 V open‐circuit voltage, 9.7 µA short‐current current, and storing 1.019 µC of charge, which is consistent with the model. Last, a patterned TENG is demonstrated for self‐powered human–machine interaction application. This finding enhances the understanding of the inherent mechanism between the surface structure and the output performance of MXene‐based TENG, which can be applied to other TENG based on 2D materials.
A Multiscale Strategy for Constructing Finned Microporous Superhydrophobic Surface for Highly‐Efficient Condensation Heat Transfer Enhancement Enabled by Lifespan Regulation of Droplets
Authors: Zhang Yu‐Chen , Zhang Tian‐Yu , Fan Li‐Wu
Published: July 2023

Spontaneous droplet jumping on micro‐/nano‐structured superhydrophobic surfaces has been exploited as an efficient means for enhancing steam condensation heat transfer. However, the good performance of such surfaces quickly decays with raising the degree of subcooling, due to the mismatch between the characteristic length scales and droplet sizes when they grow up. Herein, a novel strategy for multiscale droplet regulation is proposed by combining sub‐millimeter fin structure with a hierarchical microporous superhydrophobic surface. A superior condensation heat transfer performance is attained on such hierarchical superhydrophobic finned tube (F‐SHB), in comparison to the baseline case of superhydrophobic non‐finned (SHB) tube under well‐controlled test conditions. Although the droplet jumping is not as vigorous as that on the SHB tube, the finned geometry of the F‐SHB tube leads to a condensation heat transfer enhancement even under high degrees of subcooling up to 36 K, because of the accelerated departure of large droplets by imposing Laplace force gradient in the presence of V‐shaped sub‐millimeter fins. This multiscale enhancement strategy is shown to enable a cascading regulation over the entire lifespan of condensate droplets. The fabrication of F‐SHB tubes is facile and easy to be scaled up, showing great potential in practical steam condensation applications.
De Novo Design of Aggregation‐Induced Emission Luminogen for Three‐Photon Fluorescence Imaging of Subcortical Structures Excited at Both NIR‐III and NIR‐IV Windows
Authors: Tong Shen , Xu Weilin , Zhong Jincheng , Kang Miaomiao , Chen Xinlin , Zhang Yingxian , Huang Jie , Li Zhenhui , Zhang Chi , Gao Zhiang , Xie Weixin , Qiu Ping , Zhang Zhijun , Wang Dong , Wang Ke
Published: July 2023

Three‐photon fluorescence (3PF) imaging excited at 1700 nm window is an enabling technology for visualizing deep brain structures and dynamics. Recently, the 2200 nm window has emerged as the longest excitation window suitable for deep‐brain 3PF imaging. Bright fluorescent probes lay the material basis for deep‐brain 3PF imaging. Among various fluorescent probes, aggregation‐induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) have great potential in 3PF imaging excited at the 1700 nm window in vivo. However, to the best of knowledge, there is no AIEgens applicable to 3PF imaging excited at both the 1700 and 2200 nm windows. To readily fill this gap, here this study designs and synthesizes a novel AIEgen, namely TPE‐DPTT‐ICP, which generates bright 3PF signals excited at both 1700 and 2200 nm. The accordingly fabricated TPE‐DPTT‐ICP nanoparticles (NPs) possess excellent water dispersibility, colloidal stability, biocompatibility, photostability and large 3P action cross section, key to in vivo imaging. In mouse brain in vivo, TPE‐DPTT‐ICP NPs enable deep‐brain 3PF imaging of subcortical structures excited at both the two windows, reaching depths of 1640 and 880 µm below the brain surface, respectively. TPE‐DPTT‐ICP NPs are thus a versatile material simultaneously catering to the need at two infrared optical windows with deep tissue penetration.
Individually Tailored Modular “Egg” Hydrogels Capable of Spatiotemporally Controlled Drug Release for Spinal Cord Injury Repair
Authors: Sun Xinyue , Xiong Tiandi , Yang Keni , Wang Lei , Yang Wen , Zhao Haitao , Gao Xu , You Zhifeng , Zhuang Yan , Chen Yanyan , Dai Jianwu
Published: July 2023

Controllable drug delivery systems (DDS) can overcome the disadvantages of conventional drug administration processes, such as high dosages or repeated administration. Herein, a smart DDS collagen hydrogel is deployed for spinal cord injury (SCI) repair based on modular designing of “egg” nanoparticles (NPs) that ingeniously accomplish controlled drug release via inducing a signaling cascade in response to external and internal stimuli. The “egg” NPs consist of a three‐layered structure: tannic acid/Fe3+/tetradecanol “eggshell,” zeolitic imidazolate framework‐8 (ZIF‐8) “egg white,” and paclitaxel “yolk.” Then NPs served as a crosslinking epicenter, blending with collagen solutions to generate functional hydrogels. Remarkably, the “eggshell” efficiently converts near‐infrared (NIR) irradiation into heat. Subsequently, tetradecanol can be triggered to disintegrate via heat, exposing the structure of ZIF‐8. The Zn‐imidazolium ion coordination bond of the “egg white” is susceptible to cleaving at the acidic SCI site, decomposing the skeleton to release paclitaxel on demand. As expected, the paclitaxel release rate upon NIR irradiation increased up to threefold on the seventh day, which matches endogenous neural stem/progenitor cell migration process. Taken together, the collagen hydrogels facilitate the neurogenesis and motor function recovery, demonstrating a revolutionary strategy for spatiotemporally controlled drug release and providing guidelines for the design of DDS.
Giant Energy Density via Mechanically Tailored Relaxor Ferroelectric Behavior of PZT Thick Film
Authors: Peddigari Mahesh , Wang Bo , Wang Rui , Yoon Woon‐Ha , Jang Jongmoon , Lee Hyunjong , Song Kyung , Hwang Geon‐Tae , Wang Kai , Hou Yuchen , Palneedi Haribabu , Yan Yongke , Choi Han Seung , Wang Jianjun , Talluri Aravindkrishna , Chen Long‐Qing , Priya Shashank , Jeong Dae‐Yong , Ryu Jungho
Published: July 2023

Relaxor ferroelectrics (RFEs) are being actively investigated for energy‐storage applications due to their large electric‐field‐induced polarization with slim hysteresis and fast energy charging–discharging capability. Here, a novel nanograin engineering approach based upon high kinetic energy deposition is reported, for mechanically inducing the RFE behavior in a normal ferroelectric Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 (PZT), which results in simultaneous enhancement in the dielectric breakdown strength (EDBS) and polarization. Mechanically transformed relaxor thick films with 4 µm thickness exhibit an exceptional EDBS of 540 MV m−1 and reduced hysteresis with large unsaturated polarization (103.6 µC cm−2), resulting in a record high energy‐storage density of 124.1 J cm−3 and a power density of 64.5 MW cm−3. This fundamental advancement is correlated with the generalized nanostructure design that comprises nanocrystalline phases embedded within the amorphous matrix. Microstructure‐tailored ferroelectric behavior overcomes the limitations imposed by traditional compositional design methods and provides a feasible pathway for realization of high‐performance energy‐storage materials.
Photothermal–Magnetic Synergistic Effects in an Electrocatalyst for Efficient Water Splitting under Optical–Magnetic Fields
Authors: Ma Yibing , Zhou Yaya , Wang Chenglong , Gao Bing , Li Jialing , Zhu Miao , Wu Hao , Zhang Chao , Qin Yiqiang
Published: July 2023

The slow oxygen evolution reaction (OER) limits water splitting, and external fields can help improve it. However, the effect of a single external field on the OER is limited and unsatisfactory. Furthermore, the mechanism by which external fields improve the OER is unclear, particularly in the presence of multiple fields. Herein, a strategy is proposed for enhancing the OER activity of a catalyst using the combined effect of an optical–magnetic field, and the mechanism of catalytic activity enhancement is studied. Under the optical–magnetic field, Co3O4 reduces the resistance by increasing the catalyst temperature. Meanwhile, CoFe2O4 further reduces the resistance via the negative magnetoresistance effect, thus decreasing the resistance from 16 to 7.0 Ω. Additionally, CoFe2O4 acts as a spin polarizer, and electron polarization results in a parallel arrangement of oxygen atoms, which increases the kinetics of the OER under the magnetic field. Benefiting from the optical and magnetic response design, Co3O4/CoFe2O4@Ni foam requires an overpotential of 172.4 mV to reach a current density of 10 mA cm−2 under an optical–magnetic field, which is significantly higher than those of recently reported state‐of‐the‐art transition‐metal‐based catalysts.
The Synergy of Electrospinning and Imprinting for Faithful Replication of Fiber Structures
Authors: Sahin Gozde , Vrij Erik , Grant Rhiannon , Giselbrecht Stefan
Published: July 2023

Electrospinning is a powerful method to fabricate structures resembling the fibrous texture of the native extracellular matrix. However, the random fiber deposition of the process hinders a faithful reproduction of the fiber mesh morphology on multiple samples, which raises difficulties in experimental designs to systematically test and assess cell response in vitro. A multi‐replication process to precisely reproduce the fiber morphology on different cell culture substrates is developed. The process involves a decoupling of the fiber structure, material, and porosity by combining the key advantages of electrospinning and imprinting. With this, fiber patterns having a diameter between 0.4 and 2.8 µm are replicated on polycarbonate, polystyrene, poly(methyl methacrylate), and cyclic olefin copolymer films. Identical fiber morphology is, then, obtained on porous films having a pore diameter between 2 and 12 µm. Having full control over these parameters allows the multireplication process to engineer well‐characterized cell microenvironments, which can potentially be used to further investigate complex cell–material interactions.
Bi2O3 Layer‐Integrated, Double‐Sided Responsive, Waveband‐Discriminated Perovskite Photodetector for Encrypted Optical Communication
Authors: Liu Shuo , Jiao Shujie , Zhao Yue , Lu Hongliang , Yang Song , Wang Dongbo , Gao Shiyong , Wang Jinzhong , Zhao Liancheng
Published: July 2023

Encrypted optical communication is a critical technology in numerous fields, including remote sensing, environmental monitoring, and homeland defense. As a core of wireless interconnect systems, the conventional photodetectors generally receive optical signals from a single direction and fail to distinguish between various wavebands, severely undermining the potential for data transfer and protection. Herein, a Bi2O3 layer‐integrated waveband‐discriminated perovskite photodetector is presented. By rational design of energy band and device architecture, the novel photodetector is self‐powered, double‐sided responsive, and recognizable to the short or long‐wave UV, as well as visible optical signals. Without external bias, the device exhibits a high performance with peak responsivities of 42.1 and 72.3 mA W−1 in frontal and reverse incidence, respectively. Benefiting from these advantages, the photodetector is applicable to optical communication and encryption. In reverse incidence, reversible message delivery is achieved through the conversion and decoding of illumination patterns and binary digits. For a further step, the encrypted processing is fulfilled in frontal incidence. By virtue of the eight irradiation combinations, a secret key containing ten‐bit commands will generate over a billion encryption methods. This work realizes a new mode of communication and encryption that entirely relies on optical signals, offering new insights into wireless communication.
Interfacial Polarization Triggered by Covalent‐Bonded MXene and Black Phosphorus for Enhanced Electrochemical Nitrate to Ammonia Conversion
Authors: Wang Suwen , Song Chengfang , Cai Yanjiang , Li Yongfu , Jiang Peikun , Li Hui , Yu Bing , Ma Tianyi
Published: July 2023

MXenes have recently emerged as a new class of electrocatalysts for diverse energy conversion reactions, but they are generally considered to be catalytically inert. Herein, a strategy of interfacial polarization is put forward to improve the catalytic activity of MXenes, with the construction of an interfacial structure consisting of black phosphorus (BP) nanoflakes and Nb2C MXene nanosheets for electrochemical nitrate reduction to ammonia as a proof of concept. The experimental and computational results reveal that a strong interfacial polarization is built between BP nanoflakes and Nb2C nanosheets in the prepared BP/Nb2C composite. The polarization of Nb centers by adjacent BP sites gives rise to the formation of positively centered Nb atoms and BP‐polarized Nb atoms, which synergistically catalyze the cleavage of N–O bonds in HNO2* to form NO*. In addition, the stabilization of monatomic *N by the BP/Nb2C composite is also enhanced compared with BP nanoflakes and Nb2C nanosheets. As a result, both the ammonia yield rate and Faraday efficiency of the BP/Nb2C composite are much higher than that of BP nanoflakes and Nb2C nanosheets. Overall, this work shows the great potential for constructing a strong interfacial polarization to improve the catalytic performance of MXenes‐based electrocatalysts.