bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Mobile Application for Child‐Focused Tonsillectomy Education: Development and User‐Testing
Authors: Cordray Holly , Wright Emily A. , Patel Chhaya , Raol Nikhila , Prickett Kara K.
Published: November 2023

Objective

Patient education is central to Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocols, but child‐focused materials are lacking. We developed and piloted a mobile application to support accessible, interactive patient and caregiver education about pediatric tonsillectomy.

Methods

Thirty children ages 5–12 who were preparing for tonsillectomy, their caregivers, and six attending otolaryngologists participated in a user‐testing trial of a web‐based prototype. The trial measured feasibility, fidelity, and patient‐centered outcomes. Patients and caregivers rated usability/likeability on the mHealth App Usability Questionnaire. Otolaryngologists rated quality on the Mobile App Rating Scale. The full mobile application, “Ready for Tonsillectomy,” was then developed for iOS and Android.

Results

Enrollment was 88.2%, retention was 90.0%, and use was 96.3%. Mean (SD) patient ratings for usability/likeability were 6.3 (1.1) out of 7; caregiver ratings were 6.5 (1.1). In common themes from open‐ended feedback, patients described the application as helpful and appealing, and caregivers described it as informative, easy to understand, calming, and easy to use. Among caregivers who used the application during recovery, 92.3% reported that it helped them manage their child's pain. Providers would recommend the application to many or all of their patients (mean [SD]: 4.7 [0.5] out of 5). Mean provider ratings for domains of engagement, functionality, aesthetics, information quality, subjective quality, and app‐specific value ranged from 4.1 to 4.8 out of 5.

Conclusion

Feasibility and fidelity were high. Families and otolaryngologists endorsed the resource as an engaging, informative tool that supports positive coping. Our mobile application offers a patient‐centered solution readily scalable to other surgeries.

Level of Evidence

NA Laryngoscope, 134:2455–2463, 2024
Prolonged operative time predicts postoperative deep venous thrombosis in head and neck cancer patients who undergo free flap reconstruction
Authors: Lee Kevin C. , Waring Nicholas A. , Yu Victoria X. , Okolo Ogoegbunam , Caruana Salvatore M. , Troob Scott H. , Parikh Anuraag S.
Published: November 2023

Objective

This study sought to quantify the deep venous thrombosis (DVT) incidence in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients undergoing free tissue transfer and to identify independent predictors of postoperative DVT.

Materials and Methods

This is a cross‐sectional study of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 2010 through 2020. The sample included all HNC surgical patients treated with free flap reconstruction. The study outcome was the presence of a DVT requiring treatment within 30 days of surgery. Univariate analyses were performed using chi‐squared and independent t‐tests. A multiple logistic regression model was created using all significant univariate predictors.

Results

A total of 3954 patients were identified, of whom 53 (1.3%) experienced a postoperative DVT. The only medical comorbidity associated with DVT was COPD (RR = 2.7 [1.3, 5.4]; p < .01). Operative time longer than 9 hours (RR = 1.9 [1.0, 3.2]; p = .04) and length of stay longer than 10 days (RR = 1.9 [1.1, 3.2]; p = .02) were associated with greater DVT rates. In the multivariate analysis, only COPD (p < .01) and operative time (p = .02) were independently associated with DVT risk. The presence of a DVT was found to increase the relative risk of readmission (RR = 2.1 [1.2, 3.6]; p < .01) and non‐home disposition (RR = 2.4 [1.7, 3.5]; p < .01).

Conclusions

The incidence of DVT in HNC free flap patients was comparable to what has been reported in the general population of HNC surgery patients. Operative time >9 h and COPD history were independent risk factors for DVT in this subset of patients. Symptomatic DVTs necessitating treatment were accompanied by poorer post‐hospitalization outcomes.

Level of Evidence

Level 3.
Bacterial glycerol tetraethers as a potential tool to trace marine methane cycling
Authors: Zhang Zhe‐Xuan , Li Jiwei , Lu Hongxuan , Yang Huan , Zhang Yige , Tang Yongjie , Fu Meiyan , Peng Xiaotong
Published: November 2023

Branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (brGDGTs) are bacterial lipids that can be preserved in sedimentary archives for tens of millions of years and are ubiquitous in diverse environments, including cold seep systems. Their potential implications for detecting methane activity in deep time are, however, hampered by the multiple sources of brGDGTs in cold seeps and the lack of evidence of their stable carbon isotopes. Here, we show that brGDGTs in cold seeps are characterized by depleted stable carbon isotopic compositions of the alkyl moieties (δ13C = −32.9‰ to −82.7‰), indicating a methane metabolizing community origin, which is supported by the association between 16S rRNA genes and brGDGTs. We further identify unique seep‐derived brGDGT signals from the global published dataset by a tree‐based machine‐learning algorithm. This trained model, named light gradient‐boosting machine classification for paleoSEEP (GBM_SEEP), is further applied on a paleorecord across the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), which suggests potential methane emission events during the PETM recovery phase. Collectively, our study links brGDGT production in cold seeps with methane metabolizing communities and provides a potential strategy to capture significant methane emission events using the machine‐learning model, which warrants further investigation.
Photonic Meta‐Neurons
Authors: Liu Xiaoyuan , Chen Mu Ku , Tsai Din Ping
Published: November 2023

Artificial intelligence (AI) has witnessed a growing integration into numerous domains of production and daily life. Such powerful AI has emerged from electronic simulations of human neurons. In the post‐Moore era, Von‐Neumann architecture and high energy consumption have posed challenges for the advancement of electronic AI. In light of these limitations, a new concept of photonic meta‐neurons is proposed, which holds the potential to address these issues by optically emulating biological neurons through the utilization of metasurfaces. Meta‐neurons could enable flexible modulation of photonic signals through hierarchical and high‐dimensional manipulation of light fields. The flat and thin design of the meta‐neuron reduces the spatial constraints. In comparison to electronic AI, meta‐neurons offer a range of desirable attributes, including the potential for achieving light‐speed processing, parallel computing, clean energy utilization, high energy efficiency, and an in‐memory computing architecture. The meta‐neuron concept can serve as a promising starting point for photonic AI. With its advantages of high‐speed computing and environmental friendliness, meta‐neurons will have broad applications in various fields, particularly for latency‐critical tasks.
A Short Review on Organohydrogels: Constructions and Applications
Authors: Le Xiaoxia , Shang Hui , Chen Tao
Published: November 2023

Organohydrogels composed of immiscible hydrophilic and hydrophobic components have outstanding advantages in environmental adaptability, thus exhibiting potential applications in the fields of soft actuators, artificial sensors, energy storage devices, and so on. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in organohydrogels, from construction to performance and application. After a brief introduction, typical cases of organohydrogels and their construction methods are analyzed and summarized, including organohydrogels with heterogeneous networks, organohydrogels with binary solvent, emulsion‐based organohydrogels, and macroscopic hybrid gels. Then, their promising applications of soft actuators, flexible electronics, and anti‐counterfeiting platforms are outlined. Finally, the current challenges and future prospects of this emerging area are discussed. This review can be a significant reference for the development of environmentally adaptable materials and the expansion of new applications.
On bQ1$bQ_1$‐degrees of c.e. sets
Authors: Omanadze Roland , Chitaia Irakli
Published: November 2023

Using properties of simple sets we study ‐degrees of c.e. sets. In particular, we prove: (1) If and are c.e. sets, is a simple set and , then there exists a simple set such that and . (2) the c.e. ‐degrees (‐degrees) do not form an upper semilattice. (3) The c.e. ‐degrees are not dense, but are upwards dense. (4) The ‐degrees are not dense.
The period isomorphism in the tame geometry
Authors: Huber Annette
Published: November 2023

We describe singular homology of a manifold via simplices that satisfy Stokes' formula with respect to all differential forms. The notion is geared to the case of the tame geometry (definable manifolds with respect to an o‐minimal structure), where it gives a description of the period pairing with de Rham cohomology via definable simplices.
LINC00355 promotes gastric carcinogenesis by scaffolding p300 to activate CDC42 transcription and enhancing HNRNPA2B1 to stabilize CDC42 mRNA dependent on m6A
Authors: Chen Hui , Xiao Lanshu , Xie Guohua , Zhang Peng , Dong Ping , Bian Bingxian , Wang Jie , Zhou Yunlan , Ma Yanhui , Liu Yi , Shen Lisong
Published: November 2023

LINC00355 is involved in the tumorigenesis of several types of cancer. We verified that LINC00355 is upregulated in gastric cancer (GC) and contributes to GC cells' proliferation and metastasis. RNA sequencing (RNA‐seq) and rescue assays suggested that LINC00355 controls gastric carcinogenesis by regulating the expression of cell division cycle 42 (CDC42) guanosine triphosphatase (GTPases), thereby activating their downstream pathways. Most previous studies have shown that LINC00355 acts as a ceRNA by sponging miRNAs to modulate downstream gene expression. Our group focus on epigenetic regulatory potential of LINC00355 in gene expression. Mechanistically, LINC00355 binds to p300 histone acetyltransferase, specifying the histone modification pattern on the CDC42 promoter to activate CDC42 transcription, thereby altering GC cell biology. In addition, HNRNPA2B1, which is upregulated by LINC00355, recognizes the N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) sites of CDC42 and enhances the stability of CDC42 mRNA transcripts. Therefore, LINC00355 is mechanistically, functionally, and clinically oncogenic in GC cells.
Leucine‐rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) inhibition upregulates microtubule‐associated protein 1B to ameliorate lysosomal dysfunction and parkinsonism
Authors: Chen Kang , Tang Fei , Du Bin , Yue Zhe‐Zhou , Jiao Ling‐Ling , Ding Xu‐Long , Tuo Qing‐Zhang , Meng Jie , He Si‐Yu , Dai Lunzhi , Lei Peng , Wei Xia‐Wei
Published: November 2023

Mutations in LRRK2 (encoding leucine‐rich repeat kinase 2 protein, LRRK2) are the most common genetic risk factors for Parkinson's disease (PD), and increased LRRK2 kinase activity was observed in sporadic PD. Therefore, inhibition of LRRK2 has been tested as a disease‐modifying therapeutic strategy using the LRRK2 mutant mice and sporadic PD. Here, we report a newly designed molecule, FL090, as a LRRK2 kinase inhibitor, verified in cell culture and animal models of PD. Using the 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine mice and SNCA A53T transgenic mice, FL090 ameliorated motor dysfunctions, reduced LRRK2 kinase activity, and rescued loss in the dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Notably, by RNA‐Seq analysis, we identified microtubule‐associated protein 1 (MAP1B) as a crucial mediator of FL090's neuroprotective effects and found that MAP1B and LRRK2 co‐localize. Overexpression of MAP1B rescued 1‐methyl‐4‐phenylpyridinium induced cytotoxicity through rescuing the lysosomal function, and the protective effect of FL090 was lost in MAP1B knockout cells. Further studies may be focused on the in vivo mechanisms of MAP1B and microtubule function in PD. Collectively, these findings highlight the potential of FL090 as a therapeutic agent for sporadic PD and familial PD without LRRK2 mutations.
Single‐cell transcriptomic atlas of distinct early immune responses induced by SARS‐CoV‐2 Proto or its variants in rhesus monkey
Authors: Yang Yun , Du Tingfu , Yu Wenhai , Zhou Yanan , Yang Chengyun , Kuang Dexuan , Wang Junbin , Tang Cong , Wang Haixuan , Zhao Yuan , Yang Hao , Huang Qing , Wu Daoju , Li Bai , Sun Qiangming , Liu Hongqi , Lu Shuaiyao , Peng Xiaozhong
Published: November 2023

Immune responses induced by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection play a critical role in the pathogenesis and outcome of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). However, the dynamic profile of immune responses postinfection by SARS‐CoV‐2 variants of concern (VOC) is not fully understood. In this study, peripheral blood mononuclear cells single‐cell sequencing was performed to determine dynamic profiles of immune response to Prototype, Alpha, Beta, and Delta in a rhesus monkey model. Overall, all strains induced dramatic changes in both cellular subpopulations and gene expression levels at 1 day postinfection (dpi), which associated function including adaptive immune response, innate immunity, and IFN response. COVID‐19‐related genes revealed different gene profiles at 1 dpi among the four SARS‐CoV‐2 strains, including genes reported in COVID‐19 patients with increased risk of autoimmune disease and rheumatic diseases. Delta‐infected animal showed inhibition of translation pathway. B cells, T cells, and monocytes showed much commonality rather than specificity among the four strains. Monocytes were the major responders to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, and the response lasted longer in Alpha than the other strains. Thus, this study reveals the early immune responses induced by SARS‐CoV‐2 Proto or its variants in nonhuman primates, which is important information for controlling rapidly evolving viruses.
Optimal timing for nonsubsidized policy implementation in the electric vehicle industry
Authors: Wang Suyuan , Wang Gengxin , Song Huaming , Huang Hongfu
Published: November 2023

This research examines a scenario involving an electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer promoting innovation, a retailer focusing on advertising and service (A&S), and a government implementing nonsubsidized policies to enhance social welfare and spur EV adoption. The nonsubsidized policies under consideration are classified as ex‐ante (EA), ex‐ing (EI), or ex‐post (EP), depending on their chronological deployment. Our findings indicate that EI is consistently suboptimal due to the presence of the (anti‐)synergy effect. However, either the EA or EP policy proves optimal: EA is preferred when consumers value EV innovation and A&S whereas EP is desirable when associated costs are inefficient.
B‐cell lymphoma‐2 family proteins in the crosshairs: Small molecule inhibitors and activators for cancer therapy
Authors: Gong Qineng , Wang Haojie , Zhou Mi , Zhou Lu , Wang Renxiao , Li Yan
Published: November 2023

The B‐cell lymphoma‐2 (BCL‐2) family of proteins plays a crucial role in the regulation of apoptosis, offering a dual mechanism for its control. Numerous studies have established a strong association between gene disorders of these proteins and the proliferation of diverse cancer cell types. Consequently, the identification and development of drugs targeting BCL‐2 family proteins have emerged as a prominent area in antitumor therapy. Over the last two decades, several small‐molecules have been designed to modulate the protein–protein interactions between anti‐ and proapoptotic BCL‐2 proteins, effectively suppressing tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. The primary focus of research has been on developing BCL‐2 homology 3 (BH3) mimetics to target antiapoptotic BCL‐2 proteins, thereby competitively releasing proapoptotic BCL‐2 proteins and restoring the blocked intrinsic apoptotic program. Additionally, for proapoptotic BCL‐2 proteins, exogenous small molecules have been explored to activate cell apoptosis by directly interacting with executioner proteins such as BCL‐2‐associated X protein (BAX) or BCL‐2 homologous antagonist/killer protein (BAK). In this comprehensive review, we summarize the inhibitors and activators (sensitizers) of BCL‐2 family proteins developed over the past decades, highlighting their discovery, optimization, preclinical and clinical status, and providing an overall landscape of drug development targeting these proteins for therapeutic purposes.
A novel finite element model in nonlocal transient analysis of viscoelastic functionally graded porous nanoplates resting on viscoelastic medium
Authors: Giang Nguyen Thi , Thuy Tran Thi Thu , Van Nguyen Thi Hai
Published: November 2023

The transient analysis of viscoelastic functionally graded porous (FGP) nanoplate resting on the viscoelastic medium using the finite element method (FEM) is studied in this work. The nanoplate is made from a material that varies in thickness and has mechanical qualities that change depending on the porosity. The whole of the mechanical system rests on a Pasternak medium, which is modeled in accordance with a Kelvin–Voigt viscoelastic model. The general plate motion balance equations are developed by the application of the higher‐order shear plate theory (HSDT) with a new inverse hyperbolic function, the nonlocal hypothesis, and Hamilton's principle. In order to develop a four‐node quadrilateral element, Lagrangian and Hermitian interpolation functions are used. These functions are employed to define the main variables that correspond to the in‐plane displacements and the transverse displacements, respectively. The direct integration method developed by Newmark is used to calculate the dynamic responses of the plate. The outcomes that were anticipated by the essay have been confirmed by reputable sources. The dynamic response characteristics of a viscoelastic FGP nanoplates that is placed on a viscoelastic medium are explored, and a number of factors that influence these features are discovered and explained.
A discretization‐convergent level‐set‐discrete‐element‐method using a continuum‐based contact formulation
Authors: Feldfogel Shai , Karapiperis Konstantinos , Andrade Jose , Kammer David S.
Published: November 2023

The level‐set‐discrete‐element‐method (LS‐DEM) was developed to overcome the shape limitation of traditional discrete element method. LS‐DEM's shape generality relies on a node‐based surface discretization of grain boundary, and it has been used to shed new light of a variety of granular mechanics applications with realistically shaped grains and structural assemblies made of unbonded building blocks. Due to the node‐based discretization of grain boundary, the original LS‐DEM is discretization‐sensitive and it suffers from divergence of the response with discretization refinement, particularly for highly compressible problems. Previous studies have identified and addressed this issue in different ways, each with its own advantages and shortcomings. Here, we propose a methodologically‐rigorous and computationally‐efficient adapted formulation which solves LS‐DEM's discretization‐sensitivity issue. It adopts the classical contact description of continuum mechanics, wherein the contact interactions are traction‐based. We demonstrate the convergence of the adapted LS‐DEM in several highly compressible cases studies, show that it is key to correctly capturing the mechanical response, and compare it to alternative formulations.
The use of sertraline to treat an adolescent of dystonia comorbid with major depressive disorder with psychotic features
Authors: Liu Chia‐Chien , Lan Chen‐Chia , Chen Ying‐Sheue
Published: November 2023

Dystonia is characterized by sustained or intermittent involuntary muscle contractions. Psychiatric symptoms are essential non‐motor features of dystonia, and higher risks of depressive and anxiety disorders have been reported. The precedence of psychiatric to motor symptoms in some patients and the dopaminergic and serotonergic system involvement in both the motor and psychiatric aspects suggest these psychiatric disorders may be intrinsic to the neurobiology of dystonia. Nevertheless, psychiatric comorbidities are often construed as secondary reactions to motor disabilities and the negative bio‐psycho‐social impacts of dystonia, leading to underdiagnosis and undertreatment. Research on antidepressant use in dystonia is scarce, especially in children and adolescents. This report presents a 17‐year‐old female with dystonia comorbid with depression with psychotic features, whose motor symptoms improved but psychiatric symptoms persisted with dopaminergic pharmacotherapy. Sertraline was finally added 5 years after the onset and successfully managed her psychotic depression without worsening motor symptoms. Early detection, prompt diagnosis, and timely holistic treatment with dopaminergic agents, antidepressants, and psychosocial interventions are critical for the mental health of dystonia patients.
Prediction of S‐wave velocity models from surface waves using deep learning
Authors: Cho Sangin , Pyun Sukjoon , Choi Byunghoon , Lee Ganghoon , Jang Seonghyung , Choi Yunseok
Published: November 2023

Surface wave (SW) methods extract dispersion properties of wavefields propagating through a seismic array (1D or 2D). This is achieved by analysing the phase velocity versus frequency (or wavelength) data. Afterwards, an inversion process is performed to construct near‐surface S‐wave velocity models. Among the SW methods, multichannel analysis of SWs (MASW) is commonly used for engineering applications, analysing dispersion characteristics by generating a dispersion image. However, classical MASW depends on the manual picking of dispersion curves, which can lead to subjective outcomes and require time and effort to obtain precise results. To avoid these pitfalls, many studies, including deep‐learning techniques, have focused on automating the process. Similarly, we propose a deep‐learning‐based algorithm that estimates the S‐wave velocity directly from the dispersion image of SWs. This algorithm consists of a convolutional neural network (CNN) designed to directly yield S‐wave velocity profiles and a fully connected network (multi‐layer perceptron) added to regularize predictions. Unlike typical SW techniques, the proposed approach does not incorporate prior information such as layer count and thickness. To ensure successful training, we modified the loss function to exploit the normalized mean squared error. The training dataset was generated by modelling synthetic shot gathers and transforming them into dispersion images for various 1D stratified velocity structures. After a sample is fed to the CNN network for inversion, the inversion network's output subsequently goes through an additional simple neural network (NN) to regularize the predicted S‐wave velocity model (which is the post‐processing step). The combined usage of deep‐learning‐based SW inversion with NN‐based post‐processing was assessed using test data. The proposed algorithm achieved an average relative error of approximately 7.49% in predicting the S‐wave velocity and was successfully applied to the field data. Additionally, we discuss its performance on noisy data as well as its applicability to out‐of‐training data. Numerical examples demonstrated that the proposed method is robust to noise, whereas it requires additional training to handle data beyond the distribution of the training data.
Electrical resistivity tomography through reinforced concrete floor
Authors: Yang Lichun , Yang Dikun , Yuan Quan
Published: November 2023

The electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) method is often challenged by the presence of reinforced concrete (RC) in urban and industrial environments, because the embedded metallic wire mesh can severely distort the distribution of subsurface currents. We investigate one typical scenario in real applications, in which an RC floor overlays the natural topsoil or rock. Our synthetic forward simulations show that the embedded wire mesh behaves like a local good conductor in data of small source‐receiver separations and acts like an equal‐potential object that keeps the potential from decaying at large source‐receiver separations. Routine ERT inversions that ignore the RC cannot work properly because the thin and highly conductive wire mesh may be manifested as large uninterpretable low‐resistivity anomalies in the imaging results. Two remedies are adopted to improve the ERT resolution in such cases. First, we find a top layer with high conductivity in our model to adequately represent the wire mesh; then, we initiate the inversion with the top‐layer model as the starting and reference model. This warm‐start approach overcomes the difficulty of recovering the large conductivity contrast between metallic objects and regular earth materials. Second, underground electrodes are added to the survey array, so more information from depth can be obtained to fight against the dominance of current channelling in the wire mesh. Finally, our strategies are used to invert a real ERT dataset from an indoor manufacturing plant, where RC covers the entire floor of the building and electrodes are in contact with the soil through open holes in the floor. Our simulation and field data inversion verify our findings and demonstrate the effectiveness of our solutions in improving the resolution of ERT when the survey is carried out over RC floor in urban and industrial environments.
Stochastic modeling of turbulent mixing based on a hierarchical swapping of fluid parcels
Authors: Starick Tommy , Schmidt Heiko
Published: November 2023

Turbulent mixing is an omnipresent phenomenon that constantly affects our everyday life and plays an important role in a variety of industrial applications. The simulation of turbulent mixing poses great challenges, since the full resolution of all relevant length and time scales is associated with an immense computational effort. This limitation can be overcome by only resolving the large‐scale effects and completely model the sub‐grid scales. The development of an accurate sub‐grid mixing model is therefore a key challenge to capture all interactions in the sub‐grid scales. At this place, the hierarchical parcel‐swapping (HiPS) model formulated by A.R. Kerstein [J. Stat. Phys. 153, 142–161 (2013)] represents a computationally efficient and scale‐resolving turbulent mixing model. HiPS mimics the effects of turbulence on time‐evolving, diffusive scalar fields. In HiPS, the diffusive scalar fields or a state space is interpreted as a binary tree structure, which is an alternative approach compared to the most common mixing models. Every level of the tree represents a specific length and time scale, which is based on turbulence inertial range scaling. The state variables are only located at the base of the tree and are treated as fluid parcels. The effects of turbulent advection are represented by stochastic swaps of sub‐trees at rates determined by turbulent time scales associated with the sub‐trees. The mixing only takes places between adjacent fluid parcels and at rates consistent with the prevailing diffusion time scales. In this work, the HiPS model formulation for the simulation of passive scalar mixing is detailed first. Preliminary results for the mean square displacement, passive scalar probability density function (PDF) and scalar dissipation rate are given and reveal the strengths of the HiPS model considering the reduced order and computational efficiency. These model investigations are an important step of further HiPS advancements. The integrated auxiliary binary tree structure allows HiPS to satisfy a large number of criteria for a good mixing model. From this point of view, HiPS is an attractive candidate for modeling the mixing in transported PDF methods.
Methenamine for urinary tract infection prophylaxis: A systematic review
Authors: Li Jian Mei , Cosler Leon E. , Harausz Elizabeth P. , Myers Courtney E. , Kufel Wesley D.
Published: November 2023

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) commonly affect many patient populations. Recurrent UTIs (rUTIs) can be particularly problematic and lead to potential hospitalizations, multiple antibiotic courses, and have a potential negative impact on quality of life. To prevent UTIs, antibiotics are frequently used for prophylaxis; however, antibiotic prophylaxis has notable untoward consequences including but not limited to potential adverse effects and development of antibiotic resistance. Methenamine, an antiseptic agent initially available in 1967, has re‐emerged as a potential option for UTI prophylaxis in various populations, including older adults and renal transplant recipients. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of methenamine for UTI prophylaxis. A systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidance was performed. A PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library search was conducted to identify relevant English‐language studies evaluating methenamine for UTI prophylaxis including randomized controlled trials, case–control studies, and meta‐analyses through June 2023. Articles were excluded if the studies did not primarily describe or evaluate methenamine for UTI prophylaxis, were commentaries/viewpoints articles, point prevalence studies, review articles, studies that evaluated methenamine used with another agent, and any duplicate publications from searched databases. A total of 11 articles were identified for inclusion. This systematic review suggests methenamine generally appears to be an effective and well‐tolerated antibiotic‐sparing option for UTI prophylaxis. Furthermore, the pharmacology, dosage and formulation, warnings, precautions, and safety considerations of methenamine that provide potential clinical considerations regarding its use for UTI prophylaxis are described. Further studies are needed to evaluate the clinical utility of methenamine for UTI prophylaxis.
Life cycle assessment of photovoltaic module backsheets
Authors: de Wild Paul , de Wild‐Scholten Mariska , Goudswaard Imco
Published: November 2023

Increased deployment of solar photovoltaic (PV) enables the transition to decarbonized energy systems, capable of tempering the dire consequences of global warming. Even though backsheets are very important regarding lifetime energy yield of the PV module, the environmental impacts of their production, use, and end‐of‐life (EoL) processing are largely neglected. As part of a recently finalized Dutch national project EXTENSIBLE (Energy yield assessment of neXT gENeration and SustaInaBLE backsheets), the environmental impacts for 7 different polymeric backsheets have been evaluated via a life cycle assessment (LCA). The selected backsheets include 3 traditional polyethylene terephthalate (PET)‐based backsheets with a fluorine containing outer layer (two white pigmented and one fully transparent). The other 4 backsheets are novel high‐performance polyolefin (PO)‐based backsheets, manufactured by Endurans Solar™, also including one transparent version. From results of the LCA, it is concluded that in comparison with PET‐based backsheets and fluoropolymer containing backsheets, PO‐based backsheets perform best in terms of energy yield, reliability, and environmental impacts. The production of fluoropolymer‐ and PET‐based backsheets cause substantial environmental impacts, especially regarding climate change and ozone depletion. This conclusion is corroborated by recent literature data. Regarding the EoL phase, it was shown from a theoretical assessment that pyrolysis of the spent backsheets potentially leads to much lower global warming potential (GWP) when compared to incineration, especially for the PO‐based backsheets. Incineration of the shredded and solid backsheet material causes direct emissions of CO2 with a limited heat recovery potential only. Deploying pyrolysis for spent PO‐based backsheets significantly improves their life‐time GWP per kWh produced. Pyrolysis offers the possibility to recover a large part of the PO as an usable pyrolysis oil that might serve as feedstock for chemicals or as transportable liquid fuel for the generation of process heat in recovery boilers, thereby avoiding the use of new fossil resources. EoL pyrolysis (or incineration) of fluoropolymer‐based backsheets is problematic due to the presence of fluorinated hydrocarbons, leading to corrosive and/or toxic products.
Field‐based infrastructure and cyber–physical system for the study of high night air temperature stress in irrigated rice
Authors: Quiñones Cherryl , Adviento‐Borbe Maria Arlene , Larazo Wenceslao , Harris Rodney Shea , Mendez Kharla , Cunningham Shannon S. , Campbell Zachary C. , Medina‐Jimenez Karina , Hein Nathan T. , Wagner Dan , Ottis Brian , Walia Harkamal , Lorence Argelia
Published: November 2023

High night air temperature (HNT) stress negatively impacts both rice (Oryza sativa L) yield and grain quality and has been extensively investigated because of the significant yield loss observed (10%) for every increase in air temperature (1°C). Most of the rice HNT studies have been conducted under greenhouse conditions, with limited information on field‐level responses for the major rice sub‐populations. This is due to a lack of a field‐based phenotyping infrastructure that can accommodate a diverse set of accessions representing the wider germplasm and impose growth stage‐specific stress. In this study, we built six high‐tunnel greenhouses and screened 310 rice accessions from the Rice Diversity Panel 1 (RDP1) and 10 commercial hybrid cultivars in a replicated design. Each greenhouse had heating and a cyber–physical system that sensed ambient air temperature and automatically increased night air temperature to about 4°C relative to ambient temperature in the field for two cropping seasons. The system successfully imposed HNT stress of 4.0 and 3.94°C as recorded by Raspberry Pi sensors for 2 weeks in 2019 and 2020, respectively. HOBO sensors (Onset Computer Corporation) recorded a 2.9 and 2.07°C temperature differential of ambient air between control and heated greenhouses in 2019 and 2020, respectively. These greenhouses were able to withstand constant flooding, heavy rains, strong winds (140 mph), and thunderstorms. Selected US rice cultivars showed an average of 24% and 15% yield reduction under HNT during the 2019 and 2020 cropping seasons, respectively. Our study highlights the potential of this computer‐based infrastructure for accurate implementation of HNT or other abiotic stresses under field‐growing conditions.
Exploring protein–protein interactions and oligomerization state of pulmonary surfactant protein C (SP‐C) through FRET and fluorescence self‐quenching
Authors: Morán‐Lalangui Mishelle , Coutinho Ana , Prieto Manuel , Fedorov Alexander , Pérez‐Gil Jesús , Loura Luís M. S. , García‐Álvarez Begoña
Published: November 2023

Pulmonary surfactant (PS) is a lipid–protein complex that forms films reducing surface tension at the alveolar air–liquid interface. Surfactant protein C (SP‐C) plays a key role in rearranging the lipids at the PS surface layers during breathing. The N‐terminal segment of SP‐C, a lipopeptide of 35 amino acids, contains two palmitoylated cysteines, which affect the stability and structure of the molecule. The C‐terminal region comprises a transmembrane α‐helix that contains a ALLMG motif, supposedly analogous to a well‐studied dimerization motif in glycophorin A. Previous studies have demonstrated the potential interaction between SP‐C molecules using approaches such as Bimolecular Complementation assays or computational simulations. In this work, the oligomerization state of SP‐C in membrane systems has been studied using fluorescence spectroscopy techniques. We have performed self‐quenching and FRET assays to analyze dimerization of native palmitoylated SP‐C and a non‐palmitoylated recombinant version of SP‐C (rSP‐C) using fluorescently labeled versions of either protein reconstituted in different lipid systems mimicking pulmonary surfactant environments. Our results reveal that doubly palmitoylated native SP‐C remains primarily monomeric. In contrast, non‐palmitoylated recombinant SP‐C exhibits dimerization, potentiated at high concentrations, especially in membranes with lipid phase separation. Therefore, palmitoylation could play a crucial role in stabilizing the monomeric α‐helical conformation of SP‐C. Depalmitoylation, high protein densities as a consequence of membrane compartmentalization, and other factors may all lead to the formation of protein dimers and higher‐order oligomers, which could have functional implications under certain pathological conditions and contribute to membrane transformations associated with surfactant metabolism and alveolar homeostasis.
Evaporation of anhydrous ammonia from small concrete coupons and implications regarding evaporation from a large accidental spill on concrete
Authors: Languirand Eric R. , Phung Cecilia H. , Hanna Steven R. , Crouse Kathy L.
Published: November 2023

Anhydrous ammonia is transported via ship, rail, and road everyday in the United States as a refrigerated liquid at ambient pressure. As a result, unintential release of a large amount of anhydrous ammonia could result from an accident during transportation. The aim of this paper is to provide a better understanding of the evaporation of anhydrous ammonia from porous media. In our investigation, laboratory‐scale concrete coupons were used as a surrogate for a larger concrete pad that could be present in an event involving an unintentional release of liquid anhydrous ammonia. Concrete coupons sized 5 cm × 5 cm × 1.9 cm were saturated in liquid anhydrous ammonia, and measurements of the subsequent evaporation from the coupons were made in an environmental chamber. The ambient air temperature within the chamber varied from 5 to 45°C, and the relative humidity varied from 5% to 75%. Mass‐difference calculation and Berthelot's reaction were used to determine the average evaporation rate from a concrete coupon across all trials, which was found to be 6.5 ± 1.9 mg/s. To validate these evaporation rates, the remaining ammonia in the concrete coupon was measured for each trial. We found that the time‐integrated calculated evaporation rates correlated well with the total mass of ammonia that was lost from the coupons. In addition, it was found that ambient air temperature and relative humidity had little influence on anhydrous ammonia evaporation from the concrete coupons.
Design, synthesis and insecticidal activity of novel Isoxazoline Acylhydrazone compounds
Authors: Li Yahui , Li Shaochen , Yin Xue , Liu Shaoli
Published: November 2023

BACKGROUND

Nowadays, the diamondback moth has ascended to become one of the most formidable pests plaguing cruciferous vegetables. Consequently, the exigency for the development of efficacious pesticide candidates for crop protection has never been more paramount. In response to this pressing need, this study presents a compendium of novel isoxazoline derivatives, incorporating acylhydrazone moieties, synthesized with the express purpose of serving as potential insecticides.

RESULTS

The structures of these derivatives were confirmed using Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), Carbon‐13 nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR), and high‐resolution mass spectrometry (HR‐MS). Most of these derivatives demonstrated effective insecticidal activities against Plutella xylostella. Notably, compound E3 exhibited exceptional insecticidal activity against Plutella xylostella (LC50 = 0.19 mg L−1), surpassing the effectiveness of ethiprole (LC50 = 3.28 mg L−1), and comparable to that of fluxametamide (LC50 = 0.22 mg L−1). Interestingly, compound E3 also displayed potent insecticidal activity against Pyrausta nubilalis (LC50 = 0.182 mg L−1) and Chilo suppressalis (LC50 = 0.64 mg L−1), and the LC50 values of fluxametamide were 0.23 mg L−1 (P. nubilalis) and 2.26 mg L−1 (C. suppressalis), respectively. The molecular docking results revealed that the compound E3 can form a hydrogen bond and two Pi‐Pi bonds with the active sites of GABA receptors. In addition, the DFT calculations were also performed to study the relationship between insecticidal activities. The structure–activity relationships suggested that the identity of the R substituent was crucial for their pesticidal activities.

CONCLUSION

The results of the present study suggest that isoxazoline acylhydrazone derivatives could be promising candidates against P. xylostella and other Lepidopteran pests. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Growth‐Mode‐Modulated Defects in Non‐Hydrogenated a‐Si Thin Films for Photothermal Conversion
Authors: Lu Beibei , Liu Hong , Gao Ying , Ma Tingting , Yang Jun , Tang Bo , Zhu Yuezhao , Ji Guojian
Published: November 2023

Nanostructured Si exhibits superior photothermal performance and is a cost‐effective solar absorbing material for solar evaporation, photothermal catalysis, and solar power systems. Defects are effective nonradiative recombination centers and are suppressed in amorphous silicon (a‐Si) to benefit radiative recombination. In this research, a bottom‐up approach to optimize the disordered and defective structure of non‐hydrogenated a‐Si by magnetron sputtering for photothermal conversion is proposed. The 2D mesoporous structure is developed in a‐Si thin films under the growth scenario with reduced nucleation density. Local disorder and defects are analyzed based on the vibrational response of Si‐Si bonds. Accompanied by narrowed bandgap (Eg) of 1.06 eV (Eu) and elongated Urbach tail of 0.49 eV, prominent short‐range disorder and substantial amounts of dangling bonds contribute to enhanced solar absorption. Thereby, the full‐spectrum absorptance above 92% can be realized with antireflection coatings of SiO2/Si3N4. The electron–phonon behavior revealed by resonance Raman scattering provides a comparative study on phonon production. Stronger electron–phonon coupling originated from the defective structure can be achieved at larger Eu. Provided with narrowed Eg and elongated Eu, local disorder and coordinative defects benefit both broadband absorption and thermal production, which can be introduced with controlled nucleation density and arrival rates.
Thermoelectric Properties of High‐Entropy Wolframite Oxide: (CoCuNiFeZn)1−xGaxWO4
Authors: Kumar Ashutosh , Moll Adrien , Mouhamadsiradjoudine Mouhamad Navid , Brisset François , Berardan David , Dragoe Nita
Published: November 2023

Herein, the synthesis of high‐entropy wolframite oxide (CoCuNiFeZn)1‐xGaxWO4 through standard solid‐state route followed by spark plasma sintering and their structural, microstructural, and thermoelectric (TE) properties are investigated. X‐ray diffraction pattern followed by patterns matching refinement shows a monoclinic structure with the volume of the unit cell decreasing with increasing Ga content. The optical bandgap for these oxides shows a cocktail effect in high‐entropy configuration. The Seebeck coefficient indicates electrons as dominating charge carriers with a nondegenerate behavior. The electrical resistivity decreases with increasing temperature depicting a semiconducting nature. Thermal conductivity in high‐entropy samples (κ ≈ 2.1 W m−1 K−1 @ 300 K) is significantly lower as compared to MgWO4 (κ ≈ 11.5 W m−1 K−1 @ 300 K), which can be explained by the strong phonon scattering due to large lattice disorder in high‐entropy configuration. The TE figure of merit zT increases with Ga doping via modifying all three TE parameters positively.
Identification of the atmospheric water sources and pathways responsible for the East Asian summer monsoon rainfall
Authors: Dey Dipanjan , Geen Ruth , Lambert F. Hugo , Agrawal Shubhi , Vallis Geoffrey , Marsh Robert , Skliris Nikolaos , Döös Kristofer
Published: November 2023

The East Asian summer monsoon rainfall provides water security and socio‐economic benefit for over 20% of the global population. However, the sources of this rainfall and how it is carried to the East Asian landmass are still uncertain. To address this, atmospheric water sources and pathways associated with the East Asian summer rainfall are identified and quantified in this study using atmospheric water trajectories, calculated with a novel Lagrangian framework. Evaporated water from the East Asian landmass is found to be the major contributor to East Asian rainfall, amounting to local recycling. The results further indicated that the south Indian Ocean is a major non‐local source for rainfall over southern East Asia during June to August. The role of the south Indian Ocean as a source of atmospheric water is one of the major findings of the study and would help in better understanding and predicting the East Asian summer rainfall. Evaporated waters from the Pacific Ocean (particularly the far‐west Pacific Ocean) dominate the non‐local contribution to precipitation over northern East Asia during June to September and over southern East Asian rainfall during September. The spatial structure of the East Asian rainfall is reported to be determined by the atmospheric waters that are evaporated and transported from the non‐local sources. The role of the north Indian Ocean and the South Asian landmass as a source of water for East Asian precipitation is minimal and restricted to southern East Asia. The cross‐equatorial Somali jet and equatorial trade winds associated with the western North Pacific subtropical high are important pathways for East Asian precipitation sourced over the south Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean respectively. In contrast, minor roles are attributed to the Bay of Bengal as a source, and midlatitude westerlies as a transport pathway, for East Asian precipitation.
Nonsingular fixed‐time fault‐tolerant control for multiple Euler–Lagrange systems without continuous communication
Authors: Hua Menghu , Yao Xiang‐Yu , Liu Wen‐Jin , Ding Hua‐Feng
Published: November 2023

This article is concerned with the fixed‐time fault‐tolerant control problem of multiple Euler–Lagrange systems (MELSs) with intermittent communication, actuator faults and input disturbances. A nonsingular fixed‐time control framework with three parts is built for the above problem. In the first part, a novel adaptive controller is proposed for MELSs to ensure the fixed‐time stability of sliding modes while successfully solving the actuator faults, parameter uncertainties and unknown disturbances. In the second part, the fixed‐time estimators based on event‐triggered communication are designed by an error decomposition approach. In the third part, an auxiliary system is introduced for the singularity problem and sufficient condition for achieving the consensus is rigorously proved by synthesizing the results of the above two parts. The key feature of the proposed control framework is that the convergence time is constrained by a constant without involving initial states, and the singularity problems of fixed‐time control is avoided. Finally, simulation examples are provided to prove the efficacy of the proposed algorithms.