bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
All‐Optical Multi‐Order Multiplexing Differentiation Based on Dynamic Liquid Crystals
Authors: Liang Xiao , Zhu Dong , Dai Qi , Xie Yingxin , Zhou Zhou , Peng Chang , Li Zile , Chen Peng , Lu Yan‐Qing , Yu Shaohua , Zheng Guoxing
Published: April 2024

With the advantages of parallel processing, high‐speed operation, and ultra‐low power consumption, optical computing presents immense potential in this age of information explosion. As a fundamental optical computing component, optical differentiator has extensive applications, particularly excelling in the real‐time processing and recognition of high‐frame‐rate image information. An ideal optical differentiator needs to adapt to different application scenarios, such as arbitrary operating wavelengths, complex or even transparent targets. Furthermore, performing differential operations of varying orders on target optical field can extract multi‐level information. Unfortunately, most current differential computing devices can only meet part of the requirements, which limits the attained information dimensions and hinders the development of their practical application. Herein, a universal platform based on liquid crystals (LCs) is proposed to achieve 0th‐, 1st‐, and 2nd‐order differential operations of amplitude‐typed or even phase‐typed objects within a broadband range. The switching of different differentiation orders can be accomplished by straightforward adjusting the applied voltages of the differentiator. This approach is capable of extracting more feature information including bright‐field, outline, and edges images of versatile targets. With advanced characteristics of multi‐dimension, broadband and multifunction, the work can flourish applications in fields of image processing, biomedical imaging and optical analog computation, etc.
Building to learn: Information technology innovations to enable rapid pragmatic evaluation in a learning health system
Authors: Rajamani Geetanjali , Melton Genevieve B. , Pestka Deborah L. , Peters Maya , Ninkovic Iva , Lindemann Elizabeth , Beebe Timothy J. , Shippee Nathan , Benson Bradley , Jacob Abraham , Tignanelli Christopher , Ingraham Nicholas E. , Koopmeiners Joseph S. , Usher Michael G.
Published: April 2024

Background

Learning health systems (LHSs) iteratively generate evidence that can be implemented into practice to improve care and produce generalizable knowledge. Pragmatic clinical trials fit well within LHSs as they combine real‐world data and experiences with a degree of methodological rigor which supports generalizability.

Objectives

We established a pragmatic clinical trial unit (“RapidEval”) to support the development of an LHS. To further advance the field of LHS, we sought to further characterize the role of health information technology (HIT), including innovative solutions and challenges that occur, to improve LHS project delivery.

Methods

During the period from December 2021 to February 2023, eight projects were selected out of 51 applications to the RapidEval program, of which five were implemented, one is currently in pilot testing, and two are in planning. We evaluated pre‐study planning, implementation, analysis, and study closure approaches across all RapidEval initiatives to summarize approaches across studies and identify key innovations and learnings by gathering data from study investigators, quality staff, and IT staff, as well as RapidEval staff and leadership.

Implementation (Results)

Implementation approaches spanned a range of HIT capabilities including interruptive alerts, clinical decision support integrated into order systems, patient navigators, embedded micro‐education, targeted outpatient hand‐off documentation, and patient communication. Study approaches include pre‐post with time‐concordant controls (1), randomized stepped‐wedge (1), cluster randomized across providers (1) and location (3), and simple patient level randomization (2).

Conclusions

Study selection, design, deployment, data collection, and analysis required close collaboration between data analysts, informaticists, and the RapidEval team.
Experiences and lessons learned from a patient‐engagement service established by a national research consortium in the U.S. Veterans Health Administration
Authors: Sides Tracy L. , Jensen Agnes C. , Argust Malloree M. , Amundson Erin C. , Thomas Gay R. , Keller Rebecca , Mahaffey Mallory , Krebs Erin E.
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Meaningful engagement of patients in the research process has increased over the past 20 years. Few accounts are available of engagement infrastructure and processes used by large research organizations. The Pain/Opioid Consortium of Research (Consortium) is a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) research network that provides infrastructure to accelerate health research and implementation of evidence‐based health care. The Consortium's key activities include facilitating Veteran‐engaged research and building community between Veterans and VA researchers. This report sought to describe experiences and lessons learned from the first 3 years of a national research engagement service, featuring a Veteran Engagement (VE) Panel, established by the Consortium.

Methods

We gathered authors' experiences to describe development and operation of the Consortium's VE Panel. Engagement staff collected program evaluation data about partners (Veterans and researchers), projects about which the VE Panel consulted, and meeting attendance during operation of the engagement service.

Results

We created a 12‐member VE Panel; all of whom had lived experience with chronic pain, prescription opioid medication use, or opioid use disorder. Engagement staff and VE Panel members implemented an engagement service operational model designed to continuously learn and adapt. The panel consulted on 48 projects spanning the research process. Seventy‐eight percent of panel members, on average, attended each monthly meeting. VE Panel members and participating researchers reported high satisfaction with the quality, ease, and outcomes of their engagement service experiences.

Conclusions

This work provides an illustrative example of how a national research consortium facilitated Veteran‐engaged research and built community between Veterans and VA researchers by developing and operating an ongoing engagement consulting service, featuring a VE Panel. The service, designed as a learning community, relied on skilled engagement staff to cultivate high quality experiences and outcomes for all partners.
Electrochemical characterization of surfaces of galvanized steels under different exposure conditions using gel electrolytes
Authors: Heyn Andreas , Meist Moritz , Michael Oliver , Babutzka Martin , Valet Svenja , Ebell Gino
Published: April 2024

The corrosion behavior of galvanized steels and zinc components under atmospheric exposure depends mostly on the corrosion product‐based cover layer formation under the prevailing conditions. The use of agar‐based gel electrolytes makes it possible to use electrochemical methods to obtain a characteristic value from these cover layers that describe their current and future protective capacity. It is shown here that different states of galvanized steel can be distinguished very well under laboratory conditions and that this method is also suitable for use under practical conditions. Based on the characteristic values and assuming future time of wetness, it is very easy to draw up a forecast for the future corrosion rate, which provides plausible values.
Molecular Characterization of the Allergenic Arginine Kinase from the Edible Insect Hermetia illucens (Black Soldier Fly)
Authors: Delfino Danila , Prandi Barbara , Calcinai Luisa , Ridolo Erminia , Dellafiora Luca , Pedroni Lorenzo , Nicoletta Francesca , Cavazzini Davide , Tedeschi Tullia , Folli Claudia
Published: April 2024

Scope

Arginine kinase (AK) is an important enzyme for energy metabolism of invertebrate cells by participating in the maintenance of constant levels of ATP. However, AK is also recognized as a major allergen in insects and crustaceans capable of cross‐reactivity with sera of patients sensitized to orthologous proteins. In the perspective of introducing insects or their derivatives in the human diet in Western world, it is of primary importance to evaluate possible risks for allergic consumers.

Methods and results

This work reports the identification and characterization of AK from Hermetia illucens commonly known as the black soldier fly, a promising insect for human consumption. To evaluate allergenicity of AK from H. illucens, putative linear and conformational epitopes are identified by bioinformatics analyses, and Dot‐Blot assays are carried out by using sera of patients allergic to shrimp or mites to validate the cross‐reactivity. Gastrointestinal digestion reduces significantly the linear epitopes resulting in lower allergenicity, while the secondary structure is altered at increasing temperatures supporting the possible loss or reduction of conformational epitopes.

Conclusion

The results indicate that the possible allergenicity of AK should be taken in consideration when dealing with novel foods containing H. illucens or its derivatives.
High‐resolution 3T to 7T ADC map synthesis with a hybrid CNN‐transformer model
Authors: Eidex Zach , Wang Jing , Safari Mojtaba , Elder Eric , Wynne Jacob , Wang Tonghe , Shu Hui‐Kuo , Mao Hui , Yang Xiaofeng
Published: April 2024

Background

7 Tesla (7T) apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps derived from diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) demonstrate improved image quality and spatial resolution over 3 Tesla (3T) ADC maps. However, 7T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) currently suffers from limited clinical unavailability, higher cost, and increased susceptibility to artifacts.

Purpose

To address these issues, we propose a hybrid CNN‐transformer model to synthesize high‐resolution 7T ADC maps from multimodal 3T MRI.

Methods

The Vision CNN‐Transformer (VCT), composed of both Vision Transformer (ViT) blocks and convolutional layers, is proposed to produce high‐resolution synthetic 7T ADC maps from 3T ADC maps and 3T T1‐weighted (T1w) MRI. ViT blocks enabled global image context while convolutional layers efficiently captured fine detail. The VCT model was validated on the publicly available Human Connectome Project Young Adult dataset, comprising 3T T1w, 3T DWI, and 7T DWI brain scans. The Diffusion Imaging in Python library was used to compute ADC maps from the DWI scans. A total of 171 patient cases were randomly divided into 130 training cases, 20 validation cases, and 21 test cases. The synthetic ADC maps were evaluated by comparing their similarity to the ground truth volumes with the following metrics: peak signal‐to‐noise ratio (PSNR), structural similarity index measure (SSIM), and mean squared error (MSE). In addition,

Results

The results are as follows: PSNR: 27.0 ± 0.9 dB, SSIM: 0.945 ± 0.010, and MSE: 2.0E‐3 ± 0.4E‐3. Both qualitative and quantitative results demonstrate that VCT performs favorably against other state‐of‐the‐art methods. We have introduced various efficiency improvements, including the implementation of flash attention and training on 176×208 resolution images. These enhancements have resulted in the reduction of parameters and training time per epoch by 50% in comparison to ResViT. Specifically, the training time per epoch has been shortened from 7.67 min to 3.86 min.

Conclusion

We propose a novel method to predict high‐resolution 7T ADC maps from low‐resolution 3T ADC maps and T1w MRI. Our predicted images demonstrate better spatial resolution and contrast compared to 3T MRI and prediction results made by ResViT and pix2pix. These high‐quality synthetic 7T MR images could be beneficial for disease diagnosis and intervention, producing higher resolution and conformal contours, and as an intermediate step in generating synthetic CT for radiation therapy, especially when 7T MRI scanners are unavailable.
Forecast of the number of nursing beds per 1000 older people from 2023 to 2025: Empirical quantitative research
Authors: Luo Ping , Chen Lan , Liu Yangwu , Weng Sheng
Published: April 2024

Aim

This research aims to offer a reference point for relevant departments to enhance the allocation of ageing resources and formulate policies accordingly.

Design

This study is designed as empirical quantitative research.

Methods

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Civil Affairs regarding older adults (aged≥60) from 2000 to 2022 and nursing beds from 1978 to 2022 were analysed. The differential autoregressive integrated moving averages model and Monte Carlo simulation were used to predict the growth of nursing beds per 1000 older people in China for the Years 2023–2025.

Results

It is projected that from 2023 to 2025, China will experience a further increase in its ageing population, with an average annual growth rate of 3.1%. By 2025, the number of older people in China is expected to surpass 300 million. Additionally, there will be a rise in the number of nursing beds, with an average annual growth rate of 1.9%, leading to a total of 8.79 million nursing beds by 2025. However, due to the rapid growth of the older population, there will be a slight decline in the number of nursing beds per 1000 older people in China, with an average annual growth rate of −1.00%.
Better or different? Self‐differentiating appeals interact with self‐theories to predict volunteer intentions
Authors: Montford William J. , Mesler Rhiannon MacDonnell , Chernishenko Jennifer , Leary R. Bret
Published: April 2024

This research explores how charities can harness individuals' desire for self‐enhancement in their advertisements to boost volunteerism. Two studies examine the effects of advertising which promote either horizontal differentiation (appeals to uniqueness, existing skills) or vertical differentiation (appeals to status, skill acquisition) and how these interact with consumers' self‐theories (incremental—belief in changeable attributes through effort, or entity—belief in unchangeable attributes). Study 1 (n = 183, 56% female) shows entity theorists are more inclined to volunteer following horizontally framed appeals, while incremental theorists respond similarly to both types of appeals. Study 2 (n = 107, 58% female) builds on this, revealing that self‐theory influences the type of individuation (horizontal or vertical) sought by individuals, in turn enhancing volunteer intentions. These findings highlight the complex relationship between self‐theory and advertising appeals in motivating volunteerism, offering valuable insights for creating effective charitable ads and understanding volunteer motivations.
Discovering needs for palliative care in children with cancer in Indonesia
Authors: Pangarso Alexandra Widita Swipratami , Mulatsih Sri , Sitaresmi Mei Neni , Verhulst Susanne , Kaspers Gertjan , Mostert Saskia
Published: April 2024

Background

Although most children with cancer die in low‐ and middle‐income countries, palliative care receives limited attention in these settings. This study explores parents’ perspectives on experiences and needs of children dying from cancer.

Methods

Home visits were conducted to interview parents of children, who were treated for cancer at an Indonesian academic hospital and died between 2019 and 2020, using semi‐structured questionnaires.

Results

Parents of 49 children (response rate 74%) were interviewed. While all children died in hospital, 37% of parents stated their child preferred to die at home. The most common symptoms during final illness were breathing difficulties (82%), pain (80%), and appetite loss (80%). Psychological symptoms received the least support from the medical team. No intervention was given to 46% of children with depression, 45% of children with anxiety, and 33% with sadness. Boys suffered more often from anxiety (68%) than girls (37%; p = .030). Parents (57%) were not always informed about their child's condition, and doctors gave confusing information (43%). The families’ choice of treatment while dying was relieving pain or discomfort (39%) and extending life (33%), while for 29% it was unknown. However, many parents (51%) did not discuss these treatment wishes with doctors. Many children (45%) felt lonely wanting more interactions with school (71%), friends (63%), and family (57%).

Conclusion

Relieving suffering of children with cancer requires regular physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs assessment. Families should actively participate in deciding whether to extend life or relieve pain and discomfort. This can importantly improve the quality of life of children and families.
Effect of fish scale powder addition on the mechanical and free vibration properties of jute/carbon fibers reinforced hybrid polyester composites
Authors: Saravanakumar S. , Kapilan S. , Ravikumar P. , Rajeshkumar G. , Janarthanan P.
Published: April 2024

The present study involves a comprehensive study on the mechanical and free vibration properties of jute and carbon fibers reinforced polyester composite laminates, concentrating on the effect of addition of secondary reinforcement material (fish scale powder [FSP]). The composite laminates were prepared by using compression molding technique by varying the content of FSP (0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 wt%). The outcomes highlight the complex interaction between composite design and their characteristics. Particularly, the addition of FSP to the polyester matrix caused decrease in tensile properties due to nonuniformity in filler dispersion. Conversely, the results obtained from flexural, impact, and free vibration tests exhibited a positive correlation with the addition of FSP content. This can be attributed to the enhanced stiffness of the composites, owing to the constrained chain mobility and intricate intermolecular interactions. The hardness test results highlighted the importance of adding FSP in increasing hardness values. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis was also performed to explore the fractured morphology of the hybrid composite samples. Based on the outcomes, it is recommended to use the FSP as secondary reinforcements for fabricating composites for lightweight structural components.

Highlights

Various properties of jute/carbon hybrid composites were investigated.

Addition of fish scale powder to hybrid composites enhanced their properties.

Vibration properties of hybrid composites are improved due to their higher stiffness.

Hybrid composites offer a compromise between cost, environmental impact, and performance.
Gummy‐inspired natural eutectogels with high adhesiveness, toughness and humidity response
Authors: Li Zhiyang , Ge Zhaolin , Chen Qize , He Yifei , Wu Jin , Xie Zhuang
Published: April 2024

Biogel‐based ionic devices have emerged as versatile platforms for broad applications in wearable electronics, healthcare monitoring and bioelectronic interfaces. Electronic functions derived from fully edible natural soft materials are particularly attractive to allow low cost, green, biocompatible and biodegradable devices in biomedical areas as well as smart food package. This work presents a gummy‐inspired protein eutectogel by simply soaking gelatin hydrogels into solutions of natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) consisting of sorbitol and citric acid to allow solvent exchange. Compared with the gelatin hydrogel, this natural eutectogel (NEG) exhibited anti‐drying and anti‐freezing performance, remarkably improved adhesiveness, room temperature degradability, as well as high mechanical toughness. The soaking conditions were investigated to tune the softness and ionic conductivity of the NEG, which revealed that the water content and acid ratio could significantly impact on the gel properties. Additionally, the eutectogel thin film exhibited good humidity sensing capability with a wide linear detection range (22%–98% RH), in which a soft patch was further demonstrated for breath test to detect various respiration frequencies. Thus, we believe the concept of NEG combining biopolymers and NADES can be explored in a broad range of soft devices for sensing, bio‐adhesives, energy supply or drug delivery.
Reduction of Native Singly Ionized Zinc Vacancies Content by 2.5 MeV Electron Irradiation of ZnGeP2Single Crystals
Authors: Vernozy Charlotte , Alessi Antonino , Petit Johan , Courpron Audrey , Cavani Olivier , Véniard Valérie
Published: April 2024

An experimental study on how to reduce the content of singly ionized zinc vacancy (V−Zn) in ZnGeP2crystals to improve their optical quality is presented. Their electron paramagnetic resonance signal has been studied in samples treated in different ways. The data provide a scheme of the reductions that can be obtained by the different methods or by their combinations. The adding of Sn during the synthesis phase helps the production of large‐size single crystals and the reduction of the V−Zncontent. Thermal treatment and electron irradiation are then needed for further reduction. At the fluence of 2 × 1017e cm−2, the V−Zndecrease does not reach a minimum value, so with higher fluences, additional reduction of V−Zncontent is expected.
Rare‐Earth Ions in LiNbO3 Nanocrystals from the View of Spectroscopy and Force‐Field Calculations
Authors: Lengyel Krisztián , Kocsor Laura , Kis Zsolt , Péter László , Dravecz Gabriella
Published: April 2024

The intrinsic and extrinsic defects in LiNbO3 (LN) bulk crystals have been investigated with experimental and theoretical methods for many years. However, nowadays, scientific attention has turned to nanocrystals (e.g., for quantum nanophotonic applications). Herein, the results of spectroscopic measurements and theoretical calculations on Yb3+‐ or Er3+‐doped LN nanocrystals are presented. A series of congruent LN nanocrystals doped with Er3+ or Yb3+ have been produced by grinding process under wet conditions in a high‐energy ball mill. The effect of size reduction on the rare‐earth (RE) ions has been followed by absorption measurement of the characteristic electronic transitions using a Fourier‐transform infrared spectrometer. Out‐diffusion of the RE ions from the nano‐LN particle and the appearance of an unordered phase have been concluded from the experimental results. GULP software has been used to make force‐field calculations on a Li245Nb245O735 unit to model the nano‐LN structure containing Er3+ or Yb3+ dopants. From the calculations taking into account, one Er3+ or Yb3+ ion, their out‐diffusion, and the appearance of the ions in the unordered phase have been demonstrated, while in the double‐doped case, independent RE incorporation has been found.
Synthesis of Electrocatalyst 57FePt@Pt/C Using Electron Beam Irradiation
Authors: Lee Chaewon , Uhm Young Rang , Sun Gwang‐Min , Choi‐Yim Haein , Park Ji Hyun , Ha Taesung
Published: April 2024

Electrocatalyst 57FePt@Pt/C is prepared using two‐step electron beam (e‐beam) irradiation. The formation of a core–shell‐structured 57FePt@Pt/C catalyst is measured using X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive spectroscopy, and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Both fast reaction and simple process of e‐beam irradiation are suitable application of mass production. In addition, the electrochemical performance of the 57FePt@Pt/C catalyst after acid washing is observed to be the same as the activity of the commercial Pt/C during oxygen reduction reaction, while minimizing Pt supplement.
Defects and Spectroscopic Investigation of Eu3+ Doping in MgGa2O4
Authors: Sousa Marcos F. , de Mesquita Bruno R. , Oliveira Joéslei L. , Silva Carlos H. P. , Tavares Francisca J. R. , Santos Ricardo D. S. , Rezende Marcos Vinícius dos Santos , Jackson Robert A.
Published: April 2024

Atomistic simulation is performed to study the defect properties and spectroscopy in the MgGa2O4 structure. The calculations indicate that the most favorable type of intrinsic defect is generated by the cation antisite defect, in which there is an exchange of positions between Mg2+ and Ga3+ ions. The calculation also indicates that the incorporation of Eu3+ dopant at the Ga3+(2) site is the most energetically favorable. According to a spectroscopic study using the crystal field approach, Eu3+ replaces the Ga3+ site occupying a combination of C4 and C4h symmetries while maintaining the same amount of the non‐null crystal field parameters. This result is important for the reproduction of experimental energy sublevels and ΔE (7F1) manifold splitting.
Enhanced extended state observer based prescribed time tracking control of wheeled mobile robot with slipping and skidding
Authors: Qin Bo , Yan Huaicheng , Hu Xiao , Tian Yongxiao , Yang Simon X.
Published: April 2024

This article focuses on the trajectory tracking control for a perturbed wheeled mobile robot (WMR) with slipping and skidding. The external disturbances and uncertainties caused by the slipping and skidding compose the “total” disturbance. By analyzing the stable state of the controlled system, the WMR reference model driven by a favorable disturbance is constructed. This article proposes an enhanced extended state observer (EESO) to reckon the difference between the “total” disturbance and the favorable disturbance. Then, a practical prescribed time tracking method is developed. By introducing a time‐dependent scaling function, the initial value restriction can be relaxed, and the peaking phenomenon caused by the EESO can be tolerated. With the proposed EESO and the prescribed time tracking controller, the estimation error is input‐to‐state stable, and the tracking control of WMR with global prescribed performance is achieved. Simulation results show the advantages.
High salinity prolongs water processes required for soil structure stability during drying–wetting cycles
Authors: Chang Kai , Feng Haoxuan , Xing Jiahao , Wang Xiangping , Yao Rongjiang , Xing Xuguang
Published: April 2024

Climate events, such as drought and rainfall, can lead to a cycle of drying and wetting that may cause changes in soil structure, leading to deteriorations in the health of saline soils. However, little is known about the extent and behavior of soil structure degradation under the combined influences of salinity and drying–wetting (D‐W) cycles. Thus, we systematically investigated the effects of salinity (0, 5, 30, and 100 g/L, labeled as CK, T5, T30, and T100) and D‐W cycles on soil structure by determining soil volume, shrinkage, and swelling potentials along with soil pore character obtained from soil shrinkage characteristics curve, intending to explore how D‐W cycles and salinity affect soil structure. The results showed that soil deformation behaviors in saline and non‐saline soils varied with the number of D‐W cycles. Irreversible deformation of the soil was observed during continual D‐W cycles. The soil volume increased by 3.75%–15.73% after three D‐W cycles. In vertical direction, the maximum expansion magnitude for each treatment was reached with the value of 29.03%, 23.42%, 34.23%, and 35.87% in CK, T5, T30, and T100, respectively. The magnitudes of shrinkage and expansion were equal in the horizontal direction since the soil samples consistently returned to their original dimensions. Furthermore, the decrease was observed in the micropores and capillary pores affected by salinity, with values of 50%, 58.6%, and 70.4% in CK, T5, T30, and T100, respectively. However, the D‐W cycles primarily affected large pores. High salinity levels enhanced swelling potential and inhabit shrinkage potential, prolonging the water processes required for the soil structure to achieve stability. The results of this study underscore the necessity of understanding the hysteresis of soil volume change and elucidate the mechanisms of soil structure deterioration driven by salinity and D‐W cycles. These findings provide a valuable reference for healthier soil management.
Synergies and trade‐offs quantification from regional waste policy to sustainable development goals: The case of Kyoto City
Authors: Basu Soumya , Usher Khadija , Tamiya Hiroyuki , Akasegawa Rei , Hui Yang , Chen Qu , Cravioto Jordi , Ohgaki Hideaki
Published: April 2024

Waste management policies introduced at regional levels can have a bearing effect on sustainable development goal (SDG) achievement at such levels, promoting certain SDG targets, while hindering other SDG targets. This work introduces an empirical methodology for estimating the synergies and trade‐offs for a city‐level waste management policy with SDG achievements, taking the case of Kyoto City's extensive waste management policy package and its interactions with renewable energy (RE) development (SDG 7), decent economic growth (SDG 9), reduced inequalities (SDG 10), and sustainable consumption (SDG 12). Similar interactions at the national‐level are also enumerated with the justified indicators at the city‐level being extended to the national‐level. Through pairwise correlation, multiple correlation, and regression, four hypotheses for circular economy compatibility with SDG achievement were tested. It was found that manufacturing value and small business growth is stunted by circular economy‐based waste policies, while resource efficiency is promoted. Cultural and social structures have trade‐offs with stringent waste management at city‐levels, but is neutral at aggregated levels. RE development is also synergetic with circular economy‐based waste management. This methodology shows a pathway as to how national‐ and city‐level policies can be integrated with each other in order to optimize waste management and overall sustainability.
The effects of knowledge of tourist civility and Taoist values on tourist civility intentions based on an extended theory of planned behavior
Authors: Zheng Wei , Qiu Hongliang , Morrison Alastair M.
Published: April 2024

Tourist civility is attracting growing attention from practitioners and scholars. However, the research on the effects of knowledge of tourist civility and Taoist values on tourist civility intentions (TCI) is incomplete. Based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), an expanded and integrated framework was developed to explore TCI with data from 358 domestic tourists in China. Structural equation modeling was adopted and mediation and moderation models were tested through the bootstrapping approach. The findings suggested that attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, knowledge, and Taoist values directly affected TCI. It was also found that attitudes positively mediated the connections between subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, knowledge, and Taoist values with TCI; and subjective norms negatively moderated not only the association between knowledge and attitudes but also the mediating effect of attitudes on the link between knowledge and TCI. The results confirmed that the extended TPB exerted greater explanatory power than the original model. This research provides a clearer understanding of TCI by integrating the knowledge‐attitude‐behavior and value‐attitude‐behavior models within TPB, which advances the knowledge of the underlying factors that motivate tourists toward civility, and offers a practical perspective to cultivate TCI with targeted strategies.
One–Pot Three–Component Synthesis of 2,4,5–Triaryl Imidazoles using Fe3O4@BisImid−CuBr Nanocomposite as an Ecofriendly and Efficient Magnetically Reusable Catalyst
Authors: Al‐Dolaimy F. , Alsalamy Ali H. , Abdullah Abbas Hussein , Rasen Fadhil A. , Abdulhussein Zaid , Ramadan Montather F. , Abbas Ahmed Hussien R. , Mustafa Hesham S.
Published: April 2024

Imidazoles are one of the keys of N‐heterocycle molecules that exist in the structure of many biomolecules. In this research project, we reported that Fe3O4@BisImid−CuBr nanocomposite is an attractive and efficient nanomagnetic catalyst to afford 2,4,5–triaryl imidazoles through reactions of 1,2–diketones and aldehydes in the presence of NH4OAc under ecofriendly conditions. The Fe3O4@BisImid−CuBr nanocomposite was readily fabricated by a simple method from available reagents and its structure was analyzed by spectroscopic techniques. SEM and TEM images affirmed the formation of particles in spherical shape and nanometer–size. Under this methodology, a diverse library of triaryl imidazoles were afforded with high yields in water. This synthetic methodology has significant features such as (a) high yields and high purity of the products (b) suitable reaction time (c) use of magnetic reusable nanocatalyst (d) high reusability of Fe3O4@BisImid−CuBr nanocatalyst and the performance of reactions in aqueous medium.
Effects of the Solvent and the Nucleophile on the Photochemical Synthesis of Azepines
Authors: Giricheva Marina A. , Budruev Andrei V.
Published: April 2024

The research focused on the photolysis of ortho‐ and para‐substituted aryl azides and the preparation of 2‐arylamino‐substituted azepines. The best results were achieved in 1,4‐dioxane for ortho‐substituted azides and in ethanol for para‐substituted azides, respectively. It was found that reactions with arylamines, which have electron‐donating groups, typically produce higher yields of heterocycles than those with electron‐withdrawing groups.
Asymmetric Allylation of Aldoxime Derivatives with β‐Amidoallylboronate in Water and Its Application to Divergent Synthesis of N‐Hydroxy‐γ‐Lactam and 1,2‐Oxazinan‐6‐one
Authors: Sengoku Tetsuya , Anze Wataru , Hasegawa Naoya , Mizutani Yuta , Kubota Asahi , Inuzuka Toshiyasu , Yoda Hidemi
Published: April 2024

A new application involving a water–stable amido–functionalized allylboronate has been developed for 1,2‐addition to carbon–nitrogen double bonds. The process achieves highly enantioselective allylation of aldoxime derivatives in water, by employing O‐Boc oximes as substrates under Zn(OH)2–chiral aminophenol catalysis. This process affords the corresponding homoallylic amines with 91–96 % ee. The products could be transformed into N‐hydroxy‐γ‐lactam or 1,2‐oxazinan‐6‐one, through an acidic or a protection‐acidic treatment sequence, respectively, almost without enantiopurity loss.
Design, Synthesis and In Silico Molecular Docking Evaluation of New Series of 1,2,3‐Triazole Derivatives as Potent Antimicrobial Agents
Authors: Vellaiyan Venkatesan , Nagarajaiah Honnappa , Shaik Adamshafi , Kishore Pilli V. V. N , Gunda Shravan Kumar
Published: April 2024

Chalcone and triazole scaffolds have demonstrated a crucial role in the advancement of science and technology. Due to their significance, research has proceeded on the design and development of novel benzooxepine connected to 1,2,3‐triazolyl chalcone structures. The new chalcone derivatives produced by benzooxepine triazole methyl ketone and different aromatic carbonyl compounds. Product structures were established by various spectral techniques such as IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and mass specrometric analysis. Among the tested compounds, two compounds exhibited exceptional antibacterial susceptibilities with MIC (Minimum inhibitory concentration) range of 3.59–10.30 μM against the tested S. aureus strain. Few of the compounds displayed superior antifungal activity against F. oxysporum with MIC value range from 3.25‐4.89 μM, when compared to fluconazole (MIC=3.83 μM). In addition, few derivatives demonstrated equivalent antitubercular action against H37Rv strain with MIC range of 2.16–4.90 μM. The capacity of one of the ligand to form a stable compound on the active site of CYP51 from M. tuberculosis (1EA1) was confirmed by docking studies. Additionally, the chalcone‐1,2,3‐triazole hybrids ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion), molecular characteristics, estimation of toxicity, and bioactivity scores were assessed.
Chitosan‐nTiO2 Nanocomposite Synthesis and its Adsorptive Removal Capacity for Methylene Blue from its Aqueous Solution: Batch Adsorption Study and Modeling
Authors: Bhattacharya Samanwita , Bar Nirjhar , Rajbansi Baisali , Das Sudip Kumar
Published: April 2024

The current work used chitosan (CS)‐nTiO2 nanocomposites (CTNCs) prepared with different CS:nTiO2 mass ratios toward the MB dye removal from an aqueous medium in batch method at variable experimental conditions. The stability and competence of the nanocomposites were checked through characterization by SEM, FTIR, XRD, TGA, and BET. The highest removal of MB was 78 % with the adsorbent CS without nTiO2 (CWT), 94.5 % with CS:nTiO2=1 : 1 weight ratio (CTNC1‐1) and 80 % with CS:nTiO2=2 : 1 weight ratio (CTNC2‐1) with 10 mgL−1of MB and 5 gL−1 adsorbent dosages. The experimental observations obeyed the pseudo‐2nd‐order model, and rate‐limiting steps were film diffusions for CWT, CTNC1‐1 and intraparticle diffusion for CTNC2‐1. Monolayer adsorption was established from the isotherm model. Langmuir adsorption capacities for MB were presented as CTNC1‐1 (qL=34.31)>CTNC2‐1 (qL=32.87)>CWT (qL=21.32). The sorption energy, as derived from Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm model, showed physisorption for all three adsorbents. The scale‐up design is reported. The statistical (R2>0.98) and GA modeling (R2>0.98) successfully predicted the percentage elimination of MB. Thus, CS‐nTiO2 nanocomposites are prepared as novel and environment‐friendly adsorbents for dye removal.
A Novel Model to Predict Shape Variation of Steel Strip During Feeding in Slab Continuous Casting
Authors: Zhang Rui , Zhu Hong‐Chun , Li Hua‐Bing , Jiang Zhou‐Hua , Ni Zhuo‐Wen , He Zhi‐Yu , Feng Hao , Zhang Shu‐Cai
Published: April 2024

To comprehensively comprehend variation of strip shape (strip feeding depth and maximum steel sheath cross‐sectional area) under different process parameters (strip feeding speed, strip oscillation frequency, strip amplitude, molten steel superheat, strip width, and strip thickness), a mathematical model of feeding strip process has been developed herein. Flow near steel strip is analyzed. Meanwhile, the qualitative relationship between strip shape and process parameters is derived based on energy conservation within the system of molten steel and steel strip. The results show that strip feeding depth is positively correlated with strip feeding speed, strip width, and strip thickness, while it's negatively correlated with strip oscillation frequency, strip amplitude, and molten steel superheat; maximum steel sheath cross‐sectional area is positively correlated with strip width and strip thickness, while it's negatively correlated with strip feeding speed, strip oscillation frequency, strip amplitude, and molten steel superheat. Based on the calculated results, the quantitative relationships are proposed to predict the strip feeding depth and maximum steel sheath cross‐sectional area with aforementioned process parameters, which are suitable for the situations that the strip tip is located between the outlet of submerged entry nozzle and the end of the liquid core.
Experimental study on viscoelastic damper with amplified mechanism and seismic mitigation evaluation
Authors: Xu Hao , Jia Sufan , Shang Feng , He Wenfu
Published: April 2024

In this study, a viscoelastic damper (VED) employing an additional amplification device is proposed to enhance the stiffness as well as energy dissipation. The mechanical model of the amplified viscoelastic damper (AVED) is developed and the amplification efficiency is explored. The mechanical behaviors of AVED and the traditional VED are experimentally investigated. By adopting a leverage system, the stiffness and the dissipated energy of AVED are significantly improved and the amplification factors are confirmed. Meanwhile, the seismic responses and structural damages are addressed through a numerical study on a frame attached to the AVEDs and VEDs. The AVED reinforced building employing fewer dampers has close seismic responses compared with VED reinforced building. Furthermore, the installation of AVEDs significantly reduces the risk of structural damage.
Postnatal outcome following fetal aortic valvuloplasty for critical aortic stenosis
Authors: Corroenne R. , Meot M. , Salomon L. J. , Szezepanski I. , Baghdadi H. , Stos B. , Levy M. , Le Bidois J. , Laux D. , Gaudin R. , Raisky O. , Ville Y. , Bonnet D. , Stirnemann J. , Malekzadeh‐Milani S.
Published: April 2024

Objective

To report our experience of fetal aortic valvuloplasty (FAV) for critical aortic stenosis (AS), with a focus on the postnatal evolution of the patients.

Methods

This was a retrospective study including all fetuses with critical AS which underwent FAV in a single center between January 2011 and June 2022. FAV was performed under ultrasound guidance. Technical success was based upon balloon inflation across the aortic valve and improvement of the antegrade aortic flow across the aortic valve. At birth, a biventricular circulation (BVC) strategy was decided assuming the left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function would ensure the systemic circulation.

Results

Sixty‐three FAV procedures were performed in 58 fetuses, at a median (range) gestational age of 26.2 (20.3–32.2) weeks. The procedure was technically successful in 50/58 (86.2%) fetuses. There were 11/58 (19.0%) cases of in‐utero demise and 9/58 (15.5%) terminations of pregnancy. No patient was liveborn after an unsuccessful procedure. Thirty‐eight (65.5%) infants were liveborn, at a median (range) gestational age of 38.1 (29.0–40.6) weeks, of whom 21 (55.3%) required prostaglandin treatment. Twenty‐eight of the 38 (73.7%) liveborn children (48.3% of the study population) entered the BVC pathway at birth. Among them, 20 (71.4%) required an aortic valvuloplasty procedure at birth (11 (55.0%) percutaneous balloon, nine (45.0%) surgical) and eight (28.6%) did not require any treatment at birth, but, of these, five (62.5%) underwent surgical valvuloplasty between day 26 and day 1200 of age. Eleven (39.3%) of the infants with BVC at birth required a second intervention and four (14.3%) of them required a third intervention. Two (7.1%) infants who entered the BVC pathway at birth underwent conversion to univentricular circulation (UVC). None of the surviving children with BVC developed pulmonary hypertension. The overall survival rate in those with BVC at birth was 22/28 (78.6%) at a median (range) follow‐up of 23.3 (2.0–112.6) months. Ten of the 58 (17.2%) patients had UVC at birth. Among these, six (60.0%) received compassionate care from birth and four (40.0%) underwent surgery. Three of the 10 patients who had UVC at birth were still alive at the latest follow‐up assessment, at a median (range) gestational age of 24.3 (8.3–48.7) months.

Conclusions

FAV for critical AS led to increase of antegrade aortic flow in 86.2% of fetuses, with BVC being achieved in 48.3% (73.7% of the liveborn cases). Among patients with BVC at birth, the rate of reintervention was high, but 78.6% of these children were alive at the latest evaluation. © 2024 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Postoperative pancreatic fistula after pancreaticogastrostomy versus pancreatojejunostomy after pancreatic resection, a comparative systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Salman Mohamed AbdAlla , Elewa Ahmed , Elsherbiny Mohammed , Tourkey Mohamed , Emechap Evelyn Nkem , Chikukuza Stewart , Salman Ahmed
Published: April 2024

Background

In patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), there has been some evidence favoring pancreaticogastrostomy (PG) over pancreatojejunostomy (PJ) in the occurrence of postoperative pancreatic fistulas (POPF) and considering PG as a safer anastomotic technique. However, other publications revealed comparable incidences of POPF attributed to both techniques. The current work attempts to reach a more consolidated conclusion about such an issue.

Methods

This is a systematic review and meta‐analysis that analyzed the studies comparing PG and PJ during PD in terms of the rate of POPF occurrence. Studies were obtained by searching the Scopus, PubMed Central, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases.

Results

35 articles published between 1995 and 2022 presented data from 14,666 patients; 4547 underwent PG and 10,119 underwent PJ. Statistically significant lower rates of POPF (p = 0.044) and clinically relevant CR‐POPF (p = 0.043) were shown in the PG group. The post‐pancreatectomy hemorrhage (PPH) was significantly higher in the PG group, while no significant difference was found between the two groups in the clinically significant PPH. No statistically significant differences were found regarding the amount of intraoperative blood loss, length of hospital stay, DGE, overall morbidity rates, reoperation rates, or mortality rates. The percentage of male sex in the PG group and the percentage of soft pancreas in the PJ group seem to influence the odds ratio of CR‐POPF (p = 0.076 and 0.074, respectively).

Conclusion

The present study emphasizes the superiority of PG over PJ regarding CR‐POPF rates. Higher rates of postoperative hemorrhage were associated with PG. Yet, the clinically significant hemorrhage rate was comparable between the two groups.
Synthesis, Structure, and Reactivity of a Superbulky low‐Valent β‐diketiminate Ga(I) Complex
Authors: Richter Tim , Thum Stefan , Townrow Oliver P. E. , Wiesinger Michael , Langer Jens , Harder Sjoerd
Published: April 2024

A low‐valent GaI complex with the superbulky β‐diketiminate ligand DIPePBDI (HC[C(Me)N−DIPeP]2, DIPeP=2,6‐C(H)Et2‐phenyl)) was obtained by reduction of (DIPePBDI)GaI2 (1) with KC8 in toluene. Considering that (BDI)GaI and analogue (BDI)AlI complexes are prone to decomposition and can generally only be obtained in low yields (20–40 %), the quantitative formation of (DIPePBDI)GaI (2) is remarkable and no doubt related to its excellent thermal stability even in refluxing toluene. Although the low‐valent metal center in 2 is sterically protected by the superbulky DIPePBDI ligand, it is readily oxidized by N2O to give intermediate (DIPePBDI)Ga=O which readily decomposed by abstracting a proton from the backbone Me‐substituent. Reaction with trimethylsilyl azide gave an intermediate imido complex (DIPePBDI)Ga=N(SiMe3)2 which reacted with a second equivalent of Me3SiN3 to a mixture of an azide/amido complex (DIPePBDI)GaN3[N(SiMe3)2] (4) and a tetrazagallole complex (DIPePBDI)Ga[N4(SiMe3)2] (5) in a 1 : 2 ratio. Whereas the azide/amido complex 4 could be structurally characterised, the tetraazagallole complex 5 was identified by NMR spectroscopy. DFT calculations on (DIPePBDI)GaI (2) and its reaction products complement this study.
Shock and Stress
Authors: Hughes David A.
Published: April 2024

Ever since it became clear that victims of shell shock in World War I displayed increased psychological malleability, social engineers have sought to exploit the application of shock and stress for social control purposes. Experiments on POWs and other test subjects in the 1950s showed that it was possible to “depattern” the human mind and to reprogramme behaviour. The Tavistock Institute, which took control of the mental health profession after 1945, weaponised psychiatry and found ways of applying shock and stress techniques to entire societies, facilitating what Naomi Klein calls the “shock doctrine,” i.e. systematic exploitation of public disorientation following a moment of collective shock. The “lockdowns” in 2020 were a shock and awe operation, and other techniques associated with “depatterning” the mind were additionally deployed, including disruption of behavioural patterns, isolation, and defamiliarisation. The moment of shock was used to implant trigger words and images for purposes of trauma-based mind control.