bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human Histology after Structure Preservation Cochlear Implantation via Round Window Insertion
Authors: Geerardyn Alexander , Zhu MengYu , Klabbers Tim , Huinck Wendy , Mylanus Emmanuel , Nadol Joseph B. , Verhaert Nicolas , Quesnel Alicia M.
Published: July 2023

Objectives

Current surgical techniques aim to preserve intracochlear structures during cochlear implant (CI) insertion to maintain residual cochlear function. The optimal technique to minimize damage, however, is still under debate. The aim of this study is to histologically compare insertional trauma and intracochlear tissue formation in humans with a CI implanted via different insertion techniques.

Methods

One recent temporal bone from a donor who underwent implantation of a full‐length CI (576°) via round window (RW) insertion was compared with nine cases implanted via cochleostomy (CO) or extended round window (ERW) approach. Insertional trauma was assessed on H&E‐stained histological sections. 3D reconstructions were generated and virtually re‐sectioned to measure intracochlear volumes of fibrosis and neo‐ossification.

Results

The RW insertion case showed electrode translocation via the spiral ligament. 2/9 CO/ERW cases showed no insertional trauma. The total volume of the cochlea occupied by fibro‐osseous tissue was 10.8% in the RW case compared with a mean of 30.6% (range 8.7%–44.8%, N = 9) in the CO/ERW cases. The difference in tissue formation in the basal 5 mm of scala tympani, however, was even more pronounced when the RW case (12.3%) was compared with the cases with a CO/ERW approach (mean of 93.8%, range 81% to 100%, N = 9).

Conclusions

Full‐length CI insertions via the RW can be minimally traumatic at the cochlear base without inducing extensive fibro‐osseous tissue formation locally. The current study further supports the hypothesis that drilling of the cochleostomy with damage to the endosteum incites a local tissue reaction.

Level of Evidence

4: Case–control study Laryngoscope, 134:945–953, 2024
Fabrication of Zein‐Based Fibrous Scaffolds for Biomedical Applications—A Review
Authors: Rahman Mustafijur , Dip Tanvir Mahady , Haase Tina , Truong Yen Bach , Le Tu C. , Houshyar Shadi
Published: July 2023

Zein, which accounts for around 80% of the total protein composition in corn, is a biocompatible and biodegradable substance derived from renewable sources. Although insoluble in water, its amphiphilic characteristics are utilized to generate nanoparticles, nanofibers, microparticles, and even films. Numerous recent studies have demonstrated the potential of zein as a prospective biomaterial to develop fibrous scaffolds for biomedical functions owing to its biocompatibility, fibrous formation, and encapsulating qualities. Fabrication of zein‐based fibrous scaffolds for biomedical applications is achieved by a wide variety of techniques, including electrospinning, wet spinning, freeze drying, and additive manufacturing. This article overviews current advancements in manufacturing techniques for zein‐based fibrous scaffolds. In addition, it summarizes the most recent biomedical applications and research activities utilizing zein‐based fibrous scaffolds. Overall, zein is proposed as a potential biomaterial for the production of fibrous scaffolds that stimulate cell adhesion and proliferation in a number of exciting biomedical applications due to its biodegradability, biocompatibility, and other unique features related to its structure.
Targeting BRPF3 moderately reverses olaparib resistance in high grade serous ovarian carcinoma
Authors: Bitler Benjamin G. , Bailey Courtney A. , Yamamoto Tomomi M. , McMellen Alexandra , Kim Hyunmin , Watson Zachary L.
Published: July 2023

PARP inhibitors (PARPi) kill cancer cells by stalling DNA replication and preventing DNA repair, resulting in a critical accumulation of DNA damage. Resistance to PARPi is a growing clinical problem in the treatment of high grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC). Acetylation of histone H3 lysine 14 (H3K14ac) and associated histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and epigenetic readers have known functions in DNA repair and replication. Our objectives are to examine their expression and activities in the context of PARPi‐resistant HGSOC, and to determine if targeting H3K14ac or associated proteins has therapeutic potential. Using mass spectrometry profiling of histone modifications, we observed increased H3K14ac enrichment in PARPi‐resistant HGSOC cells relative to isogenic PARPi‐sensitive lines. By reverse‐transcriptase quantitative PCR and RNA‐seq, we also observed altered expression of numerous HATs in PARPi‐resistant HGSOC cells and a PARPi‐resistant PDX model. Knockdown of HATs only modestly altered PARPi response, although knockdown and inhibition of PCAF significantly increased resistance. Pharmacologic inhibition of HBO1 depleted H3K14ac but did not affect PARPi response. However, knockdown and inhibition of BRPF3, a bromodomain and PHD‐finger containing protein that is known to interact in a complex with HBO1, did reduce PARPi resistance. This study demonstrates that depletion of H3K14ac does not affect PARPi response in HGSOC. Our data suggest that the bromodomain function of HAT proteins, such as PCAF, or accessory proteins, such as BRPF3, may play a more direct role compared to direct HATs function in PARPi response.
Senescence‐based colorectal cancer subtyping reveals distinct molecular characteristics and therapeutic strategies
Authors: Lv Min‐Yi , Cai Du , Li Cheng‐Hang , Chen Junguo , Li Guanman , Hu Chuling , Gai Baowen , Lei Jiaxin , Lan Ping , Wu Xiaojian , He Xiaosheng , Gao Feng
Published: July 2023

Cellular senescence has been listed as a hallmark of cancer, but its role in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. We comprehensively evaluated the transcriptome, genome, digital pathology, and clinical data from multiple datasets of CRC patients and proposed a novel senescence subtype for CRC. Multi‐omics data was used to analyze the biological features, tumor microenvironment, and mutation landscape of senescence subtypes, as well as drug sensitivity and immunotherapy response. The senescence score was constructed to better quantify senescence in each patient for clinical use. Unsupervised learning revealed three transcriptome‐based senescence subtypes. Cluster 1, characterized by low senescence and activated proliferative pathways, was sensitive to chemotherapeutic drugs. Cluster 2, characterized by intermediate senescence and high immune infiltration, exhibited significant immunotherapeutic advantages. Cluster 3, characterized by high senescence, high immune, and stroma infiltration, had a worse prognosis and maybe benefit from targeted therapy. We further constructed a senescence scoring system based on seven senescent genes through machine learning. Lower senescence scores were highly predictive of longer disease‐free survival, and patients with low senescence scores may benefit from immunotherapy. We proposed the senescence subtypes of CRC and our findings provide potential treatment interventions for each CRC senescence subtype to promote precision treatment.
Wave trapping by freely floating obstacles in a discretely stratified fluid
Authors: Cal Filipe S. , Dias Gonçalo A. S. , Pereira Bruno M. M. , Videman Juha H.
Published: July 2023

In the context of the linear water wave theory, we model the interaction of time‐harmonic water waves with an infinite array of three‐dimensional freely floating bodies in a multilayer fluid through a spectral boundary value problem, consisting of a differential equation coupled with an algebraic system. We present a variational and operator formulation for the problem and derive sufficient conditions for the existence of trapped waves. We give examples of floating obstacles supporting trapped waves in a discretely stratified fluid in different obstacle configurations with a variable number of layers. Some conclusions regarding the dependence of the sufficient condition on the number of fluid layers are drawn, considering whether the sufficient condition is of the potential or algebraic type.
Extension of the contour‐path effective‐permittivity finite‐difference time‐domain method to three‐dimensional problems for the analysis of arbitrarily shaped dielectric media
Authors: Takeya Kazuma , Iwamoto Tetsuya , Shibayama Jun , Yamauchi Junji , Nakano Hisamatsu
Published: July 2023

The conventional finite‐difference time‐domain (FDTD) method has been formulated in the Cartesian coordinate system. In this case, the staircase approximation should be used even for the analysis of arbitrarily shaped dielectric media. As a result, small meshes are required to accurately model these media. In this letter, we extend the contour‐path effective‐permittivity (CP‐EP) technique to three‐dimensional (3D) problems in which a reasonably accurate solution can be obtained with larger meshes for arbitrarily shaped dielectric media. The formulation is performed with the position of the dielectric medium being considered in each cell, leading to its effective permittivity. We compare the result from the present method with the Mie solution and that from the conventional staircase FDTD method to confirm the effectiveness of the 3D CP‐EP technique. The relative error of the scattering cross‐section is reduced to about half that of the staircase FDTD method.
A local absorbing boundary condition for 3D seepage and heat transfer in unbounded domains
Authors: Liu Dongdong , Wei Lixin , Xu Guoyuan , Ou Zhenfeng , Tang Zenghui , Peng Shiqi
Published: July 2023

For the parabolic problems in an infinite space, previous methods basically focused on the one‐ and two‐dimensional artificial boundary. Here, a high‐order local absorbing boundary condition (ABC) used for the fluid seepage and heat transfer in unbounded one‐ and two‐dimensional domains is extended to the relative three‐dimensional analysis. The local ABCs are first derived for the problem in an isotropic media and then stretched to the case in an orthotropic media. The function including time‐related variables in Laplace‐Fourier space is approximated through the Gauss‐Legendre quadrature formula. By using the inverse Laplace‐Fourier transformation, the local ABCs in Laplace‐Fourier space are inverted into the ones in time space. The numerical examples indicate that the local ABCs can provide satisfactory results with high computational efficiency, especially for the long‐term analysis. Moreover, the relationship among the diffusion coefficient, maximum simulation time and approximation order value is also investigated.
Coercive Exchange: Magic, Agency and the Gift in a Melanesian Society
Authors: Eves Richard
Published: July 2023

Here I offer a challenge to some of the theoretical truisms that have developed concerning gift exchange, which has been a topic of scholarly debate for almost a century. Much discussion has focussed on how giving creates obligations and increases the power of the giver. Taking the case of the Lelet of New Ireland, Papua New Guinea, I examine how people use magic to usurp the agency of the giver, thus forcing them to give through ‘coercive exchange’. Magic, I argue, has the capacity to upend how obligation is understood to operate. People give, not because of the customary social obligation, but because magic has been used to extract their wealth.
Stalked by the Malignant Father's Spirit: A Case of Patricide among the Yagwoia (PNG)
Authors: Mimica Jadran
Published: July 2023

Among the Yagwoia (PNG), the dynamics of fatherhood is a process of man's transmission to and incorporation of his vital substance by his progeny. In this way, the father becomes replaced principally by his son(s). This process, referred to as the incorporation and replacement of the father's ‘bone’, has multiple actualisations whose concrete reality and significance can only be adequately understood through individual‐biographical life‐situations and trajectories. Even if not expressed through overt conflict, the dynamics of the incorporation of the father's ‘bone’ is fundamentally conflictual. It is frequently experienced by man as a violent loss of and disinvestment from his generative bodily core, especially in the sphere of prestations and financial provisioning for his children. In this context, the father's handling of his son's bride‐price shells/money has central importance. However, it is the entirety of the father's comportment to his son and daughter that effectively generates this continuous and irreversible process of the self‐transmission of his vital substance. If he is greedy, selfish and ungiving, then all the same – his ‘bone’ transmission will be merely keyed in and acted out in an increasingly overt negative mode, and the son's comportment to him will be equally bad. No matter what kind of father a man may be, his son's incorporation of his father's osseous strength is unstoppable. Thus, a son not only threatens and intimidates, but also may beat up and occasionally kill his father. This paper deals with one such extreme case of son's replacement and incorporation of his father's vital core.
Characteristics and management of patients with SARS‐CoV2 infection admitted to pediatric intensive care units: Data analysis of the Spanish national multicenter registry
Authors: Slöcker Barrio María , Belda Hofheinz Sylvia , Guitart Pardellans Carmina , García‐Salido Alberto , de Carlos Vicente Juan Carlos , Cuervas‐Mons Tejedor Maite , Hernández Yuste Alexandra , Jiménez Olmos Ainhoa , Morteruel Arizcuren Elvira , García‐Besteiro Maria , Calvo Monge Cristina , Rodríguez Rubio Miguel , Roca Pascual David , Bermúdez Barrezueta Lorena , Martínez Padilla Carmen , Huidobro Labarga Beatriz , Oulego‐Erroz Ignacio , Sanchíz Cárdenas Sonia , Rey Galan Corsino , Holanda Peña Maria Soledad , González Navarro Pablo , Cortés Rafael González ,   Spanish Pediatric Intensive Care Society working group on SARS‐Cov2 infection
Published: July 2023

Introduction

The purpose of this study is to describe the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV2) disease characteristics and management in children admitted to the pediatric intensive care units (PICU).

Methods

The present study was based on a national multicentric prospective registry including PICU patients with SARS‐CoV2 infection or symptoms of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS‐C).

Results

A total of 298 patients were admitted to 41 different Spanish PICUs. A total of 76% of them were previously healthy. The most frequent manifestation was MIS‐C (69.8%). On admission, 59.4% of patients did not have respiratory distress, and only 17.4% needed conventional mechanical ventilation (MV). The need for MV was associated with age (incidence rate ratios [IRR] 1.21, p < .012), pediatric sequential organ failure assessment score (p‐SOFA) Score (IRR 1.12, p = .001), and need for transfusion (IRR 4.5, p < .004) in MIS‐C patients, and with vasoactive drug use (IRR 2.73, p = .022) and the diagnosis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (IRR 2.83, p = .018) in patients admitted for other reasons. During the first day of admission, 56% of patients met shock criteria and 50.7% needed vasoactive drugs. In MIS‐C patients, their use was associated with higher p‐SOFA score (IRR 1.06, p < .001) and with the diagnosis of shock (IRR 5.78, p < .001). In patients without MIS‐C, it was associated with higher p‐SOFA score (IRR 1.05, p = .022). The mortality rate was 3%, being lower in MIS‐C patients compared to patients admitted for other reasons (0.5% vs. 9.4%, p < .001). It was also lower in previously healthy patients compared to patients with previous comorbidities (0.9% vs. 9.7%, p < .001).

Conclusions

Severe SARS‐CoV2 infection is uncommon in the pediatric population. In our series, respiratory distress was rare, being MIS‐C the most frequent cause of PICU admission related to SARS‐CoV2. In most cases, the course of the disease was mild except in children with previous diseases.
Total loss of primary containment reporting to improve environmental, social, and governance, sustainability, and process safety performance
Authors: Forest Jerry , Wright Lydia
Published: July 2023

In recent years, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics have gained significant attention from investors as they seek to understand a company's approach to managing social and environmental risks. Consequently, improving these metrics has become important for companies to demonstrate their commitment to responsible practices and address stakeholder concerns. A company's commitment to responsible practices is also recognized by the American Chemistry Council's (ACC) sustainability goals. The ACC sustainability priorities include various aspects such as climate, water, circularity, air quality, product safety, and diversity and inclusion. Sustainability metrics overlap some suggested ESG metrics. Overlapping ESG and ACC sustainability metrics are also suggested by API‐RP‐754. This article aims to illustrate the utilization of API‐RP‐754 Tier 3 and 4 leading indicators to enhance process safety performance and show a direct impact on improving ESG and sustainability metrics. By examining metrics related to minor chemical spills, water efficiency, plastic waste, and process safety, we will establish a clear connection between increased reporting and the corresponding improvement in process safety lagging indicators. Furthermore, increased reporting of minor spills and elimination of causes will have a direct impact on ESG and sustainability, thereby improving cost and potential improvement of business perception and value to stakeholders.
Enhancement of Optical, Electrical, Magnetic, and Thermopower Properties of LaMnO3 by Potassium‐Doping
Authors: Mohamed Hany F. , Ahmed Ahmed M. , Ahmed Mahrous R. , Paixão José A. , Mohamed Sara A.
Published: July 2023

Optical, magnetoresistance, and thermoelectric properties of La1−xKxMnO3 (x = 0.05, 0.15, and 0.25) compounds have been investigated. The crystallography demonstrates that the samples x = 0.05 and 0.15 are a single‐phase rhombohedral () structure, while x = 0.25 is near to a single rhombohedral phase with a minor amount of Mn3O4 (with a ratio of ≈2%). The optical properties manifest that the reflectivity decreases slightly with increasing x‐doping, where the sample of x = 0.05 has the lowest reflection value, making it a promising material for photovoltaic applications. Electrical resistivity measurements show that the samples have a metal–semiconductor transition, and the transition temperature Tms decreases with the K content. The thermoelectric data show a remarkable coincidence behavior of the ρ–T relationship, which has a peak at a transition temperature (TS). Magnetic susceptibility data show that the samples undergo ferro‐paramagnetic transition at a certain temperature (Curie temperature).
The roles of natural triterpenoid saponins against Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Zhou Jie‐Chun , Li Hui‐Lin , Zhou Yu , Li Xi‐Tao , Yang Zhi‐You , Tohda Chihiro , Komatsu Katsuko , Piao Xiu‐Hong , Ge Yue‐Wei
Published: July 2023

The aging of the world population and increasing stress levels in life are the major cause of the increased incidence of neurological disorders. Alzheimer's disease (AD) creates a huge burden on the lives and health of individuals and has become a big concern for society. Triterpenoid saponins (TS), representative natural product components, have a wide range of pharmacological bioactivities such as anti‐inflammation, antioxidation, antiapoptosis, hormone‐like, and gut microbiota regulation. Notably, some natural TS exhibited promising neuroprotective activity that can intervene in AD progress, especially in the early stage. Recently, studies have indicated that TS play a pronounced positive role in the prevention and treatment of AD. This review discusses the recent research on the neuroprotection of TS and proceeds to detail the action mechanisms of TS against AD, hoping to provide a reference for drug development for anti‐AD.
A new fusion method to predict coal mine roof accidents
Authors: Liu Jiao , Li Shuang , Xu Kun , Yang Qifeng , You Mengjie , Xue Guangzhe
Published: July 2023

In the context that coal remains the main energy source of China now, the safety of coal mine production is still worth our attention. For the factors influencing the roof accident of coal mine roadway have great complexity and uncertainty, a new risk prediction method of coal mine roof accidents integrating T‐S fuzzy fault tree and Bayesian network (BN) is proposed. The constructed method determines the BN and the conditional probability tables according to the established T‐S fuzzy fault tree. The fault state and fuzzy fault rate of root nodes are described according to the fuzzy number. And the forward inference of Bayesian is used to calculate the probability of the accidents on the roadway roof based on the fault probability of the root nodes and actual fault probability during construction respectively, to realize the risk prediction of roof accidents. Finally, practical data are used to verify the new fusion risk evaluation method by taking two mines as cases. The results show that the influencing factors calculated by the new fusion risk prediction method are completely consistent with the actual situation, confirming the effectiveness and reliability of this method, which providing new ideas for the research about the risk prediction of coal mine roof accidents.
Rise from the ashes! Resilience patterns in Patagonia pastoralist communities
Authors: Laborda Luciana , Easdale Marcos H. , Fallot Abigail , Ocariz M. Paula , Tittonell Pablo A.
Published: July 2023

Pastoral household resilience is shaped by the interplay between human agency and community resilience mechanisms. As a major component of pastoral household livelihoods, livestock can serve as an indicator to characterize resilience of pastoralist communities. In 2011, Patagonia faced droughts and a volcanic ashfall that affected livestock, water and forage resources during an ongoing economic recovery process. In two localities, we reconstructed the history of events that significantly influenced livestock dynamics over time at community and household levels. After the 2011 ashfall, herd sizes decreased variably by 13% to 91%. By 2019, only 37% of households recovered their herds. Although livestock dynamics were similar in both communities, households with small and medium‐large herd sizes, high connectivity, off‐farm income, and women involved in decision‐making exhibited higher resilience. Understanding household diversity provided localized insights into community resilience (agency, adaptability).
Perceptions and conceptualizations of gender‐based violence: The case of Northern Ghana
Authors: Alo Susana Aga , Sedegah Daniella Delali , Tuffour Michael , Akolaa Rosemary Anderson
Published: July 2023

The study assessed gender‐based violence (GBV) in Northern Ghana with a focus on intimate partner violence (IPV), other forms of violence against women, and the general perception held on gendered‐based violence in the regions. The causal factors militating against the general development of women are also closely examined. It draws on the ecological model to unpack the dynamics of GBV in Northern Ghana with the general objective of promoting gender equality in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study analyzed qualitative and quantitative data from 450 males and females sampled in three districts in Northern Ghana. The study finds that where there is a misunderstanding in conjugal relationships, men are likely to resort to the use of violence to resolve it. The sociocultural acceptance of GBV could mean that both genders do not perceive male violence as deviant behavior. Imperatively, governmental and nongovernmental agencies should prioritize challenging cultural norms that normalize deviant behaviors.
Abortion restrictions and unlimited government in the United States today
Authors: Skidmore Max J.
Published: July 2023

The controversy over a woman's “right to choose,” as opposed to the numerous “rights” that abortion opponents decide should be assumed to exist for “unborn children,” has always struck me as incomplete. Two missing elements of the argument seem obvious, yet they remain almost completely overlooked. The first is that there is virtually no consideration whatsoever for the pregnant person herself. Her rights, if she is even assumed to have any at all, do not in any way enter into consideration, unless possibly if the pregnancy appears to threaten her life (to be sure, some more humane anti‐abortionists do concede, often grudgingly, that no one should have to carry to term a pregnancy caused by rape, but the point remains). Second, and most paradoxically, opponents of abortion appear also generally to be opposed to “big government,” yet all the while they refuse to recognize any rights at all that belong to the person who is pregnant and to be comfortable with complete control over her. The opponents seem oblivious to the clear fact that stripping pregnant adults of all ability to determine their future requires an enormously powerful, virtually totalitarian government. So, I argue that it is not correct that the United States has had a tradition of abortion prohibition while simultaneously being a “free country.” The association of anti‐abortion policies with right‐wing authoritarianism is definite. Whether there is a cause‐and‐effect relationship is irrelevant. All repressive and dictatorial policies need to be opposed. The Republican Party now continues its merry way to suppress votes, subvert democracy, and attempt to ensure that women are stripped of their autonomy and serve only as incubators for the preservation of the human race and for male pleasure. I conclude that looking at abortion from the viewpoint of informed common sense is long overdue. This article provides that overdue look, along with my apology for not having given the warning sooner.
Diarylether‐Amino Acid Conjugates as New Class of Anticancer Agents
Authors: Thanh Le Thanh , Huy Vo Vinh , Thanh Huong Le Thi , Huy Hoang Vo Nguyen , Loc Le Xuan , Hong Tuoi Do Thi , Y Vu Thien , Hung Nguyen Phu , Duy Vo Duc , Le Tin Thanh
Published: July 2023

Diarylether (DE) is a privileged structure found in both natural products and synthetic compounds including small molecule drugs. We present the synthesis of a series of 13 new DE‐amino acid conjugates which were screened for cancer cells antiproliferation activity. Structure‐activity relationship suggests ester and phenyl groups in DE‐Phe‐OEt 4 c are important for the activity. Compound 4 c inhibited strongly MCF‐7 3D tumor sphere formation and have favourable calculated physical chemical properties according to Lipinski's rule of 5. Docking study suggests estrogen receptor and/ or 3a‐HSD type 3 protein could be the target(s) for anticancer activity of this class of compounds.
A Mesoporous CuO/CuSe Heterojunction Nanocomposite with Applications in Visible‐Light Photocatalysis and as an Electrochemical Phenol Sensor
Authors: Som Ipsita , Biswas Sourav , Dey Santanu , Saha Rajnarayan
Published: July 2023

A new study has successfully fabricated a CuO/CuSe heterojunction nanocomposite using an eco‐friendly green method, which can be used as a potential photocatalyst and for phenol sensing applications. The nanocomposite has been characterized using various microscopic and spectroscopic methods, and it was found to have a direct band gap value of 2.14 eV, which indicates it can exploit visible light for its properties. The nanocomposite was tested for photocatalytic degradation of two dyes, Rhodamine B (RhB) and Methyl Orange (MO), and achieved removal efficiencies of 99.32 % and 88.20 %, respectively, using hydrogen peroxide. The nanocomposite was also found to have potentiality for practical use in phenol sensing, detecting concentrations of 0.2–1.4 μM phenol in solution and demonstrating 96–100 % phenol recovery in real water samples.
Apoptotic Vesicles of MSCs: The Natural Therapeutic Agents and Bio‐Vehicles for Targeting Drug Delivery
Authors: Lin Ruyi , Zhang Tianyuan , Gao Jianqing
Published: July 2023

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)‐based therapies are increasingly recognized as promising cellular therapeutics and show the ability to treat various diseases. However, the underlying mechanism is not fully elucidated. Some recent studies have shown an unexpected result whereby MSCs undergo rapid apoptosis following administration but still exert therapeutic effects in some disease treatments. Such a therapeutic mechanism is believed to associate with the released apoptotic vesicles from apoptotic MSCs (MSC‐ApoVs). This finding inspires a novel therapeutic strategy for using MSC‐ApoVs for disease treatment. The present review aims to summarize the biogenesis, physiological functions, therapeutic potentials, and related mechanisms of apoptotic vesicles in MSC‐based therapy. In addition, the potential applications of MSC‐ApoVs as natural therapeutic agents and natural drug delivery vehicles are proposed and highlighted. The present review is hoped to provide a general understanding of MSC‐ApoVs in disease treatment and inspire potential applications in targeted drug delivery.
A Review: Electrospinning Applied to Solar Interfacial Evaporator
Authors: Tang Ruijing , Ju Jingge , Huang Yuting , Kang Weimin
Published: July 2023

The emerging solar interfacial evaporation (SIE) technology is an effective measure to address freshwater resources. An efficient and stable solar interfacial evaporator cannot be achieved without the synergy of three key factors: water transport, solar thermal conversion, and thermal management. The performance of a solar interfacial evaporator can be improved through the rational selection of materials and the structural design of these three key factors. Due to superior nanostructures, electrospun nanofibrous materials often exhibit some unique properties that facilitate the construction of solar interface evaporators with good performance. So far, electrospinning has been used to prepare structures such as solar absorbers, water transportation, and thermal insulation in various solar interfacial evaporators. This review presents the fundamental research and technological development in the application of electrospinning techniques to solar interfacial evaporators on structures, morphology, and properties. Then, the latest advances in the use of electrospinning technology in solar interfacial evaporators are summarized and the current issues facing the application of electrospinning technology to solar interfacial evaporators are presented. These systematic discussions can provide ideas and approaches for the rational design of electrospun nanofiber materials for solar interfacial evaporators in the future.
Microservice reference architecture design: A multi‐case study
Authors: Söylemez Mehmet , Tekinerdogan Bedir , Tarhan Ayça Kolukısa
Published: July 2023

Microservice architecture (MSA) is an architectural style that is designed to support the modular development of software systems within a particular domain. It is characterized by the use of small, independently deployable services, which can be developed and deployed autonomously. The benefits of MSA include improved scalability, fault‐tolerance, and ease of deployment and maintenance. However, developing MSA for a specific domain can be challenging and requires a thorough consideration of various concerns such as service boundaries, communication protocols, and security. To support the easy development and guidance of an MSA for practitioners, we present a reference architecture design for MSA. The reference architecture has been designed after a comprehensive domain analysis of MSA in the literature and the MSAs of key vendors. This analysis has been used to identify best practices and common patterns that can be applied to the development of MSA. Additionally, relevant architecture viewpoints have been selected to model the corresponding architecture views, providing a clear and comprehensive understanding of the architecture. To validate the proposed reference architecture, a multi‐case study research approach has been used. In this approach, two industrial case studies have been used to demonstrate the practical applicability of the proposed reference architecture. The results of these case studies have shown that the reference architecture can be used to effectively guide the development of MSA in real‐world scenarios.
In Situ Electrochemically Transforming VN/V2O3 Heterostructure to Highly Reversible V2NO for Excellent Zinc Ion Storage
Authors: Lu Huibing , Zhang Zhengchunyu , An Xuguang , Feng Jinkui , Xiong Shenglin , Xi Baojuan
Published: July 2023

Achieving aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs) with high capacity and long lifetime remains challenging because the intense charge repulsion of multivalent ions causes structural instability and sluggish kinetics. The electrochemical activity brought by in situ structure optimization has dramatically improved the electrochemical performance. Hereinto, the nanocomposites consisting of VN/V2O3 heterostructure composited with carbon (VN/V2O3@C) by a self‐template strategy are synthesized. The VN/V2O3 heterostructure undergoes an in situ electrochemical activation phase transition to highly reversible V2NO after the first cycle. The interface of V2O3 and VN induces ion displacement polarization under the action of the applied electric field, making it easier for oxygen and nitrogen atoms to dope into the crystal structure of VN and V2O3, contributing to V2NO phase formation. Furthermore, theory calculations demonstrate that V2NO can provide favorable adsorption for reversible Zn2+ storage. The V2NO@C electrode thus delivers high reversible capacities of 490.2 mAh g−1 after 310 cycles at 200 mA g−1 and impressive long‐cycle stability over 6000 cycles at 10 A g−1. Herein, it sheds new light on the mechanism of in situ electrochemical phase transition from heterostructures into one phase, which is a great revolution in designing cathode materials for AZIBs.
Resonant anomaly detection with multiple reference datasets
Authors: Chen Mayee F. , Nachman Benjamin , Sala Frederic
Published: July 2023

Abstract

An important class of techniques for resonant anomaly detection in high energy physics builds models that can distinguish between reference and target datasets, where only the latter has appreciable signal. Such techniques, including Classification Without Labels (CWoLa) and Simulation Assisted Likelihood-free Anomaly Detection (SALAD) rely on a single reference dataset. They cannot take advantage of commonly-available multiple datasets and thus cannot fully exploit available information. In this work, we propose generalizations of CWoLa and SALAD for settings where multiple reference datasets are available, building on weak supervision techniques. We demonstrate improved performance in a number of settings with realistic and synthetic data. As an added benefit, our generalizations enable us to provide finite-sample guarantees, improving on existing asymptotic analyses.
Quantum error correction in the black hole interior
Authors: Balasubramanian Vijay , Kar Arjun , Li Cathy , Parrikar Onkar
Published: July 2023

Abstract

We study the quantum error correction properties of the black hole interior in a toy model for an evaporating black hole: Jackiw-Teitelboim gravity entangled with a non-gravitational bath. After the Page time, the black hole interior degrees of freedom in this system are encoded in the bath Hilbert space. We use the gravitational path integral to show that the interior density matrix is correctable against the action of quantum operations on the bath which (i) do not have prior access to details of the black hole microstates, and (ii) do not have a large, negative coherent information with respect to the maximally mixed state on the bath, with the lower bound controlled by the black hole entropy and code subspace dimension. Thus, the encoding of the black hole interior in the radiation is robust against generic, low-rank quantum operations. For erasure errors, gravity comes within an O(1) distance of saturating the Singleton bound on the tolerance of error correcting codes. For typical errors in the bath to corrupt the interior, they must have a rank that is a large multiple of the bath Hilbert space dimension, with the precise coefficient set by the black hole entropy and code subspace dimension.
Laser irradiation of differently aged carbon nanoparticles: effect on optical properties
Authors: Migliorini F. , Belmuso S. , Ciniglia D. , Dondè R. , De Iuliis S.
Published: July 2023

The effect of laser irradiation on carbon nanoparticles of different maturity sampled from a premixed flame is investigated. To this purpose, extinction and laser-induced incandescence measurements are carried out on pristine and pre-irradiated nanoparticles. From extinction measurements, a spectral trend of the absorption coefficient of the particles is retrieved. Moreover, two-color laser-induced incandescence versus fluence is used to investigate the behavior of signal and temperature fluence curves in the different conditions under analysis. By coupling these results, interesting outcomes are obtained depending on the nature (nascent vs mature) of the particles. For nascent particles, a significant shift of the fluence curves is observed for the pre-irradiated particles, suggesting an increase in the absorption efficiency. However, no changes in the spectral trend of the absorption coefficient are observed from extinction measurements. On the contrary, for mature particles the absorption properties are strongly affected by irradiation resulting in an increase in the absorption efficiency in the spectral region below 600 nm. Moreover, a decrease of the temperature at the plateau regime for pre-irradiated mature particles towards the temperature value reached by nascent particles is observed. Two processes, namely fragmentation and sublimation followed by nucleation of new particles are suggested to occur under laser irradiation, especially for mature carbon nanoparticles.
Systematic review and network meta-analysis of robot-assisted gait training on lower limb function in patients with cerebral palsy
Authors: Wang Yueying , Zhang Peipei , Li Chao
Published: July 2023

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) in treating lower extremity function in patients with cerebral palsy (CP) and compare the efficacy differences between different robotic systems.

Methods

PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, CNKI, VIP, CBM, and Wanfang databases were searched to collect randomized controlled trials of RAGT for lower extremity dysfunction in patients with CP from the time the databases were created until December 26, 2022. The D and E of Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88) assessed lower limb motor function. Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was used to assess balance function. Walking endurance and speed were assessed using the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and walking speed. The modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) was used to assess the degree of muscle spasticity in the lower extremities. The Cochrane Risk Assessment Scale and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale were used for qualitative assessment in the studies included. RevMan 5.4 was used for data merging and statistical analysis. R 4.2.0 and ADDIS 1.16.8 were used to map the network relationships and to perform the network meta-analysis.

Results

A total of 14 studies were included in the review. The meta-analysis showed that RAGT significantly improved GMFM-88 D and E, BBS, and 6MWT scores in CP patients compared with conventional rehabilitation. However, for walking speed and MAS, the intervention effect of RAGT was insignificant. The network meta-analysis showed that the best probability ranking for the effect of the 3 different robots on the GMFM-88 D score was LokoHelp (P = 0.66) > Lokomat (P = 0.28) > 3DCaLT (P = 0.06) and the best probability ranking for the GMFM-88 E score was LokoHelp (P = 0.63) > 3DCaLT (P = 0.21) > Lokomat (P = 0.16).

Conclusion

RAGT positively affects walking and balance function in patients with CP, while efficacy in improving gait speed and muscle spasticity is unknown. The best treatment among the different robots is LokoHelp. Future high-quality, long-term follow-up studies are needed to explore the clinical efficacy of RAGT in depth.
Are fungal epizootics a sign of successful biological control of cereal aphids?
Authors: Saussure Stéphanie , Hjelkrem Anne-Grete Roer , Klingen Ingeborg , Meadow Richard , Holst Niels
Published: July 2023

Pandora neoaphidis is a common entomopathogenic fungus on Sitobion avenae, which is an important aphid pest on cereals in Europe. Pandora neoaphidis is known to cause epizootics (i.e. an unusually high prevalence of infected hosts) and the rapid collapse of aphid populations. We developed a weather-driven mechanistic model of the winter wheat-S. avenae-P. neoaphidis system to simulate the dynamics from spring to harvest. Aphid immigration was fixed at a rate that would lead to a pest outbreak, if not controlled by the fungus. We estimated the biocontrol efficacy by running pair-wise simulations, one with and one without the fungus. Uncertainty in model parameters and variation in weather was included, resulting in a range of simulation outcomes, and a global sensitivity analysis was performed. We identified two key understudied parameters that require more extensive experimental data collection to better assess the fungus biocontrol, namely the fungus transmission efficiency and the decay of cadaver, which defines the time window for possible disease transmission. The parameters with the largest influence on the improvement in yield were the weather, the lethal time of exposed aphids, the fungus transmission efficiency, and the humidity threshold for fungus development, while the fungus inoculum in the chosen range (between 10 and 70% of immigrant aphids carrying the fungus) was less influential. The model suggests that epizootics occurring early, around Zadoks growth stage (GS) 61, would lead to successful biocontrol, while later epizootics (GS 73) were a necessary but insufficient condition for success. These model predictions were based on the prevalence of cadavers only, not of exposed (i.e. infected but yet non-symptomatic) aphids, which in practice would be costly to monitor. The model suggests that practical Integrated Pest Management could thus benefit from including the cadavers prevalence in a monitoring program. We argue for further research to experimentally estimate these cadaver thresholds.
Effect of water on the dissolution of flax fiber bundles in the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate
Authors: Albarakati Fatimah A. , Hine Peter J. , Ries Michael E.
Published: July 2023

This work investigated the dissolution rate of flax fibers in the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate [C2mim] [OAc] with the addition of a cellulose anti-solvent, water. The dissolution process was studied as a function of time, temperature and water concentration. Optical microscopy is used to analyse the resultant partially dissolved fibers. Distilled water was added to the solvent bath at the concentrations of 1%, 2% and 4% by weight in order to understand its influence on the dissolution process. The effect of the addition of even small amounts of water was found to significantly decrease the speed of dissolution, decreasing exponentially as a function of water concentration. The resulting data of both pure (as received from the manufacturers) ionic liquid and ionic liquid/anti-solvent mixtures showed the growth of the coagulated fraction as a function of both dissolution time and temperature followed time temperature superposition. An Arrhenius behavior was found, enabling the measurement of the activation energy for the dissolution of flax fiber. The activation energy of the IL as received (0.2% water) was found to be 64 ± 5 kJ/mol. For 1%, 2% and 4% water systems, the activation energies were found to be 74 ± 7 kJ/mol, 97 ± 3 kJ/mol and 116 ± 0.6 kJ/mol respectively. Extrapolating these results to zero water concentration gave a value for the hypothetical dry IL (0% water) of 58 ± 4 kJ/mol. The hypothetical dry ionic liquid is predicted to dissolve cellulose 23% faster than the IL as received (0.2% water).
Teachers’ perceptions of less successfully organized professional development practices in mathematics: A study of nine secondary schools in Shanghai, China
Authors: Fan Lianghuo , Xie Sicheng , Luo Jietong , Li Lingzhu , Tang Jiali , Li Shuhui
Published: July 2023

Professional development (PD) for mathematics teachers in China, especially in Shanghai, has received growing international attention. However, most of available research concerning Chinese PD has focused on successful practices, and far too little attention has been paid to less successfully organized PD practices, particularly for mathematics teachers in Shanghai. This study aims to examine key aspects and underlying reasons for less successfully organized PD practices in Shanghai from teachers’ perspectives. The data were collected from 132 mathematics teachers in 9 randomly selected secondary schools in Shanghai through a questionnaire survey and follow-up interviews. The results show that Shanghai mathematics teachers perceived “time, duration and frequency”, “assessment and management” and “objective” as the three most unsatisfactory aspects in less successfully organized PD they attended, and they considered that organized PD practices were less successful mainly due to lack of assessment for the PD organizers and of necessary coordination between PD organizers at different levels. In addition, there were statistically significant differences in teachers’ perceptions of various specific problems in different aspects about less successfully organized PD between teachers with different demographic features, such as length of teaching experience and gender. Implications of the findings of the study to Chinese educational settings and beyond are discussed at the end of the paper.
Application of Elastic P-SV Reverse Time Migration to Synthetic Ultrasonic Echo Data from Concrete Members
Authors: Grohmann Maria , Niederleithinger Ernst , Buske Stefan , Büttner Christoph
Published: July 2023

The ultrasonic echo technique is frequently used in non-destructive testing (NDT) of concrete structures for thickness measurements, geometry determinations as well as localization of built-in components. To improve ultrasonic imaging of complex structures in concrete, we transferred a geophysical imaging technique, the reverse time migration (RTM), to NDT in civil engineering. In contrast to the conventionally used synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT) algorithms, RTM is a wavefield continuation method in time and uses the full wave equation. Thus, RTM can handle complicated wave propagations in any direction without dip limitation. In this paper, we focused on the application and evaluation of a two-dimensional (2D) elastic RTM algorithm considering compressional waves, vertically polarized shear waves, and Rayleigh waves. We tested the elastic RTM routine on synthetic ultrasonic echo data generated with a 2D concrete model consisting of several steps and circular air inclusions. As these complex structures can often be found in real-world NDT use cases, their imaging is especially important. By using elastic RTM, we were able to clearly reproduce vertical reflectors and lower edges of circular air voids inside our numerical concrete model. Such structures cannot be imaged with conventional SAFT algorithms. Furthermore, the used elastic RTM approach also yielded a better reconstruction of a horizontal reflector and upper boundaries of circular air inclusions. Our encouraging results demonstrate that elastic RTM has the potential to significantly improve the imaging of complex concrete structures and, thus, is a step forward for detailed, high-quality ultrasonic NDT in civil engineering.